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©1997 American Family Mutual Insurance Company and its SubsidiariesHome Office – Madison, WI 53783

www.amfam.comNA-07497 Rev. 1/03

Larry E Stiltner Agency481 Hwy 105 Suite 212(719) 481-8382 BusMonument, CO 80132

All your protection under one roof.

©1997 American Family Mutual Insurance Company and its SubsidiariesHome Office – Madison, WI 53783

www.amfam.comNA-07497 Rev. 1/03

Larry E Stiltner Agency481 Hwy 105 Suite 212(719) 481-8382 BusMonument, CO 80132

All your protection under one roof.

©1997 American Family Mutual Insurance Company and its SubsidiariesHome Office – Madison, WI 53783

www.amfam.comNA-07497 Rev. 1/03

Larry E Stiltner Agency481 Hwy 105 Suite 212(719) 481-8382 BusMonument, CO 80132

SnIppeSnIppetz®

tznnInnnnnnnnnnnIIIIIIIIIpppppppppppppppp zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzOF NORTHERN EL PASO COUNTY & LARKSPUR

by Deborah Stumpf

SNIPPETZ PONDERS THE INFLUENCE OFPUNXSUTAWNEY PHIL

Punxsutawney Phil... Continued on Page 2

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FUNDER ENLIGHTENING INC. • FREE WEEKLY • ISSUE 431 • FEBRUARY 1, 2010

“Spring is nature’s way of saying ‘let’s party!’” ~Robin Williams

By February, winter has worn out its welcome in many parts of the coun-try. Cold weather dwellers are thinking

green grass, budding trees, singing birds and fl owering plants as they anxiously await a calculated (sort of) sign that spring is on its way – that sign is none other than Punx-sutawney Phil – America’s beloved ground-hog.

Groundhog Day, strictly akin to North America, is an intriguing tradition of predicting weather through the eyes of a groundhog. Every year on Feb. 2, the seem-ingly calendar-minded groundhog comes out of its winter burrow to look for its shadow. If the groundhog sees its shadow, it’s a sign that winter will linger for

Punxsutawney Phil... Continued from Page 1

2

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ALL RIGHTS RESERVED © 2010PUBLISHED BY FUNDER ENLIGHTENING, INC.

George Wilkins - Publisher

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(719) 487-0484email: snippetz01@gmail.com

NEXT WEEK IN SNIPPETZ

FEATURE ARTICLESTai Yi - Picking Up Others’ Bad Moods?... 7

Moments In Time... 8

Senior News Line... 12

Strange But True... 13

STYLE 5Kim’s Korner

REAL ESTATE 9Robin’s Rap... 9

PET PAGE 9SAINT Animal Rescue

SNIPPETZ BUSINESS DIRECTORY PAGE 10

Local Businesses on the Go!

HEALTH AND WELLNESS 10-11To Your Good Health... 11

CLASSIFIED PAGE 13GREAT BARGAINS - Find Your Treasure!

Business / Employment Opportunities

THE DINING GUIDE PAGES 13-15Patricia’s Café... 15

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Trivia Test • Sports Quiz • Flash Back

Super Crossword • Weekly Sudoku

Couch Theater DVD Previews

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It’s The Law: The Marriage Zone ... 19

SNIPPETZ®

OF NORTHERN EL PASO COUNTY & LARKSPUR

SNIPPETZ HEARTILY SUPPORTSHEART MONTH

Punxsutawney Phil... Continued on Page 3

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SNIPPETZ PONDERS THE INFLUENCE OF PUNXSUTAWNEY PHIL

another six weeks. If there is no shadow, the groundhog foretells that spring is around the corner. Based on the groundhog’s fi ndings, it either goes back into its burrow to wait out winter’s last stand or stays above ground to enjoy the induction of spring.

THE HEDGEHOG HELD THE FIRST CRYSTAL BALL

The tradition of Groundhog Day was born in the 18th century out of the Catholic holiday of Candlemas, a commemoration of the Virgin Mary’s purity. Candles used for sacred purposes were blessed on that day, which is Feb. 2, the same day as the groundhog appear-ance. The Europeans believed that sunshine on the day of Candlemas meant that winter would stick around an-other six weeks.

The Romans brought the idea of the Candlemas weather forecast to the Germans, who introduced the hedgehog. The Germans decided that if the sun appeared on Can-dlemas, the hedgehog would see its shadow – another prediction of six more weeks of winter. And so it went.

German settlers brought the tradition to America and adopted the groundhog as the prognosticator of the weather. Thus, the groundhog got its own day.

JUST WHAT IS A GROUNDHOG?The groundhog or woodchuck lives in various parts of North America but is more common in the East, from Alabama and Georgia to Quebec and Ontario. In the West, groundhogs can be found in Northwest Territories and northward to Alaska.

A member of the rodent family, the groundhog is re-lated to squirrels, prairie dogs and chipmunks. Among rodents, the groundhog is a marmot and close cousin of the whistler marmot, which lives in the mountains of western North America.

The groundhog is a stocky mammal with a fl at head and bushy tail – 20 inches long and weighs from 12 to 15 lbs. The color of the fur ranges from a yellow shade to dark reddish brown. Because they burrow, their claws and legs are sturdy. They escape from enemies by div-ing into their burrows.

GROUNDHOG FACTS • Groundhogs have 22 teeth.

• They each have their own burrow for hibernation, and the burrow has two doorways.

• Males emerge before the females each spring.

• Groundhogs lose up to 50 percent of their body weight during hibernation.

• They can swim and climb trees.

• A groundhog can whistle when it is in danger. They also whistle in the spring when they begin courting – maybe they think that’s dangerous, too.

• Insects don’t like groundhogs, and they are resistant to plagues.

• Groundhogs have been known to live 10 years, but the average lifespan is six to eight years.

• The groundhog is mainly vegetarian, with a taste for fresh green vegetation – plants, clover, alfalfa and gar-den vegetables.

PUNXSUTAWNEY, PENN. Punxsutawney, Penn., is home to the largest Groundhog Day celebration in the U.S. Up to 30,000 people have participated in the annual “holiday.”

Originally a Native American campsite, Punxsutawney is located in the hills of western Pennsylvania – about 90 miles northeast of Pittsburgh. The Native Americans, which included Shawnee, Delaware, Seneca or Iroquois tribes, named the area after an Indian name for its nu-merous sand fl ies. The name “town of ponkies” transi-

3

SNIPPETZ®

OF NORTHERN EL PASO COUNTY & LARKSPUR

Punxsutawney Phil... Continued from Page 2

tioned over the years to Punxsutawney.

Almost 7,000 people live in the town it-self, with more than 10,000 in surround-ing townships. Rev. David Barclay, who was among the fi rst white settlers, came to the area in 1816 and is considered the founding father of the town.

