Tidbits of the Tri-Cities Issue #22 by Jason Barrett

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Issue 22

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A ROSY NEW YEAR by Lynne Patrice

The hubbub around the Rose Bowl on January first reminds us of how much we miss flowers in the winter. Hopefully, our many rose puns won’t be too much of a thorn in your side…

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• Millions of TV viewers around the world officially kick off the New Year by watching the Tournament of Roses Parade from Pasadena, California. The colorful floral pageant has been held on January 1st every year since 1890 – except when that date happens to fall on a Sunday, in which case the event is moved up to the 2nd. The “never on Sunday” rule dates back to the time when worshipers utilized horses to get them to church. Officials feared that the noise and excitement of the parade would frighten the many horses tethered outside the city’s houses of worship.

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• Even though the Tournament of Roses is a huge corporate organization, it’s no different than your high school homecoming parade in some ways. During the last 48 to 72 hours of preparation, organizers are still scrambling to finish the various floats. Most groups welcome volunteers willing to lend a hand. Show up at a “float barn” during that time and you’ll likely be handed a box of flowers and given some quick instructions. Turn the page for more!

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Tidbits® of the Tri-Cities

Dogs and Joggers By Samantha Mazzotta

DEAR PAWʼS CORNER: My dog, “Sandy,” gets very excited when people pass us while weʼre out walking. She is not mean, but she likes to bark and tries to paw at or jump up as people get close. Sandy gets particularly excited when a jogger passes us. How can I stop her from doing this? -- Bill in Boulder, Colo. DEAR BILL: Getting Sandy adjusted to all the exciting activity on the sidewalk will take some time. Start by honing her basic obedience skills at home, making sure she will respond to your commands. On your daily walks, have her sit and stay at random times. When a jogger approaches, move to the side of the walk, and have Sandy sit and stay. (Of course, keep her on a leash at all times during walks.)

Next, teach her not to react to sudden movements. At home, put Sandy on a leash. Throw a tennis ball across the room or hallway and say “Off!” or “Nyaah!” When Sandy leaps to chase the ball, tug the leash firmly and repeat “Off/Nyaah!” When Sandy responds to your command, praise her. Repeat this exercise in other locations, indoors or out, with few distractions. Try it with other objects, or a willing friend who can play the “jogger.” Finally, add the command during her daily walks -- when a person approaches, use the command if she starts toward them. You may need to sit Sandy down at first and wait for the person to pass, giving the “Off/Nyaah!” command if needed. But gradually begin training her to obey this command from the heel.

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A ROSY NEW YEAR (continued): • Most weekend gardeners and casual flower fans refer to those sharp spiny things on the stems of rose bushes as “thorns.” Botanists call them “prickles,” however, and there is a distinct difference between the two. A thorn is similar to a leaf in function, and it contains a “vascular bundle” of tissue that helps to sustain the plant. A prickle, on the other hand, is a hard, pointy appendage that does not supply any nutrients to the plant. It is in place strictly to protect the plant from predators, and can be (carefully!) snapped off without traumatizing the plant. • Have you seen bottles of “rose hips” on the vitamin shelf at your local drugstore and wondered what they were? Rose hips are seed pods that form on rose bushes at the end of the growing season. Average backyard gardeners never see these “seed balls” on their plants, since they prune the fading rose blossoms away in order to encourage new growth. Rose hips are high in Vitamin C and essential fatty acids. • It takes up to five years and as much as $10,000 to create a new hybrid rose. It’s not unusual for the growers of such specialty flowers to name their plants after celebrities in order to help spur sales. Your local garden center may offer a Dolly Parton rose bush, or a Princess Diana rose, or even a Barbra Streisand rose. In each case, the grower must secure permission from either the celebrity or his/her estate to attach his name to the bloom. And some celebrities (Streisand was one) insist on being involved in the flower selection process before agreeing to a floral namesake. Baseball’s Joe DiMaggio was married to Marilyn Monroe for only nine months, but for 20 years after her death, he sent a bouquet of white roses to her grave twice each week.

