Want to Enjoy Fall Foliage Close to Home?

Take a long weekend to see fall foliage without driving across the country!

In the Gold Country, the Nevada City-Grass Valley area has become known as one of California's best areas to view autumn foliage. The best colors are located in the old-fashioned Victorian neighborhoods surrounding the downtown historic districts.

Most vivid are the century-old red maple trees planted by early settlers, homesick for New England. Church steeples add to the Vermont-like mood. Outside of Grass Valley, maples and liquidambars dot the 800-acre Empire Mine State Historic Park. And off Highway 49 near Sierra City, Gold Lake Road offers a 20-mile-long tour of deep-gold aspens and willows.

Yosemite National Park offers lots of trees. With red dogwoods and orange oaks, the best spot for leaf-peeping is along Highways 41 and 120.

In the Tahoe Basin, one lovely drive is along Highway 89 -- from Highway 50 near Lake Tahoe to the junction with Highway 88, in the middle of Hope Valley, where aspen, willows and cottonwood are plentiful. Also pretty is Highway 88 from Woodfords to Silver Lake, over Carson Pass. A little southeast of Lake Tahoe, you can see pretty aspens on Highway 89 near Markleeville and over Monitor Pass to Highway 395.

Along the eastern side of the Sierra, hues of gold mixed with some red are showing in the higher elevations -- along Bishop Creek in the upper reaches of Bishop Canyon, they're reaching their peak now. But colors are late, appearing through the end of the month, along the Owens Valley floor. One favorite sight: the aspens that line the Owens River between Mono Lake and the town of Bishop.

September is Deaf Awareness Month

International Deaf Awareness Week is observed every year in the last whole week of September from Sunday to Saturday. The first World Congress of The Deaf was held in the last week of September in 1951 and since then the final week in the month of September came to be specially marked to be a activity and awareness program against deafness. The main purpose behind the deaf awareness week is to know the people with the problem, understand their issues and to know about their accomplishments.

What is Deaf Awareness Week

The World Deaf Federation observe the Deaf Awareness Week as the special time to go through the life, happenings, issues and problem related to the deaf people. This life altering disability and the people sanding out despite this like Thomas Edison and Helen Keller are made example and the deaf are motivated to live their life in a better way.

 

Less than percent of the deaf population are born that way with the other half acquiring the problem as their life and age progress. There are different degrees of deafness and not the entire disabled are fully deaf and the different degrees of hearing impairment and the issue is well discussed on the day.

Activities during International Deaf Awareness Week

During the last full week of September, various deaf organizations hold public awareness programs, and campaigns to educate the people about the problem and the life and hurdles that the deaf sector of the world has to overcome in their life. The educational institutions like the schools and colleges hold awareness events and conduct talk show so as to make the common man aware of the problem.

Many times people who are deaf to a lesser extend do not identify their problem and going on like this might augment to the problem leading to permanent hearing loss. The awareness activities conducted in connection with the deaf awareness week takes people's notice towards the issue and how bad it can be if the minor hearing defect is not checked on time.

 

Causes of Hearing Loss or Deafness

Congenital deafness or from birth deafness is found in many number of cases and the degree of deafness can vary from partial deafness in one ear to total deafness of both. The chance of being deaf from birth increases if one or both the parents are deaf or if there is a familial thread for the disorder. Mother's health and infection during the pregnancy also contributes its share towards child's ear development. Mother's health and well being is very important for the better and healthy development of the foetus, the same is true for the child's hearing development too.

 

Besides being deaf from birth, some people acquire this disability along their life or as they age. Certain infections, diseases and accidents are among the other main cause behind hearing impairment. Jaundice, rubella and chicken pox are among the diseases which are found to cause the defect. Similarly prenatal and postnatal infections can also result in hearing impairment in the child.

Certain medicines are also found to cause permanent or reversible hearing loss, similarly physical trauma to the brain or the sides of the ear can also cause deafness. Aging can also decrease hearing in most people. The percentage of people who suffer from ear defect or partial hearing is more in the 60 to 80 age group, than below it.

Ways To Prevent Hearing Loss

Deafness and being deaf may not be in our hands, but if we take care and see to the issues of the ears before it is too late thereby preventing or reversing a number of cases. The health of the mother during pregnancy should be given adequate consideration so as to have a healthy and fit baby. Similarly in any case of ear problem or pain, the doctor should be consulted very soon to make sure that is not something serious.

 

Taking care and consulting a specialist while having medicines that are proven bad for the ear can help to reduce medicine related deafness. In the same way staying away from too much sound or wearing ear defenders when in noisy environment can all help in preventing the problem.

