by Michael W. Rosen, M.D.

Winter is always a critical time for blood donations. Busy schedules create a shortage in donors even for those who are regulars.
Read the info below to help you familiarize yourself with donating. You are needed and this is a great time to become a life saving donor.
If you’re in good health, it’s likely that you can donate. Also, if you decide to participate, you’ll be screened first to ensure that it’s OK for you to give blood.
And, you should know this: There’s a great need for it. Every two seconds someone in the United States requires blood, yet it’s often in short supply. Unfortunately, less than 10 percent of eligible people donate blood each year.
Here are answers to some common questions about giving blood:

What are the requirements?

You need to be at least 17 years old, though some states allow 16-year-olds to donate. You must be healthy at the time and weigh at least 110 pounds.
As part of the process, you’ll fill out some forms, answer questions about your health and travel history and have a brief physical exam. These steps help determine whether you’re eligible to donate, as well as ensure the safety of the blood supply.

How should I prepare?

Drink plenty of water the day of your donation. Wear comfortable clothes. And, bring your ID and a list of your current medications.
How much time will it take?
From start to finish, it’s usually about an hour.

Will it hurt?

You may feel a quick pinch as a needle is placed in your arm and collection begins.

Is it safe?

Donating blood is a very safe procedure. Strict safety measures are followed, including using a new sterile needle for each donor.

How much blood will I give?

Typically about one pint is drawn from a donor. You might be surprised to learn that a single pint can help as many as three people.

What happens afterward?

You’ll need to rest for about 10 to 15 minutes at the donation site, where you can have a snack and something to drink. After that, you can continue with your normal daily routine. You should continue to drink water and avoid any strenuous activity for the rest of the day.
You can pat yourself on the back, too. You’ll have given a wonderful, vital gift to others. But, even if you can’t donate, there are still ways you can do your part. For example, you might consider volunteering to work at a blood drive.
©United Healthcare Services, Inc. All rights reserved.
Reprinted with permission from Healthy Mind Healthy Body.

Third Annual Children’s Advocacy Center for

Denton County

Champions for Children Gala

Saturday, February 18th from 7:00 pm – 12:00 am
The theme is Phantoms of the Gala. Featuring sports celebrities signing autographs, chefs serving hors d’oeuvres at private tasting stations, live and silent auction, wine tastings, and dancing to live band. Tickets are $125, or $159 at the door. Visit www.cacdc.org for more information or call 972-317 2818 x 244.
The CACDC is a non-profit agency that provides a child-friendly environment to help victims and families through the iinterview, investigation and treatment of severe child abuse cases.

2012 Thin Line Film Festival

February 15th – 20th
The Fifth Annual Thin Line Film Fest is an international documentary film festival and this year’s theme is “Making An Impact.” Do you enjoy a good movie? Then you are qualified to come join the party! Thin Line screens at the historic Campus Theatre on the downtown square. Other events are held at unique venues within one or two blocks.
Attend the festival and watch the newest, most interesting and exciting films before anyone else in Texas. Then meet, socialize and enjoy a unique opportunity to have filmmakers in attendance answer your questions following the screenings.
The mission of the Festival is to educate and entertain our audiences by presenting a diverse program of high quality, relevant documentary films. From hundreds of submissions we will select the most creative and the most compelling.

Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA)

Tuesdays, February 14th – March 6th, 5:00 PM – 8:00 PM
Saturdays, February 4th – April 15th, 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM
North Branch Library, 3020 N. Locust in Denton
Free income tax assistance made possible by VITA (Volunteer Income Tax Assistance) courtesy of United Way of Denton County, the Internal Revenue Service and the Denton Public Library. Total income per return cannot exceed $50,000 for taxpayer year 2011. No appointment is necessary. For more information call 940-566-2688.

