Merry Christmas &
Happy Holidays

PLUG IN Pest Free December Newsletter

It’s starting to feel a lot like Christmas…So is the weather. Most of the U.S. will experience very cold temperatures across the country over the holiday period. For those traveling, please be well prepared and pack some extra patience with you, too. Expect delays, and take care on the roads. Icy conditions can turn deadly. Check weather apps and channels plus local road conditions before heading out. If flying, keep an eye on your flight for possible delays or cancelations.

No matter your beliefs, it’s hard not to see Santa Claus roaming around shopping centers and other establishments, maybe taking in a beer or two with fellow Santa helpers at famed pub crawls. So, what is the origin of Santa Claus, also known as Saint Nicholas? The legend can be traced back to around A.D. 280 in Myra, now known as modern day Turkey. Although, according tohttps://www.womansday.com/life/a37657570/how-old-is-santa/ Santa Claus is 1,751 years old this Christmas.

Saint Nicholas was admired for his piety and kindness, becoming the subject of many legends. It is said he gave away all his inherited wealth and traveled the countryside helping the sick and poor. Over the course of many years, Saint Nicholas’s popularity spread and he became known as the protector of children and sailors. His feast day is celebrated on the anniversary of his death, December 6. This was traditionally considered a lucky day to make large purchases or to get married. By the Renaissance, Saint Nicholas was the most popular saint in Europe. Even after the Protestant Reformation, when the veneration of saints began to be discouraged, Saint Nicholas maintained a positive reputation, especially in Holland.

Source for some of the information above came from https://www.history.com/topics/christmas/santa-claus

Shopping Mall Santa’s

The Perfect Pot Roast

• Salt and freshly ground black pepper
• One 3- to 5-pound chuck roast
• 2 or 3 tablespoons olive oil
• 2 whole onions, peeled and halved
• 6 to 8 whole carrots, unpeeled, cut into 2-inch pieces
• 1 cup red wine, optional
• 3 cups beef broth
• 2 or 3 sprigs fresh rosemary
• 2 or 3 sprigs fresh thyme

• All Purpose Flour or Corn Starch

1. Preheat the oven to 275 degrees F.
2. Generously salt and pepper the chuck roast.
3. Heat the olive oil in large pot or Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add the halved onions to the pot, browning them on both sides. Remove the onions to a plate.
4. Throw the carrots into the same very hot pot and toss them around a bit until slightly browned, about a minute or so. Reserve the carrots with the onions.
5. If needed, add a bit more olive oil to the very hot pot. Place the meat in the pot and sear it for about a minute on all sides until it is nice and brown all over. Remove the roast to a plate.
6. With the burner still on high, use either red wine or beef broth (about 1 cup) to deglaze the pot, scraping the bottom with a whisk. Place the roast back into the pot and add enough beef stock to cover the meat halfway.
7. Add in the onions and the carrots, along with the fresh herbs.
8. Put the lid on, then roast for 3 hours for a 3-pound roast. For a 4 to 5-pound roast, plan on 4 hours. The roast is ready when it’s fall-apart tender.

Happy Thanksgiving

PLUG IN Pest Free November Newsletter

November is here and Thanksgiving is near. Thanksgiving dates back to October 1621 when the pilgrims celebrated their first harvest in the New World. The Plymouth colonists and the Wampanoag shared an autumn harvest that is acknowledged today as one of the first Thanksgiving celebrations in the colonies. This feast lasted three days and was attended by 90 Wampanoag Native American people and 53 Pilgrims (survivors of the Mayflower). Thanksgiving has been celebrated for over two centuries since.

On Thursday November 26, 1789,  President George Washington issued a proclamation for “a day of public thanksgiving and prayer.” Beginning in 1863, President Abraham Lincoln encouraged Americans to recognize the last Thursday of November as “a day of Thanksgiving.” A few years later in 1870, Congress followed suit by passing legislation making Thanksgiving (along with Christmas Day, New Year’s Day, and Independence Day) a national holiday. However, unlike the other holidays in the bill, the President had the discretion to set the date for Thanksgiving. With few exceptions, each President until Franklin D. Roosevelt followed Lincoln’s lead by declaring the last Thursday of November a national day of thanks. President Roosevelt moved Thanksgiving to the third Thursday of November to extend the Christmas shopping season in order to help businesses still suffering from the lingering effects of the Great Depression. Despite widespread criticism from many who had grown accustomed to the tradition of celebrating Thanksgiving later in November, the President moved up the holiday again in 1940.

