The Short-Lived Pony Express On April 3, 1860, two horseback riders left simultaneously, one from St. Joseph, Missouri, heading west, and the other from Sacramento, California, heading east. After 10 days of relay-team riding and 1,800 miles, riders arrived at both locations bearing mail packets. The mail had never been so speedy, and the legend of the Pony Express was born. The Pony Express debuted before the advent of radio or telephone, when California was cut off from the rest of the country. Any mail sent from the east arrived by ship or stagecoach several months later. In this world, the arrival of a letter in 10 days’ time was lightning fast. The Pony Express was conceived by three owners of a freight business: William H. Russell, William Bradford Waddell, and Alexander Majors. They, along with route superintendent Benjamin Ficklin, devised a route of over 150 relay stations set up across the frontier through Missouri, Kansas, Nebraska, Wyoming, Colorado, Utah, Nevada, and California. Riders, who carried up to 20 pounds of mail, were changed every 100 miles, with their horses switched out every 10 to 15 miles. Over 400 horses were purchased and multiple relay stations built and staffed for the endeavor. Speed was the key to the success of the Pony Express, with their fastest delivery being news of the election of President Abraham Lincoln in a record five days’ time. However, as telegraph lines began to move westward, the need for the Pony Express began to dissipate. On October 24, 1861, a mere 18 months after its historic first run, the Pony Express was discontinued as the first transcontinental telegraph line was completed. Despite its brief existence, the Pony Express has long encapsulated the romance of the Wild West: speeding horses, attacks by American Indians, and famous cowboys who worked for the Pony Express, including “Wild Bill” Hickock and “Buffalo Bill” Cody. Perhaps this is why the Pony Express remains a vivid memory in America’s history. This publication is a resource produced and distributed by the Frederick County Department of Aging. For additional information about this or other programs and services, visit the website at www.FrederickCountyMD.gov/Aging or contact the FCDoA at 1440 Taney Avenue, Frederick, MD 21702, phone 301.600.1605, or email [email protected]. Senior Center Without Walls Monthly Newsletter April 2018 Celebrating April Jazz Appreciation Month Physical Wellness Month Easter April 1 World Party Day April 3 Barbershop Quartet Day April 11 National Coin Week April 15–21 Earth Day April 22 Richter Scale Day April 26
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The Short-Lived Pony Express
On April 3, 1860, two horseback riders left simultaneously, one from St. Joseph, Missouri, heading west, and the other from Sacramento, California, heading east. After 10 days of relay-team riding and 1,800 miles, riders arrived at both locations bearing mail packets. The mail had never been so speedy, and the legend of the Pony Express was born.
The Pony Express debuted before the advent of radio or telephone, when California was cut off from the rest of the country. Any mail sent from the east arrived by ship or stagecoach several months later. In this world, the arrival of a letter in 10 days’ time was lightning fast. The Pony Express was conceived by three owners of a freight business: William H. Russell, William Bradford Waddell, and Alexander Majors. They, along with route superintendent Benjamin Ficklin, devised a route of over 150 relay stations set up across the frontier through Missouri, Kansas, Nebraska, Wyoming, Colorado, Utah, Nevada, and California. Riders, who carried up to 20 pounds of mail, were changed every 100 miles, with their horses switched out every 10 to 15 miles. Over 400 horses were purchased and multiple relay stations built and staffed for the endeavor. Speed was the key to the success of the Pony Express, with their fastest delivery being news of the election of President Abraham Lincoln in a record five days’ time. However, as telegraph lines began to move westward, the need for the Pony Express began to dissipate.
On October 24, 1861, a mere 18 months after its historic first run, the Pony Express was discontinued as the first transcontinental telegraph line was completed. Despite its brief existence, the Pony Express has long encapsulated the romance of the Wild West: speeding horses, attacks by American Indians, and famous cowboys who worked for the Pony Express, including “Wild Bill” Hickock and “Buffalo Bill” Cody. Perhaps this is why the Pony Express remains a vivid memory in America’s history.
This publication is a resource produced and distributed by the Frederick County Department of Aging.
For additional information about this or other programs and services, visit the website at
www.FrederickCountyMD.gov/Aging or contact the FCDoA at 1440 Taney Avenue, Frederick, MD 21702,
phone 301.600.1605, or email [email protected].
Senior Center
Without Walls
Monthly Newsletter
April 2018
Celebrating April
Jazz Appreciation
Month
Physical Wellness
Month
Easter
April 1
World Party Day
April 3
Barbershop
Quartet Day
April 11
National Coin
Week
April 15–21
Earth Day
April 22
Richter Scale Day
April 26
A Bell Cast into History
Big Ben, the famous bell housed in the Clock Tower of London’s Palace of Westminster, is a British icon. Tourists flock to the place so they can hear it ring out. Big Ben has rung even during the worst of times, such as the Blitz, Germany’s eight-month bombardment of London during World War II. On April 10, Big Ben will ring out still another milestone, for it will turn 160 years old.
The story of Big Ben begins on October 16, 1834, when fire destroyed the Palace of Westminster, the seat of Britain’s government. While the palace was being rebuilt, it was decided that it needed a clock tower. The tower’s design fell to George Airy, Astronomer Royal, and Edmund Beckett Denison, a lawyer and self-described expert on clocks and bells. Denison designed the first bell for the tower, including its unique shape and the metal with which it was cast. The 16-ton behemoth did not last long: it cracked under its first test. It was then that Denison turned to Whitechapel Bell Foundry to cast a new bell.
George Mears was the master bellfounder who
undertook the re-casting of Big Ben. It took one
week to break up the old bell and repurpose its metal.
