thrive june '10 issue

June 2010 Thrive Magazine for Better Living www.thriveswla.com 1

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0Thanks, Dad!

InsIde:

Hurricane How-to GuideYour Teen’s CreditGrandparents’ Rights

SUMMER SECTION

2 www.thriveswla.com Thrive Magazine for Better Living June 2010 June 2010 Thrive Magazine for Better Living www.thriveswla.com 3

In This Issue 4 Coffee: Grounds for Concern?

8 The Male/Female Approach to Stress

11 Grandparents’ Rights

12 Water Safety: Keep Your Head Above Water

22 Does Your Teen Deserve Credit?

30 Eat Right for Better Sight

40 Top Health Threats for Men

41 Why Men Shouldn’t Be Afraid of Urologists

44 Cover Story: The Front Lines of Fatherhood

48 Does Your Lifestyle Age You?

52 summer Time summer section • Debunking Summer Health Myths • Backyard Hideaways • Hot Looks for Summer • Tips for a Healthy, Happy Summer

74 Your How-to Hurricane Guide

76 The Life of Mid-life Moms

85 Battle of the Bugs

Regular Features 6 By the Numbers 20 Coming to America39 Well Aware 50 McNeese Corral 62 First Person: with Chef Chad Jackson 64 Best Impressions 70 Chatterbox78 Solutions for Life 82 High Five 86 The Last Word

Editors and Publishers Kristy Armand Christine Fisher

Creative Director/Layout Barbara VanGossen

Assistant Editor Erin K. Cormier

Assistant Designers Jason Hardesty Josh McGee

Staff Writers Katie McDaniel Haley Armand

Advertising Sales 337.310.2099

Danielle Granger [email protected]

Andy Jacobson [email protected]

Ashley Gatte [email protected]

Submissions [email protected] or fax to 337.312.0976Submitted articles and photos are welcome. Thrive assumes no responsibility for unsolicited materials and does not guarantee any submissions.

Thrive is designed for people focused on living a happy, healthy life, one that is balanced, full of energy and contentment. Thrive readers want to make the most of every day and be successful in all areas of their lives – family, health, home and career.

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Contents

Don’t just live, thrive!

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Awards


by Kristy Armand

For true coffee connoisseurs, the day doesn’t get started until that first cup, and when the afternoon slump hits, nothing beats coffee for a burst of energy to get through the rest of the day.

But for years, we’ve been warned about the health risks associated with coffee and, more specifically, caffeine. Coffee has been blamed for a range of risks, everything from heart disease and arrhythmia to cancer and osteoporosis. But are health dangers really lurking in our lattes?

As it turns out, we may need to give coffee a break. Studies have found that coffee poses very little risk for most people, and appears to actually offer some surprising health benefits, including lowering the risk of diabetes and certain types of cancer, and beneficial treatment effects for headaches, Parkinson’s disease and depression, just to name a few.

In recent decades, over 20,000 studies have been done examining coffee’s impact on health. And for the most part, the results are as welcome as that first morning

sip for the 108 million Americans who enjoy coffee as part of their daily routine.

“The research shows that coffee is more healthful than it is harmful,” says Jody George, MD, family medicine physician with The Family Care Center of SWLA. “No one would suggest that coffee be classified as a ‘health food,’ but we are finding that we may not need to be as concerned about health risks associated with coffee as we once were.”

After analyzing data on 126,000 people for as long as 18 years, Harvard researchers calculate that compared with non-coffee drinkers, those who drink one to three cups of caffeinated coffee daily can reduce diabetes risk by single digits, and having six cups or more each day slashed men’s risk by 54% and women’s by 30%. Similar results were found in a Dutch study. The results are promising, but scientist caution that “more research is needed before anyone should label coffee as a preventive measure for diabetes.

At least six studies indicate that people who drink coffee on a regular basis are up to 80% less likely to develop Parkinson’s, with three showing the more they drink, the lower the risk.

Other research shows that compared to not drinking coffee, at least two cups daily can translate to

a 25 percent reduced risk of colon cancer, an 80% drop in liver cirrhosis risk, and

nearly half the risk of gallstones. There’s also some evidence

that coffee may help manage asthma

and even

control attacks when medication is unavailable, stop a headache, boost mood, and even prevent cavities.

The widely accepted belief about caffeine and cognitive function is also proving to be true. Studies found volunteers who drank caffeinated coffee in the morning performed better than nondrinkers on tests that involved learning new information. And another study found that attention, psychomotor skills, and long-term memory all improved during the few hours after volunteers drank caffeinated beverages.

So why was all the concern about health risks from coffee in the past? One cup of coffee contains about 100 milligrams of caffeine, which is enough to give infrequent coffee drinkers a potent kick. Half an hour after a good strong cup, a coffee drinker’s resting metabolic rate, the number of calories burned just sitting quietly, increases by as much as 10 percent. Blood pressure climbs, heart rate accelerates and breathing speeds up.

However, regular coffee drinkers quickly develop a tolerance to caffeine, Dr. George says. Research has found that after a week or two, they typically don’t see much change, if any, in their blood pressure, and habitual coffee drinkers are no more likely to suffer from hypertension than people who never pour a cup. Even patients with irregular heartbeats, or arrhythmia, don’t seem to be troubled by caffeine. Toronto scientists reviewed five studies of people with arrhythmia. Drinking up to five cups of coffee a day, they found, didn’t make anyone’s heart more likely to skip a beat.

Nor does coffee appear to increase the risk of heart disease, according to a 10-year study of more than 85,000 women. Harvard researchers reported that women who drank six or more cups of coffee

weren’t any more likely to have a heart attack than women who drank only one or two

cups.

Grounds for Concern?

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Several other coffee alarms have turned out to be false. A few years back, headlines warned about a possible link between coffee and breast cancer and between coffee and osteoporosis. But numerous studies have found no link between coffee consumption and either disease. And what about the old wive’s tale that says children shouldn’t drink coffee because it will stunt their growth? No studies show that coffee in reasonable amounts is in any way harmful to children.

Can the positive health benefits that have been identified be attributed to caffeine? For most of these results, the answer is yes. The reduced risk of Parkinson’s disease is directly related to the caffeine, and caffeine is also what helps in treating asthma and headaches. “Though not widely publicized, a single dose of pain reliever such as Anacin or Excedrin contains up to 120 milligrams of caffeine, about the equivalent of a large cup of coffee,” says Dr. George.

The bottom line: Coffee seems to be harmless for most people, but that doesn’t mean you should treat it as a health food, and for some people, coffee may still be advised against, says Dr. George. He says excess caffeine – more than whatever your individual body can tolerate – can increase nervousness, hand trembling, and cause rapid heartbeat in some people. “Coffee may also raise cholesterol levels in certain individuals. Check with your doctor, who may also advise you to avoid coffee if you are pregnant or breastfeeding, or if you’ve had a heart attack or take heart medications such as beta-blockers or theophylline (caffeine plus these drugs amplifies central-nervous-system stimulation). Because caffeine is a stimulant, it can worsen sleep problems like insomnia. And if you’re feeling anxious or depressed, it’s worth easing up on the caffeine, which can intensify symptoms.”

If you’re not a coffee drinker, don’t take up the habit for its possible health benefits, stresses Dr. George. “That’s not what medical experts are saying at all. There are other healthy habits that can provide the same benefit without the caffeine.” For example, the researchers who found that coffee prevents gallstones say that exercise and maintaining a healthy weight are preferred ways to protect your gallbladder.

Overall, most experts agree that moderation in coffee drinking is less than four to five cups a day depending upon one’s build and size. “People who already drink a lot of coffee don’t have to worry or feel guilty about their coffee consumption as long as coffee does not affect their daily life,” says Dr. George. “The fact that they may actually benefit from coffee habits in the long-run is just an added bonus.”

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50%of Americans plan to take a summer vacation this year.Source: American Express Travel

52% of travelers plan to visit a beach destination and 49% plan to visit a major metropolitan area this summer. Source: Travel Industry of America

25.1 Million Americans will be travelling internationally thissummer.Source: Global Insight

22%of U.S. population has a passport. Source: U.S. State Department

$5009-11 weeksAverage length of summer vacation for schools.3-8 daysAverage length of vacation for working adults.Source: expedia.com

71%

of travelers plan to stay at a hotel during their vacation this summer.Source: Trip Advisor

6 millionkids attend summer camps each summer.Source: Cribsheet

BY THE NUMBERS

Summer Vacations

FranceGermany ChinaNetherlandsIreland

Top 10Destinations AbroadMexicoCanadaCaribbean IslandsItalyUnited KingdomSource: Global Insight

The average cost per person for a cruise.Source: USA Cruising

Top 10U.S. Summer Vacation Destinations for 2010 OrlandoLas VegasSan FranciscoMiamiLos AngelesSource: American Society of Travel Agents

New York CitySan DiegoHonoluluSeattleWashington, DC

Time off

Ozone Season Has ArrivedTweak Your Lifestyle and Help SWLA

Take Action Against Ozoneby Erin K. Cormier

As the temperature rises, the worst part of our ozone season begins, making our community more susceptible to increased ground-level ozone levels.

The summer ozone season officially began April 15 and will last until October 15. Because of increased attention on environmental initiatives, communities across the country have placed increased focus on ground-level ozone levels in their regions. Southwest Louisiana is one of those areas.

Although the upper-level ozone layer provides a protective shield in the stratosphere, ground-level ozone can be harmful to humans. Ground-level ozone, which is recognized as smog, is created when emissions from industry, business, cars, and human activities interact with sunlight and heat.

In Southwest Louisiana, more than 50 percent of the ozone creating emissions come from area sources, like auto body shops, gas stations, and personal activities; on-road mobile sources, such as cars, trucks, buses and vans; and off-road mobile sources, like machinery, farm equipment, railroads, lawn and garden equipment, boats and aircraft, according to the Environmental Protection Agency. Although regional ozone monitors reported some of the lowest levels in the state last season, the EPA is continually creating more stringent regulations on ozone emissions, and new standards are expected to be issued later this year.

“Environmental standards have become stricter every year, which means communities have to try harder and harder to be in attainment and avoid the adverse consequences of falling out of the acceptable levels of ozone set forth by regulatory agencies,” said Larry DeRoussel, with Lake Area Industry Alliance.

Although the local area has been in attainment of federal health standards for ozone levels since 1997, regulatory agencies continue to tighten the standard, which means small businesses and individuals in the community need to play a more active role in reducing emissions that contribute to ground-level ozone – especially on days when the temperatures reach the high 80s or 90s.

“If our community does not stay in attainment, there can be costly economic ramifications that we’ll all face, including higher costs for gasoline and car inspections, and restrictions on business growth and expansion, just to name a few,” explains DeRoussel.

Reducing surface level ozone is something everyone in the community can work toward, with a few simple changes: • Keepyourcartunedandmaintained.• Don’tspillgasolinewhilefillingyourcarorothergasoline-powered

equipment.• Keeptiresproperlyinflated.• Sealcontainersofhousehold,shopandgardenchemicalsandsolvents.• Choosecompactfluorescentlightbulbs.Theylastlonger,reduce

greenhouse emissions and save energy.• Recycle.• Bringyourlunchtoworksoyoudon’thavetoburnupgas.Besureto

packitinareusablecontainerratherthanaplasticbag.• Turnoffasmanylightsaspossiblewhentheyaren’tneeded.• Laptopsusemuchlessenergythandesktopcomputers.Ifpossible,use

laptopsinstead.• Carpool.• Gasupyourcarduringthelateafternoon–anddon’ttopoffthe

tank.Boththesemethodspreventexcessfumesfrominteractingwiththewarmenvironment,whichcancontributetoground-levelozoneformation.

• Cansomeofyourerrandsbedoneoverthephoneoronline?Ifso,optfor that instead.

• Runerrandsduringlessbusytimesoftheday.Thiswillsavegasandreduce idling.


Gender Differences in Dealing with Stress

Reasons for this vary from hormones to instincts, according to Dale Archer, Jr., MD, president and founder of Institute for Neuropsychiatry and nationally-recognized expert on mental health topics.

When stressful situations happen, hormones kick in such as cortisol and epinephrine. They cause a spike in blood pressure, blood sugar, heart rate, and overall awareness in men and women. Cortisol alone lowers the effectiveness of the immune system, which is why people are more apt to get colds and other viruses when they are stressed. When stress is long-term or significant, it can further weaken the immune system, playing a part in more serious conditions, such as heart disease and cancer.

Initially, women have the same response to stress as men, with cortisol and epinephrine rushing through their system, but then they begin secreting oxytocin from the pituitary gland, which helps to calm them.

Dr. Archer says oxytocin is the hormonal difference. It promotes a feeling of well-being, calmness and nurturing. “In women, when cortisol and epinephrine are released, oxytocin is also released in larger quantities than in men. This counters the effects of the other two hormones.”

In men, their inherent testosterone hormone revs up their tendency to react with aggression when attacked, either physically or emotionally. This violence was a defense mechanism back in the Stone Age when men needed to hunt to survive, as well as defend their clan. Men also secrete oxytocin, but in lesser quantities, and testosterone can often cancel any calming effects oxytocin may have had.

The instinctual difference when studying the reaction of stress among men and women is the “fight or flight” theory. It’s one most people are familiar with -- in stressful situations, people either fight their way through or they determine the situation is better resolved by stepping aside. “This can be a literal fight, or most of the

time these days, it’s a verbal disagreement,” explained Dr. Archer. “It could be over a lost reservation, a ticket

mix-up at the airport, or a project at work that is not going well. Whatever ignites the stress,

we can feel our emotions begin to boil up as we deal with the situation. At times, we stand our ground, other times we decide a

confrontation isn’t the best route to take at that time. This quick decision is attributed to

the fight or flight theory.”

A newer version of that theory is known as “tend and befriend” and it’s geared toward a woman’s

reaction to stress. It’s the tendency to turn to friends or family for comfort and assurance after dealing

with a difficult situation. Again, oxytocin in women is the driving force behind their need

to reach out to others during stress. A man’s lower amount of oxytocin doesn’t elicit the

same reaction.

Both genders seek an escape from the stress. Men may suppress their feelings for the time being, or they may let out

their frustration through a physical activity like running, basketball or hitting

a few golf balls. Women tend to share their experiences by talking with friends

and relaying a play-by-play of the offending incident.

For both men and women, stressors of today are much different than they were many years ago. Today, we’re not fighting for physical survival;

we’re facing mortgage payments, repair bills and multi-tasking. And, we’ve learned from each other

ways to deal with difficulties. “Many women go for a run after a rough day, and men will come home and roughhouse with their kids. These activities

help relieve the stress of the day, and also provide health and emotional benefits,” said Dr. Archer. “But

understanding the basic physiology of hormones and the role they play in stressful situations can help all of us relate to each other in a better way.”

Asking for directions, a sink full of dirty dishes, a disagreement at work -- a man’s reaction to these scenarios are usually different than a woman’s. It’s the same with stress.

Men handle stressful situations differently than women.

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The Rights of A Grandparent Visitation statutes can be complicated

When a child is born, the lives that are affected reach beyond the parents to a line of grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins and siblings. With so many people vested in that young person’s success and happiness, things can quickly become muddied and complicated when trouble arises between the parents. Whether it’s a case of separation and divorce or an unexpected tragedy, the legal rights of those outside the immediate parents can become complicated and emotional, according to attorney David Green of the Hanchey Law Firm.

“Most grandparents have a vested interest in their grandchild’s life. When something happens between the grandchild’s parents that causes animosity or tension, the grandparents are often left wondering what, if anything, they can do to ensure that they remain a part of their grandchild’s life. It’s not uncommon for grandparents to want visitation rights to their grandchild in a situation where they may be otherwise excluded,” Green said. “As with most legalese, however, the legal system in Louisiana as it relates to visitation can be tricky to navigate.”

In most cases where grandparents are awarded visitation rights, the child’s parent has died, been incarcerated or has been deemed incompetent, according to LSA R.S. 9:344.

“In all visitation decisions, the best interest of the child should take precedence. There is no blanket decision that covers all cases,” said Green. “Factors that the courts take under consideration for visitation rights include the grandparent’s ability to provide for the child, the longevity and quality of the relationship between the grandparent and child, and the preference of the child, assuming that he or she is mature enough to make an autonomous decision. The mental and physical health and well-being of the child is obviously the prevailing factor in all this.”

Although most cases of grandparental visitation rights are exercised after one of the parents has been deemed unable to parent, there are instances where grandparents want visitation following a separation or divorce. “Under extraordinary circumstances, a blood relative, such as a grandparent, may be granted reasonable visitation rights if the court finds that it’s in the best interest of the child,” Green said.

There are unique circumstances that can make Louisiana law on grandparental visitation even more complicated: When one parent dies and the child is adopted by someone else, for example, where does that leave the grandparents on the deceased parent’s side of the family?

“There is no single way answer that question. To be honest, there is no easy way to answer any questions related to visitation because so much of it depends on the facts of each case, the arguments made by the attorneys involved and what the judge determines to be healthy for the child,” Green said. “For any grandparent out there who is considering taking legal action for visitation rights to their grandchild, my best piece of advice would be to find a good lawyer and set up a thorough consultation. The attorney’s ability to present the case will ultimately be one of the prevailing determining factors.” For more information, contact the Hanchey Law Firm at 513-4280 or 888-866-6415.

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Keep Your Head Above Water

the boat driver. So, if there are only two people involved, then there aren’t enough for someone to ski.

Hand signals should be used for the skier to communicate with the people on the boat. They may need to signal for the driver to slow down, turn a certain direction or stop moving.

When approaching a fallen skier, boat drivers should turn the motor off completely to avoid accidentally accelerating. Allow the skier to swim up to the boat, rather than driving up to the skier.

Adding the fun of skiing can take a day on the boat to a whole new level, but if the party barge seems too crowded for your taste, a jet ski might seem inviting, as it holds only one or two people. It is extremely nimble, able to turn tight corners and maneuver into small spaces, which can end up leading to accidents if the driver isn’t careful. Drivers of jet skis should keep courtesy in mind: obey no-wake and speed zones, and don’t drive them near swimmers. “If you’re not careful, it can be easy to zoom up where people are swimming and there is little time to slow down or turn to avoid hitting them,” said Fontenot. When in the vicinity of swimmers, the dock or shoreline, keep the jet ski at a slow speed until a safe distance away.

Most of us were given the advice of staying with the group when we were young, because there is safety in numbers. That wisdom applies to swimming, jet skiing, or boating as well. “Always have a buddy when out on the water. Never go out alone,” urged Fontenot.

Vacations to water parks are great getaways to beat the summer heat. While the parks are filled with lifeguards and assistants, all water parks urge participants to patrol their own safety needs as well. Signs are posted to advise of proper positioning on water slides. Pay attention to them and follow their directions, because they are there to ensure you have a safe and fun experience.

When going from one ride to another, note the difference in water depth, and plan accordingly. “Many people are caught by surprise to find out the pool suddenly drops off in a certain spot, for instance. If you’re not a strong swimmer, you could be in danger, especially if the pool is crowded and you get jostled or held on to by other people,” she said. “Be aware of the nature of the pool or water ride and know what you’re getting in to, literally, before you jump in.”

No matter what type of water activity you choose, there are general safety points to keep in mind:

• Stayawareofthesurroundings.• Bealerttoweatherforecastsandchanges.• Nevermixalcoholandwater.Alcoholimpairsjudgment,balance

andcoordination;allofwhicharekeyingredientsforafun,yetsafeexperienceonthewater.

• Wearsunscreenwheninthesunforanextendedperiodoftime.Thattimeperiodcouldbeshorterthanyouthink.Somepeoplecanburninaslittle as 15 minutes.

• Wearsunglasses;theyarelikesunscreenforyoureyes.Lookforsunglasses with labels that indicate they absorb at least 90% of UV sunlight.

“The main thing when out on the water is to stay alert to potential safety problems. Chances are, you won’t have any trouble; but if a risky situation should come up, you’ll only have seconds to respond. That’s when you’ll be glad you are prepared,” said Fontenot.

Taking advantage of the waterways in Southwest Louisiana is a favorite pastime for many people during the hot summer months.

One of the advantages of water activities is that they can be enjoyed by almost any age, and are great family outings. Because of that, though, keeping safety in mind should be a top priority. “Parents know how quickly small children can get out of sight and into situations that could be harmful. When water is involved, even a small amount, the potential for danger rises exponentially,” explained Joni Fontenot, spokesperson for the Safety Council of Southwest Louisiana. “It does not take much water, as little as a ¼ of a cup, for a child to drown.”

When small children are involved, constant supervision is necessary around water. Drowning is the second leading cause of death among American children ages 14 and under. “About 94% of parents say they supervise their children while they’re swimming, but they also report being distracted during the same time frame. They’ll eat, talk on the telephone or read,” said Fontenot. “While you don’t have to forgo all other activities while watching a child in the swimming pool, it’s vital to keep a close eye on them. Don’t run inside to answer the telephone, or step away to visit a neighbor. Think of a lifeguard: they sit and observe the entire time they’re on duty. That’s how it should be anytime children are in the water.” If parents aren’t able to set aside the time to monitor, then the children should not be allowed to swim.

It doesn’t matter if the child knows how to swim or not, or if he or she stays in shallow water. Relying solely on a life jacket or an inflatable toy is also wrong. Children have died because they ingested water even while wearing a life jacket. “It will keep the child’s upper body out of the water, but it’s possible to inhale enough water,

especially if they are struggling and frightened, to drown while wearing a life jacket or inflatable arm bands,” said Fontenot.

While swimming is relatively accessible to most everyone, some people choose to get away on a boat. Zipping along with the wind in your face and plenty of open space is invigorating. But, along with the fun, safe practices must be included. Seventy percent of recreational boating accidents are caused by factors that are controlled by the boat’s operator – failure to pay attention, carelessness, recklessness, inexperience, excessive speed and failure to watch for hazards.

There are several boating classes available in this area, including those given by the Lake Charles Power Squadron. They are designed for individuals 16 years of age and older and are required to ensure safety on lakes and rivers.

“Many boaters don’t wear their life jackets while on the water because they think they’ll have plenty of time to put them on if an emergency arises,” explained Fontenot. “The reality is there is no time to find your life jacket when something unexpected happens.”

Louisiana ranks third in the nation for boating fatalities, according to the National Safe Boating Council. Everyone on the boat should wear a life jacket, not just the children. Just like in a vehicle, the driver of the boat should not go until everyone is buckled up.

When out on the boat, skiing can be a favorite activity. One of the main safety precautions is to have a designated person to watch the skier, and it should not be

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Cavities are often considered to be part of growing up, like to learning ride a bike or scraping your knee. However, it isn’t necessary for this condition to be a rite of passage. Cavities in childhood are often preventable or easily treated if found early.

“Cavities are not a condition of childhood,” says Tim Robinson, D.D.S., of Robinson Dental Group. “Children tend to experience cavities at greater rates because of higher amounts of sugar and starch in their diets. In fact, cavities are growing increasingly prevalent in children due to the amount of highly processed carbohydrates in the modern diet.”

Whatcausescavities?Bacteria is public enemy #1 in the battle against cavities. Millions of bacteria live in our mouths in a continuously forming film called plaque. The bacteria feed on carbohydrate-based food (sugar and starch)particles, creating acid in the process. This acid by-product eats into tooth enamel and causes cavities.

Cavities mainly attack teeth in two ways. The first way is in between teeth or on the front or back of a tooth. The other common attack is through pits and fissures, which are grooves that are visible on the top surface of the back teeth. The tooth’s enamel is thin in the pits and fissures; this area also contains recesses that can trap food and plaque. In both cases, the cavity often starts with a small, focused point of attack, then spreads to invade underlying dentin, the softer layer under the enamel.

A cavity is destructive. It will travel and degrade the layers of a tooth until it is broken down. A cavity is often not detected until it has weakened the tooth to the point of breakage.

“Many of my patients are surprised when they find out they have a cavity, because they haven’t experienced any pain,” says Dr. Robinson. “This is because the outer layer of the tooth’s enamel does not contain any nerves and it is not until the cavity has progressed and reached the underlying dentin layer that one may feel pain or sensitivity, especially to cold, sweets or drinks.”

HowcanIpreventcavities?“Proper oral hygiene and a balanced diet are the best ways to prevent cavities, but even sometimes these measures are not enough,” says Dr. Robinson. “Even with the best efforts a cavity can still form; often times it is just a matter of genetics. It is always best to take care of cavity when it is small, rather than to wait until you have a toothache and may need more extensive treatment like a root canal. Regular dental check-ups twice a year are the best prevention.”

Dr. Robinson advises the following to help prevent cavities:• Makesureyourchildrenbrushtheirteeth,

tongueandgumsforthreeminutes,twoorthreetimesaday,especiallyaftereatingand before bedtime.

• Usefluoridetoothpasteandatoothbrushwith soft bristles.

• Ifyourchildisunder7yearsold,supervisewhen they brush their teeth. Most children under the age of 7 do not have the manual dexterity to effectively brush their teeth.

• Limittheamountofsugaryfoodsyourchildeatsandmaintainahealthy,balanceddiet.

For more information on how you can keep your child cavity-free call Robinson Dental Group at 474-3636 or visit www.lakecharlesdentist.com.

Cavities Aren’t a Condition

of Childhood

Notdouble-checkingthenameonyourairlineticket.The new Transportation Security Administration rules say that names on boarding passes and IDs must match exactly - including apostrophes, hyphens and initials. So always double check that your name is spelled correctly. If you catch an error quickly, many travel agencies can change the name on the ticket, but if you don’t notice for a week or two, you may have to pay a fee – or buy a new ticket – to fix things. If you don’t fix it, you run the risk of not getting through security because the name on your ticket doesn’t match your ID.

Notinspectingyourrentalcarwhenyoupickitup.If you don’t, the rental car company could hold YOU responsible for any damage – whether you did it or not! After all, there’s no way to tell if that dent was there before or after you used the car. So if you notice any damage, point it out to an employee, and have them write it down. Take a picture of any damage on the car before you drive away.

Not buying cancellation insurance. You should purchase this for big ticket travel items – like cruises, guided tours and safaris. That way, you’re covered if you have to cancel your trip. You can compare travel insurance prices at squaremouth.com, but make sure you find out how far in advance you have to cancel. Most policies require the trip to be canceled at least 48 hours before departure. So if you miss the flight before your cruise, you may have to eat the price on the whole cruise if the boat sails before you get there.

