November 17, 2023

Overview for this week.

1. I am starting this week with a primer on the history and significance of the Golan Heights in Israel. I pray that the current fighting doesn't expand to his area and that all people can live in peace.

2. In the pursuit of personal peace and wellness, I once again encourage Flock readers to visit Dr. Fox's website and try a guided meditation.

3. I look at what other countries celebrate Thanksgiving, and what was on the table at the first feast in 1621.

4. Next, I present some vegan and vegetarian alternatives for your Thanksgiving table and revisit some South-Asian inspired holiday dishes.

5. It's been a warm fall, and the rattlesnakes are still out and breeding. Here are some tips to stay safe and keep your yard rattlesnake free.

6. Goddess Pele has been restless, and we look at current volcanic activity in Iceland, Italy and the Pacific.

7. I am humbled by octogenarian Wally Hasseltine's record setting ultramarathon in the Athlete's Corner.

8. In Reaching High we remember the accomplishments of extreme athlete Jean-Marc Boivin.

9. The National Museum of women in the Arts has been renovated and relaunched in the nation’s capital.

10. I look at some of the resources available to help young authors publish their own books in the Kid's Corner.

11. In the Pet's corner we catch up with Beamer Girl, a Spaniel from Aspen, and flock cats Fern and Oliver. We also meet Oliver's cat friend Celeste.

Now, to this week's Flock.

While the current fighting in Israel has been concentrated along the Gaza Strip, there has also been an escalation of tensions around the Golan Heights in the north of Israel. I was wondering about the history of this area and want to share what I found with you. The article below provides some insight on the historical and contemporary significance of this region and ends on an optimistic note. With all of the unrest that continues in the world, I pray that a resolution can be obtained, and that one-day peace comes to all people.

From: aish.com, By: Dr. Yvette Alt Miller

The Golan Heights are Israel’s buffer against its northern neighbor Syria. In Israeli hands since 1967, the Golan Heights are back in the news today, after President Trump signed a proclamation recognizing Israel’s sovereignty. Here are five facts about the Golan Heights to provide some background at this historic moment.

Historical Ties

The Golan is the site of some of the Torah’s most vivid histories. When Jewish tribes first settled in the land of Israel, the tribes of Gad and Reuben asked Moses for permission to settle east of the Jordan River. Moses agreed and also sent half of the tribe of Manasseh who settled in “Golan in the (region called) the Bashan” in the modern-day Golan Heights

The Six Day War

After years of provocation, Israel gained the Golan Heights during the Six Day War of 1967. Fighting started on June 5, 1967, when Israel launched a preemptive strike on Egypt. Syria used the Golan Heights to shell villages and farms in the Hula Valley, and also sent planes to bomb Haifa. On June 9, Israel engaged Syrian fighters in the Golan and captured the area with seemingly miraculous speed, by the afternoon of June 10.

This week, I would again like to recommend the guided meditations that Dr. Fox has made available to Flock readers on his website. Take a few minutes out of your day to sit back, relax and experience one of these guided meditations. I think you will be glad you did.

In America we celebrate Thanksgiving on the 4th Thursday of November, the 23rd this year. Our holiday is modeled after a 1621 harvest feast shared by the English colonists, or pilgrims, of what is now Plymouth, Massachusetts and the Wampanoag people native to the area. Many other countries including Germany, Japan and Grenada celebrate a day of thanks, often associated with the fall harvest. Canada, Liberia, Norfolk Island, Puerto Rico, and The Netherlands celebrate a Thanksgiving derived from our own with Canada even enjoying the traditions of eating turkey and watching football to celebrate the day.

From: History.com, By: Sarah Pruitt, September 29, 2023

The United States isn’t the only nation with a holiday dedicated to gratitude—here are eight different variations of the Thanksgiving tradition from around the world.

Attendees at the first Thanksgiving feast would have had a very different, though not entirely unfamiliar meal from what we eat today. The feast would have included wild turkey, pigeons, and duck, along with venison, lobster, mussels bass, clams, and oysters. They would have eaten local fruits, nuts, corn, squash, and beans as well. Cranberry sauce and pumpkin pies would have to wait for sugar to be introduced to the colonies. No mashed potatoes yet either. As we covered in the October 7th issue of The Flock, the first potatoes were introduced to New England from Ireland in 1719.

