Tidbits of the Tri-Cities (Holiday Edition 2008)

The Neatest Little Paper Ever Read

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FREEALL RIGHTS RESERVED © 2007

Holiday Edition 2008

of the Tri-Cities

Most of us have our hands full this time of year. Kids are in school, traffi c is heavy, the weather is getting chilly, and the holiday season is in full swing. We hope that these Tidbits tips will help to make things a bit merrier for you!

• Not everyone fi nds the holiday spirit contagious. If you’re completely fed up with carols and mistletoe, don’t feel alone. And there are several different places you can visit to get away from it all. Most American movie theaters are open on Christmas Day, as are several amusement parks, including Disneyland and Walt Disney World. Most hotels (along with their eateries) are also open, along with some major restaurant chains like Waffl e House.

• Real tree or artifi cial? If you’re concerned about the environment, you should know that either choice will leave a “carbon footprint.” Artifi cial trees are made of non-renewable materials, most often imported from China. Real trees require petroleum for transport (and also to grind them into mulch once they’re discarded). So it’s easier to base your decision on family tradition … and how much you enjoy sweeping up needles.

turn the page for more!

Dec. 19- Dec. 31, 2008

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HELPFUL HOLIDAY HINTS

Tidbits® of the Tri-Cities Page 2 Page 3For Advertising Call 1.804.731.7504

HELPFUL HOLIDAY HINTS (continued):

• Candles are an easy and inexpensive way to add a holiday touch to your home. Better yet, red candles can also be used for decorating on Valentine’s Day and the Fourth of July, so you might want to stock up on them during the post-holiday sales. Scented candles can make your house smell like you’ve been baking treats all day, even if your Christmas cookies come from a grocery-store bag.

• Unwrapping gifts may be diffi cult for those on both ends of the age spectrum – very young children and the elderly. Use a minimal amount of adhesive tape on their packages, and use a stick-on bow instead of tying a ribbon. A gift for a sight-impaired person will mean more when it’s wrapped using interesting textures like velvet ribbons and crinkly paper. You could also tie a few tiny jingle bells to the package as a nice touch.

• Christmas trees are irresistible to most house cats. If one or more kitties reside with you, it’s a good idea to put your most valuable or fragile ornaments near the top of the tree, where they’re less likely to be batted around and broken. Consider securing them to the branches with garbage bag twist ties for extra insurance. And here’s a great tip: Most felines don’t like the smell of citrus or peppermint, so spraying one of those aromas at the base of the tree might be enough to encourage Fluffy to keep her distance.

• Craft projects are a great way to keep children busy while you’re making other preparations. Visit a dollar store to purchase some inexpensive art supplies – construction paper, pipe cleaners, ribbon, colored pens, glitter and such. Set the kids up with safety scissors, tape and glue. Encourage the youngsters to make their own holiday decorations, and then watch them beam after you’ve prominently displayed their completed “masterpieces.”

DEAR PAWʼS CORNER: I need to comment on a letter by a mom who let her children be responsible for two Betta fi sh that they let die. Children should never be responsible for any animal! It s̓ the parents ̓responsibility to care for them. Why should the animal suffer? It s̓ fi ne to learn by example, but the parent is the one who should care for the animal. This woman is guilty of animal cruelty in letting these fi sh suffer and die. An animal is not a toy. People like this woman donʼt deserve the companionship of any animal! -- Tina V., PETA member

DEAR TINA: I can appreciate your point of view, and Iʼm sure that none of my readers condone the suffering of any pet. I think that you missed the point of that letter: the mother refusing to let the kids have another pet after they let their Betta fi sh die due to neglect.

Send your tips, questions and comments to Paws Corner, c/o King Features Weekly Service, P.O. Box 536475, Orlando, FL 32853-6475, or e-mail them to [email protected].

Part of growing up is learning responsibility, and learning the consequences of failing to take responsibility. The consequences of failing to take care of their Betta fi sh was that they could not have another pet.Could the mother have stepped in and taken care of the fi sh? Possibly. I donʼt know all the circumstances, and the sad fact is that small fi sh can go downhill very fast when signs of distress are missed. But she gave those kids responsibility and gave them her trust to care for those fi sh. This is a very important part of child-rearing. You cannot wrap your kids in cotton until theyʼre 18; they need to learn certain things if theyʼre to be at all useful.Learning to care for another living creature is one of the most important lessons in a childʼs life, and Iʼm not going to stand in judgment of a mother trying to teach that lesson.

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1 c Butter or margarine2/3 c Packed brown sugar2/3 c Dark or light corn syrup4 c All-purpose fl our1 1/2 ts Ground cinnamon1 ts Ground ginger3/4 ts Baking soda1/2 ts Ground cloves1 ea Beaten egg1 1/2 ts VanillaMiniature chocolate piecesRoyal icing for decorating

In a saucepan combine butter, brown sugar, and corn syrup. Cook and stir over medium heat until butter is melted and sugar is dissolved. Pour into a large mixing bowl and cool 5 minutes. Meanwhile, combine fl our, cinnamon, ginger, soda, and cloves. Add egg and vanilla to butter mixture and mix well. Add the fl our mixture and beat until well mixed. Divide the dough in half. Cover and chill at least 2 hours or overnight. To make each bear shape dough into one 1 inch ball, one 3/4 inch ball, six 1/2 inch balls, and fi ve 1/4 inch balls. On an ungreased cookie sheet fl atten the 1 inch ball to 1/2 inch thickness for body. Attach the 3/4 inch ball for head and fl atten to 1/2 inch. Attach the 1/2 inch balls for arms, legs, and ears. Arrange remaining 1/4 inch balls atop ends of arms and legs for paws. Use chocolate pieces for eyes and navel. Bake in a 350 degree oven for 8 to 10 minutes or until done. Carefully remove and cool. If desired, pipe on bow ties with royal icing. Makes 16

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Here we are in the midst of December, and no doubt many of us are out in the holiday crowds. Maybe weʼre going downtown to watch “Santa” arrive or to enjoy the tree lighting. Even if weʼre avoiding the malls, it seems that there are crowds everywhere. Besides the festive air, thereʼs one other thing the crowds can bring: germs.

Many of us have immune systems that are compromised at least a little. When we get a “bug,” we can take much longer to shake it off. Cold weather itself can be enough of a stressor that we can be more susceptible to germs.

Think about all the places germs can be found: grocery-cart handles, the change a retail clerk hands you, doorknobs in public places, library books, a borrowed pen.

Here are three tips to keep from getting sick:• Invest in a little bottle of alcohol-based hand sanitizer

and use it liberally. Scrub until your hands are dry. (I buy one small bottle to carry in my pocket and a larger one to keep at home to refi ll the smaller one.) If youʼre going

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to spend time with grandchildren, buy them their own “special” foamy hand sanitizer.

• To avoid germs, doctors say itʼs especially important not to touch your hands to your mouth, nose or eyes.

• When you get home from being out, wash your hands with warm water and an antibacterial soap.

To get through the rest of the winter without illness, stay warm, get enough rest and make sure your diet is adequate. Ask your doctor whether you should take a daily multiple vitamin. Ask about getting a fl u shot too, if you havenʼt already had one.

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 [email protected].

The Alzheimer s̓ Association (www.alz.org) es-timates that there are nearly 5.2 million people in the U.S. living with Alzheimer s̓ disease. For these millions of people and their families, friends, and caregivers, the holidays can be an especially stress-ful time. While special events, large gatherings, and a break in routine are typically enjoyed this time of year, these happenings can be very unsettling for people affected by Alzheimer s̓ disease, and Discover Home Care (DHC) has developed several helpful tips for making sure the holidays are fi lled with comfort and joy for everyone.

DHC recommends keeping holiday décor simple. Large decorations and a lot of blinking lights can be distracting and upsetting for someone with Alzheim-er s̓. This is an important tip to remember when dressing the dinner table as well. Using solid table-cloths and dinnerware and limiting the number of glasses and utensils at place settings helps create an environment that is less distracting and confusing.

