Tidbits of the Tri-Cities - Issue #13

Issue 13

of the Tri-Cities

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TIDBITS DENIES ANY SKULLDUGGERY:

BONE APPÉTIT!by John R. Groesbeck

The ankle bone’s connected to the leg bone, the leg bone’s connected to the thigh bone… and this Tidbits connects you to some bony trivia!

• The average adult human’s body contains 206 bones. But when that human being fi rst entered the world, he or she may have had 270 bones or more. Why? An infant’s skull and face is constructed of many small bones hinged together by fl exible suture joints. (This makes it possible for the baby’s huge head to pass through the birth canal.) As the child grows older, those smaller bones fuse together to become one larger, solid skull.

• The slang term “sawbones” refers specifi cally to a surgeon, not just any ol’ doctor. The fi rst recorded use of the word dates back to 1837. And, yes, the name came about due to the then-traditional “cure-all” of amputation.

• Bones not only allow us to stand upright and form a frame for our muscles and skin to stretch around, they also protect us. The ribs curl around our lungs and heart, two of our most delicate and necessary organs. The skull is the body’s “helmet” and keeps the brain safe, while the vertebrae in our back and neck encase the all-important spinal cord.

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BONE APPÉTIT! (continued):• The smallest bones in our bodies are inside

the ear, and are commonly called the hammer, anvil, and stirrup. They perform a very complex function as the conduit between external sound vibrations and the inner ear that sends those signals to the brain. Past the eardrum, the ear canal contains fluid. If you’ve ever tried to shout at someone underwater in a swimming pool, you know how muddled sounds can be when traveling through liquids. These three tiny bones act like a pipeline, transmitting sound vibrations through the inner ear canal to the auditory nerve.

• By contrast, the biggest, longest, and strongest bone in the human body is the femur. It’s the bone that most of us call the “thigh bone,” and it extends from the hip down to the knee. Due to the sheer density necessary for this bone to support most of our weight, only an extremely violent injury is likely to cause a fracture.

• Forensic anthropologists are scientists who analyze human skeletal remains for legal purposes. From a single bone or even bone fragments, they may be able to determine a person’s gender, race, and age. They might even learn where the bone’s owner grew up, and what his or her diet was like. Their skills can be put to use not only to identify recent victims, but also ancient human remains.

• What parents tell their children are “growing pains” are the same aches a doctor may refer to as Osgood-Schlatter’s Disease. It sounds serious, but is relatively common (especially in young athletes) and is usually outgrown with no complications. The tibial tubercle is the point where kneecap tendon anchors to the shinbone. The tendons of a child very active in sports develop faster than the kneecap does. This pulls on the tibial tubercle, causing discomfort in the knee and lower leg.

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DEAR PAWʼS CORNER: What would make my shih-tzu bite her tail? I noticed that “Mitzy” was constantly trying to nibble her own tail. When I looked closer, I found a hard lump and a small cut that was draining. She bites at it worse at night. Mitzy has no fleas, but she does have dry skin. Whatʼs going on? -- Alice H., via e-mail

DEAR ALICE: Without knowing exactly where the lump is located, I canʼt say for certain. It goes without saying that any change in a dogʼs behavior, or anything odd that you notice on your pet (such as a new lump or a draining cut) should prompt you to visit the veterinarian as soon as possible for a thorough checkup.Some dogs, regardless of breed, suffer from chronic dry skin. But dry skin can be a herald of a deeper health problem, such as a thyroid condition, which can only be determined

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].

through a blood test. So, the best thing to do, again, is mention it to Mitzyʼs vet when you bring her in to have the lump checked.The vet may do a biopsy to determine whether the lump is benign. He or she also will ask you a number of questions about Mitzyʼs daily behavior: how much and how often she eats, if she is drinking and urinating more than usual, if the dry skin has been a problem for a long time or if itʼs recent, any known food allergies or health problems, and so on. If there are no underlying problems, the vet may recommend that you try a change in Mitzyʼs diet (he or she will give you some options) to treat her dry skin. You can also add an Omega 3 supplement to her food -- the vet may have this available, or you can purchase the supplement at a pet store.

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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.

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Long Term Care

By Samantha Weaver

• It was French existential philosopher and author Jean-Paul Sartre who made the following observation: “To believe is to know you believe, and to know you believe is not to believe.”