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Tidbits presents:

O UR LO CA L Kimberley Trapulionis has been a Chef for over 10 years. She offers catering and can be reached with any questions, suggestions or comments at: chef@execs.com.

Drop scones are a boon for busy holiday bakers, since they’re a snap to make and almost foolproof. These bake up light and fluffy. A touch of maple syrup and pieces of fig make them just sweet enough—deal for breakfast or an afternoon snack.

Vasilopita (New Year Bread): Preparation:

Ingredients

1 pk Active dry yeast 1/2 ts Ground cinnamon 3/4 c Milk lukewarm 1/4 ts Ground masticha 3 Eggs beaten 1/2 c Butter melted 1 1/2 ts Grated orange rind Special equipment: 1 Egg Parchment Paper For glazing 3/4 c Caster sugar Blanched split almonds 4 1/2 c Plain flour

New Year Bread is traditionally cut at midnight on New Yearʼs Eve. After baking a coin is inserted through a slit in the base. The person who finds the coin will have luck in the New Year. Long ago the coin used to be a gold one then later a silver coin was used. These could be incorporated into the dough before baking. Nowadays because of the nickel content of coins it is undesirable to bake a coin in the cake. Dissolve yeast in 1/4 cup of the milk. Add remainder of milk eggs orange rind and sugar. Sift 3 cups flour salt and spice into a warm bowl and make a well in the center. Pour in yeast mixture and stir to blend in flour gradually adding warm melted butter. Mix dough with hands until it comes away from sides. Turn on to a floured surface and knead until smooth and elastic adding remaining flour as required. Knead for 10 minutes. Place ball of dough in a clean bowl brushed with melted butter. Turn dough over to coat top with butter and cover bowl with a cloth or plastic wrap. Leav to prove (rise) in a warm place until doubled in bulk. Punch down and turn on to lightly floured surface. Knead lightly and shape into a round loaf. Place on a large greased baking sheet or in a greased 25 cm (10 inch) deep cake tin. Cover and let rise in a warm place until doubled - about 1 1/2 to 2 hours. Glaze with well-beaten egg and arrange blanched almonds in numbers to denote the New Year pressing in lightly. Bake in a moderately hot oven for 45 minutes until golden brown and cooked when tested. If bread browns too quickly place a piece of greased brown paper on top. Cool on a wire rack.

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MENTZER, INC. “Specializing in Commercial and Residential Construction” Mentzer, Inc. is a Class A general contractor licensed in the State of Virginia for eight years and has a combined workforce that totals over 100 years of construction management experience. Mentzer, Inc. is a customer-centered company that will provide meticulous attention to your construction needs, and has the professional knowledge to “get the job done right the first time.”

to instill the importance of a quality product. Mentzer, Inc. has three project managers:

Mentzer, Inc. has numerous and diverse projects to their credit such as the following:

• Frankie Addington has also done construction management many years and is currently responsible for the work at the Ettrick-Matoaca Rescue Squad Building.

• • • • • • • • • • •

Herrera Medical Building Enterprise Car Rental Building Gerdau Ameristeel McIlwaine Historic Home Sycamore Rouge Busch Gardens Williamsburg Colonial Williamsburg Foundation Hollywood Film & Video Set Construction Ettrick-Matoaca Rescue Building Chester Sports Park Numerous residential room additions and garages

Mentzer, Inc. takes pride in communicating well with our customers about even the smallest details to ensure that they are happy with the finished product. Company president and owner, Thomas “Chan” Mentzer, is community born and raised and has managed building projects his entire life. Chan learned the building trades from his grandfather at an early age and continues

• Tony Pitcock has been involved in construction management most of his life and was most recently responsible for work at Gerdau Ameristeel. • Chris Jenkins has worked in construction management for many years and was most recently responsible for the Herrera Medical Building.

