Get Out and Support the 2020 Polar Plunge Lake of the Ozarks!

The weather will be warming up soon, but before it does, there some seriously important business to attend to! We're so excited to see who will take the plunge for a great cause in the 2020 Polar Plunge at the Lake of the Ozarks! Your pest control company at the Lake of the Ozarks has the information on this great event right here. Check it out!

To Plunge and Beyond!

Location: Lake of the Ozarks, Public Beach #2
Date: Feb. 29, 2020
Registration opens: 8:30am.
Plunge begins: 2pm.
Participants must be at least 10 years old and raise a minimum of $75 by event day. 

PLUNGE DAY REGISTRATION:
Lines for Strut and Plunge will open at 8am on Plunge day, Saturday, Feb. 29.The Polar Bear Strut will begin at 9am., with the Plunge Parade of Costumes beginning at 2pm. and the Plunge beginning at 2:30pm.

PARKING:
You may park at Grand Glaize Beach / Public Beach #2.

This "unbearable" event is a unique opportunity to show your bravery as you support local Special Olympics athletes by plunging into the frigid winter waters. Proceeds benefit Special Olympics Missouri.

Special Olympics Missouri is a year-round program of sports training and athletic competition for children and adults with intellectual disabilities. More than 15,000 athletes participate in 21 Olympic-type sports throughout the state. Special Olympics provides people with intellectual disabilities continuing opportunities to develop physical fitness, demonstrate courage and experience joy.

By participating in or donating to one of their fundraising events, you open a world of opportunity for SOMO athletes. You tell them that you believe in their abilities and understand the value that sports play in fostering acceptance and inclusion.

The Polar Plunge is a project of the Law Enforcement Torch Run(R) for Special Olympics Missouri. Osage Beach PD is proud to host this event.

Reach the following level by Plunge day and receive an additional prize!

WHAT TO BRING:

• All the money you have collected offline.
• A towel to dry off after you take the PLUNGE! Don’t forget to grab your towel before you head off to change.
• Footwear! All Plungers are required to wear footwear in the water.
• Your costume! Be part of the Golden Plunger contest.  We will have a parade of costumes as part of our Polar Plunge this year. The parade will start at 2 p.m. Participants can only be judged in one category. Golden Plungers (the winners) will be awarded on the beach. You must at least wear a swimsuit. Please remember this is a family friendly event! All costumes/team names must be courteous and appropriate for everyone.
• Bring a change of warm clothes. There are men and women's changing tents available for you to put on your costume, change after the plunge and warm up. 

THINGS TO KNOW

• Chili Cook-off, Silent Auction and Souvenirs will all be in the Registration Tent. Please be sure to vote for your favorite Chili!
• Just a reminder: Per state park policy, alcoholic beverages will be allowed only in the designated picnic areas. Alcoholic beverages will not be permitted in any parking area or the Plunge event area.
• Margaritaville Lake Resort will serve as the Host Hotel for the Plunge. They would like to offer a special Polar Bear rate to anyone wishing to stay during the Plunge weekend - $99! Just call 1-800-TAN-TARA to make your reservation – and be sure to mention the Polar Plunge to get the special rate.
• Photos from the event will be posted on our Flickr page after the event. 

Give A B Pest Control & Insulation a Call!At A B Pest Control & Insulation, we are proud of our local community and how our friends, family and customers get so involved to help out our local organizations. It's events like this and the ones that take place every year to benefit the wonderful organizations in our area that do so much for so many that make us love to call the Lake area home. 

We take pride in living and working in the Lake area, and we also take great pride in our exemplary service, because we stand behind all our work. We offer flexible service schedules to meet your pest control, insulation and budget needs.

If you have unwanted pests around your house or would like a free estimate on your insulation needs, give your Lake of the Ozarks pest control company a call! From pest control to lawn maintenance and insulation services - A to Z, we cover it all!

