Owner John Ward presented the head of the program, Sarajane Anderson, with the $1,000 check on February 18. Anderson says the money will be put toward the purchase of coloring books and board games, items that are not donated in mass amounts, but are a favorite among the children. “We always need more board games, they are what the children want the most,” Anderson said.

Applewood helped more than 30 organizations through their “Crazy 12 in 12 Giveaway” campaign in 2007. “It’s wonderful to start off our third year of the Giveaway with such a worthy organization,” said Ward. “You don’t often get to play Santa Claus in February, but whenever we can brighten a child’s life it is worth while,” he said.

The Adams County Santa Claus Shop, Inc., was founded in 1977. The year-round community project provides free toys and gifts to needy children living in Adams County and is staffed entirely by volunteers. “It is good people like Applewood Plumbing Heating & Electric that really make a difference in the success of this project,” Anderson said.

On average, the Adams County Santa Claus Shop helps 1200 families per year, which averages 4100 children who receive toys and other gifts for Christmas. “The children don’t care if the toys are new or used, they are all new to them,” stated Anderson.

The program accepts donations throughout the year and gives away the toys during the months of October, November and December. Thanks to the help from the volunteers and Applewood Plumbing Heating & Electric, more Adams County children will have a merrier Christmas this year.

For more information about the “Crazy 12 in 12 Giveaway” or to nominate a local nonprofit, go to www.applewoodfixit.com.

The saying “Stitched with love” takes on extra special meaning when a young one is wrapped in a quilt created by the many volunteers of Firehouse Quilts. The nonprofit is the December recipient of the $1,000 Applewood Plumbing Heating & Electric (www.applewoodfixit.com) “Crazy $12,000 in 12 months Giveaway.”

Looking for a way to fill her retired days, Dusty Darrah, executive director, decided quilting might be a good hobby. In the end, it has turned out to be a community service that brings warmth to hundreds of children each year through donations provided to area fire departments, battered women’s shelters, victim advocate programs and baby bags for needy new mothers. “We have more than 200 people on our list of supporters, but there are about 40 people who actively create the quilts,” said Darrah. “We don’t often get to see the recipients of our work, but when you do and they start snuggling up to them as soon as they get them, it just warms your heart.”

“We are always looking for ways to help our communities,” said John Ward, owner of Applewood Plumbing Heating & Electric. “Supporting Firehouse Quilts with our $1,000 giveaway is one way we can bring a little added comfort at a time when you need it most.” Applewood Plumbing Heating & Electric supports local charities through the “Crazy 12 in 12 Giveaway” and will begin its third year of the program in 2008. To date, more than 30 organizations have received support through the program.

The funds will help buy needed batting for the quilts and fill-in supplies as needed. “Batting is our biggest expense and this donation is going to help us go a long way in making more quilts this year,” Darrah said. The organization relies on donations of material, supplies and financial support to provide the quilts at no charge.

The group will host its annual Quilt Show in July at the Cherry Hills Community Church. Hundreds of quilts are entered into the contest each year. “Our traditional ‘bed turning’ is one feature of the event that draws a lot of interest,” Darrah said. “Ladies used to do this in their homes and share the story behind each quilt as they were turned and displayed. We do the same at our event.”

For more information about the “Crazy $12,000 in 12 months Giveaway,” go to www.applewoodfixit.com. Nominations are accepted monthly by local nonprofits.

Marching bands have come a long way from the drum and bugle corps of the military. Since the first halftime performance in 1907, marching bands have been entertaining crowds ever since. The Northglenn High School Marching Band embodies the history and future of this musical talent as a $1,000 winner of the Applewood Plumbing Heating & Electric (www.applewoodfixit.com) “Crazy $12,000 in 12 months Giveaway.”

The school has more than 100 kids participating in the marching band, color guard, percussion ensemble and two jazz bands. “We are always looking for creative ways to fund our program,” said Jason Buckingham, Northglenn High School band director. “Investment in the arts is so important to our youth,” he said. “This award is one example of how we can continue to offer programs in our schools.”

“We have been fortunate to support a number of different community organizations through our ‘Crazy 12 in 12 Giveaway program,” said John Ward, owner of Applewood Plumbing Heating & Electric. “The arts enrich the areas we live in and we must continue to encourage our youth to share their talents with our communities.” Applewood Plumbing Heating & Electric supports local charities through the “Crazy 12 in 12 Giveaway” and will begin its third year of the program in 2008. To date, more than 30 organizations have received support through the program.

Northglenn’s band has received numerous accolades over the years having finished as a finalist in 27 out of 27 years, according to Buckingham. “We have eight state championships,” he said. The percussion ensemble will travel to the Winter Guard International World Championships to compete again this year. The school won the competition in 1997 and has consistently in the top finishers annually.

