Ace Hardware of Central Illinois

Locally Owned, Nationally Known                                                         May 2013


In This Issue:

* JR's Plant of the Month
* Weber Recipe of the Month
* Shelly's Hot Tip of the Month
* 6 Tips on How To Create a Spring
    Vegetable Garden

* Community Events
* May Monthly Coupon

                   
  


 

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Subscribe to our Monthly Newsletter

 
Ace Hardware of Central Illinois has 11 locations to serve you. Visit one today or go to our website at http://www.acesetsthepace.com
You can also click any of the store pictures below to go to the store website.
 
 
214 North Walnut
Springfield, IL 62702
217-528-5673
Manager: Gerardo Campos
 
 
900 West Morton
Jacksonville, IL 62650
217-245-9563
Manager: Lori Beck
 
 
1713 Spresser
Taylorville, IL 62568
217-824-3325
Manager: Shirley Niethe
 
1600 Wabash
Springfield, IL 62704
217-787-5100
Manager: Robert Chellios
 
 
204 East College
Normal, IL 61761
309-454-5413
Manager: Kelly Warning
 
 
207 West Main
Havana, IL 62644
309-543-2638
Manager: Heather McGlothin
 
 
 
111 East 1st North
Carlinville, IL 62626
217-854-2564
Manager: Chad Strubbe 
 
 
521 North Kickapoo
Lincoln, IL 62656
217-735-1458
Manager: JR Bailey
 
 
1200 North Main
Chatham, IL 62629
217-483-4085
Manager: Brock Bailey
 
 
300 Springfield
Hillsboro, IL 62049
217-532-6677
Manager: Kristel White
 
203 Livingston
Pontiac, IL. 61764
815-842-2966
Manager: Tina Hammer
 
Proud Member of Local First Springfield 
 Buy Local First

Area Chamber of Commerce

 

Bloomington Normal McLean

County Chamber of Commerce

www.mcleancochamber.org/ 

.

Carlinville Community

Chamber of Commerce
www.carlinvillechamber.com/

.

Chatham Area Chamber

of Commerce
www.chatham-il-chamber.com/

.

Greater Taylorville Chamber

of Commerce
www.taylorvillechamber.com/

.

Havana Chamber of Commerce
www.scenichavana.com/

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Hillsboro Chamber of Commerce
www.hillsborochamber.net/

.

Jacksonville Chamber of Commerce

www.jacksonvilleareachamber.org/

.

 

Lincoln Logan County Chamber of Commerce

www.lincolnillinois.com

.

Springfield Chamber of Commerce
www.gscc.org/ 

 
Pontiac Chamber of Commerce
www.pontiacchamber.org

 

Ace Rewards Exclusive Member Benefits

* 1,000 free bonus points on your first purchase.

* 10 points for every $1 you spend.

* $5 Reward for every 2,500 points earned.

* Members-only coupons.

* Manage your account online.

* E-Rebates CLICK, Don't Clip! submit your promotional rebates online.

 
 

Ace Rewards Members get instant savings right in the store. No mail-in rebates for Ace Rewards Members. Sign up and start saving today!  Plus earn points on every purchase.

*Instant Rebates Exclusively for Ace Rewards Members.

Not a member? It's easy to sign up and there are no membership fees, ever! Instant rebates available as mail-in rebates for non Ace Rewards members. Tax will be changed on pre-rebate price.

 Patty's November Statement Special
 

Sign up for e-statements and received a coupon to purchase the Worx Blower/Vac/Mulcher 350 CFM for $79.99 Regularly $94.99

Advantages of e-statements:

* Receive your monthly statement via email

* Access to your account activity & history 24 hour/day

* Check your balance online

* View & print invoices online

* Choose as many e-mail addresses as desired

* All information is kept confidential

Call or e-mail Patty at
217-528-5673 or email her
patty@acesetsthepace.com

Dear ,
 
Thank you for opening our May newsletter!