LAKE OF THE OZARKS
PEST CONTROL COMPANY

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www.abpest.net

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A-Z with A B Pest Control & Insulation: Crawl Spaces & Cockroaches

At A B Pest Control & Insulation, we offer multiple services for your convenience. From pest control to lawn maintenance and turf management to insulation services, we can handle all of these tasks for you! This week, we'll be continuing our new series by discussing two different sectors of our business with A-Z with A B Pest Control & Insulation: Crawl Spaces and Cockroaches.

Protecting Your Crawl Space
Unfortunately, home efficiency and moisture issues in crawl spaces can easily go unnoticed, degrading home air quality, comfort, and energy efficiency. One of the most common problems with crawl spaces that do not have insulation is the high level of moisture. This could lead to mold growth. By having your crawlspace insulated, you can greatly reduce the moisture levels, which will prevent mold from growing and forming. Moisture that's trapped in the crawl space can also affect the temperature in the house. Insulation can help seal off the crawl space and keep your house at the temperature you desire. Proper insulation can also prevent pipes from freezing and bursting in colder weather.

Two Types Of Crawl Space Insulation

Vapor Barrier System
A crawl space vapor barrier system prevents ground moisture evaporation from entering the crawl space. It's designed to resist the flow of air. The vapor barrier system turns the crawl space into a semi-conditioned area by stopping the air movement and making the temperature close to the living spaces in your home above. When the temperature in the crawl space is similar to the temperature in the home's living areas, your floors will feel warmer in the winter and cooler in the summer.

Foam Spray
Spray foam insulation can help seal things up for good and eliminate any worries you may have about your crawl space. Spray foam is highly dense, and a little bit goes a long ways. It's non-permeable so it can help seal up any air gaps to eliminate moisture and keep your space free of mold, mildew and rot. While the only guarantee of a rodent-free home is ongoing pest control service, spray foam makes it less likely you'll be invaded by rodents. Spray foam is hard and an unwelcoming substance for them, unlike fiberglass insulation.

Preventing Cockroaches
Roaches enter homes in search of shelter, food and water. And your kitchen offers all of that! This is one pest you DON'T want to see in your home for many reasons: they can multiply quickly, they're hard to get rid of, they can pose health threats, and they're just plain scary! Daily cleaning and proper food storage is the easiest way to prevent these nasty little bugs from infesting your home. But be sure to seal off any potential entryways, too! Regular pest treatments can help prevent them, as well.

What Cockroach Species are Common in Missouri?

American Cockroach
The American cockroach generally lives outdoors, but during winter will move indoors and seek refuge from the cold. Outdoors, they will winter in decaying trees and woodpiles to survive the season.
German Cockroach
German cockroaches are a severe pest problem in the United States and are found everywhere through the country in large numbers. They easily infiltrate human structures and make their homes there. Once inside, they are hard to eradicate. As long as the German cockroach can find food and a humid environment, it will survive the winter.

Oriental Cockroach
Oriental cockroaches are an indoor species, but will often venture outdoors in search of food. They must have water to survive and will usually take refuge from the winter inside basements, crawlspaces, and floor drains. Oriental cockroaches can tolerate lower temperatures than most other species of cockroaches and will often winter in rock walls and sites that offer protection and warmth. They use the winter months to reproduce.

Give A B Pest Control & Insulation a Call!
At A B Pest Control & Insulation, we pride ourselves on our exemplary service, because we stand behind all our work. We offer flexible service schedules to meet your pest control, insulation and budget needs. And of course, we couldn't do what we do without the awesome customers that trust us for their pest and insulation needs! So, we just want to give a quick shout out to our loyal customers who've kept us going all these years!

If you have unwanted pests around your house or would like a free estimate on your insulation needs, give your Lake of the Ozarks pest control company a call! From pest control to lawn maintenance and insulation services - A to Z, we cover it all!

