Western Treasure Valley Magazine - Spring 2023

GLAD TO BE BACK ELECTED INTO SERVICE AGAIN

TEAM SPIRIT

INKING THE DEAL

MOVIE MEMORIES

CINEMAS RENOVATED

COMMON BOND

PREPARING FOR LENT

3

Payette Mayor moved here 40 years ago and never looked back

6

‘What Home Feels Like’ Ontario’s former

cinemas

Did you ever go to The Roxy, Dreamland or Center Twin Theater?

8

TREASURE VALLEY MAGAZINE

Editor

Leslie Thompson

Designers

Gabriel Armenta

David Diaz

Duane Hollis

Josephine Rivera

The Star Theater and the Rex Theater are historic and still open for events

11 Celebrating the changes

of

seasons

Fat Tuesday and Shrove Tuesday, Christian celebrations

12

Theaters still going Commemorating a championship

Ontario High School coach gets tattoo for historical win

On the COVER

O cials with the city of Payette, Payette County and Idaho Transportation Department District 3 pause for a photo at the State Highway 52 Bridge. Pictured, from left, are Jamie Couch, head of Payette Streets Department; Tony Anchustegui, ITD District 3 foreman for New Plymouth and Weiser; Jim Ashley, Payette County Road and Bridge superintendent; Payette Mayor Craig Jensen; and Eric Copeland, ITD District 3 maintenance supervisor.

Page 3

James Sutherlin

Contributors

Blake Benard

Daniel Dominguez

Corey Evan

Gri n Hewitt

Mikhail LeBow

Jim Mosier

Moving Picture World magazine

Oregon Historical Society

Advertising

Ali Thayer

Holly Tucheck

Contact information

Western Treasure Valley Magazine

c/o Argus Observer

1160 S.W. Fourth St. Ontario OR 97914 editor@argusobserver.com

Advertising inquiries (541) 889-5387

Western Treasure Valley Magazine is published four times a year by Argus Observer, a division of Wick Communications Co.

Single copies are available at select locations throughout the Western Treasure Valley.

Copyright 2023 by Argus Observer.

Craig Jensen:

Craig Jensen: From

Craig Jensen was born in Idaho, and has been in Idaho ever since. After growing up in Boise, he soon found himself working as a mortgage banker in Pocatello. But as Jensen told the Argus in a Dec. 27 email, the winds of change would eventually push him back to the west end of the state.

“As anybody that has lived in Pocatello can attest to the fact that it is very cold and windy compared to this side of the valley and I wanted to get back to this side of the state because I was born and raised in Boise,” he wrote. “Farm Bureau Insurance Company’s headquarters were located in Pocatello so I asked if there were any openings for an insurance agent in Western Idaho and they said there was an opening in Payette and I said I’ll take it.”

That move took place in May 1981. Since then, he has never looked back.

In addition to his nine years of service on the Payette City Council and being elected as the current mayor of Payette in 2021, Jensen is an active member of the Payette Chamber of Commerce

Why I love the Western Treasure Valley

Story and photos by Corey Evan

Present Payette Mayor has been local for 41 years

insuring clients to ensuring the community’s future

From insuring clients to ensuring the community’s future

Jensen announces his bid for mayor at a gathering at Payette Kiwanis Park in July 2021.

Jensen leads the bell ringing ceremony at the Payette County Museum, for Constitution Week on Sept. 19, 2021.

and also serves the Boys & Girls Club of Payette.

“[I] also helped in the funding and construction of Harmon Killebrew’s Miracle Field where Special Need children can play the great game of baseball safely. I am also on the Community Advisory Committee for Idaho Power to help determine what and where our power needs will be in the State of Idaho over the next 10 years.”

He said that his service to the community has helped him see that not only do people in the valley want to help their community, but have ideas he sees as beneficial to it as a whole.

“I know it might sound like a cliché, but I think the thing I like the most after 40 years in the area is the people.”

While Boise has the Idaho Central Arena and Meridian has Roaring Springs, Jensen touted a whole host

of indoor and outdoor recreation amenities right in the valley.

“Who else can say that they have two rivers that run through them that

can be used for swimming, floating, boating and hunting and fishing as well as a Greenway that follows both rivers, an 18-hole golf course, a

year-round pool, 50 acres of parks, a Boys and Girls Club and an airport. I’m sure I am leaving something out but you get my gist.”

