Grilling Safety Trivia

1. Do more home fires result from gas or charcoal grills?

The correct answer is gas grills. Although gas grills are used roughly 1.5 times as often as charcoal grills, they are involved in five times as many fires. Fire hazards are greater when a flammable or combustible gas or liquid is involved.

2. TRUE OR FALSE: The lid should always be open when lighting a gas grill.

The correct answer is “TRUE”. Always keep the lid open to prevent a flash-off from gas buildup.

3. TRUE OR FALSE: When lighting a gas grill, you should always start with the burner on high.

The correct answer is “TRUE”. The proper sequence for starting a grill is: (1) Open the grill lid, (2) turn on the gas supply, (3) turn the ignition burner to high, (4) light the ignition, (5) turn on the second burner if needed. By following this sequence, excess gas will not accumulate inside the grill before it is ignited, preventing an explosion that could damage your grill and even cause personal injury.

4. TRUE OR FALSE: Gasoline can be used to help start regular charcoal briquettes.

The correct answer is “FALSE”. You should never use gasoline, kerosene, or other highly volatile fluids as a starter. They can explode. When using charcoal briquettes or wood chunks, form a pyramid and douse with lighter fluid. Wait until fluid has soaked in before lighting.

5. TRUE OR FALSE: Always keep the vents closed while cooking on a charcoal grill.

The correct answer is “FALSE”. Keep vents open while cooking. Charcoal briquettes and wood chunks need oxygen to burn.

6. TRUE OR FALSE: If the fire gets low, just add lighter fluid to the hot coals.

The correct answer is “FALSE”. Never add lighter fluid to coals that are already hot or warm.

7. Burgers should be cooked to which of the following temperatures to ensure they are safe to eat:

A. 155
B. 160
C. 165
D. 170

The correct answer is "b". At 160 degrees F, all bacteria in ground beef will be killed. Check with an instant-read thermometer inserted from the side of the burgers about halfway through for the most accurate results.

8. Steak should be cooked to which of the following temperatures to ensure it is safe to eat:

A. 140
B. 145
C. 150
D. 160

The correct answer is “b”.

9. The best beef to use for burgers is:

A. 75% lean
B. 80 to 85% lean
C. 90% lean
D. 95% lean

The correct answer is "b". You want enough fat in the beef to make the burgers juicy, but not so much fat that they are greasy. Remember, that a lot of the fat will be rendered as the burgers are cooking, so opting for 90% lean beef or higher will almost always result in dry, tough burgers.

10. TRUE OR FALSE: Trimming fat from meat can prevent flare-ups.

The correct answer is “TRUE”. Trim any excess fat from meat and poultry to help prevent grill flare-ups. Grease fires are extremely hazardous.

Disaster Girl Knows to Call Champion

Goodwill Shopping Tips and Tricks

There's a new Goodwill in the Newnan area! The new location is in the old Save Rite building in Thomas Crossroads. In honor of our new location...here is an old blog I found with some great Goodwill shopping tips!

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Several of you have commented to me that you never find anything at GOOD at GOODwill.  Ironic, don't you think?  I thought about what made my trips there fun and successful and made a few notes to share with you.  I have to give partial credit for this information to my mom.  I learned from the best and she's still my thrift store shopping buddy.  I'd love the hear your tips and tricks.  Hope it helps and happy hunting!

