Former Lake Geneva resident subject of Masterpiece TV series

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14 — The Beacon also at www.readthebeacon.com March 22, 2013 Walworth County agency works to reduce falls in older adults The Walworth County Aging & Disability Resource Center (ADRC) and partners are working to reduce the number of falls in Wisconsin. Falls are the leading cause of injury and death for older Americans. Falls threaten a senior’s safety and independence and generate enormous economic and personal costs. However, falling is not an inevitable result of aging. Through evidenced based interventions, practical lifestyle adjustments, and community partnerships, the number of falls among seniors can be substantially reduced. Stepping On is a workshop offered by the ADRC of Walworth County. The workshop helps older adults prevent falls. The workshop is for two hours, once a week for seven weeks, April 10 through May 22, from 9 to 11 a.m. at the Lake Geneva City Hall, 626 Geneva St, Lake Geneva. Stepping On will help participants identify why they fall and different ways to prevent falls, including strength and balance exercises, home safety check suggestions and a medication review. The workshop is for people who have fallen and for people who fear falling. Participants will leave with more strength, achieve better balance, and experience a feeling of confidence and independence as a result of performing various activities and sharing with the group, personal experiences about falls. The program was developed by Dr. Lindy Clemson of Sydney, Australia, to help older adults learn ways to prevent falls. It was brought to the United States by Dr. Jane Mahoney, Executive Director of the Wisconsin Institute for Healthy Aging, with funding from the Centers for Disease Control and other partners. The research has found that 5K to run on 5/18 The Walworth County Employee Wellness Council will sponsor a Get Fit 5K run/walk on Saturday, May 18, at the Kettle Moraine Nordic Trail (white loop). This fun, family orientated 5K, is designed bo be a way to support the Wellness Council’s mission on improving employee wellness, and is open to the public. The event will take place rain or shine. Registration will begin at 8 a.m., with the race starting at 9. Kettle Moraine trails are located just off of Hwy H in Lagrange Township. A Wisconsin State Park sticker will be required for each vehicle on race day. A daily pass can be purchased that day for $7. Entry fees will be $15 for walkers, $20 for runners, and $5 for children ages 6-12, (prices will increase by $5 after May 8th). Everyone who pre-registers will receive a free tee shirt. Log on to www.co.walworth.wi.us for a registration form or call Dale Wilson at 741-4949 for more information. LGSO to perform La Traviata 4/16 Romance, drama, and tragedy take to the concert hall stage Saturday, April 6, when the Lake Geneva Symphony Orchestra will perform La Traviata. The orchestra’s concert production of Giuseppe Verdi’s opera will feature soloists from the Lyric Opera of Chicago as the colorful characters Violetta, Alfredo, and Germont. The concert will begin at 7:30 p.m. at Calvary Community Church in Williams Bay. Adult tickets to La Traviata are $10; students through high school are free. Tickets may be purchased at www. LakeGenevaOrchestra.org or by calling (262) 359-9072. people who complete the workshop have a 31 percent reduced rate of falls. Contact Kris Ruf, Prevention Specialist, at 741-3309 to register for the workshop. Pre-registration is required. S ER Army Pvt. James Laitila has graduated from Basic Combat Training at Fort Leonard Wood, Waynesville, Mo. During the nine weeks of training, Laitila received instruction in drill and ceremony, weapons, rifle marksmanship qualification, bayonet combat, chemical ERVICE VICE N EWS EWS warfare, field training and tactical exercises, marches, military courtesy, military justice, physical fitness, first aid, and Army history, traditions, and core values. A2012 graduate of Big Foot High School, Laitila is the son of Stacy and Alan Laitila of Walworth.