He said that as a city official, he finds that his style of leadership is not to micromanage but rather let department heads and employees shine on their own.

“As I have gotten older, I have found it wise to stay in your own lane of expertise and if it’s not in your lane than call on the experts to help out. A good team will get much more done than an individual can.”

Jensen also said listening to citizens can get even more done; He noted that listening to downtown Payette business owners was one example, as their calls to his office helped spearhead a change to Payette Municipal Code which allows each of them to have an offpremises sign to help attract traffic to the struggling business district. Such was approved Jan. 3 for inclusion in the updated code.

When they asked me to come back after Kahlia Morin moved, I was happy to have the opportunity to serve the citizens again. The year that I wasn’t serving made me realize how much I missed it so I’m glad to be back.

– Craig Jensen

Jensen talks with council members prior to the Payette City Council meeting on Jan. 3.

“At least it will give them exposure that they don’t have now.”

Speaking of downtown Payette, Jensen said that efforts to revitalize the downtown core have progressed to the conceptual and engineering phases.

“We have all our concepts approved by our steering committee. We now need the engineers to give us the costs estimates so we can start applying for grants.”

Such estimates remain pending as of press time.

In the meantime, Jensen said he is still continuing efforts to bring a hotel back to Payette. While the Payette Motel remains open, there has not been a hotel in Payette since the Bancroft Hotel burned down in January 1979.

“We certainly could support one and we really need one. Just think of the doors that would open if we had a motel. Our schools could host regional and state competition events. We could host conventions, family reunions, funerals or any other kinds of gatherings. It would not only help the downtown businesses but every business in town.”

Jensen originally stepped away from the city council in 2020, as did Kathy

Dodson and Alan Massey. However, after the resignation of successor Kahlia Morin in 2021, he happily accepted the invitation to come back to serve again.

“When they asked me to come back after Kahlia Morin moved, I was happy to have the opportunity to serve the citizens again. The year that I wasn’t

serving made me realize how much I missed it so I’m glad to be back.”

Such support for Jensen’s return was embodied in former mayor Jeff Williams backing his run for mayor; Williams elected not to run for re-election when Jensen announced his bid for the mayoral post in 2021. Jensen won his bid against councilor Daniel

Lopez, who expressed his support for Jensen following that election.

When asked why he loves the Western Treasure Valley, he summarized his feelings for the area very simply.

“The best way to tell people why I love Payette is to quote our City Motto: ‘What Home Feels Like.’”

Jensen speaks to a gathering of local residents at the Payette Senior Center, during his mayoral campaign in Aug. 2021.

The cinematic history of Ontario Their doors closed but the past still lives

GRIFFIN HEWITT Argus Observer

Cinema can be a portal into imagination and wonder.

Most people have powerful memories associated with watching a movie on a vast silver screen and all of the feelings associated with that viewing.

While films are something that has defined popular culture through generations and provide insight into themes and ideas far removed from the average person’s day-to-day lives, they also often offer a form of relatability to the plights and triumphs being portrayed on the screen.

What these structures house is more than entertainment — it’s a piece of history, both public and personal.

Movie memories

Most people remember their earliest

experiences with movie theaters. Some good, some less than good. However, few people can say that their dad mistakenly took his 4-year-old son into the wrong auditorium and instead of seeing Disney’s “The Rescuers” saw “Terms of Endearment.” The writer of this article can say that very thing. Five years later, Dad did get the right auditorium and we watched “Who Framed Roger Rabbit,” much to his chagrin.

Historical celebration

An article from the Ontario Argus, the precursor newspaper to the present day Argus Observer, announced “the first piece of paved highway in South Eastern Oregon” to be opened for public use. The article published on Oct. 28, 1920. This moment was celebrated by the city of Ontario with a series of events which included “free picture shows at both theaters to all visitors.” The theaters being referenced by the article were the Dreamland and the Majestic theaters.

The celebration also featured a high school band performance, a parade and a nighttime dance.

Sights and sounds abound

Touching base with Ontario Community Library Director Darlyne Johnson, who also happens to be on the Malheur County Historical Society, the cinematic history of Malheur County and the surrounding areas unfolded a bit more.

Johnson said that the Majestic theater, which opened in 1920 and operated under that name until 1930, later became the Roxy. Another theater, The Dreamland, opened in 1912 before becoming The Pix in 1937, part of this structure, marquee included, is now part of Eldridge Furniture after the theater showed its last film in April 2001 and shuttered its doors.

