Pathfinder Lite
March 2010
Special Points of Interest:
Chili Cook off 3/4/2010
Computer Training 3/8/2010
Hairwars has been CANCELLED
Chili Cook-Off
Bring your best Chili Recipe and see if you can win 1st Prize
5 PM at the Sylva Center
Chili Cook Off
Pull out your slow cookers and crock pots and get ready for this year’s Chili Cook-off coming March 4th at 5:00 p.m.
at Pathways for the Future. Staff members, consumers, and friends of Pathways will be competing for the Chili Cook-off Trophy. A team of highly competent (extremely hungry) judges will perform the difficult task of choosing the best tasting chili. You might download a recipe from off line, use a recipe that has been in the family for generations, find something in a church cook-book, or experiment. No Road Kill Please. Following the completion there will be an opportunity to sample the winners and losers chili. Bring a dessert, cornbread, slaw, or something to go with the Chili. There will be a live musical performance by Jim Madison, (Pretty well known entertainer) and other entertainment following the competition and dinner. Pathways Chili Cook-off March 4th. At 5:00 p.m. Don’t miss it. For more information call Pathways at 631-1167. Ask Keith Greenarch about his secret award winning recipe.
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Service Member’s Counseling and Support Center
Early in the motion picture “Pearl Harbor” one of the young boys father was furious over his son’s adventure flying an old crop duster airplane. His father said something to the effect of “I’ve seen things that no one should ever have to see and I don’t want you to have to go through what I went through” The father was making a reference to his combat experience in World War One. Little did he know his son would soon be flying bombing runs against the Japanese in World War Two following the attack on Pearl Harbor. The father’s physical wounds of war had healed but the psychological wounds of war had not. The psychological pain was acute. We have all heard said, “He saw some really bad stuff in the war and won’t talk about it.” You ask why they will not talk about it. Every veteran has their reasons. Currently 38% of soldiers report psychological symptoms following deployments, combat exposure, and 49% of the National Guard have the symptoms. When soldiers return back into civilian life and back into the family environment without the supports found closer to military bases then problems show up quickly and may be severe. Symptoms include: depression, alcohol or substance abuse, sleep disturbance, chronic irritability, aggressive or violent behavior, anxiety and Traumatic Brain Injuries.. The sooner the intervention is received better the chance for success in returning to better coping and higher level functioning. One unfortunate statistic from the current state of war is the growing number of suicides among soldiers and veterans. In a January 2009 CNN Report, The Army said 24 soldiers are believed to have committed suicide in January 2009 alone -- six times as many as killed themselves in January 2008, The 2008 numbers were the highest annual level of suicides among soldiers since the Pentagon began tracking the rate 28 years ago. The Army said 128 soldiers were confirmed to have committed suicide in 2008, and an additional 15 were suspected of having killed themselves. The statistics cover active-duty soldiers and activated National Guard and reserves. The Army's confirmed rate of suicides in 2008 was 20.2 per 100,000 soldiers. The nation's suicide rate was 19.5 per 100,000 people in 2005, the most recent figure available, Army officials said in December 2008. Suicides for Marines were also up in 2008. There were 41 in 2008, up from 33 in 2007 and 25 in 2006, according to a Marines report There remains a significant relationship between suicide attempts and the number of days spent in Iraq and Afghanistan, nearly one third of all military personnel from the war in Iraq access mental health services after they return home. Research has shown those returning home with a Traumatic Brain Injury , from a sample size of 172 people 35% displayed a significant level of hopelessness, 23% displayed suicidal ideation, and 18% had made a post injury suicide attempt. Help is available for military families. Call the Service Members Counseling and Support Center at 452-8354 or 452-8923 Provided by Haywood Regional Medical Center Urgent Care Center Behavioral Health Services.
