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50 Best Beauty Tips of All Time

Band-Aids for wrinkles, deodorant before bed, and sugar packets to thicken hair. What other secret tricks did the 100 experts we consulted divulge? Read on ...

GET UNSTUCK

Nail polish cap won't budge? Wrap a rubber band around it for a better grip.

--Julie Kandalec, L.A. manicurist

FAKE A NOSE JOB

Draw a line with cream shimmer down the bridge of your nose. The highlighter reflects light, creating the illusion of a straighter sniffer.

--Tasha Reiko Brown-Jovel, L.A. makeup artist

Nars the Multiple in Copacabana, $37; narscosmetics.com.

SOOTHE IRRITATION

After plucking ingrown hairs, crush two aspirins (an anti-inflammatory) into powder, then add a few drops of water to create a paste. Apply over tender area and let dry.

--Peter Kopelson, L.A. dermatologist

MAKE YOUR MANI LAST

Remove polish with acetone polish remover; wash each nail with soap and dry well. Wipe again with remover. This gets rid of any oils that prevent polish from adhering completely.

--Jaimi Brooks, L.A. manicurist

REESE WITHERSPOON

CREATE LIVED-IN CURLS

To get the most natural look, alternate between using a small and a large curling iron. This creates tousled waves that vary in size.

--David Babaii, L.A. hairstylist

PLUMP UP YOUR LIPS

Dab your pout with peppermint oil. It's an instant lip plumper, setting off a small allergic reaction that causes swelling.

--David Bank, Mount Kisco, N.Y., dermatologist

FIND YOUR BEST BLUSH

Choose a shade that matches the pink of your knuckles when making a fist.

--Dustin Lujan, N.Y.C. makeup artist for Le Métier de Beauté

PREVENT WRINKLES

Affix adhesive butterfly bandage closures to facial lines before bedtime to stop yourself from frowning in your sleep.

--Francesca Fusco, N.Y.C. dermatologist

Band-Aid butterfly closures, $2/10; drugstore.com.

ENHANCE YOUR CONDITIONER

Warm it in a microwave-safe bowl for 15 seconds. The heat helps open up the hair cuticle, causing the conditioner to penetrate more deeply.

--Tippi Shorter, N.Y.C. hairstylist

MIX YOUR OWN DRY SHAMPOO

A fast and inexpensive fix for greasy hair: Combine equal parts baking soda and baby powder, sprinkle over hair, and then brush. The baking soda helps remove buildup, and the baby powder soaks up excess oil.

--David Babaii

BLOT OIL ON THE GO

It sounds crazy, but toilet seat covers make perfect blotting papers. The thin tissue absorbs oil like a sponge.

--Bruce Grayson, L.A. makeup artist

Johnson's baby powder in Cooling Cucumber Melon, $4; at drugstores.

APPLY DEODORANT BEFORE BED

Your body temperature is higher at night, so the deodorant will permeate more deeply into the sweat ducts. It will block wetness the next day, even after you shower.

--David Bank

BOOST LASHES

Before putting on mascara, dust lashes first with a translucent powder to add instant volume.

--Tasha Reiko Brown-Jovel

Laura Mercier translucent loose setting powder, $34; sephora.com.

EVA MENDES

ALL YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT DARK NAILS

TAKE YOUR TIME

Rather than polish the whole nail in one fell swoop, break the process down into at least three strokes: First, paint the center, then swipe along each side, keeping the coats thin to prevent chipping.

--Bethany Newell, N.Y.C. manicurist

STAY IN THE LINES

For a finished, professional look, always leave a small space between the cuticle and the polish line.

--B.N.

STOP THE COLOR FROM BLEEDING

Before removing polish, brush cuticle oil on each nail to avoid staining the base of the nail or fingers. The oil creates a barrier that keeps the color from penetrating the skin as you rub it away.

--Tabitha Belesis, N.Y.C. manicurist

KEEP COLOR REAL

If you really like the way lipstick looks in the tube, prime lips with a touch of foundation before applying. That way, you start with a blank canvas and the color appears more true.

--Anthea King, N.Y.C. makeup artist

DIY HAIR SPF

Don't dare go in the sun without first misting your hair with a mixture of equal parts water and sunscreen--it will keep color from fading and hair from drying out.

--Giselle, N.Y.C. colorist

ZAP FRIZZ

Wrap wet hair in a towel that's been soaked in ice-cold water. This seals the shaft, so as hair dries, it will stay frizz-free.

--Ursula Stephen, N.Y.C. hairstylist

AMP UP YOUR LASH CURLER

Warm it with a blow-dryer up to a maximum of three seconds before using it on your lashes. The heat will open up the cuticle of the hair, boosting the curl.

