Thursday, June 18, 2009 — This Sunday, dads of all ages will hold their heads high, kick back, relax—or be up at bat! Yup, it's Father's Day once again. And, while we're sure you already have some good stuff up your sleeve, we're here to give you some pointers on how to make the day extra special.

To create something memorable for your father to cherish, first check out the new Father's Day backdrops over at the Portrait Studio in the Museum. You can print out a portrait of yourself, and give it as a gift!

If you want to do something fun and active, take your dad to Peabody Park. This is where we ran into Coach Danner, standing alone in the middle of the baseball field. A father of two teenage sons—and a beloved coach and teacher—we thought he'd be the perfect brain to pick about this important holiday. We started by asking him what he was doing on the field.

Danner explained, "I'm trying to get this baseball diamond in tip-top shape for Sunday because I'm organizing the first annual Millsberry Father-Child Softball Game. The response was so huge that we actually have to do two games."

We're not surprised that so many of you took a liking to this event. Softball's a great way for fathers to bond with their kids and teach them the skills and rules of the game. It's also super to be outdoors and be active, two things Coach Danner always promotes.

Danner noted that the call for entrants also brought a bunch of volunteer coaches on board, including Mayor Wright and one Robert J. Williams. That's right: Robert J. Williams—someone we haven't heard about in quite a while. If you recall, Williams discovered Sylvie the Sea Monster nearly 50 years ago, right here in town when he was just a teen. As it turns out, Williams never left! Today, he's married with four children and graciously agreed to share with us some of his favorite Father's Day memories.

By phone, Williams told us, "When my kids were young, they surprised me one year with breakfast in bed. They let me stay in bed with the remote control, all morning and afternoon, while they washed my car and mowed the lawn! I must say that's been a tough one to beat. I was absolutely spoiled after that."

Another tried-and-true idea? Making a mix-CD of your and your dad's favorite music. Who can resist a compilation of hip-hop and jazz? Whatever your music tastes, it's always fun to have a CD full of surprising songs from a mix of genres.

We hope some of these ideas have helped inspire. Just remember, what matters most is the quality time you spend with your dad on his special day. And it's the little things that count—like taking out the trash, playing catch in the backyard, playing board games, and doing well in school. The real trick is making an effort more than just once a year because any day is the perfect day to celebrate our fathers!