Vol. 18: #51 • Holiday Nuts • (12-18-2022) Tidbits of Coachella Valley

TIDBITS CRACKS OPEN SOME FACTS ABOUT

HOLIDAY NUTS NUTS

by Kathy Wolfe

Sometimes you feel like a nut, and sometimes you just want the facts about them! The iconic wooden toy soldier from Tchaikovsky’s ballet “The Nutcracker” has long been a symbol of the holiday season as the musical story takes place on Christmas Eve, with the performance enhanced by the familiar “March Of The Toy Soldiers” and “Dance Of The Sugar Plum Fairy.” And since tradition has since made servings of nuts a popular treat for guests at holiday gatherings, Tidbits cracks open the facts about why nuts are the healthiest snack you can nibble on this Christmas season!

WALNUTS

• What’s the oldest tree food known to man? It’s the walnut, traced back to 7000 B.C. In ancient Persia, walnuts were reserved for royalty, and the early Romans referred to them as “Jupiter’s royal acorn.” The ancient Greeks called them “karyon,” meaning head,

TRIVIA

1. MOVIES: What was the name of the fictional kingdom in “Frozen”?

2. HISTORY: How many people died as a result of the Boston Massacre of 1770?

3. GENERAL KNOWLEDGE: What was the name of Scrooge’s business partner in “A Christmas Carol”?

4. TELEVISION: In what city is the long-running drama “Grey’s Anatomy” set?

5. GEOGRAPHY: Which two cities were the original endpoints of the Orient Express?

6. ANIMAL KINGDOM: How many legs does an ant have?

7. LITERATURE: What is the title of Toni Morrison’s first novel?

8. MATH: How many minutes are in a week?

9. BUSINESS SLOGANS: Which company’s slogan is, “Expect more. Pay less”?

10. EXPLORERS: What is the home country of Roald Amundsen, the first to reach the South Pole?

Tidbits is kind of “space-y” this week, as we bring you some various facts on outer space to add to your collection of knowledge nuggets.

• The word “astronaut” literally means “star sailor” with its origins in the Greek language, from the word “astron,” meaning “star” and “nautes,” which translates “sailor.”

• As of August 2022, 621 people have been in space. About 75 of these have been women. The first woman was launched into space in June 1963, Russian cosmonaut Valentina Tereshkova aboard Vostok 6.

• NASA’s definition of “space” begins at the altitude beyond 50 miles (80 km) above the Earth's surface.

• Russian cosmonaut Gennady Padalka holds the record for more time in space than any other human, a total of 879 days. This was accomplished in five flights over 17 years, beginning in 1998, with this first space journey, one to Russia’s Mir space station, followed by four trips to the International Space Station. His adventures included 10 spacewalks.

• Space is a very quiet place. In fact, it’s completely silent because it’s a vacuum with no air to carry sound vibrations. Even if you struck a crash cymbal with a hammer next to your ear you wouldn’t hear a thing.

• No matter where you stand on Earth, you will always see the same side of the Moon. That’s because of what is known as synchronous rotation or tidal locking, a situation that occurs because the Moon rotates on its axis at the same rate that it is rotating the Earth, making its year and day equal in length. The Moon rotates completely around its axis in 28 days, and also orbits Earth in the same time period.

• Until 2006, Pluto was considered the solar system’s ninth planet. That’s when the International Astronomical Union reclassified Pluto as a dwarf planet. One day on Pluto is

equivalent to 6 days, 9 hours, and 36 minutes on Earth. Named after the Roman god of the underworld, Pluto was discovered in 1930 by a 24-year-old U.S. astronomer, Clyde Tombaugh. It’s the ninth-largest- known object directly orbiting the Sun, but is actually smaller than the United States in width.

• Our Sun is 330,000 times more massive than Earth. One million Earths could fit inside the Sun!

• The largest planet in our solar system, Jupiter, is eleven times larger than Earth. It’s the fifth planet from the Sun (Mars is between Earth and Jupiter). There are 80 known moons orbiting the planet, including the largest moon in the solar system, Ganymede, which has a diameter of 33,279 miles (5,262 km), larger than the planet Mercury. Ganymede can be seen with just a pair of binoculars. Jupiter’s four largest moons were first observed by the Italian astronomer Galileo in 1610.

• Every planet in our solar system is named after a mythical god – except Earth!

• A 150-lb. person on Earth would weigh 351 lbs. on Jupiter, 57 lbs. on Mars, and just 9 lbs. on Pluto.

• Special writing utensils had to be designed for astronauts to write in space. Why? Since space has no gravity, regular pens won’t work because the ink won't feed down toward the pen’s nib.

• Because the Moon has no atmosphere or wind or weather, astronauts’ footprints left on its thick powdery surface will remain indefinitely -- forever undisturbed!

because the shell resembles a human head, and the meat of the walnut looks a lot like the brain. They grow on trees that can reach 60 feet tall, increasing in size by 24 inches a year. A walnut tree can produce for more than 100 years.

• So many good things can be said about this little nut! Walnuts are rich in essential nutrients, including magnesium and phosphorus, and abound in vital Omega-3 fatty acids. Studies indicate that walnuts reduce the risk of heart disease, as well as reducing total cholesterol and decreasing blood pressure. Evidence suggests that they can contribute to brain health, possibly even reversing cognitive decline.

• The state of California produces about a billion pounds of walnuts annually, 99% of the U.S. supply and is the source of twothirds of the walnuts in the world.

ALMONDS

• Like walnuts, almonds are an ancient food, one of the earliest cultivated foods. They are mentioned in the Bible ten times and were an ingredient in breads served to Egyptian pharaohs. The ancient Romans considered them a fertility charm and gifted newlyweds with a supply of almonds

• Did you know if there weren’t bees, we wouldn’t have almonds? Almond trees are not easily pollinated by the wind, so California growers rent bees to accomplish pollination, contracting with migratory beekeepers from 49 states to bring in nearly a million beehives every February. Almond production is a $6 billion industry every year, with California providing more than 80% of the world’s supply. Franciscan monks from Spain brought almond trees to the state in the mid-1700s, planting them at their missions along California coast from

Tidbits of Coachella Valley

San Diego to Sonoma.

• Almond trees range in height from 13 ft. to 33 ft., with a trunk diameter of about 12 in. The trees live between 20 and 25 years, and won’t bear fruit until their third or fourth year after planting. We call almonds nuts, but botanically they are a stone fruit related to the peach, plum, cherry, and apricot.

