May 2005 News Archives

May 31, 2005
JUNE RELEASES
http://www.ty.com/Jun05_intro
Beanie Babies: Captain, Friedrich (German Exclusive), Germany (German Exclusive), Happy Birthday, Muff, Mystery (UK Exclusive), Pride (UK Exclusive), Smudges, Snoops, Y Ddraig Goch (UK Exclusive)
Beanie Buddies: Li Mei, Sundar
Ty Classic: Brook, Fletcher, Laces
Pinkys: Ratzo

May 30, 2005
SLOW NEWS DAY!
The new releases, BOTM, June wallpaper, and such will be introduced in the next couple of days.. in the meantime, I will be checking throughout the day for something to share. If you have ANYTHING you’d like to share please email me at Lisa@planetbeans.com

TAKE THE TIME TO REMEMBER
Please take a few moments from your day to remember those men and women that have served in the military to help us all have freedom and the best country in the world. :o)

May 29, 2005
CONTEST FOR A GOOD CAUSE
Shanan writes: “Hi Everyone.... I hope all is well. I am running a Contest at my Website http://www.tcqtpie.com/A.htm You can win one of my Beautiful Custom Designed Beanie Babies or 10 other awesome prizes. I hope you all will come and check out my pages. Thanks and Many blessings to you ~Shanan” NOTE: This contest/raffle ends tomorrow. Please show your support for this very worthy cause. :o)

Here are the June 2005 Releases...
Reuben50 (May 28, 2005, 09:31 PM)
Message Id: 981782
Reuben50 writes: I've seen pictures of them already. Some look nice.

Beanie Babies:
Captain - blue whale (in light aqua tie-dye colors) with a sea captain's hat, grinning and bearing teeth
Happy Birthday - lime green teddy with a dark blue birthday hat
Muff - Himalayan cat with a light blue bow
Smudges - black dog with a red collar (not sure what breed, it might be a schipperke actually
Snoops - a coati or a raccoon (laying down)

Beanie Buddies:
Li Mei - panda bear
Sundar - snow leopard

Pinkys:
Glitters - schnauzer (Beanies)
Ratzo - rat (Beanies)

Ty Classics:
Brook - fawn (looks like Whisper)

No word on any exclusives for the month, although I'd expect Germany and Friedrich to be released, as well as the new UK trio. As for the Beanie of the Month, I do not know yet.
Fletcher - beige bear (on belly)
Laces - tan dog (on belly)
VIEW POSTING & REPLIES HERE

May 28, 2005
ASK TY
Q: Have you ever considered doing a type of "The Apprentice" show, maybe titled "The Collector"? (submitted by mybabymu)
A: I have often thought about producing a reality based television show. It would be fun to crown the Ultimate Collector ! http://www.ty.com/askty_home

ROARY PROMO ON EBAY
A MWMT Special promotional Roary the lion is on ebay right now and end within a little over 2 days. If you recall i found one of these at my local thrift shop but the tag was not in this good condition. Below is a link to the auction. Michael VIEW AUCTION HERE Michael picked his Roary up at a thrift store for only 50 cents. View his pictures and info here: http://www.planetbeans.com/MichaelsFinds.htm

May 27, 2005
HAVE A GREAT HOLIDAY WEEKEND!
Be safe and enjoy time with friends and family.

This Bear Doesn't Hibernate
Build-A-Bear Workshop's CEO explains why malls and seasonality have limited other toy stores and plush-animal brands -- but not her outfit
Maxine Clark, the CEO of St. Louis-based Build-A-Bear Workshop (BBW ), is no teddy bear when it comes to business. Since launching her custom stuffed-animal concept in 1996, the energetic, no-nonsense Clark has defied the odds. While big-brand toy stores such as Toys 'R' Us, KB Toys, and FAO Schwarz have struggled mightily, Build-A-Bear has thrived, growing to 176 North American stores, plus a handful of overseas franchises.

Q: But the buzz over Beanie Babies and Cabbage Patch dolls has withered.
A: Beanie Babies weren't as huggable and lovable [as our bears], even though they were stuffed. You wouldn't give one to your grandchild as a gift. But we learned from them that you can create a brand. VIEW FULL ARTICLE HERE

Beanie Babies for Iraq
It began with letters, phone cards and care packages. Now, a Mankato bank is taking its "army platoon adoption" one step further because or a request made by Army Reservist Brian Tryhus, a loyal bank customer now serving in Iraq.

Jennifer Meyer is the bank’s Marketing Coordinator who says Sergeant Tryhus asked bank employees to collect beanie babies and other stuffed animals. “He's in the transportation unit and they take troops and equipment wherever they need to go and the kids along the street, they hand 'em out to the kids there.”

Meyer says Tryhus is a customer at Northern Star Bank and before he was deployed to Iraq, he would come in and talk for hours.

He spoke to Meyer and KARE 11 reporter Ken Speake via telephone from Iraq, “When we're out on the road, we see an average of 300 or 400 kids every mission... kids and parents... and what we're looking for is a way we can show the kids and parents that we aren't trying to do them any harm, maybe they'll keep the insurgents away from us.”

Tryhus figures the stuffed animals could come in handy for that. He asked the bank if it would help gather four or five boxes of animals.

Meyer said she tried to drum up a little publicity to increase the number of toys collected, “We did contact our local paper to see if they would put a little something in there and they came out and did a story, a real nice story on the front page.”

Her idead worked, now there are hundreds of animals and more arriving all the time. Customers and non-customers alike are stopping by the bank.

