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August 9:

August 9: Book Lover’s Day

August 9th is Book Lover’s Day, a special day set aside for those who love to read books. Books educate, inform, inspire imagination and magically transport the reader to another time or place.

Celebrate this special day with a visit to Kerri’s Korner Bookstore, 1011 Speedway, Fairmont (304.363.BOOK). Or visit Kerri on the web at www.kerriskornerbookstore.com

Kerri’s Korner is a full-service bookstore selling both new and used books at a reasonable price. With over 20,000 books on their shelves, there is something for everybody!

Another way to celebrate is a visit to the library. Marion County has three public libraries located on Monroe Street in Fairmont, Main Street in Fairview and Clarksburg Street in Mannington.  Visit http://mcpls.org/ to see what’s new at the library and with the traveling Bookmobile.

Yesterday’s sandwich trivia answers:

Ruben: This classic deli sandwich can be served grilled or cold, and often comes with a side of Russian or Thousand Island dressing. Stories abound regarding the origins of this popular sandwich. Some say it was invented by a deli owner for the female lead in a Charlie Chaplin movie, while others believe this meaty marvel was created by a wholesale grocer during a poker game in Omaha.

Cuban: This Cuban variation on the ham and cheese was a common lunch item for workers in cigar factories and sugar mills in the early 1900s. The sandwich is often served hot, pressed on a flat grill

Shawarma is a popular fast-food dish that originated in the Middle East. Just like a rotisserie chicken, a large stack of sliced, marinated meat is placed on a spit and roasted over an open flame (gas or wood fire) for several hours. To serve, sandwich makers shave this juicy roasted meat from the stack and pile it into pita bread with lots of fresh veggies and fixings.

http://www.delish.com/food-fun/quizzes/sandwiches-food-trivia-quiz-121608#qtop

August 8:

August 8: National Sandwich Month

Although there is some evidence that the sandwich dates back as far as the 1^st Century B.C., the word sandwich actually refers to John Montagu, the fourth Earl of Sandwich in 1762.

He loved gambling and rarely stopped for a full meal. Story has it that he requested a piece of meat between two slices of bread to eat on the run. Others saw how practical this new way of eating was, and thus the sandwich was born.

The sandwich hit the United States in 1827, when Elizabeth Leslie published her cookbook, Directions for Cookery, which included a ham sandwich as a main dish. It was immediately popular giving an easy, portable meal for workers and schoolchildren alike.

By the 1900s, bakeries started selling pre-sliced bread, so that sandwiches were easy to create.

http://whatscookingamerica.net/History/SandwichHistory.htm

How well do you know your sandwiches?

What is the name of an overstuffed sandwich made with corned beef, Swiss cheese, and sauerkraut on rye bread?

Gyro

Pastrami on rye

Ruben

Hoagie

What is the name of the sandwich that consists of sliced ham, roasted pork, Swiss cheese, pickles and mustard on crusty white bread?

Italian

Cuban

Norwegian

French

Which sandwich has shaved spit-roasted lamb, chicken, or beef, served in pita bread with lettuce, tomato, and tahini sauce?

Falafel

Shawarma

Tabouli

Fajita

What’s your favorite sandwich?

August 7:

August 7: Purple Heart Day

On this day in 1782, in Newburgh, New York, General George Washington, the commander in chief of the Continental Army, creates the "Badge for Military Merit," a decoration consisting of a purple, heart-shaped piece of silk, edged with a narrow binding of silver, with the word Merit stitched across the face in silver. The badge was to be presented to soldiers for "any singularly meritorious action" and permitted its wearer to pass guards and sentinels without challenge. The honoree's name and regiment were also to be inscribed in a "Book of Merit."

In time the book and the decoration was largely forgotten until 1927.  Due in large part to General Douglas MacArthur efforts, the U.S. War Department announced the creation of the "Order of the Purple Heart" on February 22, 1932, Washington's 200th birthday,

In addition to aspects of Washington's original design, the new Purple Heart also displays a bust of Washington and his coat of arms. The Order of the Purple Heart, the oldest American military decoration for military merit, is awarded to members of the U.S. armed forces who have been killed or wounded in action against an enemy. It is also awarded to soldiers who have suffered maltreatment as prisoners of war.

Read more at http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/washington-creates-the-purple-heart

August 6:

August 6: National Root Beer Float Day

Story has it that in 1893, Frank Wisner, owner of the Cripple Creek Cow Mountain Gold Mining company in Colorado, had been producing a line of soda waters for the citizens of the then-booming Cripple Creek gold mining district.  He wanted to create a special drink that would appeal to the children as well.

The idea came to him while starring out at his property on Cow Mountain on a moonlit night.  The full moon’s glow on the snow-capped Cow Mountain reminded him of a dollop of vanilla ice cream floating on top of this blackened Cow Mountain.

