I’M JUST CURIOUS: True or false

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by Debbie Walker

This past week I have been catching up on reading the magazines I have received in past months. I had several Reader’s Digest. I had several to catch up on and yes, I found something I wanted to share with you. This one I believe I will just refer to as True or False. It is written by Marissa Laliberte and titled “Health Facts Your doctor wants you to know.”

Cold Weather makes you sick – FALSE. (Oh Mom, you were wrong all those years!) It takes germs to make you sick.

Not all heart attacks involve chest pain. TRUE. Don’t ignore shortness of breath, light headedness and pain in other areas of the upper body.

Being overweight shortens your life expectancy. FALSE. Sixty studies of more than 190,000 people and found overweight had the same longevity as “normal” (who is that?) weight adults.

Don’t ice a burn. TRUE. Ice can damage cells and make it worse. Cool water five minutes.

Antiperspirants cause cancer. FALSE. The longest study to date found no link.

CPR doesn’t require mouth to mouth. TRUE. A study in 2017 found when bystanders gave the uninterrupted chest compressions rather than pausing for rescue breath the survival rates were higher.

Carrots help your eyesight. FALSE. The fact is there was a big propaganda scheme in World War II. Rumors were started that carrots improve eyesight. The British Royal Air Force developed a new type of radar tech that helped pilots SHOOT DOWN German enemy planes at night. To keep the technology hidden the government said carrots were behind the successes.

Tilt your head back if you have a nosebleed. FALSE. That will make you swallow blood and irritate the stomach. Tip your head slightly forward and pinch your nose shut for 10 minutes.

Stress will give you an ulcer. FALSE. Two main causes of stomach ulcers are overuse of NSAD painkillers and infection from bacteria. Stress might make an existing ulcer worse.

Bar soap is covered with germs. FALSE. Once on the soap germs won’t last long enough to spread, bacteria die within minutes and are not transmitted to the next person.

Alcohol warms you up when it’s cold outside. FALSE. You might feel warmer and your face may start to flush as you sip that hot toddy. Alcohol causes your blood vessels to dilate, moving warm blood closer to the skin. The warmth causes you to stop shivering, which actually brings your core temperature down.

Sitting too close to the TV damages your eyes. FALSE. Until late 1960s radiation from the TV was not well regulated. Today’s TVs don’t pose that risk. Staring at anything for a long time can make the eyes feel tired, but it won’t cause permanent damage.

Caffeine stunts growth. FALSE. People used to think caffeine would leach calcium from the body, meaning weaker bones and slower growth. Newer research suggests that teens can safely drink up to the equivalence of one cup of coffee or two – three cans of cola.

I’m just curious if you ever believed some of these things. I enjoy reading them and are hoping you do, too. Contact me with comments or questions at dwdaffy@yahoo.com Have a great week!

REVIEW POTPOURRI – Graham Greene: The Paradox of a Pope

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Pope Pius XI

Peter Catesby Peter Cates

Graham Greene

The Paradox of a Pope, from his Collected Essays
Originally written in 1951.

Eugenio Pacelli (1876-1958) later became Pope Pius XII upon the death of Pope Pius XI, in 1939, during very evil years of the last century and, upon his own death, would be succeeded by the even more famous Pope John XXIII. His own leadership of the Catholic Church, particularly with respect to Nazism and the Holocaust, still continues as a subject of controversy with enough material to last several lifetimes and well beyond the scope of these few paragraphs.

One of my top five favorite writers, Graham Greene (1904-1991) wrote Paradox while the Pope was still living and he included it in the 1969 volume, Collected Essays, without changing a single word. It is a fascinating study of the complexities in human character, a subject Greene was so good at in everything of his I have ever read and re-read. He also became a Catholic during his early 20s and his faith would always resonate in his writings.

Graham Greene

Greene’s opening comments of how “strange to come on a monument to a living man, for even the greatest usually appear only on tablets and tombstones after death,” are interesting because of the reasons for these monuments while Pius was still living. A few of these examples included his visits with soldiers from the allies and axis powers at the Vatican and receiving all of them as pilgrims; his words to a grieving father whose son had been killed during World War II and had no faith to sustain him in his loss (after Pius convinced the man there was an afterlife and the father and his son would be re-united, he left the Pope very happy); and finally the Pope’s unrelenting efforts in saving countless lives of Jewish people and other refugees in war-torn countries, while maintaining the Vatican’s neutrality publicly during these war years.

When I first saw a photo of Pius XII presiding at a Mass decades ago, he exuded an aura of both mien and mean, which started my interest in him as a historical figure. Little did I know of his real character!

A quote of this man: “To live without risk is to risk not living.”

