Operation Kindness – North Texas’ original and largest no-kill animal shelter has partnered with Pets for Life and the City of Carrollton to host a pet health clinic for the underserved community in Carrollton. Vaccinations, microchipping and city licenses will be available at no cost to low-income pet owners. The no-kill shelter will also provide spay and neuter humane education to attendees. The Community Health Clinic will be held on Saturday, April 29 beginning at 10 a.m. to noon at the Crosby Recreation Center located at 1610 Crosby Road, Carrollton, TX 75006.

Founded in 1976, Operation Kindness is the original and largest no-kill shelter in North Texas. Its mission is to care for homeless cats and dogs in a no-kill environment until each is adopted into responsible homes and to advocate humane values and behavior. In 2016, Operation Kindness celebrated their 40th anniversary and their achievement of saving more than 90,000 animals since their inception. Annually the shelter assists more than 5,000 dogs and cats, caring for an average of 300 animals daily with another 100-150 animals in foster homes.

It’s been said that art imitates life and life imitates art. This anecdote is exemplified in Dallas Children’s Theater’s next production, “Tomás and the Library Lady,” based on the true story of Mexican-American author and educator Tomás Rivera. Rivera, the child of migrant workers, went on to become the first minority Chancellor in the University of California system. This inspirational play goes to great lengths in demonstrating what access to libraries and education can make possible.

 “Tomás and the Library Lady,” based on the Pat Mora book of the same name, is an inspiring true tale of how reading and stories create a path to a better life. This bilingual play follows the life of young Tomás and his family – migrant workers during the 1940s – who move constantly to find new work picking farmers’ crops. One summer, Tomás visits a local public library and discovers a completely different world – one filled with dinosaurs, tigers and faraway places. In the process, he makes a great new friend in the “Library Lady.” While helping Tomás improve his English by reading many new and exciting stories, the librarian fosters his newfound interest in learning while teaching him the importance of getting a good education.

There’s a topical synergy to the content of the play, as the subject of immigration has recently been thrust into the national spotlight on a daily basis. President Trump’s introduction of travel bans has struck a nerve. Americans have responded by marching, rallying, boycotting, cheering – all for or against the cause of immigration protection. Simply put, immigration has become a polarizing subject within our electorate.

Dallas Children’s Theater actor Fernando Hernandez, who plays Tomás’ little brother Enrique, said, “His (Tomás) story and his family’s story is very much my family’s story. We weren’t farm workers, but we are immigrants who have worked hard to get where we are, every single member of my family.I hold this story very near and dear to me. How can I not? It’s a part of my life.”

Sandra Session-Robertson of Dallas Children’s Theater noted, “The beauty of theater is that it helps us understand each other – our struggles, our differences, what makes us the same. We love that families can bring their children to see one of our plays for enjoyment and at the same time learn something about another culture or family that may live right next door to them. Theater helps us appreciate the challenges inherent in all of humanity.”

Hernandez, a 2012 graduate of Plano East High School, was born in Mexico and came to the United States when he was 6 years old. His father is an engineer who was transferred to Dallas.

When asked what he hopes audiences will take away from this production, Hernandez stated, “I really hope that people – kids, parents and anybody who comes to see it – understand the humanity that lies behind the life of immigrants, the fact that change can happen anywhere. A scared little kid, unsure of who and where he is, grows up to become a very important person – all due to the actions of caring people.”

Hernandez added that he was personally impacted by the play’s theme as well. “My ESL teacher was a very important person to me because she gave me all the tools to learn not only the language, but also the new culture I was being introduced to – the very essence of a Library Lady of my own.”

Live theater can often be the conduit for difficult and complex parent-child conversations. Since elementary-aged children typically don’t understand the abstract issues surrounding the immigration conversation, seeing a play about this trending topic offers an excellent springboard for issue-related discussions.

“Tomás and the Library Lady” runs March 24-April 2 and is recommended for ages seven and older. To order tickets, go to dct.org or call 214-740-0051. All performances are at the Rosewood Center for Family Arts; 5938 Skillman Dallas, TX 75231. Dallas Children’s Theater is offering a specially-priced ticket of $10 per person to help encourage all families to see this show.  To redeem this offer, callers can use codeword READ when placing their order online or on the phone.

Unequal^®, the leading provider of customized sports protective gear, is bringing awareness to March’s Brain Injury Awareness Month by focusing on safer play – putting concussion risk reduction at the forefront. According to The National Academies Press report on Sports-Related Concussions in Youth, female soccer claims the highest concussion rate of any sport among female athletes. It is time that players protect their heads like they protect their shins.

Dialogue on the epidemic in sports concussions takes center stage when considering brain injury factors. Concussions exist across a wide range of athletics and affect players of all ages. Yet even with increased awareness, little has been done to effectively reduce occurrences. Furthermore, not many parents think about traumatic brain injury when signing up their child to play soccer.

When parents and players think about concussions, they typically think about football and hockey; however, as stated, the one sport that commands the most conversation, due in part to its growing popularity, is soccer – specifically girls’ soccer. In a recent study published by British Journal of Sports Medicine, researchers found that girls were 27 percent more likely to sustain a soccer injury than boys. Injury in a game vs. practice was 42 percent more common and concussions accounted for 18 percent of soccer injuries. From 2005-2014 both male and female soccer related concussion rates increased significantly, the report stated. Heading the ball, player-to-player contact and ground contact account for most soccer-related concussions. 

“The alarming concussion rates among youth soccer players aren’t so surprising when you look at the recommended soccer essentials: soccer cleats, shin guards, mouth guards, water bottles, uniform, socks and shorts, practice t-shirts and shorts and a soccer ball,” said Rob Vito, founder and CEO of Unequal. “It’s just astonishing to me that no one ever seems to mention head protection. As parents, we wouldn’t dream of allowing our child to ride in a car without a seat belt, ski on a slope or ride a bike without a helmet. It’s time parents heed the wake-up call – protect your child’s head like you protect their shins.”

One particular product created by Unequal, their Unequal Halo 3, is helping reduce the risk of concussions that occur while playing soccer. It’s a high-tech headband made from military-grade materials that fits comfortably snug to the head while absorbing and dispersing impact force during contact (in many sports).

The Halo 3 is:

• FIFA Law 4 compliant (FIFA is the governing body for soccer’s rules of the game)
• Tested to ASTM F2439-11 (ASTM International is a global safety standards organization)
• A safer alternative: Industry standard lab results show severity index and peak acceleration data from Halo 3 testing are significantly lower when compared to tests with no protection
• Worn by World Cup athletes, elite club players, Division 1 college and university players as well as youngsters just starting out in the sport
• Part of a growing movement for safer play among soccer clubs across the nation

“Our research shows that parents of young soccer players are largely unaware of soccer’s concussion risks. Until parents, players, coaches and clubs begin demanding head protection, I am afraid that soccer’s concussion rates will continue to rise,” Vito said.

Girls are more likely to experience concussions than boys
Researchers on behalf of the nonprofit FAIR Health found that for every 10,000 athlete exposures – a student participating in a soccer game or practice – there were 4.5 concussions among girls and 2.8 among boys. The study found the rates of concussions in both boys’ and girls’ high school soccer has risen sharply over the nine-year study period. Girls’ soccer claims the highest concussion rate for all female youth sports.

Symptoms of brain injury
Teaching parents, coaches and players how to better recognize symptoms is imperative in preventing long-term brain injury as a result of a concussion. A person suffering from a concussion may immediately lose consciousness; however, this does not always occur and is not the only indication of brain injury.

Short-term effects of concussion can include headache, vertigo, depression, anxiety, inability to concentrate, slow reaction time and a number of other physical, emotional and cognitive abnormalities. Furthermore, these effects may appear immediately or weeks after the blow occurs, and duration can vary. In serious or repeated cases, an individual may suffer long-term consequences, including long-term memory loss, emotional distress, slowing of some types of movements, chronic depression and even traumatic brain injury. For more information, please visit the CDC Head’s Up Concussion site.

