http://www.chesapeakebeachresortspa.com/

Southern Maryland’s Portal Into The PastBy Jessica Goodell, TheBayNet.com staff writer | Photos by Megan Goodell

Historic St. Mary’s Citysources and guides located throughout the campus to help make their experience more enjoyable.

Throughout the different sites visitors are able to not only observe, but also interact with many of the exhibits. As a living history mu-seum HSMC visitors are able to interact with costumed interpreters who “bring the past to life” according to HSMC. The only site that does not have interpreters in costume is the Indian Hamlet. All other sites have people of the past to help visitors along their journey.

Many of HSMC’s exhibits are created by using archaeological findings from the original grounds of the colony. Everything displayed in glass throughout the different sites has been found through archaeological ventures on the campus.

During the summer HSMC holds a 10 week Field School in His-torical Archaeology for college students to participate in for course credit.

Visitors can spend anywhere from two to four hours exploring the four living history sites located across the campus of Historic St. Mary’s City (HSMC).

Throughout their journey through time visitors have the opportuni-ty to see original architecture at St. John’s Site Museum, explore the town center, listen to stories from colonists living on the plantation, and learn about the Native Americans at the Indian Hamlet.Director of Education Peter Friesen said that HSMC is multi genera-tional and can accommodate groups of all ages.

HSMC does not sell food but according to Friesen it is a great place to bring a picnic, there are many tables and benches located across the campus that visitors can use.

Visitors have the option to schedule a tour with a group or school or come on their own. If coming without a group, visitors have many re-

Many of the finds of these students during the 10 week period are used in HSMC exhibits.

In addition to normal everyday operation at HSMC there are also many events held at the different sites throughout the year.

An event that is popular with the older crowd is “’Adults Only’ at the plantation”.

“We discuss all those things that people are interested in but don’t always feel comfortable to ask especially if there’s lots of kids around,” said Friesen. “So we discuss some of the more R-Rated type stuff that happened in the colony.”

Along with several other adults only events including adult tours that can be found here, there are many events that are fun for the entire family, such as Tidewater Archaeology Days where visitors have the chance to take a guided tour of excavations and are able to explore the archaeology laboratory. Different events that give visitors an inside look take place at HSMC throughout the entire year and a full list can be found on their calendar.

HSMC has something for everyone and whether you want to take an hour or an entire day a lot can be learned about Southern Maryland's history.

2015 SMAC Football

COMPLETE CONFERENCE SCHEDULESCompiled by Charles Seifert & Max Tayman, TheBayNet.com staff

The Southern Maryland Athletic Conference is proud to be back for another exciting year of high school football. This year’s high school football season should come in hot and fast, with some great matchups highlighting the early schedule. With Ryken kicking off their season on the 28 of August, and everyone else kicking off on the 4 of September, the anticipation is high for the upcoming season. There are lots of questions about SMAC this year. Will Thomas Stone get back into the state tournament? Will North Point get over its tremendous loss of senior talent? Who will take over at quarterback at Patuxent? All these questions should be answered in the next few weeks. And it feels great.

Last season, SMAC had plenty of representation in the Maryland state playoffs, with North Point reaching the postseason in Division 4A. In Division 3A, Thomas Stone, Chopticon, and Huntingtown made the playoffs, while in Di-vision 2A, the Patuxentv Panthers represented. Thomas Stone and Patuxent made it out of the first round, highlighted by Thomas Stone’s 40-14 drubbing of Potomac in the regional final. Football fans, be sure and get out to support your local athletes, and enjoy some of the best high school football action in the state! continued on next page

Calvert CavaliersDate Day Opponent Time

4-Sep Friday at Northern 7:00 PM11-Sep Friday Huntingtown 7:00 PM18-Sep Friday at North Point 7:00 PM25-Sep Friday McDonough 7:00 PM1-Oct Thursday Leonardtown 7:00 PM9-Oct Friday at Patuxent 7:00 PM16-Oct Friday at La Plata 7:00 PM23-Oct Friday at Thomas Stone 7:00 PM30-Oct Friday Westlake 7:00 PM6-Nov Friday Lackey 7:00 PM

