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Show • • •".JfV;': • • * : ^ " ; : ' - / ^ - - o ' - v ^ ' V ^ t - f _ ' - : - ; ' i : - r ' V 7 • ; ; . . The Beaver Press - December 23, 2010 - Page 4 Make Driving Safely A New Year's Resolution . The .Utah Safety Council urges Utahns to make a resolution this year to drive safely and observe traffic rules. This means buckling up everyone in your car on every trip, no matter how short the drive. During the New Year's holiday weekend alone, two Utahns may die and many more will be injured in motor-vehicle crashes. To help ensure a safe and happy holiday season the Utah Safety Council offers the following winter driving tips to make your excursions safer. PLAN AHEAD FOR SAFETY • Schedule a preseason checkup. Ask a full-service mechanic to check your car's battery and check or change the oil and antifreeze. The brakes, exhaust system, headlights, heater. defroster, hoses and belts should also be inspected. • Get a grip. Brand-new all-season or snow tires will perform better than tires that are nearing their limit of reliable tread wear. it's equally important to maintain the air pressure listed by the vehicle owner's manual. • Ask yourself, "Is this trip necessary?" Assess your own physical and emotional state, as well as external conditions. Tune in to radio or television broadcasts for weather and traffic news. • Assemble an emergency kit. A plastic milk crate or tote bag will hold gloves, a scarf, knit cap1, extra clothing, ice scraper, dishrag, flashlight, flares, jumper cables, water and energy bars. Other safety items include boots, blankets, a snow shovel and a snowbrush. HIT THE ROAD CAREFULLY • Allow extra time. Plan ahead and give yourself plenty of time to travel to your destinations. For highway conditions, call (801)964-6000. 9 Buckle everybody up. Before you depart, everyone should be properly restrained. Children under age 12 should travel in fhe'ryacXse&t in ah'age appropriate child safety restraint. • Be kind to your battery. M3ke sure the heater, wipers, headlights and radio are all turned off before you start the engine. • Make sure your vehicle is visible. Remove ell snow and See from the front and fear windshields, headlights and tailiights before you drive off. Drive with headlights on day and night. Use the low beams so that light isn't aimed or reflected toward oncoming drivers. • Slow down and spread out. The three second rule can help you establish safe following distances at any speed. On icy roads, in heavy snowfall or in dense traffic, you'll need to slow down and double or even triple the three second count to create a buffer zone. * Be gentle and deliberate at the controls. Avoid braking too hard or abruptly, which can cause one or more wheels to lock. Alternately, avoid stepping too forcefully on the accelerator, which causes wheels to over spin on slippery surfaces. Both wheel lockup and wheel spins cause tires to lose traction. If your vehicle has an antiiock braking system (ABS), do not pump - just brake firmly. The brakes wilt pulse automatically when the system senses that the wheels are locking. Do not drink and drive. Convince friends to stay overnight, ride with someone else, or call a taxi for them. Also, be aware of other drivers who may have had too much to drink. Alcohol-impaired drivers drive at inconsistent speeds, change lanes frequently, disregard traffic signs and drive outside of lane markers. Following these safety precautions can help you steer clear of winter driving hazards and enjoy a safe, happy holiday season. For additional information, contact the Utah Safety Council at (801) 478-7878 or (800) 933-5943. Ask a Specialist: How do I Prevent my Pipes from Freezing? LOGAN, UT - Answer by; Richard Beard, Utah State University Extension agricultural engineering specialist With sub-zero temperatures this winter, it is important to bundle up and be prepared for the cold weather. Your pipes are no different. When unprotected waterlines are subjected to freezing temperatures for several hours, the water freezes. As water freezes, it expands and can cause pipes to crack or split. Later, when the pressurized waterline thaws, the water leak can cause substantial damage. To understand the damage that can be caused from a broken waterline, imagine you have plugged the kitchen sink drain, turned the faucet on high, and as water begins to run to the floor, you leave home for the day. This is similar to what will happen if a frozen water pipe cracks, thaws and sprays water Inside your home while you are asleep or away. If the leak is inside a wall, below the floor or above the celling, it can be extremely difficult to reach and expensive to repair. Consider these tips to protect your pipes. • Explore insulation options. Waterlines located in areas where temperatures commonly drop below freezing should be protected. In many cases, unprotected pipes, fittings and other plumbing equipment can be enclosed in pre-formed Insulation sleeves. These sleeves resemble tubes and are available fn varying diameters. Plumbing Insulation is also available in formed shapes that fit snugly around plumbing fixtures. The insulation slips onto pipes and fixtures through slits that are cut the length of the Sleeve or shape. Another insulating option is strips of foilfaced fiberglass. These are wrapped around pipes and fixtures and secured in place with tape or wire. • Cover pipes properly. For plumbing Insulation to work properly, it must completely cover the pipes, fittings and fixtures that are exposed to cold temperatures. Insulation should fit snugly around the plumbing, and all insulation joints must fit tightly and be taped securely. Before installing insulation, make sure there are no water leaks that will saturate the insulation and render it ineffective. Remember that insulation will not protect pipes from prolonged freezing temperatures unless there is some source of heat or periodic water flow. • Prepare waterlines if you leave your home unattended during the winter. It is best to turn off the water, shut down the water heater and drain water from the plumbing system. If possible, leave the furnace on and the thermostat set near 50 degrees. This will protect your home and belongings from harsh winter temperatures, and if a water pipe does