The following article can be filed under Do-It-Yourself projects. These suggestions are simple to follow and will pay dividends down the road as you are doing preventive maintenance.

Click here to read this article on Fall home maintenance.

Here we have the October events for Wesselman Woods Nature Center

October 2008

October 1 Toddler Tales! (10 a.m.) at the Wesselman Woods Nature Center. This nature story and craft class is for parents and children up to 5 years old. Interaction with nature is important in a child's early stages. Free; donations accepted. No reservation required. Call 479-0771, ext. 102 for more information.

October 4 Wildlife in the City Canoe Program! (9 a.m.) Join Canoe Evansville for an alternative look at Evansville, via Pigeon Creek. This safe-passage canoe trip takes you along the Pigeon Creek Greenway passage and into the heart of the city of Evansville. Learn about the geology, ecology, and the environmental implications of city water trails. Relax on this 5-mile trip, and find out how the Pigeon Creek corridor is an oasis of wildlife hidden to the public eye. Guided trips are offered every Saturday at 9 a.m. and every Sunday at 2 p.m. throughout the season for ages 7 and up. Trips leave from Wesselman Woods Nature Center and last an average of 3 hours. Pre-registration required ($15 per person). Call 479-0771 ext. 105 for more information.

October 4 Raptor Show & Falconry Demonstration (10 a.m.) at Howell Wetlands. $3 per person. Call 479-0771, ext. 102 for more information.

October 4 Recycle Saturday! (8 a.m. to Noon) at Old Wal Mart West. Support Wesselman Nature Society by bringing us your recyclable materials. We are accepting cardboard, newspaper, magazines, catalogs, phone books, mixed paper, aluminum cans, metal food cans, glass containers, #1 & #2 plastic bottles, and household batteries. Call 479-0771, ext. 101 or 436-7800 for more information.

October 5 Wildlife in the City Canoe Program! (2 p.m.) Join Canoe Evansville for an alternative look at Evansville, via Pigeon Creek. This safe-passage canoe trip takes you along the Pigeon Creek Greenway passage and into the heart of the city of Evansville. Learn about the geology, ecology, and the environmental implications of city water trails. Relax on this 5-mile trip, and find out how the Pigeon Creek corridor is an oasis of wildlife hidden to the public eye. Guided trips are offered every Saturday at 9 a.m. and every Sunday at 2 p.m. throughout the season for ages 7 and up. Trips leave from Wesselman Woods Nature Center and last an average of 3 hours. Pre-registration required ($15 per person). Call 479-0771 ext. 105 for more information.

October 6–11 Visit our Fall Festival booth at 11th and Franklin!

October 8 Toddler Tales! (10 a.m.) at the Wesselman Woods Nature Center. This nature story and craft class is for parents and children up to 5 years old. Interaction with nature is important in a child's early stages. Free; donations accepted. No reservation required. Call 479-0771, ext. 102 for more information.

October 10 Moonlight Paddle! (6:30 p.m.) at Bluegrass F&W Area. Join Canoe Evansville for a guided paddle under the full moon at this serene natural area north of the City. This is the LAST MOONLIGHT PADDLE WEEKDEND OF THE SEASON, so don't miss out! Pre-registration required ($15 per person). Call 479-0771 ext. 105 for more information.

October 11 Wildlife in the City Canoe Program! (9 a.m.) Join Canoe Evansville for an alternative look at Evansville, via Pigeon Creek. This safe-passage canoe trip takes you along the Pigeon Creek Greenway passage and into the heart of the city of Evansville. Learn about the geology, ecology, and the environmental implications of city water trails. Relax on this 5-mile trip, and find out how the Pigeon Creek corridor is an oasis of wildlife hidden to the public eye. Guided trips are offered every Saturday at 9 a.m. and every Sunday at 2 p.m. throughout the season for ages 7 and up. Trips leave from Wesselman Woods Nature Center and last an average of 3 hours. Pre-registration required ($15 per person). Call 479-0771 ext. 105 for more information.

October 11 Moonlight Paddle! (6:30 p.m.) at Hovey Lake. Join Canoe Evansville for a guided paddle under the full moon moon amidst the cypress forest at Hovey Lake (just south of Mt. Vernon, IN). This is the LAST MOONLIGHT PADDLE OF THE SEASON, so don't miss out! Pre-registration required ($15 per person). Call 479-0771 ext. 105 for more information.