But Your Clothes are So Delightful

With cooler days and chilly nights in the near future, coats and jackets are a must this holiday season.  This season it’s all about variety when it comes to outerwear.  The fashion world has been flooded with all sorts of choices in lengths, textures, fabrics, and styles of different coats and jackets.

From trench coats to cropped and fur lined jackets, there is a stylish outerwear option for all tastes this winter season.  Ponchos have returned once again in the form of warm winter coats.  These ponchos are often fur-lined or quilted and range from below the waist to knee length.  Quilted jackets are a must not only for the function but also for the aesthetic.  We are still seeing a huge military influence in outerwear as well as influences from the 1960s and the 1970s.  The 1960s bring us the cropped trench coat and a trend in dropped shoulders on jackets.

You should also be prepared to dress your man in the latest fashions in outerwear.  The bubble coat, or puffer jacket, has made a comeback this season for men in a wide array of color choices.  Other styles for men include the fur-lined, hooded parka, the bomber jacket, military coat, and longer, belted trench coat styles.

Remember, your perfectly stylish outfit will be incomplete this holiday season without the ultimate choices in cold-weather gear.  All of these fashionable options to keep you warm this winter season can be purchased at a variety of places: department stores, boutiques, you name it!

The world watched in mouth-watering envy, as Carrie Bradshaw bit into the perfect and enticing little cake on Sex and the City, licking the fluffy pink frosting off her upper lip. And in that moment we were all transformed. Just like being thrown into a time machine I myself was remembering the days of ole when my Mom would walk into my elementary classroom on my birthday.  In her hand she carried a plate that was covered with chocolate cupcakes hosting a luscious creamy blob of chocolate frosting on top.  There was a sweet and creamy little mound for every classmate; ahh the days where there were so few things as simply satisfying.

In later years, as birthdays marked by cupcakes in the classroom switched over to co-ed parties in junior high, then alcohol-fueled parties in young adulthood, cupcakes faded into the distant past.

That is, until the last couple of years.

Exquisitely frosted fondants appeared on streets around the world. What is it about these pretty little cakes that has taken us back to our young love and added the glamour that we need to make it feel right once again?  They are sweet, portable and require no cutlery. They are just large enough to be satisfying but small enough to be guilt-free.

And there are endless options to what you can do with cupcakes.  Whether planning a wedding, your golden anniversary, a corporate event or a sweet sixteen spectacular cupcakes are the emerging trend today instead of a traditional cake.  They offer better versatility and are celebratory and sophisticated along with their delicious nature, cute packaging and decorative toppings. They are in vogue! They might be the perfect menu for a sugar enhanced children’s party, but these lavish confections are driving a sweet-coated revolution. Where Carrie Bradshaw led, the rest are following and following in groves.

You know what they say about good things and small packages? These scrumptious cakes are no exception. The mouthwatering morsels are back, and they are dreamier than ever.

Logitech Harmony 650 Universal Remote
The Logitech Harmony 650 is one of the best universal remotes you can buy for less than $100.  A powerful universal remote with great ergonomics; color LCD screen surrounded by five contextual buttons; web programmable via Windows or Mac; excellent button layout and overall design; supports custom sequences/macros. On the downside it only controls five devices, requires Internet-connected PC to program the remote, and adding favorite channel icons is a bit more difficult than it should be.

The Harmony 650 improves on the 600’s monochrome screen with a color version (it can display colorful favorite channel icons instead of just text, like the 600). The 700’s price tag is slightly more expensive–it retails for between $120 and $150–but it controls six devices to the 600/650’s five, and it has the ability to recharge its Sanyo Eneloop batteries by attaching the USB AC charger (both included). As is standard for Logitech remotes, all three models are programmable via a Mac or Windows PC, and use activity-based commands such “Watch TV” or “Listen to Music” to control a home AV system.

