thrive march 2010 issue

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

MARCH 2010

Building a Home Tool Kit Rosa Hart Renovations The Power of Human Touch Rules to Give By

Small decisions make a big difference. See what works for two local frugalistas.

WeddingthePlanner

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

In This Issue 4 Botox Steps Up 10 Making Sense of Mammography Guidelines 12 Building Your Home Tool Kit16 DUI of Emotions19 Holistic Dieting: A New Approach22 What New Credit Regs Mean For You 24 Lung Cancer: Not Just For Smokers24 Marriage: Bad For Your Waistline? 26 Rules to Give By 28 Wedding Planner 30 Kid Headaches: When To Worry 40 Minutes Make the Difference In Stroke 42 Cover Story: New Ways To Look At Your Paycheck

47 Avoiding Culture Shock In A Relationship 48 Saving Face: Repairing The Ravages Of Winter 52 Renovations Planned for Rosa Hart 70 Security Tips for Seniors 74 The Power of Human Touch

Regular Features 8 By the Numbers 20 Coming to America36 Community Contributor54 High Five 55 Best Impressions 56 Chatterbox60 First Person: with D.B. Grady 63 Clean & Press Release64 Stethoscoop66 Get Down to Downtown 84 Solutions for Life 86 The Last Word

Editors and Publishers Kristy Armand Christine Fisher

Creative Director/Layout Barbara VanGossen

Assistant Designers Jason Hardesty Josh McGee

Assistant Editor Erin K. Cormier

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!

New30


CHRISTUS St. Patrick Hospital proudly introduces the new Arrhythmia

Center, the only comprehensive heart rhythm facility in the South. Our

nationally-recognized cardiac team provides patients with state-of-the-art

technology and the latest in treatment options including the Mini-Maze

surgical ablation procedure and catheter ablation procedure.

If you experience atrial fibrillation, shortness of breath or are taking

Coumadin®, you could be suffering from a common heart rhythm

disturbance that affects millions of people in the United States. Our

heart specialists can help reduce your risk for stroke and potentially

eliminate the need for medication altogether, even Coumadin®.

When it comes to your heart, you can’t afford to miss a beat.

call (337) 430-3400 to schedule a consultation or visit www.christusarrhythmiacenter.org for more information.

heart rhythm problems? We can help.

Board-certified in electrophysiology and cardiology, Dr. McKinnnie has been performing heart arrhythmia correction procedures at CHRISTUS St. Patrick Hospital since 1994. As a part of our atrial fibrillation team, he performs all ablation procedures.

Xavier Mousset, M.D. James McKinnie, M.D.

Board-certified in cardiovascular, thoracic and valve replacement surgery, Dr. Mousset performs surgical maze and mini-maze procedures as a part of our atrial fibrillation program and has been practicing medicine in Lake Charles since 2003.

Everyone has heard of Botox being used to reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, but now the muscle-immobilizing treatment is moving to the opposite end of the body and providing remarkable benefits that are getting patients back on their feet.

Two doctors at the Center for Orthopaedics, Craig Morton, MD, physical medicine and rehabilitation specialist, and Tyson Green, DPM, foot and ankle specialist, have teamed up to use Botox in a new way for patients with certain medical conditions of the feet.

Dr. Green says diabetic patients with foot ulcers are one group who may benefit tremendously from Botox treatment. It is estimated that 17 million people in United States have diabetes, and about 15% of them will develop a foot ulcer at some point in their lives. “Because of the circulatory problems and the lack of sensation often present in these patients, these ulcers can be very difficult to treat successfully, and often develop into non-healing wounds with serious complications,” says Dr. Green. In fact, each year, foot infection is the number one cause for admission to the hospital for diabetics, and foot ulcers lead to more than 82,000 amputations.

Dr. Green explains that in many cases the most effective way of treating diabetic foot ulcers is to apply casting on the foot. This removes the pressure off the foot and helps the ulcers to heal. However, foot ulcers often return once the casting is removed and the patient starts walking with shoes again. “Healing the ulcers is tough, but keeping them healed is tougher,” he states.

“At this stage, the skin on the foot is not strong enough to handle the pressure during walking, and the same pressure points are at risk of ulcerating again. That’s where Botox helps. Botox relaxes the tension on the foot, giving it a more stable position. Then the wound can heal and it will have adequate offloading, so that you’re not having added pressure on the wound site.”

Dr. Morton injects the Botox into specific locations in the calf and the feet to loosen the muscles in the area, which provides the pressure point relief. The muscles recover from Botox in two to three months, giving the wound time to fully heal.

He says the same mechanism is also providing tremendous benefits to patients with muscle spasticity. “If there’s damage to the brain or spinal cord, such as what you’d see in a traumatic spinal cord injury, head injury, stroke, multiple sclerosis, or cerebral palsy, for example, it can result in abnormal posturing of the muscles of the feet,” Dr. Morton said.

This type of muscle spasticity can cause the feet to remain contracted in a position which makes it difficult or impossible for the patient to walk comfortably. “In these cases, one muscle or muscle group is overpowering the surrounding muscles, causing abnormal positioning,” says Dr. Morton. “That’s when the Botox will come into play. We paralyze this one

problem area to relax a tight muscle, and return the foot to a more normal position.”

Botox: Stepping in a New Direction

“It takes about two or three days from the initial Botox injection into the spastic muscle to start to see results, and about two weeks after the injections, we see a peak effect that can last about three months before slowly wearing off,” Dr. Morton says.

“Once the Botox takes effect, we can either brace the foot or provide casting to provide stability and flexibility within that foot, so the patient has the chance to walk normally again,” Dr. Green adds.

The doctors said young children with cerebral palsy all the way up to the elderly with muscle spasms can benefit from Botox for the feet.

Drs. Morton and Green are among only a handful of doctors in the country providing this type of Botox

treatment for the feet. A recent KPLC news story featuring them and their work was picked up by news stations in other states and they have been receiving calls from patients interested in this innovative new treatment from across the country.

“We are very excited about the success our patients have experienced with Botox injections and the potential it has to help many more people with these types of ulcers and spasticity problems,” says Dr. Morton.

For more information, call Center for Orthopaedics at 721-7231 or visit www.centerforortho.com.

by Kristy Armand


How Effective Are Hand Sanitizers?

Life is good. It’s even better in

the Circle.

If you’re 50 or better and looking for a new way to get the most out of life, explore Senior Circle.

Join the Grand Opening Celebration of the Women and Children’s Hospital Senior Circle Chapter!

Tuesday, March 23 • 10 a.m. - 1 p.m.Lake Charles Civic Center • Contraband Room

Health Fair and ScreeningsRefreshments and Door Prizes

As a Senior Circle member you’ll learn more about your health, get local and national discounts, and do it all with a great group of people. Dues are just $15 a year. Call 337-475-4002 to learn more and become part of the Circle.

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Anyone who has squirted hand sanitizing liquid in hopes of erasing foul germs found on gas pumps, ATM machines, phones and door knobs has to wonder how effective it really is. We hope that we’re doing some good, but could it just be a scam in gel form?

The truth lies in the amount of alcohol concentration within the gel. “If the product has at least 60 percent alcohol, it will do a good job of killing germs. Most of the products sold contain that much, but some don’t,” explained Phyllis Theriot, MT (ASCP), infection preventionist with Jennings American Legion Hospital.

The active ingredient in the hand sanitizer will likely indicate ethyl alcohol, ethanol, isopropanol or some variation. Whichever of those alcohols are listed, its concentration should be between 60 and 95 percent. Less than that isn’t good enough. Ineffective hand sanitizers are mostly water, some fragrance and a small amount of alcohol, sometimes as little as 30 percent. “This won’t do anything to rid hands of germs,” Theriot said. These less-than-adequate hand sanitizers look like the real thing. Same squeeze or pump bottle, same claims, comparable price, but the proof is on the label.

When using a product that’s at least 60 percent alcohol, health experts say it is effective for preventing the spread of seasonal flu, H1N1, and colds. The gel-formula is easy to tote in cars, in purses, in bags and in backpacks, and the price is economical, especially when you consider the cost of a few missed days at work. Studies

show they reduce gastrointestinal illnesses in households and curb absentee rates in schools and workplaces.

“Hand washing with soap and running water is best if your hands are visibly soiled. Work up a good lather, rub each finger, get under the fingernails, wash the palms and the backs of your hands. All of this should take at least 20 seconds,” said Theriot. “The mechanical action of scrubbing your hands with soap and water remove organic material such as blood, feces and dirt. Hand sanitizer can’t do any of those things, which is why soap and water are recommended after using the restroom, while cooking and before eating. “But when that isn’t an option, hand sanitizers do a good job of ridding the hands of germs just picked up before someone inadvertently touches their nose, mouth or eyes.”

Research reveals that germs are abundant on computer keyboards, telephone receivers and desks. In fact, these often have more germs than the bathroom in terms of micro-organisms. “If you’re at work, and going from meeting to meeting, squirt a little sanitizer on your hands as often as you can,” advised Theriot.

How much is enough? Health experts recommend applying enough to cover both sides of your hands and vigorously rubbing them together until they are dry. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, hands should be dry within 20 seconds. “Most people probably don’t use enough, so if you’re unsure how much, add a little more and you should be fine,” Theriot said.

Stonebridge Place, an assisted living and retirement community in Sulphur, held its Mardi Gras Ball last month for its Krewe de Les Sagesse. The Royal Court entertainment was Sam Hewitt and LA Dust.

Visiting Royalty, 2009 Krewe du Grand Bois/The Wild Wild West Court: King Roy Rodgers, Kenneth Boudreaux and Queen Dale Evans, and Judy Boudreaux.

His Majesty Lawrence Bowers, Her Majesty Rita Harvey and the Twelfth Night Revelers

Duke Barnes Brooks and Duchess Cathrine Drost

Stonebridge Mardi Gras Ball

by Christine Fisher


$83,000Each player’s share per man for winning the Super Bowl.Source: ESPN

32 The average number of points the New Saints scored per game in the 2009 football season, leading the NFL in scoring. 4 The number of decades it took the New Orleans Saints to reach the Super Bowl.1967 The year the New Orleans Saints football team was founded.14 The number of head coaches the New Orleans Saints has had.Source: NewOrleansSaints.com

106 millionThe number of people who watched the Saint’s victory over Indianapolis in the Super Bowl. This surpassed the 1983 finale of “M-A-S-H” to become the most-watched program in U.S. television history.Source: Nielson Company

44The number of Super Bowl’s there have been Source: NFL

17The number of playoff appearances (1987, 1990, 1991, 1992, 2000, 2006, 2009).Source: NewOrleansSaints.com

510 The number of points the Saints scored in the 2009 football season, the ninth-most in NFL history.Source: Fox Sports

9• The number of times New Orleans has been the host city for the Super Bowl.• Number of winning seasons the Saints have had• The day in February that New Orleans hosted the Saint’s Super Bowl victory parade.• New Orleans area code 504 (5+0+4=9).• Drew Brees’ jersey number.• The number of seasons Drew Brees has played in the NFL.• The number of letters in “Drew Brees.”Source: NOLA.com

1The ranking of the Saints in the National Football League after the Super Bowl.Source: NFL

The number of times the Saints have been to the Super Bowl - and won!Source: NFL

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Six Sulphur High student-athletes were formally recognized and honored by the LHSSA at the 2010 Louisiana High School Sports Hall of Fame Induction Ceremonies and Banquet. Receiving recognition for LHSAA Composite Academic All-State Team in football were Kai Ackley, Kyle Bourgeois, and Blake Sanner. Volleyball recipients were Allison Callahan, and Maggie Cooke, and Kelli Mancil. At this year’s banquet, Sulphur High School had the distinction of having more football and volleyball student-athletes on the LHSAA Composite Academic All-State Team than any other school represented. Based on the philosophy that high school classrooms were built before the playing fields and arenas, the Louisiana High School Athletic Association (LHSAA) instituted its scholar-athlete program in 1986 featuring the sport of football and expanded the program to include girls’ and boys’ basketball and girls’ volleyball in 1987. Softball was added in 1995 and Baseball in 1997. Not only are the student-athletes honored in their respective five divisions in volleyball and five classes in football, but composite squads have also been selected from the players who scored the highest in their respective sport and division/class. This year’s composite All-Academic, All-State squad in girls’ volleyball featured 49 student-athletes while 84 have been chosen to represent the composite academic cream of the crop in football. Kenny Henderson, LHSAA Commissioner stated, “We want all of the student-athletes in Louisiana to realize and understand that the educational foundation and values that they receive in our member high schools will be life-lasting and will serve them long after their high school playing days are over.”

Sulphur Seniors Named to All-State Team

Congratulating six Sulphur High student-athletes is SHS Principal Keith Bonin (center) From Left to Right: Kelli Mancil, Allison Callahan, Maggie Cooke, Keith Bonin, Kyle Bourgeois, Blake Sanner, and Kai Ackley.


Family and Youth Counseling Agency, a nonprofit organization that serves individuals, families, children and communities of Southwest Louisiana, will celebrate its 40th anniversary this month. Family and Youth was established in 1970 to provide quality professional counseling, advocacy and education services for individuals, children and families. The agency’s central belief is that all individuals, families and communities have the capacity to solve their own challenges when support, leadership and resources are available and when equity and inclusion principles serve as guiding forces. According to Director of Development Maria Alcantara Faul, it is the mission of Family and Youth to provide affordable and professional support through programs and services dedicated to advocacy, counseling and education for the people of Southwest Louisiana. Family and Youth, a United Way agency and licensed by the State of Louisiana, was awarded the Louisiana Association of Nonprofit Organizations’ Seal of Excellence in 2004 for successfully completing the Standards for Excellence certification program and was re-certified again in 2007. A Member of the Alliance for Children and Families, Family and Youth is certified member of the National Children’s Alliance, Quality Council certified under Baldrige Criteria, an active member of the State and National CASA Associations, the Children’s Advocacy Centers of Louisiana, the Autism Society of America and the International EAP Association. In October 2007, Family and Youth was named “Agency of the Year” by the Alliance for Children & Families for accomplishments in leadership and management, board participation and support, impact of

advocacy efforts on local, state and national levels, and innovative programs. In November 2007, the agency received the “Building

Community Voices Ambassador Award” from the Alliance for Children and Families – Washington D.C. office for efforts in promoting and encouraging mission-based advocacy among staff, constituents, partners, youth and concerned citizens in SWLA through the Children and Families Action Network’s initiatives. Currently, Family and Youth manages The Counseling Center, The Leadership Center for Youth, Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA), Children’s Advocacy Center, Children and Families Action Network, Human Services Response Institute, Autism Support Alliance, and Performance EAP. More information about each program can be found online at www.fyca.org.

Family & Youth Celebrates 40 Years

The annual Family Festival, which unites various United Way agencies

whose mission is designed to benefit youth and families, is one of

several events regularly sponsored by Family and Youth Counseling

Agency, which celebrates its 40th anniversary this month.

Here is the advice many women heard for years: “Start mammograms at age 40 and be sure to do monthly breast self-exams.” Fast forward and the advice has totally changed: “No, you don’t need to be regularly screened in your 40s and, by the way, those monthly self-exams don’t really help with early detection.” The American Cancer Society says “screen early” for breast cancer. A recent government task force says “wait till later.”

So now what are women supposed to do?

“It’s not surprising at all that women are confused. Physicians are confused too,” says Barbara Tomek, MD, radiologist with the Imaging Center at The Clinic.

The U. S. preventative services task force released a recommendation late last year that created considerable controversy in the medical field, and confusion among women across the country. Their new guidelines are to obtain a baseline mammogram at the age of 50 and then mammograms every two years until the age of 75. At the age of 75, no recommendation was made, with the assumption that mammograms were no longer needed.

Previous to these recommendations, Dr. Tomek says that women were encouraged to get their baseline mammogram by the age of 40, with yearly mammograms following that baseline mammogram. Women with a higher risk for breast cancer were encouraged to get mammograms earlier.

“So now, what are we to do as women and as physicians based on these new recommendations?” asks Dr. Tomek. “The debate is ongoing, but I can tell you that without a doubt, mammographic screening is one of the major unrecognized medical advances of the past 35 years.”

She explains that prior to 1990, the death rate from breast cancer had remained unchanged in the United States for at least 50 years. In the middle of the 1980s, a Swedish study reported a decrease in breast cancer death due to mammographic screening. This led to widespread screening in the United States that involved enough women to influence national statistics.

At first, there was an increase in the incidence of breast cancer around 1985 and 1986. This raised the concern for a possible epidemic of breast cancer. It was soon recognized that this sudden increase was due to the fact that we were finding future cancer years earlier.

“We do know that mammography picks up a subtle form of breast cancer with possibly low potential for spread. This is ductal carcinoma in situ,” says Dr. Tomek. “Before mammography was widely available, these cancers were not diagnosed. The actual potential of these cancers to proceed to metastatic disease is not completely understood. It is possible that these cancers may never spread and we may be over treating. This is something we are currently in the process of studying.”

The death rate for breast cancer has decreased by almost 30 percent since 1990. Some suggest that better therapy is responsible for the decline. There have been several studies that have addressed this concern. These studies suggested the contribution of early detection to the decrease in breast cancer to be between 28 to 65 percent.

Other studies have found the death rate decline over time to be in direct proportion to the number of women participating in breast cancer mammography screening. Those that did not do cancer screening, but had access to the latest therapies, had only a very small decline in death rate.

“We are now entering a new era with a major reassessment of health care in this country,” says Dr. Tomek. “and the benefits of mammography are now being challenged.” She says it has been argued that women had been misled into believing that screening will save all of them from breast cancer. “There are no perfect tests and mammography is no exception. However, this does not erase its very important lifesaving benefits. It has saved tens of thousands of lives since 1990, and there is study after study that backs this up this fact.”

She continues, “As we advance in medical knowledge, we must be willing to investigate all

possibilities to improve patient care. We also must be very aware of the growing cost of medical care. However, what is the value of lives saved with

screening mammography? That is something that should also be considered.”

“As a woman and a physician, I strongly believe screening mammography has saved lives,” says Dr. Tomek. “I believe we find breast cancers earlier than ever before. I believe we need to continue our current guidelines for screening mammograms.”

Confused About Mammography Guidelines?

Join the Crowd a l o c a l d o c t o r p r o v i d e s p e r s p e c t i v e

by Kristy Armand


If you’ve just moved out on your own, or into your first house, a tool set may not be at the top of the list of things you need to buy for your new home. However, whether or not you consider yourself a handyman – or woman – you’re going to need tools from time to time, probably sooner and more often than you might think. How else will you be able to hang pictures, hook up a TV, put together a bookcase, install a ceiling fan or make minor repairs when the faucet leaks, toilet runs or garbage disposal jams?

“Once you have your own place, you’re going to need at least a few hand tools for a variety of common projects,” says Kirsten Roed, Power and Hand Tool buyer with Stine. “You won’t be able to get by with just a cheap hammer from the convenience store or using a butter knife as a screwdriver forever. Borrowing tools from a neighbor or your parents will also get old quickly. Having a basic, reliable home tool kit is indispensable.”

If you’re not familiar with tools, it can be a little daunting to get started. If this is your situation, Roed recommends that you start by buying tools as you need them. “You can keep the cost of assembling your tool kit manageable if you buy what you need for the specific project. For example, if you’re hanging a picture, you’ll need a hammer, a level and a tape measure, but you won’t need a saw or a wrench.” And because some tools are commonly sold in sets (screwdrivers, pliers) you may be able to get an added piece as a bonus when purchasing what you need.

When it comes to buying tools, Roed says it’s important not to skimp on quality, even if it may be a bit more expensive. “Buy the best tool you can afford and consider it a lifetime investment. Buying cheap tools is a false economy, since they may not work the way you need them to and are more likely to break. It’s worth it to spend a little more initially, to save additional expense, not to mention hassle, later.” She says quality tools don’t necessarily have to be the top-of-the line, professional contractor models. There are many reputable toolmakers that make quality tools at reasonable prices. Look for tools that are made with heat-treated metals, which make them harder and more durable. Whenever possible, purchase those that come with a lifetime warranty, so you know they are made to last. “Shop at a store where you can ask for assistance from someone who is knowledgeable about tools; someone who can answer your questions and give you good advice on your purchase,” she adds.

Roed also recommends always keeping an eye open for sale prices on the tools you are missing. “This may break the ‘buy as you need it’ rule, but you can get some great deals on tools, especially on seasonal items, and around holidays like Father’s Day and Christmas. Take advantage of these opportunities to get high quality tools at low prices. It’s also a good idea to let your family and friends know you would be happy to receive tools for your tool kit as gifts. That way you’ll get some help building your tool kit.”

Now that we’ve covered how to build a quality tool kit economically, what are the most essential items it should include? Roed recommends the list on the right of essential tools that belong in every home set:

Building Your Home Tool Kit

Hammer : A 6-ounce hammer with a curved claw for pulling nails is a necessity. Choose one with a fiberglass or metal handle with a non-slip rubber grip.

Tape measure: A good tape measure has 25 to 35 feet of length, is retractable, has a sturdy end piece and a locking mechanism.

Screwdrivers: A home should have at least two types of screwdrivers, a slotted or flat-head and a Phillips head, which looks like a plus sign. Screwdrivers are also commonly sold in sets of 3, 6 or 9. Multi-bit screwdrivers come with interchangeable bits, which eliminates the need for several different sizes and reduces tool box clutter.

Pliers: There are several types. It’s a good idea to have a needle nose, standard/slip joint, and diagonal wire cutters.

Adjustable wrenches: Commonly called “crescent wrenches,” these also come in different sizes.

Hand saw: For small jobs, a 14-inch hand saw that fits into your toolbox is great to have on hand.

Utility knife: Get one with a metal, not plastic, handle, and a retractable, replaceable blade.

Level: A level is used to ensure that shelves, pictures, and appliances are correctly oriented. A 9-inch torpedo level is good for smaller jobs and will fit in a tool box.

