High school students looking to spend the summer doing rewarding work and making money can apply for a Teens in Public Service (TIPS) position. TIPS is looking for motivated teens ages 15 to 19 to work at various local non-profit organizations this summer, and best of all, they pay.

TIPS, founded in 1997 by a Seattle mom and her daughter, (Maureen Brotherton and Tia Heim) who wanted to create more rewarding job opportunities for teens, is now in its 14th year of placing teens at local non-profits. TIPS selects teens for internships at charitable organizations by matching their talents and interests with the needs of over 75 local non-profits. Teens serve at no cost to the non-profit, but earn a paycheck through TIPS.

You will find TIPS interns organizing a talent show for children with special needs, comforting a 75 year-old woman as she struggles with Alzheimer’s and providing a meal and a smile to a homeless man in downtown Seattle.

“Our internships give local teens the chance to earn money as well as open their eyes to the needs of their community,” says Cathy Michalec, TIPS Executive Director. “Our hope is that these teens will continue to be involved with their communities long after their internships are over.”

The deadline for applications is Friday, March 26. Each applicant must submit two letters of recommendation from teachers, counselors, adult mentor or others who can attest to the applicant’s character, and must currently be enrolled in high school, between the ages of 15 and 19. Each intern will work 20 or 30 hours per week for 8 weeks and five of those weeks must be consecutive.

(Thanks to Phinneywood for the story!)

In response to several break-ins and burglaries in Queen Anne (see here, here and here) and Magnolia since the start of the new year, SPD Crime Prevention Coordinator Terrie Johnston wrote in with a few tips for protecting yourself, and your home, from crime. She wrote,

Lessons learned from them could be to use the locks and latches you have. Many of the entries are being made through doors or windows left open or unlocked (for the nanny, for the dogs, etc). If you have an alarm system, activate it, as at least a few of the burglarized homes had alarm systems which were not turned on. If you do discover your home has been burglarized, please do not clean up the crime scene. We need to be able to get usable information to lead to the prosecution of the criminals. Lastly, please do not hesitate to report suspicious activity to 9-1-1, even if what you are reporting is not an emergency.

As always, Terrie is a available for free home security surveys and Block Watch group organizations. She’s booked through the end of the month, but is happy to arrange appointments in February or answer questions via phone (206-684-4741) or email (terrie.johnston@seattle.gov).

The Fire Department has determined that the fire in the four-unit building at 1415 Taylor Avenue N. early Saturday morning was caused by a “baseboard heater that came into contact with combustible materials,” totally in $65,000 worth of damage. In a report released today, the Fire Department took the opportunity to give some extra fire safety advice.

Fires caused by furniture, bedding, and other materials placed too close to baseboard heaters and portable heaters are the most common types of heating-related residential fires.

Their tips for warming your home or apartment and staying safe:

• Give your heaters space – do not put anything next to a heater.
• Never use an extension cord with a portable heater.
• Make sure your portable heater is tested by an independent testing laboratory and has an automatic shut off feature if it tips over.
• Turn portable heaters off before leaving the room or before going to bed.
• Clean or replace heating furnace filters regularly.
• Never permit electrical cords to drape across heaters.
• Inspect all heating equipment yearly and always hire an experienced electrician to do any necessary repair work on your baseboard heaters.

One of our sister sites, Phinneywood, recently posted a story with tips on how to weather the coming stormy season. Considering the rainy, windy weather we’ve been having lately, I thought it might be pertinent to share some of those winter weather pointers.

Here are some tips from local utilities:

• Assemble an emergency kit with a battery-powered radio, flashlight, extra batteries, a first-aid kit, a fire extinguisher, bottled water and three days of non-perishable food and drinking water. Store a kit at home, work and in your car.
• If you encounter a downed power line, stay well away from the line or anything it may be touching. Immediately report the location of fallen wires to PSE by calling 1-888-225-5773 or Seattle City Light by calling (206) 684-7400, or call 911.
• Do not use charcoal or a gas grill to cook indoors. Both can cause a buildup of poisonous carbon monoxide gas.
• If using an emergency generator, follow the manufacturer’s instructions and only use the generator outdoors.
• Turn off lights and unplug all appliances and sensitive electronic equipment, such as computers, to prevent an overload on your circuits when electric service is restored. Leave one light on to let you know when service returns.
• Make sure the battery in your smoke detector is fresh. Test the smoke detector to make sure it’s working.

Customer energy efficiency tips to prepare for winter:

• Seal up leaky drafts around doors and windows with weather-stripping, caulking, and door sweeps. Also seal up any leaks or gaps in furnace ducts that extend through unheated basements or crawl spaces.
• Reduce air leaks by repairing broken windows and using inexpensive weather-stripping around entry doors.
• Insulate attics, outside walls and floors over crawlspaces.Have the furnace inspected and serviced to make sure it is in proper working order.
• Clean or replace the furnace air filters at least every two months during the heating season. The furnace will run more efficiently and use less energy.
• Set the thermostat at the coolest level you can without making your rooms uncomfortable. For most homes, the heating bill drops by about 2 percent for every 1 degree the thermostat is lowered.
• Lower the thermostat at bedtime or while away during the day. Setting the thermostat to 58 degrees while asleep can cut a natural-gas bill by up to 7 percent.