The Valley Times - January 31, 2018

P.3 Hidalgo County Updates Primary Voting Sites

P.6 Kirk & Jeri Clark Named VSO Gala Title Sponsors

VOL. I, NO. 27

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P.4

Pharr Mayor Touts City’s Progress In Annual Address

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 31, 2018

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PSJA ISD High School Student Microgravity Experiment to International Space Station

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STC Converts Old Manufacturing Plant Into Sleek Technology Campus Expansion

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Wednesday, January 31, 2018

OPINION

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When Protectionism Is Rampant, No Bad Deed Goes Unrewarded

By GEORGE F. WILL WASHINGTON -- Like Horatius at the bridge, or the boy who stood on the burning deck whence all but he had fled, or the Dutch boy who saved the city by putting his finger in the dike -- pick your analogous heroism -- the Trump administration last week acted to stanch the flood of foreign-made washing machines that are being imported because Americans want them. The stanching will be accomplished by quotas and stiff (up to 50 percent) tariffs, which are taxes collected at the border and paid by American consumers. Americans also will pay higher prices for washing machines made domestically by Whirlpool, which sought this protectionism, from which it instantly profited: In Monday’s after-hours trading, Whirlpool’s stock rose 3 percent. When protectionism is rampant, no bad deed goes unrewarded.

The washing machine drama about “putting (a faction of) America first” cannot be industrial policy -- government rather than the market picking winners and losers. And it cannot be government redistribution of wealth.

And it cannot be crony capitalism. It cannot be those things because Republicans oppose those things and control policymaking.

Next, and soon, will come a government decision about the problem, as our protectors see it, of menacingly inexpensive steel imports, concerning which the administration is pretending to deliberate. The charade of thinking will end with the imposition of yet more steel tariffs/taxes, joining the 149 (some as high as 266 percent) target-

ing many of the over 110 countries and territories from which America imports steel. Twenty-four of the existing duties target Chinese steel, which is just less than 3 percent of U.S. steel imports.

America’s supposedly embattled steel industry is producing more than it did during World War II, and every year in this decade more than 10 percent of American-made steel goods has been exported.

Imposition of the new tariffs/taxes will be done solely by the president, exercising discretion granted to presidents by various laws, including one passed in December 1974, when Congress evidently thought that Watergate, then fresh in memory, had taught that presidents were not sufficiently imperial.

Then, as now, Congress seemed to think it had more important things to do than set trade policy.

In his new book “Clashing Over Commerce,” Dartmouth economist Douglas A. Irwin explains that the steel industry was a powerful advocate of protectionism until the 1892 opening of Minnesota’s Mesabi iron ore range, which gave steel producers cost advantages that turned their attention to export markets. The industry’s trade problems began when, in July 1959, the United Steelworkers shut domestic steel production down for 116 days -- the longest industrial strike in U.S. history -- and steel-consuming industries found alternative suppliers and materials. Desperate management purchased labor peace with increased wages that by the 1980s were 95 percent higher than the average in manufacturing, and soon U.S. steel was priced out of foreign markets.

Intermittently since then, the industry has sought and received protection.

In 2002, George W. Bush imposed tariffs that caused steel prices to surge, costing more jobs in steel-using industries than then (BEG ITAL)existed(END ITAL) in steel-making. (Today there are upward of 7 times more steel-using than steel-making jobs.) The tariffs cost $400,000 a year for every steel-making job saved, and cost $4 billion in lost wages. Especially hard hit in 2002 were

three states -- Ohio, Michigan, Pennsylvania -- that in 2016 voted for today’s protectionist president.

Last June, Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross, who became a billionaire by plunging into the steel industry simultaneously with Bush offering it succor, said that “since we are the world’s largest importer of steel, we’re the main victim of the overcapacity” in the global steel industry. This puzzled George Mason University’s Don Boudreaux, who wondered “just how our being the world’s largest buyer of steel makes us victims of the alleged overcapacity.”

Fomenting spurious anxieties about national security is the first refuge of rent-seeking scoundrels who tart up their protectionism as patriotism when they inveigle government into lining their pockets with money extracted from their fellow citizens. Sugar producers are ludicrously protected in the

name of “food security.” Most of U.S. steel imports come from four important allies: Canada, South Korea, Mexico, Brazil. The coming steel tariffs/taxes will mean that defense dollars will buy fewer ships, tanks and armored vehicles, just as the trillion infrastructure dollars the administration talks about will buy fewer bridges and other steel-using projects. As Henry George said, with protectionism a nation does to itself in peacetime what an enemy tries to do to it in war.

