April 18, 2017
The Neatest Little Paper Ever Read®
Issue 00314
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It’s estimated that nearly 40% of all current U.S. citizens can trace at least one ancestor back to Ellis Island. To commemorate Ellis Island Family History Day on April 17, Tidbits focuses on the facts of this famous immigration station. • In the 1600s, Ellis Island was the home of Mohegan Indians, who called it Kioshk, or Gull Island. The 3.3-acre island was purchased in the 1630s by a Dutchman, who renamed it Oyster Island because of the large numbers of shellfish found on its beaches. During the 1700s, it was renamed again, this time to Gibbet Island, a term for a large upright post used as a gallows. The island was regularly used as a place to hang those convicted of piracy. • New York merchant Samuel Ellis bought the island in 1775, and built a tavern there to serve local fisherman. It changed hands again in 1808 when the state of New York purchased it, and used it to store ammunition during the War of 1812. • The last hanging occurred in 1839. After its use as a munitions arsenal for the Union Army during the Civil War, the island was vacant for many years. • It was decided during the 1880s that New York’s immigration station at Castle Garden, which had processed more than 8 million immigrants over a 35-year span, would be replaced by a new facility on Ellis Island. Expansion of the island began by adding landfill obtained by the excavation for New York City’s subway tunnels. The area doubled to more than six acres. • On New Year’s Day, 1892, the new Ellis Island Immigration Station officially opened. Three ships holding more than 700 immigrants were waiting to pass through. The first person
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admitted was an Irish girl celebrating her 15th birthday, Annie Moore. In honor of her status, she was presented with a $10 gold piece. Close to 450,000 people would follow during the first year of operation. More than 1.5 million immigrants were processed during the first five years of operations. • Annie Moore arrived with her two brothers, all three unaccompanied minors. In 1907, a federal law was passed, prohibiting children arriving without adults. • Immigrants were closely checked by doctors for more than 60 diseases and disabilities that could disqualify them from entry. Those suspected were marked with chalk and detained. A contagious eye condition called trachoma was monitored very closely, with “TC” chalked on the jackets of those suspected. “L” was used for lameness, “S” for senility, “SC” for scalp problems, “G” for goiter, and “X” for those with a suspected mental defect, among several other possible disabilities. While 80% of immigrants successfully passed through in just hours, many were detained for days or even weeks. Free meals were provided, usually beef stew, potatoes, herring, baked beans, stewed prunes, and bread. • Those immigrants traveling first-class were exempt from the rigorous physical exams. • Although many chose to remain in New York City, others traveled by barge to New Jersey, where they boarded trains for other destinations across the United States. • Five years after opening, with 200 immigrants on site, a fire broke out in the main building, a huge three-storied structure, resulting in the roof collapsing. There were no injuries, but all immigration records dating back to 1840, including those from Castle Garden, were destroyed. Within six months a new fireproof facility opened, with more than 2,200 people processed on its first day. • By 1903, additional space was needed, and two additional islands were created using landfill. By 1906, Ellis Island had grown from its original 3.3 acres to upwards of 27 acres. About 90% of the area did not exist in 1800. • The price for an immigrant planning a trip to America varied from $12 to $60 per person. Many families saved for years to make the journey. • During World War I, immigration declined dramatically. The United States began establishing embassies worldwide and a large number of immigrants were processed in their home countries rather than going through Ellis Island. The 1915 total of immigrants was 178,416, but by 1918, the number had dropped to only 28,867. In 1917, the facility started operation as a U.S. Army hospital and a detention center for enemy aliens. • A literacy test was introduced in 1917, and all those over age 16 who could not read 40 test words in their native language were denied admittance. • In 1924, an immigration act limited total immigration to 165,000 per year, and fixed quotas from specific countries. • As mass immigration declined into America, and the Great Depression caused more to leave the country than to arrive, the buildings began to fall into neglect and abandonment. During World War II, part of the island was used to house suspected Nazi sympathizers and enemies of the state. • From 1925 until 1954, only 2.3 million immigrants were processed. In November, 1954, all 33 structures were officially closed, and the island was declared government surplus property. A Norwegian merchant seaman, Arne Peterssen, was the last person to pass through immigration there. • In 1965, Ellis Island became a National Park Service National Monument; however, it didn’t open to the public until 1976, when 50,000 people toured the island. Six years later, President Reagan initiated a fundraiser for private investors for the restoration and preservation of the facility. The $156 million project was completed in 1990, and the Main Arrivals Building was re-opened to the public. Millions of immigrant arrival records were made available to the public in 2001, enabling
Call Today (250) 832-3361 * “Try soaking an ink stain in rubbing alcohol for a few minutes before putting the garment in the wash.” -- B.D. in Virginia * A.H. from Texas writes: “If you do a lot of bead work or have children who collect rocks, save your old pill bottles with the labels peeled off to put beads/rocks/findings into. The pill bottles are clear enough to see what’s inside, and it saves money on pricey, specifically designed containers.” * “When your container of cornstarch is empty, take a dry cloth and wipe it out. Now you can use these canisters for your children’s crayons. When there’s a group of children, everyone can have their own crayons. You also can use these canisters for erasers, pins, buttons, beads, etc.” -D. in Virginia * “I do dishes the old-fashioned way: in the dishpan in the sink. I put a second dishpan in the other sink and rinse the dishes over it to catch the water. I then use it to flush the toilet. I can flush at least three times a day with the rinse water. Washing your produce also takes a lot of water that you can catch in the dishpan and use for watering outdoor plants.” -- C.S.R. in Florida * “Instead of using candles during a power failure, most hardware stores and home-improvement centers sell battery-powered lanterns for $16 to $20, and some last for days.” -- J.P. in New Jersey Send your tips to Now Here’s a Tip, 628 Virginia Drive, Orlando, FL 32803. (c) 2017 King Features Synd., Inc.