Major League baseball clinic held at Wrigley Field in Waterville

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From left to right, Charlie Ferris, Cameron McInnis and Jameson Dow getting an autograph from former Boston Red Sox pitcher, Mike Timlin. (photo by Central Maine Photography staff)

by Mark Huard

Eleven former Major League baseball players were at Purnell Wrigley Field, in Waterville, on Thursday, August 8, to teach local youth the fundamentals of America’s favorite past time – baseball! Headlining the alumni was Mike Timlin, the 2004 and 2007 Boston Red Sox pitcher who ranks seventh in appearances among pitchers. Joining him was Bruce Berenyi, Kevin Buckley, Red Sox bullpen aces Tom Burgmeier and Bill Campbell, pitchers Steve Crawford and Pete Ladd, and outfielder Rick Miller, Philadelphia Phillies outfielder Jerry Martin, Phillies outfielder Pete Ladd, and New York Yankees legend coach and manager Stump Merrill.

The clinic was open to all youth and baseball enthusiasts to attend and learn from the legends. Organized by the Alfond Youth & Community Center with the support of Ray Haskell Lincoln Ford and the Major League Baseball Players Alumni Association (MLBPAA), this annual event is the highlight of the summer for the youth as well as the ball players. “My guys fight to see who gets to come work with these kids,” explains MLBPAA organizer Geoff Hixson; “they are were ready to learn and appreciative.”

After the Clinic the ball players headed to Belgrade Lakes Golf Tournament to compete in the Ray Haskell MLBPAA Golf Tournament to benefit youth in need at the Alfond Youth & Community Center. AYCC CEO Ken Walsh states, “Our relationship with MLBPAA and these alumni players has been such a fun and great benefit to the kids in this community from baseball skills and drills to raising the funds to fill our Weekend Meals Backpacks. It’s a special day for all of us.”

Michael August Timlin is a former American relief pitcher in Major League baseball. Timlin played on four World Series championship teams in an 18-year career; the 1992 and 1993 Toronto Blue Jays, and 2004 and 2007 2004 Boston Red Sox.

Super Sunday: opening day for youth football

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Messalonskee Youth Football quarterback Parker Doucette (7), runs with the football as Winslow Youth Football team members Michael Loubier and Zander Dickey move in for the tackle. (Photo by Beth Fisher, Central Maine Photography staff)

Super Sunday kicked off the PAL football season on September 1. Here, VFW and Sonny’s Pizza line up for a play from scrimmage. (Photo by Beth Fisher, Central Maine Photography staff)

FOR YOUR HEALTH – Don’t Let Mother Nature Sidetrack Your Health

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Five Ways To Prioritize Your Family’s Physical And Mental Well-Being In Hurricane Season

(NAPSI)—The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration predicts an average hurricane season this year, but as history has shown, the worst hurricanes are often unexpected. Last year, the seemingly mild Hurricane Michael rapidly turned into a category 5 storm, devastating parts of the Florida Panhandle. While many will stock batteries, flashlights and bottles of water, few will prep for health-related incidents or have a plan in place if a family member gets sick during a natural disaster. What’s more, such storms can be traumatic, causing stress and fear, even after they’ve blown over. It’s wise to prepare for that, too.

“In the wake of an imminent storm, many often forget that everyday life, including general illness, doesn’t stop in the midst of a natural disaster,” says Dr. Derek Bennetsen, a board-certified family physician. “Plus, the physical and mental health toll of a hurricane can be long lasting. Fortunately, you can learn effective and proven steps to prioritize your health. Have a hurricane plan that includes deciding how you and your loved ones will receive general medical care.”

Dr. Bennetsen suggests these steps you can take to prioritize your family’s health regardless of the weather:

1. Mind Your Medications. In the event of a hurricane or other disaster, getting to a pharmacy may be impossible, if it’s even open. Work with your treating physician or virtual care service to make sure your medications are stocked before a storm hits, and make sure you have a pharmacy finder in the event of evacuation.

2. Check Your First-Aid Kit. First-aid kits are rarely thought about until they’re needed. Make sure you have an ample supply of bandages, alcohol swabs and pain relievers, to manage everything from cuts and scrapes to headaches. Keep dust masks nearby and a whistle in case you need to signal for help.

3. Download the Right Apps. If power is out, conserve your cell phone battery. Get information from trusted sources. Download the Red Cross app at: www.redcross.org/get-help/how-to-prepare-for-emergencies/mobile-apps, to monitor more than 35 different emergency alerts that can help keep you and your loved ones safe. The FEMA app is also available, at www.fema.gov/mobile-app, for regular alerts from the National Weather Service. In case of evacuation or the need for care, seek out Red Cross shelters at www.redcross.org/get-help/disaster-relief-and-recovery-services/find-an-open-shelter.html. There you can get the help you need, including virtual access to doctors.