Limiting the number of guests at holiday gath-erings is also helpful. More people usually means more noise, which is often unsettling to a person with Alzheimer s̓. So keep guest lists to a minimum, and ask those who are in attendance to wear nametags and introduce themselves at each greeting.

Engaging loved ones with Alzheimer s̓ in quiet activities such as setting the dinner table or helping with gift wrapping is also a great way to ease anxiety while spending enjoyable time together. “It helps to

validate one s̓ sense of self when you engage your loved one in easy holiday preparations,” says Grace Yancey, founder of Discover Home Care. “Everyone likes to feel useful, and part of the occasion.”

Although some break in routine is virtually un-avoidable during the holidays, maintaining as much normalcy as possible, regardless of where the holidays are spent, is critical for loved ones with Alzheimer s̓. “Holidays can come with many disruptions, which can increase anxiety in someone with Alzheimer s̓ disease, so it s̓ important to stick to your day-to-day routine,” says Yancey. “Getting up, eating meals, and going to bed at the same time will go a long way in keeping your day as stress-free as possible.”

Most importantly, DHC reminds caregivers, friends, and family members to support and rely on each other when it comes to meeting the needs of their loved one. “Have holiday guests take turns sit-ting with your loved one or being responsible for the evening. It will free you up to socialize and relax. If family and friends are not available, consider hiring a caregiver or getting a volunteer from your local Area Agency on Aging,” Yancey suggests. “No matter what, enjoy your holiday season with your loved one. He or she might not know all your guests or under-stand completely what all the fuss is about, but they will feel the love and connection of the season.”

For more information and a complete list of these Holiday Tips, call (804) 524-0296.

A Holiday of Comfort& Joy for Families Faced

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(c) 2008 King Features Synd., Inc.



• Buying a Christmas gift for your boss can be tricky. Gag gifts are defi nitely taboo. A “funny” gift that’s taken in the wrong context could create unnecessary friction on-the-job. Don’t feel obligated to spend a lot, either; your boss knows that he or she makes more than you do. A heartfelt note inside a card may go a long way. You can always enclose something small in the envelope … like movie theater tickets or a bookstore gift card.

• A gift-wrapping party might liven up the tedious task of wrapping all those presents you’ve purchased. Invite friends to bring their own gifts, provide some snacks and maybe a rented movie, and spread out the scissors and tape. Suggest that partygoers wrap the largest boxes fi rst and then work their way through the stack. Keep sticky notes handy to help identify each package.

• Are you looking for the “perfect” gift for your child’s teacher? Steer clear of coffee mugs and desk sets! Surveys have revealed that the gift teachers treasure most is a personal letter from a student’s parents. A note describing an instance when your child shared something that he or she learned in school? That’s perfect. Such a letter may be cherished for years to come. Teachers confess that such letters provide a real “lift” during those inevitable days of pure frustration.

• The leftover cardboard tube from a roll of paper towels can make a fun container for a “grab bag” gift. For a young girl, you could fi ll the tube with hair do-dads, lip glosses, and glitter pens. For a young boy, it could be toy cars, candy bars, and ballgame tickets. Pack the very ends with tissue paper, and then gift-wrap the tube. Twist each end and tie them off with a piece of ribbon. The end result is a colorful bundle of fun that looks like a large party popper.

1. Name the last major-leaguer before Colorado’s Kazuo Matsui in 2007 to have a double, a triple and a home run in a postseason game.

2. In 1937, Detroit’s Rudy York set a major-league record for most home runs in

August. How many did he hit?

3. How many consecutive games did the University of Houston football team lose to ranked opponents before stopping the streak in 2008?

4. Entering the 2008-09 season, name the only NBA team to not make a free throw in a regular-season game.

5. Who was the last Chicago Blackhawks coach before Denis Savard in 2007-08 to lead the team to 40 or more victories in a season?

6. When was the last time an American male won the 1,500-meter race at the Summer Olympics?

7. Name the golfer with the most PGA tournament victories after turning 40 years old.

�� Play better golf with JACK NICKLAUS

Before the 2008 season began, the media declared the Raybestos Rookie class in the Sprint Cup Series the greatest in history, when, in truth, it was merely the most prestigious.

