THE hottest color for fall or at least for October will be pink. This year, don’t wear it mindlessly.  Make a commitment that for every little pink ribbon you see/wear, for every pink t-shirt you don you will be AWARE.  For many years now we talk boldly about Breast Cancer Awareness month, but it is time to be completely sure we all understand what we want to be AWARE of.  Be Aware that the best way to fight breast cancer is to have a plan that helps detect the disease in its’ early stages.   Be Aware that you must start your Early Detection Plan today.  Be Aware that you must be consistent with your plan.

Early detection
One of the earliest signs of breast cancer can be an abnormality that shows up on a mammogram before it can be felt. The most common signs of breast cancer are a lump in the breast; abnormal thickening of the breast; or a change in the shape or color of the breast. Finding a lump or change in your breast does not necessarily mean you have breast cancer. Additional changes that may also be signs of breast cancer include:
•  Any new, hard lump or thickening in any part of the breast    •  Change in breast size or shape
•  Swelling, redness or warmth that does not go away    •  Pulling in of the nipple
•  Pain in one spot that does not vary with your monthly cycle    •  Clinical Breast Exams
•  An itchy, sore or scaling area on one nipple    •  Self Breast – Exams
•  Dimpling or puckering of the skin    •  Mammograms
•  Nipple discharge that starts suddenly and appears only in one breast

According to the National Cancer Institute, nearly 200,000 women will be diagnosed with breast cancer this year.  One in eight women will be diagnosed during their lifetime.  Over 30% of women are diagnosed after breast cancer has spread beyond the localized stage.  When detected early (localized stage), the 5-year survival rate is 98%.  All breast cancer success rates have soared; early detection increases all the successes. You have probably heard all or most of this before, but now it is time to make a decision today to become a statistic…be one of the women who take charge of their breast awareness plan and be a positive statistic.

Be sure to read the Headrush Salon article on page 29!  The Salon is hosting a hair show to benefit the Susan G Komen foundation.  The finale is a drawing for a new Sea Doo Jet Boat donated by Jerry Whittle Boats.  Kudos to Headrush the Salon and Jerry Whittle Boats for being community leaders in the Breast Cancer Fight.

Looking for a family friendly place to spend quality time? Perhaps you are looking for resources to assist with your job search?  Have you visited your local library lately?  The Denton County Libraries are busier than ever during these challenging times! Families are borrowing books and DVDs instead of buying them, the unemployed search and apply for jobs utilizing the library’s computer and broadband, and parents are taking their children to libraries for recreation.  But as municipalities must look for ways to cut spending, the libraries are unfortunately one of the targets.

Most recently and closest to home, funding for Denton County public libraries was cut for next year by 5%, at a time when the use and needs of the libraries continue to rise.  POINTBank, a local community bank, has made the Denton County Library System its major philanthropic focus, and is committed to raising funds to maintain and grow library resources and services, and impact library-based literacy programs.

POINTBank has supported the Denton County libraries for over 20 years.  Raymond David, the bank’s CEO states, “We believe strongly that libraries serve a critical role in fostering a prosperous, successful and healthy future for the local communities.”  As their major fundraising effort, POINTBank hosts an annual charity golf tournament benefiting literacy and the Denton County Libraries.

Donations from the event have contributed to building expansion and improvements, technology, books, job search tools for unemployed citizens, reading programs for children, and child education and development, just to name a few.

“The Denton Public Libraries used the grant from PointBank to fund the Summer Reading Club Program, with approximately 4,582 people benefiting through the program this year”, stated Eva Poole, Director of Libraries for the City of Denton.

This year, in celebration of the event’s 20th Anniversary, it is being held at The Cowboys Golf Club, a premier resort-style, daily fee course and the world’s first NFL-themed golf course, in Grapevine on Saturday, September 18th.  The format is a 4-person scramble with a shotgun start at 8:00 a.m.  The player fee of $150 or $500 per team includes a full hot breakfast, round of golf with cart, and unlimited non-alcoholic beverages and food on the course. After the tournament, each player will receive a commemorative team photo and attend a celebratory luncheon where cash prizes will be awarded. “You can’t even play at the Cowboys Golf Club for $150”, said Deke Alexander, coordinator of the tournament, “when you add all the extras, this package is worth over $200 plus it goes to a very worthy cause”.

Ray David, POINTBank President, expresses the importance of this effort.  “This year it is even more imperative that we raise as much as possible to assist the libraries in providing the services and resources to which the citizens of our community have grown accustomed.”

To help the libraries and POINTBank celebrate 20 years of fundraising efforts, to learn more about the tournament, or to register as a player or sponsor, please call Milly French at 940-686-7000 or visit www.POINTBank.com

You can now view Lifestyles of Denton County online!

