AtYourService

CESSPOOL SERVICE

CHEVALIER CESSPOOL CLEANERS: Cesspools and septic tanks pumped. New systems installed. Sewer connections. 736-8313.

ELECTRICAL

JADE ELECTRIC: Wiring, emergencies. Prompt and courteous. 8285908, 738-7835. Lic.# A1538. Insured.

RICHARD J. PIZZI Electrical Contractor: 550 Providence Street, West Warwick. Residential Wiring (home repairs). No job too small. A145, insured. 580-8803.

FACSIMILE SERVICE

THE REMINDER’S FAX SERVICE. Now you can send or receive letters, statements, invoices, etc. in seconds by using The Reminder Fax Service. Want more details? Call The Reminder and ask about our fax: 821-2216. Fax Number: 821-0397. To Send: $3.00 (+tax) for the first page, $1.00 for every additional page. To receive: 75¢ ea. page (+tax).

FENCE INSTALLATION & REPAIR

VENTURA FENCE CO., INC.: Serving Rhode Island since 1975 for all your fencing needs. Insured. RI Reg #7260. Call anytime 821-7200.

FINANCIAL SERVICES

MOFFITT & ASSOCIATES, LLC.: Financial Services and Investments, Retirement Planning and 401K rollovers. www.victormoffittandco.com 1260 Main St. (Rte. 117), Coventry (401)828-0097.

GARAGE DOORS

CARR’S OVERHEAD DOOR, INC.: Residential and commercial garage doors & openers. Best prices, quality materials, factory authorized Lift Master and Wayne Dalton Dealers. Reg. #13612. 332 Nooseneck Hill Road, Exeter, RI (401) 397-6015.

HOME IMPROVEMENTS_____________________

LEWIS & CLARKE ENTERPRISES, INC.: New homes, additions, garages, kitchens, bathrooms, family rooms, roofs, and repairs. 3453227. RI Reg. #5646.

BILL’S REMODELING: Additions, Formica, finish work, custom built vanities, siding. No job too small. Bill Langlais 397-9256 after 5pm. RI Registration #648.

LAUNDRY SERVICE_________________________

Let us wash, dry and fold your laundry. Pick up and delivery available. THORPE’S LAUNDROMAT AND DRY CLEANING. 401-826-7158. 560 Providence Street, West Warwick.

PEST CONTROL _____________________________

WINFIELD TERMITE & PEST CONTROL: All your pest needs. 8217800.

KENT COUNTY PEST CONTROL, LLC: Residential and Commercial. Certified in Industrial, Structural and Health Related Pest Control. 100% Guaranteed. 401-569-0212.

• On March 6, 1475, Michelangelo Buonarroti, the greatest of the Italian Renaissance artists, is born in Caprese. His most important early work was the Pieta (1498), a traditional type of devotional sculpture that showed the body of Christ in the lap of the Virgin Mary.

• On March 5, 1815, Franz Anton Mesmer, a German physician who pioneered the medical field of hypnotic therapy, dies in obscurity in Meersburg, Swabia (now Germany). His process of mesmerism, as it came to be known, produced hypnotic states that had an extraordinary influence on his patients’ physical illnesses.

• On March 4, 1888, Knute Rockne is born in Voss, Norway. He would go on to become one of the most successful coaches in the history of college football, coaching Notre Dame during their golden era in the 1920s. Rockne won three national championships with the Fighting Irish.

• On March 10, 1945, 300 American bombers continue to drop almost 2,000 tons of incendiaries on Tokyo for a second day. The attack destroyed large portions of the Japanese capital and killed 100,000 civilians.

• On March 8, 1950, Volkswagen, maker of the Beetle automobile, expands its product offerings to include a microbus. The bus was a favorite mode of transportation for hippies in the U.S. during the 1960s and became an icon of the American counterculture movement.

• On March 7, 1972, in the biggest air battle in Southeast Asia in three years, U.S. jets battle five North Vietnamese MiGs and shoot one down 170 miles north of the Demilitarized Zone.

• On March 9, 1985, the first-ever Adopt-a-Highway sign is erected in Texas. Highway 69 was adopted by the Tyler Civitan Club, which committed to picking up trash along a 2-mile stretch of the road. The program eventually spread across the U.S. © 2019 Hearst Communications, Inc.

PLUMBING & HEATING _____________________

JOHN P. KEOGH PLUMBING & DRAIN CLEANING: Electric sewer rooter service. Master Plumber Lic. #1881. 401-862-8810.

A GOOD PLUMBER: Plumbing, heating, drain cleaning. 8082284. RI Lic. #MP002399. MA Lic. #30436.

POWER WASHING __________________________

THOR’S PRESSURE & SOFT WASH: Commercial & Residential. Roof & Exterior Cleaning. Fully licensed and insured. RI Registration

GC-46062. Free Estimates. Call Thor, 401-441-8672. facebook.com/ ThorsHouseWash

RATES & DEADLINE FOR AT YOUR SERVICE

$8.00 PER WEEK for 10 words (25¢ each add. word) Min. 1 Month.

Deadline: Last Thursday of each month for ads starting the following month. Mail or bring your ad to The Reminder. 5 Coventry Shoppers Park, Coventry, RI02816. Phone: 821-2216. Fax: 821-0397.

ROOFING ____________________________________

INSTALLATION & REPAIRS: Also gutters cleaned and leaf guards installed. Call 397-8729 or 749-1315 for a free estimate.

February Is National Sweet Potato Month

Sweet potatoes are one of my favorite tubers, and what better time to celebrate them than National Sweet Potato Awareness Month. I must admit, though, I didn’t become a real fan until I found out all of the health benefits and the delicious ways to use this colorful tuber.

The sweet potato is an excellent source of vitamin A, which supports good vision, the immune system and bone growth. It’s also a good source of vitamin B-6, magnesium and vitamin C. And it’s great for the complexion.

High in fiber and low in fat and calories, this root vegetable is a healthful alternative to snack foods when prepared without added butter, sugar or salt.

Unlike other potatoes, sweet potatoes like long, hot growing seasons. This might explain why it is the state vegetable of North Carolina.

There is a difference between sweet potatoes grown in northern states and those grown in Louisiana. Sweet potatoes produced in the north are mostly “firm” and tend to be drier, more mealy and yellow in flesh. Folks in Louisiana enjoy the second type, “soft,” which is higher in natural sugar. Louisiana sweet potatoes are moister and have a bright orange flesh color. Most often, it is the “soft” type that’s referred to as a yam.

Sweet potatoes are stored in temperature and humidity-controlled warehouses that extend their shelf life for the entire year. So, the “season” for fresh yams is 12 months. Canned yams also are available year-round. Here’s some great information about the health benefits of sweet potatoes and how to select, store and prepare them: coconut milk broth.

• Orange, leafy green, and red fruits and veggies such sweet potatoes are full of beta-carotene/vitamin A, which regulates cell production and turnover (replacing old cells with new ones) so your skin’s surface is smooth.

• The Center for Science in the Public Interest ranks the sweet potato at 184 in nutritional value, more than 100 points ahead of the baked Idaho potato, spinach or broccoli.

• Sweet potatoes provide twice the recommended daily allowance of vitamin A and more than one-third of the daily requirements of vitamin C.

• Sweet potatoes are an important source of beta-carotene, vitamin B-6, iron, potassium and fiber. Sweet potatoes that are a pretty, bright orange color are richest in beta-carotene.

VIETNAMESE SWEET POTATO AND PORK SOUP

1 tablespoon canola oil

1 pound ground pork

1 small onion, finely chopped (about 1/2 cup)

1/4 cup chopped fresh basil, divided

1 (3-inch) piece lemongrass or zest of 1 lemon

3 cloves garlic, minced

1 small jalapeno pepper, seeds and ribs removed, if desired, chopped

2 teaspoons grated fresh ginger

2 teaspoons ground cumin

1½ teaspoons ground cardamom

1 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon ground black pepper

1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg

2 sweet potatoes, peeled and cut into 1/2-inch cubes (about 2 cups)

1 quart chicken stock

1 (13.5-ounce) can light coconut milk

1 tablespoon soy sauce

Garnish: chopped fresh cilantro, basil or jalapeno pepper slices

Depositphotos

• Studies have consistently shown that a high intake of beta carotene-rich vegetables and fruits, like sweet potatoes, can significantly reduce the risks for certain types of cancer.

• Sweet potatoes contain virtually no fat or sodium.

• When selecting fresh sweet potatoes, choose those that are smooth, plump, dry and clean.

• Sweet potatoes should not be refrigerated unless cooked. Store at 55 to 65 degrees F.

• Always use a stainless-steel knife when cutting a sweet potato. A carbon blade will cause them to darken.

• One cup of canned sweet potatoes equals one medium-sized, cooked fresh sweet potato.

• When using canned yams, add them at the end of the recipe because they are already pre-cooked.

This recipe for Vietnamese Sweet Potato and Pork Soup showcases the flavors of the sweet potato in a spicy,

1. In a large stockpot, heat oil over medium heat. Add pork, onion, 2 tablespoons basil, lemongrass or lemon zest, garlic, jalapeno, ginger, cumin, cardamom, salt, pepper and nutmeg. Cook until pork is browned and onion is soft, about 10 minutes.

2. Add the sweet potatoes, chicken stock and coconut milk. Bring to a boil and then lower heat to a simmer. Cover and cook until sweet potatoes are tender, about 20 minutes. Uncover, remove lemongrass (if used) and stir in the soy sauce. Garnish with remaining cilantro, basil and jalapeno, if desired. Serves 4. ***

Seven Tips For Buying A New Mattress

(NAPS)—A mattress is one of the most important purchases you’ll ever make—a er all, you spend approximately a third of your life in bed. Although the number of choices can feel overwhelming, you don’t have to lose sleep over it if you heed these hints: e mechanics of innersprings and foams vary widely, which can greatly a ect comfort.

1. Size matters. If you’re sharing a bed, you should buy at least a queen-size mattress. A healthy person moves 40 to 60 times a night and makes lots of fullbody turns. For sound sleep, you need freedom of motion.

2. Test-drive di erent models. Wear comfortable clothes and shoes you can easily slip o so you can lie down. Compare a variety of support levels and styles within your budget.

3. Look under the hood. Ask the salesperson to show you illustrated or actual “cutaways” of the interior of the di erent mattresses and foundations.

4. Use a reputable dealer. Furniture stores, department stores and sleep specialty shops all sell mattresses. Ask friends and family for referrals. If you don’t feel your salesperson is knowledgeable or helpful, take your business elsewhere.

5. Buying online? If you choose to buy a mattress online, you won’t have the chance to try it out, so read the reviews, carefully check return and shipping policies—and be certain there’s customer support should a problem arise.

6. Go for the best value, not the lowest price. To ensure long-term performance, buy the highest-quality sleep set you can a ord. View it as a 7- to 10-year investment in your health and well-being.

7. Be sure it contains certi ed foam. A key consideration is that the exible polyurethane foam in the mattress meets standards set by CertiPUR-US—a certi cation program administered by a not-for-pro t organization—for content, emissions and durability. is internationally recognized foam certi cation program was established to combat substandard imported foams, some of which contained substances banned in the U.S. or listed by environmental and regulatory groups as containing chemicals that may cause cancer or genetic defects or damage fertility. e foam used in pillows and upholstered furniture can be certi ed, too.

What Certi cation Means

When you buy products containing CertiPUR-US-certi ed foam, you can be con dent that the exible polyurethane foam inside has been tested and analyzed at least annually by independent accredited laboratories and is:

•Made without ozone depleters

•Made without PBDEs, TDCPP or TCEP (“Tris”) ame retardants

•Made without mercury, lead and other heavy metals

•Made without formaldehyde

•Made without phthalates regulated by the Consumer Product Safety Commission

•Made with low VOC (volatile organic compound) emissions for indoor air quality (less than 0.5 parts per million) Learn More For further facts and tips and a list of participating companies, visit www. certipur.us.