Volume 15, No. 8 The Springton Lake Village August 2017 VOICE INSIDE THIS ISSUE: MORE APHORISMS Activities Corner 2 A small body of determined spirits fired by an unquenchable faith in their mis- sion can alter the course of history. (Mahatma Gandhi) Dining And Your Ears 2 A loving heart is the beginning of all knowledge. (Thomas Carlyle) Stinging Caterpillars 3 In three words I can sum up everything I’ve learned about life: It goes on. Birthdays 4 (Robert Frost) A bargain is something you can’t use at a price you can’t resist. (Franklin Management Report 4 Jones) Springton Lake Village 4 It isn’t enough to talk about peace. One must believe in it. And it isn’t enough to believe in it. One must work at it. (Eleanor Roosevelt) LOOKING AHEAD Anger is never without a reason but seldom with a good one. (Benjamin Frank- • Monday, August 14th Juli- lin) ets Lunch Noon (Anthony’s at Paxon Hol- Poverty consists in feeling poor. (Ralph Waldo Emerson) low) If people never did silly things, nothing intelligent would ever get done. (Ludwig • Wednesday, August 9th Wittgenstein) 2PM Halton’s Love is eternal. The aspect may change but not the essence. (Vincent Van • Monday, August 14th Gogh) Movie “Oh Brother Where Art Thou?” How old would you be if you didn’t know how old you are? (Satchel Paige) 6:50PM • Monday, August 28th Movie “Kind Hearts and (Thanks to Nancy Snyder) Coronets” 6:50PM Hickory Horned Devil (Citheronia regalis) In contrast to the stinging caterpillars on page 3 is the Hick- ory Horned Devil. This marvelously named and marvelously fearful-looking caterpillar is completely harmless and can be handled. It has some harmless spines but they are very dif- ferent from the urticating (hive producing) hairs on the sting- ing caterpillars. This is the caterpillar of the Regal or Royal Walnut moth. Hickory Horned Devil Page 2 Volume 15, No. 8 WELCOME ACTIVITIES CORNER— AUGUST We extend a sincere welcome to our new- est Springton residents. (Actually since I am Get fit; feel better! behind on my welcoming stories, it’s a fairly Exercise with Linda large group.) Bridge 10AM every Tuesday and Thurs- Welcome to: 2PM Mondays day Lynn and Terral Jordan 104 Lakeside Lane Pool (Dunwoody) 10AM Karl and Jerry Vogelsberg 140 Lakeside Wednesdays MOVIES Lane August 14th 7:00PM Linda and Walt Fisher 154 Longview Circle Gittin’ Knittin’ “Oh Brother Where Art Thou?” 2PM August 9th Bill Rowland 120 Longview Circle August 28th “Kind Hearts and (Second Wednesday) Coronets” 7PM We are delighted you are here and we hope Haltons to get to know you soon. DINING OUT MAY BE BAD FOR YOUR EARS At especially loud restaurants, I can’t hear anyone who isn’t right next to me, no matter where I sit. I’m certainly not alone. Loud restaurants have become a widespread bane of customers. The decibel levels at many popular dining spots are rising above what audiologists consider safe for extended peri- ods. Consistently listening to noise above 70 decibels can cause hearing loss over time. Restaurant reviewers who list restaurant noise in their reviews often find levels above 70 and even 80 decibels. Our dining habits could be damaging our hearing. Hearing loss is America’s third most widespread chronic health condition — more common than diabetes or cancer, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. And noise encountered in everyday life is more of a culprit than you might suspect. A recent CDC study found that 1 in 5 U.S. adults who had a hearing test and reported no noise exposure at work had hearing damage most likely caused by everyday environmental noise. Teens and young adults are at risk of noise- induced hearing loss too — 1.1 billion of them around the world, according to the World Health Organization. Many restaurateurs believe they’re giving restaurant goers what they want by building high volume into the design of their spaces. Sleek surfaces made of wood, marble and other materials that don’t absorb sound are staples of a typical 21st century dining experience. An open floor plan that amplifies patron noise is part of the “vibe.” But all that din in the dining room may not be as good for the bottom line as restaurant owners think — not to men- tion the hearing health of the restaurant workers regularly exposed to it. Consumer Reports says noise is the top complaint among restaurant patrons it surveyed last year, above bad service. And a recent poll revealed that more than 30 percent of people 18 and older say loud noises reduce their enjoyment of out-of-home leisure activities, in- cluding restaurants; more than a quarter have chosen not to go back to a place that is too noisy. If eateries want to keep their customers — and show they care about the public’s hearing just as much as they care about complying with health standards in the kitchen — there are steps they