Tidbits of Rockwall County Issue #004

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IT’S TEA TIME!by Kathy Wolfe

It’s the world’s second most popular and cheapest beverage (after water), so shouldn’t you know a little more about tea? Tidbits has the goods on this drink, so listen up and learn!

• Everydayabout threebillion cupsoftea are consumed around the world. In America, it can be found in 80% of households, and an estimated 127 million Americans are drinking it on any given day. Most of that tea comes from India, the world’s largest tea producer, processing about 850,000 tons each year.

• Tea as we know it is about 5,000years old. Legend has it that a Chinese emperor discovered a good cup of tea in 2737 B.C. when some tea leaves off the tree into his pot of boiling water, producing a pleasant aroma. Tea became popularinEuropeduringthe1600sandwas brought to North America by the colonists. Britain’s Duchess of Bedford is said to have created the traditional afternoon tea around 1840, when she needed a pick-me-up to combat what she called “that sinking feeling.”

• When theBritish government heavilytaxed the tea shipped to the American colonies, in 1773, a group of 116mendressed as Native Americans boarded British ships and tossed 342 chests of tea overboard, about 90,000 lbs. (40,823 kg) worth. In today’s currency, that was equal to nearly a million dollars!

CONTINUED....

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Page 2 Tidbits® of Rockwall County

1. SCIENCE: What is the conversion of water vapor to liquid called?2. PSYCHOLOGY: What is gymnophobia?3. LITERATURE: What was the name of the centaur in “Harry Potter And The Sorcerer’s Stone”?4. MOVIES: What does Cruela De Vil want to make out of the puppies in “101 Dalmatians”?5. TELEVISION: Where does the show “The Gilmore Girls” take place?6. MUSIC: In what year did the Beatles make their first visit to the United States?7. GEOGRAPHY: What is the capital of Iceland?8. ANIMAL KINGDOM: What kind of animal is a macaque?9. MEDICINE: What is the chief cause of cholera?10. GENERAL KNOWLEDGE: What is the biggest snake in the world, in terms of weight and girth?

• On May 24, 1844, in a demonstration witnessed by members of Congress, American inventor Samuel F.B. Morse dispatches a telegraph message from the U.S. Capitol to a railroad station in Baltimore. The message -- “What Hath God Wrought?” -- was telegraphed back to the Capitol a moment later.

• On May 22, 1859, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, the creator of master sleuth Sherlock Holmes, is born in Scotland. His first Sherlock Holmes story, “A Study in Scarlet,” was published in Beeton’s Christmas Annual in 1887.

• On May 25, 1927, Robert Ludlum, author of 25 thrillers, is born in New York City. Although he never earned a reputation as a masterful prose stylist, his suspenseful stories such as “The Bourne Identity” gripped a wide readership. As a critic for The Washington Post noted about one Ludlum novel: “It’s a lousy book. So I stayed up until 3 a.m. to finish it.”

• On May 23, 1934, notorious criminals Bonnie Parker and Clyde Barrow are shot to death by Texas and Louisiana state police while driving a stolen car near Sailes, La. All told, the Barrow Gang was believed responsible for the deaths of 13 people, including nine police officers.

• On May 26, 1940, President Franklin Roosevelt makes a radio appeal for the support of the Red Cross. Belgian and French civilians were “running from their homes to escape bombs and shells and machine gunning, without shelter, and almost wholly without food,” broadcast FDR.

• On May 20, 1956, the United States conducts the first airborne test of an improved hydrogen bomb, dropping it from a plane over the Bikini Atoll in the Pacific Ocean. Observers said that the fireball caused by the explosion measured at least 4 miles in diameter and was brighter than the light from 500 suns.

(c) 2013 King Features Synd., Inc.

DEAR PAW’S CORNER: What is the most popular dog in the United States? And what about mixed breeds? -- Jane in Tuscaloosa, Ala.