Roku LT
The Roku LT is an extremely small Wi-Fi streaming-media box that costs only $50. It offers dozens of streaming video and audio services, including Netflix, Hulu Plus, Amazon Instant Video, HBO Go, Pandora, MOG, Rdio, and MLB.TV. It also supports older TVs using an included breakout cable. However, the Roku LT isn’t a good choice for playing your personal digital media collection. There’s no Ethernet port, so you’ll need a solid Wi-Fi signal in your home.

Roku has managed to shave the price all the way down to $50, jettisoning unnecessary features, while keeping all of the streaming content that we love. There’s still an argument to be made for Apple fans to favor the Apple TV, since it works so well with other Apple products. But for the money, the Roku LT deserves a very strong recommendation and is sure to be a hit this holiday season.

Kodak PlaySport Zx5
An exemplary shoot and share minicamcorder, the PlaySport is a very good choice for capturing those spur-of-the-moment clips. Plus, its rugged construction means you can take it where other devices can’t go.

The waterproof/shockproof Kodak PlaySport Zx5 produces very good video quality for its price and size, is easy to use, and has good editing/sharing software. However, the PlaySport doesn’t have a built-in USB connector, there’s no flash or video light, and the battery can’t be removed. The bottom line is the rugged Kodak PlaySport Zx5 is a very good minicamcorder.

With a mission to provide the quality care, training and support to adults with special needs, Day Stay for Adults is focused on giving opportunities for clients to succeed in life, family and the community.  Most of the clients served have a developmental disability.  These challenges include Autism, Down syndrome, Cerebral Palsy and intellectual disabilities, while others have multiple physical disabilities or confined to wheelchairs or other aids.  There are senior adults, who may have had a trauma, or a chronic disease such as Alzheimers or Dementia, or who have debilitating injuries from accidents or military service.  Many of the younger adult clients are just out of high school and will be transitioned from the special education system to continue their development, learning, and training to become productive members of the community.

Families are supported by assistance in their loved one’s development, making them a stronger family member, and by providing a positive and safe environment for the care provider to bring their family member during the day.  The fundamental goal is for the parent/care provider to have the ability to continue on with their lives at work, home and in the community. Professional nurses and staff work directly with and provide for clients throughout each day. Developmental services are provided to individuals with disabilities and special needs in areas including vocational, educational, medical care, personal life skills, health and fitness training, and therapeutic services in art, music, pets, recreation, technology and many more.

There are an estimated 55,000 plus people with developmental disabilities and other special needs in the Denton County area alone.   This population has some of the greatest needs for society’s support, acceptance and inclusion, yet most often it is the most neglected. Awareness and education is key.  Understanding will lead to tolerance, tolerance will lead to acceptance, acceptance will lead to inclusion, and inclusion will lead to a significant increase in more productive citizens that contribute to and help strengthen the community.

Day Stay for Adults is a registered non-profit 501(c)3 charitable organization. As with many charities, they rely significantly upon donations of services, goods, supplies, and financial support. They are very appreciative for gently used items to add to the centers to help make them ‘home’. Many of the clients are low income and/or unemployed.  Day Stay strives to keep fees and expenses as low as possible. There are very limited funds for Medicaid clients, and the day to day minimally required operations are costly to provide the medical and social care to the clients. Please see our website for a Wish List of donated items needed.

With two campuses, one in Corinth and one in Lewisville, volunteers are needed on a daily basis, both young and old, individuals or small groups. Supporting people with special needs is one of the most rewarding ways to contribute time to your community and learn more about acceptance and social change.  Clients look forward to making new friends, and enjoy interactions with new people. There is a variety of ways you can get involved, and you don’t need specific experience.  Some of the activities include: arts and crafts, games, office support, reading, exercise/fitness or pet therapy.

With the holidays approaching and the charitable gift-giving season, please consider those at Day Stay for Adults. It is the community support and individual giving that allows Day Stay to serve persons with disabilities and their families.

For volunteer opportunities, contact Davita Goodall, Denton Campus at 940-383-8371
or Helen Gaffney, Lewisville Campus at 972-317-1515;  www.daystay.org