Friday, July 16, 2021

Surprising ways you might be attracting mosquitoes

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(BPT) - These days you’re probably enjoying your outdoor spaces more than ever — and looking for ways to make them more comfortable, relaxing and fun for your family and friends when you get together. On top of upgrading your deck or patio, sprucing up your landscaping, and investing in some new outdoor furniture, you’re also probably trying to reduce some of the common pain points that plague outdoor spaces — like too much sun, and too many pests.

A recent survey of 2,000 American homeowners found that 41% of them made more investments in outdoor pest control during the pandemic, and 69% planned to make even more use of their outdoor spaces as the weather continues to warm up. The survey, conducted by TruGreen in partnership with OnePoll, found that 42% of respondents anticipated that mosquitoes would be their biggest pest this year.

While nobody enjoys having mosquitoes hanging around their outdoor barbeque or picnic, did you know there are things you’re doing that attract mosquitoes?

Here’s how you may be inviting mosquitoes to your outdoor party, and what you can do about it:

Drinking beer and wine. Mosquitoes are attracted to high levels of carbon dioxide, elevated temperatures, and lactic acid — which all increase in your body when you drink alcohol, especially fermented beverages like beer and wine.
Serving sugary foods and drinks. Mosquitoes need sugar to survive, and while they prefer to get their sugar fix from natural sources like plant nectar, the scent of sugary foods like baked treats and sugary sodas will also attract them.
Wearing dark clothing. Dark-colored clothing retains heat more than light-colored clothing does, so choosing lighter colors will not only keep you cooler but likely less appealing to pesky mosquitoes.

What can you do to discourage mosquitoes from entering your outdoor space?

Bring in a professional. Partnering with a professional service like TruGreen for mosquito control can help you enjoy your outdoor living space to the fullest this summer — providing much more effective, long-lasting protection against those pesky party crashers. TruGreen uses its science-based and local expertise to control and manage potentially disease-carrying insects in your outdoor living spaces.
Crank up the fan. Mosquitoes aren’t the strongest flyers in the insect world, so they prefer not to fly into areas where wind or a fan is blowing around. Keeping a fan going outside, even if it’s blowing warm air around, will help keep pests away.
Tidy up. Maintain a lawn clear of debris such as twigs, branches, and leaves to help prevent mosquitoes from making your home into theirs. Trimming overgrown vegetation will help prevent mosquitoes from hanging out, as they tend to prefer shaded areas.

"While you can try some natural methods to help keep pests at bay, by far the best protection from mosquitoes is using a professional pest control service like TruGreen," said TruGreen entomologist John Bell. “We have the science-backed know-how to effectively control and reduce mosquito populations, guaranteeing that your outdoor living space is comfortable for your family, friends, and even your pets.”

You won't have to worry about mosquitoes invading your fun if you engage a professional service. You can fully enjoy those long summer days and evenings comfortably outdoors. Visit TruGreen.com to learn more and to find a service near you.

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Thursday, July 15, 2021

The perfect sips, trips and tips for a satisfying summer season

(BPT) - After a year like no other, everyone is seeking ways to celebrate the summer and enjoy those little things that make such a big difference. You don’t have to be a wine expert to know that the right wine or cocktail for the occasion can make any get-together truly outstanding. Whether you’re hanging out with friends around the grill or embarking on an epic road trip, here are tips for relearning how to enjoy the moment.

1. Stemware for everywhere

Or better yet — stemless wineglasses! Find unbreakable, shatterproof, insulated wineglasses online that are just perfect for your next patio party, beach day or glamping trip. There are plenty of choices for insulated tumblers and coolers to keep wine and other beverages chilled and safe, no matter where you go.

2. Choose wines that are bright, light and just right

Whether relaxing with friends on the beach or around your backyard fire pit, enjoy a light, refreshing white wine that’s fragrant, vibrantly fruity and crisp, like the 2020 Wairau River Sauvignon Blanc from New Zealand. The vineyards are planted along the Wairau River’s edge, creating quality wines to help you enjoy the moment.