Chopticon BravesDate Day Opponent Time

4-Sep Friday La Plata 6:00 PM11-Sep Friday at Thomas Stone 6:30 PM18-Sep Friday McDonough 6:00 PM25-Sep Friday St Charles 6:00 PM2-Oct Friday at Huntingtown 7:00 PM9-Oct Friday North Point 6:00 PM15-Oct Friday at Northern 7:00 PM23-Oct Friday at Patuxent 7:00 PM30-Oct Friday at Leonardtown 6:00 PM6-Nov Friday Great Mills 6:00 PM

Great Mills Hornets Date Day Opponent Time4-Sep Friday McDonough 6:00 PM

11-Sep Friday at Westlake 6:30 PM18-Sep Friday Patuxent 6:00 PM24-Sep Friday Huntingtown 6:00 PM2-Oct Friday Northern 6:00 PM9-Oct Friday Leonardtown 6:00 PM

16-Oct Friday at Lackey 6:30 PM23-Oct Friday at North Point 6:30 PM30-Oct Friday at St Charles 6:30 PM6-Nov Friday at Chopticon 6:00 PM

Huntingtown Hurricanes

Date Day Opponent Time4-Sep Friday Patuxent 7:00 PM

11-Sep Friday at Calvert 7:00 PM18-Sep Friday Westlake 7:00 PM24-Sep Friday at Great Mills 6:00 PM2-Oct Friday Chopticon 7:00 PM9-Oct Friday at Northern 7:00 PM

15-Oct Thursday St. Charles 7:00 PM23-Oct Friday at Leonardtown 6:00 PM30-Oct Friday North Point 7:00 PM6-Nov Friday at Thomas Stone 6:30 PM

http://www.somdkitchenbathfloors.com/

LaPlata WarriorsDate Day Opponent Time

4-Sep Friday at Chopticon 6:00 PM11-Sep Friday Leonardtown 6:00 PM18-Sep Friday at Northern 6:00 PM25-Sep Friday at Patuxent 6:00 PM3-Oct Friday Thomas Stone 6:00 PM9-Oct Friday St.Charles 6:00 PM16-Oct Friday Calvert 6:00 PM23-Oct Friday at Westlake 6:00 PM30-Oct Friday at Lackey 6:00 PM6-Nov Friday McDonough 6:00 PM

Lackey ChargersDate Day Opponent Time

4-Sep Friday at Leonardtown 6:00 PM11-Sep Friday North Point 6:30 PM18-Sep Friday at St.Charles 6:30 PM25-Sep Friday at Thomas Stone 6:30 PM2-Oct Friday Patuxent 6:30 PM9-Oct Friday at Westlake 6:30 PM16-Oct Friday Great Mills 6:30 PM23-Oct Friday McDonough 6:30 PM30-Oct Friday La Plata 6:30 PM6-Nov Friday at Calvert 7:00 PM

Leonardtown RaidersDate Day Opponent Time

4-Sep Friday Lackey 6:00 PM11-Sep Friday at La Plata 6:30 PM18-Sep Friday Thomas Stone 6:00 PM25-Sep Friday Northern 6:00 PM1-Oct Thursday at Calvert 6:30 PM9-Oct Friday at Great Mills 6:00 PM16-Oct Friday at North Point 6:30 PM23-Oct Friday Huntingtown 6:00 PM30-Oct Friday Chopticon 6:00 PM6-Nov Friday at St Charles 6:30 PM

