Windfall – opening and closing. (add photos)
I. Checking out during the season, even if others are staying or due soon:
Plan ahead: If there are a lot of recyclables, please take those with deposits to a redemption center. One is located at _______ . The ones without deposits will need to go to the dump on Alder Park Road.
Directions to dump: take 202 North about 2.5 miles. Turn right on Alder Park Road and the dump is located less than a mile further on the left. You do need stickers to use dump and those stickers can be obtained at the Town Office. Because we pay property taxes, we pay no feel.. (In 2018 Liz and Dad were stopped and asked for proof that a fee was paid which Dad swore he paid, and historically they wanted a sticker in the window as proof... however Farg got away without a sticker as did dad all summer) They accept recyclables separated into all manner of categories in locations around the area, e.g. cardboard, boxboard, plastics, glass…; kitchen trash is dumped up a slight hill to the left into a compacter.
We do not have a trash collection service. As of 2018, the dump is open only these times:
Friday, Sat., and Monday. Hours: 8:00-5:00pm. It might be more often... check at the Town Office.
Plan ahead to complete clothes laundering without waiting to the last second because it can impact the septic system if everyone uses it all at once.) even if there’s a lot of demand for the machines. Make sure you wash up all the kitchen and bath and face towels in showers, etc.
PLAN AHEAD to do this well. GRILL: Replace the “homemade grease catching” set up within the cabinet with a new tin foil creation. THIS SHOULD BE DONE FREQUENTLY THROUGHOUT THE SEASON. Make sure gas valve is turned off.
Do not leave any laundry machines running when you leave. Check both for left clothing.
Do not leave the dishwasher running when you leave. Check under kitchen sink to see if a bucket needs to be left to catch a leak.
Empty refrigerator of all perishables and make sure fridge doors are tightly closed.
Be responsible and don’t leave clutter or things that others will need to store or mail to you: Please, you and your kids should check EACH of these locations to put away or pack up or return to Frank/Lee’s what you used: beach and dock, lower garage, laundry line under deck, breezeway, LR doorways, LR island and entrance, screened porch, deck, showers and bathrooms. Refrigerators.
Make sure the set of 3 keys to the Windfall (front door, living room AND Windfallback) is left in the double-secret hiding place Farg can tell you about.
If you are the last one before the heating season starts, set all thermostats: 52 degrees.
Tightly close and lock all windows and close drapes. Skylights should NEVER EVER be opened at any time at ALL. Make sure no one opened them… it would be catastrophic to leave them cracked.
Leave the place as clean as you found it:
Don’t ever leave dirty sheets on beds… it’s confusing. Generally, we put clean sheets on the beds for the next users. But at the very least STRIP the bed and throw the bedspread back on.
Bathrooms must be cleaned: toilet, sink, showers, floors.
Sweep and run a vacuum.
Leave kitchen and fridge cleaner than you found it to avoid ants.
Feel oven to make sure it’s REALLY OFF. (Dials may not be trustworthy.) Make sure stove is really off.
Return mailbox key to the “Canoe” key hook by the door that goes out to the breezeway from the living room.
If you participated in Maintenance of Windfall (hiring of service people or paying expenses) please record your activity in the log at the back of the book. Submit receipts to Jennifer Jones for reimbursement.
Sign the Windfall guestbook!
II. Closing the house, end of summer:
Ensure the arrangement for delivery of oil through the winter: Telephone Maritime Energy (formerly O’Brien Oil a mile West, across Rte3 from Fieldstones/DunkinDonuts/Sunoko; 241 ME-3 PP Box 358 South China, ME 04358. Branch Manager is Anna Hebert) to confirm the Winter arrangement of potentially 2 deliveries of oil to keep heat going. We maintain a credit with them using an automatic transfer each month of the year that is then drawn upon to pay for winter deliveries as needed and determined by them.) Report to Frank that this call has been made. Note: they have a web site at www.maritimeenergy.com which provides different payment plans, including prepaying everything for the heating season up front. Phone: 207-445-5222 or 1-800-722-0155. Furnace "burner" is annually checked in September. Tag is kept on
Downstairs:
Turn off Hot water heater located , careful, NEXT TO THE FURNACE. DO NOT confuse such with the well pump located in the blue bedroom closet downstairs. THE WELL PUMP MUST NEVER BE TURNED OFF, please.
