Get
Father’s Day Back on Track with Garden Railroading
(ARA) - This Father's Day give dad a unique gift that will get him off
the couch, back on track and into the garden -- with the whole family as
his crew.
Combining two of the hottest hobbies
-- gardening and model trains -- garden railroading is the fastest-growing
family hobby in North America, according to the Garden Trains Association.
“This is a fun hobby that gets the
whole family hooked," says Michael Stephens, president of the association.
"People love it. It's grown-up playtime but outside in the fresh air and
sunshine."
Garden railroads, similar to what
Dad played with as a kid, are large G-scale model trains about 5 inches
high and 25 inches long, but instead of running inside, the trains wind
through backyard forests of dwarf conifers, over little man-made streams
or around miniature mountain ranges.
The hobby began in Europe decades
ago, but it recently caught on in the United States. The Garden Trains
Association says there are about 40,000 garden train enthusiasts and some
1,000 garden train clubs in North America.
* All aboard for about $200
It's easy to get started. All you
need is a space about 5 feet square and about 4 feet of track. For as little
as $200, you can have Dad up and running in a weekend. "Most people get
into gardening on a small scale and build over time. It's more fun when
the set develops over the years," notes Stephens. Outdoor railroading attracts
men in their mid 50s. With an estimated half of the enthusiasts women,
garden trains are a great outdoor activity for the whole family, with everyone
involved in making decisions.
* Come on, baby, do the locomotion
It's best to know a little bit about
garden trains before getting started. There are annual outdoor train shows,
conventions and displays across the country, the biggest being the Garden
Railway Convention in Denver, August 12 to15, 2004 (www.denvergrs.org).
For a list of events in your area, visit www.trains.com/community/events.
Visiting the Garden Trains Association
Web site at www.gardentrains.org can provide a wealth of beginner information.
If you want to find a permanent garden-railroad display in your area, go
to the site and click on the newsroom. You can find more information about
the hobby in Garden Railway Magazine, which is full of how-tos, and offers
a 20-minute video and 96-page book on basic garden railroading for beginners.
Log on to www.gardenrailways.com or call (800) 533-6644 for more information.
This Father's Day, Dad is sure to
have some real fun creating his own tiny world -- with the whole family
pitching in.
Courtesy of ARA Content
EDITOR’S NOTE: Outdoor model railroading,
the fastest-growing family hobby in North America, is a great activity.
Incorporate it with gardening or just enjoy it as you would indoor model
railroading. For more information call Susan McCoy (610) 388-9330 or log
on to www.gardentrains.org.
SIDEBAR
Whistle Stops
Check out these fun family events
this summer. A complete list of garden railroading events can be found
by visiting www.trains.com/community/events.
Great Scale Model Train Show and
All-American HiRail and Collectors Show Sat, 6/19/2004, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
through Sun, 6/20/2004, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Location: Maryland State Fairgrounds,
Timonium, Md. Admission Fees: $6; 12 and under free; family $12. Web site:
www.gsmts.com
San Diego Model Railroad Museum Family
Day Sun, 6/20/2004, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Categories: Model Railroad Location:
San Diego Model Railroad Museum, Balboa Park, San Diego, Calif. Admission
Fees: $5; under 15 free. Description: Running giant G-scale model trains,
railroad-themed arts and crafts. Web site: www.sdmodelrailroadm.com
Texas Hill Country Railfair &
Festival Sat, 6/26/2004, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. through Sun, 6/27/2004, 10 a.m.
to 4 p.m. Location: Burnet Community Center, Burnet, Texas. Admission Fees:
Adults $3, children under 10 free with each adult admission. Train ride
tickets sold separately. Description: Featured at Railfair are rail car
and equipment displays, operating model railroad layouts and much more.
Shop with vendors of railroadiana and model railroad supplies. The Hill
Country Flyer excursion train will offer special service from Cedar Park
to the site of Railfair on both days of the event. Website: www.austinsteamtrain.org/
29th Annual LGB Model Railroad Club
Convention Sun, 8/1/2004 through Thu, 8/5/2004. Location: Mystic Hilton,
Mystic, Conn. Description: Tours, clinics, excursions, dealer hall, exhibits.