Heavy-duty tape: This is water-resistant and sticky enough to fill a variety of roles, from electrical work to sealing boxes for storage.

A few sheets of sandpaper in a variety of grits.

A collection of different sized nails, screws and fasteners. These are often sold in sets.

A latching toolbox to hold all your tools. You’ll be amazed how quickly tools can scatter when you’re doing a few jobs. Having a toolbox to keep everything in one place will make any do-it-yourself much easier to accomplish.

by Kristy Armand

photo by Jason Hardesty


The color of money isn’t green, it’s red. Or blue, actually. New research states that certain colors improve your work productivity in different areas, so the right shade can turn a grey day in the office into a very good one. According to a study published in the journal Science, seeing the color red makes you more accurate, and blue increases your creativity. Researchers at Columbia University, New York, tested 600 people and found that office workers shown red shades performed better on spellchecking tests, whereas those given the blues were far superior at tasks requiring creativity.

Seeing red will help you in the boardroom as well. Durham University discovered that Olympic boxers wearing red vests were victorious 60% of the time against blue-topped opponents of similar ability. The advantage was credited to the color’s association with dominance.

Can Colors Influence Success?

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“Emotional driving refers to any time you’re behind the wheel and your emotions are front and center. You may be excited over good news, mad about a fight, sad, or depressed,” said Joni Fontenot, spokesperson for the Safety Council of Southwest Louisiana. “Any of these can cloud your judgment, change your reaction time and affect your decisions.”

The scenarios can be varied: • peopleleavingballgames,excitedabout the win, drive away too fast• severalteensinavehiclegetrowdy,the driver is changing radio stations, laughing with friends, and darting in and out of traffic• madaboutarecentfight,adriverspeeds down the interstate, oblivious to how fast he or she’s going

The unfortunate ending in many of these situations is an accident.

Emotional driving is under the umbrella of behavior known as risky driving. In a recent Australian study, 20,000 drivers between 17 and 24 years old were given a list of risky driving behaviors. The list included:• listeningtoloudmusic• textingwhiledriving• speeding• carryingseveralpassengers

Of the drivers who said they were guilty of risky driving, 50 percent reported recent accidents. “Young people are more prone to risky driving, and therefore, to accidents, because they are still perfecting their driving skills. They are more susceptible to peer pressure and to letting their emotions dictate their actions,” said Fontenot.

Driving while under an emotional influence is not limited to young drivers, though. Chronological age isn’t the only indicator of the ability to drive sensibly. Being emotionally mature is a key factor in reducing the number of automobile accidents. “An emotionally-mature driver will set aside their own frustration, anger, or excitement enough to drive safely and not put other drivers at risk. They’ll also have the sense to be able to deal with another driver who is on the road, who may be exhibiting risky driving tendencies,” Fontenot said.

Since driving is almost a necessity, and emotional situations can happen at any time, all drivers should be aware of the inherent dangers of driving while emotional, and know what to do when they find themselves in that situation. Fontenot suggested these tips:

If you find that you’re angry, crying, extremely depressed or frustrated, pull over and give yourself a few minutes to cool off or calm down. Try a few relaxation techniques, like closing your eyes and counting to 10, taking a few deep breaths, or just sitting quietly for a few minutes.

Give yourself plenty of time to get where you are going. This helps avoid feeling rushed, or getting frustrated with slow drivers, heavy traffic or anything else out of your control. It also means you won’t be tempted to speed or take chances to save time.

Even if you’re in control of your emotions, the driver next to you may not be. If you notice erratic driving, excessive speed, or weaving in and out of traffic, try to put as much distance between you and them as possible. Slow down a bit, move to the right lane, and remind yourself that what they are doing isn’t a personal attack on you. Don’t engage them or try to get in their way.

Check out classes offered by the Safety Council to improve driving skills. Driver Improvement Class and TeenSmart Class can help you keep your cool, even when other drivers are out of control.

Because driving is routine, it’s easy to forget we’re operating heavy machinery that can do serious damage to ourselves and others. Making sure emotions aren’t the driving force behind the wheel will go a long way to safely getting from point A to point B.

For information about the driving classes, call the Safety Council at (337) 436-3354.

Driving Under the Influence of Emotions

You fight, storm out, get in the car and speed away. It’s a classic scene that’s duplicated many times

each day, but the fight isn’t the only

problem that needs to be resolved.

The effects of emotional driving

have significant consequences

and many may not be aware

they put themselves and others

on the road at

risk.

by Christine Fisher

Fun-sational Guide to Summer Fun

The Everything-Parents-Need-to-Know-About-All-the-Fun-Stuff-Kids-Want-to-DoSummER RESouRcE GuiDE 2010

coming in may. Reserve your space now! This special pull-out supplement will list all the area’s summer activities for kids,

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The public is constantly bombarded by fevered pitches for fad diets, such as Sugarbusters, Atkins, The Zone, and South Beach – methods that typically promise quick results through a carefully structured regimen – but for the employees of Pure Foods and Health, holistic dieting is the way to go.

“Holistic is concerned with the whole system of the body, rather than analyzing or dissecting single parts,” explained Shively Lampson, co-owner of Pure Foods, a health food store at 138 W. Prien Lake Road. She and her employees have adopted diets that include whole food supplements, greatly reduced consumption of processed foods (in some cases, processed foods are avoided altogether), and a diet rich in whole, fresh foods, with few animal products. “For those that can’t get rid of meat, we urge them to eat only organic.”

Lampson is an avid “label reader” – before she consumes anything, she gives a close examination of the ingredients and markings on the product’s label. She avoids products that are hydrogenated, include MSG, or are made up of ingredients that she doesn’t recognize.

“What starts as a holistic food often becomes something else,” she said. “If you pick up a product and see all kinds of ingredients that you can’t pronounce and don’t recognize, put it away.”

Lampson and her crew also advise against the ingestion of stimulants to promote weight loss. Instead, they chose to supplement their dieting with all-natural, broad-spectrum products such as “Diet 360,” a holistic, multidimensional weight loss formula that addresses multiple levels of weight problems, including metabolism, insomnia, stress, blood sugar and fatigue. The supplements often follow a detoxification program known as “Raw Cleanse,” according to Lampson, who says the benefits are multifaceted.

“There is no easy solution to losing weight and feeling better, but there are options. When my customers ask for my advice, I tell them that dietary supplements should not be considered the diet itself and there is no replacement for the balance of fruits and vegetables that are necessary for a healthy diet, and it’s always a good idea to check with a doctor for individual advice,” said Lampson.

The Food and Drug Administration isn’t required to approve supplements before they are marketed, Lampson said, so it’s important to review supplements before you add them to your diet regimen. She said to make sure they are stimulant-free, realistic in what they promise, and “holistic, if at all possible.”

“We wanted a supplement that approached weight loss from several angles, rather than just one. Some supplements attempt to suppress the appetite. Others stimulate the central nervous system, and still others claim to block fat. The science of weight loss is far more complicated than one single area,” Lampson said. “That’s why we chose to go with a multi-dimensional holistic product.” For more information on holistic dieting, contact Pure Foods at 905-PURE.

By Erin K. Cormier

Holistic Dieting: A Different Approach to Weight Loss


Quarter-Million Dollar KidThe Journey of Maxcito Trost

Coming to America tells the stories of local residents who left their native country to make a new home in the United States. Watch for a new story each issue. To

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

Throughout most of the 1990s, Idaho native Max Trost lived the high life. Seven months out of the year, the experienced pilot operated a fixed-base operation out of Kansas with five helicopters. The other five months were reserved for leisure, and Max, a committed bachelor, had plenty of time and money for that.

In 1998, Max spent three months in southern Nicaragua and northern Costa Rica, where he participated in big-game fishing, one of his favorite pastimes. While fishing in the Costa Rican jungles near the Nicaraguan border, Max, who spoke limited Spanish, had a brief romance with a local Tico girl who spoke no English. When Max returned to the United States, he never expected to see her again – until he got a phone call nearly one year later from a friend living in Central America.

He said, “You better come back down here. I think you left a package,’” Max recalls. “That’s how I found out I had a son.”

Max flew back to Costa Rica, took one look at the baby, and “knew right away” that the boy was his. Max says he didn’t want to be an absentee father, but because Maxcito’s mother refused to let him travel to the States with the baby, there was only one solution: Max would have to move to Central America. He bought a comfortable house near the Arenal Volcano and set up shop as one of the few helicopter businesses in Costa Rica. He organized fishing expeditions, moved his finances to his adopted country, and supported Maxcito and the rest of Maxcito’s family as he

settled into a new life as a resident, rather than a tourist. According to Max, there was trouble almost from the beginning.

He says the Costa Rican government confiscated his pilot’s license in an effort to relinquish his assets – namely, his helicopters – and he was unable to earn money as a pilot. Both his home and business were burglarized several times, and over the course of three years, he says he was robbed repeatedly; in one case, he was beaten so badly that he required hip surgery. During this time, Max was still fighting to gain some legal rights to his son – a venture that required lawyers, DNA testing, court appearances and extensive documentation – and his businesses in the States quickly dried up.

“There was so much money going out and nothing coming in. After three years, all the money I had was gone,” he said. “By then, I’d had enough. I wanted to get out of there.” Still recovering from hip surgery, Max finally left Costa Rica in 2003 and flew to Grenada, with “one dollar, one helicopter, and nothing else.”

He set up another business in Nicaragua, but Maxcito’s mother still didn’t want her son to travel outside Costa Rica, so Max traveled back rivers to visit him. After more than six combined years in Central America, however, Max ran out of money and was desperate to get back to the United States, where he could figure out how to get his son American citizenship.

“By the time I was ready to get out of Nicaragua and get back home, I weighed a hundred and forty pounds, I was limping because of my hip injury, and I didn’t have any money. All I had was that helicopter. I could have found money and flown back home on a commercial plane, but I refused to leave that helicopter after everything I’d been through. It was my only asset,” said Max, who had to borrow money from his mother to fund his trip out of the country. Ultimately, the journey from Nicaragua to DeRidder, La., where he landed, took fifty days. The helicopter’s limited fuel capacity meant Max had to stop every few hours to refuel, and those stops often caught the attention of local governments. If he didn’t take off fast enough after refueling, he was typically held for several days. He says he was stopped and jailed eleven times total, with nine of them in Mexico.

Months after he arrived in DeRidder – penniless, without any business connections, and rusty on current regulations that would allow him to fly commercially in the U.S. – he received a phone call from Central America. Maxcito had become unruly and his mother, unable to control him, was ready to give Max custody.

Max, who had been borrowing money from friends and family for years in his quest to gain legal rights to Maxcito, had to borrow another $30,000 to get his son to the U.S. – an immigration process that he calls “a black hole of time, energy and money.” Max’s original plan was to spend six months in the United States saving money, but when an American friend in Costa Rica asked him to fly his small private two-seater plane back to the States for him, Max agreed. “The man offered to pay me, so that meant I not only had money, I had a way to get my son to the U.S.,” he said.

Father and son boarded the plane in Los Chiles, Costa Rica, and after a harrowing journey from Central America to the U.S. (a journey that Maxcito described as “an airplane adventure”), they landed in Brownsville, Texas, on April 15, 2008.

“That’s when I realized I had no idea what I was doing,” Max said. “I spent so much time thinking about getting him here that I never thought about what I was going to do once he got here. I didn’t know how to enroll him in school, or teach him English, or anything. Thank goodness I live in such a wonderful community. Everyone helped me and took him in. The school told me to enroll him and that he would be fine. After eight years of living in the jungle, not going to school, and not learning English, Maxcito is now in the fourth grade and making honor roll. He was smart enough to be placed in his right grade level, even though he had never been to school. He’s a smart kid.”

Max says the kid that was once described as “uncontrollable” is now polite, well-behaved, well-mannered, and excited about his future.

“He’s such a great kid. When we were flying over here, he said ‘Poppie, are we rich?’ I said, ‘We’re not rich with money, but we’re rich with opportunity.’ Now that I have my son here with me, I have no regrets.”

by Erin K. Cormier

Maxcito Trost, now a fourth-grader in Sulphur.

Max and Maxcito Trost prepare to leave Los Chiles, Costa Rica.

You or a loved one may benefit from home health if you are:• Recovering from medical conditions, including, but not limited to, heart failure,

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“I call him my quarter-million-dollar kid, because that’s what it cost to get him over here. He was worth every penny.”– Max Trost

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

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Following are just a few of the new credit card regulations and consumer protections as a result of the Credit CARD Act:

• MoreNoticeforNewInterestRateChanges.Card issuers must give card holders 45-days advance notice in the event of an interest rate change. Additionally, promotional rates must apply for at least six months and, unless disclosed up front, card holders cannot have their rate increased in the first year.

• CardholderOpt-Out. If there are significant changes made to the terms of the account, card holders can choose to reject those changes and will have five years to pay off the balance under the original terms.

• OlderAgeRestrictionsAdded.Card issuers are no longer allowed to issue a credit card to anyone under 21 unless they can prove they have the means to repay debt or if an adult over 21 co-signs on the account. Credit card companies also face new restrictions on how they can promote cards to college students and can no longer offer free gifts as enticements on campuses.

• NewRulesforMonthlyStatements.In response to complaints that bill due dates were being moved up—and leading to increased late fees—monthly statements must now be mailed or delivered 21 days prior to the due date. Additionally, card issuers can no longer set a payment deadline before 5 p.m. and cannot charge card holders if they pay online, over the phone or by mail—unless the payment is made over the phone either on the due date or the previous day.

• OverpaymentsGoTowardHighestInterestBalances. If the card holder has varied interest rates for different services or accounts, any overpayments must be applied to the account that is incurring the highest interest rate.

• OvertheLimitOpt-In.Card holders must opt-in to be able to exceed their credit limit—and subsequently be charged an over-limit fee by the issuer. If a card holder chooses not to opt-in, then he or she will not be able to exceed their credit limit and incur any resultant fees.

• IncreasedDisclosureonMinimumPayments.Card issuers must disclose how long it will take the card holder to pay off their bill if they only pay the minimum monthly payment as well as how much the card hold would need to pay every month to pay off the balance in 36 months.

• Say Goodbye to Double-Billing Cycles. When calculating finance charges, card issuers can no longer employ two-cycle or double billing—a method that causes cardholders to pay interest on previously paid balances.

To learn more about the new consumer protections, Creditcards.com has a comprehensive breakdown of the Credit CARD Act of 2009.

On February 22, new consumer protections laid out in the Credit Card Accountability Responsibility and Disclosure Act of 2009 kicked in.

The US Census Bureau predicts that in 2010, the number of US credit card holders will grow to 181 million. Unfortunately, almost 75 percent of cardholders admit to not reading the terms and conditions of their credit cards, according to a CreditCards.com survey. BBB recommends that all card holders familiarize themselves with the fine print and review the new provisions set out by the Credit CARD Act of 2009.

“Credit card debt can mount when times are tight making it more necessary for consumers to take the time to understand the fine print of their credit card agreements and the different fees and penalties that can chisel away at the family finances,” said Carmen Million, president of the local Better Business Bureau. “While the new CARD Act provides more consumer protections, card holders still need to keep an eye on changes to their accounts and respond quickly if they aren’t satisfied.”

What the New Credit Card Regulations Mean to You

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Despite being the leading cause of cancer death for both men and women, funding for lung cancer research continues to lag greatly behind funding for other forms of the disease, according to research by the National Cancer Institute. In 2006, the NCI estimated that it spent only $1,638 per lung cancer death, compared to more than $13,000 per breast cancer death and more than $11,000 per prostate death.

Lung cancer takes more lives than breast, prostate and colon cancers combined, yet many misconceptions continue to plague those who suffer from the illness – namely, that only smokers are diagnosed.

While smokers do comprise a large group of those diagnosed with lung cancer, non-smokers are certainly not immune. If non-tobacco-related lung cancer were placed in a separate category, it would still rank in the top 10 most common fatal cancers in the United States, according to the American Cancer Society, who notes that as many as 24,000 lung cancer deaths each year and related to factors other than smoking.

Despite never having smoked, Marlene Miller of Iowa, 74, was diagnosed in November 2008. “I was shocked when I heard the news,” Miller said. “I have never smoked, so to find out I had developed lung cancer was a complete shock.”

Symptoms of lung cancer include persistent cough, spit streaked with blood, chest pain, recurring pneumonia or bronchitis, weight loss and a hoarse voice – but Miller exhibited none of these symptoms. If not for an unrelated CAT scan, there’s a good chance her cancer would have gone undetected.

“I had no symptoms. The cancer was found by accident while I was having a CAT scan on my abdomen. The scan picked up the lower part of my left lung and showed the cancer,” she said. The cancerous lung was removed and today, she’s “doing fine, so far.”

Like Miller, Adam Nunez, also in his 70s, didn’t exhibit any symptoms that would indicate he had lung cancer. His doctor discovered a mass in the upper lobe of his right lung, which was determined to be cells of carcinoma.

Although the fatality rate associated with lung cancer is high – of the 215,020 diagnosed with lung cancer this year, more than 160,000 will likely not survive, according to the Prevent Cancer Foundation – Nunez said with early detection and faith, “there is a remedy.”

According to the ACS, the incidence of lung cancer among lifelong non-smokers is about equal to that of brain and other nervous system cancers. The specific manner in which lung cancer is triggered in a person’s body, whether they smoke or not, still requires further study. It is believed that for smokers, triggers could include addictive elements found in tobacco, such as nicotine and other carcinogens. Among non-smokers, researchers suspect genetic susceptibility and secondhand smoke exposure as possible culprits.

The second annual Free to Breathe fundraising events will begin with a breakfast at 7:30 a.m. Friday, March 26, in the Contraband Room of the Lake Charles Civic Center. The breakfast, sponsored by McDonald’s, will feature guest speaker Joan Schiller, M.D., of the University of Texas-Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas, president of the National Lung Cancer Partnership. Dr. Schiller is widely published and internationally recognized for her work in lung cancer clinical research. She is the deputy director of Simmons Comprehensive Cancer Center, holds the Andrea L. Simmons Distinguished Chair in Cancer

Research, and is division director of Hematology/Oncology at Dallas medical center, which ranks among the top academic medical centers in the world. Dr. Schiller also is chairperson of the Thoracic Oncology Committee of the Eastern Co-operative

Oncology Group, an editor for the Journal of Clinical Oncology and the principal investigator on many national clinical trials for lung cancer.

The Free to Breathe 5K Run will be held the following morning, March 27, with registration beginning at 7 a.m. The run, hosted by the Southwest Louisiana Lung Cancer Group Partnership, will begin at 8:30 a.m. Prizes will be

awarded to an overall winner and top male and female finishers in various age brackets. Online registration is available online through March 23 at a cost of $15 by visiting www.freetobreathe.org. Mail-in registration is $18 through March 16, and event-day registration is $20. The National Lung Cancer Partnership is a group of leading doctors, researchers, patient advocates and lung cancer survivors dedicated to raising public awareness of the disease and generating funding for research.

For information on how to purchase tickets for the kickoff breakfast, call 540-3952.

Not Limited to SmokersFundingLagsBehindOtherCancers

Lung CanCer:

More than 29,000 students across the state in grades three through five and six through eight have chosen two books as winners of the 2010 Louisiana Young Readers’ Choice Award. “Marley: A Dog Like No Other” by John Grogan (HarperCollins Publishers, 2007) was the top choice of third, fourth and fifth graders. “Diary of a Wimpy Kid” by Jeff Kinney (Abrams Books for Young Readers, 2007), received the most votes from middle school students in grades six, seven and eight. The second place winners, or Honor Books for 2010, were “The Lemonade Club” by Patricia Polacco (Penguin Group, 2007) for grades three through five and “Deep and Dark and Dangerous” by Mary Downing Hahn (Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2007) for grades six through eight.

The Louisiana Young Readers’ Choice Award, now in its 11th year, is a reading enrichment program of the State Library of Louisiana underwritten by Capitol One with additional support by PermaBound Books. It is a model collaborative reading program involving students, teachers and public librarians in all regions of the state. Students in grades three through eight are encouraged to read the high-quality books that are on carefully selected book lists: one list for grades three through five and another list for grades six through eight. Using specially prepared study guides, teachers incorporate the books into the curriculum. The 2010 LYRCA program saw an increase in participation of more than 10,000 students over the previous year. Voting day is an exciting time in many schools and libraries throughout Louisiana as the students cast their votes, sometimes using the voting booths supplied by the Secretary of State’s Voter Outreach Division.

“With Louisiana Young Readers’ Choice Award program, the State Library has accomplished something special in its effort to encourage our kids to read: it has given our youngest readers a voice,” said Lt. Gov. Mitch Landrieu. Landrieu oversees the Department of Culture, Recreation and Tourism, which includes the State Library.

A committee of school and public librarians chooses recent children’s titles for each age group that comprise the annual LYRCA ballots. The lists offer a well-balanced array of excellent, enjoyable books in various genres, including fiction, nonfiction, folklore and poetry.

“One of the critical missions of the State Library is to foster a culture of literacy. We know that if we encourage a child to read for pleasure, then that child is much more likely to excel at reading and succeed in school,” said State Librarian Rebecca Hamilton. “We’ve been very pleased with the excitement for reading that the Louisiana Young Readers’ Choice Award program has generated throughout the state. The program keeps growing each year, and that growth means more children are being exposed to a wonderful culture of literacy.”

Information about the program is available on the State Library website at www.state.lib.la.us by clicking on Center for the Book, then on Louisiana Young Readers’ Choice Award. The list of nominees for 2011 is now available on the State Library’s website.

State Library Announces ALA 2010 Young Readers’

Choice Awards

Dr. Joan Schiller, President of National Lung Cancer Partnership

Free to Breathe Breakfast & 5K Run


by Christine Fisher

more money to fewer charities. “Take the time to determine what you want to accomplish with your gift. To satisfy your need of improving someone else’s life, a little time spent researching the organization is time well spent,” Prejean said.

