Newspapers / The Brunswick Beacon (Shallotte, … / Sept. 9, 1993, edition 1 / Page 5
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BIRDS SING to let the world know they have chosen a territory in which to nest and feed. Defending BY BILL FAVER Most of us can relate to the need to occasionally defend our space. Whether it is trespassers on our property or someone close enough to "get in our facc," we know what it is like to have to protect the area we call ours. Most animals share the same need with us. Birds are good examples. They continually invade each others' space, though there are no prop erty lines or distinct boundaries. Some birds will tolerate tres passers at times other than nesting season. Others will overlook intruders except when feeding is taking place. Many species will ignore birds that are not of the same species and will nest within a few feet of each other. But the same bird will vigor ously defend the area from one of its own kind. These territorial birds have several methods of de fending their areas. Probably the most common is the use of song. A bird sitting in the treetops singing a melodious tune is not entertaining us, it is telling the KAVER Our Space world that area belongs to him. It is his domain and in truders need to take notice. If the song fails to deter a trespasser, the bird may use a threatening posture or flight to scare the intruder away. This can be diving at the unwelcomed bird, fly ing or walking toward the stranger, staring him down, and other threats. Mockingbirds and others who "fight" at reflections in windows, mirrors, or car bumpers are going one step further by resorting to physical force to cause the intruding bird to leave the territory. Since there are no physical boundaries, the size of a bird's territory may change with the seasons and the abundance of food. After nesting, and with food plen tiful, a territory likely will be smaller and less defend ing takes place. Scarcity of food can cause birds to seek a larger territory and to be generally more defen sive. Territory is vitally important to birds and some will even die in defense of their chosen space. Their life depends on how well they stake out and defend their territory in which to nest and raise young and to obtain food. Think about that next time you hear a moonlight serenade from a mockingbird! AIDS Fight Is Baffle Of Century To the editor: I wonder how many Brunswick County residents watched the AIDS program Saturday night? Not many, I'm sure, because the competition included a football game, some not so-funny sitcoms and the ever-popu lar country-Western line dancing. People want to be entertained. They don't want to hear about death and dying. And that's what the disease AIDS is all about?death and dying. There were 310,680 cases reported as of June 1993. More than 11 million people are known to be HIV posi tive. Predictions are that the number will reach 40 million by the year 2000. It is no longer a problem confined to the gay community. Ninety per cent of the AIDS cases reported in 1993 have been heterosexuals; 14 percent were females, and this year, there are 4,000 children known to be living with and dying from AIDS. What can ordinary monogamous heterosexuals do to halt the progress of this catastrophic disease? The an swer to this question is two-fold: awareness and education. Wear the red ribbon that signifies you are aware of the impending doom civilization faces if AIDS is left unchecked. Educate yourselves and others as to how this disease is *'? (? Mil ?tnUm BRIDfl] [-45EO Register your china, flatware, crystal gifts & bridal accessories. Wedding Invitations & Social Announcements by Regency CADDS ?GITT& 754-9966 Twin Crwfc (Food Hon) P Fre Gift Wtappjng- UPS services 'Lai/awy , spread. Dispel the fears that igno rance breeds. Preach abstinence, but stress safe sex. Talk openly and freely to your children and grand children about AIDS. You may not be aware of it, but someone you know is HIV positive. The Fight against AIDS is the bat tle of the century, and the battle ground houses the world's popula tion. Each man, woman and child is in harm's way. Pegge Jaynes Supply Smoking Ban Idea Of 'Great Know-Alls' To the editor: If and when the smoking ban for Brunswick County comes into effect (and it will) I will not spend another cent in this county. I will go to South Carolina and do all my shop ping and dining, and so will all my friends from out of town. It is evident to me that these Great Know-All People who are making these laws went to college, because they have no common sense, in my opinion. They are driving away tour ists and businesses from the county, and the shops and restaurants that are here now will be closing. What we smokers should do is break the law (since we are crimi nals anyway), go to prison and let the state and taxpayers feed and clothe us and take care of all our medical needs ? and you can smoke in prison. Why can't our Great Know What's-Best-For-Me do-gooders pass a law so I won't have to smell some of the stinking perfume I have to breathe when I eat out or go shop ping? I've never heard of smoking making a drunk driver and killing someone. 1 heard the other day that each cigarette takes seven minutes off my life. According to the Bible, not even Jesus Christ knew that, but our Great Ones do. Are they God? C.M. Rusch Supply Write Us The Beacon welcomes letters to the editor. All letters must include the writer's address and telephone number.Under no circumstances will unsigned or anonymous letters be printed. Letters must be legible. We reserve the right to edit libelous comments and to shorten letters. Address letters to The Brunswick Beacon, P. O. Box 2558, Shal lotte, N. C. 28459. CALL US FOR INSURANCE QUOTES: 1-800-424-0115 ? Home ? Auto ? Commercial ? Mobile Home ? Life First Investors FINANCIAL CORPORATION Or Visit Our Banking Offices: LELAND SHALLOTTE WHITEVILLE (919)371-1000 (919)754-5400 (919)642-8183 C1M3 THE BOUNSWCK BEACON t-ABOD CHIROPRACTIC 803-249-9787 as (Across from Hardees) Hwy. 17, Little River, SC ^ E CONSULTATION ?Golfers & Visitors Welcome ?Handle all Types op Chiropractic Cases ?No Appointments Necessary OR. ROBIN LABOD GUEST COLUMN An Open Letter To A Parent BY RICHARD W. RILEY U.S. Secretary of Education As your children head back to school and you count up the cost of new sneakers, jeans and book bags, you may be wondering if there is anything more you can do to prepare your children for the school year ahead. You're exhausted from the shop ping, a little tired of the