A look inside...
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5 Cold Weather Comfort Foods
11 Oak Grove Racing • Gaming • Hotel
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Preparing Thanksgiving Turkey 3 Ways
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Under the Hood of Your Smart TV
Winterizing Your Home
Editor Nathan Bonar
Contributors Dave Marshall Alex Zapetis
Publisher Creative ink
Creative Director Sears Hallett
Advertising
Kristi Williams 270-484-0463 kristi@creativeinktn.com
Photography Paula Hallett mixthatdrink.com
It has been longer than I wanted since I last wrote one of these letters. As we have all come to write frequently, I hope you are doing well. This issue is really a mish mash of the coming season. During harvest we have an abundance of options to choose from, and so we have elected to use this format to mimic autumn’s crops. We have several notable recipes to help ease you into the fall spirit of flavors and scents, including 3 different ways to prepare your Thanksgiving turkey. Also, we get the chance to meet Paul Rhodes in our Spotlight interview, where we get to learn about his attraction to the Tropical Smoothie Café franchise, and why they call him Mr. Amazing.
Nathan Bonar, Editor nathan@creativeinktn.com
Deposit Photos: Cover, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 15, 19
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Comfort food is a dish that holds a special place in all of our hearts. It is what we turn to after a long stressful week at work, when the weather outside is frightful, or when we have been down on our luck. It brings a sense of peace and comfort as soon as that first spoonful hits the taste buds. Everyone’s go-to comfort food dish is different, and that is what can be so interesting. Double Chocolate Orange Cream Cheese Brownies
by OneCreativeMommy.com
Brownie layer: 1 box Krusteaz Gluten Free Double Chocolate Brownie Mix 1 ⁄3 cup water • 1⁄3 cup vegetable oil • 1 egg Orange Cream Cheese layer: 4 oz cream cheese • 1 egg white • 1⁄4 cup sugar 2 tsp gluten free flour blend 1 ⁄2 tsp vanilla • zest from one medium orange Lightly grease your 8 x 8 baking dish, and preheat oven to 325°. Prepare brownies according to package directions, and pour into baking dish. Set aside. Using an electric mixer, beat cream cheese, orange zest, and sugar until blended. Add egg white, flour and vanilla, and blend until smooth. Carefully pour cream cheese mixture over the brownies and smooth to cover the entire top. Run a knife through the layers to marble. You can make a pretty design, or just swirl the knife around. Bake 48-52 minutes. (Add 5 minutes to bake time if using a glass dish.) Fresh Raspberry Sauce 2 cups fresh or frozen raspberries (slightly thaw if frozen) • 2 T sugar • 1⁄2 T lemon juice fresh raspberries for garnish (optional) In high speed blender, layer berries, sugar and lemon juice and blend until smooth. Pour sauce through a fine mesh sieve and discard the seeds. (If you want to skip this step, you can use the soup button on the blender. It will pulverize the seeds, but it will also cook the sauce. That will change the flavor–making it more of a syrup than a sauce.) Drizzle sauce over brownies and garnish with fresh raspberries to serve.
Green Bean Casserole
by Callie Bryan
4 cans of green beans • 2 cans of cream of mushroom soup 2 tsp garlic powder Salt and Pepper to Taste • ½ Can of French’s Fried Onions Pre-heat your oven to 350 F. Drain your can of green beans, and place them in a large oven safe pan. Add in your mushroom soup and seasoning. Mix well. Stir in half of your fried onions. Top the mixture with more fried onions. Bake for 20 minutes at 350F. 3
Jalapeno Cheddar Cornbread by Joyce Ann Acosta
1 cup cornmeal • 1 cup flour • 1 tsp baking powder 1 ⁄2 tsp baking soda • 1⁄2 cup salted butter 1 ⁄3 cup white sugar • 2 tbsp honey • 1 large egg 1 ⁄2 cup buttermilk • 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese 1 ⁄4 cup diced jalapeno peppers In a bowl, combine flour, cornmeal, baking soda and baking powder. In another bowl, whisk buttermilk, honey, egg and melted butter. Mix wet ingredients into dry ingredients. Fold in the cheese and jalapenos. Coat cast iron pan with a little bit of oil and pour the batter over. Bake in the oven for30 minutes at 350 F.