The Germans, who brought the Ground-hog tradition to America, had settled in the area. In the late 1800s, Clymer Freas, a newspaper editor, and W. Smith, a congressman and newspaper publisher, organized and advertised the fi rst festival in Punxsutawney, Penn., to celebrate the groundhog and its penchant for predict-ing weather. The fi rst Groundhog Day took place Feb. 2, 1887, and became an annual event.

Groundhog Day became nationally known as newspapers around the country picked up information about the tradition and fun-fi lled festival. It didn’t take long for the rest of the country to catch on. Groundhog Day advanced commercial ventures such as the movie, “Groundhog Day,” which put Punxsutawney on the map.

PUNXSUTAWNEY PHILNamed after King Phillip, Punxsutawney Phil is the famed resident groundhog of the town that bears his name. On Ground-hog Day, he is the king.

Every year on Feb. 2, Phil is transported to Gobbler’s Knob, about 2 miles east of Punxsutawney by his handlers, who care for him year round. The elite group of handlers, who call themselves the Inner Circle, plan the ceremony and make sure that Phil is protected from the paparazzi.

Phil is placed in a temporary burrow in Gobbler’s Knob before dawn and then rousted out for his annual forecast, which is often broadcast nationwide.

After being in the media spotlight, Phil is treated to a breakfast of nuts and apples. He invites others to chow down on a hu-man menu of eggs and pancakes.

Phil lives year round in the town library with his wife, Phyllis. Phil has been pre-dicting the seasonal weather situation for 120 years. The Inner Circle claims that Phil is the original Phil – his lifetime has been extended by a magical “elixir of life” drink he consumes every Feb. 2 – the special potion adds seven years to his life each year that he consumes it.

Phil also has his own club – the Punx-sutawney Groundhog Club. There are 50 chapters throughout the U.S., from Cali-fornia to Florida, with names like Travel-ing Marmots to Phil’s Dragon Shadows. Phil’s infl uence has been widespread.

• During prohibition times, Phil threat-ened to impose 60 weeks of winter if he didn’t get a drink.

• In 1981, Phil wore a yellow ribbon in honor of American hostages in Iran.

• In 1986, Phil visited President Ronald Reagan in Washington, D.C.

• In 1993, Columbia Pictures released the movie, “Groundhog Day,” starring Bill Murray. Phil starred in the movie as well.

• In 1995, Phil was on the Oprah Win-frey show.

• In 2001, Phil toured New York City and appeared on “Regis Philbin Live,” the CBS Early Show and CNN. The an-nual prediction was broadcast live from Times Square.

• In 2003, Gov. Edward Rendell was the fi rst governor of Pennsylvania to partici-pate in the annual trek to Gobbler’s Knob with the Inner Circle.

• Phil is a Pittsburgh Steelers fan and sported one of the Steelers famous “ter-rible towels” in 2009 to celebrate the Su-per Bowl victory.

THE PUNXSUTAWNEY PARTY

Although many other cities celebrate Groundhog Day, Punxsutawney is the original and the largest. However, Groundhog Day in Punxsutawney has turned into Groundhog Days. The festiv-ities are as varied as a groundhog – and seemingly endless.

Jan. 30 marks the fi rst day of celebration. An art show, a wine dinner and a concert kick off this year’s festivities. From Jan. 30 through Feb. 2, there’s a beer dinner, a chili and wing cook off, more concerts, dances, a magic show, a puppet show, a family picnic, a banquet, a comedy club night, a pancake breakfast, the crowning of Miss Groundhog Day, an Oreo stack-ing contest and gobs more. The actual weather prediction begins before dawn on Feb. 2.

Besides Pennsylvania, a myriad of cel-ebrations take place each year all over the U.S. and Canada as well. Groundhog Day is popular in Canada, and the resi-dent groundhog weather forecaster there is Wiarton Willy. He also is privy to the same fanfare.

It’s been a rather cold winter across the country, so it might be a blessing if Punx-sutawney Phil doesn’t see his shadow. Then again, the naysayer might remind us that the offi cial start of spring is actu-ally March 21, regardless of Phil’s pre-diction. But Phil doesn’t care. Only his shadow knows!

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Tri-Lakes Center for the Arts Presents

January 23 Rob Drabkin - Solo acoustic concert Sat. 7:30 pm featuring Rob’s latest CD release. Voted Colorado’s Best Singer-Songwriter by Westword Music for ‘08 and ‘09!

February 13 Sammy Dee Band - Get a taste of Sat. 7:30 pm Louisiana Texas Style Blues while celebrating Valentines and Mardi Gras all in one night!

February 27 Wendy Woo & Robin Hoch - Acoustic Sat. 7:30 pm duo with Wendy on guitar and Robin on viola are back by popular demand!

March 12 Chuck Pyle - The Zen Cowboy is always Fri. 7:30 pm intriguing the audience with his humble, yet straight forward infectious melodies.

March 21 Hausmusik String Quartet - Chamber Sun. 2:30 pm music at its finest!

Contact the Tri-Lakes Center for the Arts or visit our website at www.trilakesarts.org

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If you are like most people you probably love the look and charm of a real hard-wood fl oor. For centuries people have used wood fl oors throughout their homes to add warmth and charm. Hardwood fl oors never seem to go out of fashion and can add real value to your home. Today, many designers recommend wood fl oors as the main base-layer and then suggest a rug to enhance the room’s overall interior color scheme.

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It is truly amazing today how many new colorations, wood species, and widths are available to homeowners. Besides the common North American hardwoods (such as oak, maple, hickory and ash), many wood fl ooring manufacturers now offer exotic hardwood species from all around the World. If you are looking for ways to really express your own personal interior decorating tastes with a more unique looking wood fl oor you need to go see the exotic wood fl oors offered by many of the hardwood fl ooring brands.An extremely popular trend in wood fl oors today is the handscraped hard-wood fl oors offered by many of the wood fl ooring companies.. Handscraped hardwood fl oors are wood fl oors that

have each plank scraped by hand to give a worn or ancient visual appeal to the board’s surface. There is also distressed hardwood fl oors which use machines to give the worn or ancient visual appear-ance. This adds a lot of distinctive char-acter to each board. Also, because hand-scraped is done by hand no two planks have the exact same visual appearance. If you desire a more rustic-looking wood fl oor with lots of character than be sure to see the samples of handscraped and/or distressed hardwood fl oors before you buy.

Solid wood fl oors have been used for centuries and never seem to loose their charm and warmth. We generally think of solid hardwood fl oors as a 3/4” thick plank that comes in narrow 2 1/4” strips. This is the classic strip wood fl oor.

Today, manufacturers offer solid wood fl oors in a variety of widths and thick-nesses and wood species. The most com-mon North American hardwood species used for solid wood fl ooring are red oak, white oak, ash and maple, but you can also get solid hardwood fl ooring in many exotic wood species, such as Brazilion cherry, tiger wood, Australian cypress and many others from around the World.Engineered Hardwood Floors are several plies of wood that a glued and laminated together to form a wood plank. They range in thickness from 1/4” to just over a half inch. (Can be installed almost any-where in the home, including over dry concrete slabs.)

