Community

Anna Booze presented the program for Rotary on a topic that, thankfully, was not over income taxes. Since I am writing the article this week, I will just tell my own story.

The giant panda, orangutan, Sumatran Elephant, and the Sunda Tiger all have something in common: they’ve joined a growing list of animals on the brink of extinction. A newly published study in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences lists 515 animal species with fewer than a thousand individuals remaining. There are 3 billion fewer birds in the skies in North American than in 1970, and scientists project that up to 30 percent of America’s wildlife species are at risk of extinction within decades. Overall, the report is grim: We’re in the midst of the sixth mass extinction ever experienced by our planet, accelerated by the explosion of the human population in the last 100 years.

A New Orleans tradition was to prepare Red Beans and Rice on washday Monday. Red beans hold their shape well and could simmer on the stove all day as laundry was washed and dried. Puddin Nix shared this recipe and just enough of the dish with us to make me want more! The Nixs lived in the Big Easy one summer and met many wonderful Cajun cooks who helped her make this recipe a family favorite.

Ronda Bartlett’s program was a report on the real estate market in Canadian given by local agent Christina Hadaway. Christina began by giving some statistics because she feels there have been many inaccuracies circulating relating to how many homes are currently on the market. Here is a snapshot, to the very best of Christina’s knowledge, as of Feb. 22, which includes homes for sale by owner and those listed with an agent.

“Is it Soup Yet?” Yes it is! This cream of spinach soup recipe came from Dot Vartan’s cookbook so apply named. Tina Jarosek said it was delicious, easy, and fast. Yields four servings, 20 minutes cooking time.

I remember, a long time ago, when I used to have a social life. My husband, Peter, and I have been visiting his sister, Lori, once a week while she battles cancer.