Web viewOne word of caution if you use this option ... You have debased this child, dressed him in rags of ragtime, tatters of jive and boogie-woogie."

Sites of the MonthGreat Sites to Check Out

(from Partner Communication's monthly newsletter)Has Your Vehicle Been Recalled?odi.nhtsa.dot.gov – The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration makes it easy to check whether any vehicle recalls apply to you. Simply enter

the model year, make, and model and do a quick search. You can also enter a Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) to get more detailed repair information.

Advice That’s Right On the Moneysmartaboutmoney.org – It pays to know as much as you can about money and you can learn a lot here. This site offers financial advice and information for all stages of life including calculators, quizzes, articles on hot topics and an extensive resource library.

Make The Most Of Your Moneyclarkhoward.com – Clark Howard is a nationally syndicated consumer expert who shares ways for people to “save more, spend less, and avoid getting ripped off.” You can watch recent video tips, listen to his radio show, and browse through information on everything from buying a car to negotiating a raise

What’s Trending In Holiday Decorating?christmas.com – Using the same holiday decorations year after year can get boring. So before you deck the halls next year, pick up some fresh ideas such as re-purposing vintage items and adding texture through burlap. You can also create a family page to share holiday photos, save recipes, and more.

Escape To A Calming Oasiscalm.com – When the hectic holiday pace leaves you feeling frazzled, this site offers soothing images and music. You can use the timer to set the number of minutes you’d like to enjoy the scene or choose a timed “guided calm,” which offers a voice-guided relaxation session.

Creative Ideas For A Snowmanhallmark.com – Would you like to make a snowman packed with personality that will capture the attention of your neighbors? Browse around this site and get ready to impress. You’ll find a list of handy tools, inspiring photos, and step-by-step instructions.

How to delete or edit a Facebook comment you posted:To delete a comment:

1. Click on the arrow in the upper right-hand corner of your comment.2. Select Delete.

To edit a comment:1. Click on the arrow in the upper right-hand corner of your comment.2. Select Edit.3. Edit your comment.4. Press Enter or Return to post your updated comment, or Esc to cancel.

When you edit a comment, you’ll see a note under your comment showing the time it was edited. Anyone who can see your comment can see that it was edited and click the link to see what was changed.

CITY NEWS QUICKIES Water/Sewer bills are due by the 15th of the month. A 10% penalty is added after that date. Did you know you can sign up to have your Melbourne utility payment deducted from your checking or savings account at MidWestOne Bank automatically each month? It is a great way to simplify your life and to avoid late payments and late charges. The City of Melbourne does not accept Debit or Credit cards, but please consider using your banks’ bill pay option. Most banks offer this service at no charge to the customer. You will need to check with your personal bank to get their policy.One word of caution if you use this option - you will want payment to come out of your account no later than the 10th of the month. Even though most of us bank “locally”, the payments generally come from out of state such as California, North Carolina, Texas, etc. You will need to allow extra time for the payment to arrive through the mail. Unfortunately, if it comes in late, there will be a “late fee” already assessed. By having it sent BY the 10th, you should avoid it arriving after the due date. If you will be moving, contact the city clerk’s office before your final date. We need to know your forwarding address and when you will be moving so we know where to send final bill. Remember to move cars off the street when snow begins to fall. They must remain off the street until snow is removed from curb to curb and snow has stopped falling. Make plans now where to put your vehicle while the streets are being plowed. Vehicles not moved can, and will, be towed at owner's expense. If you notice a street light not working properly, let the City or the utility company know. You may call Alliant Energy at 1-800-255-4268 or the city clerk’s office at 641-482-3338.

RENT THE REC. CENTER (weddings, receptions, graduations, class reunions, birthday parties, etc.)

Our Rec. Center is available for rent to the public. We have two rooms available for rent, or you can rent the entire building for a large event. You can

rent the rooms by themselves or you can use the kitchen if you need it. The smaller room will hold a group of about 75 people and the large room will hold about 200-250. Below are the prices:

A ____Banquet room ONLY @ $90.00 per day B ___ Banquet room and kitchen @ $125.00 per day

C____Small room ONLY @ $40.00 per day D____Small room and kitchen @ $75.00 per day

E____All churches @ $42.50 per day F____3 hours banquet room or small room & kitchen @ $50.00 G___ Small room, banquet room, and kitchen @ $200.00

A deposit equal to the rent must be sent in a separate check. If you are having alcohol at your event, there is a $200.00 deposit. Contact City Hall at 641-482-

3338 to check for open dates and to have a rental agreement sent to you. You can download a copy from our website www.melbourneiowa.com.

Always read stuff that will make you look good if you die in the middle of it.The Beautification Committee is accepting donations for our flower bas-kets/pots on Main Street. These flowers sure spruce up the town and the entrance to businesses. We will plant, maintain and water the pots. PLEASE consider donating to help with expenses! A dona-

tion of any amount will be accepted and sincerely appreciated. Your dona-tion will be acknowledged in future newsletters. Donations may be dropped off at the clerk’s office or mailed to P.O. Box 37, Melbourne.

What is Water Efficiency?Water efficiency is the smart use of our water resources through water-saving technologies and simple steps we can all take around the house. Using water efficiently will help ensure reliable water supplies today and for future generations.

Save Water, Save MoneyThe average family spends $1,100 per year in water costs, but can save $350 from retrofitting with WaterSense labeled fixtures and ENERGY STAR® qualified appliances. Also, when we use water more efficiently, we reduce the need for costly investments in water treatment and deliv-ery systems.