Staying at a hotel with a “resort fee.” Some hotels can charge up to $40 a day for the pool, tennis courts, putting green, “complimentary” newspaper, and local in-room phone calls – whether you use them or not! The best way to protect yourself is to call the hotel and make sure you’re booking an ‘all-inclusive’ rate. Source: MSNBC

Worst travel Mistakes you Can Make


Give the gift of choiceGive them a First Federal Bank Visa gift card.This gift card is a prepaid card that can be used everywhere

Visa debit cards are accepted worldwide, including retail stores and online merchants. It’s an ideal choice for birthdays,

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Meet the Dental Professionals of SWLA Center for Health Services

Make your appointment today!

Caring for the Community

sWla Center for Health services will meet any of your healthcare needs, no matter what your financial situation.

• Obstetrics/Gynecology• Pediatrics• Internal and Family Medicine• Women’s Health• Kid Med/WIC• Immunizations• Nutrition Counseling• Case Management• Laboratory• Pharmacy• Outreach/Health Educaton• HIV Testing and Education• Oral Health (Dentistry)• Physical Fitness and Wellness

Programs/Aerobics/KidFit• Behavioral Health Management• Substance Abuse Prevention and

Counseling• Podiatry (Foot treatment)

Open Monday, Wednesday & Thursday 8am–5pmTuesday 10am–7pm • Friday 8am–NoonLake Charles Campus (337) 439-9983Crowley Campus (337) 783-5519 • Lafayette Campus (337) 769-9451

SWLA is the only healthcare center in Southwest Louisiana to be accredited with the Joint Commission Approval.

Call 337-439-9983 for an appointment

Dr. Seema Varghese, DDSDr. Nga Nguyen, DMD

In the past ten years lasers have increasingly found their way into the medical community; they are now used to treat everything from yellowing teeth and age spots to aches, pains and other physical ailments. Their contribution to health and wellness has surged, but with good reason, according to Donald Thigpen, DC, with the Center for Chiropractic.

“In the medical community, lasers have been found to be accurate and efficient cutting instruments. In the cosmetic community, they are able to eliminate some undesirable skin abnormalities through a burning method that causes very little discomfort. And in the chiropractic world, non-burning lasers have been found to penetrate deep into the body’s tissues to stimulate healing,” said Dr. Thigpen.

When used in chiropractic treatment, laser light interacts with the body’s mitochondria, which supply cellular energy and are involved in the control of the cell cycle, cell growth and other processes. In this interaction, the mitochondria increases its energy, which is believed to cause healing to joints and tissues, according to Dr. Thigpen.

Laser treatment was once considered largely experimental, but has gained significant momentum in recent years as its benefits became widely documented, Dr. Thigpen said, noting that several common health conditions – including back and neck pain, carpal tunnel syndrome, tennis elbow, plantar fasciitis, arthritis and osteoarthritis, among others – have shown benefits from laser therapy.

“Research has demonstrated that injuries treated with laser therapy heal faster. Laser therapy strengthens tissue, improves circulation and has been found to effectively relieve pain,” Dr. Thigpen said. He added that the Federal Drug Administration has approved laser therapy as a medical tool to reduce pain in many medical conditions. “When it comes to the body’s aches and pains, lasers being used as treatment run the range from TMJ to wounds and ulcers.”

According to the National Library of Medicine, more than 2,500 scientific studies have identified the benefits of laser therapy as a viable alternative to surgical intervention for pain. In addition to potentially preventing surgery, laser treatment does not typically require drug therapy, which has also played a role in its growing appeal, Dr. Thigpen said.“Many of my patients, when given the choice, prefer not to use prescription medication to treat their pain because in many cases, meds have a

limited long-term effect,” he said. “And the vast majority of my patients would certainly prefer not to undergo potentially invasive surgery.”

For more information, contact Dr. Thigpen at the Center for Chiropractic at 502-5303.

Lasers Provide Viable Treatment Alternative by Erin K. Cormier

Hollywood has been preparing for the summer with 3-D blockbuster hopefuls and cable networks are getting ready to launch 3-D networks and programming for newly released 3-D televisions. The trend toward this new technology is hard to miss—that is, except for the millions of Americans who are unable to see it. Movies such as “Avatar” and “Alice in Wonderland” have already left their impression on the 3-D screen and new movies such as “Toy Story 3” that are using the new technology are eagerly anticipated by theater-goers across the country. Meanwhile, ESPN and the Discovery Channel are preparing to broadcast in 3-D. While this new technology is capturing fans nationwide, some people are unable to enjoy the 3-D experience due to vision problems. In fact, a failed 3-D experience can reveal a possible vision problem. “People who have even a small vision misalignment or those who don’t have equal vision in both eyes may not be able to see 3-D images properly,” says Keith Menard, O.D., an optometrist with Menard Eye Center. “Individuals with unstable focusing or difficulty in coordinating vision with other senses can experience headaches and other uncomfortable side effects from viewing 3-D movies.” According to the American Optometric Association, anywhere from 3 to 9 million people have problems with binocular vision, which can prohibit them from watching 3-D TV and movies. Binocular vision is the ability to align both eyes accurately on an object and combine the visual images from each eye into a single, in-depth perception. The problem comes from fatigue caused when 3-D technology forces the eyes to make adjustments to focus simultaneously on images that are near and far away.

Symptoms indicating a potential problem can vary from person to person. The majority of individuals who have 3-D vision complications most often experience headaches, blurred vision and/or dizziness.

Dr. Menard says, “Watching 3-D programming can unmask issues such as lazy eye, convergence insufficiency, poor focusing skills and other visual problems one might not have previously known existed.” Dr. Menard advises seeing an optometrist if you answer yes to any of the following questions:• Isyour3-Dviewingexperiencenotasvividasitisforothers?• Doyouexperienceeyestrainorheadachesduringorafterviewing?• Doyoufeelnauseousordizzyduringorafterviewing?• Areyoumorecomfortableviewing2-DTVormoviesinsteadof3-DTV/

movies?• Isitdifficultforyoureyestoadjustbacktonormalafterwatching3-D

TV/movies? “Studies have shown that there are variety ways to help people experiencing problems with binocular vision,” says Dr. Menard. “Some of my patients have benefitted through simple efforts, but a problem viewing 3-D movies and TV can sometimes be a sign of serious vision issue. If you are experiencing any of these problems it is important to make and appointment with your optometrist.” For more information or if you have questions about 3-D vision issues contact Menard Eye Center at 478-4733 or visit MenardEyeCenter.com.

3-D TV and MoviesHaving Problems ‘Seeing’What All the Excitement is About?


THRIVE JUNE 5/20/10 4:16 PM Page 1

Center for Orthopaedics1747 Imperial Boulevard,

Lake Charles(337)721-7236

Get Back to Life.

www.centerforortho.com

The Center for Orthopaedics proudly introduces the Spine Pain Center, offering advanced non-surgical and surgical treatment options. This new service is part of our commitment to provide the region’s most comprehensive state-of-the-art musculoskeletal care. We take a conservative, multi-disciplinary approach to neck and back pain treatment, with a team led by two board certified physicians: an orthopedic surgeon and a physical medicine and rehabilitation specialist. Our goal is to provide the right treatment at the right time for each patient to restore the highest level of pain-free function. Services at the Spine Pain Center include: • Patient Education • Comprehensive Diagnostic Testing • Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation • Interventional Injections • Minimally Invasive Procedures • Spine SurgeryIf spine pain is keeping you from enjoying your life, call the Spine Pain Center today at 721-7236 for more information or to schedule an appointment.

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Coming to America tells the stories of local residents who left their native country to make a new home in the United States. Watchforanewstoryeachissue. To

nominate someone for this series, send a brief description to: [email protected]

In August 1993, when Swiss native Olivier Grosset landed in Dallas after a 13-hour flight from Geneva, he planned to take a good, deep breath when he stepped out of the airport so he could remember his first taste of American air. The enormity of being in America was overshadowed by something else truly momentous, however: Southern Heat.

“When I was on the plane, I was thinking ‘I can’t wait to take my first steps on American soil and breathe American air,’” Grosset said. “Then I stepped outside and thought, ‘Oh my gosh, it’s hot.’”

In his French-speaking hometown of Echallens, Switzerland, summer temperatures average in the mid 80s with little to no humidity. The houses don’t have air conditioners; it’s cool enough in the summer for long bike rides and snowy enough in the Alps for skiers to enjoy the slopes year-round. Grosset, 39, enjoyed both. He worked with his father in his tiling business, and was also a competitive cyclist and ski instructor.

In addition to the temperate climate, which allows for four distinct seasons, Grosset admits that the architecture, natural aesthetics and culture of Switzerland bear very little resemblance to East Texas, where Grosset found himself after he married a native of Beaumont.

In Echallens, Grosset was thirty minutes from France, less than two hours from Italy and Germany, and about two hours from Austria. The country of Switzerland alone has four national languages – German, French, Italian, and Romansch.

“Where I’m from, the distance from Lake Charles to Beaumont would require you to speak another language,” Grosset said. “There is a limited cultural point of view here, but there are far more opportunities.”

By 1997, the Grosset family included a newborn daughter, Rebecca. Olivier had dreams to establish a thriving tiling business like his father, but knew that to truly flourish, he needed to be in America, where less stringent regulations, cheaper materials, and greater liberty meant more opportunity.

“In Switzerland, the materials required to have a business like mine is much more structured and much more expensive. Everything has to be built to last. My grandfather’s house was built in 1854 and it still has the original shingles on the roof – the actual shingles are original to the house,” Grosset said. “There is definitely a difference between the Old World point of view and the New World point of view.”

In 1999, the Grossets settled in Lake Charles and Olivier established his business, Artisan Tiling. Olivier, now a single

father, achieved his dream with the help and encouragement of local residents. “The people here are amazing. When I moved to Lake Charles, they were so friendly. They accepted me as one of their own,” he said. He added that another one of his favorite things about the area is the food, and jokingly admits that he’s gained a lot of weight since he became a Louisianan.

That’s not to say that he doesn’t hanker for some native treats now and then, like raclette, a typical Swiss cheese dish, cheese fondue, or some infamous Swiss chocolate.

by Erin K. Cormier

FromtheAlpstotheBayouThe Journey of Olivier Grosset

Olivier Grosset

Olivier and his daughter Rebecca skiing in the Alps.

Ashley Foretattorney at law

se habla español

Practicing Immigration

LawOf counsel

to Stockwell, Sievert Law Firm

One Lakeside PlazaLake Charles, LA 70601www.ashleyforet.com

337-436-9491

“I could go on all day about Swiss chocolate,” he said. “So it’s best not to get started.”

He also misses the great outdoors of Switzerland, particularly cycling and skiing, but he goes home at least once a year so he can get his fix on the slopes. He says he tried to keep cycling in Lake Charles, but it didn’t work out as planned.

“I spent years riding bikes elbow-to-elbow with hundreds of other men pushing their way through the crowd, so I figured I could handle anything. I got on my bike and rode down Common Street. A pick-up truck flew past me and literally brushed my arm. After that I put my bike away,” he says, laughing. Grosset has readily embraced the outdoors that Southwest Louisiana has to offer, however. One of his favorite pastimes is to take his 14-year-old daughter Rebecca on his boat. He says he loves spending time in the water, even if the water here differs from back home.

“When I was establishing my business I spent about two years here before I could go back home and when I saw Lake Geneva from the airplane, my eyes teared up. I lived in Switzerland all those years and never appreciated how beautiful the turquoise water was. I took it for granted until that moment,” he says.

Grosset says he misses his friends and family in Switzerland more than anything else, but now considers this area his home. In May, he became a U.S. citizen and now holds dual citizenship with his native country.

One of the many castles in Switzerland

22 www.thriveswla.com Thrive Magazine for Better Living January 2010 January 2010 Thrive Magazine for Better Living www.thriveswla.com 23

Today’s teen has more buying power than ever before. Whether it’s concert tickets, celebrity-endorsed t-shirts, or ripped jeans, they are plunking down serious money to pay for their cool, if overpriced, things.

As these fashionable teens near the end of high school and begin college, many begin the push to obtain a credit card, but new government reforms have tightened the strings on credit for young people. According to Gwen Himel, branch manager in Moss Bluff with Cameron State Bank, those under 21 will face a more difficult time in the quest for credit. “Applicants under 21 years old now have to prove they have ‘independent means’ to repay their debts; which means they will need to show they have income from a job or they’ll need to have an adult co-sign for them.”

It’s no surprise that this reform happened. Credit card companies have liberally provided older teens with credit for years and, not surprisingly, balances have steadily increased on teens’ cards.

“Teens were getting credit before they understood how to handle it,” Himel said. “Some had the financial education to be responsible, but many did not. They would begin their twenty-something years thousands of dollars in debt.”

The reform puts credit cards in the hands of parents, and many must answer a tough question: whether to co-sign or not.

Himel cautions parents to consider it thoroughly. “When you co-sign for anyone, you are just as responsible for their debt as they are. Your credit score is affected by what they do. If they rack up a big balance and can’t pay it, you’re responsible and you’re credit score goes down.” She said big balances aren’t the only thing that can damage a good credit rating. “A single missed payment can knock up to 100 points off a credit score. If subsequent payments are missed, more damage is done. And, forget going over the limit; even charging close to the limit reflects poorly on one’s credit score.” She suggested using half or less of a credit limit, especially when establishing credit early on.

Co-signing so that a young person can get a credit card will give them real-world experience, but parents need to be sure they can handle it. Responsible credit card holders should keep track of their balance, make payments on time, avoid spending beyond their means, and pay the card off in full each month. “These tactics are difficult for adults, much less, teenagers,” said Himel.

Some older teens and college students do have the maturity to handle a credit card, which is why the co-signing option is available. “These young people are great at checking their balances regularly, saving the credit card for only a few purchases, and use it mainly as a method to establish their credit, not as a way to pay for things they can’t afford,” Himel said. “In cases like this, it works as it should.”

For young people who aren’t quite ready for credit cards, or for parents who are looking for other options, a debit card will likely fill the gap. Opening a checking account gives the young person a place to deposit their paychecks, and access to a debit card. This can give them experience using plastic and work their way up to a credit card.

To maintain the account, the balance should be checked regularly, or the transactions recorded as they are made. “It still requires some effort on the young person’s part, and that helps them become familiar with financial transactions and staying on top of their spending,” Himel said. Another option she suggested is to use the debit card as a cash-only option. “This is a good place to start. They can work up to using the card as a debit card once they and the parents feel comfortable.”

In the end, the decision to put plastic in the hands of a young person rests with the parents. They are the best judge of their son or daughter’s maturity and financial knowledge, but it’s important for parents to be aware of the ramifications it can have on their own account.

Does Your Teen Deserve Credit?by Christine Fisher

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Cameron State Bank has unveiled a new checking account available exclusively to U.S. military veterans, active duty men and women, reserve personnel, and their families. “America’s service men and women dedicate their lives to ensuring our freedom and making our country a safer place to live,” said Roy M. Raftery, Jr., president and CEO of Cameron State Bank. “We feel it is our responsibility to honor that service, both for our country’s veterans, and also for those who are currently serving.” Patriot Checking is a free interest-bearing checking account that provides exceptional benefits for those who are eligible, including: • Nomonthlyfees• Freeonlinebanking,mobilebankingandbillpayservices• Norequiredminimummonthlybalance• Freecheckimaging• Freeoverdraftprotectionupto$100• Freepatrioticcheckbookcover• Freefirstorderofpatrioticchecks In addition, for every Patriot Checking account that is opened, Cameron State Bank will donate $5 to the Wounded Warrior Project and $1 to the American Red Cross. An American Flag blanket will also be given to every person who opens an account. “The sacrifice of our service men and women, as well as that of their family members, truly is immeasurable,” said Raftery. “This is our humble way of recognizing and honoring their dedicated service.” Frank Streva served three years of active duty in the U.S. Navy during the Korean Conflict. “Everyone should serve in some capacity,” he said. “We take a lot for granted.” He said there’s been a change in America’s attitudes toward those in the military. “When veterans came home in my era, we didn’t talk about what we experienced or the things we saw. That was in the past and we tried to go on with our lives. When the movie Saving Private Ryan came out, I noticed a shift in perspective. We began talking. After 9/11, everything changed. It’s a more open time now.” Streva was the first person to open a Patriot Checking account, saying he is proud of Cameron State Bank for honoring those who serve in America’s armed forces. “It was 50 years before anyone thanked me for serving. I didn’t do it for recognition, but I’m glad the country’s viewpoint has changed to honor the sacrifices made, regardless of whether they think the war is right or not,” Streva said. Information about Patriot Checking is available at any of Cameron State Bank’s 21 locations in Southwest Louisiana, or by calling (337) 310-2265.

Cameron State Bank Announces Patriot CheckingAccount

FrankStreva, veteran, opens the first Patriot Checking account offered by Cameron State Bank with the help of Tessie Dupuis, new accounts representative.

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Some emergencies are obvious: trauma with a broken bone, the loss of consciousness or excessive bleeding. And there are children with chronic medical conditions who may also have special considerations that constitute an emergency.

But how do you know when to take an otherwise healthy child to the emergency room?

According to Dr. Robert Anderson, a board certified emergency medicine physician on staff at Lake Charles Memorial Hospital, here are five general guidelines to visiting an emergency room with your child.

1. HighFeverorRapidlyRisingTemperature A fever is a temperature greater than 100.4o Fahrenheit. A high fever is a temperature greater than 104 o Fahrenheit that does not come down following

medication. If your child seems cranky, check his temperature before giving medication. “Having a fever can be dangerous,” explained Dr. Anderson. “In some susceptible children, a rapidly rising temperature or a high fever can trigger a seizure. These seizures usually last only a couple minutes and do not recur and do not cause any long-term effects. Of course, a seizure is scary and your child should be evaluated, especially the first time this happens.

“Having a fever can also cause your child to become dehydrated. So make sure she is drinking and urinating, even if she doesn’t have much of an appetite.”

2. Breathing Problems Breathing problems are another common reason to bring a child to the Emergency Department. Signs of difficulty breathing include breathing too fast,

breathing too hard (using extra muscles to breathe) or breathing loudly. Observe how your child breathes: A newborn does not breathe evenly like adults do, in and out. Instead, they breathe in clusters of many breaths followed by long pauses that can be terrifying for new parents. A child who is having difficulty breathing may start breathing more rapidly and shallowly,” he explained. “If you are concerned about your child’s breathing, lift up his shirt and watch the chest move. A child who is very short of breath will be using stomach muscles and even the muscles of the neck to help get a deeper breath.”

3. Urination and Dehydration Dehydration is a major consideration in children. “Pay attention to how much your child is urinating because this is an excellent signal of their level of

hydration,” cautioned Dr. Anderson. ”If your child has been vomiting or has been ill enough to not be drinking well and he is also urinating much less, he should be seen in the Emergency Department if you are not able to hydrate him at home.”

4. Behavioral Changes When children are ill, often the first indicator is a change in behavior.

Less energy, decreased eating or drinking, sleeping more or less than usual and crankiness are hallmark signs of illness. Often these changes are scary to parents because your child is just not herself.

“Most middle of the night ER visits are sparked by a child who is not sleeping and keeping the family up with him, a child who has been crying intermittently for hours or concern for a child who is just picking at her food,” Dr. Anderson explained. “A tired and sleepy child may be sick, but a lethargic and unarousable child is dangerously ill and needs to be seen in the Emergency Department right away.”

5. TheGut(StomachIssues) “Your gut, not your child’s,” he explained. “Go with your gut feeling.

If you feel something is seriously wrong, you need to get your child evaluated. If you are unsure if this is a true emergency, talk with someone who also knows your child well.

“And if you need to visit an emergency room, choose a hospital with a complete continuum of care, board certified emergency medicine specialists, and the support of all medical specialties, including pediatric intensive care,” he advised.

Memorial’s Emergency Department is the largest trauma center in Southwest Louisiana, and is equipped to handle a child’s everyday bumps and bruises, as well as his or her critical injuries and life-threatening conditions . “Our kid-specific emergency treatment is handled by an experienced staff of board certified emergency medicine physicians, family medicine residents, nurse practitioners, emergency care certified nurses, clinical educators and support personnel,” explained Dr. Anderson. “ For more information, call Memorial’s Emergency Department at (337) 494-3630. If your child has a life-threatening emergency, call 911.

Top Five Reasons for Bringing Your Child to the Emergency Room

3204 Ryan St. • 337-433-6200


In Louisiana, our way of life is unique, from strong family values to our love of sports, spicy food and the great outdoors. At the Center for Orthopaedics, we understand this, because all of our physicians are from Louisiana and have chosen to make Southwest Louisiana our home. We’re proud to be part of this community and also proud to be the region’s largest, independent musculoskeletal group. This allows us to provide the kind of medicine our patients deserve in an office where Southern hospitality is not just a cliché, but something we practice every day. It’s a big part of our commitment to providing Southwest Louisiana with the most advanced, patient-focused orthopaedic care available right here in the place we all call home.

Louisiana Proud – No Bones About It.Our Louisiana Pride Runs Deep.

Joint ReplacementKnee SurgeryHip SurgeryShoulder SurgeryBack and Neck Pain Spine and Neck Surgery

Our range of services includes:

Foot and Ankle Surgery Podiatric MedicineSports MedicineOccupational InjuriesFracture ExpressBone Health Central

OUR DOCTORS:James Perry, MD • John Noble, Jr., MD

Geoffrey Collins, MD • Craig Morton, MD Tyson Green, DPM • Steven Hale, MD

George “J.” Trappey, IV, MD, • William Lowry, Jr., MD

(337) 721-7CFO • www.centerforortho.comLake Charles Office: 1747 Imperial Blvd. • Sulphur: 250 S. Beglis Pkwy., Ste. 1

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Stress reeFDr. Mark CrawfordMedical DirectorFacial & Cosmetic EyeSurgery Specialist

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Today, we have more innovative options than ever before to helpyou look as young as you feel. If your mirror is not reflecting theconfidence and vitality you feel on the inside, now's the time totake action.The Aesthetic Center of Southwest Louisiana offers a completerange of age-defying treatments for men, from skin care productsto facial treatments to cosmetic eye surgery.

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The first step to organizing your home is to figure out what to keep and what to get rid of. These days, everyone seems to collect things they don’t use or need. Even if your house is clutter-free, it’s good to reassess what’s lurking in

your dark closets and drawers. Use these simple guidelines to declutter your home.

Toss it if…• Youhavetwiceasmanyasyouneed.Takeinventoryofyourduplicateitems.Ifyouownenoughspatulasandcoffeemugstosupplyasmalldiner,it’s

time to shed a few.• It’sagiftyoudon’tlove.Ifyouhaven’tuseditanddon’tplanonusingit,don’tletyouremotionsgetthebestofyou.Whoevergaveittoyouprobably

won’tevenrealizeitsgone.• It’snotworthrepairing.Iftheitemwillcostmoretofixthanwhatitsworth,tossandreplace.Otherwise,giveyourselfadeadline.Ifyoudon’tgetaround

tofixingitwithinsixmonths,youshouldtossitout.• Yourgutsaysloseit.Yourinstinctsareknowntoberight.Don’tsecond-guessthem.Ifyouthinkyoushouldgetridofit,youprobablyshould.• Youdon’tknowwhatitis.UPOs(unidentifiedplasticobjects)get30days.Ifyoustillcan’tfigureoutwhatitis,itstimetotellitgoodbye.

Keep it if…• Itisassentimentalasgold.Ifitwouldtrulyupsetyoutoloseit,keepit.Youcanalwaysreassesstheobjectlater.• Itfitsyourlifetoday.Yourpossessionsshouldsupportwhoyouarerightnow,notthepersonyouwerefiveyearsorfivepoundsago.Ifithasn’tfitina

coupleyears,getridofit.Ifithasbeencollectingdustinaclosetordrawer,dumpit.• Youthinkit’sgorgeous.Evenifnooneelselikesit,ifitmakesyousmile,don’tcountitasclutter.• You’dbuyitagain.Askyourself,whatwouldIdoifIsawthisinastore?Ifyouwouldbuyitagain,saveyourselfthemoneyandjustkeeptheoneyou

have.• You’llfindaplaceforit.Anyitemthatyoufeelisworthkeepingisworthcreatingaspacefor. Source: MSN lifestyle

Keep It or Toss It?


When we think of underage drinking, most of us picture adolescents in high school or college students, not preteens 11 to 13. But the truth is, this age group is experimenting—and some are actively drinking.

It’s a national trend. According to the United States Department of Health and Human Services, the average age when youth first try alcohol is 11 years for boys and 13 years for girls. A study conducted by the Partnership for a Drug-Free America concluded that close to 10 percent of nine-year-olds had consumed more than a sip of alcohol, and the National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse at Columbia University found that a third of children in the United States ages 12 to 17 had their first

drink before age 13, totaling 64 million children.

“Surveys conducted right here in Calcasieu Parish have found that local children are beginning to drink as early as 11 years old,” said Mary Kaye Allemond, director of Project KNOW, a program of the Calcasieu Parish Police Jury designed to combat underage drinking.

According to a report released by the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA), those who start drinking before the age of 15 are four times more likely to develop alcohol dependence at some point in their lives and are more likely to engage in risky behaviors, such as drug use and promiscuity.

“I think we know what happens to teenagers as well as adults with drinking—fatal accidents, emergency room visits, sexual assault, unplanned pregnancies, violence with fighting and even suicide, but probably less obvious are some of the medical effects,” said Pediatrician Bruce Thompson, M.D., of the Children’s Clinic of Southwest Louisiana.

The human brain does not finish developing until one’s early- to mid-20s, according to Dr. Thompson. Alcohol use by youth and adolescents can especially affect two particular areas of the brain—the prefrontal cortex and the hippocampus area. The prefrontal cortex, in the front

section of the brain, is responsible for good judgment, planning, decision-making and impulse control. “Drinking can cause irreversible long-term damage and consequences in this area. It can also affect one’s behavior and personality,” said Dr. Thompson.

The other area affected is the hippocampus, the central area of the brain involved with learning and memory. According to Dr. Thompson, alcohol damage in this area of the brain can lead to having problems in school and failure to achieve long-term goals.

“Brain damage from alcohol can be more subtle and not in the moment, but it can have long-term damaging effects and quite a profound effect on people as they get older,” Dr. Thompson said.

In addition to addiction issues and brain damage, underage drinking has also been found to cause a variety psychiatric disorders, depression, sleep disturbances, hypoglycemia, hypothermia, liver disease and gastritis.

