Dear Editor,
It is a great honor to serve Tolono as your new Postmaster. In my years with the United
States Postal Service, I have seen firsthand the role the Postal Service plays connecting
neighbors and our community to the nation. Our Post Offices serve as a lifeline for our
small businesses to reach customers no matter where they are.
Under Postmaster General Louis DeJoy’s leadership and Delivering For America, the
Postal Service’s 10-year plan, we are maintaining universal six-day mail delivery and
expanded seven-day package delivery, stabilizing our workforce, and spurring innovation
to meet the needs of our modern customers.
Just as the Postal Service continues to provide a vital service for our nation, the staff of
the Tolono Post Office will proudly continue that same public service in this community.
On behalf of the 650,000 women and men of the United States Postal Service, I thank
you for continuing to support the Postal Service. Providing reliable mail delivery while
strengthening the future of this treasured institution is our commitment to you.
Sincerely,
Nicole Summar
Postmaster
Winning style; Urbana sweeps SJO in first home match of the season
Urbana's Alisa Tangmunarunkit lines up a shot while playing on the #1 singles court against St. Joseph-Ogden's Abbey Dowell during the team's first home match yesterday. Tangmunarunkit won the protracted battle 6-2, 6-3. After a short rest, she returned to the court at #1 doubles match with partner Luna Morales. The pair defeated Spartans duo Katie McDermott and Lilly Rice, 6-1, 6-1. The Tigers won the non-conference match, 9-0.
Photo: PhotoNews Media/Clark Brooks
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Today's prep sports streaming broadcast
Watch your Sentinel area team play live on your favorite streaming device. Here is a list of today's games available on the NFHS Network. Click on the links below to watch your team play in real-time tonight or later at your convenience.
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** Just so you know: The Sentinel is reader-supported. When you make a purchase via a link on our site, we might earn an affiliate commission that we will use bring you more area news and sports coverage.
Prep Sports Notebook: SJO soccer post shutout on the road, Unity VB drops tough one
Unity soccer team notches first win
Nolan Remole scored Unity's first goal of the season in the first half of the team's road opener at St. Teresa. The sophomore later added an assist to his stats to help the Rockets roll over the host Bulldogs, 7-1.
Junior Gabe Pound followed up with two goals in the half, one with the help of Remole and the second unassisted. He later put the final nail in the Bulldog coffin in the second period on an assist from another sophomore, Nolan Wishall.
Two other Rocket ballers found the net in the second half as well. Brendan Bachert booted in an unassisted goal, and Andrew Mowrer took advantage of a pass from Travis McCarter to give their team a commanding 6-1 lead.
Valencia-Chavez scored St. Teresa's only goal in the second half.
Tigers sweep SJO tennis
The Urbana girls tennis program picked up their first dual match victory of the season via a 9-0 shutout over fledgling St. Joseph-Ogden program late Tuesday afternoon. The Tigers' top six players - Alisa Tangmunarunkit, Matika Pounginjai, Eisla Madigan, Luna Morales, Halie Thompson, and Lorelie Yau - won both their singles matches and respective double bouts against the Spartans. On the top court at #1 singles, senior Abbey Dow was the only SJO player to win three games in a set. Despite her strong serving effort and offensive play, she fell 6-2, 6-3 to Urbana's Alisa Tangmunarunkit.Greer leads SJO in Argenta-Oreana shutout
The St. Joseph-Ogden soccer team improved to 1-0-1 on the season after a 3-0 blanking on the road at Argenta-Orena. After a scoreless first half, Jackson Greer put two balls between the posts to give the Spartans a 2-0 lead. Ryker Lockhart booked his second goal of his inaugural season with SJO thanks to a feed from Aiden Cromwell to close out the scoring effort for both teams. Cromwell was also credited with an assist on Greer's first goal and sophomore Logan Mills earned the assist on the second. Hunter Ketchum made nine saves protecting the Spartan goal.Rockets' volleyball squad drops non-con at LeRoy
The Unity volleyball team suffered a road loss at LeRoy in a gritty two-setter on Tuesday evening. The Panthers prevailed besting the Rockets 32-30, 25-23.Attention area high school coaches
We need your help covering your team this fall to help keep fans, college recruiters, and area readers informed. Please send us your game or meet results for our Prep Sports Notebook and weekly stats leaders for our All-Area team selection after the conclusion of the season. If you are a coach at Unity, Urbana Uni-High, Urbana High School or St. Joseph-Ogden, the best way to send us box scores, statistical leaders for each game, and other info via email to sports@oursentinel.com or editor@oursentinel.com. Do you have a player on the verge of breaking a school record, signing an LOI, or have a story idea? Don't hesitate to email us.Prep Sports Notebook: SJO soccer, volleyball miss opening victories
SJO Volleyball falls 2-1 to Maroa-Forsyth
After dropping the first set 26-24 to the visiting Trojans from Maroa-Forysth, the host Spartans rallied back to take the second 26-24 in their home opener on Monday. Unfortunately, the St. Joseph-Ogden volleyball team couldn't blast their way past the Trojans dropping the third set, 25-17.