Over 80% of the world's pecan crop comes from the United States. Albany, Georgia has been named "the pecan capital of the world," priding itself on more than 600,000 pecan trees, which can produce for up to 300 years.

• When harvest time arrives, the almonds are picked by a machine that actually shakes the nuts off the trees. The almonds are left on the ground to dry out for five to ten days. A sweeper then picks them up and carts them off to the processor. Here they are sorted, hulled, and packaged. Even the hulls are useful, sold to dairy farms for animal bedding or burned for biofuel. About 40% of the total almond crop is used by chocolate manufacturers.

• The health benefits of almonds abound! Just one ounce of these nuts contains half of the recommended daily amount of Vitamin E, required for the proper function of many of the body’s organs. Almonds are high in magnesium, important for muscular and nervous system functions, along with regulating blood pressure. Studies indicate that almonds contribute to heart health and brain health, even aiding in the repair of brain cells. Add in several B vitamins, calcium, phosphorus, iron, zinc, selenium, and copper and you have one of nature’s perfect foods

KOLA NUTS

• The tropical rainforests of Africa abound with kola trees, those which bear seeds containing caffeine, used as flavoring agents in carbonated soft drinks. When Georgia pharmacist John Pemberton set out to concoct a new beverage in the 1880s, he combined the caffeine from kola nuts and cocaine-containing extracts from coca leaves, mixing them with sugar, flavorings, and carbonated water to invent Coca-Cola.

• The kola nuts are about 2-3% caffeine, and 1-2% theobromine, another stimulant

substance. Kola nuts aren’t just a stimulant – the West Africans also use them to treat wounds, to prevent dysentery, to treat fever, and as a painkiller for headaches. To the Nigerians, the nuts are used in ceremonies, including weddings and funerals. The taste is bitter at first, but becomes sweeter as it is chewed. Although made famous by CocaCola, the company has not used kola nuts in their soft drink recipe since 2016.

BRAZIL NUTS

• They might be called Brazil nuts, but it’s Bolivia that is the world’s greatest supplier. The country of Brazil exports just 2% of the supply.

• Selenium is a mineral that is essential for proper performance of the body’s thyroid

QUIZ BITS

1. What is another name for the filbert nut? 2. What nut is also known as the green almond?

Pistachios and cashews belong to the same family. The lifespan of a pistachio tree tops 150 years. Vietnam is the world's top producer of cashews. While cashew nuts themselves are not toxic, the shell contains an oil that is highly caustic, creating redness and blistering on the skin.

By Lucie Winborne

* A fight between chameleons is more likely to be both initiated and won by the lizard with the brighter stripes. But then, such conflicts are rare, since that flashier color display is typically enough to win the duel.

* Every year, 11,000 injuries are reported in America as a result of sexual experimentation.

* Do you like to bowl? So did a lot of folks in 14th-century England, to the extent that King Edward III actually tried to outlaw the game in an effort to redirect the focus of his troops to archery!

* The Popigai crater in northern Siberia contains an estimated trillions of karats of industrial-grade diamonds. Unfortunately, they’re too expensive to mine.

* Many if not most people hate those annoying pop-up ads that plague our computers ... and you can include their creator, Ethan Zuckerman, in that group. In 2014, he confessed in an article: “I wrote the code to launch the window and run an ad in it. I’m sorry. Our intentions were good.”

* Bulgarians nod when they want to say no and shake their heads when they want to say yes.

* A cow will allow itself to be led up the stairs, but it will be impossible for you to lead it back down the stairs again.

* Here’s a little extra justification for those of us who dislike daylight saving time: The practice has been linked to increased heart attacks, strokes, car accidents, workplace injuries, headaches, depressive episodes and even lower SAT scores.

* For centuries, the word “topaz” was used to refer to any yellow gemstone, despite the fact that natural topaz is colorless.

***

Thought for the Day: “Lighting a fire under something may get it burning, but lighting the fire from within something tends to keep it burning.” -- Brenda Strohbehn Henderson

Everyday CHEAPSKATE®

by Mary Hunt

The Great Paint Rescue and Other Clever Reader-submitted Tips

PAINT FOR PICK-UP

Everyday CHEAPSKATE®

nomical than buying two 10-to-12-pound birds because large birds have a higher meat-to-bone ratio. -- Jack G., New York

SHOWER POWER

If your shower head doesn’t spray like it did when new, most likely the little holes are clogged with mineral build-up. Remove and let it sit in a container of white vinegar for a few hours or overnight. Then all it needs is a light brushing with an old toothbrush, and it is as good as new and shiny, too. -- Marianne C., Maryland

(NOTE: If you cannot remove it, fill a strong, small plastic bag with vinegar, immerse the shower head in the liquid and attach the bag to the shower nozzle with a twisty-tie or rubber band. -- M.H.)

RECEIPTS RULE

by Mary Hunt

Most counties have Hazardous Household Material programs and collection sites where residents can drop off items that should not end up in landfills. They get all types of paint, ranging from latex, oil-based, primer, interior, exterior and stain. Sometimes the paint dropped off at the site is brand-new -- never even opened.

Where I live, anyone can go and pick some up. All you have to do is sign a waiver stating that you will use it appropriately. Sometimes friendly workers will even look for a specific color you want and set it aside for you.

-- April E., Minnesota

LUBE JOB IN A JIFFY

Crumple a wad of waxed paper and run it over your shower rod, closet rods and sliding door frames. Your shower rings, doors and coat hangers will now slide with ease! A single wad covers a large area. -- Wanda K., Tennessee

MEAT MARKDOWN

In my state, by law, all ground beef must be sold by noon on the day following the date it was ground, or it must be discarded. Most grocery stores will mark ground beef down to a fraction of the original price first thing the following morning so it will be gone by noon. I’ve learned how to time my grocery shopping trips so I can buy the leanest ground beef cheaper than the lowest grade at regular price.

-- Pam D., Washington

(NOTE: Your state may have a similar provision. Ask the meat manager or call the Office of Consumer Protection to inquire. -- M.H.)

THE GREAT DIVIDE

Buy a frozen tom turkey (20 pounds or more) and have your butcher saw it in half northto-south. Use half now and freeze half for later, or share with a friend or relative. Makes cleaning and stuffing cavity easy. Bake for half the time required for the total weight. This is more eco-

Always save your bank deposit receipts until you’ve checked them against your bank statement. My bank recently merged with another and in the process lost my deposit. I know this because I received an NSF notice in the mail and thanks to reading Mary Hunt’s “Everyday Cheapskate” columns for the last few years I knew what my bank balance was.