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Announcing
Pathways School
CLASS NAME: You Name it
MEETING TIMES: It is up to you
COST: Free
Pathways staff members have many years of experience in a variety of topics from computer skills, eBay, family dynamics, non-profit organizations, veterans services, independent living skills, accessibility, navigating the state services maize, benefits eligibility and many many more. If you would like to have a class set up for a specific area of interest or need to talk with someone privately call Pathways For The Future and set up a class schedule or a time to meet privately with one of our professionals . Call 631-1167
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Current topics in the Insurance Discussion
Rate Increases
· Anthem Blue Cross of California announced that its individual market premiums would rise by as much as 39% in the coming months. After Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius asked for a public justification for the increase, Anthem Blue Cross delayed the increase for two months
· Anthem Blue Cross of Connecticut last year requested an increase of 24% which was denied by the state
· Anthem of Maine last year requested an 18.5 % increase which the state rejected, so this year’s rate increase request is 23%
· In 2009 Blue Cross/Blue Shield of Michigan requested approval for premium increases of 56% for plans sold on the individual market
· Regency Blue Cross/Blue Shield of Oregon requested a 20% increase
· Rates for increases for some individual health plans in Washington increased by up to 40% until the state imposed stiffer regulations
· Some premium increases are five to ten times larger than the growth of health care expenditures
Profits
· Recent economic data show that profits for the ten largest insurance companies increased 250% between 2000 and 2009, ten times faster than inflation.
· In 2009 WellPoint, UnitedHealth Group, Cigna, Aetna, and Humana took in combined profits of $12.2 BILLION, up 56% over 2008. WellPoint accumulated more than $2.7 Billion in profits LAST Quarter (09)
· The CEOs of America’s five largest insurers were each compensated up to $24 million in 2008
Reform
· The six largest publicly held insurers insured 2.2 million fewer people in the first three quarters of 2009
· 15,000 per day are loosing their health insurance
· Lowering health care costs through reform could generate 250,000 to 400,000 jobs, freeing money to spend on other things. Many people spend more on health care than they spend on their home mortgage.
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EVENT CANCELLED
Hair Wars is a fund raising program of Pathways for the Future, Center for Independent Living. The proceeds are used to support programs which provide opportunities for people with disabilities. The admission is $10 for adults, $5 for students and children under 5 years of age are free. Tickets are available at Pathways and participating
salons.
Salons wishing to participate call
Tiffanie or Loretta at
586-1570 or 631-1167 for details.
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Keith Greenarch Appointed to position on State Independent Living Council
North Carolina Governor Beverly Perdue announced Tuesday February 23 that Keith Greenarch, the Independent Living Coordinator with Pathways for the Future has been selected to serve a three year term on the North Carolina State Independent Living Council (SILC). Greenarch will join Barbara Davis who is the Executive Director of Pathways for the Future Center for Independent Living who is the current Chairperson of the SILC. The majority of the members of the SILC are individuals who have a disability. Representatives from agencies providing services to individuals with disabilities are also selected by the Governor to serve. Greenarch is a seven year employee of Pathways for the Future and primarily known for his coordination of the Pathways CyberPals Program which has placed nearly 1500 hundred refurbished computers into the hands of persons with disabilities. The SILC is a nonprofit organization and a federally-mandated council that represents the interests of people with disabilities across North Carolina, promote a philosophy of independent living, including a philosophy of consumer control, peer support, self-help, self determination, equal access, and individual and systems advocacy, in order to maximize opportunities for individuals with disabilities and the integration and full inclusion of individuals with disabilities into the mainstream of society. The NCSILC monitors, reviews, and evaluates the implementation of the State Plan. The NCSILC also works with the Centers for Independent Living (CILs) in North Carolina to assist individuals with disabilities live independently in the community.
