Westchase APRIL MAY JUNE 2010.pub - About IKare Publishing

ETC. ETC. ETC. Page 2ETC. ETC. ETC.Editor: Karen E. Uhlig - 907-3629Distribution: 3000+ copies to residents and all advertisers.Articles of general interest and letters to the Editor are welcomedfor inclusion. All written communication may be edited for lengthand clarity and cannot be returned.The Editor reserves the right to change policies and advertisingrates without prior notice.The views expressed in articles in the newsletter do notnecessarily represent the views of IKare Publishing, Inc.The advertisers in this and subsequent issues are referred byyour neighbors. It is important that you patronize the advertisers.Recommend this newsletter to your friends!The following are business advertising rates forsubmission in ETC. ETC. ETC1/8 page $100.00; 1/4 page $180.00; 1/2 page $260.00;full page $340.00; inserts if copies provided $425.00.Please call Karen at 907-3629.Quick Reference NumbersAirport Noise (Planes off flight pattern) 870-7843Gang Activity (Tip Line) 1-877-426-4688Noise Complaints (EPC) 627-2600Hillsborough County School System 272-4000Sheriff (Non-Emergency Dispatcher ) 247-8200Tampa Electric Co 223-0800 or 228-1111Emergency Operations Center (EOC) 272-6900Need Help? Who Do You Call?Contact the "Hillsborough County InfoLine” at 272-5900, a onestopcounty service and information center! The center providescomprehensive information and referral to all government,health, and social services in the community. It coordinatesgovernment service requests and handles complaints quicklyand courteously. Operators work with all county departments toensure you receive accurate and timely responses.Hillsborough County InfoLine – 272-5900Se Habla EspanolTTY (hearing impaired) – 301-7173Clip And SaveHillsborough County AgenciesAvailable During theHurricane SeasonAmerican Red Cross ……………………………...……813-348-4820American Red Cross Disaster Assistance ……………1-866-438-4636Code Enforcement ……………………………………..813-274-5545County Special Needs Shelter Registration……...813-307-8015 x6006Crisis Center ………………………………………………….…...211Emergency Operations Center………………………...…813-232-6890FEMA …………………………………………………1-800-525-0321Florida Dept. Agriculture & Consumer Services ……...1-800-435-7352Florida Dept. Financial Services Consumer Help Line .1-800-342-2762Florida Division Emergency Management …………...1-850-413-9900Hurricane Information…………………………………...813-272-6900Hurricane Information:Pre/Post Non-Emergency (County) …………………….813-272-5900Hurricane Help Line (State) …………………………..1-800-227-8676McKay Bay Transfer Station/Scale House ……………..813-242-7835National Flood Insurance Program …………………..1-888-356-6329Neighborhood Relations ………………………………..813-272-5860Parks, Recreation & Conservation ……………………..813-975-2160Poison Control Hot Line ………………………………1-800-222-1222Public Works Emergency After Hours ………………….813-622-1940Sheriff’s Office ……………………………………….……813-247-8200Solid Waste Management Department ……………...…813-272-5680Stormwater Section……………………………………..813-272-5912TECO …………………………………………………..813-223-0800TECO Outage…………………………………………..1-877-588-1010Traffic/Travel Information ................................................. ……..511Tree Emergency - Roadways…………………………..813-272-5912Tree Emergency - Permits………………………………813-307-4891Water Resource Services ………………………………813-272-5977ETC. ETC. ETC For WestchaseIKare Publishing, Inc.1936 Bruce B. Downs Blvd.Suite 432Wesley Chapel, FL 33544813.907.3629IKarepublishing@aol.comwww.IKarepublishing.comPlease visit our website to see all the othercommunities we publish for.Etc. Etc. Etc. is published and mailed to theresidents of Westchase four times a year. If youwould like to advertise or submit anarticle of interest, please callIKare Publishing, Inc. at (813) 907.36299.

