Skip to main content
x

Don’t Discount the Value of Donations to Our Troops

(NewsUSA) - Over the last decade, America has been fortunate to avoid major conflict overseas. However, thousands of American military troops are currently deployed around the world, on active-duty service in more than 100 countries. These troops, though not in the public eye, perform missions that are critical to protecting our way of life and making the world a safer place.     

American troops often need support in the form of critical supplies to stay safe and perform at their best. In some cases, troops lack new equipment to update obsolete models, or they can’t get what they need because of contract issues, supply chain glitches, or other administrative hurdles.     

Troops Direct fills the gaps, with a team organized to respond to the requests of our military and provide an ongoing supply of hygiene products, nutrition, medical supplies and operational gear necessary for troops to perform their duties and save lives.     

Troops Direct has no political agenda. Instead, the organization’s goal is to empower and protect the heroes who make the world a safer place for all every day.     Unlike other charities that supply care packages and comforts from home, the Troops Direct unique ‘on demand’ model delivers U.S. service members exactly what they need in the areas of medical, tactical, communications, K9 or disaster response, shipped to wherever they require it in a matter of days, which can make a dramatic impact on the lives and successes of soldiers in the field.     

Items sent by Troops Direct include replacement uniforms and footwear, land mine threat mitigation, medical kits, K-9 care, parachute rigging equipment, sleeping systems, tactical belts, nutritional staples, tourniquets and stretchers.     

“This model has a near-real-time response rate to troop requests, and the feedback from our troops conveys the saving of lives and limbs and the success of missions,” says Aaron Negherbon, Founder and Executive Director of Troops Direct. “Troops Direct has helped save lives across the country and throughout the world due to generous support of public and private donations,” he emphasizes.     

Troops Direct is funded entirely by donations, with no charge to the troops, and provides supplies to members of any and all branches of military service, anywhere in the world.     

Visit www.troopsdirect.org for more information.

BookTrib’s Bites: Gripping Stories, Ghosts, A Child’s Friendsgiving

(NewsUSA) -  

The Music We Make“The Music We Make”
by Michelle Rene DeBellis         

“An electric whirlwind of every type of emotion.”-Reedsy.com    

Grieving an accident that takes his mother’s life, Santiago DeAngelo succumbs to opiates and receives inspiration from his late mother for a song to heal him. As he struggles to write it, he falls into a love triangle with two women who inspire the music, one of which seduces him into a shot at fame.  

But when both relationships suffer betrayal, DeAngelo must decide the value of his life in a moment that may end it. “The Music We Make” explores the power of love and music to overcome our demons and live from our hearts.

Purchase at https://amzn.to/3gKhYaO.

Death March Escape – Author Pays Tribute to Dad, 25,000 Prisoners“Death March Escape – Author Pays Tribute to Dad, 25,000 Prisoners”  

In “Death March Escape,” author Jack Hersch tells the incredible story of his father’s two escapes from Nazi death marches in the final months of the Second World War. His father’s feat was so remarkable that Jack recently traveled to Enns, Austria -- the site of the escapes near Mauthausen Concentration Camp -- to speak at the dedication of a memorial commemorating them, as well as memorializing the 25,000 emaciated prisoners who passed through Enns on those marches.   In an emotionally riveting story, Jack’s book details his father’s year in Mauthausen and both escapes. Jack digs deeply into his father’s life and his own, revisiting and reflecting on his father’s time at the hands of the Nazis, when even mere survival was an impossible challenge.

Purchase at  http://jackhersch.com.

The Ghosts of Lewis Manor“The Ghosts of Lewis Manor”
by Marcia Maidana  

Seraphina must choose the lesser of two evils -- the ghosts that haunt her or the murderer who hunts her. Born with a rare ability -- or curse--Seraphina can see and hear the dead. During the early days of the London Blitz, she is confronted with hundreds of lost souls wandering the streets.  

As the war escalates, her parents send her away to the home of an old friend in the English countryside to preserve her sanity. But there are monsters lurking in the hallways and the surrounding woods of the mansion -- not all of them ghosts.  

Seraphina must use her gift to help solve the gruesome mysteries of Lewis Manor’s past in order to prevent her own murder in the present.

Purchase at https://amzn.to/3xifZzW.

