Tidbits of Pike, Floyd and Johnson Counties

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December 26, 2015

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of Pike, Floyd & Johnson Counties Volume 1 Issue 7 TheThe Neatest Little Paper Neatest Little PaperEver EverRead Read

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TIDBITS® WISHES YOU

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

by Janet Spencer

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CHRISTMAS TRADITIONS • In the 1600s, poor people in English towns would carry their cups from house to house asking for wassail, a type of alcoholic ale. To pay for their drinks, they would sing carols outside the door.

Thus, carolling was born. The word “carol” comes from the Middle English word carolen, meaning to sing joyously.

That word originated from the Greek word ‘choraulein’ which was a ring dance accompanied by flutes.

• The Yule Log was traditionally brought in on Christmas Eve and lit from the remains of the previous year’s Yule Log. Slaves were allowed to stop working as long as the Yule Log burned, so they would pick out the biggest, greenest log they could find.

• Mistletoe comes from the word ‘mista’ meaning dung, because the plant is spread through seeds in bird droppings.

• Holly became associated with Christmas because the pointed leaves symbolize the thorns in Christ’s crown and the red berries symbolize drops of blood. (continued next page)

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CHRISTMAS TRADITIONS (cont’d) • Frankincense is an aromatic gum resin that comes from trees in the Boswellia family that grow in East Africa and Asia. An incision is made in the tree, the bark is peeled away, and a few months later a lump of resin is collected.

When burned, it has a balsam-like odor. It has been used as incense since ancient times.

When steam is passed through frankincense, it yields an oil used in perfumes to give them a long-lasting, spicy fragrance. Myrrh is also a resin, secreted by certain shrubs and small trees. It’s been used as an antiseptic and astringent as well as an embalming agent.

Although frankincense and myrrh were highly esteemed in Biblical times, today they are of little value on the world market.

CHRISTMAS CARDS • Sir Henry Cole owned an art shop in London.

In 1843 he asked an artist to design a card that he could send to his friends and associates to wish them a good Christmas, because he was too busy to write them letters. The artist drew a three-fold card. The outside panels depicted people giving clothing to the naked and feeding the hungry. The center panel showed a family celebrating Christmas by drinking wine around a feast table. The Temperance Movement was outraged by the cards— but they were in fact the first Christmas cards. Of 1,000 that were printed, 12 still exist.

• By the late 1800s the exchange of Christmas cards in the U.S. had become so widespread that the Superintendent of Mails complained about needing to hire 16 extra mailmen in Washington, D.C. He petitioned Congress to limit the mailing of cards to avoid bottlenecks in the mail system. His petition failed. Today over two billion cards are exchanged each year in the U.S. alone. (Continued next page)

Can’t Put Name With Face? Try Exercise

With the New Year fast approaching, many of us are pondering whether we should attempt a resolution. Do we diet, or read a book a week, or volunteer at a charity? Do we get fit?

Here’s an idea, taken from a recently released study: Walk a block, remember a name.

While we know that exercise benefits us both physically and mentally, this new study pinpointed one specific area that exercise can help: We’ll remember the names that go with faces.

The small study, aided by notables such as Boston University School of Medicine and Harvard Medical School, included younger participants ages 18-31 along with seniors ages 55-82. All were given the standard set of tests for function and memory. Parts of those tests were face-name

memory. At the same time, participants were carefully tracked for total step count and the step rate using an ActiGraph, a tracking gadget worn to monitor resting and awake-time activity.

While the younger participants weren’t especially impacted by physical activity, the seniors were -- and the strongest exercise-memory link was with “face-name relational memory and visual episodic memory,” in other words, putting the correct name with the face.

What was key in this study was the ActiGraph.

Instead of using self-reported information (“I walked 7,943 steps today”), the monitor was able to pinpoint exactly what was done, and when.

While this study isn’t the final word, it’s a clear indication that exercise of some kind can impact memory. What researchers will try to identify next is the specific types of exercise (aerobic versus strength training), and at what frequency and intensity.

Meanwhile, knowing this, perhaps we can make a New Year resolution to be a bit more active.

S’more Cake Brownies These chocolate treats are so yummy, you’ll think your BEST holiday gift is enjoying a couple of these without guilt!