Janet Burgerson had her beanie babies stashed in a closet, “I saw the article in the paper and thought, "Oh, I don't want to leave 'em lay in the closet, and if someone can enjoy them that's where they're going.” VIEW FULL ARTICLE & PHOTO HERE

May 26, 2005
Bank gathers Beanie Babies for Iraq
Toy drive
SFC Brian Tryhus would come to Northern Star Bank to deposit his paychecks, and he and the employees there would chat about his work in the U.S. Army Reserves.

Today, Tryhus is logging 18-hour days in a transport platoon that drives back and forth across some of the deadliest terrain in Iraq. And his friends at the bank have decided to take their relationship to the next level.

Northern Star Bank has adopted Tryhus’ entire platoon. They’ve sent phone cards, care packages and letters during the past few months. But now they’ll undertake their most ambitious project: Beanie Babies.

Starting this week, at Tryhus’ request, the bank is collecting Beanie Babies and any other small stuffed animals. When they get enough, the toys will be shipped to Tryhus’ platoon so that the soldiers can pass them out to the children they encounter in Kuwait and Iraq.

“He hasn’t really told me a lot,” said Tryhus’ wife, Charlene, “except that they’re really trying to work hard on the relationship with the children, and to let them know that they’re there to help them, not to hurt them.”

The main collection point is the bank, which is on Madison Avenue across from the former Rainbow Foods building.

And while the effort may have just begun, they’ve already collected plenty. Bank employees have donated Beanie Babies or picked them up cheap at garage sales. VIEW FULL ARTICLE & PICTURE HERE

Our man takes a $15,000 bath
Bottle of Mr. Bubble: $2.79. Bubble bath in the new Presidential South Suite at the Four Seasons hotel: $15,000.

The bubble bath, of course, is just one of the amenities in the most expensive hotel room in the city - and, according to Four Seasons officials, the country.

The absurdly lavish suite, along with its companion Presidential North Suite on the 51st floor of the E. 57th St. hotel, debuted on May 1 after being renovated by I.M. Pei, the hotel's original architect.

Pei wasn't able to finish the suites prior to the hotel's 1993 opening, but after current owner Ty Warner (the brainchild behind Beanie Babies) bought the property in 1999, he brought Pei back to complete his vision. VIEW FULL ARTICLE HERE

May 25, 2005
If it says ‘Coke,’ she has it
Culver woman enjoys everything about Coca-Cola
CULVER -- Nancy Kersey has always enjoyed Coca-Cola as her favorite soft drink.

"They always knew they were welcome to share, but not if it was the last one in the refrigerator," she said.

"It's a great beverage," Nancy said. "You can use the syrup for babies' upset stomachs and also you can spray a bottle of Coke on battery cables to eat the acid off!"

She has dishes, silverware, linens, antique trays, telephones and music boxes playing "I want to teach the world to sing ...."

She has dozens of die-cast miniature trucks and toys. There are floor rugs and wall paper borders, and even her car's license plate says Coca-Cola.

Hundreds of Beanie Babies -- many from foreign countries and all with a miniature bottle of Coke in their paws -- are in baskets, hanging on wall trees or in glass-fronted display cases. VIEW FULL ARTICLE HERE

Students aim to make Iraq tour easier
photo: Fourth-graders Jonathan Kimball, Kade Johnson, Kristin Burke and David MacLaughlin hold the "DUSTOFF" plaque received by fourth- and seventh-graders from the 1159th Medical Company stationed in Tikrit, Iraq, for 'Dedicated Unhesitating Service to Our Fighting Forces.'
NORTH HAMPTON - Two groups of North Hampton School students have been sending packages to troops in Iraq.

The students were recently made honorary platoon members for their efforts to help with soldiers’ physical comfort and to boost morale. They received a "DUSTOFF" plaque thanking them for their "Dedicated Unhesitating Service to Our Fighting Forces."

It doesn’t take long for the packages to arrive, but sometimes the last few delivery miles can be rough.

Jami and her fellow seventh-grade Chameleons, a service learning group that meets for an hour Friday afternoons to work on helpful projects around the school, are lending a hand collecting and shipping the packages.

With money they have collected in a large, plastic water bottle outside teacher Eric Whitney’s classroom, the kids have shipped eight packages so far, at an average of $10 each.

They typically send nonperishable food items, bug spray, sunscreen, antibacterial and baby wipes, crossword puzzles, Frisbees and more.

"Not a lot of people realize how good we have it," said Chameleon member Jasmine Morgan. "We’re always clean. They hardly ever have showers."

Beanie Babies, the popular small stuffed animals, provide padding for box contents, and the soldiers give them as small gifts to Iraqi children. Ryan Harned said they are a popular requested item. VIEW FULL ARTICLE & PHOTO HERE

Can a Trademark Search Service save You When it Comes to Domain Names?
Trademark Search and domain search information about the most recent case that effected this market and law.

(PRWEB) May 25, 2005 -- Before purchasing any domain name you should always consider a trademark search with a reputable service like http://www.Trademark-Search-service.com. They offer some of the most accurate and affordable searches online.

You might not be as lucky as one small used online vendor.

The latest domain dispute has been resolved in US Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit has vacated a lower court's decision that the domain name bargainbeanies.com diluted Ty Inc.'s BEANIE BABIES mark.

Since 1993, Ty Inc. has produced more than 365 different Beanie Babies with colorful names such as Punxsutawney Phil (current) and other Ty Classics like Beanie Boppers and Punkie’s.

Then along came the Internet in the late 1990’s and Ruth Perryman, who sold second-hand bean bag stuffed animals-primarily Ty Inc's Beanie Babies-over the Internet, having registered the domain name and creating a site www.bargainbeanies.com.

