February 2012

FREE

Feliz día de San Valentín

What’s Inside:Exercise & The Heartp.10

LancasterCountyDay School’sJohn CooperHubbard Scholarp.11

IndependentMedicalExamp.14

AT THE CENTER OF YOUR COMMUNITY AL CENTRO DE SU COMUNIDAD

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FEBRUARY 2012 3

This issue is our Valentine’s Day issue, and so it is about the heart and romance. Our bodies have many organs, but when it comes to feelings and emotion, the heart is central to romance and giving.

It is strange how the heart and not the brain is connected to our emotional status. As so many old sayings go – My heart is broken, My heart longs for you and He is a cold-hearted individual – somewhere

in our ancient history, we equated the soulful part of man’s behavior to the heart. I don’t really know why, perhaps it is the singular importance of each beat in sustaining our lives. Then again, it may be how the heart can race at just the mention of a lover’s name. Either way, when we think of love we think of the heart.

In this issue, we look at both the romantic and physical aspects of the heart. The term “heart” fills both Hispanic poetry and song. It seems to signify the condition of the soul as much as it can indicate one’s physical condition.

The heart beats approximately 100,000 times a day. It pumps approximately 8,000 liters or about 2,113 gallons each day. That beat inside our chest is what makes life possible. Maybe love, which can change the very beat of the heart and makes life worth living, is why romance and the heart are so interrelated.

Enjoy our articles on both the physical heart and the romance that makes it beat all the better. I just read a study in the Journal of the American Heart Association discussing a study, which stated that grief can “… cause a host of symptoms that raise heart risks.” So how we love and how love can be lost affects not only our emotions but also our body.

Other studies have shown that married couples have a longer life span than singles. There is no doubt that there is a connection between how love is won and lost and our very physical condition.

The best medicine may still be to love and be happy. Have a great Valentine’s Day.

Graham S. HetrickPublisher

Welcome

Esta edición se dedica al Día de San Valentín. Como tal, se trata del corazón y el romance. Nuestros cuerpos están compuestos de muchos órganos, pero es el corazón que asociamos con el romance y la bondad.

Es raro como conectamos nuestro estado emocional con el corazón y no el cerebro.Hay tantos dichos antiguos como Tengo el corazón roto, Mi corazón duele cuando no estás, o Él tiene el corazón frio. Algún

momento en nuestra historia empezamos a asociar el corazón con el comportamiento del hombre motivado por el alma. No sé porque, pero quizás será la importancia singular de cada latido del corazón en sostener la vida. O, mas bien, podría ser por la manera que el corazón puede correr a la mención del nombre de un amante. De cualquier manera, cuando pensamos en el amor, pensamos en el corazón.

En esta edición, examinamos los aspectos del corazón tanto lo físico como el romántico. La poesía y la canción Hispana están repletas del uso de la palabra. Parece relatar tanto a la condición del alma como a la salud.

El corazón bombea aproximadamente 100,000 veces al día. Bombea aproximadamente 8,000 litros al día. Ese latido dentro del pecho hace posible que vivamos. Quizás el amor, que tiene el poder de cambiar el latido del corazón y que hace que gozamos la vida, es la razón que el romance y el corazón están tan interrelacionados.

Les ruego que gocen de los artículos sobre ambos temas: El órgano del corazón y el romance que mejora el ritmo de su latido.

Acabo de leer un estudio en el Journal of the American Heart Association que dijo que el dolor que sufre uno al fallecimiento de un ser querido puede causar varios síntomas que aumentan los riesgos cardiovasculares. Entonces, como amamos y como perdemos al amor afecta no solo a nuestras emociones, sino, también, a nuestros cuerpos.

Otros estudios han comprobado que personas casadas tienen vidas mas largas que otras. No hay duda de que hay una relación entre como se gana o pierde el amor y nuestra condición física.

Podría ser que la mejor medicina siempre es amar y ser feliz. Les deseo un Día de San Valentín maravilloso.

Graham S. HetrickPublisher

Bienvenidos

A Note From The Publisher

4 LA VOZ LATINA CENTRAL

BENCHMARK GROUP MEDIA

February 2012 • Volume 2 No. 2

PUBLISHERGraham Hetrick–ghetrick@lavozlatinacentral.com

EDITOR-IN-CHIEFPatricia Hill-Boccassini–pboccassini@harrisburgmagazine.com

MANAGING EDITORJadrian Klinger–jklinger@benchmarkgroupmedia.com

GRAPHIC DESIGNERTim McKenna–tmckenna@benchmarkgroupmedia.com

EDITORIAL INTERNJenn Merrill - jmerrill@benchmarkgroupmedia.com

CONTRIBUTING WRITERSMark Kogan, Esq. | Dr. Hector Richard Ortiz | Kim Payne

Maribel González | Chelsea Hess-MooreOralia Garcia Dominic, Ph.D., M.A., M.S. | Andrea Morato-Lara, M.A.

SENIOR ACCOUNT EXECUTIVEPatrick “Patricio” Basom–pbasom@lavozlatinacentral.com

717.649.0916

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is looking for qualified sales representatives to selladvertising space. Sales experience required,

but will train in the field of advertising. Bilingual is highly desired.

Please contact Editor Patti Boccassini

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FEBRUARY 2012 5

6 LA VOZ LATINA CENTRAL

Cultural Corner:February, the Month of Love By Andrea Morato-Lara, M.A.

Andrea Morato-Lara, M.A., is a bilingual community activist, former VP of the PA Assn. of Latino Organizations, and former Director of the Harrisburg ADELANTE Project. She currently provides seminars and individual consults in English and Spanish on financial topics as an agent for New York Life Mutual Insurance Company.

I have a confession. I was born a Gringuita, or as my Mexican friends in my homeland called me, a Gabachita. For my English

speaking friends, I will explain that these are not insulting terms because the -ita on the end of the word indicates a beloved one, Gringuita indicates an American woman of Anglo cultural origin and a Gabachita is one of more Germanic descent. To be honest, I am Gabachita on my Dad’s side and Gringuita on my mother’s side, but most Latinos avoid using any of these words around non-Latinos because they don’t want to offend or be misunderstood.

I have two Hispanic last names because I chose to take my husband’s name when we married. I was already living in Latinolandia before I met him. I speak, think, write and dream in both English and Spanish, and have done so since I was 16 years old. There are many non-Hispanic people that choose to become a part of the Latino community in some way or another, and the beauty of it is that most Latinos welcome us. One indicator of this acceptance showed up in the census: Hispanics are more likely to marry outside their racial or ethnic group than any other group.

The sociologists call people like me “transculturated individuals.” Marketing experts define us as a niche market of Latino cross-over culture. Not all Anglos, African-Americans and other groups that cross over become fluent in Spanish. Many Latinos don’t speak Spanish either. You don’t have to speak Spanish to become more culturally conversant. Most

Hispanics patiently help outsiders to learn the ropes and forgive them when they commit the inevitable cultural blunders.

One thing I have noticed that has made me sad is that

sometimes

Latinos are less

forgiving of themselves than

they are of the gringuitos and gabachitos. The linguistic and cultural diversity that exists within the Latino communities of Pennsylvania is huge. Just talking about English and Spanish fluency, Latinos can be divided into 5 distinct groups: monolingual English speakers; bilingual English dominant; fully bilingual; bilingual Spanish dominant; and monolingual Spanish speakers.

I am considered fully bilingual, and I have found that many Latinos in the first two groups feel bad because they don’t speak Spanish fluently – as if just because their parents or

grandparents spoke Spanish, they should also speak it. Similarly, the Latinos that are Spanish dominant or Spanish Monolingual often feel bad that they are not fluent in English yet, or

they have a strong accent. What’s worse is that sometimes Latinos are unforgiving of

each other when the inevitable cultural blunders occur. This is especially sad, because most of the time one’s linguistic

and cultural fluencies are determined by the adults – their parents, teachers and even school district policies that

directed their young lives. The cultural choices we do make as adolescents are done within the constraints set by others. Maria is every inch a Latina, but does not speak Spanish because her

teachers convinced her parents that if she spoke Spanish at home or school she would

fail in life. Fernanda speaks no English because she moved here as an adult, works 40 hours a week and has small children at home to care for. Gloria reads English and understands it, but does not speak much because she is embarrassed of her accent.

So in this month of February, the month of love, I am asking you this: love those Latinos that are most different from you. Welcome them into your segment of our Latino community and help show them the ropes. When they offend you, assume they didn’t know any better and help them understand in private. Doing this, you will help to heal their wounds. And they will help heal yours.

FEBRUARY 2012 7

Tengo una confesión que hacer. Nací Gringuita, o como dicen mis amigos Mexicanos en mi tierra, Gabachita.

