Bike and Scooter Safety Tips

Our association wants your kids to be safe while riding their bikes and scooters in our community, and we recognize that you can’t be there to watch them all the time. Here are four steps that could increase their safety when you’re not around.

• Teach kids how to fall. Learning how to ride correctly is only part of what keeps a kid safe. Falls are inevitable, and teaching your children to fall correctly will prevent many serious injuries. Teach them to roll on impact, relax their body, and try to land on their padded and fleshiest parts.
• Check equipment. Check bikes and scooters for cracks or dents, sharp metal parts, jutting edges and slippery surfaces. Replace defective equipment, consult a professional for repairs and apply self-adhesive, non-slip material to slippery surfaces.
• Make a rule for your kids—one person to each piece of equipment. They might be less likely to hop on a friend’s scooter if they know it’s unsafe and that they’ll have to pay for replacing it when it breaks.
• Require protective equipment. Scooters, roller blades, bikes and similar equipment cause thousands of injuries—and even some deaths—every year. Make sure your children are wearing helmets, knee pads and elbow pads, especially if they are just learning. Buy a helmet your kid thinks is cool and you know is safe—it’s worth the extra money if your child is more likely to wear it.

Thieves in the Waste Basket

Most—but not all—identity theft now occurs electronically. But your identity can still be easily scored by thieves who make use of what you toss in your waste basket, too.

Trash facilities and recycling centers can be gold mines of personal information for enterprising dumpster divers. That is, unless you shred documents that contain identifying information—charge receipts, credit applications, insurance forms, physician statements, canceled checks and bank statements and even expired charge cards.

Beware also of those bothersome credit offers you get in the mail and toss unopened into the trash—particularly the pre-approved variety. Clever scammers complete these blank applications, obtain a credit card in your name, charge it to the limit and close the account before you receive the first billing statement. To protect yourself, all you have to do is tear the unopened envelop in half once or twice before tossing it in the waste basket.

Better yet, you can eliminate these prescreened credit offers from your mailbox by calling 1-888-5-OPT-OUT (1-888-567-8688) to opt out. You’ll be asked to provide your Social Security number so the consumer reporting companies can match you with your file.

Also, deposit your outgoing mail containing personally identifying information in post office collection boxes or at your local post office, rather than in an unsecured mailbox. Promptly remove mail from your mailbox. If you're planning to be away from home and can't pick up your mail, contact the U.S. Postal Service at 1-800-275-8777 or online at www.usps.gov to request a vacation hold. The Postal Service will hold your mail at your local post office until you can pick it up or are home to receive it.

The Federal Trade Commission has more information on identity theft and prevention tips at www.ftc.gov/bcp/edu/microsites/idtheft/.

Tips for Keeping Water Clean

Keeping water clean begins with each of us—where we live, work and play, and with the simple daily actions we take. Here are a few ways you can make a difference to reduce pollution:

• Plant trees, shrubs and groundcovers, especially around surface water.  Vegetation acts as a natural filter for runoff entering ponds, lakes or streams. Plants can also prevent shoreline erosion and keep soil from washing away.
• Maintain a healthy lawn. A dense, healthy lawn can be an excellent filter for pollutants. Before you apply fertilizers, test your soil so you apply only what you need. Use the right fertilizer, at the right time and in the proper amount.
• Clean up after pets. Dispose of pet waste in the garbage.
• Compost grass clippings, leaves and garden waste.  When these materials are washed into streams and lakes, they decay, which in turn consumes oxygen fish and other aquatic animals need to survive.
• Practice integrated pest management (IPM) around your home and garden. IPM reduces pest problems through a variety of cultural, mechanical, biological and chemical methods. Try to eliminate chemical use or keep pesticide use to a minimum by using them only when other methods are not successful.
• Maintain your vehicles in good condition to prevent leaks such as oil or antifreeze.  Spilled motor oil, gasoline and lubricants can contaminate wells and streams.

Visit www.auduboninternational.org for more conservation tips.

Maintain Your Yard Safely

It's that time of year again, when we have to worry about lawn maintenance. Properly maintaining your yard helps your home and our community look good. Just make sure that safety is a priority when undertaking your landscaping efforts:

· Clear sticks and debris before you mow. Random debris kicked up by a lawn mower can seriously injure you and those around you. Also, mowing debris shortens the life of your mower and dulls the blade.

