AT TIDBITS® WE’RE NUTS ABOUT CHESTNUTS

by Patricia L. CookThe lyrics of a favorite Christmas carol say, “Chest-nuts roasting on an open fire.” Let’s explore some interesting Tidbits about chestnuts, the subtly sweet, healthy nuts. • American chestnut trees were the dominant hard-

wood trees for food and timber in the Appalachian Mountains several hundred years ago. When Chi-nese chestnut trees were imported, a bark fungus came with them for which the American species had no resistance. The American chestnut died off; over 30 million acres (12 million ha) died from Maine to Georgia and west to the Ohio Valley from what was known as the chestnut blight. The death of these trees was one of the largest ecological di-sasters in America.

• Back in the heyday of American chestnuts, they were an important food for people and wildlife from birds to bears. Rural communities depended on the nuts as a cash crop for feeding livestock, and the sale of lumber was also important for rural economics. Another chestnut product was tannin, a chemical substance found in some plants that is used in the leather tanning industry.

• The loss of the chestnut industry cost rural com-munities millions of dollars. Scientists have been working to restore the species.

• James Carpentar of Salem, Ohio, a member of the Northern Nut Growers Association (NNGA), dis-covered a large living American chestnut in the midst of a grove of dead trees in the early 1950s. The tree showed no sign of blight infection. Car-pentar and Dr. Robert T. Dunstan, another member of the NNGA and a well-known plant breeder in Greensboro, North Carolina, conducted research, grafting and cross-pollinating chestnut trees. They cross-pollinated grafts from the strong American chestnut with a mixture of three United States De-partment of Agriculture-released Chinese chestnut varieties. After years of work, Dunstan Hybrid Chestnuts were developed. They have a combi-nation of American and Chinese traits. The first chestnuts to ever receive a U.S. Plant Patent, the Dunstan trees are healthy, vigorous trees that bear heavy annual crops of large, sweet-tasting nuts.

Week of November 21, 2011 Vol. 1, Issue 40

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1. In 1964, the Shangri-Las had a

No. 1 hit with which song?

2. Who was the Silver Convention?

3. Name the singer responsible for

“The Monkey Time” and “Um, Um, Um, Um, Um,

Um.”

4. Has Lynyrd Skynyrd ever had a No. 1 U.S. single?

5. Which artist wrote and released “Pink Cadillac”?

6. Which Eagles album contained “Hole In the

World” and “Please Come Home for Christmas”?

Answers1. “Leader of the Pack.” For years it was claimed that a motorcycle was driven into the studio to get the right sound effects.2. This studio group had a big hit in 1975 with “Fly, Robin, Fly,” which created a problem because producers had to round up actual entertainment musicians for the public to see.3. Major Lance (his real name), in 1963 and 1964, respec-tively. R&B legend Curtis Mayfield wrote both tunes.4. No. “Smokestack Lightning” at No. 2 on the charts in 1991 was as close as they got.5. Bruce Springsteen, in 1982. The song has been covered by many, including Bette Midler and Aretha Franklin.6. The two songs appears on “Long Road Out of Eden, Deluxe Collectors Edition” (2007), along with a special booklet.

Leftover Turkey and Pear Salad

After all the dishes are washed and the leftovers are put away, you’re probably wondering how you’ll use up the leftover turkey. Well, wonder no more! Here’s a wonderful “winter” main-dish salad just waiting for you to stir up for lunch.

3 cups shredded romaine lettuce1 1/2 cups diced cooked turkey breast1/4 cup chopped walnuts1 cup unpeeled and diced Bartlett pears1/3 cup fat-free blue cheese salad dressing3 tablespoons fat-free mayonnaise

In a large bowl, combine romaine lettuce, turkey, wal-nuts and pears. In a small bowl, combine blue cheese dressing and mayonnaise. Drizzle dressing mixture evenly over salad mixture. Toss gently to combine. Serve at once. Makes 4 (1 full cup) servings.

• Each serving equals: 231 calories, 7g fat, 20g protein, 22g carb., 267mg sodium, 3g fiber; Diabetic Exchang-es: 2 Meat, 1 Fat, 1/2 Vegetable, 1/2 Fruit.

