Magazine21971

Living Well January 2013

IN

NORTH LOUISIANA

Fashion Forward

Take a peek at the spring runway hits

Rev up your metabolism Pick up tips to kick up your weight loss regime

STRESSED? Health professionals discuss what too much stress does to you and how to decompress

Living Well r +ĮĻŃĮŀň

About the cover

212 W. Park Ave. Ruston, Louisiana 71270 (318) 255-4353

System Overload

Stress is something that most Americans deal with each week.

Inside residents can learn more about the negative side effects, as well as tips to relieve stress.

See pages 38-41.

Publisher

Rick Hohlt

Living Well Editor Elizabeth DeGrie

Graphic Designers Rick Hohlt Will Avery II Elizabeth DeGrie

Contributing Writers T. Scott Boatright Nick Davis Laura Sloan Lacey Sharp

For advertising information, call (318) 255-4353.

Health related articles in this publication are meant to increase reader awareness and should not be viewed as medical advice or instruction on individual health matters.

We recommend you consult your physician or health care professional for medical advice or treatment.

Reproduction of

Living Well

in whole or part is strictly prohibited without permission from the Publisher

Living Well

in North Louisiana

A division of Ruston Newspapers, Inc © 2013 All rights reserved.

6 10 14 36 46

1ŀIJĽĽĶĻĴ Į 4ŃĽIJŀ 1Įŀłň The Super Bowl is a huge event in homes across the country. Find tips and information about this super celebration.

8ļŀĸĶĻĴ łļ ,IJIJĽ -ĶĻİļĹĻ #IJĮŃłĶijŃĹ Members of a local community have taken it upon themselves to make sure their community stays in tip-top shape by giving back.

)ļł 0ijij łĵIJ $ĮłŅĮĹĸ Locals find good use for their abandoned locks through the Pink Hearts Fund. Find out more about this philantrophic trend.

5ĵIJ "ıńIJĻłŃŀIJŁ ļij Į #ļńĶĻIJ 1ŀĶĻİIJŁŁ One local girl shares her tale of becoming a two-time ‘Cow Princess’ and what she loves most about the non-traditional pet.

-ĶĻİļĹĻ &ńIJĻłŁ Learn what’s on tap in Lincoln Parish for arts, theater, music and more.

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3

A Word From the Editor As the New Year rang in, this time around it brought many people across the country — and right here in Lincoln Parish — more strife than pleasure. Rather than a celebration of a new year of living to do, many greeted 2013 with a mile-long list of things to worry about.

With big, depressing and stress-inducing news stories filling

our

radios,

televisions

and newspapers, some people may

have

finally

reached

their

limits when it comes to stress.

If that’s the case, readers may be

able

to

find

some

comfort

by turning to pages 38-41.

Within those pages, health professionals share information on why too much stress is bad for us and how to keep from going into overload. Beyond the throbbing headache and expanding waistline often associated with high levels of

stress, there are many other serious diseases that can be attributed to high stress levels.

So,

it

is

beneficial

—

both

mentally and physically — for individuals who are feeling a little overwhelmed by life to slow down, take some time and learn new ways to deal with their stress. In “Keep Calm and Carry On,” local health professionals offer tips on how to prevent the unwanted side effects of a fastpaced life.

With the new year comes new opportunities. Perhaps this is the year some residents will decide to pick up a new hobby.

For those who enjoy being

outdoors and like the feel of the

earth

between

their

fingers,

the Master Gardeners might be just the organization to get them started on the path to a year

filled

with

happiness. The organization will hold their annual gardening seminar in February, and they are actively recruiting new members. So, if you’ve always dreamed of the ability to fill

your

garden

with life, check out “Mastering a Green Thumb” on pages 21-23.

If agriculture is your passion, there is more than one story to provide entertainment and information in this edition.

“The ‘Cow Princess’” offers a glimpse into the life of a local

Elizabeth DeGrie

girl with a love for cows. Find Katelin Cooper’s story on pages 36-37.

If you’re interested in knowing how agriculture fits

into

the

big

picture

in

Lincoln Parish, learn more the economic impact in “LSU Spotlight” on pages 28-30.

For those who are interested in what the runways have to offer this spring, readers can get a sneak peek of what fashion professionals are seeing as the top trends for Spring 2013. For insight into what will be hot, “Spring into Fashion” on pages 14-16.

Despite any feelings of dread about the array of possibilities, the new year really is full of exciting new opportunities for everyone.

So, if you’re feeling a little overwhelmed, take a break and delve

into

these

pages

to

find

tips for living life well in 2013.

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Volunteer!

IMPROVE YOUR WELL-BEING AND LONGEVITY

A New Year often motivates us to establish new habits — or explore opportunities we’ve always wanted to try. These goals may range from eating healthier or exercising regularly, to writing a book or beginning an art class. If becoming more social, helping others and giving back to the community is on your list, consider becoming a volunteer at Northern Louisiana Medical Center — it may just improve your wellbeing.

Northern Louisiana Medical Center has volunteer opportunities throughout the hospital campus for retired adults. Areas that currently have volunteer opportunities include the Information Desk, Gift Shop, ICU and Surgery Waiting Rooms.

There’s

scientific

proof

—

giving

of

yourself,

gives

back Volunteers at Northern Louisiana Medical Center enhance the services hospital staff provides patients, their families and guests.

Several years ago, the Corporation for National and Community Service

released

a

study

that

reviewed

a

collection

of

scientific

research that revealed volunteers help themselves to better health while helping others. According to the report and its research: •

For adults age 65 and older, the positive effect of volunteering on physical and mental health is due to the personal sense of accomplishment an individual gains from volunteer activities.

•

Volunteering led to lower rates of depression among people 65 and older.

•

People who volunteered after experiencing heart attacks reported decreased feelings of despair and depression — two factors linked to mortality in post-coronary artery disease patients.

“There is now a convergence of research leading to the conclusion that helping others makes people happier and healthier. So the word is out — it’s good to be good,” said Dr. Stephen Post, a professor at the Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine and co-author of the book “Why Good Things Happen to Good People: The Exciting New Research That Proves the Link Between Doing Good and Living a Longer, Healthier, Happier Life.”

So, besides improving your health, why should you consider volunteering at Northern Louisiana Medical Center? Here are seven great reasons to volunteer: No. 7 — Make someone else’s day By

being

the

first

person

a

patient

or

a

guest

sees

when

they

come

to

the hospital or spending time with patients who may not have many visitors, a volunteer has the opportunity to provide comfort and compassion, as well as set the tone for a patient or guest’s experience while in the hospital.

No. 6 — Have fun When

you

volunteer

doing

something

you

love,

the

time

will

fly.

And

you’ll meet a variety of like-minded volunteers — soon-to-be friends.

No. 5 — Satisfaction It’s almost guaranteed that when you help others, you will enjoy a greater sense of self-worth.

No. 4 — Get off the couch Volunteering gives you a reason to wake up and get motivated.

No. 3 — Make someone’s day Your extra efforts to assist our healthcare team or help a patient or guest more comfortable can mean the world of difference to them.

No. 2 — Become a part of a team Experience the camaraderie of working with others on a common goal and sharing the reward of making a difference in another person’s life. Whether you’re a soon-to-be graduate, considering a career change or enjoying retirement, volunteering with a team will enhance your life.

No. 1 — You’ll be appreciated At Northern Louisiana Medical Center, we love our volunteers! We respect their time and appreciate their giving of their talents.

To learn more or to have a volunteer application sent to you, call the Northern Louisiana Hospital Auxiliary Liaison, Tami Davis at 254-2447 or email tami_ davis@chs.net.

Northern Louisiana Medical Center is a 159-bed acute care hospital providing an array of medical services including: cardiology, intensive care, Level II NICU, imaging, rehabilitation and physician services. NLMC has served the community of Ruston and the surrounding area since 2007.

Living Well r +ĮĻŃĮŀň

5

celebration

IT’S BOWL TIME get into the game he winter holiday season is a special time. Thanksgiving and Christmas bring the spirit of family and thoughts of spending time together to enjoy good food and camaraderie.

Here in Louisiana we’re also able to enjoy Mardi Gras as carnival time spreads more good cheer and togetherness throughout the region.

But there’s another near national holiday that has become a yearly focal point for many throughout the country and even the world. America loves a party, and one of the biggest parties around has become the NFL Super Bowl.

Venture out into town during a Super Bowl and it looks like a Christmas night drive — any driver pretty much has the road to themselves and restaurants and bars are the only businesses with customers. But drive through any

6

Living Well r +ĮĻŃĮŀň

neighborhood and it looks like Christmas Eve, with party after party celebrating Super Sunday.

Somehow an athletic game has become a larger-than-life phenomena, giving families and friends a reason to gather together, celebrate and forget about the stresses of real life for a little bit.

If only for a few hours, it allows people to wash their troubles away with camaraderie and good food as they revel in the fun and excitement of a game.

According to a 2011 American Journal article more than 20 million Americans attend a yearly Super Bowl party and half of all Americans would rather go to a Super Bowl party than a New Year’s Eve party.

The

article

said

that

two

out

of

five

Super Bowl watchers are not even football fans. Even people who will never watch another game all year will tune in to be part of this one national event.

Research showed that about 25

percent of women actually enjoy watching the game during the Super Bowl, but that leaves three out of every four who don’t.

But that doesn’t matter, because the game itself is often overshadowed by the hoopla surrounding pregame, halftime shows and world premiere commercials. Nonfootball fans

celebration join the party because they enjoy the commercials, the food, the drink, the friends and the overall atmosphere.

How big is the Super Bowl to the average person?

To

find

out

one

only

needs

to

look

at

the

planning

involved. Research by the American Journal said that on average, Super Bowl plans are made 41 days in advance.

By comparison, the same research showed that New Year’s plans are made 35 days in advance, anniversary plans are made 30 days in advance and birthday plans are made 25 days in advance.

Broadcast in 34 languages to 232 countries and territories, the Top 10 primetime network broadcasts since 2000 have been Super Bowls. More than 1.5 million new television sets are expected to be sold during Super Bowl week. And a 30-second commercial shown during the game is expected to cost upward of $3 million.

Maybe the biggest winner on Super Bowl Sunday is the food industry.

Super Bowl Sunday is the second largest day of food consumption behind Thanksgiving and the biggest winter grilling day of the year.