It appears the weather may "almost" back to normal, we have had our share of rain this year. The good news about all this rain, is the flowers and plants are nice and green and blooming, they look great! If you need to add some greenery or flowers to your home, you can stop by any of our garden centers which has a full line of home and garden products.

Please visit our website www.acesetsthepace.com for our Monthly Specials, Sweepstakes, New Items and more. Also check out our Pinterest and Facebook pages for valuable information, quick breaking specials and timely news. We have included some icons and links in this issue that will take you directly to our pages. 

As always, feel free to forward this e-mail on to friends and family who may also enjoy the newsletter. If this is your first time receiving this e-mail and you would like to continue getting monthly newsletters from us, click the subscribe to link on the
left of the page.
 
Sincerely,
George W. Preckwinkle and Lucy E. Bagot
 
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JR's Plant of the Month

Perennials Quart Size

4/$10.00

SKU 719182

What a great time to add some color to your landscape.
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Weber Recipe of the Month


Spanish-Style Pork Kabobs

Serves: 6 to 8
Prep time: 15 minutes
 Marinating time: 4 to 8 hours
 Grilling time: 8 to 10 minutes
 Special equipment: metal or bamboo skewers


Marinade

⅓ cup finely chopped fresh Italian parsley leaves and tender stems

¼ cup extra-virgin olive oil

2 tablespoons minced red onion

1 tablespoon sherry vinegar

1 tablespoon smoked paprika

2 teaspoons ground cumin

2 teaspoons minced garlic

¼ teaspoon ground cayenne pepperKosher salt

2 pork tenderloins, each about 1 pound, trimmed of silver skin and any excess fat, cut into 1¼-inch cubes

2 large bell peppers, 1 red and 1 green, cut into 1¼-inch squares

Instructions

  1. Whisk the marinade ingredients, including ½ teaspoon salt. Put the pork cubes in a large, resealable plastic bag and pour in the marinade. Press the air out of the bag and seal tightly. Turn the bag to distribute the marinade, place in a bowl, and refrigerate for 4 to 8 hours, turning occasionally.

  2. If using bamboo skewers, soak in water for at least 30 minutes.

  3. Prepare the grill for direct cooking over high heat (450° to 550°F).

  4. Remove the pork from the bag and discard the marinade. Thread the pork and bell pepper squares alternately onto skewers.

  5. Brush the cooking grates clean. Grill the skewers over direct high heat, with the lid closed as much as possible, until the pork is barely pink in the center, 8 to 10 minutes, turning once or twice. Remove from the grill and season with salt. Serve warm.

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                          Shelly's Hot Tip
                      Of The Month
                                          

Trees help clean the air, provide shade and make our yards more attractive and comfortable. While it may seem like a simple task to dig a hole and drop in a tree"hold on" there's quite a bit to consider before you pick up that shovel. Here's 5 common mistakes to avoid when preparing to plant a tree.

1. Poor location choice.
Deciding where to plant a tree is a long-term commitment.  While you may have picked out what you think is the perfect location, planting a tree where it looks the best, provides the most shade or is too close to your home could be a costly mistake. You need to take into consideration the growth habits of the tree. Not only could you damage an underground utility line when you plant it, but as your tree matures its roots may grow into your utility lines and disrupt your service. Roots often grow outward to a diameter one to two times the height of the tree. Therefore, a tree planted too close to your home could damage the foundation leading to costly repairs.

2. Dig a hole that's too deep or too narrow.
Digging the hole where your tree will live is an important step to ensure its survival. If the hole is too deep, the roots don't have access to sufficient oxygen and therefore won't grow properly.  A hole that is dug too narrow doesn't allow the root structure to expand and properly anchor the tree. For balled and burlaped and container grown trees dig a hole at least two times as wide and no deeper than the root ball or container; you want to prevent the tree from settling below the grade. The bottom of the hole should be flat.  Bare root plants (roses are a good example) should have a smaller hole but still need adequate space for roots to grow.  But before you dig any type of hole, be sure to contact JULIE and arrange to have your underground utility lines marked for free.

