Fun Facts About February February is the shortest month, but there’s no shortage of fun facts about it. For example, February is one of the most frequently misspelled words in the English language, with the first “r” often dropped. Plus, the odds of being born on February 29 are about 1 in 1,461. If you're born on a leap day, you're typically known as a "leaper" or "leapling." Cornerstone Group © 2026 You deserve to find your TRUE CONNECTI N LIVE HAPPILY EVER AFTER WITH INTERNET YOU’LL LOVE Life’s no bed of roses if you settle for internet that you know in your heart can’t meet your needs. Fortunately, BBC can pair you with the technological equivalent of your soulmate — the perfect internet with beautifully fast speeds and wonderfully reliable service. After all, a true connection is easy to be around and consistently supports what’s important to you, from streaming and gaming to working and chatting. WILL YOU ACCEPT THIS ROSY OFFER? CALL 319.276.4458 FOR AN INTERNET UPGRADE! HappyValentine’s Day! Butler-Bremer Communications 715 Main Street / PO Box 99 Plainfield, IA 50666 Phone: 319.276.4458 24/7 Tech Support: 1.866.276.8253 Office Hours: Mon - Fri, 8am - 4:30pm Online: butler-bremer.com Bits&Bytes A NEWSLETTER FROM YOUR FRIENDS AT BUTLER-BREMER COMMUNICATIONS SPR I NG 2 0 26
We know many of you already volunteer in the community and are enjoying these experiences. However, if you aren’t currently volunteering, the benefits below may encourage you to start sharing your time and talents. 1. Provides a sense of purpose. Volunteering offers opportunities to become part of something greater than yourself. For instance, if you’re retired, unexpectedly unemployed, or have lost a loved one, helping others can give your life new meaning and keep you mentally stimulated. 2. Helps you meet new people. Volunteering is a great way to build friendships with people who have common interests as well as strengthen existing connections with friends, family, or coworkers. As a volunteer, you’ll typically interact with people from diverse backgrounds, which also allows you to learn other perspectives. 3. Improves self-esteem. When you do something you feel is worthwhile and valuable for your community, it gives you a sense of accomplishment that may help you feel more fulfilled about your life and proud of your achievements. 4. Brings fun into your life. Many people use volunteering as a way to pursue their hobbies while making a difference. For example, if you’re interested in the outdoors, you might volunteer at your community garden or help out at a children's summer camp. Volunteering for organizations or causes may provide you with a renewed sense of creativity and motivation that can carry over into your personal and professional life. 5. Helps you be happier. It feels good to contribute to projects that mean something to you, and these good feelings can help lessen the effects of stress, anger, or anxiety. What’s more, building bonds with fellow volunteers can help counteract any social isolation, and volunteer opportunities that involve physical labor can keep you active. BBC is deeply committed to giving back in our community, and our employees often volunteer — both as a team and as individuals. Follow us on Facebook to learn more. 5 Big Benefits of Volunteering February Includes Clean Out Your Computer Day Clean Out Your Computer Day started in 2000 as an initiative of the Institute for Business Technology and falls on the second Monday of February. The event reminds us to set aside time to do basic housekeeping on our computers, since they all need regular organizing and cleanup for the best performance. Over time, a computer’s unused files and programs can clog its memory and slow down its operation. What are some suggested activities for Clean Out Your Computer Day? • Delete old files that are no longer needed. • Organize your desktop’s files and folders. • Make sure you have the latest versions of your software and operating system. • Purge your inbox and email folders of emails that don’t need to be saved. • Safely wipe off your computer’s keyboard and screen. Remember, regularly backing up your computer’s data is essential. That way, in case you accidentally delete a file you later realize you need, you’ll have access to it. BUTLER-BREMER COMMUNICATIONS • 319 . 276 . 4458 • but l er-bremer. com
