Issue 899

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• In 1948 a retired school teacher named 398 South Oregon Street ∙ Ontario, Oregon
205 W. Logan St. 188 east Lane, Ste. 3, 10480 W. Garverdale Ct. Eleanor Abbott came down with polio. While
Caldwell ontario, oR Ste., 804A • Boise she recovered in the hospital, she passed 425 S Whitley Dr. #12 Fruitland, ID 83619
the time with the children in her ward, and
for more information visit: eurodenture.com designed a game for them to play.

208-609-3341 • It was a simple, colorful board game that
required no reading. Children as young as
OPEN Monday-Thursday until 7:00pm three could play. All that’s required is the
Friday and Saturday until 8:00pm ability to follow a rainbow path by matching
colors on cards drawn from the pile.
Quick Loan and Soda Shop located at Everyone encouraged her to take the game
204 N. Whitley Drive, Fruitland to Milton Bradley. She did, presenting a
rough outline of the game drawn on butcher
PAYDAY LOANS DAILY paper.
RATES!
• Milton Bradley decided to produce it on a
Locally Owned & Operated temporary basis. They sold it for $1, using
the slogan, ‘A sweet little game, for sweet
208-452-4050 little folks’, and it featured peppermint candy
canes on the front of the box. The game
quickly took off and became a permanent
fixture at Milton Bradley.

• Eleanor donated her royalties back to the
children, buying equipment for schools.
More than 40 million copies of the game
have been sold since this “temporary” game
was released. About 90% of American
homes own a copy. Name it.

Answer: Candy Land.

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• Alfred Butts was an architect who lost his Call for an appointment
job during the Great Depression. Attempting
to make ends meet, he invented a board 2330 Hwy 30 West, Fruitland 208-452-7035
game, a process that involved studying
the daily papers and carefully tracking the Can I Safely
number of times each letter of the alphabet
was used. He dubbed the resulting game Take My Pet
“Lexico” and took it to all of the major game
manufacturers, who all turned him down. to the Vet?

• Butts revised the game, re-named it “Criss- ---
Cross Words” and continued his search for
a buyer, until he met up with game lover and DEAR PAW’S
entrepreneur James Brunot. James bought
all rights to the game, giving Butts a royalty CORNER:
on each unit sold. James changed the game
a bit more and gave it yet another name, a My state has
word meaning to scratch or scrape.
stopped its
• In 1949 while working out of a factory set up
in an abandoned schoolhouse, James sold rReoecpoenninegctpinlagnWanitdhstepped back to
only 2,400 sets and lost money. Then the phYasoeur2,SewnhiiocrhDlimogits business hours,
chairman of Macy’s department store played pDuEtAsRa PcAuWrf’SewCbOaRcNkERin: pMlayce, and essen-
it while on vacation and liked it so much he lartgieamlliyxepd-ubtrseedusdoign“tHoatlochcekt”dios wn again. My
ordered every Macy’s in the country to stock os1lf2ipvyydpeeeeaoatdrrgssqe. uoTv“ilChtedea,uratay’ssnbtdispetirihrxoni”bstmahidbseiolspycsnaiumpstltphyicnpsofeauohudpsallutees,ed
it. Orders flooded in. By 1954 James and his to visit the
new company sold over 3.8 million sets. to a chronic

• Today one out of every four homes inAmerica beccoaunsde iIt’ivoenb,ebenutcownseumheadvweinth’t gone all year
has one of these games. Alfred Butts died runbniencgaaunseew bIudsionens’stakndnobawreliyf it’s safe or if
in 1993 at the age of 93 after seeing his Iwh’lavoiotvehfcefrktoeiodmsuonroelvwtdCeodanuwiltsayroltukewglhereait’lmsskbs.aav.BcpiTuksrtpioottlhunsyib.stulreySanechaitskri,ol unledxIt
invention become a beloved pastime. Name just hold
the game. Answer: Scrabble. year? --

DICEY DICE HatcThaetywloillrnCot.l,istBenroocr kcotmoenw, hMenassachusetts

• In the 1950s a Canadian couple played a I call him, especially at the park.
dice game regularly aboard their yacht. CADuasnEtinhA,eRTbexeTarsAetYraLinOedR?:—GiDvoeugthLe., veterinarian a
They called it “the yacht game” since they DcEaAllRtoDdOaUy,G:beGciaviungseHhaetchoetr she will have
played it so often while at sea. The object reftrhesehebr etrsaitn,inmg ionsbtasuicpo-bteod-iednacete guidance on
of the game was to score the most points swiskoiaitclphlgoserhrneniiagmttihinintddbgeuaaaicle!aykOs,nu.hnpdecT—esohyhoepoesuueplssedrtciaatipratutilciwlankyotgirtfihkoyoiaonnsugse
by rolling five dice to try to make a total of this pandemic
13 different combinations, essentially trying with business
to roll poker hands of a full house, a large
straight, four of a kind, etc. All of their friends use opopseitinveinreginsfoarcnemdenlot mcketdhoodws. ns is very fluid
wanted copies of the game. (cont) ihmiCmsrpotirgmaoisvhtmeetthihtetntiisnobogbewessthtot,aattvhhatiiaonentrgddaayanniordluuydrelwceseapasnvolknedaswoneriettthoobdeitfwfeereenntcfitrioems.
coWmmhaennds.the first lockdown rules began to
amnBadeyetacmthasiuraeeesye,mCnHbooeatratnecrchteekeesaptsroiiislnsnydafJoostuneornnyicDooeorum,irsdmtoewhgaaa,nelshkdeessguCiodnatnrcoel
from
and

