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P
EOPLE
DeLorean dodges bullet
TRENTON, N.J. — John
DeLorean got a reprieve from
a likely marshal’s sale when
the federal
judge over-
seeing liqui-
dation of
his estate
gave
a
bankruptcy
trustee two
m o r e
months to
find a suit-
able buyer.
U.S. Dis-
trict Judge
Garrett Brown on Wednesday
extended the deadline until
Jan. 18 for trustee Simon Kim-
melman to arrange a sale of
the 434-acre estate to satisfy
creditors owed more than $19
million by the ex-automaker.
Three parties are interested
in buying the Somerset County
tract to develop golf courses,
upscale homes or a combina-
tion of the two.
Kimmelman this week re-
jected bids as high as $17.2
million because developers ei-
ther hadn’t secured needed fi-
nancing or wanted a four-
month delay before paying, to
ensure that they can get con-
struction permits.
DeLorean, 74, gained fame
in the 1970s for his stainless
steel, gull-wing car but has
since had to overcome legal,
personal and financial troubles.
Foster coy on Clarice role
NEW YORK — Jodie Foster
says she has not decided either
way on whether she will
reprise her role as Clarice Star-
ling for a possible sequel to “Si-
lence of the Lambs.”
In the December issue of
the magazine W, Foster was
quoted as saying that “Hanni-
bal,” the sequel to the book the
Academy Award-winning film is
based on, makes the FBI agent
too grisly by turning her into a
cannibal like the title role of
Hannibal Lecter.
But in a statement Wednes-
day, the actress said she has
made no decision on the pro-
ject.
“I have never made any ex-
tensive comments about my
feeling about the book to any-
one,” she said. “I will make my
decision based on a reading of
the script which has not been
received.”
‘Cheers’ star has one now
LOS ANGELES — Ted
Danson now has a star on the
Hollywood Walk of Fame, just
a few feet from where the
“Cheers” TV show set is en-
shrined.
Among the 300 people who
attended Wednesday’s unveil-
ing of the star were Danson’s
wife, actor Mary Steenburgen,
and former “Cheers” stars
Kelsey Grammer, Kirstie Alley
and George Wendt.
“When you add my hus-
band’s name to the Walk of
Fame you are doing something
special,” Steenburgen said. “To
silly men everywhere, this rep-
resents you.”
The Associated Press
Dear Dr. Gott:
I am a 90-
year-old woman who continues
to enjoy excellent health even
though, despite medication, my
blood pressure never drops be-
low 180/95. I am currently tak-
ing propranolol and lisinopril.
Should I worry?
Dear reader:
Because of
your age, your complicated
question appears deceptively
simple. The elderly often devel-
op high blood pressure as they
age; the hypertension is neces-
sary to drive an adequate blood
supply through narrowed, rigid
arteries. In fact, some authori-
ties would be satisfied keeping
your blood pressure at its cur-
rent level with the medicines
you are taking.
On the other hand, disre-
garding for a moment the
physiological necessity of high-
er blood pressure in the very
old, I must confess that I would
feel uncomfortable about your
hypertension were you my pa-
tient. I’d like to bring it into the
150/90 range.
Years ago, physicians had, at
best, two or three medications
to treat hypertension. Today,
however, there
are many drugs
for this pur-
pose, including
diuretics (kid-
ney
stimu-
lants), beta-
b l o c k e r s ,
calcium-chan-
nel blockers,
ACE inhibitors
and spin-offs
from these ma-
jor
drug
groups. You
are presently taking a beta-
blocker and an ACE inhibitor. I
believe that you could be
helped by either an upward ad-
justment of one or both medi-
cines — or by the addition of a
mild diuretic. Ask your doctor
about this strategy. While you
do not appear to be in any im-
mediate danger for stroke or
heart attack, I think that your
overall health would be even
better if your blood pressure
were lower.
Dear Dr. Gott:
I take several
medications, each of which
causes constipation. The com-
bination is, as you can imagine,
a real problem. My doctors
shrug it off and give me no
suggestions. However, a gas-
troenterologist advised Milk of
Magnesia. This causes me to
have fatigue and weakness.
Any suggestions?
Dear reader:
Medicine-in-
duced constipation can be an
enormous challenge to treat.
