Vol. 21: #19 • Nurses • 5-4-2025 Tidbits of Coachella Valley
Week of May 4, 2025
Nurses: (from page one)
nurses and journeyed to Scutari in the Ottoman Empire where British soldiers were enduring cholera, dysentery, typhus, and chronic diarrhea, with more of the wounded perishing from these diseases than from their battle wounds.
• Many of the deaths were caused by unsanitary practices, and Nightingale established a program of sanitation and hygiene since, unbelievably, handwashing with soap and water was not normal procedure.
• In 1860, she established the first professional school of nursing at St. Thomas Hospital in London. Her book “Notes on Nursing” was used as the principal textbook. Her training school still exists today as part of London’s Kings’ College.
CLARA BARTON
• Clara Barton got her start in nursing as a young girl when her brother David fell off the barn roof and she nursed him back to health. Yet nursing didn’t become her profession at a young age. As an academically-gifted person, she became a teacher at 17, going on to become a New Jersey school headmaster. Clara followed this up with a position as a clerk for the U.S. Patent Office in Washington, D.C., where she was working when the Civil War broke out.
• Wounded soldiers overflowed the city’s streets, and a makeshift hospital was established in the Capitol. Clara tended to the injured, although she had no formal nursing training. Before long, she was a battlefield nurse, applying dressings, distributing supplies, and writing letters for soldiers while traveling with the Union Army.
• Because she had recorded personal information of the soldiers she cared for, she wrote letters to families informing them of missing, wounded, or dead soldiers. After the war ended, she formed the Bureau of Records of Missing Men of the
Armies of the United States. She and 12 others researched the status of thousands of soldiers, eventually identifying over 22,000 missing soldiers, and responding to upwards of 63,000 inquiries.
• Badly in need of a rest following her war-time duties, Clara Barton traveled to Switzerland for respite. Here she learned about a non-political humanitarian organization called the Red Cross and how they helped people in great need due to natural disasters, wars and other dire circumstances.
• She managed to get a meeting with President Chester Arthur and convinced him of the need for a similar group that would provide aid during such disasters. With his agreement and support, she founded the American Red Cross in 1881 and provided disaster relief to victims of Pennsylvania’s catastrophic Johnstown Flood, and deadly hurricanes and tidal waves in South Carolina and Texas.
NURSES OF NOTE
• Eight American military nurses died while serving in Vietnam, two in a helicopter crash, three in plane crashes, one from illness, one from a stroke, and another who was the only nurse killed as a direct result of hostile fire. Sharon Lane had volunteered for the front line and was working at the 312th Evacuation Hospital when the ward suffered a direct hit from a Viet Cong 122mm rocket, killing Lane. The names of all eight women are inscribed on the Vietnam Memorial Wall.
• Hazel gained fame in 1979 when she became the first black female general in the U.S. Army. Her accomplishments also included appointment as Chief of Army Nurse Corps, supervising 7,000 nurses, and Director of the Walter Reed Army Institute of Nursing.
• British nurse Edith Cavell sacrificed her life for nursing during World War I. In addition to caring for thousands of wounded soldiers, Cavell became involved in the underground, hiding wounded British and French soldiers and aiding them in their escape from German-occupied Belgium. But she was discovered while helping 200 Allied soldiers in their flight, and was held in a German prison for ten weeks, much of it in solitary confinement, before being executed by firing squad in 1915.
• Renowned poet Walt Whitman is famous for his
1. Who was known as "The Angel of the Battlefield?
2. What color were the original nurse uniforms?
Dame Cicely Saunders is considered the founder of modern hospice care. Trained as a nurse at the Nightingale School of Nursing, she began working with terminallyill patients, and in 1967 established the first modern hospice, resolute in her conviction that dying people need "dignity, compassion and respect." In her words, "You matter because you are you; you matter to the last moment of your life."
• Hazel Johnson-Brown didn’t allow racial discrimination to stand in her way. After being rejected by the West Chester School of Nursing because she was black, she moved on to the Harlem School of Nursing in 1947, and worked in the Harlem Hospital emergency ward following graduation.
• She enlisted in the U.S. Army in 1955 and served in the Army Nurse Corps. Her unit was assigned to Vietnam, but just before deployment, Hazel fell ill and another took her place. Shortly after arriving in Vietnam, that unit was attacked and that substitute nurse and several others were killed.
by Dana Jackson
Q: Is it true that Billy Ray Cyrus is dating Elizabeth Hurley? I thought he was married. -- K.S.
