The Outdoor Channel

2007-01-30T05:01:00.000-08:00

ATHLETE PROFILE: Jessica Meng

The Carnegie Mellon track and field team's season began with the new semester. The team had its first competition Janurary 20 at Denison University, where the women's team won 11 of the meet's events. Two of these wins came from sophomore jumper Jessica Meng. Last week, Meng sat down with The Tartan to discuss her early success and the track season to come. Tartan: When did you first get involved with track? Meng: I started in middle school, probably seventh grade. Everyone originally made fun of me for it because I absolutely hate running. T: Is that why you became a jumper? M: Yeah, pretty much. Not only do I hate running, I am really bad at it. Seriously, every team I have ever been on, I'm pretty much the slowest runner on the team.

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Beat weather with exercise

Outside temperatures may be dipping, but that doesn't mean you have to put your athletic shoes and hiking boots in cold storage. In the Ozarks, outdoor fitness is a year-round pursuit for even the most senior of citizens. Undaunted by the cold, many people continue their weekly bicycle rides, neighborhood walks, trail hikes and caving. .

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2007-01-29T04:53:00.000-08:00

Outdoor activities and tourism at consumer expo

This year's Rand Show, which opens its doors for the 112th year on Friday 30 March to Sunday 15 April 2007, will feature an extended outdoor living area, including camping and outdoor living equipment and products, as a result of research showing that visitors are looking for outdoor activities. So says Bryan Brett, manager of the Rand Show. Adds Brett, "Kagiso Exhibitions and Events are also introducing a brand new Domestic Tourism Hall at this year's Rand Show, underpinned and supported by South African Tourism (SAT). This exciting new addition to the show is aimed at increasing awareness of tourism in southern Africa featuring a variety of coastal, mountain and adventure destinations and attractions as well as comprehensive travel options." A host of activities are orchestrated each year aimed at keeping the younger visitors to the Rand Show entertained.

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Small businesses the staple of outdoor tradition

The hallmark of our outdoors traditions, whether fishing or hunting, trapping or the other outdoor recreational opportunities we enjoy, has always been that they are open to the small family business entrepreneur which has been so important in the building of our nation. The ingredients for a successful small business necessarily includes passion, a sincere love of everything involved in it. Like playing football. Like being a charter captain on the big lake or guiding for bear in the northwoods. It's rarely just about the money but it's always about the passion. Like operating a family bait shop out among the pits west of Wilmington or a large boat dealership in Morris, even a club hosted by volunteers who want nothing more than to share their love of archery or a special fishing philosophy with others.

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Outdoor Retailer Winter Market 2007 (Sunday Edition

Welcome back, fellow gear lovers to day two of the Outdoor Retailer Winter Market 2007! I got to sleep in a little bit today, which is a good thing because weve got a big day ahead and lots of folks to talk to, so lets get going! Before we get too far, though, make sure that youve read through Saturdays blog by clicking here! .

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2007-01-28T04:54:00.000-08:00

Trampers often ignore advice, say outdoor experts

Trampers heading into tough backcountry areas were usually warned about risks but some ignored advice and put themselves in danger, outdoor pursuits advocates said yesterday. Two Israeli trampers were airlifted off the Dusky Track on Monday after swimming through neck-deep sections of the Spey Valley, which flooded after torrential rain. Before being rescued, they had clambered up a tree to escape the water and set off their locator beacon. The rescue was at least the eighth air rescue from the arduous Fiordland track in the past nine years. One experienced Southland tramper told The Southland Times yesterday it was difficult to judge peoples' experience but that some trampers were being allowed on the Dusky with "sandals and plastic bags". Department of Conservation Te Anau community relations programme manager Beth Masser said the Dusky Track was classified as a backcountry adventure suitable for experienced trampers.

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Coloradan loves being an 'outsider'

Sometime this may, if all goes well, Mike Haugen of Denver, will complete a 5.5-mile hike that he hopes will inspire kids around the world to exercise, eat right and get outdoors on a regular basis. That seems like a lot to ask from a mere 5.5 miles until you consider Haugen is hiking them the hard way. He's climbing Mount Everest, at 29,035 feet the world's highest point, and the equivalent of exactly five feet less than 5.5 miles, straight up. Add the 6-foot-4 Haugen standing on top and there you are. Haugen, 30, is the point man for what is being called the "2007 Coleman Everest 5.5 Challenge," details of which will be discussed at a reception today at the annual Outdoor Retailer Winter Market at the Salt Palace.

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Scholz: Optimizers not optimal for getting site noticed

One of the latest, greatest debates on the search engine slogosphere recently has been whether search engine optimization is an art or a science. I mean the fur has really been flying. "Science!" shouts one side. "Art!" brays the other. Some solemnly chant "Both!"For the most part, search engine optimizers are do I dare say it out loud? crooks. They promise the sky and all the golden-top-10-Google-rankings beneath it. They make cold calls or send cold spam (yuck) to otherwise smart business owners and, within minutes, the owner is rattling off the company's credit card number to his or her new best friend.It happens all the time to businesses far and wide, and to businesses right here in the good ol' Black Hills. It is a very expensive and dumb mistake.If you are tempted to grab the handle of any of these holy grails, do yourself and your business a favor and do some research first.1.

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2007-01-27T04:59:00.000-08:00

Get vertical

Forty meters up on a vertical cliff, I clench on to a small hold with aching, over-worked fingers. I scan the smooth surface with my eyes and hands in the hope of figuring out my next move. My calves and forearms hurt from holding the same position for too long. It is during these moments that keeping calm and composed is more important than ever. .

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Victim impact statements read at Ellison sentencing

VANCOUVER (NEWS1130) - Four victim impact statements have been read at the sentencing of former high school teacher Tom Ellison. Ellison was found guilty in December of having illicit sex with his students. He faces sentencing for 5 sexual offences. He originally faced 16 sex related charges, and was found guilty on five. Ellison was convicted on two counts of gross indecency, two counts of indecent assault and one of common assault. The offences were committed back in the 1970's and 1980's when Ellison was one of the teachers running the Quest outdoor education program at Vancouver's Prince of Wales high school. Witnesses testified about how Ellison often had sex with them on board his boat, either at its False Creek moorage or during outdoor education program cruises along the west coast.

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2007-01-26T04:49:00.000-08:00

Crocs, Inc. Introduces New Printing Process, Shoe Model at the ...

NIWOT, Colo., Jan. 25 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Crocs, Inc. (NASDAQ: CROX) , today enhances its rugged outdoor product lineup with the addition of camouflage patterned prints to the color palettes for the Off Road and All Terrain models at the Outdoor Retailer Show in Salt Lake City, Utah. Retailers can view these models, in addition to nine other new offerings for Spring 2007, at the Crocs booth #32114 at the Salt Palace Convention Center January 27-30, 2007. The new camouflage color marks the introduction of Crocs' new printing process, which will allow the company to print a variety of detailed graphics on its Croslite(TM) material. Croslite is a unique, non-marking, anti-microbial proprietary closed-cell resin from which all of Crocs' shoes are constructed. Initially, the camouflage pattern will be available in the Off Road and All Terrain models in the spring and fall of 2007.

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Outdoor Retailer Winter Market Starts Saturday

(KCPW News) The Outdoor Retailer Winter Market opens tomorrow at the Salt Palace. More than 775 exhibiting companies will be in attendance - making it a record setter. The winter market and its summer counterpart pump nearly $50 million into the locally economy, and the Outdoor Industry Association (OIA) the produces the tradeshow has been willing to wield that power to win environmental concessions from Utah governors and lawmakers. Frank Hugelmeyer is president of OIA, and he spoke to KCPW's Lara Jones about the growing power of the industry: (Hugelmeyer = 5:24) Frank Hugelmeyer and other members of the Outdoor Industry Association will present their petition in favor of roadless forests to Governor Huntsman Monday. To hear a longer conversation with Hugelmeyer, including details about the OIA's carbon neutral traveler initiative, listen to the longer podcast below.

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Outdoor Retailer attendees descend on Utah

Gear manufacturer Mountain Hardware has booked the Silver Fork Lodge's bay-windowed dining room this morning, giving its guests a view over breakfast of the sun rising in Big Cottonwood Canyon. From there, most of those guests will go to Brighton Resort for a day of checking out varied sports equipment at the Backcountry Base Camp that kicks off the Outdoor Retailer Winter Market. As the sun sets, a few of those guests will end up among the expected crowd of 400 at Brighton's Alpine Rose restaurant, site of the chili-and-beer fest known as the "Backcountry Bash." Yes, it's Outdoor Retailer weekend again, a time when roughly 16,000 people descend on Salt Lake City for five days of working hard promoting products - and engaging in a fair share of wining, dining and being merry.

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2007-01-25T04:50:00.000-08:00

Outdoor Adventure In Texas - It's Not Just For Cowboys

TravelTex.com -- Whether you are looking to camp, hike, bike, golf, swim, fish, hunt, horseback ride, bird watch or experience just about any other outdoor activity you can think of, Texas is the place to be. With more than 267,000 square miles to explore, cyclists find many diverse and thrilling rides in Texas whether it is through the mountains of West Texas or on the trails of the Piney Woods. Texas also has a number of excellent spots to pitch a tent and spend the night under the stars. State parks, national parks, sandy beaches and nature preserves offer campers a vast variety of areas from which to choose. One of the most majestic sites for camping and hiking is Palo Duro Canyon State Park in North Texas. If adventure is on the agenda, visitors have their choice at Big Bend National Park in far West Texas that encompasses more than 800,000 acres of mountains and desert along the Rio Grande River, where visitors enjoy hiking, camping, wildlife and more.

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Outdoor Access Point extends transmission up to 7 km.

January 25, 2007 - With data transfer rate up to 54 Mbps, JetWave 2410 links 2 or more separate networks, typically located in different buildings, to create a single expanded LAN. IEEE 802.11 g/b device supports access point, point-to-point bridge, point-to-multipoint bridge, wireless client, or repeater modes. IP66 rated 2.4 GHz industrial wireless access point integrates 12 dBi flat panel antenna and 802.3af PoE port for installation in areas with non-availability of power outlets. .

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Finding The Perfect Outdoor Heater Posted By : Michelle Bery -

Theres something to the ability to sit outdoors no matter what the weather and enjoy the seasons year round. For homeowners worldwide, their outdoor space typically used seasonally can now be elevated to a year round enjoyment; a place where families can gather much like an extended living room. The advent of the outdoor heater has allowed us to enjoy the area outside our front or back door with little consideration of the weather; and, in so doing, has expanded our livin... .

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2007-01-24T04:49:00.000-08:00

Collierville Furniture Owner Sent To Jail Over Outdoor Display

Eyewitness News has new information tonight about a patio furniture fight in Collierville. It's a story eyewitness news first told you about last September. Furniture store owner Bob Landshof will spend the next ten days in jail because he refused to remove merchandise from the front of his store. He says, "It feels lousy. I mean, this is prison." He adds, "I don't think the court of public opinion would approve of what's going on." A judge sentenced the Fox Land Furniture store owner to jail for contempt of court last Thursday. The judge ruled Landshof violated a town of Collierville zoning ordinance prohibiting the outdoor display of merchandise. Landshof had removed all but a few statutes and other items from his storefront. When we first aired this story in September 2006, Landshof had a cluttered storefront full of patio furniture and lawn ornaments.

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Safari Club to recognize Mizrahi

LA CAÑADA FLINTRIDGE - A hide from a giant black bear lays across the floor of the Mizrahi game room. The heads of a Corsican ram and a wild hog are on the wall in Nick Mizrahi's bedroom. Until recently, the trophies may have been the most prized possessions of the 14-year-old La Ca ada High School freshman's life. But on Thursday in Reno, Nev., Mizrahi will step up to the podium at the annual Safari Club International's 35th annual Hunter's Convention, in front of his entire family and every attending delegate from around the U.S. to accept the SCI's Youth Hunter Award from NFL Hall of Fame running back, and Alaskan outdoor television host, Larry Csonka. Mizrahi, who has been hunting since he was 4-years old, is one of only two hunters to receive the honor. Cody Dye of Richfield Springs, N.Y., will also receive the honor, which recognizes youth who excel in outdoor sportsmanship, volunteer for outdoor pursuits and are active in SCI activities.

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Forrester Research: US Consumers Are Ready For Mobile Marketing ...

Although 79 percent of consumers find the idea of mobile ads annoying, early efforts at mobile marketing indicate consumer acceptance -- as long as marketers deliver valuable information or content, according to a study by Forrester Research. The researchers say a growing number of consumers are shifting from voice-only mobile services to other activities, creating a viable audience for mobile marketing -- at least, for those who avoid the stigma of spam. .

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2007-01-23T04:48:00.000-08:00

Firetide Announces Wireless Industry's Fastest Indoor and Outdoor ...

LOS GATOS, Calif., Jan. 22 /PRNewswire/ -- Firetide, Inc., a leading manufacturer of multi-service wireless mesh networks, today announced its new HotPort 6000 indoor and outdoor mesh nodes featuring a dual radio backhaul that enables systems integrators and administrators to provide increased bandwidth and overall reliability for large municipal, industrial, and long range transportation networks. "The HotPort 6000 mesh nodes represent a major breakthrough for the mesh networking industry by creating new benchmarks for wireless performance, reliability, and flexibility," said Bo Larsson, CEO of Firetide. "We also enhanced our mesh software so it now provides highly intelligent bandwidth optimization for the dual radio configuration." Firetide has multiple patents on the technology that controls traffic on the dual radio backhaul and enables the mesh to be used for a broad range of services and applications.

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Bill that would close loophole on outdoor smoking advances

House Bill 201, which would amend Utah's Indoor Clean Air Act, easily advanced out of the Political Subdivision committee Monday. The bill, which now goes to the House floor for debate, would amend the current prohibition against political subdivisions adopting ordinances that restrict smoking out-of-doors. "All we're doing is clearing up some current language in the law," said the bill's sponsor, Rep. Paul Ray, R-Clearfield. Several Utah cities have already passed ordinances to ban smoking at mass gatherings and on city-owned property. However, state law, as currently written, contains a gray area that leaves the door open for potential lawsuits. This bill would close that loophole, Ray said.