Upon calling the bank I discovered my last deposit had not been posted. I faxed them a copy of my receipt and they allowed my checks to clear while they searched for my deposit record. It took them a week to find it.

Without that receipt and their important code numbers on it they would not have allowed my checks to clear during this time.

-- Becky H., West Virginia

* * *

This column will answer questions of general interest, but letters cannot be answered individually. Mary Hunt is the founder of EverydayCheapskate. com, a frugal living blog, and the author of the book “Debt-Proof Living.”

COPYRIGHT

• The official name of the dragon fruit is white pitaya, a colorful fruit native to Mexico. Its cactus-like exterior is a bright magenta with green scales, while the interior fleshy pulp is white, dotted with tiny black seeds. Its slightly sweet flavor lends itself to being eaten fresh, or atop desserts, fish, or salads.

• Watermelon gherkins might look like tiny watermelons and grow on a vine like watermelons, but that’s where the similarity ends. Just 0.8 to 1.2 inches (2 – 3 cm) long, their pulp is green rather than red, and they taste like lime-infused cucumbers. They may be small, but they’re rich in Vitamins A and K.

• According to the children’s song, the monkey chased the weasel around the mulberry bush. That small, bushy tree is native to China and was originally cultivated to feed silkworms. Mulberries are now grown around the world in many locations. The fruit, which resembles a blackberry, grows in large quantities on a single bush and has a high sugar content, making it a common ingredient in jam, jelly, pie filling, and wine. The Chinese have used mulberries for medicinal purposes for centuries, and modern studies have shown the fruit to be effective in lowering blood pressure and cholesterol, and for treating arthritis, headaches, sore throats, and coughs.

• The durian but its flavor has onions or a garlic pudding. This unique tropical fruit is popular in Southeast Asia, where it’s gained the nickname “the king of fruits.” It’s a large fruit, up to a foot wide, with a hard spiky outer shell. One fruit yields two cups of edible pulp. The durian is one of the most nutritious of all fruits, with one cup providing 80% of the body’s daily need for Vitamin C, and is rich in B vitamins, minerals, and fiber. In Malaysia, it’s used to treat fever, jaundice, and various skin conditions. It doesn’t mix well with alcohol, though. Consuming both at the same time can lead to nausea, vomiting, and heart palpitations.

• Another Asian fruit, the longan, can be traced back to 200 BC, when the emperor of the Han dynasty demanded that the trees be planted in his palace gardens. About the size of a grapefruit, its name translates to “dragon’s eye” in Chinese, because it looks like an eyeball when it’s shelled. Its sweet taste is similar to that of dates, and can be eaten fresh, dried, or canned.

• When we think of jujubes, it’s those chewy

fruity candies we get at the movie theater. The candy has been made since 1709 when it was actually made with a small sweet red fruit native to the China of the same name, jujube. The date-like fruit with the wrinkly skin and chewy texture is also known as the Chinese date. Alternative medicine touts the fruit’s ability to improve sleep and decrease anxiety, as well as improving digestion and acting as an anti-inflammatory. Today, jujube candies are much less healthy than the originals, and don’t contain any actual jujube juice. □

by Dana Jackson

Q: I’m so excited about the new “Yellowstone” prequel with Harrison Ford. I also watched the earlier one with Tim McGraw, but I could swear I saw another one in the works that has a number for a title. Am I mistaken? -- L.H.

A: Paramount Network’s “Yellowstone” series starring Kevin Costner as patriarch John Dutton has spawned two prequels and a spin-off. The first prequel, “1883,” is about the Dutton family when they fled Tennessee and eventually settled on their land in Montana.

The series ran for 10 episodes and starred Sam Elliott as well as husbandand-wife country music stars Tim McGraw and Faith Hill.

The Dutton story continues with Harrison Ford and Helen Mirren in “1923.” According to an official description from Paramount+, “1923” will “explore the early 20th century when pandemics, historic drought, the end of Prohibition and the Great Depression all plague the mountain west, and the Duttons who call it home.” It’s set to premiere on the streaming service Dec. 18.

Another number to commit to memory is “6666,” the title of the upcoming present-day “Yellowstone” spin-off series set at the Four Sixes Ranch in Texas. According to Us magazine, “the property appeared in season four of the flagship show when

Jimmy Hurdstrom (Jefferson White) put down roots there with his fiancée Emily (Kathryn Kelly).” A premiere date hasn’t been announced yet, but “6666” is supposedly going to be available on the Paramount Network and not just exclusively on its subscription streaming platform.

***

Q: I was showing my son “Christmas Vacation,” starring Chevy Chase, for the first time. It occurred to me that I haven’t seen actress Beverly D’Angelo in anything in quite some time. How is she doing? -- A.J.

A: Three decades after the Griswold family’s “Christmas Vacation” film was released, Beverly D’Angelo has a new holiday film out in theaters right now titled “Violent Night.” It’s an action comedy starring David Harbour (“Stranger Things”) as “Father Christmas” and D’Angelo as a wealthy corporate shark.

Time hasn’t slowed the 71-year-old D’Angelo down at all, since she was nominated for a Golden Globe award for her portrayal of Patsy Cline in “Coal Miner’s Daughter” in 1980. She also received an Emmy nod for the iconic role of Stella Kowalski in a television production of “A Streetcar Named Desire.” She’s been acting steadily ever since and

even gave birth to twins in 2001. The twins’ father is actor Al Pacino, with whom D’Angelo had a longterm relationship until 2003.

***

Q: Is “The Gilded Age” returning to HBO for a second season? If so, when? I can’t wait. -- P.P.

A: Rest assured, “The Gilded Age” has been renewed for season two on HBO Max, but an exact premiere date hasn’t been given. When it debuted in January 2022, it was a bonafide hit and got the green light for renewal last spring. Most of the original cast is set to return except for Thomas Cocquerel, who played Tom Raikes.

You can read more about the series and keep tabs on upcoming episodes through its official site at HBO.com/the-gilded-age.

* * *

Send me your questions at NewCelebrityExtra@gmail.com, or write me at KFWS, 628 Virginia Drive, Orlando, FL 32803.

(c) 2022 King Features Synd., Inc.

