• LIFE Vineyard Church with host "Scrambled Eggs" on Saturday March 27, 2010 at 9 AM at Friendship Park in Gahanna. Your kids will have a blast collecting eggs that can be redeemed for tons of candy. (All done in age groups)
  It's a free event & is open to anybody that wants to come. It's also sponsored by Panera Bread. For more info or to pre-register, go to...
  https://lifevineyardchurch.smartevents.com/33
  
  
• Liberty Tax Service in Gahanna is rewarding volunteers who work with non-profit groups and charities by offering them free tax preparation the week of March 29th. All individuals who work with scouting and youth organizations, health non-profits, food banks and other charities are eligible for tax fee cuts at Liberty offices March 29th – March 31st if they are first-time customers. Call (614) 428-4650 for more details.
  
  
• Rebecca Arnold is a senior at Upper Arlington HS. and she is working on a school project that will help the community. It is a 5K fundraiser for a local non-profit organization called Honor Flight Columbus. Honor Flight Columbus is an organization that flies WWII veterans to see their memorial in D.C. for free--in order to thank them for the sacrifices they made so long ago. Saturday, April 3, Registration begins at 1:00 p.m. and the walk begins at 1:30 p.m. The cost is a: recommended donation of $10. Held at Thompson Park in Upper Arlington
  
  
• Otterbein College Students for Life and we are bringing Alveda King, niece of Martin Luther King Jr. to campus on April 8 from 7-9 pm to speak about the civil rights movement and how it relates to the pro-life arena. If you are interested in tickets, check out our freebie list on the morning show page for a contact from Otterbein Students for life.
  
  
• Zachary T Myers was a young man that gave his life defending his country in Iraq in 2009. His family is honoring his life by helping those that served with Zach with a cd, dvd and iTunes gift card drive. All items collected will be sent to the troops in time for Memorial Day in Zach's honor. There are currently two public drop-off sites; Eagles and Roop Brothers, both of which are in Delaware, Ohio.

From The Kitchen Of: Christine Dillion

Broccoli-Cheddar Cheese Soup

• 3 cups fresh broccoli florets (I use frozen)
• 1/3 cup shredded carrot
• 2 ½ cups of chicken broth
• 2 Tablespoon Wondra quick-mixing flour
• 1 cup half and half
• 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
• To taste kosher salt
• To taste black pepper

Place the broccoli, carrot and chicken broth in a medium saucepan ove  high heat. Bring to a boil. Cover and reduce heat to low. Cook 8 minutes, or until the broccoli is very tender.

Whisk in the Wondra flour. Bring back to a boil, whisking constantly. Stir in the half-and-half and cheddar cheese. Cook, stirring until soup is hot and the cheese has melted. Season with salt and pepper to taste.

Servers 4

From Julie Willyerd

Beef & Noodles

• 1 1/2 pounds of stew meat
• 1 can cream of mushroom soup
• 1 can cream of celery soup
• 1 can french onion soup

Place all ingredients in slow cooker for approx 8 hours or until beef is tender.  Serve over cooked noodles or rice.  You can also do this with round steak.

From Deb

To Die For Pot Roast

• Beef Roast, Pork Roast, or Chicken
• 1 Package of Ranch Dressing
• 1 Package Good Seasons Dressing
• 1 Package Gravy Mix
• 1 Cup water
  

Place all ingredients in crock pot 6 - 8 hours (depending on settings) Serve gravy over potatoes, rice, or noodles. Then simply savour. YUM!!

Robin Shelby sent us this one on facebook:

This takes four hours to actually cook but you can start with frozen meat. Take a frozen beef roast and wrap it in foil (shiny side down) submerge the roast in either water or I use beef broth or onion soup and place thecovered pot in the oven. Set the temp at 400. Cook for four hours.

The meat is so tender that it requires very little chewing. Great for kids or the elderly.

