Akron Today Magazine

Akron Lifestyle and Entertainment

Staff Writer

Saving Tips For The American Family

Many companies try to entice the consumer into buying their particular brands over those of the competition regardless of the value or the quality of their products.  A pretty product that is packaged well and looks pretty may perform worse than the simple packaged one.  As a consumer, you may fall for the marketing and buy the pretty package over the better one, but hopefully, you will make the mistake only once.

Many Americans are struggling with mortgage payments, car payments, insurance payments etc, to worry about other things like comparing prices, weight or performance of the products they are buying, but being savvy about the products they are using should save a buck or two, and in the long run, make us better consumers.

What are some of the items we use daily that can save us some money?

Gas and Electricity: Comparing prices for gas and electricity can save hundreds of dollars every year for the average American family.  There are many companies one can choose for gas and electricity, and even if entering into a contract with a particular company, it will save you money.  Be choosy when signing a contract, and make sure the penalty for canceling it early is not too much.

Car Insurance: If you want to save in car insurance, you need to shop around.  If you have a good history of no accidents or other claims within your company and you do not get any discounts with them, you need to shop around with other companies.

Dishwashing Soaps: According to a Consumer Report test, all dishwashing soaps perform equally well and according to them you should really buy what’s on sale because all dishwashing soaps perform equally well.

I can personally tell you that I do not agree with their results.  I can tell you for example that for me Palmolive, does not perform better or equally well than Dawn.  And some generic brands that you find on the shelves at the grocery stores, pharmacies or Wal-Marts require almost double the amount that you would need for Dawn.

Very recently, I tried a brand called “simply done” a registered trademark of Topco Associates LLC.  By simply looking at the bottle, it reminds you of the generic brands you see at the store.  I expected the same results as well.  The truth is that you do not see a difference between “simply done” and Dawn.  Is there a difference?  There may be a difference between the dishwashing soaps, but the price does not warrant buying the most expensive brand.

Restaurants: Despite having issues with money, Americans are spending over $3,000 eating out according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The convenience of having food readily available without having to cook it is very enticing, but the convenience of having no dirty dishes or cooking chores come with a steep price. Eating out should not be abandoned by families but should be treated as a treat instead of a necessity.

Saving is very smart, try to practice the habit.

Flooring For Every Room In Your House

Many people make New  Year resolutions to begin the year with a bang.  Many of us do not stick to them, and some of us make resolutions that are bound to fail from day one. If you made a resolution this year to spruce your home and declutter, that’s a resolution that makes sense and that you might be able to accomplish.  If you are replacing the flooring of a room in your house and don’t know where to begin, read ahead.

Depending on the room in your home, flooring can be an easy decision to make but also it can present itself with questions about what it’s best for your family.   

Kitchen and bathrooms: These wet areas require flooring that is sturdy, and won’t be damaged by water spills.  Some flooring can become slippery when wet and can be very dangerous for your family.  The best flooring for these type of rooms are:

  1. Vinyl
  2. Laminate
  3. Tile

Keep in mind that there is some specific laminate flooring you can use in these rooms.  Normal laminate flooring can become very slippery and warps rather easily with small amounts of water on it.  You need to find the laminate flooring that can withstand water or other types of liquid spills without damaging it.

Living Room, Dining Room, and First Floor Rooms: These high traffic area rooms need a more sturdy, high-quality flooring that will not only be durable for your home but can make your home look beautiful as well. These are some of the types of flooring that are most commonly used for these rooms in your home:

  1. Hardwood
  2. Bamboo
  3. Laminate
  4. Vinyl
  5. Carpet

For many environmentally conscious homeowners, hardwood does not seem like a very likable option.  Many of these homeowners have chosen to opt for the more environmentally friendly bamboo flooring. If you are thinking about vinyl flooring for some of these rooms – especially for dining rooms, kitchens, bathrooms and the main entrance of the home- vinyl has come a long way from the one sheet vinyl flooring our parents and grandparents grew up with.  The look of vinyl is not what it used to be, so choosing it over other types of flooring is not outdated.