DEAR JANE: Good question! Everyone has their favorite dog or cat, but a number of surveys are done every year trying to figure out which breeds are the most popular. According to the American Kennel Club, the most popular dog breed in 2012 was the Labrador Retriever, which has reigned supreme for a decade. Rounding out the top five are German Shepherds, Golden Retrievers, Beagles and Bulldogs, although Yorkshire Terriers often contend

for a place on the list, coming in no lower than sixth since 2002. A recent survey conducted for pet food company Royal Canin revealed another heartening statistic. More than 40 percent of cat owners and 28 percent of dog owners preferred mixed-breed pets, rather than purebreds. This is encouraging to read, because more owners are choosing pets based on factors other than breed alone. So, how do dog owners choose their pet? According to the survey, size was the No. 1 factor in their decision of which kind of dog to adopt or purchase.Among cat owners, a cat’s appearance was the top factor in choosing their feline companion, according to more than 55 percent of those surveyed. So, while the even-tempered Labrador Retriever continues to be a popular choice for American families, owners looking to adopt a mutt stand in good company with other pet owners.

Send your questions or comments to [email protected]. Did you know mosquitos can transmit heartworm larvae to dogs, but fleas don’t? Find out more in my new book, “Fighting Fleas,” available now on Amazon.


YOUR BUSINESS HEREfor more information call 972-632-9833

Mutts Capture Owners’ Hearts

IT’S TEA TIME (continued):• There are all kinds of tea – white,green,oolong,andblack–buttheyallcome from the same plant, the Carnelia Sinensis. The end product is determined by the processing of the tea leaves.

• While white tea skips the steps ofprocessing (the leaves are just steamed and dried), green, black, and oolong teas all go through a series of steps. It starts with withering, when the tea leaves are spread out and dried in a warm environment, which makes them pliable. A rolling machine is next, twisting the leaves in order to release the flavorful natural oils. Some moreexpensive grades of teas are rolled by hand, resulting in a higher quality. The leaves then undergo an oxidation process, when they are spread out in a cool room. At this point, the tea leaves are still green, but as they take in oxygen they gradually turn darker. The darkening can be stopped by heating. Green tea is not oxidized, oolong tea is oxidized for a short time, and the dark black tea oxidation process, which takes about three hours, is uninterrupted. The chemical reactions that take place during oxidation are what alters the leaves’colorandflavor.

•Whileacupofteadoescontaincaffeine,it doesn’t compare to the amount found in coffee. A cup of tea has about 40 mg. of caffeine compared to coffee’s 110 mg per cup. The lesser-processed green tea has even less caffeine than black leaves. But if you want a higher caffeine level in your tea, sip yerba maté, which has about the same amount as coffee. It’s made from the leaves of a South American rain forest holly tree, and contains 24 vitamins and minerals, 15 amino acids, and an abundance of antioxidants.

CONTINUED....

IT’S TEA TIME (continued):

• Herbalteas,alsoknownastisanes,aren’treally tea at all. They come from the roots, stems, and flowers of other plants. Thereare numerous types of tisanes, depending on what part of the plant they come from. Mint, verbena, and lemongrass varieties are leaf tisanes, while chamomile, hibiscus, andlavenderareflowertisanes.Cinnamonis a considered a bark type, while ginger, Echinacea,andchicoryareroottisanes.

•Theinventionoftheteabagcameaboutbyaccident. In 1904, a New York tea importer was looking for a cheaper way to send samples to customers. Thomas Sullivan had been using tin boxes, but as this proved expensive, he began wrapping the tea in smallsilkbags.Hiscustomersdidn’trealizethe bags were just packaging, and brewed their tea in them. Soon after, Sullivan was receiving orders for the new product. Today, 96%of theworldbrews its teausingateabag.

• Moreof tea’smanymedicinalandhealthbenefits are being uncovered every day.Green tea seems to be especially healthful. It is high in the amino acid theanine, which has been shown to reduce stress and improve mental concentration. It may also increase the body’s immune system and antioxidant powers. Lab testing indicates that catechins, a type of antioxidant, inhibit the growth of cancer cells and may help reduce the breakdown of cartilage. A recent university study indicated that tea has more potent antioxidants than 22 fruits and vegetables that were tested. Scientists say drinking green tea might also even help prevent tooth decay! And a study in the Netherlands has shown that those who drink catechin-rich tea are 50% less likely to die of heart disease.