--Christy Coleman, L.A. makeup artist

Shu Uemura eyelash curler, $19; shuuemura-usa.com.

SAY "SEE-YA" TO BRASSY HAIR COLOR

Wash with a mixture of grape Kool-Aid powder (just a pinch) and four tablespoons of your regular shampoo. The purple blue cancels out the brassy gold orange in overprocessed hues because it's on the opposite side of the color spectrum.

--Tippi Shorter

REDUCE REDNESS

Spritz a small amount of nasal decongestant on red areas to decrease the color in a flash. The spray, which lessens the inflammation that triggers nasal congestion, will do the same for a pimple.

--David Bank

THICKEN HAIR

Add two sugar packets to a 20-ounce bottle of water to create a natural volumizing spray.

--Oscar Blandi, N.Y.C. hairstylist

GUARANTEE A PERFECT SHADE

When coloring hair at home, start your timer as soon as you begin applying the dye, not when you finish. Otherwise the first sections you do (front, hairline, and nape of the neck) will be overcolored. If the rest of the hair isn't timed perfectly, it doesn't matter as much because it's not as visible.

--Rita Hazan, N.Y.C. colorist

TAME UNRULY BROWS

Comb mustache wax onto eyebrows. The wax coats each hair and locks it in place.

--Troy Surratt, N.Y.C. makeup artist

Clubman Moustache wax, $5; drugstore.com.

PUNCH UP NEON POLISH

Apply an opaque white polish before your neon shade. The flat base brings out the pigment of the color and illuminates it from underneath.

--Patricia Yankee, N.Y.C. manicurist

OPI matte Nail Lacquer in Alpine Snow, $9; ulta.com for stores. Zoya nail polish in Paz, $6; zoya.com.

CURTAIL A BLEMISH

To dry up oily secretions, spray a makeup sponge with clear antiperspirant and dab it on the pimple before putting on your makeup.

--Jake Bailey, L.A. makeup artist

Secret antiperspirant and deodorant aerosol spray in Powder Fresh, $5; at drugstores.

THREE SURPRISING USES FOR DANDRUFF SHAMPOO

WASH AWAY DRY SKIN

Clean your face with anti-dandruff shampoo to decrease flaking. It reduces the yeast levels that cause scaly skin.

--Elissa Lunder, Wellesley, Mass., dermatologist

BRIGHTEN HAIR COLOR

Lather your tresses with a flake fighter and let sit for 20 minutes. This revives color and even removes the green tints that may result from chlorine.

--Sean James, L.A. hairstylist

FIGHT BACNE

Shampoos that contain salicylic acid can also help with breakouts on your back.

--Monica Schadlow, N.Y.C. dermatologist

Kérastase Bain Gommage, $39; kerastase-usa.com.

WAKE UP TIRED EYES

Apply black mascara, then tip the ends of your lashes with a mascara in plum or navy to make the whites of your eyes look brighter.

--Brett Freedman, L.A. makeup artist

Diorshow mascara in plum and black, $24 each; sephora.com.

ATTACH FALSE LASHES WITH EASE

To get the clearest view of your upper lash line, hold a hand mirror below your chin and look down.

--Tasha Reiko Brown-Jovel

THIN OUT CLUMPY MASCARA

A drop of Coca-Cola will reinvigorate your mascara's consistency. The syrup in the soda adds just enough moisture without making it watery.

--Brett Freedman

PREVENT ACNE

Keep separate hair and face towels so the oil from your scalp doesn't cause breakouts.

--Amy Wechsler, N.Y.C. dermatologist

HEAL DRY HANDS

Rub the inside of a lemon directly onto the backside of your hands. Lemons have high concentrations of citric acid and vitamin C, which stimulate connective tissue production. The sting lasts a few seconds, but it's worth it.

--Macrene Alexiades-Armenakas, N.Y.C. dermatologist

SAFEGUARD SKIN

Slather on sunscreen before every flight, and choose aisle over window seats. There's a greater level of UV rays at high altitudes than on the ground.

--Elissa Lunder

Aveeno Positively Ageless sunblock lotion SPF 70, $10; drugstore.com.

ADD OOMPH TO LIPS

Always keep a sheer golden lip gloss in your makeup bag. It instantly warms up any lip color and gives you a brand-new shade.

--Anthea King

L'Oréal Paris Colour Juice lip gloss in Golden Splash, $9; ulta.com.

SHIELD UNDEREYE AREAS

Don't forget to cover the area beneath your eyes when spreading on sunscreen. The skin around your eyes is thinner, making it more susceptible to damaging UV rays.

--Jeanine Downie, Montclair, N.J., dermatologist

HARDEN NAIL POLISH FASTER

Once they're partially dry, run nails under cold water. The icy temperature will speed up setting your polish.