She also noted the Pay-Ont drive-in theater, which stood for “Payette-Ontario” was actually located in Fruitland, not Ontario, as it was listed in the Motion Picture Almanac. That publication,

which listed movie theaters operating in the United States, ceased publication in 2014.

Drive-in Decency

The 1987 movie, “The Monster Squad” depicted a young man and his dad climbing onto the roof of their house with movie snacks and binoculars to watch a horror film playing at their town’s local drive-in movie theater.

While this example is a fictional one, it does demonstrate how enterprising individuals can at least see the images on the screen even without the added benefit a soundtrack.

Drive-in movie theaters, a mainstay of decades past, have experienced some controversy over the years since their mainstream inception due to unintended viewing by motor vehicles drivers passing by.

Middle Tennessee State University’s First Amendment Encyclopedia website details a Supreme Court decision (Erznoznik v. City of Jacksonville) in which it was decided that censoring art on the basis of offending some people was not Constitutional after city officials

in Jacksonville, Florida in 1975, introduced an ordinance that prohibited the showing of films that contained nudity.

The ordinance was intended to protect viewers who did not want to be subjected to the content as well as being a protective measure for minors.

The Supreme Court ultimately decided the ordinance violated the First Amendment in a 6-3 vote. The majority opinion, written by Justice Lewis F. Powell Jr., said that the government should not be acting as a censor for the public and limiting certain types of speech on the grounds that some may be offended.

Today’s renovations

Many people know the building in Ontario, Oregon, on SW 1st Avenue.

This building housed the Centre Twin Theatre that originally opened in 1948 as a 750 seat, 2 screen theater. After some recent renovations by new owners George and Elna Pienaar, that site is now gearing up to become a downtown event center called the Center Twin Event Center. The auditoriums, and other portions of the building,

were still undergoing construction during this year’s Frosty Fest holiday event in downtown Ontario in November 2022.

Did you know?

Most of today’s modern film studios are over one hundred years old. Universal Pictures and Paramount Pictures both began operation in 1912. Warner Bros Pictures started in 1923, while Columbia Pictures began in 1924. Those devoted to independent cinema are likely familiar with the film company A24, which began in 2012, one hundred years after Universal and Paramount. International Motion Picture Almanac was an annual reference of the motion picture industry and the people involved in it, published by Quigley Publishing.

It ceased publication in 2014. (upenn) online books / library

Interested in more?

Check out this website that explores Oregon’s movie theaters of yesteryear — https:// oregontheaterproject.uoregon.edu/theaters/.

Historic theaters that have stood the test of time

Editor’s note: This piece is from Argus archives in 2018 about historic theaters that still exist today.

Ah, those magnificent old theaters that have mostly disappeared from our communities’ historic downtowns.

Vale still has one, though, as does Weiser.

In Vale, a 400-seat theater with a balcony and orchestra pit opened in 1914, according to an article published in the Malheur Enterprise in September of that year.

The new theater, which cost $8,000 and was originally owned by two men, Hadley and Cooper,

was first known as the Vale Theater, but soon the name was changed to the Rex Theater.

With Hollywood’s film industry just gearing up (Cecil B. DeMille’s first studio opened in 1913, and Charlie Chaplin’s studio wasn’t a reality until 1917), vaudeville was

still king of local theaters when Vale’s new theater opened.

The first performance in Vale’s new theater was indeed live, but it wasn’t vaudeville. The Vale High School football team staged a play, “In Dixie Land,” to raise money for uniforms.

ARGUS OBSERVER, FILE

This photo shows Star Theatre in 2018.

ARGUS OBSERVER

Vale residents didn’t have to wait long before they were able to view films as well. In 1915 the theater

added an expensive reel-to-reel machine — a Power’s Cameragraph No. 6A, according to the Aug.

28, 1915, issue of Moving Picture World magazine.

Some 33 miles away in Weiser, meanwhile, developments at that community’s Star Theater were no less ambitious. At its original location, which, according to Weiser history book author Betty Derig began operating no later than 1910, the Star was by that year already screening films that were accompanied by songs played from one of those newfangled phonographs being manufactured by a company owned by Thomas Edison. Films for those early screenings at the Star “would be five or six reels of unrelated ‘shorts,’ each taking about eight minutes to run,” writes Derig in her book, “Weiser The Way It Was!”

