Of The Mid-Ohio Valley is Published & Distributed Weekly By: CindAl Publishing Company 812 55th St. Vienna, WV 26105 e-mail: alan@tidbitsmov.com Advertising: 304.210.3812
We reserve the absolute right to accept, reject, discontinue or refuse any advertisement personal or commercial that we deem may not be conducive for our publication or Tidbits®. The publisher does not assume any responsibility for the claims of its advertisers. Tidbits® is committed to remain a family oriented publication. www.tidbitsmov.com
MODERN MISTAKES (cont)
• The FDA decided to expand its collection of food allergens in 2022 by adding sesame seeds to the list. Sesame seeds are a common allergen used in many foods. Now, every manufacturer who dealt with sesame either had to completely sterilize their facilities before processing sesame-free foods, or they simply had to add “contains sesame” to the ingredients list, whether or not the product actually did. Because it’s nearly impossible to remove every tiny sesame seed, the latter option was chosen.
• At the University of Vermont, officials decided to get rid of the vending machines that dispensed bottled water in an attempt to cut down on plastic waste. Next, they spent $100,000 handing out reusable bottles to the students while also installing drinking fountains that had bottle-refilling spouts. Unfortunately, students consistently forgot their reusable bottles. Soft drink vending machines were still in place. The consumption of cola skyrocketed, plastic bottles still went into landfills, and students consumed a lot more sugar.
• In 1968, well-intentioned public officials in Vermont banned billboards, to make it easier for people to enjoy the beautiful scenery. Well, businesses still needed to advertise along the roadways. They got around the ordinance by mounting giant sculptures made of fiberglass, concrete, or wood, and these sculptures would be holding informational signs about the services that could be found in the next town. All of these sculptures were deemed to be “public art installations” and therefore did not qualify as billboards: giant gorillas holding signs, a large squirrel wearing a t-shirt with information on it, and an oversized genie holding up a large roll of fake carpeting. (cont)
When you find him, please send us a message with your name, POSTAL MAIL address, the issue number you are referring to and which ad is hosting Tommy for the week! Visit www.tidbitsmov.com or send the answer with the above information to alan@tidbitsmov.com OR you may send us a private message to our Facebook page - @Tidbits MOV. PLEASE do not post the answer directly to the page - that ruins the fun for everyone. All winners will be drawn randomly from correct responses and will be posted weekly. As with all our contests, you are welcome to play every week, you are only eligible for one winner per household per month.
To make mistakes is human. To blame someone else for your problems is strategic.
MODERN MISTAKES (cont)
• The Texas Medical Center Campus in Houston had a large number of tall shady oak trees on their grounds, which attracted a large number of birds, which often pooped on the grounds of the Texas Medical Center Campus. In 2012, campus leaders decided the solution was to cover the mature oak trees with bird-proof netting, sending the birds elsewhere to roost. The issue was that birds eat bugs, and with the birds gone, the bugs, who were easily able to slip through the bird-proof netting, proliferated. One type of bug that unexpectedly found its population exploding was a type of caterpillar that happens to be exceptionally poisonous. Their numbers increased by over 7,000%. Subsequently, injuries caused by encountering one of these creepy crawlies also increased until the nets were removed and the birds returned.
• Rents in St. Paul, Minnesota, kept rising, causing a housing crunch in 2021. City officials placed a 3% cap on how much rent could increase per year, not considering that even in an average year, normal inflation exceeds 3%. They also specified that rent prices could not be raised in between tenants. The result was that developers ceased building new construction apartment houses, causing the housing crunch to worsen.
GOLDEN OLDIES
• In 1773, Britain began collecting taxes on ships according to how wide and long the boats were. Boat owners noted that no tax was levied on how deep the boat was. So they began building boats that were short, skinny, and very, very deep so they could still hold as much cargo but without paying anything extra. This had the unfortunate side effect of destabilizing the ships, causing many to capsize. (cont)
GOLDEN OLDIES (cont)
• Samuel Pennypacker was governor of Pennsylvania from 1903 until 1907. He was upset when political cartoonists began satirizing him by drawing caricatures of him as a parrot due to his tendency of mimicking the words of the political bosses. Insulted, he prevailed upon state lawmakers to pass a measure that outlawed artists depicting any political figure as a “beast, bird, fish, or insect.” The political cartoonists really enjoyed this challenge and began depicting Pennypacker as a turnip, tree, chestnut, squash, or beer stein. The law was repealed as soon as Pennypacker left office.
• In 1896, New York City leaders wanted to curb drinking. State Senator John Raines outlined new rules that prohibited alcohol sales on Sundays. Called the Raines Law, there was a gaping loophole in it: rich people dining out on Sundays (traditionally the day their servants were off duty) could still drink while dining at upscale hotel dining halls. Poor people, meanwhile, could no longer drink at local pubs. Most workers were on duty Monday through Saturday, so Sunday was the only day they had time off.
