Tidbits1124 april 26 by Cheyenne WY Tidbits

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Of Cheyenne

A P R I L 26, 2017

T H E N E AT E S T PA P E R Y O U’L L E V E R R E A D

Published by Burchett Publishing, LLC

Issue 1124

For advertising call 632-7360 or 631-3036

Entertainment Guide on Page 6

Games and Puzzles Page 3

TIDBITS® CUTS GRASS by Janet Spencer What’s the biggest cultivated crop in the U.S.? That would be grass, in the form of lawns, which out-ranks all food crops grown in the country by acreage. Come along with Tidbits as celebrate National Lawn Care Month! A BIG CROP • The United States devotes about one-fifth of its land to agriculture, and the largest single food crop is corn. However, lawns take up three times more acreage than corn. In fact, turf grown in parks, golf courses, and yards takes up more space in the U.S. than corn, wheat, Turn to page 2 for more Tidbits!

and fruit trees combined. About half of the grass grown in the U.S. is located in micro-plots of American lawns. • Lawns became fashionable in the 1600s. A lawn was a status symbol. Only the very rich could afford to grow a completely useless crop on their property. Lawns had to be cut by hand with sickles and scythes. But all that changed in the year 1830, when English engineer Edwin Budding invented the lawn mower, inspired by the revolving bladed reel he saw trimming fabric in cloth mills. Lawns began to crop up in public spaces and then on private land. The first lawn care book, “The Art of Beautifying Suburban Home Grounds” was published in 1870. Today, about 85 million households in the United States have lawns. LAWNS • A lawn absorbs rainfall and prevents run-off. In fact, a lawn is six times more effective at retaining water than a wheat field. • Lawns are better at producing oxygen than trees, and their season is longer, too. A lawn 50 feet (15 m) by 50 feet produces enough oxygen to meet the needs of a family of four.

GOOD HOUSEKEEPING Shrimp Salad With Spring Pea Mix

Made without mayo, this company-worthy combo of egg, shrimp and potato salad gets its creaminess from a tangy yogurt-andmustard dressing. Plate it alongside fresh-picked peas tossed in a light lemon-dill vinaigrette.

• Landscapes that include grass lawns, trees, and shrubs can reduce the air temperature surrounding a home by up to 14°F. • Lawns are healthier if clippings are left behind. Clippings shade the ground, slowing Turn to page 4 for more Tidbits!

12 large eggs 1 lemon 3 sprigs fresh dill 12 ounces large shrimp (16- to 20-count) 12 ounces Yukon gold potatoes Salt and pepper 12 ounces sugar snap peas 1 1/2 cups frozen peas 1 cups plain yogurt 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard 1/2 cup finely chopped red onion (1 small onion) 3 stalks celery 1 tablespoon white wine vinegar 2 tablespoons olive oil 1. In 4-quart saucepan, place eggs and enough cold water to cover by 1 inch. Heat to boiling on high; remove from heat. Cover and let stand 5 minutes. With slotted spoon, transfer eggs to colander. Rinse eggs under cold water until cool enough to handle; peel and cut in quarters. Set aside 12 quarters for garnish. 2. From lemon, squeeze 3 tablespoons juice and reserve. To same saucepan of water, add lemon rind and dill stems; heat to boiling on high. Add shrimp, reduce heat to maintain bare simmer; cook 3 minutes or until shrimp just turn opaque throughout. Drain, rinse under cold water until cool, and drain again. Discard lemon rind and dill sprigs. 3. In same pan, place potatoes and enough cold water to cover. Add 1 teaspoon salt. Heat to boiling on high, cover and reduce heat to simmer 15 minutes or until just tender; drain well. 4. While potatoes cook, heat 3-quart saucepan of water to boiling on high. Add snap peas and frozen peas. Cook 2 minutes or until bright-green; drain well. 5. In large bowl, whisk yogurt, mustard, 1 tablespoon lemon juice, and 1/4 teaspoon each salt and freshly ground black pepper. Add hot potatoes, onion, celery, shrimp, eggs and half of chopped dill. Fold gently until well-combined. 6. In another large bowl, whisk vinegar, oil, remaining 2 tablespoons lemon juice and 1/8 teaspoon each salt and ground black pepper; add all peas and remaining dill. Toss until well-coated. 7. Spoon shrimp salad into center of serving platter, then spoon pea mixture all around. Garnish with reserved egg quarters and serve immediately. Serves 6. For thousands of triple-tested recipes, visit our website at www. goodhousekeeping.com/recipes/. (c) 2017 Hearst Communications, Inc. All rights reserved

