Health Education

By KERRY LYNN FRALEY Staff Writer The piercing scream broke her sleep. Groggy and annoyed, 15-year-old Naomi Pike got up to attend to the baby, knowing that if she didn't, it would just keep crying and wake up everyone else. The fact that it was a doll, not a real child, didn't make much difference at that point, since the South Hagerstown High School sophomore knew she couldn't just turn it off. The way the realistic doll is designed, Pike had no choice but to keep turning its feeding plug as long as it kept crying.

The Washington County Family Center has received a "highly favorable" rating from Friends of the Family Inc. on its annual monitoring report. The Family Center has received the top rating every year since monitoring began in 1998. The Family Center, which opened in 1995, is at 920 W. Washington St., third floor. Its primary goal is to help families become self-sufficient through personal achievement, education and positive parenting. Services include adult education programs, high school activities, health education services, job readiness activities, self-sufficiency classes, recreational activities and case management services.

Arthritis treatment education continues FREDERICK, Md. - The Arthritis Foundation will present part four of an educational series, "Treatment Options for Arthritis and Related Rheumatic Diseases" from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Wednesday, April 26, at Homewood at Crumland Farms, 7407 Willow Road. Topics will include the benefits of acupuncture and chiropractic care. The speakers will be Dr. Dennis Travaligne of Valley Chiropractic and Bobbi Mead of Life Directions LLC. The seminar is free and open to the public.

By DAVE McMILLION Staff Writer A new health education curriculum being considered for Washington County elementary students would cover more than nutrition and the make-up of the body. It also would help youngsters deal with feelings, making friends, and learning problem-solving skills. In addition to physical health, school officials feel it is important to stress good mental health, especially considering the types of social situations young people face these days, said Eugene "Yogi" Martin, supervisor of health education for the board of education.

There was no shortage of role models at Friday night's No Smoking Youth Club banquet for family and friends at the Martin Luther King Jr. Community Center. Staff, visitors and even the keynote speaker were there to sing the praises of quitting smoking or better yet, never starting. "Smoking is probably the most preventable health problem we have," author and health educator Richard Williams said. "Diabetes, heart and lung problems are all connected to smoking. " Williams has a doctorate in health education and administration, and has taught college-level courses in nutrition and health education.

There was no shortage of role models at Friday night's No Smoking Youth Club banquet for family and friends at the Martin Luther King Jr. Community Center. Staff, visitors and even the keynote speaker were there to sing the praises of quitting smoking or better yet, never starting. "Smoking is probably the most preventable health problem we have," author and health educator Richard Williams said. "Diabetes, heart and lung problems are all connected to smoking. " Williams has a doctorate in health education and administration, and has taught college-level courses in nutrition and health education.

CHAMBERSBURG, Pa. - As Pittsburgh Steelers' head athletic trainer John Norwig toured the exhibits at the 21st annual Franklin County Science and Technology Fair Sunday, he was impressed by how many of them related to his job in football. Norwig, 45, is in his 12th year with the Steelers and his 24th year in athletic training. He spoke during the awards assembly at the conclusion of the fair, held at Chambersburg Area Middle School. As an athletic trainer, Norwig is responsible for coordinating health care for the players, he said.

The first married couple to be employed as nurses at Washington County Hospital in Hagerstown are spending their retirement in much the same way as they spent their careers: Pursuing individual interests while supporting each other. Janet and Terry Marshall of Beaver Creek spent nearly 30 of their 41 married years specializing in different health areas at the hospital. She retired in December 2000 after leaving work to care for her ailing father. Her husband retired in December 2001 after deciding 65 was his retirement age, no matter how much he loved his job. "I guess it's worked so well because we're not at all competitive with each other," Terry Marshall said.

MONT ALTO, Pa. - Penn State Mont Alto, taking a major step toward its goal of becoming "part of this community," will open a satellite campus at the Chambersburg (Pa.) Mall this summer. Construction of the 43,000-square-foot facility is under way. It is sandwiched between an Eckerd/Thrift Drug store and a General Nutrition Center store on the other, said David Goldenberg, CEO of the Mont Alto campus. At least five full-time staffers and three or four part-timers will be hired to run the new facility.

Spring cleaning Hancock is in a spring cleaning mode. Citizens are encouraged to participate in Hancock Pride Day Saturday, May 9, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Large outdoor trash receptacles and power spraying equipment will be available from the town office. If you need assistance in hauling away unwanted stuff, contact the office at 301-678-5622. The hope is that everyone will take a good look at their property. Try to see it from a visitor's point of view. And if you're trying to sell it, try to see it from a potential buyer's point of view.