At the beginning of the year, a World Driving Champion, Jacques Villeneuve, had committed to NASCAR. Also in the fi eld were Indianapolis 500 winners Sam Hornish Jr. and Dario Franchitti. A popular Indy-car veteran, Patrick Carpentier, found a NASCAR ride. A highly regarded young driver, Michael McDowell, joined the fi eld in the spring.

Then there was the lone driver with a stock-car-racing background, Regan Smith. The most unheralded driver in the fi eld wound up winning the award. It was largely by default.

Almost everyone underestimated the diffi culty of adapting to stock cars. Villeneuve was gone almost immediately. Franchitti ran out of sponsor support. Carpentier lost his ride. So did McDowell.

By the fi nal race, the only rookies were Smith and Hornish. Hornish didnʼt make the starting fi eld for the Ford 400 at Homestead-Miami Speedway. Regan won the award because he was racing and Hornish wasnʼt.

The Greatest Rookie Class in NASCAR History wound up the season with its top performer fi nishing 34th in the Sprint Cup points. Hornish was 35th. Neither had a single top-10 fi nish.

Smith deserves an asterisk, however. In what would have been the seasonʼs biggest shocker, Smith took the checkered fl ag at Talladega Superspeedway in the

fall. NASCAR offi cials penalized him, however, for passing Tony Stewart “below the yellow line” (only banned at restrictor-plate tracks) and awarded the victory to Stewart.

Offi cially, Smithʼs fi nish was 18th.The top-rookie award aside, that NASCAR decision

may play a pivotal role in Smithʼs career. As these words were written, Smith didnʼt have a ride for 2009.

In retrospect, the “greatest class” wound up being rather ill-fated.

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 [email protected].

teenage boy spends more on getting ready for the prom than the average teenage girl: $545 versus $530.

• The saguaro cactus, found mainly in America’s Southwest and in Mexico, can live for more than 150 years. It only grows about 1 inch in the fi rst 10 years of its life, but can eventually reach a height of 50 feet.

• You may not realize it, but you’re almost certainly quite profi cient at dactylonomy -- counting on your fi ngers. If you’re deaf, you’re probably good at dactylology -- communicating by using signs made with your fi ngers.

• With the holiday season approaching, you might want to remember to check the policies of the stores whose gift cards you receive. In 2006, the electronics chain Best Buy made $43 million off gift cards that were not used before they expired. In the United States, an estimated $5 billion in gift-card cash expires every year.

By Samantha Weaver

• It was Canadian-American economist John Kenneth Galbraith who made the following sage observation -- which seems more and more prescient every day lately: “The only function of economic forecasting is to make astrology look respectable.”

• In 2004, celebrities Paris Hilton and Ludacris appeared in a “Vote or Die” advertising campaign designed to encourage young people to participate in the electoral process. It’s interesting to note, however, that they themselves didn’t register to vote in that election.

• In The Old Granary Burying Ground, a cemetery in Boston, the grave of Mother Goose is more popular with visitors than the graves of American patriots Paul Revere, Samuel Adams and John Hancock.

• Studies show that the only taste humans are born with a craving for is sugar.

• According to a national poll, the average

“A committee is a cul-de-sac down which ideas are lured and then quietly strangled.”

-- Sir Barnett Cocks

Thought of the week

Regan Smith -- the lone rookie with a stock-car-racing background -- won, almost by default, the Raybestos Rookie of Year.

Open Season on Rookies





• What rules govern gratuity gifts you might give to service workers (hairdressers, babysitters, garbage collectors, paper deliverers, and so on)? Well, the fi rst rule is that such “tips” are not mandatory. If you do feel that a serviceperson has been particularly helpful and you’d like to spread some holiday cheer, it’s best to enclose the tip in an envelope or card. Postal carriers are not allowed to accept cash, but they may receive gifts valued at $20 or less. A gift card to a local grocery store or gas station is a great idea, as it can be stored in the mail sack while the worker continues on his or her route.

