The Independent-News, Volume 120, Number 43, Walkerton, St. Joseph County, 9 March 1995 — Page 11

■ Household Help by John Amantea

Late last year, I purchased my ■■st home. It is an older home with Iterior siding which badly needs paint job. I knew this when I ught the house and it was a sac- • in what I paid. However, now I i faced with the task of painting, d I’m not quite sure how to go out this. I am really a neophyte d could use some guidance from L To begin, make sure you purise a top-quality exterior paint and proper equipment to complete jr job. Your local hardware store aler can help you with this. ~Vhen preparing the surface for a ^y>ainting, you must remove all the 5 l slnt which is peeling with a wire ’ ll jsh, then go over the surface with rt,n idpaper in order to smooth it and T?'idy it to receive the paint. Any , ?se putty should be removed from e ^“ windows. Then, prime the winsashes and apply new putty. ‘ f there are loose boards, you have von secure these by renailing them. ot me the nail heads with a good me h-corrosive primer. Varnished or an 4imeled surfaces require a good p with a fine sandpaper. If a varirc .hed surface is mined, apply varx^sh remover and smooth with .^idpaper. Wash well with soap and tin §ter. Brown stains caused by moisa';e should be separately primed ltra ice. All mildewed surfaces should , e washed thoroughly. f you notice a lot of mildew, treat ate J . i area with chlorine bleach in order ^'^revent further growth. Apply the sach and let it sit for five minutes. S Sise thoroughly with clear water d then paint the surface with a oro r

The Chopping Block by Philomena Corradeno

» -or a superb oatmeal you should O Irish oatmeal, especially as we “ra/ ’ nto s P} r * t S 1 - Penck’s ' \y. It comes in flake form which - o |Oks in three to five minutes, and in ~ Sel-cut or pin head form. The latter jlhe whole grain or inner part of the . it kernel which cooks in 30 unutes. It is minimally processed, ,t with only two or three pieces to holeserve its nutrients. Steel-cut oatianeal is high in the B vitamins, calhaium, protein and fiber. It has a rzirdightful, crunchy, nutty flavor and fixture. froFor tips on how to “quick cook” the meieel-cut, you may request jci^cCann’s Gourmet Guide to OatJuaeal. Send a self-addressed, disiamped, No. 10 (business-size) eniec jjlope to Belvedere PR, Inc., 654 tHadison Avenue, New York, N.Y. ar X)2l, specifying the title. ” Today’s first recipe is a baked ticken with a crisp finish. Chicken ieces are marinated for a few hours I i a spicy, milky mixture then I redged with oatmeal and flour. The icond illustrates how everyone is Atting into the act now that risotto j sU as been discovered. This nsotto is issipique in that Irish steel-cut oatmeal atejplaces the traditional creamy n alian rice or American rice. Both icipes come from a leaflet but I’ve coasted them with a few minor chanr es for The Chopping Block. Bal BAKED OATMEAL-COATED CHICKEN j 2 (21/2- to 3-pound) broiler -fryers or 12 assorted chicken ie pieces 2 cups buttermilk 1 cup unfavored non-fat yogurt dow 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard 1 tablespoon hot pepper sauce, I optional ^ al 1 tablespoon minced fresh 'eln tarragon i 1 tablespoon grated lemon peel 1 tablespoon sweet paprika llnei j CU p S qujck.cooking flake ? s oatmeal 3 cups all-purpose flour 1 teaspoon salt, or to taste 1/4 teaspoon ground black ‘ pepper Non-stick spray tof Wash chicken well and cut into is7 trving pieces if necessary. Pat dry. emove skin, if desired. Place in a ngle layer in a shallow dish. In a

mildewcide-treated paint to prime. Start your actual painting from the top and move down. Cover one area and then move across to another, brushing out the paint as you go to secure a thin, even coat. After you paint vertically, stroke across, following the grain of the wood. Try to avoid creating “seams" as you go from area to area. This is a good time to start painting, but make sure it’s not a cold, windy day, which we’re still apt to have in certain parts of the country. Ideally, it should be between 50 to 70 degrees with little wind. Send Household Help questions to John Amantea, King Features Weekly Service, 235 East 45th Street, New York, N.Y. 10017. ©1995 by King Features Synd.

Sports Quiz by Larry Duncan

1. What city was chosen to host the 1976 Winter Olympics, but then refused to do so? 2. What pitcher’s career was ended in 1966 because of arthritis? 3. What tennis star was known as Little Mo? 4. What woman holds the most fig-ure-skating titles? 5. What is known as “The Grand Old Game”? 6. How many seconds is an NBA team given to shoot after getting the ball? 7. How many bowling balls does it take to make a spare? 8. What Italian game resembles lawn bowling? 1. Denver; 2. Sandy Koufax; 3. Maureen Connolly; 4. Sonja Henie; 5. Baseball; 6. 24; 7. two; 8. Bocci ©1995 by King Features Synd.

I « - *> > bowl, combine well buttermilk, yogurt, mustard, hot pepper sauce, tarragon, lemon peel and paprika. Pour over chicken pieces. Toss to coat all chicken pieces. Cover and refrigerate at least four hours. When ready to bake, preheat oven to 450 F. Spray two baking sheets with nonstick spray. Place oatmeal, flour, salt and pepper in a plastic bag. Shake to mix well. Place chicken pieces, one at a time, into oatmeal mixture. Shake to coat well. Place coated chicken on prepared baking sheets, leaving space between pieces. Bake in preheated oven 30 to 40 minutes or until chicken is cooked through and golden, turning pieces once during baking. Makes six servings. IRISH “RISOTTO” 2 cups steel-cut (pinhead) Irish oatmeal 3 tablespoons olive oil 1/4 cup finely minced onion 5 to 6 cups hot unsalted defatted chicken or beef broth 2 tablespoons minced fresh Italian parsley 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese Salt to taste 1/8 teaspoon ground black pepper Heat olive oil in heavy saucepan over medium-high heat. Add onion. Saute three minutes. Stir in oats and saute, stirring, about five minutes or until oats are glistening. Add 1/2 cup hot broth stirring until broth is absorbed. Continue adding hot broth, t/2 cup at a time, stirring until broth is absorbed before each 1/2 cup is added. When oats have absorbed enough broth to produce a rich, creamy texture with oats still having a little bite (al dente), remove pan from heat. Stir in parsley, lemon juice, cheese, salt and pepper. Serve hot. Makes six to eight servings. ©1995 by King Features Synd.

Entertainment Extra by Evelyn Ludvigson

Q. I remember reading something about Lee Radziwill leaning on her brother’s shoulder at the funeral of Lee’s sister, Jackie Onassis. Since when did Jackie and Lee have a brother? I’ve never known about him. Is there a reason we haven’t seen him before? Pat S. A. Jackie and Lee were the only children of their mother, Janet’s first marriage to John Bouvier. After her divorce, she married Hugh Auchincloss, and had a son, Jamie, and another daughter, Janet. These half siblings have preferred to stay out of the public spotlight, which is why many people are unaware they even exist. Q. What’s happening with Julia Roberts and Lyle Lovett? I read somewhere she’s so upset with the box office bombs she made recently that she might quit acting but he doesn’t want her to. Please let me know what you think. AJ. ■ • » a - 'Siirw * 1 * f

A. Julia’s cinematic track record since “Sleeping With the Enemy" hasn’t been too good, I grant you. But she’s still a much-in-demand star and I’m sure we’ll soon see her in another flick. As for Lyle Lovett, his hoped-for breakout role in “Ready to Wear” didn’t happen for him. Those who predicted he’d move right into a movie career will have to wait a (little!) longer before it happens (if it does happen). Q. My English friend told me that the late Peter Sellers used his friendship with Prince Charles to develop a relationship with Princess Margaret. Is this true, and how did Charles feel about being used like that? Alyce W. A. As a young man, Prince Charles

Dollars & Sense by Bryon Elson

To help you prepare your 1994 tax return, the New York State Society of CPAs provides the following answers to some commonly asked questions: 1. How many personal exemptions can I claim? You can claim an exemption of $2,450 for yourself, your spouse and each dependent. However, personal exemptions phase out based on your adjusted gross income (AGI). The phase-out thresholds for 1994 are $lll,BOO for single filers, $167,700 for married couples filing jointly, $139,750 for heads of household, and $83,850 for married persons filing separately. The exemption amount will reduce by two percent for each $2,500 (or fraction thereof) by which your AGI exceeds these thresholds. 2. Who qualifies as a dependent for tax purposes? Generally, dependents include your children, other relatives and members of your household as long as you provide more than 50 percent of their annual support. Gross income and residency tests also apply. 3. My 16-year-old daughter worked during the summer. Does she need to file a tax return? The answer depends on how much money she earned. A dependent child must file a return if the earned income from the job exceeds $3,800, or self-employment income exceeds