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ETC. ETC. ETC. Page 4Town 'N Country Senior CenterA New Community ResourceThe Town 'N Country Senior Center (locatedin the new Town 'N Country Commons) offers anoutstanding array of programs, services and dailyactivities for adults aged 50 years and older. Manyprogram and activities include: Tai Chi, Stretch & Tone,Zumba, Mahjongg, Art classes, Cardio Fitness , Yoga, Wiigames and more.For the full activity calendar, visitwww.hillsboroughcounty.org/aging/programsservices/daycareThe Senior Center's Game Room and Fitness Rooms areopen daily from 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM. The Senior Centerhosts monthly special themed events with attendance of100 persons plus. So come early and enjoy the fun!For additional information or monthly activity schedules,contact the Senior Center at (813) 873-6336 or visit atany time.Hillsborough County Department of Aging ServicesTown 'N Country Senior Center7606 Paula DriveTampa, FL 33615Hours of Operation: Monday through Friday 8:00 amto 4:00 pmNorthwestHillsborough PlanPlease join us to Update the Community PlanApril 15, 20106pm-8pmUpper Tampa Bay Regional Library11211 Countryway BlvdTampa FL 33626The Hillsborough County City-County PlanningCommission invites you to participate in the advisorycommittee meeting and review the comments received atthe Open House for the update of the adopted communityplan.The Hillsborough County Board of County Commissionershad directed the Planning Commission to update theadopted Northwest Hillsborough Community Plan(effective January 9, 2010). Planning Commission staffwill work the stakeholders and citizens in the developmentof the plan update. The involvement of those who live,work or own a business in the community is important.The plan update will address any necessary changes tothe adopted vision, goals, and strategies and conceptmap based on a review of the adopted plan and what hasbeen accomplished, what has not be completed and areview of changes in existing conditions.Would You Like To Have Over 40,000Homeowners Know About Your Business?I publish community newsletters for the subdivisions listed below.Charleston CornersCheval WestCory Lake IslesCountrywayDana Shores/ Pelican Is.Fawn RidgeHeritage HarborHeritage IslesLive Oak PreservePlantation PalmsReflectionsSeven OaksTampa Palms NorthTwelve OaksVan Dyke FarmsVillages Of BayportVilla RosaWestchaseWestchesterWest MeadowsTo find more information and future updates check thewebsite www.hcommunityplanning.com/hccbppNorthwest/ Select” Community Plans button then“Northwest Plan and Regulating Plan”.Interested??ContactLisa K. Silva273-3774 ext. 329silval@plancom.orgIf you would like to advertise your business in any of the above communities please callKaren at 813-907-3629 or visit www.ikarepublishing.com

ETC. ETC. ETC. Page 65 Common Myths aboutExercise and Weight LossMany myths exist about therelationship betweenexercise and weight loss.Read on to get the facts oncellulite, diet, spot reducingand more.How does exercise affect yourweight? Learn the real truthbehind some popular mythsthat confuse many people.1. More exercise meansmore weight loss.To lose body fat, you need toburn off more calories than youeat. But if you start exercisingand expect your weight to drop easily, you may bedisappointed. Exercise can increase appetite, causingyou to eat more and thereby offset the calories burned.Rewarding yourself with food after a good workout justdefeats the purpose. Nutrition and exercise go hand inhand if you want to lose weight.Say you weigh 150 pounds and burn off 300 caloriesduring a brisk 45-minute walk. Afterwards, you eat threereduced-fat cookies and a glass of low-fat milk, or onebottled ice tea drink and a handful of pretzels. Guesswhat? You're back to where you started.• Solution: Cut back on higher fat and sugar itemsin your meal plan. Help feed your appetite withmore high-fiber, wholesome foods that are fillingbut not fattening. Fruits, vegetables, beans, wholegrains and lean meat, chicken and fish are yourbest bet.2. You can spot reduce.As much as you exercise one particular area, you can'ttarget fat reduction in that spot. The perfect example issit-ups. No matter how many sit-ups you do, it will notdecrease the fat in your belly (though it will strengthen themuscle underneath).