Mentzer, Inc. is a family business. Chan’s wife, Noel, paints murals for residential and commercial customers, and their two young girls are also artists and promising business persons themselves. Chan’s sister-in-law, Melissa Perrine, is the business office manager and Chan’s father Tom Mentzer, a retired Chesterfield Schools guidance counselor, also takes an active role in the company. Mentzer, Inc. is located at 427 Ellerslie Ave. Colonial Heights in the Ellerslie Avenue Business Park. As a general contractor, Mentzer, Inc.’s role in your construction needs is to ensure that you have quality coordination of architecture, engineering, carpentry, brickwork, electrical, plumbing and roofing. They will monitor your project from the “ground up.” Choose Mentzer, Inc., and you choose the finest construction available.

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Tidbits® of the Tri-Cities

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Blame Sleep Apnea for Daytime Fatique DEAR DR. DONOHUE: I have lived with my boyfriend for a year, and we are going to get married soon. One obstacle to marriage for me is his snoring. Itʼs so loud that I cannot sleep with him. He starts out with a soft snore that builds into a sound that rivals a jet engine. He says snoring is a family thing for him. He is tired all day long. He works hard, comes home, takes a nap, eats and then says heʼs still tired. He sleeps a lot on weekends, too. Does snoring have anything to do with this? -- B.K. ANSWER: Let me describe sleep apnea, and you judge whether it applies to your fiance. Typically, it involves snoring that gets louder and louder and then suddenly stops. Silence reigns. After a short while, the snorer makes a grunting sound and the snoring cycle repeats. The period of silence is the apnea period. “Apnea” means “no breathing.” Apnea episodes last 10 or more seconds, and they end when the snorer makes a grunting sound and resumes his snoring. During apnea, blood oxygen content dips, and the dip partially rouses the person to begin breathing. Sleep apnea is a health menace. The drop in blood oxygen has several important consequences. It affects the heart and can lead to dangerous heart rhythms. People with sleep apnea often develop high blood pressure and all the complications of increased pressure. These people do not get restorative sleep. They

feel drugged during the day. The diagnosis of sleep apnea is made with special studies done in a sleep lab. Portable equipment is available for home testing. If your fiance is overweight, weight loss might put an end to snoring and apnea. He should drink no alcohol after 5 p.m. A CPAP (continuous positive airway pressure) machine keeps air flowing past the throat obstruction that blocks its entry into the lungs. Talk your fiance into discussing these matters with his doctor. The booklet on chronic fatigue syndrome includes a discussion of sleep apnea. Readers can obtain a copy by writing: Dr. Donohue -- No. 304W, Box 536475, Orlando, FL 38253-6475. Enclose a check or money order (no cash) for $4.75 U.S./$6 Canada with the recipientʼs printed name and address. Please allow four weeks for delivery. *** DEAR DR. DONOHUE: Sometimes I jerk awake just before falling asleep. Why? Can anything be done about it? -- J.A. ANSWER: That happens to lots of people, and sometimes it happens when a person is just wakening. Thereʼs a temporary disconnect between the brain and muscles at those times, and it results in a short jerk. Itʼs not a sign of any illness. I donʼt know of any treatment for it. Most people fall asleep shortly after it happens.

Resolution: Will 2009 be Different? Iʼve made my New Yearʼs resolution a little early. I found out about a “healthy heart” exercise program through the local hospital. Classes meet at the college in an indoor arena with a walking track. (The bonus is that the building is heated.) I go three times a week at dawn and combine fast and slow laps around the track with mild stretching exercises run by two employees of the hospitalʼs program. So far I like it. Itʼs a chore to get there before the sun is up (we have to be finished before the college students swarm in), but once Iʼm there and working out, Iʼm energized for the rest of the day. My resolution, then, is to keep at it. Perhaps if I do this now, before I actually need a “healthy heart” program, I might not ever need it at all. Are you going to make any resolutions this New Year? Here are a few ideas to think about: • Volunteer on a regular basis. Grocery-shop for a

