There’s nothing better than a cold, refreshing glass of water on a hot day or being able to fill your soaker tub with warm, calming water to wash away stress. We can’t live without water, but it’s important to recognize how destructive it can be. Did you know that water damage insurance claims are one of the most common claims for condominium owners? In fact, insurance premiums and deductibles have increased over the last few years because of the increased frequency of these claims. It doesn’t take long for a small water leak to cause thousands of dollars of damage to your home. You can save yourself time, effort and a whole lot of grief by taking a few steps to prevent water damage in your condo. Look for leaks in your pipe joints under all your sinks; repair if necessary Don’t leave home while the dishwasher or washing machine is running. Turn off the tap to washing machine when it is not in use to reduce pressure in the hose Keep your dishwasher drain free of debris and replace the hoses every 3-5 years If your refrigerator has a water dispenser/ice maker, check the water line regularly Caulk and/or grout the seals around your bathtub/shower as needed to prevent water from seeping through Know where the water shutoff valves are on your toilets; shut them off when leaving your condo for a few days Look for rust around your hot water tank, this could be a sign that tank failure is near. Replace the hot water tank every 10 years, or as required Stains on the ceiling, walls or floors is a sign of possible water leaks within the structure; contact a plumber to repair any leaks. Taking the time for preventative maintenance can help to keep your home dry and will help to avoid future insurance claims. Contact your property manager for more advice on how to further protect your condominium. Vionell Holdings Partnership (VHP) provides rental housing and property management for an array of residential and commercial customers, including Condominium Management. VHP currently has over 2,500 units under management in Manitoba.

The first ever Brandon RibFest will be held August 18-20, at the Riverbank Discovery Centre in Brandon, MB.  Enjoy award winning BBQ from three legit BBQ experts in Texas Rangers BBQ, Crabby’s BBQ Shack and Kentucky Smokehouse.  The three day event is being presented by the Brandon Sunset Rotary and Brandon Rotaract Club. This is an event for the whole family, as in addition to the great eats, there will be a kid’s zone on the Saturday and Sunday afternoon.  For those looking to enjoy an adult beverage there will be a Farmery Beer Tent located onsite.  Admission is free. Hours are from 11:00 am to 10:00 pm Friday and Saturday, and 11:00 am to 7:00 pm on the Sunday.

Planning a day trip doesn't always mean having to drive long distances or spending a ton of money. The next time you have a free day consider hopping in your car for a day trip to Eternal Springs, located approximately 50 minutes from Brandon. Eternal Springs, maintained by local volunteers, is located roughly 8 miles east of Virden and features 2 smaller stocked trout ponds, hiking trails, BBQ pits, a 66 ft swinging bridge and picnic tables. It's an ideal place to head out for a walk and explore some new hiking trails. Heading home once the hiking and exploring has been completed, you can always head over to Oak Lake (Dandy Drive Inn) for some classic drive-inn food. Word of caution, Eternal Springs is not the easiest place in world to find, so set your GPS before you leave the house. Directions: Take Hwy 254, 6.5km north of Oak Lake, then 1.5km west, 1.5km north and 4.5km west. There is a sign on the left side of the road "Eternal Springs". Drive into the park site which is @ 400meters Latitude: 49°50'8.2" (49.8356°) north Longitude: 100°43'15.2" (100.7209°) west Elevation: 396 meters (1,299 feet)

The spray parks will be open in Brandon from June 30th to September 4th, 2017. The Paddle pools will be open from June 30th to September 1st, 2017. For locations and hours please see document below. The Kiwanis YMCA Keystone Pool located at 13th Street and Southern Avenue and the Kinsmen Centennial Pool located at 411 Park Street will be open from June 19th to August 27th, 2017. The hours of operation and admission fees are listed on the document listed below.

Let’s be honest right away, Climate Change is real, despite what Donald Trump says.  It is a real issue this world faces, which is only getting worse. Here are 6 Quick Facts about climate change. 1 – 600,000 die a year due to weather related events. 2 – 2005, 2010, and 2014 are the hottest years recorded in history. 3 – Montana’s Glacier Park has lost 125 of the 150 glaciers they used to have. 4 – Cows cause more methane than the oil industry, 5 – 99.84 percent of California’s land is in a drought. 6 - Thirty-seven percent of Americans believe that global warming is a hoax, and 64 percent don't believe that climate change will seriously affect their way of life. Or basically all those people have no clue what reality is. I decided to do some research about ways I can help the environment and came across a local company that is providing a new wave of energy ideas to Brandon, and Western Manitoba. This company is called Solar Manitoba. Their goal is to change the way we all think about the environment by using Solar Energy, which could mean eliminating Hydro costs after 10 years. Currently in Manitoba, Solar Energy is used in only 60 homes and business’s, which isn't a lot. Lucky for people, Manitoba Hydro has a plan to increase that. If you decide to install solar panels in your home, they will give a grant of up to 25-30 percent, which would help with the roughly $30,000 in install prices.  Yes that's right, an average home can expect a 30k bill to install solar, but when you break it down the math, it's not as bad as it seems. $30,000 installation of solar panels and system and APP for your home $10,000 grant from Manitoba Hydro So roughly, you are out of pocket $20,000 dollars. Perhaps a big number, but if your bill is $200 dollars on average per month you would pay for this entire system in approximately 10 years as well as adding value to your home. Imagine having NO hydro bill after 10 years. Now for lots of us that is an eternity but the long term savings for yourself plus the environment would be very valuable. The solar energy system can also be added to your house insurance. In the photos featured below you will see the largest installation of its kind in Manitoba. These photos are from a farm installation outside of Rapid City. BDNMB had a chance to ask some questions to Rob Mulligan, a local electrician and contractor, with Solar Manitoba. BDNMB - How far is Manitoba behind in solar? Rob – we are very far behind compared to say India, California and Germany. BDNMB – Explain how Manitoba Hydro decides if you get a grant and how much? Rob – MB Hydro gives you a dollar a watt based on your average bill over the past two years. BDNMB – Can anyone apply to get this done? Rob – Well no if your house if blocked by trees or if it faces North then this project would be difficult. If you are interested in getting solar for your home, cabin or business here are the steps to follow: Email: earthpowerinfo@hydro.mb.ca and ask what would my maximum solar rebate be? Provide them with your name, address and Hydro account number. When you send the email, please CC the president of Solar Manitoba at justin.phillips@sycamoreenergy.com and mention Rob. BDNMB reached out to Manitoba Hydro and at this time they are not prepared to answer questions in regards to Solar Energy. However they do urge you all to use LED lights according to their Twitter account and website.