Ha pp y B ir th da y

July 24, 2007 - 10,000 Villages with dinner at Axel's Bonfire (Grand and Victoria) at 5:45; Tour of 10,000 Villages will be at 7:00 p.m. Dinner is at your own cost.

August 21, 2007 - President’s Dinner at Peggy’s Cost $20.00

Members are to call Dorothy if they are unable to attend no later than the Friday before the monthly meeting date. If you do not call, it will be assumed that you are attending and you will be billed for that meeting.

If you are unable to attend due to last minute circumstances, you will be billed for that meeting.

Exception: Please contact Dorothy or Peggy for the President's dinner by August 16th. We need a close count so that we have adequate food and refreshments.

I found the following information about the 4th of July on the U.S. Census Bureau site. They also placed a caveat stating that some of the information may not be verifiable! So, Enjoy!

The Fourth of July 2007

On this day in 1776, the Declaration of Independence was approved by the Continental Congress, triggering the 13 colonies on the road to freedom as a sovereign nation. As always, this most American of holidays will be marked by parades, fireworks and backyard barbecues across the country.

2.5 million
In July 1776, the estimated number of people living in the newly independent nation. (1776 population from Historical Statistics of the United States: Colonial Times to 1970.)

302 million
The nation’s population on this July Fourth.

Fourth of July Cookouts
More than 1 in 4
The chance that the hot dogs and pork sausages consumed on the Fourth originated in Iowa. The Hawkeye State had a total of 15.5 million market hogs and pigs on March 1. This represents more than one-fourth of the nation’s total. North Carolina (8.4 million) and Minnesota (6.2 million) were the runners-up.

6.8 billion pounds
Total production of cattle and calves in Texas in 2006. Chances are good that the beef hot dogs, steaks and burgers on your backyard grill came from the Lone Star State, which accounted for about one-sixth of the nation’s total production. And if they did not come from Texas, they very well may have come from Nebraska (4.8 billion pounds) or Kansas (4.1 billion pounds).

6
Number of states in which the revenue from broiler chickens was $1 billion or greater between December 2005 and November 2006. There is a good chance that one of these states — Georgia, Arkansas, Alabama, North Carolina, Mississippi or Texas — is the source of your barbecued chicken.

About 50-50
The odds that the beans in your side dish of baked beans came from Michigan or North Dakota, which produced 49 percent of the nation’s dry, edible beans in 2006. Another popular Fourth of July side dish is corn on the cob. Florida, California, Georgia and New York together accounted for 60 percent of the sweet corn produced nationally in 2006.

Please Pass the Potato Salad
Potato salad and potato chips are popular food items at Fourth of July barbecues. Nearly half of the nation’s spuds were produced in Idaho or Washington in 2006.

More than 70 percent
Amount of the nation’s head lettuce production in 2006 that came from California. This lettuce may end up in your salad or on your hamburger.

About 2 in 3
The chances that the fresh tomatoes in your salad came from Florida or California, which combined accounted for 68 percent of U.S. tomato production last year. The ketchup on your hamburger or hot dog probably came from California, which accounted for 95 percent of processed tomato production in 2006.

Florida
The state that led the nation in watermelon production last year (835 million pounds). Other leading producers of this popular Fourth of July dessert include California, Georgia and Texas, each with more than 600 million pounds.

More than 74 million
Number of Americans who said they have taken part in a barbecue during the previous year. It’s probably safe to assume a lot of these events took place on Independence Day.

Fireworks
$206.3 million
The value of fireworks imported from China in 2006, representing the bulk of all U.S. fireworks imported ($216 million). U.S. exports of fireworks, by comparison, came to just $22.6 million in 2006, with Japan purchasing more than any other country ($8 million).

$17.3 million
The value of U.S. manufacturers’ shipments of fireworks in 2002.

Flags
$5.3 million
In 2006, the dollar value of U.S. imports of American flags; the vast majority of this amount ($5 million) was for U.S.

$1.7 million
Dollar value of U.S. flags exported in 2006. Trinidad and Tobago was the leading customer, purchasing $661,498 worth.

$349.2 million
Annual dollar value of shipments of fabricated flags, banners and similar emblems by the nation’s manufacturers, according to the latest published Economic Census (2002) data.

Patriotic-Sounding Names
30
Number of places nationwide with “liberty” in its name. The most populous one is Liberty, Mo. (29,042). Iowa, with four, has more of these places than any other state: Libertyville, New Liberty, North Liberty and West Liberty.

• Thirty-two places are named “eagle” — after the majestic bird that serves as our national symbol. (Places include cities, towns, villages and census-designated places.) The most populous such place is Eagle Pass, Texas, with 25,571 residents. There is also Eagle County, Colo., with a population of 49,085.

• Eleven places have “independence” in their name. The most populous of these is Independence, Mo., with 110,208 residents.

• Five places adopted the name “freedom.” Freedom, Calif., with 6,000 residents, has the largest population among these.

• There is one place named “patriot” — Patriot, Ind., with a population of 195.

And what could be more fitting than spending the Fourth of July in a place called “America”? There are five such places in the country, with the most populous being American Fork, Utah, population 21,372.

The British are Coming!
$99 billion
Dollar value of trade last year between the United States and the United Kingdom, making the British, our adversary in 1776, our sixth-leading trading partner today

Editor’s note: The preceding data were collected from a variety of sources and may be subject to sampling variability and other sources of error. Questions or comments should be directed to the Census Bureau’s Public Information

Chilled Honeydew Soup with Mint and Lime

1 medium honeydew melon, perfectly ripe, cut in chunks (about 6-8 cups)
1/4 C lime juice
2 Tbsp minced fresh mint

Place melon chunks, lime juice and mint in a food processor or blender and puree until smooth. (You will probably have to do several batches.) Transfer to a container with a tight-fitted lid and chill until very cold. Serve in bowls or glasses. Garnish with fresh mint.
Serves 5 to 6 but is easily multiplied.

Dorothy is settled in at her new home and has agreed to host us for our Christmas meeting! Also, other good news! She sold her house after 3 days on the market! Way to GO Dorothy!

If you have anything that you would like included in the newsletter, please let Peggy know. I know we would all be glad to hear what is going on with you!

JoAnn is the new executive director of Cantus, a nine-voice male professional choral ensemble. Congratulations Joann!

Hope to see you all on July 24^th and again on August 21^st.