(NAPSI)—Spring is coming, and as we get out our lawn mowers and other outdoor power equipment from storage to work in our yards, businesses and other green spaces, it’s important to put safe practices in place.

“Think safety first,” says Kris Kiser, President and CEO of the Outdoor Power Equipment Institute (OPEI), an international trade association representing outdoor power equipment, small engine, utility vehicle, golf car and personal transport vehicle manufacturers and suppliers. “We’re all eager to get back outside in the spring weather but I can’t stress enough to read your owner’s manuals before starting up any equipment—especially your lawn mower.”

OPEI offers these tips to get your outdoor power equipment ready, especially mowers: Continue reading →

(NAPSI)—Do you contribute to racial unity or disunity? That’s the focus of a new book, which offers a surprising perspective on race relations in America today, and offers suggestions to improve racial conditions.

One Man’s Story

Young white man experiences beatings received from black men in his community. The trauma associated with the beatings had the potential to destroy any favorable constructs of Black people in his life. But the author, Gene Heil, now an ordained minister, refused to allow racial hatred to control him.

Instead, inspired by God, he gained a different perspective of racial disunity, which, according to Heil, is rooted in understanding the impact the dominant white culture has had on the Black culture through generations of cultural abuse and systemic racism. God taught him to forgive his oppressors, and led him to blend into the black community to gain insight, and to prepare him to become an advocate for racial healing. Continue reading →

(NAPSI)—The IRS offers an incentive to lower your tax bill when you save for retirement. Many taxpayers may be eligible to claim the Saver’s Credit, but they may not know that it exists. Also referred to as the Retirement Savings Contributions Credit, the Saver’s Credit can reduce federal income taxes for eligible taxpayers who save for retirement through a qualified retirement plan, such as a 401(k) or an Individual Retirement Account (IRA).

The 23rd Annual Transamerica Retirement Survey finds that fewer than half (49 percent) of workers are aware of the Saver’s Credit.

“People who are saving for retirement may be able to claim the Saver’s Credit and reduce their federal taxes,” says Catherine Collinson, CEO and president of nonprofit Transamerica Institute® and its Center for Retirement Studies. “Some people may be confusing the tax credit with the tax-advantaged treatment of retirement accounts. The idea of a double tax benefit may sound too good to be true, but both are available to eligible savers.” Continue reading →

Chicago, Illinois, USA sightseeing cruise and skyline on the river.

Why it Matters to You

(NAPSI)—It’s raining hard. You need to get to an important appointment. You’re halfway to your destination when you hit a roadblock. The intersection is flooded, wind gusts have downed electrical wires and there’s no end in sight. You have no choice but to return home, where there’s no electricity.

Scenarios like this—and much worse—are playing out in communities around the country. Climate change is causing more destructive conditions nationwide, turning every street into a potential flood zone. From earthquakes to severe storms and flooding, Americans are increasingly seeing startling images of cars disappearing into sinkholes, widespread power outages and destroyed homes and neighborhoods. Everyday stressors and extreme weather are pushing local infrastructure to the brink.  Continue reading →

by Laura Corbin, Bureau Chief,

Tobacco Free Florida

(NAPSI)—The ball, the confetti and the 2022 wall calendars have all come down, and our attention turns to the annual tradition of making New Year’s resolutions. This can include health goals, such as deciding to have 2023 be the year to finally quit tobacco successfully. Most adult smokers in our state tried to do so at least once in the past year, reports the Florida Department of Health.

Quitting for good may take several attempts. With the resolution to quit, every year more and more people succeed on their own. But it may help to know some tips, and to know that you don’t have to do it alone.

Are you resolving to quit tobacco? If so…

Remember your reason.

What’s your biggest personal motivator to quit? If what keeps you going is a desire to be healthy and be there for your kids for years to come, strategically position photos of those smiling faces in the places you used to take your smoke breaks.  Continue reading →

5G Home Internet: Powerful Enough For Your Home?

