Saturday, March 3, 2012

Red Cross Launches Huge Tornado Relief Response

Shelters open in 11 states to help people in the path of the storms

National Headquarters
2025 E Street, N.W.
Washington, DC 20006
www.redcross.org
Contact: Public Affairs Desk
FOR MEDIA ONLY 
Phone: (202) 303-5551
WASHINGTON, Saturday, March 03, 2012 — The 


American Red Cross has launched a large relief operation across 11 states to help people affected by yesterday’s devastating tornado outbreak in the South and Midwest. Weather experts reported as many as 95 confirmed tornadoes touched down, destroying communities from the Great Lakes to the Southeast.
“Our hearts go out to everyone who has been affected by this week’s severe storms,” said Charley Shimanski, senior vice president, Disaster Services. “Our top priorities right now are making sure people have a safe place to stay, a warm meal and a shoulder to lean on as they begin to clean up their neighborhoods. The Red Cross is also working closely with our government and community partners to make sure everyone gets the help they need.”
Friday night, the Red Cross opened or supported 22 shelters in Missouri, Illinois, Kentucky, Oklahoma, North Carolina, Alabama, Indiana, Ohio, Tennessee, Virginia and West Virginia. Across the affected states, trained Red Cross disaster workers are mobilizing to begin feeding operations and distribution of relief supplies. Red Cross health services and mental health workers also will be out in neighborhoods help people cope with what they’ve seen and experienced. And damage assessment teams will also help the Red Cross and our partners discover the full scope of the damage.
If someone would like to help people affected by disasters like tornadoes and floods, they can make a donation to support American Red Cross Disaster Relief by visiting www.redcross.org, calling 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767) or texting the word REDCROSS to 90999 to make a $10 donation. Contributions may also be sent to their local Red Cross chapter or to the American Red Cross, P.O. Box 37243, Washington, DC 20013.
Locate a shelter. People can find Red Cross shelters by contacting local emergency officials, visitingwww.redcross.org, or calling 1-800-REDCROSS (1-800-733-2767). iPhone users can download a free Red Cross shelter view app from the app store.
Those affected can let loved ones know they are safe by registering on the secure Red Cross Safe and Well website, where they can also update their Facebook and Twitter status. If you don’t have computer access, you can also register by calling 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767). Loved ones outside the disaster area can use Safe and Well to find information about loved ones in the affected areas by using a pre-disaster phone number or complete address. Smart phone users can visitwww.redcross.org/safeandwell and click on the “List Yourself as Safe and Well” or “Search for friends and family” link.
Follow safety steps. As people begin to deal with the aftermath of the tornadoes, the Red Cross reminds people they should return to their neighborhood only when officials say it is safe to do so. They should also:
  • Stay out of damaged buildings and immediately report any fallen power lines or broken gas lines to the utility companies.
  • Use flashlights, not candles when examining buildings. If someone smells gas or hears a hissing noise, they should open a window, get everyone out of the building immediately and call the gas company or fire department.
More tornado safety information is available on the Preparedness Section of the Red Cross website.
You can help people affected by disasters like floods and tornadoes, as well as countless crises at home and around the world, by making a donation to support American Red Cross Disaster Relief. Your gift enables the Red Cross to prepare for and provide shelter, food, emotional support and other assistance in response to disasters. Visit www.redcross.org or call 1-800-RED-CROSS. Contributions may also be sent to your local American Red Cross chapter or to the American Red Cross, P.O. Box 37243, Washington, DC 20013.
About the American Red Cross:
The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and provides emotional support to victims of disasters; supplies more than 40 percent of the nation's blood; teaches skills that save lives; provides international humanitarian aid; and supports military members and their families. The Red Cross is a not-for-profit organization that depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to perform its mission. For more information, please visit redcross.org or join our blog athttp://blog.redcross.org.