Carpet for the bedrooms of the home has been the main choice for many homeowners though out the years, but if you have children with allergies or other respiratory problems, laminate or bamboo flooring can be a very nice second option for you.

There are many pros and cons you have to consider with every choice of flooring there is. Price, durability, ease of installation, look.  But, remember, buy what you love for your home.

Your Kid Gets Caught Shoplifting. What Do You Do?

As a loss prevention and law enforcement professional with over 40 years of experience, I have a few thoughts on this subject. Before reacting one way or another, you need to ask yourself what you want to achieve. Do you want your child to learn and grow from a life lesson or are you more interested in going on the attack to try to get them or you out of trouble?

I have seen parents react in many different ways. Normally, being aggressive towards the Retailer and/or the Police is not the best route to take. Threatening or being aggressive or argumentative will probably be met with criminal and civil actions against both you and your child. Because the message you send to everyone is that you are more concerned about yourself than the welfare and growth of your child.

I would not start by assuming that your little darling didn’t do it. Ask to see the evidence. Be reasonable and listen.

Let’s assume that your child was actually shoplifting. If your child shoplifted and your approach is to tell your child it will be alright, then you are essentially saying to your child that they can do what they want legal or illegal and there are no consequences. You are also diminishing your character to your child, the Retailer and the Authorities.

Very early in my career I saw a young teenage girl brought in to the Police station in custody for shoplifting. The girl was placed in a juvenile holding cell. I was stationed outside the cell with the key to keep an eye on her as she was crying hysterically.  About forty-five minutes later her parents arrived. They were well dressed and calm. It became very clear to me that they were very concerned and loved their daughter very much.

I listened as they expressed dismay at their daughter’s actions. In talking to the Police Lieutenant they said that they were shocked by her behavior and did not understand because this is not how she was raised. The Lieutenant listened patiently and told them that children make mistakes and that he had seen this on many occasions.  The parents did not talk about themselves but about what was best for their daughter. The Lieutenant started working with the parents as a unified team for what was best for her.

The father approached me and asked me to unlock the cell door. The Lieutenant nodded approval and I unlocked the door. The daughter, who did not even know that her parents were there yet, was relieved and tried to exit the cell. Mom and Dad blocked her way and said something I will never forget. “Sweetheart, you have gotten yourself in serious trouble and we do not think we can get you out of this”. With that Dad closed and locked the cell door. He handed me the key. He turned to the Lieutenant and said “we will be back in a few hours after we get some lunch”. They then left.

I stayed outside the cell for those few hours and listened to pretty much non-stop crying until they returned and took her home. I have nothing but the utmost respect for them and the Lieutenant. I suspect that the young lady learned a valuable life lesson that stuck with her. It certainly was one for me as a 17 year old Police Explorer Scout. It became very clear to me at that point how much my parents loved me and that they were concerned for my growth because I had experienced several lessons like that from my Mother and Father. I am now sixty years old and still see the wisdom they had by teaching me those lessons. I am also thankful they used tough love because it has helped to make me who I am today.

So when it happens to your child what will you do?

By the way, the charges against the young lady were dropped. The parents and police felt she had learned her lesson better than any court could do.

This article is written by Bill Bregar,  Bill helps retail stores prevent shoplifting and all kinds of businesses do pre-employment background checks to make sure they hire the best people they can and avoid employee theft issues in the future.  Bill is author of “Protect Your Store: The Shoplifting Prevention Guide for Small to Medium Retailers” which is available on Amazon.com and is a must read for retail store managers and owners.  Have a question for Bill?  Call him at 1-866-914-2567.

Basement Waterproofing Your Akron Home

The basement of our homes has become another extension of livable space for our families for many years now.  It has become a very functional entertaining space for children and adults alike.  It is no longer relegated to store unwanted furniture and boxes full of toys that are no longer needed, but instead, it has become a very enjoyable space for the entire family.

