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http :/Afvww.thechariottepost. com ®;i)e Cljarlotte LIFE Section THURSDAY JULY 13, 2006 IN RELIGION Mega churches draw the ire of some black actiwsts. More states testing newborns THE ASSOCIATED PRESS WASHINGTON-States have nearly doubled the num ber of newborns being tested for a host of rare but devas tating genetic diseases—yet where you live still deter mines just how protected your baby wOl be, the March of Dimes reports. For almost two years, spe cialists have urged that every U.S. newborn be checked for 29 disorders, to detect the few thousand who will need early treatment to avoid serious, even life-threatening, prob- lems. The geographic disparity is gradually easing: As of June 1, a total of 31 states required testir^ for more than 20 of those disorders, says the new analysis. Five states—Iowa, Maryland, Mississippi, New Jersey and Wi^nia—as well as Washington, D.C., required testing every newborn for the entire list of 29 conditions- That’s up hum 23 states the previous year, and covered 64 percent of the nation’s babies, nearly double the number tested in 2005. Eight states—Arkansas, Kansas, Montana, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Tbxas and West Virginia—still were test ing for fewer than 10 of those 29 conditions, the analysis found. The remaining states fell in the middle, although at least one, Wyoming, was scheduled to begin more com prehensive testing this month. The March of Dimes report may confuse some consumers because it coimts only the 29 conditions deemed most important for screening, and many states tout that they test for more _ meanir^ they include "secondary” disorders not on the core list adopted by the March of Dimes and the American College of Medical Genetics. Well over 1 million babies born this year will fall short of good protection, concluded the child advocacy group, which has urged the federal govern ment to intervene and set a nationwide standard for new born screening. “There is a sense of urgency to this,” said March of Dimes president Dr. Jennifer Howse. “Delay equals death or a med ical catastrophe.” Federal health officials are reviewing the status of new born screening and are expected to report recommen dations to Health and Human Services Secretary Mike Leavitt within a few months, said spokesman BiL HaU. Ibday every U.S. newborn is tested for a few rare dis eases: hypothyroidism and the metabolic disease phenylketonuria, or PKU, that can cause retardation if not treated quickly, the blood disease sickle cell anemia; and galactosemia, a life- threatening dietary disorder. Most also are checked for hearing loss, because early intervention is key to prevent ing serious problems with speech and language develop ment. But new technology can analyze a sir^le drop of blood for dozens of other serious and occasionally life-threat ening genetic diseases. Just because a test esdsts doesn’t mean everyone needs it. So at the federal government’s request, the geneticists’ group in 2004 studied testing accu racy and the benefit of early diagnosis—and recommend- Please see MORE/3B #•0 Reaching beyond expectations PHOTO/WADE NASH Monica Simpson, co chair of the Chariotte Black Gay Pride, performs at the Actor’s Theatre of Chariotteto raise funds for the second annual Charlotte Black Gay Pride. This year’s theme is A Family Affair. By Cheris F. Hodges coeris./-iodge5®riecoor(o(feposf.ccw The second annual Charlotte Black Gay Pride weekend kicks off next week with less media attention but renewed excitement from event oiganizers. This year’s theme is “A Family Affair” and the event moves to Center City next Thursday with programs at Spirit Square and the Best Western Hotel. ‘Year one we were just drowned by media,” said Monica Simpson one of ' the event’s chairpersons. “We were brand new and everyone wanted to see if it was going to happen and what we had in the works and it was controversial. This year we’re not getting as much of the media exposure but it is easier to approach community organizations. People are so open because they have somethir^ to look at and something to compare it to.” Nicole Hoagland, a member of the board of dii'ectors, said there has been community support. Hoagland, who is white, said the weekend isn’t just for black gays, but every one in the community “It’s becoming evident why ffiere is a need for black gay pride,” Simpson said. ‘We’re sharing our cultxire with the larger community” Hoagland added: “It was bom out of a place because the Afiican American com munity couldn’t get what they needed fiom the larg er pride celebration. But this isn’t exclusively for the Afiican American com munity It’s for everybody I personally feel like other communities have a responsibility to partici pate in this.” The weekend wfil begin with a town hall meeting sponsored by the National Black Justice Coalition that will- discuss “Transgender \Tsibility and Gay Marriage” held at Actor’s Theatre of Charlotte. Simpson said there are see BLACK/3B Book explores S.C.’s Lowcountiy cuisine THE ASSOCIATED PRESS CHARLESTON, S.C. -The cuisine of this seaport city has long been a blend of international influences: French and Afiican, Caribbean and even Middle Eastern. Now comes a new book, part cook book and part history book, exploring another influence on the cuisine that has become known as Lowcountry cooking “The Boathouse,” subtitled “Tales and Recipes from a Southern Kitchen,” examines the culinary links between the South Carolina coast and the North Carolina highlands where Charlestonians have summered for almost two centuries to escape the oppressive heat. The Boathouse is also the name of three restaurants operated by Richard Stoney who wrote the book’s foreword and grew up in Charleston but spent the hottest months in the mountains. One restaurant is located on the Isle of Palms at Breach