From Mary

Pasta E Fagioli Soup

• 28 oz tomato sauce
• 28 oz vegetable broth
• 28 oz diced tomatoes
• 1 ham hock
• 1 can of white kidney beans (canaille beans) drained
• 1 c carrots (cut up)
• 1 c celery (cut up)
• 1 c onion
• 1 ½ tsp Italian seasoning
• ½ box pasta ditalini (uncooked)

Combine all intergradient except for pasta. Cook on low for 4 to 5 hrs. Add pasta for last ½ hr and cook till down.. serve with some Italian bread.

From Stacey Jones

This is my most favorite crockpot recipe.  I make it for everyone that comes over and they LOVE it.

Salsa Sour Cream Chicken 

Ingredients

• 2-3 chicken breasts (depending on how many are eating or size of crockpot)
• 1 big jar of salsa
• 1 packet of taco seasoning
• Sour cream 

Place chicken breasts in crockpot and sprinkle half packet of seasoning on chicken.  Dump salsa all over chicken, make sure it’s covered.  (I use a lot of salsa) Then sprinkle the rest of the seasoning on the salsa.  15 minutes before serving put a few tablespoons of sour cream on top so it will melt a little. 

 Serve over brown rice. If the chicken is frozen put on high for 6+ hours, if not, put on low for 6+ hours.  The chicken should just fall apart…mmmm mmmm good!!!

 Hope you have a great day!

From Suzie H.

YUMBO!

The same basic ingredients, carrots, onion, garlic, potatoes, you choose the meat, fresh or frozen; add a can of tomato sauce, a tablespoon of olive oil, cook on low and call it dinner. Try it with pork chops, london broil or thicker cut of beef. Chicken soup; add celery to the basics, chicken breast with the skin, add water to cover the chicken. Cook the rice separately Pull the vegtables out, shread the chicken and add rice

Love my crock pot!!

Katie Estepp Riedinger

From Nancy

BEEF POT ROAST

• 1 2.5 to 3 lb beef chuck pot roast
• 2 Tbsp cooking oil
• 3/4 cup water, dry wine, or tomato juice
• 1 Tbsp worcestershire sauce
• 1 tsp instant beef bouillon granules
• 1 tsp dried basil, crushed
• 12 ounces whole tiny new potatoes, or 2 medium potatoes
• 8 small carrots or parsnips
• 2 small onions, cut into wedges
• 2 stalks celery, sliced into 1/2" pieces

Brown the roast on all sides in hot oil. I usually salt and pepper it at this point, too. I have also skipped this step entirely to save time and it's just as good. Slice the vegetables and place in the bottom of a 3.5 or 4-quart electric crockery cooker. (I once used a 6-quart pot and the roast kind of dried out, so you could probably just add more liquid if your crockpot is large.) I usually use 4-5 medium potatoes cut into fourths or sixths, and I use about 1/2 bag of "baby" carrots instead of 8 small ones (I pour them in whole). Cut roast to fit cooker and place atop vegetables. Combine water, worcestershire sauce, bouillon granules and basil. Pour over meat and vegetables. (I've tried the water, wine and tomato juice, and we all think that the wine gives it the best flavor--I use white.) I also increase the liquid a little to go with all the extra veggies I add. Cover; cook on low-heat setting for 10-12 hours. I have also sped this up by cooking on high for a couple hours, then turning down to low when I don't get it started early enough. It's always still good. The recipe suggests making gravy out of the juice afterwards, but I never bother--we all love it just served in the juices.

From Tracy Newman

Savory Slow-Cooker Chicken (4 very large servings)

• 21/2 lbs chicken pieces skinned (we use boneless chicken breasts)
• 1 lb fresh tomatoes chopped, or 15 oz- can stewed tomatoes
• 2 Tbs. white wine (we use cooking wine)
• 1 bay leaf... Read More
• 1/4 tsp pepper
• 2 garlic cloves, minced (we use a little more..mmm garlic)
• 1 med. onion chopped
• 1/2 cup chicken broth
• 1 tsp dried thyme
• 1 1/2 tsp salt
• 2 cups broccoli, cut into bite sized pieces

1. combine all ingredients except broccoli in cooker
2. Cover, cook on low 8-10 hours
3. add broccoli 30 minutes before serving