Better viewing fare was soon offered as the film industry quickly evolved. Derig notes that films with such big-name actors as Fatty Arbuckle and Mary Pickford were screened in Weiser.

Derig notes also that A.C. Gordon, who purchased the Star in December of 1916, owned two other theaters in Weiser — the Wheaten and the shorter-lived Colonial. Many of Derig’s published references to the Star pertain to that business before it was relocated

THIS YEAR’S MELODRAMA

The Illustrious Onion Skin Players perform an 1890’s-style melodrama in March each year in the historic Star Theater. The 2023 show is “The Veggie Villain or He had a Steak in it,” written by Craig Sodaro. Shows will be at 7:30 p.m. on March 4, March 8, March 10, March 11, March 15, March 17 and March 18. Matinee shows are March 5 and March 12 and are at 2:30 p.m. Doors open 30 minutes prior. For more information, or to get tickets, visit illustriousonionskinplayers.org.

to its permanent home in a newly built theater building. The theater’s current owners, melodrama troupe The Illustrious Onionskin Players, recognize 1917 as the building’s construction year.

Although the newly built Star was a premium venue complete with balcony seating, backstage dressing rooms and a formidable coal-fired furnace, its prestige didn’t immediately eclipse that of the Wheaten, which opened in 1906 and was deemed a suitable playhouse for productions on the nation’s traveling circuit.

“In 1909, ‘Babes in Toyland,’ a Victor Herbert musical, was proclaimed the extravaganza of

SINCE 1988

PHOTO COURTESY OF OREGON HISTORICAL SOCIETY

The Rex Theater in Vale had sandwich boards on the sidewalk out front letting people know what was playing in the theater at the time. This photo was taken from the center of A Street, looking east, in 1923.

< Continuation from page 9 < the year” and included “Gertrude Lawrence and the entire New York cast,” Derig writes. Another time the theater hosted a group from the New York Metropolitan Opera Company.

“Programs like these were a treat for theater-goers and for years special excursion trains brought crowds from Payette, Ontario and other neighboring towns,” the Weiser historian relates.

The traveling shows’ glorious

era was but a distant memory, however, by the time the Wheaten saw its final curtain. Like so many historic buildings, its end came in a spectacle of flames. On May 21, 1937, it was a regional news story.

As reported over the United Press newswire with a Weiser dateline, “Firemen from three towns battled flames 300-feet high which destroyed the $75,000 Wheaton theatre here early today. Spectators said the flames were visible for 15 miles.”

The Wheaten was gone, but Weiser’s Star Theater lived on.

Gordon family ownership continued into a second generation, and eventually the historic theater was purchased by one of the Weiser community’s most beloved couples, Dr. Edward and Madeline Wheeler.

In 2000, the Onionskins purchased the Star from the Wheelers. One of the melodrama troupe’s first major undertakings was to replace the coal-fired furnace with a modern heating system. The Onionskins’ Meyer says the group wants to restore the theater’s marquee, which dates to a major remodeling carried out in 1939-40.

PHOTO VIA OF MOVING PICTURE WORLD MAGAZINE

J.B. Quisenberry stands outside the Rex Theater during the first year it was open. This photo appeared in the Aug. 28, 1915, edition of Moving Picture World magazine. Quisenberry had been a subscriber to the magazine for several years and awaited each number with interest, the caption said.

JIM MOSIER

Mardi Gras is synonymous with New Orleans for many of us. It is “party time” on steroids. But there is so much more to know about when it comes to this celebration. First and foremost, the celebration of this day is not unique to New Orleans. It actually has its beginning rooted in the cosmos. The timing is tied to the vernal equinox. On that day the earth’s sun is aligned directly with the equator. It is the meteorological beginning of spring. The dark days of winter are giving way to the days of light.

Easter falls on the first Sunday after the full moon occurring on or after the vernal equinox (recognized as March 21 by the Christians). Forty days before Easter begins, many Christians begin an observance of a holy Lent. It is a time of reflection and repentance. Prayers and fasting are the activities included in Lent. To prepare for

this, a party is held to use up the fat and other things that have accumulated. It is called “Fat Tuesday.” The following day is Ash Wednesday which is the day that people present themselves in prayer and contemplation. They are to be marked by ashes to represent the beginning of the Lenten journey of repentance.