3. Keep cool

When you’re enjoying an outdoor get-together, you’ll want to prevent wine from getting too warm — even reds. One trick is to store wine bottles in a cooler or a bucket filled with ice, salt and water. The salt in the water helps bring the freezing point of water below 32 degrees Fahrenheit.

4. Inspire your inner mixologist

Did you know wines can be used to create refreshing summer drinks? Add seasonal fruit or herbs to transform a favorite wine into a cooling cocktail.

Create your own Moscato Moscow Mule with this easy recipe:

Ingredients

5 ounces Seven Daughters Moscato
A few ounces club soda
Lime
Ginger ale

Instructions

Mix Seven Daughters Moscato and club soda.
Add squeeze of lime and top with ginger ale.
Garnish with lime wedge.
Makes 1 serving.

5. Rediscover wine country

When you’re itching to get away from it all, why not sip your way through a tasting flight at a winery? With over 11,000 wineries across the U.S., you have plenty to choose from. You can even find hidden gems in parts of well-known Napa, like the Maxville Winery in the Chiles Valley. This unique winery started as a summer camp, with its first grapevines planted back in 1974. Today, you can visit the winery and sample the Estate Maxville Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Sauvignon Blanc, Red Blend and Petite Sirah.

6. Fire up the grill and chill

When you’re grilling outdoors, choosing a wine that complements whatever you’re barbecuing can be challenging, but when you find one that can really bring out the flavor of your food, everything tastes that much better.

Here’s an easy rule of thumb:

For traditionalists, burgers, ribs and steaks pair perfectly with a Cabernet Sauvignon, Zinfandel or even a Malbec. For lighter fare like grilled fish, chicken, pork chops or veggies, choose a lighter wine to pair with it, like a Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc or a dry Rose.

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5 fun ways to cool off with kids when temps soar

(BPT) - Heat waves can put a damper on family fun. When temperatures soar, you might not be able to do many favorite summer activities with kids. Playground equipment sizzles small hands. Sand scorches the feet. Even the hot breezes melt your ice cream faster than you can eat it. Fortunately, with a little planning, there are some awesome activities for hot weather that will help you cool off and make memories.

Visit an indoor waterpark

Whether it's playing in a wave pool, relaxing on a lazy river or feeling the thrill of the waterslides, a visit to an indoor waterpark is the perfect way to beat the summer heat. Kalahari Resorts and Conventions, home to America’s Largest Indoor Waterparks, is always 84 degrees and sunny with plenty of space to spread out and have some fun. The resorts also offer indoor theme parks, massive game rooms and fun for every member of the family. In honor of National Waterpark Day on July 28, visit www.kalahariresorts.com/celebrate to get a special offer and make some special family memories this summer.

Play ice cube activities

You can use ice to cool your drinks on hot days, but their use doesn't stop there. Set up ice cube races by adding water to a bin and have kids blow air through straws to move the cubes to the finish line. You can also put small toys in ice cubes and freeze before letting kids feel like Antarctic archeologists as they chip away the ice with spoons and other safe kitchen utensils to discover the treasures. Finally, become scientists and try to discover the fastest way to melt cubes. Will it be in your hands, in the sun, using salt or another way?

Try no-bake recipes

When the heat is high, you probably want to avoid turning on the oven or stove. Hot weather is a great reason to try new recipes that require no baking. Gather your family and search for interesting options to try and then head to the grocer to gather ingredients as you enjoy the AC in the store. When you're back at home, gather your kitchen crew and start chopping, mixing and making. One option that's great to try during the dog days of summer is homemade ice cream. Whether you opt for fruity, chocolaty or classic vanilla, it's enjoyable to make this cool treat together.

