08 Mar 2013

Think You're Healthy? Would You Know if You Weren't?

By Rick Martin
Oncologist Offers 7 Tips for Increasing Awareness

Not too long ago - just after World War II - few people in the United States brushed their teeth with any regularity. Now, the mere thought of going an entire day or night without brushing one's teeth is simply out of the question for most.

Hopefully, someday in the near future, a similar attitude will prevail regarding mental well-being, says Dr. Matt Mumber, an oncologist and author of "Sustainable Wellness: An Integrative Approach to Transform Your Mind, Body, and Spirit," (www.sustainablewellnessonline.com), coauthored by Yoga therapist Heather Reed.

"Human happiness and well-being are rudderless without awareness, which I define as the quality of paying attention to what's going on in the present moment from an inquisitive, nonjudgmental and focused perspective," he says.

An easy way to think of optimal wellbeing might be to envision a three-legged stool, says Reed.

"The three legs include physical activity, nutrition and that underappreciated component missing from too many Americans' lives - stress management, or a healthy mental state," she says.

After checking off a healthy diet and exercise from the list, how does one go about ensuring a healthy mind? Mumber and Reed say the key is mindfulness, which they define as paying attention on purpose, non-judgmentally and as though your life depended on it. Framed another way, mindfulness means focusing on something without trying to change it, like the sky holding passing clouds without clinging to them.

They describe the states necessary for attaining mindfulness:

• Beginner's mind is the ability to see things with new eyes. The Bible warns against putting new wine in old wine skins - doing so risks tainting the new stock. A beginner's mind opens people to the world of possibilities that exist in the present moment. That does not mean throwing away good ideas from the past; rather, it means to entertain new ideas with a truly open sensibility.

• Trust: Believe in your authority to know your own body, thoughts and feelings. We need to have the confidence necessary to trust that our thoughts and feelings at any given moment have value.

• Non-judging is the ability to see things for what they are, to hold an open and neutral place for whatever comes up within and around you, without thinking of anything as categorically better or worse than anything else.

• Patience is a willingness to continue with the process of paying attention on purpose even when it appears that no progress is being made. Learning and growing through mindful practice happens with time, and we can't force the outcome.

• Acceptance refers to allowing whatever comes up in the moment to be held in our field of awareness. This is not the same as giving up or being passive; acceptance is merely acknowledgement.

• Letting go is refusing to attach to specific thoughts, feelings or behaviors. This can feel like losing something, but every time we let go, we open ourselves to something new and, potentially, deeper.

• Non-striving: In our goal-oriented society, this may seem counterintuitive. However, non-striving refers only to practicing mindfulness without expectation of some future goal or dream, which helps us better live in the now.

"By having our three-legged stool firmly planted in awareness, we can drop into what we typically call a sense of spiritual wellbeing,' says Mumber.

About Matt Mumber, MD & Heather Reed

Matt Mumber, MD, is a practicing board-certified radiation oncologist with the Harbin Clinic in Rome, Ga. He completed his radiation oncology residency at Wake Forest University Bowman Gray School of Medicine and graduated from the Associate Fellowship Program in Integrative Medicine at the University of Arizona. Dr. Mumber is past president of the Georgia Society of Clinical Oncology. He founded Cancer Navigators Inc, a non-profit organization offering cancer patients access to nurse navigation, social services and educational programs to support and augment the clinical care they receive. Dr. Mumber received the Hamilton Jordan Founders Award for involvement in statewide oncology activities and in 2008 he was named a Health Care Hero by Georgia Trend magazine.

