The Cincinnati Enquirer from Cincinnati, Ohio • Page 31

THE CINCINNATI ENQUIRER Section' Tomorrow: Sappy story Steam swirling from the little wooden cabin on a farm in Anderson Township forms a wordless message: "It's maple syrup time." Television- Comics .1 6 Puzzles 7 Editor: Sara Pearce, 768-8495 Thursday February 29, 1996 Headache school's homework not a pain TEMPO S3 JOHN KIESEWETTER TELEVISION BY SUE MacDONALD The Cincinnati Enquirer Sweeps makes network swap bigger news My, oh my, how the world has changed in six months. What will it look like in three more months? Tristate TV managers are studying ratings for February "sweeps," which ended Wednesday, trying to figure out what happens when WCPO-TV (Channel 9) and WKRC-TV (Channel 12) swap network affiliations June 3. Channel 9 folks were thrilled in September to announce it was shedding third-place CBS for second-place ABC. They're less than thrilled after watching ABC's prime-time (8-11 p.m.) ratings slide closer to CBS. ABC's ratings dropped 14 percent from last February, while CBS' i i -i increased 4 percent nere.

i Vi I wmmmmi All 'li 1 VJ List's wmz to June BY ELIZABETH JANEWAY New York Times Special Features Don't be surprised if your doc tor's advice for chronic headaches soon goes something like this: "Quit taking your two aspirin every morn- ing and go to headache school instead." Specialists at the Cincinnati Headache Institute at Drake Center think they can whomp a lot of nagging, recur ring, life-altering, job- lnterfenng headaches by teaching patients how to take control. On Dr. Fred Elkus March 18, a multifaceted team of specialists at Drake Center will launch a Headache School, perhaps the first in the country, as an alternative to painkillers and medicines to treat headaches. Patients instead will pursue information and preventive measures, exercise, physical therapy, counseling, relaxation and stress-management skills. Sponsors hope the school's $1,000 price tag will be covered, in part, by most insurers.

More than medication "It's a rather definitive statement that there's more to treating headache than medication," says Dr. Fred Elkus, medical director of long-term care at Drake and a longtime proponent of whole-person approaches to health. Patients who are referred to the program will receive 27 hours of instruction and activity. They'll know what foods, how much sleep or what environmental odors set their heads pounding. They'll be able to figure out if muscle pain is from ill-fitting clothes, poor designed office Headache furniture or cphfinl cradling a tele- phone receiver Hpaf)arhp constantly at "J3! work.

They'll I School at the learn exercises Cincinnati and move- Headache Insti- mentstokeep wh" theirbodies March 18, parti- flexible and lim- i cipants will be in ber. They'll cass p.m. have access to on ay rnnnsplintr i vvcuncauay auu They'll learn when to spot trouble signs that mean a trip rv fVio Acini cr rr Friday for three weeks (total 27 fiours). Cost is about insurance cover- emergency room. Program i aye vanes, ii nur mation: 948-! 2798.

leaders include Dr. Elkus; Dr. Robert Smith, migraine expert and institute director; Harold G. Kelso, psychologist; Dr. Vincent Martin, an internal medicine physician and headache expert; occupational therapists Pamela Clinkenbeard and Jennifer Fenton; nurse Judith Jack, and physical therapist Jon Nugent Cut down on pills Benchmarks for success in the program, Dr.

Elkus points out, are fewer headaches, fewer visits to doctors, clinics and emergency rooms for headache problems and "a significant decrease or reduction in addictive pain medication." Many people innocently begin taking over-the-counter medicines and soon find their headaches are out of control, he says. By that time, doctors may not know how to inter- vene. Some headache sufferers, he points out take a dozen or more pills daily Extra-Strength Tylenol, Advil, Motrin, aspirin and set up a medicine-withdrawal cycle that depletes the body's innate ability to relieve pain and actually causes more headaches. "With this school, we've de-emphasized the traditional physician role," Dr. Elkus says.

"Patients are somewhat addicted to them, too. We think if the patients stick together for 27 hours, they should pick up some pretty good information to take home with them." Dr. Elkus and his staff are marketing the program to local doctors they, can refer headachy patients to the school. -rfft lift rfluiT mtjifll'-! ft" Every fourth February, wouldn't you jump at the chance for one more summer day? Channel 9 overcame CBS' third-place prime-time programming to win the 11 p.m. news ratings.

Channel 12 had won all sweeps months last year. Channel 9 drew a 12.7 rating at 11 p.m., compared with 12.0 for Channel 12 and 10.1 for WLWT (Channel 5, NBC). As usual, Channel 9 also was No. 1 for news at noon and p.m. Oprah Winfrey, Wheel of Fortune, Jeopardy! and Live with Regis Kathie Lee won their time slots, too.

Still can't wait for June Channel 9's late-news victory was tempered by the realization that Channel 12's woes such as getting killed by ABC's Murder One low ratings on Monday will become Channel 9's problem in June. "Despite ABC not being as dominant as it once was, we still can't wait for June," says J.B. Chase, Channel 9 general man- ager. "I'm still jealous of their (ratings) numbers and their demographics (young audience)." 1 ABC's prime-time slump apparently will cost ABC Entertainment President Ted Harbert his job. As in baseball, a network chief who doesn't get a hit all year doesn't last long.

Mr. Harbert is expected to be booted upstairs (as chairman) if ABC hires Jamie McDermott, the NBC senior vice president who developed Frasier and Friends. Mr. Chase attributes Channel 9's late- news rebound, in part, to the nightly "Eye I On Your World" feature and better graphics. Not coincidentally, Channel 12 jumped into first place a year ago with those innovations the nightly "12 News Extra" enterprise story and graphics labeling every story.

