Mount Vernon Town Money Saver | June 2023

ABOUT PADDLE FOR HEROES

Our mission is to involve veterans, first responders, and their families with river clean ups, community projects, disaster relief and the therapeutic healing through paddling.

160-MILE KAYAK TRIP SCHEDULED TO HONOR FALLEN DANVILLE POLICE OFFICER COTTRELL

Ilove to learn about fun, inspired events that cause me to harken back to events that stir memories from youth! Canoeing in western Ohio on the Little Miami River with Boy Scout Troop 51 from Rushsylvania, Ohio, has always been a fond memory. Brad Kelly and Scott Culp were usually lurking around the corners of the next bend — waiting to attack us and swamp our canoe. Calmer canoe trips with the Methodist Church youth lent themselves to thoughtful, relaxing trips — when we pondered how enjoyable the time on the river was. Paddles for Patriots borrows from the fun and adventure of canoeing, coupled with overnight camping and cooking outside, on a journey designed to reflect and ponder what it means to “give the last full measure” of faith for our country. Paddles for Heroes frequently is built around an improvement event in nature, via a cleanup or improvement project on a waterway, but it also regularly is built around honoring a fallen hero. Paddle For Heroes, a non-profit organization that encourages veterans and first responders to participate in recreational kayaking and canoeing activities, will honor fallen Danville police officer Thomas Cottrell in June.

The Mount Vernon-based organization will dedicate its 7th annual Mount Vernon to Marietta veterans awareness kayak trip to the officer, who was killed while on duty. The 160-mile trip is scheduled for June 10 at Memorial Park, and will begin at 7 a.m. on the Kokosing River. The community is invited to come see the team off at the river’s public access entrance. PFH will depart from Mount Vernon to Marietta in

honor of Cottrells’ combined 13 years of service in the Ohio communities of Thornville, Shawnee, Frazeysburg, Utica and Danville.

The team will paddle rain or shine for up to 12 hours each day, averaging 30 miles each day. The trip is scheduled to end at the Historic Lafayette Hotel in Marietta on June 15 at 3:30 p.m. Paddlers will be encouraged to reflect on their own service. They’ll also think about the service of others, including those who are currently serving. Most importantly, they’ll reflect on the service of those who have paid the ultimate price for freedom. Cottrell, killed in an ambush attack on January 17, 2016, was known by his family and friends as a “rock” and a “protector.” Employees at the Danville mini-mart commented, “Tom was known well as the guy who was quick to help kids, and drove by at closing to make sure they were safe.” His colleagues knew him as the funny guy who was always smiling, “the light in the room,” and a positive influencer.” “God bless you Officer Cottrell, may you walk the streets with Saint Michael and patrol your new jurisdiction in Heaven,” (Utica Police Dept. Facebook, Jan. 18, 2016

Submitted by Jim Stoner

A previous group of paddlers making their way through the locks at Zanesville.

THOMAS COTTRELL

‘Cue the Grill

steak

Grilled Steaks with mushroom-shallot butter

• 8 tbsp. butter, at room temperature

• ½ cup sliced shallot or onion

• 1 cup sliced fresh mushrooms

• 2 large cloves garlic, minced

• 1 tsp. coarsely chopped fresh thyme leaves

• ¼ tsp. salt • ¼ tsp. coarsely ground black pepper

• 4-6 steaks (rib-eye, New York strip or porterhouse)

Melt 1 tbsp. butter in a skillet over low heat. Add shallot, cook until golden and slightly crispy, 7-8 min. Transfer mixture to a clean plate.

In the same skillet, melt 2 tbsp. butter. Add the mushrooms, garlic, thyme, salt • pepper. Stir and cook until mushrooms are softened, 5 min. Transfer to the plate with the shallot and let cool. Blend the remaining butter with the cooled mixture. Place in the center of a piece of parchment paper. Bring the edges together. With your ngers form into a log. Roll and twist the ends before popping the mixture into the refrigerator for at least 20 to 30 min. Set the steaks on the counter for 30 minutes to bring them up to room temperature. Meanwhile, preheat grill to medium-high. Season both sides with salt & pepper. Grill each steak for 6 to 8 min. per side, depending on the thickness and the desired doneness. Tent with aluminum foil, let rest for 5 min. Slice the mushroom butter into coins and top each of the steaks with two coins before serving.

