2011 december good times

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2 GOOD TIMES December 2011

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GOOD

TIMESVol. 6 No. 3

Don Hemple, PublisherNancy Spencer, Editor

A monthly publication forAllen, Auglaize, Putnam,

Logan, Mercer and Van Wert Counties.

For editorial information:Nancy Spencer: 1-800-589-6950 Ext. 134

Email - [email protected]

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A DELPHOS HERALD

PUBLICATION405 N. Main St.,

Delphos, Ohio 45833

ContentsBirthday Trivia

Birthday trivia answers

1. Ray Ramono2. Bill Pullman

3. Wink Martindale

4. Little Richard

3 .....THOSE WERE THE DAYS

TV DINNER TIME

4 .....CROSSWORD FUN

THEME: THE 20TH CENTURY

5 .....TOP 5 CHRISTMAS SEASON SCAMS

6-7 . A DICKENS CHRISTMAS

CAMBRIDGE, OHIO TURNSBACK THE CLOCK

8 .... ITS IN THE MAIL

9 .... IN THE SAME BOAT

BEDTIME STORY

10 .. IS THE TIME RIGHT

TO REFINANCE

1. I was born December 21, 1957 in Queens,New York, I am an actor, writer and stand-upcomedian, best known for my roles on the sit-com Everybody Loves Raymond and in the IceAge film series. Who am I?

2. I was born December 17, 1953 in Hornell, NewYork. I am a film, television, and stage actor. Ihave starred in films, including Spaceballs,Independence Day, Lost Highway, Casperand Scary Movie 4. Who am I?

3. I was born December 4, 1934, in Jackson,Tennessee. I am best known as a TV game showhost of Gambit, High Rollers and Tic-Tac-Dough. Who am I?

4. I was born on December 5, 1932 in Macon,Georgia. I am a singer, songwriter, musician,recording artist, and actor, considered key inthe transition from rhythm and blues to rockand roll in the 1950s. My hit songs include:Tutti Frutti, Long Tall Sally and GoodGolly, Miss Molly. Who am I?


3/12

December 2011 GOOD TIMES 3

Those Were The DaysTV Dinner Time

Many television trends have come andgone over the years, but cooking showscontinue to gain popularity. They haveevolved to satisfy our yearning for quali-ty, affordability and healthy cooking. And

while many of us may not have the timeto execute many of these recipes, these

shows prevail because everyone eats andcan relate to the cook.

This month we will take a closer lookat two chefs who broke the mold and be-gan the successful road to todays popular

TV cooking shows.

Julia Child...The French ChefThe French Chef is an inuential televi-

sion cooking show created by Julia Child,and produced and broadcast by WGBHPublic television in Boston, Massachu-setts, from February 11, 1963 to 1973.It was one of the rst cooking shows ontelevision. A 1962 appearance on a bookreview show speaking about her bookMastering The Art of French Cookingon WGBH, led to the inception of her rsttelevision cooking show after viewers en- joyed her demonstration of how to cookan omelette.

Child popularized French cookingon a large scale; her charming personal-ity, in conjunction with the popularity ofFrench food, created a revolution. TheFrench Chef introduced French cookingto the United States at a time when it was

considered expensive restaurant fare, notsuitable for home cooking. Child empha-sized fresh and, at the time, unusual in-gredients.

The show was done live to videotapefrom start to nish, leaving little roomfor mistakes. The resulting occasional ac-cidents became a popular trademark ofChilds on air presence, used as teach-able moments to encourage viewers to

relax about the tasks demands.She had, in the words of one fan, anunassuming, unrufed manner. She wasnot prissy she would stick her ngersin the sauce to taste, lick spoons, drop in-

gredients, and then toss them into the stewpot. Those imperfections, however, werea crucial element to Childs persona.

The Galloping GourmetGraham Kerr and his producer and

wife, Treena, capitalized on the enter-tainment potential of a cooking show.The program featured Kerrs irreverentand racy humor and was the rst cookingshow to involve an in-studio audience.

Kerr moved to New Zealand in 1958,becoming chief chef catering adviser forthe Royal New Zealand Air Force. It wasthere that his media career began in theearly 1960s: his recipes were deliveredon radio and in magazines, and a relatedbook, Entertaining with Kerr, sold outits rst edition in eight days. He moved

into television with the emergence of thenew medium in New Zealand.