SJO (1-1) will regroup to host Georgetown-Ridge Farm on Wednesday in another early-season non-conference contest.
The Spartan JV team also tallied a 2-0 loss to Maroa-Forysth. Earlier, the SJO freshman squad earned a 2-0 victory in the opening contest.
They had opportunities, SJO soccer records tie
SJO senior Aiden Cromwell dribbles the ball down the field in the second half of SJO's first home game of the season. See more photos from the game. (Photo: PhotoNews Media/Clark Brooks)
Despite their senior-heavy roster, the St. Joseph-Ogden soccer team was unable to convert a needed second goal to record a win over the visiting Oakwood. The Spartans (0-0-1) had three chances in the last 5 minutes of the home season opener but were unsuccessful in putting the ball between the posts. SJO freshman Ryker Lockhart booted the team's first goal of the season on an assist from Spencer Wilson in the first half. Oakwood responded early in the second half with a goal of their own from Grant Powell. Teammate Reef Pacot was credited with the assist. The Spartans play their next two matches on the road. Later this afternoon, the Lockhart and the Spartans take on the Bombers from Argenta-Oreana. Then 24 hours later, square off against another orange & blue team in Urbana taking on the Illineks of University High.
Unity varsity volleyball fall toe Blue Devils
Bismarck-Henning handed the Rockets' volleyball team a 2-1 loss at the Rocket Center. Both the JV squad and freshman Unity teams notched decisive 2-0 victories. The UHS volleyball team will play at home again on Thursday at 6p against Mattoon.Attention area high school coaches
We need your help covering your team this fall to help keep fans, college recruiters, and area readers informed. Please send us your game or meet results for our Prep Sports Notebook and weekly stats leaders for our All-Area team selection after the conclusion of the season. If you are a coach at Unity, Urbana Uni-High, Urbana High School or St. Joseph-Ogden, the best way to send us box scores, statistical leaders for each game, and other info via email to sports@oursentinel.com or editor@oursentinel.com. Do you have a player on the verge of breaking a school record, signing an LOI, or have a story idea? Don't hesitate to email us.Today's area preps stream online: Unity, SJO soccer play on the road
Watch your Sentinel area team play live on your favorite streaming device. Here is a list of today's games available on the NFHS Network. Click on the links below to watch your team play in real-time tonight or later at your convenience.
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** Just so you know: The Sentinel is reader-supported. When you make a purchase via a link on our site, we might earn an affiliate commission that we will use bring you more area news and sports coverage.
Guest Commentary: Government spending can't be fixed by just one group
by Glenn Mollette, Guest Commentator
According to the IRS, a $400,000 or more annual household income represents America's top 1.8% income-earners. Per IRS Publication 6292, there were 154 million tax returns filed in 2019, thus approximately 2.8 million people earn over $400,000.
There are currently 330 million people living in the United States according to the most recent census. Millions of illegals have, and are crossing our borders, so this number is on steroids.
69.1 million people received benefits from programs administered by the Social Security Administration (SSA) in 2019. 5.7 million people were newly awarded Social Security benefits in 2019. (SSA)
2.8 million people making over $400,000 a year cannot solve the financial problems of America’s government. Telling Americans that we are going to stick it to the rich or 1.8% of our country to carry 70 million retirees and millions of illegals flooding into our country is just political rhetoric.
Most people aren't doing great when it comes to saving for the future: A 2020 SSA study found that 40% of Americans rely on Social Security as their sole source of retirement income. The average annual Social Security benefit for a worker is nearly $20,000, hardly enough money for most retirees to subsist on. (CNBC)
The United States Department of Labor data shows that there were 113,062 pension plans in 1990, but only 46,869 in 2018. The average private pension in the United States today is about $10,788, according to data from the Pension Rights Center. (Annuity.org)
In 2023, the year in which the legislation will increase tax revenue most, individuals making less than $10,000 per year will pay 3.1% more in taxes and those making between $20,000-30,000 per year will see a 1.1% tax increase, the Joint Committee on Taxation (JCT) analysis showed. Tax revenue collected from those making $100,000 per year or less would increase by $5.8 billion in 2023 under the Inflation Reduction Act.
In addition, the share of tax revenue collected from all Americans making more than $200,000 per year would remain at the current percentage, according to the JCT. Taxpayers with an annual income of $200,000 or greater pay more than 57% of all federal income taxes.
Will America’s seniors eventually pay more in taxes? Currently retirees may pay income tax on up to 85% of benefits if your combined income is more than $34,000. Combined incomes between $32,000 and $44,000 may be taxed up to 50% of the total, and above $44,000 may be taxed up to 85% of the total. if you're married and filing a joint return. Do you think these numbers will go down? There is only one way that taxes have gone in America – up.