• Solution: Combine aerobic activity (walking,biking, swimming) with strength training. This willhelp to reduce overall body fat (including thetargeted area) while strengthening the musclesunderneath. Eventually, the effort of all your situpswill pay off.If you stop exercising, whether from illness or injury, yourmuscles actually shrink in size. If you then overeat, yourfat cells get larger.• Solution: Once you resume exercise, you'll buildup muscle again, and re-shrink your fat cells. Aimto include strength training in your workouts aswell as aerobics to help build lean muscle.Muscle tissue actively burns calories throughoutthe day, not just during the exercise period. Alsoremember to keep your eating in check.4. Cellulite is caused by yo-yo dieting.Cellulite is actually collections of fat that push against theconnective tissue beneath the skin. This causes thesurface of the skin to dimple or pucker and look lumpy.Genes, gender, age, amount of body fat and thickness ofskin can all influence cellulite - not repeated weight gainand loss.• Solution: Don't fall for any "miracle" medicines orlotions, which are ineffective or temporary at best.To reduce cellulite, you will need to decreaseoverall body fat by exercising more and eatingless. Experts agree that an exercise routine thatcombines aerobic exercise with strength trainingis the best weapon against cellulite.5. A long exercise session is better for fat loss thanseveral short segments.New research is challenging the theory that longerworkouts are the best way to lose body fat. A few smallstudies have shown that repetitions of shorter exercisemay lead to more fat loss than longer bouts.• Solution: Instead of a steady one-hour workout,you may get more results with 30 minutes ofexercise followed by a 20-minute rest, and then asecond 30-minute workout.The bottom line? Most forms of exercise can be effectiveand beneficial to your health. Until researchers have moreanswers, the most important thing is to eat nutritiouslyand work exercise into your lifestyle as much and as oftenas your doctor recommends.Copyright © OptumHealth.3. When you don't exercise, muscle turns into fat.Muscle does not turn into fat, nor does fat turn intomuscle. They are completely separate. Fat tissue is alayer of fat cells that covers the muscles. When youexercise, you build up muscle tissue. When you eat fewercalories, your fat cells shrink.

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ETC. ETC. ETC. Page 8Pump Protocol:How To Gas Up SafelyBy AMANDA C. KOOSER, AOL SMALL BUSINESSYou've seen the warning signs at gas stations: NoSmoking. Turn Off Engine. No Cell Phone Use. Like themany warnings that we're bombarded with day in and dayout, it can be easy to let them slip your mind when you'rerunning late to that client meeting or when it's before yourthird cup of coffee on your way into the office in themorningNo SmokingThis one is a no-brainer. The basic equation is thatgasoline and fire don't mix. Put the two together and it'skaboom, just like in the movies.Turn Off EngineFor the businessperson in a hurry, it can seem like aminor hassle to have to shut down and restart yourvehicle. It turns off your air conditioning or heating,depending on the time of year, and adds a few preciousseconds onto your already crammed schedule. But it'sworth it. The potential hazard may be small, but you don'twant gasoline vapors tangling with an ignition source.No Cell Phone UseOK, this rule is flirting with urban legend status. ThePetroleum Equipment Institute states that it has found nodocumented incidents where a cell phone wasresponsible for a fire at the pump. Nonetheless, theorganization recommends not using your cell phone, as itcan be a distraction while you're gassing up.Don't Get In and Out of CarThe real culprit behind most fires at the pump is staticelectricity. You know the feeling when you walk across acarpeted room and get zapped when you get to thedoorknob? That's the stuff. You might feel it occasionallywhen you touch your car door handle, especially duringcool and dry conditions. You definitely don't want to feel itwhen you're around such a volatile substance asgasoline. Enteringand exiting avehicle cancontribute tobuilding up a staticelectric charge.When in doubt,touch metal onyour vehicle todischarge anystatic electricitywhen you get outand before youtouch the pump.St. LuciaSt Lucia is home to one of themost stunning landscapes inthe Caribbean. It is located inthe chain of EasternCaribbean Islands in theCaribbean Sea, northwest ofBarbados and south ofMartinique. The AtlanticOcean borders