Beverly Fast Sinclair CRS, GRI

Here are some local Forth of July festivities held by local towns.

Noblesville:

The Noblesville Fireworks Festival Committee is proud to present the 13th Annual Parade and Fireworks Festival on Saturday, July 4th. This year's parade grand marshal will be Cyndi Kirby. Cyndi has served as the volunteer parade coordinator for the annual holiday parade since 1989 and the annual July 4th parade since 2005.

The parade (sponsored by Community Bank) will begin at 5pm at the corner of 16th and Harrison Streets and will travel from 16th Street to Logan Street; Logan to 9th Street; 9th to Monument Street; and Monument back to 16th Street where it will end.

Then, the free Fireworks Festival will be held from 6:00pm - 10:00pm on the grounds of Noblesville High School. The grand finale of the evening will be the exciting fireworks display (sponsored by Industrial Dielectrics, Inc.) at approximately 10:00pm.

Festival Agenda:
5pm Parade through downtown Noblesville

6pm - 10pm Free Fireworks Festival - Noblesville High School

10:00 pm Patriotic Fireworks Display

Carmel:

Carmelfest 2009

Carmelfest has been a tradition for almost 30 years in Carmel. It is held to celebrate the 4th of July with live music, games, food, vendors, booths, arts & crafts, and more.

It is held in the Arts and Design district of Carmel, on Main Street. This year, the event will take place on July 3rd from noon until 10:00 PM and on July 4th from noon until 10:30 PM.

For more information call 317-581-0331 or visit carmelfest.net

Celebrate our nation's birthday in the sun's warm rays at The Monon Center Outdoor Aqua Park this Fourth of July. Contests will be held throughout the day to provide a fun atmosphere for guests of all ages.

The Star Spangled Splash will take place on July 4, from 11:00am-6:00pm. Fee is the price of daily admission into the Outdoor Aqua Park (daily pass: $5 youth/senior; $8 adult). All ages are welcome.

For additional information on the Star Spangled Splash, please call 317.848.7275.

Sheridan:

Come join us for some Independence day fun!

Sheridan Lions' Club Parade
Starts at 10:30 am
Saturday, July 4th

Floats, Antique Cars, Antique Tractors, and a wide variety of items to see and enjoy

Fun and Food before and after the parade
at Biddle Memorial Park

Fireworks to end the day!

Parade registration from 9:00am to 10:00am at the high school
$100 goes to the winner of the best float
$100 goes to the winner of best antique car

Come Join Us!

Sheridan Lions' Club Parade

The event begin at 10:30 AM on July 4th.

There will be floats, antique cars, antique tractors, and a variety of other items to see and enjoy.

Joing the fun a Bibble Memorial Park before and after the parade for food and other activities.

Register to be in the parade at the Sheridan High School from 9-10:00 AM. The winner of the best float and best antique car will both recieve $100.

Fireworks will end the day!

Brenwick Realty, the real estate arm of Brenwick Development Co., is merging with Keller Williams Realty, a national real estate company that has seen consistent growth each year since its entry into the Indianapolis market five years ago.

Brenwick Development Co. developed The Village of WestClay neighborhood, which led the market area in new custom-home permits in 2008.

"We believe as we complete the build-out of The Village of WestClay, we will begin to see an increase in existing-homes sales there," said George Sweet, chief executive officer of Brenwick Development. "We think merging with Keller Williams, one of the top three real estate companies in the nation, will help The Village add agents and handle increased traffic to The Village's realty office as the market improves."

Brenwick Development launched the Village of WestClay in 2000.

The merger with Keller Williams is expected to bring an additional 20 agents to The Village by year's end. The office at The Village of WestClay will also handle commercial real estate sales.

Donna Park, who was asked to launch Brenwick Realty in 2005 by Sweet, will continue in the same role for the merged organization. Park has been with Brenwick more than 15 years, and as vice president of marketing, launched The Village and other upscale neighborhoods.