asPsnraepvpeilyntaisohne dtiod wvheetnehreinwaarsya offices was to
phcoeumppifspimrnryi’.saotnBtrrde,eistapfaitooztlnhiletldetolienepwgamprewakt,edeieklrlnebgtteopywethhnitreihcmo“yhcuoiomntami.hnneIi”sefd
urgent visits
visits. Some

leasshtadutreinsgewxalpksliacnidtlwyodrkewsiitgh nhiamted veterinary
sopenItefrhtmhaHeasctmatctliceochtmhteeoamtragadrinsocedemsawonrnh’atilpieeniemisrnhpsoatrehppoesvneeptn,aairaiklfeli.tvthsleeeenrvdicuer,inaglloswtriinctg
snappy with othelrodcokgsd, oowr inf hpe hjuastses.
pfsoehyCreyomasuiucscshaoetlwfcefik,shrsut’auepske.nesSvthehetinamhittoeedrtoridsinottnhrgeaeascxvctreattihtnaeerdrnmoienvuafwerrtolioiaimlnnpl ebeapapboleinttomteenllt
traiinsinagv—aithlainbglseli.keSacrthhreitdisuplaiinngormay be tight,
endoncrointe bpreocblaemuss.eMtahkeesruereathroesemany urgent
tairmenec’.taBgseesetttisonfgaliunhctkeh!ae wdayooffyhiosuou,tdbouort because the
[email protected],tmqeeu.debsttiuoonilsdaoirnctigepsratat ionnneutmimbee.r of

Kee©p20i2n0 gKinguFpeatuwresitShyndC., Iuncs. ter’s visits is very

important. I am almost certain that the

vet will want to see Custer soon, and

will probably make his visit a priority

because of his ongoing health issue.

Send your tips, questions or comments
to [email protected].

(c) 2020 King Features Synd., Inc.

Dec 31 - Jan 5, 2021 Tidbits of Lower Treasure Valley Page 3

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FOR SALE MISCELLANEOUS

FARM FRESH APPLES Need cash now, DICEY DICE (cont)
RED DELICIOUS don’t want to have
an estate sale or yard • The Canadian couple approached Edwin
Now ONLY $.35 per sale, call the Trea- Lowe, who had made a fortune by selling
pound!!! sure Valley Picker for boxed Bingo game sets. They asked him if
unwanted items, an- he could produce some copies of their game
9mm, 357 and Rifle tiques, jewelry, tools, so they could hand them out to friends. Lowe
Ammo For Sale furniture, musical in- liked the game so much that he agreed to
New Plymouth struments, garage give them a thousand copies of the game in
208-761-4110 exchange for all rights. He incorporated the
game’s nautical background into the name
35 PLUS YEARS OF sales items & misc. and he began to market it.
LUTHIER TOOLS, We buy storage units,
FORMS, JIGS, garages & barns. Call • Things went slowly at first, until he began to
BOOKS AND 208-405-9647. organize parties where the game was played.
Word of mouth did the trick, and soon the
SUPPLIES. ALL IN The “Books Only” Store game was selling well. He sold over 40 million
GOOD SHAPE AND sets around the world. Milton Bradley bought
Chris’s Book Corner the game from Edwin Lowe in 1973, and this
popular dice game has been a favorite ever
READY TO GO 322 State Street, since, selling about 50 million sets annually.
FRUITLAND Weiser Idaho Name it. Answer: Yahtzee.
208-549-8191
208-230-5025 COLORFUL DOTS
Mon-Fri 9:00-5:00
• In the 1960s the Johnson Shoe Polish
Sat 9:00-4:00 company was looking for promotional ideas.
They wanted to run ads in newspapers
EMPLOYMENT and comic books with coupons that people
would clip out and send in along with $1 in
1. What Atlanta Urgently looking for sales representatives to order to get a free prize, but they needed a
Falcons player had his help with ad sales for Tidbits in NEW good idea for a prize, so they approached
house set on fire by a promotional design company for help.
Lisa “Left Eye” Lopes of distribution area of Emmett, ID can include The firm came up with the idea for a new
hip-hop group TLC in Parma, New Plymouth, Fruitland, Payette, Weiser, game: the game board was a large sheet
1994? of plastic with big colored dots, which was
2. Who became the Nyssa, Ontario and Vale if interested. At least laid on the floor, a spinner dial dictated the
first Swedish golfer to two referrals preferred. Straight commission. moves around the game board, and the
win a major champion- game pieces were the bodies of the players
ship with her victory at the 1988 U.S. Women’s Call Lisa 541-212-0914 themselves. They named the game “Pretzel.”
Open? When employees of the firm tested it out, it
3. An anthropomorphic citrus fruit named Classified Advertising Rates: was so much fun that everyone dissolved
Otto is the official mascot of what university’s $8.00 for the first week for up to 20 words, up to 3 ad- into hysterical laughter.
athletic teams? ditional weeks for $4.00 each when paid at the time of
4. The College Punter of the Year Award is original ad placement. For additional words, add 20¢ • They took the idea to Milton Bradley, who liked
named in honor of what Pro Football Hall of per word per week, for border and yellow highlight, add the game but changed the name. Sales were
Famer? $2.00 per week. Payment Options: Credit Card- call poor at first and they couldn’t figure out how to
5. Following his retirement from the Boston 541-212-0914 - Check or Money Order - mail your legi- market it. (cont)
Celtics in 1963, Bob Cousy returned to the NBA ble ad with payment to: Oregon Trail Publications, P.O.
in 1969 as a coach (and occasional player) for Box 93 Ontario, OR 97914
what NBA team?
6. What two-time Norris Trophy winner (1992, All ad copy must be approved by Tidbits, which reserves the right to edit or reject any ad request
‘97) had his No. 2 jersey retired by the New that we find, in our sole discretion, to be questionable or not in good taste. In the event of typo-
York Rangers? graphical errors, errors in publication, or omission in or from an ad, Tidbits liability will be limited
7. What motorsports facility occupies the to the reprinting of the ad. By placing an ad in Tidbits, you waive any claim for consequential,
former site of Florida’s World War II-era Hen- incidental, or other damages. All items listed are subject to prior sale. Tidbits considers it’s ad-
dricks Army Airfield? vertisers reliable and verifies as much data as possible. However, readers using this information
do so at their own risk. It is suggested that investors contact the appropriate consumer agency
(c) 2020 King Features Syndicate, Inc. before sending payment. Although persons and companies mentioned herein are believed to be
reputable, neither Tidbits nor its’ employees accept any responsibility whatsoever for their actions
or claims. For more information to help you avoid rip-offs and exercise your consumer rights,
write: FTC, 600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20580 or log on to http://www.ftc.
gov/bcp/consumer.shtm.

