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Columbus & Central Ohio, United States
DeLena Ciamacco is a well-known, respected Top Producing Realtor in Central Ohio. Her myriad of accomplishments, recognition, and professional credentials as they relate to Real Estate, make her a perfect individual to provide insight to the masses on all aspects of Real Estate sales. Her creativity and honest approach to marketing Real Estate has enabled her to succeed in her career. DeLena’s philosophy is “An educated and well prepared Buyer or Seller is a smart Buyer or Seller”. Her desire is to inform the public, by pulling from her 20+ years of Real Estate sales & Marketing, what is necessary to get to a successful closing in these challenging times.

Thursday, March 27, 2014

NEW LISTING IN BLACKLICK!

JUST LISTED
7556 Pateo Pass

VERY SPACIOUS & UPGRADED 5 LEVEL HOME...
… on a very scenic and treed lot with creek, ravine, & backs to green space reserve. Hardwood foyer opens to a Two-Story Great Room with gas fireplace & wall of windows. “Dream” Kitchen includes stainless steel appliances & 42” wrap around, maple cabinets. 1st Floor Den & Laundry Room. Vaulted Master Suite (on its own level) with plant ledge, walk-in closet & whirlpool bath. Finished Lower Level/Possible In-Law/Teen Suite with walk-in closet & Full Bath. White, 2 panel doors, trim, and woodwork. Interior painted 2014. Custom Deck has built-in seating & enclosed storage space below. 4 BRs & 3.5 Baths. Over 2,900 SF! Gahanna schools. Only $319,900! Call DeLena today!  

Dining outdoors? Tips for keeping food safe and delicious



(BPT) - Al fresco dining is one of the great pleasures of warm weather. Whether you're hosting a neighborhood barbecue or an intimate dinner party on your deck, outdoor dining is a great way to savor good food, company and the great outdoors. To ensure your meals are safe and enjoyable, it's important to know how to prepare, transport and store food for outdoor eating.



The Institute of Food Technologists (IFT) offers some advice for safely handling food when you're dining outdoors this summer:



Purchasing



Warm weather brings a bounty of fresh produce, and a trip to the local farmers market can make a nice addition to your outdoor meal. Food safety starts in the field. It's important to get to know the growers selling produce at your local farm stand, and ask about their farming practices. How do they keep their products free from bacterial pathogens and other contaminants? Farmers may also have great tips for storing produce, testing for ripeness and even ways to prepare the fruits and veggies they sell.



IFT spokesperson and food safety expert, Don Schaffner, PhD, says that when you're purchasing produce, make sure it's free of mold, bruises or blemishes where bacterial pathogens can grow. Many grocery stores offer freshly cut, packaged produce for customers seeking nutritious convenience foods. Freshly cut vegetables and fruit need proper temperature control to prevent the growth of bacteria that cause foodborne illness.



Prepping



Before preparing food, wash your hands thoroughly with soap and warm water for at least 20 seconds. Make sure all prep utensils such as cutting boards, dishes and countertops are clean before preparing each food item.



Dirt, dust and pathogenic microbes can linger on produce. It's important to wash fresh produce before consuming it. The only exception is are pre-bagged salads and leafy greens, as experts advise that additional washing of ready-to-eat green salads is not likely to enhance safety. Thoroughly washing in cold water will suffice for most fruits and vegetables, but some types of produce require special handling. Wash spinach or salad greens in a bowl of water and rinse them gently to remove dirt and other contaminants. -



Give extra attention to fruits with stems, such as apples, pears and peaches. You may be tempted to forego washing fruit with a rind, since you won't be eating the rind. But, it's still important to wash oranges, avocados, melons, cantaloupe, etc. - pathogens can linger in unwashed crevices and transfer to your hands or the knife you use to cut the fruit. In addition, wash items you'll peel - such as carrots and cucumbers - for the same reason.



Grilling



If you'll be grilling at home, remember to always marinate meat in the refrigerator, never on the kitchen counter or outdoors. Discard any extra marinade that's touched raw meat.



Grill food thoroughly, using a thermometer to ensure the proper internal temperature: 145 F for steaks and fish, 160 F for pork, hot dogs and hamburgers, and 165 F for poultry. Keep finished meats hot until you serve by moving them to the side of the grill rack, away from the coals or highest flame on your gas grill. Avoid cross contamination by using separate serving plates and utensils for different meats and vegetables.



If you'll be grilling away from home - in a park, tailgating at a sporting event or on a camping trip - consider purchasing pre-formed patties for burgers and pre-cut poultry. This minimizes the amount of handling meat requires and can help minimize the risk of bacteria and cross contamination.



Transporting



A picnic in the park can be great fun for everyone, but it's important to assure your food arrives safely along with your family and guests. Follow smart food packing guidelines. Keep meats, including lunch meats and raw meats, cheeses and condiments cold in insulated, soft-sided bags or coolers with freezer gel packs.