Three furnaces were used to melt the metal. It took
20 minutes to fill the mold and another 20 days for
the metal to cool and harden. Mears tested the bell in
every way possible before Denison allowed it to
leave the foundry, and it left for the Palace of
Westminster with great fanfare, pulled by 16
horses along decorated streets with cheering
crowds. Big Ben would not ring out until a year
later on May 31, 1859. Sir Benjamin Hall, known
as “Big Ben,” gave a long speech during a debate
about what to call the bell. When at last he sat
down, members shouted out that the bell be
dubbed “Big Ben.” Just two months later, Big Ben
cracked, the result of a hammer more than twice
the necessary weight designed by Denison. Big Ben
was simply turned, and the sound we hear today is
that distinct, less-than-perfect tone.
Pampered and Purposeful
April 27 is Little Pampered
Dog Day, but before you
poo-poo the notion of honoring
little lap dogs, bear in mind that humans lived with
lap-sized canines 15,000 years ago. Scientists
have traced our history with small dogs to France,
where our cave-dwelling ancestors may have used
the dogs to both keep them warm and assist them in
the hunt. Wild canines called dholes grew to less
than 17 inches tall, about the size of a beagle or
cocker spaniel. Many small dog breeds today bear
similarities to these ancient companions: they are
tenacious hunters of small ground-dwelling prey
animals, they are alert watchdogs that let out loud
warnings when intruders are near, and yes, during
the Renaissance, miniature poodles were used by
nobility as handwarmers. The small dogs were put
inside sleeves of shirts, becoming known as
“sleeve dogs.” Others were used to warm laps in
damp castles or on chilly carriage rides. All of these
are good reasons to pamper the little dog in your
life.
Of Gum and Gumption
The Wrigley Company may be
the world’s largest manufacturer
of chewing gum, but when the
company was founded on April 1, 1891, by William
Wrigley Jr., its primary business was selling soap.
Wrigley journeyed from Philadelphia to Chicago
with just $32 in his pocket and an innovative idea to
offer free baking soda with every purchase of his
Wrigley’s Scouring Soap. This model proved so
successful that he later went into the baking soda
business, now offering two free packages
of chewing gum for every can of baking soda
he sold. Once again, his giveaway proved more
popular than the original product, and he ended up
dedicating his company entirely to gum, a move
that not only made him his fortune but made
“Wrigley” a household name in Chicago and
beyond.
The Son of Music
Mariachi music is an enduring musical tradition in Mexico, played wherever celebrations take place. There will certainly be plenty of mariachi music to enjoy at the Tuscson Mariachi Conference from April 25 to 28. Mariachi’s roots go back hundreds of years, to the arrival of Spanish Conquistador Hernán Cortés in Mexico in 1519. Indigenous music, played as part of a religious ceremony, was played with rattles, drums, flutes, and conch shells. The Spanish brought with them harps, guitars, violins, and brass horns, instruments that were played during Catholic mass but quickly became popular outside of church services. Natives created new type of music, incorporating the new instruments with local musical styles and African musical influences that arrived via the slave trade. Many identify the west Mexican state of Jalisco as the center of this new folk music style known simply as son, or sound. It was from the son of Jalisco that modern mariachi developed.
In the late 1800s and 1900s, the biggest form of
entertainment was listening to radio and records.
This is when the first modern mariachi bands formed.
Violins and trumpets were added to musical
orchestras featuring harps, guitars, and woodwinds.
These bands became popular, and the music made its
way into the rural countrysides. Mariachi was
played at parties, on holidays, and in church, and
the sound accompanied dances as varied as
foxtrots, waltzes, pasodobles, fandangos, pokes, and
jarabes. During the Mexican Revolution, many
Spanish haciendas had to let workers go, including
mariachi musicians. These mariachis wandered and
played everywhere they could, and the new
Mexican government, eager to promote a unified
Mexican identity separate from their Spanish
colonizers, presented mariachi as the national music
for their young country. While Jalisco may be the
“birthplace of mariachi,” the reach of this music is
now global, with mariachi bands playing as far
away as Sweden, Egypt, and Croatia.
PB&J Day
Can you even imagine a world without peanut butter and jelly? April 2 is Peanut Butter and Jelly Day in honor of this ubiquitous sandwich staple. Before the average American finishes high school, they will have consumed 2,000 PB&Js. When did this sandwich achieve celebrity status? The first record of peanut butter and jelly on bread came in 1901, when Julia David Chandler mentioned the recipe in a book detailing the preparation of finger sandwiches for small parties. She wrote, “The combination is delicious, and, so far as I know, original.” Then, in 1922, Joseph Rosefield transformed the peanut butter industry by devising a method to keep peanut butter from separating. He called his new peanut butter Skippy. At the same time, American manufacturing evolved to mass produce peanut butter and lower the cost, making it affordable to all. When sliced bread was invented in 1928, sandwiches became easier to make and, thanks to lobbying efforts by the peanut butter industry, the PB&J sandwich became standard fare in lunchboxes around the country. If peanut butter and jelly isn’t your favorite sandwich, then just wait unitl April 12, Grilled Cheese Day.
Time for a Change
Times Square is one of New York City’s most famous landmarks, but many don’t know where it got its name. Before it was Times Square, the intersection was known as Longacre Square, named after London’s Long Acre Square. Both places were hubs for horse carriages, brothels, and saloons. When Adolph Ochs aquired The New York Times newspaper in 1896, he sought a part of town far from City Hall and “Newspaper Row” for his growing news empire. He found his spot in Longacre Square, which the mayor renamed Times Square for the newspaper’s offices on April 8, 1904.
Groceries for Seniors A monthly free distribution of canned goods,
shelf stable products and seasonal produce
when available)
Location: Frederick Senior Center
Date: Friday April 6
Time: 1:00 pm Cost: Free-must have photo ID
Nurse Steve: HepC, HIV & other
diseases A discussion of transmitted diseases (and
treatments) on the rise among older adults.
Location: Libertytown
Date: Monday April 9 Time: 11:00 am
Location: Walkersville
Date: Tuesday April 10 Time 11:00 am
Location: Brunswick Senior Center
Date: Wednesday April 11 Time: 10:30 am
Location: Urbana Senior Center
Date: Friday April 12 Time: 12:00 Noon
Location: Emmitsburg Senior Center
Date: Tuesday April 17
Location: Frederick Senior Center
Date: Thursday April 19 Time: 12:30
Location: Thurmont
Date: Tuesday April 24 Time: 11:00 am
Location: New Market
Date: Monday April 30 Time: 11 am
Cooking Show A cooking demonstration of interesting dishes
with perfect portions for 1 or 2 and taste test-
ing opportunities!