THE BOLD AND THE BEAUTI-FULA love-struck Thomas put all his cards on the table for Hope. Nick

received a tempting offer from a secret admirer. Katie urged Liam to leave Steffy before he lost Hope forever. Pam un-leashed years of anger toward Stephanie. Nick got a big sur-prise in the steam room. Ridge reached out to Thomas, hoping to mend their relationship. Jackie hoped to take advantage of the rift between Pam and Stephanie and use it to her advan-tage. Wait to See: Jackie is inspired by Sally Spectra’s legacy.

DAYS OF OUR LIVESSami blamed John and Marlena for her son being missing. EJ accepted Quinn’s help in finding Johnny despite Nicole’s disapproval. Jack was disappointed when Jennifer said that she wasn’t ready to commit to him yet. Sami and Rafe’s rela-tionship suffered under the stress of Johnny’s disappearance. The prosecution rejected John’s offer of a plea deal. Sami was devastated after the media falsely reported that Johnny was dead. Meanwhile, Rafe found EJ in his favorite hiding place at the family pub. Wait to See: EJ and Sami find comfort in each other’s arms.

GENERAL HOSPITALWhile hospitalized, Elizabeth continued to hallucinate that Jake was really alive. Robin and Patrick came under scrutiny during Lisa’s murder investigation. Matt agreed to pose for Maxie’s magazine spread. Sam and Jason continued to feel the effects of Franco’s message. Ethan found wet footsteps lead-ing to Laura’s portrait inside Wyndemere. Luke wrestled with his conscience. Someone anonymously sent Maxie a dozen roses -- were they from Franco? Maggie needled Steve about his past in Memphis. Wait to See: Jason has trouble keeping it together.

ONE LIFE TO LIVENatalie found out during her wedding ceremony that John -- not Brody -- was baby Liam’s father. Jessica and Ford fell into bed together after realizing that they were in love. Cutter accompanied Stacy to Rio to see if the plastic surgeon could restore her old face. Tea told Tomas that she was pregnant. Neela urged Jack to confess. Rex and Aubrey flew to Rio in search of Gigi’s twin. Cutter ran into someone from his past at the surgeon’s office. John and Natalie joined forces for the sake of their child. Wait to See: Rex crosses paths with Alex Olanov. THE YOUNG AND THE RESTLESSTank, the man assigned to watch over Billy, turned out to have a heart and took Billy to visit Delia as she recovered in the hospital. Victor showed up to find Billy missing, but Tank covered for him and said he caught him trying to escape. Later, Victoria called Victor to tell him that she was searching for Billy in Myanmar. Victor was determined to keep the two apart and told Billy that Victoria was in New Mexico. Cane

saved Jill and Victoria from being kidnapped after they questioned people about a woman seen with Billy in Myanmar. Wait to See: Nikki returns to Genoa City with a secret.

PHOTO: Jason Cook stars as “Matt” on” General Hospital.”

• The grandson of Dr. Dunstan, R.D. Wallace, and his wife, Deborah A. Gaw, started Chestnut Hill Tree Farm in 1981 in Alachua, Florida. Dunstan Chestnuts are the most widely planted chestnut va-riety, and Chestnut Hill is a national leader in the chestnut industry.

• The American Chestnut Foundation, started by plant scientists in 1983, is also working to reestab-lish American chestnut trees. They have worked to breed blight-resistant trees, while maintaining the characteristics of the original trees. The successful program has resulted in trees that retain “no Chi-nese characteristics other than blight resistance.”

• Canadian scientists and naturalists established the Canadian Chestnut Council in 1988 to work on re-establishing the trees in Canada as well, mainly in Ontario.

• There are fewer than 2,500 acres (1,012 ha) of chestnut orchards in the United States. We import $20 million of chestnuts annually. Our consump-tion of chestnuts is very low compared to Europe, Asia and Africa. Most chestnuts are imported from Japan, China, Spain and Italy.

• Chestnuts are used as a potato substitute frequently in Europe, Asia and Africa. The nuts actually con-tain twice as much starch as potatoes. They are also similar to brown rice in their nutritional value and sometimes called a “grain that grows on a tree.” They are 40 percent carbohydrates and only 2-3 percent fat, compared to many nuts that contain 50 percent fat. They contain 5-10 percent high qual-ity protein and no cholesterol.