In this case, the real contention made by Ty Inc. was that Perryman either used their trade name or trade mark for blurring, tarnishing, and taking a free ride on the trademark owner's investment under the trademark dilution law. VIEW FULL ARTICLE HERE

NEW KIDS FOR MEXICO PROMOS!
April writes: “Hi Lisa! I just wanted to pass along the news that the new Kids For Mexico promotional beanie will be ready for sale on Friday! There will be 12 of these commemoratives but I have listed the #1 bear on ebay: http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=5977756796 The others will be available for sale on Friday by emailing me directly. First come, first served as there will only be 11 others. Each beanie is $40 + shipping. These are truly great! Each osito bear is wearing an authentic Mexican sombrero and serape. They are also holding authentic Mexican maracas and a Mexican flag. Each bear comes with his own numbered commemorative card and is sitting on a bed of straw and Mexican confetti and wrapped in his own clear wrap. You can view pictures of the bears on my site: http://www.picturetrail.com/gallery/view?p=999&gid=7382701&uid=171094 The kids did a great job! Thanks to all the readers who have already helped us raise $462.76 through the promotion of the Mother bears and another $170 through private donations. I would also like to thank everyone who donated bears. We are still looking for red and royal blue decades for a special 4th of July promotion. Please feel free to give my email to anyone who asks. I appreciate all your help. Thanks so much to you and everyone who has contributed. I have signed up another student through the donations and money collected. Thanks so much! April”

May 24, 2005
Look, it's the candy copter
Troops drop sweets, toys for Iraqi children to convey goodwill
BAGHDAD, Iraq - From a high-performance perch above the Iraqi countryside, Johnny Taylor is looking for targets at 145 mph.

He spots one, banks his Army Black Hawk in a 180-degree turn, and his machine gunners let loose.

About 150 feet below, two Iraqi boys quit waving and bolt from a mud-brick farm compound to collect their spoils of war, bouncing high into a crop field.

In the struggle for the hearts and minds of the Iraqi people, U.S. soldiers are concentrating on the country's children. It is there, they say, they have the best chance to leave a lasting positive impression.

"We believe changing the attitude of kids, 6 to 12, will benefit us long-term most," says Brig. Gen. Tom Lawing of Matthews, who commands the Charlotte-based N.C. Army National Guard 30th Engineer Brigade at Camp Anaconda in Balad, the helicopter's base.

"We want the next generation of Iraqis to have national pride, but also see the U.S. as a good thing."

Taylor and his machine gunners -- Spc. Andrew Boyce, 23, of Winston-Salem, and Spc. Joe Elmore, 20, of Salisbury -- also drop "candy bombs," zipper-locked bags with Beanie Babies and candies adorned with a flowing red ribbon to mark their landing spot.

To avoid enemy fire, they fly fast and near the ground, so low that the powerful Black Hawk must pull up to avoid high-tension power lines on their mission from Balad to Baghdad. VIEW FULL ARTICLE HERE

Beanie's are Tough Little Guys
angelbaby208 (May 23, 2005, 10:59 PM)
Message Id: 979796
angelbaby208 writes: Just wanted to share a story....my 4 year daughter dropped her beanie swan in the road while we were taking a walk and before we could get to it (Goddess) her Beanie swan was run over by a very large dump truck. We are Very Happy to report that Goddess only suffered minor injuries (a scratched eye) and survived the ordeal unharmed! My daughter was a bit upset at first, but when she saw that her swan was OK, she calmed down and gave her a big kiss. Thanks to the Ty company for making such a well made, durable beanie. VIEW CYBERBOARD POSTING HERE

May 23, 2005
SLOW NEWS DAY!
I will be checking throughout the day for something to share. In the meantime.. If you have ANYTHING you’d like to share please email me at Lisa@planetbeans.com

May 22, 2005
SUPER SUMMER FOR TOYS
Movie tie-ins provide abundance of fun merchandise
The Force had hit toy stores long before the big movie opened. You don't have to be as wise as Yoda to know it's a "Star Wars" summer. The final film, "Star Wars: Episode III -- Revenge of the Sith," is expected to mean big business at both the box office and the toy store.

It's called "mass merchandising" when movie companies and toy makers get together to create toys and products with a tie-in to the film.

Toy makers hope the excitement over a movie will make people want toys and collectibles to remind them of the film. And, judging by all of the "Star Wars" gear in stores, fans should have no trouble finding them.

He also thinks the futuristic toy Batmobile (it carries the movie title, the "Batman Begins" Deluxe Batmobile) will be a hot seller. "It's sort of a Hummer-meets-Maserati design," he says.

Byrne says you'll probably hear lots of news about toy collectors -- especially people who collect the "Star Wars" toys -- lining up for some of these toys. But just because everybody is buying them or talking about them doesn't mean you have to. If you buy or ask for a movie toy as a gift, do it because you think it's fun and you think you'll play with it, not because it's popular, Byrne adds.

Byrne says trends -- such as the Beanie Babies collectible madness -- come and go. Don't go wild collecting just because you think the item will be valuable.

May 21, 2005
Wooster students gather toys
STRATFORD — With Care Bears and Beanie Babies lined up side by side, Wooster Middle School students Thursday night amassed a cuddly army in the fight again domestic violence.

The group of seventh-graders, along with their parents and teachers, wrapped up bears, dolls and other stuffed animals before handing them over to area police departments.

The toys, to be carried in police cruisers and ambulances, will be given to children ensnared in domestic violence or an otherwise traumatic incident. VIEW FULL ARTICLE HERE

May 20, 2005
Golf clubs raise the military’s morale
What started with some golf clubs and golf balls for a buddy in Iraq has mushroomed into a garage packed with sporting goods waiting to be shipped to U.S. soldiers.

The story began at Thanksgiving time last year, when Dan Sundt of Edina and some of his co-workers at Ziegler, Inc. in Bloomington decided to send a care package to Greg Larson, a co-worker who was stationed in Iraq.