WE’RE HERE TO HELP!! PLEASE GIVE US A CALL WITH YOUR
QUESTIONS AND WE WILL HELP IN ANY WAY WE CAN.

541-889-8012

For Up To Date Information Visit www.ontariochamber.com

Ontario Area Chamber Of Commerce

Page 4 Tidbits of Lower Treasure Valley Dec 31 - Jan 5, 2021

WE MAKE SERVICES INCLUDING:
HOUSE ∙ In-home visits
CALLS ∙ Medication management
∙ Pain management
Do you find it hard to ∙ Convenient lab collection
get to those doctors’ ∙ Disease management
appointments?
Let us come to you! * On Jan. 7, 1789, Congress sets today as
the date by which states are required to
SIGNATURE healthcare 208-642-9222 choose electors for the country’s first-ev-
at home er presidential election. A month later, on
care where you are Feb. 4, George Washington was elected
president by state electors and sworn into
COLORFUL DOTS (cont) office April 30. WONDERFUL WORDS

• That all changed when Johnny Carson * On Jan. 10, 1901, a drilling derrick at NAME THAT DUDE
played the game on “The Tonight Show” in Spindletop Hill near Beaumont, Texas,
1966, along with Eva Gabor, who was the produces an enormous gusher of crude oil, • Henry was born in 1761 in Britain. He joined
star of the popular show “Green Acres.” signaling the advent of the American oil in- the army as a young man and began working
It didn’t hurt that Eva was wearing a low- dustry. The geyser flowed at an initial rate independently on a new weapon. Twenty
cut gown and the game involved lots of of 100,000 barrels a day. Today, only a few years later, his new anti-personnel weapon
bending. The next day, toy stores all over oil wells still operate in the area. was adopted by the British army.
the nation were flooded with requests.
Three million sold by the end of that year, * On Jan. 5, 1920, the New York Yankees • The weapon, called a Spherical Case Shot,
and it still remains one of the most popular announce the purchase of heavy-hitting was a hollow cannon ball filled with musket
party games in America. What’s it called? outfielder George Herman “Babe” Ruth balls and a powder charge that was set off in
Answer: Twister. from the Boston Red Sox for $125,000. mid-air, scattering the shot over a large area.
Ruth had played six seasons with the Red Manufacture of the new weapon began in
TOWERING TOWER Sox, leading them to three World Series 1803. It helped defeat Napoleon at Waterloo.
titles.
• Leslie Scott spent much of her childhood in • Henry was eventually promoted to lieutenant
Africa. She and the other children played * On Jan. 6, 1936, Porky Pig makes his general and received a modest pension for
a simple game using wooden blocks. They world debut in a Warner Brothers cartoon, his invention. He died in 1802 at age 41. The
would build a tower out of the blocks, then “Gold Diggers of ‘49.” When Mel Blanc weapon was manufactured according to his
take turns pulling blocks out of the bottom of joined Warner Brothers the following year, exact design without any changes even up
the tower and placing them on top, without he became the famous voice behind Porky through World War I. In “The Star Spangled
tipping the tower over. as well as Bugs Bunny, Daffy Duck, Sylves- Banner,” the phrase “the bombs bursting in
ter and Tweety. air” refers to Henry’s invention.
• When Leslie went to England to attend college
at Oxford University in the 1980s, she brought * On Jan. 8, 1966, ABC’s rock and roll TV • After his death, Henry’s family asked the
the game with her. Her classmates enjoyed variety show “Shindig” airs its last episode. government to name the weapon after him.
playing it, and urged her to begin selling the The show had debuted in September 1964, His name now means any loose fragment
game. She copyrighted the rules, and named featuring acts including the Everly Broth- that does great harm. What was Henry’s last
the game for the Swahili word meaning “build ers, the Rolling Stones and The Beach name? Answer: Shrapnel.
it.” Boys.
DUDE #2
• An American entrepreneur named Robert * On Jan. 9, 1972, a fire breaks out
Grebler discovered the game in England aboard the lavish Queen Elizabeth, and by • Charles was a rent collector for an Irish
and began importing it to the U.S. He drew the next morning the world’s largest pas- landlord named Lord Erne. In 1880 there
much attention to it by organizing fund-raising senger ship lies in a wreck on the bottom was widespread crop failure and economic
tournaments. He even holds the world record of Hong Kong harbor. Launched in 1938, depression. The tenants asked Lord Erne
with a tower 41 blocks tall. the Queen Elizabeth steamed across the to lower rents until they had a chance to
ocean as a troop transport during World recover. Erne’s agent, Charles, responded
• In 1987 Milton Bradley picked up the rights War II. by handing out eviction notices.
to the game and began selling it all over the
world. In Israel the game is called “Mapolet” * On Jan. 4, 1999, 11 nations adopt a • One morning Charles awoke to find that
which is Hebrew for avalanche; the Danish single currency, the euro, and “locked in” he was apparently invisible. His servants
name for it is “Klodsmajor” meaning klutz; their exchange rates relative to each other abandoned him, shopkeepers would not
in Brazil it’s called “Torremoto” meaning and to the euro. At midnight, their curren- serve him, the blacksmith could not see
earthquake tower, but in the U.S. it still carries cies officially ceased to exist. his horse, the mailman didn’t bring his mail
Leslie’s original Swahili name meaning ‘build (except for bills) and he could get no one to
it’. What’s it called? (c) 2020 Hearst Communications, Inc. come harvest his crops. (cont)
All Rights Reserved
Answer: Jenga.