08 Mar 2013

Your Child's Dental Timeline

By Rick Martin
BETTENDORF, IA - Every parent welcomes the appearance of baby's first tooth. But, with the appearance of that tooth - and the teeth that will soon follow - comes responsibility. Parents will need to take the child to the dentist, and also teach the child how to brush and floss. Often, parents are not sure when they need to take care of these important dental concerns.
"All healthcare needs should follow a regular schedule, and that includes dental care for children," said Melinda Hochgesang, D.M.D., of Byrum Family Dentistry. "It is important to establish dental care practices early, so your child can enjoy a healthy smile that will last a lifetime." Byrum Family Dentistry, the dental practice of Robert L. Byrum, D.D.S., P.C., and Melinda Hochgesang, D.M.D., is located at 3878 Middle Road, Bettendorf, IA.
To help parents to stay on-track with their child's dental care, Dr. Hochgesang offers the following timeline. "Many of the developments on the chart take place within an average time range," she said. "No two children follow the same schedule. For example, a neighbor's child may get her first tooth after four months, but your child's first tooth may not appear until six months have passed. Both children fall within the range noted in the schedule, so there's no cause for concern."
0 - 12 Months
  • The first tooth usually appears when your baby is 4 to 8 months old. Your child has 20 primary teeth (also known as baby teeth) at birth and they will appear gradually.
  • Use a damp washcloth to clean your baby's gums after feedings.
  • Once the first tooth appears, gently brush with a soft toothbrush, using water and no toothpaste.
  • Avoid giving your baby a bottle at bedtime. This can promote tooth decay.
  • As new teeth arrive, your baby's gums may be sore. You can rub your baby's gums for relief. Also, you can use chilled teething rings or pain-relief gels.
  • Ideally, your child should first see a dentist between six and twelve months of age.
1 - 3 Years
  • More primary teeth will appear.
  • You should begin taking your child to the dentist for regular check-ups.
  • You should help your child to brush.
  • Your child should drink water from a sippy cup.
3 - 7 Years
  • All the primary teeth should be in place. Your child will begin losing baby teeth as permanent teeth emerge, usually starting with the molars.
  • Discourage thumb-sucking. It may lead to bite problems and crooked teeth.
  • At this time, a dentist may place sealants on the child's teeth.
  • By preschool, you can teach your child to floss.
  • You should still supervise and assist with teeth-brushing. A pea-sized amount of toothpaste can be used, along with products containing fluoride.
  • Continue to visit the dentist every six months for regular check-ups.
8 - 13 Years
  • By this time, your child will have lost most or all baby teeth.
  • Child should be brushing and flossing without assistance.
  • Limit soft drinks and sugary/starchy foods.
  • Continue visiting the dentist every six months for regular check-ups.
  • If necessary, your dentist may recommend a visit to an orthodontist for a consultation.
13 - Early Twenties
  • Remind your child to brush twice daily and floss.
  • Discourage smoking and other tobacco products, as well as oral piercings.
  • Discourage excessive soft drinks and sugary/starchy foods.
  • If dental alignment is necessary, your child should be given braces.
  • Late teens and early twenties: Your child's wisdom teeth should be evaluated for proper placement and whether the jaw can accommodate them. In some cases, removal may be necessary.
  • Continue visiting the dentist every six months for regular check-ups.
Your Child's First Dental Visit
"New parents often ask what will happen at their child's first dental visit," Dr. Hochgesang said. "The dentist will examine your child's teeth and gums for tooth decay and other problems. The dentist may take X-rays to see if the teeth are developing properly, and to check for hidden decay. If necessary, your child's teeth will be professionally cleaned, or a follow-up appointment for cleaning will be scheduled. Also, you will also learn preventive home care skills to help protect your child's teeth."
Dr. Hochgesang noted the importance of setting a good example for your children. "Your child looks to you for guidance," she said. "I strongly encourage all parents to be dental role models for their children.  Your child should see that you are diligent about brushing and flossing, and that you visit your dentist regularly."
For more information on Byrum Family Dentistry, call (563) 332-7734 or visit ByrumFamilyDentistry.com.
-- End --
08 Mar 2013

NEW CONNECTION CIRCLE FORMING!

By Unitarian Universalist Congregation of the Quad Cities

"On Being a UU", especially good for new UU's but also good for those who just want to think more about being a member of this congregation. A sign-up list will be available in the lobby. Please contact John Dunsheath (j.dunsheath@aol.com) if you are interested or have questions.

It starts the first Wednesday in March, goes for 8 weeks, and will be in the rope room, just at the end of the stairs where the older kids hang out.


Mark Your Calendar!

The next environmental film to be shown is Fresh, on Friday, March 8 at 6:30pm, at the UUQC. Note this is a week later than usual. It also coincides with the regular game night (5:30pm), and new member potluck (6pm), therefore the movie will be shown in the boardroom.

Both an enlightening documentary and a stirring call to action, FRESH outlines the vicious cycle of our current food production methods, while also celebrating the farmers, thinkers and business people across America who are reinventing our food system.

  • Starring: Ytit Chauhan, David Ball
  • Directed by: Ana Sofia Joanes
  • Runtime: 1 hour 11 minutes

This movie showing is available thanks to the Eagle View Sierra Club!

08 Mar 2013

Inflatable Colon Raises Awareness About Colorectal Cancer

By Craig Cooper
DAVENPORT, Iowa -- March 7, 2013 -- Genesis Cancer Care Institute will create awareness about colorectal cancer with an inflatable you won't see at a child's birthday party.

A walk through, 20-foot-long, 8-foot-high inflatable colon with colorectal health features inside will be on display to raise awareness about the importance of colorectal cancer screenings.

The public is invited to check out the super colon on Friday, March 15 from 9 a.m.-3 p.m. in front of the Genesis Cancer Care Institute. The Genesis Cancer Care Institute is located on the Genesis Medical Center, West Central Park Campus at 1401 W. Central Park, Davenport.

The giant colon replica is tall enough to walk through and is designed to educate people about the risk, symptoms, prevention, early detection and treatment of colorectal cancer.

"March is National Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month and we hope our efforts to raise awareness will result in more people scheduling their first colonoscopy at age 50, or their follow-up colonoscopy 5 or 10 years later,'' said Kim Turner, cancer research nurse with the Genesis Cancer Care Institute. "Colonoscopy is one of the best health screenings available because the procedure removes pre-cancerous polyps before they become a more dangerous issue.''

Colon cancer is the No. 2 cause of cancer deaths in Iowa, ranking only behind lung cancer.

There will be colorectal health fact sheets and brochures available from Genesis Cancer Care Institute staff on March 15.

###
08 Mar 2013

CALLING ALL ACTORS!

By Kimberly Kurtenbach Furness
Greetings Friends of THE CURTAINBOX,
I am sending this out to all the actors I know letting you know that I have two fabulous projects ahead that I am casting.  One is a feature film and the other is a training video project.  Both projects have fabulous roles for actors of all ages and all roles are PAID.  I need a headshot and resume sent to me in email form if you are interested in being considered for these projects.  Right now, principal photography looks to start sometime in May  and will be primarily shot in the QC.  We are beginning preliminary casting now.  I will be looking for all ages, types and ethnicities.  Send me your most current headshot and resume to:
Thanks much!! Always a pleasure putting fellow actors and students of mine to work! If you know other people who may be interested in submitting for these projects please feel free to forward this message on.
08 Mar 2013

Hotel Blackhawk Signs On To Autograph Collection

By Glenn Kass

Historic Davenport hotel "defines the unique guest experience"

Davenport, IA - Hotel Blackhawk management is pleased to announce that effective today it has officially taken its place in the progressive Autograph Collection hotel network.

The Autograph Collection® (www.autographhotels.com), launched by Marriott in 2010 is, "An evolving ensemble of strikingly independent hotels. Each destination has been selected for its bold originality, rich character and uncommon details." Hotels are listed in different categories such as Artistic Getaways, Historic Explorations, Culinary Delight, Urban Excitement and Wedding Celebration. This new affiliation will also enable Hotel Blackhawk to offer and accept Marriott Rewards®.

Joining a network of properties that promotes individuality is another important step for Hotel Blackhawk's role in gaining attention for the City of Davenport and the Quad Cities. This effort has been highlighted with notable achievements such as its recent status as a 2013 Recommended Property in the Forbes Travel Guide, 2012 AAA Four Diamond Award-Lodgings, 2012 TripAdvisor® Certificate of Excellence Award, the Bix Bistro's 2012 Wine Spectator Award of Excellence as well as 2011 and 2012 Smart Meetings Platinum Choice Award recognition.

"One-of-a-kind hotels in the Autograph Collection serve the discerning tastes of those looking for travel accommodations beyond the ordinary, predictable routine of hotel chains," said General Manager Tim Heim. "Hotel Blackhawk represents the type of singular, high-personality hotel that doesn't just offer guests a unique experience - but actually defines it."

Hotel Blackhawk re-opened December 15th, 2010. The hotel retains its 98-year-old historic character while featuring modern conveniences throughout the 130 guestrooms and extended-stay suites, six meeting rooms and up to 300-person banquet capacity in the signature Gold Room.

