The UCB Flier
A publication of
Utah Council of the Blind
November 2019
For the latest news updates call the Utah Connection 801-299-0670 or 1‑800-273-4569.
(You may also leave a message at the end of the announcement.)
Check out the website at utahcounciloftheblind.org.
Mail correspondence to: UCB, PO Box 1415, Bountiful, UT 84011-1415.
E-mail us at ucb.board@gmail.com.
The UCB Flier is available in large print, Braille,
audio CD, as a data (Microsoft Word and a plain text file) CD, and by e-mail.
If you would prefer to receive your newsletter in a different format, please
call the Utah Connection or send an e-mail to ucb.board@gmail.com and let us know.
In This Issue
President’s Message.................................................................................. 4
Christmas Bells Are Ringing for Our Christmas Party!............................... 5
Ogden Association of the Blind Upcoming Events...................................... 8
OAB Thanksgiving Dinner......................... 8
OAB Christmas Dinner............................. 9
Braille
Cookbooks Available....................................................................... 9
Needing Baby Booties and Socks............................................................ 10
Potential New Classes!............................................................................. 11
Eyes on Health......................................................................................... 13
Nutrition.................................................. 13
Exercise.................................................. 14
Stress Management................................ 15
Sleep...................................................... 16
Medicare and You 2020
Available in Braille............................................. 18
ScripTalk
Goes Mobile............................................................................. 19
Braille
Challenge®.................................................................................... 20
Important Dates to Remember................ 21
What Is the Braille Challenge?................ 22
Kitchen Hints............................................................................................ 23
Parchment vs. wax paper....................... 23
Wax paper vs. freezer paper................... 25
Foil vs. parchment paper........................ 25
Foil vs. wax paper................................... 27
Freezer paper vs. foil.............................. 27
More Helpful Kitchen Hints..................... 28
General UCB Information......................................................................... 29
Upcoming Board Meeting....................... 30
Disclaimer
Articles and
announcements included in this publication are presented for your information
and interest. They reflect the opinions of the respective authors and are not
necessarily endorsed by the UCB.
I want to take a moment to remind everyone that the Utah Council of the
Blind is a nonprofit organization, and we receive funding in many ways. There
are a couple that I will highlight this month.
The first is to go to Smithsfoodanddrug.com. You may need to create an account. If
you have done this, go to my account. There is a section called Smiths
Inspiring Donations. When you enter this area, you can scroll down or type in
the search area Utah Council of the Blind. Enter. Click on enroll in
organization.
You will need to do this once a year.
Another easy way to donate is by going to smile.amazon.com. You will be asked for your email or
phone number. If you do not have an Amazon account, you can create one here. There
will be a list of charities to choose from. Click on the Utah Council of the
Blind. Every time you shop at Smile.amazon.com you will be donating.
We appreciate everyone who is willing to enroll in these programs. It is
a way that we can all contribute.
Thanks,
Tina
By Sandy England
I heard the bells on Christmas Morn—they told me it’s a Christmas party
for us!!!
When: Saturday December 7, 2019
Time: 10:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.
Where: DSBVI at 250 North 1950 West,
Salt Lake City
Cost: $5.00 for adults
Children under 12 $3.00
Payment method: cash or check at the UCB office, checks sent to UCB, PO
Box 1415, Bountiful, UT 84011-1415, or credit card (call Tina Terry at
801-245-9264). No payments at the door, please!
Payments and reservations are due by December 1, 2019. With your
reservations, please include your name and phone number, how many are in your
party, and the ages and genders of any children who are included.
Put your smiles on and come to our Annual Christmas Party! With Santa,
food, entertainment, singing carols, gifting table, craft tables. Read on for
the exciting news on this year’s party!
Food will be by the Golden Corral, a turkey dinner and a wonderful
surprise dessert. We will enjoy the Copper Hills High jazz band, and we will
sing Christmas carols with Sandy Ruconich playing the piano. We might have a
special solo singer, too!
Bring spending money to do a bit of Christmas shopping, for there will
be a small craft boutique as well as the traditional bake sale, and any extra
dinners will be sold as part of the bake sale.
