Friday, June 6, 2008

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  • Pete's picks

    SUMMER FAIR The Coast Coliseum Summer Fair, featuring midway rides, local musical talent, free shows and numerous contests, takes place through June 15 on the grounds of the Mississippi Coast Coliseum in Biloxi. Featured shows include those such as the Sea Lion Splash, the Kenya Safari Acrobats, the Midway Backyard Circus and the Show Me Exotic Petting Zoo. Other highlights include both the Fairest of the Fair Beauty Pageant and the Paint-A-Can Contest, and there's a plethora of live music on display...

  • Coast musicians hit their strides in jazz, metal, country

    The South Mississippi music scene has run me ragged these last few weeks. I've covered this beat for a while now, and nothing ever happens regularly where intrepid music writers can easily keep up with it. Everything happens in loud bunches, often on the same weekend and typically with no regard for my deadline cycle. Here's a few quick hits to put on your calendars this month and some items of interest.

  • Live events/on stage

    CCA FISHING TOURNAMENT CCA FISHING TOURNAMENT Casting for Conservation Mississippi is hosting a Kids Fishing Tournament, from 7:30 to noon Saturday, at the Gulfport Harbor. The tourney is open to kids ages 6 to 13, and prizes will be awarded. For more info, visit ccamississippi.org.

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Adding parks in Forks could be fun and games

Plan to build six facilities wouldn't cost taxpayers.

By Madeleine Mathias |Of The Morning Call
June 6, 2008

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Ever since he became a Forks Township supervisor, David Howell wanted to see neighborhood parks, not only to provide recreational facilities within developments but to relieve some of the demands on the Community Park.

He and Supervisor Robert Egolf presented a proposal Thursday night to the supervisor board, calling for six play lots for toddlers to 12-year-olds at a cost of $174,599. Both are members of the township parks and recreation committee.

Howell emphasized no taxpayer dollars would be used. The money, he said, would come from the recreation fees paid by developers for the past several years and kept in a restricted account.

That account has about $2 million, according to Finance Manager James Farley.

The parks would be located in the Penn's Ridge development at W. Newlins Road and Penn's Ridge Boulevard, Sullivan Trail south of Braden Air Park, Vista Estates at Winchester and Upper Way roads, Lafayette/Meco Park at Richmond Road near Meco Road, Gollub Park at the end of Valley View Road and Ramblewood East in the 120 block of Ramblewood Road.

Common to each play lot would be picnic tables, benches and swing sets. The neighborhood park for the Lafayette/Meco development would also include rest rooms, a fitness station, bike racks, a dog park and charcoal grills.

Play structures for toddlers and the 5- to 12-year-olds would be installed at the lots in Penn's Ridge, Sullivan Trail, Vista Estates and Ramblewood East.

A basketball court would be included at Penn's Ridge and bike racks at most of the smaller parks.

''The growth of our community necessitates this expansion to meet the needs of the increased number of families moving into the township,'' Howell said. He also said the smaller parks would take the pressure off Community Park and its parking facilities. Community Park is at the municipal building and is the township's only park.

The neighborhood parks would be on township property set aside by the original developers for open space and recreational purposes.

These parks, Howell said, would help Forks to be viewed as a ''small town with a town-like feel as best we can make it.''

''Neighborhood parks will foster the socialization of neighbors and create a sense of pride in the community.''

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FUN AND GAMES

FUN AND GAMES

Harrison County Skate Park & Hockey Complex, DeBuys Road, Gulfport. Hours: 10 a.m.-7 p.m. Tues.-Sat. during the summer; noon-5 p.m. Sun. Closed Mon.; 3-7 p.m. Tues.-Sat. during the winter. One-year membership is $90 for Harrison County residents and $100 for non-Harrison County residents; three-month membership is $40 for Harrison County residents and $50 for non-Harrison County residents; $8 a day for Harrison County residents with a requied helmet, additional $5 to rent a helmet; $10 a day for non-Harrison County residents; $5 for helmet rental. Beginner, freestyle and vert areas; War Lord Pit. Details: 604-4045.

Island Strikz Entertainment Center, 2302 E. Pass Road, Gulfport, 24 bowling lanes, arcade area, restaurant and lounge, satellite bar, snack bar, more than 20 flat screen TVs and six 10-foot projection televisions. Hours are 12 p.m. to 12 a.m. Sunday through Thursday, noon to 2 a.m. Friday and 10 a.m. to 2 a.m. Saturday. Restaurant is open for lunch and dinner. Weekly specials, and live sports in the Palms Sports Bar Sunday and Monday. Details: 896-1450 or islandstrikz.com.

