The South Gibson Star-Times serves the towns of Haubstadt, Owensville and Fort Branch.
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SOMETHING NEWSWORTHY? SOMETHING NEWSWORTHY? Give us a call at 812-753-3553 or email editor@sgstartimes.com MY SO CALLED MILLENNIAL LIFE FRUIT FLUFF FRUIT FLUFF By Jennifer Vallee Believe it or not, this simple recipe has been more than 20 years in the making. A long time ago, a lovely woman I used to work with added instant vanilla pudding mix to fruit and it was delicious. Although I really like it, I immediately started to play with the recipe. I tried different fruits and flavors of pudding mix- es. I added marshmallows and finally figured out my favor- ites. It was really good, but not perfect until my stepdaugh- ter asked if I was going to add whipped topping. That sim- ple addition was exactly what was needed and my version of fruit fluff was born. I tried it out on the family for Easter and it was a huge hit. I hope you and your family will like it too! Enjoy! INGREDIENTS • 2 cans crushed pineapple, in juice • 2 cans mandarin oranges • 2 cans maraschino cherries, without stems • 1 box instant vanilla pudding mix • 1 box instant French vanilla pudding mix • 1/2 bag mini marshmallows • 1 tub whipped topping, thawed DIRECTIONS 1. Drain pineapples and reserve the juice for later. 2. Drain the mandarin oranges and reserve the syrup for later. 3. Drain and rinse cherries. Discard juice. 4. Mix fruit with pudding mix. 5. Mix pineapple juice with 1/4 of the orange syrup. 6. Slowly mix the juice in with the fruit mix until the pud- ding mix is incorporated and it has a glazed appearance. 7. Add remaining ingredients until it is well mixed and ap- pears fluffy, much like the Hawaiian salads you find in many delis. 8. Refrigerate at least four hours before serving. 9. Before serving, give it a good stir to freshen up the look of it. 10. Please note that marshmallows can be omitted, and sug- ar-free pudding mix and whipped topping can be used to reduce the sugar in this dish. YOUTH FIRST TODAY A Millennial lurks inside Peppa Pig Theme Park By Stephanie Hayes Columnist The Peppa Pig cinema was the Elysium of this theme park, a respite from chaos not unlike the cartoon itself. Sweaty par- ents filtered into a dark, cool room and thrust bags of Fruit Loops upon their children, slumped over beanbag chairs. Peppa Pig played on a big screen. Spe- cifically, "Digging Up The Road," an ep- isode in which Peppa's family heads to the playground and encounters a water leak in the street. "Is it going to take long? " Mummy Pig asks. "It will take as long as it takes! " huffs Mr. Bull, the construction worker. Later, Peppa repeats the same line to her un- grateful little playmates. Ah, there she was, our confident hog! Our pink princess! Our pop-culture pork- er! She can confront any cross-species situation, soothe nearby toddlers, even transcend preschool to fascinate a gener- ation beyond her intended target. But can she carry a whole attraction? For everyone? I, pushing 40, ventured suspiciously alone to lurk at the plainly named Pep- pa Pig Theme Park (guess they want- ed those Google hits). The park opened in Winter Haven, Fla. in February, steps from Legoland. On a Wednesday after- noon, small humans ran roughshod over the hallowed grounds of their hero. My first Peppa Pig exposure came years back as a new stepmom. I hadn't watched kids cartoons since I was a kid myself in the clunky, pre-digital 1980s. But Peppa was different, and the show fascinated me as much as it did the child. "Peppa Pig" chronicles the exploits of Peppa, her brother George, Mummy Pig, Daddy Pig and a cast of mammali- an friends. It's almost punk in simplici- ty, aggressively two-dimensional and pas- tel, wry and clever compared to, say, "He- Man." Describing the aesthetic requires a virtuosity unto itself. Britain's Prime Minister Boris Johnson, in a rambling speech, once com- pared Peppa's visage to a "Pi- casso-like hairdryer," which isn't wrong. It's addictive, not just for American children adopting British accents. In one ep- isode that went viral, Pep- pa struggles to whistle. She calls Suzy Sheep to feel some schadenfreude. But when Suzy easily whistles into the receiver, Peppa hangs up, wordless, with one wicked, porcine finger. It's high art! It's permission to leave toxic relationships! Peppa has been memeified countless times. One internet rumor claimed she was 7 feet, 1 inch tall. She released an album called, um, "My First Album," and the tracks inadvertently became LGBTQ anthems. Kanye West has had a longstanding feud with Peppa (review- ers liked her album better). When I visited a college class last month and mentioned Peppa Pig Theme Park, the 20 -somethings erupted as if a dormant part of their personality had been hacked open. Given Peppa's clout, it makes sense for the park to wink at her adult allure. But truly, this would be a fruitless and expen- sive ironic trip. Though it's part of Lego- land, Peppa Pig Theme Park requires a separate $ 35 ticket, plus $25 parking. It's best to bundle the day with Legoland, be- cause Peppa will not take that long. This tiniest of parks is designed for lit- tle legs and wheels. It's disability-friend- ly and is a Certified Autism Center full of sensory guides. I lapped the entire place in five minutes, passing Daddy Pig's Roll- er Coaster (I didn't ride, fearful of being even more of a creep), Peppa's Pedal Bike Tour, George's Tricycle Trail, Mud- dy Puddles Splash Pad and a wacky hall of mirrors manned by that smug whis- tler, Suzy Sheep. It was time for the stage show. "Will you help me shout for Peppa? " the host asked, and the kids screamed her name into the hot spring air. Then the grande dame emerged. I am here to con- firm she actually is 7 feet tall. They sang a hot track off the album, "The Bing Bong Song," which goes (pay attention) "bing, bong, bingly, bungly, boo." Toddlers barely up- right teetered to the stage while harried Peppa keepers delicately nudged them back. Peppa swayed her gargantuan pink arms to a cacophony of squeaky Crocs and cries. Surreal! The Pepp-sistence of Memory! This was a good reminder. The inter- net can co-opt a lot of things. Joy can come from the purest places, and intelli- gent cartoons diffuse the toil of parent- ing. But not everything is for everyone. This park is not for peculiar