CONTINUED....

Tidbits® of Rockwall County Page 3

DVDs reviewed in this column will be avail-able in stores the week of May 20, 2013.

above its sibling. Ethan (Alden Ehrenreich) is a hu-man 17-year-old who wants to get out of his fictional Southern hometown. He takes an interest in the new girl at school, Lena (Alice Englert) -- a mysterious chick from a powerful and enigmatic family (surprise: they’re witches.) Their love is forbidden, and some-how the fate of the world gets caught up in it. “Beautiful Creatures” stands out among the pack because the young lovers have actual chemistry, not just vacant stares. The pacing is a little sluggish. The movie’s mythology keeps changing, and new arbitrary plot twists spring up like dandelions. As far as young-adult supernatural love stories go, you could do a lot worse.

PICKS OF THE WEEK Beautiful Creatures” (PG-13) -- This super-natural teen romance thriller is aimed squarely at the “Twilight” crowd, but manages to rise

Arnold Schwarzenegger, Johnny Knoxville in “The Last Stand”

“The Last Stand” (R) -- Arnold Schwarzeneg-ger plays a rickety old sheriff who can still dole out master-level violence when the time is right. When a devious drug lord stages a spectacular escape from prison, he and his army of thugs make a run for the border. The last stop before Mexico is Somerton, Ariz. -- a peaceful small town under the protection of the ag-ing lawman. It’s up to Ah-nuld and his ragtag bunch of townsfolk to shoot them bad guys. Arnold holds up to the ravages of time pretty well. He’s (relatively) believable as a police veteran seeking some peace. But this movie is mostly about fighting, and that’s all good here. Johnny Knoxville (of MTV’s “Jackass”) plays a shifty gun nut with an arsenal -- thus supplying the firepower for the big scenes.

TV RELEASES “True Blood: The Complete Fifth Season” “Teen Wolf: Season Two” “Perception: The Complete First Season” “Laverne & Shirley: The Sixth Season” “Saving Hope: The Complete First Season”


Answers on Page 7


1. What was R.A. Dickey’s career high for wins in a major-league season before he won 20 games with the New York Mets in 2012? 2. Who is the winningest manager

in major-league history whose last name begins with the letter “Q”?3. Name the first SEC player to win a Heisman Trophy.4. In the past 25 years (1987-2012), eight coaches have taken a team to consecutive appearances in the NBA Finals. Name five of them.5. Entering 2013, when was the only season that the Columbus Blue Jackets made the NHL playoffs?6. Two women have tallied 30-plus goals in a season for the U.S. national soccer team. Name them.7. Who did Sugar Ray Robinson defeat to win back the middleweight boxing crown in 1957?

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IT’S TEA TIME (continued):•Teaisnotjustfordrinking!Ontheoutside,green tea can help with inflammation.Soothe your puffy eyes with a soaked, chilled green tea bag. The same will work for insect bites. Keep mosquitoes away by smoothing the skin with damp tea leaves. Black tea bags have been proven beneficial in removing plantarwarts. It’s the acidic tannin present in tea that shrinks the wart, just by placing a cooled bag on the wart for 15 minutes three times a day.

•Tisanesalsohavemedicinalqualities.Ifyou have an upset stomach, try sipping peppermint tea, since peppermint relaxes the muscles that give you stomachcramps.Theanti-inflammatoryproperties of licorice root can reduce the swelling of a sore throat. It’s also well known that chamomile tea is a relaxant and is a natural sleep aid.

•Andit’snotjustthehumanbodythatreaps the benefits of tea. It’s a greatfertilizer for your roses! Watering both indoor and outdoor plants with cool leftover brewed tea gives them a boost of nutrients. You can also stir brewed tea leaves into your garden soil.

Last week’s spots where Teddy Tidbits was hiding:

(May 10, 2013.)