Yummly.com says the average Super Bowl viewer will consume 1,200 calories while watching the game. The most popular take-out and delivery items on Super Bowl Sunday are pizza, chicken wings and sandwiches, but fans also eat an estimated 69.6 million pounds of avocados during a Super Bowl, mostly in guacamole.

It is estimated that Americans

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Living Well r +ĮĻŃĮŀň

7

celebration will eat 90 million pounds of chicken wings during Super Bowl celebrations, breaking down to 450 million individual wings. And 14,500 tons of chips and 4,000 tons of popcorn are also consumed each Super Bowl Sunday.

Savvy marketing by the NFL hasn’t hurt, but it’s America’s love for the game of football and the love of celebrating with family that has made the Super Bowl such a cultural event.

So football fan or not, why not get together with some friends and enjoy the party, Super Bowl Sunday has something for everyone.

— By T. Scott Boatright

tips for a winning game As the opening kickoff draws closer, here are some keys to Super Bowl party success.

KNOW YOUR PLAYING FIELD. Your home is only so big, and that means you will have to limit the number of people you can invite.

Crowding too many people into the house can be uncomfortable and dangerous, never mind trying to talk and hear above the cacophony of too many people. Take inventory of how many you can seat comfortably. You may need to move out larger furniture and move in folding chairs if you plan to accommodate more guests. If you live in a warmer climate, you may be able to hook up the television outside and host an outdoor event in the yard. This will enable even more people to attend.

SIZE UP YOUR COMPETITION. Super Bowl Sunday is a once-a-year event. There will be thousands of like-minded individuals planning their own parties and utilizing the same services in your local area. Those who need to rent tables and chairs and rely on a caterer (or the services of the nearest pizza joint) should plan early. If you would like to have a football gathering, start laying the groundwork a few months in advance.

This way you can leave deposits for any vendors and be secure in knowing you will have what you need come gameday.

ESTABLISH YOUR PLAY BOOK. Will this be a chips-and-dips type of party or will you be offering more substantial fare? Is it adults-only or are guests able to bring their kids along? Make a list of questions that need to be answered and set up the party parameters. This way you will know what to stock up on in advance. Consider allocating a separate room in the house for kids’ play or for adults who are there for the social aspect of the party and will not necessarily be glued to the television.

CHECK YOUR EQUIPMENT. What is the Super Bowl without a means to watch the game?

Retailers often offer the best deals on new televisions this time of year because they know sports fans want to upgrade their televisions for the big game. If yours is a TV that has seen better

days

or

doesn’t

offer

the

high-definition

picture guests have come to expect, this may

8

Living Well r +ĮĻŃĮŀň

be the time to cash in holiday gift cards for a new flat-screen.

If

buying

new

isn’t

a

possibility

at

this

time, there are centers that will rent electronics.

WATCH THE CLOCK. Hardcore fans will not want to miss any of the action. Therefore, refreshments and other components of the party will have to coordinate to the timing of the game. Do the bulk of food preparation before kickoff and allow guests to mingle and fuel up before

the

game

starts.

Save

finger

foods

and

other snacks that are easily accessible for when the game starts. Guests can take a break at halftime and grab food and beverages that are set up buffet-style in another room. Hosts and hostesses also may want to consider serving as food “butlers” and constantly come out with

new

finger

foods

on

trays

and

go

around

the room to ensure everyone doesn’t miss a moment of the game.

DON’T RUN INTERFERENCE. There’s not much entertainment that needs to be scheduled on game day apart from the game itself. Ensure that the television is situated so nobody’s view is obstructed and that people moving in and out of the room need not cross in front of the TV to get food or use the restroom. While it may be customary to decorate your home with a few decorations, ensure any decorations do not obstruct views of the game. To make things comfortable for the largest number of people, consider having two TVs tuned into the game running in separate rooms. This way, guests can mingle and not be tied to one area.

Living Well r +ĮĻŃĮŀň

9

community

A ABOVE

THE REST

hen it comes to keeping property looking attractive, most people stop with their own house.

But in the Mt. Olive Community, just north of Grambling, a number of residents have taken the initiative to keep the entire area looking nice.

Samuel Spearman, a forklift driver at Saint Gobain, is among the residents in the community who

volunteer

their

time

to

do

beautification

work.

The Mer Rouge native said, about 18 years ago, he began mowing the ditches along the side of Mt. Olive Road. Today, Spearman said he continues to do this about every two-three weeks when he mows his own yard.

“It makes the community look better,” he said. “Some other people won’t cut theirs.”

Spearman estimates the road is at least a William Horton

Living Well r +ĮĻŃĮŀň

mile long, and it takes him roughly an hour to mow the ditches each time with his tractor.

Fellow Mt. Olive resident Oscar Epps said he mows the grass on Pine Tree Road on both sides “because no one cuts it.”

“It’s not being done, so in order to keep our community looking nice, I just cut it,” he said.

Epps added that there is a vacant building located on the corner of R.W.E. Jones and Pine Tree Road, and he cuts the grass in front of the building and around the ditch.

Epps usually does this every two weeks.

“This is the only way I can keep our community clean,” he said. “We have to take care of our own.”

William Horton, a retired Grambling State University professor who lives in Mt. Olive, said although the parish workers cut the grass at least twice a year, cutting the grass more regularly greatly improves the community’s appearance.

Horton said he helps out around the community, using his trusty bush hog, about once every three weeks.

Samuel Spearman

community

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“What I do is cut the tall grass around the ditches on Jones Drive,”

he

said.

“Sometimes,

I

mow

my

neighbors’

fields.

Some

of

the women don’t have the equipment to do that.”

Horton

said

what

first

motivated

him

to

keep

the

grass

cut

on

property around the community was seeing a pregnant woman walking down the road in the summertime.

“She had to make a decision between walking through six or seven inches of grass with potential snakes and walking on the road,” he said. “So, I thought it best to use a regular lawn mower to cut it back three or four feet away from the road to take away the fear of walking there. No one wants to walk along a road where the grass is ankle high.”

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Just plain good

cuisine

A

fishy

NEW

YEAR’S

RESOLUTION Salmon with Soy-Honey and Wasabi Sauce

I N G R E D I E N T S

D I R E C T I O N S

•

4

5-6

oz

(150-180

g)

Heritage

Salmon

Portions

Salmon •

1/2

cup

(125

ml)

mirin

(Japanese

sweet

rice

wine) •

2

tablespoons

(30

ml)

soy

sauce •

1/4

cup

(65

ml)

rice

vinegar •

1

tablespoon

(15

ml)

finely

grated,

peeled

fresh

ginger

1. STIR TOGETHER mirin, soy sauce, vinegar, and ginger in a shallow dish.

Add

fish

and

marinate,

covered,

at

room

temperature

for

10

minutes.

2. BOIL soy sauce, honey, and lime juice in a small saucepan,

stirring

frequently,

until

thickened,

about

Prep time: Easy 4

minutes.

Makes: 4 servings 3. STIR

together

wasabi

powder

and

water

in

a

small

bowl.

4. PREHEAT BROILER, AND COOK

fish

on

oiled

rack,

five

to

seven

inches

from

heat,

until

fish

is

just

cooked

through,

about

six

minutes.

Remove

from

heat

and

drizzle

with

sauces.

5. SERVE

with

wild

rice

and

steamed

asparagus.

HEALTHY EATING TIPS •

Bake,

broil

or

grill

your

salmon

instead

of

pan-­frying

it.

For sauce •

2

tablespoons

(30

ml)

soy

sauce •

1/4

cup

(65

ml)

honey •

1

tablespoons

(15

ml)

fresh

lime

juice •

2

teaspoons

(10

ml)

wasabi

powder •

1

tablespoons

(15

ml)

water

Mmmm... Salmon Do

you

think

that

all

New

Year’s

resolutions

are

a

bit

fishy?

Perhaps

you’re

suspicious

of

the

fads

that

appear

each

January,

offering

us

the

latest

in

fitness

and

diet

trends

that

promise

a

slimmer

you

in

the

year

to

come.

This

year,

instead

of

focusing

on

weight

loss,

why

not

resolve

to

try

a

tried

and

true

resolution

that

will

mean

truly

better

overall

health

for

you

and

your

family

–

eating

well

with

foods

like

Omega-­3

rich

Atlantic

salmon

from

the

Gulf

of

Maine,

where

the

salmon

is

the

freshest?

2013

should

be

the

year

for

paying

more

attention

to

overall

health

and

well-­ being.

Atlantic

salmon

is

one

of

the

most

healthy

and

nutritious

food

choices

available

and

is

a

great

addition

to

any

New

Year’s

resolution

that

is

aimed

at

living

healthier.

It’s

an

excellent

source

of

protein

and

loaded

with

vitamins

and

minerals,

and

is

also

one

of

the

best

sources

of

natural

Omega-­3

fatty

acids.

•

Limit

the

amount

of

oil

you

use.

•

Flavour

your

salmon

with

seasonings

like

dill,

lemon

or

pepper

instead

of

butter

or

oil.

•

•

If

you

do

use

oil,

make

it

olive

oil.

Research

suggests

that,

like

salmon,

this

monounsaturated

fat

lowers

the

risk

of

heart

disease.

•

Pair

your

salmon

with

a

healthy

side

dish

like

steamed

broccoli,

carrots

or

vegetable

stir-­fry.

Not

only

will

these

colorful

veggies

look

good,

they’re

good

for

you

too.

out

simply

with

basic

recipes

like

Salmon

with

Soy-­Honey

and

Wasabi

Sauce.

Salmon

isn’t

complicated

to

cook,

and

when

you

combine

the

great

taste

with

the

knowledge

that

it’s

so

good

for

you,

you’ll

find

yourself

preparing

it

more

often.

A

great

way

to

work

salmon

in

to

your

New

Year’s

meal

plan

is

to

start

slowly

by

swapping

out

one

of

your

guilty

pleasure

meals

-­-­

something

you

know

isn’t

very

good

for

you

—

with

a

quick

delicious

meal

of

Atlantic

salmon

from

the

Gulf

of

Maine,

where

the

salmon

is

the

freshest.

You’ll

feel

better

about

the

choice

you’ve

made

and

your

body

and

mind

will

thank

you.