· Replace the cord on your weed trimmer. Your trimming will be safer if you have strong trimmer cords. Always wear eye protection when using a trimmer.

· Maintain your lawnmower in top working condition. If you find yourself mowing the same areas again and again, it’s time to inspect your lawnmower. Keep a maintenance checklist of important components like air filters, blades and oil.

· Keep plants and shrubs about five feet from foundation walls, and keep trees at least six to 20 feet away, depending on their size. Plant roots that are too close to the foundation not only cause damage to the structure, but may also attract bugs and mold into your home since they tend to hold moisture. 

Call an Electrician

The guests are on their way, the food is cooked and suddenly the light over the dinner table goes out. A new bulb doesn’t fix the problem, and neither does flipping the switch that controls the light circuit in the fuse box off and on. You know the same light has given you trouble before, and you might think you even know the difference between that green ground wire and the black hot wire. You remove the light switch from the wall and see some of the wires have apparently become disconnected. Time to just shut off the fuse and reconnect them, right?

Wrong. Each year 67,800 fires result from home electrical problems just like this one, according to the U.S. Fire Administration. Twice as many of those are due to improper wiring as appliance failures.

It’s not that you don’t know what you’re doing or that you can’t read a how-to guide—the last residents may have done it improperly themselves. They may have reversed wires, replaced the wire with wrong gauge or put too much strain on the fuse (called over lamping). The only way to know you are correctly wiring is to use a special tool called a voltage meter to check for hot wires.

The only safe bet is to consult a licensed electrician. Electricians not only have the tools you don’t, like lineman’s pliers and voltage meters, they have extensive internships (typically 3-7 years) under their belts. They intern for a reason—without proper training, you can seriously hurt yourself by mixing up cables or not taking the proper precautions. For your own safety, and for the safety of the community, get in touch with us about your electrical problems, however small. We can recommend some certified electricians we’ve worked with before. Besides, your guests would rather eat by candlelight than not eat at all!

Big Tips for Small Fixes

Do-it-yourself projects can be immensely rewarding, but even a small repair can turn into a more frustrating and time-consuming job when you encounter unexpected problems. Here are some easy tips for tackling common home hardware problems that will leave you with a sense of accomplishment rather than a sense of frustration:

Loose Screws

If a screw is so loose that it’s barely gripping, remove it, wrap its threads with a few strands of steel wool, and screw it back into its old hole.

If a screw has been ripped out of its hole entirely and the hole is too big for the threads to gain hold, slide a wooden match into the hole and then replace the screw.

Tight Screws

Twisting screws into a bar of soap first makes them easier to insert. A few drops of white vinegar will help remove stubborn screws from a metal surface.

Better Grips

Improve your grip by wrapping a thick rubber band around the plastic handle of a screwdriver. This makes tightening and loosening screws less strenuous.

Hammer Help

When hammering a small nail, brad or tack, slip the fastener between the teeth of a pocket comb to protect your fingers from the hammer’s blow. Don’t have a comb handy? You can also use a bobby pin, a paper clip or tweezers to hold the nail.

When hammering a nail in a tight spot or hard-to-reach corner, a bit of modeling clay or chewing gum will hold the nail in place for the first couple of blows.

Rusted Nuts and Bolts

Removing a rusted nut or bolt can be an especially frustrating task. Pour hydrogen peroxide, lemon juice or cola over the rusted fastener and wait half an hour.  The mild acid will dissolve the rust enough for the nut or bolt to turn freely.

Rusted Tools

Working with rusted tools makes any job more difficult. Clean off the rust by rubbing a paste of six parts salt and two parts lemon juice on the rusted areas with a dry cloth, then rinse and dry thoroughly.