A mis amigos que hablan inglés, les digo que estos términos no son insultos por llevar el diminutivo -ita que indica que uno es un ser querido. Gringuita significa una americana de descendencia inglesa y Gabachita una de descendencia alemana. De hecho, soy Gabachita por el lado paterno y Gringuita por el materno, pero la mayoría de los latinos no suelen usar estas palabras en presencia de otros grupos para evitar ofender o crear un malentendido.

Llevo dos apellidos hispanos porque decidí tomar los apellidos de mi marido cuando nos casamos. Pero antes de conocerlo, ya vivía en Latinolandia. Desde los 16 años, hablo, pienso, escribo y sueño en inglés y español. Hay muchas personas no-hispanas que deciden hacerse parte de la comunidad latina, y lo más bello es que la mayoría de los latinos nos dan la bienvenida. Un indicador de este espíritu de aceptación aparece en el censo: en comparación a otros grupos, los hispanos tienen la mayor tendencia de casarse con alguien de otro grupo.

Los sociólogos llaman a gente como yo “individuos transculturizados.” Los expertos en mercadotecnia nos definen como a un nicho comercial de latinos puentes cross-culturales.

No todos los anglos, africanoamericanos y otros grupos que se entrecruzan culturalmente terminan hablando un español fluido. Muchos latinos no hablan español tampoco. Sin embargo, uno no debe hablar español necesariamente para familiarizarse más con las culturas latinas. La mayoría de los hispanos ayudan pacientemente a los novatos a aprender las reglas culturales, y cuando cometen aquellos errores culturales inevitables los disculpan.

Algo que he notado que me ha puesto triste es que algunas veces los latinos proceden con menos indulgencia consigo mismos que con los gringuitos y gabachitos. La diversidad lingüística y cultural que existe dentro de las

comunidades latinas de

Pensilvania es enorme. Si sólo se considera la capacidad lingüística en inglés y español, los hispanos se dividen en 5 grupos inconfundibles: los que sólo hablan inglés; los bilingües dominantes en inglés; los bilingües totales; los bilingües dominantes en español; y los que sólo hablan español.

A mí, me consideran bilingüe total, y me he dado cuenta de que muchos latinos de los grupos que sólo hablan inglés y los bilingües dominantes en inglés se sienten mal porque no hablan español bien como si se esperara que hablen en español fluidamente por el hecho de que sus padres o abuelos lo hablaban. De manera similar, los latinos que son bilingües dominantes en español o que sólo hablan español se sienten

mal también, porque todavía no hablan inglés fluidamente o porque tienen un acento fuerte. Lo peor es que a veces los latinos son implacables entre sí mismos cuando ocurre el inevitable error cultural. Esto es especialmente penoso, porque en general las capacidades culturales y

lingüísticas de uno han sido determinadas por los adultos los padres, maestros, y hasta los distritos escolares – que estuvieron a cargo de la formación de sus jóvenes vidas. Las selecciones culturales que tomamos en la adolescencia las hacemos

dentro de los constreñidos límites diseñados por otros. María es una latina muy latina, pero no habla español porque sus maestros convencieron a

sus padres en que si ella hablaba español en casa o en la escuela fracasará en la vida.

Fernanda no habla inglés porque llegó aquí ya adulta, trabaja 40 horas a la semana, y tiene hijos pequeños en casa que atender. Gloria puede leer inglés y entiende todo, pero no habla porque tiene vergüenza de su acento y pronunciación.

Entonces, en este mes de febrero, el mes del amor, le ruego hacer lo siguiente: sea cariñoso con los latinos que son muy diferentes a usted. Deles la bienvenida a su mundo, al universo de nuestra comunidad latina, y con mucho tacto ayúdeles a percibir las reglas de su grupo. Si le parece que le ofendieron, asuma que no fue a propósito y ayúdeles a entender en privado. Si usted hace esto, les ayudará a sanar sus heridas. Y ellos le ayudarán a sanar las suyas.

Esquina Cultural: Febrero, el Mes del Amor Por Andrea Morato-Lara, M.A.

Andrea Morató-Lara, M.A. es una activista bilingüe comunitaria, ex vicepresidente de La asociación de organizaciones latinas de Pennsylvania, y ex directora del proyecto ADELANTE de Harrisburg. Actualmente, provee seminarios y consulta individual en Español e Inglés en tópicos financieros como Agente de New York Life Mutual Insurance Company.

8 LA VOZ LATINA CENTRAL

Top Three Men’s Health Screenings (Ages 40-64)

Even if you are healthy, all adults should visit their primary care physician periodically for checkups, physicals and certain tests. The purpose of such visits is to screen for diseases, assess future medical issue risks, encourage engagement in a healthy lifestyle, update your vaccinations and maintain an on-going relationship with your physician.

Three common medical problems in older adults are high blood pressure, high blood sugar and high cholesterol. Typically, they don’t present any noticeable symptoms until the disease is more advanced. Thus, it’s important for individuals to see their health care provider to check for potential problems. There are specific times and age-specific guidelines for three necessary health screenings:

Blood Pressure Screening •Shouldbecheckedatleasteverytwoyearsunlessit’s120-139/80-89Hg or higher, then have it checked annually. •WatchforBPscreeningsinyourareaorstopinyourdoctor’sofficetoget checked. Many grocery stores and pharmacies also offer automated machines. •Ifthetop(systolic)numberisgreaterthan130orthebottom(diastolic) numberisgreaterthan85,callyourdoctor. •Ifyouhavediabetes,heartdisease,kidneyproblemsorcertainother conditions, you may need to be monitored more closely.

Cholesterol Screening •Menoverage34shouldbecheckedeveryfiveyears. •Menwithdiabetes,peoplewithheartdisease,kidneyproblemsorcertain other conditions may need to be monitored more closely. •Somemenshouldconsidertakingbabyaspirintopreventheartattacks.

Colon Cancer Screening •Menbetween50and75shouldbescreenedforcolorectalcancer. African- Americansshouldconsiderstartingscreeningatage45. This may involve: •Ayearlystooltest. •Flexiblesigmoidoscopyeveryfiveyearsalongwithastooloccult blood test. •Colonoscopyevery10years.

Formales50andover,regularprostateexams(bothdigitalrectalandbloodPSA)are an important part of any physical.

NOTE: These are general guidelines and are not meant to be substituted for any specific instructions from your physician. For questions regarding appropriate screenings, it is recommended you consult your doctor directly. Reviewed by J. Stephen Snoke, DO, of Snoke Family Practice in Camp Hill.

Yo Joe, It’s Time to

“Man Up!”By Kim A. Payne

Advertising Opportunities!¡Las oportunidades de publicidad!

Be part of a growing community!¡Sea parte de una creciente comunidad!

Call Patrick Basom for more information:

(717) 649-0916

FEBRUARY 2012 9

BENCHMARK GROUP MEDIA

Print

Web

Interactive

Publishing

3400 N. 6th Street Harrisburg, PA717.233.0109 ext 128benchmarkgroupmedia.com

10 LA VOZ LATINA CENTRAL

How strong is your heart? By some calculations, the healthy heart can produce

enough energy in an hour to lift a one-ton car off of the ground. That’s pretty strong, but what happens if your heart isn’t healthy? A damaged heart doesn’t work very well, perhaps leaving your body starved for oxygen. Even worse, if your arteries are damaged and your heart doesn’t get enough blood, you may have trouble lifting the weight of your own body, much less lifting a car off the ground.

There are so many things we deal with in our busy lives, and it’s tough to focus on something we can’t see or feel. Many types of heart disease fall into that category, and though it’s the single largest killer of American men and women, for many of us, it isn’t even on the radar. When we talk about heart disease, what we usually mean is coronary heart disease. If your coronary arteries, which supply oxygen to the heart, become blocked or damaged, your heart doesn’t get the nutrients it needs to function. That could lead to a heart attack or even death.

The good news is you do have some control over how healthy your heart is. What you do, what you eat and how you live can actually change how your heart works. It’s amazing; you actually have the ability to make your heart stronger with just a few small changes in your lifestyle. That’s a tremendous power – are you taking advantage of it?

Inactivity is one of the major risk factors for heart disease. However, exercise helps improve heart health and can even reverse some heart-disease risk factors. Like all muscles, the heart becomes stronger as a result

of exercise, so it can pump more blood through the body with every beat and continue to work at maximum level with less strain. The resting heart rate of those who exercise is also slower because less effort is needed to pump blood. This in itself puts less strain on the heart. A person who exercises often and vigorously has the lowest risk for heart disease, but any amount of exercise is beneficial. Studies consistently find that light-to-moderate exercise is beneficial in people with existing heart disease. It is important to note that anyone, with or without heart disease or cardiac risk factors, should seek medical advice before beginning a workout program.

