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Issue 15

of the Tri-Cities

FOR MILLIONS OF DIABETIC AMERICANS,

LIVING WELL IS THE CURE

by Kelly Cadieux

November is National Diabetes Month. While it’s unfortunate that the disease is on the rise, treatment options continue to improve. In this issue, we’ll offer some background on the condition and then inspire you with stories of a few well-known diabetics who are living well.

• Despite popular myth, diabetes is not caused by consuming too much sugar. Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disorder – the body’s immune system destroys the pancreatic cells that create insulin, which regulates sugar in the blood. Type 2 diabetes (which constitutes 90% of diabetes cases in the U.S.) is a metabolic disorder that usually occurs later in life. It may be the result of heredity, lifestyle, or several other factors.

• Excess weight and a sedentary lifestyle are key contributing factors for Type 2 diabetes. A healthy diet and regular exercise are important preventative measures, and regular doctor check-ups are important!

• Diabetes is not a “modern” disease – it was fi rst recorded some 3500 years ago. The papyrus notes of an Egyptian physician named Hesy-Ra described a condition that resulted in the “passing of too much urine.”

turn the page for more!

Nov. 17- Nov. 23, 2008

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LIVING WELL IS THE CURE (continued):• Actor Wilford Brimley has appeared in several

TV commercials for diabetes testing supplies. He’s also been the subject of many Internet video parodies due to his deliberate pronunciation of the disease as “dy-uh-BEE-tuss.” While some dictionaries list both pronunciations as correct, the more common “dy-ah-BEE-tees” rendition is widely considered to be the correct one.

• Worldwide, one in 17 people is diabetic. What country has the largest number of diabetics per capita? No, not the United States. It’s India, with around 10 million. China is also experiencing what experts are calling a diabetic pandemic. In Western nations, obesity is a leading cause of Type 2 diabetes. But most of the rural Indians and Chinese that are being diagnosed today are not overweight. Scientists believe that they have a genetic predisposition to insulin resistance.

• Insulin is a hormone produced by the pancreas: it helps the body convert glucose (sugar) into energy. The identifi cation of insulin and its effect on the body came in 1921. The fi rst patient to have his diabetes treated with insulin was a 14-year-old boy named Leonard Thompson. He was a “charity” patient at a Toronto hospital, and lived for several years after his diagnosis thanks to daily insulin injections. He died of pneumonia in 1935.

• A relatively new treatment for Type 1 diabetics is called islet transplantation. Islets are cells found in the pancreas that produce insulin. These cells are taken from deceased organ donors and transplanted into the diabetic patient. The hope is that the recipient’s pancreas will begin to produce insulin. As with all transplants, there is both a risk of rejection and a shortage of donors. Islet transplantation has only been around since 1999, and is still considered experimental at this stage.

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DEAR PAWʼS CORNER: My neighborʼs puppy has a ton of toys that he chews on all the time. Is this healthy? -- Joe E., Atlanta

DEAR JOE: Yes, as long as the toys are specifi cally made for dogs. Chewing is an instinctive activity for dogs that keeps their teeth and jaws healthy and strong. For puppies, chewing not only helps them develop properly, but it also eases the discomfort of teething.A dog will chew on anything that looks chewable -- as many a dog owner has ruefully discovered after fi nding a favorite pair of shoes in shreds. So keeping many safe chew toys within the dogʼs reach, and featuring chew toys and tug ropes (thick, braided short ropes you can hang onto while the dog pulls at the other end) during play and training will

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].

help ease that urge to chew on everything.Safe chew toys do not shred or shatter when a dog sinks his teeth into them -- something you donʼt want to happen, as shards can cut a dogʼs gums, and swallowing debris can cause serious health problems. So owners should buy only approved toys that are appropriate for their dogʼs age and size. A Great Dane shouldnʼt be chewing on a toy sized for a Chihuahua, and likewise, a toy poodle might have trouble gnawing on a toy sized for a Doberman.Remember also that owners (and those who will have dogs coming over to visit) should put away any objects they donʼt want chewed. Shoes, childrenʼs toys, plants, newspapers -- you name it -- should be placed in a room or closet that canʼt be accessed by the dog. A fl oor clear of everything but a few strategically placed chew toys is ideal.