Mrs. Rabbit’s Friendsgiving Dinner“Mrs. Rabbit’s Friendsgiving Dinner”
by Carole P. Roman  

Mrs. Rabbit’s large family is all too busy to come home for their annual holiday dinner. She is feeling a bit lonely and, out of habit, she prepares a large feast. But to her growing dismay, she realizes she has no one to share it with.   Her doorbell rings, and one by one, her furry forest critter friends ask to join her. Soon enough, her holiday table is brimming with tasty dishes. The best part of a holiday dinner, she learns, is not the food but the company that shares it with you. A wonderful holiday tale for children primarily ages four to seven, from noted children’s author Carole P. Roman.

Purchase at https://amzn.to/3xpONPX.

NOTE: BookTrib’s Bites is presented by Booktrib.com.

“A PERFECT 10” Features 10 Proven, Scrumptious Recipes for Thanksgiving

(NewsUSA) - “Over the river and through the woods, to Tim Mulligan’s house we go.” That’s what it will feel like this Thanksgiving for families that tap into the self-taught home cook’s 10 mouth-watering Thanksgiving recipes.

Everything from Hummingbird Cake to Gramma’s Gumdrop Bread to Caramel Apple Salad, they are all part of Mulligan’s ever-popular cookbook, A PERFECT 10: Ten Scrumptious Recipes for Each Part of Every Meal. All told, the book offers 70 tried-and-true recipes, curated over the decades – the “Perfect 10” for each meal category and, of course, Thanksgiving – that could become your new go-to dishes for years to come.

“A PERFECT 10” Features  10 Proven, Scrumptious Recipes for Thanksgiving"My goal is to pull from my long-curated treasure chest of recipes, and share the best of the bunch, for each meal period -- making your life easier and eliminating your having to wade through cookbooks and websites when you are in a bind,” says Mulligan.

Mulligan has worked for years in restaurants and has put in more than the 10,000 hours necessary to achieve family cooking expertise. In A PERFECT 10, he provides 10 fail-proof recipes for seven distinct meal periods from breakfast to appetizers and sides, to salads, entrees, desserts and a Thanksgiving menu that will finally win you the respect of your in-laws.

His unique and tempting Thanksgiving menu includes:

• Hummingbird Cake: A banana-pineapple spice cake with origins in Jamaica but upping the ante with “blackened” bananas.

• Stovetop Green Bean Casserole: A classic but slightly updated, with cayenne and fried shallots.

• Tim’s Tried and True Stuffing: A to-die-for Thanksgiving essential with apricots, apples and pecans. Don’t be surprised if it rivals the turkey.

• Not Your Grandmother’s Creamed Corn: Turns creamed corn on its head, with Ritz crackers all over the top.

• Caramel Apple Salad: Cool Whip, pineapple tidbits, mini-marshmallows – kids will go nuts and it will make your grandma proud.

• Orangey-Appley Cranberry Relish: A fresh, vibrant alternative, the perfect side dish and great on sandwiches the next day.

• Grandma’s Gumdrop Bread: When is bread also dessert? When it’s a delightful combination of dinner rolls and candy gumdrops with a boozy eggnog glaze.

• Judy’s Mashed Sweet Potatoes: Just smooth and creamy mashed sweet potatoes with lemon, vanilla, and maple hints, covered in delectable pecan-brown sugar topping.

• Mashed Potatoes with Shallots: A multitude of random ingredients from garlic to Dijon mustard to horseradish to sour cream to kale.

• Best Turkey of All Time: With hints of apple and tarragon, Mulligan takes a totally nontraditional approach to top all the others.

Whether staying at home or looking for the perfect dish to bring to friends for the holidays, A PERFECT 10 will fire up your excitement to get cooking, knowing that Mulligan has handed you the perfect blueprint to a truly great meal.

A PERFECT 10 makes the perfect holiday gift not just for Thanksgiving but for the entire Christmas season. Purchase the book on Amazon - https://amzn.to/3TOC9TP - and other popular retailers where books are sold.

A PERFECT 10 is the debut cookbook for Mulligan, a longtime human resources executive who lives in Los Angeles and Palm Springs with his partner Sean and their two children. To learn more, including details on recipes, visit www.aperfect10cookbook.com.