If you’ve ever worked out, you’ve certainly felt the immediate effects of exercise; your heart speeds up as your body demands more oxygen, your breathing rate increases and you start to sweat to cool your body. All of those things go back to normal as soon as you stop exercising, but what you may not know is that exercising consistently can change how your heart functions.

This increased heart rate through exercise has a number of effects that benefit the heart and circulation. These benefits include improving cholesterol and fat levels, reducing inflammation in the arteries, helping weight loss and helping to keep blood vessels flexible and open. Studies continue to show that physical activity and avoiding high-fat foods are the two most successful means of reaching and maintaining heart health.

The American Heart Association recommends that individuals perform moderately intense exercise for at

least 30 minutes on most days of the week. This recommendation supports similar exercise guidelines issued by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the American College of Sports Medicine.

People who maintain an active lifestyle have a 45-percent lower risk of developing heart disease than do sedentary people. Beneficial changes in cholesterol and lipid levels, including LDL (“bad” cholesterol) levels, occur even when people performed low amounts of moderate-or-high-intensity exercise, such as walking or jogging 12 miles a week. However, more-intense exercise is required to significantly change cholesterol levels, notably increasing HDL (“good” cholesterol). An example of this kind of intense program would be jogging about 20 miles per week.

Some studies suggest that for the greatest heart protection, it is not the duration of a single exercise session that counts, but the total weekly amount of energy expended.

Resistance (weight) training has also been associated with heart protection. It may offer a complementary benefit to aerobics. If you have heart disease or risk factors for heart disease, check with your doctor before starting resistance training.

It’s never too late to start. Regular exercise helps keep arteries elastic (flexible) – even in seniors. This, in turn, ensures good blood flow and normal blood pressure. Sedentary people have a 35-percent greater risk of developing high blood pressure than physically active people do.

It’s a simple concept; everyone knows that exercise is important to our health and overall wellness. Just go for it and get started today.

Exerciseand theHeart

1. Aerobicexercisesdone30minutesadayisexcellentforincreasingyourheartrate.Climbingthestairs,abriskwalk,anexercisemachine, anything to get your heart rateup.Fungamesareagreatformofexerciseyoucandowithyoukids.Make it a family affair.

2. Anymoderatelyintenseexerciselikeswimming,jogging,Pilatesandyogaisgood.Exercisingyourheartmusclemeansexercisingyourbody.

3. Addextraactivitythroughoutyour day. Take the stairs, park your car further away from the door and definitely count those chores such as mowing the lawn, vacuuming or a short brisk walk around the block at lunch or on a break.

4. Ifyoualreadydoavigorousaerobic routine or are enrolled in an exerciseclass,thenthreedaysaweekfor20to30minutesadayisgood.

5. Foradultsthatare65orolderor anyone with chronic conditions or limited mobility, you need the sameamountofexerciseasyoungerpeople – the activity can be less intense. Use good judgment and follow your doctor’s advice.

6. Strengthtrainingisagreatcomplement to aerobic training for heart health and helps to prevent age-related bone and muscle-mass losses.

7. Like any plan, start strength training slowly and build up to heavier weights and repetitions especially if you are new or out of shape.

8. Practicebalanceexercisestohelp prevent falls and injuries.

9. Stretchingexercisesdoneeach day help maintain or improve flexibility.

Withanyexerciseprogram,it’sgood to start slowly by warming up, then increasing the pace. A good cooling down afterward is equally important.Withanynewexerciseplan, check with your doctor if you are at risk and follow the advice of qualified professionals.

Tips to help you

start a heart-healthyexercise plan.

By Bentz Tozer, Jr., BS, CPT

FEBRUARY 2012 11

LCDS’ First John Cooper Hubbard ScholarBy Chelsea Hess-Moore

“The spark that kindles the mind and heart illuminates a lifetime.” That is the motto of the Lancaster Country Day School (LCDS). Their mission is to encourage each student’s growth within a challenging and supportive academic environment that inspires enthusiasm for learning, the joy of accomplishment and commitment to community. Along with the staff ’s desire to fulfill the educational growth of the students, it tries to provide

opportunities for all students to attend by granting various scholarships to those who are in need.

One of the many scholarships offered is the John Cooper Hubbard Scholarship. This generous gift from Mr. Hubbard has established a new scholarship for an incoming fifth- or sixth-grade student who adds diversity to the school. As the first recipient of the Hubbard Scholarship, LCDS is proud to welcome Cristian Tineo, Jr. to its community.

This year, Antonio Hernandez, Jr. was entrusted with finding a promising student who would benefit from the award. He currently is enrolled at George Washington University, and he organized the scholarship program as part of his master’s degree program.

Hernandez has been a junior kindergarten teacher at LCDS for the last four years. He previously attended, and then taught, at Washington Elementary School. Through the cooperation of the administrative staff and the fifth-grade teachers at

Washington, Hernandez, as well as the head of LCDS Steven Lisk, worked together to find worthy candidates for this generous award.

Out of a pool of 12 candidates, five received invitations about the scholarship opportunity. When the selection committee reviewed the files of the final candidates, Tineo was the best fit for being honored with the award.

While the 11-year-old was at Washington, he displayed the enthusiasm for learning for which LCDS strives. He maintained above-average grades and consistently performed in the advanced category on state assessments. During his fifth-grade promotion ceremony, he was awarded the President’s Award for Academic Excellent. He also spent five weeks attending Project Forward Leap at Messiah College. This seven-year program is an education and enrichment intervention program for students enrolled in inner-city school districts.

Aside from his academic achievements, Tineo plays the cello and violin. He displays his musical talents in the school’s string ensemble, orchestra and choir. He was also a safety patrol guard and played on the intramural basketball team.

Hernandez had hopes that Hubbard would be pleased with how LCDS is working to reach out to the Latino community in Lancaster. And his hopes have come true. Hubbard was so happy with the selection of this candidate for the award that he has provided another $100,000 gift to offer to another prospective Latino student for the 2012-13 school year.

Hernandez plans to provide future updates about Tineo’s experiences as he becomes part of the LCDS family.

Check us out online!Visítanos en línea!

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La Voz Latina Central

12 LA VOZ LATINA CENTRAL

The start of the New Year marks a time for new beginnings, fresh starts, resolutions and tax returns. Our best advice about tax preparation is to start thinking about it early and develop a plan. Think about whether you plan to use a tax preparer to prepare your returns for you. If you plan on preparing them yourself, be sure to decide which software or service you will utilize (visit irs.gov for free e-filing options for many taxpayers).

To help get your “mind” ready for tax time, here is a quick review of some of the common deductions and credits that can help many taxpayers:

Child Tax Credit

Taxpayers with one or more qualifying children may be able to claim a child tax credit of up to $1,000 per qualifying child. The child tax credit is generally a nonrefundable credit that is limited to regular tax liability plus alternative minimum tax (AMT) liability. The qualifying child must be a dependent, under the age of 17 and a U.S. citizen, resident alien or national. The child tax credit is phased out by $50 for each $1,000 of adjusted gross income above the beginning phase-out amount. Please see IRS Publication 972 for more information (available at irs.gov).

Education Tax Credits

For tax year of 2011, the following education credits are available: American Opportunity Credit and the Lifetime Learning Credit. Both credits can offset regular tax and AMT in 2011. The education credits are available for qualified

tuition and/or related expenses of the taxpayer, the taxpayer’s spouse or a dependent of the taxpayer claimed on the taxpayer’s return. Generally, qualified tuition expenses are defined as post-secondary (college) expenses.

The American Opportunity Credit is $2,500 per student (100 percent of the first $2,000 of eligible expenses and 25 percent of the next $2,000 of expenses). To qualify for the credit, the student must not have completed first four years of post-secondary education at an eligible educational institution. The credit can only be claimed for four tax years for any one student.

The Lifetime Learning Credit is a non-refundable tax credit of 20 percent of up to $10,000 of qualified tuition and fees paid during the tax year. This credit is per taxpayer, not per student. Thus, a family’s maximum credit is the same regardless of the number of students in the family. There is no limit on the number of years for which the credit can be claimed for each student. Please see IRS Publication 970 for more details.

Child and Dependent Care Credit

Taxpayers can claim a nonrefundable credit for a percentage of their dependent care expenses that enable them to work. In 2011, the credit can offset regular tax and AMT. Maximum qualifying expenses for the child and dependent care credit one $3,000 for taxpayers with one qualifying individual and $6,000 for taxpayers with two or more qualifying individuals. The credit percentage ranges from 20 percent to 35 percent with a maximum credit of 20 percent of qualified expenses for taxpayers with adjusted gross income over $43,000. Eligible expenses are limited to the earned income of either the taxpayer or spouse, whichever is less, so both spouses must have earned income in order to tax the credit. The credit must be based on payments made in the year services are provided. Please see the instructions to Form 2441 for more details.