• If you’re fl ying commercially to visit relatives for the holiday, you’ll save time by not wrapping the presents you’re taking. You’ll likely be forced to rip them open at a security checkpoint, and will end up rewrapping them anyway. Use clear plastic bags to pack as many of your carry-on supplies as possible; this will speed up security searches. And allow yourself plenty of extra time to get to the airport, since traffi c will be heavier and parking lots may be overfl owing.

• Your offi ce Christmas party may seem like a fun, informal occasion, but do your best to be on your “work” behavior. Don’t overindulge in alcohol, don’t tell your bosses exactly what you think of them, don’t dance on the desks, and don’t photocopy your backside. And please keep the holiday kisses between co-workers chaste, no matter how much mistletoe is strung around the room!

• You can recycle “used” holiday cards by cutting off the colorful fronts and using them as postcards. Or cut the images into decorative shapes and use them as custom gift tags. Check with local early-grade schools; many of them love to re-use old Christmas cards to devise craft projects for their classes.

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Q: As you know, you are not supposed to drive and use a cell phone at the same time. I did the responsible thing and purchased a Bluetooth headset. Now the battery has died, and I canʼt fi nd a replacement at any local retail stores (Home Depot, CVS, Wal-Mart). Where in my region can I purchase AAAA batteries? --- Erik in Coventry

A: A store specializing in electronics would be your best bet (Circuit City, Best Buy, MicroCen-ter). You also can order them over the Internet -- try the Web sites of any one of these major electronics retailers or Amazon.com, which sells many items besides books.

***Q: In response to your column about a visiting

mother-in-law who complained she was cold all the time, your answer didnʼt cover one possibility. In a lot of houses with one central heating system, the doors to all rooms should be left open all the

time so that return air circulates evenly through-out the house and all rooms stay the same tem-perature. If one person closes their door at night for pri-

vacy reasons, that door seals off air circulation so no warm air can enter from the register. A crack under the door would let that warm air in, but if there is no such opening, air cannot circulate into that room, and it gets cold. The next day when the door is open again, no prob-lem can be found because air is circulating through the open door. -- Jack H., Salem, Mo.

A: Thatʼs defi nitely a possibility. Having grown up in the South, where central heat was often jury-rigged into older homes -- so not every room had a register -- it was not uncommon for closed-off rooms to get chilly. Thanks for your sugges-tion. Perhaps the mother-in-law could leave her bedroom door open just a bit to let air circulate.

HOME TIP: Not sure whether a furnaceʼs air fi lter needs changing? Hold the fi lter up to a light -- if the fi lter blocks most of the light, replace it.

Send questions or home-repair tips to [email protected], or write This Is a Ham-mer, c/o King Features Weekly Service, P.O. Box 536475, Orlando, FL 32853-6475.

Finding AAAA BatteriesBy Samantha Mazzotta


• This one bears repeating for all holiday gather-ings -- and, really, any gathering throughout the year. When using plastic cups for drinks, put out a marker so that guests can mark their cup before fi lling. Less cups means less waste, and it’s easy to tell whose cup is whose.

• “This might not be a tip, but I think it’s pretty im-portant. When you don’t have a home phone line, as so many people don’t these days, make sure you have an extra cell-phone battery and that both batteries are charged ahead of bad weath-er. Also, for those who do have home phone ser-vice, make sure you have a regular, non-battery phone, one that is not cordless and that does not plug into anything. When the power goes out, you want to be prepared.” -- T.T. in Michigan

• “I know of two ways to clean the glass doors on the fi replace. One is to mix a paste of ash and water and a tiny bit of dishwashing liquid, and use that to scrub soot off. The other is those white ‘magic eraser’ sponges. Make sure you test a little spot, though, because if you have etched glass doors, the sponges can mess them up some-times.” -- H.Z. in Vermont

• “I use bar soap in the bath, but I like to tuck the boxes into my drawers after I open a fresh bar of soap. They smell so good and fresh, and last a surprisingly long time as drawer fresheners.” -- K.S. in Nevada

• “Here’s how to get more space in the fridge if you have some dishes that are covered in plastic: Lay chopsticks or kebab sticks across the lip of the dishes, then stack them. This works so well for us that we keep several chopsticks right in the fridge for this purpose.” -- C.B. in California

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 [email protected].