The effect of concussions on a developing brain

While much research has been undertaken on the effect of concussions, little has been done on the effects of concussions on a developing brain. However, some studies have shown that when compared to collegiate and professional athletes, younger athletes tend to experience these symptoms with greater severity and also take longer to recover. Thus, as prevention cannot be guaranteed, there is an imperative need to reduce the risk of concussions in youth sports by wearing protective head gear like the Unequal Halo.

Unequal approaches the dangers of soccer in a different way, by taking technology used on the battlefield and adapting if for the sports field with its High Acceleration Reduction Technology (HART^®). Unequal’s military-grade products are ultra-light and ultra-thin. They work differently than virtually every other traditional foam and plastic of equal weight and thickness on the market by absorbing, dispersing and dissipating energy from an impact away from the body to provide the ultimate in protection. It allows for greater protection without compromising mobility, so athletes can play more at their peak level.

“A seat belt worn won’t prevent injury or death, but it will help reduce the risk – just like the Unequal Halo,” said Vito. “The Unequal Halo won’t prevent concussions – nothing will, but it will go a long way towards reducing the risk of concussions.”

The Unequal Halo is available at http://unequal.com/shop/halo and soccer specialty retailers across the country. The Unequal Halo is priced at $39.99 -$49.95. To learn more about Unequal products or Unequal, visit www.unequal.com.

Solis Mammography – the nation's largest independent provider of breast imaging services believes that an educated patient makes the best decisions about their health.  For this reason, Solis is urging support for Texas House Bill 1036, which if passed, would require all commercial insurance providers in Texas to cover digital breast tomosynthesis, also known as 3-D mammography™, for breast cancer screening and diagnosis. House Bill 1036 was introduced on Jan. 1 by Texas Rep. Senfronia Thompson (D-Houston).

In November 2014, the American College of Radiology released this position statement on 3-D mammography: “To be clear; tomosynthesis (3-D) is no longer investigational. It has been shown to improve key screening parameters compared to (2D) digital mammography. The College applauds the decision by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) to facilitate access to these exams by covering beneficiaries for tomosynthesis and urges private payers to do the same.”

In 2016, Blue Cross Blue Shield began its 3-D mammography coverage in Texas, and Cigna announced on August 23, 2016, that they would begin providing coverage, becoming the first national private insurer to cover 3-D mammograms.  Just this week, United Healthcare announced a similar decision – adding 3-D mammography to its list of covered services for screening and diagnostic mammography effective Apr. 1.

The movement has shifted to other state legislatures who have already passed similar legislation to HB1036.  These states include Connecticut, Pennsylvania, Illinois, and just last week, New York.  

Research has proven the effectiveness of 3-D mammography, demonstrating increases in early detection of breast cancer by 54 percent and decreases in recall rates by 37 percent, as published in the American Journal of Roentgenology (2013).  Early detection contributes to long-term survival and also to quality of life as masses found earlier will likely result in less aggressive treatment.

“In 2010 (nearly seven years ago), Solis Mammography’s Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Steven Rose, presented the very first patient in the country to be diagnosed with 3-D alone to a Food and Drug Administration panel,” said James Polfreman, CEO of Solis Mammography. “In 2011, the FDA approved 3-D mammography, and in 2015, Medicare announced its decision to cover 3-D.  It’s been another full two years since Medicare’s decision and we are still seeing too many women who have health insurance, but can’t get the best screening technology available because of a lack of coverage.  This is simply not acceptable and women deserve better.”

For women whose insurance does not cover the cost of 3-D, out-of-pocket expenses can range from $50 to $150 for the added benefits and specificity of 3-D mammography.  These benefits include:

• 3-D mammography provides around 60 layers of images, allowing radiologists to see cancers as early as stage zero.
• 3-D mammography is better able to see behind dense breast tissue, which is important for breast cancer detection as not all breast cancers cause a lump in the breast that can be felt.
• 3-D mammography enhances the accuracy of breast cancer screenings by increasing specificity of early detection, reducing unnecessary callbacks (aka, false positives) and reducing the need for unnecessary biopsies and other follow-up testing.

For more information on HB1036, visit Texans for Breast Health.  Advocates for the bill can sign up to receive regular updates on its progress and/or how they can get involved to join in the fight for equal access to the best mammography screening available.

(FT. WORTH, March 1, 2017) When the Fort Worth Boat Expo returns to Amon G. Carter -William Rogers Exhibit Hall from March 16 through 19, 2017, consumers will have a chance to see some of the crossover breeds and more versatile boats that are shepherding a new generation to become boaters.

Although crossover boats are the newest breed of inboard, they’ve grown to practically dominate the market.

“Building a boat with versatility doesn’t happen overnight. Over the past three decades, crossovers have slowly evolved into the more family and creature-comfort oriented than a traditional ski boat. Manufacturers know that they have to attract new, younger boaters to gain market share and make more sales. The public has spoken and many of them are asking for these boats that are more versatile and provide an all-in-one experience from fishing to cruising to watersports,” says Bron Beal, executive director of the Fort Worth Boat Expo.

According to Romney Carey, third generation of Granbury’s Carey and Sons Marine, there a is rising popularity and new movement towards year-round boating. “The crossover breeds of deck and outboards are the epitome of appeal for those who don’t want to be restricted to seasonal boating. There are lines that allow boaters to shred the waves and enjoy a summer afternoon on the lake on a roomy swim deck.  They can also enjoy the boats during the cooler months with deep spacious seating for family and friends to tool around the lake and cast a few fishing lines” he says.

Carey continues, “Instead of an 18-foot boat, people are buying 22- to 26- foot boats. Bigger and better with more upgrades and versatility. Basically, the boat business is on steroids. You can see this evidenced on one of the many area lakes, including Possum Kingdom Lake or Eagle Mountain Lake.”

Beal knows better than anyone that the Fort Worth Boat Expo brings the opportunity for guests to “see, touch, feel and experience life on the water. This is a place where people can daydream today and bring a boat home tomorrow.”

Fort Worth-area Dealers include:

• Eagle Marine: Fort Worth
• Texas Motorcraft: Fort Worth
• Carey and Sons Marine: Granbury
• Fun-n-sun Boats: Euless, Hurst
• Freedom Powersports: Hurst
• North Texas Marine: Fort Worth

When:  

Thursday, March 16            3-8 p.m. (FREE ADMISSION)

Friday, March 17                3–8 p.m.  (FREE ADMISSION)

Saturday, March 18            10 a.m.-8 p.m.

Sunday, March 19              10 a.m. – 5 p.m.

Where:          

Amon G. Carter Exhibit Hall | Will Rogers Memorial Complex

3400 Burnett Tandy Dr.

Fort Worth, Texas, 76107

Cost & Ticket Information:       

            $10 Adults

            Children 16 and under FREE

            Tickets for the show are only available at the door

            Parking from $3-$10

For more information about the Fort Worth Boat Expo, go to fortworthboatexpo.com. Connect on Facebook – www.facebook.com/dfwboatexpo and Twitter –@dfwboatexpo.

Boating Brands Represented:

Bennington, Regal , Yamaha , South Bay, Four Winns, Triton, Glastron, Blue Wave, Berkshire Pontoons, Xpress Boats, Sea Hunt, Xcursion, Cobalt Boats, Starcraft, Supra, Moomba , Chaparral, Cruisers Yachts, G3 Boats, Southwind, Skeeter, Nautic Star, Rinker, Hurricane, Sweetwater/Godfrey, Aqua Patio, San Pan, Polar Craft, Malibu, Axis, Correct Craft/Nautique, Legend Boats, Sportsman, Sun Chaser, Avalon, Caravelle, Hurricane, Epic, Nautic Star, Clearwater, Veranda, Xpress Boats, Skeeter, Supreme, Starcraft, Sylvan, Monterey, Crest, Sea Fox  Sea Ray, Boston Whaler, Harris Flote Bote, Bayliner, Meridian, Grady White, and more

About The United Boat Dealers of North Texas:

The United Boat Dealers of North Texas produces boat shows to support the boating and marine industry in the greater North Texas area; bring together people with a common interest in boating; promote, further and encourage boating through education and outreach programs; and provide exhibitors with a fair and equal opportunity to conduct business with the general public.

Media Contact:

Dana Cobb

972.955.9747

Dana@TrizCom.com