its easternshore, while the westernshore is in the CaribbeanSea. St. Lucia is only 27miles long and 14 miles wide.It is one of those places manydream about, small, tropical, unspoiled, tranquil, and uncrowded.If you have not been on a cruise to the SouthernCaribbean, chances are you may not even be aware ofSt. Lucia. If you were lucky enough to stop there for aday on a cruise, you probably want to go back and staylonger. It is a popular spot on the cruise itineraries, buthas not yet become crowded with other visitors, whichmay just be how the St. Lucians want to keep it. Tourismis not the number one economic source in St. Lucia,bananas are. Yes, bananas. Amidst the beautifullandscape you will periodically see banana orchards.The country has done an excellent job preserving itsnatural environment and they continue to maintain theirprotection and conservation efforts to maintain theisland’s beauty.For those that have discovered (or would like to) what thisisland has to offer, there are a variety of places to staywhen you go, from small, quaint cottages to larger fullservice resorts. St. Lucia also has a variety of activitiesfor those who visit. Les Pitons are one of St. Lucia’slandmarks and they can’t be missed as they tower abovethe island. Visitors should definitely take in one of theguided tours up part of the Pitons. You may also be ableto lounge in a sulphur mud bath while on the hike! Naturelovers are sure to enjoy the Rain Forest with its exoticplants and many beautiful birds. There is excellentscuba diving and snorkeling in St Lucia due to the steepcliffs and large reefs. You can zip line or go on an ATVadventure as well. Of course there is also golf, tennis,sailing and many other leisure activities one canparticipate in. St Lucia offers something for everyone,from honeymooners, to families, the adventurers and thesun worshipers.Contributed by:Andrea Campbell,Cruise Planners813-949-1000

ETC. ETC. ETC. Page 10Things Your Burglar Won't TellYou:1. Of course I look familiar. I was here just last week cleaningyour carpets, painting your shutters, or delivering your newrefrigerator.2. Hey, thanks for letting me use the bathroom when I wasworking in your yard last week. While I was in there, I unlatchedthe back window to make my return a little easier.3. Love those flowers. That tells me you have taste ... and tastemeans there are nice things inside. Those yard toys your kidsleave out always make me wonder what type of gaming systemthey have.4. Yes, I really do look for newspapers piled up on the driveway.And I might leave a pizza flyer in your front door to see how longit takes you to remove it.5. If you don't answer when I knock, I try the door. Occasionally,I hit the jackpot and walk right in.6. If decorative glass is part of your front entrance, don't let youralarm company install the control pad where I can see if it's set.That makes it too easy.7. A good security company alarms the window over the sink.And the windows on the second floor, which often access themaster bedroom-and your jewelry. It's not a bad idea to putmotion detectors up there too.8. It's raining, you're fumbling with your umbrella, and you forgetto lock your door-understandable. But understand this: I don'ttake a day off because of bad weather..9. I always knock first. If you answer, I'll ask for directionssomewhere or offer to clean your gutters. (Don't take me up onit.)10. Do you really think I won't look in your sock drawer? I alwayscheck dresser drawers, the bedside table, and the medicinecabinet.11. Helpful hint: I almost never go into kids' rooms.12. You're right: I won't have enough time to break into that safewhere you keep your valuables. But if it's not bolted down, I'lltake it with me.13. A loud TV or radio can be a better deterrent than the bestalarm system. If you're reluctant to leave your TV on whileyou're out of town, you can buy a $35 device that works on atimer and simulates the flickering glow of a real television. (Findit at faketv.com.)14. Sometimes, I carry a clipboard. Sometimes, I dress like alawn guy and carry a rake. I do my best to never, ever look likea crook.15. The two things I hate most: loud dogs and nosy neighbors.16. I'll break a window to get in, even if it makes a little noise. Ifyour neighbor hears one loud sound, he'll stop what he's doingand wait to hear it again. If he doesn't hear it again, he'll just goback to what he was doing. It's human nature.17. I'm not complaining, but why would