FOR YOUR HEALTH: Ways to Treat Chronic Back Pain Without Surgery

Featured Expert:
Stephanie Pham Van, M.D.

Back pain is considered chronic if it lasts three months or longer. It can come and go, often bringing temporary relief followed by frustration. Dealing with chronic back pain can be especially trying if you don’t know the cause.

Back pain rehabilitation specialist Stephanie Van, M.D., offers insights into common chronic back pain causes and nonsurgical treatment options — and she advises not to give up hope.

Common Causes of Chronic Back Pain

Chronic back pain is usually age-related, but it can also result from an injury. The most common causes include:

  • Arthritis of the spine — the gradual thinning of the cartilage inside the spine
  • Spinal stenosis — narrowing of the spinal canal that may lead to nerve pain
  • Disk problems, such as a herniated or bulging disk
  • Myofascial pain syndrome — muscle pain and tenderness without clear cause

In some cases, it is difficult to pinpoint the cause of chronic back pain.

“If your doctor has explored all diagnostic and treatment options they are comfortable with, consider seeking a second opinion from a back pain specialist,” Van recommends.

It is important to understand the source of your pain as much as possible, and to consider every available, reasonable option. People with back pain should not feel rushed into settling for an invasive, irreversible surgical procedure. Surgery can be helpful for many people, but it is usually considered a last resort after more conservative options have been exhausted. Surgery can correct structural abnormalities contributing to back pain, but it does not guarantee pain relief, and it may even worsen the pain, Van warns. If the source of the pain is not known or can’t be treated, the best strategy is to collaborate with your doctor on a pain management plan that reduces the severity and frequency of flare-ups and focuses on goals for function and quality of life.

Exercise is the foundation of chronic back pain treatment. It’s one of the first treatments you should try, under the guidance of your physician and spine physical therapist.

Physical therapy for chronic back pain may include:

  • Core strengthening
  • Stretching and flexibility exercises
  • Retraining posture
  • Testing the limits of pain tolerance
  • Aerobic exercises at a comfortable pace
  • Diet Change
  • Some diets are highly inflammatory, especially those high in trans fats, refined sugars and processed foods.

Lifestyle Modifications

There are many ways to adapt and adjust your behavior and activity that can significantly improve chronic back pain before even considering medications or procedures.
Injection-based Treatments

Trigger point injections, epidural steroid injections, nerve blocks, nerve ablations and other types of injection-based procedures are available for chronic back pain.

Alternative Treatments

Acupuncture, massage, biofeedback therapy, laser therapy, electrical nerve stimulation and other nonsurgical spine treatments can make a difference for chronic back pain. Pharmacologic Treatments

All kinds of medicines (topical, oral, injectable) are used to help manage chronic back pain, including anti-inflammatories, muscle relaxants, nerve pain medications and even antidepressants. However, any medication can have unwanted side effects. Work with your doctor to explore medication strategies that directly address the cause of your pain (if it is known).

When is surgery a good idea for back pain?

If you suddenly start experiencing any of the following “red flag” symptoms, it might be time for surgery, if the symptoms found to be related to your spine condition:

  • New or worsening bowel/bladder issues (incontinence, groin numbness)
  • Weakness in limbs
  • Gait and balance problems
  • Evidence of increased (brisk) reflexes

Surgery can also be an option for chronic back pain if a cause is confirmed by imaging and if other treatments have not helped.

“Surgery is the most invasive, high risk strategy for chronic back pain,” Van says. “It is irreversible, and it does not guarantee complete relief of back pain.

REVIEW POTPOURRI: Dylan and Vee; Conductor: Lorin Maazel

by Peter Cates

Dylan and Vee

Bob Dylan

At a 2013 concert in St. Paul, Minnesota, Bob Dylan paid tribute to Bobby Vee (1943-2016), who was in the audience. Dylan played piano as part of Vee’s backup band for two gigs in 1959 and the two singers had remained friends and performed together on occasion over subsequent decades.

Dylan, who had performed with so many legends in concerts, described Vee as “the most beautiful person I’ve ever been on the stage with.”

One could point out a world of difference between Bobby Vee’s Rubber Ball and Bob Dylan’s Mister Tambourine Man; it would also be a waste of time and space. Instead one admires the tribute from one American music statesman to another.