Kim Alexander, regional director of Keller-Williams Realty, said the merger "provides us with an ideal location as we expand our customer base in Hamilton County and the Zionsville area."

-Indy Star

With the 4th of July quickly approaching many people are going out and buying fireworks. Here is a quiz (and answers) to take and test your knowledge on fireworks safety.

1. What is the first thing to do before lighting a firework? Read the warning or caution label carefully and follow all directions.

2. How do you know if you are buying quality legal fireworks? Always buy from a reliable seller

3. Where should you light watch fireworks? Always light outdoors away from combustible material, buildings and plants.

4. It's always good to have _____ handy when having a fireworks display. water

5. How many fireworks should you light at a time? Light only one firework at a time

6. If a firework does not work after lighting it, how long should you wait before

trying to light it again? Never try to re-light a firework

7. Should small children handle and light fireworks? No

8. What should you do if a firework fails to work after lighting it? Wait for 15 to 20 minutes and then dump the fireworks in a bucket of water and let it soak.

9. Where should you store fireworks? If at all possible don't store fireworks. If you have to store them, store them in a cool dry place and keep them out of the reach of children.

10. How should you dispose of a discharged firework? Soak them in a bucket of water before disposing of them in a trash can.

11. How should you carry fireworks? Carry fireworks in their original bag or box

12. What part of your body should be over a firework while lighting it? No part of your body should be over the firework while lighting it.

13. What safety equipment should you wear when lighting a firework? Eye protection should be worn when lighting fireworks.

14. Are illegal explosives like M-80's and Cherry Bombs really dangerous or just more fun? Illegal explosives are really dangerous and should never be used.

15. Is it safe to throw or point a firework at another person? It is never safe to point or throw fireworks at other people or animals.

16. How do you find out what fireworks are legal to buy and shoot in your city? Ask a reliable seller or your local police or fire department.

17. Should kids and teenagers be allowed to handle and shoot fireworks without a responsible

adult close by? Close adult supervision is always needed.

18. How many fireworks should you carry to the lighting area? One. All other fireworks should be kept at a safe distance so they don't accidentally become lighted.

19. What device should you use to light a firework? Expect for sparklers, a punk should be used to light fireworks. A match or lighter is required for sparklers.

20. Is it OK to drink alcohol and light fireworks? No. Have a designated lighter.

Here are some addition fireworks safety tips:

• Use fireworks in a clear open area.
• Light fireworks on a hard flat surface to make sure they don't fall and misfire.
• Do not allow young children to light or handle fireworks under any circumstances. Sparklers are considered by many to be a safe firework, however they burn at a very high temperature, and can easily ignite clothing and cause serious burns.
• Older children should be closely supervised by an adult when using fireworks.
• Always be sure those watching are out of range of lighted fireworks, and take extra precautions under windy conditions.
• Never hold a lighted firework
• Never light fireworks indoors
• Water should be kept nearby to douse fire and to soak malfunctioning fireworks. Always soak spent fireworks before discarding them. Many structure fires are caused by smouldering fireworks discarding in trash cans near a structure.

Our office is now located in Clay Terrace Shopping Center in Carmel, IN above Helzberg Diamond and across from Dick's Sporting Goods. Our phone number remained the same: 317-846-FAST(3278). Our new address is:

14300 Clay Terrace Blvd, Suite 204

Carmel, IN 46032

We will remain your source for all your home buying and selling needs!

Fed up by her often too-hot or too-cold home in upstate New York, Maggie Maurer insulated her attic and replaced a creaky furnace in February. Right away, her utility bill dropped by nearly a third. But Maurer is looking past those monthly savings to the moment she'll really strike it big: next tax season. A provision in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, passed in February, allows homeowners like Maurer to claim tax credits for up to 30% - or up to $1,500 - of the cost of energy-efficient upgrades like windows, doors, roofs and insulation. "These tax credits are the primary reason I went ahead with the project," Maurer says.