1. Tidbits Goes Green P. 32. Feel Good Publishing P. 43. Veteran’s Post P. 8

Page 5For Advertising Call (972) 632-9833

• It was French Enlightenment author Voltaire who made the following sage observation: “Judge a man by his questions rather than his answers.”

• If you’re like the average American, you laugh 15 times every day.

• Have you ever heard of an artist by the name of John Banvard? You’re to be forgiven if the name is unfamiliar; few people these days remember him. In the mid-19th century, though, he was something of a phenomenon. In 1840, the then-25-year-old man set off on a skiff down the Mississippi River. He spent more than a year on the river, sketching steadily along the way. After he completed the voyage, he spent another five years painting his “Panorama of the Mississippi,” an ambitious work that was 12 feet wide and more than 3 miles long. When completed, the painting was

mounted on two upright revolving cylinders and displayed for the paying public throughout the U.S. and Europe, earning him $200,000 along the way.

• In the 1960s, the miniskirt was still controversial. Both the Vatican City and Disneyland refused entrance to women wearing the short skirts.

• If you’re a fan of the TV series “Dr. Who,” you probably know that the title character, a Time Lord from the planet Gallifrey, has two hearts. This may seem like science fiction (and, of course, it is), but it’s not unknown for a human to be born with two hearts. One such example was Giuseppe de Mai, born in Italy in the 19th century. The condition is rare, though; so rare, in fact, that the London Academy of Medicine offered de Mai $15,000 under the condition that it receive his body after his death.

***Thought for the Day: “Women are like elephants to me. I like to look at ‘em, but I wouldn’t want to own one.” -- W.C. Fields


With its bright colors and flavors, this warm dish of spring vegetables tastes even better than it looks.

2 pound asparagus, trimmed and cut into 1 1/2-inch pieces8 ounces sugar snap peas, strings removed1 tablespoon margarine or butter1 pound radishes, each cut into quartersSalt and pepper4 tablespoons snipped fresh chives

1. Heat large covered saucepot of salted water to boiling on high. Fill large bowl with ice water; set aside. To saucepot, add asparagus and snap peas; cook 4 minutes. Drain vegetables; cool in bowl of ice water. Drain vegetables well.

Spring Garden Saute

2. Meanwhile, in 12-inch skillet, heat margarine on medium until melted. Add radishes, 1/4 teaspoon salt and 1/8 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper; cook 10 minutes or until tender-crisp. Transfer to bowl; keep warm. 3. To same skillet, add asparagus, snap peas, 1/4 teaspoon salt and 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper; cook 5 minutes or until tender-crisp, stirring occasionally. Stir in 2 tablespoons chives. 4. Transfer to serving bowl; arrange radishes around edge. Sprinkle with remaining chives. Serves 10.

Tip: Asparagus and snap peas can be cooked through step 1 up to one day ahead. Place in plastic storage bag and refrigerate until ready to use.

• Each serving: About 45 calories, 2g total fat, 185mg sodium, 5g total carbs, 2g dietary fiber, 3g protein.

For thousands of triple-tested recipes, visit our website at www.goodhousekeeping.com/recipefinder/.

(c) 2013 Hearst Communications, Inc.All rights reserved

FAMOUS WOMEN OF THE WORLD:BEATRIX POTTER

Who hasn’t read the delightful Tale of Peter Rabbit and the many other stories of whimsical animals written and illustrated by Beatrix Potter? Let’s take a look at the life of this admired woman whose work is even more popular than it was during her lifetime.

•Born in 1866 to a wealthy Londonfamily, Helen Beatrix Potter spent most of her time with nannies and governesses, rarely seeing her parents except at bedtime. Educated in a schoolroom in their home, Beatrix and her younger brother also didn’t have the opportunity to interact with other children. Instead, a wide variety of pets became their companions and the Potter children spent many hours a day observing and sketching the mice, frogs, lizards, snakes, rabbits, turtles, hedgehogs, and a bat that shared their schoolroom. Beatrix demonstrated a unique gift for drawing, and when she was 12, her parents hired a privateart tutor to help further her abilities.

