Health & Wellness Healthbeat Inaugural Triad Vision Walk set for Nov. 6 The Foundation Fighting Blindness (www.HghtBlindness.org) will host its Inaugural 5K VisionWalk in the Triad on Saturday. Nov. 6 at Triad P?rk. Registration begins at 10 a m and the Walk will start at II a.m. The event will raise money for the research that will lead to cures tor retinal degenerative diseases, including retinitis pigmentosa, macular degeneration. Usher syndrome, Stargardt disease, and numerous others. These diseases affect more than 10 million Americans of all races and ethnic groups, young and old. "It's heartbreaking to sec children and adults alike VisionWalk A CURE IS IN SIGHT suffer from dis eases that are causing blind ness," says Tom Serrin, Walk Chair. "The Foundation Fighting Blindness is fund ing key research around the world that is leading to very promising treatments and euro lor retinal degen erative diseases. VisionWalk is an important event that will move us one step closer to a cure." More than 300 members of the community are expected to participate in this year's Walk. Sponsors include Winston-Salem Industries tor the Blind. Green Ford, and DH Griffin Wrecking Company for their support The Walk Chairman is Tom Serrin. Foundation Fighting Blindness National Board Member Marilyn Green has also provided leadership and dedication. The entire family is inv ited to join in on the fun and excitement dogs are welcome as well! There will be various activities for children, including a bounce house, and plenty of snacks and refreshments, a creative t -shirt contest, and much more. To participate in the Inaugural Triad VisionWalk, or to leam more about supporting local or national VisionWalk events or the Foundation Fighting Blindness, visit www.VisionWalk.otg or call Katie Van Benschoten. Fvents Manager at 877-396-0049. MHA to hold annual meeting and awards dinner The Annual Meeting & Awards Dinner of The Mental Health Association in Forsyth Countv will be held on Wednesday, Oct. 27 at 6 p.m. in the Auditorium at the Centenary United Methodist Church, 646 W. Fifth St The Annual Meeting not only highlights the accomplishments of The Mental Health Association in Forsyth Countv but also honors the hard work of community citizens through the presentation of awards. Guest Speakers will be Mina J. Cook and IJenise Mannon.They will discuss the "Reclaiming Futures" program and how the program is helping teens who are involved with alcohol, drugs and crime "reclaim their futures " The cost to attend is $20 per person, which includes a full dinner (entree, vegetables, starch, salad, dessert) prepared by Centenary Chef Suzan Smith and her staff. For more information, call 336-768-3X80. Sugary drink ban considered for food stamp recipients NEW YORK (API - Using food stamps to buy sodas, teas, sports drinks and other sugar-sweetened beverages would not be allowed in New York City under a new government effort to battle obesity. . Mayor Michael Bloomberg and Gov. Dfcvid rwerson announced Thursday that they are seek ing permission from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, which adminis ters the nation's food stamp program, to add sugars drinks to the list of prohibit ed goods for city resid&ts receiving assistance If approved, it would be the first time an item would be banned from the federal program based solely on nutritional value. Patermn Spending government money on "foods of little or no nutritional value not only contradicts the intent of the program, it also effectively subsidizes a serious public health epidemic," New York officials wrote in their proposal The idea has been suggested before, including in 2008 in Maine, where it drew criticism from advo cates for the poor who argued it unfairly singled out low-income people and risked scaring off potential needy recipients In 2004, the USDA rejected Minnesota's plan to ban junk food, including soda and candy, from food stamp purchases, saving it would violate the Food Stamp Act's definition of what is food and could cre ate "confusion and embarrassment" at the register. New York Cit> Health Commissioner Thomas Farley said he believes New York's request has a bet ter chance of being approved than the "skimpy" 2004 Minnesota program because it focuses oni) on bever ages He said it also has the advantage of being a tern porarv program with an evaluation plan to studv it <> effectiveness USDA spokesman Aaron Lav allec said the agency received the proposal and will consider it How Do I Get Health Insurance If I've Lost My Job? jkt Ptoo!U \ Ciituc: A Sorth Carolina Minority Health F duration ( The Via* a AngHou Center lor Health Equity www. wfubmi edu math* Waki: forest v HI VI r s i r v Si KOMlifMtOK IMJ With the downturn in the economy in recent years, many people have lost their jobs and often, this means losing their health insurance as well. However, there are options for health insurance coverage in this situation. Let's talk about some of these options and how you can access them. COBRA Coverage The COBRA (Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act) means that displaced workers are provid ed the right to continue cover age under their employers' group plans after they change or lose jobs. COBRA coverage can continue for 18 months, but in order to take advantage of it, you must do so within 60 days of losing your job. COBRA will be more expen sive than your health insurance was when you were on the job. because you will be paying out ? it pocket, versus your employ* er paying your premium It is important to know that some employers with other health plans may not be required to provide COBRA continuation coverage, so you should check