As Minot residents are allowed back to their homes they should be made aware of a few simple steps that can help reduce the loss of irreplaceable items such as photos, heirlooms and family keepsakes.
The immediate stabilization of items damaged during recent flood activity can increase the chances of salvaging your family or business's priceless belongings while decreasing restoration costs.
After the waters recede, homeowners and business owners alike have the daunting task of rebuilding their lives and recovering their valued possessions. This intimidating task often results in the discarding of irreplaceable family heirlooms and/or keepsakes.
Steps can be taken to reduce the amount of time, money and heartache associated with restoring personal property as opposed to throwing items away. Here are a few easy tips from the professionals at Contents Recovery Experts:
+ When dealing with wet documents or documents that have been in a high humidity environment, the key is to freeze them if you can. If you cannot freeze your documents, place them in garbage bags and store in the coolest place you can find. Neither of these tips will make the damage go away. All the freezing and storage does is hold off mold growth and stall additional damage. You will still need to find a professional document restoration company to come out and properly pack, dry, and clean the affected documents.
+ If your loss has left you with wet photographs, the single best tip is to freeze them. Once the photos are frozen you will prevent them from drying into a "brick" and it will hold any damage to its current level. Photos can be saved and returned to a pre-loss condition if you can get them frozen and to a photo restoration company in a timely manner. If you discover photos that have already dried and are stuck together they can still be restored. These photos will need more work and may end up with some curling, but you can still have your memories returned to you.
Contents Recovery Experts provides specialized content restoration services nationwide for commercial and residential recovery projects of any size. Services include the restoration of: documents, electronic equipment, computers, film and media. Their subsidiary, Art Restoration Experts, also specializes in restoring pieces of art and photographs damaged by water, fire, old age or neglect.
For more information, log on at (www.contentsrecoveryexperts.com) or call (888) 730-8310.
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Keeping squirrels out of the bird feeder
Squirrels are the No. 1 problem for people who like to feed the birds. They can eat large amounts of seed, destroy bird feeders, and chase birds away. When squirrels claim your feeder as their territory, it is hard to get rid of them.
One of the most effective and humane tactics for thwarting squirrels is simple taste aversion. Simply put, if the seed you serve tastes bad to squirrels, they'll seek sustenance elsewhere.
Put pesky squirrels on notice that your bird feeder is meant to be bird-exclusive by stocking the feeder with products that incorporate habanero pepper, like Cole's-brand Hot Meats and Blazing Hot Blend squirrel-proof wild bird feed. The feed appeals to birds with its top-quality seed, but turns squirrels off with a chili pepper oil. Cornell University scientists tested the technology and found it highly effective in reducing the number of squirrel visits at the feeder.
Another option is Flaming Squirrel Seed Sauce, a nutritional birdseed supplement that contains all-natural, 100 percent food grade ingredients with a super-hot and spicy flavor. Remember, your feathered friends can't taste the heat, but the squirrels sure can. Add this chili pepper formula to any quality birdseed to reduce squirrel visits, or spray it on garden plants to keep squirrels and other mammals from digging and eating plants.
Flaming Squirrel Seed Sauce: Add this liquid chili pepper formula to birdseed to reduce squirrel visits at the bird feeder, or spray it on garden plants to keep squirrels and other mammals from digging and eating the plants. It tastes hot to mammals but not to wild birds.
Squirrel-Proof Wild Bird Feed: Cole's top quality sunflower meats are treated with an exclusive chili pepper oil. This innovative technology used to create Cole's Hot Meats was tested by scientists at Cornell University and found to be highly effective in reducing the number of squirrel visits at the feeder.
Blazing Hot Blend is an all natural, chemical free way to protect your bird feeder from the squirrels. It combines a patented habanero chili oil formula with the most preferred seeds of backyard songbirds. Woodpeckers, grosbeaks, buntings, cardinals, chickadees, bluebirds, goldfinches and more find this mix irresistible.
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Suchy to present concert in Stanley
STANLEY North Dakota singer/song-writer Chuck Suchy will perform in the Sibyl Center in Stanley Sunday at 3 p.m.
Suchy is a working farmer, born and raised along the Missouri River south of Mandan. He has a love for making music going back to his childhood performing in area halls, clubs and lounges, singing and playing guitar and accordion.
A community potluck meal is slated to follow the performance. For more information, go to (www.sibylcenter.org) or phone 628-3339. Admission is by freewill donation.
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Deadline approaching to accept scholarship
Students awarded the North Dakota Academic Scholarship or the North Dakota Career and Technical Education Scholarship have until July 15 to accept or defer the scholarship.
Students are reminded to check their e-mail account and follow the instructions. If there are questions or problems with acceptance or deferment, they should contact Connie Mittleider, Department of Public Instruction, at 328-2755.
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Summer camp teaches entrepreneurial spirit
Elementary and middle school students in Minot and surrounding communities will get the chance to be their own boss during the inaugural Mini-Society Entrepreneurship Summer Camp, July 18-22, in the Convention Center of the Sleep Inn & Suites adjacent to Dakota Square Mall.
The aspiring young entrepreneurs will organize their own community, create their own currency, open their own businesses and elect their own leaders. The program runs from 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. each day and includes breakfast and lunch. All registration fees have been waived for Minot youth and teachers.
Using iPads and other technological resources in the camp's business center, young entrepreneurs will create colorful print ads and 30-second commercials to market their new start-ups and be responsible for hiring employees and keeping track of sales and expenses.
"It's an opportunity for 9-13 year olds to experience business ownership and community leadership as an outlet for their natural creativity," said program director, Barry Striegel.
The Mini-Society summer camp is endorsed by Minot Public Schools, the Chamber of Commerce and the MSU College of Business. It is sponsored by the Severson Entrepreneurship Academy, North Dakota Youth Entrepreneurship Education Program and by NDSU Extension Service's Center for Community Vitality. The program started in 2006 and is held in 12 communities.
"Our primary aim is to expand opportunities for North Dakota's K through eighth-grade youth to experience entrepreneurship and innovative community development," said Striegel, a veteran elementary and middle school teacher. "We want them to learn the skills and attitudes associated with academic, economic and social success."
In addition, teachers may enroll in the camp and earn two continuing education credits. They will learn how entrepreneurship-focused instruction can be an effective strategy for meeting many student achievement goals in math, social studies, technology and language arts.
For registration information visit the program's Web site at (ndyoungentrepreneurs.org), contact the Severson Entrepreneurship Academy at 858-3110 or contact Striegel at 741-6985 or send e-mail to b.striegel@und.edu.