Vol. 19: #40 • Tidbits Visits Montana • (10-1-2023) Tidbits of Coachella Valley

TIDBITS VISITS

by Janet Spencer

This week Tidbits ventures northwest to the state of Montana, our fourth largest state behind Alaska, California, and Texas. However, with only 1,104,000 permanent residents, Montana ranks 43rd in population, and 48th in population density. Follow along with us as we explore this scenic beauty with lots of breathing space, and learn why it's so beloved by tourists and residents alike

• If itʼs plenty of breathing space you want youʼve come to the right place. About half of Montana residents live in rural areas, compared to a national average of only 25 percent who live away from city life. Like a small town atmosphere? About 80 percent of Montana communities have populations of 3,000 or fewer.

• Montana has more cars registered per capita than any other state, with 184 vehicles for every 100 people. That’s nearly triple New York’s rate of car ownership of only 58 cars for every 100 citizens. Just over 34 percent of vehicles on Montana roads

new romance with Abe was now growing more serious, and the two began making their own wedding plans.

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October 1, 2023 Vol. 19 - No. 40

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Ann Rutledge

• Abraham Lincoln loved three other women before he married Mary Todd. As a child he loved Nancy Hanks, who gave him life and nine years of mothering. As a youth he loved Sarah Bush Lincoln, who raised him and encouraged his intellect. And as a young adult he loved Ann Rutledge, who sickened and died before the two could wed.

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• Ann Rutledge was a Kentucky lass, born January 7, 1813. In her teens she moved to Illinois with her father who transported the family to a place north of Springfield. There he co-founded a village called New Salem.

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• Tragically, the summer of 1835 in central Illinois was one of the hottest and wettest ever known. For weeks it rained almost continuously. Water stood everywhere and muddy roads made travel almost impossible. In early August people in and near New Salem began getting sick. The local doctors ran themselves ragged making house calls on the ill. Ann herself came down and became bedridden with what everyone called “brain fever” – most likely typhoid.

• In spite of the physician’s treatments, and quite aware of Abraham keeping vigil at her bedside, Ann died. She was buried in the Concord Cemetery north of town.

• Lincoln was beside himself with grief. He rambled aimlessly through the woods sobbing, spending afternoons mourning beside Ann’s freshly-dug grave. And when September rains fell, he could hardly stand the thought of storms desecrating that hallowed ground.

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• The main Rutledge enterprise was a tavern, a simple two-level, hewn-log building with four rooms below for food and drink storage, and gathering space for his townfolk customers. Their living and sleeping quarters were on the floor above.

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• Over the years Ann bloomed into a pretty young lady with blue eyes and reddish-blond hair. She was cheerful and studious, hard-working and kind, with a pleasant disposition.

• Ann Rutledge was admired by all. In particular, she was courted by John McNamar. The two agreed to marry, though no date was set.

• Heartbroken and depressed, Lincoln continued to grieve and mourn. Already somewhat moody by nature, his closest friends were unable to console him and feared he may suffer a severe breakdown. They kept close watch during this difficult time, making sure he would not come to self-inflicted harm.

• Eventually, Lincoln struggled through his despair. Two years later he moved into Springfield and opened a law office. In 1842 he married Mary Todd, and the two shared a long relationship, producing four sons.

• Still, Abraham Lincoln had deeply loved Ann Rutledge. It was a first love, a love that Lincoln

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1. LITERATURE: What is the name of the clown in Stephen King’s horror novel “It”?

2. ASTRONOMY: How often does Halley’s Comet appear in the Earth’s sky?

3. U.S. STATES: Which state has the most electoral votes in 2024?

4. MOVIES: In “Jurassic Park,” what kind of container is used to store stolen dinosaur embryos?

5. ART: Which art movement is Salvador Dali associated with?

6. AD SLOGANS: Which car manufacturer used the ad slogan “Quality is Job 1”?

7. TELEVISION: Which TV show spawned the spinoff comedy/drama “Maude”?

8. FOOD & DRINK: What is the main ingredient in falafel?

9. GEOGRAPHY: What is the world’s shortest river?

10. ANIMAL KINGDOM: What are a crab’s pincers called?

Answers

1. Pennywise.

2. On average, every 76 years.

3. California (54).

• At the time, McNamar was going by the name of John McNeil. He claimed he did not want his family to know his whereabouts. He said he had moved from rural New York to New Salem, where he was hoping to make his fortune. But until his wealth was won, he explained, he would live under a false name.

• Early in August of 1832 McNamar, without saying a word, suddenly left New Salem to return to New York state. He stayed out of touch with Ann for three full years, not writing to her even once. Ann did not even know whether he was dead or alive. The question of why he abandoned her was never answered.

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Bill LeGrave Rolfing in the Desert (3 of 6) 1/8 pg BW 6x disc.

October 1, 2023

• Meanwhile, Abraham Lincoln, who was boarding in the Rutledge Tavern the winter of 1832-33, was smitten by Ann, and she was likewise enamored of him. Their budding romance troubled Ann. She felt honor-bound to wait to hear from McNamar, for she needed to tell him she could no longer be his bride. Her

Bill LeGrave Talks About Rolfing® and Flexibility

Rolfing® is a system of deep connective tissue manipulation and education in new movement patterns that guides the body toward anatomical order of increased balance and length, centering it around its vertical axis. Rolfed persons generally experience a marked increase in Flexibility by:

A: The physical manipulation of fascia, freeing layers of muscles that have become stuck to one another, and lengthening the myelin sheathing-enclosed muscle, which often become shortened with misuse and trauma.

B: By aligning the body in its most structurally sound arrangement, Rolfing® allows each muscle to do its designated job and not be forced to overwork to compensate for a body dragged down by gravity. Still the only Rolfer in the Coachella Valley.

Montana (from page one)

are pickup trucks. The only state with more pickup trucks per capita is Wyoming, where it’s a close 38 percent. In 50th place is New Jersey with only eight percent. The national average for pickup owners is 17 percent..

MONTANA WEATHER

• Montana's eastern and western regions, separated by the Continental Divide, experience different climates. The west tends to have a milder climate than the east, with warmer winters, cooler summers, lighter winds, and rainfall that is more evenly distributed throughout the year.

• Montana also holds the record for the all-time coldest temperature in the Lower 48 at -70°F set at Rogers Pass on the Continental Divide on January 20, 1954. It may have been colder than that, but that was the lowest temperature reading printed on the thermometer. Montana’s record high is 117°F for a temperature range of 187°F. No other state has a larger High/Low temperature range than that. North Dakota comes in second place with a range of 181°F and Alaska is third with 180°F.

• The town of Browning, near Glacier National Park, holds the national record for the greatest temperature drop in 24 hours, for a 100-degree drop on January 23, 1916. The temperature plummeted from 44°F to -56°F in a single day. In Loma, Montana (pop. 121) the temperature rose 103°F in a 24-hour period, rising from -54°F at 9:00 a.m. on January 14, 1972, to 49°F by 8:00 a.m. on January 15. This event still stands as a world record for the greatest change in temperature ever measured on earth in a single 24-hour period.