1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour Sugar substitute to equal 3/4 cup sugar, suitable for baking 1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa 1 teaspoon baking soda 1 teaspoon baking powder 1/2 cup fat-free yogurt 1/3 cup fat-free mayonnaise 1 teaspoon vanilla extract 3/4 cup water 1 cup miniature marshmallows 6 tablespoons purchased graham cracker crumbs 1/4 cup mini chocolate chips 1. Heat oven to 350 F. Spray a 9-by-13-inch cake pan with butter-flavored cooking spray.

2. In a large bowl, combine flour, sugar substitute, cocoa, baking soda and baking powder. In a medium bowl, combine yogurt, mayonnaise, vanilla extract and water. Add liquid mixture to dry mixture. Mix gently just to combine.

3. Spread batter evenly into prepared cake pan. Bake for 15 minutes. Evenly sprinkle marshmallows over top of partially baked brownies.

4. In a small bowl, combine cracker crumbs and chocolate chips. Sprinkle crumb mixture evenly over top. Continue baking for 10 to 15 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in center comes out clean.

5. Place cake pan on a wire rack and let set for at least 10 minutes. Cut into 16 brownies. Makes 8 (2 each) servings. * Each serving equals: 170 calories, 2g fat, 4g protein, 34g carb., 352mg sodium, 2g fiber; Diabetic Exchanges: 1 1/2 Starch, 1/2 Fat.

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1. Is the book of Luke in the Old or New Testament or neither?

2. From Matthew 1:18, when Mary became pregnant, she and Joseph were ... ? Married, Engaged, Just friends, Strangers 3. For the journey to Bethlehem, how did Mary and Joseph travel? Bible not specific, Walked, Rode donkey, Boat 4. At the birth of Jesus, who was king of Judaea? Solomon, Herod, Balak, Belshazzar 5. What was the home city of Mary and Joseph? Capernaum, Nazareth, Aphek, Shechem 6. Which of these wasn’t a gift from the wise men (Magi)? Silver, Myrrh, Gold, Frankincense

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CHRISTMAS CARDS (cont’d) • During World War I, President Hoover was constantly urging Americans to cut down on consumption of nearly everything. In the midst of the war, a Christmas card appeared that was printed on cheap gray cardboard and tied with a piece of string that was labelled “camouflaged ribbon.” Tiny scraps of green were labelled “mistletoe” and “holly” and a scrawny creature was labelled “bluebird.” The inscription inside said, “I’ve Hooverized on pork and beans and butter, cake and bread/ I’ve cut out auto riding and now I walk instead / I’ve Hooverized on sugar, on coal and light and lard, / And here’s my Christmas greeting on a Hoover Christmas Card.”

• Roy Baker of Guthrie, Oklahoma received a Christmas card in the spring of 1974 that had been mailed over two years earlier. The card carried a two-cent postage due notice because postage rates had gone up between the time the card was mailed and the time it arrived.

• Werner Erhard, founder of ‘est’ meditation, set a world record for number of Christmas cards sent in a single year: 62,824 mailed in 1975.

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1. Who was the last Yankees rookie pitcher before Masahiro Tanaka and Dellin Betances in 2014 to be named to the A.L. All-Star team?

2. In 2014, the Dodgers’ Clayton Kershaw became the third pitcher since 1914 to win eight consecutive games while striking out at least seven batters in each one. Name the other two.

3. Roddy White set a record in 2014 for most career TD receptions in Atlanta Falcons history. Who had held the mark?

4. When was the last time before the 2014-15 season that Villanova’s men’s basketball team started a season 13-0?

5. Name the last player younger than Florida’s Aaron Ekblad (19 in 2015) to win the NHL’s Calder Trophy (top rookie).

6. Which team holds the Major League Soccer record for most ties in a season?

7. What was heavyweight boxer Evander Holyfield’s record when he lost his first pro fight, and to whom did he lose?

Q: Can you tell me when my favorite CW shows will be back? I’ve been waiting patiently for “The Vampire Diaries” and “The 100” to return.

-- Nancy G., via email A: The CW recently announced the premiere/return dates for four of its dramas: “DC’s Legends of Tomorrow” will premiere Thursday, Jan. 21, along with the season premiere of “The 100.”