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Tidbits presents:

Cardamom Sour-Cream Waffl esIngredients

Directions:

EXCITING ANNOUNCEMENT

Belzer Business Service is pleased and excited to an-nounce that we have moved to our new location. Be-ginning November 1, 2008 we will be located at 306 N 2nd Avenue in Downtown Hopewell (behind the police department). In addition to the location change there will be additional support services in the form of more staff, and even more customized support services. To better serve you, our extended staff Doreen, Judy, Wayne, Ashley, Carolyn, Kim, and Pat will be on hand for all of your accounting and tax needs. You can reach us at 804-452-4442.

Business Clients - What will this mean to you? It only means that we are in a new place. We are not changing what we are already doing; we will only be doing it in a different location. Anyone in the tri-city area with diffi culty getting information to us will qualify for free pickup and delivery. We do offer this as a cour-tesy and convenience NOT as a service. We know that it’s not always easy for you to stop your business to get your information to us. So we make it our business to get the information to us and then back to you. We make weekly or monthly trips into Colonial Heights, Disputanta, Chesterfi eld, Enon, Dinwiddie, Petersburg, Charles City, Richmond, Sussex and even Surry County Tax Return Clients – What will this mean to you? It only means that we will be in a new place. If Wayne does your return then Wayne will still do your return per your request. Along with this change there will also be sev-eral seasoned tax preparers available to you. Will I have to remember another phone number? Not immediately, Verizon will allow us to hold the number with a record-ing telling the caller what the new number is. The fax number will change immediately with the addition of a toll free 1-888 fax number. Will I still work with the same people? Yes, with the addition of a few others. If Judy does your payroll then Judy will still be your go to person. The fi rst thing you will notice is that you will hear several new voices and a different greeting when you call, but rest assured during this quiet merging you will have the same service or better. We guarantee it!

Serves 4 Active time:30 min Start to fi nish:30 min

Preheat a waffl e iron until hot. Whisk together fl our, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and cardamom. Whisk together remaining ingredients in another bowl, then whisk into fl our mixture until just combined. Lightly brush waffl e iron with oil and cook waffl es accord-ing to manufacturer’s instructions.

Accompaniment: lingonberry preservesGarnish: confectioners sugar

Cardamom scents and fl avors these tender waffl es for a taste of Sweden at breakfast. View more modern clas-sics <http://www.gourmet.com/recipes/menus/2008/05/modernmom_slideshow> that are just like mom’s, except better.

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Where Quality is Guaranteed! You will see this on all our advertising, as it is our new slogan. Together we represent over 50 years experience and we specialize in small business with unique accounting needs. Belzer Busi-ness Service will continue to provide quality work, while trying to optimize your business goals during these trying economic times. We work with your situation and budget to provide you with services that allow you to make smart business decisions in a timely manner. Current clients will be able to sit down with us and restructure, if necessary, your accounting, payroll or tax services. If your thinking that it will increase your costs you are wrong, our goal is to help keep your accounting costs down. The last thing we want is for you to put off your accounting needs be-cause it’s not affordable. We hope to increase your ser-vices without decreasing your wallet. If you are already happy with the services you have then that’s great we will not change anything. Like I said before, we CUSTOMIZE our services to meet YOUR needs. We offer free consulta-tions and will never charge for a telephone call or ques-tion. Below is a shortened list of services that we offer, while some are the same, others may be new to you.

