Local and Community History Month - 2013

By Diane Forrest

Growing up in school, history was not one of my favorite subjects; in fact I would say it was probably one of my least favorites.  Listening to things people did hundreds of years ago didn't interest me.   The older I got, however, I began to appreciate the stories of how things around me came to be, and things the people before me went through so that I may have a better way of life.

I am fortunate enough to live in a small historic community.  People from all over the world come to my small little town to see the way things used to be, and how far we have come.  The other day in our newspaper, there was a story about the planning of our community's tri-centennial.   It seems like yesterday when we celebrated 275 years of the beginning of our town.   The City was settled by the French in 1716, followed by the British, then the Spanish, who ultimately laid out the city’s structural grid. Each of them left their mark on Natchez, and nearly every inch of architecture in the historic areas of the City, is influenced by the three nationalities.  There is so much history here as there is in most communities.

Some good ways to discover your town's history is to first check out the local Library.  Maybe there are some books written about your town, or if not, you can check the newspaper archives.  Another good way to explore history is to visit local cemeteries.  As a way to raise money for care and upkeep of our local cemetery, the custodian decided to have a fundraiser on Halloween.  He organized several people who dressed up as members of the deceased residents and each acted out the story of their lives.  It was a huge hit, and now each year many others participate in the telling of the stories and several hundreds tour the grounds for a small glimpse of history.

Take some time out this month to see what new things you can find out about your community.  You may be pleasantly surprised by what you learn.

(Images from Google) 

Celebrating Community Spirit

By Diane Forrest

If there was any doubt that our county has lost its community spirit, you have only to look at the events that have taken place in the last couple of weeks.   Not only was the whole world rocked by the senseless bombing at the Boston Marathon that killed three and wounded another 160, but a few days later, a plant explosion in Waco Texas leveled almost the whole town killing 15 and wounding another260 to 280 people.

Many horrific stories have come out of these events, that have cause the towns and communities to pull together to help those in need.  I have been reading some of the stories, and it warms my heart to see the actions our fellow citizens have taken.  In one story, newlyweds were nearing the finish line when the bombs went off causing each to lose a leg.  Donations from all over the country began pouring in to help with their medical expenses.  In fact a fund was set up to help all of these victims.

I read about the man whose boat was used as a hiding place for one of the suspects.  During the course of his capture, the boat, the man’s pride and joy, was riddled with bullets as the police fired upon the suspect.  As the community found out about his loss, they began to collect money for this man to replace his boat, however, he would have none of that.  He stated that I just lost a boat, many lost so much more, and he wanted to funnel the contributions to the fund to help those in need.  I just read an article where the emergency room doctors and staff sent pizzas to the ER staff at the hospitals in Waco thanking them for their hard work during their crisis.  The Waco staff responded in kind to the Boston folks by sending them some authentic Texas BBQ.

Stories like this abound during times of crisis, but also during ordinary times as well.  Anytime there is a need in my community, announcements are made in the newspaper, local radio stations, churches and schools and continued until the need is filled.

This is Community Spirit Month.  If you know of some need in your community, no matter how big or small, do what you can to help fill this need, or check needs in nearby communities.  You never know when you may be in need of some community help.

 (All images from Google) 

World Psoriasis Day

(Google Image) 

By Nurse Diane

There is a commercial on TV where a man is serving food from a mobile trailer.  As he is handing out the order, the sleeve on his shirt raises up and you can notice red patches on his skin.  He is embarrassed, and then it cuts away to a medication to cure the condition.  Psoriasis is a common skin condition that causes skin redness and irritation. Most people with psoriasis have thick, red skin with flaky, silver-white patches called scales.  It can occur with anyone, but it is usually more common if other family members have it.  People get it from the ages of 15 to 35 years of age, and it is not contagious.

Treatment is to control the symptoms, and this is usually done with topical creams, and in more severe cases, pills or injections.  Psoriasis is a life-long condition that can be controlled with treatment. It may go away for a long time and then return. With appropriate treatment, it usually does not affect your general physical health.

(Google Image) 

Today is World Psoriasis Day.  According to http://www.worldpsoriasisday.com/ it is an annual day specially dedicated to people with psoriasis/psoriatic arthritis. Conceived by patients for patients, World Psoriasis Day is a truly global event that sets out to give an international voice to the 125 million people with psoriasis/psoriatic arthritis. The goals for the day include:

• Raising awareness: to let people with psoriasis know that they are not alone and to raise the profile of this devastating skin disease and the misery it can cause. To dispel myths about the condition, such as the mistaken view that psoriasis is contagious.
• Improving access to treatment: to encourage healthcare systems, governments, physicians, careers and all those responsible for psoriasis care to allow psoriasis sufferers access to optimum therapy. For too long, psoriasis/psoriatic arthritis has been low priority. They are debilitating diseases and must move up the healthcare agenda.
• Increasing understanding: to provide information to those who are affected by the condition as well as the general public in order to educate people about the condition so that they can discuss it more openly and confidently.