As a first step, I would suggest
increasing fiber and bran in
your diet, using potassium-rich
dried fruits (apricots, prunes),
trying 6 oz. of hot prune juice
with breakfast, and maintaining
a generous fluid intake. Some
patients are helped by daily
Metamucil or FiberCon.
Next, try a stool softener
with or without a laxative. If
this isn’t effective, the Milk of
Magnesia is a logical choice. I
am not aware that this com-
mon laxative is associated with
fatigue and weakness. Such
symptoms may be the result of
prescription drugs or of the
very diseases for which you
are taking medication.
Newspaper Enterprise Assn.
Dr. Peter
Gott, M.D.
DeLorean
T
ODAY
IN HISTORY
Today is Thursday, Nov. 11,
the 315th day of 1999. There
are 50 days left in the year.
This is Veterans Day in the
United States, Remembrance
Day in Canada.
Today’s Highlight in History:
On Nov. 11, 1918, fighting in
World War I ended with the
signing of an armistice be-
tween the Allies and Germany.
On this date:
In 1620, 41 Pilgrims aboard
the Mayflower, anchored off
Massachusetts, signed a com-
pact calling for a “body politick.”
In 1831, former slave Nat
Turner, who had led a violent
insurrection, was executed in
Virginia.
In 1889, Washington be-
came the 42nd state.
In 1921, President Harding
dedicated the Tomb of the Un-
known Soldier in Arlington (
Va.) National Cemetery.
In 1939, Kate Smith first
sang Irving Berlin’s “God Bless
America” on network radio.
In 1965, Rhodesia pro-
claimed its independence from
Britain.
A
STROGRAPH
Friday, Nov. 12, 1999
An aspiration on which you
may have had trouble focusing
in the past could be attained in
the year ahead.
SCORPIO (Oct. 24-Nov.
22):
Try to restate your case
today to someone whose coop-
eration you’ve been seeking,
but haven’t as yet been able to
secure.
SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 23-
Dec. 21):
Compensation will
be proportionate to the quality
of your performance today with
your earning potential looking
especially good.
CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan.
19):
Although you have good
innate leadership qualities, they
can remain dormant unless you
are challenged.
AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb.
19):
Don’t treat indifferently an
opportunity that may come
your way today through the
good auspices of a friend.
PISCES (Feb. 20-March
20):
Let the unproductive
types do all the wishful think-
ing at this time. You’ll have ex-
cellent opportunities to fulfill a
realistic or practical hope.
ARIES (March 21-April 19):
Don’t settle for anything less
than you believe you’re entitled
to when involved in your com-
mercial affairs today.
TAURUS (April 20-May 20):
How great your fortitude and
tenacity is will become clear to
you when you are truly moti-
vated to go after something
you want.
GEMINI (May 21-June 20):
Chance may be a factor today
with you being in the right
spot at the right time to poten-
tially benefit in some manner.
CANCER (June 21-July 22):
Even if you have to deal with
someone today who had failed
to honor a promise, don’t stoop
to his or her level by not fulfill-
ing a commitment made by
you.
LEO (July 23-Aug. 22):
Even if others are taking the
day off or opting for leisurely
pursuits, it isn’t likely that
you’ll feel gratified unless you
do something productive and
fulfilling.
VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22):
Circumstances and a wise com-
panion may have something
worthwhile to teach you today.
You’ll be a good student.
LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 23):
If you continuously keep in
mind the end results for some-
thing you’re seeking, it will
greatly help you overcome any
obstacles or obstructions you
encounter today.
Newspaper Enterprise Assn.
Sharon, Pa.
Thursday, November 11, 1999
B-11
Different medicines, strategy
can lower blood pressure
T
ODAY
IN MERCER
COUNTY
HISTORY
In 1883 —
Grace Church
of the Evangelical Association
of North America is dedicated
(SOURCE: “History of Mercer
County, Pa.,” 1888, page 612)
In 1897 —
Soldiers Monu-
ment dedicated, “Mercer Coun-
ty’s Tribute to her Soldiers”
(SOURCE: “History of Mercer
County, Pa.”, 1909, page 190)
In 1988 —
Civil War
memorial rededicated after
cleaning and restoration
(SOURCE: “Hail Temple Built
to Justice,” Robert Fuhrman,
Mercer County Historical Soci-
ety, 1994, page 53)
Mercer County turns 200
years old on March 12, 2000.
For information on bicentennial
activities, call: 662-2227.
Compiled by Mercer County
Historical Society