King Features News Syndicate

Picnic Chicken

1 3/4 cups (about 8 ounces) walnuts

1 cup plain dried breadcrumbs

8 medium (4 pounds) bone-in chicken breast halves, skin removed 8 medium (1 3/4 pounds) chicken drumsticks, skin removed Choice of sauce

1. Preheat oven to 425 F. Grease two 15 1/2 by 10 1/2 inch jelly-roll pans with cooking spray.

2. In food processor with knife blade attached, process walnuts with 1/4 cup breadcrumbs until walnuts are finely ground. In medium bowl, combine nut mixture, salt, ground red pepper and remaining 3/4 cup breadcrumbs; stir until well-mixed. In pie plate, beat eggs.

3. Cut each chicken breast half crosswise into two pieces. One at a time, dip breast pieces and drumsticks in beaten egg, then into walnut mixture to coat evenly, pressing firmly so mixture adheres. Arrange chicken in jelly-roll pans; lightly coat chicken with cooking spray.

4. Bake chicken until golden brown and juices run clear when thickest part of chicken is pierced with tip of knife, 30 to 35 minutes, rotating pans between upper and lower oven racks halfway through baking.

5. Serve chicken hot, or cool slightly, cover and refrigerate to serve cold later. Makes 12 main-dish servings.

 Each serving: About 311 calories, 16g total fat (2g saturated), 113mg cholesterol, 468mg sodium, 10g total carbs, 32g protein.

Fresh Fruit Crumble

This easy goes-with-everything crumb topping is a perfect addition to whatever fruit’s in season.

For the Magical Fairy Dust Crumb Topping 2 cups all-purpose flour 1 cup old-fashioned oats 1 cup packed brown sugar 1 teaspoon finely grated lemon peel 3/4 teaspoon apple pie spice 1/2 teaspoon salt 10 tablespoons butter, cut up

For the Fresh Fruit Crumble

Peaches, plums, mixed berries, apples or pears

Sugar

Vanilla ice cream, for serving Whipped cream, for serving

1. Make the Magical Fairy Dust Crumb Topping: In mixer, mix flour, oats, brown sugar, lemon peel, apple pie spice and salt until combined. Add butter; beat until coarse crumbs form. With fingers, squeeze to form large chunks. Transfer to resealable plastic bag; freeze for up

NEST HEADS

By John Allen

DIAMOND LIL by Brett Koth

TIDBITS SAVORS THE SUBJECT OF

BEANS

12/18 Start a Cuss Word Jar Day

12/19 Family Board Game Day

12/20 Wish a Merry Christmas Day

12/21 Winter Solstice

12/22 Forefathers Day

12/23 Explore Your Family Roots Day

12/24 Christmas Eve

Dog Talk with Uncle Matty

By Matthew Margolis Creators News

Horse Hockey

Ever see a Rottweiler in a stroller? A Doberman in a tutu? A mastiff in a crib?

Little dogs bring out the goo-goo gaga in people -- namely, people who shave their pet's legs. In return, these bald-legged types treat their pintsized canines as if they gave birth to them: teensy outfits, miniscule booties, trips in the stroller swaddled in pastel blankets, tiny, dainty paws never gracing the ground.

It’s all so precious.

Personally, I like horse people. There is something about a horse that makes the people who care for them sit up and take notice that a horse is a horse (of course, of course).

Horse people prepare for the arrival of a new horse. They build something called a barn and fill it with stuff called hay. They divide the barn into stalls and ensure that the number of stalls is equal to or greater than the number of horses. They stock the barn with all kinds of horsey goodies: brushes, blankets, water buckets, feeders, saddles, halters, stirrups, bridles, bits, reins and lead rope.

And then, after night falls, mom and dad bring the horse inside, dress him in a onesie and tuck him into bed with them.

Oh, wait, that’s the dog people again.

Obviously, I love dogs. All kinds of dogs. And I love people who love dogs. All kinds of people. But when people lose sight of the fact that a dog is a dog and not a small person with superfluous appendages and hypertrichosis, that’s when trouble comes knocking.

Toy breeds are allowed to bark, yap, nip, jump, crawl on the baby, tear through the house and relieve themselves on the floor because they’re cute and small fur babies and, in the case of the latter, “it’s just a little bit.” But a little goes a long way when it comes to the smell of urine in the house. And cute can only hold its own for so long before all the unwanted behaviors take their toll.

Pay your local shelter a visit, and you’ll find its residents are predominantly Chihuahuas and pit bulls, with a smattering of other breeds. Ironically, those pit bulls and Chihuahuas are largely in the

SENIOR NEWS LINE

by Matilda Charles © King Features Synd., Inc.

The Joys of the

Food Bank

A few months ago I escorted three very nervous elderly ladies to the food bank. By “escorted,” I mean I had to scout out the situation in advance, come back with a report (no, the food bank staff wouldn’t ask embarrassing questions about finances), and then actually chauffeur the ladies to the food bank in my car to rummage through and pick up their needed groceries.

Fast-forward a few months, and I’ve just learned that said ladies actually gathered up the courage and went to the food bank by themselves today. They excitedly called to thank me for introducing them to this beneficial service, saying they had a wonderful time, and are excited about going by themselves to their newly found food resource.

You wouldn’t think that “wonderful time” would be an apt description of a trip to a food bank, but they were delighted by the whole experience. For this pick-up, the food bank did things a different way: Having just received an abundance of donations from various places, this time they invited their “guests” into the storage area and allowed them to pick out exactly what they wanted for their holiday meals -- a pleasure they thought they would have to forfeit due to their severe lack of grocery money.

The Art of DESIGN

by Joseph Publillones

The Hope of Sustainable Design

Today more than ever, people are concerned about the environment. Every day, they demand construction and goods and services that are made ethically, socially conscious and environmentally sustainable. Architects, designers and manufacturers with visions of the future are responding with creativity and innovation to demonstrate that design can contribute to a more promising future without sacrificing a bit of style. There still is hope.

We believe that everyday products are the biggest culprits of pollution, and that is only one aspect. Buildings are the main culprits, in terms of global energy and pollution. Today’s architects and designers are confronting this fact with the desire to remedy the problem with efficient constructions, new and alternative sources of energy and an increase in the use of locally sourced and recycled materials.

The dangers of a disposable culture worsen with businesses that create products to selfdestruct at a time determined, which pleases corporations and shareholders but respects neither the consumers nor the planet. Slowly but surely, consciousness is on the rise as we reject the cynicism of planned obsolescence and devise objects and designs made to last. Many emerging designers are using sustainability as a guiding principle, and even established brands are taking steps to reexamine their production methods and increase their green credentials.