Tax credits reduce the total amount taxpayers owe the government. They're more valuable than tax deductions, which offset only taxable income. Small projects like Maurer's get a limited boost, but the law contains no $1,500 cap for big jobs like geothermal heat pumps, solar panels, solar water heaters and wind systems. Installation costs for these uncapped projects count toward the credit until 2016. The uncapped credits can wipe out an entire tax burden, but Uncle Sam won't cut a check for any excess. In addition to the federal tax breaks, homeowners can find state and local tax credits for energy-efficient improvements at the Database of State Incentives for Renewables and Efficiency (DSIREusa.org).

Contractors hope the credits will spur homeowner investment. "The credits have definitely given us a little bump in geothermal projects," says Troy Howard of Central Valley Mechanical in Utah. "Interest in solar and wind has picked up, and we've quoted more projects. But there's still a lot of wait-and-see, given the down economy."

Michael Rogers, senior vice president of market development with GreenHomes, the contractor and energy auditor that upgraded Maurer's house, says the tax credit has helped bring in business - to a point. "For some homeowners who already had energy-efficiency projects in mind, the tax credits have helped push them over the hump," he says. "But it's not like we've had people banging down our door because of the federal tax credits."

A possible explanation: Although the program offers a sizable incentive, taking advantage of it can be tricky. For example, not all Energy Star-certified doors and windows qualify for the program's strict standards. Categories like solar- and wind-power systems did not initially list specific models of qualifying products; qualifying biomass stoves must have a thermal efficiency rating of at least 75% as measured using a lower heating value. Other attractive green-home improvements, like energy-efficient garage-door openers or metering devices to control power consumption, are not included.

Another potential pitfall could snare a homeowner with multiple projects in mind. Within the capped category, each homeowner has only $1,500 to claim, for all improvements combined. Homeowners should note that home improvements must be "placed in service" during the tax year. So, a roof installed by Dec. 31, 2010, would qualify; a new box of shingles wouldn't. Homeowners should also keep the Manufacturer's Certification Statement saying the item qualifies for the tax credit. That will make life easier during the next DIY project: filing tax returns.

Here are some guidelines to help you gauge whether your home upgrades will qualify for the tax credit in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.

These projects qualify for a tax credit up to $1,500 (30% of cost through 2010):

• Window, door replacement: Must have a U-factor and solar heat gain coefficient (SHGC) of 0.30 or less, which is a more stringent requirement than for some Energy Star-certified products. (U-factor and SHGC express heat flow through an object, hence its insulating value.) See http://www.garagewownow.com for more information on which garage doors qualify for credit.
• Roofing replacement: All Energy Star metal and asphalt roofs qualify. Download "Find a Product" from Energy Star's "Roof Products" page for more information. Synthetic roofs are not covered.
• Installing insulation: Insulation installations must last five years or have a two-year warranty. Insulated siding and cladding won't help you with a tax break, but vapor retarders will. It's not clear yet if spray foam and air sealing are covered, according to the Environmental Protection Agency.
• Heating and cooling systems: Not all Energy Star products will qualify for the tax credit. See the Consortium for Energy Efficiency product directory for qualified types of central A/C and air source heat pumps. Consult the Air-Conditioning, Heating and Refrigeration Institute for natural gas and oil-using heating products. Check pelletheat.org for information on biomass stoves.
• Water-heater replacement: Not all Energy Star gas-storage and gas-condensing water heaters will qualify for the tax credit. See "Residential Water Heaters Key Product Criteria" under Energy Star's "Products" tab.

These projects qualify for a tax credit of $1,500 or more (30% of cost installation through 2016):

• Geothermal heat pump: All Energy Star geothermal heat pumps qualify for the tax credit.
• Solar water heater: All Energy Star solar water heaters qualify for the tax credit, but it's unclear whether using them for radiant floor heating is allowed. No dice for swimming pools or hot tubs - the water must be used in the dwelling.
• Solar/photovoltaic panels: No federal restrictions on qualifying products available. Contact the Solar Energy Industries Association for further information.
• Small wind energy systems: No federal restrictions on qualifying products available. Contact the American Wind Energy Association for further information.