In case of nuclear emergency, KI pills now available here
By ANN STILLWATER
Staff Reporter
ARS29I@PSU.EDU
Three Mile IslandNuclearPowerPlant
is the Capitol Campus’ most famous
neighbor. An accident is very unlikely
since the accident there in 1976.
Just in case, however, there are
emergency instructions in the front of
the phone book and potassium iodide
(KI) pills are available at Penn State
Harrisburg's Student Health Services
Show your student ID in the
Health Services office and you will
be given a KI pill and instructions.
These pills can cut the chance of
getting certain types of thyroid cancer
in half, in the event of the accidental
release of some types of radioactivity.
The pills are only to be taken when
instructed to by safety specialists
over the radio or other media, since
Middletown Autumn fest, turnout, deemed success
By LORENA ROEDAN
Staff Reporter
LMR23S@PSU.EDU
On Sat. Sept. 23, Middletown
residents and PSH students
enjoyed the community’s
first annual Autumn Festival.
The four-block festival took place
on Union Street from Emaus to
Ann Streets, and featured food,
arts, crafts, history, and music
from approximately fifty vendors.
Residents also enjoyed a
mechanical bull ride, children’s
games and activities, pie baking
contest, and Tastykake eating
contest. Photography projects created
by PSH students were also on
public display at the local business
“My Tailor.”
The event was organized by the
Greater Middletown Economic
Development Corporation (GMEDC)
as part of the Main Street Program
with the help of local volunteers
and the Middletown borough.
The four-block festival included local
bands such as Holis, Three Mile Island,
and Terry Mullins, which featured
light rock, country, and classic hits.
not all accidents release radiation.
The thyroid takes up iodide at a fast
rate, and by filling the thyroid with
potassium iodide, the radioactive
iodides will not be absorbed by
this gland in the throat. Again, the
need for these pills is very unlikely.
KI pills are just one of the many
services available at Health
Sendees in Olmsted W-102.
Walking in to the Health Sendees
Self-Care Area hints at the diversity
of information and senices available.
For students only, individual
packs of Sudafed, Tylenol, and
Advil and instructions on when to
use these, await a student’s need.
Students can also obtain tampons
and cough drops. Numerous
brochures on subjects as diverse
as self-care, sexually transmitted
diseases, birth control, nutrition,
and high blood pressure explain
Richard James performed on
African Drums for local residents
such as Jeannette Dumond, who
said Middletown has been “without
culture” and “stagnant” for many
years. Dumond believes the festival
was a “great idea” and hopes more
events like these will become a part
of Middletown tradition. Alfred’s
Victorian, Guido McNeals, Kuppy’s
Brian Polesnak, Senior, represented Penn State Harrisburg in the Middletown Au
tumn Fest. Contestants chowed down chocolate tastycakes with chocolate frosting
health
various
Education abounds in posters such
as “The Effects of Club Drugs,”
telling a cold from the flu, and one
that states:” two or fewer alcoholic
drinks each week are consumed by
PSU Harrisburg Students” according
to a recent survey. All this is just in
the waiting/Self-Care area which is
open 8 a.m.-8 p.m. Monday through
Thursday and 8 a.m.- 5 p.m. on Friday.
The inner office houses coordinator
Marylou Martz, and staff assistant
Amy Monismith, as well as treatment
areas also offers information.
Information on free and low
cost medication is available.
Appointments can be made to sec
the Medical Doctor and Physician’s
Assistant who each come once a
week, Tuesdays and Thursdays,
to provide general medical care.
The Doctor can sign Pennsylvania
Diner and the Lamp
Post Inn are just some
of the area restaurants
which provided food
such as portabella
mushrooms,
sausage
and
with peppers,
buffalo and barbecue
wings. Business owners,
such as Pamela Heddy,
Department of Education forms for
students who are applying for PDE
certification. Office hours are Monday,
from 8 a.m. - 7 p.m. and Tuesday
through Friday 8 a.m. to 5 p.m..