October 12 Wildlife in the City Canoe Program! (2 p.m.) Join Canoe Evansville for an alternative look at Evansville, via Pigeon Creek. This safe-passage canoe trip takes you along the Pigeon Creek Greenway passage and into the heart of the city of Evansville. Learn about the geology, ecology, and the environmental implications of city water trails. Relax on this 5-mile trip, and find out how the Pigeon Creek corridor is an oasis of wildlife hidden to the public eye. Guided trips are offered every Saturday at 9 a.m. and every Sunday at 2 p.m. throughout the season for ages 7 and up. Trips leave from Wesselman Woods Nature Center and last an average of 3 hours. Pre-registration required ($15 per person). October paddles are tentative according to seasonal weather conditions. Call 479-0771 ext. 105 for more information.

October 15 Toddler Tales! (10 a.m.) at the Wesselman Woods Nature Center. This nature story and craft class is for parents and children up to 5 years old. Interaction with nature is important in a child's early stages. Free; donations accepted. No reservation required. Call 479-0771, ext. 102 for more information.

October 18 Wildlife in the City Canoe Program! (9 a.m.) Join Canoe Evansville for an alternative look at Evansville, via Pigeon Creek. This safe-passage canoe trip takes you along the Pigeon Creek Greenway passage and into the heart of the city of Evansville. Learn about the geology, ecology, and the environmental implications of city water trails. Relax on this 5-mile trip, and find out how the Pigeon Creek corridor is an oasis of wildlife hidden to the public eye. Guided trips are offered every Saturday at 9 a.m. and every Sunday at 2 p.m. throughout the season for ages 7 and up. Trips leave from Wesselman Woods Nature Center and last an average of 3 hours. Pre-registration required ($15 per person). October paddles are tentative according to seasonal weather conditions. Call 479-0771 ext. 105 for more information.

October 18 Treemendous Tree Weekend (10 a.m.) at Wesselman Woods Nature Preserve. Call 479-0771, ext. 101 for more information.

October 19 Wildlife in the City Canoe Program! (2 p.m.) Join Canoe Evansville for an alternative look at Evansville, via Pigeon Creek. This safe-passage canoe trip takes you along the Pigeon Creek Greenway passage and into the heart of the city of Evansville. Learn about the geology, ecology, and the environmental implications of city water trails. Relax on this 5-mile trip, and find out how the Pigeon Creek corridor is an oasis of wildlife hidden to the public eye. Guided trips are offered every Saturday at 9 a.m. and every Sunday at 2 p.m. throughout the season for ages 7 and up. Trips leave from Wesselman Woods Nature Center and last an average of 3 hours. Pre-registration required ($15 per person). October paddles are tentative according to seasonal weather conditions. Call 479-0771 ext. 105 for more information.

October 22 Toddler Tales! (10 a.m.) at the Wesselman Woods Nature Center. This nature story and craft class is for parents and children up to 5 years old. Interaction with nature is important in a child's early stages. Free; donations accepted. No reservation required. Call 479-0771, ext. 102 for more information.

October 24 & 25 Harvest Festival & Hayrides at Wesselman Woods (5 p.m. to 9 p.m. each day). http://wesselmannaturesociety.org/events/hayrides.php 

The Wesselman Nature Society (WNS) is growing something new this October for seasonal family fun. Harvest Festival and Hayrides at Wesselman Woods will be an opportunity for families and friends to enjoy the high point of our colorful fall season in Evansville’s most pristine forested area.

As our visitors arrive, they will park their car and hop onto a hayride through Wesselman Park and to the Wesselman Woods Nature Preserve. As you hop off of the wagon and enter the Nature Preserve, you are welcomed to a one of a kind family festival featuring seasonal activities such as leaf rubbing, live animal encounters, crafts, an autumn campfire, stargazing, guided hikes and more. Dinner will also be available for purchase. Meanwhile, hayrides will continually circle the park for those who just want to relax and soak up the Halloween-themed scenery. In short, the Harvest Festival will be an experience that you will not soon forget!

October 25 Wildlife in the City Canoe Program! (9 a.m.) Join Canoe Evansville for an alternative look at Evansville, via Pigeon Creek. This safe-passage canoe trip takes you along the Pigeon Creek Greenway passage and into the heart of the city of Evansville. Learn about the geology, ecology, and the environmental implications of city water trails. Relax on this 5-mile trip, and find out how the Pigeon Creek corridor is an oasis of wildlife hidden to the public eye. Guided trips are offered every Saturday at 9 a.m. and every Sunday at 2 p.m. throughout the season for ages 7 and up. Trips leave from Wesselman Woods Nature Center and last an average of 3 hours. Pre-registration required ($15 per person). October paddles are tentative according to seasonal weather conditions. Call 479-0771 ext. 105 for more information.