Whether

grilled,

baked

or

poached,

Atlantic

salmon

provides

some

of

the

essential

nutrients

and

fatty

acids

needed

for

good

health

—

and

it

tastes

delicious

too.

Omega-­3

polyunsaturated

fats

are

often

known

as

“the

good

fats”

and

are

considered

essential

because

we

need

them

to

live

a

healthy

life

but

we

have

to

get

them

from

external

sources

like

seafood.

The

American

Heart

Association

recommends

that

people

include

at

least

two

servings

of

fish,

particularly

fatty

fish

such

as

Atlantic

salmon,

per

week

in

their

diets

in

part

because

of

numerous

health

benefits

associated

with

Omega-­3s.

As

a

great

source

of

Omega-­3

DHA

and

EPA

essential

fatty

acids,

Atlantic

salmon

helps

the

body’s

heart

health

–

helping

prevent

heart

disease

and

stroke,

reducing

the

risk

of

cancer,

lowering

cholesterol;;

and

may

assist

in

brain

health

–

maintaining

healthy

brain

activity

and

reducing

the

chance

of

developing

Alzheimer’s

disease

in

adults,

and

enhancing

brain

development

and

promoting

learning

in

children.

Studies

have

also

shown

Omega-­3s

may

prevent

depression,

schizophrenia

and

memory

loss,

along

with

just

generally

increasing

our

daily

energ y

levels

and

acting

as

an

anti-­inflammatory.

Atlantic

salmon

leads

the

way,

surpassing

all

other

seafood,

including

wild

salmon,

in

Omega-­3

DHA

and

EPA

amounts

per

serving.

Not

only

that,

but

it’s

an

excellent

source

of

protein

and

lower

than

beef

or

chicken

in

saturated

fats.

It’s

easy

to

start

adding

more

Atlantic

salmon

to

your

diet

and

you

can

start

Living Well r +ĮĻŃĮŀň

fashion

LA PRIMAVERA

MMXIII Living Well r +ĮĻŃĮŀň

fashion

SPRING INTO

FASHION

ong gone are the days when trends were

flaunted

down

the

runways

of Paris, New York, Milan and London, only to be worn by the fashionistas

of

East

and

West

coasts. No, today trends are showcased

during

fashion

week,

televised

and

digitally

uploaded

for

the

world

and

then

swept

up

by

buyers

to

be

acquired

by

individuals

who

can

afford

the

coveted

labels.

For

those

who

only

dream

of

buying

a

pair

of

Jimmy

Choo

stilettos

or

a

Diane

Von

Furstenberg

frock,

knock-offs

become

readily

available

within

days

of

a

r unway

debut

and

are

modestly

priced

in

boutiques

across

the

country.

But

the

fashion

industry

is

a

game

no

less.

Designers

make

calculated

assumptions

on what A-listers and socialites will crave, the

famous

chance

being

made

spectacles

by

adorning

risqué

threads

and

the

common

folk

devote

much

effort

—

often

in

vain

—

to

appear

as

polished

as

an

airbrushed

celebrity

without

breaking

the

bank.

All

the while seasons, trends and creative dressing

continuously

change.

So

what

is

in

store

for

Spring

2013?

From

sitting

in

the

front

rows

of

New

York’s

fashion

week

to

studying

fashion

as

an

academia

to

playing

dressmaker

to

the

glamorous,

the

opinions

may

vary

but

one

thing

is

for

sure,

fabrics

are

feminine,

and

colors

are

crisp.

Good-bye

humble

dressings

of

the

recession.

Fashion

is

back

with

a

vengeance.

“2013

will

prove

to

be

lucky

for

fashionistas

everywhere.

Beautiful,

wearable

clothes

with

a

timeless

sophistication

filled

the

Spring

Pictured above is fashion designer Harold Clarke of New Orleans.

Living Well r +ĮĻŃĮŀň

community runways.

There

is

an

elegant

simplicity

to

these looks which combine easy tailoring with a modern sensibility,” said Nordstrom Fashion

Director

Gregg

Andrews.

Linda

Sivils,

curator

of

the

Museum

For

those

who

like

comfort,

the

fashion

choices are becoming a little more chic.

“The

never

ending

T-shirt

has

become

a

little

dressier

and

a

little

more

luxurious.

Some

have

beautiful

designs

of

color

and

“This year white looks chic and modern, it’s the essence restrained luxury.” of

Fashion

and

Textile

at

Louisiana

Tech

University,

couldn’t

agree

more

with

Andrews’ sentiments.

“As

is

usually

true,

Spring

fashions

contain

a

bit

of

the

old

and

a

bit

of

the

new.

There

are

familiar

fitted

looks

of

the

late

1950s

and

1960s

with

the

traditional

Chanel

suit

making

a

bit

of

a

comeback,”

Sivils

said.

“You

will

find

it

in

classic

white

with

nubby

fabrics,

paired

with

a

pencil

skirt

—

typical

of

the

original

Chanel.”

However, color is also in this year.

“We

are

really

excited

about

the

lace

that

we

saw

on

the

r unways,”

said

Saks

Fifth

Avenue

Fashion

Director

Colleen

Sherin

“Lace

in

key

colors.

These

colors

are

bold.

But

there

is

also

some

bold

black

and

white

graphics

and

blocks,

with

a

1960s

feel

too.”

Andrews also commented on the red and

white

hues,

along

with

lace

trend

sure

to

drape

shop

mannequins

in

boutique

shop

windows

everywhere.

“This

year

white

looks

chic

and

modern,

it’s

the

essence

restrained

luxury.

White

is a colorless chameleon that can be sporty

and

relaxed,

soft

and

feminine

or

minimalist

and

architectural.

White

is

worn

head-to-toe

or

paired

with

bold

black

for

a

powerful

graphic

statement,”

Andrews

continued.

“There

is

a

sultry

Latin-inspired

femininity

being

seen

for

Spring.

Fiery

red

expresses

passion

and

black

lace

seduces

for

day

and

evening.

Rumba

r uffles,

serape

stripes,

matador

embroidery,

fiesta

florals

make

subtle

reference

to

this

rich

culture.”

Adding

to

the

floral

mix,

Sherin

said

the

flowery

patterns

were

all

the

rage.

“We

are

seeing

more

of

a

realist

floral

trend,”

Sherin

stated.

“The

prints

are

less

abstract

than

seasons

past.”

Sivils

added

that

Spring

fashion

is

very

kind

to

a

woman’s

physique.

“There

are

some

beautiful,

soft

prints

for

day

dresses,

many

with

a

waistline

which

takes

us

back

to

the

1950s.

It’s

nice

to

see

fashions

showing

off

a

woman’s

figure

again,”

Sivils

said.

“Lengths

are

dropping

some,

which

is

good

news

for

the

older

crowd.

You

can

find

hemlines

below

the

knee

to

mid-calf.”

Living Well r +ĮĻŃĮŀň

beading,” Sivils said.

But

the

T-shirt

is

not

the

only

item

becoming

less

bulky

and

more

brave.

“Exotic

handcrafted

artistry

is

seen

in

colorful

woven

leather

bags,

huaracheinspired

footwear

and

intricately

beaded

jewelry,” Andrews said. “Feminine footwear

makes

big

strides

for

2013.

The

platform

has

been

reduced

to

a

sliver

of

its

former

self.

Heels

stand

tall

with

a

straight

slender

shape.

Straps

define

the

ankle

or

elongate

the

leg

with

geometric

precision.

The

pump

is

a

pretty

reminder

of

decades

past

but

with

a

modern

attitude.”

As

for

special

occasion

and bridal, designer Harold

Clarke,

of

Harold

Clarke

Couturier

Atelier,

a

fashion

house

in

New

Orleans, said this year is over

the

top.

“Everything

is

glamorous

in

bridal,

there

is

a

lot

of

high

fashion.

Simplicity

is

out

the

door,

“

Clarke

said.

“It

is

a

new

year

and

we

are

looking

for

something

new

and

better

than

the

year

before.

There

is

a

lot

of

drama.”

Clarke,

whose

dresses

have

been

donned

by

Patti

Labelle

to

Vivica

Fox,

Delta

Burke

to

Vanna

White,

said

formal

wear

is

following

close

to

bridal’s

lead.

“Formal

wear,

it

starts

with

couture

and

trickles down to the mass market and old Hollywood

is

very

much

in.

You

will

see

all

the

stars

wearing

high

fashion,”

Clarke

said.

“Everyone

is

upbeat.

Fashion

is

alive

and

well again.”

— By Lacey Sharp

Sports center takes fitness, recreation to a new level One of our goals here at Louisiana Tech University is to recruit and retain the best and brightest students. The ability

to

offer

fitness

and

wellness

activities, intramural sports and a place for relaxation is an important factor in obtaining this goal.

If you haven’t noticed, there have been many changes over the course of this school year here at our beloved Lambright Intramural Sports Center. These are changes and additions which

we

hope

will

revitalize

interest

in the facility, are enriching the experience of the students here at Louisiana Tech University.

Firstly,

the

official

name

of

the

facility

has been changed from that to the “Lambright Sports and Wellness Center,” commemorating some of these grand changes

we

have

witnessed

here

and

which

we

hope

to

share

with

students

and faculty. Since construction, there have

been

two

swimming

pools

added,

an

outdoor and an indoor pool. The outdoor facility

has

been

used

for

a

few

special

events already, especially related to student interest.

The

indoor

swimming

pool

has

been,

and

will

continue

to

be,

used

for

a plethora of activities, including the morning Senior Aerobics class, hosting local high school meets and serving the interests of the university’s aquatics department.

We have also seen the addition of a

rock

wall,

a

restaurant

and

a

secondary

exercise

room,

as

well

as

the

renaming

of our existing exercise room. The rock wall

is

simply

another

one

of

the

many

activities that students can enjoy, adding to the already numbered list including billiards, racquetball, ping pong, and bowling.

The

restaurant

is

a

miniature

Counter Culture, including a condensed menu of hot and cold

sandwiches

as

well

as their famous yogurts.

There are also included shelves and coolers of other drinks

and

foods

(frozen

or

chilled) for any student in a rush or simply looking for something to take

with

them

back

to

the

dorm.

Because of the extra room added in light of the pools and restaurant, there is now

space

for

a

smaller,

secondary

exercise

area, including ab mats and cardiovascular training equipment. We have also renamed the

weight

room

the

Dr.