“The Originals” and “The Vampire Diaries” return from winter hiatus on Friday, Jan. 29. *** Q: I was reading that “American Crime” would be back for another season, but I was wondering how, since the miniseries wrapped up its story with the first season. -- Pilar T., Hartford, Connecticut A: “American Crime” is going the way of “American Horror Story” in that each season will tackle a different storyline and subject matter, while retaining many of the original actors in entirely new roles. Season two of “American Crime,” which premieres Wednesday, Jan. 6, on ABC, will see the return of Felicity Huffman, Timothy Hutton, Regina King, Elvis Nolasco, Richard Cabral and Lili Taylor, all playing different roles in an equally dramatic and intense storyline as season one.

Season two focuses on Taylor Blaine (played by “Falling Skies” alum Connor Jessup), with issues of sexual orientation and socioeconomic disparity coming to a roil when lurid photos of him are posted on social media following a high-school party. Circumstances become more complicated when Taylor accuses two players on an elite private high-school’s championship basketball team of drugging, assaulting and then posting the pictures of him online. While the two schools at the center of the story are worlds apart in status, the lives of the students and teachers at both become inextricably linked.

Regina King gave me the scoop about season two, telling me: “When you have John Ridley at the helm, it’s kind of hard to go wrong. From an actor’s perspective, you know the words are going to be something juicy. You know that he is going to write and bring people in to write fearlessly. I’m embracing the fact that I have the opportunity to have a voice, even though it’s through a character, on a subject that is very, very real but not talked about. The idea of men being raped -- there are men who were boys that this has happened to and they have never told anyone their entire lives, and they are jacked-up men right now because they were so ashamed of something that was done against them. I think it’s huge what John is tackling.” *** Q: Can you tell me when I can catch the Golden Globes? It’s always the best. -- Paul T. via email A: The 73rd Golden Globe Awards will air Sunday, Jan. 10, at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT. And my favorite host of all time, Ricky Gervais, will be back to enlighten, entertain and do a little celebrity roasting.

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A CHRISTMAS STORY

* On Dec. 24, 1851, a devastating fire at the Library of Congress in Washington, D.C., destroys two-thirds of its 55,000 volumes. Today the collection contains more than 17 million books. * On Dec. 22, 1864, Union Gen. William T. Sherman presents the captured city of Savannah, Georgia, to President Abraham Lincoln with the message, “I beg to present you, as a Christmas gift, the city of Savannah, with 150 heavy guns and plenty of ammunition, and also about 25,000 bales of cotton.” * On Dec. 23, 1888, in Arles, France, Dutch painter Vincent van Gogh, suffering from severe depression, cuts off the lower part of his left ear with a razor. He documented the event in a painting titled “Self-Portrait with Bandaged Ear.” * On Dec. 27, 1900, prohibitionist Carry Nation smashes up a bar in Kansas, causing several thousand dollars in damage and landing in jail. Nation became famous for carrying a hatchet and wrecking saloons as part of her anti-alcohol crusade. * On Dec. 26, 1946, in Las Vegas, mobster Benjamin “Bugsy” Siegel opens The Pink Flamingo Hotel & Casino. The grand opening was a flop. Gamblers had no rooms at the yet unfinished hotel, so they took their winnings and gambled elsewhere. * On Dec. 25, 1962, “To Kill a Mockingbird,” a film based on the 1960 Pulitzer Prize-winning novel of the same name by Harper Lee, opens in theaters. The American Film Institute has rated Atticus Finch (played

by Gregory Peck) as the greatest movie hero of the 20th century. * On Dec. 21, 1975, in Vienna, Austria, Carlos the Jackal leads a terrorist raid on a meeting of OPEC oil ministers, killing three people and taking 63 others hostage. After demands for a jet were met, all the hostages were released unharmed in Algeria.

1. GEOGRAPHY: Which U.S. state is closest to Russia?

2. HISTORY: In what year did labor leader Jimmy Hoffa disappear?

3. FOOD & DRINK: What relative of the banana is a staple food in tropical regions?

4. TIME: When is the next leap day?

5. MOVIES: What famous 1950s movie featured an unlikely couple named Charlie and Rose?

6. MUSIC: Who was the first artist to have a “greatest hits” album?

7. TELEVISION: Who starred as Simon Templar in “The Saint”?

8. SCIENCE: What is the most abundant gas in the air we breathe on Earth?

9. GENERAL KNOWLEDGE: In olden days, what was the occupation of a wainwright?

10. ANIMAL KINGDON: What is a baby whale called?

To Your Good Health

By Keith Roach, M.D.