neighbor once a week. Knit mittens for kids or helmet liners for soldiers. Sign up to deliver Meals on Wheels. Drive cancer patients to chemo. Take a class now so you can be a volunteer tax preparer in the spring. Sign up with a local charity for a set number of hours per week. Thereʼs always something that needs to be done. • Do something for your mind every day. Explore new authors you havenʼt read before. Ask about auditing college courses for free, or if there isnʼt a school near you, check for online classes. Tackle more difficult crossword puzzles. If youʼre like me, resolutions are hard to keep. But maybe, just maybe, this year will be different. Matilda Charles regrets that she cannot personally answer reader questions, but will incorporate them into her column whenever possible. Write to her in care of King Features Weekly Service, P.O. Box 536475, Orlando, FL 32853-6475, or send e-mail to columnreply@gmail.com. (c) 2008 King Features Synd., Inc.

For Advertising Call 1.804.731.7504 A ROSY NEW YEAR (continued): • True Argentine tango dancers never clench a rose in their teeth while executing their moves on the dance floor. The roots of this visual cliché can be traced to 1921, when silent film star Rudolph Valentino performed a sexy tango in the film The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse. Valentino, dressed as a gaucho with a whip dangling from his hip, rakishly clenched a single rose in his teeth and cut in on a couple on the dance floor. The tango he danced with the lovely señorita was decidedly risqué, even by today’s standards. • After winning the Revolutionary War, America officially abolished the use of British aristocratic titles as “duke” and “prince.” However, Rose Kennedy – the very American matriarch of the Kennedy dynasty – was a “countess.” Pope Pius XII bestowed upon her the honorific title of “Papal Countess” in 1951, in recognition of her “exemplary motherhood” and her exhaustive résumé of charitable works. Only a handful of other American women have been granted this honor. • Were you aware that many maps are decorated with a rose? You’ve probably seen a compass rose without knowing that it had a name – it’s the decorative North-South-East-West directional indicator. Sometimes, the design is very basic, depicting only the four main points of direction. On older maps, compass roses provided 32 directional reference points, giving them shapes more like real-life “roses.” • Tokyo Rose was a generic name given to several English-speaking Japanese women who served as announcers on radio stations spouting war propaganda during World War II and the Korean War. They taunted American soldiers with stories of infidelities of their women back home and fictitious reports of Japanese victories in various battles.

Menard Sees Fast Future With Yates Racing Paul Menard, whoʼs had a respectable career at Dale Earnhardt Inc., moves to Yates Racing this year, carrying the sponsorship of his fatherʼs homeimprovement chain with him. The 28-year-old from Eau Claire, Wis., won a Nationwide Series race in his home state on June 24, 2006. In 2003, at Talladega, Menard won an ARCA race in his first visit to that track. Winning at stock-car racingʼs top level? “Itʼs all about fast race cars,” he said. “Ultimately, thatʼs it. The ARCA race we sat on pole, got disqualified, started in the back. Once I got up front, I had the fastest car and nobody could get around me.” Some see Menardʼs move as going from one struggling team to another. “Iʼm definitely looking forward to going to Yates,” he said. “Thereʼs the potential of fast race cars there, just because the engine department is so highly regarded. Itʼs going to be promising for us at Daytona. “DEI? Theyʼre going to be OK in the future. Itʼs nice to have all that behind us. Iʼve been able to concentrate on preparing for next year, and the same was true at DEI.” Menard said he wonʼt look back. “I looked at everything on paper. I made the decision to part DEI, so it falls on my shoulders, and Iʼm very confident with my decision.”

2. Kenny Lofton set a record in 2007 for most career stolen bases in the postseason. Who had held the mark, and with how many? 3. Name the first two quarterbacks to have beaten 31 other NFL teams in their careers. 4. Pete Maravich holds the top three spots for highest points-per-game average for a season in Division I college basketball. Who is No. 4? 5. Two teams hold the NHL’s longest current streak for failing to make the playoffs. Name them. 6. Who was the youngest season champion in Formula One racing before 23-year-old Lewis Hamilton set the mark in 2008? 7. Name the last year tennis star Chris Evert was No. 1 in the annual top-10 women’s world rankings.