• Individual, Corporate and Partnership Income Tax • Full Payroll Services (Direct Deposit Available)• Sales, Meals, and Lodging Tax • Financial Statements • QuickBooks Setup, Training and Maintenance • New Business Setup • General Accounting & Bookkeeping • Free Notary Services for all Clients • Free Electronic Tax Return Filing (IRS Authorized Provider) • Setup of New Corporations and LLC’s • Accounts Payable/ Accounts Receivable Management • Bill Pay/ Check Writing • Refund Anticipation Loans (qualifi cations apply) • We use Chase Bank • Fiduciary Accounting and Inventory Reports

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1 1/2 cups all-purpose fl our 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder 3/4 teaspoon baking soda Rounded 1/4 teaspoon salt 1 teaspoon ground cardamom 1 cup whole milk 1 cup sour cream 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract 1 tablespoon mild honey 2 large eggs 3 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted


Have you decided whether you want to make changes to your Medicare Part D drug plan? We can begin making those changes on Nov. 15. Open enrollment for the drug plan will run through Dec. 31.If youʼre already signed up with Medicare, you should have received your Annual Notice of Change. It will let you know about anything new that will take effect in January in your plan: a change in benefi ts, cost and service area, plus any changes to the formulary. Take a close look at it so you can decide if you want to stay with the same plan or make changes.If youʼre going to change plans or are signing up for the fi rst time, try to do it before Dec. 1. That will help to ensure that all goes well at the start of the year when your plan is to begin.Remember the Florida study that determined that the Medicare Web site isnʼt easy to use?

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DEAR DR. DONOHUE: Sodium, sodium, sodium! Medical people continually tell us to cut down on it. How much is too much? Many packaged meals contain 10 percent to 40 percent. What does that percentage mean? What are the limits you suggest? -- S.W.

ANSWER: Most people use too much sodium (salt, sodium chloride). The upper limit on sodium isnʼt my suggestion. It comes from a panel of experts, and often different panels come up with different limits. One group sets the upper daily limit at 2,400 mg of sodium. Another would like people to use less, somewhere in the range of 1,200 mg to 1,500 mg.The 2,400 mg amount is equal to one teaspoon of salt. That doesnʼt mean youʼre allowed to fi ll up a teaspoon with salt and use that whole teaspoon on food throughout the day. It indicates total sodium intake. People get 77 percent of their total daily sodium from processed and restaurant foods, things like commercial soups, frozen foods and luncheon meats. Another 12 percent comes from the sodium found naturally in foods. Six percent comes from salt sprinkled at the table, and 5 percent from salt added during cooking. You can cut 11 percent of your sodium intake by eliminating the last two sources. For salt added during the processing of foods, you have to read labels. The percentage of sodium listed on labels indicates the percent of the recommended daily sodium intake found in a serving of that food. The booklet on sodium and potassium discusses these minerals in detail. To obtain a copy, write to:

Dr. Donohue -- No. 202W, 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: What can you tell me about an illness called Pagetʼs in the brain? A dear friend of mine was told she had it after she had a brain scan. I would like to know what to look for so I can help her without making it obvious and upsetting her. Will this kill her soon? -- Anon.

ANSWER: I have to believe that your friend has Pagetʼs disease of the skull. Pagetʼs is a bone disease, and the bones most often affected are the pelvic bones, the backbones, the skull, the thigh bone and the lower leg bone. This illness affects 3 percent of those older than 40. It comes about from an acceleration of the normal daily breakdown and buildup of bones. The breakdown phase suddenly speeds up. That throws the buildup phase into high gear, and the new bone that results is misshapen and fragile. Quite often, the process occurs only in a limited section of one bone. When thatʼs the case, the illness doesnʼt present a health threat.Pagetʼs disease of the skull can cause headaches, hearing disturbances or a malfunction of the nerves that come from the brain. The symptoms depend on what part of the skull is affected and the size of the affected area. Some have no symptoms.For people with symptoms, medicines used for osteoporosis are also used for Pagetʼs disease. Occasionally, surgery is necessary.I doubt if your friendʼs lifespan will be shortened.

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Unwieldy as the site is, I managed to fi nd a certain drug and identify 72 plans in my state that have the drug in their formulary. So far, so good, but I was told there is a way to compare costs at a pharmacy versus having the drug sent by mail, and I couldnʼt fi nd it. Iʼve decided thereʼs too much at stake here, so Iʼm going to use SHIPs -- State Health Insurance Assistance Programs -- for help in deciding about a new drug plan. To fi nd one in your area, go to the Medicare site and put “SHIP contact” in the search box. Or call Medicare at 1-800-633-4227.If you want to try it yourself online, go to the Medicare plan fi nder at www.medicare.gov/MPDPF.