with your employer to see if this is the case. It is also important to know that COBRA is not always avail able for workers of companies that go out of business When a company shuts its doors and also terminates its health insurance plan, usually there is no COBRA coverage avail-, able Catastrophic Health Insurance This type of health insur ance is designed to cover emergency medical expenses The regular cost is low but the deductibles can be high These plans do not cover routine doc tor's visits, maternity care or mental health care. The way to think about this type of insur ance is that it is coverage for the worst case scenario, so that any other assets you have do not get w iped out in the case ol a serious medical emergency Persons with pre-existing con ditions such as heart disease or diabetes are generally not eli gible for this type. of coverage Sec Insurance >n A9 UNCS A Chocolate Festival to raise funds to fight breast cancer CHRONICLE STAFF REPORT The University of North Carolina School of the Arts will once again join the fight against breast cancer. The school's Fifth Annual Chocolate Festival to benefit the North Carolina Triad Affiliate of Susan susan c. Komen --cure. G. Komen for ihe Cure will be held on Wednesday. Oct. 20 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. The festival will take place in Eisenberg Social Hall, which is on the lower level of the Hanes Student Commons on the UNCSA campus. 1533 South Main St. Tickets are S10 and $7 for col lege students with a valid ID. Raffle tickets are SI . Each entry ticket will allow your choice of six chocolate items, which have been donated by local vendors. All proceeds will be donated to Susan G. Komen for the Cure. Last year, the festival raised more than $2,200 for breast cancer aware nesv l .nl 5 A students nave been key volunteers tor the project by helping to solicit donations, sell tickets, plan, decorate, set up and break down the event. Tickets may be purchased at the door. Cash, checks and credit cards will be accepted the day of the event. Advance tickets may be purchased from 1 1 a.m. to 1 p.m. Monday-Friday in Room 334. the College Life Office, in the Hanes Student Commons. NCAJkTPW From left: Adrian Ambrose stands with Shauna Adams, Jasmine Hrooks and Matthew Stanco. Best of The Best Students recognized for research projects SPI C'lAI TO THl CHRONICLE Research on topics ranging from arthritis to ultrasonic vibration has won recognition for four undergraduates at North Carolina A&T State University. The students were honored on Sept 22 at the university's first campus-wide Undergraduate Research Symposium, which was created to give A&T undergraduates an opportunity to gain experience in giving scholarly presenta tions and producing research posters Twenty -nine students par ticipated. representing the College of Arts and Sciences. School of Agriculture and Environmental - Sciences. School of Business and Economics. College of Engineering and School of Education. Shauna Adams received the Best Presentation Award for "Longitudinal Heat Transport as a Method for the Determination of Thermal Conductivity " Adams is a sen ior from Hampton. Ya . major ing in mechanical engineering Her advisor is Dr John Ki/ito. Matthew Stanco was named runner-up for "Measurement of Ultrasonic Vibration Using Ultra-High Frequency CCD Laser." Stanco is a senior from High Point, majoring in industrial engineering. His advisor is Dr Zhichao Li Adrian Ambrose received the Best Poster Award for "The Effects of Age on the Progression of Osteoarthritis and the Gene Expression in Mice." Ambrose is a junior biology major from Roanoke. \'a His advisor is Dr. Greg Goins. Jasmine Brooks was the poster category runner-up for "Evaluation of Select Plant Essential Oils as Potential Antimicrobials." Brooks is a senior from Knightdale. major ing in food science. Her advi sor is Dr Ipek Goktepe Wake Forest Medical Alumni Association honors three SPECIAL TO THE CHRONICLE Louis C. Argenta. M.D.. William T. Carpenter, M.D.. and Caryl J Guth. M D have been recognized with awards from the Medical Alumni Association (MAAl of the Wake Forest Uni\ersitv School of Medicine. The MAA honored Argenta with its Distinguished Faculty Award: Carpenter with its Distinguished Achievement Award; and Guth with its Distinguished Service Award during a ceremonv on Sept 30. Argenta. a resident of W inston IS a I e m . joined Wake Forest I University Baptist Medical Center in 1988. as the founding chairman of t h e Department \rgenta of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery I nder his guidance, the department has become recognized as one of America's best Techniques that he helped develop are now used around the world for breast, facial, scalp and other reconstructive surger ies In 1989. he co-invented Vacuum Assisted Closure (VAC> to treat difficult wounds and burns, which has been used on more than three million people and is esti mated to ha\e prevented 2(H) .(MX) amputations He and his family also traditionally have devoted a month a year to providing medical care to children in the Third World Carpenter, a 1962 gradu ate of the School of Medicine and a resident of Columbia. Md.. is professor of Psychiatry and Pharmacology at the University of Maryland School of Medicine, where he has directed the Maryland Psychiatric Research Center since 1977. He has worked on schizophrenia and psychi atric research projects with the World Health Organization and National Institute of Mental Health, and has been honored for research achievements with awards from leading national and international organiza tions He is listed as one of the world's most cited Set Honors . >n A*