DEAL`S

Spring Garden & St. Patricks Day
Edition
Spring Tips to Attract Beautiful Birds to Your Yard
March 17th-23rd, 2016
Page 6
(StatePoint)
When hosting neighbors
and friends for spring
gatherings, your thoughts
may dwell on accommodating guests. But how
often do you consider
your animal visitors?
“During spring,
flocks of birds migrate
and are looking for places
to refuel and rest,” says
Spencer Schock, Founder
of WindowAlert, makers
of bird-friendly products
for homes. “A few small
tweaks to your yard, is
like placing out a welcome mat.”
Unfortunately,
migration is not without
peril or hardship, but
Schock says turning your
home into a refuge for
birds can be fun and add
beauty to your yard. He
offers these tips to keep
feathered travelers safe
during their migratory
journey.
• Protect flight:
Millions of birds die
annually by striking glass,
making windows a hazard to birds in flight. Try
applying special decals
that reflect ultraviolet
sunlight to your home’s
windows,
particularly
those windows that are
highly reflective of open
sky.
The decals won’t
affect your view because
they’re virtually invisible
to humans, but will help
keep birds safe. For example,
those
from
WindowAlert have patterns that give the appearance of slightly frosted
translucent glass, but
glow like a stoplight for
birds. The brand also
makes a high-tech liquid
called WindowAlert UV
Liquid, which can be
applied between decals.
Such ultraviolet
decals have been scientifically proven to keep birds
safer. A 2015 American
Bird Conservancy Study
found that the more
WindowAlert decals that
were applied to a piece of
glass covering the departure point of a flight tunnel, the more birds avoided it (a net protected all
the birds in the study
from actually getting
hurt, no matter where
they chose to fly).
•
Bed
and
Breakfast:
Birdfeeders
come in all shapes, sizes
and styles, and simply
adding one to your yard
can help beautify it and
give birds the energy
needed to continue their
flight.
R e m e m b e r
though, bird strikes are
often a problem near bird
feeders, as feeding birds
are easily frightened and
are apt to take wild, evasive flight; position feeders closer than three feet
or farther than 30 feet
from windows. If your
feeder is close to the window, birds fly away from
the house. Believe it or
not, the safest type of
feeder is the kind that
attach to the window
(Family Features)
Spring is house-hunting
season and with warmer
temperatures
and
increased rain, it is also
the season when pesky
creatures can invade
homes. Even minor flaws
in a new home should not
be ignored as they can
potentially lead to pest
damage.
Ron
Harrison,
Ph.D., entomologist with
Orkin, recommends new
homeowners avoid making these five mistakes:
Overlooking
tiny cracks
Even tiny cracks
and crevices in the foundation, doorways and
walls where pipes enter
the home could be inviting ants, roaches, spiders,
rodents and other pests
inside.
A rat can squeeze
through an opening as
small as a quarter and a
mouse can fit through a
hole the size of a dime.
Cockroaches, ants and
spiders can enter through
tiny crevices, too.
Pests are attracted to shelter, food and
water.
Homeowners
should promptly clean
up all water and food
spills, seal any cracks and
crevices around doors,
windows and pipes and
install weather stripping
around and under all
doors, including garage
doors.
Obtaining second-hand furniture
Buying a home is
an expensive investment
and it may be tempting to
save money with furniture from a thrift shop or
garage sale, but bed bugs,
spiders and even scorpions have been known to
dwell in second-hand
upholstered furniture.
Once inside, they
can spread from room to
From StatePoint.net
You can also
make your home’s outdoor spaces more birdfriendly filling your garden with the right plants
and flowers for pollinating bird species.
• Watch and
record: Grab a pair of
binoculars and a field
guide book and take note
PHOTO SOURCE: Sumikophoto - Fotolia.com
of the types of birds you making your home and
see and when. This will garden a bird haven, visit
help you become better WindowAlert.com.
“By making a few
prepared for next season.
In addition, consider simple modifications to
becoming a “citizen scien- your yard and home, you
tist” by submitting your can assist birds on their
journey,”
says
observations
to
The long
Audubon Society and Schock.
Cornell University’s database at ebird.org.