Friday, March 2, 2012

WOMEN-ONLY HUNTER EDUCATION COURSE OFFERED


Save 15% on Natural Cosmetics

CONCORD, N.H. -- Women interested in taking Hunter Education in the company of other women can now sign up for a special Women-only Hunter Education Course offered by the New Hampshire Fish and Game Department. The course involves self-paced online study and an online exam, plus a Field Day on July 21, 2012, in Holderness, N.H. Participants must be 15 years of age or older.

“This is an opportunity for women to learn the New Hampshire hunting laws and regulations, firearms handling, how to use a map and compass, and how to enjoy hunting safely so they can challenge themselves in the great outdoors this fall,” said Tom Flynn, manager of Fish and Game's Owl Brook Hunter Education Center. Women are welcome to participate in traditional Hunter Education courses and field days, Flynn explained; the special course simply offers an alternative.

There are two required parts to the Women-only Hunter Education Course; you must successfully complete both to receive certification:

1. First, take as long as you'd like to study and complete the online Hunter Education Course at http://www.hunter-ed.com/newhampshire/index.html, then take the online exam (there is a $15 fee to take the exam). You must pass the online exam in order to print out the Field Day Qualifier Exam Certificate, which you will need to gain entry to the Women-Only Field Day.

2. After passing the online exam, register for the July 21, 2012, Women-Only Field Day at http://www.huntnh.com/hunting/hunter_ed.htm. There is no charge for this Field Day. (Remember -- you can't sign up for the Field Day until you pass the online course exam.) The Women-only Field Day will be held at the Owl Brook Hunter Education Center in Holderness, N.H., and includes both written and field exams. A New Hampshire Conservation Officer goes over N.H. hunting laws and regulations, followed by a brief review and written exam. Women also participate in a firearms-handling session, a map and compass lesson and a live-fire course, capped off by a field exam. After the successful completion of the exams, you will be a certified hunter, ready to buy a license and enjoy a great hunting season.

To learn more about Hunter Education in New Hampshire, visit http://www.huntnh.com/Hunting/hunter_ed.htm.


Hunter education is made possible by the federal Wildlife Restoration Program, now in its 75th year. Excise taxes are collected from the sales of firearms, ammunition and archery equipment, and these funds are distributed to state agencies to conduct research, manage wildlife populations, protect habitat and conduct hunter education programs. Visit http://www.WSFR75.com.


- ### -


--
Copyright 2012 New Hampshire Fish and Game Department, 11 Hazen Drive, Concord, NH 03301.
For usage policy, visit http://www.wildnh.com/Inside_FandG/usage_policy.htm.
Comments or questions concerning this list should be directed to jane.vachon@wildlife.nh.gov 

Waterford, Wedgwood & Royal Doulton is the provider of luxury home and lifestyle products.

Reminder: Turn Off Your Google Web History Today


Tired of turning on your computer and getting junk mail with all of your personal information already known by people you don't know. Or those annoying popup ads with your name greeting you?

Starting today, Google's new unified privacy policy kicks in, meaning that your web browsing history can be tracked and shared been other Google products like Google+ and YouTube. So if that strikes you as a bit invasive, there's an easy way to turn it off.

Just make sure you're logged into Google and go to https://www.google.com/history. Select "Remove All Web History." This will stop the site from tracking your web history until, and only if, you opt back in.

You should also go to YouTube, which appears to have TWO separate History settings. First, go to http://www.youtube.com/my_history and both clear your history and pause it. Then click on the "Search History" tab from the left column and repeat.

"When a company with as many services as Google is collecting so much information across so many services and combining them into a personal file about you, it naturally raises a lot of questions and concerns," says Ioana Rusu, Policy Counsel for Consumers Union. "Some of the most popular sites on the web belong to Google. If you're online, one way or the other, you're going to run into a Google product. If you don't like the idea of Google being able to collect your activity on all these different sites into a single dossier, there are some steps you can take to minimize the data that Google gathers about you, but the size and scope of this effort are still troubling."





USA TODAY Sports Weekly




Google implements controversial new privacy policy
Does it really change anything for you?