• In some European countries, Catholics give chest-nuts to the poor on the Feast of Saint Martin in No-vember. Also, chestnuts are eaten as a traditional food on Saint Simon’s Day in Tuscany, Italy.

• Chestnuts are excellent steamed or roasted. They are often included in dressing with turkey for holi-day meals and are a great addition to soups and stews. Chestnuts can be ground into flour and used for baking pastries and bread. A traditional Euro-pean dessert, “Mont Blanc,” has chestnuts sweet-ened with honey and topped with whipped cream. Also, a few beer brewers are now producing glu-ten-free chestnut beer.

• One of the largest chestnut forests in the world is on the French island of Corsica. In the 16th century, landowners were ordered to plant four trees each year in an eastern mountainous area of the island. The town of Castagniccia, which means chestnut grove, became forested with magnificent chestnut trees. Today, that forest is dying from neglect.

• Tourists and locals walking the streets of Beijing and other Chinese cities are likely to find chestnuts being roasted and sold by street vendors. About 40 percent of the world’s chestnuts are consumed in China. They roast them in ovens, on coals or even in hot sand. They also simmer them in numerous dishes and add them to soups.

• American chestnut wood is straight-grained, eas-ily workable, lightweight and highly rot-resistant. It is used for railroad ties, fence posts, barn beams and home construction, as well as for musical in-struments and fine furniture. Healthy chestnut trees grow straight and tall, often not producing branch-es until around 50 feet (15 m). The trees are known for being used “from cradle to coffin.”

• A famous piece of chestnut furniture is an arm-chair on display at the Longfellow National His-toric Site, operated by the National Park Service, in Cambridge, Massachusetts. The chair was a gift to Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, one of the most widely read American poets of all time, from Cam-bridge children for his 72nd birthday. The chair was built from wood from the “spreading chestnut tree,” written about by Longfellow in “The Village Blacksmith.” The tree in the poem, that he and many others loved, was removed in 1876 in order to widen Brattle Street in Cambridge.

• There are chestnut trees around still today, and res-toration efforts are ongoing to return the Ameri-can chestnut trees to their majestic glory. There are growers selling chestnuts in the fall, mostly blight resistant Chinese varieties. It is hoped that some-day soon, there will be more healthy chestnut for-ests of the American variety that produce chestnuts for us to “roast on an open fire.”

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1. MUSIC: Who had a hit single in 1972 with a song called “First Time Ever I Saw Your Face”? 2. ADVERTISEMENTS: What was the name of the pudgy Mi-chelin tire character?3. ANATOMY: What’s the more common name for the pa-tella?4. LITERATURE: What was the name of Tom Sawyer’s aunt in the Mark Twain novel?5. RELIGION: When does Ramadan take place?6. ANCIENT WORLD: What animal was once worshipped by the ancient Egyptians?7. THEATER: How many years did the show “A Chorus Line” run on Broadway?8. TELEVISION: Which state was the main setting for the se-ries “Knot’s Landing”?9. MATH: What is the Arabic equivalent of the Roman nu-merals DIV?10. HISTORY: When was Prohibition imposed in the United States?

Answers 1. Roberta Flack 2. Bibendum, or the Michelin Man 3. Kneecap 4. Polly 5. Ninth month of the Islamic calendar 6. Kaffir cat 7. 15 years (1975-90 for 6,137 shows) 8. California 9. 504 10. 1920

Q: I am loving the second season of my favorite show, “The Walking Dead,” on AMC. I know this might be a little early, but will it

return for another season? -- Chad G., via e-mailA: Normally, this would be a bit early for renewal news, but since the show’s return at the end of October, its ratings have been through the roof. Season two ratings have eclipsed the stellar ratings (especially by cable standards) of the first season, so AMC has already renewed it for a third season. “The Walking Dead” depicts the aftermath of a zombie apocalypse following a group of survivors outside Atlanta, starring Andrew Lincoln, Jon Bernthal and Sarah Wayne Callies.***Q: I was sad to read in your column that “Spartacus” star Andy Whitfield had passed away. Will the production of the show continue after his death? --