The interest in Bobby Vee came after recently listening to a Liberty seven-inch 45 record of two of Vee’s megahits back in the very early ‘60s when he and two other Bobbys, Rydell and Vinton, were bombarding the Billboards and airwaves.

The songs, Run to Him; and Walkin’ with My Angel, were written by Gerry Goffin and his ex-wife Carole King, they being famous for But Will You Love Me Tomorrow. And both songs were given superb production work by the Liberty records founder Snuff Garrett (He signed to the label singer Julie London and Alvin and the Chipmunks) with some of the finest session players in the business and the Johnny Mann Singers doing backup.

Bobby Vee

Even more impressive was Vee’s singing with a beautifully projected vocal register, clear articulation, characterful phrasing and vibrant warmth. Not only did I listen to my very good copy of the 45 but also to the remastered sound, derived from the original source material during later decades, to be heard on YouTube which had outstanding sound lacking in the old 45s.

I also listened to Youtubes of Vee’s very captivating hits, Rubber Ball, and the classic The Night Has a Thousand Eyes and several others that weren’t quite as good as material but were still given top notch arrangements.

At the 2013 concert, Bob Dylan sang an early hit of Bobby Vee, Suzie Baby, and it can be heard on YouTube, along with Vee’s original recording. I actually liked Vee’s better. Dylan’s own singing at the age of 72 just wasn’t what it used to be but it was an important historical moment.

The two singers did critique each other’s musicianship in a pithy manner:

Dylan – Vee “had a metallic, edgy tone to his voice and it was as musical as a silver bell.”

Vee- Dylan “played pretty good in the key of C.”

Bobby Vee died in 2016 at the age of 73 from Alzheimer’s which he had been suffering from for several years. His wife died the previous year from a kidney ailment.

Lorin Maazel

Conductor Lorin Maazel (1930-2015), for good or bad, has been one of the most fascinating individuals who ever directed a symphony orchestra. He succeeded George Szell (1897-1970) as music director of the Cleveland Orchestra in 1971, staying ten years before becoming director of the Vienna State Opera and, as far as I am concerned, successfully followed perfectionist Szell’s very hard act.

In 1976, Maazel and the Clevelanders recorded a set of the Brahms 4 Symphonies, Haydn Variations and Tragic and Academic Festival Overtures. It was reviewed in high fidelity along with another set of the Symphonies and 2 Overtures but lacking the Haydn Variations that was released the same year and featured Eugen Jochum (1902-1987) leading the London Philharmonic.

Both sets were trashed by the record critic whose ears, as far as I was concerned, were screwed on wrong. I own shelves of different Brahms Symphonies and I have found that both Maazel and Jochum conducted very exciting performances that brought out the balance of rip-roaring romantic emotions in Johannes Brahms’s own psyche and the sternly crafted architecture that this composer imposed, based on his admiration of the 18th century examples of Bach, Handel and Haydn.

The sets remain among my favorites. Both Jochum and Maazel conveyed a love of this composer’s inspired music but brought a differently personalized individuality to the performances, unlike some conductors of recent years who copy cat each other with dull performances and wouldn’t let themselves go emotionally if their lives depended on it.

There are, however, some annoying quirks in Maazel’s conducting of these pieces – a ridiculously fast tempo in the last movement of the 1st Symphony, some limp phrasing in the first movement of the 2nd movement that drags it out and, at odd moments, a ho-hum manner with phrasing and detail.

But these annoying moments are few. All in all, a set worth seeking out for the curious listener.

During Maazel’s Cleveland years, he recorded prize-winning sets of Prokofiev’s complete Romeo and Juliet ballet and Gershwin’s complete Porgy and Bess, along with a really good Beethoven 9 Symphonies that was pretty well ignored by the critics.

CRITTER CHATTER: Is it spring, yet, at Duck Pond Wildlife Center?

by Jayne Winters

“Neither snow nor rain nor heat nor gloom of night stays these couriers from the swift completion of their appointed rounds,” is a phrase we associate with U.S. postal carriers, but I think it could easily describe Don Cote and his volunteers at the Wildlife Care Center in Vassalboro. (Out of curiosity, I searched on-line and found a “Wildlife Rehabilitator Code of Ethics” which addresses high standard quality care/methods; education; adherence to federal, state and local laws/regulations; health and safety practices; community support/involvement; professional conduct; and the obvious need for personal integrity, compassion and commitment).

