January is Reminiscence Month (or Celebrate the Past Month), and we are flashing back to the '40s. Although dominated by World War II, the decade brought us victory gardens, Rosie the Riveter, the baby boom, and many fabulous fads and fashions.

Here are the National Days for More Inspiration:

Januray 16- Fig Newton Day, Hot & Spicy Food Day, Hello Dolly! Day, Religious Freedom Day, Surprise Saturday, Appreciate a Dragon Day, Twiddle Your Thumbs Day January 17- Hunt for Happiness Week Begins, World Religion Day, Snowflake Day, Bootlegger’s Day January 18- Michigan Day, Thesaurus Day, Winnie the Pooh Day, Marting Luther King Jr. Day January 19- Tone it Up Tuesday, Tin Can Day, Poe Day, Coffee Around the World Day, Popcorn Day January 20- Buttercrunch Day, Cheese Lover’s Day, Disc Jockey Day, Penguin Awareness Day, Second Man on the Moon Day, Born Free Day January 21- Energize Your Morning Day, 40’s Flashback Day, First Medical Publication in America Anniversary, Squirrel Appreciation Day, Granola Bar Day, Hugging Day January 22- Celebration of Life Day, Blonde Brownie Day, Small Town Day, Pick Up a Hobby Day, Hibernation Day January 23- Handwriting Day, Pie Day, Coldest Day in U.S. History Anniversary – Brrrr! On this day in 1971, the temperature in Prospect Creek, Alaska, was recorded as 80 degrees below zero. January 24- Compliment Day, Peanut Butter Day, Meat Week Begins January 25- Marshmallow Monday, Bubble Wrap Apprecation Day, Opposite Day, Irish Coffee Day, Florida Day January 26- Green Juice Day, Peanut Brittle Day, Spouses Day, Plan for Vacation Day, Tea and Trivia Day, January 27- Wintertime Memories Day, Strange Socks Day, Geographic Society Day, Chocolate Cake Day January 28- Blueberry Pancake Day, Have Fun at Work Day, Kazoo Day January 29- Fabulous Forties Friday, Puzzle Day, Seeing Eye Day, Fun at Work Day January 30- Seed Swap Day, Croissant Day, Favortie Sports Team Day January 31- Inspire Your Heart with Art Day, Soap Day, Enjoy Some Hot Chocolate Day, Backwards Day

Note from the Directors: Hello All, we are trying to survey how many people are tech-savvy and have access to ZOOM (Video Chatting App) . If you have access to ZOOM and would be interested in participating in ZOOM programs (for example: Tai Chi over video chat) please contact Amber by email: [email protected] or call us and leave a message at 860-399-2029. Biweekly Recipe: War Time Cake Ingredients: • Cooking spray • 3 cups plus 2 tablespoons flour, divided • 2 cups brown sugar • 2 cups hot water • 2 heaping teaspoons shortening • 1 teaspoon salt • 1 teaspoon ground cloves • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon • 2 cups raisins • 1 cup chopped nuts • 1 teaspoon baking soda Directions: 1. Spray two standard-size loaf pans with cooking spray. Coat each with 2 tablespoons flour. Set aside. 2. Place brown sugar, hot water, shortening, salt, cloves, cinnamon, and raisins in a saucepan over medium-high heat. Bring to a boil and continue to cook for 5 minutes, stirring often. 3. Preheat oven to 350˚F. 4. Remove from heat and allow to cool, stirring often. Stir in nuts, baking soda, and remaining flour. 5. Divide mixture evenly between the prepared loaf pans. Bake 45 minutes and allow to cool on a cooling rack before slicing and serving.

Themed History: Candies of the 1940s: The power of the sweet tooth may never have been more evident than during the 1940s, when World War II rationing led to shortages of sugar. As sweets traditionally made in the home became comparatively scarce, commercially produced candy became the alternative. While manufacturers were faced with challenges presented by shortages of both food and resources, ingenuity prevailed. In a time that was fraught with the stresses of war, candy was a luxury (at three to four cents per ounce) and a bright spot in the lives of both the troops overseas and those keeping the home fires burning. Many of these candies are still found in stores today and continue to make their way into grocery bags all over the world.

Ten Popular Candies Introduced in the 1940s

1. York Peppermint Pattie appeared in 1940. This round, dark chocolate delight is filled with a peppermint confection, offering both sweet and refreshing satisfaction. It has been enjoyed for generations. Introduced by the York Cone Company of York, Pennsylvania, the treat was manufactured there for more than five decades. York Cone Company was acquired by Hershey’s in 1998, which continues to produce this popular candy today.

2. Saf-T-Pops Lollipops were introduced in 1940. The name of this hard candy lollipop was derived from the special design of its looped handle to minimize choking risks in toddlers. It was the brainchild of Carl Spohr and Robert Bracke, and the rights were sold two years after the candy debuted to the Chicago-area Curtiss Candy Company. Today, the lollipops are manufactured by the Spangler Company of Bryan, Ohio.

