Due to a perfect storm of adjusting to a new sleep/wake schedule (a perpetual night owl takes approximately two months to adjust to early morning waking), shuffling the scheduling of two kids (new school, new responsibilities, still only 24 hours in a day), illness (almost an entire month - all four of us sick at the same time), and the unexpected death of a beloved aunt, I’ve been absent from Around Anderson for some time. In times of stress and crazy schedules and hungry families, it’s good to have a couple of quick, easy meals you can make from memory. One of my family’s favorites is spaghetti and meat sauce.

When I have several hours to devote to sauce-making, I do like to make my own sauce. Sometimes, however, that’s not possible and I reach for a jar of spaghetti sauce to help things along. Boosting the sauce takes a little thought but not much advance planning, if you have your pantry and fridge well-stocked.

Busy Day Spaghetti

1 Tbsp olive oil

1 medium onion, diced

3 cloves garlic, minced (on really busy days I use the jarred, pre-minced garlic)

1 pound low-fat ground beef or ground turkey (for a vegetarian option, finely mince a small eggplant and 2 carrots in a food processor)

1 jar spaghetti sauce, marinara style (I really like the Newman’s Own brand)

1 tsp dried oregano

1 tsp dried basil

¼ tsp red pepper flakes, optional

¼ cup sweet vermouth, optional (I’ll explain that later)

Salt and pepper to taste

In a medium-to-large saucepan, heat oil over medium-high heat until it shimmers. Add onion and sauté, stirring frequently, until onions start looking translucent. Add garlic and cook until it softens a bit but make sure it doesn’t brown.  Add the beef (or turkey or vegetables) and cook through. You can drain the beef if you like, but if you start with really low-fat beef you probably won’t need to. Pour in the spaghetti sauce. I also add a bit of water to the empty jar to get that last bit of sauce that never seems to want to come out - usually about a ¼- to a ½-cup total. Stir well. Add the oregano, basil, and pepper flakes if using and turn the heat to simmer. Add the vermouth. This gives the sauce that “all day simmer” flavor.

Now, it’s true that not all the alcohol will “burn off” during cooking. The longer you keep the sauce on the heat, the more the alcohol will evaporate, and the larger the pot, the more the alcohol will evaporate. You can buy non-alcoholic vermouth if you prefer. And, if you simmer this sauce for an hour, as I recommend, only 25% of the alcohol’s chemical compounds will remain. Of course, using the vermouth at all is completely optional.

Simmer the sauce for an hour, or at least a half hour. Prepare your favorite pasta and serve the spaghetti with big mixed-green salads.

The Fall 2009 Ohio Health Issues Poll was released by the non-partisan Health Foundation of Greater Cincinnati.  The polling was done by the University of Cincinnati and fairly represents the views of regular Ohioans about health care reform.  A full 69 percent of those polled say a public option would improve or significantly improve our health care system.

Among the other findings:

• 79% say being able to choose any doctor or hospital is extremely important
• 74% place the highest priority on having health insurance despite age or medical history
• 72% say having a plan that covers any test or treatment you or your doctor think you need is extremely important

If I’m a member of congress like Jean Schmidt (R - 2nd District), I’d say it’s a no brainer.  But then again, I’m not in Washington swimming in money from health care lobbyists.

You can find out much more about the Health Foundation of Greater Cincinnati and their ongoing Ohio Health Issues Poll at http://www.healthfoundation.org/ohip.html.

Did you know the George Washington was deeded 1,000 acres of land in the Northeast corner of Anderson township? How about that Dr. Phillip Turpin was a nephew of Thomas Jefferson? Anderson Township has been on the map since 1793, so we have a rich history. Starting Sunday 10/4, that history will be on display in a new room at the Anderson Center, 7850 Five Mile Road.

The grand opening event on 10/4 will feature tours of the exhibits, refreshments and entertainment. It’s free and open to the public. For more information, you can all the government center at (513) 688-8400.

Having one child at a time is challenging.  Two or more at the same time seems almost unmanageable to me, but there are families all around Anderson living that life and loving it.

You can meet some of them and find some great bargains this weekend at the semi-annual Babies and Children’s Fall Clothing and Equipment Sale.  It’s sponsored by Eastern Hills Mothers of Twins or More Club. All those babies mean lots of clothes and gear to outgrow.

The sale is Saturday 10/3 from 8am until Noon at Nagel Middle School. It costs $1 to get in the door. The half-price sale starts at 11am.  It’s cash only and all sales are final.