If you want to finish the basement of your home, waterproofing it before you start can be a very wise decision on your part.  Water seepage or leaking pipes can become a big problem if you leave them unattended and can eventually jeopardize the structure of your home.

For many families, waterproofing the basement of their home is a very expensive home maintenance upkeep to make, but can be devastating if you ignore the problems that can arise if you have an older home and ignore obvious water sign problems.

What are some of the easy signs that you can spot that can mean you need to waterproof your basement?

Water seepage can occur through the walls, the seams and up through the floor.  Digging around the foundation may not fix your problem if the water is seeping up the floor, the build up you are seen may be groundwater and digging outside the foundation won’t solve your problems. If this happening, you need to call a professional to come evaluate the problem and offer a solution for you.

  • Smelly musty odor
  • Water pooling on the floor – The humidity in the basement of your home may give it the musty odor you are experiencing and it may be caused by water seeping through the walls.
  • Mold or mildew –Condensation and the dust or other debris mixed can be the beginning of mildew in the basement.
  • Dampness –The dampness in the basement is a clear sign water is seeping into your home
  • Paint bubbling, walls bowing in, and cracked walls are all concerning signs that you have water problems in the basement and should be addressed quickly.

Choosing a basement waterproofing company to work in your home is too important to leave it to chance.  Research the companies in Northeast Ohio with a long history in the community and that time and again offer great workmanship along with great customer service.

 

Winter Health Foods and Drinks You Must Have

The cold weather has taken its time lately, but it seems that is finally here to stay. Flu epidemics affect the United States every year, and every year local health agencies encourage people to not only wash their hands regularly but to eat a healthy balanced diet to help us deal with these epidemics.  There are many healthy foods and drinks that can help us stay healthy and fight the dreaded flu, and some of these foods and drinks are even enjoyable for many of us.

These are the top 5 healthy foods to incorporate into your diet:

Teas

With the cold weather comes the craving of warm beverages that can make your day a bit more pleasant and enjoyable.  But before you go out and get yourself a warm drink at your local coffee shop, think of the calorie intake and inches you will acquire after you have finished the drink.  A Mocha Frappuccino at your local Starbucks contains 500 calories, 140 mg of caffeine and 79 g of sugar in one 20 0z drink. Not something you should do regularly, and especially not a drink you want to jump-start your day.

But, there have been many studies that look into the health benefits of tea, and while some of those studies are speculative, there is strong evidence to suggest that tea does have the ability to reduced the risk of coronary heart disease in people.

Black, green, white and Oolong teas are at the top of the list for the super healthy drinks for us. These teas contain disease-fighting antioxidants that can help you reduce the risk of heart diseases. A black tea-Earl Grey – contains only 30-60 mg of caffeine, green teas — 25-50 mg, and herbal teas-0 mg. If you drink teas without sugar, the calorie intake is minimal.

Dark Chocolate

Another enjoyable food or treat for us is dark chocolate. We are not talking about the white and milky chocolate variety, but the dark chocolate. That is the one that is found to have some of the same antioxidants found in tea, red wine, fruits, and vegetables. The health benefits are better blood flow in older adults and could help you reduce high blood pressure levels as well.

Avocados

Avocados are another healthy food that is great to eat and brings you many health benefits.  Yes, they are fatty and have about 3.1 g of saturated fat and 230 calories, but the health benefits associated with this fruit are too many to ignore, and the fats they contain are healthy fats that help you lower your “bad” cholesterol.

Cold Water Fish

Fish is one of those foods that you know from an early age is good for you.  You may not like fish, but the health benefits associated with cold water fish can range from reducing the risk of blood clots and heart attacks to lowering your cholesterol. The best cold water fish you can have are salmon, trout, herring, tuna, sardines, and mackerel. They contained an abundance of omega-3 acids that can help you fight many diseases. So, even if you don’t particularly like fish, you should try to incorporate them slowly into your diet.

