October Kitchen - June 2019

October Kitchen - June 2019

This is our way of saying that you are important to us and we truly value your business. Please feel free to pass this newsletter on to your friends and neighbors. ENJOY!

THE NOURISH LETTER

Meet the Team Behind Your Meals JUNE 2019

www.OctoberKitchen.com | 860-533-0588 | 309 Green Rd., Manchester, CT 06042

The Legacy of Stephen Henry Finney STORIES OF MY DAD

Earlier this spring, I was at an event where four different people came up to me to tell me what a great guy my dad was. They shared stories about how much they loved playing bridge with him at the South Windsor Senior Center and mentioned how often Dad said he was proud of me. My dad, Stephen Henry Finney, passed away from complications of kidney failure on Jan. 15, 2018, at 78 years old. The year and a half since he’s been gone has been hard. My dad was an inspiration to me in a lot of ways. Dad was a union carpenter and helped build bridges and buildings all over Connecticut.

Dad and Me at Yankee Stadium

three years ago. He was very glad to be there. My sister married a wonderful gal, Beth, and they have a son named Guthrie Stephen. Dad got to spend some of his last days on Earth with Guthrie. He loved that baby so much. By that point, Dad was sleeping almost 23 hours a day, but when my sister brought Guthrie over, he perked right up. All Dad wanted was to have Guthrie sit on his lap and read him stories. It was miraculous to watch. I’m sorry Dad wasn’t there to see my daughter’s graduation or her wedding in May. He would have been so proud of her. Audriana inherited what we call the “Finney Luck” from my dad. Once, we went deep sea fishing when Audriana was little and she was

He got up at 5:30 a.m. every morning, left by 6:30 a.m. and was home for dinner every night to tell us stories about his day. Dad taught me the value of hard work and how to save your money, but he also taught me the importance of having fun. He would take my sister and I to the public library to rent mystery novels and adventure stories. Dad was an avid reader, something he passed down to me. My dad also loved racing cars and going fast. Throughout my teenage years, we spent every Sunday at the drag strip. Dad would race his 1970 Nova or his Buick Grand National and I got to be in his pit crew. One of the last big events my dad was well enough to go out for was my sister’s wedding

“After leaving that event in April, I immediately texted my sister: ‘He’s gone, but not forgotten.’”

Continued on page 3 ...

1

860-533-0588

Published by The Newsletter Pro • www.NewsletterPro.com

3 Wishes

One Girl’s Mission to Create More Happiness

world would make them happiest. She expected to get requests for money or Lamborghinis. Instead, residents told Ruby Kate they wanted pants that fit, warmer blankets, new shoes or Vienna sausages. Shocked by how residents longed for basic, everyday things, Ruby Kate set out to make their wishes come true.

“If I could bring you three things in the whole world, what would those be?”

The answer to this question says a lot about a person. Most people might want a new hot tub, a trip to Paris or to have all their bills paid off. But when 11-year-old Ruby Kate Chitsey started asking this question at nursing homes in Arkansas, the answers really surprised her. Ruby Kate’s mother, Amanda, is a traveling nurse who works at several nursing homes in the area. One day while visiting a nursing home with her mom, Ruby Kate noticed one of the residents staring intently out the exit doors. Expecting something exciting, Ruby Kate rushed over to check it out. She found the woman, Pearl, watching a dog being walked to a car in the parking lot. Pearl told Ruby Kate that her dog of 12 years had come to visit. She was staring because she didn’t know when she would see her dog again. Realizing all Pearl wanted in the world was a few more visits with her dog, Ruby Kate helped arrange more pet visits. After this, Ruby Kate took a notebook with her to the nursing homes and asked residents what three things in the whole There’s nothing like an icy treat to cool down with on a hot summer day. But ice cream and store-bought popsicles tend to be full of processed sugar and artificial flavors. Beat the heat with a homemade treat instead! Here are some tips for creating the perfect homemade popsicles. • Invest in a popsicle mold. You can make popsicles with ice cube trays or paper cups, but an inexpensive popsicle mold can completely change the aesthetic of your popsicles, making them even more fun and delicious. • Use a pastry bag or freezer bag with a corner cut off to easily fill popsicle molds without making a mess. • When filling the molds, leave a 1/4 inch of space at the top. The mixture will expand when it freezes. • If your popsicle mold comes with a snap-on lid, leave the lid unsealed. Opening the lid when the molds are frozen can crack the brittle plastic. • Turn your freezer to the coldest setting and put your molds at the back of the freezer. The quicker your popsicles freeze, the creamier they will be because fewer ice crystals will form. • When you’re ready to eat your popsicles, carefully run the molds under warm water until they loosen. Gently wiggle the popsicle back and forth until it easily slides free.

