400 Edition W h a t ’s
u p
i n
N o r t h
August 2010
G e o r g i a
Back To School
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August 2010 Carole Lee, Founder/Creative Design Linda Merritt, Founder/Sales/Executive Editor Bob Merritt, Director of Sales Beth Snider, Founder/Sales/Creative Design Nancy Wright, Proofing
Contributing Writers: Anne Amerson
Steven Leibel
Dr. Mark Feinsilber
Dr. Joyce Nations
Nancy Forrest
Patrick Snider
Martha Hynson
John P. Vansant, MD
Staff Writers: Rhonda Bailey
Linda Merritt
Carole Lee
Beth Snider
Bob Merritt
Nancy Wright
400 Edition is published monthly in Dahlonega, Georgia, with distribution in three counties. Viewpoints expressed by contributing writers are not necessarily those of the publishers, staff or advertisers. 400 Edition is not liable for inaccurate or erroneous information posted in advertising or event submissions. Ads must be submitted and paid in full by the 20th of every month, unless arrangements have been made in advance. Content and presentation of advertisements is subject to editorial review and modification. Ad dimensions and pricing may be obtained by calling 706-867-6455 or 866867-7557. These specs may also be viewed at www.400edition.com. Writers may submit material to editor@400edition. com. Submissions are subject to approval by the editor and may be edited for space, requirements, and style. The deadline for submissions is the 15th of each month. Contents of this publication become the property of 400 Edition and the original author and cannot be reproduced without written consent of the publisher. This publication is printed by Walton Press in Monroe, GA.
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From the Editor... I
’m writing this editorial on Tuesday, July 20—Primary Day. Earlier today, as I drove between Dahlonega and Dawsonville, I saw a lot of activity at voting sites and many, many signs on all the roadsides, put out apparently during the night. Hopefully this was all a good indication that lots of folks got out and voted today. The proof will be in the number of votes they tell us about tonight on the late news. I hope all of you readers wore a peach sticker on your shirt this afternoon. If you didn’t vote—shame on you. You are the ones who will yell the loudest when our politicians make decisions they shouldn’t make. You will cry when our taxes get so high we can’t pay them. You are the parents and grandparents who will have the sleepless nights when they cut our school systems to the quick and our kids don’t get the education they deserve because the good teachers had to find another way to make a living. Or the classrooms are so large, only a percentage of the kids really learn as they should. Things have got to change for the better and they can start in our county and state. So mark your calendar for the runoff election on August 10. We recently took a trip to Houston, Texas. You would never know there is an economy problem there. There are good jobs available, the retail stores are thriving, the housing market is going great guns, and the prices of homes are going up a little. For years, Houston kept the price of homes low and affordable. You can still buy a beautiful home for $200,000 that would cost you $600,000 to $700,000 here. We just overbuilt and overpriced housing all over Georgia. I just hope those folks in Texas don’t start
going overboard with their pricing. Hope you have been able to stay cool during the last month. Those 97-degree days make it rough if you have to be outside very long. I say a prayer every day for our air conditioner. I remember when I was a kid and we only had a window fan. My poor mom had to cook in that heat and my dad always had a big garden to take care of. Guess we were used to it. Now a few hours without air conditioning just about makes us sick. I had a message this past month from a gentleman who seems to be one of our faithful readers. He has been going through some cancer surgeries and wanted to let us know how much he enjoyed our magazine during this stressful time. It is messages like this that make us know we are doing what we should be doing. You can never know whose life you have touched. We can only pray that it is always in a positive, kind way. We will start our Festival issues in September. Take our magazine and plan places to go and things to do during the fall months. Until next month…stay happy!
On the Cover S
tudents relax in front of Price Memorial Hall, the administration building at North Georgia College & State University in Dahlonega. The iconic building, with its gold-covered steeple, is a treasured community landmark. The fall semester at NGCSU will begin on Wednesday, August 18. Prior to that date students will be moving into their dorms and off-campus housing. Dahlonega will welcome back these young people as they start another phase of their education. The state’s second-oldest public university, North Georgia is seeing record enrollment as it strives to meet the higher education needs of the region. The university offers more than 50 majors, as well as preprofessional, professional, master’s, and doctoral programs. Classes are available in Dahlonega, Cumming, Gainesville, and online. With a unique blend of nearly 6,000 traditional students and ROTC cadets, North Georgia has long produced successful civic, professional, and military leaders who are engaged in serving their communities. Today, to prepare students for success in a global community, the university is undertaking initiatives to internationalize the curriculum and campus to support student needs. Don’t hold back; tell us how you really feel about 400 Edition. We love receiving feedback from our readers and advertisers. Call us at 706-867-6455, toll free at 866-867-7557, or send an email to info@400edition.com.