• The opossum is the only marsupial that is native to the continent of North America.

• Jack Welch was the chairman and CEO of General Electric for 20 years beginning in 1981. When he retired, in 2001, his retirement package (better known these days as a “golden parachute”) included such lifetime perks as three country club memberships; a box at the Metropolitan Opera; seats at Wimbledon, the French Open and the U.S. Open; tickets to the Red Sox, the Yankees and the Knicks; free dry-cleaning service; food, wine, fl owers and waitstaff whenever he’s in New York City; and free telephone and computer service at all fi ve of his homes. Nice deal if you can get it.

• If you’re like the average American, you’ll eat about 35,000 cookies in your lifetime.

• Ever wonder why blue jeans are blue? When they were fi rst designed, by Levi Strauss, the people most likely to wear them were those who did a great deal of manual labor. Strauss rightly assumed the work was likely to be dirty, so he dyed his new trousers indigo to help hide stains.

• Regular airmail service by the U.S. Post Offi ce began way back in 1918. The fi rst route was between Washington, D.C., and New York City, with a stop along the way in Philadelphia.

• The name of the North American reindeer known as “caribou” comes from the Native American language Micmac. The word translates roughly as “snow shoveler.”

(c) 2008 King Features Synd., Inc.

of the Tri-Cities

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Tidbits presents:

Spice CookiesIngredients

Directions:Put oven rack in middle position and preheat oven to 350°F. Butter 2 large baking sheets. Whisk together fl our, spices, and salt in a bowl. Stir baking soda into warm water in a cup until dissolved, then stir in molasses. Beat together butter and sugar in another bowl with an electric mixer at high speed until pale and fl uffy, about 3 minutes. Beat in baking soda mixture until combined well, then beat in fl our mixture until just combined (dough will be crumbly but will hold together when rolling balls). Working with half of dough, roll level teaspoons of dough into balls, arranging them about 2 inches apart on 1 baking sheet. Flatten balls into 1 1/4-inch rounds with tines of a fork, dipping fork in fl our to prevent sticking if necessary. Bake cookies until golden brown, 10 to 12 minutes, then transfer to a rack to cool. Make more cookies with remaining dough on remaining baking sheet in same manner.

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Makes about 42 cookies Active Time:35 min

Start to Finish:1 1/2 hr

1 cup all-purpose fl our 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon 1/2 teaspoon ground cardamom 1/4 teaspoon black pepper 1/4 teaspoon salt 1/2 teaspoon baking soda 1 1/2 teaspoons warm water 1 1/2 teaspoons molasses (not robust or blackstrap) 3/4 stick (6 tablespoons) unsalted butter, softened 6 tablespoons superfi ne granu-lated sugar


A whole world of knowledge has opened up to me since I discovered online learning. We have a wealth of classes available to us right on the Internet, ranging from informal to the university level, self-tutorials to instructor-presented, free to little cost.At Lifetime to Learn [www.lifetimetolearn.com] youʼll fi nd Photoshop Introduction, Microsoft Outlook: Taming Your Inbox, and more.At Computer School for Seniors [www.cs4seniors.com] learn to restore old photographs and take great digital photos and much more.Ed2Go [www.ed2go.com] has an online instructor for every class, not just a tutorial you do yourself. Each class runs for six weeks and costs $99. Recent additions are Start Your Own Arts and Crafts Business and Business Law for the Small Business Owner.At the university level, imagine taking a course on Yeats from MIT, or a beginning French language class from Carnegie Mellon.While you wonʼt actually get credit for it (since youʼre not paying for the class), and you wonʼt have hands-on instructor presence, just think of the possibilities. MITʼs offerings are especially rich and comprehensive. I found a MIT class on America during the Depression, and it included hundreds of photos of the era, along with the class notes, a study materials list and links to related resources.To learn more about Open CourseWare, go to http://ocwfi nder.com. Free and low-cost classes are all over the Internet. You only have to look for them.If youʼre new to computers and unsure of your way around, maybe your fi rst stop (with a computer-savvy grandchild at your elbow) could be one of the “how to surf the Web” classes. Once you learn the basics of getting around on the Internet, youʼll be off and running.

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].

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DEAR DR. DONOHUE: Everything I read or hear about macular degeneration is always about dry macular degeneration. I happen to have the wet kind, and would like to know what its treatments are. Iʼve heard that vitamins work. Do they? Thank you. -- T.R.