Drops to Watts: Save Water, Save Energy

It takes a considerable amount of energy to deliver and treat the water you use every day. For example, let-ting your faucet run for five minutes uses about as much energy as letting a 60-watt light bulb run for 22 hours.

Heating water for bathing, shaving, cooking, and cleaning also requires a lot of energy. Homes with electric water heaters, for example, spend one-quarter of their electric bill just to heat water.

With climate change concerns, pervasive droughts, and high energy prices across the country, nearly every-one is looking for ways to conserve resources and cut costs. The good news is that by using a little "water sense" we can all save water, energy, and money.

Water Efficiency & the EnvironmentWhen reservoir water levels get lower and ground water tables drop, water supplies, human health, and the environment are put at serious risk. For example, lower water levels can contribute to higher concentrations of natural and human pollutants.

Less water going down the drain means more water available in the lakes, rivers and streams that we use for recreation and wildlife uses to survive. Using water more efficiently helps maintain supplies at safe levels, protecting human health and the environment.

Water suppliers are doing their part to improve water efficiency for their own operations and are helping their customers save more by providing rebates on water efficient products and tips on how to create more water efficient yards.

DON’T DRAIN YOUR CASHUse these simple solutions to cut down on water waste and spend less.

Switch out that old showerhead. Replacing an old, inefficient showerhead with a droplet-saving WaterSense-certified one can use up to 2,900 gallons less per year. First, plug the drain to prevent small parts from escaping, then use a wrench to twist off the threaded ring that holds the showerhead to the spout. Next, wrap a few layers of thread seal or plumber’s tape around the threads on the spout, then screw on the new showerhead, tightening it with the wrench.Cost $8 and up for a showerhead Savings*Up to $6 per year.

Conserve at the kitchen sink. It’s easy to save up to 60 gallons of water every day. After you eat, scrape dishes, pots and pans clean instead of rinsing them under running water. For stuck-on food, fill a pan with soap and just enough cold water to cover the stains. Let them soak for a couple of hours to loosen particles enough for a sponge to remove most of the leftover debris. The action in the dishwasher will do the rest, keeping extra droplets from going down the drain. Cost Free! Savings Up to $44 per year

Fill up your (toilet) tank. If you have a 20-plus-year-old toilet, you’re flushing away your money. Try a water displacement bag like the Toilet Water Conservation Kit ($3.60; conservationmart.com). It hangs vertically inside the tank to take up space, saving gallons with each use.Cost $3.60 for water conservation kit Savings Up to $4 per person, per year

Find a hidden leak. Water waste isn’t always obvious—concealed pipe drips (the kind you can’t see) inside walls of ceilings can seep away up to 14% of your home’s water usage. To determine if there’s an issue, turn off all sources of water and write down the numbers on your water meter. Wait an hour and check the meter numbers again. If the dial is spinning or the numbers have changed, you may have a leak. Find the culprit by checking for damp pipes under sinks, in the bathroom or in the basement. If you’re unable to find the issue, call a plumber to locate and fix the leak.Cost $100 for a leak detection plumber visit Savings Up to $47 a year.

Be smart about laundry loads. The average washing machine uses 23 gallons per load, whether it’s full or not. It takes about twice as much energy to wash two small loads as it does one full, so be sure the drum is covered (though not overstuffed) each time. To further improve efficiency, reserve the heavy or large setting for bedding, towels, or bulky outerwear. These items require the most water to wash. Cost Free! Savings Up to $10 per year

Use outdoor water wisely. Most plants, lawns and flowers only need water when the soil has been dry for several days. Translation: Even if you’re following town restrictions, you may be overdoing it if you’re watering more often than that. The average sprinkler sprays 566 gallons per day, so skipping just one session each week saves over 2,000 gallons per month. When you do water, aim for early in the morning and only at the roots, since extra drips on the leaves will evaporate during the day. If you’re adding new greenery, be sure to choose plants native to your region, which will flourish under natural heat and rainfall conditions.Cost Free! Savings Up to $54 per year

Wrap your pipes. Insulated pipes can raise your home’s water temperatures from 2 to 4 degrees, meaning you save water (and lower heating costs) because the water warms up faster for your shower or bath. To DIY: Start at the water heater and work your way out, checking pipes for any leaks, visible rust or loose couplings (the brackets that join two pipes). If everything is dry and secure, measure the length of the pipes and use scissors to cut foam pipe sleeves ($2 and up; homedepot.com) to fit. Wrap around each pipe and secure with duct tape or cable ties.Cost $2 and up for a foam sleeve Savings Up to $12 a year

Fix a faucet drip. That stream of droplets could be wasting 3,000 gallons of water a year. The problem is generally inside a faucet’s handles. To repair it, shut off the water under the sink (or to the bathroom, if it’s for the tub). Dismantle the faucet and replace any brittle 0-rings or washers, or damaged springs. Reassemble (wrapping thread seal or plumber’s tape around the threads on the pipes) and turn the water back on.Cost $2 and up for parts Savings Up to $25 a year.

The City of Melbourne offices will be closed on January 1 for New Year’s Day.

