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Thursday, December 10, 2020

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Volume 67 | Number 15

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CELEBRATING THE RESIDENTIAL PARK COMMUNITIES AND DESERT AREA FOR 65 YEARS

Boost your holiday cheer at home during a socially distant season

In This Issue

Senior News.........................................2 Pets and Holiday Decorations..............3 Winter Citrus Fruit Salad.......................4 The First Christmas Card......................8

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nfortunately, many Americans will be unable to celebrate the holidays with their extended family and friends in person this year, making it all the more important to boost holiday cheer at home.

Here are few festive ideas for getting into the holiday spirit during this socially distant season.

1. MOVIES: What was the theme song for the 1997 movie “Titanic”?

2. GENERAL KNOWLEDGE: What is an espadrille?

3. FIRSTS: Which company was the first to use an assembly line to manufacture its products?

Don’t skip out on the decorations: You may not be hosting any houseguests, gatherings or big meals, but this shouldn’t be the year to skip out on the fullscale decorating you typically enjoy. Lights, trees, garlands, stockings and wreaths can evoke favorite memories of past seasons and invite hope for future ones all season long. You can even set up a video conference to enjoy the camaraderie of decorating with far-off loved ones.

than the keys themselves. Integrated Bluetooth audio lets you connect your device wirelessly to the musical keyboard, so you can play all your favorite holiday music through its powerful stereo amplification system.

Deck the halls with music: Add a digital piano to your holidayscape to help elevate the mood with Christmas carols and other seasonal tunes. Consider Casio’s line of PX-S console digital pianos, which have a striking design that fit any room, décor and mood. A glossy top panel and unibody case evoke a luxurious acoustic grand in a sleek case that’s barely larger

Add favorite aromas: Now that you have the sights and sounds of the season covered, don’t forget its delicious scents.

Your nose will know the holidays have arrived when you bake that first batch of gingerbread cookies or light candles in scents like evergreen and peppermint. You can even try simmering a pot of water and add aromatic ingredients to

• Pine cones have genders. Male pine cones shed pollen and female pine cones make seeds.

When the wind blows pollen into the female cones, the seeds become pollinated.

• Cats are believed to be the only mammals that don’t taste sweetness.

4. TELEVISION: What was Marge’s maiden name on the animated comedy “The Simpsons”?

• In 1978, DC put out a “Superman vs. Muhammad Ali” comic book. While the plot deals with hostile aliens, the book’s main highlight is the whooping Superman gets in a sparring match with “The Greatest”!

• Early cosmetic surgeons used a procedure known as paraffin wax rhinoplasty, in which they would inject hot liquid wax into a patient’s nose and mold it into the desired shape. Not only was this dangerous, but, no surprise, it really didn’t work.

it such as cloves, cinnamon sticks and rosemary.

5. FOOD & DRINK: What are the main ingredients in a modern mince pie?

Send season’s greetings: Set aside an afternoon to compose and send holiday cards. This endof-year tradition allows you to reconnect with the people you care about most and can help lend the season a touch of normalcy.

6. U.S. STATES: This city has two prominent nicknames, and one of them is The Crescent City. What is the city and state?

While you may not be making your usual visit to relatives or throwing your annual bash, there are many creative ways to make the most of the season and create happy memories for years to come.

7. ANIMAL KINGDOM: What is a baby puffin called?

8. ADVERTISING MASCOTS: What product did Mr. Whipple represent for more than 20 years?

9. GEOGRAPHY: What is an old name for north China?

10. MATH: What Arabic number is the equivalent of the Roman numerals MCMLX? © 2020 King Features Synd., Inc. ANSWER TO TRIVIA ON PAGE 6

• Canada eats more macaroni and cheese than any other nation in the world.

• There is a town in India called Santa Claus.

• Ever wonder how the tradition of leaving hand and footprints in front of Grauman’s Chinese Theater in Hollywood got started?

By accident -- when silent film actress Norma Talmadge stepped on wet cement. (c) 2020 King Features Synd., Inc.

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December 10, 2020

WORD SEARCH Pants on Fire!

ANSWER TO WORD SEARCH ON PAGE 6

AMBIANCE

EVENING

PARTY

APPETIZER

EXCITEMENT

PLAYLIST

CATERING

FAVOR

PREP

CELEBRATE

GUEST

SEATING

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HOLIDAY

SETTING

DECOR

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MENU

WELCOME

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission has put out a timely warning about fire safety, especially for seniors. The main statistic is grim: We seniors make up about 16% of the population, but account for a whopping 77% of all clothing fires.

