Tidbits of the Rogue Valley - Vol 1 Issue 40

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Volume 1 Issue 40

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TIDBITS® LOOKS AT SOME

FORMER TEACHERS

by Kathy Wolfe

Your comfort and health are our primary concerns.

Michelle Johnson DDS University of Texas, 1999

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October 5 is World Teachers Day, and Tidbits is taking the opportunity to investigate well-known folks who were teachers before they became famous. Take a look – you might be surprised at who were former educators.

• Prior to his role as the fictional Sheriff Andy Taylor in Mayberry, Andy Griffith taught English at the high school in Goldsboro, North Carolina. He was also responsible for creating the school’s award-winning marching band during his tenure from 1949 to 1953.

• Art Garfunkel is more than just a stellar singer/songwriter. He’s also a math whiz who earned an M.A. in the subject from Columbia University, and was working toward his doctorate during the peak of Simon & Garfunkel’s fame. Shortly after the immense success of “Bridge Over Troubled Water,” the duo parted ways, and Art branched out into acting, with roles in 1970’s Catch-22 and 1971’s Carnal Knowledge. He also took a position as a math teacher at a private prep school in Litchfield, Connecticut, in 1971. It was a little difficult being a pop star math teacher. In Garfunkel’s words, “I would talk them through a math problem and ask if anyone had any questions and they would say, ‘What were the Beatles like?’” turn the page for more!

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FORMER TEACHERS (continued): • Before he was Mr. T, He was Mr. Tureaud, working as a physical education teacher in the Chicago public schools system. Lawrence Tureaud had his break-out movie role in 1982’s Rocky III after being discovered by Sylvester Stallone, and went on to his role as Sgt. Baracus in the NBC series “The A-Team.” Speaking of Stallone, he also worked as a gym teacher while attending the American College in Switzerland during the 1960s.

• Stephen King hasn’t always been a successful author. After his graduation from the University of Maine, he went to work in an industrial laundry while he job-searched. He secured a position teaching English at the high school in Hampden, Maine, and worked on a novel during his offhours. After two years, Carrie was accepted for publication and in 1973, King quit teaching to write full-time.

• Author Dan Brown originally wanted a career as a singer-songwriter. He moved to Los Angeles to pursue his calling and landed a position teaching Spanish at Beverly Hills Prep School in 1991.

Brown returned to his home town of Exeter, New Hampshire, the following year, where he taught English and Spanish at Phillips Exeter Academy until 1996 when he resigned to devote his full attention to authoring his best sellers The da Vinci Code and Angels & Demons, among others.

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Home Alone DEAR PAW’S CORNER: Whenever I’m away for several hours -- at work, mostly -- my dog tears up the house. “General” will knock over lamps, chew sofa cushions, destroy my shoes ... you name it. My boyfriend says he’s got behavioral issues, and I need to be more dominant. How do I do that? -- Sara T., Philadelphia DEAR SARA: Dominance, or showing a dog who’s boss, isn’t the issue here. (In fact, many dog behaviorists turning against the idea of using dominance or making yourself the “alpha dog” for any reason.) General is suffering severe separation anxiety. You do need to address it for his emotional and mental well-being.

First, talk about his behavior with the veterinarian, who likely will recommend medication to calm him when you leave the house.

The better goal, however, is to help General get past his anxiety. You may be able to help him see that you’re not going away forever, and that each time you leave the house you will come back. A common way to do this is to dress as if you’re going to work, say goodbye to General, and leave -- but only for about five minutes. Then come back inside and greet him. Repeat this frequently, slowly

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lengthening the time you’re away until you can be out for an hour or more.

You also can leave little treats or toys around the house for General to play with.

Walking your dog before you leave can relieve some of his restless energy. If you’re only taking General out to relieve himself before you head off to work, try going out much earlier and walking further or playing with General.

If medication and/or desensitization training don’t work, consult a trainer who specializes in separation anxiety.

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ARIES (March 21 to April 19) A workplace change doesn’t seem to have turned out quite as you’d hoped. Never mind: Just treat yourself to a healthy dollop of that Aries self-confidence, and you’ll soon view things differently.

