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Q. I've been dutifully checking my smoke detectors with the "push to test" buttons for many years. I'm intrigued by the idea of testing them with actual smoke. I tried it with a match once, but the alarm didn't go off. Should it have, or do I need much more smoke and/or heat?

A. I tried using a smoky flame some time ago, wrote about it, and received an angry note instructing me never, ever to use an open flame to test a smoke detector. The writer suggested I buy a little gadget that spews out carbon dioxide. You could do the same. It sounds as if your alarms are old, so I suggest you buy new ones, both smoke and carbon monoxide.

Regarding testing, the Massachusetts Department of Fire Services says not to use a lighted match and that the following steps are sufficient:

-- Testing your smoke detectors monthly.

-- Replacing alkaline batteries twice a year, when you change your clocks, even if your detectors are hard-wired.

-- Replacing your smoke detector every 10 years (the sensors wear out) and your carbon monoxide ones every five to seven years.

Q. Would you like to read how I solved a very serious situation: the leaky foundation of our house, particularly after it rains? Our house is on a slope going down from front to back. Water started seeping through a few places in the stone foundation into the basement on the front during heavy rains. Three years ago, I saw puddles against the foundation in the front. Years of raking leaves away from the house had put a depression in the ground. I put earth and compost against the foundation to create a berm.

A. You solved a significant problem with a simple answer. I don't think you made a berm, but rather an apron that diverts rainwater away from the foundation so that it seeps into the ground harmlessly.

Write to Peter Hotton at photton@globe.com.

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Handyman: Real flame to test smoke detector? Don't try it

Resurfacing of Center Street in Grayslake and the second stage of Peterson Road reconstruction are slated to move forward in the next construction season after the Lake County Board approved funding for the projects last week.

Center Street, a 1.4-mile stretch between Routes 45 and 83, part of which runs past the former Lake County Fairgrounds, will be resurfaced with paved shoulders in areas without curb and gutter. With the $2.23 million appropriation, approved by the board at its Nov. 11 meeting, the project is now cleared to head out for bids.

Grayslake is also eyeing Center Street for improvements east of the villages business district, with a resurfacing project from Route 83 to the Canadian National Railway tracks now in the design phase.

The board also approved a total of $22.8 million in appropriations including $16.2 million from the countys quarter-percent sales tax for transportation improvements for the ongoing widening of Peterson Road near Libertyville and Grayslake.

Work began earlier this year on a widening of Peterson from Route 45 to a point just west of Route 83, a project that includes intersection improvements at not only Route 83 but Midlothian Road. The funds approved last week are projected to cover the reconstruction and widening of Peterson from Route 83 to Allegheny Road.

The scope of that second phase also includes installation of a bike path on the north side of Peterson and resurfacing of nearly the entire length of Allegheny a 2.2 mile stretch from Peterson north to Hojem Lane, near Belvidere Road. As with the Center Street project, the Peterson project is now set to take bids.

In other transportation business at its Nov. 11 meeting, the board approved the following measures:

Appropriation of $1.8 million for the reconstruction and widening of Petite Lake Road from Fairfield Road to Route 59 near Lake Villa.

Appropriation of $295,000 in county transportation sales-tax funds to improve Metras Grayslake North Central station platform in preparation for the Washington Street underpass project just to the south. That overall $35 million project, which includes widening of Washington to four lanes west of Lake Street, is scheduled to start next spring and continue for two full construction seasons.

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Center Street, Peterson Road lead list of county road projects

ORDER INFORMATION: We reserve the right to cancel any orders for products or seeds in which either the items are no longer available or discontinued. On items in which the pricing was listed incorrectly online due to an error in pricing correctly, we will contact you with the corrected price. For our retail customers we will offer you the wholesale price for that particular item, however pricing errors will NOT be honored at the incorrect "error" price. Any product that displays a zero price ("$0.00") is considered to be out of stock item. Usually the product will also be marked as SOLD OUT, however in some cases only a zero price may display. Customers will be notified the actual normal price on zero price items once the item becomes available. Out of stock (SOLD OUT) items will not be billed, backordered or shipped unless you specifically contact us requesting an order be shipped when available - You will be notified of the item price on any out of stock item that you request to be shipped later. You may call and request that an out of stock item be shipped as soon as it returns to stock availability. All sales are not completed or accepted until payment has been completed, at that point shipment of product orders will occur.

For added security, we do NOT immediately process credit card orders live online. Your order is first reviewed by a sales specialist for any changes, questions or corrections. After review, your order is then processed securely and items are scheduled for shipment. For additional company information and policies visit Seedland.com - Seedland can only assist with commercial quantities for shipments of seeds outside the USA, please read our export policy link above. Note that we do NOT ship or export fertilizers, spreaders or other manufactured merchandise outside the US states. For returns please review our return policy listed at the link above. Most items ship within 24 to 72 hours (1-3 days) and generally take 2-10 days for delivery depending on item shipment location and your location. We can not guarantee immediate same day shipment on expedited items but will try and ship these requests as quickly as possible. Live plants and grass plugs do NOT immediately ship after your order is processed. See our shipment policy on these items.