The Beacon also at www.readthebeacon.com March 22, 2013 — 15 Tankless water heater saves money By Angie Hicks For years, traditional gas-powered tank water heaters have been one of the biggest energy hogs in the home. With tank heaters, you have to pay to heat water you aren’t even using. Not so with a tankless water heater. “It’s truly an on-demand hot water heater,” said Kyle Whelpley, operations manager for J.F. Denney Plumbing and Heating Inc. in Leavenworth, Kan. “It does nothing until you turn on your hot water. So, when you’re at work, it simply hangs on the wall and doesn’t cost you one penny, compared to a 40- or 50-gallon tank you pay to heat while you’re away from the house. Here in the Midwest, a 50-gallon natural gas water heater’s yearly cost is about $360. A (comparably-sized gas tankless) is about $190.” Tankless water heaters are a fraction of the size of tank systems – roughly the size of a circuit breaker box – and mount to a wall instead of taking up valuable space in the basement or garage. “Some people really like the fact they have their space back, once they get a tankless installed,” said Rob Evans of Mr. Rooter of Columbus, Ga. The most popular benefit of a tankless water heater, though, is an almost endless supply of hot water it provides by heating the water via an internal heat exchanger. “A tankless water heater is designed so that, if you wanted to, you could take a shower from 8 a.m. until midnight at 115 degrees and it won’t move one degree,” Whelpley said. “It’s truly endless hot water.” Though gas tankless water heaters cost about twice as much as their conventional predecessors – ranging from $2,500 to $5,000 on average – they are easily repairable compared to a tank unit that usually needs to be replaced when it fails. Tankless heaters last 20 years on average and are more energy efficient, making them more environmentally friendly than the traditional models. Qualifying tankless water heaters are eligible for a $300 federal tax credit. Some utility providers also offer rebates for qualifying purchases. “A tank water heater lasts about nine years on average,” Evans said. “A tankless generally lasts twice that long. So, even though the initial upfront costs can be quite a bit, over the long haul it’s cheaper Spring Home and Garden because you don’t have to replace the water heater nine years down the road.” Electric tankless heaters are available as well, but use a lot of power and typically require the electrical service to be upgraded. Electric heaters are best for limited use, such as a small apartment or a point-of-use application like a dedicated sink where you need plenty of hot water. Tankless water heaters require minimal maintenance, other than periodic flushing to descale them of mineral buildup. A plumber can do that service, typically for around $100 to $150. A handy homeowner can clean the system with vinegar if he or she follows the manufacturer’s recommended guidelines for descaling. It’s also recommended homeowners have a water softener to reduce scale buildup. “You can tell a difference on ones that have water softeners and ones that don’t have water softeners,” Whelpley said. “When you heat the water that quickly, you bring the calcium out even quicker.” Tankless water heaters do require venting and should be placed close to gas lines to operate at their highest efficiency. A licensed plumber who has a good history of working with tankless heaters can help ensure it’s installed correctly and is properly sized to accommodate your family’s needs. “The biggest thing is to make sure you get somebody that knows tankless and deals with tankless day in and day out,” Whelpley said. “The biggest thing I see is people go to (a big box hardware store) and see a tankless and say, ‘I’ll take that,’ but they don’t know that you have to size it for the house. How many shower heads do you have? How many Jacuzzi tubs do you have? If you go buy one off the shelf that’s a 5-gallon a minute when you really need a 9-gallon a minute and you have one person taking a shower in the master bathroom and another person goes to take a shower in the guest bathroom, you won’t have (enough water pressure).” Angie Hicks is the founder of Angie’s List, the nation’s most trusted resource for local consumer reviews on everything from home repair to healthcare. © 2013, http://www.angieslist.com/ Distributed by MCT Information Services WATER HEATER TUNE UP CHECK & INSPECT: $ 69 • Burner • Pilot • Venting • Safety Valve FLUSH ENTIRE UNIT (The flush will remove the calcium and rust sediment thus extending the life of your water heater and giving your home a quicker and cleaner hot water response). FREE PLUMBING INSPECTION Lake Geneva, WI 262-248-2103 www.masterserviceslg.com “We’re the Good Guys Your Friends Told You About” $ 100 OFF NEW WATER HEATER INSTALLATION Not good with any other offer. With this coupon. Expires April 15, 2013 Milwaukee County Zoo’s Jaguar cubs are now on exhibit. They were recently named B’alam and Zean in a contest open to the public. (Photo furnished) Milwaukee Zoo’s jaguar cubs are more than just cute babies By Chuck Quirmbach Some newly-named jaguar cubs have brought genetic diversity to the Milwaukee County Zoo. The two cubs were born last November, the first of their species to be born there in 38 years. The zoo just announced the new names of the cubs, based on the results of a contest: B’alam and Zean. But scientists at the zoo say these cubs are more than just a cute tourism draw. Large mammals curator Tim Wild says the cubs’ father is a wild-born jaguar, roughly 14 years old, captured in Belize after killing some livestock. The zoo no longer takes in many wild animals, due to various concerns, including the difficulty in getting import permits. Wild says the cubs help bring genetic diversity to North American zoos. “All the jaguars in zoos in North America are managed as a group,” says Wild. “So anytime you bring new genes into that population, it adds new bloodlines and it kind of spreads things out a little better. It brings inbreeding down.” Wild says the diversity can help deal with change. “With changing environments and changing habitats with more diversity, you have animals out there that are going to be adaptable,” he explains. “Disease is one of those things. Some animals might better be able to handle a disease that runs through a population.” Wild says the cub’s father is very healthy, making it unlikely he brought in any problems or passed them on to his offspring. Wild also says he hopes the breeding success in Milwaukee shows the importance of the wild jaguar population in Belize, which may discourage ranchers and farmers there from wanting to shoot the animals. 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Former Lake Geneva resident subject of Masterpiece TV series

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