Page 8 Mrs. Perry's Free Press .hine 9-15.*^, 2fl Jacksonville Omegas Hosts Celebrity Weekend Focusing on Men's Health Omega Psi Phi Fraternity will host its 4th Annual Celebrity Week- end with activities to include a Wel- come Reception, June 10, 2005; Lee Elder Golf Tournament and Net- working Dance, featuring a special tribute to golf legend Calvin Peete, June 11, 2005. The programs will help the Fraternity to support nu- merous health initiatives that com- bat colon & prostate cancer, diabe- tes, HIV AIDS, Hypertension, Sickle Cell and Erectile Dysfunc- tion. The event will bring over 500 executive level participants to in- clude members of the Fraternity, civic and government officials, and corporate executives. 2004 festivi- ties were graced with the presence of golfing legend Lee Elder and NFL Football greats Warren Moon, James Harris, Doug Williams, Mar- lin Briscoe, Larry Little, and Eddie Robinson. The Welcome Reception and Net- work Dance will be held at the Hyatt Regency Hotel, 225 Coast Line Drive and the golf tournament will be held at Mill Cove Golf Course. Free health screenings will be held Friday, June 10, 2005 from 12:00 p.m. until 5:00 p.m. at the Hyatt Regency and Saturday, June 1, 2005 from 12:00 p.m. until 4:00 p.m. at Mill Cove Golf Course. For more information contact Bursey Armstrong at (904) 525- 2298 and golf participants should contact T.C. Newman Mill Cove Golf Club at (904) 646-4653. Churches, Organizations Urged to Take Advantage of Free Materials for Black Diabetes Epidemic African Americans Given the critical role the are affected church plays in the African dispropor- American community, the tionately by 1 .' Association works closely diabetes and with churches nationwide its complica- to promote diabetes educa- tions. Almost tion and awareness. Afri- 3 million Afri- can American churches can Americans have always served as the have diabetes life-center of the com- and are twice as munity, providing ser- likely as non- 'vices that nourish the Hispanic whites L mind, body and soul. to have diabetes. ;. Diabetes Day There is much .Church pastors across you can do to de- the country spread the lay, prevent, and/ gospel of prevention or manage this --through Diabetes Day. The goals of disease. Diabetes Day are simple: The American Diabetes Associa- Increase awareness' about the seri- tion is committed to improving the ousness of diabetes lives of African Americans with Increase awareness of risk factors diabetes and their families. The Af- Inform church members about the rican American Initiative is the As- resources available through the sociation's targeted approach to in- American Diabetes Association crease awareness of the seriousness At a Diabetes Day, the pastor or a of diabetes and the importance of designated appointee shares infor- making healthy .lifestyle choices mation with the congregation about such as moving more and eating the seriousness of diabetes during healthier, the service. Out of respect for the The Association offers a variety religious service, the presentation is of community-based efforts, printed very brief (approximately 5 min- materials, videos, and publications utes). All congregation members including topics on soul food cook- receive diabetes information. Those ing getting fit, diabetes 101, and at risk for developing the disease are much more. encouraged to get checked for dia- betes at their next health care visit. Congregation members are en- couraged to call the American Dia- betes Association at 1-800- DIABETES (1-800-342-2383) for more information if they or some- one they love has, or is at risk for developing diabetes. Project POWER The American Diabetes Associa-' tion offers a variety of follow-up activities for churches interested in year-round, diabetes awareness pro- grams such as Project POWER. Project POWER is the Association's program strategy tar- geting the African American com- munity through the churches. This program was developed to provide churches with a foundation to assist with integrating diabetes awareness messages and healthy living tips into the life of the family and church. These lessons can improve the health of those church members living with diabetes, their families and even the community. Project POWER is intended to encourage churches to stay on the battlefield against diabetes, January through December. Project POWER is only available in select markets. To find out what opportunities are available in your area, call 1-888- DIABETES (1-888-342-2383). By S.B. Morris This parent cared, nurtured and fed you as a baby, disciplined you as a teen-ager and financed your college education. Now, you're an adult caretaker for your ailing parent, and the parent-child relationship seems reversed. With juggling career, fam- ily, finances and the care of this needy parent, you're simply over- whelmed. You don't plan the abuse