Indianapolis Recorder, Indianapolis, Marion County, 17 March 2000 — Page 26

FRIDAY, MARCH 17,2000 ■ PAGEC6

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Former Miss Virginia won’t let heart disease steal the show

Message Board Staff and wire reports Kindergarten enrollment period It’s not too early to begin thinking about the 2000-01 school year, particularly if you are the parent of a kindergartner. Applications are being accepted through April 21 for ten IPS full-day kindergarten programs, children must be five years old by June 1. Those with a birthday between June 2 and Sept. 1 may apply for a waiver to be eligible. Oiildren also must live within the boundary of the elementary school or region of the high school parents want their child to attend. Seats will be filled by lottery drawing, scheduled for May 10 in the Board Room of the John Morton-Finney Center for Educational Services. Applications are available at all IPS elementary and high schools. Full-day kindergarten sites are: • Arlington High School, 4825 N. Arlington Ave. • Arsenal Technical High School, 1500 E. Michigan St. • Broad Ripple High School Ul$ ; ^rwd Ripple Av* „ • fesisKMsw' Hi * h School, 2405 Madison Ave. • Northwest High School, 5525 W. 34 St. • Christian Park School 82,4700 English Ave. • Minnie Hartmann School 78, 3734 E. Vermont St. • James W. Riley School 43,150 W. 40 St. • Riverside School 44, 2033 Sugar Grove Ave. •Jonathan Jennings School 109, 6150 Gateway Dr. Hours are 7:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. at the high school sites; 9:15 a.m. to 3:40 p.m. at Schools 87,43 and 44; and 8:55 a.m. to 3:30 at Schools 78 and 109. Full day kindergarten applications must be returned by the close of business on April 21 to the Office of Student Assignment, 120E. Walnut St., Room 60ID. IPS also offers half-day kindergarten sessions at all elementary schools. To enroll your child, visit the elementary school of your choice or the Office of Student Assignment at the address above. For more information call (317) 226-4415. National Inhalants & Poisons Awareness Week The Governor’s Commission for a Drug-Free Indiana encourages Hoosiers to educate themselves as well as the children of our state about the dangers of inhalants. National Inhalants & Poisons Awareness Week is March 19-25. The National Inhalant Prevention Coalition (NIPC) and many other organizations across the country are teaming up to bring this message to the local level. One in five students in America has used an inhalant to get high by the time he or she reaches the eighth grade, according to NIPC. Most individuals are unaware of the dangers of these everyday poisons, such as paint or glue when they are inhaled of “huffed.” “Prevention through education is the best tool we have to increase awareness about the dangers of inhalants,” stated Jerry McCory, director of the Governor’s Commission for a Drug-Free Indiana. According to national surveys, inhaling dangerous products is beSm JADA, Page C5

By NAOMI AOKI The Virginian-Pilot NORFOLK, Va. (AP)— Thomanita“Nita” Booth was standing in a cafeteria line during the lunch rush at Hampton University when the world began to blur. She felt hot, dizzy, short of breath. The lady behind the counter was asking what she wanted to eat. The next thing she knew she was lying on the cafeteria floor looking up at a sea of strange faces staring down at her. She jokes now that she came to in the arms of a handsome basketball player. But at the time, she was mortified. She was a 17-year-old freshman, and she wanted to cry.

That day four years ago. Booth — a former tion.

“As an African American and a woman and someone with a history of heart disease in my family, I should have been more cautious of my lifestyle,” said Booth, 21. “I’m the No. 1 person

to be at risk for heart disease.”

But Booth was young and healthy. She danced every day as a teen-ager touring with the Disney Channel’s Mickey Mouse Club. She ran every day when she prepared for pageants. Even if she’d inherited her mother’s tendency for high blood pressure, she figured

she’d worry about it later.

So in the fall of 19%, when she had some chest pains, she ignored them. When they persisted for a few days, making her hot and dizzy and short of breath, she assumed it was indiges-

Mickey Mouse Club Mouseketeer, Miss Chesapeake and Miss Virginia — was diagnosed with an irregular heart rhythm known as atrial fibrillation. The condition is the nation’s most common chronic heart rhythm disorder, afflicting about 2 million Americans. And although it is not usually life-threatening, people with atrial fibrillation are six times more likely to have a stroke and twice as likely to die of heart dis-

ease.

Since being diagnosed. Booth has never spoken publicly about her heart condition. She is telling her story now because as a former Miss Virginia, and the only Black to ever hold the title, she realizes she is in a unique position to raise awareness about the disease. Nationwide, Black women have a 67 percent higher death rate from cardiovascular disease and a 71 percent higher death rate from stroke than white women, according to the

American Heart Association.

They are at such risk because of a prevalence of high blood pressure, high cholesterol,

obesity and physical inactivity Wontefr; I

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Then came the cafeteria incident, which landed her in the hospital. Doctors explained that blood was pooling and clotting in the small upper chambers of her heart because her heart was fluttering rather than beating normally. They gave her medication to thin her blood and slow her heart. They ran a litany of tests. And after four days, they sent her home with instructions to take her prescribed medication twice a day. Over the next year, she was hospitalized two more times, each time switching medica-

tions.

Since then, her attacks have been rare and

less severe.

When she feels her heart start to race, she

sits and rests. She has gone from five cups of coffee a day to two cups a month. She only indulges her chocolate cravings when she absolutely can’t resist. And she has learned to

listen to her body’s warning signals. “The show must go on — that’s the way I

ran my life,” Booth said. “But now, sometimes

I have to say the show must stop.” She put off competing in the Miss Virginia

heart condition under control. She wants to go to graduate school, but has decided to give herself a year’s rest after she graduates this spring. Booth’s idea of a “rest,” however, is still chock-full of activities. She has applied for jobs in broadcast journalism and the entertainment field. She’s trying to get a recording contract. She has plans to compete in Miss Virginia again with hopes of earning a place on the Miss America stage. She sings at local pageants, fund-raisers and community events. She talks to schoolchildren, encouraging them to follow their dreams. She volunteers with the American Cancer Society and child abuse prevention groups. And in her new role as a spokeswoman for the American Heart Association, she is also intent on raising awareness about heart disease. “I’m trying io get the word out, especially to African-American women because they are at such high risk for heart disease,” Booth said. “It’s the No. 1 killer. Stroke is No. 3 and the leading cause of disabilities. That’s from the American Heart Association.” It has taken Booth four years to share the message. And in those years, she saw her cousin die of a heart attack when he was only 31. She watched her mother struggle with high blood pressure. And she felt the pain her grandfather’s paralysis — the aftermath of three strokes — has caused the whole family. “I wish he had done what the doctors had told him to do and tried to control his blood pressure,” Booth said. “I like to say, ‘If you love your family and you love yourself, do what you’re supposed to do.’ It’s a lesson I’m trying to learn. And I don’t want to team it the hard way.”

among Black

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The Virginian-Pilot is published in Norfolk.

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Summertime...

and the livin ’ is easy Piaget gives a sneak preview of its new watch collections for Spring and Summer 2000. The new models listed below will launch in May and June in North America and the Carribean:

■ Men’s Emperador-inspired by a Piaget vintage watch from 1958 sums up it exceptional character—a watch at once imperial and imposing. For the SIHH 2000, Piaget has created this new model, the culmination of the brand’s rich heritage paying tribute to “manufacture” movements. Combining exquisite design and mechanical perfection, it is bound to appeal to devotees of haute horlogreie. The Piaget 551P selfwinding caliber has been specially developed for this watch. It represents an even more sophisticated version of the self-winding caliber 500P featuring two additional complications; the power-reserve display at 6 o’clock and small seconds at 10 o’clock. Other key technical features are its 21,600 vibrations per hour and 27 jewels. ■ Men’s Protocol XL-a larger dial for a Piaget classic, whether in 18 karat yellow or white gold, fitted with a leather strap comfortable gold bracelet. Protocole XL retains its strength and refinement in any form. With two versions to choose from— self-winding with guillochl dial, center seconds-hand and date window at 6 o’clock, and quartz with satin-brushed dial and date window-Protocol XL gives time a new dimension.

■ Miss Protocole Pav6-diamonds add glamour to this versatile newcomer. Piaget’s Miss Protocole watch, pavl with 1.85 carats of diamonds reflecting the light like a true star at the SIHH 2000. Inspired by the Protocole collection, Miss Protocole has all the distinguished “family: features: 18 karat yellow or white gold enhanced by a delicate vertical guillochl pattern and a rectangular shape. It is also endowed with its own character and image. Women recognize it and see themselves in Miss Protocole...the must-have accessory, the subtle, refined touch that completes an outfit.

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Men’s Emperador

Men’s Protocol XL collection

Miee Protocole Pav6

Reinforcing harsh stereotype of welfare mother There was a time when it was easy for me to get sucked up into the afternoon talk show lineup. For me, it was mindless entertainment. However, I figured it was not as bad as watching soap operas, so I was never too hard on myself for it. However, an episode of the “Ricki Lake Show” enraged me and made me stop watching for good. The show’s theme was about people trying to get something for nothing. It was divided into two segments: shoplifters and welfare recipients. What a wonderful combination; criminals and poor women trying to support their families? As soon as the guests were introduced it was quite clear where the host stood. The panel was disproportionately Black and Latina, which of course reinforced stereotypes of the typical welfare mother. Each “welfare mother” was accompanied by a disapproving relative. The relatives explained how disgusted they were by this lifestyle. To reinforce these feelings J^o additional guc^ were brought to the panel: a psychologist and a mother formerly on welfare. It was these two particular guests, the so-called “experts,” that I took exception to. The psychologist commended the women for wanting to stay at home with their children. But in the same breath, ostracized them for the harmful example they were setting for their children by staying at home (not working) and collecting welfare. The former welfare mom became the audience’s heroine for her tenacity, determination, and motivation. She bragged that despite having young children, she worked three jobs, and continues to do so, to keep from occupying the welfare rolls. She enjoyed her reception and seemed to take delight in ripping into the other women. She beamed with superiority because she had been able to do something they could not or would not do. The audience exploded with applause at every comment and question directed towards the women: “You need to get off of your lazy behind and do something! ... Why don’t you do something with your life? ... We’re tired of supporting you! ... What kind of example are you setting for your kids?” Messages supposedly favoring mothers setting proper examples for their children were. actually laced with classist, racist, and sexist undertones. They were nothing more than conservative welfare reformation rallying cries and psychobabble child-rearing advice. Millions of Americans work more than one job out of pure economic necessity. However, it is unclear as to how a mother working three jobs, who obviously has very little time to spend with her children, reigns superior to one who receives welfare and stays home with hers. In the fever of welfare reform, are we saying that it is more important that a woman is working no matter how many lowwage jobs she has to juggle and at a considerable expense to her family? In Michigan, one of many pioneering “welfare to work” states, women receiving assistance are Sm LIFE, Pag« CS