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].

Tidbits® of the Tri-Cities Page 4 For Advertising Call 1.804.731.7504

LIVING WELL IS THE CURE (continued):

• Star Wars creator George Lucas learned that he had diabetes during his Army physical. His Type 2 not only kept him out of Vietnam, it also frightened him into what friends and family describe today as a “squeaky clean” lifestyle. He doesn’t smoke or drink, and watches his diet. It’s a major change from his teens, when the former chocoholic devoured Hershey bars “by the truckload.”

• Emmy Award-winning actress Mary Tyler Moore is a Type 1 diabetic. Even though this version of the disease is often referred to as “juvenile diabetes,” Moore was diagnosed in her 30s, when she was working on The Dick Van Dyke Show. Initially, she dismissed her dizziness, fatigue, and occasionally-blurred vision to the long hours she was working. She learned the truth when she fi nally went to the doctor after passing out on the set.

• Fifteen-year-old pop star Nick Jonas of the Jonas Brothers Band was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes in November 2005. He experienced two typical symptoms: he’d lost about 15 pounds in only two weeks, and was constantly thirsty. To be safe, he now wears an insulin pump when performing live. In fact, his young female fans have launched a new game: study Nick’s photos and spot his OmniPod device!

• Singer Patti Labelle knows why diabetes is commonly called “the silent killer.” She had no symptoms (and never even felt sick) until one night in 1994 when she fainted while performing live. She thought it was merely exhaustion, but tests at the hospital the next day revealed that she had Type 2 diabetes. Labelle’s mother had the disease as well, which made her a likely candidate. But like many of us, Patti only went to the doctor when she was sick. Her failure to get regular check-ups led to the delay in diagnosis.

1. Name the last World Series sweep before 2007 that featured victories by four different starting pitchers.

2. Who holds the record for most victories as a Texas Rangers manager?

3. In 2007, Houston’s Kris Brown became the third NFL kicker to hit three 50-yard-plus fi eld goals in a game. Name either of the fi rst two to do it.

4. What was the highest point total Pete Maravich had in a single game for LSU during his college career?

5. How many times did Detroit Red Wings center Steve Yzerman lead the NHL in goals for a season during his 22-year career?

6. Who was the last high-school wrestler before Jake Deitchler in 2008 to make the U.S. Olympic Greco-Roman wrestling squad?

7. Golfer Lee Westwood was unbeaten in a record 12 consecutive Ryder Cup matches before losing in 2008. Whose record did he tie?

�� Play better golf with JACK NICKLAUS

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

• Soup is often served as a fi rst course in Western cuisine, but if you travel to China and eat traditional meals, you’re more likely to have it as the last course.

• Are you ambisinister? Don’t worry, it’s just a fancy way of saying that you’re clumsy with both hands. The literal meaning is “with two left hands” -- the manual equivalent of having two left feet.

• It’s been reported that gangster Al Capone paid, in today’s dollars, upward of $300,000 in bribes every week.

• More interesting collective nouns: A group of moles is known as a “labor,” a fl ock of turtledoves is called a “pitying” and a school of jellyfi sh is known as a “smack.”

• The French once raised domesticated beavers as a food source.

(c) 2008 King Features Synd., Inc.

By Samantha Weaver

• It was Nobel Prize-winning physicist Richard Feynman who made the following sage observation: “There are 1011 stars in the galaxy. That used to be a huge number. But it’s only a hundred billion. It’s less than the national defi cit! We used to call them astronomical numbers. Now we should call them economical numbers.”

• If you’re planning a trip to the great state of Texas next summer, be sure to stop by the small town of Clute in late July. You wouldn’t want to miss the Great Mosquito Festival, which features a Mosquito Legs Contest and a Mosquito Calling Contest. It makes you wonder, though: How exactly do you call a mosquito?