POPULATION SEGMENTS

• Statewide, the Montana population runs about 88 percent European descent. About fifty

thousand Native Americans currently live in Montana, or six percent of the population. That ranks Montana fifth among states for the highest percentage of Native Americans, following Alaska, New Mexico, South Dakota, and Oklahoma.

• In 1896, the U.S. government agreed to pay the Blackfeet Indian Nation a total of $1.5 million for the tribe to relinquish all rights to their ancestral lands that now comprise Glacier National Park. The fee was paid at $150,000 per year (equal to $5.4 million today) for ten years. Today over three million tourists visit Glacier Park annually.

MONTANA WILDLIFE

• Millions of bison once roamed the plains of Montana. It took only seven years to reduce their numbers from an estimated 60 million to just 541 left in the world by 1889. Today about 500 bison live at the National Bison Range in Moise, Montana, in addition to a number of privately-owned herds. Yellowstone National Park has between 3,000 and 5,000 bison at any given time.

• The only state with more grizzly bears than Montana is Alaska. Today there are around 1,800 grizzly bears in Montana. Only 10% of grizzlies living in the northern Rocky Mountain region die of natural causes; the rest are killed by humans, either deliberately or accidentally. The grizzly became Montana’s state animal in 1982 when 52,000 schoolchildren voted on the issue. The runner-up was the elk. The only land mammal with a slower reproduction rate than the grizzly is the musk ox of Alaska.

Montana ranks second in the nation for collisions with animals, averaging 17,000 yearly in a state with just over 800,000 licensed drivers. The only state where motorists are more likely to strike an animal is West Virginia. The animal most frequently involved is a deer, and November is the peak month.

• Cows outnumber humans in Montana by more than two to one. Black Angus and Hereford are the most popular breeds. Miles City bills itself as the “cow capital of the world” while Drummond boasts that they are “world-famous bull-shippers.”

GEOGRAPHIC FEATURES

• Giant Springs in Great Falls, one of the largest freshwater springs in the world, pumps out 7.9

million gallons of water per hour at a constant temperature of 54°F. The water, carbon-dated at 3,000 years old, forms the Roe River which runs only 201 feet before it empties into the Missouri River. It’s considered to be the shortest river in the world.

• Coal lies underneath about 35 percent of Montana, part of what may be the largest coal basin on earth. If all of Montana’s coal reserves were mined and the mines continued production at their present rate, the vast supply

Montana: Turn to page 15

QUIZ BITS

1. What is the largest rodent found in Montana, weighing up to 90 pounds?

2. What is the second largest rodent in Montana, that weighs up to 45 pounds?

(Answers page 16)

1.What’s

NUGGETS OF KNOWLEDGE

Montana land has an average of 7.4 people per square mile. Only Alaska and Wyoming have fewer people per square mile than Montana. The national average is 75 people per square mile. The state with the densest population is New Jersey, which has an average of 7,354 people per square mile

2.What

1.VERNALEQUINOX 2.CROCUS

patronize advertisers,

Everyday CHEAPSKATE®

by Mary Hunt

By Lucie Winborne

* The small dots on strawberries are known as “drupelets” and are not themselves seeds, as often thought, but do contain seeds.

* A dog named Chickie seemed like anything but man’s best friend when she chewed up her owner’s passport just days before his wedding in Italy. Fortunately, with a little help from local lawmakers as well as the community, a new one was issued in time for the nuptials to take place. As for Chickie, she was later given a mock “pupster passport”!

* Culinary icon Ina Garten, aka the “Barefoot Contessa,” was a nuclear policy analyst for the White House before embarking on a career in cookery.

* A roll-on deodorant ball was the inspiration for Apple’s first mouse prototype.

* Popular video game character Super Mario’s original name was Jumpman. He was rechristened in honor of Mario Segale, Nintendo of America’s landlord.

* A 2016 study by Yale University found that people over the age of 50 who read books for more than three and a half hours per week had a 20% lower mortality risk over a 12-year period than nonbook readers.

* Lachanophobia refers to the irrational fear of vegetables.

* All the nearly 6,000 residents of Suloszowa village in Poland live along one 9-kilometer street.

* While it’s difficult to imagine anyone but Bruce Willis in the role of “Die Hard” hero John McClane, the part was originally offered to crooner Frank Sinatra, due to the film’s technically being a sequel to “The Detective,” in which Sinatra had played the lead.

* To own a rabbit in Queensland, Australia, you must first prove you’ll display it for an acceptable purpose.

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Thought for the Day: “Don’t go through life, grow through life.”

-- Eric Butterworth

(c) 2023 King Features Synd., Inc.

Services Temporarily Disrupted

think I’ve run dry. Tapped out.

I’m going to post a sign on my forehead that reads: ‘Services have been temporarily disrupted. We regret any inconvenience this may cause. We are hopeful that services will be restored soon.’

Then I’m going to have a button installed on the inside of my eyelids ... one that says simply: Refresh.

Maybe that will clear my cache, defrag my hard drive and get me back on the road.

In the meantime, I’m going to take a nap. **

Everyday CHEAPSKATE®

by Mary Hunt

I’ve never been one to keep a daily journal. I wish I would have done that, though. I would love to go back and read my thoughts from my college years, those early years of my marriage. For sure I’d look up the day I learned I was pregnant with our first son. I know I was excited. But how did we celebrate? Who did we tell first? Those are things I don’t recall.

I don’t know if I would be as anxious to read the entries during the early 1980s when I was so deeply in debt, running from creditors and basically doing all I could to ruin my life. I know I would want to check out that day in March 1993 when I got the call from “The Oprah Winfrey Show.” I’m sure that page would have all kinds of graphics and little squiggles indicating how surprised and thrilled I was to be asked to come to Chicago to be on “The Oprah Winfrey Show.”

It would be fun, even encouraging to look back and remember the good days, but also to recount how I got through the difficult times.

No, I don’t have a journal to consult, but I do have a blog (EverydayCheapskate.com). I’d never thought of it as a personal journal, until recently when I found the following in the archive:

**

I’ve had it. I’m out of words, clever phrases. I’m even running low on answers.

For more than 15 years I’ve written a syndicated daily. There are 260 weekdays in a year, minimum 500 words a day. That’s roughly 1,950,000 words.

Over more than 30 years I’ve cranked out 356 issues of the various monthly now daily newsletters. That looks like north of 5,000,000 words.

I have 26 published books averaging 50,000 words each. That’s good for another 1,300,000 words.

Do you understand my situation here? I’m fresh out of words! I think I’ve said them all, written them all at least a couple of times and now I

You read it in tidbits!

Well, I did take a nap, and a good, long one at that. And when I awoke, I was greeted by several responses. Some were long and pleading, others short and punchy. Basically, it all boiled down to this: “Please, don’t stop!” followed by many warm messages of encouragement.

