Zika has arrived in the Colleyville Stake

Taken from My Southlake News 

Tarrant County Public Health has recommended that the City of Southlakeactivate our Mosquito Response Plan after receiving news of a suspected case of a mosquito-borne disease in a Southlake resident, in addition to finding an abundance of mosquitoes that transmit this virus.

“We were informed that a Southlake resident has traveled to a country that has active cases of Zika, Dengue, and Chikungunya, and we have been working with Tarrant County Public Health to determine the best course of action,” said Environmental Coordinator Christi Upton.

Different mosquito species carry different diseases and have different characteristics. The mosquito that carries the Zika and Chikungunya viruses has a short flight range and is typically a day-biter.

How you can Protect Yourself

Personal protection is the first defense in protecting against the spread of all mosquito borne viruses. The community is encouraged to take action to prevent mosquito bites in the following ways:

      1.  The best way to prevent bites is to prevent mosquito breeding by        eliminating standing water.

Mosquitoes prefer container water such as flower pots, bird baths, buckets, French drains, gutters, and water storage containers.  Eliminate these sources or vigilantly dump possible sources. Where dumping or eliminating the water is not possible consider treating the  water with mosquito dunks which are available at most home improvement stores. Click here for Mosquito Dunks On Amazo

2.   Plant Plants that are Natural Mosquito Repellents

Click Here for 6 Mosquito Repelling Plants

3.  Invest in a Mosquito Catcher

I can bear testimony of the effectiveness of a mosquito catcher- it's been the best investment in our outdoor living imaginable.  They are pricey- but think of it as emergency prep- it will make your life better.  
Mega Catch Website
List of Top 10 Mosquito Catchers

4.  Deet, Deet, Deet. Deet. 
Buy Deet- Use Deet- Deet is your Friend- Click Here

Mosquito's Part 1: Plants to Repell

Zika, West Nile and Upset Children.  Mosquitos are more than a pest- they're dangerous. 

There are ways to keep mosquitoes and other insects away besides drowning yourself in bug spray. For a more green approach, try installing some of these insect-repelling plants around your yard.

1. Marigolds

Not only do they make your landscape more attractive, but marigolds also have a distinct smell that repels mosquitoes.

Plant from seed or get a starter plant from a nursery or floral department.

Place potted marigolds near mosquito entry-points, such as doors and windows, or on a deck or balcony where you spend a lot of time outdoors. They also deter insects that prey on tomato plants — an added bonus for gardeners.

2. Citronella

Citronella is found in bug sprays and insect-repelling candles, but for maximum effectiveness, consider planting it. (Photo by David Becken)

Citronella is one of the most common ingredients in insect repellents, due to its strong smell, which masks mosquito attractants.

The perennial clumping grass grows 5 to 6 feet, and can be planted in the ground or kept in large pots.

Citronella plants thrive best in full sun and areas with good drainage.

3. Catnip

Catnip grows best in full sun. (Photo by John LaFollette)

Warning: Your catnip might bring all the cats to the yard. The perennial herb, related to mint, is easy to grow.

While it repels mosquitoes in close proximity, some people apply crushed leaves for more protection.

4. Lavender

Dried lavender can be placed in wardrobes to dissuade moths. (Photo by David Becken)

In addition to smelling lovely, aiding in relaxation and promoting restful sleep, lavender dissuades mosquitoes and gnats from invading your outdoor dinner party when planted in the garden or in pots placed by windows, doors and entertainment areas.

The dried flowers can also be placed in wardrobes to repel moths.

5. Basil

Basil leaves don't have to be crushed to prevent mosquito invasions. (Photo by Mike LaFollette)

Enjoy delicious pesto dishes, and keep mosquitoes at bay, with this insect-repelling herb. Basil is one of the few herbs in which you don’t have to crush the leaves to reap its benefits.

Lemon basil and cinnamon basil are the best varieties to prevent unwanted pests.

6. Lemon balm

Lemon balm keeps mosquitoes away, but attracts pollinators, such as bees and butterflies. (Photo by David Becken)

Also known as horsemint, lemon balm’s aroma wards off mosquitoes, but attracts pollinators like bees and butterflies.

It’s fast growing, drought resistant and reseeds itself, so consider planting in a pot rather than in your yard to avoid a lemon balm takeover.

*the above article was copied from this  Angie's List article. 

Online Passwords

Imagine having a notebook with all your passwords in it - email, banking, social in the hands of a stranger.  Literally all the keys to you online life- in the hands of a could be criminal. Happened to a friend of mine recently-went to a meeting in a hotel ballroom and left that notebook at that meeting.  She drove back at midnight and though the room had not been cleaned- her notebook was missing.  She dug through the trash, the dumpster and had a restless night and extremely stressful next day because someone had the key to her life.

We all need to have some sort of identity theft protection- but that can only go so far. If someone has your passwords-  No ID- Theft company can help with that.

Here's an easy trick for passwords, write them down on a piece of paper and then take a picture of that paper.  You don't put passwords in text on a computer or even in your phone because ID thieves can mine for those passwords- however, if you take a picture and put it a secure cloud- it's a jpeg.

I use the same method for my credit cards- photos of the front and back so that if they get stolen it's in the cloud.  Easier than trying to manage hard copies.

Here are some additional options in how to remember passwords and protect yourself:
The Safe Way to Write Down Passwords
6 Ways to Keep Your Passwords Safe
Top 25 Worst Passwords

Do you have any suggestions or tricks for Passwords or Password Protection?  Please share in the comments.