North Carolina Now; North Carolina Now Episode from 07/19/1995

Or does. It's Wednesday July 19th. Tonight examining the problems of eating disorders in North Carolina now. Thanks

good Wednesday evening and thanks for joining us I'm Mary Lou Carr charring. Coming up tonight we'll examine a very serious problem plaguing women especially younger women eating disorders. Then an interesting discussion with Larry Leon Hamlin regarding an exciting entertainment event about to take place in our state the National Black Theatre Festival and a look at another exciting tradition in our state. The use of ferry boats on North Carolina waterways. Tonight we'll see how the boats reflect the state's university spirit. First though a health condition often hidden. Now you have probably just finished eating dinner tonight. You've got that nice full feeling right. Maybe too full. Well eating is something most of us consider normal but for some eating or not eating becomes an obsession and can even lead to death and it can happen to anyone. Singer Karen Carpenter died of anorexia nervosa a disease in which the patient literally starved herself to death. It turns out that most of those afflicted are women so a warning the

next victim could be anyone perhaps your friend or your teenage daughter. Reporter Kelly McHenry examines this important health issue facing women today. What life seems to offer when you're a pretty woman. True love. A handsome prince. Close to die for. What's sad is that some women are dying literally starving themselves to death to achieve what they perceive to be the perfect body beautiful actresses and supermodels constantly thrust the ideal upon us and it's always super thin. Certainly being in good shape is healthy but not all of us can or should be this skinny. In fact when we become obsessed with being fan the trouble begins. Leslie Burns is recovering from anorexia nervosa in which patients weigh at least 15 percent less than their normal

body weight. She was anxious over starting nursing school and she began losing weight she says to gain control over her life. This is Leslie at 145 pounds just three months later she weighed only 90 pounds. I'd wake up for class. Junk coffee getting ready. And then on the way to school I would stop and I'd get a laxative to cleanse out anything that was left over my body from the next day. Then I would get us the coming storm by plenty of sugar free bubble gum and juice and I'd last the whole day at school like that. Some days I would take an apple if that. And then once I got I was cool I went and got some you know Gatorade or something to drink and went and I worked out for two two and a half three hours.

And then I ate a bowl of cereal or something before I go to bed. Anna is with singer Karen Carpenter died from years of starving yourself weakened her heart beyond repair and she died at age 33. Most patients develop the disorder in their teens and it often turns into a related disorder called believe Mia where you eat then make you still vomit. Dr. Susan eater says these disorders are often a symptom of underlying emotional problems. Girls deny the conflict they deny the conflict with their about their sexuality and about their development about separation and they put all the worries on their way. It says if everything's okay I'm just too fat with eating disorders. Image and reality become totally confused. Time and again patients who have shriveled to a hundred ninety even 80 pounds look into a mirror and still see someone who is overweight. It was devastating you know because I can't look in the mirror and

I was like and say was this fat person and I would do everything I could to lose the weight and I could. Leslie is now in therapy for believe me I don't get it. I don't need to distract kids she admits she doesn't have a good self-image and it's when she's depressed or angry that she often binges and purges that leaves you feeling guilty a vicious cycle she can't seem to break. Her counselor Marjorie House's certain personality types are more susceptible to eating disorders inclined toward perfectionism inclined toward cleaning people and Klein toward past 70 rather than assertiveness the warning signs of anorexia are excessive weight loss skipped menstrual periods dry hair and nails and depression were believe me a watch for frequent bingeing and purging irregular menstrual cycle laxative abuse and irregular

heartbeat. Believe me it is the least damaging disorder. Those who give up bingeing and purging can expect a return to good health. But anorexia especially in a growing teenager starves the body of essential nutrients and can lead to permanent damage even death. That's a long long long road to travel to get better. But there is hope and there is a danger. You know how to my death. And it's not worth it. So if you're being devoured by an obsession to be thin take heart. There is help available to let you see the pretty woman in the mirror in a healthy way. If you know someone struggling with anorexia or bulimia and want to help contact a counsellor or therapist with experience in treating the disorder on to lighter things we've got some great entertainment information coming your way in just a few minutes but first Michel Louis has returned to the now news desk and has the latest news business and weather. Hi Michel.