Dec 31 - Jan 5, 2021 Tidbits of Lower Treasure Valley Page 5

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208-642-0825 NAME THAT DUDE
1454 S. Main St
(continued)
Payette, ID
• Charles contacted the British government
BARNS ∙ GARAGES and asked for 50 laborers and an escort
STALL BARNS ∙ SHOPS of 1,000 soldiers to help. When this army
arrived at the train depot, they found there
∙ WAREHOUSES wasn’t any transportation to be found and the
shops and pubs were suddenly sold out of
1. MOVIES: In how many movies everything. They had to walk 15 miles to his
did Sean Connery play the character farm, where they ate him out of house and
James Bond? home while harvesting his crops. No one
2. ADVERTISING SLOGANS: What bought his crops.
product is touted as “the fabric of our
lives”? • Other than these petty annoyances, the
3. GENERAL KNOWLEDGE: How many man never came to any harm and lived
laps do drivers have to complete in long enough to see his last name become a
the Indianapolis 500 race? household word in several languages. It now
4. HISTORY: How many Pyramids of means organized ostracism as social protest.
Giza (Eqypt) were constructed? What was his last name? Answer: Boycott.
5. MUSIC: Which pop song repeats
the chorus, “Why can’t you see? You DUDE #3
belong with me”?
6. LITERATURE: What kind of novel is • Henry from Portland, Oregon, noted that
written in a series of letters? screws and screwdrivers had problems when
7. MEASUREMENTS: How many cups it came to assembly lines. In the 1930s, car
are in 1 pint? manufacturers were screwing millions of
8. MYTHOLOGY: What is the home of screws per minute with power screwdrivers
the Greek gods? and the machines had trouble with the
9. ANATOMY: How much of the adult standard slotted screws, often stripping the
human body is made up of water? screws and popping out of the slot.
10. GEOGRAPHY: What is the most
densely populated continent on • Henry invented a screw with
Earth? a cross-shaped slot that could
(c) 2020 King Features Synd., Inc. be driven with more torque and
would hold tighter than regular
slotted screws. He named it after
himself. His new screwdriver,
with its pointed tip, engaged the
screw much more easily and did
not slip out. The indentation in
the screw was so shallow that
when the screw was finished
screwing, the screwdriver tip
simply popped out.

• The new screw was first used
in building the 1936 Cadillac and
proved so effective that within
two years all car manufacturers
had switched. In 1936 Henry
received patents for both the
screw and the screwdriver, but it
was so widely copied that he lost
the patent in 1949. Henry died
in 1958 at age 68 after seeing
his screw become an industry
standard. What was his last
name? Answer: Phillips.

