Yonkers, NY — Consumer Reports’ latest tests of 30 children’s and household products found three items containing worrisome levels of heavy metals: A metal and rhinestone hair barrette with a high level of total cadmium, a cell-phone charm with lead levels so high it would be illegal if it were considered a children’s product, and samples of a popular children’s vinyl raincoat that were purchased in late 2009 and had parts that exceeded legal lead limits for children’s products. The raincoat was reformulated and labeled “100 % lead free” and CR’s tests of the newer version showed it contained only low or trace amounts of lead.

Four years after CR began routinely checking consumer products for heavy metals, and two years after sweeping rules sought to limit lead in children’s products, CR examined a variety of children’s products and household items that seemed likely to contain heavy metals, based on past recalls and the magazine’s previous tests. Of the more than 30 products CR tested using an initial screening method called X-Ray fluorescence (XRF), 14 showed relatively high levels. They were sent for further testing to an outside lab to determine total amounts of lead, cadmium, and mercury.
The green clover-shape cell-phone charm sold at the retailer Claire’s caused the greatest concern. The charms CR tested contained levels exceeding 100,000 parts per million (ppm) of total lead, above the Federal limit of 300-ppm which applies to all children’s products (items for children under age 13). Given those levels, a child who accidentally swallowed a charm could be at risk for lead poisoning. Although the charm is not marketed specifically to children 12 and under, it could appeal to that age group or it could be accessible to them if a parent or older child has one.

Samples of the Revlon Couture Hair Accessory Barrette made of metal, and decorated with rhinestones, tested positive for high levels of total cadmium, though potential for significant cadmium exposure through normal use is low. Even as companies intensify scrutiny of lead in products, cadmium, a carcinogen, is a newly recognized health threat in children’s products, and standards in the US are just being drafted. The barrette is not marketed to children, but it could interest and be accessible to them.

Even if products are reformulated to comply with new limits on lead, previous versions might remain on store shelves. CR’s tests suggest this may have been the case with a $36 Kidorable bumblebee raincoat, marketed to toddlers and preschoolers. According to the company, the raincoat was reformulated in late 2008 to address contamination from lead.

But older versions of these raincoats were still available for sale in December 2009 when CR purchased two and found that they contained levels of lead many times higher than the legal limit in most of the yellow parts of the coat tested.

In January and May 2010, CR purchased additional Kidorable raincoats that carried labels saying “100% lead-free.” CR’s tests showed that parts of those coats contained only low or trace levels of total lead, well below federal limits.

“There is evidence that manufacturers and retailers are becoming more vigilant,” said Don Mays, Senior Director of Product Safety and Technical Policy, Consumer Reports. “But there are still some unsafe products in the market.”

The full report on heavy metals appears in the October issue of Consumer Reports, which goes on sale September 7th. The reports are also available to subscribers of www.ConsumerReports.org.

What lies ahead

Standards for lead are expected to tighten further in August 2011, when limits for total lead in children’s products drop to 100 ppm, if the Consumer Product Safety Commission determines it is technologically feasible to meet that more stringent standard. Consumers Union, the nonprofit publisher of Consumer Reports, urges the CPSC to develop a regulation for cadmium limits for all children’s products and believes that manufacturers, distributors, and retailers should thoroughly test for all heavy-metal concentrations before bringing products to market.

The limits on lead are well defined for children’s products, but lead and cadmium also should be regulated in products that can result in exposure via direct ingestion, such as cell-phone charms or garden hoses from which consumers might drink.

What you can do

• Consider do-it-yourself test kits, which can be useful though limited screening tools. CR’s 2008 tests found that Homax Lead Check and Abotex Lead Inspector kits were somewhat reliable in detecting surface lead but were not good at detecting lead within a product.
• Don’t allow children to have or play with cheap metal jewelry. If your children tend to put things in their mouths, add to that brass keys, barrettes, and charms.
• Take an inventory of your children’s toys and check them against the recall list at www.cpsc.gov, which has photos and descriptions of products recalled for lead or cadmium. Also check the list if you’re buying used items.
• Don’t drink from garden hoses, which might contain lead that can leach into water. As a precaution, wash your hands immediately after handling power cords, extension cords, and even strings of holiday lights.

Nashville, TN – The application period will be September 8th through midnight (CDT) on October 13th, 2010 for the computerized hunt drawing system to be used for 2010-11 waterfowl blind sites on Bogota, the new Thorny Cypress Wildlife Management Area in Dyer County (Region I) and four units of the Region III Chickamauga WMA (Candies Creek, Johnson Bottoms, Rogers Creek, and Yellow Creek).

The application form, similar to WMA quota hunts, etc., is available online at the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency’s website and in printed format. All participating WMAs are on the one application with a total of 41 blind sites. The applicant will have 12 choices. Applicants may not use the same hunt code more than once. An applicant can only apply once per year for these areas.