TAURUS (April 20 to May 20) Some of the support you might have hoped for in a difficult situation might not be there. But you have the strength to rely on your own capabilities if you must. Good luck.

GEMINI (May 21 to June 20) A disagreement with a longtime friend can be painful, but it also can be a learning lesson. Insist on a full and complete airing of views. You’ll both come away the better for it.

CANCER ( June 21 to July 22) A stalled relationship can be restarted with some give and take on both sides. And while it could take more time than you expect, don’t rush it. Be patient, and let it happen naturally.

LEO ( July 23 to August 22) An opportunity to move a long-stalled project from concept to construction might be opening up for the Big Cat. Meanwhile, be prepared to spend more time dealing with family matters.

VIRGO (August 23 to September 22) Use your Virgo organizational skills to line up support to help you deal with a sticky workplace problem. A personal matter also might be helped with friendly intervention.

LIBRA (September 23 to October 22) Trying

to resolve a workplace problem with a longtime associate can be difficult. Consider bringing in an impartial third party to help you both reach a mutually acceptable solution.

SCORPIO (October 23 to November 21) This is a good time to assess your current career situation. Consider whether you have a chance to move up where you are now, or if you should look elsewhere.

SAGITTARIUS (November 22 to December 21) With education being a dominant part of this week’s aspect, one of the things you might want to think about is taking courses to enhance your career opportunities.

CAPRICORN (December 22 to January 19) You might have a problem trying to stay focused on a matter you’d rather not deal with.

But the sooner you do, the sooner it will be resolved and out of the way.

AQUARIUS ( January 20 to February 18) An unforeseen complication creates a difficult problem. But things get resolved once you use your ability to turn negative situations into positive experiences.

PISCES (February 19 to March 20) The Pisces penchant for doing the right thing at the right time helps you deal with a particularly troublesome situation. Consider your best option, and act accordingly.

BORN THIS WEEK: Although you might sometimes seem rigid in your views, your love of justice makes you a trusted friend everyone can rely on.

• History has always been an important part of Bill O’Reilly’s life. The FOX News political program host is the author of several historical best sellers including Killing Lincoln, Killing Patton, Killing Kennedy, and Hitler’s Last Days. Prior to his broadcasting career, O’Reilly was an English and History teacher at Monsignor Edward Pace High School in Opalocka, Florida from 1970 to 1972.

• Thirty-sixth President Lyndon B. Johnson was a school principal and teacher of 5th, 6th, and 7th-graders at the Mexican-American Welhausen School in Cotulla, Texas, in 1927 when he was just 19 years old. He went on to teach public speaking at high schools in Pearsall and Houston, Texas, before entering politics in 1937. As a Congressman in 1941, he was the first member of Congress to volunteer for active duty after the bombing of Pearl Harbor.

He reported to the U.S. Navy on December 9, just two days after the bombing. Johnson was sworn in as U.S. President approximately 90 minutes after President John F. Kennedy was declared dead in a Dallas hospital. He took the oath of office in the conference room aboard Air Force One, as the plane sat at Dallas’ Love Field, the first and only time a President has been sworn in on an airplane.

• The second U.S. President, John Adams, also did a stint as a schoolmaster in Worcester, Massachusetts. He found the profession boring and stated that his students were a “large number of little runtlings, just capable of lisping A, B, C, and troubling the master.”

Yet he kept the job in order to pay the bills while attending law school.

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Cool and Clean under your feet It can be difficult to work with, however, and is best installed by a professional. Slate works well for entrys, hallways, kitchen and living areas.

Travertine is very popular and comes in many textures and colors with a variety of veining. Also part of the limestone family, it is very durable if sealed and cared for properly. It can be slippery when wet, however, and is susceptible to scratching and staining. Travertine works well for hallways, kitchens, baths and living areas.

A really natural look is rock flooring.