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Tidbits® of the Tri-Cities Page 6 Page 7For Advertising Call 1.804.731.7504ANSWERS 1. Lou Brock of the St. Louis

Cardinals in 1968.2. In 1937, York hit 18 of his 35 homers in August.3. It was 18 games.4. Toronto was 0-for-3 from the line in a game against Charlotte in 1996.5. Brian Sutter in 2001-02.6. Mel Sheppard in 1908.7. Vijay Singh, with 22.

If thereʼs ever a perfect time to consider buying a home via rent-to-own, this might be it. With a down economy, many buyers canʼt get fi nancing, and sellers are sitting on property they canʼt move. Rent to own (also called a lease-to-purchase option

or a lease-purchase agreement) works like this: You rent a house with a standard lease, but have one additional agreement in place: a purchase agreement or sales contract. This document gives you the option of buying the house at some set point in the future at a fi xed price. A portion of your monthly payment (usually an additional amount above the rent) goes toward a down payment on the house.As with any business deal, there are pros and cons to

rent to own.On the plus side:• Youʼre able to build up your down payment every

month.• If you have less-than-stellar credit, this gives you a

chance to rebuild it.• You can check the house and neighborhood over a

long period of time.On the negative side:• If you decide at the end of the option period not to

buy the house, you lose the extra youʼve paid every month.• In most cases, you wonʼt get the tax benefi t until

you actually own the house.Some extra considerations:• If there are repairs to be made in a typical landlord/

tenant situation, usually the landlord is responsible unless prior agreements have been made. Be very clear (in writing) who will make repairs while you live in the house.• If you make modifi cations or fi x up the house and

then decide not to buy it, you likely wonʼt get any money back.• Try to have additional time put on the end of the

option period in case you canʼt get fi nancing.Finding homes isnʼt that diffi cult. Start with those

listed For Sale by Owner. A fast phone call will tell you if the owner is interested in a rent-to-buy situation. An owner with little equity is more likely to agree than one who has a lifetime of equity in the house.If you want to enter into a rent-to-own agreement,

work with a real-estate agent to make sure you arenʼt paying too much. Treat it as a serious legal contract and seek legal advice.

David Uffi ngton 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 [email protected].


ALL THE PRESIDENTS’ TIDBITS:

MARTIN VAN BURENMartin Van Buren was a shrewd character who found ways to make America’s political system work in his favor. But how did he learn these tactics? His family was poor and his father seemed to remain neutral whenever the subject of politics arose. The answer lies ahead.

• Martin Van Buren was born in Kinderhook, New York, on December 5, 1782. He was the fi rst “American citizen” to be elected president. Van Buren’s father, Abraham, operated a small tavern in Kinderhook that was a favorite watering hole for many New York politicians, including fi erce opponents Alexander Hamilton and Aaron Burr. Legislators would drink and candidly converse with each other about the political process, and Abraham Van Buren smartly refused to take sides and risk alienating customers. Young Martin listened to the discussions as well, and he soon began to form his own political opinions.

• Van Buren was a bright student and gifted orator who began to study law under a local attorney at the tender age of 14. He was admitted to the bar six years later, and formed a law partnership in Kinderhook with his half-brother, James Van Alen. Martin married Hannah Hoes in 1807, and earned a spot as a county judge the following year. Soon, Martin’s political aspirations became clear as he joined the “anti-Federalist” group that developed into the Democratic-Republican Party.

• Elected to the New York Senate in 1812, Van Buren’s popularity quickly rose. He soon found himself pitted against former NYC Mayor De Witt Clinton. To gain an upper hand, he employed some of the shady tactics he’d overheard at his father’s pub. While these actions succeeded in furthering his career, they also earned Van Buren enemies inside and outside of his own Party.

• The most powerful of Van Buren’s tactics was the formation of a “political machine.” While serving in Albany, he ensured that key positions in the state government were fi lled with Party members. The infl uence they fl aunted in their positions forced New York’s more powerful individuals to do what was necessary to reelect them. Clinton formed a similar organization of his own after he was elected governor in 1816.

