The United States Senate had the opportunity this week to make a common sense decision about gun control. While there is always the opportunity to overreach, mandatory background checks are reasonable and will help to keep guns out of the hands of some criminals. However, to expect our elected officials to act out of reason as opposed to politics may have been too much to expect.

Kudos to the four Republican Senators Collins (Maine), Kirk (Illinois), McCain (Arizona) and Toomey (Pennsylvania) for voting for the now defeated background check amendment despite the promises of retribution by the right wing of their party. Likewise, with their eye toward re-election in conservative-leaning states, four Democrats voted against the measure— Begich (Alaska), Pryor (Arkansas), Baucus (Montana) and Heitkamp (North Dakota), ironically, President Obama lost by huge margins in his 2012 re-election in all four states.

Certainly people are expected to vote their conscience and their core values, but the debate around access to assault weapons, 100-round bullet magazines and background screenings has been particularly disingenuous with the NRA and Tea Party clearly out of line with the mainstream of American voters.

The president reacted with expected anger over the senate vote but needs to moderate his tone and take the opportunity to lead the American people in a movement to achieve rationale consensus about guns if he is to be ultimately successful.

Just before Earth Day 2013 Drycleaning and Laundry Institute member drycleaners have pledged to reduce wire hanger waste by more than 30 million hangers. As of April 17, 2013 the number was 31 million and counting. That's more than 900 tons of steel. These environmentally conscious drycleaners from around the world have succeeded in the monumental task of reducing steel waste by more than that contained in eight Statues of Liberty. Last year the group reduced waste by more than 25 million hangers.

"Sadly, many people have closets full of unneeded hangers that typically get tossed in the trash,” said Mary Scalco, DLI CEO. “Drycleaners need the help of many environmentally-friendly people to get the word out and to raise awareness of this worthy project. We have many cleaners who are anxious to participate in this necessary work to help save the planet for our kids and future generations."

Participating cleaners have pledged to help consumers properly recycle unwanted hangers. They will recycle and reuse as many hangers as possible, and send all unusable hangers to a recycling agent whenever they are able.

Consumers can find the nearest participating cleaner at www.dlionline.org/Hanger-Recycling-Program. Drycleaners who wish to help can sign up there also.

When you refuse to reuse, it’s our planet you abuse!

Nationally, the most vulnerable group of people for oral disease are children ages two to five, according to Dr. Harry Goodman, director of the office of Oral Health in the Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene.

Surprisingly, Goodman said, oral disease affects three out of five children and is more common than asthma.

“This is the age group that is most vulnerable,” Goodman said. “Tooth decay in ages two to five has gone up for the first time in 40 years.”

Goodman said the lower-income population is especially at risk where a high prevalent of oral diseases are detected regularly.

While the middle class and wealthy are not immune from dental diseases, children in lower-income families suffer five times the number of cavities than do others.

And, while there is a cry for action, Goodman said easily preventable measures are now in place.

“The fluoride varnish is a great tool that anyone can administer,” Goodman said.

“Any health professional can do it and it can be done just about in any venue.”

 The fluoride varnish is a protective coating that is painted on the teeth and has proven quite effective in preventing tooth decay in both primary and permanent teeth, Goodman said.

The varnish is a light, gooey substance that is applied using a small brush during an easy process that takes about one minute, or less.

Over time, the varnish releases fluoride, strengthens the teeth and prevents tooth decay. Since only a small amount is used during the application, fluoride varnish is safe and can be used on babies from the time they have their first teeth.

“These applications, along with brushing teeth twice a day with fluoride toothpaste, is an important and effective means of reducing the occurrence of dental caries,” Goodman said.

If a child does not have a dentist, trained medical providers can apply fluoride varnish during regularly scheduled well-child visits, officials said. The Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene Office of Oral Health and the Maryland Medical Assistance co-administer a program called,

“Maryland Mouths Matter,” where trained medical practitioners are reimbursed to apply fluoride varnish to children up to three years old during their well-child visit.

It is recommended that fluoride varnish applications be done two to four times a year for young children in order to achieve maximum protection against tooth decay.

“Fluoride varnish is possibly the best tool we have,” said Goodman, who demonstrated the application on a state senator during a visit to the General

Assembly. “You don’t need any fancy equipment, it’s like having a paint brush and a well. It’s just an extra layer of protection and should be done as soon as a child gets his first teeth,” he said.

James Ihedigbo’s ascent to a Super Bowl champion is in no small part due to the hard work and commitment his parents have always displayed. The Ravens safety is the son of two Nigerian immigrants who were education professors.

“My parents worked their tails off to come to a new country, with new surroundings and they were able to earn a Ph.D.,” Ihedigbo said. “To me, they set the standard.”

To help carry the torch that his parents lit, Ihedigbo, age 29, started the HOPE Africa foundation, which awards scholarships to children of African descent. “HOPE stands for Helping Our People Excel,” Ihedigbo said.

“We’ve sent students to law school and top universities and we’ve made sure that they don’t have to be distracted with trying to find a job to pay for other expenses. The scholarships cover everything,” he said.

Since his parents, Apollos and Rose, emigrated from a small village in

Nigeria, it was important the foundation award scholarships to those of African descent, he said.

However, the foundation has actively been involved in other charitable efforts, including sending some of its members to serve on relief missions in Haiti.

Ihedigbo also was a part of a group of NFL players who distributed food and clothing and erected tents for those displaced by the devastating 2010 earthquake in Haiti.

A fundraiser for HOPE Africa is scheduled to take place during the National Football League’s Draft in New York on Thursday, April 25, 2013 at the PH-D Dream Hotel. Anyone attending will have an opportunity to watch a private screening of the NFL Draft with some of their favorite players.

Among the NFL stars expected to attend and participate are Ray Rice, Vonta Leach, Shonn Green, Duane Brown, Lardarius Webb, Braylon Edwards, Donte Stallworth and Uche Nwaneri.

Ihedigbo was an undrafted free agent from Massachusetts when he came into the league in 2007. He signed with the New York Jets and played with them for four seasons.

After the 2010 season, he joined the New England Patriots and started in the Super Bowl for them against the New York Giants. Released by the Patriots at the end of preseason last year, he signed with the Ravens where he recorded 25 tackles, one sack and an interception at the safety position during the regular season. He helped to lead the team to a Super Bowl championship in February.

 “There’s no feeling like it,” he said. “It means we are champions for life, no one can take that away from us. Everything came together. We had injuries but we overcame them at the right time and now, we’re in training camp and ready to get back and win the Super Bowl again.”

Similar to winning the Super Bowl, achieving a quality education is difficult, but Ihedigbo said his parents proved that hard work is the key to success. “People say working hard, and it is that,” he said. “But, it’s also the little things, like sacrifice and studying. My parents excelled to where they were without the help of others, it was just determination and hard work. I’m in a position where I can help other people get to the level my parents did and even higher.”

For more information about HOPE Africa or to purchase tickets to the fundraiser, visit www.hopeafricausa.org.