welcome to "news 4 this week". >> hi, there, welcome to the snow. we'll show you some of the more interesting local stories making news this week. a one on one with will i am. shares his past struggles and how his visit to d.c. ties into the future plans. how to boost your energy without reaching for the fizzy drinks or cup of coffee. for first time ever in our country, a look at rare european looks of art. the history behind the exhibit that's now in our area. first, our area is seeing an

urgent and agrowing need for people to take in homeless pets. the tough economy has more families abandoning their animals and fewer people are able to adopt. a local animal shelter is turning to volunteers who can give some poor cats and dogs a loving, if only temporary home. here's more of this new kind of foster care program. >> reporter: meet chalky, glenda and the ever playful ping. the frisky felines are in kitty heaven. it's hard to tell who's enjoying this arrangement more. >> just seeing how well they interact with each other and the baby and the dog has been reetly neat. >> reporter: they have opened their home to as many as six foster cats and sick animals in need of recovery. many of whom otherwise would

have been waiting to be adopted. part of a new strategy being employed by the washington humane society, to combat the overcrowding of slter animals due to the down turn in the economy. whf officials say they've been overwhelmed by the increase of pets. dogs and cats in despera needs of homes. they have a network of 210 foster families, tripling their number of volunteers. >> i'm a huge foster believer in having fostered aut 100 animals myself and seeing how they thrive. we've reached out to build our foster community. >> reporter: so far these families have saved more than 800 last year alone. sometimes saying good-bye is the hardest part. >> know each of them kind of individually, but you're happy when they get adopted out. we met all of the people who are

going to come by and meet them and thinking about adopting them. you know they are going to a good home. >> reporter: as it's known in the adoption world as a forever home. in northeast, news 4. the washington humane society has 10% of the animals go into foster care before they are adopted. families are screened before being accepted into this foster program. some students from elementary in northeast d.c. had the experience of a lifetime. the school's glee club visited the white house to see musicians rehearse for the 2010 governors ball. here's more on all of the big name celebrities that the students had a chance to meet. snet snet. the minor elementary school glee club has often taken its show on the road. but a performance at the white house was the show of their life. the kids had been invited to get a behind the scenes look at the way events are played at the

white house. the thing with the first lady in the white house. >> we didn't know we were going to be singing for the first lady. >> reporter: in another surprise they got to meet harry connick jr. who ask derrick to help him perform a number. derrick didn't know the words but he knew it was his big moment. >> reporter: were you nervous? >> no. >> you weren't? >> no. >> reporter: the students were invited to watch connick rehearse, they didn't know the would get a chance to see any of the obamas. >> it was fun, exciting. and it was an experience for me. >> reporter: and it was a new experience for martin ford who taught music at the school for

17 years. >> i've been in washington all my life. that was my first time inside the white house. it was very special to me. >> reporter: the visit to the white house as a lesson to the students. >> it makes it tangible for them knowing president obama and his wife came from humble beginnings, they can be whatever they want to be in life. >> news 4. northeast. >> the minor elementary school glee club is becoming rather well known. they have sung for the nfl and secretary of state hillary clinton and many other agencies in the washington area. another huge group recently hit town, the black eyed peas, "i've got a feeling" and you probably know front man will.i.am. he's trying to help those in need. here's an interview about his past struggles a newest idea for the future.

>> reporter: the future is what will.iam is working on improving and not just for himself. >> the fusion between orphanage and charter school. >> reporter: that's his latest idea to help save the world. >> me and my mom just had this dream two months ago because. >> reporter: you're always dreaming of things. >> that's the next one. >> reporter: his music makes bug bucks and as in the lyrics, i've got my money, let's spend it up. >> raised money this year, my mom is a single mom, made a decision to send me to good schools since i was 5. >> reporter: from the projects in east l.a., got him bussed to upscale pacific pal sades. >> but going to those schools

really enriched my view on the world. >> reporter: he never felt any different from the others until one thanksgiving. >> we had to collect cans, canned foods. and we were collecting them to give them to a family that was in need that thanksgiving morning somebody knocked on my door. what are you doing here, brent? they were like wow, this is your neighborhood. yeah. we came to bring the canned foods to poor families. then that's when i realized, wow, we're poor. there was a teacher by the name of mr. ray, changed my life. i was in sixth grade and i was hyper active, had add, mr. wright pulled me aside and i was crying on the floor, am i going to graduate, mr. ray. he said, no, william, only way you're going to get through school is if you ask questions.

