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WHAT'S HAPPENING IN JUNE
Set Some Time Aside on FRIDAYS Because
The Farmers Market is Back!
Downtown Springfield is hopping once again on Fridays starting this month as the Downtown Farmers Market at Tower Square Park opens for another season of farm fresh goodies and more!
Every Friday from 11am 2pm now through September, Tower Square Park across the street, will be home to more than a dozen farmers, orchardists, butchers, bakers and candlestick makers!
This year's market will feature locally grown vegetables, fruits, plants, herbs, honey, baked goods, cheese, marinades, salad dressings and prepared foods.
The market will once again be managed by Belle Rita Novak, who will also be doing some recipe taste testing off and on throughout the season. See what Belle Rita has to say about the upcoming market in "The Buzz from Belle Rita" article below.
The Downtown Farmers Market at Tower Square Park is co-sponsored by the Springfield Business Improvement District and the CBRE/Tower Square management office. The market is located at the corner of Main and Bridge streets.
FARMERS MARKET RECIPE OF THE MONTH
Cauliflower Casserole
This cauliflower casserole is a wonderful side dish to any family dinner and fancy enough for a holiday meal.
Cook Time: 45 minutes
Total Time: 45 minutes
Ingredients:
1 head cauliflower
1 large green bell pepper, chopped
1 large onion, chopped
Sauce:
3 tablespoons butter
3 tablespoons flour
1 1/2 cups milk
1 cup shredded Cheddar cheese, divided
1/2 cup buttered bread crumbs or French fried onion crumbs
Preparation:
Trim cauliflower and separate into flowerets. In a saucepan combine cauliflower with peppers and onion; cover with water and salt. Bring to a boil; cover and cook for about 10 to 12 minutes, or until tender
In another saucepan; melt butter over medium-low heat. Stir in flour and stir until smooth and bubbly. Gradually add milk, stirring constantly. Continue cooking and stirring until thickened. Stir in 1/2 cup of the cheese. Pour sauce over cauliflower and transfer to a lightly buttered 1 1/2-quart baking dish. Top with buttered bread crumbs or French fried onions. Bake at 350 for about 30 minutes. Sprinkle with remaining cheese the last 5 minutes of baking time.
Serves 4.
Smart Parking Tips from Standard Parking
Each year, $1,255 billion in personal items and accessories are stolen from vehicles in about 1.85 million thefts; and for every theft, experts estimate, there are several break-ins and attempted break-ins.
The parking garage experts at Standard Parking want to make sure that your vehicle remains safe no matter where you park, so they recommend these parking tips:
1. Lock Your Doors: While this seems to be a no brainer, law enforcement statistics show that up to a quarter of vehicle thefts occur because the vehicle is unlocked, making it an easy target for thieves.
2. Keep It Tidy: Even worthless personal items visible from outside your car (i.e. an empty shopping bag) could appear to be valuable or contain valuables to potential thieves on the prowl. If you have a wagon or SUV that has an exposed cargo area, consider getting an inexpensive retractable cover to help hide shopping bags and other valuables.
3. Conceal All Evidence: Don't leave any bait for thieves; stow your electronics and accessories well out of sight if you can't take them with you. The "evidence" alone might be enough to pique the interest of thieves, so hide that too.including power plugs, telltale iPod adapters or windshield suction cup mounts.
4. Stash Before (Not After) You Park: Get in the habit of putting shopping bags in the trunk when you return to the car rather than after you park. According to the National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB), thieves sometimes linger in busy parking lots watching to see if parkers are moving valuables out of sight. Avoid showing them what you have.
5. Completely Close Windows and Sunroofs: Not only do open windows and sunroofs make it easier for thieves to gain access, but they also disable the pressure sensor in some car alarms.
6. Get Alarmed: If you don't have a car alarm system, get one. The noise along may be enough to scare away would be thieves and prevent a break-in. In some instances you may be eligible for an auto insurance policy discount for a car alarm installation.
7. Stick With Your Original Audio System: Having an aftermarket audio system will make your car more attractive to would-be thieves. Not to mention that factory audio systems are usually covered under your insurance, but insuring an aftermarket system is a little more difficult.
8. Park For Visibility: Park in well-lit highly visible areas avoiding areas where your vehicle is concealed by fences, foliage and larger vehicles.
9. Get Physical: a significant portion of vehicles are broken into with the intent of stealing the vehicle, so having visible inexpensive physical theft deterrents like steering wheel locks, steering column collars or brake pedal locks may discourage would-be thieves.
10. Layer Your Defenses: Layers include warning devices such as alarms, wheel etching, immobilizers and even tracking systems.
These and other tips can be found at autos.aol.com/insurance/car-break-ins/
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