But back to the weather not preventing the “completion of their appointed rounds.” Although we haven’t had many heavy snowstorms this winter, access to the outside wildlife enclosures still need to be plowed, snow-blown and/or shoveled. Treacherous icy paths to the pens need sanding. Frozen water tubs need to be emptied and refilled with fresh water. Cages need to be mucked out and bedding replaced. Roofs need to be cleared of snow and ice. Fencing, enclosures and tarps often need to be repaired. All of this in addition to the daily food preparations for breakfast and dinner feedings, dispensing of medications, changing dressings, washing and disinfecting food dishes and doing laundry for soiled blankets and towels.

In addition to Don’s personal 12 ducks and 22 geese, current winter residents include one chipmunk, two red squirrels, one gray squirrel, six foxes, and three deer, all of which require tending to at least twice a day. Some are carry-overs from last fall because they were too young or not healthy enough for release; the remainder are fall and winter rescues from vehicle hits, natural or predatory injuries and home “invasion” critters seeking food and shelter from the harsh elements. New admissions are evaluated and many are transferred to other rehabbers who have graciously offered their assistance to help keep animal care at Duck Pond manageable. Spring and summer rescues can quickly become overwhelming for Don and his two volunteers, one of whom is only available on weekends.

Any time during the day Don may need to respond to rescue calls, set up and monitor traps, transport severely injured wildlife to the vet, or pick up food donations from Hannaford, Wal-Mart, animal shelters, etc. Being on-call 24/7 requires patience, understanding and flexibility in his schedule. He is most appreciative of folks who can meet him at a half-way point or bring the animal directly to Duck Pond if they can safely transport it.

In addition to the day-to-day activities of operating the rehab center, annual state and federal reports have to be submitted at this time of year, with license renewal applications due every two and five years, respectively. Don doesn’t have a computer, so I’ve been helping him by downloading forms, copying, etc. I even have reminders on my own calendar of their due dates so we don’t forget! As a nonprofit organization, he has to keep accurate records of all donations, whether they are cash, checks or gift cards (Hannaford and Walmart are visited weekly), for tax preparation and filing. I must admit I’ve been impressed with his up-to-date files. I think Carlene trained him well!

Don and his volunteers appreciate and thank the other rehabbers who continue to generously accept critter transfers from Duck Pond.

Donald Cote operates Duck Pond Wildlife Care Center on Rte. 3 in Vassalboro. It is a non-profit state permitted rehab facility which is supported by his own resources and outside donations. Mailing address: 1787 North Belfast Ave., Vassalboro ME 04989 TEL: (207) 445-4326. Please note the previous e-mail address is no longer monitored.

SCORES & OUTDOORS: Ermine population stable; one of world’s top 100 most invasive species

The different coats of the winter and summer ermine.

Roland D. Halleeby Roland D. Hallee

Last week, I received a phone call from a reader in Palermo who told me that for only the third time in the last 17 years, he spotted an American ermine crossing his back yard.

The American ermine or American stoat, Mustela richardsonii, is a species of mustelid native to most of North America.

It was long considered conspecific with the stoat, but a 2021 study found it to be a distinct species. The finding has been accepted by the American Society of Mammalogists.

Both ermines and mink belong to the same subfamily, which contains weasels, badgers, ferrets, polecats and wolverines. These two creatures share many features, but differ in several ways.

Ermines resemble the long-tailed weasel in general both appearance and coloration, but is smaller, has a shorter tail, and has white fur on the inner side of the hind legs.

The species is found throughout most of North America aside from most of Alaska (although it is found on some islands in southeastern Alaska), eastern Yukon, most of Arctic Canada, and Greenland. It reaches the northern extent of its range in Baffin Island and a portion of eastern mainland Nunavut and ranges from here to cover almost all of western North America south to northern New Mexico, and eastern North America south to northern Virginia. It is absent from most of the Southeastern United States and the Great Plains.

The International Union for Conservation of Nature lists the ermine population as stable and of least concern.

