Women’s Independent Press

by Yvonne Phillips

Living amidst a challenged economy, everyone is looking for innovative ways to either increase or just maintain a steady income. The question so many are now asking is what can be done at a personal level to create our “own economy” and thrive?

Solutions can arrive from thinking outside the box and stretching into new territory, such as meditation, visualization and positive affirmations to supplement our efforts. An increasingly popular practice here in the west is the 5,000 year old science of Feng Shui, which is gaining new appreciation as an effective tool for attracting abundance.

Two areas that need attention for increased prosperity include good Feng Shui in your home and office, and harnessing the power of your mind and thoughts.

Feng Shui Cures for Prosperity

Your state of being is strongly linked to your everyday environment. Feng Shui is about working with the energy of your surroundings, and the intentional clearing and arrangement of objects to allow the circulation of positive chi, which directly affects and uplifts your own energy field; setting into motion the law of attraction.

An essential first step for kick-starting positive energy flow is clearing the clutter, which blocks the flow of chi. Embark on a thorough cleaning of your home and workspace. This means not just piling things into the corner, but clearing out home cupboards and closets, office filing cabinets, computer hard drives, organizing business cards and if possible, changing the color of paint and the artwork from depressing to uplifting, to shift the energies.

The next step is to work with the Bagua map in your home and workspace. When applying this map to your own space; the far left corner of a house and each individual room is the Wealth/Prosperity area, and this area in both your home and office deserves special consideration to power up the Feng Shui energy to attract abundance.

In analyzing this area of each room in your home or office to attract prosperity, consider the following:
• Ensure the area is clear of clutter, well maintained and has the color purple somewhere.
• Place crystals, lights or candles, and healthy flowers or plants there.
• Write down your intention(s) for more money and place this piece of paper in the area, which doesn’t have to be seen, but can be placed underneath or behind an object.
• Your office or workspace should have some type of action going on in the Prosperity corner, and along with being clean and orderly, have uplifting pictures, crystals or a lamp, and functioning equipment like a fax machine or computer is very good, generating a lot of energy happening in that area.
• Spruce up your book shelf to allow more prosperous energy to flow, with books about building wealth such as “Rich Dad Poor Dad” or other positive topics.
• To compliment the above mentioned Feng Shui cures in your Prosperity corner, another area to apply the same cures to is the corner of Helpful People, which is directly opposite the Prosperity corner. For example; from the entrance to a room, the Prosperity area is the far left corner and the Helpful People area is the corner directly to your right, forming a diagonal line across the room between the two corners.

The Power of the Subconscious Mind
When you want more money to come into your life, you need to be clearly focused to encourage the Laws of Attraction. Your conscious mind needs to see what your needs are very clearly, and the next step is to integrate those thoughts into your subconscious mind. Think of your mind like a magnet and know that your thoughts can help bring your goal to you faster.

An example of a positive, affirming statement is “I am happy that I now have additional wealth brought into my life.” Or “All of my needs are met, and more money comes to me every day.” A plan of action would then be writing down this positive statement or focus seventeen (17) times before you go to sleep, and again seventeen times when you get up in the morning. These times of day is when your mind is in the Alpha state, allowing your conscious thoughts to take root in your subconscious more easily. It takes twenty-one (21) days of repeated writing to shift your thoughts or habits.

The powerful combination of good Feng Shui and harnessing the power of your thoughts will boost your “own economy”. Try it and see for yourself!

Yvonne is certified with Feng Shui Institute International and has trained with world famous Feng Shui Master Lillian Too. As owner of Creative Color & Design, she incorporates Feng Shui principles into both residences and businesses, from small businesses to large corporations. Please visit http://www.fengshuiabc1.com or email yvonnephillips1@aol.com for more information.

Sal is “A Laugh A Minute”

August 2-13, 2011!
Join New Voices Pittsburgh: Women of Color for Reproductive Justice for the fourth year of the LGBTQ Women of Color Reproductive Justice Series.
This year’s theme is “From Invisible to Invincible!”
The Series creates safe, positive and affirming spaces for Queer Women/People of Color as we fight for visibility and against violence where we live, work and love. There is something for everyone.

ALL ARE WELCOME TO ALL EVENTS. PLEASE RSVP TO LGBTQ@newvoicespittsburgh.org or call 412.363.6663. See you there!

1. LGBTQ Series 2011: Family Day at the Park!*
TUESDAY, AUGUST 2, 7pm, FREE
Pirates vs. Cubs Game
PNC Park, 115 N. Federal Street, North Side
Pittsburgh, PA 15212
Pick-Up Your Ticket at Center Field Gate @ 6:30pm
*limited amount of tickets available. no rsvp, no ticket.

2. Doubleheader Happy Hour: LGBTQ Series Kick-Off and Contraception is Prevention Campaign
THURSDAY, AUGUST 4, 5-9pm
FREE with Cash Bar
BRGR, 5997 Penn Circle South, East Liberty
Pittsburgh, PA 15206
21+

3. Queer Women of Color Media Arts Project Short Films Screening
SATURDAY, AUGUST 6, 3-5pm
FREE - Donations Accepted
Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh - Homewood Branch, 7101 Hamilton Avenue
Pittsburgh, PA 15208

4. Spiritual Nourishment
SUNDAY, AUGUST 7, 6pm
FREE
ONEChurch, 937 Liberty Avenue, Downtown
Pittsburgh, PA 15222

5. Challenging Homophobia in the Black Community Community Discussion
TUESDAY, AUGUST 9, 6-9pm
FREE
Center for Victims of Violence and Crime, 5916 Penn Avenue, East Liberty
Pittsburgh, PA 15206