“A group of us in the shop got gloves, cigarettes, candy and some other things together,” said Sundt, who is a welder at Ziegler. “But there was nothing really fun in the box. I was working in my garage one day, wondering what I could send for fun, and I saw an old driver and two or three dozen golf balls my dad found.”

Sundt went to Braemar Golf Course in Edina to see if he could buy some used equipment or range balls to send to the troops.

Once he explained what he wanted to do with the equipment, Sundt said, “They filled a bag with balls and gave me three more drivers and some tees.”

Other equipment has been donated, too – softballs, bats, baseballs, footballs, air pumps, mitts, and Frisbees.

“Some of the guys love to toss a baseball around,” Sundt said. “It could rub off in a good way. They could teach the kids in Iraq to play sports.”

Shinder’s has donated $3,000 worth of magazines, two boxes of mini-bobble head dolls and another box of Beanie Babies, Sundt said. VIEW FULL ARTICLE HERE

ANGELINE
Has anyone seen Angeline items? The graphic has graced the main page of Ty.com since MARCH 4th! That seems like a long time to await the arrival and we really don't know what to expect other than possibly books and tiny dolls. If you have any information about Angeline products please let me know so I can share with my readers that are also curious. Lisa@planetbeans.com

ASK TY
Q: If you could wish upon a star, what would you wish for? (submitted by teachezkids)
A: I would wish that all children could go to sleep each night without fear or hunger, feeling warm, healthy and loved. I would wish that everyone would help make our world a better place for kids! http://www.ty.com/askty_home

May 18, 2005
All for the Troops: Martin gets national award
She was nominated for a state award, but West Liberty resident Jeanine Martin found herself the recipient of a prestigious national award last week.

Martin received the Commander's Award for Public Service from the United States Army. She was presented with the award in a ceremony at the Iowa City National Guard Armory on Sunday, May 15.

Only 25 Iowans have won the national award since the attack on the World Trade Center in 2001 and very few of them have been civilians.

"I'm just overwhelmed. I still get pretty emotional about it," said Martin.

Martin started the local Treats for Troops project in 2003, shortly after a local guard unit was deployed to serve overseas. Fellow West Liberty resident Cindy Yerington, who has a son in service, called Martin and asked what they could do to "boost morale."

Treats for Troops is currently looking for any small, easily packaged toys the soldiers could give out. Martin mentioned Beanie Babies as a good example and said if anyone is looking for something to do with an unused collection, she could send them over. VIEW FULL ARTICLE HERE

May 17, 2005
Supplies donated for Marines in Iraq are stolen
WILMINGTON, N.C. -- Hundreds of pounds of donated supplies for Marines in Iraq -- eye drops, throat lozenges, DVDs and sunscreen -- have been stolen from a storage unit where the Wilmington Rotary Club kept the supplies until they were shipped.

The items were valued at $3,000 and nearly filled a 12-by-8-foot storage unit. The theft was discovered Monday.

"It was a huge amount," said Wilbur Jones, Rotary Club project coordinator. "It just jammed our storage locker."

The only things left untouched in the storage unit were Beanie Babies meant for children in Iraq. VIEW FULL ARTICLE HERE

Operation Gratitude, together with the California Army National Guard, 746th QM BN and hundreds of volunteers, will assemble and ship more than 25,000 Patriotic Care Packages of assorted snacks, Girl Scout Cookies, DVDs, CDs, games, Beanie Babies, t-shirts, toiletries and personal letters of support. VIEW FULL ARTICLE HERE

May 16, 2005
A SINCERE THANKS!
April writes: "Hi Lisa. I would like to thank you so much for your help. My students raised $462.76 toward their Mexico trip through our promotional Mother beanie sale. We would like to thank everyone that particapted from the bottom of our hearts. I also had several people email me asking to give donations. I cannot thank everyone enough for their generosity. Hopefully through these promotiona, I will be able to take more students on the trip. I appreciate all your help sincerely. April"

May 15, 2005
NO NEWS
I will not be sending out a newsletter if there's nothing to share. perhaps something newsworthy will come around a bit later today. If you have news to share, please send it in: Lisa@planetbeans.com

May 14, 2005
Burden to bear
Lancaster woman helps supply soldiers with stuffed animals for Iraqi children
LANCASTER - Deb Barnecut always has had stuffed animals to spare. So when she heard about a U.S. soldier's plan to drop stuffed ani- mals from helicopters to Iraqi children, parting with some from her collection was easy. But her part in Operation Teddy Drop didn't stop there.

Barnecut, 26, set up empty boxes where she works - Risch's Drug Store on West Fair Avenue - to collect even more. She has shipped 12 boxes since March to Chief Warrant Officer Four Randy Kirgiss.

Kirgiss, a UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter pilot in the U.S. Army, coordinates the effort. A mutual friend connected the two.

"I had hoped I would get a response (when I started this), but I didn't realize people have this many stuffed animals lying around their house," Barnecut said. "It's incredible. I'm not in the military, but it makes me feel like I'm helping in some small way."

Kirgiss and his unit, the 4th Battalion, 3rd Aviation Regiment, 3rd Infantry Division of Fort Campbell, Ky., began dropping stuffed animals via make-shift parachutes in April.

To date, the unit has dropped 564 stuffed animals to Iraqi children throughout the country, Kirgiss wrote in an e-mail to the Lancaster Eagle-Gazette.

Some areas where the stuffed animals are dropped are landfills - literally garbage dumping areas where families live.

"They rummage through the garbage all day long and pick out things that are useful," Kirgiss wrote. "There are kids being raised in these areas, and they probably have no idea of a life outside of an area like that."

