April fool!

Mother Nature and Old Man Winter joined forces to pull a slightly belated April Fool’s joke that started during the afternoon of Tuesday, April 2 and ended late Wednesday morning. Heavy, wet snow driven by sometimes gale force winds out of the east downed trees and power poles that seemed to focus on specific areas but caused widespread power outages that lasted into the weekend.

WPS crews did a yeoman’s job, working night and day to clear trees, replace poles, and restore service as quickly as possible. Many homes in TIMESLand and other parts of Wisconsin were still without power on Saturday, but by Sunday power was back for all.  

There were so many trees and power lines down along Hwy. 180 near Marinette that traffic was detoured around it until 3:35 p.m. on Thursday, April 4.

COMMUNITY SPIRIT

As hardships often do, the storm brought out the best in everyone, including numerous local businesses. Many opened their doors to the powerless public. Some even offered free meals, hot coffee and a place to fill water jugs. Shelters, showers and water were also provided at schools and municipal centers throughout the area.

NOT THE FIRST TIME

This is certainly not the first time TIMESLand was hit by a late season snow storm, and it almost certainly won’t be the last. Fortunately, this year’s late season storm wasn’t as bad as an epic storm described in the Country Cousin column from April 18, 2018 that struck most of Wisconsin on Friday, April 13, lasted into the wee hours of Monday, April 16, and came back for a brief encore on Wednesday, April 18. I had written: 

“Peshtigo was buried under nearly 30 inches of snow, an historic all time record for a single storm, according to Marinette County Emergency Government Director Eric Burmeister. Only 24 inches officially landed on Marinette, the second most snow on record for a single storm there. Marinette County, the State of Wisconsin, and probably Oconto County, are applying for federal disaster relief funds to help cover costs of coping with the storm. An told the blizzard was even worse in Oconto County than it was here. For once, northern Marinette County escaped the worst of it, and got less snowfall than points south.

The column went on to say: “Old Man Winter is not done with us yet.” More snow and/or freezing rain were predicted for April 18, after which it was supposed to warm up.

GREEN UP

Most of the snow from last week’s storm is gone, and a few lawns and fields are turning green. Hopefully real spring will arrive in time for us to enjoy some rhubarb, fresh home grown asparagus and vine ripened strawberries and tomatoes before winter sets in again.

In honesty, the ground has already thawed, so planting time shouldn’t be too long in coming. However, while we’re waiting, we can do some planning and start some indoor seeds, lay out the garden, plan landscape improvements, order seeds and bulbs, get tools cleaned and sharpened, get the lawn mower fixed, buy or make a gardening apron with deep pockets and more. 

ON THE SOAP BOX

FREEDOM OF SPEECH

Back in 2018 Richard Pan, a far left California State Senator, had introduced a bill, SB1424, that would require any person who operates a social media, (Internet Web site) with a physical presence in California to develop a strategic plan to verify news stories shared on its Web site. 

According to an article posted by “thegatewaypundit.com,” the bill stated:

“(a) Any person who operates a social media Internet Web site with physical presence in California shall develop a strategic plan to verify news stories shared on its Internet Web site.

“(b) The strategic plan shall include, but is not limited to, all of the following:

“(1) A plan to mitigate the spread of false information through news stories.

“(2) The utilization of fact-checkers to verify news stories.

(3) Providing outreach to social media users regarding news stories containing false information.

“(4) Placing a warning on a news story containing false information.

“(c) As used in this section, “social media” means an electronic service or account, or electronic content, including, but not limited to, videos, still photographs, blogs, video blogs, podcasts, instant and text messages, email, online services or accounts, or Internet Web site profiles or locations.”

Wrote at the time, “This should be absolutely terrifying to anyone who believes in truth, freedom and the American way. Passage of this law could be the beginning of the end to America as we know it and the Freedom of Speech that keeps ours the best nation in the world. If it gets enacted in California it’s only a matter of time before national politicians start pushing for a similar law nationwide!” Also was concerned that newspapers, radio and TV news to become the next targets.

And guess what? All that has come to pass, perhaps not as laws, but in practice. If the web hosts disagree with things that are posted they label it “misinformation” and remove it. Would have no problem if they would simply label it “misinformation” and then leave it there. 