Depending upon the rocks used, the flooring may require a little more work and care, but for some people, the look makes it all worthwhile. As a product of the earth, natural stone can differ greatly in color, pattern and quality. Because of this, it is important that you order everything you need the first time around. If you wait until the next shipment, you could end up with something very different from your initial purchase. Natural stone flooring can bring warmth and character to any home, but It can be expensive. If your budget is tight, you also might consider faux stone flooring. But in the end, choose quality, it makes a difference.

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Rogue Valley Real Estate The time has finally come for you to replace your flooring, and you’re leaning toward natural stone. You like the earthy look and there is nothing that says earthy more than natural stone. Here is a review of some of the most common types. : Granite is very hard and durable. It can be used inside or outside and maintains its shine well. It is also low maintenance and requires little in the way of care other than occasional cleaning and sealing. Granite works well in hallways, kitchens, baths and living areas.

Limestone features beautiful patterns, a soft texture and is stain resistant, making it perfect for underfoot. It is also low maintenance.

Limestone works well for hallways, kitchens, baths and living areas. : Marble is a timeless classic that comes in a variety of patterns.

Part of the limestone family, it is susceptible to scratching and staining, but if sealed properly, it will last for years.

Marble works well for hallways, kitchens, baths and living areas.

Sandstone features subtle swirls of ivory, gold, red and yellow, and has a grainy but resilient texture. It does not offer as many color variations as some of the other natural stones, but it is very durable. Sandstone works well for hallways, kitchens, baths and living areas.

Slate is very colorful with its blues, blacks, coppers, grays and reds, offering many design possibilities. It is slip resistant and creates a very natural look.

His quality of life is good -- angina does not interfere with going out and enjoying himself. Is he taking angina too lightly because he can stop it by popping a nitro? -- M.W.

To Your Good Health

By Paul G. Donohue, M.D.

No Harm in Taking Nitro for Angina

DEAR DR. ROACH: Could you write about the effect that angina, stopped quickly by nitro, has on one’s system? My husband takes Imdur (30 mg) twice a day to control angina, although he still experiences it several times a week, necessitating a nitroglycerin pill. Sometimes angina comes from exertion, such as climbing stairs a few times or doing home-maintenance chores. He is 89 and in relatively good health. He has had bypass surgery and several catheterizations, with eight stents. He doesn’t need a cane or use oxygen. His cardiologist suggested EECP, which my husband does not want to endure, believing the medicines are working fine.

FORMER TEACHERS (continued):

• From 1974 to 1976, Gordon Sumner used his degree from Northern Counties Teachers Training College in Newcastle, England, to teach at a convent school in nearby Cramington for two years, the only male on the faculty. On his free evenings, he played in a group called the Phoenix Jazzmen, and frequently wore his favorite black-and-yellow-striped sweater while performing. The bandleader thought Gordon looked like a bee and gave him the nickname “Sting.”

In 1977, Sumner moved to London and teamed up with two others to form the band The Police. Today, Sting’s net worth is estimated in the $300 million range.

• We know him best as the bass player of the band KISS, with his face painted white with black flames.

But prior to his musical fame, Gene Simmons was a teacher of sixth-graders in a Harlem, New York, grade school. Simmons was born Chaim Witz in Israel to a mother who had survived the Holocaust.

The two of them emigrated to New York City when Simmons was eight years old, without knowing a word of English. (This musician now speaks English, Hungarian, Hebrew, and German.) KISS, formed in 1973 in New York, has sold over 100 million albums worldwide, and has 45 gold albums to date. Despite his somewhat “demonic” look, Gene Simmons says he has never drunk alcohol, taken drugs, or even smoked a cigarette.