Eco-Friendly Lawn Care Tips

Maintaining your yard in a traditional manner isn’t always the “greenest” endeavor. Whether it’s using chemical-laden pesticides and fertilizer or working with greenhouse gas-producing lawn tools, some methods of lawn upkeep can be tough on the environment. Thankfully, there are plenty of eco-friendly ways you can keep your yard looking lush. So reduce your carbon footprint, and try some of these simple tips:

• Conserve water by watering your lawn more heavily but less often. By doing this, you’re ultimately using less water because the heavier watering lasts longer, allowing you to spread out how often you have to water your lawn. Also, watering in the early morning or early evening gives water a chance to soak into the soil without evaporating as it would during the hottest parts of the day. Finally, consider switching to water-saving sprinklers and hose nozzles. 
• Leave grass clippings on your lawn after mowing. This is an easy way to nourish your lawn because clippings help replenish your soil after they decompose, which in turn encourages healthy grass growth.
• Don’t cut grass too short. Keeping your grass at the tall end of its optimal mowing height (usually between one and three inches depending on the type of grass) helps ensure that the root systems are deep enough to protect the grass from getting scorching by the summer sun. To avoid stressing the grass, a good rule of thumb is to cut no more than 1/3 of the grass’s current height. Be sure to cut your grass often so that you don’t have to take off too much with each mowing.
• Consider trading in your gas-powered lawn mower for an electric or battery-powered mower. Gas-powered engines contribute significantly to air pollution, so switching to an electric or battery-powered mower reduces carbon emissions. Both types of mowers are easy to start, and battery-powered mowers rechargeable and run up to 70 minutes. Electric and battery-powered versions of other gas-powered lawn tools, such as weed whackers and leaf blowers, are also available, so consider swapping those out as well.        
• Go organic when choosing a fertilizer. Organic fertilizers take longer to show results than chemical fertilizers; however, organic fertilizer will improve your soil quality in the long run and yield a much greener lawn. Conversely, chemical fertilizers can deplete your soil of minerals, pollute ground water runoff and cause soil to become too acidic.

Protecting People with Dementia

The National Institute on Aging reports that as many as 5.1 million Americans may have Alzheimer’s disease, the most common cause of dementia among older people. In addition to memory loss, symptoms include sleeplessness, agitation, depression, anxiety, anger and wandering.

According to the Alzheimer’s Association, six in 10 people with dementia will wander. Because a person with Alzheimer’s may become confused and disoriented and may not remember his or her name or address, wandering is particularly dangerous.

To avoid panic and improve the chances of a safe return, it is important to have an emergency plan in place in case a person with dementia becomes lost. The National Institute on Aging and the Alzheimer’s Association recommend that caregivers take the following precautions:

• Make sure the person carries some form of identification or wears a medical bracelet indicating his or her illness and where he or she lives.
• Ask neighbors, friends and family to call if they see the person alone.
• Know your neighborhood. The Alzheimer’s Association reports that 94 percent of people who wander are found within 1.5 miles of where they disappeared, so be aware of dangerous areas near the home, such as bodies of water, open stairwells, dense foliage, tunnels, bus stops and roads with heavy traffic. 
• Because wandering usually follows the direction of the dominant hand, note whether the person is right- or left-handed. 
• Make a list of people to call for help, and keep the list easily accessible. 
• Let neighbors and local police know that the person tends to wander.
• Keep a list of places where the person may wander, including past jobs, former homes, places of worship or favorite restaurants.
• Keep a recent close-up photo and updated medical information to give to police if the person becomes lost.
• Consider enrolling the person in the MedicAlert + Alzheimer’s Association Safe Return Program (visit www.alz.org or call (888) 572-8566 to find the program in your area).
• Consider having the person carry or wear an electronic tracking GPS device, such as Comfort Zone and Comfort Zone Check-In, which helps identify location.

When someone with dementia is missing:

• Begin search-and-rescue efforts immediately.
• Search the immediate area for no more than 15 minutes before calling for help.
• Call 911 and report that a person with Alzheimer’s disease—a “vulnerable adult”—is missing. 
• Call (800) 625-3780 to file a report with MedicAlert + Alzheimer’s Association Safe Return. First responders are trained to check with MedicAlert + Alzheimer’s Association Safe Return when they locate a missing person with dementia. You do not need to be enrolled in MedicAlert + Alzheimer’s Association Safe Return to file a missing person report.

Keep Warm, but Safe

December, January and February are the deadliest months for home fires, according to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA). And, heating equipment is the second leading cause of home fires and home fire deaths. That’s why it’s important for you and your loved ones to take extra precautions during the winter.