ANSWER: In the well-off countries of the world, macular degeneration is the leading cause of blindness in people over 50. There are two varieties, wet and dry. The dry kind is the more common of the two, accounting for 85 percent to 90 percent of all macular degeneration cases. Both involve deterioration of the macula, a small circle on the retina, jam-packed with vision cells necessary for high-resolution sight like reading, watching TV, distinguishing faces and driving.Wet macular degeneration comes from a sudden proliferation of fragile blood vessels blossoming in and around the macula. Those vessels leak fl uid and blood, and disrupt that sensitive area of sight. Wet macular degeneration often comes on quickly and can progress rapidly. You might have heard of the vitamin-mineral mixture used for slowing the progression of macular degeneration. It consists of vitamins C and E, beta-carotene and the minerals zinc and copper. It is much more useful for dry macular degeneration. For wet macular degeneration, eye doctors can inject the eye with medicines that stop the generation and growth of new, delicate blood vessels. Lucentis and Avastin are two examples.Photodynamic therapy is another method of handling wet degeneration. Here, a drug that is sensitive to light is injected into a blood vessel. The drug localizes in the newly formed, fragile, troublemaking macular vessels. A laser is fl ashed on those vessels and they dry up. I donʼt know if your doctor has suggested any treatment. It may be that youʼre not at a stage when therapy would provide the most benefi t. The booklet on macular degeneration describes the disease and its treatments. To obtain a copy, write: Dr. Donohue -- No. 701W, Box 536475, Orlando, FL 32853-6475. 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: I crave salt. I sprinkle it heavily on an egg in the morning. At noon I sprinkle it on potatoes, and in the evening on meat, corn or tomatoes. As a snack I eat raw potatoes sprinkled heavily with salt. My mother used lots of salt on her food. She lived to be 96. -- B.

ANSWER: Most often, salt craving is a learned hankering. You were conditioned to grab the saltshaker by your mother, and she, probably, by her mother. You should conquer the salt habit. Even though it didnʼt hurt your mother and apparently hasnʼt hurt you, too much salt can raise blood pressure. Slowly wean yourself off your high-salt diet. Cook and season with things like lemon juice, lime juice, vinegar, pepper and the large array of herbs and spices found in every grocery store. In a month or so, youʼll wonder how you tolerated so much salt on your food. Youʼll experience tastes that salt had been completely obliterating.

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BONE APPÉTIT! (continued):

• The humerus is the long bone that runs from your shoulder to your elbow. Some call it the “funny bone” due to its name (which resembles “humorous”). Others say that it’s due to the fact that when you accidentally bump the ulnar nerve in your elbow, you get a funny, tingling sensation up your arm. (That’s funny as in “strange,” not funny “ha-ha.”)

• About one-fourth of the bones in your body are located in your feet. Each foot has 26 bones and 33 joints. The natural arch in your foot is created by a combination of the tarsal and metatarsal bones, along with some tendons and ligaments. An arched foot helps to support the erect posture of a human and distribute its weight evenly with the least amount of wear and tear on the tootsies.

• What we usually refer to as our “tailbone” is properly called the coccyx. The word comes from the Greek for “cuckoo,” because ancient physicians thought that the bony protrusion resembled a cuckoo’s beak.

• The most commonly broken bone in the human body is the clavicle, also known as the collarbone. It is an S-shaped bone that connects the shoulder to the sternum (or breast plate). Why is this bone susceptible to such punishment? When humans fall down, they instinctively hold out their arms to brace and protect themselves. This action slams the hands hard onto the ground, and the force of the fall is typically absorbed by the shoulder joint, which jams harshly into the collarbone.

• Osteoporosis is responsible for 1.5 million bone fractures in the U.S. every year. It affects women more than men, and white women more than other ethnic groups. After you turn 50, consult with your doctor regularly to discuss your bone density. Early detection can lead to preventative measures that will keep your bones in good shape!

1. Name the last full season before 2007 in which no major-league team won 100 games or lost 100 games.

2. Pitchers Len Barker and Tom Browning each tossed a perfect game during the 1980s. Which one had more wins overall during that decade?

3. Name the fi rst two NFL teams to play to an overtime tie after the NFL instituted its new regular-season overtime rule in 1974.

4. In 2008, Ohio State’s Jamar Butler became the school’s all-time leader in career assists (579). Who had held the mark?