From: Smithsonian Magazine, By: Megan Gambino, November 21, 2011

Today, the traditional Thanksgiving dinner includes any number of dishes: turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes, candied yams, cranberry sauce and pumpkin pie. But if one were to create a historically accurate feast, consisting of only those foods that historians are certain were served at the so-called “first Thanksgiving,” there would be slimmer pickings. “Wildfowl was there. Corn, in grain form for bread or for porridge, was there. Venison was there,” says Kathleen Wall. “These are absolutes.”

Two primary sources—the only surviving documents that reference the meal—confirm that these staples were part of the harvest celebration shared by the Pilgrims and Wampanoag at Plymouth Colony in 1621. Edward Winslow, an English leader who attended, wrote home to a friend:

Our harvest being gotten in, our governor sent four men on fowling, that so we might after a special manner rejoice together after we had gathered the fruit of our labors. They four in one day killed as much fowl as, with a little help beside, served the company almost a week. At which time, amongst other recreations, we exercised our arms, many of the Indians coming amongst us, and among the rest their greatest king Massasoit, with some ninety men, whom for three days we entertained and feasted, and they went out and killed five deer, which they brought to the plantation and bestowed on our governor, and upon the captain and others.

From: History.com, By: Christophe Klein, November 15, 2023

In 1873, as college campuses in the Northeast incubated the sport, students from Princeton, Yale, Harvard and Columbia formed the Intercollegiate Football Association. The league standardized rules and set schedules that included an annual Thanksgiving game in New York between the teams with the best records from the previous season.

Less than five years later, as college football's popularity surged, the rivalry had become a major event on the social calendar, with thousands of fans filling stands.

This year I want to include some vegetarian and vegan Thanksgiving dishes. I am also bringing back some favorite Thanksgiving recipes from South Asian Americans and an Indian Spiced Turkey recipe from our November 18th, 2022 issue.

From: bon appétit, By: Mehreen Karim, October 21, 2023

Serving up an entire menu of vegan Thanksgiving recipes is an intimidating feat, especially when there’s a crowd to impress. But have no fear, no one will miss butter or cream (or whisper, “Where’s the turkey?”) when they’re scarfing down our best vegan Thanksgiving recipes.

From: Food Network, October 13, 2023

Our Best Ideas for a Meatless Thanksgiving

When you’re planning your Thanksgiving dinner menu, make veggies shine in everything from the side dishes to the mains. Including vegetarian (and even vegan) favorites is sure to please everyone at the table. Fill your spread with classics like stuffing and corn, but also add in a few surprises, perhaps a kale casserole and these bubbly vegan spuds? Nutritional yeast, which is grown on molasses and then dried out, adds a nutty cheesiness (plus an extra helping of vitamin B12) to the hearty dish. Silken tofu and tender new potatoes add creaminess without dairy, and browned onions give the dish a deep savoriness.

From: NBC News, By: Lakshmi Gandhi, November 16, 2017

Because Thanksgiving is often regarded as the quintessential American holiday, the celebration's traditional fare has sometimes been a struggle for first and second generation cooks unfamiliar with turkey, cranberries, or the intricacies of stuffing.

From: Simmer to Slimmer, By: Anushree Shetty, April 22, 2022

Looking for something new to make this Thanksgiving? Try this interesting mix of South – Asian Inspired dishes as well as some classics for your dinner this year.

From: Nish Kitchen

Indian spiced turkey. Bring an instant wow to your Thanksgiving table with this Indian inspired roast turkey recipe. A perfect balance of aromatic spices, beautiful citrus and rosemary transforms your favorite holiday roast into a delicious centerpiece.

Indian Spiced Turkey

We've had an unusually warm and wet fall in Tucson and the rattlesnakes are out. I ran into two out walking this week and two more the week before. We even had one get in the house. If you go out in the early mornings or evenings, be sure to bring a flashlight and keep an eye out for snakes.

From: The Tribune, By: Mark Price, August 23, 2022

The discovery of a rattlesnake on an Arizona family’s patio turned chaotic when the 3-foot female proved to be in labor.

Western diamondbacks don’t lay eggs, they give live birth — and their venomous babies are numerous.

YouTube video posted by Rattlesnake Solutions shows the babies were still sliding out as snake catcher Marissa Maki picked the mom up with tongs and placed her in a bucket.

From: The University of Arizona College of Pharmacy, August 6, 2014

Arguably, snake season is year-round in Arizona, a state known for its rattlers. But baby rattlesnakes are born in July and August, making these two months especially dangerous for hikers, gardeners, children and others at high risk of exposure to rattlesnake bites.

So far this year, 74 rattlesnake bites to humans have been reported to the Arizona Poison and Drug Information Center. Based at the University of Arizona College of Pharmacy, the center serves the entire state of Arizona with the exception of Maricopa County, providing free and confidential poison and medication information to callers around the clock.

The center advises anyone who might come cross paths with rattlesnakes to be aware of these five things:

1. 1 | Baby rattlesnakes range in length from 6 to 12 inches and are easily camouflaged by brush and grass.
2. Baby rattlesnakes are rattleless until they first shed their skins, so there will be no infamous "chica-chica" sound before they strike.
3. Despite their impish size, baby snakes have enough venom to be very dangerous if they bite a human.
4. Adult rattlesnakes do not always rattle an audible warning before or while they are biting.
5. It's a good idea to call the poison center if you notice an unidentified small cut or wound, even if you feel no pain. With the lack of telltale rattle warning, people can be bitten without knowing what has happened until they notice their symptoms and attribute them to a snakebite.

Baby Rattlesnake Season Question and Answers

From: Rattlesnake Solutions, By: Btyan Hughes, August 4, 2020

Recent changes in ambient humidity has triggered the start of baby rattlesnake season! Across the state, mama rattlesnakes are tucked away in shaded, damp areas to give birth to babies (they do not lay eggs as is commonly believed). After spending some quality time with mom, the babies are all set to head out into the big world to figure out how to be a rattlesnake.

The behavior that often brings rattlesnakes into an area is a little different for these new little guys, and as a homeowner you should know what you can do to keep baby rattlesnakes away.

This means two big things for homeowners who wish to keep baby rattlesnakes away. First, baby rattlesnakes can show up at any place, any time, without a reason. Second, it becomes even more important to reduce access and opportunities for rattlesnakes in general.

There has been a great deal of volcanic activity in recent weeks, from Iceland to Italy in Europe and in the Pacific as well. I think the goddess Pele is dancing.

From: Greek Reporter, By: Tasos Kokkinidis, November 14, 2023

Europe is on edge over possible volcanic eruptions at Mount Etna in Sicily, Italy, and at the Reykjanes Peninsula in Iceland.

Italy’s Mount Etna shot lava into the sky on Sunday, 12 November, spewing ash high over the Mediterranean island of Sicily.

According to Italy’s National Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology, “the height of the eruptive column is estimated to be about 4500m above sea level.”

Mount Etna erupts in red hot explosion at night

Iceland volcano: What could be the impact of an eruption?

Earth and sand are sent into the air above a new islet that appeared

after a volcanic eruption off the coast of Iwo Jima.

From: LiveScience, By: Sascha Pare, November 8, 2023

An underwater volcanic eruption on Oct. 30 has birthed a new island in the Pacific after the explosion flung huge chunks of rock into a pile off the coast of Japan's Iwo Jima island.

An aircraft belonging to the Japanese newspaper Mainichi Shimbun spotted the first signs of an eruption in the southern part of the Izu-Ogasawara arc, roughly 750 miles (1,200 kilometers) south of Tokyo, around midday local time.

And you thought you we’re great running one marathon.

From: Runner's World, By: Laura Ratliff, November 15, 2023

Wally Hesseltine has been running races nearly every month since he was 37 years old, with distances ranging from 10K to ultramarathons (237 ultras to date). But even after so many races, the octogenarian is still smashing records along the way.

On November 12, Hesseltine finished the Tunnel Hill 100 in 26:22:26, breaking the 80-84 age group record by over two-and-a-half hours. The previous record, according to USATF Long Distance Records, belonged to fellow 80-year-old Maurice Robinson, which he set at the Prairie Spirit Trail 100 in March 2022, running 29:03:21. (Robinson’s record was considered the world record, although it was still subject to ratification.)

From: Radiant, By: Ashish, November 2, 2023

Jean-Marc Boivin was a French extreme skier, hang glider, paraglider pilot, mountaineer speleologist, BASE jumper, filmmaker, and author. He has held several notable records throughout his life. Some of them being altitude records for hang gliding and paragliding, breaking records for a sub-glacial dive, the first ascent and ski descent in the Alps, and most importantly, the first paragliding from the tallest mountain in the world, Mount Everest. Jean, overall, was a great pioneer in adventure sports and he lived a life pursuing all that made him so passionate.

The National Museum of Women in the Arts, in Washington, D.C.,

is reopening, after a nearly two-year renovation and expansion.

From: CBS News, By: Rita Braver, October 22, 2023

It's been more than two years and almost $70 million, but at long last the National Museum of Women in the Arts, in Washington, D.C., is relaunching. When this museum opened in 1987, it was the first in the world devoted exclusively to art made by women.

An independent, non-profit organization, it was the vision, explained museum director Susan Fisher, of one woman: Wilhelmina Cole Holladay, a philanthropist and collector in Washington. "She had studied art history, and she was very much interested in the concept of beauty, which she talked about all the time," said Sterling.

Reopening: The National Museum of Women in the Arts

Technology has made it easier for kids to publish their own writing now. As I covered in the May20, 2022 issue of The Flock, my own niece, Lola, published her first book of stories and poems at the age of 8.

From: Parents: By: Susan Stephenson

Experiencing success and enjoyment with writing is something we all want for our growing learners. The computer or tablet can be a great tool to get children writing. Here are some websites where kids can make digital books. I always advise adult supervision when children use the Internet, but apart from safety concerns, our kids can learn a lot from carrying out these activities!

For more book and reading ideas, sign up for our Scholastic Parents newsletter. 

1. Storyjumper is a great website where kids can read stories written by other kids, as well as create and publish their own books.
2. Little Bird Tales is a site that encourages children to create stories and artwork of their own. You can upload your child's existing drawings, or kids can use the art pad to create something new. It's free to try, and not too pricey for a premium account.
3. Storybird is so much fun! There's lots of stunning artwork from adult illustrators available, and members can use these works to illustrate their own stories. 
4. ToonDoo is a great website where young people can create their own cartoons and comics by manipulating artwork, speech bubbles, text, and templates. It has a book-making feature where you can compile your created comics into a book. For more information, read about Making a Book at ToonDoo on my blog. And for an offline guide to creating your own comic book or graphic novel, How to Make Awesome Comics by cartoonist Neill Cameron is filled with everything your child needs to know — from the basics of creating a comic to more advanced lessons on crafting the perfect villain and making text and artwork together.

A Grade Ahead Blog

9 Magazines that Publish Writing by Kids

Kids Own Publishing

Kids’ Own Publishing co-creates and publishes books by kids for kids. Our books reflect children’s culture, identity, and imagination.

Find Book Publisher

Find the right publisher and reach your self-publishing potential!

Amazon

Books for Young Writers

This week in the Pet's Corner we're catching up with some old friends and we have one new one, Celeste. Celeste is Flock veteran Oliver's cat fiend. We're also catching up with Fern the mouser in Aspen. It's been almost a year since we last saw little Beamer Girl, a 12 year old Aspen Tennis Star who loves fetching player's balls.

Oliver with his cat friend Celeste.

photo by Mom Margaret

Fern getting up to go mousing before the next Aspen snowfall.

Beamer is a pet friend in Aspen.

Beamer is a very cultured dog.

Beamer hanging out with her mom, Margaret.

Time for a close-up.

Someone's been playing in the snow.

Warming up with mom.

Don't Be Shy: Share Your Stories!

I'm looking forward to sharing more of your personal stories - oral, written, or otherwise, as we enter our second year. I'd so love to present them to The Flock, hit a mailbox below to share your story.

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