“Although we have won a lot of competitions, it is more important to understand the value of these kinds of programs in our schools,” said Carolyn Nelson, band booster president. “On average our kids maintain 3.6 grade point averages,” she said. In a recent study, band students at the school reported they participated in more than one, sometimes two and three other extracurricular activities. “It is hard to dismiss the strong correlation of high academic performance and participation in the arts,” Nelson said.

For more information about the “Crazy 12 in 12 Giveaway” or to nominate a local nonprofit, go to www.applewoodfixit.com.

Autism is the fastest growing developmental disability in the country, occurring in about one out of 150 births, according to the Autism Society of America. Despite this statistic, Colorado ranks 48th in the United States in its support of autism.

As part of its “Crazy 12 for 12 Giveaway,” Applewood Plumbing Heating and Electric (www.applewoodfixit.com) is donating $1,000 to the development of “Hawkeye Ranch for Autism,” which will be the first ever autistic care facility for adults in Colorado.

“In a time when it’s easy to get caught up in business and politics, it’s important to remember people in need in Colorado and help them out when we can,” said John Ward, the owner of Applewood. “By participating in local events that support local non-profits, we maintain a strong community presence.”

Brain Hall and Gregg Whelen, co-founders of the Colorado Springs non-profit Stomp Out the Silence of Autism and Disabilities (SOS-AD), have been planning the development, which will open early next year. They received the check from Ward at a special presentation on Wednesday, November 28, 2008.

“We’re bringing in doctors, behavioral specialists and chefs to not only provide special services for adults that have autism, but also to teach them life skills like how to cook and how to take care of themselves,” said Hall.

The development, already in the making, is located on a 40-acre area in Larkspur. The building itself is 7,500 square feet. Applewood’s donation will go towards the creation of wheelchair ramps and handicap accessibility.

Applewood Plumbing Heating & Electric has served the Denver/Boulder Metro areas for more than 35 years. The company has consistently been rated one of the nation’s top 10 service companies by their customers and has achieved the Nexstar Network and the 2007 City of Golden Rotary Ethics in Business Award. For more information about Applewood, call 720-249-5145 or go to www.applewoodfixit.com.

By John Ward
Applewood Plumbing, Heating & Electric
www.applewoodfixit.com

Winter’s just around the corner. Are your pipes safe?

Frozen pipes can create a huge mess – and expense. Last year, Applewood repaired hundreds of broken frozen pipes during the winter months with average repair costs at nearly $900 a call. The associated costs of property damage increases this loss even higher. But frozen pipes can be avoided with a little preventive maintenance. And if a pipe does freeze, you may be able to keep it from bursting if you act quickly.

Before the real deep freeze of winter sets in, here are tips for preventing frozen pipes and dealing with pipes that do freeze.

How to prevent frozen pipes:

• Pipes that have frozen in the past are obvious candidates for special attention. So are outside hose connections, indoor pipes close to an outside wall, pipes in a cold part of your house and pipes exposed to the cold from below – a crawl space under your house, for example. Make sure all these pipes are protected from the cold.

• Insulate areas where vulnerable pipes are located. But keep in mind insulation alone won’t prevent pipes from freezing if they’re too exposed to the elements or the insulation is inadequate.

• When insulation isn’t enough, consider pipe wrappings embedded with electrical coils (heat tape) that provide an outside source of heat. But they won’t work if you forget to plug them in when a cold front hits or if there’s a power outage, which can occur during severe weather. So be sure to use the kind with a built in thermostat so you can keep them plugged in all winter.

• Remove hoses from outside yard faucets. The faucets can’t drain properly with a hose attached and will freeze and break if the hose is left attached.

• During severe cold weather, resist the urge to lower your thermostat to save money while you are gone for the day. The dollar or so you save could cost you thousands of dollars in property damage caused by frozen burst water pipes. Instead, turn your heat up a bit and open all the doors to interior rooms to allow the heat to circulate throughout your home. Next open the doors to kitchen and bathroom cabinets under your sinks so heat from the room will help warm the pipes.

• Running water doesn’t freeze very readily. During severe cold weather, keep a stream of water trickling out of faucets or spouts attached to vulnerable pipes.

• If you have a sprinkler system, drain all outdoor pipes and turn off the water supply to the system. A contractor can perform this work for you and blow out the sprinkler-system pipes with air if you aren’t comfortable doing it yourself.

• Know where your main water emergency shut-off valve is located. Knowing where this valve is located and how to use it to shut off the water to your home, can save you untold property damage and grief if a pipe should freeze and burst in your home. If you are unsure of where this valve is or how to use it contact us and we will tag it for you and teach you how it works.