In North America, where the ecological niche for rat- and rabbit-sized prey is taken by the larger long-tailed weasel, the American ermine preys on mice, voles, shrews, young cottontails, chipmunks, deer mice, jumping mice, and house mice. Usually the ermine kills by biting at the base of the skull. Small birds, frogs, small fish, and earthworms are other types of prey for ermines.

Ermines live and find cover from predators in hollow spaces from logs, burrows and man made structures. Ermines sometimes den within their prey’s nest and use their skin and fur as a lining for their den.

Ermines are mostly nocturnal, but may forage by day.

The ermine is listed as one of the top 100 most invasive species in the world. It was introduced to several areas to reduce rabbit populations and rapidly became a threat to ecosystems because of its vicious nature and ability to sustain itself on a variety of prey.

At one time, the ermine was sought for its attractive fur. During the winter months, the ermine’s fur turns white, making it a valuable and prized material for fur clothing. In medieval Europe, ermine fur was highly sought after for its rarity and beauty, and it was often reserved for use by royalty and other members of the nobility.

They breed in dense parts of the forest. The season for breeding is late springtime to the summer from July to August. The males mature in a year while the females only take three to four weeks to mature. The females carry a litter of four to seven babies for 255 days then gives birth.

Some of the larger wild predators of ermines are minks, martens, fishers, bobcats, coyotes, and large owls and hawks. Occasionally, a domesticated cat or dog may kill an ermine. Their small agile bodies help them evade these predators, while also allow them to compete with their predators for food in more barren months.

In spite of its bad smell and small size, however, the ermine is very self-confident, even rude – it often sits up and stares directly into the eyes of humans. Ermines do not dig its own den when they give birth, instead, they will take over old lemming burrows, food caches or graves.

According to my research, it appears that it is legal to have an ermine as a pet in Maine. However, I would advise to check with the state before owning one.

Roland’s trivia question of the week:

Which NFL team allegedly changed its geographical name in an attempt to attract a larger fan base?

Answer
In 1971, the Boston Patriots changed their name to the New England Patriots, when they moved to Foxborough.

Give Us Your Best Shot! for Thursday, February 29, 2024

To submit a photo for this section, please visit our contact page or email us at townline@townline.org!

CLEANING UP: P. Varney, of the Neck Road, in China, captured this bald eagle helping itself to some carrion.

LAST CAST: Erin Gray, of Vassalboro, took this picture of Stephen Page fishing on China Lake, in East Vassalboro, right before the dock was taken out.

AH…SUNNY WARMTH: Joan Chaffee, of Clinton, snapped this groundhog last summer.

FOR YOUR HEALTH: What can adults do to maintain good oral health?

You can keep your teeth for your lifetime. Here are some things you can do to maintain a healthy mouth and strong teeth.

Drink fluoridated water and brush with fluoride toothpaste.

Practice good oral hygiene. Brush teeth thoroughly twice a day and floss daily between the teeth to remove dental plaque.

Visit your dentist at least once a year, even if you have no natural teeth or have dentures.

Do not use any tobacco products. If you smoke, quit.

Limit alcoholic drinks.

If you have diabetes, work to maintain control of the disease. This will decrease risk for other complications, including gum disease. Treating gum disease may help lower your blood sugar level.

If your medication causes dry mouth, ask your doctor for a different medication that may not cause this condition. If dry mouth cannot be avoided, drink plenty of water, chew sugarless gum, and avoid tobacco products and alcohol.

See your doctor or a dentist if you have sudden changes in taste and smell.

When acting as a caregiver, help older individuals brush and floss their teeth if they are not able to perform these activities independently.

How to Clean Your Teeth and Gums

There is a right way to brush and floss your teeth.

Gently brush your teeth on all sides with a soft-bristle brush and fluoride toothpaste. Replace your toothbrush every three to four months.

Use small circular motions and short back-and-forth strokes.

Brush carefully and gently along your gum line.

Lightly brush your tongue or use a tongue scraper to help keep your mouth clean.

Clean between your teeth with dental floss, prethreaded flossers, a water flosser, or a similar product. This removes plaque and leftover food that a toothbrush can’t reach.

Rinse after you floss.