• Priority Drawing System: TWRA’s Priority Drawing System gives priority points to hunters based on the number of years they have participated without being drawn for a hunt. All applications will be drawn with zero priority points this year. Drawn applicants will remain at zero and unsuccessful applicants will receive one priority point for next year’s drawing.
• Drawing Procedures: An applicant is randomly selected by the computer. The hunt choices are reviewed in the order they are listed on the application until a choice with a vacancy remaining is found or the application runs out of choices.
• Successful applicants must possess all appropriate licenses, permits and a confirmation number issued by TWRA to hunt. Hunting guests must also possess all appropriate licenses and permits.
• Reservations are nontransferable. Any person violating this rule and regulation is subject to having his/her reservation and/or hunting privileges revoked and may be subject to prosecution.

The successful applicant can bring three additional hunters (guests) of his choice, each day of the hunt. The number of hunters in a blind may not exceed four, one of which must be the successful applicant.

TWRA will send a packet of information to the successful applicant, which will include detail maps and GPS coordinates, rules and regulations for the hunt, and a notice of intention post card.

The notice of intention may be completed by return mail, phone or e-mail request. Reply must be received two weeks prior to the first day of the permitees’ hunt.

Hunts which are not reserved with the notice of intention card will be considered vacant. The WMA staff will notify the general public of the vacant sites using the TWRA website, WMA answer machine, or e-mail request.

A local hand-held drawing will occur for vacant sites to be filled at the management areas.

For Bogota and the Thorny Cypress WMA, the hand held drawing will be each Monday at 6:00pm before the hunt on Friday at the new TWRA Dyersburg Workbase. The location is 355 Menzies Road, Dyersburg, TN 38024. Contacts are the TWRA Region I Office 1-800-372-3928 or 731-423-5725 or Carl Wirwa 731-696-3197.

For the Candies Creek, Rogers Creek, Yellow Creek and Johnson Bottoms units of Chickamauga hand held drawings for vacant blinds will be held at 6:00pm EST at Hiwassee Refuge Checking Station for the 2010 Waterfowl Season on November 22nd, 29th, December 13th, 27th and January 10th, 2011.

Information concerning availability of vacant blinds can be obtained through the TWRA website www.tnwildlife.org, by contacting the Region III Office 1-800-262-6704 or contacting the appropriate WMA manager. Rob Klippel 423-334-4788 can be reached for vacancies on the Yellow Creek unit and Jason Jackson 423-614-3018 for all other Chickamauga Creek units.

For the Chickamauga units, all hunting is from registered temporary blind sites only. Decoys and temporary blinds may be left out over the specified hunt period by the hunter drawn for the blind site but these items must be removed upon completion of the hunt on their last hunt day.

In 2009, TVA and its distributor customers, working with state and local partners, helped attract or retain more than 26,000 jobs and leverage more than $4 billion in capital investment for the seven-state TVA territory.

“Being recognized by Site Selection magazine for the fifth consecutive year is definitely a win for all of our economic development partners,” said John Bradley, TVA senior vice president of Economic Development. “This economic development success is the result of teamwork between distributors of TVA power, state agencies and economic, industrial and community leaders across the TVA service region.”

Cumberland Fossil Plant is located northwest of Nashville on the shores of Barkley Reservoir on the Cumberland River. It produces more power than any other plant in the TVA system. In fiscal year 2004, its two generating units turned out over 18.5 million megawatt-hours, more than any other TVA fossil or nuclear plant. That represented almost 12 percent of TVA's total generation for the year.

The magazine specifically cites TVA’s work in attracting a $1 billion investment by Wacker Chemie AG in Bradley County in 2009.

“Wacker Chemie did a global search before selecting this site,” Bradley said. “We were competing with the world for this project. We had Volkswagen, Toyota, Hemlock Semiconductor and Wacker all announce within about 18 months. That is a pretty amazing accomplishment, and we are very excited about this success.”

TVA is one of only three utilities to consecutively earn this honor during the past five years. The annual ranking is based on capital investment, job creation, capital investment per capita and jobs created per 10,000 in population. The magazine also considers innovative programs and services for industrial and prospective clients, as well as input from site selection consultants, and extensive interviews with company executives about site location.

Memphis Light, Gas & Water, a distributor of TVA power, also made the magazine’s top 10 this year.

“The top-performing utilities have several things in common,” said Ron Starner, executive vice president of Site Selection. “They are constantly raising the bar on delivering superior customer service. They are engaged now more than ever in providing companies with certified sites. They are always looking for ways to save industrial power customers money, and they are fostering and building regional coalitions for economic development.”

Site Selection magazine, published by Conway Data Inc., delivers expansion planning information to 44,000 executives of fast-growing firms.

The entire Top Utilities article and the Annual Utilities Directory appear in the September 2010 edition and online at www.siteselection.com. Learn more about TVA economic development programs and services at TVAed.com and TVAsites.com.

