Inside the VJCC

2009 Shinnen Enkai & Keiro Kai Honorees

The 2009 VJCC Shinnen Enkai and Keiro Kai took place on Sunday, January 18. On that enviably sunny and warm Southern California winter day, we had the opportunity to present three outstanding individuals with engraved plaques and certificates, and to express to them our appreciation and gratitude with these words.

Jim Nakagiri - Lifetime Service Award

By John Ikegami

VJCC President Jack Kurihara and Jim Nakagiri

Jim Nakagiri has been known as the manager of the VJCC Public Announcement system for nearly 20 years. Keeping the PA system in working order for all key events was not just an assignment but was his passion. However, Jim’s major contribution to the Center was in areas not so visible but vital to the operation of the Center. He spent endless hours keeping facility equipment in working order. He was always there for any facility projects, with his vast array of specialized tools. Jim was one of the people who erected the gym lobby as well as expanded the conference room and added the meeting room. It was indeed a major feat for a group of volunteers. Jim was always there to help with set-up, then to operate the PA system, and finally by closing the

Center after the clean-up of events and gatherings. His cheerful disposition is contagious and up-lifting to those around him.

His recent setback with cataract surgery didn’t seem to slow him down. Jim continued to serve as a member of the Board of Directors of the Center where he served for twenty years.

We are profoundly grateful for Jim’s tireless support and dedication in keeping the Center clean and operational. Jim’s contribution throughout the years is well acknowledged and is deserving of this Lifetime Service Award.

 

Dave Hirota - Person of the Year By Jack Kurihara It gives me great pleasure to acknowledge Dave Hirota as this year’s VJCC 2008 Person of the Year Award recipient. In addition to his role as a VJCC Board member, Dave has demonstrated unwavering commitment to our Community Center. For example, he has assumed various club leadership roles, including but not limited to judo, fishing club, golf and the boy scouts. To raise funds for the Center, Dave and his family have organized and sponsored a chicken curry katsu booth at the Summer Festival over these past two years. He is always present to help guide the activities at the semi-annual VJCC clean-up events. Congratulations, Dave, for a job well done!

Dave Hirota

Kack Kurihara and Emy Murakawa

Emy Murakawa - VJCC Recognition Award By Jack Kurihara With this recognition award, I would like to acknowledge the significant contribution to the Venice Japanese Community Center by Emy Murakawa. She has worked diligently and conscientiously in her role as the VJCC’s Executive Council Recording Secretary for the past five years. In this position, Emy has made sure that the Executive Council’s agenda items, discussions and decisions have been accurately recorded. Recently, she announced that she was stepping down from this important position. I want to personally thank Emy for her volunteerism and will miss having her sitting next to me at the Executive Council meetings.

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Senior Moments - Cholesterol: What Do the Numbers Mean?

(Source: Article from The Institute for Healthy Aging at Keiro - www.keiro.org)

By Diane Kujubu Belli

When you visit your doctor, he or she may give you numbers about your cholesterol, but what do the numbers mean?

What is cholesterol?

Cholesterol is waxy, fat-like substance found in all cells of the body. Your body needs cholesterol to function normally. Your body makes enough cholesterol for its needs. Cholesterol is carried in the blood stream in little packages called lipoproteins.

Why are the cholesterol levels important?

High blood cholesterol is a major risk factor for heart disease. Cholesterol can build up in the walls of your arteries; this build up is called plaque. The build up of plaque can cause narrowing of the arteries, called atherosclerosis. High blood cholesterol itself doesn’t cause symptoms so many people may not know that their cholesterol level is too high.

 

What is “high” blood cholesterol?

Cholesterol levels are determined by the amount of lipoproteins, a person has. Lipoproteins are the little packages that carry cholesterol through the blood stream.  There are two kinds of lipoproteins:

• LDL, which stands for low-density lipoprotein. Think of this as “LOUSY” cholesterol. You want this number to be LOW.
• Less than 100 mg/dl is considered optimal.
• 100 to 129 mg/dl is near optimal.
• 130 to 159 mg/dl is borderline high.
• 160 to 189 mg/dl is high.
• 190 mg/dl and above is very high.

• HDL, which stands for high-density lipoprotein. Think of this as “HAPPY” cholesterol. You want this number to be HIGH.
• 60 mg/dl or higher gives some protection against heart disease.
• Less than 40 mg/dl for men and less than 50 mg/dl for women puts you at high risk.

Your doctor may give you a number for your Total Cholesterol.

• Total Cholesterol:
• Less than 200 mg/dl is the desirable level and places a person at relatively low risk of heart disease.
• 200-239 mg/dl is considered borderline-high risk.
• 240 mg/dl and over is considered high risk. People with these values typically have twice the risk of heart disease as people whose cholesterol level is below 200 mg/dl.

In addition, your doctor may give you a number for your Triglycerides, another type of fat in the blood. Triglycerides are a major component of the “lousy” LDL in the blood.

• Triglycerides:
• Less than 150 mg/dl is considered normal.
• 150-199 mg/dl is borderline high.
• 200-499 mg/dl is high.
• 500 mg/dl and over is very high.

According to the Nikkei Disease Prevention Center in Seattle, Japanese Americans have higher total cholesterol and triglyceride levels than the U.S. population, native Japanese, and native Japanese urban workers.

 

What can you do to improve your cholesterol levels?

There are a number of things you can do to affect your cholesterol levels:

• Have your cholesterol levels checked regularly. The National Cholesterol Education Program recommends that healthy adults have their cholesterol levels checked once every 5 years.

• Maintain a healthy diet:  Reduce the amounts of food that you eat that contain saturated fat, trans fatty acids or trans fats, and dietary cholesterol. Saturated fats come mainly from animal fat in the diet, but also some vegetable oils like palm oil. Trans fats are made from vegetable oils that have been hydrogenated to make them hard. Dietary cholesterol is found in some foods including egg yolks, meat, and dairy products.

• Maintain a healthy weight:  Lose weight if you are overweight. Being overweight tends to increase LDL levels, lower HDL levels, and increases total cholesterol levels.

• Exercise:  Lack of regular exercise can lead to weight gain which could raise your LDL level.

• Stop smoking:  Smoking injures blood vessels and speeds up atherosclerosis.

• Medications:  Your doctor may prescribe cholesterol lowering drugs.

There are some things that you cannot change, such as your genes, age, and sex, but studies have shown that it is never too late to try to improve your health and reduce your risk of disease.

 

Where can I get more information about cholesterol?

For more information:

 

American Heart Association

www.americanheart.org

 

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

www.cdc.gov

 

National Heart Lung & Blood Institute

http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/

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