you pay all that moneyfor a fancy alarm system and leave your house without settingit?18. I love looking in your windows. I'm looking for signs thatyou're home, and for flat screen TVs or gaming systems I'd like.I'll drive or walk through your neighborhood at night, before youclose the blinds, just to pick my targets.19. Avoid announcing your vacation on your Facebook page. It'seasier than you think to look up your address.20. To you, leaving that window open just a crack during the dayis a way to let in a little fresh air. To me, it's an invitation.Sources: Convicted burglars in North Carolina , Oregon , California , andKentucky; security consultant Chris McGoey, who runs crimedoctor.com; andRichard T. Wright, a criminology professor at the University of Missouri-StLouis, who interviewed 105 burglars for his book Burglars on the Job.Protection for you and your homeIf you don't have a gun, here's a more humane way to wrecksomeone's evil plans for you. (I guess I can get rid of thebaseball bat.)Wasp SprayA friend who is a receptionist in a church in a high risk area wasconcerned about someone coming into the office on Monday torob them when they were counting the collection. She asked thelocal police department about using pepper spray and theyrecommended to her that she get a can of wasp spray instead.The wasp spray, they told her, can shoot up to twenty feet awayand is a lot more accurate, while with the pepper spray, theyhave to get too close to you and could overpower you. Thewasp spray temporarily blinds an attacker until they get to thehospital for an antidote. She keeps a can on her desk in theoffice and it doesn't attract attention from people like a can ofpepper spray would. She also keeps one nearby at home forhome protection... Thought this was interesting and might be ofuse..Wasp And Hornet SprayOn the heels of a break in and beating that left an elderlywoman in Toledo dead, self defense experts have a tip thatcould save your life.Val Glinka teaches self-defense to students at SylvaniaSouthview High School . For decades, he's suggested putting acan of wasp and hornet spray near your door or bed.Glinka says, "This is better than anything I can teach them."Glinka considers it inexpensive, easy to find, and more effectivethan mace or pepper spray. The cans typically shoot 20 to 30feet; so if someone tries to break intoyour home, Glinka says, "spray theculprit in the eyes". It's a tip he's givento students for decades. It's also one hewants everyone to hear. If you'relooking for protection, Glinka says lookto the spray."That's going to give you a chance tocall the police; maybe get out."

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ETC. ETC. ETC. Page 12Tips To Cut Your Utility BillsWith Your Window TreatmentsIt’s that time of year again when homeowners turn onthe air conditioning in their homes and parentseverywhere admonish children to close the door withthe question, “Are you trying to cool off theneighborhood?”“Depending on what’s covering your windows, closingyour window treatments can reduce loss between 10-40 percent”, said Elaine Trotter, who co-owns andoperates Budget Blinds of Greater Tampa.The U.S. Department of Energy reports that windowscan account for 10-25 percent of your home energybill. Caulking and weather stripping windows andinstalling storm windows are critical for conservingindoor heat and should be done. After sealing leaks,homeowners should look to their window treatments asthe next line of defense.“When you sit next to a bare window during winter, youfeel colder, “said Trotter. “What’s happening is thewarmed indoor air is cooling next to the chilled windowpane and circulating back into the room. To conserveand save on energy costs, you can slow this processby lowering your window treatments.Not all window treatments are created equally when itcomes to energy conservation. Insulation is measuredby R-value, which indicates the material’s resistance toheat flow. The higher the R-value a material has thegreater the insulation. A bare low-e, double-glazedwindow has a R-value around 3.5. Adding a windowtreatment can improve that number by as little as 10percent and as much as 50 percent.Use these tips to conserve energy and save money:• Conduct an energy audit to find air leaks in yourhome and seal them with caulk or weatherstripping.• Set your thermostat a bit higher or use thetemperature recommended by your energyprovider.