What didn't change in February was Channel 5's run-away prime-time ratings, fueled by NBC's top-rated Thursday lineup. But again, Channel 5 didn't have "Must See TV News." The 11 p.m. news remained in third place, as Tristate viewers deliberately switched channels for late news after ER and other "must see" shows. In fact, four times in February, Channel 19's 10 p.m. news drew bigger ratings than late news on Channels 5 or 12 while facing stiff competition from Chicago Hope and David Letterman's prime-time special.

At Channel 19, more news was good news. Ratings for the expanded one-hour weekday newscast, which started Jan. 22, are higher (7.0) than for the half-hour news a year ago (6.8). "It's been a very good (ratings) book for us. And 10 o'clock is the most hotly con-' tested hour on television," says Stuart B.

Powell, Channel 19 general manager. Fox weeknight programming on Channel 19 also scored high, improving 24 percent over last February (from 6.6 to 8.2) Three-month outlook So what will this mean in three months? Based on network switches in other cities, the stations that don't change benefit from the confusion. That bodes well for Channels 5 and 19. At Channel 12, executives aren't so dis- traught about losing ABC after seeing February ratings for Chicago Hope and 48 Hours. Says Steve Minimum, Channel 12 news director "You know, CBS is not looking bad these days." Channel 9 managers, tired of being drubbed by ABC's 10 p.m.

shows, can't I wait to have Barbara Walters and Diane Sawyer. "I'd love to have a PrimeTime Live or I 2020," says Channel 9's Mr. Chase, "because people who watch those shows I tend to watch news. And soon we will have them." Joh Kiesewetter is Enquirer TVradio critic. His column appears Sunday, Monday and Tliursday.

Write him at 312 Elm Cincinnati 45202; fax: 768-8330. He can be heard a. m. Mondays on WLW- AM (700 kHz). III WW If nUWMWWirtl he origin of Feb.

29 as Leap Year Day is irrational. It dates back to an effort by Julius Caesar to deal with a slippage of seasons resulting from misuse of the Egyptian solar calendar. By 46 B.C., the Roman calendar had advanced so far mat January had usurped the place of September. Caesar doesn't seem to have paid much attention to the fact that the day he inserted was going to arise not in pleasant autumn weather but in February the nastiest time of late winter. if Kathy Karapondo of Greenhills turns 36 today, but some people might joke that she's only nine.

What's it like to be born on Leap Year Day and should It be moved from Feb. 29 to June 31? Story, C2. The Cincinnati Enquirer IllustrationDavid Aikins How much extra an extra day means There's an extra day in 1996 and that means extra everything during leap year, from coffee to cigarettes, pepperoni to Powerball. For instance, on leap day, 9.3 million U.S. dairy cows will produce an extra 48 million gallons of fresh milk; about 362 million more cups of coffee will be consumed.

Here some other facts and figures that tell what an extra day means: 573 million more Coca-Colas will be consumed around the world. 109,589 more Americans will change their address. 46,575 more pounds of pepperoni will be used by Domino's Pizza. 64 more tons of ice will be served from Delta Air Lines beverage carts. 63 million more beer bottles and cans will be made in the United States.

92,008 more people will win something in the 20-state Powerball lottery. 12,329 more people will hike on the 2,1 50-mile Appalachian Trail that runs from Georgia to Maine. Cyclists will spend $12.6 million more on mountain bikes. 38,237 books will be checked out of the New York Public Library. Ford Motor Co.

will put an extra 33,250 air bags in U.S. cars and trucks. Gannett News Service Two thousand years is enough. February doesn't even treat its regular roster of 28 days decently. The day we celebrate the birthday of the father of our country is jostled about most disrespectfully.

Some day, it might even fall on St Valentine's Day, confusing florists and chocolatiers. February needs no encouragement like life in a state of nature, its shortness matches its brutishness. Whereas June, unholidayed since the disappearance of Flag Day, speaks for itself. What is so rare, indeed? What better spot for the rarest of days, which turns up only quadrennially. June 31 as Leap Year Day would invite all sorts of celebrations picnics, poetry readings, parades -or the personal pursuit of private happiness.

The proximity of the glorious Fourth of July is no deterrent in fact it offers a highly appropriate opportunity for grand celebration. Every four years, the country could enjoy a proper Saturnalia not just a long weekend, but rather a five-day stretch of frenzy or retreat as preferred. Arriving only every four years, such a holiday would remain a resplendent occasion like the Olympic Games. (Please see LEAP, Page C2) Book unreels 101 videos for you and your kids they were children, but that few kids today have seen in their original, uncut form. A few examples: Brian's Song, Carousel, Friendly Persuasion, Hoosiers, Inherit the Wind, The Miracle Worker, North by Northwest, The Secret Life of Walter Mitty, Yankee Doodle Dandy.

Suggestions include plenty of movies made specifically for kids, too, such as Angels In the Outfield, The Parent Trap and The Shaggy Dog, and each entry includes Mr. Lyons' comments on the film's quality and background. It will be in bookstores March 7. Margaret A. McGurk mm You love movies, and you want your children to develop taste, enthusiasm, curiosity and passion for the art form.

You're also tired of the marketing department at Disney dictating the kids' viewing habits. Movie critic Jeffrey Lyons (Sneak Previews) has the answer: a highly personal selection of films adults and kids can watch together. The title is 101 Great Movies For Kids (Fireside Books; $ll)i and the contents range far beyond modern blockbusters that your kids have probably seen too many times already. Instead, the book steers readers toward good movies that probably captured their attention when.