|
Portland... |
Issue 67 ~ News from your Town Hall ~ August 1999
|
Simple Substitutions Can Improve Your Diet The American Institute for Cancer Research has some easy ways to help you enjoy some of your favorite foods while cutting fat and adding nutrition at the same time. At a time when Americans are healthier than ever before, cutting excess fat and calories whenever possible is a smart goal. And adding whole grain ingredients and more fruits and vegetables to out daily diet is something we can all work towards, whether we’re overweight or not. For beginners, all lettuce is not created equal. Instead of iceburg lettuce, start using spinach, romaine or other dark green leafy lettuces for a more nutritious salad. And when it comes to salad dressing, flavored vinegars, such as balsamic and raspberry, offer a light yet distinctive taste. Replace high fat sauces over meat and poultry with vegetable purees. Try adding sauteed onion and garlic to some steamed broccoli, season to taste, and puree it in a food processor or blender. The result is a low-fat, flavorful sauce that’s packed with cancer-protective phytochemicals and nutrients. Potato puree works as a great alternative to heavy, high-fat cream when thickening soups. Evaporated skim milk also works well in place of cream. Get into the habit of using chicken or vegetable broth instead of butter or oil for sauteing and try using citrus fruit juice or flavored vinegar for a marinade instead of oil. There are a variety of ingredient substitutions you can experiment with when baking. A common way to cut butter or margarine in a recipe is to replace a portion of it with applesauce or prune juice puree. For every ½ cup of butter or margarine called for in a recipe, replace with ¼ cup applesauce (or prune puree) plus ¼ cup butter, margarine or oil. Replace one egg with two egg whites or ¼ cup liquid egg substitute, and instead of sour cream, nonfat or lowfat plain yogurt can work just as well in some recipes. The key to ingredient substitutions is to be creative. Some things may work better than others, but by replacing an ingredient every so often with a healthier alternative, you’ll be on your way to making your favorite dishes more nutritious. (provided by the American Institute for Cancer Research) |
Youth Services by: Bill Foreman Portland Youth Services’ Playground Plus After School Program will offer activities in the afternoon for another Fall Season. This year, however, the PYS children will be offered Monday through Friday sessions. This is different from previous years, when every day session were only offered too those families listed as its Special Friends. (That is, only families that proved to be in need of every day services, were allowed to use the daily sessions. Otherwise, families were offered just the Monday & Wednesday after school activities.) In addition to this, there will be a piloted Playground Plus Before School program, for those few families that need help with their kindergarten children’s activities before attending classes. This part of the program has been in its experimental stages since last spring. For more information, please call Bill Foreman at 342-6758. PYS August 1999 Programs, Activities & Meetings Playground Plus Summer Program (June 28 - August 13, weekdays from 7:30 AM to 6 PM) with Erica Foreman, David Heizman, Melissa Williams, Nicole Brown, Mitch Foreman & James VodolaTeenage Youth Commission Meetings (for high school age teens, announced Mondays 6:30 to 7:30 PM) TYC sponsors dances for 6th to 8th graders (date to be announced) with Laurne Jeffers, Ellen Williams, and Bill & Anna Foreman. Girls’ Teen Group (joint PYS/Mdsx. Hosp. Mondays, 3:30 - 5:30PM) with Sherie Chapman, Coordinator (Family Advocacy/Middlesex Hospital). Summer Job Bank with Mary Pont. Crisis Intervention/Prevention: Counseling & Resource Center (late afternoons & evenings on Mon., Tues. & Thurs./appointment only) w/Laurie Rhines & Chris Napolitano.Juvenile Diversion Board (for confidential hearings for Police & Juvenile Court referrals), with Steve Conselo, Lorraine Noone, Bonnie DeCarli, Richard Murphy, Joe Piatti, and Anna & Bill Foreman. Home visitations with Anna & Bill Foreman, Ellen Williams & representative from CASSP. Provisions for Community Service Work Hours for Youth (as ordered by court or JDB) with Bill Foreman For more information, call: 342-6758 |
|
From The Dog House brought to you by: Charlie Jarzabek What to Do if Your Dog is Choking The Humane Society offers this advice if your dog is choking on a ball, toy, or bone: 1. Open its mouth to look for the object by prying the dog's jaws apart with both hands. Charlie |
School Bus Safety The American Red Cross urges parents to teach their children to observe these precautions when boarding or leaving a school bus:
|
Tips |
Something to think about... by: Dean Jacques, Social Services (part 7 of an 8 part series) This installment deals with some rather abstract ideas. The originator, H. Steven Glenn, labeled this category systemic, because it focuses on systems of thought that we, as adults, more or less take for granted. For example, we easily understand the concept of cause and effect, and naturally assume that children share the same understanding. We have to remember that children have to learn basic ideas before they can integrate them into comprehension. Some other concepts that fall under this category are: limits and consequences, privileges and responsibility, adaptability and flexibility. By understanding the nuances of these concepts, we can better participate in the way things work. If the idea of cause and effect were as obvious as it seems, our hospitals and jails would be less crowded. It can't happen to me, is a mind set that is not usually based on fact. Limits and consequences. When a behavioral rule has been negotiated between parent and child, it is important that the agreement is kept on both sides. If the child breaks the agreement, the consequences have to be informed, or the resulting inconsistency will mar all future agreements. Accepting an agreement is the same as accepting the consequences. The parent can sit back and say: "it surprises me that you chose not to have the car for two weeks; but it's your decision and I will respect it." This points out that it was the child who brought about whatever consequence was involved – not the parent. The child has no one else to blame. Privileges and responsibilities. A connection has to be made in the child's mind that privileges are related to responsibilities. They all want the privileges of adulthood, but they have to learn that there is more to being an adult than just doing what they want. They need to realize that freedom is synonymous with responsibility. |
We can teach the dynamics of cause and effect in our everyday situations by pointing out the relationship between what one does, and what happens next. It also helps to prompt the child to figure the answer out alone. Adaptability has to do with choosing and modifying one's behavior according to the situation. We each have a number of role images we can choose from. Sometimes we act as accountants (around the first of every month), sometimes we assume the persona of parent or spouse, other times we take the role that our employers expect of us. In our personal relationships, we range from supportive to dependent, from serious to comical, from active to very passive. Adaptability represents our capacity to choose among our various roles for that which is most appropriate at the time. Flexibility gives us the skillfulness to change our methods of dealing with a situation when it seems obvious that a different approach is warranted. Systemic skills are those which help us deal cooperatively with people. Barriers to developing these skills in children come from parents who are either too strict or too permissive. When we are overly strict, the child perceives us as being more concerned with our authoritarian image than anything else. Furthermore, punishments often produce influences that are counter-productive. A child's reaction might include any of the following: rebellion, retreat, reduced self-esteem, or even surrender (why try?). We help to build systemic skills when we treat our children with dignity and respect; when we give clear feedback about their behavior; when we allow children to experience the natural or logical consequences of their behavior (as long as the consequences are not dangerous).