• Singer Kris Kristofferson might not have been the successful singer he is today had he not turned down the opportunity to teach Literature at West Point Academy. Kristofferson was a Rhodes Scholar, earning a Master’s degree in English Literature at Oxford, graduating summa cum laude, and even appeared in Sports Illustrated’s “Faces in the Crowd” for his accomplishments in collegiate rugby, football, and track and field. After graduation, he joined the Army and rose to the rank of Captain, completing Ranger training, and becoming a helicopter pilot. At the end of his tour in 1965, Kristofferson was offered a professorship at West Point. At the last minute, he turned down the offer, resigned his commission, and pursued a music career. His family, including his U.S. Air Force Major General father, disowned him and never reconciled with him.

new technique. Cuffs wrapped around the legs are synchronized with the EKG and squeeze strongly when the heart is at rest. This forces blood backward through the arteries and into the blood vessels of the heart. It may work by making some blood vessels ANSWER: Angina pectoris literally means “chest larger, but the exact mechanism isn’t clear. EECP is pain,” but in my experience people with angina due used for people with stable angina. It takes 35 hours to blockages in the arteries of the heart are more of EECP over four to seven weeks to get benefits, likely to complain of pressure or tightness than and about 70 percent of people had improvement actual pain. Angina occurs when the heart’s demand from severe angina to mild or none. EECP is a for blood oxygen exceeds the supply. This usually big investment of time, and is usually reserved for means during exercise. If the blood supply is fixed people whose angina is more disabling than your due to a blockage in the heart, the heart simply can’t husband’s. get enough oxygen above a certain level of exerAt 89, your husband certainly is entitled to say he cise. If the person with angina stops exercising, the is doing fine the way he is and not wanting further demand for oxygen goes back down below what can treatments. be supplied, and the angina goes away. Stable angina Coronary artery disease can go unnoticed until is associated with a low risk for heart attack. you have a heart attack. The booklet on the disease Medications like isosorbide (Imdur) and nitroglycexplains its causes, symptoms (such as angina) and erine work by dilating the blood vessels in order to treatment. Readers can order a copy by writing: Dr. increase supply. These medicines also dilate veins, Roach -- No. 101W, 628 Virginia Drive, Orlando, which reduces the demands on the heart. Stents FL 32803. Enclose a check or money order (no are designed to keep blockages open. Nonetheless, cash) for $4.75 U.S./$6 Canada with the recipient’s there are many people who continue to have angina printed name and address. Please allow four weeks despite what can be done with medicine and stents. for delivery.

EECP (enhanced external counterpulsation) is a

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NOTEWORTHY INVENTORS:

JOHN SPILSBURY

For literally hundreds of years, people of all ages have enjoyed putting jigsaw puzzles together. Here’s the history of this favorite pastime.

• Born in England in 1739, at age 14, John Spilsbury became an apprentice to Thomas Jeffreys, an engraver, map seller, and the Royal Geographer to the King.

At 21, Spilsbury branched out on his own as an engraver, mapmaker, and printer of children’s educational books, maps, charts, and stationery.

• In 1766, when he was 26, Spilsbury devised the idea of mounting maps on a sheet of hardwood. Using a fine-bladed marquetry saw, he cut around the borders of the countries, with the goal of teaching Geography to British students. He called his invention “Dissected Maps,” and became the first commercial manufacturer of jigsaws. Over the next two years, he marketed several different styles, including the world, Africa, America, Asia, Europe, England, Wales, Ireland, and Scotland. Unfortunately, Spilsbury did not live to see the great success of his invention, passing away at age 30.

• For the next 50 years, the puzzles were primarily an educational activity. They gradually transitioned into a leisure pastime, with illustrations mounted on plywood. They were still known as “dissections,” but when the treadle saw was introduced around 1880, they began to be called “jigsaw puzzles.”

Penciled tracings of where to cut the pieces were made on the back of the wood.

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“Why should I pay for diagnostics on my car?” After all, doesn’t the computer tell you how to fix the car? The short answer to that question is no. Although the “computer” that your shop uses can give them codes, in most cases that is just a starting point. They may still need to test parts on the vehicle (which takes more equipment), look up the codes on another computer (which requires an expensive software program), look up wiring diagrams (more software) etc. The list can go on and on…and on. It all depends on the vehicle and the issue it came in for.

Some parts stores will “Pull Codes” for you and sell you the part they think you need. Replacing these parts, may or may not fix the actual problem.