According to NIAAA, many youth who begin drinking at an early age often share such personality characteristics as being disruptive, hyperactive, and aggressive—or are referred to as being antisocial or having conduct problems. Heredity also plays a role in early drinking. Children of alcoholics are much more likely to begin drinking at a younger age.

For more information on underage drinking in Calcasieu Parish visit projectknowitall.com and/or follow Project KNOW on Facebook. You can help combat underage drinking by calling the Project KNOW tip line at 491-3618.

Underage drinking is not Just a Teen ProblemAlcohol Consumption Extends to Preteen Youth

Brain damage from alcohol can be more subtle and not in the moment, but it can have long-term damaging effects and quite a profound effect on people as they get older.Dr.BruceThompson, pediatrician

“”

337 • 480 • 1100

www.specialtouchlcla.com

1737 W. Sale Road, Suite 103Lake Charles, LA

EO422

He’s been there for you…now make your dad feel special!

Ask about our Father’s Day Specials.


Eat Right for Better Sight by Kristy Armand

This new system features: • Advanced technology• Improved visibility

• Higher quality images in less time• Enhanced patient comfort

Nuclear Imaging is conveniently locatedon the 3rd Floor of The Clinic.on the 3rd Floor of The Clinic.

Cardiologists: Richard Gilmore, MD, FACC Carl Fastabend, MD, FACC

Ask your doctor for more information,or call Cardiology at The Clinic: 312-8281.

We’re Clearly Focusedon your Heartwith our new Nuclear Imaging Camera.

Eye-Opening Recipes

One of the best source of eye nutrients are fruits and vegetables. Try these simple, delicious recipes for eye-opening flavor

and healthy benefits:

AsparaguswithstrawberriesIngredients and amounts for 4 people1lbasparagustips(whiteasparagustipsarepreferred)3 to 4 large strawberries2tablespoonsbalsamicvinegarsaltandblackpeppertotaste

Preparation• Peeltheendsoftheasparagusandremovethemorefibrousparts.• Boilinabundantsaltywaterfor12to13minutes.• Blendthestrawberrieswiththebalsamicvinegar,saltandpepper.• Pourtheblendedmixtureovertheboiledasparagusandserve.

ZucchiniflowersfriedinpeanutoilIngredients and amounts for 4 people8zucchiniflowers7tablespoonsplainwhiteflour½teaspoonbeeryeastor2tablespoonsbeer1pinchofsalt10½ozpeanutoil

Preparation of the batter• Gentlymixtheflourwiththebeeryeast,2to3spoonsofwarmwater

and a pinch of salt.• Letsitfor30minutesinawarmenvironment.

Preparation of the flowers• Cleantheflowers,cuttheminhalf,washthem,anddrythoroughly.• Diptheflowersinthebatterandtransfertotheboilingpeanutoil;

cook at approximately 350 degrees; turn them over when the batter assumes a pinkish hue.

• Forbestresults,fryonefloweratatime.• Servehotafterhavingdriedtheexcessoilonabsorbentpapertowels.

MixedBerrieswithYogurtIngredients and amounts for 4 people1½cupsmixedberries(blueberries,raspberries,strawberries,

blackberries)10½tablespoonsplainyogurt1tablespoonhoney(millefioripreferred)4tablespoonsorangejuice

Preparation• Washanddrythefruit.Splitinto4portionswiththesametotal

quantity and an equal amount of each fruit.• Preparethecreambyaddingthehoneytotheyogurtandmixwell;

then add the orange juice and mix.• Pourthecreamoverthefruitandplaceintherefrigeratorfor

approximately 1 hour.

Source: The Eye and Nutrition, by ophthalmologist Lucio Buratto, MD.

“You are what you eat.” We’ve heard it for years and basically understand the importance of good nutrition for living a healthy life. But you may not be aware of just how strong the link is between certain nutrients and long-term eye health. A rapidly growing body of evidence indicates that eating specific types of foods can help safeguard your vision. More than 22 million Americans suffer from cataracts and age-related macular degeneration (AMD), the two leading causes of vision loss and blindness. “Although these problems are associated with aging because they are most often diagnosed in older adults, the process that leads to them begins many years before,” says William Iglinsky, MD, ophthalmologist with The Eye Clinic. “This provides an opportunity to take preventive steps, and good nutrition is an important one. Research shows that including key nutrients in your diet may reduce your risk of developing these and other vision-robbing conditions, or at least help slow their progression if they’ve already begun.” Studies have suggested that antioxidants are associated with maintaining improved eye health. Dr. Iglinsky explains that antioxidants are natural protectors, helping to prevent oxidative harm throughout your body, including the eyes. A special mixture of antioxidants (vitamins C and E, as well as beta-carotene) and minerals (zinc and copper) has been shown in some studies to help people who are at high risk for developing advanced age-related macular degeneration. One well-known antioxidants study was conducted by the National Eye Institute. The study is referred to as AREDS (Age-Related Eye Disease Study), and the results led to the recommendation of an antioxidant vitamin formulation for individuals at high risk of vision loss from macular degeneration. Dr. Iglinsky says not everyone is a candidate for the treatment, and anyone who thinks they may be should consult their eye doctor. “The dosages required are very specific and should be taken in consultation with an ophthalmologist. The nutrients are not a cure for macular degeneration, nor will they restore vision already lost from the disease. It is hoped that will play a key role in helping a significant percentage of patients who have the disease keep their vision.” New research reported last year revealed that just one serving a month of kale or collard greens or more than two servings of carrots a week reduced the risk of glaucoma by more than 60 percent in a UCLA study of 1,000 women.

Scientists believe that high levels of vitamin A and other antioxidants in these vegetables help protect crucial cells in the optic nerve. Other research has found that specific antioxidants may have additional benefits as well. For example, vitamin A may protect against blindness, and vitamin C may play a role in preventing cataracts, and in preventing and/or alleviating glaucoma. Essential fatty acids appear to help the eye in a variety of ways, from alleviating symptoms of dry eye syndrome to guarding against macular damage. Eating oatmeal, high-fiber cereals, and whole-grain breads cuts the risk of macular degeneration by about 39 percent, according to another recent study, that also found that complex carbs prevent blood sugar swings that can damage delicate cells in the center of the retina. Research about nutrition and eye health is ongoing, but overall, nutritional and ophthalmic experts agree it is always best to try to get the nutrients associated with better eye health in their natural form, directly from food whenever possible. The following foods are good sources of eye-protecting nutrients:• VitaminA:codliveroil,liver,carrots,sweetpotatoes,butternutsquash.• Luteinandzeaxanthin:spinach,kale,collardgreens.• VitaminC:sweetpeppers(redorgreen),kale,strawberries,broccoli,

oranges,cantaloupe.• Bioflavonoids:citrusfruits,cherries,grapes,plums.• VitaminE:sunflowerseeds,almonds,hazelnuts.• Selenium:brazilnuts,yeast,seafood.• Zinc:oysters,hamburgers,wheat,nuts.• Fattyacids:cold-waterfish(salmon,mackerel,trout). “In general, you should try to eat plenty of green, leafy vegetables, nuts, some yellow or orange fruits and vegetables, and two servings of fish per week,” says Dr. Iglinsky. “And it’s also very important to remember that good nutrition is a lifelong concern. The risk of poor vision may seem a lifetime away when you are young, but as each day passes. Your risk increases. Be proactive and don’t wait until you develop an eye problem or other health concern to make improvements to your diet.”


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1717 W. Prien Lake Rd., Lake Charles 474-7377 • 514 Pine, DeRidder 463-4574 • jjext.com

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Securities and insurance products offered by UVEST Financial Services and its affiliates, member FINRA/SIPC. UVEST and Mallard Investments are independent entities.

4440 Nelson Rd., Lake Charles

Stacey Corbello, Investment Executive/Wealth Consultant

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If the economic ups and downs of the past few years have you feeling uncertain about your financial security, Mallard Investments can help you face the future with renewed confidence. The experienced financial advisors at Mallard Investments know the time to plan for your future is now. We are fully invested in helping you achieve your financial goals.

• Personal and business investment planning• Retirement plans• Long-term care and wealth transfer strategies• Education plans

Call Mallard Investments today to schedule a free consultation.

(337) 312-7041

With the summer upon us, family and friends will likely be making trips to visit. Make your out-of-town guests not only feel welcome, but maybe even a little bit pampered by adding these simple, comforting touches, recommended by Martha Stewart.

Making Your Houseguests Feel atHomeRoomessentialsBy adding an alarm clock, a few cut flowers in a vase, or a foil-wrapped chocolate or two on the pillows, your visitors will feel as if they are in a fine hotel room.

TowelswithaspecialtouchKeep a set of guest towels together, tied together with twill tape or ribbon. When you know you will be having guests, transfer the towels from the linen closet to the guest bedroom.

Bedside waterPlacing a few bottles of water on the nightstand will help your guests feel more at home. If you really want to give your overnight guests the five-star treatment, leave them a chilled bottle of water next to the bed. Choose a vase that is deep enough to accommodate a small bottle with ice. Make sure to place a saucer underneath to collect the condensation and protect the table’s surface.

OutfitthebedMake up the bed with cotton or linen sheets, starched and ironed for that hotel crispness feeling. Have a variety of sleeping pillows including medium, firm, and soft. Lastly, place both a light and heavy blanket on the bed for afternoon naps.

StockuponsuppliesWhen shopping, buy extra bars of soap and shampoo bottles. By keeping stock in your bathroom closet, you won’t be running out to get them when your guests are on their way.

Consider your guests needsMake your guests feel more at home by giving them a tour of your home. Also, show them where to find snacks, drinking glasses, or anything else they might need during their stay. By making these small gestures, your houseguests will feel special when they come to stay.

The year is halfway over and your resolution to exercise and lose weight still hasn’t kicked in. Your focus could be the problem. Research has shown when you only focus on exercise for weight loss, you cut your odds of success in half. To really make a lifestyle change, you need to instead focus on how exercise will literally transform your life. Maybe these new research findings will motivate you use exercise to make you mentally sharper, happier and, of course, healthier:

Let’sstartwithhowexerciseimprovesyourbrain.Want to be the smartest person in the room? Get on a treadmill, because even a single treadmill session can make you brainier. It’s a fact – according to research done by the University of Muenster in Germany, after one treadmill session, exercisers learned new words 20% faster. Why? Because getting your heart pumping delivers more oxygen to your brain and that stimulates new growth in the areas that control multitasking, memory and planning. So kids, before a study session – try running up and down the stairs. It really does help.

You’llbehappieratwork.According to the University of Bristol, on days when workers participated in an on-site fitness session, they reported thinking more clearly, getting more done, and having better relationships with their coworkers. People who exercise regularly take half as many sick days and all it takes is jogging or bicycling twice a week.

Peoplewhoexercisealsofeelbetteraboutthemselves.According to a study done by Pennsylvania State University, women felt more attractive after four months of regular walking or yoga – even if they didn’t lose weight!

Finally,ifyou’reoneofthemillionsofNorthAmericanspoppingasleepingpill–saveyourmoneyandstartexercising.People who exercise four days a week, for an hour at a time, fall asleep faster and wake up less during the night – adding an average of 48 more minutes of sleep to their bedtime each night. Source: Prevention

Exercise Can Transform Your Life


At PPG Industries, Lake Charles, our commitment to the environment is clear. So clear, in fact, that we recently received recognition from the U.S. Department of Energy. The precipitated silica produced at PPG’s Lake Charles plant is used in tires to help improve vehicle fuel economy. By reducing a tire’s rolling resistance, or the amount of energy required to roll a vehicle’s tires, fuel efficiency increases and greenhouse gas emissions are reduced. PPG’s effort at Lake Charles to increase the manufacturing of silicas for green tires was recognized by the U.S. Department of Energy with the award of a $1.2 million federal tax credit as part of the Economic Recovery Act.

Going green is not only good for the environment, it’s good for business.

Governor’s Environmental Leadership Award, 2007

The creation of membrane cell unit was a $100 million investment utilizing 25% less electricity.

International Habitat Conservation Award, 2007

PPG’s NatureLab is 600 acres of a “classroom in the woods”. The Wildlife Habitat Council honored the PPG NatureLab for promoting environmental education and enhancing wildlife habitat management.

Canal Remediation Project, 2008

This $10.8 million project created 24 acres of wetlands in the area near the I-210 bridge, improving wildlife and fishery habitats.

Other recent environmental achievements for PPG-Lake Charles:

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PPG INDUSTRIES • LAKE CHARLES PLANT

Rolling Toward aGreen

Future.Beginning June 2 and continuing through July 30, the City of Lake Charles will sponsor the Summer Food Service Program for eligible children age 18 or younger. Any person over 18 who has been determined mentally or physically handicapped by a state educational agency or local public educational agency of a state and is enrolled in a public or private nonprofit school program may also participate. Breakfast and lunch will be served Monday through Friday at the following locations and times (Dates of operation may vary where noted with an asterisk (*). Please call (337) 491-1270 for details.):

F.K.WhiteMiddleSchool,1000E.McNeeseSt.;Breakfast,7:45a.m.to9:00a.m.andLunch,11a.m.to12noon*

Foreman-ReynaudCommunityCenter,215AlbertSt.;Breakfast,8a.m.to9a.m.andLunch11a.m.to12noon*

GoosportCommunityCenter,1619CessfordSt.,Breakfast,8:30a.m.to9:30a.m.andLunch11:30a.m.to12:30p.m.

HillcrestRecreationCenter,2808HillcrestDr.;Breakfast,8:30a.m.to9:30a.m.andLunch,11:30a.m.to12:30p.m.

LaGrangeHighSchool,3420LouisianaAve.;Breakfast,7:45a.m.to8:45a.m.andLunch,12p.m.to1p.m.

BrentwoodElementarySchool,3825BrentwoodAve.;Breakfast,8a.m.to9a.m.andLunch,11:30a.m.to12:30p.m.*

JohnJ.JohnsonElementarySchool,500MalcolmSt.,Breakfast,8a.m.to9a.m.andLunch,11:30a.m.to12:30p.m.*

LloydOaksCenter,661DixyDr.;Breakfast,8a.m.to9a.m.andLunch,11:30a.m.to12:30p.m.

MLKCommunityCenter,2009SimmonsSt.;Breakfast,8:30a.m.to9:30a.m.andLunch,11:30a.m.to12:30p.m.

MeadowParkHousing,2400AnitaDr.;Breakfast,8:30a.m.to9:30a.m.andLunch,11:30a.m.to12:30p.m.

NewCovenantBaptistChurch,223312thSt.;Breakfast,8:30a.m.to9:30a.m.andLunch,12p.m.to1p.m.*

OakParkElementarySchool,200118thSt.;Breakfast,8a.m.to9a.m.andLunch,11a.m.to12noon*

PearlWatsonElementarySchool,13005thSt.;Breakfast,7:30a.m.to8:30a.m.andLunch,11a.m.to12noon

FairviewElementarySchool,3955GerstnerMemorial,Breakfast,7:45a.m.to8:45a.m.andLunch,11a.m.to12noon*

Washington-MarionHighSchool,2800PineviewSt.;Breakfast8:30a.m.to9:30a.m.andLunch,11:30a.m.to1p.m.

BookerT.Washington,468ChandlerSt.;Breakfast,8:30a.m.to9:30a.m.andLunch,11:30a.m.to12:30p.m.

CarverCourts,1409St.MaryDr.;Breakfast,8a.m.to9a.m.andLunch,11:00a.m.to12:00noon

LakeCharles-BostonAcademy,1509EnterpriseBlvd.;Breakfast,7:30a.m.to8:30a.m.andLunch,11:55a.m.to12:25p.m.

CollegeOaksCenter,3518ErnestSt.;Breakfast,8a.m.to9a.m.andLunch,11a.m. to 12 noon

MikeLanzaRecreationCenter,609SycamoreSt.;Breakfast,8:30a.m.to9:30a.m.andLunch,11:30a.m.to12:30p.m.

ColumbusCircleCommunityCenter,3520GreinwichBlvd;Breakfast,8:30a.m.to9:30a.m.andLunch,12p.m.to1p.m.

JDCliftonElementarySchool,100N.PraterSt.;Breakfast,8a.m.to9a.m.andLunch,11:30a.m.to12:30p.m.

The purpose of the program is to provide nutritious meals to children during the summer months when schools are normally closed and the National School Lunch and School Breakfast Programs are not in operation. For more information contact the Summer Food Service Program at 491-1270.

Summer Food Service Program to Begin June 2


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Swim Team

9 or 16 week block of leSSonS

2 week Summer SplaSh clinicS

Summer camp “camp SwimSaTional”

facebook fanS

all Year ‘round

June, July and august

week-long 1/2 Day Swim camps

check out our fan page!Swimsational Swim School

free waTer SafeTY preSenTaTionS

for Your School or DaY care

Teaching Swimming is All We DO…and We’re the BEST in Town.

infant programs to advanced levelsfree Diaper Dipper

in-water orientation last Saturday of the month.

call to register.

Members of: US Swim School Assn., World Aquatic Babies Congress, International Swim Instructors Assn., NDPA and Safer Three

337-527-0950www.swimsational.net

878 north beglis parkway | Sulphur, la

PRO

FESSIONAL MEMBER

International Fabricare In

stitu

te

You’ll go ape when you walk inside our joint and get the royal treatment by the chicks at our counter. The service at AAA Cleaners is outta sight. We know you can spend your bread other places, but we work hard to give you the primo service you deserve. Swing by our place next time you need your threads cleaned and see for yourself. It’s groovy, man. Peace out.

622 E. Prien Lake Rd. • 477-3548(Across from McDonalds)

2713 Country Club Rd. • 562-9508(Across from Albertsons)

It’s Our Bag, Baby!Counter Culture

When you go out on a date, what’s the most important thing to consider? No, it’s not what you wear, what you talk about, or where you go. It’s your dating manners that matter most. We’re not talking about knowing which fork is for the salad. It’s bad manners in general: Like ordering the waiter around, coughing without covering your mouth, wiping your mouth with the tablecloth, and showing no interest in the person you’re with. Bottom line: Rude and disrespectful behavior is always a relationship-killer. So, here’s how to behave on a date, from Etiquette for Dummies:

•Firstbeontime! There’s nothing that says, “I don’t think you’re important” quite like showing

up late for a date.

• Also,gooutofyourwaytoputyourdateatease,andbethoughtfuloftheirfeelings, space and property.

• Don’ttalkabouthowmuchthingscost,thepriceofthedateespecially-ormake insulting comments about the people around you.

• Alwaysuseyourbesttablemanners,treateveryonewithrespect–thatincludes waiters and counter clerks – and be sure to say “please,” “thank you” and “you’re welcome.” How you treat the people serving you is an indication of how you’ll treat your partner down the line.

• Don’tuseyourcellphoneorstarttexting.Accordingtoarecentsurvey,that’s the #1 dating faux pas. The message it sends is that someone else – who’s not with you – is more important. If you’re expecting a legitimate call from work – or the babysitter – warn your date ahead of time. When your phone buzzes, excuse yourself and take the call elsewhere, so it doesn’t look like you’re snubbing your date right at the table.

• Finally:keepyourword.Ifyoudon’tplantocalloncethedateisover,don’tsay that you will.

Mind Your Manners on Your Next Date


Free Seminar on Bone HealthA free seminar on bone health will be held at 6 p.m. Thursday, June 24, at CHRISTUS St. Patrick Hospital’s Garber Auditorium located at 430 Dr. Michael DeBakey Drive. Orthopedic surgeon Lynn Foret, M.D., will share the latest information and treatment options for a range of bone issues including carpal tunnel, hip and knee replacements, and sports injuries in young athletes. Dr. Foret is board-certified in orthopedic surgery and currently serves in CHRISTUS St. Patrick’s surgical services department. He has been practicing medicine in Lake Charles since 1992. Seating is limited. For more information or to register, call 491-7577.

Safe Sitter Courses AvailableGirls and boys ages 11 to 13 can learn the fundamentals of babysitting at Safe Sitter, a medically accurate baby-sitting preparation program available through Lake Charles Memorial Hospital for Women on Wednesdays, June 16, June 23, July 7 and July 14. During the one-day Safe Sitter class, participants learn how to have fun with their charges with age-appropriate activities. They will also learn how to recognize a medical emergency and what the appropriate action should be during an emergency. The cost is $35, which includes all learning materials. Participants will need to bring their lunch. Enrollment is limited, and reservations are required by calling 480-7243.

JenningsHospitalReceivesPlatinumLevelQualityAwardJennings American Legion Hospital has received the Platinum Level 2009 Louisiana Hospital Quality Award, presented by eQHealth Solutions, the Medicare Quality Improvement Organization for Louisiana. JALH was one of 78 hospitals in the state to receive an award from this group, and one of only 26 in Louisiana to receive the platinum level.

SpeedCampforYoungAthletesOfferedatDynamicDimensionsDynamic Dimensions of West Calcasieu Cameron Hospital will be offering an Speed and Agility Workshop for athletes age 9 – 18 at their fitness centers in Sulphur and Moss Bluff. The workshop will be conducted by trainers with over 25 years of combined experience in fitness and athletics. The goal of the program is to help young athletes improve their performance in whatever sport in which they participate. The trainers will work with each athlete to identify strengths and weaknesses, and help them develop a training program for improvement. Each session will include speed and agility drills and educational information about the importance of training and conditioning for both performance and injury prevention. The workshop will take place from June 7 – 11 at Dynamic Dimensions in Sulphur, and from June 14 – 18 at the Moss Bluff location. The workshop is divided into two age groups, with ages 9 – 12 from Noon to 2 pm; and ages 13 – 18 from 2 - 4 pm. The workshop cost is $75, and $50 for a second child from the same family. Space is limited for each session, and pre-registration is required. For more information or to register, call Dynamic Dimensions at 527-5459 in Sulphur, or at 855-7708 in Moss Bluff.

Securiteis offered through LPL Financial. Member FINRA/SIPC.

(337) 480-1975 • 133 JEFFERSON DRIVEwww.raufinancialgroup.com

at LA Fitness

FitnessFunis

4324 Lake Street • Lake Charleswww.lafitness-swla.com

Fitness CampJune 21 – 25 • 8:30am – 12:30 pm • Ages 6 – 11 Cost $75Certified fitness specialists will teach kids the importance of good nutrition and physical fitness, providing them with a strong foundation for a lifetime of good health.Pre-registration required. Swimming Lessons10 classes/session • Variety of Session Times Available Cost: $35/members • $55/non-membersLearning to swim is more than just a childhood milestone, it’s a necessary safety measure in Southwest Louisiana where we are surrounded by lakes and rivers, and where swimming pools are so common. Swimming is also one of the best all-around fitness exercises. Our certified swimming instructors will provide a safe, fun introduction to the water for your child.Pre-registration required. Summer Student Membership Offer$100/month for a single membership for students

Don’t miss out! Call LA Fitness today at 478-8686 for more information.

Get your child started on the road to wellness with these great summer programs at LA Fitness.

Offering Low Summer Rates. Call NOW!

• Enhanced Skin Rejuvenation

• Laser Hair Removal

• Acne Laser Treatments

• Leg Vein Treatments

• Skin Resurfacing “Laser Peel”

• Weight Loss Clinic Also AvailableCall 337-529-7430 today for a consultation.

Ask about our monthly specials.

Rhonda Salvador, LPN, LT4150 Nelson Road, Building C, Suite 11 Lake Charles

337-660-1214 Fax: 337-474-0277 • [email protected]

WCCHReceivesQualityAwardsWest Calcasieu Cameron Hospital received a Platinum Level 2009 Louisiana Hospital Quality Award and its associated Home Health Agency received a Gold 2009 Louisiana Home Health Agency Quality Award from from eQHealth Solutions. The hospital is the only one in the Lake Charles/Sulphur area, and one of only 26 hospitals in the state, to receive the platinum award. The home health agency was one of 15 to receive the gold level recognition.

RuizJoinsHeart&VascularCenterFernando Ruiz, MD, FACC, FACP, FAHA, a board certified cardiologist, has joined Heart & Vascular Center and the staff of Lake Charles Memorial Hospital. In addition to handling all aspects of cardiac care, Dr. Ruiz specializes in both interventional cardiology, which employs various minimally invasive procedures for diagnosing and treating cardiovascular disease, and nuclear cardiology, which employs noninvasive techniques to assess myocardial blood flow, evaluate the pumping function of the heart, as well as visualize the size and location of a heart attack.

A native of Venezuela, Dr. Ruiz graduated from Central University of Venezuela, Luis Razetti School of Medicine in Caracas. He completed his internship and residency at Yale University School of Medicine – Hospital of Saint Raphael in New Haven, Connecticut, followed by a cardiology fellowship at Tulane University School of Medicine in New Orleans, where he also served as an assistant professor of clinical medicine. Prior to relocating to Lake Charles, Dr. Ruiz completed an additional fellowship in Interventional Cardiology at Mount Sinai Medical Center in New York, New York and developed expertise in coronary and peripheral interventions.

WCCHHealthFairScheduledIn celebration of the opening of its new wing, West Calcasieu Cameron Hospital will hold a free community health fair from 7 a.m.-noon on Saturday, June 12. To access the health fair, community members will need to enter the hospital via the Stelly Lane entrance. A variety of free health screenings will be offered, including: lipid profile (LDL and HDL cholesterol), blood pressure, blood glucose, prostate specific antigen (PSA) blood test for men over 40, glaucoma and vision screening and diabetic foot assessments. Fasting is recommended. Representatives from over 30 local healthcare agencies will be on hand to answer health related questions. For additional information, call 528-4735.

From left to right: GaryCurtis,CEO and President of eQ Health Solutions, Terry Saucier,RN, WCCH Surgical Services, KrisConner,RN, WCCH director of surgical services, KatieLeJune, RN, WCCH Nursing, MelissaValenti,RN, WCCH Nursing, and RebeccaHightower, QI Specialist with eQ Health Solutions.

FernandoRuiz,MD

40 www.thriveswla.com Thrive Magazine for Better Living June 2010 June 2010 Thrive Magazine for Better Living www.thriveswla.com 4140 www.thriveswla.com Thrive Magazine for Better Living April2010

Men – Don’t

be Afraid of

the Urologist

MEN’SHEALTHMONTH•BEAMAN,TAKECAREOFYOURHEALTH•AGUY’SGUIDETOGOODHEALTH•IT’SAGUYTHING•MEN’SHEALTHMONTH•BEAMAN,TAKECAREOFYOURHEALTH

Why do men avoid going to the doctor? The answers are varied, ranging from mistrust of the healthcare system, a “macho” attitude that frowns upon admitting a personal weakness, or a simple fear of poking and prodding. “Whatever the reason, men are losing out on quality of life due to illnesses that could be either prevented, or successfully treated,” says urologist Kenneth Verheeck, MD, with the Urology Center of Southwest Louisiana. “This is particularly true about many urological conditions. If men are uncomfortable seeing a primary care doctor, seeing a urologist is something many men work even harder to avoid, which can make treatment more difficult for certain conditions by the time we do see them.” June is Men’s Health Month, and physicians with the Urology Center say this provides an ideal opportunity to highlight the signs and symptoms that should alert men to a need to see a urologist:

Blood in the urine. Waiting to see if the blood will go away is not smart. This is not normal and can be an early warning sign of other serious conditions, including kidney stones, bladder cancer or kidney cancer.