Craft tables : there are two or three left. No cost for tables, we are
asking for a donation to the Utah Council of the Blind from what you sell. No
reserved spots for the tables. First come gets which ever table they want. Call
Sandy England with any questions.
Gifting table for the first time for adults. This is the way it will
work. Bring a lightly-used item or a new item (no clothes, please). Put on the
gifting table. When all have put their gifts on the table, then we will have
people go up and pick one item until everyone gets one, and then we will see if
there will be more to give out. You don’t pay for the gifting item, and there
are no restrictions on the value of the gift you bring to give away. Any gifts
left over will go to the Utah Council of the Blind to do this again someday.
Toy gifting table for the kids is the same way. Please make sure toys work and
are for ages 3-12. No clothes, please.
Please, if you want to help, call Sandy England at either 801-282-1905
or cell phone 801-634-8002. This year some of the volunteers will be puppy
raisers plus others. However, I still need help to set up and take down and
through the whole party!
Ho, Ho, Ho,
Sandy Claus
Home: 801-282-1905
Cell: 801-634-8002
Email: syeangel@comcast.net
Saturday, November 23, 2019
1:00-3:00 p.m.
Evergreen Park Ward
300 Gramercy Avenue
Ogden UT
Saturday, December 14, 2019
1:00-3:00 p.m.
Rock Cliff Stake
1000 Suncrest Drive
Ogden UT
For reservations or more information about these events call Kathy
Stillwell at 801-479-9019.
Just a reminder that we have several Braille cookbooks which have been donated to the UCB. These are available at no charge by contacting Donni in the office at DSBVI or stopping by to see what is available.
We also currently have three titles which were produced for our personal Braille project. These include a recipe collection of Tina Terry’s favorites, a large collection of Vita-Mix recipes, and a Ward Cookbook. If you would like copies of any of these collections, please contact Leslie Gertsch at 801-292-1156. There is no charge for these items.
By Sandy England
With Christmas coming, this is an on-going project.
There is a great need for those of you
who crochet and knit. In Zimbabwe, Africa there is an urgent need for baby
booties and socks. These women have nothing! When they have a baby, they wrap
them in paper for blankets, which are hard to get and keep, and they are very,
very poor. The babies need little hats and booties and socks. These are for
babies. If you have any leftover yarn and would like to make these please let
me know and I’ll try to pick them up from you. Their water is for drinking and
that is all! So, when things get too dirty, they just throw them away, for they
have no choice in the matter. Water just isn’t plentiful there. They need
lightly used shoes and blankets. The women need to keep working, so try to send
these blankets which women sew, and then the women there can wrap the baby in
them. They do this so they can continue to work. Please, if you have any
questions, let me know.
Thank you,
Sandy England
Email: syeangel@comcast.net
Home Phone: 801-282-1905
Cell phone plus text: 801-634-8002
We are taking a poll and want your feedback on some new classes we are
thinking of doing.
Are you interested? If you are, please call the Utah Connection or Tina
Terry at 801-245-9264 or Sandy England at 801-634-8002 or 801-282-1905 or
Monica Youngdell at 801-364-2311.
1. How to make a pie filling good enough for homemade pie crust or store
pie crust.
2. Financial class. Will include how
to budget, save, shop wisely, or anything else you would like. This would
include a class plus a visit to your home so we can talk about your personal
budget.
3. Making freezer meals that you can put in the crockpot or oven.
4. Learning the GPS on the new Victor Trek—this would be a class.
5. Tips on saving when shopping, coupons etc. Also, if you need help with
organizing things in your kitchen or home, labeling etc.
By Kelly Nelson
I have a passion for nutrition and health. I
have been studying this for many years. I have read many books, newspapers,
magazine articles, watched summits and podcast on this subject. There are many
opinions and thoughts about health-related issues. After all of my learning, my
conclusion is there are four main parts to true health: nutrition, exercise, stress
management and sleep. I will share some thoughts on each part.
This is the most difficult of the four parts
of true health because people become defensive and protective of their food
choice. There are many thoughts on food and fad diets that confuse people. One
specific diet may not be good for everyone because we are all unique. However,
one common factor most agree on is not to eat processed food and fast food,
fried foods, refined sugars, and we should eat a lot more fruit and vegetables.