Is Right Arm Better for Blood Pressure?

DEAR DR. ROACH: Would you explain the proper method for taking blood pressure?

One instruction I read says to use the left arm.

However, another shows the health-care worker taking blood pressure in the left arm and patients using automatic cuffs on the right arm. The right subclavian artery comes off the ascending aorta closer to the heart than the left subclavian artery, which suggests that the logical method would be to use the right arm. However, the self-assessment health stations at the grocery store and the YMCA are set up to use the left arm to measure blood pressure. -- C.R.

• Dr. Clement Moore in 1822 composed a little ditty for his nine children for Christmas. A friend who saw the poem sent it to a newspaper, and from there it was picked up by other papers and many magazines. Dr. Moore was a scholar and worried that being known as the author of such a simple Christmas poem would ruin his reputation. Therefore, he didn’t confess his authorship until some 15 years had passed, and he never received a penny for his poem. By then, nearly everyone knew the poem by heart: “‘Twas the night before Christmas and all through the house not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse.” Today, the poem is recited over his grave each Christmas Eve. CHRISTMAS REGIFTING • Adlai Stevenson was working on an agricultural act when he wrote a marketing agreement for the walnut industry. That year for Christmas a walnut company sent him a huge sack full of individual packages of walnuts.

He thought his Christmas shopping worries were over, and mailed them out to friends and relatives. Only later did he discover that inside each package was a card reading, “Merry Christmas to Adlai from the walnut industry.”

QUIZ: A FAMOUS SONG • Irving Berlin needed to write a song for each of the major holidays for the movie “Holiday Inn” starring Bing Crosby. Berlin didn’t have much trouble with most of the holidays, but when it came to Christmas, he was stuck.

• Inspiration struck as he sat by a swimming pool in Arizona. He declared, “I just wrote the best song I’ve ever written – hell! I just wrote the best song that anybody’s ever written!”

• Crosby performed the song in the movie, and recorded it for Decca Records in a single 18-minute session. It didn’t do well on the charts at first, until Christmas came and the Armed Forces Network was flooded with requests for it by homesick soldiers. The song spent 11 weeks at the top, only to return to the top position again during the holiday seasons in 1945 and 1947, becoming the only single in history with three separate runs at the top.

• It sold more than 50 million copies. It’s now been recorded by more artists than any other song in the history of the recording industry, and the Guinness Book of World Records lists it as the top-selling song of all time, with over 100 million copies sold, including over 500 different versions. What’s the name of the song?

(Answer at top of next page)

Carve Out Adult Time for Pinecone Wreaths

It’s the sweet scent of pine, the taste of hot chocolate dashed with cinnamon, and the secure feeling of being around family and friends that are the ingredients of childhood holiday memories that the four Peterson sisters captured at their recent semiannual get-together at Bekki’s house. Raised in Glenview, Illinois, they recall the fun of gathering for the traditional “December Family Night” at their church to make beautiful Christmas wreaths.

Their mom, Evonne, who passed away 15 years ago and would have celebrated her birthday on the day they gathered, “would love that they chose to make wreaths as a nod to their past, this time using pinecones from a friend’s yard, and recycled odds and ends sourced from stored holiday decoration boxes,” said Sonja.

“And there’s no doubt she would be pleased that we continue to get together. We rely on each other and support one another more since we lost her,” added Christi.

And they do just that. No kids, no spouses, no cellphones. “We usually do something when we meet,” says Sara. “It might be making gifts for friends and decorations for our homes, or trying out a new recipe together. It’s in the doing that we let loose and candidly share what’s up in our lives, reminisce and, for sure, we always laugh. A lot.”

Connecting as adults with friends or siblings around an activity is a relaxing antidote to the busyness of the holiday season. Pick an afternoon or evening out of your schedule and organize a time to stir up a new or traditional recipe, enjoy a nature outing/sport, or discover your creative side with an easy-to-make modern “Peterson-sister-style” pinecone wreath you can make in an hour.

PINECONE WREATH You’ll need: One 18-inch wooden circular form for wreaths, available at craft stores and online Hot-glue gun 30-35 dry spruce pinecones Assorted smaller pinecones, such as Scotch pine (optional) A variety of decorative add-ons, such as acorns, pods, eucalyptus, natural and artificial sprigs of pine, artificial berries, etc.