Rent-to-Own Agreements2nd Quarter 2006

Week 22May 28 - Jun 3

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BICYCLES (continued):• In the 1890s, the first “modern” bicycles

appeared: chain-driven vehicles with simi-larly-sized tires. These were safer than the high-wheel models (and were even called “safety bicycles” as a result), but proved a step backwards in comfort. While the long spokes of high-wheel bikes absorbed bumps and ruts, the smaller wheels on these new bikes, particularly when coupled with the hard-rubber tires of the era, made for jarring, unpleasant rides.

• More than a million bicycles were sold in the United States by the time 1895 rolled around, but one last improvement would propel the bicycle into the must-own category: the pneu-matic tire. Under the guidance of the Pope Manufacturing Company (which made bi-cycles), the Hartford Rubber Works produced America’s first pneumatic tires in 1895. Pro-viding a much softer ride, they soon became a standard feature on all bicycle models.

• Dozens of smaller-scale improvements boosted the speed, comfort, longevity and performance of bicycles during the 20th century. As women began to find them as necessary as men, two varieties of bicycle were made. Men’s bikes were built with an extra stabilizer bar across the top of the bike. Women’s bikes omitted the bar, providing for easier mounting and dismounting of the vehicle when wearing skirts.

• The 1970s saw the development of two bi-cycle extremes. First came bicycles that took you nowhere. Otherwise known as exercise bikes, these training aids first hit the home market at the beginning of the decade. Then, as time went on and the energy crisis sent fuel prices skyrocketing, mopeds appeared. These bicycle/motorcycle hybrids, most popular with city-centered business workers, could either be pedaled like a regular bike or powered using a small, low-powered gasoline engine.

continued on back page

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MARTIN VAN BUREN (continued):

• While he was a party extremist, Van Buren did make changes that helped his constituents. Among the bills that he helped push through was one that abolished debtors’ prisons. Having grown up in a poor family, he felt strongly that people should not be imprisoned for “the misfortune of being poor.”

• Van Buren climbed the political ladder over the next several years, earning a seat in the U.S. Senate in 1821. When Andrew Jackson was denied the White House three years later, Van Buren hatched a two-part plan. First, he used his infl uence to tie the hands of President John Quincy Adams. Second, he worked to bring together many D-R Party members under a new, shorter name: the Democratic Party. Four years later, voters had seen very little action from Adams and were ready to give Jackson his shot.

• How sneaky was Van Buren? He ran for governor of New York solely to ensure that the state’s 36 electoral votes would go to Jackson. Martin resigned the unwanted offi ce after only two months to become secretary of state. Van Buren’s machine had reached national proportions by this time. He became vice president when Jackson was reelected in 1832. Opposition to the Democrats began to gel with the formation of a new party known as the Whigs, but Van Buren won the presidency handily in 1836.

CALL TIDBITS TO HAVE YOUR EVENT LISTED!

Myrrh, one of the gifts the “wise men” brought to Bethlehem, is still around today. It is an an-tiseptic added to mouthwash and toothpaste

to help prevent gum disease.

Poinsettia plants are not poisonous to humans. A pet that munches on a poinsettia leaf might develop an upset stom-ach, but the plant is not toxic. The poisonous plant legend

began in 1919 when the two-year-old child of an Army offi cer died suddenly at Christmas time, and his parents in-sisted that his death was due to ingesting poinsettia leaves.

City of Colonial Heights: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 hur-rah, resolutions, and friendships. Instructor: Deborah Malbone. www.mycraftivity.com/groovy/doodles/

City of Hopewell: 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.

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.

City of Petersburg:Old Towne Merchant Group’s 2nd AnnualNEW YEAR’S EVE BALL OF THE CENTURIES!

Dec. 31, 2008

Come celebrate “the pride of Virginia’s Cockade City” in historic, charming Old Towne. Purchase tickets online at www.oldtownepetersburg.com

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Documents

Tidbits of the Tri-Cities (Holiday Edition 2008)