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Published by Burchett Publishing Co. LLC Contact for advertising or distribution information 1102 Crescent Dr. Phone 307-632-7360 Cheyenne, WY 82007 307-631-3036 Fax 307-773-8654 burchettpubl.tidbits1@bresnan.net All the news you never knew you never needed to know

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evaporation. They decompose, providing nutrients. Grass is healthier if allowed to grow taller, which gives it more surface for photosynthesis, and also crowds out weeds. • The drawback of lawns is that about 80 million pounds of pesticides and up to 70 million pounds of fertilizers are applied to lawns in the U.S. every year, far more per acre than crop land. • The smell of freshly mown grass or newly cut hay is actually the odor of a set of chemical compounds called green leaf volatiles which are given off by the plant when it is injured. Some of the chemical secretions rush to the injury to bind the wound and protect against fungal infections. Other chemicals act as airborne messengers, signaling predatory insects such as wasps who prey upon grassmunching caterpillars. And some chemicals merely taste bad, in order to discourage animals and insects from continuing to eat the plant. Plants downwind of the injured grass will also begin to produce these bad-tasting chemicals to protect themselves in advance of being eaten. This is the reason giraffes have learned to eat from a tree, and then continue to graze upon other trees that are upwind instead of downwind.

Chocolate Indulgence - May 6 - 6 p.m. - Little America Hotel & Resort - Chocolate, chocolate, and more chocolate; what’s not to love? Chocolate Indulgence is an annual event put on by the Cheyenne Kiwanis Club. Each year, Chocolatiers get together to strut their chocolate skills. Chocolate lovers attending the event will get to try each Chocolatiers offerings and give a donation to the Chocolatiers they think is the best. Whichever Chocolatier has the most money at the end of the night wins! Chocolate Indulgence also has a silent auction, raffles, wine samples compliments of Vinos, and the famous chocolate fountain! Cheyenne All-City Children’s Chorus: Learn - May 7 - 4 p.m. - South High School - The concert is free and open to the public. ACCC is composed of two choirs, Lyric Choir and Concert Choir, with over one hundred singers involved. “Learn” will share songs of positive attitudes and philosophies. Audience members will recognize songs such as “Over the Rainbow,” “Blue Skies,” “Bare Necessities of Life” and “Accentuate the Positive.” The Concert Choir will also perform a couple songs that they will be performing in San Francisco in June as part of the Cathedral Festival. Graduating 8th graders will be honored at this concert and ACCC Alumni and former staff will be invited to join current choir members on stage for “River in Judea.” Thankful Thursdays - Every Thursday from 4:30 to 9 p.m. - AMVETS Post 10, 3839 East Lincolnway - The party begins at 4:30 p.m., every Thursday night with a live auction starting at 6 p.m. 100 percent of proceeds raised during the auction and games go back to each respective charity. The event has raised over $850,000 for local charities thus far. Thankful Thursday also gives all patrons an opportunity to win cash just for showing up, including a jackpot of $500! If your organization has an event you would like to have published here, please contact us. Space is limited but we will make every effort to list special events. Please send your information no later than 14 days prior to the event. Email: burchettpubl.tidbits1@bresnan.net

PAW’S CORNER By Sam Mazzotta

Financial Aid for Pet Care DEAR PAW’S CORNER: I have two cats, one of whom suffers from a number of health conditions, including diabetes. The cost of her care is way more than that of my other cat, but I will pay it no matter what. Still, it’s sometimes difficult to cover veterinary bills and medications. Do you have any suggestions? -- Greg in Austin, Texas

paying with a major credit card when it comes to interest rates.