We have versions of this celebration here in the Treasure Valley. One of which is the Shrove Tuesday Pancake Supper held in several different churches in our community. Shrove is the past tense of shrive, which means to gain absolution of sins by confession and repentance. Shrove Tuesday is also known as Pancake Tuesday in some western European countries. The pancake aspect is not as widely observed in the United States as it is in England. However, currently we use this event as an occasion to gather and celebrate our common bond to one another. This year, Shrove Tuesday fell on Feb. 21.

The Carnival season begins right after the 12 days of Christmas. Jan. 6 will see new activities in New Orleans in preparation for Mardi Gras. These preparations are extensive. Fat Tuesday becomes more than “FAT”! In the coming days it becomes huge. Things gather speed and energy two weeks before Ash Wednesday. The event is stretched beyond imagination.

There is a universal quality about this celebration. All of us experience the changes of seasons. If we live in the Northern hemisphere or the Southern hemisphere our seasons change. Though it is at opposite times. Spring equinox for us is the fall equinox for our friends who live in South America. The heat of summer in August is the time for the cold of winter in Argentina. The Carnival of Rio de Janeiro of Brazil springs from much the same events as does Mardi Gras.

If you are anxious to participate in Mardi Gras in New Orleans we are well advised to begin our planning for reservations early. For most of us in the Treasure Valley a feast on pancakes is a great way to reestablish our bonds of friendship, celebrate our common life, and prepare for the refl ections of a Holy Lent for the next 40 days.

ARGUS OBSERVER, FILE

Members of St. Matthew’s Episcopal Church in Ontario begin preparations for the Shrove Tuesday Pancake Supper from at the church in 2018. From left are Vicki Mosier, Rev. Jim Mosier and Linda Quinn. Not shown are Naveeda Benjamin and Glorian Crosby. Shrove Tuesday is a traditional preparation for fasting, also known as “Fat Tuesday” when people “eat everything in the cupboard,” Rev. Mosier said. Anglican churches serve pancake suppers. At St. Matthew’s the pancake batter is made from scratch using a recipe from Blanche Rowe.

A feast on pancakes paves the way to Holy Lent in the Western Treasure Valley

Jim Mosier

Story by Mikhail LeBow

PHOTO COURTESY OF BLAKE BENARD Ontario High School boys soccer team beat Phoenix 1-0 in the OSAA Class 4A state championship game winning its first state championship on Saturday night in Hillsboro.

In the fall of 2022, the Ontario High School boys soccer team were crowned the 2022 OSAA 4A State Champions for the first time in the school’s history. In conjunction with the Tigers claiming the state title, Head Coach Daniel Dominguez had promised the team that he would get his first tattoo if they were to win the state championship, emphasizing that he had no other tattoos.

As a result of the team’s 1-0 win over Phoenix on Nov. 12, Dominguez kept his promise. He got a tattoo of the Ontario soccer

CONTINUED ON PAGE 17

PHOTO COURTESY OF DANIEL DOMINGUEZ

Daniel Dominguez, head coach of the Ontario High School boys soccer team, gets the team’s shield logo tattooed on the back of his leg, a promise he kept to the team for being crowned state champions in November of 2022.

It’s not just this season, this has been a work in progress for many, many years.

— Daniel Dominguez, Head coach, Ontario High School boys soccer team

PHOTO COURTESY OF LESLIE THOMPSON, FILE | ARGUS OBSERVER

Members of the Ontario High School boys soccer team wave at youth standing outside Ontario Middle School on Wednesday when the Ontario School District organized a parade for the state champions.

PHOTO COURTESY OF DANIEL DOMINGUEZ

Daniel Dominguez pauses for a photo with tattoo artist Pawlee Garcia.

PHOTO COURTESY OF DANIEL DOMINGUEZ

The tattoo also features the words “Tigers State Champions 2022.”

logo, which was developed by current Ontario Girls Head Coach Javier Gonzalez and past Boys Head Coach Jaime Gonzalez.

Dominguez got the tattoo on his right calf, displaying the shield and logo with the words ‘Tigers State Champions 2022’ across the front.

“This has been going on for many years, since coach Jaime was the coach. We would always mention that to the boys as a little inspiration,” said Dominguez. “So the idea of the tattoo came along before the season. I had mentioned to previous teams that if they won the state championship, that I’d get a tattoo.”

