Vol. 22: #40 • Agave Plant • (9-27-2026) Tidbits of Coachella Valley by Tidbits of Coachella Valley

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While we see them all around the desert southwest, (760) 491-1008 NOW All Rights Reserved most folks regard them as an attractive lawn feature Call Now: used in desert landscape designs. But the agave plant (pronounced Uh GAH Vay) provides a lot more than simply ornamental appeal. Follow along to see how Property of this unique succulent has been used for centuries AdVenture Media, Inc. by many cultures as a valuable source for providing ADVERTISING PROO DVERTISING PROOF ADVERTISING PROOF useful tools, nourishing food and drink, sandals for FREE our feet -and tequila to celebrate its many benefits! JUNE 30 MON., AUG. 26 MON., JUNE 30 Phone: 760.320.0997 MON., Fax: 760.320.1630 Final Changes DUE: anges DUE: Final12:00 Changes NOON DUE: 12:00 NOON 4 Million Readers Weekly Nationwide!

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• corrections. There arerepresentative an estimated immediately 270 species with of the agave Contact youror Tidbits representative immediately with changes bits representative immediately with changes Contact or your Tidbits changes corrections. plant. Of those, 70 percent are native to Mexico. Others are native to the southwestern U.S. and the Paul Mitchell Air Care Front-Page Ad Concepts Caribbean.

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Your Consideration. • Agave for is not a cactus, but is instead a succulent, 6/27/2025 designed to retainAir water in thick spiky leaves in desert Paul Mitchell Care Paul Mitchell Air Care Property of Property of AdVenture Media, Inc. AdVenture Media, Inc.to yucca or aloe Premium Front Page Premium Page regions. It’sFront similar in appearance SPECULATIVE LAYOUT vera. Natives called agave by many different names. SPECULATIVE LAYOUT July 2025 it Ki’l, and Aztecs called it Metl. JulyB) 6, 2025 Mayans A)6, called

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looking for an outlet in the world toy market. They met rejection after rejection before finally gaining the interest of a company called Worlds of Wonder. When president Don Kingsborough, former president of Atari, had a prototype Teddy placed in his lap, he agreed to manufacture the doll under a royalty agreement. It was agreed that the product would hit the shelves in time for the 1985 holiday season.

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• Born in 1936, Ken Forsse grew up in Burbank, California using his free time to build furniture and toys and take lessons in painting from his sister. Fresh out of high school, he snagged a job in the mail room of Walt Disney Studios before making his way to their animation department. In 1959, he was drafted into the Army. When he returned, there was an opening in the company’s theme park development division. He took it. • There he assisted the Disney Imagineers who created animatronics. Throughout the 1960s and 70s, Forsse helped develop creatures that could sing, wave, speak, and interact with visitors, and worked on rides like It’s a Small World and the Jungle Cruise. • Inspired by their success, Forsse knew there must be a way to design a children’s toy that used these same features. He thought a stuffed animal that could move in similar ways, yet be small enough to fit on a child’s shelf, had the potential to be a tremendous success.

Vol. XXII Issue 40

• Forsse approached ABC and arranged for two live-action Teddy Ruxpin specials to air that November and December to boost sales. • When Teddy Ruxpin went on sale in September of 1985, Worlds of Wonder sold 41,000 units in 30 days at $79 each, equal to $250 in today's money. The set of 60 accompanying storybooks and cassettes sold for $12.95 ($40 today). By 1986, over a million Ruxpins had been sold. Worlds of Wonder rang up over $93 million in sales the first year (over $283 million today). • Ruxpin fever soon swept the nation. In 1987, there were 65 episodes of the Teddy Ruxpin cartoon show. Ruxpin became the spokes-bear for all sorts of good causes. There were Teddy bed sheets, wallpaper, picnic baskets, pajamas, lunch boxes, and beach balls. There was a Teddy Ruxpin fan club. Ruxpin’s stories were translated into 13 languages, and the product was named “1985 Toy of the Year.” • And yet, all was not well in Ruxpin-land. There were issues with shipping. Inventory would run out for long periods. Over 35,000 defective units were returned. Cheaper knock-offs flooded the market. Then there was a major setback due to a stock market crash.

• With this vision in mind, Forsse formed his own company in 1982 and set out to meet that challenge. He settled on creating an animal that • Four days before Christmas in 1987, Worlds looked like a teddy bear, except that it came with of Wonders filed for bankruptcy. They tried ADVERTISING PROOF a complete backstory explaining that it was really to reorganize while discounting Teddy down MON., a creature called an Illiop from the fantasy worldChanges Final DUE: 12:00 to $30 but it was too late. It was hoped that of Grundo. His name was Teddy Ruxpin. Teddy Please review carefully. Double check:was  Phone Number(s) PROO Spelling Teddy Ruxpin not dead, but perhaps just in  Pri ADVERTISING Ruxpin was the world’s first talking animatronic hibernation. But he never revived. Contact your Tidbits representative immediately with changes MON., NOV. 3 or corre Final Changes DUE: toy. • In the years since then, different companies 760-3 Office: 760-320-0997 Please review carefully. email: Double valleybits@msn.com check:  Phone Number(s) Fax:  Spelling • Ruxpin came with a dual-track cassette tape have come out with various versions of new, buried in his chest. One track told one ofContact 60 your TidbitsTeddy representative with changes o improved Ruxpins, immediately while never matching different stories, while the other track guided the 760-320-0997 the original fervor. The valleybits@msn.com tech industry shot ahead Fax Office: email: movement of Ruxpin’s mouth and eyes to form like a rocket, leaving Ruxpin in the dustbin of Property of realistic facial expressions that synchronized George toy history. KouriAdVenture Media, Inc. with the story. Ruxpin could even yawn and • c/o KenNewAmerica Forsse died Funding in 2014, but not before seeing giggle. Children would press the “play” button 12th pg B&W 26x Property of his creation both flourish, and then die on the AdVenture Media, Inc. and listen to a story of Ruxpin’s travel adventures HOLD for run dates world market.  Phone: -760.320.0997 Fax: 760.320.1630 NewAmericaFunding while following along in the accompanyingGeorge Kouri valleybits@msn.com 1/16 pg 4C 26x Rate maps and storybooks. Rights21 Reserved 9, 2025 Vol. - to No. 46 Isn’t itAlltime put your • Forsse and his team took the prototype aroundNovember

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Week of September 27, 2026

Agave Plant (from page one) the system of naming organisms using a twopart Latinized name (genus and species), which remains standard today. He dubbed the genus “agave” which is Greek for “noble” or “marvelous.” He knew that every part of the agave plant is useful. EAT, DRINK, WEAR!