Building unity among the psoriasis community: to provide a platform from which patient voices from around the world can speak as one and be heard by key decision makers.

(Google Image) 

For more information visit the site: http://www.worldpsoriasisday.com/

Volunteer Recognition Day

By Diane Forrest

On Easter weekend my church staged an Easter event.  It was really beautiful, with 11 scenes of the events that occurred before during and after the crucifixion of Jesus. Planning for this event began in January.  There were sets to be built, costumes to be made, and stories to be learned.  There were over 200 volunteers dressed in costume to perform the roles; there were volunteers to build the sets, make the costumes, drive the busses and trolleys and to clean the grounds after the production.  The whole weekend went off without a hitch, and was a great success with over 2000 in attendance.

My church is full of volunteers performing duties to keep things functioning, from members keeping the nursery, teaching the classes, singing in the choir and even operating the cameras and sound systems.  Not only do they volunteer inside the church, but in the community as well.  They visit the homebound, make hospital and nursing home visits and even help with home repair for the elderly and widows.

(Google Image) 

I have always heard the busier someone is, the more they will do.  I found that to be true.  When I was in school, I not only had my studies, but I also wrote on the school newspaper, was president of the Senior class, was president of my nursing class, was active in church, writing my Sunday school newsletter, playing on the volleyball team, working with the puppet class, singing in choir, and teaching a class on Sunday evenings.  The more I was asked to do, I always managed to find the time somewhere.

(Google Image)

Today is Volunteer Recognition day.  Volunteers don't do what they do for recognition or awards; they are simply filling a need in the community and helping out where they can.  My newspaper has an award ceremony every year recognizing community volunteers.  The section in the paper is called Unsung Heroes.  Both of my parents have won this award.  Names are submitted by folks in the community, so it reaches a wide range of activities.

(Google Image)

If you know someone who volunteers, give them a call; send them a card or email to let them know you appreciate what they do.  If you would like to be a  volunteer, contact places in your community, like your church, area hospitals, children's homes, abused women facilities, or even your local chamber of commerce.  If you still can't find anything, try checking out this place for more ideas at http://www.volunteermatch.org/

Parental Controls - Internet

Internet Parental Controls

Parental control software is built in the latest version of Mac OS X and Windows, but can also be purchased as separate programs, which often offer more features and more flexibility. These include programs such as Bsafe Online, Net Nanny and Safe Eyes.

In addition to this kind of parental control software, other things you can do to keep your kids safe online include:

• putting password protection on the computer, so that you have to log your kids on when they want to use the Internet
• using parental control software to restrict access to the computer and internet to times when a parent is home and around to supervise what your kids are doing
• if you use a router to share internet access through the house, then set it up to restrict access to times when a parent is home to supervise, or use your router to set up specific internet application and gaming access to different computers or internet-ready gaming systems
• set strong privacy settings if your child uses a social networking site, like Facebook, and limit their friends list to people they know
• putting the computer and other devices that have internet access in a common area of the house, so that you can directly supervise what your kids are doing
• asking your Internet service provider (ISP) about additional filtering software that may be available to you
• being aware that without parental controls, kids can hide their tracks by clearing private data from the Internet browser they are using, including the browsing history, cache and cookies
• reviewing what kind of access to the Internet your kids will have when visiting friends and family members

In addition to general warnings about protecting kids from "the Internet," parents should be aware about some specific things that can cause trouble, including:

• Illegal File Sharing Programs - through specific programs and sites, such as Gnutella, Bit Torrent and Kazaa, etc., kids illegally download music, movies and other content.
• Social Network Sites - many kids use these sites, such as Facebook and MySpace, to post personal information and photos, which predators can use to contact your child.
• IM and Chat - in addition to texting on their cell phones, many kids use Instant Messaging and Chat Rooms (iChat, AOL, Yahoo Messenger, etc.) to talk with their friends, and unfortunately, sometimes predators who pose as kids. Inappropriate chats can be an especially big problem in MMORPGs, where many players are in their twenties and thirties.
• Video Chat - kids have also started using video chat rooms more and more, including the popular Chatroulette, which matches users with strangers to chart with and is reported to include a lot of people engaged in inappropriate behaviors while on their webcams.
• Web Videos - kids on the Internet usually quickly find YouTube. Unfortunately, there are plenty of videos on YouTube and other video sites that are not appropriate for kids.