 

A day in the life of someone who is deaf:

 

 

Organizing a Small Linen Closet

9/11 Memorial at the World Trade Center Site

 

A horrific day in America's history, a day we will never forget.

 

 

September is National Baby Safety Month. In honor of this special month, we are providing you with some tips to tighten up your safety belts in and around the house.

• Car seat safety check. Is it properly installed (refer to installation instructions and vehicle owner’s manual)? Center of back seat whenever possible – never in front passenger side when there is an airbag. Rear-facing for infants less than one year and 20 pounds. Your child must still be in a car seat until they are four years old and weigh at least 40 pounds. Your local law enforcement office will usually have a qualified person to install the seat for you if you have troubles.
• If you have a pool or hot tub, is it surrounded by a locking 5 foot fence or a completely covered with a safety cover? Are there alarms on all doors leading from the house to the pool area? Are all toys removed from the pool and the surrounding area?
• Do you have a fire escape plan? Write one out with your mate or other adults in the house today and share the plan with your kids so they know what to do.
• Check all fire safety equipment. Are smoke alarms working? Fire extinguishers are full and adults and older children know how to use them? Flashlights are strategically placed in your home with extra batteries available?
• Play the stop, drop & roll game with your kids. If their clothes catch on fire teach them to stop, drop and roll. Practice yelling out “I’m in here!” in case they get trapped in a room and the fire fighters need to find them.
• Check baby’s crib. Are the slats less than 2-3/8 inches? All slats are secure? The corner posts should not be any higher than the end panels and never should they extend over the end panels. No holes in the mattress? Stuffed animals removed? Crib is not near any windows, electrical outlets, lamps, no pictures over the crib, etc.? Mobiles have been removed if baby can pull up.
• Where do you set baby’s carrier when she’s in it? Not on the counter please, or any high surface. Babies can wiggle and tip themselves over.
• Stroller check. If your stroller is collapsible, be sure latches are secure before putting baby in. Always check that your child’s arms are out of the way when reversing handle directions so they won’t get pinched. Be sure to use that safety strap. Don’t hang overloaded or heavy bags on the handle of the stroller, this may cause it to tip over.
• Talk to your children about stove and oven safety. Teach them they are hot and never to touch them.
• Don’t leave toddler’s alone while eating, if they begin to choke you need to be nearby to assist.
• Never leave your child unattended in the bathtub. If the phone rings, let the machine get it, or bring a cordless phone into the bathroom with you. Wait until baby can sit alone to give baths in the tub. It’s easier in the sink until then. Check that the hot water heater is not set any higher than 120 degrees.
• Check the cords on your mini blinds and draperies. These have caused many strangulations among young children. Be sure they are tied up or cut off and kept out of your child’s reach. The loop of the cord should break apart if you slide your hand between the two cords.

Are YOU Ready for Some Football?? NFL Schedule 2013

All Times Eastern

Thursday, Sept. 5
Baltimore at Denver, 8:30 p.m.

Sunday, Sept. 8
New England at Buffalo, 1 p.m.
Seattle at Carolina, 1 p.m.
Cincinnati at Chicago, 1 p.m.
Miami at Cleveland, 1 p.m.
Minnesota at Detroit, 1 p.m.
Oakland at Indianapolis, 1 p.m.
Kansas City at Jacksonville, 1 p.m.
Atlanta at New Orleans, 1 p.m.
Tampa Bay at N.Y. Jets, 1 p.m.
Tennessee at Pittsburgh, 1 p.m.
Arizona at St. Louis, 4:25 p.m.
Green Bay at San Francisco, 4:25 p.m.
N.Y. Giants at Dallas, 8:30 p.m.

Monday, Sept. 9
Philadelphia at Washington, 7:10 p.m.
Houston at San Diego, 10:20 p.m.

Thursday, Sept. 12
N.Y. Jets at New England, 8:25 p.m.

Sunday, Sept. 15
St. Louis at Atlanta, 1 p.m.
Cleveland at Baltimore, 1 p.m.
Carolina at Buffalo, 1 p.m.
Minnesota at Chicago, 1 p.m.
Washington at Green Bay, 1 p.m.
Tennessee at Houston, 1 p.m.
Miami at Indianapolis, 1 p.m.
Dallas at Kansas City, 1 p.m.
San Diego at Philadelphia, 1 p.m.
Detroit at Arizona, 4:05 p.m.
New Orleans at Tampa Bay, 4:05 p.m.
Denver at N.Y. Giants, 4:25 p.m.
Jacksonville at Oakland, 4:25 p.m.
San Francisco at Seattle, 8:30 p.m.