• The leaves of the agave plant can grow as thick as a human thigh at the bottom and become as sharp as a spear point at its tip. Its spiky leaves yield sisal fibers that can be turned into rope, cloth, brushes, sandals, nets, mats, and other useful items. The fibers of some species can be removed with the spine of the leaf still attached, forming a type of needle and thread used by many early cultures.

bat to achieve pollination, luring it in with a sweet nectar. The petals of the flower open at night, offering a convenient nest for the bat to rest, thereby pollinating the other plants it visits. If the agave blooms when no bats are in the area, no seeds will be produced and the plant will die in vain. BIRTH OF TEQUILA

• In Mexico, there was a settlement called Tequitlan which was inhabited by the Tiquili people. The name meant ‘land of hard labor’ in the local language. Spanish conquistadors shortened the name to Tequila. The residents of the area had long fermented the sap of the agave plant into an alcoholic beverage called pulque, which formed an essential part of their diet for as long as 3,000 years. The Spaniards appreciated the beverage, but then took it one step farther by showing them how to distill the pulque into a liquor.

Page 3

harvested each year for processing. Today there are over 100 distilleries making over 900 brands of tequila in Mexico.

• Tequila and mezcal are produced differently. by Agave hearts are steamed or baked in industrial ovens to make tequila, giving it a clean, bright taste. Mezcal is made from agave hearts roasted or baked in stone-lined underground pits with charcoal, imparting a smoky, earthy flavor. Tequila makes a better mixer; mezcal is usually served neat. THE TEQUILA WORM

2. W t Agave Plant Turn to page 15 f s QUIZ BITS ��

1. What part of the agave is toxic until it's first cooked to destroy poisons? 2. Oligosaccharides found in agave are used to fight allergies to this common food. (Answers page 16)

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• Whereas most liquors become better with age, and the older the better, tequila tops out at about four years. Consider that it takes the blue agave plant between 8 and 12 years to mature to the point27, where to #40 be harvested, and that Sept. 2026it’s• ready Vol. 22: once processed, it requires up to 4 more years to age to maximum perfection. The average bottle of tequila requires 11 years to produce.

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• Another difference between tequila and mezcal is that you may find a worm floating in the bottom of a bottle of mezcal – but never in tequila. Why is there a worm involved at all? The red maguey

• The heart and root of the agave are edible, as • There are two types of liquor that come from are the flowers, flower stalks, and parts of the distilling fermented agave sap: tequila, and leaves. The barrel-shaped heart, or piña, can mezcal (or mescal). Although similar, they are weigh hundreds of pounds. The sap of the plant not the same. yields a nectar that’s 1.5 times sweeter than ADVERTISING PROOF sugar. Agave is alsoMonday, fermented and distilled to • Different species of agave yield different tastes. 2/16/26 l Changes DUE: 5:00Different p.m.. soil types and growing conditions also create tequila and mezcal. arefully. Double check:  Phone Number(s)  Spelling  Prices Hours tastes. A volcanic soil yields a yielddifferent • Most agave plants produce a single flower in spicier flavor; a clay soil yields a floral flavor. our Tidbits with changes or corrections. theirrepresentative lifetime after immediately years of stockpiling sugars, Agave grown at higher altitudes yields a sweeter 0-320-0997 email: valleybits@msn.com water, and nutrients. The flower stalk is asFax: tall 760-320-1630 taste; those grown at lower altitudes give an and straight as a flagpole and can grow to over earthier taste. Mineral content and soil pH also 20 feet tall. This puts the flowers out of reach factor in. of small animals who might otherwise eat the • True tequila comes from a single species called blooms. the blue agave, which must be grown in a certain ADVERTISING PROPAGATION PROOF soil type in a specific region of Mexico. Mezcal, • It usuallyDUE: takes between 8 and 30 years for an the other hand, comes from over 40 species l Changes 5:00onp.m.. 1/16 pg 4C 26x disc. agave to reach the point of being ready to flower. of agave grown in a wider range of conditions arefully. Double2026 check:  Phone Number(s)  Spelling  Prices  Hours Feb. 22 - No. The22, flowers areVol. pollinated by9bats, insects such across a larger region of Mexico. our Tidbits representative immediately with changes on or corrections. as bees and hawk moths, or birds, depending • All tequila is mezcal, but not all mezcal is the species. If that flower stalk is pollinated, 0-320-0997 email: valleybits@msn.com Fax:a 760-320-1630 tequila. Mezcal is the broad umbrella term for single flower will produce thousands of seeds. ADVERTISING PROOF any liquor made from agave. After blooming, the mother plant dies. Final Changes DUE: Mon. , 9/21/26 5:00 p.m.. Although therecheck: are many flavorsand varieties Please•review carefully. Double Phone Number(s) Spelling  Prices  Hours • One species of agave relies on a single species of of mezcal, are only five with classes ofortequila, Contact your Tidbitsthere representative immediately changes corrections. Office: 760-320-0997 on how email: valleybits@msn.com Fax: 760-320-1630 depending long it’s been aged, and in “BEFORE what sort of barrel, either oak or stainless steel. handi-bars YOU slip

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Vol. XXII Issue No. 40

It's equally as foolish and unsatisfying to spend money that has not first been managed. Everyday To manage money means to take full CHEAPSKATE possession of it, to subject it to a specific plan by Mary Hunt and then direct it accordingly. Picture a conductor bringing every musician into perfect order. That requires creating a season of ownership between receiving and dispersing. Managing money is a learned discipline, a conscious effort that can produce immediate gratification. Everyday When money flows into your life, you are responsible for what it does, where it goes CHEAPSKATE It took me a dreadfully long time to unand how it performs. You are the boss. You can by Mary Hunt derstand this important truth: Money is not for watch it drift away and out of your control, or you spending. It is for managing first, and then for can manage it according to a formula, a plan -- a spending. specific “recipe” that you have developed and is It takes courage to believe it, but when a part of who you are. you do, it will profoundly change the way you It doesn’t matter if you are a single parent think about and manage your money. struggling to survive or the CEO of a prosperous Imagine this: It’s Friday, a day you have business. You need to know ahead of time excome to know and love as Cake Day. You want actly how you will manage every dime that flows cake, you love cake and, doggone it, you deinto your life. serve to eat cake. You stop at the supermarket There are certain elements that I believe and pick up the ingredients necessary to bake a should be part of your management system -chocolate cake. elements like giving and saving. When you bring The most bizarre thing happens on the sanity and reason to the management of your way home. You can’t wait. You are powerless income, feelings of dissatisfaction, worry and against this overwhelming desire to have your hopelessness quiet down. You find yourself lookcake and eat it now! ing for ways to plug the money leaks in your life. You grab the grocery bag from the back So, what is the best recipe for managing seat (safely, while stopped at a red light, of your money? Here’s a simple recipe: 10-10-80. course) and begin eating the ingredients because Give away 10%, save 10% and then live on 80% you are so hungry for cake. It’s there, it’s yours of your income. That’s a formula that just works. and you simply cannot help yourself. You gulp a No matter your situation -- single, marcouple of eggs, chew up some butter and sugar. ried, old, young; whether you’re deeply in debt, You choke down a big handful of flour followed unemployed or at the top of your career -- you by a sizable scoop of cocoa powder. need a system through which to process every You pull into the driveway completely dime that enters your life. disgusted with yourself. You try to hide the evi21 Only then will MON., you fullySEPT. understand why dence, but it’s all over your face and clothes. The money is not for spending. It is for managing Please review carefully. Double check:  Phone Number(s)  Spelling  Pric car looks like a bomb went off inside of it. first, and then for spending. But the worst part: Eating the cake wasyour Tidbits representative immediately with changes or corre Contact * * * not nearly as satisfying as you’d dreamed. It was, ®