Later The Galloping Gourmet (1969-71), a show named for Kerrs onscreenpersona, was taped in Ottawa at CJOH-TV and produced by his wife. The ori-gin of his Galloping Gourmet personastemmed from a 1967 book he co-au-thored with wine expert Len Evans, TheGalloping Gourmets. The nickname was

the result of a 35-day worldwide trek tothe nest restaurants around the globe.The title was echoed in the opening ofeach episode of his original North Ameri-can series, lmed in front of a live audi-ence, where Kerr entered the stage area byrunning in and leaping over a chair in thedining room set.

The series was known for its light-hearted humour, tomfoolery and the co-pious use of claried butter, cream andfat. Indeed, Kerrs most famous line on

the show might have been his responseto someones criticism of his cooking:Madame, you could go outside and getrun over by a bus and just think what youwould have missed!

He also liberally featured wine, serv-ing it with most meals, drinking it whilecooking, using it in his dishes, and wax-ing poetic about its virtues. In an ongoingfeature of the show, Kerr would make hisway into the audience as the closing cred-

its began and select an audience member(usually female) whom he would inviteonstage with him to enjoy whatever dishhe had just prepared. During The Gal-loping Gourmets successful run, he be-came a worldwide sensation, wrote anabundance of cookbooks, and earned twoEmmy Award nominations.

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ACROSS1. Mothball substitute6. *___ Whom the Bell Tolls,by Hemingway9. Equal13. Camels relative14. *Baseball great Gehrig

15. ___ the tail __ the donkey16. IRS threat17. Unit o electrical resistance18. Los _____, CA19. *Moldable material that hadhuge commercial impact21. *Location o amous all23. *___ Francisco, site o1906 Great Earthquake24. *Buddy Holly hit, ____On25. *Mary ___, businesswom-an extraordinaire28. *Belushi amously chantedthis in Animal House30. Bivouac35. Big bang theorys originalmatter37. *The Fab Fours originalnumber39. *Movie _____ Recall40. Spanish earthen pot41. Robin Hoods companion43. Vegans protein choice44. What you pay to pass, pl.

46. Doctors order47. Incision48. Pearl maker50. *Colorul building block52. One rom Laos

53. Not yet nal or absolute55. Rangers and Flyers eldo play57. *It carried Gagarin intospace60. *Chilly confict64. Can be used intermittently

65. The Jackson 5s ___ BeThere67. Nose o a missile, e.g.68. Cleverly unny69. Customers dread70. Complete list o Catholicsaints71. Type o list72. Marines are this andproud?73. Swedish money

DOWN1. *It can turn some lights onand o2. Twelth month o civil year3. *Nihilistic cultural movement4. Awry5. Knocks on the door, e.g.6. Farm Labor Organizing Com-mittee7. Expression o amazement8. Ballroom dance based onCuban olk dance9. Under a window

10. ____-perspirant11. *One small step or man?12. Hal the width o ems15. *JFK to John-John20. __ and out; on and ___

22. The day beore24. Typically lled with cheeseor meat25. *_____ Protocol, a rame-work or climate change26. Bronze, e.g.27. Hollers

29. Encircle31. Rolled out or guests, pl.32. Coral ree island33. *Subject o The Goda-ther34. *Demoted planet36. Scotch ingredient38. Ill at ____42. Latin or region45. Lookout man49. Home o 2016 Olympics51. According to the clock54. Small boat56. *J. _____ Hoover, o theFBI57. Henry ____58. Preers59. Comedian ____ Rogan60. Ball o yarn61. A drunk62. Shakespeares hometownriver63. Actress ____ Soer64. *Domain o latter part ocentury

66. *Martial artist, Bruce ___

See answer to

puzzle on page 9.

THEME: 20th CENTURY

Favorite Christmas Movie Quotes

Merry Christmas, movie house!Merry Christmas, Emporium!

Merry Christmas, you wonderful oldBuilding and Loan!

~Its a Wonderful Life

,


5/12December 2011 GOOD TIMES 5

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Courtesy Scambusters.org

1. Fly-By-Night Web Merchants. Eachholiday season features THE gift -- an itemso hot that many store shelves are quicklyemptied, causing people to literally lose theirminds in an effort to buy it.

To exploit scarcity, scammers set up web-sites offering this product, as do dishonest on-

line auction sellers.After raking in the money, the scammers

shut down their stores and disappear. Ifyoure lucky, you are simply left with no giftitem. If youre unlucky, you are further victim-ized by a ...

2. Phishing Scam, run by someone whowill use your credit card information to chargemore products and services to your accountand/or sell the information to identity thieves.

In most cases, however, phishing scam-mers launch websites that look nearly identicalto those of larger, reputable merchants -- not

unknown companies.Typically, youre contacted by email with

a tempting offer or dire warning, and then di-rected to click on a link, which takes you to afake website. Once there, youre told to enterpersonal and nancial information wanted bythe thieves.

