July 2011 Articles

Living Fossils Save Lives

Chances are you’ve seen a very special and unique animal on the beach especially during late Spring and early Summer. They’re big, brown, not very pretty and often mistaken for rocks when they become partially buried in the sand. If you’ve had the opportunity to actually see one in motion they can look quite intimidating! But “Limulus Polyphemus”, more commonly known as the Horseshoe Crab, is not only harmless, but also extremely important to the environment as well as modern medicine. These creatures look prehistoric because they actually are. Often referred to as “living fossils” horseshoe crabs are some of Earth’s oldest living creatures. While they may look like prehistoric crabs they are actually arthropods and are more closely related to scorpions and spiders. They have ten legs and a long sword-like tail called the “telson” that looks menacing and poisonous but is completely harmless. It is used simply to help the crab upright itself when it has been overturned and to help propel itself through mud and sand.
Their importance to the environment is equally of interest. They are critical to the welfare of many migratory shorebirds that stop along various North Atlantic beaches to fuel up for the long flight north to Artic nesting grounds. Some birds will consume double or triple their weight in horseshoe crab eggs. But perhaps the most interesting fact about this 250 million year old creature is the role it plays in modern medicine. Unlike the red blood of other animals which contains iron, the horseshoe crab’s blood contains copper making it blue in color. More remarkable than it’s color, the blood of a horseshoe crab will quickly clot when it comes in contact with impurities and is used to produce a pharmaceutical substance to detect contaminants and impurities in intravenous drugs and vaccines. Horseshoe crab blood is harvested by companies that extract only a small portion of the animal’s blood and then release them back into the environment. The blood is sold to pharmaceutical companies for up to an astonishing $15,000 a quart! Discovered in the 1950s, this has been the standard and only method in existence to accurately ensure the safety and purity of IV medicines. Chances are if you’ve ever had a vaccination or been administered IV medicine at a hospital, you owe your life, at least in part, to the horseshoe crab. You could say that the blue blood of the horseshoe crab is worth its weight in gold but please, leave the extraction process up to the professionals. These animals are protected by law so that they can continue protecting all of
us!

South Carolina: The Turning Point
of the American Revolution
The American Revolution ended on October 19, 1781, in a place just over 400 miles from Beaufort County. At Yorktown, Virginia, George Washington’s army of 14,000 American and French troops overcame the fortified positions of British General Charles Earl Cornwallis in the final battle of the American Revolutionary War. The United States of America had won the fight for independence.
Many people are surprised to learn that the beginning of the end happened almost 350 miles to the southwest. But British General Henry Clinton knew where to locate "the first link of a chain of evils that followed each other in regular succession until they at last ended in the total loss of America." That link was South Carolina, at the Battle of King’s Mountain.
Although the Declaration of Independence was signed on July 4, 1776, the Revolutionary War had begun more than a year earlier. The battles of Lexington and Concord erupted in Massachusetts on the same day – April 19, 1775.
Four years into the war (May 12, 1780), the port of Charleston, South Carolina fell to British forces. British strategists were convinced that there were great numbers of people loyal to the King of England in the colonies of North Carolina, South Carolina
and Georgia who would fight against the armies of the rebellious United States. Patriots (rebels) in South Carolina had subdued the Tories (Loyalists to England) or driven them out of the colony.
The British were indeed able to recruit a powerful force of Loyalists in South Carolina after the capture of Charleston. The problem was that the Patriots were able to enlist even more South Carolinians for their own cause.
On October 7, 1780, British and American forces fought at King’s Mountain, just below the North Carolina border east of Charlotte. The Americans defeated the British and their Loyalist conscripts, putting a quick end to England’s plans to use Tory troops to pacify rebels in South Carolina. General Cornwallis, who had planned a major offensive move into North Carolina, was forced to retreat back into South Carolina. Another huge setback awaited him in a former South Carolina cattle roundup center called Cowpens.
Nathaniel Greene, the American commander in the South, sent General Daniel Morgan to threaten the British post at Ninety-Six, South Carolina in December 1780. Before riding towards Winnsboro in order to cut off a possible American retreat, British General Cornwallis sent Colonel Banastre Tarleton to fight Morgan’s 600 men. As he marched northward, pursued by Tarleton’s force of 1,150, Morgan picked up an additional 340 men.
On January 17, American General Daniel Morgan’s force of 940 men met British Colonel Banastre Tarleton’s 1,150 British troops on the slope of a hill at Cowpens. Morgan ordered the first two of his three lines of soldiers to fire and fall back as the British advanced. The British, deceived into believing that they had won an easy victory, approached in disorder. Morgan’s third line attacked them with gunfire and bayonets, while American cavalry joined the fray. The surrounded British troops surrendered, with casualties of 200 killed and wounded; the Americans had suffered 72 killed and wounded. In a little more than a half hour of fighting, the American Republic was a great leap closer to independence – thanks to two decisive battles in our state of South Carolina.

