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Stamps Teach! Americas Stamp Club Encourages Teachers to Bring Stamps into the Classroom

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Bellefonte, Pennsylvania (PRWEB) August 30, 2012

Stamps Teach! Americas Stamp Club Encourages Teachers to Bring Stamps into the Classroom

The American Philatelic Society helps teachers learn how to use the colorful world of postage stamps to expand students classroom experience.

Postage stamps are an easy and fun way to increase student participation in classroom activities. Stamp subjects can enhance any curriculum from poetry to physics to phys ed. They also can be used with any grade level, although they are particularly effective with elementary school children. These tiny bits of paper, and a little imagination, can bring lessons to life.

Here are a few suggestions for incorporating stamps into typical lesson plans:

History can be difficult for young students to grasp, but by engaging the class in hands-on activities, the past can become part of their world. Take the story of Lewis and Clark: how can their mission to explore the West and find a passage to the Pacific Ocean be made relevant to 21st-century students? Teachers can highlight the explorers route across a modern map of the United States, then challenge their students to follow that trail using stamps. Where did they go? Who did they meet? What did they see? Students can affix the appropriate stamps to the map or make their own illustrated diary of the trip. More activities related to the Lewis and Clark Expedition can be found in the APS booklet. The pdf is available in the sidebar of this release.

Social studies teachers often require students to prepare a report on one of the fifty states. Using stamps to illustrate the story makes otherwise dry facts become much more exciting. Over the years, the United States Postal Service has issued stamps with state flags, trees, flowers, birds, famous architecture, historic sites, notable personalities, historic events, agriculture, arts, and industry. For example, a report on Pennsylvania might include famous residents such as writer Louisa May Alcott, actor Jimmy Stewart, baseball great Roberto Clemente, and President Dwight D. Eisnhower. In addition, the student might add stamps featuring the hemlock (state tree), whitetail deer (state mammal), the Liberty Bell, the Slinky, Hershey chocolate, Gettysburg, first U.S. oil well, and Valley Forge. The APS offers 19 sets of free downloadable, full-color album pages featuring different states at http://stamps.org/Free-Album-Pages. More are in preparation.

In fact, Americas stamp club has a WHOLE SERIES of free stamp albums that can serve as excellent tools for teachers looking for new ideas. These mini-albums cover fishing, baseball, toys, national parks, holidays, movies, space, the Olympics, Black Heritage, Hispanic Americans, and more. A brief history of the story behind each stamp is included.

Many English classes ask students to keep a journal. Why not A Stamp Album About ME? Each member of the class would create a personal album using stamps to show some of the students favorite things: sports, food, hobbies, vacations, food, activities, pets, holidays, etc. The album could include separate chapters on family and friends.

Stamps are a relatively inexpensive addition to the curriculum. The local post office and mail delivered to private homes or businesses are good sources for new and used stamps. The APS has 600+ dealer members whose contact information can be found at http://www.stamps.org/Dealers (searchable by topic and geographic location). Stamp shows and local stamp clubs are two other good resources (http://www.stamps.org/Show-Calendar). Local stamp clubs often will share duplicate stamps if teachers mention that they want to use them in the classroom.

Why use stamps in the classroom?

To promote teamwork
To teach research techniques
To build communication skills
To discover aspects of American life
To explore other countries and cultures
To encourage creativity through stamp design
T o reinforce language skills through storytelling
To increase the motivational level of at-risk students
To challenge the gifted child as he/she explores with stamps
To enhance the development of reading, writing, and math skills
And because its FUN!

The American Philatelic Society is the ultimate resource for teachers interested in using stamps in their classrooms. Visit http://www.stamps.org/education or contact Gretchen Moody by phone: 814-933-3803, ext. 239, e-mail: gretchen(at)stamps(dot)org.