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Tractor Outdoor sets up Eastern Cape office

Cape-based outdoor advertising company Tractor Outdoor has recently established a dedicated office in Port Elizabeth for developing sites within the Eastern Cape and surrounding areas. "Tractor has recognised the importance of the Eastern Cape in the build up to 2010 and has invested heavily in development in these areas," explains Murray Mcwilliams, MD of Tractor Outdoor. "We have moved away from the traditional campaign style sites and have moved more towards iconic large format locations on a par with Cape Town and Johannesburg. Having a full time office in PE allows us to respond quickly to clients requests as well as being able to service them with local knowledge of that market" According to Mcwilliams, in the past, most outdoor media companies viewed towns in and around the Eastern Cape as supplementary to their holdings in Johannesburg, Cape Town and Durban and thus managed their site development on an ad hoc basis through their head offices in these areas.

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2007-01-22T04:49:00.000-08:00

Elusive quarry: Land to hunt on

BRATTLEBORO -- There is a patch of land that straddles the Dummerston-Brattleboro line. Thirty years ago Herb Meyer used to bring some of his hunting students there to introduce them to the experience of walking the Vermont woodlands, in search of that first deer. Before that he would hunt there in his younger years. Ancient roads and cellar holes pepper the property, where Meyer said a now abandoned village sat a few hundred years ago. The land there was one of Meyer's favorite places to hunt, but about 10 years ago, fluorescent signs went up along the property line, prohibiting hunters from using the land. Like any other law-abiding sportsman, Meyer simply turned around that day and sought out new grounds for hunting. "It seems to be universal," Meyer said about the increasing difficulty outdoor enthusiasts face in finding open land in Vermont.

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City Places Moratorium on Digital Signs, Conducts Study

As the proliferation of electronic billboards begins to get mainstream press, some areas in Minnesota are being proactive, looking at the situation as it relates to their city before it becomes a pressing issue. The Eagan City Council, in Minnesota, has done just that, placing a moratorium on electronic billboards until it can investigate the impact of the new technology, writes Minnesota This Week. The study of these signs is expected to be completed by the end of July - long before the digital billboard boom gets truly on its way. The Outdoor Advertising Association of America estimates that there will be 4,000 digital billboards within 10 years. Such a study makes sense, because LED billboards weren't around when existing sign ordinances were drafted, said the City. The League of Minnesota Cities is also considering a study on the issue, on behalf of its members.

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2007-01-21T04:57:00.000-08:00

Outdoor fabrics bring endurance, versatility inside

Outdoor fabrics are built to endure rain, snow and wind, and they used to feel as tough as they performed. Today, fabrics designed for outdoor use are indistinguishable from their indoor counterparts, down to elaborate finishing touches such as fringe and cording. "We're doing velvets, chenilles, boucles. We've changed the whole complexion of the product," says Joe Ruggiero, designer for Sunbrella, the industry's leading manufacturer of outdoor fabric. Ruggiero says the shift came as a result of demand from interior designers who wanted the durability and easy care of Sunbrella fabrics with the touchability that homeowners want for indoor drapery and upholstery. .

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Opinion: Outdoor shows attract sporting folk

The largest show held exclusively for fly fishermen begins this coming Friday, Jan. 26, and runs until that Sunday night, Jan. 28. It must be 15 years now since Fly Fishing Show first opened its doors for the first time.Kerri, my wife, and I run a small tabletop business designing and selling rod case memory decals wholesale and retail to fly fishermen, and I think this is either our 11th or 13th year working the show.With a carload of friends and a day without snow, the show is an easy three-hour drive each way to Somerset, N.J., via I-81N, I-78E and I-287S to the Somerset/New Brunswick exit, and the convention center is just off the exit ramp.Ask at Cold Springs Angler or the Yellow Breeches Fly Shop for a contact to Trout Unlimited. They run a bus over every year and there might be a few seats available.The show of course offers booths for everything from fly tying materials to bamboo rod makers, artists, booksellers, drift boats, and even a few stores that bring their whole shop to the show.

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Great Outdoor Show opens Friday

The Great Outdoor Boat, Sports and Camper Show will be held Friday through Sunday, Jan. 28, at the Marina Inn Center in South Sioux City, formerly the South Sioux City Convention Center.This year marks the 22nd year for Siouxland's largest outdoor sports and recreation show. It will feature a wide variety of recreation ideas.Every sportsman can check out the latest and greatest equipment n every kind of boat and boat accessory, four-wheelers, motorcycles, campers and motor homes, fishing equipment, golf carts and more. You also can even fish for live trout.Representatives from area vacation resorts will be on hand with information and handouts to help plan your next family sports vacation.Show hours are 4 to 8 p.m. Friday; 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 28. Admission is $5 per person.

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2007-01-20T04:50:00.000-08:00

That big rig wants you to buy

When there's traffic, people can't help but stare at the advertisements that the Pollacks mount on the sides and backs of big rigs. The trucks slog up and down Southern California freeways in the mornings, when the traffic is bad, and travel over surface streets during the day, making more traffic as they try to navigate sharp right turns and hills. "You can't ignore these ads," said Blake Pollack, the younger half of the father-son partnership behind Mobile Vision Marketing Inc., a Culver City, Calif.-based company hoping to thrive off renewed interest in outdoor advertising. As consumers look for ways to avoid traditional ads on television and radio, the medium is growing. In 2005, billboards and other outdoor ads raked in $6.3 billion and have become the fastest-growing advertising form after the Internet, according to the Outdoor Advertising Association of America.

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Portable Printer tolerates harsh outdoor environments.

January 19, 2007 - With protective bumpers for durability, Andes 3 printer withstands adverse weather conditions and drops to concrete without diminished performance. It features 32-bit microcontroller with 4 MB Flash and 1 MB SRAM memory, in-field programmable CPU, and thermal print head. Printing at rate of 2 ips at high resolution and able to print fonts ranging from 12-24 char/in., unit is MS-DOS and Windows compatible and compliant with .NET, CF, and Palm OSs. .

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City opens 4 outdoor ice rinks

The Albert Lea Parks and Recreation Department opened the warming houses for two outdoor ice rinks Wednesday and will open two more today.It took a while for winter to be winter, but now that the cold weather arrived, children were happy this week to be on the ice."I've been waiting," said 12-year-old Dimitri Clark.A snowstorm hit Albert Lea Sunday and temperatures dropped afterward, raising hopes thatwinter finally arrived."I thought it was all just going to melt," said 12-year-old Brandon Makinson. .

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2007-01-19T04:48:00.000-08:00

Boston Acoustics Outdoor “Rock” Speakers to Create Rich Audio ...

Peabody MA, January 18, 2007 -- Boston Acoustics, Inc., a world-renowned manufacturer of high-performance loudspeakers is giving consumers more options for bringing its renowned Boston Sound outdoors with the announcement of the forthcoming Voyager Rock Speaker Series at CES 2007. An expansion of the company's Voyager line of outdoor wall-mounted speakers, the new Rock Speaker Series models are each designed to resemble natural rock formations and provide advanced audio solutions for “outdoor soundscaping" in all types of environments. Like all Boston Acoustics loudspeakers, the Rock Speaker Series products all feature the superior listening benefits of The Boston Sound. The Boston Acoustics Rock Speaker Series will include three core models: the Voyager RK5 (5-inch bass unit), Voyager RK6T2 (6.5-inch bass unit) and Voyager RK8T2 (8-inch bass unit).

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Trimble intros outdoor navigation solution

Trimble has introduced its GuideWorx GPS application, further extending its Trimble Outdoors suite of GPS-on-cellular applications and demonstrating the company's leading position in the location-based applications space. GPS-on-cellular application, the GuideWorx GPS, transforms mobile phone into handheld GPS device designed for on- and off-road navigation. Able to be used during city driving or backwoods hiking, solution retrieves real-time maps and other useful travel data with which to deliver voice prompted turn-by-turn driving directions and points of interest (POI) information. The GuideWorx GPS application is expected to be available in the first quarter of 2007 on select Sprint (NYSE:S) GPS-enabled mobile phones for $9.99 per month. Click here for more information .

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2007-01-18T04:59:00.000-08:00

Outdoor Workers Dealing with Cold Weather

EDINBURG - Temperatures are still in the upper thirties. While many are avoiding the cold, there are still people who have to work outdoors. Edinburg city workers Serafin Guerrero and Arturo Chapa tells us weed-whacking is a full-time job. Chapa is bundled up to stay warm. He says he prefers the cold weather over the summer heat any day. Some construction workers don't seem to mind the cold either. Rafael Gonzalez tells us he likes this type of weather, but wishes it was a little warmer. "Frio Grande Valley" is the headline on newspapers Ruben Garcia is selling. He also tells us he prefers cold weather. Garcia says he spent a year in Nebraska, where it snows and sleets. For him, the current temperatures aren't cold. It's still pretty chilly out here for most Valley residents.

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Increased interest in outdoor marketing

"It is apparent that the out of home advertising industry is drawing more and more marketing categories into using the billboard media platform," says Mark Mac Donnell, Primedia Outdoor's sales and marketing director. "It is clear that there is an increased interest and demand for outdoor, and we are beginning to see the appearance of non-traditional outdoor brands." Mac Donnell goes on to say, "Ranking billboard advertisers by category is no longer limited to offbeat services. All service and supply industries are either ramping up their usage or entering the market for the first time as they discover real value. As examples, banking attracts thousands of new clients and retains existing clients with firm branding messages, as do competing television stations, motor manufactures, shoe manufacturers, and even pet food suppliers!" "The reasons are clear-cut," he stresses.

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Outdoor MMA event may feature 15 fights

Fight fans will have their hands full come Feb. 9. That's the day when Geran Haga, the island's first outdoor mixed martial arts event, takes place at the Paseo Stadium in Hagta. Chris Brub, event promoter, said he's expecting about 15 fights to take place that night. The full fight card will be released to the public on Jan. 26. .

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2007-01-17T05:02:00.000-08:00

8:20 pm — MMA: Brub promotes outdoor "blood war" fights

Fight fans would have their hands full come Feb. 9. Thats the day when Geran Haga, the islands first outdoor mixed martial arts event, takes place at the Paseo Stadium in Hagta. Chris Brub, event promoter, said hes expecting about 15 fights to take place that night. The full fight card would be released to the public on Jan. 26. Geran Haga is Chamorro for blood war, Brub said. He chose that name, he said, because it symbolizes what he has gone through in his mixed martial arts fights, which have been bloody affairs. Right now were just working on everything from the contracts to availability of fighters, Brub said. But all I can say is, when the lights go off, this event is going to rock. Were all set to give fans a night to remember. We will be able to hold about 5,000 fans.

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OIA Announces Finalists for 2007 Outdoor Industry Awards

BOULDER, Colo., (January 12, 2007) - Outdoor Industry Association (OIA) today announced the finalists for the 2007 Outdoor Industry Ambassador Award and Outdoor Industry Innovator Award, as nominated by the outdoor industry and then selected by OIAs Board of Directors. The award winners will be announced at the Industry Breakfast on Saturday, January 27, 2007 which kicks off the Outdoor Retailer Winter Market in Salt Lake City, Utah. The Outdoor Industry Ambassador Award recognizes a company that has made significant and ongoing achievements toward the growth of participation in outdoor activities. The finalists are: Atlas Snow-Shoe Company, developer of Explore Winter Womens Workshops; LEKI, an innovator in the development of trekking poles and Nordic walking; and Jack Turner, founder and president of Snow Monsters and Sports Illustrated for Kids Next Snow Search.

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Saloon loses in hearing over outdoor dancing

FLORENCE - A Pinal County restaurant owner has been ordered to stop allowing his patrons to dance outdoors or face a $5,000-a-day fine. The ruling, issued by a Pinal County hearing officer Tuesday, comes after a two-part zoning compliance hearing that began last week. Dale Bell, the owner of San Tan Flat, a restaurant and saloon in an unincorporated area of Pinal County southeast of Queen Creek, challenged the county when it said he was violating zoning ordinances by allowing his customers to dance when a one-man band played on an outdoor stage. In addition, the county said Bell needed to provide additional paved parking spaces. The hearing officer sided Tuesday with the county on both issues. .

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2007-01-16T04:48:00.000-08:00

'Should Brockville spring for an artificial outdoor rink?'

While a definite downward trend in the mercury over the weekend bodes well, area residents looking to enjoy some outdoor skating have been forced to keep their blades at bay this winter. Unable to rely on Mother Nature, a group of city officials and community members has pitched an idea to turn the Rotary pad into an outdoor artificial ice pad. While it would provide months of skating, installation and operation costs ($5.7 million and $113,000 annually in the city of Kingston) have some judges giving the plan low marks. The Recorder and Times asked six shoppers at the 1000 Islands Mall on Saturday afternoon, "Do you think Brockville should spring for an artificial outdoor rink?" John Graham, Lansdowne: "It would be a good thing for people.

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Outdoor School gets shot at $1 million

The North Vancouver Outdoor School in Paradise Valley may finally be able to refurbish their 40-year-old main building thanks to a one-time $1 million donation from the North Shore Credit Union (NSCU). "We're absolutely delighted to be included in the short-listed group for the potential receipt of the $1 million, absolutely," said school superintendent John Lewis. "We've had a longstanding program at the outdoor school for environmental education and we've been struggling to be able to ensure its future continuation." The NSCU Charitable Foundation decided last year to dissolve its charity model and requested non-profit organizations apply for the total remaining assets. To help promote the $1 million gift, CTV broadcasted a public service announcement featuring newscaster Pamela Martin and the song "If I Had a Million Dollars" by the Barenaked Ladies.

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SAN JOSE OFFERS OUTDOOR HEALTH CLASSES

Thanks to a grant from Kaiser Permanente San Jose, residents of San Jose will soon have a chance to take part in a new healthy living program that uses San Jose public space area to encourage regular exercisers to take it outside. In an effort to utilize public space and encourage people to exercise out of doors, the outdoor gym classes will be offered beginning in February at Guadalupe River Park and Gardens in San Jose. The Friends of Guadalupe River Park and Gardens recently received a subsidy from Kaiser Permanente for a new healthy living program that uses public space, according to a spokesman for Guadalupe River Parks and Gardens. The program will be presented as a series of four classes that will take place at Guadalupe River Park and Gardens.

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2007-01-15T04:48:00.000-08:00

CEE has opened a new Pool and Outdoor Living division

(SAVANNAH, HILTON HEAD) - Coastal Empire Exteriors (CEE) has opened a new Pool and Outdoor Living division serving the Savannah and Hilton Head area. They are a one stop shop for creating your ideal outdoor environment, including complete pool packages with swimming pool installation, outdoor kitchens, pool cages, fencing, and much more. "We are excited to bring this new service to the area" said Kip Lee, owner of Coastal Empire Exteriors. "In our first five weeks we have already installed almost one million dollars worth of Outdoor Living packages." According to Lee, smart shoppers buy pools during this time of year while the prices are lower. CEE has been in business since 2001 serving Savannah and the Low Country. Until now, they have specialized primarily in sunrooms and replacement windows.

