You can receive Featurettes by e-mail daily, weekly or monthly by request. We can e-mail by your choice of topic or all stories as you may prefer. NORTH AMERICAN PRECIS SYNDICATE, INC. 350 Fifth Avenue New York, NY 10118-0110 PRESORT STANDARD U.S. POSTAGE PAID North American Address Service Requested Precis Syndicate, Inc. To make it even more convenient for editors to use our stories, NAPS has added an RSS syndication feed to our Web site. Simply hit the RSS button on our site for automated updates on available content. Please contact us to arrange to receive Featurettes in the format that works best for you at (800) 222-5551 or e-mail your request to us at printmedia@napsnet.com. We can provide Featurettes on CD-ROM or you can download it online at www.napsnet.com. Gary Lipton Media Relations Manager Phone: 1-(800)-222-5551 Fax: 1-(800)-990-4329 Web site: www. napsnet .com e-mail: printmedia@napsnet.com #2412 North American Precis Syndicate, Inc., 350 Fifth Avenue, 65th Floor, New York, N.Y. 10118-0110 Delicious Pumpkin Raisin Bars (NAPSA)—Spicy and gooey, Pumpkin Raisin Bars have a heartwarming appeal and just enough dash to be party fare. Whether it’s tea for two or a school party, this recipe is a crowd-pleaser for youngsters and adults alike. At this time of year, a bit of baking fills the house with a delicious aroma and feelings of welcoming. Pumpkin Raisin Bars whip up quickly in a single bowl and bake in a flat pan, saving time all around. These bars are good enough without the frosting and a simple dusting of powdered sugar, but why not go for a cream cheese frosting when it’s a party? Here’s a bar-baking tip: When adding dried fruit and nuts, make sure the ingredients are fresh. If you discover your raisins have lingered in the pantry a bit too long, sprinkle raisins with water, loosely cover, microwave on high for 15 seconds or more, stir, cover and let stand for two to three minutes to plump them up, according to the experts at Sun-Maid Growers of California. Pat dry before adding them to the batter. For more quick-baking options, visit www.sunmaid.com. Pumpkin Raisin Bars 2 2 2 1 1 1 1 ⁄2 1 ⁄2 1 4 1 cups all-purpose flour cups sugar teaspoons baking powder teaspoon baking soda teaspoon cinnamon teaspoon nutmeg teaspoon salt teaspoon cloves cup oil eggs (15-oz.) can (2 cups) pumpkin Pumpkin Raisin Bars—a spicy, gooey treat that’s sure to please. Stay Healthy This Cold And Flu Season Safely Connecting Students (NAPSA)—America’s schools have gone high tech, with the National School Boards Association reporting that over 95 percent of school districts required student use of the Internet in some manner. But how do schools ensure that students are protected while surfing the Web? Many use a free Internet learning community called ePals. It lets students safely converse with kids ⁄2 cup chopped nuts ⁄2 cup Sun-Maid Natural Raisins Frosting: 1 ⁄3 cup softened butter or margarine 1 (3-oz.) package softened cream cheese 2 cups powdered sugar 1 tablespoon milk 1 teaspoon vanilla extract 1 1 Heat oven to 350 F. Grease 15”x10”x1” jelly roll pan. Combine all bar ingredients, except nuts and raisins, in a large bowl. Beat at low speed until moistened. Beat 2 minutes at medium speed. Stir in nuts and raisins. Pour into greased pan. Bake for 25 to 30 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes out c l e a n . C o o l c o m p l e t e l y. Spread cream cheese frosting over bars and store in refrigerator. Frosting: Combine all frosting ingredients in a small bowl and beat until smooth. Spread frosting on cooled bars and refrigerate. Makes 48 bars. Free Web-based communities help safely connect schools. around the world, as they learn that homework in China isn’t that different from homework in the U.S. There are protected e-mail and blog tools—called SchoolMail and SchoolBlog—that help kids and teachers connect with peers from across the globe. In fact, over 325,000 educators and their students in more than 200 countries and territories use the service. The community also offers teachers Web-based curricula such as In2Books, which delivers authentic online literacy tools that can help teachers create customized, collaborative learning environments. To learn more, visit the Web site www.epals.com. by Michael Shugar, M.D. (NAPSA)—With cold and flu season in full force, chances are you or your loved ones are feeling the effects. While there is no way to cure the common cold or the flu, there are several things that you can do to stay healthy this season. First, make sure to wash your hands with soap regularly. One of the most common ways people become ill is by rubbing their noses and eyes after coming in contact with germ-infested telephones, doorknobs, keyboards and other everyday items. By washing your hands, you protect yourself from becoming infected. In order to keep your immune system strong, exercise regularly and maintain a healthy diet. If you’re having trouble eating well, consider adding a multivitamin to your diet. Also, don’t forget that alcohol and staying up late can put a strain on your immune system; only drink in moderation and always get plenty of rest. It may seem obvious, but make sure you are avoiding contact with others who are already suffering from a cold or the flu. Don’t share drinks or food, and if you or someone in your family is sick, put up a second hand towel in the bathroom for healthy people to use. A sore throat is often the first sign of a cold coming on. If you feel like you are getting sick, start fighting it immediately. Drink plenty of water and make sure that you are well rested. Remember, antibiotics will not help you fight a cold or the flu and can even weaken your immune system. There are, however, over-thecounter treatments that can help you feel better. Try Simply Gargle, a new, portable salt water rinse Although there is no cure for the cold or flu, there are over-thecounter treatments for many of the common symptoms. that soothes sore throats by combining the natural, time-honored remedy of the salt water gargle with a unique blend of immuneboosting vitamins, herbs, antioxidants and astringents. It is available at grocery stores, mass merchandisers and drugstores nationwide. Although there is no cure for the flu or the common cold, there are steps you can take to prevent illness and to alleviate your symptoms if you’re unfortunate enough to get sick. By following the above advice, you’ll help ensure you have a healthier and happier cold and flu season. To learn more, visit www.simplygargle.com. With more than 15 years of experience, Dr. Michael Shugar is a respected ER doctor who practices at various hospitals in the Cincinnati area. He completed his residency at the Medical University of South Carolina in Charleston.