Hallie E., Akron, OhioA: In March 2010, Andy was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin lymphoma. Production on season two was delayed so he could be treated. Unfortunately, his cancer returned, and he dropped out of the series and was replaced by Liam McIntyre. Andy passed away at age 39 this past September. Season two, with Liam as Spartacus, will return to Starz on Jan. 27, with the network already giving the green light for a third season to begin production in early 2012. ***Q: I have noticed the actress who plays Kensi on “NCIS: Los Angeles” appears to have two different colored eyes. Does she, or am I just seeing things? I think she plays a good strong female part and would like to see her in more shows or movies. -- Mary B., Virginia Beach, Va.A: Daniela Ruah, who has played Kensi Blye since the show’s premiere in 2009, has a birthmark in her right eye, making it appear almost completely black, with her left eye being hazel. You’ll get to see more of Daniela soon, as she co-stars in the feature film “Red Tails” with Terrence Howard, Cuba Gooding Jr. and Bryan Cranston. She also is rumored to be starring in the upcoming “Uncharted:

Drake’s Fortune” with Bruce Campbell.***UPDATE: Hot on the heels of the news that Lifetime picked up “America’s Most Wanted” after it was canceled by Fox comes the news of its premiere date. The 20-episode 25th season of the crime-fighting reality show will premiere on Dec. 2 at 9 p.m. ET/PT. The show’s passionate host, John Walsh, said of the return: “I am excited to be back in the saddle and working with Lifetime. We are the court of last resort, and with the show getting back to our weekly airing, we’ll have the capability of getting more fugitives off the streets and behind bars where they belong. We hope our observant fans continue the mission with us, on our new night -- Friday -- and keep our capture number climbing while helping those crime victims who need us.” PHOTO: Daniela Ruah

HOLLYWOOD -- “The Twilight Saga” fans are anxiously awaiting “Break-ing Dawn,” Part 1, due out this month. However, Part 2, won’t be released until November 2012. The original “Twilight” cost $37 million and grossed $392.5 mil-

lion. The second in the series, “New Moon,” cost $50 million and grossed $709.7 million. The third episode, “Eclipse,” cost $68 million and grossed $698.5 million. “Breaking Dawn,” parts 1 and 2, cost $263 million. There’s no doubt this saga has made big stars of its three leads -- Robert Pattison, Taylor Lautner and Kristen Stewart -- but somehow it hasn’t transferred to other films.Pattinson’s $38 million “Water For Elephants,” despite Oscar-winner Reese Witherspoon as his co-star, grossed only $117 million worldwide. He has “Cosmopolis,” directed by David Cronenberg from his screenplay, with Paul Giamatti and Juliette Binoche, and “Bel Ami,” with Uma Thurman, Kristin Scott Thomas and Christina Ricci, coming out soon. The same prob-lem befell Lautner, whose $35 million “Abduction” grossed only $71.6 million.Stewart has fared even worse. Her $10 million film, “The Run-aways,” brought in a paltry $4.6 million. She has two films due out, “Snow White and The Huntsman,” with (“Thor”) Chris Hemsworth, as the Huntsman, due out in June (the first of a tril-ogy), and “On the Road” with Sam Riley and Viggo Mortensen. It looks like they’ll have to make more films in the same vein as “The Twilight Saga” if they want their fans to support them!***The Liberace bio film, “Behind the Candelabra,” starring Michael Douglas and Matt Damon, has found a home at HBO. Producer Jerry Weintraub made his bestselling book, “When I Stop Talk-ing, You’ll Know I’m Dead”, about handling Elvis, Frank Sinatra and John Denver, among others, into the hit HBO documentary, “His Way.” “I knew Liberace when I was a kid,” Jerry said. “He was Elton John and Lady Gaga before they ever dreamed of it! I picked HBO because of its huge subscription base.” Steven So-derbergh will direct and shoot in Los Angeles, Las Vegas and Palm Springs, where Liberace had homes.***Goldie Hawn’s second husband, Bill Hudson, has written a tell-all book about his four-year marriage to Goldie and his relation-ship with their two actor children, Kate and Oliver. Goldie and Kate aren’t thrilled with the content of the book, and in fact, Kate and her father aren’t even on speaking terms. No word if the book will include his 18-year marriage to “Laverne and Shirley” star Cindy Williams and their two children.Look on the bright side, Goldie, he’ll be telling all your secrets just for money, but you’ve always had more fame and money than he’s ever had, which makes him nothing more than a ... Gold-ie-digger!

