Trip to Rehoboth ball game lands Barnstable cop in cuffs

This just proves again, YOU CAN'T TRUST ANYONE WITH YOUR KIDS!
Trip to Rehoboth ball game lands Barnstable cop in cuffs

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Department of Conservation and Recreation

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2011 Free Fun Fridays | Highland Street Foundation

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2011 Free Fun Fridays | Highland Street Foundation

Emergency Homeowners Loan Program.

Massachusetts was awarded $61 million from the HUD program to assist homeowners who are 3 or more months behind on mortgage payments due to either unemployment of their income falling by more than 15%. Owners might qualify for an up to 2 year no interest, forgivable loan to prevent foreclosure. The state anticipates assisting 1,260 owners.

The Massachusetts Community Action network is working with Citizens’ Housing and Planning Association (CHAPA) on promoting this new program. July 22^nd is the deadline for homeowner’s to file pre-applications; there will be a lottery of applicants after the July 22 application closing date. Please direct questions to Lewis Finfer, Executive Director, Massachusetts Communities Action Network, at (617) 470-2912 or lewfinfer@gmail.com. For more information, go to www.mcan-oltc.org. Below is a sample bulletin notice followed by a longer fact sheet.

Assistance Available to the Unemployed and to those Facing Foreclosure

If you are 3 months or more behind on your mortgage due to unemployment or cuts in wages and/or hours, you can apply up to July 22 for a special program to save your home from foreclosure. The federal program gives people a no interest, forgivable loan of up to 2 years to save their home from foreclosure. Pre-applications for the Emergency Homeowner Loan Program (EHLP) are available at www.findehlp.org or call (855) 346-3345 to apply.

Real help for unemployed/underemployed homeowners

It may sound like a classic foreclosure rescue scam: a limited time offer for a free government loan to save your home. But this time the offer is legitimate.

Homeowners who are unemployed or whose wages have gone down by more than 15% and struggling to stay in their homes may be eligible to apply for emergency funding to avoid foreclosure, through the Department of Housing and Urban Development's (HUD) Emergency Homeowner Loan Program (EHLP). EHLP will provide a forgivable bridge loan of up to $50,000 to pay mortgage, tax and insurance bills for up to two years. Pre-applications for the Emergency Homeowner Loan Program (EHLP) are available at www.findehlp.org or call (855) 346-3345 to apply.

Who is eligible to apply: Unemployed and underemployed homeowners (due to job loss or serious medical condition) who are at risk of losing their home, and are 90 days delinquent on their mortgage payment.

Where to apply: Contact a HUD-approved EHLP housing counselor at http://www.findaforeclosurecounselor.org/network/nfmc_lookup/ to learn where to submit applications in your area.

When to apply: Homeowners will only have until July 22, 2011 to submit pre-applications for these limited funds. Homeowners should gather key documents now for the next stage of the application process.

Checklist of key documents (These documents only have to be submitted with the pre-application form if you are chosen in the lottery of applicants):

* Most recent mortgage statement
* Written notice from employer indicating termination, or income reduction
* Notice from lender/servicer stating homeowner is at risk of foreclosure
* 2009 and 2010 tax returns for every person listed on the mortgage
* Documentation of current income (unemployment check stub, pay stub, SSI)
* Citizenship documents for every person listed on the mortgage (passport, birth certificate)
* IRS T4506-T form for every person listed on the mortgage

For assistance on how to apply for foreclosure prevention funds in every state homeowners should scroll down and click on their state, at www.findehlp.org. EHLP materials are available in Spanish, English, Chinese, Vietnamese, and Korean.

Summer Squash and Zucchini

The picture above shows Cucumbers, Zucchini, and Summer Squash

This year the zucchini is not in abundance as of yet. There is nothing like fresh Summer Squash and Zucchini from the garden. But when it starts to come in, you have to find ways to use it up. You can use your imagination to prepare it. Following is a few ways we have learned to use it up.

Our favorite ways to prepare are:

Sauteed Squash and Zucchini

Ingredients:     

2 Zucchini-sliced 

2 Summer Squash-sliced

2-3 Cloves fresh garlic, minced

1 Can of Italian style stewed tomatoes

1 Onion, sliced

Optional: salt and pepper to taste

1. Spray large frying pan with nonstick spray for less calories, or use 2 oz. olive oil or 3    
    Tablespoons butter for tastier dish. 