Saunas for Your Home Away From Home: Finnleo Panel-Built Outdoor Saunas Simplify Installation and Bring Saunas to Second Homes

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Cokato, MN (PRWEB) July 28, 2012

With summer in full-swing, most families with a vacation home or property have had a chance to enjoy their home away from home. While more luxury homes are including saunas in a home gym or spa-styled bath, the vacation home, where people go for total relaxation, can benefit as well, even with a small floor plan for the house. Finnleo Patio Saunas and Metro Series Sauna packages can extend your relaxation to the outdoors, with panel-built saunas designed for outdoor use.

For homes with a back porch or patio, the Patio Series panel-built sauna is ideal. Available in 4 sizes, ranging from 4×5 to 5×7, the Patio series is available with maintenance free siding, cedar shingles or metal roof, and several heater options. Within hours of receiving the sauna, the room can be installed and begin being enjoyed. Because of the smaller size, this is the perfect choice when outdoor space is limited.

For homes on a lake, with pools, or with a larger property, the Metro Series packages offer many more features and a larger size. With sizes starting at 7×10 and as large as 8×12, the saunas include changing rooms, and the 8×12 has an optional shower in the changing room. The rooms are constructed of 4-1/4 insulated panel with Nordic White Spruce, with an optional upgrade to maintenance free siding for the exterior. Because of the size of the rooms and the availability of wood-burning stoves, the Metro Series is a great addition to a hunting camp, allowing fellow chilled hunters to be warmed by the sauna while talking about the days hunt.

Of course, both the Patio and the Metro Series saunas are wonderful additions to main residences as well. If a sauna has been desired, but lack of interior space has prevented the installation of a sauna in the home, these outdoor options may be the solution.

For more information on the Patio Series and Metro Series saunas, contact a local Finnleo dealer, visit Finnleos website, or call Finnleo at 1-800-346-6536 (FINNLEO).







Mexican Artisans Bring New Home Decor to Atlanta Design and Wholesale Market

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Atlanta, GA (PRWEB) June 28, 2012

No Mas! Productions of Atlanta (literally “no mass productions”) and Amano Trade of Mexico team up to bring artisan crafted home accents to AmericasMart tradeshow July 13-17, 2012. No Mas! Hacienda, designer and importer of Mexican artisan products, has been an Atlanta niche home accents and furniture supplier since 1996. Their location, just one mile from AmericasMart, makes it easy to lure customers to their vast 11,000 square foot showroom and adjacent restaurant concept.

Stretch your imagination and try to remember the last time you went on that whirl wind – site seeing – museum hopping – gallery touring – high end boutique bopping – south of the border shopping spree in grand old Mexico?? Well, a visit to the expansive No Mas! Hacienda may just be a huge reminder …or a new inspiration. If you haven’t been, say no more. No Mas!, now well into their second decade of working directly with many of Mexico’s most talented artisan’s, has assembled a collection that is sure to leave you jaw agape. And to the pleasure of the gift buyers traveling to the Deep South this summer, they are bringing a small slice to market. This July you can find No Mas! at the AmericasMart Temporaries booth 7B16, they will be focused on just one of their 300 Mexican artisans. Co-Owner Steve MacNeil explains, “This show, we are going to focus on just one artist. The idea is to present the works at the Temporaries and invite our customers to our main location just one mile away so they can discover all of our collections”. The featured artisan makes colorfully textured ceramic sculptures and wall art that bring together Mexican tradition and Italian heritage.

This is the second time No Mas! has invited specific artists from Mexico to Atlanta. The first, Cesar Plascencia, painter in the photorealistic style, was featured in October 2011 on Univision. As a result, No Mas! enjoys an exclusive relationship with him in the USA. “Good news is that these artists can not mass produce anything. Products are crafted by hand, using skills passed on from generation to generation”. As a result, each item is unique and bears the unmistakable marks of the craftsman’s hand. This makes an ideal niche when addressing the needs of small stores and designers looking for something unique and made by hand.