Lots of large-scale fun set in beautiful Mystic Seaport, Conn. Website:
www.bigtrainoperator.com/2004.
24th Annual National Gauge Convention
Wed, 9/1/204 – Sat. 9/4/2004. Location: Westin Santa Clara Hotel, Santa
Clara, CA. Description: 12 garden railways on tour plus garden railway
clinic by Jack Verducci. Web site: www.narrowgauge2004.com
Dads
and Sons: Staying Connected Through the Years
(ARA)
- If you’re the father of a little boy, there’s a good chance that right
now you are enjoying a very close connection with your son. He probably
idolizes everything you do -- dressing up in your clothes, imitating the
way you read the paper or the way you stand when you talk. He tries to
do everything you do and works hard to make sure he has your attention
and your approval. You can see in your little boy’s eyes that he is utterly
convinced that you are without a doubt the ultimate man in the world.
And if you
are a dad whose son has gotten a bit older, you can stop for a moment and
smile when you recollect those special days with your young son. As time
goes by, though, your son gets older and your relationship changes. When
your son begins to develop into a young man, both of you face challenges
that mean working a little bit harder to maintain your bond. The relationship
you develop now will set the course for a lifetime bond between you and
your son.
Dr. James Longhurst,
a licensed psychologist for Montcalm School, a residential treatment program
for troubled and at-risk youth, says that in general, as boys become teens,
they sometimes question or challenge all their previously held perceptions
about their fathers. “This happens,” he says, “as they are trying to become
individuals and to learn how to ‘be their own man.’ In this part of their
lives, teen boys often reject their father’s values.”
Dr. Longhurst
says that fathers need to realize that when their boy begins to become
a young man, you as a father, need to be sure to keep things in balance.
“Dads need to realize that they can never be as good, and all knowing as
your young son thinks you are. Likewise, they are never as bad, or as stupid,
as their teenage sons may say they are.”
When the father-son
relationship is intense, Dr. Longhurst explains that it can be a key time
for fathers to use crisis as opportunity, exploring their relationship
with their son and working through the conflict to bring the relationship
closer.
Sean, a student
who recently graduated from Montcalm School and is looking forward to his
first summer job, says that when he came to the program, he and his father
had a very tense relationship that was, in some ways, at the heart of his
troubles. Sean’s parents were divorced and his father, a recovering alcoholic,
was changing his lifestyle and becoming a different person. That wasn’t
easy for Sean. “I didn’t like my dad before when he was drinking, but I
didn’t like him later when he started changing the way he lived his life.
I had a lot of resentment because of my dad’s trouble with alcohol when
I was young, but when he changed his life and became sober, I wasn’t ready
for that either.”
Sean believes
that before he and his father sought help through Montcalm School, the
relationship was difficult for both of them. “It felt kind of superficial.
We didn’t really spend any quality time together. Our relationship was
pretty much going down the tubes. I stopped going to his house and I think
I now know he didn’t treat me as bad as I did him.”
During his
time at Montcalm School, Sean and his father had numerous conferences,
facilitated by staff working for the program. They laid the cards out on
the table, and Sean and his father realized, that they both wanted the
same things from their relationship.
“It’s kind
of like we came to realize, Hey, you’re my dad and I’m your son,” Sean
says. “Why are we doing this? He apologized for the mistakes he’d made
in the past, as did I, and we built a relationship based on trust. Today
we’re open and honest with each other and issues don’t get swept under
the rug.”
For more information
about Montcalm School or its parent organization, Starr Commonwealth, which
has a 91-year history of changing the lives of troubled youth and their
families, call (800) 837-5591, or visit their Web sites at www.montcalm.org
or www.starr.org.
Courtesy of
ARA Content
Dads
and Pool -- What a Great Father’s Day Combination!
(ARA)
- Want to break the mold on the traditional Father’s Day gift? Tired of
ties? Had it with handkerchiefs? How about pool . . . as in billiards?
Pool is a family activity that brings everyone together and what better
way to say, “Thanks, Dad!”
American lifestyles
have changed. According to the National Association of Home Builders, living
room size has declined and one-third of homes built in 1999 have no living
room. Many homes have a game room where folks gather for activities that
transcend gender, age or ability. No longer a piece of sports equipment
relegated to the basement, the pool table is the game room centerpiece,
matching and enhancing the décor.
