Applications ready for KDMC cardiac sonography school

Ashland, Ky. – King’s Daughters Medical Center School of Cardiac Sonography is accepting applications for its class of 2012.

Applications are available through the Heart and Vascular Center at King’s Daughters, on the Web site, kdmc.com/sonographyschool or by calling (606) 408-3725. The application deadline is April 15. Students will be notified of the acceptance decision by May 8. The class of 2012 starts studies on Aug. 23.

Cardiac sonography is an essential tool in the diagnosis of heart disease.

Cardiac sonographers use ultrasound equipment to record images and data used by cardiologists to diagnose and treat heart disease.

Cardiac sonography provides images of the heart chambers, valves and major blood vessels of the heart, as well as measurements of the pumping effectiveness (ejection fraction) of the heart and timing of blood flow.

Class size is limited to no more than five, said Cindy VanHorn, program director. The small class sizes helps ensure students receive the in-depth education and training necessary for success. Cardiologist Bipin Nagra, M.D., serves as medical director for the program.

The King’s Daughters program is one of only two offered in the state of Kentucky, Van Horn noted, adding, “we offer an exceptional educational experience by providing the high-quality didactic and clinical experiences needed to create a fully competent cardiac sonographer.”

To be eligible for admission, applicants must provide official transcripts demonstrating successful completion of three college credit hours of algebra, statistics or higher math); three college credit hours of language arts (English, Composition or Speech); a college-level course in physics, radiographic physics or general science; and one semester of study in anatomy and physiology (two preferred).

Cardiac sonographers interact closely with patients and physicians. They explain the procedure to patients, record medical history and prepare the patient for the examination, as well as conduct the exam.

Employment demand for cardiac sonographers is expected to increase by about 19 percent through 2016, a rate faster than the average of all occupations,VanHorn said.

For more information about the school or application process, call (606) 408-3725.

Highlands Museum to host quilting event

ASHLAND, Ky. — In 1990, Phyllis D. Miller of Kentucky started “Quilters’ Day Out” on the third Saturday in March.

This day of celebration was declared “National Quilting Day” and is now celebrated around the world as “International Quilting Day.”

It is traditionally the third Saturday in March but it has to do with the group hosting the event and their schedule.

The Highlands Museum & Discovery Center is celebrating National Quilt Month.

ABC Quilt Alley and Highlands Museum & Discovery Center will host Kentucky Heritage Quilt Society Quilter’s Day Out on March 20, from 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Quilts from the museum collection also will be on display throughout the museum during March.

There is no charge to come into the Highlands Museum & Discovery Center during Quilter’s Day Out.

Sandy Stark will be doing written quilt appraisals. The cost will be $30. A written appraisal of your quilts is a document you will need for a quilt that is lost, stolen or destroyed, for the purpose of insurance.

Please call Highlands Museum & Discovery Center to schedule an appointment to reserve a time for your quilt appraisal; the quilt appraisal is open to everyone.

The museum will have quilting demos, sharing of quilts, door prizes during the event and vendors from the Tri-state quilt shops. You may bring your quilts to share with members of the community. There will be a sit & sew space for you to set up your sewing machines to work on a project. Please bring your own orange extension cord and supplies. The events are open to the public.

A special showing of the 1836 Elizabeth Roseberry Mitchell’s Graveyard Quilt Top will be held from March 11 – 20. This quilt is so frail that it may be some time before it is on public display again.

The Mitchell’s quilt top (and a completed version of the quilt in Frankfort) is not only a Kentucky treasure quilt, it is one of two known world treasures and both are in Kentucky.

This contains a history on a family from this area. The family lived in Greenup, Boyd, and Lewis Counties and across the country to the west coast. You will not want to miss seeing this historical quilt top.

The African-American quilt exhibit that will be featured in conjunction with “Beyond the Log Cabin” is going to be on display February 5, though March at the Highlands Museum for you to view during QDO.

This magnificent exhibit of quilts is brought to the Highlands from Dr. Carolyn Mazloomi, a world renowned quilt artist and founder of the Women of Color Quilters Network.

It is titled “Abraham Lincoln: The Emancipation and the African-American Experience.” You won’t want to miss this terrific exhibit.

Mazloomi has commissioned quilt artist Carolyn Crump to create a fabulous quilt specifically for our exhibit. You will definitely be moved when you see this amazing work of art. The quilts are coming from around the country to the Highlands Museum & Discovery Center. There are thirteen Quilt Artists that will be displaying thirty quilts for this special exhibit.

Quilt guilds and groups from Kentucky Heritage Quilt Society District 10 are encouraged to reserve a table to highlight your group. There is no charge for a table. Quilt Trail groups are also invited to display information about their areas. Call the museum at 606-329-8888 for a table.

With the quilt exhibit in the museum they will not serve lunch at the Highlands Museum.

The Olive Tree Café at 1537 Winchester Avenue, is in the next block down from the Highlands will be serving a special Quilter’s Day Out Lunch.

Visitors will receive a free bowl of “Quilter’s Soup” with the purchase of a sandwich or salad. A free soup coupon will be at the Highlands Museum when you check in at QDO.