i just ask questions everywhere i go. i ask questions. >> reporter: with attention deficit, he says he can handle a lot of things at once. it's the secret to his success. he not only writes and produces but performs winning grammy after grammy and attracting thousands of fans. and he hasn't for gten what it mes to be poor. >> it is what makes me want to help kids and families. >> reporter: with scholarships and now this spring help with mortgage payments. but he's met with wealthy citizens in this city who also believe in helping those who need. we've seen him make things happen. what will he call on fans to do next? he says sometimes it's just to have fun.

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wow, when will that snow go away? it's not melting fast enough. in baltimore they got a little help in something from canada, a snow dragon. baltimore borrowed it from a landscaping company. the dragon takes in truckloads of snow and melts it using heating tubes and a burner. whatever doesn't evaporate turns to water which is flushed down the drain. for cleaning up indoors, you may think your kitchen is fine when the counters are wiped and clean. but there's more lurking around than meets the eye.

tips from "cooks illustrated" to help root out the hidden ba bacteria bombs in your kitchen. >> reporter: one of the dirtiest places in your kitchen, the sponge. cooks try to disinfect it by bleaching it, putting it in the microwave it, the best way is boiling it for five minutes. studies show the kitchen sink has more bacteria than the garbage can. bleach is best. a table spoon per quart of water. some think rinsing raw meat and poultry makes it safer? don't. it more likely spreads bacteria around the sink. they suggest setting up a barrier, plastic wrap on your

scale and matter and easy clean up. when seasoning, don't contaminate the salt and pepper shakers, you can throw them in the dish washer when you're done. what's the best way to cleaning a cutting board? bleach, hot water, vinegar? all three were effective. wood and plastic and bamboo and found all three came back equally clean but bamboo has properties that actually kill bacteria. when defrosting never defrost on counter, bacteria multiply rapidly at room temperature. put it in a pan in the fridge, it will take 24 hours to thaw. avoid temperature danger zone. most being bacteria thrive between 40 and 140 degrees. as a general rule foods shouldn't stay in the danger zone for more than two hours.

keep your food colder than 40. they call it counter intuitive cooling. you have a hot dish and want to put it in the refrigerator. don't, it raises the temperature the fridge to the danger zone. leave it on counter until it reaches 70 degrees, warm to the touch, then put it in the refrigerator. take your refrigerator's temperature, a good thermometer will tell you if your fridge and freezer are cooling properly. the fridge should be between 35 and 40 degrees, your freezer should be at zero degrees. when reheating leftovers, reheat rapidly, don't bring things to a slow simmer. get them to a rapid boil as quickly as possible. still ahead, you don't have too rely on coffee. some simple ways to get the energy you need to power through

kolds are often described as common. there's no common remedy for the coughing and runny nose and body

aches and could be more painful if you spend more money on medicines that may not be working for you. here's more on what to do and what to look for when battling a cold bug. >> i take nyquil and dayquill. >> sleep, rest. >> gets the phlegm out of your throat and puts you to sleep. >> reporter: there's no one tried and true cure but when congestion fills your nose and the coughing won't stop, desperatn can take over. >> when i'm sick, i'll pay almost anything to pay better. when you walk into the aisle in the pharmacy, you're vulnerable to the temptations to pick up everything off the shelf. >> reporter: an infectious disease specialist says depending on your symptoms you could be wasting your money. >> better to single on an