summer and deep down, you're glad school has started again. Anything else? Well, yes. I talk to parents all across the country and find that most of you are worried, frustrated and sometimes just barely coping. The question I am always asked is, "How do I know whether my child is learning what he or she needs to learn?" It's a question full of anxiety and doubt about the real fear that your children may not be getting the "leg up" in life they will need to get ahead. I hear you. For me, the essence of education comes down to values, standards, performance and, maybe, what to do about television. So how do we re invent education? Setting challeng ing national educational standards is important and we'll get'that done. I' is also important to raise the qualit* of teaching and get a fix on how wi can help the majority of kids wh> don't go directly to four-year college "jump start" their careers. We'll make progress on those, too. But, ultimately, the improvement of our children's education is al;o a willingness to slow down the 5ace of our lives to help our chidren grow. Education starts with v;lues. Most of us who have made a go of it in life have gotten ahead becatse we had a mom, a dad, a grandparent or a guardian who let us know where they stood about us sticking to our studies. Perhaps we didn't like it tien, but we know now that the values process worked, and still works. If a parent or a family membtr places value on integrity, a comrritment to excellence and studying hard, chil dren come to school prepared to learn. It's that simple. Parents create the frame; teachers help kids fill in the picture. Parents create the frame; teachers help kids fill in lie picture. Here, it is important to point out what may not be so obtious ? these values can be stressed t? children by "We are in trouble as a nation when one-third of all eighth- graders * tell us that they have never discussed their homework with a parent. " mybody. A parent doesn't need a Ph.D. to make learning a priority in the home. If you haven't made it in life quite the way you expected, you can still make sure that your child does. A good education can do that. All those stories about children from rough or poor neighborhoods who succeed because a parent insisted that they crack the books make a convincing and telling point ? drive, determination and focus still come from the family. Some folks say that setting high standards is unfair. I don't. If the students, teachers and parents work together to reach the higher stan dard. Children who get smart, get smart because they study and take tough courses to meet high stan dards. If you get beyond the ditto sheets to helping children read nov els, create stories, tackle real-life math problems and get into the ex citement of science, they will learn more and score higher on tougher tests. Setting standards, then, means en couraging your child to take the tougher course, the tougher teacher. Be careful not to "dumb down" your own child. ..and don't let the school system do it either. So how do you raise performance and give children a sense that they can do better? A schoolteacher at my children's school had a fondness for quoting Proverbs. Her favorite was, "A wise son loves correction." My children were dutiful, to be sure, but not impressed by this pass ing wisdom. I am certain that your son or daughter will feel likewise. But we are in trouble as a nation when one-third of all eighth-graders tell us that they have never dis cussed their homework with a par ent. Here is my best advice ? if a par ent or parents will spend one hour with their children each night on their schoolwork this coming year, we will transform this nation. Teachers and schools should explain to you the practical ways you can help your children to learn. That's their job. But you have to set aside the time every day ? place value, as it were ? on the process of learning. Finally, a word about that friendly monster, television. Children love "Barney" and that's great. And "Beavis and Butthead" is here to stay ? of that I am sure. But wouldn't it be refreshing if parents got some help from television pro ducers and executives? Some rule of proportion about violence and a willingness to ask a basic gut ques tion: "Is this good for kids or will this just sell the product?" In the end, I suspect, you'll be on your own when it comes to TV. The same little remote control button that can turn "on" your TV can also turn it "off." Try it, then sit back. You may not always win the battle for the remote control, but that may be where you have to start to make the process of learning important again. Getting our kids back to school ultimately is more than a shopping trip for you or me. It's a commit ment to the possibility that our chil dren can really have better lives if we all make the effort. ..together and now. Keiserhaus Kennels In Supply ?Boarding Dogs & Cats ?Basic Grooming "?Indoor Runs Heated 4 Air Conditioned ?Outdoor Exercise Area 1403 Makatoka Rd. NW Register for a FREE 8'x10' Sun room LEEWAY CONSTRUCTION Rainbow Plaza ? Hwy. ^79^ Seaside Winner to be drawn by Ocean Isle Beach Mayor Betty Williamson at Leeway Construction on September 20. Do not have to be present to win ? Must be a homeowner Must be 21 years old ? Other restrictions apply REGISTER AT THESE LOCATIONS: Seaside ?Leeway Construction ?Big Nell's Pit Stop ?Roberto's Pizzeria ?Brunswick Building Supplies ?Seaside Auto ?True Value Hardware Shallotte ?Kirby's Sizzling Sirloin ?ACE Hardware Ocean Isle Beach ?Island House Restaurant ?Sheffield's Seafood & Grocery ?Davis Jewelry Supply ?J.M. Parker and Sons Southport ?Stewart Hardware ?Western Sizzlin Also at... _ ?Somersett's Hardware, Hwy. 904 | North Carolina General Contractor License #30470 HIGHWAY ? PUBLIC UTILITIES (Water/Sewer) Development, Inc. Your Professional Full Service Construction Company" Sewage Disposal & Water ?Consulting/Permit Application" ?Designs/Plans/lnstallation* ?Conventional Septic Tanks/ LPP Systems* ?Drainage Plans/Fill Dirt Plans* ?Maintenance Agreements* ?Water Line Installations* Site Preparation & Paving ?Clearing* -Chipping* ?Fill Dirt* -Grading* ?Sock Tile Installation* ?Paving (Commercial/Residential)' ?Home Driveways* ?Parking Lots* Ricky Parker - Owner 842-4003 Monday-Friday 9-5 Saturday by appointment only Hwv. 130, Holden Beach Rd. 4% miles^from Shallotte
The Brunswick Beacon (Shallotte, N.C.)
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Sept. 9, 1993, edition 1
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