Like many of todayʼs young stars, Menardʼs love of NASCAR came relatively late. “I grew up around the Indy 500, but the Daytona 500 was right there alongside the Indy 500,” he said. “I grew up an Indy-car guy, but the last, about, 15 years, Iʼve really gotten into stock-car racing and watching Dale Earnhardt Sr., Rusty Wallace, Mark Martin and all of those guys go at it. “Growing up in Wisconsin, where, in February, there isnʼt a whole lot to do, we would watch the Daytona 500, then go play around on our snowmobiles.” Monte Dutton has covered motorsports for The Gaston (N.C.) Gazette since 1993. He was named writer of the year by the National Motorsports Press Association in 2008. His blog NASCAR This Week (http://nascar.rbma.com) features all of his reporting on racing, roots music and life on the road. You can e-mail Monte at nascar_thisweek@yahoo.com. (c) 2008 King Features Synd., Inc.

Thought of the week “An economist is a surgeon with an excellent scalpel and a rough-edged lancet, who operates beautifully on the dead and tortures the living.” -- Nicholas Chamfort By Samantha Weaver

• Researchers have discovered that humans aren’t the only ones to imbibe alcohol on a regular basis. It seems that the tiny pen-tailed tree shrew makes a habit of consuming naturally fermented palm flower nectar, which has an alcohol content of 3.8 percent -- comparable to that of most beers. • It was Pulitzer and Nobel prize-winning novelist, short-story writer and journalist Ernest Hemingway who made the following observation: “An intelligent man is sometimes forced to be drunk to spend time with his fools.”

1. Name the last black pitcher before Cleveland’s CC Sabathia in 2007 to win a Cy Young Award.

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• There are people who spend their time counting the number of times people blink and why, but they still can’t explain why an adult in a calm state of mind blinks 15 times per minute, while a newborn baby blinks only twice per minute.

• A couple more tidbits from the files of musical performers’ unusual backstage requirements: Pop and R&B singer Christina Aguilera must have Flintstones vitamins, and singer and actress Mariah Carey insists on having drinking straws with a bend rather than the straight variety. • You might be surprised to learn that residents of New York City get a white Christmas roughly only once every four years. • Have you ever committed catachresis? I try to avoid it (in this column, at least), but unless you are unusually articulate -- or simply don’t speak or write much -- then it’s almost certain that you have. Catachresis is just a fancy term for the misuse of words. • Those who study such things say that the most popular seafood in the United States is shrimp, followed by canned tuna in second place and salmon in third. (c) 2008 King Features Synd., Inc.

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Tidbits® of the Tri-Cities you think of newspaper to get a fire started, you should be thinking of the black-and-white, frontpage newsprint variety. The others are not safe.

• Got leftover alcohol from holiday parties? Get the musty smell from wool items by spritzing them with straight vodka. It kills the bacteria and mold without leaving behind any smell. • “I keep a stack of brown paper bags that I will use on nights when I expect the weather to ice over. I put them on my windshield, and I can pull them right off in the morning. I try to shake them off and let them dry so that they can be reused as well. It beats scraping ice early in the morning, that’s for sure!” -- A Reader in Montana • Here’s a fireplace reminder: Don’t burn magazines or colored, glossy advertising inserts. When

• “I was rushing to put up some photos on the wall in my apartment when my parents came for a visit. I messed up a couple of spots, and I needed to fill the holes. My roommate suggested we use toothpaste. It totally worked. We can go back later and patch them with spackle -- if we can find them, that is.” -- T.C. in Texas • Need to get a grip -- on a jar lid? Try putting on a pair of dishwashing gloves. They give great traction even when the jar lid is slippery. • To break in stiff jeans, wash them in a regular cycle to which you’ve added a half-cup of salt. Send your tips to Now Here’s a Tip, c/o King Features Weekly Service, P.O. Box 536475, Orlando, FL 32853-6475 or e-mail JoAnn at heresatip@yahoo.com.

live, you will be able to pull your hand away. I thought this would be a useful safety tip for your readers. -- Margie L., Kennebunk, Maine