Stephen D.
Ducoff, executive director of the Billiard Congress of America, a non-profit
organization that promotes cue sports worldwide, also sees this trend.
“Our retail members are working with more contractors, designers and home
owners to furnish game rooms. Pool table sales indicate that more pool
is played in homes with taverns and billiard rooms second and third respectively,”
he says.
For folks on
your list who have a game room, give a gift to spiff it up. The options
are as rich and varied as the history of a sport that is becoming “everybody’s
game.”
The pool cue
(or cue stick) is vital and gifts that help maintain this piece of equipment
are quite affordable, often less than $30. Kits to clean, condition and
repair the cue, and tip picks, gloves, chalk and talc make great, inexpensive
gifts.
Want to get
on the stick? Pool cues run the gamut from utilitarian to extravagant.
One-piece cues start at $25, two-piece cue sticks range from $65 to $300
and prices for custom cues run from $350 to $10,000. “Top shelf” specialty
cues -- of exotic woods inlaid with wood, gems and stones -- express the
player’s personality.
Cue cases to
transport and protect the stick start at about $35 and go up from there.
Colorful and unique billiard balls are a way to show your stripes, or solids
for that matter. Pool balls decorated with NFL team logos, glow in the
dark colors, or patriotic stars and stripes add a dash of design for about
$200 a set. Polishers keep balls smooth and balanced and triangle racks
perfectly align the balls for clean break shots. Prices for polishers and
racks vary, but your billiard retailer will help you find what’s best.
Home improvement?
Game Improvement! A set of practice balls -- for $30 or more -- and private
lessons from a certified instructor -- about $50 to $100 per session --
can make a difference in a player’s game.
Need more suggestions?
Books about pool range from a basic rulebook to ones on the sport’s history
and heroes. “How to” videos range from $15 to $25 and videos or DVDs of
classic movies such as “Hustler” or “The Color of Money” are a must for
a player’s film library.
How about the
ultimate gift -- a new table for the home or office? Slate pool tables
start at $1,500 and from there the sky’s the limit. Women, who are an integral
part of the table purchasing decision, can rest assured that it can be
a piece of fine furniture, not just sports equipment. A trip to a local
pool retailer proves that billiard tables and accessories are a décor
enhancer.
Speaking of
décor, decorative accents make a game room pop! Accessories such
as lighting, mirrors and classic posters can add atmosphere and a touch
of whimsy.
Table looking
tired? Have the playing surface recovered with solid color fabric or designs
to match the décor or declare the owner’s alma mater. Players awaiting
their turn can do so on specialty stools equipped with a beverage rest
and adorned with billiard motif upholstery. Cue stands, from utilitarian
to intricate folk art carvings, range from $35 to $500 or more.
Still not sure
what your pool-playing dad needs? A gift certificate from a local billiard
retailer or a table time gift certificate at a local billiard room can
take care of your quandary.
Gifts for the
game room are the perfect thing for Father’s Day because they can be shared
with others; and isn’t that what family is all about?
For more gift
ideas or to find a billiard and game room retailer near you, visit www.bca-pool.com
Courtesy of
ARA Content
Not
Your Father’s VCR: High-Tech Features Make DVD Recorders A Hot Gift For
Dad
(ARA)
– This isn’t your father’s VCR . . . it’s better! Fast growing in popularity
and affordability, easy-to-use DVD recorders are changing the way dads
interact with their beloved TV remotes . . . and are a perfect Father’s
Day gift this year.
DVD, and the
rewriteable DVD-RAM format in particular, is poised to become the recording
medium of choice for consumers. “Not only is the picture quality better
than VHS, about twice the detail and sharpness,” says Jeff Cove of Panasonic
about the latest DVD recorders, “but the new generation of DVD recorders
offers features that greatly enhance the viewing and recording experience.”
But, if you
think a DVD recorder is technically beyond what you -- or your Dad -- will
ever need, think again. Here are some features and functions the experts
at Panasonic suggest you look for when shopping for a DVD recorder:
1. Chasing
Playback. This simultaneous playback and record option, available only
with DVD-RAM media, allows users to watch a program and record it at the
same time. For those evenings when Dad gets home too late to catch the
beginning of his favorite program, he can now watch the first part while
recording the rest of the show.