The Truth about Marriage and Legalization
Many people believe that if you marry a United States Citizen (USC) that you will immediately become “legal”. Oh how we wish that it were that simple! Unfortunately, it isn’t.
True, many people do gain legal status through marriage, but there are many variables that have to be met. The most important element is that the marriage has to be a valid marriage. In other words, you have to love each other, live together and share a life. The United States Citizen and Immigration Service (USCIS) wants tangible proof that you do indeed have a bonafide relationship—not just both your names on a water bill. You’ll have to provide photos of yourselves together, joint bank accounts, leases in both names, copies of all original documents and if you have them, Birth Certificates of children born to the two of you, etc.…but I’m jumping ahead.
How you entered the country is also very important. Did an Immigration Official stamp your passport when you came in? Did you have a Border Crossing Card or did you enter with the help of a coyote or lie to an Official at the border? All these things and more affect your ability to become a Legal Permanent Resident (LPR).
Let’s visit four couples and see how they traveled the road to legalization.
John & Marta - They met at a party, dated for a year, fell in love and decided to marry. Marta entered the U.S. on a Tourist Visa in 2008 but she never went home. She is an “overstay” and therefore is illegally in the country; however, she was inspected by an Immigration Official when she came in so she has a legal entry—a very important element. When they marry, John, a citizen, can apply to adjust her status here in the US. They will gather the required documents, pay the application fees, get the Medical and John can meet the Affidavit of Support Requirements. Because they planned ahead and really care about their future life together, they sailed through the Adjustment of Status Interview and Marta received her Green Card in about a month.
Felipe & Susie – They have the same history as John and Marta, but for one big problem—Felipe entered illegally. His trail to residency is much bumpier. Because of his illegal entry, Susie, a citizen, can only file an I-130 Petition for her beloved. This application will not give him the right to work, nor a driver’s license. It will allow him to Consular Process if the I-130 Petition is approved, but then he will have to return to his country to apply there as well. By leaving the U.S., the law says that he will then not be able to re-enter for 10 years, unless he submits a waiver showing Extreme Hardship to a citizen or resident spouse and it is subsequently approved. Waiver approval is subjective, so you never know. Felipe and Susie could also wait on the approved I-130 Petition and hope for some sort of immigration reform.
Carla & Joel – They met at work and like our previous two couples, are in love and have decided to get married. Carla entered the US on an H-2B work visa and overstayed. She does have a legal entry, but the problem is that Joel just received his Permanent Residence through his father’s I-130 Petition last year. Even though Carla entered and was inspected, because Joel is an LPR, she will have to go through consular processing. In four years, Joel can apply for citizenship. Joel will file an I-130 for Carla. In the meantime, she becomes pregnant and they become the proud parents of Miguel. Unfortunately, Miguel has severe heart problems and needs constant monitoring by a specialist. This does change their chances of getting a waiver approved because it would be an extreme hardship for Joel to care for his sick child while his wife is away for 10 years. They apply for consular processing and are approved.
Julie & Marc – Our last couple met at the restaurant where they both worked. Marc really liked the US, but his H-2B visa expired and he was fired. He knows that Julie is a nice person who will help anyone, so he approaches her with a deal. He’ll give her $8,000 and all she has to do is marry him and file his papers. He’ll pay all the costs involved. They can pretend to be married, but don’t have to consummate the marriage or live together. When he gets his 10 year green card in three years, they can divorce. She’ll be able to pay off some of her credit card bills and he’ll have his right to live in this country. This sounds easy enough, but they are committing serious immigration fraud. Not only could they receive a substantial fine--$250,000, but they could spend up to 5 years in jail if they were caught. Marriage fraud does exist, but it’s not worth the risk.
Yes, you can obtain your Permanent Residence through marriage, but it is never easy. Just as every couple’s relationship is different, every case is different. You should always consult with a trusted immigration attorney or a Board of Immigration accredited representative who will (hopefully!) help you obtain legal status.