Recently a client put in a $400.00 fuel pump because his vehicle had a lean code and lacked power. When that didn’t fix it, he brought it in. We spent time diagnosing it and found something stuck in his air flow sensor.

After a good cleaning, it ran great! Had he brought in before replacing the fuel pump, he would have saved $325.00.

Reversing Muscle Loss Most of us already have experienced it: agerelated muscle loss. It doesn’t matter how athletic we were in our youth, some degree of muscle loss is to be expected. Researchers have long wondered how to avoid it, and now it appears they’ve found the answer: green tomatoes and apple peels.

It turns out that both green tomatoes and apple peels contain the right molecules of ursolic acid and tomatidine, and can reduce transcription factor ATF4, which is a key in age-related muscle loss.

None of this muscle loss happened overnight.

In fact, it started very subtly when we were between 30 and 40 years old. As time went on, we lost muscle strength as well as mass. By the time we hit age 65, it’s fairly obvious in most of us.

Sharpening Focus on Women Women veterans haven’t gotten the same level of Vets

health care as male veterans. Here are just a few of the obstacles they face in trying to obtain medical care at most of the Department of Veterans Affairs facilities: No wellness facilities, requiring referrals to other facilities for basics such as mammograms. No GYN staff; no prenatal care; no delivery of babies. Co-ed waiting rooms. Male therapy groups. Prostheses made for men. No separate wards, being put in rooms with men, and no privacy except a curtain.

And the list continues: No mental-health staff and counseling for women who’ve been assaulted (which is thought to be one in four women veterans). No separate restrooms.

Mail that notifies a female she’s due for a prostate exam.

Page 5

Just as you would expect to pay for a doctor’s visit and diagnostics, it is much the same with your automotive shop.

They have thousands of dollars invested in equipment that they use to help diagnose and repair your vehicle.

At Kelly’s Automotive Service like many other shops, our technicians have years of experience, schooling and continuing education. We also subscribe to monthly updates for diagnostic equipment, software programs and have costly replacement and repair costs. Without these, there is no way we could keep up with the ever changing and complex systems manufactures are installing in today’s vehicles.

Most shops are actually doing their best to make sure you and your vehicle are taken care of.

In most cases, spending the money for the proper diagnostics may be cheaper than throwing parts on your vehicle that it may not need.

We would be happy to help diagnose any vehicle issues you are having. Come by and see us in Grants Pass or Medford-- Kelly’s Automotive Service where we service your vehicle, but take care of you. ~ Safe Travels, Dave Kelly

Without enough strength, we can have fractures from falls, which leads to disuse of muscles while we heal, which leads to further muscle loss, which can lead to loss of independence.

Researchers at the University of Iowa are to be commended for going down the tomato and apple road once they discovered the correlation between the fruits and a lack of certain chemicals in aging muscles. Experimenting with mice, they discovered that in two months on a special diet that promoted the missing ursolic acid and tomatidine, the mice increased muscle mass by 10 percent and muscle strength by 30 percent.

That’s significant.

The next step is for researchers and biotechnical companies to turn this information into foods, pharmaceuticals or supplements that we can really use to recover our former muscle strength and mass.

Meanwhile, an apple a day probably won’t hurt.

There are over 2 million women veterans who are eligible for VA care. Only a fraction use it. Is it any wonder why?

And then there is Togas VA Medical Center in Maine. Last year it moved women’s care out of the cramped 5th floor and into a new, separate facility that includes everything needed in one spot: Mental-health counseling for sexual trauma, primary care and even a play area for children.

In Sioux Falls, South Dakota, a women veterans health clinic opened with all-female staff and a mental-health office.

At White River, Vermont, all the women-centered care is available, and there’s even a Women Veterans Program Manager.

If you’re a female veteran who’s avoided VA care, give it another chance. At least make the phone call and ask questions. At this point, with more womencentered facilities opening, you might be surprised.

Or go online to www.womenshealth.va.gov. Put your ZIP code in the Hospital Locator on the left of the screen, and you’ll get a list of facilities near you. Or call 1-855-VA-WOMEN.

