Wolfington Center newsletter plans to 'advocate the heart'

MARY ADAM STAFF WRITER

The Wolfington Center has issued a new biweekly newsletter titled "Heartbeats." "It is an every two weeks, easy to read, easy to pick up bulletin that focuses on one issue," Dr. Mary Laver, coordinator of community outreach and partnerships, said.

The first issue of "Heartbeats" was released Tuesday, Sept. 10 with the topic focused on voting.

Every issue will contain a weekly update, a new topic and a cartoon comic done by Brian Fry. A "Big Heart of the Month", which is an award, will appear in every other issue. The first "Big Heart of the Month" went to the freshman class of 2006 for the highest attendance percentage in Day of Service's history.

Included within the newsletter are specific programs that anyone can sign up to participate in. "We want to not only educate the heart, but advocate the heart," Laver said. "We want to encourage people to not only get involved directly, but actively as well by participating in a program or even starting their own programs. We see 'Heartbeats' as one way to do that."

One of the programs that is offered include Outreach Saturdays. This is a half day long program where one can volunteer his or her services at local organizations, such as: Habitat for Humanity, St. Francis Inn soup kitchen and some children's programs in the Philadelphia area.

Another is the 8-mile long AIDS walk, where there is the potential to raise money for local AIDS programs.

Project Appalachia is a handson program in which Spring Break is spent in West Virginia working and building to improve the housing in that area.

Border Experience is a weeklong trip to Juarez, Mexico, and El Paso, Texas held in May of 2003. It is an experience where one will learn about trade and immigration on the United States-Mexico border.

CAY-Prideis a student-led program that works with under-privileged children. There are some other programs that can be signed up for in the Wolfington Center by the food court.

The next issue of "Heartbeats" will be released next week and the issue of the newsletter will be on the education gap. • It is on the poor children and their school districts vs. upper-class children and their school districts. It will discuss how it affects them and their education.

HEATHER DILALLA STAFF WRITER

The West Nile Virus has rapidly swept through most parts of the United States within the past few years, including the area around Cabrini College. Twenty-nine dead birds in Delaware County have tested positive for the virus this summer. The first documented case was in 1999, and since then the public has had concern for their health and well being.

What the public was not aware of is that for the majority of the people who are infected with the West Nile virus, they will not have any type of serious illness. It is estimated that 20 percent of the people who become infected will develop West Nile fever: mild symptoms, including fever, headache, and body aches, occasionally with a skin rash on the trunk of the body and swollen lymph glands. The symptoms of severe infection include headache, high fever, neck stiffness, stupor, disorientation, coma, tremors, convulsions, muscle weakness, and paralysis.

It is estimated that one in 150 persons infected with West Nile virus will develop a more severe form of disease.

Human illness from West Nile virus is rare, even in areas where the virus has been reported. In the vicinity of where the virus is circulating, very few mosquitoes are infected with the virus. Even if the mosquito is infected, less than one percent of people who get bitten and become infected will get severely ill. Susan Fitzgerald, the college nurse emphasized that stu- dents here are as safe from West Nile Virus as anyone else. The chances of getting infected are slim, and those who do are for the most part elderly or very young children. In order to reduce the chance of becoming ill a person should apply insect repellent containing DEET when they are outdoors. When possible, wear longsleeved clothes and long pants treated with repellents since mosquitoes may bite through thin clothing. Consider staying indoors at dawn, dusk, and in the early evening, which is when most mosquitoes are out. Also, limit the number of places available' for mosquitoes to lay their eggs by eliminating standing water sources from around your home.

"I think it is very important to take these extra precautions:' Patty Clara said. "Ever since I heard about the West Nile virus being here in the United States, I started wearing insect repellant or at least having it with me just in case," ir':1

Being especially cautious is a good to do because even thtib~ getting the West Nile Virus is rare, it still does happen. It is impor• tant to seek help as soon as possible. "If you just spent the whole day crabbing down the shore, where many mosquitoes are, and you go home later that night feeling flu-like symptoms seek medical attention right away. No one should ignore symptoms" said Fitzgerald.

Readers may get more information from the Pennsylvania West Nile Virus site: http://www.westnile.state.pa.us/su rv.htm.

Holy Spirit Library

Open House

Monday, Sept. 30 1 p.m. - 3 p.m.