Contents
August 2010 Volume 7, Issue 3
North Georgia Enrollment Climbs to Meet Education Demands, 10
Back to School
Columns
5 School Start Dates
continued
9 Comma Momma
10 North Georgia Enrollment Climbs
12 Gardening Tasks
17 Back to School
16 Mind & Heart
Columns
18 Through a Woman’s Eyes 22 Knowing Wine
5 Your Vision Source
22 Real Men Cook—Blackberry Hazelnut Cheesecake
6 To Your Health
23 Good Eating—Piazza Italian Restaurant
8 Health Matters
A list of major distribution points in North can be found online at www.400edition.com. August 2010Georgia • www.400edition.com
400 Edition
green
from the ground up.
Folklife Festival Saturday, August 7
D
emonstrations of centuries-old handcrafts, music of the northeast Georgia mountains, and foods grown locally and prepared to traditional recipes—all there for visitors to the Folklife Festival taking place on Saturday, August 7, at the Sautee Nacoochee Center and Folk Pottery Museum. “We’ll show influences of Native-American, European, and Appalachian culture in open-hearth cooking, blacksmithing, and woodworking, and visitors will see continued progress in our restoration of an 1850s slave cabin, the only known surviving slave cabin in the northeast Georgia mountains,” says Chris Brooks, Curator of the festival. Georgia is one of only two states that can boast a 200-year unbroken tradition of folk pottery craft passed down through families, and this will be a major theme of the festival. “More than a dozen folk potters featured in the museum will be demonstrating and selling their wares. In the
museum, Whelchel Meaders will discuss and demonstrate techniques handed down through his family since 1892, as he shows representative samples of his work,” continues Brooks. Old-time Appalachian string band Curley Maple will perform in the Sautee Nacoochee Center Theatre at 8:00pm. Tickets are $20 plus tax and can be purchased by calling the Center box office at 706-878-3300, or online at www.snca.org. The Sautee Nacoochee Center and Folk Pottery Museum are located on Georgia Highway 255, a quarter mile north of its intersection with Georgia Highway 17, just two miles from the Indian Mound at the junction of Georgia Highways 17 and 75, near Alpine Helen. Parking and admission to the festival will be free on August 7. In addition to the Folk Pottery Museum, the Center is home to a gallery featuring local artists and a museum of history of the Sautee and Nacoochee Valleys. For more information, call 706-878-3300 or visit www. folkpotterymuseum.com.
Orthopaedic Surgeons Warn Against Summer-Inspired “Foot Facelifts” The American Orthopaedic Foot & Ankle Society Reiterates Position Statement on Cosmetic Foot Surgery
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S
ummer is here and so is sandal season. If a toe tuck, toe shortening surgery, or a foot facelift (to change the appearance of your feet) sounds tempting, think again, warns the American Orthopaedic Foot & Ankle Society (AOFAS). No surgery should be performed for the sake of appearance to a foot that is functioning well and is not in pain. The AOFAS warns consumers that the risks inherent in such surgery far outweigh the benefits. According to the official AOFAS Position Statement on Cosmetic Foot Surgery, “Cosmetic foot surgery should not be considered in any circumstances and the Society does not condone its practice.” Cosmetic foot surgery includes manipulating or changing a foot that is functioning properly. Popular cosmetic foot surgeries include these: foot narrowing, in order to fit more comfortably in trendy high-heeled shoes; toe shortening procedure, typically on second toe (next to the big toe), for better appearance when wearing open-toed shoes; or a toe tuck, where the little toe is made skinnier and shorter to accommodate high-heeled shoes. Cosmetic foot surgery differs significantly from orthopaedic reconstructive foot surgery, which is necessary to provide pain relief, improve function, or enhance the quality of life during normal activities of daily living. Common reconstructive foot surgery performed by orthopaedic surgeons includes correction of painful bunions (hallux valgus), hammertoes, flat foot deformities, cavus foot, and lesser toe deformities. The mechanics of your foot are extremely complex. Bearing the weight of the entire body, the foot is under tremendous stress. Each foot contains 26 major bones and 30 joints, along with tendons, nerves, and skin that all interact to allow you to walk or run without pain. Altering the function of the foot to fit into a trendy shoe or to look finer in summer sandals is, according to the AOFAS, ill-advised. August 2010 • www.400edition.com