Cheese Lover’s Mac and Cheese
by Joyce Ann Acosta
8 oz elbow macaroni, uncooked • 1 can 12oz evaporated milk 1 1⁄2 cups whole milk • 4 tbsp unsalted, melted butter 1 tsp paprika • 1 tsp salt • 1 tsp pepper • 1 cup provolone cheese 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese (cut into small pieces) ½ cup smoked gouda cheese, shredded Topping: 1 ⁄2 cup panko breadcrumbs • 4 tbsp unsalted butter, melted Spray crockpot with cooking spray. Mix in macaroni, evaporated milk, milk, butter, salt, pepper, paprika and all the cheese. In a small bowl, combine panko breadcrumbs, melted butter and paprika. Sprinkle over the top.Cover and cook on low heat for 3 hours and 15 minutes.Stir and serve hot
Slow Cooker Broccoli and Cheese Soup by Amy Ran
14-16 ounces of frozen broccoli • 1 sweet yellow onion diced 1 ⁄4 tsp. garlic powder • 1⁄4 tsp. pepper • 32 oz. chicken broth 1 ⁄4 cup corn starch • 1 Cup heavy cream • 1 lb Velveeta Add in your frozen broccoli, pepper, onion, and garlic powder to your crockpot. In a separate bowl, whisk together your corn starch and chicken broth until smooth. Pour the broth mixture over your vegetable in the crockpot. Stir, and let cook for 4 hours on high. Then, add in your heavy cream and cheese. Mix, and let cook for 30 more minutes. Serve and enjoy!
Thanksgiving Turkey 3 Ways
Traditional Roasted Turkey
Ingredients
Think of going to Grandma’s house for Thanksgiving. A chill in the air, the joining of family and of course the smell of a turkey roasting in the oven. Lots of small talk, playing with cousins, and plenty of waiting for the fantastic meal. Turkey, gravy, mashed potatoes, stuffing, peas, and cranberry sauce. Just thinking about it makes my mouth water. If it’s traditional that you are after here’s the recipe for a golden brown, juicy turkey for Thanksgiving.
1 (18 lb) Whole Turkey 1 ⁄2 cup unsalted butter (softened) • Salt & ground black pepper to taste 1 1⁄2 quarts turkey stock • 8 cups prepared stuffing
Directions 1. Completly thaw turkey. Follow thawing instructions on packaging. 2. Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Place rack in the lowest portion of the oven. 3. Remove the turkey neck and giblets, rinse the turkey and pat dry with paper towels. Place the turkey, breast side up, on a rack in the roasting pan. Loosely fill the body cavity with stuffing. Rub the skin with the softened butter, and season with salt and pepper. Position an aluminum foil tent over the turkey. 4. Place turkey in the oven, and pour 2 cups turkey stock into the bottom of the roasting pan. Baste all over every 30 minutes with the juices on the bottom of the pan. Whenever the drippings evaporate, add stock to moisten them, about 1 to 2 cups at a time. Remove aluminum foil after 2 1⁄2 hours. Roast until a meat thermometer inserted in the meaty part of the thigh reads 180 degrees, about 4 hours. 5. Transfer the turkey to a large serving platter, and let it stand for at about 30 minutes before carving.
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Deep-Fried Turkey Looking for a new twist for your Thanksgiving meal? Deep-frying a turkey provides a juicy and rapidly cooked alternative. The deep-frying process seals in the juices inside so the turkey stays flavorful and moist. A 15 pound turkey will take about 45 minutes to fry and will remain hot and juicy in a cooler overnite. You must make sure the turkey is completly defrosted, also you can’t stuff the bird, so stuffing and gravy will have to be made elsewhere.
Ingredients 1 (15- to 18-pound) fresh turkey • Peanut oil for frying (about 4 gallons)
Directions 1. Remove giblets and the neck. Rinse the turkey inside and out and pat it dry with paper towels. Trim most of the excess fat and skin from the neck and cavity to allow for better frying. 2. Place the turkey on a cutting board or baking sheet and coat it evenly with a rub of choice, including inside the cavity. Place the turkey in a plastic bag and allow to rest in the refrigerator overnight. 3. Heat the oil in a turkey fryer until it registers 350°F. Let the turkey sit at room temperature for 30 minutes. Remove it from the bag and lightly blot it with paper towels to remove excess moisture. Place the turkey on the frying rack, drumsticks pointing upward as though it’s doing a headstand. Use the grab hook to very slowly lower the turkey into the heated oil; Wear heatproof gloves and safety goggles, and do not drop the turkey into the oil. 4. Once the turkey is completely submerged, remove the hook. Fry for about 3 minutes per pound or until the juices run clear and a thermometer inserted into the inner part of the thigh reads 155°F. 5. Use the grab hook to slowly remove the turkey from the oil, allowing sufficient time for the hot oil to drain away. Place the turkey and rack on a rimmed baking sheet set on the ground, and let them sit a few minutes before moving to allow any extra oil to drain. Let the turkey rest for at least 15 minutes. Remove it from the rack and carve.
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Grilled Turkey
Ingredients
Are you the outdoors type and realize that nothing is better than what comes off the grill? A grilled turkey is tasty, juicy and has won many competitions in head-to-head match-ups with a roasted bird. You can still make gravy with the drippings and can add additional flavors with smoking wood chips. Apple chips really add a nice touch.
1 (12 lb) Whole Turkey 1 tablespoon vegetable oil • 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning salt and pepper to taste
Directions 1. Prepare an outdoor grill for indirect medium-high heat (as close to 350 degrees as possible). 2. Rinse turkey and pat dry. Turn wings back to hold neck skin in place. Return legs to tucked position. Brush turkey with oil. Season inside and out with Italian seasonings, salt, and pepper. 3. Place turkey breast-side up on the grill. Place drip pan directly underneath the turkey. The drip pan can be made from aluminum foil. Grill 2 to 3 hours, to an internal thigh temperature of 180 degrees (juices should run clear). Remove turkey from grill and let stand 20-25 minutes before carving.
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The new Oak Grove Racing, Gaming & Hotel entertainment center is located in Oak Grove, KY, just a quick spin away and right across from Fort Campbell. The $200 million facility boasts over 1,300 gaming machines, 5/8-mile harness racing track, four restaurants, three bars and the Grandstand Event Center. In accordance with local, state and Centers for Disease Control guidelines, Oak Grove Gaming is operating under reduced capacity due to Covid-19. Guests and team members must pass temperature scans and Covid Questionnaires in order to enter the facility. Masks are required unless guests are actively eating and drinking and social distancing is enforced. The 100,000-square-foot gaming floor features state-ofthe-art Historic Racing Machines (HRMs) that offer pari mutuel wagering with some of the best themes from Ainsworth, Scientific Games and International Gaming Technology. Dining and beverage options include Garrison Oak Steakhouse, quick serve eateries Sgt. Peppers Burgers and Po’Boys and Lucky Lime Tex Mex, and O’Dark Thirty Coffee House. The second phase of the Oak Grove project will opened in October 2020 and includes a hotel, Equestrian Center, Outdoor Amphitheater and a 30 slip RV Park. The hotel has 128 rooms including 12 suites and a 2,200-square-foot Presidential suite with its own pool table. 9
Several of the suites face the 5/8-mile harness racing track that will hosts its second live racing schedule now thru November 11. The races will be featured as matinees during the week with 8-10 races per day and will be open to the public. The facility also offers a Simulcast Betting Area to allow real time wagering on not only the races at Oak Grove, but throughout the country.
Another highlight of the facility is the Garrison Oak Steakhouse, the elegant dining space features curved mahogany ceiling and richly decorated oversized booth seating that will take you on a culinary journey exceeding your expectations. The quality of the food, the energy, and the impeccable service all combine to ensure your dining pleasures transcend like no other. Executive Chef Phillip Winkler and his All-Star culinary team have sourced the finest beef, pork, chicken and cold water seafood and brought them right here for your enjoyment. Reservations are strongly recommended and can be made online from the Oak Grove Gaming website.
