Westerville Town Money Saver | June FOM 2022

HOW TO PROTECT YOUR HOME WHEN YOU ARE AWAY

Vacation o en serves as a well-deserved break from the hustle and bustle of daily life. When relaxing and recharging away from home, the last thing vacationers want to think about is the safety of their homes and everything inside them. However, the National Council for Home Safety and Security and Statistics Canada estimate that more than two million burglaries occur in the United States and Canada every year. at underscores the importance of protecting your home at all times, including when you’re not there.

• CREATE

THE IMPRESSION THAT

SOMEONE IS HOME. Just because you’re heading o for parts unknown doesn’t mean you can’t create the impression that life is carrying on as usual within the walls of your home. Smart home technology now enables homeowners to set timers on lights and even home electronics like televisions and radios. Homeowners also can ask neighbors to pick up their mail or halt delivery until they return from their trips. Nothing says “no one’s home” as de nitively as an over owing mailbox.

• KEEP QUIET ON SOCIAL MEDIA. A Credit Sesame survey of former burglars in the United Kingdom found that 78 percent acknowledged monitoring

social media platforms such as Facebook and Twitter as they try to nd homes to burglarize. Individuals about to go on vacation should avoid sharing that on social media.

• STAY SILENT WHILE YOU’RE AWAY AS WELL. Social media silence should be continued while you’re on vacation as well. No matter how tempting it may be to share photos from an exotic location, such posts could catch the attention of all the wrong people. A recent report from MetLife indicated that 35 percent of Americans between the ages of 18 and 34 check in from their locations via social media. at can alert criminals that no one is manning the fort back home.

• SWITCH FROM A TRADITIONAL LOCK AND KEY TO A LOCKBOX. Individuals who travel frequently can take a page from the realtor notebook and switch from a traditional lock and key lock system to a lockbox. Lockboxes require that a code is entered before a box containing a key can be unlocked. Homeowners who want this added measure of protection don’t even need to put a key inside the lockbox, which typically covers a lock, making it extremely di cult for potential thieves to pick the lock.

FATHER’S DAY GIFT IDEAS

FOR ALL TYPES OF DADS

ThisFather’s Day, families will gather to thank dads for all they do. Gi s o en are part of Father’s Day celebrations, and here’s a list of gi ideas for dads with various interests.

GAMING DAD

e draw of popular video games doesn’t abate for some men as they get older. If your dad is at home with game controller in hand, then gi s that feed his hobby can be ideal. Virtual reality has made great strides. Devices that enable VR game play and other entertainment may appeal to Dad. ere are a few options on the market, like the Oculus, Pico Neo, HTC Vive, and Valve Index.

Another option is to gi the Nintendo Switch Console, which enables your dad to play at home connected to the television or on the go with the handheld controller and screen combination so he never misses a chance to engage in game play.

SPORTS DAD

Tap into your father’s love of sports with gi s tailored to his passion. Baseball and soccer are played during warm months, so tickets to a game is something dads and their children can do together. You also can cheer his team on in front of a new big-screen television he gets for being such a great dad.

OUTDOORSMAN DAD

If your dad is most at home with a shing pole and tackle box, kayaking a nearby body of water, or hiding in a tree stand

during hunting season, then gi s that cater to his love of the great outdoors are perfect. Insulated thermoses, waterproof bags for storing phones or wallets, multitools, backpacks, and hiking boots make great gi s.

TECHY DAD

Does the idea of the latest “smart” o ering get your father all revved up? en purchase gi s that cater to his love of gadgets. Maybe he can use a new tablet or laptop that bridges the gap between home and o ce. Could it be time to upgrade his smartphone? A doorbell camera or home security kit can help Dad keep an eye on the comings and goings around the house when he’s away. Or help him create surround lighting e ects that can react to content on the screen or music being played with LED smart lighting strips.

PRACTICAL DAD

Some fathers don’t want ashy gi s, instead preferring ones that can be used everyday. ink about a new paper shredder or identity block roller stamp to keep sensitive information safe. If Dad takes long road trips, then he might be able to use a car visor extender or a smartphone holder. Shelving, racks or storage straps for the garage also may put a smile on Dad’s face. is year, make Father’s Day a smash hit with gi s that cater to Dad’s interests.

Father’s Day Bird Fun Facts:

FATHER-OF-THE-YEAR AWARD

The Father-of-the-Year Award goes to the Downy Woodpecker. Though they share daytime nest duties with their mate, only the fathers incubate and brood at night and they roost in the nest until their offspring fledge.

DAD’S FAVORITE DINER

Downy Woodpecker and American Goldfinch dads like to take the family out to eat. When the young brood fledges from the nest, Dad leads them to great food sources as well as teaches them how to use his favorite backyard bird feeders.

IT’S GOOD TO BE KING

The White-breasted Nuthatch male gets a special protection detail. His mate is the “watchdog,” protecting her man from trouble, leaving him more time to concentrate on hunting for food. She rarely strays far from him and stays in constant vocal contact when more than a few yards apart.

PROUD PROVIDER

Chickadee and nuthatch dads feed Mom while she incubates and broods the eggs. Dad also helps feed the young once they have hatched.

TOOL TIME

Dads dig tools. Nuthatches, males and females, are one of the few species of birds known to use “tools.” The White-breasted Nuthatch has been known to use certain beetles as a tool by crushing ones that are stinky and sweeping them in and around their nest site to deter squirrels from their eggs and young. The Brown-headed Nuthatch will take a loose flake of pine bark in its bill and use it to pry up other scales of bark in search of prey.

HE’S A ROCK STAR

Adult male Song Sparrows love to perform. They sing about six to twenty different melodies every eight seconds and may average over 2,300 songs during an entire day. The larger their repertoire of songs, the more successful they are in attracting a mate and in holding their territories.

Must mention coupon when scheduling. Not valid with other o ers or discounts. Some restrictions apply. Expires 6/28/22.

Must mention coupon when scheduling. Not valid with other o ers or discounts. Some restrictions apply. Expires 6/28/22.

‘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