About the Tenessee Valley Authority

The Tennessee Valley Authority, a corporation owned by the U.S. government, provides electricity for utility and business customers in most of Tennessee and parts of Alabama, Mississippi, Kentucky, Georgia, North Carolina and Virginia – an area of 80,000 square miles with a population of 9 million. TVA operates 29 hydroelectric dams, 11 coal-fired power plants, three nuclear plants and 11 natural gas-fired power facilities and supplies up to 33,700 megawatts of electricity, delivered over 16,000 miles of high-voltage power lines. TVA also provides flood control, navigation, land management and recreation for the Tennessee River system and works with local utilities and state and local governments to promote economic development across the region. TVA, which makes no profits and receives no taxpayer money, is funded by sales of electricity to its customers. Electricity prices in TVA’s service territory are below the national average.

At the time I was in the throes of aching back, mental exhaustion and wondering if my sanity had at last left me. Yes, I was definitely recovering from having a yard sale.

The situation had become desperate. It was either have a sale or move out to get more room for all the stuff I’d bought. I couldn’t imagine how I had ended up with so much stuff until I remembered all the days I had come home with the car full of items I was certain we needed immediately and could not live without.

Or I had a car full of items on sale that I was sure I would never find at that rock bottom price again.

Or I had passed someone else’s yard sale and had been tempted to take that unique treasure home with me to cherish forever.

It’s true. I’m a fanatical shopper—soon to be reformed (or maybe that will happen in another lifetime!) If this yard sale doesn’t cure me of buying everything in sight, nothing will.

Winter is coming and I remember the former joys of scraping the windshield of its heavy layer of frost on mornings when I was already late and near panic to get to school on time. With things as they currently were, this garage would never hold a tire iron, much less a car.

Seeing the garage filled to the brim with piles of unused items, I knew I had to bite the bullet and clean it out. Neighbors slowed their vehicles in amazement as I slaved away filling the driveway with boxes, bags, crates and assorted individual items. I didn’t dare look up as the piles grew larger because I knew the faces of passers-by were filled with horror–or they were laughing so hard their sides were hurting.

Then the worst came. I had to stack it all back inside the garage until the sale because the forecast was for rain on Wednesday and Thursday before the sale started on Friday. The giant Christmas tree had to be parked on its side and covered with a room-sized tarp. Everything else had to be crammed back into their boxes. Help!

By the end of the day I felt like I had walked to California and back with a 200-pound gorilla on my back.

Sassy Price Labels available from Sassy Signs

Gradually during the week, I sorted, priced and agonized over whether this item or that one needed to go—knowing full well that every item under scrutiny could all be sent away and I’d never miss a one.

Finally, the morning of the sale at 4:30 a.m. I groaned from my bed and prepared for the big event. A friend came over to help me get everything out into the driveway. It felt as if daylight would never arrive—not the mention the first customers.

The next two days were a blur. Smiling at customers, haggling and making change became my occupation.

“You sound like a used car salesman,” my brother complained. “Just let people look at the stuff. They don’t need all this chatter.”

“How can they buy these wonderful items if they don’t know their history?” I countered.

The best part of the whole event—besides getting rid of about a fifth of the stuff in the sale—was meeting our neighbors. My husband Bill and I met more people who lived on nearby streets in those two days than we had in the past three years put together. That was great fun.

Another joy was watching two of my former students (now in middle school) who are becoming collectors of antiques. I reminded them that the Leno twins on “Antiques Roadshow” started at their age and are now world-famous appraisers.

My cousin and her husband helped us all day Saturday. True friends to the bitter end, they even stayed during the horror of cleanup. The sad bottom line of any yard sale is that you never sell everything—and what’s left has to be dealt with right then!

At the end of the day my garage was open enough for my car to squeeze inside, many large items we no longer needed had gone to new homes, and even the storage shed was organized. Bill and I—and my cousin and her husband–were in a state of collapse.

Having a yard sale is a somewhat like a near-death experience. You may have to go through it, but having it behind you changes your life. First, you never want to have another yard sale as long as you live, and second, you have enough stories to last a lifetime.

It’s true. As all those things you thought you needed depart from your life, you know shopping will never be the same. You vow to never, ever again buy all kinds of spur-of-the-moment items.

Miraculously you are reformed forever from frivolous shopping.

(My husband adds, “If you believe this last avowal, I’ve got some oceanfront property in Arizona I’ll be glad to sell you!”)

It is part of a nationwide program that coordinates and supports efforts to identify, evaluate and protect historic resources. The Tennessee Historical Commission administers the program in Tennessee.

“These listings highlight some of the diverse places that tell the story of Tennessee’s unique history,” said Patrick McIntyre, executive director of the Tennessee Historical Commission. “Our office is proud of its role in ensuring recognition of these time-honored places that help give Tennesseans a sense of pride in their communities.”

Sites recently added to the National Register of Historic Places include:

Beasley Mounds

This important archaeological site contains a prehistoric Mississippian period (A.D. 900-1450) mound complex, habitation areas and cemeteries. The property has yielded, or has the potential to yield, information on prehistoric Mississippian life ways. The site includes remnants of five earthen mounds and adjoining ridges around an apparent open plaza.