(Resubmitted 11/16/2022)

BookTrib’s Bites: Four Great Yarns for a Crisp Fall Night

(NewsUSA) -  

The Midnight Call“The Midnight Call”
by Jode Millman       

Who would ever suspect that their mentor, teacher and friend is a cold-blooded killer? Attorney Jesse Martin didn’t -- at least not until she answers the midnight call.  

Late one August night, her mentor and popular high school teacher, Terrence Butterfield, calls, admits he's killed someone and pleads for Jessie's help. She rushes to his aid, unaware that she’s risking her love, career, life and that of her unborn child. Does Jessie’s presence at Terrance’s home implicate her in the gruesome murder of the teenage boy found in the basement? Why does Terrance betray Jessie? Follow Jessie’s quest to untangle the web of lies and uncover the shocking truth behind the homicide.

Purchase this new revamped edition at https://amzn.to/3R2Wjsf.

Pandemonium: Live to All Devices“Pandemonium: Live to All Devices”
by Bill Harvey  

From an Emmy Award-winning author, an all-too-possible near future in which the latest media/technology revolution triggers sudden unprecedented changes in world politics.  

Twenty years in the future ... a U.S. president seizes total control of all U.S. missiles, the power grid, the banking system, and every computer-like device in America, as he hides in a nuke-proof bunker while a robot version of himself sits in the Oval Office.  

Five psychic agents belong to a cosmic intelligence not of this Earth -- this is their hidden connection. They are up against Rebels in a hidden war. With the President under their control, the Rebel leader is hatching a plan to start WWIII. With the scope of Asimov and the prescience of Bradbury, Bill Harvey makes the greats proud.  

Purchase at https://amzn.to/3AKlXMg.

Grady Whill and the Templeton Codex“Grady Whill and the Templeton Codex”
by Carole P. Roman  

Templeton Academy -- the superhero high school -- is finally open. The prestigious academy is recruiting the best of the best to enroll in its student body. The school is as mysterious as it is exclusive. Grady Whill thinks there is nothing special about him to make the grade. However, his best friend, Aarush Patel, has been selected and thinks Grady has the right stuff. Even school bully Elwood Bledsoe is attending.    

If Grady is fortunate enough to be picked, his guardian has forbidden him to attend. Will a family secret prevent Grady from becoming the superhero he was destined to be? From Carole P. Roman, the award-winning author of more than 50 children’s books, targeted for readers from 8 to 18 years.

Purchase at https://amzn.to/3bzTXRm.

Breaking Arrows“Breaking Arrows”
by Luis Figueredo  

An eight-year-old Indian child is dead. The innocent boy’s death is cruel, torturous and needless. Jeremiah Tiger, chief of the Kialegee Tribe, realizes he must fight for his impoverished tribe against the State of Oklahoma and the wealthy and influential Muscogee Nation.    

The battle is seemingly unwinnable. Jeremiah’s only option is to develop a tract of land in Broken Arrow that the Muscogee Nation claims to own.    

Jeremiah brings in tenacious attorney Pierce Evangelista to prove the Kialegees’ treaty rights to the land. Evangelista suspects that the Kialegee will struggle to withstand the blowback and unscrupulous tactics of Oklahoma politicians, the Muscogee Nation, and the Bureau of Indian Affairs. Jeremiah and Pierce face legal, unethical, and life-threatening conflicts. And the outcome will affect many people for generations to come.

Purchase at https://amzn.to/3LD1QmQ.

NOTE: BookTrib’s Bites is presented by Booktrib.com.

aspara: Try a Smart Way to Grow Your Garden

(NewsUSA) - Want an easy way to add fresh vegetables and herbs to your diet? Indoor hydroponic grower systems are a great way to eat more healthfully. The advanced technology in today’s systems makes it simple and satisfying to grow a garden at home even if you don’t have a green thumb—you don’t even need a yard.     

Other benefits of indoor hydroponic gardens: they are pollution-free, chemical-free, and care-free. No need to worry about how much and when to water; the smart sensors in today’s high-tech indoor gardens control automated watering. LED grow lights adjust to the right amount of light, so you can place your miniature greenhouse anywhere in your home. Research suggests that these smart indoor systems can grow hydroponic plants approximately 50% faster than they would grow outside, with nearly a third increase in yield. The aspara hydroponic Smart Grower from Growgreen is designed to grow vegetables, fruits, herbs, and flowers in your home, without worrying about dirt, pests, or weather.     

