MAGIC OF BIRMINGHAM-DECEMBER 2010

Saturday, December 11 & 18 from

11 am - 5 pm

Enjoy the sights and sounds of Birmingham for the holidays! In addition to shopping, you'll enjoy the Santa House, free carriage rides, gifts for random shoppers, carrolers from local schools and more!

NOTEWORTHY SOUTHEASTERN MICHIGAN CHARITIES

Benefits of Charity

While your primary motivation to donate to charity in time, money, or goods may be because of the deep sense of satisfaction you receive, you should know that great tax benefits exist for those who give. Here are some of the benefits you should know about.


1. A gift to a qualified charitable organization may entitle you to a charitable contribution deduction against your income tax if you itemize

2. A contribution to a qualified charity is deductible in the year in which it is paid.

3. There are limits to how much you can deduct, but they

4. Rules exist for non-cash

SHARING & CARING

This time of year, many of us are able to sit around an abundant Thanksgiving table counting our blessings, indulge in wonderful holiday gifts or travel to see family and friends. Many are not so fortunate. Included are a few of the noteworthy and deserving organizations in the greater southeastern Michigan area that strive to help out those in need. If you can - give of yourself, your time or money, or lend a helping hand to someone in need.



Remodeling Costs Affected by New EPA Rule

Started on April 22, 2010, a new regulation went into effect, the Renovation, Remodeling and Painting Ruleor RRP Rule. The RRP Rule requires that all persons who provide construction trade services will be mandated to have successfully completed a professional 1-day training course and be licensed or certified by either the EPA or by the state where the work is occurring.
This rule will apply in any situation where the construction trade service is impacting an area in a home built before 1978 equal to or larger than 6 square feet of interior or an area equal to or greater than 20 square feet of exterior area that is affected by any material, paint, or surface coating containing lead.
Construction trades refers to renovators, remodelers, HVAC persons, plumbers, electricians, modernizers, roofers, carpet installers, maintenance repair people, or anyone working in a construction type trade.Everyone involved will need to be trained in the proper uses of lead safe work practices as well as the proper documentation. The trades will have to use the following rules:
1. Contain the work area. The area should be contained so that dust and debris do not escape from that area. Warning signs should be put up and heavy-duty plastic and tape should be used.
2. Minimize dust. There is no way to eliminate dust, but some methods make less dust than others. For example, using water to mist areas before sanding or scraping; scoring paint before separating components; and prying and pulling apart components instead of breaking them are techniques that generate less dust than alternatives.
3. Clean up thoroughly. The work area should be cleaned up daily to keep it as clean as possible. When all the work is done, the area should be cleaned up using special cleaning methods before taking down any plastic that isolates the work area from the rest of the home. The special cleaning methods should include: Using a HEPA vacuum (not just vacuum bag) to clean up dust and debris on all surfaces, followed by wet mopping with plenty of rinse water when the final cleaning is done, look around.
All this extra work costs money. You should probably expect to see additional cost for any home improvement you contract for, from new carpeting to a room addition. For more information on what "lead safe work practices" entails, see: EPA Lead & Rennovation.

4 Oakland County MI Charities That Need Your Help

Most of us will have the opportunity to sit around the table this Thanksgiving with family & friends to enjoy their company, abundant good food & perhaps recount our blessings. Many are not so fortunate.

During the holiday season many of us look for ways to help others, ways we can give back to our neighbors, the community & families in need during this joyous season.

Below you will find the 1st of several posts with organizations that could use your help. If you can, give of yourself, your time or money & lend a helping hand to someone in need.

Common Ground: Providing a lifeline for individuals and families in crisis, victims of crime, persons with mental illness, people trying to cope with critical situations and runaway and homeless youths. The core purpose is to empower people to reach their goals. Helping people in need for more than 35 years, Common Ground serves more than 40,000 individuals per year. The majority of services are free of charge and 89 percent of every dollar received goes to direct service. http://www.commongroundhelps.org/

Gleaners Community Food Bank of Southeastern Michigan: The dream was that no one should go hungry while food was going to waste. The idea was to create a distribution network that would provide local non-profit agencies with a low cost, reliable source of food for hungry people. Gleaners is a vital link between available food and those who need it most. Gleaners collects, warehouses, repacks and distributes many millions of pounds of food for over 400 local partners. http://www.gcfb.org/

HAVEN: The only domestic violence and sexual assault center in Oakland County. The safe place when home is no longer safe, the shelter in the storm of a crisis, the source of healing, and the guide to a violence-free life. HAVEN’s mission is to eliminate domestic violence and sexual assault through treatment and prevention services across Oakland County and surrounding communities. http://www.haven-oakland.org/

Capuchin Soup Kitchen: Serving the poor who suffer from the lack of basic human needs: material needs, such as food, clothing, and household necessities; psychological needs, such as motivation, self-esteem, and rehabilitation; and social needs, such as support systems and meaningful relationships. http://www.cskdetroit.org/