An elevated PSA or change in PSA. The PSA remains one of the most sensitive indicators of prostate cancer of all tests in medicine, that requires regular monitoring and interpretation in conjunction with other indicators.

Anabnormalprostateexam.Any abnormality - firmness, small nodules, or irregularities - may be from a prostate cancer and should be evaluated by a urologist. Likewise, any change from prior exams must be seen. This is why it is so important that all men over the age of 40 to 45 get a yearly exam, ideally by the same doctor. As with all potentially serious problems, if detected early the cure rate is high. Atesticularmassorpersistentpain. Because of the rare chances of having an underlying testicular cancer, any masses, firmness or nodules of the testicle should be seen by a urologist. This also includes men with testicular pain that does not resolve within a week or two. If caught early, testicular cancer is one of the most curable cancers in humans.

Other urological-related symptoms men should pay attention to: difficulty voiding, nighttime voiding, frequent urge to urinnate and incomplete emptying. These types of problems could be caused by an enlarged prostate or overactive bladder, two conditions that Dr. Verheeck says can usually be treated with medication. Dr. Verheeck adds that these are just a few of the health-related issues that men need to pay more attention to on a regular basis. “By becoming more involved in your healthcare decisions, you put yourself in the driver’s seat. Together with your doctor, you can make informed decisions that will help ensure health for many years.”

MalesFailtoTakeHealth Seriously

Top Health Threats for MenMost men would rather diagnose the rattle under their

vehicle’s hood than the one under their own. If given a choice, they’d much prefer to debate

politics than discuss their heart health or cancer risk.

This pervasive male attitude is very frustrating for doctors. Men go to the doctor less than women and are more likely to have a serious condition when they do go, research shows. “As long as they’re working and feeling productive, most men aren’t considering the risks to their health,” says Todd Peavy, MD, family medicine physician with Lake Charles

Medical and Surgical Clinic. “Very often, by the time they feel bad enough to see a doctor, we have a much more serious

situation to deal with than if they had come in at the first

sign of a problem, or if they had been following recommended

guidelines for health exams and screenings.”

This lack of vigilance on the part of men has serious consequences. More boys than girls

are born every year in this country, but that head start doesn’t give men the health and

longevity advantage you might expect. From infancy to old age, women are simply healthier

than men. And although the gender gap is closing, men still die five years earlier than women, on average, according to the Centers for Disease.

Why? “Too many men pay too little attention to their overall health,” Dr. Peavy says.

A recent survey by the American Academy of Family Physician

(AAFP) examined the health behaviors of over 2200 adults

across the country, including 1,111 men, and found that

more than half of the men had not seen their primary care physician for a physical exam in the last

year, and more than 25 percent reported waiting “as long as possible” before seeking medical help for sickness, pain or other health concerns. A significant percentage of the men surveyed admitted they had not received recommended screenings for prostate or colon cancer.

“Obviously, one of the biggest obstacles to improving the health of men is men themselves. But it’s a challenge both men and their physicians can’t ignore,” says Dr. Peavy. “Finding a way to get men to take an active role in their health is the first step.”

“These top threats are probably not as scary – or unavoidable – as most men might think,” says Dr. Peavy. “In fact, they are common, and in many cases, preventable through healthy lifestyle habits, and treatable if detected early.”

Which brings us back to the fact that in order to change this list and their overall health status, men have got to get more serious about their health if they want to stay healthy. Dr. Peavy says the most important step a man who has been ignoring his health can take is to see a doctor for a complete exam and routine tests including blood pressure, cholesterol, and blood glucose testing. “The doctor will give you a clear picture of your current health status and any need for treatment, risk factor modification and follow-up. As part of that visit, ask your doctor what routine health screenings you should have, based on your age and health. Your doctor will be happy to work with you on developing a plan for managing your healthcare.”

For more information about men’s health and recommended health screenings, call Dr. Peavy at 475-2252.

Heart diseaseCancerInjuriesStrokeCOPD (Chronic Obstructive PulmonaryDisease)

Type2DiabetesFluSuicideKidney Disease Alzheimer’s

TheCDCrecentlyreleasedalistofthetop10healththreatsformen:

It’s a known fact that men are not as attentive to their health as women are. In fact, a recent national study found that women are 100% more likely to visit the doctor for annual examinations and

preventive screenings than men.


As a woman, your job description often gets blurred between the family room, the board room, and all points in between. You nurture, comfort, protect, provide for, guide, discipline, delegate and advise every day. The physicians, nurses and staff of OBG-1 know how hard you work to juggle it all. For over 30 years, we have provided excellence in women’s health care. We pledge to continue providing you with the care you need so you can continue to care for those you love.

Physicians:Ben Darby, MDScott Bergstedt, MDWalter Guth, MDBrad Forsyth, MD

Nurse Practitioners:Tammy Gillett, APRN, NPMarilyn Watson, APRN, NPCertified Nurse Midwives:Bonnie Leger, CNMAllison Hansen, CNM

1.866.312.OBG1 • 312-1000 • obg-1.comLAKE CHARLES: 1890 W. GAUTHIER ROAD, SUITE 110 • SULPHUR: 1200 STELLY LANE

OBG-1 Services Include:• Pregnancy and Delivery• Menopause Management• Pelvic Pain Diagnosis and Treatment• Birth Control• Well Women Screenings• Infertility Diagnosis and Treatment• Osteoporosis Screening• Midwifery

Caring for You, As You Care for ThemforLookCoolSchool

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Your child’s vision is the most important tool for school success. That’s why it’s important that children have an eye exam before they start school and on a regular basis after that. Beat the back-to-school rush and schedule your child’s eye exam NOW at The Eye Clinic. We’re making it easy with these special offers:

This offer is available on routine vision exams* at all locations of The Eye Clinic through September 30, 2010.

*Contact lens exams and fittings require additional fees.www.theeyeclinic.net

Thrive magazine won thirteen awards in the 2010 Louisiana Press Association competition. The magazine competed against publications statewide, including the Baton Rouge Business Report, the Independent Weekly of Lafayette, Central City News, and Acadiana Lifestyle, in categories including advertising design, feature writing, news writing and lifestyle coverage.

Creative Director Barbara Van Gossen received a first-place award for most effective design on a single page, and a first-place feature writing award was presented to Erin K. Cormier, assistant editor. Thrive nearly swept the feature-writing category, with Co-Editor Christine Fisher placing second and Kristy Armand, co-editor, receiving an honorable mention.

Other individual awards went to Tony Lee, second place for most effective design; Cormier, third place for best news story and honorable mention for feature writing; and Mike Foux, third place for ad design. Thrive was also awarded second place for Best Lifestyle coverage, second place for Best Special Section, and an honorable mention for Best Front Page.

Louisiana Press Association is the official trade organization for Louisiana newspapers and publications.

Thrive Wins 13 Awards

in LPA COMPETITION


Only 34 percent of American toddlers today will reach the age of 18 having lived most of their lives with both biological parents. Just as the traditional view of motherhood has changed in recent decades, now more than ever there are new kinds of fathers –

divorced dads, single dads, older dads, stepdads and, unfortunately, absent dads.As the Norman Rockwell imagery of what it means to be an American family continues to adjust to the real modern world, fathers are too often falling out of the picture. According to the National Fatherhood Initiative, 24 million children live without their biological father; of that group,

40 percent haven’t seen their father at all in the past year, 50 percent have never set foot in their father’s home and 26 percent live in a completely different state.

Although the traditional idea of what it means to be a father has changed, dads certainly have not become expendable. According to the NFI, children with involved, loving fathers are significantly more likely to do well in school, have healthy self-esteem,

exhibit empathy and pro-social behavior, and avoid high-risk behaviors such as drug use, truancy, and criminal activity compared to children who have uninvolved fathers.

The Front Lines of FaTherhood

Paying tribute to devoted local dads

Chris Manuel and son, Aiden

James Burke and his d

aughter Emma

Jon Mayeux with Lillian and Jordon

“The father is absent in many stories you hear today,” said Lorenzo Broussard, a divorced father of four who lives in Lake Charles. “Well, the father that raised me is my role model. My father spent quality time with me. He made sure I had the tools I needed to succeed in life. I remember him getting off from a 12-hour graveyard shift to accompany me on my first day of college. I strive to be like my father.”

Broussard, 32, has taken his father’s example and transferred that to his own children – Ja’lyn, 13, Imani, 7, Amayah, 5, and Xavier, 3. He shares joint custody with his ex-wife and has continued the routine that they shared when they all lived under one roof – a routine that begins with a home-cooked breakfast and ends with the five of them brushing their teeth together as a family before bed. He gives credit to his ex-wife for smoothing the chaotic path of raising several children: “If anyone tells me I am a good father, I tell them it’s made simple because my children have a great mother,” he said.

In addition to coaching his daughters’ softball teams, Broussard washes and irons their clothes, cooks meals that they eat together as a family, even brushes and braids their hair. He enlists the help of his oldest daughter to help with the younger sibs.

“They all demand a different side of me that I understand and can deliver. They keep me grounded, for the most part. As they become older and more involved with academics and athletics, the more I’m involved with everything. I sometimes sit and watch and cannot help but smile,” he says. Although his children don’t live with both biological parents, Broussard says he is no less involved in their lives. The idea of not being an active role model for them is completely foreign to him. “I love my children with every fiber of my soul. I am a truly blessed father. My children make my life worth it. Wow. I can get teary eyed just thinking about it.”

The statistics related to modern American fathers paint a different picture than the one Broussard has created

with his family. According to a survey by the National Fatherhood Initiative, 53 percent of fathers say their role is replaceable by mothers; 57 percent believed their presence could be replaced by another man.

Although some dads may consider themselves replaceable, Thrive found plenty who didn’t. Here’s a snapshot of a few more devoted dads who, like Broussard, choose to stay on the front lives of family life.

his purpose in lifeAfter his parents’ divorce, James Burk was raised without a strong male role model in his life, but that has had little bearing on the type of parent he is for Emma, 5, and Olivia, 2. James says he “wouldn’t trade being a father for anything in the world.”

“I never knew my purpose in life until I gazed into my daughters’ eyes for the first time. The whole world made sense for a brief moment,” James said. “They made me start thinking and feeling in ways I never knew possible. My girls are my world.”

James says he doesn’t waste much energy thinking about his life without a father. “It is what it is,” he says. “People live life in different ways.”

‘We are blessed’Daughter-primping tasks are traditionally viewed as women’s work, but Jon Mayeux doesn’t shy away from a blow dryer and a brush when it’s time to comb out the tangles in their 7-year-old daughter’s hair, according to his wife Leah.

Despite spending much of the week working in Houston, Jon maintains an active presence in the lives of their daughter Lillian and 15-year-old son Jordan. “He has a way of making them both feel like they are the only one in the world that matters. He goes to the movies with our son and plays computer games with him. Even when he is gone during the week, he and our daughter text each other as much as possible. He even showed her how to send picture text so she can send him pics of her playing or eating or snuggling,” Leah said. “We are blessed.”

Lorenzo Broussard with Ja’lyn, Xavier, Amayah

and Imani.

by Erin K. Cormier


Super dadWhen Aiden Manuel was born in 2004, the first thing his father Chris did was kiss his wife. When the baby

was taken out of the room to get cleaned up, Chris followed.

“After he left the room my doctor told me ‘You know, that is

wonderful that your husband kissed you.

So many dads forget to do that,’” said Shonda,

who has been with Chris since 1996. “That really hit

home.”

Late-night feedings, dirty diapers, doctor’s visits,

shrieking cries – Chris didn’t avoid any of his new father

duties with Aiden or Reese, the daughter that followed.

“Raising kids with Chris has been a joy. He is always right there on the front line with wet wipes for filthy faces, ointment for pesky eczema, and hugs for jobs well done. He couldn’t be more proud than to watch his kids sing silly pre-school songs or watch them swing for the fences in T-ball. I know that there aren’t many men that go to plays or wake up in the middle of the night just to bring their kids to the bathroom so they don’t wet the bed. He does. And then to top it all off, he cooks, he cleans, he fixes, he mows, he budgets, he creates, he helps, he reassures,” Shonda said. She jokingly adds that when Chris is out of town for work, “my friends call to check up on me to make sure I’m able to feed them and run the house.”

Shonda said she thanks him often for being a “super dad,” but his response is always the same: “He says ‘They’re my kids. Why wouldn’t I be there for them?’”

Jimmy Breaux of Jennings was “blessed with four girls and no boys,” as his daughter Christi puts it. She admits that there were times when he would disappear in his shop outside to work, but says “I can’t blame him. I actually felt sorry for him at times – too many women around.”

Jimmy attended his daughters’ dance recitals, pageants, parades and baseball games. According to Christi, he was their biggest cheerleader.

“My dad has a beautiful voice and was the family entertainment during holidays. He would play his guitar and make up songs about each of us girls. At Christmas the entire family would sing while dad played his guitar.

We still carry on that family tradition and dad still plays, but to a much younger audience. He also has forgotten the words to most of the songs. The grandchildren laugh at him, but are very big fans of their Paw Paw,” Christi said.

The greatest lessons she learned from her father: Integrity and courage. “He said always do what’s right and take pride in what you do,” she said. “He would tell us to keep our head up and be strong.”

a hard-working manEligha Guillory Jr. admits that it may sound cliché, but his father, Eligha Sr., can do anything.

“I know it sounds like I’m a school-aged boy with admiration for his father, but it’s true. He did construction, he worked on cars, he knows the Bible, he can cook. My father can do it all,” Guillory said.

When Guillory was eight years old, his father, known as “Jay,” was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease. The diagnosis did little to hinder strong will. “My father was somebody you didn’t mess with,” Guillory said. “All it took as my mother to say ‘Wait till your daddy comes home,’ and I’d straighten up immediately.”

As the disease advanced, it became clear to Guillory that few people had a complete understanding of the condition, so he decided to organize a fund-raiser to help raise awareness. That fund-raiser eventually blossomed into a full non-profit organization called the Eljay Foundation for Parkinson Awareness. Guillory said he was inspired to start the foundation as he watched his father progress through the illness in a community that knew little about it.

His father, now 65, can’t rebuild cars like he used to, but Guillory said he’s taken many of his father’s lessons into his own home – literally and figuratively.

“I have two cars in the garage right now that I’m working on. I told my father just the other day that now I wish I would have stayed outside with him more so I could have watched and learned everything. If so, those cars would be fixed by now,” he said. Jay also left behind less tangible, yet more important, impressions on his son: “My father taught me to be a hard worker, to always put food on the

table, and to show my children what love is. Watching my mom and dad care for each other truly taught me that. He showed his love for her every day and still does. He was a faithful man and he taught me to be faithful too.”

Guillory is the father of three children, ages 18, nine and three. He admits that the traditional roles of parenting have changed, but that doesn’t diminish the importance of fathers being available to their children.

“More of the responsibilities are shared these days. When I was growing up, my father worked all day, came home, and was the disciplinarian. My mother cooked and did the things we traditionally think of mothers doing back then,” Guillory said. “In my household, my wife is more of the disciplinarian and I help the kids with their homework and go to school functions. Roles are less defined today; they’re more shared. That’s not a bad thing, though. Parents can show love in many different ways.”

Chris Manuel with son Aiden

Chris Manuel and daughter Reese

Jimmy Breaux entertaining his four wonderful daughters.

Eligha Guillory, Jr. and father

Eligha, Sr.

The greatest lessons learned

Play It Safe, Healthcare’s not a GAMEThe stats for men and personal heath care aren’t good. The score card shows that men visit the doctor 150 million

times less frequently per year than women. In fact, the reasons most men go to their doctor are for injuries suffered on

the job, at home, or on the ball field.

Unfortunately, these short stops do not result in the vital

examinations and discussions that are important between a

doctor and patient.

June is Men’s Health Month, and the physicians with

the Urology Center encourage men to use this time to get

active about defending their health.

234 S. Ryan Street, Lake Charles433-5282

1327 Stelly Ln., Ste. B, Sulphur527-0022

www.ucswla.com

T.P. Alderson, MD • K.S. Verheeck, MDJ.J. Jancuska, MD • F. M. Siddiq, MD

R. Conner, NP

Office hours: 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. M - F

A L E A G U E O F Y O U R O W N

The Urology Center can help you avoid striking out from these urological-related health risks:

PROstAtE cANcER -- screening should begin after age 50. The prostate-specific antigen, or PSA blood test, and the digital rectal exam, or DRE, should be done annually. For men at high risk, including African-American men and men with a strong family history of prostate cancer, screening should begin at age 45.

tEstIcULAR cANcER - a monthly self exam is recommended beginning at age 15. Any unusual lumps orchanges should be reported to your doctor.

EREctILE DYsFUNctION- can be the first sign of an underlying medical condition such as diabetes, heart disease or prostate cancer. It affects an estimated 30 million men in the United States. A variety of effective medications are available.

234 Dr. Michael DeBakey Dr., Lake Charles • (337) 433-5282 1327 Stelly Ln., Ste. B, Sulphur • (337) 527-0022www.ucswla.comK.S. Verheeck, MD • J.J. Jancuska, MD • F. M. Siddiq, MD

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How Aging Is Your Lifestyle? AlcoholIn 2008, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported that a lifestyle of heavy drinking was the third leading cause of death in the United States. It can lead to problems such as heart disease, liver disease, stroke, as well as gastrointestinal and mental health issues.

“The key here is ‘excessive alcohol’. There is evidence showing that a small amount of alcohol can have cardiovascular benefits, but it’s not enough to recommend drinking when someone doesn’t in their everyday life. For the most part, it’s best to use an ‘everything in moderation’ motto and to check with your individual doctor who has your health history in mind,” said Dr. Devillier.

ExerciseIt’s all about use it or lose it. The changes in the body that we normally associate with aging, such as lack of flexibility, balance problems, and decline in strength are actually a result of less physical activity. By exercising 30 – 40 minutes every day, including aerobic, strength training and stretching movements, much of the body’s aging is significantly reduced.

SmokingIt not only shortens life expectancy, smoking greatly affects one’s quality of life in later years. In many studies, participants who don’t smoke live an average of 10 years longer than heavy smokers (defined as more than 20 cigarettes smoked a day). The CDC reports that 20 percent of adults in the U.S. smoke every day.

ObesityAbout 1/3 of Americans are obese, making the United

States the fattest country. Moderate obesity shortens life expectancy by an average of 6 – 10

years. In some cases, obesity is as dangerous to health as smoking. Deaths from obese individuals are usually attributed to heart

attacks, stroke diabetes, kidney or liver-problems.

“Living a long, full life depends on many things, good genes are one

of them, but lifestyle choices obviously matter,” said Dr. Devillier. “Eating well,

maintaining a healthy weight, not smoking, staying physically and mentally active, and getting adequate

sleep are good choices to make toward a healthy, long life.” These healthy options could add years to one’s life.

Lifestyle impacts longevity. Everyday choices such as whether to eat the hot dog and chili or the grilled chicken and broccoli can make a difference in life span.

As the proverb goes, the journey of a thousand miles begins with one step. “The choices we make in our daily lives, especially on things such as exercise, nutrition, smoking and drinking, can impact longevity,” said Marne’ Devillier, MD, family practice physician. By living an unhealthy lifestyle, the odds are, a person will die sooner than someone who does eat well, exercises regularly, avoids excess alcohol and chooses not to smoke.”

Smoking, drinking too much, inactivity and a poor diet, especially when combined, can make a person feel older than they really are, according to a recent study. Nearly 5,000 British men and women were followed and their habits recorded by researchers who were interested in finding out how health habits affected longevity.

Overall, 314 people in the study had all four unhealthy behaviors. Among them, 91 died during the study, or 29 percent. Among the 387 healthiest people with none of the four habits, only 32 died, or about 8 percent.

The researchers concluded that engaging in these risky lifestyle behaviors substantially increased the risk of death and virtually aged people by an average of 12 years.

Within the study, the bad behaviors were defined as:• smoking• drinkingmorethanthreealcoholicdrinksperdayformenandmorethan

two daily for women• lessthantwohoursofexerciseeachweek• eatingfruitsandvegetablesfewerthanthreetimesdaily

Even among the healthiest group, the behavior wasn’t extreme. This group:• neversmokedorhadquit• drankmoderateamountsofalcohol;mendrankthreeorlessdrinksaday,and

women drank two or less• gotatleasttwohoursofexerciseaweek• atefruitsandvegetablesatleastthreetimesdaily

“This isn’t over-the-top healthy behavior,” said Dr. Devillier. “It’s just following a healthy lifestyle.”

A closer look at each of the risky behaviors shows how damaging they can be individually, and when combined, they cause serious problems.

by Christine Fisher

WhaT Car ThieVes WanTThe good news is that a report from the Justice Department says that car thefts are at a 20 year low. The bad news from that same report is that thefts of items from cars are up. A spokesperson from the National Insurance Crime Bureau

says that car thefts are down because cars are built to be more theft resistant, but that technology won’t stop a person from smashing a window for the stuff inside the car – and there’s more stuff than ever to steal. In fact, gadget thefts

rose 30 percent in the last five years. Experts say thieves are looking for things left in plain view like GPS devices and iPads, to purses and spare change. You

might think no one would want to steal your tote bag full of gym clothes, but the thieves don’t know if you tucked your wallet or an iPod in there too. The message is, don’t tempt thieves. If you have a GPS holder affixed to your dashboard, even if your GPS unit isn’t in view, thieves will break into your car to try and find it. If they get your GPS, all they have to do it hit “home” on it and drive back to your house

and rob it. Same goes for car chargers for your iPod, phone or GPS. Just so you know, gadgets stolen from cars usually aren’t covered by auto insurance. You have to file a claim through your homeowner’s or renter’s insurance.

Thebottomline:“Hideit,lockit,orloseit.”


RenovatedFineArtsBuildingOpensMcNeese has officially opened its $15.7 million addition to the Shearman Fine Arts Building. “The state-of-the art features and equipment in both the visual arts and performing arts areas provide a quality environment for students to learn, study, perform and showcase their work,” said McNeese President Robert Hebert. Dr. Jeanne Daboval, provost and vice president of academic affairs, said the expansion will give “our faculty an environment where they can truly showcase their teaching skills and demonstrate their exceptional talents as artists and performers …In addition to providing an outstanding setting for teaching and learning, this facility will be a tremendous recruiting tool.” The new addition houses two academic programs within the McNeese College of Liberal Arts—the departments of performing arts and visual arts. The first floor houses a new 526-seat theatre and stage, costume and scene shops, dressing rooms, concessions and a ticket office, while the second floor houses the theatre control booth, rehearsal hall, choral library, ensemble room, faculty office studios, a conference room, performing arts department suite and storage.

To service the visual arts department, the first floor houses a grand gallery, sculpture and ceramics studios, with a kiln patio, mixing and glaze rooms and a 3D studio, photography darkrooms, a digital photography studio, an art history/visual resource center, classrooms, faculty offices and storage. A balcony exhibition gallery is located on the second floor. Architects for the addition are C.R. Fugatt and Associates, AIA, and Champeaux, Evans, Hotard, APAC. Bessette Development Corp. is the general contractor. The original Shearman Fine Arts structure was built in 1950 with an extension added in 1962. The older sections of the building are scheduled to undergo renovations that will bring the entire structure into compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act.

DeesReceivesFacultyAwardDr. William H. Dees, associate professor of biological science, is the recipient of the 2010 Distinguished Faculty Award for Excellence in Teaching presented by the McNeese Alumni Association. Dees received his Bachelor of Science degree in biology from The Citadel, his Master of Science degree in entomology from Clemson University and his doctorate in ecological sciences from Old Dominion University. He joined the McNeese department of biology and health sciences in 2001 as an assistant professor and became an associate professor in 2007. Prior to this, he was an assistant professor in the Division of Tropical Public Health for the Department of Preventive Medicine and Biometrics at the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences in Bethesda, Md., an adjunct biology faculty member at Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota in Winona, dean and instructor at the Minnesota Academy of Mathematics and Science in Winona, and medical entomologist and education and training management specialist in the Medical Service Corps of the U.S. Navy. Dees serves on numerous departmental, college and university committees, including chair of the McNeese Alumni Association Undergraduate Scholar Program, chair and program coordinator for the health sciences initiative review committee, and co-sponsor of the MSU Premedical and Predental Society. He has also served as senior author or principal investigator of successful grants totaling over $500,000 and as co-author of numerous grants and projects totaling over $1.8 million. These have included grants from the Louisiana Board of Regents, the Shearman Research Initiative, the Environmental Protection Agency, the Louisiana Mosquito Control Association and the National Science Foundation. As a faculty member, Dees has consistently received excellent student evaluations and feedback for his teaching. As a research scientist, his interests include such areas as vector-borne disease surveillance and control, effects of invertebrate hormones/parasite cellular derivatives on infectious disease pathogens, national and international training programs in public health, and ticks and tick-borne diseases in the southern United States.