George Will’s email address is georgewill@washpost.com. (c) 2018, Washington Post Writers Group. George F. Will writes a twice-weekly column on politics and domestic and foreign affairs. He began his column with The Post in 1974, and he received the Pulitzer Prize for Commentary in 1977.

Wednesday, January 31, 2018

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STC Converts Old Manufacturing Plant Into Sleek Technology Campus Expansion Using a blowtorch in place of scissors, staff and faculty held at a special ribbon cutting ceremony to officially announce the opening of South Texas College’s (STC) expansion at its Technology Campus in McAllen.

STC Dean of Business, Public Safety and Technology, Mario Reyna had the honor of cutting the steel bar with the words “South Texas College” using a torch from the Technology Campus.

Welding students attending the college created the steel bar.

“It all amounts to the state of the art labs that are focused on the needs of industry in our region,” said STC President Dr. Shirley A. Reed. “This is real world hands-on experience for students so that when they leave South Texas College, they are prepared to do the job.”

The Technology Campus recently completed a $9.3 million expansion that will house its Institute for Advanced Manufacturing (IAM) as well as the offices of Continuing Professional Workforce Education (CPWE). Located at the former site of a plastic manufac-

turing facility adjacent to the current campus, the new facility will also house Construction Management, Electrician Technology, Precision Manufacturing Technology and Welding programs.

In attendance at the ceremony was STC Trustees Chairman Dr. Alejo Salinas and Graciela Farias, City of McAllen Commissioner Omar Quintanilla, and McAllen EDC Board of Directors Chairwoman Laura Warren.

The acquisition of the old manufacturing plant increases square footage at the campus by 76,000 square feet, and is the campus’s first all-encompassing expansion in over 20 years. Funds have also been used to develop 42 offices, seven classrooms, six computer labs, five training labs, as well as the only FESTO robotics training lab in the State of Texas.

Existing space at the Technology Campus has been renovated to expand its current offerings including the diesel program, as well as additional space for HVAC&R and Architectural Engineering and Design Technology (AEDT).

“I think the whole purpose of this

new building is to continue the transformation that has taken place in the Valley over the last 20 years,” said STC Dean Reyna. “Now that we have this new facility, we have even greater space to do more of the automation, more of the information technology and more of the construction supervision that is needed

tremendously in our area.

“Companies need the students with the skills we are producing, and this is only the beginning,” Reyna said.

STC administrators now look ahead to the official opening of its expansion at its Nursing and Allied Health Campus tentatively by February.

Hidalgo County Updates Primary Voting Sites

Hidalgo County Democratic Party Chair Ricardo Godinez and Elections Administrator Yvonne Ramon reported on the upcoming March Democratic Party Primaries.

Hidalgo County Report Hidalgo County Commissioners last week voted to update the early voting sites for the March Primary and approved a pay increase for Election Day workers and judges.

The Court amended the approved list of poll locations to substitute the Pumphouse at Firemen’s Park in place of

the Tax Office substation in McAllen.

According to Elections Administrator Yvonne Ramon, the Tax Office is too small to accommodate the voters.

Election Judges’ pay will increase from $12 to $14 and alternate judges and other poll workers will see an increase from $10 to $12 on Election Day. Hidalgo County Democratic Party Chair Ricardo Godinez updated Commissioners Court on Election Day poll locations.

“If we have consistency in the number of polls, people will easily become conditioned to the locations,” Godinez said.

“We appreciate the court for helping us get our voting numbers up,” Godinez added.

Fire Marshal Homero Garza appointed to second term Commending Fire Marshal Homero Garza on a job well done, Commissioners Court voted to approve him for a second two-year term.

In addition to conducting risk assessments, investigations and inspections,

Fire Marshall Homero Garza

the Fire Marshal’s office also assists 22 local fire departments.

“We assist the smaller departments who may not have the same resources as their counterparts from larger cities,” Garza said.

Commissioners encouraged Garza to continue those collaborations and to assist with training of the smaller and volunteer fire departments. Another priority of Commissioners Court is to have the Fire Marshal conduct annual inspections of all county facilities; something that

Garza said his office has been working towards.

