Aire Serv of the Mid Hudson Valley - March/April 2023

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COMFORT CONNECTIONS

A CHEAT SHEET FOR THE AMERICAN DREAM

When I was in grade school, I inhaled what felt like a stack of books every week. I remember going to the library and walking through the maze of aisles as I searched for my next read. At the time, I didn’t realize how much I truly enjoyed reading. When you get older and are required to read for school, that’s all you see it as — school! But once I was no longer in school, I found myself again gravitating toward books in my It Might Be on Your Bookshelf

Americans don’t read regularly. In fact, they haven’t read a single book in more than a year! This percentage seems to increase as time goes by. I wish more people understood the amazing benefits reading has to offer. Not only can you explore countless fictional scenarios, but you can also gain motivation, inspiration, and life lessons from works of nonfiction.

you manage to leverage your surroundings and circumstances to succeed despite the obstacles. I discover something unexpected in every book I read — a new strategy to try, a perspective I never considered, or a fresh way of thinking. Because of this, it’s difficult to pinpoint one book that’s changed my life. Instead, I can point to a handful of books that have impacted me. Three that stand out are Shoe Dog: A Memoir by the Creator of Nike by Phil Knight, The Wright Brothers by David McCullough, and Extreme Ownership: How U.S. Navy SEALS Lead and Win by Jocko Willink and Leif Babin. These books share a handful of themes, including the importance of persevering through hardships, remaining curious, holding yourself accountable, and continuously pursuing your dreams, no matter how wild they may seem. I implore you to curl up with a book and get lost in its pages whenever you have a chance.

Two of my favorite genres to read are biographies and autobiographies. I enjoy learning about the lives of others and the strategies they employed to accomplish their dreams. They inspire me to test some of these ideas in my own life and work. As I continue to read different biographies and

spare time. Now, I try to read for pleasure any chance I get.

Reading is good for the mind. It teaches you to think critically and mull over themes and messages in the story. Additionally, it trains your brain to understand how puzzle pieces fit together to form the bigger picture, similar to the way you might determine

autobiographies, I can’t help but think I’m receiving a cheat sheet for how to accomplish the American Dream!

Many of the greatest inventors, businessmen, and entrepreneurs started as common folk; they weren’t always smarter than anyone else and didn’t always come from wealthy families. Instead, they discovered their passions, sought answers to their burning questions, and stopped at nothing to find solutions. It’s inspiring to see what you can do when

who the culprit is in a mystery novel. Besides, who doesn’t love to get lost inside the pages of a book? You can travel to a variety of different places, cultures, even universes— the experiences are endless!

You never know when inspiration will strike!

Unfortunately, according to Test Prep Insight’s 2022 National Survey, over 48% of

Jim Serra

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HELP YOUR CHILD FINISH THE SCHOOL YEAR STRONG

With These 3 Tips

We’re rapidly approaching the end of the school year, which can be challenging for many high school students.

flip your perspective and view their schooling positively if you do struggle with feeling negative about it. Speaking positively about school will help your children enjoy the experience better and set them up for success in the future.

Some may have recently entered a spring slump (or succumbed to “senioritis”), where they grow bored or tired of school

If you haven’t used your A/C in a while, you (hopefully) won’t turn it on without taking the proper measures to ensure everything is in good working order. You wouldn’t want to be without air conditioning on a hot, sunny day, would you? Therefore, it’s best to schedule a tuneup with an experienced technician who will test your A/C to ensure it’s working efficiently and safely. What are the benefits of a tuneup? Scheduling an annual inspection and performing regular maintenance will save you time, money, and stress in the long run. Our technicians will inspect and test your system, clean and lubricate components as needed, and make recommendations based on what they find, so you can decide what repairs or enhancements best suit your home, your family’s needs, and your budget. By scheduling your tuneup early in the season, you’ll be able to take steps to head off damage or even system failure by following your technician’s recommendations and having the necessary parts repaired or replaced with time to spare, so you and your family can remain calm, cool, and collected throughout the spring and summer months and beyond. Don’t let the impending summer heat and humidity bring you down! Contact your friends at Aire Serv of the Mid-Hudson Valley today to schedule your tuneup appointment. Provide motivation. What motivates your kids? Some kids perform better when rewarded for their actions, while others might need some form of discipline to encourage them to do better. Some kids don’t do well when encouragement comes from their parents, so you may need to find an outside source if your child does not respond appropriately to you. Every teen is motivated by something. If you can provide that motivation, they will do much better in all aspects of life. Explain the significance of good grades. Sometimes, you just need to sit your kids down and have a conversation about the importance of keeping good grades and doing their assignments. But make this a discussion, not a lecture. If you try to dominate the conversation, it could adversely affect the situation. Explain the significance of grades and their potential impact on their future. Answer any questions they have and be honest in your responses.