• Consequently, pubs discovered closets, storage areas, office space, and basements that could be converted into “lodging areas.” The number of “hotels” in Brooklyn jumped from 13 to 800 in just six months. The law permitted alcohol to be served if a meal was ordered. These 800 new “hotels” suddenly began offering special deals on barely edible sandwiches served along with a drink. The understanding was that the sandwiches would not be eaten by the purchaser, but would be returned to the barkeep, who would subsequently sell the same sandwich to many “lodgers” every Sunday. The Raines Law was repealed 27 years later.
HENSLER’S HENSLER’S
TOWN & COUNTRY TOWN & COUNTRY MARKET MARKET
It's Soup-er Savings: Broccoli & Potato Soup to the Rescue
Let's talk about that moment. You know the one. When it's the end of the month, the fridge is giving tumbleweed vibes, the budget is stretched thinner than a dollar-store trash bag, and yet ... folks still want dinner.
What's a Diva to do? Wait! What is that in the sky? Is that a soup-er hero? Why, it's Broccoli and Potato Soup to the rescue! It says, "I'm humble, hearty, quietly heroic, and I'm here to save you and your dinner!"
This is the soup I turn to when I need something plentiful and filling on the table fast. It's also the soup I lean on when someone says they're stopping by and I haven't been to the store in a week. Because every ingredient in this soup is a pantry or freezer staple that won't spoil if it sits tight until you need it. Russet potatoes? Check. Frozen broccoli? Check. Carrots, celery and onion? The holy trinity of thrifty flavor. But wait! There's more!
Now here's the frugal magic trick: Instead of cream, this recipe uses evaporated milk. It's shelf-stable, budgetfriendly and creamy as all get-out. It blends beautifully with the potatoes and gives the soup that silky, creamy texture without tipping your grocery bill into "why-did-I-buy-organic-cream?" territory.
And if you think soup is a winter only affair, allow me to nudge you gently. This one is also shockingly delicious served cold. Think of this soup as vichyssoise's less fancy cousin, the one who shows
up in a thrifted cardigan, knows how to stretch a dollar and still manages to taste amazing. Creamy, comforting and totally unpretentious just the way we like it.
BROCCOLI & POTATO SOUP
Yield: 6 servings
Total Time: 30 minutes
3 tablespoons olive oil or butter
1 large onion, finely chopped
1/2 cup celery, minced
1/2 cup carrot, shredded
1 (16-ounce) bag frozen broccoli cuts, 5 cups
3 pounds russet potatoes, peeled and cut into 1/2-inch cubes
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1 teaspoon thyme
1 teaspoon kosher salt
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
2 cups chicken or vegetable broth/stock
3 cups water
1 (12-ounce) can evaporated milk
1 cup cheddar cheese, or cheese of choice, grated
Green onions, finely sliced (optional garnish)
Cheese, grated (optional garnish)
Heat oil in a soup pot over medium-low heat. Add the onion, celery and carrot; cook for about 3 minutes, or until softened.
While that's cooking, open the frozen broccoli and separate some of the "prettier" florets to add at the end of cooking. Place the remainder of the broccoli and all the potato into the pot. Add garlic, thyme, salt and pepper. Stir, then add stock and water. Bring to a boil, then reduce the heat to maintain a gentle simmer. Cook uncovered for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the veggies are completely ten-
der.
Once the veggies are tender, remove from heat and add the evaporated milk. Using an immersion (stick) blender, blend soup until smooth (or in batches with a countertop blender).
Add the reserved "prettier" broccoli florets and return to the heat for 2 minutes, or until just cooked through. Remove from heat, stir in the cheese and adjust seasoning to taste. Ladle into bowls and top with your favorite garnishes.
Add a crisp green salad and some crusty bread, and you've got a lunch or dinner that looks like you had a plan all along.
It's affordable. It's adaptable. And it's proof that with a few smart staples, and a soup-er hero recipe, you're never more than 30 minutes from a satisfying meal. ***
Lifestyle expert Patti Diamond is the pennypinching, party-planning, recipe developer and content creator of the website Divas On A Dime Where Frugal, Meets Fabulous! Visit Patti at www.divasonadime.com and join the conversation on Facebook at DivasOnADimeDotCom. Email Patti at divapatti@divasonadime.com (c) 2025 King Features Synd., Inc.
Delicious hot or cold, and always easy on the wallet.
PHOTO CREDIT: www.JasonCoblentz.com
SPORTS GOOFS
• In 1996, Jeffrey Maier was a 12-year-old Yankees fan. On October 9, 1996, he was excited about attending Game #1 of the American League Championship Series. The Yankees were facing the Baltimore Orioles. Maier took his baseball glove, just in case.
• The Yankees were trailing the Orioles 4-3 in the bottom of the 8th inning. Yankees shortstop Derek Jeter batted a deep fly ball toward the stands behind right field. Right fielder Tony Tarasco ran for it and reached to grab it. Just then, little Jeffrey Maier reached out with his baseball glove, leaning over the field, and deflected the ball into the stands seconds before Tarasco could nab it.