Thinking of buying a space heater? The NFPA recommends (and our association insists) that you make sure it carries the mark of an independent testing laboratory. Install it according to the manufacturer’s instructions or have it professionally installed. If you have an electric-powered space heater, plug it into an outlet with sufficient capacity. Never use an extension cord. The association does not allow liquid-fueled space heaters.

Turn off space heaters whenever the room is unoccupied or when manufacturer’s instructions say they should be turned off. Portable space heaters are easy to knock over in the dark. Turn them off when you go to bed, or at least make sure they’re placed in lighted areas or out of high-traffic areas.

If you use a fireplace or wood stove, use only dry, seasoned wood to avoid the build-up of creosote, an oily deposit that easily catches fire and accounts for most chimney fires and the largest share of home-heating fires. Use only paper or kindling wood, not a flammable liquid, to start the fire. Do not use artificial logs in wood stoves.

Make sure your fireplace has a sturdy screen to prevent sparks from flying into the room. After the ashes are cool, dispose of them in a metal container, which is kept a safe distance from your home.

Make sure fuel-burning equipment is vented to the outside, that the venting is kept clear and unobstructed, and that the exit point is properly sealed around the vent. This is to make sure deadly carbon monoxide does not build up in the home

Other reminders from the National Fire Protection Association include:

• Don’t use your oven to heat your home.
• Inspect all heating equipment annually, and clean as necessary. 
• Test smoke alarms monthly; install a carbon monoxide alarm outside each sleeping area.

For more information, visit www.nfpa.org.

Tracking Down Air Leaks

Air leaks are one of the biggest saboteurs of your energy bill. They cause your heating and air conditioning units to work overtime. But, you can increase the efficient use of energy by tracking down and eliminating sources of air leaks in your home.

How to Check for Indoor Air Leaks

Close your unit as tightly as possible—shutting doors, windows, flues, anything that vents to the outside. (Leave inside doors open.) Turn on the exhaust fans in the kitchen and bathrooms. This pulls air out of the house or unit and draws outside air in through the leaks. A common way to identify air movements is to hold a lighted incense stick near a suspect area. The smallest movement of air will cause the smoke to move. Another method is to simply hold your damp hand near potential leak sites. Air movement will feel cool.

Where to Check for Air Leaks

Any place one surface joins another (even if it appears closed) is a potential place for air to move in or out of your home—for example, where floor and walls come together, such as around baseboards or carpet edges.

Small spaces don’t allow much air leakage individually, but collectively they can eat up a significant amount of energy. Check all spaces where any type of opening exists such as electrical outlets and switch plates, fireplace dampers, around pipes, attic hatches, mounted air conditioners and mail slots.
Also, be sure to check caulked edges. Don’t assume they’re still air tight. Caulk dries over time and shrinks. Another application might be needed.

Doors and windows are in a category of their own. If they rattle or if you can see daylight around them, they leak. Fortunately, they’re easy to fix with caulking or weather stripping.

Making the Fix

Weather stripping is the simplest and least expensive means to eliminate air leaks around doors. Foam insulation is a variation on caulking that is available as an aerosol spray. It’s well suited for filling large gaps like the holes where pipes or wires enter your home. (Use with caution, however; it expands significantly and can be unsightly if overdone.) For just about everything else, standard caulking is all you need. Once the job is done, test again to make sure you stopped the leak completely.

Food Safety During a Power Outage

Power failures can be one of the most annoying and disabling occurrences in a community. Whether caused by summer storms, power lines crippled by winter ice, equipment failure, an overloaded regional grid or an animal disrupting a power line, electrical outages can be costly and uncomfortable. Without forethought, they can sometimes even be dangerous.

Residents can face many hazards when a power failure occurs, usually without any warning. This includes losing refrigerated and frozen foods. Some food items can be salvaged, however, if you’re prepared.

In anticipation of a power failure:

• Have at least one or two coolers on hand, and at least one spare 5-pound bag of ice in the freezer.
• Know where to get bag, block or dry ice quickly when you need it, particularly if you anticipate a long-term outage. (Caution: Dry ice is made from carbon dioxide, so it requires safe handling. Never breathe in its vapors or touch it with your bare hands.) According to the Food Safety Branch of Kentucky’s Department of Health, a 50-pound block of dry ice will keep a tightly packed, 18-cubic-foot freezer cool for up to two days. 
• Have an instant food thermometer or appliance thermometer available to ensure your freezers, refrigerators and coolers are staying cool enough store food safely.
• Arrange the refrigerator and freezer efficiently. Frozen food will last longer in a full freezer, up to 48 hours if tightly packed. Refrigerated food will last longer—up to four hours—if there is room for air to circulate around items. 