visitors to trace their ancestry in the restored Hall. More than 30 million visitors have toured Ellis Island since 1990. • Out of the original 33 structures on the island, 29 are still closed, waiting to be restored. • Several well-known immigrants were processed through Ellis Island over the years, including cosmetics icon Max Factor from Poland and actor Cary Grant from England. The Trapp Family singers of “The Sound of Music” fame came through from Austria. Athletes Charles Atlas, Knute Rockne, and Johnny Weissmuller also were processed there. At least two wellknown criminals came through the station, gangster Lucky Luciano from Italy, and German Bruno Hauptmann, later convicted of kidnapping the Lindbergh baby.
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• 1. This composer of “White Christmas” entered the U.S. through Ellis Island. Who was he? 2. What well-known treat was created by Ellis Island immigrants Reuben and Rose Mattus? 3. The future mayor of New York worked as an interpreter at Ellis Island from 1907 to 1910. Who was he? 4. Name the English-born actor who came through Ellis Island in 1912 and went on to become famous as “The Tramp.” 5. How old was Leslie Townes “Bob” Hope when he came through Ellis Island?
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UNUSUAL PLANTS:
ORCHIDS
In honor of National Orchid Day on April 16, Tidbits passes along these facts about the fascinating family, Orchidacea. • Orchids are the largest family of flowering plants, with about 28,000 different species, (almost five times the number of mammal species), with more still being discovered. They are also one of the oldest flowers in existence. Fossilized pollen from an ancient orchid was discovered on the back of a bee encased in amber in a mine in the Dominican Republic. Orchids grow naturally everywhere
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DIABETES
April is Defeat Diabetes Month – the right time for Tidbits to share information on this metabolic disease that affects close to 420 million people worldwide, about 8.3% of the adult population. • Diabetes occurs when there is too much glucose
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in the world, except in extremely cold climates and in the desert. Orchids have bilateral symmetry, in other words, the two halves are mirror images of each other, similar to the human face.. The flowers of some orchids last only a few hours, while other varieties produce blooms that survive six months. Some plants can live up to 100 years. The unusual Bulbophyllum nocturnum orchid, discovered in 2011, blooms only at night, and only for one night. Orchids produce the smallest seeds in the world, about the size of a particle of dust, and visible only under a microscope. Each seedpod contains up to 3 million seeds, however, only a few will develop into a mature orchid plant. Climate affects the size, shape, and texture of orchid leaves. Those that grow in a dry climate have thick leaves covered with wax. Those growing in a warm, humid area have long thin leaves. Some varieties have no leaves at all. The world’s smallest orchid species has flowers measuring just 2 mm wide. The petals are transparent and just one cell thick. The Giant orchid grows up to 8.2 ft. (2.5 m) across. Did you know that the vanilla plant is a member of the orchid family? This climbing orchid produces the bean from which the vanilla flavoring is extracted. Spanish explorer Hernan Cortes discovered vanilla on the Gulf Coast of Mexico in the early 1500s and named it “vainilla,” translating “little pod.” The people of China have been using the orchid for its medicinal properties since 2800 BC. The plant is said to cure headaches, fever, and coughs, as well as accelerating the healing of wounds. The ancient Aztecs dried orchid roots in the sun, ground them into powder, added water, and used as a strong adhesive. Many orchids have a unique way of tricking insects into pollinating them. The reproductive parts of several types are shaped and colored to resemble the kind of insect they hope to attract. The bee orchid contains a petal that looks like a female bee, and even produces a smell similar to that of the female. This attracts the male who becomes covered in pollen, then flies off to find another orchid he thinks is a mate, thus ensuring pollination of the species. Pollination of orchids is so specialized, if a particular insect becomes extinct, the orchid it pollinates will also become extinct. Folks living during the Victorian era between 1840 and 1910 became enamored with orchids. Some even traveled around the world seeking specific varieties. A shipment of a rare variety could bring up to $80,000 at that time.