Job-Hunting Expenses

In light of the tough economy, many taxpayers may be unemployed and looking for employment. An important thing to remember is that some of the expenses related to job-hunting may be deductible on Schedule A of the taxpayer’s tax return. Common expenses include the following:

• fees paid to employment agencies; • cost of typing, printing and mailing resumes; • cost of assembling portfolios of work; • career counseling to improve position in trade;• fees for legal and accounting services or tax advice relating to employment

contracts;• advertising for a new job in present field;• transportation costs to job interviews;• long distance phone calls to prospective employers;• out-of-town travel expenses including meals, lodging and local transportation.

Please see IRS Publication 4128 for information on job-hunting expenses.

These are just a few of the many items to consider when preparing your tax return. Please visit the McKonly & Asbury Newsstand (macpas.com/newsstand) for more up to date tax and accounting news.

New Year Tax PreparationCourtesy of McKonly & Asbury, LLP

FEBRUARY 2012 13

Preparación de Impuestos Año NuevoCortesía de McKonly & Asbury, LLP

El comienzo del año marca el momento para empezar de nuevo y hacer la declaración de impuestos (el papeleo necesario para declarar y pagar sus impuestos o solicitar a la renta su rembolso si es que califica). El mejor consejo nuestro en relación a la preparación de su declaración es empezar a pensar en ello temprano y hacer un plan. Piense en si va a usar un servicio profesional “tax preparer”. Si Ud. planea preparar sus papeles sin auxilio profesional, investigue los programas o servicios computacionales que podría usar. Para enterarse de algunas opciones gratuitas para someter su declaración/solicitud por la red, visite el sitio internet www.irs.gov. En esa página, arriba y a la derecha apriete el botón “Español.” En la siguiente página, apriete el botón enlace, “Información sobre el servicio e-file del IRS”.

Para orientarse en la preparación para esta época de impuestos repasamos a continuación algunos de los créditos y rebajas más comunes que pueden beneficiar a muchos.

Crédito de impuestos para personas con dependientes menores “Child Tax Credit”

Personas que tienen uno o más dependientes menores que califican podrían tomar un crédito de hasta $1,000 para cada uno. Este crédito normalmente no es reembolsable y es limitado a su responsabilidad de impuestos más su responsabilidad de impuestos mínimos alternativos (“AMT” por sus siglas en inglés para “Alternative Minimum Tax”). Para calificar, el sujeto menor tiene que ser legalmente dependiente de Ud., tener menos de 17 años, y ser ciudadano, residente legal, o nacional. La cantidad del crédito baja $50 por cada $1,000 de ingreso bruto por encima de una suma dictada por la renta que se llama “phase-out amount.” Para más información, consulte la publicación “IRS Publication 972” que se puede acceder por la red en el sitio http://www.irs.gov/espanol/index.html.

Crédito de impuestos para educación “Education Tax Credit”

Para el año fiscal 2011, hay los siguientes créditos para educación: 1) “American opportunity credit” and 2) “Lifetime learning credit.” Ambos se pueden usar para bajar sus impuestos regulares y los AMT. Los créditos para educación se usan para matrícula y/o gastos relacionados pagados por el contribuyente, su cónyuge, o su dependiente nombrado en la declaración del contribuyente. Generalmente, gastos educacionales calificados se definen como gastos pos-secundarios (universitarios).

El crédito llamado “American Opportunity Credit” es hasta $2,500 por estudiante (100% de los primeros $2,000 de gastos elegibles y 25% de los siguientes $2,000 de gastos elijables.) Para calificar, el estudiante no debe haber completado cuatro años de educación pos secundarios en una institución calificada. El crédito sólo se puede usar para cuatro años de declaraciones para cada estudiante.

El crédito llamado “Lifetime Learning Credit” es un crédito no reembolsable hasta el 20% de un máximo de $10,000 de matrícula y otros gastos calificados durante el año fiscal. Este crédito es para cada contribuyente – no por cada estudiante. Por eso, el máximo de este crédito es igual independientemente del número de estudiantes en la familia. No hay límite en el número de años por cual se puede usar ese crédito para cada estudiante. Consulte la publicación “IRS Publication 970” para obtener más detalles.

Crédito de impuestos para el cuidado de niños y otros dependientes

Los contribuyentes de impuestos pueden usar un crédito no reembolsable de un porciento de sus gastos de cuidado de dependientes que les permite trabajar. Para su declaración del 2011, ese crédito se puede usar para reducir sus impuestos normales y AMT. Los gastos máximos que pueden calificar para el crédito de impuestos para el cuidado de dependientes es $3,000 para los contribuyentes con un dependiente que

califica y $6,000 para aquéllos con dos o más dependientes que califican.El crédito porciento va desde 20% hasta 35% con un máximo de 20% de gastos

calificados para los contribuyentes con un ingreso bruto ajustado de más de $43,000. Los gastos elegibles se limitan al ingreso más bajo de uno de los cónyuges. Entonces, para calificar para este crédito los dos necesitan tener trabajo. El crédito se tiene que basar en los pagos que han hecho durante el año en que los servicios han sido proveídos. Consulte las instrucciones del Formulario 2441 para obtener más detalles.

Gastos de la búsqueda de trabajo

En una economía tan dura como la actual, muchos contribuyentes pueden estar desempleados y en busca de trabajo. Es importante recordar que muchos costos relacionados a la búsqueda de trabajo se puede deducir usando el “Schedule A” del formulario de la declaración. Gastos comunes incluyen lo siguiente:

• Cuotas pagadas a agencias de empleo• El costo de escribir, imprimir, y mandar solicitudes• El costo de la preparación de su portafolio• Consejo profesional de carrera para mejorar su posición dentro de su campo de

trabajo• Costos legales y para servicios de contabilidad o consejería sobre impuestos

relacionado a los contratos de empleo• Gastos de diseminación de información para buscar un nuevo trabajo en su campo

actual• Costos de transporte para asistir a entrevistas de trabajo• Llamadas de larga distancia a

trabajos posibles• Gastos de viajes como hotel,

alimentación, y transporte local.

Para más información sobre gastos que califican, favor de consultar la publicación, “Publication 4128.”

Aquí hemos incluido algunos aspectos de entre muchos que se deben considerar cuando se prepara una declaración de impuestos. Visite el periódico-informativo McKonly & Asbury Newsstand (www.macpas.com/newsstand) para noticias sobre contabilidad e impuestos.

Todos los formularios y publicaciones de la renta federal del país están disponibles en la página Internet del IRS en www.irs.gov . O consulte la página en español para ver la lista de formularios disponibles en español. Para solicitar una copia gratis de cualquier formulario o publicación en español por favor llame al IRS línea auxiliar 1-800-829-3676.

14 LA VOZ LATINA CENTRAL

Independent Medical Exam

If you have been injured at work or filed a law suit for injuries

sustained by the negligence of someone else, you may be scheduled by an insurance company to submit to a medical evaluation with a physician chosen by the insurance company. This is called an “independent medical exam.” Generally, you will have to attend or potentially forfeit either your workers’ compensation

checks or your law suit. The insurance company is entitled to have you evaluated to be able to ascertain the extent of your injuries and disability. Although this examination is sometimes referred to as an independent examination, it is anything but independent. It is bought and paid for by the insurance company to provide it with a defense to your claim to limit its liability.

Many times, you will be asked in the letter scheduling your evaluation

to bring all of your X-ray and MRI films with you for the physician to review. If you have them, you can bring them, but you do not have to obtain them if you do not already have them in your possession. The letter may also tell you to bring all of your medical records. It is not your responsibility to collect your medical records. The insurance company has the means to do that, and it should have gathered all of your records prior to scheduling the evaluation.

Do not expect the evaluating physician to fairly examine you and write an unbiased report. This is important to know because the evaluating physician is going to be looking for things in your history and in your examination to demonstrate that you are not being truthful. How then do you act at such an evaluation?

The first rule is be honest in your answers to the physician’s questions. Remember the physician has probably reviewed all of your medical records before the evaluation. So if he asks you whether you ever injured your back before, even if it was 20 years ago, tell him about it. Do not try to outsmart the physician. Simply and honestly answer his questions. If the physician is looking to make you out to be a liar, do not help him.

Once the examination begins, be as cooperative and truthful as possible with the instructions from the physician. He will tell you to go through a number of maneuvers. Most of these maneuvers are designed to elicit a response from you. Many times the physician will indicate any pain

by Mark Kogan, Esq.