First written about in the 1820s, the site was studied by Edward Myer in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. Myer’s interest in the prehistory began as an avocation, but he eventually turned it into his profession, working with the Bureau of American Ethnology from 1919 to 1923. His papers are housed at the Smithsonian Institution. Farmed for many years, the site was planted in a stand of yellow poplar in 1991 as part of a Forest Stewardship Plan. Investigations of the site have continued over the years, including a 2008 mapping and excavation project.

Fairmount Neighborhood Historic District

Containing nearly 500 buildings in Bristol, Tennessee, the Fairmount Neighborhood Historic District represents a variety of architectural styles dating from the 1890s to the 1950s. The majority of the properties at this Sullivan County site are houses, with styles including Queen Anne, Colonial Revival, bungalow and Minimal Traditional. Soon after the King family’s land was divided in 1877, the first houses were built and building in the neighborhood continued until the 1960s.

Originally planned to attract wealthy homebuilders, features like trolleys, a hotel and green spaces were part of the development. As the surrounding area transitioned to a more industrial, economic base in the first half of the twentieth century, Fairmount increasingly became home to a working-class population. The changing demographics present a good example of urban and suburban development in Bristol and this is reflected in the architecture.

First Congregational Church

Built in Chattanooga in 1905, the First Congregational Church is a noteworthy example of the late Gothic Revival style in the city. The church building was designed by Chattanooga architects George Adams and Charles Bearden. Large stained glass windows with Gothic Revival tracery and a brick, narthex tower are primary design features of the church. Local contractors L.C. Alston and A.J. Johnson supervised the laborers working on the building – most of them African American.

With the site close to the street on a well-traveled corner and surrounded by commercial buildings, the church is a visible reminder not only of the Gothic Revival but also of the social history of the surrounding African-American community. The church building served as a religious and community center for the neighborhood for many years. First Congregational Church’s congregation disbanded in 2001. The building stood vacant until the current owners purchased it in 2006 and began rehabilitating it for use as an events venue.

Long Rock Methodist Episcopal Church, South

The circa 1886 church is a one-story brick building located near Huntingdon in Carroll County. Built by local carpenter Hezekiah James Wilcox, the building’s segmental arch windows, main entry and corbelled brickwork, are examples of Italianate detailing. Inside, elegant but simple details include the chancel railing, wainscoting and paneled wood of the pews.

Since its construction in 1886, the church has served as a community center in this rural part of Carroll County. In addition to church services, it has been used for community singing, homecomings and other annual events, local meetings and circuit church events. In 1957, a classroom addition was added to the back of the original church but no other substantial changes have occurred. Three cemeteries associated with the church are included in the nomination, as is the long rock that gave the church its name.

Memorial Stadium

The stadium was built in Johnson City around 1933 to 1935 as a project of Franklin Roosevelt’s New Deal. Since that time, Memorial Stadium has been a central part of the city’s recreation department. Many high school football games, collegiate games and practice games have been held on the field. The National Register nomination states that “the facility serves as a reminder of the changes in the construction of public venues from small and intimate community-based facilities to the larger commercialized facilities of today.”

The sunken bowl of the field and concrete stands make for a more personal, sports-watching experience than occurs in larger modern stadiums. An interesting and important feature outside the stadium is the Spirit of the American Doughboy statue. Designed and built to honor WWI veterans, the statue was later rededicated to include servicemen from other conflicts.

Ridgedale Methodist Episcopal Church

The late Gothic Revival-style Ridgedale Methodist Episcopal Church was constructed in 1925 at the base of Missionary Ridge in Chattanooga. Principal design elements of the church building include the arched stained glass windows, engaged buttresses, steeply pitched roof and dark stained wood interior trim.

The Chattanooga Times reported that the new church could seat 500 in the auditorium and balcony, had dark woodwork, cream-colored walls, natural gum pews and brass lighting. Costing $85,000 to build, the church was not officially dedicated until 1939 when the construction debt was paid. In 1953, as the congregation was growing, a three-story brick education annex was added to the building. Declining membership resulted in the sale of the church to an American Pentecostal congregation in 1994. In 1996, the First Baptist Church of Bozentown purchased the building and they continue to worship there.

Varsity Theatre

Located in Martin, the Varsity Theatre was completed and opened to the public in 1949. Designed by the Clarksville architectural firm, Speight and Hibbs, the building is important for its Art Deco and Art Moderne styling. It features the characteristic streamlined appearance of Art Moderne designs, such as the rounded edges and horizontal lines on the exterior. Art Moderne elements are carried over to the interior of the building, where there also are Art Deco features – such as the lighting and wall decor.