We serve ours over rice. enjoy!
(From Fix-It and Forget-it Cookbook by Dawn j Ranck and Phyllis Pellman Good)

Stacy and Todd Featured The Marriage Makeover Conference at Faith life Church at The Now Center on the show.  Here is the link with all the information you need. Registration deadline is October 25th, 2009:  http://www.faithlifenow.com/content/marriage-makeover-2009

• The 7th annual Run for the Rainbow 5K Walk/Run and kids fun run is set for tonight at 6:45 at New Albany Market Square in New Albany. Proceeds benefit Pediatric research at Nationwide Children's Hospital. For more information visit www.nationwidechildrens.org/runfortherainbow
  
  
• The Grand opening continues through tomorrow at HannahGrace's Doll house on Waterloo Street in Canal Winchester. They have lots of giveaways, and lots of beautiful dolls for you and your little girl to "adopt!" Check out the Video and pictures of Olivia and I adopting a doll at our webpage, plus find a link to their website.
  
  
• SWACO will hold a Household Hazardous Waste mobile collection tomorrow. The collection will run from 8am-2pm at SWACO’s Morse Road Transfer Stations (4260 Morse Rd, Columbus). Franklin County residents may bring their old gasoline, lighter fluid, thinners, pool chemicals, paint, fluorescent light bulbs, etc. to the site.
  
  
• Throughout the month of June, Riverfest on Tour! will have free water-themed activities across central Ohio including boating and fishing. Visit www.riverfestcolumbus.org/ for more information.

OSU Head Coach Jim Tressel talks with Stacy McKay and Todd about the Spring Game 2009, the NFL Draft and his trip to the Middle East.

Listen to their conversation

Here are the contestants from our Annie Contest for each day. Below, them, you will find all the information you need to get your daughter in on the fun, which could mean a 4 pack of tickets to see Annie April 17th-19th, plus a shot at a walk-on role for the show!!!!

• MONDAY: 9 year old Savannah, 3rd grader at Grove City Christian School
  
  
• TUESDAY: Here is Sarah, a 6th grader at St. Pius in Reynoldsburg
  
  
• WEDNESDAY: K.C is five years old... and is in Kindergarten at Alton Darby School in Hilliard
  
  
• THURSDAY: Zoe is 7 years old, and is a 2nd grader at Avery Road Elementary
  
  
• FRIDAY: Kayla is 6 years old and in the first grade at Grove City Christian School

*Congrats to 6 year old Kayla, a first grader at Grove City Christian School..Our grand prize winner of a walk-on role in ANNIE on April 17th!!! Thanks to all of our girls that sang for us this week!!!

Your daughter has the opportunity to win a walk-on role for the Broadway Across America Production of "Annie" coming to The Palace Theater April 17! This is for opening night. Here's how it works: Each morning this week we will take one caller/girl who wants to sing part of the song "Tomorrow" from Annie. The caller chosen will win a 4-pack of tickets to the show on April 17th...and will be part of the random drawing held at the end of the week for a walk-on role!!!! So start practicing...and then listen to win! Here are some items parents will need to know:


-Must be a female child.

-The walk-on role takes place during the “N.Y.C.” number, about 2/3s of the way through the first act.

-The child must provide their own costume. The scene takes place in New York City in the winter, so the show suggests a skirt/dress with tights, Mary Jane style shoes, overcoat, hat, scarf, and gloves. No logos or identifiable characters (i.e. Disney characters, Hannah Montana). The show takes place just after the Depression, so think that style of clothing. The show requests to see a pic of the child in her costume prior to arriving in Columbus.

-This will take place on opening night, Friday, April 17.

-The child and her family will be asked to arrive at the theatre 1 hour 45 minutes prior to curtain (5:45pm). At that time, the child will be escorted backstage to meet with the cast and to go over what will happen on stage. The child will stay backstage with the show’s “child wrangler” and the other children in the show until the “N.Y.C.” scene.

-At intermission, the child will be escorted from backstage to sit with her family to watch the rest of the show.

