How Going Green Can Save You Money
By Corey McBee

Your home’s single greatest energy cost is its heating and air system. Today’s central heating and air systems make our life far more comfortable; unfortunately homeowners are often unaware of the many ways to increase efficiency and prolong the life of these valuable units. You can use less energy, reduce the cost and reduce the natural resources used in the process.

Routine maintenance is essential. D&M Heating and Cooling’s Darren Parker said, “The average homeowner pays little to no attention to their heating and air system until it begins to fail. A semiannual inspection by a qualified HVAC professional can ensure that the unit is clean and operating at maximum efficiency. Dirt, grass, and other debris can create problems, leading to costly repairs and a much shorter life expectancy of your heating and cooling system.”

In this case, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. Regularly scheduled maintenance can significantly reduce your energy bills, prolong the life of your system, and save you from those uncomfortable days when the mercury rises sharply and you are left waiting for a repairman.

...Read More in the Spring 2008 issue of Murray Life Magazine

LOVETT, LIVE!
By Robert Valentine

Murray State’s Lovett Auditorium is huge. With a maximum capacity of nearly 2,000, it has been home to basketball games, symphony orchestras and Shakespearean drama. It has hosted Murray State’s graduation ceremonies as well as visits from Nobel Prize winners and lecturing heads of state.

Now, it’s even bigger.

The size of the auditorium – the largest performance space in Murray, except for the new Regional Special Events Center – has not really changed. The use of the space, however is drawing bigger crowds and national attention. The reason is the new “Lovett Live” program that began in the fall of 2007.

As Ashley Henson of the Murray State News put it in her September story, “These cozy, singer/songwriter performances are bringing a coffeehouse feel to Lovett Auditorium by bringing students closer to the music. Students can now experience two music series that offer a variety of great performances for the Murray State community.”

...Read More in the Spring 2008 issue of Murray Life Magazine

Turn Market Volatility to Your Advantage
By Ron Arant, a Financial Consultant for Hilliard & Lyons, Inc.

Market pullbacks often present opportunities to purchase high-quality stocks at cheap prices. Everything’s on sale.

Has the recent market volatility made you wonder how to invest? If so, you’re not alone. When markets turn shaky, even the most experienced individual investors take time to consider carefully the best moves to make in light of the changing investment landscape.

That said, here are some strategies that you can employ today:

Make sure you’re adequately diversified. At the end of a lengthy period of rising stock prices, many investors often have too much money invested in one investment type (small cap stocks, for example) or sector (energy).

...Read More in the Spring 2008 issue of Murray Life Magazine

Green Gardening
By Darlisha Stanfield

Going green is all the rage this year and what should be greener than your garden? Spring is here and with a little bit of planning you can not only create a beautiful garden, but a remarkable ecosystem. Green gardening beautifies your home,while providing a habitat for native plants and animals.

...Read More in the Spring 2008 issue of Murray Life Magazine