• Shop with a buddy. Someone who knows your size style well is a plus because they can help keep an eye for things you might like.  Be sure to go through a rack even if your friend just did- it’s easy to miss things.   Often a fresh set of eyes will catch a spot or tear you missed.  Besides, being with someone just makes it less tedious!
• Know the color: Each week a different color is 50% off; at the Newnan Goodwill this changes each Sunday.   It will become harder and harder to find those color items as the days go by.
• Get inspired: Shop your favorite magazines and websites for trends that you like then use these as inspiration while you’re shopping in the store.  I like People Stylewatch magazine, anthropologie.com, and shopruche.com.  Sometimes out-of-date can be on-trend with just a few tweaks and some clever accessorizing. One caveat:  It can be easy to loose your fashion-sense-of-self when your surrounded by all those colors and trends of days-gone-by.  Keep your wits about you!
• Do some research in your own closet.  Take a look at your favorite pieces and think about why you like them so much.  Is it because of the cut, because it’s so low maintenance, or because it just feels good on your skin.  Which cuts and colors get compliments?  Read the labels and find out what your most loved items are made of.  Do you notice that a lot of your items are particular brand?  What about the things you never wear-  why?  Are they wrinkly or scratchy or do they pull, bunch, or ride up?  How are these cut and what are they made of?  What brand?  Use the information you glean from the study of your closet to guide you at the thrift store.
• Know you’re brands. It will help you to see the value in what you find.  Replacing missing buttons and mending small tears in the seam are worth the trouble if the item is of high quality but may not be if the fabric is cheap and the cut is bad. 
• Be realistic.  If it needs mending, are you going to take the time to fix it?  Do you know how?  When you add in your time, the cost of the buttons, or other sewing notions is it still a bargain?  Sometimes the answer is still "yes" but take the time to have this thought process.
• Feel the fabrics.  You’d be surprised at your hands' ability to scout out wool, silk, cashmere, linen, and fine cottons. Quality just feels good.  Keep some hand sanitizer in your pocket!
• Look items over carefully for stains or moth holes.  You may discover why it was donated.  That being said, you may find it worth repairing when the original owner didn’t.
• Check by after big yard sale weekends and after Christmas.  People often donate their unsold yard sale items.  Since clothes don’t sell well at yard sales... SCORE for you!  After Christmas people often clean out their homes to make room for their new stuff and they’re also too broke to shop anymore.  Again, SCORE for you!!
• Goodwill has even better hours than a lot of regular retail stores.  For example, they open at 9 am Monday-Saturday.  That’s an hour before most anyone else! They stay open until 9 pm.  On Sunday, they’re open to 1 to 6.  During the week check by during the day, even if you only have a few minutes, because it’s so much quieter and less picked over.
• Relax, be patient, and dig in.  If you’re looking for something specific, you may not find just what you’re looking for on a particular trip but you may find a treasure.  It may take a little more time to find, but when you get a cashmere sweater for $2 and a new-with-tags Banana Republic skirt for $4, it’s well worth it.
• Give the racks a cursory scan first.  The colors and patterns that appeal to you will jump out.  After that you can go through more thoroughly for things that may not have immediate appeal or may be tucked away.  Goodwill organizes by type of article (i.e. pants, skirts, blouses, etc.) and then by color.  Unfortunately, never by size.  Oh, well... what do you want for cheap.  This way is convenient, however, when you need to find something in a specific color.
• Take a break! When your eyes get blurry from searching the clothes racks take a break and check out housewares, shoes, bags, or books.  It will give you a mental break to browse different items.  You can go back to the racks when you’re ready.
• Try things on! Even if it’s cheap you don’t want to waste your money.  It also makes it easier to see any flaws.  You can make returns if you have your receipt.
• Let it ride! If you’re on the fence about something, let ride around in your cart for a while.  Think about it, you can always put it back if you find something better.  You may also stumble upon the perfect thing to go with it.
• Have vision: Have the vision to see what something can be with a good washing and pressing, a lint brush, a sweater shaver, a polish and buff and some cool accessories!
• Payment: Newnan Goodwill takes credit card (even AMEX!!) but I don’t believe they take personal checks anymore.
• One more thing: Goodwill prices all items of certain type the same price even if one is brand new and and one is stained.  That can be good or bad depending on how you look at it.  However, one kind of stinky thing they occasionally do is that they will decide a certain item is somehow special and it will be tagged with a different (higher) price.  They are usually on different racks.  I have found no method to this madness.  It is what it is, but just be aware of it.  I haven't found them willing to negotiate, but it's often still a find.

See you at the GW Boutique!

Starri Reets

VACATION CHECKLIST: WHAT TO DO BEFORE YOU GO

It's summertime and that means vacations for most families. Unfortunately, your vacation buzz can be lost too quickly when you get home and realize that you forgot to take care of a few essentials. Your vacation should be an enjoyable and relaxing time, so before you head out here are a few things to be sure to check off your list so that you can come back to your home in the safe condition you left it. 