Do you want the best education for your child?
Do you want your child to be challenged in all subjects? Are you seeking an educational opportunity that teaches your child how to think independently, write at the college level and manage his or her time? If you answered yes to any or all of these questions then look no further than Hilton Head Island High School’s International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme (IB DP Programme) or your local high school.
The IB DP Programme is a pre-collegiate program of study beginning in the junior year of high school. Students who choose the full Diploma Programme, who want to strive to earn the IB Diploma, take seven college-level classes, complete 150 hours of Creativity, Action and Service (CAS), and complete a 4,000 word independent research project (Extended Essay). A Diploma student must take one class each from six different subject groups including Language A (native language), Language B (second language), Individuals and Societies, Experimental Sciences, Mathematics and Computer Science, and the Arts and Electives as well as a class called Theory of Knowledge (TOK). Most IB classes are taught over two years, and at the end of the two years students take exams in each of their IB Classes.
IB classes are rich in discussion and higher level thinking and are wonderful preparatory courses for college. Students not only study advanced topics, but they learn to balance a full schedule of college level courses as well as their outside interests and extracurricular activities which is another great preparation for life after high school. By scoring a four or above on the IB Exams, students may earn college credit.
Students who choose the IB DP Programme do so because they feel it gives them an advantage when applying to colleges and universities. The IB DP Programme is recognized by colleges and universities around the world as a rigorous academic programme. It is proven that having an IB education greatly increases the acceptance rate at many institutions and that these IB graduates, once accepted, stay in college longer than their non-IB colleagues.
For students who do not want to pursue the full Programme, Hilton Head Island High School offers the Certificate Programme, allowing students to take one or more IB DP classes to complete their junior and senior schedules. Both IB programmes are great opportunities for any student who is willing to work hard and who wants to challenge him/herself academically.
All students and parents interested in the program are encouraged to call their local high school for more information.

The Fight Goes On
By: Eric Esquivel and George Kanuck,
Co-chairs, Lowcountry Immigration Coalition.
Governor Haley is likely to sign SB20, the South Carolina anti-immigration bill recently passed by the State Legislature. This bill is similar to the Arizona bill enacted earlier this year.
But take heart--the Lowcountry Immigration Coalition along with 21 other State-wide civic, faith, and civil rights organizations will continue to fight against the implementation of this bill. In addition, the ACLU, the Southern Poverty Law Center, and the National Immigration Law Center have announced plans to file a lawsuit against this action. The Federal Government may also file a lawsuit as it has already in Arizona. Individuals should be cautious, but not afraid that enforcement authorities will be acting under this law in the near future. Finally, Senators Menendez (NJ), Durbin (IL) and Leahy (VT) have introduced a comprehensive immigration reform bill in Washington, although such action is unlikely in this Congress. Join our efforts by sending an email to lowcountry4U@gmail.com. The fight goes on!