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Meeting to float pool ideas

After swimming in Mt. Lebanon's 30-year-old, unheated pool on cool summer days, Fogarty, 42, of Scrubgrass Road, hopes the municipality's new aquatic complex will be outdoors -- and heated. "I'm a single guy with no kids and pay a lot of taxes and get zero benefits," Fogarty said. "I do think that the taxes are ridiculous here, but I would see some of my return on taxes if I had a pool to swim in." Mt. Lebanon residents will get a look at a consultant's four final recommendations for the municipality next week during a meeting at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday at the Mt. Lebanon Recreation Center, 900 Cedar Blvd. .

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Billboards get a digital makeover

Their very name once told it all: a board to post notices or advertisements. But billboards are getting a makeover. Billboard companies are adopting new digital technology that rotates advertiser images every six or eight seconds the better to catch the eye. The new billboards look like TV screens, although the images dont move. The problem, safety experts say, is that the new billboards may work too well, adding yet another distraction for drivers. There are currently about 400 digital signs across the country. But within 10 years, as many as a fifth of all billboards or about 90,000 may be converted, according to the Outdoor Advertising Association of America. .

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2007-01-14T04:52:00.000-08:00

Outdoor organizations have plenty to offer

I think it is always a good idea for sportsmen and women and all outdoor lovers to join some type of organization to help support their cause. But I believe most of us know there are far too many clubs out there and we cannot join them all. So each year I like to pick out one or two (or as many as I can afford, or that my wife will let me) and join.In the past, some of these have been Pheasants Forever, the Wild Turkey Federation, the International Wolf Society, Audubon, and so on. I have been a member of most of them at one time or another.Of course, some organizations are better than others and before you join one, I strongly suggest that you look into the club and see what they have done, or are doing, with their money. Many are considered non-profit, meaning that much of the money is supposed to go back out, to wildlife, for example.

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Outdoor enthusiasts go indoors for exhibits

Turkey calls could be heard from the lobby of the Arena Building Saturday, beckoning outdoor enthusiasts to come in from the dreary winter gloom for "An Evening With Wildlife." Nearly 40 exhibitors, from the Missouri Department of Conservation's Operation Game Thief trailer to wildlife rehabilitators John and Carolyn Watkins, provided handouts with more in-depth information. About 1,100 people attended the event. Many were after information on building their own ponds for recreation and fishing, especially in winter. "The most sought-after information was on ponds. That pile is out of pamphlets," said James T. Hunt, National Resources Conservation Service district conservationist. Missouri Department of Conservation agent Darin Pettit said the event is usually held in Kirksville and Rolla but that a forum to showcase Southeast Missouri's portion of the state's wildlife was in order.

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Outdoor events sought

The Sun-Gazette is interested in publishing meetings, public events and activities of area outdoor clubs and conservation organizations. Information and new releases should be mailed to Outdoor editor, Williamsport Sun-Gazette, 252 W. Fourth St., Williamsport PA 17701; or e-mailed to news@sungazette.com. Items also may be dropped off at the newsroom or submitted through the Outdoor section of the Virtual Newsroom on the papers Web site, www.sungazette.com. All submissions should be sent no less than two weeks before the event, preferably earlier. All must contain the name, telephone number and, if available, e-mail address of a contact person. Photographs by area residents of trophy fish or game animals or other interesting outdoor occurrences also will be considered.

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2007-01-13T05:01:00.000-08:00

Outdoor cooking devices warning

STOCKTON - The city is warning residents to be careful when trying to stay warm during the current cold snap. Officials warn against using barbecues or other outdoor heating and cooking devices inside homes, and they urge residents to be careful when using fireplaces or space heaters. Officials have established three public warming shelters that will be open around the clock at least until Monday. They are: McKinley Community Center, 424 E. Ninth St.; Stribley Community Center, 1760 E. Sonora St.; and Oak Park Senior Center, 730 E. Fulton St. .

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Outdoor Channel’s Programming SVP Resigns

TEMECULA, January 12: Wade Sherman has resigned from his current position as the SVP of programming at The Outdoor Channel to take on a position as director of business development with the California Cougars of the Major Indoor Soccer League. Roger Werner, the current CEO of The Outdoor Channel, will lead the network's efforts to further improve the programming lineup until a successor is named. "We thank Wade for his commitment as he has played a key role in the development of programming for The Outdoor Channel since 2000," said Werner. "While we are saddened by this news, we also understand that he has a great passion for professional sports. We wish him all the best in his new endeavor." The Outdoor Channel is a national television network dedicated to providing traditional outdoor programming to anglers, hunters and outdoor enthusiasts.

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Balance outdoor fun, people's well-being

Deer season has ended and it's time to reflect on the concerns of anxious citizens and avid hunters in regard to hunting near populated areas. In housing communities, built on onc- rural land and within urban-growth boundaries, residents want to maintain a "quality of outdoor life." Yet, what do we do about hunters in adjacent woods who present a very real risk to nearby residents? .

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2007-01-12T05:20:00.000-08:00

Chief Introduces New Flat Panel TV Enclosures for Outdoor ...

Your flat panel TV is an expensive investment, so when you want to protect your screen, look no further than the new line of Display Guard Enclosures for outdoor applications. Chief(r) Manufacturing, the industry leader in mounting solutions, offers flat panel enclosures to protect 32"-60"+ TVs from theft, vandalism and the environment. These enclosures are perfect for outdoor flat panel screen installations, including digital signage applications! Available as complete kits, the DGI Enclosures have an innovative design with a door that is gas strut-assisted and slip hinge removable. Installation is a breeze with a wall mount and universal bracket included with every enclosure. Each enclosure has integrated security and is fully sealed with keyed locking. A filter fan system helps keep electrical equipment cool and dust free.

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Gold Hill Outdoor Club loves fortress of solitude

They convene in a rustic cabin that sits on an old mining claim. Their name comes from the once-frenzied search in that part of the Cascade foothills for precious gold. But, for three generations, the members of Gold Hill Outdoor Club have found in those hills treasures of perhaps even greater value. .

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2007-01-11T04:49:00.000-08:00

Council OKs outdoor video board at AAC

After months of delay, a massive outdoor video board will soon hang from the American Airlines Center's southern face. Arena managers and leaders of Hillwood, which is building the adjacent Victory development that includes a public square and 11 outdoor video boards of its own, struck a final-hour agreement that resolved long-standing disagreements over conflicting audio and content priority. The two sides reached an agreement moments before the Dallas City Council was scheduled to vote on an ordinance granting arena manager Center Operating Co. the right to erect the 1,500-square-foot video board. As both sides describe it, the complex agreement will give the American Airlines Center video board priority immediately before, during and immediately after most Dallas Mavericks and Dallas Stars games, as well as other premier arena events.

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Calence Becomes Advanced Technology Provider of Outdoor Wireless ...

1/10/07 - Calence, LLC announced it has achieved the Outdoor Wireless Mesh Advanced Technology Provider (ATP) status from Cisco Systems. The Cisco ATP designation is awarded by invitation only and recognizes Calence for its ability to provide the core knowledge and skills required to design and deploy outdoor radio frequency (RF) or radio networks. "We have seen wireless mesh networks benefit communities in many ways, from enhancing public safety and increasing field productivity to truly creating a connected community," said Brett Rushton, vice president of Calence's network strategy and infrastructure practice. "As mobility solutions continue to change the way that people communicate, we feel it is important to invest in advanced capabilities. The recognition we get from the Cisco Outdoor Wireless Mesh ATP designation demonstrates our commitment to our clients continued success and to maintain Calence's proven expertise in networking solutions." "The demand to provide ubiquitous connectivity outdoors via wireless mesh technologies is creating a high-growth market," said Edison Peres, vice president of Cisco's advanced and core technologies, worldwide channels.

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Shooting, Hunting, Outdoor Industry reveals newest, greatest for 2007

ORLANDO, Fla. Aptly named and overcrowded, the 29th annual SHOT (Shooting, Hunting and Outdoor Trade) Show will pack in the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando on Jan. 11-14, offering a mind-blowing smorgasbord for the serious outdoorsman. "SHOT show is the place where all the manufactures unveil their latest and greatest," said Steve Wagner, a spokesman for the National Shooting Sports Foundation. "Everything a hunter or shooter could ever need or wish for is in this place. If you enjoy hunting or shooting, this is the world's largest toy store." The outdoor industry's largest trade show will offer 653,000 square feet of exhibits in almost 30 football fields of floor space. .

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2007-01-10T04:50:00.000-08:00

USA : Outdoor footwear seller LaCrosse announces Q4 & year end ...

LaCrosse Footwear Inc announced that it plans to report its results for the fourth quarter and full year of 2006 after market close on February 6, 2007. LaCrosse will host a conference call to discuss its financial results at 2:00 p.m. Pacific (5:00 p.m. Eastern) on February 6, 2007. A broadcast of the conference call will be available at company's website under "Investor Events" or by calling 800-218-8862 or +1-303-262-2138. A 48-hour replay will be available by calling 800-405-2236 or +1-303-590-3000 (Reservation No. 11078684). A replay will also be available on the Company's Web site. LaCrosse Footwear is a leading developer and marketer of branded, premium and innovative footwear for expert work and outdoor users. The Company's trusted Danner and LaCrosse brands are distributed in North America through a network of specialty retailers and distributors, and through distributors in Asia and Europe.

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Time to go to outdoor shows

Sportsmen and other outdoor enthusiasts will have no shortage of entertainment options in the coming weeks, when a host of events focused on everything from hunting and fishing to camping and dog training visits the region. Winter is traditionally a busy time on the outdoor show scene, and organizers count on cabin fever to drive large crowds to their doors. Covering everything from deer hunting and fly fishing to camping and firearms collecting, these regional shows offer a wide variety of retail displays, seminars, hands-on activities and family entertainment. .

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Advertising Sales - Outdoor and BTL TV Company

A strong personality to liaise with marketing and brand managers, media planners and Marketing Directors, to sell programmes, airtime, brand campaigns and promotions on Stokvel TV, e-Stokini outdoor billboards, as well as for below the line promotions. This is suitable for a sales person who can take a variety of brands to the marketplace and has the skill and imagination to design, sell and implement campaigns on behalf of our potential and existing clients. We provide unique communications platforms to reach the black middle class - whilst your marketing skills will provide our clients the exposure and growth they are looking for in their brands. .

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2007-01-09T05:09:00.000-08:00

Local shooter Flanigan to be honored for records

Oshkosh resident Patrick Flanigan will receive international recognition for his three world records in Xtreme sport shooting. Flanigan will be presented a trophy for his accomplishments by legendary Winchester Firearms and Winchester Ammunition on Friday at the Shot Show in Orlando, Fla. The Shot Show is the worlds largest event in the outdoor industry. The guns Flanigan used to set his records will also be retired at that time and will become a part of Winchester history. Flanigan set his first world record in Alton, Ill. shooting five clay targets hand thrown without assistance while holding his shotgun at the hip. Flanigan has since bested that mark at nine targets. He then went on to shoot 11 clay targets hand thrown without assistance before they hit the ground in a shoulder mount position.

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Agassi and Graf Create New Furniture Collection For Kreiss

The first piece of furniture Andre Agassi bought when he won his first major tournament, Wimbledon in 1992, was a Kreiss sofa. In the following years, he and his wife, Stefanie Graf, became ardent devotees of the Kreiss aesthetic. For years they talked about designing a custom collection with Kreiss for their own home; instead Agassi, Graf and the Kreiss family decided to launch a furniture line for the public, together as partners. It felt like a natural extension of our long-standing relationship, says Mike Kreiss, President of Kreiss. The result is a unique collection that captures the dynamic couple's indomitable energy and spirit while remaining true to the classic Kreiss style. The collection combines the couples differential design sensibilities; featuring pieces for the dining room, living room and poolside; complete with a novelty tennis ball chair for indoor-outdoor use.

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Religion news briefs

First Baptist of Crofton, 1690 Crofton Parkway: 6 to 8 p.m. today and tomorrow, outdoor living nativity presented by members, including live animals, with preschoolers' presentation at 5 p.m. today; 9:45 and 11 a.m., tomorrow, worship; 6 and 8 p.m. tomorrow, candlelight carol services. First Baptist of Eastport, 208 Chesapeake Ave.: 9:45 a.m., Sunday school; 11 a.m., worship; 6 p.m., candlelight service. First Baptist of Edgewater, Route 2 and Central Avenue: 7 p.m., candlelight service. First Presbyterian of Annapolis, Duke of Gloucester and Conduit streets: 8:30 and 11 a.m., worship; 4:30 p.m., children's service; 5:30 p.m., family service with lessons and carols; 9 p.m., candlelight service and Holy Communion, Fowler United Methodist, 816 Bestgate Road: 9:30 a.m., worship with music by the Fowler Community Singers.

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2007-01-08T05:10:00.000-08:00

Outdoor Warning Siren produces 130 dB at 100 ft.

January 5, 2007 - Operated from 120 Vac battery back-up control cabinet or 240 Vac/dc control cabinet, Model 2001-130 features stator/horn design that produces wail, fast wail, and steady tones. It can be controlled remotely via wire or radio with Model FC controller. Siren is suited for wide area coverage with high decibel output and attention-getting signals. .

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On the road for outdoors exhibits

Being a pilgrim at this outdoor editor position, some of the nicest parts of the new job are the surprises. One I'm particularly tickled about is being invited to the annual SHOT (Shooting, Hunting, Outdoor Trade) Show next weekend in Orlando. This is the largest trade show for shooting sports and hunting in the world, with more than 1,800 exhibitors from the firearms, ammunition, archery, cutlery, apparel, optics, camping and related industries. Buyers and outdoor press from over 75 countries will be there this year. .

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2007-01-07T04:55:00.000-08:00

The low down: Kinnaird estate, by Dunkeld, Perthshire

It looks like a very big house in the country. This sprawling Edwardian pile, attached to 9,000 acres of rolling Perthshire countryside, has been run for 17 years by Constance Cluett Ward. More of a country-house retreat than a hostelry, Kinnaird offers something for the prostrate traveller as well as the visitor who enjoys more robust pursuits. Guests can while away the hours fishing, on an organised pheasant and deer shoot, taking potshots at clay pigeons, or in a friendly game of tennis or croquet. There are also six self-catering cottages dotted around the estate. How do you cover 9,000 acres in a day? There are several ways to get around. The Kinnaird recently became the first hotel in Scotland to introduce an outdoor butler service for guests who want to explore the property.

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Outdoors, politics sometimes do mix

It's too early to tell what's on the political scene as deadlines loom, but Sunday hunting may be back on the legislators' agenda, as well as a "held-hostage" license increase. While the Farm Bureau opposes Sunday hunting and has threatened additional posting of its lands, some continue to strive to make it happen. As the hill becomes a beehive of activity this week, I personally don't expect a flurry of proposals that would allow a license increase or Sunday hunting. But there is work behind the scenes to have both approved this year, perhaps, some believe, in time for the upcoming license year. I'm not as optimistic as some. I lack some understanding why, without a much-needed license increase, Sunday hunting is even a consideration, except that it might add to the coffers of the Game Commission.

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Smartvue(R) Launches 802.11N Draft Wireless Outdoor IP Video ...

NASHVILLE, Tenn., Jan. 4 /PRNewswire/ -- Smartvue(R) Corporation, an award-winning technology leader in the IP video industry, announced the launch of Smartvue S4C550, a vandal and weather resistant outdoor IP video camera which features long range 802.11N draft wireless. S4C550 is part of the Smartvue family of plug and play wireless IP video surveillance solutions which offer simple installation, superior imaging quality, and advanced security. Smartvue(R) S4C550 reduces the cost, complexity, and time required to install secure IP video surveillance in outdoor applications. The new 802.11N draft wireless technologies fundamentally change how wireless signals are transferred and enable Smartvue S4 to offer up to 10 times the range of other 802.11 IP cameras. "With Smartvue ultra long range wireless technology we have been able place cameras over a quarter mile away from our construction trailer for site surveillance.

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2007-01-06T04:55:00.000-08:00

ICEBREAKER MERINO OUTDOOR GEAR

We don't often talk about workout clothing at Best Dressed, largely because our research team is too busy with urban pursuits to do anything athletic. And when we work out in well-heated gyms, we wear old T-shirts and the same pair of Nike shorts that we have used for this purpose since about 1998. But we do realize that some people are ambitiously athletic, even doing such impressive things as outdoor sports in winter, when the quality of one's gear becomes more important than its aesthetics. It is for these people that we can happily recommend a line of functional and comfortable workout clothes for cold weather that isn't too garishly coloured. Icebreaker clothing from New Zealand looks high-tech but isn't: It is light, smooth and clingy, like a synthetic, but it is in fact made of pure fine merino wool.

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Magellan® CrossoverGPS™ -- First Car Navigation Device with ...

Attendees Get First Look at the All-In-One, Portable Navigation Solution to bring from the Car to the Outdoors, with Street and Topo Maps, IPX-4 Waterproof Design, Best-In-Class Battery Life and More. London, UK January 5, 2007 Magellan, creators of the Hertz NeverLost and a leading global innovator of outdoor and vehicle navigation solutions, debuts its new Magellan CrossoverGPS at the London Boat Show, Mantsbrite stand, S150, presenting the worlds first rugged, IPX-4 waterproof device designed to provide navigation for both driving and outdoor adventures. Available in January for less than 300, the traffic-ready Magellan CrossoverGPS will combine car navigation features, as experienced with the award-winning Magellan RoadMate series, and Magellan state-of-the-art outdoor handheld GPS receiver functionalities.

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We think of outdoor air quality most often, but indoor pollution ...

A truck spewing exhaust prompts many of us to hold our breath when it passes by on the street. But when it comes to pollution, your own home might be just as insidious. People spend 90 percent of their time indoors, and your home can be two to five times as polluted as the air outside, according to the Environmental Protection Agency. Poor indoor air quality can cause health problems like asthma or sinus issues. And a lot of those problems are triggered by what is in your house, including cleaning products, furniture and carpets. "Taking care to recognize your house is properly ventilated and minimizing toxins you're bringing into your home and in your shopping bag is important," said Thor Peterson, the Residential Green Building Specialist with Seattle Department of Planning and Development.

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2007-01-05T04:51:00.000-08:00

Mild Wisconsin Winter Allows For Outdoor Activities

MADISON, Wis. -- Golf courses are green and getting plenty of use. Motorcyclists are again enjoying the open road. The state has cut loose the Merrimac ferry to carry cars and trucks over the Wisconsin River a month after it shut down for the season. TALKBACK: What Do You Like To Do In The Winter? It seems like spring, but the calendar defies logic. With temperatures reaching 50 degrees, the state Department of Transportation decided it was warm enough to let the Colsac III resume service on Wednesday afternoon, carrying vehicles on state Highway 113 across the river. Milwaukee County reopened many of its golf courses where, instead covered with snow, the grass is green. .

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Frustration setting in for many outdoor enthusiasts

There is no snow for hunting rabbits or predators and no snow for snowmobiling or cross-country skiing and little snow even for downhill skiing. The ski resorts will use the cold nights for making snow, but it will deteriorate a bunch with the warm days we are having. Anglers find there is no ice for ice fishing, but there is enough ice around the launch ramps to make it difficult to put a boat in the water and, besides, it is just too cold at dawn to sit out in an open boat, even with fish biting.Some rabbit hunters have been out. A good beagle can track a rabbit on bare ground and wet bare ground holds scent better than cold snow on occasion. Some rabbit hunters will have to decide whether or not it is ethical to hunt snowshoe hares on bare ground. The white rabbits have indeed turned white, right on schedule, but they find themselves rather conspicuous in all-brown woods.

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2007-01-04T04:56:00.000-08:00

Blackwater Outdoor Gear Introduces The Bedroll Protector - A Must ...

EBENSBURG, Penn./EWORLDWIRE/Jan. 3, 2007 --- Making its retail debut at Outdoor Retailer Winter Market 2007, the Bedroll Protector(TM) from Blackwater Outdoor Gear is projected to generate a lot of interest from retailers looking for that next "I-can't-go-camping-without-it" product. Tom Wandel, president of Blackwater Outdoor Gear, conceived the idea of a protector after a disastrous camping trip during which his sleeping bag roll slipped off his back and into a creek he was crossing. "My sleeping bag was soaking wet, of course. That night, I was miserable and cold; the trip was about ruined as far as I was concerned," he recalled. The Bedroll Protector is designed to keep sleeping bags and pads clean and dry. It's easy to use (just tuck in the sleeping bag and pad, zip and roll it up) and easy to carry, according to Wandel, with water-resistant, double poly-laminated construction and heat-sealed seams.

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Super Dad all wet with plan for outdoor skating rink

The one accompanying this column will come in handy if I ever need to convince a court of law that I love my children - or if my children need to convince the court that dear old dad needs a little "rest." The crazed look in my eye is no coin- cidence. It's the expression of a man waging an epic struggle against nature. For the past month, I've been arm-wrestling the elements and the basic laws of physics (I knew I should have paid more attention) in a valiant campaign to forge a backyard ice rink. .

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Searching for outdoor ice, good luck!

Remember the good old days? You know, when January in Minnesota brought sub-zero temperatures. Back then, folks from local hockey associations didn't give a second thought to finding a rink outdoors. But not now, the hunt for ice, any ice, is on. "Well, this is just amazing, it is so sad, so sad," Mary Helen Franze told us. We caught up with her at Lewis Park ice rink in Edina. "My 11 year old son needs a place to play and I've been looking for a spot for over a month now." And she's not alone. To find ice that's nice, you have to go indoors. But at places like Braemar Ice Arena, time is at a premium. "Normally, I'd be skating or sledding down hills after practice, but right now, we're just sitting inside watching the rain," Jack Jorgensen told us. The Edina High School Junior plays on the schools team.

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2007-01-03T05:05:00.000-08:00

NLL to move ahead with outdoor league

After months of study, the National Lacrosse League approved plans to go forward with an outdoor pro lacrosse league, beginning in the summer of 2008, according to a league source. An official announcement is expected by early February, the source said. The move would put the NLL in direct competition with Major League Lacrosse unless the two leagues agree on a merger, the ultimate resolution in the growing periods of pro football and basketball. In Denver, the Stan Kroenke- owned Colorado Mammoth of the NLL would play at Kroenke's new soccer facility in Commerce City. Last summer, the Pat Bowlen- owned Denver Outlaws of the MLL debuted at Invesco Field at Mile High and were a rousing success, leading the league in attendance (11,634 per game), nearly double the next team, Boston at 5,902.

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A year of mixed results on the outdoor scene

Rainbow trout were on a good bite at New Melones Reservoir, especially for shore anglers as it is traditional to have big trout move closer to shore in the winter months. Cal Johnson of Columbia backed this up with a 6.5-pound rainbow caught from shore near the Tuttletown boat-launch ramp. The duck season drew to a close on Jan.29 and the final month was not as good as anticipated because of a lack of cold storms. February The state Department of Fish and Game's annual youth waterfowl hunt took place Feb.8 and 9 throughout the Sacramento and San Joaquin valleys. The hunts are designed to give young hunters the opportunity to try the sport at no cost and are hosted by the DFG and private duck clubs. They are held one week after the closure of the regular season, allowing more ducks to settle into the shooting areas.

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Cinema, Transit Ads Tops in Outdoor Growth

Outdoor advertising should remain the fastest growing medium behind the internet, with a 6.7 percent growth rate, according to Veronis Suhler Stevenson. That growth will launch spending to $7.25 billion for the year. PricewaterhouseCoopers expects an even higher rate of growth, at 7.9 percent, writes Mediaweek. Among outdoor venues, cinema and transit advertising could grow by 10 to 12 percent, says Stephen Freitas, CMO of the Outdoor Advertising Association of America, while plain old billboards should account for some 60 percent of outdoor business in 2007. Place-based media buys will expand at sports stadiums and transit hubs, and digital technology will continue to shape the future of the outdoor medium. Digital billboards, particularly, are set for growth.

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2007-01-02T05:13:00.000-08:00

NiteLites Outdoor Lighting Franchise Showcases Elegance at the Ft ...

Ft. Myers, FL (FV Newswire) - NiteLites of Ft. Myers/Naples, the Landscape Lighting Professionals, will participate in the 11th annual Ft. Myers/Cape Coral Winter Home and Garden Show. The show is scheduled for January 6 and 7 at the Harborside Event Center in Ft. Myers. Hours of the show are 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. each day. The show features over 300 exhibitors demonstrating the newest products and ideas in home improvement products and services. Admission to the show is $ 4.00, children under 18 are admitted free. Architectural and landscape lighting systems are becoming increasingly popular, and the demand for professionally designed and installed low voltage lighting systems is growing dramatically. There are a number of reasons for that growth, including: -Contemporary outdoor lighting systems are a smart investment.

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Update: Man held over fire deaths

Emergency services were called to Redbridge Cottage, a derelict house, opposite the Outdoor Shop at 4.45am. A man and a woman were found dead at the scene. The cause of the fire is not yet known nor are causes of death. A man has been arrested. Det Chief Insp Rob Mason said: "The man has been arrested on suspicion of murder however our investigation is in the very early stages. The deaths are being treated as suspicious although the cause of death has not yet been established. "It has been confirmed that a man and a woman were found dead. Police are working to establish their identities and their ages are not known. Post-mortem examinations will be carried out, although a time has not yet been set." The road is still closed while emergency services work at the scene.

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2007-01-01T04:52:00.000-08:00

Four Illinoisans inducted into Outdoor Hall of Fame

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) -- The state will recognize four people next month for their roles in natural resource protection and outdoor recreation in Illinois. The Illinois Outdoor Hall of Fame inductees include Carl Becker, Jared Garver, John Kidd, Junior, and Doctor Glen Sanderson. Becker was the first director of the Illinois Endangered Species Protection Board. He died in April at age 56. When Garver took over management of the state's wild turkey project, experts say there were no more than a thousand of the birds in Illinois. The wild turkey population now thrives here, with a population of more than 140,000. Kidd is the founder of Fishin' Buddies. The organization has introduced thousands of inner city and suburban children to fishing. Sanderson is considered one of the world's leading authorities on the biology and ecology of raccoons.

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High winds force several British cities to cancel outdoor New Year

LONDON: New Year's Eve fireworks displays, concerts and other outdoor parties were scrapped on Sunday in several British cities because of dangerous winds, disappointing tens of thousands of anticipated revelers. Celebrations in the Northern Irish capital of Belfast and the Scottish city of Glasgow as well as the northern English cities of Newcastle and Liverpool were all canceled for safety fears over the weather. Up to 10,000 people had been due to watch crooner Tony Christie, soul singer Beverley Knight and rock band The Thrills in the streets outside Belfast's City Hall, but the city council pulled the plug for safety reasons. Officials canceled an outdoor street party in the center of the southwest Scottish city of Glasgow where around 25,000 people had been expected to dance and sing along with Fratellis and Sandi Thom as well as watch a fireworks show.

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2006-12-31T04:55:00.000-08:00

Loss of coaches hammers another nail in box that may bury Borders

THE news that joint coaches Alan Tait and George Graham were shifting from the Borders to join Frank Hadden in the Scottish management team in the build-up to the World Cup had been rumoured for some time. Those rumours were confirmed in an e-mail from the SRU on Saturday morning, as the public was digesting the news that the team the pair had helped coach had just stumbled to their ninth defeat in ten Magners League outings. .

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Cowboys Mailbag: Dallas will come out of tough NFC East well ...

Dallas is battle-tested after playing tough, playoff-style games against the Eagles, Redskins and Giants this season and will come out of their Christmas Day game with the Eagles – win or lose – with even more fortitude. Now on to this week's letters: DeMarcus Ware will live up to the hype. Just give him time, my friend. You'll look back on last Sunday's column and second-guess yourself. He is the real deal. He knows it, but it will take him some time to dominate.– Roman, San Antonio Roman, please don't misunderstand. I like Ware as a player. It's Parcells that I fault for making everybody think Ware was going to be the next Lawrence Taylor. And, yes, I do think Ware will someday dominate. But it won't happen unless the Cowboys find more pressure players.

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2006-12-30T04:55:00.000-08:00

Outdoor Burn Ban Lifted for Yakama Indian Reservation in ...

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Region 10 announced today that the outdoor burn ban issued for the Yakama Indian Reservation in Washington State has been lifted due to improving air quality conditions. The burn ban was issued December 19, 2006 as air quality conditions began deteriorating. Air quality conditions have improved with a change in weather patterns and increased winds. This has cleared out the region and brought air pollution levels down. As a result of EPA's decision, outdoor burning may resume within the Yakama Reservation boundaries in accordance with the Federal Air Rules for Reservations. For more Information, please call 1-800-424-4EPA and ask for the FARR Hotline or visit the Federal Air Rules for Reservations (FARR) website. Source: U.S.