Considered the premier theater in Martin and Weakley County when it opened, it was built for the Ruffin Amusement Company of Covington, Tennessee. Named in honor of Martin’s University of Tennessee College (now the University of Tennessee – Martin), the air-conditioned, 1,000-seat theater was opened with great fanfare, including broadcasting the opening ceremonies on the radio. After being used as a church and years of vacancy, the building has reopened for use as a fitness center and physical therapy clinic.

Woman’s Club of Nashville

Constructed circa 1927 for John Beauregard Daniel, the Classical Revival house in Nashville is 2.5 stories, constructed of hollow-tile blocks and faced with stucco. The most prominent feature of the house is the one-bay, two-story pedimented portico with Corinthian columns. Multi-light windows, a gabled roof with wide eaves and parapet walls on the side elevations are other character defining features.

Classical Revival interior elements include marble fireplaces, original wood doors and moldings, tiled bathrooms and the main stairway. The building is important as an example of twentieth century Classical Revival design in Nashville. Used as the headquarters of the Woman’s Club of Nashville since 1957, an addition was placed at the rear of the building in 1977 and the kitchen has been remodeled, with no substantial changes to the building.

For more information about the National Register of Historic Places or the Tennessee Historical Commission, please visit the Web site at www.tn.gov/environment/hist.

“The PEANUTS holiday TV specials are iconic and represent a family tradition of watching Charlie Brown and the gang kick off the holiday season,” stated Neil Cole, CEO, Iconix Brand Group. Cole added, “This new deal with ABC demonstrates the continued relevance of the PEANUTS brand as it celebrates its 60th anniversary.”

Peanuts

This fall, the famed PEANUTS comic strip will celebrate its 60th anniversary. The first and most well known of the beloved animated holiday specials, “A Charlie Brown Christmas” first aired on television in 1965, marking this year as its 45th anniversary.

Since moving to ABC nine years ago, the specials have continually delivered stellar ratings for the Network. Against competition including the season finale of NBC’s “Biggest Loser,” ABC’s rebroadcast of the animated holiday classic “A Charlie Brown Christmas” finished a strong No. 2 in its half-hour in Adults 18-49 (3.7/11), beating slot-regulars CBS’ “NCIS” replay by 37% (2.7/8) and Fox’s original “So You Think You Can Dance” by 61% in Adults 18-49 (2.3/7). The Charlie Brown special towered over its slot with Kids 2-11, topping the combined delivery of CBS, Fox, NBC and CW in the half-hour by 42% (5.9/18 vs. 4.2/13), and finished as the No. 2 TV show of the night behind only its lead-out, ABC’s debut of “Prep & Landing.” Versus the year-ago night with original programming (“AFV” special on 12/9/08), “A Charlie Brown Christmas” boosted the time period year to year for ABC by 4.2 million viewers (11.2 million vs. 7.0 million) and by 95% in Adults 18-49 (3.7/11 vs. 1.9/5). The PEANUTS special was up year to year in Total Viewers and held even with Adults 18-49 (11.0 million and 3.7/10 on 12/8/08).

Click here to view the embedded video.

On October 2nd, 1950 the PEANUTS comic strip launched in seven American newspapers. Who would have guessed the impact the brand would have around the world for decades to come. Nearly 60 years later, the comic strip appears in over 2,200 newspapers, in 75 countries and 21 languages. PEANUTS animated specials have become a seasonal tradition and thousands of consumer products are available in virtually all retail channels. Charlie Brown kicking the football, Linus and his blanket and Lucy leaning over Schroeder’s piano are images to which everyone can relate. Phrases such as “Security Blanket” and “Good Grief” have become a part of the global vernacular.

PEANUTS WORLDWIDE

The PEANUTS characters and related intellectual property are owned by Peanuts Worldwide LLC, a joint venture owned 80% by Iconix Brand Group, Inc. and 20% by members of the Charles M. Schulz family. Iconix Brand Group, Inc. (NASDAQ:ICON) owns, licenses and markets a growing portfolio of consumer brands including CANDIE’S (R), BONGO (R), BADGLEY MISCHKA (R), JOE BOXER (R), RAMPAGE (R), MUDD (R), LONDON FOG (R), MOSSIMO (R), OCEAN PACIFIC(R), DANSKIN (R), ROCA WEAR(R), CANNON (R), ROYAL VELVET (R), FIELDCREST (R), CHARISMA (R), STARTER (R) and WAVERLY (R). In addition, Iconix owns an interest in the ARTFUL DODGER (R), ED HARDY (R), ECKO (R), MARC ECKO (R), ZOO YORK (R), MATERIAL GIRL(TM), and PEANUTS brands. The Company licenses its brands to a network of leading retailers and manufacturers that touch every major segment of retail distribution from the luxury market to the mass market in both the U.S. and worldwide. Through its in-house business development, merchandising, advertising and public relations departments Iconix manages its brands to drive greater consumer awareness and equity.

