That first chilly autumn morning is the perfect reminder that when winter arrives it can be sudden, often leaving homeowners unprepared for the plumbing problems associated with cold weather. Southerners should take preventive action to protect their plumbing systems by late November. Failure to prepare early might prove costly when pipes freeze, which is why the plumbing experts at Roto-Rooter recommend taking these plumbing precautions early, when time is on your side, instead of waiting until cold weather arrives.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - Halloween can be a scary time for parents, so it is important to remember some basic Trick-or-Treat safety tips.

According to nurse Vicki Coppen with the Florida Poison Information Center in Jacksonville, children are especially susceptible to eating adult medications around Halloween.  Kids are getting candy everywhere and can confuse a pill or a vitamin for a sweet.

"It can be easily mistaken for candy any time of the year, but especially when all the mind set right now is on candy," explained Coppen.  "If they see something sitting on the counter or the bathroom counter, they're going to think it's candy versus medications."

Coppen said the best thing is to make sure any medicines are kept out of sight and out of reach.

JEA is sponsoring a Home Energy Makeover Contest to demonstrate how whole house energy efficiency improvements can increase the overall comfort of a home and reduce energy bills.