Trailridge Dental's online newsletter for November 2017
Nov 2017
Happy Trails
Allan W. Stevenson, DDS General Dentist
www.trailridgefamilydental.com 205 W. Highway 95, Parma, ID 83660
208-722-7924
It feels like the solar eclipse was the unofficial end of summer. Ever since that once-in-a-lifetime event, the temperatures have started to cool off in a hurry. Once the fall chill arrives, it means the holidays are quickly approaching. I look forward to the holiday season because it’s a chance to create special memories and engage in family traditions. More importantly, though, it’s a season to express gratitude and do a little giving back. To kick off this season of gratitude, we’ll be holding our annual Stars, Stripes, and Smiles event on Oct. 13. For the entire day, we’ll be providing free dentistry to our brave service people and their families. Everyone who serves the country dedicates their lives to protecting our nation and way of life, and their families also make one heck of a sacrifice. We want to acknowledge their immense contribution to our nation in whatever small way we can. I’m hoping this year’s event will be the biggest one yet. After that event, our next chance to give back will be after Halloween. While we hope all the kids score some delicious candy this year, you probably won’t be surprised to learn that I hope you enjoy it in moderation. And I know that every year many kids end up with more candy than they could ever eat, and a few kinds that they wouldn’t even want to. That’s why we do a Halloween candy buyback program every year. Kids can bring in their extra candy, which we’ll buy back at the rate of $1 per pound. A Season of Gratitude What the Holidays Mean to Me
Once we’ve collected all of the candy, we send it to troops serving overseas. The troops then hand out the candy to children living in conflict zones and other areas where luxuries like a Snickers are hard to come by. It’s a way for unwanted and surplus candy to end up in the hands of kids who will really appreciate it. Of course, we wouldn’t be able to do this without the efforts of military personnel serving across the globe, which is yet another reason to be thankful for their selflessness. As October rolls into November, I’ll be thinking about Thanksgiving. It’s one of my favorite holidays, even though I can’t pretend to be much of a cook. Now, I lend a hand where I can, but it’s my wife who handles most of the dishes. That’s probably fortunate for everyone sitting at my table, as I don’t think I could muster up a full spread if I had four days to cook. This year, with two kids returning from college for the holiday, I expect Thanksgiving to take on the feel of a mini family reunion. In the spirit of Thanksgiving, I guess I should close by expressing gratitude to our wonderful patients. It’s you who make Trailridge Family Dental the practice that it is. We never take for granted how special it is to be able to serve such a fantastic community of patients. I hope that you all have a wonderful start to the holiday season. I also hope that you can manage to stay warm for a little while longer, but I can already feel winter starting to rear its icy head.
–Dr. Stevenson
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www.trailridgefamilydental.com
208-722-7924
How Farmers Grow Those
Giant Pumpkins F orklifts and cranes may be used mainly for construction work, but every fall, thousands of backyard gardeners use them as gardening tools — or rather, harvesting tools — for their largest single crop.
Massive pumpkins aren’t practical, but they can become a minor tourist attraction in your hometown and even win a few thousand bucks if they’re really huge. However, with the time and effort it takes to get them that big, farmers aren’t in it for the money. They’re in it for the glory. Growing these monstrous fruits (yes, they are technically fruits) is kind of like breeding a racehorse. It takes practice, cultivation, and even good genes. Competitive growers will often purchase the seeds of the previous year’s champions for their plant. After preparing the soil to make it extra fertile, they’ll plant the pumpkin in late winter or early spring. Before the gourd starts growing, flowers on the plant need to be pollinated. Farmers will usually take it upon themselves to pollinate, using pollen from plants with proven genetic lines.
Winning pumpkins usually claim their “father” plant and “mother” seed, like racehorses.
Growing a great pumpkin is practically a full-time job, with some farmers reporting spending 40 hours a week on it. Using heated soil, installing fences to reduce wind, adding sand, and other specific cultivation techniques give the pumpkin a fighting chance to grow into a monster. But, in the end, there’s an element of luck. The competitive growing industry is getting bigger (pun intended). In 1979, the largest pumpkin on record was 438 pounds. Since 2008, the world record has been broken every year. The reigning heavyweight champion, grown in Germany last year, weighed in at 2,623 pounds. That’s as much as a 2018 Toyota Yaris or 1,748 standard pumpkin pies.