--Bethany Newell

AVOID BREAKOUTS FROM BRUSHES

Wash your makeup tools regularly with a clarifying shampoo to rid them of product buildup that can cause blemishes.

--Tasha Reiko Brown-Joval

CONTROL SHINE

Tea is a natural astringent. To reduce oil, splash your face with cool black tea, but do not rinse.

--Peter Kopelson

ONE PRODUCT, THREE WAYS CUTICLE OIL

HALT SMUDGES

Drop cuticle oil on each nail just after polishing. The oil makes nail surfaces slippery, serving as a buffer between the lacquer and any object that might tarnish it. This works for pedicures too: Immediately after applying top coat, add cuticle oil; then slip on sandals for a flaw-free trip home.

--Jaimi Brooks

FIX SMEARS

Oops! Already spoiled your freshly painted manicure? Brush cuticle oil onto the nail and gently rub out the crease with fingers.

--J.B.

REFRESH DULL POLISH

A spot of cuticle oil adds a nice sheen to lackluster lacquer. It hydrates nails, while sinking into every nook and cranny to smooth out imperfections.

--J.B.

Jessica Phenomen Oil intensive moisturizer, $14; jessicacosmetics.com.

RECYCLE CRACKED POWDER

Crush broken blush in a bowl--the back of a spoon will do the trick--until it's a fine powder, then blend with a lip balm for a perfect cream blush.

--Fiona Stiles, N.Y.C. makeup artist

broken powder blush + lip balm = cream blush

Sue Devitt Silky blush in Los Angeles, $20; ulta.com. Chapstick lip balm SPF 4, $2; drugstore.com.

ERASE NAIL STAINS

Soak fingers in denture cleaner for about three minutes. The liquid's oxidizing agents will help remove stains.

--April Foreman, L.A. manicurist

HELP YOUR SKIN TURN BACK TIME

Dip a washcloth in soy milk and rest it on your face for 10 minutes once a week. Soy is a skin brightener and contains phytoestrogen, a plant-derived estrogen that is thought to help prevent wrinkles.

--Debra Luftman, L.A. dermatologist

JULIANNE HOUGH

GET NO-BUDGE SHADOW

For a creamy eye shadow that won't crease, use waterproof eyeliner pencil. Draw over the eyelid, then blend with finger.

--Jake Bailey

Make Up For Ever Aqua Eyes in Champagne, $17; sephora.com.

TEXTURIZE HAIR

Clear liquid soap adds great body to hair. Plus, it comes out easily when you wash it out.

--David Babaii

CREATE LIQUID LINER

Add a few eyedrops to dark eye shadow. The drops are mess-free and sterile, which means you won't introduce dangerous bacteria into your makeup.

--Troy Surratt

MAC eyeliner brush No. 210, $18; maccosmetics.com.

Clarins Single Eye Colour in Totally Black, $20; clarinsusa.com.

Rohto V Cooling Redness Reliever lubricant eye drops, $7; drugstore.com.

growing pains

What do you do when your well-mannered kids suddenly go off the rails with a certain behavior? Parents and child-development experts explain how to get back on track.

Once you made it through those sleepless nights with an infant and your child responded to English, it seemed most problems could be tackled with a stern no. Or maybe three. But even kids who initially follow every rule eventually start veering off course. Suddenly a child who loved green beans refuses anything but waffle fries. To help you straighten out those wayward souls, Real Simple talked to moms who have done it, then consulted experts to find out why these women's solutions were successful. So no matter which path your kids choose, you can keep them moving in the right direction.

"My child started throwing tantrums to get what he wanted."

--Rachel O'Connell, Ashland, Massachusetts

the problem: A two-year-old who learned that a screaming fit usually resulted in a toy. "My son would let loose these truly bloodcurdling screams that would go on until one of us would give him whatever it took to make that awful noise stop," says O'Connell. "One day he screamed so much he lost his voice."

the fix: A nifty disappearing act. As soon as her son launched into one of his fits, O'Connell and her husband would calmly and promptly remove themselves from the action. "We'd go into another room right away, but we'd tell him he could come find us when he was finished," she says. "Knowing that we weren't going to get riled up or be around did the trick eventually. Within a week, the screaming sessions were down to less than a minute."

the expert take: "When you say, 'I'm not going to stay in the room with you for this,' it's removing attention from the tantrum, which says, 'This is not acceptable,' " says Rex Forehand, a professor of psychology at the University of Vermont, in Burlington, and a coauthor of Parenting the Strong-Willed Child (McGraw-Hill, $16). "Toddlers might erupt like Mount Vesuvius, but then they have to vent and let go of upset feelings," says Robert A. MacKenzie, a family therapist and the author of the Setting Limits book series (Three Rivers Press). Stuck in Target? You can't leave a screaming child in housewares. Forehand suggests picking up the child, leaving the store, and putting him in the backseat of the car--alone--while you stand outside with the keys. Wait a few minutes; if the tantrum stops, let him out and go back inside.