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Kasey Kahne has been hot recently, finishing sixth or better in five of the past six races, including a runner-up finish in Kansas and a third-place finish in Texas. (John Clark/NASCAR This Week photo)

Kahne Giving His All as Season

Wraps UpKasey Kahne’s late-season rally has been lost in the white-hot battle between Carl Edwards

and Tony Stewart for the Sprint Cup championship.Kahne, whose one-year ride with Team Red Bull will expire -- perhaps along with that team -- at season’s end, has finished sixth or better in five of the past six races, including a runner-up finish in Kansas and a third in Texas Motor Speedway’s AAA Texas 500.Kahne will replace Mark Martin at Hendrick Motorsports in 2012. Martin announced recently that he will compete in 25 races for Michael Waltrip Racing.“The Red Bull team just keeps doing a good job,” Kahne said. “They’re working hard. It’s pretty impressive for a lot of them, not knowing their future, not knowing what’s going on there.”Kahne, 31, was unable to qualify for the 12-driver Chase for the Sprint Cup, but he is 14th in the standings, trailing only Clint Bowyer among non-qualifiers.It goes without saying that Kahne is looking forward to a move to NASCAR’s most successful team of the past two decades. Longtime crew chief Kenny Francis also will join Hendrick, where Kahne will join Jimmie Johnson, Jeff Gordon and Dale Earnhardt Jr.“The way we do things might be a little bit different at Hen-drick,” Kahne said. “The way they do things is really positive,

too.”No kidding.“It will be fun to put it all together,” Kahne added. “There are tracks where they beat us badly, and there are tracks where we run pretty well. Hopefully, we can put it all together and make some gains, make Hendrick Motorsports a little stronger than it already is.”Kahne, 31, from Enumclaw, Wash., has won 11 races in his Sprint Cup career, the most recent being at Atlanta Motor Speedway in 2009.

To have your local event featured here, email your information to tidbitsofmobile@gmail.com.All submissions may not be run due to time and space limitations.

Mobile International FestivalNovember 17th - 19th

10am - 5pm Mobile Civic Centerwww.mobileinternationalfestival.org

Lighting of the TreesNovember 18th

5pm - 7pmBeinville Square, Downtown Mobile

More Info: 251-208-7443www.ncsmobile.org

Market on the SquareNovember 19th

8am - NoonCathedral Square, Downtown Mobile

www.ncsmobile.org

PapercutsThrough December 17th

An exhibition of contemporary paper-cuttingby artist from around the world.

Space 301 30 Conti St.More Info: 251-208-5671

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Pet Of The WeekMy name is Gideonand I was found walk-ing in the middle of abusy road. I am a big,strong, enthusiasticfellow that would dogreat in a home withanother playful strongdog. Older kids wouldbe best because mytail could knock a little

kid over! I need regular puppy training but I am smart andeager to learn new things. I am just 9 months old, heart-worm negative and 50 pounds of fun! If you are interested inadopting me, please call the Mobile SPCA office at 633-3531.

MOBILESPCA

Mobile SPCA620 Zeigler Cir W • Mobile 36608 • 251-633-3531M-F 9 to 5:30 • Sat 10 to 4

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Winter Is Rough on Pets’ Paws

DEAR PAW’S CORNER: I see more and more dogs, of all sizes, wearing little booties when outside in winter temperatures. Aren’t dogs’ paws designed to deal with rough terrain and cold weather? Why do owners feel like they have to protect their pets’ paws? -- Jerry in Kansas City, Mo.

DEAR JERRY: Actually, booties are a pretty smart idea for pets in wintertime, and it’s not a new idea. Sled drivers in the Arctic have put them on their dogs’ paws for centuries to protect them from rough terrain and jagged ice. Booties also protect existing paw or foot injuries.That booties are catching on among owners of pets of every size is perhaps due to the increasing variety available. But they serve the same practical purpose: They protect pets’ feet from icy cold surfaces, rough ground and other winter hazards.The leathery pads on the bottom of dogs’ paws can withstand mild temperatures and most terrain, but they are not invulnerable. Extremely cold surfaces can cause frostbite or worse. Stepping on urban hazards like glass or sharp chunks of concrete can scratch or cut the foot pads, which is very painful for the dog. The soft skin between each pad also is very sensitive and easily can be scratched if debris gets caught between the pads.Owners who don’t opt to fit their dogs with booties in the winter before bringing them outside should check their dog’s paws each time it comes back inside to make sure the pads are uninjured and nothing is caught between them.

