The Loma Linda Neighborhood Association is dedicated to providing communication, beautification, social activity, coordination and education. We hope these efforts will promote cooperation among residents and foster goodwill in our neighborhood.
A Publication of the Loma Linda Neighborhood Association ~ P.O. BOX 10533 Phoenix, AZ 85064-0533
DECEMBER 2011 ~ NEWSLETTER
LOMA LINDA WEBSITE: www.lomalindaneighborhood.org.
LETTER FROM THE CHAIR— BY Marcos Cerecedes
As we start seeing our breath in the air the approach of winters’ frosty bite kicks off the December holiday season. Shopping center parking lots become jam-packed with holiday shoppers wandering through stores decorated with garland, ornaments and lights. One cannot help to feel the excitement of hunting for that perfect tree to display those well sought after bounty of gifts.
For many, nothing can beat the beauty of a real tree with the smell of pine needles and that nostalgic feeling of go-ing and searching for that perfect tree to haul back on the roof of the family car. The movie A Christmas Story comes to mind and who would not want to have a leg lamp on the coffee table and to come down to a nicely decorated tree on Christmas morning? However with a real tree there come its drawbacks and that nostalgic feeling begins to wear off pretty quickly. First there is keeping the tree moist and making sure it has plenty of water and if not the tree becomes dry, needles start to fall. The most potent aspect of a dry Christmas tree is the fire danger. Nobody wants to have a memory of a charred tree and damaged memories.
For many years now artificial trees have become a great alternative to the real thing. They all come in various sizes and are very easy to set up. Most artificial trees now come pre-lit so no more having to grab a stool or ladder to string lights. Artificial trees also has a cost benefit of paying once and will last up to ten years or more whereas a real tree you pay forty dollars and on up to two hundred dollars every year. If the cost does not sell you, then think about the fact that a real live tree is cut down just for decoration and then tossed. With the pressure to move to a greener society there is no loss of a perfectly good tree and one less drive to make which saves gasoline and on carbon emissions. It does sound a little corny and may not be much of resource saver but just the thought of saving a tree is a good feeling.
No matter what you choose nothing can be more reflective than a nicely decorated Christmas tree with ornaments of memories past. So please have a pleasant holiday season and a Happy New Year.
Holiday Cookies- By: Blanche Duggan
Our cookie sale was such a success last year that we are repeat-ing it at our neighborhood meeting on December 6th. This is your chance to try a new, tasty recipe. We suggest at least three dozen of either homemade or store-bought cookies. Then they will be sold at four for $1.00. There will be a large assortment to choose from and you can choose your favorites.
If we have good participation, this will be fun and a nice contribution to our L.L.. Neighborhood. Remember, December 6th, 6:30 p.m. at our multi-purpose room on Fairmount. If you have any questions, call Blanche Duggan, (602) 274-4102.
POST A MESSAGE ON LOMA LINDA’S MARQUEE
Want to wish your child a Happy Birthday publicly and help our school at the same time? Then you’ll want to purchase a message to run on our marquee. Each message is $10.00 and will be posted on the marquee for one week. All proceeds will go to Loma Linda PTO. Forms to purchase a message are located in the school office.
GARDENER’S CORNER– By: Annette Weaver
There were so many of the wild native sunflowers growing in the back yard this year that when Jim was on the roof he said it appeared as a sea of yellow in the back yard when he looked down from the roof. The sunflowers seemed to capture the light of the sun and radiate it back as the sky darkened and then the yard. The yard still seemed brightly lit with all the beautiful blooms.
I am still cutting down and into smaller pieces for the composting process, these wild sunflowers. As I cut each section of sunflowers back I worry about the birds that have fed all summer and into the fall season on the seeds pro-duced by these wonderful plants. (Next year I may have thousands of the sunflowers in the back yard.) There were so many birds and now their food source is all but gone. My sympathy for these little feathered creatures was really great.
As I cleared the sunflowers from the garden proper I turned the soil and planted greens of all kinds in October. Three kinds of lettuce, chard, spinach, kale - Red Russian and green -, collards, mustard greens and arugula are all coming up in the garden. They first were just two little cotyledons and then as they developed their true leaves my taste buds began awaiting the harvest. As I was walking to the garden to check the progress of the greens one morning a flock of birds rose from the ground and it seemed most of my little green plants had disappeared. So I guess as long as I have anything growing in the garden I will not have to worry about how the little birds are going to survive.
Dr Deepak Chopra tells us that it is not stress that harms our bodies but how we deal with the stress we are experiencing. So rather than being really upset that all my hard work had been destroyed I decided that I would not have to worry about the little birds starving and therefore it was a good thing. With acceptance of the situation next time I checked enough of the greens had made it to a larger stage where the birds will not harm them and I will have enough for my own personal use and the little birds will not starve. Sigh! (Sighing is also good for relieving stress.)