It’s a great time of year to warm up with a cup of soup, and this comforting, guilt-free dish comes together in a flash. Sausage and Barley Soup
INGREDIENTS
• Cooking spray • 6 ounces turkey breakfast sausage • 2½ cups frozen bell pepper stir-fry • 2 cups water
• 1 (14½-ounce) can Italian-style stewed tomatoes, undrained and chopped • ¼ cup uncooked quick-cooking barley • 1 cup coarsely chopped fresh baby spinach
DIRECTIONS
1. Heat a large saucepan over medium- high heat. Coat pan with cooking spray. Add sausage; cook 3 minutes or until browned. Remove from heat. 2. While sausage cooks, place stir- fry and 2 cups water in a blender; process until smooth.
3. Add stir-fry puree, tomatoes, and barley to sausage in pan. Bring mixture to a boil over high heat;
cover, reduce heat to low, and simmer 10 minutes. Stir in spinach; cook 1 minute or until spinach wilts.
Recipe courtesy of CookingLight.com.
www.trailridgefamilydental.com
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208-722-7924
Trailridge Family Dental’s Stars, Stripes, and Smiles Event Over $21,000 Worth of Dentistry Was Provided to Veterans and Military Families
O n Friday, Oct. 13, 2017, Trailridge Family Dental celebrated their second annual Stars, Stripes, and Smiles event, a free dental day for veterans and military. Appointments were scheduled, and 34 veterans and military family members received dental treatment. Care was provided by three dentists, Dr. Stevenson, Dr. Leininger, and Dr. Klure of Trailridge Family Dental. There were also four hygienists, Shanell, Heidi, Kathryn, and Tyfini. Vernena, Carey, Sheila, April, Desiree, Julia, Tara, Rachael, Brianna, Selena, and the rest of the team from Trailridge Family Dental also helped. Other volunteers included Jeanette, Lindsay, Val, and Myra from Carrington Hygiene School; Jessica from Ustick Dental; and Bruce Mitchell. There was a total of 23 volunteers. The Parma Lions Club also provided free vision screenings, with Lion Al volunteering his time. There were 21 vision screenings, and over $21,000 worth of life-changing dentistry was provided. Veterans donated nonperishable food to get a food drive started to donate to the local food banks for Thanksgiving. Community members can bring their donations to Trailridge Family Dental, 205 W. Hwy 95, Parma, Idaho. Three local businesses, The Pizza Place, M&W Market, and Valley Wide Cooperative, generously provided food for all of the volunteers. Patty at Burkhart dental provided an extra X-ray head, sterilizer, and dental supplies. Patterson Dental and VOCO made a donation toward supplies, Babichenko and May Dental
Labs donated lab work, the Parma Seventh- Day Adventist Church donated the use of their parking lot for overflow, and Western Canyon Chronicle helped get the word out. Thanks to all who helped in any way to show appreciation to our veterans and military families. Thanks also to
Dr. Allan W. Stevenson, who sponsored the whole event. Most of all, thanks to our veterans and military for preserving our freedom.
Quality of life was changed for several of the veterans by giving them the ability to eat again and smile with confidence. It was so good to see so many businesses come together to show appreciation for those who have given so much for us. One of our veterans even entertained people with some magic tricks.
Karen Cornwell of Parma Motor-Vu with Dr. Leineger and his daughter, Dr. Stevenson and Dr. Klure
The Trailridge Family Dental Team at Patient Appreciation Event
Disneyland Family Vacation Winners
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www.trailridgefamilydental.com
208-722-7924
Return Service Requested
205 W. Highway 95 Parma, ID 83660 208-722-7924
Inside This Issue
A Season of Gratitude
Page 1
How Farmers Grow Giant Pumpkins
Page 2
Sausage and Barley Soup
Page 2
Trailridge Family Dental’s Stars, Stripes, and Smiles Event
Page 3
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www.trailridgefamilydental.com
208-722-7924
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