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Assistive technology is technology used by individuals with disabilities in order to perform functions that might otherwise be difficult or impossible. Assistive technology can include mobility devices such as walkers and wheelchairs, as well as hardware, software, and peripherals that assist people with disabilities in accessing computers or other information technologies. For example, people with limited hand function may use a keyboard with large keys or a special mouse to operate a computer, individuals who are blind may use software that reads text on the screen in a computer-generated voice, a person with low vision may use software that enlarges screen content, those who are deaf may use a TTY (text telephone), or one with speech impairments may use a device that speaks out loud as they enter text via a keyboard. A formal, legal definition of assistive technology was first published in the Technology-Related Assistance for Individuals with Disabilities Act of 1988 (The Tech Act). This act was amended in 1994; in 1998, it was repealed and replaced with the Assistive Technology Act of 1998 ("AT Act"). Throughout this history, the original definition of assistive technology remained consistent. This same definition was used in the Access Board's Electronic and Information Technology Accessibility Standards [1], developed as required by 1998 amendments to Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act. A tremendous variety of assistive technology is available today, providing the opportunity for nearly all people to access information technology (IT). However, an individual's having proper assistive technology is no guarantee of having access. IT accessibility is dependent on accessible design. IT products must be designed and created in ways that allow all users to access them, including those who use assistive technologies. Call Pathways at 631-1167 for more information and talk with Keith
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Wilderness First Aid Course offered at Nantahala Outdoor Center
A 16-hour Wilderness First Aid (WFA) course provides entry-level training for outdoor enthusiasts to prepare themselves for outdoor trips. All instructors have extensive outdoor experience and have been selected not only for their expertise in emergency medicine and rescue, but also for their teaching skills. WFA is a two-year certification that does not include CPR. American Heart Association (AHA) HeartSaver CPR is an optional extra that can be taken on the evening of day one. Taking a WFA class can also re-certify an expired WFR or AWFA qualification. The length of the course is 2 days. The Cost is $149.00. The 2010 Starting Dates are: April 3, 17; May 1, 22; June 16; July 10; August 14; September 4.
Check In time is 8:30 on the first day at Kleinrath Hall at the Nantahala Outdoor Center’s Nantahala River Outpost, Lodging and meals are available at NOC Facilities. Call 888-905-7238 for information.