People with arthritis or other conditions that limit hand motion may find it hard to hold and use a toothbrush. Some helpful tips are:

Use an electric or battery-operated toothbrush.

Buy a toothbrush with a larger handle.

Attach the toothbrush handle to your hand with a wide elastic band.

See your dentist if brushing or flossing causes your gums to bleed or hurts your mouth. If you have trouble flossing, a floss holder may help. Ask your dentist to show you the right way to floss.

REVIEW POTPOURRI: England in the 20th Century

David Thomson

Peter Catesby Peter Cates

England in the 20th Century

England in the Twentieth Century, by David Thomson, (1912-1970) is a very fine example of the brilliance in clarity, readability and thorough scholarship to be found quite often among historians from the British Isles. One could open this book anywhere and be drawn into the narrative alone.

A passage on Winston Churchill’s predecessor, Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain (1869-1970), is a good example:

“By experience and qualities alike Chamberlain was cast to be a vigorous, efficient Premier in home affairs. It was his personal tragedy to be Premier during three years in which, more than at any other time since 1918, international affairs assumed national importance. ‘Masterful, confident, and ruled by an instinct for order, he would give a lead, and perhaps impart an edge, on every question. His approach was arduous careful but his mind, once made up, hard to change. ‘ [Quote from unknown source.]”

By seemingly conceding Chamberlain’s good qualities, Thomson conveys why due to stubborn pride, this prime minister may have been naïve and clueless in trusting Hitler and Mussolini at the 1938 Munich “Peace” Talks just before Germany invaded Austria and Czechoslovakia (Poland to follow in September 1939), its military arsenal already stronger than all the other European countries and the U.S. put together.

When I attended Kent’s Hill School, I remember a teacher showing a documentary on the Holocaust; an opening newsreel shows Chamberlain returning to London from Munich and proudly stating that there would be “peace in our time.”

However, reading further, one finds out that, when Japan was beginning its own build-up by 1930 and its own government leaders were being frequently assassinated when they wouldn’t kowtow to the military, the U.S. was in the throes of the Great Depression and could care less about the Far East – in response to this attitude, Chamberlain stated in 1934, seven years before Pearl Harbor, that the “U.S.A. will give us no undertaking to resist by force any action by Japan, short of an attack on Hawaii or Honolulu. ”

Sir Neville Chamberlain died in late 1940 from cancer; he was 71.

In the bibliography, Thomson writes that “Biographies are often strongly partisan, though their bias is strongly evident “, a rather puzzling statement in his use of the word “though” but this book’s 300 pages would make for a good beginning to end read, if one could live to the age of 200.

Beethoven’s 9th Sypmphony

I own a batch of recordings of the Beethoven 9th Symphony, referred to as the Choral Symphony because of the use of a chorus and four soloists in the final movement. Among these are four different 78 sets of tremendous merit – Leopold Stokowski/Philadelphia Orchestra, Felix Weingartner/ ViennaPhilharmonic, SergeKoussevitzky/BostonSymphony, and Eugene Ormandy/again Philadelphia, Ormandy being Stokowski’s successor (I will always find that the three to five minute sides of 78 records make for very active listening because I have to get up from the recliner to change the record whereas the 80-minute CDs make for sleepy listening); each one is different from the others.

Recently, I reheard the Ormandy for the first time in 25 years and found it even more exciting. Ormandy adopted fast tempos for movements 1, 2 and 4 and slower ones for the ecstatic beauty of the 3rd movement Adagio. And it can be heard on YouTube.

The symphony received its world premiere in Vienna on May 7, 1824, the composer being totally deaf by then. Sitting on stage with his back to the audience, he had to be turned around by a soprano to see the jubilant applauding of everyone.

May 7 was later to be the birthdays of Johannes Brahms (1833-1897) and Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky (1840-1893).

SCORES & OUTDOORS – Weather lore: March in like a lion or lamb?

Roland D. Halleeby Roland D. Hallee

As we look forward to saying “goodbye” to February and welcome March with open arms, a thought comes to mind of an old weather lore, “In like a lion, out like a lamb.” In this case, it could be vice versa, considering the mild weather we have had as we usher in the third month of the year. So, it’s more like, “In like a lamb, out like a lion.”

