Women Today

Our friends at Unity Hospice share a message about the traveling display "Portraits of Hope" to create awareness of Hospice Care and to give hope this February.
“Hospice” can be a frightening term. Yet, to those impacted by its comforting words, hands and care, “hospice” is synonymous with “hope.”

For the last several months, a unique display created by the Hospice Organization and Palliative Experts (HOPE) of Wisconsin, a statewide organization that provides education, legislative influence and partnership opportunities to individuals and organizations involved with end-of-life care, has been touring throughout the Green Bay area, raising awareness about hospice care. “Portraits of HOPE,” the traveling display, was created in 2007 upon the 30th anniversary of hospice’s beginnings in Wisconsin to help put a face on hospice care. Hospices throughout the state submitted photographs along with comments from patients, families, staff and volunteers.

What does “hope” look like? “Portraits of HOPE,” now on display through the third week of February at East Town Mall in Green Bay, best depicts “hope” in photos, but the words captured within the display can help paint a picture in print.

Joy Ride: “In the last 21 months, Dorothy has ridden a motorcycle, traveled to California to watch her daughters race in the LA marathon and prepares meals for the staff at the center.”

Gifts for the Journey: “John lives in his house with his dog, Diller. Even with congestive heart failure, he has remained very independent with the help of hospice and his caregiver, Barb. John enjoys playing cribbage, coin collecting and riding about town on his motorized scooter!”

Hospice is Dorothy. Hospice is John. Hospice is “hope.”
A not-for-profit health care provider, Unity is dedicated to ensuring that all individuals and the communities in which they reside have access to education, support and quality holistic care.

Just in time for Black Friday, the Keenan’s Kid Foundation has released its list of the 10 Most Dangerous Toys in 2008. Here’s what to watch out for while shopping during the holiday season:

1. Air Hogs RC Helicopters

These indoor radio-controlled helicopters are precision controlled, making them ideal for smaller, interior spaces. The helicopters come with a Lithium Polymer battery (LIPOL, Li-Pol) and charger.
Price: $19.99-64.99
Made by: Silver Lift Spin Master
Age: 10+

Hazard: Lithium ion and lithium polymer batteries can burst into flames or even explode if handled incorrectly or not charged with precision.

In 2008, there have been four separate toy recalls for different brands of rechargeable-battery operated toy helicopters, totaling more than 1 million toys. This is one example of a toy with a Li-Pol battery that can be dangerous.

Children’s toys with chargeable batters and adapters are listed as one of the top five most dangerous toys for 2008 by the CPSC. Playing with these types of toys should always be supervised and parents should pay close attention to a toy’s instructions about how the battery should be properly charged.

2. Magnet Dangers: Magnetic Earrings

Magnetic earrings generally consist of a small decorative part with a magnet inside. The earrings are held in place by putting a loose magnet behind the child’s earlobe.
Price: $3-10
Made by: Claire’s, Schylling and other jewelry retailers
Age: 5+

Hazard: Magnets used in earrings are just as powerful as magnets found inside toys that have been recalled after causing death and injury in countless children.

Nearly 30 instances in the U.S. and Europe included magnets from earrings being swallowed, aspirated into the lungs or getting stuck together on either side of a child’s nose cartilage; one 2-year-old boy was hospitalized in 2003.

Children’s toys with magnets are listed as one of the top five most dangerous toys for 2008 by the CPSC. However, because the product is not technically considered a ‘toy’ by the federal government, it is immune to recent magnet regulations for toys.

3. Lip gloss and lip balm make-up set

Girl’s lip gloss set featuring one glitter lip gloss and one lip balm in a keychain container
Price: $1
Made by: Girl 2 Girl
Age: 3+

Hazard: Phthalates are toxic chemicals that have been proven to cause long-term risks to the development of the reproductive and endocrine systems that regulate a child’s metabolism and hormone functions.

Phthalates are often used in children’s plastic toy products including bath toys and teething rings to make them soft and flexible, and can be found in beauty and household products.

The CPSC Modernization Act (signed Aug. 14, 2008) bans use of phthalates ( in all children’s products come February 2009.

For this reason, toys containing phthalates are prominent in the market right now, and parents should be aware that while the chemical is not always listed as an ingredient, it has been popular in household and children’s items.