When the electricity goes off:

• Avoid opening and closing the refrigerator unless absolutely necessary. 
• Cook and use perishable food before using canned food. 
• Check the temperature of refrigerated foods if the power is out for more than a few hours. Discard any food item than has been at 40° F or warmer for two or more hours. Exceptions include butter and margarine; hard cheeses like Parmesan and Romano; some condiments like mustard, peanut butter, soy sauce, olives and vinegar-based salad dressing; and fresh, uncooked fruits and vegetables.
• Check the temperature of frozen foods as well. While tightly packed freezer foods will stay frozen for many hours, some items that may have thawed can be refrozen if they still retain ice crystals or have remained at a temperature lower than 40°. Fruit and vegetable juices; breads, rolls and pie crusts; flour, cornmeal and nuts; meat and chicken; and prepared foods and casseroles can be refrozen safely if they have not been at 40° F or warmer for more than two hours.
• After the power comes back on, you may need to deodorize the refrigerator and freezer by washing surfaces with a solution of 2 tablespoons baking soda dissolved in a quart of warm water. Place an open box of baking soda inside the refrigerator to absorb any lingering odors.

Since the appearance and odor of a food item isn’t an accurate indication of its safety after a power outage, use the 40° rule-of-thumb. And when in doubt, discard the food.

While a power can go out any time, most power failures occur between mid-July and late September. But no matter when our community experiences an outage—and it inevitably will—knowing how to handle frozen and refrigerated foods can help us keep your food supplies safe until the lights come back on.

Tips for Protecting Your Identity during the Holidays

Identity theft is a problem any time of the year. But, while consumers are focused on giving during the holidays, crooks are focused on taking. If there’s one thing consumers don’t need, it is dealing with identity theft during the holidays. The National Foundation for Credit Counseling (NFCC) offers the following tips to help consumers protect themselves during the busy holiday season:

• Be aware of your surroundings. Sidewalks and malls will be crowded and shoppers will be distracted—the perfect combination for a pick-pocket. If someone bumps into you, don’t assume it was an accident. Women should clutch purses closely at their side or in front of them with the wallet hidden at the bottom. Men should stow wallets in an inside coat pocket.
• Don’t carry large sums of cash. Charge your purchases or use a debit card. Just remember that credit cards offer some protections that debit cards don’t. When you use a credit card, you can dispute a purchase before paying for it. With a debit card, the money is removed from your account at the time of the purchase. A thief can wipe out your checking or savings account before you ever realize the theft has taken place
• Guard your PIN number at the ATM. Be aware of anyone lurking around the ATM, and if someone is standing too close, simply ask him or her to step back. Thieves can also install devices that read your information at the ATM without you knowing it. If you notice anything unusual about the ATM, use a different one, and report what you’ve seen to the bank.
• Don’t let your credit card out of your sight. Unscrupulous clerks or waiters can copy your card information or swipe your card into a second card reader and later make a new credit card for themselves. Worse yet, they can sell your information to an organized crime ring.
• Lighten your wallet. Remove anything from your wallet that you don’t absolutely need to have with you. That way, if someone is successful in stealing it, they won’t get as much. Never carry your Social Security card with you, but check other cards that might use your SS# as an identifier. If you’re not going to be using your checkbook, leave it at home.
• Make copies of your credit cards. Copy both sides of all your cards. If you lose your wallet, you’ll have easy access to all of your account numbers and phone numbers, allowing you to alert your bank immediately.
• Keep up with all receipts. Not only will you need them to make returns easily, but crooks are very interested in stealing the information they contain. Never stuff the receipts into your car visor or leave them exposed in any way.
• Open your credit card statements as soon as they arrive. Check the bill for any unauthorized purchases. Even better, keep a watchful eye on your accounts by going online and reviewing your accounts each week. If you notice anything out of the ordinary, report it immediately to your bank. Doing so will likely remove any payment responsibility you might have for fraudulent purchases.
• Secure all personal information even while at home. Unfortunately, many times an ID thief is someone we know. During the holidays, you may have guests in your home. Remove temptation by putting personal information out of sight.
• Consider signing up for a credit monitoring service. Such services alert you via email anytime there is an inquiry or other activity to your credit report. In other words, if someone tries to open an account in your name, you’ll know about it. Such services are offered by all of the major credit reporting bureaus, and could be money well-spent.
• Order your credit report. Consumers are allowed one free credit report every 12 months from each of the three bureaus. Order a report now from one bureau, and order another one in January from a different bureau. This will give you a good snapshot of activity and will alert you to anything unusual.