Monday, Sept. 16
Pittsburgh at Cincinnati, 8:40 p.m.

Thursday, Sept. 19
Kansas City at Philadelphia, 8:25 p.m.

Sunday, Sept. 22
Houston at Baltimore, 1 p.m.
Green Bay at Cincinnati, 1 p.m.
N.Y. Giants at Carolina, 1 p.m.
St. Louis at Dallas, 1 p.m.
Cleveland at Minnesota, 1 p.m.
Tampa Bay at New England, 1 p.m.
Arizona at New Orleans, 1 p.m.
San Diego at Tennessee, 1 p.m.
Detroit at Washington, 1 p.m.
Atlanta at Miami, 4:05 p.m.
Buffalo at N.Y. Jets, 4:25 p.m.
Indianapolis at San Francisco, 4:25 p.m.
Jacksonville at Seattle, 4:25 p.m.
Chicago at Pittsburgh, 8:30 p.m.

Monday, Sept. 23
Oakland at Denver, 8:40 p.m.

Thursday, Sept. 26
San Francisco at St. Louis, 8:25 p.m.
Sunday, Sept. 29
Baltimore at Buffalo, 1 p.m.
Cincinnati at Cleveland, 1 p.m.
Chicago at Detroit, 1 p.m.
Seattle at Houston, 1 p.m.
Indianapolis at Jacksonville, 1 p.m.
N.Y. Giants at Kansas City, 1 p.m.
Pittsburgh vs. Minnesota (London), 1 p.m.
Arizona at Tampa Bay, 1 p.m.
N.Y. Jets at Tennessee, 4:05 p.m.
Philadelphia at Denver, 4:25 p.m.
Washington at Oakland, 4:25 p.m.
Dallas at San Diego, 4:25 p.m.
New England at Atlanta, 8:30 p.m.

Monday, Sept. 30
Miami at New Orleans, 8:40 p.m.
(Byes: Carolina, Green Bay)

Thursday, Oct. 3
Buffalo at Cleveland, 8:25 p.m.

Sunday, Oct. 6
New Orleans at Chicago, 1 p.m.
New England at Cincinnati, 1 p.m.
Detroit at Green Bay, 1 p.m.
Seattle at Indianapolis, 1 p.m.
Baltimore at Miami, 1 p.m.
Philadelphia at N.Y. Giants, 1 p.m.
Jacksonville at St. Louis, 1 p.m.
Kansas City at Tennessee, 1 p.m.
Carolina at Arizona, 4:05 p.m.
Denver at Dallas, 4:25 p.m.
San Diego at Oakland, 4:25 p.m.
Houston at San Francisco, 8:30 p.m.

Monday, Oct. 7
N.Y. Jets at Atlanta, 8:40 p.m.
(Byes: Minnesota, Pittsburgh, Tampa Bay, Washington)

Thursday, Oct. 10
N.Y. Giants at Chicago, 8:25 p.m.

Sunday, Oct. 13
Green Bay at Baltimore, 1 p.m.
Cincinnati at Buffalo, 1 p.m.
Detroit at Cleveland, 1 p.m.
St. Louis at Houston, 1 p.m.
Oakland at Kansas City, 1 p.m.
Carolina at Minnesota, 1 p.m.
Pittsburgh at N.Y. Jets, 1 p.m.
Philadelphia at Tampa Bay, 1 p.m.
Jacksonville at Denver, 4:05 p.m.
Tennessee at Seattle, 4:05 p.m.
New Orleans at New England, 4:25 p.m.
Arizona at San Francisco, 4:25 p.m.
Washington at Dallas, 8:30 p.m.

Monday, Oct. 14
Indianapolis at San Diego, 8:40 p.m.
(Byes: Atlanta, Miami)

Thursday, Oct. 17
Seattle at Arizona, 8:25 p.m.

Sunday, Oct. 20
Tampa Bay at Atlanta , 1 p.m.
St. Louis at Carolina, 1 p.m.
Cincinnati at Detroit, 1 p.m.
San Diego at Jacksonville, 1 p.m.
Houston at Kansas City, 1 p.m.
Buffalo at Miami, 1 p.m.
New England at N.Y. Jets, 1 p.m.
Dallas at Philadelphia, 1 p.m.
Chicago at Washington, 1 p.m.
San Francisco at Tennessee, 4:05 p.m.
Cleveland at Green Bay, 4:25 p.m.
Baltimore at Pittsburgh , 4:25 p.m.
Denver at Indianapolis, 8:30 p.m.