One of the boxes she sent was packed with hundreds of Beanie Babies donated by one customer. She isn't the only American participating in Operation Teddy Drop. Kirgiss wrote he has received boxes from 21 people across the United States. That doesn't begin to indicate how many individuals have donated stuffed animals to fill the boxes being sent, Kirgiss wrote.

"At the Camp Post Office, I have become known as the Teddy Bear guy," he wrote. "I have been called worse so I think I can live with that. Every couple of days, I will get a box or two of stuffed animals. Every day, I wait for mail call to see if I received another box of stuffed animals." VIEW FULL ARTICLE HERE

Diana's lost millions
The British public donated generously to honour the memory of and to carry on the charity work of Diana, Princess of Wales.
But eight years after her death, the Diana Memorial Fund faces criticisms that it has wasted millions of pounds of the charity's money.

"I think it's very unfortunate that a charity that has done so much to help so many people hasn't been able to run itself," says Diana's former private secretary, Patrick Jephson.

Central to the argument is a 12-inch People's Princess doll that had been created to continue the good works of the late Princess.

Instead, the doll sparked a protracted multi-million pound court battle in the US, which critics insist was allowed to throw hundreds of worthy causes into disarray.

"It makes me sad to think Diana's name has been associated with what most people see as a failure," says Mr Jephson.

Despite signing lucrative licensing deals with Flora margarine, beanie baby toy maker Ty and National Lottery scratch cards, the Fund refused American doll makers The Franklin Mint an official license for their Diana dolls and plates.

May 13, 2005
ASK TY
Q: Would you describe your management style as being most like Captain Kirk, Obi Wan Kenobe, or Willie Wonka? (submitted by dietpop)
A: A little of each, I'd say. From my friend, Mr. Wonka, I learned to never, never doubt what nobody is sure about; like Obi Wan, I know that my Sales "Force" is always with me; and when creating product, I like to boldly go where no man has gone before . . . now beam me up Scottie ! http://www.ty.com/askty_home

Sunshine Beanie Babies
coral casino project inches forward, solstice parade gets boost
Solar issues proved to be the unifying theme for Beanie Baby billionaire Ty Warner this week, as members of two land-use review boards expressed concern about his plans to add a sun deck to the Coral Casino, and Warner donated 2,000 Beanie Babies to this year's Summer Solstice parade. The toys will be sold for $5 each at the post-parade Children's Festival. Last Wednesday, Warner's $35 million remodel plans for the Coral Casino squeaked through the Montecito Planning Commission, even though some commissioners disliked the third-story sundeck plans. Despite their misgivings, commissioners ultimately approved the project by a vote of 3-to-1. On Monday, the Historic Landmarks Advisory Committee "conceptually" approved the plan, despite obvious misgivings about the sundeck, and a formal vote was expected to take place on May 16.

Warner's critics have suggested that he's trying to win friends and buy influence by giving to nonprofit agencies on which landmarks commissioners sit. Landmarks chair Sue Adams acknowledged the Biltmore had made donations to some of the nonprofits she works with, and said there was no conflict of interest because the amounts were so small. Adams and committee member Barbara Chen-Lowenthal are both leading a fundraising campaign to restore the historic Franceschi House, and according to a whisper campaign launched by some Warner critics, they've solicited Warner for donations. "That's absolutely not true," stated Chen-Lowenthal. Meanwhile, Solstice executive Claudia Bratton described Warner's gift of 2,000 Beanie Babies as "just a miracle," and said the collectibles could account for up to $10,000 of the event's $200,000 annual budget. Bratton acknowledged the donation was made as the Coral Casino plan seeks permits, but denied any connection. "There's no relationship," she said. "You're looking for controversy where none exists." VIEW FULL ARTICLE HERE

Battalion honors leader of Beanie Baby effort
HOLLAND -- For months, Holland resident Mary Green showed how much she cared for the soldiers of the 515th Forward Support Battalion in Iraq by mounting Operation Beanie Babies.

By the time the mission was completed, Green had collected more than 27,000 -- nearly triple the original goal. While the majority went to Iraq for U.S. soldiers to give out Iraqi children, she also sent boxes of the small stuffed animals to orphanages in Afghanistan and other parts of the world.

Army Capt. Stacy Nelsen, who coordinated Operation Beanie Babies in Iraq, stopped by Holland on Thursday to thank Green. Besides a framed certificate thanking her for her work, the battalion sent along a coin created especially for the combat team known as the "roughnecks." The latter is collector's item since the unit is being disbanded. VIEW FULL ARTICLE HERE

TY RETAILER LOCATOR
http://www.ty.com/ty_retailers A newsflash appears on the main page of Ty.com as an animated compass. No doubt you’ve seen this locator before when new introductions come out.