5. Who was the last goaltender before Detroit’s Chris Osgood in 2008 to record shutouts in the fi rst two games of the Stanley Cup Finals?

6. In 2008, Kyle Busch became the fourth NASCAR driver to sweep both Cup road course races in the same year. Name two of the other three to do it.

7. Who was the last U.S. male tennis player to win the French Open singles title?

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Good Health By Paul G. Donohue, M.D.

Q: Greg, I hear that Sprint Nextel is in trouble and may back out as sponsor of NASCARʼs top division. Any truth to the rumors? -- Cal L., Pennsylvania

A: Cal, itʼs no secret Sprint Nextel is struggling as a com-pany, but I havenʼt heard any news that it would drop its Sprint Cup sponsorship anytime soon. However, things change quickly in the business world, and the latest buzz is that the company is on the auction block, and several companies, including foreign concerns, are interested in buying. A recent article in The Wall Street Journal said “people familiar with the matter” are saying that NII Holdings Inc., a wireless Latin American business provider, and some private-equity fi rms are interested in buying Nextel from wireless carrier Sprint.Sprint acquired Nextel in 2005 for an estimated $35 billion, but has been negatively affected by customer defections. To make matters worse, just imagine if Jeff Burton were to win the championship in the AT&T wire-less car and the CEO of Sprint had to present Burton and owner Richard Childress the big money at the year-end banquet? That wouldnʼt be a pleasant task.In summary, nothing would surprise me in this current business atmosphere, but as of this writing, Sprint is still on board with NASCAR for several more years. Letʼs hope more NASCAR fans sign up for Sprint services.***Q: Did a MOPAR-powered car ever win an Indy Car race, and if so who drove it? I know the answer, but want to prove it to my retired friends here where I live. Thanks for your column. -- B.L., Port Richey, Fla.

A: B.L., over the years, you and your friends in Port Richey and New Port Richey have been loyal readers with lots of good questions. As you already know, the Andy Granatelli-owned, Grant King-wrenched, Plymouth-powered Indy Car driven by Art Pollard won the Dover, Del., Indy Car race back on Aug. 24, 1969. On the high banks of Doverʼs Monster Mile, the fi rst-ever Delaware 200 was held, and Pollard claimed his second victory of the season in the No. 57 STP Gerhardt Plymouth. He started 10th, and then led the fi nal 72 laps to win over Gordon Johncock. Sadly, Pollard lost his life trying to qualify for the Indy 500 on May 12, 1973, following a morning practice ses-sion crash. He was a beloved and highly respected driver who always took time to talk with the fans and media. ***Q: Iʼve been to an NHRA national event where the nitro cars are running to 1,000 feet instead of 1,320, and it all seems OK to me. Do you think they will ever go back to 1,320? -- Ann K., North Carolina

A: Iʼm not sure, Ann. Currently, there is no talk about going back to 1,320 foot until the NHRA feels itʼs safe to do so. That extra 320 feet is where a lot of trouble happens in cars that go from zero to 330 mph in four seconds, so for now, Iʼd say weʼre going to be enjoy-ing 1,000-foot runs instead of the full quarter-mile.

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Art Pollard makes his fi nal laps at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway on the morning of May 12, 1973. Pollard is credited with Plymouth’s only victory in Indy Car racing. (Mike Pollard photo)


BONE APPÉTIT! (continued):

• Andreas Vesalius, a 16th-century Belgian scientist, was one of the fi rst persons to accurately depict human anatomy. The key reason he was successful in this endeavor is that he performed detailed surgical examinations of human cadavers. He created a fi restorm of controversy in 1543 when he published a report that claimed both men and women had 12 sets of rib bones. Religious scholars charged him with heresy, since the Old Testament clearly stated that Eve was created from Adam’s rib, implying that males should be one bone short in the thoracic area.

• The very fi rst attempt at hip replacement surgery occurred in Germany way back in 1891. Professor Themistocles Gluck replaced the ball of a human femur with one fashioned out of ivory. Unfortunately, the bone eventually failed due to infection and the body’s natural “rejection” tendencies. Other surgeons tried various materials (such as glass and rubber) without success. Finally, in 1925, American orthopedic surgeon Marius Smith-Petersen noted that shipping companies were using a then-new material called stainless steel to protect cargo from seawater corrosion. His stainless-steel hip joints worked well and soon became the preferred replacements.

