Learning to dribble

Registration is now open for the Ten Star All Star Summer Basketball Camp. The Ten Star camp is by invitation only. Boys and girls ages 10 to 19 are eligible to apply. Past participants include: Michael Jordan, Jerry Stackhouse, Grant Hill and Antawn Jamison.

Players from 50 states and 17 foreign countries attended the 2006 camp. College basketball scholarships are possible for players selected to the All-American team.

For more information, call (704) 373-0873.

Daily Press



Expert gives ways to lower heating bills

Much of the United States is being hit by ice storms and sub-zero temperatures. That has many Americans putting their heating units on overtime to maintain their comfort levels.

”While staying cozy seems important now, there may be a price to pay when the heating bill shows up in the mailbox,” said David Lupberger, ServiceMagic.com’s Home Improvement Expert. “Energy bills can easily increase by 50 percent or more during streaks of severely cold weather. The budgeting problem is compounded by the fact that many Americans are already trying to pay off their holiday shopping bills.”

To keep heating bills from climbing too high Lupberger recommends:

- The Fireplace: Buy an approved glass fireplace enclosure. When you’re not using your fireplace cold air can blow in from the chimney. When you are using it, older fireplaces allow the fire to feed on the warm air already in your house, burning through money you thought you were saving by lighting a fire.

- Stop the Flow: Make sure each window and door doesn’t have a draft of cold air coming in. If so, buy a roll of weather stripping from your local hardware store.

- Increase the Flow: Since your heating unit is going to be working overtime to maintain the usual temperature setting, make sure your filters and vents are clean and dirt-free. Changing the filters is a cheap way to make sure your unit is working at its maximum efficiency.

- Programming Efficiency: If you have a programmable thermostat, think about whether to reduce the thermostat setting at night when you’re under the blankets. This can save you considerable money.

DP