Author Archive

Counter the Granite Trend with ‘Green’ Countertops

By dhuso • Feb 4th, 2010

Yes, granite countertops are all the rage, but those who want something different and desire a truly environmentally friendly kitchen or bath countertop are going counter to this trend and choosing sustainable countertops.
Granite is a natural stone and therefore, a finite resource. As an alternative, consider a countertop made of recycled glass, recycled plastic, porcelain [...]



Black Raspberry Power

By dhuso • Jan 28th, 2010

Recent studies suggest that concentrated black raspberry powder may prevent some types of cancer. Should you jump on the berry bandwagon? Talk to your doctor first.
You probably already know about the antioxidant power of berries. So it may come as no surprise to learn that ongoing studies into concentrated black raspberry powder are showing pretty [...]



Second Homes at a Fraction of the Cost

By dhuso • Jan 4th, 2010

Perhaps you’ve been considering a second home purchase but hate to make a huge investment for what may amount to only a few weeks of usage per year. You might want to consider fractional ownership.
When Steve Dering, founding partner of DCP International, initiated the concept of fractional ownership communities more than a decade ago, he was inspired by [...]



How to Buy a Green Home

By dhuso • Dec 29th, 2009

Green homes are finally hitting the mainstream, but make sure you know what you’re buying before you sign the contract.
Ten years ago, environmentally- and energy-conscious home buyers had a tough time finding ‘green’ homes. Even though models were out there, builders and real estate agents had no idea how to market them and sometimes didn’t [...]



East Tennessee: Great Lakes and The Great Smokies

By dhuso • May 28th, 2009

It is impossible to think of East Tennessee without thinking of the Smoky Mountains. They frame the region’s eastern border in a haze of blue, with the streams and rivers of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park and the Cherokee National Forest feeding the area’s many lakes and reservoirs. These mountains have been the inspiration for [...]



Top Jobs for 50+

By dhuso • Jan 16th, 2009

Retirees heading back to the workplace, take note: There are industries that cater to older workers. Many of those, according to Bob Skladany, Vice President of Research at RetirementJobs.com, are business sectors experiencing labor shortages. Those industries include health care, home-aid, temporary staffing companies, retailers, transportation, nonprofits and financial services.
Deborah Russell, Director of Workforce Issues [...]



Gilded Era Meets Smoky Mountain Beauty: Asheville, NC

By dhuso • Oct 1st, 2008

With the Blue Ridge Parkway curling around it on the east and the blue haze of the Smoky Mountains bordering it on the west, Asheville is the consummate eastern mountain city.



The Draw of Green Communities – 10 Environmentally Sensitive Communities

By dhuso • Dec 28th, 2007

According to the National Land Trust Census, more than 37 million acres in the United States are protected through land trusts. Increasingly, those trusts are being initiated by home and community developers. As more and more home buyers express interest in living in communities that preserve open space and offer energy-efficient building options, developers are building fewer homes on more land and preserving larger areas of green space