Monthly Newsletter

Turkey Facts!

Did  you know......

* In 2005, the average American ate 16.7 pounds of turkey.

* Wild turkeys can fly for short distances up to 55 miles per hour.

* Wild turkeys can run 20 miles per hour.

* Turkeys’ heads change colors when they become excited.

* Turkeys can see movement almost a hundred yards away.

* Turkeys do not see well at night.

* Turkey eggs hatch in 28 days.

* Turkey breeding has caused turkey breasts to grow so large that the turkeys fall over.

* In England, 200 years ago, turkeys were walked to market in herds.They wore booties to protect their feet. Turkeys were also walked to market in the United States.

Thanksgiving Story

In 1621, after a hard and devastating first year in the New World the Pilgrim’s fall harvest was very successful and plentiful. There was corn, fruits, vegetables, along with fish, which was packed in salt, and meat that was smoke cured over fires. They found they had enough food to put away for the winter.

The Pilgrims had beaten the odds. They built homes in the wilderness, they raised enough crops to keep them alive during the long coming winter, and they were at peace with their Indian neighbors. Their Governor, William Bradford, proclaimed a day of thanksgiving that was to be shared by all the colonists and the neighboring Native American Indians.

The custom of an annually celebrated thanksgiving, held after the harvest, continued through the years. During the American Revolution, (late 1770’s) a day of national thanksgiving was suggested by the Continental Congress.

In 1817 New York State adopted Thanksgiving Day as an annual custom. By the middle of the 19th century many other states also celebrated a Thanksgiving Day. In 1863 President Abraham Lincoln appointed a national day of Thanksgiving. Since then each president has issued a Thanksgiving Day proclamation, usually designating the fourth Thursday of each November as the holiday.

Thanksgiving Safety Tips

Preparation and Decoration:

• Thanksgiving would not be the same without turkeys, yet very few people take the time to learn how to handle them properly. Any poultry needs special attention when handling. Thawing a frozen turkey the proper way is important to the safety of your family.
• Never thaw a turkey at Room Temperature because this promotes the growth of dangerous bacteria. The safest way to thaw a turkey is to thaw it in the refrigerator. You should do this with the turkey still in its’ own unopened wrapper breast facing up and placed on a tray. The accepted rule of thumb of time is 1-day refrigerator thawing for every four pounds of turkey.
• Start holiday cooking with a clean stove and oven.
• Keep the kitchen off-limits to young children and adults that are not helping with food preparation to lessen the possibility of kitchen mishaps.
• When cooking, do not wear clothing with loose sleeves or dangling jewelry. The clothing can catch on fire and the jewelry can catch on pot handles, causing spills and burns.

• Cook on back burners when possible and turn pot handles in so they don’t extend over the edge of the stove.
• Never leave cooking unattended. If you must leave the kitchen while cooking, turn off the stove or have someone else watch what is being cooked.
• Keep Thanksgiving decorations and kitchen clutter away from sources of direct heat.
• Candles are often part of holiday decorations. Candles should never be left burning when you are away from home, or after going to bed. Candles should be located where children will not be tempted to play with them, and where guests will not accidentally brush against them. The candleholder should be completely noncombustible and difficult to knock over. The candle should not have combustible decorations around it.

Dates in November 2007 to Remember

Dates To Remember:

November 1st: Rent is due! Please leave your check or money order at the Summer Pointe leasing office. If the office is closed, you may drop your check through the night drop at the front door. Please indicate your address on your check.

November 9th: "Josh Turner" @ The Riverwind Casino. Concert begins at 8 p.m. Admission: Premium $39.50, VIP $44.50. For more information please call 405-322-6464.

November 15th: “Kenny G” @ The Riverwind Casino. Concert begins at 8 p.m. Admission: Premium $39.50, VIP $44.50. For more information please call 405-322-6464.