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The INDEPENDENT, July 20, 2011
Columbia County Extension will
hold summer canning classes
Have you thought about
learning to can fruits, vegeta-
bles, jams, jellies or fish or
game this summer? Are you an
experienced canner who would
like an update on the latest
USDA
recommendations?
Then plan to attend one or
more of the canning classes of-
fered by the Columbia County
Extension Service. Classes will
be held at the First Lutheran
Church, 360 Wyeth St., St. He-
lens (on the corner of N. 4th St.
and Wyeth St.). Each class will
cost $20.00 or $70.00 for all
four. A small number of scholar-
ships are available. Payment
must be made in advance to
hold your spot. Class size is
limited.
• Tuesday, August 2, Can-
ning Jams & Jellies
• Tuesday, August 9, Can-
ning Fruits and Pie Fillings
• Tuesday, August 16, Pres-
sure Canning Vegetables &
Meats
• Tuesday, August 23, Can-
ning Tomatoes and Salsa.
All classes are from 10:00
a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
For more information and to
register for classes, please call
or visit the OSU Extension Ser-
vice office at: 505 N. Columbia
River Highway, St. Helens or
503-397-3462
Refreshing ideas to quench your
summer thirst
Here ars some refreshing
ideas for quenching summer
thirst.
• Drink to prevent thirst. So,
before starting exercise, drink
one or two cups of water.
• Make it a habit to carry
along a water bottle, especially
if activities take you to locations
that lack a water fountain.
• Either straight from the tap
or bottled, water is the best
choice for keeping the body hy-
drated. Tap water in many com-
munities has an edge over bot-
tled water as it contains fluoride
that helps prevent tooth decay.
• If water’s taste is not to
your liking, add a slice or two of
lemon, lime or any citrus fruit.
• Most people find cold water
more refreshing than that right
out of the tap. Keep a contain-
er of water in the refrigerator or
in an insulated mug on your
desk at work.
Here are a few additional
suggestions for thirst quench-
ers:
• Mix 100% fruit juice with
plain or sparkling water.
• Combine unsweetened,
decaffeinated iced tea with or-
ange juice or lemonade.
• Add a dash of cinnamon or
vanilla to iced decaf coffee
along with coffee ice cubes to
keep the drink cold and undilut-
ed.
• Try your favorite herb tea
as iced tea.
• Mix 100% juice and water
and freeze into fruit juice popsi-
cles for a refreshing thirst
quencher.
• Use sparkling water in-
stead of tap water to reconsti-
tute frozen juice concentrates.
Source: Linda Rellergert, Nutrition
Specialist, University of Missouri
Do you know what to do during lightning?
Observed the last full week
of June, National Lightning
Safety Awareness Week not
only helps get safety messages
out, but also signals summer
as lightning season. Outside is
the most dangerous place to be
during a lightning or thunder-
storm, and more people are
outside during the summer. Ac-
cording to FEMA Regional Ad-
ministrator Ken Murphy, light-
ning strikes and high winds as-
sociated with thunderstorms
also increase the risk of wild-
fires.
“Summer is wildfire season
in the Pacific Northwest, and
those of us who live in urban in-
terface areas, wooded lots, or
near heavily-grassed and dry
rangeland should create fire-
safe perimeters and update
family disaster plans,” said
side the home include:
• Avoid contact with corded
phones.
• Avoid contact with electri-
cal equipment or cords. If you
plan to unplug any electronic
equipment, do so well before
the storm arrives.
• Avoid contact with plumb-
ing. Do not wash your hands;
do not take a shower; do not
wash dishes; and do not do
laundry.
• Stay away from windows
and doors, and stay off porch-
es.
• Do not lie on concrete
floors, and do not lean against
concrete walls.
For more information on
lightning safety, visit www.light-
ningsafety.noaa.gov.
Low risk of wildfire not same as no risk
Wildfire experts and weather
specialists have predicted a
low-risk, late-starting wildfire
season for the Pacific North-
west this summer, but emer-
gency
managers
caution
against complacency. As tall
grasses and foliage dry out, the
likelihood of brush, range and
timber fires increases, and ac-
cording to FEMA Regional Ad-
ministrator Ken Murphy, even a
mild wildfire season – and
there are never any guarantees
– begs the question: What if it’s
your woods that are burning?
“An informed, responsible
and committed public can play
a major role in safeguarding
property and saving lives. Our
firefighters are well-trained,
well-resourced and totally ded-
icated, but they can’t do it
alone,” said Murphy. “Planning
for disasters means that we
must plan for the Whole Com-
munity, including people of dif-
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Murphy. “Lightning can strike
up to ten miles away from any
rainfall and can create hotspots
that smolder for days, bursting
into flame when conditions are
right.”
Lightning accounts for more
average deaths per year than
tornados. “The safest place to
be during lightning activity is a
large enclosed building, not a
picnic shelter or shed,” said
Murphy. “The second safest lo-
cation is an enclosed metal ve-
hicle, car, van, etc., but not a
convertible, bike or other top-
less or soft top vehicle. If
caught outdoors and no shelter
is nearby, stay away from tall
trees. If there is no shelter,
crouch in the open, keeping
twice as far away from a tree
as it is tall.”
Lightning safety tips for in-
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ferent ages and those with var-
ious access and functional
needs.”
Murphy encourages all
homeowners to exercise ex-
treme caution with grills, camp-
fires, trash fires and other heat
sources, and to embrace the
common sense commitment to
pre-disaster wildfire prepared-
ness accepted in more tradi-
tionally recognized wildfire-
prone areas. “Talk with your lo-
cal fire department or forestry
office,” said Murphy. “Stay
abreast of local burn bans and
changing weather conditions.
Talk with your neighbors. After
all, a community is only as safe
as its least prepared member.”
Common sense wildfire pre-
paredness measures include
creating a Safety Zone or De-
fensible Perimeter:
•
Establish
firebreaks
around the perimeter of struc-
tures, power poles and proper-
ty.
• Cut back flammable weeds
and brush, and remove branch-
es within 15 feet of the ground.
• Mow regularly and rake
leaves, limbs and twigs.
• Landscape with fire resist-
ant plants.
• Keep roofs, chimneys and
gutters clean.
• Install smoke detectors on
every floor, and near sleeping
areas.
• Stack firewood away from
your home. Store combustible
materials only in approved con-
tainers.
• Keep fire tools (shovel,
rake, water bucket and lad-
ders) handy.
• Clear overgrowth from
house numbers and street
signs
• Clear driveways and ac-
cess roads so fire vehicles
have room to maneuver.
• Plan and rehearse family
evacuation plans.
Don’t overlook adequate in-
surance coverage. Sit down
with your insurance agent and
make sure that coverage is still
adequate and up-to-date for
the hazards you face.
It is also smart to keep im-
portant personal documents
quickly available should you
need to evacuate. Consider
collecting your driver’s license,
passport and other identifica-
tion, birth and marriage certifi-
cates, Social Security card, in-
surance policies, tax records,
wills, deed or lease and stocks
and bonds. Also know where
your main turn-off switches and
valves are for electricity, water
and gas.
Evacuation kit contents
See Wildfire on page 22