Eastern Hills Mothers of Twins and More Club is a non‐profit organization whose purpose is to provide support, outreach, and charity to parents of multiples. Founded in 1962, the membership may consist of parents, expectant parents, and guardians of multiple birth children. The EHMOTC is a member of the National Organization of the Mothers of Twins Club, Inc., and mainly draws rom the east side of Cincinnati, Ohio.  You can learn more at their web site at http://www.EHMOTC.com.
View Larger Map

The Five Mile Trail will tentatively be closed on Tuesday, September 29th, to allow for pavement maintenance.  The trail will reopen on Wednesday, September 30th.  This work is weather permitting, so residents may visit www.andersontownship.org, call (513) 688-8400, or email tcaruso@andersontownship.org, to confirm the closure or with any questions or comments.

Anderson Township’s movie theater is on track to open in late spring or early summer of 2010, according to the company managing the project.  Construction has been delayed recently due to a design problem with a ramp, and because of the recent rain.  Jeff Jacobs from The JFP Group says the ramp problem has been fixed.  He also tells me that there is no financial reason for the delays.  The funding is solid.

The 12-screen, 1100 seat Danbury Anderson Cinema and parking garage were scheduled to open November 1st.  Jacobs says Danbury actually prefers a spring or summer opening, when all the biggest movies premiere.

Food allergies are scary. Wilson Elementary sixth-grader Lake Ille wants to make them less scary and better understood. He’s taking that message to Washington on September 30th when he’ll join eighty other students in giving a presentation to Congress.

Lake has a severe peanut allergy. His personal experiences and concern for himself and other American students led to Lake successfully applying for the opportunity to serve as a Food Allergy and Anaphylaxis Network (FAAN) Junior Ambassador.

Lake intends to tell Congress to “put more money to food allergy research and hopefully find a cure,” he said.

Lake also has another idea, the installation of kiosks in all schools in the country. The kiosk would provide the ingredients for all school menu items so that students can be informed. Right now he and his family are working with the Forest Hills School District to get ingredients of menu items served in the schools posted online.

Lake said that he is learning what it means to be an advocate for the needs of children with food allergies. “As I get older, I see the need to try to work for a change,” he said.

To learn much more about food allergies, visit the FAAN web site at http://www.foodallergy.org.

Dr. Ann Roberts, and Laura Bonsall of the Wilson PTA accept from state PTA representative Rebecka Adams the Phoebe Apperson-Hearst National PTA Family-School Partnership Award of Excellence in the standard of Collaborating with Community.

Only six schools in the nation received the Phoebe Apperson-Hearst National PTA Family-School Partnership Award of Excellence, and Wilson Elementary School was one of them.

Wilson was recognized for “Collaborating with Community.” Principal Dr. Ann Roberts accepted the award on behalf of her staff. “They did it all,” she said. Work on the award application was spearheaded by the Wilson PTA Executive Committee under the direction of last year’s president, Beth Davis, current president, Pam Sanders, and PTA Chair of the Writing Committee, Laura Bonsall.

PTA state representative Rebecka Adams presented the award stating that it was one of the “highest standards PTA grants.” “To have a school in Ohio recognized at the national level is wonderful”, she said.

Those are the tough issues facing the Forest Hills Board of Education. During a special work session last week, they formed a committee to study facilities.  Specifically, how are we going to pay for a new Wilson Elementary, the oldest building in the district?  Wilson has become increasingly crowded as more residents move to the area specifically because of our schools’ success.  Also, the committee will figure out where to put all-day kindergartners, which the state has mandated by 2010.    Will all schools comply, or will Forest Hills ask for a temporary waiver from the state due to a lack of classroom space?

The board also discussed a new operating levy.  It will likely be on the ballot either in the spring for fall of 2010.

Coney Island has added a laser light show each night of its Fall-O-Ween festival on the next two weekends, 9/26 & 9/27 and 10/3 & 10/4.  The show is produced by Lasertainment and features colorful images on a large laser screen while aerial beams dance above and beyond the audience, all choreographed to festive music.  Here’s a video sample:

Also new this year, Moonlite Gardens will be transformed into the Wild West. Families can come in and take a step back in time as they enjoy live entertainment and visit with farmyard friends.

Other attractions of the Fall-O-Ween Festival are the Trick or Treat trail from 3 to 6 pm, Apple Pie School, Pumpkin Painting and Halloween Crafts, Pumpkin Fling, Fall-O-Ween Maze and the Coney Classic Rides.

Admission to the event is $10 for adults and $7 for children, ages 12 and under, and includes the Coney Classic Rides. All tickets purchased online in advance, through Friday, September 25, are $7. For more information about Fall-O-Ween or to purchase tickets, visit http://www.coneyislandpark.com.