• Raise your thermostat a few degrees more whenyou’ll be away and overnight when you’ll besleeping.• Close window coverings during the day to coolrooms.• Layer two classic window treatments on thesame window. For example add a drapery paneland cornice box over a cellular shade to improveenergy efficiency and add visual appeal.• If you’re in the market for new treatments, askabout window treatments, features andtechniques that will help conserve more energy.For a free in-home consultation contact BudgetBlinds of Greater Tampa at 909-9000. Mention thisarticle to receive a free design guide which providesmore decorating tips for your window coveringneeds.See our ad on page 9.“Cellular shades are ideal insulators and provide thehighest R-value of window coverings available,” saidTrotter. “Each cell traps warm air before it reachesthe glass. The more cells, the better theinsulation; but multiple cells reduce the amount oflight that is filtered into the room, so it’s darker.Trotter’s business, Budget Blinds of GreaterTampa, offers free in- home consultations wherehomeowners can discuss their needs with atrained style consultant who can recommendappropriate window treatments. Among the betterwindow treatments are shutters, Roman shadesand woven wood window treatments. These canincrease the R-value of your bare window by 20-40percent. Roman shades and woven wood shadescan be lined for additional insulation.

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ETC. ETC. ETC. Page 14What Does An Open Garage Say?Some of our neighbors leave their garage doors openwhich is worrisome. So it is our hope upon reading thisarticle that you will reconsider this bad habit. Here iswhat we believe an open garage door says to the world:1. As you could imagine an open garage in Floridawould welcome mice, rats, snakes, and other pests.Most of these critters can crawl through a space the sizeof a dime, so they don’t need a huge 20x10 opening,unless you’re looking to invite the really big rats or catsthat may spray your cars interior or stored family photos.If these creatures get trapped in your garage they candie and emit an awful smell.2. An open garage is essentially window-shopping forcriminals. They can see all the great stuff you haveduring the day and then come back and get it later whenyou are sleeping. An open garage is broadcasting somedangerous stuff to the criminals. For example an opengarage tells a criminal that you A) don’t have an alarmsystem B) your alarm system isn’t turned on that night C)even if you have an armed alarm system, it doesn’tinclude the garage. If the criminal needs to come backlater he knows to start with your garage. Once inside hecan work undetected to enter the rest of your home. Anopen garage also puts your family at risk to homeinvasions.3. It could also get you sued. If someone who hadbeen hiding in your garage attacked your neighbor, youcould be liable. Perhaps the intruder injured himselfwhen he tripped over your kid’s bike in your poorly litgarage. It can happen!With so many Floridian’s out of work, crime and lawsuitswill most likely increase, as people get desperate. Weare a community and it’s everyone’s job to keep theirhome safe. Please get to know your neighbors. If youfeel you can trust them exchange phone numbers, andother contact info. Hopefully they will call you if youforget to close your garage door.Establishing relationships with your neighbors andcommunity is alwaysa good idea.Essentially you’llnever know who’sliving next to you sotake time to meetthem and talk tothem. Once youestablish a dialogyou candiplomaticallymention why theyshould close theirgarage door at night.Spring is Here…Written By: Ray CooperIt is hard to believeApril is here already!Hopefully most of thecold spells are behindus and we can lookforward to a fewmonths of the bestweather Florida has tooffer. Our familyalways looks forward tospring in Florida, whichtypically consists ofmild temperatures, lowhumidity, plenty of sunshine and the chance to enjoysome family time outdoors.There is plenty to do in the next few months while we waitfor “beach weather.” Now is an excellent time to plansome outdoor activities such as fishing, camping, biking,baseball games, Renaissance Festival, Friday night carshows, air shows and more. The point is to get outside,enjoy the weather and make some memories with yourfamily.The inshore fishing is just starting to heat up after acouple of months of some of the coldest temperatures inyears. The water will warm up