Since 1996, No Mas! has been discovering new artists constantly and now counts more than 300 artists from all parts of Mexico including Taxco, Oaxaca, Celaya, Tlaquepaque, Tonala, Ajijic, Guanajuato, Dolores Hidalgo, San Miguel de Allende, and many small towns in Michoacan. Their specialty is one of a kind commissioned designs and ranges to ‘small run’ pieces ideal for catalogs, hotel interiors, and custom architectural installations. If you make the journey and somehow don’t see what you are after, please speak your mind. The possibilities are endless. “If you can sketch it we can make it”, states Walter Bilinski. And as the second Co-Owner of this incredible business he quickly illustrates with photos countless projects that he is not joking. The repertoire starts with splashy blown glass lighting, includes numerous restaurant installations and leads to a wealth of beautiful architectural creations.

An open house for buyers coming to the July Gift Show will be held nightly during the expo at the company’s main showroom at 180 Walker St SW, Atlanta, located in the Castleberry Hill Arts District. Margaritas and light Mexican fare will be served. Inquire at info@NoMasAtlanta.com for dates and times. All registered AmericasMart Buyers with a badge qualify to preview some other artisan produced products at that location.

No Mas! Hacienda & Cantina, The Best of Mexico – Restaurant & Shopping, in historic Castleberry Hill, downtown Atlanta’s Art District, just half a mile south of CNN. Award winning Mexican restaurant and adjacent huge showroom of handcrafted furnishings, accessories, gifts, & jewelry from more than 300 artisans in Mexico, with breakfast daily in ADios Cafe, and “All the Pottery in the World” in Bodega Garden.







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History Suggests that 2012 will Bring the “Big One” Hurricane to the Middle Atlantic States

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Alexandria, Virginia (PRWEB) June 16, 2012

Are major hurricanes hardwired to occur within certain intervals or are visits random?

That question is critical to the millions of residents who live in the Middle Atlantic states.

Hazel in October 1954 was the last tropical cyclone to bring actual hurricane force winds of 74 mph and higher to large sections of the region. It made landfall in North Carolina before tracking north through Virginia, Maryland, Pennsylvania and New York; its unrelenting fury surprising those living well inland, making for lifetime memories. Hazel set many wind records, including a 78 mph sustained wind in Washington, D.C., and a peak gust of 98 mph.

The reference, Hurricanes and the Middle Atlantic States, published by Blue Diamond Books, details Hazel and many similar events.

Hazel-type storms have occurred regularly in the Mid-Atlantic region during the past 400 years. No gap before Hazel was longer than 58 years, with two intervals of 57 years and Hazel, which came 58 years after the highly destructive hurricane of 1896.

Never before have so many people and so much property been at risk, said Rick Schwartz, author of Hurricanes and the Middle Atlantic States. Extensive development since 1954 means increased vulnerability and likely one of the costliest hurricanes in U.S. history.

Past inland hurricanes, as I named them, Schwartz said, brought hurricane force winds along an interior track lasting hundreds of miles. Residents were astounded. They couldnt believe such an event possible.

Accounts in the book Hurricanes and the Middle Atlantic States read like fiction.

An observer at Stratford Hall along the lower Potomac River in Virginia wrote of the hurricane of September 1769, In short, had the storm continued for a few hours more the present view must satisfy every sensible person that this part of America would have ceased to exist.

A hurricane in October 1878 heavily damaged or destroyed 700 buildings in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. In nearby Wilmington, Delaware, winds tore the roofs off 100 homes.

A reporter for the Washington Star said of the enormous damage from the hurricane of September 1896: Today the city bears the mark of the storm in so many quarters, and the ruins are so numerous, that to enumerate then (would be) an endless task.

The Mid-Atlantic region is particularly vulnerable to high winds. Leafy, shallow-rooted trees are easy prey for persistent gusts. Less wind resistant building design than in more hurricane-prone places also contributes to risk. Hurricane Isabel in 2003, for example, was downgraded to a tropical storm soon after reaching Virginia. Its winds still caused billions of dollars in losses as it tracked north.