Our world has changed dramatically over the past couple of decades and at speeds sometimes just too darn fast to get a grip on them.  

This is a good start to bring you some what up to date from the FBI A Parent's Guide to Internet Safety  please click on the title and review this publication.  We also recommend working with other parents, law enforcement agencies, schools and other related groups to keep current what is new and what you need to know.  http://www.fbi.gov/stats-services/publications/parent-guide

The Internet is like most things in life - there are good guidelines, basic rules, and like other this - we have the good, the bad and the ugly.  We adults need to take charge, set the proper example, teach our young ones what is acceptable behavior and adhere to them. 


Thank you!

Tonight is - "National Night Out"

National Night Out is a community-police awareness-raising event held the first Tuesday of August, sponsored by the National Association of Town Watch in the United States and Canada.

The event is meant to increase awareness about police programs in communities, such as drug prevention, town watch/neighborhood watch, and other anti-crime efforts.

Take time out of your busy schedule, bring along Mom and the kids to participate in this worthwhile event!

National Nurses Day 2011

Often described as an art and a science, nursing is a profession that embraces dedicated people with varied interests, strengths and passions because of the many opportunities the profession offers. As nurses, we work in emergency rooms, school based clinics, and homeless shelters, to name a few. We have many roles – from staff nurse to educator to nurse practitioner and nurse researcher – and serve all of them with passion for the profession and with a strong commitment to patient safety.

Nurses are a vital element to any hospital or healthcare facility. Without them, hospitals would not be able to run and patients would not be cared for properly. Today, we celebrate the contributions and commitments that nurses make each and every day.

In 1953, Dorothy Sutherland of the United States Department of Health, Education, and Welfare, sent a proposal to President Eisenhower to declare a National Nurses Day. Though the proclamation was never made, Nurses Day began to be observed the following year. In 1974, President Nixon proclaimed an official National Nurses Day. Activities that take place on National Nurses Day typically include banquets, recognition dinners, state and city proclamations, continuing education seminars, and other community events. If you know any nurses, thank them today for all of their hard work and assistance!

National Nurses Week is celebrated every year from May 6th – 12th (May 12th is the birthday of Florence Nightingale, the forbearer of modern nursing). May 6th is National RN Recognition Day, May 8th is National Student Nurses Day, and May 12th is International Nurses Day and National School Nurse Day.

Visit http://nursingworld.org/NationalNursesWeek to download a media kit for raising awareness of this event and of the value of the nursing profession in your community. Nurses are renowned for blending art with science. They must be dedicated individuals with a wide array of interests, strengths and passions as a result of the many ways nurses are called upon to serve. No matter where they serve — emergency rooms, school based clinics, and homeless shelters – they are expected to bring to each role a passion for the profession and a strong commitment to patient safety. Their strength and spirit allows them to meet the needs of every person with whom they come into contact.

Due to poor working conditions, long hours, reduced pay and increased duty demands, there is an ongoing nursing shortage across the industry. With nurses retiring and changing professions in large numbers, it is crucial to start spreading the word of the important need nurses fill in the health care equation. Reaching out to primary and secondary academic institutions and training students to consider nursing as a future career goal may help funnel talent back into the pool. Also, making nursing school more attainable by providing scholarships and daycare for single mothers might draw people who are interested in nursing into the profession. If you are a nurse, consider making time to appear at community functions such as Town Councils and raise awareness of the difficult and sometimes dangerous work load nurses are expected to fill. Identify areas that community leaders can get involved in solving the problems.

I am so proud of my wife Pat who is a nurse in the field of outpatient care.  I am grateful that she shows the same care and compassion to me as she does to her patients.

National Infant Immunization Week (NIIW)



April 23 - 30, 2011



National Infant Immunization Week (NIIW) is an annual celebration of the significant role immunizations play in keeping our children and our communities healthy. Immunization is one of the best ways parents can protect their infants and young children from potentially serious diseases. Check to see if your child is up to date on immunizations.

In our research for this article, we found many site on the Internet with excellent information to share, one of them is the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) (http://www.aap.org/).  We also noticed that nearly all the states, many counties, and major cities in the U.S. also have a web presence for Infant Immunization and special activates to celebrate this week.

When a baby is developing in the mother's womb it is in a sterile environment. The baby's immune system goes into action at birth, as the child confronts bacteria outside of the womb.

At the end of this article the "2011 Recommended Immunizations for Children from Birth through 6 years old."