By Lucie Winborne

* When women run, their breasts don’t just move up and down; they move in a complex figure-eight pattern, with about six inches of motion with each stride. * Early sodas were marketed as curealls for impotence, stomach pain, scurvy, alcoholism, opium addictions, nervousness and more. * During WWII, the Japanese launched 9,000 paper and rubberized-silk balloons carrying incendiary and anti-personnel bombs to the U.S. More than 1,000 made it to American soil, and reached as far east as Michigan. * If the U.S. Army were a city, it would be the 10th largest in the U.S. * During the 1986 World Cup quarterfinal against England, Diego Maradona punched the ball into the net without the referee noticing, quipping afterward that it had been scored “a little with the head of Maradona and a little with the hand of God.” * The United States American Nurses Association ended their policy of racially segregating nurses in response to the urgent need for nurses during WWII. * Original Celtic bonfires were more aptly named bone fires, as the Celts threw animal bones into the flames to ward off evil spirits.

So You Think Money Is for Spending? We Need to Talk. ®

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to “leave luck to heaven.”

complete links and resources for all recommendPlease review carefully. Double check:  Phone Number(s)  Spelling  Prices with  Hours can do until next Cake Day. You suffer and beat ed products and services. Mary invites questions and comments at https://www.everydaycheapskate. up for having been so incredibly foolish. or corrections. * Police officers in Hawaii were once al- youryourself Contact Tidbits representative immediately with changes “Ask Mary.” This column will answer lowed to have sex with prostitutes during absurd analogy for sure. But it Fax: com/contact/, Office: 760-320-0997Yes, an email: valleybits@msn.com 760-320-1630 questions of general interest, but letters cannot be undercover sting operations. does illustrate the foolishness of eating food that answered individually. MaryCenter Hunt is the founder of Therapeutic Riding has not yet been prepared. The very same ingre- Pegasus EverydayCheapskate.com, a frugal living blog, and * The term “Indian” originated with pg • Full Color • Non-Profit dients that made you sick could have become a 1/12 the author of the book “Debt-Proof Living.” Christopher Columbus, who thought he Please review carefully. Double check: Sept. 27, 2026 Vol. 22- Phone No. 40 Number(s)  Spelling  Pric culinary masterpiece had you disciplined yourself COPYRIGHT 2026 CREATORS.COM

ADVERTISING PROOF Final Changes DUE: 5:00 ADVERTISING PROOF had landed in the East Indies. Desert Jewelry Mart & Loan procedure. to follow a vital step-by-step Those Contact your Tidbits representative immediately with changes or corre 1/12 pg 4C 26x rate cake ingredients were Final Changes DUE: were not for eating; they 5:00 p.m.. email: valleybits@msn.com * According to the Giant Impact theory, Office: 760-320-0997 Fax: 760-3 March 26, 2017 Vol. 13 - No. 13 properly preparing and thenfor eating. Prices  Hours carefully. for Double check:  Phonefirst Number(s) Spelling a Mars-size planet struckPlease a blowreview to Earth and splashed off rocks and debris into Contact your Tidbits representative immediately with changes or corrections. space, creating a huge ring that later Office: 760-320-0997 email: valleybits@msn.com Fax: 760-320-1630 formed the moon. *** Thought for the Day: “Make failure your teacher, not your undertaker.” -- Zig Ziglar

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35,000 feet (10,668 m). However, the balloon • The U.S. National Aeronautical Association recognized the record. The worldwide FAI descended too fast and he bailed out at 8,000 did not, because the aeronaut “was not in feet (2,438 m). The FAI, the world authority personal possession of his instruments.” Gray that governs aviation records, refused to certify ADVERTISING PROOF was posthumously awarded the Distinguished it because he didn’t land with his craft. It was MON., AUG. 31 DUE: Flying Cross. The citation: “His courage was 12: the highest anyone had ever flown, but it Final didn’t Changes Please review carefully. Double check:  Phone Number(s)  Spelling  greater than his supply of oxygen.” count.

HIGHEST HELIUM FLIGHT

• In 1927 an Army captain from Illinois rode a helium balloon into the stratosphere three times in an attempt to set an altitude record. The first time, he blacked out. The second time, he had to bail out. The third time, he succeeded in setting an all-time record, but the attempt killed him. • Hawthorne Gray was born in 1889 in the Pacific Northwest. He joined the Army Air Service in 1920, and began piloting helium balloons in 1921. By 1926 he was one of America’s top military balloonists, stationed at Scott Field near Belleville, Illinois. He was determined to set the world record for the highest altitude reached in a helium balloon. • Flight #1: March 9, 1927. Gray launched from Scott Field in a silk, rubberized, aluminumcoated helium balloon and reached 28,510 feet (8,690 m) setting a new record before passing out from the lack of oxygen. The balloon came down on its own. He regained consiousness just in time to slow his descent and land safely. • Flight #2: May 4, 1927. Determined to go still higher, he launched another attempt two months later. This time, he reached 42,470 feet (12,944 m), higher than any human being had ever gone. Consider that modern jets fly at around

• He wasrepresentative buried at Arlington National Cemetery, • Flight 3: November 2, 1927. Undaunted, Grayyour Contact Tidbits immediately with changes or co and his basket is on display at the Smithsonian. tried a third time a few months later.Office: He said 760-320-0997 email: valleybits@msn.com Fax: 76 His widow received his Army insurance and goodbye to his wife and three sons, and launched $2,700 — equal to six months’ pay. from Scott Field at 2:24 in the afternoon, accompanied by four chase planes. Fifty-mile- • Today, the highest altitude reached by a manned per-hour winds blew the balloon into a cloud Property oflisted by the FAI as helium balloon is officially AdVenture Media, Inc. bank over McLeansboro, Illinois. Chase planes feetMassage (34,668 m), achieved on May 4, A &113,740 B Desert lost him in the dense fog. 1961, by the U.S. c/o Bob Sarfatty Navy’s Strato-Lab V balloon carrying Ross and Victor Prather, who • When he reached 34,000 feet (10,363 m), Gray 1/16 pg BWMalcolm 13x landed safely in22 the-Gulf of Mexico. Other helium threw over an empty oxygen cylinder to lighten Sept. Phone: 760.320.0997 Fax: 760.320.1630 6, 2026 Vol. No. 37 balloons have valleybits@msn.com gone higher, while carrying their his load. It accidentally snapped his radio human pilots in All enclosed capsules.  antenna, cutting off all contact. Disoriented Rights Reserved from oxygen deprivation, and suffering from CLIP AND SAVE hypothermia, he apparently parachuted a full bottle of oxygen overboard-- the very thing he PROFESSIONAL needed to keep him alive-- in order to go higher. His final journal entry: “Sky deep blue, sun very ● Swedish ● Deep Tissue ● Therapeutic bright, sand [ballast] all gone.”

MASSAGE THERAPY ● Lymphatic ● Prenatal

• Late that afternoon, a field hand near Orlindo, Rate $95/hr. at Mobile Service our DHS studio Tennessee, found a set of radio batteries dangling We Come to You Mention this from a parachute. The next day, searchers found ad for $10 Off Gray’s balloon in a tree near Sparta, Tennessee, $135/hr. (First-time PROOF (Rate Based on customers only) some 300 miles (482 km) from his starting point. ADVERTISING Location) His body was still in the basket. The barographs, Final Changes DUE: 12:0 A & B Desert Massage which measure altitude, showed he had topped Please review carefully. Double check:  Phone Number(s)  Spelling  out at nearly 44,000 feet (13,411 m). He had set 760-898-0760 -- or -- 760-898-0836 representative immediately with changes or co • Licensed • Insured the record, but the feat killed him due toContact oxygenyour Tidbits• Certificated CA License #81849 Office: 760-320-0997 valleybits@msn.com Fax: 76 deprivation and extreme cold. Visit us at:email: www.ABDesertMassage.com

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Old American Songs by Aaron Copland

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character on the show “Evil” was originally going to be killed off after the first season? I’ve always enjoyed his acting ever since I saw him on “Lost.” -- T.C.

Dr. Kristen Bouchard (played by Katja Herbers) confronts Leland about his past. The series ended on Paramount+ in 2024, but fans are hoping that the show will live to see another day. Even the most famous horror writer of all time, Stephen King, continues to sing its praises, stating that “Evil” is “smart, thought-provoking, and occasionally very scary.” *** Q: What’s Ben Affleck up to these days? Is he filming any upcoming movies? I only see him when the paparazzi takes a picture of him. -- S.D.

A: Yes, according to TVLine, Robert and

A: Don’t forget he’s also been busy filming

by Dana Jackson King Features News Syndicate

Q: Is it true that Michael Emerson’s

Courtesy of CBS Studios

Michelle King -- the creators behind the CBS (and later, Paramount+) series “Evil” -- had once discussed killing off the show’s antagonist Dr. Leland Townsend and replacing him. However, this didn’t mean getting rid of the talented Michael Emerson entirely. Robert explains, “We were going to kill him at the Michael Emerson end of the first as Dr. Leland Townsend in “Evil” season, and yet his doppelganger in Des Moines, who’s an insurance adjuster, pops up and starts taking over for him. We really were into the idea of doubles then.” If you go back and watch the first season, you’ll see how they reworked this initial idea when

commercials for Dunkin Donuts! All kidding aside, the Oscar-nominated Ben Affleck has been quite busy as a multihyphenate (actor-writer-directorproducer) in recent years, including the upcoming movie “Animals.” In the political thriller, Affleck plays a mayoral candidate whose son is kidnapped. He and his wife, who’s played by Kerry Washington (“Scandal”), must resort to extreme measures to rescue their child. The film will premiere on Netflix and in select theaters this Oct. 9 and also stars Steven Yeun (“Beef”), Gillian Anderson (“The Crown”), and Ray Fisher (“The Piano Lesson”). Earlier this year, Affleck starred opposite his bestie, Matt Damon, in “The Rip” -- a crime thriller that also premiered on Netflix. Prior to this, he starred in “The Accountant 2” with Jon Bernthal. *** Q: I recently discovered the show

1. Practical Magic 2 (PG-13) Sandra Bullock, Dianne Wiest 2. Spider-Man: Brand New Day (PG-13) Tom Holland, Zendaya 3. The Odyssey (R) Matt Damon, Tom Holland 4. Runner (PG-13) Alan Ritchson, Owen Wilson 5. Coyote vs. Acme (PG) Will Forte, Lana Condor 6. Buddy (R) Cristin Milioti, Delaney Quinn 7. Insidious: Out of the Further (PG-13) Amelia Eve, Island Austin 8. The Uprising (R) Andrew Garfield, Jamie Bell 9. Hope (R) Hwang Jung-min, Zo In-sung 10. By Any Means (R) Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, Mark Wahlberg © 2026 King Features Synd., Inc.

(Go Figure solution page 14)

Vol. XXII Issue No. 40

“Murderbot” on Apple TV. Will it be coming back for another season? -- W.C.

A: Yes, while Apple is often criticized for not advertising their shows as much as the other streamers do, “Murderbot” found a big enough audience to warrant an early season renewal back in 2025. Since it’s based on the popular sci-fi book series “The Murderbot Diaries” by Martha Wells, there’s plenty of content to mine for at least another season (or three). Alexander Skarsgard (“Succession”) will return as the titular character, along with regulars from last season like David Dastmalchian (“Dexter: Resurrection”) and Noma Dumezweni (“Presumed Innocent”). It’s also been confirmed that several acclaimed comedians and actors will be joining them, including Patton Oswalt (“The Dink”), Steve Buscemi (“Wednesday”), and Wanda Sykes (“Curb Your Enthusiasm”). Production began this past August, so you likely won’t see new episodes until 2027. * * * Send me your questions at NewCelebrityExtra@gmail.com. (c) 2026 King Features Synd., Inc.

Week of September 27, 2026

Tidbits of Coachella Valley

Good Recipes from

Brisket Reubens With French Dip This insanely juicy brisket and dipping sauce come together in your slow cooker. 1 small beef brisket (about 2 1/2 pounds), trimmed and cut into 3 pieces 2 medium onions, sliced 4 cloves garlic, crushed 1 (14 ounce) can beef broth 3 tablespoons soy sauce 6 rolls, split Sauerkraut Sliced Swiss cheese 1. In 6- to 8-quart slow cooker bowl, place beef brisket, onions, garlic, beef broth and soy sauce. Cook on Low 7 to 8 hours or until very tender. 2. Pull meat apart with fork; place on rolls and top each with 2 tablespoons sauerkraut and 1 slice cheese. Broil just until melted. 3. Replace tops of rolls. Serve with cooking liquid for dipping, if desired. Makes 6 servings.

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Microwave-Baked Apples with Dried Cherries Studded with tart dried cherries, these baked apples are the perfect sweet ending to a fast fall dinner. apples

Each serving: About 150 calories, 4g total fat (1g saturated), 50mg sodium, 32g total carbohydrate, 5g dietary fiber, 50g protein. Property of

Media, Inc. Desert StoneAdVenture Management * * * For thousands of triple-tested recipes, visit our c/o Curtis Lopez-Galloway website at www.goodhousekeeping.com/food-recipes/.

BZ 1C 13x

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2. In cup, combine sugar and apple pie spice; sprinkle over apples in dish. Cover with waxed paper,Full-Color, and cook in microwave Medi1/3-Page, Openon Rate um-High (70 percent power) 14 minutes or until September 27 & October 4, 2026 apples are very tender when tested with fork.

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Vol. XXII Issue No. 40

(Solution on page16)

Donald Duck

by Walt Disney FindTheTwinsPuzzle3 [Converted].pdf

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1/25/2007

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Crossword Answers on page 16

By John Allen

CMY

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Week of September 27, 2026

Page 9

Tidbits of Coachella Valley

NEXT WEEK in

Cody’s

TIDBITS MIXES IT UP FOR THE 2.

