The North Texas Journal v24n07

8/7/2019 The North Texas Journal v24n07

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BI-WEEKLY Volume 24, Number 7 - February 18, 2

Visit our website at www.northtexasjournal.ne


2/24Page 2

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Celebrate Hear

AwarenessMonth With

Heart Healthy

Habits

Page 11


4/24Page 4

*Finance oer subject to credit approval, applies to purchases o new Yamaha Motorcycles, ATVs & Scooters made on a Yamaha Installment Financing loan account rom 7/1/10-9contract length is 24 months and maximum length is 36 months. Minimum amount fnanced is $5,000. Fixed APR o 3.99%, 5.99%, 8.99%, or 14.99% will be assigned based ocriteria. Monthly payments per $1,000 fnanced based on 36 month term are $29.52 at 3.99%, $30.42 at 5.99%, $31.80 at 8.99%, and $34.66 at 14.99%. **Customer Cash oe2010 (and prior year) models between 6/1/10-9/30/10.Offer good only in the U.S., excluding the state of Hawaii. Proessional riders with advanced skills on closed courshown with optional accessories. Dress properly or your ride with a helmet, eye protection, gloves and boots. Do not drink and ride. It is illegal and dangerous. Yamaha andSaety Foundation encourage you to ride saely and respect the environment. For urther inormation regarding the MSF course, please call 1-800-446-9227. ATVs with enginare recommended or use only by riders age 16 years and older. Yamaha recommends that all ATV riders take an approved training course. For saety and training inormationor call the ATV Saety Institute at 1-800-887-2887. ATVs can be hazardous to operate. For your saety: Always avoid paved suraces. Never ride on public roads. Always weprotection and protective clothing; never carry passengers; never engage in stunt riding; riding and alcohol/drugs dont mix; avoid excessive speed; and be particularly careul on

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5/24Page 5

Considering College? Overcome Commo

Challenges On Your Way To Something Grea(ARA) - Whether you are fresh out of high school,

hoping to start college for the rst time or think-

ng about returning to college, its not a decision

hat can be taken lightly.

The time and money that goes into furthering your education

an be daunting. However, since earning a college degree

will ultimately lead you to achieve a more stable and reward-

ng future, you will likely not regret your decision to enroll

nd take your skills to the next level.

Many prospective students face similar challenges when

hinking about post-secondary education options. Ben

Simms, vice president of admissions at Westwood College,

identies the ve most common challenges he hears f

students and how they overcome them.

1. Fear or lack of condence

You may feel apprehensive because your past school e

riences havent been positive. If you can identify why

havent succeeded in the past and identify what styl

learning ts you best, youll be in a better position to succ

and feel more condent in college. For example, if yo

had a hard time in a traditional classroom setting, but e

at hands-on learning, look for colleges that offer that typ

training. In fact, nearly half of all new Westwood Col

students have attended other colleges and universities p

to enrollment, and many are looking for a more hand


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ducation.

2. Lack of support

For some, family or friends may not value education enough

o provide the proper support for the person heading to col-

ege. If you nd yourself in this position, look for a college

hat offers a support system through counseling resources,

ree tutoring and mechanisms to network with teachers and

lassmates.

. Worried about paying for college

Many people entering college have little or no money saved

o help pay for tuition or books. For these students this means

aking out loans to help pay for their education. Before you

nroll, sit down with a nancial adviser or a professional at

he college you want to attend to make sure you understand

ll of your nancial obligations as well as your nance op-

ions. Knowing what your monthly payments might lookike once you have earned your degree may help give you

peace of mind going forward. Also, check with your college

o see if you might be eligible for grants or scholarships.

4. Uncertain the investment will match the return

Many prospective students often wonder whether their hard

work and money spent on college will pay off after gradua-

tion in the form of a well-paying, enjoyable job. When lo

ing for colleges, make sure to identify an institution th

committed to helping students nd employment once

graduate to add assurance to your investment. Also know

the rst job after college may not include a high salary -

over time an individuals salary can increase signicantl

5. Balancing college with lifes other obligations

College is a major comment for everyone, espec

those who have family or w

commitments while attend

Theres no question that n

and maintaining a life bal

is challenging, but many

dents nd a way to get it d

- whether it be through ex

scheduling or by taking s

courses online.