Pct. 4 Town Hall meetings set Precinct 4 Commissioner Joseph Palacios received approval to hold a town hall meeting tonight, January 31, from 6-8 p.m. at the University of Texas-Rio Grande Valley. Last week, he held another Town Hall at the Lark Community Center in McAllen.

“Town hall meetings are critical to the public policy process, they provide an opportunity for me to hear about the most pressing concerns in our community and to elaborate on the work that Precinct 4 is doing for all residents,” said Palacios.

Among the topics discussed will be this year’s county tax cut, road infrastructure, drainage improvements, economic development, internship opportunities and more.

The town halls come as Palacios is facing a heated contest in the upcoming March Democratic Primary. He is facing Edinburg CISD school trustee Ellie Torres in that election.

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Wednesday, January 31, 2018

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Kirk & Jeri Clark Named VSO Gala Title Sponsors

The Valley Symphony Orchestra GALA Committee named Kirk & Jeri Clark of Clark Chevrolet and Clark Knapp Honda as their 2018 Art of Harp title sponsors. The Art of Harp Symphony Gala honoring Corporate Cultural Leaders, Frost Bank, is the symphony’s only major fundraising event of the year. The will take place Thursday, March 8 at the McAllen Convention Center Ballroom located at 700 Convention Center Blvd from 6:30 – 10:30 p.m.

Guests in attendance will enjoy complimentary champagne and wine throughout the evening, followed by a scrumptious dinner carefully selected by Michelle Crane and other Gala Committee Members, an awards presentation and the evening’s stellar entertainment selected by Maestro Peter Dabrowski.

Extraordinarily talented guest harpist Iraida Poberezhnaya and her husband, pianist Ildar Khannanov, will present a twenty-minute live musical

performance that will thrill the audience.

Iraida Poberezhnaya is a concert harpist with a broad repertoire, and in 2012 was awarded with a special certificate from Arts and Science Centre, Russian Consulate, Washington DC as a recognition for building cultural bridges between two countries.

The Valley Symphony Orchestra will direct all proceeds raised at this fundraising event towards support of LIVE classical performances, and music education programs.

The Valley Symphony Orchestra is a philanthropic, tax-exempt, public corporation governed by a board made up of business and civic leaders from our community.

Sponsorships for the Gala begin at $1,250 and individual tickets are $175.

To become a sponsor or to purchase tickets to this year’s Art of Harp Symphony Gala, visit www.valleyorchestra. org or call Vivian Vargas, Marketing Manager to (956) 661-1615.

Actress, Author, Immigration Advocate Diane Guerrero To Speak At UTRGV ‘Orange Is The New Black’ Actress To Visit South Texas Diane Guerrero, best known for her role as Maritza Ramos in the popular Netflix series “Orange Is the New Black,” will bring her message of immigration activism to UTRGV on Feb.1 at the TSC Arts Center, as part of the university’s Distinguished Speaker Series.

The actress and author also has appeared on shows like “Jane the Virgin,” and “Superior Donuts.”

In 2014, she wrote a revealing op-ed article for the Los Angeles Times that detailed her experience as the daughter of two undocumented Columbian immigrants who both were deported when she was 14 years old. In 2016, she wrote a memoir titled “In the Country We Love: My Family Divided,” chronicling the experience. Since then, she has advocated publicly for immigration reform.

Cindy Mata, director of student activities at UTRGV Student Involvement, said the Distinguished Speaker

Series is an important way to bring new ideas to the university.

“The Distinguished Speaker Series provides an opportunity for students, faculty and staff to listen to renowned world-class speakers at our university,” she said. “Through the speakers, students can learn and obtain different perspectives on a variety of topics, be motivated by the stories and lessons learned and see how they, too, can make a difference.”

The Valley Symphony Orchestra announced that Kirk and Jeri Clark have been named as the upcoming VSO Gala Title Sponsors. Pictured, from left, are: Kirk Clark, Daniel Clark, Andy Avila, Jeri Clark, Serena Pandos and John Pandos.

Wednesday, January 31, 2018

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Pharr Mayor Touts City’s Progress In Annual Address

Walking up to the podium led by a group of children dressed in construction outfits, Pharr Mayor Dr. Ambrosio Hernandez announced that the “state of our great city of Pharr continues be dynamic and growing better than ever.” That was the message the Pharr mayor shared with the capacity audience at his second “State of the City” address.