Page 6 Tidbits of Lower Treasure Valley Dec 31 -Jan 5, 2021

NAME THAT COMPANY

By Lucie Winborne • Ron Popeil was born in 1935. As a teen, he
* Snakes can help predict earthquakes. lived with his father in Chicago. His dad and
They can sense a coming earthquake from uncle invented kitchen gadgets and other
75 miles away, up to five days before it items which they sold to Sears, Woolworth’s,
happens. and Walgreens. Ron’s job was to go into
stores and demonstrate the gadgets to
* Pure cocoa can help prevent tooth decay. managers, convincing them to sell the items.
He also demonstrated products to shoppers.
* According to Roger Highfield, author
of “The Physics of Christmas: From the • One day Ron wandered through a flea
Aerodynamics of Reindeer to the Thermo- market. Vendors were hawking their wares
dynamics of Turkey,” Rudolph’s red nose is and shoppers were handing over cash. He
probably the result of a parasitic infection tried his hand at direct sales and found had a
of his respiratory system. knack for drawing in a crowd. By dealing with
people at his booth, he was able to hone his
* The original game of Clue, patented in sales ability.
1947 by a British man who invented it
to pass time during World War II air-raid • Then, television came on the scene. Ron
blackouts, included a lead pipe token made spent $500 making a 60-second commercial
of real lead (it was eventually replaced by advertising a garden hose nozzle shaped like
steel, then pewter). The original version a gun. Orders flooded in. Next he advertised
also included slightly more exotic weap- a vegetable chopper which sliced and diced.
ons like a hypodermic syringe and an Irish He steadily added new products: spray-on
walking stick. hair, a food dehydrator, Mr. Microphone, a
smokeless ashtray, the Pocket Fisherman.
* There are no muscles in your fingers. By 1968 revenues topped $8 million. His ads
Their function is controlled by the muscles became iconic and his catch-phrases such
in your palms and arms. as “But wait! There’s more!” and “Operators
are standing by!” became part of America’s
* No one ever called “The Lion King” a pop culture heritage. He named the company
documentary, but one hyena researcher after himself. What’s it called? Answer:
was so incensed by the film’s inaccuracies Ronco.
that he sued Disney for defamation on be-
half of hyenas everywhere. SLAP-N-SLAM

* There’s a town called “Big Ugly” in West • Spud Melin and Dick Knerr were students in
Virginia. California in 1948. They made sling shots in
order to lob meatballs at falcons they were
* The Eiffel Tower was originally supposed training to hunt. They hit the jackpot when
to be erected in Barcelona, but the project they placed an ad for the sling shots in the
was rejected because citizens considered it back of a magazine. (cont)
an eyesore.
* It’s illegal in New Zealand to name your MORE ON PAGE 9 ONLINE AT
child Sex Fruit, Fat Boy, 4Real, Cinderella
Beauty Blossom, or Fish and Chips. www.tidbitsweekly.com/publisher/treasure_valley

* If you could use your nose in space,
you’d discover it smells like a mixture of
hot metal, diesel fumes and barbecue,
thanks to compounds called polycyclic
aromatic hydrocarbons that emanate from
dying stars.
***
Thought for the Day: “Not only must we be
good, but we must also be good for some-
thing.” -- Henry David Thoreau

(c) 2020 King Features Synd., Inc.

Dec 31 - Jan 5, 2021 Tidbits of Lower Treasure Valley Page 7

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for a few hours before lighting. New and Refurbished Medical
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apples and carrots in different
compartments. The apples
give off a gas that can give
the carrots a bitter taste.

* A great tip from the Ameri-
can Society for the Prevention
of Cruelty to Animals: During
the winter, outdoor cats some-
times sleep under the hoods
of cars. They can be injured
or even killed by the starting
of the motor. Before you start
your car in the morning (or
any time of day, really) give
your hood a nice loud rap to
give the cat a chance to es-
cape.

* “To keep melting snow, mud
and leaves out of your house
and off of your floors, line a
wide, shallow box bottom with
plastic wrap or a kitchen-size
garbage bag. Place the lined
box near the front door to hold
dirty shoes.” -- R.I. in Ohio

* Mix some salt with a little
bit of water and rub the mix-
ture over your hands for a few
minutes to get rid of the smell
of garlic or onions from cook-
ing. Rinse under cold water.”
-- J.J. in Nevada

Send your tips to Now Here’s a
Tip, 628 Virginia Drive, Orlan-
do, FL 32803.

(c) 2020 King Features Synd.,
Inc.

Mini Mall GREAT PRICES Call John @ 541-889-2516
Call or email Shannon @
Crafter’s Supply House GARDEN GALLERY
541-212-0953
JDz Bike Shop 469 SE 2nd Street [email protected]
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208-414-4011 971-409-4362

445 State Street, Weiser

We also offer black & white copies

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Page 8 Tidbits of Lower Treasure Valley Dec 31- Jan 5, 2021