MAJ(R) Paul Rhodes I had the great pleasure of meeting Mr. Rhodes in his establishment: Tropical Smoothie Café on Madison Street. This is a great location that I have visited many times before this chance encounter with the entrepreneur who is doing everything he can to give back to his community. Over the span of time we met, Mr. Rhodes and I got to talk about his goals and what keeps him pushing forward. We sat on the booth that lines the wall in his seating area for our interview, and this is what Paul had to tell us:
What is your backstory? I’m originally from Cincinnati, Ohio, I graduated from Woodward High School’s Academy of Math and Science. It was the early version of STEM. I lived there until one day after my 18th birthday when I went to join the United States Army as a Military Policeman.
How did you get into the military? The primary influence was my uncle Virgil Rhodes. He had served three tours in Vietnam. He retired after 30 years of service in the military as a Sergeant Major. As I was trying to find out what to do with my life after school, I wasn’t very fond of joining corporate America and working for the “so called” man, I didn’t believe in academia at the time because I had a strong belief that I could teach myself anything with books in the library, which is funny because I went to join the ultimate man in serving our country, then I went on to grab a master’s degree. He [Virgil Rhodes] basically explained to me what military life was like and, based upon that, I reached out my to local recruiter the summer before my senior year of high school and went on from there.
What can you tell us about your military career? I joined the military in August of 1990, one day after my 18th birthday.I went to Fort McClellan, Alabama to take up one station unit training as a Military Policeman. While I was there I met my wife at church, we will be married 29 years this November. From there, I went to my first duty station in Korea. I’d always wanted to travel. Before I joined the military, I studied martial arts for about 7 years, the style was Tang Soo Do, which was a Korean art, so I wanted to go to Korea to learn from the schools there. I truly enjoyed my time there in Korea where my wife and I dated until we got married. From there, we went to Fort Benning, Georgia, where I was a traffic accident investigator. We were the first CONIS installation to generate over $1 million in traffic citations. From there, I ended up going back to Korea for the second time, where I finally earned my stripes as NCO. At that time, my wife was going through Army Nursing School, taking advantage of one of the Army’s opportunities to grow and she became an Army Nurse. She was at the time staying at Fort Benning, Georgia, and I got PCS’d to Korea, so we were at two different places at the time. While at Fort Benning, I did my first deployment to Saudi Arabia, to the Port of Bahrain. It was a very interesting deployment. The first night we got to Saudi Arabia, we stayed on the deck of a swimming pool for an apartment complex. But, from there, after going to Korea a second time, my wife and I went to Fort Hood Texas where she spent time as her first commissioned assignment. At Fort Hood I progressed in the ranks from sergeant to staff sergeant and had my second deployment to Bosnia. In Bosnia, I performed duties as a protective services detail for the M&D North Command Sergeant Major. The cool thing about that assignment in addition to my job, I got to be in charge of R&R, which at the time had just moved from Thailand to Croatia, so I had the honor of going down there with a couple other soldiers to establish the ability for soldiers to go to Croatia for R&R, and I made a liaison with the local police, with different various club owners and stop shop owners. It allowed soldiers to relax there, which is a pretty good environment. After going back to Fort Hood, we end up PCS’ing to Fort Knox, where I spent time as a drill sergeant. 11
continued on page 13