McDonough RamsDate Day Opponent Time

4-Sep Friday at Great Mills 6:00 PM11-Sep Friday St.Charles 6:00 PM 18-Sep Friday at Chopticon 6:00 PM25-Sep Friday at Calvert 6:00 PM2-Oct Friday Westlake 6:00 PM9-Oct Friday Thomas Stone 6:00 PM.16-Oct Friday Patuxent 6:00 PM23-Oct Friday at Lackey 6:00 Pm30-Oct Friday Northern 6:00 PM 6-Nov Friday at La Plata 6:00 PM

http://www.kge.com

Thomas Stone CougarsDate Day Opponent Time

4-Sep Friday at North Point 6:30 PM11-Sep Friday Chopticon 6:30 PM18-Sep Friday at Leonardtown 6:00 PM25-Sep Friday Lackey 6:30 PM3-Oct Friday at La Plata 1:30 PM9-Oct Friday at McDonough 6:30 PM16-Oct Friday Westlake 6:30 PM23-Oct Friday Calvert 6:30 PM30-Oct Friday at Patuxent 7:00 PM6-Nov Friday Huntingtown 6:30 PM

Westlake WolverinesDate Day Opponent Time

4-Sep Friday at St.Charles 6:30 PM11-Sep Friday Great Mills 6:30 PM18-Sep Friday at Huntingtown 7:00 PM25-Sep Friday North Point 6:30 PM2-Oct Friday at McDonough 6:30 PM9-Oct Friday Lackey 6:30 PM16-Oct Friday at Thomas Stone 6:30 PM23-Oct Friday La Plata 6:30 PM30-Oct Friday at Calvert 7:00 PM6-Nov Friday Patuxent 6:30 PM

Northern PatriotsDate Day Opponent Time

4-Sep Friday Calvert 7:00 PM11-Sep Friday at Patuxent 7:00 PM18-Sep Friday La Plata 7:00 PM25-Sep Friday at Leonardtown 6:00 PM2-Oct Friday at Great Mills 6:00 PM9-Oct Friday Huntingtown 7:00 PM15-Oct Thursday Chopticon 7:00 PM23-Oct Friday St. Charles 7:00 PM30-Oct Friday at McDonough 6:30 PM6-Nov Friday at North Point 6:30 PM

Patuxent PanthersDate Day Opponent Time

4-Sep Friday at Huntingtown 7:00 PM11-Sep Friday Northern 7:00 PM18-Sep Friday at Great Mills 7:00 PM25-Sep Friday La Plata 7:00 PM2-Oct Friday at Lackey 6:30 PM9-Oct Friday Calvert 7:00 PM16-Oct Friday at McDonough 6:30 PM23-Oct Friday Chopticon 7:00 PM30-Oct Friday Thomas Stone 7:00 PM6-Nov Friday at Westlake 6:30 PM

Ryken Knights

Although Ryken is not a member of SMAC, they are a local school and are included.

Date Day Opponent Time28-Aug Friday at Archbishop Spalding 7:00 PM4-Sep Friday Howard D Woodson 7:00 PM11-Sep Friday Mt St. Joseph 7:00 PM25-Sep Friday at Dematha 7:00 PM2-Oct Friday Gonzaga 7:00 PM10-Oct Saturday at St John's 2:30 PM16-Oct Friday Bishop O' Connell 7:00 PM24-Oct Saturday at Bishop McNamara 2:00 PM30-Oct Friday Good Counsel 7:00 PM7 -Nov Saturday at Archbishop Carroll 2:30 PM

St. Charles SpartansDate Day Opponent Time

4-Sep Friday Westlake 6:30 PM11-Sep Friday at McDonough 6:30 PM18-Sep Friday Lackey 6:30 PM25-Sep Friday at Chopticon 6:00 PM2-Oct Friday North Point 6:30 PM9-Oct Friday at La Plata 6:30 PM15-Oct Thursday at Huntingtown 6:30 PM23-Oct Friday at Northern 7:00 PM30-Oct Friday Great Mills 7:00 PM6-Nov Friday Leonardtown 6:30 PM

Get Prepared For Fall!By Kevin K. Peters, Contributing writer

With the leaves changing color, the chilly weather, and the kids back in school, Fall has truly arrived! It’s time to get yourself and your home organized before the season quickly changes to Winter. The following tips should help you do just that.