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I’m enjoying my son being home for a visit from college, but here’s hoping many of you

made it this past weekend to the triumphant opening of the Rogue Valley Symphony’s concert series, “Masterworks 1” with Stanislav Khristenko on piano.

Your next opportunity to join us will be with cellist, Amit Peled in “Masterworks 2” on October 16th in Ashland, October 17th in Medford and October 18th in Grants Pass.

The orchestra is celebrating their 48th season and in Grants Pass you can also enjoy an open reception to meet soloists, musicians and the conductor.

This orchestra is a bit of a” miracle”, and a hard-earned showpiece of the Rogue Valley. Please look at www.rvsymphony.org and pick out a concert or two for yourself!

Rare Book Q: At one time, I was very interested in astronomy and sundials. I acquired a book called “Mechanick Dialling; or the New Art of Shadows” by Charles Leadbetter and published in 1756. It covers the source of creating sundials in great detail, with illustrations, for any type of surface and any place in the world. In the 1700s, sundials were important for the average person, since clocks and watches were scarce and

too expensive for anyone but the very wealthy.

My book is in excellent condition, and all of the fold-out illustrations are intact. Could you help me find out the value of my book? -- LeRoy, Decatur, Illinois A: Your book sounds fascinating. To determine its value, I contacted several rare-book dealers and discovered that the first edition published in 1737 sells for about $500. Even though your edition was published a little later, it is still rare and desirable to collectors and would sell for about the same amount. I found a copy of the 1756 edition offered for sale by a London dealer at www.abe.com priced at $515.26. *** Q: My dad was a big fan of Adlai Stevenson, who ran for president during the early 1950s.

I have a number of campaign buttons and wonder if they are worth keeping. -- Stan,

Durango, Colorado A: Adlai Stevenson buttons, pins and badges from the 1950s generally sell in the $5 to $50 range. Some of the rarer items sell for more. To get a good idea of current values, I suggest you get a copy of “Warman’s Political Collectibles: Identification and Price Guide” by Dr. Enoch L. Nappen and published by Krause Books. *** Q: I have a fork that belonged to my uncle who served in World War I in about 1914. It has the same markings on both sides of the handle. Could you tell me its value? -- Helen, Princeton, Kentucky A: I was unable to find your fork in any of my military price guides, so nailing down a precise value is a little difficult. I suggest you show it to antique dealers in your area. Get several opinions.

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1. RELIGION: In what country was the Coptic Orthodox Church founded?

2. TELEVISION: Who played Officer Pete Malloy in the TV show “Adam-12”?

3. ART: What war did Pablo Picasso’s famous painting “Guernica” draw attention to?

4. GAMES: In what game might a player be invited to “bat the birdie”?

5. LANGUAGE: What is “plonk” in Great Britain?

6. HISTORY: The Boer War is most closely associated with which African nation?

7. LITERATURE: What 18th-century novel was inspired by real tales of a shipwrecked sailor?

8. MUSIC: Who composed the operas “Madame Butterfly” and “Tosca”?

9. FAMOUS QUOTATIONS: What 19th-century novelist once said, “Everyone thinks of changing the world, but no one thinks of changing himself”?

10. MATH: What is the Arabic equivalent of the Roman numeral MCCCXXVI?

1. Name the last pitcher to throw a completegame shutout in the World Series before San Francisco’s Madison Bumgarner did it in 2014.

2. Who was the first relief pitcher to win the N.L. Rookie of the Year Award?

3. When was the last time before 2014 that the University of Texas did not have a player taken in the NFL Draft?

4. In 2014, San Antonio’s Kawhi Leonard became the third-youngest NBA Finals MVP (22). Who was younger?

5. When was the last time before 2015 that the Tampa Bay Lightning won an NHL playoff Game Seven at home?

6. In 2015, Ryan Lochte became the second swimmer to win the same event (200-meter individual medley) at four straight world competitions. Who was the first?