Wide ribbon for a bow Wire or hook for a hanger Here’s the fun: Use the hot glue to attach pinecones on the top side of the form, starting on the inside and working your way out.

Tuck and glue decorative items between the pinecones.

Complete with a bow and add a hanger.

TOMMY TIDBITS CONTEST COMING SOON! Details coming in the next few weeks!

ANSWER: There usually is only a small difference between the left and right arm blood pressure, so it is OK to use whichever arm is easiest for you. There are some automatic blood pressure cuffs that are designed to be on the left arm, probably because most right-handed people have an easier time manipulating the cuff with their right hand. A human is more accurate than most machines.

If there is a significant (greater than 10 mm Hg) and consistent difference in the left arm from the right, that could indicate an abnormality such as a coarctation of the aorta. This is a congenital constriction of the aorta, the major blood vessel of the body. Fortunately, this is pretty uncommon to find in adults nowadays.

High blood pressure is one of the most common ailments for the general population. The booklet on it describes what it does and how it’s treated. Readers can order a copy by writing: Dr. Roach -- No. 104W, 628 Virginia Drive Orlando, FL 32803. Enclose a check or money order (no cash) for $4.75 U.S./$6 Canada with the recipient’s printed name and address. Please allow four weeks for delivery. *** DEAR DR. ROACH: I have read your articles

and respect your opinion. I would like to ask you if you think it is safe to take these medications together: butalbital, zolpidem, Lunesta, clonazepam, clonidine, hydroxyzine, Lyrica, prochlorperazine, quetiapine, tizanidine and tramadol. I am concerned for someone I love. This person has a history of addiction and mental-health issues. Would they be safe if a person didn’t have an addiction history or mental-health issues? Your opinion is appreciated. -- Anon.

ANSWER: That’s a very frightening list in a person with addiction issues. The likelihood of a significant interaction is high, even in a healthy volunteer. I could be wrong, and maybe a psychiatrist with much more knowledge than I have of your loved one has prescribed this, but the list looks to me like prescriptions from multiple doctors, none of whom knew what the others were prescribing, and each of whom was trying to help a significant psychiatric issue. It also may be that some of these medicines were meant to be discontinued when a new one was started. Literally every one of those 11 medications can cause sedation.

My best advice would be to bring your loved one and ALL of the medicine to ONE doctor, who can pare down the medications to a safer and more manageable level.

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Greek Christmas Cookies 1 cup butter or margarine (2 sticks) 2 cups confectioners’ sugar 2 cups all-purpose flour 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg 1/2 teaspoon ground cloves 1/8 teaspoon salt 1 large egg yolk 2 cups blanched almonds, ground About 1 cup red candied cherries, each cut in half 1. Heat oven to 350 F. In large bowl, with mixer at low speed, beat butter with confectioners’ sugar until blended. Increase speed to high; beat until light and creamy. At low speed, beat in flour, cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, salt and egg yolk. Knead in almonds.

2. Roll dough into 1-inch balls (dough will be crumbly). Place balls, 2 inches apart, on ungreased large cookie sheet. Gently press a cherry half on top of each ball. Bake 15 minutes, or until bottoms of cookies are lightly browned.

3. With wide spatula, transfer cookies to wire rack to cool. Repeat with remaining dough and cherries. Makes about 6 dozen cookies.

Enjoy a magical holiday season with more than 100 favorite recipes in the Good Housekeeping A Very Merry Christmas Cookbook (Hearst Books).

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Creamy Fudge 1 can (14 ounces) sweetened condensed milk 1 pound semisweet chocolate, chopped 1 ounce unsweetened chocolate, chopped 1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract 1/8 teaspoon salt 1. Line 8-by-8-inch metal baking pan with foil, extending foil above edge at 2 sides.

2. In 2-quart saucepan, combine condensed milk and chocolates. Cook over medium-low heat 5 minutes or until chocolates melt and mixture is smooth, stirring constantly.

3. Remove saucepan from heat; stir in vanilla and salt. Pour chocolate mixture into prepared pan; spread evenly. Refrigerate until firm, at least 4 hours or overnight.