• Hold mail and newspapers.
• Pay bills that will be due while gone.
• Make arrangements for a neighbor or friend to have a key to your house or apartment - or at least know where one is. Give them a number where you can be reached.
• Lock all doors and windows throughout the house.
• Leave a radio or something going in the house that makes sound and can be viewed as an indication that someone is home.
• Pour some baking soda into each of the toilets and the sink drains.
• Water plants.
• Unplug most electronic items especially those that have valuable data on them. These  include your TV, stereo, and especially computers. If there is a thunderstorm while you are away, these items can be damaged beyond repair if they are plugged in.
• Adjust the Thermostat: Set the temperature setting at no less than 52 degrees Fahrenheit during winter months to keep pipes from freezing and plants from dying. During the summer, you can set the air conditioning to 75 degrees Fahrenheit.
• Take out all garbage throughout the house.
• Make sure the dishwasher is not full of dirty dishes.
• Make sure there are no wet clothes in washer or dryer or wet rags in the sink or bathroom.  If there are then hang them to dry.
• Shut off the water.
• Shut off the water to the washing machine. The hoses can easily break and cause severe flood damage to your home.

Even the most interesting man in the world knows to call Champion

Back to School: Heat Preparedness Tips

Kids go back to school earier and earlier which means they start in the summer heat. Check out this GEMA webcast containing information on tips to cool during those hot summer days.

Atlanta Area Events for August 2013

 August 3rd: Kenny Chesney: No Shoes Nation Tour at Georgia Dome in Atlanta

August 4th: Jonas Brothers Live Tour at Chastain Park Amphitheatre in Atlanta

August 4th: American Idol at the Arena at Gwinnett Center in Duluth

August 15th: The Killers at Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre in Alpharetta

August 29th: Blake Shelton: Ten Times Crazier Tour at Aaron's Amphitheatre at Lakewood in Atlanta

August 30th: MythBusters: Behind the Myths Tour at the Fox Theatre in Atlanta

Lightning Safety Tips

Georgians often don’t realize the hazards thunderstorms can bring since they are so common. However, all thunderstorms are dangerous because they can produce strong winds, lightning, tornadoes, hail and flooding. Nearly 10 percent of thunderstorms are classified as severe, meaning they have winds of 58 mph or higher, hail at least three-quarters of an inch and may produce a tornado.

HERE ARE SOME GREAT LIGHTNING SAFETY TIPS TO KEEP YOU SAFE:

Indoor Lightning Safety

• Avoid contact with corded phone.
• Avoid contact with electrical equipment or cords. If you plan to unplug any electronic equipment, do so well before the storm arrives.
• Avoid contact with plumbing. Do not wash your hands, do not take a shower, do not wash dishes, and do not do laundry.
• Stay away from windows and doors, and stay off porches.

Outdoor Lightning Safety:

• Postpone outdoor activities.
• Get inside a home, building, or hard top automobile (not a convertible). Although you may be injured if lightning strikes your car, you are much safer inside a vehicle than outside
• Remember, rubber-soled shoes and rubber tires provide NO protection from lightning. However, the steel frame of a hard-topped vehicle provides increased protection if you are not touching metal.
• Use your battery-operated NOAA Weather Radio for updates from local officials.
• Natural lightning rods such as a tall, isolated tree in an open area.
• Hilltops, open fields, the beach, or a boat on the water.

CHECK OUT OUR 'NATURE'S FURY' BOARD ON PINTEREST FOR SOME GREAT STORM PHOTOS

Fun Times at Champion!

David's

living his

dream-with

the homeowner's

permission,

of course!

As you

can see

he still

has gloves

on...

safety

first!

GAWP Annual Conference & Expo

Icela Reets and Kim Beasinger just returned from the Georgia Association of Water Professionals Annual Conference & Expo. The Expo was held in Savannah, GA from July 14th - 17th. Kim and Icela had a great time and enjoyed meeting so many people in the industry.

Here is a photo of Champion's booth:

ABOUT THE GAWP: The Georgia Association of Water Professionals (GAWP) is a not-for-profit Association whose chief purpose is to educate and assist those who have an interest in the proper management and protection of Georgia's water resources. GAWP provides professional development and promotes sound public policy in the water resources and related environmental fields.

GAWP's membership is comprised of water and wastewater treatment plant operators and managers, municipal and industrial officials and environmental managers, civil and environmental engineers, scientists, manufacturers and their representatives, contractors, elected officials and other's concerned with Georgia's water resources. GAWP membership also consists of the professionals who implement State and Federal water supply, water protection and water resource laws and regulations, and is a reliable source for information for the media and the public.Click here to learn more about GAWP. To learn more about Georgia's Water History click here.