Gulf Islands Water Park, North of I-10 between Canal Road and U.S. 49; open from 10 a.m.-7 p.m. daily; cost is $27.95 for individuals taller than 42" and $19.95 for individuals under 42". Senior citizen discounts, cabana rentals, half-day rates and two-day passes available. Details: 328-1266, 1-866-GULF-FUN or www.gulfislandwaterpark.com.

The Lynn Meadows Discovery Center, 246 Dolan Ave., Gulfport. Hours: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Mon.-Sat., free Friday nights, 5 to 8 p.m. Mississippi's only children's museum. Admission is $7, discounts for active duty military and seniors. Details: 897-6039 or www.lmdc.org.

S.W.A.T. Paintball Park, 6314 N. Washington Ave., Ocean Springs. Gameday held only on Sunday, noon-4 p.m.; $40 per player, $25 with own gear; 385-2264. S.W.A.T. store open Tuesday-Friday, noon-6 p.m. Warped Sportz store location at same address, 872-1459; offers paintball and skateboarding supplies. Open Tuesday-Thursday, noon-5 p.m.; Friday-Saturday, noon-6 p.m.; Sunday, noon-4 p.m. Details: 872-1459.

HISTORIC
Biloxi Tour Train. The Biloxi original lets guests touch the city's past and present while traveling the historic district aboard the open-air Tour Train. Please call for rates and departure times. Season runs March-November. Group reservations available. Details: 374-8687.

Ocean Springs Historic Walking Tour.Self-guided walking and biking tours of the historic downtown Ocean Springs; tour information can be found at the L&N Depot/Ocean Springs Chamber of Commerce, 1000 Washington Ave. Details: 875-4424.
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NOT JUST FUN AND GAMES

NOT JUST FUN AND GAMES

Break your child's computer-game addiction

ANIJIRA ASSAVANONDA

We're now in a world where the Internet and computers have a great influence on the lives of people. The impacts of a computer on our children is also unavoidable. As a result, most children spend hours in front of a computer, playing games when they should be outdoors playing some sport.

Some are so addicted they cannot perform their daily routine. If banned from using the computer at home, few children turn to the abundant Internet cafe's.

If you have children who are addicted to computer games, the first step is to find out why they are addicted to them.

Easy addiction

If you ask children what glues them to computer games, the answer is most likely to be, "Because it's fun."

To help you better understand the causes of the problem, Dr Bundit Sornpaisarn, director of the Child and Adolescent Mental Health Rajanagarindra Institute (Camri), has linked this addiction to two major factors - human nature and the environment.

- Human nature

"Children always seek happiness and success in life, and computer games respond directly to their needs. Playing games is fun for children. Besides, games are challenging. When the children win, they feel proud and successful," said Dr Bundit.

This success comes easily when compared to achievement in education or other aspects of life.

"Many children addicted to computer games are losers at home or at school. They might be poor students and can often be lazy children, who are blamed by their parents for lacking responsibility and discipline. But no matter what kind of people they are in reality, they are virtual heroes. When they win, the game honours and rewards them," said Dr Bundit.

He added the changing world also causes adults, including children, to get used to instant happiness, and computer games provides it.

Parents' lack of time to look after children is another factor. Since most parents are working, many leave the child-raising to television and computers.

- Environmental factor

One major factor that causes children to attach to themselves to computer games is a lack of a good outlet for their energy. The recreational space has decreased while spaces like pub, discotheques and Internet cafe's have increased.

"It is true that supply induce demand. As the number of Internet cafe's increase, the places are easier to access and more children will be attracted to them," said the doctor.

The level of addiction

Dr Bundit categorised game addiction into four levels.

- Seeking - Children always look for a chance to play the games whenever they are free. They may rush to the computers right after they finish their homework, or once they wake up in the morning.

- Getting used to - Children are getting used to the habit and gradually increase playing hours.

- Unable to live without the games - Children will easily get frustrated when they can't play a game. Some may turn dull or become angry when the computer breaks down.

- Not performing daily functions - Computer addicted children will perform badly at school. They may skip classes, steal some family's assets or the parents' money to pay for the Internet, and fail to perform their daily functions.

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