Billy

Jack

Talton

Fitness

Room

in

honor

of

Dr.

Billy

Jack

Talton,

who

has

been

invaluable

to

the

university

with

his

years

of

service

to

the

kinesiology

department

and

his

work

starting up and coaching the historically dominant Louisiana Tech University Powerlifting

team.

We are also including a number of additions

in

the

fitness

department,

based

out

of

the

very

same

Dr.

Billy

Jack

Talton

Fitness Room. We have revamped our “300”

challenge,

increasing

the

difficulty

after

observations

on

the

first

nm

through of the program and including an appropriately

designed

women’s

version

of the challenge. Both have been received

well

and

the

competition

is

a

fierce

field

of 80 In addition to the 300 challenge, those

on

the

fitness

staff

plan

on

hosting

three other competitions, all in good spirit and available to all students: a 30-day paleo challenge (beginning immediately after the Christmas break), a “Bro” lift off (a challenge consisting of maxes on bench, bleep curls and shoulder shrugs), and a spring time strong man competition. We also have

continued

with

all

of our existing programs that have become beloved, including our quarterly boot camp, and several group exercise classes including; spin, Zumba and yoga just to name

a

few.

The Lambright Sports and Wellness Center has seen many changes throughout the

years

since

its

conception.

However,

the

ones

we

have

been

so

happy

to receive recently have perhaps been the greatest and possibly the most

influential.

The

intent

of

these

changes

has

been,

as

always,

with

regards

to

the

interest

of

the

students and their experience here at the university.

From the programs, activities, equipment and facilities

which

we

have

already had available, to

those

which

we

have

recently introduced, the students at Louisiana Tech University have never had such a place or an opportunity to gather, to play, to perform, or, simply, to relax.

Living Well r +ĮĻŃĮŀň

fitness

Healthy ways to speed up your metabolism

ieters are often aware of metabolism and its effect on an individual’s weight. Metabolism is a process that serves a host of important functions, including converting food and drink into energy and using energy to construct certain components of cells.

For the perpetual dieter, metabolism can be a natural-born enemy, a process that simply isn’t fast enough for dieters to lose weight. Even more frustrating, a person’s metabolism can hinge on genetics and gender. People may inherit a speedy or slow metabolism. Gender plays a large role considering men have a tendency to burn more calories than women, even while resting. Those who inherited a speedy metabolism are often the people who can seemingly eat whatever they choose without gaining a pound.

But gaining a faster metabolism isn’t just for men or those who inherited a speedier metabolism at birth. In fact, there are several healthy ways to speed up metabolism.

PACK ON SOME MUSCLE People with more muscle tend to have a higher resting metabolic rate. That’s because muscle burns more calories than fat. According to the American Council on Exercise, each pound of fat burns just two calories per day, while various estimates suggest each pound of muscle burns between

35

to

50

calories

per

day.

Those

figures

might

seem

insignificant,

but

they

add

up

over

time

and

someone

with

significant

muscle

can

burn

considerably

more

calories

than

someone without. Employ resistance training to build muscle, as such training activates muscles all over the body, increasing your daily metabolic rate as a result.

EMPHASIZE INTENSITY Daily exercise is great, but high-intensity daily exercise will prove more effective at speeding up your metabolism. Low- or moderateintensity workouts don’t pack the same punch as high-intensity workouts, which produce a longer increase in resting metabolic rate. Sign up for a Zumba(R) or spin class at your gym, both of which are the kind of high-intensity cardiovascular workout that can speed up your metabolism.

EMBRACE GRAZING Grazing is a dietary philosophy in

which

individuals

eat

five

to

six

smaller meals every three to four hours instead of three large meals each day. Eating this way helps keep your metabolism going, and the result is you will burn more calories throughout the day than you would if you ate a more traditional diet.

Of course, what you eat when grazing is

Living Well r +ĮĻŃĮŀň

fitness

important, too. Choose low-fat, high-nutrient foods, and snack on fruits and vegetables instead of more popular snacks like potato chips. Grazing on unhealthy foods won’t lead to weight loss and may even cause weight gain.

get dehydrated. When the body does not have enough water, several of its functions, including its ability to burn calories, slow down. Muscles are roughly 70 percent water, so if they are not fully hydrated they cannot generate energy, affecting your metabolism. In EAT MORE PROTEIN addition, the body is not as Protein can serve many purposes effective at using fat as fuel for people trying to lose weight. when it is dehydrated, further Protein has a tendency to make slowing your metabolism. you feel full when you eat it, Staying hydrated is as easy reducing the likelihood that as drinking enough water you will overeat. In addition, throughout the day. How much the body burns more calories water an individual needs to when digesting protein than stay hydrated is open to debate it does while digesting fats or Lifting weights and staying hydrated are two ways to among medical professionals, carbohydrates. Turkey, low-fat speed up your metabolism. but one study found that adults dairy

products,

fish,

nuts

and

who drink eight or more glasses beans are great sources of protein, of water per day burned more which should not be all you eat but can be used as a periodic calories than those who drank four glasses of water per day. replacement for other foods that may slow down your metabolism.

Many people feel they were either gifted at birth with a fast metabolism or doomed from the start with a slow metabolism. But STAY HYDRATED an individual’s metabolism is not set in stone, and there are a host of healthy ways men and women can speed up their metabolism.

Your metabolism will likely slow down if you allow yourself to

1401 Ezell Street Ruston, LA 71270

Let our professional staff assist you today:

Ruston WMonroe

318.255.8085 or 251.5311 318.503.0801 or 329.2174

RUSTON • WEST MONROE

Living Well r +ĮĻŃĮŀň

community

MASTERING A

GREEN

THUMB ermit the Frog once sang that it wasn’t easy being green.

The North Central Louisiana Master Gardeners and the Louisiana Tech University Agricultural Sciences Department hope to help change that again for area residents in 2013.

Those organizations will again combine on Feb. 2 to hold their second annual Gardening Seminar from 8 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. at Lomax Hall on the South Tech campus.

Registration will be held on-site and will cost $10.

The Louisiana Master Gardener program is a service and educational activity offered by the LSU AgCenter. The program is designed to recruit and train volunteers to help meet the educational needs of home gardeners while providing an enjoyable and worthwhile service experience for volunteers. The program was started in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, in 1994 as a means of extending the educational outreach of the LSU AGCenter’s Louisiana Cooperative Extension

Office.

Living Well r +ĮĻŃĮŀň

hobbies

A NCLMG member demonstrates school gardening to local students at the AgExpo 2012.

ABOUT MASTER GARDENERS For the latest updates and more information on

North Central Louisiana Master Gardeners, visit

www.facebook,.com/nclmg, or email magicforthegarden@gmail.com.

For more information contact NCLMG President Donna White at (318) 255-6544.

It was adopted statewide in 1997 and now is offered in 23 parishes with volunteer participation in 46 parishes. Louisiana Master Gardeners serve many roles in helping agents present educational horticultural programs and information.

“We have a great group who love to get together and share our love of plants and horticulture,” said Kit Hanley of the North Central Louisiana Master Gardeners, which consists of people from Jackson, Lincoln, Union and some of Bienville Parishes. “A group of us used to travel to meetings in various other places and decided we wanted to start a more localized group where we could get together more often without traveling as far. Anyone who is

“We have a great group who love to get together and share our love of plants and horticulture.”

Kit Hanley

Living Well r +ĮĻŃĮŀň

hobbies interested can visit us during our meetings prior to joining if they want to know more about the group and what we do.”

Hanley said what the group does is a number of projects that help beautify the area.

“We work with a number of schools like Ruston Junior High and Cypress Springs with their gardening programs,” she said. “We plant daffodils along roads as part of the Great American Cleanup campaign every year. We help the Ruston Garden Club with their Spring tour.

“Information is big part of what we do, too. We have two gardens

at

Lincoln

Parish

Park,

a

butterfly

garden

and

a

xeriscape garden, which is gardening with plants and ways to reduce the need of irrigation and cut down on the use of water.

With the situation we all know about surrounding the (depleting) Sparta Aquifer, that’s something we’re very proud to be a part of.”

Hanley said the group has also done some work at Lake D’Arbonne State Park and has a school garden in Farmerville, too.

“The kids learn about not only gardening, but about composting, cooking and nutritional things, too,” Hanley said. “We all need those skills, and the school kids love

Living Well r +ĮĻŃĮŀň

hobbies learning about it.

“These are changing times and tough times for many. I’ve made it a personal mission on my part to teach everyone to be able to grow their own food. Everyone should have that ability and skill when they need it.” The LSU AgCenter and Tech’s Agricultural Sciences department also helps the North Central Louisiana Master Gardeners share their knowledge and skills. “We grow plants for a yearly sale at the Ruston Garden Club Tour of Homes,” Hanley said. “We start a lot of those plants from seed.

“And some of that work is done in conjunction with Louisiana Tech and they’ve been wonderful about letting us use their facilities. I can’t say enough about Dr. Paul Jackson and the group over there and the help they’ve provided, and Rafash Brew and the LSU AgCenter also play a big part in all we do.”

— By T. Scott Boatright

TO GO WHAT: Magic For The Garden: The North Central Louisiana Master Gardener Association’s Second Annual Gardening Seminar.

WHEN: 8 a.m. - 12:30 p.m., Feb. 2 WHERE: Lomax Hall, Louisiana Tech University South Campus REGISTRATION: $10 on-site ABOUT: Landscaper/writer Charlie Thigpen, who for 20 years orchestrated the grounds of Southern Progress Corporation, home of Southern Living magazine, will speak on creating magical spaces in gardens. Patty Bishop, a gardener in the Miller County Red Dirt Master Gardener Association in Texarkana, Ark., will share her 40-plus years of knowledge in specializing in herbs and Jean McWeeney of TheNaturalGardenCoach.com and DigGrowCompostBlog.com will also speak. There will also be door prizes, vendors, a silent auction and refreshments.

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holidays

Spotlight on notable Irish-Americans

TBJOU!QBUSJDLÖT!EBZ! dfmfcsbujpot!bspvoe!uif!hmpcf Saint Patrick’s Day is a day synonymous with celebration.