Safety Tips: To avoid falling prey to eitherChristmas scam #1 or #2:

-- Shop only with reputable merchants,preferably ones youve used before.

-- Conrm that the website actually BE-LONGS to that merchant. Dont click onlinks in unsolicited emails. Type in theURL yourself.

-- Use a credit card, not your debitcard. Even if you never get the mer-chandise, credit cards arent directlylinked to your bank account, andyoure also not responsible for

more than $50 in fraudulentcharges.

-- If possible, useone-time use creditcard numbers, calledcontrolled paymentnumbers or virtualaccount numbers,for your online purchases. Bank of Americaalso offers these now (they call it ShopSafe).

3. Charity Scams. Scammers may pose asrepresentatives of charitable organizations thatare real (or merely sound real). At this time of

year, their emotionally-charged appeals aremore likely to strike pay dirt with normallysavvy people.

You can be sure that other scams willsoon be asking for donations many causes.The scams may involve nationally recognizedcharities aiding well-known causes, or localgroups handling problems closer to home.

Safety Tips: Whether youre approachedby email, telephone or in person, be VERYwary of high-pressure, donate NOW pitches.

Avoid charities whose rep-resentatives wont answer

reasonable questions, suchas (specically) how the

money will be spent.And NEVER give

cash or supply creditcard information viaemail or phone. Dont

write checks payableto an individual so-licitor. If youve

never heard ofan organiza-tion, conrmfor yourselfthat its real.

4. Gift Card Scams. Nearly every majorretailer offers gift cards, many of which hangon racks at checkout counters. Today, mostcards are protected by scratch-off securitycodes and protective packaging to prevent in-

formation theft.If cards are not protected, however, scam-

mers can write down the numbers while thecards are on display, and then call an 800number to learn when the cards have been ac-tivated.

After that, stealing is as simple as rushingto the merchant and making purchases beforethe REAL cardholder gets there.

Safety Tips: Purchase gift cards online, ifpossible. Or, only buy the cards from retailers

when theyre kept behind registers or availableupon request.

5. Holiday E-Card Scams. You may re-ceive an email from an unnamed relative,neighbor, or friend who has supposedlysent you an e-card that can be viewed by click-ing on a link.

Clicking on that link, however, may un-leash anything from spyware and pop-up ads

to viruses and Trojans. In some cases, nothingbad happens until you rst download softwarefrom the e-card website. (The software is sup-posedly needed to run your e-card.)

Sometimes, unwanted or malicious soft-ware is downloaded to your computer withyour permission -- after you agree to certainne-print terms and conditions, usuallywithout reading them.

Safety Tips: If theres any doubt about ane-cards authenticity, dont click on any linksinside.

Delete e-cards from people you dont knowwithout opening or reading them, and neverclick to accept terms from any company with-out actually reading the ne print.

Most important, install antivirus and anti-spyware software and keep it up to date.

When it comes to any type of scam -- atany time of year -- we suggest you trust yourinstincts. If something doesnt feel right, domore homework or buy from another vendor.

Heres hoping you have a happy and scam-free Christmas season!

'Top 5 Christmas Season Scams,

C b d Oh


6/126 GOOD TIMES December 2011

The Dickens Victorian Village is anique walking tour experience along his-oric Wheeling Avenue in downtown Cam-ridge, Ohio.

The Dickens Victorian Village display,hich opened its inaugural season in No-ember 2006, began with 40 scenes of 106ifelike gures representing classic scenesrom Victorian society. Today, the Dickensictorian Village project totals 186 manne-

uins in 80 scenes in all!This project was the brainchild of local

usinessman and artist Bob Ley ( who envi-ioned the concept, created sketches of eachcene, and organized the beginnings of theickens Victorian Village committee.

The Dickens Victorian Village scenesre comprised of life-sized and hand-madeannequins wearing real vintage clothing.he faces for each character have been in-ividually sculpted and painted by local art-sts.

The displays include engaging depic-ions of classic Dickens-era scenes and g-res such as Bob Cratchit and Tiny Tim, theown crier, groups of carolers (that actually

sing classic carols!), a bucket brigade,amplighters, school children, street ped-lers, and Father Christmas, all posed in ac-ive scenes that appear frozen in time.

Developed during the 2007 season, Ro-tary Square is a replication of a Victorian-era village and features heritage artisansand vendors demonstrating their craft andselling items during Peddler Weekends.

Wheeling Avenue is also the historicNational Road/Route 40, and features anoutstanding streetscape of original build-ings from the 1800s, including the signa-ture courthouse.