Beans

There are many varieties and dishes you can have with beans.  And like fish, there are many people that do not like beans or don’t know how to cook them.  Beans are an excellent source of fiber, can help you with your digestion, lower your cholesterol levels, plus helps you reduce the risk of heart attacks. Incorporating these foods slowly into your diet can help you live a long and full life.

Do You Have What It Takes To Volunteer This Year?

For a high schooler thinking about going to college, the process of applying to colleges, visiting those colleges, getting the last SAT or ACT test under their belt, and writing those essays to send to prospective colleges can be daunting, especially if this is the first time for them and their parents. 

To attend some colleges and/or universities, the SAT or ACT scores matter.  School grades do matter as well.  The scores they get reflect whether they are capable students, able to meet deadlines and able to work with other peers.  The extracurricular activities show the college admissions office who they are and what they are interested in pursuing.  That’s why it is so important to choose extracurricular activities that really speak to them.

If you are thinking about signing your freshmen son or daughter in every extracurricular activity you can think of, think again.  An undergraduate admissions officer at Yale University, warns parents that your son and daughter should do the extracurricular activities they enjoy, NOT what they think looks good on paper.

Five factors to consider when signing up for an extracurricular activity at their school or in their community:

  1. Do an extracurricular activity they enjoy
  2. Do NOT choose an activity because everyone else is doing it
  3. Do an activity that they can be good at or have a talent to do
  4. Do NOT try to outguessed the college admissions office  to see what activities they are looking for
  5. Sign for an activity that will teach them about the person they are, or at least try to find out what it is they are good at

If your son or daughter enjoys volunteering, this Christmas season is a great time to start.  Volunteering at your church, at a homeless shelter, or volunteering for the Red Cross is a great first step.

Volunteering at their local animal shelter can bring them many enjoyable surprises.  Working with animals can teach them responsibility, and hopefully a work ethic they may not get anywhere else.

How can you get started?  Depending on what kind of activities you prefer, the school bulletin board or announcements board at your school can be a great start. Check your local Girl or Boy Scouts of America, your local community theatre, animal shelter, Red Cross or YMCA.

Some local libraries can use the help of young volunteers for after-school reading programs to help small kids, check with them and find out if they are in need of more volunteers. 

How about volunteering in retirement homes? There are many senior citizens that enjoy having a young person help them with their electronics or just enjoy a conversation. Talk about the latest book you read or what you did at school.  Conversation is sometimes all they need to have a good day.

Need any more ideas?  Why don’t you check this link to find out whether you want to do some volunteering this year? I hope you think about it and decide you do have the time and willingness to do something.

Is Your Car Well Protected by Insurance?

Everyone in Ohio is required by law to have insurance coverage, but not everyone has, or if they have insurance they may not have enough.

If you have a pretty decent insurance company, you and your car are protected if you are ever in an automobile accident, regardless whose fault it is.

But do you know what you have? And do you know if you have sufficient coverage? Have you checked the insurance coverage policy lately?  Most people that have insurance coverage rarely look into it if they don’t have to. We shop around for the company to insure us and after that, rarely bother to check if that insurance company is still offering the best deal.

What are insurance companies offering us? It depends of course on your car coverage.  Do you have a brand new car or a car that is a few years old?

Car Insurance companies can give you many discounts depending on what car you drive, the age of drivers and whether you have children with good grades. Some of the discounts may even surprise you. Here is a list:

  1. Number of cars you are insuring with them
  2. Whether you belong to a partnership organization-There are many that you probably already belong to and can get you a discount when insuring your car
  3. Good student — a 3.0 student can give you a discount that if not substantial, it helps with the total ticket
  4. Driving Experience-It matters whether you have been driving for a year or a decade, so make sure you include that information
  5. Anti-Theft devices and Anti-lock brakes can give you a discount when insuring your car, plus they keep you and your car safe.