A: The “Achy Breaky Heart” singer and father of Miley Cyrus recently went public with his new romance with actress Elizabeth Hurley (“Runaways”). Billy Ray Cyrus was married to Tish Cyrus for 29 years before they split. He then wed a singer named Firerose who was 29 years his junior, but they divorced less than a year later.
His relationship with Firerose seemed to cause a rift between him and his children. Perhaps Hurley can be the bridge that brings them back together. Her 23-year-old son, Damian, publicly gave his approval of their relationship with a heart emoji after the couple went Instagram official.
Q: Whatever happened to Marvel’s “Blade” series? Did it just get delayed, or has it been scrapped altogether? -- D.D.
A: The 1998 film “Blade,” which was originally a Marvel comic, starred Wesley Snipes as a half-vampire/half-mortal. It inspired two more sequels, and Snipes also made a cameo as Blade
in “Deadpool & Wolverine” last year. Since 2019, there’s been plans for a “Blade” reboot film (not a series, at least not yet) starring Oscar-winning actor Mahershala Ali.
Actor Delroy Lindo, who currently appears in another vampire flick “Sinners,” was among the cast for the new “Blade” and spoke to Entertainment Weekly about the delayed project. He eventually left the film during its development process after it “went off the rails.”
He stated that Marvel “seemed to be really interested in my input” and that conversations with the producers, writer and director at the time was “all leading into it being very inclusive.” But creative differences prevailed, and Lindo moved on to other projects like “Sinners.”
Marvel pulled “Blade” from its 2025 release calendar after production got pushed back by the pandemic and the Hollywood industry strikes. Meanwhile, Kevin Feige, president of Marvel Studios, says that he remains committed to Ali’s take on the character and that the character “will be coming to the MCU.”
Ali, who won respective Oscars in 2017 and 2019 for “Moonlight” and “Green Book,” can be seen in the upcoming “Jurassic World: Rebirth” and has several other projects lined up.
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Q: Did the actor who played the judge on “Elsbeth” once appear on “Lost?” I had never seen him before this show, but it’s got to be him. -- S.E.
A: Yes, Michael Emerson joined the hit mystery-drama series “Lost” in 2006, in what was initially a short-term role. However, he became a full-time cast member beginning in season three. He then starred in another hit series “Person of Interest” on CBS with Jim Caviezel, which lasted five seasons. Then he landed another hit -- “Evil”
on Paramount+.
I’m willing to bet that his favorite acting gig so far has been playing a villain opposite his reallife wife of 26 years, Carrie Preston, on “Elsbeth.” About filming their final scene together, he told TV Insider, “We were ready for writing this strong, and when we got it, we could play it.”
Send me your questions at NewCelebrityExtra@gmail.com, or write me at KFWS, 628 Virginia Drive, Orlando, FL 32803.
(c) 2025 King Features Synd., Inc.
Depositphotos
Elizabeth Hurley (“Runaways”)
EXTRAORDINARY NAMES
Holidays & Observances This Week
5/4
5/5
5/6 Nurse Appreciation Day
5/7 School Nurses Day
5/8 Student Nurses Day
5/9 Child Care Provider Day
5/10 National Hamster Day
Dog Talk with Uncle Matty
By Matthew Margolis
Are You Encouraging Your Dog’s Problem Behavior?
Not to wag fingers instead of tails, but the vast majority of dog problems are actually people problems. The dog’s doing the misbehaving, to be sure, but odds are the owner either created or encouraged the behavior without even realizing it.
People who feed their dog at any time of the day or night and in every room of the house teach him that the dinner table is you and dinnertime is all the time. Essentially, they are teaching their dog to beg. Inevitably, they come to regret it.
Adult dogs that develop the destructive habit of chewing usually do so out of either boredom or frustration from inappropriate confinement. A bored dog will chew to expend pent up energy that would be better relieved through exercise. And a dog left alone for hours in a small room behind a closed door will chew to escape. Again, problem behavior is caused by owners who lack a basic understanding of their dog’s needs.
Dogs who jump on furniture are usually dogs who are invited to sleep in the bed with their owner. How is he to know that the bed is OK but the couch is off limits?
Dogs who jump on people can ultimately be traced to owners who reward the behavior -- if only sometimes -- because they think it’s cute. But a dog who is encouraged to jump on his owner when his owner is in a playful mood can’t be expected to know not to jump on his owner or anyone else when they aren’t expecting it or in the mood.
Of course, there are problem behaviors and then there are problem behaviors.