Backhand Safety Tip By Samantha Mazzotta Q: This might be a good tip for those do-it-yourselfers who feel they are ready to tackle electrical repairs. We recently had an electrician come in to update the wiring in our kitchen as part of a remodeling project. During a break we were chatting, and the electrician told us an important safety tip. Anytime you touch a wire, you should touch it with the back of your hand -- not your fingertips! The reason for this, he explained, is that the hand naturally closes around things. If you touch a wire with the fingertips and the wire is live, your hand may reflexively grip closed around the wire, leaving you unable to pull away. If instead you touch the wire first with the back of your hand, and it is

A: Thatʼs a great safety tip, Margie, and thank you for sending it! One must always shut off the circuit to the electrical outlet or switch being worked on, and test it using a voltage tester before commencing work. This step -- touching the wire with the back of the hand first -- provides an added layer of safety and costs nothing more than a few extra seconds of your time. But it should only be done after you have made certain the circuit is open (off) -- itʼs the last step before going ahead with wiring work. HOME TIP: Taking down holiday lights? Now is the time to inspect all light strings and extension cords for exposed wiring, broken plugs or loose connections. Discard and replace cords that show this sort of damage. Send questions or home-repair tips to homegu ru2000@hotmail.com, or write This Is a Hammer, c/o King Features Weekly Service, P.O. Box 536475, Orlando, FL 32853-6475.

A ROSY NEW YEAR (continued): • The actress known as Rose Marie (famous for The Dick Van Dyke Show and Hollywood Squares) did have a last name – Mazetta. She got her show business start at the age of three as a part of her parents’ vaudeville act, where she was billed as “Baby Rose Marie.” Shockingly, she revealed in her autobiography that the support of several organized crime figures (including Al Capone and Bugsy Siegel) was instrumental in helping her make the career transition from child star to nightclub performer. • Axl Rose, lead singer of heavy metal band Guns n’ Roses, was named William Bruce Rose upon birth. His divorced mother then married a man named Stephen Bailey. Due to taunts related to the popular early-1900s song “Bill Bailey,” the youngster detested the thought of using that name. As a teenager, he reverted to using his biological father’s surname (Rose). When he joined up with musicians Jeff Isbell and Saul Hudson, they decided they needed edgier, rock-and-roll names. So they became known as Axl Rose, Izzy Stradlin and Slash, respectively. • In the original Brothers Grimm story, Snow White had a sister by the name of Rose Red. Unlike the elegant Snow White, Rose was the rambunctious, “tomboy” of the family. When Snow White wed Prince Charming, Rose Red exchanged vows with his younger brother in a double-wedding ceremony. • The traditional romantic rhyme that states “Roses are red / Violets are blue / Sugar is sweet / And so are you” is believed to have been adapted from an epic poem written by Edmund Spenser. Known as “The Fairie Queene,” the late 16th-century work includes the following verse: “She bathed with roses red and violets blue / And all the sweetest flowers that in the forest grew.”