FEBRUARY 2012 15

during these maneuvers, and will then quickly go through them without ever asking you again, “Does that hurt?” So be aware of this and make sure that you tell him when any maneuver causes you discomfort.

On the other hand, the physician will also put you through maneuvers that are not designed to elicit a pain response. These are designed for the physician to detect if you are being truthful about your complaints. So also be aware of these tests. For instance, the physician may lightly put pressure on the top of your head or gently touch your back. Generally these maneuvers should not cause back

pain. If you complain of pain during these maneuvers the physician will write in his report to the insurance company that you are a malingerer. The rule of thumb is to be alert at your evaluation and to be honest in your responses to the tests the physician puts you through and to the questions the physician asks of you. Do not exaggerate your responses, and do not understate them.

The physician will also be looking for inconsistencies in you behavior. For instance, he may ask you to bend over as far as you can at the waist while standing, and then later ask you to remove your shoes and socks. If you tell the physician that you cannot bend more than a few inches, and then sit down and easily bend at the waist to remove your shoes and socks, the physician will make a note of it and report that you are a malingerer.

The physician may observe your behavior outside of his office. He may watch as you walk to or from your car through the parking lot. So do not feign a limp or other pain related posture that is not legitimate. The physician may also check any braces that you have on for wear. If you tell the physician you wear your brace every day, one would expect it to have signs of wear.

In sum, be aware of the purpose of the examination, be alert to what the physician is asking you, be truthful in you responses, be cooperative, be polite, do not exaggerate and do not understate.

by Mark Kogan, Esq.

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By Maribel González

Por Maribel González

Grano a Grano

Greetings from Lebanon, Pa. My name is Maribel González, and I’m a community volunteer. I work as an interpreter and administrative assistant for the English as a Second Language

Department in the Lebanon School District. I recently accomplished my goal of graduating from college with a bachelor’s degree in behavioral health.

Although I was born in this small town, I spent my first few years in Puerto Rico. Oftentimes, we make decisions in life that change our course. From my humble origins in Puerto Rico, to my life now in Pennsylvania, I have had many experiences full of lessons that have contributed to the person that I am today.

I have always had a passion for helping others, but it was not until recently that I realized it was my calling in life. Through the American Foundation for Children with AIDS (AFCA), I am preparing to travel to Africa with a group this coming July 2012 to climb Mt. Kilimanjaro to raise funds and awareness for children with AIDS. Mt. Kilimanjaro is the tallest mountain in Africa. It is over 19,000 feet (5791.2 meters) tall and

will take seven days to climb. We will hike uphill for about 40 miles (64.4 km.) Included in my prayers is that my knees do not give up.

At 42, it could be said that half of my life is over, but I still have many things I would like to accomplish. I lost both of my parents to cancer. That lesson taught me that life truly is short. None of us is guaranteed another tomorrow. I would like to do many things before I die, and one of them is visiting an orphanage in Africa.

Those who know me well know how adventurous and spontaneous I am, but I cannot conquer this adventure alone. I rely on the support of my family, friends and the readers. In Spanish, there is a saying that goes, “Grain by grain the hen fills itself.” In other words, little by little, in the most minimum we can do, we collectively help each other to the maximum.

Saludos desde Lebanon, PA. Me llamo Maribel González. Sirvo de voluntaria en la comunidad, y trabajo como Intérprete/Asistente Administrativa en el Departamento de Inglés Como Segundo

Idioma en el Distrito Escolar de Lebanon. Recientemente logré mi sueño de graduarme de la Universidad con un Bachillerato en Salud Mental.

Aunque nací en este pueblito, mis primeros años de vida los viví en Puerto Rico. Muchas veces tomamos decisiones en la vida que cambian nuestro rumbo. Desde mis humildes orígenes en mi pequeña isla, a mi vida actualmente en Pennyslvania, he pasado por muchas experiencias llenas de lecciones las cuales han contribuido a la persona que soy hoy en día.

Siempre he tenido una pasión para ayudar a otros, pero desde hace poco me he dado cuenta de que ese es mi llamado en la vida. Ahora, a través de la organización Fundación Americana para los Niños con SIDA (American Foundation for Children with AIDS - AFCA), me estoy preparando para viajar a África con un grupo en julio de 2012 para escalar la Montaña Kilimanjaro. El

objetivo es recaudar fondos y despertar la conciencia sobre niños afectados con SIDA. Mt. Kilimanjaro es la montaña más alta en África. Tiene sobre 19,000 pies de altura (5791.2 metros), y nos tomará 7 días para subir. Estaremos caminando cuesta arriba por 40 millas (64.4 km.) ¡Incluido en mis oraciones está que mis rodillas no se den por vencidas!

A los 42 años se puede decir que ya he vivido la mitad de mi vida, pero aun me queda mucho por hacer. Personalmente, perdí ambos de mis padres a la enfermedad de cáncer. Eso me enseñó que la vida realmente es corta. Ninguno de nosotros es garantizado otro mañana. Quiero hacer muchas cosas antes de morir, una de ella es visitar un orfanato de niños en África.

Aquellos que me conocen bien saben lo aventurera y espontánea que soy, pero no puedo lograr esta aventura sola. Cuento con el apoyo de mi familia, amistades, y ustedes los lectores. En español hay un dicho que dice, “Grano a grano se llena la gallina el buche.” En otras palabras, poco a poco en lo más mínimo que podamos hacer, colectivamente nos ayudamos a lo máximo.

FEBRUARY 2012 17

The 10th annual Pennsylvania Horse World Expo will host some of the nation’s leading equestrian clinicians, entertainers and horse owners in Harrisburg for four nonstop days of education, entertainment and shopping, February 23-26.

The expo is actually two events in one, which features national and international clinicians teaching riders to train their own horses, as well as unparalleled shopping with everything imaginable for horses under one roof.

Theatre Equus, A Musical Equine Revue is a professionally choreographed and scripted show in which humans and horses partner to perform remarkable feats of daring. Geared for all ages, Theatre Equus features two hours of family entertainment starring horses – part circus, part Wild West show, part equestrian ballet. Performances by nearly 30 of the country’s most highly trained horses are accompanied by music, enhanced lighting and narration.

A new addition to this year’s Pennsylvania Horse World Expo is the Trail Champions Challenge. The Challenge is a timed and judged event in which competitors negotiate a difficult set of obstacles that test athleticism, horsemanship and the communication and bond between horse and rider. The exciting and entertaining competition features horse-and-rider combinations from throughout the region who are judged on the quality of horsemanship at each obstacle.

By day, many of the country’s most accomplished horse trainers present seminars on training. By night (Friday and Saturday), audiences are dazzled with their amazing performances in Theatre Equus. Among them is a trick trainer, a movie trainer and a stuntman. Then there’s the “equine extremist,” Tommie Turvey, Jr., whose horses trust him so completely that they accomplish dangerous stunts no other horse trainer has attempted. Those amazed by Turvey’s performance during Theatre Equus can watch him teach his horses to do tricks like lying relaxed on their backs, feet in the air, before crowds of thousands.

In addition to top equestrian clinicians and performers, the 10th annual Pennsylvania Horse World Expo will feature hundreds of vendors and equines of all breeds and disciplines. Vendors will fill more than 500 booths and 180,000 square feet of exhibit space with an overwhelming selection of horse-related merchandise for browsing and buying. Visitors can learn about a variety of breeds on Breed Row and during the daily Parade of Breeds. Visitors can also meet breeding stallions up close at Stallion Avenue. The latest in horse-keeping technology will be featured at the show along with apparel, barns, artwork, books, equestrian vacations, feed, trailers, tack, training, schools and much more.

Daily admission (cash only) is $12, $6 for children ages 7 to 12. Children under 7 are admitted free. Tickets are available at the door or on the website at horseworldexpo.com. Reserved seating for Theatre Equus, which begins Friday and Saturday, February 24 and 25 at 8:30 p.m. is $12 to $24. Tickets are available at the show (while supplies last) or online. The Farm Show Complex charges $8 per day for parking. For more information, call (301) 916-0852.

THE PA HORSE WORLD EXPO COMES TO TOWN

BYPATTIBOCCASSINI

The weather outside may be chilly, but inside the climate-controlledPennsylvaniaFarmShowComplexandExpoCenter,tensofthousandsofhorse

enthusiasts will be warm and comfy and dreaming of the fair-weather riding season to come.

Thursday, February 23 Noon to 8 p.m.

Friday, February 24 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Saturday, February 25 9 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Sunday, February 26 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Viernes, el 9 marzo, 7:30PM THE BORINQUENEERSFiesta de Estreno después de la película GRATIS Un documentario sobre el 65o Regimiento de Infantería (la única unidad de Hispanos en la historia del Ejercito de los Estados Unidos). El director de la película, Figueroa Soulet, y un veterano del 65o Regimiento estarán allí.