Biting behavior, for example, often starts with an owner who literally inserts his hand in his dog’s mouth during the course of play, essentially teaching the dog to bite. Excessive authority or dominance and abusive punishment on the part of the owner will also create a dog who bites and growls out of fear.
Several years ago a big, "all-knowing" Ivy League university decided that we should no longer be called seniors or elderly. Instead, we should "properly" be called “a person over 65” or maybe “older adult.”
They went so far as to direct students at the university to follow “various guidelines” to ensure that ... well, what? That we’re not insulted by being called seniors? That they’re not inviting bias by calling us elderly?
What a bunch of complete hooey!
The problem is that those guidelines don’t all agree. While one says to avoid the label “elderly,” another says it is “permitted in headlines due to space constraints.” In other words, it’s OK to use the offending word when it’s more convenient for the user?
Again, what hooey!
Scrolling around the internet I see that universities, institutes, corporations and others are all copying off each other’s usage and deciding that certain words ought to be banned when
White Kitchens
White kitchens never go out of style. It seems every decade or so the famous All White Kitchen comes around voguing. Those that love all white kitchens are thrilled, and those who don’t often criticize them for being monochromatic and boring. White kitchens are generally bright, tend to look bigger and are great for every season and compliment every style of decor.
In an all white kitchen, any accents stand out better. Accent tiles, marble, granite or quartz countertops are highlighted against an all white background. Any knobs or pulls will also stand out when placed on white cabinets. All white kitchens are versatile, because they can change easily. Here are some ideas to help update your classic or outdated all white kitchen.
--Shelves over closed upper cabinets are trending right now. Inspired by working kitchens seen in restaurants and hotels, open shelving is a great and easy way to stack dishes, glassware, pots and pans, and even groceries such as canned and boxed goods. Open shelving makes goods easy to reach, but beware -- it takes a great deal or organization and housekeeping to keep shelves from looking cluttered.
it comes to age reference. Instead of saying “a group of seniors,” they want writers to insert a non-specific number, such as “persons 65 years and older.”
Many of the style guides seem to be fixated on age 65, yet others suggest leaving the actual number out altogether if possible. It’s safer that way. They must be "correct" and set the proper example lest they be criticized by the PC police.
Personally, I hold my title of senior with pride! I've already outlived many friends and acquaintences I've known during my lifetime and I believe I still have years to go. I don’t care if someone wants to call me a senior as long as they’re willing to help me by reaching for the item on the high shelf at the grocery store. But I do care if some self-serving clerk at the dealership tries to sell me an unnecessary service for my car just because I’m an older female. I do care that the guy at the cellphone store doesn’t doubt me when I say that my phone battery is defective. And I do care that my Social Security check is deposited on time.
The Merriam-Webster dictionary, bless their hearts, lists several definitions for “senior.” I like the second one: "A person with higher standing or rank."
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Matilda Charles regrets that she cannot personally answer reader questions, but will incorporate them into her column whenever possible. Send email to columnreply2@ gmail.com.
(c) KingFeaturesSyndicate2025
gize the vibe by painting the walls a bright orange color, or choosing a wallpaper with a great motif of your choice.
--When paired with wood and stone, white kitchen are warm and create a classic combination. When accented in black, white kitchens create a very graphic and dramatic duo. The key is to use the black in small doses. For example, using black for a specific location such as the cabinetry for an island, or for the legs of a table or chairs. Black also looks great on countertops, but is a bit maintenance-intense because you can see most every crumb.
Add an industrial touch to your all white kitchen by adding chrome or metal shelving for stacking your utensils. Also a great industrial add on are metal warehouse lighting fixtures over an island or cooktop. A stainless steel hood over the cooktop also works at giving the kitchen a punch.
--Subway tiles have been in style for over 100 years. Today, subway tiles are made in classic white, but also in a wide variety of tones for a splash of color. They have also been enhanced with stainless steel, glass and even mother of pearl for a creative twist on a classic look.
Cody’s Corner (from page 9)
times frightening behavior that, at its core, boils down to an instinctive need to defend territory. The territory in dispute could be anything -- a yard, a house, food, a toy or even a person. That’s right. Your dog might not be protecting you because he loves you so much. He might simply be guarding a resource.
This territorial instinct coupled with improper socialization or a total lack of socialization makes a dog a likely candidate for dogfighting.
Recently, I was talking to a woman who says her dog guards his toys and doesn’t “play nicely” with other dogs. So what does she do? She takes him to the dog park and brings his favorite toys. In doing so, she is encouraging the very behavior she wants to curb.