adults with phones, desperate to be distracted by one more meme. This park is for teeny tots learning to use their words. Still, maybe there was a glimmer of rawk? Mr. Fox's gift shop offered Pep- pa purses, cookies and plastic trucks ga- lore. One T-shirt, though, stood singu- lar, black with a pink font my soul rec- ognized. It was the font of Nirvana. Be- low it, a crude line drawing of our high priestess, Peppa. A dad hoofed by the gift shop pushing a stroller. He was wearing a real Nirva- na T-shirt, bathed in the glow of swine immemorial. Stephanie Hayes is a columnist at the Tampa Bay Times in Florida. Follow her at @ stephhayes on Twitter or @ stephrhayes on Instagram. Co-occurring disorders in adolescence By Rachel Haug Youth First, Inc. Adolescence is a time of rapid brain and body de- velopment through the on- set of puberty, which will be- gin to influence both your child's physical and mental health. During this time, a young per- son can begin to de- velop symptoms that may support a mental health diagnosis, espe- cially if paired with genetic, en- vironmental or situ- ational factors. Some of the most common psychiat- ric disor- ders seen in adolescence in- clude mood dis- orders, like depres- sive disorder, adjustment dis- order, or borderline person- ality disorder; anxiety disorder, both gener- alized and social anxi- ety; disruptive behav- ior disorders, and atten- tion deficit/hyperactivi- ty disorder. If symptoms of one of these disorders are combined with drug or alcohol use, a co-occurring disorder could devel- op over time. A co-occurring disorder is known as the presence of both a mental health diagnosis and a substance abuse disorder. There is a lot speculation about which comes first, the substance abuse disorder or the mental health con- cern; however, there is strong evidence that shows individuals struggling with an undiagnosed mental health problem of- ten turn to self-medicating through the use of drugs or alcohol. Studies have shown that the younger a person is when they begin using drugs or alcohol, the more likely they are to become addicted to the substance later in life. As a parent it is important to be aware of the signs your child may show if ex- periencing an onset of a mental health or substance abuse disorder. First, it's important to know your family's medi- cal history. For example, if you or your child's other parent have experienced symptoms of depression or anxiety or have struggled with substance abuse or addiction, it is likely your child may ex- perience similar symptoms or become prone to addiction if they begin using drugs or alcohol. It is also important to make sure an open line of communication with your child is maintained to ensure symp- toms are being addressed as they pres- ent themselves. If you notice a change in your child's mood or behavior, ask them about it and allow them a space to speak freely without judgment. Some of the most common risk factors for an anxiety or mood disorder in adolescence include parental history of anxiety, mood disor- der or other mental health disorder, an increase in academic or social pressures, stressful family environments, early or significant losses (parental death, di- vorce, termination of a relationship), chronic illness, history of being bullied (in person or cyberbullying), or history of neglect or abuse. Treating your child's symptoms is vital and services are readily available. Treat- ment could include outpatient individu- al or group-based therapies, psychiat- ric medication management, or a com- bination of the two. Cognitive behavior- al therapy, along with other behavioral therapies, could provide some insight in- to your child's mental health concerns and ease your child's ability to navigate what could be a difficult time. The best place to start would be con- sulting with your child's Youth First So- cial Worker or pediatrician to discuss best treatment options for their specif- ic needs. Early intervention is key! Your child's mental health is just as import- ant as their physical health and academ- ic performance. There is a community of mental health professionals available to rally around you and your child, so don't hesitate to reach out for support! You and your child are never alone. Rachel Haug, LCSW, is a Youth First Social Worker at Plaza Park Internation- al Prep Academy in Vanderburgh Coun- ty. Youth First, Inc. is a nonprofit dedicat- ed to strengthening youth and families. Youth First provides 78 Master's level so- cial workers to 107 schools in 13 Indiana counties. Over 60,000 youth and families per year are served by Youth First's school social work and after school programs that prevent substance abuse, promote healthy behaviors, and maximize student suc- cess. To learn more about Youth First, vis- it youthfirstinc.org or call 812-421-8336. By George Pickersgill Gibson County Veterans Service Officer 812 385 -4522 I am happy this month to share some exciting news. On Wednesday, May 11 this of- fice, in partner- ship with VFW Post 2714, Fort Branch, will host a Veter- ans' Resource Fair to be held 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Princeton Public Library. This event is the first of its kind in Gibson County, or at least the first in a very long time. It will be held in an "Open House" for- mat, which will allow you to stop by at your convenience. This is a public invitation to all veterans (regardless of era) and their spouses to come and join us for a free lunch. In addition to vendors that will be on hand, there will also be representatives from the VA Healthcare System who can answer any questions you may have. In addition, I'd like to use this as an opportu- nity to get to know you if we have nev- er met and help you understand what my office can do for you. Although every veteran is invited and encouraged to attend, there are some very special things planned for those of the Viet - nam and Korean War eras. If you have never recorded your military dis- charge (DD 214) you may bring along a copy and I will have that done for you. I be- lieve this is one of the wisest things a veteran can do. Mark your calendars! Please make this a priori- ty and plan to join us if your schedule will allow. I look for- ward to seeing you. VETERAN'S VOICE A-8 Tuesday, April 26, 2022 South Gibson Star-Times Vet resource fair planned for May 11