or the neglect. But, you find that it's happening in your home.... As more and more families take on the responsibility of caring for elder loved ones, the incidence of elder abuse is on the rise, according to the Administration on Aging (AOA). Each year hundreds of older persons are abused, neglected and exploited (financially,, emotionally and physi- cally) by family members and others. Camp Florida Friendly Gardening Class The Jacksonville community is invited to participate in Camp Florida Friendly. Six sessions of in-depth gardening information offered for adults. Sessions start at 9:30 am and end at 2:30 pm, with a working lunch including hands-on activities. Participants bring their own lunch. Dates and topics are: Tuesday, June 28 -Basic Plant Science, Plant Propagation; Thursday, June 30 Soils, Fertilizers, All About Lawns; Tuesday, July 5 Nematodes, Pathology, Entomology, IPM; Thursday, July 7 Wildlife, Landscape Design, Color & Irrigation; Tuesday, July 12 Trees, Fruit Trees, Citrus and Thursday, July 14 Vegetables, Mulch, Compost, Natives, Invasives. You can attend daily sessions by paying $5 each at the door. Pre- registration is required. For more information call 387-8850. Law Office of: Reese Marshall, P.A. Accidents Worker's Compensation Personal Injury Wrongful'Death Probate Wills and Estates 214 East Ashley Street Jacksonville, Florida 32202 904-354-8429 Over 30 years experience of professional and courteous service to clients The 1998 National Elder.Abuse Study funded by AOA reported that adult children comprised the largest category of perpetrators (47.3 per- cent), spouses were second with (19.3 percent), followed by other relatives (8.8 percent) and grandchil- dren (8.6 percent), who trailed third and fourth respectively. Furthermore,. this problem is happening across color, class and religious lines, re- ports AOA. If you're disrespecting and abusing an elder, get help for yourself and your elderly loved one. Visit www.elderabusecenter.ore for more information. *Hypertension * Elevated cholesterol *Obesity and Weight Manage- ment *Childcare and Immunizations Free Area Arthritis Self Help Course Now Offered Beginning this week, the Ar- thritis Foundation, in conjunction with the Duval County Health Department, will sponsor a free six-week arthritis self-help course to take place at three locations. Locations for the courses in- clude: Heartland Rehabilitation Northside, Mt. Sinai Baptist Church and Riverside Presbyte- rian. Times and dates are as fol- lows: June 8th July 13th: Heartland Rehabilitation, 1215 Dunn Ave- nue Course meets Wednesday's, 6:00 8:00 p.m. June 6" July 18t: Mt. Sinai Baptist Church, 2036 Silver Street. Course meets Monday's, 6:00 8:00 p.m. (Participants may join the. course on June 13th) June 8th July 13th: Riverside Presbyterian, 2020 Park Street. Course meets Wednesday's, 6:00 - 8:00 p.m. Participants may join the course at any time. The Arthritis Self Help Course encourages self care, team work and understanding the pain cycle. During the course, participants will discuss methods to overcome pain and implement a plan of ac- tion. The Arthritis Self-Help Course is ideal for persons with arthritis who would like to begin an exercise and nutrition program. This course is free 'and open to the general public. For additional information and to pre-register, please call Regina Ballard at (904) 353.5770. Participants may also pre-register via email at RBallard@arthritis.org. , I Most of the time, hairballs.are not a life-threatening problem, but they can develop into a nagging ailment and they may hide a much more serious medical condition, says Dr. John August, a feline specialist at Texas A&M University's College of Veterinary Medicine and Bio- medical Sciences. Hairballs occur frequently in cats because of the way the animals grodm themselves, August says. And with more than 60 million cats out there, there is the potential for a lot of hairballs. Cats have been grooming themselves for thousands of years. But a cat that has a thick coat, such as Persians and other breeds, may collect a lot of matted hair on its tongue, and when that hair is swallowed, it can clog up the digestive .tract. That's when trouble can start. "These balls of hair. can irritate Reginald L. Sykes, Sr. M.D.P.A. FAMILY PRACTICE (3 .