HELP NEEDED: PROMOTIONAL/FUND RAISING BEANIE
April writes: "Dear Planet beans, Please share this with your readers. Ive traded with, bought from, or sold to many wonderful people over the last few years. Most, however, do not know that I am a Spanish teacher in a rural farming community in Pennsylvania. We are a very small school, 350 students K-12. Most students in my community stay in the community. They do not have the opportunities the city students have. Most students will continue to live here after high school and throughout their lives. This year Ive been granted the rare opportunity to take my 10th and 11th graders to Mexico! Im thrilled that the school board is allowing us this wonderful opportunity. Our problem is that although the school board granted us permission for the trip, they will only allow me to have two fundraisers with the students next year before the trip. Being the small community we are, only two fund raisers is not going to allow most of my students to raise enough money to go on the trip. Ive pleaded with the school board for more fundraisers but they refuse to budge. So my students and I took it upon ourselves to raise more funds. The students have made 5 promotional Mother bears to help raise money for trip. These bears are decorated with aprons and straw hats. The apron pockets contain miniature gardening tools. Each mother bear sits in a custom painted tin bucket decorated with flowers. The bucket is filled with straw colored grass and slightly larger gardening tools. Each beanie also comes with a commemorative, numbered laminated card. I am extremely proud of the great job my students did with this project. Its taken three months to complete these five bears. I would like to silently auction these beanies this weekend. Interested buyers can send me an email with the number of the beanie and the price they wish to purchase the beanie. I will be setting everything up tonight and accept emails starting Friday, May 13 at 8pm est and ending Sunday evening at 11:59pm est. The highest bidder for each beanie will receive that beanie and all its accessories pictured. Shipping will be added. I believe I can ship the beanie and the bucket via flat rate priority for $7.70. Overseas buyers will pay for actual shipping costs of their choice. The students are already starting on their next project. We had hoped to have this project of osito bears completed for Cinco de Mayo (May 5th in Spanish) but the Mother bears took longer than expected. I will have everything set up by Friday, May 13th and will begin taking orders at 8pm est tomorrow. Thanks so much for your help. April Here's a link to the site with further info." http://www.picturetrail.com/gallery/view?p=999&gid=7382701&uid=171094&members=1

May 12, 2005
NO NEWS
I will not be sending out a newsletter if there's nothing to share. perhaps something newsworthy will come around a bit later today. If you have news to share, please send it in: Lisa@planetbeans.com

YOUR COMMENTS
Annie writes: "Lisa -- I think it's really sad that Ty has to resort to coming out with a retail version and slightly different Ty-Store version of the same Beanie Baby. I get the impression that Ty is gasping for air in his seemingly half-hearted but likely ill-fated efforts to keep things going. Let's face it; he has taken Beanies from craze to just plain crazy."

May 11, 2005
YOUR COMMENTS ABOUT DAD
Donna writes: “ty`s sales must be down!!! lol!!! there was no need for another dad plus you have to pay postage. i saw both versions of smarty at a flea market on friday. i didn`t care for either one. not nice at all in my opinion. donna”

PRODUCTION ERROR WITH TYSTORE PINKY??
Michael shares the following: "just thought I would let you know that I posted if anyone else was having trouble with their Delights the Tystore Pinky order. My question on the Ty talk cyberboards was if anyone else's Tystore Pinky said it was proccessing a few days ago but as of now it says submitted... and it turns out im not the only one. I knew mine was processing and now it says its submitted....and other people are also responding to my post that their's too was processing but now says its submitted... perhaps there is a production error with this Tystore Pinky.... Below is a link to the post on the Ty Talk Cyberboard that I posted orignally. Michael" VIEW POSTING & REPLIES HERE

WAS TY PLANNING HOLY FATHER BEFORE JOHN PAUL ACTUALLY DIED?
Michael writes: "I just now noticed that on the hang tag of the holy father bear when it states the year he was born and died in it is not a regular dash between the years 1920 to 2005. The type of dash between the 2 years means approximatley..which leads me to a possible conclusion that this bear has been in the works before Pope John Paul II actually died and if my suspicions are correct then Ty had plenty of tyme to find a charity for the profits to go to for this bear. Some people are saying that its no differ than Princess Diana bear or Ronnie the Ronald Reagan bear, but in fact both of the profits for those 2 bears went to charity. Also attached is a picture of the left side of the hang tag where it has the info about the year he was born and the year he died and the odd dash that is between the two years. This is just my Humble opinion. Michael"

INTRODUCING DAD
This is a Ty Store version. It has a slightly different colored bowtie and different colored DAD letters. The Ty Store version seems to be a little bit lighter in color than the retail version.
http://www.ty.com/DAD_intro

<< my comments: I'd like to know YOUR thoughts about this new introduction. I don't understand the need for TWO versions of DAD and didn't understand the need for TWO versions of Smarty. >>

May 9, 2005
Calm down, ease off the gas before you pay way over sticker
Consumers of the world, unite. You have nothing to fear but lower prices.

I was thinking about that this past week while doing a story about hybrid cars.

Hybrids use both a gasoline engine and an electric motor to get great gas mileage. A few years ago they were an oddity. Today they are a hot commodity. When gas prices went through the roof, so did the demand for cars that get better mileage.

The Toyota Prius is at the top of that heap. Rated by the EPA for 60 miles per gallon of gas in the city, it lets you laugh as you drive by all those low-gas-mileage cars filling up at the pump.

But don't laugh too loudly. Especially if you're one of those who lost the battle of supply and demand.

You see, they can't make the Prius fast enough. Demand has far outstripped supply. According to a company called R.L. Polk, which watches the automotive industry, the Prius has 64 percent of the hybrid market. Toyota would probably grab an even bigger share if not for one small problem. It can't make them fast enough.

And consumers are paying the price for that shortage.

I talked with one Prius owner who paid $1,500 above the sticker price so he wouldn't have to order one and wait months for delivery.

But their desperation to save at the pump is blinding the Prius buyers' reality. Hybrids already cost more than a comparable car with a gasoline engine. If you save $1,000 per year on fuel costs, it will take years to make up the difference. Throw in the extra they paid over sticker, and the payoff is that much further away.

Unfortunately, we do that all the time. We pay scalper prices because we just have to see a game or show. We pay over sticker so we can be the first on our block with a hot new car. We drove the price of Beanie Babies through the roof because . . . well, I'm not sure why.

