Briefs

Professional Organizers sponsors messy closet contest

The Lakes Professional Organizers is presenting a Messiest Closet in Las Vegas contest. The winner will receive eight hours of hands-on organizing.

To enter, just submit a photo and short description of 200 words or less on why your closet needs a makeover. Entries will be accepted between Jan. 1-15.

Entries should be submitted by email to TLPO@att.net.

Any products suggested by the organizer to complete the makeover must be provided by the winner and are not included in the contest.

Radon awareness campaign kicks off in January

University of Nevada Cooperative Extension and the Nevada State Health Division have taken the lead in Nevada to encourage all residents to test their homes for radon.

Although most people associate lung cancer with smoking, the leading cause of lung cancer for nonsmokers is radon. While smokers have a higher risk of radon-induced lung cancer than nonsmokers, about 21,000 people die each year in the U.S. of lung cancer caused by indoor radon exposure. The radon health risk is highly preventable, yet few people know about the risk or have their homes tested for it.

Radon is a radioactive gas. It comes from the natural decay of uranium in soil and enters homes through foundation cracks, openings and some of the porous materials used to construct foundations and floors of homes. It is an odorless, colorless, invisible gas that can reach harmful levels when trapped indoors. Radon can enter any home, old or new. The only way to know what the radon levels are inside your home is to measure them.

"Winter is the ideal time to test your home for radon as most of us keep our homes closed up during cold weather," said Laura Au-Yeung, the Southern Area Radon Program coordinator.

Several presentations about radon and the dangers it presents will be made throughout the valley in January and February. They are scheduled:

Jan. 14, 12:30-1:30 p.m., Clark County Library, 1401 E. Flamingo Road;

Jan. 28, 11 a.m.-noon, Windmill Library, 7060 Windmill Lane;

Feb. 25, 11 a.m.-noon, Centennial Hills Library, 6711 N. Buffalo Drive.

All attendees will receive a free radon test kit.

For more information, call Au-Yeung at 702-257-5550 or email her at au-yeungl@unce.unr.edu or visit the Radon website at www.RadonNV.com.

Keep Christmas trees fresh, green all season long

Christmas just isn't the same without a fresh-cut Christmas tree. The smell of a fresh tree infuses a home with holiday spirit, and the beauty of a real tree still can't be matched by artificial trees. Unfortunately, a fresh-cut tree can require daily watering or it will dry out quickly inside a heated home.

With a new product called Vacation, you can water your Christmas tree once in early December and keep it fresh throughout the holiday season. Vacation is an all-natural plant anti-transpirant that will keep a Christmas tree fresh for as long as three to four weeks.

Just mix one 8-ounce bottle of Vacation with 1 gallon of water and pour the solution into the reservoir inside the Christmas tree stand. Cut the end of the tree and place the tree in the stand. Let the tree soak up the solution overnight, and there's no need to water again for as many as four weeks. After that time, revert back to a normal watering schedule for the rest of the holiday season.

Vacation is biodegradable and contains no toxic chemicals.

Vacation also can be used to keep poinsettias and other potted plants from drying out. Just mix two capfuls of Vacation with a cup of water (or three ounces per gallon of water). Apply the solution to the entire pot until the soil is saturated. Poinsettias will then survive without water for as many as two weeks.

An 8-ounce bottle of vacation sells for $14.95 at www.naturehills.com/products/vacation_8_oz._aspx.