Read the Numbers.Even though giving evokes emotion, it all boils down to numbers. Finding how your charity choice rates can be done on several charity web sites, such as guidestar.org, charitynavigator.org and give.org. These measure how much of your contribution actually goes to accomplishing its mission rather than administrative expenses or more fundraising. “Obviously, charities need to employ people to accomplish their goal, and there are expenses involved in spreading the message, but the bulk of donations should flow through the organization and out to the cause,” explained Prejean.

An exception to this would be a start-up charity. It takes about two years to organize and get the fundraising ball rolling, and start-up time is usually the most expensive. Also, compare apples to apples. If you’re looking at donating to a health care organization, compare it to other health care organizations; food banks to food banks.

Research First, Then Give.The Internet has changed life as we know it, including charitable donations. The tragedy in Haiti

brought about record donations in record time. It’s easier than ever to find a cause and send a gift. Just be sure they are reputable organizations. “In the past, we thought anything with a ‘dot org’ in the web address meant it was pretty much legitimate,” said Prejean. “People today realize that anyone can register a domain name and masquerade as a charitable organization, when in fact, they aren’t.” Prejean advises making sure the donor site has a physical address and a telephone number. “Contact them and ask for further information. Their mannerisms while on the phone can give you valuable information. If they hesitate, or ask to call you back later, you can write them off.”

Also, beware of emails that give a sad story and ask you to contact them. Prejean said, “A reputable organization will never ask you to send them your name, bank account, or social security number. Ever.”

Sadly, when the need is the greatest, fraud abounds. According to the Better Business Bureau, legitimate charities always provide written information about their programs, never demand donations, and never ask for your personal information

“Giving is a good thing to do,” said Prejean. “Making sure your gift goes toward its intended cause is the goal. Use the internet to research and use your common sense to guide.”

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Rules toGiveBy

The Numbers of Giving

89% of households in the U.S. give.

Average annual contribution is $1,620.

80% of donations go to education, religious and health organizations.

There are 1,010,400 charitable organizations in the U.S.

The non-profit sector employs 10.2 million, which is almost 7% of the U.S. workforce.

Source: National Philanthropic Trust

Americans give. The recipient may be someone across town or across the globe. Whether it’s people in Haiti or right here in Southwest Louisiana, need surrounds us. People who study charitable giving say that our willingness to give cuts across income levels, so no matter how many zeros are in the take-home column of our paychecks, Americans set aside a portion for someone else.

The United States tops the list of charitable countries, giving twice as much as the United Kingdom, the second one on the list; and the U.S. ranks first in philanthropic giving as a percentage of gross domestic product.

The less noble side of the giving coin is the existence of fraudulent charities who attempt to scam unsuspecting givers for their own selfish gain. They claim to be rightful organizations, and can fool many people who have their heart in the right place, until a closer look reveals their ill intentions.

Cameron State Bank Vice President and Security Officer Garland Prejean says it’s wise to take a little time to research a charitable organization before making a donation. “Charity organizations are beneficial because they can provide for many people’s needs, funneling the money to meet the most critical needs first. Many have been helped through efforts of the Red Cross, Salvation Army, Doctors without Borders, and countless others. In fact, after the devastation of hurricane Rita, several national charities were here in Southwest Louisiana, giving food, water, washing clothes, and assisting in a lot of ways. But, before giving to an unfamiliar charity, do your homework first.”

Make it Count.The reality of charitable organizations is that it costs them money to get you to give. The letters, postcards, television spots, and websites that get your attention and explain the need come with a price tag. If you give a small amount to many charities, chances are that money is just going to cover the cost of getting to you. Instead, you can affect greater good by giving

“If you can’t feed a hundred people, then just

feed one.”– Mother Theresa


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Ask any parent, and they’d probably readily admit that their kids give them headaches from time to time, but what should a parent do when their child has a headache? How do you know if it’s just a normal occurrence or cause for concern? According to pediatrician Luis Apellaniz, MD, headaches are common among children and generally are not serious. In fact, 50 percent to 75 percent of all kids report having at least one headache per month.

“When it comes to headaches, children are a lot like adults and can experience different types of pain,” says Dr. Apellaniz. “Headaches in children can be more difficult to diagnose because they may not be able to explain the symptoms they are experiencing. Parents play a big role in helping us pinpoint the cause. Careful monitoring of your

child’s behavior when headaches occur can help us determine the type of

headache and an effective treatment plan.”

He adds that there can be many causes for head pain in a child, including common ailments such as the cold, flu, sinus infection and toothaches. Tension headaches are also very common among teens.

If your child occasionally has a mild headache that is not associated with neurologic complaints and is otherwise healthy, Dr. Apellaniz says the headaches are probably not the result of a serious condition and can be treated with rest and age-appropriate doses of non-aspirin pain relievers. “However, if your child suffers from significant, unexplained headaches once a month or more over a period of several months, you should definitely consult your doctor for a thorough evaluation.”

When parents bring children to seek medical attention, Dr. Apellaniz says the cause is often migraines. Migraines are actually more common than asthma and diabetes in children. About five percent of school-age kids and up to 20% of teens get migraine headaches. Girls suffer with migraines more than boys do.

“If it is determined that your child is suffering from migraines, prevention becomes a big part of the treatment,” says Dr. Apellaniz. “For extra protection against migraines, we work with parents and the child to identify and avoid the things that seem to trigger headaches.” He explains that in addition to emotional stress, common migraine triggers in children include certain foods and drinks, bright or flickering lights, noise, movies or television, unusually heavy exercise, and

overexposure to the sun. “A headache diary that records the symptoms, the date and time of each episode, and the events leading up to the attack can be extremely valuable for determining what specific triggers are.”

For pain relief of most common headaches, most doctors will recommend non-aspirin, over-the-counter pain relievers. Ice packs and massaging the neck and shoulder area can also provide relief. For severe pain associated with migraine and cluster headaches, prescription medication may be recommended for prevention and/or pain relief. Parents should avoid letting a child take more than a few of any pain reliever each week. Taking too many pain relievers can lead to daily headaches that do not respond to treatment.

Dr. Apellaniz says mild nausea with a headache is a common complaint, however fever, listlessness, weakness of an arm and leg, decreased alertness, visual problems, or severe vomiting are cause for concern. He advises seeing a doctor immediately if any of these symptoms accompany the headache.

“In general, headaches in children can have many causes, and in most cases are not a cause for alarm,” stresses Dr. Apellaniz. “As with any medical condition, parents should contact their doctor for advice if they

are concerned or have specific questions regarding

their child’s headaches at

any time.”

Get Headaches

too!by Kristy Armand

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Winging it. Everyone has gone to the gym at one time or another without a plan or workout schedule. “This is where the foundation of getting on track starts,” explains Comeaux. “You wouldn’t go on a road trip without a map, so why do it with your fitness? Always have a plan of attack and start your journey with a compass and a roadmap.”

Skipping scheduled workouts. Expecting a dream body overnight will be a big disappointment. “It takes work to reach the goals you have set for yourself,” adds Comeaux. “It is very important to have consistency in your program. Skipping one workout leads to failure, and that’s just with ONE. Consistency is key.”

Making excuses. Many people tend to blame other people when they don’t see the results they hoped for. Comeaux suggests when making the commitment to your fitness and health, that you take possession of it. “Own up to your own actions and your own results.”

Skipping the warm up. Without warming up, muscles do not have time to stretch or contract, which can lead to tears and pulls. “The walk from your car to the gym shouldn’t be considered your warm up,” explains Comeaux. “Even if you’re doing a cardio workout, you should always warm up.”

Skipping the cool down. Many people rush to their next daily task after working out. “During workouts we try to squeeze in every last second of exercising but still fail to make time for a cool down. The cool down is very important to lower your heart rate and reduce your risk of injury,” adds Comeaux.

Waiting until you are thirsty to drink. By the time your body alerts you that you are thirsty, you are already dehydrated. “Almost all Americans live in a state of dehydration,” says Comeaux. “If you workout, you will need more than the recommended 8 glasses of water a day. Make sure you drink plenty of water not only before, but after you workout as well.”

Resting too much. Consistency is key when working out. Comeaux believes that taking too much time between exercises can decrease your training benefits and increase your chance of injury. He suggests allowing at least 30 seconds for rest to set your body up for your next exercise.

Believing that abdominal crunches will give you a flat stomach. Doing crunches a few times a week will be slow in helping you to reach your goal. “One thing to remember is if you want to condition your abdominals and minimize the chance of developing back pain, you’ve got to start using your abs all day long,” says Comeaux. “Try reminding yourself, for every text message you receive, to contract your abs for 10 seconds and you will be on your way to success!”

If you have been making some of these mistakes, don’t give up or beat yourself up, but rather learn from your mistakes. By applying these steps, you can create a safer and more productive outlook for your workout program.

For more information on common workout mistakes or fitness training, visit the LiveFIT7 website at www.LiveFIT7.com or email Carl Comeaux at [email protected].

maximize

MaxiMize Your Potential by avoiding Common

Mistakesby Katie McDaniel

Finding the time to exercise is very important for your fitness and health. Not only can the correct amount of time ensure the best workout possible, but so can knowing the correct way to exercise. According to Carl Comeaux,

certified personal trainer and owner of LiveFIT7 Fitness Training, “There are many common workout mistakes that are made everyday.” If your body isn’t as lean or toned as you’d like, it may be that you’re committing some key training

mistakes. Comeaux suggests avoiding these most common mistakes to guarantee the most effective workout results.

There is a long-held belief that it is possible to balance an egg on its end only at two times during the year – on the first day of spring or the first day of autumn. This experiment has been performed to great success in classrooms nationwide.

The belief that these two days are egg-traordinary is based on the concept that the spring and fall equinox provides specialized gravitational forces because those are the only two days of the year that the sun shines directly on the equator, creating equal parts of daylight and darkness. The direct sun-shining and twelve hours each of daylight and darkness is, in fact, what determines the first day of spring or the first day of autumn.

So, is it true that these days provide special egg-balancing forces, or is it an urban legend? There’s only one way to find out – try balancing an egg on its smallest end on March 20, the first day of spring for 2010, and try it on non-equinox days.

Better yet, get your classrooms or kids in on the experiment and share the results with us! Send an email to [email protected]

Equinox Eggs or

Everyday Myth?

?


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The reality of lifelong commitment and newfound obligations is enough to increase the blood pressure and stress levels of any newlywed couple, but recent research indicates that getting hitched could be hazardous to your health for other reasons as well.

According to researchers with the Gillings School of Global Public Health at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, married women and men are more than twice as likely to become obese, and women living with a romantic partner increase their risk of obesity by 63 percent. With obesity increasingly targeted as the root cause of several preventable illnesses, such as heart disease and diabetes, the findings bring new light to the vow “in sickness and in health.”

Registered Dietitian Samantha Rider, LDN, attributes the mirroring of weight gain among married couples as a result of shared interests and activity levels.

“Most couples are together because they are attracted to each other and have similar interests,” said Rider, clinical nutrition manager for Christus-St. Patrick Hospital. “Many couples enjoy the same activities – whether it’s running, golf, tennis, bowling, they enjoy being active together. Other couples may prefer a more relaxed setting that may involve dining out, going to the movies, or renting movies at home.”

One of the greatest challenges to sharing eating and exercise habits occurs when one partner wants to make a change and the other is resistant, Rider said; however, it’s mutually beneficial if the couple is able to make changes together. UNC researchers found that the best way to help one person lose weight is for the entire household to change behaviors. This lowers the obesity risk for everyone.

“Change is always hard, especially if one person is more willing than the other. I think changes should occur slowly, where both parties are comfortable. For example, if you decide that you would like to eat out less, then work your way down slowly, or pick restaurants with healthier options. Use the same concept when adding in exercise. Start slowly and increase at a rate that you’re both comfortable with,” Rider said. “Try walking or going to the gym together. Start off with a goal of three times a week, and once you master that, move up to five days a week. Slow, gradual changes usually last longer than trying to do too much too fast.”

According to Rider, eating healthier “should definitely be a team effort, and is much more successful when both players are heading in the same direction.” She said that although fast food appeals to today’s busy lifestyles, couples and certainly families should avoid relying on them for everyday meals. “Fast food offers

high fat/low nutrient options. Often these foods are loaded with salt. The number one thing about ‘fast foods’ that I strongly discourage is eating in the car on the go. Sitting down and actually taking your time to consume a meal gives your brain time to receive the message that you have eaten and that you are full and satisfied, which is more difficult to achieve if you are rushing.”

Getting healthy and reducing your obesity risks as a couple or a family doesn’t have to be hard work. A new lifestyle can provide numerous benefits outside of personal health. One of the greatest perks is creating a more active family environment, whether you’re a newlywed couple or married with children.

Rather than munch on fast food and sit down for a movie, go to the grocery store together and prepare meals as a family. (Be sure to choose lean meats and vegetables, of course). You can also incorporate fun family activities into your daily or weekly routine – things like bowling, walking, or bike riding. If you’re a competitive bunch, try to make a game out of it, Rider said.

Even if you’re a one-person show in the mission to achieve better health, it’s still worth the effort. “You can’t force someone to make healthy choices, but you can make healthy choices yourself and encourage

your partner to join along. When you go to restaurants together you can pick health options even if your partner doesn’t. You can pass on dessert even if your partner indulges,” Rider said. “It is much better if you are doing it together, but sometimes it may take your partner a little longer before they want to jump in. Hopefully you feeling better, and possibly looking better, will encourage your partner to want to be healthy with you.”

by Erin K. Cormier

Getting Hitched Can Unhinge Your Beltline

Here’s How to Stop the Marital Obesity Trend


Ad and Press Club to SowelaThe Ad and Press Club of SWLA donated $6,000 to SOWELA Technical College. Of the $6,000 donation, $3,000 will go to the department and $3,000 will go toward the scholarship fund. From left to right: Rick Bateman, Jr. (Vice Chancellor of Academic and Student Affairs, SOWELA), Leslie Harless (Treasurer, Ad and Press Club of SWLA), Gray Little (Chairman of Culinary and Graphic Design Art, SOWELA) and Dr. Andrea Miller (Chancellor, SOWELA).

Delta Downs to United WayEmployees of Delta Downs showed their continued support by pledging $55,513.38 in the 2010 campaign. Boyd Gaming, Delta Downs Parent Company, also contributed $25,000. Representing Delta Downs (l to r) are Wendy Chaumont-Advertising Manager, Tammy Abraham-Administrative Assistant, Emily Stewart-Advertising Media Buyer/Planner, and Terri O’Hara-Purchasing, along with United Way volunteer, Kane Mitchell-2010 West Cal Cam Division Chair and Vice President/Regional Retail Manager for Whitney National Bank.

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Yoga Center for Yoga Day USAChelsea Boudreaux, left, director of the Yoga Center of Lake Charles, wraps sandwiches to deliver to persons in need. The Yoga Center of Lake Charles recently hosted a “Weekend of Service” to celebrate Yoga Day USA. As part of the celebration, free Yoga classes were offered to the public and a Buddhist monk spoke on how to find a deeper self-connection and implement observances into everyday life. After the talk, attendees delivered food to more than 60 people at local shelters. More than $200 was raised to benefit Haitians affected by the earthquake.

Signatures to World VisionSignatures Salon recently held a bake sale that raised more than $1,100 for World Vision to benefit the Haitian recovery effort.

Polaris Engineering to United WayEmployees of Polaris Engineering pledged $16,169 to support the United Way campaign. Representatives pictured are Steve Gremillion, Gerry Obluda, David Kaspar, and Josh Crookshank.

Women’s Commission to McNeeseThe Women’s Commission of SWLA Inc. has donated $15,000 to the McNeese State University Foundation to establish the Women’s Commission of SWLA Inc. Endowed Scholarship. From left to right: Fran Clophus, Women’s Commission vice president and 2010 fall conference chair; Angela Pierson, Women’s Commission president; Ellen Raley, McNeese scholarship administrator; Betty Anderson, Women’s Commission scholarship chair and director of continuing education at McNeese; and Pam Golding, Women’s Commission past president.

Ad and Press Club to McNeese FoundationThe Advertising and Press Club of SWLA has donated $5,000 to the McNeese State University Scholarship Fund and $1,000 to the Mass Communication Department through the McNeese Foundation. From left to right: Ralynn Castete, director of scholarships and testing at McNeese, Pam McGough, second vice president, Ad and Press Club of SWLA, Dr. Carrie Chrisco, McNeese Department Head of Mass Communication, and Shireen Santhanasamy, historian and scholarships, Ad and Press Club of SWLA.

L’Auberge to Family and YouthL’Auberge du Lac supported the “Connections Count!” Professional Development Conference with a $5,000 donation. Pictured are: Kerry Andersen, Director of Community and Public Relations at L’Auberge du Lac Casino Resort; Candis Carr, Conference Director, and Julio Galan, Executive Director of Family & Youth.

Stockwell Sievert to United WayFirm Partners and employees of Stockwell, Sievert, Viccellio, Clements & Shaddock L.L.P. donated a total of $7,416 to the United Way campaign. Representing the Firm Partners, pictured above are Benjamin J. Guilbeau, Jr. and Lee W. Boyer along with Pamela Allison, Office Administrator/Employee Campaign Chair and Dr. Lehrue Stevens, 2010 United Way Professional Division Chair and senior partner with the Pathology Laboratory.

Blue Cross to Family and YouthBlue Cross and Blue Shield of Louisiana supported the “Connections Count!” Family Focus Professional Development Conference with a $10,000 donation. Pictured are: Julio Galan, Family & Youth Executive Director; Candis Carr, Conference Director; Ann Knapp, Blue Cross and Blue Shield board member; and Thad Minaldi, Blue Cross and Blue Shield board member.

Community Contributor$

t

Secretary of State Hillary Clinton may have gained more momentum than any other female presidential candidate in American history, but she certainly wasn’t the first woman to eye the White House. The first female to run for president was Victoria Woodhull, who ran on the People’s party ticket in 1872. Not surprisingly, one of her biggest platform issues was women’s suffrage. Woodull’s running mate was former slave Frederick Douglass.

Celebrate Women’s History Month!

Victoria WoodhullFirst woman to run for president of the U.S.


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Selecting the right lawyer can make or break your case. You need a lawyer you can trust – one who is personally committed to your case and has actual experience in the courtrooms of Southwest Louisiana. David Hanchey and David Green of the Hanchey Law Firm both grew up in Southwest Louisiana and are proud to call it home. They have built a reputation for honesty and integrity within the legal community and with their clients. Together, they offer over 30 years of legal experience in criminal, family and personal injury representation. In addition, David Green has experience as both a law enforcement officer and a prosecutor. Most importantly, when you call the Hanchey Law Firm, the lawyers you see here are the same lawyers you’ll see in our office.

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“I can remember when we got our first car. It was a Ford and my daddy had to crank it up to get it to start. Half the time, it didn’t. That car was more trouble than it was worth,” Willdagene said. She also recalls the first time she saw a radio. “One of the teachers at school had one and he let all the kids come and listen to it. All I heard was a bunch of squawks and squeaks.”

Willdagene tells stories of using a cistern to catch rainwater, which little girls would use to wash their hair, and of her days on her high school basketball and volleyball teams in the 1920s. East says she likes to “sit back and listen.”

“It’s difficult not to get emotionally connected to your clients when you work in home health. When you go into people’s homes, you get to know so much about them,” East said. “I like to think I make their lives better, but they make mine better.”

According to DeQuincy Home Health Marketing Coordinator Camille Fenetz, Willdagene is an example of how living a healthy life and getting proper care can not only prolong the years of your life, but the life in your years. The care that Willdagene receives as a home health client includes physical therapy, regular wellness checks, consultations on medications, hygiene care, wound care, and other traditional healthcare services.

According to East, home health nursing requires a different skill set than is seen in more conventional settings, such as hospitals or doctor’s offices. East is so well-acquainted with patients like Willdagene that she can tell when something is wrong, “since usually they won’t tell you,” East jokes. As a nurse who enters her patients’ homes, she also reaches a personal level that is difficult to attain in a hospital or doctor’s office. East not only knows Willdagene, she also knows the names of Willdagene’s children and the faces of her many grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and great-great-grandchildren.

“Home health nurses don’t just become part of their care, they become part of their life,” East said. As for Willdagene, East says the centenarian is fairly healthy, and has been her whole life. Willdagene says she has no secrets. “I’ve got good genes,” she explains.

Michelle East, home health nurse and Wildagene Lancaster of Sulphur

a home health nurse, Michelle East, RN, does more

than the traditional tasks associated with her profession. In addition to becoming part of an extended family – so intertwined in patients’ lives that she often knows the names of their grandchildren, great-grandchildren, pets and neighbors – she listens to stories. One of the favorite storytellers is 101-year-old Willdagene Lancaster of Sulphur, who reminisces about going to school in a horse and buggy, trudging to an outhouse several yards from her house, and living in a time before radios, television, or even conventional electricity.

“I learn more from my home health visits than the clients could ever learn from me,” said East, who works for DeQuincy Home Health and visits Willdagene at least once a week. “When you work as a home health nurse, clients become much more than patients; they become friends. The stories they tell are amazing to me.”

Willdagene was born January 11, 1909 – the same year New Mexico and Arizona were admitted to the Union. At her birth, Theodore Roosevelt was president, household electricity was uncommon, and it would be more than a decade before the first commercial programs were broadcasted by radio. Cars were a luxury reserved for the wealthy.

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For more information or to register online, visit freetobreathe.org

2nd AnnualFree to Breathe 5K Run/1 Mile Walk

Hosted by the SWLA Lung Cancer Group Partnership

Saturday, March 137 am Registration • 8:30 am Race Begins

Take a Deep Breath and Fight Lung Cancer• Enhanced Skin Rejuvenation

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

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

by Christine Fisher

When It Comes to Stroke Symptoms, Minutes

count

Strokes on different sides of the brain can sometimes give different symptoms. When a stroke occurs on the right side, the symptoms are more often ignored than when the stroke affects the left side. The reason is left-side strokes give the classic symptoms above. Symptoms of a right-side stroke include:• memoryloss• visionproblems,includingnotseeingthingsintheleftfieldofvision• spatialimpairment,suchasproblemswithdepthperception

The necessity for quick action is due to the continuous flow of blood to the brain. If that gets interrupted, even for a few minutes, damage begins. The brain depends on arteries to bring fresh blood from the heart and lungs. Fresh blood carries oxygen and nutrients to the brain, and removes carbon dioxide and cellular waste. During a stroke, this blood flow is impaired. Without oxygen, brain cells cannot make enough energy and begin to die. “Brain cells can tolerate a slowdown, but only briefly, and then permanent damage occurs,” Dr. Fuqua explained.

