The New American Dream

New Books For Kids & Young Adults

Too cold to play outside? These books make great companions!

The Flint Heart by Katherine Paterson
(Ages 8-12)

An ancient, heart-shaped charm brings a violent power to all who wear it—until 12 year old Charlie manages to destroy it forever.

Mister Creecher by Chris Priestly
(Ages 12-18)

On the streets of Victorian London, a monstrous man saves Billy’s life. Then the man introduces Billy to his ‘father’: Dr. Frankenstein.

The Three Little Aliens and the Big Bad Robot by Margaret McNamara
(Ages 5-7)

A surprising take on The Three Little Pigs.

With a Name Like Love by Tess Hilmo
(Ages 9-12)

In this vivid and big-hearted mystery set in 1957 Arkansas, Ollie, the daughter of an itinerant preacher, befriends a boy whose mother is wrongfully accused of murder.

Dinosaur vs. the Library by Bob Shea
(Ages 3-5)

Bob Shea’s toothy and gregarious hero returns to face his toughest opponent yet: the library! Can he be quiet for an entire story?

Nature’s Bounty: Five Superfruits For Your Health

The benefits of fruits and vegetables for your health have been well-established. And there’s a new class of fruit that can have even more powerful effects. Dubbed “superfruits,” these miracles of nature pack exceptional amounts of antioxidants and vitamins to get your body looking and feeling great. Here are five of the best.

1.     Acai. This Brazilian berry grows on palm trees, and was first introduced to the American market in 2004. The fruit contains exceptional polyphenol and antioxidant properties, and has also been shown to reduce cholesterol in tests. It is served as pulp or in juice blends.

2.     Goji. Also known as the Chinese wolfberry, these Asian fruits overflow with a wide variety of vitamins and minerals, as well as helpful phytochemicals that may have beneficial health effects. They're most commonly eaten dry. Chinese medicinal cuisine uses them in soups as well.

3.     Blueberries. The humble blueberry has been a staple of pancakes for decades. But for best results don’t cook it! This fruit has some of the highest antioxidant levels of any on this list, and it also produces tannins that have been shown to inhibit the development of cancer.

4.     Pomegranate. This difficult-to-eat fruit may be worth it, as the juicy seeds have been shown to inhibit risk factors that contribute to coronary artery disease in clinical tests. Many companies sell pomegranate juice, either straight or blended with other fruits for flavor.

5.     Sea Buckthorn. This small, orange berry is very acidic and difficult to eat raw. However, when the juice is extracted, it boasts a spectacular dose of vitamin C and phytonutrients that may work as anti-inflammatories.

Memo to Residents: Tropical Storm Warning

As you may know, a tropical storm is heading our way this weekend. The prolonged high winds and heavy rains represent potential hazards like: flooding, power outages and wind damage.

We strongly request that all residents properly prepare in advance, and below is a list of suggested actions:

• We are requiring you to secure all balcony/patio and yard furniture, as well as, all outside personal belongings (toys, planters, grills), preferably bring them inside.
   
• e a flashlight with fresh batteries on each floor of your home.
• Please use candles with extreme caution, and never leave a burning candle unattended.
• Have a battery-powered radio and clock available.
• Stay away from downed and loose wires and report them immediately to PECO and the Office if the wires are within the Community.
• If you lose power, move items from your refrigerator into your freezer to keep them cold as long as possible, and open your freezer and refrigerator as little as possible.
• Close your blinds and windows, and stay away from windows during the height of the storm.
• Generators are not permitted to be used at any time. This includes storing the generator on the patio or balcony for use inside the apartment.
• Consider placing a rolled towel at the bottom of patio on front entrance door if water intrusion is an issue, and keep the doors closed.
• Walk or drive cautiously. Debris-filled streets and pathways are very dangerous. Washouts may weaken road and bridge structures. Please be mindful, and observe any blocked out or taped off roadways and pathways.
• Stay indoors! Resist the temptation to watch the storm outside as the high winds may create projectiles that could put you at risk of injury.

Keep PECO’s emergency telephone number 800-841-4141 handy. The more customers who call to report an outage, the faster they may dispatch crews and restore your service. Restoring power is typically not a matter that our site Management team has any control over.