6. Reproductive Justice Allies Training
THURSDAY, AUGUST 11, 2-5pm
$10
Three Rivers Youth, 6117 Broad Street, East Liberty
Pittsburgh, PA 15206
RSVP by August 9th

7. Queer Women of Color Artist BlowOUT!
(featuring “Pussies, Pens and Politics”, SolSis and more…)
SATURDAY, AUGUST 13, 8pm
$10 in advance / $15 at the door
Kelly-Strayhorn Theater, 5941 Penn Avenue, East Liberty
Pittsburgh, PA 15206
- August 11- Breakfast Briefing from 8:15-9:30 a.m. featuring former Senator John William Warner for a discussion on building a clean energy economy and the importance of energy independence. Senator Warner is traveling as part of the Pew Project on National Security, Energy, and Climate to engage state and municipal governments, local organizations, and experts to address energy and security issues. As a veteran of two wars, and one of the nation’s most distinguished defense experts, he has been speaking about the expanding roles and missions of our armed forces due to increasing humanitarian disasters and international conflicts over resources, both of which are exacerbated by our dependence on foreign oil.

August 11-12 – The Global Leadership Summit - 9:00-5:00 - An amazing not-to-be-missed leadership conference broadcast via satellite in Pittsburgh. Fabulous world renown speakers - www.WillowCreek.com/events/leadership

August 12 - Zen Center Of Pittsburgh - Deep Spring Temple - ApalAsia Concert Under the Stars Zen Center of Pittsburgh Concert, 7:30-10:00PM -Appalasia, described as “worldly folk-jazz,” plays a benefit for the Zen Center. Bring a picnic basket, blanket, and chairs; they’ll provide music and dessert - 124 Willow Ridge Road Sewickley -(412) 741-1262 - http://deepspringzen.org.

August 12 - South Hills Country Club - $18 for non-chamber members – Noon Speaker:
Yvonne Phillips, FSII, is a National Feng Shui Practitioner, Author and Speaker with over 20 years of experience. Yvonne’s certification is with Master Nancilee Wydra founder of the Pyramid School. FSII’s training is an interdisciplinary version of Feng Shui. It combines biology, physics, psychology and architecture - As owner of Creative Color & Design, she incorporates Feng Shui principles into both residences and businesses, from small businesses to large corporations.

August 13 - Small Business Basics Workshop - 8:30 AM – 12:00 PM - Mellon Board Room, Chatham University, Shadyside Campus - $30 - Register Online: www.chatham.edu/cwe - The Small Business Basics workshop is a great introduction into the 10-week Kauffman FastTrac NewVenture™ program. Continental breakfast will be available at 8:30 a.m. Parking is free.

August 17 - Children’s Museum of Pittsburgh Presents: ApalAsia Lunch Time Performance -12:15-1:00PM - ApalAsia creates its own traditions by blending American string-band instrumentation (Sue Powers-banjo and Jeff Berman-mountain dulcimer) with the erhu (Mimi Jong), a two-stringed Chinese violin whose keening wail you’ve heard if you’ve ever seen a period film about China - Though many of their songs are based on folk classics either Chinese and American, all AppalAsia’s songs are “original”, most are instrumental - http://youtube.com/Veur9W0JwtM - Children Museum - For directions, admission and parking information please visit http://www.pittsburghkids.org/

August 17 - FOR WOMEN WHO WINE -Please Join The Musuneggi Financial Group & Single Steps Strategies for an Evening Of Wine, Conversation, Networking & Education while we are “Wine-ing” down the summer - 6:00 PM - Crowne Plaza Hotel South, 164 Fort Couch Road Bethel Park -Complimentary But Donations To “Dress for Success” Are Always Welcome - Guest Speaker: Mike Gonze of Dreadnought Wines presenting “The World of Wine Made Simple” - To register for you and your guest log onto www.singlestepsstrategies.com, e-mail info@singlestepsstrategies.com or call 412-341-2888 -Registration deadline is August 8th - Seating is limited so register early -Women Business Owners: Tables will be available for you to share information about your products and services - Please let us know if you would like to participate when you register.

August 20, 2011 at 2 p.m. A WORKSHOP ABOUT SHAMANIC HEALING
Jeanie Griffin, LPC, MFT, LCD, BRI II, Shamanic Practitioner and healer will
present a workshop at the Unitarian Universalist Church
of the North Hills. (www.uucnh.org  This workshop is free.

From a shamanic point of view, the source of all things is Spirit and Spirit is in all things.
In the practice of shamanism, we look at illness from a spiritual perspective.
Shamanic Healing is a practice based on the belief that all healing has a spiritual dimension.

As a trained Shamanic Practitioner, Shamanic Reiki Master, and Theta Healer
she assists clients with soul retrievals, shamanic journeys, chakra balancing,
mindful visualizations for health challenges, healing negative energy & negative
thoughts with spiritual light and more.

Her mind body & spirit healing is grounded in simplicity, driven by spirituality,
fueled by a sense of humor and dedicated to healing individuals, families,
communities and the planet. (Www.jeaniegriffin.com).