Food needs to be stored at 40 F or colder to reduce the risk of pathogen growth, so limit the number of times you open the cooler. Never allow food to sit for more than two hours at temperatures below 90 F, and no more than an hour when temperatures exceed 90 F. Throw away food that's been sitting out too long.



Securely package raw meat, seafood and poultry to ensure the juices don't contaminate other foods. Pack only the amount of perishable food that you think will be eaten. Beverages and perishable foods should travel in separate containers and coolers, especially if you'll be transporting raw meat.



When it's time to go home, don't reuse packaging material that has touched raw meats or meat juices. Make sure perishable leftovers stay cold on the trip home. Avoid taking home uncooked leftovers.



Courtesy of BPT



Myth busters: Why vinyl siding is America's hottest home design feature



(BPT) - Chances are, you've seen and heard a lot about vinyl siding on home renovation television shows, in magazines and in your neighborhood. Once seen as a drab and boring alternative to aluminum siding, vinyl siding is now driving new design trends, effortlessly adapting to any architectural home style.



According to the U.S. Census Bureau, vinyl siding is a hot home exterior material, appearing on nearly one third of all new homes built, more than any other cladding material. Still unsure about vinyl siding? Consider these myth-busting facts:



Myth: Vinyl siding is boring and looks cheap



Vinyl siding has come a long way since it was introduced and manufacturers have made strides in research and development efforts for design and performance. Nearly 350 vinyl siding colors have been certified for color retention, according to the Vinyl Siding Institute (VSI). The variety offers homeowners a virtually endless palette of fade-resistant colors, combined with complementary trim, accents and accessories. Additionally, the texture and attention to detail on the siding panels make high-end vinyl siding nearly indistinguishable from wood clapboard, cedar shake shingles or other traditional materials.



Thanks to these advancements in color and technology, top designers on shows like "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition" and "George to the Rescue" have recently made vinyl siding a focal point of their renovation and new-build home designs. And many historical societies across the U.S. have turned to vinyl siding for historic home renovations because of the wide selection of period colors, architectural details and low-maintenance benefits.



"After the devastating tornado in Joplin, Mo., we built seven houses in seven days using vinyl siding exteriors," says Kim Lewis, architectural designer of Kim Lewis Designs and former lead designer for ABC's Extreme Makeover: Home Edition. "At first I was skeptical, but we were able to bring forward character-driven design on each of the home's exteriors with vibrant colors and architectural elements. After spending some time with the material, I have a more positive outlook on vinyl siding."



Myth: Vinyl trim doesn't have the authentic look of wood



A common misconception about vinyl siding is that trim options don't offer a high-end look like authentic wood. Though in recent years, siding manufacturers such as Ply Gem have made significant strides in the design of low maintenance, holistic finishing solutions for windows, doors, eaves, gables, columns and more, introducing trim and mouldings made from cellular PVC.



These trim packages are designed to look and function like real wood, accentuating the best features of any architectural home style, but eliminating the need to clean, replace or stain in years to come. With today's trim options, even the most discerning homeowners will find there's no need to compromise beauty to get low-maintenance curb appeal.



Myth: Vinyl siding isn't durable



Don't let the light weight of the product fool you. Products like Mastic Home Exteriors by Ply Gem vinyl siding are manufactured with technologies tested to resist wind speeds of more than 200 mph. These products have been put to the test and withstood the elements in recent storms such as Superstorm Sandy.



In addition to holding its own against Mother Nature, vinyl siding puts up a pretty good fight against Father Time. The product has tremendous longevity, in many cases lasting 30 years or more with very little maintenance and low cost of ownership. Vinyl siding does not need to be painted and it can be cleaned with simple soap and water.



If you believed the myths above, don't be discouraged. One thing that is undeniably true is that vinyl siding will continue to lead the way in exterior home design. For links to more facts and studies on vinyl siding, visit www.plygem.com. Manufacturer sites like these are also a great resource for homeowners who want to experiment with vinyl siding colors and options before committing to a new build or renovation, offering exterior design tools for photo-realistic virtual makeovers on a variety of architectural home styles.



Courtesy of BPT



Wednesday, March 26, 2014

NEW LISTING IN BLACKLICK!



JUST LISTED!
~7871 Havens Corner Rd.~
AMAZING SETTING!
5+ gently rolling acres with woods, ravines, streams, & circular drive! Two-Story home with nearly 4,200 SF on 3 finished levels! Two-Story, hardwood Foyer. Island Kitchen with new granite countertops opens to a Two-Story Great Room. 1st floor Master Suite with Sitting Room, walk-in closet, whirlpool Bath, & private deck! Full, finished walk-out Basement with giant Recreation Room, Full Bath, 4th Bedroom, Den/Exercise Room, & Kitchenette. New roof, vinyl siding, carpet, paint, & more! 2 ½ car Garage with workshop. 4 BR’s & 3.5 Baths. Licking Heights Schools! Near Gahanna. Only $374,900! Call DeLena Today!
 

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