Make sure toilet is not running.
Turn laundry hoses to “off” by lifting the valve bar UP.
Turn on the furnace.
Set thermostat at 52 degrees in three places:
Close drapes all the way.
Block 2 sliding doors using broomstick.
Leave the dehumidifier on and running all winter long. The humidity downstairs is extreme and damage causing. Keep the dehumidifier on at all times. It is left in position on the downstairs bar so that it drains into the sink. Don’t move it; ensure that the hose is duct-taped down into the rock weighing it into the sink.
Back Deck:
Put flower boxes, lobster trap, into lower garage or against glass windows below deck.
Disconnect hose… drain and roll up. Park it in lower garage.
Bring Porch furniture into Living Room.
Put hose away
Bring in outside furniture
Clean Grill and Roll grill into breezeway/entryway. Expectations for cleaning:
- Scrub/brush down grill slats
- Make sure gas is turned off. Disconnect propane tank and place that tank in the lower garage. or where?
- Clean the inside and outside nicely.
- VITAL: Replace the “homemade grease catching” set up within the cabinet with a new tin foil creation. THIS SHOULD BE DONE FREQUENTLY THROUGHOUT THE SEASON.
Breezeway:
Block breezeway sliding doors.
Go outside below the kitchen window to PLUG the dryer vent (with a plastic bag… something to discourage mice entering there.) Also plug "Windfallback's" dryer vent which is near the breezeway.
Take trash cans to lower garage.
Flower removal: Remove flowers – can compost the flowers, but hold onto the soil. Store flower pots in lower garage. In Spring, put in a little new soil and plant with plants from a greenhouse cum hardware store on our edge of Waterville. $200 fills the flower pots.
Beach:
Bring up and store in the lower garage: 3 orange Kayaks, Canoe, sunfish, white plastic lawn chairs, green plastic Adirondack chairs, lifejackets marked with “Windfall.” Don’t dump things onto floor since garage should be left tidy for construction workers. 3 large blue bins can hold toys, etc.
Screened Porch:
Bring in all porch furniture which gets stored in the hallway or wherever it fits, such as in the Windfallback refridgerator area.
Living room:
Turn off lights and CEILING FAN.
Close drapes all the way.
Unplug appliances: iron, coffee machine, all fans, TV.
Turn off all (ceiling) fans.
Bar the sliding glass doors by using the broom handles in that space.
Chimney flue: close. Remove as much ash as you can, dumping well away from house or it will blow around living room. Place screen in front of fireplace.
Kitchen:
Set “reverse thermostat” and light in the kitchen sink window as an indicator to Frank that temperature has dropped below acceptable levels.
Fridge: turn ice-maker to off and empty the ice tray (this is recommended by manufacturer.)
Stove and oven off.
A temperature detector is operated in the kitchen sink window. Frank Green expects to see the light turn on when the temperature drops dangerously.
Clean/wipe down to avoid attracting wildlife.
Put pantry items such as flour and sugar into the freezer and date them so that animals are not attracted to them during the winter.
WindfallBack: (this is what we call the new addition on the right side of the breezeway above the lower garage.). It is NOT heated and MUST BE WINTERIZED each year.
Lock all windows closed.
Close blinds all the way.
Empty and clean refrigerator and Unplug refridge; leave its doors open.
Shut the valves to the Windfallback (valve is in the furnace room) then OPEN the outside spigot that is just below the deck to empty the pipes.
IMPORTANT: Contact Tom St. Germain (see below) to winterize the WindfallBack – draining pipes, antifreeze into laundry, toilet, all drains…Pour antifreeze into these drains: bathroom sink, shower drain, and washing machine.
Lock door.
Set up "mail forwarding" with the Post Office.
Refer to Section I to see if there are any additional guidelines to a successful closing.
III. Opening Windfall:
Go outside below the kitchen window to UNPLUG the dyer vent (it will be plugged with a plastic bag… something to discourage mice entering there.)
Putting in the docks: coordinate with Frank Green from next door. Steve, do you have a contact?
Open the valves and Run an "empty load" of both laundry machines to clean them out because anti-freeze was put into the machines at closing.