Corner

COLOR

Dog Talk with Uncle Matty

PURPLE

By Matthew Margolis Creators News Service

Tiny Terrors

3. The Weekly “Brain Breaker”

Holidays & Observances This Week Print Your Answers Here:

9/27

National Day of Forgiveness

9/28

National Be a Good Neighbor Day

9/29

National VFW Day

9/30

Women's Health and Fitness Day

10/1

Bring Your Bible to School Day

10/2

Guardian Angels Day

10/3

National Play Outside Day

The island of Malta boasts the best weather in the world and some say the best dog: the Maltese. The Maltese is a toy breed and one of the most popular companion dogs, favored for its compact size and its affectionate and playful demeanor. But that doesn’t mean all Maltese pups play nice. Just the other day, a woman called me to discuss her beloved Maltese, a wonderful dog whose teeth have found a resting place in the epidermis of her landlord, her neighbor, her best friend and a random stranger in a supermarket. As if that weren’t enough, this woman has four children, ages 7, 5, 3 and 3 months. She called me because she wanted to know what to do. And I told her: 1) Invest in a professional trainer. 2) Once the dog is trained, find him a home without children. The question that follows is always: Why do I have to get rid of the dog if I go to the expense and trouble of having him trained? The answer: You can’t train aggression out of a dog. You can teach the dog manners, establish boundaries and learn ways to modify his behavior, but a dog that has bitten four people can never be fully trusted around small children. Which inevitably begs the question: Why should I bother training the dog if I’m going to have to give him up? The answer: Who is going to knowingly adopt an aggressive dog? A dog in need of a home is at an extreme disadvantage if he has never been trained. If he’s never been trained and has a history of biting, it’s almost mission impossible. And if you aren’t forthright about the dog’s history and temperament, you aren’t doing the dog any favors because the next owner -- not having as deep a bond -- might just drop him at the local shelter at the first snarl. There are some dogs that are just not suited for human companionship. But the vast, vast majority of dogs would be just fine with the right person or family. In the case of the Maltese Snapper, a professionally trained version of this dog would surely work its way into the heart of an experienced adult

Wuzzles solution Page 16

Tidbits® Word Search (CryptoQuip Solution on page 14)

"Desert Domiciles" E

W G

R M

W V

www.WordSearchMaker.com



� AGAVE AGAVE ALOEVERA � ALOE VERA � BIRDBIRDOFPARADISE OF PARADISE BOUGAINVILLEA � BOUGAINVILLEA � CACTUSCACTUS CREOSOTEBUSH � CREOSOTE BUSH JOSHUATREE � JOSHUA TREE LANTANA � LANTANA

Cody's Corner: Turn to Page 10

●



MESQUITE � MESQUITE OCOTILLO � OCOTILLO OLEANDER � OLEANDER PALOVERDE � PALO VERDE PRICKLYPEAR � PRICKLY PEAR SAGEBRUSH � SAGEBRUSH SAGUARO � SAGUARO YUCCA YUCCA

(Word Search solution page 16)

Solution on Page 14

Page 10

SENIOR NEWS LINE by Matilda Charles

Sometimes Less is Better Researchers studying how the body responds to exercise had some very surprising results recently. While the study document was packed with medical terms and graphs, the end result was clear. In this case, when it came to one particular exercise, it turned out that less was better than more. One group of participants completed six 30-second exercises called sprint interval training (SIT), working at maximum intense effort on an exercise bike. They rested for four minutes between each exercise. The other group of participants had a fairly leisurely experience on an exercise bike, pedaling at moderate speed for 90 minutes. Blood samples were taken just before any exercise was started, when the exercise was finished, and three hours later. The results: One-quarter of the proteins in the blood were changed by the sprinter exercises, while the leisurely cyclers barely saw a change of one-quarter of one percent of those

Tidbits of Coachella Valley

proteins. Those proteins are important and affect type 2 diabetes, obesity, blood vessel growth, metabolic disorders and more. While the results of this research just came out, the idea is apparently not new. Ten years ago the National Institutes of Health (NIH) published a document extolling the benefits of sprint interval training as a way to get sedentary individuals to exercise. They looked at several studies, each with different numbers of sprints of varying lengths. They concluded that less is more -- fewer sprints of shorter time -- to improve health markers. Before you try this on your own, ask your doctor what he or she thinks about high intensity exercise for you. Don’t settle for, “Yes, that’s fine. Any exercise is good.” Instead, insist on specific instruction. Ask: How many sprints; how long for each one? You might consider a free email subscription to HealthBeat (www.health.harvard.edu/ healthbeat), a publication of Harvard Medical School. Each issue contains information on staying healthy through diet and simple exercises, the latest in medical advances and more. ** * Matilda Charles regrets that she cannot personally answer reader questions, but will incorporate them into her column whenever possible. Send email to columnreply2@gmail.com. (c) KingFeaturesSyndicate2026

Vol. XXII

Issue No. 40

Cody’s Corner (from page 9) dog owner. And then everyone would get their happily ever after. To do nothing, though, would be the ultimate in irresponsibility. To do nothing would mean continuing to subject children to a dangerous situation. To do nothing would mean further diminishing the dog’s chances of a good life. To do nothing should not be an option. My experience with dogs and their owners tells me that the big trouble is with the littlest dogs. Owners of big dogs tend to zero in on the importance of training. The impetus is the idea that with big dogs come big messes and big trouble. But the truth is that without proper training, trouble comes a knockin’ regardless of size. Woof! * * * Dog trainer Matthew “Uncle Matty” Margolis is the co-author of 18 books about dogs, a behaviorist, a popular radio and television guest, and the host of the PBS series “WOOF! It’s a Dog’s Life!” Read all of Uncle Matty’s columns at www.creators.com, and visit him at www.unclematty.com. COPYRIGHT 2014 CREATORS.COM

Week of September 27, 2026

YOUR

SOCIAL SECURITY by Tom Margenau

Bad Husbands and Social Security I’ve talked about the issue of bad husbands and Social Security before. But if my emails are any indication, there still are a lot of rotten husbands out there! That’s why I keep telling my wife she should fall down on her knees every day and thank her lucky stars that she got one of the good guys. OK, I really don’t do that. In fact, if I did say that to my wife, the only reason she might drop to her knees is that she’d be laughing so hard she wouldn’t be able to keep standing! But I can’t help thinking there are an awful lot of ... well ... awful men out there. I get more than a few emails from women asking me a Social Security question that involves being married to a jerk. Oh, and I’m sure there are more than a few nasty women out there, too. But in the almost 30 years I’ve been writing this column, I’ve never heard from a husband with a Social Security question involving a mean old wife. But again, I hear from wives of rotten husbands all the time. Here are several examples.