For more tips on
room. That's why it's
important to inspect and
quarantine - for several
months if possible - all
second-hand furniture
before bringing it inside
your home.
Ignoring insulation
A home's attic
can be a gateway inside
for many pests, such as
rodents and cockroaches,
that nest in insulation. It's
important to inspect insulation for pest activity
and damage: insulation
that is wet, matted down,
chewed or covered with
droppings.
New insulation
technology incorporates
materials
specifically
designed to help deter
household pests.
Ignoring flooring
and siding damage
Termites
are
called "silent destroyers"
because they may be
secretly hiding and thriving in a home or yard
without immediate signs
of damage. They cause
more than $5 billion in
damage every year in the
United States, according
to the National Pest
M a n a g e m e n t
Association.
House foundations, wood framing, furniture and shelves are all
possible feeding sites for
termites. In spring, termites can be seen swarming around windows or
doors. Other signs of termite activity include
buckling wood, swollen
floors and ceilings and
areas that appear to be
suffering from slight
water damage.
Brick and mortar
homes are not termiteproof as they have wooden components, such as
framing and flooring,
that can host termite
infestations. It's important to work with a
licensed professional to
provide regular inspections.
Not
repairing
itself.
5 Mistakes New Homeowners Make That Attract Spring Pests
Source: Getty Images
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From Family Features
leaks
Minor leaks may
seem to be just that minor - but leaks or condensation,
combined
with increasing temperatures in the spring, can
create ideal conditions for
cockroaches and other
pests.
American cockroaches,
"camel crickets" and
springtails can enter
homes through tiny
cracks and are attracted
to damp areas, both in the
attic or crawl space and
indoors in the basement,
kitchen or bathroom.
Small steps make
a big difference. Fix leaking faucets, water pipes
and A/C units and eliminate standing water on
the roof or in gutters to
help prevent an infestation.
For more information to help prevent
common
household
pests, visit Orkin.com.
Spring Garden & St. Patricks Day
Edition
2nd Annual St. Patrick’s Day Quiz
Page 7
March 17th-23rd, 2016
Ah, St. Patrick's Day. It's that time of year when we eat green foods and wear green clothes. The celebration
is also a harbinger of spring that is to arrive three days later. But how much do you really know about St.
Patrick's Day? Why not grab a warm mug of Irish coffee and your favorite pen and try another fun yet educational Yorktown Crier / Poquoson Post quiz by John F. Hamilton. Try to solve without Googling first.
Spoiler Alert- Answers are at bottom of page.
8) What happened to the
real St. Patrick on March
a) Mitt Romney will give 17th?
a lame speech saying he
won't support shamrocks a) He was born
b) Donald Trump will dye b) He became a priest
his hair green and deport c) He died
4) This St. Patrick's Day:
a) Because its capital is 13) Which is NOT a
Dublin all the time (get famous Irish song?
it?)
a) Danny Boy
10) In which country is St. b) Molly Malone
Patrick's Day NOT a pub- c) Galway Bay
d) When Irish Eyes are
lic holiday?
Smiling
e) Who Let the Dogs Out
a) Montserrat
b) Newfoundland &
Labrador
14) What happens in
c) United States of Virginia on St. Patrick's
Day
America
d) Ireland
a) The trash and oil in the
11) What color is NOT on James River is colored
the Irish flag?
green
b) Giant green mosquia) Green
toes attack Poquoson
b) White
c) Route 17 is paved lime
c) Blue
green and traffic sits at a
d) Orange
standstill
d) None of the above
12) Where is St. Patrick
supposedly buried?
DMV Urges Virginians to Plan
Ahead This St. Patrick’s Day
RICHMOND
–
The Virginia Department
of Motor Vehicles (DMV)
urges drivers to drink
responsibly and plan
ahead this St. Patrick’s
Day.
There were 17
alcohol-related crashes on
March 17-18, 2015, exactly
half the amount from 2014.
DMV
Commissioner
Richard D. Holcomb, the
Governor’s
Highway
Safety Representative, is
hopeful this year’s numbers will be even lower.
“I’m thankful the
amount of alcohol-related
crashes decreased drastically during last year’s St.
