Page 3 - April - June, 2018 CityLine

Holiday Offi ce Closures City Hall,

& Magistrate Court

th
Memorial Day 4 of July
Monday, May 28, 2018 Wednesday, July 4, 2018
– and a Good-bye Recreation Center Hours

Memorial Day
by Carolyn Schenk Monday, May 28, 2018 • Open 10am-5pm
th
4 of July “Splash Bash”
Wednesday, July 4, 2018 • Open 10am-5pm
Tips
We know that lemons are better off in the fridge than on the kitchen counter; however, storing lemons in a plastic bag is a vast improvement
over simply placing them in the fridge. Lemons placed in sealed bags last up to four weeks before showing any sign of dehydration—
whereas lemons placed in the fridge with no bag begin dehydrating significantly after two weeks.
If you’re like me, it’s tricky to find a perfectly ripe avocado. Often, the selection in grocery stores range from rock hard to overripe. If
you’re left with nothing but unripened avocados that need to be used ASAP, you can speed up their process with just 10 minutes and a
little heat. Wrap each avocado individually in enough tinfoil to cover it and make sure it’s wrapped so that no air can escape.
Avocados release ethylene gas, just like bananas and apples. When this gas is released, all other fruits and vegetables surrounding the
avocado ripen as well. If you surround only the avocado with its own ethylene gas, the ripening agent that the fruit emits is sent back
into its source. This essentially forces the avocado to speed things up by concentrating the gas.

Once your avocado is well wrapped, set it inside a baking dish and pop it into the oven at 200°F. Check the fruit’s progress at 10 minutes
(or even sooner depending on its current degree of ripeness), and keep it in until it’s perfectly ripe. Together, the heat of the oven and
the ethylene gas will work to soften the fruit.

Tidbits
When the City lowers the flags to half-staff in front of City Hall and in the town center, we receive inquiries from residents asking,
“Why is the flag at half-staff?” It’s easy to stay informed and receive half-staff notifications by visiting https://az.gov/half-staff-notices
and sign up. This website also allows you to view the archives of past half-staff notifications.

Tickles
My girlfriend and I often laugh about how competitive we are. But I laugh more.

… and a Quote
Friendship improves happiness, and abates misery, by doubling our joys, and dividing our grief.– Marcus Tullius Cicero, Roman politician and lawyer

...and a Good-bye
Due to my retirement from the City in June, this is my final submission of “Chatterbox”. I have had fun writing this light-hearted segment
of the CityLine and hope that it offered you some helpful tips, a few good laughs, and made you reflect a moment or two on the pearls
of wisdom shared in the quotes.
It has been an honor and delight working with the talented and dedicated Editor, Chris Weaver, and all the Staff who assist in making
the CityLine an informative and first-class publication. When you see them about town, please remind them that their efforts and talents
are valued and appreciated.
Thank you for making my 11 years with the City a wonderful and rewarding experience. It’s been a true pleasure.
In sincere appreciation,

litchfi eld-park.org eld-park.org
Apr
litchfi Apr-Jun 2018 Issue | 3 -Jun 2018 Issue | 3