DEAR GREG: Pet care costs, especially pet health care, have risen steadily over the past several years. Even routine care can take a bite out of your budget. And in all but a few cases, pet owners must bear the cost of care.

What if you need more assistance in paying for your pets’ care? Low-cost vaccination clinics in your area can help with routine care; assistance for more complex issues is provided by some animal care facilities. BestFriends.org lists resources by state.

You do have a few immediate options: --Negotiate payments or care costs with the vet. While routine visits are usually required to be paid for up front, the vet may be willing to work with an owner to pay for treatment of acute illnesses or long-term conditions. --Financing through a service like CareCredit can close the gap between a vet visit and your next paycheck. Read the terms carefully, though; you may be better off

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--Pet insurance can ease the financial burden of pet care, although you may only be able to insure your healthy cat. This insurance reimburses you for medical costs after treatment, so you’ll still need to have a way to pay up front for your cats’ care. Consumers Advocate recently rated its top 10 insurers.

GREEN GREEN GRASS OF HOME • A type of grass called zoysia grows sideways along the ground instead of up, so it needs less mowing. And it tolerates drought well, so it needs less watering. The plant is named after botanist Karl von Zois. A mixture of zoysia and fescue can stay green year-round in the southern U.S. The zoysia stays green in summer and fescue stays green in winter.

DONNA’S DAY: CREATIVE FAMILY FUN By Donna Erickson

Layered Fiesta Dip for Cinco de Mayo I’m always looking for a reason to celebrate, especially when food is part of the festivities, so I’m making plans for Cinco de Mayo on May 5. It’s a festive time to celebrate Mexican culture and heritage with parades, music, dancing and, you guessed it, lots of eats. We’ll mark the day with a dinner of tasty south-of-the-border fare, starting with a fresh, updated version of the Tex-Mex 7-layer fiesta dip with chips. I’m mixing cream cheese and sour cream with homemade taco seasoning that kids can stir up in advance. We’ll omit beans that can make the layering mushy, and toss in ripe avocado chunks to replace the more time-consuming guacamole prep. Grated cheese, fresh ripe tomatoes, chopped green onions, avocado and crispy lettuce piled high top it off. Start this colorful creation by mixing up your own taco seasoning. It’s worth the effort, not only because you control the salt content, which is high in most commercial packets, but also you’ll save money, especially when you purchase the spices in bulk. Plus, your kids will gain skills in measuring and learning names of spices from around the world. TASTY TACO SEASONING MIX (Makes 1/4 cup) 1 tablespoon salt-free chili powder 2 teaspoons ground cumin 1 teaspoon garlic powder 1 teaspoon onion powder 1 teaspoon paprika 1 teaspoon dried oregano 1/4 teaspoon red-pepper flakes (optional) 1 teaspoon sugar

• Bermuda grass is one of the most popular varieties of grasses for lawns in warm climates, but it is also one of the most allergenic. The flowers of the plant bloom almost continuously, but they grow so low to the ground that lawnmowers pass right over them. They produce pollen year-round in such prolific amounts that some cities have banned the plant. Bermuda grass is not native to Bermuda. Instead, it’s actually considered an invasive species in Bermuda. However, it arrived in the U.S. from Bermuda, and that’s how it got its name. GREAT GRASSES • Aside from lawns, grasses in general are an amazing group of plants. There are over 12,000 different species of grass, making it one of the most abundant families of plants. The scientific name for the family of grasses is “Poaceae” from the Greek word “poa” meaning “fodder.” Grasses are the single most wide-spread plant family, and can be found in areas ranging from jungles to deserts to mountaintops and tidal flats. • Grasslands account for over 25% of the vegetative cover on Earth, ranging from the savannahs of Africa to the prairies of the Midwestern United States to the steppes of Mongolia. Areas that do not have grasslands include places such as Greenland and Antarctica. Yet, a plant called Antarctic hairgrass grows in Antarctica and is listed by Guinness World Records as the southernmost flowering plant on Earth. There are about 1,400 species of grasses in the United States.

