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Did You Know? Did you know that Fire Prevention Week 2013 is Oct. 6 to 12? The time is chosen annually to remember the 1871 Chicago Fire which killed hundreds and destroyed almost four square miles of the city, leaving 100,000 people homeless. This year's theme is "Prevent Kitchen Fires." Cooking is the number one cause of home fires and home fire injuries. The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) will focus on safe habits in the use of stoves, microwaves and other appliances. The NFPA campaign stresses remaining attentive while cooking as well as managing how close children and pets are to anything hot. Grease fires are a particular problem. A safety tip from the NFPA states that keeping a lid and an oven mitt nearby while you cook will allow you to quickly cover a pan that has a grease fire. Turn off the burner and leave the pan covered until it is completely cool. Do not use water on a grease fire! Did you know that in 1492 Christopher Columbus made an agreement with the King and Queen of Spain that in return for finding a shortcut for the spice trade, Columbus would be given the rank of Admiral of the Ocean Sea and appointed Viceroy and Governor of all the new lands he could claim for Spain? He would also be entitled to 10 percent of all revenues from the new lands and would have an option to buy one-eighth interest in any commercial ventures and receive one-eighth of all profits. These were generous terms but it was suspected that the monarchs did not expect Columbus to return. What a surprise they received! Litigation on their reneging of contractual obligations to the Columbus family continued until 1790. Did you know that the full moon we will experience on Friday, Oct. 4, was called the Full Hunter's Moon or Full Harvest Moon by Native Americans? The weather was cooling, crops had been gathered, deer were fattened and the bright moonlight allowed hunters to easily see the fox and other animals that came on the fields to eat fallen grains. It was a good time to begin storing meat for the long winter ahead. Did you know that Oct. 29 is National Frankenstein Day, Oct. 30, is both National Candy Corn Day and Mischief Night, Oct. 30 is Carve a Pumpkin Day and Halloween is celebrated on Oct. 31? So much for the 16th century historical connection to the Celtic festival of Samhaim. Halloween has been commercialized. Did you know that National Dessert Day on Oct. 14 and Babbling Day on Oct. 21, are all referenced by E-card companies and calendar sites online? However, researchers for the Holiday Insights company have failed to find any congressional records or presidential proclamations for either day. Chalk it up to the development of E-cards in 1994 and the rapid escalation of electronic greeting cards from various companies in the past 18 to 19 years. But, did you also find the word "blatherskite" which means a person who babbles on forever? ~ Bobbie Eckel Community News | FOUR SEASONS BREEZE | OCTOBER 2013 7

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