3. Disregard soil conditions and drainage.
Tree roots need both moisture and oxygen for growth, therefore soil texture and drainage should be checked before planting. Sandy soils are porous and are usually well drained. On the other hand, clay soils have much smaller pores and retain water for longer periods of time.  Poor drainage can result in stagnate water pooling around the roots which can lead to
"root rot" caused by lack of available oxygen. If a tree receives too much water and there is nowhere for it to go, the water will eventually suffocate and drown the roots slowly killing the tree. To test your planting location for soil drainage you will need to dig a hole about 18 inches deep. Be sure you have contacted JULIE ahead of time so that your underground utility lines marked and you're digging in a safe place. Fill the hole with water and let it stand overnight.  If the water has not drained by morning you have a drainage problem on your hands. In areas where drainage is a particular problem, planting in raised beds of 12 to 18 inches of well-drained quality topsoil may be a solution.

4. Poor handling of the tree.
As you get ready to put your tree in the ground, it is very important to carefully transfer it from its current container to its new home. Never pick up a tree by the trunk as it can be damaged - always lift a tree by the root ball or container. Trees come from the nursery in three different forms, bare root, balled and burlapped and container-grown. When working with container-grown trees gently knock the tree out of the container; if that's too difficult cut away the container with hand shears. If planting a tree you'll need to decide whether to remove some or all of the burlap. Natural burlap will disintegrate overtime; however if the burlap has been treated or plasticized remove it completely. Bare root trees should be planted as soon as possible.  When buying a bare root tree inspect the roots to ensure that they have numerous lengths of fine root hairs and are kept moist until putting the tree in the ground.

5. Forget to notify JULIE before you dig.
Digging without contacting JULIE first can disrupt service to an entire neighborhood, harm you and those around you and potentially result in fines and repair costs. So before you dig, use
JULIE's e-request to fill out your location information or make a quick and easy phone call to 811 and help avoid costly mistakes.

Since the depth of utility lines varies, there may be multiple utility lines in the area where you want to dig. That's why every digging project requires a call. You may think, I already know where the utility lines are located, I'm not digging deep enough for marking or this particular project is not in an area that needs marking.  Those are dangerous assumptions. One easy phone call to 811 gets your underground utility lines marked for free. Once a professional locator has come out and marked where all the utility lines are and you've waited two business days, you're ready to start your project.

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6 Tips On How To Create A Spring Vegetable Garden

The economy has made many of us take a closer look at how we’re spending money, especially when it comes to our grocery bill. With food costs continuing to soar, many people are looking to their backyards for relief.

Even a modest vegetable garden can slash your grocery bill. A study by the nonprofit Gardening Association found the average family with a vegetable garden spends about $70 a year on it and grows an estimated $600 worth of vegetables!Besides the extra cash in your wallet, growing your own vegetables, many will agree, taste better than what you’ll find at the store. Never mind sifting through piles of produce that have been sitting around for a week or more. Pick your vegetables from your garden right when you need them. Plus, when you grow your own vegetables, there are no unwanted pesticides, fertilizers or contaminants in your food; you have healthy, chemical-free vegetables right at your fingertips.

However before you pick up that shovel, no matter what garden size you are thinking of, here are a few helpful tips to consider:

1. LOCATION.  LOCATION.  LOCATION.   A rototiller is a piece of lawn equipment that can penetrate and dig deep into the soil with some models being able to dig down at least 12 inches. However, the very nature of this “digging” tool should make you stop and think to call JULIE before you use it and get your underground utility lines marked for free. That way you’ll avoid the potential for injury, disruption of service to you or your neighbors and the need for costly repairs.

The location of your garden can also depend on where your underground utility lines are located. Since depths can vary, there may be multiple utility lines in the area where you want to dig for your garden. That’s why every digging project requires a call. You may think, I already know where the utility lines are located, I’m not digging deep enough for marking or this particular project is not in an area that needs marking. Those are dangerous assumptions. One quick phone call to JULIE at 811 gets your underground utility lines marked for free, or you can click here and fill out an online locate request right now. Once a professional locator from each member utility company comes out and marks where all the utility lines are and you wait the required amount of time (2 working days), you’re ready to start digging a spot for your garden.