But dog aggression toward people or other dogs comes with dire consequences. Dogs get hurt. People get hurt. Homeowners insurance gets dropped. Expenses mount. Frustrations build. Tension bubbles. And with that kind of negative energy between owner and dog, you can only expect more trouble.
This is why it’s so important to understand the role we play in our dogs’ lives beyond the basics of food and shelter. We as dog owners exercise enormous influence over our dogs’ behavior. Taking the time to examine the connection between our behavior and theirs empowers us to bring about the positive behaviors we want from our dogs. And it gives our dogs the chance to please us, which is all they really want.
Woof!
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Dog trainer Matthew “Uncle Matty” Margolis is the co-author of 18 books about dogs, a behaviorist, a popular radio and television guest, and the host of the PBS series “WOOF! It’s a Dog’s Life!” Read all of Uncle Matty’s columns at www.creators.com, and visit him at www.unclematty.com.
--Waterfall countertops are high on most homeowners’ and renovators’ lists. These countertops meet a vertical piece of the same stone for an almost seamless transition, which creates the side of the cabinet. This continuous counter treatment makes counters look longer, and has a more contemporary feel.
--One way to change the look is by tackling the walls. White looks beautiful with almost any color. You can either paint the walls a nice soft mint green for a fresh garden feeling, or ener-
White kitchens and white appliances are here to stay. While true that they are a bit basic, it is all in the treatment of all other details that can make an ordinary kitchen into an extraordinary placed in your home.
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Joseph Pubillones is the owner of Joseph Pubillones Interiors, an award-winning interior design firm based in Palm Beach, Fla. To find out more about Joseph Pubillones, or to read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate website at www. creators.com.
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-- by Jim Miller
Strategies for Paying Off Credit Card Debt
DEAR SAVVY SENIOR: My husband and I are retired and I am sorry to confess we have accumulated about $7,000 in credit card debt over the past few years. We need some advice on how to get this debt paid off as painlessly as possible. What can you tell us? -- Now Underwater
Dear Now Under: I’m sorry to hear about your financial woes but know that you’re not alone. Credit card debt has become a big problem in this country for millions of older Americans. According to a recent AARP report, 52 percent of adults ages 50 to 64 have credit card debt, along with 42 percent of those ages 65 to 74.
Rising costs of basic expenses like food, housing, utilities and health care are the main culprits. But now, new tariffs on products made in China and other foreign countries will make
many goods more expensive, at least temporarily, which could make this problem worse. Of older adults carrying a balance, nearly half owe $5,000 or more, and nearly a third owe upwards of $10,000.
While paying off credit card debt can feel overwhelming, it’s doable with a solid plan and a bit of belt-tightening and persistence. Here are some strategies to help you tackle it:
Create a Budget
Start by taking a close look at your income and expenses to see where you can free up money to put toward your credit card debt. Also look for areas to reduce spending, such as dining out, entertainment or subscriptions. And see if you’re eligible for any financial assistance programs (see BenefitsCheckUp.org) that can help boost your budget by paying for things like food, utilities, medicine and health care.
Call the Card Company
While the average credit-card interest rate is more than 20 percent, some credit card companies may be willing to lower your interest rate or work out a payment plan, especially if you’re struggling. It doesn’t hurt to ask.
Pay More Than the Minimum Credit card companies only require the
credit counseling agency (see NFCC.org) to create a debt management plan for you. At no cost, a counselor will go over your income and debts and determine what’s workable. The counselor will then negotiate with your lenders, to get a payment plan that will lower your interest and monthly payments and possibly even forgive some debt.
If you accept their negotiated offer, you’ll start making one monthly payment to the counseling service, which will in turn pay the issuers. You’ll likely pay the agency a small fee and give up the cards included in the plan, but over time you’ll be able to pay off your debt.
Send your senior questions to: Savvy Senior, P.O. Box 5443, Norman, OK 73070, or visit SavvySenior. org. Jim Miller is a contributor to the NBC Today show and author of “The Savvy Senior” book.
-- Clara Barton
GO FIGURE!
by Linda Thistle
The idea of Go Figure is to arrive at the figures given at the bottom and right-hand columns of the diagram by following the arithmetic signs in the order they are given (that is, from left to right and top to bottom). Use only the numbers below the diagram to complete its blank squares and use each of the nine numbers only once.
1. Kelsey Grammer for “Wings,” “Cheers” and “Frasier.” 2. George C. Scott, for “Patton.” 3. Naples, Italy.
DIFFICULTY:
6. Gene Sarazen, Ben Hogan, Gary Player, Jack Nicklaus, Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy. 7. The aorta. 8. Short stories.