Michael Pollen states, “Eat food, not too much, mostly plants.” and “if it came
from a plant eat it, if it was made in a plant don’t.” Since our bodies are a
large percent of water, we need to drink plenty of filtered water daily.
This part can have a powerful effect on your
physical and mental health. We need to move more and enjoy it. Sitting is
considered the new smoking. There are so many ways to add movement to our daily
lives. Walking is a great way to get movement, and if you bring a friend or
your four-legged friend you will get extra benefits. Other fun activities are
jogging, dancing, biking, hiking, swimming, canoeing, playing sports, and
gardening which also have extra benefits like having beautiful flowers and
fresh fruits and vegetables to enjoy. You can do things indoors or outdoors. If
you go to the great outdoors you can enjoy the sunshine and fresh air. It is
good to mix into your routine: aerobics, resistance training, and stretching.
You will be surprised how well you will feel by adding daily movement to your
life.
This part gets overlooked.
Stress can be a big cause of chronic disease. Management of our stress can be
healing to our bodies and minds. Some of the ways to manage our stress are
prayer, meditation, gentle stretching like yoga, and deep breathing. I feel
that love should be added to this section. People who are lonely or feel
isolated have more problems with depression and chronic disease. Some of the
longest living people attribute their longevity to living in a close community.
We are hard wired to love and be loved. Spending time with people we care for
and away from feeling isolated is healing. Our pets are exceptionally good at providing
healing benefits because they show unconditional love. It is worth finding time
in our busy lives to add stress
management and loving more to our daily routines.
This is the last
part. Sleep is a great way to end the day. Quality restorative sleep is healing
for our bodies and minds because it detoxifies and repairs our bodies and minds
when we sleep. Some suggestions to get a good night sleep are to have scheduled
bedtime every night that is at the same time. Have a nighttime routine that
helps gets your body ready for bed and turn off electronics 30 minutes before
bedtime. Also, dim the lights closer to bedtime. It is good to not eat too
close to bedtime. Some things that can help you get ready to sleep are reading
a book, taking a warm bath, meditating and listening to relaxing music or
nature sounds. It is best to sleep in a cool room.
I enjoy learning
about nutrition and health. There are so many things we can do to enhance our
health and wellness. Many of them we do every day. We just need to be more aware
of things like how many fruits and vegetables did we eat today, how can I add
more movement to my day, what stress management tools can I incorporate today,
and also, what will help me get good quality restorative sleep tonight. If we
are aware of these things and make little adjustments, we can make big
improvements to our health and wellness. Little things can have a big impact on
your life. One of the new things I am learning is that these lifestyle choices
can make a huge impact on our eyesight. I have been learning that macular
degeneration and retinopathy from type 2 diabetes can be helped with good
nutrition. It is exciting to hear that people may prevent and slow down loss of
sight by making changes early in the disease. I know firsthand how hard it is
to lose my sight. If others can prevent this loss, it is truly worth learning
and getting the word out there. I look forward to studying this more in the
future. I hope I can share this knowledge and prevent someone from losing their
eyesight. There is so much beauty in this world, and I want as many people to
enjoy it as possible.
My disclaimer: I am
not a doctor so talk to your doctor before you start any big lifestyle changes.
By Kim Charlson
The following Medicare publication is
available in braille and copies can be requested from the Perkins Library:
Medicare & You 2020
The Official U.S. Government Medicare
Handbook
This publication offers information on
signing up for Medicare, the different parts of Medicare, coverage and how it
works, as well as the plans and options available.
Spanish: Medicare Y Usted 2020, the
Spanish language version (limited number) also available.
To request a braille copy, send your name and
mailing address to kim.charlson@perkins.org.
Thank you,
Kim
Announcing
the Launch of ScripTalk Mobile for iPhone
En-Vision America is excited to announce the
long awaited arrival of the ScripTalk Mobile app for iPhone.
