The Public Health Fear Factor

( C ontinued from prev ious page ) weight. Obese children grow up to be obese adults. ln turn, this is associated with increased risks of diabetes, heart attack and stroke.

Parents and communities must focus on the real issues affecting our children's health. For instance, the number one killer of America's children is unintentional injury. We can dramatically reduce these risks by taking simple steps like properly using child car seats and keeping firearms secure. That's where we need to focus our energy and our resources to protect our children in measurable ways.

The parental instinct to protect our children is a precious and communitystrengthening commodity. Parents and others responsible for the health and safety of children should be constantly vigilant. But, when it comes to matters of science, be wary of hype, error and incomplete information.

That's the best way to overcome the public health fear factor.

Louis W. Sullivan, M.D, president emeritus of Morehouse School of Medicine, served as Secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services in the first Bush Administration, I 989- I 993.

Doug Fir Now Houses Killer

California forest researchers have discovered that Douglas fir has now joined the growing list of trees infected with sudden oak death syndrome.

The disease, which has killed thousands of oak trees in California in the last few years, was discovered last month in Douglas fir saplings in Sonoma County.

At this point the disease has not been found in mature Douglas fir trunks and researchers say it is too early to know when or if it will affect the big trees.

Early this year scientists at University of California at Berkeley found that redwood trees contained sudden oak death syndrome spores (see February, p. 25).

Already the possible economic impact of the study was being felt in the state as Douglas fir and redwood were added to the government's list of trees susceptible to the disease.

The trees will now be subject to evolving federal and state quarantine regulations aimed at stopping the spread of the disease.

Douglas fir harvests in the United States are worth a $1 billion a yearany epidemic would be devastating to the industry.

"We were stunned," said Dr. David Rizzo, plant pathologist, University of California at Davis. "Douglas fir goes up into British Columbia, so this is a big deal."

In the aftermath of the discovery, California governor Gray Davis wrote to President Bush asking for $10 million in federal aid to help guard asainst the disease.

Members of the forest products industry and association representatives have been trying to lessen the potential impact of quarantine measures by suggesting that only parts of the trees should be regulated.

Current federal regulations stipulate that during harvest the bark is to be removed and left on site, and the log is to be accompanied by a certificate before its shipped out of state.

The potential disruption in timber supply lines concerns many in the industry.

"We need to make sure it doesn't become a huge bottleneck," said David Bischel, president of the California Forestry Association.

First discovered in 1995 in Marin County, Ca., sudden oak death syndrome is believed to have now infected 17 known plant species in California.

Scams Hit L.A. Area Depot

The parking lot of the Home Depot store in Glendale, Ca., recently has become a playground for a variety of scam artists.

Most recently, a woman approached a man in the Depot parking lot asking for a ride to a nearby church. In the car she told the man she had recently inherited $100,000 from a deceased uncle.

The two then met up with an acquaintance of the woman's, who asked to be driven to a bank.

After the victim withdrew money from the bank, the woman grabbed his money and tossed it over a fence, where another man grabbed it and drove off.

Another incident involved a woman pretending to faint in the same Depot parking lot. The woman's acquaintance asked a nearby man for help, and when the victim helped her into his car to recuperate, the woman grabbed a money bag from the man and fled.

Two Hayward Yards Strike

After months of negotiations failed to nail down a contract with guaranteed 4O-hour work weeks, union workers have gone on strike at two Hayward Lumber yards in Central California.

Yard workers at the Monterey, Ca.-based pro chain's Santa Barbara and Goleta, Ca., locations set up picket lines in mid-September.

On Sept. 16, members of the

Teamsters Local 186 directed contractors attempting to enter the Santa Barbara yard to look elsewhere for lumber and other supplies.

"There's a strike here. Go to Home Improvement (Center)," said Local 186 chief executive Bill Elder to a man in a truck who later pulled away from the yard, saying, "I'm sorry, I didn't know about this."

The union claims that Hayward Lumber is seeking to trim the 40-hour week when work is slow. Workers argue this will undermine full-time employment and benefits.

"Not guaranteeing a 40-hour work week means they can send us home when they want to," said Abe Alvarcz, an l8-year veteran of the lumber yard.

Hayward officials state they have given their final offer, which includes a three-year contract they say is "extremely fair."

The workers' previous contract, written under the yards' former owner, County Lumber Co., expired June 30.

Federal mediators intervened in the talks between the 22 union members and Hayward management, but failed to reach a consensus.