Benton County Master Gardeners Spring Gardening Seminars
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- Published on Thursday, 21 March 2013 15:42
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The University of Minnesota Extension Master Gardeners of Benton County would like to invite you to attend an upcoming Spring Gardening Seminar. There is no charge to attend this seminar, and it is open for any interested individuals to attend.
The seminar will be beginning at 7 p.m. Monday, March 25, at the Benton County Courthouse, Commissioners Room, in Foley. The Benton County Master Gardeners will be presenting on the topic of “Starting Seeds Indoors.” Following this demonstration, the Master Gardeners invite attendees to participate in an open forum to discuss general gardening questions. No pre-registration is necessary to attend seminars. Any questions on the seminars can be directed to (320) 255-6169.
U of M March 2013 Starwatch
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- Published on Thursday, 28 February 2013 15:57
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Once again, astronomers wait with bated breath to see if a new comet will turn out to be a delight or a dud.
Comet Pan-STARRS reaches maximum brightness around the 9th-10th, but it may be easiest to find on the 12th, when a thin crescent moon can help. Look west about 45 minutes after sunset, using binoculars if necessary; the comet will be about four degrees, or eight full moon widths, left of the moon. Pan-STARRS moves northward each successive night, appearing below and slightly right of the moon on the 13th. It will quickly fade, so try to catch it if you can.
Saturn, a morning planet, begins the month by rising in the east around 11 p.m. It comes up two hours earlier by month’s end, but with the onset of Daylight Saving Time, that translates to 10 p.m. The bright star just to the west of Saturn is Spica, representing an ear of grain held by Virgo, the virgin. Saturn’s rings are nearly
19 degrees from horizontal, and it brightens steadily as Earth prepares to lap it in the orbital race.
Budgeting for the holidays: Smart spending for the season
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- Published on Friday, 22 February 2013 05:55
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The countdown to the holiday season has officially begun with decorations on store shelves and gift catalogs filling mailboxes. A recent study by the Consumer Electronics Association shows that individual consumers plan to spend $1,634 overall this holiday, up 11 percent from last year. Unfortunately, much of that spending will be done on credit cards. That may make consumers feel gloomy when they get their bills in January.
"Smarter money management" is a common New Year's resolution for many people. So why not get a jump on things now and budget and spend wisely this holiday season? People often go off the financial rails when the holidays roll around, says the Minnesota Society of Certified Public Accountants (MNCPA). Developing a spending plan and sticking to it can help keep you on track and keep you from drowning in post-holiday debt.
U of M January 2013 Starwatch
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- Published on Friday, 28 December 2012 21:35
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The new year opens with Jupiter still dominating the night sky. Earth passed the king of planets in the orbital race a month ago, but something as brilliant as Jupiter takes a while to fade.On the 1st, Jupiter will be well up in the east after nightfall. As the month goes by, it comes out further and further to the west as Earth speeds away from it. In Taurus, Jupiter shines above the V-shaped Hyades star cluster and the bright orange star Aldebaran, the eye of the bull.
Home Stretch
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- Published on Saturday, 01 December 2012 14:12
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Looking to purchase a home this spring? Now is the time to participate in Home Stretch! Home Stretch is a first-time homebuyer workshop that takes participants through the entire home-buying process. In one day, you will learn about qualifying for a mortgage, financing a home, budget and credit issues, real estate, the closing process, basic home maintenance, and affordable mortgage products that are available to first-time homebuyers. Some affordable mortgage products, government loans, and down payment and closing cost assistance programs may require a buyer to receive a Home Stretch certificate.
Central Minnesota Housing Partnership, a non-profit organization providing affordable housing services to the central region of Minnesota, coordinates the Home Stretch workshop. The next workshop will be offered in St. Cloud from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 12, at US Bank. Registration is required, and participants will receive a completion certificate at the end of the workshop.
“Buying a home is definitely a considerable investment, and of course we want to do what we can to reduce the risk of foreclosure. So whether you are new to the home-buying process, or have not bought a home in quite some time, our Home Stretch workshop will provide the much needed information everyone should know before even looking at homes,” said Kelly Doss, Program Coordinator at Central Minnesota Housing Partnership. “We want participants to be successful and educated buyers, so we have local housing professionals as instructors to answer questions and provide the most current information about the home-buying process.”
There is a $30 fee per household to participate in Home Stretch and registration is required. To register for the St. Cloud Home Stretch workshop, please download an application at www.cmhp.net, or call Kelly Doss, Program Coordinator of Home Stretch, at (320) 258-0681.
Pre-purchase counseling is also available by appointment, and is strongly recommended prior to taking Home Stretch. This is a free service to anyone who wants to speak with a certified homeownership counselor about their financial situation prior to buying a home.