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in the blood. As food is digested by the body, sugar (glucose) enters the bloodstream as a source of fuel for energy. The body’s pancreas produces insulin, with insulin’s role to move the glucose from the bloodstream into muscle, far, and liver cells. • A diabetic’s body cannot move the sugar from the blood into the cells because the liver makes too much glucose, because their pancreas does not make enough insulin, or the cells do not respond to the insulin that is produced. • Type 1 diabetes is the result of the pancreas’ failure to produce enough insulin. Sometimes this form is known as “juvenile diabetes,” because it usually develops in childhood or adolescence, and those people require insulin injections for life. • Type 2 diabetes is often referred to as “adultonset diabetes.” Cells fail to respond to insulin properly, with the most common cause excessive body weight and not enough exercise. About 90% of cases of diabetes are Type 2. It can frequently be controlled with lifestyle changes and weight loss alone. A low-carb diet and one very low in saturated fats may enable those people to maintain near normal blood glucose levels. • Between 3% and 9% of pregnant women will develop gestational diabetes, a condition that arises when a woman without diabetes develops high blood sugar levels during pregnancy. The condition resolves itself after the baby is born in 90% of the cases, but leaves the mother with an increased risk of developing Type 2 diabetes. • A glucose meter is used to measure blood sugar level. Because food, exercise, medications, stress, blood pressure, and other factors affect the level, the blood is tested several times per day. The first glucose meters for home use were introduced in 1981. Today continuous monitoring systems have a disposable sensor that is placed under the skin for several days.
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• Blood from the fingertip presents the most accurate blood sugar level readings. The ideal range for blood sugar is 80 to 100 milligrams per deciliter. • Diabetes contributes to several other health risk factors, including heart disease, stroke, kidney failure, cataracts, glaucoma, and nerve damage to the feet. Patients can also develop gum and teeth problems because of high blood sugar. The disease at least doubles a person’s risk of early death. • Although not to be used alone in the control of diabetes, some natural remedies have been shown to help lower blood sugar levels. Cinnamon has been shown to stimulate the production of insulin in the pancreas. Clinical trials indicate that a few edible mushroom species, including Reishi, Maitake, and Agaricus varieties, have the ability to lower blood sugar as well. • It’s important to recognize the disease’s warning signs – frequent urination, extreme hunger and thirst, extreme fatigue, blurry vision, slow healing of cuts and bruises, and a tingling, pain, or numbness in the hands and feet. • Several well-known people have been dealing with Type 1 diabetes for years, including actress Halle Berry, singers Nick Jonas and David Crosby, and athletes Billie Jean King and Chicago Bears quarterback Jay Cutler.
AIOITZNLONOC To go to and live permanently as part of a settlement in a foreign land that was previously sparsely inhabited
1. How many visitors tour the Ellis Island museum each year? 2. Ellis Island is part of what National Monument park?
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. . . Goes to the Vernon & District Performing Arts Centre
Chicken Lo Mein Here’s an “Americanized” version of a classic Chinese dish that has a great flavor of the Orient! 1 (14-ounce) can Swanson Lower Sodium Fat Free Chicken Broth 2 tablespoon reduced-sodium soy sauce 1/4 teaspoon ground ginger 1/4 teaspoon dried minced garlic 2 cups frozen Oriental or stir-fry vegetables, thawed 1 1/2 cups broken uncooked spaghetti 1 1/2 cups diced cooked chicken breast 1/4 cup sliced green onion 1. In a large skillet, combine chicken broth, soy sauce, ginger and garlic. Bring mixture to a boil. Stir in vegetables and uncooked spaghetti. Continue cooking for 8 to 12 minutes or until vegetables are just tender, stirring occasionally. Add chicken. Mix well to combine. 2. Continue cooking until mixture is heated through and vegetables and spaghetti are tender, stirring often. When serving, top each dish with 1 tablespoon green onion. Makes 4 (1 cup) servings. TIPS: 1) Thaw vegetables by rinsing in a colander under hot water for one minute. 2) If you don’t have leftovers, purchase a chunk of cooked chicken breast from your local deli. * Each serving equals: 231 calories, 3g fat, 22g protein, 29g carbs, 673mg sodium, 51mg calcium, 2g fiber; Diabetic Exchanges: 2 Meat, 1 1/2 Starch, 1/2 Vegetable; Carb Choices: 2. (c) 2017 King Features Synd., Inc.