and now have their sights set on summer break. You may notice their grades slipping, which could

signify skipping school or not trying on their

When the snow begins to melt, the birds ramp up their chirping, and the flowers start to poke through the thawing ground, we know spring is quickly approaching! You’ve probably had your heat on for several months to keep you and your family warm. But now it’s time to dust off your A/C unit so it’s ready to keep you cool when the warm, humid weather finally arrives. Since your air conditioner hasn’t run for a while, it may have some issues you’re unaware of. To ensure your unit will work properly and last through spring and summer, it’s best to have your HVAC system inspected as soon the weather is warm enough to do so. Why should you have your unit inspected? Imagine you are going to run a marathon. You haven’t stretched or gone to the gym in weeks or months and are unsure what to do to train. Would you wait until the week of the marathon to start preparing? Of course not! The same thinking can be applied when considering your HVAC unit. IT’S SPRING! YOU KNOW WHAT THAT MEANS? Time for an HVAC Tuneup! assignments. This can have extreme consequences for their future, like not qualifying to attend their college of choice or even losing a potential scholarship if they’re in their senior year. As their parent, you can help them avert a potential disaster. You might not be able to do the work for them, but you can encourage them to do better. Here are a few ways to help your child avoid the spring slump. Cultivate a positive attitude. Most children look to their parents as a primary example of how to act. If you consistently say negative things about school or your child’s teacher(s), they will emulate your feelings. Try to

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Achoo! Bless You! Can Your HVAC Unit Help With Allergies?

As the weather warms up, pollen is everywhere! It gets on your car, house, and clothes and is even in the air you breathe. Whenever you venture outside, you will bring pollen, dust, and other particles back inside with you. Luckily, your HVAC system can help ease your seasonal allergies. How can your HVAC system help with allergies? Your unit does way more than heat and cool your home; it can also provide you with cleaner air. Having the proper filter in your system can improve the air you breathe inside your home by filtering out allergens like pollen, pet hair, dust mites, and other particles. The next time you replace your filter, notice all the dust and dirt trapped by your old filter. If you want to take your indoor air quality a step further, consider investing in an air purifier to help clean your air even more. You can choose from a wide variety of options. Though they function very differently, an air purifier and a filter perform the same function — to make the air in your home cleaner and, as a consequence, make breathing easier, especially for those with allergies and breathing issues.

However, your HVAC unit can’t clean your air very well without your help.

What can you do? While the proper filters can help improve the air quality in your home, it’s up to you to change them regularly. If you neglect the maintenance on your HVAC system, your indoor air quality could worsen, meaning your allergies will as well. If your filters have thick layers of buildup, they won’t work effectively. Additionally, clogged air filters put extra strain on your system as it tries to operate with insufficient air flow, using more energy than is necessary, costing you more to run, and causing more wear and tear on your system’s components. To ensure the air you breathe is as clean as possible, and to prolong the life and maximize the efficiency of your HVAC system, replace your filters at least every three months. Clear any debris from around your indoor and outdoor AC units, and inspect your ductwork and HVAC unit for leaks, corrosion, or mold. Your Aire Serv technician is happy to assist you with all these items!

Happy spring, everyone!