and the winds will subsideresulting in some great shallow water fishing. Look up alocal guide or find a neighbor with a boat and get the kidsout on the water. The look on their faces when they havea fish on the line is priceless!Camping is a fun and economical way to spend time withthe family. We are fortunate to have some great campingareas close to home. Some camping options in our areaare Disney’s Fort Wilderness Campground, the OcalaNational Forrest and Big Scrub Campground.Baseball season is here as well. Major League springtraining offers an affordable day at the park where kids(and kids at heart) can often get an autograph and even apicture with their favorite players.There are also numerous festivals, car shows and airshows . If you have never been to the Sun n Fun Airshowin April, I highly recommend taking the family. TheAirshow is at the Lakeland Airport and runs from April 13-18 this year; it is the second largest Airshow in thecountry. The show consists of static displays, aerobaticsperformances, military performances (the Air ForceThunderbirds are performing this year), workshops,camping and great food. All spectators can enter theflight line and see the aircraft up close. You can eventake a ride in a vintage biplane!Hopefully I have inspired you to get out and spend sometime with the family, enjoy the beautiful spring weatherand make some memories with your kids.

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ETC. ETC. ETC. Page 16I have been working with computers for sometime and I have noticed common mistakes made by many users.When it comes to home security there is no such thing as too much security. However, when it comes to PCsecurity it can be a big problem.The issue is simply too many programs attempting to conduct the same task. Here are some examples andsolutions.Web Browser:Item one is to count the number of tool bars you are running (Yahoo, Google, Bing, Norton, McAfee, etc.). Checkeach one and make sure you are not running more than one pop up blocker in addition to the one included withyour browser. In most cases you can right click on them and disable them. Just make sure you leave at least onerunning.Next is your Anti’s... make sure you are not running more than one anti-virus, anti-spyware, anti-malware. Manycomputers come with trial versions of these software tools. Usually they expire, they are not renewed, and adifferent product is installed. This is fine, accept when the old product is not removed or not removed properly. So ifyou see multiple Anti’s running, remove the old product you are not using. Chances are it is taping your computersresources and slowing down your machine. Make sure you are using a good anti-virus/Internet Security program.These programs not only protect your computer from harmful malware, spyware and viruses; they also protect youridentity and financial information.The next memory hog you should look for are browser “Add ons”. If you are using Microsoft Internet Explorer thesecan be found by:Open Internet Explorer, click “Tools” from the menu bar, and then click on“Manage Add-ons”.Next, you should make sure you un-install all programsthat you are no longer using. Many programs talk to theInternet. They look for updates and send information totheir designers about their product. Removing unwantedprograms is like cleaning your garage, only you aremaking room for memory and other resources.Unfortunately there are many programs that we need totravel safely on the World Wide Web. Keeping yourmachine clean from unwanted stuff gives you more roomand should help increase your overall Internet experience.If all of this sounded like Greek to you or youdon’t feel comfortable performing any of theprocedures then you shouldn’t.You should hire a professionalto do it for you as there aremany in our area.Happy Surfing! D.C.Ways To Make Your Computer Faster