Hello Mary Lou. Good evening everyone. State lawmakers are into their 19th day of overtime in this session of the General Assembly as the price tag for their work keeps going up. The session so far has lasted a total of 175 days at a cost to taxpayers of about $55000 a day total bill so far nine point six million dollars and the end is not in sight since lawmakers still have to iron out differences between the House and Senate on the budget. So far this session the General Assembly has passed about 450 laws. Among them is a tax cut a license to carry concealed weapons and an abortion consent law. Members do have one incentive to settle up and go home. Many would like to attend a legislative conference in California early next month. The state Senate gave final approval to its version of a Taxpayer Protection Act today a move aimed at curbing growth in state spending. Under the measure growth would be restricted to a formula based on population and inflation. But some critics say that's not good enough. The Senate version exempt

schools prisons and court ordered spending from the limits. The version passed by the House does not. The two bills will now have to be reconciled. A House Committee today approved a bill that would allow judges to compensate weapons from spouses accused of domestic violence. The bill would also call for restraining orders against alleged abusers to be sent through the police information network. Opponents of the bill said it was a little more than political posturing. While supporters said it could save lives. I'm not going to say the blood will be on our hands. What I'm saying is we have an opportunity to leave with a problem. Even if eight years one iota of what we're doing with the problem we should do what we're about to do here is to grant substantial expansion of power to it for the sake of political expediency to say that we have done something for the last. Some members of the panel attempted to gut the bill by calling for study of the issue before taking further action. That amendment was defeated. Durham

County Smart Start early childhood education program has become the victim of a theft. The director of the agency says more than thirty eight hundred dollars worth of checks were cashed using a forged signature and an identified employee who was asked to resign before the forgery was discovered. Is suspected in the case. The matter has been turned over to police. The director says the forgery was discovered during a routine monthly check and that steps are being taken to prevent similar events in the future. The House of Representatives has approved deep cuts and federal cultural and land management programs. The measure calls for a 40 percent budget cut for both the National Endowment for the Arts and the National Endowment for the Humanities. If the bill wins final approval it will take effect next year. North Carolina's congressional delegation split along party lines for the vote. Two GOP members Cass Ballenger and Richard Burr had joined congressional Democrats in an earlier vote that rejected attempts to cut NEA funding even further. The bill is expected to face additional amendments in the Senate next week. North Carolina

congressman Fred Heineman has been chosen to question witnesses during hearings on the Branch Davidian compound seach the House Judiciary Committee is investigating the actions of the FBI and Alcohol Tobacco and Firearms agents during the siege of the Branch Davidian compound in Waco Texas. HYNEMAN a former Raleigh police chief will question witnesses on three of the eight scheduled hearing Days us in Charlotte Professor James Tabor is among the witnesses expected to testify. And now for a look at tomorrow's weather sweltering temperatures continue to heat the entire state. Highs in the mountains will be in the low to upper 80s in the Piedmont and coastal areas highs will hover around 90 degrees mostly sunny skies can be expected in the Triad and Triangle areas. The rest of the state may see a few clouds. The Wilmington area has a slight chance of seeing an afternoon thunderstorm. In business news carry over tobacco help carry flu cured tobacco sales on today's opening of eastern and old belt markets. Prices range from one hundred eighty one dollars to one hundred eighty four dollars per hundred

pounds with little going under alone. The carry over leaf is expected to make up the bulk of sales for the first week or two of the markets. But there is concern about the new crop which has been hit hard by rain. Meanwhile Governor Jim Hunt spoke at the opening of the 100 anniversary of the Kinston tobacco market. He told the gathering that the Food and Drug Administration's attempt to classify nicotine as a drug is morally and factually wrong and plans to fight the FDA policy. Stock prices went into a freefall on Wall Street today with the Dow Jones Industrial Average down more than 130 points earlier in the day but it bounced back later in the session. Leading analysts to predict that this is not the start of a major market correction. The Dow ended the day down fifty seven point forty one at forty six twenty eight point eighty seven. More than four hundred eighty three million shares changed hands. The Standard Poor's 500 fell and the Nasdaq composite index tumbled more than 38 points. And now for some stocks of North Carolina interest.