Important Utility Bill InformationUtility payments are due upon receipt and considered late after the 15th of the month. There is a drop slot in the front door of City Hall and payments are collected each day. Any payment dropped in the box after 4:00 p.m. is considered the next day’s business. If the 15th falls on Saturday or Sunday, the box is emptied at 8:00 a.m. on the Monday following and any payments made after 4:00 p.m. are considered late. The 15th is not a postmark deadline and all payments received after the 15th are considered late. If you do not receive your bill, please do not hesitate to contact us at 482- 3338 to request a duplicate billing or to find out the amount due.

The Melbourne Mousehole Committee would like to know if anyone has white flat sheets that they would be willing to donate. We can use them as tablecloths for tables at several functions. If you have some sheets to donate bring them to City Hall. Thank you for any you can spare.

"You can't leave a footprint that lasts if you're always walking on tiptoe." - Marion C. Blakey

One of the best ways to protect yourself and your family is to have a working smoke alarm that can sound fast for both a fire that has flames, and a smoky fire that has fumes without flames. It is called a “Dual Sensor Smoke Alarm.” A smoke alarms greatly reduces your chances of dying in a fire.Prepare an escape plan and practice it often. Make sure everyone in your family knows at least two (2) escape routes from their bedrooms.

Tips for the cold weather:Home heating systemsHave your heating system professionally inspected, cleaned, and serviced every year. Make sure to have your fireplace inspected and cleaned prior to using and learn what you can do to reduce creosote buildup.Space HeatersSpace heaters can be dangerous if not used following general safety guidelines. Check your owner’s manuals for general maintenance and cleaning instructions. Before using space heaters, inspect them for damage, including the power cord, and know how to operate them safely. Keep 3 feet of empty space around the space heater, never place anything on it to dry, and do not place/store flammable objects or liquids near the space heater. Turn space heaters off when leaving the house or going to bed.Fuel Fired DevicesFlammable liquids should not be stored in inside the home or in an attached garage or shed. This includes any unused fuel still in the fuel tank. Store this equipment away from your home or drain excess fuel out of the tank before storing. This simple safety precaution will help prevent accidental fires from escaping fuel vapors.Smoke DetectorsDon’t assume these lifesaving appliances work just by looking at it. They require some basic maintenance to make sure they will work properly. Nuisance or false alarms are the number one cause for battery removal and are usually caused by installing units too close to the kitchen and or heating vents. Relocate units closer to or inside sleeping areas to prevent false alarms.• Replace the battery when necessary or at least once a year.• Clean dust from around the cover to let air flow inside.• Replace units that are ten years old or if its reliability is in question.• Push the test button once a month to make sure it works properly.Carbon Monoxide DetectorsCO alarms should be installed in a central location outside each sleeping area and on every level of the home and in other locations where required by applicable laws, codes or standards

For the best protection, interconnect all CO alarms throughout the home. When one sounds, they all sound. • CO detectors should be used in homes that use natural gas, propane, or wood burning appliances.• Test CO alarms at least once a month; replace them according to the manufacturer’s instructions.• If the CO alarm sounds, immediately move to a fresh air location outdoors or by an open window or door. Make sure everyone inside the home is accounted for. Call for help from a fresh air location and stay there until emergency personnel arrive.

Cold-weather Effects On Smoke AlarmsThe Melbourne Fire Department would also like to remind residents that temperature extremes can reduce the life and performance of batteries in smoke alarms, causing them to activate when no smoke or fire is present.If your alarm is beeping, but you do not smell smoke: Go to each room where detectors are located (the suspect detector may have caused all of the home’s detectors to go off). Look for one that is flashing red where the test button is located (all others will still have a solid green light). Start with bedrooms and living areas with vaulted ceilings, which will typically have a smoke detector three feet down from the peak.Vaulted ceilings will cause detectors to become much colder than room temperature due to the minimal separation between the roof and ceiling, which can draw the battery life down ten times faster than normal.To deactivate the detector once it has been set off:Twist and remove the detector from the ceiling or wall and unplug the 110 volt power supply; it will then only be powered by the battery. This should deactivate and silence all the other detectors in the home. Remove the battery and replace it with a fresh 9-volt battery, which should silence the detector. If the detector is only powered by a battery, use the same process of installing a new battery.If the smoke alarm is beeping and you smell smoke: Leave the home immediately and call 911.

These stories include Iowa historical figures, celebrities and those individuals of Iowa who have influenced the lives of others

Lee De Forest was born in 1873 in Council Bluffs, Iowa, the son of Anna Margaret (Robbins) and Henry Swift DeForest. De Forest attended Mount Hermon School, and in 1893 enrolled at the Sheffield Scientific School of Yale University in Connecticut. As an inquisitive young inventor, he tapped into the electrical system at Yale one evening and completely blacked out the entire campus, causing his suspension. He was eventually allowed to complete his studies, receiving his bachelor's degree in 1896. He paid part of his tuition with the income from his mechanical and gaming inventions. De Forest earned his Ph.D. degree in 1899 with a dissertation on radio waves, supervised by theoretical physicist Willard Gibbs. For the next two years, he was on faculty at Armour Institute of Technology and Lewis Institute and conducted his first long-distance broadcasts from the university. In 1901 De Forest fell into competition with Guglielmo Marconi at the New York International Yacht Races, each working for rival news services, and using their own inventions. Marconi used his patented wireless telegraphy and De Forest his transmitter and receiver, which was not yet patented. They sat on separate boats, and transmitted the highlights of the race live. Unfortunately they jammed each other’s signals, and neither of the two men were able to transmit any news of the race. De Forest, in a fit of rage, threw his transmitter overboard. Jammed frequencies were a common problem in the very early years of radio.

De Forest was interested in wireless telegraphy and invented the Audion in 1906. He then developed an improved wireless telegraph receiverOn 25 October 1906, de Forest filed a patent for a diode vacuum tube detector, a two-electrode device for detecting electromagnetic waves, a variant of the Fleming valve invented two years earlier. One year later, he filed a patent for a three-electrode device that was a much more sensitive detector of electromagnetic waves. It was granted a patent in February 1908.

The device was also called the De Forest valve, and since 1919 has been known as the triode. The Audion was the fastest electronic switching element of the time, and was later used in early digital electronics (such as computers). The triode was vital in the development of transcontinental telephone communications, radio, and radar until the 1948 invention of the transistor.De Forest came to San Francisco in 1910, and worked for the Federal Telegraph Company, which began developing the first global radio communications system in 1912. The U S Attorney General sued De Forest for fraud (in 1913) on behalf of his shareholders, stating that his claim of regeneration was an "absurd" promise (he was later acquitted). Nearly bankrupt with legal bills, De Forest sold his triode vacuum-tube patent to AT&T and the Bell System in July 1913 for the price of $50,000. This gave AT&T rights to use and build the Audion except for wireless telegraphy. De Forest would sell the rights for wireless telegraphy for $90,000 on August 1914. He would later relinquish all rights to AT&T in March 1917 for $250,000. De Forest tried again to start another business venture. This time making high power tubes used as an oscillator for wireless telegraphy and amateur radio transmissions. De Forest wanted to keep a tight hold on his tube business by demanding retailers that their customers must return their worn out tube before they can get another. This style of business encouraged others to make and sell counterfeit or bootleg vacuum tubes which did not require a return policy. De Forest filed another patent in 1916 that became the cause of a contentious lawsuit with the prolific inventor Edwin Howard Armstrong. The lawsuit lasted twelve years, winding its way through the appeals process and ending up before the Supreme Court in 1926. The Supreme Court ruled in favor of De Forest, although many historians felt that the judgment

was incorrect. Over time radio history has credited Lee De Forest as the inventor of the three element or triode vacuum tube and Edwin Armstrong as the inventor of radio. In 1916, De Forest broadcast the first radio advertisements (for his own products) and the first Presidential election report by radio in November 1916 for Charles Evans Hughes and Woodrow Wilson. Like Charles Herrold in San Jose, California,—who had been broadcasting since 1909 -- De Forest had a license from the Department of Commerce for an experimental radio station, but, like Herrold, had to cease all broadcasting when the U.S. entered World War I in April 1917Just like Pittsburgh’s KDKA, four years later in November 1920, De Forest used the Hughes/Wilson presidential election returns for his broadcast. The New York American installed a private wire and bulletins were sent out every hour. About 2000 listeners heard The Star-Spangled Banner and other anthems, songs, and hymns. De Forest went on to sponsor radio broadcasts of music, featuring opera star Enrico Caruso and many other events, but he received little financial backing.In April 1923, the De Forest Radio, Telephone & Telegraph Company, which manufactured De Forest's Audions for commercial use, was sold to a coalition of automobile makers who expanded the company's factory to cope with rising demand for radios. The sale also bought the services of De Forest, who was focusing his attention on newer innovations.In 1919, De Forest filed the first patent on his sound-on-film process, which improved on the work of Finnish inventor Eric Tigerstedt and the German partnership Tri-Ergon, and called it the De Forest Phonofilm process. Phonofilm recorded sound directly onto film as parallel lines of variable shades of gray. These lines photographically recorded electrical waveforms from a microphone, which were translated back into sound waves when the movie was projected.From October 1921 to September 1922, De Forest lived in Berlin, meeting the Tri-Ergon developers and investigating other European sound film systems. He announced to the press in April 1922 that he would soon have a workable sound-on-film system.

On 12 March 1923, De Forest presented a demonstration of Phonofilm to the press. On 12 April 1923, DeForest gave a private demonstration of the process to electrical engineers at the Engineering Society Building's Auditorium in New York City. This system, which synchronized sound directly onto film, was used to record stage performances (such as in vaudeville), speeches, and musical acts. In November 1922, De Forest established his De Forest Phonofilm Company in New York City, but none of the Hollywood movie studios expressed any interest in his invention.

In 1927 and 1928, Hollywood began to use sound-on-film systems, including Fox Movietone and RCA Photophone. Almost 200 short films were made in the Phonofilm process, and many are preserved in the collections of the Library of Congress and the British Film Institute. In 1940 he sent an open letter to the National Association of Broadcasters in which he demanded to know, "What have you done with my child, the radio broadcast? You have debased this child, dressed him in rags of ragtime, tatters of jive and boogie-woogie."

De Forest was the guest celebrity on the May 22, 1957, episode of the television show This Is Your Life, where he was introduced as "the father of radio and the grandfather of television." Highlights of this

episode, as well as a film clip of his 1940 NAB letter, can be found in the 1992 Ken Burns PBS documentary film based on Tom Lewis' book Empire of the Air: The Men Who Made Radio.De Forest's initially rejected, but later adopted, movie soundtrack method brought De Forest an Academy Award in 1959/1960 for "his pioneering inventions which brought sound to the motion picture" and a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. He died in Hollywood on June 30, 1961, aged 87, and was interred in San Fernando Mission Cemetery in Los Angeles, California. De Forest died relatively poor, with just $1,250 in his bank account.