Unitarian Universalist Church of the North Hills
2359 West Ingomar Rd., Pittsburgh, PA 15237-1625 T
412-366-0244
www.uucnh.org

August 26 - Celebrate & Share 3rd Annual Breakfast at the Rivers Club - Celebrate the 91st Anniversary of the passage of the 19th Amendment! Oxford Centre Downtown, Pittsburgh - 7:45 am - 9:30 am - Donation - $35 - Birthday August 26? FREE! - Honorary Sponsors- $91.00 - Table of 10: $350 - MAKE YOUR RESERVATION NOW - Bonnie DiCarlo: bonnie255@aol.com 412-480-5247 - JoAnn Forrester: selfimagebz@aol.com  412.440.6969

-August 27 -Just in time for Back to School “SHOP FOR A CAUSE” AT ANY MACY’S STORE TO BENEFIT GIRLS HOPE OF PITTSBURGH - shop at any Macy’s store with your “Shop for a Cause” shopping pass to receive 20% off clothing purchases and 10% off select other items. Restrictions apply - Passes can be purchased through Girls Hope for $5 each. All proceeds from the purchase of the passes benefit Girls Hope - Contact Beth Exton at 724.869.6578 or bexton@bhgh.org to arrange pick-up or mail delivery of your shopping pass

September 8 – Prosperity Cycle Classes by Yvonne Phillips - Shift your energy & quantum leap your goals -6:00 pm-8pm - Shady Side Academy, 423 Fox Chapel Road Pittsburgh - $25 -A Gourmet meal will be served - Register: www.fengshuiabc1.com

FYI

- Cong. Allen West’s angry, hostile tirade to Cong. Debbie Wasserman Schultz is truly despicable. If you had any doubt about the Republican war on women, look no further than West’s email — it’s threatening, sexist and demeaning. We can’t sit by and watch such an appalling action from one of our elected officials. Join me and tell Allen West that you are standing with Debbie against this unacceptable behavior, just visit www.emilyslist.org/standwithdws/ to take action.

- August 2 - National Night Out is scheduled - Is your community participating? Please register today at: http://nno.pittsburghpa.gov. National Night Out is an opportunity for neighborhoods to raise awareness of crime prevention in a fun, family friendly environment and to celebrate public safety partnerships. It is America’s (and Pittsburgh’s) night out against crime. For questions or more information on Pittsburgh communities’ events, please contact Kyle Thauvette in the Mayor’s Department of Neighborhood Initiatives, at 412-255-2439 or via email at kyle.thauvette@city.pittsburgh.pa.us.

- On August 8, 2011, the World Affairs Council of Pittsburgh and Global Solutions will host a Political Salon from 6:00 - 8:00 p.m. at the Eclipse Lounge (3705 Butler St.). Shea Gopaul will kick off a discussion of “International Aid: Challenges and Controversies.” Ms. Gopaul is an independent consultant, and recently, Special Adviser to the Assistant Director-General at the World Health Organization (WHO) where she developed the WHO world-wide eManual that serves as a single repository for all global policies and procedures. Previously, she was the Director of Administration for the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs. She will be drawing upon 19 years serving at the senior level at the UN, ILO, and WHO to discuss the role of international organizations in humanitarian aid, disaster relief, and development work.
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- Want a thrill of a life time? Take a chance at winning a hot air balloon ride for two, sponsored by PMF Rentals. Tickets are $10 a piece and can be purchased by contacting CCN. Ride can be scheduled by the winner through the end of October 2011. Ride leaves from Zelienople Airport. Drawing will be held Friday, August 19th.
Winner will be notified that day. For more information or to purchase tickets,
contact Stacy de las Alas at 412-364-6728 x15.

- Join CCN and Three Rivers Harley Davidson as we present “Ride For A Reason.”
Get your motorcycle a runnin’ and join us for a rockin’ day of fun. Rain or shine - all bikes are welcome, you don’t even need a bike to join the party. Food, beverages, and music provided. Ride starts at 10:00 am at Three Rivers Harley Davidson - Rt 8, Glenshaw. $15 per rider - $5 per passenger. All proceeds benefit CCN! For more information, please contact Detmer at 724-272-7239.

-GreenWorks! Grant Funding Available - We are pleased to announce that GreenWorks! grants are available! Since 1992, PLT has distributed nearly $1 million to fund 1,000 environmental service-learning projects in communities across the country. This year, we are featuring two different grant application forms. The first is for Project Learning Tree’s traditional GreenWorks! grant funding and the second is specifically for GreenSchools! action projects. Both grant applications have a deadline of September 30th and a maximum grant award of $1,000.
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- September 17 – October 22 - Self-Defense for Women - Time: 10 – 11:30 am - Wilkins School Community Center, Regent Square - Please feel free to forward or post the flier so more women can see it - We rely on friends like you to get the word out - Lioness Martial Arts - 412.241.6519 - info@lionessmartialarts.com

- September 18 - Spadafora’s Bar and Restaurant will generously donate 10% of all food sales on this date to CCN to assist with their mission to provide direction to victims of domestic violence. Stop by on Sunday the 18th from 4-9pm to enjoy great food and support CCN. For more information, please contact Stacy de las Alas at 412-364-6728 x15.

Save the Date

October 8 - Tickets on sale now for “Teal Ribbon Comedy,” headlining “Mike & Molly’s” Billy Gardell. The comedy show will take place on Saturday, October 8, 2011 at Stage AE in the North Shore. Doors open at 7pm and show starts at 8pm. General admission tickets (which are reserved seating on first come first serve) are $50 and proceeds benefit ovarian cancer research taking place at Magee-Womens’ Research Institute. Tickets will go fast, so reserve your seat today. For more information and to order tickets, visit http://www.mwrif.org/384.

October 12 – 16 - CALL FOR SOCIAL JUSTICE FILMS IN PITTSBURGH
for Building Change Film Festival. The mission of the Building Change Film Festival is to open the viewer’s eyes to the injustices that we see in the world by screening films and activist videos that will celebrate struggle, shed light on these injustices, and show us possibilities for a better future.

