| Donna Maurillo, Food for Thought: Sweet and red in the rain for ...
You should have seen my house last week. This year's Valentine party was being held at my place, and because all of us had to work weekdays, we decorated six days ahead. Imagine my ceilings covered with red, pink and white balloons. Imagine red crepe paper streamers and bows, hung corner to corner across the rooms. Picture red and white mini-lights strung around the windows and doorways. Toss in a few red lace hearts, vinyl cupids and big red letters pasted on the mirrors, and you'll get the idea of what I had to live with. The night of the party, Francie Cherman came to install pink bulbs into every light fixture. It looked like — well — a house of ill repute. And then the rain poured down and the power went out, thanks to a downed tree. So we lit candles. And more candles.
Arundel teen's achievements belie tag of 'average person'
Every morning, Arundel High School senior Kelly Kidwell wakes up at precisely 5:55 a.m. No kidding. "It's a nice number," the Crofton resident said. "I can sleep in a little because I drive to school."
Kelly, 18, is the oldest of three kids. Her 16-year-old brother Joe is a freshman at Arundel, and Steve, 14, attends Crofton Middle. Their father, Brad, a Coast Guard retiree, works for Homeland Security. Their mother, Michelle, is a substitute at Crofton Middle. Mrs. Kidwell keeps the family on track with a weekly Microsoft printout posted on the fridge that logs everyone's activities.
While Mr. Kidwell was in the Coast Guard, the family moved from Florida, where Kelly was born, to Chicago, to Indiana, to Cape May in New Jersey and to this area twice.
Despite all the packing and unpacking over the years, Kelly has remained a pretty stable teen.
Siouxlanders prepare for storm
Driving conditions look to become hazardous this weekend as a winter storm with snowfall accumulations between 4 and 7 inches is expected to move through the area.A winter storm warning in Siouxland is in effect until 6 p.m. Sunday. Freezing rain is predicted to turn into snow this afternoon, with winds gusts between 20 and 30 miles per hour."It's going to be kind of messy," said Richard Ryrholm, meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Sioux Falls.There will be around 2 inches of snow on Sunday as well, Ryrholm said. Wind gusts the are expected to be between 15 and 30 miles per hour.Siouxlanders should expect significant amounts of snow, sleet and ice, Ryrholm said.It won't be too cold out, though, Ryrholm said, with the high today in the 30s and a low in the 20s.The South Dakota Department of Public Safety is recommending travelers keep an eye on the weather, particularly those heading to the state's high school wrestling tournament.Up to 10 inches of snow and 15 to 30 mile-an-hour winds are expected in the central and eastern portions of South Dakota.
Disaster preparedness is a lot more than safe refuge
Natural disasters cause loss of life, disruption in economic activities, especially for low-income groups and severe environmental damage. The severity and occurrences of natural disasters are increasing everywhere. The Fiji Islands are vulnerable to natural disasters such as tropical cyclones, flooding, landslides, storm surge, tsunami, earthquake, drought and sea level rise. The main volcanic islands have numerous streams and rivers that become deadly during heavy rainfall. The low coastal fringe is vulnerable to storm surge and tsunami. Outer islands are devastated as they are of low elevation and surrounded by open sea that gives tropical cyclones, storm surges and tsunamis more dance floor space'. In the short term, preparedness is very important in the event of disasters.
Be safe when dealing with a power failure
— Only use battery-powered light, like a flashlight, for emergency lighting. Due to the extreme risk of fire, do not use candles during a power outage.— Turn off electrical equipment you were using when the power went out.— To keep perishable food cold, avoid opening the refrigerator and freezer.— Do not run a generator inside a confined space, like a home or garage, due to the extreme danger of carbon monoxide poisoning.— If you use a generator, connect the equipment you want to power directly to the outlets on the generator. Do not connect a generator to a home's electrical system unless you have an approved power transfer switch installed.— Listen to local radio for updated information.— If possible, check on neighbors who are elderly or may need assistance.Before a blackout happens— Obtain or assemble essential supplies in a central location.
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