Monday, Oct. 21
Minnesota at N.Y. Giants, 8:40 p.m.
(Byes: New Orleans, Oakland)

Thursday, Oct. 24
Carolina at Tampa Bay, 8:25 p.m.

Sunday, Oct. 27
Dallas at Detroit, 1 p.m.
San Francisco vs. Jacksonville (London), 1 p.m.
Cleveland at Kansas City, 1 p.m.
Miami at New England, 1 p.m.
Buffalo at New Orleans, 1 p.m.
N.Y. Giants at Philadelphia, 1 p.m.
Pittsburgh at Oakland, 4:05 p.m.
N.Y. Jets at Cincinnati, 4:05 p.m.
Atlanta at Arizona, 4:25 p.m.
Washington at Denver, 4:25 p.m.
Green Bay at Minnesota, 8:30 p.m.

Monday, Oct. 28
Seattle at St. Louis, 8:40 p.m.
(Byes: Baltimore, Chicago, Houston, Indianapolis, San Diego, Tennessee)

Thursday, Oct. 31
Cincinnati at Miami, 8:25 p.m.

Sunday, Nov. 3
Kansas City at Buffalo, 1 p.m.
Atlanta at Carolina, 1 p.m.
Minnesota at Dallas, 1 p.m.
New Orleans at N.Y. Jets, 1 p.m.
Tennessee at St. Louis, 1 p.m.
San Diego at Washington, 1 p.m.
Philadelphia at Oakland, 4:05 p.m.
Tampa Bay at Seattle, 4:05 p.m.
Baltimore at Cleveland, 4:25 p.m.
Pittsburgh at New England, 4:25 p.m.
Indianapolis at Houston, 8:30 p.m.

Monday, Nov. 4
Chicago at Green Bay, 8:40 p.m.
(Byes: Arizona, Denver, Detroit, Jacksonville, N.Y. Giants, San Francisco)

Thursday, Nov. 7
Washington at Minnesota, 8:25 p.m.
Sunday, Nov. 10
Seattle at Atlanta, 1 p.m.
Cincinnati at Baltimore, 1 p.m.
Detroit at Chicago, 1 p.m.
Philadelphia at Green Bay, 1 p.m.
St. Louis at Indianapolis, 1 p.m.
Oakland at N.Y. Giants, 1 p.m.
Buffalo at Pittsburgh, 1 p.m.
Jacksonville at Tennessee, 1 p.m.
Carolina at San Francisco, 4:05 p.m.
Houston at Arizona, 4:25 p.m.
Denver at San Diego, 4:25 p.m.
Dallas at New Orleans, 8:30 p.m.

Monday, Nov. 11
Miami at Tampa Bay, 8:40 p.m.
(Byes: Cleveland, Kansas City, New England, N.Y. Jets)

Thursday, Nov. 14
Indianapolis at Tennessee, 8:25 p.m.

Sunday, Nov. 17
N.Y. Jets at Buffalo, 1 p.m.
Baltimore at Chicago, 1 p.m.
Cleveland at Cincinnati, 1 p.m.
Oakland at Houston, 1 p.m.
Arizona at Jacksonville, 1 p.m.
San Diego at Miami, 1 p.m.
Washington at Philadelphia, 1 p.m.
Detroit at Pittsburgh, 1 p.m.
Atlanta at Tampa Bay, 1 p.m.
Kansas City at Denver, 4:05 p.m.
San Francisco at New Orleans, 4:25 p.m.
Minnesota at Seattle, 4:25 p.m.
Green Bay at N.Y. Giants, 8:30 p.m.

Monday, Nov. 18
New England at Carolina, 8:40 p.m.
(Byes: Dallas, St. Louis)

Thursday, Nov. 21
New Orleans at Atlanta, 8:25 p.m.

Sunday, Nov. 24
N.Y. Jets at Baltimore, 1 p.m.
Pittsburgh at Cleveland, 1 p.m.
Tampa Bay at Detroit, 1 p.m.
Minnesota at Green Bay, 1 p.m.
Jacksonville at Houston, 1 p.m.
San Diego at Kansas City, 1 p.m.
Carolina at Miami, 1 p.m.
Chicago at St. Louis, 1 p.m.
Indianapolis at Arizona, 4:05 p.m.
Tennessee at Oakland, 4:05 p.m.
Dallas at N.Y. Giants, 4:25 p.m.
Denver at New England, 8:30 p.m.

