N e i g h b o rh o o d G u i d e

Make Your Memorial Day Barbecue A Success

Summer unofficially starts with the arrival of Memorial day at the end of May Although it is a holiday designed to honor American military personnel who have died in various wars, it also serves doubleduty as a chance to gather with friends and loved ones and enjoy the return of the warm-weather entertaining season barbecues are the centerpieces of Memorial day celebrations It may have been awhile since the grill was fired up, so anyone can use a little refresher course in barbecue etiquette Here are some tips for making the most of Memorial day parties rEAdy THE GrILL

If your grill has lain dormant for several months, it’s wise to inspect and thoroughly clean it in advance of Memorial day Insects like spiders may have built homes inside, and grease and grime may be lingering from last year Ensure the grill is in top form before cooking for guests

KEEp Food SAFETy In MInd

A study from the u S department of Agriculture found more than half of study participants don t try to wash their hands when preparing food Wash hands thoroughly to ensure guests do not get sick at the barbecue Keep food refrigerated until it is ready to be cooked or served use a food thermometer to cook to the required internal temperature to make sure bacteria is destroyed do not use the same utensils that touched raw meat to remove cooked food from the grill

ArrAnGE For SHAdE

It can get quite warm outdoors even in May for many areas of the country Therefore, prepare a spot where guests can escape the sun If you don’t have enough table umbrellas, consider light netting or canopies for shade Shift them as needed as the sun moves across the sky dEvELop A SIGnATurE rub

Set your food apart with unique flavors Create a summer food rub using the herbs and spices you prefer Make a big batch to use throughout the grilling season don T LEAvE Food SITTInG

The uSdA s Food Safety Inspection Service advises that food should not be left out for more than two hours, or one hour if the temperature is above 90 F Keep buffet-style food covered so that insects do not land on the items and run the risk of contamination promptly move leftovers indoors if you plan on keeping them oFFEr A vArIETy oF bEvErAGES

It’s important to stay hydrated when the weather is warm Stock the cooler with plenty of water juices iced teas and the like If you plan to serve alcoholic beverages keep them separate from the nonalcoholic items so that children do not have access

MAKE IT A poT LuCK

If you will be hosting reduce some of the work by having the main foods available and ask guests to bring the sides and beverages This will defray the costs and relieve some of the pressure Memorial day barbecues can be successful with some planning and simple safety measures

Ar ens Cor por ation

Evaluating Our Futur e

It’s with a heavy heart that I, Gary Godfrey, president of Arens Corporation, announce that major changes are underway with this family-owned business In recent weeks, Arens has been faced with staffing issues related to a retirement of one employee and serious, unexpected health concerns with a number of other staff members

As newspapers go Arens is a relatively small company Every single member of our staff provides a vital role in publishing our weekly advertisers – the Stillwater Valley Advertiser and Penny Saver – along with our monthly farm magazine, Country Living When even one member of my staff is absent due to illness or vacation time, it greatly impacts our ability to get these three publications to our printer and delivered to our customers and readers With several staff members simultaneously out of the office the situation has become dire

For this reason, I am giving serious thought to various options for the future of this company I fully realize the impact our papers have on the community and want to make the best possible decision for Arens Corp , my employees, loyal advertisers, and our faithful readers

Effective June 1 all of our publications will be halted Whether this will be short-term, or long-term, will be evaluated by myself and my family

I have always trusted the Lord for His guidance in making decisions with regard to this company and know He will be with me now as I decide what path Arens Corporation will take in the future I, and my wife Ginger, ask for your understanding and support during this difficult time

Sincerely Gary Godfrey

P O Box 69 395 S High St Covington, OH 45318 937-473-2028 • Fax 937-473-2500 arenspub@gmail com • www arenspub com