October 25 Bio Blitz Show and Tell (11 a.m. to Noon) at Wesselman Woods Nature Preserve. Free. Call 479-0771, ext. 102 for more information.

October 26 Wildlife in the City Canoe Program! (2 p.m.) Join Canoe Evansville for an alternative look at Evansville, via Pigeon Creek. This safe-passage canoe trip takes you along the Pigeon Creek Greenway passage and into the heart of the city of Evansville. Learn about the geology, ecology, and the environmental implications of city water trails. Relax on this 5-mile trip, and find out how the Pigeon Creek corridor is an oasis of wildlife hidden to the public eye. Guided trips are offered every Saturday at 9 a.m. and every Sunday at 2 p.m. throughout the season for ages 7 and up. Trips leave from Wesselman Woods Nature Center and last an average of 3 hours. Pre-registration required ($15 per person). October paddles are tentative according to seasonal weather conditions. Call 479-0771 ext. 105 for more information.

October 29 Toddler Tales! (10 a.m.) at the Wesselman Woods Nature Center. This nature story and craft class is for parents and children up to 5 years old. Interaction with nature is important in a child's early stages. Free; donations accepted. No reservation required. Call 479-0771, ext. 102 for more information.

Source: http://www.wesselmannaturesociety.org/events/index.php

The smell of Evansville’s water may be different for the next 3 weeks. American Water is changing the type of chlorine it uses to disinfect the water. The water will be safe to drink.

Read more about this change to Evansivlle water by clicking here.

Here we have an interesting article on the present banking situation. We need to keep in mind thought that the situation in the Tri-State area is not that of other markets. We tend to weather these down turns better as we do not have the same unsustainable increases in value in a short time. To put numbers in perspective currently there are 53 million first mortgages in effect of which about 3% or 1.4 million are classified as sub-prime mortgages. These mortgages are bundled together with the performing mortgages so the end effect is that the situation is not as bad as we hear. The concern however is, that this downturn will have signs of a depression as other markets are affected as well.

We are happy to answer any questions our readers might have on this subject. You can reach me at 812-499-9234.

Impact of Wall Street bailout becoming clearer

Though the devil's in the details of the emerging government response to the collapse on Wall Street, a clearer picture is beginning to emerge. Here are answers to some common questions about it means for homeowners, consumers and taxpayers.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/26837854/from/ET/

The latest information on home decorating trends is the direction of home metal, acrylic surface mirrors. Even though this is a trend from the past, new concepts in manufacturing allow the designers to be far more creative. The trend is everywhere at all price points. Metals, Lucite, gold leaf, ceramic and glass are fashioned into decorative elements. And in soft furnishings, there are iridescent table linens, as well as metallic threaded throws to dress the sofa.
I'm sure our local Pier1 will have similar items in their fall selection.

For more information on this trend, read the Evansville Courier & Press article by clicking here.

Here we have additional information on how Evansville city authorities are planning to collect all the storm debris. You can access the collection map at: http://www.evansvillegov.org/Modules/ShowDocument.aspx?documentid=4641

Special Storm Debris Program

Mayor Jonathan Weinzapfel, the Evansville Water and Sewer Utility and Allied Waste announce plans to help residents dispose of large debris that fell from trees during Sunday’s wind storm. From Monday, September 22nd through Monday October 6th, Allied Waste will conduct a special storm debris curbside collection program.

“The City has been busy removing trees that have fallen on city streets and sidewalks and the Parks Department has a great deal of debris to clean up within the parks system,” said Mayor Jonathan Weinzapfel. “We also realized that people had a lot of larger tree limbs on their own property and decided there needed to be a way to help them dispose of that debris.”

In order to accomplish this special storm debris program, the Heavy Trash Pick Up that is currently underway will stop on Friday, September 19th, and be delayed for two weeks. Instead, Allied will follow the grid pattern used for Heavy Trash Pick Up to collect storm debris. Pick up will start on the east side and work its way west (please see attached map). Allied will collect storm debris from two grids each day, starting with grids 1 and 2 on Monday, 3 and 4 on Tuesday, etc. The Heavy Trash Pick Up will not occur on Saturdays or Sundays.

