You can receive Featurettes by e-mail daily, weekly or monthly by request. We can e-mail by your choice of topic or all stories as you may prefer. To make it even more convenient for editors to use our stories, NAPS has added an RSS syndication feed to our Web site. Simply hit the RSS button on our site for automated updates on available content. Please contact us to arrange to receive Featurettes in the format that works best for you at (800) 222-5551 or e-mail your request to us at printmedia@napsnet.com. We can provide Featurettes on CD-ROM or you can download it online at www.napsnet.com. Gary Lipton Media Relations Manager Phone: 1-(800)-222-5551 Fax: 1-(800)-990-4329 Web site: www. napsnet .com e-mail: printmedia@napsnet.com #2538 North American Precis Syndicate, Inc., 350 Fifth Avenue, 65th Floor, New York, N.Y. 10118-0110 Coping With Teen Substance Abuse Clock Ticking On $8,000 Home Buyer Tax Credit (NAPSA)—First-time home buyers and those who haven’t owned a home in the past three years are running out of time to cash in on the $8,000 first-time home buyer tax credit. The deadline is November 30. If you don’t close on your home by then, you’ll miss out on one of the major buyer opportunities in the current housing market. Today’s tighter credit market means the days of settling on a home in two weeks are gone. Lenders are paying closer attention than ever to a borrower ’s financial information. In many cases, appraisals are also taking longer and things like home inspections and title searches take time. So there may be no time to waste. “Homeownership is an investment in your future, and the temporary $8,000 tax credit can help many of today’s buyers start building that future,” said Lawrence Yun, chief economist for the National Association of Realtors (NAR). “However, buyers should be realistic about the time it could take between beginning the home search and actually closing on the deal. Anyone who’s serious about taking advantage of this tremendous opportunity should start the ball rolling soon.” In some cases, buyers are able to receive the tax credit immediately through short-term bridge loans and either increase their down payment or supplement their closing costs. A Realtor can tell you if the bridge loan process is available to you. Not a first-time home buyer? Not a problem. Current market conditions have created a wealth of advantages for all of today’s buyers, including: • Lots of choices—More homes on the market means buyers can negotiate better prices and terms. • Low interest rates—Mortgage interest rates remain historically low, making borrowing more affordable for potential home buyers. • Affordability—Home prices are more affordable now than they have been in decades, according to NAR’s Housing Affordability Index. These conditions, however, are temporary. Recent housing statistics and trends show signs that the market may have already hit bottom. Prices in many areas have stabilized and are rising again. “Today’s buyers are staying well within their budget and realizing this is an incredible opportunity to own a home of their own,” said Yun. “There’s never been a better time for people to start building their future through homeownership.” For more information, contact a Realtor or visit www.realtor.org/ 2009housingtaxcredit. (NAPSA)—Living with a teen who has a substance abuse problem can take an emotional, mental and physical toll on an entire family. With special care, patience and coping strategies, parents can help meet the challenge of overcoming drug or alcohol abuse. Some tips include: • Find support for the whole family. This includes family counseling as well as seeking out guidance counselors, religious leaders and friends. When a teen has a substance abuse problem, it’s important to find support for the entire family. • Educate the family about the condition and the treatment. Understanding the condition can help parents make wiser choices, including how to recognize early signs of substance abuse. • Recognize that relapses may occur. According to the experts at Eckerd Academy, this does not necessarily mean that treatment has been ineffective. For example, a recovering teen will need similar structure or rules when he or she returns home. Wi t h c a m p u s e s i n G e o r g i a and Tennessee, Eckerd Academy specializes in helping troubled teens. For more information, contact (800) 914-3937 or visit www.eckerdacademy.org. Take The Hassle Out Of Weeknight Meals (NAPSA)—School days don’t have to mean meals on the run. Enjoy weeknight family meals together by lessening dinner preparation time and increasing time spent around the table. Try combining practical, prepared ingredients from the freezer or pantry with homemade foods that can be cooked in advance and stored or frozen until mealtime. When short on time, try Ready-Made Ravioli and Meatballs. By simply combining Mrs. T’s Pierogies—the perfect pairing of pasta and potatoes straight from the freezer—with jarred pasta sauce from the pantry and homemade turkey meatballs from the oven or freezer, you’ll have a hearty, low-fat dish in less than 10 minutes. And requiring less than 10 ingredients, this take on the classic Italian favorite is sure to become a staple in your weekly routine all year long. Ready-Made Ravioli and Meatballs 1 pound ground turkey 1 large egg 1 ⁄4 cup seasoned Italian breadcrumbs 1 teaspoon salt 2 tablespoons vegetable oil 1 (24-ounce) jar marinara sauce 1 (16-ounce) package frozen Mrs. T’s Pierogies 1 tablespoon fresh chopped parsley 1 ⁄4 cup grated Parmesan cheese Meatballs and pierogies make a low-fat yet filling family meal in minutes. Combine ground turkey, egg, breadcrumbs and salt in large bowl; stir until mixture is well combined. Shape mixture into 11⁄2-inch-round meatballs. Heat 1 tablespoon oil in 12inch skillet over medium-high heat. Cook half of the meatballs at a time until well browned on all sides, turning frequently; repeat with remaining oil and meatballs. Add marinara sauce; over high heat, heat to boiling. Reduce heat to low; cover and simmer 10 minutes or until meatballs are cooked through. Meanwhile, boil pierogies as package directs. Drain. Toss pierogies with meatballs and sauce, mixing well. Sprinkle with chopped parsley. Serve with grated Parmesan cheese. Makes 4 servings. Free Recipes You can find more great recipes and advice online at www.pierogies.com.