Updated: Thursday, 01 Mar 2012, 2:39 PM EST
Published : Thursday, 01 Mar 2012, 2:25 PM EST

(FOX25 / MYFoxBoston.com) - If you're amazed — and maybe even a little alarmed — about how much Google seems to know about you, brace yourself. Beginning Thursday, Google will operate under a streamlined privacy policy that enables the Internet's most powerful company to dig even deeper into the lives of its more than 1 billion users.

Google says the changes will make it easier for consumers to understand how it collects personal information, and allow the company to create more helpful and compelling services.

Critics, including most of the country's state attorneys general and a top regulator in Europe, argue that Google is trampling on people's privacy rights in its relentless drive to sell more ads.

Here's a look at some of the key issues to consider as Google tries to learn about you.

Q: How will Google's privacy changes affect users?

A: Google Inc. is combining more than 60 different privacy policies so it will be able to throw all the data it gathers about each of its logged-in users into personal date record.

The new policy pools information from all Google-operated services, empowering the company to connect the dots from one service to the next.

Q: Why is Google making these changes?

A: The company says it is striving for a "beautifully simple, intuitive user experience across Google."

Others say the change will help Google to be able to draw more revealing profiles about its users will help sell advertising — the main source of its $38 billion in annual revenue.

One reason Google has become such a big advertising network: Its search engine analyzes requests to figure out which people are more likely to be interested in marketing pitches about specific products and services. Targeting the ads to the right audience is crucial because in many cases, Google only gets paid when someone clicks on an ad link. And, of course, advertisers tend to spend more money if Google is bringing them more customers.

Q: Is there a way to prevent Google from combining the personal data it collects from all its services?

A: No, not if you're a registered user of Gmail, Google Plus, YouTube, or other Google products. But you can minimize the data Google gathers. For starters, make sure you aren't logged into one of Google's services when you're using Google's search engine, watching a YouTube video or perusing pictures on Picasa. You can get a broad overview of what Google knows about you at http://www.google.com/dashboard , where a Google account login is required. Google also offers the option to delete users' history of search activity.

It's important to keep in mind that Google can still track you even when you're not logged in to one of its services. But the information isn't quite as revealing because Google doesn't track you by name, only through a numeric Internet address attached to your computer or an alphanumeric string attached to your Web browser.

Q: Are all Google services covered by the privacy policy?

A: No, a few products, such as Google's Chrome Web browser and mobile payment processor Wallet, will still be governed by separate privacy policies.

Q: Is Google's new privacy policy legal?

A: The company has no doubt about it. That's why it's repeatedly rebuffed pleas to delay the changes since announcing the planned revisions five weeks ago. But privacy activists and even some legal authorities have several concerns.

Last week, 36 attorneys general in the U.S. and its territories derided the new policy as an "invasion of privacy" in a letter to Google’s CEO.

One of the major gripes is that registered Google users aren't being given an option to consent to, or reject, the changes, given that they developed their dependence on the services under different rules.

In particular, people who bought smartphones running on Google's Android software, and signed two-year contracts to use the devices, may have a tough time avoiding the new privacy policy. They could switch to non-Google services, but those typically don't work as well on Android software. Or they could buy a different smartphone and pay an early-termination penalty.

Q: What regulatory power do government agencies have to change or amend the privacy changes?

A: The U.S. Federal Trade Commission gained greater oversight over Google's handling of personal information as part of a settlement reached last year. Google submitted to the agreement after exposing its users email contacts when it launched a now-defunct social networking service called Buzz in 2010. The consent order requires Google's handling of personal information to be audited every other year and forbids misleading or deceptive privacy changes.

Google met with the FTC before announcing the privacy changes. Neither the company nor the FTC has disclosed whether Google satisfied regulators that the revisions comply with the consent order.

NH Snowmobile Trail Conditions 3-2-2012



100% Performance Guarantee from SunandSki.com - Every Item, All of the Time

March 2, 2012 Update

Even with the recent snowfall, riders can expect to still find early season riding conditions in many areas and should be mindful of changing trail status and water bars as well as some downed trees.  Riders should check local club websites for area information.
Not all trail gates will be open so riders should use extra caution in those areas where trails have not been open this season.