Sabado, el 10 de marzo, 2PM Cinco Días Sin Nora WGANADORA DE 7 PREMIOS ARIELAdultos: $6. Personas de Tercera Edad/Estudiantes: $4. Una familia judía en México se desordena cuando sale un secreto familiar sostenido durante mucho tiempo.

Sabado, el 10 de marzo, 7PM Semilla ESTRENO INTERNACIONAL Un muchacho puertorriqueño encuentra la esperanza, los sueños, y ilusiones fuera de la ciudad dura en el paisaje de Lancaster County.Charla con director local David Godin y miembros del reparto. La película es GRATIS. Después, hay una gala formal, corbata negra opcional. Boletos: $35, Llame a 717-871-2308.

Domingo, el 11 marzo, 2PM La NanaAdultos: $6. Personas de Tercera Edad/Estudiantes: $4.Una mujer que lleva 23 años trabajando de nana para una familia siente peligrar su lugar cuando la famila contrata a otra nana.

Domingo, el 11 marzo, 7PM El Secreto de Sus Ojos Adultos: $6. Personas de Tercera Edad/Estudiantes: $4.Ganadora del Premio Oscar como Mejor Película de Habla No Inglesa 2010. Un empleado en un Juzgado Penal escribe una novela sobre la violación y el ases-inato de una mujer joven.

Lunes, el 12 marzo, 5PM Casi Una Mujer – Parte ILa lucha de una mujer joven cuando se mude de una región rural de Puerto Rico a Nueva York, basado en la novela best seller por Esmeralda Santiago. GRATIS

Lunes, el 12 marzo, 7PM Casi Una Mujer – Parte IIEn vivo en la escena, ESMERALDA SANTIAGO

Millersville University Lancaster42 N. Prince St., Lancaster, Pa

Para más información, llame a 717-871-2308, o visite www.millersville.edu/ware-center/film

Descuentos de aparcamiento son disponibles para Prince St. Garage

Financiado por: La Fundación de la Comunidad de Lancaster County

La Oficina de Equidad y Diversidad de la Universidad de MillersvilleEl Centro Ware y La Asociación Literaria

Millersville University is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action institution. A member of the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education.

18 LA VOZ LATINA CENTRAL

La Libertad y el Privilegio de Ser lo que Verdaderamente Fuimos Creados Para SerPor el Dr. Hector R. Ortiz

Como acertadamente lo decía Shakespeare, “Ser o No ser, Esa es la pregunta.” Esto tiene sentido porque en la vida, lo que

verdaderamente importa no es lo que usted tiene, sino lo que usted es capaz de crear. No importa solo lo que usted es capaz de acumular, sino lo que usted es capaz de usar y disfrutar. Lo que realmente importa es que reconozca ¿Quien es usted? y en que le gustaría convertirse. Damas y caballeros, ¡La vida es bella! Es por eso que yo les invito a disfrutar las grandes cosas que nos ofrece la vida cada segundo que nosotros tenemos la fortuna de vivir en la tierra.

Por supuesto que es justo estar consciente de lo que nos deparara el futuro así como tener en mente las experiencias aprendidas del pasado. Sin embargo, es importante vivir lo que se tiene, disfrutar lo que se nos concede y estar dispuesto a encarar los desafíos que la vida nos presenta en nuestra lucha por alcanzar el éxito en la vida. Yo se que el éxito quizás tiene muchas definiciones y diversas formas de interpretación. Pero el hecho es que el éxito viene mas rápido para aquellos que se atreven a explorar todas las alternativas y oportunidades que se les presente sin temor alguno. Por supuesto, es natural tener ansiedad o ponerse nervioso cuando tomamos nuevos riesgos, pero usted no está siendo justo con usted mismo, si usted abandona su ideal o se vuelve negativo desde el inicio de su sueño, objetivo o compromiso. Por lo tanto, cree una vía positiva de vida en vez de seguir ciegamente la adversidad aparente de las circunstancias. No permita que usted sea arrastrado por la fatalidad, sino por la calidad de sus decisiones. Cuando usted utiliza el poder de escoger, usted está evitando caer en la trampa de enfocarse solo en las fallas, defectos y debilidades.

Es por eso que continuamente he enfatizado en mis obras escritas que haga

un inventario de sus bienes y sea agradecido por los privilegios concedidos. El mostrar aprecio por lo que tenemos nos anima a entender el real significado de la vida y disfrutar cada segundo de nuestra corta existencia. Como dice Piero Ferrucci, “Si nosotros reconocemos el valor de lo que tenemos, nosotros nos sentimos ricos y afortunados. SI nosotros no reconocemos esto, nosotros nos sentimos pobres e infelices” (Ferrucci 2006, 174). Como usted sabe, ni siquiera los descubrimientos científicos contemporáneos pueden prevenir que nosotros dejemos de existir. Desde el comienzo de la vida, sabemos

y reconocemos que la vida tiene un principio e inobjetablemente tendrá un final, al menos en la tierra. Por lo tanto, la muerte es un destino común para todos. La vida en la tierra es finita. Esta es otorgada exclusivamente para usted. Este es su tiempo. ¡Úselo! ¡Vívalo! ¡Disfrútelo! Por eso, haga como un antiguo pensamiento nos lo recuerda, “No deje para mañana lo que puede hacerlo hoy”

Cuando el creador del Premio Nobel de la Paz, Alfred Nobel, leyó un anuncio en el que equivocadamente se hablaba de su muerte, el se quedo anonadado por la terrible manera y forma

en que la gente juzgaba al hombre que había inventado la dinamita. En verdad el que había muerto era su hermano, pero sin embargo, esta experiencia transformó su vida. Después de ver lo que la gente pensaba de su vida, Nobel estableció el premio Nobel para limpiar su nombre y reconocer los avances científicos.

Nosotros también deberíamos considerar como otros nos percibirían si nosotros muriéramos en este instante. Esta forma de pensar nos podría obligar a revisar nuestros errores y aciertos, e incluso mejor todavía, apreciar las ventajas que tenemos tales como la vida, el amor, la sabiduría, la inteligencia, la aptitud, los amigos, la paz, la salud, el hogar, una carrera, sueños, planes, habilidades, talentos, la esperanza y la familia. El solo hacer esta lista le traerá una mejor apreciación para su alma y un bienestar espiritual interior. Esto le hará recordar que usted es único y que usted es una de esas cosas grandiosas de la creación de la vida. Por lo tanto, piense en positivo y viva positivamente, quizás despacio pero siempre avanzando y progresando de tal manera que usted pueda ser capaz de encontrar la libertad y el privilegio de descubrir que usted es la persona que fue creada para ser.

FEBRUARY 2012 19

The Freedom and Privilege of Being Who You Are Meant to Be

As Shakespeare so correctly stated, “To be or not to be, that is the question.” It just makes sense because, in life,

what really matters is not what we have, but what we create. It is not what we accumulate, but what we are able to use and enjoy. What really has importance is to recognize who you are and what you would like to become. Life is beautiful, ladies and gentlemen. Let us enjoy the greatness of life every single second that we have the fortune to be on earth.

Of course, it is fair to be conscious of what we will face in the future as well as keep in mind the experiences of the past. However, it is important to love what you have, to enjoy what you get and to be ready to face the challenges that life presents us in order to achieve success. I know that success may have different definitions and diverse interpretative pathways. The fact is that success comes easier to those who explore choices and opportunities without fear. It is natural to be anxious or nervous when taking new risks, but you are not being fair to yourself if you quit or become negative at the start of a new dream, goal or commitment. Create a positive way of living instead of blindly following the apparent fatality of circumstances. Don’t let yourself be driven by fate, but by the quality of your choices. When you exercise the power of choice, you avoid the trap of focusing on faults, defects or weaknesses.

That is why, in most of my writings, I have emphasized the importance of making a periodic inventory of our assets and being thankful for the privileges that we receive. Showing appreciation for what we have encourages us to understand the real meaning of life and enjoy each second of our short existence. Piero Ferrucci says, “If we recognize the value of what we have, we feel rich and fortunate. If we do not recognize it, we feel poor and unhappy”.

As you know, not even our contemporary

scientific discoveries can prevent us from dying. From the beginning of life, we are told and we acknowledge that life has a beginning and undoubtedly will have an end, at least on earth. Consequently, death is a common destiny for all. Life on earth is finite. It is granted exclusively to you. It is your time. Use it! Live it! Enjoy it! As an old adage reminds us, “Do not wait for tomorrow what can be done today.”