Speaking to a capacity crowd of several hundred at the Pharr Events Center, Hernandez spoke about the progress his administration achieved over the last two years and plans for the coming years.

“We have all contributed to building our great City of Pharr!

Many of us have helped to lay the foundation of the past, a legacy of leadership pioneered by many great giants upon whose shoulders we stand,” Hernandez said. “Some of us, in our own way and through our own time and talents, have contributed to cultivating growth in our area. Some, like me, have left and returned to our hometown - ready to serve.

Some have helped lay the brick and mortar of our streets, our facilities, and our communities through hard work. Many are raising their families and their children with a rich and vibrant cultural heritage of which we are all proud. And some, our children, the future leaders of tomorrow... are laying the groundwork to build our future - through their hopes, their dreams, and their grand ideas.”

The mayor gave credit to the support he has from the city commission, the city staff, businesses and residents involved in promoting the city.

Since coming into office in 2015, the new administration has been able to amass $200 million in transportation funding from local, state and federal

sources. This includes $100 million for the Pharr Interchange, which has become a traffic bottleneck. Other projects to be implemented include expansion of Owassa Road and paving for 244 miles of residential streets.

The mayor also touted $10 million invested in park expansion and improvements.

He added that Jones Box Park in South Pharr was among the most important projects to his administration. “We will be working on many more parks this year,” Hernandez said.

Other projects the Mayor promoted include more than $2 million for pedestrian walkways, sidewalks and the Hike and Bike Trail that will link Pharr with McAllen and San Juan. Another major project Hernandez pointed to is the recently completed 1 million gallon water tower on the city’s north side that will allow for 10,000 additional connections and provide for future growth in that area.

According to the Mayor, the city’s finances have seen healthy gains as sales taxes and bridge revenues have increased over the last two years, along with an increase in retail and home construction. He pointed that those successes that have allowed the city to reduce the city’s property tax rate for the second time in three years.

Among the other successes Hernandez pointed to were the Pharr Family Foundation housing program, the opening of the Index Fresh avocado ripening facility, and the South Pharr Research Center.

“Most notably, we broke ground for one of the most highly-anticipated entertainment venues, Topgolf, which now calls Pharr home. As mayor of Pharr, I am excited at the opportunities that this new venue will bring for our community, and we look forward to enjoying the many memorable experiences to be had at Topgolf for years to come,” Hernandez said.

The Mayor also announced the growth and development of three higher educational institutions in the city. This includes the opening of the 42,000 sqf RGV College campus. RGV College offers health care training.

He reported that the College has the highest licensure rate in the region for its vocational nursing program. It will soon develop an associate’s degree program.

The Mayor reminded the crowd about South Texas College’s Pharr campus, the Center for Public Safety to provide training for law enforcement at the local, state and regional level.

The Mayor also announced that the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley Schoolof Medicine has partnered with the city and the PSJA Independent School District to build the UTRGV Aquatic Center that will allow the school district to use the indoor facility for swim meets and training. UTRGV will provide sport medicine and rehab services, along with a campus for primary care and specialty clinic.

“Together, we built and continue to build this city,” Hernandez said in closing his address.

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McAllen Calls For Run-off On March 3

By Davis Rankin

The McAllen City Commission made it official. Saturday, March 3 is the date called Monday by McAllen city commissioners for the runoff election to pick a new commissioners for commission District 1. Commissioners met for a few minutes Monday afternoon to canvass the vote from the January 20 election and to set a date to pick the ultimate winner.

While the commission had discussed the run-off at last week’s meeting, they were not able to officially set the run-off date until they had canvassed the votes.

With that out of the way, they went ahead and set the date for March 3 as they had previously discussed.

Three candidates ran for the

seat made vacant when Commissioner Richard Cortez announced that he is running for the Democratic Party nomination for Hidalgo County Judge.

Three candidates filed for the seat: Javier Villalobos, Tim Wilkins and Dr. Joe Caporusso. Out of the 1,358 votes cast during the first round, Wilkins got 473 votes, or 35%; Villalobos garnered 505 votes, or 37%; and Caporusso ran third with 375 votes or 28%.

Commissioners set the early voting period from Feb. 14 through 27, with Saturday, March 3 as election day. As in the first election, there will be only one polling location, at Gonzalez Elementary, located at 201 Martin Ave.