To successfully install and run the app, you
need:
iPhone 7 or Higher
iOS 13
Visit the Help Section inside the app to find Directions on How to Use
Support for iPhone 11 is still in beta
The ScripTalk Mobile app was designed with
mobility and convenience in mind. It has both "scan" and "quick
scan" buttons. Scan tells you all of your drug information and Quick Scan
is a convenient way to hear only the drug name announced. You can also use the
History feature to review your medications without having to scan them.
Please Note: This app is used to read special
RFID Tags placed on your prescription by a participating pharmacy.
ScripTalk is a product of:
En-Vision America, Inc.
825 4th St W
Palmetto, FL 34221-5013
1-800-890-1180
www.envisionamerica.com
The 2020 Braille Challenge® Reading, Writing & Spelling
Contest
Utah Regional: Friday, March 13, 2020 9:00 – 3:00 pm
Location: DSBVI; 250 North 1950 West; SLC
Sponsored by Utah Foundation for the Blind (UFB)
REGISTRATION FORMS WILL BE AVAILABLE IN DECEMBER AT: rmpet4@gmail.com
Registration forms due January 31, 2020
The Braille Challenge season begins in
December! Start practicing now. Find Practice materials at: https://www.brailleinstitute.org/ibraille-challenge-app.
Contestants will take the Preliminary Contest
in Utah at our Regional event on March 6, 2020 at the Division Services for the
Blind and Visually Impaired (DSBVI) in Salt Lake (located at 250 North 1950
West). Students grades 1-12 can compete in the preliminary round with others in
our state. This fun day will include activities, information about braille,
entertainment, snacks, lunch, t-shirts and awards. All participants will be
rewarded for their participation and achievements.
The
2020 Braille Challenge Season will begin December 2020
Registration form due-January 31, 2020
Preliminary Contest: March 13, 2020
Notification of Contest Results: May 2020
The 2020 Braille Challenge National Finals will happen in June at USC
The Braille Challenge is the only academic competition of its kind in
North America for students who are blind or visually impaired. Braille
Institute developed the Braille Challenge to motivate students to practice and
hone their braille literacy skills, which are essential to academic and
employment success. Any blind or visually impaired student in grades 1–12 who
can read and write braille is eligible to participate in the Braille Challenge.
All Contestants are divided into five categories and tested on fundamental
braille skills such as reading comprehension, spelling, speed and accuracy,
proofreading, and charts and graphs. Contests are proctored by volunteer
Teachers of the Visually Impaired and scored locally by volunteer transcribers,
based on national guidelines. All students can compete in the preliminary
Braille Challenge events, which are held from January through the end of March
throughout the United States and Canada, but only the top 50 students (10 in
each category) with the highest scores are invited to Los Angeles for the final
round – two days of competition, camaraderie and fun!
By Sandy England
You probably know that foil is silver-colored and freezer paper, parchment paper and waxed paper are, well, paper, but does your knowledge about them end there?
These four kitchen staples have a variety of uses that can make cooking much simpler. But use the wrong one at the wrong time and things can turn disastrous. Here's the difference and tips on how you should use them.
Waxed paper (or wax paper) and parchment paper are both coated papers. The difference is in their coatings. Parchment paper -- which is available bleached and unbleached -- is coated with silicone, while wax paper is coated in, you guessed it, wax. Soybean or paraffin wax, to be precise.
Their coatings give them different uses. Parchment paper's silicone coating makes it heat-resistant and nonstick. Line baking pans with this paper wonder and food won't stick to the pan. This trick can't be duplicated with wax paper because the wax will melt, which makes it useless as a nonstick barrier and ruins whatever you're cooking.
Use wax paper to line dishes that aren't going in the oven.
Wax paper's best use is lining countertops and tables before rolling out pie crusts or kneading bread, to prevent a mess. Wax paper can also be used to wrap food for cold storage or even line a pan for making something like fudge. Putting a piece of wax paper in between items you're freezing will also prevent them from sticking together.
So, to sum it up, parchment paper is for hot applications and wax paper is for cold.
Because they are very similar, freezer paper and wax paper are both used to wrap and freeze foods. The big difference is that freezer paper is only coated on one side with plastic, while wax paper is coated on both sides with wax. Because of the plastic coating, freezer paper is typically much more durable than wax and protects better in the freezer.