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Outdoor Report

The fish report is weekly. Its accuracy depends on marina operators, tackle shops and local fishermen we contact. Anglers catching large fish should send the information to Outdoor News Service, P.O. Box 9007, San Bernardino, CA 92427, or telephone 909-887-3444, so it can be included in this report. Faxes can be sent to 909-887-8180. E-mail messages or fishing reports can also be posted to Jim Matthews at odwriter@earthlink.net and/or Cyndi Gurrola at cagurrola@charter.net.Other complete versions are posted on a number of Web sites each week, including the Turner's Outdoorsman Web site (www.turners.com) and Jesse's Hunting and Outdoors Web site (www.jesseshunting.com). The updated report is usually posted by Thursday morning at each of these sites. The Outdoor News Service Web site is www.outdoornewsservice.com.

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2006-12-29T05:02:00.000-08:00

Is there a right time to remove decorations?

Heather Horner of Cascade decorated the outside of her family's home with Christmas lights when she was in seventh grade. Now 19, Horner says those lights have never been taken down. "We're lazy and it's cold outside," Horner joked on Wednesday. "(And) they still work." Each Christmas, hundreds of Sheboygan residents adorn their homes with outdoor lights to spread joy and holiday cheer throughout their neighborhoods. But some say that kind of Christmas spirit can wear out its welcome. There are lots of stories about people who leave their outdoor Christmas lights up and on until the warm summer months, but when exactly is the right time to take the lights down? Pamela Holland, an etiquette expert with BRODY Professional Development and coauthor of "Help! Was That a Career Limiting Move?," said the protocol for removing Christmas lights is "subject for debate." "New Year's Day is sort of the magical day when many people aren't working, they have time and down come the lights," Holland said.

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Spend New Year's Eve with Tara Reid

Reid's due to host a New Year's Eve bash at the Marriott Chicago Downtown Magnificent Mile. Tickets start at $135. So why would Marriott, a hotel giant founded by a family whose Mormon faith frowns on alcohol, align with a young lady still known for cocktailing it at jet-set nightspots? "It's a local promoter doing it," says Marriott Chicago marketing director Scott Cotton. "I believe she's only here for a couple of hours." Well, wherever you party Sunday, have an enjoyable and safe New Year's Eve. See you back here in the new year! Photo by Danny Moloshok, AP Photo .

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2006-12-28T04:48:00.000-08:00

Outdoor report for week of Dec. 20-26

LINCOLN, Neb. - The Nebraska Game and Parks Commission outdoor report for the week as compiled from information from conservation officers: PANHANDLEPheasant, quail hunting: Sioux, Dawes counties _ Fair success in Whitney Lake area.Fishing: Sioux, Dawes counties _ a third of Whitney Lake's ice questionable, extreme caution advised; Carter P. Johnson Lake ice 3 1/2-4 inches thick, extreme caution advised; Icehouse Pond ice 2 1/2 inches thick, very dangerous.NORTH-CENTRALNo report .

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Outdoor Notebook: Turkeys settle in Uintas after off-season migration

Twenty Merriam's turkeys trapped last week in northern Idaho are now roaming the Sheep Creek Canyon area near Flaming Gorge Reservoir. Utah Division of Wildlife Resources officials got help from National Wild Turkey Federation staffers for the long drive to retrieve the birds, which were released Dec. 22. Wildlife biologists are hoping the group will start a turkey population on the east side of the Uinta Mountains. Merriam's turkeys were selected over the Rio Grande subspecies because they are more of a mountain species. The Rio Grande, which makes up the largest portion of the state's wild turkey population, prefers riparian habitat along rivers. There are some places in Utah where the two subspecies have crossbred. Turkeys are the largest upland species of birds in Utah.

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2006-12-27T04:56:00.000-08:00

Outdoor sports shows kick off 2007

According to statistics released by the National Sporting Goods Association, hunting gear and firearm sales increased 6 percent to $3.3 billion in 2005. Only golf and exercise equipment performed better, with sales of $3.4 and $5.2 billion, respectively. Fishing tackle also grew 6 percent to $2.1 billion. Add hunting and fishing goods together, and they move to No. 1 with a combined $5.4 billion in sales. .

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Michael Jackson: Investing With Brunei Prince In Vegas?

Michael Jackson is back in Las Vegas. It's the first time he's been there since November 2003, when he was arrested for child molestation and conspiracy, charges of which he was subsequently acquitted. But coming back to Vegas must be strange for him, especially on his shopping sprees. One such adventure was caught on tape in Martin Bashir's "Living with Michael Jackson" special. This is great news for the press, since it means Jackson has learned absolutely nothing in three years. Las Vegas is also a well-known Jackson locale in the Jordy Chandler saga. It's the place where June Chandler, Jordy's mom, has said Jackson separated her and her then 13-year-old son so the pop singer could sleep with the boy in the same room while the mother shopped at Jackson's expense.

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Fans should feel New Year's peeved

Had big plans on New Year's Eve? A party for 25 at the house, $1,000 for bottle service at a club? A romantic dinner scheduled weeks ago? Relatives flying in? A night in front of the TV, making sure all celebrities keep their underwear on as the ball drops? Well, allow me to paraphrase Al Michaels, star of NBC's ''Sunday Night Football.'' Do you believe in consumer fraud? Yesssssss! It's one thing for the NFL to employ ''flex scheduling'' to create better matchups late in the regular season, a concept I generally like. .

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2006-12-26T05:06:00.000-08:00

Taking movies outdoors for hot summer nights

YOU don't usually have to pack a rug, chair and insect repellent to go to the cinema, but it might be a good idea when attending Warrnambool's first outdoor cinema next month. Warrnambool City Council and Warrnambool Daybreak Rotary Club have organised Twilight Movies in the Park, to keep holiday-makers and locals entertained. Movies will be shown on January 6, 13 and 20 on an inflatable screen at Lake Pertobe at sundown. While drive-in movie nights have been held in Warrnambool in the past Warrnambool City Council Tourism and Special Events executive manager Narelle Allen said the outdoor twilight cinema was a new concept. She said it was part of the city's Sweet Summer Fun program which aimed to make sure holiday-makers had a good time.

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Outdoor firepits and fireplaces will be a top pick in the New Year

Homeowners will be adding firepits and fireplaces for outdoor entertaining in 2007. And they, along with commercial building owners, will be paying a lot more attention to environmentally-friendly landscape options, such as adding native plants and managing stormwater more effectively, according to a new survey of leading members of the American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA). The informal survey conducted in December, identified the most popular requests from homeowners and commercial clients for 2007. For homeowners, firepits and outdoor fireplaces top the list. Also popular are requests for sustainable solutions, such as using native plants that require less watering and maintenance. Homeowners are requesting landscape architects design complete outdoor rooms, such as kitchens and bars, for entertaining.

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Outdoor weekend set for women in Porkies

SILVER CITY -- A weekend packed with snow-related activities for women is planned for Jan. 27 and 28 at Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park. The weekend is sponsored by the Department of Natural Resources' Becoming an Outdoors-Woman program. Classes are designed to acquaint women age 18 and older with cross-country, downhill and telemark skiing, as well as snowshoeing. "The Porkies is the perfect location," said Bob Wild, park interpreter. "We offer a 600-foot vertical drop at our downhill ski area, as well as 42 kilimeters of groomed cross-country ski trails encircling the alpine ski area, with numerous scenic loops." The Saturday session includes cross-country ski lessons and gliding time on the groomed trails in the morning; lunch; a choice of downhill or telemark ski lessons in the afternoon; evening cross-country ski on a groomed trail lighted with oil lamps; hot chocolate and a trailside bonfire.

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2006-12-25T04:52:00.000-08:00

Don't miss these outdoor light displays

For some of us, all it takes is a few bars of a familiar carol to switch us into peace-on-earth mode. For others, trimming the tree triggers the holiday mood. And then there are those folks for whom it just wouldn't be Christmas without outdoor light displays. Here's some of their work. Lightmeister: Casey Cox Location: 10123 22nd Ave. E., Tacoma Display: There are different themes in different years. This year, his homemade characters come from several Disney movies, including "Finding Nemo," "The Lion King" and "Aladdin." Nearby, Santa streaks by in his sleigh. Also part of this display are light-covered farm wagons and other horse-drawn vehicles. They were in the barn, left over from the years when the property was a working farm. Estimated number of lights: "Every year, I replace at least 4,000 to 5,000." Pocketbook impact: With the lights up, the power bill increases by a few hundred dollars.

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USA : VF Outdoor in negotiations to acquire Eagle Creek brand

VF Outdoor Inc, a subsidiary of VF Corporation, announced that it is in negotiation to acquire Eagle Creek Inc, the nation's leading supplier of adventure travel gear, including accessories, luggage, daypacks and other products. Founded in 1975, Eagle Creek currently has annual sales of approximately $30 million. Eagle Creek brand products are sold in the U.S. through 700 outdoor specialty and 300 luggage specialty accounts. The brand is also sold in Europe and in other international markets through distributors and licensees. Terms were not disclosed, and closing of the transaction is subject to customary government approvals and other conditions. Closing is expected to occur within 30 days. "We're excited at the prospect of adding the industry's authentic outdoor travel brand to our existing portfolio of outstanding brands," said Dave Gatto, President of VF Outdoor Inc.

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Wildlife, outdoor activities and pieces of the past found along ...

Long mares tails whipped off the wave tops, billowing plumes of mist like downy feathers. A haze-shrouded oil rigs light flickered offshore. A pair of surfers caught breaking waves. The mouth of the Santa Ynez River formed a long lake behind a sand bar that blocked it from flowing into the ocean. Dexter, my faithful canine hiking companion, took a long drink, and we headed to the waters edge looking for firm sand to walk on. We had parked at Ocean Beach County Park west of Lompoc and began our hike from there, planning to follow the beach southward as far as we could go. The tide was going out so we had a wide area of wet sand that made a good hiking surface. Dexter approached a pair of fishermen as we passed the Amtrak Surf Station to see if they had, perchance, dog cookies in their bait box.

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2006-12-24T04:51:00.000-08:00

Expert: How To Stay Safe During Winter Camping And Hiking

Winter pursuits are challenging, rewarding endeavors when participants are properly prepared, but winter experiences can go horribly wrong in the face of changing weather, inadequate planning and other uncertainties. Laurie Gullion, coordinator of the Outdoor Education option at the University of New Hampshire, says people who hike and camp in winter need to have previous experience in other seasons as well as in higher, exposed elevations to test their personal preparedness and decision-making. In addition, winter backpackers should: -- Get training from a reputable organization on cold-weather first aid, camping, map and compass, and avalanche awareness. -- Go with a support group of qualified friends. -- Plan on being out overnight, even if it's a day trip.

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Lambton-Kingsway outdoor rink closed for season

Despite the vocal concerns of disappointed neighbourhood parents, the Lambton-Kingsway outdoor rink will be out of commission for the season. "There's a number of issues at that rink and there's significant work required to fix them," said Kevin Bowser, manager of Parks, Forestry and Recreation for Etobicoke York District. Bowser said the extent of the rink's disrepair extends from the facility's chiller, to issues with the lines from the rink's compressor. He said the rink is also due for a new slab on which to surface the ice. "Right now the city's capital folks are looking into getting the funding in place," he said of the estimated $500,000 budget needed to take on the project. "We're hoping to get started early in the new year so that the work is done by next season." But that's of little consolation to residents such as Carla Smith and Susan Gillmeister, who said children of the Kingsway need a rink this year.

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Vancouver police investigate tips involving former outdoor ...

VANCOUVER (CP) - Police have received 20 new tips as they investigate an outdoor education program whose former teacher has been convicted of sexually assaulting students. Tom Ellison will be sentenced Jan. 26 on two counts of indecent assault, two of gross indecency and one count of common assault. Deputy Chief Jim Chu said Thursday most of the tips have come in from former students at Prince of Wales secondary in Vancouver, where Ellison taught in the 1970s and '80s. "Because of this new information and new information that arose during the criminal trial, we may have further cases to present to Crown counsel regarding not only Ellison, but other teachers involved in the Quest program," Chu said. The College of Teachers is investigating two other instructors who were involved in the program.

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2006-12-18T05:01:00.000-08:00

For some guys, gadgets make Great Outdoors even greater

Here's a contradiction about being an Outdoor Guy. Outdoor Guys - and there are many of them in an Outdoor State such as Colorado - like heading to the hinterlands and getting away from it all. At the same time, they like taking lots of gadgets with them. There are probably even more Gadget Guys in Colorado's male population than there are Outdoor Guys. And there's lots of crossover between the two. Which means it's easy to fill up a pack quick with the latest in new, high-tech, but not necessarily essential accessories that an Outdoor Guy is sure will enhance the Outdoor Experience. He may or may not be right. But look at it this way. If you've got an Outdoor Guy on your holiday gift list, at least you've got a lot of options. Best of all, some of them even are cheap, setting a gift-giver back just a 20-spot or two.

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Arctic Monkeys Add Second Outdoor Event

Tickets for next year's Arctic Monkeys Summer show at the Lancashire Country Cricket Club have sold out within minutes of going on sale, forcing the band to add a second night at the same venue. The new event will take place on July 29th, which is the following day after the original July 28th show. Tickets are currently on sale, but are also likely to sell out quickly. Arctic Monkeys are also set to release their second album in 2007. Digg this Seed this Add to del.icio.us More from Arctic Monkeys Click to buy Arctic Monkeys music, Arctic Monkeys tickets, Arctic Monkeys posters or Arctic Monkeys t-shirts! .

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2006-12-17T04:56:00.000-08:00

Christmas light sets could spark fires

About 2.3 million Christmas light sets, imported by Hobby Lobby Stores Inc., have been recalled because the wires can separate from the plugs or light sockets, which poses as an electric shock and fire hazard. The Consumer Product Safety Commission received one report of a person receiving a minor shock after touching a light string. Hobby Lobby received one report of melting wires. The following light sets are included in the recall: 100 Count Indoor/Outdoor Super Bright Mini Light Set; 50 Count Classic Colors Indoor Super Bright Mini Light Set; 150 Count Indoor/Outdoor Ribbon Style Net Light Set; 100 Count Indoor/Outdoor Miniature Trunk Net Lights Set and 300 Count Indoor/Outdoor Hang-Straight Icicle Light Set. The recalled light sets have either E-214285, E-124315 or E-65692 printed on the upper left side of the white tags attached to the wire.

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Billboards are going digital

Workers for Lamar Outdoor Advertising install metal housing pieces around a digital billboard, Friday, Sept. 22, 2006, in Sioux Falls, S.D. Digital billboards, which resemble ballpark jumbo video displays but scroll through several static ads each minute, are helping to draw advertisers back to the outdoor medium as one of the world's oldest forms of marketing is undergoing a renaissance. (AP Photo/Dirk Lammers) SIOUX FALLS, S.D. — They are large, rectangular and target consumers from high above the nation's roads, but these are not your father's billboards. Digital billboards, which resemble ballpark jumbo video displays but scroll through several static ads each minute, are helping to draw advertisers back to the outdoor medium as one of the world's oldest forms of marketing is undergoing a renaissance.

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DoT to open up 5.1 GHz for outdoor usage

In a bid to boost wireless broadband usage, the Government will soon open up the 5.1 Ghz for outdoor wireless access. The Department of Telecom had earlier delicensed the 2.4 GHz band to be used for both indoor and outdoor wireless access while the 5.1 GHz band was to be used only indoor and adjacent campuses. These frequencies are used by operators to offer Wi-Fi enabled Internet services, which enables users to be connected on the move. The industry had been demanding to open up the 5.1 Ghz frequency band also for outdoor usage. Once the band is openedfor outdoor usage operators will have more bandwidth to offer Internet services on a laptop even when the user is travelling. In another initiative, the DoT is also moving to smoothen the interconnection between State-owned BSNL and private operators.

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2006-12-15T04:59:00.000-08:00

Billboard industry unhappy about bylaw

Disappointed outdoor sign advertisers are accusing Auckland City councillors of unfair tactics in banning billboards from downtown Auckland. The Planning and Regulatory Committee approved the draft bylaw yesterday and has set a March 2 deadline for submissions. Outdoor Advertising Association spokesman Tim Simpkins says he had just 10 minutes to rush through counter arguments then had to sit and watch a block of councillors on the committee vote in favour of the bylaw. He claims it was perfectly clear those councillors had no intention of listening to the industry. Mr Simpkins says the same councillors will largely make up the group of commissioners who will hear submissions on the draft bylaw next year. Related Stories Billboard bylaw approved 14/12/2006 13:55:34 Auckland City Council's Planning Committee has approved a draft bylaw banning billboards from the CBD Read More Billboard industry wants consultation 14/12/2006 11:16:02 As Auck City Council committee debates ban on billboards from CBD billboard industry calls for consultation Read More Related Audio Retailers concerned at billboard plan 14/12/2006 17:49:00 Alex Swney from Aucklands Heart of the City organisation gives Newstalk ZBs Larry Williams his thoughts on a City Council plan to ban billboards from the CBD.

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Winter, holiday lights bring added fire risks

Would you believe only three in 10 adults would evacuate their house and then call fire department? The alarming results of a recent survey by the International Association of Fire Fighters and Liberty Mutual reveal most of us need to learn more about preventing, fighting and escaping fires. "It's your responsibility to make sure your home is safe," Orland Fire Protection District fire prevention/public education officer Nancy Mulvihill said. "The best advice is to be aware of your surroundings." And now is an appropriate time to do so. The holidays mean plenty of combustible materials, including Christmas trees, candles, and the electrical mazes of indoor and outdoor lights. Winter, too, means an increased reliance on space heaters, which continue to be a major cause of fires.

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Where the deer and the antelope roam

Today there are a tremendous number of people recreating where the deer and the antelope roam and, as the current flock of magazines on the outdoor rack of the bookstore illustrates, their motivation and objectives for being in the great out of doors is quite diverse. In big, broad-brush terms, though, they all fall into the category of Non-consumptive users of wildlife. One needs look no further than the efforts of our home boys at the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources to see how important the non-consumptive group has become and how far down the outdoor pecking order the old blood sports have fallen. Given the historical - and, hence, financial - significance of the forests and flowing water within the keystone state to those of us who hunt and angle, it would seem logical that the DCNRs promotional efforts would at least mention these activities.

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2006-12-14T04:53:00.000-08:00

Choked on smoke: Outdoor burning troubles

There's more than a song in the air this Christmas season. At least, last Saturday in Snellville there was. There was smoke. Lots of smoke. Rising from backyards, enveloping neighborhoods, veiling the streets. This is leaf –raking season. My husband toted 15 large bags full to the Snellville Recycling Center last week. My neighbor repeatedly filled a tarpaulin to deposit on his garden for composting. But many people wait for a day when outdoor burning is allowed and rid themselves of autumn's refuse that way. Outdoor burning is prohibited from May to September in Gwinnett County. From Oct. 1 through the end of April, however, burning is allowed if weather, air conditions and other factors meet certain standards. This year, in October, burning was allowed on only 12 days, in November, only five days, and in December — as of Sunday —only two.

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Dark side of the mountain: a climber's obligation

The founder of Seattle's Outdoor Research died skiing. An eco-race was cut short when an athlete died descending Mount Chaval just northeast of Darrington. Just 1 degree separates me from these mountain tragedies, zero for others. Luck has kept me off the obituary pages. Despite the dangers, and my family's consternation, those austere landscapes tug at me. Why? Climbers may have the least insight into their potentially fatal attraction. Perhaps they are too distracted by rock, snow, hypoxia, ambition and each other's blogs. Web sites and adventure memoirs rarely go beyond British mountaineer George Mallory's 1922 banality, "because it's there." Mallory's death on Everest ennobled him, but should also remind us of the dark side of extreme adventure.

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2006-12-13T05:04:00.000-08:00

Hammonton News kicks off outdoor holiday display contest

It's that time of year to light up our homes for the holidays, and The Hammonton News wants to spotlight and award our town's best home holiday decorators. Do you create a Winter Wonderland on your front lawn? Does your house look like Santa's Workshop? Whatever your theme, you have the chance to win up to $150 in gift certificates from Ron's Garden, Our Expressions or Hammonton Candle Company. To enter, submit up to five photos of your outdoor holiday display. You may drop off hard copies of your photographs or e-mail them via .jpg format to Executive Editor Susan W. Leiser at sleiser@thehammontonnews.com . We will run selected photos in our newspaper and on our Web site at www.thehammontonnews.com All entries must include the resident's name, phone number and address.

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Outdoor briefing

Concerned Wyoming fisheries biologists netted 82 burbot in Flaming Gorge Reservoir during a November fish population survey. These predatory fish, not native to the Green River drainage, were captured in three nets during just two nights of sampling. Also called ling cod, burbot are native to the Wind and Tongue drainages to the northeast and made their way into the Green through illegal "bucket brigades." They already have made their way upstream into the New Fork tributary upstream from Pinedale. Aggressive feeders, burbot are likely to consume small trout and compete with other sportfish for food. SLWCF expansion Local communities will receive steady funding for parks and wildlife through Stateside Land and Water Conservation Fund legislation sponsored by senators Ken Salazar of Colorado and Lamar Alexander of Tennessee.

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2006-12-12T04:48:00.000-08:00

Fort Lewis adds degree to outdoor education

Durango - Fort Lewis College will begin offering an Adventure Education degree next year focused on "human- powered" pursuits such as rock climbing and kayaking. College president Brad Bartel, who intends to make Fort Lewis into a premier four-year liberal arts college, rejects the notion that the new degree reinforces the stereotype of "Fort Leisure," a school attended as much for outdoor fun as for its academics. "(Adventure Education) is squarely a liberal arts program. It combines so much history and science in one multidisciplinary program," Bartel said. "But I don't see how we can live in an area as beautiful and diverse as the Four Corners and not use it as a living laboratory." The program, .

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The outdoor centres are worth saving

IT'S easy to assume that there are more important things for Worcestershire County Council to spend its cash on than its two outdoor education centres, one in the Malvern Hills and the other on the slopes of Snowdon. Of course, no one wants Worcestershire to skimp on, for example, road repairs, rubbish collection or care of the elderly for the sake of saving the council-subsidised centres, which are now threatened with the axe. But, in this age of sedentary youngsters who spend their spare time playing computer games or hanging about on street corners, the benefit of giving children the chance to get out into the fresh air and learn about the natural world is often underestimated. .

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2006-12-11T04:51:00.000-08:00

Game ranches threaten outdoor heritage

Linda Huebner The Board of Fish and Wildlife is considering a rule to restrict the operation of game ranches in Vermont. Better known as "canned hunts," game ranches offer people with more money than skill or patience the opportunity to gun down a trophy animal inside a fenced enclosure with no chance of escape. Humane groups and many hunters alike are opposed to canned hunts. The hunter's traditional code of ethics is based upon the concept of "fair chase," and many leading hunting advocates, including Jim Posewitz, founder of Orion: The Hunter's Institute, denounce canned hunts as cruel and unsporting. Nearly two dozen states have banned them, including states with strong hunting traditions, such as Montana and Alabama. Beyond their cruelty and the fact that they violate our most fundamental concepts of fairness, there are other, practical reasons why Vermonters should be worried about canned hunts.

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Outdoor Adventures

Did you know that fire beetles mate on burning branches, waiting for shrubs to cool to 115 degrees before laying their eggs? Or that coast horned lizards shoot blood out of their tear ducts? Neither did I, but I found those answers and other facts in the California Natural History Guides, an extensively researched series from University of California Press. Small enough to fit in a backpack pocket, the 60 or so books burst with glossy color photos, maps and helpful diagrams explaining everything from the wind's movement over a wing to the creation of a living bog. The prose itself is educational and occasionally dry. Still, students of nature will appreciate the detail with which the authors — all of them science professors or professional naturalists —hold forth on their subjects.

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John Watson: The Chisholm Trail Outdoor Museum — revival of ...

Johnson County was created in 1854, and William O'Neal, who had an Indian trading post west of the Nolan River, donated 80 acres to the county for a town site for the county seat. The town was named Wardville for William Ward, a famous Republic of Texas soldier and second land commissioner of the republic.William O'Neal was selected to build a 16-square-foot log cabin to be used as a courthouse. Wardville served as county seat for one year and then the county seat was moved north to Buchanan. The log courthouse was also moved and later was used for storage. Eventually an individual bought the log courthouse and moved it east of Cleburne into the dense Cross Timbers. Here a three-bedroom house was built up around it.After the county seat moved, Wardville, which at one time had 29 home sites, began to fade away.

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2006-12-10T04:46:00.000-08:00

Outdoor ice rinks offer seasonal experience

SAN DIEGO ---- For the 10th year now, curious West Coasters and nostalgic Easterners can skate on outdoor ice on a seasonal Christmastime rink near Horton Plaza.Another option for a holiday date-night skate is the Hotel del Coronado, which got into the act a few years ago with an outdoor rink with a sea view. San Diego Ice operates the Ice Rink at Horton Square, at 225 Broadway in San Diego, across the street from the main Horton Plaza entrance. .

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Outdoor gifts, outside the box

When it comes to buying gifts for the adventure traveler or outdoor enthusiast, the default purchase is typically equipment or a gift certificate. But here's another idea. Most of us have enough stuff. What we really crave is a new experience. So as long as you're considering a gift certificate, why not make it redeemable for something a little less tangible and a lot more memorable?What follows are some experience-oriented gift ideas -- none of which requires wrapping -- for the adventurous travelers on your shopping list.Club membershipFor adventure-loving singles or others who like to share their outdoor experiences, membership in an outings club would make an ideal present.The biggest of the local clubs is the Superior Hiking Trail Association, which maintains the 200-mile trail that runs along Lake Superior.

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Adirondack Gadabout: Outdoor sporting traditions under attack

A recent article in Newsweek magazine features a headline that asks the question, Hunters: A Vanishing Breed? It details the continued downward spiral of the nations most cherished sporting traditions and reasons for this trend. According to Newsweek, since 1982 more than two million hunters have abandoned the sport nationwide. In California, license sales have plummeted nearly 50 percent since 1980. In Massachusetts, losses are near 40 percent since 1990. We are also witnessing the graying of the American sportsman. The average age of nearly 70 percent of the hunting population now exceeds 35 years. In New York, it is 51. It takes a hunter to make a hunter, and if Dad doesnt go to the woods, neither will Junior. Other factors include the loss of wildlife habitat, diminished public access and a population that stereotypes hunters as a bunch of ignorant, bumbling, beer-guzzling bubbas who use high-tech weapons for a prehistoric pursuit.

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2006-12-05T05:15:00.000-08:00

Top outdoor yule decorator likes 'Skipping Christmas,' many others

Marty Slack's original "Christmas Utah" home lights show, accompanied by radio-synced music and choreographed lights, won last year's grand prize in the PlanetChristmas Worldwide Decorating Contest. The display, 5631 Whispering Pine Circle (820 East) in Murray, can be viewed from sundown to 10 p.m. weeknights and until 11 p.m. on weekends through New Year's. .

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Some Christmas gift ideas for that special outdoor person

You've got less than one month before Christmas, and if you are stymied in trying to buy a gift for that special outdoor person in your life, here are some Don Q gift ideas. Pick one (or more!) and you can make 2006 a truly special Christmas for that individual. Alaska magazine One of my all-time favorite annual suggestions and Christmas gifts: A one-year subscription to Alaska magazine. This is an awesome gift for either those folks who have already been to that unforgettable location in the Far North or for those folks who daydream about visiting Alaska and have never been there. Heck, with this subscription, anyone can visit Alaska every month of the year! Just go to www.alaskamagazine.com. Once there, you can get him/her (plus yourself!) a one-year subscription for $18 each, plus a free copy of the 2007 Alaska calendar.

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2006-12-04T05:30:00.000-08:00

Albany Unveils Free Outdoor Wi-Fi Network

SAN JOSE, CA -- (MARKET WIRE) -- November 29, 2006 -- Cisco® (NASDAQ: CSCO) today announced that Albany, the state capital of New York, will begin deployment of Cisco's ServiceMesh solution to provide free Internet access to residents and visitors, as well as to use the wireless network as a platform for city endeavors, including public safety services and new forms of economic development. Local service provider Tech Valley Communications will spearhead the management and deployment of the Cisco ServiceMesh solution throughout the capital, initiating Wi-Fi services at key strategic points of commerce and industry. As Tech Valley expands the network and public service bands become readied on the 4.9 GHz channel, the city also plans to leverage the Wi-Fi mesh network to augment and expand public safety, emergency response and other city services.

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Tuba group to ring in holidays

The University of Iowa tuba players are keeping their fingers crossed for good weather, or at least for it to be above freezing. The annual University of Iowa Collegium Tubum Holiday Outdoor Performance is 12:30 p.m. Friday on the front steps of the Old Capitol on the UI Pentacrest. As always, the event is free. As is tradition the tuba players perform regardless of the weather. Even if it means taking turns to go inside and unfreeze their valves, said John Manning, tuba professor at the UI School of Music and director of the group. Though the performance is a long-held tradition tracing back many years, this is the first time the tuba players have performed at Old Capitol since 2001. They have played at other locations while the venue was under construction from fire damage.