Allied will pick up larger pieces of debris that are no longer than four feet long and six inches in diameter. Yard waste that would normally be picked up each Friday may be included in this special debris pick up, however regular yard waste pick up will continue. Storm debris must be placed curbside and does not need to be in any specific container, but it should be stacked to minimize safety hazards. The storm debris should be separate from other waste.

Heavy Trash Pick Up will resume after all of the storm debris is collected. If pick up has to be delayed further, we will notify the media.

Source: http://www.evansvillegov.org/Index.aspx?page=9&recordid=588&returnURL=%2findex.aspx

This article can be filed under the Do-It-Yourself files.

Safety in general is a major concern for us and we make it our mission to provide our readers with the very latest information on safety.

Protecting Your Family From Fire Hazards In Your Home

The Home Safety Council reports that fires and burns are the third leading cause of home injury in the United States. The sad fact is, much of the time, these fires could have been prevented. Many homeowners have fire alarm systems and - while the fire alarms are effective in notifying you and your monitoring company of a fire in progress - the alarms don’t prevent fires.

Don’t put yourself and your family at unnecessary risk. If you know where the primary trouble spots for fire are, you can do a room-by-room assessment and make any needed changes before you and your family become victims.

Most people focus on the kitchen when it comes to fire safety. They make sure their fire alarm systems include smoke and fire detectors in the kitchen as well as fire extinguishers. Most people already know they should:

1. Never leave the kitchen while cooking
2. Always carefully watch splattering oils during frying 
3. Never have paper, plastic or other flammables near burners

However, the majority of homeowners stop there. Unfortunately, we all have fire hazards throughout our homes. Each room needs to be given due attention in order to prevent fires from occurring. Installing fire alarms is a great idea, but you can’t stop there. To be thorough, use the following checklist to conduct a room-by-room survey. Once you’re finished, you can feel much more confident that you and your family are safe from potential fires.

Living Room

• Fireplace has a screen, glass door or other protective device to prevent sparks from exiting the fireplace.
• Matches and lighters are stored in a locked cabinet if small children are in the home.
• The fireplace has been inspected annually and cleaned by a professional as needed.

Garage or Outdoor Area

• Chemicals (including fertilizers) are locked and out of reach of children.
• Gasoline and kerosene are stored outside the home in a cool place in properly ventilated containers.
• Grills are kept at least two feet away from anything flammable including bushes and tree branches.
• Grills have been cleaned of all grease drippings, inside and out.

All Rooms

• Cigarettes are dipped in water before being disposed of.
• Candles are never left unattended.
• Space heaters are kept several feet away from curtains and drapes, newspapers, magazines, books, blankets, towels or other flammables.
• Electrical outlets are not overloaded.
•  Power cords are in good condition and are not frayed.

When you take just an hour or two to inspect your home, you can dramatically reduce your chances of falling victim to a fire. Alarm systems are a tremendous help in times of trouble, but by taking a few preventative steps, you greatly reduce the likelihood of an accident happening in your home.

Source: http://www.handyhouseholdhints.com/safety/protecting-your-family-from-fire-hazards-in-your-home/ 

We have received this information from Don Lawrence, Home Loan Consultant with Countrywide Bank, FSB. We are always grateful to receive news on the real estate front so that we can serve our clients better. The seller-financed downpayment assistance plays an important part in our business and we hope that the reforms will be passed, as it is a vital tool especially in the lower priced homes. We will continue to update our readers on this issue as we get new information. 

House Panel OKs Mortgage Lending Bill
Arizona Republic (AZ) (09/17/08); Anderson, J. Craig

On Sept. 16, the House Financial Services Committee approved the FHA Seller-Financed Downpayment Reform and Risk-Based Pricing Authorization Act of 2008, which would allow down payments paid by builders and other sellers through nonprofit organizations to be used on FHA loans. A provision in the federal housing bill passed recently called for the elimination of seller-funded downpayment assistance, with critics insisting such loans are more vulnerable to default and supporters contending that the absence of such aid would stall the housing rebound. The full House is expected to vote on the bill soon.

Source: http://www.azcentral.com/arizonarepublic/business/articles/2008/09/17/20080917biz-downpayment0917.html

With all the storm damage we had, it is important to make sure that the gutters on your home have not been damaged and make sure the gutters are not clogged up. The article below has helpful hints as to how to clean the gutters.

Clean Gutters Can Protect Your Home
Filed Under: Roof, Gutter & Siding

It can be really easy to overlook the gutters on your home! You may not even think about cleaning them until they’re no longer doing the job they’re meant to do!

