I like to help out my air conditioner by leaving the ceiling fan on when I leave for work each morning. I know it takes some electricity to run the fan. Is this an energy-efficient habit?

A common ceiling fan uses about $.01 of electricity every hour it’s on. A penny an hour isn’t too bad, right? But remember, if you are leaving the fan on all the time it could be costing you over $80 per year. And that’s just for one fan. Of course, in your question you said that you were leaving the ceiling fan on as a way to help out the air conditioner. If the fan is making the air conditioner more efficient, it may be well worth a quarter a day. But here’s the catch: Fans cool people, not rooms. Ceiling fans make you more comfortable by evaporating moisture from your skin and moving built-up heat. But they don’t reduce the temperature in the room. So treat your ceiling fan like a light and turn it off when you leave the room. Your air conditioner won’t notice the difference.

I’ve noticed my refrigerator motor making a loud noise when it starts up. I’m worried that it’s running inefficiently. Is it time to get a new one?

An old, inefficient refrigerator could add $16 to your monthly utility bill, while a newer, more efficient model could cost you as little as $4 per month. Depending on the cost of the refrigerator, you could potentially “pay off” a new unit in energy savings in less than 7 years.Of course this assumes that your old refrigerator is still working properly. One way to test its energy consumption is with a watt meter. A watt meter can tell you exactly how much energy your refrigerator is using over time. With this information you’ll be able to accurately calculate the cost savings of getting a newer unit. Denton Municipal Electric has watt meters which we can use to test your appliances for free. And don’t forget: it’s impossible to realize the energy savings of your new refrigerator when your old one is humming away in the garage.

Oriental rugs are beautiful pieces of craftsmanship. A genuine oriental area rug often has a unique handmade quality that distinguishes it from a carpet that has been made by a machine, even if the pattern resembles a traditional oriental design.

At FM Oriental Rugs, you can clearly see the intense detail of the fine workmanship put into each and every rug, which is truly a work of art. With over 24 years in business, FM Enterprises has brought their oriental rug business to the Denton community for immediate liquidation. As we all know, the economy has taken a dramatic downward turn, and certain types of business are being hit harder than others. FM Enterprises has opened a location in Denton for a gigantic sale in order to satisfy the debts owed to creditors. Customers will benefit from the savings, and never has there been a better time to purchase an original, hand-woven oriental rug that will last a lifetime.

Real oriental rugs may be knotted or woven and, depending on the style of its origin, may or may not have an actual pile. Some of the best-known oriental rugs are made in countries such as India, Iran, China or Pakistan, and they are the product of a wide variety of cultures, faiths and religious backgrounds. Of course, such a rich artistic heritage has given rise to a variety of modern patterns and styles that derive from ancient designs.

Whether its a hallway, foyer, living room or dining room floor that needs covering, FM Oriental Rugs has the option and choices you are looking for at unbeatable prices. Visit them today at 1800 Brinker Road, next door to Nasr Jewelers, or call 940-566-1904 for more information.

Fiesta-On-The-Square Hispanic Heritage Celebration
September 25, 6:00 – 10:00 pm
Visit the exhibit, “Historic Hispanic Families of Denton County” and view the art exhibit on the first floor. Enjoy entertainment on the Courthouse lawn, including ballet folklórico groups, mariachis, a Latin jazz ensemble and much more. This program is in celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month.

Arts, Antiques & Autos Extravaganza
September 12, 10:00 am – 4:00 pm
Takes place rain or shine! Free festival featuring classic, custom, hot rod car and motorcycle show on the Denton County Courthouse-on-the-Square. Check out the dream machines, find one-of-a-kind piece of art, have family heirlooms/sports memorabilia appraised, enjoy kids games, and live entertainment. The Bonnie & Nick Norris Band is set to play fiddle and Western swing at 11:30 a.m., followed by Big Daddy Alright playing swing and jump blues at 1:30 p.m. Preview Night is Sept. 11th on Industrial Street and is an optional event for pre-registered participants, and the general public to view. Visit www.dentonmainstreet.org.

Third Annual Wild Beast Feast Festival
September 26, 5:00 pm – 9:30 pm
North Texas State Fairgrounds • 2217 N. Carroll Blvd.
Cooks will whip up exotic game such as duck, elk, venison, alligator, prairie chicken and buffalo. Live music, “Best of the Beast” contest and a live auction. Admission is $15 adults, $5 children. Benefiting the Greater Denton Arts Council.

Denton Blues Festival
September 19, 12:00 pm – 11:30 pm
Quaker Town Park. The Denton Black Chamber of Commerce will be hosting their annual Denton Blues Fest. Come out and join the fun. We will have music for everyone and Blues Idol contest and Apollo Night for the young. www.dentonblackchamber.org.