Araceli Hurtado, a feat

Westwood 100 graduate,

relate to many of these c

lenges, and then some. W

Hurtado chose to pursu

criminal justice degree, she

already working a full-time

as an ofce manager in the

taurant industry. She wante

pursue a career she enjoyedcould be proud of, but needed a program that would prov

the exibility to work and attend classes simultaneously

Achieving a personal goal of earning a degree takes

commitment, no matter what obstacles life throws in fron

you, she says. I am grateful for the support that I rece

from my instructors and friends and am proud of what I h

been able to accomplish by making education a priorit

my life.

After earning her degree, Hurtado got a job working violence prevention agency and is doing what she loves.

was showcased in a February 2010 New York Times ar

for outstanding work in the community. Her advice for

rent students as well as anyone thinking about pursuin

degree is to establish solid, lasting relationships with inst

tors and classmates and get involved in as many networ

opportunities as possible. She credits networking as the

to her success during and after her time in college.


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New Year, New School? Virtual Schools Ease Transitio

ARA) - Roughly 2 million American families with chil-

dren move every year - and their children switch schools

according to the U.S. Census Bureau. Most families move

over the summer, so their kids can start new schools in the

all. But other families make the school switch mid-year -

he result of parent job changes or family economic chal-

enges.

With more school options available than ever, a growing

number of families who arent moving their homes are none-

heless changing their childrens schools mid-year. Parents

who do so are often seeking to give their child a fresh start

or a variety of reasons: a student whos bored, or one whos

not getting the individualized attention he needs. Student

health or social issues can also be factors.

Educators say many families switching their kids schools

mid-year are turning to virtual schools like ConnectionsAcademy, for a variety of reasons.

First, more families than ever have embraced virtual edu-

ation in general: Some 2 million American K-12 students

now get some or all of their education virtually, according to

esearch rm Ambient Insight. Second, the format of virtual

chools eases a students adjustment period - and physical

ransitions for both student and family. Finally, family -

nances sometimes come into play. Virtual public schools -

ike all public schools - are tuition free and virtual private

chools like National Connections Academy cost a fractionof traditional bricks and mortar private schools. Yet they

deliver the academic rigor and highly personalized educa-

ions that are hallmarks of independent schools. So families

with children enrolled in traditional private schools who

re struggling to meet hefty tuition obligations often nd

hey can save signicant money and still get an independent

chool-caliber education.

At most virtual schools, learning takes place at home, with a

parent or Learning Coach on site, with instruction directedby certied teachers, with whom student and parents com-

municate frequently by phone and email. Here are ve tips

or parents to ensure a seamless transition for their child to

virtual school in 2011.

Insist on quality: Not all virtual schools are created equal

Many states have virtual public schools; check www.Con-

nectionsAcademy.com to see if theres one in your state.

Like all public schools, these schools are tuition-free to

families. In states where virtual public schools are not av

able there are many fee-based virtual private school opti

High-quality virtual schools employ professional and c

ed teachers. Make sure the school offers an accredited

gram with a wide range of courses, and a proven curricu

developed by professional educators. Talk to parents w

students currently enrolled in the school.

* Plan ahead - Think about the best time to make the sc

switch. For high school (and some middle school) stude

its ideal to nish out the quarter or semester, and then

the new period in the new school. The student gets a f

start in his new courses, and will have completed cou

work from his semester in his previous school. Of cou

sometimes life throws you a curve ball - unexpected

changes or other sudden family matters seldom come w

advance warning. In that case, parents should reach ou

the virtual schools guidance and enrollment ofcialearly as they can, and work with them to make the sch

switch as smooth as possible.

* Get your paperwork in order - It can take a while to c

plete the enrollment process at a virtual school. Par

should start sooner rather than later gathering the ne

sary paperwork theyll need to enroll their child in the

virtual school - transcripts, birth certicates, immuniza

records and the like. Check, of course, with enrollmen

cials at the new school to get a list of required docume

and what, if any, admission deadlines might apply.