Mark Anthony's cooking career has run through some pretty high-profile terrain. He was named executive chef at the Las Vegas Sands resort complex when he was only 24 years old. He appears on national TV. He has catered or served as personal chef for rock bands, politicians and sports heroes. But Anthony got his start in cooking in another sort of high-profile terrain: Mount Rushmore. "I think I was 12 when I started cooking. That was in a restaurant in Keystone, right next to Mt. Rushmore (in South Dakota)

WASHINGTON COUNTY -- A group of community leaders is recruiting volunteers to help formulate a "Strategic Community Impact Plan" that will include measurable goals and strategies for improving the quality of life in Washington County, Bradley N. Sell, executive director of the Community Foundation of Washington County, said Wednesday at a Hagerstown Rotary meeting. The project grew out of a collaboration between the Community Foundation of Washington County and United Way of Washington County, and is modeled after a similar project in Spartanburg, S.C., by a local foundation and United Way there, Sell said.

Spring cleaning Hancock is in a spring cleaning mode. Citizens are encouraged to participate in Hancock Pride Day Saturday, May 9, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Large outdoor trash receptacles and power spraying equipment will be available from the town office. If you need assistance in hauling away unwanted stuff, contact the office at 301-678-5622. The hope is that everyone will take a good look at their property. Try to see it from a visitor's point of view. And if you're trying to sell it, try to see it from a potential buyer's point of view.

Katrina Lyn Ralls of Hagerstown, daughter of Brenda Ralls of Hagerstown and Dennis Ralls of Smithsburg, graduated this year from Brooks Institute of Photography, Santa Barbara, Calif., with a Bachelor of Arts degree in professional photography with a concentration in portraiture. Ralls is a 2000 graduate of Smithsburg High School and graduated from Hagerstown Community College in 2004 with an Associate of Arts degree in photography. She plans to open her own business in the near future under the name Photography by Katrina or katrina.

There was no shortage of role models at Friday night's No Smoking Youth Club banquet for family and friends at the Martin Luther King Jr. Community Center. Staff, visitors and even the keynote speaker were there to sing the praises of quitting smoking or better yet, never starting. "Smoking is probably the most preventable health problem we have," author and health educator Richard Williams said. "Diabetes, heart and lung problems are all connected to smoking. " Williams has a doctorate in health education and administration, and has taught college-level courses in nutrition and health education.

There was no shortage of role models at Friday night's No Smoking Youth Club banquet for family and friends at the Martin Luther King Jr. Community Center. Staff, visitors and even the keynote speaker were there to sing the praises of quitting smoking or better yet, never starting. "Smoking is probably the most preventable health problem we have," author and health educator Richard Williams said. "Diabetes, heart and lung problems are all connected to smoking. " Williams has a doctorate in health education and administration, and has taught college-level courses in nutrition and health education.

It's been more than 140 years since the end of slavery in the United States and yet its legacy still adversely affects the health of African-Americans, according to author Richard Williams. And, he suggests that white people are also affected in negative ways by what happened way back when, in part because society hasn't really had a frank dialogue about racial issues. Williams, who will be in Hagerstown April 27 to speak at a banquet for the No Smoking Youth Club at the Martin Luther King Jr. Community Center, knows what he's talking about.

LPN students from Hagerstown Community College will hold a two-day health education event for older adults at Homewood at Williamsport on April 24 and 25, from 1 to 4 p.m. in the Community Exercise Room. The free event is open to the public. Information will be available on foot care, blood glucose testing, prevention of pneumonia, safe exercise for seniors, blood pressure clinic, home safety and heart health. To learn more, please contact Homewood's wellness coordinator, Shelby Vaughn, at 301-582-1750.

Arthritis treatment education continues FREDERICK, Md. - The Arthritis Foundation will present part four of an educational series, "Treatment Options for Arthritis and Related Rheumatic Diseases" from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Wednesday, April 26, at Homewood at Crumland Farms, 7407 Willow Road. Topics will include the benefits of acupuncture and chiropractic care. The speakers will be Dr. Dennis Travaligne of Valley Chiropractic and Bobbi Mead of Life Directions LLC. The seminar is free and open to the public.

Total FitnessSpecialists Inc. Health and fitness professionals have joined the training staff of Total Fitness Specialists Inc., which is inside Gold's Gym in Hagerstown. Jeff Hartman has been a personal trainer with Total Fitness Specialists for two years and recently was appointed assistant director. He is a 2005 graduate of Shepherd University with a degree in physical and health education. He is a certified personal trainer through American Fitness Professionals and Associates.