And each season, fun, engaging and the-matic special events -- like the Sherlock Hol-mes Weekend, Great Expectations Choco-late Walk, Mr. Fezziwigs Ball, and TavernTasting -- are added to the celebration.

Stop in at Ye Ole Curiosity Shoppe andDickens Welcome Center at 643 Wheel-ing Avenue to purchase Dickens and holi-day souvenirs, pick up a walking tour bro-chure, get Dickens event information, andgo behind the scenes to learn how it tooka village (over 1,000 volunteer hours werelogged this season!) to create this magni-cent six-week event. Light refreshmentswill be available at the Shoppe.

The Dickens scenes are stationed ateach antique lamppost and bench between6th and 11th Streets. Scenes in windows onstreet level and in second-story windows

along Wheeling Avenue depict indoor ac-tivities of the Victorian age such as wrap-ping gifts or decorating a Christmas tree.

Visitors are invited to stroll amidst thescenes which feature plaques with interest-ing and educational facts about Victoriansociety, and are welcome to visit the exhibi-tion any time of the day. A self-guided walk-ing tour brochure is available at downtownshops and area hotels for your convenience.In addition, a mannequin caroler will greetvisitors in six Cambridge hotel lobbies.

This innovative public art exhibition isenjoyed by families, couples, and groupsalike -- an experience that will engagethe senses as you explore the charmingstreetscape, striking historic architecture,and eclectic shops and eateries of Cam-bridge.

Courthouse Light ShowAn exciting new development is the

Guernsey County Courthouse HolidayLight Show, a spectacular active displayof lights on the downtown landmark that issynchronized to holiday music.

Cambridge is located at the intersection

of Interstates 70 and 77 in east/central Ohio,with easy access from urban areas such asCleveland, Columbus, and Cincinnati,Ohio; Pittsburgh, Pa.; Parkersburg, W. Va.;and beyond.

The mission of the Dickens VictorianVillage is to create a destination with anold world atmosphere that preserves historythrough education, creates memories, anddevelops family traditions.

We hope you can visit. You will receivea warm welcome to downtown Cambridge,

in beautiful Guernsey County, Ohio!

Cambridge, Ohio turnsback the clock for a

Dickens Christmas

Visit the workshop as volunteers create Dickens mannequins.



DICKENS VICTORIAN VILLAGE

2011-12 SEASON EVENTS

Dickens Victorian

Village DisplaysNow throughSaturday, Jan. 7, 2012

Along Wheeling Avenue,downtown Cambridge, Ohio

Ye Ole Curiosity Shoppeand Dickens Welcome Center

with Imagination Station643 Wheeling Ave., Cambridge, Ohio

Now through Saturday, Jan. 7, 2012. Open

aily: Monday through Saturday 10 a.m. top.m.; Sunday noon to 6 p.m.

All Dickens all the time!Visit with volunteers in costume as they

hare stories and photos of how the Dick-ns display was created. Purchase Dickensnd holiday souvenirs as you go behind thecenes to learn how it took a village to createhis magnicent 10-week community event.top in for your walking tour brochure, com-emorative merchandise, original artwork,

nd event information. Experience the Imagi-

ation Station and have your photo taken ineriod costume to take home to remember.Full tea is served in Mrs. Cratchits Kitch-

n on select Saturdays.While at the Dickens Welcome Center,

ake your chance at winning one of two op-ortunities to have a Dickens mannequin de-igned to look like you! The winning rafeickets will be drawn in January 2012.

VivaVintage Window DisplayNow through Saturday, Jan. 7, 2012

756 Wheeling Avenue,downtown Cambridge

In partnership with An Enchanted Gardenand the Eastern Ohio Art Guild Gallery &Learning Center, the windows at 756 Wheel-ing Ave will be decked out for the fall andwinter holidays with vintage hat and clothingdisplays. Ever wonder about what your great-

grandmother might have worn while she wasstrolling downtown? Stroll by this windowdisplay to take a look.

Victorian ViewsThrough the Eyes of Youth

Now Saturday, Jan. 7, 2012.Corner of Wheeling Ave. and

7th Street, downtown Cambridge

The public is invited to gather for the un-veiling of artistic panels created by art stu-dents from local schools. The art panels aredisplayed in old window openings of thishistoric building to give a Victorian Viewback in time. Stop by to see these local worksof student art on your stroll any day of theDickens Victorian Village display!

Peddler Weekendsand Rotary Square

Peddler Weekends take place 11 a.m. to 7p.m. on the following Fridays and Saturdays:Dec. 9-10, 16-17, 23-27, 30-31

Rotary Square is a small but life-sizedVictorian village modeled after shops fromCharles Dickens stories.