4. Remove fudge from pan by lifting edges of foil.

Invert onto cutting board; discard foil. Cut fudge into 8 strips, then cut each strip crosswise into 8 pieces. Store fudge in tightly covered container, with waxed paper between layers, at room temperature up to 1 week, or in refrigerator up to 1 month. Makes 64 pieces. * Each piece: About 55 calories, 1g protein, 8g carbohydrate, 3g total fat (2g saturated), 1g fiber, 2mg cholesterol, 15mg sodium.

For thousands of triple-tested recipes, visit our website at www.goodhousekeeping.com/recipefinder/.

demanded that a teller hand over the loot, and even made it out of the building. The problem came when they got in their getaway car; the engine sputtered and died almost immediately. It seems someone had forgotten to fill up the gas tank. * It was beloved American singer, songwriter and musician Ray Charles who made the following sage observation: “Marriage is like college; as great as it is, it ain’t for everybody.” * Those who study such things say that when a llama is humming, that means it’s content. * If you think life in the Big Apple is tough these days, consider this: In the 1930s, landlords evicted about 17,000 tenants every month. * It’s the little details that can make or break a plan. A pair of aspiring bank robbers in Daytona Beach, Florida, walked into a bank, pulled out guns,

* The gray squirrel isn’t always gray; these arboreal rodents also come in both black and white varieties. * Sharks have been known to attack boats before, but they rarely, if ever, try for a second bite -- regardless of what Hollywood would have you believe. When a shark goes for a boat, it’s a case of mistaken identity: electrical impulses from the metal of a ship’s hull make the shark think that the boat is another animal (that is to say: dinner). * If you’re fond of fancy cocktails, you probably won’t be surprised to learn that the words “mai tai” are actually Tahitian for “the very best.”

Answer: “White Christmas.”

Noteworthy Inventions

JOYCE HALL

• On August 29, 1861, an evangelist visited David City, Nebraska. The local Methodist minister hosted the visit, and it happened that the minister’s wife gave birth to a baby boy that day. The baby was named in honor of the evangelist, whose name was Mr. Joyce. In the 1800s, Joyce was a common name for a boy.

• Joyce Clyde Hall grew up going by his initials, ‘J.C.’ When J.C. was 18, he started producing picture postcards, launching the Norfolk Postcard Company and hawking his wares to shops in the area. Business was good, and his two brothers joined him in business.

• In 1915 disaster struck when a fire burned the business to the ground. He decided to rebuild, and it was an opportune time to make changes. First, he changed the name of the company, incorporating his last name in a play on words. Second, he decided to abandon picture postcards and to manufacture greeting cards instead. His was the first greeting card company to display cards on racks so people could browse through them. Previously, store clerks selected a card from behind the counter or from the back of the store. Sales soared because of this simple innovation.

• By 1923 the company had 120 employees, thriving during the Great Depression. By the time J.C. died in 1982 at the age of 91, his company was worth over $1.5 billion. Today, over 14,000 designs are printed every year, designed by 450 artists. More than 10 million cards are sold annually around the world. What’s the name of J.C.’s company?

(Answer at top of next page)

Beware Holiday Foods, Ornaments, Plants DEAR PAW’S CORNER: Please remind your readers of how important it is to keep their pets away from holiday foods. Some foods, like chocolate, can be deadly poisonous to dogs, while rich foods and ingredients like onions or raisins can be dangerous for cats and dogs. -- Jessica L. in Camden, New Jersey DEAR JESSICA: You told them, and thank you!

The holiday season, with plenty of parties, family and food, can be hectic for everyone, but it’s important to monitor pets and make sure they’re kept away from potentially harmful items.

Many foods, not just chocolate but onions, grapes and raisins, nuts, avocados and other common holiday foods can cause house pets great harm. Store them well out of reach and keep pets out of the kitchen when cooking,

Page 5

and away from serving tables. A more extensive list is available from the Humane Society of the United States.

Christmas tree ornaments can potentially be harmful. Cats love knocking down glass ornaments and also may accidentally ingest tinsel or other shiny strands. Dogs may gnaw on interesting packages or break into gift boxes of candy or fruit.

Even plants need to be kept out of reach: poinsettias, for example, are toxic to cats.

To minimize risk, place breakable ornaments higher in the tree and put plants well out of reach. During parties or dinners, place your pets in a separate area of the house with bedding, food and water, and check on them occasionally. (This also is helpful in keeping pets’ stress levels down.)

Page 6

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IT WORKS!