Patrick’s Day celebration,
but, by planning ahead,
Virginia drivers can create
an even safer environment
for everyone,” Holcomb
said. “Choosing a designated driver or another
safe form of transportation
could mean the difference
between getting home
safely – or taking a life.”
There are plenty
of alternatives to driving
while under the influence.
Designating a sober driver
before going out is one
route to ensure a safe
evening. Taxi services,
public transportation, or a
transportation network
company are other options
drivers have - all of which
are much cheaper than
getting a DUI.
According to the
National Highway Traffic
Safety
Administration
(NHTSA), the average
DUI costs $10,000. This
amount could include, but
is not limited to, a loss of
income from jail time,
legal fees, court costs,
license
reinstatement
charges, mandatory substance abuse classes, and
increased insurance rates.
When operating a
motor vehicle in Virginia,
you are legally considered
to be driving under the
Submitted by Brandy Brubaker
influence if your blood NHTSA study, drivers
alcohol content (BAC) is with a BAC of 0.05 percent
0.08 percent or higher. You or higher are twice as likestill could be considered ly to crash compared to
under the influence with a those at zero percent. The
lower BAC if your ability risk doubles again at 0.08
to operate a motor vehicle percent, making the likeliis impaired. The amount of hood of a crash four times
alcohol it takes for an indi- greater than driving sober.
vidual to reach impairIn 2015, 241 peoment is dependent on fac- ple died in alcohol-related
tors such as gender, crashes in Virginia.
weight, age, body fat perA list of DMVcentage, and medication approved transportation
usage.
services is available on the
According to a agency’s website.
Scoring:
14 correct-You are the Wearer of the Green
10-13 correct-You love Celtic songs and bagpipes
5-9 correct-You like St. Patrick's Day but miss
St. Valentine's Day
1-4 correct-You are allergic to cabbage
0 correct-You must spend the rest of March in a limousine with Taylor Swift and 6 drunken leprechauns
while they play harmonicas and sing Irish ditties
and paint each other's toenails green
Answers:
3) Which president was a) 1957
the 1st to attend a St. b) 1967
Patrick's Day parade?
c) 1977
d) 2017
a) Teddy Roosevelt
b) Woodrow Wilson
7) Yes or No-St. Patrick
was a Christian missionc) Harry Truman
ary.
d) George W. Bieber
a) Dublin
9) Why is Ireland the b) Belfast
fastest growing country in c) New York City
d) Downpatrick
the world?
1) c 2) d 3) c 4) d 5) False 6) b 7) Yes
8) c 9) a 10) c 11) c 12) d 13) e 14) d
1) What is the official all Irishmen to upper
color of Ireland?
Canada
c) All politicians will
a) Green
promise to tell the truth
b) Orange
d) Will be on a Thursday
c) Blue
5) True or False-More
2) Which is NOT a city in Hallmark cards are sold
Ireland?
on St. Patrick's Day than
on St. Valentine's Day.
a) Dublin
b) Kilkenny
6) What year was the first
c) Cork
St. Patrick's Day parade in
d) Gaga
Norfolk?
Submitted by John Hamilton
The Pet Corner
Where animals of the Middle
Peninsula find care and compassion.
And where you may
find your best friend.
Animal Adoptions:
Sun: 1 - 4pm
Mon: 3 - 7pm
Tues - Sat: 11am - 4pm
GMHS is a registered, not-for-profit charity. Your gift to GMHS will help SAVE LIVES.
For information on how to GIVE,
Visit: www.gmhumanesociety.org
or call: 804-693-5520, ext 307
St. Patricks Day Special!
Wear Green, Save Some Green @ Gloucester-Mathews Humane Society
Wear green to sheler and get 1/2 off adoption fees
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month old gray tabby is looking for someone
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lap cats that is only interested in lap-sitting if
you are busy doing something else.
Free estimates
Increase the value of your home and
at the same time curb appeal.
Do you have unsightly tree stumps?
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Call Jimmy’s Stump Grinding today to get
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around while you go about your day. If you are
looking for a loving, playful kitty, Mini Me is
your man. Come by the Gloucester-Mathews
Humane Society and meet him today!
