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Variously known as the Fourth of July and Independence Day, July 4th has been a federal holiday in the United States since 1941, but the tradition of Independence Day celebrations goes back to the 18th century and the American Revolution (1775-83). In June 1776, representatives of the 13 colonies then fighting in the revolutionary struggle weighed a resolution that would declare their independence from Great Britain. On July 2nd, the Continental Congress voted in favor of ind...ependence, and two days later its delegates adopted the Declaration of Independence, a historic document drafted by Thomas Jefferson. From 1776 until the present day, July 4th has been celebrated as the birth of American independence, with typical festivities ranging from fireworks, parades and concerts to more casual family gatherings and barbecues. The Birth of American Independence When the initial battles in the Revolutionary War broke out in April 1775, few colonists desired complete independence from Great Britain, and those who did were considered radical. By the middle of the following year, however, many more colonists had come to favor independence, thanks to growing hostility against Britain and the spread of revolutionary sentiments such as those expressed in Thomas Paine’s bestselling pamphlet Common Sense, published in early 1776. On June 7, when the Continental Congress met at the Pennsylvania State House (later Independence Hall) in Philadelphia, the Virginia delegate Richard Henry Lee introduced a motion calling for the colonies’ independence. Amid heated debate, Congress postponed the vote on Lee’s resolution, but appointed a five-man committeeincluding Thomas Jefferson of Virginia, John Adams of Massachusetts, Roger Sherman of Connecticut, Benjamin Franklin of Pennsylvania and Robert R. Livingston of New Yorkto draft a formal statement justifying the break with Great Britain. July 4th Becomes A National Holiday The tradition of patriotic celebration became even more widespread after the War of 1812, in which the United States again faced Great Britain. In 1870, the U.S. Congress made July 4th a federal holiday; in 1941, the provision was expanded to grant a paid holiday to all federal employees. Over the years, the political importance of the holiday would decline, but Independence Day remained an important national holiday and a symbol of patriotism. Falling in mid-summer, the Fourth of July has since the late 19th century become a major focus of leisure activities and a common occasion for family get-togethers, often involving fireworks and outdoor barbecues. The most common symbol of the holiday is the American flag, and a common musical accompaniment is The Star-Spangled Banner, the national anthem of the United States.

Happy Memorial Day ! Please read below regarding the true meaning of Memorial Day...... The kid died a month after his 20th birthday in a jungle a million miles from his Burbank home doing something so outrageously courageous he was awarded the Medal of Honor for it. Larry Maxam was his name, and before we begin filling our propane tanks, roasting the hot dogs and cracking open a beer, I’d like to tell you his story. Because, to me, he is the perfect face of Memorial Day. The...Continue reading

Hello, We are now looking to interview for a front office position. If you are interested please contact the office to fill out an application and an interview time will be set.

We are hiring in all positions. From start out to experienced remodelers! If you are interested please contact the office 925-754-5232

K2GC is a Diamond Certified General Contractor looking for reliable hard working employees. Hiring for all trades including general laborer, drywall, painting, plumbing etc. Please inquire if interested. Send resumes to [email protected]. (This is a non union shop)

Summer is right around the corner ! Here are some tips to prepare your home efficently to keep down cooling costs and avoid EMERGENCY Services that are about double...... Fast and Free The average home spends hundreds of dollars a year on energy costs. But you can lower your energy bills and help save the environment at the same time! ...Continue reading

Spring is in the air ! Please refer to the following tips to get your home ready for the long awaited beautiful weather.... Like many of us, homes need a tune-up after the long winter months. Everything from the roof to the sump pump needs a once-over after the season has taken its toll. To help you cover all the bases, we’ve come up with a handy spring-maintenance checklist. Consult it every year and your home will thank you. Inspect Brickwork and Stucco;... Spalling is a chipping or popping away of a brick’s face, leaving the brick’s interior susceptible to moisture and crumbling. Look for this and any deteriorated mortar that typically occurs on older homes. Is your brick plagued with efflorescence, those unsightly white deposits caused by soluble salts left behind during water evaporation? The Brick Industry Association recommends dry brushing in warm, dry weather to remove it. If you discover water penetration in brick, consider sealing the brick with an appropriate sealant Replace Rotted Siding or Trim, and Repaint as Necessary; Repainting siding or trim is often more than a one-weekend project. For color consistency, you just can’t just touch it upyou need to paint a whole section. Clean Gutters and Downspouts; Make sure gutters and downspouts direct water away from the house. If you live in a place where there’s a lot of freezing and thawing, gutters will expand and contract, so make sure they’re flush to the roof, with no sags or dips. Get a professional cleaning if you live in a two-story house. Do-it-yourselfers will be safer cleaning a ranch home. Consider installing gutter guards Weatherproof Windows and Doors; Remove interior storm windows (old homes only) and replace screens on clean windows and doors. If you don't have air conditioning, you want to make sure you have good airflow throughout the home. You can also save on utility bills by adding blinds to windows that face south and west. Open windows when the sun sets and closing them at sunrise. Examine putty and caulk lines around exterior windows and doors, and ensure that weather stripping creates a good seal. Prune Landscaping and Create Good Drainage; Shrubs and landscaping help against soil erosion and should be planted to form a negative grade, which means water will flow away from the house.