Renewing historic buildings is a great en-

One of the ladies chose a small turkey, another a turkey breast to be made into sandwiches and pot pies, and the third found a nice ham for future casseroles, knowing that they were going to split the bounty when they all had their holiday meals together.

They maneuvered their way up and down the storage area aisles, accompanied by a friendly staffer, chatting about potential recipes and collecting a wider variety of foods than each would get individually during a typical food pick-up.

I’m told I will be a recipient as well; I am invited to share their meals when they carve the turkey, make the sandwiches and turn the ham into delicious casseroles as my reward for having introduced them to the joys of the food bank. But all I really did was simply help them understand that using this precious resource is nothing to feel ashamed or embarrassed about. They, and hundreds of other people with the same need, are the very reason it's there.

The food bank is to be lauded for their largess this holiday season. And if you are fortunate enough to be able donate goods to them, you'll never know what a blessing you will be to many others, just like those three bashful ladies.

* * *

Matilda Charles regrets that she cannot personally answer reader questions, but will incorporate them into her column whenever possible. Send email to columnreply2@ gmail.com. (c) KingFeaturesSyndicate

deavor and can help revive and preserve neighborhoods, even in old dense urban centers where abandoned structures are best thought to be torn down. Historic buildings, houses and neighborhoods are the soul of a city. These old buildings and places help form the identifying character of a particular area and are a standing record of the area’s history. Materials like stone and bricks removed from the renovation of old buildings can be recycled, given new life and new ways of use. Renovations have spawned new business, such as creating with reclaimed and repurposed wood and other salvaged items.

While products made in a sustainable way have always been viewed more as experiments than objects of design, a refined aesthetic can be combined with a radical approach toward sustainability. Rethinking and creating an awareness in consumers who are building a home, restoring one or even just decorating is a must. Trying to create a more sustainable world is a process that requires education, vision, humility, conscience and commitment to undo the damage already done and to revolutionize the way we live through small steps with the hope that they will lead to a great leap. Being kind to the Earth does not mean we cannot have beautiful things or build a luxury house or decorate our homes the way that we like. It simply means that the time has come to do our part to help combat the effects of waste and pollution. Architects, interior designers, decorators and homeowners need to work hand in hand toward designs that can withstand and lift us. Design offers hope. Embrace it.

Joseph Pubillones is the owner of Joseph Pubillones Interiors, an award-winning interior design firm based in Palm Beach, Florida. His website is www.josephpubillones.com. To find out more about Joseph Pubillones and read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate website at www.creators.com

Cody’s Corner (from page 9)

clink for the same reason: Precious and cute in the beginning, but no one learned how to handle them. The pit bull grew big and possibly aggressive, the Chihuahua got yappy, and the house started to stink.

This isn’t fair to the dogs.

“No” alone doesn’t teach anything. I’ve talked to people who have said “no” in various tones and at myriad decibels for upward of a decade, to no avail.

Love alone doesn’t conquer all. Loving people have seen their beloved dogs deemed vicious and ordered euthanized by law enforcement.

A woman called me recently because she has three little dogs she says are impossible to housebreak. The truth is, she never tried. She lined her floors with paper, essentially teaching them to go inside.

I said, “How would your dogs know you want them to go outside when you’ve encouraged them to go inside?”

She said, “I’m their mother. They should know I know best.”

Horse hockey. We are the humans, we are the homeowners, we are the ones who care where they go, how loud they are, what they chew on. It is our responsibility to prepare, to have a plan, to equip, to train. It’s up to us to build a barn and fill it with all the right stuff. That’s just good horse sense.

Woof!

Dog trainer Matthew “Uncle Matty” Margolis is the co-author of 18 books about dogs, a behaviorist, a popular radio and television guest, and the host of the PBS series “WOOF! It’s a Dog’s Life!” Read all of Uncle Matty’s columns at www.creators.com, and visit him at www.unclematty.com.

YOUR SOCIAL SECURITY

by Tom Margenau

Your Right to File a Claim for Benefits

Here is the bottom-line message of this column: If there is any doubt or question in your mind about your eligibility for any Social Security benefit, insist on filing a claim for that benefit. You have every right to do so. Now, let me explain this in more detail.

I hear from readers all the time who tell me they talked to a Social Security Administration representative about their potential eligibility for a given benefit and were either bluntly told they weren’t eligible or were otherwise discouraged from filing a claim. So, the person making the inquiries is sent away empty-handed, but oftentimes still has lingering doubts about his or her possible entitlement to benefits.

If you are ever in that situation, let me repeat: Insist on filing a claim It’s your legal right, and by doing so, you accomplish two things. No. 1: You will get a legal decision about your eligibility for benefits, not just one Social Security clerk’s opinion. No. 2: You will have appeal rights. In other words, if your claim is denied and you still are not satisfied, you can ask that your claim be reviewed. You even could take it all the way to the Supreme Court if you wanted to! That last comment is a little far-fetched (although feasible).

However, the basic point I am making is very valid. If an SSA rep just says no and you walk away only to later learn you were due benefits, you generally won’t be able to do anything about it but gripe -- and then file a claim with no retroactivity. But if you actually file a claim the first time and it is denied, and you later are able to prove your eligibility, you will get full retroactive benefits to the date you filed the claim.

As I said, I hear from lots of readers who are given the cold shoulder by an SSA representative. Of course, sometimes the informal denial is entirely appropriate. For example, if you are only 60 years old and try to file for Social Security retirement benefits, and you are told you must be at least 62 to be eligible for such benefits, that’s an accurate response and there is really nothing you can do.

But many times, the situation is more of a gray area, and if the SSA rep just turns you away and doesn’t offer you the chance to file for benefits, he or she isn’t doing a good job.

In a minute, I’ll give some examples I’ve heard from readers. But first, I want to make this point. When I started working for the SSA back in the early 1970s, it was drilled into us almost from day one of our training class that people had every right to file for any benefit they thought they might be due and that it was our job to help them file such claims. In fact, the staffing of any Social Security field office was determined, in part, by the number of claims taken. So, there was that extra incentive to help people file claims for benefits: More claims meant more staff. It was as simple as that. But based on the number of complaints I get from readers who tell me that they are discouraged from filing for benefits, I’m guessing that staffing procedure doesn’t exist anymore at the SSA. Here are some recent emails from readers with examples of what I am talking about.