A major event is about to take place in the triad on July 30 first through August 5th the city of Winston-Salem is hosting the 1995 National Black Theatre Festival. This intertainment extravaganza is held every two years and attracts some of the world's most famous and talented entertainers. Here to tell us what to expect this year is the is

the festivals producer and artistic director Larry Leon Hamlin and it's so good to have you here Les or Larry Leon. I have so much to ask you about this because this is really an incredible event. Two years in the planning and really people from all over the country come here right. Well actually people from all over the world now come to the festival we have people coming from Brazil and Cuba are in South Africa and Ghana and Jerry and Jamaica. So it's really an international event and it's more than just you know theater. It has the word theater in it but it's so much more than that really and and the way you're describing it it sounds like there's a lot of education to be had and a lot of learning to be had there as well. What does it in compass. Well in addition to the performances we have workshops and symposiums as a matter of fact we have the Nobel laureate who will be appearing

at the festival. But in addition to that we have what we call our youth celebrity project and that's a project where you from all over North Carolina and other parts of the country get to spend time with the 50 plus celebrities that will be attending the festival. And keep in mind we're talking about people like Billy Dee Williams and Maya Angelo and Ruby Dee and Leslie Uggams and Geoffrey Holder. Common law the law. John Amos. Well like I said over 50. See there you are name dropping. This is really something that provide this opportunity to these young people I know you just got to be something for them. Well you know one of the reasons we're doing this and of course you can find this type of program happening anywhere else in the country. So Dawn Caroline is very fortunate to have it. But we're trying to inspire confidence in you. We want to feel very good about themselves build their own self esteem and inspire them

to believe that they can accomplish anything that they set their minds to. Wow that's a great great accomplishment if you can do so. We want to take a look at what this festival actually looks like. And we have a video clip of when the last one happened so let's take a look at that right now. Wow that's this I mean with some of the stars you've got this looks like something you want to be seen at sort of as well isn't it. Well certainly what you know does Sidney poured a narrow Belafonte and Ella Reeves etc. you know all the stars come out for this event because most of them came out of black theater originally anyway.

How long have you been doing this now the festival itself since 1989. OK now once again we do it by any really. So this is the year. And the idea came about then in 89 or when you first decided to do it why where did the idea form. Well actually I was writing articles for a magazine on black Dator in the south and I was I was interviewing some of the companies I heard this loud scream of pain and frustration. And I said well I wonder how black Slater is doing in other parts of the country. I heard the same screen saying pain now to be very honest. I only thought that maybe there was 65 to 70 black theaters in America but I found out that there were over two hundred fifty. But the thing is we didn't know each other. I mean there we were all doing the same business. Many of us had the same type of problems. Also I noticed that in the 70s that we had lost a great many black they'd years especially in New York City. And if that trin

would continue then I would surmise that in 10 years there wouldn't be going to black theater. So I thought it would be wonderful if I could get all of the black leaders in America together so that we could create an agenda and also take a look at our goals and objectives see perhaps what needs to be done to have. All two of them we needed to create a vehicle that would allow us to network to to share ideas. Those companies that were successful could help those companies that were emerging and of course it turned out to be a tremendous task in 1089. Wow and that is something and it has continued every two years since 89 then. Now you said that this is unique and you don't find this anywhere else in the country is that because it is such a large undertaking. Or is it because everyone looks forward to this event every two years

or maybe both. I certainly think a little of both but keep in mind this is a theater festival even though the types of performances would be musicals dramas comedy etc.. But. It's unique because to have 20 different productions going on simultaneously. I mean in black theater you can find that in New York or say out on the west Scholes. This is the only place that happens. And to have people like Billy Dee Williams coming to be supportive and actually performing in the festival is just a mining boggling experience. And I can tell you that thing and it continues today is a celebration and a re-union of spirit. And so people come to the festival and they leave a feeling dedicated to black