Though Saint Patrick is the patron saint of Ireland, people of all ethnicities enjoy the festivities each March 17. The following are some of the more well-known Saint Patrick’s Day celebrations around the globe.

NEW YORK CITY Perhaps the most famous Saint Patrick’s Day parade in the world, New York City’s annual Patty’s Day march down 5th Avenue has been around since 1762 and remains a must-see for all fans of Saint Patrick’s Day traditions.

NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA While New Orleans might be most famous for Mardi Gras and all the revelry that accompanies it, the city also hosts a unique and raucous Saint Patrick’s Day parade. Just like Mardi Gras, the Saint Patrick’s

parade

in

New

Orleans

includes

floats,

jazz

bands

and,

of

course, costumed revelers.

There is no denying that Irish eyes are smiling come the month of March. With the widely celebrated and festive Saint Patrick’s Day arriving mid-month, the parades and shamrocks might overshadow the fact that there’s more to Irish heritage than Saint Patrick’s Day. In fact, the entire month of March is dedicated to IrishAmerican heritage.

In 1840, many Irish people emigrated to North America to escape the great potato famine happening in Ireland.

Today almost 40 million people claim Irish ancestry,

and there are millions of Irish-Americans making contributions to the United States each and every day, with notable Irish-Americans in all walks of life. Here are just a handful of people of Irish heritage who have made strides in their respective disciplines through the years.

CHARLES CARROLL III: Carroll was born in Maryland where there were once laws to prohibit Catholics from voting, holding

office

or

worshiping

publicly. Carol became a Catholic-rights activist and

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FLORENCE, ITALY Saint Patrick’s Day celebrations in Florence are an ongoing event, with 10 days of music, food and drink. While Italian cuisine is loved the world over, during their Saint Patrick’s Day celebrations the Florentines offer their take on Irish food and drink, making this celebration one of the world’s most unique.

OSLO, NORWAY Saint Patrick’s Day festivities in Oslo include a parade past the famed Oslo Cathedral. Revelers are encouraged to dress up, as parade participants dress up like famous Irish characters and people throughout Irish history, including Saint Patrick himself.

TORONTO, CANADA Though just a quarter-century old, Toronto’s Saint Patrick’s Day parade is now one of the largest in North America. Featuring more

than

2,000

marchers

representing

100

organizations,

Toronto’s annual celebration of Saint Patrick covers roughly two miles

and

includes

floats

and

lots

of

live

music.

In Our Opinion

SEATTLE, WASHINGTON The city of Seattle’s Irish Heritage Club hosts its own Saint Patrick’s

Day

parade

and,

in

fact,

a

week

of

celebrations

officially

known as Irish Week. A two-day Irish festival includes Irish music, singing and dancing as well as several contests and activities for kids.

is what Living Well is all about.

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also served as a U.S. Senator in

the

first

Congress.

He

holds

the title as the only Catholic to have signed the Declaration of Independence.

HARRY “BING” CROSBY: Crosby was an acclaimed entertainer whose contributions are still valued today, more than three decades after his death. A singer and actor, his trademark smooth, baritone voice helped catapult Crosby to the list of top record sellers for the twentieth century.

One

of

the

first

people to receive three stars on the Hollywood Walk of

Fame, Crosby also earned an Academy Award for Best Actor for his role as Father Chuck O’Malley in the 1944 motion picture “Going My Way.” HENRY FORD: The American auto industry can give thanks to the eviction of John Ford from Cork in 1847, which enabled the Ford family to move to the States shortly after. John’s son Henry became an automobile pioneer and helped pave the way for the dominance and popularity of the American car.

JOHN HUGHES: Many people say that Hughes’ popular teen movies documented their own teenage years. Hughes is best known for a string of quirky, yet spot-on depictions of the average American teenager that helped start the careers of actors who would go on to be known as the “Brat Pack.”

In the 1990s, hits like “Home Alone” and “Curly Sue” also resonated with audiences and helped solidify Hughes as a leader in family entertainment.

He passed away in 2009 from a heart attack.

JAMES HETFIELD Fans of the popular heavy metal band Metallica are no strangers to the accomplishments of its front-man

Hetfield.

Hetfield

co-founded the band in 1982 and since then has helped make Metallica one of the most renowned bands of this genre. The band’s hit “Enter Sandman”helped further propel the group’s popularity both in and outside of its angst-driven heavy metal fan base.

RON HOWARD: One of Hollywood’s most

Call 251-5030

or For more information or details about a specific program, please check out our web site

www.mylpl.org

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holidays successful directors, Howard can also lay claim to being one of its most successful child actors.

Appearing

in

his

first

film

in

1956

at

just

18

months old, Howard went on to memorable roles such as Opie on “The Andy

Griffith

Show”

and

Richie Cunningham on “Happy Days.” While his role on “Happy Days” made him a household name, it was behind the camera where Howard’s career would truly take off. Howard’s directorial career has produced several hits, including “Splash,” “Willow,” “Apollo 13,” and “A Beautiful Mind,” which earned him the Academy Award for Best Director.

BILL O’REILLY: A political commentator and New York-based news reporter, O’Reilly quickly made a name for himself in television news, rising up the ranks from local news stops in Scranton, PA and eventually landing his own national show, “The O’Reilly Factor,” which is consistently among cable news’ top-rated shows.

O’Reilly holds two master’s degrees, one for broadcast journalism from Boston University and another in public policy from Harvard University.

DANICA PATRICK: In the male-dominated world of auto racing, Patrick has established herself as a worthy contender time and again.

She dropped out of high school to advance her racing career, starting with a stint in England, and Patrick has accumulated world renown. The fourth woman ever to race in the Indianapolis 500, Patrick finished

third

in

2009,

the

highest-ever

finish

for

a

female driver in the famed race. Patrick has also scored many different product endorsements, and she is often seen on television in a variety of commercials.

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Nursing and Rehabilitation Center “Loving Excellence in Senior Care” • State of the art facility • 120 bed, Medicare, Medicaid & VA certified • Semi-private rooms & suites • Private rooms • 20-bed Dementia Unit • Large activity room • In-facility beauty shop • Large chapel • Pharmacy services • All rooms have private bathroom • Caring licensed nurses & certified nursing assistants staffed around the clock • Company owned Rehabilitation Services - Physical, Speech & Occupational Therapy • Now offering outpatient therapy services

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money

n Louisiana, especially in North Louisiana, agriculture is big business. Chances are, if a local is not directly tied to the agricultural community, they are somehow affected by it. For this reason,

various

services

provided

by

LSU

AgCenter’s

extension

office

have a profound impact on local producers and the local economy, alike.

Created in 1971, the LSU AgCenter plays an integral role in supporting agricultural industries, enhancing the environment and improving the quality of life through its 4-H youth, family, nutrition and community programs. The LSU AgCenter also includes the Louisiana Agricultural Experimental Station, which conducts agriculturalbased research, and the Louisiana Cooperative Extension Service, which extends knowledge derived from research to the people of this state.

With numbers readily available on its website, the LSU AgCenter addresses the importance of Lincoln Parish’s three top-producing commodities: poultry, forestry and cattle.

As

a

significant

economic

force

with

in

the

parish, poultry yielded approximately $137 million in revenue in 2011. This commodity is also

the

most

profitable

animal

industry

in

the

state,

contributing

$1.6

billion

to

Louisiana’s economy in 2010. The LSU AgCenter has two demonstration poultry houses at the Hill Farm Research Station in Homer and one of the country’s most active extension programs. The AgCenter offers education and support with

backyard

flocks,

broiler

production,

environmental

concerns,

facilities

management, nutrition, youth projects and animal health.

Additionally, forestry yielded $13.5 million in revenue during the same time period. According to the Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry, this resource supports 180 primary and 750 secondary wood-using industries that position Louisiana’s forest industries as the second largest manufacturing employer in the state. Louisiana Forestry Best Management Practices program

LSU SPOTLIGHT: Ag commodities’ impact on Lincoln’s economy

Living Well r +ĮĻŃĮŀň

money

is one of LSU AgCenter’s services that promotes planning, harvesting,

fire

management,

site

preparation

and

reforestation,

considerations for forest landowners, etc., that help manage and cultivate this valuable resource. Along with making this information readily available through the AgCenter’s website, seminars are held throughout the year, at various sites within the state, pertaining to forestry and forest products.

Coming

in

third,

cattle

produced

$2.6

million

in

Lincoln

Parish

during 2011. The LSU AgCenter has a considerable investment in beef research and extension programs. The AgCenter also works in cooperation with various trade organizations, including the Louisiana Cattleman’s Association. Services and assistance information, as it pertains to this commodity, consist of breeding and genetics, carcass traits and meats, marketing, economics and businesses, the Master Cattleman program, nutrition, product and management, producer education and opportunities and reproduction.

Of

course,

this

commodity

is

significantly

linked

with the 4-H Youth program.

“The biggest concerns that we have with poultry, forestry and cattle production is public concern over the environment and informing the public that producers of these three commodities are innovators in leading the way to protect the environment,” Gary Stockton, Lincoln Parish county agent, said. “The LSU AgCenter offers programs in all three areas that teach best management practices that these producers then utilize on their operations in order to have little to no negative impact on the environment. Through program like Master Farmer, producers implement plans to avert these concerns.”

For more information, visit the LSU AgCenter website at www. lsuagcenter.com

or

call

the

Lincoln

Parish

extension

office

at

2515134.

— By Lacey Sharp

Living Well r +ĮĻŃĮŀň

money

Getting ready for A new year not only brings a host of new opportunities, but it also brings a host of familiar obligations. One such obligation is paying taxes, which doesn’t have to be done until mid-April. But waiting until the last minute with respect to

taxes

can

make

the

process

even

more

difficult,

and

putting it off certainly won’t help those people who vowed to stop procrastinating in the new year.

Getting

a

headstart

on

tax

season

can

be

beneficial

in

numerous ways, not the least of which is avoiding the lastminute

r ush

to

file

your

return

come

the

filing

deadline.

Even if you have yet to receive your W-2 (which you should have in hand by January 31), there are steps you can take to get ready for the coming tax season.

GATHER YOUR DOCUMENTS Your W-2 is likely not the only document you will need to prepare your tax return. Statements regarding your investments, student loan payments, mortgage and a host of

other

documents

might

be

necessary

for

you

to

fill

out

your return. You should start receiving these documents in January, so gather them as they come in and keep them in a convenient place. This will ensure you don’t get frustrated when

filling

out

your

return

while

increasing

the

chances

you

earn all of the credits and deductions you deserve.

