"With the weather cooperating this year, hundreds of Racine area
residents lined the streets of West Racine for the annual Memorial Day
parade. Unlike years past that proved wet, cold or both, the 2016 parade
stepped off in brilliant sunshine and mild temperatures. "Kids of all ages waved flags and cheered while also saluting and showing other signs of respect as groups marched past. "Thank you to Racine resident Paul Prochniak for allowing Racine
County Eye access to the video he shot Monday during the annual Memorial
Day parade."
Deadline extended for Fourth Fest parade applications If we're going to have a JTI presence in the 4th of July Parade, we have until Tuesday to submit an application. I suggest a vehicle with signage pointing to the JTI.
"RACINE — It’s a
Thursday afternoon in teacher Damian Knuth’s sixth-grade classroom at
21st Century Preparatory School, 1220 Mound Ave., and a group of
students are bent over large sheets of blank newsprint.
"Pencils
in hand, they’re thinking long and hard about the stories they want to
tell Racine, and the wider world, about the work they have been doing:
learning about the local ecosystems, and how to keep them healthy.
Melissa
Kaprelian-Becker
"The
posters primarily depict projects that the students recently engaged in
during an environmental service learning day, like water testing and
the pulling of invasive species.
"'It helps us get more into our
community, instead of just staying inside … and I like drawing,' said
12-year-old Adamariz Aranda.
"The
posters are helping the students to express what those projects meant,
but they’ll soon be serving another, possibly larger purpose by helping
to beautify the city this summer.
"The
mini-murals will soon grace the windows of several vacant Downtown
storefronts ahead of a visit this July from judges from the
international Communities in Bloom competition.
Going global
"The
City of Racine, along with other communities east of Interstate 94,
will be competing in the contest this year under the newly minted banner
Discover Racine. Racine and the greater Racine area have been competing
in similar beautification competitions since 2012, when it first
entered the America in Bloom contest.
"Ever since snaring the Criteria Award for Overall Impression in 2012, the civic group has been working to step up its game.
"The committee took a break
from entering any contests in 2015, but this year’s Communities in
Bloom will put them in direct competition with entrants from North
America, Europe and Asia. The entrants will be judged on a community’s
tidiness, environmental action, heritage conservation, urban forestry,
landscape, and floral displays.
"Melissa
Kaprelian-Becker, the group’s longtime leader, said committee members
first got the itch to enter an international competition after it was
suggested by judges from America in Bloom in 2012 and 2013. She also
thought the added challenge would get even more people involved.
"'Sometimes
people need that little boost to get involved. And when they feel like
they are involved with something, it motivates them,' Kaprelian-Becker
said."
"While suturing a cut on the hand of a 75-year-old Texas rancher
whose hand had been caught in a gate while working cattle, a doctor
struck up a conversation with the old man.
"Eventually the topic got around to politics, and then they
discussed the new congressman who was acting way too big for his shoes
as a politician.
"The old rancher said, 'Well, ya know, most politicians are just like post turtles.'
"Not being familiar with the term, the doctor asked him what a 'post turtle' was.
"The old rancher said, 'When you’re driving down a country road,
and you come across a fence post with a turtle balanced on top, that’s a "post turtle."'
"The old rancher saw a puzzled look on the doctor’s face so he continued to explain.
"'You know he didn’t get up there by himself, he doesn’t belong up
there, he doesn’t know what to do while he is up there, and you have to
wonder what kind of dumb ass put him up there in the first place!'"
"MOUNT PLEASANT — Some residents are concerned about a major loss of trees as a result of a road construction project on Green Haze Avenue.
"The
Village of Mount Pleasant this summer plans to reconstruct the street,
located near the intersection of Highways 31 and 38, to address drainage
issues and deteriorating pavement. The $803,648 construction will
extend south of Highway 38 to about Deerwood Drive.
"The
village plans to remove about 75 trees as part of the work. The road
will be widened slightly and many trees are close to the street, village
Engineering Technician Steven Houte said.