To plant in December: (in well prepared soil to which you have added your homemade compost, of course) asparagus, arugula, beets, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cantaloupe, carrot, chard, cucumber, leek, leaf lettuce, muskmelon, mustard, parsley, pepper, Irish potato, radish, rutabaga, spinach, sum-mer squash, tomato (seed), turnip, watermelon.
RECIPE OF THE MONTH
Pass the appetizers, please! Easy and fantastic recipe for the Holiday Season...
Lobster Newburg Dip
Ingredients:
1 loaf (16 oz/450 g) French baguette
1/4 cup (50 mL) finely chopped fresh parsley
2 tbsp (30 mL) butter, melted
2 garlic cloves, peeled
2 tbsp (30 mL) finely chopped shallot
1 tbsp (15 mL) olive oil
1/4 cup (50 mL) sherry
1 can (10.75 oz or 284 mL) cream of shrimp soup
1/4 cup (50 mL) milk
1/2 tsp (2 mL) salt
1/8 tsp (.5 mL) ground cayenne pepper
8 oz (250 g) cream cheese, softened
2 (3-4 oz/90-125 g) uncooked lobster tails in shells Additional finely chopped fresh parsley and cayenne pepper (optional)
Directions:
1. Preheat oven to 400°F (200°C). Slice baguette into 1/2-inch -thick (1-cm) slices; cut slices into quarters. Combine bread, parsley and butter in Stainless (6-qt./6-L) Mixing Bowl. Bake bread on Large Sheet Pan 10-12 minutes or until golden brown. Slice garlic using Garlic Slicer. Cook garlic, shallot and oil in (2-qt./1.9-L) Saucepan over medium heat 3-4 minutes or until shallot is tender. Add sherry; bring to a simmer. Whisk in soup, milk, salt and cayenne. Add cream cheese; whisk well and remove from heat.
2. Place Stainless Steamer into (4-qt./3.8-L) Saucepan; add 3 cups (750 mL) water and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to a simmer. Place lobsters in Steamer; cover and steam 6-8 minutes. Remove meat from lobster tails; coarsely chop and re-serve 1/4 cup (50 mL). Add remaining lobster meat to dip. Pour dip into Mini-Baker. Bake 6-8 minutes or until hot. Garnish with reserved lobster meat, additional parsley and cayenne, if desired. Serve with bread.
Yield: 24 servings (about 2 1/2 cups/625 mL dip)
Nutrients per serving: (about 2 tbsp/30 mL dip and 3 bread cubes): Calories 120, Total Fat 6 g, Saturated Fat 3 g, Cholesterol 20 mg, Carbohydrate 13 g, Protein 5 g, Sodium 350 mg, Fiber 1 g
U.S. Diabetic exchanges per serving (about 2 tbsp/30 mL dip and 3 bread cubes): 1 starch, 1 fat (1 carb)
Cook's Tips: Steaming is a quick and easy way to prepare lobster tails. To remove lobster meat from shell, cut down center of top and bottom of shell with Professional Shears.
HOLIDAY’S ARE A TIME TO GIVE THANKS ~ By Mimi Cahoon
Happy Holidays. Have to be careful and politically correct. We do Christmas at my house and the kids are already excited. I like the holidays in the Loma Linda Neighborhood for a few reasons. Tamales are probably at the top of the list. The decorations on the houses are another good reason. I challenge anyone to find two houses with the same decorations. Remember Christmas tree safety. Be sure to turn off and unplug the lights on your tree before you go to bed at night. Every year we hear of a tragedy involving a tree catching fire.
Now is the time of year to be thinking about sponsoring a family for Christmas. Barb Damiani can give you a list of names of families that are truly in need and would appreciate a helping hand to make their holidays better. My family has “adopted” a family in the past for Christmas and I can honestly say it was as much a present for my family as it was for the adopted family. They were truly in need and extremely appreciative.
MONTHLY GENERAL MEETING
Our Monthly General Meeting is scheduled for December 6, 2011 and begins promptly at 6:30 PM, at the Loma Linda Elementary School in the Multi-purpose room (off Fairmount, east of 20th Street). We look forward to seeing you.
Becoming involved in your neighborhood is a very natural thing to do. Joining and being involved in your Neighborhood Association is a great way to meet neighbors and other people in your community. Meanwhile, you are identifying the issues facing your community, taking an active part in improving conditions, and most of all enjoying what your neighborhood has to offer.
SCHEDULE OF EVENTS
DEC. 6 - NEIGHBORHOOD MEETING
--COOKIE SALE --
DEC. 7 - COMMEMORATE PEARL HARBOR
DEC. 8 – LOMA LINDA SCHOOL WINTERFEST –
4 TO 6 PM
DEC.25- MERRY CHISTMAS
DEC 21 –JAN 4 – WINTER BREAK
THERE WILL BE NO JANUARY NEWSLETTER
Place your ad in the Loma Linda News or let us distribute your business flyer. We hand-deliver to 1,350 homes and business each month.
· Business card size ads are $20 per month or double size for $40.00.
· Business flyers can be delivered with the Loma Linda News for $40 per month.