Some other important numbers to keep at the ready are:
The Police Department number is:
Our Emergency “On-Call” number is:

We thank you in advance for your patience. We expect that there may be problems and our staff is making every effort to plan accordingly. It takes a team effort to deal with storm related matters and clean-up after a storm. Should damage to the property occur, please report the matter to the Management Office and we will make an inspection to assess the damages as soon as possible. Repairs will be schedule in the order of severity.

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Forecasters project that Hurricane Irene will strike the North Carolina coast Saturday morning, then move northeast along the east coast. On Saturday and Sunday, states in the mid-Atlantic and New England will suffer torrential rain and hurricane force winds from the Category 2 storm. According to weather.com, Hurricane Irene has the potential to produce flooding rains, high winds, downed trees, and widespread power outages in and around cities like Washington, D.C., Baltimore, Philadelphia, New York, and Boston. 

If you don't already have one, now's a good time to create a disaster preparedness plan for you and your family. You can read the National Hurricane Center's hurricane preparedness tips at www.nhc.noaa.gov/HAW2/english/disaster_prevention.shtml. The page offers tips on developing a family disaster plan, creating a disaster supply kit, and evacuation. 

Click here for weather.com's projected tracks for Hurricane Irene. 

Check weather.com, accuweather.com, or wunderground.com for up to date information about Hurricane Irene. 

And most importantly, be safe!

Java Jive: Coffee Brewing Comparisons

 

When you can’t make it down to Starbucks, you've always got the option to make your own coffee at home. But with so many different ways to brew a cup of joe, which one's the best for your lifestyle? Here’s a quick rundown of some of the most popular methods.

Automatic drip coffeemakers are some of the most common appliances in American kitchens, but they are beginning to fall out of fashion. Their greatest advantage is consistency – their automatic heat and drip settings create quality coffee every time. Unfortunately, many of them feature a warming plate under the pot that can make coffee taste bad if left too long.

One of the more popular new trends in home coffeemaking is the single-serve “coffee pods” made with brand names like K-cups and Nestle’s Dolce Gusto. The advantage of these machines is that they brew only as much coffee as you want. Each pod makes a single cup very quickly. However, some people don't like that the pods are thrown out after use.

If you don’t have a power source nearby, a French press is a popular way of brewing coffee. This simple machine requires roughly ground coffee, which is poured into a glass vessel and covered with hot water. After waiting a few minutes, a wire mesh screen is pressed down, straining out the grounds and leaving rich, dark coffee behind. The French press's main drawback is that you must time how long the grounds are left to steep quite carefully. Otherwise, you'll get coffee that's too light or too dark.

Brewed coffee's acidity can be difficult for sensitive stomachs. But there's a way to make delicious coffee that makes it much less acidic. Cold-brewed coffee, where grounds are steeped in cold water for as long as 24 hours before being strained, creates a dense coffee concentrate that can be mixed with hot water, cold water, or milk for a fresh, tasty cup of java.

By Nevit Dilmen (Own work) [GFDL (www.gnu.org/copyleft/fdl.html) or CC-BY-SA-3.0 (www.creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/)], via Wikimedia Commons

Get a Great Workout . . . With Your Dog!

You've heard of the benefits of working out with a friend or spouse . . . but how about your dog? Including your pooch in your exercise routine will not only help your waistline, but it's a great way to keep your dog healthy and spend more time with your furry best friend! Check out this article on Gather.com about Dog Friendly Exercises, and get tips on activities like running through a "dogstacle course," hiking, and doing yoga with your pup. Who knew it could be so easy to get a full body workout with your canine companion by your side?

Best Red Wines for Under $20

Want a top bottle of red for less than top dollar? These fantastic wines taste a lot glitzier than their price tags, and they’re available in most large liquor stores:

Rodney Strong Russian River Pinot Noir, California
$20

California’s Russian River Valley may produce the finest Pinots in the world. This wine’s texture is a perfect balance of richness and softness, allowing the cherry and currant flavors to emerge with pointed subtlety. It’s ready to drink, and pairs well with any dish.