I never wanted to be a drill sergeant; however, it was one of the most rewarding positions of my career. Really, just to see the eyes light up when a young person who really didn’t have any direction or an idea about life , to know they’re going to be a productive citizen, whether they stayed in the military or not, it was a great feeling to be a part of that process. While we were in Texas, we had our daughter, right before going to drill sergeant duty. While I was at Fort Knox, I had the honor of being identified as drill sergeant of the year, being selected for the Sergeant Audie Murphy Club. It was a really good time there being able to help other soldiers out and certain things, like a lot of great leaders and mentors there that truly shaped me. Another stand out event that happened at Fort Knox was an NCO Ball, one of the guest speakers talked about the good ol’ days, and basically, the jist of the conversation was “today is the good ol’ days, for you” because in his “good ol’ days” leadership had to walk around armed with .45 caliber pistols because during the Vietnam War, soldiers would actually try to kill their chain of command. Now we have a lot more disciplined soldier. It was a good learning process to appreciate what you have now, when you look at what they dealt with in the past. Leaving Fort Knox I went to Germany and had the opportunity to serve with the Europe Regional Medical Command as a physical security NCO, where I provided security for one medical center, two hospitals and about 39 clinics all throughout Europe. Great, great time. It was there where I was president of the Audie Murphy Club, which was a great honor. I wasn’t on the board to become a master sergeant, but several senior NCO’s and sergeant majors told me that the Army needs good officers and, while they thought I would make an outstanding sergeant major or senior NCO, they thought that I could help the NCO corps in the Army better by becoming an officer. So, with their counsel and commanding general’s endorsement, I put in an OCS packet, and after 16-years as an enlisted soldier, I became a commissioned officer. At that time, my wife had made major and she was also in Germany, where our son was born. Another time, we deployed to Iraq, which was a 15-month deployment, and I had the honor of my first sergeant and commander identifying me as a second lieutenant who got to take on the most challenging platoon; it had a lot of personnel issues. In about 6-months we became the top platoon in the company. We were the only platoon separated from our company headquarters, operating under a different unit altogether. We had a great time there, which allowed me to become our company XO, and we also implemented several systems and turn around functions that allowed us to do great things. Leaving from there, I got to go to the Captain Career Course, and went over to Fort Campbell and did my time as a company commander there with the 2nd BCT Strike. I had the unique opportunity to step out of my comfort zone and fought to go to an MP company, but it was ordained that I go to a brigade combat team where I had the honor of leading a brigade special troops battalion. I had one more PCS after 2nd brigade, where I got to lead a staff and HHC and newer platoons, a hybrid company. During my last PCS, I was offered a position with promotion based on my actions that I turned down to come back to my family and came back to Fort Campbell for my last duty station where I got assigned to the G-33 within the HQ of 101st, where I retired as a major with 28-years of service. 13
Why did you stay in Clarksville for retirement? While traveling in the military, one of the biggest challenges we had was our children adapting to moving. Our daughter had a tough transition from Germany to Fort Leonard Wood. Just the culture is different and coming to America where we are in your face. We came to Clarksville and she felt like she had a home and getting some friends. My daughter thrived her senior year: homecoming queen, president of the yearbook club, vice president of the senior class. My son, he played soccer here from about 8-years old, he did music with several people, guitar and piano. He transitioned a bit better moving from base to base. They felt at home here, my wife came here as an Army retiree, and she could get involved in the community. Then as I prepared for retirement, I spent time as a fitness trainer to help me to get used to dealing with non-military folks, and then to humble myself into being a doer again. Being in charge for so long, I wasn’t quite sure, I had an idea what my future would hold, but I wanted to do simple stuff, like, you know, be the guy who mops the floor not because I had to but because I wanted to. The top places we talked about retiring were Clarksville, Huntsville, Tampa, and Wilmington. Tampa and Wilmington got taken off the list immediately because of hurricanes and weather. Huntsville, my mother is from there, but purchasing some property didn’t work out, so it was like, you know what, we are already here, it’s a great place.