The next day, he began adding a big scoop of vanilla ice cream to one of the soda waters that he produced that the children seemed to like best – Myers Avenue Red Root Beer. The drink was an instant hit!

Originally named “Black Cow Mountain”, the local children shortened this to “black cow”.

As soda was marketed as a miracle cure, it was often considered a substance that required oversight and control much like alcohol and could not be served or purchased on Sundays in many conservative areas.  Soda fountains had to figure out a way to turn a profit on that day.  The solution was to serve ice cream on these days, coining the term Ice Cream Sundaes.

August 5:

August 5: Arlington National Cemetery

As war descended on Virginia, Robert E. Lee and his wife Mary fled their 1,100-acre Virginia estate, known as Arlington, which overlooked Washington, D.C.

In 1863 the U.S. government confiscated it for nonpayment of $92.07 in taxes.

Meanwhile, President Lincoln gave permission for a cemetery to be built on the property, including a burial vault on the estate’s former rose garden. The idea was that, should Lee ever return, he would “have to look at these graves and see the carnage that he had created,” according to his biographer Elizabeth Brown Pryor.

After the war, the Lees quietly looked into reclaiming Arlington but took no action before they died. In 1877 their oldest son, George Washington Custis Lee, sued the federal government for confiscating Arlington illegally; the Supreme Court agreed and gave it back to him. But what could the Lee family do with an estate littered with corpses? George Lee sold it back to the government for $150,000.

Over time, 250,000 soldiers would be buried in what is now Arlington National Cemetery.

Read other surprising facts about the Civil War at: http://www.history.com/news/10-surprising-civil-war-facts?cmpid=INT_Outbrain_HITH_HIS&obref=obnetwork

August 4:

August 4: Mannington District Fair August 6 - 11

Mark your calendar for the 80^th annual Mannington District Fair!

Go to http://www.manningtondistrictfair.org/index.html for a complete list of the week’s events and entertainment.

This year’s fair is dedicated to the memory of Jack D. Wilson (1932 – 2012) who proudly served on the Mannington District Fair Board of Directors for 50 years.

August 3:

August 3: Columbus Sets Sail

In 1492 Columbus said the ocean blue

From the Spanish port of Palos, Italian explorer Christopher Columbus sets sail in command of three ships—the Santa Maria, the Pinta, and the Nina—on a journey to find a western sea route to China, India, and the fabled gold and spice islands of Asia.

During his lifetime, Columbus led a total of four expeditions to the New World, discovering various Caribbean islands, the Gulf of Mexico, and the South and Central American mainland, but never accomplished his original goal—a western ocean route to the great cities of Asia.

Did you know that there is more to this school rhyme?  Read it at http://www.mamalisa.com/blog/columbus-day-poem-in-1492-columbus-sailed-the-ocean-blue/

http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/columbus-sets-sail

August 2:

August 2: Simplify Your Life Week

“Simplicity is the peak of civilization.” – Jessie Sampter

Modern life is fast paced, hectic, and demanding.  But what burdens are you placing on yourself as a result of high expectations, standards and commitments?  What if you could take a deep breath, step back, and make things a little less challenging?

Simplify Your Life Week promotes this attitude, and encourages you to turn things down a notch for your own benefit – stretch yourself, but make sure that you remember to relax and enjoy life in equal measures!

Need some help getting started?

Read 72 Ideas to Simplify Your Life at http://zenhabits.net/simple-living-manifesto-72-ideas-to-simplify-your-life/

Additional self-help options can be found at: http://www.simplifylife.com/

“High-Five” to Simplifying…

Everyone asks me, “How can I simply my life?”  Well… it’s easier than you think.  Using my experience as a professional organizer of six years, a mom for ten years, and a woman for forty-(something) years, here are my top five answers…AND yes, they really work!

1. Stop buying so much stuff.  Yes, it is that simple.  Do not bring it into your home.  Live your life with less.

2. The Top Three.  Ask yourself these 3 questions:

a. “Do I NEED it?”

b. “Do I WANT it?”

c. Can I live without it?

3. One In, One-Out Rule.  If you bring one thing in, something else must go out of the house.

4. Donate.  Donate.  Donate.  Someone else NEEDS or WANTS the things that you are not using.

5. Plan—the night before.  Have everything lined up and ready to go.  Mornings will go so much more smoothly.

Julie Mills, consultant, author, and speaker is founder and owner of All Squared Away, a professional organizing company, based in Morgantown, WV.  All Squared Away specializes in business and residential clients’ organizational dilemmas.  Her unique services and presentations are highly sought after throughout the Mountain State.  For more information, visit www.allsquaredaway.com, call # 304-698-2929, or send an email to: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .