16 minute read
Opinion
MARCH 6, 2020 Opinio n EDITORIALS, LETTERS & COMMENTARY Have something to say? Post a comment or submit a letter to the editor at www.thepress.net/site/forms
Letters to the Editor
Ballot box budgeting Editor:
A new term was recently coined by a Sacramento newspaper, and it describes using the initiative process to force a local governmental agency to meet the demands of taxpayers. This term is “ballot box budgeting.”
When a situation becomes so dire — as in Brentwood’s lack of emergency medical and fire response services — that the taxpayers must take independent action, the term becomes very appropriate.
If a swimming pool, library, community center or park is closed for 96 hours a year, no one will die. This is not the case if emergency medical services are unavailable for that same 96 hours. This was the case in 2018, according to statistics. Someone may die or suffer unnecessarily.
When a person moves to a city, they have a right to expect adequate measures will be taken to provide for their health and safety. When it comes to inadequate emergency medical and fire services for the City of Brentwood, the council tends to blame it on someone else: the East Contra Costa County Fire Protection District.
The city council has a moral duty and responsibility to provide adequate emergency services, and this is not being done.
Until our governmental representatives realize their primary responsibility is to provide for the health and safety of their community, over feelgood projects, the need for ballot box budgeting will continue.
Mike Sloan Brentwood
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g o Downtown FOR SHOPS & SERVICES Passion. Experience. Knowledge. These are three words that embody Realtor Jamie Connors, a Brentwood local who is committed to helping families make their real estate goals become a reality! Over the past 14 years, Jamie has developed a wealth of information about Bay Area market trends, learning the ins and outs of the various neighborhoods and communities. This firsthand knowledge is combined with her passion for the job to deliver amazing results to her clients. Her partnership with Dudum Real Estate Group allows her to deliver the most cutting edge marketing and technology available to her clients.
What Jamie cares about most in the world is what makes her such a successful realtor. When she isn’t selling real estate, she is spending time with her family and friends, and developing new ways to give back to her beautiful Brentwood community.
Most of her work is referral based - the strongest testament to her work ethic. If you are looking for an agent who knows how to successfully buy or sell any home in the area, contact Jamie today! 925-956-9654 or jamie@connorsrealestateteam.com JAMIE CONNORS In an effort to highlight the artistic talent and creativity of high school students in his district, Congressman Jerry McNerney (CA-09) announced that his office is accepting submissions for the 2020 Congressional Art Competition. Sponsored by the U.S. Congress, this annual competition serves to recognize the artistic talents of high school students throughout the country and allows them to showcase their artwork to the nation.
A panel of judges will select the winning entries, and their decision will be announced at a special reception and exhibit hosted by McNerney. The first-place winner and a guest of their choosing will be flown to Washington, D.C., to attend the overall winners’ awards ceremony in June. Additionally, the winner’s artwork will be displayed in a busy corridor that leads to the U.S. Capitol and is used daily by members of Congress, staffers and visitors in Washington, D.C.
The second-, third- and fourthplace winners will have the opportunity to have their art displayed in one of Congressman McNerney’s three offices located in Washington, D.C., Stockton and Antioch. Submission guidelines:
The contest is open to all high school students in California’s 9th Congressional District. Accepted mediums for the artwork are as follows: • Paintings: oil, acrylics and watercolor • Drawings: pastels, colored pencil, pencil, charcoal, ink and markers • Collages: must be two-dimensional • Prints: lithographs, silkscreen and block prints • Mixed media: use of more than two mediums such as pencil, ink, watercolor, etc. • Computer-generated art • Photography
The deadline to submit artwork is Friday, April 17, 2020. For more information on where to submit artwork for consideration, visit https://bit.ly/2x5SuOd.
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MEDICAL & DENTAL THE PRESS PROFESSIONALS OF EAST COUNTY
Bright futures begin with a healthy smile
Taking a little one to the dentist for the first time can have a lasting DAWNMARIE FEHR
impression and lifelong effect on oral health.
Pediatric dentists have the training and tools to keep children calm and comfortable, ensuring a good cleaning. In addition to the training a general dentist receives, pediatric dentists get up to three years additional education on working with children, preparing them to handle behavioral difficulties, nervous patients and all things kid-related.
“I often get asked why a parent should take their child to a pediatric dentist rather than a general dentist,” said Dr. Ansony Kim of Hello Smiles Pediatric Dentists. “If you have a young child who is sick, most parents will take them to a pediatrician, rather than a family doctor. It’s the same thing.”
see Smile page 17
Recommended vaccines for adults R outine immunizations help safeguard newborns, and as children get older, they receive vaccines to prevent measles, mumps, rubella, hepatitis and chicken pox. But a common misconception suggests that vaccines are Those who are unsure of their vaccine status should discuss their health history with their doctors.
only for the young.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention notes that the protection provided by some childhood vaccines can wear off. In addition, some people may be at risk for certain vaccine-preventable diseases due to lifestyle, existing health conditions and age.
As a result, it’s important for adults to make sure their vaccines are up-to-date.