Cooking heads the list of dangers, with fires from the stovetop and oven. Closely following are fires from smoking and being outside burning trash and debris. Space heaters are on the list, of course.

The advice from the experts: • Don’t cook when you’re wearing a bathrobe or anything with long, wide sleeves. Any loose clothing can catch fire if you’re too close.

• If you burn debris and trash outside, stay back from the fire. A better idea, however, is not to do any outdoor burning yourself, especially if you have any health conditions such as heart or lung disease. We’re at a much higher risk from the air pollutants caused by burning.

• Don’t smoke in bed, ever, or when you feel tired.

• Keep an eye on your space heater. It’s far too easy to be too close to a space heater and not notice that your pants or robe are about to catch fire. Don’t run it if you’re feeling sleepy, and read the instructions to be sure it’s far enough away from you at all times.

• If the worst happens and your clothes catch fire, don’t run! Drop to the floor and roll, and keep rolling until the fire is out. Grab a blanket if it’s necessary to put the fire out. Call 911 and put cool water on your burns until help arrives.

• Do you have a fire extinguisher? Did you know that the chemicals inside can expire? They will typically last from five to 15 years, so be sure to check yours.

Remember that during this virus pandemic the EMTs might be delayed getting to you. Stay safe!? (c) 2020 King Features Synd., Inc

Beware the moose

ANSWER ON PAGE 6

Staff Cindy Melland Publisher Kimberly Brucks Advertising Manager KBrucks@desertentertainer.com

Jose De La Cruz Senior Graphic Designer news@desertmobilehomenews.com

Serving 110 Mobile Manufactured Home and RV Parks in the Coachella, Morongo and Yucca Valley for 65 years. The Mobile Home News is a household tradition for the 55+ manufactured home park and RV Park population. Available at clubhouses and racks in manufactured home parks. Also available in many area businesses and senior centers.

Businesses or private parties interested in advertising to the 55+ community please call 760-365-3315.

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News, photos or editorial submissions or story ideas should be sent to news@desertmobilehomenews.com All delivery issues should be directed to Ahkto Distribution at distribution@ahkto.com or call 760-459-4204

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Titles registered and all contents copyright 2020

by Hi-Desert Publishing Co. All rights reserved.

Officials in Alberta, Canada are warning drivers to watch out for salt-seeking moose, warning them not to let the moose “lick your car,” says the Association of Mature American Citizens. The moose population is on the rise in Alberta and more and more of them are heading to the roads in and around Jasper National Park where traffic can be heavy and slow, giving the critters an easy opportunity to lick road salt off of cars. It seems that moose have an affinity for salt. They usually head for salt lakes to get their saline rations, but it’s easier for them to lick cars, which in win-

ter are likely to be covered in anti-skid road salt. The authorities are concerned that drivers might think it’s “cute” to let moose lick the salt off their cars; they can get used to it and make driving extra hazardous. As a spokesman for a Park spokesman put it: “Moose and cars are not a good mix. If you hit the moose with your car, you take the legs out from under it and it’s going through your windshield.”

The Association of Mature American Citizens [www.amac.us] provides the Filler Files as a service on issues of concern to Americans over 50.

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December 10, 2020

Holiday Decorations Can be Dangerous Dear Paw’s Corner: My aunt was admiring the wreath I made from natural materials, and during the conversation she mentioned that the berries might be poisonous to my cat, “Darwin.” If this is true, should I remove them from the wreath? — Katie V., Boise, Idaho Dear Katie: Unfortunately, yes. If the wreath is accessible to your pets and an ingredient on it may be toxic, you will need to remove that ingredient and replace it — either with a nontoxic alternative or a silk or plastic equivalent.

Dogs and cats alike can be at risk from certain plants, berries and leaves that are common during the holiday season. Holly, mistletoe,

lilies and amaryllis all are toxic to pets. Cats are especially known for being attracted to lilies, and they can climb to just about any point in a house, so it’s important to avoid having these around at all.

Artificial decorations can also pose a danger. Tinsel is the biggest no-no in a pet household; cats that ingest the sparkly strings can suffer intestinal blockage.

Plus, it’s not great for the environment. Breakable ornaments, especially those thin glass bulbs that cats love to bat around, can shatter and cut their paws. And if a cat or dog ingests the broken material ... well, I don’t want to think about that.

