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Elmwood, Nebraska

“Growing Together”

7 March 2007

I didn’t receive much this week and I don’t have much to pass on. Aren’t you lucky! That means you get a longer informational story! (Hey, I have to fill this space!)

Turn your clocks AHEAD one hour Saturday night! Daylight Saving Time (DST) officially begins at 2 a.m. Sunday morning, March 11th!
I’ve personally noted that there is no “s” in the word “saving.” I’ve been saying this wrong for many years. The Energy Policy Act of 2005 set new start & stop dates to begin this year (second Sunday in March, to the first Sunday in November.) So if you thought this came a bit earlier than usual you’re right. And I’ve noted that there is a lot of history surrounding DST.
DST dates back to Benjamin Franklin who first suggested the idea in an essay published in 1784. A century later an Englishman named William Willett brought this up again and by an Act of Parliament, in 1916, clocks were moved one hour ahead. This was during the first World War as England recognized that they could save energy. For seven months 1918 into 1919, Congress placed the U.S. on DST for similar reasons. Because it was so unpopular the law was repealed. While in war, again Congress reinstated DST on February 9, 1942. It remained one hour ahead year-round until September 30, 1945. From 1945 to 1966 there was no U.S. law about DST and localities and states could do whatever they wanted – and they did. It created confusion for the broadcasting industry, trains, and bussing schedules. New schedules had to be prepared every time a town or state began or ended DST. Then came the Uniform Time Act of 1966 – which does not state “who” has to observe DST, but “if” it is observed it will be observed uniformly. Currently, Hawaii, and Arizona (except the Navajo Nation in Arizona) are the only two states that do not observe DST. In 1973, 1986, and in Aug 2005, Acts were signed yet again extending DST in the U.S. Except for American Samoa, Guam, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands, all other parts of the world also observe a DST period. If you haven’t already figured it out, there is one very good reason for DST and one very important life-saving task associated with it as well!

Speaking of Life-Saving …(I received this in an email from a teacher.)

  • Tip from Tae Kwon Do: The elbow is the strongest point on your body. If you are close enough to use it, do!
  • If a robber asks for your wallet and/or purse, DO NOT HAND IT TO HIM. Toss it away from you.... chances are that he is more interested in your wallet and/or purse than you, and he will go for the wallet/purse. RUN LIKE MAD IN THE OTHER DIRECTION!
  • If you are ever thrown into the trunk of a car, kick out the back tail lights and stick your arm out the hole and start waving like crazy. The driver won't see you, but everybody else will. This has saved lives.
  • Women have a tendency to get into their cars after shopping, eating, working, etc., and just sit (doing their checkbook, or making a list, etc. DON'T DO THIS!) The predator will be watching you, and this is the perfect opportunity for him to get in on the passenger side, put a gun to your head, and tell you where to go. AS SOON AS YOU GET INTO YOUR CAR, LOCK THE DOORS AND LEAVE. If someone is in the car with a gun to your head DO NOT DRIVE OFF, repeat: DO NOT DRIVE OFF! Instead gun the engine and speed into anything, wrecking the car. Your Air Bag will save you. If the person is in the back seat they will get the worst of it. As soon as the car crashes bail out and run.
  • A few notes about getting into your car in a parking lot, or parking garage: A) Be aware and look around you, look into your car, at the passenger side floor, and in the back seat. B) If you are parked next to a big van, enter your car from the passenger door. Most serial killers attack their victims by pulling them into their vans while the women are attempting to get into their cars. C) Look at the car parked on the driver's side of your vehicle, and the passenger side. If a male is sitting alone in the seat nearest your car, you may want to walk back into the mall, or work, and get a guard/policeman to walk you back out.
  • Always take the elevator instead of the stairs. (Stairwells are horrible places to be alone and the perfect crime spot. This is especially true at night.)
  • If the predator has a gun and you are not under his control, run! Statistics say the predator will only hit a running target 4 in 100 times and most likely will not be a vital organ. Run in a zigzag pattern!
  • As women, we are always trying to be sympathetic: Stop because it may get you raped, or killed. Ted Bundy, the serial killer, was a good-looking, well educated man, who always played on the sympathies of unsuspecting women. He walked with a cane, or a limp, and often asked "for help" into his vehicle or with his vehicle, which is when he abducted his next victim.
  • A True Story: A person heard a crying baby on her porch. She called the police because it was late and she thought it was weird. The police told her "Whatever you do, DO NOT open the door." He told her that they think a serial killer has a baby's cry recorded and uses it to coax women out of their homes. He said they have not verified it, but have had several calls by women saying that they hear baby's cries outside their doors when they're home alone at night. The Crying Baby theory was mentioned on America’s Most Wanted when they profiled a serial killer in Louisiana.