"'We are trying to keep it as less
disturbing as possible to the trees in the area,' Houte said, adding the
road would usually be extended even wider.
"Neighbors
have mixed feelings on the work, with some fearing the loss of trees
presents environmental issues and will damage the character of the
neighborhood.
"Steve Johnson, 63, said the trees provide a beautiful canopy over the street, distinguishing it from other areas.
"'It
will now look like any other stripped bare, suburban neighborhood,
where they've come in and stripped out all the trees, put down a street
and built new homes,' Johnson said. 'That's pretty much what it's going
to look like.'
"'This is really changing the complexion of the street pretty significantly.'
"Mount Pleasant officials plan to meet with residents of the neighborhood to discuss the project this week."
I recently ran out of black ink on my printer. I went to Walmart.com and their cheapest price on a Hewlett Packard cartridge was $47. My God. Anyway, I kept scrolling down Walmart.com and came across these "remanufactured" cartridges. http://www.walmart.com/ip/2-Pack-New-Compatible-with-HP-C6615-HP-15-Ink-Cartridge-forHP-Deskjet-810C-1180C-BK/49927812 They wanted $15.30 for TWO black cartridges. Got the black cartridges in today. So, it works like a charm. I also ordered a color cartridge from another retailer. $15 when HP wants $46. I haven't received that, yet.
"When word got out that a white-winged tern showed up along Lake Michigan
on May 21, hundreds of people descended on Manitowoc in the hope of
spotting a bird that most people won't see again in a lifetime.
"For two days, the tern normally found in Eastern Europe, Asia and
Africa drew an ardent tribe of onlookers, outfitted with necklaces of
binoculars and cameras. "And then it was gone. The last time it had been observed in Wisconsin was 1873. "For some, it was the find of a lifetime. For those less fortunate, it was what birders call a 'whiff.' "With major flyways like Lake Michigan, Wisconsin has long been a hub
for birding. While some enthusiasts enjoy the pastime from their
backyard, there is also a subculture of birders whose persistence to
find new species is known to border on obsession. "Chuck Hagner, editor of Massachusetts-based BirdWatching
magazine, said, 'There is this special motivation for birders that if
you are in the right place at the right time, you can see something
magnificent.' "In the most recent analysis by the federal government,
Wisconsin was second nationally in birding participation, as measured
by men and women 16 years and older who engage in some kind of birding
activity during a year. "Vermont ranked first, with a birding participation rate of 39%,
according to a 2011 recreation survey by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife
Service. Wisconsin and West Virginia followed with 33%. The national
average is 20%. "'Naturally, we are a very birdy state,' said Carl Schwartz of Fox
Point, a longtime activist in birding organizations in Wisconsin,
including the founding of Bird City Wisconsin. "The Mississippi River and the Great Lakes are highways for migration, Schwartz said. "Another advantage: Wisconsin's "tension zone" of two geographic areas — northern mixed forests and southern broadleaf forests — attracts different and intermingling species. "The month of May can be a frenetic period as an influx of birds moves
through the state and birders — especially those with a goal of adding
more birds to their personal lists — head outside with help from
websites like Wisconsin eBird, where participants post bird activity. "'Not all birders chase. I know that from the magazine,' said Hagner,
who lives in Shorewood. 'But for some birders, the numbers are powerful
and a sense of competition is what motivates them.' "A week ago in Manitowoc, a woman from Arizona, who had flown to
Wisconsin for the spring bird migration, rushed to the lakefront on the
news of the white-winged tern, according to Charles Sontag, who lives a
few blocks away. "She saw it." Read more: http://www.jsonline.com/news/wisconsin/birders-go-to-extremes-to-feed-their-obsession-b99733282z1-381223091.html Related: http://www.jtirregulars.com/2016/05/birds_24.html
It started with Racine Uncovered. They started featuring lost and found pets, and adoptable pets. It became a very popular feature. The Journal Times, never too shy to steal from local bloggers, started featuring adoptable pets. Then it was Racine County Eye's turn. They, too, started featuring adoptable pets. Not wanting the JTI to miss out on a trend, I wonder if we should start featuring animals in some sort of way? Like the pet bison above. You'd be surprised at how many people have pet bison. I was surprised that even one person had one.