Donald R. Bohay, MD, an AOFAS active member from Grand Rapids, Michigan, adds, “Orthopaedic foot or ankle surgical procedures are designed to relieve pain and restore form and function. It is against the patient’s best interest to expand the surgical indication to include cosmesis.” The position statement reveals, “All surgical procedures contain risks including, but not limited to, wound problems, infections, nerve injury, recurrence of deformity, post-surgical pain, and scar formation. There are also risks associated with anesthesia. Post surgical complications could lead to an inability to walk or wear shoes comfortably. In deciding when to proceed with surgery, a patient and surgeon must consider all the risks and benefits of a procedure. When the potential benefits outweigh the potential risks, then surgical intervention may be warranted. The most substantial benefit of surgery is the reduction or elimination of pain and the improvement of function, often through the correction of deformity. Cosmetic foot surgery fails to provide pain relief, improve function, or enhance the quality of life during normal activities of daily living.” For a copy of the AOFAS Position Statement on Cosmetic Foot Surgery, go to the AOFAS website (www.aofas.org) and click on News Center, then Health Policy Issues & Position Statements. The site also features a surgeon referral service that makes it easy for patients to find a local orthopaedic surgeon specializing in foot and ankle care. The American Orthopaedic Foot & Ankle Society is a professional society of more than 1,800 orthopaedic surgeons specializing in diagnosis, care, and treatment of patients with disorders of the musculoskeletal system of the foot and ankle.
Your Vision Source!
by Dr. Joyce M. Nations
E
ver wonder what your baby can see? Babies learn to see over a period of time, in much the same way they learn to talk and walk. Babies cannot see as well as older children or adults when they are first born. The ability to focus the eyes or move them together must be learned. Many improvements occur in an infant’s vision during the first few months of life. For the first three months of life, your baby’s eyes do not focus on objects more than about eight to twelve inches from their faces. The baby can detect light, shapes, and movement, but most things are pretty blurry. For the first few months of life, an infant’s eyes are not well coordinated and may appear to cross or wander. This is usually normal; but if the eye turn is constant, then an evaluation by an optometrist is needed. By three months of age, babies should begin to follow moving objects with their eyes, and reach for things. Eye-body coordination (sees something, then reaches for it), depth perception, and control of eye movements continue to develop during four to eight months of age. Babies tend to have good color vision by about five months of age. By six to eight months, your baby’s vision is almost adult in its clarity and they can recognize people and objects across the room. Also by this point, the eyes are probably close to their final color. By nine to twelve months, babies should be using their eyes and hands together. Parents should encourage activities like playing with stacking blocks/ rings or snap-together toys, as this will help strengthen a baby’s ability to see an object and remember things about it. By the time a baby reaches its first birthday, there is a strong connection between eyes, movements, and memory. Premature babies’ eyes may develop more slowly than fullterm babies. Premature babies can have retinopathy of prematurity, which requires treatment. So
if your infant was born early, be sure to have his or her eyes examined. Parents play a critical role in helping to assure their child’s eyes develop properly. Parents should always watch for signs of eye and vision problems and get them treated at an early age. It is recommended that the first eye examination for an infant be at about six months of age. Indications of eye problems that need to be examined earlier include excessive tearing, red or encrusted eye lids, constant eye turning, extreme sensitivity to light, or the appearance of a white pupil. If you notice any of these problems with your infant, you should see your optometrist as soon as you can. The best way to protect your baby’s eyes is with regular eye examinations. Certain hereditary and congenital diseases may be present at birth or develop shortly after, so earlier treatment could greatly reduce the risk of vision loss. Healthy eyes play a critical role in how infants and children learn to see. Vision problems in infants can cause developmental delays, so it’s important to detect any problems early. Remember to schedule your baby’s eye examination with an optometrist when you schedule your own.
School Start Dates Listing assembled from information on the various school web sites. If you have questions, contact your county’s school system. Cherokee County Public Schools 110 Academy Street. Canton, GA 30114 Main: 770-479-1871 Fax: 770-479-1236 School starts August 2, 2010.
Lumpkin County Public Schools 56 Indian Drive Dahlonega, GA 30533 Main: 706-864-3611 Fax: 706-864-5965 School starts August 11, 2010.
