The News-Star from Monroe, Louisiana • Page 19

INDEX Columns 2B trrlpl TV guide 4B I on health Comics 5B Tin Mews-Star FRIDAY, February 13, 2004 www.thenewsstar.comaccent Inside: Early detection, diligent treatment helps with diabetes, 2B JMJLBDI I is a many scented thing r. Vr, On tap today The 3- and 4-year-olds of St. Paul's United Methodist Church Day School will have Krewe of Munchkins Parade at 10:30 a.m. at the school. 1901 Lexington Ave.

in Monroe. The King and Queen of the Krewe of Janus will talk to the children after the parade. Birthdays John R. Anderson, 17, Farmerville Rickle Baker, Steriington Cissie Barmore, West Monroe Jell Barton, 48, West Monroe Callle Ban, 12, Oak Grove Chelsea Bass, 12, Oak Grove Kim Bethea Lort Blakeney, West Monroe Brantley Booth, 11 Betty Brown, West Monroe Pamella Bryant, 19 Polly Bryant, Monroe Dee Bullock, 39 Johnny Bums 101 Clevelli! Bush, 98, Columbia Megan Cobb, 12, Hebert Gladys Courtney, Downsville Martha Craft 64, Oak Grove Fanner Golns, 86, Monroe Lance Harris, West Monroe Stacle Hart, Farmerville Marionette Hlnes, Calhoun Rusty Holley, 24 Craig Honeycutt, 34 Lisa Hutfty, Monroe Josephine Jacobs, West Monroe Shonna Jordan, Ruston Darren Kennimer, Downsville Chelsea Knight, 13 Edward Patrick, Monroe Andrea Predaina Lucy Robinson, 17, Eros Mickey Rodgers, West Monroe Mary Alice Rushing, 69, Jonesville Skylar Shepard, 7, Monroe Henry Short Connie Snell, Halle Ruthie Stuart, 2 Angela Tarver. 36, Rayville Tamekia Thompson, Calhoun Tony Thompson, 39, Monroe Cody Tipton, 16, Downsville Chad Valentine, West Monroe Gerlaqn Williams, 9, West Monroe Belated Angle Biscomb, 41, Ruston Trevor Cannady, 3, West Monroe John Paul Carpenter, 34, Eros Eloise Emerson, 63, Monroe i 4 5 7fli.

i 'M i s.t nf.t1 i1' 7 Go ahead, laugh; it's good for you Gannett News Service Who would have thought a good, loud, belly laugh would have tremendous health benefits? There is a reason they say laughter is the best medicine. It reduces stress, fights disease and helps manage pain, according to the American Association of Therapeutic Humor. And then there are the psychological benefits of a good laugh. It offers perspective, calms nerves and breaks tension. As Jimmy Buffet croons, "If we couldn't laugh we would all go insane." Carol O' Flaherty, who has been described as the "nurse of mirth," knows the power of a good guffaw.

"The health benefits are phenomenal," says O'Flaherty, a registered nurse, certified laugh leader and public speaker. She cracks up audiences with presentations such as "the worth of mirth." "People ask me if I've given up nursing," she says. "This is nursing. Laughter is all about preventing disease and illness and restoring them to an optimal level of health." O'Flaherty leads a laughter club every Thursday afternoon in Naples, Fla. "It improves the immune system, lowers blood pressure and reverses the chemistry of stress," she says.

There isn't anyone who wouldn't benefit from a strong fit of the giggles every day, she says. "It's available to everyone, but some people don't choose to use it," O'Flaherty says. Margot Escort uses laughter in her personal and professional life every day. The clinical social worker and psychotherapist has taught workshops about the health benefits of humor and laughter for the past 15 years. "It helps to bring a sense of joy and peace to people," she says.

Escort is also a certified laughter leader and is a member of the American Association of Therapeutic Humor and World Laughter Clubs International. "We need time to brush our teeth, and we need our daily dose of vitamin she says. But despite all of laughter's health benefits, adults aren't finding the time to chuckle every day. They need to find the time, Escort says. She recommends hanging out with people who are funny.