All previous Hazel-type events occurred in September or October at the peak of the official hurricane season, which is from June 1 until November 30. Each tracked through North Carolina, Virginia and Maryland, with some moving into eastern Pennsylvania and others passing through Delaware and New Jersey.

Hurricanes such as these rank among the Middle Atlantic states most destructive natural disasters, Schwartz said. Yet, few residents are aware of them and what they have done. My research covered 400 years of Mid-Atlantic hurricane history and describes each. The region is undoubtedly due for the next Big One. Unfortunately, it appears that once again experience will be the teacher.

For historical hurricane information, contact Rick Schwartz, author of Hurricanes and the Middle Atlantic States, the first book to focus on the areas hurricane history, at 571-245-0318.

For more information about the hurricane history of the Middle Atlantic states, visit http://www.midatlantichurricanes.com. The site offers individual pages that summarize notable events in Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey, North Carolina, Pennsylvania and Virginia, as well as New York City. The section, Hurricane Perspective, offers insights into inland hurricanes.







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Restaurant Furniture Canada and the Urban Sushi and Grill team-up to bring a Japanese fusion dining experience to the Canadian Prairie

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Toronto, Ontario (PRWEB) June 18, 2012

Located in Emerald Park, a hamlet just outside the capital city of Regina, the cutting edge menu and sleek furnishings of the Urban Sushi and Grill have helped introduce a bit of Japan to the Canadian prairie.

Restaurant Furniture Canada Sales Representative Alberto C. gave the Urban Sushi and Grill’s Richard Kim the guidance he needed to turn his 2,000 square foot space into the successful Japanese fusion restaurant he envisioned.

“Richard had a vision for a stylish and elegant restaurant which gave the impression of being both modern and traditional, much like his menu. He wanted his customers to feel like they were being transferred to another time and place once they stepped inside the door. He really wanted to set himself apart from the competition by offering an exotic design that would give the feeling of a dining experience, rather than just a place to get food.”

As well as offering classic sushi rolls, sashimi, gyoza, noodle soups and grilled meats, the Urban Sushi and Grill specializes in fusion Japanese rolls which help bring traditional Japanese cuisine into the future by introducing an array of new and exciting flavors. Beautiful creations such as the Jungle Roll, Volcano Roll, Rainbow Roll and the Urban Tower are one of a kind works of art that require a setting worthy of their stature.

Both Richard and Alberto agreed that a mix of black tables, black chairs and black vinyl booths would provide the perfect backdrop for the colorful specialty rolls.

Richard opted for Restaurant Furniture Canada’s X Back Metal Chair with a black vinyl seat, which at $ 44 offers both the modern and classic look that he was looking for.

He chose the Mahogany/Black finish Reversible Table Tops to match the chairs. The table tops sell for $ 35 and are designed for the everyday rigors of commercial use despite their elegant appearance. Alberto advised Richard to select the 30 inch high X Prong Table Base to match his table tops. Constructed of cast iron, the table bases offer supreme durability at $ 36.

Richard completed the look with the 6 Channel Quick Ship Dining Booth in black vinyl. At $ 250, the booth is comfortable, durable, easy-to-clean and ships from Restaurant Furniture Canadas Toronto distribution center in two to three days.

The furniture that Richard chose for the Urban Sushi and Grill were a big success. He had the foresight to realize that with a restaurant of that nature, the interior design is just as important as the food. He didnt spend a lot of money, but he was able to seriously upgrade his venue by coming up with a clear vision and enlisting our advice to help him flesh it out, Alberto C. said.

Restaurant Furniture Canadas selection of chairs, barstools, table tops, table bases, booths and patio furniture can be browsed at http://www.restaurant-furniture.ca.

Contact the Urban Sushi and Grill at (306) 352-6697.