(NAPSI)—5G Home Internet is making waves when it comes to connectivity. And while the technology behind 5G is a great choice when it comes to mobile data and serving remote areas with limited connectivity, the same might not be said for powering most home Internet needs.

What is 5G Home Internet?

Simply put, 5G networks are mobile networks. Because 5G Home Internet relies on the same cell towers as 5G mobile devices, they are essentially competing for capacity. When many mobile users utilize the 5G network at once, the 5G Home Internet users must wait in line behind them for connectivity. Think of it as a congested interstate highway, with everyone headed for the same exit. Continue reading →

Digital is increasing and print is stabilizing. Large & Small Businesses are Buying more digital in 2023 while print newspapers are stabilizing.

By Mark McCormick says, Borrell Associates, a marketing research firm based in Virginia, hosted a webinar recently to shine a light on local business trends and what their spending might look like down the road. In addition to actual ad spending, they offered publishers insight about tomorrows spenders.

The webinar, titled “What 2023 Will Bring?” Local ad spending forecasts, opened with a look at some upward sales trends since the pandemic began, Including general retail sales (above) as well as categories such as liquor, hardware, and cars. With that foundation, Borrell Associates shifted the focus to small businesses, particularly business applications.

Crostinis:

10.5-ounce baguette, sliced ½-inch thick

2 tablespoons olive oil

¼ teaspoon coarse salt

Bruschetta:

1-pound strawberries, trimmed and diced

1 tablespoon olive oil

1 tablespoon honey or granulated sugar

½ tablespoon balsamic vinegar

¼ teaspoon coarse salt

4 ounces fresh goat cheese, ricotta or burrata

Freshly cracked black pepper, to taste

½ cup fresh basil leaves, chiffonade

Continue reading →

(NewsUSA) – As the sun rises in middle America, nature comes to life. Ducks, geese and other birds emerge from a marsh, taking flight into a golden sky, while prairie grasses whisper in the morning breeze and insects begin to hum.

The growing cacophony of honks, quacks, chirps and splashes is music to Jason Black’s ears. As public land manager of the McPherson Valley Wetlands in central Kansas, they are proof that this habitat is thriving.

“This is a special place,” says Black. “I get to watch it grow through the seasons, watch the birds come and go. Everything from our state bird, the meadowlark, to whooping cranes to a number of species of ducks and geese and shorebirds when water conditions and migration are lined up just right.”

These public wetlands were recently improved through a public-private partnership thanks in big part to one of the nation’s largest clean energy infrastructure companies, Williams. The company’s generous contribution allowed Ducks Unlimited to seek matching funds to restore several areas that are critical to waterfowl during spring and fall migrations.      Continue reading →

Stories for Kids with Wholesome Fun, Culture, Imagination and Learning

(NewsUSA) – Amanda Given, an author, speech language pathologist, yogi, mother, mental health advocate and child at heart, has given us a charming story with colorful and playful illustrations that will help any child, young or old, open up and learn to deal with their feelings, all by learning about Balloon Breath.

This obviously is an important topic for children and their parents or guardians. So much has been written about the difficulty of young children to understand and control their emotions, with strategies from learned scholars and therapists on how to cope. Yet sometimes, it’s the simplest of stories to which children can best connect, putting them in a position to learn and grow.

That’s why “BALLOON BREATH” does such an impressive job of helping children open up and deal with their feelings. The book, geared primarily to pre-schoolers in the 2-to-5 age range, is a simple tale in which Lonnie is frustrated with the behavior of his brother, Curly, who has taken his blanket, and dominated the channels on the TV set to his own liking and without consideration of his brother. Lonnie feels like he is going to explode with anger.

Fortunately, his favorite babysitter, Scarlett, comes over and tries to instill happiness into the atmosphere with fun activities, by eating, pretending to be lions, going to the upbeat sunroom — anything to create a cheerful mood. Finally, Scarlett explains what she does when she gets mad: “Sit criss-cross applesauce. Take a DEEP breath in. That’s it. Now exhale all the air out.”   Continue reading →