3. Allan Hot Lips Candy debuted in the 1940s. The Allan Candy Company of Hamilton, Ontario, opened in 1931 and quickly gained a following for one of its earliest chewy candies, Big Foot. Their Hot Lips candies became popular in the following decade, not only in Canada, but across the United States. These red chews molded in the shape of lips feature a sweet and intense cinnamon flavor with a bit of heat.

4. M&M’s Chocolate Candy was introduced in 1941. The hard-shelled chocolate candies were conceived by the son of candy manufacturer Franklin C. Mars. Forrest Mars was in Spain during the Spanish Civil War and noticed British solders eating handfuls of round chocolates with a hard candy coating. Upon his return to the states, he patented the idea.

5. Lik-M-Aid (Fun Dip) came out in 1942. This treat is a flavored candy powder and was known as Lik-M-Aid when it was first introduced. It was eaten by dipping your fingers into it and then licking it off the fingertips. That sounds messy, right? Perhaps that’s why it faded away for a time and then was reborn in the early 1970s as Fun Dip, which included a candy dipping stick to be used instead of fingers. The powder originally came in cherry and orange flavors, and the later version offered cherry, lime, and grape. Today’s variety has expanded its flavor offerings even further. Some Fun Dip lovers prefer to eat the candy stick first and then pour the packet of sweet powder directly into their mouths, while others take their time and dip the candy stick into the powder to savor the treat.

6. Almond Joy Candy Bar was introduced to the candy market by the Peter Paul Candy Manufacturing Company in 1946. It features a candy bar in two equal segments that consists of a coconut filling topped with an almond and wrapped in milk chocolate. The candy bar is now manufactured by Hershey’s, which purchased Peter Paul Candy in 1988.

7. Bazooka Bubble Gum premiered in 1947. Made by the Topps Company of Brooklyn, New York, it is an old- fashioned, sweet bubble gum that sold for a penny and was known for the comics in which it was wrapped. Since 2012, the comic has been replaced with a selection of brain teasers. It no longer sells for one cent and now goes for a quarter.

8. Jolly Ranchers hit the market in 1949. Ice cream makers Bill and Dorothy Harmsen opened the Jolly Rancher candy store in Golden, Colorado, when they realized the demand for hard candies exceeded that of ice cream. They started making the Jolly Rancher candy to sell in their store because they were unhappy with local candy suppliers. Their fruity, mouthwatering hard candy is old-fashioned but still popular today. And the brand has grown since its debut, now offering Jolly Rancher lollipops, chewy morsels, and more than a dozen flavors of the hard candies, including hot and spicy.

9. Junior Mints came out in 1949 and have not changed much since then. They are a small peppermint round covered in rich dark chocolate and are the perfect size to pop into the mouth whole. This old-fashioned candy was the creation of James O. Welch, who started his own candy company in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Today, Junior Mints are produced by Industries and are a top seller at the movie theater snack counter.

10. Smarties (Candy-Rockets) were another 1949 American creation, not to be confused with the popular Canadian chocolate Smarties. In the U.S. they are simply called Smarties, but in Canada they are called Smarties Candy-Rockets to distinguish them from the Canadian chocolate variety. American Smarties are tablet-shaped candies that come in a roll wrapped in cellophane. They are offered in a variety of pastel colors within each roll, including green, pink, yellow, purple, orange, and white. They are produced in Union Township, New Jersey,and in Newmarket, Ontario.

Fun Forties Candy Facts: • The U.S. Army was M&M’s first big customer. They were given to soldiers in WWII because they provided energy without melting and making a mess. • PEZ candies were invented by anti-smoking advocate Eduard Haas III, who marketed the mints to help smokers kick the habit. The candy’s slogan in the 1920s was “Smoking prohibited, PEZing allowed.” • A licking machine is used to test the number of licks it takes to get to the chewy center of a . It takes anywhere from 364 to 411 licks to reach the center. Themed History: Fads and Fashions of the 1940s: The 1940s were a time of drastic change, with trends to match. The beginning of the decade found us at war, with rationing at the forefront, creating unique trends where people “made do” with what they had. However, by the end of the decade, we were celebrating the end of a world war, and brand-new fads were on the rise.