Those who are unsure of their vaccine status should discuss their health history with their doctors. In the meantime, adults should know that the following vaccines are recommended for people of various ages. ♦ Influenza: An annual flu shot is highly recommended. Doctors and health officials indicate that getting the flu vaccine is the single most effective way to prevent seasonal flu or reduce the duration and severity of the illness should it be contracted. ♦ Tdap: This vaccine contains strains of tetanus, diphtheria and pertussis (whooping cough). All three are implicated in serious illnesses or death, according to WebMD. Just about every person, young and old, should receive the Tdap vaccine. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) note that every adult should get the Tdap vaccine once if they did not receive it as an adolescent. Then a booster shot every 10 years is sufficient. ♦ Shingles: People who have been exposed to varicella (chicken pox) in their youth are at risk for shingles as they grow older. The CDC says nearly one out of three people in the U.S. will develop shingles in their lifetime. A shingles vaccine can protect against shingles and complications from the disease. Adults who are 50 and older should get the vaccine, which is administered in two doses. ♦ Pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine (PPSV23): This vaccine protects against serious pneumococcal diseases, including meningitis and bloodstream infections. It is recommended for all adults age 65 and older. ♦ Pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV 13): This protects against serious pneumococcal disease and pneumonia. Adults 65 years or older who have never received a dose of PCV13 should discuss it with their physicians.
Vaccines protect the very young from various diseases, but there are many vaccines that are still vital to health in adulthood.
Photo courtesy of Metro Creative
A common misconception suggests that vaccines are only for the young. However, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention notes that the protection provided by some childhood vaccines can wear off.
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Kim is in the process of setting up his practice in Oakley and hopes to open to patients next month with a state-ofthe-art facility. He has been a pediatric dentist since 2013 and said preventative care and education are a big part of what he does.
Kim worked with dental hygienist Jen Sutton-Shay for two years before he moved from the East Coast to California. Sutton-Shay said Kim was popular with the children in the practice for talking sports and listening to ‘lost tooth’ stories.
“The whole goal at the end of the day is to have a successful treatment,” she explained. “In pediatrics, it’s common to see kids who have had a negative dental experience elsewhere and come in scared. There is nothing better than to ease their fears and build a trusting relationship with them, so that, hopefully, they will leave with a smile on their face and feeling proud that they did it.”
Kim said the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry and the American Academy of Pediatricians both recommend taking a child for their first
Seeing children early can prevent a lifetime of oral health issues and anxiety. We always want easy, positive checkup appointments. – Dr. Ansony Kim of Hello Smiles Pediatric Dentists
dental appointment by age 1 or six months after the first tooth appears.
“There’s a lot of benefits to seeing children early, so if there are any issues like decay or cavity, they can start as quickly as once the first teeth are out,” said Kim.
Kim’s practice is currently under construction. He said he looks forward to serving as a member of the community and providing a local option to treat children from infancy to teenage years. He hopes to begin accepting new patients in April. For more information, visit www.hellosmileskids.com or email info@hellosmileskids.com. To comment, visit www.thepress.net
Photo by Dawnmarie Fehr Dr. Ansony Kim, of Hello Smiles Pediatric Dentists, is preparing to open his Oakley practice next month.
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The negative effects of stress are significant, and persons who can recognize that are in a good position to find healthy ways to cope.
The warning signs of stress S tress affects so many people and infiltrates so many parts of daily life that it can be tempting to write it off as harmless or a normal part of being human, but the negative effects of stress are significant. Those Photo courtesy of Metro Creative Learning to recognize signs of stress can help people overcome it and reduce their risk for various conditions.
who can recognize that are in a good
position to find healthy ways to cope.
The American Psychological Association (APA) notes that stress can take a considerable toll on a person’s mind and body. Chronic stress, which is a constant stress experienced over a prolonged period of time, can increase the risk of hypertension, heart attack or stroke. In addition, the APA notes that chronic stress causes the muscles in the body to be in an essentially constant state of guardedness, which can potentially contribute to tension-type headaches and migraines.
These are just two of the many ways the body is adversely affected by stress, which the APA indicates also has been linked to problems with the gastrointestinal system, nervous system and reproductive system.
Since stress can contribute to such unpleasant and potentially life-threatening side effects, it’s important that people from all walks of life learn to recognize the warning signs. The American Institute of Stress lists the following among its most common signs and symptoms of stress: 1. Frequent headaches, jaw clenching or pain 2. Gritting, grinding teeth 3. Stuttering or stammering 4. Tremors or trembling of lips or hands 5. Neck ache, back pain or muscle spasms 6. Light-headedness, faintness or dizziness 7. Ringing, buzzing or popping sounds 8. Frequent blushing or sweating 9. Cold or sweaty hands and feet 10. Dry mouth or problems swallowing 11. Frequent colds, infections or herpes sores 12. Rashes, itching, hives or ‘goose bumps’ 13. Unexplained or frequent ‘allergy’ attacks 14. Heartburn, stomach pain or nausea 15. Excess belching or flatulence 16. Constipation, diarrhea, loss of control 17. Difficulty breathing or frequent sighing 18. Sudden attacks of life-threatening panic 19. Chest pain, palpitations or rapid pulse 20. Frequent urination
Stress is a part of daily life. Learning to recognize symptoms can help people overcome it and reduce their risk for various conditions.
– Courtesy Metro Creative