Candles can singe curious noses and wayward tails; use electric or battery-powered instead. Strings of lights pose a tangling and choking risk; place them up high, in a hard to access spot, and attach them securely using staples so a pet can’t pull them down. Coil extra electrical cord and fasten with a twist tie so pets don’t get tangled.

Keep your holidays safe for pets, and they’ll stay merry, just like you. (c) 2020 King Features Synd., Inc

An easy win ANSWER ON PAGE 6

Why strain your brain trying to win the lottery by coming up with a set of random numbers? The South African Lottery Commission says that a very lucky winner of a recent PowerBall drawing took home a prize equal to about 370,000 U.S. dollars with a numbers pick of the not-so-random sequence 5-6-7-8-9-10, according to the Association of Mature

American Citizens. The Commission says it uses a random number generator, but that sometimes it can come up with a simple sequence, though it’s rare.

The Association of Mature American Citizens [www.amac.us] provides the Filler Files as a service on issues of concern to Americans over 50.

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CROSSWORD

ANSWER TO

ACROSS 1. Crow species 4. Partner to flow 7. Male offspring 8. Sedate 10. Orange beverage 12. Pair of small hand drums 13. 12th month of Jewish civil year 14. Former Pirates star Jason 16. Computer company 17. Made angry 19. Beverage container

20. Charlize Theron film “__ Flux” 21. Localities 25. Consume 26. Don’t know when yet 27. Bed style 29. Make a low, continuous sound 30. Wrath 31. Pollinates flowers 32. Association 39. Prejudice 41. Unhealthy 42. Hasidic religious leader 43. Distinctive philosophy

4. When you hope to get there 5. Young children 6. Beloved hobbit 8. Pigpen 9. Wish harm upon 11. Quick=eyed (Scottish) 14. Scrooge’s phrase “__ Humbug” 15. One more 18. A ballplayer who only hits 19. Once vital TV part 20. Sixth month of Jewish civil year 22. Advantage PUZZLE ON PAGE 6 23. Type of tree 44. Short-term 24. Luke’s mentor memory __-Wan 45. In a good way 27. Life stories 46. Emperors 28. Vase of Ethiopia 29. Tiny 48. Imaginary line 31. Package (abbr.)

49. Of barium 32. A photog’s tool 50. One’s sense of 33. Wood self-esteem 34. One of the six 51. Man who noble gases behaves (abbr.) dishonorably 35. Pueblo people 52. Monetary unit of New Mexico 36. Wild goats DOWN 37. A way to comply 38. Horatio __, 1. Rear of British admiral (nautical) 39. Actress Leslie 2. He minds 40. Sir __ Newton the net 44. Pouch 3. Ring-shaped 47. Have already objects done

SUDOKU

// December 10, 2020

(look for solid colors that you can use all year long), holiday cards and decoration, but also next season’s winter wear. Things like scarves and gloves can be great bargains. And even coats can go on sale. Take advantage -- especially if you have kids -- and buy up.

• Inexpensive gift idea: On the front of an empty photo album or scrapbook, print out and arrange color photos of your recipient in a collage. Glue the photos to the front of the album and cover with a decoupage glaze, like Mod Podge.

Let dry and glaze again. You’ve just made a one-of-a-kind gift!

• If you are a re-gifter, always document from whom and in what year you received a gift. Then regift it to someone who will have little to no contact with that person. For example, if Aunt Emily from out of town sends you a lovely soap basket that you would never use, you could re-gift it for your office party.

• After-Christmas sales are a great time to buy not only gift wrap

Winter Citrus Fruit Salad • 1-2 limes • 1 tablespoon honey • 2 teaspoons poppy seeds • 2 grapefruits (1 red, 1 pink) • 4 oranges (combination of blood, navel and Cara Cara) • 1 clementine • 1/2 cup pomegranate seeds • Yogurt, for serving

• “Recycle in the new year by using wrapping supplies to help store your holiday decorations. The cardboard tube from gift wrap can be cut into smaller pieces, which you can wrap strands of tree or house lights around. Boxes can be put to use to hold ornaments or other decorations, and ribbon and bows that are still in good condition can be tucked away for re-use next year.” -- E.F. in Oregon • “Resolutions are a great idea, and, like a lot of people, last year I resolved to exercise more often. I keep a stationary bike in my living room, and I use it while I watch my favorite programs on television. It has helped me lose 8 pounds, and I feel much better. This year, I am going to resolve to volunteer to help others.” -- I.N. in Nebraska (c) 2020 King Features Synd., Inc. 1. Finely grate 2 teaspoons lime zest; reserve. Squeeze 3 tablespoons lime juice into small bowl, whisk in honey and poppy seeds.

