Section: LIF

Doctors, patients bemoan breast cancer guidelines

unknown@hometownannapolis.com (Unknown) — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 00:00:00

A clinical breast exam helped pinpoint Kelly Lange's breast cancer 14 years ago, and self exams helped her notice recurrences later.

So the Annapolis woman was particularly concerned when the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force came out with report this week that called both clinical breast exams and self breast exams ineffective.

The panel, which issues advisories to the U.S. Health and Human Services, suggested that there is...

Longtime philanthropist Linda Greenberg moving to Florida

unknown@hometownannapolis.com (Unknown) — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 00:00:00

Everyone involved in homeless services knows Linda Greenberg, a petite, energetic woman who founded a Christmas drive for the homeless and ran Thanksgiving dinners at Camp Letts for years.

But those who know her best tell of a dedicated mother, sister and wife who saw the good - and need - in everyone.

"I believe her love and devotion to family is probably foremost, and she'll tell you that comes before anything," said Elle...

Boys, girls take their best shots in Navy hockey

unknown@hometownannapolis.com (Unknown) — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 00:00:00

Here is a cold, hard fact: Skating fast is a lot of fun.

"It feels like I'm blasting through the air!" proclaimed 7-year-old Owen Taylor of Annapolis after his hockey team finished practice last week.

"I love the speed," said Ellen Heuer, 14, of Annapolis, during a practice with her team. "Swimming is almost as good, but not quite. You don't go as fast."

In the Navy Youth Hockey Association, th...

Family Digest

unknown@hometownannapolis.com (Unknown) — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 00:00:00

Home safety

Even if you think your home is safe for a toddler, it might not be safe enough.

In a recent poll, the Home Safety Council found that while many parents have taken steps to make their homes childproof, most have neglected some tasks that would protect children from common home injuries.

Specifically, the council found that only 21 percent had installed toilet-seat latches in at least one bathroom to prevent drow...

New mammogram advice raises questions, concerns

unknown@hometownannapolis.com (Unknown) — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 00:00:00

NEW YORK (AP) — For many women, getting a mammogram is already one of life's more stressful experiences. Now, women in their 40s have the added anxiety of trying to figure out if they should even be getting one at all.

A government task force said Monday that most women don't need mammograms in their 40s and should get one every two years starting at 50 — a stunning reversal and a break with the American Cancer Society's...

My Time: Junior League sponsors book bag project

unknown@hometownannapolis.com (Unknown) — Sun, 15 Nov 2009 00:00:00

Junior League of Annapolis' 16th annual Book Bag Project donated 1,000 book bags filled with school supplies to Anne Arundel County Public Schools.

These book bags, designated for children enrolled in the free and reduced lunch program in Anne Arundel County, were delivered at the end of August, just in time for the new school year.

This year's project benefited children at Brock Bridge Elementary, Freetown Elementary, Georgetown...

My Time: Wellness House of Annapolis grand opening fundraiser

unknown@hometownannapolis.com (Unknown) — Sun, 15 Nov 2009 00:00:00

The Wellness House of Annapolis celebrated its grand opening with a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Aug. 29 at its new location at Mas Que Farm in Annapolis.

More than 170 people attended, generating more than $35,000 to assist the facility to help cancer patients, and their loved ones, recover their health and well-being through participation in free professional programs offering support, education and hope in a "home-like" env...

Couple wins $10K Crate & Barrel shopping spree

unknown@hometownannapolis.com (Unknown) — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 00:00:00

Suddenly, Steve and Andrea Horning are on a lucky streak.

Within the past few weeks, the Annapolis couple won a gift certificate to a downtown pub, tickets to next weekend's Virginia Tech football game, and to top it off, theirs was the winning entry for a $10,000 shopping spree at the new Crate & Barrel store at Westfield Annapolis mall.

The contest was one of several special events held to celebrate the store's opening Sept...

Smoking still deadly, costly

unknown@hometownannapolis.com (Unknown) — Sun, 15 Nov 2009 00:00:00

A new report lauds Maryland for the steps it takes to help smokers quit, but finds that more needs to be done here and nationwide.

The American Lung Association last week released its annual evaluation of each state's smoking-cessation efforts and, for the second year in a row, found Maryland falling short in some areas.

The organization is pushing for a national prevention and wellness strategy that will help smokers quit and...

Achieving Happiness: College student struggles with adolescent angst

unknown@hometownannapolis.com (Unknown) — Sun, 15 Nov 2009 00:00:00

Ted is struggling in college. Not particularly unusual until you learn that he was at the top of his class in high school. His parents are perplexed about how he could go from getting A's in high school to being on academic probation in college. They're also angry that he's wasting their money and frustrated that they can't find a way to turn around his poor performance.

