Newspapers / Winston-Salem Chronicle (Winston-Salem, N.C.) / July 17, 2003, edition 1 / Page 3
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Photo by Courtney Gaillard Officer Johnny Blakely holds some of the Vital Paks, which can hold health information, ?wr^. ^ * ? Police Department giving out life-saving Vital Paks BY COURTNEY GAILLARD THE CHRONICLE The Winston-Salem Police , Department is looking for volun teers with a few good hands to assemble emergency kits for the , elderly. The Crime Prevention Unit of the WSPD is hoping to distribute the Vital Paks to the eld erly residents of the community in ,-llie next couple of months. A Vital Pak is a magnetized pouch that contains important information about a person's health and next-of-kin contact information. The pouch can be placed on the refrigerator and used by medical or law enforcement ? personnel during an emergency. The Vital Pak distribution pro gram began four years ago, and ' since then almost 4.0CX) packs ? have been handed out around the community. Officer Johnny Blakely with the WSPD explained that the packs must be assembled before ' distribution. Once that is complet ed. Blakely expects the packs will go fast. '? "In the event that police. EMS or Fire (Department) has to come into the home and this person can't talk to us. then this pack will talk for them." said Blakely. who 'said that oftentimes important ? information such as allergies, medications and conditions are | not available on emergency calls. Some residents of the Arbor ! Acres Retirement Community I assembled close to I.(XX) packs ? last Thursday for the Police ? Department. A blank information ! form must be inserted into a plas {tic sleeve, and a magnet must be attached to the back. The Vital Paks. said Blakely. ; are especially important in deter mining which hospital - Forsyth Medical Center or Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center - a patient may need to be trans ported to. "We give them out at pro grams. and the reason we like to do that is so that we can explain the importance because the packs aren't going to do anybody any good unless they fill it out." Blakely said. With the older population increasing and more elderly peo pie living alone, Blakely said these Vital Paks can save both time and maybe even a life. The department hopes to deliver 6,000 Vital Paks in the next couple of months to people throughout Forsyth County. Vital Paks can be distributed at commu nity." safety or church programs upon request. For more information on the Vital Paks, call the WSPD Crime Prevention Unit at 773-7835. Year-round schools are [set to start I SPECIAL [0 III! CHRONIC! l ? Summer vacation soon !II end for about 4,000 [young people who attend [year-round schools in the ? Winston-Salem/Forsyth [County system. I Nine elementary and two [middle schools offer a year ifound schedule. Open houses [for these students will be held ;July 15-17. Open houses for ?seventh and eighth grades twill be held this evening. I The first day for year |round students will be July tJM. Schools on the traditionaf [calendar will begin the 2003 [2004 school year Aug. 11. ? , "The opening of a school .year is always an exciting [time for staff and students,"' [said Dr. Don Martin, superin tendent of Winston [Salem/Forsyth County ;Schools. "1 would like to [remind our community that .School buses will be on the ,-[roads beginning July 21. so I [urge all motorists to drive ? with caution." [ Elementary schools on the [year-round calendar are ?Bolton, the Children's Center. [Easton. Hall-Woodward. [Kimberley Park, Konnoak. [Mineral Springs, Old Rich ?mond and Petree. |; Mineral Springs and Philo [middle schools offer both ?year-round and traditional [talendar options. f Artslgnite to be broken up The Arts Council plans to create Artslgnite Presents, a series of event presentations throughout the year that will be planned in lieu of last year's 16-day, multi-arts event. The decision to forgo last year's festival format was made in the interest of "eco nomic and organizational sensitivity," said Arts Council President Robert Chumbley. adding, "The decision to hold single Artslgnite presenta tions throughout the year maintains our commitment to the concept of the festival. We've simply reshaped the festival for an interim period - of time while we address our facilities issues." The council does not intend for Artslgnite Presents to be a | 1 perma n e n t format m shift and will consid e r mount- g 1 n ? K another ? major Arfclo. 1,1'?>?? nite when appropriate in the context of the economic envi ronment and (he possible completion of new theatrical facilities downtown. "We're excited by this decision. It allows us to enjoy the energy and creativity of Artslgnite throughout the year." said Marion Pittnian Couch. chair of the Arts Council's board of trustees. Negotiations are under way to bring the first such Artslgnite Presents event to the county. Author to sign book Saturday Journalist-turned-author Cheris F. Hodges will sign VII her novel "Revela t i o n s " Saturday at Styles R Us hair salon on O I d Rural nail Road from 11 a.m. until 2 p.m. Hodges, a former Chroni cle and News and Record reporter, has been receiving rave reviews for the book, published by Genesis Press. "Revelations" tells about the ups and downs of a relation ship between a magazine writer, Shari Walker, and a marketing executive, Malik Greene. The book, which costs $8.95, can also be ordered at www.genesis-press.com or from retailers such as Barnes & Noble and Borders. Styles R Us is at 4819 Old Rural Hall Road. Chloe Russell receives Salem's Oesterlein Award Chloe Russell, daughter of Melissa Taylor of High Point and Cederic Russell of Pfafftown. was awarded the Sister Elisabeth Oesterlein Award at the Founders Day exercises held at Salem Acad emy on May 25. The award is presented each year to the academy senior who. for four years, has exemplified quality leadership and academic excellence. Chloe Russell graduated from Salem Academy on May 31. She will attend UNC Chapel Hill this fall. Fourth Street Sidewalk Celebration coming The 11 (h annual Down town Sidewalk Celebration will be held on Fourth Street between Spruce and Liberty streets Aug. 8. and will coin cide this year with the National Black Theater Festi val. The annual event is spon sored by the Downtown Win ston-Salem Partnership. It will focus on downtown busi nesses. civic organizations, as well as a host of craftsmen and retailers. Fourth Street merchants and many other businesses and vendors plan to partici pate. Included will be art. crafts, fresh produce, music, street entertainment and food. The celebration will begin at 10 a.m. and last until mid afternoon. Nonfood vendors may still register by contact ing the Downtown Winston Salem Partnership at 354 1500 or e-mail maureen@dwsp.org. Pittman-Couch Hodges Free Checking NO IFs, ANDs, BUTs OR *s ABOUT IT. Wachovia's Free Checking ? NO monthly service fee ? NO minimum balance ? NO direct deposit Required ? FREE Online Banking ? FREE Check Card ? Unlimited access to Wachovia Financial Centers and ATMs ? Unlimited check writing When we say free checking, we mean free checking. No strings attached. No gimmicks. No catches. And with thousands of Wachovia Financial Centers and ATMs, plus online and phone access, banking with us is easy and convenient. So open your personal Free Checking account today with as little as $IOO and enjoy no monthly service fee - other fees may apply. Visit any Wachovia Financial Center, call 800-478-596 or go to wachovia.com/free. WACHOVIA Uncommon Wisdom
Winston-Salem Chronicle (Winston-Salem, N.C.)
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July 17, 2003, edition 1
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