March 7, 2008

Change your Clock, Change the Battery in Your Smoke Detector

As the time change approaches on Sunday, March 9, the Merriam Fire Department wants to remind residents to make another change that could safe their lives -- changing the batteries in their smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors.  This simple habit takes just a moment, but is the best defense your family has against the devastating effects of a home fire.

Eighty-three percent of all civilian fire-related deaths are a result of home fires. An early warning can provide critical extra seconds to escape, smoke alarms double your family's chance of getting out of a home fire alive -- but only if they work.

REMEMBER: SMOKE DETECTORS SAVE LIVES!

Merriam's Annual Spring Plant Sale Underway -

Just in time for spring gardening! The City of Merriam and the Merriam Tree Board are proud to present our annual spring plant sale. Restricted to Merriam residents and businesses only, this sale features perennials and shrubs perfect for any landscape. You can view a list of the plants available in this year's sale, along with a catalog description, by visiting the City's website, www.merriam.org/plants.

To order, bring the completed order form to City Hall during normal business hours (M-F, 8AM to 4:30PM). The City accepts cash, check, money order, or credit card. Completed orders can also be mailed along with payment to 9000 W. 62nd Terrace, Merriam, KS 66202.

All orders must be received by Friday, April 11, 2008. Each customer will receive a receipt that must be presented when picking up your order on Saturday, May 10th, between 8AM and noon at the Merriam Public Works Facility (6901 Knox). No early or late pick-ups are permitted.

Contact City Hall at (913) 322-5500 with order inquiries or the Public Works Department at (913) 322-5570 with product questions.

ECO TIP - Go Green...Plants, That Is

Houseplants have more advantages for your home than just looking pretty. Many people know that plants give off oxygen. Their respiration is the opposite of us humans, making for a great symbiotic relationship. When humans breathe in, they are supplying their bodies with the oxygen they need to metabolize food, using energy. When they breathe out, they give off carbon dioxide. When plants “breathe” in, they absorb carbon dioxide and give off oxygen.

Research has shown though, that not only do house plants absorb carbon dioxide, they can also absorb other pollutants from the air, such as smoke and chemical fumes given off by plastics, hygiene products, and office machinery. Plus, they’re much more attractive than those noisy air purification machines. One small study even showed that students pay more attention and are more eager to learn in classrooms that have house plants. Both the presence of and the act of tending to house plants appear to have calming effects on people.

Having green and other colored plants in your home or office can brighten up gray and dark winter days. If you’re an avid gardener, house plants mean that you can exercise your green thumb all year long, even when the ground outside is frozen. Sometimes you can extend the life of your outdoor plants by bringing them inside during the winter. You can also get a jump start on the spring growing season by starting seeds or forcing bulbs indoors.

Which plants to choose? As you would when selecting plants for the outside, you need to take into consideration your home’s unique environment. Do you have a lot of light, or not very much? Do you keep your house very cool or do you like it warmer? What about the humidity in your house? Properly assessing these conditions will help guide your selection to the best house plants for you. Some plants need more maintenance than others, so if you like the greenery, but don’t really want to do much work, make sure you get a low maintenance plant.

This article was reproduced in part from www.webgardenguide.com.