Monday, Nov. 25
San Francisco at Washington, 8:40 p.m.
(Byes: Buffalo, Cincinnati, Philadelphia, Seattle)

Thursday, Nov. 28
Green Bay at Detroit, 12:30 p.m.
Oakland at Dallas, 4:30 p.m.
Pittsburgh at Baltimore, 8:30 p.m.

Sunday, Dec. 1
Tampa Bay at Carolina, 1 p.m.
Jacksonville at Cleveland, 1 p.m.
Tennessee at Indianapolis, 1 p.m.
Denver at Kansas City, 1 p.m.
Chicago at Minnesota, 1 p.m.
Miami at N.Y. Jets, 1 p.m.
Arizona at Philadelphia, 1 p.m.
Atlanta vs. Buffalo (Toronto), 4:05 p.m.
St. Louis at San Francisco, 4:05 p.m.
New England at Houston, 4:25 p.m.
Cincinnati at San Diego, 4:25 p.m.
N.Y. Giants at Washington, 8:30 p.m.

Monday, Dec. 2
New Orleans at Seattle, 8:40 p.m.

Thursday, Dec. 5
Houston at Jacksonville, 8:25 p.m.

Sunday, Dec. 8
Minnesota at Baltimore, 1 p.m.
Indianapolis at Cincinnati, 1 p.m.
Cleveland at New England, 1 p.m.
Oakland at N.Y. Jets, 1 p.m.
Carolina at New Orleans, 1 p.m.
Detroit at Philadelphia, 1 p.m.
Miami at Pittsburgh, 1 p.m.
Buffalo at Tampa Bay, 1 p.m.
Kansas City at Washington, 1 p.m.
Tennessee at Denver, 4:05 p.m.
St. Louis at Arizona, 4:25 p.m.
N.Y. Giants at San Diego, 4:25 p.m.
Seattle at San Francisco, 4:25 p.m.
Atlanta at Green Bay, 8:30 p.m.

Monday, Dec. 9
Dallas at Chicago, 8:40 p.m.

Thursday, Dec. 12
San Diego at Denver, 8:25 p.m.

Sunday, Dec. 15
Washington at Atlanta, 1 p.m.
Chicago at Cleveland, 1 p.m.
Houston at Indianapolis, 1 p.m.
Buffalo at Jacksonville, 1 p.m.
New England at Miami, 1 p.m.
Philadelphia at Minnesota, 1 p.m.
Seattle at N.Y. Giants, 1 p.m.
New Orleans at St. Louis, 1 p.m.
San Francisco at Tampa Bay, 1 p.m.
Arizona at Tennessee, 1 p.m.
N.Y. Jets at Carolina, 4:05 p.m.
Kansas City at Oakland, 4:05 p.m.
Green Bay at Dallas, 4:25 p.m.
Cincinnati at Pittsburgh, 8:30 p.m.

Monday, Dec. 16
Baltimore at Detroit, 8:40 p.m.

Sunday, Dec. 22
Miami at Buffalo, 1 p.m.
New Orleans at Carolina, 1 p.m.
Minnesota at Cincinnati , 1 p.m.
Denver at Houston, 1 p.m.
Tennessee at Jacksonville, 1 p.m.
Indianapolis at Kansas City, 1 p.m.
Cleveland at N.Y. Jets, 1 p.m.
Chicago at Philadelphia, 1 p.m.
Tampa Bay at St. Louis, 1 p.m.
Dallas at Washington, 1 p.m.
N.Y. Giants at Detroit, 4:05 p.m.
Arizona at Seattle, 4:05 p.m.
Pittsburgh at Green Bay, 4:25 p.m.
Oakland at San Diego, 4:25 p.m.
New England at Baltimore, 8:30 p.m.

Monday, Dec. 23
Atlanta at San Francisco, 8:40 p.m.

Sunday, Dec. 29
Carolina at Atlanta, 1 p.m.
Green Bay at Chicago, 1 p.m.
Baltimore at Cincinnati, 1 p.m.
Philadelphia at Dallas, 1 p.m.
Jacksonville at Indianapolis, 1 p.m.
N.Y. Jets at Miami, 1 p.m.
Detroit at Minnesota, 1 p.m.
Buffalo at New England, 1 p.m.
Tampa Bay at New Orleans, 1 p.m.
Washington at N.Y. Giants, 1 p.m.
Cleveland at Pittsburgh , 1 p.m.
Houston at Tennessee, 1 p.m.
San Francisco at Arizona, 4:25 p.m.
Denver at Oakland, 4:25 p.m.
Kansas City at San Diego, 4:25 p.m.
St. Louis at Seattle, 4:25 p.m.

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