break, the damage will be minimal. If you are going away for only a few days, have someone stay in the house if possible. This will eliminate the shutdown and startup procedures. • In some situations, the location of a pipe makes the use of insulation unpractical or ineffective. In such cases, electrical heat cables designed for. use on pipes can be installed. Manufacturers provide detailed instructions for use and thi* option should not be your first choice in freeze prevention. If the electricity is off for several hours, unheated pipes can freeze. rorxv • Be cautious when thawing frozen waterlines. If your pipes freeze, a plumber may be your best contact. If you opt to do i t , yourself, shut off the main supply line first, then open the faucet in the frozen line. Begin thawing at the faucet. Gradually raise the temperature of the pipe so the ice will melt. When frozen plumbing is heated gradually, the trapped water will not boil and rubber or plastic faucet parts will not melt. Waterlines may be thawed using a space1 heater, heat lamp, heat tape, hairdryer or towela soaked in hot water wrapped around the pipes. Be cautious when using electrical appliances in wet loca- tions. To avoid burns, do not use boiling water to thaw pipes. Also, do not use an open flame to thaw frozen waterlines, due to the fire hazard. If there is a chance a frozen water pipe will leak when it thaws, open other faucets in the house to drain water from the plumbing system. If a hot waterline or a main waterline serving the home freezes, it is often necessary to turn the water heater off. Keep buckets or other containers nearby to collect water. • Don't count on the running water technique. During cold temperatures, homeowners sometimes turn a faucet on and leave the water running to prevent the waterline from freezing. Although this technique will work, it wastes water and should only be done when other, more permanent methods can't be used. Also remember that hot waterlines will freeze, and seldom do people leave the hot water running. • Teach adults and older children where the main water shutoff is located and how to shut the water off. Being able to do this in the event of a water leak can greatly reduce the damage to your home. I am thankful for the mess to dean after a party because it means I have been surrounded by friends. —Nancie Carmody **9 The words that enlighten the soul are more precious than jewels. —Hazrat Inayat Khan **• Babies are always more trouble than you thought—and more wonderful. —Charles Osgood **• Holiday Season Refreshers (NAPS)—You can add a special touch to the holidays this year by serving-an affordable sparkling beverage that your guests can enjoy all season long with the AriZona Sparkling Green lea and Berry Spritzer. The spritzer is an easy, economical and versatile holiday drink that is made with AriZona Beverage's'Green Tea with Ginseng and Honey to give it a special twist. Each 20-ounce bottle contains five individual servings of the recipe, making it more cost-effective. For a lower calorie, sugarfree version, Diet Green Tea with Ginseng and Honey and diet ginger ale can also be used. Those of age can add their favorite alcohol to the drink to make an alcoholic version. AriZona Sparkling Green Tea and Berry Spritzer yields 1 serving 4 oz. AriZona Green Tea with Ginseng and Honey 1.5 oz. ginger ale Frozen Festive Berries (such as cranberries, grapes, blueberries, raspberries) Prepare berries; if purchasing fresh fruit, be sure to Spruce up your holiday and arty-/ time parties with an ArlZotta Sparkling Green Tea and Berfy Spritzer. •!£.' thoroughly wash fruit ^ freezing. Put berries or other r fruit into freezer until ft and place in glass. Pour i Zona Green Tea with .Ginseng and Honey into glass. Add ginger ale. Gently stir serve. The frozen fruit wilfcf not only chill the beverages"'-" but will also add flavor as it thaws. '?•:'•'-: Learn More •:[ < You can find more inforirfa^l tion, tips and recipes online jit vi www.drinkarizona.com, or visit.www.facebaok.com/AriZoriaIccii.; Tea. You can also call (8O'flf):r TEA-3775. ->:-; Celebrate The Season With American Lamb'; (NAPS)—American Iamb is a fresh andflavorfuladdition to any festive gathering. There are plenty of versatile, budget-friendly cuts to create a great holiday dish. Lamb meatballs, for example, can be prepared in advance for a stress-free starter. Meatball masters Daniel Holzman and Michael Chernow of New York's The Meatball Shop share this Mediterranean-inspired meatball recipe that is served with a classic tomato dipping sauce to impress guests. Mediterranean Lamb Meatballs (Yield: 24 meatballs) 2 lbs ground American lainb 1 cup raisins, chopped % cup walnut pieces, chopped 1 tsp ground black pepper Vi cup chopped parsley x h cup chopped mint leaves V4 cup bread crumbs 3 eggs 2 top salt 2 Tbsp olive oil Classic Tomato Sauce Preheat the oven to 450° F. Combine all ingredients except for the olive oil in a large mixing bowl and mix by hand until thoroughly incorporated. Drizzle the olive oil over a large baking dish (9x12"), making sure to evenly coat the entire surface (use your hand to help spread the oil). Roll the meat mixture into round, golf ball-eized meatballs and evenly line bolls on the baking sheet. Roast until firm* and cooked through (about 20 minutes). Allow the meatballs to cool for 5 minutes before removing from the tray. us a* A Big Thank You To All Our Loyal Customers Lamb meatballs make for an easy crowd-pleasing appetizer. -:: .. Classic Tomato Sauce (Yield: 7 cups) j: ::;: 1 yellow onion, diced (about 146 cups) .[:[ Y* cup olive oil .>:.:• 1 sprig fresh oregano (or 'A tsp dry) "1 bay leaf (fresh or dry) ;. 2 cloves garlic, peeled and roughly chopped ' 2 top salt 2 Tbsp tomato paste ";2 28-oz c a n s of tomatoes, : . : chopped .].':'• Cook the onions with the olive oil, oregano, bay leaf, gftrliG and salt over medium heat in a large pot. Stir constantly until soft and translucent (about 15 minutes). Add the tomato paste and continue cooking for 5 minutes. Add the canned tomatoes and bring to a boil, stirring constantly. Continue cooking for 1 hour, stirring periodically to kceptho sauce from burning. Fans of lamb can find this recipe and other holiday favorites at www.americanlamb.com and'by calling (866) 327-5262. ;'! |