-n, L J7 E~ fI ^:C Dr. Reginald Sykes welcomes Dr. Tonya Hollinger to the practice. *Diabetes *Preventive Care *Women's Health *Impotence and Erectile Dys- function We invite you to select us as your Provider of Choice. NOW ACCEPTING WE ACCEPT ALL NEW PATIENTS MAJOR HEALTH PLANS TO SCHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT CALL 768-8222 3160 Edgewood Avenue Jacksonville, Florida 32209 OFFICE HOURS 8 a.m. 5 p.m. M T TH F 2-5 W The Beaches Fine Arts Series (BFAS) 19th Annual Fundraiser Triathlons. Triathlon volunteers direct traffic to assure the safety of the competitors or assist with set up, registration, water/food distribu- tion, race riming, takedown and more. Minimum age: 13. If accompa- nied by an adult: 10. Motorcyclists are also wanted to drive the offi- cials during the run. Saturday: June I and July 9". Contact: The Triathlon # at 270-1771 or Scott Snyder, 613-7996 Teach an Adult How to Read and Help Make Jacksonville the City that Reads! Tutor Certificate received following the attendance to Class I -June I I' from 9:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. and Class 2 -June 18'h from 9:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Continental breakfast is provided. Minimum age: 18. Contact: Learn to Read. Lesley Ramse) 399- 8894x10. Men Against Violence Against Women Annual Softball Tour- nament. Assist % ith this event at Drew% Park and raise awareness of its cause. Throw balls, sell T-shirts. and much more. 4 and 6 hour shifts are available. All ages welcome. Friday evening: June 18th - all day Saturday June 19". Contact: Laine Reinecke-Clavton 354- 0076 <209 "Welcome Baby Bagging Event" Join First Coast Family Center in filling 5.000 tote bags filled with donated items for families with newborns. You are wanted to help fill, stack and put bags onto trucks for delivery on Saturday, June 19"' or Sunday. June 20th or both! Con- tact: Carol Waters,.272-5040 Braille Writers Wanted. Help Visual Aide Volunteers of Florida us produce books for the blind. Training classes will be held Thurs- days from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 from September May at Temple Aha- vath Chesed on San Jose Blvd. The Braille computer program will be provided to volunteers to enable them to work from home. Contact: Lynnette Taylor 287-1275 ADA accessible. Minimum age 18. Clothing Assistant. Help provide clothing to families in need. Sort and display donated clothing, fill orders of agencies, mend minor tears of new clothing and assist with mailings for special events. Vol- unteers should wear comfortable clothing and no open toed shores. Minimum age: 11; unless accompanied bN an adult. Contact Dignity U Wear. Peggy McDonald 636-9455 Grant Application Writer and Marketing Assistant. Work with the new\ Director of Development and type grant applications or be a part of the team that composes marketing materials either at home or at the office. No experience necessary. Contact Dignity U Wear. Peggy McDonald 636-9455. Above are just a sample of volunteer opportunities available through Volunteer Jacksonville. For more information call 398- 7777 or you can immediately view additional opportunities by visit- ing our website www.volunteeriacksonville.ore and clicking on Vol- unteer Gateway. Pe Crier Dealing with Hairballs the stomach lining and can inter- contain extra fiber can be ob- '"fere ';'ith digesti'" funtrions,:tld"itained from a veterinariakiL.-Ttfrom the most common response of the pet stores and these diets will often animal is to vomit up the hairball," greatly reduce the severity of hair- SAugust explains. balls, August says, "If the condition continues, an Laxatives can be prescribed, obstruction can form in the diges- but "most of us think there are bet- tive tract and the cat will either ter ways to deal with hairballs than show a significant weight loss or at laxatives," August says. You Sthe least, a loss of appetite." should never give your cat a laxa- August says there are signs to tive intended for human use, he watch for if your cat suddenly de- stresses. velopsan unusual amount of hair- The calendar can also play a big balls. role with hairballs. First, if the cat is grooming itself During spring and summer, cats excessively, it may because of al- tend to shed their hair more often: lergies or skin parasites. Also, In addition, fleas become a prob- behavioral problems can cause a lem and allergic reactions to them cat to groom itself constantly, Au- can mean rhore excessive groom- gust adds. ing. The best prevention? "A good Bathing your cat frequently to brushing at least once a day will prevent hairballs is not recom-i usually do the trick," August be- mended. lives. "You will see a lot of ex- "Only if the animal has a skin cessive hair when you brush the cat condition is bathing recom- thoroughly, and that hair on your mended," August says. "Usually, a brush is hair that the cat probably good brushing daily will help re- would have swallowed." duce or eliminate hairballs. Your Special diets usually ones that cat will certainly appreciate it." Simmons and loyner Pediatrics Charles E. Simmons, III, M.D. ,James A. Joyner, IV, M.D. .. --- Specializing in the Diseases of Infants, Children Through Adolescence P.H.E.O. Medical Center, Suite 1 1771 Edgewood Avenue, West Jacksonville, FL 32208 (904) 766-1106 Office Hours By Appointment Elderly Abuse Rates Up WE PROVIDE TREATMENT FOR: SPage 8 Mrs. Perry's Free Press June 9-15 2005