CALL (606) 207-3846 most of the time.

But the “Wizard of Westwood” would go on to write an even more expansive set of “suggestions” that incorporated both his father’s and his own set of rules. Following these rules, he promised, might lead to success if put to use. He was wrong: They led to unprecedented success.

JOHN WOODEN’S SETS OF SUGGESTIONS 1. Be a gentleman at all times.

2. Be a team player always.

3. Be on time whenever time is involved.

Recently we shared Vince Lombardi’s famous “What it takes to be No. 1” speech in this space. 5. Be enthusiastic, industrious, dependable, loyal Knowing bulletin boards and locker-room walls and cooperative. like I do, I’m betting you have enough space up 6. Be in the best possible condition -- physically, mentally and morally. there for another guy’s take on the subject of 7. Earn the right to be proud and confident. winning: John Wooden.

8. Keep emotions under control without losing fight What does it take to have to back-to-back seaor aggressiveness. sons without a loss and win 10 championships 9. Work constantly to improve without becoming in 12 years? Well, for one thing, it took a guy like John Wooden. As a child his father gave him satisfied.

10. Acquire peace of mind by becoming the best seven rules to live by that he would later distill down into three main rules that his players must that you are capable of becoming. **** follow in order to play for him: 1. Never criticize, nag or razz a teammate.

1. Don’t be late.

2. Never miss or be late for any class or appoint2. Don’t curse. ment.

3. Don’t criticize your teammates.

3. Never be selfish, jealous, envious or egotistical.

At the heart of Wooden’s philosophy is one 4. Never expect favors. word: respect. His three rules were about respecting the program, the coach (him) and each 5. Never waste time.

6. Never alibi or make excuse. other. Whereas Lombardi makes the case that winning is always better and it is something that 7. Never require repeated criticism for the same mistake. each individual must strive for at all times -fairly, but brutally if need be -- Wooden’s famous 8. Never lose faith or patience.

9. Never grandstand, loaf, sulk or boast.

“10 rules for success” state that if you do the right things all the time, you will end up winning 10. Never have reason to be sorry afterward.

John Wooden on Success

Published by Events in Print, LLC Answer: Hallmark.

HALLMARK CARDS

• In 1928 Hall Brothers became the first greeting card company to advertise nationally when the company placed an ad in “Ladies’ Home Journal.”

• Hallmark started using their famous slogan in 1944: “When you care enough to send the very best.”

• The company now employs over 10,000 full time people worldwide including over 500 artists who work on developing products.

• More than 30,000 retail outlets sell Hallmark products.

• About 10,000 new products are released annually, and Hallmark has about 49,000 products available at any given time.

• The word ‘hallmark’ originates from the Goldsmith’s Hall in London which was the site of the assay office. Items made of gold or silver would be stamped with a mark that guaranteed their authenticity, and from there the word came to mean a mark of quality.

• About 60% of all seasonal cards sold are Christmas cards. After Christmas, the most popular holidays to send cards are Valentine’s Day, Mother’s Day, Easter and Father’s Day. • 90% of Americans buy at least one greeting card per year.

• About one-third of the cards a typical American receives are birthday cards.

About 60% of non-seasonal cards are birthday cards, followed by anniversary, get well, friendship and sympathy.

• The most popular recipients of seasonal cards are parents. The most popular recipients of non-seasonal cards are friends.

• Americans purchase nearly 7 billion greeting cards every year.

QUIZ: A CHRISTMAS CAROL • In 1939 the president of the Montgomery Ward department store chain asked his advertising copywriter to design a free gift that the hired Santas could hand out to the children who came to sit on Santa’s lap. He

1. Spec Shea, in 1947.

2. The Dodgers’ Sandy Koufax (1966) and the Giants’ Juan Marichal (1967).

3. Terance Mathis, with 57 TD receptions (1994-2001).

4. It was the 1937-38 season.

5. Bobby Orr was 18 years old when he won the Calder Trophy in 1967.

6. Chicago had 18 ties during the 2014 season.

7. Holyfield was 28-0 when he lost to Riddick Bowe in 1992.

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wanted something that would be plastered with the department store name and serve as great advertising. They had previously given away a coloring book to every child, but this year they wanted something different.

• Robert May was the advertising executive who got this job. He decided to create an illustrated booklet that kids would keep; something that parents would read to them every single Christmas. With the aid of artist Denver Gillen, May invented a new Christmas character named Rollo.