Coffee filters: Not just for coffee makers anymore
1. Cover bowls or dishes when cooking in the microwave. Coffee filters make excellent covers.
2. Clean windows, mirrors, and chrome... Lint-free Coffee filters leave windows sparkling.
3. Protect China by separating your good dishes with a coffee filter between each dish.
4. If you break the cork when opening a wine bottle, filter the wine through a coffee filter.
5. Place a coffee filter in the skillet to absorb moisture and prevent rust.
6. Ball up a lint-free coffee filter and use it as a shoe polish applicator.
7. After frying, strain oil through a sieve lined with a coffee filter for recycling
8. Weigh chopped foods. Place chopped ingredients in a coffee filter on a kitchen scale.
9. Coffee filters make convenient wrappers for messy foods like Sloppy Joes and Tacos.
10. Line a plant pot with a coffee filter to prevent the soil from going through the drainage hole.
11. Prevent a Popsicle from dripping by placing on or two holes as needed in the coffer filter.
12. Do you think we used expensive strips to wax eyebrows? Use strips of coffee filters
13. Use in your plate to soak the grease from fried bacon, French fries, chicken fingers, etc on them.
14. Keep in the bathroom. They make great "razor nick fixers."
15. As a sewing backing. Use a filter as an easy-to-tear backing for embroidering or appliquéing soft fabrics.
16. Put baking soda into a coffee filter and insert into shoes or a closet to absorb or prevent odors.
17. Use them to strain soup stock and to tie fresh herbs in to put in soups and stews.
18. Use a coffee filter to prevent spilling when you add fluids to your car.
19. Use them as a spoon rest while cooking and clean up small counter spills.
20. Can use to hold dry ingredients when baking or when cutting a piece of fruit or veggies.
21. Use them to wrap Christmas ornaments for storage.
22. Use them to remove fingernail polish when out of cotton balls.
23. Place seeds onto a dampened coffee filter, fold, then place inside a baggie until the seeds sprout
24. Use coffee filters as blotting paper for pressed flowers, Place the flowers between two coffee filters and put the coffee filters in phone book
______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ 2010 $250 stimulus check
Individuals receiving “Supplemental Security Income” and certain veterans with disabilities are eligible to receive a check for $250.00 as part of Presidents Obama’s efforts to further stimulate the economy. The check write date has not been announced but some are speculating that checks will be issued before the end of March. Less than one third of all funds categorized at “Stimulus Funds” have been expended to date. More stimulus funds are expected to boost the economy as state and federal agencies complete the application process for public works projects and “green” projects nationwide.
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CyberPals Nearing Milestone
Recently Keith Greenarch and volunteer Howard Papke completed the task of accounting for every computer placed through the Pathways CyberPals program. It was learned that very soon the 1500th computer will be assigned to a Pathways consumer. Pathways and CyberPals Staff are planning a special celebration to mark this event. Papke is retired from IBM and has been a Pathways volunteer for about 15 years. Currently the program has a contractual agreement with Microsoft which assures that every computer now placed through CyberPals has registered and legal software. Howard Papke, Doug Schwark, and Keith Greenarch are responsible for the CyberPals Program.
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Heart Attacks And Drinking Warm Water
The
Chinese and Japanese drink hot tea with their meals, not cold water. Maybe it is
time we adopt their drinking habit while eating. For those who like to drink
cold water, this article is applicable to you. It is nice to have a cup of cold
drink after a meal. However, the cold water will solidify the oily stuff that
you have just consumed. It will slow down the digestion. Once this "sludge"
reacts with the acid, it will break down and be absorbed by the intestine faster
than the solid food. It will line the intestine. Very soon, this will turn into
fats and lead to cancer. It is best to drink hot soup or warm water after a
meal.
Common Symptoms Of Heart Attack...
A serious note about heart attacks: You should know that not every heart attack
symptom is going to be the left arm hurting . Be aware of intense pain in the
jaw line.
You may never have the first chest pain during the course of a heart attack.
Nausea and intense sweating are also common symptoms. 60% of people who have a
heart attack while they are asleep do not wake up. Pain in the jaw can wake you
from a sound sleep. Let's be careful and be aware. The more we know, the better
chance we could survive.
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Diabetes and Lifestyles
Like (Pathways) SAIL Home Care Registered Nurse Lana Phillips said, “It seems like the Pancreas says, ’I’m tired from producing all this insulin to counteract the huge volumes of sugar this person keeps putting into their system.’ then quits working. The consequence is diabetes.” US News and World Report (April 21, 2008) reports that, Almost 90 percent of people newly diagnosed with diabetes are overweight; obesity, a body mass index of higher than 30 (197 pounds at five feet and eight inches tall for example), considerably elevates risk.” Australian researchers reported that a group of 60 patients with a Body Mass Index between 30 and 40, Bariatric Surgery sent the disease in remission in73 percent of the cases, meaning normal blood sugar levels and no further need for medication. While surgery is an option for some it is not an option for others. Eating and exercise habits can impact the severity of diabetes. Diabetes is a serious condition and requires treatment under the guidance of a medical professional.