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ALL THE PRESIDENTS’ TIDBITS

BENJAMIN HARRISON

Long before the Bush family made its impact on American politics, there were the Harrisons. William Henry Harrison only spent a month as president, but his grandson, Benjamin, had a bit longer stay in the White House. • Benjamin Harrison was born in North Bend, Ohio, on August 20, 1833. His father, John Scott Harrison, holds the unique distinction of being the only man who was both the son of a U.S. president and the father of one. • The youngster experienced a typical if uneventful Midwestern childhood, insomuch as his grandfather became president when Benjamin was seven years old. Raised in a strong Presbyterian household, Harrison learned that his ancestors had a long history of service to America. (Benjamin’s namesake great-grandfather had signed the Declaration of Independence.) He developed a keen interest in history and became an adept writer and speaker on the subject. BICYCLES (continued): In the 1890s, “modern” bicycles • • Harrison enteredthe the first University of Miami in appeared: chain-driven vehicles with simiOxford, Ohio, with designs on becoming a larly-sized tires. These were safer than the minister. By the time (and he graduated in called 1852, high-wheel models were even however, Harrisonashad changed his attention “safety bicycles” a result), but proved a step backwards in comfort. While the long spokes to the study of law. He spent two years atofa high-wheel bikes absorbed bumps and ruts, the Cincinnati legal firm, but never completely smaller wheels on these new bikes, particularly forgot religious roots: In 1853, heofwed when his coupled with the hard-rubber tires the long-time girlfriend Caroline Scott, the era, made for jarring, unpleasant rides. of aa Presbyterian preacher. • daughter More than million bicycles were sold in the United States by the time 1895 rolled around, • The couple settled in Indianapolis, where but one last improvement would propel the Benjamin entered into a law partnership and bicycle into the must-own category: the pneumaticthe tire. Under the Party. guidance of thebegan Pope joined Republican Harrison (which local made and bia Manufacturing slow but steadyCompany ascent through cycles), the Hartford Rubber Works produced state politics, which was interrupted by the America’s first pneumatic tires in 1895. ProCivil War. Whilesofter he did notthey aspire becomea viding a much ride, soontobecame all bicycle models. a standard military feature hero, itonquickly became clear that • Benjamin Dozens ofwas smaller-scale improvements boosted an able leader. He left the U.S. the speed, comfort, longevitygeneral. and performance Army in 1865 as a brigadier of bicycles during the 20th century. As women

• Returning Indianapolis to continue his road began to to find them as necessary as men, two varieties of bicycle were made. Men’s bikes to success, Harrison’s continued support of the were built with an extra stabilizer bar across the dominant Republicans led to two unsuccessful top of the bike. Women’s bikes omitted the bar, attempts toforwin the Indianaandgubernatorial providing easier mounting dismounting election. In 1880, parlayed his support of the vehicle whenhe wearing skirts. • ofThe 1970s saw of two biJames Garfi eldthe fordevelopment president into a U.S. cycle extremes. First came bicycles that took senate seat. Party members were well aware you nowhere. Otherwise known as exercise that Harrison’s pedigree would make him a bikes, these training aids first hit the home popular their nominee for president, marketchoice at the as beginning of the decade. Then, asBenjamin time went rejected on and the energy crisis sent but their overtures untilfuel he prices skyrocketing, mopeds appeared. These was defeated for senate reelection. In early bicycle/motorcycle hybrids, most popular with 1888, he announced his candidacy for the city-centered business workers, could either be White House. pedaled like a regular bike or powered using a small, low-powered gasoline engine.

What’s the Real Cost of Owning Your Car 2nd Quarter 2006 Every year since 1985, the American Institute for Week has 22 come out with a new edition Economic Research May 28Your - JunCar 3 Really Costs.” If youʼre of its book “What about to shop Back for a Page car or wonder what your current one actually costs you, this book should be a piece of your information arsenal. One of the first facts the book offers is something of a shock: The average American will spend approximately $320,000 on cars over a lifetime. That equates to 18 percent of a consumerʼs income. The only thing that costs more is our homes. The true cost of auto ownership isnʼt limited to the price of the car. Add to that fuel and oil, repairs and maintenance, insurance, the cost of a loan or lease, depreciation (a significant amount in the cost of ownership), fuel efficiency and taxes, and that $320,000 doesnʼt seem so far-fetched. If you limit your auto cost calculations to what you pay in a monthly payment, you could be skewing the numbers in your personal long-term financial plan. For example: If the depreciation difference between two vehicles is invested instead of spent, that dollar amount could grow to well over $100,000. Between a modest sedan and a luxury car, that number climbs much higher.

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1. Dwight Gooden of the New York Mets in 1985. 2. Rickey Henderson, with 33 stolen bases. 3. Peyton Manning and Tom Brady achieved the feat in 2007. 4. Frank Selvy averaged 41.7 points per game for Furman in 1953-54. 5. The Florida Panthers and Columbus Blue Jackets, with seven seasons each entering 2008-09. 6. Fernando Alonso was 24 when he won the season title in 2005. 7. It was 1981.