I'm not saying you shouldn't buy a Prius. It's a great car. In fact, it's a bargain when you look at the killer mileage and all the technology you're getting. Just calm down and don't panic because you can't get one today. There's no sense in paying extra to save money. VIEW ARTICLE HERE

May 8, 2005
HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY!
Enjoy this gorgeous day surrounded by the love of family. :o)

May 7, 2005
HOLY FATHER PICTURES
Michael writes: "I finally found someone who was willing to let me use their digital camera. Attached are several pictures of Holy Father the bear including a close up of the hang tag and the tush tag as well as the inside of the hang tag and of course the bear itself. My favorite Ty Retailer said that they only got in 12 out of the 36 they ordered and luckily they held me this one. I was going to buy more if they had some shelf sitting but to my surprise they said that they were all sold out and had no idea when and if they would be getting anymore. So good luck to everyone finding this beautiful bear. Michael" http://www.planetbeans.com/MichaelsFinds.htm

The stuff of lives
Crown Center displays the stuff of lives
If there's one thing Pat Krehbiel has learned during the nine years she has helped put on Crown Center's annual collector's show, it's that the collecting gene can be found in just about everyone. Even a marketing manager at Crown Center.

“I started my crazy one with Beanie Babies,” Krehbiel said. “I was buying them before the craze hit and ended up with 300 of them.” VIEW FULL ARTICLE HERE

May 6, 2005
ASK TY
Q: Are you recognized when you are out in public? (submitted by 9057612)
A: Some people recognize me but many don't, that's why I carry the Ty MasterCard . . . I don't leave home without it ! http://www.ty.com/askty_home

LOSE THE 500 BEANIE BABES.. OR LOSE ME
FED-UP WIFE'S ULTIMATUM Hubby, 61, is cuddly toy fan
A LONG-SUFFERING wife has ordered her husband to get rid of his collection of 500 Beanie Babies.

Ann Jansen told burly husband Jogan it was either her or his vast collection of cuddly toys after becoming concerned that the cute collection was making him seem odd.

The tiny toys are displayed in four glass cabinets in the dining room of the couple's Edinburgh home.

And now German-born banqueting manager Jogan, 61, has made the painful decision to sell his Beanies.

Ann, 58, said: 'I think it's a bit peculiar for a big guy like Jogan to want to collect such wee cuddly toys.

'When I bought him his first Beanie Baby six years ago in Newcastle as an affectionate gift, I had no idea what I was starting.'

As Jogan's obsession took hold, he spent thousands of pounds ordering rare Beanies from overseas and the toys began to take over the couple's home.

He even walked around in public with a Beanie Baby dog on his shoulder and trawled shops while on family holidays looking for the toys. Now Ann's patience has finally been exhausted. She said: 'He drove my brother crazy walking round the town with the little wrinkly dog perched on his shoulder. VIEW FULL ARTICLE HERE

May 5, 2005
Mother's day gift guide for dummies
Fathers and children still scratching their heads trying to find the perfect Mother's Day gift need not fear. There are a number of stores in Burlington that provide traditional and not-so-traditional gift ideas for last minute shoppers.

At the Hallmark Gold Crown store at the Burlington Mall, the staff has already seen a rush of shoppers for Mother's Day this Sunday.

"It's mostly husbands and kids. There are a lot more kids, more so than last year," said Hallmark employee Suzanne Howard

Among the "many, many cards" that the customers are snapping up, Howard points out that people are also coming in for the Hallmark Card Keeper. Normally $14.95, people purchasing three or more cards that day may take the yellow box with storage compartments home for only $7.95.

A more personalized gift that has also been very popular is the Hallmark Shadow Box for $25. The wooden box houses keepsakes and mementos surrounded by an attractive frame. Candles and purses, just recently acquired by the store, are also a few favorites this year.

Howard said the must-have gift this year is "Dearly," a pink Ty Beanie Baby Bear clutching a white flower with "Mom" embroidered on one side that retails for $5.99.

"We can't keep these on the shelf," said Howard. VIEW FULL ARTICLE HERE

Are we there yet? How to organize your family's travel time
"Are we there yet?" "How far is it?" "I'm hungry!" "He's looking at me again!" If you are in a car for more than 15 minutes with a child, chances are you've heard any or all of these questions in your travels. Here are some travel tips to keep your kids happy and you sane!

Less stress
Summer is finally here, and many of you are planning to hop in the car to drive to an exciting destination, perhaps to your favorite theme park, to camp in the mountains, or to visit loved ones seldom seen. But often the thought of spending hour after hour in a small space listening to a constant whining noise gives you the shudders.

By using some of these travel tips, you'll be able to plan a less stressful outing for your own family, and find the courage to do it again next year, too.

When are we going to be there?
Whether your kids are two or 12, they are clueless when it comes to space and time. Telling them repeatedly "soon, dear" does not give them any more indication of an ETA (estimated time of arrival) than saying that Christmas is in December to a three-year-old. They just don't get it.

But I'm B-O-R-E-D!
"There's nothing to do." "I'm tired." "I don't want to play another game of License Tag Bingo!" Tired of the old standby car games? Plan a few new ones this year with a quick visit to your local toy store, or invent your own. Magnetic board games, handheld video games, a Discman or Walkman with books on tape (story tapes for the smaller tots) or your child's favorite music are a great start to car harmony.