“Unbanked” Veterans Make Getting Fit Your
Yearlong Goal
They call them “the unbanked,” people
who don’t use banks for any reason. At Where do you want your fitness
this point there are 250,000 veterans level to be a year from now? To

without bank accounts. Without one, get to that point, we need to
they can receive their benefits only through a prepaid debit card or a pa- take the first step. For most of
us, that’s going to mean exer-
per check. cising at home. Here are some
Last year, the Department of Veterans Affairs established the Veterans
Benefits Banking Program, and 25,000 veterans so far have signed up, resources:
mostly because of the convenience, safety and money-saving aspects. Sit and Be Fit (www.sitandbefit.
Having a bank account can save you a trip to the convenience store to buy org) can be found on your PBS
a money order ... as well as the fee to pay for it. Just sit at home and write station (if it’s not, call the sta-

a check at your leisure. Pop it in the mail and off it goes. tion and ask for it) and on the
Once a bank knows you for a little while, you’ll be in a better position to internet on YouTube. All Sit and
Be Fit exercises are done sitting
apply for a loan or a credit card.
If you sign up for automatic deposit at one of the VBBP financial institu- in a chair.
tions, your benefits won’t have to get to you in the mail. You won’t have to SilverSneakers (silversneakers.
pay check-cashing fees either. And paying a bill by check is proof that you
com), sometimes covered by
paid it. Medicare plans, holds classes in
Go online to the VA site veteransbenefitsbanking.org/ and click on Find gyms across the country, but at
A Bank/Credit Union. Scroll down and see what looks good and fits your this point few people are going
needs. Maybe you have a special affinity to a certain bank or credit union
because of where you served. You’ll find Kirtland Federal, Fort Hood Na- to gyms. Do a location search
tional, Andrews Federal and dozens more. (A small plug here: I’ve done and find a facility near you. Ask
business with USAA for many years, as did my father, and they’ve always
treated me well, through loans, credit card accounts, auto insurance and whether they have video or
online classes and see whether
more.)
Click around the site for more information. Once you have a bank account your Medicare plan covers it.
Look for “Growing Stron-
(be sure to tell them about VBBP when you sign up), you’ll want direct ger,” the free 126-page
deposit of your benefits. To arrange that, call 800-827-1000 Monday to
strength-training book for se-
Friday, 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. EST. niors, on the website cdc.gov.
(c) 2020 King Features Synd., Inc. Follow the suggested timeline,
starting with reading the book
and setting goals. Leave a mes-
sage for your doctor and ask if
it’s OK for you to start this or
any program, especially if you
have heart, bone or blood pres-

sure conditions.
Remember what being physi-
cally fit can do for us: reduce
our risk of falls, maintain inde-
pendence, build strength and
keep bones strong. That’s a goal

worth striving for.

(c) 2020 King Features Synd.,
Inc.

Sports Quiz Answers Trivia Answers
1. Andre Rison.
2. Liselotte Neumann. 1. Seven
3. Syracuse University. 2. Cotton
4. Ray Guy. 3. 200
5. The Cincinnati Royals. 4. Three
6. Brian Leetch. 5. “You Belong With Me” by Taylor Swift
7. Sebring International Raceway. 6. Epistolary
7. 2 cups
8. Olympus
9. About 60%
10. Asia

Dec 31 - Jan 5, 2021 Tidbits of Lower Treasure Valley Page 9

(continued from page 6) ARIES (March 21 to April 19) Handle a
potentially awkward situation by warming
They formed a company and began to market slingshots, boomerangs, swords, crossbows, and up your confidence reserves and letting it
blow guns. They named the company after the sound when a comic book character smacks radiate freely. Also, expect an old friend to
something, or when a slingshot hits its mark. contact you.
TAURUS (April 20 to May 20) It’s not too
• Meanwhile, in Australia, a gym teacher in Sydney was teaching her students to swing a bamboo early for the practical Bovine to begin
hoop around their hips in a gravity-defying manner. The local department store began to sell planning possible changes for 2021. A
the hoops. They were called Hula Hoops, and over 400,000 sold in 1957. The Australian recent contact can offer some interesting
toymaker took his idea to the American International Toy Fair, where Spud and Dick secured insights.
the rights. After it was demonstrated on the Dinah Shore Show, they sold 25 million in the next GEMINI (May 21 to June 20) A request
four months. They followed this success with Superballs, Silly String, Slip ’N Slide, Hacky for an unusual favor should be carefully
Sack, and many other toys. What’s the name of the company? checked out. Also check the motives be-
hind it. Your generosity should be respect-
Answer: Wham-O. ed, not exploited.
CANCER (June 21 to July 22) Party time
LITTLE WAGONS beckons, but for some Moon Children, so
do some workplace challenges. Deal with
• Antonio Pasin was 16 when he left Italy and came to the U.S. in 1914. He was a carpenter and the second first, then you’ll be free to en-
in his spare time he made wooden toy wagons. He carried around a suitcase which contained joy the fun time.
the parts of one of his wagons. Whenever he found a prospective buyer, he would assemble it LEO (July 23 to August 22) A warm re-
to show how simple and sturdy it was. When he received his first big order – for 7,000 wagons sponse to an earlier request might be a
– he quit his day job. positive indicator of what’s ahead. Mean-
while, Cupid could pay a surprise visit to
• As orders continued to increase, he knew he couldn’t continue to make the wagons out of single Leos looking for love.
wood, so he began making them out of metal, using mass-production techniques. VIRGO (August 23 to September 22) How
you respond to a proposed change in a
• In the midst of the Great Depression he gambled everything to manufacture a 45-foot tall project could affect your situation. Be pre-
sculpture of a boy riding a wagon for his booth at the World’s Fair in Chicago. A shop underneath pared to show how well you would be able
the giant wagon sold tiny toy wagons for 25 cents each. Not only did he recoup his investment, to deal with it.
but soon his company was producing 1,500 wagons a day. He named the wagon after two LIBRA (September 23 to October 22) The
modern inventions that fascinated him. What’s it called? revelation of a secret could cause some
changes in how to deal with a workplace
Answer: Radio Flyer. matter. It very likely also validates a posi-
tion you have long held.
SCORPIO (October 23 to November 21)
An attempt to get too personal could up-
set the very private Scorpio. Make it clear
that there’s a line no one crosses without
your permission.
SAGITTARIUS (November 22 to December
21) The savvy Sagittarian might be able
to keep a family disagreement from spill-
ing over by getting everyone involved to
talk things out.
CAPRICORN (December 22 to January 19)
Be careful not to push people too hard
to meet your ideas of what the holiday
weekend’s preparations should be. Best
to make it a cooperative, not a coerced,
effort.
AQUARIUS (January 20 to February 18)
An unexpected request could make you
rethink a position you’ve had for a long
time. Meanwhile, plan a family get-togeth-
er for the weekend.
PISCES (February 19 to March 20) Some-
one might find that it was a fluke to try to
use your sympathetic nature to get you to
accept a situation you’re not comfortable
with. Good for you.
BORN THIS WEEK: You like challenges
that are both mental and physical, and
you enjoy always beating your personal
best. (c) 2020 King Features Synd., Inc.