Melbourne’s Small Business & Craft Bazaar

Raffle prize donated by: Raffle prize: Winner: Theresa Siegert-Scentsy Body Butter Mary Pothast

Wendy Eldridge-Pampered Chef Cookbook Alberta Coleman

Denise Bacon-Forget Me Not Bakery Brownie & Cookies Verlee Bailey

Sarah Kielman-Baked Goods Pumpkin Roll Alberta Coleman

Fay Maschmann-Tupperware Tupperware container Sandy Kielman

Kathy Lupkes-Jewelry Earrings Vickie Stahl

Lynn Anderson & Sue O’Donnell-Colo Crafter Sewn Items Judy Monroe

Lindsay Slifer-Flavored Popcorn 2 bags popcorn Jadyn Bunting

Susanne Bunting-Susanne’s Hair Salon Hair Care Products Sandy Kielman

Lois Keefer-Sewn items Tater Baker Stacey Kielman

Judy Good-Greeting Cards 10 pack Greeting Cards Sam Halter

Vicky KloppenborgStained Glass Christmas Ornaments Stocking Ornament Dirk Kielman

Barb Judkins-Designs by Barb Necklace Pendent Lynn Anderson

Heather McCann-Tastefully Simple Lemon Loaf Denise Bacon

Eileene Howing-Assorted Crafts Crocheted Snowman Mary Pothast

Teresa Perin-Eden Hills Farm 2 bars Goat Milk Soap Boo Mansager

Mary Pothast-Santa Figures Santa Figure Denise Halm

Thank you to all the vendors who donated items for the raffle and for joining us for the bazaar!!

With the smoke alarms going off and the singing by the kitchen crew, a lot of fun was had by all. If you missed out this year, join us next year. Many people came for lunch and stayed to shop. Most of the vendors did quite well and thought we did a super job. Most plan to join us again next year.

KNOW WHAT WEATHER FORECASTERS ARE TELLING YOUKnowing the differences among the winter weather hazards described by the National Weather Service can help you prepare for an upcoming storm:

Outlook: Winter storm conditions are possible in the next 2 to 5 days. Stay tuned to local media or your weather radio for updates.

Watch: Winter storm conditions are possible within 36-48 hours.

Warning: Potentially life-threatening, severe winter conditions will begin with 24 hours – or already have begun.

Advisory: Winter weather conditions are expected to cause significant inconveniences and may be hazardous. If you’re cautious and prepared, the situation should not be life threatening.

Save this list for when it’s time to take down holiday lights (from Touchstone Energy Co-op)It’s never as much fun taking down holiday decorations as it is putting them up, but there are some things you should keep in mind when you put them away. Stick this list to your refrigerator, so

you’ll have it handy when the day to “undecorate” arrives.

Don’t leave your holiday lights up year-round or even another month—especially the outdoor ones. Wires exposed to the

elements all year long could pose a constant threat of electrical shock or fire. Holiday decorations are intended to be used only for a short time, and keeping them up for several months or all year long exceeds their safety limits and shortens their life spans.

To unplug electric decorations, use the gripping area provided on the plugs. Never pull the cord to unplug a device from an electrical outlet or another light string. Doing so can harm a cord’s wire and insulation and even lead to an electrical shock or fire.

Just as you did before hanging the light strings and carefully positioning your favorite decorations, inspect them for frayed wires, bare spots, insulation gaps, loose connections, broken bulbs, cracked sockets, damage from hangers or nails, and excessive kinking or wear. If you can’t fix the damaged ones, throw them away.

To save time next year, separate outdoor lights from indoor ones and label them with where you used them. Put each set of lights in individual plastic bags, or wrap the lights around pieces of cardboard.

Store your lights and other decorations away from kids, pets and areas where they might be damaged by water or dampness.

If you need to replace lights or decorations, check for “super sales” on LED light strings and decorations the day after Christmas. Although LED’s still might be a little more expensive than traditional lights at the time of purchase, energy savings over their lifetime make them a big money saver.

Is Your Family Ready for the Next Big Winter

Storm? (from Touchstone Energy Co-op)Can you imagine turning on the TV news or your weather radio and hearing a forecast for 7 feet of snow? That’s what happened in Buffalo, N.Y., in November, 2014 and it’s a good reminder that you never can outguess Mother Nature during the winter. Here are some things to do to

ride out any storm with the greatest comfort and least inconvenience to your family.Gather these items before the storm hits. Your primary concern should be gearing up for a loss of power, heat and telephone service-along with a shortage of water, food and other supplies if storm conditions last longer than a day. Have a storm emergency kit and include these items:

Flashlight and extra batteries Battery-powered weather radio and

portable radio to receive emergency information

Plenty of water-Red Cross suggests one gallon per person per day

High-energy foods that don’t require refrigeration or cooking, such as dried fruits, nuts, granola bars, cereals and canned goods