Many families try to spend their Thanksgiving with each other. This causes a surge in travel activities, whether by road, rail, or air. If you are traveling by road this year, please slow down and take care. Leave earlier than normal for your trip so you can take it easy out there on the road, allowing for traffic and other delays. This will help keep your patience in check. Don’t become an aggressor or victim of road rage! It’s truly not worth it. If you are traveling by air, expect delays and cancellations, especially if traveling to and from the northern states due to weather conditions. Over the years we have seen many winter weather events causing mass flight cancellations. Try to have a Plan B in place just in case.

Tip: Wear your comfortable stretchy pants for your Thanksgiving feast…

Black Friday Sales

• Businesses made an estimated $30 to $40 Billion in sales during the 2021 Black Friday
• Nearly 13% of all retail sales in the United States occur between Black Friday and Christmas
• 43% of Black Friday sales happened through mobile phones in 2021
• Shoppers spent $8.9 billion online during Black Friday in 2021
• There were 155 million shoppers in the United States on Black Friday in 2021

1. Do your research before time
2. Know where the items you want to purchase are located
3. List them in number of importance
4. Try to know how much inventory is being offered for the sale (some stores may limit items to a specific number for the sale)
5. Do your best to remain courteous and polite to other shoppers

Honey-Chipotle Glazed Turkey with Gravy

• 12- to 14-pound turkey, thawed if frozen, neck and giblets removed
• stick salted butter, at room temperature
• 2 tbsp. minced chipotle chiles in adobo sauce
• 1 tbsp. fresh oregano leaves, chopped, plus 2 sprigs
• 2 tsp. honey
• 1 tsp. ground cumin
• 2 garlic cloves, minced
• 1 small onion, quartered
• 1 tbsp. vegetable oil
• 1 tsp. kosher salt
• 1 tsp. black pepper
• 3 c. low-sodium chicken or turkey broth

• 1/4 c. orange juice
• 2 tbsp. adobo sauce (from the can of chipotles)
• 2 tbsp. honey

• 2-3 c. low-sodium chicken or turkey broth
• 1/2 c. dry white wine
• 2 tbsp. instant flour (such as Wondra)
• 1 tsp. adobo sauce (from the can of chipotles), optional

1. For the turkey: Preheat the oven to 350°. Place the turkey on a rack set in a roasting pan. Pat dry with paper towels.
2. Combine the butter, chipotles, chopped oregano, honey, cumin, and garlic in a small bowl and mix well. Gently loosen the skin from the turkey breast and legs with your fingers. Spread the butter mixture evenly under the skin. Stuff the onion and oregano sprigs in the cavity. Tuck in the wing tips and tie the legs together with twine. Rub the turkey all over with the vegetable oil and sprinkle with the salt and pepper. Pour the chicken broth into the bottom of the roasting pan.
3. Loosely cover the turkey with foil and roast for 1 hour. Remove the foil and roast until the skin is well browned and a thermometer inserted into the thickest part of the thigh registers 120°, about 1 more hour.
4. For the glaze: Whisk the orange juice, adobo sauce and honey in a small bowl. Pour half into a second small bowl and set aside. Brush the remaining glaze all over the turkey and continue roasting until the thermometer registers 160 ̊ in the thickest part of the thigh, about 30 minutes. Remove the turkey from the oven and brush with the reserved glaze. Transfer the turkey to a cutting board and let rest, at least 30 minutes.
5. For the gravy: Carefully strain the pan drippings into a large measuring cup. Spoon off as much fat from the top of the drippings as you can. Add enough broth to the drippings to equal 3 cups of liquid. Place the roasting pan over a burner set to medium-high heat. Add the wine and cook, scraping up the bits from the bottom of the pan with a wooden spoon, until reduced by two-thirds, 2 to 3 minutes. Add the drippings mixture to the roasting pan and bring to a simmer. Whisk in the instant flour until combined. Simmer until starting to thicken, about 2 minutes. Whisk in the adobo sauce, if desired. If the gravy is lumpy, strain through a fine-mesh sieve.
6. Carve the turkey and serve with the gravy.

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Back To School Month…
SLOW DOWN!!

PLUG IN Pest Free August newsletter

For many in the USA, it’s Back-to-School month. Most States have returned to school already. After a long summer, it can be easy to forget school zones during your morning or afternoon commute. So as a reminder, be vigilant, pay attention to posted school zone speed limits, and stop for school buses* when they are stopped with their safety lights flashing and stop sign extended. Those few seconds of trying to get around a stopped school bus* or speed through a school zone are not worth it. Kids are kids and will be kids. There is always the risk of a child running across the road without looking. So pay attention.