Depending on the type of stroke, a clot-dissolving drug known as tissue plasminogen activator, or t-PA, can be given. It is only effective in the first three hours of onset of symptoms and is not appropriate in all stroke case, but when it is, it can significantly improve the odds for recovery.

“When it comes to a stroke, time is of the essence. That’s why it’s important for everyone to recognize the warning signs,” said Dr. Fuqua.

Knowing what to do when someone is having stroke-like symptoms can make

all the difference for their potential to recover. Even though strokes

usually occur in people over the age of 60, it can happen

at any age. Recognizing the symptoms in order to get prompt treatment is key.

Identifying symptoms, along with getting the victim to a medical facility, should occur within two to three hours. The more time there is between

symptoms and treatment, the lower

their odds for a full recovery.

Many people don’t recognize stroke

symptoms. In the American Journal of Preventive Medicine,

study results showed that over 80 percent of Americans could not

correctly identify the signs of a stroke. “When it comes to stroke, minutes can make

a tremendous difference,” said Kelly Fuqua, MD, family medicine physician with West Calcasieu Cameron

Hospital. “The more time that goes by, the less oxygen is being delivered to the brain. The brain cells begin to die, affecting the body’s organs and abilities. It’s a swift process. I’ve heard it said before and it’s appropriate: time is brain. The more time that elapses before treatment, the more brain function that is lost.”

THeFIvewARNINGSIGNSOFASTROkeARe:• suddennumbnessorweaknessoftheface,armorleg, especially if it’s just on one side of the body

• suddenconfusion,troublespeakingorunderstanding

• suddentroubleseeinginoneorbotheyes

• suddentroublewalking,dizziness,lossofbalanceor coordination

• sudden,severeheadachewithnoknowncause

“Notice that ‘sudden’ is a common link between all of them,” said Dr. Fuqua. “This isn’t a gradual change that happens over days. The symptoms come on quickly and the treatment needs to be quick, as well.”

Another method of recognizing stroke symptoms is to remember the acronym F.A.S.T.

Face: Can the person smile? Does one side of the face droop?

Arms: Can they raise both arms? Does one arm drift downward?

Speech: Ask the person to repeat a simple sentence. Are the words slurred?

Time: Minutes count. If the person has any one of these symptoms, call 911.

Providing continuity in health

careQuality comprehensive perinatal, pediatric,

adolescent, adult and geriatric care

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)• Optometry (Eye Care)• Nu-Exodus (adolescent substance

abuse program)• State-of-the-art Fitness Center

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


There’s more money than you think.If you want to get more money out of your paycheck, you have only two feasible options – spend less or earn more. Unfortunately, the former is often easier than the latter.

We’ve all heard from consumer gurus about how to save money. They suggest things like eliminating luxuries, setting the thermostat to eighty, or unplugging appliances when they aren’t in use. But being cost-effective isn’t just about following a set of frugal rules; it’s a lifestyle choice that can encourage you to look at your paycheck, and your life, with a new set of eyes.

Katherine Gertz of Sulphur has worn those frugal-colored glasses for several years now. Gertz, a mother of three, is a self-proclaimed penny pincher whose budgeting style is less about deprivation and more about innovation.

“It’s hard for me to pinpoint exactly how I handle our finances because it doesn’t occur to me that other people don’t know these things,” said Gertz, whose household budget is covered only by her husband’s salary as a detective with the Calcasieu Parish Sheriff’s Office. For example: Instead of going out to eat for a costly family dinner, the family of five eats at home, then occasionally hits a restaurant for dessert. “Have you ever gone out to eat just for dessert? It’s more fun than going out to eat for dinner, and it costs a lot less. Plus you get to spend time with your family.”

Since food is a big family expenditure, especially for a five-person troop, Gertz typically cooks at home using a weekly dinner menu. When she shops, she only buys items on the menu, with three exceptions: “I make a list of everything we’ll need and I allow myself three blanks at the bottom for unexpected sale items. After that, nothing can go in the buggy. I only shop from the list.”

Erica McCreedy of Lake Charles knows a thing or two about grocery-shopping strategies. Although she now works as an English instructor, McCreedy found herself out of work for nine months in 2009. “I had new graduate optimism and was a little naïve about how easy it would be to find a job. I had this idiotic notion that I would always have money,” said McCreedy, who graduated with two master’s degrees from McNeese State University last spring. “June turned into September and reality hit. I had no incoming money and all my savings were gone by August.”

McCreedy was forced to take new stock of her financial life, which included her grocery strategy. “I started buying generic instead of store brand, frozen over fresh, and things that I’d actually eat and not throw away.” As a single woman, McCreedy didn’t necessarily need to create a weekly menu like Gertz; instead, she bought items

that could make lots of meals. Chicken breast, for example. “It’s inexpensive and you can do a lot with it.”As a twenty-something with a wide circle of friends, McCreedy knew that being short on cash could compromise her social life, but she refused to sit it out. Instead, she used her powers of innovation.

“Instead of eating out or going to the bar with friends, I invited friends over for pot luck dinners. Everyone would bring food and drinks. As the host, I didn’t have to spend much money, I had a lot of food and great leftovers, and I got to hang out with my friends instead of sitting at home alone with the lights off,” McCreedy said.

McCreedy, a big fan of random road trips, also had to cut back on her drive time, so she learned how to efficiently manage her errands. “When you’re paying attention to the bottom line, you learn how to plan your days better. I consolidated all my errands.”

Gertz also consolidates her tasks into one “errand day.” Not included on her errand list: Stops at the coffee shop. Gertz brews her own coffee and only splurges on to-go cups.

Although she admits that “splurging” is rare, she hasn’t sacrificed the perks that matter, including dates with her husband, Jason. There’s just one caveat – instead of dinner dates, they have lunch dates.

Her three children – Sarah, 14; Katie, 12; and Joe, 9 – also get to enjoy the expensive perks of a modern childhood, but there’s a caveat for them, too. Instead of pestering mom and dad for costly goods like X-Boxes or designer clothes, they are each given a set allowance every week in the form of a debit card. They are expected to manage their own money.

New Ways to Look At Your Paycheck

by Erin K. Cormier

Katherine Gertz and her three children, Sarah, Katie and Joe

Erica McCreedy

Continued on p44

Photo by Jason Hardesty


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“If they want the next best thing, they have to figure out how to pay for it with their allowance,” Gertz said. “It’s amazing how frugal children can be when it’s coming out of their own pockets.”

Teaching her children responsible money management tips is important, Gertz said, because debt is so easy and tempting to accumulate these days. She and her husband took advantage of virtually every form of credit available when they were young newlyweds, and they quickly experienced the ramifications of it. Today, they approach debt cautiously. Neither of them are credit-card holders and they pay cash-only when possible for things like appliances, furniture, or big-ticket household items. They carry only one car note at a time, and the first person they pay with their paychecks is themselves – a certain amount goes into savings every month and the rest is budgeted.

Maintaining a household budget is a vital key to getting the most money out of your check, according to Tyler Williams, marketing director with Jeff Davis Bank. “Make a list of your income versus your expenditures. Once you write all your (expenses) down, you will probably see one or two that are either unnecessary or could be reduced,” Williams said. “Also, make sure your payments are being sent on time to avoid extra fees or penalties. You can do this yourself or by setting up an automatic monthly draft from your

checking account program. Most banks have a bill pay program that can be set up to pay your bills for you each month. Automatic drafts (and) bill-pay programs prove to be more cost-effective than mailing bill payments.”

Other ways to make your bills work for you, Williams said, is to move your due dates to coincide with your pay periods. Most companies will move your due date if asked. Also, consider enrolling in a leveling program for your water or electric bills, if possible. “Leveling” allows bills to be averaged over a twelve-month period so your payments are more or less the same every month.

Don’t skip bills if you can possibly help it, Williams said. “Skipping bills might give you more cash in hand right now, but it really can cost in the long run. With late fees and interest, and in the case of utilities’ disconnect and reconnect fees, skipping bills can cost a lot of money down the road.”

Even though McCreedy struggled financially during her nine-month hiatus, she scraped together any amount she could to make payments on debt. “You’ve got pay bills on time, even when you’re broke, because those late fees and penalties add up quick,” she said.

Being forced to squeeze every cent out of her checking account taught McCreedy the power of prioritization. “You’ve got to sit back and say, ‘I really

want this new pair of shoes, but will this new pair of shoes feed me next month?’ You learn not to make decisions that will cost you later.”

According to the Consumer Federation of America, consumers often make purchase mistakes that cause billions of dollars a year on wasteful spending. The top ten most common, repeated mistakes that needlessly cost consumers, according to the CFA: leasing rather than buying a car; not searching carefully for a competent, honest, auto mechanic; assuming their insurance agent will “shop the market” to get the best auto and homeowner policy; not holding a cash-value life insurance policy for at least 15 years; not maintaining the minimum balance required to avoid checking fees; holding many credit cards; taking out a 30-year mortgage loan rather than a 15-year loan, just because the monthly payments are lower; paying in full for home improvements before the work has been completed satisfactorily; not comparing unit prices on supermarket shelves; and purchasing new appliances that are not energy efficient.

Energy efficiency is another area that Gertz has covered. She is replacing all their household lights with energy-efficiency bulbs. “Right now we use 40-watt bulbs, but we’re slowly replacing all of them,” she said.

New Ways to Look At Your Paycheck continued from p43

McNeese State University is partnering with LA Ash, Inc., Livengood Management, Resources Materials Testing Laboratory and Southwestern Construction Material Testing Lab to create the Industrial Executives and Academic Partnership — a group that will work together to find solutions to preserve Southwest Louisiana’s coastal heritage and to prevent major infrastructure damage caused by water intrusion to coastal roadways.

The partnership is just another example of how McNeese is focused on using its resources to collaborate with area industries to solve current problems in Southwest Louisiana and the state, according to Dr. Nikos Kiritsis, dean of the McNeese College of Engineering and Engineering Technology and a co-executive director of IEAP.

Kiritsis said that the College of Engineering and Engineering Technology, along with the departments of chemistry, engineering and agricultural sciences, are all working together to find the solutions to these problems with their industry partners. Several faculty members from these departments gave updates on projects underway in such areas as erosion control and recycling.

Janet Woolman, director of research services and sponsored programs and Louisiana Environmental Research Center, said her office has been successful in working with faculty in securing grants from industries, businesses, school systems, state and federal agencies for research projects, including native plants, coastal restoration, parish water quality, Chenier Plains and the Southwest Louisiana Entrepreneurial and Economic Development, or SEED, Center.

Kiritsis also pointed out some of the current collaborations with his college, including the Lake Area Industry Alliance /McNeese Engineering Partnership, the

Flowserve Satellite Training Center at McNeese and capstone projects with area industry and businesses.

“Combining the potential grant resources and expertise of our faculty with the contributions of our corporate partners provides a practical and self-sustaining approach to the research needed to address these ongoing problems in Southwest Louisiana,” said McNeese President Robert Hebert.

McNeese Creates Partnerships to Preserve Coastal Heritage

Dr. Stanley Klemetson, McNeese assistant professor of engineering, discusses several proposed research projects on erosion control methods and a Cameron Parish levee material and wave action study for the IEAP.


Bring Your Event HomeWhen you invite out-of-town guests, you want them to have a

great experience here in your hometown. That’s where your Convention & Visitors Bureau can help. Need a block of

hotel rooms? We can help. Need ideas for things to see and do? We can help there, too.

Whenever you bring in out-of-town guests, your CVB is here to help make your event a success. Wedding? Reunion? Club or church conference? Business meeting? Sports tournament? Your CVB has information, planning guides and real pros to help you every step of the way.

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When two people enter into a relationship, they bring their pasts with them, which alone can be challenging. When those two people have different cultural backgrounds, however, it can create additional unique conflicts for an evolving couple. Couples from different backgrounds often underestimate the effects that these differences can have on the relationship, according to psychiatrist D. Dale Archer, MD, founder of the Institute for Neuropsychiatry, www.drdalearcher.com advice site, and frequent guest on the Fox News Strategy Room and CNN Headline News. “People become who they are based largely on how they were raised and the environment in which they grew up. When two people have been raised in contrasting cultural households, it’s likely that they will come into their relationship with contrasting attitudes, value systems, coping skills, and temperaments,” Dr. Archer said. “That’s not to say that a couple won’t survive if they come from different backgrounds; it just means that they may have to face distinctive challenges.”

The first step toward solidarity is a desire to understand the partner’s culture, including their customs, religious beliefs, and the role of extended family. Whereas families in the Western World generally have a great deal of independence from their extended families, for example, those from other parts of the world may not. “It’s impossible to understand an individual’s entire cultural make-up by generalized ideas about their overall culture, however. That’s why it’s critical that two people in a cross-cultural relationship discuss their backgrounds, just as any other couple would,” Dr. Archer said. “The discussion should be honest. If there’s a glaring contrast that could become a problem later, it should be addressed rather than swept under the rug.”

Although a genuine desire to learn about each other’s cultures is important, that alone won’t prevent conflict. You also have to accept that this person is who they are, and it’s unlikely that they will change to mold to your cultural norms, and vice versa. According to Dr. Archer, people too often assume that with enough persuasion, their partner will become a different person in order to please them or the relationship. This assumption can be particularly problematic when two people come from starkly different backgrounds.

“People change over time in a lot of different ways, but there’s a difference between evolving as a person and changing the core nature of who you are,” Dr. Archer said. “If someone is going to change their core nature – which by itself is unlikely – it certainly isn’t going to occur genuinely through outside persuasion. Trying to tweak your partner’s cultural tendencies is sure to create problems.” How, then, can a couple overcome these issues? As always, it all boils down to communication. “Once you have a foundation of respect for each other, which includes a healthy respect for cultural differences, you have to be able to talk openly and honestly about current and potential areas of conflict, without judgment. Don’t pretend as if your personal histories shouldn’t be discussed. As with any relationship, verbal communication is key. You need to know as much about each other as possible to understand how to grow and nourish the relationship.”

Neither culture should have to take a backseat to another, Dr. Archer noted. “Cross-cultural relationships came be very rich and multifaceted, as each partner brings something unique into the relationship, but you can’t have a rich and meaningful relationship without respect.”

Avoid

Culture Shock In A Relationship

Mount Secures First Ticket for Giveaway

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State Sen. Willie Mount, D-Lake Charles, recently secured the first ticket available for the $120,000 Scholarship Trust Giveaway in Lake Charles from Special Olympics Athlete Samantha Smith, Louisiana Area Director Julie Montague and ScholarWise Founder Fred Reggie. ScholarWise offers Louisiana students and families a chance at relief from the financial pressure of tuition-based education. The program will give away three $120,000 scholarship trusts in May, 2010: one in Baton Rouge, one in New Orleans, and one in Southwest Louisiana. A limited number of tickets for the program, which benefits Special Olympics Louisiana, went on sale last month. This new program, developed by Lafayette-based ScholarWise, is the first of its kind to bring together schools, students and families, and a deserving nonprofit organization for mutual benefit. Learners of all ages have the opportunity to win a $120,000 trust that can be used for any qualified educational expense, while sponsor Special Olympics enjoys rewarding Louisiana students while growing its own contributions and public awareness. Participating primary and secondary schools in the regions share in ticket revenues as well, gaining funds to support materials and programming. Funds from the trust may be used for tuition, room and board, fees and books, or to retire student loans, according to Montague. “ScholarWise will help lift the burden of ever-increasing tuition costs as well as enable Special Olympics Louisiana to serve more children with intellectual disabilities,” she said. ScholarWise Scholarship Trust Giveaway tickets cost $125. For more information and to reserve tickets visit www.myscholarwise.com, or call 877-324-2010. Ticket quantities are limited.

ScholarWise


Southwest Louisiana Imaging has been awarded ACR accreditation by the American College of Radiology on the 3T Verio MRI and in CT Imaging at their second location at 1601 Country Club Road.

Southwest Louisiana Imaging continues to offer the highest quality imaging available in Lake Charles and is proud to have attained ACR accreditation at both of their convenient locations.

The BesT ImagIng… The BesT ResulTs

This year’s unusually cold winter has many people longing for the warm days of spring and maybe even the heat of summer.

If your skin could talk, it too would be begging for the end of winter, according to Leann Widcamp, medical aesthetician with the Aesthetic Center of Southwest Louisiana. “Winter is hard on skin,” she says. “Dry, cold air and wind can sap moisture from the skin, causing cracking, chapping, and irritation. Indoor heat from central units, fireplaces and space heaters add to the problem.”

Widcamp says if you see dry patches and flakes, your skin has been seriously dry for some time. “Dealing with dry, flaky skin is the number one complaint I hear from women during the cooler months. In addition to overall dryness, fine lines and wrinkles also appear more noticeable, and the skin loses its plumpness, looking more shriveled and dehydrated. It’s you are seeing these signs, it’s definitely time to put moisture back into your skin.”

But contrary to what many people may think, frequent washing, especially with highly-fragranced soap, can contribute to the problem, along with hot showers and soaks in the tub. “It might seem logical to think that a shower or bath will help hydrate the skin, but actually, it doesn’t. Immersing in water, especially hot water, for long periods of time will break down the lipid barrier on the skin and strip the moisture away,” Widcamp explains. “The better method is to take warm showers for no more than 15 minutes then blot with a towel and immediately apply a moisturizer all over the body.”

Repairing the Ravages of Winter

Saving Face:

Oooooo

The good news is you can take action to minimize winter skin problems and give your skin care a much needed boost and your appearance a warm, healthy glow. Widcamp says the first rule of skin protection is to keep it moisturized and hydrated. Drink plenty of water and add a thin layer of moisturizer to slow the dehydration rate of the skin. She offers the following additional tips to help you keep your skin as healthy as possible throughout the winter months:

• eatahealthy,balanceddiet-vitaminsandminerals have an important part to play in renewing skin cells and keeping skin healthy.

• Coveryourfaceasmuchaspossiblewhengoingout in cold, windy weather.

• Usemoisturizeronyourfaceandlipbalmonyourlips before and after going out in the cold.

• Continuetoapplysunscreentoyourface.Uvwaves from the winter sun can damage your skin, leading to premature aging.

• Youmayneedtocutbackoncertainskinproducts, such as alpha-hydroxy acids, as they may aggravate dry, irritated skin.

• Avoidlong,hotshowerswhichdraintheskinofits natural oils. Instead, take a short, warm shower and moisturize your body while your skin is still damp.

• Humidifyindoorairifpossible.

Widcamp also recommends facials and DermaSweep microdermabrasion with infused hydrating treatment solutions as great ways to keep your skin in good condition throughout the winter. Other skin rejuvenation options include chemical peels, exfoliations, and specific skin care products that firm and moisturize.

The Aesthetic Center of Southwest Louisiana offers a comprehensive range of skin care treatment and facial cosmetic surgery options under the direction of specialist Dr. Mark Crawford. For more information, call (337) 310-1070 or visit www.facehealth.net.by Kristy Armand


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Sudden attacks of dizzy spells can set more than just the room spinning out of control. For those who experience this, everyday things such as driving, working, or caring for others become almost impossible, causing them to lose their grip on a normal routine.

While there are many causes for dizziness, and the diagnosis should come after a comprehensive exam from a physician, Meniere’s (pronounced mun-yerz) disease could be one of the causes. This abnormality occurs in the inner ear and can cause severe dizziness, a roaring sound in the ear, fluctuating hearing loss, and the sensation of pressure or pain in the affected ear. It was named after French physician Prosper Meniere,

who first described the syndrome in an article published in 1891.

“This can be a debilitating disorder until diagnosis and treatment begins, because you never know when it will occur, and it’s very difficult to function normally during the dizzy spells. These episodes can last a few hours, a few days or a few weeks at a time,” said Dr. Ram Nileshwar, audiologist with The Hearing Center of Lake Charles. Nileshwar manages patients with hearing and balance disorders, including Meniere’s disease, and says people who come in with these symptoms are desperate for treatment. “They need to return to their normal activities.”

About 615,000 people in the U.S. have been diagnosed, according to the National Institute on Deafness and other Communicable Diseases, with approximately 45,500 cases each year.

Although not fully understood, the cause of Meniere’s disease is associated with a change in fluid within the inner ear. The factors that cause this change aren’t clear, but the impact it has on the individuals is unmistakable.

“Diagnosing Meniere’s involves hearing and balance testing, which is what we do here,” Nileshwar said. “Most people, when they experience dizziness or a balance problem, will first see their primary physician. If the problem gets narrowed down to a question about the inner ear, they may refer the patient to an audiologist. we conduct a comprehensive evaluation to further pinpoint the problem, and then work closely with the patient and the referring physician on a treatment plan.”

There is no cure, but most people find relief through medication, whether it’s short-term to treat the dizziness during an attack, or long-term diuretics to reduce fluid buildup. Lifestyle changes can also help limit episodes. Eating regularly, and avoiding excess salt, including monosodium glutamate, or MSG, a sodium product often found in pre-packaged foods. Caffeine, smoking, and excess stress have also been known to trigger a dizzy spell related to Meniere’s disease.

Often, hearing loss is attributed to the disorder. A hearing aid in the affected ear can help restore hearing and improve quality of life.

Because vertigo, or dizziness, can be an indication of many other disorders, it’s important to see a physician for a thorough exam. Knowing that balance and hearing are affected; a visit to an audiologist can often be the key in resuming regular activities and controlling symptoms. For more information, call The Hearing Center of Lake Charles at (337) 474-3880.

