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 #2570 North American Precis Syndicate, Inc., 350 Fifth Avenue, 65th Floor, New York, N.Y. 10118-0110 Quick And Easy Home Spruce-Ups (NAPSA)—Saving time, trouble and money while enjoying a cleaner, more comfortable home may be easier to accomplish than many people realize. To make cleaning easier, consider the following tips from experts: • Check washer and dryer drains and pipes for blockages, such as lint or even the infamous “missing sock,” for optimum water and air flow. Clean the dryer ’s outside exhaust to shorten drying time and decrease energy use. • Change your refrigerator water filter. Refrigeration experts recommend changing your refrigerator water filter every six months to keep the water tasting good and to help save you money. By using two water filters per year, a refrigerator system can filter the equivalent of 3,000 bottles of water, saving over $600 a year versus purchasing a leading brand of bottled water. • Think about how to lead a “greener” lifestyle. Easy adjustments can be made at home, such as considering Energy Star–qualified appliances, which use 25 to 40 percent less energy than conventional models, which can result in savings of up to $100 (or more) a year on energy bills. • Freshen up draperies and curtains in a steam cycle in your dryer. The Maytag Bravos Dryer with Steam Enhanced Cycles can let you freshen up items you normally can’t wash, such as stuffed animals or small pillows. Recognizing The Symptoms Your home can be more comfortable and less expensive to live in if you make a few easy changes. • Make this the season the car actually fits in the garage by installing shelves, baskets, hooks or cabinets, such as those from Gladiator GarageWorks, to stay organized and uncover valuable space. • Remember to maintain your appliances with a regular checkup, especially with regard to washers and dishwashers, which can develop odor and residue buildup. Cleaning these appliances, no matter make or model, every 30 days with a product such as the affresh Washer Cleaning Kit or affresh Dishwasher and Disposal Cleaner and following the suggested tips in appliances’ use and care guides go a long way in keeping these household workhorses operating at peak performance. Learn More For further information, tips and more, visit http://instituteoffabric science.org. (NAPSA)—Learning the symptoms of young-onset Parkinson’s disease can make it easier to get a correct diagnosis. However, a recent National Parkinson Foundation (NPF) survey reported that people under 45 are not likely to recognize the symptoms. The majority of people with young-onset Parkinson’s disease see two to three physicians before receiving a correct diagnosis. Recognizing the need for a comprehensive source of information on PD, NPF has launched a Web site, www.parkinson.org. Learn more about young-onset Parkinson’s disease symptoms at www.parkinson.org. “People can visit their physicians prepared with the most current information and focused questions—which in turn can provide a quicker diagnosis, and ultimately the most appropriate and best available care,” says Joyce Oberdorf, NPF’s president. Among young-onset Parkinson’s patients, these symptoms are reported: tremor (70 percent), general stiffness (39 percent) and loss of sense of smell (16 percent). For more information, call NPF toll-free at (800) 327-4545. An Outdoor Meal That Combines Flavor And Fun The success of this 7-Layer Pasta Salad comes with each layer contributing a different taste or texture. (NAPSA)—Experts say all you need for a picnic is good food, good company and a little creativity. For example, if you don’t have a picnic basket or cooler, use old book bags lined with cold packs to carry your feast. When it comes to having fun, go back to basics with board games, Frisbees, cards and imagination. Play games such as charades or hide-and-seek or form teams and play softball or dodgeball. Make the menu a team effort as well, with each guest contributing a dish or a beverage. This 7-Layer Pasta Salad combines a variety of flavors and textures into a winning picnic dish. Plus, it can be made a day ahead and customized to your family’s taste. In this case, the seven layers of flavor are enhanced by the addition of a heart-healthy salsa or ranch dressing. One manufacturer, Litehouse Foods, makes a variety of refrigerated dressings, dips and more in small batches without preservatives, MSG or trans fats. They use canola oil, which is recommended by the American Heart Association as part of a heart-healthy diet. For more salad ideas, visit www.30salads30days.com. 7-Layer Pasta Salad (Serves 8) 1 cup fresh spinach 3 cups medium shell pasta, cooked, drained large red onion, sliced thin 1 package (10 oz.) frozen peas, thawed, drained 6 oz. ham or turkey, 1-inch cubes 1 cup Litehouse Lite Ranch or Salsa Ranch Dressing 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese cup halved cherry tomatoes Layer spinach, pasta, onion, peas and ham (or turkey) in a large serving bowl. Spread Litehouse Lite Ranch Dressing over the top to seal. Top with cheese. Add tomatoes. Cover and refrigerate several hours or until chilled. Toss gently before serving.