Location: Frederick Senior Center
Date: Tuesday April 10
Time: 1:30 – 2:30
Cost: Free
Chat with Joy: Meals on Wheels &
Home Delivered meals Presented by: Cindy Hock
Location: Brunswick Senior Center
Date: Wednesday April 4 Time: 10:30 am
Location: Emmitsburg Senior Center
Date: Tuesday April 10
Location: Urbana Senior Center
Date: Wednesday April 11 Time 11:30 am
Location : Frederick Senior Center
Date: Thursday April 12 Time: 11:00 am
Jewelry making Make & take a personalized glass beaded item.
Location: Brunswick Senior Center
Date: Tuesday April 3
Time: 10:30
Cost: Free
Bowling at Thunder Head Emmitsburg Senior Center group
Date: Mondays
Time: 12:30 pm
American Sign Language 101 American Sign Language (ASL) is a great lan-guage to learn since Frederick is home to a
large Deaf community and the Maryland
School for the Deaf. Come see how easy it is
to learn this visual language. This is a 3-week
introductory class.
Location: Urbana Senior Center
Date: Thursdays, April 5, 12, 19
Time: 10:00 am
Cost: Free
Frederick County Department of Aging &
Senior Center Highlights
Who Am I? Celebrating a mystery person born this month
Do you know who I am? Here are some clues:
1. I was born on April 10, 1921.
2. I grew up in Brooklyn, New York, and was a lifelong fan of the Brooklyn
Dodgers.
3. I am one of only 12 athletes to have played in both Major League
Baseball and the National Basketball Association.
4. I played professional baseball for the New York Yankees, the Brooklyn
Dodgers, and the Chicago Cubs.
5. I played professional basketball for the Boston Celtics.
6. Before my career as a professional athlete, I served in the U.S. Army as a tank instructor
during World War II.
7. I was discovered by an MGM casting agent while playing baseball in Hollywood for the
Los Angeles Angels.
8. My first film was Pat and Mike (1952), starring Spencer Tracy and Katharine Hepburn.
9. I appeared as a character actor in numerous films and television programs.
10. I was married three times; twice, I married costars.
11. I met my first wife at one of my baseball games.
12. I have four sons from my first marriage.
13. My appearance in 1957’s Old Yeller helped me get the role for which I am most famous.
14. I became lifelong friends with my television “son,” actor Johnny Crawford.
15. I was an active member of the Republican Party and even campaigned for Ronald Reagan.
16. One of my most famous fans was Chairman of the Soviet Union, Leonid Brezhnev, whom I
met in 1973.
17. I was nominated for an Emmy Award for my performance in the 1977 television miniseries Roots.
18. I was inducted into the Western Performers Hall of Fame in 1991.
19. My given name was Kevin, but I changed it while playing baseball in college.
20. My most famous role was Lucas McCain, a widowed father and marksman in
The Rifleman (1958).
Have you guessed who I am? That’s right—I’m the actor Chuck Connors!
Introduction Chuck Connors was a professional athlete and a beloved character actor before his tremendously successful role in the ABC western The Rifleman. Early Life Chuck Connors was born Kevin Joseph Aloysius Connors on April 10, 1921. His parents, Marcella and Allan, were immigrants of Irish descent from Newfoundland who moved to Brooklyn in 1914. Connors was the elder of two children; Gloria was his younger sister. Connors was raised Roman Catholic and served as an altar boy. He was also an avid sports fan and athlete, supporting the Brooklyn Dodgers, despite their poor record in the 1930s. After high school, he was offered numerous athletic scholarships and eventually settled on Seton Hall University in South Orange, New Jersey, where he played both baseball and basketball. He soon left school to accept a contract to play with the New York Yankees, but his time with them was short-lived as the United States entered World War II. Connors enlisted in the Army and spent much of the war serving as a tank warfare instructor at Fort Campbell and later at West Point. Connors continued with his sporting career for much of his Army service, moonlighting as a professional basketball player. He joined the newly formed Boston Celtics once the war was over. Once again though, his time with the Celtics was short-lived, and he left the team to fulfill a childhood dream to play for the Brooklyn Dodgers. He played only one game for the Dodgers in 1949 but returned to the Major Leagues two years later, playing for the Chicago Cubs. He played with the Cubs for a year before being sent down to the minor leagues to play for the Los Angeles Angels. This placed him fortuitously close to Hollywood. Realizing that he would never have a serious career as an athlete, Connors chose instead to respond to an offer from an MGM casting director, and in 1952, he embarked on a career as an actor. Discussion Starters • Connors grew up Roman Catholic and served as an altar boy at the Basilica of Our Lady of Perpetual Help in Brooklyn. Did your family have a place of worship
when you were a child? • By the time he was 31, Connors had been an Army instructor, a professional basketball player, a professional baseball player, and an actor. Did you ever undergo any major career changes like Connors? • In 1949, Connors was able to fulfill a childhood dream and play for the Brooklyn Dodgers. Did you ever have a childhood dream like Connors? Did it come true? Acting Career and The Rifleman Connors was first cast in the 1952 romantic comedy Pat and Mike, starring Spencer Tracy and Katharine Hepburn. After this, he appeared in several movies and television shows, becoming an established and beloved character actor. However, his appearance in Walt Disney’s 1957 film Old Yeller provided him with a path to take on a leading role. The producers of an upcoming ABC western program were searching for a leading man to play a widowed father in their upcoming television program, The Rifleman. After seeing Connors in Old Yeller, where he portrayed a strong, positive father figure, the producers made the decision to give him the role, choosing him over 40 other potential actors. Connors was cast as Lucas McCain, a widowed rancher in the New Mexico Territory known for his prodigious skill with his modified Winchester rifle. The show proved to be a tremendous success, running for five seasons and receiving tremendously high ratings until the final season, when its chief rival was Lucille Ball’s highly anticipated return to televi-sion, The Lucy Show. Connors’ work on The Rifleman strongly influenced the rest of his career, leading to frequent type-casting as a gun-toting rancher. He and Johnny Crawford, who played his son Mark McCain in The Rifleman, became lifelong friends and would later reunite to reprise the McCain roles that made them famous in 1991’s The Gambler Returns: Luck of the Draw, starring Kenny Rogers and Reba McEntire, along with a host of other characters from classic TV westerns.