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For more information, call Chuck at 661-3432

Senior Citizens CenterOpen Mondays through Fridays

1 to 4 PM (Tuesday noon to 4 PM)

Also available:Wii Video Games

Puzzles and board games

Refreshments

PC with Internet Connection

Lending Library

Information Table

TV’s with cable connection

The Tri-Lakes Senior Citizens Center and itsactivities are made possible by generousdonations and contributions from...

Lewis-Palmer School District 38

Recycled Aggregate Products Co.

Towns of Monument and Palmer Lake

Tri-Lakes Cares

Tri-Lakes Senior Alliance

Tri-Lakes YMCA

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Tri-Lakes Health Advocacy Partnership.

Access Construction Company

Black Hills Energy, Inc.

R Rock Yard

Check our web site www.TriLakesSeniors.org for updates.

hosted by Gerry

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Looking for a host!

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Tuesdays Noon - 4 PM Pinochle

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3rd Wednesday 1 - 3 PM Bingo hosted by Leroy - Prizes galore

Thursdays 1 - 4 PM Pinochle hosted by Gerry

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BAD MOODS?

Do you ever fi nd yourself in an environment where many of the individuals are in a bad

mood, complaining, depressed, or sim-ply angry? What happens to your mood as a result? Do you begin feeling the effects of being in that environment? Perhaps the environment is a work meeting, a group of friends, a group of associates, home, or even a party set-ting. Perhaps you have noticed that it appears easier for you to pick up on those feelings from others or you know someone who does so. This is called absorbing energy.

Energy is all around us. Most people are familiar with ‘physical’ types of energy, such as electricity or machines that produce electricity. Scientists can measure energy and we can talk about our own energy levels in terms of how active or depleted we may feel. Our emotions and thoughts are also energy producing waves that others can pick up on and absorb.

Have you, as an adult or a child, walked into the middle of two people’s argu-ment? Perhaps they stopped arguing the moment you walked in, but you could still feel the energy of the argu-ment, the anger or frustration. One can

walk into a happy environment and feel the joy as well. Can you pick up on someone’s mood even if they attempt to cover it up? Picking up on someone’s mood can also be done through observ-ing body language, but not just body language. One needs to feel deeply to identify different energies (i.e. anger, frustration, joy, fear, excitement) when it is not being expressed through body language.

I recently had someone who had sched-uled an appointment over the phone to discuss certain issues. Immediately, I brought up depression without her saying anything in the beginning of the conversation. She replied, “what? I wear a very good mask; no one knows I am depressed! I hide it from every-one! I cannot believe you could pick up on that.” Feeling is good. But, you need to be aware of what are feeling to determine if it is energy that has been absorbed or your own feelings.

When you absorb energy from an envi-ronment or a specifi c individual (such as partner child, or friend), you may not feel the effects of it until within three days to one week. Many times you may not make the connection be-cause too much time has passed. Then you may wonder, “Why am I suddenly feeling this way?”

A Tai Yi exercise that can assist with this is River of Mud. River of Mud is for individuals who absorb ‘crappy’ energy. It strengthens the meridians in the body to assist ones in not absorbing someone else’s energy. This is good for those who work with the public, kids in school, and kids in daycare. This is also good for ones who have gone through an abusive energy AND have left the abusive environment.

Tami Urbanek

For more information on Tai Yi, Tai Yi History, and Tai Yi exercises, go to: www.empowermentthroughhealing.com.

Buxton & Luther, P.C. is anexperienced and respected personal

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• On Feb. 2, 1847, the fi rst woman of a group of pioneers commonly known as the Donner Party dies after they become snow-bound while crossing the Sierra Nevada mountains. The disastrous trip west ended up killing 42 people and turned many of the survivors into cannibals.

• On Feb. 1, 1884, the fi rst portion of the Oxford English Dictionary is published. Plans for the dictionary began in 1857 when it was estimated the project would take 10 years to fi nish. In fact, it took more than 70 years before the 125th and fi nal portion was published in 1928.

• On Feb. 6, 1911, Rolls-Royce adopted the “Spirit of Ec-stasy” mascot, the silver-winged hood ornament that has be-come the company’s symbol.

• On Feb. 3, 1944, American forces in-vade and take control

of the Marshall Islands, long occupied by the Japanese and used by them as a base for military operations. The Marshalls, east of the Caroline Islands in the western Pacifi c Ocean, had been in Japanese hands since World War I.

• On Feb. 4, 1959, Lawrence Taylor, one of the greatest defensive players in NFL history, is born in Williamsburg, Va. Taylor went on to play his entire 13-season pro-fessional career with the New York Giants and is credited with redefi ning the position of outside linebacker and terrorizing a gen-eration of NFL quarterbacks.

• On Feb. 7, 1964, “Beatlemania” arrives at New York’s Kennedy Airport. It was the fi rst visit to the United States by the Beat-les, a British rock-and-roll quartet that had just scored its fi rst No. 1 U.S. hit six days before with “I Want to Hold Your Hand.” The “Fab Four” were greeted by 3,000 screaming fans, who caused a near riot when The Beatles stepped off the plane and onto American soil.

• On Feb. 5, 1989, the last Russian troops

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withdraw from the capital city of Kabul. Soviet armed forces entered Afghanistan in December 1979 to support that nation’s pro-Soviet communist government in its battles with Muslim rebels. By the time the Soviets started to withdraw in early 1989, more than 13,000 Russian soldiers were dead and another 22,000 had been wounded.

(c) 2010 King Features Synd., Inc.

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SNIPPETZ®: PET PAGE / REAL ESTATE

Lexi is a two year old Maltese/Poodle mix. She really is a very

sweet little dog and only weights about 8lbs. Lexi, however, did have a stress seizure according to her Vet. It’s not a frequent problem but with her being given up for adoption she did have a small episode. She is doing much better now though! We understand from her foster family that she does get along well with other small dogs but

needs supervision. Lexi has been through a lot and can sometimes be a bit on the feisty side. She is very, very sweet with her human friends and we kind of think that she’d just prefer to be the princess of the house.

She would do really well in a household with no other dogs and older folks. She’s a lap dog for sure as she loves to be cuddled and she will cuddle right back. She walks (prances) well on the lease and is crate trained. She is up to date on all her shots.

If you think little Lexi would fi t into your loving family and you would like to adopt her, please call SAINT Animal Rescue located in Calhan. Our phone number is 541-3099 but you might need to use the 719 area code.

It is always a challenge when adopting a new pet. SAINT Animal Rescue asks the adopter to give the animal a reasonable amount of time to adjust to it’s new family and environment. This is so very important

to your new family member as well as your existing family members.

Please visit our website at saintanimalrescue.org and as always thank you for caring.

Did you know a baby platypus is called a puggle? I did not know that!