Assemble activity bags in paper lunch bags filled with a snack, an activity and a toy. For toddlers and preschoolers, this can be a small box of raisins, a travel-size Magna Doodle, and a Beanie Baby. Older kids might enjoy Fruit Rollups, word search puzzles and a comic book. These don't have to be new items, either; just raid the toy box for items that haven't been used in a while. You'll be recycling their toys as well as their interest (for a few miles, anyway). VIEW FULL ARTICLE & MORE GREAT IDEAS HERE

BROOKFIELD ZOO'S BEANIE DAYS 2005
Barbara writes: "Hi Lisa, I thought I'd share some news with you about Brookfield Zoo Beanie Days for 2005. It will be held on July 30-31 Saturday & Sunday. I have enclosed a link to all the events for 2005. Have a great day and Thanks for keeping everyone updated with your wonderful site and newsletters. VIEW DETAILS HERE

BEANIE BABY GIVEAWAY
Laurie shares with Ms. Janie: Marshall will be given away at the Arlington Park Racetrack on Monday, May 30, 2005. Here's a link to the racetrack event info: http://www.arlingtonpark.com/events/ It is Marshall the beanie baby with a special hang tag - just for this event!! One day only!! Here's a few pictures of the hang tags!! Thanks! Laurie in Illinois http://www.msjanie.com/2005photos/Laurie_Arlington_Park.html

May 3, 2005
OPIE ARRIVES
Marie writes: "Hi Lisa! Just want to let you know that I received my "limited edition" Opie today! I can not believe how fast that was. I ordered on line on Sunday morning and here it is! Opie came with a nice little flier telling about the Sea Center. Thanks for the great work you do keeping all us collectors in the know!! Marie"

Two Arizona Youth Honored for Volunteerism at National Award Ceremony in Washington, D.C.
Former U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell Pays Tribute to Young Heroes as part of Four-Day Recognition Events WASHINGTON, May 2 /PRNewswire/ -- Two Arizona students, Charles Strauber, 17, and Alison Goulder, 14, both of Scottsdale, were honored in the nation's capital last night for their outstanding volunteer work during the presentation of The 2005 Prudential Spirit of Community Awards. The two young people -- along with over 100 other top youth volunteers from across the country -- received $1,000 awards as well as personal congratulations from General Colin L. Powell, USA (Ret.), U.S. Secretary of State (2001-2004), at the tenth annual award ceremony and gala dinner reception, held at the Smithsonian Museum of Natural History.

Alison, an eighth-grader at Rancho Solano Private School in Scottsdale, has collected more than 30,000 Beanie Baby dolls for shipment to U.S. soldiers in Iraq so that they can pass them along to children in the war-torn country. Alison has been involved in many community service projects in the past through her school, but "I always wanted to start a project of my own," she said. When she learned from a magazine article that soldiers in Iraq were requesting Beanie Babies, she knew she had found her project.

Alison, who has been collecting Beanie Babies since she was 7 years old, contacted a law firm that was shipping care packages to troops in Iraq and offered to donate her collection. She then launched a collection drive at her school, using fliers and collection bins to encourage classmates to donate their Beanie Babies. Her campaign soon spread to other schools and school districts in Arizona, and as the little stuffed animals poured in, Alison hauled them home every night, sorted them and prepared them for shipment. But Alison didn't stop there - she also sought and received donations directly from the manufacturer of Beanie Babies. In December, she was thanked personally by senior Department of Defense officials at the Pentagon for her efforts. "I thought it was a great way to help our soldiers and Iraqi kids at the same time," said Alison. VIEW FULL ARTICLE HERE

Yoga class allows parents and children to work out together
As 5-year-old Max Becker stretched out, he looked more wobbly than warrior-like, until his mother, Maureen, steadied him in her own warrior pose.

Mother and son were part of a family class at Yoga for Everyone in Anthem. The kid-friendly session incorporates music, dancing and stuffed animals with yoga poses.

Jennifer Kelber, the teacher and owner of the studio, started the family classes in February.

The one-hour class starts with soothing music, stretches and classic yoga poses, such as Cat-Cow. Kelber lines up stuffed animals in a row across the studio to represent the different yoga poses. "When you put yoga poses together, you create flow," she says. "But it's hard for kids to get the flow of one pose to the next, so I use Beanie Babies." Everyone steps from one mat to the next, doing Elephant, Duck, Eagle and so on. "With an adult, you want to get the exact pose. But with kids, I don't adjust because it doesn't have to be perfect," she says. VIEW FULL ARTICLE HERE

News briefs from California's Central Coast
SANTA BARBARA – Beanie Babies tycoon Ty Warner has taken control of the landmark Miramar Hotel complex.
Ty Warner Hotels & Resorts announced purchase of the 17-acre Montecito landmark from New York-based hotelier Ian Schrager. Financial terms weren't disclosed, but the News-Press said it is thought to be around $45 million.

"We are excited about the opportunity to complete the Miramar renovation to bring new life and beauty back to this community treasure," Ty Warner Hotels spokesman Greg Rice said. "We know how long the community has been eagerly anticipating the reopening and we would hope to accelerate the process."

A new set of building plans based on current codes will now be submitted to various authorities for issuing of permits.

Rice said changes in county government played "an important role" in Warner's decision to complete the purchase.

"Changes in the county leadership and the recent action by the county to reject the frivolous appeal of the Miramar permit extensions – as well as the recent clear progress by the county Planning and Development Department to bring sensibility and credibility to the review process – provided Mr. Warner with the confidence he needed to complete the deal," Rice said.

Warner's company already owns the Four Seasons Biltmore, Coral Casino Beach Club and San Ysidro Ranch, plus the Montecito Country Club and the Sandpiper Golf Course.

Friday's statement says those properties, along with Warner's cliff-top residence near the Biltmore, are at various stages of review or restoration estimated to cost $500 million. VIEW FULL ARTICLE HERE

Marc Gordon, who negotiated the transaction on behalf of MHG, said in a statement that MHG wanted to develop the property, but Warner's offer was “too attractive to pass up. This is the epitome of a 'win-win' for both sides," he said.

MHG said Ty Warner Hotels & Resorts has said it would proceed with the renovation and development plans initiated by MHG. Morgans Hotel Group LLC’s portfolio includes properties in New York, London, Miami, San Francisco and Los Angeles. VIEW ARTICLE HERE

<< my comments: Talk about a nice profit in 7 years!!! How about that $43 million in CASH?! Must be nice to have money to spend like that. LOL >>