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Deck the halls Story and photos by lynette george

Decadent decorations of every description will highlight this year's Christmas Pilgrimage in Sherman. The colorful event, set for 2-5 p.m. on Dec. 10, has been an annual Sherman Altrusa Club fundraiser for nearly 60 years — the area's oldest Christmas home tour.For this year's tour, residents of four homes are welcoming guests to share their Yuletide spirit. Opening their homes are Linda and Leon Williams, Ernestine Harrell, Marty and Webb Sanderson and Donneita and Larry Morriss.Tickets for the tour are available from any Sherman Altrusa Club member or at any of the four homes the day of the tour for $7 per person. Proceeds from the tour are used by the club to fund scholarships for local students.For more information contact Dr. Mary Moses at 903-892-2935. .

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2006-12-03T05:03:00.000-08:00

Outdoor Kids

I would like to introduce you to a new friend of mine, Neal Benson. Neal is the six year old son of Ray and Jennifer Benson of Manila and the grandson of Nelson and the late Carol Benson, also of Manila, and Larry and June Wright of Gosnell. Neal attends Manila Elementary and is in Mrs. Shelton's first grade class. His favorite class is physical education and recess. He plays T-ball and soccer and is a member of the Tiger Cubs Pack 32 of Manila where his mother serves as den mother. The Tiger Cubs have been on many outings this year including a trip to the Forest L. Wood Crowley's Ridge Nature Center. Neal is a very active young man and loves to spend time at his grandfather's farm running, playing, and riding the cotton picker with his dad Ray. He often rides his bike a short distance from his home to the farm shop to visit his dad and his grandfather.

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Council finalizes outdoor rink plan

Town council approved a report to finalize the long-term development plan for upgrading the outdoor rink facilities here over the next three years. In the 2006/07 season, the town will complete relocating the north end rink and build two ice surfacesa hockey rink (25 m x 56 m) with boards and a smaller skating rink (12 m x 28 m) with no boards. Also this winter, the town will reduce the number of rinks being operated from five to four. The east end, north end, central (Robert Moore), and McIrvine rinks will stay open while the west end one (Lillie Avenue) will be shut down. The town will continue to provide heated rink shacks at the McIrvine and east end outdoor rink facilities. But at the north end and central rink facilities, the inside of the rink shacks will be closed to the public (though open to community volunteers, who will be given keys to the facilities to access ice maintenance equipment and the water supply).

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2006-12-02T04:52:00.000-08:00

New neighborhood outdoor store serves as area outreach for hunting ...

‘T'is the season' at the new Four Seasons Outdoor Store where the friendly and informative staff are ready and waiting to cater to your outdoor hunting and fishing needs. In fact, Four Seasons has already been busy for the last few months, according to managers, husband and wife Danny and Rene Keplinger. With customers frequenting the store more and more, Four Seasons is quickly becoming Unicoi County's outreach for guns, ammo, archery, hunting clothes, and fishing items. “Not just any fishing items, but good fishing items," Danny was quick to point out. .

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Outdoor dining under review

A walk downtown on the avenues downtown may be a little less congested in the future, but the tradeoff could be fewer options for outdoor dining. After receiving some complaints, the city of Venice is in the midst of reviewing the zoning code provisions that cover outdoor displays and open-air cafes. "They have made me the poster child for their new enforcement campaign," said Michael Meerman of James Place Island Grill. He met with the engineering, planning and code enforcement team of Venice Wednesday and said he is sorry that they have chosen to use his restaurant as an example for creating new standards about outdoor dining. "I support the fact that they are trying to make a positive change," he said. "But their documentation is not complete or accurate, and their files just don't contain the correct communications needed for them to just go out and become code enforcers." Meerman might be right about the documentation, according to Nancy Woodley, general manager of development services.

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2006-12-02T04:51:00.000-08:00

Outdoor Cafe

The sidewalk cafe is part of the South Bend Chocolate Factory expansion at the old Osco building. The restaurant's expansion also includes a fun and games area for kids. The South Bend Planning commission approved the plans Friday. Jennifer Laurent, South Bend Division of Economic Development says, "This block of Michigan Street is absolutely the place to be when you come downtown. And there's a lot of vibrance here already. This going in, the Game Day project right behind it, we got fantastic things happening right there." The project is expected to be completed sometime late next year. Updated: December 1, 2006, 5:20 pm E-mail This Story Print This Story .

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Outdoor deep fryer causes house fire in NE Salem area

None of the home's six occupants were injured, according to Chief Roy Hari of Marion County Fire District #1. The fire caused about $2,500 in damages, Hari said. Hari said the family was frying pork rinds in a deep-fat fryer outside of the home under a covered patio when the oil overflowed and caught fire. The fire spread to the back door and exterior walls of the home before firefighters contained the blaze. The fire caused smoke damage to the home's interior, but the family was able to return to their home, Hari said. Hari said deep fryers can pose serious fire risks if not used properly. Fryers should be used on noncombustible surfaces and away from any overhangs or coverings. Fryers should never be used in garages or carports, Hari said. .

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Outdoor pets need extra care in cold weather

With the first really cold snap of the season, the Forrest City Area Humane Society is reminding people that outdoor pets need some special care when temperatures turn frigid. One thing is to make sure pet owners supply water, said a Humane Society spokesperson. Thats always a big issue. When things freeze up, the animals do not have enough water because the waters frozen. Another mistake that pet owners make, who do have pet shelters, is to turn the shelter toward the north, and then the north wind can get in. Shelters need to face south. She said outdoor animals also burn more calories in cold weather, so they need more food. Or bring them in if it gets too cold, she said. That would be the preferred thing. Or sometimes you can rig up a 60-watt bulb in a shelter, which will generate enough heat to help a pet keep warm.

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2006-12-01T04:59:00.000-08:00

Large-screen LCDs survive outdoor experience

Global Display Solutions has installed its ground-breaking outdoor displays at a major Orlando theme park. GDS's 45in LCDs have been added to the entrance to the park, as part of a system designed to enhance the 'customer experience'. The displays provide the customers with entertainment, information and visual demonstrations of the major attractions. One of the major reasons GDS was selected for this project was the company's ability to provide large format displays (45in) which are able to withstand the tough outdoor environmental conditions found in Florida. Installed since February 2006, the displays have had 100% uptime. In order to meet the specific requirements of this project, GDS has supplied the theme park with its ground-breaking new IP65-certified large screen displays with advanced optical enhancement.

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We’ve joined the fight to save our outdoor centres

A WORCESTER school has joined the fight against the proposed closure of the county's outdoor centres. A group of Year 11 pupils from Nunnery Wood High School went to County Hall yesterday to hand over more than 100 letters of objection. Worcestershire County Council has announced plans to close its outdoor centres in Malvern and Llanrug in an effort to make £18m of savings over the next three years. Its centre at Upton Warren is being reviewed but is not earmarked for closure. .

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Attacks target outdoor markets in Baghdad

BAGHDAD, Iraq (CNN) -- Even as Iraqi and U.S. forces conducted raids to quell widespread violence, attacks shattered outdoor markets in two sections of the capital Friday. In central Baghdad a mortar round hit a pet market, killing three people and wounding 28, a Baghdad police official said. The al-Ghazel pet market is a popular destination for civilians on Friday, which is the only day the market is open. People gather to sell and buy monkeys, cats, dogs and other animals before curfew starts at 11 a.m., the official said. In northern Baghdad a car bomb exploded in an outdoor market killing two civilians and wounding 17 more, a Baghdad official said. Separately, in a Sunni district of Baghdad, one Iraqi soldier was killed and five more were wounded and hospitalized when gunmen clashed with Iraqi army troops, backed by U.S.

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2006-11-30T04:59:00.000-08:00

Outdoor bulletin board

*Join Audubon Wyoming at noon on Thursdays for Brownbag Birding, an informal gathering to enjoy what nature has to offer. Pack a lunch and binoculars and come to the Audubon Center at Garden Creek, 101 Garden Creek Rd. You are encouraged to bring friends, or come on out and RSVP is appreciated but not required. Sessions are planned Nov. 30; and Dec. 7, 14 and 21.Info: 473-1987 or kkeffer@audubon.org. Cheyenne High Plains Audubon Society*Dec. 17 -- Christmas Bird Count: GuernseynFort Laramie. Info: (307) 640-4002.*Dec. 30 -- Christmas Bird Count: Cheyenne. Info: (307) 634-1756.*Dec. 30 -- Christmas Bird Count Tally Party and Potluck at 6 p.m. *June 8-10, 2007 -- Seventh Annual Campout at Flaming Gorge. Info: (307) 634-0463.Annual 2Shot Goose Hunt*Dec.

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Outdoor report for week of Nov. 22-28

LINCOLN, Neb. - The Nebraska Game and Parks Commission outdoor report for the week as compiled from information from conservation officers: PANHANDLEPheasant, quail hunting: Scotts Bluff, Banner, Kimball counties _ Little pheasant activity, fair success, light pressure. Box Butte County _ Most crops harvested, a few more birds seen, pressure light, some success. Garden County _ Moderate pressure, varied success.Grouse hunting: Scotts Bluff, Banner, Kimball counties _ Fair success, light pressure. Garden County _ Very light pressure, some success.Fishing: Smith Lake on Crescent Lake National Wildlife Refuge _ Anglers caught a few largemouth bass.Archery, shotgun turkey hunting: Dawes County _ Good number of birds in area. .

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Account Managers\Directors - Outdoor\Out of Home

Do you want something more rewarding out of media sales? Can you give more value to your existing agency contacts? Want to pitch things shiny, exciting and new! Do you know how fast the outdoor/out of home sector is currrently developing? Did you know this arena now possesses some of the best opportunities for account managers looking for more diversity, stronger challenges and faster paced environments? Work on anything from new and exciting digital products through to high profile outdoor campaigns in both traditional and new outlets. Opportunities currently abound in all the major players, from entry right through to director level, plus the sector also includes numerous expanding companies whose innovative portfolios offer advertisers far more choice than ever before. Most roles involve account management with clients/agencies, with the emphasis very much on presenting and relationship building.

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2006-11-29T04:50:00.000-08:00

Minister backs outdoor centres facing closure

THE Government is telling county schools to make better use of local outdoor education centres - just as Worcestershire County Council looks to close them. Education and Skills Secretary Alan Johnson has announced the launch of a £2.7m package to extend children's learning to outside the classroom. The county council recently announced it was looking to close its outdoor education centres at Malvern and Llanrug, Snowdonia. .

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PAT supports outdoor learning manifesto

The Professional Association of Teachers (PAT) has welcomed the Learning Outside the Classroom Manifesto to be launched on 28 November 2006. PAT is a signatory of the Manifesto. PAT General Secretary Philip Parkin said: “From my own teaching experience, I know that, safely conducted and properly supervised, education away from the classroom is an integral part of learning. “School trips can be character-forming and life-changing experiences. They allow children and young people to explore and challenge their own skills, abilities, potential and character in a unique way, as well as making them aware of risks. “The experiences and memories school trips provide cannot be quantified or measured directly by tests or examinations, but both children and staff benefit enormously from them. “Educational visits give many pupils experiences they have not had before and may never have again.

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Common sense prevails on school outdoor pursuits

IT is fitting that the Government should take the lead and announce a £2.7million funding package designed to encourage schools to take pupils out on trips to broaden their experience beyond that of the classroom. This comes against a background of tragedies in recent years involving schoolchildren which has made many teachers reluctant to take pupils on school trips lest they be blamed and face legal action if an accident occurs. Schools were, and still are in some ways, in danger of falling into the ever expanding health and safety trap which seems to preclude doing anything remotely regarded as risky. .

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2006-11-28T05:02:00.000-08:00

Outdoor Channel faces delisting

Specialty network operator Outdoor Channel Holdings Inc. said Tuesday Nasdaq threatened to delist it from the exchange because it has failed to file its third-quarter financial results. The company previously said it had to write down the value of impaired assets related to the 2004 purchase of The Outdoor Channel. The corrected value of such intangible assets -- originally valued at $10.6 million -- has not yet been determined and is delaying the most recent filing. A hearing with Nasdaq will be requested. The stock will continue to be traded pending a decision from that hearing. Shares of Outdoor Channel Holdings fell 18 cents to $12.54 on the Nasdaq in morning trading. .

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Wyoming works to recruit, keep outdoor-oriented businesses

From one end of the historic retail district to the other, shiny new storefronts have opened up, and tourists now fill the stores on weekends.On one corner, custom gunsmith Nathan Heineke has turned a historic bank building into an impressive, yet subdued showroom for the high-end rifles he creates in his basement workshop.Across the street, Big Hoss Mountain Sports has opened a new store that's eight times bigger than its former location. The only full-service ski shop in this corner of the state, Big Hoss draws customers from towns across southeast Wyoming for the services it provides and the rock-climbing gear, backcountry ski equipment and snowboards it sells. .

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2006-11-27T05:17:00.000-08:00

Suited up: A gift list for the well-equipped outdoor enthusiast

Defeat the holiday quandary. Get your hands on some of these outdoor-themed items as gifts for friends and family. Then, while the rest of the world jams into stores, scratching their heads and searching desperately for gifts, you can take yourself out for a lovely autumn hike. Weatherman on a desk What it is WeatherNow Regional Weather Station, from Oregon Scientific. How it works: It picks up an FM radio signal from MSN Direct to provide you with an LCD graphic readout that includes weather alerts, moon phase, barometric pressure, humidity, wind strength and direction, and a four-day forecast - as well as a clock and an alarm. Wow factor: It's simple to operate, and the readout is updated every 2 minutes. The WeatherNow stands just over 6 inches tall and 10 inches wide.

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Urban Spam Or Branded Utility? Advertising In Trafalgar Square

Trafalgar Square is to get its first billboard since it opened in 1726. It's part of an attempt by St Martin-in-the-Fields church in the North East corner of the square to raise £36m for restoration (see artists rendition to the right). The Guardian says: Advertisers are currently being informed of the opportunity, to be sold by Ocean Outdoor, and the 9m x 9m site could be worth several million pounds - although there are severe restrictions on the type of brand and advertising that will be accepted. St Martin-in-the-Fields is excluding alcohol unless promoting responsible drinking, tobacco, junk food and gambling companies. Ads featuring violence, sexual activity, "nudity or near nudity" or "religious activity incompatible with St Martin's" are also banned. The licence to run ads is for one year commencing from January 2007, with the restoration set to be completed by December next year.