If you already have an insurance company, why not check to see if it still relevant? Have anything change in the last six months?  Checking offers and quotes from different companies is good for your wallet. There are many companies that do not include medical payments in your policy or even roadside assistant even when you think those are automatic items in your policy.

A few minutes of your time and doing a bit of due diligence can save you money and headaches down the road.

Nelson-Kennedy Ledges State Park

Nelson Ledges is a state park located in Garrettsville, OH in Portage County. A state park with 167 acres to explore, this place is surely one of the more picturesque and exciting parks to visit. Nelson Ledges is not a big park, and although you can explore different trails depending on your physical fitness, the park is beautiful because of the caves, the waterfalls, and the uniqueness of the place.

These are the four different trails you can take that will take you to different parts of the park. 

• White Trail – 1 Mile – Easy

• Yellow Trail – 3/4 Mile – Moderate

• Blue Trail – 3/4 Mile – Moderate

• Red Trail – 1/2 Mile – Difficult

The terrain in many areas of the park requires you to be careful and to wear appropriate shoes if you want to truly explore the park. Playing around is not advisable, and if you want to take your small children to explore, make sure they are always supervised by an adult.

September in the park is a combination of the end of summer and the beginning of fall. The color of the changing foliage is beautiful, and although this time of year is a bit dry for the falls to show its beauty, it is still a worthwhile trip for you to make.

Parking is plentiful and there is a bathroom you can use before you start your hike. The bathroom is a state park bathroom and far from nice.  If you have children with you, they may not want to use it at all. 

The state park is free, but if you want to have access to the quarry, there is a small fee to pay.  The entrance to the quarry is through a campground, and that’s where you pay your entrance fee.

Nelson-Kennedy Ledges State Park
Address: 12440 OH-282,
Garrettsville, OH 44231
Phone: (440) 564-2279

Have fun and explore this beautiful state park during this time of year.

Healthy Living 101: Five Tips On Eating and Living Well When You’re Above 50

It’s no secret that as we grow old, our bodies turn weaker and more susceptible to diseases. For this reason, it makes sense to watch out what you eat since your body cannot handle the diet you have been used to all your life. Knowing what you eat and eating well at this stage (or at any stage in your life for that matter) will not only help you gain a healthier body but will help you avoid chronic diseases that threaten your health as you age. In this article, I will share with you some tips in order to help you determine which foods to avoid and which ones you need to consume more to promote better health. Hopefully, even those who are still in their late 20s, 30s or 40s can still pick up a tip or two that will help them get used to the idea of eating well and healthy in preparation for those more advanced years.

Disclaimer: These are tips I have gathered from research and well-meaning friends over the years. I don’t claim these to be my own and these are shared with the readers of this post with the intention of helping and getting the word out there so that more people will gain useful knowledge on this subject.  

    1. Eat plenty of veggies and fruits. This is rather general and something that we have been hearing from our parents practically all of our lives. However, no matter how much we hear it, we know that we still don’t follow this advice enough. People who are older need more of the nutrients and vitamins that they can get from fruits and veggies, so this would be the time to stock up on them. Choose greens and whole fruits because they need as much fiber and antioxidants as they can get. The ideal serving size for veggies should be around 2 cups each day.
    2. Drink plenty of water. This is another no-brainer in this case. Doctors have found that as a person grows old, their sense of thirst weakens or diminishes, making them prone to dehydration. For this reason, it is important to drink plenty of water, especially for those who have gone through a recent illness. Since old people need to eat more fiber, drinking water will also help the fiber move easily through their intestines and will help cleanse it from impurities accumulated through years of unhealthy eating.
    3. Go for less salt. Our body needs sodium, but too much of it is not good. Some older people tend to find their food tasteless, but putting more salt in their food is not the solution. You have to take note that aside from the salt you put in your food, most processed products have already been salted in the first place. People who are more than 50 years old just require 2/3 of a teaspoon of salt on a daily basis and that should already include the salt content of processed food. Instead of adding salt, you should try to use herbs and spices to add flavor and taste to your dishes.
    4. Supplement it. As much as I’m all for getting all the nutrients and minerals that we need exclusively from fruits and vegetables, it is not always the case. In such cases, supplements can aid your body make up for the nutrients it needs. Some of these supplements include calcium for stronger bones, Vitamin B12 to keep nerves and blood cells in good condition as well as Vitamin D for overall health. The elderly may need more supplements based on their needs as well as how active they have to be on a daily basis.
    5. Portion control. While this may sound like an advice for those who are trying to lose weight, this also holds true for older people. It’s easy to eat a lot when you’re still young and active since your body burns calories faster then. However, a good number of older people find that they can no longer have the active lifestyle that they used to have and their body is not as stronger as it used to be. In such cases, portion control is key. Ideally, how much you eat should depend on how active you are and if you keep stocking up on calories without burning them, you could put your health at risk. 

