When preparing for winter weather, many homeowners rely on whole-house and portable generators to power their homes in the event of a long-term power outage. While these generators are great resources for your home, there are three major risks that you should consider. Risk 1: Carbon Monoxide Poisoning To prevent carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning, keep… Continue reading.
On Christmas morning, will the family members peeking out from piles of wrapping paper and ribbons have nary a gift to unwrap? Make sure Fido and Fluffy get to join in the Christmas revelry with some special presents of their own. They’ll thank you later. Here are some items that will help ease your pet’s… Continue reading.
Santa Claus or his stand-ins are everywhere this time of year … on street corners, in parades and in malls. As beloved as he is, seeing Santa has become almost humdrum — as ubiquitous as he is. But seeing his tiny reindeer? That’s a whole other matter! Inquisitive kiddies always ask about the reindeer after… Continue reading.
By Richard G. Biever On a clear night, Jim Tague can see forever. Through his backyard telescope, he can look out across the eons. What he finds there among the ancient dapples of starlight and emptiness, he’s sometimes not sure of. But that’s what’s kept him stargazing since he was a boy. “What draws me… Continue reading.
The most wonderful time of the year can also be the most stressful — particularly when it comes to keeping your kids safe through parties, presents, travel and meals. Follow these tips to protect your little ones during this holiday season. Electronic gifts About 70 percent of child-related electrical accidents occur at home when adult… Continue reading.
What do you give to the people on your gift list who already seem to have everything? How about some peace of mind? Here are some gift ideas that just might help your family and friends prepare for the unexpected. A smoke detector with extra batteries Five-pound fire extinguishers for the kitchen and bedrooms A… Continue reading.
You empty the ashes and sweep your fireplace after every use to keep it safe and looking nice. But is it ready for Santa? Your fireplace isn’t really clean until you remove what you can’t see: the creosote, soot, ashes, dust, leaves and even birds that are stuck in the flue and chimney. Unless you… Continue reading.
Wood-burning fireplaces are charming and romantic, but they’re among the most energy-inefficient devices in a home. Keep yours from sucking the heat out of your home and the money out of your wallet. Close the dampers whenever you’re not burning a fire. Fireplaces can exhaust as much as 24,000 cubic feet of air per hour… Continue reading.
Turkey, stuffing, cookies, candy canes, fruitcake — there are so many eating opportunities during the holiday season that it’s easy to imagine becoming a “blimp” by spring. To determine if you’re eating problematically, ask yourself a few questions: Do you know what you’re eating when you’re eating it, or are you just scarfing things down?… Continue reading.
Leftover wine leads to slushy fun: Do you have some leftover white wine in your refrigerator from Thanksgiving? Don’t let it go to waste. Use it to make White Wine Slush. To prepare, place in a blender 2 cups semi-dry to sweet white wine, 1 pint fresh or 10 oz. frozen strawberries, 1 (6 oz.)… Continue reading.
For most people, their electricity provider is just the company that keeps the lights on. But an electric cooperative’s relationship with its consumer-owners is different. Since the 1930s when Indiana’s electric cooperatives were formed, they’ve thrived because of the political engagement between their consumer-owners and local, state and federal governments. Indiana’s electric cooperatives advocate for… Continue reading.
Though the first non-Native settlers in Adams County were from New England, encouraged by the new Erie Canal, it was the arrival of the first Amish/Mennonite settlers in 1840 and the German-Swiss immigrants that followed that left a lasting impact on the culture of the county, especially in its southern half. Berne was settled in… Continue reading.
By Emily Schilling Thanksgiving will certainly be a bit different this year. Friends and relatives may choose to attend a virtual turkey day celebration instead of an in-person dinner. And those prepping the feast may not only be shielded by aprons, but face masks as well this year. Holiday safety precautions nowadays go far beyond… Continue reading.
