If winter’s usual hibernation — now coupled with COVID-19 isolation — gives you a double whammy of cabin fever in the coming weeks, the antidote right up your alley might be antiques … and a road trip to Indiana’s Antique Alley. “There’s never a bad time to antique,” said Beth Leisure, who, with her husband,… Continue reading.

By Richard G. Biever On the drizzly windy Sunday afternoon before Thanksgiving, two wildlife biologists with the Indiana Department of Natural Resources stood in mud and manure beside a cattle barn. They stared up at a silo and scratched their heads. Deep inside the 22-foot-tall cylinder were five Indiana-endangered barn owl chicks. The empty unused… Continue reading.

LaGrange County was settled and founded in 1832 by mostly Yankee immigrants from New England. They so admired the Marquis de Lafayette, the French aristocrat and military officer who fought alongside the Americans in the American Revolutionary War, they named their county after his French estate outside of Paris.  But within a dozen years, LaGrange… Continue reading.

Even if the weather outside is already frightful, your heating bills don’t have to be. Here are 10 easy, low- and no-cost ways to stay warmer indoors without cranking up the thermostat this winter. Open the drapes. The sun’s rays will help heat your home for free. Let them shine in through south-facing windows all… Continue reading.

Saving energy at home can be simple and free: Turn off the lights and TV when you’re not using them; lower the thermostat at night. But for a bigger impact on your electric bill, make a little bit more of an effort and invest a few bucks in energy-saving equipment. Here’s what to buy: LEDs…. Continue reading.

One of the easiest and most effective ways to save energy in your home is to add insulation to your attic.  Some clues that your attic needs more insulation: some of the rooms in your home are drafty; their walls feel hot or cold to the touch; or you feel cold in some rooms or… Continue reading.

Make sure your computer and office equipment are energy-efficient.  Here are five ways to save energy in your home office: Using an ENERGY STAR-labeled computer can save 30%-65% energy than computers without this designation. Buy a laptop instead of a desktop computer. A laptop consumes considerably less energy. Computers and battery chargers continue to draw… Continue reading.

Your family probably spends in the neighborhood of 18 percent of your utility dollars on water heating, according to U.S. Department of Energy estimates. Here are eight ways to lower your water heating bill: Replace old showerheads and faucets in every bathroom. Older models push out way more water than you need to take a… Continue reading.

If you run your dishwasher when it’s loaded to capacity instead of washing a half-load at a time, you’ll use way less water and electricity. Here are five other energy-saving dishwasher tips: Stop rinsing. You’ve been doing it for years, but newer dishwashers do such a good job that you’re simply wasting water and time… Continue reading.

Laundry day may not be your favorite day of the week, but by following these six tips, it can be an opportunity to save some cash. Wash your clothes in cold water and use cold-water detergents. Unless the stains on your clothes are oil-based, warm or cool water in your washing machine will do just… Continue reading.

Top 3 responsibilities in a day Splice internet fiber in the air or on the ground. Happy customers: Make sure they’re pleased before I leave the job site. Be available for any service interruptions or other problems that might arise during the day. What part of your job do you find to be most fulfilling? No… 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.