Carson, CA — Whether your back-to-school kid is driving to college or high school, it is important that his/her vehicle is in tip-top shape and, above all, safe to drive. Sadly, motor vehicle accidents are the leading cause of death for U.S. teens¹, and neglected vehicle maintenance leads to 2,600 deaths annually and nearly 100,000 disabling injuries.²

With this sobering data in mind, AutoMD.com’s team of expert mechanics has released its Top Five DIY Checklist for the Back-to-School Car, along with some practical advice to help parents ensure their kid’s safety on the road — and their peace of mind at home.

Encourage vigilance about vehicle maintenance with your son/daughter.

AutoMD.com’s Top Five DIY Checklist for the Back-to-School Car

Running through this checklist with your son/daughter should help encourage vigilance about vehicle maintenance when you are not around. In all cases, if you are not sure the car is safe to drive, you should have it inspected by your trusted local repair shop before your son/daughter hits the road.

Check the Tires, Check the tire pressure.

The recommended tire pressure is listed on a sticker in the glove box or on the door jam. If one tire is lower than the others, there’s a good chance it has a leak and is in need of repair.

• Check the tread depth. Most states require a minimum of 2/32” of tread remaining. Place a penny in the groove with Lincoln’s head down. If you can see all of Abe’s head, then the tire tread is worn below 3/32”. Most tires have tread wear indicators (raised bars) built into the tread to help identify a worn tire.
• Check the wear pattern on the front tires. If a tire has excessive wear on the inside or outside of the tread, then a tire rotation and wheel alignment may be necessary.
• Inspect the tires for tread separation, bulges, and weather cracking. The popular lower profile tires are more susceptible to damage when you hit pot holes.
• Make sure that the vehicle has a usable spare tire.

(How to check tire pressure / How to change a flat tire)

Check the Brakes

• Test drive the vehicle and check the brake operation. Is the brake pedal firm? Does the vehicle stop straight and smooth? Do you hear any noises?
• If you can see the brakes through the wheels, inspect the brake rotor surface and wear. The rotor surface should be smooth without any discoloration, and the wear should be minimal (a worn rotor will have a noticeable lip on the end).
• If you cannot see the brakes, support the vehicle on jack stands and remove the wheels. If you do not feel comfortable checking the brakes, take your son’s or daughter’s car to the local repair shop (search AutoMD). Some shops will check the brakes for free!

Check the Lights

• Headlights – Inspect the high and low beams. Replace the bulb if it is burned out. Adjust the headlights if they are pointing to the ground or the sky
• Taillight – Replace any bulbs that are burned out
• Turn signals – Check the turn signal switch, flasher, and bulbs
• Hazard lights – Check operation of front and rear bulbs
• Brake lights – Step on the brake while your son/daughter checks the brake lights. If one light is not working, replace the bulb. Check the brake pedal switch if none of the lights turn on.
• Interior lights – Check the dome, trunk and hood light if applicable.
• (How to replace a headlight / How to adjust the headlights)

Check Under the Hood

• Turn off the car and allow the engine to cool off. Open the hood
• Check the belts for damage and proper tension.
• Check the hoses for cracks, leaks and deterioration.
• Check the battery cables. Make sure they are clean and tight. If there is corrosion on the cables, clean them with baking soda and water.
• Check the date code on the battery. If the battery is over 4 years old, have it inspected for free. It may need to be replaced.
• Check the air filter. If it’s dirty, replace it.
• Inspect the fluid levels: Engine oil, transmission fluid (engine must be started and warm), power steering fluid, brake fluid, engine coolant, and windshield washer fluid. Add fluid or change the fluid if necessary.
• Check for fluid leaks in the engine compartment and under the vehicle as well.

(How to replace a serpentine belt / How to replace a radiator hose/ How to replace an air filter / How to replace a battery / How to change your oil and filter)

Check the Glove Compartment

Make sure that the glove compartment has all the appropriate info and that it is easy to find, including:

• Owner’s manual with maintenance records
• Current registration and insurance
• Roadside assistance information
• Emergency phone numbers
• Flashlight
• Maps/portable GPS system

Vehicle Knowledge and Safe Driving Check

Once the vehicle has been checked out, AutoMD.com recommends that you go for a drive with your son/daughter to make sure he/she understand any quirks the vehicle might have — and how everything operates, from car alarm to cruise control to hazard lights to GPS system. Run through the different warning lights, what each indicates and how to respond (i.e., check oil, overheating, etc.).

This is also a great time to review basic safe driving and traffic rules and to reinforce the dangers and consequence of speeding, and drinking/texting/cell phoning and/or surfing while driving. Run through a safety and ‘what to do’ protocol for a breakdown or accident – and in the event he/she is pulled over by the police. Make sure the vehicle has some form of roadside assistance and is equipped with a toolkit, emergency kit, and flares, etc. And, if you can, teach your son/daughter how to change a tire (for guidance, check AutoMD.com’s How-to change a flat tire).

“Sending kids off to school in their own car is an important rite of passage… but one that can lead to sleepless nights for parents,” said AutoMD.com President Shane Evangelist. “At AutoMD.com, we believe that information is not only power, but it is security. By providing a checklist that encourages kids to really know and understand their vehicle, as well as a wealth of easily accessible maintenance and repair information online, we hope to help parents feel a little less anxious as that son or daughter drives off to school for the first time.”