I’m not sure if it was the much-needed sleep or the lovely letters of thanks and encouragement, but my whole outlook changed. I was renewed and refreshed. And confident that maybe there are still a few more words left in me to be written. * * *

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 2023 CREATORS.COM

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BERKELEY PIT

• In the 1870s the invention of electricity, followed by the popularity of indoor plumbing, spurred the need for copper to carry both electrical current and water. A particular mountain in Butte, Montana, contained a lot of copper. In fact, about 30 percent of the nation’s copper, and some 15 percent of the world’s copper, was supplied by Butte during the 1880s.

• During World War I and World War II, demand for copper increased sharply. Throughout decades of copper mining, what was once called “the richest hill on Earth” was transformed into an enormous excavated hole and the deepest lake in Montana, called the Berkeley Pit.

• For decades, the mining was performed by digging tunnels. At its peak, over 10,000 men were employed as mine workers. There are around 250 miles of streets in Butte and over 2,500 miles of underground mining tunnels deep below the streets. In fact, it’s estimated that there are at least 10,000 miles of mining tunnels in that vicinity.

• When underground mining became too dangerous and problematic, operations shifted to truck mining in 1955. The mine then became the biggest open-pit copper mine in the U.S. Between 1955 and 1982, an average of 17,000 tons of ore came out of this mine every day.

• Over the course of its lifetime, the mine produced enough copper to pave a four-lane highway two inches thick from Chicago to New York City.

• By 1982, the invention of fiber optic cable for communication and PVC pipe for plumbing led to the collapse of the copper market. Mining operations in Butte soon shut down.

• Pumps in the tunnels were permanently shut down in 1982, allowing the pit to fill with groundwater, transforming it into a giant lake. The level of the water rose at the consistent rate of one foot per month.

• The water absorbs toxins from the tunnels and the walls of the pit, becoming laden with copper, iron, arsenic, cadmium, zinc, and sulfuric acid. Residents feared that as the water level rose, it would contaminate the aquifer and spill over into Silver Bow Creek, polluting waterways all the way to the Pacific.

• In 1987, the Berkeley Pit became an EPA superfund site. In 2019, a water treatment plant was installed which cleans and discharges 7 million gallons of water daily, keeping the lake level stable. • Over the course of a century, around 1.5 billion

tons of copper, gold, and silver ore were extracted from this mine. Today, around $1 billion has been spent not only neutralizing the threat from contaminated water, but also stabilizing toxins from massive tailings piles. It is by far the most expensive site on the EPA’s national superfund list.

• Today, the water in the Berkeley Pit is about 900 feet deep, sitting at the bottom of a chasm that is 1.3 miles long, one mile wide and 1,600 feet deep. By comparison, the deepest natural lake in the state is Tally Lake near Whitefish, with a depth of 500 feet. The 500-acre lake contains an estimated 40 billion gallons of acidic water with a pH balance of 2.5, about the same as gastric acid, which is acidic enough to dissolve boat propellers.

• Because the water is lethal to birds, methods used to prevent them from landing include automatic cannon fire, guards with guns, and supersonic tones broadcast through loudspeakers, all of which are effective means of driving avians away from the area.

• In 2006 the city of Butte opened a viewing platform overlooking the toxic lake, including picnic tables, a snack bar, gift shop, and restrooms. It’s one of the few places in the world where tourists pay to see toxic waste. 

Life Live Life

D.C. with

Can Chiropractic Care Reduce Mental Stress?

FINAL APPROVED BY DR. CAMPOS: 9/1/2023

DEAR DR. CAMPOS: I have trouble sleeping because I am under so much stress. Can chiropractic help with tension due to stress and can it help me sleep better. – S.G.

Answer: Hello S.G. – According to a recent American Psychological Association survey,* around three-quarters of adults (76%) said they have experienced health impacts due to stress in the prior month, including headache (38%), fatigue (35%), and/or feeling nervous or anxious (34%).

Around seven in ten adults (72%) have experienced additional health impacts due to stress, including feeling overwhelmed (33%), experiencing changes in sleeping habits (32%), and/or worrying constantly (30%). And more than one in ten said they have been using alcohol, tobacco, or drugs to relax (15%).

Stress can take its toll on the human body and mind, and this can be expressed as symptoms like headache, fatigue, disrupted sleep, and anxiety. Trying to relax and take one’s mind off things with alcohol, cigarettes, or drugs can actually exacerbate the problems.

Chiropractic works by realigning the spine, taking stress and pressure off the nervous system, and relaxing the muscles and joints which can do wonders in diminishing mental stress. Once tension is reduced, the body can relax naturally, allowing the person to have an easier time falling and staying asleep. Chiropractors can also recommend nutritional supplements which might help the body withstand stress and enhance the sleep process. It is certainly worth a try.

* Data taken from APA 2022 Stress in America™ survey ***

DEAR DR. CAMPOS: Do you treat military veterans? – C.C.

Answer: Yes, absolutely! Veterans Affairs (VA) began providing chiropractic care in 1999. Since 2004 VA provides these services to all eligible Veterans either onstation or through private sector facilities and/or providers through VA’s “community care” network. I am a community care provider, accepting TriWest insurance to care for our men and women who have served in the armed forces. Veterans can simply visit their local VA for a referral and request my office from the community care network.

,

If you are a Veteran and you have received, and been helped by, chiropractic in the past, or you know others who have suffered from similar conditions and have been helped by a chiropractor, or you would prefer not to take pain medication at all if it can be avoided, then contact your local VA today and request chiropractic.

* * *

Dr. Campos is a Cranial and Sports Chiropractic Doctor in Palm Desert. While he cannot answer every individual question via email, he will choose one or two each week to answer here. Readers may email questions to:

OfficeCamposCranial@gmail.com

Learn more at: or call (760) 359-8838

DrNickCampos.com

by Dana Jackson

Q: Is “Dancing with the Stars” coming back to ABC, or will it just be on Disney+? When will they announce the new cast? I’m eager for the season to start. -- P.L.

A: After one season of exclusively airing on Disney+, “Dancing with the Stars” is returning home to ABC. This is likely in part due to new episodes of scripted shows being postponed until 2024 due to the writers’ and actors’ strikes. It will still be available to stream on Disney+ and Hulu, but a return to network television is a welcome one.

Julianne Hough, a former pro dancer on the show, is also returning, but in the form of cohost, alongside former “DWTS” champion Alfonso Ribeiro. She replaces Tyra Banks, who has left the show after three years. Sadly, longtime judge Len Goodman passed away earlier this year after battling cancer. This year’s judging panel consists of familiar faces: Derek Hough, Carrie Ann Inaba and Bruno Tonioli.

This fall’s contestants feature some big names from reality TV -- Charity Lawson of “The Bachelorette,” Ariana Madix of “Vanderpump Rules,” Mauricio Umansky of “The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills,” Harry Jowsey of “Too Hot to Handle”-- as well as singers Jason Mraz and Lele Pons.