Have an indoor beach party

If it's simply too hot to leave the air-conditioned comfort of home, you can still enjoy the feeling of going to the beach. Kids can dress in swimsuits, lay out towels and play tropical music to create a water world without the splashing mess. They can also enjoy summer snacks to embrace the water vibe, such as ice-cold lemonade, freeze pops or ice cream cones. You could even play with kinetic sand and blow up pool floaties and beach balls for an extra fun time.

Explore armchair travel

Visiting a movie theater or streaming a show at home will surely help you relax and stay cool, but when you want something different, consider exploring the world from the comfort of your couch. Many museums and tourist destinations offer virtual tours so visitors can enjoy famous sights without leaving the house. From virtual visits of galleries at the Louvre in France to watching the webcams of Yellowstone National Park and so much more, there's plenty to explore online so you can learn while enjoying a staycation.

When it's hot outside, it’s a good excuse to try something new. It might turn out to be your family's favorite time together this summer as you forget about the heat and focus on the fun.

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You Can Help Create a Future with Better Lyme Disease Diagnosis

(BPT) - With summer in full swing and COVID-19 restrictions easing up, many people are heading outdoors after over a year of being confined to their homes. Along with warmer weather comes tick season, especially if you live on the East Coast or in the upper Midwest where reports of ticks responsible for Lyme disease are more prevalent.

It is important to check for ticks after spending time in wooded areas, the grass or garden, as ticks can transmit a bacterial infection known as Lyme disease. Lyme disease, which is transmitted to humans through the bite of infected blacklegged ticks, is the most common vector-borne disease in the United States. In fact, experts are predicting that this year may bring one of the worst tick seasons yet and are already reporting an increase in Lyme disease-related tick exposures across the country.

The Disease

A bullseye rash is one of the hallmarks of Lyme disease, identified by a circular, expanding rash with target-like appearance, which can vary in size and shape. However, up to 30% of infected people never get a rash at the site of the tick bite. Other Lyme disease symptoms (fever, headache or fatigue) can be non-specific and even overlap with symptoms of many other common diseases or illnesses, like the flu or even COVID-19.

Early Detection Matters

About 300,000 Americans are affected by Lyme disease each year, but current tests only provide accurate diagnoses for about 30% of those that are newly affected. What’s more, current tests are less likely to capture a positive Lyme case at its earliest stages, which also happens to be when the disease is easiest to treat. Delayed diagnosis or misdiagnosis can increase the chances of more severe complications, like chronic joint inflammation, facial palsy, memory loss and/or irregular heart rhythm.

How You Can Get Involved

If you’ve recently developed Lyme disease, your immune system may provide information for earlier-stage detection of Lyme disease. To help advance new tests for Lyme disease, Adaptive Biotechnologies launched the ImmuneSense™ Lyme Study to better understand the body’s immune response.

You may be eligible to participate in the research study if you are exhibiting the bullseye rash. Participants have the option of completing study activities at a local clinical site or through a free mobile phlebotomy service and no-contact telehealth appointments.

Why Your Participation Matters

If left untreated, Lyme disease may become a serious illness for many people, but if caught early, it can typically be treated with antibiotics and long-term complications can be avoided. Early detection is key for treatment and now there is an opportunity to help bring about new detection methods for this serious and often overlooked disease.

Find a Study Site

The research study is being conducted at multiple sites across the country, especially in regions where ticks are more prevalent like the East Coast and upper Midwest. Visit www.immunesensestudy.com to find out how to get involved with the research study and be part of the solution for better testing for Lyme disease. The test being studied is an investigational use only product.

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You can find KidsBURGH only in Pittsburgh

(BPT) - As people across the country are again starting to travel and plan those long-awaited vacations, many cities are promoting themselves as the ultimate family-friendly destination. Yet, only one city can officially call itself KidsBURGH. That would be Pittsburgh.