Q: Even though my husband and I lived together for 20 years, we didn’t actually get married until two years ago. Sadly, he died last month. I’m 68 years old and get a small Social Security benefit on my own record. When I went down to the Social Security office to file for widow’s benefits, the clerk told me we had to be married at least 10 years, so she said I wasn’t due anything. She helped me file for the $255 death benefit, and that’s all I got. But lately, some friends told me I should be getting widow’s benefits. What should I do?

A: You should march right back into that Social Security office and insist on filing a claim for widow’s benefits. The 10-year duration-of-marriage rule applies only to divorced spouses. You were married to your husband at the time he died, so that rule doesn’t apply to you. The SSA rep you talked to should have known that. If you get the same person again, ask to speak to a supervisor. But whatever you do, don’t leave the office until you file a claim for widow’s benefits.

Q: Not too long ago, you wrote a column explaining the rules for getting benefits as a divorced wife. Here is my story. I am 65 and get a very small Social Security retirement benefit because I didn’t work much outside the home. My husband, on the other hand, had a very good job and made a decent living. We were married for about 30 years. We divorced three years ago. Neither of us has remarried. He is also 65 years old and doesn’t plan to file for Social Security benefits until he is 70. Your column said that I should be able to get benefits on his record even though he hasn’t filed yet. So, I called Social Security’s 800 number and explained my situation. The phone rep told me that I can’t get any benefits from my ex until he files for Social Security himself. I read her the part of your column that said I am due benefits now, and she said, “Who are you going to believe: some clueless

guy who writes a newspaper column, or me, an official government representative?” And then she hung up! So, what do you suggest I do?

A: Well, I don’t suppose it would help to call her back and tell her that the “clueless guy” worked for the Social Security Administration for 32 years and has written a nationally syndicated column about Social Security for about 25 years. I don’t think it would impress her.

But here’s what should impress her. Either go to your local Social Security office or call the tollfree number (800-772-1213) and absolutely insist on filing a claim. The law clearly says a divorced woman can file for benefits on an ex-husband’s record even if he is not yet collecting benefits. He must be old enough to be eligible for Social Security -- essentially meaning he has to be 62 or older. But that’s it. Then, once your benefits start and you get an official “award letter,” it would be great if you could somehow track down that phone rep who wouldn’t let you file a claim, read her the award letter and tell her that despite her failings as a public servant, the “clueless guy” helped you get your benefits started.

Anyway, I hope all my readers got the message of this column: When in doubt, demand to file a claim for benefits to protect your rights and get a legal decision.

* * *

If you have a Social Security question, Tom Margenau has two books with all the answers. One is called “Social Security Simple and Smart: 10 Easyto-Understand Fact Sheets That Will Answer All Your Questions About Social Security.” The other is “Social Security: 100 Myths and 100 Facts.” You can find the books at Amazon.com or other book outlets. To find out more about Tom Margenau and to read past columns and see features from other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate website at www.creators.com.

COPYRIGHT 2022 CREATORS.COM

1. The book of 3 John is in the a) Old Testament b) New Testament c) Neither

2. Which Old Testament prophet said the most about the birth of Christ? a) Daniel b) Isaiah c) Ezekiel d) Jeremiah

3. From Matthew 1:18, when Mary became pregnant, she and Joseph were ...? a) Married b) Engaged c) Friendly acquaintences d) Strangers

4. In Luke 2:8-11, how did the shepherds learn of Christ's birth? a) Magi b) Eastern star c) God's voice d) Angelic host

5. Where did the wise men go first when they arrived in the Holy Land? a) Nazareth b) Bethlehem c) Jerusalem d) Hebron

6. What does the Bible record as the date of Jesus' birth? a) Early spring b) Late December c) Mid March d) Not said

Sharpen your understanding of scripture with Wilson Casey's latest book, "Test Your Bible Knowledge," now available in stores and online.

(Answers on page 16)

For comments or more Bible Trivia go to www.TriviaGuy.com © 2019 King Features Synd., Inc. © 2022 King Features Synd., Inc.

Follow-up Colonoscopy Necessary After Result of Eight Polyps

DEAR DR. ROACH: I am a 73-year-old male. This year, I had a colonoscopy. They found some small polyps and one larger polyp. All polyps tested negative for cancer. I have had two previous colonoscopies in the past ten years. Polyps were found in each one. My gastroenterologist said I should have another colonoscopy in one year. There has been no colon cancer in my family.

As you age, is it safe to continue with a colonoscopy? I don’t feel safe having one every year. At what age should seniors stop having a colonoscopy? My previous gastroenterologist told me to have one in five years. I do a stool test yearly, given by my primary doctor. -- F.Q.

ANSWER: I read your reports, which showed a total of nine polyps, all “sessile” (flat, which is higher risk for development into cancer than those with a stalk), the largest being 8 mm. The pathology report confirmed these as tubular adenomas, none of which had the worrisome finding of high-grade dysplasia.

The official guidelines of the American College of Gastroenterology recommend a follow-up colonoscopy in three years. I definitely agree with that in people who are otherwise healthy. Colon cancer does definitely run in families, but at least 80% of colon cancer occurs in people with no known family history, meaning you can’t be complacent even if there isn’t any history in your family.

There is no absolute age cut-off for screening colonoscopies: Age 75 might be reasonable in someone who really doesn’t want to have another and whose previous results have all been normal, but I would be unlikely to recommend a screening exam in a person older than 85. People who have serious medical conditions outside the intestinal tract get less benefit from screening.

Age 73 is not so old that I would recommend against screening in otherwise healthy people, and given that you have had eight polyps, I definitely recommend a three-year followup. I don’t know why the gastroenterologist said one year, based on the reports you sent me. ***

DEAR DR. ROACH: I’m 59 and have a pea-sized osteoma near the top-middle section of my forehead. My grandmother had one in the same place and never got it removed. It grew to be the size of an egg! I want to have mine removed before it gets any larger (it’s doubled in size over the past three years). What do you recommend? -- J.K.

ANSWER: An osteoid osteoma is a common benign tumor of the bone. They often occur in the thigh or leg, but the forehead is not unusual and, of course, is cosmetically important. Most do not grow and, in fact, more commonly shrink over time.

I’ve not seen an osteoma get as big as your grandmother’s, and I can understand why you would be concerned. It is very reasonable to get an evaluation. An orthopedic surgeon with

special expertise in bone tumors is a good person to see, and some plastic surgeons also have expertise in removing bone tumors in such a way as to provide the best cosmetic result.

Dr. Roach regrets that he is unable to answer individual letters, but will incorporate them in the column whenever possible. Readers may email questions to ToYourGoodHealth@med.cornell.edu. (c) 2022 North America Synd., Inc.

VETERANS

by Freddie Groves

Two Tasks to Start the Year

In a matter of weeks, we’ll have a new year when, ideally, we’ll have more control over our lives. Here are two things we can all do to start with a clean slate.

Clean out your medicine cabinet. Pull out expired drugs (both prescription and over the counter) and go on a hunt for a location to drop them off. Some towns have only one drug disposal day per year, but other towns keep a machine in their police department to drop off drugs anytime. Ask if your local Department of Veterans Affairs medical facility has disposal. Or you can go to https:// apps.deadiversion.usdoj.gov/pubdispsearch to search for a controlled substance public disposal location near you. Whatever you do, don’t put them down the sink or toilet.

Organize your military files and information. If the worst should suddenly happen to you, don’t add to your relatives’ grief by making them dig for your information or wonder what your final wishes would be.

Here are some of the things you’ll need to gather up:

-- Your DD214 or service equivalent. If you don’t have one on hand, send for it.

-- Your birth certificate.

-- Your final will. If you don’t have one, now is the time to make an appointment for January with an attorney. Call the nearest military base and ask for Legal Aid to see if you qualify for a free will.

--Any life insurance policies, copies of marriage certificates and divorce decrees, and a list of all the places you served while on active duty along with the dates.

Download or send away for the following:

-- Application for United States Flag for Burial Purposes (VA Form 27-2008)

-- Claim for One Sum Payment Government Life Insurance (VA Form 29-4125e)

-- Application for Standard Government Headstone or Marker (VA Form 40-1330).

Print out the Federal Benefits for Veterans Dependents and Survivors book or send away for it by calling the VA (800-827-1000) and add that to your stack.

Once you’ve gathered all this information (a box on a closet shelf will be enough), make sure someone knows where it is. Remember: Once it’s done, it’s done.

Freddy Groves regrets that he cannot personally answer reader questions, but will incorporate them into his column whenever possible. Send email to columnreply2@gmail.com.

M.D.

Tips for Being a LongDistance Caregiver

DEAR SAVVY SENIOR: What advice to you have for a long-distance caregiver? I am having to help look after my 87-year-old mother who still lives alone at home about 120 miles from me. She considers herself quite independent and stubbornly refuses my advice about caring for her everyday needs, taking her meds, handling her finances, and so on. Who do I turn to for help?

--Frustrated Daughter

Dear Frustrated: Providing care and support for an aging parent who lives far away can present a variety challenges that can make the job both difficult and stressful. Here are some tips and resources that may help you.

Long-Distance Caregiving

When it comes to monitoring and caring for an aging parent from afar, you have a couple of options. You can hire a professional to oversee your mom’s needs, or you can manage things yourself by building a support system, tapping into available resources, and utilizing technology devices that can help you keep tabs on her.

If your mom needs a lot of help, you should consider hiring a geriatric care manager who will give her a thorough assessment to identify her needs and will set up and manage all aspects of her care. But geriatric care managers are expensive typically charging between $100 and $250 per hour after an initial assessment fee of $150 to $750, which are not covered by Medicare.

To find a geriatric care manager in your mom’s area, visit AgingLifeCare.org or contact the nearest Area Agency on Aging (call 800-6771116) to see if they have a list of providers.

If, however, your mom only needs occasional help, or if you can’t afford to use a care manager, here are some things you can do yourself to help her.

Create a care team:

Put together a network of people (nearby friends or family, neighbors, clergy, etc.) who can check on your mom regularly, and who you can call on from time to time for occasional help. Also put together a list of reliable services you can call for household needs like lawn care, handyman services, plumber, etc.

Tap local resources:

Most communities offer a range of free or subsidized services that can help seniors with basic needs such as home delivered meals, transportation, senior companion services and more. Contact the nearby Area Aging Agency to find out what’s available.

Use financial tools:

If your mom needs help with her financial chores, arrange for direct deposit for her income sources, and set up automatic payments for her utilities and other routine bills. You can also set up her online banking service, so you can pay

bills and monitor her account anytime. Or, if you need help, hire a daily money manager (AADMM.com) to do it for you. They charge between $25 and $100 per hour.

Check essential documents:

This is also a good time to make sure your mom has the following essential legal documents: a will; a living will and health-care proxy, which would allow you to make medical decisions on her behalf if she became incapacitated; and a durable power of attorney, which gives you similar legal authority for financial decisions, if needed.

If she doesn’t have these documents prepared, now is the time to make them. And if they are prepared, make sure they’re updated and know where they are located.

Hire in-home help:

Depending on your mom’s needs, you may need to hire a part-time home-care aide that can help with things like preparing meals, housekeeping or personal care. Costs can run anywhere from $12 up to $25 per hour. To find someone, try websites like Care.com or CareLinx.com

Utilize technology:

To help you keep tabs on your mom from afar, there are various technologies that can help. For example, there are medical alert systems, video camera monitors, wearable activity trackers, and electronic pill boxes that can notify you if she has taken her medications. And to help you coordinate her care with members of her

* * *

Send your senior questions to: Savvy Senior, P.O. Box 5443, Norman, OK 73070, or visit SavvySenior. org. Jim Miller is a contributor to the NBC Today show and author of “The Savvy Senior” book.

by Jim Miller

Set Serves as Family Heirloom

Q: Enclosed is a photo of a glass dish with matching serving spoon. It was given to my parents as a wedding gift in 1925, and I think it is a condiment dish. The set is yellow, almost translucent. The dish stands about 6 inches tall and has a glazed black rim that is decorated with an etched design. Both pieces are in mint condition. There are no identifying names or numbers on the set.

It would be most helpful if you could identify my dish, not just for my information, but also for future family generations.

the years, I have found several vintage pieces of china decorated with characters from the nursery rhyme.

Do these have any value at all, other than the sweet memories of my childhood? Thank you kindly.

A: Dishes decorated with nursery rhymes are very collectible. Edwin M. Knowles started his factory in 1900 in Chester, W.V. and soon added a second plant in Newell, W.V. Knowles’ goal was to produce the finest semi-vitreous porcelain available in the market. The numbers “21-2-6” show your teapot was made February 6, 1921.

Edwin M. Knowles closed in 1962. In 1982, Edwin M. Knowles began producing limited edition porcelain. Your teapot would probably fetch $95 to $125 in an antiques shop.