EXAMINE PAST RETURNS Many

people

have

questions

when

filling

out

their

tax

returns, but those who wait until the waning days of tax season to prepare their returns ignore those questions in an effort

to

make

the

filing

deadline.

When

you

start

preparing

for tax season early, examine past returns and see if there are any questions you wanted to ask in the past that you didn’t have time for. Write these questions down as you comb through your past returns and bring the questions to your tax preparer when the time comes. If you don’t plan on hiring a professional to prepare your taxes, you can contact the IRS with your questions, and the earlier you do so, the more quickly you are likely to have your questions answered.

TAKE YOUR TIME When you decide to get an early start on your taxes, you allow yourself to take your time preparing your return. This reduces the likelihood of getting stressed when

Living Well r +ĮĻŃĮŀň

season

filing

your

return.

Many

people

get

a

bit

nervous

when

filing

a

tax

return, but that stress can be even greater if you leave everything until the last minute. If you’re starting early, take your time when working on your return and don’t succumb to any potential stressors.

CONSIDER HIRING A PROFESSIONAL. Starting early also gives you an opportunity to determine if preparing your own return is too tall a task. If that’s the case, consider hiring a professional to prepare your return. If you decide to hire a professional, do so early so that person has more time to devote to your return. If you wait too long, chances are the tax preparer will be buried with many other customers’ returns and won’t be able to devote as much time to preparing your return as you would like.

More information about getting ready for tax season is available at www.irs.gov.

The Hearing Center A native of Ruston andintroduce La Tech, J. Andrew Shealy We are proud to Andrew Shealy is the Hearing Instrument Specialist in our Ruston as our newest Hearing Instrument Specialist!

Office.

Andrew is available hearing tests, A native of Ruston and Lafor Tech Andrew is making consultations, repairs and adjustments.

A great addition to our team. He will be available StopInby today to find out for why you’retests,consultations, not hearing as our Ruston Office hearing yourepairs once did. and adjustments.

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people

HOUSE

OF HARRISON Big family teaches valuable lessons

oday, in the media, big families are portrayed as being chaotic and destructive. As a result, there are people who believe large families are characteristic of that image, and tend to pity members of big families because of the patience and dedication it must take to manage one. But that image is not applicable to all large families.

One example to the contrary is the family of Eunice Harrison Perry, daughter of Essie and Shelton Harrison, who grew up in a family of 12 siblings, also had 12 uncles and aunts as well.

The group of siblings range from 62-82 with Perry being 71, the fourth youngest child. When she recounted what it was like living in a house full of siblings, Perry said there was, “A lot of noise. If there

was

one

thing,

Daddy

didn’t

allow

us

to

fight.

Most of what we did was talk. He didn’t allow any arguing,

and

he

didn’t

allow

any

fighting.

It

was

just a big happy family.”

Before her family moved to Ruston, they lived in Vienna, where they had to reside in two houses because there were so many kids.

But when they moved, “We moved to our own

Living Well r +ĮĻŃĮŀň

home

with

12

children,

and

you

just

didn’t

find

people that far advanced with that many children.”

Living in the new house, Perry remembered what it was like for 12 children to live with only a few bedrooms.

“One time we had a house and it was three or four bedrooms,” Perry said. “We were all small and you might have three or four in the same bed. Two might be facing this way and two might be facing the other way and you might smell some toes. We would all have more than one bed in the same room.”

One may suspect that many children in a small space would create a lot of action and problems, but Perry said her parents were strict, maintained control and raised responsible children.

The older siblings of the house had to wash, clean and cook, but Perry said these chores helped them become more responsible and the lessons were passed down to the younger children.

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Perry said her mother would always say, “When you get married you can’t go out and buy things like when you were alone, you have to


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And it was lessons like these and the responsibility that her parents taught her and her siblings that Perry says make her grateful. “I thank God for teaching my parents what they taught me in how to live,� she said. “There are so many things that we take for granted, just taking a hot shower, getting in a clean bed. I was thanking them for enabling me to be able to maintain and to be able to live in a house and pay my bills, go to bed and have a peace of mind. A lot of that comes from your parents instilling in you the things that you need to do.�

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Don’t be a stupid cupid!

OK

guys,

let’s

flashback

to

Feb.

14,

2012

—

Valentine’s

Day.

It’s

5

p.m.

and

you’re

headed

home

from

work

when

you

notice

a

roadside

vendor

selling

balloons

and

stuffed

bears

out

of

his

car

trunk.

Shoot!

She’s

been

dropping

hints

all

week,

but

you’ve

somehow

forgotten

to

“do

something

special”

for

her.

You

pull

into

the

local

Walgreen’s

thinking

surely

they

have

something

you

could

buy

her

for

Valentine’s

Day.

Whew!

You

aren’t

the

only

guy

sifting

through

picked

over

cards

and

candy.

With

minimal

options,

you

think

to

yourself,

“Hey,

she’ll

never

know

I

bought

this

last

minute

plus

she’ll

love

this

Sponge

Bob

card

and

tin

foil-covered

chocolate

rose.”

You

get

home,

present

her

with

the

drugstore

treasures

and

find

that

she,

in

fact,

could

tell

you

put

little

thought

into

her

gift.

Her

face

gets

“that

look”

right

before

she

says

“I’m

fine”

and

begins

vacuuming

really

fast.

And,

you

remember

how

the

rest

of

the

night

went.

Don’t be a stupid cupid! Give her a gift that will knock her socks off! Here are 10 Valentine’s Day gifts that will show her you are thinking outside of the box (of chocolates).

1.

THE DREAM GIFT: SPA MEMBERSHIP. She (or he) can pamper herself all year long with services like monthly massages, unlimited yoga classes, sauna sessions and more!

Starting at $60 per month, choose from three membership plans.

2.

THE ROMANTIC GIFT: COUPLES MASSAGE CLASS. Join us for a class in massage.

Learn how to release tension in your partner’s arm, legs, hands and feet and use compression techniques on the torso. Reservations are required.

3.

THE GIFT OF RELAXATION: Hot Stone Massage. Relax and enjoy a complete mind, body,

and

soul

treatment

with

the

benefits

of

a

deep

tissue

massage

without

the

deep

pressure. 60 minutes, $85.

4.

GIFT FOR HIM: The Man’s Facial. This relaxing facial includes cleansing, exfoliation, aromatherapy, steam and extractions as well as special treatment for the beard area. 60 minutes, $65.

5.

THE BEAUTIFUL GIFT:

Liftosome

Facial.

This

firming,

radiance-boosting

treatment

uses

a thermal mask that diffuses energizing concentrates of Vitamin C and Ginseng. Active ingredients

combine

a

warming

effect

that

fills

the

skin

with

new

energy,

restores

its

elasticity and regenerates new cells. 75 minutes, $95.

6.

THE PERFECT GIFT: A Gift Card for Spa Services of her choice. She keeps saying she hates

those

crow’s

feet

around

her

eyes,

but

if

you’re

afraid

a

gift

certificate

for

Botox

might send you to the doghouse, then a gift card will be perfect!

7.

THE FAVORITE GIFT: Clarisonic Pro or Mia 2. Starting at only $119, Clarisonic’s innovative technology vibrates at 300 movements per second to clean, soften and smooth

skin.

The

micro-massage

action

brush

head

cleans

better

than

traditional

manual cleansing. Available in a variety of colors.

8.

THE GIFT OF PEACE AND QUIET: Yoga Classes. Flexibility, strength, muscle tone, pain prevention, stress reduction and improved breathing, yoga provides all of these benefits

and

much

more!

Package

of

12

classes,

$100.

9.

THE HOT COUPLES GIFT: Sauna Sessions. Our Sunlighten infrared sauna has completely

transformed

the

meaning

of

the

word

“sauna.”

The

state-of-the-art,

nosteam sauna offers seven times the effectiveness of a traditional sauna with added amenities including a DVD player. Starting at only $15 per session.

10. THE WATERWORKS GIFT: Prenatal Massage. This gift is guaranteed to make her cry the happy tears. The soothing essence of massage allows expectant mothers to feel serene, healthy and comforted while helping to relieve the common ailments of pregnancy. Packages start at $75.

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The team at Seasons – The Spa can assist you in your journey to become the Smartest Cupid Ever.

If

you

have

questions

about

how

to

attain

this

title,

please

give

us

a

call

at

255-1155.

As

always, wrapping is complimentary!

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Indoor Indoor Pool Pool

Living Well r +ĮĻŃĮŀň

people

THE ‘COW PRINCESS’ Local girl wins national title any may be unaware that the reigning American Junior Brahman Association Princess is one of Lincoln Parish’s own.

Titleholder Katelin Cooper is a student at Cedar Creek School.

Of course, the achievement may not be too surprising for those who know this young girl’s family. Katelin and her parents, Sam and Erin Cooper, of Choudrant, have 13 cows, 10 of which are full Brahma.

“I like the Brahma breed the most because they have a gentle disposition,” Katelin said. “They like it when you scratch them, and they follow you around and want to be with you.”

Katelin’s daily routine includes feeding, petting and grooming the cows.

And this close relationship with cows helped Katelin capture two titles she now holds simultaneously — Louisiana Junior Brahman Association Princess and AJBA Princess. Within these roles, Katelin has a few responsibilities.

“I have to represent the breeding association at the national and international shows and statewide show,” she said.

Katelin was crowned the AJBA princess when the national competition was held in July at the AJBA Show in

Oklahoma.

At

that

time,

she

took

five

cows

with

her.

During

nationals, Katelin also won National Intermediate Champion Showman, which is based on how the competitors present their animals.

“You have to groom them and get them ready for the show,” Katelin said. “You have to present the animal properly by putting their feet evenly and scratching them to keep them calm.”

To win the princess title, Katelin participated in an interview with a panel of judges, and prepared a speech about the Brahma breed.

“Brahmas are better than other cows because they have heat tolerance, insect resistance and disease resistance,” she explained. “Their head is very long, and they have a hump on their back.”

Contenders for the princess title were observed by the judges throughout the competition.