Automotive technician:
A great technology-based career opportunity
(ARA) - It used to be all a car mechanic needed was a good set of tools, some oil and knowledge of a car's parts and pieces.
But in today's highly technical world, automotive technicians are going to school for a lot more training, especially in the technology fields. Technology is changing the automotive industry, and industry professionals are expressing concern in finding enough qualified employees to hire. The experts stress the importance of reaching young people early to recruit them into automotive careers and ensuring they have top-notch training in the technical aspects of the field. Job opportunities abound for skilled automotive technicians, and continued growth in the number of vehicles in use in the United States will lead to new jobs for workers performing basic car maintenance and repair, according to the 2010-2011 Edition of the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Handbook. Retiring baby boomers will also create additional job openings.
"Qualified technicians are in great demand," says John Hurd, president of the WyoTech campus in Sacramento, Calif. "Having good diagnostic and problem-solving abilities, as well as training in electronics and computer skills, will give a job candidate a great lead over the competition, especially for entry-level positions."
Despite the bright job prospects, finding talented employees with the right skill set is difficult. Hurd stressed that WyoTech makes an important contribution to the automotive industry by training young people for careers in automotive technology. He says that advances in automotive technology do not pose significant challenges for WyoTech. "No matter what technology aspects manufacturers put into the newest and most advanced cars - if it's being built, we're going to train our technicians to fix it."
Young students and students entering the automotive field from a different career all make great candidates for automotive technicians, says Hurd. But one challenge in educating students from so many different backgrounds is often a lack of basic technical knowledge for entering students. "We get students who don't even know what a screwdriver is, so we still have to start with the basics," Hurd says.
Adjusting for new automotive trends like hybrids and advanced diagnostics also keeps the school up to date in the mechanical industry. "You have to know how to tune the engine and chassis to work together, for instance," Hurd says. "While we used to have a six-month program, we now go through nine-, 12- and 15-month programs so that the students can raise their skill levels and become better employees."
Vocational education and technical colleges help the automotive industry meet its future talent needs. A focused technical education can teach students the skills that they are going to need for the future as an automotive technician.

Hurricane Season 2011 IS HERE!

by : Mayor Drew Laughlin
Spring is a time of renewal on Hilton Head Island in so many
ways…the return of our beautiful weather and the opportunity to enjoy many outdoor activities. Since Hurricane
Season began on June 1st, please add one more activity to your list by reviewing your plans to safeguard yourself, your family and your home or business should we experience a storm. Just by watching the news on TV and reading newspapers over the past few months, we all have witnessed how destructive Mother Nature can be around the world.
Improving our preparedness for and ability to respond to and recover from the impacts of severe weather is an ongoing commitment for the Town. Our plans are regularly reviewed, updated, and exercised, and our personnel are trained and ready. Our emergency reserve account, established many years ago so that funds would be readily available to begin recovery efforts should a storm occur, remains in place and strong. The ability this would afford us to immediately begin working to restore our services, infrastructure, and economy is a tremendous advantage.
While our Town staff prepares in every way possible, please remember that you are our most vital partner and that the plans you make to protect yourself and your family, home, and business do more than safeguard your loved ones and investments. Your effort also truly assists in speeding our overall recovery and the restoration of our quality of life.
To assist you in preparing, the Town is pleased to provide several resources and services.
The Citizen’s Guide to Emergency Preparedness folder is available in English and Spanish at Town Hall and our Fire Stations or electronically on our website. (www.hiltonheadislandsc.gov/public
safety/citizensguideemergencyprep.cfm) An Emergency Permitting and Repair/Rebuilding Guidance brochure is available at Town Hall or electronically on our website. (www.hiltonheadislandsc.gov/
publications/brochures/EmergencyPermittingBrochure.pdf)
Press releases and announcements will be issued frequently during weather events to keep you informed. These will be transmitted via our E-Subscription service as well as available on the Town website (www.hiltonheadislandsc.gov) and the recorded Hurricane Hotline (800.963.5023). Our free E-Subscription Service allows you to receive information electronically and can be signed up for on our website (http://www.hiltonheadislandsc.gov/services/e-subscribe.cfm). Selecting Hurricane Season Information and Emergency Alerts from the topic menu will bring you accurate local information if severe weather occurs.Hopefully, we’ll have a peaceful summer on the Island, but let’s take some time to prepare in case Mother Nature has different plans!