Our problems cannot be fixed by one small group of America’s people. We must have a flat tax for eveyone making over $50,000. We have to stop the influx of illegals. We must be self sufficient in energy and manufacturing. Many retirees who are physcially able may have to go back to work to survive inflation.
In the meantime, our Government must help us by elminiating the billions of dollars wasted each year. Also, they need to stop trying convince us that they are going to fix our problems by only going after 1.8 percent of the America people.
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According to the IRS, a $400,000 or more annual household income represents America's top 1.8% income-earners. Per IRS Publication 6292, there were 154 million tax returns filed in 2019, thus approximately 2.8 million people earn over $400,000.
There are currently 330 million people living in the United States according to the most recent census. Millions of illegals have, and are crossing our borders, so this number is on steroids.
69.1 million people received benefits from programs administered by the Social Security Administration (SSA) in 2019. 5.7 million people were newly awarded Social Security benefits in 2019. (SSA)
2.8 million people making over $400,000 a year cannot solve the financial problems of America’s government. Telling Americans that we are going to stick it to the rich or 1.8% of our country to carry 70 million retirees and millions of illegals flooding into our country is just political rhetoric.
Most people aren't doing great when it comes to saving for the future: A 2020 SSA study found that 40% of Americans rely on Social Security as their sole source of retirement income. The average annual Social Security benefit for a worker is nearly $20,000, hardly enough money for most retirees to subsist on. (CNBC)
The United States Department of Labor data shows that there were 113,062 pension plans in 1990, but only 46,869 in 2018. The average private pension in the United States today is about $10,788, according to data from the Pension Rights Center. (Annuity.org)
In 2023, the year in which the legislation will increase tax revenue most, individuals making less than $10,000 per year will pay 3.1% more in taxes and those making between $20,000-30,000 per year will see a 1.1% tax increase, the Joint Committee on Taxation (JCT) analysis showed. Tax revenue collected from those making $100,000 per year or less would increase by $5.8 billion in 2023 under the Inflation Reduction Act.
In addition, the share of tax revenue collected from all Americans making more than $200,000 per year would remain at the current percentage, according to the JCT. Taxpayers with an annual income of $200,000 or greater pay more than 57% of all federal income taxes.
Will America’s seniors eventually pay more in taxes? Currently retirees may pay income tax on up to 85% of benefits if your combined income is more than $34,000. Combined incomes between $32,000 and $44,000 may be taxed up to 50% of the total, and above $44,000 may be taxed up to 85% of the total. if you're married and filing a joint return. Do you think these numbers will go down? There is only one way that taxes have gone in America – up.
Our problems cannot be fixed by one small group of America’s people. We must have a flat tax for eveyone making over $50,000. We have to stop the influx of illegals. We must be self sufficient in energy and manufacturing. Many retirees who are physcially able may have to go back to work to survive inflation.
In the meantime, our Government must help us by elminiating the billions of dollars wasted each year. Also, they need to stop trying convince us that they are going to fix our problems by only going after 1.8 percent of the America people.
Dr. Glenn Mollette is a syndicated American columnist and author of Grandpa's Store, American Issues, and ten other books. He is read in all 50 states. The views expressed are those of the author and are not necessarily representative of any other group or organization.
This article is the sole opinions of the author and does not necessarily reflect the views of The Sentinel. We welcome comments and views from our readers. Submit your letters to the editor or commentary on a current event 24/7 to editor@oursentinel.com.
The risk of heart infection higher after Covid when compared to incidence post-vaccination
Study finds the risk of myocarditis was substantially higher in the four weeks after COVID-19 infection than after a first dose of a COVID-19 vaccine.
DALLAS -- In a detailed analysis of nearly 43 million people, the risk of myocarditis in unvaccinated individuals after COVID-19 infection was at least 11 times higher compared to people who developed myocarditis after receiving a COVID-19 vaccine or booster dose, according to new research published today in the American Heart Association’s flagship, peer-reviewed journal Circulation. This analysis included data from England’s National Immunization database for people ages 13 and older who received at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine between December 1, 2020 and December 15, 2021 in England.
Several previous studies and reports from public health agencies around the world including the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have highlighted a possible connection and potentially increased risk of myocarditis after receiving an mRNA COVID-19 vaccine, generating considerable scientific, policy and public interest.
Typically thought to be trigged by a viral infection, myocarditis is the inflammation of the heart muscle, the myocardium. This condition is uncommon and may temporarily or permanently weaken the heart muscle and the heart’s electrical system, which keeps the heart beating normally. An episode of myocarditis may resolve on its own or with treatment, and may result in lasting damage to the heart. In the general population not during a global pandemic, it is estimated that approximately 10 to 20 people per 100,000 are diagnosed with myocarditis each year, according to the American Heart Association’s 2021 scientific statement on myocarditis.