"SWANSEA, Wales, May 25 (UPI) — Officials from a city in South Wales
are warning that a group of sheep could have ingested cannabis causing
them to stir up trouble in nearby towns. "Swansea County Councillor Ioan Richard feared that sheep in the area
could ingest cannabis plants that were dumped from an illegal cannabis
factory. "'I dread to think what will happen if they eat what could well be
cannabis plants — we could have an outbreak out of psychotic sheep
rampaging through the village,' he said. "Richard added that one flock of sheep had already been seen roaming about a Welsh village and intruding on people’s homes. "'There is already a flock of sheep roaming the village causing a
nuisance,' he said. 'They are getting in people’s gardens and one even
entered a bungalow and left a mess in the bedroom.' "A spokesman for the Swansea council reported that the cannabis had
been removed from the area and condemned the process of illegally
dumping the waste, known as fly-tipping. "'The fly-tipped waste has now been removed, but we’d urge anyone with
information about who may be responsible to contact either ourselves or
South Wales Police,' they said. 'Fly-tipping has a negative impact on
local communities, so we’re doing all we can to both prevent it and
clean up as quickly as possible at known hot spots.'"
"RACINE — When
describing her long struggle with mental health, 55-year-old Luann
Simpson boiled her experience down to two major dramatic course changes
in her life.
"The first
occurred at age 24 when she was diagnosed with bipolar disorder,
experiencing extreme mood fluctuations 'ranging from the deep darkness
of depression to the heightened energy of full-blown mania' and plunging
her into a phase of occasionally being locked up in a psychiatric unit,
given dozens of medications, even various phases of electroconvulsive
therapy.
"The second happened
when she first walked into the National Alliance on Mental Illness of
Racine County office — where she is now a peer support consultant.
"'I was told that I had a mental
illness and it is treatable and, with medications, I would be able to
manage and be OK,' Simpson said of her original diagnosis. 'Well, I am
here to tell you that manageable and OK does not have to be future for
anyone diagnosed with a mental illness. Mental health recovery is real.'
"Simpson
shared her story to about 120 people at 'Bridging the Gaps: Mental
Health Recovery is Real — Take the First Step,' a community rally
observing Mental Health Awareness Month at Wheaton Franciscan-All Saints
hospital on Thursday evening.
"Organized
by Wheaton Franciscan Healthcare, United Way of Racine County, NAMI
Racine County and Infinite Potential Central, the rally gathered
organizations, businesses and government bodies to share how they are
trying to make an impact in better treating mental illness.
"Speakers
addressing the crowd included Racine County Executive Jonathan
Delagrave, United Way of Racine County President Rodney Prunty, NAMI of
Racine County Executive Director Mike Boticki and others. In addition,
the rally featured some speakers who shared their personal struggles
with mental illness, such as Simpson and Miss Racine Haley Schonter.
New mental health clinic
"Among
the initiatives highlighted at the rally, Prunty announced that United
Way will be partnering with the Racine Unified School District to start a
school-based mental health clinic in Knapp Elementary School, 2701 17th
St., being rebuilt to open as a 'community school' next year.
"That
would be the third New Beginnings school clinic at Unified schools —
which stations a Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin clinic in a school —
since the program first launched in October in partnership with the
Racine Collaborative for Children’s Mental Health. There are clinics at
SC Johnson Elementary, 2420 Kentucky Street and Wadewitz Elementary,
2700 Yout St.
"In addition, Prunty highlighted the
need to combat the negative association many have of mental illness, a
key theme of the rally to help those suffering with mental illness to
take their own first step toward recovery.