Pet profi le based on their zodiac sign of Aquarius January 20-February 19.Aquarius is the third and fi nal air sign of the astrological year. Pets born under this sign are inventive, freedom-oriented, and eccentric; they have a need to be different. These pets defi nitely have a will of their own, like to roam, and may or may not listen to you. There is intelligence there as well.

THIS LITTLE GIRL IS LEXI

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Article by Robyn GrahamKeller Williams

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Are You Brand Newat Home-Buying?

buyers find a home within a day ortwo. It all depends on how certainyou are of you "wants" list. Goodreal estate agents will listen to yourwants and needs and arrange toshow only those homes that fit yourparticular parameters.

Here's a House Hunting Trick…Studies show that your memory dra-matically improves after consump-tion of carbs and slows upon con-suming sugar. So, lay off the softdrinks and have a hearty meal ofcarbs before venturing out to tourhomes.

The average number of homesthat I show to a buyer in one day isseven. Any more than that, and thebrain is on overload.

The "Red Shoes" Experience fora Home Buyer. Women will relate tothis. Say, you need a new pair ofred shoes. You go to the mall. Atthe first shoe store, you find a fabu-lous pair of red shoes. You try themon. They fit perfectly. They areglamorous. Priced right, too. Do youbuy them? Of course not! You goto every other store in the mall tryingon red shoes until you are ready todrop from exhaustion. Then youreturn to the first store and buythose red shoes. Do not shop for ahome this way. When you find theperfect home, buy it.

It is important for you to Rate theListings you have seen. 1. Bring adigital camera and begin each seriesof photos with a close-up of thehouse number to identify each groupof photos. 2. Take notes of unusualfeatures, colors and design ele-ments. 3. Pay attention to the

LIBRARY OF ALLPAST ARTICLES:

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For further information, please feel free to call

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home's surroundings. What is thenieghborhood like? Do you like thelocation? Is it near a park or a powerplant? And MOST Importantly…..5.Immediately after leaving, rate eachhome on a scale of 1 to 10, with 10being the highest.

Match up the features with your"needs" and "wants" list that youshould be carrying around with you.You will probably instinctively knowwhich one or two homes you wouldlike to buy. Then have your Realtortake you back to the top one, two orthree homes a second time beforedeciding.

Then, your agent will call the listingagents to find out more about the sell-ers' motivation and to double-checkthat an offer hasn't come in.

Finding your Dream Home shouldbe fun and exciting yet calm. If youragent is knowledgeable and yet fun,excited for you but not pushy, andacts a bit like a "mom" in that he/sheinsists that you compare the homesyou like with your "needs" and"wants" lists….you've got a greatagent!

go to www.CoSpringsMLS.com. You can search through hundreds

of online listings, view virtual tours,and sort through dozens of photo-graphs and aerial shots of neighbor-hoods and homes. Once you narrowdown the neighborhoods and homefeatures you really want, it's time tocall your real estate agent.

A motivated buyer will find ahome within two weekends. Some ofmy buyers find a home within a day ortwo. It all depends on how certainyou are of you "wants" list. Good realestate agents will listen to your wantsand needs and arrange to show onlythose homes that fit your particularparameters.

A motivated buyer will find a homewithin two weekends. Some of my

So you've decided to buy your first home. You've researchedthe tax benefits of owning yourown home. You've been watch-ing home prices decline, andyou've been watching interestrates for loans. You've sat downand made a list of the things you"have to have" in a home, and alist of things you'd "like to have"in a home. You've talked with aLender and know how much youare qualified for and comfortableto spend. You are focused andcertain. But, now what?

Almost 80% of home buyersbegin on the Internet. You can goto www.Realtor.com to search any-where in the United States, or forlocal listngs in the Tri-lakes area

10

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PAINTING

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FIBROMYALGIA,A BAFFLING ILLNESS

DEAR DR. DONOHUE: My 50-year-old daughter has been diagnosed with fi bromyalgia. She is in a great deal of pain, and medications have provided no relief. She has been told there is no cure. Exactly what is fi bromyalgia? What causes it? -- E.F.

ANSWER: Fibromyalgia is a baffl ing illness whose two principal symptoms are pain and fatigue. The pain is body-wide, on both sides and above and be-low the waist. For diagnosis, the pain has to have been present for three or more months. The fatigue of this condi-tion is overwhelming, so much so that the simplest of daily tasks becomes a formidable challenge. Patients also suffer from sleep that does not refresh, and they often fi nd it diffi cult to con-centrate.Its cause remains a great unknown.Specifi c tests for fi bromyalgia don’t ex-ist. However, tender points -- areas on the body where fi nger pressure elicits pain out of proportion to the pressure applied -- aid in making a diagnosis. There are 18 such points, and for a di-agnosis, 11 should be present. Other illnesses -- such as rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, Sjogren’s syndrome and hepatitis, which have similar symp-toms -- have to be excluded, so testing for those conditions becomes part of the fi bromyalgia workup. Your daughter is right. No cure has been found, but sometimes symptoms improve on their own. Exercise is im-portant. It sounds ridiculous to ask a person who is hurting and exhausted to exercise. At the start, exercise intensity can be modest, just walking. The goal is to extend exercise to 20 or 30 min-utes of daily exercise and to pick up the

tempo gradually. The Food and Drug Administration has approved three medicines to ease fi bro-myalgia symptoms. They are Lyrica, Cymbalta and the newest, Savella.The booklet on fi bromyalgia provides more information on this baffl ing ill-ness and its treatments. Readers can obtain a copy by writing: Dr. Donohue -- No. 305W, Box 536475, Orlando, FL 32853-6475. Enclose a check or money order (no cash) for $4.75 U.S./$6 Can-ada with the recipient’s printed name and address. Please allow four weeks for delivery.

***DEAR DR. DONOHUE: My friend’s toenails are white. What cause that? -- E.B.

ANSWER: Fungal infections of the nail often turn them white. Proof of fungal infections comes from a doctor examining scrapings of the nails with a microscope. Many medicines are on the market for treatment of such an infection. Some can be painted on the nail -- Penlac is an example. The success rate is not breathtaking. Oral prescription medi-cines are also available. They are ex-pensive, and they don’t always work. Lots of people prefer to live in peace with such nail infections by ignoring

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DEAR DR. DONOHUE: My stomach sags around the belly button. My doctor says it’s an umbilical hernia. There’s no discomfort or pain. Will 100 sit-ups a day fi x this? -- L.W.

ANSWER: A thousand sit-ups a day will not fi x it. Sit-ups could make it worse. Only surgery can fi x it. Any exercise that increases pressure within the abdomen can make the hernia pro-

trude more. If this bothers you, get a surgeon’s opinion.

***Dr. Donohue regrets that he is unable to answer individual letters, but he will incorporate them in his column when-ever possible. Readers may write him or request an order form of available health newsletters at P.O. Box 536475, Orlando, FL 32853-6475.