Get a Grip on Meniere’s Disease

by Christine Fisher

At PPG Lake Charles, we demonstrate our true commitment to progress with a real commitment to education, investing both time and money in a wide variety of educational programs that support and benefit teachers and students throughout Southwest Louisiana.

PPG INDUSTRIES • LAKE CHARLES PLANT

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PPG NATURELABWe created this 600 acre “Classroom in the Woods” for use as a unique educational experience enjoyed by students, teachers and various clubs and organizations in Southwest Louisiana. With more than

10,000 feet of trails, the facility provides the opportunity for the community to learn about natural wildlife and plants, ecology, conservation, species diversity and much more. Since 1998, the facility has hosted thousands of students, and serves as a living, thriving example of PPG’s environmental commitment. The PPG NatureLab was recently awarded Corporate Lands for Learning Recertification from the International Wildlife Habitat Council for its contributions to wildlife habitat, environmental stewardship, native biodiversity promotion and environmental education.

PPG CAREER DAYThis event is held twice annually to allow high school students the opportunity to

learn about careers such as environmental engineering, operations, industrial nursing,

accounting, human resources, etc. The students are given plant tours and are

matched with PPG representatives who work with them during the day so they can experience

a “typical work day” in that field.

TEACHER’S INSTITUTEPPG created the Teacher’s Institute to provide area educators the opportunity to learn about the internal operations of a large chemical facility and to illustrate how PPG does its part to protect our environment. Activities include plant tours, one-on-one sessions

with plant workers, fire training, team building techniques, lectures and total quality management techniques which ultimately are credited to the teachers’ certification.

PPG FRIENDS & PPG+1These employee volunteer groups make a difference in the lives of young people by contributing thousands of volunteer hours for mentoring, tutoring and coaching, as well as supporting such organizations as Big Brothers/Big Sisters, Special Olympics, and many others.

“SKILLS FOR LIFE” Summer Camp

State Police Troop D & PPG sponsor this camp annually, allowing over 40 campers from local area middle schools to learn about boating safety, team building, seatbelt safety, land navigation, first aid, CPR, fire safety and many facets of the Louisiana State Police. These

students also learn about the environment and our natural habitats during this one-week period.

Connecting Life and Learning

PARTNERS IN EDUCATIONPPG is a proud participant in Partners in Education, providing mentoring and educational resources to four area schools :• LaGrange High School• Vinton High School • Our Lady Queen of Heaven • Sam Houston High School


Behind the Curtain

Rosa Hart Theater to Get Renovations

Sweeping offstage improvements are in the works at the Lake Charles Civic Center’s Rosa Hart Theater, the area’s centerpiece performance space.

The Rosa Hart has hosted Bob Hope, Ray Charles, “Cats,” Bill Cosby, Willie Nelson and “A Chorus Line” over the years. William Kushner conducted the Lake Charles Symphony here. Local dancers have performed “The Nutcracker” and “Rudolph” as holiday traditions. Countless young dance students have been presented in recitals. Plays, songs, Mardi Gras regalia, military bands and student awards have been presented here.

Now, the theater is being given some attention in and around its offstage areas.

The renovations are rooted in the misery wrought by Hurricane Rita in 2005 — and the fact that the Civic Center, pushing 40, was probably a

future facelift candidate anyway. Patrons and performers alike are expected to benefit from the improvements. Audiences will see upgrades in the lobby, the bathrooms and elsewhere. Backstage, everyone from local recital students to national touring

companies will enjoy better dressing rooms and other facilities as they get ready for a show. The work could start later this year and could be completed in 2011.

Game Changer: RitaDenver Kaufman, theater manager at the Rosa Hart for more than a decade, is a near-perpetual presence at the 2,000-seat facility. Kaufman has seen the place at its worst — in 2005, when Hurricane Rita turned the stage into a washboard of soaked, warped wood. Today, he walks through its recesses and talks like the Rosa Hart will be an even better place than Rita found it.

“I will be very happy to have a completely renovated theatre to offer our clients,” says Kaufman, who scrambled to arrange repairs after Rita and has had to improvise backstage ever since.

That may come as a surprise to casual visitors. The 2,000-seat audience area of the Rosa Hart looks the same as it ever did, because it largely escaped damage by Rita. Offstage, however, the place was a mess. “All the things that happened to your house during Rita, happened at the Civic Center,” Kaufman says.

Rita blew out the Rosa Hart’s glass entrance. It soaked the 60-feet-tall stage curtains, ruined entire backstage regions and left behind a powerless hothouse of humidity, mildew and mold.

Elsewhere at the Civic Center, things were even worse. The Rosa Hart was given quick repairs in order to serve as a substitute performance venue — the show had to go on somewhere — while the Sudduth Coliseum and other Civic Center areas got first dibs for full-fledged repair and renovation. When those efforts were completed, the attention turned to the Rosa Hart as the final step.

Now, four years and $1 million into the effort, the Rosa Hart project is about to enter the wrap-up round.

The Walkaround Kaufman and Civic Center director Joe Toups walk through the east lobby to explain the changes:• Newcarpetwillbeinstalledinalllobbyareas.• Thepublicbathroomswillberenovatedand additional toilets will be installed. • Thelobbywallswillgetfreshpaint—atallorder, one that will require scaffolding to reach 50 feet up.

Some things, however, won’t change.

Toups points skyward. The original lobby lighting — that huge fixture that descends like an iced-over wind chime — will stay, he says. Stylish back in ’72, it’s at least retro now. It takes a winch to work on it. Also staying in the lobby is the bust of Rosa Hart herself. The sculpture of the late co-founder of the Lake Charles Little Theatre stares toward a main entrance that will get fresh sets of glass storefront-style doors.

Other elements at the Civic Center will be retired for good. One of them is the early-’70s color scheme still seen in some of the paint, countertop colors and trim. The hues are ones

that aren’t seen in nature — or, for that matter, in many buildings

anymore.

Even the management chuckles at the time-warp palette.

“Pastel mustard,” says Kaufman.

Toups can’t help but laugh. “No, these are not earth tones,” he agrees. They joke for a moment about what to call some of the other colors. “Burnt orange” is among the suggestions. They explain, however, that nearly all of these original installations, stylish or dated, will have to go because Rita and its aftermath ruined these dressing rooms. The cinderblock walls leached. The ceiling tiles got wet, then sagged. Humidity did the rest. To fix this, all of the lights, fixtures, air vents and ceiling tiles in the dressing rooms will be replaced. New showers will be built. Also, the floors of the backstage area and dressing rooms will be tiled; it’s the first such fix since the place opened.

The How & WhenSo when does all this happen? “All of this is in the design phase,” Toups says. “We hope renovations will start during 2010.”

For example, architect David Moss has shared preliminary drawings for the dressing rooms. The plans “were reviewed for what’s best for professional shows and local shows,” Kaufman says.

“Especially recitals,” Toups adds. For dance recitals that have taken place since Rita, the backstage dressing areas have been improvised from show to show.

Once the work begins, the project will take 8-10 months. The work schedule will have to factor in the events that still must take place, such as the Lake Charles Symphony, dance recitals and visiting productions.

The new sound system already in place is a preview of what the completed Rosa Hart will be like. The state-of-the-art sound comes from an ISP Technologies five-way Line Array System. A 64-channel digital mixer controls it all. “It’s a showcase performance space in the South,” Toups says. Plus, Kaufman adds, the city got it

at a discount because the manufacturer knew Lake Charles was recovering from a hurricane.

When all the work is done, “the Rosa Hart Theater will have a fresh new lease on life,”

Toups says.

A Theater’s GrowthIf arts groups look forward to completion of top-to-bottom improvements, then the same goes double for Denver Kaufman.

Kaufman has been the theater manager since 1989, but his involvement goes back to 1974, during his first stint as manager. All theaters have their quirks, their tales and, perhaps, their ghosts — and at the Rosa Hart, no one knows them better than he does.

Kaufman got his start in technical theatre “when I figured out how to use the light board at Lake Charles High,” he says. As a student at McNeese, he got an early look at some of the plans for a “civic center” that was to be built on filled-in land off Lakeshore Drive. In 1972, Sonny and Cher headlined the first show at the brand-new Lake Charles Civic Center — and two years later, Kaufman was hired as theatre manager at the Rosa Hart. He took time away to work tech for Holiday on Ice and other road shows, but eventually returned to the Civic Center. Then, in 1989, resumed his role as the theatre.

Kaufman likes the theater’s prospects once all renovations are complete. “In a lot of areas, like the coliseum, what we have is an even better facility now,” he says. “And that’s what we’ll end up with here.”

“We’re very excited,” Toups says. “And when major arts groups come through, it will be something to showcase.”

When the work is done at the Rosa Hart Theater “it should be brought back to its original elegance.” Toups said.

There’s one exception to that. Toups shares it with a grin: “The ’70s colors will go away.”

Rosa Hart, namesake of the

civic center theater.

Civic Center director Joe Toups and Rosa Hart Theater Manager Denver

Kaufman point out various areas of forthcoming renovations.

by Brett Downer


Q: My wife and I were invited on a trip by a couple with whom we do a lot of things and we accepted. A few nights later, the four of us went to dinner with a third couple and during dinner the first couple who had issued the invitation to us mentioned our trip. I found it awkward so a day later I extended an invitation to the third couple to join us on the trip. When I mentioned it to the first couple, they were not happy at all. Although all couples are friends, the first didn’t wish to go on a trip with the third. So, now what do I do?

A: Oh, my, oops! I believe you have no option but to un-invite the third couple stating a huge apology indicating that you didn’t realize that details of the trip had already been arranged by the first couple with no room for expansion. Be careful that you don’t tangle the web further by making things worse for the first couple. You overstepped and you need to get all of you out of it.

Q: We had a party recently for our teenaged son. We asked him to include a neighbor’s son who is not really a friend, but because our town is small we did not want any hurt feelings. Our son reluctantly agreed. The neighbor’s son attended and obviously enjoyed himself. About two weeks later, this same neighbor’s son had a birthday party, invited most of the same kids – except our son! I am shocked and hurt and a bit angry. Should I say anything to the parents (our neighbors)?

A: Are you, the parents, hurt or is your son hurt? Your son reluctantly agreed to include that neighbor’s son. Honestly, I’m not sure what you could say to your neighbors that would not make you out to be the bad guy when your purpose is to point out that they are the bad guys. I think you need to look in the mirror and know you guided your son to do “the right thing” and make sure he understands that he is the bigger person for it.

Questions for Best Impressions can be submitted to edit@

thriveswla.com.

S

by Rose Klein

In the battle to maintain a clean house, we are all on the look out for fast, effective cleaning tips. Having family and friends compliment you on a tidy home can make anyone feel great, especially since you know some speed cleaning tips. We decided to poll our Facebook fans and ask:

“What is your best quick house cleaning tip?”

by Katie McDaniel

Christi Miller says, “Keep your orange and lemon peels and put them in your garbage disposal for the sweet aroma of a clean disposal.” For stinky pets, she suggests covering your pet’s favorite piece of furniture with old sheets. Miller removes the sheets on the weekends and sprays the furniture with her favorite scent.

Karah Wilson suggests parents “make a game with your kids and try to get them involved. It works for me.”

Jessie Eagles joked, “Scoop (your mess) and dump into a box to deal with later after your guests have gone – say, two years later!”

Jane Cherry Younghad a simple suggestion that could be the quickest: “A maid.”

Jamie Gates says that cleaning is one of her “least favorite subjects.” Still, she managed to give a few tips, such as: put on lively music as you clean, accept offers of help if they come your way, and “start in the room that bothers you most.” She also recommends green products over harsh chemicals.

Give Your Props to PeanutsWhether served on a slice of white bread or roasted for a ballpark snack, peanuts have been a mainstay of American culture for years. Peanuts are such a staple of American life that we’ve elected two peanut farmers as presidents in our nation’s history – Thomas Jefferson and Jimmy Carter.

March is National Peanut Month, which means now’s your chance to give peanuts the props they deserve. Although it’s pure coincidence that March is also National Nutrition Month, it’s

not completely nutty; peanuts are an excellent source of protein, Vitamin E, and other healthy stuff.

Interestingly, peanuts aren’t even nuts – they’re legumes, like beans or peas. Even so, Americans eat about three pounds of peanut butter per

person every year. That adds up to 700 million pounds of peanut butter! For more, visit www.peanutbutterlovers.com.

m A R c H i S N A T i o N A L P E A N u T m o N T H

The McNeese Visual Arts Department will sponsor a gumbo fundraiser from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Friday, March 12, in Room 120 of the Shearman Fine Arts Center to raise funds to help send ceramics students to the 44th Annual National Council on Education in the Ceramic Arts Conference in Philadelphia, PA. Seafood gumbo donated by Brickhouse Catering will be served in unique, handcrafted ceramic bowls created by ceramics students and faculty members. A ticket is $10, which includes the bowl, and participants can select from one of 500 bowls created for this event. For more information or tickets, call the visual arts department at 475-5060.

MCNEESE GUMBO


Vanchiere Elected to BoardAndrew Vanchiere, past chair and current treasurer of the Family Foundation of Southwest Louisiana, was elected to the Alliance for Children and Families board of directors. The Alliance for Children and Families, which will celebrate its 100th anniversary in 2011, is a national membership association of nonprofit human service providers in the United States and Canada. The Alliance named Family and Youth Counseling Agency of Lake Charles the Agency of the Year in 2007. Vanchiere works in investment real estate and other community endeavors in Southwest Louisiana. The Family Foundation of Southwest Louisiana serves as

the endowment and philanthropic arm of Family & Youth, connecting donors to the priorities that enhance the quality of family and community life for generations to come.

Calcasieu Library Receives National AwardThe Calcasieu Parish Public Library has been awarded the Highsmith Library Innovation Award for its 2009 Summer Reading Program Yard Sign project. The yard signs, originally used at Louisville Free Public Library, proved to be a dynamic solution to the problem of getting students to read during the summer vacation from school. Michael Sawyer, CPPL Director, saw the Louisville project and adapted it for use in Calcasieu Libraries. The signs reached a special population through the unique approach to rewarding summer readers, and brought measurable results in circulation of library materials, and visits to public libraries. In the 14-year history of the Highsmith Award, Calcasieu is only the second library in the South to win it.

Earhart, Stelly, Lepinski Accept AwardsPhilip Earhart, John Stelly and L’Auberge Du Lac Casino Resort were honored by the Family Foundation of Southwest Louisiana, the philanthropic arm of Family and Youth Counseling Agency, for their philanthropic efforts in the community.

Earhart, regional president of BusinessFirst Bank, has served as a trustee and chair to the foundation for several years and has been instrumental in securing endowments. He has volunteered several hours in fund-raising and public education efforts for the foundation, resulting in funding for child advocacy programs, youth leadership development, constructive counseling, and support of autistic families. Stelly, owner of Lake Charles Nissan, has served on the boards of the ABC Pregnancy Center, the Chamber of Commerce and La Familia Resource Center, as well as the Nissan national and regional

advisory boards. Stelly regularly donates time to area non-profit organizations, schools and churches. Larry Lepinski accepted the philanthropy award on behalf of L’Auberge du Lac Casino Resort. The company was recognized for its employee commitment to volunteerism and financial support for a wide variety of causes affecting the community.

Areno Joins City Savings BankNathan Areno has been appointed Assistant Manager of City Savings Bank’s Lake Charles branch. Areno, a native of Sulphur, is a graduate of McNeese State University with a bachelor’s degree in communications and public relations. He was formerly the Vice President of Resource Development for the United Way of Southwest Louisiana and has received National Association of Volunteerism credits from the United Way of America.

Guillory Receives Thompson AwardStephanie Guillory, RN, received Lake Charles Memorial Hospital’s bi-monthly Rosie Thompson Award for November and December of 2009. Guillory was nominated by patients and fellow employees for her outstanding examples of service excellence as a nurse in Memorial’s Psychiatric Services department. Guillory received her nursing degree from Lamar State College in Orange, Texas. She has been an employee at Memorial Hospital for seven years. In addition to the recognition, Guillory received several prizes, including a small cash award. Her portrait will be displayed in the hospital’s main lobby along with other Rosie Thompson winners, and she will also be in the running for the 2009 Rosie Thompson Employee of the Year Award.

Harless Receives Service AwardNorthwestern Mutual has made a $2,000 donation to the Avenue of Flags in the name of Ted P. Harless Jr., a financial representative with Northwestern Mutual-Lake Charles. Harless, the recipient of the 2009 William S. Hornsby III Community Service Award, was recognized for his 20 years of service to The Avenue of Flags. The Avenue of Flags, which honors deceased veterans, is considered the largest display of memorial flags in the United States.

WCCH Announces Employee of the QuarterWest Calcasieu Cameron Hospital recently named Mary Taylor, materials handler in the materials management department, as its 2010 first quarter Employee of the Quarter. Taylor has been with the hospital for 17 years. Taylor has served in several capacities during her time at West Calcasieu Cameron Hospital including working in positions in both the housekeeping and laundry departments. Her co-workers complement her on her willingness to help other employees as well as guests and visitors of the hospital.

CSB Executive Honored for Years of ServiceLoyd Rion, Jr., executive vice president of Cameron State Bank, was recently honored by the Louisiana Bankers Association for his 45 years of service in the banking industry. A surprise reception was held at Cameron State Bank, with a plaque presented to Rion by Ginger Laurent, chief operating officer of LBA. Rion began his banking career at Gulf National Bank and has

experience in deposits, loans, operations and administration. He joined Cameron State Bank in 1997 and oversees the operations division of the bank.

Moss Receives Citizen of the Year AwardLifelong Sulphur resident Roland J. Moss was presented the 2009 Citizen of the Year Award at West Calcasieu Association of Commerce’s 60th Annual Banquet. This award has been presented to deserving citizens of West Calcasieu Parish since 1984. A businessman for over 50 years, highlights of Moss’s contributions include being a 51-year member of the Optimist Clubs in Lake Charles and Sulphur, where he has held every office in the Louisiana district, including State Governor. He was named Optimist of the Year 18 times and founded and chaired the Optimist Celebrity Golf Tournament. Moss

has donated countless hours of his time to this event, which raised over $1.4 million for local charities. Moss is also Past Chair of the La. State Special Olympics, Tournament Director of the La. State High School Golf Championships, Charter Member of Maplewood Property Owners Association, coached in Ward 4 Recreation, President and Board Member of Bayou Oaks Country Club, member of Krewe of Cosmos for 50 years and King in 1975, and is also a member of Krewe de la Famille. He is a board member of the American Red Cross.

Memorial Reaccredited by Joint CommissionBy demonstrating compliance with The Joint Commission’s national standards for health care quality and safety, Lake Charles Memorial Hospital has once again earned The Joint Commission’s Gold Seal of Approval. Continuously accredited since 1962, Memorial is recognized for its dedication to complying with The Joint Commission’s standards for continuously improving the safety and quality of healthcare. Memorial’s commendation was made following an unannounced, on-site survey in late August.

Nathan Areno

Stephanie Guillory, RN

Ted P. Harless, Jr.

Mary Taylor

Roland J. Moss

Loyd Rion, Jr. and Ginger Laurent

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

SnowOpensNewOfficeEric Snow, DC, ACN, a board certified chiropractor and clinical nutritionist, has opened a new office at 810 West Bayou Pines. Originally from Lake Charles, Dr. Snow attended both McNeese State University and Louisiana State University before earning his Doctor of Chiropractic Degree from Texas Chiropractic College in Pasadena, Texas. He also completed additional training to become certified in Applied Clinical Nutrition. Dr. Snow has over four years of chiropractic experience, gained in private practice in Texas and Lake Charles. His new office is located in Signatures Salon, 803 West McNeese Street in Lake Charles. He sees chiropractic and nutrition patients by appointment.

Meeting Scheduled to Discuss Upcoming Millage PropositionWest Calcasieu Cameron Hospital will host a public meeting at 6 p.m. Thursday, March 11, at Dynamic Dimensions in Sulphur to discuss the proposed tax millage to voters in Wards 4 and 7 in Calcasieu Parish and Ward 6 in Cameron Parish. The proposed millage will be presented to the voters on March 27. The request is being made by WCCH to levy a tax in the amount of 6.95 mills on all the property subject to taxation within the District (for a period of 10 years) for the purpose of maintaining, operating, supporting and improving the hospital facilities of the Hospital Service District. For more information, call (337) 528-4735.

Signatures Recognized as Top SalonSignatures Salon in Lake Charles, owned by Wendy White-McCown, was named to the SALON TODAY 200 by SALON TODAY magazine, a top business publication for salon and spa owners. The magazine’s 13th annual SALON TODAY 200 issue profiled the selected salons in North American

in its January 2010 issue. The 200 salons were selected for their best business practices from applications submitted by SALON TODAY readers, and those chosen for inclusion represent the top-producing salons and spas in the country. The criteria for the award included business practices, retention of staff, customer service, marketing, client satisfaction, revenue, and range of services, among others. Signatures Salon received special recognition in the Advanced Education category.

Southwest Louisiana Imaging Receives AccreditationsSouthwest Louisiana Imaging at 1601 Country Club Rd has been awarded three-year terms of accreditation in MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging) and CT (Computed Topography) Imaging as the result of a recent survey by the American College of Radiology (ACR) and a three-year term of accreditation. The ACR, headquartered in Reston, Va., awards accreditation to facilities for the achievement of high practice standards after a peer-evaluation of the practices. Evaluations are conducted by board-certified physicians and medical physicists who are experts in the field. For more information call Southwest Louisiana Imaging at 439-7778.

Care Help New Hours, Life Skills ClassesCare Help of Sulphur has announced new hours for its Wise Penny Thrift Store at 112 E. Thomas Street in Sulphur. New donation hours are 8 a.m.-4:45 p.m. and social service hours are 10 a.m.-4 p.m. The store is closed on weekends. Also, Care Help will offer the following Life Skills classes through June: March 12 and June 11, How to Prepare a Budget; April 9, The Hidden Job Market; and May 14, Skills Assessment. All classes are 1-3 p.m. For more information, call 528-2273 or visit www.care-help.org.