"He
noted that the rally — which organizers plan to be an annual event —
and other events like it will be important steps in the effort to rid
society of that stigma.
"'This
is the first of many,' Prunty said. 'We’re going to continue to grow,
and I can tell you we’re not going to rest until we have significantly
reduced or even eliminated the stigma associated with mental illness in
our community so folks can get the help they need to live productive
lives.'
"Organizers said anyone
looking for information about mental illness, as well as the support and
resources available for county residents go to NAMI of Racine County’s
website: http://www.namiracinecounty.org/."
By Denise Lockwood in Community · May 26, 2016 · No comments
"Who doesn’t love a good story about catching 'the big one' like our friend Cassandra did?
"Even people who aren’t anglers enjoy hearing a great yarn. And a lot
of the time, they can be really funny stories about the fish they
caught, a poignant moment with a family member, or maybe even about the 'big one' that got away. "To build some excitement around Salmon-A-Rama
we are partnering with the organizers on a contest called Off the Hook,
which will give our readers the opportunity to tell those tall tales.
We’ll kick off the contest starting June 15. We’re hoping to reel you
in… so start spawning some ideas and hatch a plan to share your story. "Salmon-A-Rama is a nine-day fishing tournament that offers up plenty
of prizes, entertainment, and plenty of opportunities for those fishing
stories. "Off the Hook winners — one from the under 18 crowd and one from the
18 and up categories — will win a fine catch of prizes. The person who
catches the most votes in our story poll wins the prize. "In the meantime we’re looking to snag a few advertisers. "What you’ll get is an editable banner ad that will promote your
business on the contest page. It’ll run from June 15-July 19. The cost
is only $150 for exposure to a vast range of potential customers for
your business.
"RACINE — In
observance of Mental Health Awareness Month, several organizations will
host 'Bridging the Gaps: Mental Health Recovery is Real — Take the First
Step' rally and resource fair at 5:30 p.m. Thursday, May 26, at Wheaton
Franciscan Healthcare-All Saints hospital St. Luke’s Health Pavilion
auditorium, 3821 Spring St.
"The
event will feature mental health advocates sharing stories and offering
support about mental illness and recovery, followed by a community
resource fair.
"The host organizations are United
Way Racine County, National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) Racine
County, Infinite Potential Central (IPC) and Wheaton Franciscan
Healthcare-All Saints hospital.
"Guest speakers include:
Dr. Soheila Brouk, founder of Infinite Potential Central;
Lisa Adams-Qualls, social worker in the Racine Unified School District;
Mary Huck, cofounder of Survivors of a Loved One’s Suicide;
Rodney Prunty, United Way of Racine County president;
Racine County Executive Jonathan Delagrave;
Julie Hueller, vice president of operations of Wheaton Franciscan Healthcare;
Erika Arzate, a member of the Latino community;
Jackie Hartley, Racine Collaborative for Children’s Mental Health manager;
Miss Racine Haley Anya;
Mike Boticki, NAMI Racine County executive director;
Luann Simpson, NAMI Racine County peer support consultant.
"YORKVILLE — It took a
team of community members, a portable fence and a lucky catch, but a
fearful emu that went missing from a hobby farm in Yorkville on Monday
is now back home safe and sound.
"Caretaker
Dawn Dahms first learned the emu was on the loose after its owner
spotted the animal — a flightless, but fast bird related to the ostrich
— in the front yard of Dahms' farm.
"Some
people who spotted the emu soon after its escape tried to recapture the
bird, but that only further exasperated the situation, the Racine
County Sheriff’s Office later reported, and the emu fled.
"The bird was eventually captured on
Thursday afternoon, after Dahms got a call from someone at Harry Hansen
Meat Service, 10407 Highway K, in Raymond, who said he had just spotted
the emu in a nearby cornfield.
