A View of the Valley

by Linda Schwanke The 4th of July is coming up on Sunday and I’m really looking forward to being able to get out and celebrate our nation’s 145th birthday. Everyone I know is. By some really hard work and dedication, Lone Rock’s annual celebration is back, maybe not with as many activities as before but the parade, chicken barbeques and fireworks are planned and really those are the important parts of the celebration. Hats off to Lone Rock Village President Dan Quinn and Lone Rock Fire Chief Adam Reno and all the people who are willing to work so hard to make the holiday special.  After last summer’s too quiet 4th, this year promises to be a lot of fun but let’s plan to make it a safe holiday. The National Safety Council has offered some advice for us: “Summer is synonymous with barbecues, parades and fireworks. The National Safety Council advises everyone to enjoy fireworks at public displays conducted by professionals, and not to use any fireworks at home. They may be legal but they are not safe. “In 2017, eight people died and over 12,000 were injured badly enough to require medical treatment after fireworks-related incidents. Of these, 50 percent of the injuries were to children and young adults under age 20. Over two-thirds (67 percent) of injuries took place from June 16 to July 16. And while the majority of these incidents were due to amateurs attempting to use professional-grade, homemade or other illegal fireworks or explosives, an estimated 1,200 injuries were from less powerful devices like small firecrackers and sparklers. “Additionally, fireworks start an average of 18,500 fires each year, including 1,300 structure fires, 300 vehicle fires and nearly 17,000 other fires. “If you choose to use legal fireworks be sure to follow the following safety tips: “ - Never allow young children to handle fireworks. “ - Older children should use them only under close adult supervision. “ - Never use fireworks while impaired by drugs or alcohol. “ - Anyone using fireworks or standing nearby should wear protective eyewear. “ - Never hold lighted fireworks in your hands. “ - Never light them indoors. “ - Only use them away from people, houses and flammable material. “ - Never point or throw fireworks at another person. “ - Only light one device at a time and maintain a safe distance after lighting. “ - Never ignite devices in a container. “ - Do not try to re-light or handle malfunctioning fireworks. “ - Soak both spent and unused fireworks in water for a few hours before discarding. “ - Keep a bucket of water nearby to fully extinguish fireworks that don’t go off or in case of fire. “ - Never use illegal fireworks. “ - Better yet, grab a blanket and a patch of lawn, kick back and let the experts handle the fireworks show. “Don’t forget that sparklers are dangerous. Every year, young children can be found along parade routes and at festivals with sparklers in hand, but sparklers are a lot more dangerous than most people think. Sparklers burn at about 2,000 degrees – hot enough to melt some metals. Sparklers can quickly ignite clothing, and children have received severe burns from dropping sparklers on their feet. According to the National Fire Protection Association, sparklers alone account for more than 25 percent of emergency room visits for fireworks injuries. For children under 5 years of age, sparklers accounted for nearly half of the total estimated injuries. Consider using safer alternatives, such as glow sticks, confetti poppers or colored streamers.” As long as we’re talking about safety, remember to keep food safe. While I personally will be enjoying one of the chicken barbeques in Lone Rock – which I can’t recommend enough – if you’re having a picnic, keep a couple things in mind: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) advises:  “If you’re preparing food in advance for a family reunion, a graduation party, or other event, divide cooked food into shallow containers and store in the refrigerator or freezer to cool it rapidly.  “When grilling, throw out marinades and sauces that have touched raw meat juices, which can spread germs to cooked foods. Use clean utensils and a clean plate to remove cooked meat from the grill.” On the subject of mayonnaise, a critical ingredient in most potato salads without which most Wisconsin picnics are not complete, remember “Stick to the ‘two-hour rule’ for leaving items needing refrigeration out at room temperature. Never allow meat, poultry, seafood, eggs, or produce or other foods that require refrigeration to sit at room temperature for more than two hours. The outside temperature also makes a difference,” The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) tells us, adding, “If the air temperature is above 90 degrees Fahrenheit, the ‘two-hour rule’ becomes ‘one-hour.’” Please be careful out there. Independence Day is a wonderful holiday and it would be a shame to have to spend it in the emergency room. The Home News has early deadlines coming up again. This time because of the 4th of July holiday. All deadlines move up one business day making the deadline for news Friday, July 2, at 12 noon. The regular news deadline is 12 noon on Mondays.  Stay in touch. My number is 574-3159. Email me at homenewseditor@newspubinc.com or write to me at the Home News, P.O. 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