Philip Earhart

Lensi White and Wendy White-McCown, owner

John Stelly

Larry Lepinski

Chatterbox continued on p58

Andrew Vanchiere


“Your Life in Focus” Photo ContestHart Eye Center will sponsor a “Your Life in Focus” photo contest from March 15 to June 15. First place winners will receive LASIK eye surgery; second place will receive Maui Jim sunglasses. All participants will be entered in a drawing for a red Canon PowerShot A480 10 MP digital camera. If the first-place winner is not an eligible candidate for LASIK eye surgery, the winner will have the option to donate the service to someone in need or to an immediate family member; or access equal credit for other Hart Eye Center services. Twelve finalists will be chosen after the June deadline, and a public vote will commence to decide the winners. Hart Eye Center will display the finalists’ photos on local digital billboards. Contestants can submit their photos at www.harteyecenter.com and can follow the contest and view all contestants’ photos on Hart Eye Center’s Facebook page. Hart Eye Center will donate $10 to the American Heart Association for every photo entered during the first 30 days of the contest. For more information, visit www.harteyecenter.com or contact Jen Breen at [email protected] or 478-7396.

Moss Regional Medical Center Wins AwardsLSU Health Care Services Division presented awards to the staff of the Dr. Walter O. Moss Regional Medical Center for quality healthcare at the 13th annual LSU Health Care Effectiveness Forum. Moss Regional received the Clinical Excellence in HIV Care Award by demonstrating superior outcomes on a bundle of HIV performance indicators. Cindy Arabie, C-FNP, received the Chronic Heart Failure Clinical Lead Award for her leadership efforts on providing care to WOMRMC patients with chronic heart failure. The annual forum is also an opportunity for hospitals to present hospital improvement projects. Allison Hancock, RHIA, with Moss Regional, discussed “Solving the Injection and Infusion Confusion.” Moss Regional has maintained an ongoing 100 percent accuracy rate for over one year, without the hiring of additional staff.

LA Fitness Names Club Manager Jay Soileau is the new manager of LA Fitness in Lake Charles. Originally from Sulphur, Louisiana, Soileau attended Bossier Parish Community College and has an extensive background in sales, marketing and management. At LA Fitness, Soileau will be responsible for implementing new training programs designed to promote health and wellness, actively recruiting new memberships, expanding the corporate membership program, recruiting new fitness professionals and overseeing day-to-day health club operations.

Chatterbox continued.

Louisiana Clay Court Championship To be Played at Sports Club at Graywood The Center for Orthopaedics LA Clay Court Championship will take place March 12 – 14 at the Sports Club at Graywood. Play begins Friday afternoon at 2pm for the open division and at 5pm for the Age and NTRP Divisons, and at 8am on both Saturday and Sunday. Semifinals will be at Noon and 1:30pm on Saturday. The final is set for Sunday at Noon. Other sponsors include Angelle Architect, Healthy Image, Merchant and Farmers Bank and Pumpelly Oil. This tournament will feature over 90 adult players, including beginners to professionals, from around the state. It is a United States Tennis Association Event. Admission to the tournament is free and open to the public. Call The Sports Club Front Desk at 477-1114 or email Tournament Director, Ronnie Walters at [email protected] any questions.

(left to right) Amy Donovan RN, BSN, Cindy Arabie, C-FNP, Lindsay Law, Intern, and Gina Lack, CHF Clinic Administrative Coordinator.

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Beware of Illegal Pyramid SchemesDuring these harsh economic times, consumers need to be vigilant in investigating a company or plan before getting involved, particularly if the consumer is considering involvement in a “multilevel marketing plan” – often better known as a pyramid scheme.

Multilevel marketing plans, also known as “network” or “matrix” marketing, are a way of selling goods or services through distributors. According to Carmen Million, director of the local Better Business Bureau, these plans typically promise that if you sign up as a distributor, you will receive commissions -- for both your sales of the plan’s goods or services and those of other people you recruit to join the distributors. Multilevel marketing plans usually promise to pay commissions through two or more levels of recruits, known as the distributor’s “downline.”

If a plan offers to pay commissions for recruiting new distributors, watch out, Million says. Most states outlaw this practice, which is known as “pyramiding.” State laws against pyramiding say that a multilevel marketing plan should only pay commissions for retail sales of goods or services, not for recruiting new distributors.

Why is pyramiding prohibited? Because plans that pay commissions for recruiting new distributors inevitably collapse when no new distributors can be recruited. And when a plan collapses, most people -- except perhaps those at the very top of the pyramid -- lose their money.

The BBB offered the following tips when considering such a plan:

• Avoidanyplanthatincludescommissionsfor

recruiting additional distributors. It may be an illegal pyramid.

• Bewareofplansthatasknewdistributorstopurchase expensive inventory. These plans can collapse quickly -- and also may be thinly-disguised pyramids.

• Becautiousofplansthatclaimyouwillmakemoney through continued growth of your “downline” -- the commissions on sales made by new distributors you recruit -- rather than through sales of products you make yourself.

• Bewareofplansthatclaimtosellmiracleproducts or promise enormous earnings. Just because a promoter of a plan makes a claim doesn’tmeanit’strue!Askthepromoteroftheplan to substantiate claims with hard evidence.

• Bewareofshills--“decoy”referencespaidbya plan’s promoter to describe their fictional success in earning money through the plan.

• Don’tpayorsignanycontractsinan“opportunity meeting” or any other high-pressure situation. Insist on taking your time to think over a decision to join. Talk it over with your spouse, a knowledgeable friend, an accountant or lawyer.

• Doyourhomework!CheckwithyourlocalBetterBusiness Bureau and state Attorney General about any plan you’re considering -- especially when the claims about the product or your potential earnings seem too good to be true.

• Remembertousecommonsense.Iftheoffersounds too good to be true, it probably is.


How and when did you start writing?

Writing has always been a big part of my life, but tucked away in the same corner of my brain as becoming an astronaut or movie star. It was something that fascinated me and excited me, but something that “other people” did. Still, even while I was knee deep in computer science classes in college, I fancied ways of working the written word into my career. I outlined textbooks that I’d write, and other scholarly works. I devised epic swords-and-sorcery epics. Eventually, though, I gave up. It just didn’t fit into the tapestry of my life.

So I got a grown-up job like I was supposed to do, all the while living with these adventures in my head. And I was really, really unhappy. It’s bad enough not to follow one’s dreams; here I was actively denying them. Finally, in a moment of weakness, I fired up Microsoft Word and wrote. It wasn’t great, but the glimmer of potential was there. And a couple years and a couple dozen revisions later, I had a completed manuscript for “Red Planet Noir.”

Most writers are also avid readers. What role have books played in your life? What books and authors have influenced you most?

Books haven’t played a role in my life; books are my life. I am always reading something, always have an audiobook going in the car, and always have a Kindle book at the ready. My library card is worn down the middle. It’s been that way for as long as I can remember. What I lack in formal education I’ve made up for by the sheer volume of books I’ve absorbed. Stephen King once wrote that every time one reads a book, he or she adds something to the toolbox. By the time I launched my literary career, I had a lot of tools at my disposal, and I continue to add tools every day. It’s not enough to read four Twilight books and declare oneself an author. You’ve absolutely, positively got to put in the hours and the classics. You can’t write about love without Austen and Bronte looking over your shoulder. You can’t write about crime without Chandler and Hammett pushing you along. You can’t appreciate the human condition without Nabokov and Voltaire leading the way.

It’s hard to pin down a single book that’s most influenced me. I think about “Paula Spencer” by Roddy Doyle every single day. I’ll never recover from that book; it’s a masterpiece of the first order. Most of his books are. Douglas Adams and Tolkien really affected me at an early age. (As an adult, Adams doubly so.) Stephen King’s “On Writing” is an essential book for any aspiring writer. My favorite author is probably Margaret Atwood, whose command of language and power of storytelling is unmatched, except by Cormac McCarthy, my other favorite author.

Briefly describe the plot of your novel.

Planet Noir” is a 1930s pulp mystery set in the far future. It follows Mike Sheppard, a down-and-out private eye. His wife has left him. Business is slow. He’s turned to booze and gambling, and while he’s good at one, he’s not so good at the other. Loan sharks are knocking at his door.

When he’s hired by a bombshell heiress to investigate a murder on Mars, he sees it as a chance to escape his troubles in New Orleans and make some fast money, and a new start. As the case unfolds, he discovers a conspiracy, and in the noir tradition is soon pursued by cops and gangsters alike. When he encounters a door, there’s a good chance someone’s about to walk though it with a gun.

“Red Planet Noir” might best be described as a Raymond Chandler mystery in a Robert Heinlein world.

Describe your protagonist, Michael Sheppard. What motivates him?

Mike is seasoned and sentimental. To bring Chandler back into this, Mike is “the best man in his world and a good enough man for any world.” He lives for the job, but longs for companionship. He’s hard because he has to be, but tender by nature. At the story’s open, he’s lost faith in himself and his abilities, and wants only to eek out a living. It’s been some time since he’s worked a high-profile job, but takes the case if only to pay off his bookies and buy another bottle of Scotch. As the novel progresses, like a lot of us in our daily lives, he finds that he’s not a victim of circumstance. He’s not trapped at rock bottom. There’s hope to be found. It may be only a glimmer, but it’s real, and he reaches for it.

“Red Planet Noir” has an overt military element. How did your military experiences influence your novel?

As I mentioned, the novel was conceived with an anachronistic 1930s moodiness. And the 30s were not a peaceful time. Fascism was in vogue, and much of the world was in upheaval. Midway through writing the book, I was deployed to Afghanistan with the Army, and finished the first draft over there on my down time. It was my way of decompressing and coping. While “Red Planet Noir” isn’t specifically a war novel, or even a serious study of the military, I have little doubt that the claustrophobic, perilous atmosphere of the combat zone seeped into my prose.

Writing a novel that takes place on Earth can be tricky enough, but creating a realistic setting of another planet seems like it would create unique challenges. What were the biggest challenges you faced in regards to the setting? What kind of research did you do?

Here again, being a reader paid off, and Robert Heinlein -- who was a master at building these kinds of organic political settings – made the process a bit less daunting. The most important thing a novelist can do is create a consistent internal framework for his or her story. It requires a bit of planning and a lot of imagination. I pulled from history -- bootlegging in the 20s, militarism and organized crime in the 30s -- and heightened it a bit. The future is interesting, but only as it reflects the present and days gone by. That’s what keeps the reader grounded and the story interesting. I was very satisfied with the way it turned out in “Red Planet Noir.”

As a writer, what kind of relationship do you want to build with your readers?

Trust. That’s the foundation of every relationship, isn’t it? I want readers to see a D.B. Grady novel, short story, or essay and trust that I wrote until my hands bled and that what they’re seeing on the page is my absolute best. The reader should know that wit and levity are part of the formula, and that they’ll enjoy my book even if it’s something they wouldn’t ordinarily read. A fun, provocative read is always my goal.

What are you working on now?

At present I’m working on another novel -- a paranormal -- and doing freelance writing on the side. My bibliography, as well as a collection of general esoterica, is available at http://www.dbgrady.com. A great bulk of my time is spent promoting “Red Planet Noir,” which can be found at Amazon.com and BarnesAndNoble.com, and available for order just about everywhere. I’ve been doing signings, presentations, and lectures to writing groups and book clubs everywhere with great pleasure. And most importantly, I’ve been spending time with my patient and loving family, who keep me sane in the wearying world of publishing. Without my wife, I couldn’t do this.

first personwith D. B. Grady

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

style of D.B. Grady’s first

novel, “Red Planet Noir,”

has been compared to Raymond

Chandler, Dashiell Hammett

and Mickey Spillane, some of

the greatest detective writers

in recent memory. In telling

the story of detective Michael

Sheppard, a drunken has-been

determined to uncover the truth

behind a mysterious death in

futuristic Mars, Grady weaves

in his personal experiences

and influences – not only as an

avid reader and accomplished

freelance writer, but as a former

paratrooper with the U.S. Army

Special Operations Command.

Grady, a veteran of Afghanistan,

is a graduate of Louisiana

State University and has been

published in The Atlantic, Pop

Syndicate, The Verb, and The

Times of Southwest Louisiana.

“Red Planet Noir” is published by

Brown Street Press.

Here, Thrive Magazine talks with

Grady about the development

of “Red Planet Noir” and the role

that outside influences played in

publishing his first novel.

by Erin K. Cormier

t

The


You weren’t the only one spending more time inside in recent months. Winter weather also forced some household pests to move indoors in search of food and warmth. Among these is the cockroach, one of the most unattractive and germiest of all pests.

While many people are disgusted by the thought of these insects invading their homes, the problem with cockroaches goes beyond just an annoyance. It also poses a health risk, according to Robert Soileau, manager of J&J Exterminating in Lake Charles. He warns that cockroaches represent a serious threat to those who suffer from allergies and asthma.

Soileau explains that allergens (allergy-causing substances) are most commonly introduced in homes through cockroach saliva, droppings and the decomposing bodies of these pests. Children are more susceptible to these allergens than adults. The National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS) reports that one-in-five children in the United States have severe sensitivities to cockroach allergens, which increase the severity of asthma symptoms.

The threat for accumulated cockroach allergens is elevated in the winter because not only is there a greater chance for cockroaches to invade homes in search of warmth, but also because families spend more time indoors. “It’s important to be extra-diligent about prevention and elimination of cockroach infestation during this time,” stresses Soileau.

“To help prevent infestations, seal cracks around the outside of your home, vacuum frequently and keep counters and floors clean and free of crumbs that can attract cockroaches. Pay extra attention to kitchens and bathroom, particularly under appliances and sink where the moisture in plumbing fixtures attracts these pests.”

Soileau says it’s also important to be aware of the signs of an infestation. These include specks from their droppings and egg cases, which are small brown oval shaped shells that most likely will be hollow and dried out.

“In addition to causing allergies, cockroaches can also carry 33 kinds of bacteria on their bodies, including E coli and salmonella, six parasitic worms and

more than seven other types of human pathogens,” says Soileau. “The health risk from these insects is very high, so don’t delay

seeking help if you suspect you have an infestation.”

For more information about cockroach prevention and elimination, call J&J Exterminating at 474-7377 or visit

www.jjext.com.

Cold Winter Sends

CockroachesIndoors

by Kristy Armand

It never fails: You wear your new white blouse to a dinner party and spill red wine on the collar. Or you’re at an important business lunch and your tie takes a dip into your tomato soup. How about the chewing gum your five-year-old dropped on the car seat that is now a sticky blob on the back of your pants? The good news is that clothing stains don’t have to spell doom. Taking quick and appropriate action can help you get most stains out. On the other hand, doing the wrong thing may actually make the stain impossible to ever remove. Here are some simple tips that can help you win the battle with tough stains:

Act quickly. Treat stains as soon as possible after they occur. Fresh stains are easier to remove. If the stain is on a non-washable fabric, take the clothing to the dry cleaner as soon as possible. Be sure to point out the stain to the dry cleaner and describe the nature of the stain.

Follow the directions. Follow the directions on any stain removal products you use, as well as care instructions on the clothing’s label.

Test in a hidden area. Test any stain removal methods on a hidden seam or other inconspicuous spot. You want to check for colorfastness before applying a treatment to a large or noticeable area of the clothing. Do not use if the color changes.

Remove from the back. Place the stained garment with the stain upside down on top of a clean white cloth. Apply stain treatment to the back of the stain. The goal is to remove the stain from the clothing instead of making it travel all the way through to the other side. Make sure to move the stained clothing to a fresh spot as the stain begins to transfer from the clothing onto the cloth.

Be wary of bleach. Bleaching only one stained spot on a garment may result in uneven color removal for the entire garment. Consider using the appropriate bleach listed in the care tag to bleach the entire garment.

Don’t mix stain removal products. Mixing different chemicals can cause toxic odors and mixed results on your clothing.

Wash stain treated items. Thoroughly wash items that have treated with stain removal products to remove product and stain residue.

Be patient. Stain removal can take time. Sometimes repeat treatments may be required. Be sure to thoroughly check the garment before drying to determine if a repeat treatment is necessary. Drying will cause a stain to set.

Some stains won’t leave. Some stains may be un-removable, but don’t give up hope before trying one more thing. Consult a dry cleaner. They have a bigger arsenal of stain-fighting tools that are often successful where home products fail.

Stain Survival Tips

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


green guide

for the job

•Bringyourlunchtoworktoreduceemissionsfromyourvehicle.Besuretopackitinareusablecontainer.

•Encourageyourofficetouserecycledpaper.Whenpossible,printonbothsidesofpaper.

•Don’tprintitemsunlessabsolutelynecessary.Notonlydoesthissavepaper,itsavesthecompanymoney.

•Setuparecyclingcollectionforyourofficewherefellowemployeescanputtheiraluminumcans,papercups,emptywaterbottlesandpaper.

•Refillorrecycleinkcartridges.

•Turnofflightswhentheyaren’tneeded.

•Laptopsusemuchlessenergythandesktopcomputers.

•Carpool.

If you’re like most Americans, you put in at least eight hours a day on the job – but that doesn’t mean your contributions to the environment have to take a break during your work day. Here are a few ways to stay green on the job:

Get additional environmentally responsible tips at www. la i a . com

TogeTher, We Can.

prevent and protect.

Thomas Alderson, MD

If you have light-colored eyelashes, or lashes that are lighter at the tips, eyelash tinting can give you darker, eye-popping lashes without the hassle of applying mascara.

This convenient treatment can also benefit people who: • are sensitive to make-up • are active in sports (especially swimming) • wear contacts • have allergies The process takes less than 20 minutes and lasts for four weeks or longer.

Call the Aesthetic Center today at 310-1070 to learn more or to take

Call the Aesthetic Center today to learn more or to take advantage of a special introductory offer:

Treatments are provided by our licensed medical aesthetician, Leann Widcamp, under the medical direction of facial cosmetic specialist, Mark Crawford, MD.

*Cannot be combined with any other discount *Offer expires 3/31/10

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just for both eyes!$25

Wedding Invitations & Save the DatesBaby Shower & Birth Announcements

Invitations for Children’s Birthday Parties & Special Events

3101 Ernest Street Inside Bella CosaLake Charles, Louisiana 439-4384

Complimentary Gift Wrapping and Delivery!

Nominations are currently being accepted for the Della Krause Theilen Voluntarism Award, presented

by the Junior League of Lake Charles.

The community award honors an individual, group or organization that has made an exceptional and sustained contribution to the community, achieving impact through excellence in one or all of the following: variety of community service, tenure of service, and perseverance in accomplishing a project. Nominations may be made by any individual or group by submitting a detailed nomination form to the Junior League of Lake Charles, 1019 Lakeshore Drive, Lake Charles 70601, before April 1. To obtain a nomination form or for more information, contact the Junior League at 436-4025 or visit www.jllc.net.

Nominations Sought for

Voluntarism AwardLocal Urologist Annouces Retirement Thomas Alderson, MD, physician with the Urology Center of Southwest Louisiana has announced his retirement. His patients can be seen by the remaining physicians in the medical group, Dr. Verheeck, Dr. Jancuska, or Dr. Siddiq. For more information, call 433-5282.

CHRISTUS Medical Team Joins Haitian EffortFour clinical associates with CHRISTUS St. Patrick Hospital joined CHRISTUS Health’s Task Force on Haitian Relief from February 20-27. Irene Trzupek, NP; Melanie Gentry, RN; Molly Hagen, RN; and Karen Carr, RN were part of a 20-member team that delivered medical supplies to Port-au-Prince to provide clinical and spiritual care in partnership with the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine. The team, comprised of a wide range of clinical specialists from across the CHRISTUS system, includes anesthesiologists, surgeons from a wide range of medical specialties, Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists, Registered Nurses with Operating Room expertise and two spiritual care providers, and will be led by CHRISTUS Health CEO Dr. Thomas Royer, a general surgeon.

Brett Cascio, MD, Helps Develop New Arthritis Prevention Treatment Brett Cascio, MD, an orthopedic surgeon on staff Lake Charles Memorial Hospital and Orthopaedic Specialists, Medical Director of Sports Medicine at Memorial and Team Physician for McNeese State University Athletics, was the main experimental surgeon to help test and develop

a revolutionary new medical product called Cartilix that helps repair damaged joints to prevent arthritis. Recently acquired by Biomet, Inc., a leading global manufacturer of products and devices to assist in orthopedic treatments and surgeries, Cartilix is a hydrogel (a liquid that turns into a gel when exposed to certain UV light wavelengths) that is used to fill and repair cartilage damage in joints. Once the damages are filled and repaired, early results show that the hydrogel helps the body heal cartilage defects, which helps to prevent arthritis from developing. As an experimental surgeon for Cartilix during his time at Johns Hopkins University, Dr. Cascio was responsible for conducting the basic science and animal studies of the product. He also helped to launch its European clinical trials in Amsterdam. For more information, or to make an appointment with Dr. Cascio, call Orthopaedic Specialists at (337) 494-4900.

Dr. Conner Receives Sleep Medicine AccreditationDr. Phillip Conner has successfully completed the boards administered by the American Academy of Sleep Medicine.

He is a 1998 graduate of Louisiana State University school of Medicine, New Orleans. In addition to being born and raised in Lake Charles, he returned home to complete his LSU Family Practice Residency Program. After serving as chief resident he entered Private Practice for

seven years before becoming affiliated with The Sleep Disorder Center of Louisiana. For more information, call 337-310-REST (7378) for a Comprehensive Sleep Evaluation.

Phillip Conner, MD


Get Down to Downtown

To be included in this calendar, please send downtown event or band schedules to danielle@

thriveswla.com. Sponsored in part by the LakeCharles.com community calendar.