StudentReceivesUnexpectedDegreeMcNeese is one of the first universities in a national pilot program to award associate degrees to students who stopped attending classes for personal reasons but otherwise met university criteria for an associate degree under Project Win-Win, an initiative sponsored by the Education Trust, a national education policy organization, and the National Association of System Heads. Project Win-Win, which was launched last fall, includes seven community colleges from Louisiana, Maryland, New York and Ohio and three four-year universities in the University of Louisiana System (McNeese, Northwestern State University and Southeastern Louisiana University) that award associate degrees. The aim of the project is to produce more students with degrees and the focus is on those students who have accumulated significant college credit yet do not have a degree but may be eligible for an associate degree, according to Stephanie Tarver, dean of enrollment management at McNeese. McNeese student data was searched to identify students who had entered the university in August 2003 or later, had accumulated at least 60 semester hours and had not received a degree. Transcripts were then evaluated to identify students who were eligible for the Associate of General Studies degree and 17 McNeese students were notified in April that they met the criteria for their degrees under Project Win-Win. Six of those students attended spring commencement exercises Saturday morning in Burton Coliseum to receive their college diplomas. One of those graduates is Amber Koonce of Sulphur. Koonce, 25, has Lou Gehrig’s disease, or Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, and she had given up on her dream of becoming a teacher several years ago. “My parents had always stressed the importance of a college education and I had wanted to be the first one to give them that gift,” said Amber. “I had all but given up on that dream until we got the phone call from McNeese.” Amber enrolled at McNeese in August 2003. Her major was education with a minor in Spanish. She dreamed of becoming a teacher, more specifically, a Spanish immersion teacher. She attended McNeese for two years and then transferred to

Louisiana State University. When she started to struggle with health issues, she transferred back to McNeese in fall 2007 where she completed her fall and spring 2008 semesters. Her mother, Carol, said Amber had to withdraw from school after the spring because of the progression of her illness—she could no longer write, hold a book open or climb stairs. “She would fatigue so easily,” said Carol. The family received a definite diagnosis of ALS on March 19, 2008.Her family was thrilled about graduation and arrived en masse to show their love and pride for Amber. Amber’s faculty adviser and one of her instructors at McNeese, Rose Henny, pushed her former student’s wheelchair to the front of Burton Coliseum to watch as her receive her diploma. “At McNeese, Rose Henny was Amber’s guardian angel,” said Carol. “She took care of our daughter as though she was one of her own. Mrs. Henny walked with Amber to her car and carried her books and so much more—she went beyond the call of duty. “When Mrs. Henny found out Amber was going to graduate, she called me and asked me if I would allow her the privilege of pushing Amber’s chair for her during the ceremony,” she added.

Henny said Amber’s excitement was contagious at graduation. “She said that this filled her with joy. Despite her diagnosis, she is accomplishing her goal. Her courage and strength are an example to us all.”

E-LearningCoursesAvailableMcNeese will offer a variety of electronic learning courses for academic credit during the 2010 fall semester. The fall class schedule is now available online at www.mcneese.edu/schedule. College by Cassette classes offer students a convenient option of course preparation and study. A complete series of videocassette lessons are used throughout the course. They may be rented or viewed in the McNeese library. Some on-campus meeting times are required. Students should look for course listings online marked section CS. Compressed video courses offer students an opportunity to receive credit from McNeese or other state universities by attending class at one of the on-campus sites or at one of McNeese’s off-campus sites in Allen, Jeff Davis or Beauregard parishes. Students should look for course listings online marked section CZ (off campus) or CV (on campus) to register for these courses. A $20 per credit hour electronic fee will be administered for all CZ classes. Internet or Web-based courses are being offered in several departments that allow students to access class information and assignments from home or at times that might be more convenient to the student. For Web hybrid (WH) classes, some on-campus meeting times or designated testing sites may be required while Web classes (W) are strictly online classes and require no meeting times on campus. Students should refer to class listings marked section W or WH to register for these classes. A $20 per credit hour electronic fee will be administered for all Web courses. For more information, contact the McNeese Electronic Learning office at (337) 475-5075.

McNeese President RobertHebert,left, congratulates AmberKoonce,seated, before the ceremony as RoseHenny,instructor in teacher education at McNeese and former faculty adviser to Koonce, looks on. Koonce, who has Lou Gehrig’s disease, or ALS, had to withdraw from the university two years ago because of the progression of her illness.

PatHay, left, president of the McNeese Alumni Association’s Board of Directors, presents the 2010 Distinguished Faculty Award for Excellence in Teaching to Dr.WilliamH.Dees, associate professor of biological science.

The $15.7 million addition to the Shearman Fine Arts Building at McNeese State Univer-sity officially opened Friday. The new 59,918 square-foot addition features a glass atrium and a grand staircase as seen in a night shot of the SFA addition and the entrance plaza

The first floor of the new addition to the McNeese Shearman Fine Arts Building houses a new state-of-the-art 526-seat theatre and stage. Productions in the new theatre are scheduled for the fall semester.

McNeese Corral


When most people think of a house’s flair and personality, they often get no further than the living room. The décor inside the four walls of a family home are considered a testament to their aesthetic. Pastels in the den, bold reds in the kitchen, deep blue tile in the bathroom – all these give insight into the homeowner’s personality. But the personality of a home doesn’t stop at the back door; it goes out the patio doors and into the backyard, where many homeowners settle for the grassy rectangular lot that came with the home purchase.

A backyard can be much more than a laborious lawn-mowing project or a place for the dog to run, however. It can be a personal oasis.

“The beautiful thing about creating your own backyard oasis is just that – it’s your own, and it’s whatever you want. Some people plan every detail and transform their backyard end-to-end, top-to-bottom. Other families break it down into a project every summer, always improving what they have. For some, it’s a huge above-ground pool with a big wrap-around deck. For others, an Olympic lap pool. For still others, a brick courtyard with a spa and waterfalls,” said David Tassin, co-owner of Sabine Pools, Spas & Furniture.

According to Tassin, the first step is to visualize your space. If you’re short on room, consider a small pool with a spa and waterfalls in a brick courtyard and lots of container plantings, he said.

Plants can make all the difference in creating a getaway atmosphere, said David Stine, vice president of marketing/merchandising with Stine. “The appropriate plantings can transform any boring backyard into an escapable garden. It doesn’t take much, either. A small amount of money can go a long way when it comes to landscaping your backyard and bringing out vibrant textures and colors. The great thing about plantings and landscaping is, you can landscape virtually any size space – from a very small area to a large and spacious one.”

If you’re fortunate enough to have a large and open backyard and want to entertain guests, “picture a wall of French doors leading to an outdoor living room and a large pool beyond. Add grilling and dining areas off to one side, and you will have transformed how you and your family spend your time,” Stine said.

According to Tassin, big outdoor décor trends today include using natural Earth colors accented by a big pop of color. For example: a deck in muted reds and tans with big, vivid blue planters, or patio furniture with deep red cushions or lime green throw pillows.

Adding a deck to your backyard isn’t just a smart way to turn your backyard into a personal retreat; it’s also a wise investment, especially if you look for deck materials that are durable, low-maintenance and cost-effective, Stine said. “Composite decking can be a good choice. It’s made from recycled wood fiber and other materials, so it’s environmentally friendly while also looking natural and providing the low-maintenance type of deck most homeowners want.”

According to Stine, it’s simple to personalize a deck with interesting accents that compliment your house or yard. “Decks can range from traditional to modern and can be tweaked to fit any homeowner’s personality with just a few touches, like balusters, rails, or faux stone post covers.”

“There aren’t any rules,” Tassin added. “It’s your backyard. Choose items you love, and you’ll be happy with your outdoor space every day.”

A Hideaway in Your Own Backyard by Erin K. Cormier

Summer Time

Aaah, summertime – the season of fun in the sun, backyard cookouts, vacations and a whole new set of health rules. How many times did you hear, “Get out of the water! You just ate lunch!” as you were growing up? Or how about the summer you were basically put in quarantine when you got poison ivy because your family and friends were afraid they’d “catch it” from you?

You’ll be relived to learn that some of the healthy summer advice you’ve always accepted as fact (and are probably repeating to your own kids), is actually medically incorrect, according to Amanda LaComb, MD, family medicine physician in Jennings. “There are certainly health risks you should be aware of in the summer. The key is knowing which concerns are based on fact, and which, however well-intentioned, are simply ‘old wives tales.’”

To help you separate fact from fiction Dr. LaComb responds to some of the most common summer health

myths:

Waitahalfhouraftereating before you can safely go swimming. This one is probably almost universally accepted. As with any exercise after eating, swimming right after a big meal might be uncomfortable, but won’t cause

you to drown. The myth is based on the theory that swimming with a full stomach can result in severe muscle cramping and drowning. While it’s true that the digestive process does divert blood flow away from muscles toward the intestines, there has never been a documented episode of drowning due to a full stomach. Even the American Red Cross does not makes any specific recommendations about waiting any amount of time after eating before taking a swim. “There’s a theoretical possibility that one could develop a cramp while swimming with a full stomach,” says Dr. LaComb , “but a swimmer should be able to easily exit the water if this happens. However you may want to try to avoid swimming with an extremely full stomach because it could potentially cause fatigue and nausea.”

Poison ivy rashes are contagious.Poison ivy, oak and sumac rashes are not contagious. About 50 percent of people are allergic to urushiol, an oil found on these plants. The rash itself is a delayed reaction to contact with these plants, and is not contagious, even thought it may be oozing.

The rash can be “spread” if another person who is also allergic to urushiol comes into contact with oil that remains on clothes, shoes, skin or other items. Once the oil is washed off, the risk of re-exposure or “spreading” is eliminated. Dr. LaComb advises washing separately every item of clothing (and bedding) that might have retained plant oils.

Youneedtoburnfirstbeforeyoustartto tan.Dr. LaComb says this myth is a dangerous one. Both sunburns and suntans pose risks and neither is desirable from a health standpoint. “Sunburn is, as the name implies, is a burn injury to the skin that causes skin damage, redness, and eventual peeling, not a tan. A suntan is the result of injury to the epidermis, the top layer of your skin.” She explains that a tan develops when UV light accelerates the production of

melanin, the dark pigment in the epidermis that gives your skin its normal color. The extra melanin, produced to protect the deeper layers of your skin, creates the darker color of a “tan.” A suntan is your body’s way of blocking out the ultraviolet rays to prevent further injury to the skin, but the protection only goes so far. Any amount of sun exposure poses an increased risk for the development of skin cancers and premature aging, but sunburn poses an even stronger risk.

Dark-skinnedpeopledon’tneedsunscreen.People with lighter skins have less melanin than darker-skinned people. While light-skinned people will be very sensitive to the effects of UV rays from the sun and burn more quickly, those with darker skins should not assume they are not negatively affected, according to Dr. LaComb.

People with darker skin pigment are less likely to burn because of the protective action of melanocytes, which produce melanin. However, even those with darker skin types can burn with repeated exposures to UV light. This intense exposure can produce dry, rough skin patches, wrinkling and other skin disorders, including skin cancer. So even though people with darker skin can tan and tolerate longer periods of sun exposure without “burning,” the sun can still cause damage.

Sparklersareasafealternativetofireworksforchildren.“There are no fireworks that are safe for children,” stresses Dr. LaComb. She says even sparklers, which look fairly harmless when compared to other fireworks, can reach temperatures above 1000 degrees Fahrenheit, and can burn users and bystanders. Sparklers can also easily ignite children’s clothing, causing severe burns, scars or disfigurement.

The watermelon seed myth. “No, there’s no chance the seeds will germinate and grow in your stomach if you swallow them,” assures Dr. LaComb. There is a very, very small risk of damage to the intestine (inflammation, obstruction, or a tear in the bowel) from swallowing any small, sharp object such as a seed. A watermelon or other type of seed could potentially lodge inside the appendix and lead to appendicitis, but this is also very unlikely to happen. She adds that the benefits of including fruit in your diet far outweigh any risks associated with swallowing seeds.

Debunking Summer Health Myths

by Kristy Armand


Summer has arrived in Southwest Louisiana, meaning short hairstyles will soon follow. Hair is the most important fashion accessory that we all have. The question is how to choose a cut that matches our personal style and will hold up to the hairstyle hurdles posed by our high levels of humidity during the summer months. “Trimming off some inches is a seasonal habit for some, a bold, fresh change for others,” says Wendy White McCown, owner of Signatures Salon. “Short hair is a real time saver, because it only takes a few minutes to wash and style. It is great for those early morning rushes to get to work on time.” Short hair can also be very versatile with the right cut. “A short hairstyle is good for almost any occasion. It can be polished for a day in the office, casual for a weekend at the beach, or sleek and sexy for a night on the town,” says McCown. “Best of all, you can go from one look to another with minimal restyling.” This season’s haircuts and styles will allow easy styling with more free and casual cuts compared to last year’s super neat precision cuts. McCown says retro looks are back, but with new, modern twists. One example of this is the “bob.” “The bob is a low maintenance but high fashion look that is tailored to your face and lifestyle. The cut for the modern bob is strong graphic outlines incorporating curves and sharp lines. It can be one length, or more volume can

be created by adding layers. This is a cut that can really be individualized.” The 70’s shag comes back as the “choppy layer.” McCown says this cut is perfect for those who like texture in their hairstyle. This natural look is easy to create with layers of un-styled, free moving hair. Long or short bangs can be worn with this cut to compliment the face. Speaking of bangs, these are definitely in style again. “Bangs are the perfect way for someone to make a fresh, bold statement,” says McCown. Ranging from soft and wispy to casual choppy edges, bangs frame the face to accentuate the features for a strong look. Short hair is not for everyone. “There are several things one should consider before taking on the short cut, such as face shape as well as the body and condition of their hair,” explains McCown. She says a short hairstyle might reveal some things about your face that you don’t like and don’t want to highlight. Also, if you are not satisfied with the way your hair looks, your options are limited until it grows back. “Ultimately, regardless of the length you choose, a hairstyle is all about you, your style and comfort and being confident in yourself,” McCown says. “It’s good to change up your look from time-to-time. Just give some thought and consideration to what you want your hair to reflect about your personality, and consult with a stylist you trust.”

Short Cuts to Summer Style by Haley ArmandMake Marinade Magic &Get Your Grill OnWant to break out the grill this summer and create a sumptuous barbecue dish? Start with a sumptuous marinade. A top-notch marinade serves many purposes – its blend of herbs and spices contribute to the flavor of the meat, the acids in the juice help break it down and oils keep it from drying out during the grilling process. But creating a marinade isn’t as simple as throwing ingredients in a dish, saturating the meat and tossing it in the fridge overnight. A good marinade is an art unto itself. Here’s how to use marinades to your advantage: • Don’tsoakmeatfortoolong,especiallyifyourmarinadeishighlyacidic.Over-marinatedmeatwillgettoosoft.Thirtyminutesattheleast,and

overnightatthemost.Chickenabsorbsmarinadesmoreeasilythanbeeforpork,sokeepthatinmind.Obviouslysmallercutsrequirelesssoakingtime.• Makesureallsidesofyourmeatarecoatedandcoveredinthemarinade.• Keepyourmarinadeinanon-reactivecontainer.Inotherwords:Noaluminum.Useglass,plasticwearorevenplasticbags,butstayawayfrom

aluminum containers because the acids may react with it.• Don’treusemarinade.Onceyourmeatisgrilled,throwoutthemarinadeitsoakedin.Usingitagaincouldtransferunwantedbacteriatoyourfresh

meat.Thebest-casescenarioisthatyourmeatwon’ttastegood.Worst-casescenario?Sickness.• Ifyouwanttobasteyourmeatwiththemarinadewhileyou’regrilling,setsomeaside.Don’tbastemeatwiththesamemarinadethatsoakedyour

meat.Why?Thejuicesthathavesoakedintoyourmeatshouldgethotenoughtocookoutharmfulbacteria.Thesamemaynotbetrueofthebastecoating.

• Ifthemarinadehasoilinit,besuretopatthefooddrybeforeplacingitonthegrill.Thiswillreducethepossibilityofflare-upsfromdrippingoil.• Asalways,cookallfoodthoroughly.

Summer Time

photos by Jason Hardesty


Ifsummerheatshiftsyourfashionfocustoyourfeet,thenit’simportanttogetinstepwithfoothealthasthesummerseasonkicksoff.

“Summer is prime time for certain types of foot problems, and my office is flooded with patients experiencing heel pain, arch pain, sprains, and other conditions related to summer footwear and activities,” says Foot and Ankle specialist Tyson Green, DPM, with Center for Orthopaedics.

While spike-heeled stilettos and strappy sandals may seem like the obvious culprits when it comes to foot pain, Dr. Green says flip flops – which have become the everyday summer shoe of choice for many – actually cause more problems. “Many people believe wearing flip flops is a way to give their feet a break, the opposite is true.” To fully understand why this type of footwear is so bad for your feet, he says you have to think about the mechanics involved with every step you take.

Our feet bear our full body weight and play a big role in maintaining our balance. Each time your foot hits the ground, the arch is supposed to be “locked” to absorb shock. That’s why good footwear is structured with an arch support. Flip flops, however, have a spongy sole, so when the foot hits the ground, it roles inward, and this locking mechanism is released, and the arch flattens. The sponge sole of the flip flop allows the arch to roll inward. “This is called pronation,” explains Dr. Green, “and it leads to problems such as pain in the heel, the arch, the toes and in the forefoot. It can even lead to the development of ‘flat feet’ which can contribute to many other musculoskeletal problems, including hip and back pain.”

In addition to pronation, Dr. Green adds that flip-flops, and other flat and/or flimsy sandals with minimal structure, don’t hold the foot in position like most shoes do, which forces the wearer to overuse tendons and muscles in the foot and ankle to hold them on. This can lead to tendinitis and ankle sprains.

“This doesn’t mean you can’t wear flip flops at all, but they should be worn only for short periods of time,” cautions Dr. Green. “And try to choose one of the newer styles that do include some arch support.”

Flip flops should not be your only summer foot fear. Those pampering pedicures intended to keep your feet looking their best for sandal weather can have unintended results if caution is not used. Pedicures are becoming increasingly popular. A recent American Podiatric Medical Association (APMA) survey of women ages 18-49, found that nearly 50% had received a professional pedicure by the age of twenty-five. And while pampering and grooming your feet promote good foot hygiene, Dr. Green says this is only true if you choose your salon carefully.

“The most important factor to consider is how they sterilize their equipment. It should be treated in an autoclave,” stresses Dr. Green. “This is the same type of sterilization process used in medical facilities and is critical for preventing infection. The way you’ll know if a salon uses autoclave is if a sealed pack of instruments is opened when they begin your treatment service.” He advises skipping the foot soak, which is a very common source of fungal infections. “Unless you know for certain that the foot tub is cleaned with an antibacterial solution after each client, don’t put your feet in.” says Dr. Green. “Smoothing rough skin with a pumice stone or emery board if fine, but don’t allow a pedicurist to use a razor for this purpose. This

can lead to cuts and infection. And don’t have your cuticles trimmed. Your cuticles are the nails’ last defense and should only be gently pushed back. Cutting them provides an opening for bacterial and fungal infections.” Other tips for safe pedicures include: • Trimnailsstraightacross,followingthenatural

shapeofthetoe.Roundingtheedgescanleadtopainfulingrowntoenails.

• Ifyouarehavingamanicureandpedicuredoneatthesametime,separateinstrumentsshouldbeusedforeachtopreventthespreadofbacteria.

• Donotapplypolishifyourtoenailsarediscoloredorcracked.

“It’s well worth taking the time to properly care for your feet,” adds Dr. Green. “After all, if you expect them to take you through a fun-filled, active summer, you need to make sure they are ready for the job.”

For more information about foot problems and prevention, or to schedule an appointment, call Center for Orthopaedics at 721-7236.

Put Your

This Summer by Kristy Armand

Feet First

Summer Time

For fashion lovers, summer is one of the top seasons and as it begins, plans of outdoor gatherings and events are well underway.

“We will see lots of airy, feminine, and flowing styles this season from bold patterns to neutral shades,” said Barbara Dubose, owner of Perfect Fit. “It’s time to put away the sweaters and step into more heat-friendly attire.”

If you haven’t updated your wardrobe just yet, check out the following 2010 summer trends before you hit the stores.

V-neckt-shirts – These shirts have taken the place of the standard crew neck shirts. They come in a variety of colors and are perfect with your favorite pair of jeans or shorts.

Boyfriend blazers – These oversized jackets will be a wardrobe essential for this season. They are extremely versatile and can be worn during the day, night and even on the weekends. Paired with a casual dress or a basic tee, this jacket can be worn by women of all ages. Most importantly, keep an eye out for colorful linings and make sure to roll up the sleeves for an extra feminine touch.

Prints – “From floral patterns to geometric shapes and strips, these bold prints are showing up everywhere this season,” says Dubose. Everything from dresses to leggings will be vivid and full of color. Combine a printed top with a solid black bottom or the opposite to have a lively colored outfit that is fun to wear.

Neutral tones – Along side these bursts of color, champagne, beige, ice blue, light pink and all shades of grey will be very popular this season. This trend will help to compliment and contrast the heavy colored prints.

Rippedandworndenim – This trend seems to be sticking around a little longer than expected and has been in the spotlight for the last few seasons. From jeans to skirts to shorts, these denims can be worn simple and paired with your favorite tee or dressed up with your favorite accessories and a chic top.

Accessories will be big this season just as they have been in the past. Statement jewelry such as big rings and multiple bracelets have been turning heads lately. With such statement jewelry, it is important to remember less is more. The simplest of outfits can come together by adding something as simple as a necklace, watch or scarf. “Linen and silk scarves will be worn many ways including belts and roped neckties,” says Dubose. Summer fashion will also be seeing a lot of bows, gemstones and feathers on everything from headbands to sandals.

As for daytime handbags, we will continue to see oversized with a change towards more bold colors. “Everyone needs a large yellow bag to carry, it’s a sign of a high fashion lady,” said Dubose. For night, we will see more clutches and wristlets decorated with lots of colors and patterns.

Men’s fashion will embrace the Ivy League look, which will follow the rule of simple and clean cut. Trends will include short sleeve button downs, polos, boat shoes, and pastel shorts. Simple graphic t-shirts and athletic urban casual wear will also be making an appearance this season.

Whether your style is rock, preppy or chic, summer is a great time to explore new trends. Be creative and try new things you haven’t worn before. With plenty of colors, shapes, and styles to choose from, summer 2010 fashion trends have something to offer everyone.

For more information on trendy styles this summer, contact Barbara Dubose at (337) 433-5855 or visit Perfect Fit at 312 Pujo Street.

Hot Looks for Summer Fashion by Katie McDaniel


Tips for a Healthy, Happy summerPre-planning is a large part of avoiding common health worries in the summer. Whether you’re prone to swimmer’s ear, kid-

ney stones, or start burning after 15 minutes in the sun, heading off potential problems before they occur is always good advice. Here’s a collection of great preventive and treatment tips from area health experts about some

of the most common summer health and safety hazards:

Dehydration is a summertime woe to watch out for. “It happens frequently during high temperatures when people sweat and they don’t replace electrolytes,” explained Christopher Achee, MD, family medicine physician in Jennings. “If the body does not have enough electrolytes and fluids, it can’t continue normal bodily functions and, in extreme cases, the kidneys can begin to shut down.” Common causes of dehydration include serious bouts of diarrhea or vomiting, or excessive sweating. Older adults and young children are especially prone to it. Dr. Achee says symptoms usually include weakness, dizziness, and fatigue. Mild to moderate dehydration can be treated by drinking more fluids, especially those known to replace lost electrolytes; these are usually referred to as sports drinks. Severe dehydration requires immediate medical attention. “If you are in the heat for any length of time, and begin sweating profusely, be sure to drink at least one liter of a sports drink every hour, especially if you are exercising or working in the sun,” said Dr. Achee.

The Low-down on DehyDration

Frolicking in the sun isn’t as benign as movies make it seem. Sunburn is a very real problem when skin is exposed to sunlight for an extended time. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, ultraviolet light consists of UVA, UVB and UVC rays. The UVA rays cause tanning and wrinkling, while UVB rays cause sunburn, aging, wrinkling and skin cancer. Cloudy days do not offer protection. Most UV rays pass right through clouds. The amount of time skin can be exposed to the sun before burning occurs varies from person to person. “It largely depends on the amount of melanin in their skin,” said Christopher Achee, MD, family medicine physician in Jennings. “Melanin is a natural protective shield from sun damage. People with fair skin have a small amount of melanin, while those with olive skin and African Americans have more.” But, melanin can only do so much to protect skin. To keep skin truly safe, using a sunscreen is advised. Choose one with a sun protective factor, or SPF, of 30 - 45; even higher is better for people who burn easily. Long sleeves and a wide-brimmed hat are also beneficial.

soak Up the sun - safely

Skip Kidney stones

In addition to the risk of dehydration, not drinking enough water in the summer also sets the stage for kidney stones. “We see an increase

in patients with kidney stones in the summer,” said Kenneth Verheeck, MD, with the

Urology Center of Southwest Louisiana. “Many people spend a lot of time

outdoors and don’t drink enough water to replace what they are losing by sweating in the summer heat.”

Aside from drinking more water, what can you do to prevent kidney

stones? A change in diet usually helps. Eating less meat, fish and poultry -- all of which increase the amount of acid in the urine -- is

sometimes recommended. Also, avoid food with added vitamin D and certain types of antacids that have

a calcium base. Other foods noted for increasing kidney stones include: chocolate,coffee,nuts,strawberries,

tea and cola.

When it comes to preventing kidney stones, not just any fluids are the answer.

“Fluids in this case mean water, not soft drinks, or tea,” advised Verheeck . “Those

can actually cause dehydration, in some cases. Water is the best fluid for a hot summer day.”

Summer Time

Get Your Kids to Straighten Up This Summer

Summer is here - the perfect time to start orthodontic treatment. We offer orthondontic options that provide:

• increased comfort • advanced technology • faster results

We accept most insurance and flexible benefit plans, and offer affordable, convenient payment plans to fit any budget,

including no-down payment options. We’ll give you - and your kids - something to smile about.

Call Crawford Orthodontics today to schedule a free consultation.

(337) 478-7590701 West College Street, Lake Charlesdrcrawfordorthodontics.com

with Crawford Orthodontics

When summer arrives, most kids are itching with excitement to play outside as much as possible. This can lead to itching for other reasons. “Warm weather brings with it a multitude of itchy skin problems caused by bites, stings, allergic reaction, rashes and other irritants,” says Pediatrician Albert Richert, Jr., MD, with the Pediatric Center. Fortunately, most of these are minor and do not require a visit to the doctor, but it’s a good idea for parents to know the best way to treat the itch.”

Here’s a rundown of the most common skin problems of summer and how to treat them:

Bites and Stings For most bites, a topical application of antihistamine, hydrocortisone cream or calamine lotion will usually stop the itch, according to Dr. Richert. For bee and wasp stings, he says it’s important to remember that bees’ stingers are barbed and usually remain in the wound. Wasps stingers do not. If the

stinger or poison sac is left behind, it should be removed as quickly as possible to minimize the poison dose and the risk of infection. To remove a stinger, scrape sideways with a dull, clean edge to prevent getting more venom into the skin. Wash with soap and water, use antiseptic ointment, and treat with ice, aspirin, antihistamines, hydrocortisone cream and/or calamine lotion. Dr. Richert says avoidance of stinging and biting insects can go along way to keeping summer outing enjoyable. “Keep kids away from open ditches, tall grass and other areas where mosquitoes like to swarm. Teach them to stay away from flowers, especially during the day when bees and wasps are most actives. And make sure they know what an ant hill looks like, and that they should avoid it. Fortunately, the itch from most bites and stings will only last a day or two. If your child has more severe allergic reactions, you should see your pediatrician for more specific treatment.”