(c) 2010 North America Synd., Inc.

All Rights Reserved

12

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® Classifi ed ads will run a minimum of fi ve consecutive weeks unless otherwise ar-ranged. Classifi ed ads must be received no later than Wednesday before 12:00 pm in order to ap-pear in the following week’s issue. We reserve the right to refuse or edit ads for any reason deemed necessary.

Ads must be submitted by E-mail or U.S. Mail

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FOR SALE

APARTMENTSfor RENT

HELP WANTED

APARTMENT FOR RENTAVAILABLE NOW!

Beautiful, new self-contained 1-bedroom apt for rent in rural Monument - $700 - for more info at www.nyagregorfl eron.net/4rent.html#apt or call 719 487 3113

CUSTOM HOME FOR RENTOff County Line Rd. 6 bedrooms / 4 baths, 3 car garage. $2250/mo. Short or long term lease. Pets OK. Owner/Agent. Call Jim: Stiltner Realty - 719-964-3526

SNOW PROS SNOW REMOVALTri-lakes, Blk Forest, CoSpgs

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IF YOU’RE NOT ADVERTISING IN

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SUNRISE CHURCHTHRIFT STORE

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HORSE-BOARDINGOvernight, vacation,or full board-

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Winter 3 feedings a day. Visit our website at:

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OFFICE SPACE AVAILABLEExtra Space in my offi ce in Palmer Lake. Choice of 1-2

rooms. Reasonable rent.Call Dr. Meislahn

at (719)488-8789.

BUSINESSOPPORTUNITIES

ARE NEW YEAR’SRESOLUTIONS DAUNTING?

Come join us for aWellness Worksop featuring Juice Plus nutritional supportproduct January 14 (7 to 8:30 p.m.) and January 17 (1:00 to 2:30 p.m.) at the Wood-moor Barn. Enjoy a free yoga demonstration. Learn howyoga can help improve and maintain good health. For moreinformation contact Sue Hippe at 719.332-7114.

STYLIST WANTEDBOOTH RENT

Are you ready to go out on your own and make more money? Mountain Air Salon in Monumentis looking for stylists. Best rent in town. Group health insurance available. 2 weeks FREE rent!

Call Mountain Air Salonat 481-3265 or

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DECOR BY DIANEInterior paintingNo job too small

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Here’s a scary thought: The more prescription drugs we take, the less likely we are

to remember to take them. More than half of us forget to take our medications now and then. And 25 percent of us over age 65 are taking between 10 and 19 pills every day.

So says a recent survey done for Medco Health Solutions by Kelton Research.

Here are some more facts that came out of the survey:

• Those of us taking fi ve or more drugs (40 percent of seniors) won-der how we’ll pay for them.

• One-third of us taking fi ve or more drugs can’t name all the medica-tions we’re taking.

• The biggest issue seems to be the Medicare Doughnut Hole. Sixty

percent of us on Medicare are wor-ried about entering into that period of time where Medicare doesn’t pay for any drugs until we’ve spent thousands out of pocket and reached a higher threshold.

Figuring out how quickly we’ll reach the “gap” period can be con-fusing. Here’s how to remember: The full amount of the prescription counts toward the total, not just the amount that’s left over after you pay your co-pay portion. Sometimes we try to switch to generics or get free samples. Many of us even ask our doctors if we can take less of a cer-tain drug. Still, more than 40 per-cent of us reach that “gap” period in the middle of the year.

There are those say that you can save money by buying prescriptions on the Internet, but it sounds risky. I’d rather deal with a local pharma-cist who knows me and has all my records at hand in case of a drug in-teraction.

Ask your pharmacist to help you calculate your actual numbers if you think you’re approaching the Doughnut Hole gap.

Matilda Charles regrets that she cannot personally answer reader questions, but will incorporate them into her column whenever possible. Write to her in care of King Features Weekly Service, P.O. Box 536475, Orlando, FL 32853-6475, or send e-mail to columnreply@gmail.com.

(c) 2010 King Features Synd., Inc.

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Samantha Weaver

• It was American political scientist, economist, psychologist and professor Herbert Simon who made the following sage observation: “What information consumes is rather obvious: It consumes the attention of its recipients. Hence a wealth of information creates a poverty of attention, and a need to allocate that attention effi ciently among the over-abundance of information sources that might consume it.”

• Those who study such things claim that the act of licking a stamp burns one-tenth of a calorie. • The shortest song in the world is “You Suffer,” recorded in 1986 by the British band Napalm Death. It lasts precisely 1.316 seconds. • Stanley Mason was an inventor who really got around, in a manner of speak-ing. In addition to coming with the idea for the granola bar, he also created the

squeezable ketchup bottle, the dispos-able diaper, heated pizza boxes and the dental fl oss dispenser.

• There are more Polish people living in Chicago than in any city on Earth except for Warsaw, Poland’s capital.

• You might be surprised to learn that the most dangerous profession in the country -- in terms of the percentage of people holding that profession who have been killed -- isn’t fi refi ghter or police offi cer, it’s president of the United States. A total of 9 percent of our presidents have been assassinated.

• Studiers of statistics say that in any ran-dom group of 23 people, the chances that at least two of them share a birthday is more than 50 percent.

• In the Commonwealth of Virginia, a statute contained within what’s known as the Code of 1930 prohibits bribery or corruption by anyone other than a politi-cal candidate.

***Thought for the Day: “I think the big-gest mistake most people make when they pick their fi rst job is they don’t worry enough about whether they’ll love the work, and they worry more about whether it’s good experience.” -- Steve Ballmer

(c) 2010 King Features Synd., Inc.

THE UPS STORE HAS NEW OWNERS...AND WE ARE PROUD TO BE A PART OF THE COMMUNITY!

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14

SNIPPETZ® DINING GUIDE

Coffee Cup Café251 Front Street, Monument 80132 (719) 488-0663 www.coffeecupmonument.com

Now open starting at 6 am - 3 pm 7 days a week!

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Open starting at 6 am - 9 pm 7 days a week!

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$2.99 Breakfast!2 Eggs, Bacon or Sausage, Country Fries & Toast

@ Both Locations!Mon thru Fri Before 9am

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15

SNIPPETZ® DINING GUIDE

Pizza • Pasta • LasagnaSalads • Sandwiches

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Tuesday - Friday 5 - 9 pmSaturday 11:30 am - 9 pm

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WEDNESDAY ISCATFISH DAY!

WHAT’S THAT YOU SMELL?

Keep your glass on the table and rotate it so that the wine swirls around inside the glass and air

mixes with the wine. Then bring the glass to your nose quickly. Stick your nose as far as it will go into the airspace without actually touching the wine and smell the wine. Free-associate. Is the aroma fruity, woodsy, fresh, cooked, intense or light? Your nose tires quickly, but it recovers quickly, too. Wait just a moment and try again. Listen to your friends’ comments and try to fi nd the same things they fi nd in the smell.