This issue features Point Bank Tees Off For Literacy with the 20th Annual Charity Golf Classic.  DCTA’s New Commuter Vanpool Program – It’s Vantastic!  Are You Ready for Some Football? Check out the local high school schedules.  And, “Be Aware,” gives information on breast cancer awareness month.

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by Laurie Griffin

Protecting Pets in the Summer

It’s that dreaded time of year again.  Outdoor temps are climbing, moods are getting cranky, sometimes it’s too hot to even move.  Summers in North Texas can be brutal for all of us, including the animals who count on us for their care.   Keep the following tips in mind when making plans for your animal friends during this hot and steamy season.

•    Never leave an animal inside your vehicle while unattended.  Unlike humans, dogs and cats lack the ability to regulate body temperature through perspiration. A car parked in as low as 75 degrees can become a deadly trap for animals locked inside, where they can soon suffer heat exhaustion, stroke, brain damage, or death.  Cracking windows also does very little to provide relief from sweltering heat. Check out www.mydogiscool.com, a site dedicated to raising awareness about the dangers of leaving pets inside vehicles on warmer days.  There you can find out just how hot a parked car can become, download a printable flier to place on unattended vehicles with pets left inside. Note: Contact police immediately if you witness an animal in danger or child left unattended in a vehicle.

•    Always transport animals safely inside the cab of a truck, or inside a tethered kennel in the pick-up bed.  Each year countless pets are killed by riding in the back of trucks, due to flying debris, being tossed out inadvertently, or jumping out on their own.  Each year, local animal groups, newspapers, lost pet websites, and animal controls are contacted by those who have lost animals because they were thrown or bolted from the back of a truck.  In warm months, restrict animal transportation to the inside of cabs only, as a pick-up bed can become dangerously hot in a hurry.

•    Many dogs are terrified in thunderstorms and by July 4th fireworks.  Leave animals at home when attending summer celebrations, and whenever possible, bring them indoors when neighborhood fireworks and summer storms explode.

•    Lawn fertilizers and insecticides can be fatal for pets and children.  Take extreme caution when using them in your yard.  Also, there are over 700 plant varieties that can be toxic to animals and children.  To find a complete list, visit www.aspca.org.

•    Whether indoors or out, make sure animals have access to plenty of water, and change several times a day.  When possible, keep pets indoors.  If your animals must be kept outside, make sure to provide constant shade, as well as bowls of water and food that will not tip over.  While exercise remains important, limit daily walks and play sessions to early morning or evening hours.  In days of extreme heat, skip outdoor activities.  Apply sunscreen on light-colored ear tips and noses, and never have coats clipped shorter than one inch.  Cutting fur too short can lead to sunburn and overheating.

•    Most animal bites occur in summer months.  Spay or neuter pets to reduce negative behavior, such as aggression and anxiety, and to help prevent thousands of unwanted litters born each year.   For information about low cost spay/neuter, call the Denton Humane Society at 940-382-PETS.  The incidence of rabies rises in summer months, too., so make sure pets are current on vaccines.  Heartworm is spread through mosquito bites, which increase in summer as well.  Keep animals on heartworm preventative to keep this potentially fatal disease at bay.  Summertime is also flea season.  Maintain your animal’s health and comfort by using a flea/tick control product recommended by your vet.  Always make sure your pet has a collar and ID tag, or have your vet implant a microchip, to insure your pet can be found in the case she becomes lost.

•    Use caution when exposing pets to pools and lakes.  Don’t assume your dog will automatically know how to exit the pool if he happens to go in.  Teach him where the steps are and never leave him unattended.  When boating with your dog, always use a canine lifejacket.

•    Make yourself aware of the signs of heatstroke and know what to do if your pet is in danger.  According to www.peteducation.com, signs of a heatstroke include:  panting, bright red tongue, slobbering, thick and sticky saliva, depression, weakness, reluctance to move, convulsions, eventual death.   If you see any of these signs, it is vital to lower your pet’s body temperature immediately:  move your pet to the shade or air conditioning, place wet towels on his body (on head, neck, and chest only), provide cool (not cold) water and allow him to drink in small amounts, offer ice in small amounts for him to lick, and call your vet immediately.

You can now view Lifestyles of Denton County online!

This issue features Texas Peaches.  Nutritional deficiencies can lead to disease – are your multi-vitamins enough? An article on Cyberbullying informs parents of how to lower the risk to their children. And, “The Heat Is On,” gives advice on protecting your pets in the summer heat.

Check out the special 4th of July events page containing information on area celebrations.

Click here to view the current issue.