4. Balloon Physics Kit

Kit includes balloons and makings for balloon boat, racecar and helicopter, and an instructional book with experiments and scientific explanations.
Price: $29.99
Made by: Thames & Kosmos
Age: 8+

Hazard: Children can choke and/or suffocate on uninflated balloons or pieces of broken balloons.

Of all children’s products, balloons are the leading cause of suffocation death. This is one example of a toy that features balloons during play.

More than 110 children have died since 1973 as a result of suffocation involving uninflated balloons or pieces of balloons. Most of the victims have been under the age of 6, but the CPSC has reports of several older children suffocating.

The CPSC does not recommend children under the age of 8 playing with balloons and adult supervision is required.

5. Dora the Explorer Lamp

This colorful child’s lamp is shaped in the figurine form of Nickelodeon’s cartoon character, Dora the Explorer.
Price: $10
Made by: Nickelodeon
Age: None provided

Hazard: Potential for electric shock and burn injuries.

The product warning states: "This is an electric product – not a toy! To avoid risk of fire, burns, personal injury and electric shock, it should not be played with or placed where small children can reach it. The toy is considered for seasonal uses and is not intended to be used as a permanent light." The product instructions also recommend unplugging the light when unattended or when leaving the house.

Despite not being a “toy,” the warnings would mean little to children who may be inclined to use the Dora lamp as a plaything, and therefore expose themselves to potential electric hazards.

6. Fairies backpack/bag

Started in the U.K., Tyrrell Katz is now in the U.S. with an original line of luggage, bags and accessories for children. The pink fairies bag features drawstring closure with thick nylon straps and front pocket with zipper closure.
Price: $25
Made by: Tyrrell Katz
Age: 3+

Hazard: Shockingly high levels of lead in the bag’s fabric can cause developmental problems in children who have prolonged exposure to the bag.

The bag has lead in the amounts of 1,855 parts per million (ppm) in the exterior fabric and 4,500 ppm in the interior lining, with trace amounts of arsenic and mercury. This is one example of children’s products with potentially dangerous levels of lead.

7. High School Musical Rockerz

The sound effects and riffs from original High School Musical soundtracks allow children to play along with the songs.
Price: $14.99
Made by: Disney
Age: 5+

Hazard: Sound toys over 85 decibels can be harmful to a child’s ear development and hearing.

High School Musical Rockerz registered 90+ decibels and are an example of toys that can be harmful if a child is exposed to the noise for a prolonged time.

More than 5 million children ages 6-19 have some degree of noise-induced hearing loss in at least one ear.

8. Yo-Yo Ball; and Pull and Pop Pelican

The Yo-Yo Ball has been around since the ‘90s, featuring a yo-yo attached to a long string. The Pull and Pop Pelican is new for 2008, with a pull-along pelican that pops balls out of its mouth as a child pulls the string.
Price: $3-$17
Made by: Marchon Inc.; Fisher Price Inc.
Age: 3+

Hazard: Toys that have a string more than 12 inches long pose strangulation hazards.

More than 400 incidents were reported with the Yo-Yo Ball from 2002-2006. Of those, 290 reports involved the cord wrapping around the child’s head or neck; 16 incidents included children losing consciousness.

9. Barbie Peek A Boo; and Polly Pocket

Barbie’s new Peek-a-Boo Petites sets include miniature Barbie dolls with tiny charms and accessories; and the Polly Pocket sets, such as the Sparklin’ Pets and Fab-tastic Fashions, include a Polly Pocket doll with small accessories.
Made by: Both made by Mattel
Age: Barbie is made for 3+; Polly Pocket is made for 4+

Hazard: Potential choking hazard with small pieces. These toys contain extremely small parts for the recommended age; some children up to the age of 5 still love putting things in their mouths.

Any toy pieces that can fit through a toilet roll tube can be swallowed by a child. Nearly all the accessories in both play sets fall into this category.

10. Batman Dark Knight Ninja Sword
Based on the weapon featured in the Batman: Dark Knight movie, the training ninja sword features motion sensitive swiping and clanging sound effects and includes soft throwing ninja disks.
Price: $20
Made by: Thinkway
Age: 4-8

Hazard: Potential for eye and other bodily injuries. Swords and other toys that are featured as “weapons” pose a risk of injury because of the type of play they are generally used for.

While the toy is designed for play, sharp objects should be monitored by parents during playtime.