1/2 teaspoon salt 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper Mix all ingredients in a bowl, and store in a jar with a tight lid.

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LAYERED FRESH FIESTA PARTY DIP 1 8-ounce package cream cheese, room temperature 1 8-ounce container sour cream 2 tablespoons “Tasty Taco Seasoning Mix” (see above) 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese 1 cup chopped fresh tomatoes 1/4 cup sliced green onions 1 ripe avocado, chopped 2 cups crisp lettuce, loosely chopped 1/4 cup sliced black olives (optional) Tortilla chips for dipping 1. Combine the cream cheese, sour cream and seasoning mix in a large mixing bowl. Spread evenly over a large dinner plate. 2. Sprinkle 3/4 cup of the cheese evenly on top. Continue with the tomatoes, onions, avocado, lettuce and remaining cheese. 3. Serve with a basketful of tortilla chips.

*** Donna Erickson’s award-winning series “Donna’s Day” is airing on public television nationwide. To find more of her creative family recipes and activities, visit www. donnasday.com and link to the NEW Donna’s Day Facebook fan page. Her latest book is “Donna Erickson’s Fabulous Funstuff for Families.” (c) 2017 Donna Erickson Distributed by King Features Synd.

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Upcoming Events

• On May 11, 1864, at the Battle of Yellow Tavern near Richmond, Virginia, a Union trooper fatally wounds Confederate Gen. J.E.B. Stuart, who dies the next day. Stuart’s leadership helped the Confederates maintain a superior cavalry force in Virginia for most of the war. • On May 14, 1913, in Sportsman Park, Illinois, Washington Senators pitcher Walter Johnson throws his 54th consecutive scoreless inning. Johnson’s record stood for 55 years until Don Drysdale of the Los Angeles Dodgers pitched 58 and 2/3 innings without allowing a run. • On May 12, 1932, more than two months after he was kidnapped, the body of aviation hero Charles Lindbergh’s baby is found less than a mile from his family’s home in Hopewell, New Jersey. Although Lindbergh received two ransom notes, his son had been killed the night of the kidnapping. • On May 8, 1945, both Great Britain and the United States celebrate Victory in Europe Day. Both nations, as well as formerly occupied countries in Western Europe, rejoiced in the defeat of the Nazi war machine, when German troops throughout Europe laid down their arms. • On May 9, 1960, the Food and Drug Administration approves Enovid-10, the world’s first commercially produced birth-control pill. Development of “the pill” was first commissioned by birth-control pioneer Margaret Sanger and funded by heiress Katherine McCormick. • On May 13, 1972, a fire at the Playtown Cabaret in Osaka, Japan, kills 118 people. An electrician three floors below in a department store inadvertently set off a fire that reached some oil-soaked rags in a nearby storage room and climbed the elevator shafts. • On May 10, 1980, the U.S. Treasury announces the approval of $1.5 billion in federal loan guarantees for the nearly bankrupt Chrysler Corporation. At the time, it was the largest rescue package ever granted by the U.S. government to an American corporation. (c) 2017 King Features Synd., Inc.