• The three basic types of bone fractures are greenstick, simple and compound. A greenstick fracture is an incomplete break – the bone is bent, chipped or cracked but not completely broken. A simple fracture is a bone that has completely broken, but has not pierced the skin. A compound fracture is a broken bone that protrudes through the skin and has been exposed to air. Today, bone fractures are treated based upon the location and severity of the break. Doctors typically immobilize a broken bone using casts, pins, or splints made of various materials.

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Q: Your recent column about the door that wouldnʼt latch was good with all the mention of using shims, but missed the easiest fi x. In more than 35 years, I have seen many doors where the hole in the frame is in the wrong place by up to a quarter-inch. Simply take out the striker plate, fi le the hole bigger and replace it. You may have to carve on the wood behind a little bit. When the door otherwise is mounted plumb and square, this is the simplest way. -- Owen, via e-mail

A: Thanks, Owen! This sounds like a faster way to line up a door with the latch.***Q: I appreciated your recent article on putting together an electrical repair toolkit. Iʼm interested in

doing repair jobs as safely as possible. Do you have any other safety tips for do-it-yourselfers? -- A.S., via e-mail

A: I have several, but today Iʼll list a few common hazards around the home that everyone should look for. An article in the November issue of “ShopSmart,” a magazine produced by Consumer Reports, listed these and several more, along with recommended fi xes. Making your home safer can be as simple as adding a non-slip bath mat to your tub or shower and installing a grab bar on the wall. It can be as easy as turning down your hot water heater to no more than 120 degrees Fahrenheit to prevent accidental scalding in the shower (it saves energy, too). Having test equipment around is important. A voltage tester is a must-have in a repair kit, but did you know a block of wood can be used to test the garage door? It should automatically reverse when the block is detected; if not, you need to upgrade the mechanism. Do-it-yourself radon and lead test kits will help keep your family healthy.

HOME TIP: When childproofi ng your home, have a ruler handy. Use it to measure spaces between crib bars (no more than 2-3/8 inches) or deck railing slats (no more than 4 inches) to ensure a childʼs head wonʼt get caught between them.

Door Won’t Latch? Here’s a Quick Fix.

By Samantha Mazzotta


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• Recipe Substitutions: If you need 1 cup of brown sugar, use 1 cup of white sugar plus 2 tablespoons of molasses.

• “When my mom puts dinner rolls in a basket to serve at the table, she lines the basket with aluminum foil fi rst, then puts the towel or napkin, then the rolls. It keeps the rolls warmer longer.” -- E.D. in Ohio

• “If you have precious baby bonnets that need washing, after washing blow up a small-size balloon enough to fi t inside the bonnet, place the bonnet over the balloon and let it air dry. It will keep its shape best, and it’s so much

better than hanging on a hook or laying the bonnet out to dry.” -- D.T.F. in New York

• “I like to keep my wool gloves clean, but I don’t like shrinking fi ngers! After washing, I stuff clothespins in each of the fi ngers of my gloves while they dry. I’ve had no problems since I started doing this.” -- S.G. in Wisconsin

• Planning a car trip this holiday season? Stop in at your local library and ask about books on tape. What better way to make the time pass than a gripping story? And at the library, they’re free to rent. Just make sure you fi nd out how long you can keep it!

• “I love using seasonal salt-and-pepper shakers, especially at family meals. I don’t store them fi lled with salt and pepper though, and they get a bit dusty or musty in the butler’s pantry. I wash them, of course, but to be sure there will be no sticking before I fi ll them, I give them a once-over with my hair dryer. I hold the shaker with an oven mitt and aim that hot air inside. It works really well.” -- M.K. in New Mexico


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ANSWERS 1. It was 1992, when Atlanta won 98

games and the Los Angeles Dodgers lost 99.2. Browning had 78 wins during the ‘80s; Barker had 62.3. Denver and Pittsburgh, in 1974.4. Kelvin Ransey, with 516 assists.5. New Jersey’s Martin Brodeur in 2003.6. Jeff Gordon (1999), Robby Gordon (2003) and Tony Stewart (2005).7. Andre Agassi in 1999.

