The Springfield News-Leader from Springfield, Missouri • Page 13

Monday, November 7, 1994 News-Leader 5B TV TONIGHT: Britain's royals are the topic of "The Windsors: A Royal Family." 9 p.m., PBS COMING TOMORROW: The Ebony Fashion Show is coming to Springfield. Details Tuesday in Life Times. 6B Entertainment 6B What's up 7B Comics 8B Essentials 8B Crossword MES FEATURES ENTERTAINMENT INSIDE TODAY Cords come back Gays' friends, families to form support group From Kmart to Brooks Brothers, corduroy's back in fashion. Ph ft i ii, VI PFLAG Information Who: PFLAG (Parents, Family and Friends of Lesbians and Gays) What A support and educational organizations Organizational meeting: 3 p.m. Sunday Where: Springfield Greene County Main Library, 397 Central St.

Information: Write to PFLAG, P.O. Box 27605, Central Station, Washington, D.C., 20038. Those interested in more information about dealing with the sexual orientation of friends and family members may request the following pamphlets by writing the PFLAG Family and Chapter Support Office at the address above. Each publication costs $1. Include a long self-addressed envelope or a shipping label.

"About Our Children," facts about homosexuality. "Can We Understand?" a guide for parents. "Coming Out to your Parents," for young adults and parents; "Why is my child gay?" with responses from 11 scientists. Speaker to encourage members to support one another, help heal families strained by coming-out process. Tamlya Beasley News-Leader Pebson-to-Person Bill Nichols' son went into hiding for five years the time it took him to accept his homosexuality.

During those years Nichols says his son couldn't keep a job and drank too much. On occasion Nichols and his wife Vivian were called to pick up their son after he'd been beaten up. Nichols, of Fayetteville, will attend an organizational meeting Sunday in Springfield for an Ozarks-area chapter of PFLAG Parents, Family and Friends of Lesbians and Gays. Such a group, he says, can change the lives of those who love someone who is gay. "You can live in fear as a parent or stand up and support your child," says Nichols, whose 29-year-old son now lives in Rogers, Ark.

"Vivian and I found out that's the only way to free yourself. It's amazing it's a whole lot better way to live." The organization PFLAG is a national support organization of more than 300 chapters, organized in 1980 for family and friends of gays and lesbians. Nichols belongs to the northwest Arkansas chapter, a group of about 20 people. "The key thing we're there for is to heal families," says Nichols. "We're there to help those who are undergoing a traumatic situation to try to make that transition period as comfortable as possible." There are few quick answers for families who've watched one of their own struggle with coming out, Nichols said.

"My son took five years to realize that he was gay. He fought it with everything he could fight We had to stand on the sidelines while he discovered himself. Those years were terrible, terrible years." Solutions Ozarkers who are friends or family of gays and lesbians are convinced PFLAG can make coming out easier for both the gay Alan Bostick Gannett News Service Trends Now it's in fashion. Now it's out. In.

Out In. That, in short is the history of corduroy in this century like the ribbed, undulating weave of the fabric itself, its fluctuating popularity is either slipping back "in" or on its way "out." Consider yourself advised: As we went to press, corduroy was definitely in and expected to stay that way at least for this winter season. The soft but rugged cotton cloth, most often associated with men's pants, is enjoying perhaps its largest revival since the days when it sheltered the torso of every self-respecting English professor from Seattle to Sewanee. "They let something he dormant for a few years, then bring it back and bam!" says Terry Hill, a sales specialist at a Castner Knott department store. "It's amazing.