Keeping your gutters clean is a important part of home maintenance! Clogged gutters can cause the water to overflow and keep your porches wet causing rotting and they can destroy a flower bed that’s placed near your home.

Keeping your gutters clean can also protect your siding from water stains. Another important job that gutters perform is to protect your homes foundations! Water standing around your home can eventually cause your foundations to sink!

Fall of course, is the worst time of the year for your gutters becoming full of debris. It’s recommended to clean gutters in both the spring and fall.

Dead leaves are the main cause of clogged gutters and they should be cleaned each spring even if you don’t clean them any other time of year.

Using a water hose to clean your gutters may seem like a easy fix. But, using a water hose will result in all of the dead leaves and debris being washed into the downspout and stopping it up!

Be extra careful when setting a ladder up to clean the gutters, leaning it against the gutters will bend them. You can purchase an attachment for your ladder that will keep it off the gutters.

You can use some heavy duty rubber gloves to remove as much of the dead leaves and debris that you can. To prevent a mess in your yard, either take a small bucket up the ladder with you, or spread large sheets of plastic out to drop the debris on.

As you’re cleaning the gutters, take notice of any loose or missing nails and replace them as you go. This is also a great time to check the braces holding the gutter in place to make sure that they’re still secure!

Clean out as much of the debris as you can by hand. Then you can use a water hose to wash out all of the dirt and grime. As you’re washing the gutters out, check the water flow in the downspout to make sure that the water is flowing freely.

If the downspout is stopped up, you may be able to flush it out with the water hose if you have good pressure. But, if the water hose don’t clear the spout, you’ll have to remove the screws and brace to take it loose to clean it.

Once you’ve gotten the downspout loose, you may be able to shake it as you’re running the water hose through it to jar the debris loose. If that doesn’t work you’ll probably need to use an auger to loosen the dead leaves from the downspout.

After you’ve got the downspout completely cleaned out and the water runs freely, check it for any damage. You will also need to make sure that you scrape the old adhesive off while it’s still apart.

When reattaching the spout you need to apply a silicone sealant around the top portion to hold the two pieces in place and make it water tight. You want to apply a solid line of the sealant all the way around the entire spout.

Replace all of the screws and any braces that may have been holding the downspout on to the gutter. Follow the directions for drying time on the sealant and then spray water into the gutters to check for any leaks.

Small leaks in your gutter can be temporarily repaired with roofing cement. You will need to clean as much of the rust off as you can and then spread the cement over the hole with a putty knife.

The roofing cement isn’t a permanent solution, but it may add another year or two the the life of your gutters. Larger holes will have to be repaired by replacing the whole gutter or that section of it.

Source: http://www.handyhouseholdhints.com/roof-and-gutter/clean-gutters-can-protect-your-home/

For our Colts sport fans we have some good news. Mayor Jonathan Weinzapfel has announced that Tony Dungy, Head Coach of the Indianapolis Colts, will be a guest speaker for the 2009 Evansville’s Celebration of Diversity Distinguished Lecture Series. The event is on March 16, 2009 at 7.30 PM at Roberts Stadium. The fall speaker will be Earvin “Magic” Johnson. Both events are free.

News Release:
From: City of Evansville
Evansville’s Celebration of Diversity Distinguished Lecture Series
Spring 2009 Speaker
Tony Dungy
Head Coach, Indianapolis Colts

(EVANSVILLE, IN)- Evansville’s Celebration of Diversity Distinguished Lecture Series is pleased to announce its speaker for spring 2009. Tony Dungy, Head Coach of the Indianapolis Colts, will give a lecture at Roberts Stadium Tuesday, March 16, 2009, at 7:00 p.m. Dungy’s lecture is free to the public, but tickets will be required for admission.

“The Diversity Lecture Series continues to bring outstanding speakers to Evansville to share their experiences and life lessons,” said Janet Heldt, President of the Diversity Lecture Series Board of Directors. “Not only does Coach Dungy have a great story to tell about his success on the football field, but he also can talk about what it takes to succeed in life as well.”

Specific information will be available in the spring about when and where tickets will be available for Coach Dungy’s lecture. There will be a maximum of four tickets per person. Group tickets will not be available. All tickets must be picked up at the Roberts Stadium or Centre box offices, none will be mailed. Upon request, tickets and seats will be set aside for anyone needing special accommodation.

“Coach Dungy is known for giving positive and inspirational talks. No doubt he will have a unique perspective on diversity to share with our community,” said Mayor Jonathan Weinzapfel. “Evansville has been very fortunate that the Diversity Lecture Series has been able to attract such high caliber speakers which many people may not have had the opportunity to hear otherwise.”