|
|
from: Beth Morrissette Tax Credit Work Program The Tax Credit Work Program is now underway. Applications will be available at the Senior Center throughout the month of August. To apply for this program, you must be a year round resident, reside at the home in which you are applying for, and have a gross annual income of $18,000 for a single person, and $30,000 for a married couple. You will be required to submit documentation of all incomes, including Federal Income Tax (if filed), 1099 forms from Social Security, retirement pensions, and any other sources of income. Married couples must submit all/both sources of income. Applicants must have appropriate skills for the position. A $500 credit may be obtained per household by working the maximum of 97 hours at $5.15 per hour. A minimum of 10 hours work is required to receive a tax credit. For additional information, please contact the Senior Center. Senior Center Extends Summer Hours During the summer months, the Senior Center provides a cool respite when temperatures are in the 90s. The extended hours will be on Saturday and Sunday from noon until 6 PM. It is recommended that you have lunch before coming, and also bring a sandwich and fruit for a light supper, to avoid having to cook at home. A variety of board games and cards will be available and movies may be shown. We will need a couple of volunteers to assist with setting up. If you would like to help, please call the Senior Center. Protecting Your Nest Egg A free seminar, for information only, will be held on Thursday, August 19 at 2:30 PM on how you can protect your assets for family and loved ones. Topics will cover Medicare and Medicaid (laws and changes in the laws), Probate costs (the process), Estate Taxes (how they may effect you), Trusts (revocable and irrevocable), Nursing Homes and Medicaid, Guidelines for Long Term Care and Annuities. The presenter will be Scott MacDonald of New York Life Insurance. We are asking that if you intend to come for refreshments that day, please call beforehand or sign-up on the bulletin board by August 23. Travel Ellis Island/Statue of Liberty/South Street Seaport, Monday September 13, 7 AM departure. Cost: $34.00 Looking Ahead Be on the lookout for upcoming details for our own Information Expo, to be held at the Senior Center this September! Health Services for SeniorsPlease Note: A Medicare Insurance & Benefits Counselor is available at the Center on the first Thursday of each month. Please call the Center to make an appointment if you have any insurance questions or concerns. |
Parks & Recreation by Sandy Darna On June 12th, the Portland Parks & Recreation Department and the Prevention Council held the 3rd Annual Celebrate Family Day. Once again, it was a very successful event. Families were able to get together for a time of fun, games and food. Not to mention a magic show and balloon man. Juggles and Joy and Joy made an appearance in town and treated the children to a plate spinning competition and bubble blowing contest. (Even parents competed in this one!) We would like to extend our thanks to the many volunteers that made Celebrate Family Day possible. First Selectman Ed Kalinowski, George Brede, Darlene Rice-Kelsey, Lee Nordstrom and Steve Wells (Portland Parks & Recreation Commission), Ruth & Nunzio Mayo, Margaret Stewart, Carol Gilbert, Karen Labbadia and Dr. Marcus Brown (Prevention Council), Pat and Mike Landry, Peter LaVoie, Tom Parinzino and Ed Salvatore (Portland EMS), Tim Aresco, Drew France, Brad Listien (Grounds Division), Dale Benoit and Jason Landry (Portland Fire Police), Lisa Berard (Sky Hawks Sports Camp), Bob Darna, David and Sandy Favale, Sarah Richards, Hal Larson (For Lion King scenery), Brittany Kelsey, Kayla Perruccio, Kalya Landry, Christine Hunt and the Middle School Pro Students, Ellen Williams, Tom, Cheryl and Nicole Dion. We would also like to thank the following Portland businesses for their donations of money and services. Mike Rossitto (F.W. Caterers), Hemlock Grange, Liberty Bank, Elmcrest Hospital, Portland Police Department, Dr. Marcus Brown and Frank Favale-Grants Oil. Without the help of so many people, Celebrate Family Day would not have been such a great success. I also want to thank all those who attended. It was a great day for families to come and spend time together in a very positive atmosphere. Thrift Store Strategies Want to buy a designer jacket for $4, a pair of shoes for $5, a soup pot for $1, a set of in-line skates for $10? You can find such things and more at a nearby thrift shop. Most sell gently used clothes, shoes, toys, household items, and sports gear at a fraction of department store prices. In The Ultimate Consignment & Thrift Store Guide, author Carolyn Schneider offers these tips:
Avoiding Travel Scams Travel experts warn consumers to be wary of supposedly free vacations or discount packages that are promised over the phone or by e-mail. They are favorite lures of scam artists. Here are some tips to determine if an offer is legitimate:
|