Inlet, one in down town Charleston and the third in Asheville, N.C. In the 1950s, before interstates, it often took two days to drive to the high lands, Stoney said. He recalls coming home with apples, preserves and other delights not readily available along the coast. “People going to the movmtains Please see BOOK/4B Whole hog: Lexington more than BBQ capital By Erica Singleton FOR THE CHARLOTTE POST Though you may have heard of them for their Eastern Carolina stjie bar becue, just an hour up 1-85, waits a day trip filled with •treats for all of your senses. The drive is short, but the opportunities are many in Lexington, North Carolina. Plan your trip how you like, but I began my day at the Childress 'WTnery Set off of 85 at the crossroads of Highways 52 and 64, the Childress Winery is the brainchild of NASCAR team owner Richard Childress and his business partner Greg Johns. Childress nur tured his vision fiom the days he first began racing in Cafifomia and went to wineries with his fiiends. For Childress, what began as a hobby became a passion and he was driven to build a winery in his home state. In Johns’ case, wine making is a family traditLoh, passed from, one Italian generation to another. Tbgefrier they have created the newest winery and tourist attrac tion in North Carolina’s growing wine industry As you turn in at the sign for the winery you pass through the lush greenery of the grapes used for creating many of the wines you will taste inside. The winery itself is a 35,000 square-foot Italian Renaissance-styled complex, completed in 2004 and is the largest winery in the state. Walk throi^h the beautifully carved dark wooden doors, into another world filled with soft light ing, foimtains, and a sense of calm. “The Childress TOnery rivals many of those in California wine coxmtry” explained Director of Marketing and PR, Kathleen Watson. Both the Italian and California influ ences compliment each other in creating an environment that is both appealing and immediately relaxing. Tbuis are offered daily at 12, 2, and 4, and are firee. My tom began in the Grand Foyer where the multi-tiered foun tain, fiunt and center, set the peaceful tone. Etched glass doors on either side lead to the tasting room and Gift Shoppe to 3ADm left and meeting and Banquet haU to yom ri^t. The Banquet Hall, that day was occupied with Senior Staff from Winston Salem State Univ^ity who chose the winery for their two-day staffretreat. “Weehosetodo om retreat here because of its’ proximity to the school and its beautiful settir^,” said Chancellor Harold Martin. The beautiful set tings begin in the Grand Lobby where you walk throu^ to the entrance for the Bistro. Designed like a Please see LEXINGTON/3B PHOTO/ERICA SINGLETON Pigs are a staple in Lexington, N.C.’s barbecue capital, even maintaining a presence at police headquarters. Tttt fte* toiER w ftaSwt tent* Diagnosis, treatment for HIV and AIDS Over the past decade, the death rate from HIV/AIDS has declined in general. However, it remains disproportionately high for certain racial groups, like Afiican Americans. More than 16,000 Afiican Americans were diagnosed with HIV in 2003. And the infection rate for women is highest in Afiican American women. A positive HIV test is scary news, but it does not have to be a death sentence. Many people live full and long lives after testing positive for HIV It is important for individuals who are HIV positive (or “living with mV/AIDS”) to know they are HIV positive because it gives them a chance to work with medical providers to slow or prevent some of the possible adverse health consequences associated with HIV/AIDS. Tlie earlier an individual knows of their HIV status, the sooner they can take actions to protect not only themselves, but their partners as well. HIV status can only be deter mined by having a blood test provided by a trained medical provider. Thie testing process as well as the results are confi dential and only shared with the person being tested. Most HIV testing sites provide coun seling to help people who test positive handle the news. These sites also provide refer rals to medical providers, social workers, and other support services. The real work, howev er, is up to the individual diag nosed with HIV/AIDS. Given the right attitude, the right information, and the right medical care and treatment, most people can live for a long time. Taking the necessary medications as prescribed and following instructions from one’s provider are key to longer svirvival with HIV/AIDS. HIV and the Immtme S3^tem As discussed in a previous article, HIV (Human Immunodeficiency \fiius) is the virus that causes AIDS (Acquired Immimodeficiency Syndrome). Being HIV-positive does not mean that an individ ual has AIDS, but it does mean tiiat the individual may devel op AIDS because HIV attacks the immime system, gradually impairing its functioning. The immune syst^n keeps tile human body healthy by recognizing and attacking for eign substances, like viruses or bacteria. Over time, if the immune system becomes seri ously damaged or weakened by HIV, the body loses its ability to fight certain infections and cancers. As you may recall, AIDS is the syndrome that arises when the immune sys tem can no longer fight off these invaders. It is the most serious outcome of HIV infec tion, occurring after one’s immune system has been sig nificantly damaged. This gradual destruction of the immune system does not happen the same way in every one, or -even at the same pace. In a small percentage of people, HIV destroys the immune sys tem very rapidly in just a few years. But others remain w^ for 10-15 years or longer. Working with a medical provider, most people remain Please see HIV/2B
The Charlotte Post (Charlotte, N.C.)
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July 13, 2006, edition 1
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