The tattoo was done at Mindsight Studios, in Weiser, which is owned by classmates of Dominguez. The tattoo artist was Pawlee Garcia. He has known Dominguez as a coach for his children throughout the years, with one of Garcia’s sons being a part of the state championship team.

Dominguez also mentioned that the coaches like to do something fun for the team each year, and have had other ideas. This has

included shaving their heads or bleaching their hair if they were to win state. However, this year’s promise to get his first tattoo was added midway through the season, as he told to the team he believed they were contenders for the state title.

“About mid-season, we were having a little meeting and I mentioned to them, they were a contender to bring home the championship this year. The team seemed strong enough to bring home a championship,” said Dominguez.

He mentioned that the success of the program stems from the Ida-Ore competitive program, resurrected by Javier and Jaimie. He said it makes his job as a coach a lot easier, when the athletes are knowledgeable about the game prior to high school. As a result, Dominguez can focus on more advanced techniques to help improve the team’s skills, due to a large amount of the team having been involved in the Ida-Ore program throughout the years.

“I try to give them the knowledge that I have so they can use

it, because if someone would’ve explained it to me when I was their age — on what to do, how to play my position — I probably would have benefited from it,” said Dominguez. “So that is what we try to do with these kids, we’re trying to not just be a coach, but to try to be a role model, a friend, and trying to do anything positive that these kids can see in us. So that they can better themselves in life … It sounds like a cliché, but we’re not just teaching soccer, we’re teaching life lessons.”

“That is another reason why the tattoo is on my leg now, because I feel that if I give somebody my word, that’s what you have … If I tell somebody I’m going to do something, I better try to the best of my abilities to do it. So it’s another reason why I have it, not just because I promised them that — it’s my word,” said Dominguez.

In the state championship, Ontario faced off against Phoenix High School after defeating Tillamook, Newport and North Marion to advance to the title game. The two teams battled throughout the game, with the Tigers claiming a

narrow victory.

“If I would tell you I wasn’t nervous, I would lie to you. The nerves were always there, because it was a close game. Any time they were on our side, I was a little more nervous, but when we had the ball, I was confident in our team. As time went by, the game itself showed what we could and couldn’t do … It was emotional and tense till the final whistle,” said Dominguez.

He has been involved in the Ontario High School soccer program since the 2016-17 season, as Jamie was looking for an assistant coach. This year, Dominguez took over the program for his first year as head coach, leading the Tigers to their first state championship in school history.

“It’s not just this season, this has been a work in progress for many, many years. Coach Jamie and Coach Javier had this vision in mind when they took over the Ida-Ore program … You’re more advanced in everything when you have something like that started for you. Thanks to the Gonzalez brothers this was able to be achieved this year.”

Words

WORD SEARCH

BEACH BEVERAGES

BREAK

CELEBRATE

COLLEGE

CONTEST

CROWDS

ESCAPE

FRIENDS

MUSIC

NOISY

OCEAN

PARTY REFRESHMENTS

REVELRY

SEMESTER

SOUTH

SPRING

SUNSHINE

SWIMSUIT

TRAFFIC

TRAVEL VACATION

WARM

Find the words hidden vertically, horizontally, diagonally, and backwards.

Word Search Solution

To show our appreciation for supporting our efforts within the community we are offering 20%-30% off all Natural Factors products. Over the past 60 years, their family-run business has grown from humble beginnings to become a world leader in providing pure and natural vitamins and supplements.

Upgrading a driveway and walkway is one way to update a home’s exterior and restore its curb appeal

SIGNS A HOME EXTERIOR NEEDS UPDATING

METRO CREATIVE CONNECTION

Renovations are a great way for homeowners to reshape their homes. Some may aspire to renovate so their home is more reflective of their personal taste, while others may do so in an effort to make their homes better align with modern styles and sensibilities. Regardless of why a homeowner chooses to renovate, the need to do so is often evident to the naked eye, especially when the time comes to update home exteriors.

Curb appeal is often discussed

in regard to the effects it can have when selling a home. But curb appeal is equally important for homeowners who aren’t putting their homes on the market. A wellmaintained, aesthetically appealing home is a source of pride, while a home with fading curb appeal can make homeowners feel a little sheepish. Homeowners who want their homes to maintain their curb appeal can look for signs that it’s time to update their home exteriors.