•Beatrix’ first income from her workcame in her 20’s when she sold sixwatercolor paintings of her pet rabbit toagreetingcardfirm,which led toaseries of other illustrating jobs. About this time, she began writing illustrated letters to the children of a former governess. It was here that Peter Rabbit had his beginnings. Seven years after she had written to one young child, she asked to borrow the letters, copying the illustrations into a rough black-and-white version of a children’s book.

CONTINUED....

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I prepare this wonderful salad anytime we’re going to a family potluck. I’ve never come home with anything but an empty bowl.

3 cups chopped fresh cauliflower1 cup chopped celery1/2 cup chopped green bell pepper3/4 cup shredded reduced-fat Cheddar cheese1/2 cup fat-free Ranch dressing1/4 cup fat-free mayonnaise1 teaspoon dried onion flakes1 teaspoon dried parsley flakes

Midwest Cauli-flower Salad 1. In a large bowl, combine

cauliflower, celery, green pepper and Cheddar cheese. Add Ranch dressing, mayonnaise, onion flakes and parsley flakes. Mix well to combine. 2. Cover and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes. Gently stir again just before serving. Makes 6 (3/4 cup) servings.• Each serving equals: 90 calories, 2g fat, 5g protein, 13g carb., 437mg sodium, 2g fiber; Diabetic Exchanges: 1 Vegetable, 1/2 Meat, 1/2 Starch.(c) 2013 King Features Synd., Inc.

BEATRIX POTTER (continued):•BeatrixsentTheTaleofPeterRabbit

to six publishers, all of whom rejected it. She paid to have the book privately published,ordering250copieswhichsold immediately. The little volume caught the attention of the publishing firmofFrederickWarne,acompanyofthree brothers who agreed to publish it if Beatrix would re-draw the pictures in color. The firm released 8,000copiesofPeterinOctober,1902,andby1903hadsoldover50,000copies.

•The youngest Warne brother,Norman, was assigned as Beatrix’ editor. It wasn’t long before a romance bloomed between the two. Her parents did not approve of the romance, and when Norman sent Beatrix a letter containing a marriage proposal, her parents forbade the union. Shortly afterward, Norman became very ill, and sadly, just one month after his proposal, he died of leukemia.

• After the tragedy, Beatrix dedicatedherself to her work, using her earnings to purchase farmland, where she raised sheep. A local solicitor, William Heelis, advised her on her land dealings as she continued to buy up local farms. Beatrix married Heelis when she was 47 years old, and the pair continued to purchase land, 15farms in all.

• Beatrix Potterwrote and illustrated23 books in all, including The Taleof Benjamin Bunny, The Tale of Mrs. Tiggy-Winkle, The Story of Miss Moppet, and The Tale of Tom Kitten. In1921,thefirstPeterRabbitbookswere published in Braille.

Page 7For Advertising Call (972) 632-9833

DEAR DR. DONOHUE: I have vitiligo, and it keeps spreading over my body. My father had it on his legs. I’m an older lady of brown complexion. This vitiligo is so embarrassing. I wear slacks every day, except to church. Do you know of any cover-ups for it? --C.

ANSWER: Vitiligo is the loss of special skin cells called melanocytes, cells that produce the pigment melanin, which gives skin its color. The loss comes about because of an immune attack on those pigment cells. Genes are one of the ingredients that lead to vitiligo. Your father is an example of the genetic influence. The skin patches devoid of melanocytes and melanin become chalky white and are most noticeable on people with dark skin. The patches appear on the face, in circles around the mouth and eyes, on the neck, trunk, arms and legs. Stronger varieties of cortisone in creams, lotions and gels often can coax melanocytes back into the depigmented skin. Many users have enjoyed success with skin applications of pimecrolimus (Elidel cream) or tacrolimus (Protopic ointment). Ultraviolet light, along with the oral psoralen drugs, is another way of repigmenting vitiliginous skin. Quite a few people with vitiligo find it more convenient to apply cosmetic agents to cover the white patches and make them blend with adjacent skin. Covermark (800-524-1120), Dermablend (800-662-8011) and Cover Fx (416-665-7444) are three popular products. I’ve included the phone numbers of the manufacturers in case you cannot find the products in your area. The National Vitiligo Foundation, Inc., will provide

When Skin Patches Lose All Color

you with information on the many ways that vitiligo is treated. The website is www.nvfi.org, and the phone number (not toll-free) is 513-541-3903. You’ll find the foundation to be a friend that can help you cope with vitiligo.