According to the Recommended Immunization Schedule for Persons 0 — 6 years of age, children may receive up to 24 vaccinations to protect them from up to 14 diseases by the time they're 2 years of age.

Why Vaccinate?

Simply put, vaccines save lives. You have the power to protect your baby from dangerous illnesses like measles, tetanus and hepatitis. Being a parent is a big responsibility, and the best thing you can do for your child's health is to learn the facts so that you can make the best choices.

Preventing Disease

Vaccines have become essential tools in preventing previously devastating, widespread disease by significantly reducing childhood infection rates.

Protecting Public Health

When the children in your community are vaccinated, they aren't the only ones who are protected. They're also doing their part to keep your child healthy and to help stop the spread of disease in your community.

Vaccine-Preventable Diseases

Active vaccination programs have helped to reduce, or in some cases virtually eliminate, the threat of some of the most dangerous childhood diseases.

Celebrating the Nation's Volunteers

Long, long ago, in a place called America’s Heart Land, a young fella was raised in a typical family of six, in a nice middle class family neighborhood where it was safe to leave your doors unlock to your home and car.  Often, car keys could be found in the car as well.  As Dad would say, ‘a locked door only keeps the honest crook out’.  Sounded a bit strange then, but as I got older, made a lot of sense. 

Volunteering to help others was just the normal thing to do.  No big fanfare, no photographers, no news or magazines folks around to make a big deal about it – it was how we were raised.  Folks would call if they needed help and we would all pitch in and help – be it moving something, clearing a field, getting the ball field ready for play, painting or whatever, it was and is the right thing to do.

In the last neighborhood where I lived before joining the navy, there were several families with children our age and we worked and played together.  First thing in the morning after breakfast was to do our daily chores: making your bed; cleaning up the room; vacuum the floors or mop the kitchen; wash and dry the dishes (we were the family dishwasher); take out the trash; feed the animals and what other chores that needed to be done.  Then it was outside to accomplish any chores that needed to be done – cutting the grass, racking leaves, shoveling snow. Washing the cars, windows, or what every. We learned quickly that working together, they were finished sooner, done better and we enjoyed doing them, time to have fun and doing things together.  There were a couple of elderly couples on our street and a single mom (Mrs. Harris) who we took care of as part of our daily routines.  They never paid us, nor did we expect them to do so.  Mrs. Harris was a stay-at-home mom, who watched over all of us (unbeknownst to us, our parents paid her for keeping an eye on us and provide food and clothing).

We also helped the elderly with taking in their groceries, doing things around their homes like taking the trash out, moving furniture, washing windows and stuff like that.  We also pitched out Sunday mornings a church – they were just doing the right thing. 

Granny was big on pitching in and helping others and we wanted to help and all of us still continue that practice today.  Each summer, we would all get together, grandkids, cousins and friends to help Granny or one of her neighbor’s in some way.  It was good to get us kids out of the city and into the country, do something good for someone and have a good time doing it.  Those are still fond memories and when we gather from time to time, we reflect on the “good old days” that brings a smile to our face and warms our hearts.

These habits have been a key part to our foundation in life, part of our core values, and knowing the importance of helping others – simply pitch in and do it!  They have served me well throughout my life and are part of the reason for doing this Blog – in some small measure – to help others help themselves.

Please share some of your stories about volunteering – we would love to read them.

In our next post on Volunteering, we will provide some additional links you can read that have a ton of worthwhile information.  One such article is from USA Weekend on last years “Make a Difference Day” and the national awards luncheon this Thursday, April 14 in Washington, D.C.

Your Community

National Public Health Week

Friday: Your Community

You can protect yourself, your family and community by taking action, both big and small, to prevent injury and violence. Here are just a few examples:

Start small...

• Join your Neighborhood Watch program.
• Work with school leaders to implement school violence and bullying programs.
• Keep weapons in a locked and safe place, away from children.
• Model respectful communication in your interactions with children, family members and in the community.
• Be a caring adult in the life of a young person.
• Call the police or local child protective services if you suspect an older adult has been abused or a child neglected.

Think big…

• Work with community leaders to establish a community safety task force.
• Work with local authorities to initiate violence intervention and prevention efforts.
• Develop a suicide prevention program that encourages community members to inquire and respond to potential suicide situations.
• Work with local officials to ensure access to services for youth and families living in communities most impacted by violence.
• Participate in programs that improve parent-child relationships and provide parents with social support.
• Write a letter to the editor of your local paper that stresses the importance of safety and injury prevention during NPHW and beyond.

There is much more you can do to prevent injuries beyond these actions. Raise awareness of safety and injury prevention within your community during National Public Health Week. You can help make your community a safer and healthier place to live.