* Transfer credits - Many schools dont mail home fall

mester or second quarter report cards until well into

spring semester, making it tricky for some parents to s

proof of course completion, and to get all the stude

course credits transferred to the new school. Parents fa

this situation should check with their new schools en

ment counselors to nd out what other alternative pa

work they can use, and then request it from the prev

school.

* Maintain an open dialogue - The parents role in ensu

a smooth mid-year transition doesnt end when their chi

enrolled in his new virtual public school, has all his bo

and academic supplies, and has started classes. The ke

a smooth transition - to any school, not just a virtual p

lic school - is for parents to maintain an open dialogue

communications with the school, says Tisha Rinker, se

manager of school counseling for Connections Academ


10/24Page 10

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11/24Page 11

Celebrate Heart Awareness Month With Heart Healthy Habit

The Centers for Disease Control reports that more than

one quarter of all deaths are caused by heart disease alone.

However, despite its often-deadly effects, heart disease

does not have the high prole of cancer, AIDS and oth -

er terminal diseases. This means that many people with

heart disease either do not realize they have the condition,

or do not seek treatment for early warning signs. While

many think that heart disease primarily affects men or the

elderly, women are just as likely to suffer from heart dis-

ease as men. In fact, approximately 10 percent of women

age 45-64 suffer from the

disease.

Geeta Maharaj, nursing

director at Everest Col-

eges Salt Lake City

campus explains that

you dont have to be innursing school to know

here are many things

you can do to reduce

he likelihood of hav-

ng heart-related health

problems. One of the

most important is simply

o learn about how your

ife choices affect your

hearts health, adds Ma-

haraj.

The major risk factors for

heart disease are inactiv-

ty, obesity, high blood

pressure, cigarette smok-

ng, high cholesterol and diabetes. In 2005-2006, the Cen-

er for Disease Control reported that 37 percent of Amer-

cans had two or more of these risk factors, potentially

ncreasing their chances of contracting heart disease.

However, approximately one half (47 percent) of deaths

caused by sudden cardiac arrests happen outside of hos-

pitals, which suggests that many people who are suffer-

ng from heart disease go undiagnosed, or are not seeking

reatment.

Medical research has shown that lowering cholesterol and

blood pressure levels can reduce the likelihood of hav-

ng a heart attack, needing heart bypass surgery, and dy-

ing from heart disease. Even for those who are curre

healthy, lowering cholesterol can reduce the risk of

veloping heart disease. It is important to know the

factors for heart disease and talk to your doctor about

to reduce the likelihood of suffering from a heart attac

cardiac arrest, says Maharaj.

Even if you are not at risk for heart disease, Darlene M

tion, RN, MSN, CCRN, nursing instructor at Everest U

versitys nursing program in Brandon, Fla., suggests

ing the following s

to improve overall h

health.

First, exercise. Your h

is a muscle, and just

your other muscles

needs to be worked

regularly. Mention ommends that you

at least a half an hou

cardio at least ve ti

a week.

Second, Mention

gests maintaining

healthy weight, and

ing to lose extra pou

if possible. Obesity is

of the primary causeheart disease, and is o

linked to other risk

tors such as having h

cholesterol or being i

tive.

Improving your diet can also help you lower your cho

terol and promote overall health. As a rule of thumb, M

tion explains that your diet should include ve serving

fruits and vegetables a day. Two servings of certain such as salmon, trout or mackerel a week can also

mote heart health. These sh are full of fats that reple

needed oils. However, you should limit your consump

of saturated fats, which are found in full-fat dairy pr

ucts, many red meats, fries and other cooking fats.

Similarly, Mention advises cutting back on salt. She

plains that the recommended daily allowance is 2,

milligrams of salt for adults, and less than 1,500 m


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igrams for middle-aged and older adults with elevated

blood pressure. It is important to check food labels, as

many processed foods have high levels of sodium. While

some studies have suggested that drinking a glass of red

wine at dinner may reduce the likelihood of heart attacks,

n general, moderation is the key to alcohol consumption.