• Curling shingles: The roof may not be the first thing people think of when pondering curb appeal, but a damaged roof can contribute to problems that ultimately affect the exterior and interior of the home. Multiple curling shingles indicate it’s time to replace the roof. The sight of curling shingles is not pretty, but the larger issue in such instances is the

potential for costly water damage when water gets in through the affected shingles.

• Dated entry door: Many home improvement experts insist they can determine when a home was built or most recently renovated simply by looking at the front door. Steel and glass doors are popular in modern homes, so homeowners with front doors with ornate designs and oval glass inserts can likely benefit from an upgrade to their entryway. A modern front door can make a statement and real estate experts note how popular updated front doors are among buyers.

• Unsightly landscaping: It’s not only the physical components of the home that may suggest an update is necessary. Homeowners without a green thumb may have exterior landscaping that has seen better

days. If a spring or summer day spent tending to your landscaping is not your ideal weekend pastime, then consider replacing unsightly landscaping with low-maintenance plants or hardscaping. These alternatives to more needy plants can create curb appeal without requiring any extra work for homeowners.

• Cracked driveways/walkways: If the driveway looks like a busy road at the end of snow plowing season, chances are that’s adversely affecting the impression people have of your home. In addition, cracked walkways indicate a need for renovations, as these areas are front and center when welcoming guests.

Updating a home’s exterior can restore curb appeal and help homeowners feel better about their properties.

METRO CREATIVE CONNECTION

As any homeowner knows, renovation projects tend to cost a lot of money. The average cost of a home renovation is difficult to gauge, as such endeavors run the gamut from complex projects like a kitchen overhaul to simpler ones like painting a room inside a home. Indeed, the National Association of the Remodeling Industry notes that scope is what drives the cost of a renovation project. Though there might not be an “average cost” of a renovation project, homeowners can expect to spend thousands of dollars on projects that are not very small in scale. Navigating such an expense at a time when inflation remains high might be difficult for some homeowners looking to maintain the appearance of their home exteriors. However, there are many budget-friendly ways homeowners can tend to the exterior of their properties.

Power washing

Power washing won’t break the bank but it can revive the look of a home. Power washing removes dirt and grime from the siding of a home and a power washing can be used to clean porches, walkways and patios as well. Hardware chains like Home Depot and Lowes typically rent power washers, but homeowners who don’t want to do it themselves can hire a professional for a few hundred dollars, if not less. Power washing after winter can be a good idea, as the elements can take a toll on a home’s exterior. A good power washing before spring and summer entertaining season can thus give a home a fresh, clean look without breaking the bank.

Furnished front porch

A furnished front porch can serve as a welcome sign to neighbors and provide a great place to relax with a morning cup of coffee and a good book. Homeowners with a small porch won’t need to bust their budgets to upgrade their front porch furnishings. Some small chairs with bright cushions, a small table and a rug underfoot can revamp an entryway at low cost.

Window box installation

Budget-friendlywaystofreshen upyourhome’sexterior

THERE

Installing window box planters is another costeffective way to brighten up a home’s exterior. Homeowners can hang window boxes outside windows on the front of their homes and then fill them with brightly colored flowers to add an inviting pop of color to their home exteriors. The experts at Better Homes & Gardens urge homeowners to take weight into consideration before buying window planters. Keep in mind that soil and developed plants can be heavy, so look for a sturdy box as well as one that has drainage holes.

Replace hardware

Another simple way to freshen up a stale exterior is to replace hardware. Door knobs, knockers, house numbers, and even the mailbox can appear dated after a while. Replacing these items is inexpensive and quick but can have a profound impact on how the exterior of a home appears to residents and visitors.

Exterior renovations need not break the bank. Various simple and inexpensive tweaks can quickly revitalize the exterior of a home.

ARE MANY BUDGET-FRIENDLY WAYS HOMEOWNERS CAN TEND TO THE EXTERIOR OF THEIR PROPERTIES.

The following are some family-friendly activities that make the most of spring renewal

Spring activities for families to enjoy together

METRO CREATIVE CONNECTION

Spring is one of the most popular seasons of the year. After several months of chilly temperatures in many regions, spring provides a welcome reprieve from the cold.

Moderate temperatures makes it much more comfortable and inviting to venture outdoors, particularly for families with children who might not adapt to the cold as well as adults. The following are some family-friendly activities that make the most of spring renewal.

