Lecturer's Update

State Lecturer

Sharon Kimmel
State Lecturer
1036 Lindenhurst Road
Yardley, PA 19067
(215) 968-3348
(215) 860-6162
cell: (215) 801-6843

Greetings from Yardley!
Well, I have to say that Mom and I just returned home from a very interesting Grange meeting. (It is 11:15 PM “do you know where your children are?”) Our Worthy Lecturer, Mrs. Eleanor Atkinson, had a wonderful and very informative program this evening. She invited 2 Newtown Township police officers (“or was that Northampton Township”-inside joke) who are in charge of the D.A.R.E. program (Drug Abuse Resistance Education) and travel to schools grades K-12 to provide an educational program in the classroom to prevent or reduce drug abuse, violence and gang involvement among children and youth.
The D.A.R.E. program offers preventive strategies to enhance those protective factors-especially bonding to the family, school and community-which appear to foster the development of resiliency in young people who may be at risk for substance abuse or other problem behaviors. These strategies focus on the development of social competence, communication skills, self-esteem, empathy, decision-making, conflict resolution, sense of purpose and independence, and positive alternative activities to drug abuse and other destructive conduct. Thank you, Lieutenant Glenn Forsyth and Sergeant Stephen Meyers for sharing your experiences and strategies used in the “war against drugs and alcohol” with our members. Lt. Forsyth stressed the fact that peer pressure can lead a child astray and to experiment with drugs, alcohol and tobacco.
Sad as it may seem, many children (and adults) no longer respect a uniform (or fear it) and seem to challenge an officer when one becomes visible. How many of you lift your foot off of the gas pedal when a patrol car is seen even when you are not exceeding the speed limit?
When I was “growing up” I was always afraid of doing something wrong (I still am) and disappointing my parents, family and friends (many of which were police officers.) I had no problem saying NO to drugs, alcohol and tobacco and never associated with those who did. Likewise when I was old enough to join the police force I was proud to wear the uniform and arrest those that did not follow the “straight and narrow.”
I fear that there will always be substance abuse and gang involvement and I am thankful for people like Officers Forsythe and Meyers who take the time to educate the public (young and old) to diminish this problem. They believe that if they can DARE one person to say "NO" to drugs that it is one life saved from the grasp of the dealers. They devised a list of how to say “NO.” There are 8 ways to D.A.R.E. to say "NO" to drugs and violence:

1) Say “No thanks”
2) Give an Excuse or a Reason 3) Repeated Refusals-Keep Saying “NO”
4) Walk Away
5) Change the Subject
6) Avoid the Situation
7) Cold Shoulder
8) Strength in Numbers.

If you would like more information on this subject contact your local police department or the State Police and invite a speaker to your meeting. Invite the general public and make it a community event.
Do you know anyone with “Shingles?” (I do not mean the material that covers your house or barn roof either!) This is a disease that should be taken seriously. If you have ever had chickenpox (and more than 90% of adults in America have) you are at risk for Shingles.
It is caused by the same virus that causes chickenpox and once a person has had chickenpox, the virus can live (but remain inactive) in certain nerve roots within the body for many years. If it becomes active again, usually later in life, it can cause Shingles. It can affect anyone who has had chickenpox at any time without warning but there is no way to tell who will get Shingles or when it may occur.
The first signs of Shingles are often felt and not seen. This may include itching, tingling, burning, and then a few days later a rash of fluid filled blisters will appear. These blisters may take 2-4 weeks to heal. For most people the pain from the Shingles rash lessens as it heals, however, it may lead to pain that lasts for months or even years in some people. This long-term pain called "Postherpetic Neuralgia" (or PHN), occurs because the virus that causes this disease may damage certain nerves. The pain can vary from burning and throbbing to stabbing and shooting. For many people with long-term pain, even the touch of soft clothing against the skin can be painful. Other serious problems that may result from Shingles include skin infection, muscle weakness, scarring, and decrease or loss of vision or hearing.
Since the body cannot defend itself against the virus that causes Shingles as well as it could when you were younger, the older you get the more you are at risk of contracting the disease. There are 1 million cases of Shingles in the United States each year, half of which are in people 60 years and older. In addition, the older you get, the longer the Shingles rash may last and the more you are at risk for long-term nerve pain. If you think you have “Shingles” contact your doctor immediately so that treatment may begin as soon as possible.
I am looking forward to seeing everyone at the State Planning meeting and also a few of the Regional Meetings.
Fraternally
Sharon