GERMAN FRIED POTATOES

4 ea Medium Potatoes¼ c Plain Bread Crumbs½ tsp Garlic Powder½ tsp Onion Powder1 tsp Kosher Salt¼ c Vegetable Oil

1. Peel, dice and boil potatoes.2. Strain potatoes.3. Mix crumbs, garlic and onion powders and salt.4. Heat the oil in a heavy skillet and add the potatoes and crumb mixture.5. Sauté until golden brown.

This is one of those things my German Moth-er-in-law makes that I love. Among many other yummy things she makes. However, I

did add the garlic and onion powder to spice them

up a little bit. Oh, and she uses butter in place of the oil. Of course the butter in Germany is much bet-ter then the butter here in the US. This is because it has less moisture and more fat. Yum!!! Frying bacon and then adding the ingredients would also be tasty but I thought I would go for a little healthy as apposed to down right bad for you.

Potatoes are a great source of energy and have lots of other good stuff in them. Many people think carbs are bad but the brain only works on carbs. However, if the carbs don’t get used up in the body they will turn into fat. This means if your not do-ing a lot of thinking then you need to get out and exercise.

Be creative, have fun and enjoy!!!

16

(c) 2010 King Features Synd., Inc.

Trivia Test ByMarge Svenson Sports Quiz By

Chris Richcreek

1. PSYCHOLOGY: What is the ex-cessive fear represented in “hip-pophobia”?

2. BIBLE: What Bible verse begins with the words: “The Lord is my shepherd ... “?

3. PERSONALITIES: What is Tiger Woods’ real fi rst name?

4. MEASUREMENTS: How many square inches are in a square foot?

5. GEOGRAPHY: What was the ancient Roman name for Ireland?

6. HISTORY: The Battle of Agin-court took place in which major war?

7. INVENTIONS: Who is credited with inventing potato chips?

8. LANGUAGE: What kind of ani-mal does the adjective “porcine” refer to?

9. MEDICINE: What causes chil-blains?

10. MATH: What is the Arabic equivalent of the Roman numer-als LXX?

1. Only one major-league player in the 1940s had 100 or more extra-base hits in a season. Name him.

2. Name three of the fi ve major-league players tied for most ca-reer walk-off home runs (12).

3. How many national champion-ships did head coach Barry Swit-zer win at Oklahoma?

4. Which team drafted Kobe Bry-ant in the 1996 NBA Draft?

5. Who was the longest-serving European captain in NHL history?

6. Entering 2010, how many For-mula One season titles had driver Michael Schumacher won?

7. To whom, other than her sister Serena, has Venus Williams lost in a Grand Slam singles fi nal?

(c) 2010 King Features Synd., Inc.

SNIPPETZ® PUZZLES AND TRIVIA

1. Name Billy Ocean’s 1984 No. 1 hit. Bonus for knowing which album the song appeared on.

2. Were The Spinners from the U.S. or the U.K.?

3. Name the band that Bob Seger put together in the 1970s.

4. Which singer started with the Miami Sound Machine in 1984?

5. Is “Madonna” really her birth name?

6. Name the group respon-sible for “Build Me Up, But-tercup.”

New DVD Releases forWeek of February 1, 2010

PICKS OF THE WEEK“Doctor Who: The Complete Specials” (The Next Doctor/Planet of the Dead/The Waters of Mars/The End of Time Parts 1 and 2) -- This fi ve-disc set con-tains the fi nal four episodes of David Tennant’s tenure as the eccentric, time-traveling hero, The Doctor. Not only do you get the episodes, but there’s

also a ton of extras: All the “Doctor Who Confi dential” episodes (contain-ing behind-the-scenes footage and in-terviews), the musical special “Doctor Who at the Proms,” deleted scenes, David Tennant’s Video Diaries, audio commentaries and the panel discus-sion at last year’s Comic-Con. This is a boxed set every fan should own.

“Zombieland” -- If you liked “Shaun of the Dead,” then you’ll love “Zom-bieland.” Woody Harrelson stars in this high-octane comedy as Tallahas-see, one of the few human survivors of a zombie apocalypse who is hell-bent on fi nding every surviving Twinkie in the country. For his cross-country trek he teams up with a nerdy dude (Jesse Eisenberg) and two hot sisters (Emma

Stone and Abigail Breslin) as they battle hordes of zombies on their way to the West Coast. I’m usually not a big fan of zombie fl icks or Woody Harrelson, but “Zombieland” was surprisingly enjoy-able. Man, was this a fun movie.

WORTH A LOOK“Ong Bak 2: The Beginning” -- Tony Jaa is unquestionably the best martial-arts movie star of this generation. He doesn’t use CGI or stunt doubles, and his fi ght scenes feature some of the most bone-crushingly intense action captured on fi lm. Sadly, this long-awaited sequel to 2003’s “Ong Bak: The Thai Warrior” is something of a letdown. Yes, the fi ghts are well-cho-reographed and thrilling to watch, but the pace of the fi lm just draaaags, the

acting is pretty bad even for a martial-arts fi lm, and the cliffhanger ending is just plain lame.

TV SERIES“Batman: The Brave and the Bold”

Vol. 3“The Mary Tyler Moore Show”

The Complete Sixth Season“Mister Ed”

The Complete Second Season“Beverly Hills 90210” Season Nine

“Dynasty” Season Four Vol. 2“Dragon Ball” Season Three

“Doc Martin” Series 3“Murder, She Wrote”

The Complete Eleventh Season

(c) 2010 King Features Synd., Inc.

In order to keep everyone honest (you know who you are,) we have moved the answers and solutions to the trivia and puzzles to the next page (17).

(c) 2010 King Features Synd., Inc.

17

HUEY’SPAGE

SNIPPETZ® COMICS AND ENTERTAINMENT

Answers & Solutions FEBRUARY 1, 2010

TRIVIA TEST ANSWERS

SPORTS QUIZ ANSWERS

FLASH BACK ANSWERS1. “Caribbean Queen (No More Love on the Run),” on the “Suddenly” album. The song was given other titles and lyrics, such as “African Queen” and “European Queen,” depending on where it was released.2. Both. There were two groups by that name. The American Spinners are an R&B group from Detroit. The British Spinners were a ‘60s folk group.3. The Silver Bullet Band. “Night Moves” was the band’s fi rst commercial success, in 1976.4. Gloria Estafan. She’s also appeared in fi lms, owns restaurants and writes children’s books.5. Yes. She was born Madonna Louise Ciccone. Her fi rst big hit, “Like a Virgin,” stayed at No. 1 on the charts for six weeks in 1984.6. The Foundations, in 1968. The song only reached No. 3 on the U.S. charts, but it stayed there for 11 weeks.