SMOKY SPICY BROCCOLI FRITTERS

Can You Find the Van? We have hidden a tiny van somewhere in this newsletter! Can you find it? If so, send your name, mailing address, phone number, email address, and where in the newsletter you spotted the van to Aire Serv of the Mid-Hudson Valley, 392 Masten Rd., Pleasant Valley, NY 12569, or email us at AireServMHV@gmail.com. One entry will be drawn at random from all correct entries received. The winner will be contacted by phone and announced in the next newsletter. Prize will be mailed to the winner. Limit one entry per household. Last issue’s winner is Trish T. of Poughkeepsie. Congratulations, Trish!

Inspired by VeganRicha.com

INGREDIENTS

• 2 1/2 cups chopped broccoli • 1/4 cup chopped onion • 1/4 cup packed cilantro • 1 tsp oil, plus more for frying • 1/3 tsp salt

• 1/2 tsp garlic powder • 1/2 tsp smoked or regular paprika • 1 tsp chipotle pepper powder

• 1 tbsp barbecue sauce • 3/4 cup chickpea flour

DIRECTIONS 1. In a food processor, process broccoli, onion, cilantro, and 1 tsp oil until uniform. Transfer to a bowl. Add the remaining ingredients and mix until evenly distributed. 2. Let the mixture sit for 2 minutes to allow the broccoli to exude enough moisture so you can form patties. If the mixture is too wet, add more chickpea flour. If the mixture is too dry and does not stick well, wait another few minutes or sprinkle some water and mix. 3. Shape the mixture into 5 or 6 patties. 4. Heat a skillet over medium heat, add oil, and pan-fry the patties for 4-5 minutes per side.

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392 Masten Rd. | Pleasant Valley, NY 12569 845-256-6158 | aireserv.com/mid-hudson-valley

I Found a Cheat Sheet for the American Dream! INSIDE THIS ISSUE 1 2 How to Help Your Child Overcome the Spring Slump

Regular Maintenance Can Save You Money

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Can Your HVAC Unit Help With Allergies? Smoky Spicy Broccoli Fritters

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The Best St. Patrick’s Day Celebrations in America

FEELING THE LUCK OF THE IRISH? CHECK OUT AMERICA’S BEST ST. PATRICK’S DAY CELEBRATIONS

As we inch closer to the beginning of spring, nature around us is coming back to life. Soon, the grass and trees will return to their typical green hue if they haven’t already. Luckily, you don’t need to wait until April to see an abundance of green again. On March 17, we celebrate St. Patrick’s Day, and people across the country will dress in green to honor the occasion. Certain cities in the U.S. go big for St. Patrick’s Day. If you’ve never attended a St. Patrick’s Day parade or celebration, maybe this is the year. Here are three cities with St. Patrick’s Day celebrations worth checking out. Chicago, IL Nobody does St. Patrick’s Day quite like Chicago, Illinois. The entire city gets a makeover! This year, on March 11, Chicago will host its St. Patrick’s Day parade, which includes dyeing the Chicago River a beautiful shade of emerald green. They’ll start tinting the river around 9 a.m., and the color will fade within six hours, so make sure you get there early! Chicago’s St. Patrick’s Day Parade is

also one of the biggest in the country. You’ll see floats, Irish step dancers, and much more.

New Orleans, LA Once Mardi Gras concludes, all eyes are on St. Patrick’s Day in New Orleans, Louisiana. The city hosts a parade on March 11, and it’s always quite a spectacle. You’ll see the makings of Irish tradition everywhere, including cabbage, onions, and potatoes, so keep your head on a swivel. You can also head to the Irish Channel neighborhood on March 11 to attend an all-day block party. Plenty of green beer will be available at this event, so come ready to celebrate! New London, WI Let’s say you want to do something slightly toned down but still exciting for St. Patrick’s Day. Then, you’ll want to check out New London, Wisconsin, for one of the country's most unique St. Paddy’s Day celebrations. Leprechauns will change the city signs from New London to New Dublin. The city also puts on an Irish funeral parody in its annual downtown parade.

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