Page 10 Tidbits of Lower Treasure Valley Dec 31 - Jan 5, 2021

1. The main Christmas story is para- BIBLE TRIVIA ANSWERS: 1) Matthew/
phrased from what two New Testament Luke; 2) Simeon; 3) Star; 4) House; 5)
books? Mark/John, Acts/Romans, Mat- Angel appearance; 6) Zero
thew/Luke, Jude/Revelation
2. From Luke 2:34, who prophesied to
Mary that this Christ child is set for the
fall and rising again of many? Melchior,
Simeon, Cyrenius, Felix
3. What bright phenomenon led the
wise men (Magi) to the young Jesus
and Savior? Whirlwind, Star, Rainbow,
Rainfall of sparkling gold
4. Where was the young child when the
Magi came to visit Him to present gifts?
Manger, Under the stars, House, Temple
5. By what method did the shepherds
learn of Christ’s birth? New star, Angel
appearance, Walking stranger, Donkey
speaking
6. How many times does the word
“Christmas” appear in the Bible (KJV)?
Zero, 1, 2, 7

Comments? More Trivia? Gift ideas? Vis-
it www.TriviaGuy.com

(c) 2020 King Features Synd., Inc.

Dec 31 - Jan 5, 2021 Tidbits of Lower Treasure Valley Page 11

PHOTO: Will Ferrell in “Elf”
Photo Credit: Warner Bros.

One outstanding benefit of the 2020 coronavirus pandemic is
an increased interest in cooking -- in particular, baking. My
inner fat girl -- and my outer fat girl, if I’m being honest -- is
excited for all the holiday goodies being roasted and rolled,
proofed and powdered, sprinkled and sauteed out there.
What activity pairs best with these kinds of culinary delights? Christmas movies, of course. Bake and watch the day
away with these four classics!

“Elf” -- Director Jon Favreau helms a wholesome family story of Buddy the Elf (Will Ferrell), who was raised by
elves in the North Pole but always felt a little ... different. When he finds out that he’s not actually an elf, he sets
off for Manhattan in search of his real dad, Walter (James Caan), a book publisher whose heart is a size too small.
While Walter’s busy resisting the fact that childlike Buddy is his son, Buddy gets to work spreading holiday cheer --
to Walter’s family, at the local department store and in the heart of delightful store clerk Jovie (Zooey Deschanel).

“Die Hard” -- Can an action movie also be an iconic Christmas movie? Yippee-kai-yes! Bruce Willis stars as John
McClane, a NY cop who flies out to sunny California to attend the office Christmas party of his mildly estranged wife
at Nakatomi Plaza. When a group of German terrorists headed by Hans Gruber (Alan Rickman) takes over the tow-
er, McClane goes into overdrive to free the hostages and take out the bad guys one by one before they can steal
$640 million in bearer bonds. The resulting cat and mouse action hatched a series of “Die Hard” films.

“How the Grinch Stole Christmas” -- Ron Howard directs the classic Dr. Seuss tale with a larger-than-life Jim Carrey
in the role of the great green meanie. Looking down on all the Whos in Whoville at their joyous celebration of the
season, the Grinch is seized by a terrible idea: steal Christmas so he won’t have to hear all that infernal exuber-
ance. All he needs is the right red suit, a sizable sleigh pulled by a questionable reindeer and the cold-heartedness
to take every present and bow. It doesn’t work out the way he plans.

“A Christmas Story” -- An American staple that’s been enjoyed by generations, this is the story of Ralphie, a
9-year-old boy who wants nothing more than a Red Ryder BB gun. Rebuffed with excuses from his mother and
teacher, he appeals to the local department store Santa, but the message is the same: You’ll shoot your eye out.
But will he? Along the way to the answer, Ralphie, his family and friends will face down neighborhood bullies, battle
some dogs, win a major award and have a very memorable Christmas dinner.

(c) 2020 King Features Synd., Inc.