“What Your Car Really Costs” walks you through a number of important steps. • The use of Consumer Reports magazine auto information to compare models for reliability and road-worthiness. As the authors point out, CRʼs “recommended” vehicles often hold their value longer. • The true cost differences between owning a small sedan, large sedan, SUV or minivan. • The resale value when it comes time to sell or trade in. • Buying new vs. buying used. • How to calculate the real meaning of promotional offers of low interest rates or rebates and how those translate into dollars. • An explanation of MSRP (the window-sticker price) when it comes to buying. • Understanding a lease. • Auto insurance basics. At the end of the book are charts to fill in with your own figures, as well as consumer protection contacts by state. To order “What Your Car Really Costs,” see www.aier.org online or call 413-528-1216. Copies are $12 each. David Uffington regrets that he cannot personally answer reader questions, but will incorporate them into his column whenever possible. Write to him in care of King Features Weekly Service, P.O. Box 536475, Orlando, FL 32853-6475, or send e-mail to columnreply@gmail.com. (c) 2008 King Features Synd., Inc.

Happy NEW YEAR from

Tidbits of the Tri-Cities!

“Happy New Year from Tidbits of the Tri-Cities” Make sure and call us to list your 2009 events!

City of Colonial Heights:

208 E. Cawson St. Hopewell, VA (804) 452-5136

Sports Bar Now Open! Our selections include authentic cuisine from Mexico, Cuba, Spain and Peru.

L/D

$.99�� $18.95

All� Major

The Mad Italian Pasta and Steak House St 2545 S. Crater Rd. Petersburg, VA (804) 732-9268

The first Italian & G Greek restaurant in the Tri-Cities. Serving the finest Italian & Greek cuisine since 1975!

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$6.50�� $14.95

V/MC

Pleasure Island Seafood Restaurant 3650 Boulevard Colonial Heights, VA (804) 520-0277

Serving quality seafood in the Tri-Cities area for over 40 years! Party room available for up to 25 guest.

$5.99�� $24.99

All� Major

Prince George Family Barbecue 4605 County Drive (Rt. 460) Petersburg, VA (804) 732-3278

Delicious barbecue, "fall-off-thebone" pork ribs, soups, salads, sandwiches, and appetizers. Catering available.

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$3.49�� $19.99

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SEAFOOD RESTAURANT Come Try Our Daily Seafood Specials!

Still in the same location... serving quality seafood in the Tri-Cities area for over 40 years!

804-520-0277 3650 Boulevard, Col. Heights • Open Tue-Sat at 5pm

FOR MORE INFORMATION VISIT:

WWW.TRICITIESTIDBITS.COM

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Reservations Accepted

Luna Restaurant

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Carryout, Delivery, Catering (CO/D/CT)

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Sen. Citiz./Military Discount (SC/M)

$4.50�� $12.95

Outside Seating

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Come join the fun and taste our authentic Mexican food! New seafood dishes and an extensive dessert menu are sure to please.

Children's Menu

Credit Cards

3609 Boulevard Colonial Heights, VA (804) 520-8422

Meal Price Range

Parent / Child Tea Party Jan. 31, 2009 Celebrate National Tea Month with an English-style Tea at the Hopewell Library. Be sure to register by January 23rd by calling Dee Dee Whitman, 804-458-6329 ext. 1013. The event is free but space is limited.

Don Jose Mexican Restaurant

Description

Meals Served

Game Day @ the Library Jan. 3, 2009 Join us at the Hopewell Library for board games and video games from 2pm-5pm. Call 804-861-0322 for details.

Restaurant

Coupon Offer

City of Hopewell:

To Advertise Call (804) 731-7504 Ad on Page

Scrap Booking The Colonial Heights Recreation and Parks Department is pleased to announce several Scrap Booking classes for youth, adults, and seniors. All classes are $10.00 and include supplies for a two page 12x12 layout. Scrap booking topics vary by date, participant age and class however, topics range from genealogy, holiday hurrah, resolutions, and friendships. Instructor: Deborah Malbone. www.mycraftivity.com/groovy/doodles/

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