A wide range of thespians make up the rest of the roster: Matt Walsh (“Veep”); Mira Sor-

vino (“Sound of Freedom”); Barry Williams (“The Brady Bunch”); Tyson Beckford (“Zoolander”); Xochtil Gomez (“The Baby-Sitters Club”); Jamie Lynn Spears (“Zoey 102”); and Alyson Hannigan (“How I Met Your Mother”). This season’s professional athlete is NFL running back Adrian Peterson.

Season 32 of “DWTS” premieres on Tuesday, Sept. 26, on ABC. ***

Q: I’m confused. Is Drew Barrymore’s talk show coming back or not? What about Kelly Clarkson’s talk show? -- N.C.

A: Both of these beloved talk show hosts and their popular syndicated daytime shows are on hiatus until the writers’ strike ends. Initially, “The Drew Barrymore Show” was slated to return this fall despite the strike, with Barrymore noting that her unemployed crew needed to get back to work. But after protests from picketers and the negative stories that ran in the press, Barrymore recently had a change of heart and agreed to wait until the strike is resolved.

“The Kelly Clarkson Show” hasn’t resumed filming in front of a live audience either. But when

it does, it’ll be relocating from Los Angeles to New York -- once the strike ends.

***

Q: Whatever happened to actress Meg Tilly? I remember seeing her in the film “Agnes of God” years ago, but I don’t recall anything recent. -- L.L.

A: Meg Tilly is probably best known for her Oscar-nominated role in the film “Agnes of God” almost four decades ago, but she has transitioned from acting into a solid writing career. She has written several novels, mostly of dark subject matter, and recently co-wrote (with Kelly Fremon Craig) her first screenplay, “Ordinary Angels.” The film, based on a heartwarming true story, stars two-time Oscar winner Hilary Swank and will open in theaters next February.

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

(c) 2023 King Features Synd., Inc.

(Go Figure solution page 14)

1. Split (PG-13)

1. The Nun II (R) Taissa Farmiga, Jonas Bloquet

James McAvoy, Anya Taylor-Joy

2. A Haunting in Venice (PG-13) Kenneth Branagh, Michelle Yeoh

2. Rings ............................... (PG-13)

Matilda Anna Ingrid Lutz, Alex Roe

3. A Dog’s Purpose ..................(PG) Josh Gad, Dennis Quaid

3. The Equalizer 3 (R) Denzel Washington, Dakota Fanning

4. My Big Fat Greek Wedding 3 (PG-13) Nia Vardalos, John Corbett

4. Hidden Figures ....................(PG) Taraji P. Henson, Octavia Spencer

5. Barbie (PG-13) Margot Robbie, Ryan Gosling

5. La La Land .................... (PG-13) Ryan Gosling, Emma Stone

6. Resident Evil: The Final Chapter ...................................... (R) Milla Jovovich, Iain Glen

6. Blue Beetle (PG-13) Xolo Mariduena, Bruna Marquezine

7. Jawan (NR) Nayanthara, Shah Rukh Khan

7. Sing .......................................(PG) animated

8. Gran Turismo (PG-13) David Harbour, Orlando Bloom

8. Lion (PG-13) Dev Patel, Nicole Kidman

9. The Space Between Us (PG-13) Gary Oldman, Asa Butterfield

9. Oppenheimer (R) Cillian Murphy, Emily Blunt

10. xXx: Return of Xander Cage .................................... (PG-13)

Vin Diesel, Donnie Yen

10. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem (PG) Micah Abbey, Shamon Brown Jr.

© 2017 King Features Synd., Inc.

© 2023 King Features Synd., Inc.

Mauricio Umansky stars in season 32 of “Dancing with the Stars.”

Good Recipes from Health Club Sandwiches

This carrot, sprout and bean-spread combo will satisfy your hunger, your palate, and ease your conscience.

2 tablespoons olive oil

2 teaspoons plus 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice

1 teaspoon honey

1/8 teaspoon ground black pepper

3 carrots, peeled and shredded (1 cup)

2 cups alfalfa sprouts

1 garlic clove, finely chopped

1/2 teaspoon ground cumin

Pinch ground red pepper (cayenne)

1 can (15 to 19 ounces) garbanzo beans, rinsed and drained

1 tablespoon water

1 large ripe tomato (12 ounces), thinly sliced

1 bunch watercress, tough stems trimmed

12 slices multigrain bread, lightly toasted

1. In medium bowl, stir 1 tablespoon oil, 2 teaspoons lemon juice, honey and ground black pepper until mixed. Add carrots and alfalfa sprouts; toss until mixed and evenly coated with dressing.

2. In 2-quart saucepan, heat remaining 1 tablespoon oil over medium heat. Add garlic, cumin and ground red pepper and cook until very fragrant. Stir in garbanzo beans and remove from heat. Add remaining 1 tablespoon lemon juice and water; mash to a coarse puree.

3. Spread garbanzo-bean mixture on 8 toast slices. Place tomato slices and watercress over 4 garbanzo-topped toast slices. Top remaining 4 garbanzo-topped slices with alfalfa sprout mixture and place on watercress-topped bread. Cover with 4 remaining toast slices. Cut sandwiches in half. Makes 4 main-dish servings.

 Each serving: About 379 calories, 12g total fat (2g saturated), 14g protein, 57g carbohydrate, 0mg cholesterol, 545mg sodium.

Corn and Tomato Chowder

2 teaspoons olive oil

1 medium green pepper, chopped

1 medium onion, chopped

1 teaspoon Cajun seasoning

1 can (14 1/2 ounces) diced tomatoes with green chiles

1 can (14 to 14 1/2 ounces) chicken broth (1 3/4 cups)

1 cup water

1 can (15.25 ounces) whole-kernel corn, drained

2 packages (6 ounces each) roasted chicken-breast pieces (about 2 cups)

1/4 cup heavy or whipping cream

1. In 4-quart saucepan, heat oil over medium heat. Add pepper and onion, and cook, covered, 4 to 5 minutes or until tender, stirring occasionally. Add Cajun seasoning; cook 30 seconds, stirring. Add tomatoes with their juice, broth and water; cover and heat to boiling over high heat.

2. Stir corn, chicken and cream into broth mixture; heat through. Yields about 8 cups, or 4 main-dish servings

 Each serving: About 270 calories, 12g

total fat (5g saturated), 27g protein, 19g carbohydrate, 4g fiber, 81mg cholesterol, 1,435mg sodium.

TIP: As an accompaniment, toss 1 pound green beans or Brussels sprouts with 1 tablespoon olive oil and 1/4 teaspoon salt. Spread in 15 1/2-by-10 1/2-inch jelly-roll pan and roast at 450 F for 15 to 20 minutes or until tender.

* * *

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

Coachella Valley Business Owners

By John Allen

Brett Koth

NEXT WEEK in TIDBITS JOURNEYS TO SOME DESERTS

Cody’s Corner

Dog Talk with Uncle Matty

By Matthew Margolis Creators News Service

Defective Dog Trainers

A year ago, a woman in New York City who shall remain nameless adopted two Chihuahuas knowing both dogs had a proclivity toward aggression. The dogs did not disappoint: They bark when she is and isn’t home, they snap at fellow residents in the elevator, and they’ve bitten random strangers on the street.

In the last year, this woman has hired four different dog trainers, each drawing their own professional conclusions:

-- Love the dogs, tell them they are good boys, and keep them in their crates.

-- Ignore the bad behavior, and the dogs will eventually knock it off.

-- The dogs are mad at you, and that is why they bite.

-- Some dogs are just defective.

Apparently, so are some dog trainers defective. Which is why it’s important to do the homework and know what you want before you sign on with a trainer for you and your dog.

Yes: a trainer for you and your dog.

A highly specialized trainer trains a Seeing Eye dog and teaches the owner how to effectively communicate with the dog in terms of the dog’s education. Another specialized trainer trains a K-9 cop and educates the officer to ensure dog and dog owner speak the same language. That is essentially what you want from your dog trainer: someone who can teach you and your dog to speak the same language.

And that language is not the language of love.

I recently spoke with a woman whose dog urinates in the house. She told me how much she loves her dog and that she was sure they could work it out. But the problem persisted despite her immense love, and she eventually called a dog trainer. This “trainer” concluded that her dog was angry with her because she had a roommate. The woman asked, “What do I do?” The trainer advised, “Get rid of the roommate.”

My advice? Get rid of that dog trainer, and lose the notion that lots of love is the equivalent of

Cody's Corner: Turn to Page 10

3. The Weekly “Brain Breaker”

SENIOR NEWS LINE

by Matilda Charles

The Scams Just Keep Coming

In the world of scams, just when you think these sneaky thieves can’t possibly come up with new ideas, they do. It seems their rescourcefulness and clever schemes are endless, and I'm beginning to believe they are.

One of the worst now is the fake fraud alert for protection services. For a nominal fee, you sign up for their phony services and provide them with your contact information so they can let you know when a hacker is trying to breech your security block.

You’ll get an emergency alert or an urgent call saying that someone is trying to hack into your account. The “helper” from your “bank” suggests that you temporarily transfer your money to a safe, protected account (which they will of course provide) while officials try to trace the hacker. If you you agree to this, you must them give them access to your private account, giving them direct access to empty every last penny of your account - into their pockets. If you ever get a call such as this, either hang up or stall them until you can call your bank to verify if they were

The Art of DESIGN

by Joseph Publillones

Traditional and Hip: The Next Wave

How can we create a room that is both traditional and hip? Many of us inherit furniture and hand-me-downs that have meaning in our lives because of the memories associated with them. Perhaps there is a sofa you grew up with or a nice wingback your favorite aunt or uncle gifted to you. You can simply discard them, but you may not want to. How do you integrate these family heirlooms into a home for your modern family?

Let’s face it; not everyone feels at home in fussy rooms. What you’re trying to create is a home that has a nod to traditional decor, but not your mother’s version of it. Selecting fabric for traditionally shaped seating can be tricky because fabrics that have a print or pattern can define a piece as more traditional. In cases like these, I always suggest using solid fabric in a neutral tone so the focus is more on the shape than the actual style or period of the furniture piece.

Incorporating case goods such as a china cabinet or chest of drawers or bureau can be accomplished in a more contemporary setting when you use one or two pieces as accents and mix it up with other modern or current case goods. This will enable you to strike a balance, and you won’t end up with your house looking like an antique

the one calling you. .

And then, of course, there are all the old standard scams - the grandparent scam where a thief calls and AI software precisely duplicates the voice of a grandchild who desperately needs you to wire money. Then there's the romance scam, where a supposed suitor pretends to get close to you over time and then asks for money or wants to do a joint financial investment. And the home repair scam where they promise to do a professional job, but you’ll first need to pay an upfront fee for materials and supplies - and then they desappear. And lest we forget, there are the computer repair phonies and the "work from home" scams, wherein they need to have remote access to your computer.

Beware any calls or text messages that push you to act now, that insert urgency or fear into the situation. Don’t fall for it. Hang up and don’t click any links. Make a call yourself to see if the situation was legitimate and carefully delete the text message.

To learn about even more current scams, check AARP at www.aarp.org/money/scamsfraud/info-2023/top-scammer-tactics-2023.html. With the holidays coming, the scams are just going to get worse. Stay alert!

lots of training.

Dog training is an unregulated industry. Anyone can hang their shingle and call themselves a dog trainer. It’s up to you, the diligent dog owner, to ask the questions that will elicit the trainer’s true competency. Here are some good ones:

-- Are you a licensed or certified dog trainer? Certification, required or not, indicates a dedication to the endeavor and a degree of practical education.

-- What behavioral problem do you specialize in? Aggression? Housebreaking? Basic obedience? Tip: Ask what their specialty is before you give any clues as to what you need help with.

-- What training method do you use? Punishment-based training -- shock collars and knees to the chest? Reward-based training -- treats for tricks? Praise-based training -- personality-appropriate correction in conjunction with affection and love? The latter, in my opinion, is the only approach that is both effective and humane.

-- What kind of results do you get? Ask for references.

-- Do you offer any guarantees? If the answer is yes, get them in writing.

And don’t rule yourself out. If you can put in the time to assess your pup’s personality and stick with a single personality-appropriate praise-based training method, you just might be the best candidate for the job. There are books, websites and DVDs available to help you if this is the path you choose. Visit unclematty.com for suggestions.

shop or a museum.

Another suggestion that I can offer for working with antiques is to highlight certain pieces by painting them a color such as white, pale gray or, if you are daring paint, a bold color like tangerine or turquoise. This is a way to add a punch of color, and it will certainly keep your room from looking stodgy.

In terms of art, if you have traditional pieces, hanging them as a collage or in a shape are ways to lend an air of modernity. Art is powerful, and a good way to jazz up a traditional interior is with contemporary art, especially abstract pieces in large formats. It energizes the decor and makes antiques feel fresh.

Accessorizing can have a big impact when paired with traditional decor. Less is more. One single yet significant item on a tabletop makes much more of an impact than a cluttered table full of knickknacks. Decorative pillows should be as large as your seating allows. I prefer a minimum of 24-by-24-inch pillows in a bold color or some fabric with a distinct pattern. The goal is to break some of the traditional rules and expectations so your rooms will look hip. Finally, adding plants to a room makes it feel and smell alive. Adding a floral arrangement of a single color, such as yellow or white, can revive the most traditional decor. So, you see, incorporating antiques and traditional furniture can be done with a modern and youthful spirit. It’s all in the mix.

* * *

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

COPYRIGHT 2020 CREATORS.COM

However we do it, diligence is key. Learning to speak the same language through training will curb, if not cure, most behavioral problems. Contrary to the thinking of a handful of goofball dog trainers, loving him, ignoring him, psychoanalyzing him and blaming him will not.

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.

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.