As a courtesy, please call Kathy Keelin to reserve your table by March 1 to receive the special.

This will ensure enough staff is present to accommodate all. The community is also invited to walk the circle in the Pendleton Art Center to view the works of the artists. Some of the artists may be in their studios on this day.

The Web site to search for KHQS Districts that are having events is at the following URL: http://www.khqs.info/index.cfm.

Web sites to visit: www.abcquiltalley.com and also www.highlandsmuseum.com.

Learn about melanoma at Shawnee University

PORTSMOUTH — Melanoma is the most serious type of skin cancer and Assistant Professor of Social Sciences Monique Diderich calls it the “silent killer.” She has studied the disease after her husband was found to have it on his back.

Diderich will be talking about “Melanoma: The Hidden Dangers of Tanning” at Shawnee State University at noon on Wednesday, Jan. 20 at Clark Memorial Library, Room 207.

The Women’s Center is sponsoring the program and will be providing a derma scan for testing the skin. The lecture and derma scan is free and open to the public.

The first sign of melanoma is a change in the size, shape or color of a mole. But, melanoma can also appear on the body as a new mole. It is different for men and women with melanoma on men showing up on the upper body and melanoma on women often showing up on the lower legs.

Special Metals lays off 85 in Ky., W.Va.

HUNTINGTON, W.Va. (AP) — A company that makes nickel alloys for the aerospace and gas drilling industries says it will lay off 85 workers in Huntington and Burnaugh, Ky.

Special Metals spokesman Greg Weber says Monday’s layoffs will affect 66 workers in West Virginia and 19 in Kentucky.

The announcement follows two previous rounds of layoffs and a five-day shutdown last year.

Special Metals is owned by Precision Castparts Corp., which spent more than $20 million on improvements at the Huntington plant in the past few years.

Weber says the cuts are driven by the economy.

Customers have been using more inventory and being cautious about orders.

Business4Breakfast schedule set for ‘10

Huntington, W.Va. — Huddleston Bolen and The State Journal have announced the 2010 Business4Breakfast business seminar schedule to be held in Huntington.

The Business4Breakfast seminars are designed to help professionals understand and navigate the breadth of opportunities and challenges in today’s business world.

The 2010 seminars will touch on a variety of topics of interest to businesspeople, including sales and marketing, advertising, HR, and improving cash flow:

January 27 Developing a Marketing Plan that will Impact the New Year

March 24 Questions You’ve Always Wanted to Ask a Lawyer But Didn’t Want to Pay For

May 26 Effective Networking: On the Internet and In Person

July 28

HR Mistakes (Almost) Every Business Makes

September 22

The Top 5 Things Businesses Can Do to Improve Cash Flow

November 17 Developing an Advertising and Promotions Budget for 2011.

Business4Breakfast seminars are held 7:45 a.m. – 8:45 a.m. at Huddleston Bolen’s Huntington office, 611 Third Avenue.

The free seminars are specifically designed to provide useful information to businesspeople. Guests may register at www.huddlestonbolen.com/events.

In the first seminar of 2010, scheduled for Jan. 27, Chesapeake native Doug Korstanje, Director of Marketing at St. Mary’s Medical Center, will offer insight into ways to develop an impactful marketing plan.

“We were overwhelmed by the interest expressed by the business community last year,” said Tom Gilpin, chair of the firm’s management committee. “We averaged over 40 attendees at the four seminars in 2009. The interest was so high that we agreed to increase the number of seminars from four to six in 2010,” he added.

Huddleston Bolen LLP is a regional law firm with over 40 attorneys practicing in Huntington and Charleston, West Virginia and Ashland and Louisville, Kentucky.

Sunburst Pageant and Baby Contest at Ashland mall

ASHLAND, Ky. — The Ashland Town Center will host a Miss Sunburst model search and baby contest on Saturday, Jan. 23.

The pageant will take place between Rackroom Shoes and Fiesta Bravo.

Winners will go to the state finals in May to represent their county. Entries are now being accepted.

Everyone will receive a trophy.

The baby pageant is for girls and boys. The baby pageant will begin at 11 a.m. The age groups are as follows: Baby – under one year, Tiny – 1 year and Little – 2 and 3 years. A King and Queen will be chosen in each age group. They will receive a crown, trophy and banner. The runners-up in each age group will receive a trophy.

The model search is for girls, ages 4 – 27 years old. The model search will begin at 12:00 p.m. The age groups are as follows: 4-6, 7-10, 11-13, 14-27 and 18-27. A winner in each age group will receive a crown, trophy and a banner. The runners-up in each age group will receive a trophy.

Entry forms for the pageant are available at the Ashland Town Center Guest Services or available online at www.pageantinfo.com.

Ashland Town Center is anchored by Belk and JCPenney and is located at 500 Winchester Avenue. The mall features over 70 specialty shops, a food court and a soft play area for children.

For more information about any Ashland Town Center store or event, please call (606) 324-1100 or visit www.ashlandtowncenter.com.

Ashland Town Center is open Sunday noon to 6 p.m. and Monday – Saturday 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Ashland Town Center is owned and managed by Glimcher Realty Trust of Columbus.