1. Fear of horses2. Psalm 23

3. Eldrick4. 144

5. Hibernia6. Hundred Years War

7. George Crum8. Pigs

9. Exposure to cold causing red, swollen skin10. 70

1. Stan Musial of the St. Louis Cardinals in 1948 (46 doubles, 18 triples, 39 home runs).2. Jimmie Foxx, Mickey Mantle, Stan Musial, Frank Robinson and Babe Ruth.3. Three -- 1974, ‘75, ‘85.4. The Charlotte Hornets.5. Mats Sundin of Toronto (11 seasons).6. Seven.7. To Martina Hingis, in the 1997 U.S. Open.

ARIES (March 21 to April 19) You need to be certain that all the right conditions are in place before you take that fi rst step. It can’t hurt to listen to good advice from those who have your best interests at heart.

TAURUS (April 20 to May 20) Be careful not to get involved in other people’s dis-putes unless you know the facts behind the disagreements. That’s the best way to be assured of making wise and honest deci-sions.

GEMINI (May 21 to June 20) You still need to be careful about how you’re going to spend those energy reserves you fi nally got around to restoring. Best advice: Avoid overdoing it. Let things take their course.

CANCER (June 21 to July 22) Your aspect continues to favor travel -- alone or with that special person. So if you’ve been put-ting off making those getaway plans, it’s still a good time to get started on them.

LEO (July 23 to August 22) Those so-called golden opportunities that continue to dazzle the Lion still need to be carefully checked out. Be suspicious about anything that looks like the “perfect” prospect.

VIRGO (August 23 to September 22) Changes at the workplace could make it more diffi cult to do things the way you prefer. But the wise Virgo who shows some fl exibility could fi nd it paying off in a big way.

LIBRA (September 23 to October 22) You might want to check out the explana-tion you were given for a sudden shift in your duties. There’s a possibility that you haven’t been told all the facts that you de-serve to know.

SCORPIO (October 23 to November 21) Having confi dence in your abilities is im-portant, especially when you could be fac-ing a new challenge, whether it’s in the workplace or in a personal relationship. Good luck.

SAGITTARIUS (November 22 to Decem-ber 21) A new work-related opportunity might not be all that it seems. Before mak-ing any decisions, you might want to check with others who have had some experience in that area.

CAPRICORN (December 22 to January 19) A situation involving someone close could benefi t from your timely interven-tion. Avoid being judgmental. There’ll be plenty of time later for those “little talks” you like to have.

AQUARIUS (January 20 to February 18) Travel could be a surprise element in that new project. Be prepared for other previ-ously undisclosed aspects that also might come to light as you proceed with the work.

PISCES (February 19 to March 20) Try to balance your work-related responsibili-ties with the time you’re spending on your recently revived social life. An old friend might be planning to return after a long ab-sence.

BORN THIS WEEK: Your sensitivity makes you aware of the needs of others. Have you considered a career as a coun-selor?

(c) 2010 King Features Synd., Inc.

18

SNIPPETZ® BUSINESS AND FINANCE

For additional information, contact:

Adam Grayson755 Hwy.105, Ste M-4 • Palmer Lake, CO

719-481-4964

FINANCIAL FOCUS

SANDWICHGENERATION

NEEDS TO AVOIDFINANCIAL SQUEEZE

Provided by Adam Graysonof EdwardJones Investments

Are you a member of the “Sandwich Generation”? This designation — which applies to people caring for

their aging parents while supporting their own children — may be applicable to you if you’re either a younger Baby Boomer, born in the late 1950s or early 1960s, or an older member of “Generation X,” born in the mid-1960s. But any way you slice it, being in the “Sandwich” group is probably going to present you with some challenges, particularly of the fi nancial kind — so you’ll need to make the right moves.Basically, you should consider two areas of decision-making — those affecting the future of you and your children and those affecting your elderly parents’ lifestyle and legacy.Regarding your future, and that of your children, you’ll need to prioritize your goals. Some people, when weighing the merits of investing for retirement versus saving for their children’s college educations, conclude that while loans are available for college, none are offered to retirees. Consequently, they focus more heavily on retirement. If you’re in this camp, you’ll probably want to contribute as much as you can possibly afford to your IRA and 401(k) or other employer-sponsored retirement plan.However, if you feel strongly about helping your kids go through college relatively debt-free, you may want to explore some college-savings options, such as Section 529 plans and Coverdell Education Savings Accounts, both of which offer signifi cant tax advantages.In any case, these goals don’t have to be mutually exclusive — but if you’re going to address them both, you will have

to make some key decisions regarding allocation of resources. And while you’re handling these issues for yourself and your children, you’ll need to juggle the needs of your elderly parents. With luck, you won’t have to contribute fi nancially, but you may be required to put in some time and energy to help make sure your parents’ situation remains positive.This means you’ll need to ask some questions. Where do your parents bank? Do they have a brokerage account? If so, do you know the name of their fi nancial advisor? Have they taken steps to remain fi nancially independent if they ever need to go to a nursing home or employ home health care assistants? Have they drawn up a will, a living trust or other estate plan documents? Would they be willing to have you or another family member assume power of attorney should they become incapacitated?In raising these questions, you will have to approach your parents with tact and sensitivity. However, you may be pleasantly surprised at your parents’ willingness to talk about these issues; after all, they almost surely want to avoid burdening you with extra fi nancial responsibilities.The best time to approach your parents is when they are healthy, both mentally and physically. It’s especially important to be aware of even minor-seeming cognitive impairments, such as memory lapses, which can result in paying the same bills two or three times, forgetting to record checks or even falling prey to fraudulent investment schemes. If you suspect your parents may be having these troubles, you’ll need to step in immediately.It’s not easy being a Sandwich Generation member, but through diligence and proper planning, you should be able to help avoid getting “squished” — while improving the outcomes for all your beloved family members.

This article was written by Edward Jones for use by your local Edward Jones Financial Advisor.

IT’S TIME TO MAKE THE WORLD

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2010 MVEA Board Nominations Now Open

Two directors will be elected to Mountain View Electric Association’s (MVEA) Board of Directors this year from the following districts:

• District 3 Elbert and surrounding areas to include a portion of the Black Forest. (incumbent Allen Gresham)

• District 5 Ellicott, Fountain, Falcon and surrounding areas. (incumbent Bud Paddock)

If you, or someone you know, is interested in being a candidate, please contact a member of the nominating committee. A candidate must be an MVEA member and reside in the district where there is a vacancy. Before applying, please contact either MVEA of ce at 719-775-2861 or 719-495-2283 to verify your district. Candidate information must be turned into the committee by 5:30 p.m., Monday, April 12, 2010. A member may also petition for nomination. Petitions are available at either MVEA of ce or online at www.mvea.coop. Petitions must be signed by 15 members of MVEA residing in the district where there is a vacancy. It must be returned to either MVEA of ce by 5:30 p.m., Monday, April 19, 2010. A Questionnaire must also be completed for either the verbal nomina-tion or petition. The questionnaire can also be found on MVEA’s web site or you may pick one up at either of ce. If you have questions, please contact a member of the nominating committee.