Cody’s Corner (from page 9)

YOUR SOCIAL SECURITY

by Tom Margenau

A Special Rule for Widows and Widowers

Here is a special message to all Social Security representatives reading this column. You are right when you tell customers that as a general rule, they cannot file for reduced benefits on one record and later switch to full benefits on another record. But if you are talking to a widow or widower, that rule does not apply.

I’ve heard from four readers in the past couple weeks -- three widows and one widower -who were all told they must choose to take benefits on one record or another. And once they make that choice, they can’t change. And that’s absolutely wrong.

Widows and widowers have the option of taking reduced benefits on one record and later switching to higher benefits on another record. And the number of readers telling me they’ve been misinformed about this issue (the four people I heard from this week is just the tip of the iceberg) tells me this isn’t a few isolated incidents involving a few uninformed Social Security Administration reps. Something must be missing in the SSA’s training sessions because I’ve heard from hundreds of widows and widowers over the years who have been misled on this topic.

Before I explain this “widow(er)s option,” let me clarify the statement I made at the beginning of this column. The one where I said that as a general rule, people can’t file for reduced benefits on one record and later switch to full benefits on another record. Actually, a version of this happens quite a lot. So let me explain what I am talking about with examples.

Let’s say Wilma is 62 and her husband Fred is also 62. Wilma wants to take her smallish Social Security benefit now, but Fred wants to wait until he is 67 to file for his much larger benefit. Wilma can take reduced retirement benefits now. And then when Fred turns 67 and files for his Social Security, Wilma can file for spousal benefits on his record. But the reduction she took in her own Social Security will carry over to her spousal benefits. In other words, she won’t get full spousal benefits. She’ll get a reduced rate.

But now let me turn the example around a bit. Let’s once again say that Wilma is 62, but this time we’ll say that Fred is 68 and already getting his own higher retirement benefit. In this case, Wilma cannot take reduced retirement benefits on her own record now and later switch to higher full spousal benefits on Fred’s record. By the same token, she cannot take reduced spousal benefits on Fred’s account now and later switch to full benefits on her own record.

So what’s the difference in the two examples. In the second one, Fred is already getting Social Security when Wilma wants to file for benefits. And there is a rule that says when you file for one benefit, you must file for all other benefits you are due at the same time. In the first example, when Wilma turned 62, Fred wasn’t yet getting benefits so at that time, there were no other benefits (i.e., spousal benefits) for Wilma to file for. That’s why, later on, when Fred files for his Social Security, Wilma can then file for extra spousal benefits on his record.

It’s that “you must file for all other benefits

you are due at the same time” rule that does not apply to widows and widowers.

Let’s go back to Wilma, who is turning 62. And this time, we’ll say that Fred is dead. In other words, Wilma is a widow. If Wilma went to some Social Security offices and talked to the uninformed SSA reps I mentioned earlier, she would have been told something like this. “Wilma, because of the rule that says you must file for any and all benefits you are due, you must file for your own reduced retirement benefit now, and you must file for any extra reduced widow’s benefits you are due at the same time.”

But to repeat: That “you must file for any and all benefits you are due at the same time” rule does not apply to widows and widowers.

Once again, let’s go back to Wilma. Let’s say her own full retirement age benefit is $1,800 per month and that Fred’s full retirement age benefit is $3,000 per month. Wilma might want to consider filing for reduced retirement benefits at age 62. She’d get about 70% of $1,800 or $1,260 per month. Then once she reaches her full retirement age, she could switch to 100% widow’s benefits, or $3,000 per month. (There are no “delayed retirement credits” paid on a widow’s benefit, so there would be no advantage to waiting past her full retirement age to collect widow’s benefits.)

Now let’s turn things around a bit and say that Wilma’s own benefit is close to Fred’s. For example, we can say that her full retirement age benefit is $2,800 per month and that Fred’s FRA benefit was $3,000 per month. In this case, Wilma might want to start out with reduced widow’s benefits. At 62, she’d get about 82% of Fred’s FRA benefit, or about $2,460 per month. Wilma could collect those benefits until she reaches her full retirement age, at which point she could switch to 100% of her FRA benefit, or $2,800 per month.

Or if she could live on her reduced widow’s benefit a little longer, she could wait until age 70 and get roughly a 30% “delayed retirement credit”

added to her monthly benefits. That means she’d get $3,640 per month starting at age 70.

Of course, Wilma isn’t forced to employ this “widow’s option.” Go back to the example where her own FRA benefit was $1,800 and her widow’s FRA benefit was $3,000. She could choose to forgo this “widow’s option” stuff and simply file for widow’s benefits now. In other words, at age 62, she’d be due about 82% of $3,000, or $2,460 per month. And that would be her benefit for good, except for future cost-of-living increases. *

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 Easy-to-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. Or you can send him an email at thomas.margenau@comcast.net. 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 2023 CREATORS.COM

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

2. Who killed 69 of his brethern, but spared Jotham, for he hid himself? a) Abimelech b) Jeroboam c) Uzziah d) Horam

3. From Proverbs 25, "Whosoever boasts himself of a false gift is like clouds and wind without ______." a) Splendor b) Might c) Rain d) Honor

4. Who was the wife of Ananias, who died along with her husband for lying to the Holy Spirit about their offering? a) Jezebel b) Anna c) Rahab d) Sapphira

5. Which two foods did God say would be plentiful in the land of Canaan? a) Meat/ Grapes b) Figs/Fruits c) Milk/Honey d) Bread/Wine

6. What were the Israelites forced to make as slaves in Egypt? a) Bricks b) Chariots c) Spears d) Ships

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. © 2023 King Features Synd., Inc.

How to Best Utilize Compression Stockings

DEAR DR. ROACH: Would you please address how to use compression socks? I sit most of the day, so wearing the socks helps my legs to feel less heavy and tired by the end of the day. Are there people who should not wear them? And what about wearing them during exercise? -- C.S.

ANSWER: Compression stockings are most commonly used in people with chronic venous insufficiency, a common condition in middle-aged to older people. The major symptom is swelling in the feet and lower legs. The swelling is usually minimal or gone in the morning and gets worse during the day, especially with prolonged standing and even sitting.

The underlying problem is that the veins, which carry blood from the legs back to the heart, get leaky over decades, and the fluid accumulates in the legs under the force of gravity. Your doctor can prescribe the right size, length and strength of stocking based on your personal condition.

The fact that you feel better with compression stockings suggests that you might have venous insufficiency, but it’s still a good idea to ask your doctor about them. Compression stockings are pretty safe, but should not be worn by people with serious reduction in arterial blood flow to the legs.

Arterial disease is completely different from venous insufficiency. It’s caused by blockages in the arteries that carry blood from the heart to the legs. An expert, such as a vascular surgeon, is an appropriate consultant for a person with arterial insufficiency before they consider using compression stockings.

Unless you have moderate to severe arterial disease (in which case you should check with your doctor if you aren’t sure), there is no harm from wearing compression stockings during exercise. There may even be some benefit. Compression stockings should not be worn by those with an acute clot in a major leg vein (a deep venous thrombosis). Once the clot is stabilized for a few days with medication, compression stockings can help treat and even prevent swelling in the affected leg.