Good morning, just a few candle safety tips to keep you and your family safe this holiday season....... From 2009-2015, U.S. fire departments responded to an estimated 9,300 home structure fires that were started by candles. These fires caused 86 deaths, 827 injuries and $374 million in direct property damage. Candles caused 3% of reported home fires, 3% of home fire deaths, 6% of home fire injuries, and 5% of the direct property damage from home fires during this period. Fac...ts and figures During the five-year period of 2009-2015: Roughly one-third (36%) of home candle fires started in bedrooms. These fires caused 32% of the associated deaths and 47% of the associated injuries. On average, 25 home candle fires were reported per day. Falling asleep was a factor in 11% percent of the home candle fires and 30% of the associated deaths. More than half (58%) of home candle fires occurred when some form of combustible material was left or came too close to the candle. December is the peak time of year for home candle fires. In December, 11% of home candle fires began with decorations compared to 4% the rest of the year. See more

For the next few weeks our website is being re-configured to be more user friendly, if you get a weird message while trying to access it please let us know....thank you

We are currently hiring and accepting new applications for people that work in the field, there are no office positions available. If you would like to share this post please feel free

September is Prostate Cancer Awareness month..... Please for yourself and your loved ones, get screened ! Make it a fabulous and safe Labor Day Weekend !

6 Cool Beauty Products for a Hot Day From start to finish, these skin-cooling picks help you look (and feel) composedno matter the temperature. 1) Peter Thomas Roth Cucumber Gel Mask... peter-thomas-roth-cucumber-gel-mask Soothe a sunburnor dry skinwith this calming mask. Packed with cucumber and aloe, it tamps down any redness, heat, or inflammation in 10 minutes or less. Tip: Store it in the fridge overnight for an extra cooling effect. To buy: $45, sephora.com. 2) Clinique Anti-Fatigue Cooling Eye Gel clinique-anti-fatigue-cooling-eye-gel Ignore the fact that it’s labeled for men; this fast-acting treatment is really for anyone with under-eye bags or dark circles. The metal-tipped applicator and lightweight gel formula work together to massage away any puffiness, and brighten sallow skin upon contact. To buy: $29, clinique.com. 3) Garnier Nutritioniste Moisture Rescue Refresher Gel-Cream moisture-rescue-refresher-gel-cream This lightweight gel-cream delivers a cool burst of moisture as soon as you apply it to the skin. Plus it sinks in immediately, and doesn’t pill or rub off when you add makeup over it. To buy: $8.50, drugstore.com. 4) Pixi by Petra H2O Skin Tint pixi-petra-h2o-skin-tint Perfect for muggy mornings, this tinted moisturizer delivers an even veil of coverage that won’t streak or settle into fine lines by midday. And the water-based formula feels light and refreshing on skin. To buy: $24, target.com. 5) Stila Aqua Glow Watercolor Blush stila-aqua-glow-watercolor-blush Tap into the wonders of this innovative blush. With a mesh top that dispenses an even dose of color every time, and a featherweight formula that blends seamlessly on skin, this pigmented pick gives you a flushed glowwithout the heat. To buy: $26, stilacosmetics.com. 6) Ciaté London Cooling Shadow Slick Eyeshadow Primer cooling-shadow-slick-eyeshadow-primer Swap your smoky eye for a little shimmer instead. The forgiving formula can be applied with fingertips for a sheer shadow or with a brush for a more intense pop of color. In 6 shades. To buy: $16, sephora.com.