The recommended daily limit of alcohol is three to four

servings for men, and two to three for women.

In addition, Mention explains that if you are seriousabout your heart health, you should quit smoking. Smok-

ng dramatically increases the likelihood of contracting

heart disease. Studies have shown that female smo

are three times as likely to have a heart attack before

age of 40 than are non-smokers.

It is also important to learn the early warning sign

heart disease, which include nausea, indigestion, b

pain, dizziness, fatigue, and chest pain, as early ac

can make a huge difference in treatment. Finally, Men

recommends that you talk to your doctor or a licen

nurse about potential preventive measures you can tif you are at risk for contracting heart disease.


13/24Page 13

Unemployed Last Year? How To Get The Tax Breaks You Deser

ARA) - At the end of 2010, 14.5 million people were un-

mployed and many more were out of work at one time or

nother throughout the year. In preparing 2010 tax returns,

people whove been unemployed should make sure they

re getting every available tax break they deserve and pre-

paring their taxes correctly.

Being out of work is stressful enough. Not knowing if

youre getting all the tax breaks you should, or being con-

erned youre going to make mistakes that may cost you,

ust adds to the stress, says Gary Lundberg a tax software

professional with CompleteTax. CompleteTax is an online

ax software program offering free federal tax preparation

or people who were unemployed during 2010.

He offers these tax tips to help people who have been un-

mployed.

. Understand what your tax responsibilities are. People

who are out of work are still responsible for ling a tax

eturn and paying income taxes. This includes taxes on un-

employment benets or severance benets they may h

received.

Many people incorrectly believe that simply being ou

work means they do not have to prepare a tax return

pay taxes, according to a nationwide survey conducted

CompleteTax of more than 1,000 taxpayers.

Even though you still have to le a tax return, your inc

is likely lower than in previous years, so theres a g

chance you may have a refund coming, says Lundber

2. Make sure to get all the tax breaks you deserve. B

out of work may allow people to take advantage of sev

credits and deductions. For example, certain job-search

penses can be deducted if youre looking for a job in y

current profession. These include:

* Travel for job interviews* Printing and mailing resumes

* Outplacement rm fees


14/24

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However, the CompleteTax survey found that m

taxpayers also incorrectly believe they can de

haircuts or clothes necessary for job interview

home ofce to use in their job search and class

learn new skills outside their trade.

Many taxpayers also mistakenly believe that sim

being out of work allows them to deduct their he

care costs. While in some instances, people who

unemployed can deduct their health care costs, ocriteria also must be met.

You want to make sure you know what you can

cant claim. By using a tax program that incl

resources to help you make those decisions,

can be condent youre completing your taxes

curately and getting the maximum tax refund

deserve, says Lundberg.

3. Look for affordable tax prep and le as soo

possible. People using online tax preparation

grams can often prepare and le their tax ret

for less than $70. People who are out of work

be able to le for considerably less. For exam

Lundberg notes, CompleteTax offers free federa

preparation for people who were unemployed du

2010.

People who were out of work also want to le as

ly as possible. If you were unemployed, youl

pecially want your refund as soon as possible, Lundberg. If you e-le and choose direct dep

you could have your money in as few as eight da

For more tips on tax preparation and to read the

tionwide survey on unemployment and taxes g

www.CompleteTax.com.


16/24Page 16

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Experience counts. And, whenit comes to making a businessdecision that impacts yourcompanys perormance, youwant an experienced banker byyour side. Matching the rightfnancial product with your mostimmediate business need in the

timeliest manner possible is whatFidelity bankers do best. Putourexperience to work or you!Contact a Fidelity Banker today.

Tommy McCullochPresident & CEO

Danny CremeensSr. Vice President

Wichita Falls-Kell

2525 Kell Blvd, Ste 100940.763.2100

Wichita Falls-Downtown

909 8th Street, Ste 101940.322.5600

Burkburnett

301 South Ave D940.569.9000


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The North Texas Journal v24n07