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ETC. ETC. ETC. Page 18By Dave DuncanLawn Repair - Fill In The Bare PatchesSpring is in the air and now that you’ve begun leavingthe house more often, you notice that your yard islooking a little spotty. While it’s not uncommon for theyard to look disheveled after thawing out from thewinter cold, there could be some underlying reasonswhy the grass looks so bad.For starters, if you notice that you have a moleproblem every year; it could be because you also havea grub problem. Grubs love to eat the roots of yourgrass, thus causing dead patches of grass throughoutyour yard. An easy way to check for grubs is to pick apiece of yard and skim back the grass, roots and all.You may notice fat white worms squirming around.These are grubs. They make for some good fishing, bythe way. Moles love to eat grubs, so one attracts theother and before you know it, you have three separateproblems—dead grass, grubs and moles.To get rid of the grubs, use a commercial insecticideaimed directly at killing grubs. With the grubs gone, themoles will look elsewhere for dinner. Now you canconcentrate on repairing the lawn.If you have large areas with dead grass, the best moveis to remove the entire patch. Once the patch isremoved, fill the area with a good grade of topsoil. Italso helps to mix some natural fertilizer into the dirt fora good measure of nutrients.With the soil prepared, sprinkle the grass seed overthe exposed area. Be careful to spread it thoroughly,but don’t over spread. If you plant too many seeds, itcan be difficult for the seeds to germinate. Lightly rakethe area so that only about 5 to 10% of the seeds arevisible. Apply a light layer of straw or compost over thearea to keep the soil damp and help keep pesky birdsaway.Water the seeds every day, but don’t make them toosoggy or they will die before they have a chance tosprout. It’s a good practice to set your lawn mower’sblades to the lowest setting while you’re waiting for thegrass to grow. The shorter the surrounding grass is,the easier it is for the sun to hit the new seeds.If you’re a person who doesn’t want to spend a lot oftime fixing up the lawn, there are some great productson the market that incorporate seeds and covering inone easy application. These products work very wellbecause the shredded paper and pulp that is mixedwith the seeds is very effective at keeping the groundmoist and the birds at bay. The filling is usually coloredblue or green so you can easily see if you have theentire area covered.Here’s a helpful tip that is friendly to both your walletand the environment: When you are raking the leavesin the fall, don’t stuff them in a garbage bag and leavethem for the trash man to take. Pick up a blower/mulcher at your local hardware store. With the leavesin a pile, suck up the leaves with the mulcher and it willshred the leaves into tiny pieces. Empty the collectionbag into an extra garbage bin or find an area of theyard to dump the leaves. When you need to repair apatch of grass, remove the dead patch and then applya layer of the shredded leaves. Top the leaves withloose soil and plant your seeds. This is a very effectiveway to fertilize your seeds from the bottom up. Believeme, it works great.If you like to re-seed your entire yard every spring,then the earlier you can do it the better. Rake youryard thoroughly to remove all the debris thataccumulated over the winter. Rake it so that about ¼”of the top layer of dirt is loose. This helps to aerate thelawn and allow for proper drainage. Spread the seeds,approximately 1 to 2 pounds of seed per 1,000 squarefeet in areas where there is already some grass.Vigilantly water the lawn until you see the new growthbegin to sprout. Again, keep the mower blades low forthe first 3 to 4 weeks after planting.For a full and healthy looking lawn, seed in the springand then seed again in the fall. In many areas, fallseeding can actually be more effective because ofclimate reasons, as well as the fact that the grassdoesn’t have to compete with weeds as much.If you don’t want to wait for the grass to grow in theaffected area, re-sodding the area is always an option.Hardware superstores sell sod by the piece and it’spretty inexpensive. All of the prior preparations shouldbe done here, except that instead of seeding, simplycut the sod to fit the exposed area. You may need tograde some of the dirt down so the sod lays even withthe rest of the surrounding grass.Whichever way you choose to repair your bare sectionof yard, you will no doubt be pleased with the result. Itcan be very rewarding to sit onyour deck or patio this summerwith a nice cold glass oflemonade and look out at youryard full of healthy green grassand know that it looks that waybecause of your hard work.

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IKare Publishing, Inc.1936 Bruce B. Downs Blvd.Suite 432Wesley Chapel, FL 33544PRSRT STDUS POSTAGEPAIDTAMPA FLPERMIT #2292ETC. ETC. ETC. has been designed,published and mailed byIkare Publishing, Inc. at no cost to theresidents of Westchase.