• The store officials liked the idea and the poem, but nixed the name Rollo. So it became Reginald. They didn’t like that name either. Then May’s daughter suggested a new name, which was unanimously approved.

• That year, 2.4 million copies of the booklet were handed out across the country.

• In 1947 a friend of May’s named Johnny Marks put the poem to music and tried to get famous singers to perform it. No one was interested in the song. Finally, Gene Autry agreed to do the song in 1949. It went straight to the top of the Hit Parade.

• Since then, over 300 different recordings have been made, with 80 million copies sold. The song is second only to “White Christmas” as the best-selling Christmas record of all time. Burl Ives even voiced a movie about it in 1964. It’s one of the first holiday songs children learn. What was the name they agreed on, now a famous Christmas character as well as a song?

• Answer: Rudolph, the Red-Nosed Reindeer.

(Rudolph was originally supposed to be a moose.)

CHRISTMAS CAROL FACTS • In the 1860s, Pastor Phillip Brooks toured the Holy Land and spent Christmas Eve in Bethlehem. The wonder of the experience never left him. Several years later at his church in Pennsylvania, he was searching for a new carol for his children’s choir to sing. Remembering his Christmas in Bethlehem, he penned a poem and asked his organist, Lewis Redner, to write a melody simple enough for children to learn. The organist was unable to compose a suitable tune. But the night before the Christmas service, he awoke from a sound sleep with a melody in his head. He quickly wrote

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the tune down and considered the sudden inspiration a gift from God. The children learned the song quickly, and the carol has been a favorite ever since: “Oh Little Town of Bethlehem.”

• Good King Wenceslaus was actually a duke in Bohemia in the 10th century. He was converted to Christianity and founded the cathedral of St. Vitus before being murdered by his brother. He was canonized and is remembered in the song named after him in which an act of kindness he did to a stranger is detailed.

• The song “The 12 Days of Christmas” was sung as a game, with each person trying to remember all the gifts listed by those who had sung before him, singing them all in the correct order. Any mistakes meant that person was out of the game. The words varied according to what could be made up on the spur of the moment. The original lyrics included “four colly birds.” A colly bird was derived from “coal-y bird,” meaning sooty. Today the words have been Americanized to four calling birds.

Answers 1. Alaska 2. 1975 3. The plantain 4. Feb. 29, 2016 5. “The African Queen” (Humphrey Bogart, Katharine Hepburn) 6. Johnny Mathis 7. Roger Moore 8. Nitrogen. The air is made up of about 78 percent nitrogen, 21 percent oxygen and 1 percent other gasses.

9. One who makes or repairs wagons 10. A calf

BIBLE ANSWERS: 1) New; 2) Engaged; 3) Bible not specific; 4) Herod; 5) Nazareth; 6) Silver

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unable to get a good grip on the doorknob after that!” -- V.R. in North Carolina * When the holidays come around, we use fresh herbs to make several family recipes, but end up with lots left over. Here is a great tip I found online to stretch the usefulness of fresh herbs: “Store fresh herbs as you would fresh flowers: in a jar of water on your countertop. Pluck off what you need, change the water daily, and they’ll last two to three times longer than they would in the fridge (from nourishedkitchen.com).” * Empty spice containers can be used to hold different hardware in the shop or in your toolbox. * “My great-nephew and his family came to visit, and his toddler son is quite into opening doors.

I had baby-proofed my breakables and such, but I did not think about his being able to turn a doorknob. His very smart mother pulled out a sock and slipped it over the doorknob, then secured it with a wide rubber band. Even I was

* Surprise guests? Here’s how to quick clean your living areas: First, clean the toilet, mirror and vanity in the guest bathroom and leave a fresh towel; grab a laundry basket and remove any clutter from the living room and kitchen; put away or clean dirty dishes and wipe down counters in the kitchen; finally, give carpets a quick vacuum. Then maybe light a great-smelling candle and greet your guests! * “Fireplaces are wonderful for heat and ambience, but the ashes! When cleaning up, I spritz the ashes with a rosemary water solution.

This keeps them from dusting up and flying all over, and it smells great. My neighbor puts her damp loose-leaf tea in the fireplace for scent as well.” -- C.W. in Iowa

Paintsville, KY

Prestonsburg, KY