The aspara Growgreen device is engineered with the latest Internet of Things (IoT) wireless capabilities, and features its own app with guidelines for planting, as well as for remote monitoring and sharing progress with family and friends. The minimalist design blends into the aesthetics of any room.     

“We are thrilled to officially introduce aspara into the U.S. market - the ultimate ‘green thumb’ aid that enables users the ability to watch beautiful vegetables, herbs, fruits or flowers come to life, regardless of the season,” says Dr. Humphrey Leung, Founder and CEO of Growgreen. “We are committed to applying innovative technology and environmentally-friendly measures that enhance indoor planting, while also encouraging a healthy living lifestyle and solution that is good for the planet and society on a whole.” The team behind Growgreen includes passionate professionals from the agriculture and electronics fields who apply technology to enhance planting.     

The aspara kit also comes with a unique membership to the aspara Club, which offers one-to-one support, along with updates and information on seeds, plants, and seasonal promotions. The aspara device is now available on Amazon (https://amzn.to/3QPUHjX), and also other retailers in North America including Lowe’s, Bed Bath & Beyond, Target, Macy’s, Wayfair, Kohl’s, HSN, Walmart, QVC and at www.grow-green.com/shop.     

For additional information, visit www.grow-green.com.  

Marine Toys for Tots Celebrates 75 Years of Delivering Hope

(NewsUSA) - This holiday season, the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve Toys for Tots Program celebrates its 75th year of delivering hope and joy to children in need across the Nation. U.S. Marines and volunteers will conduct more than 830 local toy collection and distribution campaigns in all 50 states, Washington, D.C., Puerto Rico, Guam, and U.S. Virgin Islands. In honor of the anniversary, Toys for Tots will highlight our extraordinary Reserve Marines, past and present, and show how the generosity from communities across the Nation has enabled Toys for Tots to support more than 281 million children in need.     

Every campaign season, Marines and volunteers engage with local businesses, media, and individuals in communities across the country to collect new, unwrapped toys and distribute these gifts to less fortunate children.     

“The mission of Marine Toys for Tots is to bring the joy of Christmas to less fortunate children with the goal of delivering a message of hope that will inspire youngsters to grow into responsible, productive, patriotic citizens,” says Lieutenant General Jim Laster, USMC (Retired), President & CEO of the Marine Toys for Tots Foundation. “Now, in Toys for Tots’ 75th year, we are asking our supporters to make this important milestone another record-breaking year. It is our goal to deliver the magic of the holidays to every family seeking holiday help from Marine Toys for Tots,” he adds.     

The Marine Toys for Tots Program began in 1947 at the helm of Marine Corps Reserve Major Bill Hendricks and his wife, Diane, who asked Major Hendricks to deliver some handcrafted dolls to an agency that supported children in need. When he could not find such an agency, Diane encouraged her husband to “start one.” That year, Major Hendricks and the Marines in his local Reserve unit collected more than 5,000 toys to deliver to children in need in the Los Angeles area -- conducting the first Toys for Tots campaign.     

Seeing the impact that delivering toys to children in need had created around the community, the following year, the Commandant of the Marine Corps, General Clifton B. Cates, directed every Marine Corps Reserve unit to implement a Toys for Tots campaign-- which transformed Toys for Tots into a National Community Action Program.     

Last year, the Program fulfilled the holiday hopes and dreams of 8.7 million less fortunate children in over 830 communities Nationwide. Now, in our 75th year, the Marine Corps Reserve Toys for Tots Program also provides support year-round to families experiencing challenges and exceptional circumstances, thus providing assistance to millions of children in need across the country at Christmas time and beyond. Help Toys for Tots provide hope and joy this holiday season to millions of impoverished children who otherwise might go without.  After all, anyone can be Santa!     

This year’s holiday campaign season kicks off on November 1 and goes through December 25. Visit toysfortots.org for more information or to find a campaign near you. Learn how you can help the Marine Toys for Tots Program bring hope and joy to children in need across the Nation!