Story Time in Nevada

Story time is great way to spend time with your kids! There are a lot of programs that you can attend for all ages! There are movement, songs, rhymes, finger plays, board books and puppets! Please check the library nearest you for more details! Have fun!

In Clark County:

http://www.lvccld.org/events/youth_storytimes_programs.cfm

In Washoe County:

http://www.washoecounty.us/library/kids_events.html

In Pahrump:

http://www.pahrumplibrary.com/

If your library is not listed please check on the link below:

http://www.publiclibraries.com/nevada.htm

Sparks and Reno Kids Rewarded for Good Grades

School's back in session and Wild Island Family Adventure Park is encouraging Sparks and Reno students to get good grades and attendance by rewarding them with FREE game tokens and passes at Wild Island Golf and Raceway.

So work hard during the school year and at the end of each grading period, just bring a current report card in to take advantage of these great offers!

Here's how the report card breakdown works:

Every "A" or "O" = two FREE game tokens

Every "B" or "S" = one FREE game token

No absences AND no tardies = one race pass and one golf pass

Fine print: Report card must be from current grading period. Report card may only be used for free game tokens one time per grading period. Maximum of 16 game tokens per grading period. Not redeemable for cash. Applies to academic grades only.

Fun, Family Activity for the Weekend

Now that the kids are heading back to school, weekends might be the only time for fun activities. Our 9 year old is already asking what we're doing this weekend, so I started looking into reasonably priced activities that we can do near by.

The community pools are still open but with the heat still pretty intense, I can only last about 2 hours outdoors. So, what better way to cool off from a hot day then to spend time indoors at a highly air conditioned hotel/casino?

I found this evening bowling idea at the Red Rock Casino. (You can look for some good deals at the lanes near your area if you're not on this side of town.)

Add Some Kick to Your Weekend!
Come try Cosmic Bowling at Red Rock Lanes, Las Vegas’ most luxurious lanes. We turn down the lights and fire up the Cosmic show. There are dancing lights, fog machines, hot new music, glow-in-the-dark bowling lanes, pins and bowling balls - it’s light years beyond ordinary.

Fridays 6pm - 2am $4.50
Saturdays 6pm - 2am $4.50

Bring your friends and family and enjoy Cosmic Bowling at the largest luxury bowling center in Las Vegas.

It’s for the Birds

Here’s a nice activity to do with the kids on one of these unexpectedly cool mornings, plus it's free. Visit the Henderson Bird Preserve. It’s home to thousands of migratory waterfowl as well as numerous resident desert birds. There are nine ponds available for birding, surrounded by both paved and soft surfaces. The Bird Preserve is part of a natural ecosystem and feeding the birds may create an imbalance by attracting too many birds. Feeding the birds and wildlife may also cause them to associate food with people and become more aggressive towards visitors.

Summer is very hot, but you can still see lots birds here, including nesting American avocets, black-necked stilts and plenty of native waterfowl such as mallards and ruddy ducks. Of course, resident desert birds such as verdin, Abert's towhee, crissal thrasher and roadrunners make our facility their home year round.

When you visit, expect to do a lot of walking and allow yourself adequate time to visit the area. The paved path is approximately 3/4 of a mile long and is accessible by wheelchair. The soft surfaces are mostly level and allow for easy walking. We also recommend that you wear appropriate clothing and comfortable, sturdy shoes. Bring water, a hat, and wear sunscreen. If you do not have binoculars, the Preserve has some available for loan.

The Preserve is located at 2400 B Moser Drive, near the intersection of Sunset Road and Boulder Highway (look for signs in the medians). It is located within the Water Treatment Facility and sits on approximately 140 acres.

Hours of Operation

March, April, May 6:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m.
June, July, Aug. 6:00 a.m.-noon
Sept., Oct., Nov. 6:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m.
Dec., Jan., Feb. 7:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m.

Cheap Way to Get Rid of Cockroaches

I've recently moved and found that the place comes with a variety of "tenants" that I am not interested in living with. Thankfully their numbers are limited and they do live mostly outside...but it makes getting in the front door at night a little tricky.

So if you share my dislike of the cockroach population and are looking for a pet-friendly, kid-friendly, wallet-friendly way to get rid of them, the coffee grounds in a jar trap may be right for you. There are many different versions of this trap that have been around for years...but since I'm just learning about it myself, I thought I'd share.

Here's what you'll need for this version: used coffee grounds, a larger glass jar, double-sided sticky tape and a little water.

First you'll fill the jar about a quarter way up with the used coffee grounds, add water to about the halfway point, wrap the sticky tape around two or three sections up the jar (depending on the size of the jar) and then leave it outside where you've seen the offending critters.