The HOPE for Homeowners Act is now in effect. Signed by President Bush in July as part of the Housing and Economic Recovery Act of 2008, the HOPE program is designed to give relief to millions of struggling homeowners by restructuring their home mortgages.To be eligible, the homeowner must:• Use the home as his main residence.• Certify that he hasnʼt defaulted on the loan just to take advantage of the HOPE program.• Have a debt-to-income ratio greater than 31 percent as of March 1, 2008.If the borrower qualifies, the lender will rewrite the loan down to an amount that the borrower can pay, up to a cap of 90 percent of the current market value of the home.The new loans must have a fixed rate for 30 years, with the borrower annually paying an extra 1.5 percent of the loan principal for FHA insurance.The downside to the borrower is that he must split any equity with the FHA down the road. That amount will be determined by a phased-in sliding scale, but can be as much as 100 percent of the equity if the

borrower pays off the loan (by selling or refinancing) in the first year, or down to 50 percent at five years.Not all lenders are eager to participate in the program, however. In theory theyʼll lose a bit now to keep from possibly losing a lot later if they donʼt help homeowners get mortgages under control. Under the program, lenders would have to reduce the amount of the mortgage to 90 percent of the homeʼs present market value, which can be a considerable loss if home values in their area have already plunged. And the lenders will have to pay FHA, the backer of the loans, 3 percent of the amount. Additional provisions of the Act include a federal tax credit up to $7,500 (10 percent of the purchase price) to buy a new home, new regulations on reverse mortgages for the elderly and more protections for veterans facing foreclosure.To read details of the Act, go to www.govtrack.us, click Bills and Resolutions, and put H.R. 3221 in the search box.


ALL THE PRESIDENTS’ TIDBITS:

DWIGHT DAVIDEISENHOWER

Depending on your age, you may recall when Eisenhower dollar coins could occasionally be found in everyday change. What made this coin starkly different from most others wasn’t just its size and weight, but something that just seemed to be missing in the profile: hair. Washington, Jefferson, even JFK had a head of hair. Not so with Ike; and to be fair, the coin’s designer was generous with the amount of hair that he did add.

• David Dwight Eisenhower was born in Denison, Texas, on October 14, 1890. (And no, that’s not a reversal of his name.) He was born David Dwight, but to avoid confusion with his father, also named David, they called the child Dwight. As a teenager, he switched the two names.

• Eisenhower’s father found difficulty developing a career. He moved from Pennsylvania to Kansas to farm, but was unsuccessful. The senior Eisenhower then entered engineering school, but left early to marry. He ventured into retail sales, engine mechanics, and business management. The financial struggles the Eisenhower family endured helped to mold Dwight’s political thinking.

• After graduating high school in Abilene, Kansas in 1909, Dwight felt, and his family agreed, that the military would provide him with educational opportunities he could not otherwise afford. The Naval Academy rejected him as too old (he was 20), but the Army signed him up to West Point. He played football for Army until a knee injury forced him onto the sidelines as a coach.

• After graduation, Lieutenant Eisenhower was assigned to Fort Sam Houston. He reportedly requested overseas duty when World War I erupted, but remained stateside to help train the troops. He was regularly promoted, achieving the rank of major in 1920. Dwight hoped to continue his ascent into the Army’s officer elite, and attended the Army War College to further his chances. Stints as assistant to the war secretary and aide to General Douglas MacArthur did nothing to harm his road to success.

HOPE For Homeowners

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Kids grow like weeds, and their interests change with the wind leaving you with unused and unwanted clothing, toys, and equipment. So what can you do? Visit Once Upon A Child, and turn those items into cash or trade them in for things you need now! We buy and sell gently used and new clothes, furniture, equipment and more.

(804) 526-1333Mon-Sat: 10-7, Sun: 12-5

192 Southgate SquareCol. Heights

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Reservations�Accepted

Andrades International Restaurant7 Bollingbrook StreetPetersburg, VA(804) 733-1515

8 �Only�the�finest�meats,�seafreshest�vegetables�find�thour�kitchen.��Our�selectionauthentic�cuisine�from�MeSpain�and�Peru.

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L/D$6.50��$18.95

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Don Jose Mexican Restaurant3609 BoulevardColonial Heights, VA(804) 520-8422

1 �Come�join�the�fun�and�tasauthentic�Mexican�food!��dishes�and�an�extensive�dare�sure�to�please.

