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Wednesday, August 13, 2014 Many people live an eco- friendly lifestyle in an effort to protect the planet and pre- serve it for generations to come. Simply taking small strides on an individual level can add up to measurable change collectively. Although individuals may forge ahead with envi- ronmentally conscious plans to reduce, reuse and recycle, they may not know that some changes could poten- tially prove harmful to their health. Recognizing these potential health hazards and how to avoid them can ben- efit both the planet and the people who want to protect it. Reusable bags Avoiding plastic shop- ping bags in favor of reusable cloth totes is a pop- ular eco-friendly trend. Many types of plastic are not biodegradable, and tote bags help keep millions of plastic bags from ending up in landfills. Reusable totes also tend to be stronger and more durable than flimsy plastic. But © without frequent washing, reusable totes can harbor harmful bacteria. Ac- cording to microbiologists at the University of Arizona in Tucson, almost all reusable bags tested in one of their studies had large numbers of fecal bacteria, which can come from toting fresh pro- duee and meat. Bacteria can increase exponentially if the bags are allowed to sit in warm cars or trunks. The solution is to wash reusable tote bags with hot water and detergent regu- larly to remove any bacterial residue. Choose cloth bags that will stand up to repeated washings. Water bottles Ditching disposable water bottles for reusable al- ternatives is an easy way to eliminate scores of plastic bottles from going in the trash. Such a switch also re- duces energy output to recy- cle old plastic and turn it into new bottles. But it's important that reusable bottles are cleaned thoroughly after each use. Bottles can hold on to germs, especially bottles with a spout or flip-up at- tached straw. Bacteria gets transferred from your hand every time you pull out the spout or straw, so select a water bottle that can be run through the dishwasher. The hot, steamy cycle will help sterilize the bottle after use and keep it clean and sani- tary. Composting Composting is a staple of green gardening. When done right, compost can add valu- able nutrients to the soil and reduce waste from foods and yard clippings. When done in an irresponsible way, composting may do more harm than good A potential downside to composting is that the pile of decomposing food and plant matter will attract pests. Smaller pests can at- tract larger predators. Cer- tain rodents can carry “harmful diseases and pass The Kings Mountain Herald | www.kmherald.com Eco-friendly lifestyle can Learn to tow cargo safely be bad for your health them on to people and pets through scratches or bites. Composting should be done in secured bins to keep pests away. Putting the wrong scraps into compost also can create problems. Meat and other animal products, with the exception of eggshells, and human and pet feces are dangerous. These items tend to have more protein in them and can foster dangerous pathogens as they decom- pose, leading to disease and possibly even death. Reusable cloths Everything from hand- kerchiefs to cleaning rags can be used to reduce re- liance on disposable items. But while such items cut down on waste, without fre- quent laundering, these items can breed and transfer germs. Routinely wash any reusable fabric cleaning or hygiene item in hot, soapy water to kill off pathogens. It's possible to get sick from eating off of dishes that were washed with a washcloth laden with bacteria. Soak washcloths in bleach and re- place dishrags and towels every day or two. Do not use hand towels or dish towels to wipe up spills around the kitchen. Designate cloths for clean- ing and personal use. Going green can help protect the planet, but men and women should ensure their attempts at going green are as beneficial to their own health as they are to that of the planet. : End-of-summer checklist After a few months of blue skies and warm tem- peratures, summer revelers will soon bid adieu to the sultry days of this beloved season. Summer is often a season filled with vacations and recreation, but as the warm days dwindle and work and school commit- ments begin anew, there is additional work to be done in preparation for the months ahead. * Stock up on pool equipment. Homeowners who have pools can take ad- vantage of end-of-season sales to purchase a few more gallons of pool chlo- rine or other pool equip- ment. Store them after you have winterized the pool, and you will be ahead of the game in terms of supplies for next year. * Plan your garden har- vest. If you have a backyard garden, pick your tomatoes and other vegetables before the weather starts to get chilly. Herbs can be washed and frozen in zipper-top baggies so they can be used when cooking over the next several months. Boil toma- toes for sauce and freeze or jar them. Begin to clear out residual stems and plant de- bris from the garden. * Clean patios and furni- ture. Scrub and hose down outdoor furniture, cushions and living areas. Clean and dry items before storing them for the winter, so everything is ready to go when the warm weather re- turns next year. * Purchase spring bulbs. Buy bulbs for spring- blooming flowers and map out where they will be planted for beautiful flow- ers next year. Wait until temperatures start to dip be- fore planting the bulbs, oth- erwise they may begin to produce shoots prema- turely, zapping the bulbs of energy. * Check the heating sys- tem. Although turning on the heat may be the last thing you're thinking about, it's a good idea to test it and, if necessary, have the sys- tem serviced prior to the ar- rival of cold weather: * Tend to the deck and other repairs. Make repairs to outdoor structures now, 3-Point Market Bojangles Carolina Crossings, Grover Circle P Dennis #3 Dollar General (3) Food Lion (2) Fred Kiser Restaurant Grandpa's Store Greg's Griffin Drug Ingles Kings Mountain Herald Kings Mountain Hospital Kings Mountain Post Office Kings Mountain Truck Stop Kings Store KM Pharmacy (ar MEN HERALD The Herald is sold at the following locations: Linwood Produce Love’s Fish Box Marathon Mountain Market Mountainview Restaurant Mountain Street Pharmacy My Little Store, Grover One Stop Parker's Service Station Quick Pick Rick’s Ole Country Store Shell Gas Station Shergill’s Exxon Silver Express Tobacco Barn Tom's Food Mart Waffle House Walgreens Woodbridge Store and they'll be more likely to survive the harsh weather that's just over the horizon. Apply stain or sealant to further protect wood struc- tures in advance of snow and ice. * Examine the roof and chimney. Winter is a poor, time to learn you have miss- ing roof shingles or a leak. Furthermore, ensure the chimney and venting to the outdoors is not obstructed by abandoned animal nests. * Check your closets. Go through clothing and re- move any items that are damaged or no longer fit, donating them if possible. Clean out kids' closets as well, as pants that fit per- fectly in May will not nec- essarily fit come September. * Stock the shed. Once the weather has cooled down, move outdoor flower pots, hoses and lawn orna- ments you no longer need into the shed or garage while ensuring items needed in fall and winter, such as rakes, snow shovels and snowblowers, are more accessible. 