During Peddler Weekends, this arts andcrafts village, located on the 600 block ofWheeling Ave., will feature heritage artisans

dressed in period clothing selling their wares,including glass ornaments, holiday treats, andPicture Perfect by Darla -- an old fashionedphoto studio where you can have your picturetaken in Victorian wear to memorialize yourvisit!

Also during Peddler Weekends, nonprof-it groups will be peddling yummy treats onWheeling Avenue, adding a lively atmosphereto the Dickens Victorian Village display andoffering a great time for the entire family toenjoy downtown.

Small and large group carriage ridesthrough town will also be offered duringPeddler Weekends. Carriage rides begin onTurner Avenue at 7th Street, behind Lillien-thal Southeastern Printing.

Dont forget your camera! Photo opportu-nities abound, and you can also capture yoursmiling face in a Victorian character cutout asa memento of your Dickens experience!

Tues.-Thurs.8:30-5, Fri. 8:30-

6, Sat. 9-2

Come check us out for all yourChristmas shopping needs!

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528 N.Washington St., Delphos419-692-0044

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Peddlers Weekend

I



By Paul Niemann

Of all the wild schemes Ihave ever heard of, this is themost extraordinary! -- BritishPostmaster General in 1840 re-acting to the idea of using post-age stamps for mail delivery

When I was in college, Itook some time off and back-packed throughout Europe. Forone month I was a typical col-lege bum, and it was fun. WhenI went, I decided to bring backa souvenir from each countrythat I visited something thatwas small enough to carry in mybackpack and could be foundin every country. Quick whatdoes each country have thatwould make a good souvenir andis small enough to t into a back-pack?

Stamps! I decided that stampswould be the perfect souvenir.

So I chose coins instead.Since each country required youto use their currency when youpass through their borders thiswas before the Euro I knew itwould be easier to collect coinsrather than stamps. Stamps,though, have a history all theirown. They tell a story, just like acountry music song does.

The very rst postal serviceswere set up by kings and gov-ernments exclusively for theirown use. Later, when ordinarycitizens wanted to send mail aswell, a system was establishedwhich required the person whoreceived the letter to pay for it atthe time of delivery. They werecharged according to how muchthe letter weighed as well as thedistance that it went. In fact, BenFranklin invented an odometerto measure the distance the lettercarriers traveled.

Things began to change in1838 when James Raymond,the Postmaster General of NewSouth Wales, Australia, intro-duced the worlds rst pre-paidpostage system by stamping let-ters. It was set up the same wayin which a bank teller stampsyour checks.

Two years later, an English-man named Sir Rowland Hillcame up with the idea of usingpostage stamps. Hill suggestedlowering the cost of postage toa penny and, since the stampwas black, it was called thePenny Black. The Penny Blackcontained an image of BritainsQueen Victoria and was rst is-sued in England in May of 1840.The British postmaster generalthought that the postage stampwas a crazy idea at the time. Hillsnext great idea was the mailbox,now that postage was being pre-

paid by the sender.(That Hill thinks ofeverything, doesnthe?)

Stamps madetheir way to Amer-ica in 1847, andBen Franklin wasthe rst person toappear on a U.S.stamp; he was alsoour rst postmastergeneral. The ve-cent Franklin stampwas soon followedby the ten-centGeorge Washing-ton stamp.

In 1860 the PonyExpress openedwith a recruitment

ad that read, WANTED: Youngskinny wiry fellows not over 18.

Must be willing to risk deathdaily. Orphans preferred. Wages$25 a week.

The Pony Express riderscould travel the 2,000 miles fromSt. Joseph, Missouri, to the WestCoast in only ten days, which washalf the time that it took to travelthe distance by train. One of theriders was 14-year old WilliamCody as in Buffalo Bill Cody who once outran a party of 15

Indians who were trying to robhim. Cody and his fellow ridersdelivered news of the outbreakof the Civil War the followingyear. After just nineteen months,the Pony Express was replacedby the telegraph.

In case youve alwayswondered, but

were afraid to ask

Even though the English in-vented the postage stamp, theyremain the only country in the

world that does not put theircountrys name on their stamps.

The one-penny stamp fromNew South Wales, Australia,which showed the seal of thecolony, is worth around $5,000in mint condition today.

The rst person other thanroyalty to appear on a Britishstamp was William Shakespearein 1964.

The best-selling U.S. com-memorative stamp of all timeis the 1993 Elvis Presley stamp,

of which 124 million have beensold.

In 1973 the country of Bhu-tan issued a stamp that lookedlike a record and would actuallyplay the Bhutanese national an-them.