“The whole time, judges are secretly watching you as you are preparing for the shows,” Katelin said. “They look at how well you treat the animal and how well you talk to the other exhibitors.”

As for what her national accomplishment means in her daily life, the seventh grader has earned a new nickname.

She explained, “In softball and soccer, they call me the cow princess.”

— By Laura Sloan

“I like the Brahma breed the most because they have a gentle disposition...”

Katelin Cooper

Living Well r +ĮĻŃĮŀň

people

Katelin is pictured competing in showmanship with Pepper.

Out of her 13 cows, Sweetie is Katelin’s favorite.

Katelin is pictured in the national competition with Ella.

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wellness

or some people, the new year is just an opportunity for new stressors to pop up in their lives.

Stress is a known health risk for many different diseases, and high levels of stress can affect an individual’s entire quality of life.

Stress,

as

defined

by

the

MerriamWebster,

is

a

constraining

force

or

influence

on

one’s

body,

whether

from physical, chemical or emotional factors. This can cause bodily

or

mental

tension.

That’s why, local health professionals have offered some insight into stress, how it can affect

the

body

and

mind

and

what

to

do

about

it.

Dr. Daniel Thompson, a family medicine doctor with Northern Louisiana

Medical

Center,

Keep calm and carry on Experience less stress, more joy

By Elizabeth Degrie

Living Well r +ĮĻŃĮŀň

explains

that

stress

can

cause

both

bodily

and

mental

tension,

which

can

be

both

good

and

bad.

“Stress is not necessarily all bad,”

Thompson

explained.

“As an example, there are good stressors which can increase one’s productivity, such as deadlines and

personal

goals.

There

are

bad

stressors also, which can pull one down,

such

as

anger,

conflicts,

unemployment, health conditions, etc. Ultimately, the effect of stress is unique to each person and their coping mechanisms. In saying that, too much stress can be

detrimental

to

all

aspects

of

our

lives.”

Many

might

wonder

what

exactly too much stress can do to an

individual’s

body.

Thompson

paints a clear picture of why individuals should work to avoid too much extra stress.

“Physical responses to stress could

be

increased

heart

and

breathing

rate,

headache,

neck

and shoulder stiffness/ tightness,

back

or

stomach

pain, sweating, nausea or

wellness

LOCAL STRESS TEST 1. Do you get stressed a lot?

2. What is the source of your stress?

3. How do you relieve your stress?

4. How do you try to avoid becoming stressed?

5. Does stress ever negatively affect you? How so?

JESSICA JONES 1. Not too bad, but sometimes.

2. Money, relationships, work, etc.

3. Exercise and take plenty of time to myself.

4. Plan ahead, eat healthy and try to get lots of sunshine during the day and as much sleep as possible at night.

5. Yes, feel tired a lot and have trouble focusing sometimes.

STEPHEN WILLIAMS 1. & 2. Stress seems to come and go with most of it coming from dealing with the public. Throw in raising three kids on top of that

and

it

can

become

difficult

at

times.

3. I have discovered that eating right and exercise work best for me.

4. The best thing I have ever done was joining a running group about a year ago.

5. I still struggle with eating healthy from time to time but it’s getting better. Like most people I like to eat, and I really like to eat when stressed.

JAMES FRENCH 1. I do tend to have stress pop up fairly frequently, admittedly, but it tends to come in waves.

2. Typically it’s trying to manage keeping my cool despite people around me getting stressed; it tends to be infectious. Then there’s the fact that I’m paying off student debt, or the fact that my wife and I are literally continents apart and the government seems to be going nowhere with the process of getting a green card for her.

Overall, it’s a bunch of little problems that all add up to make a big headache by their combined weight.

3. Stress relief boils down to having good friends around who can tell when I’m losing my cool. My coworkers and roommate go a long way for keeping me grounded. Failing that, hobbies and projects keep me centered, which is what keeps me from wigging out. When I’m stressed, I basically just need to distract myself long enough to calm down so I can address the problems rationally.

4. What really helps is looking at my problems and realizing that all of them, no matter how big they seem, pale in comparison to the fact that I’ve got a job that pays me enough to cover all my bills, friends whose company I enjoy and a wife that supports me no matter how good or bad things may seem.

It’s all about perspective.

5. I’m lucky enough that stressing out doesn’t cause me any physical harm, but I tend to go quiet and sullen, and I get far too focused on what’s worrying me to be fully aware of what’s going on around me. Distraction at work is never a good thing, and the comfort eating certainly doesn’t help my wallet any.

Living Well r +ĮĻŃĮŀň

wellness diarrhea,”

Thompson

said.

Of course, as in everything, not everyone reacts to stress in the same way.

“A person does not necessarily have to have all the listed symptoms,”

Thompson

said. “One person may only have sweaty palms, while the next may have headache, neck tightness and stomach pain.”

These

short-term

annoyances can turn into chronic issues if stress continues, Thompson explained.

“Chronic

stress

has

been

linked

to

heart

problems,

such

as

increased

blood

pressure

and heart attacks, low fertility, erection problems

and

problems

during

pregnancy,”

Thompson

said.

“It

also

exacerbates

symptoms of other conditions such

as

(acid)

reflux,

peptic

ulcer

disease,

irritable

bowel

syndrome,

asthma,

COPD,

acne, psoriasis and rheumatoid arthritis.

Living Well r +ĮĻŃĮŀň

Constant

stress

can

make

one

more

likely

to

become

ill

as

well.”

But,

it

isn’t

only

the

body

that

can fall victim to the negative side effects of stress.

“Stress does not only affect the

body,

but

can

affect

your

thoughts

and

emotions,”

Thompson explained. “One could feel tired all the time, cranky and frustrated. There can

also

be

a

decrease

in concentration and inability

to

properly

manage

small

problems.”

Dr.

Walt

Buboltz,

Elva

Leggett

Smith

Endowed

Professor

in

Education

at

Louisiana Tech University and licensed

psychologist

at

Buboltz

& Associates, explains that chronic

stress

can

be

a

serious

issue.

“Over time, chronic high levels

of

stress

break

down

just

about

every

system

of

the

human

body,”

Buboltz

explains.

“Stress

can decrease your physical capacity, decrease immune response and alter normal sleeping patterns. Stress can have a general effect of decreasing all aspects of the mind and processing. Such things as diminished ability

to

concentrate,

difficulty

focusing,

mental

fatigue

and

decreased

motivation.”

Buboltz

and

Thompson

agreed

that

stress

does

have

a

place

in

our

lives,

but

chronic

stress

is

bad

news.

“One

has

to

realize

that

there

are

good aspects of having stress in our

lives,”

Thompson

said.

“When

managed correctly, it can help with focus, energy and alertness. So, the management of stress is very important

to

our

everyday

lives.”

Both also agreed that there isn’t really any way to prevent stress, but

there

are

things

we

can

do.

“What

we

can

do,”

Thompson

said, “is change how we view and deal

with

these

stressors.”

Buboltz

said

there

are

a

few

things that people can do to make stress have less of an impact on their lives.

“I do not think you can totally prevent

stress,

but

there

are

things

that people can do to reduce the effects of stress or that would

be

somewhat

preventative,”

wellness Buboltz

said.

“Such

things

as eating healthy, staying physically

fit,

getting

appropriate sleep and developing a daily relaxation routine.”

Thompson said that one of

the

best

ways

to

relieve

stress is to avoid it as much as

possible.

“First,

do

not

get

stressed

in

the

first

place

and

learn

to

only

get

stressed

about

things that you actually have control

over,”

Thompson

said. “People tend to stress

about

things

that they cannot do anything about.

Second,

develop coping skills to help deal with stress once you are experiencing it. Learn to relax, people can learn several relaxation techniques that can reduce

stress.”

STRESS RELIEF 101 1. SLOW DOWN: Life is not a race. You need to take time aside for yourself.

2. BE AWARE AND FOCUSED ON THE TASK AT HAND. 3. LEARN TIME MANAGEMENT 4. KNOW YOUR LIMITS:

It

is

okay

to

say

no

or

scale

back

on

some

of

your

responsibilities.

5. EXPRESS YOUR FEELINGS:

Don’t

keep

things

inside.

Address

what

is

bothering

you

in

a

direct,

nonthreatening

manner.

If

you

do

not

feel

comfortable

doing

this,

then

keep

a

journal,

talk

to

a

trusted

friend, or speak with a counselor.

6. TAKE CARE OF YOURSELF:

Eat

healthy,

exercise

regularly

and

get

adequate

sleep.

7. HAVE FUN: Participate

in

activities

which

you

find

enjoyable

or

captivating.

8. RELAXATION TECHNIQUES A. SIMPLE STILLNESS: Sit still and quiet, listening to your own thoughts.

B. DEEP BREATHING:

Lie

down

or

sit

in

a

comfy

chair

and

limit

surrounding

distractions.

Close

your

eyes

and

notice

how

you

are

breathing.

First,

slowly

take

a

deep

breath,

following

the

air

with

your

attention

as

it

goes

in.

Exhale

slowly,

taking

twice

as

long

to

exhale

as

it

took

to

inhale.

Every

time

you

exhale,

pause

for

a

second

to

stay

conscious

of

your

breathing.

Let

your

shoulders

droop

and

feel

yourself

relax

more

with

each

breath.

Repeat

this

several

times.

Try

breathing

in

through

your

nose,

out

through

your

mouth.

Count

slowly

to

five

as

you

inhale,

and

10

as

you

exhale.

Now,

notice

whether

your

abdomen

is

expanding

with

each

breath.

Practice

deep

abdominal

breathing

to

help

you

relax

further.

After

five

to

10

minutes,

take

a

deep

breath

and

hold

it.

Slowly

open

your

eyes

and

slowly

exhale.

You

should

feel

more

relaxed

and

comfortable.

With

practice,

even

a

few

of

these

deep

breathing

exercises

will

allow

you

to

quickly

enter

a

state

of

relaxation.

Provided by Dr. Daniel Thompson, family medicine

Living Well r +ĮĻŃĮŀň

Spotlight On: LifeCare Specialty Hospital of North Louisiana Specialized Care in a Specialty Environment By: Brian Callister, M.D., National Medical Director, LifeCare Family of Hospitals

If a loved one or family member has faced repeated stays in a hospital, it may be time to consider the specialized services available only from a long term acute care hospital.

