Wednesday, June 22nd, 2011
We’re starting a new Thursday series that will feature a handful of statewide events happening during the upcoming weekend.
- Visit your local farmer’s market! A few that were featured on Discover Ohio’s website werePort Clinton‘s (Saturday), Carrousel District‘s (Friday), Guernsey County‘s (Friday).
- Pick Strawberries! You can pick your own over at Sunrise Farm (Burton), A & M Farm (Midland), and Ridgeview Farm (Middlefield).
- Blooms & Butterflies 2011 takes place this weekend at Franklin Park Conservatory in Columbus, Ohio.
- The Big Campout! at Penitentiary Glen Reservation is in Kirtland, Ohio. Gather up your family and get back to nature this summer! Bring your tent or camper to Penitentiary Glen Reservation for a special overnight camping event, including campfires and special nature hikes for the entire family.
- Youth Fishing Derby this Friday and Saturday in Wilmington, Ohio. Young people, ages 3 – 17, can register any fish caught in Cowan Lake during the June derby. Fish may be registered at one of the participating bait stores. The derby is free and open to the public. No pre-registration is required. There will be six winners. Each winner receives a $10.00 gift certificate good at one of the bait stores.
- The 17th annual “A Garden Art Happening” takes place this Saturday and Sunday from 10am-5pm.
- This Saturday from 7pm-10pm, participate in the Flaming Torchlight Canoe Trip. Experience canoeing by the light of the full moon. The moon’s bright light reflects off the shimmering Hocking River to provide a truly romantic experience.
- Bryan Recreational Park is hosting A Day in the Park on Sunday. This one day of fun features activities for all ages including rides, food and games. Even take a dip in our swimming pool! Enjoy on-going softball games, a huge car show with more than 150 cars and live music. Make plans for a picnic and the spend the day.
Tags: events, Ohio, outdoors, weekend | Posted in Weekend Events | No Comments »
Tuesday, June 7th, 2011
Whether you’re spending time at the pool, the beach, the park or just taking a short walk, don’t skip the sunscreen! According to WebMD, “It only takes one severe sunburn to potentially double your child’s changes of getting melanoma later in life [says Andrea Combio, MD, FAAD, a board-certified pediatric dermatologist].” Always put sunscreen on your children before going outside, starting at 6 months of age. Make sure you get the backs of knees, ears, eye area, neck and scalp. The first application should go on 15-30 minutes before going outside and then you can reapply every 2 hours (sooner if you’re in the water). Waterproof sunscreen wears off about 80 minutes after being wet and sooner if you’ve toweled off. You can also wear clothing to block out the sun such as a kid’s swim shirt or hat. 
According to WebMD and their advice from two pediatricians, you should choose a sunscreen that contains zinc oxide or titanium dioxide. These compounds are less irritating and do no get absorbed into the skin. Other tips include:
- Choose a sunscreen with SPF of 30 or higher.
- Look for the label “broad spectrum,” which means it blocks UVA and UVB sunlight.
- Let your child choose the color or scented types of sunscreen.
- Sunscreen sticks are the best for the face because they are sweat proof.
If your child does get sunburned (and does not have any blisters) you can create a cool compress to place on the burn, apply aloe gel (placing it in the fridge helps too), give them acetaminophen or ibuprofen (check with your doctor for the right dosage), and give them plenty of fluids.
Photo by JasonBechtel (found on Flickr).
Tags: damage, outdoors, prevent, sun, sunscreen, tip | Posted in Safety | No Comments »
Thursday, May 26th, 2011
Now that we’ve shared fishing tips, how to choose bait and tackle, and fun fishing events that you can participate in…it’s time to learn how you can fillet your fish! Before we get into details, it’s important to keep your catch fresh. Fish is a very perishable food. IF you plan to bring fish home from a fishing trip, keep your catch alive as long as possible. A good stringer, fish basket, or boat live will is fine for short periods, especially when the water is cool. But the best way to keep fish fresh for a long trip is to put them directly on ice. When you are ready to fillet the fish, first examine it for freshness. The gills should be red or bright pink and moist, not white or dull pink and slimy. Fish odor should not be excessive; the eyes should appear fresh and clear.
After you’ve guaranteed freshness, you need to get the right knife. A good fillet knife has a long, thin flexible blade which should be kept sharp. It is helpful to have a smooth, flat board to use as a cutting surface when you are filleting fish. Now we can get into specifics!
Contaminants are found at higher levels in the fat of some fish. You can reduce the amount of these contaminants in a fish meal by properly trimming, skinning, and cooking your catch. Remove the skin and trim all the fat from the belly flap, the line along the sides of the fish, along the back, and under the skin. Cut away a V-shaped wedge to remove the dark fatty tissue along the entire length of the fillet. Cooking does not destroy contaminants in fish, but heat from cooking melts some of the fat in fish allowing some of it to drip away. Broil, grill, or bake the skinned fish on a rack so the fat drips away. Do not use the drippings to prepare sauces.
Happy filleting!
Tags: filleting, fish, freshness, how to, knife, outdoors | Posted in Hunting & Fishing | No Comments »