4. Be Smart About Stress. Hurricanes are stressful, even traumatic. Coping with the emotional effects of disasters is important for all ages. In the moment, try breathing exercises or tackling one item at a time on a to-do list and always consider talking to a psychologist or therapist. Telebehavioral health services such as BetterHelp (www.betterhelp.com) and Teladoc (Teladoc.com/therapy) are growing in popularity for successfully providing support on your terms, regardless of time of day or location.

“The need for quality mental health care in the face of disaster is so well documented and needed, and now, fortunately, with the prevalence of virtual care, we can connect people with the right therapist for their needs,” explains Dr. Chris Dennis, a Miami, Florida-based psychiatrist and tele-behavioral health provider.

5. Know Where to Access Care: A fever or infection is not going to wait for the storm to pass and may very well get worse if you wait. In many areas, doctors may also have evacuated or care will be difficult to access. Find out before the storm hits whether you have access to virtual care services. Disaster preparedness resources such as https://www.teladoc.com/disaster-hotline/ have thousands of physicians across the country including those who are board-certified to provide medical care.

“Whether it’s a child’s fever in the wake of a storm, or breathing issues, infections and or other illnesses incurred days or weeks after, we’ve helped patients get much needed care over the years. It’s so critically important to prioritize your health and know your options for care before you need it,” adds Dr. Bennetsen.

Learn More

For more information, visit www.Teladoc.com/disasterprep or Teladoc.com/therapy.

Nicholas Howes named to SNHU president’s list

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Nicholas Howes, of South China, has been named to Southern New Hampshire University’s winter 2019 president’s list, in Manchester, New Hampshire. The winter term runs from January to May.

Eligibility for the President’s List requires that a student accumulate an academic grade point average (GPA) of 3.7-4.0 and earn 12 credits for the semester.

Paige Hutchins Named to SNHU Dean’s List

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MANCHESTER, NH — Paige Hutchins of Augusta has been named to Southern New Hampshire University’s winter 2019 Dean’s List. The winter term runs from January to May.

Kathleen McCowan was a Dancer in Muhlenberg’s Innovative “Dance Emerge”

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photo: muhlenberg.edu

The talent of seven young choreographers and more than 50 dancers was on display as the Muhlenberg College Theatre & Dance Department presented Dance Emerge, in Allentown, Pennsylvania. Kathleen Mc­Cowan, of Winslow, was one of the featured dancers.

Dance Emerge showcases the ideas and talents of Muhlenberg’s student choreographers and dancers, presenting highly innovative, imaginative and explorative dance. This concert provides students the opportunity to demonstrate their mastery of dance composition, as well as exploring themes of culture, society, and life through the medium of dance.

The choreographers whose works are chosen for “Dance Emerge” spend a semester devoted to finding, developing, and polishing the essence of the pieces they will present. The work that arrives on the stage is thought-provoking, insightful, and vibrantly performed.

“This year’s program highlights the creative processes of student choreographers as they artfully transform seeds of inspiration into original dance works,” says Marcie Mamura, the concert’s artistic director and a member of the dance program faculty.

The seven original dances feature styles inspired by jazz, modern, and Gaga, an Israeli dance form. The choreographers draw inspiration from such sources as the practice of people-watching, the stages of a relationship, and “mental hesitation,” among others.

Unity College faculty earns $35,000 grant to monitor Lake Winnecook water quality using drones

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The grant acquired by Unity College to study the eutrophication of Lake Winnecook, also known as Unity Pond, funds two full-time student positions throughout the summer. (contributed photo)

There are a number of ways to monitor the changes in a lake’s quality of water, such as gathering and testing water samples, using a Secchi disk to measure visibility, and even satellite data gathered over the course of several years. However, when Dr. James Killarney, Assistant Professor of Environmental Chemistry, saw an opportunity to apply for a Maine Space Grant Consortium Faculty Seed Research Grant, he began thinking of new ways to study the eutrophication of Lake Winnecook, also known as Unity Pond. Eutrophication, which is usually caused by runoff from the land, is when the body of water becomes overly enriched with minerals and nutrients due to an abundance of plant life and algae.

The Maine Space Grant Consortium is part of a network funded by NASA’s National Space Grant College and Fellowship Program, also known as Space Grant.

“One of the NASA mission directorates was related to monitoring global environmental change with respect to water quality” said Dr. Killarney. “I had a conversation about the grant with Kevin Spigel, Professor of Geoscience, and because of some drone work he had recently started, he brought up we should do something with them. From there, the idea of using aerial imagery at a local scale to perform water quality analysis started to develop.”

Drs. Killarney and Spigel then reached out to Dr. Janis Balda, Professor of Sustainable Enterprise, to take the lead on the business development piece of the grant, and Dr. Kathleen Dunckel, Associate Professor of Forest Resources and Geographical Information Systems, who can overlay the images taken using GIS.

The grant also funds two full-time student positions throughout the summer. “Students get to go along for this ride,” said Dr. Killarney. “They’re going to see this process of science at a federally funded level, and they’re going to be able to decide if this is something they want to do with their life.”