The cockroaches are then attracted to the moisture and scent of the coffee grounds, climb up the glass jar with the assistance of the rows of sticky tape and take a final dive into the jar.

Voila! You’ll reduce the roach population for a minimal cost without using chemicals that may be harmful to your children or pet(s).

Breaking News

Nevada Federal Credit Union President is featured on Fox 5 tonight at 10. Tune in for expert information on the new credit card price hikes that were recently put into effect.

Free Summer Concert

If you're looking for a fun, free activity, you still have 2 weekends left to check out the Outdoor Free Concert Series at JC Wooloughan's Irish Pub at the JW Marriott, 221 N. Rampart Blvd.

Vegas U2, Wild Celts, Swagger, renowned cover band Joshua Tree and others perform Friday and Saturday nights in The Backyard outdoor arena. Time: 8 p.m.
Call 869-7725 for more information.

If you want to make it a full night out with dinner and music, head to the restaurant/bar area before the concert for some great menu choices. Their fish and chips is one of the most popular items on the menu.

Job hunters, how's your credit?

I was reading an article on msn.com recently that made me realize how credit can impact more than just your interest rates. Some employers want to examine your credit history before offering you a position or a promotion. Imperfections could cost you the job you want. When the Society for Human Resource Management polled its members in 2006, 43% of their companies ran credit checks on some or all potential hires.

Many companies use credit histories as a way to weed through job candidates. The people most likely to have their credit reviewed are those who will deal with cash or valuables, or who are financial executives. The rationale is that people with big debts or other credit problems may be more likely to steal or commit fraud. Even if a job doesn't involve money, some employers are convinced that people who manage their credit well are better workers than those who don't.

However, companies typically are far more interested in other kinds of background checks, including identity verification and criminal histories. Employers are more likely to use credit reports as a way to verify employment history and Social Security numbers. Job applicants are much more likely to lose jobs because they have a recent criminal history or they lied on an application about their identity, experience or education.

Really, a couple of late payments aren't going to kill your job prospects. Employers who care about credit histories typically look for serious negative marks, such as collection actions, repossessions, foreclosures and evictions. Some are wary of people carrying enormous debts or otherwise indicating they're living well beyond their means. That's why, if you are asked to sign a paper allowing a potential employer to check your credit, take the opportunity to explain the circumstances to the potential employer, especially if the problems have been resolved, were the result of a mishap beyond your control or could be fixed simply by being employed again. A well-intentioned employer is looking for signs of irresponsibility; they're not looking at credit histories as a way to screen out people who have been the victims of unfortunate circumstances.

Back-to-School Member Discounts and Offers

If you are hearing "Cha-Ching" when you think "Back-to-School" there is some relief in sight.

Nevada Federal members can take advantage of multiple discounts for computers, electronics, cell phone packages and more. (Read on for specific details.)

Computers, Electronics and Accessories
Nevada Federal members save an additional 7% on top of generally advertised Dell Home and Home Office promotions. This discount program includes laptops, desktops, printers and ink, electronics, software, accessories and monitors.

Cell Phones and Service Plans

Parents stay connected, students get connected...for less through our Sprint discount program. Members save 10% off their Sprint bill, receive discounts on select phones and the activation fee is waived for new customers.

ADDITIONAL OFFERS AND OPPORTUNITIES...

August Back-to-School NFCU Facebook Offer

Become a fan of our Facebook page online and during the month of August you will receive a weekly "update" that offers you an extra $25 to send your child Back-to-School with a safe and secure Nevada Federal Prepaid Visa Debit Card.

For more details, join our fan club online at http://www.facebook.com/pages/Las-Vegas-NV/Nevada-Federal-Credit-Union/35488706386?v=box_3&viewas=0

LV Fire & Rescue Summer Safety Tips

I recently attended a fire safety class given at work and was shocked with my ignorance about how easy it is to start a fire if you're not careful.

Considering the extreme heat in the Las Vegas Valley, chances of a fire in homes and businesses actually increase during the summer months. One important tip that I left with was to change the battery on my smoke detector at least once a year as smoke inhalation will cause death well before fire burns.

The class thoroughly explained fire evacuation tips as well as general fire prevention. I highly recommend trying to schedule this type of course. You can contact the number I have provided at the bottom of the blog to find out more about this class.