How did you get involved with Tropical Smoothie Cafe? Through the military I got the hands-on experience, leadership experience and financing to do something on my own. In 2006, when I didn’t make the master sergeant list, I started looking at my options, around 2005 I started planning for retirement, 20 years would have been 2010, I started heavily looking at different businesses opportunities or options in life, of what I wanted to do, and I still didn’t want to work for anybody. At that time, I was close to having my bachelor’s degree, had my associate’s degree, and once my mentors had convinced me to go to OCS, my mind had it turned off on retiring, so I start studying franchises. Looking for what’s next, I found Tropical Smoothie Café. As I found going to Huntsville, they already had a Tropical Smoothie Café there, and my family didn’t want to do that there, so I reached out to them to get information about this company. I found out there’s an opportunity here, and in traveling back and forth from Fort Leonard Wood to Fort Campbell, there happened to be a Tropical Smoothie Café built near one of the recruiting centers I was responsible for in Paducah, KY, when I was a Company Commander, and I stopped there and one night I called my wife and I said, I think I found something, so she said bring me something, and I brought her a sample of the smoothie and the food, she was like, yeah! We went there and reached out to corporate to look at it, and at the same time I was actually looking at Title Boxing Club because, as I said, like at this time, this is 2015 or 2016, so I have been studying franchises over 10 years now. One big thing was, does it match our values as a family? When I was a trainer at Title Boxing Club, I got to talk to the owners and learn the ins-and-outs of the business operating, and I had the fortune of being on some of their franchisee leads. I didn’t feel that company was really for us based on how they operate toward the franchisee versus Tropical Smoothie Café. Their values include solid relationships, the creative spirit, play to win, and live better. I also took advice from friends and family and became a local realtor so I could extend the ways I help the community. Now, I can help that new soldier find his home when he comes to Clarksville. I give them the red carpet treatment because I don’t take on too many clients. I chose this side [Madison Street] of town because I am comfortably uncomfortable, I had to get away from my comfort zone which is Fort Campbell. I joined the community through things like Rotary Club, board member for the Battleground Perazim, which is a non-profit for veterans and their families. I assist my wife with her non-profit, Mindful Kids Inc.; I participate with the non-profit, I’m Invisible, which is anti-bullying, anti-suicide organization. In our café we support non-profit organizations as well including: Operation Stand Down Tennessee, which helps veterans, Loaves and Fishes, I’m Invisible, and Mindful Kids Inc. Our goal is to help build up our community by doing our part and planting seeds in our crew members’ hearts.
Any Advice you want to give for someone newly retired? I actually talk about this topic a lot with friends who are currently retiring and soldiers I served with. The biggest thing is start planning. You know, the longer you’re in the military you learn about the planning process. Whether it’s we have deployment coming up or we have a physical fitness test coming up, start planning. What’s next, don’t wait until the last second because that last year goes so fast, and as you get older you start finding out, you know, the longer you live, a year isn’t really that long at all. Just start planning for whatever it is after you get out of the military. If you choose to retire from the military, and you receive a retirement, focus on what brings you joy in life versus chasing the dollar. I’ve had several friends who chased the dollar, and it didn’t fulfill the passion they wanted in life. Some of them had dream jobs that turned out to be nightmares. If you deployed and put your life on the line for our nation, why would one willingly go into a hostile work environment, unless it brings them joy and pleasure. So just plan and think about what brings you joy. Don’t be afraid of change. Embrace it. Start looking out there toward those options.
Fuzzy Blue Gobbler 1 part peach schnapps 1 part Maui Blue 1 part Wild Turkey Pour the ingredients into a shot glass. Serve and drink. William’s Caramel Appletini 1 1⁄2 ounces gin 1 ounce Apple Jolly Rancher vodka/rum 1 ⁄2 ounce Salted Caramel vodka/rum Drink recipes and photos courtesy of mixthatdrink.com
Fill a shaker with ice cubes. Pour in all ingredients. Shake for 10-20 seconds. Strain the mixture into the glass and serve.
Port Elderflower Original Drink 1 1⁄2 ounces light rum 1 ounce port 3 ⁄4 ounce St. Germain Elderflower Liqueur Brandy Alexander 1 1⁄2 ounces brandy 1 ounce dark creme de cacao 1 ounce half-and-half 1 ⁄4 teaspoon grated nutmeg Fill a shaker halfway with ice cubes. Pour in the brandy, creme de cacao, and the half-and-half. Shake well and strain into a cocktail glass. Sprinkle the grated nutmeg over the top. 16
Fill a cocktail shaker with ice. Add all three ingredients. Shake well until chilled. Strain the mixture into an old-fashioned glass.
If you have a SmartTV, then you have an endless amount of entertainment opportunities at your fingertips. A SmartTV allows you to watch so much more than just Netflix, Hulu, Disney Plus. There are so many unique apps just waiting for you to discover them!