• Statistics show that widows outnumber widowers by a ratio of 5 to 1.

• Holstein cows are known to be prolifi c milkers. A good heifer can produce her own weight in milk in just a couple of weeks.

“Man is a credulous animal, and must believe something; in the absence of good grounds for belief, he will be satisfi ed with bad ones.” -- Bertrand Russell

Thought of the week

NASCAR Has Its Politics, Too

MARTINSVILLE, Va. -- Itʼs likely youʼre a Dale Earnhardt Jr. fan, judging from the shirts in the grandstands and the stickers on the cars.If youʼre not a Junior fan -- and believe you me, theyʼre out there -- chances are youʼre reading this and preparing to write a letter or an e-mail. Itʼs a determined, prolifi c minority. The Juniorphobes often call in when Iʼm on radio shows. The Juniorphiles are more secure in their majority status, and they only mobilize when attacked. The slightest word, maybe even syllable, taken wrong -- one that seems as if maybe, just maybe, their idol may have included an imperfect edge in one of his many great works -- results in quick communicative response.The Anti-Junior Crowd -- politicians have grown

to love to refer as something as a crowd, as in “that Washington crowd wantin ̓ to raise your taxes” -- believes in the pre-emptive strike. The Pro-Junior Crowd believes in a strong defense. Its army is bigger. Perhaps the insurgents rely more on sneak attacks. Then again, itʼs wrong to stereotype. There are pacifi sts, even among race fans. I mean, theoretically. The other day I heard someone say heʼd met a fan who was a Democrat. Next thing you know, theyʼll start letting ACLU members in.If they want to come, NASCAR will certainly accept their money, as long as they donʼt mind another Republican waving the fl ag, driving the pace car and pressing the fl esh every week.Diversity. Yeah, right.Iʼve never minded fans thinking Iʼm wrong. Or Brian France, for that matter. I just donʼt want anyone to think Iʼm insincere. Calling it the way I see it -- and calling it that way clearly -- means opposition from those whose eyes arenʼt focused the same way. Plus, I get it from the “pros” one week and the “antis” the next. In the presidential debate last month, I heard John McCain say he was proud of those who attended his rallies. He said they didnʼt say any more mean things than “that other crowd,” the one hanging on every word of Barack Obama. Obama didnʼt have much to say about that. He was ahead. The difference in NASCAR is that polls donʼt mean anything. Not even poles mean much.The guy whoʼs ahead ... isnʼt ahead. Fans donʼt decide which driver they adore on the basis of issues. They decide on the basis of birth, charisma, geography (almost all the Colombian fans cheer Juan Montoya, for instance), marketing, brand name and sex appeal, among others. All these considerations, swirling about and attacking their consciousness, somehow morph into something approaching a love affair. It can be “a guy thing” or it can be “a gal thing.” Itʼs not physical, though perhaps they want it to be.Relax. Itʼs a double entendre. Fans think itʼs OK for “their driver” to get physical. All the rest better be as polite as a teacherʼs pet.


LIVING WELL IS THE CURE (continued):

• In 1989, Oscar winner Halle Barry collapsed on the set of her short-lived sitcom Living Dolls. Doctors diagnosed her with Type 1 diabetes and started her on a regiment of insulin. Barry has since revealed that she believes she has “cured” herself using diet and exercise. She even claims that she no longer needs to take insulin. But medical experts say that Barry was either misdiagnosed (and actually has Type 2), or is stretching the truth about her insulin use. Regardless, you should never stop (or start!) taking any medication without the approval of a physician.

• Mick Fleetwood, the drummer for rock band Fleetwood Mac, was too shy, busy, or frightened to see a doctor. He’d suffered from odd symptoms for over a year, and (frighteningly) convinced himself that he had a brain tumor. He fi nally sought help in 1979, and was diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes.

• Two of the leading ladies from TV’s Designing Women are diabetic. Jean Smart, who played Charlene, was diagnosed with Type 1 when she was 13. Today, she keeps jellybeans in her pocket for those times that her blood sugar dips. Beauty queen Delta Burke, who played Suzanne, was diagnosed with Type 2 in 1997. She is now a spokesperson for a new diabetes medication, Byetta.