PoisonIvyandPoisonOakPoison ivy/oak and sumac cause an allergic reaction in about 50 percent of the population. In those who are sensitive, a reaction appears as a line or streak of rash, usually within 12 to 48 hours. Redness and swelling occur, often followed by blisters and severe itching. In a few days, the blisters may become crusted and begin

to scale. The rash takes 10 days or longer to heal. As with insects, avoidance goes a long way. “If you know your child is allergic, become familiar with where these plants typically grow and what they look like,” advises Dr. Richert. If contact does occur, wash all exposed areas with cold running water as soon as you can. You can relieve itching of mild rashes with cool showers and calamine lotion. Soaking in a lukewarm bath with an oatmeal or baking soda solution can ease itching and dry oozing blisters. Dr. Richert says in most cases, over-the-counter hydrocortisone creams are not strong enough to have any effect on poison ivy rashes. “If rash areas are large or the reaction severe, contact your pediatrician immediately.”

HeatRashHeat rash is characterized by little itchy bumps that form around clogged sweat glands primarily under the armpits, on the chest, inside the elbows, behind the knees and in the groin area. Dr. Richert says avoiding sun exposure, especially for extended periods of time is the best way to avoid heat rash. Clothing

should be loose to allow skin to breath. For infants, baby wipes or a cool wet washcloth should be used to wipe sweat from rash-prone areas. Dr. Richert advises parents to plan ahead and stock up on anti-itch supplies in their medicine cabinet or home first aid kit. Supplies that should be kept on hand for summer include: topical histamine cream, tweezers, calamine lotion and a topical antibiotic to prevent infections.

scratch Itching Off Your summer List


Kemah, Texas So Close…and So Much Fun!

Fabulous Restaurants O Live Music Nightly Kemah Boardwalk Amusements O Lighthouse District Shops & Boutiques

RoCk the DoCk concert series every Thursday night all summer long!

So…what are you waiting for? kemah’s the place to play. Stay for the day, or stay for the weekend!

New eveNTS CoMiNg ThiS FALL:September 25 The Kemah Art FestivalNovember 11–14 Wounded Warrior & Veteran’s Appreciation Celebration

877-775-3624

Stay and Play on the Bay

www.kemah-tx.gov

JuNe4, 11, Fireworks Fridays—Enjoy the 18, 25 fireworks show over Galveston

Bay at 9:30pm.

5, 6 Military Discount Days—$12 All Day Ride Pass wristbands with valid Military I.D. (Up to 6 guests).

JuLykid krazy Mondays every Monday—special prices for kids for food and ride wristbands.

3 The Kemah 4th of July Independence Day Parade “Hats off to Heroes”

Coming in July

Stay Tuned!

Summer Time

Swimmer’s ear can turn an afternoon in the pool into a painful, throbbing experience a few hours later. “Normally, water flows in and out of the ear with no problem. But when exposed to water for an extended length of time, water can get trapped in the ear canal, making the skin soggy, and diluting the bacteria that normally prevents infections,” explained Ken Thomas, MD, family medicine physician in Sulphur.

It’s common for only one ear to show symptoms, which include a feeling of fullness in the ear, swelling in the lymph nodes, decreased ability to hear, and severe pain in the ear area. Treatment usually involves seeing a doctor for eardrops containing antibiotics. Lifestyle changes, such as limited swimming, or using earplugs, may be advised.

While most of these irritants remain just that, and rarely develop into serious health concerns, they can be quite annoying and definitely put a damper on summertime fun. Stay alert, keep in mind the suggested remedies and don’t put off a trip to the doctor if symptoms worsen.

Dry Up swimmers ear

Watch What You eat In the

Pregnancy In the summertime

Summer HeAtEach year about one in every ten Americans has an illness caused by food. The problem is definitely more common in the summer. Registered Dietitian, Kristy Harrigill, director of nutritional services at Jennings American Legion Hospital, says given the right circumstances – heat and moisture- harmful bacteria can quickly multiply on food to large numbers. When this happens, someone eating the food can experience food-borne illness, most commonly showing up as gastrointestinal distress. She says this is more common in the summer when people are spending more time outside and cooking outdoors. “The safety controls we take for granted in an indoor kitchen, including a refrigerator, thermostat-controlled cooking, and easily accessible washing facilities, are usually not conveniently available in the outdoors.”

Harrigill says there are simple steps that can be taken when preparing, storing and cooking foods in the outdoors that can greatly reduce the risk of food-borne pathogens:

• Washyourhandsandcookingsurfacesoften.• Keepcoldfoodcold.• Washfruitsandvegetablesthoroughly.• Keepfoodsseparate.• Preventcrosscontaminationfrommarinades.• Cooktopropertemperatures.• Refrigerateleftoverspromptly.• Ifyouhaveanydoubtsaboutthesafetyofanyfood,throwitout.

Pregnancy during the summertime is a lot to handle. A pregnant woman acts as a radiator for her baby. As the baby grows, it generates heat. “The only way to vent that excess energy is through your cardiovascular system. As a result, your blood volume and metabolic rate rise -- which can make you feel even warmer than usual,” explained Scott Bergstedt, MD, ob/gyn specialist with OBG-1. Add to that our high temperatures in the summer months, and it’s even more uncomfortable.

Here are a few ways pregnant women can beat the heat:• Say“no”topolyester.Wearnaturalfibers,likecottonandlinen.Man-madefabricssuchaspolyestertendto

traptheheat.Makeitlight-weightandloose-fittingtoaddtothecomfortfactor.Dressinginlayersisalwayssmart.Youcanremovelayersasyoufeelwarm.

• Drinkup.Thenormalsixtoeightglassesofwaterarethebareminimum.Drinkmoreifyouplanonbeingoutsideevenforalittlewhile.Drinkingplentyofwateralsohelpseliminateswellingthathappenstomostpregnantwomen.

• Stayindoors.Ifthetemperaturesaresoaring,don’tfeeltheneedtobeout,especiallyinthemiddleoftheday.

• Eatsensibly.Loadinguponsaltymeatsandheavyfoodswillonlymakeyoumiserable.Instead,choosefruitsandvegetables,whicharenaturallyfullofwatertohelphydrateyou.

Pregnancy is stressful on your body. A summer pregnancy seems especially trying at times. Keeping tabs on your physical well-being is most important for you and your baby’s health. Anytime you feel tired, it’s okay to stop and rest. Listen to your body and check with your obstetrician anytime that you feel concerned.


WhatdoyouappreciatemostaboutLouisianacuisine?I appreciate the tradition of the home chef. In Louisiana, the food tradition is honored through family, whereas in other food cultures, such as California, the food culture is all about where you can get the newest and best dish. The best chefs are the ones that nobody knows. That’s why I like eating food at people’s houses – I get to taste their interpretation of the food.

WhataspectsofLouisianafoodculturedoyouthinkcouldusesomework?Louisiana cuisine is stuck. In certain parts of the state, particularly New Orleans, people cling too hard to the food that directly defines their culture. The food culture hasn’t broken out of its box. For a place that calls itself a food destination, New Orleans is far too regressive. Quality is obviously a good thing, but quality and variety together are what define a food culture. Food-wise, California is far ahead of its time – leaps and bounds ahead. But you don’t have to go to the coasts to see it. Look at Austin and the level of culture they’ve created through diversity. That diversity needs to happen to help people appreciate food and other cultures more. As far as culture, New Orleans definitely receives most of the focus. But there are things happening all over the state. You’ll usually find the most contemporary and progressive things happening in places where there are large populations of young people. Places like Baton Rouge are finally taking hold of that mindset. There has to be a place for that in Lake Charles. If anything, just because of the interstate. I-10 is a beautiful thing. We should be able to get those people off the interstate on a regular basis, but there has to be a reason for them to stop. Even if it’s something as simple as them thinking ‘The best hamburger I ever had was in Lake Charles – I’ve got to stop here and get one.’ If that gets them off the highway, that’s a start. We shouldn’t allow the status quo to thrive. Change doesn’t happen with just one person or one business, though. All people need to know what it means to eat real food.

Whatis‘realfood,’inyouropinion?Food that’s taken out of the ground and as close to the Earth as possible. That includes grass-fed cattle and turkey that hasn’t been pumped up with hormones and antibiotics. Grain-fed beef and meat that’s been pumped up isn’t real food, but we accept that it is. We have to care more about what we’re eating and what our children are eating. That’s part of living a better life.

Howdidyoudevelopapassionforfood?My love of food came from my mother, who learned how to cook from my grandmother. We always had vegetables. We never ate out. Every meal was eaten at home; it was considered an occasion. We sat around and told about the bad, good and funny things that happened to us that day. Sunday after church was a more formal meal, but it was also at home. My mother raised three children and it was important to her that we had real food. The turkey sandwiches we took to school were real turkey sandwiches, with bread made at home and meat sliced at the deli. We woke up in the mornings to omelets and French toast. That’s my food history.

HowdoyouhopetotranslatethatpassiontoLakeCharles?People ask me why I left L.A. for Lake Charles. But that lifestyle is not as appealing as people think. The culture in L.A. is so unfulfilling and soulless. I call it ‘un-reality.’ It’s a narcissistic place with a lot of shady people. What’s crazy is that I chose two professions – entertainment and food – that are entrenched in that culture and in that area. So if I’m involved in those two professions, there’s the ‘why Lake Charles?’ question again. And the answer is opportunity. This is a place where nothing has really happened yet on the food scene except for the status quo. I want to introduce food that is local, accountable and sustainable. I want to go back to the agrarian approach. I want to cook meals for people that are made from fresh, local ingredients that are as close to the Earth as possible. If you want a good healthy lunch, why not call me and have it delivered to your office? A good turkey or roast beef sandwich made with homemade, organic ingredients – everything down to the mayo and the au jus. If you start eating it twice a week and don’t want to spend money on me anymore, I’ll go to your house and show you how to make it. That’s what I want. I don’t care if you pay me to make your lunch or if you do it at home, as long as you’re eating something real, sustainable and healthy at least once a week in your life. As long as you’re giving up a fried meal to eat something that’s good for you – even once. If you’re having friends over and want to serve them a good, healthy meal, hire me and I’ll cook for you. And I’ll show you how to do it yourself as I’m cooking.

Whenpeopleheartheword‘healthy,’theycringe.Doyouthinkpeoplemisinterpretwhatitmeansto‘eathealthy’?Absolutely. People think eating healthy means having a meatless diet and eating salad all day. But if you feed people good food that’s high quality, the health factor won’t even matter. I can sell a product as ‘healthy,’ but the bottom line is: Does it taste good? And if it does, people won’t care if it’s healthy or not. The key is quality. If you can provide quality food that gets people one step closer to feeling better, that’s what’s important. The health benefit is just a byproduct.

For information on private chef or food-delivery services, call (337) 912-9436 or (337) 513-9987.

first personwith Chef Chad jackson

First Person is a monthly Q&A that features local names and faces. Ideas for future Q&As? Email [email protected].

Jacksonhas viewed kitchens from all angles – as the oldest son of a

Louisiana-born mother who believed in warm homemade meals; as a student at the California Culinary Academy in San Francisco; as a chef, working in kitchens around the world, including those that he’s owned and managed; as a high-end caterer working for professional athletes and politicians; and a private chef, working for wealthy West Coast entrepreneurs like natural healer Dr. Richard Schulze, singer Tom Petty’s next-door neighbor. Today, however, he’s eyeing the American kitchen from a whole new perspective: As a California man ready to fuse the cuisines of Louisiana, Texas and California – the three places he’s called home – so he can serve the sometimes stubborn palates of Cajuns, Creoles, and other longtime Southerners who know what good and honest food tastes like. Jackson, 39, grew up in northern California and spent much of his adulthood on the West Coast. He graduated from the California Culinary Academy, now an affiliate of Le Cordon Bleu, in 1999. Shortly after graduation, he and his brother opened a wine bar in Benicia, Calif., and a high-end catering company called Jax Squared. The brothers used their catering profits to open a deli and restaurant, but Jackson soon left the restaurant ownership business for Southern California, where he became Schulze’s private vegan chef for nearly two years before taking over The Crescent, a struggling hotel restaurant in Beverly Hills. Under Jackson’s management, The Crescent went from being a restaurant in financial crisis to featured in InStyle magazine and garnering positive reviews in the L.A. Times and Los Angeles magazine. Jackson, who spent most of his younger childhood in Houston, also worked in kitchens throughout Europe. Last year, Jackson, weary of the constant hustle of the West Coast, moved to Southwest Louisiana to be near family, which includes his Lake Charles-born father, his sister and nieces, and his mother, a native of Alexandria. Jackson hopes to translate his vast kitchen experience into a new phenomenon for Southwest Louisiana: A food fusion that maintains Louisiana character while offering the light, organic and Earthy flavors of California, topped by a kick of Texas flair. With the support of 90 Red Productions in California, he’s currently co-producing a television program, “North by South by South,” that documents his vision of culinary unity. He also offers local private cheffing services as well as lunch delivery for local residents. Thrive met with Chef Chad Jackson to discuss his insight on the local food culture and his culinary vision for the area.

by Erin K. Cormier

t

Chad

photo by Jason Hardesty


Specializing in mental health treatment for children.

T r e a T i n g C h i l d r e n a n d a d u l T s

now Open!Journey Behavioral Health

Paula Kline, pmhnp-bc

423 cypress streetsulphur, la 70663P: (337) 528-7992 F: (337) 528-7994www.journeybehavioralhealth.com

We accept all Medicaid and Medicare and private insurance patients.

ServiceS• Psychiatric Evaluations• Medication Management• Play Therapy• Pet Therapy• Anger Management • CBT Therapy

• Grief Therapy• Individual, group,

and family therapy• PTSD Services• Eating Disorders

Q: If someone doesn’t RSVP regrets or acceptance to an invitation, is it okay to contact them to see if they are planning to attend?

A: Absolutely. Sadly, the social grace of responding to an invitation has gone by the wayside. That doesn’t make it right. Actually it is impolite and makes it frustrating for a host.

Q: If someone accepts an invitation and then does not show up and does not call, is it acceptable to mention this the next you see them?

A: Sure, but be prepared to hear the excuse. Depending upon your relationship with the individual, the situation may get awkward. It most probably won’t change anything as that type of behavior usually doesn’t change and will only frustrate you further. The party’s over…

Q: I invited some girls from work over for a “girls’ night out” at my apartment and one of them brought a hostess gift. Should I write her and thank her for the gift?

A: It is sometimes difficult to determine when to stop the “thank you cycle”. In this instance, the gift you received was a “thank you” for having invited the individual to your home. If you graciously acknowledged it at the time, a written note isn’t necessary. However, I believe that a written note is a lovely gesture and one that makes the recipient feel good. If she was the only who brought a gift, that probably made you feel special; why not write and let her know that?

Questions for Best Impressions can be submitted to edit@

thriveswla.com.

S

by Rose Klein

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BACK

LIFE

a compliment the other day that I seemed more involved

and engaged in the world around me.

I GOT

MYwife says that our relationship

is more like it used to be. I found that I was not part of

again... restaurants, movies, conversation with my friends

and grandchildren.

as it was happening around me. It’s fantastic to have the

simple things in life

green guide

for the Lawn

• Mow your lawn in the evening instead of the warmer afternoon.

• Mow on a cloudy day rather than in full sun.

• Choose electric equipment rather than gas-powered.

• Keep mower blades sharpened to cut more efficiently.

• Decrease mowing area by landscaping with more shrubs, trees and flowers.

There’s no better place to go green than in your lawn.

Cultivating a few changes in your lawn care routine can

be a great way to improve the environment. Lawn care

can produce ground level ozone, which is formed when

warm temperatures combine with emissions, such as

those from gas-powered lawn mowers, weed eaters

and edgers. An hour of lawn mowing can produce as

many emissions as a 1997 mid-sized car driven 125

miles. Keep these tips in mind:

TOGETHER, WE CAN.

prevent and protect.

Get additional environmentally responsible tips at www.laia.com


Mickey Moss, PT337.310.5116

2100 Oak Park Blvd.Lake Charles, LA

JereMy sTillwell, PT, ATc337.217.0997

217 Sam Houston Jones Pkwy. Ste. 103Moss Bluff, LA

Patient-FriendlyDoctor-TrustedResults-Driven“Never let them see you sweat,” is great advice

but can be hard to follow if you have sweat stains. Armpit stains are a common and embarrassing problem. It can sometimes be confusing whether an armpit stain is from perspiration or deodorant. If the stain is yellow or green in color and has a crunchy or crispy texture, it is due to perspiration. However, if the stain is white or clear with a greasy texture it’s due to the deodorant and should be treated as a grease stain with appropriate solvent. Some stains are caused by a combination of the two – when aluminum chloride or aluminum salts in many antiperspirant and deodorant products “bond” with sweat to create a water-resistant stain.

You may think bleach is a quick solution for sweat stains on white shirts, but it is actually one of the worse things you can use. The chlorine in bleach will react with the proteins in sweat and cause the remaining stain to darken even further. Try hydrogen peroxide instead, which will break apart the proteins in sweat and help prevent the area from darkening over time. Pour the hydrogen peroxide onto the stain and allow it to soak for 30 minutes. Wash the garment in cold water and let it air dry. If the stain still remains, soak the garment for another 30 minutes.

Because hydrogen peroxide is too harsh for color clothing, try vinegar and water instead. Use one tablespoon of white vinegar and a half-cup of water to remove the sweat stain. Allow the stain to soak for 20 minutes, and then wash in cold water.

There are also liquid laundry detergents and stain removal products designed specifically to treat tough protein stains. In many cases, this may be the simplest way to remove sweat stains. Treat the affected area with the laundry detergent and let it sit for 30 minutes, then wash as usual and let it air dry.

Alcohol-based cleaners, like those found in baby wipes, can be useful for for getting rid of armpit stains and smudges left by deodorant. Baby wipes are also portable, concealable and disposable, so this is the perfect solution for an emergency on the go.

As with any type of clothing stain, read the clothing care label before trying any at-home stain remedy. Some fabrics may require dry-cleaning only, and professional dry cleaners often have access to more successful stain-removal solvents.

A few preventative steps should also be followed if sweat stains are a problem. When applying deodorant, apply a very thin, even layer to your armpits. This will help prevent acids and aluminum salts from getting on your clothes.

Thicker applications increase the chances of stain formation.. Be sure to allow your deodorant to dry thoroughly before getting dressed. Also, when you get home after a hot, sweaty activity, remove your shirt right away and rinse the armpits of your shirt with cold water. The cold water will neutralize the acids that are eating away at your shirt, and prevent a stain from forming.

Information provided by Robert Guilott, owner of AAA Drive-In Cleaners, a Certifed Garment Care Professional.

Find the Key to Home Ownership

FREE ADMISSION - REFRESHMENTS – DOOR PRIZES

Call 475-8812 for more information.

at the

Saturday, June 12 • 9am - 12pmCalcasieu Parish Office of Community Services

2424 3rd St., Lake Charles

Interested in buying a home? Worried about getting a loan?

Aren’t sure where to start? We’ll have all the answers you need under one roof at this one-of-a-kind event for potential home buyers. Participating vendors will include:• mortgage lenders • credit counselors• realtors • insurance firms• home inspectors • other service • government providers agenciesWhether you have already started down the road to home ownership or just want to learn how to begin, we’ll help you get the facts you need to make your dream of owning a home a reality.

2009 Home Ownership Fair

Don’t Sweat Sweat Stains

Triage Unit Resumes Operations

Specialized unit designed to assist those with mental illness

A triage unit at Lake Charles Memorial Hospital designed to assist those with a mental illness has resumed operations after a seven-month hiatus. The unit is part of a cohesive effort between Memorial Hospital, Office of Mental Health, Calcasieu Parish Police Jury, Resource Management Services, local law enforcement agencies, area hospital administrators, and other health care professionals and community leaders. The triage unit was implemented in 2007 as part of a collaborative training and treatment initiative to help better serve the needs of the mentally ill in the community. As part of this initiative, local law enforcement officers receive intervention training in how to deal with those in a mental health crisis. The triage unit provides a place for the Crisis Intervention Team to bring those individuals so they can receive the appropriate care and attention. Before this collaborative effort was initiated, many of these individuals were placed in custody, according to Mickey Shannon, chairperson of the mental health task force of Southwest Louisiana and president of Resource Management Services. “The task force continues to look at ways to provide a complete continuum of care. The triage is a huge piece of that – the centerpiece, practically,” Shannon said. “It is nothing short of a humanitarian act on the part of Memorial Hospital. The fact that they developed this specialty unit, and are willing to continue its operation, shows a stand of solidarity with some of the most marginalized people of our community.” The triage unit was originally funded through a three year ($1.8 million per year) grant from a Hurricane Rita Social Services Block Grant. When the grant ended in June 2009, community leaders once again regrouped to determine how to continue triage services. Those discussions involved hospital administrators, local psychiatrists and physicians, Sen. Willie Mount, Mayor Randy Roach, local law enforcement agencies, the Office of Mental Health, Samaritan Counseling Center, the National Alliance for the Mentally Ill, representatives with the Calcasieu Parish Police Jury and Judge Robert Wyatt, who has been instrumental in plans to develop a mental health court to complete the continuum. According to Shannon, the collaborative effort to reinstate triage services and Memorial Hospital’s willingness to shoulder the associated costs and obligations is “groundbreaking.” The triage center is temporarily funded by one-time grants from the Calcasieu Parish Police Jury and the Office of Mental Health. A Mental Health Emergency Room Extension (MHERE) license from the Department of Health and Hospitals, a license that Sen. Mount was instrumental in obtaining, is expected to provide future funding. “This triage center is of obvious benefit to the community and was well-deserving of a focused joint effort to ensure it would be able to continue operations,” Sen. Mount, D-Lake Charles, said. “The MHERE license plays an integral role in allowing Memorial hospital to provide specialized services for citizens who are too often underrepresented.” According to Crisis System Manager Dick Tanous of Resource Management Services, the triage unit provided more than 2,200 mental health assessments in 2008. Of those, 48 percent were brought in my law enforcement. “In years past, those 48 percent would have likely been brought into the criminal justice system, where their needs may not have been met properly,” said Calcasieu Parish Sheriff’s Office Sgt. Darek Ardoin with the Crisis Intervention Team. Ardoin was instrumental in spearheading the movement

Continued on p69


Saving Your SightWearing sunglasses can not only keep you looking fashion forward, they can also save your vision. Unfortunately, with so many styles to choose from, many forget the main reason to wear a pair of “shades.” According to Dr. Mel Gehrig, optometrist at The Eye Clinic, “When it comes to sunglasses, quality is what counts, and that may require more of an investment than dollar store options. You want to make sure that the sunglasses protect you 100% against UV-A and UV-B rays.” Signs of poor sunglass quality can include a lack in uniformity in tiny, vision distortion, and not blocking enough sunlight. When finding the perfect pair, look for polarizing lenses that reduce reflected glare, photo chromic lenses to adjust for the right amount of light, and mirror coatings to reflect. “Sunglasses are for most people a necessity. They may not think of them that way, but they can help preserve your sight for a lifetime,” says Dr. Gehrig.

Kawasaki DiseaseIf your child has been running a constant fever, the diagnosis could be more serious than you may think. Although the odds of the illness being Kawasaki disease is only about 19 out of every 100,000 kids in the United States, Memorial Hospital treats about five cases in the five parish area each year. “There is no specific cause known to us right now. It is thought of as probably an autoimmune phenomenon,” says Dr. Jamal Saqer, Pediatric Intensive Care Specialist with Memorial Hospital. Saqer says it typically affects children under five years of age, but in it’s most severe form, the patient is usually under two. The first phase of Kawasaki disease contains symptoms such as severe redness in the eyes, dry, cracked

lips, swollen tongue with a white coating and big red bumps, sore and irritated throat, swollen lymph nodes, and a fever that will not respond to Tylenol or Motrin. The second phase contains symptoms such as joint pain, diarrhea, vomiting, and abdominal pain. “To diagnose Kawasaki, we rely on proving what it is not, rather than what it is,” said Saqer. Early diagnosis is critical. Untreated Kawasaki disease can lead to heart complications and in some cases heart failure.

Living with a Heart ConditionWith the funding of the American Heart Association, countless medical breakthroughs have been made. Doug Peterson, 23-year-old Westlake native, is living proof that the American Heart Association is changing lives.

Lori Peterson, Doug’s mother, always believed that her son was a healthy baby boy, but at six weeks old, a pediatrician discovered that Doug had a slight heart murmur. “Basically told us that it would be something that we would follow and it would clear up hopefully before he left the hospital, unless it was a birth defect,” says Lori.

Soon after, it was discovered that Doug had two heart defects, a bicuspid aortic valve and a hole in his heart. Before the age of 20, Doug underwent two surgeries to correct his heart’s condition. At the age of nine he received his first mechanical heart valve and at 19, they replaced it with a larger one. With a mechanical heart valve in place, Doug continues to lead a healthy, active lifestyle. “I’m just a normal person like anybody else,” said Doug.

Pitching ProblemsLast year, Barbe High School pitcher, Sam Smith began having problems with his throwing arm. “My arm started getting sore, I had tendentious in my elbow. I guess I just needed a break,” said Smith.

Dr. Cascio, Director of Sports Medicine at Memorial Hospital, is taking part in a national study of injury patters in pitchers ages 9-18. According to Dr. Cascio, “Over-working the throwing arm can cause health problems in the long run, and with so many young ball players, it’s important to take preventative measures early on. There is a limit to what the body can take and 10 year olds aren’t meant to be out throwing everyday year round,” says Cascio. “I see kids as young as 15 or 16 with chronic problems, meaning bone spurs in their elbow already and that’s arthritis so they’re going to have arthritis for the rest of their life.”

One way to protect a throwing arm is to play multiple sports or cross train, as Smith did when he was younger. “It helps your body use other muscles, put stress on different places on other joints, so you’re not having the same repetitive stress over and over again.”

To learn more about these stories and more, visit us on the web at kplctv.com and tune into KPLC 7News daily for the latest news, weather, sports and health reports. You can also stay connected 24/7 on your mobile device at kplc7newsnow.com.