With the severs drought, please see the following tips to save water in every room of your house ! KITCHEN : Don’t use running water to thaw food. Defrost food in the refrigerator. If you accidentally drop ice cubes, don’t throw them in the sink. Drop them in a house plant instead.... Install aerators on the kitchen faucet to reduce flows to less than 1 gallon per minute. Use the garbage disposal sparingly. Instead, compost vegetable food waste and save gallons every time. Select the proper pan size for cooking. Large pans may require more cooking water than necessary. Soak pots and pans instead of letting the water run while you scrape them clean. Cook food in as little water as possible. This also helps it retain more nutrients. Wash your fruits and vegetables in a pan of water instead of running water from the tap. When washing dishes by hand, don’t let the water run. Fill one basin with wash water and the other with rinse water. BATHROOM / LAUNDRY ROOM : Install a high-efficiency toilet. Adjust the water height in your toilet tank. Don’t use the toilet as a wastebasket. Turn water off when brushing teeth or shaving. Plug the sink instead of running the water to rinse your razor. When washing your hands, turn the water off while you lather. Take five-minute showers instead of 10 minute showers. Fill the bathtub halfway or less. Washing dark clothes in cold water saves water and energy, and helps your clothes retain their color. Use the washing machine for full loads only to save water and energy. OUTDOORS : Water early in the morning or later in the evening when temperatures are cooler. Choose a water-efficient irrigation system such as drip irrigation for your trees, shrubs, and flowers. Remember to turn it off when it rains. Invest in a water broom which attaches to your hose but uses a combination of air and water pressure to aid cleaning. Water brooms can use as little as 2.8 gallons per minute (gpm) to remove dirt, food spills, leaves, and litter from concrete and asphalt while a standard hose typically uses 5 to 20 gpm. Water deeply but less frequently to create healthier and stronger landscapes. Check your sprinkler system frequently and adjust sprinklers so only your lawn is watered and not the house, sidewalk, or street. Use a broom to clean driveways, sidewalks and patios. Wash cars/boats with a bucket, sponge, and hose with self-closing nozzle. Plant drought-resistant trees and plants. Put a layer of mulch around trees and plants to reduce evaporation and keep the soil cool. Organic mulch also improves the soil and prevents weeds. And last, and definitely not least, gather up your neighbors and do a rain dance once a week !! :)

Variously known as the Fourth of July and Independence Day, July 4th has been a federal holiday in the United States since 1941, but the tradition of Independence Day celebrations goes back to the 18th century and the American Revolution (1775-83). In June 1776, representatives of the 13 colonies then fighting in the revolutionary struggle weighed a resolution that would declare their independence from Great Britain. On July 2nd, the Continental Congress voted in favor of ind...ependence, and two days later its delegates adopted the Declaration of Independence, a historic document drafted by Thomas Jefferson. From 1776 until the present day, July 4th has been celebrated as the birth of American independence, with typical festivities ranging from fireworks, parades and concerts to more casual family gatherings and barbecues. The Birth of American Independence When the initial battles in the Revolutionary War broke out in April 1775, few colonists desired complete independence from Great Britain, and those who did were considered radical. By the middle of the following year, however, many more colonists had come to favor independence, thanks to growing hostility against Britain and the spread of revolutionary sentiments such as those expressed in Thomas Paine’s bestselling pamphlet Common Sense, published in early 1776. On June 7, when the Continental Congress met at the Pennsylvania State House (later Independence Hall) in Philadelphia, the Virginia delegate Richard Henry Lee introduced a motion calling for the colonies’ independence. Amid heated debate, Congress postponed the vote on Lee’s resolution, but appointed a five-man committeeincluding Thomas Jefferson of Virginia, John Adams of Massachusetts, Roger Sherman of Connecticut, Benjamin Franklin of Pennsylvania and Robert R. Livingston of New Yorkto draft a formal statement justifying the break with Great Britain. July 4th Becomes A National Holiday The tradition of patriotic celebration became even more widespread after the War of 1812, in which the United States again faced Great Britain. In 1870, the U.S. Congress made July 4th a federal holiday; in 1941, the provision was expanded to grant a paid holiday to all federal employees. Over the years, the political importance of the holiday would decline, but Independence Day remained an important national holiday and a symbol of patriotism. Falling in mid-summer, the Fourth of July has since the late 19th century become a major focus of leisure activities and a common occasion for family get-togethers, often involving fireworks and outdoor barbecues. The most common symbol of the holiday is the American flag, and a common musical accompaniment is The Star-Spangled Banner, the national anthem of the United States.