• Jerry Mathers, the title character on the classic TV show Leave It to Beaver, was diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes in 1989. He’d packed on some pounds, and his doctor told him that losing weight would help his diabetes. Unfortunately, Mathers attempted a radical diet approach: skipping breakfast and lunch, then eating a large dinner. This only sent his blood sugar levels on a rollercoaster ride that worsened his condition. Today, he follows a sensible diet prescribed by his physician and has his disease well under control.

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Q: Iʼll be closing escrow soon on a 1974 mobile home. I just had the home inspection done and found out that it has aluminum wiring. Is this common, and is this a safety hazard, especially being so old? Can you give me a quick education on aluminum wiring and any pointers that might help me? -- Gail S., via e-mail

A: Small-gauge aluminum wiring was installed in about 2 million homes (and an unknown number of other structures such as mobile homes) built in the 1960s through the mid-1970s. The reason it is no longer used is that it was found to be less safe than copper wire. The problem with aluminum wiring is that it tends to corrode at the connections (such as electrical outlet or appliance connections). This corrosion increases the resistance to electrical current, which leads to overheating at the connection, which can cause serious problems -- including fi re or electrocution. Circuit breakers are designed to trip (break) an electrical circuit

before it overloads and overheats, but aluminum wiring had a tendency to overheat despite this protection.According to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, homes wired before 1972 with aluminum are 55 times more likely to have one or more connections reach “fi re hazard conditions” than a home wired with copper.In 1972, manufacturers introduced a new “alloy” type of aluminum wiring, as well as improved switches and outlets. However, some reports argue that the alloy wasnʼt much of an improvement.One thing that was introduced in this same time period was a less-costly alternative to completely rewiring a home with copper. This is the COPALUM crimp connector repair, which splices aluminum wires with copper connectors to create a safer connection at the outlet or appliance. It is one of just two recommended fi xes for the aluminum wiring in your home (the other is to completely rewire with copper). The COPALUM fi x was allowed through 2005. I donʼt know if itʼs still a permitted repair option, but a licensed electrician will know about it. At any rate, you should have an electrician double-check all electrical connections in the mobile home to make sure they are functioning correctly. For the repair work, be sure to get a written estimate and re-inspect after repairs are complete.

HOME TIP: The Consumer Product Safety Commission published information on dealing with aluminum wiring in older homes through 2003. Visit http://www.cpsc.gov/ and enter “aluminum wiring” in the search fi eld.

Is Aluminum Wiring a Safety Hazard?

By Samantha Mazzotta


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• Need to run an extension cord for lights across a driveway or walkway? Cushion the cord by run-ning it through a length of slit garden hose. It will protect the cord from low temperatures or being crushed.

• “There was a request from a reader, W.T., and he was looking for a way to remove the smell from jar lids. I have the solution! Use dishwasher liquid (like Cascade) -- the kind you use for your automatic dishwasher. Just wash by hand with hot water. The dishwasher liquid will remove any smell and any stain, especially tomato stains.” -- K. in Illinois

• “I deodorize sauerkraut jars to use for apple butter by putting 1 tablespoon of baking soda in a wet, clean jar and fi lling it with water. I also use this method on plastic storage containers that smell of onions or hot peppers, so it should work for Mr. T.” -- E-mail from Minnesota

• On saving gas: “Before going on a trip or pulling a heavy load, like a trailer, have your service sta-tion replace your fuel fi lter. You will be surprised at how much farther a tank of gas will go, especially if the fi lter has not been changed in a while. -- M.B. in Saskatchewan, Canada

• “Teach children to be neat and organized in their drawers by using plastic shower caps to con-tain their underwear and socks. This is a great way to start teaching organization and tidiness.” -- L. in North Carolina

• Another way to remove deodorant stains: Try meat tenderizer! Dampen the stain, sprinkle with meat tenderizer and work it into the fabric to loosen the deodorant. Let it sit for 5 minutes, then launder as normal. Be sure to check any stain before putting the garment in the dryer.