Much like regular folklore, weather lore is passed down through speech and writing from normal people without the use of external measuring instruments. The origin of weather lore can be dated back to primieval men and their usage of star studying in navigation. However, more recently during the late Middle Ages, the works of two Greek philosopher-poets, Theophrastus of Eresus on Lesbos and Aratus of Macedonia, are known greater for shaping the prediction of weather. Theophrastus and Aratus collated their works in two main collections for weather lore: On Weather Signs and On Winds. These were used for helping farmers with harvest, merchants for trade and determining the weather the next day.

Weather lore is the body of informal folklore related to the prediction of the weather and its greater meaning.

Astrology and weather lore have been closely interlinked for many years – with each planet often being associated with a weather state. For example, Mars is red and must therefore be hot and dry. Prevalent in ancient Roman thought, astrologists used weather lore to teach commoners of the star and cloud formations and how they can be used to see the future.

Before the invention of temperature measuring devices, such as the mercury thermometer, it was difficult to gather predictive, numerical data. Therefore, communities used their surroundings to predict and explain the weather in upcoming days.

Weather folklore, therefore, refers to this mid-latitude region of daily variability.

Other common proverbs are:

When clouds look like black smoke
A wise man will put on his cloak

(Thick, moisture-laden storm clouds absorb sunlight. It gives them an appearance that somewhat resembles black smoke.)

Red sky at night:

A red sunset probably means dry weather the next day.

Red sky at night, shepherd’s delight.
Red sky in the morning, shepherd’s warning.

(In a common variation, “shepherd” is replaced by “sailor”.)

A red sky – in the morning or evening – is a result of high pressure air in the atmosphere trapping particles of dust or soot. Air molecules scatter the shorter blue wavelengths of sunlight, but particles of dust, soot and other aerosols scatter the longer red wave length of sunlight in a process called Rayleigh scattering. At sunrise and sunset, the sun is lower in the sky causing the sunlight to travel through more of the atmosphere so scattering more light. This effect is further enhanced when there are at least some high level clouds to reflect this light back to the ground.

When weather systems predominantly move from west to east, a red sky at night indicates that the high pressure air (and better weather) is westwards. In the morning the light is eastwards, and so a red sky then indicates the high pressure (and better weather) has already passed, and an area of low pressure is following behind. That is a scientific fact.

So, what does that have to do with March coming in like a lion or a lamb? Whether you believe in the myth or not is up to you but it sure is fun to think about.

Does a phrase that originated in England and Wales centuries ago even have relevance in a state in our northern part of the country?

Sandi Duncan, managing editor of that old standby, the Farmers’ Almanac, once said the lion/lamb saying is probably more wishful thinking than fact.

They do a lot of articles on weather sayings, but sometimes they are awfully true because they’ve been handed down by people who observe the weather, according to Duncan, from her office, in Lewiston.

“The ‘in like a lion’ one is based on the idea if it comes in bad it will go out nicely. People really do hope March is at the end of winter.”

The phrase is based on the beginning of the month being in winter and the end being close to spring.

But a weather phrase like ‘red sky at night, sailors’ delight’ is much more accurate. With that, there is scientific backing, but not with the lion saying.

In the last 16 years, March has come in with a roar eight times and gone out with a “baah” 10 times.

But March has also roared once at both ends of the month while braying four times at the beginning and end of the month during those years.

If you’re worried about amounts of snow and spring floods, March is the type of month where snow can come at any time. It doesn’t really matter how the month goes out or comes in, but what happens in between. Always remember, two thirds of the month is still winter.

March is a very variable month. It can be winter-like and cold with snow, while other times it can be mild and lots of snow melt like last year.

Alas, the interpretation is up to you.

There is one thing for certain. Only 27 days ‘til spring.

Roland’s trivia question of the week:

Who is the highest scoring defenseman in NHL history (goals and assists)?

Answer
Ray Bourque, (Boston Bruins and Colorado Avalanche: 410 goals, 1,169 assists, for 1,579 points.

FOR YOUR HEALTH: Top 5 things you can do for your family’s eye health

From learning in the classroom to playing in the schoolyard and at home, vision is vital to how kids grow and develop – so vital in fact, that up to 80 percent of early learning is visual. Whether you’re two or 102, vision plays a key part in quality of life.