People are coming in like crazy and asking for corduroy slacks and sport coats even with the patches on the sleeves." It's the same story all over. Everybody's asking for it it really looks like fall," says Katrina Nidiffer, and assistant manager with Britches Great Outdoors. "People are getting tired of khakis and jeans, and they like corduroy." "It complements the layering concept which is so important this time of year, says David Levy, a Nashville-area men's store owner, as he revealed a rack of pants in a wide range of autumn-inspired shades. "It's really standard for us." This fall, you'll find corduroy both where you expect it (in pants and sport-coats) and where you might not expect it (shirts, hiking shorts, stadium jackets, vests). Among the newer-looking items: Britches is selling a new corduroy shirt with the ubiquitous banded collar ($42.50) as well as camper-style corduroy hiking shorts Stores are also carrying wool shirts with button-down corduroy collar and designer Tommy Hilfiger offers pleated pants in wide-wale corduroy (about $60).

And corduroy items can be found at national chains like JC Penney, Kmart and Sears. So why the appeal? Merchants point first and foremost to its versatility. Just like khakis during the warmer months, corduroy slacks can go casual with a polo shirt, sweater or light jacket, or be combined in a spiffier tie-and-sportcoat combination. "Corduroy gives you a real outdoor took, it's the perfect fabric for tail-gating at football games," Levy says. Perhaps more importantly, it gives you that out-doorsy look without the requirement that you actually do something outdoors.

It's not necessarily for the guy who goes out kayaking and mountain-climbing it's for the guy who wants to look like he does," says Laura McNeill, director of marketing and promotions for Layered (or warmth versatile cool-weather Britches, with cor- porate headquarters based in Herndon, Va. Corduroy of course is also popular because it's affordable most any single piece can be had for less than $60 and available. Corduroy clothing can be found in department stores in any mall in the nation, and specialty shops such as Brooks Brothers or Structure offer their own interpretations. And don't forget its durability. Corduroy is a heavy fabric, a fact brought about by how it is manufactured: The cloth is first cut to leave a soft, scholarship fund.

Music department spokeswoman Judy Russell explains that folks start gathering around the punch bowl in the lobby about 6:15 in full skits and concert. This year planned Nov. $17.50 per groups of 10 go to the SMS' Ellis security guard l-l Gannett News Service and comfort, corduroy is back as a component of men's wardrobes. velvet-like surface. Leftover fiber foaming up from the base of the cloth is then combed back down to create the trademark straight ridges known as "wales," which run along the length of the material.

The width of these "wales" varies, with most breaking down into either "wide wale" at eight wales per inch or "pinwale" at 16 wales per inch. The wider wale is generally more stylish but less formal, while pinwale provides corduroy's more traditional and dressier look. person and his or her family and friends. Mike Dobbs, who has helped plan the Drst PFLAG event, says he's seen positive results from PFLAG in other areas. Response to the first meeting in Springfield has been overwhelming, he says.

"I won't be surprised to see around 100 (people)," says Dobbs. "We're strongly encouraging everybody to come. It is an open meeting to everyone there's no special club involved or anything like that." A first step Christy Boyce Goodson, whose sister is gay, says she watched her sibling endure hateful, ugly comments from classmates during high school and college. "It was really hard for her. But she doesn't deal with it very much now because she's out to everyone," says Goodson.

Goodson's mother will attend the first meeting. "She said she'd attend one," says Good-son. "My mom basically just tries not to think about it She just is accepting. She tries not to talk about it or deal with it" "This meeting is really for people like her to go beyond acceptance." Answer Those booklets are available from the National Wildlife Federation and are designed primarily for children. To request a free copy, call Customer Service at 1-800-822-9919 and ask for Item Number 7005, titled "Recycle for the Birds." Elizabethan Christmas Dinners begin Nov.

30 at SMS Evangel, and we're happy to let people know about your programs. In the next few weeks there will be orchestral, chorus and violin concerts. In December, Christmas concerts are also planned. For a complete listing of Evangel College musical programs open to the public, call 865-2811. Question: A while back an environmental group had diagrams or directions on how to make bird-houses out of recycled pop bottles or milk cartons.

Could you find out how to get them? Bob Archer Springfield events in your response in a recent column. As chairman of the department of music, I would like to share the following information. Evangel College had 54 recitals, concerts or music programs presented on campus during the 1993-94 academic year. Evangel has the largest music major enrollment of any private college in Missouri this fall. A number of musical events are coming up in the near future, and the pubic is welcome.