Cats were used for mail ser-vice in Belgium in 1879, but thisexperiment failed because thecats werent disciplined enoughto deliver the mail!

And thats a good one withwhich to end this story.

Its in the mail...

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In the Same Boat


9/12December 2011GOOD TIMES 9

BEDTIME STORYOnce upon a time, there was

a little girl who loved to sleep.She took long, re-energizingaps when she was a preschool-

er, slept in on the weekendshen she was in high school,

and slept through any college

classes she may have foolishlycheduled before 10:00 a.m.

She was well-rested. Andcould function fairly well inociety.

Then one day when the girlas older and sharing her bedith her Prince Charming hus-and (who also liked sleep),he brought home a baby toive with them. She was quitehocked to learn that the baby had no regard

for her preference of eight (consecutive)ours of sleep. When the baby needed to be

fed at the ungodly hour of 2:00 a.m., evenhen he had just been fed at 1:00 a.m., sheas incredulous but compliant. Her husbandas no help as he never seemed to hear the

ound of a crying baby, despite being ableo hear and respond to the sound of the Golfhannel theme music at any given time four

rooms away.Around 22 months later, pos-

sibly because she was chronicallysleep-deprived and not thinkingcorrectly, the girl decided to bringanother baby home. And thus con-tinued her extended, years-long

battle to beg, borrow or steal sleepwhenever possible. She did what-ever she could to keep the bagsunder her eyes from taking overher face. She was even known tosleep in her car on her lunch hour.

When the children becameteenagers, they taxed her sleepcycle even more. They wanted tosleep all day and be up all nightonce again, just like when they

were babies. The girl made them check in

whenever they came home, even if she hadbeen dozing for several hours, sitting upin bed with hands on a remote and a bookslumped over her face.

This scenario provided endless entertain-ment for her children, and they often recordedconversations with their disoriented parentswho were trying to clear the cobwebs out oftheir heads and the cotton out of their mouths

long enough to respond to the returning chil-dren. The recordings of their parents jibber-ish became hits at the next teenage party. Andone recording of the snoring/babbling two-

some became very popular on Youtube.When the children went away to college,

the girl mistakenly thought this was the pointwhere she would regain her long-lost love ofslumber (not to mention her dignity). Butthen, a conundrum arose: should she still in-sist that her college students check-in whenthey came home on weekend nights, no mat-ter what time it was? The girl was tempted

to say no. But after one night of no check-ins led to a 3:00 a.m. frantic need to conrmshoes in the hallway and cars in the drive-way, she changed her mind. The girl is now

resigned to a minimum of four more years ointerrupted, choppy sleep.

Alas, only four more years and thenthegirl will surely live sleepily ever after.

Mary Beth Weisenburger writes from herhome in Putnam County, where she tries invain to catch up on years of lost sleep. Youcan email her (even at 2:00 a.m.) at [email protected].

By Mary BethWeisenburger

VANCE STREET APARTMENTS

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Contact us at: 137 Vance St., Bluffton, OH 45817

419-358-7795 TDD 1-800-750-0750

Professionally

Managed by ShoweManagement Corp.

Attention Folks 55 and older:

Answer to

crossword puzzle

from page 4.

Bring your whole family for aquarter-scale steam train ride aboard the

NORTH POLE EXPRESSA magical ride through holiday

lights & decorations! Beautifully

decorated museum & gift shop.

Nov. 25th-Jan. 1st(closed Dec. 24)

Hours:6-9 p.m. Fridays,

5-9 p.m. Saturdays5-8 p.m. Sundays

Admission:Only $2 Adults - $1 Children

Northwest Ohio Railroad Preservation, Inc.

11600 CR 99 @I-75 Exit #161, Findlay www.nworrp.org 419-721-1175

IS THE TIME RIGHT FOR YOU TO REFINANCE?



Rates cant go lower. Or so advertise-ents from mortgage companies have been

laiming for years. But its possible thatow, its more true than ever. Accordingo research done by Freddie Mac, the aver-ge rate on a 30-year mortgage in the U.S.ropped below 4% for the rst time ever in011. Rates on shorter-term, 15-year mort-

ages are even lower.For some, this may create a great oppor-

unity to renance your mortgage, but doingo often isnt the best decision nanciallyor families in certain circumstances. Herere four things to consider before you makeny decisions:

1. How much equity do you have?Renancing may be a priority for hom-

owners with disadvantageous loan termsr who owe more on their home than it isorth. But these situations can make it dif-

ult to qualify for renancing. Your rst stephould be to consult with your mortgageompany about whether arrangements cane made to structure a different nancing

package for your home.If you do have equity in

your home, you have moreexibility. In cases wherethe amount you owe on themortgage is signicantlyless than the value of thehome, its possible to struc-

ture a payment that maybe dramatically lower thanyour current monthly mort-gage expense. If the amountof equity is not much differ-ent than the current value,the payment will be closerto what you already have,but would likely be an im-provement due to the recentdecline in interest rates.