Discussion Starters • After his performance in The Rifleman, Connors was often typecast in western roles. Are you a fan of westerns? What is your favorite western film or television show? Apart from his leading role in The Rifleman, Connors most often appeared as a character actor, meaning he typically portrayed unusual or eccentric charac-ters. Later Career and Life Outside Acting After The Rifleman, Connors continued to act, appearing in several films and television shows, including Geronimo (1962), Soylent Green (1973) and Murder, She Wrote (1985–98). While often typecast, he notably departed from his usual heroic role to play the villainous slave owner Tom Moore in 1977’s iconic television miniseries Roots, for which he received an Emmy Award nomination. part in politics? Do you think it is appropriate for an actor or other public figure to take part? • The Rifleman was one of Leonid Brezhnev’s favorite television shows. Are there any television shows or films from other countries that you enjoy? Do you have any interest in entertainment from other countries? More Fun Facts He got the name “Chuck” from baseball. Connors reportedly never liked his given name of “Kevin” and quickly set out to change it once he reached college. He tried out both “Lefty” and
“Stretch” as nicknames before receiving the name “Chuck” for his habit of calling out to the pitcher to “chuck the ball at me!” during baseball games. He stood at a whopping 6′5″. Connors towered above most people at an impressive 6′5″. He was so tall that when meeting Leonid Brezhnev, he hugged the Soviet leader and lifted the much shorter man off the ground! He nearly played three professional sports. In addition to playing professional baseball for the Dodgers and the Cubs and professional basketball for the Celtics, Connors was also drafted by the Chicago Bears to play professional football. He ultimately chose not to play. Connors broke a record while a professional basketball player. While playing for the newly formed Boston Celtics, Connors gained the dubious honor of being the first professional basketball player to shatter a glass backboard, cracking the improperly installed glass with a shot that caught the front rim of the basket. It delayed the game for an hour. Connors’ rifle was showcased in the World Golf Hall of Fame. There were three copies of the signature rifle used by Connors in The Rifleman. He gave one of these to his friend Arnold Palmer, the famous golfer and honorary chairman of a charity golf tournament Connors hosted every year. The rifle was included in a display about Palmer in the World Golf Hall of Fame.
April IQ Are you an April Fool? Test your April IQ to find out.
1. April 22 is Earth Day. Which of the following is NOT encouraged by the Earth Day
Network as a way to help our planet? A. Planting a tree B. Eating less meat C. Using disposable plastics D. All of the above 2. Many countries celebrate Arbor Day in April. In which country did Arbor Day originate? A. Canada B. The United States C. Ireland D. Italy 3. True or False: In France, children celebrate April Fools’ Day by trying to covertly tape an image of a fish on their friend’s back. 4. Child actress Shirley Temple Black was born on April 23, 1928. Which of the
following was NOT one of her many movies?
A. Stand Up and Shout! B. Baby, Take a Bow C. The Little Princess D. The Bachelor and the Bobby-Soxer
5. The two birth flowers of April were also used as names for two well-known animated characters in the 20th century. One was related to Donald Duck and the other to Popeye the sailor. What/who were they? ___________________________ 6. April 7 is World Health Day. What is the name of the international association that goes by the acronym WHO? ________________________________________
7. Naturalist John James Audubon was born on April 26, 1785, in what is present-day Haiti. He published a book of drawings featuring what animal? _____________
8. The birthstone of April has also been called a “girl’s best friend.” What is the name of the gemstone? ___________________________________________ 9. April is National Poetry Month. Which of the following poets was NOT born in
April? A. Robert Frost B. Maya Angelou C. William Wordsworth D. William Shakespeare 10. Born April 26, 1900, the physicist Charles Francis Richter developed the Richter scale to measure the magnitude of what occurrence in nature? _________ 11. What holiday falls this year on April 1 but sometimes is celebrated in March? 12. Born on April 12, 1932, Tiny Tim was known for which of these signature songs? A. “Thanks for the Memory” B. “I Left My Heart in San Francisco” C. “Tiptoe Through the Tulips with Me” D. "When a Man Loves a Woman" 13. Queen Elizabeth II was born on April 21, 1926. She celebrated her Sapphire Jubilee in 2017, which means she had been queen for how long? A. 90 years B. 65 years C. 60 years D. 75 years 14. What famous ship departed on its first trip across the Atlantic on April 10, 1912, and sunk five days later despite being thought to be “unsinkable”? 15. One of April’s astrological signs is considered the first sign in the zodiac and is represented by a ram. What sign is it?
Answers 1. (C) Using disposable plastics. Environmentalists would like to see much less
plastic in the world. It is believed that in the 10 years between 2002 and 2012
more plastic was created than in the 100 years between 1900 and 2000.
2. (B) The United States. Arbor Day was celebrated for the first time in
Nebraska City, Nebraska, in 1872.
3. True. The prank is called poisson d’avril, which translates to “April Fish”—
which is what you shout when the victim finds it on their back.
4. (A) Stand Up and Shout! She was in a movie called Stand Up and Cheer! in 1934.
5. Daisy and Sweet Pea. Daisy is Donald’s wife, and Sweet Pea is Popeye’s
adopted son.
6. The World Health Organization. A few short years after the United Nations
had been formed, the World Health Organization’s constitution was put in
place on April 7, 1948.