The satellite TV is connected to the “traveling” service provided to W. Rufus Jones.
Collect the mail for Post Office Box 427 during open hours... it may have piled up and need to be retrieved from in back. Send Jen the bills.
Turn on hot water heater. Location: downstairs blue room closet.
Beginning of Season- get stickers to allow use of dump-- they are obtained at the Town Office for free since we pay property taxes.
Open the valves from the hot water heater piping. Location:
Using list of contacts below, ensure that Jen, Farg or you have established the necessary services.
IV. General Operation of Windfall:
Never open the skylights. Never ever! No exceptions.
Never dive from the docks. Water is shallow. Children should ALWAYS be supervised at the docks.
Regularly take those recyclables with deposits to a redemption center. One is located at _______ . The ones without deposits will need to go to the dump on Alder Park Road.
We do not have a trash collection service. As of 2018, the dump is open only these times, so plan ahead:
Friday, Sat., and Monday. Hours: 8:00-5:00pm
Directions to dump: take 202 North about 2.5 miles. Turn right on Alder Park Road and the dump is located less than a mile further on the left. You do /do not? what is the story? need stickers to use dump. (In 2018 Liz and Dad were stopped and asked for proof that a fee was paid which Dad swore he paid, and historically they wanted a sticker in the window as proof... however Farg got away without a sticker as did dad all summer) They accept recyclables separated into all manner of categories in locations around the area, e.g. cardboard, boxboard, plastics, glass…; kitchen trash is dumped up a slight hill to the left into a compacter.
We no longer have a landline phone number for Windfall.
911 is functional, but Windfall is a long distance from hospitals so think about skipping the ambulance and driving patient yourself to Waterville or Augusta for emergencies. At one time, advice was to go to Waterville for the 24 hour emergency room there. Not sure if there’s such in Augusta.
The fan for the stovetop cuts out after 20-30 minutes. So be a planner for long use!
The green rocker may be used on the deck, however make sure to place it inside in the evening.
To keep the outdoor rockers in good condition, bring the cushions in at night and tip against the sliding glass doors at night if it might rain.
Do not leave wet clothing, towels, bathing suits on furniture or on the deck in a way that blocks the view. Utilize the clothes line that is below the deck instead, please.
Avoid use of downstairs clothing dryer. The Windfallback has better machines if you are using that part of the house. If using the downstairs machines, open the valves to bring forth water.
The blue couch downstairs is a king size sleeper sofa. The futon upstairs is a full-size bed (or queen?) when unfolded.
LOTS of bedding and extra towels are kept protected from dust and moisture in bags/plastic bins in the downstairs closets.
These baby items are already at Windfall: lots of lifejackets, on high chair (folded up), Graco playpen/crip, strollers, car seat, infant carrier/car seat, toddler table and chairs. A toddler mattress and a large twin inflatable mattress are also in the lower garage.
Recreational equipment: A weight set is at Windfall in the cool downstairs garage. Also: archery set, twin inflatable mattress, fishing rods and lures, inflatables for tubing or drifting.
Running the grill requires the commitment to clean it well after it has cooled and replacing the grease-catching foiled tray in the cabinet. The propane can be obtained at ... (try Hanaford's?)
Cleaning supplies are kept in the master bathroom on the top shelf of the closet. More are in the laundry rooms. Mops are in the garage.
What can be recycled at the transfer station? LOTS! See list in Windfall Maintenance book. RINSE your soda cans and do not crush them in order to get them redeemed at the redemption center found 2 miles away on right on way to Augusta via Rte 3.
The humidity downstairs is extreme and damage causing. Keep the dehumidifier on at all times. It is left in position on the downstairs bar so that it drains into the sink. Don’t move it, and ensure that the hose is duct-taped down into the rock weighing it into the sink.
Internet access for the public is at the library but not inside Windfall.
Make use of the CONTACTS list below, and always record what maintenance/service you have arranged during your stay so that others know not to be redundant. Record those in the Windfall Maintenance Book Log in back.
NOT SURE IF THIS IS CURRENT ADVICE: In case of emergency, Frank advises using the Maine General/Thayer Campus hospital in Waterville instead of the one in Augusta for a 24-hour Emergency Room. (is this still current?). There is a MaineGeneral Medical Center in Augusta, too. Go WEST on Rte 3/ 202, turn left at the lobster store you hit as you go into Augusta and it’s at the second roundabout, I think.
