Of course, as the seasons tend to do around here, we’ll swing into severe heat before too long.

We want to take this time, way ahead of schedule, to remind you that some belongings in storage can’t handle the Summer heat. Outdoor units will protect your belongings, but they are not temperature controlled. That means if you have any sensitive items like artwork or wine, they will be at serious risk.

Consider your options for indoor units. The climate controlled building provides a wide range of unit sizes, so anything that doesn’t require drive up accessibility is fair game. The units are comfortable and convenient, and even give you a little break from the heat as you walk around.

The entire DAK campus is monitored 24/7 by video surveillance, including the indoor hallways. That means you can trust no tampering will occur under the cover of darkness and without someone noticing.

Let’s keep your belongings safe together. Give us a call or browse some of our available units. We can arrange for a fresh additional unit for you, or a transfer if you already have some outdoor space reserved.

Many residents of Shoemakersville attend Schuylkill Valley School District located in nearby Leesport. The two towns are long time neighbors and residents frequently travel back and forth for various personal and business matters.

DAK Self Storage is located in Leesport and aids many nearby residents with their storage needs.

Why DAK Self Storage?

Many Shoemakersville residents have chosen DAK due to it’s convenience and quality. Travel time to arrive at DAK is often between 8-15 minutes, as demonstrated below:

View Larger Map

DAK is a premiere self storage facility in Berks. The entire campus is fenced and monitored 24/7 via video surveillance. Access is granted by keycode only.

No matter what it is you need to store, DAK has an appropriate unit available. Outdoor units come in many sizes and can be easily driven up to as our access aisles are quite spacious. Indoor units are climate controlled and appropriate for more sensitive belongings.

What Size Units are Available?

DAK keeps a real-time updated list of units available for rent. To browse them, simply click here.

What Other Amenities Does DAK Offer?

Along with quality storage space DAK also provides an on-site supply shop. The shop is well stocked with all manner of moving and storing supplies, ranging from boxes, to bubble wrap, to tie straps.

DAK is also privately owned, which means customer service is available whenever you need it. Joe and Donna Krezdorn take special care in making sure their tenants are pleased with their storage experience.

What’s the First Step?

If you think self storage is right for you, we recommend you reach out to us! We can help you decide what size unit is perfect for your needs and describe the very easy move-in process. We’re here to help!

Call us at 610-926-1310 or contact us online via our customer service page.

Image courtesy of http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shoemakersville,_Pennsylvania

Upcoming Events

• Nolde Forest Education Center – May 11th features two unique programs, a “Forest Fantasy” craft and storytelling event for children and a “Starwatching” event for all comers.
• Classic Harley Davidson – Meet Nick from WMMR’s morning show Preston and Steve on May 12th. Win free tickets to the wmmrbq.
• Kutztown University - Streaming video coverage of commencement events on May 12th.
• Penn State Berks - Summer sessions are slated to begin May 14th. Last chance to check out this year’s offerings.
• Leesport Farmer’s Market – Mineral and Gem show on May 19th-20th. $3 admission fee.
• Ontelaunee Orchards – “Pick Your Own” strawberries expected to open on May 21st.
• Blue Marsh Lake – Water levels are now risen to appropriate boat depth. Docks are officially in and usable.
• Schuylkill Valley Community Library – Books on Screen discussion of To Kill a Mockingbird.

Coupons

• Ozzy’s Family Fun Center - Mother’s day special on May 13th (sunday). All mom’s golf for free.
• DAK Self Storage – Kutztown University students receive $1 first month rental on select units.
• Steve Moyer Subaru – Free mounting and balancing with purchase of new tires.
• Bachman’s at VF Outlet – Save 20% on purchase of $10 or more.

Local News

• Fleetwood Fixtures Honored – The local company received the “Green Plus Medium-Sized Business of the Year” award in recognition of sustainability efforts.
• Penn State Berks Chemical Society – Local chapter receives honorable mention from American Chemical Society.
• Alvernia University Ribbon Cutting – Unveiling the newly renovated Environmental Exploration Center.
• String of Thefts – Electronic equipment was stolen from three separate locations in and around Reading.

Berks Perks

• This new section will feature sneak peeks at some of the great deals offered at Berks Perks. Keep an eye out for it in next month’s issue!

Do you know of any interesting events or pieces of news? Include it in the comments below!

Image courtesy of http://www.co.berks.pa.us/.

When prepping for your excursion, be sure to take the proper precautions. A few obvious things to mark off the checklist include bringing a well fitted life jacket as well as leaving proper documentation as to your location and predicted float time. Also, make yourself aware of the natural wildlife in the area of your intended trip. Knowing what snakes to watch out for, as well as other potentially poisonous creatures, can help you avoid a bad outing.