When the creator of the Nobel Prize, Alfred Nobel, read a premature announcement of his death, he was shocked by the terrible judgments people made of him, the man who invented dynamite. In fact the person who really died was his brother, but this experience transformed Nobel’s life. After seeing what people thought about his life, Nobel established the Nobel Prize to clear his name and recognize scientific advancement.

We, too, should consider how others would perceive us if we died at this moment. Such thought might compel us to reappraise our mistakes and accomplishments, or better yet, appreciate the advantages we have such as life, love, wisdom, intelligence, aptitude, friends, peace, health, home, a career, dreams, plans, skills, talents, hope, family and relatives.

As such, make a list for the things that you believe you should be thankful for. Such a list will bring appreciation to your soul and spiritual comfort to your inner self. It will remind you that you are unique; you are among the greatness of life’s conception. Think positive and live positively, and slowly, but progressively, you may be able to find the freedom and privilege of discovering that you are the person that you were created to be.

By Dr. Hector R. Ortiz

20 LA VOZ LATINA CENTRAL

Happy Valentine’s DaySex, Chocolate and RomanceBy Oralia Garcia Dominic, Ph.D., M.A., M.S.

The month of February is synonymous with Valentine’s Day. Valentine’s Day is an annual commemoration celebrating love and affection between intimate couples. It is a tradition where lovers express their love for each other by presenting flowers, chocolates and sending love messages. The flowers are typically red roses. The chocolates are wrapped in a red heart-shaped box. The love message is in the form of a personal handwritten poem, letter or a store-bought greeting card. There are many symbols of Valentine’s Day, including cupid, doves, jewelry, many heart-shaped figurines and edible treats.

This year, I wanted to know what you think about Valentine’s Day, specifically what your thoughts are about romance, relationship, sex, chocolate and roses. You know what works and what doesn’t work for lovers. So, I asked over 30 faithful readers to share some of their thoughts with me. Their names will remain anonymous as promised. Below are the words of wisdom from you – the readers of La Voz for a happy Valentine’s Day.

Relationship:• Be best friends with your partner.• Show your love for each other every day, not just on Valentine’s Day. • Don’t cheat on your partner. • Commit to your partner. This will tell you and your partner where each stands. • Do fun things together. For example, you can cook meals together.• Don’t take your partner for granted. Having someone who loves you is a

blessing.

Romance:• Just be romantic. Anything you do that makes your partner feel special is

romantic. You can look for romantic ideas on the Internet.• Do little things that make your partner happy, especially when your partner

least expects it. • Hold your partner’s hand when you go for a walk or are out in public. • Send your partner a short email or text saying, “I love you” or “I am thinking of

you” or “You rock!” • Give your partner a hug and kiss just because. • Give your partner a massage or foot rub. Or a gift certificate for a day of

pampering.

Sex: • Be responsible in your sexual behavior. • Be in a monogamous relationship. This decreases your risk of STDs.• Be romantic. One inexpensive way is to decorate a space with candles and rose

pedals.• Be sexy, yet classy.• Let your partner know what you like and don’t like. This avoids confusion.

Chocolate:• Buy only good chocolate without artificial ingredients. It really is worth the

higher price. • Indulge in chocolate. Do this only one time a year on Valentine’s Day.

• Surprise your partner with your very own homemade chocolate treats. This can be done anytime.

• Try mini-chocolates; this will help with portion control. • Gift your partner a chocolate-scented candle, body lotion or massaging oil.

Emotional Problems and HealthWe all know that a “broken heart” dampens one’s spirit. A broken heart is

typically used to describe the intense emotional pain and suffering one feels after losing or being hurt by a loved one. Many songs and poems talk about “heart breaks,” and include words like “he broke my heart” or “that person is cold hearted!” A broken heart may lead to emotional distress. Many people would agree that good-hearted lovers are preferred over cold-hearted lovers.

Emotional distress also dampens one’s activity. According the PA Department of Health’s Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance Survey (BRFSS) data, in 2010, on average, one in four (22 percent) adult Pa. residents, 18 years and older, reported that they had limited activity due to physical, mental or emotional problems. Talk to your doctor about ways to manage emotional distress.

Heart HealthA sedentary lifestyle can increase your risk for heart disease. According the

PA Department of Health’s Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance Survey (BRFSS) data, in 2010, on average, one in 10 (11 percent) of adult Pa. residents, 35 years and older, reported having had a heart attack, heart disease or stroke.

From a health (physical) perspective, “What does your heart look like?” This is an important question because a good, healthy heart yields better outcomes when compared to a poor, unhealthy heart. It is advisable to talk with your doctor about finding ways to keep your heart healthy. Below are some general health guidelines to follow:

• Talk with your doctor about ways to reduce your risk for heart disease, heart attack or stroke.

• Maintain a healthy blood pressure.• Talk to your doctor about your salt intake needs.• Find ways to cope with stress. Exercise is a good way to reduce stress. • Maintain a healthy weight by balancing calories with physical activity.• Talk to your doctors about your dietary intake needs.• Be selective of your food choices try to avoid processed foods that are low in

fiber and high in saturated fat.• Find (and try) a variety of recipes that use fruits and vegetables as main

ingredients

Valentine’s Day is a special day indeed. Romance, chocolates and good food add to its sweetness. Love is in the air. Just make sure you take care of your heart and emotions as you express your love for one another. OK, take good care of yourself in 2012 and beyond. Send me your health questions to ¡Hola, Oralia! at Dr.OraliaGarciaDominic@gmail.com. Together we can help keep Pennsylvania residents healthy. ¡Salud!

FEBRUARY 2012 21

¡Feliz día de San Valentín!¡Sexo, chocolate y romance!Por Oralia Garcia Dominic, Ph.D., M.A., M.S.

¡El mes de febrero es sinónimo con el día de San Valentín! Ese día es una conmemoración anual celebrando el amor y el afecto entre parejas íntimas. Es una tradición en la cual los amantes expresan su amor con la presentación de flores, chocolates, y por medio de mensajitos de amor. Típicamente, las flores son rosas rojas. Los chocolates están en una caja roja en forma de corazoncito. El mensaje de amor viene en forma de un poema escrito a mano en una carta o una tarjeta de la tienda. Hay muchos símbolos del día de San Valentín, incluyendo Cupido, palomas, joyas, objetos preciosos en forma de corazón, y postres y dulces especiales.

Este año, quería saber que piensan Uds. sobre el Día de San Valentín, específicamente sus pensamientos sobre romance, relaciones entre pareja, sexo, chocolate y rosas. Ud. sabe que funciona y que no funciona para los amantes. Entonces, seleccioné al azar a 30 lectores fieles de “La Voz” y les pedí que compartieran sus ideas conmigo. Los participantes quedarán anónimos como prometí. A continuación están las palabras sabias de Uds. – los lectores de “La Voz” - ¡Para que tengan un Día de San Valentín muy feliz!

La relación con su pareja:• Haga que su pareja sea su mejor amigo(a).• Demuestre su amor cada día, no solo el Día de San Valentín.• No engañe a su pareja.• Comprométase con su pareja. De esa manera cada uno sabe la posición del otro.• Compartan actividades divertidas. Por ejemplo, podrían cocinar juntos.• No tome todo por dado. Tener alguien a lado que le ame es una bendición.

El romance:• Sea romántico(a). Cualquier cosa que hace que su pareja se sienta especial es

romántica. Ud. puede buscar ideas románticas por internet.• Haga las cosas pequeñas que complacen a su pareja, especialmente cuando

menos espera.• Agárrele de la mano cuando caminen en público.• Mándele mensajitos por correo electrónico o “text” diciendo “Te quiero”, “Estoy

pensando en ti”, o “¡Eres lo máximo!”• Dele a su pareja un abrazo y beso sin motivo alguno.• Masajéele la espalda o los pies – o regálele un cupón redimible para un día en el

“spa”.

Sexo• Sea responsable en su comportamiento sexual.• Sea monógamo. Esto reduce su riesgo de contraer enfermedades sexuales.• Sea romántico(a). Una manera que no sea cara es decorar un espacio con velas y

pétalos de rosa.• Arréglese sensualmente atractivo(a), pero con alto gusto.• A su pareja, déjele saber que le gusta y que no le gusta. Así se evita confusión.

Chocolate• Compre solo los chocolates de alta calidad – los que no contienen ingredientes

artificiales. Vale la pena y merece el precio.• Goce del chocolate – solo una vez al año – en el Día de San Valentín.• Dele una sorpresa a su pareja con chocolatitos hechos en casa. Eso se puede

hacer en cualquier momento.• Hagan la prueba con chocolates pequeños. Esto ayuda a controlar las porciones.