Here are just a few of the many examples of past fires and ways to prevent them in your house or business:

Refrigerators/Freezers: I am guilty of keeping a second refrigerator in my garage and never realized the risk involved. To keep a unit in a hot area cool, the compressor has to work extra hard. So, considering the heat in your garage and 100 degree temperatures, the compressor works almost constantly. When the compressor is working, it gets extremely hot and can cause a fire. While it's best to keep refrigerators in cooler conditions, one thing to also keep in mind is that even trash left behind refrigerators that are on wood floors or carpets can cause fires.

Extension cords cause fires if used with appliances. They should not be used with refrigerators/freezers or air conditioning units. If they are running constantly and the extension cord is not designed to carry the required electric load, the cord will heat up quickly and cause a fire.

Maintain air conditions/fans: all equipment regardless of what it is needs to be maintained from time to time. Check units for frayed wires and keep them clean. Fans accumulate dust and dirt around the motor which has caused many fires. Vacuum the fan from time to time to keep the motor clean. Air conditioner units should be maintained by a qualified A/C technician at lease once every two years to make sure it is working efficiently and safely.

Use caution with chemicals: If they are left exposed to direct sunlight in this extreme heat, it can cause a fire. Paints, fuels and the like can cause explosions in some cases. One house on the north side of the city was completely destroyed because the occupant was painting (art) on their patio and left a small can of paint thinner exposed to the sun in extreme heat. Within minutes the thinner ignited, started the back of the house on fire and spread quickly into the attic without several occupants inside aware of the fire. By the time the fire was discovered, the house was heavily involved.

These are just a few of the many tips and examples I learned in the class. It was definitely an eye opener for me. If you have any questions about Fire Safety and Prevention, would like more information or if you're interested in having a class at your place of business or school, you can contact the number below.

Office of Public information & Education

Timothy R Szymanski, Public Information Officer

Phone: 702-229-0145

Fax: 702-229-0152

Too Many Books

I was rearranging some furniture in my house recently and discovered that I have too many books. I’m a big user of the library, but I still find that I continue to collect more books than I have room for. I was going to spend more money on a new bookshelf when it occurred to me that I should try to sell some of the ones I don’t really want to keep. Not only will this decrease the clutter in my house, but it’ll give me a little extra cash, which is always good.

My husband and I visited some used bookstore around town, but we really didn’t find one that wanted to take our mish-mash collection off our hands. I almost left with even more books for the house! Then I found cash4books.net. You enter in the ISBN codes of your books and they tell you what they’ll pay you. Then you ship the books to them for free.

Now this hasn’t completely solved my overflowing book problem. After I send what I can to cash4books.net, I’m going to try my hat selling them on Amazon. Wish me luck!

Dog Days of Summer Grand Opening Event

The grand opening and ribbon cutting of our North Fifth Branch in North Las Vegas were a success!

New and exisiting members stopped by the branch to cool off with a free ice cream treat, take a spin at our prize wheel and enter our Dog Days of Summer grand prize drawing.

There was much excitment about the addition of our newest branch in the Deer Springs Town Center near NV-215 and North 5th Street. (Also soon to be near an In-N-Out once construction is complete, YUM!)

Cherry W. won a $250 PetSmart gift card and a cooler to keep all her goodies chilled during these hot summer days.

Vera T. (shown in photo with branch manager Mary Bisop) and Lisa A. each received a $50 PetSmart gift card.

If you haven't been to the new branch yet, we look forward to seeing you soon!

Free Seminar - Fight Fraud

Tomorrow night the West Charleston Library is offering a free seminar on fighting fraud.

Fraud is on the rise especially in this down economy with people taking desperate measures to pay their bills and get ahead. This seminar is a great opportunity to learn about ID theft and other fraud scams.

Learn what you need to know about fraud with the State Department’s Fight Fraud Task Force who will educate on various schemes and provide ways to protect your self.

West Charleston Library
6301 W Charleston Blvd.
Time: 7 pm.
Admissions Is FREE.
Call 507-3940 for info

How many magazines do you read?

Have you ever stopped to see how many magazines you subscribe to? I was shocked by how many I was getting. I was getting several magazines on health, home, parenting, cooking, and running. While I enjoyed every publication I was getting, I realized that I just didn’t have the time to read them all. I tried to not renew, but it was hard to keep track of what I was getting and what had expired. Then I found maghound.com.

With maghound, I pay a monthly fee, like with Netflix, and pick which magazines I want to receive. I can change the magazines at any time, change the number I’m receiving, or cancel them all together. While I end up paying about what I would pay if I were subscribing, I have much more control over how many I’m subscribing to. I probably save myself $75 a year just by being able to see what I’m signed up for. It’s a great tool for an avid magazine reader and can save you money in the end.