Q: I was married to a ver y controlling and aggressive man. We owned a farm and I helped him run the operation. After several years of living together and then less than 10 years of marriage, he said I was getting too fat for him and he filed for divorce. We were married for 9 years and 10 months. I was so soured on men that I never married again after that. He remarried several times. I learned he recently died. I’m 68 years old and am living on a small Social Security check that I earned by doing a variety of jobs over the years. When I called Social Security and asked if I could get any widow’s benefits on his record, they said no. They said I had to have been married for 10 years. I have two questions. First, is that 10-year rule really the law? And second, can I get any Social Security credit for those years we ran the farm together? A:

Let me tackle your second question first. I’m going to assume that in those years that you ran the farm with Mr. Wonderful, he filed selfemployment tax returns placing all the income from the farm under his name and Social Security number. (That’s a very common scenario in momand-pop self-employment situations. Pop -- or usually his accountant -- puts all the earnings on his record and mom gets goose eggs!) Too bad you didn’t pay attention to that while you were running the farm, because there is nothing you can do about that now. The answer to your first question is that the 10-year rule is indeed the law for women trying to get benefits as a divorced spouse. And 10 years means 10 years. Sadly, 9 years and 10 months just won’t cut it. But I can give you a little glimmer of hope. You said you were with this guy for a couple of years before you got married. If you can show that you were in a common-law relationship with him during that time, you might be able to say you had two years of a common-law marriage and nine years of a traditional marriage, making more than 10 years

Tidbits of Coachella Valley

Page 11

combined. But that would only work if you were indeed in a common law relationship with this guy and if you lived in a state that recognizes common law marriage. So check into that and proceed from there.

Q: After almost 40 years of marriage, my husband left me for a much younger woman. We’re still married and I don’t plan to give him a divorce because I want to get back at him by collecting his Social Security. He’s 62 but says he doesn’t plan to file for Social Security until he is 70. He would never let me work outside the home, so I don’t have my own Social Security. I am 62 years old. How will I be able to get the spousal benefits I’m due if he refuses to sign up for Social Security?

Q: I want to know if there is any way I can attach my husband’s Social Security. We were married for 20 years. He maxed out our credit cards, buying all kinds of things (cars, boats, campers, etc.) I didn’t think we needed. Then he ran off with another woman (taking the camper and boat) and left me with all the bills. I was hounded by some pretty aggressive bill collectors and I finally paid off all his debt. He has no plans to pay me back. So I want to know this: can I attach his Social Security in order to get back the money that he owes me? By the way, I have worked and have my own Social Security, but it’s a little less than he would be due. A: It sounds like you need a good lawyer,

not a Social Security guy. But since you asked, I’ll address your question. his record by dumping his sorry butt! As long as As a general rule, Social Security benefits you remain married to him, the law assumes he is can only be garnished to collect back taxes or to supporting you so it won’t let you get any of his collect past-due child support. So I’m afraid you Social Security until he files for benefits. And you won’t be able to “attach” his Social Security. certainly don’t want to wait until age 70 for that to But if you have a voodoo doll in his likehappen. ness, you might want to stick some pins in it. Why? But if you get a divorce, then you will be eli- Because the only way you will be able to touch his gible for benefits (although not right away). That’s Social Security is by collecting divorced widow’s because the law allows a divorced woman to collect benefits on his account. (You can’t get any of his a wife’s benefits from her ex-husband’s Social Se- SocialADVERTISING Security while he’s alivePROOF because your own Tues., 6/25/19 curity record even if he isn’t getting benefits him- benefit Final Changes 5:00 p.m.. exceedsDUE: the small percentage of his benefit Please review carefully. Double check:  Phone Number(s)  Spelling  Prices  Hours self. He must be old enough to be eligible for Social that you are due as a divorced spouse of a living your Tidbits representative immediately with changes or corrections. Security. And he is, because you said he’s 62 years Contact husband.) Office: 760-320-0997 email: valleybits@msn.com Fax: 760-320-1630 old. * * * If you have a Social Security question, Tom The law does make you wait two years after Margenau has two books with all the answers. One is the divorce before you can collect from the ex. But called “Social Security -- Simple and Smart: 10 Easyfiling for benefits at 64 is better than waiting until to-Understand Fact Sheets That Will Answer All Your 70. So see a divorce lawyer and once he is legally Questions About Social Security.” The other is “Social out of your hair, wait a couple of years and then Security: 100 Myths and 100 Facts.” You can find the contact your local Social Security office. books at Amazon.com or other book outlets. Or you can at thomas.margenau@comcast.net. Here is another evil thought. Maybe the send him an email Ultimate Home Repairs excitement of being with that “much younger Business Card, 4c, 26x Discount Rate COPYRIGHT 2026 CREATORS.COM woman” will cause your ex to have a heart attack June 30, 2019 • Volume 15: Issue #27 and drop dead. Then you will be eligible for much higher divorced widow’s benefits on his account. CLIP AND SAVE MON., AUG. 3

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Page 12

M.D.

Starches Should Be a Modest Part of a Mixed Meal

Tidbits of Coachella Valley People on insulin, people who have low blood sugar (especially if they don’t notice it), and people who are changing their diet and exercise patterns are among those who might benefit from a CGM. * * *

VETERANS  POST 

Dr. Roach regrets that he is unable to answer individual questions, but will incorporate them in the column whenever possible. Readers may email questions to ToYourGoodHealth@med.cornell.edu.

Speeding Up the Process

DEAR DR. ROACH: I’m a 77-year-old man who’s prediabetic. I was told by a longtime diabetic that sugar (candy, soda, cake, etc.) doesn’t need to be avoided -- just carbohydrates such as pasta, potatoes, etc. I was surprised to hear this. Is it really true? -- Anon. ANSWER: We often use terms like carbohydrates, starches and sugars imprecisely. Strictly speaking, sugars are small molecules (usually 5 or 6 carbon molecules long), like glucose or fructose, which are called monosaccharides. These can also be combined into a single molecule (a disaccharide), which -- in the case of glucose plus fructose -- is called sucrose (table sugar). Long strands of sugars that are strung together are called polysaccharides. Starches are very long strands of glucose molecules, with anywhere from hundreds to tens of thousands of them in strings and branches. White rice and processed wheat flour (the primary ingredient in most pastas and many white breads) are largely comprised of starch. Starch begins turning back into sugar before you even swallow it. An enzyme in saliva (amylase) breaks down the starch structure. White bread that’s made from highly refined flour turns into sugar so rapidly that your blood sugar goes up nearly as fast from bread as it would from eating the same amount of sugar. Starch and sugars are both carbohydrates, as is fiber, but fiber is indigestible to us. Fiber acts to slow down absorption, reducing the “spike” in blood sugar that occurs with refined starch. However, most foods that we eat are combinations of two or three macronutrients (the sources of calories), which are carbohydrates, proteins and fats. Protein and fat both slow down the absorption of carbohydrates, similarly to fiber. Whole wheat flour contains fiber and protein, which is why it is preferred to processed white flour and doesn’t spike the blood sugar as quickly or as high. Most vegetables have lots of fiber, so even though they’re mostly carbohydrates (with a little protein), they aren’t treated by your body in the same way that starchy foods are. Partially because of the slower absorption, people tend to feel more full with fewer calories when protein, fat and fiber are included. Even so, proportions matter. A diet of 80% rice, 10% protein and 10% fat isn’t going to be optimal for any person, especially one with diabetes. People with diabetes don’t need to completely avoid starches or even simple sugars. They’re an important part of the diet, and as long as they form a modest proportion of a person’s intake and are Subscribe to receive thefood newest consumed as part of a mixed meal, people shouldn’t issue in your email feel bad about eating them. inbox each Many week. of my patients with diabetes use a continuous glucose monitor (CGM). By keeping Scan to track of what you eat, CGMs can give you immediate subscribe feedback on how food affects your blood sugar. Talk Unsubscribe anytime to your doctor about whether a CGM is right for you.