Lake of the Ozarks
Pest Control Company

Visit Our Website:
www.abpest.net

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Unusual Valentine's Traditions from around the World

Each year on this day, people exchange cards, candy or flowers with their special “valentine.” Although February 14 has become synonymous with Hallmark throughout the states and in many other parts of the world, not every culture chooses to declare their love via a romantic greeting card or overpriced rose. In honor of the holiday, we at A B Pest Control & Insulation thought it would be fun to share with you some unusual Valentine's Day traditions from around the world!

Bulgaria
Like any other country, Bulgaria celebrates Valentine’s Day in its own style. On February 14, San Trifon Zartan is celebrated in Bulgaria, which means “day of winemakers”. Young and old couples celebrate their love with a glass of wonderful local wine.

Finland & Estonia
Finland and Estonia have a friendlier celebration called Ystävän Päivä in Finnish and Sõbrapäev in Estonian.  February 14 is all about celebrating friendship, and people exchange presents and cards with the greeting ‘Happy Friends Day’.

Japan & South Korea
In Japan & South Korea, it’s the ladies who spoil the object of their affections with chocolates on the 14th of February – and it’s the type of chocolate given that counts. For husbands, boyfriends, or prospective boyfriends, high quality honmei-choco (‘true feeling’) chocolates are hand delivered, while colleagues or acquaintances receive giri-choco, the cheaper ‘obligation chocolate’.

Ghana
In Ghana, February 14 is celebrated as the “National Chocolate Day.” It is a step that the Ghana government took in 2007 to increase tourism in the country. Ghana is among the largest cocoa producing countries in the world. On February 14, one can attend performances, music events, and restaurants have themed menus for the special day.

Norway
Secret admirers pen poems to their beloved, before cutting intricate patterns into the paper and pressing a small white Snowdrop flower inside. The ‘joke’ comes from the letter’s signature – or rather, it’s absence. Instead, budding poets sign off with a dot for each letter of their name. If the lady correctly guesses who her admirer is, she wins an Easter egg at Easter. If not, she has to give him one instead!

Philippines
Every year on February 14, hundreds (sometimes thousands) of couples come together in public places to be married en masse. Often, the celebrations are sponsored by the government as a public service, allowing underprivileged couples the opportunity to tie the knot.

Slovenia
In Slovenia, where St Valentine is one of the patron saints of spring, February 14 marks the first day of working in the fields for the New Year. It’s widely believed that this is the day that plants start to regenerate, and there’s even a proverb that says “St Valentine brings the keys of roots”.

Happy Valentine's Day from A B Pest Control & Insulation
Happy Valentine's Day from your Lake of the Ozarks pest control company. We hope your day is filled with laughter, love and chocolates! And remember, if you're celebrating this beautiful day with your special someone and notice a pest problem, call A B Pest Control & Insulation at 573-964-1100.

Lake of the Ozarks
Pest Control Company

Visit Our Website:
www.abpest.net

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5 Tips to Help You Get Ready for an Early Spring!

With the nicer weather we've experienced recently and Phil's prediction of an early spring, many homeowners have spring time on their mind. It's almost time to start cleaning out our homes and getting everything ready for the summer season. If you are spring cleaning this year, A B Pest Control & Insulation has 5 tips to help you get ready for an early spring!

1. De-Clutter Your Home
Decluttering makes you more efficient and keeps you organized. But more than that, clutter has psychological influences. It signals to your brain that work isn’t done. Studies have shown that a disorganized home adds to your stress level. The scientific implications of inhaling dust – combined with the psychological stress of coming home to a pile of unsorted laundry or cluttered desk – can take a toll.

Set aside some time to:

• Organize your closets
• Dust and organize your office
• Look through that dreaded junk drawer

You may be surprised how fresh you feel after you eliminate unnecessary stress from your life.

2. Get Your Air Ducts Cleaned

The air passing through the ducts is the same air your family breathes each day. Left unchecked, ducts can harbour allergens like pollen and pet dander, which can re-enter your living space through the supply registers. Having your air ducts cleaned will help improve air quality and keep your air free of airborne particles. Not to mention, A dirty ventilation system can lead to clogged air conditioner coils, contaminated blower wheels, and other issues that can result in costly household repairs. This simple tip can help reduce your energy bill and improve air quality in your home.

