Wednesday, May 30, 2012
Check Out the Classifieds on Pages 6 - 7 Thank you for picking up MyConnection. Look for your copy delivered free to your home from The Newnan Times-Herald each Wednesday. You’ll find entertainment and travel news, as well as upcoming events, easy-to-make recipes, and things that matter to you and your family.
CURB APPEAL FROM THE GROUND UP
Family Features
W
hen it’s time to sell your home, you want to do everything you can to make it enticing to potential buyers. One of the most important things you can do is boost your home’s curb appeal. In fact, the National Association of Realtors says that curb appeal sells 49 percent of all homes. To help you build curb appeal from the ground up, Jason Cameron, licensed contractor and TV host, have teamed up to give you some simple, doable tips to improve your lawn and landscape.
Water Right
inside
Improper watering can be a big drain on curb appeal. Check the working condition of sprinkler heads and water lines to make sure they’re working properly. To ensure your manual or automated watering system covers the landscape efficiently, set a one-inch deep empty food can in the middle of your lawn so you can measure the depth of water collected each watering cycle. In addition: n Don’t over water. Watering too much can result in shallow plant roots, weed growth, storm water runoff, and the possibility of disease and fungus development. Give your lawn a slow, steady watering about once a week. Adjust your watering schedule depending on rainfall, as well as your grass and soil type. Trees and shrubs need longer, less frequent watering than plants with shallower roots. n The best time to water is early morning, between 4 and 7 a.m. This helps reduce evaporation, since the sun is low, winds are usually calmer and temperatures cooler. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) says
Weekend Wonder Projects ➤
Jason Cameron, licensed contractor and TV host, says that color plays an important role in boosting your home’s curb appeal.
➤ SEe CURB APPEAL, PAGE 6
inside Georgia Peach Recipes ➤
PAGE 3
PAGE 6
Helping Seniors Drive Safer, Longer Family Features
S
ince January 2011, nearly 10,000 Americans turn 65 every day, joining the fastest growing age group in the nation. According to a recent survey of that booming population, nearly half of seniors worry about losing their freedom and mobility when the time comes for them to transition from driver to passenger. From understanding how vision changes can affect one’s ability to drive at night, to researching the effects certain medications can have on one’s driving ability, it’s important to get the facts about driving for seniors. Use these tips to help ensure you and your family members are driving safely:
Evaluate your driving.
Georgia Summer Ambrosia
Southern Servings Mouthwater recipes with Georgia-grown prodcue Family Features
I
f you think Southern cooking is all about deep-fried food, you’re missing out on some wonderful dining opportunities. Chef Rosemary Rutland has created three mouthwatering recipes that showcase Georgia-grown peaches, blueberries, watermelons, pecans and Vidalia onions. Whether you’re looking for a refreshing ambrosia, a delightful tilapia dish or a unique salad, these recipes give you a whole new way to think about Southern cuisine. Discover more recipes designed for Georgia grown produce at www.gfvga.org/georgia-grown/.
Georgia Summer Ambrosia
by Rosemary Rutland Yield: 8 servings; 1 cup per serving 2 ripe Georgia peaches, peeled, pit removed, cut into 1/2-inch slices 3 cups watermelon cubes, about 3/4-inch dice 1 1/4 cups fresh blueberries, rinsed 2 ripe mangos, peeled, seed removed, chopped into 1/2-inch dice 1 cup sweetened coconut (toasted if desired) 1/3 cup fresh-squeezed lime juice 1 1/2 tablespoons Grand Marnier or Triple Sec 4 teaspoons honey Pinch kosher salt 1 cup toasted pecans, roughly chopped In large bowl, combine peaches, watermelon, blueberries, mango and coconut. In small bowl, whisk together the lime juice, Grand Mariner, honey and salt. Pour lime mixture over fruit and toss to coat. Cover and refrigerate for no more than 30 minutes. Just before serving, mix in pecans.
While most seniors are experienced drivers, it’s important to take time to consider one’s driving “health” and habits. For instance, how frequently do you wear a seatbelt? Do you use your signal and check for nearby traffic before changing lanes? Does traffic cause you to feel anxious? When was the last time you had an eye exam? You can take a Driver 65 Plus self-assessment at www. SeniorDriving.AAA.com to get a clear picture of just how good your driving skills really are, and
inside Avoid Identity Thieves ➤
PAGE 4
you’ll also get suggestions for improving your driving.
Be aware of how aging affects driving habits. From hearing and vision loss, to mental fitness and reaction time, seniors may not notice the gradual differences that can impact their driving ability. For instance, by age 60, your eyes need three times the amount of light to see properly as they do for people 20 years old, which means it’s more difficult to see at night. Likewise, one-third of Americans suffer from hearing loss by age 65. This can pose a problem, as senior drivers may be unable to hear high-pitched noises such as emergency response vehicles while on the road. Reaction times can be slower for seniors as well. But preventative measures can go a long way. n When
following other vehicles, seniors should increase the distance between their car and the car in front of them, to allow more time to react to sudden braking.
n Eliminating
distractions in the vehicle and
➤ SEe DRIVE SAFER, PAGE 3