What Does A Rain Check Have To Do With Rain?

“I was at the store the other day to purchase an item on sale. They told me that they would have to give me a rain check. That got me wondering; why do they call it a rain check? It has nothing to do with the weather.” Language, slang, and idiom questions are always intriguing to the Newton Falls Public Library staff. American English is so unique, that the library even has the book American English as a Foreign Language by Sandra Stevens

The only rain in the index of Common Phrases and Where They Come From by Myron Korach in collaboration with John B. Mordock was “raining cats and dogs [p.2-3].” In Teutonic myths, Odin’s dog signifying the wind chases a cat, the rain. When it rained heavily, Odin was believed to be dropping cats and dogs. Readers, who enjoy very short articles, will have fun reading this book of interesting descriptions of common phrases.

A Dictionary of American Idioms by Adam Makkai, M.T. Boatner, and J.E. Gates and McGraw-Hill's Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs by Richard A. Speares define a rain check including the obvious, a free ticket to another outdoor activity in place of one canceled by rain. We still don’t know how that has gotten to apply to merchandise at a store. Cassell's Dictionary of Slang by Jonathon Green had the meanings of many rain words, but not rain checks.

We searched online for the origin of rain check. The site TakeOurWord.com says the term was first used as early as 1884, when the May 26th St. Louis [Missouri] Dispatch story states "The heavy rain yesterday threw a damper over local operations. At each of the parks the audience had to be content with three innings and rain checks.” This site also notes that the phrase became “used metaphorically, and by the 1970s it had spread outside the U.S. and into other English-speaking countries.”

A Rose is a Rose is Amazing!

At the monthly Newton Falls Area Commerce Association meeting on Tuesday, May 12, the Newton Falls Public Library was given a rose with the NFACA’s logo on it. All the members received one to publicize a new business, Speaking Roses at YourCustomItems.com. It was purchased the day before at Nordlie in Newton Falls. The white rose bud was set on the library’s circulation desk, and there it has been for almost 4 weeks. Not only does it still look lovely as of June 8, it has grown new leaves. Our staff has been Asking the Librarian, “Can we plant it? Can we start plants from the new growth?”

The Rose Bible by Rayford Clayton Reddell, given in memory of Janice Kolacz, has a chapter on propagating. It explains how to grow “roses on their own roots from cuttings [p.215].” Cuttings are inserted into good rooting soil with two budding eyes above and below. For a rose novice that wasn’t quite enough information. The Ortho book All About Roses by Rex Wolfe and James McNair has more detailed instructions on softwood cuttings, accompanied with drawings showing each step. Remove the flower; dip the cuttings in a root hormone stimulant, set into a damp soil mix, and then cover with a plastic bag until the new shoots appear. At that point the cutting can be transplanted to the garden [p. 62].

Neither of the books addressed the fact that a cut rose was growing new leaves. An online search revealed that others have experienced this phenomenon. There was a posting at the site iVillageGardenWeb [http://forums.gardenweb.com/forums/load/rosespro/msg0818404512423.html] with similar questions about planting a growing cut rose. The responder gave similar instructions to what was recommended in All About Roses. It was suggested that a two liter bottle can also be used to create the greenhouse effect needed to root a rose cutting.

On June 8, a member of the library staff took this lovely rose home to try to root it, and hopefully patrons and staff will be able to enjoy this small gift for years to come.

Affordable Activities for Everyone

“I’m looking for affordable activities for my family this summer. Does the library have any programs?” The Newton Falls Public Library has great programs for all ages this summer. There are also resources and ideas to borrow with activities which you can do without spending much money. Visit the library and ask a librarian to show you the many local travel, craft, project, and game books. Borrow DVDs and videos, audiobooks and CD-Roms.