can take. They can create “quiet zones” for diners with hearing loss and others who prefer a less noisy scene. In addition, simple adjustments to a restau- rant’s decor — such as draperies, acoustic tiles, partitions and carpeting — can improve sound absorption, break up the noise and protect people’s ears. You can also ask restaurant managers to turn down music or move you to a quieter part of the dining room. Or use earplugs or noise-cancelling headphones. (By Gail Richard, president of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association and a faculty member in the Department of Communication Disorders and Sciences at Eastern Illinois University.) VOICE Page 3 STINGING CATERPILLARS Few other larvae are as captivating as the caterpillar. Caterpillars inhabit the world of charming creepy-crawlies, like ladybugs and fireflies. But cute critter status aside, there’s a reason why the Swiss German word for caterpillar (teufelskatz) translates to "devil's cat." Caterpillars have a dark side, one that justifies entomophobia, the fear of cat- erpillars. Caterpillars are high in protein and rather defenseless — making them an easy dinner staple for other ani- mals — and many have evolved various means of protection. Their markings and body parts can make them seem larger in size or even poisonous. In fact, some of them are poisonous, both to consume and to the touch. Stinging caterpillars have urticating hairs — hollow bristles that contain toxins from poison-gland cells. When touched, these structures can break and the poison is released. Reactions run the range from mild stinging and itch- ing to intense pain and, in the case of the giant silkworm moth caterpillar (not in our area), even death. But before you go out and start squishing caterpillars, remember that they are not vicious and stinging only occurs when they are touched and feel threatened. The following caterpillars are in our area but there are some in other countries that are even more remarkable (or harmful). Puss caterpillar (Megalopyge opercularis) one of the most toxic caterpillars in North America although rare in PA. The venom comes from poisonous spines neatly concealed by the fuzzy surface. When touched, the spines break off and lodge in the skin, releasing the venom. Ac- cording to the toxin library of the American Association of Clinical Chemistry (AACC), this is no simple sting: Intense throbbing pain develops within five minutes of contact, with pain ex- tending up the affected arm. Other symptoms may include headaches, nausea, vomiting, in- Puss caterpillar tense abdominal distress, lymphadenopathy, lymphadenitis, and sometimes shock or res- piratory stress. Saddleback caterpillar (Acharia stimulea) The cute and beautiful saddleback caterpillar is native to eastern North America. The pert pompoms these caterpillars sport are more than decorative. Like much of the rest of this creature's body, the pompoms bear urticating hairs that secrete irritating venom. The stings are very painful, and they can cause swell- ing, nausea, and leave a rash that can last for days. Io moth caterpillar (Automeris io) The sweet, colorful Io moth caterpillar has a broad Saddleback Caterpillar range, from Manitoba and in the southern extremes of Ontario, Quebec, and New Bruns- wick in Canada, to Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Nebraska, Colorado, New Mex- ico, Texas, Utah, east of those states and down to the southern end of Florida. Those frond-like spines have a painful venom that is released with the slightest touch. Some people experience severe reactions and require medical attention, while some only itch or have a burning sensation. Hag moth caterpillar (Phobetron pithecium) Also called the Monkey slug. Complete with Io moth caterpillar six pairs of curly projections densely covered in hairs — the “limbs” can fall off without harm- ing the larvae, but the hairs can cause some fierce irritation. Hickory tussock caterpillar (Lophocampa caryae) With its velvety back and sweeping bris- tles, this creature looks more vintage feather boa than larva — but larva it is. And stinging larva, at that. Although some people have little to no reaction to this caterpillar, others have a reaction that ranges from a mild to a fairly severe rash comparable to poison ivy. Most of the toxic caterpillars have remarkable coloring which in many cases is to warn ani- mals and birds (and people ) away. Hag moth caterpillar In case of stings: Should you get stung by a caterpillar: Place Scotch tape over the affected area and strip off repeatedly to remove spines. Apply ice packs to reduce the stinging sensation, and follow with a paste of baking soda and water. If the victim has a history of hay fever, asthma or allergy, or if allergic reactions develop, contact a physician immediately.