Tony Dungy is now beginning his seventh season as head coach of the Indianapolis Colts. Dungy took the helm of the club on January 22, 2002, after serving six seasons with Tampa Bay. Dungy has directed the Colts to a 73-23 regular-season record, six playoff appearances, five AFC South titles, two AFC Championship game appearances and to a 29-17 victory over Chicago in Super Bowl XLI.

Dungy’s work extends into the community. He helped implement a local Baskets of Hope program that benefits Riley Hospital for Children. He teamed with others in assisting All-Pro Dad, a family-based organization, and he was a spokesman for Arby’s Combo to benefit Big Brothers/Big Sisters and the Boys and Girls Club. Dungy’s reach throughout the area includes works and appearances with the Black Coaches Association National Convention and Indiana Black Expo. He participates frequently in speaking appearances at area faith-based events and family football clinics.

Dungy is the author of Quiet Strength: The Principles, Practices and Priorities of a Winning Life. He is also the author of a children’s book, You Can Do It! (July 2008).

The Celebration of Diversity Distinguished Lecture Series seeks to engage Evansville and surrounding communities to explore, appreciate, and celebrate the diversity of race, culture and ethnicity. The Distinguished Lecture Series is a collaborative effort among the City of Evansville, Ivy Tech Community College, University of Evansville, University of Southern Indiana and businesses committed to the support of diversity.

Source: http://tristatehomepage.com/content/fulltext/?cid=26901

Where to take your storm debris
Here we have the latest news regarding the storm debris for Evansville. Officials at the mayor's office are asking citizens to take advantage of yard waste day, which occurs every Friday. This only applies to small fallen limbs, no larger than 3 inches in diameter. The city is still working on a plan to help residents with large limbs. We will update the information on our website as it becomes available. Click the link below from WFIE Channel 14 News has a list of places where you can take your storm debris.
http://www.wfie.com/global/story.asp?s=9012751

Vectren Warns Against Power Sharing During Continued Outages
Vectren Electricity Company is warning residents not to share power during continued outages. Vectren is concerned because of the potential danger it poses. Communications Director Chase Kelley said, “When you get into running power lines over roadways, you get into issues where people will run over it. What if there's rain or flooding? We encourage customers to not do that.” Click here to check it out or type http://www.abc25.com/dsp_story.cfm?storyid=8763 into your browser.

In other news:
We have good news on the economic front. Berry Plastics is expanding its downtown headquarters in Evansville and will hire 250 workers. The cost of the expansion is tagged at $20.9 million dollars for an 85,500 square foot facility. We commend Berry Plastics for their continued initiative and foresight to invest here in Evansville. To read this story on the Inside INdiana Business website, go to http://www.insideindianabusiness.com/newsitem.asp?ID=31525.

We have good news on the educational front for Evansville. The Signature School has been awarded with blue ribbon honors. There are currently only 7 Hoosier schools with this award. We congratulate the teachers, staff and students at the Signature School on this fine achievement. 

For more on this honor, click here.

The fall heavy trash pick up dates have been set. You can log on to www.evansvillegis.com and select "Heavy Trash Pickup Dates" to find out when the dates are for your area. This is a good time to go through the garage or the attic and see what can be discarded.

For additional information, read the Evansville Courier & Press article by clicking here.

Ah, fall is in the air. Can't you just feel it? The air is getting cooler and the leaves are changing color.

Fall is a great time to do fun stuff outdoors with your family—especially before winter sets in and everyone wants to hibernate!

Here are some fun fall activities to try:

Collect leaves. See if you can identify them.

Pick pumpkins at a local pumpkin patch. Carve them when you get home.

Rake the leaves in your yard. Make a pile of leaves and take turns jumping into it—just be careful that you are not jumping off anything that's high off the ground.

Go on a guided nature hike at a local park or nature center.

Take your own a hike at a local park (with friends or family). What changes do you notice in the plants and trees as fall sets in? What animals do you see? What are they doing?

Help your parents, grandparents or a neighbor put their vegetable garden to bed for the winter.

Go to a farmers' market and pick out fall produce like squash, pumpkin, apples and corn. See what yummy recipes you can make using the produce you picked out!

Pick apples at a 'pick-your-own' orchard and make applesauce, apple crisp or apple pie.

Play touch football with a group of friends or family.

Ask your parents to contact your local department of parks and recreation to find out what fall activities they offer.