In spite of all your efforts, if you are victimized by ID theft, contact an NFCC Member Agency for help. Their certified counselors can walk you through the steps to recovery. To find the agency closest to you, dial (800) 388-2227, or go online www.DebtAdvice.org. To locate a Spanish speaking counselor, call (800) 682-9832.

For more information and tips about identity theft visit NFCC at www.ProtectYourIDNow.org.

Avoiding Conflict with the Neighbors

We all can just get along. The key? Communication. It’s often the best way to prevent and resolve conflict before it reaches the legal system. You don’t have to be friends or spend time together to achieve a peaceful coexistence, but you should try to be a good neighbor and follow these tips:

Say hello. At the mailbox, while walking the dog or when you see a moving van arrive, introduce yourself. Learn your neighbors’ names and regularly offer a friendly greeting.

Provide a heads up. If you’re planning a construction project, altering your landscaping or hosting a big party, contact your neighbors beforehand.

Do unto others. Treat neighbors as you would like to be treated. Be considerate about noise from vehicles, stereos, pets, etc.

Know your differences. Make an effort to understand each other. Differences in age, ethnic background and years in the neighborhood can lead to different expectations or misunderstandings.

Consider the view. Keep areas of your property that others can see presentable.

Appreciate them. If the neighbors do something you like, let them know. They’ll be pleased you noticed, and it’ll be easier to talk later if they do something you don’t like.

Stay positive. Most people don't try to create problems. If a neighbor does something that irritates you, don’t assume it was deliberate.

Talk honestly. Tolerance is important, but don’t let a real irritation go because it seems unimportant or hard to discuss. Let your neighbors know if something they do annoys.

Be respectful. Talk directly to your neighbors if there’s a problem. Gossiping with others can damage relationships and create trouble.

Remain calm. If a neighbor mentions a problem they have with you, thank them for the input. You don’t have to agree or justify any behavior. Wait for any anger to subside before responding.

Listen carefully. When discussing a problem, try to understand your neighbor’s position and why he or she feels that way.

Take your time. Take a break to think about what you and your neighbor have discussed. Arrange to finish the conversation at another time.

Sounds Like a Good Idea

Noise is a concern for every resident and because you live in a community, it’s important to understand that some degree of noise is to be expected. At the same time, residents need to consider the consequences of their noisy behavior. To keep everyone happy and maintain civility among neighbors, it's best for all involved to take a few steps to reduce or eliminate annoying noise.

Be kind and respectful.

A little common courtesy makes a big difference. Keep your music and television at reasonable levels, do your vacuuming before bedtime, and before remodeling, check with the manager about acceptable hours and days of the week that work can be done. If you put in hardwood or tile flooring, use a sound-reducing underlayment. Move your noisy appliance away from walls and put sound-absorbing material underneath before your neighbors complain.

Keep a log.

If you’re disturbed by a noise problem, note the times and the nature of the noise. Ask the manager to listen and verify the noise as well. There may be a pattern in the noise that can be adjusted.

Visit your neighbor.

If your neighbor is the source of the noise, try a friendly chat. Sometimes people just don’t realize how noise is affecting others. People are usually considerate once they realize they’re disturbing others. And, if your neighbor knocks on your door, listen politely and be willing to made changes to reduce your own noise.

Contact the manager.

If a polite request doesn’t change your neighbor’s noisiness, it may be time to ask the manager for help.  Have your noise log ready, including attempts to solve the problem yourself.

Reducing noise sounds like a good idea. A quiet, peaceful community, relatively speaking, is a happy community.

