AireServ of the Mid-Hudson Valley - July/August 2020

AireServ of the Mid-Hudson Valley - July/August 2020

aireserv.com/mid-hudson-valley | 845-256-6158

COMFORT CONNECTIONS

BANDING TOGETHER

Responding to a Pandemic as a Team Committed to You

F or our team at Aire Serv of the Mid-Hudson Valley, the past few months have felt surreal, as I’m sure they have for many of you. Almost immediately, we took extra precautions to ensure we were protecting our clients as our community and places around the globe shut down to limit the spread of COVID-19. Long before this pandemic started, our technicians had gloves, booties, and masks readily available on their trucks and would wear this equipment whenever our clients requested it. So when the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and other health agencies began requiring us to wear this equipment as a safety practice, we were able to easily comply. We’ve instituted a few rules for our team as well. For example, we check our technicians’ temperatures every day prior to starting work, and if they don’t feel well or their temperature reads high, then we send them home. It wasn’t difficult for our team to adjust. We all understood that this was something we had to do. Your HVAC system doesn’t stop needing repairs or regular maintenance because there is a pandemic. In fact, because there is a pandemic, you should be regularly monitoring the health of your system. (See our article on page 2 for more information!) If we can offer repairs, maintenance, and even replacements while still protecting our clients, then we are going to do everything we can to make that happen.

Thankfully, our team and the work we do is pretty adaptable. When COVID-19 began presenting a real danger to our region, our client services representative, Sandi, called all our clients to check in and ask if there were any needs we could service immediately. (You may have heard from her and we are grateful for her checking in with you.) Our team not only complied with new and evolving restrictions, we also set up safer practices to limit the amount of in-person exposure and face-to-face interaction clients need to do with our team. At home, Andrea and I have enjoyed a silver lining of this pandemic in that it has forced us to slow down. On a typical evening before the stay-at-home order, we may have been running home for a quick dinner after work and then off to another meeting or event. Since everything was canceled or shut down as a result of the pandemic, we were able to enjoy much quieter evenings together and spend a little time living at a slower pace. I didn’t complete any big house projects, nor did we binge-watch more TV than normal; we just simply lived in the moment. I’m writing this in mid-May, while we’re still in the thick of the stay-at-home order and social distancing, and though I cannot predict where we will be by the time you read this newsletter this summer. I do know that we still plan to serve you the best we can. If there’s anything we can do for you, don’t hesitate to call and let us know how we can help.

"I cannot predict where we will be by the time you read this newsletter this summer. I do know that we still plan to serve you the best we can."

If there’s anything this pandemic has taught us, it’s that we are all stronger when we work together.

Stay safe and be well.

Jim Serra

845-256-6158 1

FIR UP G

NURTURE YOUR CREATIVE PASSION

A ll forms of art, like painting, drawing, and even sculpting, can be relaxing hobbies, sources of extra income, or professional careers. And with today’s technology, it’s easier than ever to begin learning a new art form. If you have an eager student at home who wants to try their hand in the arts or perfect their craft, then look into online art courses. There are many different courses available, and you should do some research to see which course is best for your student, but here are three to get you started. Drawing and Sketching for Beginners by Robin Slee This course is available through Udemy, and, at the reasonable price of $29.99, is perfect for anyone wanting to test the waters. Slee takes students through the key fundamentals of drawing, such as how to hold a pencil correctly and how to make different kinds of marks. His calm voice and simple explanations in each course help students feel encouraged as they work. The course comes with three hours of video content segmented into 25 modules and a Q&A section where students can post questions, ask for feedback, and share their work. Find this course at udemy.com/course/sketching-for-beginners/. Ink Drawing Techniques with Yuko Shimizu A student who prefers ink over pencil can learn drawing techniques through Yuko Shimizu’s class on Skillshare. As a veteran instructor at the School of Visual Arts, Shimizu Three Great Online Art Courses

is ready to help you on your journey to learn the essentials of inking. In the 90-minute course, Shimizu covers a lot of ground, which both novice and experienced ink artists will benefit from. Find this course by searching for ink drawing techniques on Skillshare.com.

