Pam Bunch

There is no cure for AIDS currently and there is no HIV vaccine, yet. The National Institutes of Health says that, "Safe, effective , and affordable vaccines that can prevent HIV are the best hope for controlling and/or ending the AIDS epidemic."

The Annual Veteran's Administration VA Research Week is going on today through May 17th all across the country. I spoke with Dr. Joel Kupersmith, Chief Research and Development Officer, Veteran's Health Administration at the Department of Veteran's Affairs last week as he was preparing for this week's activities.

Dr Kupersmith says the week is designed to highlight the groundbreaking achievements of VA investigators, and to honor the Veteran Volunteers who participate in many VA Research studies.  Accordingly, this year's theme is "VA Research Inspires."

The first thing to say about this book is that it is intended to be read by MATURE AUDIENCES  to adult language and adult situations. 

The second thing to say about this book is that it is the truth and it is a wonderfully funny and touchingly sad at the same time.  Sharon L. Hicks says she always intended to tell the story of her mother's mental illness.  In "How Do You Grab A Naked Lady?", Hicks tells it all in unflinching detail.  And, by telling the story of her mother, she ends up telling her own story.

May is Mental Health Month, and perhaps now, more than ever before, this issue of mental health is something that everyone has to deal with concerning someone in his or her family.  May is also the month when St. Luke's Hospital shines a light on mental health with a special event.  I spoke recently to Becky Brodar, RN and Community Outreach Coordinator for St. Lukes Center for Behavioral Medicine in Columbus, NC.

At a time when immigration is a topic that is discussed with clarity by almost everyone except our lawmakers in Washington, DC, I wanted to approach the topic from a different angle.  Then I remembered that I had recently read - and loved - a book about immigrants and written by Asheville author Cynthia Drew.

Is your child a picky eater...have a lot of tummy aches...or ear aches...or can't sleep...or has ADD...or just temper tantrums?  As parents, most of us have grown up with the idea that no matter what the problem, you take your child to the pediatrician or family physician and it will be diagnosed and fixed with a pill.

Kelly Dorfman, MS, LND, has a better idea...Why not check to see if the problem might be as simple as a food allergy? 

For anyone who has ever said, "What we really need is another government, one that works", perhaps this is the answer. 

Chimney Rock State Park will be all a-buzz on Saturday, April 27th as Bee City USA comes to spend the day. Phyllis Stiles, Director of Bee City USA, a program of the Center for Honeybee Research and the Rutherford County Beekeepers Association, will provide a day of fun activities and information about honeybees, their dwindling numbers and what you can do to help these vital members of the insect population.  Tune in Thursday to hear about a fun day for the whole family at Chimney Rock and an ecological issue that we all have to face.

On Wednesday, April 24th, it's Denim Day in Haywood County. No, it's not just another 'casual' day. It's a day dedicated to remember the victims of domestic violence and sexual assault.  The story of how it came to be referred to as "Denim Day" is truly amazing. This is not a story for the very young, but it's a story that has to be told. Tune in Monday, April 22 at 8:50 am to hear this very important interview with Buffy Queen, Community Educator with Reach of Haywood.