Now come up with some fun fall ideas of your own! Get out and play!!!

Source: http://www.plazaareaneighbors.com/index.php?pageId=tls&action=article&itemId=3450 

The moment your child gets their drivers license and the moment they head off to college are two major events in a parent’s life. You will more than likely reminisce on how you watched them ride around on a Big Wheel as you watch them drive down the street the first time. You might think back to all the times you told your child to clean their room as they are packing up the car to go to college. One thing you may not have thought about is how all of this is affecting your car insurance rates.

Adding a Teen Driver to Your Car Insurance Policy
While adding a teen driver to your car insurance will more than likely increase your rates, there are ways to minimize the damage after you add them to your policy. The trick is knowing what car insurance discounts apply to you and your newest driver. Below are some tips from InsWeb on how to save on your car insurance.

Good Student Discount
Good grades can be a car insurance discount. If your child maintains a GPA of 3.0 or better, you could save 10-25% on your car insurance. This is one way to motivate Jr. to hit the books.

Compare Multiple Car Insurance Quotes
Each car insurance provider will review your information differently; which means varying rates from company to company. Taking time to compare car insurance quotes will help you find the best deal after you add your teen to your car insurance.

Another time to compare car insurance quotes is when your child makes the jump from high school to college. Maybe your child won’t be taking a car with them to college, allowing you to take them off your policy and lower your rates. If your child is going to an out of state college, there might be different car insurance restrictions than what you are used to in your home state.

Increase Your Deductible to Lower Your Premium
Many people may know that raising their deductibles on their insurance policy can save them money, but most don't feel the need to do this until they have added a teen driver to their policy. Once you raise your deductible, you are also raising the amount you have to pay before your insurance kicks in.

Avoid Accidents and Tickets
Here is a no brainer; if you avoid accidents and tickets, you pay less for car insurance. You will pay more for car insurance once you add a teen driver to your policy. However, if your teen driver gets into an accident, your rates will be drastically affected.

Whether you are adding a teen driver onto your policy or removing a college bound student, these simple measures can help you save hundreds of dollars on your car insurance rates. Hundreds of dollars that can be used for their books and food.



Source: http://www.plazaareaneighbors.com/index.php?pageId=tls&action=featured_article&itemId=9

Mesker Park Zoo worked very hard to complete and open its newest attraction for the zoo, AMAZONIA. Hundreds of animals native to the rainforest are living in AMAZONIA including a jaguar, howler monkeys, freshwater stingrays, and emerald tree boas just to name a few. There are also more than 1,000 species of trees and plants and a 17-foot waterfall.

Mesker Park Zoo has been rewarded with smashing attendance since the opening on August 4th. Zoo officials report that more than 38,000 thousand visitors came which is a new record in attendance for the zoo. We congratulate all who have worked so hard to make this project a success.

The Inside INdiana Business website has the full story at http://www.insideindianabusiness.com/newsitem.asp?id=31353.  

Carpool Website for Evansville in the Works
The Evansville Metropolitan Planning Organization is looking into software programs used by other cities to match potential carpool buddies. This would be a first for Evansville. As per Brad Mills Metropolitan Planning Director “"We hook you up with other people that have similar travel patterns so that you can reduce your cost for travel and also reduce the emissions for air quality in our region." We certainly hope that such a system could work for Evansville and the surrounding area.

Source: http://www.abc25.com/dsp_story.cfm?storyid=8590  

Here are some suggestions for buying a new computer.

We sometime take it for granted that a computer should already have all programs loaded up and running when we first receive the computer.

Due diligence at the beginning will help you to make the right decision for the purchase of your computer.

What to Consider Before Buying a Computer

By Marian Wilde, GreatSchools.net, Senior Writer

Whether you're buying your child her first laptop or replacing the dinosaur in the family room, consider these basic points. Before you pull out your credit card, you'll want to make some basic decisions.

1. Mac or PC?
Don't get your heart set on a Mac or a PC, until you find out what the primary platform is at your child's school. If, for example, your school uses PCs, buying a PC will make file sharing easier.

Gayle Berthiaume, an award-winning teacher and GreatSchools' technology consultant, also advises considering what projects you intend to do on the computer before making the platform decision.

'You want one that will be multi-purpose for everybody. If it's going to be used for game playing that would be different than if you were going to use it for production and making things. I think all the way through school, it's better to use the computer for more creative projects.'