Chateau Souverain Alexander Valley Merlot, California
$16.99

This deep ruby Merlot offers aromas of ripe black plum, blueberry, and currant. The vibrant fruit core balances nicely with soft, round tannins creating a lush mouthfeel. Notes of cinnamon and nutmeg, which come from aging in oak barrels, meld nicely with the rich fruit and lead to a velvety finish.

Le Bombarde, Canonau di Sardegna, Italy
$14.99

This fruit-scented Canonau (Grenache) is very rich and fruity, like drinkable blackberry jam. But don’t mistake it for sugar water; nutty nuances provide great balance, and the alcoholic kick is substantial without being overpowering. The juiciness pairs well with grilled marinated meats.

Andezon, Cotes-du-Rhone Syrah, France
$12.99

Not too heavy or too light, this Syrah tastes like blackberries at first, but the fruit flavors mellow out quickly. Syrahs are well known for their peppery, smoky personality, which makes them pair well with spicy dishes.

Porca de Murca, Douro, Portugal
$5.99

An absolute steal, this red wine is a blend of Port grapes and tastes like ripe, fresh cherries at first sip. As the flavor lingers in your mouth, you'll find an earthy, smooth background comes into focus. An excellent match for red meat.

 

Start Your Day With a Healthy Breakfast

Let’s face it, the average American breakfast isn’t our healthiest meal. Whether we’re wolfing down a bowl of over-sugared cereal in genetically modified milk or treating ourselves to a McGriddle, we’re not starting our days off as well as we should. Instead try one of these quick, easy, healthy breakfasts that will have you feeling energized and ready to start the day.

One classic healthy breakfast is oatmeal. It’s packed with complex carbohydrates that break down slowly, giving you ample energy throughout your day. Top it with nuts for protein, mix in a little milk for calcium, and stir in some local honey for sweetness and you have a dynamite nutrition package.

Yogurt is also an excellent breakfast foundation. Not only is it high in protein and calcium, but the probiotic bacteria that live in yogurt can aid stomach function and digestion. Top it with mixed-grain muesli and berries and you’ll be full, happy, and ready to go.

Scrambled Tofu may seem a little too hippie for some, but in consistency it’s very close to scrambled eggs, with more protein and less fat. Mix in spinach and cheese for a tasty morning scramble.

Sustainable Foods: What Are They and Why Should You Eat Them?

Everywhere you turn these days, it seems like terms such as “green,” “locavore,” and “sustainable” are getting thrown around. What is a sustainable food, and why should you care about eating them?

Basically, the concept of sustainability refers to whether a practice can be carried out indefinitely without causing undue harm to the environment. For example, although controversial, most people can agree that the practice of relying on coal or fossil fuels for energy is not sustainable, because these supplies are finite and non-renewable. Simply put, we’ll run out of them some day.

When it comes to food production, sustainability refers to agricultural practices that can be carried out indefinitely without causing permanent damage to the Earth. When you opt for food that has been grown using sustainable methods, you’re basically making an investment in the long-term health of the environment. On the other hand, when you opt for food that is the product of non-sustainable agriculture, you may be helping to fund practices that harm the environment, such as slash-and-burn harvesting techniques or unsafe pesticide use. For more information on sustainable food—including the latest news and issues, how to shop for sustainable products, and more, click here!

Hosting a Gathering at Home? Here Are a Few Tips For Pre-Party Planning

Entertaining can be a lot of fun—but it can also be stressful. If you’re planning a soiree at home, here are a few tips for covering your bases and making the party-planning process as easy as possible.

Take the time to prepare the space. Move everything that isn’t party-safe to a second location, whether it be the basement, the garage, etc.

Plan your entertainment well in advance. Put together an iPod playlist for the length of your party, with active, exciting music at the beginning and more laid-back, relaxed songs for when things are winding down.

Prepare a party drink. Instead of trying to run a full bar, make a festive punch or cosmo mix—this will control the alcohol content of the drinks and save mixing time.

Food for thought—don’t feel like you have to make everything from scratch. Mixing premade food and homemade stuff is a fine way to fill rumbling stomachs.

Stay cool and keep things organized, and you’ll have a great party

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