7. Bird. The National Audubon Society was created in 1905 after his death and
continues to fight for the well-being of birds today.
8. Diamonds. Diamonds are made of only carbon and are the hardest of all
gemstones.
9. (A) Robert Frost. He was born in March. William Shakespeare’s birth was
technically never recorded, but his baptism was April 26. Because baptisms
generally took place three days after birth, most believe his birthday is April 23.
10. Earthquakes. Charles Francis Richter worked at Caltech teaching physics and
seismology from 1937–1970.
11. Easter. The date of Easter each year is the Sunday following the first full
moon that occurs after the spring equinox.
12. (C) “Tiptoe Through the Tulips with Me.” The singer actually married his first
wife, Vicky, on The Tonight Show. It was the most-watched airing in the
history of Johnny Carson’s 30-year reign.
13. (B) 65 years. She has been queen longer than any other sovereign in the
history of Britain.
14. The RMS Titanic. The ship left from Southampton, England, and sunk in the
North Atlantic Ocean (roughly 400 miles from Canada).
15. Aries. It is considered the first sign because it is also the beginning of spring
and used to be considered the beginning of the year.
2-Liter Rain Forest Plants & Animals Gardening and plant and animal
features
Make a mini rain forest terrarium in a 2-liter soda bottle. You will need: • 2-liter soda bottle
• 1 or 2 small terrarium plants or house plants (miniature fern, moss strawberry begonia, friendship plant, etc.) Select plants that like the same environment—either moist or dry. If you plant miniature cactus (dry) with a fern (moist), one of the plants will probably not survive. • Activated charcoal
• Potting soil • Spoon
• Scissors X-acto knife
• Drainage material (small gravel or glass gems)
• Table covering (newspaper or scrap cardboard)
• (Optional) Goo Gone Directions: 1. Remove the labels from a 2-liter bottle and wash and dry the inside. If the labels stick to the bottle, use a little Goo Gone to help remove the adhesive.
2. Cut the bottle in half as shown on the following page. Tip: To make cutting with scissors easier, start a small hole in the side of the bottle by puncturing the plastic with a twisting motion of an X-acto knife.
3. Cut 1" slits along the top edge of the bottom portion of the bottle. Space the slits about 1" apart. The slits will make it easier to put the top portion of the bottle onto the bottom portion. 4. Cover your work surface with newspaper. Then fill the bottom 1" of your terrarium with drainage material.
5. Using a spoon, top off the drainage material with a thin layer of charcoal as shown in the center photo. The charcoal will keep your plants healthy by preventing
bacteria and mold growth.
6. Fill the rest of the bottom portion of the bottle with potting soil, leaving about 2" from the top edge. Plant your vegetation and then water.
7. Put the top portion on by sliding its bottom edge over top of the bottom portion.
8. Leave the cap on. Remove the cap to water your plants when needed—probably once a week.
Rainy Day Abstract Painting Color a canvas board with washable markers. Set the board outside during an April shower to turn your canvas into a colorful abstract painting. You will need: • Washable Crayola markers
• Canvas board (6" square or larger)
• Prop (small flowerpot, disposable cup, brick, etc.) • (Optional) Squirt bottle of water Directions: 1. Color a canvas board using washable markers. Apply random scribbles or simple shapes using three to five assorted colors.
2. Set the board on a prop (flowerpot, cup, etc.) to elevate it off the ground. 3. Set it outside during a gentle shower for about one to two minutes or until the colors begin to dissolve.
4. Bring the board inside and allow it to dry, keeping it as level as possible to prevent the colors from running off the board.
5. Display your masterpiece side by side with others and share what you see in the abstract versions, similar to spotting shapes in clouds. Variation: If you don’t have a rainy day, simply mist the board with a squirt bottle of water.
iPhone Revolution This learning discussion and reminiscence activity looks at how smartphones, such as the iPhone, which we will be focusing on, have changed society, replacing other technological devices and revolutionizing communication methods.
iPhone Revolution Introduction - Think back on a busy person in the last century. Imagine them hurrying through the streets, glancing at their watches, newspaper tucked under their arm, on their way to the office, where telephones, typewriters, and maybe even a television awaited. Perhaps they carried a radio to listen to the latest stock reports or a baseball game. Now imagine a busy person hurrying through the street today. Gone is the watch, newspaper, landline telephone, typewriter, radio, and television. Instead, they look intently at one small device: the iPhone! The iPhone The iPhone, created by Apple, is such a ubiquitous part of our society today that it’s hard to believe it has been around for only 10 years. It was first released in June 2007. People lined up for blocks to get this innovative new cell phone, which was initially offered only by AT&T. Demand was so high that some people were initially unable to activate their phones because AT&T’s servers were overloaded. The iPhone was the first to feature a touchscreen rather than a keyboard, a drastic departure from other cell phones of the era. (Today, most smartphones feature a touchscreen.) Another feature of the iPhone is the App Store, which features downloadable applications (called “apps”) that, when installed, give users access to programs previously accessible only via their computers. Apple has released many versions of its iPhone, each with improvements and additional features. Other companies, such as Samsung, have released competing cell phones, but the iPhone remains the iconic representation of the modern cell phone. The iPhone, with its apps and other features, has replaced many traditional devices that were previously staples of the modern world. Telephones The first thing the iPhone replaced was the landline telephone. Until cell phones, including the iPhone, most people conducted a large share of their communication via telephones that were connected by over half a million miles of cable in the United States alone. Besides portability, cell phones have a huge advantage over traditional telephones: long distance calling is free. Today in the United States and Canada, less than half of all households have landlines. More than 50% use a cell phone exclusively for their verbal communication. Many young people today have never heard a busy signal or an off-hook alarm. They don’t know what a party line is. They can’t imagine sharing a telephone line with two or more neighbors. Gone also is the telephone exchange, which comprised the first two digits of a telephone number and identified the neighborhood in which a person lived. For example, people who lived near Penn Station in New York City had a phone number that began with PE, and they would give their telephone number as Pennsylvania 6-5000. (Hence the song!) Discussion Starters
• Did you ever have a telephone exchange? Do you remember what
it was? (Examples: PEnnsylvania, MUrray Hill, PRoctor, etc.)
