August brings the unofficial close of summer and the start of the busy fall season. Many hope cool temperatures will start soon.
We at MTB Windows and More hope the summer has been a great one for your family and friends. We know the season is not completely over, but the “Back-to-school Shopping Ads” certainly make many start thinking about fall. By the end of August there should be a break in the weather. That means cooler evenings and soon that furnace will kick on to take the chill off. Is your home ready to keep the warm air in and cold air out?
Well, if it isn’t ready, the good news is that it can be. Contact us to schedule a meeting 
about replacement windows and replacement exterior doors. Many people wait until the cold air is blowing the curtains and the energy bills are climbing toward four digits. But, if you contact us now, the home improvement work can be completed before the winter coats are put on.
While you’re checking your available dates for a MTB Windows and More meeting, enjoy these interesting August facts and trivia.
August Facts
The name “August” was given by Roman emperor August, in 8 B.C. Until then, the Romans called the month “Sextilis,” meaning the sixth month of their calendar. August claimed this month his own because most of his victories occurred during this month. Many other versions of the name designate this month as Harvest Month.
Lammas Day (Aug. 1): This day marked the beginning of the harvest, especially the first wheat and corn crops. It derives from the ancient English festival the Gule of August, a pagan dedication of the first fruits the early English church, which later converted to Christian usage.
August 19th is National Aviation Day, chosen for the birthday of Orville Wright who piloted the first recorded flight of a powered heavier-than-air machine in 1903.
August’s birthstone is peridot, which is said to symbolize strength and healing power. Babies born in August are lucky to be guarded by peridot’s good fortune. Peridot is the rare gem-quality form of the mineral olivine, which appears in various shades of green.
August in the Northern Hemisphere is similar to February in the Southern Hemisphere.
August’s flower is the gladiolus. The flower was discovered in Africa in the 17-18th centuries and was initally used as food (don’t try this at home!).
Famous birthdays in August include Barack Obama, Cal Ripkin, Jr., Herman Melville, Hulk Hogan, Mila Kunis, Jennifer Lawrence, Ben Affleck, Madonna, Robert DeNiro, Peter O’Toole and Cameron Diaz.
“In August, the large masses of berries, which, when in flower, had attracted many wild bees, gradually assumed their bright velvety crimson hue, and by their weight again bent down and broke their tender limbs.” – Henry David Thoreau
August Events in History
Aug. 1, 1981 – MTV network debuted on cable television, actually playing music videos 24 hours a day. The Buggles’ “Video Killed the Radio Star” was the first video shown, followed by Pat Benatar’s “You Better Run.”
Aug. 2, 1776 – The official signing of the United States Declaration of Independence took place.
Aug. 3, 1936 – Jesse Owens won the 100 meter dash, beating ‘the world’s fastest man Ralph Metcalfe at the Berlin Olympics.
Aug. 4, 70 A.D. – The Second Temple in Jerusalem was destroyed by the Romans.
For more important August event dates, click here.
Astronomy in August
- August’s full moon, the Full Sturgeon Moon, rises on August 26 at 7:56 a.m. EDT. See more about the full Moon for August.
- August is a wonderful month for star gazing! It’s also the month of the Perseid meteor shower, which reach their peak between August 11 and 13.
- A partial solar eclipse occurs on August 11; in North America, it’s visible only in very NE Canada.
August Folklore
- As August, so February.
- Observe on what day in August the first heavy fog occurs, and expect a hard frost on the same day in October.
- If the first week of August is unusually warm, The winter will be white and long.
- So many August fogs, so many winter mists.
High-Quality Building Products
Replacement windows by Andersen Windows are top-quality in the industry, since they help insulate a home so well and add a layer of security. Security is also a key feature (pardon the pun) of the great-looking exterior doors made by Therma-Tru. And, the GAF Shingle System is among the best on the market for durability and resisting mold and stains. We also do other home improvement work.
We are always available to give a quote on windows, siding, roofing, exterior doors, etc.. in Hagerstown, MD; Greencastle, PA; Martinsburg, WV; or the Frederick County, MD areas.