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March Blizzards and we are not talking about an ice cream treat from DQ
What is your plan for surviving a sudden and huge snowstorm? If you are driving and find yourself stuck in traffic on a “shut down” highway, what is your survival plan? As advanced as our weather forecasters are today, weather systems are still a changeable force of nature. They may come quickly, change direction without any notice, and build up intensity in just a short time period. Whether you are at home, on foot, in your vehicle, or at work, a winter snowstorm could catch you off guard. So knowing how to survive a snowstorm is essential! Here in western North Carolina it is recommended that every person have a “Survival Kit in your trunk. This survival kit should contain water, food, flashlights with extra batteries, a lighter or matches and materials for starting a small fire, band-aids and sterile bandages, a knife, tape, toilet paper, a black trash bag, a small can, a magnifying glass, extra socks, heavy shoes, a heavy coat, a blanket, and enough food to keep you going for several days. Depending on where you are, and what the conditions are you could be stuck for 3-5 days. Here are some “how to survive a snowstorm” tips that could save your life. Of course first of all, if you have prepared the “Survival Kit” you may be frustrated with having to use it, but if prepared well you have a much better chance of surviving. Of course if your cell phone is working you can cal for help. But if none of these life savers are in place then it is time to kick into survival mode. The very first thing you should do is don’t panic. This always leads to terrible results. Once you conquer your panic, take inventory of your resources. Look inside your glove compartment, behind the seat, under the seat, and in the trunk for any of the items listed as articles to be included in the “Survival Kit”. If it really seems this is a short time delay (no more than six hours) the best thing you can do is to stay close to your car. This way you can stay warm as long as you have gas in the car. Just remember to have plenty of ventilation, so you won’t inhale carbon monoxide. Listen for a local weather report.
In cases where you are alone and on a road with no traffic, or crash over the road and find yourself in a situation where your car may not be seen by other motorists you may have to leave your car perhaps to keep from getting hypothermia, or decide to go for help, you will have to make a shelter for your family if they are traveling with you. If you are lucky enough to be around some pine trees, you should burrow under the lowest branches that you can find, because snow very seldom penetrates the thick pine boughs. However, if there are no such trees available, you might try digging a snow cave. If you have no gloves, no shovel, or tool this is not an attractive option, if you have the materials to start a fire, this is the first option. Snow acts like an insulator once the sides of a burrow are packed. It is recommended to remove a coat, or undershirt and shirt so you will have a dry garment to put on after building your snow burrow. Moisture is your biggest enemy in the cold. No matter which sort of cover you have available, you would make a hole that is at least three feet wider and one foot longer than the tallest person. Pull the snow to that point and pack the sides. You will live longer doing without food than you will without water, but you have to be careful about getting enough heat to melt the snow. If you can’t make a fire and the son comes through you can use the black plastic and magnifying glass for melting snow. The magnifying glass may also help start a fire. Eating snow is extremely dangerous, but if you must make it very little and let it melt in your mouth a little at a time. As for food, when you are stranded, it can become an obsession in your mind. So refocus your thoughts on something else, like surviving and getting found. If you’re not knowledgeable about what kind of food to eat in the wilderness, don’t try to eat it as it could poison you. Usually, as soon as the weather is permissible, rescue helicopters are out looking for anyone that might have been stranded. If you put out a distress signal by putting branches on top of the snow that spell SOS, or have the hood of your car up and an umbrella placed on the motor, your chances of being rescued are much better.
S U R V I V A L. S— Size up the situation; U— Use all your senses; R— Remember where you are.... (Remember this phrase); V— Vanquish fear and panic; I— Improvise; V— Value living; A— Act like the natives… (Think like cavemen); L— Live by your wits
At home, have a backup source of heat, several days of medications, radio and extra batteries, flashlight, water, fill the bathtub with water before the power goes off, non-perishable foods, a portable radio, a weather band radio, extra covering or sleeping bags, and let someone know if you are planning to go camping, fishing, or somewhere other than your normal residence to avoid the storm.
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Savings galore
Winter clearance
Pathways Thrift Store
· Huge savings on winter coats and shoes
· Warm clothing for the whole family
· A special stock of bed covering must go
EVERY THURSDAY IS BAG DAY JUST $3.00 PER BAG OF CLOTHING SHOES AND POCKET BOOKS
Open 10:00 -5:00 Monday through Friday and 10-3:00 on Saturday
Pathways Thrift Store
7470 US Highway 74 East
828-631-5533
Creating opportunities for persons with disabilities