Newspapers / Winston-Salem Chronicle (Winston-Salem, N.C.) / Dec. 3, 2009, edition 1 / Page 9
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Student earns state volunteer award CHRONICLE STAFF REPORT Joshua Nzewi, the the 16-year-old son of Emmanuel and Sochi N/eui of Kernersville, took home one of the four stale youth volunteer awards at the State 4-H Council Conference in Raleigh on Nov. 21 . The awards were presented to individuals who have demonstrated uuisiauuiug icaucrsnip ana volunteer service during the past one year period. Nzewi has served more than 40 hours teaching 4th grade stu dents at five local elemen tary schools 4-H workshops on "The Magic of tiectricity. " He has also earned the Congressional Silver Award and the Gold Presidential Award for his volunteer work. His other 4-H volunteer activi ties include teaching two 4-H Summer Adventures work shops; organizing and par ticipating in N.C. Big Sweep Niewi with his 4-H club; writing Christmas cards and thank you notes to soldiers in Iraq; helping with the Adopt a Highway Clean-Up four times; and volunteering at the 4th-grade 4-H Heritage Day Program. For his 4-H volunteer work, Nzwei was also selected as the 2009 4-H Volunteer of the Year for Forsyth County. "Forsyth County 4-H is proud to call Josh one of our own," said April Bowman, 4-H Extension agent. "Josh's commitment to helping oth ers is a role model for other youth to follow." Diabetes from page A7 well, and his blood sugar and pressure under control. Since that time, James has been seeing an endocrinologist, a specialist in diabetes and other metabolic disorders, at Wake Forest University School of Medicine, to monitor his diabetes. He says she "has been such a positive influence, role model, physician and friend. She is a tremendous motiva tor." One day James was nerv ous about going to his appoint ment because he had been to a fish fry the weekend before, and had "eaten everything I could eat there." But he says, his doctor gave him some sound advice that day. "You can't fall off the deep end in one meal, you're not let ting it become a lifestyle. Sometimes it's good to enjoy at gatherings or reunions like that, but you stay with your plan," said James, "Have a piece of cake instead of the whole thing, for example," James says it is kind treat ment like that that makes him feel comfortable asking ques tions, or talking about some thing he has read or heard somewhere, and he makes notes in between visits about things he wants to talk about the next time. James also believes that he has to play an active role in the management of his diabetes; in addition to making healthy food choices, exercise is an important part of his day. He describes how he drove by his local YMCA many times, "every time I drove past the Y it was like 1 needed to stop in there, and one day I did. They showed me around, I had no idea all of those facilities were in that one building! They helped me set up my weight and cardiovascular exercise regimen." James says it wasn't easy at first, "the first time I got on the elliptical I struggled to do 7 minutes, 1 mean struggled. The next time I did 5 minutes, and I thought, i can't do this.' But, I kept doing it until I could do 30 minutes and I could do the 12 weight machines on my regi men." He said he was so proud to be able to show his doctor how well he was doing, and how he was getting trimmer and losing weight. One day, he says there was an older gentle man in the Y, lifting a lot of weight, and James was some what embarrassed, because he was only lifting a little. But he says he then realized that his taking care of himself is an individual thing, you follow your plan and you do what's best for you. In talking about what advice James would give to others with diabetes, he says it's important to "learn about the disease. Understand that though it may not be curable, it is very much so treatable. And you can enhance your treat ment by doiug.those things you can do, eating correctly, and exercising." Having an open relation ship with your doctor is espe cially important, and James recommends people go in to see their doctors with an open mind, and be willing to work with them to take care of them selves. He also says that "develop ing a new lifestyle doesn't mean that you can't enjoy some of the ethnic things we always enjoy, but you will find that food tastes just as good without it." James says his faith is his motivation, and that he prays every time before he exercises, and that developing hobbies and making time for your family are just as impor tant to taking care of yourself. "Check your lifestyle and don't be afraid to change it" he says is the most important thing, "keep a positive attitude and realize that life is meant to be enjoyed and appreciated." Remember, eating a healthy diet, maintaining an active lifestyle and getting reg ular checkups with your doctor are the best ways to take care of your diabetes and enjoy an active lifestyle. For more information, check out the American Diabetes Association website at wwwdiabetesarg and the National Diabetes Education Program at wwwjtdepjiih.gov. Do you need further infor mation or have questions or comments about this article? Please call toll-free 1-877-530 1824. Or, for more information about the Maya Angelou - Center for Health Equity, please visit our website: http://www.wfubmc.edu/minori ty health. Photos by Layla Farmer Ground is officially broken on the renovation project. Apartments from pageAl complete with complemen tary washers and dryers for the new tenants. The exterior of the build ings and grounds will also be given a facelift. "I really hope it will improve the area as far as the quality of life for people who live in the units," remarked HAWS' Alisa Quick. "I think the upgrades are long overdue." The project is part of the Housing Authority's strate gic plan to revitalize a 1 30 acre area in the east side of town, in hopes of making it more appealing to retailers and developers. Woods said. "One of the roles of the Housing Authority, in my thinking, is to stimulate pri vate investment by using public dollars to come in first," he remarked. "Hopefully, we'll start changing the image of this area." Mayor Allen Joines was among those in attendance at the ceremony. Joines, a A rendering of the new design. champion of the city's many revitalization efforts, praised HAWS for taking the initia tive to begin