"'We
sent some people out there and they corralled her with some fencing,
and then apparently as they were getting her from the fencing to the
horse trailer she tried to jump and some man from out of nowhere started
walking up and he caught her in midair and got it back into the horse
trailer,' Dahms explained Thursday evening."
"MOUNT PLEASANT — A
day after Case High School went into lockdown after dispatchers received
a threatening phone call targeted at the school, police continued to
watch the building closely while investigating the source the call.
"'We
are continuing to provide extra attention and high visibility to the
school,' Mount Pleasant Police Chief Tim Zarzecki said Wednesday.
"While
Zarzecki couldn't reveal any details about the call, citing the
possibility that it could jeopardize the ongoing investigation, he did
say that schools in Pleasant Prairie and Franklin have received similar
threats in recent days. He added that nothing found during a search at
Case substantiated the phone threat.
"'We checked the safety and security of the school and were unable to find anything that would harm anyone,' he said.
"Case
returned to 'business as usual' Wednesday, according to Zarzecki,
although he said school staff was 'taking necessary precautions' just in
case something serious occurred.
"The
call could be part of a national scam of threats phoned into schools
across the country. According to an Associated Press story published
Monday, evacuations based on electronic phone calls have taken place in
Colorado, Utah, Delaware, Minnesota and New Hampshire in recent days.
"Zarzecki
said his department is collaborating with other law enforcement
agencies, including the FBI, to get to the bottom of the threat.
"'Our investigators are working on it diligently trying to determine what happened,' he said."
This was going to be about one amazing kid, but this picture has so many other memories attached.
This picture was taken at a joint graduation party for my youngest and a couple other kids (not all pictured).
In the middle, is our youngest. She still got along with us well back then. Today, not at all... I do miss her and the laughing fits we would get into and couldn't get out of. Hopefully, one day, she'll come around.
The guy on the right, with the sash, we have known since he was born, now all grown up. His mom and I traded off having kids for a couple years, then I bowed out and she kept going twice more :)
This was really about my memories of David, the boy on the left with the hat. 5 years ago, yesterday, he went missing, after swimming in a swollen river he knew well. The days of that week are the same as the days of the week this year. I remember reading the family's journey trying to find him. His next up brother (David was the baby of the bunch of 6 kids), Josh, was in the service, got out for special circumstances to go help in the search effort. They found David 4 days later. He was no longer with us :(
As a mom, that crushes my heart. Knowing his family and parents especially, the hurt only intensified.
David was a true one of a kind person. He could relate to ANYBODY! For is age, he was as interested and engaging with everybody the same, his friends, us older folks, young kids, he just made an instant connection. His smile was infectious. He was always entertaining and lived to make people happy and to help everybody. I have never met anyone like David. It was truly an honor to consider him a friend, and to have shared just a glimpse of his life. Til we see each other again, love you, kiddo! God did awesome when He made you!!!
"YORKVILLE — The Racine County Sheriff’s Office isn’t very worried about a loose emu that escaped in Yorkville.
"'We
deal with this every day, people’s animals getting out,' Sgt. David
Coughlin said. 'It’s an emu. It’s a small ostrich. It’s not going to
hurt anybody.'
"According to
Coughlin, the Sheriff’s Office received a call at about 1 p.m. Monday
about an emu that had escaped from a hobby farm in Yorkville. Some good
Samaritans tried to recapture the emu, but that only further exasperated
the situation, as the emu fled.
"'It’s not a people emu,' Coughlin said.
"The emu escaped while its
owners were moving other animals, according to Coughlin. Some neighbors
have seen the animal in the area, and the owners have worked to
recapture it.
"The emu’s owners
declined to provide additional details about their lost animal, since
having a bunch of people trying to track the emu could make the
situation worse. The Sheriff’s Office isn’t devoting any personnel to
the emu for the same reason.
"'People come out with goodhearted intentions and might totally screw it up worse than it already is,' Coughlin said.
"The emu remained at large as of late Tuesday afternoon, said the owners, who did not want to be identified."