"Find a humor ally," she says. "That's a person who no matter what, will bring a giggle and guffaw." Also, make it a point to watch comedies, read funny books, go to comedy clubs or find the silliness in daily life, she says. About three years ago Escort passed on her laughter techniques to a rehabilitation and health care center in Naples. When people feel the most blue is when they need to find the sunnier side of life, Escort says. "Everybody needs a good laugh, especially people feeling sick and not up to snuff," Escort says.

"When you least feel like laughing is when you most need to laugh." Li MARGARET CROFTThe News-Star Kelly Deville holds a bottle of perfume one of the biggest sellers at McRae's in Monroe. Jury still out on perfume's role in amour FYI Anniversaries Perfume or cologne pure, 100 percent of the fragrance. Eaude par-fume is about 77 percent of the fragrance, while eaude toilet is 3 percent of the actual fragrance. ed their holiday purchases. In selling fragrances, Deville has found that customers do not always go for the one that smells best or the one they think will surely pique the interest of that special someone.

"You would be amazed how people buy perfume just for who makes it," she said. "It could smell awful, but it would sell. "Some of the scents even smell exactly like others, but customers usually choose the one with the more popular name." There are thousands of different perfumes and colognes to choose from. Scents can be floral, sweet, woodsy or heavy. "It really depends on what you like," Deville said.

"Some smell like chemicals known as pheromones which are known to influence the behavior of others. There has not been any evidence that these chemicals work to bring about romance. "Nobody has ever been able to find any kind of smell that will increase people's attraction or arousal levels other than what people have learned to associate by themselves." When smells, in the form of a gas, reach receptor neurons at the top of the nasal cavity, the neurons fire off. They then travel to the brain where the brain recognizes the smell. Whether the smells cause a level of romantic attraction or not, perfumes and colognes are very popular Valentine's Day gifts.

McRae's sales associate Kelly Deville expects to see a rush of male shoppers today and tomorrow. Many women, she said, have likely complet By TOMMIEA P. JACKSON tpjacksonthenewsstar.com Before going out on a date, one of the last tasks is a quick spray of perfume or cologne. While the intention is to attract someone special, Louisiana Tech University psychology professor, Dr. Luke Rosielle, said that science has yet to prove this works.

"There's not really much evidence to back to that up," Rosielle said. Individuals do, however, have personal preferences and will connect memorable experiences with certain scents. "Some people have pleasant associations with certain types of smells," he explained, "or memories of being around someone that they were attracted to." Humans and other animals secrete See PERFUME 38 Cliff and Martha Bauer, married 33 years. West Monroe John Jr. and Evelyn T.

Body, married 22 years, Monroe Charles and Linda Boles, married 36 years Don and Becky Dumas, married 16 years, West Monroe Josh and Ashley Rogers, married five years, West Monroe Belated Ronald and Helen Austin, married three years, Eros Bo and Audrey File, West Monroe Willie and Shannon Paz, married nine years, West Monroe Donnie and Beth Sllmon, Downsville To submit a daily birthday or anniversary announcement, dial 362-0389 and immediately press 600 when the recording answers. Deadline for an announcement is 3 p.m. the day before it is to run. Deadline for announcements to run Sunday is 3 p.m. Thursday.

Deadline for Monday announcements is 3 p.m. Friday. For the sake of accuracy, please spell out every name and leave the date it is to run. No kidding FOREIGN AFFAIRS An Overview of Over There 1. Italy Democratic Party uses donkey symbol 2.

Mexico no mandated successor if President dies 3. Switzerland changed capital every two years (1815-48) 4. Tehran 2003 election 1,100 candidates for 15 seats 5. Cuba no statues of Castro allowed Source: World Features Syndicate Small changes key to improving diet more fruits and vegetables can cut excess calories. SHAPE NORTHEASTERN LOUISIANA fast Can 1 decrease my intake of these or am I willing to try a sugar-free alternative? How can I increase my water intake? Snacks can be a part of a healthy diet.