“We found that across this large dataset, the entire COVID-19-vaccinated population of England during an important 12-month period of the pandemic when the COVID-19 vaccines first became available, the risk of myocarditis following COVID-19 vaccination was quite small compared to the risk of myocarditis after COVID-19 infection,” says first author of the study Martina Patone, Ph.D., a statistician at the Nuffield Department of Primary Health Care Sciences at the University of Oxford in Oxford, England. “This analysis provides important information that may help guide public health vaccine campaigns, particularly since COVID-19 vaccination has expanded in many parts of the world to include children as young as 6 months old.”
In this study, Patone and colleagues evaluated England’s National Immunization database of COVID-19 vaccinations for all people ages 13 or older who had received at least one dose of the ChAdOx1 (a two-dose adenovirus-vector COVID-19 vaccine developed by the University of Oxford and AstraZeneca, most similar to the one-dose Johnson & Johnson/Janssen COVID-19 vaccine available in the U.S.), the Pfizer-BioNTech or the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine (the same mRNA vaccines available in the U.S.) between December 1, 2020 and December 15, 2021. This dataset totaled nearly 43 million people, which included more than 21 million who had received a booster dose of any of the COVID-19 vaccines (meaning they had received a total of 3 doses of a COVID-19 vaccine). The database detailed the type of COVID-19 vaccines received, dates received and dose sequencing, along with individual demographic information including age and sex for each individual. Nearly 6 million people tested positive for COVID-19 infection either before or after COVID-19 vaccination during the study period.
England’s National Immunization database records were then cross-referenced and matched to the national offices with data on COVID-19 infection, hospital admission and death certificates for the same time period, December 1, 2020 through December 15, 2021. Individuals were classified based on age and sex to reveal which groups had the highest risk of myocarditis after a COVID-19 vaccine or after COVID-19 infection and hospitalization. The authors used the self-controlled case series (SCCS) method, which was developed to estimate the relative incidence of an acute event in a pre-defined post-vaccination risk period (1-28 days), compared to other times (pre-vaccination or long after vaccination). Being a within-person comparison, the analyses were controlled to adjust for any fixed characteristics, including sex, race or ethnicity, or chronic health conditions.
In the overall dataset of nearly 43 million people, the analyses found:
Area high school sports streams
Watch your Sentinel area team play live on your favorite streaming device. Here is a list of today's games available on the NFHS Network. Click on the links below to watch your team play in real-time tonight or later at your convenience.
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Area softball players earn All-State recognition
Five area players were among over 400 athletes recognized with All-State titles by the Illinois Coaches Association this past spring.
Unity seniors Madeline Reed and Taylor Henry, members of this year's state Class 2A third-place team, and St. Joseph-Ogden junior Shayne Immke were three area players to earn First Team honors out of nearly 600 softball players nominated across the state.
Unity's Ruby Tarr, a sophomore, was named to the second team for her performance as an infielder.
Addy Martinie, from St. Joseph Ogden High School, rounded out this year's area's best also at the infielder position.
Despite exiting early in postseason play, Martinie and Immke helped the Spartans to an impressive 25-9-1 record.
Along with bringing home their second consecutive IHSA softball trophy, the Rockets finished the season with 27 wins against nine losses.
Spartan football team to host four home games
St. Joseph -- The St. Joseph-Ogden football team will play just four regular-season home games at Dick Duval Field this season. The Spartans start their 2022 campaign on the road at Monticello this Friday.
The first home game of the season features SJO hosting long-time rival Unity on September 2; Nokomis for homecoming on September 23; Pontiac two weeks later; and end the regular season at home against the Panthers of Paxton-Buckley-Loda on Senior Night.
As in past years, Spartan head coach Shawn Skinner will begin his 6th season at the helm facing the toughest three teams in the Illini Prairie Conference. SJO opens the season on the road at Monticello on August 26. The Sages, who finished the 2021 season 7-3, won last year's season opener with a decisive 43-8 road win over SJO. After facing last year's Class 3A runner-up Rockets in week 2, SJO is back on the road at Prairie Central. Looking for their first win against the Hawks since week 9 in 2016; the question is will the Hawks' home-field advantage be a factor? The Spartans' game against Nokomis, possibly the first meeting between the two programs in more than two decades, will be interesting. Playing an independent schedule and despite having an enrollment of just 179 students, the program finished the past season with a 7-2 record.