Launching into adulthood is a challenge - for youn...

Covering the Bases: Understanding the options if you're new to Medicare

unknown@hometownannapolis.com (Unknown) — Sun, 15 Nov 2009 00:00:00

Q: I am new to Medicare. I have my Medicare Part A and Part B. I elected a Medigap plan to complement my Medicare A and B. However, I am not on any medicines and so do not see the advantage for enrolling in Medicare Part D. What are the advantages of having Part D?

A: Insurance is a contradiction. You pay good money for something you hope you never need. We pay homeowner's insurance and hope we neve...

A runner's strength

unknown@hometownannapolis.com (Unknown) — Sun, 15 Nov 2009 00:00:00

There's nothing like accomplishing a long anticipated goal. Whether it was weeks of training for your first 5K or months of training for a marathon or triathlon this fall you may have noticed changes not only physically, but also mentally.

If you were training for a marathon you may have woken up each morning with a set workout that progressed each week. Perhaps, you looked forward to long social runs with friends, and I bet your ea...

Novelist pens work on dating, relationships after 60

unknown@hometownannapolis.com (Unknown) — Sun, 15 Nov 2009 00:00:00

They march for peace. They march for politics. But 73-year-old novelist Barbara Rose Brooker believes that American women must also march for freedom from age discrimination.

"We should wear our numbers around our necks in protest of ageism in the U.S.," says Brooker, a San Francisco journalist and author of "The Viagra Diaries," a new novel about sex and love after 60. "After 60 is a time to go forward, but all...

Cats are trainable - and that's not a punch line

unknown@hometownannapolis.com (Unknown) — Sun, 15 Nov 2009 00:00:00

People have low expectations of cats.

Sam Connelly tells of the time that she and her cat, Storm, observed a Canine Good Citizen test while they were waiting for their feline agility class to start.

"I'm watching the dogs and I commented to the evaluator, 'My cat can do all that,' " Connelly said. "At the end she said, 'Want to take a shot?' like it was a big joke."

To the evaluator...

Roommates for the recession

unknown@hometownannapolis.com (Unknown) — Sun, 15 Nov 2009 00:00:00

Last year, Lori Gordon lost half her nest egg but gained a new friend about half her age. That would be Brooke Thalacker, the teacher and aspiring school counselor who now rents part of Gordon's home.

"I just love her," Gordon said. The two women - and their two dogs - bonded quickly after Thalacker moved in last December. Both have busy independent lives, but they still find time to share one or two meals a week, plus occ...

Project shares history of black watermen

unknown@hometownannapolis.com (Unknown) — Sat, 14 Nov 2009 00:00:00

Stitch by stitch, many hands are joining to tell the untold stories of the black men who have worked the waters of the Chesapeake Bay.

Joan Gaither, an artist and college professor who created a community storytelling quilt focused on President Barack Obama, is back with another quilt and a new mission: to share the history of the bay's black watermen.

"These are new stories I'm learning myself," Gaither said as she ove...

'Meet the Authors' event tomorrow helps assist needy St. John's students

unknown@hometownannapolis.com (Unknown) — Sat, 14 Nov 2009 00:00:00

If you need a good reason to turn off the football game and attend the annual "Meet the Authors" book signing and reception at St. John's College tomorrow afternoon, just think about Brooke Meyer.

The event, which will feature novelist Alice McDermott, retired Naval Academy historian Craig Symonds and PBS journalist Gwen Ifill, is a fundraiser to help St. John's Caritas Society, which in turn helps students who encounter fina...

Food allergies saddle local boy's lifestyle

unknown@hometownannapolis.com (Unknown) — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 00:00:00

Connor Klick misses corn dogs, but he'll settle for Pop-Tarts, applesauce and fruit snacks as replacements.

It's for the best, since he was diagnosed with a rare food allergy three years ago. Now the 5-year-old has to scale back his favorites to a few specialized foods that his mother prepares.

Shopping trips are difficult, too, since doctors have identified at least 10 foods that make him ill. That list could grow, or it could d...

Experts: Placebo power behind many natural cures

unknown@hometownannapolis.com (Unknown) — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 00:00:00

EDITOR'S NOTE: Ten years and $2.5 billion in research have found no cures from alternative medicine. Yet these mostly unproven treatments are now mainstream and used by more than a third of all Americans. This is one in an occasional Associated Press series on their use and potential risks. People looking for natural cures will be happy to know there is one. Two words explain how it works: "I believe."

It's the placebo effect ...