McAllen High Mariachi Oro

McAllen High, Rowe Mariachis Qualify For State Again

The McAllen High Mariachi Oro and the Rowe High Mariachi Azteca have both advanced to the State UIL Mariachi Festival by receiving a Division 1 Superior Rating at the Regional UIL Contest held January 26-28 at the La Joya ISD Performing Arts Complex.

This is the second straight year both squads advanced to the state level. McAllen High has won the state title for four consecutive years.

The State UIL Mariachi Festival will be February 23-24, at the UTRGV Performing Arts Center in Edinburg. It will include close to 100 mariachi ensembles from across the state of Texas. A schedule will be posted soon.

“Our extremely dedicated, hardworking, and talented student musicians have put in a lot

preparation to once again qualify to represent their schools and McAllen ISD at the State level,” McAllen High instructor Alex Trevino said.

The McAllen High and Rowe Mariachi Directors expressed how proud they are of these exceptional students’ performance and thankful for their commitment.

They also thanked the mariachi parents, school administrators, central office administration, School Board members, the director of fine arts and the superintendent for their continued support.

McAllen High’s Mariachi Directors include Alex Trevino, David Moreno and Bernardo Aldava.

The Rowe Mariachi Directors are Juan Castillo, David Moreno and Consultant Julissa Rios.

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Wednesday, January 31, 2018

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PSJA ISD High School Student Microgravity Experiment Headed To International Space Station For the second year in a row, a microgravity experiment designed by a team of 11th grade students at PSJA Thomas Jefferson T-STEM Early College High School was selected as a flight experiment for the Student Spaceflight Experiments Program (SSEP) Mission 12 to the International Space Station (ISS).

Their experiment, which is the fourth from the school district selected for the program and the only one from the Rio Grande Valley, is expected to launch later this year from Cape Canaveral, Florida.

The students in the finalist team include Rodolfo Cantu, Jacob Fuentes and Joel Quiñones with engineering teacher Andrew Martinez as their facilitator. They are all part of PSJA T. Jefferson T-STEM ECHS, a campus at PSJA ISD that focuses on graduating students in the fields of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.

According to Cantu, who like his teammates is pursuing an Associate Degree in Engineering from South Texas while at PSJA, their experiment proposal was inspired by their childhood fascination for Sea-Monkeys, which are a hybrid breed of brine shrimp called Artemia NYOS invented in 1957 by Harold von Braunhut.

“Our experiment studies the impact of microgravity on the development of brine shrimp,’” said the 17-year-old of their experiment titled, What is the Effect that Microgravity has on the development of synthetic Brine Shrimp?”We are curious to see what happens to them (brine shrimp) in space since they do not hatch until they are in an environment that is sustainable.”

In addition to the selected finalist team, PSJA is one of five communities in Texas and a total of 31 involved in SSEP Mission 12 from the United States, Canada and Brazil.

The PSJA T. Jefferson T-STEM Early College High School Finalist Team members, from left, Jacob Fuentes, Joel Quiñones and Rodolfo Cantu.

As a participating community, SSEP Mission 12 to ISS will provide PSJA students with a real research mini-laboratory capable of supporting a single microgravity experiment, and all launch services to fly the minilab in space and return it safely to Earth for harvesting and analysis.

Besides the selected finalist team, PSJA ISD had two other team proposals make it as Finalists and an Honorable Mention: The Finalist Team II experiment was titled, “Does microgravity affect the rate of binary fission in paramecium caudatum?” The team had one member, Kaelin Cabrera, with teacher facilitator Natasha Quailes. The Finalist Team III experiment was titled, “What is the effect of microgravity on the rate of reproduction by the number of sea monkeys?” Team members were Yuri Garcia, Josue Martinez, Christian Pena, and Carlos Reyna, teacher facilitator Andrew Martinez.

The school district also recognized the following students whose team earned District Honorable Mention: David Anaya, Manuel Quiñones, Marco Ortiz, and Victor Vasquez.

“We are proud of our students

for this tremendous accomplishment,” said PSJA Superintendent Dr. Daniel King. “They are not only representing our PSJA Family, but also every student in the Rio Grande Valley.”

Designed to inspire and engage the next generation of scientists and engineers, the SSEP is the first pre-college STEM education program that is both a U.S. national initiative and implemented as an on-orbit commercial space venture. Started in June 2010, it was designed as a model U.S. National STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) education program.