Dr. Boateng Wiafe, technical advisor and author of The healthy eyes activity book: A health teaching book for primary schools, says there are five things everyone should do to take care of their eye health.

1. Book that annual eye exam – In Canada, some provinces offer free eye exams to children and seniors as part of provincial health care. Just like regular visits to the dentist, annual eye exams should be part of your family’s self-care routine.

2. Know the signs – Identifying a vision problem early is a critical first step. If you or a family member squints, tilts their head, closes or covers one eye, has difficulty concentrating or needs to sit close to the TV, these are all signs that a vision problem could be at play.

3. Limit screen time – A 2021 study found that extended screen time is associated with a 30 per cent higher risk of myopia (nearsightedness) and therefore needing prescription eyeglasses. When combined with excessive computer use, the risk more than doubles, reaching approximately 80 per cent.

What’s a person to do? Remember the 20-20-20 rule – every 20 minutes, look at an object approximately 20 feet (six metres) away, for 20 seconds. Pro tip: it works for both kids and adults!

4. Get outside – Getting outside to walk, play or move is a great way to take a break from screens – not to mention get some fresh air and vitamin D. According to the Canadian Association of Optometrists, increased time outdoors protects people from the onset of myopia, or nearsightedness.

5. Protect your eyes – Besides making you très cool, the right pair of sunglasses protects eyes from ultraviolet rays from the sun. Also remember to stay safe and avoid eye injuries by using protective eye gear when you’re doing household chores and ensuring your kids have the right eye protection for sports.

For adults, vision loss and lack of adequate eye health care can impact a person’s ability to work, care for their family and build social connections.

Learn more about what you can do to help make eye health services accessible for all.

REVIEW POTPOURRI – Soprano: Anna Maria Alberghetti; Poet: Sylvester Pollet

Peter Catesby Peter Cates

Anna Maria Alberghetti

Anna Maria Alberghetti

Still living at 87, Italian soprano Anna Maria Alberghetti gave her first concert as a child prodigy singer at the age of six years old with an orchestra of 100 musicians on the Greek island of Rhodes, achieved fame in the 1960 Broadway musical Carnival and appeared on the Ed Sullivan Show more than 50 times.

Her 1960 album, Songs by Anna Maria Alberghetti (Mercury Wing MGW 12135), contains a mix of opera, operetta, Broadway musical and Great American Songbook selections. Her voice is quite lovely in its technique but her singing tends to be a bit syrupy. However, there are two songs that stand out – It’s a Most Unusual Day (its phrase “a feeling of spring in the air ” might have resonated with citizens of the Pine Tree State during the recent mid-winter thaw of five days) and the especially wistful Darling, Come Back to Me.

Miss Alberghetti came from a very musically talented family. Two brothers were conductors, one of them leading the orchestra on this record, one sister a pianist and the other also a soprano while their father was a tenor who switched to baritone.

Sylvester Pollet

Sylvester Pollet

Sylvester Pollet (1939-2007) wrote in the Maine Speaks anthology of growing up in Woodstock, New York, and keeping notes on every bird he encountered at the birdfeeder.

His Poem for Saint Francis celebrates one such winged creature:

“At 10 below
thinking to help the birds survive
we increase the dole of seeds-
look out to see a fat jay
pinned by a hawk.

“In this cold even death moves slowly
there is time for much crying
and flapping of wings
but the hawk holds
and things calm down again.

“The woods are silent:
two movements only-
the hawk’s beak to the jay’s breast,
and the bits of fluff
blown over snow crust.

“We have helped a hawk survive.”

Pollet wrote elsewhere that the hawk depicted here was female and sharp-shinned.

Melodiya

The Russian record label Melodiya released a pile of LPs some 40 years ago featuring historic recordings of pianists.

One title, Composers Play, has Alexander Scriabin (1872-1915), Sergei Rachmaninoff (1873-1943), Nikolai Medtner (1880-1951), Bela Bartok (1881-1945), Karol Szymanowski (1882-1937), and Serge Prokofiev (1891-1953) spotlights each of the six gentlemen performing their own compositions, and with exceptional musicianship. Pieces include Bartok’s Evening in Transylvania, Prokofiev’s Tales of the Old Grandmother and a Rachmaninoff Polka.