People with moderate to severe heart failure should exercise care before using compression stockings, which put the leaked-out fluid back into the circulation and can worsen heart failure. Again, this is an issue to discuss with your regular doctor or cardiologist prior to using compression stockings on your own.

Finally, severe venous insufficiency can cause breakdown in the skin. A person with ulcers or open wounds, or with any kind of acute infection, should be evaluated and treated prior to using compression stockings. A wound care nurse is an ideal consultant in this case. ***

DEAR DR. ROACH: I have a friend who is 75 years old and has large blue veins directly under the skin on her hands, arms, feet and calves. What causes them, and can they be treated? They are noticeable, and I think she is unhappy because of this issue. -- P.G.

ANSWER: In fair-skinned people, it is common to see blue veins under the skin. This is not a problem. (The blood isn’t really blue. The color is due to light scattering.)

People with enlarged veins, such as varicose veins, may have more noticeable veins, but they do not need to be treated unless they are symptomatic, or if it is cosmetically important to the patient. There are many different types of treatments available, and an expert, such as a vascular surgeon, can discuss these options with the patient.

* * *

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.

VETERANS POST  

by Freddie Groves

Wait Times for Community Care

Despite the amount of attention paid to it over the years, the Department of Veterans Affairs still struggles with wait times for medical appointments. Wait time eligibility becomes crucial when a veteran seeks medical care through Community Care. With the wrong wait time, the veteran can be denied treatment out in the community. The calculation of wait times has to be exact, either 20 or 28 days depending on the type of care.

If you are a VA staffer in charge of making Community Care medical appointments for a veteran patient, which of the following options do you choose in setting the appointment for a patient and starting the wait time clock: a) The date the provider wants the patient to be seen ... b) The date the patient wants to be seen ... c) The date the care provider or the veteran makes a request for an appointment?

Only one of those is correct. The correct answer is c: The starting date for calculating wait time is that moment when a care provider or veteran asks for an appointment

Unfortunately, in one location, staff was using a combination of methods for calculating wait times using their own unauthorized wait time calculator they created from an online app. It threw off the numbers by 12 days, making it look like veterans were not eligible for Community Care.

The ongoing mistake only came to light when a trainer used that same calculator in another facility. At the same time, a veteran had been denied Community Care because the inaccurate calculations indicated that he was not wait-time eligible and he was given a VA facility appointment instead. As a result, there was a congressional inquiry.

A medical clinic is bombed. A 54-year-old woman from Kiev has rheumatoid arthritis and no longer has access to her medication. Her doctor and medical clinic are gone.

Prior to the war, she was treated with Humira, a biologic therapy proven to reduce pain and the crippling effects of rheumatoid arthritis. The Humira was donated for her use by AbbVie Pharmaceuticals. The annual cost for Humira is $70,000. Her pain and loss of function has returned, but she cannot afford $70,000. What can she do?

The Ukrainian woman recently moved to the United States. AbbVie, sponsor of the clinical program, asked Desert Medical Advances, a local clinical rheumatoid arthritis office, to step in. Desert Medical Advances (DMA) is a clinical research office working in the Coachella Valley since 1987 in RA and lupus. DMA has provided $160 million in free biologic medications via FDA approved grant programs for more than 30 years. DMA will now provide the Humira through the original FDA approved clinical program to the refugee at no cost.

Anyone with Lupus or Rheumatoid Arthritis can contact DMA for FREE biologic medication.

The Office of Inspector General for the VA stepped in and discovered a great big mess of confusion and inconsistency at both facilities due to staffers using a calculator that a member of staff had made.

If you want Community Care, you need VA approval first. To see if you qualify, read the fine print at www.va.gov/CommunityCare

* * *

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.

-- by Jim Miller

Three Vaccines Seniors Should Consider Getting This Fall

DEAR SAVVY SENIOR: Can you tell me which vaccines are recommended for Medicare seniors this flu season?

-- Just Turned 65

Dear Just Turned: There are actually three different types of vaccines seniors should consider getting this fall to protect against a repeat of last winter’s “tripledemic” of respiratory illnesses, which included flu, RSV and coronavirus. Here’s a rundown of the different vaccines the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is recommending and how they are covered by Medicare.

Senior-Specific Flu Shots

For people age 65 and older, there are three flu vaccines (you only need one) that the CDC recommends over traditional flu shots.

These FDA-approved vaccines provide extra protection beyond what a standard flu shot does, which is important for older adults who have weaker immune defenses and have a greater risk of developing dangerous flu complications compared with younger, healthy adults. The three seniorspecific options include the following:

Fluzone High-Dose Quadrivalent vaccine, which contains four times the amount of antigen as a regular flu shot does, creating a stronger immune response for better protection.

Fluad Quadrivalent vaccine, which contains an added ingredient called adjuvant MF59 that also helps create a stronger immune response.

FluBlok Quadrivalent vaccine, is a recombinant protein (egg-free) flu vaccine that contains three times the amount of antigen as compared with a regular flu shot.

There isn’t enough evidence yet to indicate whether one of these three vaccines provides superior protection over the other two for seniors.

As for side effects, you should know that the Fluzone High-Dose and Fluad vaccines can cause more of the mild side effects that can occur with a standard-dose flu shot, like pain or tenderness where you got the shot, muscle aches, headache or fatigue. While the side effects of Flublok tend to be a little less frequent.

All flu vaccines are covered 100 percent by Medicare Part B, provided your doctor, health clinic or pharmacy agrees not to charge you more than Medicare pays.

New RSV Vaccines

Anyone age 60 and older, especially if you have any heart or lung conditions, diabetes, kidney or liver disorders that make you vulnerable to the respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), should consider getting one of the new FDA approved RSV vaccines (either Arexvy or Abrysvo).

These vaccines, recommended by the CDC, will help protect older and immunocompromised adults from respiratory illness, which is responsible for 6,000 to 10,000 deaths and at least 60,000 hospitalizations each year in seniors 65 and older. The new RSV vaccines are covered by Medicare (Part D) prescription drug plans.

Updated Covid Booster

If you haven’t had a Covid-19 booster shot lately, you may consider getting one this fall. Even though the Covid public health emergency has ended and the number of cases has gone way down, it has been surging in recent months causing an increase in hospitalizations, especially among the elderly.

The updated Covid vaccine targets the XBB omicron subvariants that are some

of the most dominate coronavirus variants circulating in the U.S. It will also provide protection against the EG.5 variant (Eris), which is closely related to the XBB.

Covid booster shots are covered 100 percent by Medicare Part B.

When and Where

Most health officials agree that it’s safe to receive the flu and Covid booster at the same time. But because the RSV vaccines are new this year, many doctors are recommending a two-week window between an RSV shot and the flu and/or the COVID shots.

You can find all three vaccines at most pharmacies, medical clinics and health departments, or you can do a search at Vaccines.gov

* * * Send

to my grandmother who bought it after World War II. The set consists of a sugar bowl, cream pitcher, teapot, coffee pot, six dessert plates, six cups and six saucers.