Today, school kids are more distracted than ever thanks to mobile devices and headphones. Parents and guardians don’t escape this either, as many are also observed being distracted by mobile devices in the car. In addition, some drivers continue to practice unsafe driving methods, such as double parking or stopped in the middle of crosswalks, dropping kids off across the road from the school, or use unsafe drop-off and pick-up methods.

Morning and afternoon school hours are always going to cause traffic congestion. We all want to get our kids dropped off and picked up safely from school. A little patience can go a long way. Be courteous to other drivers around you, don’t be aggressive or force your way into a line when others have waited their time. Be mindful of your surroundings, and PUT DOWN MOBILE DEVICES!! Tickets issued by the police may have an impact on your driver’s insurance premiums.

Let’s get our kids to and from school safely this year and let’s reduce the number of injuries and fatalities.

*Check the school bus laws in your State.

Here We Go Again, New York City!

1. Ensure to secure trash cans tightly to avoid rodents climbing and gaining access, or trash falling out if toppled.
2. Keep trash areas clean and hose around them often. Hosing down trash areas also helps reducing foul odors associated with waste.
3. Consider spraying natural deterrents around trash areas like mint, vinegar, cayenne pepper etc.

Spinach & Ricotta Tortelloni Salad with Cherry Tomatoes, Arugula & Pine Nuts

• 1/4 cup good quality extra-virgin olive oil
• 3 tablespoons freshly squeezed lemon juice
• 1/2 cup shredded fresh basil leaves
• 1/4 cup finely chopped shallot
• 1 clove large clove garlic
• 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
• 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
• 2 cups cherry tomatoes
• 1 package BUITONI Refrigerated Spinach & Ricotta Tortelloni (20 oz.)
• 2 cups baby arugula, kale or spinach leaves
• 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese (optional)
• 1/4 cup pine nuts

1. Whisk oil, lemon juice, basil, shallot, garlic, salt and pepper in large bowl. Add tomatoes; toss to coat.
2. Prepare pasta according to package directions; drain then add to bowl with tomato mixture. Toss gently to coat. Cover loosely with plastic wrap; refrigerate for 30 minutes or until at room temperature.
3. Add arugula, cheese and pine nuts to bowl with pasta; toss to coat.

HAPPY INDEPENDENCE DAY…

PLUG IN Pest Free July newsletter

Independence Day, also commonly referred to as the 4th of July, is arguably the most patriotic day on the calendar. Most people know (or should know) Independence Day (the 4th of July) dates all the way back to 1776. So, what brought this day to come about?

Prior to 1776, America was part of Great Britain, now known as the United Kingdom. In the 1600’s people would travel from Great Britain to settle in what we know today as North America. From 1607 to 1732, the British founded 13 colonies: Virginia, New York, Massachusetts, Maryland, Rhode Island, Connecticut, New Hampshire, Delaware, North Carolina, South Carolina, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Georgia.

As these colonies grew, the people who lived there thought the British government treated them unfairly. For instance, they had to allow British soldiers to stay in their homes and had to pay taxes on items such as tea. The colonists were not happy having to follow these laws and rebelled. As a result, the Revolutionary War between the colonists and Great Britain began in 1775.

The colonists decided they needed to declare their independence in writing to explain their reasons and gain support from other countries like France. On July 4, 1776, a small group of representatives from the colonies – called the Continental Congress, adopted the Declaration of Independence.

Written by a committee led by Thomas Jefferson and signed by people from all 13 colonies, it was initially rejected by the British government. This led the colonists to continue their fight for independence until they defeated Great Britain in 1783.

Today, the Declaration of Independence is housed under heavy security at the National Archives in Washington D.C. This document is recognized around the world as an important message of self-governance and human rights. The second sentence of the declaration reads: that all people are created equally and have rights that include life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.

FIREWORKS SAFETY

• Keep a bucket of water or water hose on and ready to put out duds
• Soak fireworks before throwing them away.
• Keep lighters, matches, and fireworks away from young children to avoid unintentional burns.
• Do not drink alcohol. It slows reaction time and affects judgement.