Holiday Glitz Shopping SpreeSaturday, December 3, 2011 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

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¥ On Nov. 28, 1582, William Shakespeare, 18, and Anne Hathaway, 26, pay a 40-pound bond for their marriage license in Stratford-upon-Avon. Six months later, Anne gave birth to their daughter, Susanna, and two years later, to twins. Shakespeare’s plays were not published until after his death, when two members of his troupe collected cop-ies of his plays and printed the First Folio (1623).

¥ On Dec. 4, 1928, “Dapper Dan” Hogan, a St. Paul, Minn., saloon-keeper and mob boss, is killed when someone plants a car bomb un-der the floorboards of his new Paige coupe. The first car bomb was a horse-drawn-wagon bomb that exploded in 1920 outside the J.P. Morgan Company’s offices in New York City.

¥ On Nov. 29, 1942, coffee joins the list of items rationed in the United States. Rationing was generally employed to guarantee a fair distribution to all citizens and to give priority to military use in World War II.

¥ On Dec. 2, 1959, the Malpasset Dam in France collapses after a week-long rain storm, and the resulting flood kills more than 400 people. The city of Frejus, built by Roman Emperor Julius Caesar as a port city on the French Riviera, was devastated by the massive flood.

¥ On Dec. 3, 1979, 11 people are killed in a stampede outside a Who concert in Cincinnati when a crowd of general-admission ticket-holders surges forward through shattered doors in an attempt to secure prime unreserved seats inside. After the crowd cleared, 11 concert-goers were found on the ground, dead from asphyxiation.

¥ On Nov. 30, 1989, Aileen Wuornos, America’s first female serial killer, picks up her first victim in Palm Harbor, Fla. She would kill a total of seven men in the next year. When caught, Wuornos confessed but claimed that they had all been killed in self-defense.

¥ On Dec. 1, 1990, workers 132 feet below the English Channel drill through a final wall of rock, opening the “Chunnel” and connecting the two ends of an underwater tunnel linking Folkestone, England, and Calais, France.

No-Fuss Slow-Cooker Beef Tacos

It’s finally time to share my family’s favorite “Too Good to Be True Slow-Cooker Beef Tacos” recipe. Passed on by word of mouth from one neighbor to the other, it’s a recipe that’s so easy to remember that I’ve just never taken the time to write it down. Simply put: “Place pot roast sprinkled with taco seasoning in a slow cooker. Set on high and cook five to six hours. Spoon tender, shredded beef into warm soft taco

shells and add favorite fillings.” That’s it! No-fail, no-fuss cooking that our busy lifestyles demand when we want to gather friends together for a robust and tasty evening meal.

Ingredients for 12 soft-shell beef tacos:2-1/2- to 3-pound boneless beef chuck pot roast, trimmed of fat1-ounce package taco seasoning mix, such as Old El Paso brand1 medium onion, peeled and sliced (optional)12 flour tortillasToppings according to taste: cilantro, chopped tomatoes, chili peppers and onions, shredded cheddar cheese, sour cream, guacamole, salsa, squeeze of lime juice

1. Sprinkle both sides of meat with seasoning mix. Reduce the amount according to taste. Place meat in slow cooker. If using onion, spread slices evenly over the meat. No need to add water.2. Cover, set on high and cook for five to six hours or until meat is tender and easily falls apart. Remove from slow cooker with a large slotted spoon. 3. Using two forks, shred the beef into a large bowl. Add onion and remaining warm juices from the slow cooker. Toss lightly to keep moist.To serve, spoon meat into warm taco shells. Add favorite toppings.

Extra idea: For a spicy pot-roast dinner, follow above steps. After three and a half hours in the slow cooker, add six peeled and quartered potatoes and six medium carrots, halved crosswise and lengthwise, on top of the meat. Add pep-per and 1/4 teaspoon salt. When meat and vegetables are tender, about two hours later, remove meat and vegetables with a slotted spoon and place on a serving platter. Spoon drippings over meat, and serve with a fresh green salad. Serves 6.