Cancer Support Group: Sponsored by the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, Omaha, NE. This group meets the 4th Tuesday of each month at the Elmwood Community Center. This is a support group for adult patients with cancer, their families and friends. If you are interested, please call Tonya Schroeder at (888)847-4974. She will provide you with more information and tell you the meeting time.

Reminder – No school this Thurs/Friday, March 8-9th. Please be watchful of the kids that like to play on those huge piles of snow! The speed limit through the Elmwood business district is 25 mph! The kids on those big mounds of snow are having such a good time that they are apt to forget they are playing along a busy road.

Booster Club Meeting, Thursday, March 15th, 7pm.

A New Business added to the Business Link on the web page www.elmwoodnebraska.com It is Big Dan’s Auto Body Repair / Big Dan’s Video and More.

Talent Showcase & Chili Dogs! March 18th, 5pm at the Elmwood Christian Church. Anybody with any type of talent can participate (sing, play instrument, tell jokes, magic tricks, you name it!) Donation at the door to support the Junior Youth Fellowship (JYF), Disciples of Christ Christian Church. Funds will be used for future mission trips and other spiritual activities. If you are interested in participating in the talent show, please contact Cynthia, Pastor Sheldon’s wife, (402)994-2146. Those participating in the talent showcase will be entered in a $15 gift card drawing. Please come for food, entertainment, and fellowship together! Everybody is welcome!

….and let’s repeat some things:

Flying Wheels:
March 9 – Rink Rat Night, 6-9:30pm, Kids under 13 are $3. Adults FREE.
March 11 – Meet the No Coast Roller Derby Girls! Exhibition/Practice 2-4pm. $3 admission. Stay for FREE evening session + skate rental, 4-8:30pm.

S.O.S. (Support Our Schools) Cook Book is available for $10. Pick up and pay at the elementary school office.

Cub Scouts meet Monday evenings at 7pm at the elementary cafeteria. It’s not too late to join!

The reason for Daylight Saving Time (DST) is to save energy. The studies completed in the 1970’s by the U.S. Department of Transportation showed that the entire country saved about one percent of energy each day of DST. And that adds up to a lot! In the average home, 25% of the electrical use is for lighting and small appliances, such as TV’s. A good percentage of energy use is consumed in the evenings when people are home. Adding the extra hour of daylight reduces the need for lighting as the sun then sets one hour later and this also allows people to spend more time outside and not inside using those appliances.
Because you should change the batteries in your smoke detectors twice a year, DST serves as the perfect reminder! A working smoke detector more than doubles your chance of survival during a fire. More than 90% of the homes in the U.S. are believed to have smoke detectors. However, it is estimated that nearly one-third of those smoke detectors have dead or missing batteries. (Compliments of William McNabb, Troy Fire Dept, Michigan).

Don’t forget to spring ahead & check those smoke detector batteries!
(Info for next publication is due by Sunday!)
Gina Fahrenholz
Editor@ElmwoodNebraska.com
www.elmwoodnebraska.com

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Village of Elmwood, NE, 2006- 2007