ingredient. you don't want to take something you don't need. >> reporter: for example, if you have a dry cough, look for a medication with dex trow mer for fan, make your cough more productive. if you have a fever, acetaminophen or ibuprofen. . the doctor says most common colds will go away on their own. if you're experiencing fever, shortness of breath, chest pain or if your cold goes away and then comes right back, you should probably see your doctor. but, don't rush to get an antibiotic. >> if it's a viral infection, then the antibiotic is not going to do anything. and any time you put something in your body, you have the potential of having side effects. >> if it's not too bad, i'll drink orange juice. >> reporter: there's not much evidence supporting national

remedies, he says there is some value to taking vitamin c. >> it may help to ward off some viral infections, but once the infection has setin, it probably doesn't have a role in making things any better. >> i act like a big baby basically and drink a lot of liquids. >> reporter: liquids are key when you have a cold, especially those with salt. >> it helps to mobilize the fluid in your body so the secretions are flowing out and things aren't being blocked up. >> reporter: news 4. >> the doctor says when you are buying over counter meds, read the label and make sure what you're buying will help your symptoms. if you're treating a child, make sure you talk to your doctor first. even when you're not sick, sometimes you need a pick me up to help you get through the day. before you reach for the fourth cup of coffee to fight fatigue, there are other things you can do to get the burst of energy you're looking for.

>> reporter: you can feel it coming, that midday slump, your eyes start drooping and body starts sagging. before your brain shuts down completely, you grab a coffee for the caffeine fix. what you really need to do is get moving. >> it's possible to spend an entire workday without getting out of your chair. >> reporter: dr. pea et trow at george washington university recommends that for every hour you spend sitting down, get up and walk around for at least five minutes. climb the stairs, go outside. get your heart pumping and blood flowing, that's on top of the 45 minutes of daily exercise she recommends. >> we don't have to move any more. and it's no wonder that we're stressed and we're tired and overweight. >> reporter: the doctor is also a fan of what she calls the necessary nap. a short nap can rejuvenate you, especially if you didn't get

enough sleep the night before. >> it's wonderfully restorative and should be encouraged me. >> reporter: also strongly believes you have to unplug and unwind. when you get home from work, turn off your cell phone, close your laptop and step away from your computer. >> we are constantly plugged into work. >> reporter: eat crunchy fruits and vegetables and make room for protein. no more candy bars and caramel lattes. you have to be proakive. if you eat right and exercise and get enough rest, you can fight fatigue and get the burst of energy throughout the day. >> if you wait until the crash has set in, it's very difficult for people to get motivated to do something about it. coming up, not your typical exhibit, a d.c. gallery is offering a trip back in

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the corcoran gallery of art has a collection of the sisters from wales born into a reclusive life of wealth. they collected the most trail blazer art of europe in the 19th and 20th century. art that has never been seen before in the united states until now. >> reporter: you can feel the gust of wind, the warming sun and the pensive gaze, the corcoran gallery of art is playing host to some of the master pieces of europe. artfully collected by wealthy but reclusive sisters born in the 1880s who felt a religious duty to acquire great works. >> it's aery personal story

really. >> reporter: they did their homework, selecting a variety of art that expressed the new vision that was percolating through the bow heel yum work of art. >> through the late 19th and early 20th centurie one of the most iconic works of the collection. such an important piece. it's very special thing to have here. we call it the mona lisa of the 19th century. >> reporter: this is the first time these works have been displayed in america, a tour that is in keeping with the mission of the dave vee sisters, that art must engage the public. >> very shy, reclusive, well educated, well traveled women, collecting art was really a way to connect with an alternative culture that perhaps they didn't have access to otherwise. >> reporter: they liked to collect works that honored the life and work ethic of regular

people. >> they also wanted to tell a story about the developments of art during this period. >> it's a very exciting time to be in washington, to visit washington and to see what is available in the range of artistic expression. >> reporter: more than 50 works in three large galleries. the show creates a peaceful flow that allows one to enjoy artist's work and appreciate the two young women who had the need and means to capture it. the exhibit will be at the corcoran until early spring providing a sanctuary from win t ter's woes. master pieces will be on display until april 25th. that's all for "news 4 this week." thank you for joining us. have a fabulous weekend.