*** DEAR DR. DONOHUE: Our friend, age 86, has Alzheimer’s disease. She sees a neurologist every four months. Some days, she is lucid; other days, she’s out in left field. She lives alone and drives a car. She recently got lost, but recovered and came home safely. Her children live out of town. We, her friends, think the time has come for our friend to give up independent living. What criteria are used to make this decision? -- C.F.

ANSWER: Your friend’s lapses fill the criteria that indicate a need for assisted living. Although 50 percent of people with a degree of dementia make this decision for themselves, that leaves 50 percent who do not. Giving up one’s home and one’s car has unpleasant ramifications for that half who want to continue living independently. Close relatives can convince these people that they need help. A doctor can step in and strongly advise such moves. You and your friends would do this woman a service by contacting her children and telling them exactly what you have told me. The booklet on Alzheimer’s diseases discusses it and its treatments. Reader can obtain a copy by writing: Dr. Donohue -- No. 903W, Box 536475, Orlando, FL 32853-6475. Enclose a check or money order (no cash) for $4.75 U.S./$6 Canada with the recipient’s printed name and address. Please allow four weeks for delivery.

***Dr. Donohue regrets that he is unable to answer individual letters, but he will incorporate them in his column whenever possible. Readers may write him or request an order form of available health newsletters at P.O. Box 536475, Orlando, FL 32853-6475.

(c) 2013 North America Synd., Inc.All Rights Reserved

If your teens are looking for an innovative DIY craft to enjoy during a low-key Saturday afternoon, share this unusual idea with them. Fashion fun, useful creations together out of glue with a hot glue gun and a mold made of ice. Make a decorative container for a flowerpot, little baskets for sorting and storing small stuff such as coins and paper clips, or a ball-shaped sculpture with a bell inside. Here’s how:

SMALL BASKETS AND BOWLS Fill a small bowl or plastic deli container with water, and freeze until completely solid. Pop out the ice form and set it upside-down on a plastic plate lined with several layers of newspaper. Drizzle hot glue in all directions directly onto the ice shape to resemble lace. When the glue comes in contact with the ice, it hardens almost immediately! Add an extra glue stick to the glue gun if necessary to make a complete upside-down basket shape. Use colored or glitter glue sticks for variety, if you wish. Mix and match colored sticks with clear sticks, too. (Colored glue sticks are available at some craft stores and online at amazon.com.) Finally, squeeze a thick rim of glue around the base of the ice. Set completed creation in the sink to allow the ice to melt away. Turn it over, and your basket is complete. Use it to store small items on a desk, dresser or at your family message center. Use the same technique to create a larger decorative basket to hold a clay pot of herbs or flowers. A child’s plastic sand pail makes an ideal mold for the ice.

BALL WITH A BELL INSIDE Fill a small balloon with water, drop a jingle bell inside and knot the balloon. Set the balloon in a bowl to support the round shape of the water balloon. Freeze solid. Snip off the knot of the balloon, and peel away to reveal the ice ball. Drizzle hot glue all around the frozen shape, making sure there aren’t any open spaces larger than the size of the bell. Set ball into the sink to allow the ice to melt. You will now have a ball sculpture with a bell inside. Toss it to friends and let them guess how you made the whimsical toy. Safety Note: This activity is intended for teens who have experience using a glue gun. Keep the glue gun away from any water from melting ice.

***Donna Erickson’s award-winning series “Donna’s Day” is airing on public television nationwide. To find more of her creative family recipes and activities, visit www.donnasday.com and link to the NEW Donna’s Day Facebook fan page. Her latest book is “Donna Erickson’s Fabulous Funstuff for Families.”