2. Sauté minced garlic in olive oil, butter or sprayed frying pan.

3. When garlic just about golden brown, add sliced onions, can of stewed tomatoes, 
    squash and zucchini. 
4. Stir and cook about 25 minutes on medium to high heat, or until squash is tender to 
    your liking. 

5. You may add cut up cooked chicken to make it a heartier meal.

Baked Squash

Simple Recipe

Ingredients:

3-4 Squash and or Zucchini-sliced

1 can stewed tomatoes

Shredded cheddar or mozzarella cheese

Bread crumbs

Salt & pepper to taste

1. Preheat oven to 375* 
2. Spray baking dish, big enough to hold all the sliced squash/zucchini
3. Layer ingredients, starting with stewed tomatoes: 
    a. tomatoes
    b. squash/zucchini
    c. bread crumbs
    d. cheese
Repeat till all ingredients gone. Maybe you will be able to do 2-3 layers. Depending on size of squash and pan. Bake uncovered in 375* oven until cheese is melted and squash is tender when fork inserted. 
For a richer recipe, you may use ritz crackers, or stuffing mix instead of bread crumbs.

Boiled Squash

Ingredients:
Sliced Squash & or Zucchini
Salt and pepper
Butter or Margarine-Optional

1. Put sliced Squash in a pot big enough to hold amount of squash you are using.

2. Fill the pot with water to just below squash. Squash is watery and will create its own 

    liquid. 

3. Optional: add salt and pepper to taste

4. Cover pot. On high heat bring to a boil, then reduce heat to medium. Cook until 

    Squash is tender to your liking.

5. Remove from heat, drain well.

6. Put back into pan, dot with butter or margarine if you like. 

    Use slotted spoon to serve, squash is watery.

Zucchini Bread

Ingredients

• 3 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 3 teaspoons ground cinnamon
• 3 eggs
• 1 cup vegetable oil
• 2 1/4 cups white sugar
• 3 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 2 cups grated zucchini
• 1 cup chopped walnuts

Directions

1. Grease and flour two 8 x 4 inch pans. Preheat oven to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C).
2. Sift flour, salt, baking powder, soda, and cinnamon together in a bowl.
3. Beat eggs, oil, vanilla, and sugar together in a large bowl. Add sifted ingredients to the creamed mixture, and beat well. Stir in zucchini and nuts until well combined. Pour batter into prepared pans.
4. Bake for 40 to 60 minutes, or until tester inserted in the center comes out clean. Cool in pan on rack for 20 minutes. Remove bread from pan, and completely cool.

I hope you enjoy eating squash/zucchini prepared in these ways.

Facebook, I'm addicted!

I like Facebook, a lot. I first joined when my Sister in Law said, "you should join, it's fun and you get to be in touch with a lot of people". So I joined, and immediately was hooked. My favorite thing about Facebook is the games. They do have some great games. Bejeweled Blitz is my ultimate favorite. I cannot seem to stop playing that one. I have played many others, but when the game becomes a chore, like Farmtown, FarmVille, etc., I stop playing it. One other important reason I am on it, is to see what my children are up to. I've actually had to teach them manners and social etiquette in the use of Facebook. I don't worry about the privacy issues. Facebook has the settings you need to control most of your information. Every so often I go though my account privacy settings and adjust them. When you get down to it, the minute you log on to any website, someone is tracking your traffic. The only way to have total privacy on the internet is not to go on the internet at all. And we all know that is hard for our generation and the next. I've tried to give up Facebook, but it only lasted 2 weeks. I do enjoy reading what everybody is doing and not doing. I enjoy wishing Happy Birthday to my Facebook friends. I've even made a friend on Facebook. Oh, I have 129 friends on F.B., but I knew them all before joining F.B. Overall Facebook is not that bad. It is nice connecting with your high school friends, family, co-workers and especially your children. Seeing where everyone is in their lives. It reinforces the fact, that you're not the only one with problems. Everyone has their ups and downs. I have learned to "not spend too much time on F.B.", I get in and get out. When I have a little more time, I play Bejeweled Blitz. I am ranked #1 amongst 24 friends who play Bejeweled Blitz. My advice, if you don't want another habit, don't join. But if you have a lot of self control, go ahead, try it, you'll like it. And if you're a fellow Facebookie already, see you on the Book.