2. Cut away peel and white pith of grapefruits, oranges and clementine, and slice into rounds. Arrange on platter, drizzle with lime dressing and sprinkle with lime zest and pomegranate seeds. Dollop with yogurt if desired. Makes 8 servings.

Each serving: About 85 calories, 1g fat (0 g saturated), 1g protein, 2mg sodium, 20g carb, 3g fiber. (c) 2020 Hearst Communications, Inc. All rights reserved

ANSWER TO SUDOKU ON PAGE6

Brain Teaser Two men play five games of checkers.

Each man wins the same number of games. There are no ties. Explain this.

ANSWER ON PAGE 6

See Answer on page 6

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December 10, 2020 EASY HOLIDAY PEPPERMINT BARK

• 1 pound good-quality chocolate confectionary coating, broken into pieces. (Look for it in the grocery baking section, sometimes labeled “almond bark” or “candy coating”) • 1 1/2 teaspoons pure peppermint extract

Peppermint Bark Is Taste of Holidays

• 12 ounces good-quality white vanilla-flavored confectionery coating, broken into pieces • 1/2 cup crushed candy canes 1. Line a baking sheet with foil sprayed with nonstick cooking spray.

The holiday season tastes like peppermint, and most of us can’t get enough. Peppermint mocha brightens the morning, peppermint ice cream makes us dreamy at night, and cute red-and-whitestriped candy canes evoke festive childhood memories during the hours in between.

While on the topic of peppermint whatevers, I can’t leave out yummy -- and trendy -- peppermint bark. Who can resist the sweet layers of dark and white chocolate topped with crunchy peppermint bits? The bright holiday tins filled with the confection at high-end kitchenware stores are tempting to buy, but they’re also pricey.

This year, make your own batch or two of peppermint bark with this easy, economical version using ingredients from the baking section and candy aisle of the grocery store. Older kids can melt candy coating (almond bark) in the microwave, while preschoolers pound candy canes into small bits with a toy hammer to sprinkle on top. Working together with you, the entire prep takes less than half an hour. The kids can scoot off to another activity while the bark cools and hardens.

2. In a microwave-safe bowl, heat chocolate coating, uncovered, for 90 seconds on high power, and stir. Continue to microwave and stir at 30-second intervals until almost melted. (Be sure to use a dry bowl and utensils.) Add 1 teaspoon peppermint extract, and stir until smooth.

3. Pour onto the foil-lined baking sheet. Spread evenly into a thin layer, approximately 10 by 14 inches.

4. In another microwave-safe bowl, heat white coating as in step 2. Add 1/2 teaspoon peppermint extract (optional), and stir until smooth.

Spoon evenly over chocolate layer, which should be setting up, but not hard, as you want the white layer to bond with the base layer.

5. Immediately sprinkle peppermint pieces over all and lightly press them into the white layer with a spatula or a spoon. Don’t wait on this step, or the top layer will harden and the candies won’t stick.

6. Let stand for an hour or refrigerate until hardened. Break into pieces. Makes about 1 3/4 pounds. (c) 2020 Donna Erickson Distributed by King Features Syndicate

ANSWER ON PAGE 6

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WordSearch Answer

CryptoQuote Answer

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December 10, 2020

Crossword Answer

If someone had a wide variety of moral principles, would you call it ethic diversity?

Stickelers Answer

Inspirational Quote

Sudoku Answer

“Christmas is not as much about opening our presents as opening our hearts.”

Janice Maeditere

Go Figure Answer

Trivia Answers 1. “My Heart Will Go On” 2. A rope-soled canvas shoe 3. Ford Motor Co. 4. Bouvier 5. Dried fruits and spices 6. New Orleans, Louisiana. The

other nickname is The Big Easy.

7. A puffling 8. Charmin bathroom tissue 9. Cathay 10. 1960

Hitori Answer

(c) 2020 King Features Synd., Inc.

Brain Teaser Answer The two men were not playing each other.

Where to Live After Leaving the Service?