Teens Get Crafty With Hot-Glue,

Ice

“The wealth required by nature is limited and is easy to procure; but the wealth required by vain ideals extends to infinity.” --Epicurus

Of Rockwall County

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Page 8 Tidbits® of Rockwall County

1. Condensation2. Fear of nudity3. Firenze4. A fur coat5. Stars Hollow, Conn.6. 19647. Reykjavik8. A monkey9. Contaminated water10. The anaconda


1. Eleven, in 2010.2. Frank Quilici, with 280 wins in four seasons with the Minnesota Twins.3. Georgia’s Frank Sinkwich, in 1942.4. Phil Jackson, Pat Riley, Larry Brown, Byron Scott, Rudy Tomjanovich, Jerry Sloan, Chuck Daly and Eric Spoelstra. 5. It was the 2008-09 season.6. Michelle Akers (39 goals in 1991), and Abby Wambach (31 in 2004).7. Gene Fullmer.


Defrauding the VA You have to love the stupidity of some criminals when they try to steal from the Department of Veterans Af-fairs. A few recent examples:

Tampa, Fla. -- The criminal called police to her apart-ment to report a break-in. The police found patient re-cords from a VA medical facility, plus notebooks full of names and Social Security numbers. Authorities discov-ered she was filing tax returns using those names and numbers and pocketing the refunds by turning them into prepaid debit cards.

Nashville, Tenn. -- The criminal got a federal VA grant for $80,000 that was to be used to provide housing to homeless veterans for at least seven years. She bought a house allegedly costing $124,000. No sign she started a shelter. She did the same thing again, getting a grant for $25,000 for a special van to transport homeless vet-

erans. No sign she actually bought a van. She then ap-plied for another grant to buy an apartment building to house homeless veterans, using a faked letter from a lo-cal homeless group. No sign of where that money went. The only thing that’s certain is that she wrote a lot of checks to gambling casinos. Total tab stolen: $360,000.

New Orleans -- Three VA medical center workers schemed to defraud the VA out of hundreds of thousands of dollars. One of them worked as a program manager, authorizing payments for care received by veterans in the community. Another worked as an assistant who entered those payments into the computer. The third worked with billing. Together they created false compa-nies that supposedly provided services to veterans, billed the VA for those fake services and pocketed the cash. They stupidly had the checks sent to themselves. Total stolen: $360,978 in one scam and $203,007 in another.

Freddy Groves regrets that he cannot personally answer reader questions, but will incorporate them into his col-umn whenever possible. Send email to [email protected].


• My mom was dealing with a rough health patch recently, and my dad was in charge of all her doctor visits. There was a lot of follow-up to keep track of, and many different doctors. He used a wallet-size photo holder to corral all the different appointment cards to put them in order of appointment. He really did a great job, and Mom’s all better now. -- Y.R. in Ohio

• A fast, cheap and effective treatment for leg cramps is drinking a little bit of pickle juice. I’m not sure if it’s the vinegar or the combination of vinegar and salt, but it works -- and fast! My grandpa told me about this, and recently I have seen it in magazine articles and on television shows. Nothing fancy, just take a big slug of the juice at the very first sign of a cramp. -- E.E. in Maine

• Here’s a tip for brides: For a couple of weeks before your wedding, wear your wedding shoes around the house several times a week. This breaks them in, and you will be more comfortable with all the standing and dancing on your special day!

• I think cleaning wipes are so very handy, but they can be quite expensive. To make my own, I add cleaner to baby wipes, right in the container. I don’t have babies in the house, but I do mark the container well so that nobody would use it for his or her skin. They work well for me. -- A Reader, via email

Send your tips to Now Here’s a Tip, c/o King Features Weekly Service, P.O. Box 536475, Orlando, FL 32853-

6475 or e-mail JoAnn at [email protected].

Tidbits of Rockwall County Issue #004

Documents

chests of tea

good cup of tea

tidbits announcesits

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traditional afternoon

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worlds largest tea producer

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