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A lot of homes in Genesee County are really old, and so are their chimneys. But yesteryear's chimneys weren't designed for venting the energy-efficient appliances of today, nor are they safe and working properly just because they may look OK.

If you could see inside your chimney, you might find a lot to be concerned about.

A flue that services a fireplace or woodstove might have: cracks and/or missing pieces of a clay liner; mortar and bricks that are eroded or loose; and creosote buildup. These conditions could be the result of flue fires, improperly ventilated appliances, a misused woodstove, bad construction or excessive moisture.

A flue servicing the furnace side of a chimney, might show cracked or missing tiles, a missing or corroded liner, excessive soot or, in oil flues, moisture. These problems can cause wallpaper to peel and plaster to crack, allowing carbon monoxide to seep into the home.

Chimney defects can result in injury and death. It doesn't take much to start a house fire -- one spark or ember can cause catastropic damage. Deterioration can allow deadly fumes to fill the house.

WNY Fireplace Outlet, located on W. Main. St. Road in Batavia, offers a solution that includes a lifetime warranty (transferable to subsequent owners) and does not require rebuilding the chimney. It's called the HomeSaver Pro Strength Chimney Relining System and is considered the strongest on the market, hands down.

This smart and effective way to remedy chimney problems -- or guard against them -- is tested and listed by Underwriters Laboratories as meeting its highest safety standards.

It features a specially formulated stainless steel -- to handle gas, oil, wood or coal flues -- and a patented, gas-tight interlock system that is incredibly strong and unsurpassed in its ability to handle the harsh and corrosive environment inside chimneys. It can even contain violent chimney fires.

It fits every chimney configuration. It's flexible enough to bend and it can be shaped to fit through tight damper spaces, like those for fireplace inserts. It is ideal for venting furnaces, boilers, water heaters, woodstoves and pellet stoves.

The staff at WNY Fireplace Outlet can answer any questions you may have about this product and provide you with cost estimates. They can help you gain the peace of mind that comes from knowing your home is safer. Call them at 343-1924 or 343-9259.

Chances are, either your home or the home of someone you know, has a fuse box. Fuses function the same way breakers do -- to cut off power if an electrical circuit is overloaded. Both fuses and breakers can be very effective in protecting your home against an electrical fire.

However, one problem that can arise with fuses occurs when someone inserts a fuse of higher amperage than the circuit is designed for. 

For example, a homeowner tires of replacing blown fuses and inserts a 30-amp fuse where a 20-amp fuse should go, the 30-amp fuse allows more current into the circuit than the circuit was designed to accommodate. 

The fuse "blows" indicating that the circuits are overloaded. These must be replaced as the fuse element burns up. 

A fire can result.

If you have a fuse box, it's a great idea to have an electrician inspect it and check the wire size to install the proper fuse bases. Type S fuses should be used in aging fuse panels to prevent over fusing. Type S fuses are the only type allowed by the National Electrical Code in new fuse box installations.

Whether you have a fuse box or a breaker box, have your electrician tell you the size of your electrical service to make sure it is sufficient. Years ago, 60-amp or 100-amp service wasn't uncommon; but most families today have electrical appliances that demand more service. It's smart to get an electrician's opinion on whether an update is needed since modern homes are typically wired for minimum 200-amp service.

Electrical fires are all too common, and many homes in the U.S. need electrical updates.  Please take whatever action necessary to update the electrical service in your home.

Lorenzo is an exquisite line of Argentium sterling silver jewelry with 18-karat-gold accents and semi-precious stones in vibrant colors.

The flexible combination of silver and gold is crafted into bold, fashion-forward designs. The stones display exceptional faceting in complex settings and the result is dazzling yet affordable jewelry.

"Lorenzo offers very fine quality, very current styling," Maria Valle said.

The stones are specially chosen for their rich palette and include citrine, garnet, blue topaz and peridot. Valle said the green amethyst is particularly gorgeous and the color is neutral enough to compliment whatever you're wearing.

"They've been enthusiastically received in the store," she said.

If you've always loved the clean sparkle of silver but gave up wearing it because it bothered your skin, Lorenzo is for you. The company uses a new kind of high-quality sterling silver that's tarnish resistant and is less likely to produce an allergic reaction.