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seafood�menu�

L/D$4.50 � ��$12.95

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CO �Hide-A-Way Café-A-Way 105 Highland AvenueColonial Heights, VA(804) 524-0505

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L/D$5.00 � ��$26.00

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CO/CT �Luna Restaurant208 E. Cawson St.Hopewell, VA(804) 452-5135 or 452-5136

8 �New�Restaurant��Now�Opspecialize�in�offering�fine�affordable�prices.��Our�selauthentic�cuisine�from�MeSpain�and�Peru.

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The Mad Italian Pasta anSteak House2545 S. Crater Rd.Petersburg, VA(804) 732-9268

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Prince George Family Barbecue4605 County Drive (Rt. 460)Petersburg, VA(804) 732-3278

1 �Come�taste�our�award�winsauce�and�take�a�bottle�Delicious�barbecue,�"fall�pork�ribs,�soups,�salads,�saappetizers.��Catering�avail

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CALL TIDBITS TO HAVE YOUR EVENT LISTED!

Pamplin Historical Park:For more information on events at our park call (804) 861-2408 or toll-free 1-877-PAMPLIN

A Stitch in Time: A Beginner’s Journey to Quilting

Nov. 8, 2008

Create a 16-inch quilt block by hand using reproduction Civil War-era fabrics. Learn about the history of quilting from different perspectives. Reservations and fee required.

City of Colonial Heights:

Schools out Trip for Election Day

Nov. 4, 2008

Is your child out of school for election day? If so, check out our school’s out trip at Peak Experiences. The cost is $17.00 which includes chaperones, transportation, and a day of rock climbing. This activity is for ages 5 to 16 . Open to all. For more informa-tion call: 520-9390.

Interior Decorating Class

Nov. 10 & Dec. 9, 2008

This class will cover decorating basics of wall décor, furniture arrangements, color concepts, accessories, lighting window treat-ments, flooring, and greenery. Classes will be held at the Colonial Heights Public Library from 6:00-8:00pm. Cost is $40 per person. Instructor: Nikole Jiggetts. www.mycustomhomedesign.com

City of Hopewell:Virginia Author Series at the Appomattox Regional Library System

Nov. 6, 2008

Elizabeth Scott, an author of young adult novels, will speak at the Hopewell Library at 7:00 p.m. Originally from Prince George County, Ms. Scott writes coming of age novels. Her books, “Bloom” and “Stealing Heaven”, have received high praise. For more information, please call 804-458-6329 or visit www.arls.org

Nov. 22, 2008

James Stoneking will present a program at 2:00p.m. on The Oral History Project, which he directs at the Appomattox Regional Governor’s School. Some of his student volunteers will join him in a discussion of the rewards of recording the personal histories of local elderly citizens. For more information, please call 804-458-6329 or visit www.arls.org

City of Petersburg: Acclaimed writers join in on Friday for the Arts! With book signings!

Nov. 14, 2008

Two acclaimed authors will be featured during Friday for the Arts! on November 14th in historic Petersburg. Nancy Carter Crump and Henry Kidd will be hosted at the Siege Museum, providing brief presentations at 6:15pm and 7:00pm respectively, in addition to book signing opportunities. This event is proudly sponsored by The City of Petersburg and the Historic Petersburg Foundation. For more information, contact Anne Thomas: (804) 898-0123.

7th Annual SVAR “Operation Wreath” Gala Auc-tion

Nov. 21, 2008

Mark your calendars and be sure to join us for a pre-holiday event of food, fun and live auction. Southside Virginia Association of Realtors® will once again follow tradition to help worthy families in our area realize the “American Dream” of homeownership by making “Tri-Cities Habitat for Humanity” the benefactor of the auction proceeds. The event will be held at the Civic Center in Petersburg. Call SVAR at (804) 520-4496 for ticket prices and more information.

Spanish for the Workplaceand Beyond

Dawn StricklandOwner & Trainer

(804) 458-6119Dawn@SpanishForTheWorkplace.comwww.SpanishForTheWorkplace.com

Customized, on-site group training focused on your profession:•Occupational Spanish Language Programs •Cross-Cultural Training

•Translation Services •TutoringSe ofrecen clases de inglés para grupitos -- Preguntar por Alba

Speaking Spanish is as easy as reading English!(Read the third line in English and Spanish will come forth!)

May God bless youQue Dios le bendiga

KAY / DEE+OHS / LAY / ben-DEE-gah

Tidbits of the Tri-Cities - Issue #13

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