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TEDDY BEARSPresidents are remembered for their historic decisions in leadership, whether good or bad. Few are remembered for inspiring a toy whose popularity has endured around the world for many generations. • Theodore (Teddy) Roosevelt was President of the

United States from 1901 to 1909. A cartoon that appeared in The Washington Post on November 16, 1902, drawn by Clifford Berryman, was the inspiration for a toy that has stood the test of time.

• The cartoon depicted an incident that happened when the President, an avid hunter, was on a bear-hunting trip in Mississippi. The hunting had been disappointing, and, wanting to please the president, guides captured a bear and tied him to a tree for the president to shoot. President Roosevelt refused to shoot the captive animal. News spread, and Berryman drew a memorable cartoon to depict the event.

• Brooklyn shopkeeper Morris Mitchom asked his wife, Rose, a seamstress, to sew a jointed bear that resembled the bear in Berryman’s cartoon. They put the bear in their shop window with a sign that said, “Teddy’s Bear.” The bear sold quickly, and they had a hard time keeping up with demand as word spread about their creation.

• Mitchom wrote a letter asking President Roosevelt for permission to name his popular bear “Teddy.” The president sent Mitchom a hand-written reply. He is quoted as saying, “I don’t think my name is likely to be worth much in the toy bear business, but you are welcome to use it.”

• The Mitchoms’ bears were so successful that they started the Ideal Novelty and Toy Company, with their main success being Teddy Bears.

• At about the same time that Teddy Bears were becoming the hot toy item in the United States, Margarete Steiff, a disabled German seamstress, started making stuffed toy bears at a toy factory in Geingen, Germany. The Steiff bears were based on drawings from Margarete’s nephew, Richard. Richard was an art student and sketched bear cubs that were at the Stuttgart Zoo.

• The Michtoms’ bear resembled the Berryman cartoon bear, while the Steiff bear looked more like a real bear cub with a humped back and long snout.

• An American toy buyer ordered 3,000 Steiff bears in 1903, realizing that Teddy bear popularity in the United States was growing. Millions of Steiff bears were sold between 1903 and World War I. In 1905, a trademark button in the left ear was added to Steiff bears.

• Steiff and Michtom bears are valuable collectors’ toys today. The popularity of the original bears led to many other manufacturers putting out toy bears through the years, and the popularity of teddy bears has continued.

• In fact, the teddy bear was so loved, President Roosevelt used the song “The Teddy Bears’ Picnic” in his re-election campaign in 1904.

• In 1986, the Theodore Roosevelt Association started the Teddy Bears for Kids Program. The goal of the program is to: “… help make sick children smile and feel safe.” The Association, which is a national historic organization chartered in 1920 by an Act of Congress, is dedicated to keeping the legacy of Theodore Roosevelt alive. Since its inception, there have been more than 74,000 teddy bears given to children’s hospitals for sick children across the nation.

Humans Can Sprout New Blood Vessels

DEAR DR. DONOHUE: I don’t remember you addressing this sub-ject, so I thought I would write. In 1997, I had a mild heart attack and went on medicines. Six months later

I had another mild incident that led me to angioplasty. Ever since, I have been eating well, exercising and taking all my meds. My cardiologist says I have great collaterals. I have sprouted new vessels for my heart. I thought I should have some kind of intervention, but the doctor says no. Can you discuss autogenesis? Am I related to a starfish? -- R.S.

ANSWER: You’re the first writer ever to use the word “autogenesis.” If a starfish loses an arm, it grows another -- autogenesis. Humans have the same ability when it comes to blood vessels. They can grow new ones, and do so in many instances. Heart-attack victims often can sprout new arteries. It’s a long process. It doesn’t happen overnight. And it doesn’t happen to all people. Count yourself lucky.The booklet on CAD -- coronary artery disease -- discusses how ves-sels become plugged and how they are treated. To order a copy, write: Dr. Donohue -- No. 101W, Box 536475, Orlando, FL 32853-6475. En-close a check or money order (no cash) for $4.75 U.S./$6 Canada with the recipient’s printed name and address. Please allow four weeks for delivery. ***DEAR DR. DONOHUE: You are familiar with energy drinks, aren’t

you? Well, my teenage son has gotten in the habit of drinking them far too often. He says they really do increase his energy. I’m worried that they might be dangerous. Will you please provide some information? -- B.B.