MARCH 9, 1995 — THE INDEPENDENT NEWS -

liked to hang around with “The Goonies," a radio comedy group made up of several talented performers including Harry Secombe and Peter Sellers. I’ve been told that Charles even wrote some of the material, and had he not been bom into royalty, might have become a well-known gag writer. Sellers had been introduced to Princess Margaret well before young Charles became part of his circle of friends. As a matter of fact, I’ve been told that Her Royal Highness was the one who initiated the introduction to Sellers. Q. I watched a fund raiser on PBS the other week and noticed that the violinist Yitzhak Perlman always plays sitting down. Is there a reason for this? Curious in Kansas City. A. As a boy in Israel, Perlman contracted polio. He wears braces on his legs and walks with crutches. However, because he needs to lean on something when he stands, he’s found it next to impossible to play the violin that position. That’s why you see him seated when performing. Q. I’ve become a fan of “The Frugal Gourmet” on PBS. Someone told me the host is really a priest who enjoys cooking. But he often refers to a wife and children on the show. Thank you for an explanation. Helen L. A. Jeff Smith, the Frugal Gourmet, is a Protestant minister. Q. I’ve noticed that Oprah Winfrey lost a good deal of weight once again. I heard that yo-yo dieting was worse for you than just staying fat, so I’ve opted to stay fat. I wish Oprah would have done the same since she was such a positive role model for us. She made us feel that we didn’t have to be thin to be beautiful or have self-worth. Why does she even bother doing this when she’s only going to gain the weight back? Rita P. A. First of all, Oprah didn’t just lose weight. She has completely modified her lifestyle. She is scrupulous about the amount of fat she consumes daily (much more important than actual calories) and she exercises regularly. In fact, she recently took part in a marathon. While I agree that you don’t have to be thin to be beautiful of have self-worth, instead of grousing about Oprah’s weight loss, use it as an in-

S4OO. However, if a dependent child’s unearned income — such as interest on a savings account — exceeds S6OO, he or she needs to file a tax return. 4.1 got divorced this year. Since we were married for most of 1994, can I file a joint return with my ex-spouse? No. The IRS will use your marital status as of December 31,1994. Consequently, if your divorce became final before the end of the year, the IRS considers you single for the whole year. You must file a tax return as a single taxpayer, or, if you meet certain requirements, as a head of household. 5. What requirements must I meet to file as head of household? Generally, to qualify as a head of household for 1994, you must be unmarried as of December 31, 1994, and have paid more than half the cost of maintaining a residence for a relative who lived with you more than six months of the year and who qualifies as a dependent, or is your child. ©1995 by King Features Synd.

Books by Ralph Hollenbeck

SAINT PETER: A Biography, by Michael Grant (Scribners: $23.00). “Thou art Peter, and "pon this rock I will build my church...” For 20 centuries, Jesus’ words as cited in the New Testament scripture of Matthew have sustained Christians’ belief in the origins of their religion.

Sr v V \ t . ASK EVELYN spiration for you to take better care of yourself. After all, Oprah’s battle of the bulge was, as you pointed out, a very public one. If she can do it, certainly you can. Losing the weight, doctors have ultimately concluded, is better than not trying at all, even if you do slip up and gain some back. Q. I’m a fan of Dan Aykroyd and the late John Belushi. Os course, my favorite movie of all time is their “Blues Brothers” work. Despite John’s death, are there any plans for a sequel? Pete V. A. I have some good news for you Filmmaker John Landis and Dan Aykroyd both want to do the sequel and they feel now is a good time for it, given the success of Dan’s national jazz clubs. As for who would take over the Belushi role, according to Landis, some major stars are interested but no decision has been made. Q. Some months ago, you wrote that Melanie Griffith and Don Johnson split up again and that it was final. However, I’ve read about them attending functions together as a couple. What’s the scoop? Linda R. A. The last time I wrote about these two, Don was still battling the bottle and Melanie just couldn't tolerate that. However, he is once again clean and sober and the two have reconciled their differences Let’s all wish them a hearty congratulations for their triumph over tragedy. Have a question? Send it to Evelyn Ludvigson, King Features Weekly Service, 235 East 45th Street, New York, N.Y. 10017. ©1995 by King Feature* Synd

Mr. Grant, Professor of Humanity at Edinburgh University and author of a number of books on the ancient world, interprets events a bit differently. “It could be assumed that Peter had received, at first hand, the true Christian faith, and the belief that he had founded the Church of Rome could become a means of strengthening the authority of that church in its fight against heresies. But it was ... false.” Taken out of context, Grant’s comment could give the impression that his deductive and insightful history of Peter was another example of negative revisionism. On the contrary, the author states quite firmly that “...without Peter there would have been no Christian Church. Mr. Grant has lifted most effectively the veil of legend that has shrouded that crucial period in history to resurrect the man Peter whose life and work gave continuation and meaning to Christianity. ©1995 by King Features Synd. “Am I boring you?"

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