The Current Online

Amber Solomon as Cassie Cooper (Rachel Cantrell/The Current)

by Rachel Cantrell
Missouri College Media Award: Second Place, Feature Photo, and Honorable Mention, Feature Page 

Rumors, the charming play by Neil Simon, was presented by Longview’s Bobette’s Dinner Theatre on October 16, 17, 23 and 24. 

“We have the pleasure of five students joining the mentorship program for Rumors,” said Joyce S. Kuhn, artistic director and Longview drama instructor. 

“I love Rumors. It’s my favorite show,” said student Amber Solomon, who stars as Cassie Cooper.     

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by JENNIFER DAVIS

The brick Carrabba’s building among several other restaurants along I-70 is also known as the restaurant with the garden rooftop. Not just the outside of this Italian grill is appealing, but from the moment the hostess opens the door you are invited into a warm and festive atmosphere.
The wait never seems too long and diners are welcome to sit in the bar area and watch the game while waiting. Once your electronic coaster lights up, you’re escorted to either a table that’s great for groups in the open, sociable center of the restaurant or to a dim, private booth. No matter your location in the restaurant, you get a view of Carrabba’s open kitchen. In the booth, you and your companion sit under a trellis while enjoying the fresh bread served with a side of vinegar and spices.
The dishes are a variety of fresh, homemade Italian foods. Have a homemade pizza right out of the wood-burning oven or a delicious pasta dish for a traditional Italian delight. If you want to get a little creative, try the crispy calamari (that’s fancy for squid)or tender filet. The Italian classics such as manicotti and chicken parmesan, come with your choice of House or Caesar salad. The salad will add a little more to your bill if you’re getting the pasta specialties, but it’s worth it. Don’t forget to save room for desert. The Tiramisu is an enriching flavor of espresso drizzled in chocolate syrup.
“Bambini” (younger guests) are always welcome and served kid-size pizzas, chicken fingers or pasta. Pizza dough is handed out to the little ones to keep them entertained while they wait.
Carrabba’s was founded in Houston in December of 1986 by Johnny Carrabba and Damian Mandola. Many of the recipes on the menu are those of Damian’s mother. Carrabba’s caught the attention of Aussie-themed Outback Steakhouse Inc. owners and the two have a joint venture partnership that was formed in January of 1993. You’ll notice the two are located next to one another at their Independence location. As of now there are more than 100 Carrabba’s Italian Grill locations. Twenty-five more restaurants are due to open this year.
Try Carrabba’s Italian Grill for yourself and share the casual dinning experience with your friends with gift certificates available in $10, $25 and $50 denominations. Carrabba’s homemade dishes and fun, inviting atmosphere will have you coming back soon after your first visit.

by JENNIFER DAVIS

Have you seen the Winsor Pilates infomercials and commercials for the new MTV Yoga DVD? Wondering what all the hype is about? Some say the best treatment for stress is the meditation root of muscle lengthening, not bulking, workouts.
With all the stress from school, work, family and friends, not to mention terrorism and war, many people can benefit from calming exercises. Meditation, or mind/body medicine, is popularly used as an alternative therapy. WebMD’s meditation page says the simple technique of meditation holds the power to boost disease resistance and maintain overall health. When meditating, you are focusing continuously on one thought for a length of time. This leads to relaxation responses. These are changes in your body that are deeply restorative, speeding the healing. Reduction in heart rate, blood pressure, muscle tension and oxygen consumption, as well as others, are included in these changes. Studies show that women who meditate regularly reduce their PMS symptoms by 58%. A study that followed found that women going through menopause significantly reduced the intensity of their hot flashes. A group of women struggling with infertility participated in a 10-week program that included mediation, along with nutritional changes and exercise. The women noticed their anxiety, fatigue and depression had significantly lessened and 34 percent became pregnant within six months.The heart has been the focus of many meditation studies worldwide. People with hypertension, who practice meditation regularly, have been found to significantly reduce their blood pressure. The reduction in these studies lasted long-term. Three years later, reductions were still in place that were achieved in an eight-week program. Meditation regulates your heartbeat and sends an adequate supply of blood to your heart muscle.
WebMD describes hatha yoga as a meditation program that includes exercises that improve your flexibility and breathing, decrease stress, and maintain overall health. Postures in yoga, are exercises that stretch the body along with proper breathing. Postures are performed while standing, sitting in a chair, lying down or in a headstand position. Once in position, breathing exercises help to relax muscles while maintaining the posture and focusing the mind. Ruth Ann Zentner, aerobics’ director of Summit Fitness, says, “everybody’s in yoga for different reasons. Seniors find the most benefit being that it helps flexibility, but athletes also turn to yoga for this reason or those who just want to get away from their kids.” As a fitness center, the instructors don’t get into the spirituality of yoga with their members. After trying yoga, many people notice an increase in flexibility and a reduction in stress.

If you would like to try meditation, plenty of videos on the topic are available anywhere you can rent or buy videos. Most local health clubs offer some type of yoga or pilates classes. Ladies can head to Club La Femme right here in Lee’s Summit for a good stretch. Otherwise, find a quite spot in your house or outside where you can relax. It is beneficial to do one specific meditation for 20 minutes in the morning and another in the evening. Meditationsociety.com offers 108 basic meditation techniques with elements that anyone can master. Benefits can be seen by doing as little as 20 minutes a day. First, with your eyes closed, you should sit or lie in a comfortable position. Then repeat a sound, word, or prayer to yourself silently or in whisper. Focus your attention on your breath as you inhale and exhale through the body. Of course, your attention will naturally wander once in a while so just gently redirect it back without stressing over it.
Remember to do gentle stretches before each yoga/meditation session to help prevent injuries. Yoga, like any physical activity, can cause muscle strains or sprains.
Spring has sprung, so get outside and enjoy the warmer air with relaxation and deep, mindful breathing.

by JENNIFER DAVIS

One of the most difficult subjects parents have to talk to their kids about is sex. The ability of parents to openly discuss a subject with the innocent eyes of their children looking up at them is an obstacle not easy to overcome.
Dr. Phil McGraw advises to talk to children early and often about sex. Children are learning about sex at a young age. They need to learn the correct information from their parents.
Sexual educational programs rely on lectures about human reproduction, the male and female sex organs, the effects of venereal diseases and pregnancy. Health class teaches us about our bodies. It teaches us sex can lead to pregnancy and communicable diseases. The class setting is perfect for opening up discussions about the sexual questions that all teenagers have.
The educational system doesn’t address what parents want their children to know. It doesn’t address self-esteem.
Dr. Phil explains, “Make your child aware of the long-term effects on his or her reputation and self-esteem.” He also says, “As a parent, you must make your child feel special. You must help them value their own worth.”
Mike Sprull, a student at Longview, explained that his parents tried to teach him about sex using a book. The book was about how babies are conceived using biological terminology that was at a level too high for his understanding. The subject was never discussed again.
He learned more about sex in school. When he turned 16, he found a box of condoms in his dresser without an explanation.
Sylvia Grass is a mother of an eight year old and a student at Longview. She didn’t get any information either: “Just don’t.” She admits that it obviously didn’t work. Her son is still at the age “where girls are third world ugly.” She doesn’t know how she’ll talk to him about sex. Her plans are to answer his questions as honestly as possible.
Joyce Kuhn, a mother and an instructor of Speech and Theater agrees with this sentiment. When her daughter started asking her questions she answered them calmly.
“We all have bodies,” Kuhn explains. By addressing our children’s questions, the answers end the curiosity and sex becomes no big deal.