Non-electric can opener

A week’s worth of medicines First-aid supplies Individually wrapped moist wipes

for hand cleaning Extra baby items Sleeping bags, blankets and pillows Books and games to keep kids

occupied ABC-type fire extinguisher Plenty of food and water (and

shelter) for pets

And don’t forget…………… Fuel for indoor-rated, unvented, fuel burning space heater and be sure it works properly Make sure you know how to operate your garage door manually (No power) Turn off stove, oven, and other appliances-except frig and freezer-to prevent heavy

startup loads that could cause a secondary blackout when power is restored Leave one lamp on so you know when power is restored Unplug sensitive electronic equipment such as computers and TV’s, to avoid damage Keep curtains and exterior doors closed Wear layers of loose-fitting, lightweight, warm clothing. If temps fall to near freezing in your home, open all faucets SLIGHTLY so they drip. Don’t use candles for lighting; they can cause a fire. Use a flashlight or battery-powered

camping lanterns instead Do not use your stove, oven, cooktop, outdoor grill, camping stove or any other fuel

cooking equipment to try to produce usable heat inside your home. The carbon monoxide these devices produce could be fatal within a matter of minutes

A full freezer will stay at freezing temperatures for about 2 days; a half-full one will last about 1 day. If the freezer is not full; clump foods together to help them keep cold

If your only choice is to store food outdoors-for example, in a snow bank-keep it in a shaded area. Just a little sun exposure can raise the temperature of the food above 40 degrees and cause it to spoil, even if it’s surrounded by snow and ice

Never taste food to see if it is safe. When in doubt, throw it out

SURVIVING COLD & FLU SEASONThe common cold and seasonal flu are caused by viruses and have similar symptoms; sore throat, cough, congestion, body aches and fever. Antibiotic work only with bacterial infections & are not effective in fighting viruses.The following are tips from WebMD that may prevent the transmission of, or lessen the effects of, the cold or flu:

Wash your hands often with plenty of soap & water. Viruses are spread by living on the surfaces we touch & then are transferred to our eyes, nose or mouth. Washing knocks germs off your hands and down the drain. Make sure to lather well & scrub for at least 20 seconds.

Cover your cough. A cough or sneeze can propel viruses up to 6 feet to sur-faces, where they can live for hours. Cover your nose & mouth with a tissue if you cough; if a tissue is not available, use your upper arm, never your hands. Put the used tissue directly into a waste basket.

If you are sick, avoid going to work, school or other public places. It may take longer to recover from colds or the flu if you push yourself. You also risk in-fecting others. Before you get sick make sure you have the supplies you need; tissues, decongestants, pain relievers, fluids, teas & simple comfort foods like chicken soup.

To help prevent the spread of viruses among family members, don’t share eating utensils, drinking glasses or towels. Consider using disposables while a family member is sick.

Get a flu shot. One

simple vaccine mayprevent a sickness

that can sideline youfor days or have severeconsequences.It takes at least 2weeks for the vaccineto take effect somake sure to get it assoon as it becomesavailable. It’s a myththat the flu vaccinecan give you the flu.

Drink plenty of fluids to prevent nausea and feverfrom dehydration and to help flush viruses from your body.

Fifty Plus Club

The 50 + group meets on the 4th Monday of each month. We voted to buy some gifts for the veterans and some canteen tickets also for Christmas. Anyone is welcome to come join us. Potluck at noon and a short business meeting to follow. We canceled the Dec. meeting since it is so close to Christmas. So our next meeting will be held January 26 at the Melbourne Rec Center. We are having a couple types of soup. Please come and enjoy fellowshipping with others.  

Melbourne Emergency Responders

Holiday time is a busy time! I hope this finds everyone well and that your holidays were filled with wonderful family and food! I know that every year mine is!

We have been blessed to have 3 new volunteers taking the EMR class in our area. Please help us welcome Abra Huffaker, Paige Mayer and Carrie White! They have been riding along with us on calls getting experience while taking their class. We also have another ride along, Cole White, who will be taking the EMT class soon. Abra, Paige and Cole are also on the fire department. We welcome these new volunteers as we all get busy and aren’t always around to help out. Hopefully this gives us more coverage!

We updated on defibrillator and King Tube airways in November. We do this quarterly so that even if we haven’t used the equipment we know what to do when we have to.

Thank you for the generous donations that we have received, they have actually been used to pay for classes for the new volunteers!

If anyone is interested in volunteering with our EMS squad please contact a current member, we would love to have more!

Gary, Tonia, Angie, Scott, Ashley, Chris, Donna, Lucas, Deb, Abra, Carrie, Paige and Cole

Melbourne Website

If you haven’t been to our website lately now is a good time to check it out. We now have a Current Events page that will let you know what is going on around town. We put the City Council Meeting Agendas on the website as well as our Council Meeting Minutes. If you want to rent the Rec Center you can find the application there. You will have to call City Hall to see if the date you want is available. Check Us Out!!!

We had a busy fall at the Fire Department. In addition to our regular monthly meetings held the 1st Wednesday of the month we have training on the following Tuesday.

On Saturday, December 13th the Department hosted Breakfast with Santa and provided goodie bags for the kids that came to see Santa. The proceeds from the Breakfast with Santa will be used to help with fireworks on July 4 and during Mousehole Days.We would like to thank everyone that came out this year and supported the fire department during our fundraisers. We have great support from the community and really appreciate it. We are continuing to take donations of cans and bottles for the fireworks for next year’s Fourth of July and Mousehole Days celebrations.

The first part of December we applied for an Aid to Firefighters grant for a new 2000 gallon tanker\tender. We will know later in 2015 if we get it and will let everyone know.

The fire department would like to remind everyone to keep the area around their fire hydrants clear. If you are not able to clean around your hydrant please leave a message at the fire department. The phone number is 482-2070.