• Regálele a su amor cositas con chocolate no-comestible. Por ejemplo, velas, cremas, o aceite sensual con olor a chocolate.

Problemas emocionales y la saludSabemos que tener el “corazón roto” impacta al espíritu de uno. Normalmente

se usa las palabras “corazón roto” para describir el dolor emocional intenso y el sufrimiento que siente uno después de perder a un ser querido o sostener una herida causada por el amado de uno. Muchas canciones y poemas hablan sobre corazones rotos y incluyen palabras como “el me rompió el corazón” o “esa persona tiene el corazón congelado.” El corazón roto puede causar estrés emocional. Mucha gente estaría de acuerdo que amantes de buen corazón son preferidos a los de corazón frio.

Estrés emocional también impacta negativamente a la actividad de uno. Según los datos de La Encuesta de medidas de riesgos hecho por el Departamento de salud de Pensilvania en 2010, el promedio es que uno en cuatro residentes de PA mayor de 18 años dicen que tienen un nivel de actividades limitado por problemas físicos, mentales, o emocionales. Por eso es importante que consulte a su médico para aprender cómo combatir su estrés emocional.

Salud del corazónUna vida sedentaria (una en que no camina mucho) puede aumentar su riesgo

que tenga enfermedad del corazón. Según los datos de la misma encuesta, uno en cada 10 residentes que tenga más de 34 años ha sufrido un ataque de corazón, enfermedad de corazón, o embolia cerebral.

De una perspectiva física, “Como luce su corazón? Como esta?” Es importante saber porque un corazón sano produce mejores resultados cuando se compara con un corazón que no sea sano. Es aconsejable que hable con su médico para aprender cómo se puede mantener un corazón sano. Al siguiente verá unos consejos generales para seguir:

Salud• Hable con su médico para aprender cómo se puede reducir su riesgo a

enfermedad de corazón, ataque de corazón, o embolia cerebral.• Mantenga una presión de sangre sana.• Hable con su médico sobre su necesidad de bajar o subir su uso de sal.• Encuentre maneras para combatir al estrés. Hacer ejercicios es una manera para

reducir su estrés.• Mantenga un peso sano ajustando sus calorías a su actividad física.• Hable con sus médicos sobre sus necesidades dietéticas.• Seleccione cuidadosamente a sus alimentos. Intente evadir el uso de comidas

procesadas que tengan baja fibra y alta nivel de grasa saturada.• Busque y pruebe una variedad de recetas que usan frutas y verduras como

ingredientes principales.

El Día de San Valentín es un día especial. Romance, chocolate, y comidas buenas aumentan a la dulzura de ese día. El amor está al aire. ¡Disfrute! ¡Solo asegúrese que cuide a su corazón y sus emociones mientras expresen su amor! Entonces, les ruego que se cuiden en este año 2012 y más allá. Mándenme sus preguntas sobre la salud a ¡Hola, Oralia! Correo electrónico: Dr.OraliaGarciaDominic@gmail.com. ¡Juntos podemos mejorar la salud de Pensilvania! ¡Salud!

22 LA VOZ LATINA CENTRAL

There’s plenty to do throughout the month that couples, families and friends can enjoy for a single day or as an overnight trip.

The month’s festivities will kick off with the Chocolate Dinner Extraordinaire at The Hotel Hershey on Friday, February 3. This multi-course, chocolate-infused dinner will take place in the hotel’s Circular Dining Room and is perfect for a romantic evening for two.

Other events hosted at the hotel that may be intriguing for couples could be the Le Vian Chocolate Diamonds Trunk Show, the Chef Demonstration and Wine and Chocolate Pairing, just to name a few. Along with the traditional events, the hotel is featuring a new exciting addition for 2012: every Friday, The Hotel Hershey will host Cupcakes & Cocktails, a unique dessert experience that perfectly pairs the two.

What better way to relax than with a trip to The Spa at the Hotel Hershey. With the debut of the all-new chocolate facial, couples have the chance to choose from various packages at the spa. Whether you’re with a loved one or on a relaxing spa trip of your own, there is something that is suitable for all.

If you’re looking for events that are more family-oriented, there are plenty from which to choose. For an event that everyone can enjoy, attend the Hershey’s Chocolate Parade at Hershey’s Chocolate World. Let your kids enjoy the Chocolate-Covered Children’s Tea, hosted at the Hershey Lodge. Children will have the chance to sip warm teas while dipping a variety of foods in warm Hershey’s chocolate. You can also learn how the delicious mudslide cookie is prepared by watching a demonstration in front of the Cocoa Beanery. For a more hands-on event and a chance for kids to do their own chocolate making, take the family to The Chocolate Lab at The Hershey Story. Couples can also enjoy this chocolate making with Truffles for Couples, which will be offered at The Hershey Story as well.

Whether you’re looking to spend a fun day with your family or a romantic overnight trip perfect for couples, there is plenty to do while celebrating the joy of chocolate at the Sweetest Place on Earth.

To make reservations and get full information on all activities and events during Chocolate-Covered February, please visit hersheypa.com.

Chocolate - CoveredHershey’s 8TH

februaryChocolate-Covered February Schedule

The Hotel HersheyFeb.3–ChocolateDinnerExtraordinaire

Feb.3,10,17&24– CupcakesandCocktails

Feb.19– Hershey’sChocolateCharacterBrunch

Hershey LodgeFeb.3,10,17&24–

BeerandChocolatePaintingFeb.3,10,17&24–

ChocolateMartiniMixologyClass

Chocolate WorldFeb.4&5–TheDessertTastingJourney

Feb.18&19– HersheyparkChocolateParade

The Hershey StoryFeb.4,11,18&24–

ChocolateBear’sLairFeb.10through12–

TrufflesforCouplesEveningEvent

ZooAmericaFeb.4,11,18&24–WinterAnimalTreats

Feb.5,12,19&25– ChocolateAnimalPaintings

The people of Hershey are busy preparing for the eighth year of Chocolate-Covered February, the month-long, town-wide celebration of everything chocolate.

BY CHELSEA HESS-MOORE

Rising Pop Star Calls Harrisburg Home

Harrisburg native and Bishop McDevitt

graduate Marialana Merrick has the music industry talking. Known to her fans simply as Marialana, this up-and-coming, pop-singing sensation has a down-to-earth charm and an true talent that sets her apart from other aspiring singers. Her latest single, Same Day Air, has been causing quite a

buzz, garnering her news fans.Marialana’s passion for music was ignited at the age of 3, when she began her

dance studies, making tap, ballet, pointe and hip hop all a huge part of her life growing up. Dance was her first introduction to music, providing her with a sense of rhythm, beat and an appreciation for the pure artistry of music.

As her love for music and performance grew throughout her childhood, she never passed up an opportunity to showcase her talents, always performing for her family, friends, classmates and the community.

“Music has been with me my entire life,” Marialana writes on her website. “I would stand in front of the double-door mirrors in my brother’s room with my CD player playing songs over and over until I could sing it backwards; making routines. I would put on an outfit and grab a hairbrush for a mic to show whoever was in the house, family, neighbors, friend’s parents. I guess I was never shy about it.”

After discovering her natural gift for singing, she was hooked and began her

vocal training, committing to honing her talents and developing herself as an artist. She competed in talent shows and immersed herself in the arts within the community, always proving herself as an emerging artist. After finding success at a few large talent competitions, she headed to New York and began the recording process, working with top industry producers to make hit songs that spark one to dance and feel inspired. Always singing with her heart, she pulls from her own life experiences and emotional challenges to inspire her music, causing her music to hold a rare authenticity as it is easy for people to relate.

Growing up, Marialana listened to the best the pop music world had to offer, including Christina Aguilera, Britney Spears, Mariah Carey and Michael Jackson. “If I had to associate myself with another singer,” she writes on her website, “I’d say I’m a lot like Jennifer Lopez in terms of energy and performance. I really admire her style, too. I like to sing with a lot of emotion like Beyonce and Mariah Carey. I’m very much like Jojo when it comes to creativity, interpreting and appreciating music.”

In addition to being a talented artist on the rise, Marialana has been and continues to be an active member of her community, always giving back by working with various organizations and establishments, including soup kitchens, military drives, nursing homes and numerous charities. Her involvement within the community has brought her honor and gratitude for her work and compassionate service. As her career continues to take off, and she gains an increasing amount of support and recognition for her talents within music, she is devoted to maintaining her charitable spirit, stating that she will never cease to give back to her community.

Her fun, catchy and honest tunes are gaining her well-deserved attention and praise from even the toughest critics, and with all the makings of a lasting star, Marialana is a fresh new voice that is one to look out for in the future.

Be sure to check out her newest single, Same Day Air, on iTunes. Visit her website at marialanaofficial.com.