“Three Wishes for Ruby’s Residents” is a charity founded by Ruby Kate to help bring more happiness to these residents’ lives. The expenses are minimal, especially compared to the rewards the little gifts bring to the residents. Ruby Kate and her heart of gold remind us all that the smallest things can bring the biggest joys. You can learn more about Ruby Kate and her mission at GoFundMe.com/ three-wishes-for-ruby039s-residents.

Cool for the Summer 7 Tips for the Perfect Popsicle

• Store uneaten popsicles in airtight freezer bags to prevent freezer burn. Ready to get started? Use the above tips to mix up the delicious guilt-free popsicle recipe below.

Healthy Summertime Popsicles

Ingredients • 2 cups berries • 2 tbsp honey • 2 cups plain Greek yogurt

Directions 1. Blend berries in

a food processor or blender until nearly liquified. Feel free to use your favorite kind of berry for this recipe. Blueberries, strawberries, raspberries and blackberries all work great! 2. Pour berry mixture into large bowl. Stir in honey and then gently mix in yogurt. 3. Pour mixture into molds and freeze for 4–6 hours. 4. Enjoy with your family on a hot summer day!

2 www.OctoberKitchen.com

Tom Kelley’s Sports Legacy

OCTOBER KITCHEN COMMUNITY

... Continued from cover games were televised and some high school games had as many as 6,000 people in the stands. Tom says he never minded the crowds. “If you do your job right, they don’t bother you,” Tom said. “I loved every minute of it.” He eventually graduated to the collegiate level and reffed basketball games for almost every college in New England. This love for sports runs in the family. Tom’s mother, who lived to be 103, rooted for the Red Sox her whole life. Tom’s father, Thomas F. Kelley, science teacher and athletic director at Manchester High School, was considered one of the best collegiate football refs on the East Coast. His career culminated in reffing a Navy vs. Army NCAA football game attended by President Harry Truman. Tom still has the silver dollar President Truman gave to his father before the coin toss. Tom and his father were both inducted into the Manchester Sports Hall of Fame, making them the first father-son pair to earn the honor. While you won’t find Tom calling shots beside the court today, he still keeps up with the games, watching golf on TV and continuing the family tradition of rooting for the Red Sox. the first one to reel in a big, fat, blue fish. It was uncanny. Whenever they were around, one of them would always win the raffle drawing or the door prize. They never went home empty-handed. Above all else, I will always remember my dad as a generous soul. On many occasions, I’ve heard the story about a time when a friend of my dad found himself in a pickle. The friend was getting a divorce and his business was struggling. Dad lent him $10,000 on the spot. That generosity really saved that guy, helping him and his daughters keep their heads above water. Though it took a few years, Dad’s friend paid him back every penny. This was just one of the many times my dad would do favors for people, large or small. He’d give you the shirt off his back if you needed it. After leaving that event in April, I immediately texted my sister: “He’s gone, but not forgotten.” It felt good to meet so many people who wanted to tell stories about my dad. After we’re gone, all that’s left is our legacy, the stories people choose to tell about us. My dad was a man who made an impression and left a lot of good stories.