Each platform has its strong advocates. Graphic artists and other arts professionals have historically tended to prefer the more user-friendly Macs, while PCs are less expensive and more pervasive in the workplace. As a member of the Apple Learning Exchange, Berthiaume's preference isn't surprising. 'If you're going to make presentations or do multimedia, or if you're going to make photo books, I would go with a Mac. Not only because I love Macs but also because now with the MacBooks they run either Mac OS or Windows XP,' says Berthiaume.

2. Desktop or Laptop?
The next issue to consider is what you want in terms of screen size vs. portability, as this is the basic trade-off when selecting a desktop or a laptop.

Says Berthiuame: 'I personally prefer notebooks because you can take them wherever you want to.' Others, however, prefer desktops because of the larger screen size and the more ergonomic screen position and keyboard design.

3. Internet Access
What's a computer in today's world without access to the Internet? Now considered equally as important as the computer itself, Internet access is a critical part of the package, and not an insignificant one financially.

There are many types of Internet access, such as:

Dial-up - This is the slowest method of getting around on the Internet and also the cheapest. If you're going to go with dial-up you'll need to make sure your computer has the right kind of modem, usually 56K.

Broadband (DSL or cable) - Make sure your computer has a Network card or USB port. Check with your local broadband provider for exactly what you'll need.

Satellite - Currently, satellite download speed is faster than dial-up, but slower than broadband. A satellite connection may be a good option if you live in rural area without cable or telephone lines.

Wireless - This service for laptop and handheld users allows access to the Internet wherever there's a Wi-Fi network. You'll need a Wi-Fi card that is compatible with your Wi-Fi Internet service.

4. Don't Forget Accessories
Check with your child's teacher to see what projects are planned for the school year. This will give you a better idea of what will be useful to you. You might be able to start simple and build your repertoire of accessories over the course of your child's school career.

A few basic add-ons to consider are:

Printers
- Inkjet printers are the standard home printer because they print in color as well as in black and white, and they're typically cheaper than laser printers.
- Laser printers are great if you want to churn out reams of black and white text and you're concerned with speed and quality.
- A multifunctional scanner/fax/copier/printer saves desk space and can be had for about the same.

Parental tracking software
Most Internet service providers and Web browsers have some free parental controls available. If you want additional protection for your children, you might want to purchase:
- Tracking software. This software will allow you to check the sites visited by your child.
- Blocking software. This software uses a list of predetermined Web sites to block sites deemed to be offensive.
- Filtering software. This software that uses a list of key words to sort sites and keep the bad ones from showing up on your computer.

Anti-virus software
These programs are designed to protect your computer from viruses that can be introduced through Web sites, email or removable media. Anti-virus software now also combats worms, spyware and adware.

Software
Most computers come equipped with a bundle of software supplied by the computer manufacturer. In fact, the value of the bundled software can be greater than the value of the computer itself. Always check your new computer's bundle before making any further software purchases. And keep in mind that the amount of memory you have on your computer will determine what software you can run on it.

Thumb drives (also known as USB or flash drives)
These little gizmos are the latest replacement for floppy disks. You'll need a USB (Universal Serial Bus) port in order to use them. Most newer computers come equipped with USB ports, as they've become the preferred way to connect to printers, Palm Pilots, digital cameras, Web cams, mice — you name it. Says Brenda Lofton, Louisiana 2006 Teacher of the Year: 'My school requires that students in the sixth-, seventh- and eighth-grades have thumb drives. They each bring one to school. The students can save the work they have there, and then go home and continue working.'

5. Recycle Your Old Computer
Whatever you do, don't throw your old computer in the trash. The plastics and heavy metals in your old machine will harm the environment if it's not disposed of properly. According to the Silicon Valley Toxics Coalition, somewhere between 300 and 700 million computers will be retired from service in the next few years, which could mean more than 4 billion pounds of plastic and 1 billion pounds of lead will be added to the world's ever-expanding landfills unless they are recycled into useful products.

Source: http://www.plazaareaneighbors.com/index.php?pageId=tls&action=featured_article&itemId=9

Wesselman Nature Society and the University of Southern Indiana have teamed up to collaborate on projects and programs at Howell Wetlands, a 35-acre restored wetland sanctuary. Scott A. Gordon, dean of USI's Pott College of Science and Engineering, noted only five urban wetlands exist in Indiana, making Howell a "unique living-learning laboratory and educational gem" that will provide enriched scientific learning experiences for generations of students.

Evansville's residents can only benefit from this collaboration and this will lead to further educational possibilities down the road for USI and other schools in our area.

For more information, read the Evansville Courier & Press article by clicking here.