Senior Evan Ingram pivots to handoff the ball after the snap during SJO's 2021 home opener against the Sages. After scoring the Spartans lit the scoreboard with the first TD of the game, Monticello came back to score 43 unanswered points to win the Illini Prairie Conference opener. The two teams will square off again this Friday in Monticello. (Photo: PhotoNews Media/Clark Brooks)
As in past years, Spartan head coach Shawn Skinner will begin his 6th season at the helm facing the toughest three teams in the Illini Prairie Conference. SJO opens the season on the road at Monticello on August 26. The Sages, who finished the 2021 season 7-3, won last year's season opener with a decisive 43-8 road win over SJO. After facing last year's Class 3A runner-up Rockets in week 2, SJO is back on the road at Prairie Central. Looking for their first win against the Hawks since week 9 in 2016; the question is will the Hawks' home-field advantage be a factor? The Spartans' game against Nokomis, possibly the first meeting between the two programs in more than two decades, will be interesting. Playing an independent schedule and despite having an enrollment of just 179 students, the program finished the past season with a 7-2 record.
2022 St. Joseph-Ogden Football Schedule
08/26/2022
@ Monticello
7:00 PM
- 09/02/2022
vs. Unity
7:00 PM
- 09/09/2022
@ Prairie Central
7:00 PM
- 09/16/2022
@ Illinois Valley Central
7:00 PM
- 09/23/2022
vs. Nokomis High School
HOMECOMING GAME
7:00 PM
09/30/2022
@ Bloomington Central Catholic
7:00 PM
- 10/07/2022
vs. Pontiac
7:00 PM
- 10/14/2022
@ Rantoul
7:00 PM
- 10/21/2022
vs. Paxton-Buckley-Loda
7:00 PM
@ Monticello
7:00 PM
- 09/02/2022
vs. Unity
7:00 PM
- 09/09/2022
@ Prairie Central
7:00 PM
- 09/16/2022
@ Illinois Valley Central
7:00 PM
- 09/23/2022
vs. Nokomis High School
HOMECOMING GAME
7:00 PM
09/30/2022
@ Bloomington Central Catholic
7:00 PM
- 10/07/2022
vs. Pontiac
7:00 PM
- 10/14/2022
@ Rantoul
7:00 PM
- 10/21/2022
vs. Paxton-Buckley-Loda
7:00 PM
Rockets advance in three events at state track
Unity's Ashlyn Denney hands off the baton to teammate Arianna Pruitt-LeFairve while competing in the 4x400 Relay at the Illinois High School Association Track & Field State Finals. The Rockets' time of 4:10.38 qualified the squad for the Class 2A finals in Charleston on Saturday. Unity will have an entry in two other events, including the 4x800 Meter Relay and Kayla Nelson in the 200-Meter Dash. See more Unity Rocket photos from state.
Photo: PhotoNews Media/Clark Brooks
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Urbana finishes 5th in relay prelims, squad gets a shot at the state title
May 20, 2022 - Charleston, Illinois - Tiarra Townsend-Cooper takes the baton from teammate Syniyah Quenga during their heat in the 4x200 Meter Relay at the IHSA Girls Track & Field Finals preliminaries. The Tigers' relay squad finished 5th overall in the prelims with a time of 1:44.97 and advance to Saturday's finals. Quenga, a freshman, will also represent Urbana in the 200-Meter Dash finals. See more photos from the girls' state track meet.
Photo: PhotoNews Media/Clark Brooks
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Area yard and garage sales
1061 County Rd 1200 E.
Tolono
May 14 and May 15 / 9 am - 4 pm
Featured items:Gourd birdhouses
Various sizes of dried gourds—$2-4
Mesquite wood posts
10 gal. New black plastic pots
3ft metal conduit tree stakes
4- 4x8 ft 3/4 in. Plywood
4- 4x8 ft sheets wood lattice board
Pieces of weathered wood
Snow fencing - 4 rolls
Portable Basketball stand with hoop & net -almost new
Tv stand free
Girls equestrian almost new black English Riding boots size 6
ECIYO to host spring concert on Sunday
Urbana -- The East Central Illinois Youth Orchestra will present this year's spring concert at Monticello High School's auditorium this Sunday.
The May 15 concert will be free and starts at 7:00 pm.
"The kids have worked long and hard during a challenging time, and the results will be very much worth hearing," said Kevin Kelly, Music Director for the
East Central Illinois Youth Orchestra. "If you have the evening free, I hope you’ll consider attending."
The young musicians who will perform on Sunday are the top high school classical instrumentalists in the area. The student-musician group, who audition individually for their chair, consist of 49 students from Champaign, Urbana, Mahomet, Monticello, and Danville.
In addition to classical pieces from Bach, Tchaikovsky, and Mozart, concert-goers will hear new work by Aaron Rosenstein, a member of the orchestra.
"The kids have worked long and hard during a challenging time, and the results will be very much worth hearing," Kelly added.