"It took two hours to put my child to bed."

--Kerri Eastham, Torrance, California

the problem: A bedtime process that dragged on into the wee hours. Eastham's 2½-year-old daughter had, over time, become a master of delaying bedtime. "Some requests were legitimate, like 'One more trip to the bathroom.' Others were ridiculous: 'One more dinner, please'? " says Eastham.

the fix: A photo-driven bedtime routine. "I took pictures of my daughter brushing her teeth, washing her face, and so on. We laminated them and taped them in order to a strip of paper. When each one was completed, she would say, 'Check!' " says Eastham. "And if she asked for another drink of water, I'd show her the chart and say, 'See? We already did that.' It worked right away."

the expert take: "Kids love clarity--they crave it," says MacKenzie. "An approach like this answers all the questions: What's next? How far can I go? How much is left?" To keep the novelty of the chart from wearing off, MacKenzie recommends updating it from time to time--which Eastham has done by subbing in new pictures (showing off new teeth or new pink pajamas) and adding in stickers that function as check marks (and peel off easily from the laminated photos).

"My kids rushed through dinner just to get to dessert."

--Gia Blout, Pasadena, California

the problem: Using dessert as a reward for eating well eventually turned dinner into an afterthought. "My two boys would rush through dinner and eat the bare minimum to earn their 'reward.' There were constant negotiations and power struggles," says Blout.

the fix: Blout began to serve dinner family-style, with all the dishes--even dessert--presented at once. The boys were expected to serve themselves and make their own choices without any intervention from their parents. "The first night, my younger one grabbed a cookie and inhaled it. But then he relaxed and ate a complete meal," says Blout. Eventually she began phasing out dessert at every meal--without protests.

the expert take: "It's important to stop distinguishing between 'good' and 'bad' foods," says Adele Faber, a coauthor of How to Talk So Kids Will Listen & Listen So Kids Will Talk (Collins Living, $16). "Making food attractive, like arranging peas in the shape of a smiley face or cutting fruit into shapes, will make kids more likely to eat it." Considering dessert as a part of the meal, rather than as an overvalued treat, eliminates it as a bargaining chip. And if your child does eat six cookies before serving himself any spinach, consider this: "In studies, when kids were allowed to eat whatever they wanted, they just ate dessert at first. But within a few weeks, they were back to a balanced meal," says Kevin Leman, a psychologist and the author of Have a New Kid by Friday (Revell, $18).

"My child was obsessed with TV."

--Elizabeth Williams, Hoboken, New Jersey

the problem: A nonstop loop of Duck Tales: Raiders of the Lost Harp. "Our four-year-old son became obsessed and wanted to watch constantly," says Williams.

the fix: Williams didn't want her family to spend their waking hours glued to the tube or have television be the go-to source of entertainment, so she banned it during the week--for Mom and Dad, too. "Exceptions are made for presidential debates and speeches and baseball opening day," she says. "It was clear-cut, and the rule applied fairly to everybody." Williams subbed in plenty of card games (Uno was a favorite), kitchen science experiments, and even timed "drills." "I would say, 'How long will it take you to walk backwards around the apartment three times? I'll time you!' He loved being timed," she says.

the expert take: "The idea of limiting time in front of the set is great, but whether you need to cut it out altogether is up to you," says Forehand. Even if you do allow your kids to watch during the week, there are ways to diversify the subject. Use your child's interest in particular programs to create an educational experience. "Say, 'Oh, you're interested in ducks? Let's learn more about them. We can go to the library and find books that tell us what they do,' " suggests Faber.

"My daughter went berserk when we left her with a babysitter."

--Jan Schwieters, Eden Prairie, Minnesota

the problem: Temper tantrums at the sight of a sitter. "Our three-year-old became hysterical when we left her with someone else. We would hand over a screaming toddler and bolt. It was terrible," says Schwieters.

the fix: An earlier arrival and special activities. "If we were leaving at seven, I'd have the sitter come at 6:40 and set them up for a popcorn party or outside play time," says Schwieters. Her daughter felt secure enough to get fully engaged in the thing she was doing, since Mom and Dad were still home, and she barely batted an eye when they left.

the expert take: "This is an excellent solution for three reasons," says Forehand. "It takes the stress out of the parents' leaving, it gives the child the opportunity to see that being with a sitter is fun, and it creates a distraction." To make the tactic even more successful, "have fun activities that are reserved for times when the sitter is there," says Nicholas Long, a professor of pediatrics at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences and a coauthor of Parenting the Strong-Willed Child. Make up a new cookie recipe (Baby-sitter Butterscotch Bombs!) or let them build a fort your child can sleep in.