Chipotle Chili Dogs

• 6 hotdogs
• 1/2 pound ground beef
• 1/4 cup chopped onion
• 1 garlic clove, minced
• 1 can (8 ounces) tomato sauce
• 2-1/2 teaspoons minced chipotle peppers in adobo sauce
• 3/4 teaspoon chili powder
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/8 teaspoon pepper
• 6 hotdog buns, split
• 3/4 cup shredded cheddar cheese
• 2 green onions, chopped

1. Cook hot dogs according to package directions. Meanwhile, in a large cast-iron or other heavy skillet, cook the beef, onion and garlic over medium heat until meat is no longer pink; drain. Stir in the tomato sauce, chipotle peppers, chili powder, salt and pepper. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat; simmer, uncovered, until flavors are blended, 4-5 minutes.
2. Place hot dogs in buns. Spoon chili over hot dogs. Sprinkle with cheese and green onions.

A: (Stephen) Grover Cleveland was the 22nd President of the United States. Grover Cleveland was also the 24th President of the United States and to date, the only President in history to serve two non-consecutive terms in office. Is this history about to change?

LOS ANGELES
THE CITY OF ANGELS
OR RATS?

PLUG IN Pest Free May newsletter

In 2021, Los Angeles was named the second most rattiest city in the United States for the second year in a row according to Orkin*. Chicago still took the #1 spot as the most rattiest city in the United States, followed by New York after L.A., Washington D.C. and San Francisco to round out the top five cities.

As life gets back to normal post pandemic, and with recent explosions in homeless populations throughout the city, these factors among others have contributed to a rapid expansion of rats throughout Los Angeles. Not only has the rodent population expanded, but growth in new areas have also been noted geographically. Due to many restaurant closures during the lockdowns, rodents were forced to scavenge new areas in search for food. It was previously reported by the CDC rodents are displaying aggressive behavior caused by the disruption of covid related events.

As we enter summer, California (and other States) can expect wildfires like every year. Those living on the fringe of forests, national parks and wide open land subject to wildfires may also experience an influx of rodents gaining entry to their homes or businesses. Wildfires can push rodents and other wildlife forward to escape the burning vegetation. Resorting to baited traps is something we do not recommend, as baits and other scented enticements may attract more attention due to rodent’s acute sense of smell. Our patented PLUG IN Pest Free technology is 100% pesticide free utilizing the exiting low-level electromagnetic field already present along the active electrical wiring within your premises. PLUG IN Pest Free has No Fumes, No Smell, No Fuss, No Mess and is maintenance free for long-term rodent and pest control. For more information, please check our website at GoPestFree.com.

*Source: https://abc7.com/rattiest-city-los-angeles-exterminator-company-orkin-near-me/11194234/

Wildfire Preparedness Tips

Is your home or business at greater risk to wildfires? If yes, are you prepared in the event a wildfire nears? With some preparedness tips, it could make the difference between saving your asset or even your life!

Don’t wait until you see smoke! Be prepared even before a fire starts. For example;

In and Around Your Home:

• Clear leaves and other debris from gutters, eaves, porches and decks. This prevents embers from igniting your home or business.
• Remove dead vegetation and other items from under your home, deck or porch, and keep a good cleared perimeter of 10ft around your home or business.
• Consider using wire mesh to screen in areas under your home, porches or decks to prevent debris and combustible materials from accumulating.
• Keep trees trimmed and prevent tree branches touching your home. Keeping trees trimmed and branches off your home is a good rodent prevention tip as well.
• Keep your lawn well hydrated and maintained. Brown dry grass and shrubs can fuel fires.
• Learn more how to protect your home and property at www.FireWise.org.

Create an Emergency Plan:

• Prepare an emergency supply kit and have it ready to go at a moments notice. Your kit should include essential items such as clothes, shoes, toiletries, first-aid kit, batteries, flashlight, charge leads etc.
• Prepare important documents and irreplaceable items such as photo albums, heirlooms and jewelry, but ensure you are able to easily carry all items you wish to take.
• Consider placing other items you can’t take in a fireproof safe (check the fire rating).
• Prepare an emergency evacuation plan with at least two exit routes. Ensure all members of your household or business know this plan well, and have a designated meeting place in case of separation.
• Learn more about emergency preparedness planning on NFPA’s emergency planning webpage https://www.nfpa.org/Public-Education/Staying-safe/Preparedness/Emergency-Preparedness

In the event a fire nears your property, evacuate immediately to a safe place and leave the firefighting to the firefighters. Remember, material possessions can be replaced, but lives can’t!

*Source: https://www.nfpa.org/Public-Education/Fire-causes-and-risks/Wildfire/Wildfire-safety-tips

Gordon Ramsay’s
Smoky Mountain Breakfast
from Scrambled