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by Samantha Weaver * It was beloved poet William Wordsworth, best know for helping to launch the Romantic age in English literature, who made the following sage observation: “The best portion of a good man’s life is his little, nameless, unremembered acts of kindness and of love.” * The world’s largest bird, the ostrich, may not be able to fly, but that doesn’t mean its wings are useless. As the fastest bird on land, the ostrich uses its wings for balance while slowing down and making turns as it runs at speeds of up to 45 mph. * Some gourmets claim that the most delicious meat they’ve ever eaten is roast monkey. * Those who study such things say that when a man and a woman who have been romantically involved break up, the pair are more likely to remain friends if it’s the woman who initiated the split. * You might be surprised to learn that light doesn’t always travel at the speed of light. In fact, light has been recorded traveling as slow as 38 mph. * The word “widow” comes to modern English via the Old English word “widewe,” which in turn comes from a Sanskrit term meaning “empty.” Thought for the Day: “The great thing about getting older is that you don’t lose all the other ages you’ve been.” -- Madeleine L’Engle
The V.J.H Auxiliary’s 2nd Annual Huge Garage, Book and Plant Sale is coming up on Saturday May 6th at People Place Parking Lot from 8:00 am until 1:00 pm.
Gently used donations would be greatly appreciated and can be dropped off in the hospital’s upper parking lot (off 31A St-look for the balloons)
N e e d Wi n d o w C l e a n e r / H e l p e r. Please fill out the Questionnaire a t : h t t p s : / / w w w. z i p r e c r u i t e r. c o m / job/e1b3afdf OR email clearfx@ icloud.com with your information for window cleaning position. Will train. Locals only please. Must have valid Drivers license.
on April 8th, 22nd & 29th from10:00am to 2:00 pm.
No heavy furniture, electronics or clothing please. For more info call 250-542-8844 or 778-475-1586
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SPECIALITY SHARPENING
All your sharpening needs, and for your convenience, drop off and pickup at Vernon’s Water Store. 180, 4400 - 32 St (250)308-4866
Time to plant Boyne and Creston raspberry canes $10/dozen. Trees and Shrubs: Maple, Plum etc. Several rolls of page wire plus fence posts. 250-503-0781 ( Vernon)
Build a Shaklee business online while keeping your present job, using your computer and phone. Go to www.naturalfreedom.net to learn more.
(c) 2017 King Features Synd., Inc.
BOOK WAREHOUSE #35, Alpine Centre, 100 Kal Lake Road OPEN on WEDNESDAYS and SATURDAYS 9 AM TO 1 PM Quality used books & more, most priced $1 or less Supporting Special Olympics, Vernon & other local charities Phone 250-275-2676 for more info. VOLUNTEERS NEEDED
• Big Bag Boy golf cart $25, •Right hand Medicus golf driver + putter trainer + instruction cd $60, •Wine rack holds 20 bottles $30, • Coleman Air Matress with pump $40 (250) 550-8486 Call after 6:00 PM. ( Vernon)
Mark your calendar for April 29th & 30th and come out to Lumby! You can walk through the Community Showcase, visit a few Yard Sales and jump on the Tourist in Your Own Town Tour!
Spring Break Out Community Information Day April 29, 10 am – 4 pm 2520 Patterson Ave Armstrong Seniors Activity Centre Find out about volunteer opportunities in the community. armstrongactivitycentre @gmail.com
SPRING DINNER AND AUCTION Double VM Bible Camp Fund Raiser - DVM NEEDS A NEW KITCHENROAST BEEF DINNER - DESSERT AUCTION AUCTION SALE ITEMS - DOOR PRIZES APRIL 28, 2017 - 6:00 P.M. TICKETS (Advance or at Door): $18.00 VERNON CHRISTIAN SCHOOL 6920 PV RD VERNON - 250 –545- 0451
Valley Wide Business Expo Thursday 4 May 2017 4:30pm- 7:00pm @ Predator Ridge The biggest chamber trade show in the valley! Tickets to attend this event are NOW ON SALE and attendance is open to both members and non-members! Come and check out the many vendors from across the Okanagan. Tickets can be purchased on line at www.vernonchamber/ events /calendar/ or call 250-545-0771
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COLONIZATION
1. Irving Berlin 2. Haagen Dazs ice cream 3. Fiorello La Guardia 4. Charlie Chaplin 5. Age 4
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1. Approximately 3 million. 2. The Statue of Liberty
you Say t in saw i
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