Nominating Committee:

District 3 District 5Joy Rosburg Carl Alexander12481 County Rd. 90 25780 Little Springs Rd.Elbert, CO 80106 Calhan, CO 80808303-648-3342 719-683-5212

www.mvea.coop

PREPARE FORTHE FUTURE.Caring for a parent or spouse is an act of love most peopleoffer without hesitation. If you are not prepared, however,it can become physically and financially draining.

Long term care insurance is one of the best ways to helpprotect the financial security of someone who needs longterm care. There are many policies from which tochoose. We can help determine which policy may best fityour needs.

Call your financial advisor today for details.

www.edwardjones.com

Adam R GraysonFinancial Advisor.

755 Hwy 105Suite M-4Palmer Lake, CO 80133719-481-4964

19

SNIPPETZ® BUSINESS AND FINANCE

❖ Business Formation

❖ Business Planning

❖ Intellectual Property

❖ Employment Law

❖ Mergers and Acquisitions

❖ Wills, Estate, Probate

❖ Transactional (Contract) Services

Lisa Welch StevensAttorney at Law, P.C.

Admitted to Colorado State Barand U.S. Federal Bar for the

District of Colorado

Member: Colorado & El Paso County Bar Association

719.488.9395lisa@lwslawfi rm.com • www.lwslawfi rm.com

Law Offi ces ofChristopher C.

Meyer,P.C.

13540 Northgate Estates Dr., #200Colorado Springs,

CO 80921(719)488-9395

DIVORCE / FAMILYLAW

Experienced - AffordableConvenient

Please visit our comprehensive website for divorce information:

www.cmeyerlaw.com

By Christopher C. Meyer and Ruth Bolas © January 2010

Your home is often your biggest fi nancial asset. What your home is actually worth can be a major issue in a divorce case. The

following discussion of home valuation methods is not limited to the family law context.

There are several ways of determining the value of your home. There is the “guesstimate” method, too often used by homeowners. This can result in erroneous conclusions due to faulty real estate data. Homeowners are not professional evaluators. Many of the valuation systems available to the public have incorrect data. Two other valuation methods that are often used are appraisals and comparative market analyses (CMAs). An appraisal is performed by a certifi ed professional appraiser. A CMA is performed by a licensed real estate broker.

An appraiser analyzes recent sales of other houses and makes standard adjustments for differences between the sold houses and your house in order to arrive at the value of your house. A CMA involves an analysis of active, pending, and sold listings, original list price, fi nal sold price, days on the market, and seller concessions involved, such as payment of a portion of the buyer’s closing costs.

The valuation method that is best for you may depend on practical matters such as the ultimate use of the evaluation. If a Judge is going to determine the value of your home, an appraisal

may be preferable to a CMA. However, there is a trend for more acceptance of CMAs by Judges. A lender will demand an appraisal. Appraisals cost money (starting at around $350). Many real estate professionals offer CMAs for no charge.

The most accurate method will depend upon the evaluator. The results provided by a well-experienced professional appraiser and a similarly experienced real estate broker should be very similar. However, a real estate broker who lives and works in your community may have a better grasp of the market value of your house than an appraiser who does not live or have experience in your community. Similarly, an appraiser who lives and works in your community may be more accurate regarding your home than a real estate broker who lives and works in Fort Collins.

Good luck with your home valuation and remember that both an appraisal and a CMA are vastly superior to a guesstimate. Keep in mind that what your home is worth to you is not necessarily its market value. The market value, whether determined by an appraiser or a realtor, is simply the price your home is likely to sell for in the current market. You should also keep in mind that savvy buyers working with a realtor will almost always get a CMA before they make an offer!

This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice about your case.

Chris Meyer is an attorney practicing family law in Northern El Paso County. Chris’ law practice is limited to domestic relations cases. Chris has been practicing law since 1977. He is a former prosecutor and is licensed to practice law in Colorado, Florida, California and Wisconsin. Chris can be contacted at 719-488-9395. Chris’s website www.cmeyerlaw.com has additional divorce and family law information and many other articles.

Ruth Bolas is a licensed Real Estate Broker with Keller Williams and is also an attorney. She grew up in the Monument area and serves the Front Range specializing in working with buyers as well as home sales and short sales. Ruth Bolas can be reached at ruthbolas@msn.com or 719-488-3026 or 303-437-6010.

THE MARRIAGE ZONE:

WHAT IS YOURHOME WORTH?

there is a trend for more acceptance of CMAs by Judges. A lender will demand an appraisal. Appraisals cost money (starting at around $350). Many real estate professionals offer CMAs for no charge.

The most accurate method will depend upon the evaluator. The results provided by a well-experienced professional appraiser and a similarly experienced

IT’STHELAW!

by Christopher C. Meyer,Attorney at Law, P.C.

ELECTRIC COOPERATIVES ACROSS COUNTRY

RESPOND TO HAITIAN DISASTER

Electric cooperatives throughout the United States, including Mountain View Electric Association, are helping provide assistance in Haiti following the January 13 earthquake that devastated that country and we are inviting our members to get involved, too.

When news of the destruction that affected Port-au-Prince and many surrounding communities in Haiti reached the headquarters of the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association, there was an immediate response.

NRECA International Ltd. and the NRECA International Foundation staff drafted an immediate plan to send a rapid response team to Haiti. The International Programs staff quickly established contact with USAID and other international and local partners to coordinate fi eld activities and rehabilitation efforts of the electric sector.

Since then a four-person team has gone Haiti, led by Myk Manon, NRECA International’s most experienced electric power distribution engineer. The NRECA Foundation is contributing $50,000

to this initial effort, and additional contributions are coming from the greater NRECA membership.

The response team was given two principal assignments: To perform a rapid appraisal of the short term measures required to repair critical segments of the electric power system in Port-au-Prince; and to identify the emergency power requirements for hospitals, health centers, refugee camps, and other public facilities both in Port-au-Prince, and at border towns along the Haitian-Dominican frontier.

By Sunday, January 17, the team completed an initial fi eld assessment of the Electricite du Haiti (EDH - the national electric company in Haiti). Signifi cant damage was noted in three of the substations, while the transmission and distribution circuits sustained relatively minor damage.

Focus was then shifted to reviewing power needs

at principal relief centers, where efforts were again coordinated with local and international partners. A decision was quickly reached to install a 500 kVA emergency generator donated by the Dominican Republic at the principal hospital in Port-au-Prince; two additional 1000 kVA generators will be installed this week to augment power to the hospital and to other relief centers.

The team will continue to support immediate needs in Port-au-Prince, and will begin efforts to assess emergency power needs outside of Port-au-Prince in the immediate future.

All donations made through the NRECA International Foundation’s website at www.nrecafoundation.coop will be restricted for the Foundation’s Haiti Relief Efforts. Donations will continue funding the rapid response team currently in Haiti as well as travel for future linemen crews. Please make a donation today.

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