Edwin M. Knowles founded his company in 1900

Antiques expert and columnist Anne McCollam has recently retired and no longer receives inquiries nor answers reader letters. Due to the popularity of her column, this publication will continue to reprint previous columns of interest to our readers.

To find out more about Anne McCollam and read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate website at www.creators.

* On Dec. 20, 1957, Elvis Presley received his Army draft notice while spending the holiday season at his newly purchased mansion, Graceland. Distraught fans sent thousands of letters to the Army asking for him to be spared, but Elvis himself had no hesitation about entering, though he did receive a deferment that allowed him to finish work on the movie “King Creole.”

* On Dec. 21, 2006, rebel monks at the centuries-old Esphigmenou Monastery in Thessaloniki, Greece, took up crowbars and fire extinguishers to repel church-appointed monks with sledgehammers attempting to break in. The rebels vehemently opposed efforts by the Orthodox church to improve relations with the Vatican.

* On Dec. 22, 1956, a baby western gorilla named Colo debuted on the world stage at the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium in Ohio, where she would spend her entire life, becoming the first-ever gorilla born in captivity. Upon her death at 61 in 2017, she was also the oldest known gorilla in the world.

* On Dec. 23, 1672, Italian astronomer, mathematician and engineer Giovanni Domenico Cassini discovered Rhea (originally christened Sidera Lodoicea), the secondlargest of Saturn’s 62 moons. In 2010, a spacecraft named for Cassini would detect a thin oxygen atmosphere around it -- the first such known outside planet Earth.

A: Your dish is a Depression-era piece and was designed for serving mayonnaise. Without a manufacturer’s mark, it can be difficult to identify the maker. Many companies did not mark the glassware. Cambridge Glass Company, Fostoria Glass Company, Imperial Glass Company and Westmoreland Glass Company were several manufacturers producing similar sets in the 1920s and 1930s. The design of your dish and ladle/spoon is similar to some made by Westmoreland. Researching books and catalogs from the Depression era is time consuming, but it can be rewarding. Check your local library for reference books. Your circa 1925 mayonnaise dish with matching ladle would probably be worth $35 to $60. *

Q: I have enclosed a drawing of the mark seen on the bottom of a teapot. It is decorated with a scene from the nursery rhyme “The House That Jack Built.” When I was a child, it was my very favorite nursery rhyme. Over

motherofinvention”?

* On Dec. 24, 1945, a fire destroyed the home of George and Jennie Sodder and their nine children in Fayetteville, West Virginia. While their parents and four other siblings escaped, no sign of the remaining five children has ever been found, despite decades-long publicity and numerous investigations by both law enforcement and amateur sleuths.

* On Dec. 25, 2013, military defense forces discovered a professionally designed but incomplete 40-meter tunnel connecting Hong King to China that included rail tracks, hanging lamps, ventilators and a small transport cart. Authorities believed the tunnel, which cost an estimated $494,000, was created with the intention of smuggling goods into Hong Kong to avoid tariffs.

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Mayonnaise dish and ladle were made during the Depression era.

and immune systems. The best source of this mineral is Brazil nuts, with just one single kernel providing the entire 100% of the daily requirement. They also contain more magnesium than any other nut.

• Like the almond, Brazil nuts are not technically nuts, but rather seeds from one of the world’s largest trees, reaching towering heights of 200 feet in the Amazon rainforest. The trunk’s diameter can reach well over six feet. A typical tree will live for 500 years, but it’s not unusual for them to reach 1,000 years of age.

• The country of Brazil, originally called Vera Cruz, was renamed after the tree and its nuts, not the other way around.

MACADAMIA NUTS

• Macadamia nuts are native to Australia, having been discovered there in the 1850s. They were studied and catalogued by Ferdinand von Mueller of Melbourne’s Royal Botanic Gardens. Mueller named the nuts in honor of his good friend, Dr. John Macadam, a scientist, chemist, philosopher, medical teacher, politician, and Australian cabinet minister.

• Not only are macadamia nuts one of the world’s most expensive nuts, they also have one of the hardest shells, requiring 300 lbs. of pressure to open. Once a tree is planted it can take five to eight years to produce nuts. However, the tree can continue producing for up to 100 years!

• The trees were brought to the big island of Hawaii in 1921. It took 13 years for the trees to mature and bear nuts, with the fruit of the tree first offered for sale there in 1934.

• CAUTION: Dog owners need to be wary of macadamia nuts around their pets, as they are highly toxic to animals. Dogs can experience vomiting, lethargy, weakness, and even death after ingesting macadamias.

• Cashews, pistachios, hazelnuts, pine nuts, and others are all good sources of nutritious vitamins with health benefits too numerous to list in our limited space. Suffice to say, they’re all healthful holiday treats you can enjoy without worrying about your waistline! □

the upper body or the stomach is pushed forward. Many beginners, or players who don’t have good core strength, will finish with their hips pushed out behind their upper body. Learn to correct the finish by tucking the hips under or pushing your belt buckle forward in order to feel the correct position. Good leg work will assist in correct hip positioning as well.

Two Club Timing

Coordinating the swing to be balanced, rhythmic, and effortless will be a constant battle for any golfer over their career. It doesn’t take long to lose the swing’s internal timing, especially when playing competitively or in adverse conditions (under pressure). Typically, the body movements get rushed and the arms don’t have time to make their normal, full movements. Your swing can be said to be “out of sync”.

One of the best reminders of rhythm and timing is a drill requiring the swing of two separate clubs in each hand. Typically players will use mid irons to perform this drill. Trying to slowly swing two clubs at once will force your arms and body to take a little extra time and coordination so the clubs don’t crash along the way. As you gain confidence with this drill, try swinging them faster until you’re at 60-75% of normal effort or speed. Try hitting balls directly afterward while performing a similar effort level, rhythm, and balance.

Game Changers

Jason Jenkins was a 16-year member of the Jim McLean Golf

teaching staff and was one of GOLF Magazine’s Top 100

Nominees 1999-2010. He was named one of the Golf

by Jason Jenkins

Jason Jenkins was a 16-year member of the Jim McLean Golf School teaching staff. He was one of GOLF Magazine’s Top 100 Teacher Nominees 1999-2010 and has been named one of the Golf Digest Top Teachers in California. Jason teaches at GOLFTEC CENTER in Indio. Contact him at jjenkins@golftec.com

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