About AutoMD.com

AutoMD.com™ (www.automd.com), a wholly-owned subsidiary of US Auto Parts Network, Inc., (Nasdaq:PRTS), is the most comprehensive and unbiased free online auto repair resource designed to empower car owners with the best way to repair their vehicles. Backed by a team of automotive data specialists and certified auto mechanics who are advocates for the car owner, AutoMD.com allows both car owners and DIYers to 1. Diagnose car problems, 2. Know how much auto repairs should cost, 3. Understand the steps needed and the time it should take with How-to Auto Repair guides, and 4. Find the right local auto repair shop at the right price for their issue and 5. Get your auto repair questions answered by the AutoMD.com community. AutoMD.com was named Best Automotive Website in the 8th annual American Business Awards, also known as the as the Stevie® Awards.

Unlike other repair sites, AutoMD.com does not rely on revenue from repair shops or dealerships, so car owners can rest assured that AutoMD.com repair shop listings are completely unbiased and designed to help car owners choose the best, most affordable shop for their vehicle issue.

²AAA Press Release www.aaanewsroom.net/main/Default.asp?CategoryID=7&ArticleID=310

Washington, D.C. — As 56 million students across the United States get ready to start the 2010-2011 school year, AAA reminds motorists to be aware of increased child pedestrian activity and traffic congestion in and around neighborhoods and school zones.

With more than half of those students in elementary school, typically age 14 and younger, AAA urges drivers to be especially cautious and alert during the morning and afternoon hours.

School Kids getting on a bus.

AAA’s School’s Open – Drive Carefully campaign was launched in 1946 to help reduce the number of school-related pedestrian injuries and fatalities. Jennifer Huebner, manager of AAA Traffic Safety Programs, offers the following advice for motorists to keep children safe as they navigate their way through school zones.

• Follow the speed limit. School zone speed limits are purposefully set low. Children are unpredictable and may have difficulty gauging the distance and speed of an approaching car.
• Look for AAA School Safety Patrollers. With more than half a million AAA School Safety Patrollers at 30,000 schools across the country, they’re a sure sign you’re approaching a school zone.
• Come to a complete stop at intersections with stop signs. Research shows that more than one third of drivers roll through stop signs in school zones or neighborhoods.
• Always stop for loading or unloading school busses. It may be tempting to drive around stopped school busses, but not only is it dangerous, it’s against the law.
• Eliminate driver distraction. AAA research shows that taking your eyes off the road for two seconds doubles your chances of crashing. Putting down your phone makes you a safer driver and sets a good example for young passengers and pedestrians.
• Plan Ahead. Leave early for your destination and build in extra time for congestion. Modify your route to avoid school zones and traffic.

About AAA

As North America’s largest motoring and leisure travel organization, AAA provides more than 51 million members with travel, insurance, financial and automotive-related services. Since its founding in 1902, the not-for-profit, fully tax-paying AAA has been a leader and advocate for the safety and security of all travelers. AAA clubs can be visited on the Internet at www.AAA.com.

New York, NY — Looking to supersize yourself? Monday morning, Zagat revealed the results of its latest survey, covering 97 major fast food chains and 39 full service chains as voted on by 6,518 ZAGAT.com diners who ate at chain outlets on average 10.7 times per month.

The survey respondents weighed in on everything from chicken and cheeseburgers to smoothies and seafood, separately rating each chain on the quality of its Food, Facilities and Service using Zagat’s signature 30-point scale. A selection of the winners was announced live on The Today Show monday morning.

“It’s virtually impossible to live anywhere in America without having a fast food chain outlet in the neighborhood. We know that these chains play an important role in feeding our population. That’s the reason why we undertook this survey and why we believe the results are so important,” said Tim Zagat, CEO of Zagat Survey.

The survey results divided the chains into four categories: Large (up to 5,000 U.S. outlets), Mega (over 5,000), Full-Service (with table service), and Quick-Refreshment (focusing on beverages, ice cream and the like). The full survey results are available on www.ZAGAT.com/fastfood with the highlights following.

Winners:

Wendy’s is this year’s Top Food champion, dominating the Mega-Chain category. Also holding onto its title is west coast burger chain In-N-Out Burger, which again takes Top Food among Large Chains. New to the survey is regional seafood chain, Bonefish Grill, which stormed the competition to take top food honors in the Full-Service category, while Ben & Jerry’s prevailed in the Quick-Refreshment category.

Health Nut:

Celebrating their commitment to health-conscious menu items are this year’s winners for Top Healthy Options. Subway wins in the Mega-Chain category, specializing in sandwiches made with only the freshest ingredients, while Jamba Juice’s all natural fruit smoothies helped them take the prize in the Quick-Refreshment category. Jason’s Deli won for healthy options among large chains and Bonefish Grill’s specialized seafood menu was judged most healthy in the full-service category.