• Do you still have a landline? Why or why not?
Mechanical Devices The iPhone quickly replaced watches. Rather than wear a watch, a person can merely look at their phone, which displays the time, either in bold numbers on the screen or with a dial (for those who are nostalgic). A watch is not the only mechanical device that has been rendered extraneous. The iStore features not only programs but also apps that replace many common mechanical devices. Why carry a briefcase or shoulder bag full of objects, when the iPhone performs the same task?
For example, unless a person is hiking outside of cell phone range, there is no need to carry a navigational compass, as compass applications abound. There is no reason to carry a calculator, protractor, flashlight, or magnifying glass, be-cause an iPhone app will do the trick. Ladies no longer need to carry a small mirror with them, because they can see their reflection in the iPhone, thanks to an app available through the iStore. Newspapers, Radio, and TV The iPhone revolution has changed the way people receive their news and entertainment. No longer are we dependent upon local newspapers, radio, or TV. With the iPhone, people can instantly access news from across the globe. They can access the news on the go, thanks to apps from news sources from worldwide organizations such as Reuters and BBC, as well as apps from their local stations. Sites such as Hulu, Fubo, and Sling offer television stations online, and they all feature a downloadable app for iPhones and other smartphones. People can watch their favorite sports and television shows right from their phones. And most radio stations have an online presence and are accessible via iPhone. YouTube, TED Talks, and other online resources offer a wide range of entertainment and educational options. From lectures to tutorials, from comedy to opera, there is something to please every viewer. And as always, there are iStore apps to make access easy on an iPhone. Discussion Starters
• Where do you get the majority of your news? Is it from local newspapers, TV, and radio
stations? Do you ever go online for entertainment?
• What are the advantages and disadvantages of watching TV and reading the news on a
cell phone? Cameras One of the biggest revolutions brought by iPhone is the camera. Today’s iPhone camera delivers large, clear, beautiful images that are better than what could be produced by many professional digital cameras a decade ago. And it’s given rise to the “selfie,” which is an image a person takes of themself. Apple continues to put much thought into the camera function on their iPhone. Thanks to filters and other retouching options, people can produce beautiful images with the camera application on their phones. Apple makes the camera app easy to access, with many of the features found on expensive cameras, such as the ability to set focus and exposure, a grid to ensure straight shots, and the ability to shoot in bursts (numerous “snaps” per second). You can even take a photo with high dynamic range (HDR), which produces clear, crisp images. Smartphones have all but destroyed the compact camera market, and they’ve had a significant impact on professional photographers, as amateurs are quickly and easily able to produce pleasing images. Discussion Starters
• If you have a smartphone, what kind is it?
• Have you used its camera application? Do you like the ease of use? The quality of image? Do you think phones will
completely replace cameras? Why or why not?
• Have you ever taken a selfie? Have you posted it on Facebook, Instagram, or SnapChat? Do you use these social
media sites? Summary Smartphones, and especially the iPhone, have changed the way people interact with one another. They have revolutionized the way we gather and access information. For better or for worse, the iPhone and all smartphones have transformed our world.
Comparatively Speaking – Which Is Larger? Which is larger, a bumble bee or a giant weta beetle? If you answer correctly, you can earn points. Number of players: This game can be played in both small or large groups. Setup:
• Write the players’ names down the side of a whiteboard or on a large piece of paper so
you can record scores.
• Make an answer card for each player. Use large index cards and write the letter A on one side of the card and B on
the other side of the card.
• Bring in some of the items or pictures of the items mentioned to support the answers. For example, bring a postage
stamp and a Scrabble tile or a picture of a giant weta beetle and a Bumblebee. The object of the game: Decide which of the two items is larger and earn points for correct answers. To play: 1. Give each person an index card. 2. Explain how the game is played. Players should not call out the answer—instead they should hold up their card to reveal their answer (A or B). Note: Players might need to be reminded to not call out their answer. 3. Read the first question and the two choices. Ask participants to answer by holding up the card with the letter A or B showing. If participants answer correctly, award one point. 4. Play continues until all the questions are read and answered. The person with the most points wins. 5. After each answer is revealed, read the additional information provided. Quiz Questions 1. Which dog is larger? A. Great Dane B. Golden retriever Answer: A. Great Dane. This breed of dog has an average height between 28 and 30 inches as compared to the smaller golden retriever, which is 23 to 24 inches tall.
2. Which insect is larger? A. Giant weta beetle B. Bumblebee Answer: A. Giant weta beetle. The beetle from New Zealand is one of the largest insects in the world, measuring over 2.6 ounces in weight and 3.9 inches in length. At its largest, the bumblebee is 1.5 inches.
3. Which organ of the body is larger? A. Heart B. Liver Answer: B. Liver. The liver, which weighs 1,560 grams, is more than twice the size of the heart, which weighs 315 grams.
4. Which ocean is larger? A. Pacific B. Indian Answer: A. Pacific. This ocean covers 59 million square miles and contains over half the water on Earth. The Indian Ocean is half the size of the Pacific at 27.24 million square miles.
5. Which ball is larger? A. Tennis ball B. Cricket ball Answer: B. Cricket ball. It is slightly larger at approximately 2.8 inches in diameter. The tennis ball is approximately 2.6 inches in diameter.
6. Which horse is larger? A. Pony B. Quarter horse Answer: B. Quarter horse. Horses are measured at their withers, which is between the shoulder blades of the front legs. An average quarter horse is 68 inches. A pony at its tallest can be only 58 inches.
7. Which truck is larger? A. Toyota Tacoma truck B. Ford F150 truck Answer: A. The Ford F150. The Toyota Tacoma, which is considered a compact truck, has a length of 212 inches and width of 74 inches. The Ford F150 is about two feet longer and one foot wider.