We are looking for feature length, mid, and short (25 minutes or less) films and videos themed around social justice issues, preferably those that have relevance to Southwestern Pennsylvania. This is open to a full range of issues including; the environment, poverty, LGBTQ issues, racial and gender equality, prison/police reform, food justice, peace and human rights issues. Ideal films and videos will demonstrate the power and value of filmmaking as a vehicle for exploration of social justice issues and will motivate viewers to seek solutions and promote change. There is no age limit and all genres will be considered. Deadline is August 10th.

The Building Change Film Festival is part of Building Change: A Convergence for Social Justice, a 3-day open attendance event being coordinated by the Three Rivers Community Foundation and other progressive organizations in Southwestern Pennsylvania

“Darkness Hides the Flowers: A True Story of Holocaust Survival” by Jerry L. Jennings as told by Ida Hoffmann Firestone

“Darkness Hides the Flowers” is a stunning Holocaust memoir on many levels, simultaneously poignant, beautiful, and terrifying. Ida Hoffman was a young teenager forced her to survive alone in Nazi-occupied France and her memoir recounts her decades-old experiences in sharp detail.

There are several things that make this memoir very distinct. One, Ida and her family never formally admitted to being Jewish so they never donned the yellow star. Her father was sent to a concentration camp, not because his ethnicity was discovered but because his Russian background made him suspected of Communist sympathies. The family’s Jewish identity was generally known to their acquaintances, however, but Ida, her mother, and her sisters were rescued by a kind neighbor just minutes before they would have been deported.

Ida and her family were helped by many kind people and almost killed by others and Ida recounts this varied cast of characters in photographic detail. Her first impression of the Germans was that of “some monstrous machine . . . raising and crashing their boots in unison” and “a colony of huge grey ants” but she encountered several more up close, one who, ignorant of their ethnicity, kindly gave them free bread until Ida’s mother countered his arrogant assumption of an easy British victory, and another who was romantically entangled with a French neighbor.

Her schoolteachers knew she was Jewish and though some had previously expressed their virulent anti-Semitism quite openly, the school’s Dean went out of his way (and put himself in considerable danger) by warning Ida of an impending Jewish round-up. After the family lost their breadwinner to the concentration camp, Ida’s piano teacher, a devout Catholic, risked arrest by continuing Ida’s lessons for free (although giving piano lessons to Jews was illegal) telling Ida that she was “so talented that God would punish me if I did not [continue].”

Shortly after she and her family wound up on a farm that harbored refugees, Ida, without being told why, suddenly became the slave of a rich, heartless Frenchwoman and this part of the story is absolutely nightmarish. Beaten and starved on a daily basis, she was forced to survive on her own when the family went on vacation, locating a series of temporary shelters in the surrounding rural area but in almost every case, keeping her ethnicity a secret. This kept her alive more than once: during a particularly frightening encounter, Ida overheard a farmer referencing the bounty offered by the Germans for escaped Jews in a conversation with his wife: “Ohh, if I could just find myself a Jew we could get a new tractor.” She left the farm night.

The starvation and constant fear nearly killed Ida and her physical and emotional healing took years. No one, not even her family members, wanted to hear about Ida’s experiences and this is a lesser-known but disturbing aspect of Holocaust history: the survivors were supposed to pick up the pieces of their lives, be grateful that they were alive, and above all, never discuss what had happened. Ida remained painfully silent for decades.

After finally coming forward with her story, she met author Jerry L. Jennings and the resultant memoir is illustrated with Ida’s paintings (from memory) of the French countryside where she was forced to wander and contains the poetry that she wrote during her virtual imprisonment.

“Darkness Hides the Flowers” is a beautifully written, powerful page-turner.

Contact Ms Atwood at historysingers@comcast.net.

Summer heat waves can be especially dangerous for seniors because they are most prone to heat exhaustion and/or heat stroke. Heat stroke occurs when the body becomes unable to control its temperature. The body’s temperature rises rapidly, the sweating mechanism fails, and the body is unable to cool down. Body temperature may rise to 106°F or higher. Heat stroke can cause death or permanent disability if emergency treatment is not given. Heat exhaustion is the body’s response to an excessive loss of water and salt contained in sweat. Below are some tips to protect yourself and the elderly folks in your life.

Drink Plenty of Fluid. Increase your fluid intake regardless of your activity level. During heavy exercise in hot weather, drink 2-4 glasses (16-32 ounces) of cool fluids each hour. Consult with your doctor if you have been prescribed a fluid-restricted diet or diuretics. During hot weather, you will need to drink more liquid than your thirst indicates.

Replace Salt and Minerals. Heavy sweating removes salt and minerals from the body, which are necessary for your body and must be replaced. The best way to replace salt and minerals is to drink fruit juice or a sports beverage during exercise or any work in the heat. If your senior is on a low salt diet, ask his/her doctor before making significant diet changes.

Wear Appropriate Clothing and Sunscreen. Wear as little clothing as possible when you are at home. Choose lightweight, light-colored, loose-fitting clothing. In the hot sun, a wide-brimmed hat will keep the head cool. Sunburn affects your body’s ability to cool itself and causes a loss of body fluids. Select SPF 15 or higher reduce the risk of sunburn.

Slow down. Strenuous activities should be reduced, eliminated, or rescheduled to the coolest time of the day. Individuals at risk should stay in the coolest available place, not necessarily indoors.
Pace Yourself - If you are unaccustomed to working or exercising in hot weather, start slowly and pick up the pace gradually. If exertion in the heat makes your heart pound and leaves you gasping for breath, stop all activity, get into a cool or shady area, and rest, especially if you become lightheaded, confused, weak, or feel faint.