In the entryway. With cooler temperatures on the way, it’s time to get out the warmer jackets and shoes. In order to keep your entryway tidy with all these extra items, you’re going to have to make some space. If you don’t have a coat closet, consider things like coat hooks to put on the wall and setting out baskets or a shoe rack for shoes.

School/homework station. If you haven’t done so already, you might want to set up a place where the kids can do their homework and put their school supplies. Putting up some hooks for backpacks can save you from tripping on them later. Create some sort of “inbox” for any papers that must be signed, and a binder where you can put any school-related info.

Clean the fridge & pantry. The best way to clean your fridge is to take everything out and only put back in what’s edible. This gives you a chance to wipe down shelves and drawers. Do the same in your freezer. As for the pantry, keep in mind that many non-perishable foods do eventually perish!

Check things like spices, rice, cereals, etc. Use what you can, and toss the rest. Now that it’s cleaned and organized, stock the fridge and pantry with healthy after school and on the go snacks and ingredients to make quick and easy family meals for those busier evenings.

Clean those closets. It’s time to start digging out the heavier blan-kets, so wash and store away the Summer linens. You may also want to go through your closet and weed out anything you don’t feel like wearing anymore. Store Spring and Summer garments at the back, and bring your warmer ones to the front. The same should go for the kids’ closets if you haven’t already done so. This gives you the opportunity to see what’s left and purchase some new back to school clothes.

Purge kids toys by donating. Now is a great time to start purging old kids’ toys, as the holidays are quickly approaching, and more toys will surely be on the way with them! There are two ways you can go about this project. One way is not to tell your kids what you’re getting rid of, as they haven’t played with it in a year, and won’t miss it. The other is to have your children participate. It can be a rewarding activity, in that they can feel good about helping less fortunate children by choosing the toys they donate.

Organize the bathroom. The bathroom can be one of the busiest rooms in the house most mornings. You may want to assign everyone a shelf or drawer where they can store their morning essentials. Your medicine cabinet should be gone through as well to get rid of all your expired med-ication, but be sure to do it wisely. Old makeup should be tossed too, such as mascara and lipstick, as bacteria can build up on them. Don’t forget to change those toothbrushes too!

Attack the dust. After having the windows open during the sum-mer, you might want to cleanse your house of the dust that comes in with the summer breeze. You can start by taking all window coverings down and washing them. If they’re not washable, give them a good shake or vacuum. (If you have blinds instead of curtains, just wipe or dust them off.) Wash the

windows inside and out, including the sills. Artificial plants are notorious

for collecting dust too, but you can easily vacuum them or wipe them down

with a damp cloth.

It’s a good idea to turn on your furnace before you actually need it, to

ensure it works properly. If the furnace needs servicing, it’s better to have it

done now, rather than when it’s zero degrees below Celsius! This is a good

time to change your furnace filter too, and if you have a fireplace, have it

cleaned/serviced also. Another good idea would be to check all your win-

dows for drafts that need tending to.

Do a safety check. It’s good to do a safety check in your home at least

twice a year. Check all smoke & carbon monoxide detectors to ensure they

are in working order. You should have the pressure of your fire extinguish-

ers checked. You may also want to reiterate or create an emergency plan

with your family, to ensure that in the event of a fire or natural disaster, they

are prepared and know what to do.

Don’t forget about your pets. Your pets don’t need back to school

supplies or have closets to clean and organize, but they need to be prepared

for Fall too! Ensure your pets’ vaccinations are up to date. Remember, fleas

can survive until the first frost, so keep your pets protected!

Clean their bedding and wash their food dishes and toys. If you use scoop-

able cat litter, empty the box completely and give it a good wipe down. If

you have plans to travel during the holidays and your pets aren’t coming

with you, now might be a good time to start planning where your pets will

stay while you’re gone.

Think outdoor safety. Check the sidewalk and driveway for holes

and cracks that could cause people to trip. Not to mention that when the

Winter ice and snow gets in the cracks, it will only be a bigger problem in

the Spring when everything melts. Fall weather is perfect for patching as-

phalt and concrete, as it will help it set quicker. With the sun setting earlier,

you may want to add extra lighting along pathways and ensure all outdoor

lights are in working order and changed as soon as the burn out.