Once ready, do some background investigation on the following areas. Knowing how long to plan your trip and what kind of water turbulence you will experience is to a fun afternoon filled with excitement or leisure.

• Blue Marsh Lake – Located extremely close to DAK Self Storage, Blue Marsh Lake is a beautiful area filled with boating opportunities. One of the best rides extends from the Stilling Basin down to Gring’s Mill. Be aware that an Unpowered Boat Launch Permit is requested at state parks.
• Maiden Creek – Most sections provide a very flat and pleasant trip. Good for beginning paddlers.
• Little Schuylkill – This actually begins in Schuylkill County but provides an exciting ride. Be mindful of the water levels as high water can provide a fun ride while low water often requires certain sections to be walked.
• French Creek State Park – Lots of water to be had and a well run park system. Also requests an Unpowered Boat Launch Permit.
• Tulpehocken Creek – Located conveniently near Penn State Berks. The speed of the water is dictated by the let-outs of Blue Marsh Lake.
• Chambers Lake – Located in nearby Chester county, this lake provides serene paddling on still water. Perfect for beginners. An Unpowered Boat Launch Permit is encouraged when on the lake.

To learn more about good paddling spots and how to get the most out of them, consider contacting the Keystone Canoe Club. They are a Berks based group with a lot of knowledge that can improve your safety and optimal paddling times.

If you need to acquire some canoeing gear, there are multiple athletic outfitters in the area. Dick’s Sporting Goods is located in Wyomissing, right off of 422 near the Spring Ridge Exit. You can also arrange for rentals from the Reading River Tribe located on Canal Street, as well as Kelly’s Canoe and Kayak Center located in Gilbertsville..

I was quite disappointed, as you would imagine. I had spent multiple years learning German and really enjoyed what I had learned about German culture.

Ahh well – c’est la vie, as they say.

Luckily 24 Berks County students had better luck recently. According to recent reports on Reading Eagle: “Six students from Schuylkill Valley, 14 from Wilson, two from Brandywine Heights and one each from Wyomissing and Oley Valley went on the trip, which cost about $2,500 per student. The students toured Beijing but spent the majority of their trip visiting Chinese schools and families in Shijiazhuang, a city about 170 miles south of Beijing.”

The students seem to have experienced diverse parts of Chinese living, ranging from visiting the Great Wall of China to spending full days in the Chinese school systems. No doubt the cultural breadth was stunning to the students as ancient living pressed directly up against modern innovation.

Simple differences in living caught some of the students by surprise, as further reported by Reading Eagle:

“At the homes, Skorpinski and Lykens learned more about their host families and about daily life in China. For example, the bathrooms don’t have bathtubs. Instead, there is a shower head and a drain in the middle of the bathroom floor. And instead of carpeting, most homes have hardwood floors, they said.”

There’s no question the costs associated with the trip were inhibitive to a lot of students who probably wanted to go. I doubt I could have conjured up a spare $2,500 in my high school days. Nevertheless, those students who did manage it received an experience they’ll remember forever.

Staying aware of China’s economical growth will only prove more and more valuable to future leaders of business and industry. Schuylkill Valley is well advised to stay connected with the foreign power.

When displaced by a tornado, even simple things like getting yourself organized can be nightmarish. Everyday needs can become a burden where they were once automatic.

Some local businesses decided to take action and bring a little ease to their neighbors: “Bienvenidos Restaurant and Cantina Owner Vivian Chastain provided breakfast burritos for the masses in the morning, and employees from Access Self Storage and volunteers from First Baptist Church-Dallas grilled hot dogs all afternoon. The event also included an inflatable obstacle course for kids…Access Self Storage is also offering rental discounts for those affected by the tornadoes” – Inside Self Storage

This is a good message for all of us in the self storage industry. Our businesses are tightly connected to residents of our areas. When large scale events hit we can play an active part in creating solutions for those in need.

Next time you hear about a flood, pipe break, fire…think of it as an opportunity to get involved!

A few of the mainstays like Schuylkill Valley High School and Andali’s Restaurant are now neighbors with Vist, Hoss’s, 61 Brew Thru, and many more.

DAK Self Storage came about as a way to assist local residents, small business owners, and students. Owners Joe and Donna Krezdorn are local residents themselves and got their start via a personal painting business. As such, there experience and attention to renter needs is extremely reliable.

Why Use DAK?

DAK is an affordable storage solution. Extra space is always at a premium, especially for large furniture and equipment. Rather than trying to buy or rent a bigger property, many individuals find it beneficial to store their possessions nearby.

