© 2009 Universal Press Syndicate HOUSTON CHRONICLE BETTY DEBNAM —Founding Editorand EditoratLarge Saturday, June 27, 200 9 Buzz! Bang! from The Mini Page © 2009 Universal Press Syndicate Safe Fun With Fireworks This week, our country celebrates its After the shells are 233rd birthday. Many of us will honor designed, they’re wrapped in brown Independence Day with cookouts, paper that’s been reunions and fireworks. soaked in paste. The Mini Page talked with a famous When they dry, they family in fireworks,the Grucci family, form hard cases for about how these awesome explosions are the fireworks. made and displayed. We also review some rules for being safe when using fireworks Making them fly at home. Next, the shells get a lift charge, The fireworks idea Inc. which carries the firework up into the Grucci

The beautiful displays by sky.The pyrotechnician also adds a time that we watch on special fuse,which explodes the firework. This eworks occasions start with an Fir fuse lets him control how long after

idea. A fireworks courtesy launch the firework will explode. designer might see a photos Putting it all together flower or a tree that The Washington Monument was surrounded sparks an idea for by a rainbow of color at the second Once the shells are ready,they’re inauguration of President George W. Bush. making a firework. loaded into mortars ,metal tubes used to Fireworks designers use a wide range of launch the fireworks.Mortars may be Once the design is in chemicals to create different colors, including place, pyrotechnicians* (PIE-roh-tehk- lime green and turquoise. arranged in batteries ,wooden frames NISH-uns) can begin to build the firework. that hold several mortars in place. Into a shell Some pyrotechnicians may fire the * Pyro comes from the Greek word pur, meaning fire. A technician is someone who is The next step is creating a shell . shells by hand. Today, most fireworks are an expert in details of a certain subject. These paper cases may hold many stars attached to an electrical circuit. When the or comets,cylinder-shaped fireworks technician gives a signal, the circuit Start with stars that make long streaks across the sky. turns on a firing device,much like you The small, hard balls that make the The pyrotechnician places the stars or turn on a light in your house. lights we see in a fireworks display are comets into the shell in a pattern. For Computers are also used to launch called stars .These marble-sized balls are instance,asmiley face with a red smile, fireworks,especially those that are made out of black powder that’s rolled blue eyes and an orange nose will appear choreographed (KOR-ee-oh-graffed), or into a tight ball. The ball also includes an in that same pattern when the shell arranged, to music. oxidizer (OX-ih-dize-er), which makes explodes.The shell may be only 6 inches The Mini Page thanks Phil Grucci, executive the powder burn bright, and salts or in diameter,but the display might be as vice president of Fireworks by Grucci Inc., for metals that give the star its color. large as a football field in the sky! help with this story. from The Mini Page © 2009 Universal Press Syndicate Fireworks history Fireworks Words Today, the fireworks shows we watch may be controlled by high-tech Fireworks experts use some special • Peony — a star that bursts from computer equipment. They sometimes words when they talk about their craft. the center without trailing glitter. have music that plays along with the • Aerial — a firework that explodes • Salutes — loud, repeated booms. explosions. high in the sky. • Set pieces — But fireworks have been a part of • Battery — fireworks that are celebrations for centuries.In many a wooden case attached to wooden ways,fireworks haven’t changed much. that holds one grids on the Most experts agree that the Chinese or more ground. They might probably invented fireworks more than mortars. make a picture or 1,000 years ago.Colonists from England spell out words. and Europe may have brought them • Break — the explosion of an aerial when they settled in America. shell. • Shell — hard paper cases that are “Illuminations,” the Colonists’ word • Chrysanthemum — a round burst round or cylinder- for fireworks,were used at the celebration of stars that keeps its shape before shaped. These are of the new country on July 4, 1776. fading.It can be several colors or the actual fireworks. change color. • Spider web — At the first • Comet — a ring of stars that a bright center with inauguration of President shoots out a long stream of glitter. distinct lines Grover • Illuminations — fireworks that shooting out from it. Cleveland in explode nearer to the ground. • Strobe — flashing silver lights 1885, fireworks that float slowly to the ground. were part of the • Magazine — a metal or concrete celebration in building used to store fireworks. • Weeping Washington, • Mortar — willow — stars D.C. This that trail down, drawing of the steel or plastic festivities pipes that hold looking like a appeared in a the shells until weeping willow magazine they are shot up tree. called Harper’s. into the sky.

courtesy Library of Congress

from The Mini Page © 2009 Universal Press Syndicate from The Mini Page © 2009 Universal Press Syndicate TM TM B rown B asset TRY ’N N ews Mini Spy.. . The s Fireworks H ound’ FIND Mini Spy loves watching July Fourth fireworks with her friends. Words that remind us of fireworks are hidden in the block below. Some See if you can find: • number 7 • safety pin • letter A words are hidden backward or diagonally, and some letters are used twice. • peanut See if you can find: INDEPENDENCE, PYROTECHNICIAN, STAR, BATTERY, BOOM, MORTAR, COMET, OXIDIZER, FUN, COMPUTER, • word MINI CHOREOGRAPH, ILLUMINATION, CHINA, DANGER, SAFE, SUPERVISE, • flyswatter CELEBRATE, FUSE. • sailboat EKBNOI TANIMU LLI HAVE A • coffeepot BANG-UP ZTCOMPUTERATSJD • number 3 FOURTH! CGAVHESIVREPUSA • dog’s face CHOREOGRAPHKAWN • key TL IYBA TTERYFUNG • heart FE INDEPENDENCEE • number 8 UBMGAJ LDVMOR TAR • letter D SMOOBKREZ IDIXOQ • letter E ENAICINHCETORYP TM Go dot to dot and color. Rookie Cookie’s Recipe Pineapple Pudding Cake You’ll need: • 1 box yellow cake mix • 2 cups reduced-fat milk • 3 whole eggs • 1 tub fat-free whipped topping • 1 large can crushed pineapple (with juice) • 1 cup shredded coconut •1(1-ounce) box vanilla pudding mix (not instant) What to do: 1. Prepare cake mix according to package directions.Be sure to use 3 whole eggs (not just egg whites). 2. Pour cake batter into a 9-by-13-inch glass baking dish coated with cooking spray. Bake in oven according to package directions. 3. After removing cake from oven, immediately pierce holes in top of cake with a fork. Pour canned pineapple and juice over top.Allow to cool. 4. Prepare pudding according to package directions.Spread pudding over top of pineapple. 5. Spread whipped topping over pudding. 6. Top with shredded coconut and chill before serving. You will need an adult’s help with this recipe. from The Mini Page © 2009 Universal Press Syndicate Meet

Fox Ben Stiller stars as Larry in the movie “: Battle of the Century Smithsonian.”

entieth Ben has acted in several movies,including Tw “Night at the Museum” and “,” which he also directed. He was the voice of courtesy , Alex in “Madagascar” and “Madagascar: egory

Gr Escape 2 Africa.” He had his own TV series and has also Doane

by appeared in plays on Broadway.He appeared for about a year on “.” photo Ben, 43, was born in City.His parents are the comedians and actors and Anne Meara. When he was young,he and his sister Amy acted in their own plays at home.He began shooting his own films with a Super 8 camera when he was about 10. Ben has helped to raise money for charities fighting Lou Gehrig’s disease. from The Mini Page © 2009 Universal Press Syndicate from The Mini Page © 2009 Universal Press Syndicate

from The Mini Page ©2009 Universal Press Syndicate from The Mini Page © 2009 Universal Press Syndicate ® Standards Spotlight: TM Safe Fun With Fireworks Mini Page activities meet many state and national educational standards. Each week we identify standards that relate to The Mini Page’scontent and offer activities that will help your students reach them. All the following jokes have something in common. This week’sstandards: Can you guess the common theme or category? •Students understandpeople and events honoredincommemorativeholidays.(History) •Students understand science and technology.(Science: Science and Technology) •Students compare behaviors that are safe to those that are risky or harmful. (Health: Reducing Health Risks) Fred: What do mountain climbers do when they Activities: 1. Makeaposter inviting people to afireworks displayinyourneighborhood.Use newspaper words that get bored? describe your event and patriotic pictures from the newspaper to decorate your poster. 2. Look at the pictures of the fireworks at the inauguration of Grover Cleveland and the second Fiona: Climb the walls! inauguration of George W. Bush in today’sMini Page.How do the fireworks look different? Which fireworks look the most exciting? Why do you think there is adifference in the fireworks at the two different inaugurations? Felicity: Why did the old man refuse to climb 3. Look in the community calendar section of your newspaper to find places where you can see fireworks the mountain? over the July 4th holiday. How many places are there? Whichlocation will probably have the biggest show? Whichlocation is closest to where you live? Felix: He was already over 4. Use the fireworks safety page in today’sMini Page to talk about safety with your family members and the hill! friends.Put acheckmark if they saythey follow the safety rule and azero if they saythey do not. Share the list with them so they know all the good safety rules. 5. There are many words related to fireworks that have different meanings in other settings.Use the Mini Page and your own knowledge or adictionary to give two different meanings for eachofthese words: Faye: What is the sleepiest mountain in the (a) shell, (b) battery,(c) mortar,(d) magazine,(e) salute,and (f) break. Write several sentences using the world? fireworks words to describe fireworks.See if family members and friends can understand the sentences. (standards by Dr.Sherrye D. Garrett, Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi) Forest: Mount Everest! from The Mini Page © 2009 Universal Press Syndicate Fireworks Safety Spelled Out

F ire is always Never use I llegal Never R e-light a “dud” E ye protection dangerous.Be careful fireworks. firework. Wait 20 minutes should be worn with lighters,punks and then soak it in water. when using and sparklers. fireworks. Fireworks are exciting and fun, but they have to be used carefully. In 2007, about 10,000 people were injured by fireworks. Make sure you know how to safely use fireworks and have adults nearby to help. Of course, the safest way to enjoy Have a bucket of W ater fireworks is to let the to put used fireworks in. professionals put on the show for you.

It is not S afe to point fireworks at other people or animals.

Site to see: O ne R ead the K ids should be http://kidshealth.org/ Light only parent/firstaid_safe/ firework at a time. directions on supervised by outdoor/fireworks.html fireworks and use adults when using Next week, The Mini them as intended. fireworks. Page is about Renaissance fairs. The Mini Page Staff Betty Debnam - Founding Editor and Editor at Large Lisa Tarry - Managing Editor Lucy Lien - Associate Editor Wendy Daley - Artist