"My daughter's room was a disaster site."

--Michelle LeMasurier, Duluth, Minnesota

the problem: A formerly neat 14-year-old whose bedroom slowly morphed into a landfill look-alike. "At its worst, you couldn't see the floor," says LeMasurier.

the fix: Top Secret Operation Heave-Ho. LeMasurier bagged all her daughter's out-of-place belongings (clothes, books, papers, toiletries) and moved them to the garage while she was out one afternoon. "Wow, did that get her attention," LeMasurier says. To get the items back, her daughter had to reorganize. "We reworked her closet area--she helped design it--and she arranged things the way she wanted to keep them in the future," says LeMasurier. Now her daughter is proud of her room and keeps it spick-and-span to show it off.

the expert take: "Shock value definitely works," says Leman. "Older kids don't like their stuff touched." The key to success is to remain unemotional (no giving in when she starts crying over her gymnastics trophy). "Just say, 'I got tired of looking at it, and you'll find your stuff out in the garage,' " he says. Don't want to deal with the (literal) heavy lifting? Try skipping ahead to the second step. Get your child involved in the organization (shopping for new bookcases or cool baskets helps), and teach her about tidiness in the process.

"My son suddenly wouldn't touch healthy food."

--Samantha Meiler, Millburn, New Jersey

the problem: A two-year-old whose picky eating suddenly went extreme--he shunned anything but waffles, grilled cheese, French fries, and ice cream. "For six months, we tried reasoning with him," says Meiler.

the fix: Surprise! "Doing nothing at all," she says. "We put different foods in front of him. If he didn't eat them, we didn't make a big deal about it." (There was always one option they knew he would eat, like fries, in addition to the others.) It wasn't always easy. Meiler says she would occasionally leave the room to avoid getting frustrated. But the patience paid off. About a month into the new approach, "he started trying things. Suddenly he was eating chicken, strawberries, raisins, apples, corn. We were diligent about exposing him to new foods, and one day he simply ate them," she says. (Research shows that kids may need to be exposed to a food 15 times before they'll readily eat it.)

the expert take: "Hunger becomes a teacher," says Leman. "When a kid refuses to eat something, don't fuss over it." Many parents underestimate the downside of being too pushy, says Long: "Sometimes if we back off, they'll try things on their own. When you're more relaxed, their curiosity can take over."

Back-to-School Fair puts spotlight on kids' safety

The Lake County Community Traffic Safety Team will present its annual Back-to-School Safety Fair from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday at Lake Square Mall, 10401 U.S. Highway 441, Leesburg.

The fair, which helps families prepare for the school year, will include bicycle- and helmet-safety programs, a child-seat safety checkpoint, a child-identification program, face painting and more.

Sir Gus Jr. the camel will be there.

Other agencies participating include the Lake County Department of Public Works, local law-enforcement agencies, Lake County Schools' Parent Resources, Children's Home Society, Florida's Blood Centers, Florida Division of Driver Licenses, LakeXpress bus transportation and SADD (Students Against Destructive Decisions).

The Lake County Health Department also will offer free required immunizations for students. Children must be accompanied by a parent or guardian and must have proof of immunizations -- a Florida Certificate of Immunization or "blue card." The blue card is supplied by family physicians or local county health departments.

Business after hours

The Lady Lake Area Chamber of Commerce will have a Business After Hours on Thursday at 5:30 p.m. in the commission chamber at Lady Lake Town Hall, 409 Fennell Blvd.

Lady Lake's growth-management staff will answer questions about day-to-day responsibilities of the department, general process and procedures, and services offered to the public.

Refreshments will be served.

Reservations: 352-753-6029.

Marion County chief elected

The Florida Fire Chiefs Association recently elected Marion County Fire Rescue Fire Chief M. Stuart McElhaney as its 54th president.

McElhaney has served on FFCA board of directors for the past nine years and will serve a year term as president. He has been the fire chief for MCFR for 15 years.

Music and food

Pine Lakes Community Association will have a fundraiser beginning at noon Aug. 15 at the Pine Lakes Community Building, 31635 Lakeview Drive, off State Road 44 near the fire station.

The Hilltop Ramblers, a local group, will perform. Lunch and drinks will be available for purchase.

Proceeds will go toward the community building.

Classes for older drivers

AARP's Driver Safety Program helps participants refine their skills and develop safe driving habits. Upon completion of the course, Florida drivers 50 or older might be eligible for insurance discounts.

The cost is $12 for AARP members and $14 for nonmembers, which includes a workbook. Payment must be by check; no cash or credit cards.