The city — long known for its hundreds of bridges, sports teams and Primanti Bros. sandwiches — now also boasts a thriving arts and culture district, including the world renowned The Andy Warhol Museum, a growing technology reputation in part due to the engineering and robotics talent annually graduating from Carnegie Mellon University and the University of Pittsburgh, and the many Only in Pittsburgh family attractions such as the National Aviary, Carnegie Science Center, the Gateway Clipper Fleet and so much more. It is no wonder that Pittsburgh has become a major travel destination for business events, sports events and leisure visitors.

And, those leisure visitors include kids of all ages.

“We are so proud to officially say that Pittsburgh is KidsBURGH,” Tom Loftus, chief marketing officer for VisitPITTSBURGH, the city’s official tourism and promotion agency, said. “Not only does it have a nice ring to it, but our Only in Pittsburgh family attractions help differentiate us from all the other cities that also are reopening.”

VisitPITTSBURGH saw the value of the KidsBURGH brand many years ago when it sought and received a trademark, and the brand continues to be solidified with the quantity and quality of Pittsburgh’s family-fun attractions, including: Kennywood, the historic amusement park, and its sister attractions, Idlewild & SoakZone and Sandcastle; the Gateway Clipper Fleet, which makes cruising on one of the city’s famous three rivers a must-do activity; the National Aviary, the only indoor dedicated bird zoo in America; the Pittsburgh Zoo & PPG Aquarium; the Duquesne Incline, one of Pittsburgh’s centuries-old funiculars that shuttles riders to the top of Mount Washington, providing spectacular views of the Downtown skyline; Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens; and biking along Pittsburgh’s 24 miles of riverfront trails. Speaking of biking, an ambitious family could opt to ride the Great Allegheny Passage (GAP) trail and bike from Pittsburgh all the way to Washington, D.C.

Not a bike enthusiast? That’s OK! Pittsburgh has 90 unique neighborhoods waiting for you to explore. Maybe the most famous neighborhood is the one not officially listed on the city’s map but easily identifiable by kids of all ages. Pittsburgh is, course, also Mister Rogers’ neighborhood. The city icon’s legacy is present during any visit to Pittsburgh. From the Tribute to Children statue, a bronze likeness of the television star located on the North Shore, to a special exhibit dedicated to Mister Rogers within the Senator John Heinz History Center, there are plenty of ways for families to connect with Pittsburgh’s friendliest neighbor.

“The Heinz History Center is very proud to feature the largest collection of original items from the ‘Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood’ television set,” Brady Smith, the History Center’s Director of Marketing & Communications, said. “From the original entryway and living room set that Fred Rogers walked through to begin each show, to King Friday XIII’s Castle, Mr. McFeely’s ‘Speedy Delivery’ tricycle and more, old and new fans are sure to find plenty to explore at the Heinz History Center.”

An affiliate of the Smithsonian Institution, the Heinz History Center is only one of an impressive collection of museums in the three rivers city. Families can spend hours if not days enjoying the Children’s Museum of Pittsburgh, Carnegie Science Center and the Carnegie Museums of Art and Natural History, the latter of which showcases one of the country’s largest collections of dinosaur bones.

“The Carnegie Museum of Natural History invites you to step back in time and walk among the dinosaurs and other ancient creatures in our Dinosaurs in Their Time exhibit,” Sloan MacRae, the museum’s Director of Marketing, said. “Whether it’s Dippy, our friendly ambassador and most famous fossil, or the world’s first T. rex fossils, visitors of all ages are enthralled by our galleries, which feature many real dinosaur skeletons and 10,000 other natural wonders.”

“We have been told that it must be easy to promote a city that has emerged as a major travel destination,” Loftus laughed. “It does help that we have so many Only in Pittsburgh attractions, including our KidsBURGH partners. But, in a market that is bursting with options, our job is to convince travelers to visit Pittsburgh. We know that once they are here, the city will sell itself.”

For more information about how Pittsburgh is KidsBURGH, go to visitpittsburgh.com/kidsburgh.