New Masters Academy Known as one of the best art academies online, New Masters Academy (NMA) offers

hundreds of hours of prerecorded video lectures that students can watch and follow along with as they paint, draw, and sketch. The standard fee starts at $35 a month, but with a premium membership at $44 a month, students can access NMA’s 3D reference library and over 20,000 reference images. To learn more and become familiar with the academy’s instructors, visit their website at NMA.art.

HOW YOUR HVAC UNIT CAN HELP PROTECT YOU

AND HOW TO ENSURE THAT IT'S DOING ALL IT CAN

This spring, while we learned both how fast a virus can spread and how to wash our hands more effectively, there was a silent helper in the background working to protect us: our HVAC units. With built-in filtration systems and accessories designed to capture, contain, and even kill a variety of particles, your heating and cooling system works hard every day to minimize the allergens and pathogens circulating inside your

HVAC system's filtration is not designed to completely solve these issues. But you can take comfort in knowing that in the summer your AC also acts as a dehumidifier, and by maintaining your home's humidity between 40% and 60% your system can help keep mold, bacteria, and viruses in check. An HVAC expert can help you determine the source of your system’s stress and recommend solutions to ensure your system can more effectively filter out the standard gunk found in all our homes while continuing to protect your family from further stress. An HVAC system, including the filter, must be properly installed and regularly maintained to perform at a consistently high level. So regular maintenance is beneficial not only for your home’s well-being but also for the health and safety of those who live there. Our team can perform a maintenance check on your home’s HVAC system to ensure it’s doing all it was designed to do for your family’s protection and safety. We can even perform these maintenance checks without having any in-person contact with those who reside in your home! Learn more about our services and safety precautions by calling us at 845-256-6158.

home. While your system’s filtration cannot prevent or cure disease, it can, according to the National Air Filtration Association, bolster your efforts to prevent the spread of disease. Your HVAC system is not designed to rid your body, home, or office of these contaminants, so if you have mold growing in your home or if someone in your home develops the flu, your

aireserv.com/mid-hudson-valley 2

RE P THE GRILL

AND FOLLOW THESE SAFETY TIPS

solution on the hose coming from the propane tank. Bubbles forming anywhere means there's a leak. Never use a leaking hose or tank and have your grill serviced by a professional when needed. For charcoal grills, only use charcoal fluid to get the coals burning; other starters are not intended for cooking and could be dangerous. Electric starters can heat charcoal without a flame, but all starters should be kept away from children and pets.

Few flavors compare to the tasty char of a grilled meal. Whether you prefer vegetable kabobs or slabs of meat, summertime is the prime season to fire up the grill, but it can also be one of the most dangerous. According to the National Fire Prevention Association, July is the peak month for grill fires. Protect yourself, your family, and your home by following these grilling safety tips.

SECURE YOUR SPACE

STAY CLOSE WHILE GRILLING

A propane or charcoal grill should always be used outdoors. The fumes, heat, and sparks all make grilling indoors very dangerous. Once outside, situate your grill about 10 feet from your house, deck railing, and other structures, and keep children and pets away from the grill when it’s in use.

It may be tempting to step back inside for a cool drink or to join your family on the patio, but a hot grill in use should never be left unattended. Flames can spark a fire, and you should always be near your grill while it’s in use to keep an eye on things. After you’ve finished your meal, clean the grime, grease, and fat buildup off the trays and grill grates. Proper grill maintenance after a meal is a huge factor when it comes to your safety but also to the overall taste of your next grilled meal. There’s no reason why grilling has to be left to the pros. With these simple tips, you can grill up summertime favorites easily and safely.