The program, an eight-hour, two-day course, will be offered Monday and Aug. 12 from 1 to 5 p.m. at Leesburg Senior Center, 1211 Penn St.

Registration: 352-326-3540.

Safe Sitter classes

South Lake Hospital in Clermont will offer Safe Sitter, a course designed to train baby sitters for girls and boys ages 11 to 13.

The program teaches baby sitters how to handle crises and how to nurture and guide a child. Thousands of adolescents have been trained by Safe Sitter to handle life-threatening emergencies. Youths will get advice on safety and security precautions, such as what to do if a stranger comes to the door and when and how to call for help.

Students also will learn the basics of infant and child CPR using a mannequin.

The $50 two-part class is 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday and Aug. 11 at the National Training Center on the hospital's campus, 1109 Citrus Tower Blvd.

Seating is limited. Preregistration is required by calling 352-394-4071, Ext. 4419.

Books for a good cause

The Lake County Agricultural Center, 1951 Woodlea Road, Tavares, is selling the Bath Pond series written by Central Florida author Lowell Teal through the end of September.

The fictional series is a look at a Florida citrus family during the Depression. Half of the proceeds from the book sales will benefit the 4-H club's citrus project. Citrus growers, processors, packers and other support industries purchase citrus trees for members of the 4-H program so they can learn about the citrus industry, as well as complete a record book of their tree's care.

The four novels, which include Bath Pond, Fortunes Crossing, Inherited Journey and Promise to Poppy, are $14.95 each for softcover or $24.95 for hardcover. Cash and checks are accepted.

Details: Maggie Jarrell, 352-343-4101.

Recycle newspapers, magazines

W.T. Bland Public Library in Mount Dora has a newspaper-recycling bin in the library parking lot, 1995 N. Donnelly St.

Acceptable items include newspapers, magazines, catalogs and white office paper.

No telephone books, plastic bags, cardboard, wrapping paper, bows or trash will be accepted.

Funds made from the recycling collection will go toward purchasing youth materials for the library.

Details: 352-735-7180, Option 5.

Mail community news to Debbie Manis, Orlando Sentinel, 1898 E. Burleigh Blvd., Tavares, FL 32778-4366, fax 352-742-5938 or e-mail dmanis@orlandosentinel.com.

Credit: The Orlando Sentinel, Fla.

Runaway teen who fears family after Christian conversion ordered to DCF custody

She looked more like a timid child clinging to her protector than an Ohio teen runaway brazen enough to flee her Muslim family out of fear for her life.

The girl, who turned 17 on Monday, is at the center of a custody dispute in Orlando, where she sought help from a family she barely knew -- a pastor and his wife willing to take in a teen who feared her own family's retribution because she converted to Christianity.

The Orlando Sentinel is not identifying the teen because of her age.

The girl appeared before a crowded courtroom full of lawyers and spectators on Monday when an Orange Circuit Court Judge ordered her into Department of Children and Families emergency custody.

It was another in a series of legal decisions in a complicated case: Beyond the girl's religious preferences, the court must solve jurisdictional issues related to child services and courts.

In addition, the teen, a native of Sri Lanka, is not a U.S. citizen.

Her dispute with her family became news several weeks ago when the girl ran away from her home in Columbus, Ohio. She hitch-hiked to a Greyhound station and boarded a bus to Orlando.

Once here, she borrowed a cell phone to call Beverly Lorenz, who with husband Blake Lorenz is a pastor of Global Revolution Church in Orlando. The Lorenzes met the girl through a prayer group on Facebook.

Although the girl was a stranger, Beverly Lorenz told her they would house her. The teen told the Lorenzes she feared her family would hurt her, kill her or send her back to Sri Lanka, Beverly Lorenz said.

"We are doing everything we can to protect her," said Blake Lorenz, who said he has been told his life may be in jeopardy.

Meanwhile, the girl's parents reported to Ohio law enforcement authorities that their daughter was missing. They put together a flier, with her picture on it, asking for tips to her whereabouts.

Beverly Lorenz said they called an abuse hotline, prompting a visit on Friday from the Orlando police. Officers picked up the girl to be placed in state custody.

The Lorenzes appeared in court with the teen Monday, as did her father from Ohio.

When the petite girl walked into court, she immediately bolted for Beverly Lorenz, who held her. The teen then joined Blake Lorenz at a table with lawyers. He comforted her throughout the entire hearing with his arm around her shoulder.

Rosa Gonzalez, an attorney with the Alliance Defense Fund, told Orange Circuit Judge Gail A. Adams the teen is in fear for her life. The sight of her father makes the teen "frantic and hysterical," Gonzalez said.

The teen's father said little during the hearing.

Reached by a Sentinel reporter by phone, the girl's mother said little. "Yes, of course" her daughter would be safe should a judge eventually order her back there, she said.