Swift Diamond Riders 20th Annual Sno-Deo this weekend March 2nd & 3rd For more info go to www.nhsnodeo.com



Pittsburg- 5-6" new snow. 8-10" base in higher elevations and 3-5" in lower. Grooming is ongoing, and conditions range from good to great. Riding in town is now considered to be good. Please pay attention to all signage! There are still logging operations going on. Perry Stream Rd is closed to snowmobile traffic and stay on the side of Magalloway Rd; some shared roads and are posted 10 mph. Lakes are still considered to be unsafe! Vintage race this Saturday in Errol. For more details go to www.pittsburgridgerunners.org.

Colebrook
- Trails 5,7,18,21,120,128,110,111 groomed Thursday night all in good to great condition, Groomers will run Friday, Saturday and Sunday after 4:00 p.m. Watch for ice and drifts on all trails Ride with caution. For more info go to www.colebrookski-bees.com

Stratford
- 4” new snow on a 4-6” base. Trails are groomed and riding is great.
Groveton/Nash Stream- 5-6" new snow on a 6-10" base. Trails are groomed and riding is good. 5 South Closed.

Diamond Pond/Coleman State Park
- 6-8" new snow on a 12-14" base. Trails are groomed and riding is great. Several logging operations going on. Lake ice is marginal. Warming hut open Saturday and Sunday. Gas pumps open 24/7.  Friday and Saturday March 2nd and 3rd is the 20th Annual Sno-Deo For more details go to  www.nhsnodeo.com

Errol
- 2" new snow on a 1-5" base. Trails are groomed and riding is good. Use Caution, some trails are getting icy.

Cambridge
- 3" new snow on a 4-6" base. Trails are groomed and riding is good.

Milan
- 3" new snow on a 4-6" base. Trails are groomed and riding is good.

Twin Mtn
- 1" new snow on a 3-15" base. Trails are groomed and riding is moderate to good. Grooming is being done in the Base Rd at Jefferson Notch

Dalton
- 3" new snow on a 3-5" base. Trails are groomed and riding is moderate to good.
Berlin- 3" new snow on a 5-6" base.  Trails are groomed and riding is good to great. For more details, go to www.whitemtridgerunners.com


Berlin/Success- 3-4" new snow on a 3-6" base. Trails are groomed and riding is good to great.

Gorham - 2-3 " new snow on a 3 -6" base. Trails are groomed and riding is good to great. Use caution around logging jobs. For more info go to www.presidentialrangeriders.org

Jefferson2 " new snow on a 3-5" base. Trails are groomed and riding is moderate to good. For more details go to www.waumbekmethna.com

Franconia Notch- 2" new snow on a 2-5" base. Trails are groomed at riding is good. Corr 11 North of Notch is not groomed and riding is marginal.

Campton/Thornton- 2" new snow on a 2-7" base. Trails are groomed riding is moderate to good. Corr 11 Rail line not groomed use caution.

Bridgewater-12” new snow. All trails are open and groomed except for a portion of corridor 8 which is the rail road tracks. There are a few water bars open. Overall riding is considered good to great.

Rumney- Trails have been packed. Rte 11 & 153 Junction to Groton Hollow is closed. Rte 11 & 153 Coach Rd to Power line Open Fri Night to Sunday night. Trails are considered Marginal to moderate. Ride with Caution.
Bear Notch- 12" new snow on a 6-10" base. Trails are groomed including rail section. Riding is great. Use Caution and watch for mushers and skiers.
Conway/ Chatham- 8-10" new snow on a 2-4" base. Trails are groomed and riding is good East Conway to Maine groomed on Corridor 19. Parking at Town and Country Yamaha and Town Hall. Logging is done.
Ossipee- 8-10" new snow on a 2-4" base. RR tracks not groomed. Whiteface to Wonolancet and Whiteface groomed and riding is good. Castle trails groomed and riding is good. Use caution on RR tracks to get there.
Wakefield- 8” new snow on a 2-4” base. Some areas are groomed and others not. Riding is marginal. RR tracks are poor. Lakes and ponds slushy and not safe,
Laconia/Gilford- 8-10 "of new snow. Some grooming is being done as conditions allow
Pembroke- 8-10” new snow. Trails are being groomed. Use caution as there may be water bars and bare spots on hills. Conditions are marginal to moderate.
Westmoreland- 6-10” new snow on a minimal base. Grooming will not be done.