Long

term

acute

care

hospitals

(LTACHs)

fill

a

special

need

in

the health care continuum of a community, providing a range of services to medically complex patients recovering from critical injury or illness who require acute medical care for an extended period of time.

LTACHs like LifeCare Specialty Hospital of North Louisiana are different from community hospitals, which focus on a single diagnosis or health event and generally treat and discharge patients within four to six days. We’re also different from nursing homes or skilled nursing facilities, which don’t offer acute care and often become a patient’s temporary or permanent residence.

LifeCare patients have typically already received medical treatment in the intensive care unit of a community hospital but require extended acute care management and intensive therapies in a safe, caring environment. Many are recovering from pulmonary, cardiac or neurological illness or injury, or may have experienced a

significant

health

episode

such

as heart attack, stroke, joint replacement or major surgery with complications.

LifeCare Specialty Hospital of North Louisiana, which operates 70 patient beds across three campuses (Ruston, Farmerville and Homer), is part of the LifeCare Family of Hospitals, which has specialized in the operation of LTACHs for nearly 20 years. Our highly skilled team of physicians, nurses and therapists provides compassionate care and coordinates treatment across medical disciplines to help patients achieve their fullest recovery potential.

Repeated

hospitalizations

are

difficult

on

patients

and

family

members

alike.

If

you

think

your

loved

one

would

benefit

from

the services available at LifeCare Specialty Hospital of North Louisiana, talk to his or her physician today about long term acute care.

Call 251-3126 to arrange a personalized tour of our facilities or to get your free Medicare brochure or list of accepted insurance plans.

Dr. Brian Callister is the National Medical Director for the LifeCare Family of Hospitals. With more than 25 years of clinical and leadership experience,

Dr.

Callister

is

a

Board

Certified

Internal

Medicine

Living Well r +ĮĻŃĮŀň

and Hospitalist specialist who is nationally recognized as an expert in long term acute care and the post-acute continuum. Dr. Callister has served as the National Medical Director for LifeCare Hospitals since 2004 and has directed its medical staff leadership for more than a dozen years.

Based in Plano, Texas, the LifeCare family of hospitals includes both freestanding and “hospital-in-hospital” acute care specialty hospitals designed to treat medically complex patients who require critical care medical services for an extended period of time. The company’s network includes 27 locations in 10 states.

Medicare

Certified

>

Joint

Commission

Accredited

>

www.lifecare-hospitals.com

Living Well r +ĮĻŃĮŀň

wellness

Brushing up on

Dental Hygiene ebruary is National Children’s Dental Care Month and it’s common knowledge that kids don’t take care of their teeth as well as they should, hence the dedicated month. But what is quite surprising is the number of adults who forget to take care of their teeth on a habitual basis.

According to local dentists and hygienists, there are several reasons for this behavior.

“The

first

can

be

a

lack

of

education,”

Dr.

Paige

Volentine,

a

local

dentist, said. “Somebody might not have told them about how to take care

of

their

teeth.”

In

addition

to

a

lack

of

education,

Volentine

said

time

could

also

be

a

factor.

“You’re

supposed

to

floss

a

couple

of

times

a

day. Some adults, especially those with young kids, might get sidetracked

and

lose

track.”

There are also a variety of other reasons for how and why potential patients haven’t been caring for their teeth.

“Another

thing

is

eating

habits,”

Volentine

said.

44 Living Well r +ĮĻŃĮŀň

wellness “Some people might eat a lot of sugary things, drink sugary drinks (sports drinks, cakes, etc.) and it all causes decay. Also some health reasons, too.

Dexterity patients (older patients) might not be able to reach back there and take care of their teeth. So it

could

be

a

combination

of

factors.”

Kristen Bissell, dental hygienist at Smithey Woody L, said that taking care of your teeth is not only important for oral health, but for your overall health as well.

“It’s not just your teeth, they are not just things you

can

take

out

and

do

dentures,”

Bissell

said.

“Dentures are not the way to go nowadays because we’ve learned so much more. You need your teeth. Whenever you get in a nursing home one

day

and

your

dentures

don’t

fit,

you’re

going

to

have poor health because you won’t be able to give your body the nutrition it needs because you can’t eat

that

good.”

Bissell also added, “A lot of people don’t know that gum disease is a chronic infection in your mouth

that

causes

inflammation

that

can

be

linked

to

heart

problems

and

heart

disease.

Pregnant

women, if they have periodontal disease (gum disease), they are associating it with low birth weight babies.”

To keep these problems from occurring, both Volentine

and

Bissell

recommend

that

preventative

dentistry is the way to go.

“You’re supposed to come in every six months to get your teeth cleaned, and it’s always better to get your teeth cleaned and we find

something

small,”

Volentine

said.

“It also includes home care,

too,

flossing

your

teeth. Flossing prevents a Dr . Pa ne multitude of problems, both ige Volenti decay and gum disease. It’s not only going in to get your teeth cleaned every six months, it’s also taking care of them at home.”

Bissell said, “You always need to be proactive with your dental care instead of coming in whenever something hurts. Whenever it gets to the point of hurting, that’s when it becomes a major

problem.”

Volentine

advised

that

to practice proper dental care, individuals should brush their teeth at least three times a day and floss

at

least

once.

Kris

— By Nick Davis

ten Bissell

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LINCOLN EVENTS CALENDAR THEATER

MUSIC 2.23.13 CLAIRE LYNCH BAND

BODY, MIND AND SOUL

MARDI GRAS BALL — The Ruston Civic Symphony’s Annual Mardi Gras Ball and North Central Louisiana Arts Council

Silent Auction is the place to be to celebrate the end of Carnival season in Ruston. Attendees can enjoy dancing, music, food and conversation with friends during this fundraiser the helps keep the arts in local schools.

7 p.m. Feb. 23; Ruston Civic Center; Tickets $60; Dixie Center for the Arts 255-1450 CLAIRE LYNCH BAND — Claire Lynch has long been recognized as a creative force in acoustic music. Currently, the Claire Lynch Band pushes the boundaries of the bluegrass genre. The New York native has been awarded two IBMA Female Vocalist of the Year awards.

The quartet performs songs written by the lead singer in an acoustic bluegrass style.

7 p.m. March 14; The Dixie Center for the Arts; Tickets $20 or with a season pass; Box Office 255-1450

‘PROOF’ — After the death of her brilliant mathematician father from a prolonged mental illness, Catherine struggles with her self-identity in a world where she fears her own level of genius could bring on the same tragic end. She must convince her sister she doesn’t need to go to an institution and prove to a former student of her father’s that a proof he found was written by her.

7:30 p.m. Jan. 30-Feb. and Feb. 5-9; Stone Theatre; Tickets $12 adults, $8 for seniors/youth or $5 for students; Box Office 2573942.

‘ANYBODY OUT THERE?’ — Follow the tale of poor Oliver Pankey, who

We specialize in the treatment of individuals recovering from catastrophic injury or illness. Our highly skilled team of physicians, nurses and therapists provides compassionate care across medical disciplines to help patients achieve their fullest recovery potential with intensive hospital services that include: Aggressive ventilator weaning Specialized wound care services

LONG-TERM ACUTE HOSPITAL CARE FOR MEDICALLY COMPLEX PATIENTS Admissions 318.251.5392

Farmerville Campus 813 N. Main St. Ste. B 318.368.4142

Ruston Campus 1401 Ezell St. 318.251.5392

Comprehensive rehabilitation

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Homer Campus 6942 Hwy. 79 318.927.0040

M e d i c a r e C e r t i f i e d J o i n t C o m m i s s i o n A c c r e d i t e d w w w. l i f e c a r e - h o s p i t a l s . c o m

46 Living Well r +ĮĻŃĮŀň

1.13.12 ‘ANYBODY OUT THERE’:’

is a born loser. A visit to the doctor, which reveals he has only six months live, leads to a drastic change in Oliver’s life. Fed

up with his fate, he decides to take all kinds of risks.

When he finds out that the doctor made a mistake, his life becomes very interesting as he picks up the pieces.

7 p.m.

March 7-9 and 2 p.m. March 10; The Dixie Center for the Arts; Tickets $12 adults, $6 for students or a season ticket; Box Office 255-1450

Make the Switch!

Staying Is Believing CONFIDENT TRAVEL

Fairfield Inn & Suites of Ruston gives you confidence that your trip will succeed because we are confident that we will consistently deliver a hotel experience that is JUST RIGHT.

IT’S RIGHT

FINE ARTS which is hosted by the LOUISIANA school every two years.

PURCHASE: NATIONAL BIENNIAL JURIED 9 a.m.-5 p.m. now EXHIBITION — This through Feb. 19; Louisiana second national juried art Tech University School of exhibition by Louisiana Tech Art; Free; Jes Schrom at 257University focuses on the 3796. landscape and the human presence 1.21.13 LOUISIANA PURCHASE within the landscape in honor of the purchase that turned Louisiana into two centuries ago. Artists from all over the country submitted art, and 49 made the cut at this exhibition,

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1707 Roberta Avenue • (318) 251-9800 www.marriott.com/mlufs Living Well r +ĮĻŃĮŀň 47

HERNIA.

WHICH OF THESE PEOPLE HAVE A HERNIA? [THE ANSWER MAY BE SURPRISING...]

A

B

C

D

E

F

EVERYONE OF THEM COULD HAVE ONE OR MORE. Are you living with a bump or lump protruding from your stomach or groin area? Have you noticed it increase in size over time? According to the National Center for Health Sciences, 5 million Americans have a hernia. Yet, only about 15% of Americans seek treatment each year. The rest do not because they fear that the procedure will require an extended hospital stay followed by a long and painful recovery.

Fortunately, at Minden Medical Center, there are several safe and less invasive surgical procedures that can eliminate your fears. Plus, you are able to resume your normal everyday activities in a very short time period. These days, there isn’t any reason for you to suffer the uncomfortable, unsightly, painful and sometimes life threatening symptoms of a hernia.

For information about hernia types and our surgeons who perform hernia repairs call (318) 382-8282 or visit mindenmedicalcenter.com/hernia. #1 MEDICAL PLAZA

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48 Living Well r +ĮĻŃĮŀň

MINDEN, LA

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( 3 18 ) 377- 2 3 2 1

CALL TODAY. YOU CAN ENJOY LIFE…AGAIN.