Vol. XXII Issue No. 40

by Freddie Groves

An executive order was recently signed that will reduce the time it takes to secure our benefits. The order, signed by President Trump, is titled “Accelerating Access to Veterans’ Benefits and Employment Opportunities.” It accomplishes this by requiring the Department of War and the VA to work together and share records from the first day a veteran joins the military. In the past there have been delays in accessing benefits -- education, job training, healthcare and all the others -- when a veteran leaves active-duty service, mostly due to antiquated records management. Now, within 180 days, the order requires the VA and the Department of War to update the information technology that will let them share information from day one of a veteran’s service. Also within 180 days they will create digital tools to streamline the process of a veteran applying for benefits and training offered by the Department of Labor. Within one month they need to be able to share all the health files and records of a veteran immediately when they are discharged from military service. Within 120 days, working with Health and Human Services (HHS), the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) and others, the various departments will review any current contracts for information technology to ensure that the contracts include the requirement that any systems with veteran files and health records be compatible with the technology and systems used by the VA and the Department of War. Have you ever known any government activity to move this fast? And that’s not all. Within 180 days every veteran leaving the service will either be hooked up with jobs in their field (if desired), enrolled in career and tech education or training (again, if desired), and connected with a veteran’s rep who will help with applications for home loans, job placement, education benefits, disability compensation or healthcare. One thing not to miss is the Department of Warʼs Project Patriot Pipeline (www.mypatriotcareer.mil). This huge website has a wealth of information for veterans, service members and military spouses looking for career development and opportunities.

***

Freddie Groves regrets that he cannot personally answer reader questions, but will incorporate them into his column whenever possible. Send email to columnreply2@gmail.com.

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Week of September 27, 2026

Tidbits of Coachella Valley

Page 13

at a place of worship without the body present. These services usually run $2,000 to $3,000, not counting cemetery fees, which can add $1,000 to $3,000. Many funeral homes offer direct burial. -- by Jim Miller

Planning a Simple, Affordable Funeral DEAR SAVVY SENIOR: I’d like to make my end-of-life arrangements, but I want to keep things simple and affordable. What are my options? --86 And Counting Dear 86: Wise thinking! Planning ahead can save your loved ones a lot of stress, and money. With a traditional burial averaging around $10,000 and a full-service cremation near $6,500, it’s easy to see why many seniors are looking for simpler, lower-cost ways to say goodbye.

To find local providers, you can search online for “cremation” or “funeral” along with your city and state. You can also compare prices on sites like Funeralocity.com or Parting.com. Another handy approach is to use AI tools like ChatGPT or Gemini: you can ask them to pull together lists of nearby funeral homes or cremation providers, see which services they offer, check estimated costs, and even compare options side by side – all in a matter of minutes. It’s a quick way to get a snapshot of what’s available without making a bunch of phone calls. Green burial For the environmentally minded, green burial is a simple, natural option. The body is buried in a biodegradable coffin or shroud, without embalming chemicals or a vault. Costs typically range from $2,000 to $5,000.

The good news is, there are plenty of options that are dignified, straightforward, and much, much easier on your wallet. Here’s a look at some choices, depending on the kind of farewell you want.

The Green Burial Council (greenburialcouncil.org, 888-966-3330) maintains a state-by-state directory of cemeteries and funeral professionals who offer these services.

Direct cremation If cremation appeals to you, a direct cremation is the simplest option – and usually the least expensive. It includes picking up the body, completing the required paperwork, the cremation itself, and returning the ashes to your family. There’s no embalming, formal viewing, or casket; a simple cardboard box called an “alternative container” is used to hold the remains.

Water cremation Also eco-friendly, water cremation (or alkaline hydrolysis) uses water, chemicals, and heat instead of fire. Costs usually range from $2,000 to $3,500, and it’s legal in more than 20 states. Search “alkaline hydrolysis” to find a provider near you.

Depending on where you live and which provider you choose, direct cremation typically costs $700 to $3,500. If you want extra services, ask for an itemized price list so you know exactly what you’re paying for. Funeral homes are required by law to provide this.

your family or bury them in a local cemetery – usually free. Some schools may charge a small transport fee. To find a program in your state, check the University of Florida’s U.S. program directory at Anatbd.acb.med.ufl.edu/usprograms, or call the Whole-Body Donation Referral Service at 800-727-0700. Planning ahead gives you control, saves your family money, and ensures your final wishes are honored. With these options, you can choose a farewell that’s simple, meaningful, and within your budget – and doing a little homework now makes it easier for everyone later. ***

Send your senior questions to: Savvy Senior, P.O. Box 5443, Norman, OK 73070, or visit SavvySenior. org. Jim Miller is a contributor to the NBC Today show and author of “The Savvy Senior” book.

Donate your body If you want the lowest-cost option, consider donating your body to science. Medical schools use donated bodies for teaching and research, then return the cremated remains to

Immediate or direct burial If burial is your preference, an immediate or direct burial is the most basic option. The body is buried in a simple container soon after death, skipping embalming, viewings, and the use of funeral facilities. Families can still hold a memorial service at the graveside, at home, or

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Page 14

By Anne McCollam

Creators News Service

Tea Set Serves as Family Legacy Q: Enclosed is a color picture of a tea

set I purchased in 1953 while stationed with the U.S. Army in Germany. It was a gift for my mother and is now in my possession, since she has passed away. Hutschenreuther in Selb, Germany made the set. It is also marked “Favorit,” which I take to be the pattern name. The silver overlay is stamped “Spahn 1000.” I may have misread the word “Spahn” because it is very faint. I think the “1000” may mean the overlays are pure sterling silver. It is a complete set comprising of the teapot with lid, creamer, sugar with lid, six cups and six saucers, all in perfect condition. It will be much appreciated if you can give me an idea of the date when this set was manufactured and what it may be worth. I have no plans to sell the set, as it will be passed along to my daughter. I am just curious to know its present value.

Tidbits of Coachella Valley

ver overlay. His overlay was used by Hutschenreuter Porcelain Factory and Rosenthal Porcelain and Glass Co., as well as other factories and glass designers. Objects marked “Spahr 1000” show that the purest form of silver was used. “Favorit” refers to the shape of the porcelain dishes. Your set was made in the mid-20th century and would be worth $900 to $1,300. *** Q: I have enclosed the mark that is on the bottom of a porcelain cat figurine that was my mother’s. He has white fur, a blue tail, toes and collar. His ears are touched with both blue and pink. His tail is straight up in the air, and his overall height is 10 inches. I remember my mother always kept him on the top shelf of the china cupboard. She told us we could look at him but not to touch or pick him up. My mother recently decided to give him to me, and I hope you can tell me something about his history and value.