re they recommit themselves. And it's such a very spiritual experience. People say that it's an experience that they will remember for the rest of their lives. That's how impacting it is. Well you sold me and I'm sure a lot of other people as well Larry Leon and I know a lot of people are going to want to attend this year. If you would like to get information you can call 9 1 0 7 2 3 2 2 6 6 again the National Black Theatre Festival will be held in Winston-Salem July 30 1st through August 5th and something to really look forward to and Larry Leon. Thank you so much for being here with us tonight. Well it's been a marvel past experience being with you. They are coming from all over of the True Blue Tar Heels the undying supporters of the

pirates and more. In fact fans of every one of North Carolina 16 state schools are pumped up and heading to the coast to ride ferryboats motorcades Bailey explains. And have proudly shown their school colors on T-shirts bumper stickers anything to prove their loyalty. But this is a new trend in taking a ride on North Carolina. Last year the North Carolina very division decided to support a North Carolina State School by painting school to get a new job with a North Carolina State. The ferry division maintains two dozen vessels at the manse harbor a maintenance facility here the boats are carefully lifted out of the water

inspected overhauled and repainted no less than once every three years as the vessels are rushing in with a regular inspections throughout the next few years they will be given their new base lives. The painting of the school colors provides some variety of job performance far at least my paying for a head as it's been a really emotional and motivational boost for the workers their facility. It's kind of boring painting things white and black every day and the school colors and gives them something to look forward to. Give them a little bit of pride in their work and then there's nothing to show what they can do. Mark that with before long though each of North Carolina's state schools will have its own bathroom. Repainting the roads is just one of the many ways the ferry division is increasing its visibility over the past couple years. In his plan. He signs all over the state to encourage travelers to ride merry. It continues to expand the

number of vessels in operation. It's new it's still sports but Hell is not. East Carolina University with the addition of another ferry this year with the colors of North Carolina State University North Carolina ferry system will be one of the largest state welfare systems in the country second only to Washington state. You know we've had tremendous growth over the last year from the 1986 to 1993 the very division had an average growth of about 3 percent per year and over the course of the last year we've had it a growth of the point four percent and this year through April we've added on we've been about 17 percent growth. The loyalty is real big in that state. How are they responding to this whole idea of the school colors on that's if the schools are very excited about this whole program. I get calls every week from one school asking what the other school is doing try to outdo each other. I get requests from the schools to get photos taken of their ferry with the

cheerleaders on board in the mascot to be used in the photos for promotional pieces and that the program is going over real well is it as a way of just promoting the schools that might not otherwise be seen on TV or be heard from. Of course their work aside to be excluded from the ranks of loyal fans. Just like they didn't get to choose which boat to work on. Their loyalty is like everybody else but they know they have a job to do and I think after they get a chance to serve on the boat it kind of becomes their boat also and so they want to promote that boat as well as abroad in universities. Even captains aren't allowed to play favorites. I might go to graduate study in your I am one you would see dead even so workers agree that the new paint jobs are real improvement to the old ones. So join in the fun and rise your favorite Merry Go State. The ferry division christened a brand new vessel the Thomas A bomb this morning.

This ferry which travels to Cape Hatteras bears the red and white of NC State of course of which Audrey is in the law. For information about North Carolina ferries and their schedules call the ferry information line toll free at 1 800 by ferry to get the story behind the story. Your best source is North Carolina now. We talked with lawmakers and explore how the laws impact our lives our neighbors and our future. Tell us your feelings about the direction our state is taking right North Carolina now P.O. Box 1 4 9 0 0 2 7 7 0 9. Fax us at 9 1 9 5 4 9 7 0 4 3. Or contact our e-mail address at aol dot com. And we appreciate you inviting us into the night. Here's what we're working on for tomorrow night's program a discussion with Mary Peeler the executive director of the North Carolina Endemol ACP.

She'll tell us about the recent controversy regarding questionable finances within that organization. We will get the very latest news on this legislative session from our bureau and we'll sample a tasty treat from the now kitchen with Don Mauer best of all his recipe is low fat. So tune in for that tomorrow. We will see you back here tomorrow night at 7:30. Have a great evening. Goodnight everyone.