The units available come in a wide array of sizes.

What’s the Facility Like?

The campus is split into two main areas: indoor and outdoor. The outdoor units are organized into rows with wide lanes in between. As such, they can be accessed easily with car/truck/moving van, etc. These units range in size but get quite large, even able to handle vehicles.

The indoor building is quite spacious and features a wide variety of sizes. The aisles are well lit and kept clean. The entire building is climate controlled and ideal for possessions more fragile or temperature sensitive.

DAK Self Storage is a completely fenced facility with keycode access only. Both indoor and outdoor spaces are monitored 24/7 by video surveillance. Each unit utilizes tamper resistant cylinder locks.

Where is DAK?

DAK is conveniently placed one block off of highway 61 across the street from Hoss restaurant. Consult the following map for directions:

View Larger Map

What Should I Do If I Want To Rent?

If you think renting might be right for you, start by browsing our available units here. You can then reserve a unit online or call us (610-926-1310) for personal service.

We hope to see you soon!

Anyone who has a non-temperature controlled attic will tell you just how steamy storage space can get, even in private homes. Plastics bend, paper can dry and shrivel, and delicate inks can run. The same can be true of materials stored in a garage.

If you’ve got some valuable possessions it may be time to consider indoor self storage.

What is Indoor Self Storage?

DAK Self Storage features two main areas on it’s campus, the outdoor drive-up rows of units and the indoor storage building.

The indoor units feature specific climate control that prevents the temperature from going significantly passed normal room temp. In fact, due to the construction, it is often slightly cool during the summer months.

Each unit inside features it’s own cylinder lock and the building has been properly sealed to prevent pest intrusion.

What is Indoor Storage Good For?

There is a wide variety of items that are appropriate for indoor storage. Since the units range from locker size to large 10×15 bays virtually all kinds of belongings are fair game.

Many people store books, paintings, antiques, and valuable art. Others prefer to store furniture or clothing that they want to make sure are protected.

Of course, volatile and potent liquids like gasoline, oil, etc are restricted. The safety and comfort of all tenants is critical.

Is My Stuff Well Taken Care Of?

As mentioned earlier, all units feature tamper resistant cylinder locks. In addition the building utilizes a layer of keycode access. This is in addition to the entire facility being fenced with keycode access only through the driveway.

The facility is also closely monitored 24/7 via video surveillance.

What Should I Do To Rent?

If you’re interested in renting a unit, start of by browsing our different available sizes and deals. Be sure to keep an eye out for the ones labelled “indoor”.

If you find a unit that is suitable, you can either proceed with renting the unit online or call at 610-926-1310.

We’re a privately owned company and we look forward to helping you personally with the process!

Berks students who are preparing to return for next semester have a choice to make – take all of their dorm belongings home or throw a lot of stuff away?

It can be a tough call. Throwing things away can get pricey just for the sake of convenience, while moving everything home and then back in to school can be a real burden in terms of time, money, and effort.

DAK Self Storage offers a perfect solution: utilize nearby self storage for safe and convenience access to all your possessions.

Why Use Self Storage?

Self storage units at DAK come in a variety of sizes. Smaller units can be used to store boxes of books, cleaning supplies, etc. Bigger units can easily handle beds, furniture, carpets, desks, etc. Outdoor units can be accessed by truck while indoor units feature a climate controlled environment for more sensitive belongings.

It might seem like self storage is an added expense at first, but when considering the cost of moving trucks, packing supplies, and time and effort invested in moving a student in and out…the dollars quickly even out.

Will My Stuff Be Ok While I’m Gone?

DAK is a very professionally run facility. Located in nearby Leesport, PA (within 15 minutes of campus), the entire DAK grounds are fenced with keycode access only. Each unit features cylinder tamper-resistant locks. Both indoor and outdoor units are monitored at all times by a comprehensive video surveillance system.

What If I Need Boxes and Packing Supplies?

A fully stocked supply shop is offered on site. DAK has a variety of boxes, packing tape, bubble wrap, and more. Moving is rarely a fun experience, so take the stress and chaos out of it but utilizing DAK’s services.

How Do I Get Started with Self Storage?

Getting started is easy. If you like to browse around online, you can view our available units here. Conversely, you can call us toll free at 610-926-1310 and we’ll help get you set up with the perfect storage unit for your needs.

Directions:

View Larger Map

Coupon

Penn State Berks students can use the coupon code “PSU Student” to get a special $1 first month rental fee on select units. Second month rent is also requested at time of rental.

The storage owner has just tossed you the keys and you are about to open the unit for the first time. Of all the following options, which would YOU most like to find waiting inside?