Stay Cool Indoors. The most efficient way to beat the heat is to stay in an air-conditioned area. If you do not have an air conditioner or evaporative cooling unit, consider a visit to a shopping mall or public library for a few hours. Do not rely on electric fans as your primary cooling device during a heat wave. When the temperature is in the high 90s or higher, a fan will not prevent heat-related illness. A cool shower or bath is a more effective way to cool off.

Schedule Outdoor Activities Carefully. If you must be out in the heat, plan your activities so that you are outdoors either before noon or in the evening. While outdoors, rest frequently in a shady area.
Use a Buddy System - When working in the heat, monitor the condition of your coworkers and have someone do the same for you. Check on seniors twice a day during a heat wave.

Adjust to the Environment. Be aware that any sudden change in temperature, such as an early summer heat wave, will be stressful to your body. You will have a greater tolerance for the heat if you limit your physical activity until you become accustomed to the heat.

Use Common Sense. Avoid hot foods and heavy meals; they add heat to your body. Do not leave infants, children, seniors or pets in a parked car. Limit sun exposure during the midday hours and in places of potential severe exposure, such as beaches.

Warning Signs of Heat Stroke
An extremely high body temperature (above 103°F, orally); unconsciousness; dizziness, nausea, and confusion; red, hot, and dry skin (no sweating); rapid, strong pulse; and throbbing headache. Warning signs of heat exhaustion vary but may include: heavy sweating; muscle cramps; weakness; headache; nausea or vomiting; and paleness, tiredness, dizziness.

What to Do When You Suspect Heat Stroke?
If you see any of these signs, you may be dealing with a life-threatening emergency. Call for immediate medical assistance and begin cooling the senior:
• Get the senior to a shady area.
• Cool the senior rapidly using whatever methods you can. For example, immerse the senior in a tub of cool water; place in a cool shower; spray with cool water from a garden hose; sponge with cool water; or if the humidity is low, wrap the victim in a cool, wet sheet and fan him or her vigorously.
• Do not give the senior alcohol to drink.
• Monitor body temperature. Continue cooling efforts until the body temperature drops to 101°F.
• Get medical assistance as soon as possible. If emergency medical personnel are delayed, call the hospital emergency room for further instructions.

These self-help measures are not a substitute for medical care but may help you recognize and respond promptly to warning signs of trouble. Your best defense against heat-related illness is prevention. Staying cool and making simple changes in your fluid intake, activities, and clothing during hot weather can help you remain safe and healthy.

For fifteen years, the Home Instead Senior Care® franchise network has been devoted to providing seniors with the highest quality care in their own homes, and to arming families with the information they need to make the best decisions about caring for aging loved ones. Family caregivers can visit www.homeinstead.com/567 for more information and resources. Until next time, if you, or any organization of which you are a part, is interested in learning more, please contact our office. We would be happy to speak to your group free of charge about this subject, our services, or even employment opportunities.

Sincerely,

Rebecca Champagne, Human Resource Coordinator
Home Instead Senior Care
1102 S Braddock Ave
Pittsburgh, PA 15218
Phone: (412) 731-0733
Rebecca.Champagne@HomeInstead.com
*Source: State of Rhode Island, Department of Elderly Affairs

Business Program Series
Summer Film Festival

August 2011
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Thursday, August 4 Rachel Carson’s Silent Spring
(DVD – 55 minutes)

When Rachel Carson, a biologist for the Federal government, became aware of the devastating effects of the indiscriminate use of DDT and other toxic pesticides on the natural world, she was compelled to write Silent Spring, a stinging indictment of the chemical industry that produced them. This American Experience documentary reveals how she raised the country’s ecological consciousness despite strenuous efforts to discredit her findings.

Thursday, August 11 Surviving the Dust Bowl
(DVD – 55 minutes)

Beginning in 1931, the seasonal rains that replenished the rich soil in the Southern Plain states never came, resulting in a severe drought that lasted almost seven years. The lack of rain, combined with ferocious winds, blew away millions of tons of precious topsoil, making farming impossible. Severe dust storms called ‘black blizzards’ darkened the sky even at mid-day. While many farmers migrated to California to find work, this American Experience documentary chronicles the struggles and determination of those who remained on their own land during this grim period of the Great Depression.

Thursday, August 18 Empire of the Air: The Men Who Made Radio (Part 1)
(DVD – 60 minutes – a Ken Burns PBS production)

Thursday, August 25 Empire of the Air: The Men Who Made Radio (Part 2)
(DVD – 60 minutes – a Ken Burns PBS production)

Join us for both parts of Ken Burns’ fascinating documentary about three dynamic men: an inventor, an engineer, and a hard-driving Russian immigrant who shared responsibility for the invention of the radio. Their story is complicated by jealousy, greed, lawsuits and tragedy. Jason Robards is the narrator who ties together archival footage, newsreels of the period, and on-air interviews with those who knew them

By Debbie Hines
www.womensmediacenter.com

Voter ID laws enacted now in over half the states, requiring voters to present some form of identification as a requirement to vote, are seemingly simple in nature. But they will place unreasonable burdens on many women who may well be unaware of the difficulty they could face when casting their vote in the 2012 election.

Fourteen states require a government issued photo ID when voting in person. At the time of registering to vote, other states like Kansas and Alabama further demand proof of citizenship beyond the federal legal requirement that potential voters swear they are citizens. During the 2011 legislative session, five states—Wisconsin, Texas, Tennessee, Alabama and South Carolina—joined Georgia and Indiana by enacting the strictest form of photo ID requirement for voters, and most of these newest changes will first come into effect for the 2012 election.