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Tidbits® of the Tri-Cities Page 6 For Advertising Call 1.804.731.7504ANSWERS 1. The 1927 New York Yankees.

2. Bobby Valentine, with 581 victories (1985-92).3. Morten Andersen (1995) and Neil Rackers (2004).4. He had 69 points versus Alabama in 1970.5. Never, despite a career high of 65 goals in 1988-89.6. Mike Farina in 1976.7. Arnold Palmer (1965-71).

The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation recently increased insurance coverage on bank accounts to $250,000. Until the increase, accounts were covered up to $100,000, except for retirement savings, which have been covered to $250,000 since 2006.The increase, however, is temporary. The new increased coverage will run through Dec. 31, 2009, at which time the coverage will be reduced to the previous $100,000 amount.The new insurance coverage is as follows:• Single owner account: $250,000• Joint account $250,000: per co-owner• Trust Accounts $250,000: per owner per benefi ciaryThese amounts apply to the total amount that is deposited in a bank. For example, if you have both checking and savings at one bank, those amounts would be added together subject to the $250,000 cap.If youʼre concerned about the safety of your present bank, consider spreading your money between multiple banks and account types, or investigate credit

unions as an option to traditional banks. Credit unions arenʼt in business for profi ts, and most of them have been less likely to make the risky sub-prime housing loans that have been the downfall of banks across the country. Shareholders are the members, and having a credit-union account is a good way to get started in the credit world should you need a loan.To keep credit unions on equal footing with banks, they have been included in the increased insurance coverage legislation. Credit unions arenʼt covered by the FDIC. Instead they are chartered by the National Credit Union Administration and covered by the National Credit Union Share Insurance Fund. No money has ever been lost in a credit-union failure because of the insurance.Keep an eye on the FDIC Web site [www.fdic.gov] for press releases and the Consumers and Communities section for up-to-date information. Click on Industry Analysis and Bank Data and Statistics to check on a specifi c bank. Youʼll also be able to research comparisons between banks and individual bank ratings reports. The Failed Banks link will provide specifi c information about where accounts of failed banks have been transferred.You can link from the FDIC site or go directly to www.myfdicinsurance.gov to see how much of your bank account balances are covered by the new legislation.


ALL THE PRESIDENTS’ TIDBITS:

LYNDON BAINES JOHNSONPerhaps more than any other presidential successor, Lyndon B. Johnson had large shoes to fi ll when he took offi ce upon the assassination of John F. Kennedy. But LBJ became the third president in history – after Teddy Roosevelt and Harry Truman – to perform well enough in the job after his initial forced promotion to be elected to a full term in offi ce.

• Lyndon Baines Johnson was born on the outskirts of Stonewall, Texas, on August 27, 1908. At the age of four, he began to walk to the local schoolhouse daily to play with his older cousins during recess. Soon, the teacher decided he’d be better off if he stayed there during the day, so Lyndon began his education a bit earlier than most of his era. He graduated high school at age 15 in 1924. But instead of continuing to college, Johnson traveled to California to “fi nd himself” with some friends, but returned after only a year.

• Many presidents attended Princeton or Harvard, but Johnson earned his initial college education at Southwest Texas State Teachers’ College. That’s not to say that SWTSTC was lacking in quality or credentials. Upon graduation in 1930, he taught public speaking in Texas and went on to study law at Georgetown University in Washington, D.C. There, he accepted a job as secretary to U.S. Representative Richard Kleberg. In 1934, he wed Claudia Alta “Lady Bird” Taylor.

• Johnson headed back to Texas after FDR appointed him state head of the National Youth Administration, one of his New Deal job training programs. When one of Kleberg’s fellow representatives from Texas passed away, a special election was held to replace him, and Lyndon announced his candidacy.

• Only 28 years of age, LBJ won the election. He was still a U.S. representative when the nation entered World War II, and was the fi rst member of Congress to volunteer for active military service. After six months, Roosevelt realized that Johnson and his fellow Congressmen would serve the nation better on Capitol Hill than in the South Pacifi c, so he recalled them to Washington.