2. Accidentally
recording over favorite shows and family videos is a big “no-no” with most
dads; so only ask for recorders which feature the DVD-RAM format. These
units record in much the same way as a computer’s hard drive, automatically
finding and only recording on blank spaces on the disk -- never over last
year’s summer vacation!
3. Preserving
VHS Memories. When Dad records his favorite VHS tapes onto DVD, he’ll actually
be improving the quality of these images since DVD offers higher resolution.
And, while he can connect a VHS deck to a DVD recorder, consider one of
the new, all-in-one DVD-VHS combination units that make it easy to transfer
tapes to DVD. An added benefit: DVDs take up a lot less room than bulky
tapes.
4. Durability.
While DVDs are generally more durable than videotape, not all DVDs are
created equal! DVD-RAM discs can be rewritten to more than 100,000 times
before they will wear out.
5. On-Screen
Programming Guide. Look for those models which have a convenient onscreen
program guide that lets consumers organize and plan their viewing and recording.
Cove recommends
two new additions to Panasonic’s line-up, models DMR-E85H and DMR-E65,
which feature these capabilities and more. Both units record on either
rewriteable DVD-RAM or write-once DVD-R discs, and will also play back
DVD-Video, music CDs, video CDs and MP3 formatted discs.
So, whether
your Dad has an extensive videotape library to preserve or just wants to
record his favorite programs, there is sure to be a DVD recorder that will
fit his needs. Why not let technology put some fun in Dad’s life . . .
and make gift giving easier for you!
For more information
about DVD recorders and other consumer electronics products, visit www.panasonic.com.
Panasonic products are available nationwide at major electronics stores.
Courtesy of
ARA Content
Identity
Theft Defense for Dad
(ARA)
-- Your father has protected you your entire life. From teaching you how
to ride a bike or shoot your first free throw to sending you off to college
or giving you away at your wedding, he has cared for you and always looked
out for your best interest.
So what
better time than now, with Father’s Day upon us, to return the favor? This
year don’t just stick to the typical necktie or tool buying routine, take
your father’s financial health into consideration and help protect him
from unexpected dangers – like identity theft.
Identity
theft is among the fastest growing crimes in America, and perpetrators
are getting more sophisticated and adept at stealing the information they
need to take over someone else’s credit cards and bank accounts. More than
10 million Americans and one in five families have experienced identity
theft in the past year. During that same time period, consumers invested
an estimated 300 million hours and $5 billion to resolve related issues.
Yet many
consumers are unaware of its consequences and the tools available to protect
their families. Adult children concerned with their parents’ vulnerability
to identity theft can take steps to help keep financial information safe.
Here are five easy ways you can help protect your father from becoming
one of these statistics.
* Give
dad peace of mind this Father’s Day. Consider purchasing the Equifax Credit
Watch Family Program, a family discounted credit monitoring package available
at www.equifax.com. Utilizing Equifax Credit Watch Gold, the service automatically
alerts consumers within 24 hours of credit file changes indicating possible
identity theft. The program also features $20,000 in identity theft insurance,
as well as victim assistance with an identity theft specialist for step-by-step
guidance and problem resolution.
* Lock
it up. Make sure your father keeps all financial information and personal
records locked at all times, especially if he has a housekeeper, or guest
in the house.
* Watch
the mailbox. Mail theft is among the most common forms of identity theft.
Criminals can gain most of the information they need to commit the crime
right in your dad’s mailbox. Encourage him to use a locked mailbox and
pick up his mail daily.
* Shred
it. Encourage your father to shred all sensitive documents before disposing
of them.
* Don’t
let hackers crack dad’s credit code. Be sure the virus protection software
on your father’s computer is current and remind him never to open attachments
from strangers. Other safety tips include using firewall programs and secure
browsers with high-level encryption and password protecting any sensitive
documents stored on his computer. Also, never discard a computer without
erasing all personal information. Office supply stores sell “wipe programs”
for this purpose.
This Father’s
Day, give dad something he can really use – credit protection. For more
information about protecting your father and your family from identity
theft, contact Equifax at www.equifax.com.
Courtesy
of ARA Content
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