"Take note treasure hunters: the state Department of Revenue is
hosting an online auction of unclaimed safe deposit boxes. The auction
runs from Tuesday through 10 a.m. June 7. "Up for grabs are a variety of coins, jewelry, stamp collections and various other items, an announcement from the DOR reads. "The department is responsible for the unclaimed property program, and
staffers work to connect residents with unclaimed property that might
belong to them. According to state statute, when no one steps forward,
the state has three years to sell the items through auction. "While the auction will take place primarily online at www.wisurplus.com
#16286, anyone interested in participating in person can do so from 8
a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday at Wisconsin Surplus, 202 West
Front Street, in Mount Horeb. "Residents who want to check if they have any property with the state can use the DOR’s online database."
GO to the DOR’s online database and check if there's any money, property, whatever out there for you or someone you love. JUST DO IT. Someone very close to me just received $3,200 after submitting a claim in late January. He had to submit some additional documents. It's a very slow process. He said one of the people he talked to at the DOR said they're swamped. His claim didn't even get looked at until March, even though he submitted it in late January. However, it did eventually pay off.
It's worth your time to search for property that may be due you. It's absurd that the DOR says they make every effort to find people who are owed money. Right. My buddy's money came from his father's life insurance company, 40 (!) years ago. He hadn't been hiding in the past 40 yers. Indeed, he had to file income taxes with the state each year. But they couldn't find him. Or his mother or sister when they were alive.
This past week has been really crazy for me because Drew was on vacation all week long. So that means bird migration all week long and yes Drew was out birding. I am going to share some pictures that Drew took while he was out birding.
This is a picture of a White Winged Tern the picture was taken in Manitowoc Wi. The Tern is in the middle of the picture black with the white wings. This bird is very rare around here it is ABA Code 4 rarity on the list. The last one that was in Wisconsin was in 1873 yes 143 years ago.
This is a picture of a Pelican the picture was taken in Manitowoc Wi.
This is a picture of a Peregrine Falcon the picture was taken at Shoop Park in Racine Wi.
This is a picture of a Eastern Towhee the picture was taken at Richard Bong State Recreational Area in Brighton Wi.
This is a picture of a Eastern Kingbird the picture was taken at Richard Bong State Recreational Area in Brighton Wi.
This is a picture of a Blue Grey Gnatcatcher the picture was taken at Richard Bong State Recreational Area in Brighton Wi.
I hope everyone enjoys the pictures just as much as we enjoy going out there taken the pictures.
"Drivers traveling through Racine County should be aware: wearing
a seat belt and/or making sure everyone else in the car is buckled up is
not an option, it’s the law. If motorists don’t click it,
drivers and/or their passengers could be ticketed or worse if you’re in
accident and not wearing your seat belt.
"Area
law enforcement – police departments in Caledonia, Mount Pleasant and
Sturtevant – will be on the look-out for seat belt use during Click It
or Ticket between May 23 and June 5. Officers who observe drivers and/or
passengers not wearing their seat belts could face a ticket, but Mount
Pleasant police Captain Brian Smith said the campaign is really about
saving lives. "'During the Click It or Ticket mobilization and throughout the year,
our goal is not to write more tickets,' he said in a written release
from the department. 'Through enforcement and education, we’re
determined to get people to buckle up every time they drive or ride in a
vehicle.' "According to the statement, 86 percent of Wisconsin drivers buckle
up, which is good news. The bad news, however, is that half of those
killed in automobile accidents on state roadways were not wearing their
seat belt. In 2015 alone, 55,000 convictions for failure to use a seat
belt, the release continues. "Important note: even passengers in back seats must also buckle up.
"'Buckling up is the best possible protection against being ejected
from a vehicle during a crash or thrown around violently inside it and
possibly hitting another person in the vehicle with massive force,'
Smith continued. 'That’s why Click It or Ticket is more than a slogan to
our officers. It really is a life-saving effort.'"