When people get ready to walk across a public road, they usually look both ways first to see if any motor vehicles are coming. Unfortunately, this isn't the case with animals, including certain large ones.

Too often, the result is a motorist's nightmare: a collision with a deer, moose or elk. The animal usually comes out second-best in this type of close encounter, but the toll on vehicles and their occupants can also be substantial.

According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, more than 150 people die in animal-vehicle collisions each year. The Insurance Information Institute estimates some 1.5 million such collisions cause about over $1 billion in damage annually.

While animal-vehicle collisions can happen any time of year, fall is the peak season for deer-car crashes. That's mainly because autumn is both mating season and hunting season, so deer are more active and more likely to roam beyond their normal territory.

No foolproof way has been found to keep deer, moose and elk off highways and away from vehicles. Deer whistles have their advocates, but the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety says there's no scientific evidence to support claims they work as intended. Some studies suggest roadside reflectors - designed to reflect light from vehicle headlamps and cause deer to "freeze" rather than cross the road - reducing crash frequency to some extent.

There are ways you can lessen an unplanned meeting with a deer, moose or elk. Here's how:

• Be aware of your surroundings. Pay attention to "deer crossing" signs. Look well down the road and far off to each side. At night, use your high beams if possible to illuminate the road's edges. Be especially watchful in areas near woods and water. If you see one deer, there may be several others nearby.
• Be particularly alert at dusk and dawn, when these animals venture out to feed.
• If you see a deer, moose or elk on or near the roadway and think you have time to avoid hitting it, reduce your speed, tap your brakes to warn other drivers and sound your horn. Deer tend to fixate on headlights, so flashing them may cause the animal to move. If there's no vehicle close behind you, brake hard.
• If a collision seems inevitable, don't swerve to avoid the animal; your risk of injury may be greater if you do. Hit it, but control the vehicle. Report the crash to the police.
• Always obey the speed limit and wear safety belts.
• Being alert at all times while driving is your best defense against any type of accident.

Chamilia is a brand-new line of jewelry offered at Valle Jewelers in Batavia and it's creating some buzz among the clientele, says Maria Valle.

Fans of these beautiful baubles are booking private parties in the store so friends and family can ooh-and-aah at the many choices and, of course, add some to their own collection. The after-hours parties are for 15 or more guests -- and the hostess gets a special gift.

Think of Chamilia (as in chameleon) as a new kind of beaded charm bracelet - or necklace - available in sterling sliver, 14-K gold or a combination of them.

You choose the charms, either as symbolic of something special in your life or simply for color or style. Whatever you string together is sure to dazzle.

Making your own beaded jewelry is not new, of course, but Camilia has taken the idea to a new level of affordable sophistication and craftsmanship with a stunning selection of unique pieces.

Its creator, Killian Rieder, according to a brochure, was inspired to create a way for herself and all women to "hold onto friends, family memories and experiences in a meaningful way...every bracelet tells a story about the person wearing it."

Take Maria for example, who showed me the sterling silver pieces on her bracelet.

"This one is a little cake, because I like to bake cakes, this little baby shoe is because I'm a mom, these have my children's birthstones in them," she said.

It's exciting and fun to pore over the catalog and look at the jewelry in the display case. They are so detailed! Some have sparkling cubic zirconias. There are licensed Disney characters, too, like Nemo, Tinkerbell and A.A. Milne's classic Winnie-the-Pooh.

Genuine hand-blown Murano Glass from Murano, Italy, is featured in a kaleidoscopic array of bands. Some others are enameled or have colorful stones.

Here are just a few of the kinds of symbols offered: a camera, a gingerbread man, a ghost, vintage suitcase, puzzle piece, giraffe, tennis ball, football helmet, etc. There are ones that dangle, too.

Some beads aren't intended to be symbolic of anything, they're just pretty shapes and styles. There's also a variety of bead spacers, locks and connectors. In addition to bracelets and necklaces, there are drop chains (for making pendants) to choose from, and pink or gold leather.

Bracelets, which come in a variety chain lengths, start at $35, regardless of size. Bangle bracelets are also available. Silver charms start at $25.

If you'd like to get a group of friends together for a private, after-hours Chamilia party at Valle Jewelers (located at 21 Jackson St.) give them a call at 343-3372 or email at <valles@rochester.rr.com>. Hostesses get a gift!