For example, meat wrapped in wax paper will only stay freezer burn free for a few months. Meat wrapped in freezer paper, on the other hand, can last for up to a year. This is because freezer paper is more resistant to moisture.
You can use wax paper if you're planning on cooking the food soon, but use freezer paper for long-term freezer storage.
Foil is basically very thin aluminum. Many people use it to line cooking dishes for easier cleanup, which is a great trick, but foil has no nonstick properties, unlike parchment paper. You may end up with a little piece of foil stuck to the bottom of your roasted potatoes or cookies.
Also, research by the International Journal of Electrochemical Science found that small amounts of aluminum may leach into food during the cooking process. Like with wax paper, if there is heat your best bet is parchment paper.
Some people line their ovens with foil to prevent messes. This is a big no-no, too. It can damage your oven in several different ways. It can also prevent proper air circulation, which can alter how your food cooks.
Foil still has its uses, though. Use it to:
Wrap sandwiches
Wrap meat for short-term freezing
Cover bowls to hold in heat
Make disposable funnels
Prevent messes around the stove
OK, so foil and wax paper have a lot of similar uses, but which one is better? A good rule of thumb is if you don't want it to stick, use wax paper and if you want to insulate, use foil.
Aluminum foil can also be reused or recycled, unlike wax paper. So, if saving the planet is on your mind and you can't decide between foil and wax paper, choose foil. Before slipping it in the recycling bin just make sure to rinse it off.
Both freezer paper and heavy-duty foil are used to wrap meat and other items for the freezer, but which is best? Well, it's close to a tie.
Both are moisture resistant and help prevent freezer burn. The biggest difference, like with wax paper, is that aluminum foil can be cleaned and reused. It also doesn't need freezer tape to secure it in place since it holds its shape.
Aluminum foil can leave a metallic flavor on the meat, though. If you choose foil, you may want to wrap your meat in plastic wrap and then foil before you freeze it.
For guidelines on wrapping meat for the freezer, read Individually wrap portions of meat to prevent freezer burn.
1. Helpful hint on defrosting meat: Put meat in a zip lock bag and push air out of it. Then put in a bowl of cold water. This helps to defrost the meat safely and faster.
2. When packaging meat if you buy more than you need for one meal. Take hamburger and place in a zip lock bag and flatten it out so when you put it in the water to defrost it will do it faster.
3. When packaging chicken you can put several pieces in one bag. However, wrap them in wax paper so you don’t have to defrost the whole bag
4. If you don’t like cutting onions and bell peppers, then buy frozen ones. They are great!
5. When cleaning mushrooms, add a lot of salt to some water and put them in it. This helps to clean them for you. Then rinse them in clear water.
Donni Mitchell, our vice president,
volunteers in the UCB Office at DSBVI, 250 N 1950 W, Salt Lake City, UT, from
12:00 to 3:30 p.m. on Wednesdays. Adrienne Clayton keeps the office open from
10:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. on Fridays. If you are making a special trip to visit
the office, we recommend you give one of these ladies a call at 801-520-3766 to
be sure she is there when you come to make purchases or conduct other business.
We are always looking for articles, book reviews, or interesting tidbits
of information from our readers or other interested persons. The deadline for
submitting items for publication is the 10th of the month, e.g. the deadline
for the December newsletter is November 10th. You may e-mail any articles you
wish to submit to newsletterucb@gmail.com; send Braille, print, or audio to UCB
Flier, PO Box 1415, Bountiful, UT 84011-1415; or drop them off to Donnie or
Adrienne at the office. Please allow extra time for processing Braille, print,
or audio.
If you have questions or concerns for any board member or to be placed
on the agenda of a board meeting, e-mail ucb.board@gmail.com or leave a message on the Utah
Connection, and you will receive a timely reply.
Members are invited and encouraged to attend meetings of the Board of
Directors. These are typically held the fourth Monday of each month at 4:45
p.m. at DSBVI in Conference Room R (in the north hallway), except as noted.
·
Monday,
November 18, 2019
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