Buffalo Bill Raptor Program - April 27 - 7 p.m. - Laramie County Library - The Cheyenne – High Plains Audubon Society is sponsoring a visit of the Buffalo Bill Center of the West’s Draper Museum Raptor Experience free and open to the public. The educational program features four live hawks and owls. See https://cheyenneaudubon.wordpress.com for more information or call Mark, 307-287-4953. Being a wild animal isn’t easy, even if you are one of the top predators in North America. How can birds like hawks, falcons, and owls survive in an ever changing world? Join the folks of the Draper Museum Raptor Experience and learn the phenomenal adaptations of these incredible animals including amazing eyesight, hovering capabilities, and camouflage, just to name a few. Four live birds will accompany the program, bringing with them a greater appreciation for their species and their abilities. The Draper Museum Raptor Experience is an educational outreach program of the Draper Natural History Museum at the Buffalo Bill Center of the West in Cody, Wyoming. The Raptor Experience uses permanently non-releasable birds of prey to teach audiences throughout the state and beyond about the importance of these majestic animals to the ecosystem. FUMC Sesquicentennial Run - April 29 - 7:15 a.m. - Starts at 17th & Pioneer - Our 5K Run/Fun Walk starts on the north side of the Dinneen Building (17th and Pioneer Street) site of the Cheyenne City Hall in 1867 where the first Wyoming congregation was organized; and ends in the church parking lot (19th and Central Avenue), north of our Historic Sanctuary building. Refreshments will be provided runners at the Finish Line. Lively music, compliments of the 1st UMC Praise Team, will welcome participants and add to the excitment of a race well run. Prizes will be given to the 1st and 2nd place runners in the Men’s and Women’s Divisions. Frank & Vinny - April 30 - 2 p.m. - Central High School - Lead guitarist Frank Vignola’s toured with Travelin’ Light in 1995-96 and toured in 2006–07 and 2007–08. He met Vinny Raniolo (marvelous rhythm guitarist) in an NYC jam session in 2006 and formed this duo in 2010; they’ve played over 1,000 shows together. Individually, they have played with Ringo Starr, Madonna, Wynton Marsalis, Bucky Pizzarelli, Tommy Emmanuel, The Boston Pops & The NY Pops. Together, they’ve been featured on NPR regularly and on the PBS Special “Tommy Emmanuel and Friends.” Tickets are available for purchase at the door. Cheyenne Capital Chorale: Music Through the Ages April 30 - 2 p.m. - King of Glory Lutheran Church - Cheyenne Capital Chorale will perform a selection of chorale works from throughout the ages – from the Gregorian era to modern times. Of special interest will be the performance of Requiem, Opus 48, one of Gabriel Fauré’s most celebrated works.

If your organization has an event you would like to have published here, please contact us. Space is limited but we will make every effort to list special events. Please send your information no later than 14 days prior to the event. Email: burchettpubl.tidbits1@bresnan.net

Chess Laramie County Library - Wednesdays - 4:15 p.m. All skill levels - Call 634-3561 Godfather’s Pizza - Thursdays - 6:30 p.m. All skill levels - Call 634-5222

Live Music The Bunkhouse - Friday and Saturday - 7 to 10 p.m. The Crown Bar - Friday - 7 p.m. Midtown Tavern - Friday - 8 p.m. Outlaw Saloon - Nightly - 8 p.m. The Paramount Cafe - Saturday - 7 p.m. Sanford’s - Friday - 7 p.m.

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Cheyenne Activities English High Tea at the Nagle Warren Mansion every Friday and Saturday, seating at 2 and 3 p.m. For reservations call 637-3333. Municipal Pool and Spray Park - Daily - Hours vary between 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. - Visit CheyenneCity.org or call 637-6455 for information. Cheyenne Botanic Gardens - Monday through Friday - 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Saturday and Sunday - 11 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Call 637-6458. Cheyenne Ice & Events Center - Ice skating, laser tag and video games. Monday to Thursday - 8 a.m. to 10 p.m., Friday and Saturday - 8 a.m. to 11 p.m., Sunday - Noon to 8 p.m. 1530 W. Lincolnway. Visit CheyenneCity.org or call 433-0024 for information. Bingo Am. Legion Bingo AMVETS Grandma’s Pickle Parlor