Hair for Victory: The most iconic hair fashion of the 1940s was the victory roll. This signature style embodied patriotism, femininity, and practicality. Why was it called the victory roll, and what made it so popular? One story is that the victory roll was inspired by aircraft of the era, which left spiraling exhaust in their wake as planes did barrel rolls. Another story claims that this style was called the victory roll to encourage women to wake up every morning with victory on their mind. The victory roll was a practical hairstyle because it kept hair back and off the face. As women surged into the workforce both in factories and in offices, it was a way to look professional and feminine, too. The hairstyle also had a practical value for safety. Veronica Lake, famed Hollywood star known for her dramatic, long, blonde hair that swept across half her face, was a popular style icon for women before the Second World War. Her dramatic hairstyle was copied by women the world over. This spelled trouble for the manufacturing industry, where long hair could be caught up in machinery, causing horrific accidents. The government connected with Veronica Lake and paid her to cut her hair shorter and put it up in the victory roll style. Subsequent photographs of Lake’s new hairdo popularized the style. Soon the victory roll became the most popular hairstyle for women. Factory accidents decreased as a result. The victory roll was created by teasing and curling the hair into large loops. Women would put their hair up in large pin curls at night, and style their hair in the morning. Women working in factories were often seen with their hair in scarves or bandanas, with pinned curls peeking out. After work, they would style their hair and be ready for a night out! The hairstyle was a marked departure from the crisp waves from the prior 20 years. During the 1940s, it was considered a woman’s patriotic duty to look feminine, thereby encouraging the men who were stationed abroad. Makeup and Nails: Bright red lips were a signature look of the era. It was associated with patriotism, femininity, and optimism. As women entered the workforce, they were reminded to continue to look feminine. “Beauty is your duty” was a catchphrase of the times. Elizabeth Arden was asked to create a signature red lipstick for women in the military. In 1941, “Montezuma Red” debuted. It matched the red piping on their uniforms, and kits were distributed that included matching rouge and nail polish. The color was so popular that civilian women soon began demanding their own color. “Victory Red” was created. It was said that Hitler hated red lipstick, so Allied women wore red as a sign of patriotism. In Great Britain, when red lipstick became too expensive for most women, they stained their lips with beet juice. The makeup look of the 1940s was fresh and natural. Getting that natural look, however, was not easy. First, women would put on thick foundation. Then they “sculpted” their faces with lighter and darker foundation to redefine noses, jaws, or foreheads. Next, they created a natural and strong-looking eyebrow, along with a “smoldering” eye, which was achieved with thick mascara and heavy black eyeliner. They finished with powder to set the makeup. Achieving this “natural” look could take an hour or more. Another unique fashion during this era was the half-moon manicure. In this style, nail polish was applied to the nails, except for the half-moon area at the base of the nail. It was considered a glamorous look in the 1940s. It was also practical, because nail growth was less obvious, resulting in longer-lasting manicures. Some women also left the tip of the nail bare. There was another reason that lipstick was so popular in the 1940s. Like many favorite products, cosmetics were rationed during the war, as many factories were repurposed for the effort. However, Winston Churchill felt that the bright colors were good for morale—both for those at home and those deployed—and chose not to ration production of the product. With lipstick as the only readily available “luxury” item women had access to, lipstick sales soared. And think of all the love letters to the front lines that had been SWAK (sealed with a kiss)! Zoot Suits: Zoot suits were the quintessential American fashion for men. They originated in African American communities and spread like wildfire across the country. What began as something worn only by jazz musicians in the late ’20s slowly became popular as the ’30s ended. Prior to the zoot suit, men’s suits were tight-fitting and perfectly tailored. However, these types of suits were no good for the more robust style of dancing that jazz music called for. The new, baggier suits were characterized by pants that were high-waisted and cinched, full in the leg, and usually tightly cuffed. The cuffs were fitted so that anyone dancing the jitterbug wouldn’t get tripped up by the excess fabric. The coats were long, with wide lapels and large padded shoulders. These suits were not custom made, however. In fact, men were simply buying oversized suits and having the cuffs tailored for a better fit. Young men loved the suits, which were worn by famous entertainers from Cab Calloway to Dizzy Gillespie. They were also worn by actors in movies and even by cartoon characters! Zoot suits fell out of fashion as wool began to be rationed later in the decade, and they were eventually abandoned altogether. By the mid-’40s, as wool rationing continued, men’s suits discarded vests, trouser pleats, and cuffs. When rationing ended in the late ’40s, suits became longer and more full-cut, but they never returned to the exaggerated look of the zoot suit. Radio: The 1940s were part of the Golden Age of radio. People gathered around their radios in the evenings, listening to their favorite shows together. More than 80% of Americans listened to the radio each evening. The major networks were the National Broadcast Company (NBC), the American Broadcast Company (ABC), Columbia Broadcast System (CBS), and Mutual Broadcast Systems. Mutual was unique in that it was a cooperative, and the network was owned by stations, rather than the network owning the stations, as was the case with the other three big networks. Radio shows included soap operas, comedies, and mysteries. The Guiding Light, The Shadow, Amos ’n’ Andy, and many other shows were popular. News broadcasts kept people glued to their radios in the 1940s, with young reporters such as Edward R. Murrow and Walter Cronkite covering news on location. Live music was also broadcast, from symphony to big bands. Franklin D. Roosevelt spoke to Americans via radio in his “fireside chats.” Swing Dance Swing dance had its origins in 1920s dances: the Charleston and the Lindy Hop. In 1926, the Savoy Ballroom opened in Harlem and was a huge success with its block-long dance floor and double bandstand. Famous bands were featured there, playing swinging jazz; dancers flocked through the doors. In the 1930s, the dance evolved into the jitterbug, thanks to a song of the same name by Cab Calloway. As jazz music evolved, dancers expanded their repertoire of steps, and swing dance moved from East Coast to West Coast along with jazz music. The West Coast swing developed in Los Angeles and is still popular today. East Coast swing is a simpler variation and is associated with the Arthur Murray Dance Studios. Swing even took hold in western music as western swing. It can be sedate or quite athletic, including flips, dips, and lifts. Other types of swing dance that were popular in the ’40s include boogie-woogie and jive, where the dancers can look like they’re hopping. Swing dance was popular in both urban and rural areas. Big-name bands traveled in wide-sweeping circuits across the country, playing in large cities and small towns alike. Swing was upbeat, cheerful, and brought smiles to the faces of both dancers and spectators.