· Flyers must be one-half to full 8 ½" x 11 size.
· Ads must be submitted with check prior to the 10th of the month or flyers by the 15th.
If you wish to place a business card size ad, you MUST submit a clean copy for us to scan and print. Any modifications to your ad are subject to a $15 design fee.
For additional information, please call Blanche Duggan (602) 274-4102.
A Taste of Loma Linda Art Tour and Street Fair
By: Donna Walkuski
Where could you find the take-off point of an Art Studio Tour, booths full of bargains and locally-made art and crafts, wildlife (a hawk! a python!), good food, and a bounce-house for the kids, all in a one block stretch? Right here in our Loma Linda Neighborhood, of course!
The street fair and art tour held Saturday October 22nd was the first event of its kind for the neighborhood. Organized by our Loma Linda Neighborhood Association, the goal was to raise funds for our newsletter, alley lights, and other needs. Organizers had a lot to learn about putting on an ambitious event of this kind, and thanks to a dedicated and bold crew of volunteers, we learned a lot!
Our thanks go out to neighborhood artists Chad Gubler, Carolyn Lavender, Annette Sexton-Ruiz, Annette Weaver, and Joshua Dean Wiley who opened their studios. Thanks also to the volunteers who made it all happen: Edith Bojorquez, Marcos Cerecedes, Barb Damiani, Blanche Duggan, Bob Gallas, Brian Hughes, Anita MacDonald, Mac MacDonald, Irving Rodriguez, Marilyn Sandon, and Donna Walkuski.
Planning for next year’s event will start early next year. We welcome anyone who’d like to lend a hand- give Marcos a call or catch us at our next monthly meeting.
Holiday Safety Tips—By the Phoenix Fire Department
Christmas Trees
Christmas trees that are not kept moist can present a very serious fire hazard. A dried out Christmas tree can be totally consumed by fire in less than 30 seconds. Most trees sold in the Valley have been cut out of the state and have been dry-ing out since they were harvested, which could have been as late as mid-November.
Take special precautions when buying your Christmas tree. Trees with brown shedding needles should be rejected. If the tree looks green and fresh, take a long needle and bend it between your thumb and forefinger. If it snaps, the tree is too dry. When the trunk of a tree is bounced on the ground, a shower of falling needles shows that tree is dry.
When you bring a tree home, cut about an inch off the end of the trunk. This will remove the dried end and allow the tree to absorb water. Make checkerboard cuts into the base at different angles to make a greater surface for water absorption.
Always turn off lights on trees and other decorations when you go to bed or leave your home. A short circuit in any of this equipment could cause a fire. Never use electric lights on a metallic tree. Damaged insulation in lighting on a metallic tree could cause the entire tree to be charged with electricity. To avoid this danger, use colored spotlights above or beside a metal tree, never fastened onto it.
Keep children away from light sets and electrical decorations. All lights present the problem of shock and casu-alty hazards for curious kids. When you are stringing the lights on your tree, be careful how you place them. Keep all bulbs turned away from gifts and paper ornaments. Lights in windows can cause curtains and drapes to ignite.
We are a non-profit organization run entirely by volunteers. However, we need your contributions to support this newsletter and other necessary expenses throughout the year. Your contribution is tax deductible and will benefit your neighborhood directly. Please use the form below for your donation. A thank you card will be sent to acknowledge receipt.
HOME OF THE MONTH
DECEMBER 2011
Area A – 1911 East Clarendon
Area B – 2002 E. Mitchell
Area C – 2203 E. Flower
Each month Area Representatives of “A”, “B” and “C” choose one outstanding home in each area for beautification, home improvement, a well-manicured yard, etc. Of course, there must be NO zoning violations.
The homes chosen will receive a gift certificate from local businesses. Certificates will be mailed as soon as this an-nouncement appears in the Loma Linda News.
This month’s certificates will be honored at :
Mr. Submarine at 2347 E. Osborn
Congratulations to this month’s winners!
WOULD YOU LIKE TO HAVE YOUR HOME CHOSEN AS THE MOST DECORATED FOR THE HOLIDAYS?
**The winner in each area will receive a beautiful poinsettia plant. Let’s make our Loma Linda neighborhood really spectacular with lights and decorations. **
LOMA LINDA NEIGHBORHOOD
CONTACTS
Board of Directors
CHAIR
Marcos Cerecedes 480-390-5090
VICE CHAIR
Irving Rodriguez 602-330-4977
TREASURER
SECRETARY
Carolyn Lavender 602-363-5920
AREA “A”
Mac & Anita McDonald - 602-274-2925
AREA “B”
Edith Bojorquez edithbojorquez@hotmail.com
AREA “C”
Marilyn Sandon 602-956-2602
Neighborhood Liaison
Barbara Damiani 602-956-5615
Loma Linda School 602-381-6080
City of Phoenix
Neighborhood Services 602-262-7844
Community Action Officer
Cherilyn Toland 602-495-6882