Each dish is decorated with gold designs against a white background and all are in perfect condition. The plates and saucers have scalloped rims.

What can you tell me about the maker, age and possible value of my set?

by Anne McCollam

Collectors of Teapot Not Clowning Around

Q: In 1959, at a Woolworth’s fiveand-dime store in Racine, Wis., I bought this clown teapot seen in this photo. The face is decorated with a glossy black glaze, his eyes are bright blue, and he has a round bright red nose. His hair is brown, and he is wearing a yellow straw hat. The handle is wire. On the bottom are the words “Pat. Pend.” It stands approximately 6 inches tall, 8 inches from the spout to the handle and is in mint condition.

I always put it out for display but never used it for actually serving tea. Would you know anything about its origin, whether it is collectible, and what its value might be?

A: Weimar Porcelain was made by C. and E. Carstens Porcelain Factory. They have made porcelain in Blankenhain, Thuringia, Germany, since 1918.

Your set was made in the mid- to late-1940s. Similar dessert sets are selling in the range of $175 to $275.

* * *

Antiques expert and columnist Anne McCollam has since 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.com COPYRIGHT 2023 CREATORS.COM

* On Oct. 2, 1614, Louis XIII of France was declared an adult. His mother, Marie de’ Medici, continued to act as his Regent, however, as she had begun upon the assassination of his father, King Henry IV of France, in 1610, until Louis turned 16.

* On Oct. 3, 1967, singer/musician/activist Woody Guthrie, lauded by Bob Dylan as “the true voice of the American spirit,” died from complications of Huntington’s disease at age 55. His music focused primarily on American socialism and anti-fascism, influencing numerous other artists ranging from Johnny Cash to Jerry Garcia.

* On Oct. 4, 2006, the widows of two war veterans brought a lawsuit against the United States government for the right to include Wiccan religious symbols on graves in military cemeteries. While the religion is recognized by the military, its followers were not permitted to display a Wiccan pentacle on such markers until the following year.

* On Oct. 5, 1999, torrential rains caused flooding and mudslides that completely buried 80 homes in the small Mexican city of Teziutlan. Authorities estimated the village received nearly half the amount of its annual rainfall in just three days.

* On Oct. 6, 1945, tavern owner William Sianis bought a seat for himself and his pet goat, Murphy, for Game 4 of the World Series, featuring the Chicago Cubs vs. the Detroit Tigers. Chagrined that Murphy was denied admission, legend holds that Sianis declared the Cubs would never win a game again until the animal was allowed on Wrigley Field. Though he “lifted” the curse in 1969, the Cubs didn’t see another victory until 1984.

A: Your clown teapot is indeed collectible, and was made in Japan in the 1950s. They were originally marked with paper labels with the words “Thames -- Made in Japan”.

There were accessories that accompanied the teapot that included salt and peppershakers, cream pitchers, sugar bowls, cups and saucers. They also made a stacking teapot/cups set.

Your clown teapot was made from red clay and is hand-painted as were the accessories.

The value of your teapot would probably be $100 to $150.

Q: Enclosed is the mark that is on a set of dishes that I have. It originally belonged

Puzzle Solutions

When you store your money from work inside a footed vase, I reckon you'd have urned income.

* On Oct. 7, 1979, President Jimmy Carter and First Lady Rosalynn Carter welcomed Pope John Paul II as the first pontiff to visit the White House. Carter greeted the Polishborn pope in his native tongue with “Niech bedzie bog Pochwalony” (“May God be praised”).

* On Oct. 8, 1871, the Great Chicago Fire broke out in the barn of Patrick and Catherine O’Leary and lasted for two days. By the time it ended, 300 people had died and a large swath of the city had been devastated. The exact cause of the blaze was never determined.

(c) 2023 King Features Synd., Inc.

Clown teapot was made in Japan in the 1950s.

Weimar Porcelain made by C & E Carstens in Germany.

would last another 3,000 years.

LANDMARKS

• Established in 1872, Yellowstone was the first national park in the U.S. (and the world) and covers an area of 3,468.4 square miles. Thousands of tourists visit this national park every year to admire its stunning landscape, which consists of lakes, canyons, rivers, waterfalls and scenic mountain ranges.

• A tremendous amount of geothermal activity exists here, thanks to a restlss supervolcano called the Yellowstone Caldera, which lies just hundreds of feet beneath the surface. Over half of the world’s geysers are located within this park, including Old Faithful, which erupts every 44 to 125 minutes all year round.

• The city of Fort Benton, Montana is as far inland as a person can navigate by boat on any continent. Located 3,560 miles from the Gulf of Mexico, it’s known as “the world’s innermost port.” In the early days of river navigation, 20 percent of the steamboats that left St. Louis bound for Fort Benton via the Missouri River never returned to St. Louis. Fort Benton was the end of the line because five waterfalls blocked the Missouri River where the city of Great Falls is now. When Lewis and Clark portaged the 18 miles around the falls in 1805, the difficult trek took them 31 days.

• Popular newscaster Chet Huntley was born in Cardwell, Montana, and the driving force behind the construction of the Big Sky ski resort town. Sadly, he died just three days before the grand opening ceremonies in 1974. Today, Big Sky has more vertical feet of skiing than any other ski area in the nation, with 4,180 feet of slopes inviting both skiers and snowboarders.

• Montana earned the title as the “Treasure State” when its mountains yielded rich troves of gold and silver deposits in the 1800s. It is also laden with valuable deposits of palladium and platinumis, and is a major producer of copper, garnets and gemstones

• Montana is the only state that is exactly one time zone wide. The state’s eastern border marks the line of Central Time and the western boundary marks Pacific Time. Montana lies entirely within the Mountain Time Zone. 

STAN SMITH’S TENNIS CLASS

Changers

Slap Over the Slice

The basic concept is to take your golf address position without a club, allowing the hands to be facing palms together. Leave the left arm and hand in place while making a half backswing motion. The goal is to move forward in attempt to slap the left hand and cause it to turn over (palm up). The follow through should be short to see how the forearms cross over as you’re still in the golf posture. By “slapping over” the hands and arms, you’re rehearsing

world’s shortest river?

GO FIGURE!

10. ANIMAL KINGDOM: What are a crab’s pincers called? Answers

TRIVIA TEST Answers Answers

by Linda Thistle

1. Pennywise.

2. On average, every 76 years.

3. California (54).

4. A canister that looks like a Barbasol Shaving Cream can.

5. Surrealism.

The idea of Go Figure is to arrive at the figures given at the bottom and right-hand columns of the diagram by following the arithmetic signs in the order they are given (that is, from left to right and top to bottom). Use only the numbers below the diagram to complete its blank squares and use each of the nine numbers only once.

6. Ford Motor Company.

7. “All in the Family.”

8. Chickpeas.

9. Roe River, Montana.

DIFFICULTY: � � Moderate

Difficult

10. Chelae.