7. How many top-10 finishes did golfer Ben Crenshaw have in 44 years of playing at the Masters?

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Page 7

24-Hour Refrigerator Vegetable Pickles

SPILSBURY (continued): • In the late 1800s, cardboard puzzles made their debut, mostly for children’s puzzles. For many years, they were not the top seller, as retailers continued to stock mostly wooden puzzles, believing that customers liked them better than “cheap” cardboard varieties.

• The puzzles of the early 20th century did not interlock, and many an hour’s work was negated by a bump to the table. Adult puzzles of this era did not have the picture on the box and the subject matter was a mystery until all the pieces were in place.

• Early puzzles were quite expensive, as much as $5 for a 500-piece puzzle in 1908, because each piece was cut individually. Cardboard puzzle quality improved and prices dropped with the invention of a device that would die cut them in a press. Strips of metal with sharp edges were fastened to a plate, much like a cookie cutter, enabling the mass production of puzzles.

• During the 1930s, puzzles were a method of advertising, with stores offering free puzzles with the purchase of a toothbrush or other sundry item. The illustration featured an image of the product, a clever way for manufacturers to keep a vision of their item in the consumers’ minds. Puzzles were especially popular during the Great Depression as an inexpensive form of entertainment. Sales of adult puzzles were an astounding 10 million per week. Puzzles were also something that could be made by hand at home by those who could not afford the storebought kinds.

• Today, people enjoy jigsaw puzzles more than any other table game.

• The record for the most pieces assembled together in a single jigsaw is 209,250, an event that took place at Taiwan’s Grand Formosa Regent Hotel.

On a recent afternoon when my son texted me to check in, I nimbly replied with sticky fingers, “I’m preoccupied with taking pics of pints of pickled ....” While laughing at the preponderance of P’s, I accidentally pressed “send.” He immediately wrote back, “Pickled PEPPERS? ... ha!” Hmm, OK, so I may have left the peppers out of this recipe, but keeping with the “Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled ...” verse that took us back to his childhood, I simply replied, “perhaps.”

Word play and food play are interchangeable with kids, no matter their age.

Preparing pickled veggies this time of year is the perfect antidote for using and enjoying the abundance of fresh, tender and tasty produce in our gardens and markets. You and your kids can create jars full to stack in the refrigerator in less than an hour for a month of tasty sides. Discover, like my family, that the vegetables will be sweet like bread and butter pickles, but will pack more flavor than the traditional grocery-store fare.

Here’s how to “pickle it” all: 24-HOUR PICKLES For the brine: 5 cups distilled white vinegar 5 cups sugar 2 tablespoons kosher salt 1/4 cup mustard seed 1 tablespoon celery seed 1 tablespoon black peppercorns 6 bay leaves Fresh dill (optional) For the vegetables: 3 cucumbers, sliced in discs or quartered lengthwise 6 medium carrots, peeled and quartered lengthwise 2 big handfuls of green beans 1 medium cauliflower, broken into pieces 2 onions, halved and sliced 1. In a saucepan, combine the first six brine ingredients and bring to a boil, stirring until sugar is completely dissolved.

2. Place the vegetables in a large bowl.

3. An adult should pour the hot brine mixture over the vegetables. Cool. Transfer equally to six clean jars, tucking a bay leaf and dill (if you choose) in each one.

Screw lids on tightly and place in the refrigerator.

4. Refrigerate for 24 hours before serving. Makes 6 pints.

TIP: Keep refrigerated and use within one month.

Page 8

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J.K. ROWLING

Tidbits continues celebrating World Teachers Day by focusing on author J.K. Rowling, who has been wildly successful with her Harry Potter series of books.

• The life of Joanne Kathleen Rowling has been a true “rags-to-riches” story. Born in 1965 to a Rolls-Royce aircraft engineer father and science technician mother, Rowling went from receiving welfare benefits as a single mother to being a multi-millionaire in just five years.

• Shortly after the death of her mother from multiple sclerosis in 1990 when Joanne was 25, she answered a newspaper ad for an English teacher in Portugal. It was while working at a language institute in that country that she began penning the stories that would become the series about a young wizard. She claims she was on a four-hour-delayed train trip when the idea “came fully formed” into her mind.