Parents and children, ages 0 – 5 years can participate in Read to Me @ My Library. At home, read to your child, complete the reading readiness activities, and earn up to 4 prizes. Parents will be eligible for the grand prize drawing of Roby Lee’s gift certificate. Family Story Time for children, ages 0 – 6 years and their families will be on Tuesdays, June 16 through July 28, at 7 p.m. Story Time for children, ages 2 ½ - 5 years, with a caregiver will be on Wednesdays, June 17 – July 29 at 10:30 a.m. Registration for the programs will begin on June 1.

Children, entering grades 3 – 6, can join our Readers Theater and help choose, prepare, and present a short play. There will be no auditions or lines to memorize. The group will meet on Tuesdays, June 9 – 30, at 2 p.m. Registration begins on June 1 and the performance will be on July 1 at 2 p.m.

Library Sprouts is for children, ages 4 – 12 years. Learn about growing and harvesting your own food. This group meets weekly in June and July on Tuesdays at 6 p.m. Call anytime to register. Please be aware that they will be working outside and eating the items they grow. Please alert the Children’s Librarian of any insect or food allergies.

Children, going into kindergarten through sixth grade, can win weekly prizes for reading. Packets can be picked up beginning June 8. Prizes have been donated by the Friends of the Library, Dairy Queen, and Subway. In conjunction with the Reading Rewards activities there is also weekly programming on Wednesday afternoons, June 17 – July 22. There will also be a weekly ‘Look & Find.’ Search the library for the missing puzzle piece and help us to put together our masterpiece.

Teens, entering grades 7 – 12, Express Yourself @ Your Library by earning scratch off tickets for books read. There will be weekly instant winners and non-winning tickets will be entered into the grand prize drawings, which include video MP3 players donated by Pamida. Register to create a Duct Tape Bust - June 15, Altered Books - June 29, Collage Self Portrait - July 13, and Tie-dyed shirt - July 27. These Monday programs will be at 3 p.m. Teens, register for the three week Game Design Workshop and create your own video game. Sessions meet Thursdays at 2 p.m. Session 1 runs from June 11 – 25; session 2 from July 9 – 23. Anime/Manga Club will meet Saturday, June 27 and July 25 at 2 p.m. Students under 16 must have a signed permission slip or be accompanied by a parent. Wii Play for students ages 10 – 17 will be on Thursday, June 11 and July 9 at 4 p.m. Registration is required.

Adults can also participate in reading activities. For each library book, audiobook, or magazine enjoyed, earn an entry into our weekly prize drawing. At the end of the program, a winner’s name will be drawn for the grand prize which includes a gift certificate to Café 422. Register today for the Garden Plant Exchange on Wednesday, June 17, 6 – 7:30 p.m. Bring seedlings or cuttings to exchange with the other participants. Sign up for the Meet and Eat, pick up a recipe form, submit it to the library by July 20, and on Monday, July 27, at 6 p.m. bring your prepared dish for a recipe tasting. The Get Back to Work @ the Newton Falls Public Library computer skills training courses will be continue through the summer. Contact the library for the schedule of classes.

Knit and Stitch will continue to meet during the summer on Mondays, June 8, June 22, July 6, and July 20 at 4 p.m. Anyone, ages 10 years and older, who wishes to make a project for themselves or a friend is welcome. Register anytime for this ongoing program.

For more information about summer programs visit the Newton Falls Public Library, 204 S. Canal St., Newton Falls, phone 330-872-1282, or online at www.newtonfalls.org.

Which Direction Does a Wren House Face?

“I was given a new wren house. I know that it has to face in a certain direction; what is it?” The Newton Falls Public Library staff enjoys these interesting questions about birds. Many of us didn’t realize that birdhouses had to hang facing in certain directions.

The Birder’s Miscellany: a fascinating collection of facts, figures, and folklore from the world of birds by Scott Weidensaul states that the overall dimensions of the nest box of a house wren should be 8”H X 5.5”W X 4”D with an entrance hole of 1.25”. It should be placed head-high in the yard or garden [p. 125]. Edward A. Baldwin’s Birdfeeders, Shelters & Baths has some very creative bird houses and feeders including ones which would be excellent projects to make with children. He also has ideas for keeping predators at bay.

