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 #2501 North American Precis Syndicate, Inc., 350 Fifth Avenue, 65th Floor, New York, N.Y. 10118-0110 Fireplace Safety Tips (NAPSA)—During cool weather, many families look forward to the warmth and ambience of crackling fires in their home fireplace. But before you light a fire, there are some tips to consider: Get the Fireplace Ready Past fires may have left soot deposits inside your chimney, so it is always a good idea to have it swept before use. Also, take a look up the flue. Make sure that it is clear of obstructions and debris. If you notice any cracks in the mortar or crumbling cement, this is a warning sign that the chimney may need repair and you should contact a professional. Another area to check is the fireplace damper—make sure it works properly and fits snugly so that your fireplace won’t allow cold air in or heat out. Choosing Firewood Be sure to replenish your wood supply. Well-seasoned firewood is easier to start, produces more heat and burns cleaner, reducing the amount of dangerous buildup. There are a few things you can look for to tell if wood is seasoned or not. Well-seasoned firewood generally has darkened ends with cracks or splits visible, it is relatively lightweight and makes a clear “clunk” when two pieces are knocked together. “Green” wood has a much higher water content, Purchasing firewood from local sources can help prevent the spread of invasive insects. making it harder to start and less efficient when burning. Buying Firewood Firewood can harbor insects, such as the Emerald Ash Borer Beetle, a species that feeds on ash trees and has killed millions of trees across the U.S. Because of insects like these, it’s important that you not move firewood, and instead purchase it close to where you plan to use it. Also, make sure that the firewood you purchase is from local resources. At the end of the season, be sure to burn all the wood that you have ordered, so that any insects or larvae in the wood do not have the chance to spread. For more information about the Emerald Ash Borer Beetle, visit StopTheBeetle.info. Note to Editors: Infestations of the Emerald Ash Borer Beetle are in IL, IN, MD, MI, MO, OH, PA, VA, WI and WV and all other states are at risk. Avoiding Germs In Gyms And Schools (NAPSA)—Schools with gyms are finding it good practice to improve the way they keep sports equipment clean. Even equipment and surfaces that look clean may be harboring a dirty little secret: germs. To make the grade in the fight against germs, schools should conduct regular and thorough cleaning and disinfection of all frequently touched surfaces. This includes shared sports equipment in gyms and schools. Schools should regularly clean and disinfect all frequently touched surfaces, including shared sports equipment. Ideally, they should be using wiping materials specifically designed to be compatible with disinfecting chemicals like bleach. A closed-bucket system—such as the WetTask System, in which pre-saturated wipes are dispensed through a port on the top—avoids issues associated with dipping dirty rags back into buckets of cleaning solution. It also keeps cleaning solutions more stable over time. For more information on community-acquired infections, download a free fact sheet at www. kimtech.com/facts. For Party Pleasers, Choose Cheese (NAPSA)—Spend more time celebrating with family and friends by limiting kitchen duty with easy appetizers featuring popular, affordable cheeses. Here are hints: Boursin has an irresistible taste, a light, crumbly texture that melts readily and is best served simply on a baguette round. It comes in a variety of flavors, including Garlic & Fine Herbs and new Garlic & Roasted Red Pepper. • Stuff the cheese into warmed minibrioche, top with herbs (savory) or sugared chopped pecans. • On a cucumber round, layer a piping of the cheese with marinated sun-dried tomato. • Parboil tiny potatoes. Scoop out a bit of the inside; mix potato with Boursin and diced prosciutto and stuff back into shell; bake 8-10 minutes at 350˚F. Mild, mellow-nutty Jarlsberg is a classic, complementing a broad range of tastes. • Cube it and skewer with a small piece of dried fruit, salami or chorizo, olive or sun-dried tomato and fresh basil. • Try mini grilled cheese on pretzel bread with hot, sweet mustard. • Make a fondue and dip in cubed French bread, fresh sliced apples and pears, or melt a wedge in a cast-iron skillet for satisfying raclette, served with roasted potatoes and grilled sausage. Goat cheese is a delicious choice to have on hand for those who are lactose sensitive. Woolwich Dairy makes a style of soft, fresh chevrai that’s mildly tangy plus a creamy, buttery goat Brie. • Top goat Brie with strawberry preserves and toasted sliced almonds. The next time you need appetizing ideas for a picture-perfect party, smile and say “cheese.” • Stuff chevrai goat cheese into fresh dates or figs; top with cherry preserves and chopped, salty nuts. • Bake goat Brie in puff pastry dough for a classic treat. Some simple ideas combining the cheeses: • Stuff Boursin or chevrai goat cheese into cherry tomatoes; spread on cucumber rounds and endive leaves, sprinkle with chopped, fresh herbs or sprouts. • Spread chevrai goat cheese or Boursin on baguette round; top with caramelized onions or fig jam and warm slightly. For additional appetizer and entertaining ideas, visit www.norse land.com, www.boursincheese.com and www.woolwichdairy.com.