SJO basketball coaches earn IBCA accolades
Coach Kiel Duval goes over the Spartans' game plan during their home game against Cissna Park last November. Photo: PhotoNews Media/Clark Brooks
Normal -- SJO basketball head coaches Drew Arteaga and Kiel Duval will be recognized as coaches of the year at the Illinois Basketball Coaches Association annual luncheon today at Redbird Arena. The two St. Joseph-Ogden award winners are among a class of 185 Illinois basketball coaches selected this season. Arteaga led the girls' program to a 24-8 finish in his inaugural season at the helm. Duval's boys' team also finished with a 20-win season with a 23-10 record.
Coach Arteaga watches his team play against the Unity Rockets on February 5. SJO won 49-27 on their way to perfect 10-0 conference record. Photo: PhotoNews Media/Clark Brooks
Mediterranean-style diet shown to reduce risk of preeclampsia during pregnancy
Photo: Edgar Castrejon/Unsplash
DALLAS -- Following a Mediterranean-style diet during pregnancy was associated with a reduced risk of developing preeclampsia, and Black women appeared to have the greatest reduction of risk, according to new research published today in the Journal of the American Heart Association, an open access, peer-reviewed journal of the American Heart Association.
Previous studies have found that following a Mediterranean diet, which consists primarily of vegetables, fruits, legumes, nuts, olive oil, whole grains, and fish, reduces heart disease risk in adults.
Preeclampsia, a condition during pregnancy characterized by severe high blood pressure and liver or kidney damage, is a major cause of complications and death for the mother and her unborn child. Preeclampsia also increases a woman’s risk of heart diseases, such as high blood pressure, heart attack, stroke or heart failure, by more than two times later in life. Women with preeclampsia have a higher risk of preterm delivery (giving birth before 37 weeks gestation) or low birth weight babies, and children born to mothers with preeclampsia are also at higher risk of developing high blood pressure and heart disease.
Black women are at higher risk of developing preeclampsia, yet research on potential treatments for high-risk women are limited, according to the study researchers. The researchers investigated the potential association of a Mediterranean-style diet among a large group of racially and ethnically diverse women who have a high risk of preeclampsia.
“The U.S. has the highest maternal mortality rate among developed countries, and preeclampsia contributes to it,” said Anum S. Minhas, M.D., M.H.S., chief cardiology fellow and a cardio-obstetrics and advanced imaging fellow at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore. “Given these health hazards to both mothers and their children, it is important to identify modifiable factors to prevent the development of preeclampsia, especially among Black women who are at the highest risk of this serious pregnancy complication.”
This study included data for more than 8,500 women enrolled between 1998 and 2016 in the Boston Birth Cohort. Participants’ median age was 25 years old, and they were recruited from Boston Medical Center, which serves a predominantly urban, low-income, under-represented racial and ethnic population. Nearly half of the participants were Black women (47%), about a quarter were Hispanic women(28%) and the remaining were white women or “other” race, according to self-reported information on a postpartum questionnaire. Researchers created a Mediterranean-style diet score based on participants’ responses to food frequency interviews and questionnaires, which were conducted within three days of giving birth.
The analysis found:
10% of the study participants developed preeclampsia.
Women who had any form of diabetes before pregnancy and pre-pregnancy obesity were twice as likely to develop preeclampsia compared to women without those conditions.
The risk of preeclampsia was more than 20% lower among the women who followed a Mediterranean-style diet during pregnancy.
Black women who had the lowest Mediterranean-style diet scores had the highest risk (72% higher) for preeclampsia compared to all other non-Black women who more closely adhered to the Mediterranean-style diet.
“We were surprised that women who more frequently ate foods in the Mediterranean-style diet were significantly less likely to develop preeclampsia, with Black women experiencing the greatest reduction in risk,” Minhas said. “This is remarkable because there are very few interventions during pregnancy that are found to produce any meaningful benefit, and medical treatments during pregnancy must be approached cautiously to ensure the benefits outweigh the potential risks to the mother and the unborn child.”
Minhas added, “Women should be encouraged to follow a healthy lifestyle, including a nutritious diet and regular exercise, at all stages in life. Eating healthy foods regularly, including vegetables, fruits and legumes, is especially important for women during pregnancy. Their health during pregnancy affects their future cardiovascular health and also impacts their baby’s health.”
The study’s limitations are related to the food frequency interviews: they were conducted once after the pregnancy, and they relied on self-reported information about which foods were eaten and how frequently they were eaten.
How much are life and freedom worth?
by Glenn Mollette, Guest Commentator
Most of us have wondered about life beyond the grave. Many today are in search of life before the grave. Given what many people traditionally believe about heaven, eternity and life beyond, it would certainly seem very valuable to think about a life beyond. However, what about life here?
The Ukrainian people wake up every day to fight, survive or hide another day. They fight for life and freedom. Why? Life and freedom are worth something.
How much are life and freedom worth? What does it mean to you to hug your spouse or loved one? How much do you enjoy laughing with family, friends or at a funny tv show? How good does it feel to do something you enjoy? Cooking a meal, music, reading, your faith assembly, grandkids or enjoying a sunny or rainy day. Life is living and enjoying our living.