Chimney Safety

There’s nothing as serene as a warm, crackling fire on a cold, winter night. There’s also nothing more dangerous if your chimney is damaged.

Broken or cracked chimneys can let heat, smoke and toxic gasses, such as carbon monoxide, into your home. Your home could even catch fire. Chimney damage is often obvious, but sometimes it can be hidden. Use the following checklist, provided by Ready Virginia!, to help ensure that you can enjoy your fireplace and avoid problems—or even a disaster:

• Check to see if bricks have fallen or the chimney is leaning.
• Look for shiny areas on your exterior metal chimney pipe. This could mean the chimney has shifted—during the recent East Coast earthquake, for instance.
• Look for cracks at joints where the chimney connects to the firebox, at the roofline and in the attic.
• Check for debris that may have fallen into the fireplace.
• Use a screwdriver to check the mortar between the bricks or stones. If it crumbles when you pick at it, the chimney may be a hazard and probably needs work.
• When in doubt, consult a licensed engineer or contractor. For the name of an inspector, call your insurance or mortgage company.

Remember, disasters can happen even in the best of homes. That’s why every home should be equipped with carbon monoxide and smoke detectors. Here are a few tips:

• Install carbon monoxide and smoke detectors in sleeping areas and on every level of your home and away from air vents. Interconnected smoke alarms are best, because if one sounds, they all sound.
• Test smoke alarms monthly, and change alkaline batteries at least once a year. Use a familiar date, such as your birthday or when you change your clocks, as a reminder.
• Prepare and practice a fire escape route with everyone in your home, including children.

For more information, visit www.usfa.dhs.gov/smokealarms.

Flooding: How to Protect Your Family & Finances

In many areas, flooding is the most common and costly natural disaster—and it can happen here. Just one inch of water in your home or office can cost thousands of dollars in cleanup and replacement costs, including drywall, baseboards, floor coverings and furniture. You may think you’re covered, but many homeowners’ insurance policies do not cover flooding.

Here are several reasons to talk to an insurance agent now about flood insurance.

• There is usually a 30-day waiting period before coverage begins.
• Coverage is relatively inexpensive.
• Renters can buy flood insurance .for personal belongings or business inventory.
• Basement coverage includes cleanup expense and repair or replacement of items such as furnaces, water heaters, washers, dryers, air conditioners, freezers and pumps.
• You do not have to repay flood insurance benefits as you do with disaster-related assistance loans.
• You can receive payments for flood-related losses even if no disaster was declared.

Learn more about flood insurance at www.floodsmart.gov.

There are things you can do to prepare your home and family now for flash floods:

• Make a family emergency plan. Emergency preparedness is everyone’s responsibility. Write down your plan. Decide ahead of time where you will go if you have to leave and where family members will meet up. Identify an out-of-town emergency contact. 
• Get supplies for an emergency kit. Start with three days’ water and three days’ packaged and canned food. Add a battery-powered radio and extra batteries. Store in waterproof containers with wheels or that you can lift so you can take them with you. For details about preparing an emergency kit, visit www.ready.gov/america/beinformed/floods.html
• Stay informed about what could happen. During storm season, listen to local media for up-to-date reports on weather watches and warnings. Keep a battery-powered portable radio—with a NOAA weather band—handy in case the power goes out. Choose one.

Learn more about preparedness at www.ready.gov/america/beinformed/floods.html.

Maintain Your Yard Safely

Properly maintaining your yard helps your home and our community look good. Just make sure that safety is a priority when undertaking your landscaping efforts:

• Clear sticks and debris before you mow. Random debris kicked up by a lawn mower can seriously injure you and those around you. Also, mowing debris shortens the life of your mower and dulls the blade.
• Replace the cord on your weed trimmer. Your trimming will be safer if you have strong trimmer cords. Always wear eye protection when using a trimmer. 
• Maintain your lawnmower in top working condition. If you find yourself mowing the same areas again and again, it’s time to inspect your lawnmower. Keep a maintenance checklist of important components like air filters, blades and oil.
• Keep plants and shrubs about five feet from foundation walls, and keep trees at least six to 20 feet away, depending on their size. Plant roots that are too close to the foundation not only cause damage to the structure, but may also attract bugs and mold into your home since they tend to hold moisture.