A: Kay Finch made your figurine. She and her husband, Braden, opened a small pottery in 1939 in Corona Del Mar, Calif. She created and designed animals and birds, especially dogs. Her son, George, eventually joined the pottery and designed nonfigural pieces. In 1963, Finch closed her pottery shop following the death of her husband. Your cat is known as “Hannibal, the Angry Cat” and was made in the early 1940s. Several years ago, the value was in the high hundreds. Today it would probably be worth $75 to $125. Kay Finch Pottery was located in California.

* * *

Antiques expert and columnist Anne McCollam has since retired and no longer receives inquiries nor answers reader letters. Due to the popularity of her column, this publication will continue to reprint previous columns of interest to our readers. To find out more about Anne McCollam and read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate website at www.creators.com COPYRIGHT 2026 CREATORS.COM

Hutschenreuther Porcelain was founded in 1914.

A: Hutschenreuther Porcelain was founded by Carl Hutschenreuter in Hohenberg, Bavaria, Germany, in 1914. They are known for their extremely high quality dinnerware and figurines. They are still in business and also produce limited-edition pieces. The word “Spahn” is actually “Spahr.” German designer, Carl Spahr, developed a technique of decorating porcelain and glass with sil-

Puzzle Solutions

When a wall plaster delivery van spills a load during rush hour, do you get stucco in traffic?

GO FIGURE SOLUTION

Vol. XXII Issue No. 40

* On Sept. 28, 1542, Spanish explorer Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo became the first European to sail into San Diego Bay, which he named San Miguel and claimed for Spain. The bay was given its present name in 1602 by Sebastian Vizcaino, who was also the first person to note certain ecological features of California’s coast. * On Sept. 29, 1885, the world’s first practical public electric tramway, designed by Michael Holroyd Smith, opened in Blackpool, England, using an underground “conduit” system to supply electricity rather than overhead wires. The route is still active today, operating modern light rail vehicles. * On Sept. 30, 1934, St. Louis Browns coach Charley O’Leary “unretired” to good effect by becoming the oldest player to get a hit and score a run in the major leagues, at age 58. * On Oct. 1, 1962, Singer Barbra Streisand signed her first recording contract with Columbia Records. Her manager, Marty Erlichman, negotiated full artistic and creative control, including the right for Streisand to choose her own songs, in exchange for a lower initial pay rate of a $20,000 advance. * On Oct. 2, 1985, Hollywood heartthrob Rock Hudson died of AIDS related complications, just a few months after publicly acknowledging he had the disease at a hospital in Paris where he was seeking treatment. * On Oct. 3, 1997, 69-year-old Hall of Famer Gordie Howe, who was known as “Mr. Hockey” and played his first NHL game when Harry Truman was president, skated the first shift with the Detroit Vipers in their International Hockey League opener for a total of just 40 seconds but became the only professional in the sport to compete in six decades. Afterward, he thanked the Vipers for “putting up with me.” * On Oct. 4, 2011, Michael Morton, who served 25 years in prison for the murder of his wife, Christine Morton, was released after DNA evidence implicated convicted felon Mark Alan Norwood in the crime. The prosecutor in the case later was accused of withholding evidence indicating Morton’s innocence. (c) 2026 King Features Synd., Inc.

Tidbits of Coachella Valley

Week of September 27, 2026

Page 15

Agave Plant (from page 3) worm feeds on the heart of the agave plant when in its larval stage, and then pupates and becomes the agave redworm moth. • The red maguey worm is edible and is often eaten fried. It’s natural that while processing millions of agave plants into liquor, some worms may accidentally end up in the bottom of the bottle. And it’s also true that the presence of the worm alters the taste of the liquor it’s in, which some people prefer. • In the 1940s, mezcal producer Jacobo Lozano Páez was frustrated that people didn’t really know the difference between tequila and mezcal. He hit upon the idea of putting a maguey worm in the bottle of mezcal to set it apart. He advertised that if there was a worm in the bottle, it meant the liquor was pure because if it were watered down, the pickled worm would deteriorate. • Rumors spread that the worm had hallucinogenic or aphrodisiac properties which was not true. The irony is that the worm is mostly a tourist gimmick, added to make mezcal seem more authentically Mexican. Among many locals, the truly ‘authentic’ bottle is the one without it. Today, some bottles of mezcal contain not a worm but a packet of worm-flavored salt. 

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Left, Left, Left

Many short shots around the green can fall under the same body motion and principle of “start left, stay left, and finish left.” The bane of many amateurs is the improper weight distribution through these pitching and chipping shots.

1. Start left by narrowing your stance and adjusting the weight to be 70-80% on the left leg. Your knees can kick inward slightly to press the weight forward. 2. Stay left in the backstroke by using the arm swing without attempting to shift the weight onto the right side. The hip and shoulder will turn but not allow weight shift in the feet FILLER PAGE 2 or hips.

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Vol. XXII

Tidbits of Coachella Valley

Page 16

1. GEOGRAPHY: Which South American country has two capitals? 2. AD SLOGANS: Which car company uses the ad slogan “Let’s go places”? 3. FOOD & DRINK: What is a johnny cake primarily made of? 4. LITERATURE: In which Harry Potter novel is the portkey (a method of magical transportation) first mentioned? 5. GENERAL KNOWLEDGE: What is the most popular animal used on national flags? 6. MOVIES: What object is Wilson in the movie “Cast Away”? 7. U.S. STATES: Which U.S. state is the only one that has parishes instead of counties? 8. MUSIC: Which 1980s band released the album titled “Synchronicity”? 9. TELEVISION: What is James Kirk’s middle name in the “Star Trek” series? Thistle G 10. OMYTHOLOGY: F I G UWho R isEthe! by LindaDetailed dossiers kept by Answer Peeker Nazi TRIVIA TEST Greek goddess of wisdom? The idea of Go Figure is to arrive at theAnswers figures given at Answers Trivia answers Weekly Weekly SUDOKU SUDOKU the bottom and right-hand Bolivia, and La by Paz.folcolumns1. of the Sucre diagram -AnswerToyota. lowing 2.the arithmetic signs in the order they are given (that 3. Cornmeal. is, from4.left to Potter rightand and to of “Harry thetop Goblet bottom). Use only the numbers below Fire.” the diagram to complete 5. The lion. and use each its blank squares of the nine numbers only once. 6. A Wilson-brand volleyball. 7. Louisiana. DIFFICULTY: � 8. The Police. � Moderate 9. Tiberius. �� Difficult �� GO FIGURE! ©©2006 King Features Syndicate, 10. Athena. 2010King King Features Synd.,Inc. Inc. ©©2020 2026 Features Synd., Inc. 2022 © 2026 2022King Features Synd., Inc.

Issue No. 40

Games

October 23-29, 2006

Go Figure! answers

Quiz Bits ANSWERS

1. Margarita 2. Lessens the burn of swallowing cheaper brands 3. Doctors once thought adding lime would ward off the flu 4. Jalisco 5. Jose Cuervo BIBLE TRIVIA Answers

1. (C) Neither 2. (D) Absalom 3. (A) Elisha 4. (B) Nicodemus 5. (D) Jacob 6. (C) Michal

ANSWERS

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