Page 12 Tidbits of Lower Treasure Valley Dec 31 - Jan 5, 2021

Stress-Busting Foods

A few years ago, Dr. Mehmet Oz asked me to create a recipe containing foods that
help to naturally reduce stress and to do a cooking demo on “The Dr. Oz Show.” I
found that the following ingredients have stress-reducing properties:

* Red, Orange and Yellow Bell Peppers -- These peppers contain vitamins A and
C and folate, which help give you more energy and repair cell damage caused by
stress. When under prolonged stress, the body gets depleted of vitamin C, an antiox-
idant that fights the free radicals that get released when you’re stressed. These free
radicals have been shown to cause cancer.

* Turkey -- An amino acid called L-tryptophan contained in turkey triggers the release of serotonin, which is a feel-good, mus-
cle-relaxing brain chemical. L-tryptophan has a calming effect. Turkey also contains tyrosine, an amino acid that helps your
brain produce the neurotransmitters dopamine and norepinephrine. Activating those chemicals helps your brain work faster
and be more effective at handling complex mental problems.

* Spinach -- Dark green vegetables are powerhouses of vitamins that help replenish our bodies in times of stress. Many dark
green vegetables also contain potassium, which is good for our nerves and can calm them.

* Quinoa and Brown Rice -- Quinoa is rich in vitamin B, which has a calming effect on the body and helps relieve feelings of
stress and anxiety while enhancing your mood. Brown rice is a healthy carbohydrate and boosts serotonin levels, which has
a calming, soothing effect. All whole grains contain B vitamins and fiber, and also supply serotonin-producing carbohydrates
that do not spike blood sugar levels. When you eat a carbohydrate, your body sends an amino acid called tryptophan into the
brain to trigger the manufacture of serotonin, a neurotransmitter that makes you feel tranquil and better able to cope.

* Low-Fat Cheese, Greek Yogurt -- The whey and protein in milk products like cheese and yogurt help your nerves stay
healthy, stabilize your blood sugar, stops you from feeling those extreme highs and low when you eat sugar, and has been
shown to decrease anxiety and frustration. When consumed over a period of time, the calcium in dairy also has been shown
to calm muscles and help keep blood pressure in check.

* Avocado -- The monounsaturated fats and potassium in avocados help lower blood pressure. Avocados have more potassi-
um than bananas. Monounsaturated fat also helps keep receptors in the brain sensitive to mood-boosting serotonin.

* Basil -- A great source of folate, which helps to repair cell damage caused by stress.
This is the healthy, stress-reducing recipe I created for “The Dr. Oz Show.” Enjoy and relax!

STRESS-BUSTING STUFFED BELL PEPPERS PHOTO CREDIT: Depositphotos

8 red, yellow or orange bell peppers, or a mixture of all (about 4 pounds)
2 tablespoon canola or olive oil, divided
1 medium-sized yellow onion, chopped
4 garlic cloves, peeled and minced
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon ground black pepper
1 tablespoon chili powder
1 tablespoon ground cumin
16 ounces fresh Italian turkey sausage, removed from casing, or ground turkey
1 (16 ounce) jar chunky salsa, mild or hot
2 cups fresh baby spinach, rinsed and chopped, or 1 (10-ounce) package
chopped spinach, thawed and squeezed to remove moisture
2 cups cooked quinoa or cooked brown rice, or mixture of both
1 cup low-fat Cheddar cheese
2 large avocados, peeled and pits removed, sliced
1/2 cup low-fat Greek yogurt
1/4 cup finely chopped fresh basil leaves

1. Heat oven to 375 F. Cut the peppers in half lengthwise, slicing from the stem to the bottoms, leaving the stems intact.
Remove the white pithy ribs near stem and down length of inside. Remove the ribs and seeds, and discard. Place the peppers
in a shallow 13 x 9-inch baking dish. Drizzle the peppers with 1 tablespoon of the oil. Cover the dish with foil, and bake the
peppers 15 to 20 minutes, until they start to soften.
2. Meanwhile, heat the remaining 1 tablespoon of the oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the onion, garlic, salt,
black pepper, chili powder and cumin; cook until the vegetables are softened, about 3 minutes. Add the sausage or ground
turkey, breaking it apart with a fork and cooking until lightly browned, about 5 minutes. Add the salsa and spinach. Cook,
stirring occasionally, about 5 minutes. Remove the skillet from the heat. Stir in the cooked quinoa and/or brown rice.
3. Fill the pepper halves with the turkey mixture. Cover with foil. Bake 20-25 minutes until peppers are tender. Remove foil
and sprinkle peppers with cheese. Return to oven; bake, uncovered, until cheese has melted. Top peppers with avocado slic-
es, yogurt and basil. Makes 8 servings, 2 stuffed pepper halves per serving.
***
Angela Shelf Medearis is an award-winning children’s author, culinary historian and the author of seven cookbooks. Her new
cookbook is “The Kitchen Diva’s Diabetic Cookbook.” Her website is www.divapro.com. To see how-to videos, recipes and
much, much more, Like Angela Shelf Medearis, The Kitchen Diva! on Facebook. Recipes may not be reprinted without permis-
sion from Angela Shelf Medearis.

(c) 2020 King Features Synd., Inc., and Angela Shelf Medearis