God didn’t make us to be miserable. We make ourselves miserable. Sickness makes us miserable. Addictions destroy us and others. Death of the people we love zaps us and creates major voids in our lives. Yet, life can only be lived forward and often this is where we get stuck.
Too often we put our cars in park and start watching the world go by us. We look in the rear view mirror. Life is whizzing by and we can’t seem to get our foot back on the accelerator to start moving again. This becomes a very stagnate and unhappy way to live. Actually, it’s not a life at all.
Living before you die must have some routine. Go to work. Go someplace. Do something. It doesn’t have to be exotic or glorious. Often routine is the same thing every day. There is some peace in routine. When our routine and entire lives are shaken, like what is happening in Ukraine, then every minute is about surviving another day.
Survival mode for you may be doctor’s visits. Making a plan for the next five years or year of your life. Reconnecting to some family or a friend or two. Making peace with the past and embracing today.
The keyword for life is hope.
Peace is another keyword but peace doesn’t exist without hope. If we have hope we can look forward to life. We hope we have enough health. We hope we have enough money. The people of Ukraine have hope they can overcome Russia. This keeps many of them going. Many have fled the country in search of hope.
Find the hope you need to embrace the rest of your life. Hope in family, friends, hobbies and much more is good. Just be very aware, even they may disappoint you. Mainly, find hope in you.
God didn’t make junk. Too often, life, events, mistakes, and sometimes even people we are close to make it difficult for us to see our worth and it tarnishes our spirit.
Hope is an inside job that starts now.
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Most of us have wondered about life beyond the grave. Many today are in search of life before the grave. Given what many people traditionally believe about heaven, eternity and life beyond, it would certainly seem very valuable to think about a life beyond. However, what about life here?
The Ukrainian people wake up every day to fight, survive or hide another day. They fight for life and freedom. Why? Life and freedom are worth something.
How much are life and freedom worth? What does it mean to you to hug your spouse or loved one? How much do you enjoy laughing with family, friends or at a funny tv show? How good does it feel to do something you enjoy? Cooking a meal, music, reading, your faith assembly, grandkids or enjoying a sunny or rainy day. Life is living and enjoying our living.
God didn’t make us to be miserable. We make ourselves miserable. Sickness makes us miserable. Addictions destroy us and others. Death of the people we love zaps us and creates major voids in our lives. Yet, life can only be lived forward and often this is where we get stuck.
Too often we put our cars in park and start watching the world go by us. We look in the rear view mirror. Life is whizzing by and we can’t seem to get our foot back on the accelerator to start moving again. This becomes a very stagnate and unhappy way to live. Actually, it’s not a life at all.
Living before you die must have some routine. Go to work. Go someplace. Do something. It doesn’t have to be exotic or glorious. Often routine is the same thing every day. There is some peace in routine. When our routine and entire lives are shaken, like what is happening in Ukraine, then every minute is about surviving another day.
Survival mode for you may be doctor’s visits. Making a plan for the next five years or year of your life. Reconnecting to some family or a friend or two. Making peace with the past and embracing today.
The keyword for life is hope.
Peace is another keyword but peace doesn’t exist without hope. If we have hope we can look forward to life. We hope we have enough health. We hope we have enough money. The people of Ukraine have hope they can overcome Russia. This keeps many of them going. Many have fled the country in search of hope.
Find the hope you need to embrace the rest of your life. Hope in family, friends, hobbies and much more is good. Just be very aware, even they may disappoint you. Mainly, find hope in you.
God didn’t make junk. Too often, life, events, mistakes, and sometimes even people we are close to make it difficult for us to see our worth and it tarnishes our spirit.
Hope is an inside job that starts now.
Dr. Glenn Mollette is a syndicated American columnist and author of Grandpa's Store, American Issues, and ten other books. He is read in all 50 states. The views expressed are those of the author and are not necessarily representative of any other group or organization.
This article is the sole opinions of the author and does not necessarily reflect the views of The Sentinel. We welcome comments and views from our readers. Submit your letters to the editor or commentary on a current event 24/7 to editor@oursentinel.com.
With Arms Open Wide benefit concert at the Rose Bowl
The Slavic Reference Service at the University of Illinois will be hosting a benefit concert on Saturday at the Rose Bowl Tavern in downtown Urbana.
Starting at 1pm, the concert will feature local bands from a wide range of styles and genres for three and a half hours. Admission is free.
The event is a collaboration with Doctors Without Borders (DWB). DWB provides medical aid to people around the globe whose well-being and survival are threatened daily by conflict and catastrophe.
As the war in Ukraine continues to drag on, DWB has been on the ground providing humanitarian assistance. Their efforts led to a specially designed medical train such as the one on April 26 that transported patients from Zaporizhzhia and Dnipro to hospitals in Ivano-Frankivsk and Lviv.
