We’re beyond excited to be up and operating in our new home! Though we’ve moved in, the final work moves on. Under the continued coordination of Murphy Brothers Contracting, our most recent progress included:
• Design Lighting by Marks completed all exterior and landscape lighting
• Jilco Windows installed all kitchen cabinets, countertops and the backsplash in the Chef’s Kitchen
• completed all remaining painting on the basement level
• outfitted the basement storage area with shelving
• the photo studio and attached dressing room have been completed and are now ready for custom cabinetry to be installed by California Closets and vinyl tiles to be installed by Carpet Trends vinyl in the basement waiting room, photo studio and IT office
• Value Electronics installed three flat-screen TVs—a new state-of-the-art wall-mounted TV on the basement level and two that were moved from the former Westchester Magazine office in Elmsford
• Polytemp balanced all air-control systems throughout the building
Next on our agenda
We’re in the home stretch. The last items on our agenda: installing Leiberts Royal Green appliances; installing cabinetry by California Closets in the photo studio dressing room; installing vinyl tile in the dressing room, basement waiting room, and IT office; and connecting the plumbing in the Chef’s Kitchen.
Focus on… electronics
Q & A with Robert Zohn, owner, ValueElectronics.com
Q. What electronic equipment were you responsible for in the new building?
We were asked to provide a state-of-the-art, top-line flat-panel HDTV. We installed a beautiful, high-performance 65-inch Panasonic VT30 TV mounted on the wall directly across from the Chef’s Kitchen on the basement level. It’s Panasonic’s flagship model that’s highly rated by all professional reviewers.
Q. What makes this particular model so outstanding?
It has many outstanding features. Most importantly, it creates the deepest black level, which means it delivers the highest contrast ratio compared to all other plasma TVs. It’s ultra thin—only one-and-a-half-inches thick—and has the best built-in audio quality with three amplifiers instead of the usual two. To ensure the best image capability, we had the TV professionally calibrated. The sleek design with a single pane of glass that bleeds to the edge hiding the bezel—similar to the look of an iPhone—gives it a sexy new look. It’s exceptionally attractive even when it’s turned off. It also happens to be energy efficient and is Energy Star certified.
Q. In what ways is it energy efficient?
This plasma TV exceeds Energy Star standards and requirements for 2011. The technology used in this product offers increased electrical efficiency that draws much less current than traditional plasma TVs.
Q. Did you install any other equipment?
Yes, we moved and installed in the publisher’s office and a conference room two other flat-screen TVs from the Elmsford office that we had provided a couple of years ago. They are still in great condition and could continue to be used rather than replaced.
Focus on… fencing
Q & A with Tony Campanella, co-owner, Campanella Fence Company
Q. How were you involved in developing Westchester Magazine’s new home?
We were asked to provide a solid white vinyl privacy fence along the right perimeter of the Rye property.
Q. What features were you looking for in the fencing you chose?
It was important that the fencing be durable, maintenance free, and resistant to any form of rot or decay. We also wanted to make sure that it was a good neighbor fence with no front or back sides—in other words, that the finish appear exactly the same on both sides and run the entire length of the property.
Q. What distinguishes your company from other businesses that specialize in fencing? What can clients expect from Campanella Fence
We pride ourselves on the quality of our work. We do a thorough job and go above and beyond selection and installation. If we’re placing a fence, we will even remove the old fence and take any metal parts to a recycling center in Elmsford to make sure it doesn’t end up in a landfill.
Q. Do you have any advice for customers who are considering fencing?
Ultimately, we want to give customers what they are asking for while also making sure they’re aware of the many options available to them. When it’s time to choose the best style for their needs, we encourage them to visit our website—there are lots of styles to choose from.
Focus on… cleaning services
Q & A with John Zuluaga, owner, Good Deal Cleaning Service, LLC
Q. What services are you providing for Westchester Magazine’s new home and how do your services differ from other cleaning companies?
We’re a commercial cleaning business and we will be providing nightly cleaning services after Westchester Magazine’s office hours, Monday through Friday. We have partnered with Strauss Paper Company—we provide the physical labor while using green cleaning products that are environmentally friendly provided by Strauss Paper Company. Our company is unique in many ways. In addition to our dependability and providing exceptional cleaning services, we’re affordable, our workers are well trained and supervised—I personally supervise and conduct spot checks at night—and our clients have direct access to me 24/7, not an answering service.
Q. Have you started providing the cleaning services?
Yes. We started with a post-construction clean-up. It was necessary to do a deep clean using pre-treated cloths—also environmentally friendly products—to remove all of the dust that had been created from the construction throughout the project. We first cleaned the windows from the outside, then slowly moved inside and completed a very thorough clean. In addition to removing dust, our work included special detail cleaning throughout, including scrubbing down the bathroom floors and sanitizing high-touch elements like door knobs, appliances, and all surfaces.
Q. How long did the initial deep clean take?
We started about a week before the move-in date, to make sure the entire building was spotless and ready when the magazine staff moved in. After our intense deep clean, we will continue to provide general cleaning each night, including dusting, vacuuming, cleaning the bathrooms and break areas, dust and polish all metal work, such as appliances and the elevator.
Q. Do you have other ongoing responsibilities along with your nightly cleaning services?
Our responsibilities also include emptying trash cans from individual offices and common areas and disposing of the garbage in the outside dumpster, separating and depositing all recyclables in the designated recycling bins, and locking the building when we complete our work then setting the alarm system at night.