The program typically serves 300 students across communities in every facet of authentic research of their own design.

The SSEP is a program of the National Center for Earth and Space Science Education (NCESSE) in the U.S. and the Arthur C. Clarke Institute for Space Education internationally.

It is enabled through a strategic partnership with DreamUp PBC and NanoRacks LLC, which are working with NASA under a Space Act Agreement as part of the utilization of the International Space Station as a National Laboratory.

Young children walk hand in hand back to their classrooms after recess at STC’s child development center located near the Mid-Valley Campus in Weslaco. The Department of Childhood Development at South Texas College (STC) received a four year grant from the U.S Department of Education of $929,800 as part of the Child Care Access Means Parents in School Program.

STC Receives $929,800 Grant From U.S Department Of Education The Department of Childhood Development at South Texas College (STC) received a $929,800 grant from the U.S Department of Education as part of the Child Care Access Means Parents in School Program.

The grant will provide affordable childcare services for eligible students at the Child Development Center, located at the South Texas College Mid Valley Campus.

Funds will be utilized to cover tuition and fees for 50 eligible children of STC student-parents each semester and 40 children in the summer.

STC’s Mid Valley Campus Child Development Center, which is nationally accredited, is committed to providing a lab program to train future early childhood professionals and has served as a catalyst for quality care and education for children and their families for the past 10 years.

Veronica Rodriguez, Assistant Professor and Program Chair of Child Development, says this

grant will serve students greatly and believes that the Child Development Center meets the needs of the college and community.

“Our center was established 10 years ago to support students who are parents and wanting to attend South Texas College,” Rodriguez shared. “The student-parent component is very important because without access, parents wouldn’t come back to school or even start. It supports them by having their children at the center, providing them with the best educational opportunities.”

Although the grant supports student parents, it is also available to support any parent needing childcare in the community.

The grant will be distributed in a four-year term beginning in Fall 2018 from Oct.1, 2018 through Sept. 30, 2022.

Those interested in applying for the CCAMPIS Grant at STC can contact Cecilia Villagran, CCAPMIS Project Director at (956) 872-2009.

VOL. I, NO. 4

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WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 31, 2018

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RECORD 568 LIVES SAVED THANKS TO SOUTH TEXAS ORGAN DONORS

FEBRUARY IS HEART HEALTH MONTH

Ileana Rodriguez is a two-time kidney recipient. When she was first told that her kidneys were failing as a child, Ileana’s mother became her living donor, which allowed her to get back to a normal childhood. Years later, her body rejected the kidney.

“It felt like my life was over and I was very scared,” she said of her second diagnosis for a kidney transplant. This time around, a registered organ donor saved her life after being on the national waiting list for two weeks. “Thanks to organ donation, and the amazing people that choose to be donors, I have a second chance at life.” When it comes to encouraging others to register, Ileana says “I hope you choose to be an organ donor, because you are and will maybe be someone’s hero one day.”

Just like Ileana’s donor a new record of 170 individuals, a 22 percent increase from last year, provided 568 organs to patients, giving hope to the nearly 11,000 people who are waiting for a lifesaving organ transplant in Texas.

“Our mission is to save lives through organ donation,” said Edwina Garza, communications coordinator for Texas Organ Sharing Alliance in McAllen. “Everyone has the possibility to be a lifesaving hero through organ, eye, and tissue donation.”

By registering, you can save eight lives as an organ donor and potentially 75 others with tissue donation. “It’s the best gift to give, the gift of life,” Garza said.

According to their records, there were 23 donors in the Rio Grande Valley last year, but every 10 minutes someone is put on the transplant waiting list, and 22 people who need transplants die every day.

TOSA will continue to find more ways to educate people on donating their organs, and become registered donors.

For information on organ donation and community initiatives, or to register online, visit TOSA1.org.

Eating For a Healthy Thyroid

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Wednesday, January 31, 2018

You don’t need to follow a special diet while on thyroid hormone medication, with a couple of exceptions. Limit foods high in soy protein, because large amounts of soy might interfere with the absorption of thyroid hormone. Also avoid excessive amounts of iodine, either in medications or supplements, as this could potentially alter your thyroid hormone level. Most iodine-rich foods, such as iodized products or fish, are acceptable.