The Path of Hurricane Mitch in Central America
 By: Ruben Arvizu.
We are already in the 2011 hurricane season, an appropiate time to remember and analyze what happened in October 1998.
Honduras and Nicaragua were the two Central American countries hit hardest by the devastating effects of Mitch, a hurricane with winds over 250 km / h, which reached the maximum category 5. Its force was so violent that it changed the geography of Honduras requiring new maps to be drawn. Many people have said that Mitch was a punishment from God. In fact, it was nature affected by the consequences of climate change and the destruction of the ozone layer, causing the most violent natural phenomena to occur more frequently and with more devastating outcomes.
One of the consequences of Mitch was to show the fragility of a region impoverished and vulnerable to the onslaughts of the forces of nature. Excessive logging without any control contributed to the hills not having the protection of forests and jungles. The bare hillsides allowed huge amounts of water to send rivers of mud that buried entire villages. As always in these cases, the poorest people were most affected. The number of dead and missing exceeded 20 thousand people. Most suffered from thirst despite the fact that rivers like the Ulua were filled with huge amounts of water, which was contaminated.
Progress has been made in improvements to the devastated region, but an analysis made by the Social Forum of External Debt and Development of Honduras, said in 2008 that a great opportunity had been missed to transform the country. Among the negative factors revealed were that the various governments used foreign aid to rebuild the infrastructure but did not encourage domestic progress. Citizen participation was hampered by bureaucracy with their proposals for action simply filed away. The Poverty Reduction Strategy has not been effectively implemented. 13 years later, the debt of the countries most affected by Mitch is close to the amount of the existing debt in 1998.
In the United States we saw a huge response from the Central American communities, who sent money, medicines and clothing. This spirit of solidarity must not be lost.
Here in this beautiful island of Hilton Head lives a large Honduran community –as well as other communities from countries affected by Mitch. Many have benefited under the provision of immigration (TPS) granted by the U.S. government. One of the greatest contributions they can do for their home country, is to help them strengthen democratic ideals and to set an example of good living and behavior. Respecting the law, cooperating with neighbors and instilling good habits to their children will make the victims of Hurricane Mitch in Hilton Head and surrounding areas a vibrant community that brings good things to those who have opened their doors for them.

This summer is a good time to learn about certain
diseases that can affect preteens and teens
(ARA) - As summer approaches, many moms are busy preparing their preteens and teens for a number of activities, from registering for camps to signing up for sports. With kids soon out of school, summer is a good time for moms to learn more about certain diseases that can affect their preteen or teen and to talk with their child's healthcare provider about ways to help prevent them.
Preteens and teens are at risk for certain diseases, including human papillomavirus (HPV), meningococcal disease (meningitis), pertussis (whooping cough) and tetanus.
A recent survey conducted online on behalf of Merck by Harris Interactive from March 29-31, 2011 and April 4-6, 2011 among 346 moms of children aged 11-18 found that 86 percent of moms are aware that preteens and teens are at risk for contracting some diseases. As such, moms should take advantage of additional free time in the summer to talk with their preteen or teen's healthcare professional to get more information about these diseases and vaccines that can help prevent them.
"Preteens and teens see their healthcare professionals less often as they get older," says Dr. Jaime Fergie, Director of Infectious Diseases at Driscoll Children's Hospital in Corpus Christi, Texas. "Many parents vaccinated their children as infants, and it's important that they also vaccinate them now that they are preteens and teens to help prevent certain diseases."