Get your car ready. Depending on where you live, this could be a

quick or lengthy process. Now is a good time to have the car serviced and

newer tires put on, before Winter hits. You may also want to consider having

your vehicle detailed to remove all remnants of Summer fun such as sand in

the trunk, chips on the floor and the lingering smell of wet beach towels.

Continued on next page

Continued from previous page Prepare your garden. Prepare the lawn by removing weeds, seeding, and fertilizing. In your garden, remove weeds, pull annuals, prune perenni-als, and plant any spring-blooming bulbs. Fall is the best time to plant trees, shrubs & bulbs, as the soil is still warm, but cool enough for the roots to really take hold. Consider putting mulch in your flower beds, as it helps to protect the plants when the weather turns cold. Plants in containers should be emptied, or taken indoors.

Clean and organize your garage or closet. Fall is the perfect time to clean and organize your garage, as the hot weather is gone and it’s not too cold just yet. If you don’t have a garage, this tip may apply to a shed, closet or basement storage area!

Organize & wipe down shelves (this might be a good time to purge.) Use peg boards to hang & organize tools, and bins & boxes to store/organize the rest. Ensure all beach, camping and Spring/Summer sporting equipment is put away and move all Fall sporting & yard equipment such as football/soc-cer gear, rakes & leaf blowers to easily accessible areas.

Winterize your outdoor space. Clean your gutters and do a quick check on the roof to ensure you have no loose shingles. Ensure you drain all irrigation lines and garden hoses and bring all hoses inside to prevent cracking. If you have a rain barrel, disconnect it from the downspout, empty it, and turn it over or bring it inside, also to prevent cracking.

Clean all your outdoor furniture and equipment with a mild soap solution and water. If you’re able to bring them indoors during the winter, you should do so. If not, wrap them tightly with a tarp or other cover that will protect them from the winter weather Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/3046030

http://www.somdkitchenbathfloors.com/

Four Great Fall Bulbs For Your Garden

By Amanda Bashore, Contributing Writer

If you love to garden and are sad to see the prime planting months coming to an end, don’t start putting your spade and trow-el away just yet. Although the weather is getting cooler - there are plenty of bulbs that are meant to planted in the fall to ensure that they bloom beautifully come spring time. You’ll be able to prolong your gardening career just a little bit longer (and maybe even take advantage of some seasonably warm fall weather) and just when you’re ready to kiss winter goodbye - your garden will already have some new buds popping up.

Bulbs need a required period of “cold” in order to bloom, so en-suring that they’re in the ground before the weather gets too chilly is extremely important. If you want your bulbs ready to pop their heads up at the beginning of spring - choose a planting date about

six weeks before you expect the ground to freeze. Typically - early October is prime. These bulbs, once planted, are low maintenance and you may even forget you even planted them until they begin to peek up through the melted snow. If you need some suggestions on which direction to take your fall planting in - consider some of these beautiful options;

• Daffodils are a very popular choice when it comes to planting in the fall and seeing the benefits come spring time. They’re often associated with the arrival of spring and the Easter season. Known for their bright yellow color - they’ll make a beautiful and vibrant addition to your lawn.

• If you’re looking for a bit of variety when it comes to color, the Tulip is an excellent choice. Known for its multi-colored blooms, you can end up with quite a variety of shades when planting tulips in your garden. Tulips make great fresh flow-ers to bring into the home, as well, so if you use your garden for home décor - consider planting some tulip bulbs before the weather turns,

• If it’s a very fragrant flower that you’re interested in - the hy-acinth is beautiful in both aroma and looks. Like the tulip, the hyacinth is known to bloom in a variety of shades ranging from blue to white to purple to pink. Once again, these blooms are an excellent choice for a vase on your coffee table or mantle.