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Grass Seed|Wildflower Seed|Pasture Seed|Food Plot Seed ...

Ryegrass Seed - Annual & Perennial

Ryegrass seeds were brought to the USA from Europe and ryegrass is planted throughout the country as cool season lawns, pastures and turf. These bunch grasses consist of two basic types; annual and perennial. Each type of ryegrass is planted as a pure strain or used in grass seed mixtures depending on the specific lawn, pasture or turf use desired.

Ryegrasses are adapted into lawns mainly for their fast growing ability as a cool season grass and is sometimes referred to as winter rye grass. Perennial ryegrass is a permanent lawn choice in cooler climate areas, and annual ryegrass is seeded yearly and lives for one season as a winter rye grass.

Browse our menu to the right for information on growing ryegrass and more! We sell Oregon Grown Ryegrass Seed and more!

Ryegrasses ( both annual and perennial) can be grown on their own in the northern states for lawns. In many areas of the country, largely because this grass is so versatile, it is incorporated in grass seed mixtures with other grasses.

Both Perennial and Annual Rye grass can provide a green winter lawn overseeded on warm season grasses that go dormant in the fall/winter. Ryegrass planted on newly seeded lawns of cool and warm season grasses ryegrass acts as an erosion barrier while the permanent lawn develops. Ryegrass also provides any area with an almost "instant" green coverage. This green coverage is the chief purpose for planting annual ryegrass. Ryegrass clippings mown and left on the developing lawn as it grows, providing extra nutrients as the ryegrass decomposes.

Bright green, fast growing, and prolific; the ryegrasses do much for lawns by adding contrasting color to early spring flowers, trees and shrubs as well as nutrients.

Annual Rye grass is one of the most popular seeds sold for lawn and pasture purposes and is planted all over the world on it's own and in numerous grass seed mixtures. The adaptability of this cool season grass to many soils and climates coupled with fast germination and prolific growing rates make annual ryegrass an important grass type in establishing thousands of lawns and pastures in all but the hottest of planting zones.

Annual ryegrass is exceptionally useful as a fill-in grass when planted with slower growing permanent lawns. Ideally suited for short term seasonal use in areas reaching below the transition zone, annual ryegrass is a great fill-in to create green grass on new grass areas. In warmer regions, ryegrass lawns may require watering, fertilization and more frequent mowing.

Annual Ryegrass is a cool season grass generally used as a temporary planting for overseeding warm or cool season grasses. Its uses are many, including temporary pastures, green manure, temporary coverage for erosion control, short term use on reclamation sites, parks, new lawns, and along highway shoulders. Annual ryegrass may be seeded with other grass mixtures, legumes, clovers and small grains. Annual Ryegrass is fast germinating, quick growing and requires low to medium fertilization.

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Ryegrasses - Rye Grass Seed Annual & Perennial - Lawn ...

Bhavishyavani | November 16 , 2014
Watch BHAVISHYAVANI with Acharya Indu Prakash, who tells your daily horoscope, numerological fortune, alphabetical fortune and gives tips on vaastu shastra and feng-shui along with astrological...

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Bhavishyavani | November 16 , 2014 - Video

Tuesday, November 18, 2014

In their letters, readers of The Standard quoted past columns.

One said: "In April 2010, in the column Bad move on Tamar , among others, you wrote, `We can only hope the administration does not end up being corrupt and incompetent.' Since the move of the government site to Tamar, things are unsettling!"

Another said: "In the December 7, 2012, column Wheel of misfortune, you wrote quite clearly that the Ferris wheel should not be placed in the wrong location. You explained that since Central is the meeting place of two most critical water dragons, building a Ferris wheel would result in two dragons competing for a pearl! See what has happened now!"

A third said: "In one of your columns a few months ago, you wrote, `In Hong Kong, everything has its own cycle. A gua is assigned to each 20-year span, and as I have said before, we are now in period eight (from 2004 to 2023).' Period nine is also no good for Hong Kong."

In many previous columns I often said that reclaiming land would definitely hurt Hong Kong as a result of eroding the feng shui landscape, that modernization would bring a hefty cost.

But more so, I wanted to get the message across to readers that action and reaction, and cause and effect or karma and dharma really do

Everyone carries their own karma, and is responsible for their own good or evil. Each of us should realize that we bear a karma which is the deeds we have done in every single situation. What we see happening to Hong Kong is the result of desire, lust and a craze for power in certain quarters.

Our education should incorporate values and virtues such as love, passion and patriotism over lust, desire and a craze for power. After all, what good is freedom if it is without love to measure, what good is freedom of speech if it is without patriotism?

When I was in the United States and Canada, every home had the national flag flying. I hope one day Hong Kong apartments will at least put up the territory's flag! Kerby Kuek has published 15 books on feng shui, inner alchemy, Taoism and metaphysics. He can be contacted at http://www.misterfengshui.com.