• Her teaching duties were in the evenings, freeing up her day to write, which she did while listening to the music of Tchaikovsky.

She married and had a child in Portugal, but after three years, she was back in England as “poor as it is possible to be in modern Britain, without being homeless.”

• Two years later, Rowling finished typing the manuscript on her old manual typewriter and went looking for a publisher. Twelve publishing houses rejected the story of Harry Potter. Finally, in 1997, a London publisher, whose chairman’s 8-year-old daughter had read and loved the first chapter, agreed to a run of 1,000 copies under the title Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone. Rowling’s editor advised her to get a day job, because he couldn’t see her as a children’s book author. As her book began winning award after award, it was plain to see Rowling had a bright future.

• The second and third books in the series followed in 1998 and 1999. When the fourth book, Goblet of Fire was released in 2000, its first-day sales were nearly as much as the first year’s sales of the second book, Prisoner of Azkaban. During its first 48 hours in the U.S., three million copies of Goblet were sold, breaking all records.

• The sixth book in the series, The Half-Blood

1. Josh Beckett, in 2003 for the Marlins.

2. Joe Black of the Dodgers in 1952.

3. It was 1937.

4. Magic Johnson of the Los Angeles Lakers in 1980 (age 20) and 1982 (22).

5. It was the 2004 Stanley Cup Final.

6. Australia’s Grant Hackett did it in the 1500-meter freestyle between 1998 and 2005.

7. Eleven, including winning the event twice (1984, 1995).

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Prince, went on sale in 2005, with U.S. sales of nine million copies in the first 24 hours.

The seventh and final book, The Deathly Hallows, was released in 2007, breaking all previous records with 11 million books the first day. The books have now been translated into 65 languages.

• Rowling sold the film rights to Warner Brothers and the first of eight films premiered in 2001.

It took 10 years to complete the filming of the series. The first movie was to be directed by Steven Spielberg, but he declined the offer.

It was his thought that the series should be animated films, with American actor Haley Joel Osment voicing Harry Potter. Rowling had specifically demanded that the principal cast be British.

• The eight-film series garnered 12 total Oscar nominations, but strangely enough, won no awards. The series grossed over $7.7 billion worldwide, more than the first 22 James Bond films combined, and the six Star Wars movies.

• J.K. Rowling is ranked as the 12th richest woman in the United Kingdom, with an estimated worth of approximately $1 billion.

Be safe AND warm this season!

* “We are moving out of our apartment, as we finally found a home to purchase. With all the new projects, we’re going to need our deposit back, so we want to leave the old place in tip-top shape. Here’s a trick we learned: Tiny nail holes in drywall are instantly patched by rubbing a bar of soap across the surface.” -- S.G. in Arkansas * Now is the time to have your heating systems checked if you have not done so already. And before you start a fire in your fireplace, make sure you have your fireplace inspected for cracks in the mortar joints. Very small cracks can start a fire in your home, as the flames can be sucked through the gaps.

While you’re at it, spring to have any creosote buildup cleaned out.

* “Before I pluck my eyebrows, I rub on a bit of my granddaughter’s teething gel. She’s done teething and doesn’t need it anymore, but it works well for me. Be very careful when applying, though; let dry and wash your hands before touching your eye any further!” -- M.L. in California * Most cake recipes ask you to grease and dust the cake pan to make removal easier. To avoid unsightly flour marks on the outside of the cake, just dust the pan with a bit of the cake mix instead of using flour.” -- J.P. in Pennsylvania * “For troublesome-to-open jars -- pickles and such -- use a pair of standard dishwashing gloves. It’s a great gripper, especially if your hands are the least bit moist.” -- D.L. in Indiana * “Wear oven mitts to protect your hands when clipping roses or other thorny plants.” -- O.L. in Louisiana

Answers 1. Egypt 2. Martin Milner 3. Spanish Civil War 4. Badminton 5. Cheap booze 6. South Africa 7. “Robinson Crusoe,” by Daniel Defoe 8. Puccini 9. Leo Tolstoy 10. 1,326