FEDINFO E-letter from Pueblo, October 2007

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SCHOOL IS COOL WITH THE NEW KIDS.GOV

Want to help your children ace school this year? Then check out Uncle Sam’s family-friendly site, Kids.gov. With a new design and links to over 1,200 web pages from government agencies, schools, and educational organizations, Kids.gov makes it easy for your kids or grandkids to learn, explore, and have fun.

Kids.gov has activities for kids from kindergarten to eighth grade on more than 20 different topics - ranging from the arts and music to space and history. They can play entertaining and educational games, create art projects, explore different careers, learn how the government works, get homework help, and much more.

Visit Kids.gov often, because there’s always something new for your children to discover!

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CHECK UP ON YOUR BONES

Check Up On Your Bones is an interactive bone health checkup for people of all ages. The goal of the checkup is to help you identify the most common red flags that put your bones at risk and to give you a strategy — specific to you — to make your bones stronger and healthier.

All you have to do is answer a short set of questions in the Personal Profile Questionnaire. Your answers will allow the Web checkup to give you detailed, personalized information about your bone health. At the end of the questionnaire, you’ll get a record of your answers and a results page that lists your risk factors for osteoporosis and broken bones. A Bone Balance Sheet shows the positive and negative factors that could influence your bone health. A list of web resources is also provided so that you can learn more about bone health and related topics.

Give your bones a check up today!

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HAVE A SAFE AND HAPPY HALLOWEEN

Get tips from FDA and CPSC on treats, makeup, and staying safe as you travel from house to house.

Make sure children do not eat anything until you can inspect the treats. Throw away any homemade candy or baked goods or anything that isn’t commercially wrapped.
Throw away any items that look suspicious or have small holes, discoloration, or tears in the wrapper.
Makeup gives a child better visibility than a mask. But make sure you follow the directions on the package. Test the makeup in an inconspicuous area to see if your child has an allergy to the product. The FDA also has helpful information to consider when using novelty makeup.
Make sure that your child’s costume is flame-resistant.
Accompany young children and try to keep them on lighted sidewalks.
Ensure that children only visit homes where residents are known and have outside lights on as a sign of welcome. Get more safety tips from the Consumer Product Safety Commission.

Halloween wouldn’t be complete without mentioning haunted houses and ghosts. Did you know that our own Nation’s Capital has its share of spooks (besides the ones that work at the CIA)? Test your knowledge of who’s haunting Washington with this Halloween quiz.

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A BLOG FOR EVERYBODY: GOVGAB.GOV

Real people. Real experiences. Really fun and helpful. That’s how people are describing the Federal Citizen Information Center’s new blog: GovGab.gov. This weblog gives Americans a new way to get information about the services and opportunities of the U.S. government. And, you’re invited to comment and share your own experiences.

Read along each weekday as the bloggers talk about the business of everyday life: figuring out what to do when an airline loses your luggage; preparing your lawn for fall and winter; learning how to roll over a 401(k); experiencing the thrill (and trauma) of buying a new car; and much more. Gov Gab talks about the same issues you deal with in your busy life.

Find out who’s talking, what they’re saying, and offer your two cents on GovGab.gov — Your U.S. Government Blog.

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YOUR LIFE ADVICE® KIT

In celebration of their 10-year partnership, the MetLife Consumer Education Center and the Federal Citizen Information Center have a gift for you—a free kit of five of their most popular publications. With useful tips on everything from saving and investing to caring for an aging loved one, this kit has something for everyone, no matter if you’re 25 or 65.

Whether you’re saving for your own home, starting your kid’s college fund, or adding to your retirement nest egg, learn about the different ways you can develop and improve your savings, investment, and retirement strategies.

The Life Advice® kit also features practical information on writing a will, naming an executor and getting help for an aging loved one.

We can all use a little help when life throws us a curve. So order the Life Advice® kit today.

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CONSUMER ALERT: FCIC WARNS ABOUT OVERPAYING FOR CERTIFIED DEEDS

A private company is currently sending out letters nationwide offering to sell property owners certified copies of deeds. The letters refer to information found in FCIC’s “Managing Household Records” 2003 online consumer focus article. The company cites that article as a reason for purchasing a certified deed. Consumers should be aware that it is not necessary to use a private company to obtain a certified copy of the deed to your home. You can obtain one from your local Register of Deeds for free or at a low cost.

A copy of your deed is just one of the important documents that you should keep in an organized records system. You should also include your birth and marriage certificates, wills, advance directives, titles of cars, and passports. It’s a good idea to store the original papers in a safe deposit box, and keep copies in a secure place at your home.

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Previous issues of the FEDINFO E-letter can be found at: www.pueblo.gsa.gov/fedinfonews/fedinfoarchives.htm.

You can change your subscriptions, password, or e-mail address or remove yourself from this service at any time on your User Profile page. All you need are your e-mail address and password (if you selected one).

This service is provided free of charge by the Federal Citizen Information Center (FCIC) at Pueblo, CO, your one-stop source for information about consumer problems and government services. Visit us at www.pueblo.gsa.gov.

For questions or problems with this subscription service, e-mail updates@pueblo.gsa.gov. For inquiries related to FCIC, email us.

Issue 2007-5