JBA Central Blog System

In this day and age of technology, many people are forgetting some of the tried and true means of finding what you're looking for, whether that's a roommate, a massage therapist or a dog! While online sites and email groups have allowed people a great deal of communication and the ability to easily network and find what they want, let's not forget those other methods such as...

* Bulletin boards: pick your location and you'll find a host of related (or not) information on everything from handymen to healers to house mates needed.
* Yard Sales: not the best when you want one specific item (unless it's a common one) but a great way to find treasures of all sorts
* Word of mouth: put the word out there and you might be surprised what all you find coming back to you.

The 'buy local' mantra is spreading across the country. People are becoming more aware that importing cheap good from overseas has a hidden higher cost. This reality struck hard after Katrina and fuel prices soared world wide. It became apparent that if the global economy came to a slow and pricey halt that even our most basic needs may not be met. Farmer's markets are springing up all over the country and these are now being extended into the winter months as farmers and cottage crafts people provide everything from the summer fare to winter vegetables, canned goods, and even warm winter wear.

This is now being extended to the availability and consumer choice to hard goods- including cars, trucks, vans, and SUVs from Dallas used car dealership. Not only are people looking to reduce their own cost for a reliable late model vehicle, they are looking to do it within the community that they live. Although these vehicles may be used they have low mileage and some still have months left on the manufacturer's warranty. Buyers can feel confident that they are also helping to provide jobs for those working in sales, maintenance, and in the office. People who live in the community, which provides prosperity and stability for all.

Most community neighborhoods have playgrounds or parks so that local children can play around and enjoy themselves. These playgrounds are convenient as they do not require people to travel great distances to get to them, and also allows the family to relax in their own comfortable setting. Another joy of having your own community playground is that you don’t have to worry too much about who is in the playground, as they are typically private and restricted to residents only. The same goes for the community pool, as guests have to come with residents and there are a restricted number of guests per resident. As most neighborhood communities would have residents pay a homeowner association fee, these fees typically go towards putting in playgrounds and pools for the community itself. While some resident may not like these fees, they are vital to ensure that playgrounds, pools, tennis courts, and other great amenities are built for the residents of the local community.

Events where large groups of people come together form temporary communities that can create long-lasting ties of friendship, business and more. Take, for example, the World Equestrian Games. 2010 is a big year for the games already as it will be the first time they have been held outside of Europe. Taking place in the US - Kentucky, of course - will bring not only people from all over Europe, but from all over the United States as well. Together, riders, trainers, owners, vendors and fans alike will all gather to celebrate and revel in the World Equestrian Games. As with all events in which people have gathered together with a common cause, there will be a sense of group unity that pervades, despite the competitive nature of the event. This can be seen with many other events, conferences and gatherings of people.

Lawns are pretty. Unfortunately, lawns are hiding an ugly reality. Lawn maintenance is one of the worst polluters in your community, and a potential health risk for your children.

Each year millions of gallons of chemicals get poured onto lawns to do everything from make them grow greener and faster, to ridding them of weeds, bugs, and rodents. The production of these chemicals pollutes our air and waterways. Once on the lawn, the chemicals pose health risks to children from over exposure while playing in the lawn, mowing the lawn.

Whats more, lawnmowers are relatively inefficient and unregulated. Never mind the noise, some lawnmowers spit out more exhaust pollution in one hour than the family car does in 300 miles! Any lawn mowing person is familiar with the post mowing queasy stomach from breathing the fumes and exhaust. Get rid of the lawn and put in a flower and vegetable garden.

Are you a community activist? Perhaps you are the one who spearheads the neighborhood newsletter, potlucks, or ball games. If you are, or are heavily involved in your community's activities in some other way, the odds are high that your neighbors listen to and respect what you have to say. It is highly worth considering parleying your influence into powerful community upgrading movements that will benefit your neighborhood for years to come.

From northern the north Atlantic coast to southern California, solar energy installation, bicycle lanes, green spaces, and community gardens are increasingly being introduced to neighborhoods as ways of making them more sustainable, restoring the human scale, making them safer, and more inviting to neighbor interaction. Some areas are doing fund-raisers to install solar panels in green spaces to power lights for neighborhood gatherings and gardens to raise food for their potlucks. Inspire your neighbors to build a stronger, safer, greener community.

Community service is a great way to get recognition for your work as well as attract the attention of potential jobs. Servicing the community goes a long way as there is always need to improve the local community. Even just planting a few bushes will help better the community, and as such, organizations like the boy and girl scouts push community service to the top of their lists of things to do. You can help your community and service it by picking up trash as you see it, planting trees or bushes, help build houses, paint fences and so on. The list is endless on what you can do to make a good impact on your community. It is so important, that it is often that minor law breakers are assigned a specific number of hours for community service so that they can repay their community for breaking the laws. Even prisoners can be used to pick up trash and to help beautify the community. In the end, servicing the local community is important and a good way to make a name for yourself.

More people are realizing that supporting local business is just good for everyone concerned. Just by the shear fact that not driving three towns over to buy what you need saves time, money, and limits the pollution and road congestion. This is also true when it comes to buying a vehicle as well. Dallas used car dealers with more than one location is a way to find your next car, truck or SUV closer to your home. This is also helpful when it's time for regular service checkups as well.

When weighing a decision to shop local or travel more than 50 miles to buy food, clothes, or even a car, think about the people that make their living at used car dealers Dallas too. Most of them live close to where they work and when you buy from them you are helping them to save miles driven and reduce their carbon footprints as well. We all have to put more thought into how we conduct our lives and begin to build community with our dollars.

Since the seasons have changed, it is no surprise that kids as well as adults will need new clothes. Of course, the problem of getting rid of the previous season’s clothes does exist. There is a remedy, which if done right, can earn you a pretty penny, as well as boost neighborhood camaraderie. Yard sales give people the chance to get rid of all the stuff that they have been keeping that does nothing more than collect dust. The ironic thing is that there are people out there in society that will go to the yard sale and spend a lot of money on random knick-knacks. Sheets, beds, toys, clothes, televisions, old exercise equipment, old games… just to name a few. People will come from all around to buy these things and many more, for a good deal of course. Avid yard sale shoppers are no strangers to how to dicker the price in their favor, so the question is this, is it worth dropping the price a bit to get the stuff out of your home.

The phrase "it takes a village to raise a child" is one that is commonly heard and of course, agreed upon resoundingly. Even so, fewer people give thought to the fact that it also takes a village to maintain a marriage. While some would argue that this is less true than child-rearing, the fact of the matter is, a big party of why people get married and have ceremonies to which they invite friends and family is that this ceremony is more than just a ritual for the couple, it is also one for the community. A marriage celebration includes asking for the support of the community, and on a level just beginning to be studied by scientists, it produces the necessary chemicals and hormones within the attendees to do just that!

Support for a marriage, whether it is from a friend or in the form of marriage therapy Apex, NC or elsewhere, is part of what makes the whole pattern work. As a social species, we continue to need one another even after pairing off!