This is a great idea Stacy found and passed along to you! This company will help you keep your loved ones safe by putting critical information on a tatoo so that others know any special circumstances or needs of that particular person, whether it is a child, elderly person, etc. Here is some info and the link to the page:


Eyedentity Label is an easy application temporary tattoo that is custom made to protect children, the mentally impaired, senior citizens or anyone who may require assistance with recall on emergency data. Depending on where and how they are used, the Eyedentity Label can last anywhere from two days to two weeks.

www.eyedentitylabel.com

On Monday, Stacy was sharing how her husband Jeff cannot seem to go grocery shopping...even when there is a detailed list! She wondered if their was a "chip" or special wiring in a guy's brain that is effected when they walk into the store...and this set off a very funny discussion about why some guys cannot shop. Some said there are just too many items, or the brands were confusion. Others said that while walking through the aisle the get tempted by the goodies and forget what they came for! But Stacy and Todd think them might have gotten to the bottom of it when one guy called in who refused to give his name. He said it is all part of a guy's plan...if you mess up the grocery shopping once or twice, you won't have to do it ever again!!! Ah Hah!!! So now we know!!! Ladies..is your hubby a good or bad shopper? E-mail Stacy now: stacy@1049theriver.com

Fatherhood comes first, then the game

Commentary By Mike Tomlin

When I am asked for my advice on how to succeed in life, I often answer: dream … dream big. And it will be a dream come true Sunday when I walk onto the field to coach the Pittsburgh Steelers in the Super Bowl. It is a dream made possible by the incredible effort of my players; the unwavering support of the owners, the Rooney family, and Steelers fans; and the steadfast love of my family — my wife, Kiya; my mother, Julia; and especially the man I call Dad.

Leslie Copeland came into my life as my stepfather when I was 6 years old. He was a postal worker; I had a passion for sports. He took the overnight shift so he could coach my baseball team. I worked hard so he'd be pleased with me. Over time, I began to see he was teaching me much more than how to throw a baseball or catch a pass. He was teaching me how to be a man. He was teaching me how to be a father.

I had big dreams when I was a child. But without my dad, those dreams might not have come true. He brought stability to my life. He made my world a safe place in which to think and to learn. And though not every boy may aspire to become a football coach, every father can aspire to become the dad of his child's dreams. But to make that a reality, fathers must choose daily to work toward that goal.

In my own home, that means I make my wife and our children — Dino, Mason and Harlyn Quinn — my No. 1 priority. I try to start my day by eating breakfast with my children. In those minutes, I learn what's going on in their lives, and have the opportunity to share the values my wife and I want to pass on to them.

I also try to make my life fit into theirs. When I can, I drive them to school, coach their sports teams and go over their homework. If they're proud of me for coaching the Steelers, that's great, but I want them to know that my primary purpose in life is to be their dad.

Dreams can take us far; they can take our children far. But our children need our help. They need dads who believe in those dreams as strongly as they do, men with the maturity and wisdom to guide them to the place where their dreams are within their grasp. Children need a father like my own, who day by day and year by year lifted me higher and higher, until the possibility of my dreams was well within my reach.

I would not be coaching the Steelers in the Super Bowl now if it weren't for the man who walked into my life when I was a young boy and became my dad. I've always dreamed of being a champion, but it was my dad who championed my dreams.

Mike Tomlin, the Pittsburgh Steelers' head coach, is also a spokesman for the fatherhood program All Pro Dad

 

CPH Tips Key to Staying Safe During Weather Emergency Precautions Help Prevent Weather-Related Injuries and Illness Putting public safety as the top priority, Columbus Public Health Commissioner Dr. Teresa Long is giving residents tips to keep them and their loved ones healthy and safe during the current weather emergency. “The current Ice and snow emergency weather can be the cause of injuries and other health problems, and can be particularly dangerous to the young and elderly,” says Dr. Long. “But, there are basic steps we all can do to minimize our chances of weather related injuries.” Dr. Long suggests:
Shovel Snow with Caution:

• If you have heart disease or high blood pressure, follow your doctor’s advice about shoveling snow or other hard work in the cold.
• If you do shovel snow, take frequent breaks and drink plenty of water.
• Wear shoes that provide traction and watch your step on icy and slippery surfaces.

