Memorial Day & Civic Responsibility

This weekend is Memorial Day weekend, and many people will be celebrating the long holiday. Memorial Day is more than just another day off; it is a day to celebrate and remember our fallen heroes. This day of remembrance occurs on the last Monday of May each year in honor of U.S. military personnel who have died during military service.

As you spend time with your loved ones, light your grills, have picnics, parties, and whatever else it is that you do to celebrate, take a moment to reflect on the purpose of Memorial Day.

Our military fulfill their civic duty and responsibility, as well as, take pride in making the United States of America and the world a better place. Yoakum County may not have a military base or a town filled with military personnel, but we do have civic minded individuals and many civic clubs and organizations that allow individuals to volunteer and give back to the community.

As a nation we are required to uphold our civic duty as required by law; however, our civic responsibility is what is considered to be a socially good behavior to perform, such as voting in elections, signing up for the military, volunteering in the community, participating in government politics, and holding public office. Actions of civic responsibility can be displayed in advocacy for various causes, such as political, economic, civil, environmental, religious, and quality of life issues.

The importance of civic responsibility is paramount to the success of democracy and philanthropy. By engaging in civic responsibility, citizens ensure and uphold certain democratic values written in the United States Constitution and the Bill of Rights. Those values or duties include justice, freedom, equality, diversity, authority, privacy, due process, property, participation, truth, patriotism, human rights, rule of law, tolerance, mutual assistance, self-restraint and self-respect.

Volunteering is a form of civic responsibility, which involves the giving of time or labor without the expectation of monetary compensation. Many people volunteer through local churches, animal shelters and food banks. Volunteering allows citizens the opportunity to share their skills, talents, and passions as well as the ability to learn new skills while helping those in need of assistance.

In Yoakum County we have a large list of civic groups, clubs, and organizations. Some of those groups, clubs and organizations are as follows:

Yoakum County 4-H

Girl Scouts – Troop #6433

Boy Scouts – Pack 0767

Yoakum County Connection

Lions Club

Rotary Club

Yoakum County Art Club

Xi Iota Delta

Tejas Study Group

Masonic Lodge

Yoakum County Heritage & Art Museum

Yoakum County Historical Commission

Tsa Mo Ga

Operation Blessing Food Pantry

Angel Food Ministries

American Red Cross

Jaycee's JEWELS & GEMS

Yoakum County Cemetery Association

862 Seminole Garden Club

United Way

Yoakum County Hospital Foundation

Pink Ladies

Yoakum County Family Services Inc.

Family 2 Family Ministries

Yoakum County Golf Club

Yoakum County Senior Citizens Association Inc.

South Plains Community Action

Christian Motorcycle Association

The list does not end there. Yoakum County is full of non-profit organizations, volunteers, and more. If you feel yourself falling short in your civic responsibilities, you do not have to look far to find what speaks to you. What are you passionate about? Then find a group and offer up your time and serve the community.

In honor of the upcoming Memorial Day, we would like to thank or active military personnel, our veterans, and those we have lost and are left to remember. We would also like to thank all of our first responders, volunteers, and our local civic groups, clubs and organizations for all that you do to make our community a better place. Thanks to these civic minded individuals in Yoakum County, we are able grow, move forward, and take pride in our community.

Spring Cleaning - Fire Safety

Keeping fire safety in mind while spring cleaning is important, and could help prevent fires. Things like cleaning the dryer’s lint filter after each load of laundry, removing lint that has collected around the drum, and keeping the area around your dryer clear of things that can burn like boxes, cleaning supplies and clothing.

Check all smoke alarms and ensure smoke alarms are installed on every level of your home, including the basement. The U.S. Fire Administration recommends installing smoke alarms both inside and outside of sleeping areas. Test them at least once a month and replace batteries in all smoke alarms at least once are year. Replace the entire smoke alarm unit every 8 to 10 years or according to manufacturer’s instructions.

Check electrical cords. Frayed or chewed electrical cords start many house fires. Exposed electrical wires will light your floor or rug on fire in no time. Pets often chew on electrical cords as well, causing serious fire hazards. Do not overload outlets. The blades inside electrical outlets loosen over time, something you may notice when you plug in an appliance and the cord falls out easily. This may seem like a little more than a nuisance, but loose blades can generate intense heat that can lead to fires. Your best bet is to replace outlets as soon as you notice that plugs don’t fit snugly.

In places such as the kitchen, keep a 3-foot zone between combustible materials, such as paper towels, pot holders, hand towels, etc. and the burners.

In addition to clothes dryers, smoke alarms, and outlets, fireplaces and chimneys should be inspected annually by a professional and cleaned accordingly.

Spring Cleaning - Indoor Air Quality

The birds are singing, the trees are budding and the flowers are blooming. Spring is here, and with it, spring cleaning. Whether you love it, hate it, or have a bittersweet relationship with it, you need to take several things into consideration when deep cleaning your home.

A task that is often overlooked is checking and being aware of the indoor air quality. Many homes are contaminated with indoor pollutants that could be dangerous, and comes in many forms.

Carbon monoxide is the most dangerous indoor pollutant, because it goes undetected due to the fact that it is odorless. The two main sources of carbon monoxide inside the home are the gas furnace heat exchanger and gas hot water heater.