8. Which planet is larger? A. Venus B. Mars Answer: A. Venus. It has a diameter of 7,521 miles, while Mars is only 4,212 miles in diameter.
9. Which river is larger? A. Nile B. Mississippi Answer: A. The Nile River. It is the longest river in the world with a length of 4,160 miles. The Mississippi river is only half as long at 2,320 miles long.
10. Which ball is larger? A. Racquetball B. Golf ball Answer: A. Racquetball. A racquetball is larger at 2.25 inches in diameter; the golf ball is 1.68 inches.
11. Which building is larger? A. Willis Tower (formerly the Sears Tower) B. Burj Khalifa Answer: B. Burj Khalifa. Located in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, Burj Khalifa has 163 floors and is 2,717 feet tall. It is currently the tallest building in the world. The Willis Tower (which was the Sears Tower until 2009) in Chicago, Illinois, opened in 1973 and has 110 floors. It is 1,450 feet tall and is the 16th-tallest building in the world.
12. Which ball is larger? A. Wiffle ball B. Baseball Answer: A. Wiffle ball. Of course, a baseball is heavier than a Wiffle ball, but it is not larger. The average diameter of a baseball is 2.94 inches, while the average diameter of a Wiffle ball is 3.01 inches.
13. Which cat is larger? A. Tiger B. Lion Answer: A. Tiger. Male tigers typically grow to four feet tall and up to 13 feet long. Lions are similar in height but grow to be as long as only 8.2 feet.
14. Which is larger? A. The Amazon Rain Forest B. The Great Barrier Reef Answer: A. Amazon Rain Forest. The rain forest is almost 19.5 times larger at 2,586,884.462 square miles. The Great Barrier Reef is 132,973.583 square miles.
15. Which is larger? A. Gallon of milk B. Two-liter bottle of soda Answer: A. Gallon of milk. One gallon equals 3.785 liters.
16. Which is larger? A. Match B. Q-tip Answer: B. Q-tip. A match is only about two-thirds the size of a Q-tip.
17. Which is larger in diameter? A. Soda bottle cap B. Quarter Answer: A. Soda bottle cap. The soda bottle cap is slightly larger at 1.17 inches in diameter. A quarter is only 0.955 inches in diameter.
18. Which is larger? A. iPad B. iPhone Plus Answer: A. iPad. The length of the original iPad is considerably larger at 9.56 inches. Although the iPhone Plus series is the largest of the iPhones, its length is only 6.22 inches.
19. Which game piece is larger? A. Mahjong tile B. Domino Answer: B. Domino. Although the width of the standard domino and Mahjong tile is practically the same, the domino has a longer length (1.875 inches) than the tile (1.26 inches).
20. Which is larger? A. Standard globe B. Indoor volleyball Answer: A. Standard globe. Although globes come in different sizes, many are made to be 39.3701 inches in circumference, which makes it to scale by 1:40 million. An indoor volleyball has a circumference of about 26 inches.
21. Which is larger? A. Cover of a paperback novel B. 3 by 5 index card Answer: A. Cover of a paperback novel. Even the Pocket Book-sized paperback is larger than the 3 by 5 card. A paperback page measures 6.87 inches by 4.25 inches. The index card would work nicely as a bookmark.
22. Which is larger? A. NBA basketball B. WNBA basketball Answer: A. NBA basketball. The official basketball of the NBA (National Basketball Association) is 29.5 inches in circumference, which is one inch larger than the ball used in the WNBA (Women’s National Basketball Association).
23. Which ball is larger? A. Softball B. Baseball Answer: A. Softball. The circumference of a softball is 12 inches, but the circumference of a baseball is 9.25 inches.
24. Which is larger? A. Credit card B. A standard-sized playing card Answer: B. A standard-sized playing card. A standard-sized playing card is 2.5 by 3.5 inches. A credit card is only 3.375 inches by 2.125 inches.
25. Which paper is larger? A. Tabloid-sized B. Legal-sized Answer: A. Tabloid-sized. The dimensions of tabloid-sized paper are 11 inches by 17 inches. Legal-sized paper is 8.5 inches by 14 inches.
26. Which is larger? A. AA battery B. AAA battery Answer: A. AA battery. The AA battery is slightly longer and has a greater diameter than the AAA battery.
27. Which is larger? A. Scrabble tile B. Postage stamp Answer: B. The postage stamp. The average stamp is slightly larger at 0.87 by 0.979 inches. Conversely, the standard Scrabble tile is a perfect square (.75 inches by .75 inches).
28. Which is larger? A. One-dollar bill B. Monopoly one-dollar bill Answer: A. One-dollar bill. The length and width of the real bill is 6.14 by 2.61 inches. The Monopoly bill is 4 by 2.25 inches.
29. Which is larger? A. Stirring straw B. Drinking straw Answer: B. Drinking straw. It is at least two inches longer than the stirring straw.
30. Which magazine is larger? A. Reader’s Digest (regular print) B. People Answer: B. People. People is 7.875 inches by 10.44 inches, while Reader’s Digest is 5.375 inches by 8.375 inches.
31. Which ball is larger? A. Bocce ball B. Croquet ball Answer: A. Bocce ball. The ball used in bocce is 4.2 inches in diameter, whereas a croquet ball is 3.625 inches in di-ameter. The jack (or pallina) in bocce is much smaller; it’s about the size of a golf ball.
32. Which is larger? A. Chap stick B. Glue stick Answer: B. Glue stick. The adhesive stick is slightly larger at 3.16 inches long and 0.75 inches in diameter. Chap Stick is 3 inches long and 0.5 inches in diameter.
33. Which airplane is larger? A. Bumblebee biplane B. Antonov An-225 Mriya Answer: B. The Antonov An-225 Mriya. It is considered the largest plane in the world, with a wingspan of 290 feet and 275 feet, seven inches in length. The Bumblebee is the smallest biplane at under nine feet in length.
34. Which is larger? A. Teaspoon B. Place spoon Answer: B. Place spoon. The all-purpose place spoon is between the size of a teaspoon and a tablespoon.