2. Why do you want to refnance?

Locking in a historically low rate can beappealing, but is it a t for you? If you arewithin a few years of paying off your mort-gage, it may not make sense for you to re-

start with another 15- or30-year mortgage. If yourefocused on reducing your to-tal debt, nancing your homefor an extended period oftime may not be a favorablemove.

Many who do have sig-

nicant equity in their homerenance to cash out someof that equity for other pur-poses. But it can be risky;this strategy backred onmany homeowners whenhousing prices crashed in re-cent years. Those who tookout too much cash were sud-denly underwater, owing

more on their house than it was worth whenits value declined. If the rationale for re-

nancing is to access cash, be sure it is for aworthwhile purpose like paying down moreexpensive debts such as credit card balancesor nancing an improvement on your homethat could boost its value.

3. Are you in a position to refnance?If you have run into credit problems due

to the sluggish economy, renancing maynot be as easy as it used to be. Householdsneed to have a sufcient credit score usu-ally 700 or higher to be able to qualifyfor a conventional mortgage.

Employment status could be another fac-

tor. A number of Americans, some invol-untarily, have recently left the workforceand started their own business. If you donthave an established record of income yetas a business owner, it might be a difculttime to obtain a new mortgage. Ask aboutthis upfront when you contact your mort-gage company to make sure its worthwhilefor you to pursue the mortgage applicationprocess.

4. Determine the terms that suit your

needs

If everything else works out and re-nancing seems to be a good choice, the nalquestion is whether to opt for a 15-year or30-year mortgage. An adjustable-rate mort-gage is also an option, but since the terms ofthose loans are subject to change, it may notmake sense given the historically low ratesthat exist today.

If your primary goal is the lowest pos-sible payment, a 30-year loan makes sense.If you are trying to focus on reducing debtand accumulating wealth, a shorter-termloan may make more sense; the total interestpaid on a 15-year loan will be signicantlylower than with a 30-year mortgage. Whilemonthly payments will be higher, a 15-yearloan offers more long-term advantages forthese homeowners since the nancial ob-ligation of a mortgage will no longer existafter 15 years, allowing you to concentrate

on retirement or education savings.If you ultimately decide to renance, besure to compare costs of different lenders.The breakeven point on the cost of the loan(the number of years you need to keep themortgage before the costs of obtaining anew loan are overcome) is a critical mea-sure of whether renancing is a worthwhilemove for you.

###JoAn M. Smith, CFP | Financial Advisor | CERTIFIED

FINANCIAL PLANNER practitionerAmeriprise Financial. Advisor is licensed/registered to do

business with U.S. residents only in the states of Ohio, NorthCarolina, Florida and Maryland.

Ameriprise Bank, FSB, Equal Housing Lender and Mem-ber FDIC, provides deposit, lending and personal trust productsand services to Ameriprise Financial Services, Inc. AmeripriseBank and Ameriprise Financial Services are subsidiaries oAmeriprise Financial, Inc. Ameriprise nancial advisors mayreceive compensation for offering bank products.

Brokerage, investment and nancial advisory services aremade available through Ameriprise Financial Services, Inc.Member FINRA and SIPC. Some products and services maynot be available in all jurisdictions or to all clients.

2011 Ameriprise Financial, Inc. All rights reserved.

File # 126887(10/2011)

IS THE TIME RIGHT FOR YOU TO REFINANCE?

Brokerage, investment and fnancial advisory services are madeavailable through Ameriprise Financial Services, Inc. Member FINRAand SIPC. Some products and services may not be available in alljurisdictions or to all clients. Ameriprise Financial cannot guaranteeuture fnancial results.

2011 Ameriprise Financial, Inc. All rights reserved.

Jobs may change.Retirement dreamsdont have to.If youve left a job and have a 401(k) or other retirement accounts,

dont forget about them. Rolling over assets you have with former

employers or other institutions to an Ameriprise IRA can be

important in making your retirement dreams a reality.

Our Advisors. Your Dreams. MORE WITHIN REACH

Jo An M M. Smith, CFPpractitionerFinancial Advisor

227 N Main St

Delphos, OH 45833

419-695-7010

[email protected]

www.ameripriseadvisors.com/joan.m.smith

Call me today at(419) 695.7010

Putnam CountyHomeCare & Hospice

139 Court Street, Ottawa

419-523-4449 www.pchh.net

Request Putnam County HomeCare

& Hospice to your physician

or social worker.