Youtube is extremely popular, but it is not just a random video locator anymore. It has developed into so much more. Youtube has popular music videos, playlists, original series, movies, and more. You can get lost in the app when searching through some amazing content. Vudu has a ton of free movies directly in the app just waiting for you to watch them. Registration is quick and easy, and only takes a few minutes. They are constantly uploading new movies and original classics to their platform. Did you know that there are other platforms that are similar to Youtube? Veoh allows you to search and filter videos by length, language, and genre. This would be perfect for someone trying to learn another language through videos. You can watch new movies on this platform without ever having to take out your credit card. They even have an area that lets you know which movies will be leaving the app soon, so that you can prioritize those films. Every app seems to make you go through the hassle of creating an account, except for this one! You can watch thousands of movies as soon as you open the app. It also has some pretty neat customizable features for you to check out as well. HBO has some popular shows come through its platform. A few include Game of Thrones and Euphoria. You don’t have to have cable to enjoy these shows either. They can be found directly on the HBO Now app and are ready to be streamed. Ted Talks is an extremely popular global community that is known for their motivational and informative discussions. Their videos would be great to play in the background when cleaning up your home or doing other chores.
This app is an interactive and fun app that will cover animals, entertainment, science, technology and cultures from around the world with exceptional photography. Every SmartTV app doesn’t have to revolve around movies. If you can’t find a great movie on other platforms, stop by Crackle. They have free movies that are just waiting for you to watch them while holding a bucket of popcorn! One of the most popular SmartTV apps. Everyone knows about this one, but there is a reason for that. It offers live tv, original tv series, movies, and more. It allows you to watch cable shows without the cable. If you have an Amazon Prime account, then you already have access for many free movies, tv shows, and children’s videos. This app also allows you to download videos to your tablet whenever you’re on a road trip or out and about. SlingTV allows you to watch all the great cable tv shows and sports events, but without paying those high cable tv package prices. It isn’t free but is relatively cheaper than cable. Want to keep your kids busy for hours? Then purchase a Disney Plus subscription. It has every Disney movie known to man, as well as other popular documentaries, TV shows, and more. There is always something to watch on Disney Plus. Xumo is a free SmartTV app that has a ton of free television channels and movies right at your fingertips. Did we mention it is free? There are a ton of news channels and reality tv shows that are broadcast on the app. It is worth checking out. Apple TV is another great platform filled with children’s shows, movies, tv series, documentaries, and more. It is a paid subscription service, but currently is offering a 7 day free trial to check it out. Fawesome has over 10,000 movies and shows from 25 genres including Action, Thriller, Horror, Comedy, Family and 250+ Free Channels. No subscription. Instant streaming. Fawesome.tv is also available on Roku, FireTV, AppleTV, and all major mobile devices.
Stream hundreds of hit movies, TV shows and more on the go with The Roku Channel, use it as a second remote, enjoy private listening, and more. The free Roku mobile app makes it easy and fun to control your Roku player and Roku TV™. 18
Thankfully, the Fort Campbell area does not face too harsh of a winter. We may get a few inches of snow, and freezing rain here and there, but winters tend to be mild. With this being said, it is still important to prepare your home for the colder temperatures to come. You do not want to be unprepared when the first freezing temperature hits.