Aside from these restrictions, you are free to eat whatever you want, but aim for a healthy diet that includes lots of fruits, vegetables, and whole grains.

Adopting a nutritious diet for your thyroid not only keeps you feeling good once your thyroid levels are normal, but it helps your digestive system function smoothly and your heart pump

efficiently—both of which support healthy metabolism. If you still don’t feel well despite your medication, improving your diet and starting an exercise program may help. Following are some tips for healthy eating.

Eat nutritious foods.

Eat a variety of fruits, vegetables,

ADHD Treatments For Children and Teens (ages 6–17)

Be sure they get what’s best!

Where we have been: (Treatment practices, 2009-2010)

Where we need to go: (Treatment guidance, 2011)

Less than 1 in 3 children with ADHD in this age group got both behavioral therapy and medication.

Provide both behavioral therapy and medication.

What can you do?

Parents:

Talk to your doctor about the recommendations for ADHD treatment and about what’s best for your child.

CS255177C

FOR MORE INFORMATION: www.cdc.gov/adhd Twitter: @CDC_NCBDDD

Healthcare professionals:

Be aware of the psychological resources in your community and be prepared to refer children for behavioral therapy as recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP).

nuts, and whole-grain foods to improve your overall health.

Protein should come from lean sources, such as fish or beans.

Rely on healthy oils, such as olive oil.

Cut down on “bad” fats and simple carbohydrates.

Certain dietary fats contribute

to heart disease and some forms of cancer. Reduce saturated fats, which come mainly from animal products such as meat and cheese, and trans fats, which take the form of hydrogenated oils in processed foods and many margarines. Instead, choose fats that help reduce LDL cholesterol.

You’re probably already doing a lot to ensure that you stay in good health and are able to enjoy your later years: eating right, exercising, getting checkups and screenings as recommended by your doctor. But it also makes sense to have some contingency plans for the bumps in the road that might occur.

Adapt your home. Stairs, baths, and kitchens can present hazards for older people. Even if you don’t need to make changes now, do an annual safety review so you can make necessary updates if your needs change.

Prevent falls. Falls are a big deal for older people — they often result in fractures that can lead to disability, further health problems, or even death. Safety precautions are important, but so are exercises that can improve balance and strength.

Consider your housing options.

You might consider investigating naturally occurring retirement communities (NORCs). These neighborhoods and housing com-

plexes aren’t developed specifically to serve seniors — and, in fact, tend to host a mix of ages — but because they have plenty of coordinated care and support available, they are senior-friendly.

Think ahead about how to get the help you may need. Meal preparation, transportation, home repair, housecleaning, and help with financial tasks such as paying bills might be hired out if you can afford it, or shared among friends and family. Elder services offered in your community might be another option.

Plan for emergencies. Who would you call in an emergency?

Is there someone who can check

These include monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats from vegetable oils, and omega-3 fats found in certain kinds of fish.

Seeds, nuts, and legumes are also healthy choices.

Stick with complex carbohydrates found in whole-grain foods, fruits, and vegetables, and minimize soft drinks, potato chips, candy, crackers, and other junk foods that are high in calories and low in nutrients. Getting enough protein should not be a problem. Most people in developed countries get plenty of protein in their diets.

Increase dietary fiber.

Dietary fiber helps improve digestion. Eating whole-grain foods and a variety of vegetables and fruits ensures that you have an ample supply of dietary fiber.

6 Ways You Can Prepare to “Age Well”

in on you regularly? What would you do if you fell and couldn’t reach the phone? Keep emergency numbers near each phone or on speed dial. Carry a cellphone (preferably with large buttons and a bright screen), or consider investing in some type of personal alarm system.

Write advance care directives.

Advance care directives, such as a living will, durable power of attorney for health care, or health care proxy, allow you to explain the type of medical care you want if you’re too sick, confused, or injured to voice your wishes. Every adult should have these documents.

Wednesday, January 31, 2018

IMAGINE

TYING YOUR SHOES

WITHOUT

JOINT PAIN TO MAKE AN APPOINTMENT CALL

877-855-0269

If you’ve tried it all to reduce joint pain, it may be time to consider a more permanent medical solution. We offer minimally invasive options that may eliminate joint pain and get you back to a more active lifestyle. To find a doctor near you or make an appointment, call 877-855-0269.

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