3. Clean from Top to Bottom
We know that the dreaded spring cleaning is on your to-do list. To make the most of your time and efforts with this task, it’s important to start from the ceiling and work your way down. This will force debris downward and keep you from having to re-dust or re-clean your space. If you have a vacuum with an extension hose, use it to get cobwebs and dust from your ceilings and fans first. Then, dust your furniture and other items before vacuuming all the dust and debris off your floors. It will save you time.

4. Pay Extra Attention to Your Kitchen
The kitchen is basically a big magnet for pests. Lower your risk of a pest infestation by keeping it clean and tidy and by making sure all food is kept in airtight containers. Wipe down counters, cabinets and cabinetry doors. Pull out the big appliances (ie: refrigerator, dishwasher, oven) and clean beneath them. Your stove top is a prime location for food spills that may not be visible to the untrained eye. Be sure to clean the cabinet sides butting up to the stove, and raise the stove top cover to clean drips and crumbs. Clean out your pantry and make sure you keep the floors clean to help keep pests at bay in your kitchen.

5. Call A B Pest Control & Insulation
Ensure your home is pest free by calling A B Pest Control & Insulation at 573-964-1100. By having your home sprayed regularly by a pest control company at the Lake of the Ozarks, you can stop pests in their path and lower your chances of having an infestation. Being proactive is the best way to make sure your home is pest free through spring and for every season!

Lake of the Ozarks
Pest Control Company

Visit Our Website:

www.abpest.net

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Punxsutawney Phil has Predicted an Early Spring!

Punxsutawney Phil has predicted an early spring! We're hoping that's accurate, but knowing Phil's track record, it's tough to say. The real question is, how did Phil become the world’s most beloved seasonal prognosticator? This week, A B Pest Control & Insulation thought it'd be fun to share with you some history on Punxsutawney Phil and what his prediction might mean for us!

Punxsutawney Phil's Predictions
On February 2, 1887, Groundhog Day was celebrated for the first time at Gobbler’s Knob in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania. According to tradition, if a groundhog comes out of its hole on this day and sees its shadow, it gets scared and runs back into its burrow, predicting six more weeks of winter weather; no shadow means an early spring. However, there's quite the controversy on the validity of this tradition.

NOAA’s National Climatic Data Center says Phil’s forecasts have shown no predictive skill in recent years. On average, Phil has gotten it right 40% of the time over the past 10 years. So, what do you think? Are you going with Punxsutawney Phil's prediction of an early spring, or do you think we'll have a drawn out winter this year?

How Did Groundhog Day Become a Tradition in the States?
Groundhog Day has its roots in the ancient Christian tradition of Candlemas, when clergy would bless and distribute candles needed for winter. The candles represented how long and cold the winter would be.

Germans expanded on this concept by selecting an animal as a means of predicting weather. The originally chosen animal was the hedgehog. Once they came to America, German settlers in Pennsylvania continued the tradition, although they switched from hedgehogs to groundhogs, which were plentiful in the Keystone State.


From then on, the news spread and newspapers around the world began sharing Phil's predictions. Fans from all over the place would travel to Punxsutawney, PA to visit Phil on February 2 every year.

After the filming of 'Groundhogs Day' in 1993 starring Bill Murray, crowds started pouring in numbering in the tens of thousands! For having only a 40% accuracy rate, this guy is quite the star!

We Hope Phil's Right!
While we can't say with certainty whether we can expect to have an early spring or not, we can say for sure that it's essential to continue your pest control treatments all year round to avoid any unwelcome pests from seeking shelter from the cold in your home. And if we do get to see spring a little earlier this year, you'll for sure want to have your pest control treatments scheduled. After all, spring brings rain, and pests will be looking for a dry place to hide out during those spring storms. Let A B Pest Control & Insulation protect your home from pests no matter what season it is!

Lake of the Ozarks

Pest Control Company

Visit Our Website:
www.abpest.net

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