May
2017
Issue 3


Bye Bye Spring - Hello Summer
From Decoration Day to Memorial Day
Memorial Day is an American holiday, observed on the last Monday of May, honoring the men and women who died while serving in the U.S. military. Originally known as Decoration Day, it originated in the years following the Civil War and became an official federal holiday in 1971. Many Americans observe Memorial Day by visiting cemeteries or memorials, holding family gatherings, and participating in parades. 

The remembrance poppy was inspired by the World War I poem "In Flanders Fields". Its opening lines refer to the many poppies that were the first flowers to grow in the churned-up earth of soldiers ' graves in Flanders, a region of Europe that overlies a part of Belgium.

Despite the increasing celebration of the holiday as a summer rite of passage, there are some formal rituals still on the books: The American flag should be hung at half-staff until noon on Memorial Day, then raised to the top of the staff. And since 2000, when the U.S. Congress passed legislation, all Americans are encouraged to pause for a National Moment of Remembrance at 3 p.m. local time, by saying  goodbye to spring and hello to summer as we remember those who died serving for our country.
Recipe: Individual Seven Layer Dips!  
Seven layer dip is a party favorite. But after a few people have dipped (hopefully not double-dipped), it starts to look like mush. All the pretty layers turn into an unidentifiable, unappetizing pile. Solution? Individual seven layer dips! To class these up, try  making them in glass tumblers.

Individual Seven-Layer Dips
Serves: 8 cups

Ingredients
  • 1 (16 ounce) can refried beans
  • 1 (1 ounce) package taco seasoning
  • 1 cup guacamole or make homemade guacamole 
  • 1 (8 ounce) container sour cream
  • 1 cup chunky salsa or pico de gallo; or make homemade pico de gallo  
  • 1 cup shredded cheddar or Mexican blend cheese
  • 2 Roma tomatoes, diced
  • ½ bunch of green onions, sliced
  • 1 (2.25 ounce) can of sliced olives, drained
  • 8 (9 ounce) plastic tumblers
  • tortilla chips
Instructions
  1. In a small bowl mix taco seasoning with refried beans. Some people prefer to mix their taco seasoning with the sour cream layer but I wanted a bright white layer so I did it with the beans.
  2. Here's how the layers are assembled:
  3.  Continue Reading!
  Photo and Recipe courtesy of:  The Girl Who Ate Everything  
Get Involved
May 23 & 24 - Dementia Friendly Community Conversations
May 27 - Danceworkz in Motion
May 29 - Happy Memorial Day!
May 30 - GRSF Story Telling
June 2 - Wellness Fair
June 3 - Miles for Smiles
June 10 & 11 - Trinona

For more events check out our community calendar and races/activities calendar.
BALANCE YOUR HEALTH