In early 1998, Dr. Deborah Rohwer, a professor of music education came to UNT, bringing with her the concept of sponsoring a “senior band,” entitled New Horizons Concert Band. They rehearsed at the Denton Senior Center, where they still reside. Quickly, the New Horizons Concert Band expanded to 25 musicians from several area towns. Some of the more accomplished musicians formed a “combo” to play more of the big band sound rather than the concert-oriented style, while continuing in the New Horizons concert band. The original members were Charley Hayes, Richard White and Jim Martin, shortly joined by Charlie Goodhue and Jim Staercke. After several discussions, they decided to call themselves “The Young At Heart Band.”

The current orchestra is comprised of: Gloria Ayers on alto sax, Mary Jane Bell on clarinet, George Holladay and Charley Hayes on tenor sax, Woody Wood on alto and soprano sax, Mary Wood on baritone, sax and piano, Terry Frushour, band leader, on baritone horn, C.A.Bell on trumpet, and Doug Ebersole on trombone. The rhythm section consists of George Williams on bass guitar, Ed Nachtweh on piano, Richard White on rhythm guitar and Peggy Morrison on percussion. Several of the members also help out with vocal arrangements.

Young at Heart Orchestra plays a variety of music, including waltzes, latin numbers, polkas, and country/western tunes. However, the primary focus is on the big band numbers that they sang, hummed and danced to while growing up. The mission is to bring enjoyment and memories as well as danceable music to their various audiences, in addition to having fun. They have played for churches, retirement homes, nursing homes, VFW’s, American Legion, Denton Country Club, parades, fundraisers, garden parties and rehab centers as well as the annual Denton Jazz Fest each April. While they are considered by many to be the resident band for the Denton Senior Center, where they rehearse on Tuesday and Thursday mornings, they often play outside gigs when possible, at reasonable fees when appropriate.

For additional information, please contact Terry Frushour at 940-383-4124 or George Holladay at 940-566-6515.

Over the past 20 years, BMR Pool & Patio’s owners, Rick Donoghue, Mike Lindley and Mason Thane, have learned that customers want a quality product at a fair price, to be able to trust their contractor to meet or exceed their expectations, and to provide expertise in design, construction, energy efficiency and customer service. Perhaps that’s the reason BMR has been voted “Best Pool Builder in Denton County” every year since 2003!

BMR can meet a vast array of outdoor construction needs. Our professionals can create a custom design to meet both your budget and your vision. The result is a personal retreat incorporating the amenities you desire, combined with the newest innovations in comfort, convenience, technology, and energy efficiency for easy maintenance and pure enjoyment.

The owners and employees of BMR Pool & Patio strongly rely on the principles of pride, honor and integrity. That’s why their mission is to deliver a superb product in a timely manner, at a fair market value, while striving to meet customer expectations. Designing and building a backyard living space is an investment in your home and family. They want to ensure you have years of enjoyment and a sound return on the investment you make. Please consider this your open invitation to drop by their office, so they can show you why BMR truly is “your key to a personalized backyard oasis.”

Dancing with the Stars, So You Think You Can Dance, and other popular television shows have brought the art of dance into the mainstream limelight. And that has a lot of people asking the question, “Does dancing count as a workout?”

The answer is “yes,” according to the Mayo Clinic and other respected health organizations. Dancing can burn as many calories as swimming, walking, cycling, or any other fitness activity.

One of the greatest health benefits of dancing is cardiovascular conditioning. Dancing improves heart rate and overall physical fitness, similar to a walking or jogging program.

Besides the cardio burn, dancing can also build strong bones. Since dancing is a weight-bearing activity, it can actually help to prevent or slow the process of osteoporosis.

Perhaps best of all, dancing can improve your mood. Dancing increases serotonin levels. These feel-good brain chemicals are released into your bloodstream after just five minutes of moderately intense dancing exercise.

Judi Sheppard Missett, founder and CEO of Jazzercise, Inc., has built a worldwide dance-based fitness program. She offers these tips for anyone who wants to incorporate dance into their fitness regimen:

• Don’t be a wallflower. If you want to dance, then you have to take the first step.
• Go easy on yourself. Set aside your expectations and simply have fun.
• Stick with it. If you want the cardiovascular and bone density benefits that dancing provides, and then you have to be persistent with your workouts.

Making your debut on the dance floor doesn’t have to be complicated. The only requirement is to get your body moving. You may not look like Fred Astaire or Ginger Rogers, but you will certainly burn calories, and have fun doing it!