The Audubon North American Birdfeeder Guide by Robert Burton and Stephen W. Kress has a chapter on nest boxes: selecting ones to attract certain birds, box design, positioning, cleaning, maintenance, building, and garden threats. Burton and Kress state that house wrens are hole-nesters who like enclosed boxes attached to garden fence posts or in or near shrubbery or the edge of a forest, rather than open nesters like robins. They also have good suggestions for making your garden bird friendly, including protecting them from threats. For bluebirds and tree swallows they suggest that box entrances face east in order to be warmed by the morning sun, but say nothing about the placement of house wren boxes. The Audubon North American Birdfeeder Guide has an excellent chapter on house wrens. This bird with the cheerful song is friendly to gardeners, eating many insects including grasshoppers, gypsy moths, cabbage butterflies, ticks and flies. The wren usually bears two clutches of eggs each year, so it is still not too late to get a house up in time for the laying of the second clutch.

While we’ve learned a lot about wrens, the patron’s question still has not been answered. It is time to search the Internet. The website, ChestOfBooks.com has books which can be read online for free. Carpentry and Mechanics For Boys by A. Neely Hall has a chapter on Wren Houses [http://chestofbooks.com/home-improvement/woodworking/Carpentry-and-Mechanics-For-Boys/Chapter-XXXVI-Wren-Houses.html]. This has very detailed information about wrens and their choice of house. It also states that they prefer that the opening of the house to face east. The patron had the information she needed and was heading outside to put up her new house.

Car Trouble

“I’m having trouble with my car. Where are your auto repair books?” The Newton Falls Public Library staff instructed the patron in the use of our online catalog to find the location of the auto repair manuals.

There is a large selection of repair materials in the books numbered with 629s, but these did not have the information needed by the patron. After discussion with her, she said, “The problem isn’t with the engine, the wiring, or the body. The problem is with the seat arm; it has begun tilting downward and it is driving me crazy.” The library has purchased the use of the online database, AllData, which provides comprehensive automotive reference for domestic and foreign cars, trucks, and vans from 1982 to the present. Maintenance information, technical service bulletins, schematics and diagrams are included. Since access to the database is only available within the library, the patron ‘borrowed’ a computer using her library card.

All Data is accessed by going to “Library Databases” on the library’s homepage. Then from All Data, she selected the year, make, model and engine of her vehicle. It is possible to do a component search in All Data, but we first went to the Technical Service Bulletins. There was nothing of interest listed under Recalls, but there was an extensive list of things under Customer Interest. A bulletin was issued for “Armrest Angled Down on Front Driver or Passenger Seat When Seat is in Upright Position.” This was exactly the problem the patron was experiencing with her vehicle. She printed a copy of the information, including the instructions on how to correct the problem. Since the vehicle was still under warranty, the dealership repaired the armrest for her free of charge. It was interesting looking at all the noises reported by other customers who own the same vehicle. Apparently hissing, squeaking, whistling, squealing, fluttering, shuddering, vibrating, whining, clunking, popping, rattling, and itching noises have been reported to dealerships. This is a useful tool in understanding one’s vehicle, and learning what may be a concern which should be dealt with by a mechanic.

Salt-free Rubs and Grilling

“I’ve been watching cooking shows about barbecue. They are always using a rub on the meat. I’m not allowed to have much salt, and salt seems to be a main ingredient. Can you find me a rub recipe with no salt in it?” The warm days we’ve been having, and the smell of grilling in the evening has the Newton Falls Public Library staff thinking about what could be a healthy replacement for salt laden rubs. Rubs are mixes of spices which flavor, tenderize and cure the meat before it is grilled. Salt has long been used as a major ingredient in the preservation and seasoning of foods.