Pisgah State Park- 7” new snow. Not groomed Riding is marginal. Watch for water bars and wet areas. Use caution.
Pillsbury State Park- 12” new snow on 0-2” base. Not groomed. Watch for drifted areas. Riding is marginal. Use caution.

Rail Lines: Gates that are closed may not be reopened, you may use the man pass. Use caution.

  • Northern: Gates Closed
  • Ashuelot: Gates Closed 
  • Fort Hill:  Gates Closed
  • Sugar River: Gates Closed
  • Concord to Lincoln:  Gates Closed

Additional Resources and Information

Please be safe and ride with caution.
Respect our landowners.
Watch speeds and stay to the right.


For more information contact brenda.drouin@dred.state.nh.us
Explore | Experience | What's Happening | Get Involved | Who We Are | Partner & Community Relations
News | Calendar | Contact Us | Reservations | E-updates
© 2010 NH Department of Resources and Economic Development
172 Pembroke Road P.O. Box 1856 Concord, NH 03302-1856 | T: (603) 271-3556 F: (603) 271-3553 

Thursday, March 1, 2012

Time for a new bank? BOA test's more ways to take your money!


Bank of America considering monthly fee for basic accounts

Updated: Thursday, 01 Mar 2012, 2:52 PM EST
Published : Thursday, 01 Mar 2012, 10:21 AM EST
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (NEWSCORE) - Bank of America Corp. is working on sweeping changes that would require many users of basic checking accounts to pay a monthly fee unless they agree to bank online, buy more products or maintain certain balances.

The plan by the nation's second-largest bank by assets is the latest sign of stresses in the banking industry at a time of low interest rates, slow economic growth and new rules limiting many types of service charges. Many other big banks, including JP Morgan Chase & Co. -- the nation's largest -- and Wells Fargo & Co., have rolled out plans that aim to raise fee revenue or push customers to do more business with the bank.
Bank of America_20110314082226_JPG

Those efforts are tricky, because they risk upsetting the banks' best customers or drawing fire from politicians. Bank of America retreated last fall from a new $5 debit-card charge following a customer revolt and a wave of criticism.

The search for new sources of income is especially pressing at Bank of America, where 2011 revenue dropped by $26.2 billion, or 22 percent, from its 2009 level.

Bank of America pilot programs in Arizona, Georgia and Massachusetts now are experimenting with charging $6 to $9 a month for an "Essentials" account. Other account options being tested in those states carry monthly charges of $9, $12, $15 and $25 but give customers opportunities to avoid the payments by maintaining minimum balances, using a credit card or taking a mortgage with Bank of America, according to a memo distributed to employees.

In addition, some Bank of America branch employees in the Northeast have already been trained to handle the first phase of a US rollout, one branch manager said.

Bank officials have made no final decision about specific charges or the timing of a national rollout, though the effort has gained even more urgency in the past few months. People close to the bank said Chief Executive Brian Moynihan is determined to plow ahead. Bank of America declined to comment.

It is unclear whether the bank, which counts more than 55 million US households as customers, will stick with its initial idea for a basic flat-fee checking account that doesn't offer a way to avoid paying a charge. That scenario is considered less likely than telling checking-account customers they will face a new fee unless they go online or take other steps outlined by the bank.

Service charges US banks collect on savings and checking accounts totaled $8.67 billion in the fourth quarter of 2011, down 16 percent from two years earlier, before limits took effect on the fees financial firms can charge merchants for accepting credit and debit cards, according to Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. data.





513893_In Store Redemption ONLY! $25 Off Tax Preparation At Participating Jackson Hewitt Locations