We continue to look for new members, if you are interested please contact a member of the fire department or leave a message at the station.

We’ve had a great year and would like to THANK everyone for their very generous support this year. We would also like to wish everyone a very Merry Christmas and a safe and Happy New Year.

MELBOURNE FIRE DEPARTMENT

The Mousehole Days Committee has been busy lately! Our Halloween Party was a great place to go to on a very cold night. Shon Smith, Jim McNamee and Mike Needham did a fantastic job converting the bottom of the library into a “Spooky House”. Kids got to play games and win prizes, go on a hayride, have supper and get a little bit scared to round out their evening. We had a really nice turnout, and look for next year to be even more successful. We had numerous volunteers including some first timers! We had so many

great volunteers that I am afraid I will miss someone, so here is a big thanks to all of you. You know who you are!

December brought the Christmas Bazaar to Melbourne. Seventeen vendors filled the rec center with their home business products and beautiful hand crafted items. They ranged from stained glass ornaments to homemade jellies and baked goods to crocheted items, handcrafted jewelry and home business products. Lunch of potato soup or chili, sandwiches, desserts and a drink were offered by the Melbourne Beautification Committee. There was a nice crowd, and we hope to enlarge the selection next year. Thank you to Deb Mercer for making many phone calls to fill the rec center. If you know of vendors for next year, or would like to help, please let us know.

The Crayonville Preschool made a $1000 donation to the Mousehole Days Committee to pay for inflatables for next year’s celebration. They are always a huge draw for the kids. Thank you for thinking of us! As always, we are looking for new committee members and donations are always welcome. I believe the saying is, “Many hands make light work”. All meetings will be posted on the Melbourne Happenings Facebook page. If you haven’t liked us yet, make sure you do. It’s a great place to find out what’s going on around Melbourne and updates for all the activities. Feel free to comment or email us at City Hall and we will get it posted. The email address is [email protected].

Hoping you had a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year, and we are looking forward to working with you all in 2015!

MELBOURNE LITTLE LEAGUE

Winter has just begun but with no snow on the ground I have started looking forward to Baseball and Softball season (I know, wishful thinking). Be watching our Melbourne Little League Facebook page along with flyers about when sign-up will happen for the 2015 season. During the 2014 season Melbourne had 125 kids playing on 12 different teams. The

Melbourne Pee Wee Girls Black team were runner's-up during their tournament play and the Minor Boy's Black team placed 1st. CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL! We had a great season last year and are looking forward to another great season this year. Questions, please contact us at [email protected] Melbourne Little League Board

News from Melbourne United Methodist Church

Many events and celebrations have been observed and experienced since our last contribution for the City of Melbourne Newsletter. In October we welcomed confirmand Mason Rudkin into the membership of the church and helped his family recognize that great event in his Christian life. All Saints Sunday, and our recognition of all the Saints of the Church as well as the

sainted members of our own families residing in glory, was observed on November 2. On

Sunday November 9th, the Melbourne Parish held their annual Harvest Dinner, which was very successful, the contributions assisting the church in the maintenance and care of our facilities for the winter ahead.

The first Sunday of Advent, which is the beginning of the new Christian year, was observed on Sunday November 30th. The sanctuary at this time had been decorated for the Christian seasons of Advent and Christmas to follow. December 6th and 7th brought us the displays of many Nativity Scenes, crèche sculptures and artistic renditions of Christ’s birth that were set up in Fellowship Hall in a program entitled “Christ the Center of the Season.” We are confident that those who viewed these displays were uplifted by the creativity of the artists, and the appreciative eye of the owners of the displays. Thank you to all who contributed and came.

On Christmas Eve, our church joined with the Rhodes United Methodist Church in a Joint Choir production of a Musical Christmas Cantata, this year celebrated at the Rhodes church early on the evening of the 24th. The soloists, and the choir in unison did a beautiful job announcing the birth of Christ. Many thanks to producer and director Barb Crane, for her efforts in this year’s production.

As we write this issue of the newsletter, we are in the midst of celebrating the full “twelve days” of Christmas, and encourage all to continue in the spirit of peace and good will toward all that highlight the best of the season.

On Sunday January 4th, the Church will begin the Christian Season of Epiphany, which represents Christ’s showing forth to the world. Epiphany season in the Church lasts until February 18, Ash Wednesday, the beginning of the season of Lent. Lent is the traditional time of year where Christians individually and as a group dedicate themselves to spiritual growth, renewal, repentance, and reconciliation. All this is preparatory to Holy week which begins this year on Sunday March 29th, Palm Sunday.

During our time ahead, our church will be making decisions on future fundraising events and other times of celebration and fellowship that come through our day to day times together. We encourage you to follow the events at Melbourne United Methodist Church. Our regular worship services are at 11:00 AM on Sunday mornings, and we warmly invite you to come and be a part of us. Blessings to all!

The May meeting of the American Legion Post 161 was held on May 26, 2014, with eight members present.Tax preparation was discussed and motion to pay by Nathan White, second by Matt White. Motion carried.Rebar for the monument and cement for monument was discussed and motion to pay for both was made by Matt White, second by Jade Bunting. Motion car-

ried.