John S. Shows Springfidd Answer: Thank you for writing. It was my error not to include Elizabethan costume) provide entertainment including singing, a short Christmas there are four dinners 30-Dec. 3. Cost is person or $15 each for or more.

For tickets, music department at Hall, Room 206 (tell the at the circle drive off National Avenue that you're going to get tickets), or call 836-5648. Readers Respond: I was disappointed that you didn't include Evangel College concert-recital Question: You gave me some very interesting information about an international dinner coming up soon, and I think I had that mixed up with something else around the holiday season where people dress up in old English costume and serve dinner. Would you please find out about that? Donna Kirby Nixa Answer: You are referring to the Elizabethan Christmas Dinners offered by the Southwest Missouri State University Chamber Singers and Collegiate Singers as a fund-raising event for the vocal Kllchal Dale Michal Dale writes a weekly column of answers to readers' questions about Hfe in southwest Missouri. Write her at AXSW'ERS, the News-Leader, P.O. Box 798.

Springfield, Mo. 65801. Please include your full name. p.m., then proceed into the Campus Union ballroom for a full sit-down dinner starting at 7. Throughout the evening the singers (who are dressed FOR YOUR INFORMATION editor is Bil Tatum, 836-1 185, or fax, 837-1381 NOVEMBER DISPLAY: The Frisco Railroad Museum, 543 E.

Commercial will display a collection of steam locomotive bells and whistles during November. The display includes bells and whistles of various types, sizes and designs used on Frisco engines in the past. SAFER NIGHT DRIVING: Avoid driving into a sunrise or sunset when possible. It is difficult to see details when the glare is blinding. Turn on headlights in pre-dawn hours and at dusk, when the contrast between sky brightness and pavement darkness makes seeing and being seen difficult.

Reduce speed. Darkness limits a driver's view and affects vision. Our features Survey: Women more fatigued than men WELLNESS Women feel tired more than men, according to a recent study published in the British Medical Journal. In hopes of determining the general level of fatigue that people experience and the possible links with psychological factors, researchers surveyed 15,283 women and men in southern England. They found that women were more fatigued than men and had more psychological disorders than men.

The most common reasons given by both sexes for why they were tired were work, family and lifestyle. Other reasons included psychological distress, physical causes and other causes such as weather or pollution. SMS Concert Chorale gives free performance EVENTS The Southwest Missouri State University Concert Chorale will perform at 8 p.m. Thursday at Hammons Hall for the Performing Arts, 525 S. Hammons Parkway.

Admission is free. The concert is part of a three-day fall tour that will take the choir to concerts in Van Buren, Poplar Bluff, Clearwater, West Plains and Mountain Grove. The 42-voice choir has toured in the U.S. and has sung in Europe, Puerto Rico and Germany. The chorale is directed by associate music professor Guy Webb, who came to SMS in 1980 as director of choral studies.

Eastwood, Wayne favorite film stars ENTERTAINMENT When it comes to movie idols, the strong, silent types have the most appeal. At least according to a new poll by Louis Harris and Associates. For the second year, Clint Eastwood tops the list of America's favorite film stars, followed again by Eastwood the late John Wayne. Third through sixth: Mel Gibson, Harrison Ford, Tom Hanks, Tom Cruise and Arnold Schwarzenegger. lit Researchers find way to recycle scrap denim ENVIRONMENT One billion square yards of denim are produced in this country each year, and 70 million pounds of scrap denim from jean production are thrown into U.S.

landfills. After 18 months of tests, researchers from North Carolina State University and Burlington Industries' Denim Division in North Carolina have developed a way to recycle that scrap back into yarn. After 18 months, researchers found a way to spin the short fibers together into a yarn strong enough to be woven into jeans. The reused denim is already being introduced in garments made by the Gap Kids Division and Levi Silver Tab. 0.