A quarter of a million of us leave the service every year, and where do we go? If our last duty station was in a great place, we might just put down roots and stay. Some of us go home. And some of us have no idea where to go.

The Navy Federal Credit Union came out with another “best of” list recently, and this time it surveys the best place to live after transitioning to civilian life.

While the focus of their survey

was for newly transitioned veterans, it also applies to those of us who have been out for a while.

Support is support.

They polled 1,000 veterans and civilians about the importance of crime rates, cost of living, housing costs, outdoor recreation and community diversity in any place they wanted to live, and then ranked over 400 cities. Here are the Top 10: 1) Charleston, South Carolina; 2) Fort Myers, Florida; 3) Savannah, Georgia; 4) Daphne, Alabama; 5) Norwich, Connecticut; 6) San Diego; 7) Norfolk, Virginia; 8) Duluth, Minnesota; 9) Gulfport, Mississippi; 10) Fort Worth, Texas.

To see the descriptions and highlights for each of those cities, go online to navyfederal.org/ resources/articles/news/2020-bestcities-after-service.php Personally, I think they should

have made “good weather” as one of the criteria for a decent place to live.

On another note, if you have a few extra dollars, go online to Operation Homefront (operation homefront.org) and scroll to the bottom. There you’ll find the Urgent Needs listing of both active duty and veterans who’ve run into a snag and need cash donations. Click on See All Needs to find the filter to select by state, program or military branch. Read a few of the stories of veterans in trouble and see if any touch your heart. If you can’t choose, click on Help Feed a Military Family.

They’ll get gift certificates and vouchers, plus food boxes. Then, open your wallet and help as much as you can. (c) 2020 King Features Synd., Inc.

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DesertMobileHomeNews.com station’s office, while the 22-foottall cowboy boots housed the men’s and the women’s restrooms.

On Dec. 10, 1690, a near-mutiny forces the Massachusetts Bay Colony to issue the first paper currency in the Western Hemisphere. Soldiers were typically paid in coins, but shortages forced armies to temporarily issue IOUs -- in one case, in the form of cut-up playing cards.

On Dec. 11, 1978, a half dozen masked robbers raid the Lufthansa Airlines cargo building at JFK Airport in New York, making off with more than $5 million in cash ($20 million in today’s dollars) and almost $1 million in jewelry.

On Dec. 12, 1989, Leona Helmsley, nicknamed the “Queen of Mean,” is sentenced to four years in prison, 750 hours of community service and a $7.1 million taxfraud fine in New York. Helmsley once quipped that “only the little people pay taxes.”

On Dec. 13, 2003, in Seattle, the iconic Hat ‘n’ Boots Tex Gas Station is hauled away from the spot where it had stood for almost 50 years. The 44-foot-wide Stetson hat had perched atop the filling

On Dec. 14, 1909, workers place the last of the 3.2 million 10-pound bricks that pave the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

Since then, most of that brick has been buried under asphalt, but 1 yard remains exposed at the startfinish line. Kissing those bricks after a successful race remains a tradition among Indy drivers.

On Dec. 15, 1973, Jean Paul Getty III, the grandson of American billionaire J. Paul Getty, is found alive near Naples, Italy, five months after his kidnapping.

Getty had initially refused to pay the ransom, but agreed after the boy’s severed right ear was sent to a newspaper in Rome.

On Dec. 16, 1998, President Bill Clinton announces he has ordered air strikes against Iraq because it refused to cooperate with United Nations weapons inspectors. Key members of Congress accused Clinton of using the air strikes to divert attention from ongoing impeachment proceedings against him. (c) 2020 Hearst Communications, Inc. All Rights Reserved

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December 10, 2020

The first Christmas card If you’re looking for a special Christmas card this year, you might want to consider purchasing a copy of the very first Christmas card, a gem of a holiday greeting designed by Henry Cole, John Calcott Horsley and Joseph Cundall in 1843. Copies of the original are available from online vendors for as little as six and a half bucks, says the Association of Mature American Citizens. But if you are fussy about such things and want one of the original cards to send to a

special friend or relation, it is said that there were about 1,000 of the first card printed and some 30 of them are still around. In fact, one of those originals is up for sale by Marvin Getman, a Boston book dealer. But it will cost you a bit more than $6.50—his price tag for an original is $25,000.

The Association of Mature American Citizens [www.amac.us] provides the Filler Files as a service on issues of concern to Americans over 50.