35. Which animal is larger? A. Killer whale B. Blue whale Answer: B. Blue whale. This massive beast is the largest animal in the world. The blue whale male is approximately 79 feet long with a weight of 300,000 pounds. The killer whale is much smaller: only 26 feet long and 12,000 pounds. Interestingly, the blue whale’s large size does not mean it is the predator of the ocean. Its diet consists mainly of small crustaceans.
Giant Weta Beetle
VS
Bumble Bee
Forest Funnies If you’re looking for a great humor program this month, you’re “bark”ing up the right tree. “Leaf” it to us. These tree puns and jokes might be a little “sappy,” but they’re still funny even if you’re not “acorn”y person.
Forest Funnies 1.Did you hear the joke about the tree? It'll leaf you laughing!
2.Did you know that I can cut down a dead tree just by looking at it? It's true. I saw it with my own eyes!
3.How do trees access the Internet? They log on.
4.What did the tree do when the bank closed? It started its own branch.
5.Why did the pine tree get in trouble? It was being knotty.
6.How do you properly identify a dogwood tree? By its bark!
7. What is every single tree’s least favorite month? SepTIMMMBERRR!
8. A crime was committed in the forest, and the police are stumped. Who did it? Yew know who.
9. Do you want a brief explanation of an acorn? In a nutshell, it’s an oak tree.
10. What type of tree can you hold in your hand? A palm tree
11. Why can’t Christmas trees sew? They always drop their needles.
12. Can you help me identify this weeping tree? Yes, but you willow (will owe) me one.
13. Did you know that before you became my best friend, I used to hang out with an-other girl every single day in her super awesome tree house? It’s true, but unfortunate-ly we had a falling-out.
14. Why do trees with the scientific name platanus occidentalis have to see the doctor
more than any other trees? They are sycamore.
15. Why do dogwood trees make wonderful pets? They have a great bark but wooden bite.
16. Why do trees hate tests? They get stumped by the questions.
17. Did you hear about the elephant that got stuck up a tree last summer? In order to get down, it had to sit on a branch and wait until fall.
18. What happened to the wooden car with wooden wheels and a wooden engine? It wooden go.
19. Where do birch trees keep their valuables? In a river bank
20. Why are leaves always involved in such risky business? They constantly have to go out on a limb.
21. How do you get down from a tree? You don’t. Down comes from a duck.
22. What Canadian city is a favorite vacation spot for American trees? Montreeal
23. What kind of stories do giant sequoia trees tell? Tall tales
24. What must trees drink responsibly? Root beer
25. What did the trees wear to Mother Nature’s pool party? Swimming trunks!
26. Did you hear about the big corporation that’s making syrup from supposedly con-
taminated trees? They maple (may pull) their brand off the shelves.
27. What is the most frustrating thing about being a tree? It’s having so many limbs and still not being able to walk.
28. How many trees can you plant in an empty forest? One. After that, it’s not empty anymore.
29. What weighs more, a pound of leaves or a pound of logs? They both weigh the same—a pound.
30. I’m the part of a tree that is not in the sky or under the ground. I can move through-
out the day and change shape. What am I? I am the tree’s shadow.
31. All the other trees in the forest take advantage of the maple tree. What a sap!
32. Why can’t the lonely evergreen stop thinking about high school? She’s still pining to be one of the poplar kids.
33. What did Luke Skywalker say to the tree? “ May the FOREST be with you.”
34. Why did the tree like to play chess? It was a chess nut.
35. Did you hear the joke about the oak tree? It’s acorny one!
Dot-to-dot Connect numbered dots 1–105
Spring Break Detective Search for the things in bold.
Spring break is here at last—it’s time for the Johnsons to have fun. Mom, Dad, and young son Brad can’t wait for ocean, sand, and sun.
Their 3 plane tickets will be saved for Mom’s scrapbooking later,
And Brad, for a souvenir, purchased a rubber alligator. They’re staying at the Diplomat, a very swanky hotel
Where your every wish is granted with the ringing of a bell. They bought postage stamps and 3 postcards for those they left behind
And a roll of film for 2 cameras to document their time.
They’ve packed up Mom’s flowered tote bag for a day at the beach,
With a beach towel, bucket, shovel, and a very juicy peach.
Mom has Brad’s bottle of bubbles, and she’s wearing her 2 hats; She’s handing out 2 pairs of sunglasses and sunscreen by the vats.
Dad gets his golf ball and tee and gives his wristwatch one last look—
He’s off to the links while Mom reads The Night Lives On, her latest book.
Brad’s got his earbud for the radio and Waldo figure in his hand,
And Mom just lost the hotel key, so she’s madly digging in the sand.
Cathy Barnes
Senior Centers Without Walls
1440 Taney Avenue
Frederick, MD 21702
301-600-1605-Mondays only
What’s on TV? (solution)
Mixed-Up Fast Food (solution) 1. cheeseburger 2. Taco Bell 3. ketchup 4. burrito 5. French fries 6. McDonald’s 7. milkshake 8. chicken nuggets
9. sandwich 10. hash browns 11. takeout 12. meals 13. coleslaw 14. Subway 15. drive through 16. combo 17. onion rings 18. Burger King
Secret Quote: “There are only two seasons—winter and baseball.” ~ Bill Veeck
Synonym Search (solution) stop, end tiny, small quiet, silent neat, orderly long, extended loud, noisy happy, delighted car, automobile merciful, forgiving
break, smash
Earth Day is a worldwide event now celebrated in more than 193 countries. It’s beginnings date back to April 22, 1970, when some 20 million people (many of them college students) across the United States took to the streets to bring attention to the effects of pollution on Earth. Since then, this day has been designated as a day to show support for environmental protection—a time to commit ourselves to taking the needed measures to ensure clean air, land, and water now, and for generations to come. It’s a day set aside to educate ourselves on recycling, conservation, and what each of us as individuals, communities, and nations can and should do to protect the planet we live on. So, on this day take the time to appreciate our dear Mother Earth.
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