var map;
    var AttractionsandactivitiesGeoXML; 
    var DiningfavoritiesGeoXML; 
    var TheaterdistrictGeoXML; 

    // initialize state variables
    var AttractionsandactivitiesToggleState = 0;
    var DiningfavoritiesToggleState = 0;
    var TheaterdistrictToggleState = 0;

    function initialize_google_map()
    {
      if (GBrowserIsCompatible())
      {
        // initialize KML overlay 
        AttractionsandactivitiesGeoXML = new GGeoXml("http://www.redbudcove.com/google-maps/attractionsandactivities.kml");
        DiningfavoritiesGeoXML = new GGeoXml("http://www.redbudcove.com/google-maps/diningfavorities.kml");
        TheaterdistrictGeoXML = new GGeoXml("http://www.redbudcove.com/google-maps/theaterdistrict.kml");

        // initialize map and add the default area attractions overlay
        map = new GMap2(document.getElementById("map_canvas")); 
        map.setCenter(new GLatLng(36.607811, -93.267059), 11); 
        map.addControl(new GLargeMapControl());
        map.addControl(new GMapTypeControl());

        AttractionsandactivitiesToggleState = 1;
        map.addOverlay(AttractionsandactivitiesGeoXML);
      }
    } 

    function TurnOnAttractionsandactivities()
    {
      if(0 == AttractionsandactivitiesToggleState)
      {
        map.addOverlay(AttractionsandactivitiesGeoXML);
        AttractionsandactivitiesToggleState = 1;
      }
    }

    function TurnOffAttractionsandactivities()
    {
      if(1 == AttractionsandactivitiesToggleState)
      {
        map.removeOverlay(AttractionsandactivitiesGeoXML);
        AttractionsandactivitiesToggleState = 0;
      }
    }

    function DiningfavoritiesPlaces()
    {
      if(0 == DiningfavoritiesToggleState)
      {
        map.addOverlay(DiningfavoritiesGeoXML);
        DiningfavoritiesToggleState = 1;
      }
    }

    function TurnOffDiningfavorities()
    {
      if(1 == DiningfavoritiesToggleState)
      {
        map.removeOverlay(DiningfavoritiesGeoXML);
        DiningfavoritiesToggleState = 0;
      }
    }

    function TurnOnTheaterdistrict()
    {
      if(0 == TheaterdistrictToggleState)
      {
        map.addOverlay(TheaterdistrictGeoXML);
        TheaterdistrictToggleState = 1;
      }
    }

    function TurnOffTheaterdistrict()
    {
      if(1 == TheaterdistrictToggleState)
      {
        map.removeOverlay(TheaterdistrictGeoXML);
        TheaterdistrictToggleState = 0;
      }
    }