Biweekly Brainteasers: Brainteaser: Who Am I? – Celebrating a mystery person

Do you know who I am? Here are some clues: 1. I was born in 1942. 2. A national historic park is named after me. 3. Songs have been written about me. 4. Films have been made about me, too. 5. I am sturdy and tough. 6. The Westinghouse Electric Company used me as part of an advertising campaign. 7. Westinghouse didn’t know what they had. They kept me for just two weeks. 8. I am partly responsible for women’s changing role in American society. 9. The identity of the woman who was the original inspiration for me is still a mystery. 10. To say that I am iconic is almost an understatement. 11. I am even more famous now than I was before. 12. Contemporary singers Pink and Beyoncé have paid homage to me. 13. I was instrumental in the war effort. 14. Among many other things, those whom I called to duty helped build ships and airplanes. 15. Carnival Cruise Line has a restaurant tribute to me on one of its ships. 16. I am now a feminist icon.

***Answer on Next Page***

Price Was Right Solution:

Brainteaser Continued: Who Am I?

Do you know who I am? You can do it! I am Rosie the Riveter.

History of The Image of Rosie the Riveter: When the United States entered World War II, the call for active-duty military was urgent. Millions of American men were drafted into service, leaving millions of civilian jobs unfilled. To fill these positions, the U.S. government, with the help of corporate business, began another recruitment campaign. This one was aimed at women, and its purpose was to put women to work doing the jobs men had left behind.

The idea of Rosie the Riveter first came about in a song in 1942. In the following months, images of different Rosies appeared in movies, newspapers, and propaganda posters. One government advertisement encouraged women to “Take the job he left behind.” Another asked: “Can you use an electric mixer? If so, you can learn to operate a drill.”

On May 29, 1943, The Saturday Evening Post ran a cover illustration painted by Norman Rockwell. In it, a physically strong-looking woman in blue overalls holds a rivet gun in her lap. She is holding a sandwich in one hand. Under one foot is a copy of Hitler’s book, Mein Kampf. The woman’s lunchbox has the name “Rosie” on it. That same year, Howard Miller’s image of Rosie appeared in a Westinghouse advertisement. This was the image of the polka-dot-bandana-clad Rosie, fist raised and muscle flexed.

Women responded quickly. Taking over was their patriotic duty, and more than six million took on “war” jobs. They operated heavy construction machinery and took over jobs in lumber and steel mills. More than 310,000 went to work in the aircraft industry. Thousands were also employed building munitions. Photographs of these women in newspapers and magazines encouraged other women to join the workforce, too. As author and historian Leila J. Rupp explains, “For the first time, the working woman dominated the public image. Women were riveting housewives in slacks, not mother, domestic beings, or civilizers.”

After the War As soldiers returned home after the war, women were quickly laid off, and their factory jobs given back to men. However, the “Rosies” had learned that working in factories was not just some distant possibility for women. They had done it, and they had done it well.

Although Miller’s image was less popular than Rockwell’s in the 1950s, it resurfaced in the 1980s to become the iconic symbol it is today. Interestingly, Reagan-era budget cuts were partly responsible for bringing Rosie back. The National Archives licensed the image to raise money. Taking advantage of the 40th anniversary of World War II, the Archives printed the image and the now ubiquitous slogan “We Can Do It!” on T-shirts, coffee mugs, posters, and many other products. Today, Miller’s image is the one most widely recognized and most readily associated with the war effort and as a symbol of women’s strength.

Adaptations of Rosie the Riveter 2020: