Prelude to spring in Boardman

By Sean Barron

Many people are doing their best to plan for spring, several vendors said.

BOARDMAN — With piles of snow still covering much of the Mahoning Valley and a nasty snowstorm pelting most of the Northeast, it might be tempting to head south for a much-craved early taste of spring.

Before hitting Miami Beach, though, how about hitting Mr. Anthony’s Banquet Center? There, you can experience at least a prelude to the upcoming growing season while temporarily forgetting that it’s still winter.

That’s because Mr. Anthony’s, 7440 South Ave., is the site of the three-day 2010 Home Builders/Remodelers Association of Mahoning Valley’s Home and Garden Show.

The free event, in its 59th year, continues from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. today and 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday. Sponsors are The Vindicator, Armstrong Utilities Inc. and the Better Business Bureau.

Several hundred people spent part of Friday browsing or buying merchandise in an effort to get ideas for their gardens, patios, yards and homes.

The cold, snowy weather is not putting a damper on peoples’ thinking spring, many exhibitors such as Tara Cochran say.

Cochran and her husband, Dean, own Cochran’s Decorative Curbing and Stamped Concrete in East Liverpool. The business, which opened in 2002, specializes in adding color and design to walkways and other areas, and work will be picking up soon, Tara Cochran noted.

“We apply an overlay process over existing concrete, pressure wash and pour the new concrete over top and stamp it,” she explained. “We start doing estimates and installs at the end of April or early May.” Cochran’s offers more than 50 colors as well as 15 stamp designs, she said.

An estimated 75 vendors are participating in the event, with offerings such as basement waterproofing to prevent mold, mildew, dampness, insects and cracks; bathroom and kitchen remodeling; shingle, roof and gutter cleaning; and heating and air-conditioning installation.

A sampling of merchandise for sale includes retractable awnings, masonry, siding, custom-made doors and windows, plumbing fixtures, outdoor patio furniture and invisible fences for pets.

Another feature is a garden center with irises, crocuses, ferns and other plants and flowers.

It may be awhile before you have to worry about leaves clogging the gutters, but late-winter is a good time to think about gutter care, explained Debbie Martin, who conducts product demonstrations for Leafilter Inc. of Hudson, Ohio.

Martin, a regular at similar shows throughout Northeast Ohio as well as in several other states, said most of her customers are 55 and older. A major concern for them regarding cleaning and replacing gutters is falling from a ladder, she said.

Leafilter places supports on 5-foot sections of gutters and caps both ends, which filters out leaves and debris. The business also offers seamless gutters to replace faulty ones, she noted.

For those who prefer to see hot tubs and swimming pools in their yards and not just in their minds, there’s Evan Egli, owner of Backyards & Billiards in Boardman.

“Everybody’s thinking summer and water this time of year, and getting out of winter,” Egli said.

The business’s main thrust is hot tubs, which start at about $4,000, he pointed out. The price includes installation, with the exception of electrical work, Egli noted, adding that he also sells chemicals and related accessories.

It’s not a stretch to say that help is available to event attendees who suffer from chronic foot pain. A first step for them might be to talk to John Beck, owner of Good Feet Arch Supports.

The seven-year-old Boardman business sells mainly inserts and supports for all shoe sizes and types, with the main goal being to prevent further deterioration of the feet, Beck explained. Foot problems include plantar fasciitis, an aggravation of the main ligament in the foot, he noted, adding that foot ailments affect people of all ages.

“This is another way to connect with the public and let them know about our store and what we offer,” Beck said, referring to his five years’ worth of participation in home and garden shows.