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Wrong values, virtues are causing this mess

Lean Araig can shrug off an absence of 327 days and make a successful debut over jumps in the Supporters Club AGM Maiden Hurdle at Wexford this afternoon.

Oliver McKiernans charge ran two promising races in bumpers at the back-end of last year and it looks significant he is now immediately asked to follow his true calling.

The selection started off at Punchestown in early December, finishing fourth behind the very smart Black Hercules. He was beaten almost 13 lengths then, but 18 days later showed marked improvement at Leopardstown.

On this occasion, he finished three lengths and half a length third behind two useful sorts in Gordon Elliotts Noble Endeavor and Dermot Welds Windsor Park.

It is a contest that has been working out quite nicely and there seems little doubt Lean Araig needs a set of obstacles in front of him to begin to fulfil his potential.

He is well bred by Old Vic, out of Glens Music. His dam won five times over hurdles and also landed a Grade 2 over fences.

Measureofmydreams is hard to oppose in the two and a quarter mile Slaney Maiden Hurdle.

Willie Mullins former point-to-point winner took a bumper at Navan and then split two solid horses in Martello Tower and Kauto Grand Mogol in a winners bumper at Fairyhouse.

Mullins French recruit, Vroum Vroum Mag, successful in a bumper and hurdle in her native country and last seen when finishing second at Auteuil in March, will probably provide the answer to the Kerlogue Mares Beginners Chase.

Four of the five contestants in the Join The Supporters Club Mares Hurdle have a chance, with the nod falling on Cloudy Rock.

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Lean Araig set to make successful debut over fences

URBAN HYMN, the apple of Malcolm Jefferson's eye, makes the journey from his trainer's Norton yard to Cheltenham today in a bid to chalk-up his first win over fences.

A useful hurdler last season when he won a Grade 2 event at Doncaster in January, the strapping gelding has always looked liked a potential chaser. He made his debut over fences at Carlisle last month and failed in a photo-finish to beat the equally smart Duke Of Navan.

That race was over two miles, an absolute minimum for Urban Hymn, who will be much better suited by today's step up to two and a half miles.

It does, however, promise to be a demanding challenge. The Steel Plate & Sections Novices' Chase has attracted a high-quality field and if Urban Hymn can come out on top under Brian Hughes he will take a giant leap forward at this early stage of his new discipline.

The opening day of Cheltenham's excellent three-day meeting is highlighted by the 30,000 Neptune Investment Management Novices;' Hurdle, which promises to be a fascinating contest.

The booking of Ruby Walsh for Jonjo O'Neill's Champagne Present, who looked a horse to follow when narrowly beaten at Aintree last month, looks significant, but the four-year-old has a tough task against a few of these, including Blaklion, who won the Grade 2 Persian War Novices' Hurdle at Chepstow three weeks ago. He looks very smart.

Nicky Henderson's power-packed team is starting to get into top gear and the Lambourn trainer has good prospects with Anquetta in the Paddy Power Handicap Chase.

The ten-year-old looked in good nick when narrowly beaten on his comeback run after a summer break at Stratford. A bold bid is expected this afternoon.

Henderson's Oscar Time will also be a popular choice among punters in the opening Opus Energy Amateur Riders' Handicap Chase.

Although in the twilight of his career, the teenage gelding enjoyed a great time of things last season.

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Malcolm Jefferson's Urban Hymn in first fences win bid

Los Angeles County prosecutors have declined to file criminal charges in connection with taxpayer-funded work performed at Supervisor Mark Ridley-Thomas' home.

The district attorney's office said in a memorandum released Monday that county officials told investigators that the remodeling of Ridley-Thomas' converted garage into a home office last year was within county policy, though prosecutors found the project exceeded its initial costs.

"If they are correct, then the remodel was done with 'authority of law,' and there is no violation," the memo said.

The investigation focused on whether the work which cost taxpayers at least $10,675, according to the memo was a misappropriation of public funds.

A district attorney spokeswoman said the office had no immediate comment.

Ridley-Thomas did not respond to an interview request. He has said in the past that the work at his home was proper.

For months, county officials have refused to provide to The Times a full accounting of the costs of the project, which involved adding a security alarm system and making other improvements to Ridley-Thomas' garage.

Previously, the county has said the job cost $10,038 in labor and materials slightly less than the minimum total cited by the district attorney's office. But records reviewed by The Times suggest the cost could have been greater.

Time sheets for five Los Angeles County employees show a total of 170 hours worked at Ridley-Thomas' home in Leimert Park. If billed at standard county rates, 170 hours would cost more than $20,000.

County officials have declined to discuss the employees' work or how they calculated the costs.

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L.A. County won't file criminal charges over work at Ridley-Thomas home

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By: Brian Ratliff

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Birmingham Block Paving Driveway Call 0121 285 3637 Now - Video