And her father would not harm his daughter if she wanted to be a Christian, the woman said. She referred other questions to her husband. He did not answer his cell phone after the hearing.

Gonzalez said her organization, which sends pro bono lawyers to work on cases involving Christian issues, is concerned the teen could be returned to her parents.

"We don't take those threats lightly," she said.

Imam Hatim Hamidullah, with the Islamic Society of Central Florida, said the Muslim faith does not call for a father to hurt his child, should she convert to another religion.

"It is not Islam for the father to bring harm upon his blood daughter or any other human being because of anger," he said. "Our position is to exhaust all measures that would bring peace and harmony back to the family," Hamidullah said. "Being angry and threatening the life of someone is not one of those methods."

A DCF spokeswoman said the agency is working with Ohio officials to ensure the teen's "safety and well being."

Attempts to talk to the teen after the hearing were unsuccessful -- her legal guardians ushered her out of the building without letting her speak to a reporter.

On a baby sitter Web site, the girl described herself this way: "One of my favorite things to do in my spare time is cheerleading for my high school and of course tumbling as well. I have a little brother who is about to turn 5 years old. With this, I have had a lot of experience with toddlers and many years of sitting for him."

Blake Lorenz, who retired after serving as pastor at Pine Castle United Methodist Church for several years, said the teen believes her dad will kill her.

"We are doing everything we can to protect her," he said.

Lorenz said he has been told his life may be in jeopardy.

After Monday's hearing, Blake Lorenz said he was relieved the teen is not returning back to her family in Ohio immediately, but he's still cautious. He's "very concerned that the system will let her down."

Walter Pacheco contributed to this report. Amy L. Edwards can be reached at aledwards@orlandosentinel.com or 407-420-5735. Rene Stutzman can be reached at rstutzman@orlandosentinel.com or 407-650-6394.

Questions, answers on local stimulus plan

Call it our own local economic stimulus plan. Or call it what we're calling it: "$20 on the 22nd." Regardless of the name, the campaign's goal is to encourage local residents to step up and give our community a much-needed economic boost. How? Simply spend $20 more on the 22nd of August on local goods and services you would not have otherwise purchased that day.

Ahhh, but you have questions. Let me try to answer a few anticipated ones to give you a better understanding of why we're doing this.

Why the 22nd?

Actually, we were tempted to go with "$20 on the 20th," but the 22nd is a Saturday, when most folks can get out to shop and dine.

Why $20?

There is a lot you can do with $20. We know times are tough, but we're hoping most of us can find $20 to inject into our local economy as our contribution to the cause.

Do you really think my $20 will make a difference?

Yes, we do. Consider this: If every adult in Yuba, Sutter and Colusa counties spends an extra $20 on the 22nd, that will mean an additional $2.7 million pumped into our local economy. Not only will it generate the sales taxes that pay for police, parks and potholes, but it helps businesses stay in business and pay employees who continue to put money back into the local economy.

But what happens after the 22nd?

Studies show money changes hands about six times in a community, Laura Nicholson, executive director of the Yuba- Sutter Chamber of Commerce, said in a recent A-D story:

"You buy a car, go to the bank, you take that money and go out to a restaurant, where you tip the waitress, who goes home and pays the baby sitter, who buys a soccer uniform for her son, who plays in a game sponsored by (local businesses)," Nicholson said.

Besides, if this program proves successful, we can do it again.

What's in it for the A-D?

We're just trying to do our part in sustaining the vitality of our community.

Let's face it: The newspaper is only as healthy as all the other businesses within our area, so we all share a vested interest in surviving the current economic mudslide. And yes, we hope that lots of businesses buy newspaper ads to let resident shoppers know what they have to offer for $20. Nonetheless, we're going to sell those ads to businesses at $20 each, which is heavily discounted from our regular rates. We're not doing this to make a buck right now -- we see it as an investment in our future and that of our community.

So there you have it. Set aside two bucks each weekday for the next two weeks and you'll have your $20 for the 22nd. Go spend it and have fun!

Contact Appeal-Democrat Publisher Dave Schmall at dschmall@appealdemocrat.com.

Credit: Appeal-Democrat, Marysville, Calif.

Should government be in long-term care business?

Medicaid, a 1960s-era program that was supposed to provide health care for poor women and kids, has become the biggest single payer of long-term care services -- more than $100 billion annually, or 43 percent of all home care and nursing facility costs.

Supporters insist that Medicaid is a valuable safety net for the poorest elderly and disabled. They are right, but what they don't say is that the program is hopelessly outdated, financially unsustainable and often defeats efforts to provide the best possible care to a medically fragile population.