Here’s a look at the statistics associated with toy safety:

-- 18 toy-related deaths were reported in 2007.
-- About 170,100 hospital emergency room visits involved treating toy-related injuries to children 15-years-old or younger.
-- Deaths resulting from toy injuries were predominantly caused by airway obstruction from small toys.
-- Most injuries included lacerations, contusions and abrasions; the head and face were affected most often.
-- The CPSC top five toys to watch out for in 2008 include toys with chargers/adapters, magnets, balloons, small pieces and riding toys.

- Consumer Product Safety Commission, 2008

All parents should know:

-- The Consumer Product Safety Commission Modernization Act was signed Aug. 14, 2008 but does not take effect until Feb. 2009.
-- The Keenan’s Kids Foundation estimates roughly 20 percent of toys currently on retail shelves will not pass the new safety standards.
-- For this reason, toys that are still considered “safe” will soon be considered inadequate under federal safety standards and they are flooding store shelves at reduced rates right now.
-- When purchasing toys from second-hand stores and internet vendors, make sure the toy meets safety standards and has not been recalled or banned.
-- The government is not always looking out for the best interest of a child; parents know their children best and always need to be looking out for their child’s safety.

Kudos to Ellipse Fitness members and owners for raising money to beat breast cancer.

Ellipse Fitness members from five locations participated in raising money for Susan G. Komen for the Cure. More than 200 Pink Ribbon goods totaling more than $800 were sold for the foundation, including t-shirts, tanks, and pink boxing gloves.

The co-founders of Ellipse Fitness and owners of Ellipse Management Inc. are Lisa Welko and Shana Conradt, the first women owners of a national health club franchise.

Breast cancer survivor Christine Danielson, who’s on the cover of the most recent issue of Women magazine, did a great job of offering uplifting advice to those with breast cancer when she was interviewed this morning on WFRV Channel 5.

Danielson spoke with anchor Wendy Neuberger and talked about getting through her tiring treatments with support of friends and the knowledge that things would get better.

To see her interview, visit the Channel 5 Web site at http://www.wfrv.com/content/news/firstnews/default.aspx and click on the video link.

To read more about Danielson, see her story in this month’s issue of Women at www.mywomenmagazine.com.

My son has been studying the 1970s in his high school history class, so when l learned that "Frost/Nixon" was going to be presented at the Fox Cities Performing Arts Center in downtown Appleton I knew just who to invite.

For me, Watergate was a vague memory from my childhood. For my son, it was a long-ago piece of history. On Tuesday night, actors Stacy Keach and Alan Cox brought it to life in a way that was thoroughly entertaining.

I didn’t know what to expect when we entered the theater Tuesday night. I thought perhaps we would see a recreation of David Frost’s 1977 interview with President Richard Nixon, with the principal actors having a Q&A session for a few hours. I envisioned us struggling to say awake and perhaps leaving at intermission.

I could not have been more mistaken. Instead of simply recreating the interview, the play delved into all that went into making it come fruition, and made it clear how high the stakes were for both parties.

British talk show host Frost was desperate to prove he could succeed on American television, and almost sacrificed everything he had to get that chance. Nixon wanted a way to remind Americans of his accomplishments and perhaps return to the political scene. Only one could get what he wanted.

The play used supporting characters (Brian Sgambati as one of Frost’s researchers and Ted Koch as a staunch Nixon supporter) to explain exactly how important this moment in history was to both parties. Their asides were used to great effect, as a narrative that tied the scenes together and clarified the historic events, a relief to someone like me whose memory of that era is fuzzy.

The production made successful use of television footage, using it in place of grand sets to set the scene and bring us back in time. My son noted that the sound effects also added the perfect accent when the play transitioned between scenes.

The acting was also a pleasure to watch. Keach as Nixon and Cox as Frost played their characters superbly, capturing mannerisms, speech patterns and motive.

The presentation we saw Tuesday night presented history in a way that was entirely new to me. It was visually engaging, riveting and even humorous. It kept my son and I enthralled for its entire running time of an hour and 45 minutes. My son called it the best play he’s seen at the PAC to date.

Watergate was a low point in American history, but Frost/Nixon turns it into a theatrical highlight that’s well worth seeing.

P.S. See who else enjoyed the show by checking out our Out and About site at http://mywomenmagazine.com/modules/gallery2/main.php?g2_itemId=727.