ANSWER: One kind of energy drink is a mixture of caffeine and al-cohol. In November 2010, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration de-clared such combinations to be unsafe. I’m sure your son isn’t using this sort of energy drink. Others are.Your boy is likely drinking caffeinated beverages. The amount of caf-feine in these drinks ranges from 50 to 505 mg of caffeine per can. A 6-ounce cup of coffee contains 77 to 150 mg of caffeine.Adolescents drinking such large amounts of caffeine can suffer sleep disturbance, shaking hands and possibly a rise in blood pressure. One school district has banned these drinks at all practices and games. I think that’s a good policy.***DEAR DR. DONOHUE: I had my gallbladder removed a year ago. I now have diarrhea, and the doctor says it’s from not having a gallblad-der. My doctor prescribed cholestyramine. It causes severe constipa-tion. I now take half the dose, but still I have to be careful about what I eat or drink. Do you have a suggestion? -- E.J.

ANSWER: Without a gallbladder to store it, bile drips into the digestive tract constantly. That constant drip irritates the tract in some people, and it causes food to rush through faster than normal. You have found the cure for this -- cholestyramine. The only matter that remains is to determine the correct dose for you. That will come with a little experi-menting.

Avoiding Falls at HomeHave you fallen at home and not told your doctor? According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, one in three of us age 65 and older fall each year -- but only half of us tell our doctors about it. In 20 percent to 30 percent of us, falls can lead to hip fractures, head trauma and lacerations.Since we spend most of our time at home, the best way to reduce the number of falls is to

make sure our living environment is safe, especially with the darker days of winter. Here are some steps you can take:--Reduce clutter. Magazines and newspapers stacked by the recliner are especially dangerous because of the slick pages. Don’t allow anything to remain in walking paths through rooms.--In the bathroom, have grab bars installed next to the tub and toilet.--Make sure the lamp next to your bed is easy to reach. Keep a flashlight there in case the power goes out.--If you have stairs, make sure the railings are secure.--Turn on more lights. If you don’t have an overhead light in each room, plug in a lamp that can be turned on as you enter a room.--Never have an electrical cord stretched across an area where you walk.--Put a night-light in the bathroom and at the top of stairs.--Make sure rugs have a non-skid backing and aren’t placed in traffic areas.For more information, visit the Home Safety Council website at www.homesafetycouncil.org. Click on Older Adults. You’ll find a number of topics, including fire safety, stairs and ideas for making your home safe. Also check www.ces.ncsu.edu and put “Housing Safety Checklist” in the search box.

Page 8 For Advertising Call 251-285-4116

¥ It was 18th-century German scientist Georg Christoph

Lichtenberg who made the following sage observation:

“Everyone is a genius at least once a year. The real ge-

niuses simply have their bright ideas closer together.”

¥ “The Battle Hymn of the Republic” (popularly known

by a line from the chorus, “Glory, glory hallelujah”) was

written by Julia Ward Howe in November of 1861 after

the author made a trip to Washington, D.C., and reviewed

Union troops near the city. The song was published the

following February in The Atlantic Monthly magazine,

earning Howe a grand total of $4 for what was destined

to become one of the most popular songs of the Civil War

and a perennial American classic.

¥ When cartoon icon Bugs Bunny first appeared, in 1935,

he was called “Happy Rabbit.”

¥ If you’re a cat owner, it probably will come as no sur-

prise that cats spend approximately 80 percent of their

time sleeping.

¥ Becoming a sports star is the dream of many young

people, so you might think that someone who is signed

to a professional baseball contract has it made. You’d be

wrong, though; only one out of every 10 athletes who

sign such a contract ever becomes a major-league ball-

player.

¥ You’ve certainly heard the old adage “lightning never

strikes twice” but, strictly speaking, it’s not true. Techni-

cally, lightning always strikes twice. Each lightning bolt

is made up of multiple bolts that travel the same path and

strike the same spot in swift succession.

***

Thought for the Day: “I’ve noticed that men generally

leave married women alone and treat them with respect.

It’s too bad for married women. Men are always ready to

respect someone who bores them. And if most married

women, even the pretty ones, look so dull, it’s because

they’re getting too much respect.” -- Marilyn Monroe