Continued from previous page

• Finally, the crocus makes a great choice if you’re feeling a little bit impatient about waiting until spring. Crocuses are known for popping up even though snow and are considered to be the ‘first-blooms of springtime’. If you want a little bit of extra color in your front yard early on in the season, planting crocuses to in-

crease your curb appeal will certainly do the trick.

• Planting your bulbs in the fall can be a quite simple task since not much work is required to get things growing. Fall bulbs, like previously mentioned, need that period of cold weather in order to grow - so mother nature will be doing most of the tending to. It’s best to plant your bulbs where they aren’t completely shaded by trees or shrubbery since sunlight does help along with the

growing process. If you’re worried about the conditions of your yard, either consult the packaging of the specific bulb you’re planting or ask the expert at your local garden center. By putting in a little bit of extra work before the weather gets cold - you’ll be glad you did once you have a garden of beautiful, colorful blooms come spring.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Amanda_Bashore

ArtsFest showcases artists, creates funBy Marty Madden, senior writer

It has been a late September tradition in Southern Maryland for over 20 years. The 2015 edition of the Artsfest Fine Arts Festival at An-nmarie Sculpture Garden and Arts Center in Solomons is scheduled for Saturday and Sunday, Sept. 19 and 20.

According to a press release from the sculpture garden, “Artsfest 15 is a family fun weekend of fine art shopping, live music, delicious food and drink, wine and beer, free children’s activities and more—all set amidst the lovely trees and artwork of Annmarie Sculpture Garden and Arts Center on Dowell Road.”

Over 160 artists, mostly from Maryland but hailing from 13 other states—including Virginia, Pennsylvania, Florida, Tennessee and Montana—will be participating.

“Each of the artists who wish to participate in Artsfest had to com-plete a call for entry, which is a process of completing an application,

submitting images of their works they wish to sell and a small entry fee,” explained Annmarie Sculpture Garden and Arts Center Mar-keting and Development Director Bill Stevenson. “Once all of the applications have been submitted, all the artists’ works are reviewed by a panel of three judges, then culminated. Some of the things that are taken into consideration are the quality and diversity of work and products. The end goal is to have a fine arts festival with a board variety of art to choose from.”

More than 220 artists submitted applications this year.Stevenson told The BayNet that Artsfest 15 will feature a number of new musical performers. Two of the acts are appearing at the festival thanks to a grant awarded by the National Endowment for the Arts and the Maryland State Arts Council. They are The Lovejoy Group, described by Stevenson as “a versatile, energetic jazz, funky blues and smooth Latin rhythms” band; and The Eric Byrd Trio, “who provide a broad, rich traditional jazz.”

The musical acts will perform at the main stage tent and the garden’s Council Ring. Several “strolling” performers will provide continu-ous entertainment.

The children’s activities scheduled for Artsfest 15 will be taking place inside the Discovery Tent and Zany Zone. Additional venues for creative free play include Fairy Lolly, the Studio School and the Children’s Garden.

Artsfest always yields an impressive crowd and 2015 could be the biggest ever. “We hope to get a slight increase compared to this past year,” Stevenson stated. “The goal is to get closer to 12,000 guests for the two-day event.” The sculpture garden is using several meth-ods, including social media, to increase awareness of Artsfest in the Tri-County region, said Stevenson.

Event parking is always free. The admission price is $6 per person. Children 11 years and younger are admitted free. Admission is also free for Annmarie Garden members. Stevenson reported that there

are a number of $1 off coupons available in school flyers, print ads as well as on the Artsfest web site page.

Several food vendors, many of them local, will sell their works in the field of culinary arts at the festival should you get hungry.Annmarie Sculpture Garden and Arts Center is affiliated with the Smithsonian Institution. It’s just a 60 minute drive from the Wash-ington, DC. The facility is located on Dowell Road, just off Route 2/4 in Solomons.

Can’t make it to Artsfest? There will be ample opportunities this fall to enjoy this amazing local venue. One huge event is scheduled for Saturday, Oct. 24. It’s the annual Halloween in the Garden, a daytime trick-or-treating parade. Over 70 community organi-zations and businesses are involved in the festivities, which will be held, rain or shine, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Admission to the garden is just $1 per

person.