Other features include wireless internet, a fitness center, business center, swimming pool, hot tub, Spa Luce (lu-CHAY), Milan Flower Shop, the Bix Bistro restaurant, the Beignet (been-YAY) Done That coffee shop and Blackhawk Bowl & Martini Lounge. In addition to the affiliation with the Autograph Collection, the hotel also is part of the Historic Hotels of America network (www.historichotels.org).

For more, visit www.hotelblackhawk.com or find us on www.facebook.com (Search: Hotel Blackhawk).

-30-

08 Mar 2013

Midland Communications Launches Desktop Optimization Center to Jumpstart Their Customers' Productivity

By Rick Martin
DAVENPORT, IA – March 6, 2013 – Midland Communications, an industry leader in unified communications, announced today that the company has launched a Desktop Optimization Center (DOC) in order to jumpstart their customers' productivity. A DOC is a business support center where administrators monitor networks and remotely control computers, networks or unified communications systems in order to boost performance. Many small to medium-sized businesses are making the move to DOCs in order to reduce the amount of employee downtime on common technical issues and streamline operations.
Midland Communications' DOC constantly monitors and helps to improve the performance of their customers' entire IT infrastructure including computers, devices, applications, networks and the cloud. As a result, network performance is ceaselessly improved and common issues can be fixed faster than ever before. For example, when a customer's employee runs into an issue with a software program on his or her computer, they can call the DOC and a technician will take control of their computer from a remote location and fix the issue immediately. Employees are often astounded when they can watch their issue being fixed before their eyes without having to lift a finger.
The recession has many businesses spread thin, making it tougher than ever to sacrifice valuable IT personnel to fix mundane issues. This places enormous demands on SMBs, who are already searching for ways to maximize employee performance at every opportunity. Simply put, today's businesses cannot afford to wait around for long periods of time before an issue can even begin being worked on.
"The overwhelming majority of computer problems are extremely simple to fix," stated Jason Smith, Vice President of Midland Communications. "More often than not, our customers' employees need help locating a misplaced a file, configuring a printer, recovering passwords, fixing software that has malfunctioned temporarily or something else relatively straightforward. The real benefit of our DOC is that employees can resolve their issues fast. When we can get our customers' businesses back up and running quickly, that results in increased profitability for everyone. We firmly believe in always searching for innovative ways to serve the needs of our customers."

ABOUT MIDLAND COMMUNICATIONS
Midland Communications began more than 60 years ago in 1946 as the Worldwide Marketing Arm of Victor-Animagraph Projectors. In 1977 a communications division was formed due to a partnership with NEC America. Today, As a distributor of NEC America, for 33 years, Midland Communications has a customer base of more than 3,000 satisfied customers that include general businesses, government agencies, Universities, colleges, hospitals, and hotels.
Midland provides a wide range of communication services including VOIP, PBX and key systems, Wide Area and Local Area networking, computers, Computer integration, voice mail, CCIS, and video conferencing and paging systems. Our philosophy is simple, provide quality products at a fair price, backed by an average emergency response time of twenty minutes, and the best service in the industry. For more information on Midland Communications, call (563) 326-1237 or visit www.midlandcom.com.
08 Mar 2013

Niabi Zoo to Open for the Season on March 11th

By Marc Heinzman
Coal Valley, IL - March 6, 2013 - Niabi Zoo has announced that it will open its gates for its 50th Anniversary season on Monday, March 11th.

The zoo, which has been closed for the winter since mid-November 2012, will be open from 9:30 am to 5:00 pm each day. As a way to welcome the community back out to the zoo, admission will be free until March 15th. This year marks the 50th Anniversary of Niabi Zoo, which opened in 1963.

Niabi Zoo Director Marc Heinzman says zoo visitors have much to look forward to this year. "The great thing about visiting Niabi Zoo," said Heinzman, "is that it's always a new adventure for our visitors. The baby giraffe born last June has really grown up in just a matter of months, and we've got a new baby colobus monkey that was born a couple of months ago. Most recently we have a baby zebu, a type of cow from southern Asia, which was born just a few weeks ago. All of them are doing great!"

In addition to the new zoo babies, Niabi Zoo will have some changes to animal habitats in store for 2013. An expanded outdoor elephant yard is nearing full completion and should be ready to go as soon as weather conditions allow work to finish. The expanded elephant habitat takes the available outdoor space from approximately 10,000 square feet to over 33,000 square feet. Also this year,
Niabi Zoo is scheduled to begin construction on a brand new lion habitat. Construction on this project will most likely take place throughout the year. "There are so many exciting things on the horizon," says Heinzman, "and I can't wait for the community to come out to enjoy our hard work."