When it comes to your health, useful information is what you need. KPLC 7News is here to help with our Healthcast Report. Get the latest medical news and see medical breakthroughs happening right here in Southwest Louisiana. The KPLC 7News Healthcast Report airs weekdays at 10:00pm. Here’s a recap of some of the most recent health news stories we’ve reported.

toward CIT training for law enforcement. “The Calcasieu Parish Sheriff’s Office and the Lake Charles Police Department now have adequate training to recognize individuals in mental health crisis so we can respond appropriately. In many cases what these individuals need is intervention and treatment, rather than arrest and incarceration. But proper training of law enforcement is only one step. Once we recognize what a person needs, we must be able to fulfill that need somehow. That is the role that the triage unit plays and why it is so important that its service are being reinstated.” Todd Delahoussaye, Sr. Vice President of Lake Charles Memorial Hospital said the hospital is dedicated to the continuation of mental health services for our community. “The ability to reopen this triage unit was the result of dedicated collaboration by many different people in our community who saw the detriment its long-term closure would have to Southwest Louisiana. Lake Charles Memorial Hospital is proud and pleased to be the impetus to move this initiative forward,” said Misty Kelly, MBA, MA, LAC, CCDP-D, Director of Psychiatric Service at Lake Charles Memorial Hospital said. “We are anxious to work with other hospitals to expand access to services available for those in our community who suffer from mental health issues.” Another element of the continuum of care will be the development of a mental health court. “The mental health court is part of the whole process to provide necessary mental health care to the community,” Shannon said. “We’re forging ahead with that vision just as we forged ahead with the other elements that have already experienced success and support. It’s a real credit to our community that these much-needed mental health services are being successfully implemented. What we have accomplished here is something we can all be proud of and it is serving as a model for similar programs cross the country.”

For more information on the triage unit, contact Lake Charles Memorial’s Triage Center at 337.494-2185.

Triage continued from p67

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CVBTourismPartneroftheYearThe Southwest Louisiana Convention and Visitors Bureau presented its 2010 Tourism Partner of the Year award to Lake Charles Regional Airport. Pictured are Anne Monlezun, chairman of the CVB’s board; Heath Allen, executive director accepting on behalf of the Lake Charles Regional Airport; and Jim Hutchinson, assistant secretary of the Louisiana Office of Tourism.

DeltaTakesBronzeatStatePBLCompetitionDelta Tech students Amanda Istre and Katrell Guillory-Fusilier placed third at the state level in accounting principles and business law at the 2010 FBLA-PBL Louisiana State Competition in Lafayette. They will now compete in the national competition in Nashville.

VOAHostsFreeParentSupportGroupThe Volunteers of America Heart 2 Heart and Grandparents Raising Grandchildren support group is for parents, legal guardians and grandparents who would like a chance to network and socialize with other parents, share parenting tips, and find resources in a relaxed non-threatening environment. The support group runs on the last Tuesday of the month from 5:30-7 p.m. For more information or to register, call Volunteers of America at 497-0034.

DeRouenElectedtoStateBoardKathy DeRouen, senior vice president of marketing for Lake Charles Memorial Hospital, was recently elected to the Louisiana Society for Hospital Public Relations and Marketing as a member-at-large.With nearly 25 years of marketing and public relations experience, most recently having served as director of marketing for Ochsner Health System and director of marketing and public relations for Universal Health Service’s New Orleans market hospitals, Chalmette Medical Center and Methodist Hospital, DeRouen has been responsible for directing Memorial’s annual marketing plan and budget to increase market share, increase service utilization in targeted areas and build public awareness since 2007.

TeamGreenReceives$10,000GrantTeam Green of Southwest Louisiana has received a $10,000 grant from Keep Louisiana Beautiful. An affiliate of Keep America Beautiful, Keep Louisiana Beautiful provides communities with funds to undertake and accomplish local projects aimed at neighborhood and community improvement and restoration. Team Green of Southwest Louisiana is one of only 22 agencies receiving a KLB Community Grant this year.

NewCASAVolunteersSwornInJudge Ronald Ware swore in two Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) volunteers recently. Pictured left to right are Sharon Bayard, Judge Ware, and Gwen Ashworth. CASA, a program of Family & Youth, recruits and trains volunteers who advocate in court for the best interests of abused and neglected children. CASA volunteers serve as the eyes and ears of the court, gathering information on each child’s situation. They also serve as the voice of the child, presenting their information, along with fact based recommendations, to the Family and Juvenile Court Judge, ensuring that the child’s best interests are considered in every decision.

ParishReceivesCoastalAssistanceGrantThe Calcasieu Parish Police Jury was awarded a Minerals Management Service grant for the Clear Marais Bank Protection Project, which is part of the State Coastal Impact Assistance Program (CIAP). The grant was chosen earlier this month. The $175,000 grant will be used to extend an existing rock armored shoreline stabilization structure approximately 4,100 feet to prevent continued erosion along the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway (GIWW) bank. The structure will also prevent the encroachment of the GIWW into the marshes immediately to the north. Sediment removed for the floatation channel behind the structure will create one acre of marsh.

CalcasieuMedicalReserveCorpsReceivesAwardThe Calcasieu Medical Reserve Corps has received the prestigious Ambassador Award from the Office of the Civilian Volunteer Medical Reserve Corps. The Ambassador Award honors Medical Reserve Corps units that meet the Surgeon General Priorities in improving health literacy, increasing disease prevention, eliminating health disparities, and improving public health preparedness. The Calcasieu Medical Reserve Corps was nominated for the award by the State Citizen Corps earlier this year and was one of two recipients out of 80 nominees across the nation.

LocalStudentsAssistwithResearchatRiceTwo Northwestern State University chemistry juniors will spend the summer assisting in research related to nanocomposites through a program sponsored by the United States Air Force. Kena Senegal and Sarena Senegal of Lake Charles were selected to work with Dr. Paul Withey, associate professor and head of NSU’s Department of Chemistry

and Physics, who is currently on sabbatical at Rice University. Pictured are Kena and Sarena Senegal with Dr. Darrell Diggs, project manager of the Minority Leadership Program for Students in Chemistry and Physics.

HUD Offers Financial CoursesThe Police Jury Housing Department is now offering FDIC recognized financial courses. The classes are free to residents of all income levels and cover topics such as debt management, credit repair, renter’s assistance, foreclosures and more. For residents buying a house, both pre and post counseling is also available. Classes will be offered quarterly at various locations throughout Calcasieu parish. Upcoming classes will be held at Central Library, 301 West Claude Street, from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. July 24 and October 9. Registration forms can be printed at the Calcasieu Parish Police Jury website www.cppj.net.

LCMHReceivesAwardsThe Louisiana Society for Hospital Public Relations and Marketing presented Lake Charles Memorial Hospital with three Pelican Awards and two certificates of merit for excellence in hospital public relations and marketing. Pelican Awards in Writing were presented for “Because Accidents Happen,” written by Jamie Gaines and for the Women’s Heart Health postcards, written by Lauren Nunez. The Project on a Shoestring Pelican Award was presented for the Young at Art program, created by Kathy DeRouen. Certificates of merit were presented for television advertising and brochures.

LibraryDebutsAdultSummerProgramCameron Parish Library will host “Water Your Mind,” a free adult summer reading program, from June 1 to August 1. Prizes will be awarded to participants. For more information, call (337) 775-5421 or visit any Cameron Parish branch.

SouthernHomeHealthReceivesAwardSouthern Home Health has received a Gold 2009 Louisiana Home Health Agency Quality Award presented by eQHealth Solutions, the Medicare Quality Improvement Organization for Louisiana. Southern Home Health is one of 15 Home Health Agencies in the state to receive a Gold 2009 Louisiana Home Health Agency Quality Award. The Louisiana Home Health Quality Award is presented to home health agencies that have achieved defined levels of health care quality improvement.

LandryAppointedtoPTBoardDanny Landry, PTA, was appointed by Gov. Bobby Jindal to the Louisiana Physical Therapy Board for a term of three years. Landry, owner of Residential Rehab Services Inc., served as an advisory committee member to the LPTB for the past two years. He received an associate’s degree in applied science from the Community College of Rhode Island and is a member of the American Physical Therapy Association. Landry has also been appointed to serve on the advisory panel of PTAs for the APTA through June 2013.

ApplicationsAvailableforSummerTeacherInstituteSasol is now accepting applications for its 14th annual Summer Teacher Institute, which will be held from June 21-25. Participating educators will have the opportunity to enhance their knowledge of employment opportunities with area industry and how to best prepare students for these jobs. The Summer Teacher Institute is available to instructors of all disciplines and grade levels with special preference given to Junior and Senior High Science, Chemistry and Math teachers. Those participating will receive 25 continuing education credits, a $25 stipend per day and will have breakfast and lunch provided. For more information visit the local Sasol website at www.sasolswla.com or call (337)494-5811.

Vaccination Clinic on June 12The Office of Animal Services will offer a rabies clinic from 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday, June 12, in an effort to prevent the spread of rabies infection. Calcasieu Parish and other municipal ordinances require that all dogs and cats over the age of three months be vaccinated for rabies and licensed. The clinics will offer rabies vaccinations to pet owners at a reduced cost. Vaccination and licensing rates for spay/neutered animals is $8. Unaltered pets will cost $10.00. The public should bring their pet’s license from last year, as well as correct change to pay to ensure a short wait time. All dogs will need to be on a leash and cats must be in a portable kennel.

CVBVolunteeroftheYearMerline Morvant received the 2010 Volunteer of the Year award from the Southwest Louisiana Convention and Visitors Bureau for eight years of service. Pictured are Anne Monlezun, chairman of the CVB’s board; Merline Morvant, volunteer of the year; and Jim Hutchinson, assistant secretary of the Louisiana Office of Tourism. Other awards included: Julie Mancuso, Sales Partner in Tourism; GAP Broadcasting, Media Partner in Tourism;

Dan Ellender, Hospitality Arts and Tourism; Former Calcasieu Parish Administrator Mark McMurry and DeQuincy Mayor Lawrence Henagan, Public Service; Jimmy Robinson, Rhea Barnes Travel Industry Award; and Brooks Gregg, Tourism Lifetime Service Award.

SwashbucklersIntroducePinkFootballsThe Lousisiana Swashbucklers will play their regular-season game on June 12 with special-edition pink footballs saluting the Ethel Precht Hope Breast Cancer 3K. Fans can purchase the special-edition pink leather footballs for a donation of $50 at the Treasure Chest during Swashbucklers home games and at the team office in the Civic Center outside of game times. The footballs are also available on the Ethel Precht Hope Breast Cancer 3K Web site at www.ethelbreastcancerwalk.org. All proceeds from the sales of the footballs will benefit the Ethel Precht Hope Breast Cancer 3K. The pink footballs are sponsored by Calcasieu Parish McDonald’s.

CameronStateBankDonatestoInterviewforLifeCameron State Bank recently donated $10,000 to Interview for Life, a local organization dedicated to helping high school and college students focus on techniques and skills that will enhance their professional image. Founded by Nikki Fontenot and Mechele Nortman, Interview for Life is a three-day session available in all Calcasieu Parish high schools and on an individual basis as requested.

GatorLoungeEntertainmentDelta Downs Racetrack Casino & Hotel has announced the entertainment line-up in the Gator Lounge for the month of June: Boomerang – playing disco, R&B, soul, funk, classic rock; Thursday, June 10, 8 p.m.-midnight; Friday, June 11, 8:30 p.m.-1 a.m.; Saturday, June 12, 8:30 p.m.-1 a.m; Ka-Nection – playing R&B, blues and soul; Thursday, June 17, 8 p.m.-midnight; Friday, June 18, 8:30 p.m.-1 a.m.; Saturday, June 19, 8:30 p.m.–1 a.m.; Daryl Perry – playing modern country with the roots-oriented edginess of Americana and Texas Music; Thursday, June 24, 8 p.m.-midnight; Friday, June 25, 8:30 p.m.–1 a.m.; Saturday, June 26, 8:30 p.m.–1 a.m. All shows in the Gator Lounge at Delta Downs are free and open to the public. The Gator Lounge opens Thursdays - Saturdays at 4 p.m. You must be 21 or older to attend the shows.

PhotoContestOpentoVotingHart Eye Center will open public voting to determine the winners of the “Your Life in Focus” Photo Contest on Wednesday, June 16. Voters can visit harteyecenter.com to choose their favorite photo from a group of 12 finalists. The contestant whose photo receives the most votes by June 30 will receive the grand prize – custom LASIK. The contestant with the second-highest number of votes will receive a pair of Maui Jim Sunglasses. For more information, contact Jen Breen at [email protected].

DannyLandry

AnnMonlezun,MerlineMorvantand Jim Hutchinson

AnnMonlezun,HeathAllenand Jim Hutchinson

NikkiFontenot,RoyRafteryand Mechele Nortman

KenaSenegal,Dr.PaulWitheyand Sarena Senegal

C H A T T E R • E V E R Y B O D Y ’ S T A L K I N ’ • D I D Y O U H E A R T H A T ? • W O W - W H O K N E W ! • C H A T T E R • E V E R Y B O D Y ’ S T A L K I N ’ • D I D Y O U H E A R T H A T ? • W O W - W H O K N E W ! • C H A T T E R • E V E R Y B O D Y ’ S T A L K I N • D I D Y O U H E A R T H A T ? • W O W - W H O

Chatterbox continued on p72

KathyDeRouen


Chatterbox continued.

Thibodeaux AppointedtoCouncilGovernor Bobby Jindal has appointed David Thibodeaux, a Certified Building Official with the Calcasieu Parish Police Jury, to the Louisiana State Uniform Construction Code Council. The primary function of the LSUCCC

is to review and adopt the state construction codes, provide education and training of code officials, and accept requests for amendments to the codes, except the Louisiana State Plumbing Code.

WardNamedDirectorofOperationsJessica S. Ward, MBA, was recently named director of operations and business development of The Oncology & Hematology Institute of SWLA. For almost 10 years, Jessica has held a variety of leadership roles with Triad Hospitals Corp, Cardiovascular Specialists of SWLA, and most recently at Memorial Hermann Baptist Hospital as the Administrator of Baptist Physician Network, Julie & Ben Rogers Cancer Institute, Dauphin Cancer Screening & Prevention Center, Baptist Convenient Care Clinic. While with Triad Hospitals, she served as controller at River Region in Vicksburg, Miss., and promoted to assistant chief financial officer at Women

& Children’s Hospital in Lake Charles. Preceding the sale of Triad Hospitals Corp to CHC, she joined Cardiovascular Specialists of SWLA as their Practice Administrator.

CameronStateBankPresents DonationCameron State Bank presented a $250,000 donation to the Veteran’s Initiative, a program of the national Senior Housing Crime Prevention Foundation. In making this contribution, Cameron State Bank joins SHCPF, the American Bankers Association and the Independent Community Bankers of America to ensure that 40,000 Veterans living in 160 State Veteran Nursing Homes in the U.S. are able to live out their lives in safe, secure, enhanced quality-of-life environments free from the

daily fear of crime, abuse, neglect, hostility and deprivation of personal freedom, as provided through the SHCPF’s Senior Crimestoppers program.

Boudreaux Named Jeff Davis COOBoyd R. Boudreaux has been named president and chief operating officer of both Bancshares and Jeff Davis Bank & Trust Company. He is a graduate of University of Louisiana-Lafayette, the Savings and Loan Institute of the South and numerous banking programs. He has 32 years of banking experience and served as President and Chief Executive Officer of Fidelity Homestead Savings Bank in New Orleans, Louisiana. He has been active in many professional and service organizations, serving as 2009 Chairman of the Board of the Louisiana Bankers Association.

Make-UpClassforGirlsGlam N Gloss Spa will host a “Make Me Up” seminar for girls ages 13-18 from 2-4 p.m. Sunday, June 13. The seminar is designed for girls who are interested in learning the basics of make-up application and skin care. Cost is $20. For more information or to register, call 313-0222.

SharonBayard,JudgeWareand Gwen Ashworth

JessicaWard

RoyM.Raftery,Jr.,president and CEO, Cameron State Bank and GeorgeClinard,vice president, Senior Housing Crime Prevention Foundation

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Haveyouheardofemailrage?That’s when people react to an insult in an email – real or imagined – and immediately fire off an angry reply. However, a knee-jerk reaction could ruin friendships, damage your reputation, get you fired, or kill your chances for promotion. According to Career Builder, people tend to leap to defend themselves when a coworker misinterprets something they said, and sends an accusatory email to half the company. Or when they receive an email filled with exclamation points, and words in all caps – which is the Internet equivalent of shouting. In a recent survey, 26% of companies say they’ve fired an employee for misusing email.

Linda Stone, who worked for both Microsoft and Apple, calls it “email apnea.” She coined the phrase after researching and observing people under the influence of email. She noticed that most of us have a compulsion to respond quickly to emails. We also have a tendency to hold our breath when replying to an email – especially an upsetting one. Doctors backed up her observations and say, when you hold your breath, the brain is momentarily deprived of oxygen. That creates a stress response – and adds more emotion to what you’re typing. So, before you send an angry reply, try these tips:

Resisttheurgeto“letsomeonehaveit.” Try this instead: Open a new email, and don’t put any names in the address slots. Once you’ve finished venting, delete it – or stick it in your “drafts” box – and move on.

VentOFFLINE. For example, ask a friend you trust to give you perspective when you’re spitting mad. Bottom line: You can’t undo the damage once you press ‘send.’

Ifyouhaveanissuewithacoworker,don’tcreateanelectronictrailthatcanbeforwarded,printedandreferredtoagainandagain. Studies show that people misjudge the tone of an email almost half of the time, and people feel freer to express themselves in email because they don’t have to look the person in the eye. If you wouldn’t say it to someone’s face, don’t put it in an email.

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HowtoProtectYourMoneyEvacuating with just your wallet may not be the best way to protect your finances and manage your money in a disaster situation. Although you certainly want to take your wallet with you, you might also consider doing these things:

Keepsomepettycashonhand.You don’t need to carry wads of hundreds in your pocket, but it may be a good idea to have some cash on hand, especially if you’re in an area where ATMs may not work properly.

Haveano-paycheckplan.After a hurricane there’s a good chance that your paycheck will be delayed, either because your employer is out of commission or the automated systems are. Your money may also be affected if you’re not able to return to work right away. It’s a good idea to have some kind of emergency financial plan in advance, just in case the dollars are short for a few weeks.

Bring a list of your accounts. Make sure you have a list of your checking and saving account numbers with you, along with the phone number of the financial institution, in case you need to make arrangements by phone to access your money.

Keepimportantdocumentseasilyaccessible. Ideally, you should have all your important documents locked up in one place – hurricane or not. If you don’t, now’s the time.

Reviewyourinsurance.Review your homeowner’s or renter’s policy to see what’s covered and what isn’t. Talk to your agent about flood insurance to see if it is a concern for your area. Review your coverage

amounts to be sure you’re keeping up with inflation and make sure you’re comfortable with the deductibles.

Inventoryyourhouseholdpossessions. Use a video camera if you have one. Otherwise, take snapshots and/or write down a good description for each item of value, including clothes, jewelry, furniture, electronics, appliances, fixtures, etc. Keep the inventory along with any professional appraisals and estimates of replacement values in a safe place away from your home. Update it regularly.

HowtoKeepYourHead StraightHurricane threats and evacuations have a way of making our heads and hearts tired. The stress and fatigue of dealing with an impending or existing natural disaster is notable; however, it’s vital to keep your head clear so you can

make sound, practical decisions when and if the time comes. Here’s how to respond healthily to hurricane threats:

Beprepared.Knowing that you’re ready can definitely lower your stress level. Have an evacuation plan and a survival kit.

Don’tjudgecurrentsituationsonpastexperience.If a hurricane starts brewing in the Gulf and evacuation orders are made, don’t assume that it will be the next Katrina, Rita, Gustav or Ike – and don’t assume that it will simmer out uneventfully, either. Evacuees tend to get irritated when they pack up and leave an area only to discover that nothing significant has happened, but complacency and assumptions aren’t a good idea when it comes to

big storms. Each hurricane is different and in many ways, unpredictable.

Be logical. Recognize that you’re stressed, angry or frustrated, but don’t let those emotions control you. Recognize that you have choices and make sure you make decisions based on what is best for the safety of you and your family.

Pay attention to your family members. In an emergency it’s best if a group is cohesive, understanding and attentive to each other’s needs. To maintain harmony, pay attention to the stress levels of others and be proactive to manage the situation.

Recognizeyourchoices.Remember: you can either approach the situation angry and frustrated

or relaxed and determined. The latter is far less stressful.

How to Care for Older Family MembersChanges in routine and conditions can cause some older adults a lot of anxiety. If you’re evacuating with older family members, preparation is more important than ever. Here’s how to get it together:

Makeearlypreparations.Older adults who rely

on family or caregivers for assistance are particularly vulnerable during hurricanes. Because routines are changed, the people they rely upon for basic care may not be around to provide it. Excessive stress can contribute or exacerbate an illness, particularly those with heart disease. Those who are dependent on regular medical treatments, such as dialysis or oxygen should definitely make early preparations.

Your How-to Hurricane Guide Don’tjustplanon

preparingforevacuation.Even if an evacuation order isn’t made, older adults still

may be vulnerable to storm threats. A bad thunderstorm could make roads impassable, for example. Make arrangements during a potential emergency even if no official order is made.

Manage medication. It’s vital that older adults have access to their meds with someone to manage what needs to be

taken, how much and when. Make sure someone is in charge of medication management and follow these tips: Buy a small bag to store all medications inside. Write all medications down on one sheet of paper. Include the name of the medication, dosage, and time of day to take it. Put this inside the medication bag. If your loved one takes more than three medications a day, try using a medication dose manager, available at any drug store or discount store. Keep the original packaging for prescriptions. You may need to get them filled while evacuated. Many pharmacies will be able to do that if you have the original information.

Plan for communication crisis. Many older adults rely on “Life Alert” necklaces, but without phone service, they are useless. If your older adult lives alone and is in poor health or is a fall risk, it may be best if they stay with family or friends during the time of communication difficulties.

Minimize travel time. If you suspect an evacuation order will be made, consider leaving early to avoid traffic congestion. Plan together with other family members how you will travel with your loved one. Who will be the primary caregiver? If that person is unable to follow through, who is the backup?

Ifyourlovedoneisaresidentinanursinghomeorassistedlivingfacility,askthedirectorwhattheirevacuationplanis. Chances are, they will rely on families to take their loved ones. The facility is required to have an evacuation plan, but most strongly encourage families to be responsible for their family member, if possible.

Keepidentification,keycontactphonenumbers,medicaldiagnosis,livingwill,andmedicationlist in one location with your loved one. If you should get separated, or need this information in a hurry, it helps to have it in one place. Keep it in a wallet, purse, or medication bag.

How to Protect Business DataOver sixty percent of mid-sized organizations don’t have a data retrieval plan, according to Enterprise Strategy Group. Unfortunately, not having access to your

data when you own a business could spell long- or short-term detriment. As the saying goes, businesses should protect only the data that they can’t afford to lose and that’s pretty much everything. Here’s how:

Haveaplan–don’tjustplayitbyear.Create an entire data storage and recovery plan to ensure that everything is stored securely. This should include an off-site data storage site that is well protected from natural disasters.

Includeemailinyourdataprotectionplan.Critical data varies from business to business, but most have common categories like bookkeeping records, customer accounts, client files, and inventory lists. However, so much business is now conducted via email, so it’s smart to have a back-up plan for that as well.

Scanimportantdocumentslikerentalandfloodinsuranceandputthemonanexternalharddrivewhichisstoredinaweather-proofareaoff-site.

Back-updataoffsite.Backing up computer files is a critical part of data storage and should be done regularly. Too often, though, the backup is on a disk or flash drive in a drawer near the computer. If there is an emergency, the computer and the backup could be wiped out all at once. Data needs to be stored off-site for ultimate security.

How to Care For YourPetsPets can create unique challenges during a disaster situation. Follow these tips to increase your chances of four-legged ease:

• EnsurethatyourpetsarewearingtheirIDtags.

• Havethemeitheronaleashorinacarrier.• Makesureallvaccinationsandlicensesare

uptodate.• Haveacopyofyourpet’smedicalrecords.• Considergettingaprescriptionforasafepet

tranquilizertocalmdownnervousorjitteryanimals.Nervousanimalscanquicklycreatenervous adults.

• Preparealistofboardingfacilitiesandveterinarians who could shelter animals in an emergency.

• Stayinginahotel?Makesuretheytakepets.• Haveyourpetmicro-chippedincaseitgets

lostorseparated.• Intheeventadisasterstrikesoran

evacuationordercomeswhileyou’reawayfromhome,line-upatrustedcaregivertolookafteryourpets.

• Placeanemergencydecalonyourfrontwindowordoor;ifdisasterstrikeswhileyouarenothome,thisdecalwillalertrescuersofthe animals inside.

• Remember:Asuddenchangeoffoodcanmakeyourpetsick.Ifatallpossible,keepyourpeton the same diet.Ifyou’reevacuating,takefoodwith you.

It’s that time of year again. The season where we pay closer attention to weather reports, make sure our insurance is current and have a go-to plan in case of an evacuation. We all hope that hurricane season passes

quietly, but if you’ve lived in south Louisiana for any amount of time, you’re smart enough to know that it’s cautious optimism. With that in mind, Thrive provides you with a how-to survival guide – just in case.


According to new research released last month by the Pew Research Center, for the first time, more babies were born to women older than age 35 than to teenagers. The report is based on census and government health statistics from 2008 (the most recent available data), which shows the trend toward mothers who are older cuts across all ethnicities in the United States.

One in seven babies -- or 14 percent of a total of about 4 million births -- were born to mothers older than 35 in 2008, and almost one in four were first-time mothers. By contrast, births to women younger than 20 declined to one in 10 babies. The statistics reflect far-reaching changes for women in society, affecting their decisions on when to marry and start families. The average age for marriage has been rising, as has the share of women who have attended college. The researchers said women with more education often delay marriage and childbearing while they complete their schooling and establish careers. Experts also speculate that a rise in divorces and second marriages is also fueling the trend towards later pregnancy. And on the medical side, advances in reproductive technology have made conception more achievable and pregnancy risks more manageable

Walter Guth, MD, ob/gyn specialist with OBG-1 says their group has seen this trend reflected in their practice, with pregnancy during the 30s becoming much more common, and 40 no longer being considered a closed door as advanced technology and lifestyles have made postponing motherhood a desirable – and less risky option.