Check Your Door Seals If you can see light coming through your door frame, then it is time to update your weather seal. Any small gap or tear in the seal can allow the cold air to sneak into your home. Not only will it cause a draft near your entry ways, but it can also cause your heating bill to rise. Clean Out Your Gutters Due to Fall causing all the trees to shed their leaves, many homes face the issue of clogged gutters. To avoid being out in the harsh climate, clean out your gutters before the temperatures drop too drastically. Check Your HVAC System You do not want to turn on your heat to discover it not functioning properly when you need it. If your system has not been serviced in a while, go ahead and call a technician. They can get your appointment scheduled for a routine maintenance check, and you will not be hit with a surprise when the temperature starts to plummet. Test Out Your Fire Detectors Did you know that winter is the time of the year that most house fires occur? Between the blasting furnace, fireplace burning, or your favorite candle flickering, you want to keep your family safe incase a fire was to break out. Protect Your Patio Furniture Do you have a nice hammock, umbrella chair set, or even a grill currently sitting on your back patio? If so, now is the time to purchase some covers for them. This will protect them from the weather to come, and it will keep them nice and pristine for next Spring. Scope Out Your Attic To avoid your attic becoming a critter hotel, check out the base of your structure to locate any openings. Even the smallest ones can attract animals such as squirrels, rats, birds, and bats. Remember, they are trying to find a warm place to stay, and your attic would be paradise for them. 19
Above and beyond the call of duty As one of the most relied-upon branches of the Army, the military police receive the least amount of the spotlight compared to other branches. But it’s their unwavering willingness to go above and beyond the call of duty that sets these branches apart, and the Fort Campbell’s 716th Military Police Battalion is the perfect example of this after more than 70 years of service to multiple installations around the U.S. Originally installed in January 1942, at Fort Wadsworth, New York, the 716th’s main responsibilities included internment of prisoners of war and security for war stockpiles and railroad yards in New York, New Jersey and North Africa. The 716th also provided general police duties for the New York and New Jersey areas for the duration of the war. The two most famous actions of the 716th come from later on in their history, during the civil rights era and Vietnam War. The first of these follows the 1962 story of 29-year-old James Meredith, an African-American Mississippi man with a history of military service and stellar academic records. These credentials seemed to not be enough for the University of Mississippi, as Meredith’s application was denied with no real reason given for the denial, so Meredith brought his case to court, alleging the university had refused him based on the color of his skin. And the court sided with him, permitting his attendance to the university. And it took a 12,000 soldier effort, including the 716th Military Police Battalion, to regain order after the riots ensued at the University of Mississippi. With help in part from the 716th, Meredith became the first African-American graduate from the University of Mississippi and later received his law degree from Columbia Law School. The 716th’s involvement in the Vietnam War took a much higher toll on the Battalion and is one of the best examples of their commitment to service. Initially called upon to police the Vietnamese areas of Saigon and Cholon beginning in 1965, the 716th ‘s most significant contribution to the war was the 1968 defense of Saigon. Under what most in the city thought was a ceasefire, the 716th was one of the few remaining detachments left in Saigon at the end of January. This is when the Viet Cong decided to ambush the city, unsuccessfully. After multiple conflicts around the city, the Viet Cong’s attack was ultimately derailed by the 716th, who were trained as police and underequipped for military operations. This came with the loss of more than 20 military police and another more than 40 wounded MPs during the onslaught. Following the Vietnam War, the battalion bounced from installation to installation, before finally arriving at Fort Campbell in 1996.
The Battalion was honored with a monument for their service and a memorial for their fallen in 1995 in the lot adjacent to the Don F. Pratt Museum. On the tall, black obelisk with the 716th’s shoulder patch on it reads the names of each member of the Battalion who has fallen in the line of duty during every conflict since their inception.
Christmas will be here before we know it. Many families do not start their holiday shopping until after Thanksgiving, but things may need to change this year due to the current state of the country.
As you may have noticed, popular presents and gifts are a little bit harder to come by lately. Due to the global pandemic, stores across the globe have lower stock than normal. Large manufacturers had to shut down their factories, which has led to a shortage of a variety of items. For example, getting your hands on a Nintendo Switch has been a nightmare for gamers nationwide. The Japanese based company had to halt production due to Covid-19, and American stores were hit by the supply shortage.
Unfortunately, this has been the case for hundreds of companies, which could really put a damper on the holiday shopping season. Gift-givers also need to prepare for extended shipping times, and the possibility of changes to usual Black Friday routines. If you have ordered anything online during this pandemic, you have possibly faced extended shipping times, lost packages, and other issues. It has been revealed that online order volumes have been higher the last few months than the average Christmas season. Shipping manufacturers were not prepared for this massive influx, and this has caused delays for all. It can be predicted that these issues may continue and even worsen this December. For all of the Black Friday shoppers out there, you will want to keep an eye on possible capacity limits, change of store hours, and other major changes to your usual nightly adventure. Depending on this one day to knock out most of your holiday shopping could turn out to be an issue this year. Using the month of October to slowly gather your holiday exchanges is something that we can not recommend enough.
Giving yourself an extra month to plan and be prepared for every toss and turn you may face this Christmas may help relieve some unnecessary stress. You can also catch a few great money-saving deals in the process.