Flowers for Memorial Day, rifle storage and cleaning was discussed and motion to pay was made by Don Zahnd, second Tom White. Motion carried. The post purchased 2 dozen flags for Memo-rial. John White was to be reimbursed for flags.The Honor Guard from Marshalltown that Bill Monroe and John White have been helping, did 77 funerals in 2014. Eleven names were given to the post to be submitted for compensation. If compensation money comes, in the amount of $500, the money would be used for equipment.Discussion was made on the equipment the money would be used for and it was decided a bugle was needed. A motion was made and a vote taken that if money came it would be used on a player bugle. Bugle, case and tape is $500.The memorial was discussed. Purchasing brick, engraving the brick and the final cost. Motion to adjourn was made at 11:30.

The August meeting of the American Legion was August 2 at Clarks’ Bar. There were 5 mem-bers present.The town’s parade and who was helping with the parade was discussed. Matt White, Jade Bunting, Donny Zahnd and Nathan White would carry the colors.The Post was compensated for the Honor Guard work Bill Monroe and John White did. The money was used to purchase the bugle, case and tape. The bugle is necessary for funerals and Memorial Day.A motion to adjourn was made.

GOOD FAMILY FUN FOR A GOOD CAUSESome caring citizens are hosting a community benefit for Sara Mc-Namee on January 25th!! There will be an afternoon of ice skating from 2 – 4 pm at our new ice skating rink. The Methodist Church will have hot chocolate and soups afterwards! We also will be sell-ing her trademark apparel!! Help Us "Love Her Thru This"!

Please see the order forms on the previous page if you are interested in purchasing a shirt to honor and support a fellow Melbournite.

Sara McNamee has worked very hard on fundraisers for our community, she was active on the Crayonville Preschool board for years and, most notably, turned Melbourne’s Mousehole Days celebration into what it is today. Help support Sara as she fights through this rare form of blood cancer and let her know that “No One Fights Alone”.The funds raised will help Sara with her out of pocket expenses (including uncovered pharmacy charges) as well as Sara’s trips to her specialist at the Mayo Clinic in Scottsdale, Arizona.

News from the Melbourne Beautification Committee2014 was a busy year for our committee. We realized that a group of resi-dents had the same ideas about what we wanted to do for our town and we formed our Beautification team. Members include Carrie White, Doug Mansager, Judy Monroe, Judi Pfantz, John White, Mary Pothast and Vickie Stahl.

Our first project was to establish a Community Garden. We looked at various locations in town but, when Pastor Judy Brandon at St John’s UCC offered use of a space behind the church, our decision was made. With the help of Jerry Halter and Bill Monroe, the fourteen garden plots were tilled, marked and rented for the season. Gardeners included Dieter Butzlaff, John and Linda White, Vickie Stahl, Bob and Judy Monroe, Paul McGrew, Boo and Doug Mansager, Karen and Chad Woosley, Judy Brandon, Ron and Lorraine Kem-merer, and Kay Monroe. We had an abundance of fresh vegetables that were enjoyed by many. We have a Facebook page titled Melbourne Commu-nity Gardens – Green and Growing, so please “like” us and watch for postings about upcoming events, meetings, gardening articles. Vickie Stahl will be scheduling a lessons learned meeting in mid-January to discuss what went well and not so well and to begin planning for our upcoming gardening sea-son. If you are interested in renting a space, please send an email to [email protected] to get on the email distribution list. The Beautification Committee was involved in many fundraisers and projects this past year. One project was to try and make Main Street more visually pleasing and we raised money to purchase flower pots and benches. Two of the benches were donated by the Jesse Nason memorial. It has been fun to see the benches being used – especially on the east side of the street. This next year we will have flowers in double hanging baskets on our Main Street light poles. Vern Waterman is fabricating the brackets for the town. Go Vern!!This past summer MidWestOne Insurance Division started their annual ser-vice day working in the communities where they have a presence. Mel-bourne was their first location and our committee and other local volunteers teamed with them to help three families with their yard work. We had 35 people who worked in the rain for the entire day raking, pruning, and clean-ing up debris. We hauled many loads of brush to the lagoon and the Mar-shalltown Landfill. MidWestOne provided a wonderful lunch and we hope to schedule another Neighbor Helping Neighbor workday this coming summer. Please consider volunteering! The fundraising has been a fun time – we provided concessions for an event at Smoke Meier Park, MidWestOne Bank donated money from a breakfast event at the Rec Center, we catered the Christmas Craft Bazaar, $1400 was donated from the Crayonville Preschool, and Mr. Tim Hauser donated $5000 to make Lollar Park “family friendly”. We had a table at Mousehole Days with information about our plans and to sign up volunteers. Being part of a small community is a wonderful thing!As most of you are aware, we now have a new ice skating rink in Lollar Park. It has been a challenge to make that location work and next year we will have all the kinks worked out. The site will be leveled and the rink will be enlarged but for now, we almost have ice and are waiting for Alliant to install a light pole for night skating. An ice skating event has already been planned

for January 25th as a fund raiser for Sara McNamee. (Details are in a separate article.) We hope to schedule some family events this year such as broom-ball and skating under the stars. Keep watch on the Facebook page titled Melbourne Happenings for up to date information. The Beautification Committee is also researching a Disc Golf Course and out-door movie equipment for Lollar Park. A grant application has been submit-ted for our town improvements and we will know in March, 2015 if we re-ceived any funds.Please contact Carrie White or Vickie Stahl if you would like to join our com-mittee or if you have ideas to improve our community. All feedback is wel-comed.Happy 2015!!