Mold is another big concern. To keep homes safe from mold it is important to keep the humidity level below 60 percent because mold doesn't grow well at lower humidity levels. If you discover mold, it is important to remedy the source of the moisture in addition to the clean-up and disinfection.

Because of the dangers linked to lead and asbestos, which is commonly found in old homes, be advised that special precautions should be taken. Wear protective clothing and a respirator.

Other forms of indoor pollution include secondhand tobacco smoke, radon, chemical indoor pollutants such as cleaning products, lead, and biological pollutants such as dust mites, molds, mildew, pet hair and dander.

The thought of cleaning up the pollutants may seem daunting, but homeowners can take simple measures to keep the air quality more breathable. First, keep the indoor humidity level between 40 and 60 percent. An inexpensive temperature and humidity gauge can be purchased at hardware stores.

Second have the air conditioner and the heater serviced once a year by a professional, and be sure the air conditioner has a filtering system.

Other recommendations are keeping pets outside, or at least out of the bedroom.

The most important process a homeowner can take to reduce indoor pollution is to identify the pollutants, control the source, and remedy or mitigate.

Staycation

     

                          

Get the Vacation Vibe While on Staycation

Ah, vacation! How often do you wish you could escape the hustle and bustle and the day-to-day responsibilities of our normal lives for a week of fun and relaxation somewhere away from life’s reality?

A traditional vacation is not always an opportunity we can seize. Between restaurants, hotels, and transportation, travel costs can add up, especially when you factor in cost per family member. Sometimes, cost isn’t the factor and life “just happens” disabling us to stray far from home.

However, that does not mean that you can’t enjoy Spring Break or summer vacation when it rolls around.  It does not mean that while the kids are home from school you can’t still have a great time. Why not plan a vacation in your own backyard; a “STAYCATION”. A true staycation is an intentional time of fun and relaxation with the whole family while remaining home and participating in leisure activities within driving distance, while sleeping in the comfort of their own homes. It does take a little effort to do reach maximum satisfaction, fun, and relaxation, but can ultimately be just as satisfying as going away.

During the financial crisis of 2007-2010 the popularity of staycation increased, allowing individuals and families to save money. The American Automobile Association said the average North American vacation will cost $244 per day for two people for lodging and meals. Add children and other family members into that equation and airfare; a 10-day vacation could top $8,000.

Common activities of a staycation include use of the backyard or public pool, visits to local parks and museums, and attendance at local festivals and amusement parks. Some staycationers also like to follow a set of rules, such as setting a start date and end date, planning ahead, and avoiding routine, with the goal of creating the feel of a traditional vacation.

Staycationers can finish a stay-at-home vacation feeling unsatisfied if they allow themselves to fall into the daily monotony and include household projects, errands, and other menial tasks in their vacation at home. It is important to treat a staycation as a vacation away from the home. You can unwind within your own four walls.

Put the world on hold and stash away clocks to help wipe away the stress of the daily grind. Turn off the telephones and mute the answering machine (you wouldn’t be answering your home phone if you were away on vacation). Do an “out of the office” automatic reply message for your email and turn off the computer. Skip the news and don’t get the mail for the week.

The point of a staycation is to make it feel as much like a real family getaway as possible, without leaving the comfort of your own home. A few guidelines for what your family may and may not do during this time could include all or some of the following:

·       No smart phone

·       No email

·       No computer or video games

·       No television

·       No working from home

·       No worrying

·       No fighting

·       Family time only – no independent activities or outside plans

·       No cooking

·       No cleaning

·       No laundry

The more you plan for fun, the more successful your staycation is likely to be. Start by setting a reasonable, realistic budget for your week of fun at home. Set some money aside for activities, eating out, and perhaps even paying for a splurge or two such as paying for a house cleaner or treating yourself to a massage or pedicure at a local spa. Have a family meeting to decide what you are going to do on your staycation and get ideas from the family and see what they would like to do.

Prepare the home and kitchen for “vacation” to make the week as simple as possible. Do what you would do if you were out on a destination vacation; dine out, order in, simple cooking. You can prepare meal ahead of time to minimize the cooking process.

The following are some creative ideas to do while on staycation:

·       Geocaching

·       Paintballing or Laser Tag

·       Visit a nearby National Park

·       Go to the theatre

·       Visit an amusement park

·       Visit local museums and/or art galleries

·       Attend a major/minor/college league sporting events

·       Host a family board game tournament

·       Go bowling

·       Camp in your own backyard

·       Tour a local factory

·       Visit a nearby tourist spot

·       Go to a themed restaurant or dinner theater

·       Create your own art

·       Have fun a getting wet in the pool, water park, or on the slip and slide

·       Host your own film festival

There are thousands more ideas to be found on the internet. Simply type in “staycation” into your search engine, press enter and explore the wide array of staycation ideas.

The key to having the best staycation ever, ultimately has nothing to do with the activities you choose, but with your own attitude and commitment to making your week a time of fun and relaxation.

Sources

1.       http://www.livingwellspendingless.com/2014/03/07/staycation-ideas/ 

2.       Get away on vacation — at home - Family - MSNBC.com

3.       www.whec.com - Staycations popular as gas prices rise

4.       The Great American Staycation: How to Make a Vacation at Home Fun for the Whole Family (and Your Wallet!), Matt Wixon