Contacts:
Cleaning ladies employed recently by Martha: Karen (who opens Leaning Elm) and Anita. Our lawn guy Jackson might have a reference as his sister in law once did it. 589-4683
Lawn Care: Jackson in Palermo:
Snow Plowing? Does Jackson do that, too?
Septic System: TONY at...
Oil and Furnace: Tm at O’Brien / Maritime Energy = plumbing heat, electrical. 207-445-2831 Maritime Energy (formerly O’Brien Oil a mile West, across Rte3 from Fieldstones/DunkinDonuts/Sunoko; 241 ME-3 PP Box 358 South China, ME 04358. Branch Manager is Anna Hebert) to confirm the Winter arrangement of potentially 2 deliveries of oil to keep heat going. We maintain a credit with them using an automatic transfer each month of the year that is then drawn upon to pay for winter deliveries as needed and determined by them.) Report to Frank that this call has been made. Note: they have a web site at www.maritimeenergy.com which provides different payment plans, including prepaying everything for the heating season up front. Phone: 207-445-5222 or 1-800-722-0155. A record of furnace maintenance is kept attached to the furnace. It is to be serviced annually.
Remodel/ Winterizing Camps Care Tom St. Germain in Waterville
has previously done a lot of work at Windfall:
· built the Windfallback the thermometer. Get on schedule to complete it all around Columbus day… or before.
· built the French drain across front and (better) side of the house
· re-built the North foundation wall of the Barracks
· has provided Liz an assessment of what to do for foundation that is cracked in the remainder of the Barracks.
· and also winterizes camps. (turns off and empties pipes –by turning valves above furnace away from parallel to the red and blue pipes to a position that is perpendicular to the pipes to the Windfallback, removes hoses and drains the pipes, pours antifreeze in toilets, sets thermostats
· Tom will fix the porch light so that it is motion sensitive
Blackwoods Camp Ground in Acadia: 207/ 228-3756.
Notes for the treasurer to anticipate annual costs:
__ post office box
__ Direct TV service?
__ staining
__ lawn cutting (every other week by Jackson)
__ Furnace Cleaned: (last indicated in 2004. There might be a card on the furnace that indicates it was more recently performed.)
__ Deck power-washed and re-stained (last – 2017)
__ flush septic yeast additive into the system. (Yeast packets are flushed down the toilet.) (last noted 2002)
__ Upstairs smoke detection batteries (last replaced: ___ )
__ Squirrels’ nests found in attic (last by Liz in 2018)
__ Shingles replaced in various parts of siding. (last done 2002. Front of garage completely replaced in Spring, 2018)
__ Skylights’ sealing re-done by Liz 2016 and 2018 (cost $200)
__ Ceiling tiles in downstairs bathroom gets condensation dripped on it. Keep eye on it for replacement. Liz replaced some ceiling tiles in basement in 2018.
___ Oil heater fully serviced 2004, 2005 and every year to 2015 at least. Dad was investigating fully replacing it in 2018. Got at least one bid. = $1900 I think.
___ Smokestack from furnace across the bookshelf has a fire-preventing “sleeve” installed in 2013. __ septic tank emptied Aug. 2015 and 2018
___ Septic pump serviced Augh 2016. Float switch repaired.
___ Aerators rinsed on faucets to remove sediment in 2004. (Allows faster flow of water, esp. into laundry machine.)
Maintenance Log - date when last completed:
Stain # used for WindfallBack exterior:
Burner for Furnace is annually checked in September. Tag is kept on burner. Last completed: 2017
Septic System was pumped, July, 2018
Bids from __ and Tom St. Germaine have been received for rebuilding the foundation under the Windfallback.
Bids from __ and Maritime Energy have been received for replacing the oil heater.
etc. Liz, you are the best source for this, plus Jen has been paying some bills...
Beginning of Season- get stickers to allow use of dump-- they are obtained at the Town Office for free since we pay property taxes.
Contacts will be listed on paper separately:
Jen
Farg
Pete
Rufus and Martha
Frank Green
Correspondence to Windfall:
PO Box --Lee
Geoff