Visit botanic gardens

If there’s a botanical garden nearby, a visit in spring is a great time to soak in the beauty of nature. That’s because an abundance of flowers bloom during the spring, meaning a garden will be in peak form. Visitors can meander through rows of rose bushes or tour the labyrinth of trimmed hedges. Beautiful, flowering cherry trees, with their delicate pink or white petals, also are sights to behold in spring.

Prepare a home garden

Visiting a garden is one thing, creating one at home is another. In addition to planning a vegetable garden to enjoy tasty pickings throughout summer, you can devote some property to flowers that will attract wildlife. Check with a garden center about which flowers and plants attract butterflies and other beneficial insects. Many garden centers sell butterfly and hummingbird mixes to attract wildlife.

Go animal watching

Flowers are not the only thing on display come the spring. Many animals, including birds, are born this time of year. Baby animals are not only adorable, they can be entertaining to watch grow. Families can spend time viewing the animals that

visit their yards or surrounding parks, being careful to keep their distance. Adults may be quite protective of their young, so it’s better to watch from the lens of a camera or with binoculars. Always resist the urge to help a baby animal who seems like it was abandoned. The parent may be a short distance away gathering food or trying to avoid drawing attention to the young to deter predators.

Get out on the water

A bright, warm day is an ideal time to enjoy the open water. Spring is a season when many marinas reopen and avid boaters put their vessels back into the water. You also can venture into streams or lakes aboard kayaks or canoes, getting exercise and seeing the scenery in the process. Bring a fishing pole along and cast it into the water for a few hours of recreation.

Make wind chimes

Enhance the garden or decor around the home by making wind chimes or other percussion items that can create beautiful music when spring breezes blow. Commercially available kits are sold, but wind chimes also can be made from items like bamboo or even strung shells. These are just a few family-friendly activities to enjoy this spring.

METRO CREATIVE CONNECTION

Spring is a season of renewal. When the flowers are blooming and the trees are budding and the weather is pleasantly warm, people often feel inspired to make changes around their homes. Work may begin with culling belongings and organizing essentials.

them along Spring cleaning pointers

There is debate regarding where the practice of “spring cleaning” originated. Some researchers link it to certain religious groups. It has long been an ancient Jewish custom to thoroughly clean a house in preparation for the springtime feast of Passover. The house is scoured to remove any yeast bread, or chametz, from the home. Similarly, members of the Greek Orthodox church celebrate “Clean Week,” which is a week of cleaning before Lent. In Iranian culture, families spend days cleaning prior to the Persian New Year, which begins on the spring equinox.

Spring cleaning also has some secular roots. For instance, in the 1800s, Londoners routinely cleared their homes of grime and soot that accumulated over the winter.

Spring cleaning is still a ritual for many today. As people embark on their plans to tidy up, these tips can help them along.

Tackle one big task a day

Who hasn’t started one project only to be distracted into moving along to another room? This often occurs when people discover something out of place in one space and then move that item where it belongs, only to find a

new cleaning task at hand in that space. Inefficiency can make you give up on spring cleaning prematurely. Agree to address one room/task a day. Keep a basket or box handy to store errant items until you move on to the next room.

Stock up supplieson

Prepare all of the cleaning supplies in advance. Put together a tool kit of sorts with the equipment you need, including mops, brooms, rags, cleansers, and the like. Organization can keep you on course.

Harness your strengths weaknessesand

Some people clean because they are stressed or angry, others do so to avoid other tasks. Keep personality in mind when establishing a cleaning schedule. For example, clean at night if you’re a night owl, or wait until you are feeling antsy before embarking on

a “calm down cleaning.”

Tackle seasonal chores first

Some tasks need to get done to prepare for the spring and summer season. These may include cleaning the grill and sorting through outdoor furniture and decor. Spring cleaning may involve readying the pool for another year of use, or cleaning out rain gutters to prepare for spring storms. Tackle time-dependent tasks first and then move on to others that are less time-sensitive.

Spread out the work

Some people like to devote full weekends to spring cleaning, but that can be overwhelming for others. Breaking down cleaning tasks into 15- to 30-minute intervals each day can make the job more tolerable.

Spring cleaning season has arrived, and certain tips can make the job more efficient and manageable.

As people embark on their plans to tidy up, these tips can help