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Outdoor campers come in from the cold

Keeping hydrated proved to be the greatest challenge for a group of rooftop campers who spent the last three days exposed to the elements to raise awareness about the city's homeless crisis. Chris Martin said he and his fellow colleagues at Campers Village Outdoor Adventure Store managed to stay warm under layers of winter clothing, but he said their water supply froze solid within a half-hour. "Our throats are pretty scratchy and our voices are almost gone," said Martin, 22, adding that breathing in Calgary's dry air didn't help. The foursome set up camp on the roof of the shop at 7208 Macleod Tr. S.E. at 6 a.m. Friday and didn't budge until 5 p.m. today. Martin said their fingers and toes suffered the most in the stinging cold that dipped as low as -35 C with the windchill.

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2006-11-26T04:46:00.000-08:00

Plenty of indoor and outdoor options await

The day after Thanksgiving is usually a time of reflection for Tahoe locals and visitors - and not only because the pensive holiday reminds us of what we have to be thankful of. It's a time to consider how to become engaged in the Tahoe lifestyle and work off those pounds, sometimes a challenge for skiers and boarders looking for those powder days. This year, with Heavenly Mountain Resort opening limited runs, some will no doubt take in other activities beyond hitting the slopes. So for those who either didn't pack their ski stuff as they staggered their arrivals time in Tahoe or want to wait for more dumps, activities to help with the burn abound on the South Shore. They range from skating and skateboarding to hiking and biking. Doug Anderson, who runs Anderson Bike Rentals, said it's the second time in 29 years in business that's he's stayed open over Thanksgiving weekend.

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Planning The Best Outdoor Christmas Decorations For Christmas

Well, here we are again; Christmas is just around the corner and already it's time to really start thinking about how we will decorate the family abode for the special occasion. We need to find the best method of creating a great Christmas display but also without breaking the bank, particularly with the rising costs of energy bills. So what we're looking for here is that happy medium that will allow us to decorate the way we want to and also save some pennies for the rest of the Christmas celebrations. Sit Down And Plan Your Xmas Decorating How will you make your display this year? For example, would you like to light up the outside of your house? Would you like a plastic Snowman erected? This can be accomplished for very little cash if you apply yourself and your ideas and really be clever about doing so.

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QUICK TIPS Take Care of Your Outdoor Power Equipment

As the cold weather blows in, the Outdoor Power Equipment Institute Education and Research Foundation encourages proper care of outdoor power equipment during all seasons. Proper maintenance now results in less downtime in the spring, when the equipment is most needed. Moreover, not only will proper maintenance extend the life of the equipment, it will help make sure that the equipment operates at top environmental conditions, keeping the air cleaner for everyone. Here are a few recommendations to keep your equipment in tip-top shape: Add a fuel stabilizer to the last fuel tank of fuel at the end of the season Make sure the equipment has run with the stabilized fuel for 10 -15 minutes. Run or drain gas tank completely of all fuel outdoors or in a well-ventilated area.

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2006-11-26T04:01:00.000-08:00

Finding Green-friendly Holiday Gifts plus The Perils of Outdoor ...

Reconciling one's green values with the urge to shop has never been easy. Most environmental groups today decry Western consumer habits as wasteful and a major cause of ecological degradation in a shrinking world. And many people, environmental issues aside, believe that the rampant commercialism we've all come to expect at holiday times cheapens what should be a reflective or sacred time of year. Our buying habits are not easy on the wallet, either. According to the Center for a New American Dream (CNAD), 60 million American families carry an average credit card debt of over $7,000 and pay more than $1,000 a year in interest and fees. Further, says CNAD, "A record 1.6 million Americans declared personal bankruptcy last year." .

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Firepits provide outdoor warmth all year long

Year-round patio time has become so popular that an increasing number of people are extending the outdoor-living season into fall and winter through fire pits. Landscape designer Jeff Branham of Becker Landscape in Indianapolis is familiar with the trend. "I've been doing this for about 13 years, and probably in the last three ... I've had a lot of (fire pit) requests," he said. At an investment of at least $1,000, those who want a permanent fire pit are looking for more than just a place to roast an occasional marshmallow, says Lowell Rolsky, owner of ProCare Horticultural Services in Indianapolis. "What we generally create are destinations. People look at it as an opportunity to converse with friends, to just sit around the fire and enjoy the evening." Fortville, Ind., homeowners Ellen and Paul Pendleton added a fire pit to their patio because they wanted more than a summer retreat for them and their two children.

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Clear Channel Buyout Signals Growth of Outdoor Market

The proposed takeover of Clear Channel Communications by private equity firms is another sign that outdoor advertising will continue to grow. While Clear Channel is best-known for its radio stations - it is the largest radio network in the country - it derives 40 percent of its revenue from Clear Channel Outdoor, Marketwatch writes, pointing out that PricewaterhouseCoopers expects outdoor advertising to grow faster than newspapers, radio or most other media over the next five years. The buyout announcement actually made no mention of Clear Channel Outdoor, of which Clear Channel owns 90 percent, but analysts have said that the suitors will likely be content to keep a business with strong growth potential. Clear Channel has been building its network of digital billboards, and a sale of the outdoor business now would have the buyout firms ignoring the financial upside from the digital market.

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Salt Lake bans smoking in outdoor spaces

2006-11-15T01:12:00.000-08:00

Nonsmokers in Salt Lake City parks can now breathe a little easier, as smokers will have to go somewhere else to light up. The City Council unanimously approved Tuesday an ordinance banning smoking in city parks, trails, public spaces and mass gatherings. While the idea has had the support of the entire council since it was first proposed in October, a number of the details have held the ordinance up for several weeks as the council hashed out the fine points. Among the sticking points: Is the ordinance restrictive enough? Councilman Soren Simonsen voted for the ordinance Tuesday, but did so with a caveat. "I don't think that this is the best piece of legislation we can do to prevent a very important health risk," he said.

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Proposal to postpone ban, define outdoor areas

2006-11-14T02:27:00.000-08:00

BLOOMINGTON — Business owners in the city could get a six-month reprieve before the start of the indoor smoking ban.Alderman John Hanson presented the idea of waiting six months before the ban takes effect to give owners extra time to reconfigure their business plans to accommodate the ban. Hanson would like to see the ban begin July 1, 2007.The city and the town of Normal have similar bans on indoor smoking which are set to begin together on Jan. 1, 2007.The Bloomington council could vote on the delay at its meeting Nov. 27.“I'm not changing my vote, and quite frankly I think business owners are resigned to the idea that a statewide ban is not far away," Hanson said. “But I am sensitive to business owners and I originally proposed we wait until June 2008 before the ban begins."Hanson said the council is still wrangling with terms in the ordinance regulating outdoor patios and defining when an outdoor area becomes enclosed.Hanson said business owners who are interested in adding areas such as beer gardens need to know how high the walls can be and if there can be a roof or screens and still be considered outdoors.Alderman Kevin Huette said he is opposed to changing the start date and said he sees that as the council “flip-flopping" on the issue.“Our ‘yes' should be a ‘yes' and let's stick with it," Huette said.Alderman J.

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SURROUNDING STATES

2006-11-13T02:54:00.000-08:00

A $10 million project at Joslyn Art Museum in Omaha will feature an 1.5-acre outdoor sculpture garden and an expanded parking lot, museum officials announced. The plan, made public at the museum's 75th anniversary gala over the weekend, will begin taking shape in the spring. The outdoor gallery will be highlighted by landscaping, water features and sculptures from the museum's collection. Donations will pay for the sculpture garden. Some $1 million in federal money was secured for parking expansion. NEBRASKA | Driver's certificate legislation To combat problems created by uninsured drivers, state Sen. Ray Aguilar of Grand Island plans to introduce legislation next year that would create a driver's certificate. The certificate would allow a person without a Social Security number to obtain a legal permit for driving and acquire insurance.

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Annual Outdoor Sports Day at the Wiregrass

2006-11-12T04:53:00.000-08:00

School may have been out for Veteran's Day, however nearly 50 youngsters took part in the annual 4-H Wiregrass Outdoor Sports Day. The elementary and middle school youngsters were instructed in archery, firearms and outdoor water safety. Personnel with the Alabama Department of Conservation and several other agencies serve as counselors at Camp Alaflo in Coffee County. The children are from 4-H chapters in six Wiregrass counties. "We're playing Frisbee golf, archery, learning to use firearms safely; all fun outdoor activities that are enjoyed by the kids," said Beth Griffin of 4-H Regional Coordinator. Organizers of Friday's event say it's a great way to teach young people about respecting Mother Nature and all that she offers.

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Keep an eye on house with video surveillance

2006-11-12T04:52:00.000-08:00

Whether you want to check on your children in the family room from the kitchen - or on your home from the office - there is a video surveillance system just for you. "A consumer thinking about buying a video camera system should start out by answering a few simple questions," said Jeff Hoover, the president of Audio Advisors in West Palm Beach, a company that designs and installs electronics. Among those questions are whether the cameras will be mounted indoors or out; whether they will need to pan, tilt or zoom; and whether they will be used only in daylight or will need to be effective at night as well. Prospective buyers should also decide how they want to view the images from the cameras - on a video monitor, a computer screen or a television set - and if they want to record what's being captured.

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Clear Channel Outdoor Announces New International Management Team

2006-11-12T04:51:00.001-08:00

Clear Channel Outdoor (NYSE: CCO) today announced its new management team for the company's international business units. The members of the newly-named management team will report to global president and chief operating officer, Paul Meyer. They include: -- Jonathan Bevan, international chief financial officer and director of corporate development; -- Barry Sayer, newly appointed regional president for the United Kingdom, Ireland, and the company's 13 African markets, including South Africa; -- Hubert Janvier, newly appointed regional president, Southern Europe, which includes France, Spain, Italy and Belgium; -- Rickard Hedland, newly appointed regional president, Northern and Eastern Europe; and -- Mark Thewlis, regional president, Asia Pacific.

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Outdoor calendar

2006-11-12T04:51:00.000-08:00

To submit an item for the outdoor calendar free of charge, please contact The Capital-Journal by fax: (785) 295-1230, e-mail: outdoors@cjonline.com, mail: 616 SE Jefferson St., Topeka KS 66607 or phone: (785) 295-1188. November 18 -- 2 Person Wild Turkey Team Shoot 100, Ravenwood Lodge. Contact 256-6444. 23 -- Thanksgiving Day shoot, open until 1:30 p.m. Ravenwood Lodge. Contact 256-6444. 25 -- Fall Doubles Classic 50 Targets, Ravenwood Lodge. Contact 256-6444. 26 -- Pump Gun 50 Target Fun Shoot, Ravenwood Lodge. Contact 256-6444. December 2 -- Topeka Bowhunter Club, all will be 50 Rinehart 3D Targets, registration from 8 to 10 a.m. Gary Hunsicker, (785) 246-4033. Located 1/8 mile east of 37th and Tecumseh Road. 2-3 -- Open shooting, Ravenwood Lodge.

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Outdoor briefs

2006-11-12T04:48:00.001-08:00

Concentrations of ducks were scattered up and down the Mississippi and Illinois River valleys this week, according to aerial surveys conducted Nov. 8. At 16 sites on the Mississippi River, a total of 232,015 ducks were counted, well above the 10-year average of 153,380. Some locations held up to thousands of ducks, while others registered few. Keokuk-Nauvoo held 40,570 ducks, while only 125 were counted at Ft. Madison-Dallas. On the Illinois River, Illinois Natural History Survey observer Aaron Yetter counted 210,430 ducks at 22 locations, below the average of 255,334. Crane Lake held 34,750 ducks, while Banner Marsh held only 525. Hunters with disabilities Firearm deer event will cause closings Lake Shelbyville, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and Wolf Creek State Park will hold the 17th annual Lake Shelbyville deer hunt for people with disabilities during the firearm deer-hunting season Friday through Nov.

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Outdoor notes

2006-11-12T04:48:00.000-08:00

"This is a moment to be savored by anyone who loves Yosemite National Park or the California coast or Giant Sequoia National Monument, places [Rep. Richard] Pombo worked to mine, drill, or log." -- Carl Pope, Sierra Club executive director, on the victory by Jerry McNerney over incumbent Pombo, a leader in efforts to roll back gains in environmental efforts WILD TIMES .

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Have breakfast with St. Nick

2006-11-12T04:47:00.000-08:00

Celebrate the holiday season with Breakfast with Santa events at Bass Pro Shops Outdoor World, Campbell Avenue and Sunshine Street. The annual events begin at 9 a.m. Nov. 25, Dec. 2, 9, 16 and 23. Tickets are $10, $5 for children ages 3 to 11; free for ages 2 and younger. To purchase tickets, call 891-5256 or visit the customer relations counter. Santa will be available for visits and pictures Nov. 24-26; Dec. 1-3; Dec. 8-24. Photo hours are 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Saturday, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sundays, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Christmas Eve. For more information, call 887-7334. Contact assistant features editor Becky Reigel at 836-1272 or breigel@ News-Leader.com. Join us at News-Leader.com/calendar to read our full listings or to submit your events online. .

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Wall Street Journal: Clear Channel Outdoor may have suitor

2006-11-09T03:05:00.000-08:00

France's JCDecaux SA is interested in buying out Clear Channel Outdoor Holdings Inc. in a deal that, if approved, would combine the world's two largest outdoor advertising companies, according to the Wall Street Journal Wednesday. JCDecaux co-CEO Jean-Francois Decaux told the Wall Street Journal in an interview that his company would like to buy its larger rival Clear Channel Outdoor, which is the largest billboard company in the Milwaukee area and the largest outdoor advertising company in the world. Clear Channel Outdoor owns 870,000 displays and sells advertising in malls, buses, trains, street furniture and airports. .

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Outdoor notes

2006-11-09T02:22:00.000-08:00

Utah SnowJam 2006 will be held at the Gallivan Center on Saturday. It is, said Nathan Rafferty, president of Ski Utah, a party to kick off the upcoming ski season. The party in downtown Salt Lake City will be held from 4 to 10 p.m. Utah SnowJam 2006 will be geared for skiers and snowboarders of all ages and will feature live music, Ski Utah Photo of the Year contest, ski and snowboard videos, gear demos, food and drink vendors and special gifts. Local celebrity athletes will be signing posters in the Powder Lounge. Participating athletes include Sage Cattabriga-Alosa, Joe Pack, Grete Eliassen, Heidi Voelker, Graham Watanabe, Nikki Stone and Josh Madsen, to name a few. There will be a Best '80s Ski/Snowboard Outfit Contest.

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