Winterizing your home or cabin if you’ll be away for an extended time

Colorado is perfect for mountain get-away abodes, but that also poses some challenges to ensure your home or retreat is winterized properly. For those times when you’ll be away for an extended time try these tips that work in the city or in rural areas:

• Turn off the water supply at the main shutoff valve by the street. You may have to have your water utility do this for you.

• Remove garden hoses from outside faucets and open these faucets to drain them.

• Drain the water heater. Turn off the pilot light on gas water heaters and be sure to turn off the electricity to electric water heaters before you drain them.

• Use an air compressor to blow any trapped water from the water pipes. A contractor can help with this if you’re not comfortable doing it yourself. Open all faucets and leave them open. This will help keep condensation from freezing and bursting the water lines.

• Flush all toilets (to empty the tank) and every faucet (to drain water from pipes) in the home, including outdoor faucets.

• Empty all toilet bowls by siphoning or bailing and sponging. Pour a mixture of food grade antifreeze and water into all toilet bowls and traps of all sinks, showers and bathtubs. Don’t drain these traps. The water in them keeps sewer gases out of your house.

• If your water supply is from a well, switch off the pump and drain it, along with the above-ground pump lines and the tank.

What to do if a pipe freezes:

• To prevent a frozen pipe from bursting, open the faucet it supplies with water. Then add heat to the area where the pipe is located. Some times you can defrost a frozen pipe with an electric hair dryer. For safety, be sure the dryer is grounded and never hold the pipe while operating an electrical appliance.

• Turn off the water supply to that line. If you use a boiler for heating, it must have a continual water supply to operate; so don’t turn off the main household supply, just the valve leading to the frozen line. If you’re unsure how to do this call a contractor.

• If a pipe does burst, immediately turn off the water to your home. Every home has a main water shut off valve. Once you shut off this valve it will stop incoming water from causing additional damage to your property.

• Know where your main water emergency shut-off valve is located. Knowing where this valve is located and how to use it to shut off the water to your home, can save you untold property damage and grief if a pipe should freeze and burst in your home. If you are unsure of where this valve is or how to use it contact us and we will tag it for you and teach you how it works.

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(John Ward has owned and operated Applewood Plumbing, Heating & Electric for more than 34 years. He is a master plumber and recognized as an industry leader for his knowledge and ethical business practices.)

“The money will be put in our general fund,” said Director Steve Colvin, as he received the winning check from Applewood’s owner John Ward on Tuesday, Oct. 30, 2007. “This Giveaway will help fund a trip to the World Championship finals in Ohio,” he said.

The Sertoma foundation is an international organization dedicated to the “service to mankind.” There are more than 20,000 members in the 650 clubs across the nation. Their main focus is community service projects helping children with hearing impairments.

The Sertoma Mile High Soap Box Derby is a youth racing program. Boy and girls, ages eight to 17, compete in simplified cars built from kits purchased from the All-American Soap Box Derby. These kits provide a step-by-step layout for construction of a basic, gravity-powered car. The Sertoma Mile High Soap Box Derby currently has 14 out of 30 kids who are hearing impaired. “The race gives them the opportunity to do something they might not normally be able to,” said Colvin.

The three different divisions for racing include: Stock, Super Stock and Masters. The Stock division is designed to give the first-time builder a learning experience while the Super Stock division, gives the competitor an opportunity to expand their knowledge and build a more advanced model. The Masters division offers more of a creative skill level and is for the older aged kids, according to Colvin.

“The process involved in all three divisions creates a learning experience and a sense of responsibility for the kids. They are responsible for going to local businesses and asking for sponsorship of their cars and are encouraged to construct the cars themselves, with little to no help from an adult,” said Colvin.

“It’s terrific to see kids learning responsibility,” said Owner John Ward. “The Giveaway is a wonderful opportunity to help community youth learn, grow, and have fun doing it,” he said.

In addition to the lessons in the responsibility, the Sertoma Mile High Soap Box Derby teaches the kids some of the basic skills of workmanship, the spirit of competition and the perseverance to continue a project once it has begun. “These are the same traits we look for in our own employees,” said Ward.

With support from Applewood Plumbing Heating & Electric, the Sertoma Mile High Soap Box Derby will give more kids the opportunity to race to the finish line while learning in the process.

Conducting more than 65,000 community service projects each year, Optimist Clubs around the world positively affect a total of six million kids. With support from Applewood Plumbing Heating & Electric’s “Crazy 12 for 12” Giveaway, www.applewoodfixit.com, the Lakewood Breakfast Optimists Club will continue “bringing out the best in kids.”

