The U.S. Census count is mandated by the United States Constitution (Article 1, Sec. 2) to occur every ten years. The information gathered from the Census provides a wealth of information. 2010 is a Census year and, as such, mailings will be going out to homes across America to gather Census data this month. The U.S. Census Bureau will mail or deliver a short ten-question form to all homes in America. Census workers may visit your home or be in your neighborhood so here are a few tips to remember:
- Conduct the 2010 Census via the Internet
- Send emails about participating in the 2010 Census
- Ask for your full social security number
- Ask for money or donations
- Send requests on behalf of a political party
- Request information such as PIN codes, passwords or other bank or credit card information
Spring's a good time to determine if you’ve done everything you should to keep your home safe from fire hazards. A good spring cleaning can be the impetus for a thorough safety evaluation of your household. Include the following tasks:
- Clean up dead leaves in the yard
- Clean up gas and oil spills in the garage
- Clean up work areas on the porch, in the garage and in the house
- Discard all piles of rubbish
- Check appliance cords, fuses and wiring for wear and tear
- Check for water leaks near electrical appliances
- Keep combustibles away from heaters, furnaces and other heat sources
- Check flue connections and chimneys for any accumulation of creosote
- Properly dispose of oily rags and paint cans
- Label gasoline and cleaning fluids and store in a cool, safe place away from the house
- Recycle all those old papers and magazines from the attic, garage and basement