For more information on all events and activities at Annmarie Sculp-ture Garden and Arts Center, visit their web site at www.annmariegarden.org

By Fiona Baron, Contributing writer

The cost of heating and cooling the home has gone nowhere but up in the past few years, and this fall will be no different. More and more families are finding a significant portion of their budget being dedicated to staying cool or warm during the year. As fall ap-proaches, the tips that follow will allow you to get your home ready for the cooler weather and will help you to get the most out of your heating dollars.

Checking for Leaks It is hard enough to pay for energy to heat your home, but it is even harder still to imagine that heat is being wasted because of leaks. The most effective and least expensive way to cut down on wasted energy is with caulking and weather-strip-ping. If your home is not properly sealed, you may be wasting as much as fifteen percent of your home heating budget. Check for leaks in the following areas of your home:

Lower Your Energy Bills This Fall!

Around windows and doors. Drafts and leaks around windows and doors can be costly. Add caulking to any holes that obviously allow heat to pass through, and add weather-stripping to all windows and doors. Your door should seal properly when shut and you should not be able to feel any draft from beneath the door.

Electrical switches and outlets can allow cold air to come into your home. You can purchase pre-cut foam gaskets very inexpensively that simply fit behind the switch plate between the wall and that prevents the loss of heat.

Close the damper on the fireplace when not in use. An open damper is like having a huge window open in your home, but many people forget to close it when the fire is no longer burning.

Inspect your home’s heating ducts for leakage. You might think of your home’s heating ducts like giant hoses that are piping in hot air instead of water. Just imagine the loss of heat that can occur with a

leak in the ductwork of your home. Ducts may become crushed, torn, flattened, or even damaged by pests without your knowledge and may be leaking hot air.

Insulate the attic. If your home is older, there is a good chance that your home’s attic may not be insulated, or may be poorly insulated. A large amount of heat can be lost through your attic due to the fact that heat rises. Also, apply weather-stripping and insulation on the hatch that opens up to the attic. Seal any holes in the attic that may lead down into the home. Any hole that leads from the attic into the home may be a huge energy waster.

Maintaining Your Heating System Once you have an air-tight home with no leaks, you are ready to think about the day when you will need to fire your furnace up for the first time this season. If you are a savvy homeowner, you have likely been maintaining your heating and cooling system throughout the summer, but with fall approaching, now is the time to schedule a professional inspection with your local heating and cooling technician. This annual inspection allows the technician to check for potential problems and to make any needed repairs so that your heating system is ready to go when the fall chill sets in. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/4891431

Ingredients Original recipe makes 12 servings

1 cup graham cracker crumbs 1/2 cup finely chopped pecans 3 tablespoons white sugar 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon 1/4 cup unsalted butter, melted 2 (8 ounce) packages cream cheese, softened 1/2 cup white sugar 2 eggs 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract 4 cups apples - peeled, cored and thinly sliced 1/3 cup white sugar 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon 1/4 cup chopped pecans Add all ingredients to list

1. In a large bowl, combine cream cheese and 1/2 cup sugar. Mix at medium speed until smooth. Beat in eggs one at a time, mixing well after each addition. Blend in vanilla; pour filling into the baked crust.

2. In a large bowl, combine cream cheese and 1/2 cup sugar. Mix at medium speed until smooth. Beat in eggs one at a time, mixing well after each addition. Blend in vanilla; pour filling into the baked crust.

3. In a small bowl, stir together 1/3 cup sugar and 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon. Toss the cinnamon-sugar with the apples to coat. Spoon apple mixture over cream cheese layer and sprinkle with 1/4 cup chopped pecans.

4. Bake in preheated oven for 60 to 70 minutes. With a knife, loosen cake from rim of pan. Let cool, then re-move the rim of pan. Chill cake before serving.

Autumn CheesecakeBy AllRecipes.com

http://www.kge.com