• In 1948, Texans voted Lyndon Johnson to the U.S. Senate. A few months after beginning his second term in 1955, he nearly died after suffering a massive heart attack that left him out of commission until year’s end. When doctors gave him the go-ahead, he returned to his duties, championing some of the decade’s most important developments (notably in public education, space exploration, and civil rights).

FDIC Safeguards More of Your Savings

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(804) 526-1333 Mon-Sat: 10-7, Sun: 12-5192 Southgate Square, Col. Heights

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10% Offall regular-priced store items

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the wind leaving you with unused and unwantedclothing, toys, and equipment. So what can you do?Visit Once Upon A Child, and turn those itemsinto cash or trade them in for things you neednow! We buy and sell gently used and newclothes, furniture, equipment and more.

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2nd Quarter 2006Week 22

May 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.

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

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

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Prince George Family B bBarbecue4605 County Drive (Rt. 460)Petersburg, VA(804) 732-3278

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V/M � � � SC/M CO/CT �Steven Kent Family Restaurant12205 South Crater Rd.Petersburg, VA(804) 733-0500

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To Advertise Call (804) 731-7504

CALL TIDBITS TO HAVE YOUR EVENT LISTED!

City of Colonial Heights: Interior Decorating Class

Dec. 9, 2008

This class will cover decorating basics of wall décor, furniture arrangements, color concepts, accessories, lighting window treat-ments, fl ooring, 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

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:Hopewell Community Center: Contact the center at (804) 541-2304 for more information

Virginia Author Series at the Appomattox Regional Library System

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

Annual Craft Bazaar Dec. 3-5, 2008

The Craft Club is working hard to prepare for their annual bazaar. They are excited about selling the beautiful crafts that they have been creating throughout the year. They will be selling delicious baked goodies, as well. These crafts & baked goodies make excel-lent gifts and proceeds will benefi t the Hopewell Respite Group and senior projects & activities. 8:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. Holiday Boat Parade and Fireworks

Dec. 6, 2008

Join us for our 4rd Annual City Boat Parade. Dress warmly and see some of the most beautiful decorated boats in Virginia. Located on the River between Jordan Point and Anchor Point. Parade begins at 5:30 p.m.

You are cordially invited toSteven Kent Restaurant’s Annual

THANKSGIVING DAY BUFFETThursday, Nov. 27, 2008 12pm-5pm

This year featuring “Tastes of Virginia”, a combination oflocal and state favorites with a touch of our own flare!

To get your appetite started pick one of our Delicious Soups. Choose from Chesapeake She Crab or Roasted Red Pepper and Sweet Corn Chowder.

Next, select one of our Fresh Salads. Choose from a Traditional Green Garden Salad, Caesar Salad or Fresh Picnic Potato Salad.

Our Entrees include Succulent Curry Smoked Ham, Slow Roasted Young Tom Turkey Breast and Country Dressing, Roast Beef, Whiting Fish and Baked Chicken. To accompany these

wonderful selctions we will be having an abundant array of Southern Style Vegetables.

Nice Warm Breads from our kitchen add a special touch to each meal. Our sinfullyDelicious Desserts will feature a Dark Chocolate Fountain complete with an assortment

of goodies to dip as well as pies and cakes.

12205 South Crater Rd • Petersburg, VA804-733-0500

Adults $19.99 • Children 6-10 $9.99 • Children 5 & under FREEReservations Strongly Recommended

Christmas at the Jefferson and “Tacky Lights”Tour

Dec. 16, 2008

Includes Round trip motorcoach transportation, dinner at the elegant Jefferson Hotel, “Tacky Lights” tour, refreshments on bus, all tax & gratuities. Join us for a spectacular dinner at the beauti-fully decorated Jefferson Hotel and a “tacky lights” holiday tour of Richmond. This will be a special evening that you don’t want to miss! Register by Nov. 21, 2008. Cost $88.00

City of Petersburg: 7th Annual SVAR “Operation Wreath” Gala Auction

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.

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