Choosing more fruits, raw vegetables, low fat yogurt or low fat cheese and crackers for snacks can curb your appetite and help you eat less at night Cutting fats by choosing baked foods more often, using low fat substitutes, and adding What is the first step to improving my diet? Start with identifying small changes that can be maintained. Look at your diet and ask yourself these questions: What do I drink? What are my snacking habits? How can I cut my fats? What kind of activity can I include regularly? Calories from sugary drinks like Kool-Aid, soft drinks, juice and tea, can really add up As part of The News-Star and Monroe Athletic Club's yearlong effort, ShapeUp Northeast Louisiana, a group of health professionals will answer questions to help area residents improve fitness and overall health. Mail, fax or e-nail the questions you would like posed to nutrition, exercise, physical training, holistic, heart or other general health experts to Health Reporter Tommiea P. GET MOVING, adding 30 minutes of activity at least 3 times a week is important, but any activity is better than no activity. Small changes really do add up, so get started.

Donna Davis is the Acting Region 8 Nutritionist with the Office of Public Health. Jackson at 411 North Fourth St. Monroe, LA 71210, 362-0273 or Questions and answers will appear on each Friday's Accent on Health page. Monroe symphony names Young Artist winners with the ULM Wind Ensemble and timpanist with the ULM Orchestra. She performs with several ULM percussion ensembles, the Sound of Today Marching Band and occasionally with the Monroe Symphony Orchestra and Masterworks Choir.

She too has earned numerous awards. To reach us To comment on a story, offer story ideas, make a correction or speak to an editor call: Accent 362-0284 Classified 362-0202 Health 362-0277 K-12 News Religion 362-0378 Food 362-0284 Youth 362-0286 To Do 362-0256 Fax. 362-0273 aaentthenewsstar.com Our team editor for the Accent section is Heather Wecster. concertmaster of the East Baton Rouge All-Parish Middle and High School Orchestras. Dimitrov has gone from Gabrovo, Bulgaria, to Baton Rouge, where he is today pursuing a musical degree at LSU.

He began playing the violin at and has numerous awards in his home country, including the grand prize twice in Bulgaria's national competition for young violinists. He is a member of the Baton Rouge Symphony Orchestra. Wilson served as a percussionist with the 156th Army Band in Bossier City before coming to ULM. Currently, she is the principal percussionist ing the winners from the talented classical music students assembled from across the state. To qualify for the competition, students had to be either residents or attend one of the colleges or universities in Louisiana.

The entrants were divided into two divisions: youth, ages 12 through high school graduation, and college freshmen through age 30. The judges selected two top winners in each division. Dawkins, this year's youngest winner at 14, started formal piano training just four years ago. But he already has won numerous musical awards. He's tickled the ivories as a recitaiist in the LSU Bach and Tournament competitions.

He also placed second and third in Tourgee DeBose National Piano Competition in 2001 and 2002 and won first place in the state piano rally. Chan, a junior at Baton Rouge Magnet High School, is no stranger to the symphony scene. The violinist serves as concertmaster for the Louisiana Youth Orchestra and has performed with the Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra as a guest solo violinist He also was the winner of the Rapides Symphony Orchestra Concerto Competition and has served as The Monroe Symphony League this week announced the winners of its Young Artists Competition, held Jan. 17 at the University of Louisiana at Monroe. The winners include violinist Andrew Chan of Baton Rouge, pianist Michael Daw kins of Baton Rouge, violinists Martin Dimitrov of Baton Rouge and percussionist Melissa Wilson, a ULM senior.

Kathryn Hutchinson, the Monroe Symphony League president, will recognize the winners when they perform at the Monroe Symphony Orchestra Young Artists Concert at 2 p.m. March 21 at With Heather Wecsler Neville High School, 600 Forsythe Ave. in Monroe. Marjorie Stricklin, this year's auditions chairwoman, said this year's judges, most of whom came from Jackson, had a tough time choos Submit amcdotM or Items about local poopm to Jm' RamoMn', eo Th Mows. Star.

411 M. Fourth St, Monro. La, 71201; or s-ma thm to Panonai command tor rMatftar Mtcster can Aa calM to 362-0284; a-awllxf or aant to tft addraas aaotai.