Martz, R.N., M. Ed. will see
students who have health care
issues. She can assess and treat
minor illnesses and make referrals
to specialists when needed.
concerns
Individual nutritional and health
counseling is offered. Martz can also
do Tuberculosis (TB) testing, which
may be needed for employment
or volunteer work in schools,
nursing homes and other settings.
If a student is having a rough time
in general, Martz is available as a
safe and confidential place to share
concerns or just vent. Her warm,
caring personality makes it easy to
talk, and she is very knowledgeable
about campus and area resources.
Photos by LORENA ROEDAN for The Capital Times
Middetown Autumn Fest was a huge success for resi
dents and students of PSH. Businesses showcased their
wares on Union Street in the dowtown district.
were happy
and participation
“It was great to see the community
and restaurant owners come
out. It was not about business
or competition,” she said.
For the last fifteen years,
Heddy and her family have
owned the Lamp Post Inn and
said, “Middletown has not done
anything like this
since I have lived here.
It was great to see PSH students
THE CAPITAL TIMES
At the health office one can also
obtain student health insurance
brochures and applications.
The deadline for insurance
for the fall was September 19.
The spring deadline is January 23,
2007. Student coverage is 5642 for
the spring and summer. Additional
coverage can be purchased for
spouses and children. This is not
an unlimited, full coverage health
care, but will cover illnesses and
injuries up to a certain amount
While feeling healthy, every
student should check on what
local providers and hospitals
will be covered under their own
insurance. Many folks end up with
large bill because they go to a non
covered provider in an emergency.
Some students purchase coverage
through the school if their plan’s
providers are only in their hometown.
contest included
PSH seniors Brian Polesnak and
Mike Davidson, who battled
in the 18+ age category for the
championship trophy. In 8 minutes
contestants waffled down as many
chocolate Tastykakes as possible.
“The contest was really fun,"
Polesnak said. “I did not know that
would be one of the hardest things 1
have ever done in my life.” Polesnak
ate a total of 18 Tastykakes. Davidson
said, “1 felt sick after the first four but
response
and local residents
enjoying their
time together.”
Mary Groff
assisted in the
preparation for
the Inn’s food and
said, “We made
over two hundred
crab cakes and
only had four left."
Groff and Heddy
said the festival
was "well planned
and executed from
start to finish.”
The festival’s
Tastykake eating
October 9, 2006 5
Most services arc free for students.
There is a SlO cost to see the Doctor
or Physician’s Assistant or to have a
TB test. Contraceptives are available
if you hav e a prescription for them
and the cost is usually significantly
less than through private means.
In early Nov ember, free tlu shots w ill
be available for the first 200 students
who come in for them. Watch for
announcements in late October.
A women's health fair is already
planned for March 21st with free
bone density tests and cholesterol
screenings. ()lher health and wellness
programs are in the planning stages.
In this era of increasingly restricted
access to health care. Penn State
Harrisburg students are lucky to
have so much health care, so easily
and cheaply available. It is highly
suggested that you stop in Olmsted
W-102 and check out the options.
1 knew I had to continue because of
all the support my classmates were
offering me. 1 pounded down another
twelv e in the name of the lion." The
winner of the competition was a
local resident w ho ate a total of thirty
one Tastykakes.
Introduced by the Main Street Program
oftheGMFDC, Autumn Test is just one
of the many events in the community
which hope to include more students.
Main Street Program manager Stefan
Klosowski was “happy and pleased
with the turnout”. The program is
already planning for next year’s
festival which hopes to include more
music, activities, and performing arts.
Klosowski would also like to “cater to
what PSH students want included" in
next year’s festival.
The (iMKL)C' is working together
with Middletown officials to improve
the overall ambiance and development
of the community.
“PSH is a really great university
campus," said Middletown Major
Robert Reid. For many students this
is their “home away from home.”
Towns that have brought the Main
Street Program to their community
have "successfully progressed.”