breathing new life into the area. "I applaud the Housing Authority ... for rethinking this to make it more market friendly," he remarked. "It'll ... be a great asset for the community here." Constructed around 1971, the Tenth Street Apartments were remodeled in the early 1990's and named Johnson Square, in honor of then-community organizer Joycelyn Johnson prior to her election to City Council. "Housing has been a very strong passion of mine for a long time," she noted. "(This facility) has not had an major upfit, so it's time to do something." Johnson, now in the wan ing days of her term, was all smiles at the groundbreak ing. "The strong east wind is blowing again in our com munity," she declared, sur veying the audience. The new units will have an additional half bath, a trait that Johnson believes will make them more com fortable for tenants. The project is one of a handful of similar efforts that Johnson says she is helping to bring online. PhuUk by tjyti f'MKf Mayor Pro Tempore Vivian Hurke pres ents the proclam - lion to /4C'5i President Christine Jolly. AIDS from pane A 1 tant for me to be involved, helping, in the sense of being part of the solution," said the Puerto Rico native. While medications and treatment have improved vastly, people's attitudes about HIV/AIDS have not, Perez said. "I feel that the stigma (of the disease) is the biggest challenge that we're facing," he commented, "...sex is still a taboo (subject) in our American society." For much of the forum, participants broke into small er groups to talk about the challenges in the fight against HIV/AIDS. The need for awareness; integrating diverse groups in HIV pre vention; and fighting the stig ma of the disease were among the topics discussed during the sessions. One participant talked of the importance of instilling self-confidence in people liv ing with HIV/AIDS. "The 'blame game' is sometimes one of our worst enemies because we lay so much of the blame on our selves," said Laura Barnes during a session on erasing stigmas. "If you empower a patient and you move them from a victim status to some one who is taking control, you will get a better quality of life for them." Dr. Samuel Pegram, director of the Infectious Diseases Specialty Clinic at Trade Kochanny Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center, gave the keynote address, touting the advances in treatment and global efforts to prevent the spread of HI V/ A IDS. "This is what we tell all our patients," Pegram relat ed. "If you take your med ications, we can put your virus to sleep. If your virus is asleep, your immune sys tem is left alone." Pregnant women who are infected can now reduce their babies' chances of contract ing the disease below one percent, if they are treated before the baby is born, Pegram said. New drugs that have hit the markets in recent years have helped to slow the mortality rates of the disease as well, he added. Despite many medical advancements, the disease is still a serious problem, caus ing millions of deaths across the globe each year, Pegram said. Some groups, such as Dr. Samuel Pegram African Americans and MSMs (men who have sex with men), are at a greatly increased risk, he added. Mayor Pro Tempore Vivian Burke was on-hand at the start of the discussion to read a proclamation issued by Mayor Allen Joines pro claiming the city's support of World AIDS Day. ACS also launched its newest fundraising and awareness effort. "The 1500," on World AIDS Day. in honor of its 15th anniver sary. The organization's goal is to get 1500 people in the community to donate $15 by the culmination ceremony for its signature Dining with Friends events, slated for Feb. 27.2010. More than 20 people had contributed to the campaign by the end of the program. Learn more about ACS by going to www. aidscare service .org . BlucOoss IlliicShicIri of North (Carolina Your plan for better health Medicare Advantage Plans with prescription drug coverage offered by PARTNERS National Health Plans of North Carolina, Inc. Administered by the Most trusted health insurer in North Carolina Highest customer satisfaction1' 2 in North Carolina -| Rated best overall quality s in North Carolina monthly premium plan' Learn more! Attend an upcoming Medicare Advantage meeting. Annual Election Period ends December 31 HiMvDm.8, KHOOaun. Hampton Inn 1990 Hampton Inn Court Winston-Salem (Near Hanes Mall) Thurs., Dec. 10, 2:00 p.m. Hampton Inn 1990 Hampton Inn Court Winston-Salem (Near Hanes Mall) Tues., Dec. 15, 1(hOO a.m. Hawthorne Inn 420 High St. Winston-Salem (Take Exit 5C off Business 1-40) An authorized sales representative will be present with information and applications. There is no obligation to enroll. For accommodations for persons with special needs at sales meetings, call the number below. 1-800-328-9605, Monday-Sunday ; 8 a.m. -8 p.m. For the hearing impaired (TTY/TDD), call: 1-800-922-3140 Other products offered for Medicare beneficiaries include Blue Medicare Supplement " and Blue Medicare Rx (PDP) PARTNERS is a Medicare Advantage organization with a Medicare contract to provide HMO and PPO plans. Benefits, formulary, pharmacy, network premium and /or copayrpent/ coinsurance may change on January 1, 2011 Please contact BCBSNC for details. The benefit information provided herein is a brief summary, but not a comprehensive description of available benefits. Additional information about benefits is available to assist you in making a decision about your coverage. This is an advertisement; for more information contact the plan. 1) Available with select plans. 2) Catevo Brand Study, February 2008; survey of 800 North Carolinians. 3) Includes all BCBSNC business. 4) Frederick Polls, September 2008; survey of 634 North Carolinians, comparing four health insurers. S) Medicare Advantage HMO plans with prescription drug coverage, rated by the Medicare Options, compare Tool, 2009 Plans. Available at www.medicare.gov (Accessed July 2009). 6) Rate is for Blue Medicare HMO Standard plan, 2010. You must continue to pay your Part B premium if not otherwise paid for under Medicaid or another third party. 7) BCBSNC is a prescription drug plan sponsor with a Medicare contract. BCBSNC and PARTNERS are independent licensees of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association. U6608a, 8/09 MOOS3_4424, 9/6/09
Winston-Salem Chronicle (Winston-Salem, N.C.)
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