Out and About – Week of November 3rd

If you’re reading this and have not voted, please do us all a favor and get out and vote right away. Today is Election Day. You have a chance to possibly make a difference. If you decide not to vote, then in my opinion, you have no right to complain about the outcome of the elections.

As promised, here are some ways that you can help prevent weather damage to your roof. Now is the time to act before the winter weather arrives. This is not the time to procrastinate.

According to Jim Gustin, Senior Property Specialist, Risk Control, at Travelers Insurance, many types of severe weather can put added stress on roofs, from high-speed winds ripping off shingles, heavy debris and ice getting caught in gutters, to the weight of excess snow. Jim goes on to say, “As we gear up for fall, there’s no better time to inspect roofs for damage, make any necessary repairs, and clean the gutters to help prevent some of the most common causes of damage that occur.”

Travelers Insurance recommends the following to ensure that your roof is in good condition and to also prevent potential damage:

• Trim trees and remove any dead branches. This way they won’t damage your home if they fall because of wind, ice, or snow.
• Clear gutters and downspouts of debris. As the leaves fall, make sure they aren’t building up in the gutters.
• Check for any roof damage. On flat roofs, check for surface bubbles and areas with missing gravel. On sloped roofs, check for missing or damaged shingles or tiles.
• Add some extra insulation in the attic. This could prevent ice dams. When too much heat escapes, it can melt the ice and snow on the roof; then, when it refreezes, it may cause an ice dam, which could cause water to back up into your home.
• Check the flashing on the roof to make sure it’s in good condition to help prevent water penetration. Should your roof needs replacing, you might want to consider using impact-resistant roofing materials. This would be strongly advised if you happen to live in a hail-prone area.

Like many, I am a bit of a fan of Facebook. Every now and then I post something, but I read it mainly for some of the quotations and words of wisdom. If I run across a great quote or saying, I’ll add it to my collection. Periodically I’ll read through my collection. By doing so, I will sometimes come up with an idea for a column. Here’s an example:

“Society has gotten to the point where everybody has a right, but nobody has a responsibility.” I have a particular fondness and a lot of respect for teachers. Both of my parents were teachers, and my wife taught for forty-two years. There was a time when parents took some responsibility in the raising of their children. Fortunately, most parents still do, but I’m referring to those parents who feel that it’s up to the teachers to do 90% of the raising of their children. A teacher might spend six or seven hours a day teaching a child how to get along with others, or how to speak with at least some proper grammar. The child then returns home and might hear, “I seen you do that. Now shut up, because I don’t want to hear about your troubles.” My point is that all parents have the right to bring a child into the world, but some don’t feel responsible for raising them properly. There are some parents that are too busy with their own lives to worry about their kids. There are also a lot of kids raising kids. Grandmothers are getting younger all the time. If you doubt what I’ve just written here, I invite you to watch the evening news, or read other parts of the newspaper. Your right to do something ends when it interferes with someone else’s right.

See you Out and About!

Submitted by Norm Stutesman