Broadcaster Press 6 June 27, 2017www.broadcasteronline.com Fourth Of July Barbecue Essentials The 4th of July is fast approaching and revelers across the nation are preparing to toast their independence with family and friends. For many Americans, backyard barbecues are synonymous with the Fourth of July, a day that, in the United States of America, commemorates the adoption of the Declaration of Independence by the Second Continental Congress on July 4, 1776. Precious few Americans can say they have not been present at a 4th of July barbecue or witnessed a fireworks display honoring America’s official declaration of independence from Great Britain. Hosting a July 4th barbecue for the first time may have some hosts anxious about throwing a summer soiree to remember, but fun is sure to be had if hosts remember to include the following backyard barbecue essentials this Independence Day. Food: No Fourth of July barbecue is complete without food, so hosts should be sure to stock up on popular barbecue fare like hot dogs and hamburgers. Though such foods likely won’t be mistaken for gourmet fare anytime soon, Fourth of July revelers often embrace the tradition of grilling up some hot dogs and hamburgers even if they tend to avoid such foods throughout the rest of the year. Hosts should not feel pressured to provide gourmet fare on July 4th, but it is a thoughtful gesture to ask guests in advance if they have any food allergies or need to avoid certain foods for other reasons. Beverages: It goes without saying that guests will need refreshing beverages at parties held in early July, but be sure to stock up on a variety of beverages so guests are not forced to consume drinks they don’t want. Be sure to have plenty of water available to guests, and provide sodas, iced tea and lemonade as well. Offer alcoholic beverages to adult guests, but don’t go overboard stocking up on alcohol, as that Did You Know? might encourage guests to overindulge. Games: Backyard barbecues are most fun when guests are entertained, so plan to have some games available for guests of all ages. Encourage guests to bring a change of clothes or swimsuits if games will involve water or something that might soil their clothing. If you have a pool, purchase some pool games so swimmers can do more than just wade in the water or take a few laps. Plan a Wiffle ball game for kids and dig some horseshoe pits or buy a ring toss set so adults can engage in some friendly competition as well. Safety: Though no one wants to think of a 4th of July celebration taking a turn for the worst, hosts must prepare for emergencies. Restock the first-aid kit if necessary and keep a constant eye on guests, especially children, to ensure everyone is having a safe and happy time. Program a list of local taxi companies into your phone so you can easily call for transportation should any guests have too much to drink during the festivities. Hosts should abstain from alcohol so they can serve as designated driver should the need arise at the end of the night. Backyard barbecues are a staple of July 4th, and there’s no reason your summer soiree can’t be one to remember for years to come. Sparklers Pose A Safety Risk, Too Fireworks tend to be most prevalent during the summertime. Elaborate pyrotechnic displays may be part of Independence Day celebrations or other special events. Individuals also may set off fireworks to light up the night skies for private parties. Although parents will warn children against going too close to fireworks, many do not share the same apprehension about sparklers. Sparklers are thin metal rods that have been dipped in a special, flammable pyrotechnic substance and allowed to dry. When lit, a sparkler will throw off, as the name implies, sparks of twinkling light until the sparkler is extinguished. Sparklers may seem safe for little hands, but like other fireworks, sparklers can be dangerous. A sparkler can reach 3,662 F (2,000 C) when lit. That is 20 times the boiling point of water, a level of heat that is enough to melt steel. In fact, three sparklers burning together can generate the same amount of heat as a blow torch. The Consumer Product Safety Commission says roughly 240 people visit the emergency room every day in the month of July with fireworksrelated injuries. Common sense should prevail whenever anyone is handling sparklers. If children are allowed to hold sparklers, it should only be under close adult supervision. Other safety tips can help ensure events where sparklers are being used remain injury-free. • Sparklers should be stored in cool, dry places until they are used. • Leather gloves can protect hands while sparklers are being lit and held. • Do not light and hold more than one sparkler at a time. • Sparklers can stay hot for a while after they have been extinguished. Put the hot end down into a bucket of water when finished. • Sparklers may not be legal where you live. Know the laws before purchasing sparklers or other fireworks. • Children under the age of five should never be given sparklers to hold, nor should adults hold a lit sparkler while holding a baby. Glow sticks are safer alternatives for young kids. • Hold sparklers at arms’ length to avoid burns. • Do not bring sparklers to public events, as sparklers amid large crowds can pose a safety risk. • Do not wave or run with lit sparklers. Sparklers may seem like safe alternatives to more traditional fireworks. But it’s important to exercise caution with sparklers, especially when young children are nearby. The Fourth of July has been a federal holiday since 1941. Though that may seem like a long time for the country to wait to celebrate the independence it declared in 1776, the tradition of the Fourth of July, often referred to as Independence Day, dates back to the dawn of the American Revolution and the adoption of the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776. Since then, July 4th has been recognized as the dawn of American independence, and celebrations that included fireworks and 1776 Declaration of Independence •It took Thomas Jefferson 17 days to write the Declaration of Independence. •On July 2, 1776, Congress voted to declare independence from Great Britain. •On July 4, 1776, Congress voted to accept the Declaration of Independence, marking July 4 as Independence Day. 1789 George Washington Elected First President of USA 1860 Pony Express Began 1886 Statue of Liberty Dedicated • A tablet held in her left hand measures 23’ 7” tall and 13’ 7” wide inscribed with the date JULY IV MDCCLXXVI (July 4, 1776) 1889 South Dakota Became a State 1903 First World Series •The 1903 World Series was the first modern World Series to be played in Major League Baseball. The Boston Americans of the American League beat the Pittsburgh Pirates of the National League. 1908 Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Established 1931 Empire State Building Opened 1967 First Super Bowl •On January 15, 1967, the Green Bay Packers of the National Football League (NFL) beat the American Football League (AFL)’s Kansas City Chiefs, 35-10, in the first-ever AFL-NFL World Championship. 1969 Neil Armstrong and “Buzz” Aldrin Walked on the Moon 1973 First Mobile Phone Call Made •On April 3, 1973, Motorola employee Martin Cooper stood in midtown Manhattan and placed a call to the headquarters of Bell Labs in New Jersey. 2004 Facebook Was Founded 2017 July 4: Celebrating America! Mart Auto Body & Marine Full Service Marine Retailer & Body Shop HENDERSON’S Ultimate Car Washes (605) 624-6904 807 Princeton St Two Locations Open 24 Hours 815 Princeton St 921 E Cherry St celebrating 1122 West Main • Vermillion 605.6243814 Have a Safe & Happy 4th of July! 201 W. Cherry, Vermillion, SD 301 W. Main • 605-624-2481 Happy 4th Of July! 113 W. Main St. • Vermillion • 624-2655 parades can be traced back to the 18th century. On July 4, 1777, the city of Philadelphia, which would become the first capital of the United States of America, held the first annual commemoration of American independence, and exactly one year later George Washington ordered that all of his soldiers be offered double rations of rum to commemorate the anniversary. In 1781, Massachusetts was the first state to make July 4th an official state holiday, and the day was actually declared a federal holiday by the U.S. Congress in 1870. However, that declaration did not grant a paid holiday to federal employees. That benefit came in 1941, which is why that year is now recognized as the first year when the Fourth of July officially became a federal holiday. www.broadcasteronline.com 605-624-4429 Johnson ElEctric, inc. 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