According to the online article How To Make Herb Grilling Rubs by Annette Gallagher,
[www.howtodothings.com] there are two types, the dry rub and the wet rub. The dry ones are mixtures “of herbs, spices and salt that are rubbed on foods. Sometimes they contain a little oil or have prepared mustard mixed in so that they are damp rather than truly dry. Wet rubs are a cross between a marinade and a dry rub and sometimes contain vinegar or other tenderizing agents.” Vinegar would be an excellent substitute to use in place of salt for tenderizing.

There is no shortage of cookbooks about grilling in the library. Beginning with what seems to be the largest of the books, The Barbecue! Bible by Steven Raichlen; we were able to find a few recipes that do not include salt as an ingredient, Herbes de provence (French); Israeli rub; Indian roasted spice powder; and Colombo powder (French West Indian) which contains an unusual ingredient, toasted rice. Weber's Big Book of Grilling by Jamie Purviance and Sandra S. McRae also has a Southwestern rub recipe to tempt those watching their salt intake.

In our Internet search, we discovered a plethora of recipes for our patron and an interesting alternative to rubs called Mediterranean salt roasting. With this method, the salt never penetrates the food and is a perfect hybrid of steaming and roasting, ensuring no loss of aroma and flavor. The Salt Institute [www.saltinstitute.org] instructs that “salt roasting combines the nutritional benefits of gentle steaming with the flavor-generating properties of roasting. When the food is encrusted in salt, the salt fuses together to form an almost impenetrable barrier sealing in moisture and flavor. In addition, the contact of the food with the fused salt ensures a dry heat roasting on the surface, in much the same way as conventional roasting, except that the flavor is completely sealed in the salt casing.”

Is 44444 Unique?

“Someone told me that Newton Falls wasn’t the only place to have a single digit zip code. Is that true?” The Newton Falls Public Library staff went directly to the United States Postal Service’s [USPS] website [www.usps.com] to check each single digit zip code and learn more about zip codes.

ZIP stands for Zoning Improvement Code. They began to be used on July 1, 1963 and were introduced by Mr. Zip. The trademark was designed by Harold Wilcox, son of a mailman and a member of the Cunningham and Walsh advertising agency, for use by Chase Manhattan Bank in New York for their bank-by-mail campaign. The first number in the code designates a general area, from zero for the Northeast to nine for the far West. The next two numbers refer to one of the Sectional Center Facilities used for processing the mail. The final two are for smaller post offices or postal delivery zones. The zip codes + 4 were implemented in 1983. The extra numbers help carriers deal efficiently with the many mailers sent out by companies. The USPS website has a great deal of useful and interesting information including about how mail has been delivered by steamboats, rail, Pony Express, air, missile, pneumatic mail tubes, and motorcycles. Two of their most memorable deliveries were the Hope Diamond and a chameleon sent from Fostoria, OH to Orlando, FL. The USPS has strict guidelines on the mailing of valuables and living creatures, so be sure to check their rules and instructions before placing items such as these into the mail.

Newton Falls is the only community to have a single digit zip code. The only other single digit codes are 22222, the Marine Corps Institute in Arlington, Va. and 55555, a post office box for Norwood in Young America, MN. As Young America, MN is often the address on rebate forms, we wondered if perhaps it is for a company. When the city was first given this zip code, it created the slogans Newton Falls has Zip 44444 and Zip City 44444, and the community celebrated Zip Day. We believe that our zip code has been used as both Jeopardy [television show] and Trivial Pursuit [board game] questions. Other interesting zip codes are 12345, General Electric in Schenectady, NY; 23456, Virginia Beach, VA; and 45678, Scottown, OH.

In the summer of 2001, David Rosdeitcher was named the Guinness World Record holder for the most consecutive zip codes identified at random. He can remember all the places connected to the 48,000 zip codes in the United States and many foreign countries [http://zipcodeman.com].