National carbon emission fee fairest possible policy. The threat of major, long-term environmental and economic damage from climate change is real and warrants action to slow, stop and eventually reverse growth in greenhouse gas emissions. [News Source]

Organic approach to yard care spares the environment and others attracted to the turf. Some homeowners will go to any lengths to have a beautiful lawn. Priorities vary from person to person, as the problems do from lawn to lawn. [News Source]

Vegan diet can be good for kids. Even before her quintuplets were conceived, Florida's Gayle Nelson Folkersen knew she didn't want her kids eating meat, fish, eggs or dairy products. [News Source]

Nation’s first closed-loop ethanol plant opens. The world's first closed-loop ethanol plant fueled by biogas from animal waste is up and running near the eastern Nebraska town of Mead. [News Source]

Vitamin Shoppe growth good for IPO (Crain’s New York Business) The Vitamin Shoppe announced an 8.3% increase in same-store sales for the second quarter, suggesting a strong market to proceed with its initial public offering. [News Source]

Vitamin Shoppe 2Q Same-Store Sales Rise (AP via Yahoo! Finance) The Vitamin Shoppe, a supplement and vitamin retailer, on Friday said same-store sales grew 8.3 percent in the second quarter. [News Source]

The Vitamin Shoppe Announces Comparable Store Net Sales and Total Net Sales for the Second Quarter and Six Months Ended … (Business Wire via Yahoo! Finance) NORTH BERGEN, N.J.----The Vitamin Shoppe announced that total net sales for the company increased $15.4 million, or 13.0%, to $133.8 million for the second quarter ended June 30, 2007 as compared with $118.4 million for the same period last year. [News Source]

Study highlights EU vitamin and mineral differences (Food Navigator) 06/07/2007 - The stark differences between EU member states' allowances of maximum vitamin and mineral levels have been brought to the forefront once again with a report published by the Association of the European Self-Medication Industry (AESGP). [News Source]

County water is H2OK.

The county and all municipalities in the county that supply water to residents have met the requirements, though Thurmont and Emmitsburg found excessive levels of lead and copper, respectively, in various homes tested.

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