Digesting Values:

Value-oriented restaurants offering good but inexpensive alternatives to home cooking are especially appreciated during the current economic times. Taking home the prize for Best Value among fast food establishments is McDonald’s, which also celebrated top honors for its Breakfasts, Value Menu, Child Friendliness and Drive-Thrus. The remaining top-ranked values among Fast Food chains are (in order) Panera Bread, Chipotle, Taco Bell and Chick-fil-A. The top three full service winners for Best Value are Olive Garden, Cracker Barrel and The Cheesecake Factory.

Coffee Talk:

Surveyors have ordered a double-shot of love for Starbucks, which wins in the category of Best Coffee once again. The Seattle-based coffee behemoth with over 10,000 branches beat out rival Dunkin’ Donuts, which came in second, followed by McDonald’s in third place.

Milkshakes and Burgers and Fries, Oh my:

Whether being served from a drive-thru window or a server on roller skates, burgers, fries and shakes remain the most timeless fast food menu items. This year, Virginia-based burger chain Five Guys has earned bragging rights in the hotly-contested Best Burger category, edging out regional and mega-chain competitors alike.

However, no chain has been able to dethrone McDonald’s which wins in the category of Best French Fries for the third straight survey. In the category of Best Milkshakes, Dairy Queen has stepped into the spotlight taking home this year’s prize.

The top five rankings in all of these categories are as follows:

Five Dollar Foot-long:

Zagat surveyors looking to “eat fresh” have chosen Subway as the Most Popular in the Mega-Chain category. This year, the uber-popular sandwich franchise beat out McDonald’s, Wendy’s and Burger King, which came in second, third and fourth, respectively. Other winners in the Popularity category include Panera Bread (Large Chains), Starbucks (Quick-Refreshments) and P.F. Chang’s (Full-Service).

Category Winners: Here is a list of some of our other category winners:

Fast-Food Chains

• Best Fried Chicken: Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC)
• Best Grilled Chicken: Chick-fil-A
• Best Fish: Long John Silver’s
• Best Salads: Panera Bread
• Most Child-Friendly: McDonald’s
• Best Value: McDonald’s

Full-Service Chains

• Best Steak: Outback Steakhouse
• Best Pasta: Maggiano’s
• Best Breakfast: Cracker Barrel
• Best Seafood: Bonefish Grill
• Best Desserts: The Cheesecake Factory
• Most Child-Friendly: Chuck E. Cheese’s

Outtakes:

Here are some of our most outrageous comments from surveyors this year:

• The BP of food
• They fry harder
• Loved it when I was in high school, but I was going through my stoner phase
• I think this is where I developed a fear of clowns
• Ordinary is still the unattainable goal here
• Great cost-cutting strategy: use same material for pizza and boxes
• Just because it’s “all beef” doesn’t mean it’s any part of the cow you’d consciously eat
• Should serve intestinal medicine as an amuse-bouche
• Voted “Most Popular” by the American Cardiology Association
• If they could, they’d deep-fry the menus
• 57 flavors, all of which more or less taste like plastic
• What part of the chicken was that exactly?
• If you have a taste bud, move on
• Amazing how one can pile so many ingredients together and still come up flavor-free

The Survey: For additional results, visit www.ZAGAT.com/fastfood.

About Zagat Survey, LLC

Known as the “wildly popular” “burgundy bible”, Zagat Survey is the world’s most trusted source for consumer generated survey information. With a worldwide network of surveyors, Zagat rates and reviews restaurants, hotels, nightlife, movies, music, golf, shopping and a range of other entertainment categories and is lauded as the “most up-to-date”, “comprehensive” and “reliable” guide, published on all platforms. Zagat content is available to consumers wherever and whenever they need it: on ZAGAT.com, ZAGAT.mobi, ZAGAT TO GO for smartphones and in book form.

Web Site: www.zagat.com

The Kroger brand Meals Made Simple Shrimp Linguini was distributed to all divisions of Kroger’s retail stores.

All units of Kroger brand Meals Made Simple Shrimp Linguini (UPC 1111097756) product are impacted by this recall.

Only one adverse reaction has been reported as associated with this product to date.

This recall was initiated after Contessa Premium Foods, Inc. discovered that the Kroger brand Meals Made Simple Shrimp Linguini included an ingredient labeled as “Natural Flavors” that may have been constituted using milk or milk byproducts. Subsequent investigation indicates that this ingredient was included in the product at very small amounts but was not otherwise indicated on the allergen warning statement.

Consumers who have an allergy or severe sensitivity to milk products and have purchased the 24 ounce bags of Kroger brand Meals Made Simple Shrimp Linguini are urged to either contact Contessa Premium Foods, Inc. at 888-832-8000 Monday through Friday 8:00am to 5:00pm Pacific Standard Time, or return them to the place of purchase for a full refund.

Source: Contessa Premium Foods, Inc.