2. KNOW THE MAKEUP OF YOUR SOIL.   One of the secrets to growing a successful garden is soil preparation. When preparing your soil, first remove all the weeds. It’s best to avoid any weed killers and to get rid of them by hand (or you can use a machine like a rototiller). Test the pH level of your soil; anything around a reading of 6.5 is ideal. If you are unable to test it yourself, head over to your local gardening store for assistance.

If your soil’s pH is either too high or too low it can restrict important nutrients from getting to your vegetables. Garden lime is commonly used to bring up low pH soil levels. Dig the soil over and look to get to depth of about 30cm (12"). You should allow 4-5 weeks before you begin to plant any vegetables after adding any soil amendments.

3. USE A ROTOTILLER TO PREPARE YOUR GARDEN BED.   While there are many types of gardening tools, a rototiller makes digging a garden a whole lot easier than if you just used a shovel. Rototillers dig deep into the soil with some models being able to dig down at least 12 inches. The rotating blades turn over the dirt, aerate the soil and wipe out fully-grown weeds and other unwanted plants. It can also be used to work in different types of soil and nutrients into your garden creating a light fluffy soil that’s ideal for planting. Some gardeners find it economical to purchase a rototiller, however many hardware stores and home center stores rent a number of different types. If you plan to rent a machine for the weekend though, be sure to notify JULIE or fill out an E-Request right here before you make your appointment to pick up the machine. 

4. ADD COMPOST.   Using good compost for your garden before planting will reduce the need for fertilizer. Most recycling centers have excellent compost that you can buy at a reasonable fee by the yard or even get for free. If you use too much fertilizer though your plants may shoot up fast, but may not be able to support any fruit. You can also start your own compost heap away from your gardening area. Don’t put any animal products in the compost heap. Any trimmings from plants, grass trimmings and leaves can go on the heap. Turn it with a pitch fork at least once a week. You can also put some worms on the compost heap as they help to decay the trimmings quicker and their elimination is very healthy for your plants. This compost can be used the following year for your garden.

5. SPACE SEEDS AND PLANTS EVENLY.   Planting depths and spacing are critical, so don't crowd too many plants into the allotted space or you may end up with spindly plants and no food. Be sure to place a tag or marker on each row or area so that you will know what to expect will sprout there and when! Water your garden thoroughly the day before you intend to plant.

6.  KNOW WHEN TO WATER.   It’s important to water your garden properly. Don’t water after the sun goes down, as this will cause root rot and fungus. Make sure if it is very hot to water the root systems and not the leaves as they will burn. Water consistently. Press your finger in the soil to see if it is damp. If the soil is not damp then your plants need watering. By following these tips you’re sure to set up your spring garden for success. If you’re not sure what to plant in your vegetable garden here are a few fail-safe picks:

* Tomatoes.  An ideal choice for beginners, tomatoes come in a number of different varieties.  They grow quickly and produce all season long until the first frost.   

* Bell Peppers.  In addition to ample sunlight and regular watering, all you need is a stake to help hold up these care-free plants.   

* Chili Peppers.  Give your garden a kick!  Like bell peppers, chili peppers are fairly hardy and continually produce throughout the growing season.   

* Carrots.  They grow best in deep soil and really don't need that much attention.  Plus you don't have to plant them at the beginning of the season; carrots can be planted at various times all season.  

* Lettuce.  The great thing about lettuce is that it grows quickly and can be picked as needed. 

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Community Events


Your local Ace Hardware is proud to participate in the Alzheimer's Association Forget-Me-Not paper flower benefit. Your participation will show your support in the fight against Alzheimer's disease as every flower purchased will help provide education programs, support groups and counseling in your community. Your donation will also provide much-needed funds for important Alzheimer's research.
 



Pontiac, on May 28th will be the  Memorial Day Parade in downtown Pontiac. Visit http://pontiacproud.org

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May Monthly Coupon