Owner John Ward presented the August Giveaway winner and president elect of the Lakewood Breakfast Club, Linda Lee Law, with a check of $1,000 on September 20. The award money will be put toward the Clubs scholarship fund.

“I love to see the Giveaway helping organizations with educational opportunities,” said Ward. “Giving back to the community is what this Giveaway is all about.”

Since 1919, Optimist Clubs have been “bringing out the best in kids” and meeting the needs of young people in communities worldwide. These volunteer, community service-based organizations are committed to creating a more optimistic future for young people through innovative programs. The Clubs value children and help them develop to their full potential. Optimist Clubs conduct service projects aimed at providing a helping hand to youth. There are 105,000 individual members who belong to more than 3,200 autonomous Clubs.

The Lakewood Breakfast Club supports local schools and aids in academic programs such as the Brain Bowl and a scholarship program. The Breakfast Club’s scholarship fund is given to a high school graduate from Lakewood each year and is put towards any Colorado college of their choosing.

Law is excited about being Applewood’s August Giveaway winner and has many new ideas to share for her upcoming term as the club’s president. “The timing is perfect and I was speechless when I received the news,” she said.

For more information or to nominate a local nonprofit for the “Crazy 12 for 12” Giveaway, call 720-249-5145 or go to www.applewoodfixit.com.

Owner John Ward presented the June Giveaway winner and president of the Colorado Sickle Cell Association, Donna Dixon, with a check of $1,000 on July 27. Donna claims that, “the award money will be put towards the construction of a website.” With the World Wide Web being the main source for information today, “Applewood’s Giveaway award will help fund the way to raising more awareness about this incurable disease,” she said.

“Giving back to the community is what this Giveaway is all about,” said John Ward. “It is a real opportunity to help organizations with needed programs, resources and educational opportunities.”

The Colorado Sickle Cell Association is a member of the Sickle Cell Disease Association of America (SCDAA) and is client-oriented. They provide medication, transportation and support for clients’ needs. The staff at the Colorado Sickle Cell Association is made up of volunteers that cater to patients and their families through care giving and education.

A mentoring program called the Buddie Program is in the beginning stages to help build support. Patients diagnosed with sickle cell are partnered with medical students who mentor and care for them. “The timing is perfect that we are the June winner of the Applewood Giveaway,” Donna Dixon said. “This is a great big boost for us, I’m excited.”

Sickle Cell anemia is a genetic disorder that affects 70,000 Americans, 95 percent are African-American. The genetic condition affects the hemoglobin molecules in the blood. People with sickle cell have an abnormal type of hemoglobin, which causes the red blood cells to become hard, sticky and crescent shaped. This odd shape causes the small vessels to jam up and prevent the flow of blood and oxygen.

There is no cure for sickle cell disease and the outcome can be fatal if not properly treated and maintained, making knowledge and awareness about the disease vital within the community. Dixon and the Colorado Sickle Cell Association will be able to further their efforts to promote awareness and foster the support needed to overcome the disease with the $1,000 from Applewood Plumbing, Heating & Electric.

For more information or to nominate a local nonprofit for the “Crazy 12 for 12” Giveaway, call 720-249-5145 or go to www.applewoodfixit.com.

A national certification test has been developed, and is now being administered, to assure that heating and air conditions technicians have the skills to do the job. North American Technician Excellence (NATE) offers these voluntary tests to technician in the areas of heating, ventilation, air conditioning, and refrigeration. The independent, not-for-profit organization is supported by an unprecedented combination of technicians, building contractors, manufacturers, distributors, utilities, and heating and cooling contractors.

Applewood Plumbing Heating & Electric serving all of Denver and Boulder area communities is proud to announce that 100% of its technicians have passed the NATE tests. This certification benefits local homeowners by giving them an independent standard by which to select a knowledgeable technician to work on their home heating and or air conditioning system.

“This certification really helps,” said Josh Ward of Applewood. “It’s a way that we can show our customers that we really care about doing the job right, and that we know how to get it done right the first time.”

“Heating and cooling contractors today are trying to improve their industry’s image,” says NATE spokesperson Carl Smith. “This certification test is national, independent, focused on current technology, and aimed at a high standard for technicians, so only the best will pass. This encourages all technicians to improve their skills in order to keep up with the pack, and that improves the overall industry for everyone!”

For more information about Applewood Plumbing Heating & Electric, or to set up a job interview call Applewood Plumbing Heating & Electric at 720-249-5145.

For more information about NATE, call Carl Smith in Arlington, VA at 703-600-0361 or visit NATE online at www.natex.org.