Today's Feature

YMCA Fall Membership Special.

As a part of the celebration for Maple Leaf, the Fair Acres Family YMCA will waive membership fees for new members through October 31, 2008, resulting in a savings up to $75.00.

A variety of new programs are also being offered at the Y including Youth Floor Hockey, a new program that is currently accepting registrations. Group exercise classes are also forming, including the Triathlon Club, Home School Physical Educations classes and more.

More information may be obtained by calling the Fair Acres Family YMCA at 358-1070, by visiting www.fairacresymca.org online, or by visiting the Y at 2600 Grand Ave.

Safety Committee Meeting.

The City Council Public Safety Committee will meet this evening at 6:30 p.m. in the Carthage Police Department, 310 W. 4th Street.

Items on the agenda include the discussion of the Christmas Parade with Mark Sponagle of the Carthage Technical Center, and a request to close the inside of the square for a blood drive.

Mornin'

I’ve seen those ads for the gizmo that attaches to the water hose to blow leaves outa the rain gutters. ‘Course they don’t show the folks usin’ ‘em gettin’ soaked to the core with all that water splashin’ around.

What I want to see is a gizmo that attaches to the vacuum cleaner to clean bugs outa those chandeliers. You know the ones, they look like big bowls suspended down from chains. They always have a handful a dead bugs in the bottom of ‘em and are usually hangin’ from a twenty foot ceilin’.

I’ve often wondered what bugs did at night before street lights were invented. Maybe lightin’ bugs were the big attraction back then, givin’ a brief glimpse of the future social activity of bug kind. Then, ever’one knows bugs are for the birds.

This is some fact, but mostly,

Just Jake Talkin’.

This Is A Hammer
By Samantha Mazzotta

Clearing Away Clutter

Q: My husband and I are both terrible at managing clutter. It seems that every time one of us manages to clear a space of stuff, more junk appears to fill it up! How can we get rid of all the clutter in our house? -- Jane W., via e-mail

A: Clutter is a very common problem in American society, so you’re not alone. None of us likes to be without our "stuff," even when that stuff is pushing us out the door.

Ellen Phillips, author of "Kick the Clutter: Clear Out Excess Stuff Without Losing What You Love" (Rodale Inc., $17.95), writes that there are several types of personalities that attract clutter. For example: The collector, who amasses lots of his or her favorite items; the inheritor, who "inherits" items from family members or friends; and the compulsive shopper, who buys things because they are a bargain or needed.

The first step to getting rid of clutter, whether you fall into the above categories or not, is to recognize the traits that make you susceptible to amassing clutter, and then work consciously, every day, on not giving in to those traits. In this way it’s very much like going on a diet.

Once you’ve addressed the reason why clutter comes in the door, set priorities for tackling the existing clutter. You don’t have to tackle it all at once; budget your time for cleaning up. And don’t overdo it -- just do a little at a time, but regularly.

And be sure to do this as a couple. If both of you have brought in clutter, you both should take it out. Don’t blame each other or try to make the other spouse feel guilty about it, but instead work together to prioritize and de-clutter your home.

HOME TIP: Feel guilty about just throwing excess clutter in the trash? Recycle as much as possible, give it away or sell more valuable items on an online auction site like eBay.