If you are a middle-class senior and suffer a heart attack, Medicaid's sister program, Medicare, will pay tens of thousands of dollars to treat you in a hospital, provide follow-up care from your doctor and, if you have Part D drug coverage, even pay for your medications. If you need rehab after you are discharged from the hospital, Medicare will pay for that, too.

But what if you suffer from dementia? While there is very little that acute care can do for you, it is likely that you will need increasing levels of personal assistance like help eating or bathing. But Medicare won't pay for that.

So family members do what they can, and you draw down your own savings to hire aides. When you have spent nearly all of your financial assets (the government lets you keep just $2,000, some personal possessions and perhaps your house), you become eligible for Medicaid, which is run jointly by the federal government and the states.

Medicaid is only required to pay for nursing home care. While most states also provide assistance at home, they don't have to, and these programs are often woefully underfunded. And because Medicaid is among the states' biggest spending programs, it is also a huge target whenever the economy slumps and tax revenues sag -- like today. In recent months, California, New York, Illinois, Rhode Island, Florida and other states have all put Medicaid benefits on the block.

While states and the federal government struggle to update Medicaid though a maze of waiver programs and patches to an increasingly outdated law, their efforts are a little like trying to add disc breaks and an electronic ignition to a 1965 Plymouth. It is, in the end, still a 1965 Plymouth.

Not only are the frail elderly and disabled at the mercy of increasingly desperate governors and state legislators, but they have to jump though incredible hoops to get the care that is most appropriate for them.

For example, many frail elders suffer from multiple chronic conditions. More than almost anyone, their care needs to be carefully coordinated. Ideally, the medical system would make sure they could move seamlessly from acute care to long-term care, either at home or in a nursing facility.

But, with the exception of a handful of programs such as PACE, which combines adult day care with medical treatment, that almost never happens. As hard as it is for even one insurance company to coordinate care, think about what a challenge it is when your care is being paid for by two separate programs -- Medicare and Medicaid -- that rarely even communicate with one another.

Despite that tragic lack of coordination, Medicaid now spends nearly one-third of its total budget on long-term care services and half of its funds on medical and personal care combined for those frail elderly and adults with disabilities who are jointly eligible for Medicare and Medicaid.

That huge bill is a big reason why the long-term financial sustainability of Medicaid is at risk. The Congressional Budget Office projects that by mid-century, the federal government will be spending one out of every six tax dollars on Medicaid alone. Two-thirds of all federal revenues would be spent on Medicare and Medicaid combined. Realistically, that won't happen.

Is there an alternative to this unsustainable mess? There are several actually. We could transfer long-term care to Medicare, or sell universal private long-term care insurance through Medicare in much the same way we sell the Part D drug benefit today. Or we could create a national long-term care insurance program -- something like the CLASS Act that Sen. Edward Kennedy, D-Mass., has proposed. With premiums as low as $5 a month for those with very low incomes, the CLASS Act would make coverage accessible for even the poorest Americans.

However, its benefits would be modest -- not nearly enough, for example, to pay for nursing home care. So low-income seniors would still have to rely on Medicaid to pick up the difference. A better plan would create a special Medicare benefit to supplement insurance for those seniors who need extra financial help. That way, those elderly would get all of their care -- both acute and long-term -- through a single program.

None of these plans is perfect, but they are all better than the mess we have.

Locally Owned: Family Friend filling need for caregiving

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Each week, the Daily News profiles a locally owned business.

Name of business: A Family Friend Care Services

Location: 1053 Lovers Lane

Type of Business: In-home child care, nannies, senior care and household help.

When did it open? January 2009

Owner: Larissa Kreilein and Kim Lindsey

Number of employees: Two owners and one part-time assistant

Specialties: We cater to the needs of families. Through our extensive screening process, we provide families or organizations with nannies and caregivers they can trust.

How did the business get started? As a single mom, it has been my top priority to care for my two sons, ages 9 and 11. The need to have a professional care service I could trust was not available when my children were young. We saw a need, and A Family Friend fills that need.

What is your background? Both Kim and Larissa have had other businesses in Bowling Green.

What's your business philosophy? A Family Friend provides caregivers, baby-sitters, nannies, senior care and household help. If we wouldn't have them care for our families, you can feel confident we wouldn't send them to you.

What issues are affecting your industry? As the recession has caused all of us to tighten our belts a bit, we still believe the most important thing to all of us is taking care of our families.

What are the factors that make your business successful? Trust -- knowing when you call us, you can expect the very best care for your children or loved ones.

How do you handle competition? Our philosophy is to concentrate on being the very best at what we do, which is providing the best possible caregivers that match your family's needs.

What is your advice to someone thinking about opening a business? Don't be afraid because chances are, if your business is a service you would use yourself, there are others who feel the same way.

Credit: The Daily News, Bowling Green, Ky.