Starting March 11th, Niabi Zoo will be open seven days a week.
08 Mar 2013

Putnam Happenings March 7 Edition

By Putnam Museum
COMING SOON!

 

Get your tickets TODAY!


Opening this weekend -

March 9

Click here for more information



Theater Throwbacks

E.T.

March 7 - 6 p.m. & 8:30 p.m.
March 10 - 4:30 p.m.


Theater Throwbacks

Saturday

Night Fever

NEXT WEEK
March 14 - 6 p.m. & 8:30 p.m.




Lost Nation:

The Ioway

2 & 3

March 17 - 6:30 p.m.
08 Mar 2013

Spring Sports Madness Reveals the Losing Side of Student Athletics

By Ginny Grimsley
Psychiatrist Shares 4 Ways Sports-Obsessed
Families Can Affect Young Athletes

They're called student-athletes, but many youth advocates - including psychiatrist Gary Malone, are concerned that the emphasis is on "athlete."

"Anyone who follows sports knows that college-level and professional recruiters are looking at recruits - children - at increasingly younger ages, and it's not because they want to ensure these athletic students get a well-rounded education," says Malone,  a distinguished fellow in the American Psychiatric Association, and coauthor with his sister Susan Mary Malone of "What's Wrong with My Family?" (www.whatswrongwithmyfamily.com).

"In my home state, Texas, a new high school football stadium is opening that cost $60 million dollars and seats 18,000. That's all funded at public expense. We constantly read of districts across the country cutting academic and arts programs and teachers' salaries due to budget shortfalls. How can this make sense?"

As a high-performing student-athlete throughout his own high school and college years, Malone says he appreciates the benefits of extracurricular programs.

"But the NCAA.'s own 2011 survey found that, by a wide margin, men's basketball and football players are much more concerned about their performance on the field than in the classroom," he says.

Malone reviews how the imbalance favoring athletic pursuits can damage student-athletes and the family unit:

• Life beyond sports: Only 3 percent of high school athletes will go on to compete in college; less than 1 percent of college athletes turn pro, where the average career is three years with risk of permanent injury, including brain damage, for football players. Even if they're among the successful elite, wealth management is likely to be a major problem; some studies show that up to 78 percent of NFL players go broke after three years of retirement. Is this the best future for a child?

• Misplaced parental priorities: A parent's obsession with a child's success in sports can be extremely damaging to a child, to the extent of bordering on abuse. Parents who look to their children to provide them with the validation, status or other unfulfilled needs don't have their child's best interests at heart. Parents who tend to be domineering can be especially dangerous in the face of an athletic success obsession.

• Siblings left behind: When the family values one child's athletic prowess over the talents and gifts displayed by his or her siblings, the latter children risk growing up without a sense of personal identity, which leads to co-dependency problems in adulthood.

• Pressured to play: Especially in the South, but throughout the entire United States, football is huge. Basketball dominates inner cities and regions like Indiana; wrestling is big in the Midwest and parts of the Northeast, and hockey might be the focus for children throughout Northeast and upper Midwest. Children, especially boys, may feel obliged or pressured to play a particular sport even if they have no talent or interest in it to the detriment of other talents that might have been developed.

"Athletics can be extremely beneficial to a young person's life, but I think we have our priorities backwards," Malone says. "Imagine how much better off our country might be if, instead of football, we were obsessed with our children's performance in science and math."

About Dr. Gary Malone, M.D. & Susan Mary Malone

Dr. Gary Malone is an Associate Clinical Professor of Psychiatry at the University of Texas Southwestern and a teaching analyst at the Dallas Psychoanalytic Institute. He is a distinguished fellow in the American Psychiatric Association with board certifications in general and addiction psychiatry. He has worked in hospitals and private practices for more than 30 years. Dr. Malone is director of Adult Chemical Dependency Services at Millwood Hospital in Arlington, Texas.

Award-winning writer and editor Susan Mary Malone is the author of the novel, "By the Book," and three nonfiction books, including "Five Keys for Understanding Men: A Women's Guide." More than 40 of the book projects she has edited were purchased by traditional publishing houses. She is Dr. Malone's sister.

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