Proponents of the laws argue that photo IDs are a reasonable way to protect our elections and make them fair. But far from harmless, the laws are complex and place unnecessary hardship on women—those who are newly married or recently divorced as well as senior citizens and low-income women.

Requiring voters to register with proof of citizenship is more problematic for women than for men. A survey by the Brennan Center for Justice at NYU law school shows that only 66 percent of voting-age women with ready access to any proof of citizenship have a document with their current legal name. Women who have recently married or divorced and have changed their names—and whose passport, naturalization papers or birth certificate are in their former names—will then be required to obtain a certified court document showing the divorce decree or marriage certificate. These documents vary in cost from state to state but can cost upwards of $25 plus any time off work needed to obtain them. The certified court documents may not even be in the state where you now reside, further delaying and complicating matters.

And for low income persons including women earning less than $25,000 per year, at least 12 percent don’t even have ready access to passports, naturalization papers or birth certificates, according to the Brennan Center research. Voting rights advocates argue that citizenship requirements have the potential to affect millions of Americans, including low-income and women voters. The League of Women Voters in many states has long asserted these laws hinder those who can least afford to take off work and pay for transportation to get the necessary documents.

For those women who are already registered to vote, the same problem will hold true. The photo ID must be in the same name that is registered with the Election Board. Hence, any recent changes in name from divorce or marriage will require certified proof of the name change along with the new photo ID. Of course, most men need not endure such onerous paper trail requirements. But U.S. women change their names in 90 percent of marriages. Karen Celestino-Horseman, an attorney for the League of Women Voters, says “women in particular are going to be impacted,” by requirements that they produce documents authenticating every name change in cases of marriage and divorce.

Some of the laws will allow you to provisionally vote if you arrive on Election Day without the proper ID, and then return within several days with a current photo ID. There is no guarantee that a provisional ballot will count. And taking an extra day to straighten things out and get the necessary photo ID has an economic consequence for many working women, particularly low income women. Lawyers who challenged the Indiana voter ID law, which was upheld by the Supreme Court in 2008, cited the experience of Valeria Williams. A black Republican in her 60s, she was told in 2006 that her telephone bill, letter from the Social Security Administration addressed to her and an expired driver’s license were not sufficient. She cast a provisional ballot that then was not counted. A Voter Advancement Project study of the 2006 general election in Ohio and Florida found that many provisional ballots of eligible voters were rejected “simply because their envelopes were incomplete” according to election rules, since poll workers had given inadequate instructions.

The argument by the supporters of these voter ID laws that you can’t cash a check, board a plane or drive a car without a photo ID fails to recognize that not everyone flies or drives. And many seniors who lack photo IDs have direct deposit into accounts, no longer need to go anywhere to cash a check and no longer drive. Seniors who have expired driver’s licenses may be prohibited from voting without another government issued photo ID. None of the arguments in support of these voter ID laws address the extra burdens placed on seniors and low income, divorced and newly married women.

Whether or not these new voter ID laws are intended to disenfranchise women voters, the result is the same. They will disenfranchise many women voters. Equal access to the polls is paramount for all. Women and particularly women of color who fought so hard for suffrage and became the last to get that right may now be the first to lose it

Along with proper nutrition, air and water, restorative sleep is essential to health and wellbeing. Without a good night’s sleep, we function below our capacity to handle the demands of life, with varying consequences.

The effects of prolonged sleep deprivation cannot be underestimated, and leads to premature aging, hormone imbalances, an increased risk of developing diabetes and high blood pressure. According to Mark Mahowald, a professor of neurology at the University of Minnesota Medical School, any amount of sleep deprivation reduces mental performance, and “one complete night of sleep deprivation is as impairing in simulated driving tests as a legally intoxicating blood-alcohol level.”

Can you harness the power of Feng Shui to improve your sleep? The answer is a resounding “yes”. If you’re tired of not getting your zzz’s, Feng Shui expert Yvonne Phillips can tell you how simple adjustments to your bedroom will make a major difference. With over 20 years of experience in the ancient art of Feng Shui and the author of “Feng Shui ABC: Project for a Weekend”, Yvonne understands how the energy or “chi” that flows around us impacts the quality of our wellbeing. If energy is blocked in our environment, this imbalance and disharmony will inevitably lead to discomfort, irritability, and prevent restful sleep.

This ancient Chinese practice is increasingly in demand here in the west for all areas of life, and Yvonne offers practical Feng Shui tips that anyone can immediately apply to their bedrooms to promote deep sleep that is so needed.

Q. How can “good” or “bad” Feng Shui affect my sleep?
A. The relationship between your environment and sleep quality is closely linked. Feng Shui is about working with energy, and the intentional clearing and arrangement of objects to allow the healthy flow of positive energy, and the dissipation of the negative. For better sleep, it focuses on purposefully working with the proper energy flow in your bedroom, which although invisible to the naked eye, directly impacts your own energy field, the quality of your sleep and overall health.

Q. What are the items in a bedroom that disrupt sleep the most?
A. Any electrical appliance or tech gadget that emits electromagnetic fields (EMFs), such as a plugged-in or wireless device. I recommend moving your alarm clock as far away from your bed as possible, if not out of the room entirely, along with removing your cell phone, computer, electric blanket, and TV. Studies show that EMFs impact the cells in your body, and deplete normal melatonin levels, with low melatonin being a major factor in poor sleep and other health problems. Excessive exposure to EMFs can disrupt normal circadian rhythms, and simply clearing out these devices from your bedroom may be the most important factor to achieve proper sleep.