COOKIN’ TIME

MAPLE GLAZED CARROTS

This is not dessert, but the kids might think it is. The flavor of carrots benefits greatly from being cooked without added water. Carrot slices cook wonderfully in our heavy old waterless saucepan with nothing added except salt, pepper and a generous dab of butter. For that to work, though, you need a really heavy kettle to keep the heat in, and a tight fitting cover to keep the steam in. You cook about 10 minutes and then shut it off. Let the retained heat and the steam do the rest.

1 pound carrots (peeled and cut on the diagonal into same size pieces)

1 tablespoon butter or olive oil

2 tablespoons maple syrup

Salt

Black pepper

Preheat oven to 400 degrees and choose an oven-proof frying pan that’s large enough to hold all the carrots in a single layer. Peel carrots, then cut off the thinner tips and cut the thicker ends in half lengthwise. Cut carrot pieces on the diagonal, making them close to the same size and shape. Add olive oil or butter to the frying pan and heat to medium hot (the oil should look shimmery, but not be smoking when you add the carrots.) Add the carrots (you should hear a slight sizzling sound.) Sauté three to four minutes, or until their surface looks slightly blistered and starting to color.Turn down heat to low, add maple syrup, and stir to coat carrots. Season well with salt and fresh-ground black pepper. Put frying pan into the hot oven and roast carrots for 10 to 15 minutes, or until they are done to your liking and slightly browned. Stir after about 10 minutes and then keep roasting if they aren’t quite tender. Serve hot.

CHOCOLATE BANANA BREAD

8 tablespoons unsalted butter ( room temperature)

1/2 cup light brown sugar (packed)

1/2 cup white sugar

1 tablespoon real vanilla extract

2 large eggs (room temperature)

1/2 cup cocoa powder

1 cup ripe bananas (about 3 medium bananas; mashed)

2 teaspoons baking powder

1 teaspoon baking soda

1 teaspoon sea salt

1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour

3/4 cup hot water (*or strong hot coffee)

Garnish:

1/3 cup dark chocolate chips

Use an electric mixer to cream butter, brown sugar, sugar and vanilla at medium speed until light and fluffy, about 4 to 5 minutes. Scrape down the sides and bottom of the bowl and beat some more. Add the eggs and mix for one minute more or until well combined. Mix the cocoa powder, baking powder, baking soda and salt and add to the bowl, mixing until smooth. Add the mashed bananas and beat on low until completely blended. Take the beaters out of the batter and use a spoon or rubber spatula to gently fold in the flour until barely combined. Dump in the hot water and whisk to combine. Scrape the sides and bottom of the bowl to make sure the batter is well combined, but do not use the electric beaters again. Set the batter aside for 10 to 20 minutes while the oven heats to 350 degrees and you prepare the baking pan. Butter a 9” x 5” loaf pan and line with parchment paper, letting the excess paper fall over the two longer sides of the pan. Pour the batter into the prepared pan, sprinkle with chocolate chips and bake in the center of the oven for 60 minutes or until the edges are set and the middle of the cake is puffed up and (probably) cracked.  Let sit for 10 minutes on a cooling rack and then use the parchment overhang to pull the bread out of the pan and let finish cooling on the rack. Most delicious served slightly warm or at room temperature, but not hot. *Using strong coffee or espresso instead of the water intensifies the chocolate flavor.

Thought for the week: Think freedom of speech and freedom of the press aren’t important? Here are a few who would disagree!

Mark Twain: “It is by the goodness of God that in our country we have those three unspeakably precious things: freedom of speech, freedom of conscience, and the prudence never to practice either of them.”

Ronald Reagan: “Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction. We didn’t pass it to our children in the bloodstream. It must be fought for, protected, and handed on for them to do the same.”

George Washington: “If the freedom of speech is taken away then dumb and silent we may be led, like sheep to the slaughter.”

Voltaire: “I do not agree with what you have to say, but I’ll defend to the death your right to say it.”

(This column is written by Shirley Prudhomme of Crivitz. Views expressed are her own and are in no way intended to be an official statement of the opinions of Peshtigo Times editors and publishers. She may be contacted by phone at 715-291-9002 or by e-mail to shirleyprudhommechickadee@yahoo.com.)