"RACINE — A Racine man was behind bars on Monday, accused of stalking a girl who worked at a Mexican restaurant.
"David
Vega, 56, of the 1800 block of St. Clair Street, is accused of
following a girl — who is younger than 18 — three times in a week as she
walked to and from work, according to his criminal complaint.
"The complaint doesn't list the girl's age or date of birth.
"The girl told Racine police that she
was walking at about 7:50 a.m. on May 14 from home to work at Mi
Jacalito, 1318 Douglas Ave., when she noticed a white van pass her, do a
U-turn, and then follow her, the complaint states. The driver, later
identified as Vega, asked if the girl wanted a ride, she told police.
She declined, but the van reportedly continued to follow her to the
restaurant.
"On May 15, the girl
saw the van at about 7:55 a.m. parked across from her home as she left
to walk to work, the complaint states. Vega again asked if the girl
wanted a ride, she again declined, but the van continued to follow her
to work, she told police.
"The girl said she feared for her safety, so she told her stepfather about the incidents"
RACINE — A Racine
man pleaded not guilty Monday in court to a misdemeanor charge for
allegedly setting his dog loose on a man last year and ordering the
animal 'to get' the man, whom the accused described with a racial
epithet.
"Gerald T. Johnson,
57, of the 1900 block of Blaine Avenue, is charged with disorderly
conduct as a repeat offender in the May 9, 2015, incident.
"The
targeted man told Racine police that he was walking in the 1900 block
of Blaine Avenue that day when he heard a white man and woman loudly
arguing at Johnson's house, according to Johnson's criminal complaint.
As he continued walking, the man heard Johnson say 'get that (racial
slur),' saw him unclasp his dog from its leash, and then saw the dog
begin to give chase, the complaint states.
"The dog, described as a pit bull,
chased the man to the 3300 block of 20th Street, where the pursued said
he jumped onto a truck, the complaint states. The dog stayed there
barking at the pursued man until Johnson called to it. The animal
then moved to a yard, according to the complaint.
"The woman who had been
taking part in the argument with Johnson, drove in a Jeep to pick up the
dog and the pursued man reportedly said he told the woman 'you gotta
control that dog.' The woman, whose name was not listed in the
complaint, allegedly hurled racial slurs and threats at the man."
Getty Images - Depression is one of the most common forms of
mental disorder, yet many people mask their symptoms or isolate
themselves rather than confront their depression to seek treatment.
"Depression is one of the most common mental disorders, yet many people
mask their symptoms or isolate themselves rather than share their mental health
struggles publicly. But on Twitter, users are aiming to combat that
isolation with the new hashtag #MyDepressionLooksLike, which is being
used to share stories about depression.
"Thousands of users have used the trending hashtag to share powerful
stories about how their lives are affected and shaped by depression.
It's an issue that remains a problem with an estimated 15.7 million of
U.S. adults grappling with it a depressive episode in 2014, according to
the National Institute of Mental Health.
"Some users write they are incapacitated by deep feelings of depression
or anxiety. Others write about painful moments when they masked the
depression in a smiling selfie or when they were out among friends.
"Mary Alvord, a Maryland-based psychologist and director of the
psychotherapy practice Alvord, Baker & Associates, told ABC News
social media can be a powerful tool to help combat the stigma of mental
illness and to inform people.
"'For the most part the message, my message to teens [in treatment] is
you’re not alone,' Alvord told ABC News today. 'I think social media
platforms, while they can certainly be used in a negative way, they also
have the potential to really help.'
"Alvord said that even though more attention is being paid to mental
disorders like depression, many people don't understand what a
depressive person looks like.
"'I think people assume that depressives go around and talk about how sad
they are,' said Alvord, who explained that isolation and irritability
are major signs of depression that are often overlooked. 'Irritability
is often a sign with depression that people don’t think about. It’s
often associated with agitation and anger.'"
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