STAY SAFE USING CHARCOAL OR PROPANE

Some people love the taste that grilling with charcoal imparts; others prefer the ease of grilling with propane. Wherever you land on the grilling spectrum, ensure you’re following safety protocols for your chosen method. Spray a soap-and-water

HAVE A LAUGH!

THE BEST GRILLED SUMMER VEGETABLES

Inspired by DinnerAtTheZoo.com

Contrary to popular belief, vegetables are delicious. You just have to know how to prepare them. Asparagus, mushrooms, red onion, peppers, baby carrots, and squash are delicious grilled.

INGREDIENTS

• 1 1/2 tsp minced garlic • 1 1/2 tsp dried Italian seasoning • 1 tsp salt • 1/4 tsp pepper • 2 lbs assorted vegetables, trimmed and halved or cut into 2-inch pieces

• 5 tbsp olive oil • 2 tbsp lemon juice • 1/4 cup parsley leaves, chopped

DIRECTIONS 1. In a small bowl, combine garlic, Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper. 2. Brush vegetables with olive oil and place in a large bowl. Top with lemon juice and seasoning mixture. Toss to coat evenly. Cover and refrigerate for at least 20 minutes but no longer than 2 hours. 3. Prepare the grill at medium-high heat. 4. Grill vegetables in batches, cooking 3–5 minutes on each side until browned and tender. (Carrots will take 6–9 minutes per side.) 5. Remove from the grill, sprinkle with parsley, and serve hot.

3

845-256-6158

PRST STD US POSTAGE PAID BOISE, ID PERMIT 411

392 Masten Rd. Pleasant Valley, NY 12569

Serving You During a Pandemic INSIDE THIS ISSUE 1 2 Taking Art Classes from Home 845-256-6158 | aireserv.com/mid-hudson-valley

Your HVAC Unit Should Be Working for You!

3

Stay Safe at the Grill with These Tips

The Best Grilled Summer Vegetables

4

The Wacky Evolution of the Knock-Knock Joke

KNOCK KNOCK! WHO’S THERE?

THE WACKY EVOLUTION OF THE KNOCK-KNOCK JOKE

Knock knock! Who’s there? Theresa. Theresa who? Theresa crowd!

Not very funny, is it? Well, over the years this style of back-and-forth jesting evolved into knock-knock jokes. The popularity of the “knock knock” bit of the joke could harken back to Shakespeare, who BestLife credits with “the first-known occurrence of a knock-knock, who's-there dialogue” in Act 2 of Macbeth (though it likely wasn’t intended to be funny), or it could be a reference to 1936 vice presidential hopeful Frank Knox, whose name made “knock knock” irresistible wordplay for the radio. Whatever the reason, knock knocks were all the rage in the 1930s, to the extent that people formed knock-knock clubs, businesses held knock-knock contests, and orchestras set them to music. However, the heyday was short-lived. In the following years, people started getting sick of knock knocks, and even psychologists turned against them. According to NPR, “people who loved knock-knock jokes were said to have social problems.”

Unless you’re living under a rock, odds are you’ve laughed, grumbled, or groaned in response to a knock-knock joke. You may have even told a few yourself before you realized knock-knock jokes had gone out of style in favor of sarcasm and memes. That’s because at their core, knock-knock jokes are a quintessential American experience — and the perfect homegrown fodder for International Joke Day, which falls on July 1. But where did they come from, and why do so many people knock the knock-knock joke today? Well, according to NPR, knock-knock jokes have had a roller coaster of a history. Near as we can tell, they actually evolved from another kind of joke: the “Do You Know” joke. This style of joke was popular in the early 1900s, and according to an Oakland Tribune article NPR dug up, this was a typical one:

Today, knock-knock jokes are still around, but they’re mostly considered a game for kids or demoted to the realm of bad "dad jokes.” Maybe you think that’s warranted, maybe you think it’s tragic — either way, odds are the format will continue to evolve and probably outlive us all!

"Do you know Arthur?" "Arthur who?" "Arthurmometer!"

4

aireserv.com/mid-hudson-valley