Cowboy Camp re Beans

• 2-15 oz. cans navy beans, drained and rinsed

• 4 slices bacon, cut into 1-inch pieces

• 1 cup diced yellow onion • 1½ cups ketchup

• ¼ cup molasses • ½ cup packed brown sugar

• 1¼ tsp. ground mustard • 1 tsp. ground cloves

If cooking the beans on a grill, prepare a medium re in the grill. In an iron skillet or Dutch oven, cook the bacon until crisp, 8-10 min. Leave a few tbsp. of fat in the pot. Add the onion, season with salt and pepper and cook, stirring, until soft, 5-7 min. Meanwhile, in a medium bowl, whisk together the ketchup, molasses, sugar, ground mustard, ground cloves, and 1 cup water to combine. Add the cooked beans and pour the mixture into the pot with the bacon and onion.

Place the pot on the grill rack over medium heat. Partially cover the pot and simmer the beans, stirring occasionally, until deep dark brown in color and thick, approx 2 hours.

beckon summer with a mocktail or cocktail

Berry Crush

Serves 1

• 2 blackberries

• 2 blueberries

• 2 raspberries

• 3 oz. Vodka (optional)

• Dash of lime juice

• 1 cup cracked ice

• ½ cup sparkling water

Place the ice cubes in a chilled old-fashioned glass. Place the berries in a small bowl and crush with a fork. Add to a shaker with the vodka, lime juice and cracked ice. Shake for 10 to 15 seconds, then strain over the ice cubes. For a lighter version of the drink, add the sparkling water.

fun & games Court

FIGHT BITE the

Get rid of standing water

Mosquitoes breed by laying eggs in and near standing water.

Prevent Mosquitoes Around Your Home

Mosquitoes not only cause itchy bites, but also spread dangerous diseases such as West Nile Virus and Encephalitis. Wear insect repellent to protect yourself.

Empty, turn over or get rid of anything that can hold water like buckets, toys, and tarps.

You can do a lot to reduce the number of mosquitoes around your home by getting rid of standing water in your yard.

Fill

holes

Fix screens.

Empty bird baths or change water at least weekly.

pools when not in use.

KnoxHealth.com

FOODIE PICASSO

treat DAD to a delicious Father’s Day Meal

kids love cooking!

Cooking is fun and messy; two things that kids love! Parents can foster their kids’ love of cooking with these tips:

• Be patient. Going into the cooking experience knowing there will be a mess. Put a plastic tablecloth under the work area to help catch what falls. Also, cooking with youngsters likely will take more time than it normally would, so set aside extra preparation time.

• Assign age-appropriate tasks. Even children as young as 3-years-old can chop food with a butter knife and soft foods.

• Practice measuring together. Let children read the recipes and be in charge of portioning out ingredients. This reinforces temperature, ratios and fractions. Move on to more sophisticated tasks. Around age eight or nine, children can take on jobs like opening cans, scooping batter, pounding poultry, proo ng yeast, skewering kabobs, and slicing bread. Between the ages of 10 and 12 kids can start working independently in the kitchen, as long as an adult is home.

Children also can be involved in cooking by helping to draft shopping lists and taking trips to the supermarket. This shows kids the complete process of gathering ingredients for meals, what they cost and how they are made before foods make it to the dinner table.

Pizza Faces

Topping Ideas To Make

Pizza Faces:

zucchini slices, Brussel sprout slices and shreds, broccoli orets, bell pepper rings and slices, cherry tomatoes, sliced black olives, and thinly sliced carrots.

What’s the best way teach healthy eating habits? Let kids slice, dice, and create a healthy veggie pizza.

You only need four ingredients to make mini pizzas at home:

Pita or Wrap • Pizza Sauce • Cheese • Any toppings you like EAT raw or bake in a preheated oven 350o 4-5 min.

Bake Dad’s Day with this easy recipe!

Apple Pie

6 cups sliced apples

1-¼ ground cinnamon

2 tbs. softened butter/margarine

¼ tsp nutmeg

1 cup sugar

¾ cup milk

½ cup Bisquick

2 eggs

STREUSEL

1 cup Bisquick

½ cup chopped nuts (optional)

½ packed brown sugar

3 tbs. rm butter

Heat oven to 325. Grease pie pan. Mix apples and spices, turn into plate. Beat remaining ingredients (Excpet streusel) until smooth. Pour over apples. Sprinkle with streusel. Bake until knife inserted comes out clean. 55-60 min.

Note: Make the Streusel rst so you don’t have to clean the beaters