635-7213 632-2999 637-3614

Movie Theaters Frontier Nine Lincoln Palace Capitol 12

634-9499 637-7469 638-SHOW

Country Western Dancing Redwood Lounge 635-9096 Outlaw Saloon 635-7552 Top 40 Music Crown Underground 778-9202 Governor’s Residence Tours - Free - 5001 Central Avenue Tuesday through Thursday - 9 a.m. to Noon. Call 777-7398. Visit the Famous Cheyenne Frontier Days Old West Museum - Monday through Friday - 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday - 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Call 778-7290. Terry Bison Ranch - Daily tours to the bison herd and horseback rides. Sunday lunch train includes meal on old-fashioned dining car (reservations needed). Call for departure times: 634-4171. Cheyenne Depot Museum - A National Landmark with railroad history exhibits and gift shop. Monday through Saturday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Sunday - 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Call 638-6338. Big Boy Steam Engine 4004 - Worlds largest steam locomotive. Located in Holliday Park. Wyoming State Museum - Monday through Saturday 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Free exhibit of Wyoming history. Call 777-7022.

DJ Music Scooter’s Scoreboard - Friday - 9 p.m. Cadillac Ranch - Friday and Saturday - 9 p.m. Tuskers - Saturday - 8 p.m. The Crown Underground - Daily - 9 p.m.

GRASS FACTS • Grasses evolved to grow at the base of the plant instead of at the tip. This makes it easier to recover when it is grazed, mowed, trampled, or burned. • The first grasses ever cultivated by humans were probably wheat and barley. Agricultural grasses grown for their edible seeds are called cereals or grains. Three cereals – rice, wheat, and maize (corn) – provide more than half of all calories eaten by humans. Of all crops grown by humans, 70% are grasses. • Fossilized dinosaur dung from the Cretaceous period 66 million years ago shows remnants of plants very closely related to modern bamboo and rice. Bamboo is the tallest species of grass. • Timothy grass is a grass commonly cultivated, cut, and baled for the purpose of feeding livestock. It’s named after American agriculturist Timothy Hanson, who convinced farmers in the northern U.S. that it could grow just as well in colder regions as it does in the south.

• It was Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra -- widely regarded as the best writer in the Spanish language and one of the best novelists in any language -- who made the following sage observation: “No fathers or mothers think their own children ugly; and this selfdeceit is yet stronger with respect to the offspring of the mind.” • You might be surprised to learn that Princess Di was also a tap-dancer. • In the newly egalitarian society that emerged after the French Revolution in the 18th century, the color known as “royal blue” experienced a precipitous decline in popularity. Royalty may have been out of power, but practicality still ruled. For the most part, people didn’t throw out their old clothes, or even re-dye them; to get rid of any monarchist overtones, they simply started calling the color “national blue.” • In New Zealand, speed bumps are commonly known as “judder bars.”

• Cogon grass sports blades of grass that are so sharp they act like little knives. The edge of each blade is embedded with silica crystals that act like the teeth of a saw. The edges are sharp enough to cut the mouths of animals trying to feed upon it. Even the roots have barbed edges, cutting the roots of competing plants up to four feet (1.2 m) deep. • Pampas grass grows tall with feathery plumes often collected by people to serve as decorations. The word “pampas” is a South American term meaning “plain” and the plains of South America are the plant’s native habitat. Pampas is an invasive weed that is hard to kill. Each plant can produce over a million seeds during its lifetime. Pampas grass burns so hot that it contributes to spreading wildfire. Yet, the roots of pampas grass are likely to survive the fire, and live to spread another million seeds.

• The court system in the Central African Republic is having difficulty dealing with the caseloads. One of the primary problems is witchcraft. It seems that 40 percent of all prosecutions in the nation involve some form of witchcraft, including 5 percent of all juvenile cases. • Those who study such things say that the koala bear has two opposable thumbs on each hand. • The jobs website Glassdoor has issued a report ranking the best jobs in America, with scoring determined by combining the number of job openings, salary and overall job satisfaction rating. Unsurprisingly, the list is top-heavy with engineers and analysts. At No. 4, though, is Tax Manager, with a job satisfaction score of 4 out of a possible 5. *** Thought for the Day: “An expert is a man who has made all the mistakes which can be made in a very narrow field.” -- Niels Bohr (c) 2017 King Features Synd., Inc.

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