_____________________________ Write your name here and fax the completed puzzle to 860-533-0585, send it via empty delivery box or bring it to the shop and receive 10 percent off your next order . Limit one per customer. Expires June 30, 2019. Octob r Kitchen “My daughter, Kathy, found October Kitchen after getting her hair cut at the salon near their shop. Curious, she walked in and found nothing but excellence. I can’t overstate how much I appreciate October Kitchen. They deliver every Tuesday and bring the best meals that prioritize your health. I’ve always believed that having your health is the most important thing.” –Tom Kelley If anyone can speak on the importance of good health, it’s Tom, who spent his life in and around sports. In 1948, Tom was a state champion golfer before even graduating high school. But as Tom says, you can’t play golf forever. With a family to take care of, Tom passed up the opportunity to play on the PGA Tour and instead attended Springfield College to earn his degree in health and physical education. Tom’s college experience was interrupted when his draft came up. Tom elected to join the Navy and spent two years in Washington D.C., working as the base’s athletic director. After getting out of the Navy and graduating from college, Tom had just one job interview which landed him the job he would have for the next 30 years: athletic director for Illing Middle School in Manchester. Tom also coached golf at the high school and worked as a basketball official in the winter. This was before most of the

S T D M H W V Z C C H Q N J F Y N V H Q P O G L E B O I U Z P F X L K I C R A J S H L N D B M E W K D M T G I C L I E S M L U A P R H W L C X T A H U M J O S T S L A R C D Z T T E R H U A M F U U N E H C T I K A E I D S N H G P K E Y H C P V R L R U C W E O B J E X E C B T A A E R A Z I B D N E K D E J F W X M G A R D E N Y L E R T S J E E M X T J W I G T T X U C V G F Z U B G O F G P U M B V M N R R A S Y Q N X K X A O F R Q G Q Y Z T T X P A C

ALISON GARDEN

CHI

FINNEY

ALISON CHI FINNEY GARDEN

GROW HEAT JUNE KITCHEN

PAUL RELAX SUMMER TAI

GROW

HEAT PAUL

JUNE

KITCHEN SUMMER

RELAX

TAI

3

860-533-0588

Sponsored By:

24/7 Emergency Services www.O tob Kit hen.com 860-533-0588

PRST STD US POSTAGE PAID BOISE, ID PERMIT 411

855-225-3227

309 Green Rd. Manchester, CT 06042 INSIDE Remembering My Father page 1

page 2

What Would Make You Happiest?

page 2

Make the Ultimate Summer Treat

page 3

Have You Met Tom Kelley?

page 3

Word Search

page 4

Why You Need to Add This Exercise for Better Balance

WHY TAI CHI IS COOLER THAN YOU THINK

While the movements appear mild, the practice of tai chi requires discipline and strength. That’s part of the reason why it provides a powerful punch of health benefits and also why less than 5 percent of people stick with it. Some teachers say it takes three years to learn the basic movements of tai chi — and more than a lifetime to master. Physical training, combined with the internal meditative aspect of tai chi, are the reasons martial arts legend Jet Li has turned to the exercise in recent years, even campaigning to make it an Olympic event. In an interview, Li explained his push to make tai chi a more widely recognized and accepted exercise: “In our attempts to push ourselves, we’ve lost sight of an important part of the sporting mindset: balance,” Li said. For anyone setting out on a mission to age gracefully, tai chi can help reduce your risk of falling with its focus on posture. An ounce of preventive tai chi may be worth a pound of cure; the Center for Disease Control reports that people pay an average of $35,000 in health care costs every time they fall. Many community centers and health and wellness facilities offer opportunities to learn tai chi, from free community classes to entire tai chi facilities. Go see for yourself why this is the martial art everyone should practice.

Better Balance With the Internal Martial Art

When you think about martial arts, a few images come to mind: Mr. Miyagi, possibly nunchucks and people breaking objects using impressive disciplined strength. But one of the most powerful martial arts you may not immediately picture is tai chi. This ancient Chinese form of combat in slow motion is an internal martial art that works from the inside out by developing the body’s internal energy, known as qi, or “chi.” In Chinese medicine, balanced qi is essential to good health.

Hundreds of studies demonstrate the mental and physical benefits this quiet martial art provides. Because of its focus on posture, tai chi is particularly helpful for balance. In Harvard’s analysis of 20 different studies, tai chi was shown to improve cognitive function and slow the progression of dementia more than other forms of exercise.

4 www.OctoberKitchen.com

Published by The Newsletter Pro • www.NewsletterPro.com