Mar 6-11

MARCH 5TH

Dax Riggs @ Luna Bar & Grill, 10:00pm

The Vettes @ AJ’s Bar & Grill, 9:30pm

MARCH 6TH

Sequoyah Prep School,The Gills & Fresh Nectar @

Luna Bar & Grill, 10:00pm

Black Heritage Festival @ The Lake Charles

Civic Center, 12:00am

MARCH 9TH

Kill Icarus, Silent Civilian, Blind Witness & Years of

Red Skies @ AJ’s Bar & Grill, 9:30pm

MARCH 10TH

Paul Gonsoulin @ Luna Bar & Grill, 9:00pm

MARCH 11TH

DJ Ezekial @ Luna Bar & Grill, 9:00pm

Brad Wells @ Luna Bar & Grill, 10:00pm

Mar 12-17MARCH 12TH

Robbie Hazen & The Riot with Canvas Red @

Luna Bar & Grill, 10:00pm

MARCH 13TH

Tyler Read, Colorcast Veteran & Static Parade,

10:00pm

The Home Show @ Lake Charles Civic Center, 9:00 am

MARCH 14TH

Hairspray @ Rosa Heart Theatre, 3:00pm

MARCH 17TH

Chris Shearman @ Luna Bar & Grill, 9:00pm

Mar 18-25MARCH 18TH


MARCH 19TH

The Captain Legendary Band @ Luna Bar & Grill,

10:00pm

MARCH 20TH

Jud Bares & Six String Rodeo with the dippin Spits

String Band, 8:00pm

MARCH 24TH

Paul Gonsoulin @ Luna Bar & Grill, 9:00pm

MARCH 25TH


Truman Holland @ Luna Bar & Grill10:00pm

Mar 26-31MARCH 27TH

Ashes of Babylon @ Luna Bar & Grill, 10:00pm

MARCH 31ST

Chris Shearman @ Luna Bar & Grill, 9:00pm

Looking to add some culture into your life this Spring?

Head downtown for these exciting events!

FRIDAY, MARCH 5The Vettes @9:30pm

TUESDAY, MARCH 9Kill Icarus, Silent Civilian,

Blind Witness &

Years of Red Skie@9:30pm

SATURDAY, MARCH 13Tyler Read@9:30pm

FRIDAY, MARCH 19Parallel the Sky@9:30pm

SATURDAY, MARCH 20

Mike Dunn and the Kings of

New England@9:30pm

FRIDAY, MARCH 26

Meriwether@9:30pm

E V E N T S

MONDAY1/2 price domestic pitchers 9pm-midnightTUESDAY2 for 1 wells & domestic pints all dayWEDNESDAY$3 Jager bombs & $3 import draft pints 9pm-12amLADIES NIGHT 2 free drinks (well, draft, or wine) 9pm-12amFRIDAY and SATURDAY – LIVE MUSIC

SERVING LUNCH – Monday-Friday 11am-2:30pm DINNER – Friday 9pm-12pm

710 Ryan St. • (337) 433-4388www.myspace.com/ajslakecharles

Take charge of your healTh!

Lake charLes 337-230-3598• Jennings 337-824-6765www.shaklee.net/patsnc

Pat Landreneaunutrition consultantwith 40 years professional health care experience

Our organic whole food supplements and green clean household cleaners are backed by 53 years of science and research. if you believe in prevention and preserving our environment you will love shaklee. We are as close to nature as possible and the greenest company on earth.

super charge your immune system with nutriferon tablets! Take care of your immune system and it will take care of you.

Whether you are dining in or calling in for takeout, let The Luna Bar and Grill do all the work.

Come in today for one of our specialty salads, stellar sandwiches, or exceptional entreés. We offer many choices for the health conscious individual.

We’re locally owned and the best place in town for live entertainment, food, and drinks.

719 RYAN STREET • DOWNTOWN – LAKE CHARLES

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Jennings Hospital1634 Elton Rd., Jennings, LA • (337) 616-7000 • www.jalh.com

KID-SIZED HEALINGRIGHTAT

Maria Fontanez, MD Michael Benoit, MD Luis Apellaniz, MD

HomeKids can often have big health concerns. Whether it’s an ear infection, the flu ormysterious symptoms that need to be addressed now; when it’s your child’s health, it’sanything but small.Our pediatricians are ready to give your child’s growth and development the full

attention they deserve. And you can rest easy knowing these quality services areavailable locally.

You may have to travel for some things, but quality healthcare isn’t one of them.With Jennings American Legion Hospital, the healing touch is right here at home.

An e-mail which falsely claims to be from the Better Business Bureau about the upcoming 2010 Census is inaccurate and BBB is advising consumers to get the facts, according to local BBB President Carmen Million, who provided the following tips:

How to Identify a Census Field Representative• IfaU.S.CensusBureauemployeeknocksonyour door, here are some recognition tips to assure the validity of the field representative: o The field representative must present an ID badge that contains a Department of Commerce watermark and expiration date. The field representative may also be carrying a bag with a Census Bureau logo. o The field representative will provide you with supervisor contact information and/or the Regional Office phone number for verification, if asked. o The field representative will provide you with a letter from the Census Bureau Director on official letterhead.

When Field Representatives will be Going Door-to-Door• FromApriltoJuly2010,theCensusBureauwill knock on the door of every household that does not mail back a completed 2010 Census form. • It’scriticalthatyoutakejust10minutestofillout and mail back your form rather than wait for a census worker to show up on your doorstep. About $85 million in taxpayer dollars are saved for every one percent increase in mail response.

• TheCensusBureaumustgetacensusformto,and a completed form back from, every residence in the United States. That’s more than 130 million addresses. This is why the census is the largest domestic mobilization our nation undertakes.

whatthe2010CensusDOeSNOTAsk• Fieldrepresentativeswillneveraskyouforyour social security number, bank account number, or credit card number. Census workers also never solicit for donations and will never contact you by e-mail.

The Census is Safe• The2010Censuswillaskforname,gender,age, race, ethnicity, relationship, and whether you own or rent your home – just 10 simple questions that will take about 10 minutes to answer.• Youranswersareprotectedbylawandarenot shared with anyone. • TheCensusBureausafeguardsallcensus responses to the highest security standards available.

For more information about the upcoming 2010 Census visit www.census.gov/2010census.

Phony E-mail Spreads Fiction About 2010 Census. GET THE FACTS.

You’re watching what you eat more closely than ever, but don’t weigh less. You’ve made a huge effort to exercise several days a week, but still feel flabby. And your once perfectly-fitting clothes are more than a little snug. Are we talking about you?

If you think so, then you are probably female, over 40 and suddenly feeling like your weight is an insurmountable road block on the path to mid-life bliss. It’s just a fact that American women gain an average of approximately one pound a year between their mid-40s and their mid-50s. This is the same timeframe encompassing those years just before and after menopause. Coincidence?

Most women choose to think not, preferring to blame rising weight on dropping hormone levels.

New research delivers a different conclusion. Data from the Women’s Health Initiative (WHI), a multi-

year, government-sponsored study of women’s health in the years after menopause, indicates that the changes of menopause do not necessarily cause weight gain.

This news may be hard to swallow for women who are experiencing weight gain

that coincides with the other changes of menopause. But Scott Bergsted, MD, ob/

gyn with OBG-1, says those extra pounds are more likely due to

aging in general, not the hormones, or lack of them.

“And extra weight at this age is much

more than just an appearance issue, it puts you at an increased risk

of heart disease, diabetes and

some cancers.”

As both sexes get older, the number of

calories their bodies use declines. Scientists

think this is due in part to a reduction in the body’s

lean muscle mass. Muscle burns more calories than fat, even

while people are at rest. With age, as muscle is replaced with fat, fewer calories are burned. One recent study suggests that in women,

decreasing levels of hormones may help lower the number of calories

burned at rest, too, but evidence for this is not yet conclusive.

Other research has found that changing levels of hormones at menopause may have some effect on women’s proportion of lean mass to fat, and that hormones may also affect where that fat settles on the body -- around the waist, for example, rather than a more even distribution. “These changes may give women the impression that menopause is the major cause of their weight gain, but in general, it’s just a convenient, accepted ‘medical myth’ that menopause is the cause of weight gain at mid-life,” says Dr. Bergstedt. “But the reality is, it’s the natural aging process, combined with the trend toward higher fat diets and less exercise that lead to mid-life weight gain.”

The new research from the WHI study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association found that women who ate a low-fat, high-carbohydrate diet after menopause were less likely to gain weight than women who ate more fat. But according to Suzy Trahan, registered dietitian and certified health and fitness instructor with Dynamic Dimensions of West Calcasieu Cameron Hospital, diet alone does not account for midlife weight gain. “What really seems to be a bigger culprit is people’s tendency to turn down their level of physical activity as they get older. Women at this stage of life are often less busy taking care of small children and all that entails, and less likely to be ‘on the move’, meaning fewer calories are burned during the normal course of the day. Extra exercise is needed during this period to prevent weight gain.”

Everyone gets older, and some changes associated with age are unavoidable, but Trahan says weight gain does now have to be one of them. Numerous research studies have found that women who maintain or increase physical activity are going to see less of these body changes typically blamed on menopause at midlife. Women who are physically active have less body fat, maintain smaller waists and gain less weight than those who are not physically active.

The WHI study also found that the low-fat, high-carbohydrate diet recommended for years by government agencies, while out of favor during the low-carb diet craze, appears to help women maintain their weight, if not shed pounds. And the Healthy Women’s Lifestyle Project, a five-year study that followed women through menopause, concluded that women who both ate a low-calorie diet and got regular exercise lost weight, while women who were not on the diet and exercise plan gained an average of just over five pounds after one year.

“We’re not saying that keeping weight off is easy at midlife, but you don’t have to accept weight gain as inevitable. The tried and true message of eating right and exercising for optimum weight holds true at midlife more than ever,” stresses Trahan. “Eating a nutritional, balanced that includes a lot of fruits and vegetables can help you cut calories and lose weight in a healthy way. And keep in mind that because your metabolism slows as you get older and go through menopause, you need about 200 to 400 fewer calories a day.”

The recommendation for exercise is for moderate intensity activity on most if not all days of the week for a minimum of 30 minutes. Trahan explains that “moderate intensity” translates to an activity comparable to walking at a 20-minutes-per-mile pace.

Both Trahan and Dr. Bergstedt say the best advice is to take steps to prevent weight gain before it starts. And if you’ve already begun adding to your waistline, it’s never too late to put on the brakes and change directions with a healthy diet and regular exercise.

Weight Gain During Menopause: Is It UnavoIDable?

by Kristy Armand?


For information on 2010 events call (337) 475-5123 or visit www.banners.orgTickets available through membership, Web site and at the door.

Zachary RichardSat, Mar 6, 2010 7:30 pmF.G. Bulber AuditoriumMcNeese Campus

PreservationHall Jazz BandSat, Mar 13, 2010 7:30 pmF.G. Bulber AuditoriumMcNeese Campus

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Please take the necessary time to carefullyexamine this proof. Once you give your approval,any errors found or changes made by you areyour responsibility. A MAXIMUM of 3 proofs willbe issued free of charge. We reserve the right tobill at our discretion for any subsequent proofs,except for those caused by errors on the part ofThe Jambalaya News.

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More than 10 million people aged 65 and older live alone in the United States. Their reduction in self-defense capabilities and physical and emotional vulnerability can make them unfortunate targets of home invasion or other victimization, according to Calcasieu TRIAD Director Adele Mart. TRIAD, a program designed to reduce the criminal victimization of senior citizens in the parish, is a partnership between the Calcasieu Parish Police Jury, Sheriff’s Office, District Attorney, City Marshall and City of Lake Charles.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, 64 percent of those 65 and older live with relatives, but as many as 27 percent live alone. Many of them are women. “One factor that fuels fear is an elderly person’s physical and emotional vulnerability, especially in high crime areas, and their isolation (both socially and self-imposed) from others within a community,” Mart said.

Older women who live by themselves are vulnerable to unwanted home intrusions, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. A study conducted by the Sinclair School of Nursing at the University of Missouri found that in order for women to truly have peace of mind, they must recognize that they are capable of preventing an intrusion; although

Home Alone Security Tips for Seniors

it’s helpful to have neighbors and family members check in regularly, the women must have a feeling of self-sufficiency relative to their personal safety.

If you live alone – no matter what age – the following tips, provided by TRIAD and ADT Security Services, could beef up your home security, prevent victimization, and give you the feeling of self-assuredness that you need:

• Areyourkeyshiddenunderthedoormat,inthemailbox,orinaplanter? If so, you’ll want to find a less obvious hiding spot. If possible, don’t hide

your spare key anywhere; instead, leave it with a neighbor.

• Ifyouneedtohiresomeonetodoyardworkorotherhouseholdtasks,get references first. It can become fairly apparent to these workers that you live alone, leaving you vulnerable to potential victimization. After you’ve gathered references, it might be a good idea to check with the Better Business Bureau.

• knowyourneighbors.watchfulneighborscanbeoneofyourbestdefenses. If they know you, they will be more likely to keep an eye out for your well-being.

• Makesurealldoorsandwindowshaveadequatelocks.Checkthemfrequently. Install a peephole on all doors and keep entrances well lit.

• Ifsomeonecomestoyourdoorclaimingtobewithalegitimatecompany,get verification first. Check their ID and, better yet, call the company to verify.

• Don’topenthedoortostrangers.

• Considergettingapet.Dogs,evensmallones,areaneffectivedeterrentto would-be home invaders.

• Don’tconductbusinesswithanyonesellingdoortodoor.

• whenyouarrivehome,haveyourkeyreadybeforeyoureachthedoor.by Erin K. Cormier


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If you want to see clearly into your future, you may want to change your diet, develop an exercise regimen, buy a new pair of shades, and throw out the salt, among other things. According to ophthalmologist William Iglinsky, MD, with The Eye Clinic, people have more control over their vision than they may think. Although patients hear a steady stream of information about how to keep their hearts, brains and internal systems healthy, they may not realize that there are also several things they can do to keep their eyes clear and free and of disease. “I think that many people assume that whatever happens with their vision is beyond their control. Although there are some aspects of our vision that are results of uncontrollable factors, such as genetics, there are definitely things we can do to keep our eyesight as healthy and effective as possible,” Dr. Iglinsky said.

PROTeCTYOUReYeS. Although there are some obvious instances where eyes need to be protected – during certain work-related tasks, such as welding or carpentry, for example – don’t underestimate the need to protect the eyes from less apparent

threats, such as swimming pools and the sun. “Buy sunglasses that block harmful UV rays. If possible, you want to filter as much as 99 percent of the sun’s ultraviolet rays. Anti-UV coatings are available not only for sunglasses, but regular glasses as well,” Dr. Iglinsky said. “Blocking as many UV rays as possible can prevent an eye condition called age-related macular degeneration, which can be debilitating to sight as you age. In some cases, macular degeneration causes blindness.”

QUITSMOkING. It’s a well-known fact that smoking can contribute to cancer, heart disease and stroke, but it also doubles a person’s risk of developing macular degeneration, the leading cause of legal blindness in the country, according to a study published in the 2005 issue of the Journal of British Ophthalmology. A review of seventeen other studies

suggested that smoking may not just be a contributing factor – it may also cause the adverse eye condition to develop. “This only reiterates the long-held fact that no good can come of smoking,” Dr. Iglinsky said.

ReMOveeYeMAkeUP. If your eye makeup isn’t properly removed, it can find its way into the eye, which can damage the cornea. The cornea is the dome-shaped surface that covers the front of the eye. As the eye’s outermost layer, it can be sensitive to foreign objects and can become scratched.

TAKE A BREAK. Every thirty minutes or so, take a break from what you’re doing so you can rest your eyes – especially if you work in front of a computer screen for most of the day. “Look away from the screen and focus on something far away for at least thirty seconds. Your eyes need rest to prevent unnecessary strain,”

Dr. Iglinsky said. “Studies have shown that, on average, Americans’ eyesight has deteriorated rapidly in recent years, probably because we no longer need to focus on objects that are far away.”

eATYOURveGGIeS. If you want to get serious about healthy eyesight, you need to get more serious about eating fruits and

veggies that are packed with lutein and zeaxanthin. Where can one find these eye-friendly elements? In foods like corn and

dark, leafy greens. You’ll also want to eat foods rich in Vitamin A, like sweet potatoes, carrots, broccoli, kale, spinach, pumpkin, collard

greens, mangoes, papayas, peas and cantaloupe. “Also, stay away from salt,” ophthalmologist Dr. Iglinsky said. “Salt has been found to increase a person’s risk of cataracts.” Salt can also have an adverse effect on blood pressure, which can also affect the eyes.

ExERCISE. Some studies indicate that exercise can reduce the intraocular pressure in glaucoma patients.

For more information about vision health, visit www.theeyeclinic.net.

TipS for Better VisionKeep an Eye on Your Sight

by Erin K. CormierNeurobicsIf you want to improve your memory, you’ve heard what scientists recommend - eating fish, de-stressing, staying physically fit, and socializing with friends and family. You also need to give your brain a workout, because that’s the best way to generate new brain cells. According to Time magazine, Alzheimer’s researchers say that at least six weeks of sustained, intense learning increases brain thickness in adults, helping accumulate what they call “cognitive reserve” - extra brainpower that can help delay the onset of dementia. Studies also show that people with more education and more stimulating jobs are at a lower risk for developing Alzheimer’s.

So, how can you train your brain? There are dozens of memory-enhancing computer programs and electronic games in the field of Neurobics – which is short for neuron aerobics. Products include Nintendo’s Brain Age – which millions of people have bought to play Sudoku puzzles and counting games. Then there’s the NeuroActive Brain Bike – a $4,000 stationary bicycle with a computer screen for playing games and solving puzzles, and InSight, a $400 software program filled with games, puzzles and exercises. In a recent study, people who used InSight for two months saw their mental speed jump 60%.

Do you need all those gizmos to boost your memory?

Probably not. Dr. Art Kramer is a cognitive neuroscientist at the effective at slowing memory decline. People who walk an hour a day, three times a week do much better on memory tests than those who didn’t exercise. Beyond physical exercise, keep doing new things that challenge your mind, whether you’re taking pottery classes, learning a language, or solving the puzzles on Wheel of Fortune. Mix things up frequently. If you keep doing the same brain exercises over and over again, they stop being effective. So, keep looking for new things to try – new places to visit, and new things to learn. Your life will be more interesting – and you’ll be able to remember things a lot longer.


It’s said that a picture is worth a thousand words, but unspoken soliloquies aren’t limited to photos. A new study by researchers at Brigham Young University found that the power of touch can also speak volumes, especially between married couples.

The Utah study found that non-sexual touching lowers stress hormones and blood pressure, particularly among men. According to researchers, this type of supportive touching was also found to produce a calming hormone in the body. The couples involved in the study were monitored over a four-week period, which included 30-minute massages three times a week.

Local massage therapist Joy Clement Derise has witnessed the power of touch first-hand over the sixteen years she’s been in practice. She said humans have a need to touch and be touched – even the stand-offish types that she calls “touch-me-nots.”

“Touch soothes the senses. It’s good for relaxation and emotional well-being, both in times of crisis and in times of happiness. It’s a form of connection,” Derise said. “Touch is such an innate thing to do between people, and it doesn’t always have to involve an invasion of space. It can be a brief brush on the shoulder when telling a friend hello, or a simple handshake when meeting someone new. When you touch someone, even briefly, you tell them that that are of value; that they’re needed and special.”

Just as harmful physical touching, such as abuse, can have profound negative effects, supportive, non-sexual touching can have substantial positive results, according to Alice Funk, a longtime nurse and massage therapist.

Lowers stress and blood pressure, study says

healinghuman touch

the

properties of the

“Touch has a multifaceted impact in our bio-psycho-social needs. The expression of touch can comfort and heal,” said Funk, an instructor at the Louisiana Institute of Massage Therapy, one of the most well-recognized massage schools on the Gulf Coast. “Before a child even speaks, the sensation of touch is a vital need of survival from the beginning of their lives to the end.”

According to Funk, several studies predate the Utah researchers in finding the healing properties of human touch. Researchers of the past ten years have found that babies exposed to touching and stroking exhibited fewer behavioral disorders and higher brain mass as they aged. Research has also found that exposure to touch can play a role in lower frequencies of depression and anxiety and an increase in the functions of the immune system, Funk said.

Derise said she benefits from giving massages just as much as receiving them; the benefits are rarely one-sided. “If I’m hurting and I start giving someone a massage, the tension slowly leaves my body and I wind up feeling better myself. Touch is such a powerful form of interaction.”

Suzanne Carlile, Reiki Master Teacher, agrees. “Soothing the body through touch is instinctive to all animals. Touch is essential,” she said.Although the Japanese practice of Reiki works off the power of touch as massage does, it is different from massage in that there is no muscle or tissue manipulation, Carlile explained.

Instead, practitioners hold their hands still on or over certain points on the body. “The energy that is transferred during this process has deeply relaxing, balancing and healing benefits. Some clients get Reiki treatments only for relaxation – and for that, it works wonders. For others, treatments serve a specific therapeutic purpose,” she said.

Like massage, Reiki utilizes the power of human touch and nonverbal interaction to reduce stress and tension in the human body.

“Touch is a physical representation of the things we all crave – communion with others, unconditional love, all that warm and fuzzy stuff. It allows us to ‘feel’ on a level deeper than the physical,” Carlile said.

Derise challenges anyone who doubts the power of touch to abstain from giving or receiving even the slightest touches from friends, family, or co-workers for forty-eight hours. She said the negative effects of such seclusion quickly become evident.

Researchers with Brigham Young University not only studied the effects of the 90-minute weekly massages among married couples; they also had couples report how often they hugged, kissed, and held hands.

Joy Clement Derise, massage therapist

Suzanne Carlile, Reiki Master Teacher

photos by Jason Hardesty

by Erin K. Cormier


This year, seventeen deserving parish organizations will receive project assistance funding as a result of the Calcasieu Parish Police Jury’s Cultural Grant. In 2009, the Police Jury Grant was proposed and ultimately passed by the Jury. The Arts and Humanities Council of Southwest Louisiana administers funding. This grant provides up to $5,000 to non-profits for projects/events staged in the Parish each year.