• Had Tarasco caught the ball, it would have been an automatic out. Instead, right field umpire Rich Garcia ignored the interference and ruled it a home run, tying the game 4-4.
• The call was extremely controversial. The Orioles protested; their objection was denied.
• Yankees won the game in the 11th inning, and went on to win the World Series that year.
• After viewing the replay, umpire Garcia admitted his mistake. Still, he insisted that given the ball’s trajectory and the position of Tarasco’s glove, Tarasco would not have caught it. Tarasco disagreed.
• In New York, Jeffrey Maier was a hero; in Baltimore, he was a villain. The New York Daily News allowed him to sit behind the Yankee dugout during the World Series. An article in the Baltimore Sun called him “The most despised child in the history of Baltimore sports.”
• There is now a railing behind the right-field wall at Yankee Stadium to prevent fans like Maier from reaching over it. (Continued page #7)
SPORTS GOOFS (cont)
• In soccer, players are not allowed to touch the ball with their hands unless they are goalies. Players can only use their feet and head. This rule was broken, quite controversially, by Argentine player Diego Maradona.
• It was June 22, 1986, and the FIFA World Cup quarter-final match against England was underway in Mexico City. Six minutes into the second half, Argentina’s Maradona punched the ball into the net using his fist. The referees missed this move, but the violation was clearly seen by English players and fans who protested the goal immediately. However, both referees refused to hear the complaints. The goal was good. The match ended 2-1 in favor of Argentina, with Maradona also scoring the second goal. Argentina went on to win the World Cup.
• When Maradona was later asked if he scored the goal illegally by using his hand, he responded by saying the goal was made “a little with the head of Maradona, and a little with the hand of God.” The goal subsequently became known as “the hand of God” goal.
• A sports photographer immortalized the moment in a photograph that clearly showed Maradona hitting the ball with his hand. This prompted sports writers to say, “What hand of God? It was the hand of Diego!”
• Maradona’s illegal goal was considered a cunning trick by Argentinians. In England, it was considered a shameful scandal.
• It became a pivotal moment in the historyof the World Cup. The incident was instrumental in promotingtheuseofinstantreplaytechnology.
• In 2022, the shirt Maradona had been wearing when he made the goal was sold at auction for the equivalent of nearly $9 million, setting a record for a piece of sports memorabilia.
Rattlesnakes are a risk for pets, but not the only one
DEAR
PAW'S CORNER:
I moved from a suburb to the mountains a couple of months ago, and while my dogs are thrilled to have several acres to run free on, I'm terrified that they will be bitten by rattlesnakes. A neighbor said that they are plentiful out here. How can I prevent this, and what do I do if they get bitten? Larry in Tennessee
DEAR LARRY: While there is always a risk of a dog getting injured by something out in the countryside, it's important not to let fear get the best of you. Instead, focus on prevention. Here are some of the things you can do to minimize their overall risk of injury fromsnakes and other potential risks
Train your dogs to come when you call them; if your property is big enough that they run out of sight, train them to respond to a whistle, which carries much farther. Rattlesnakes (and other snakes) hang out in messy debris piles, wood stacks and crevices with overhangs. They stay out of sight (they're much more afraid of you and your dogs) unless they are threatened. Clear debris piles off of your property, and stack your firewood on a raised platform, at least 5 feet from your home's foundation.
If your dogs consistently run to one location on your property, follow them and find out what's so interesting. An animal lair or deer run can be very interesting to dogs, but the same location can attract bigger predators.
Consider fencing in a half-acre or acre behind your house and keep your dogs within the fence; you'll be able to monitor them better and control the space, so critters don't come in.
Send your tips, comments or questions to ask@pawscorner.com.
(c) 2025 King Features Synd., Inc.
Remember To Thank All of The Advertisers. They Paid for Your Free Tidbits®!
* J.D. of Massachusetts writes: "Mix 1/2 cup vinegar and a chamomile tea bag in a pan of medium hot water. Let cool slightly and soak feet for up to 10 minutes. Follow up with foot powder or deodorant."
* Cucumber is a speedy diuretic. Try snacking on slices of it for a cool treat. Or deseed slices and slip a few in your glass of cold water.
* If you keep a couple of crackers in your sugar jar, they will keep the sugar from caking.
* "When we go to the doctor with our youngest, we bring a few crayons. She will lie down on the exam table paper, and we draw her outline. Then she can fill in her face and other details. This usually calms her while she is waiting. The doctor even has used the outline to talk about her body to her." E.S. in Georgia
* Boost your metabolism by drinking green tea hot or cold. Try it over ice with
honey and a sprig of mint.
* "In older houses, you might have a problem with cracking drywall when trying to hang pictures. You can solve this by placing a bit of clear tape over the spot where you are going to drive in a nail. It goes right in. If your are nailing into wood, you can drag your nail through some soap (bar soap is fine) before striking and it does the same thing, keep the wood from splitting."
P.K. in New Jersey
Send your tips to Now Here's a Tip, 628 Virginia Drive, Orlando, FL 32803. (c) 2025 King Features Synd., Inc.