“While most women over 35 have uncomplicated pregnancies and healthy babies, it is important for women of this age to be aware of the increased risks facing them and their baby,” says Dr. Guth. “Celebrities in their mid-40s on magazine covers may make pregnancy at a later age look easy, and it can be, but in reality there are some special considerations for pregnancy after age 35,” says Dr. Guth. “Thirty-five is not a magical number that spells ‘doom and gloom’ on the reproductive front, but just the age at which certain risk factors begin to increase. In many cases this increase is slight, but maternal age is something we as physicians do give special attention.”

Lynnette Torrans had her first (and only) child 10 years ago, at age 39. “Although we both loved kids, we had accepted the fact that we wouldn’t have children. We had both been married before, and my husband Butch had been advised by doctors years ago that he was unable to have children. We had plenty of nieces and nephews to give us our ‘kid fix.’ So, when I found out I was pregnant, we were astounded, but so thrilled. I didn’t have any problems with my pregnancy at all,” said Torrans. “Having a child has taken our lives into a completely unexpected, wonderful direction.” Once Carl was born, Lynnette decided to stay home with him for the first few years. “I knew I wouldn’t

have this opportunity again and I didn’t want to miss anything. Because we were older and more established financially, I had the freedom to do this. That was a huge benefit. ” Dr. Guth says even before pregnancy, older moms-to-be often face obstacles. A woman’s fertility declines with age. Unlike men, who have the ability to produce sperm throughout their lives, woman are born with all the eggs they’re ever going to have, and the quality of these eggs deteriorates over time. Fertility problems increase after about age 35 and women this age and older are more likely to require reproductive therapy of some kind, which can be emotionally and financially stressful. “We advise our patients over age 35 who are trying to conceive to have preconception counseling to maximize their chances of achieving a pregnancy. If conception does not result after six months of trying, a fertility evaluation may be recommended.”

Once a 35-plus woman is pregnant, thoughts usually turn to pregnancy-related risks for mom and baby. Foremost is the increase in genetic defects such as Down syndrome. “In the past, there was a lot of publicity about the increased risk of Down syndrome after the age of 35, as if that were a major turning point for risk. Actually, the risk rises slowly with age, so that at 35, the chance of Down syndrome is slightly less that .5 percent,” explains Dr. Guth. “That means that over 99 percent of babies born to women this age will not have Down syndrome.”

Dr. Guth says there are other risks to consider after age 35, including an increased chance of miscarriage or stillbirth; high risk of multiple birth, even without fertility drugs; higher rate of caesarean delivery; and pregnancy- related complications including gestational diabetes, preeclampsia (high blood pressure), placenta previa, placental abruptions, preterm delivery and intrauterine growth restriction. In addition, the normal health

concerns of women in this age range such as uterine fibroids, heart disease, high blood pressure and diabetes can pose a risk of complications during pregnancy.

“Listing the risks associated with pregnancy after 35 overstates the case for possible complications,” stresses Dr. Guth. “Remember, these are just increased risks, not a probable risk, and should in no way dissuade a woman

from becoming

pregnant at this age. For a healthy older woman who becomes pregnant, the medical risks for her and her baby are minimal. Much depends upon the mother’s physical and mental condition before pregnancy. A healthy, fit 40-year-old will likely do better than an unhealthy, overweight 20-year-old smoker. “

In general, babies born to moms over 35 don’t face any additional health problems than those born to younger mothers. And there are some benefits that come with an older mom: Research shows that in most cases, older moms are more likely to have a stable lifestyle and more financial security in their late 30s than in their early 20s. Women at this age are more mature and just have more life experience, even if they are having their first child. They are more likely to focus on their health and prenatal care, and to have the resources (income, health benefits, support network of family and friends) to do so. And while this doesn’t necessarily mean they will be better parents, it does provide them with a good background for successfully coping with all

the uncertainties and worries of parenthood. Most women having babies later in life say

the benefits really do far outweigh the slight risk that comes with

age. Donna Butler, had her third child, Abby

two-and-a-half years ago, when she was 38.

Her first two children Tyler and Allie, were 16 and 11 when Abby was

born. “My husband Brian and I thought we were

done, but obviously we weren’t. We were in shock for

about two months after I found out I was pregnant, just thinking about how much our lives would change. Especially because our children were at an age where they could do most things for themselves. Tyler and Allie were so excited from the minute we found out, but we kept thinking ahead to how old we would be when she started school, when she graduates, and all those other milestones. Once the shock wore off, anticipation and excitement set in. It helped that my pregnancy and delivery with Abby was so easy – maybe because I had been through it twice before and knew exactly what to expect” Butler said having a newborn, and now keeping up with a toddler, has not been a problem. “Again, I have been very relaxed. I know now that many of the little things I worried about when I was younger really don’t matter. It’s okay if she gets dirty or wants to wear shoes or clothes that don’t match – or different things like that, which stressed me out with my first two. And we all enjoy Abby so much – she is so much fun! I also think I realize now how fast they grow up so I want to enjoy every minute! Basically, our age has given us experience and confidence in our parenting skills and the wisdom to recognize and enjoy our blessings – all three of them.”

Midlife Moms

There was a time when women heard their biological clocks ticking loud and clear as they approached their 30th birthday. Times have changed, and today, many women are hitting the snooze button and delaying pregnancy and childbirth.

Lynnette Torrans and her son Carl

Donna Butler and her husband Brian, son Tyler, daughters Allie and baby, Abby


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I’ve been experiencing a lot of endings lately – my grandmother recently passed away, my time as an Active in the Junior League of Lake Charles has ended, and I’ve

received several graduation invitations. All three of these things have me thinking about endings and beginnings.

My grandmother was quite a woman. Actually, both of my grandmothers were pretty amazing. My mom’s mother was named “Erie Nevada” and my

dad’s mother was named “Veta Exa.” When you come into the world with those kinds of names, you have had some expectations set before you .

Both women lived up to their unique names. They were strong, fearless, and dealt with difficult lives. My maternal grandmother had to teach

herself to drive home after she dropped my grandfather off to go to war. (She was never a fabulous driver, but she got where she wanted to go!) My paternal

grandmother was faced with raising my father (the youngest of her eight children) alone after her husband mysteriously disappeared. She went from being the sheriff’s wife to living in the projects. Both of these ladies faced adversity head on. Veta died many years ago, and I felt fortunate

to still have Nevada until very recently. I often tell people I come from strong stock, and a long line of take-charge women. Hey, I didn’t get this way by myself!

The Junior League of Lake Charles has been a huge part of my life for the past 14 years. I joined the organization because a couple of my friends were joining. I had some free time, so why not? Little did I know that JLLC would become my source for friendships, training on a multitude of issues, and my contribution for improving Southwest Louisiana. Most of the friends who joined with me “retired from active duty” long ago. I stayed as long as I did because JLLC was meeting my needs – I felt needed, had relationships and bonds with people, and we were making a difference. All of those things are still happening in JLLC, it is just time for me to take all I’ve learned and move on to other callings. I’ve written several articles in Thrive about the importance of volunteering and leaving the world a better place than you found it. Everything I know about volunteering, I learned in the Junior League of Lake Charles.

As I’m dealing with all the high school and college graduation announcements (i.e. writing checks), I just keep thinking, “It’s the end of a huge part of your life and the beginning of another.” Don’t you remember graduation? Wasn’t it a mixed bag of emotions? I remember being scared to leave the safety of high school, and scared/excited to start college. The world was full of unknowns and possibilities.

A friend of mine recently had her first child. It rocked her world (as first children tend to do). As we discussed the end of her “childless” life and the beginning of parenting, she was very focused on losses – loss of freedom, loss of spontaneity, loss of sleep. She was at about the right time for “baby blues” so I let her have her pity party for a bit. Then, I shifted the conversation to her recent gains (not the weight, of course – do I look crazy?!). As she named things she was looking forward to, her mood began to shift. As I think about endings, one thing comes to mind – there are no endings without beginnings being somewhere close by. The problem with beginnings is that we usually don’t know yet what we’ve got. All we know for sure is that we’ve got change of some sort. Then attitude begins to take over, and the big question emerges: Are you going to look so long at the door which just closed that you miss the opportunity to walk through the one that just opened? I assure you that when one door closes, another one opens – we just have to be looking for it.

When I meet with people who are looking back at that closed door (staying focused on people, places, things they’ve lost), it’s my job to gently nudge them towards the new open door. Walking through that new door is scary. Sometimes you can’t see what’s on the other side. But if we can shift the attitude from fear and trepidation to one of embracing the potential adventure, things go much smoother. So many times I’ve had people say to me, “This was really hard. I didn’t want to look at all the things you made me look at, and it was painful. But I’m glad I did it now.”

So, I’m trying to take my own advice and focus on the adventures that are coming my way as I’m saying goodbye and closing doors. Not sure what they are yet, but I want to be sure I’m looking in the right direction!

This monTh: is it the End, or the Beginning?

by Keri Forbess-McCorquodale, MS, LPC, LMFT, CEAP

!Solutions for Lifefrom SolutionsEmployeeAssistanceProgram


Summer vacation is here, and that means family trips, baseball and softball tournaments, and other activities that require families to leave their homes – and their pets – for extended periods of time.

Hence the need for a doggie daycare like Bark Park. “A vet’s office is a great place for taking care of your dog’s medical needs, but not always for socialization and exercise,” says Phyllis Pool, owner. “Dogs love to run, jump, wrestle, and play. These are the things a doggie daycare offers.”

Doggie daycare is a service trend for pet owners that is quickly sweeping the nation. It meets the needs of dogs and their owners. Dog owners no longer need to feel guilty about leaving their dogs cooped up all day while they are at work because their pet is getting care and attention. “Daycare is perfect for my dog. They love her and she plays with her ‘friends’ all day,” says Eva Price, a frequent customer of Bark Park.

Pool explains that doggie daycare provides your dog with off-leash socialization and exercise in a cage-free environment. “Dogs can enjoy the benefits of playing with other dogs while receiving plenty of human attention. Dogs are social creatures, and being left at home alone all day makes them feel anxious, which leads to excessive barking, destructive habits, and messy accidents.”

In addition to daycare services, Bark Park provides overnight boarding, professional grooming, and a doggie boutique. With overnight boarding, the dogs also play with the other dogs at doggie daycare during the day, and sleep in a comfortable kennel at night.

Bark Park has been open for just five months, and Pool says business continues to grow. Located on Nelson Road in Lake Charles, Bark Park features a 2500-square-foot facility and a quarter-acre fenced outdoor park area with a hard-wired alarm system and “doggie cams,” for security. Pool says the “doggie cams” are live webcams in the playrooms that allow the owners to go to the Bark Park website and

watch their dogs playing during the day. Kerry Andersen, another customer, said being able to log onto the website while on a recent vacation and see that her “little girl” was doing fine was very reassuring and convenient.

Prior to attending Bark Park, all dogs must be neutered or spayed, provide current immunization records and be in good health, and pass a temperament test for non-aggression. The temperament test is a way Pool can ensure the safety of the dogs and prevent aggressive behavior from occurring.

The daycare is open Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. Overnight boarding is available 24/7, including holidays.

For more information about Bark Park services, call 478-4300 or visit www.barkpark-online.com.

It’s a Dog’s Life – at Bark Park

by Haley Armand

photos by Jason Hardesty


Kerry Anderson“I always pack a travel fun bag and give it to my son the morning of the travel,” says Kerry. “Fill the bag with snacks you wouldn’t normally give your kids such as crayons/fun pads, small cards, puzzles and load it up with fun, silly toys from the dollar store. They think it’s Christmas but it’s an inexpensive way to keep the peade while on the road!”

When it comes to entertaining kids on long trips, many parents fall into one of two categories – those that plan ahead, and those that don’t. Planning ahead can not only lead to an enjoyable trip, but can make lasting memories for the whole family. We decided to ask our Facebook fans,

“How do you keep your kids occupied during summer travel?”

Become a fan of Thrive on Facebook so you can give tips on future High Five topics!

by Katie McDaniel

BrianLeger“My children are grown, but my brother took his 5 children on a 14-hour road trip. I asked them to tell me how many purple car’s they saw on their way,” says Brian. “They gave me a call as soon as they got where they were going to tell me they seen 96 of them.” Leger was very surprised to see that they had actually played along.

Mitzi Hodge Mitzi has a miniature card game that fits in her purse. “We spread it out and play the memory game because it fits nicely on the airplane chair back.” She also pulls them out in restaurants and waiting rooms as well.

MichelleWoodyearWhen her daughter was younger, Michelle would play games such as Billboard Bingo, Billboard ABCs, and Battleship on long road trips. “Now she likes to have the guide book and plan out our next move, pick out restaurants, and activities.”

VikkiShearmanVikki likes to keep a variety of coloring books and DVD’s while on the road. “We mix old school and technology. One boy would play his favorite DVD while the other could color up a storm.”

Reasons You Might Not Be Getting HiredIf you’ve had trouble landing a job, you need to take a critical look at the possible reasons, including:

Unreasonableexpectations. If your list of criteria for the perfect job is too high, you might be setting yourself up for disappointment. Make a list of your employment wants and needs, and then ask yourself how you can compromise. What’s a must-have? What’s negotiable? Don’t be too demanding.

You’relimitingyourresources. If you’re only networking, or only using employment agencies to look for a job, consider using other avenues, too. If you look for work online, are you only using one or two job websites? Instead, use several. The wider you cast your net, the better your chances are of catching a job.

You’reallaboutyou.Yes, it’s important to sell yourself, but tell the employer what you can do for them. Do your homework and understand what the company is looking for, then let them know how you can fill those needs. Avoid using the word “I” too often and instead, put the focus on the company.

Youthinkingshort-term.When an interviewer asks “Where do you see yourself in five years,” it’s not a trick question. Employers think long-term, and so should you. If you’re hired, how will you help the company grow? That’s just one of the questions you should prepare for.

Lackofpreparation.Rehearse your answers to some of the most common interview questions, including those about your strengths, your weaknesses and questions about your last job. Come up with three-sentence answers filled with facts and examples and practice them over and over.

Puttingyourjobsearchonhold.Even if you’ve had a couple of great interviews. It can be exhausting looking for work, but it’s not over until you’ve accepted a job offer. So keep networking and applying, and think about the interviews you had. Did you make any mistakes? Were there any questions you wish you’d have answered better? Fine-tune and prepare for the next interview! Source: Yahoo Finance


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Battle of the Bugs

J&Joffersthefollowingtipsforprotectingyourhomeandfamilyfromsummerpests:

• Cleankitchensurfacesandsealfoodincontainerstoeliminate food supplies for summer pests. Eliminate sources of standing water around the homes.

• Wearlong-sleevedshirtsandlongpants,whenpossible,and avoid dark colors.

• Avoidoutdooractivitiesfromdusktodawn–whenmosquitoes are more active.

• Repairwindowanddoorscreens.• Readandcarefullyfollowlabeldirectionsonany

insecticides or mosquito repellents you use.• Removedebrisfromyouryard.• Checkyourself,yourchildrenandyourpetsforticksbefore

coming indoors, especially if you’ve been in high grass or wooded areas. Many ticks are small and not easily seen. If a tick has latched on, completely remove it from the skin. Removal of ticks can be done by firmly grasping a tick with tweezers and pulling gently.

by Kristy Armand

D e r i D D e r | D e Q u i n c y | L a k e c h a r L e s | P o r t a r t h u r Proud Members of LHC Group | www.lhcgroup.com

Don’t let a fall at home spoil your recovery.

Don’t let a fall at home spoil your recovery.

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It’s all about helpIng people

An estimated 40% of seniors fall each year and more than half of all falls happen at home. And without timely intervention a medical incident such as a heart attack, stroke or fall can compromise your quality of life.

But there is a way to help maintain your independence and give your family peace of mind at the same time. Lifeline is a medical alert designed to reduce the risk of living alone. With Lifeline, you can continue to live independently in the home you love, knowing that help is available at the press of a button.

Southern Home Health provides skilled nursing and rehab services to patients in the comfort of their own home. While under our care, you may receive Lifeline, offered free of charge to all patients who qualify. Helping people to stay happy and independent in their homes is our goal.

The irritating buzz of insect is as much a part of summer as long, lazy days at the beach, and ice cream melting on a hot day. But Robert Soileau, manager of J&J Exterminating in Lake Charles, says the problem with bugs in the summer is part perception and part miserable reality. “We spend more time outdoors during the summer months, so we tend to notice bugs more in the summer. Our warm, humid climate definitely provides a comfortable environment for the peskiest of pests, as well as providing an ample and easily accessible supply of water and food – in the form of plant and animal life.” Soileau says pests that hibernate in cooler months are coming out with a vengeance this summer, and it’s very common to come across swarms in the air and on the ground. “Some bugs are just an annoyance, and other pose real threats to home, yard and/or health. Knowing what the most common summer bug pests are, as well as being aware of any risks they pose, can help you protect your family and your home throughout the summer months.”

MosquitoesMosquitoes are the most recognizable summer bug and are most often found in and around standing pools of water, which is where they lay their eggs in the summer. Soileau says with the

increased risk of West Nile Virus in the summer months, mosquitoes continue to be, not only a summer nuisance pest, but also a major health threat. According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), West Nile Virus infections have appeared more frequently across the United States in recent years, which makes mosquito control even more important. In addition to the potential for West Nile Virus, mosquitoes can also cause itchy, unsightly marks as well as severe allergic reactions in human beings. While most mosquitoes can be handled by decreasing the amount of standing water, wearing long sleeves and protective bug spray, yards that are connected to particularly wet areas may need more intensive pest control.

TermitesSoileau says termites are more commonly found in wet, humid areas, “so they love Southwest Louisiana in the summer.” He adds that while they aren’t a health threat to people, they can wreak havoc on the

wooden foundation or walls of buildings. “In spring and summer, termite activity increases dramatically, as the insects swarm and feed on any wooden

structures,” explains Soileau. “Termites can create lasting damage that comes with a huge price tag – up to tens of thousands of dollars – so it is important to take preventive measures and to respond immediately if you suspect an infestation.”

Flying,stingingpestsStinging pests, bees, wasps, hornets, and yellow-jackets, send more than 500,000 people to the emergency room each year. Soileau says these types of pests are a big threat in our

area in the summer, and can be aggressive in nature, often stinging as a way to protect their colonies or larvae from human beings who attempt to remove an infestation on their own. Stings form some insects can cause skin irritation or a serious allergic reaction in some people. They can make nests and hives in overhangs, bushes, and trees around your home. If left untreated, these can grow considerably in size, increasing the likelihood of stings.

CockroachesCockroaches are some of the nastiest bugs to have invading your home. Although many people find cockroaches unpleasant, you may not be aware that they also

present a health threat. The National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS) reports that one in five children in the United States has severe sensitivities to cockroach allergens, which increase the severity of asthma symptoms. Soileau explains that these allergens are most commonly introduced in homes through cockroach saliva, droppings and the decomposing bodies of these pests. “Cockroaches can also carry bacteria such as E coli and salmonella on their bodies, which can contaminate food, cooking equipment and food surfaces. It is best to control cockroaches before they have a chance to lay their eggs in the hidden parts of your home.

AntsAnts are social insects, meaning if you spot one, there are many more to follow. Soileau says ants are a concern because not just because they can sting humans and animals,

they can also damage electronics when infesting outdoor equipment such as a/c units, sewage systems etc. Carpenter ants can also cause severe structural damage, similar to termites, as they tunnel their way into wooden structures.

FleasFleas aren’t just a problem for man’s best friend. “These pests, which commonly appear in warmer months, feed on the blood of any warm-blooded body,” says

Soileau. They typically bite human beings, causing itchy, unsightly marks and may cause severe allergic reactions.” He explains that fleas tend to travel with mammals on the move, which can include not only people and their pets, but also rodents.

TicksLyme disease, which is carried by ticks, represents a major health risk to human beings. Soileau explains that the high risk season for ticks is typically

between May and October. “Lyme disease is found most frequently in the Northeastern and upper mid-western Western states, but there has been an increase in the diagnosed cases of Lyme disease in the South in recent years,” says Soileau. “It is critical to be vigilant of ticks, especially if you are in wooded areas.” Symptoms of Lyme disease include a “bull’s eye” rash around the bite, flu-like symptoms and extreme fatigue. Regardless of which summer bug – or bugs – may be intruding on your summer fun, Soileau says it’s prevention and safety should always be your first priorites. “While an ant may ruin a picnic, the bigger, nastier bugs of the season can ruin everything from your health to your home if not stopped.”


The first time we met in person he warned me that I wouldn’t like him very much, at least not for the first two weeks of our relationship. Considering the conditions under which we met – he, as a personal fitness trainer with LiveFit 7, and me, as someone who thinks exercise is the bane of all our existences – he had a point.

Carl had me and the other boot-camp recruits run a half-mile around the indoor track, hop across the floor at Trinity Fitness Center gym, do squats, push-ups and sit-ups and go up and down the

stairs – all within 45 minutes of us first introducing ourselves. During that first workout session, I discovered how I would experience my final minutes on Earth. They would be spent on the gym floor

of Trinity Fitness Center, somewhere between the bleachers and the stairs.

When I suggested to Carl that I may not survive boot camp or even get out of the first session alive, he waved it off and said that my endurance levels were low, but it was only temporary. Each week will get easier,

he said. Then he rattled off some motivational words of fitness wisdom and told me to keep going.

Carl is energized by fitness and exercise. You know the type – the ones who are always cheery and smiling, who have extra pep in their step and can’t stop talking about how great they feel. I’ve always wondered about those people.

A couple months ago I had dinner with a friend and we were mutually complaining about our lack of fitness. I’m sure you’ve had similar conversations with your friends. We talked about how we tried this and that and we discussed all the different get-fit theories we’d heard in recent months. I mentioned that if I could stick with something for two weeks, I was sure I’d be in the clear; from what I’ve been told, it takes two weeks for something to become a habit. After two weeks, you’ll love exercise. That’s what “they” said.

“Yeah, that’s what ‘they’ told me, too,” she replied. “It’s been three months and I’m still waiting to like it.”

Not a good sign.

Still, I figured there’s got to be an exercise routine out there for me, if I could just get started. The problem with getting started is … well, getting started. I’d long since proven that left to my own devices, I wouldn’t do anything. I figured I needed someone to badger me into doing something with myself – hence why I signed up for fitness boot camp with Carl at LiveFit 7. The first class ended at six o’clock. By six-thirty, I was in a dead sleep.

My more-fit friends gave me plenty of advice to help me survive the push-ups, stair climbs, squats, jumping squats, mountain climbers, jump ropes, jogs, hops, sit-ups, bear crawls, lunges, bicep curls, short hurdles, and other elements that constituted a high-endurance fitness routine. I was told to focus on something else, something that I truly loved. I was told to imagine myself as a superheroine. My brother-in-law, who retired from the Army, said he survived real boot camp by focusing on the workout itself and telling himself that he loved it. Tell yourself that you love doing push-ups and bear crawls, he said. Think: I love this. This is awesome.

At the end of six weeks, it was a stretch to say that I “loved” any of the exercises, but I’ll tell you what I did love – the adrenaline. Turns out, Carl was right. After just three workouts, my endurance and energy levels skyrocketed. Mid-way through the boot camp, I finished a workout of one hundred sit-ups, push-ups, mountain climbers, and all those other necessary evils, and I am here to tell the story. I can understand now why these exercise-types are so peppy. The natural high that exercise provides is something out of this world. Going through boot camp was like being injected with some astronomical B-12 shot.

You can take all the vitamins you want, drink every ounce of water in the world, eat spinach and kale, and monitor your calories, but if you don’t get moving – if you don’t reach your “personal best,” as Carl likes to say – your body won’t experience the full benefit of fitness. And for me, the full benefit wasn’t weight loss or dress sizes; it was energy.

After six weeks of high-endurance fitness training, I am still no exercise guru, but when I started boot camp, I couldn’t finish fifteen push-ups without splaying out on the gym floor in agony. By week six, I could do fifty – and that’s after running, squatting and lunging my way around the gym.

Not only did I get started, I got going. That’s a big step for someone who couldn’t jog a fourth of a mile two months ago.

Email Erin at [email protected]

The Last Word

Carl Comeaux: Friend or enemy?

by Erin K. Cormier

Relax and feel comfortable in your own home and community. Your independence is important to us and we are committed to helping you maintain

your physical, mental and spiritual health.

Home Health Care 2000 will assign a caring companion to assist you and to help you meet your health care needs and goals. Call today and choose Home Health Care 2000 as your personal service provider.

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Home Health Care 2000 is a for-profit organization certified by Medicare and Medicaid as a provider. Home Health Care 2000 bills Medicare, Medicaid and Commercial Carriers directly for all qualified patients. We also accept payment from all major insurance companies, Workman’s Compensation, Veterans Administration and Private Funds.* *A co-pay may apply.

Sunrise Care Package2 Hours ($36.00) No additional chargesOne supervisory visit per week includes: Onsite supervision • Medication reminder Bathing and dressing • Morning meal preparation General ADL assistance

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Other Pricing Options24 hour daily rate $360/dayHourly rate (2 hour minimum) $18/hourCall for specialty pricing programs.

Personal Care ServicesYour personal care service provider

88 www.thriveswla.com Thrive Magazine for Better Living June 2010

EMERGENCY SERVICES

ANY EMERGENCY24 7/

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We are stronger medicine. We are Memorial.

Memorial Emergency Medicine Physicians: Nickles Bergeron, MD, BCEM; Jon Gray, MD, BCEM; Kenneth

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Don’t wait until you need emergency care to decide what hospital to go to and don’t assume that convenience is better. You want a hospital that has physicians on staff that specialize in your illness. You want a hospital that will work with your primary care physician. You want a hospital that has board certified, residency trained emergency medicine physicians in the ER. That hospital is Memorial. As Lake Charles’ recognized trauma center, Memorial has the

• Cardiology &

Cardiovascular Surgery

• Orthopedic Trauma &

Orthopedic Surgery

• Neurology & Neurosurgery

• Pulmonology

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• Pediatrics & Pediatric

Intensive Care

• Obstetrics & Gynecology

• Neonatology

• Urology

• Psychiatry

• General Surgery

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• Family Medicine

• Internal Medicine

• Most Board Certified, Residency Trained Emergency Physicians

• Most Medical Specialties and Subspecialties

• Most ER Trauma Trained Specialists

• Only Psychiatric Triage Center• Only Family Medicine Residency

Program• Only Pediatric Intensive Care Unit

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Not all ERs aRE alikE.

thrive june '10 issue

Documents

better living

health risks

health threats

health dangers

happy summer

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summer time summer section

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