The grant was made available on-line late last year, with the final submission date of Friday, January 8. Eleven non-profit groups submitted grant applications by that date, with all being accepted. Upon review, each was awarded funding based upon the cumulative totals of the scores each received.

“The number of applicants almost doubled this year. This is indicative of the direct hit that non-profit cultural organizations are taking now with state budget cuts. The selection panel really struggled with these decisions. We know that interest and participation in this great cultural investment by the Police Jury will continue to grow.” said Grants Administrator Jackie Dowden.

Events funded include “Museums to Go” by Imperial Calcasieu Museum, “Memories are Made of This” DeQuincy mural project, a Lakeside performance at Black Heritage Festival, Art on Wheels, as well as a summer music program with Dr. F.G. Bulber Youth Orchestra. The Louisiana Choral Foundation’s “Fabulous Folk and Fable”, the Lake Charles Civic Ballet’s “‘Twas the Night Before Christmas”, and the Lake Charles Community Band also were awarded funding in the 2010 grant cycle. The students at five Calcasieu Parish schools will benefit from this grant. “Dancing Classrooms” for ballroom dance instruction will be provided for fifth grade students at A.A. Nelson Elementary, J.I. Watson Middle School, Dolby Elementary, Ralph Wilson Elementary and College Oaks Elementary. Children’s Theatre Company and Lake Charles Little Theatre both received awards for their planned season.

The Kossa Heritage dancers will use their funding to produce three seasonal performances which showcase the dances practiced by the Native American peoples. Girl Scouts of Louisiana will receive art education workshops, and Associated Louisiana Artists will provide hands-on crafts outreach program benefitting Calcasieu’s elderly and handicapped citizens.

Council Executive Director Matt Young gives credit to the Police Jury. “The Calcasieu Parish Police Jury’s commitment to cultural programming in our area is sound and effective. Our Police Jurors recognize the impact that the arts and cultural programming make on the economy of our Parish, by both strengthening Calcasieu’s financial health and improving our quality of life.”

The Council also administers grant funding for the Louisiana Division of the Arts, City of Lake Charles, and Lake Charles/Southwest Louisiana Convention and Visitor’s Bureau. For more information, please contact the Council at (337) 439-2787 or email [email protected].

Provide Some Relief for

Non-profits

Cultural Grants

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Dry, cold winter air and indoor heat can take a toll on

your skin, leading to chapping, flaking, and redness. The

Aesthetic Center can help you bring your beautiful skin

out of hibernation with refreshing facial treatments.

(337) 310-10701717 Oak Park Blvd

(in The Eye Clinic)

Our nourishing/hydrating facials will cleanse and drench your skin enriching moisturizing nutrients. Each treatment is customized for your specific skin care needs and may include: • Cleansing • Exfoliation • Treatment mask • Serum therapy • pH-balanacing treatment cream • Facial massage • Recommendations for home care

Rejuvenate dry winter skin – call the Aesthetic Center today to schedule your treatment at 310-1070.

Treatments are provided by our licensed medical aesthetician, Leann Widcamp, under the medical direction of facial cosmetic specialist, Mark Crawford, MD.

• Cannot be combined with any other discount • Offer expires 3/31/10

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an IRa from First Federal can set you on the right path.

There’s still time to invest for 2009. Put the tax advantages of an IRA to work for you now. The sooner you start contributing, the longer your money grows and the more you benefit. Talk with one of our Representatives today about the IRA that’s right for you.


Full Service SalonCuts • Color • Waxing

Nails • Pedicure

Permanent Cosmetics Eyebrows • Eyeliner • Lip Color

Areola RepigmentationCorrective Color

Enhance your natural features

The Lasting LookP E R m A N E N t C o s m E t i C s & s A L o N

337.477.8411

Permanent Cosmetics:Time for Rejuvenation.

Protect and Enhance Your AppearanceVisual

Since ancient times, women have used cosmetics to enhance the appearance of their eyes. Cleopatra is eternally famous for the way her dramatic use of eyeliner accented her glances at Mark Anthony and throughout time a long line of famous and everyday women have followed in her path by shaping their eyeliner to bring out the best of their “visual” appearance.

However, for some women, eyeliner can cause serious eye health issues, such as allergic reactions, infections or an injury to the eye or eyelids. These problems can vary from a minor annoyance, such as tearing of the eyes, to vision loss or even blindness.

Keith Menard, O.D., an optometrist at Hart Eye Center, says, “Women who wear contact lenses or who have allergies or sensitive skin are more prone to have problems with eye cosmetics. However, anyone who uses eyeliner should be aware of these problems and follow some basic safety tips to avoid infection or injury.”

Dr. Menard advises the following:• Avoiddirectcontactwiththeeyebyapplying eyeliner away from the eye, outside of the lash line.• keepeyelinerpencilssharpened.Thiswillprevent rougher wood casing from scratching the eye.• Neverburnthetipofaneyelinerpenciltoenhanceits effect.• Replaceyoureyelinereverysixmonths.Ifyouwear contacts, replace your eyeliner every three to four months.• Neveruseanoldapplicatorwithanewproduct. This will transfer bacteria to the new product.• Purchasenewmakeupafteranytypeofeyeinfection• Donotsharecosmeticswithothers.eachpersonhas her own unique skin bacteria. Contaminating your makeup with different bacteria can cause an infection.• Checkwithyoureyedoctorifyouhaveacosmetic- related eye injury or think you may have a cosmetic related-eye problem.

Eyeliner Safety and the Advantages of Permanent Eyeliner “Most eyeliners have bacteria-fighting preservatives, but many

of these preservatives can irritate the eyes and skin of sensitive individuals. Also, if safetyprecautionsare not taken, bacteria from the skin can potentially grow in a cosmetic after use and infect the eye during future applications,” says Dr. Menard.

The most serious problem that can occur when using eyeliner is an injury to the cornea, which can easily happen during application. In some cases, if not treated, a corneal abrasion (a scrape or scratch on the clear part of the eye) can become infected and lead to a potentially blinding corneal ulcer. Most corneal injures are painful and require prompt medical attention.

“The safest eyeliner is permanent eyeliner,” says William B. Hart, M.D., an ophthalmologist at Hart Eye Center. “It is the best way to avoid infection, sensitivity or injury. Many of my patients, especially those with allergies and sensitivities, chronic diseases like diabetes and contact wearers have had tremendous success with permanent eyeliner.”

Permanent eyeliner is not only a solution for people who experience direct problemswith eye makeup. Tina Blanchard of The Lasting Look, who has worked with many of Dr. Menard’s and Dr. Hart’s patients, says, “Permanent eyeliner has been life-changing for many women with medical conditions such as alopecia or allergies, but it has also been extremely beneficial to many of my clients who live active lives. They do not have to worry about irritation from their eyeliner running during exercise or application time. Also, I have found that it has been a relief for many of my clients who wear glasses, because they no longer have to struggle to apply their eyeliner.”

In most cases permanent eyeliner is a painless procedure with little recovery time. “The process usually takes an hour and many of my clients are able to return to work right after the procedure,” says Blanchard.

Permanent eyeliner is normally not a drastic approach. Also, it can produce enhancements and results that are not possible with traditional cosmetic eyeliner. “My goal is to enhance each of my client’s natural features. I approach each procedure conservatively and prefer to use the coil method. This method utilizes a machine that can achieve consistent depth, which makes the colors purer and more natural. It would be impossible to achieve this type of precision with cosmetic eyeliner,” says Blanchard.


Upcoming EvEnts:

march 19th Easter Bunny Arrivesmarch 20th Breakfast with the Easter Bunny

starts at 9:00 am

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Home Show

2010Don’t Miss this!

$5 per adult • Children under 10 FREE w/adult

2010

Building! Remodeling!OveR 160 BOOths exhiBiting the newest pROducts and seRvices fOR yOuR hOme!

Don’t miss the 19th Annual Home Show…brought to you by HBA of SWLA!

at the Lake charles civic center

sat.march13th

9am–5pm

sun.march14th

10am–4pm

Your list of home-improvement projects has probably collected dust during the cold winter months, but with the arrival of spring comes the chance to finally get started -- and what better place to do that than the Home Builders Association of Southwest Louisiana’s 19th annual 2010 Home Show? The 19th annual Home Show will be held from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday, March 13, and 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Sunday, March 14, at the Lake Charles Civic Center. Admission is $5 per person. Children 10 and under get in free when accompanied by an adult. Anyone planning on building, remodeling or home improvement projects are urged to attend. With over 160 booths with vendors displaying their products and services, the Home Show promises to showcase all types of great ideas. With educational seminars, furniture, fixtures and more, a visit to the 2010 Home Show needs to be the first thing you cross off your list.

Local Students Participate In State Poetry Contest

Three Lake Area students will participate in the State Finals for the National Poetry Out Loud Contest in Baton Rouge in March. This year, second time participant Keaghan Kane, a home-schooled 10th Grader, took First Place honors at the Regional Competition held at Historic Central School on February 12. Kaitlyn Gallagos from Sulphur High School captured the Second Place award. Third Place went to Rebecca Unsworth, who is also home-schooled. Winners on the state level must commit three works of poetry to memory and recite them accurately while imbuing each with their own interpretation for the judges to rate. Winners on the state level receive a cash award, as well as funds to purchase poetry books for the Sulphur High School Library or the Calcasieu Parish Library. The top placing contestant will represent Louisiana in the National Finals in April in Washington, DC.

Keaghan Kane, left, was awarded 1st place in the regional Poetry Out Loud competition, followed by Kaitlyn Gallagos and Rebecca Unsworth.


Looking for a way to lose a little weight, cleanse your pores, and relax your muscles? Then the benefits of a dry sauna may be the answer.

For thousands of years, cultures throughout the world have enjoyed the many therapeutic benefits of saunas, from the elaborate bath/sauna/exercise complexes of the Romans, to the simple but effective sweat lodge structures of the Scandinavians. These cultures credited the sauna with many health benefits.

In Finland, a country of approximately five million people, there are an estimated 700,000 saunas – one for every seven people! The Swedes are so convinced of the benefits of a dry sauna that when their national athletes are competing away from home, they take a dry sauna along with them for its therapeutic and rehabilitative benefits.

Al Prebula, new owner of LA Fitness Center in Lake Charles, says he was not familiar with the benefits of a sauna when he took over ownership. “As I was considering whether or not to keep the sauna, I did a lot of research and learned that our dry sauna adds a great wellness aspect for our members.” He explains that specifics may vary slightly from sauna to sauna, but at LA Fitness, the temperature is maintained at 180° – 200° F, with a humidity level of 10 – 15%, in order to provide dry eat. Dry heat is more easily tolerated by the body than moist heat, but Prebula says they set a limit of 30 minutes per day of sauna use.

Studies have found numerous benefits from regular sauna use, including stress reduction, relief of muscle aches and pains, healthier skin from increased

blood flow to the skin and opening of pores from dry heat, increased metabolism, weight loss (primarily from water loss), improved circulation, lower blood pressure and more.

However, Prebula says there are certain people who should approach saunas cautiously and the rules at LA Fitness address this. “For example, pregnant women should not enter the sauna without prior medical consultation, and use of the sauna is not recommended for persons with high blood pressure and certain cardiovascular disorders or pulmonary conditions.”

Other health precautions that should be followed include:• Avoidalcoholandmedications that may impair sweating and produce overheating before and after your sauna. • Stayinnomorethan15–20 minutes at a time.• Cooldowngraduallyafterward.• Drinktwotofourglassesofcool water after each sauna. • Don’ttakeasaunawhenyouareill, and if you feel dizzy or unwell during your sauna, leave immediately.

“Overall, we feel our dry sauna offers valuable wellness benefits for our members,” says Prebula, “which, combined with our eucalyptus steam room, whirlpool, and pools, allow us to provide members with some unique services to enhance their health and wellness.”

For more information about LA Fitness membership, call 478-8686 or visit www.lafitness.com.

Feeling the HeatThe Benefits of Sauna

sauna etiquetteIf you’ve never used a sauna before, you might be confused about the rules of etiquette:

• Lookforpostedrules.Mostfacilitieswillhavetheirownrules available for new members or guests.• Closethedoorquicklywhenenteringorexitingthesaunato prevent cooling of the air inside.• Bringatowelandwearlightclothingorabathingsuit• Showerfirst.whetheryou’rewashingoffyourworkoutor

chlorine from a pool or hot tub, a quick rinse with fresh water is a good idea. It reduces odor and lessens your chances of spreading germs that can lurk in locker rooms.

• keepconversationtoaquitemurmur.Ifyouandafriendarethe only ones using the sauna, talking is fine. But, be sure to tone it down if others join you. Remember, the sauna is supposed to be a relaxing experience.

by Kristy Armand

Personal Banking At Its Best!www.csbbanking.com

You deserve a bank that keeps pace with your busy lifestyle. That’s why Cameron State Bank offers convenient Mobile Banking services. Now you can manage your money your whenever and wherever you need to, with easy, completely secure access. The service is FREE to Cameron State Bank customers and can be accessed from any mobile phone with internet browser capabilities. Simply type in www.csbmobi.com, and enter your online banking user name and password. It’s that easy. Mobile Banking –just one more way Cameron State Bank is working to make your life easier.

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Last month, I outlined a few rules of engagement for fighting with your partner. As you’ll remember, I started by stating that conflict is always a necessary aspect of

any relationship. If you care about the relationship, you will argue.

I went on to discuss the need to deal with things at the right time and place, and to only speak for yourself. To read the article, go to www.thriveswla.

com and choose the February, 2010 issue.

Of course, after I turned in the article for printing, I thought of more I wanted to say on the subject! So, this month is a continuation of the topic

“How to Fight Fair.” Once you’ve committed to addressing issues instead of praying they will go away; once you’ve chosen the right time and place; and once

you’ve taken responsibility only for yourself, how do you proceed?

The first step is to determine your goal. People generally fall into two categories: those who have to win every argument, and those who understand the need to find a solution. You must decide

– is it more important to win or move forward? If it is more important for you to win, you need to do some self examination. The reality is that if all you want to do is win, you need to stay out of relationships. Just take relationships off your “to do well” list and plan to be alone. Conflict resolution is not about winning. It is about finding solutions and moving the relationship forward. In healthy relationships, successful conflict resolution results in a stronger, healthier relationship.

So, if you fall into the group who understand the need to find a solution to move the relationship forward – good job listening to me! Once you have your goal in place, everything you say and do will be about furthering that goal. That snide, critical remark you are thinking? Keep it to yourself. That great come back you thought of? Zip it! Here is what the new and improved you is going to do instead:

1. Listen to the other party’s side. And I’m talking about seriously listening – not pretend listening where you just sit there and think about what you are going to say when the other person takes a breath. You are going to listen so closely that you will be able to easily move to step 2.

2. Repeat the concern/complaint back to the other person. Now, we’ve talked about this skill before. One of the best gifts I can give you is the ability to repeat a message back to the sender. “I want to make sure I have this right: You are upset/concerned/angry about _________________________________.” Step 3 moves us into beginning to think about solutions:

This monTh: Fair Fighting Part ii

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

3. Ask some key questions. You need to do a little more digging before this situation is going to be resolved. Many people skip this step. They move from Step #2 straight to taking the opposing side. Example: “I love this chair.” “Really? I hate it!” Big mistake! Now you’re at war again! Take just a few minutes to see if you can find some common ground. Example: “I love this chair.” “Really? What do you love most about it?” It’s very likely that whatever he/she likes most is not the same thing you hate the most. In fact, their favorite thing is probably not something that even matters very much to you. Take some time to find out what is most important to the other person about the issue and watch the solution (Step #4) begin to take place.

4. Find a solution that meets everyone’s needs. Back to our chair example: “I love this chair.” “Really, what do you love most about it?” “Well, I really like the fabric (or the size, or the curve of the back, etc.).” “So, if we could find a different chair that had that same fabric, but is a little bigger (which happens to be your beef about the chair) you’d be good with that?” “Sure, I can see how you would like the chair to be bigger. That’s fine with me.”

Obviously it won’t always go so easily. However, I promise if you will follow these steps, conflict will not scare you as much because you’ll have a plan for dealing with it. I also promise there won’t be as much conflict – which is always a nice bonus!

!Solutions for Lifefrom Solutions Employee Assistance Program

CardiologyDermatologyEar, Nose & ThroatFamily MedicineGastroenterologyGeneral SurgeryInternal MedicineNeurologyOncology/Hematology

Pulmonary Diseases & Critical CareRheumatology

Urgent CareAncillary Services: Allergy Clinic, Endoscopy, Laboratory, Radiology & Research

The physicians of Lake Charles Medical and Surgical Clinic proudly announce the association of Family Medicine SpecialistSteve Springer, MD. Dr. Springer is originally from Morringsport, Louisiana, and earned a Bachelor of Science degree from Centenary College in Shreveport. He received his Medical Degree from Louisiana State University Medical School in Shreveport and completed his residency at the LSU Medical Center Family Practice Residency Program in Lake Charles. Dr. Springer is Board Certified by the American Board of Family Medicine. Dr. Springer has been in private practice for nine years, and his office is located at 601 Dr. Michael DeBakey Drive in Lake Charles. Appointments can be scheduled by calling 436-1370.

Our Family of Family Physicians is GrOwinGSteve Springer, MD, Family Physician

601 Dr. Michael DeBakey Dr., Lake Charles(337) 436-1370

www.lcmsc.comThere’s A Difference Here.

a division of Imperial Calcasieu Medical Group, LLP

Now Accepting New Medicare Patients.


Turf Grass Farms Is Coming to You!Lake Charles Retail LocationOpening March 18Corner of Nelson and W. Prien LakeThursday & Friday 1pm–6pmSaturday 9am–6pm

Locally grown • Fresh from the farmSold by the piece and by the palletDelivery & unloading available through main office for orders 1,350 sq. ft and over

When we met, I was about eight years old and in the fourth grade at T.H. Watkins Elementary. Kate, a New Englander, had recently moved into an old house and wasn’t shy about expressing her irritation over it. The intrigue of old wooden boards and creaky floors didn’t fascinate her much. She preferred to do something -- anything -- other than moving. Life for Kate was mundane but typical for a 1980s teen-ager until something truly remarkable happened: She woke up one morning and instead of stretching comfortably into another 1981 morning, she discovered she had been inexplicably transported to the

year 1850. Sounds unbelievable, eh? It would be, except that it’s completely possible for someone like Kate,

because she is the creation of Jean Marzollo, author of “Halfway Down Paddy Lane”. In books, it’s just as believable for Kate to become a nineteenth century Irish immigrant in Massachusetts as it is for a young

neglected boy to become the greatest wizard who ever lived in a land that exists only on paper. Kate changed my life because she ushered me into an unfamiliar world and became the most memorable

fictional character of my childhood – so much so that later, as an adult, I hunted down an out-of-print copy of Marzollo’s novel so I could add it to my bookshelf, where hundreds of other characters currently live. People like Holden

Caulfield, the disgruntled hero of “Catcher in the Rye”; unsuccessful science-fiction writer Kilgore Trout, a product of writer Kurt Vonnegut’s imagination; Carrie White, Cujo, Annie Wilkes, Delores Claiborne, and hundreds of other folks troubled by the workings of Stephen King; and playful, familiar lyricists like Sam-I-Am and The Cat in the Hat. March is National Reading Month, so it’s an appropriate time for me (and you, I hope) to reflect on the vital role that all books play in society, whether it’s the ten sentences of “Where the Wild Things Are” or the 600 pages of “Uncle Tom’s Cabin,” which was considered a catalyst for the Civil War.

Unfortunately, book-reading has been going out of style in recent decades. Since the early 1980s, the number of Americans who picked up a novel has declined steadily, but things are finally looking up. The National Endowment of the Arts recently found that reading books has not only increased, it has actually become hip. School-going Americans are reading outside of their required booklists and everyone else has been compelled, for one reason or another, to crack open a fresh spine and step into a different mental zone. Researchers aren’t sure why reading has become cool again, but some suspect that Americans are growing tired of technological forms of communication, like the Internet, and disgruntled by the need to constantly be in “the now,” because that’s where things need to get done. Others think the increased focus could be an offshoot of successful Hollywood films that were novels first. Whatever the reason, it’s uplifting to know that more of us are meeting folks like Kate Calambra – people who live in worlds where anything is possible, life is resolved neatly and efficiently, and the ordinary is too simple to accept. As rushed Americans, that’s the place we strive to be, but so far there’s only one place where we can seem to find it: In books.

What were your favorite childhood books? Email Erin at [email protected].

The Last Word

Kate calambra changed my life.

by Erin K. Cormier

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

WITH BONE DENSITY TESTINGFROM OBG-1

You need strong bones for an active life. Osteoporosiscan strike without warning, causing your bones toweaken, and keeping you from living an active life.An important osteoporosis prevention tool is bonedensity testing. It is recommended that you have thistest to establish a baseline as you approach menopause,and on a regular basis afterward to help determine howquickly you are losing bone mass and density. This scanis safe and painless and is done in the OBG-1 office.Some women are at greater risk for osteoporosis.If you have one or more of the following risk factorshaving a bone density test is even more important:• You have experienced a bone fracture• Your mother, grandmother, or another close

relative had osteoporosis or bone fractures• You have taken certain medications that

accelerate bone loss• You have low body weight, a slight build,

or a light complexion• You have a history of cigarette smoking

or heavy drinking

For more information about bone density testingat OBG-1, call 312-1000.

1.866.312.OBG1 • obg-1.com

BattleBone Loss

Physicians:Ben Darby, MD • Scott Bergstedt, MDWalter Guth, MD • Brad Forsyth, MDNurse Practitioners:Tammy Gillett, APRN, NPMarilyn Watson, APRN, NPCertified Nurse Midwives:Bonnie Leger, CNMAllison Hansen, CNM

thrive march 2010 issue

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