Dress Warmly:

• In extremely cold temperatures, try to stay indoors. Make outdoor trips brief and dress in several layers of loose clothing to reduce body heat loss. Stay dry – wet clothing rapidly chills the body. And, because most body heat is lost through the head, wear a warm hat, as well as mittens which are warmer than gloves.

Watch for Hypothermia:

• Watch for signs of frostbite and hypothermia – slurred speech, confusion, uncontrollable shivering, stumbling, drowsiness and body temperature of less than 95° F. Get immediate medical attention if you think someone has frostbite or hypothermia.
• Get out of wet clothes immediately and warm the core body temperature with a blanket and warm fluids. Avoid caffeinated and alcoholic beverages.

Keep Emergency Supplies on Hand:

• Stock blankets, matches, a first aid kit, flashlight, battery powered radio, extra batteries, non-electric can opener, prescription medication, food, water and, other special supplies such as diapers and pet food.
• Keep several days’ supply of non-cooking food items such as bread, peanut butter, dried fruits and bottled water (5 gallons per person) in case water pipes freeze or rupture.
• Equip your car with supplies, including: cell phone and charger; blankets; first aid kit; collapsible shovel; flashlight and extra batteries; and, a windshield scraper.

Keep Food Safe During a Power Outage:

• If the power goes out, keep your refrigerator and freezer doors closed as much as possible. A full freezer can stay at freezing temperatures about two days, a half-full freezer about 1 day.
• If you think the power will be out for several days, pack ice in your refrigerator and keep raw food separate from ready-to-eat foods.
• Refrigerated foods should be safe if the power is only out a few hours and the doors have been closed. Items such as meat and fish should be discarded if they are warmer than 41° F.
• Frozen foods that remain frozen are not a risk. If food is thawed, but still cold or has ice crystals, you should use them as soon as possible. If they are thawed and warmer than 41°F, you should throw them away.

Other precautions:

• Check on elderly family, friends and neighbors to make sure they are safe.
• Make sure your car is properly maintained and prepared for winter. Check the antifreeze level and keep the gas tank near full to avoid ice in the tanks and fuel lines.
• If you have pets, bring them indoors. If you cannot bring them inside, provide adequate shelter to keep them warm and make sure they have access to unfrozen water.

Stacy recently talked with Tracy Moore from The American Red Cross in Columbus about their babysitting courses for ages 11-15. Click the link below for more information:

http://classes.redcrosscolumbus.org/classes_results.asp?class_type=Babysitter%20Training

We thought it was nice that Former President Bush's Twins wrote a nice note to the new first daughters...and shared it with you:

In an open letter to the Obama kids, 27-year-olds Barbara and Jenna Bush advised the girls to relish it all — to "go to anything and everything you possibly can."
"Just go," they wrote in a letter published in the Wall Street Journal. "Four years goes by so fast, so absorb it all, enjoy it all!"

The twins reminisced about their favorite memories of the White House, and gave plenty of specific advice, too, to 7-year-old Sasha and 10-year-old Malia:
_Surround yourselves with loyal friends.
_Trick-or-treat down the plane aisle if you're traveling on Halloween.
_Cherish your pets "because sometimes you'll need the quiet comfort that only animals can provide."
_And this: "Slide down the banister of the solarium, go to T-ball games, have swimming parties, and play Sardines on the White House lawn. Have fun and enjoy your childhood in such a magical place to live and play."

The twins turned serious at the end, recalling how the public image of their own father got distorted over the years.

"He is our father, not the sketch in the paper or part of a skit on TV," they wrote.
As for the Obama girls' dad, they added, "Many people will think they know him, but they have no idea how he felt the day you were born, the pride he felt on your first day of school, or how much you both love being his daughters. So here is our most important piece of advice: remember who your dad really is."