    Growing older can bring forth a lot of changes to an individual and the changes are not always pleasant. While it’s inevitable that an older person’s body becomes weaker with age, the rate in which this happens can be slowed down through proper diet, exercise, and overall healthy living. For those who have noticed these symptoms happening already, it’s not too late to try and make an effort to take care of your health. At the end of the day, it always pays off to eat and live well no matter what age you’re in.

How to help your kids with Math

Do you have children that are struggling with math at school?  Don’t worry, you are not alone. In a recent study done by the Program for International Student Assessment (PISA) which measures reading, science, and math ability between 15-year-olds from 71 developed and developing countries, children in the United States ranked 38th in math and 24th in science.

Among its peers, the United States spends more on education than those at the top, and the results are clearly nothing to brag about. Our children are falling behind. But there are new education initiatives, such as the Education NFT movement, that are going to help once they get going.

But what do you do today? Clearly, we need to do something about it.  Where to start though?  Most schools in this country are not doing a good job teaching science, math, or technology- the results speak for themselves- as parents, we have left the teaching of these important subjects to the schools for too long without expecting accountability.  Our children are failing math and passing to the next grade without mastering the basics of algebra, trigonometry, or calculus. By the time college looms near, math is a subject most teens in this country dread. They are getting accepted into college and put into remedial math they should have learned during junior and high school.

If you google “math help” on your computer, you will get about 251,000,000 results in less than a second. Will that help? Doubtful.  You can spend days going through all the sites to see which ones offer math for free, which ones are worth paying for, or which ones will give you good math advice.

If your child goes to school, does he/she have a math book?  Do you understand where they are in the book, or what they are learning? Would you like to do some math with your child during breaks, or the weekend?

If your child is falling behind in math, and you want to help them, start small. You can start by spending 10 to 15 minutes a day explaining a topic and asking them to solve some problems.  If you don’t know where to start, test them to see where the starting point is for them. Here is a link that will provide you with a very simple assessment of where your child should start. The information is all there, you just need to print it.

Pupil in elementary geography class

Before I continue, I need to tell you I am not getting paid for promoting this site, nor am I required to promote it.  This is a personal preference. My family has used Saxon Math for many years, and although is a bit intense because of the amount of work we need to do, the results are worth it.

After you have administered this test, you will have the results and the option to start at that point.  For Saxon math, the beginning of the books are always very easy because they are reviewing the material from the previous grade, but as you progress, the difficulty becomes much more challenging.

Online math sites are good if you want to go that way.  But be choosy, remember that there are millions of sites with math help. Choose a site that will give your child extensive and numerous exercises till he or she masters the topic, and make sure that at the beginning of your journey, you choose a free site before committing yourself to a site that locks you into a long term commitment.  If you want to make sure he/she knows the topic, come back later on and test her again with some problems to see if you need to review that topic. You must remember that your child needs to master a topic, before continuing into another.  We are not at school.

Good luck and have fun with math!