Switch to eBilling to Save Time and Increase Security You’ve probably heard many times that switching from printed bills and payments to eBilling is good for the environment by reducing paper use and saving trees. What you might not realize is just how beneficial eBilling is to you in other ways. First of all, eBilling is much faster than paying bills the old-fashioned way by writing checks and mailing them. It also offers more convenience, since you can view and pay your bill online no matter where you are—whether at home or away. Most importantly, eBilling eliminates having printed bills and envelopes with checks in your mailbox, where they could be stolen and used for identity theft. Our eBilling system lets you receive your monthly BBC bills by email and pay them online with your credit card or debit card. It’s easy to get started with eBilling and set up an account. Simply visit butlerbremer.com. If you need help or have any questions, call us at 319.276.4458. Cornerstone Group © 2026 Here’s the Latest About Tech Support Scams Tech support scammers try to trick consumers into believing there’s a serious issue with their computer, either through a pop-up message or a call supposedly from a customer support employee of a major tech company like Microsoft or Apple. The goal of these scammers is to gain remote access to your computer—for purposes of identity theft or the downloading of ransomware—and/or to convince you to send money for fake tech support to “fix” the non-existent problem. While these scams have been around for years, there are new developments you should know about it: • Tech support scams are evolving with AI. Artificial Intelligence (AI) has provided cybercriminals with new tools to con people. Scammers can use AI to create more convincing messages, deepfake videos, and spoofed phone numbers. • Cryptocurrency is being requested for payments. For example, one man reported getting a call that claimed to be from Apple Technical Support, which demanded he send thousands of dollars through a cryptocurrency ATM to pay for the cost of fixing his computer virus problem. • Several generations are being victimized. You may assume it’s aging baby boomers who are most susceptible to tech support scams, due to having less experience and knowledge of technology. However, recent studies show that younger generations, specifically Gen Z and Millennials, are now the most frequent victims of tech support scams. This is attributed to more online exposure, overconfidence in tech skills that can lead to riskier habits, and the merging of personal and professional life in their devices and accounts. Keep this in mind: If your computer screen becomes frozen and a pop-up message about a security problem appears, do not call the phone number given to “fix” the problem. All you need to do is turn off your computer and restart it. (The pop-up message may claim you should not shut down or restart your computer because it would cause serious damage. However, ignore this scare tactic.) Should you need help dealing with a tech support scam or similar issue, turn to a local computer service provider you trust.
715 Main Street / PO Box 99 Plainfield, IA 50666 Phone: 319.276.4458 butler-bremer.com Instructions: Set oven to 350 degrees. In a 9x13 pan, put the feta cheese block in the middle. Add cherry tomatoes around the feta cheese (add as many as you desire). Drizzle olive oil over top of the feta cheese and tomatoes, then sprinkle as much Italian seasoning as you desire. Bake for 25 minutes. Meanwhile, boil water and cook the noodles according to package instructions. Pull chicken from bones. After the 25-minute baking time, let the feta cheese and tomatoes rest for a couple minutes. Then stir the cheese and tomatoes together, breaking up the cheese if needed. Add noodles, chicken, salt, and pepper. Mix and enjoy! Ingredients: 1 container cherry tomatoes 1 rotisserie chicken (use as much as you’d like) 1 block feta cheese Olive oil Italian seasoning 16 oz rotini noodles Salt and pepper taste Creamy TOMATO PASTA Cornerstone Group © 2026 BUTLER-BREMER COMMUNICATIONS • 319 . 276 . 4458 • but l er-bremer. com SAVE ON YOUR CHOICE OF ROUTER: GigaSpire U6 – Sale Price of $85 (regularly $175) Provides lightningfast speed and complete coverage. WiFi 6 technology enables new devices to perform their best. Four ethernet ports. GigaSpire U4 – Sale Price $45 (regularly $135) Features minimalist, compact design, yet has the same features as the U6. Two ethernet ports. Give a food pantry donation to get the sale price. BOTH ROUTERS INCLUDE: • Butler-Bremer CommIQ App – Lets you to manage your home or business WiFi network from your phone. • ProtectIQ – Puts a 24/7 shield against internet threats, stopping them before they reach your devices. • ExperienceIQ* – Offers advanced parental controls such as online time limits and blocked access to selected content. FOR DETAILS, CALL 319.276.4458 *ExperienceIQ is included with 100Mbps or faster internet. Limit one sale price per household. Sale runs January 1 to March 31, 2026. Enjoy the Ultimate WiFi Experience Ultimate Speed, Coverage, and Convenience
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