"The “With Arms Wide Open - Give Across Borders” campaign aims to raise $50,000 to aid DWB’s work in Ukraine, Afghanistan, Yemen, and other conflict zones," says event organizer Olga Markarova-Bowman. "Any amount able to be contributed is greatly appreciated and will be used to provide urgent medical care, treatment for malnutrition, emergency surgery, and vaccinations to those in need."
For more information on about the fundraising campaign, please visit the official campaign website.
Guest Commentary: Your past plays a part of where you are today
by Glenn Mollette, Guest Commentator
Carrying baggage is exhausting. When traveling we often pack more than we need. When making a trip it’s always easier to travel light.
Life is a trip. The longer we live the more we seem to pack and try to carry. Our mind has so many shelves, drawers and spaces for luggage of all shapes and sizes. We have this giant closet inside our brains that we fill up throughout life.
Your mental closet is filled with memories that are good and not so good. You may have spaces filled with grief, sadness, hurts, rejection, loss, failure, disappointments, defeats and more. You also hopefully have stored up some happy times, victories, successes, celebrations, achievements, love, relationships and peace. Hopefully your mind is filled with more positive happy events.
I heard the story about a young man who loved his cat. The cat died and his mother gave him permission to bury his cat in the backyard. The mother became appalled when she discovered her son was digging up the cat every few days to see how the cat was doing. Too often we live our lives this way. We dig up old stuff that needs to remain buried forever.
Too often the mind carries what cannot be physically buried, good or bad. We are frequently impacted by what we keep stored. One cold morning, a little boy put his backside up against an old coal stove. The hot stove burned his bottom and he knew never to do that again. What we have stored up in our minds can often serve us well. Wisdom is gained the hard way. The school of hard knocks is educational and expensive. We pay dearly throughout life to learn the hard way. Thus, what we have stored up can be very valuable to us as we face additional life challenges and opportunities.
Your past decisions, work, interests, achievements, failures and mistakes all play a part in where you are today. This could be very good. Or, it could be very bad. If you learned from your mistakes and moved forward then you may be further ahead than you ever imagined. If you didn’t learn from your mistakes and you continue to make them then frustration and sadness is haunting you.
Today is a new day. You can’t change the past. You do not know the future. Live your best life now. Dispose of as much baggage as you can. Do away with old resentments and regrets. Forgive people. Forgive yourself. Don’t live in the cemetery but live with hope of seeing your loved one in a better place.
Paul, the author of Philippians said it this way, “Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.”
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Carrying baggage is exhausting. When traveling we often pack more than we need. When making a trip it’s always easier to travel light.
Life is a trip. The longer we live the more we seem to pack and try to carry. Our mind has so many shelves, drawers and spaces for luggage of all shapes and sizes. We have this giant closet inside our brains that we fill up throughout life.
Your mental closet is filled with memories that are good and not so good. You may have spaces filled with grief, sadness, hurts, rejection, loss, failure, disappointments, defeats and more. You also hopefully have stored up some happy times, victories, successes, celebrations, achievements, love, relationships and peace. Hopefully your mind is filled with more positive happy events.
I heard the story about a young man who loved his cat. The cat died and his mother gave him permission to bury his cat in the backyard. The mother became appalled when she discovered her son was digging up the cat every few days to see how the cat was doing. Too often we live our lives this way. We dig up old stuff that needs to remain buried forever.
Too often the mind carries what cannot be physically buried, good or bad. We are frequently impacted by what we keep stored. One cold morning, a little boy put his backside up against an old coal stove. The hot stove burned his bottom and he knew never to do that again. What we have stored up in our minds can often serve us well. Wisdom is gained the hard way. The school of hard knocks is educational and expensive. We pay dearly throughout life to learn the hard way. Thus, what we have stored up can be very valuable to us as we face additional life challenges and opportunities.
Your past decisions, work, interests, achievements, failures and mistakes all play a part in where you are today. This could be very good. Or, it could be very bad. If you learned from your mistakes and moved forward then you may be further ahead than you ever imagined. If you didn’t learn from your mistakes and you continue to make them then frustration and sadness is haunting you.
Today is a new day. You can’t change the past. You do not know the future. Live your best life now. Dispose of as much baggage as you can. Do away with old resentments and regrets. Forgive people. Forgive yourself. Don’t live in the cemetery but live with hope of seeing your loved one in a better place.
Paul, the author of Philippians said it this way, “Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.”
Dr. Glenn Mollette is a syndicated American columnist and author of Grandpa's Store, American Issues, and ten other books. He is read in all 50 states. The views expressed are those of the author and are not necessarily representative of any other group or organization.
This article is the sole opinions of the author and does not necessarily reflect the views of The Sentinel. We welcome comments and views from our readers. Submit your letters to the editor or commentary on a current event 24/7 to editor@oursentinel.com.
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