49¢ forum Letter fo the editor. The size and weight of a trailer barking on a trip. People from all over are preparing their vehicles for another season of road trips. In addition to packing the interior cargo areas full of equipment and luggage, many road-trippers also haul gear and recreational acces- sories with them. There's more to towing than hitching a trailer and hitting the open road. A number of factors come into play when towing cargo or another vehicle, including the towing capacity of the vehicle doing the hauling. The following are some safety tips for road trippers hitting the road with trailer in tow. Tow vehicles While many vehicles have towing capabilities, not all of those vehicles are nec- essarily right for the job. Re- view the towing capacities of various vehicles depend- ing on the type of trailer that will be towed. A larger, more powerful vehicle may be necessary if you will be towing something large and heavy, such as a boat or a recreational vehicle. You may need more horsepower to maintain a safe driving speed when towing espe- Page 9B cially heavy cargo. Equipment Different manufacturers offer towing packages equipped to work in concert with your vehicle. Towing packages may include cer- tain types of hitches, batter- ies, flasher systems, extended-view side mirrors, and even special axles and tires. In many areas, a trailer with a loaded weight of more than 1,500 pounds re- quires a separate braking system and a breakaway switch located on the tongue of the trailer that activates the trailer brakes in the event it separates from the tow ve- hicle. Having the right equipment can mean the dif- ference between safely tow- ing cargo and getting in an accident. Ability Having a lot of power and the right equipment is not enough to safely tow cargo. Recklessness on the road, which includes driving over the speed limit, is a recipe for an accident. It typ- ically takes time and some practice for drivers to grow accustomed to driving while towing cargo. Driving while and the cargo it's towing must be considered before em- towing cargo requires that drivers maneuver their vehi- cles differently than they would in more typical con- ditions, and that they drive at slower speeds while leav- ing room for a larger turning radius. In addition, drivers must accommodate for the extra weight when braking. Vehicle check Verifying that the trailer hitch is secure is not the only inspection drivers must con- duct before hitting the open road. The vehicle doing the towing should be serviced, and any repairs should be made. Check fluid levels, particularly the transmission fluid. In addition, make sure the water level in the battery is acceptable and have the motor oil changed if it is nearing its mileage limit. It's also a good idea to replace the air filter, examine the tires for adequate tread and test the brakes. When the trip begins, give your vehicle and the hitch a once-over to double- check that everything is in working order. This can be done during service station stops along the trip. ; Bond between grandparents i and grandkids benefits both What used to be the "golden years" of life for seniors is now turning into any opportunity to spend even more time with their youngest family members. Nowadays, a growing num- ber of grandparents are called on to provide child care for their grandkids, many of whom are growing up in two-income house- holds. Others are helping to raise grandkids while pro- viding financial assistance for adult children who may not be able to live on their own. This trend has been cor- roborated in a few recent studies. Information from the Pew Research Center showed 7.7 million children in the United States were living in the same household as one of their grandparents in 2011. A University of Do you have questions or concerns about what's happening in your community? Are there good things happening in your neighborhood? Let us know in a Letter to the Editor. We welcome your comments’! Send your Letters to The Editor at: The Kings Mountain Herald P.O. Box 769, Kings Mountain NC 28086 or e-mail us at: libkmherald@gmail.com *Letters to the Editor must be signed and include address and phone number. Letters are limited to 500 words or less and are subject to Editorial review. Thank you letters are required to be placed as paid personal notes. Chicago analysis of a decade of data based on in- terviews with 13,614 grand- parents, ages 50 and older, found that 61 percent of grandparents provided at least 50 hours of care for their grandchildren during any given year between 1998 and 2008. * Empathy: By sharing stories of how things were when they were younger, when opportunities may have been more scarce, grandparents can help teach grandchildren ~~ empathy. Grandchildren may learn to be grateful for the things they have and the people around them, rather than taking what they have for granted. * Family history: Grand- parents can tell grandchil- dren about family members, including youngsters' own parents, and shed light on the generations that came before them. * Interests: Children may be excited about learning new skills or hobbies taught to them by their grandpar- ents. Anything from garden- ing to woodworking can be shared. * Respect: Children who grow up respecting their grandparents may have an increased tendency to re- spect authority figures out- side their homes, which may help kids grow up to be more courteous and kind. Grandchildren also offer benefits to their grandpar- ents. Companionship, new experiences and conversa- tion can help keep grandpar- ents' minds sharp and bodies active well into their golden years. re DEADIINES... Display Ads - 12 p.n. - Friday NEWS ITEMS & SOCIAL NOTES ADVERTISING Classified - 2 p.n. Friday 12 p.m. Friday LETTERS to the EDITOR 12 p.m. Friday OBITUARIES 9 a.m. Tuesday
The Kings Mountain Herald (Kings Mountain, N.C.)
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