Local agency established since 1966

County based = good response time

Available 24 hours a day/7 days a week

YOU HAVE A CHOICE!

Local agency established since 1966

County based = quick response time

Available 24 hours a day/7 days a week

By JoAn Smith, CFP

Th T G ft f G holiday recipes



2000 CHRYSLER 300M$599500

2003JEEP

LIBERTYSPORT

4x4

$899500

2011DODGEGRAND

CARAVAN

$19,9950019,000 miles

ONLY2009 Dodge Journey

$17,995stk# Y680

All Wheel Drive

$2000 below Blue

Book Value

36K miles

By Sami Kennedy

Christmas to me is a time to celebratethe gift of life, to support our community,enjoy family and friends,listen to Christmas music,

enjoy the lights and deco-rations, and yes, go shop-ping. Every year I getcaught up in the giving ofgifts and running aroundup to the last minute tryingto get what everyone wantsand then some, but recentlysomething happened thathas made me rethink my ac-tions.

Traveling south on some

personal business, I stoppedto get gas at a small out ofthe way town. A little girlwas standing at the counterlooking at some trinkets andasked her mom if Santa would be able toafford the candy necklace for her Christ-mas present? Her mother told her, wellsee. This almost brought me to tears andI would have liked to just buy the candy

necklace for the little girl; but I know fromexperience the pride of this woman wouldconsider it an insult. It made me wonder,as a parent and grandparent, am I doingright by giving our children and grandchil-

dren anything and everythingthey want, or would they appre-

ciate more if they had less?Sometimes I wonder if Ivelost the true meaning of theholidays; and then I realize,not completely. The spirit andwarmth I feel from my familyand friends, is true and sincere;and the joy I get from havingthem close to me is overwhelm-ing, and with this I realize, thetrue gift of giving is of oneself.My goal this year is to put the

emphasis of Christmas backon the joy of life, family, andfriends and doing more withthem, and less time in the malls.My gift for you and yours

May you be blessed with the joy of family,friends, good health, and good cheer; andmay your true meaning of Christmas be re-alized in the true gift of giving! HappyHolidays

By Sami Kennedy

1 c Sugar8 tb (1 stick) buer,softened

5 Eggs, beaten1 pt (2 cups) heavy creamDash of cinnamon1 tb Vanilla extract1/4 c Raisins12 Slices, each 1 inch thick,fresh or stale French bread orbaguee

Rum Sauce

1 c Sugar2 1/4 c Water1 Cinnamon stick or1 ts Ground cinnamon1 tb Unsalted buer1/2 ts Cornstarch2 tb dark rum

1. Preheat oven to 350 de-grees.

2. In a large bowl cream togeth-er the sugar and buer. Add eggs,

cream, cinnamon, vanilla, and rai-

sins, mixing well. Pour into a 9-inch-square pan l 3/4 inches deep.

3. Arrange bread slices atin the egg mixture and let standfor 5 minutes to soak up some ofthe liquid. Turn bread over and letstand for 10 minutes longer. Then

push bread down so that most ofit is covered by the egg mixture. Donot break the bread.

4. Set pan in a larger pan lledwith water to 1/2 inch from top.Cover with aluminum foil. Bake for45 to 50 minutes. Uncoveringpudding for the last 10 minutesto brown the top. When done thecustard should still be soft, notrm.

5. To make the sauce: In a medi-um-size saucepan combine sugar,2 cups water, cinnamon, and but-

ter and bring to a boil. Stir in corn-starch blended with remaining 1/4

cup water and simmer stirring, un-til sauce is clear. Remove from heatand add rum. Sauce will be thin.

6. To serve: Spoon the puddingonto dessert plates and pass thesauce separately.

The True Gift of Giving holiday recipesBREAD PUDDINGWITH RUM SAUCE

cup cocoa cup sugar teaspoon salt16 oz light whipping creamor half and half

2 1/3 cup Water(divided 1/3 & 2 cup)

1 teaspoon vanilla

In a medium saucepan mix wellcocoa, sugar, salt & 1/3 cup of wa-ter over low heat. Once mixed well,add 2 cups of water and whippingcream; heat on low-medium heatuntil it reaches drinking tempera-ture. Once complete, add vanilla.

Holiday Hot Chocolate


12/12


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CELINA5217 Tama RoadSR 127, 5 miles Norht of Celina

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2011 december good times

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