“I want to congratulate Drs. Killarney, Spigel, Balda, and Dunckel on being awarded this grant,” said Unity College President Dr. Melik Peter Khoury. “Not only is it great to see our faculty engaged in research that will benefit the residents here in Unity, but this grant will also offer our students an invaluable experience conducting research with professionals. This is the embodiment of a Unity College education, getting hands-on experience in the field, and I can’t wait to see what comes out of this research.”

The Friends of Lake Winnecook also helped in funding the research, as they continue to work closely with the college to monitor the lake’s water quality.

“We’re really excited about it,” said Brian Levesque, the President of the Friends of Lake Winnecook. “It’s going to be huge in terms of monitoring and testing, and we think it’s going to be a huge step in the ongoing efforts to clean up the lake. Our end goal is to get Lake Winnecook off the impaired list of lakes in the state, and continue to work with Unity College and other agencies in a collaborative effort to do that.”

While the bulk of the research will be conducted throughout the summer, work with this grant is already underway and will be included in portions of the curriculum for the upcoming Fall semester.

OPINIONS – Understanding the Johnson Amendment: A tax law that prevents nonprofits becoming PACs

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by Tom Waddell

There is a growing but minority movement within the religious community to repeal the Johnson Amendment. If the amendment is repealed, our churches would no longer be houses of worship; instead they would become Political Action Committees (PACs). It is for these reasons repealing the amendment is widely opposed by both religious and non-religious groups.

The purpose of the Johnson Amendment, a 1954 law that modifies the IRS tax code for all 501 (c) (3) tax-exempt corporations, is to prevent these corporations from becoming Political Action Committees. It does this by prohibiting all 501 (c) (3) tax-exempt corporations, including churches, from campaigning for or against political candidates.

The current administration in Washington and a small minority of evangelical Protestant churches want to repeal the amendment because they believe it limits their religious freedom. Their goal is to allow all churches to support political candidates while maintaining their tax-free status. That would make political contributions to 501 (c) (3) charitable organizations tax deductible.

The Johnson Amendment preserves a charitable organization’s right to support, or oppose, any government policy, law, bill, statute or social issue that they believe is not in their or the community’s best interest. The amendment also protects charitable organizations, including churches, from pressure by political candidates to endorse them in an ever-increasing divisive and partisan political atmosphere.

Repealing the Johnson Amendment and allowing 501 (c) (3) tax-deductible corporations to maintain their tax-free status would result in donors making political contributions to candidates primarily through their local church. Unlike Political Action Committees, which churches would fast become, churches don’t have to deduct operating costs from those donations. In addition, the donor would be able to deduct political contributions, something not allowed now, when they make political contributions through a charitable organization. It is a win/win situation for the donor class, but a lose/lose situation for churches, state and federal governments.

Churches will lose because repealing the amendment would bring political divisiveness into the church. Clergy and parishioners want their churches to remain a place of worship where members sit in the sanctuary or gather at coffee hour in groups of friends and neighbors. They want their church to be a place where parishioners gather as a united community in worship, not divided by political ideology. Local, state, and federal governments would lose, too. According to the Joint Committee on Taxation, repealing the amendment would cost America $7.7 billion over ten years through lost tax revenue.

An overwhelming majority of charitable organizations and churches support the Johnson Amendment. Lifeway Research, an evangelical Christian polling group that regards the Johnson Amendment as policing sermons, reported in their 2016 survey that nearly 80 percent of Americans oppose repealing the amendment. It is no surprise then that more than 8,500 faith and secular leaders signed a document asking Congress to preserve the amendment. Americans do not want charitable organizations and churches to be divided by partisan politics.

Some of the well-known churches and charitable organizations that support keeping the Johnson Amendment are: American Baptists, American Jewish Committee, the Anti-Defamation League, Catholics for Choice, Evangelical Lutheran Church, Goodwill Industries, Habitat for Humanity, League of Women Voters, Meals on Wheels, National Council of Churches, National Council of Nonprofits, Episcopal Church, United Methodist Church, Unitarian Universalist Association, United Church of Christ, Volunteers of America, and the YWCA.

If the Johnson Amendment is repealed, churches will, in effect, become political action committees, not houses of worship. They will also experience the same division and lack of trust within the congregation that is so common in today’s volatile political atmosphere.

Whether churches become money-laundering establishments for politicians is up to you. If you are part of the 80 percent of Americans who want to preserve the sanctity of your local church, I urge you to vote for candidates who support the Johnson Amendment in the 2020 elections. Doing so will determine the future of your place of worship, your community and your country.

Tom Waddell is a resident of Litchfield and is the president of the Maine chapter of the Freedom from Religion Foundation. He can be reached at president@ffrfmaine.org.