Q. Once I remove EMFs, then what?
A. The next step would be to clear out any clutter and excess furniture and items which not only gather dust, but block the flow of positive chi. A bedroom filled with clutter causes energy to stagnant and creates a busy and distracting environment. Be sure to clear items from under the bed, the corners and the closet. Healthy energy flow does not follow the motto, “out of sight, out of mind”, and useless clutter piled up anywhere will throw off the energy of the entire room. Achieving a clear “Zen” space is ideal for peaceful sleep.

After the clutter and dust is cleared, consider the lighting in your bedroom. Are your window coverings keeping it dark enough at night? Melatonin production, which is essential to sleep, naturally rises in the dark and is affected by your exposure to light. To ensure proper melatonin levels which make you sleepy, block out any outside light and keep the room as dark as possible.

Q. Does the color of my bedroom matter for getting better sleep?
A. Absolutely; the proper use of color is a major factor in Feng Shui, and will dramatically impact the energy of your room and your ability to sleep. Avoid painting your bedroom red or bright orange, as it is too energizing a color to allow adequate rest. Instead, opt for soothing pastel colors such as green or blue which promotes healing and calmness, or soft cream or beige.

Q. Do you have any advice about my bedroom furniture?
A. Keep the space around your bed clear, with no objects or furniture with sharp corners jutting in. To best support your personal energy, position your bed so you can see the door while in bed, but far enough away so you’re not in alignment with it. Solid headboards made from wood are good Feng Shui, to support the chi around the head, and have a bed with a mattress raised off the floor to allow the flow of chi.

If possible, avoid sleeping under heavy ceiling beams or a slanted roof, which press down on the energy in the room. Remove any sad or depressing art or busy pictures with a lot of people, pulling on your attention. The aim is to keep the energy of the room as clear and relaxing as possible.

Q. Any final thoughts on how to sleep better?
A. Along with cool, fresh air, aromatherapy diffusers are a wonderful Feng Shui tool for improved air quality and clearer breathing, such as eucalyptus, pine or tea tree oil. Soft lighting such as salt lamps is also recommended. Keep all the doors closed at night, including the bedroom door, closet, and the en-suite bathroom door.

Your bedroom should be treated as your sanctuary where you are at your most vulnerable while recharging your energies. Feng Shui for better sleep is about balance, and creating a calm and peaceful bedroom without distraction, while also promoting a good circulation of chi.

Yvonne is certified with Feng Shui Institute International and has trained with world famous Feng Shui Master Lillian Too. As owner of Creative Color & Design, she incorporates Feng Shui principles into both residences and businesses, from small businesses to large corporations. Please visit http://www.fengshuiabc1.com

  or email yvonnephillips1@aol.com for more information.

Julie Ann Monzi lives in Gettysburg, PA, with her husband, 3 almost-grown children, and 5 cats. She enjoys reading, hiking the Gettysburg Battlefield, and watching British mysteries. Julie’s work has appeared in magazines that include “Harpstring Magazine”, “Liguorian”, and “Evangel”. Need a place to de-stress? Check out her blog at www.5minutereflections.blogspot.com

From an early age, I learned the value of women, specifically older women. Mom took me along on her weekly visits to Ruth’s, the hair dresser in our neighborhood. I practically grew up there—as a baby the grandmothers passed me around as my mom got a wash and set.
When I grew older, I loved to sit on the little foot stools and listen to the women talk. I couldn’t wait for the day when it would be my turn to stick my head under the dryer like they did. As I rode my bicycle around the neighborhood, it seemed strange to see these women sitting on their porches or working in their gardens. They looked so different without their curlers and plastic robes.
In elementary school, my relationship with these ladies changed. Not seeing them weekly with my mother, I got to spend time with them on my own.
Mrs. Snyder lived next door. I loved going to her house with the lace doilies on the armrests and the ticking grandfather clock. It smelled of Mrs. Snyder’s own sweet scent and fresh baked bread. We’d sit at her dining room table and look at old pictures while she’d tell me stories of her childhood. It fascinated me to see pictures of my hometown looking so old and different in black and white. I wish I could remember her stories now.
In the spring, a row of lovely hyacinths, purple and pink, grew in Mrs. Snyder’s back yard. One morning she pulled a pair of scissors from her apron pocket and carefully cut a bouquet for me to take home. I gripped the flowers tightly and presented them to my mom. Afterward while I was playing, I took a sniff of my hand. It smelled overwhelmingly of Mrs. Snyder’s personal fragrance from where she handled the flowers. I refused to wash my hand all day.
Another woman from our neighborhood was Mrs. Vrotney. She’d known me, like the others, since I was a baby, but I related to her better when I became an adult. Mrs. Vrotney attended a make-up demonstration I conducted at my mother’s house. As a wanna-be saleswoman of cleansers and eye shadow, I asked the group, “You wouldn’t wash your hair with soap, would you?”
Mrs. Vrotney laughed and said, “Yes, I do it all the time.”
Trying not to get flustered, I tried again. “Well, you wouldn’t brush your teeth with soap, would you?”
Everyone chuckled.
Later in private, as Mrs. Vrotney bought the cleanser and foundation, she said, “You know, when I was little, I did brush my teeth with soap, but I didn’t say anything because I didn’t want to mess you up.”
I was grateful.
Several years later I married and eventually had children of my own. When I was pregnant a third time, tests showed my baby might have Downs Syndrome. Mrs. Vrotney became my prayer champion. She sent me prayer cards and even a hand written prayer that she prayed daily. Thank God, my son was born healthy.
Mrs. Vrotney told me in her later years that she didn’t know why God kept her around, but she figured it was because even though she couldn’t do much, she could still pray.
When my children grew older, I volunteered at the local nursing home. I met several lovely women, two who hold a special place in my heart.
I met Aunt Ethel, as she asked to be called, as I was leaving the building one afternoon. She was sitting in her wheelchair out in the sunshine. I sat down beside her, and we talked. She told me about her son with Downs Syndrome who passed away when he was almost 20 years old. She talked about grief and dealing with what life brings.
“You can’t fight life,” she told me. Those words rang true for me as I had been struggling against my own life and the changes time had wrought.
The second woman from the nursing home that I carry in my heart is Sylvia. She would scoot down the hall in her wheelchair, using her feet to propel herself. Whenever she’d see me, she’d smile and throw her arms open for a hug.
When I visited her room, she’d show me her angel collection—pillows, statues, and pictures—and give me Tootsie Rolls to take home to my children. Her positive outlook amazed me.
Once she handed me a piece of paper that she’d torn it out of the nursing home newsletter. “This made me think of you,” she said.
It contained a quote by an anonymous writer: “Some people come into our lives and go quickly. Some stay for awhile and leave footprints on our hearts. And we are never ever the same.”
I was touched beyond words. Sylvia warmed my heart at every visit. I never imagined she felt the same.
These lovely ladies are gone now, but they have truly left their footprints on my heart. And the profound lessons they taught me have become a part of me: take time to really be with someone, pray through all life’s situations, know when to keep your opinions to yourself, flow with life instead of against it, and let others know how you feel about them.
These important messages we could all hear if we would just take time to listen to the wisdom of the women in our lives.

