Master Naturalist Class
BYCINDARAMAY
      Every place in the world has a share of Nature's abundance and beauty. No locale is more blessed with Nature's largesse than the Mountains of North Georgia. People who admire this beauty and seek to better understand both the whole and the individual components of this beauty are called naturalist...
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Tips for Traveling During the Golden Years
      For many seniors, the golden years are a time to reward yourself after a life on the job or raising the kids at home. Many seniors follow their dream of travel in the retirement years. Whether it's seeing the grandkids across the country or an adventure across the globe, it is important to keep so...
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Five easy steps to water-efficient flower beds
By Robert N. Brewer, Jr. Extension Service Agent UGA
      Your colorful flower bed can use the barest minimum of water and still be the envy of the neighborhood. However, you'll have to upgrade the way you've been gardening a bit. Step 1. There is no downside to adding organic matter to native soils. Try tilling in 4 to 6 inches of it and leveling the ...
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"Pond Permits, Construction, and Maintenance"
      Have you ever dreamed of having your own recreation pond that is 1/3 acre or larger? Our local NRCS Conservationist and Habersham Extension Agent will discuss the permits needed, construction details and maintenance of a recreation pond. Doug Towery will explain what permits are required, how to a...
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Donna's Day: Creative Family Fun
Cool Photos for Dad on Father's Day
BYDONNAERICKSON
      Fun activities for the family can be either high tech, low tech or just plain no tech. But this is one I like to call medium tech. It's the perfect "techie dad" Father's Day gift he can't wait to show off. It's a framed photo of the kids, but instead of printing digital photos on standard photo pa...
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Dollars and Sense
Zombie Debts
BYDAVID UFFINGTON
      If the term "zombie debts" makes you think of debts that don't die, that come creeping eerily back into your life, you're right. The debt collection industry has accelerated a game it's played for a long time. It buys old debt and seeks to make money on it.
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Summer Safety Tips
Food Safety
      Many food borne illnesses can occur if food is not properly prepared or stored. Sometimes this is difficult to do if picnicking or camping. Keep meats, milk, and other foods that spoil packed in ice chests or refrigerated (if available). Do not allow food to sit outside uncovered for long periods ...
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This is a Hammer
High Electric Bill? Get an Energy Audit
BY SAMANTHAMAZZOTTA
      Q: I read with interest the article about the homeowner with high electric usage. He is using 300 kilowatt-hours more than his neighbor. But what about his total usage? A total energy audit of his home may provide some answers.
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Strange But True
BY SAMANTHAWEAVER
      . Have you ever seen a sesquipedalian? You certainly have -- in fact, there's one in this very paragraph. "Sesquipedalian" simply means "long word." . When you picture Elizabethan England, you probably don't conjure up a mental image of terribly hygienic people. In fact, it's reputed that the que...
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Tips for 4-H and Youth
By NORMA FLANAGAN 4-H Director
      Healthy `tween' habits - healthier adult weights Help girls develop healthy eating habits early to avoid problems later. American girls who are overweight in their "tween" years - between 9 and 12 years old - are 10 times more likely to grow into overweight adults, says a recent Journal of Pedia...
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Kick Off Summer with Recipes that Symbolize the Season
      (ARA) - Planning to entertain this summer? If so, you'll need some quick and easy recipes sure to wow the crowds? You can't go wrong by incorporating fruits of the season into your recipes, and you'd better act fast if you want to enjoy one of the most coveted delicacies of the year.
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Senior News Line
Living to Age 100
BYMATILDACHARLES
      Is there a secret to living to be 100 years old? Dr. Thomas Perls, coauthor of "Living to 100: Lessons in Living to Your Maximum Potential at Any Age," has been directing the ongoing New England Centenarian Study for more than a decade as he hunts for the reasons some people live so long.
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Kitchen problems- Solved
      Building your kitchen seemed like it would be fun and easy, until you discovered that inconvenient, load-bearing beam, or how enormous the room felt when you knocked down that wall. Now you'll have to spend a fortune on custom cabinets to deal with these pesky problems, right?
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