By Natalie Derrickson Despite the frost of winter, ruffly, sunny daffodils and show-stopping tulips command spring’s arrival, carpeting once-barren earth with confirmation that the new season is here. These gorgeous blooms and more welcome guests gazing in the Spring Garden at Wellfield Botanic Gardens in Elkhart, whose north promenade is known for its vibrancy —… Continue reading.
By Richard G. Biever Franklin D. Roosevelt probably didn’t dub his successful 1932 presidential campaign — “New Deal” — after unsuccessfully playing cards in a French Lick gambling house. But he first laid what became his bold “new deal for the American people” on the table at the 1931 National Governors’ Conference at the renowned… Continue reading.
Even the happiest of times can turn to tragedy if everyone’s not careful. This winter, practice some commonsense electrical safety. You could prevent accidents, fires and injuries — and save the season for everyone who gathers in your home for the holidays. Here are 10 electrical safety tips: 1. Buy lights designed for outdoor use. … Continue reading.
If a video-game fanatic is on your holiday shopping list, consider updating his or her video game console to a newer model. Newer consoles use a lot less energy than older ones. Still, gaming consoles are so energy inefficient that the National Resources Defense Council a couple of years ago estimated they consume enough electricity… Continue reading.
It’s the same thing every year — the Christmas tree is up, you decorate it and that’s that. But it all happens so fast. Sometimes you just want to keep going and decorate some more trees! Well, we’ve got a way for you to keep up the tree trimming! Make some edible Christmas trees using… Continue reading.
By Richard G. Biever If words and phrases like: “You’ll shoot your eye out” “Triple-dog dare” “Fragil-ee” and “Oh, fuuuuuudge!!” immediately bring smiles to your face and visions of BBs ricocheting in your head, have we found a home for you this holiday season! Hammond’s “‘A Christmas Story’ Comes Home” is a holiday exhibit and… Continue reading.
Whether you’re buying lights to trim the tree or power tools to wrap as gifts, beware of bogus “bargains” this holiday season. Many home products can be illegally counterfeited, placing the purchaser — or the recipient of the perilous present — in danger of using faulty electrical equipment that does not meet product safety standards…. Continue reading.
By Richard G. Biever When Christmas dawns and children scamper with wide-eyed anticipation to the tree, often the most anxious to gather are the parents and grandparents bringing up the rear. As the wrapping paper and ribbons start flying, there are so many things for the adults to ponder among the wonder. Will each child… Continue reading.
Holiday gift giving may warm hearts, but it generates a million tons of waste between Thanksgiving and New Year’s Eve. To offset some of it, why not stuff those stockings with energy-efficient small appliances like kitchen aids and grooming devices? Look for the Energy Star label on TVs, DVD players and computers. It guarantees that… Continue reading.
Don’t risk a nasty fall while you’re decorating your home for the holidays this winter. Here are some tips for safely hanging lights outdoors this season — and making your light display the best one in the neighborhood. Design Plan where each strand of lights and each outdoor decoration will go before you climb the… Continue reading.
December is the month when you’re most likely to buy toys and gifts. Purchase safe ones. If you’re shopping for children, buy toys that are age appropriate. You don’t want your gift to turn a child’s holiday into a nightmare. Here is a checklist for buying safe toys: Check the minimum age recommendation on the… Continue reading.
Meet Josh Durbin, energy advisor at Steuben County REMC Top 3 responsibilities in a day: Data Analysis. Finding solutions to issues our consumers are facing and answering residential and commercial bill questions. Energy Evaluation. Determining usage and trying to help consumers understand their bill and how they can be more efficient. Commercial Accounts. Energy analysis inside… Continue reading.
The Purdue University Small Animal Hospital provides 24/7 assistance and a referral practice for questions and concerns about your pet. 765-494-1107, or visit: https://www.purdue.edu/vet/vth/small-animal/. Many a cartoon shared among cat lovers on Facebook depicts skeletal remains of cat owners who died rather than upset snoozing kitties, still on their laps. While “cat naps” are part… Continue reading.