Habits For Health Rejuvenation
Dr Kathleen Hartford Author Fit, Fun and Fabulous At Any Age

1. Be certain to adequately hydrate your body. Just as you cleanse the outside of your body you must also clean the inside. To ensure you are getting adequate amounts of water calculate 2/3rds of your body weight in ounces or .66 X your weight. Not everybody can reach this goal overnight however make it your target number and you will be rewarded with increased energy, vitality and health! Be certain to utilize filtered water, our tap water is filled with pollutants from industrial chemicals to pharmaceutical drugs which our purification facilities cannot remove.

2. Healthy eating in a restaurant can sometimes be a challenge, to ensure the healthiest meal follow these guidelines:
• Order a double order of vegetables or salad rather than the potatoes, pasta or bread that is offered.
• If having a soup stick to clear broth soups and avoid the hidden fats of cream based soups
• If having a large salad either bring a light dressing from home or have the dressing on the side. Simply dip each bite lightly into the dressing and you will be amazed how little you actually consume. Lemon squeezed onto a salad is often times enough flavoring to substitute as a dressing
• If out for Chinese opt for the vegetable stir-fries, when adding a protein turkey, chicken or seafood is your best choice.

3. Be aware of subtle weight gain around your mid section for both yourself and your children. This could be an indicator that you and your children are experiencing accelerated aging due to metabolic syndrome.

People with metabolic syndrome are at increased risk of coronary heart disease, stroke, peripheral vascular disease and Type 2 diabetes. Metabolic syndrome has become increasingly common in the United States; an estimated 80 million Americans have it. This syndrome is characterized by a group of metabolic risk factors that occur in a person. They include:
• Abdominal obesity (fat tissue in and around the abdomen)
• High blood fats, high triglycerides and high LDL cholesterol
• Low HDL cholesterol
• Elevated blood pressure

To ensure that you and your loved ones do not fall prey to this health destroying syndrome be certain to avoid simple sugars and processed carbohydrates. Follow this guidelines for a healthy plate; have your protein portion be the size of the palm of your hand and allow the rest of your plate to be filled with vegetables and low glycemic complex carbohydrates.

Rather than having sugar laden sweets after dinner enjoy a warm cup of caffeine free tea or a small serving of fruit or nuts, in fact dates combined with pecans are wonderful and quickly filling. They taste just like pecan pie without the calories and excess sugar!

4. Regular Exercise is the true fountain of youth. It is the one activity that will positively affect ALL of the Biomarkers Of Aging. Biomarkers of aging are measurements that indicate how quickly your body is aging of the cellular level. As we age typically lose 6.2 pounds of muscle each decade this rate of loss accelerates after the age of 45. We also lose about 30 percent of our muscle cells between the ages of 20 and 70. The loss of both muscle cells and muscle mass adversely affects so many areas of our health, including:
• Decreased blood sugar tolerance
• Declining metabolism
• Increased body fat
• Reduced aerobic capacity
• Loss of bone mineral density
Sounds like a bit of a bummer, right? Well only if you are a committed
couch potato. Studies prove that with the right exercise, individuals in their sixth, seventh, eighth and even ninth decade of life can expect improvements in strength and muscle cell size comparable to younger people doing the same amount of exercise. For women, this is especially good news in the area of osteoporosis (Bone Health is assessed in Biomarker 10). This is why so much emphasis is given to physical activity and strength training when we are committed to reversing the accelerated aging process!

5. Consider utilizing a Medical Food and specific formulations of targeted nutrients:
Imagine new generations of Medical foods that are scientifically-based for the management of specific health conditions associated with type 2 diabetes, metabolic syndrome, inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), chronic fatigue syndrome, and more.

These medical foods along with an anti-inflammatory diet were shown in clinical studies to reduce Total Cholesterol by 16%, triglycerides by 45%, increase good cholesterol by 6%, improved fasting insulin by 25%. It lowered body fat by an average of 15 pounds and supported a 5 pound increase in lean muscle mass. And best of all there were NO side effects except, of course, a measurable increase in health!

Consider starting your day with one of these medical foods as your breakfast. It’s quick, it’s easy and it’s a great start toward rejuvenating your health! For more information on Medical foods visit www.drkathleenhartford.com