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Ruben, a six year old hound mix, is a playful guy
who loves to play fetch and bask in the sun. When
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Spring Garden & St. Patricks Day
Edition
Page 8
Make St. Patrick’s Day a Tasteful One with
These Recipies and Tips
March 17th-23rd, 2016
From Family Features
FAMILY FEATURES
I
t doesn’t take the Luck o’ the Irish to throw a great St. Patrick’s Day party.
These tips and recipes will help you throw a festive celebration you’ll enjoy
as much as your guests — including make-ahead corned beef and a mintygreen cookie recipe both adults and little leprechauns will love.
“We’ve developed recipes that make the tastes of Ireland easy to create — from
a simple Irish Soda Bread to a classic corned beef and cabbage recipe that can be
made in a slow cooker,” said Mary Beth Harrington of the McCormick Kitchens.
“And don’t forget the treats! Our Mint Chocolate Chip Cookies are the perfect
ending to a perfectly green party.”
For more St. Patrick’s Day recipes, check out www.McCormick.com and visit
McCormick Spice on Facebook and Pinterest.
Savory Irish Cheese Soda Bread
Prep time: 10 minutes
Cook time: 40 minutes
Servings: 12
2 1/2 cups flour
1/2 cup sugar
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 teaspoons McCormick Caraway Seed
1 teaspoon McCormick Garlic Powder
1/4 teaspoon McCormick Red Pepper, Ground
1/2 cup shredded Irish Cheddar cheese
2 eggs
1 1/4 cups buttermilk
Preheat oven to 350°F. Mix flour, sugar, baking powder,
baking soda, salt and seasonings in large bowl. Stir in
cheese. Set aside. Mix eggs and buttermilk in medium
bowl. Add to dry ingredients; stir until well blended.
Spread in lightly grease 9-inch round cake pan.
Bake 30–40 minutes or until toothpick inserted in
center comes out clean. Cool in pan on wire rack 10 minutes. Remove from pan. Cool completely on wire rack.
Tip: Make muffins instead of bread. Prepare dough as
directed and divide among 12 greased muffin cups.
Bake 20–25 minutes or until toothpick inserted in
center comes out clean.
Mint Chocolate Chip Cookies
Prep time: 15 minutes
Cook time: 10 minutes
Servings: 3 dozen, or 36 (1 cookie) servings
2 1/2 cups flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 cup (2 sticks) butter, softened
1 1/4 cups sugar
2 eggs
1–1 1/2 teaspoons McCormick Green Food Color
1 teaspoon McCormick Pure Peppermint Extract
1 1/2 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips
Preheat oven to 375°F. Mix flour, baking soda and salt in
medium bowl. Set aside. Beat butter and sugar in large bowl
with electric mixer on medium speed until light and fluffy. Add
eggs, food color and peppermint extract; mix well. Gradually
beat in flour mixture on low speed until well mixed. Stir in
chocolate chips.
Drop by heaping tablespoons about 2 inches apart onto
ungreased baking sheets.
Bake 10–12 minutes or until edges are lightly browned.
Cool on baking sheets 1 minute. Remove to wire racks; cool
completely.
Slow Cooker Corned Beef
and Cabbage
Prep time: 10 minutes
Cook time: 8 hours
Servings: 12
8 small red potatoes
2 cups baby carrots
1 small onion, quartered
1 corned beef brisket (4 pounds),
rinsed and trimmed
2 tablespoons McCormick Mixed
Pickling Spice
1 teaspoon McCormick Minced Garlic
1/2 head cabbage, cored and cut
into wedges
Place potatoes, carrots and onion in slow cooker.
Place corned beef brisket over vegetables.
Sprinkle with pickling spice and minced garlic.
Add enough water (about 8 cups) to just cover
meat. Cover.
Cook 7 hours on high. Add cabbage. Cover.
Cook 1–2 hours on high or until cabbage is
tender-crisp.
Remove corned beef brisket to serving platter.
Slice thinly across grain. Serve with vegetables.
Tip: For best results, do not remove cover while
cooking in slow cooker.