Spindle items
JESSICA FINCH Associate Editor

• MISSED MY CHANCE - I have only been on the radio once. It was when actress Gwyneth Paltrow and musician Chris Martin had their daughter, Apple, in 2004. The contest was to call in with a person's name that could be considered as unusual as naming someone after a fruit. I amazingly got through the busy signals, but my contribution wasn't chosen as the winner. This past Monday was only the second time I thought about calling in. I was driving into work, and one station was offering $50 to Famous Footwear as the prize for its daily contest. Desperately in need for a new pair of running shoes for training, I thought how funny it would be if I actually knew the answer, since I never do.

The question: This band's first hit was the weakness of a character featured in every episode of "Seinfeld." Having been friends with many obsessive fans, I knew that Superman is in every episode - one way or another - and, of course, his weakness is kryptonite, the title of 3 Doors Down's 2000 hit song.

I was quite proud of myself for knowing the answer but didn't bother calling in, thinking I didn't have a chance. The show's host took four answers - all wrong. I was kicking myself as people said, "I have no idea" then took a shot in the dark. They said, "The Eagles," "Fleetwood Mac," "Green Day," and "Bon Jovi."

I later Googled the bands, to see if they had song titles that could be considered weaknesses. Bon Jovi's song, "Bad Medicine," from the 1998 album "New Jersey," could be. Nothing like fighting a disease with ineffective pills. Or "Green Day's" "Pulling Teeth" from the album "Dookie." Is that like Samson losing his hair?

I was at work by the time the second round of calls was taken so I have no idea when the correct answer was finally given. The second clue, was "not right next door." After hearing this, I shut my car door and walked into work, thinking at least the sneakers I want are on sale at Dick's Sporting Goods this week.

• FLYING INTO THE RECORD BOOKS - Residents at Canterbury Woods are helping a little boy achieve his dream. Hunter Winship, from Freedom, N.Y., has been diagnosed with cancer, and his one dream is to make enough paper airplanes to be in the Guinness World Records. Residents are helping him in that dream.

Canterbury Woods is hoping the community will help him in this goal. Anyone interested in sending paper airplanes to Hunter is asked to write the state or country where they reside on the wings of their planes and mail them to Hunter. The address is: Hunter Winship (The Airplane Cancer Goal), 11227 North Hill Road, Freedom, NY 14065. Various schools and communities have gotten involved with the project. Articles posted online reveal schools as far away as Alaska creating planes for Hunter. He has already received more than 100,000 airplanes from the community.

• CAR DONATIONS - The Boys and Girls Car Campaign is accepting almost any car, without restrictions, as a result of the sharp increase in price of scrap metal. Cars will be picked up anywhere in New York, usually within a week and sold at auction.

To donate, call 1-800-246-0493. Funds obtained by the sales go directly to help the New York clubs.