How to Make Sure You Are Heard at Membership Meetings

All association members have a right to be heard at membership meetings by presenting, seconding, debating and voting on a motion. A motion is a proposal that our membership take action or a position on a specific topic or issue.

To make a motion, wait until the previous person has finished speaking, then stand and address the chair by stating your name. "Mr. Chairman (or Madame President), my name is…." When the chair recognizes or acknowledges you, state your motion clearly and concisely. "I move that our community … ."

Once you have stated your motion, another member should second it so that debate and discussion on the issue can commence. If no one seconds it, your motion will not be considered. Once it is seconded, the chair will announce the motion so it can either be discussed or voted on.

If the topic is one that will be discussed or debated before voting occurs, then, as the person who introduced the motion, you are allowed to speak first. Direct your comments to the chair and briefly explain the motion. You and other speakers participating in the discussion should respect any predetermined time limit for comments. You may also be the last to speak on the matter.

Voting on the motion can take place when the discussion or debate is completed and the chair asks, "Are you ready for the question?" Members can vote by a show of hands, roll call or ballot. General consent, which assumes consensus that there's no opposition to the motion, is another method of voting. The chair announces, "If there is no objection …," and members show their consent by their silence. Those who oppose the motion should speak out politely but audibly, "I object."

Then the chair announces the results of the vote.

How to Be a Good Neighbor

A little consideration goes a long way. Read the following tips from eHow.com on how to be a good neighbor beyond just a smile and a wave.

• Welcome any new neighbors with a personal note or pop by for a personal introduction.
• Make sure that the outside of your home—along with the grounds—is well-kept and complies with the association's CC&Rs.
• Be mindful of noise—loud music, barking dogs, power tools—that may disrupt the neighborhood beyond a reasonable hour.
• If you have a large party, consider your neighbors when directing your guests where to park, end the party at a reasonable hour and invite your neighbors to join in the fun.
• Return anything you borrow from your neighbor promptly, in the same condition they lent it to you, and express your thanks.
• Replace anything of your neighbor's that you, your children or your pets break or soil.
• Respect your neighbor's privacy.
• Offer to take care of mail pick-up, plants or pets while your neighbor is on vacation.
• Be social! Inviting a neighbor over for coffee and conversation can promote open communication and a friendly neighborhood environment from which all neighbors can benefit.

Visit www.ehow.com for other helpful, neighborly advice.

Picture Perfect: Smartphone Photography Tips

Spring is upon us, which means plenty of beautiful outdoor photo opportunities. With the advent of smartphones, it’s easier than ever to take and share photos. Here are 10 tips for making the most of every snapshot:

Perfect your lighting

Use natural light whenever possible, with the sun behind you or over your shoulder. When shooting indoors, find the brightest spot in the room and position your subject directly under it. 

Forget the flash

Because the duration of a smartphone’s flash is too long, it doesn’t freeze the action in a frame the way a traditional flash does. This results in blurry and poorly lit images. Unless you have no other option, avoid the flash and look for more creative low-light solutions.

Compose your shot

Avoid placing your subject dead center—you create more visual interest if you vary your composition. Keep the horizon as straight as possible unless you are intentionally shooting an angled shot.

Move in close

Small details can often make a photo more interesting—move in when shooting. Avoid using the zoom feature—it enlarges pixels but does not bring your subject closer.

Stay steady

Your photo’s clarity depends on how steady you keep your phone, so support your device with your palm, keep your grip firm and lean against a wall or other support when shooting. 

Tap, then snap

Just before taking a photo, tap your subject on the touchscreen—on most smartphones, this will adjust the lighting and focus on the subject.

Use HDR

Turn on the HDR (high dynamic range imaging) setting to enable your device to take two photos—one that focuses on bright areas and one that focuses on dark areas—and merge them for an optimal image.

Keep it clean

Chances are your smartphone gets a lot of use and a lot of smudges, so use a Q-tip to gently clean your lens periodically. 

Rein in the rays

To remove glare and soften harsh lines and shadows in outdoor shots, hold a sunglass lens over the camera lens as close as possible.

Style and share

There are a wealth of apps for editing your digital images, so use them! Instagram, Hipstamatic, Retro Camera and Vignette are just a few of the popular tools for perfecting (and sharing) your pictures.