Dawson County Public Schools 517 Allen Street Dawsonville, GA 30534 Phone 706-265-3246 Fax 706-265-1226 School starts August 9, 2010.
Pickens County Public Schools 159 Stegall Drive Jasper, GA 30143 Main: 706-253-1700 Fax: 706-253-1705 School starts August 3, 2010.
Forsyth County Public Schools 1120 Dahlonega Highway Cumming, GA 30040 Main: 770-887-2461 Fax: 770-781-6632 School starts August 9, 2010.
Union County School Board Blairsville, GA Phone: 706-745-2322 Fax: 706-745-5025 School starts August 13, 2010
Hall County Public Schools 711 Green St. Suite 100 Gainesville, GA 30505 Main: 770-534-1080 Fax: 770-535-7404 School starts August 9, 2010.
White County Public Schools 136 Warriors Path Cleveland, GA 30528 Office: 706-865-2315 Fax: 706-865-5569 School starts August 23, 2010
Dr. Nations practices at Cherokee Eye Group at 591 East Main Street in Canton and at Dawson Eye Group at 5983 Hwy. 53 East, Suite 250, in Dawsonville. She received her Doctor of Optometry degree and her Masters of Public Health degree in 1993 from the University of Alabama. She is a member of the American Optometric Association, Georgia Optometric Association, and Vision Source.
August 2010 • www.400edition.com
400 Edition
NORTHSIDE HOSPITAL Excessive Sweating: How much is too much? by Vicki Barnett, RN, MSN, CNOR, director
To Your Health of surgical services, Northside Hospital
M
ost everyone sweats to some degree. It’s an unsightly, but normal, bodily function. At the very least, sweating is harmless. But for millions of Americans who suffer from excessive sweating, it can be a difficult problem, both physically and emotionally.
What is Hyperhidrosis?
Hyperhidrosis (excessive sweating) is a medical condition in which a person sweats excessively and unpredictably. Most commonly occurring in the hands, excessive sweating also can occur in the armpits or on the feet. How much is too much? There’s no real way to measure, but people with the condition often experience sweating that goes way beyond the body’s normal need. They may sweat even when they are still and the temperature is cool. Although not medically dangerous, the condition is embarrassing and makes activities of daily living difficult. Sufferers often feel selfconscious about shaking hands with others, or trying to hide sweat spots on their shirts. They may also have difficulty holding a pen, gripping the steering wheel, or grasping other objects, or even wearing some slipon shoes.
What causes Hyperhidrosis?
“In most cases of excessive sweating, there is no known cause,” said John E. Moore, M.D., thoracic surgeon on staff at Northside Hospital. “It can be brought on by stress, motion, or exercise, but also can occur spontaneously, without any trigger.” Some medical conditions such as anxiety, cancer, heart disease, stroke, hyperthyroidism, and others can sometimes cause hyperhidrosis. However, most cases have no distinct cause and occur in people who are otherwise healthy. Approximately 44-66 percent of patients with hyperhidrosis have a family history.
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August 2010 • www.400edition.com
How is it treated?
According to The Society of Thoracic Surgeons, approximately 1-3 percent of the population suffers from hyperhidrosis, yet less than half seek treatment, most likely because they don’t know that treatment exists. For patients whose sweating is brought on by another medical condition, their problem will in all likelihood go away when the underlying condition is treated. For everyone else, several non-invasive treatment options are available, including over-the-counter and prescription-strength antiperspirants, Botox injections, and medications. In more severe cases, a minimally invasive outpatient surgical procedure called sympathectomy may be recommended when other treatments fail. Through several small incisions, a surgeon cuts or destroys the nerves that cause sweating in the problem area, literally turning off the signal that tells the body to sweat excessively. “The procedure usually is performed on patients who have hyperhidrosis of the palms, but does not work as well for those who have excessive armpit sweating,” said Moore. “Patients often see results immediately.” Other procedures may be available, depending on the type of hyperhidrosis you have. Talk to your physician for more information.
When to Contact a Medical Professional
If your sweating is disrupting your life, or if you experience sweating in conjunction with any other symptoms, such as chest pain or weight loss, call your health care provider. Physicians at Northside Hospital offer a multidisciplinary approach to the treatment of hyperhidrosis through minimally invasive sympathectomy and other nonsurgical treatments. For a free physician referral, visit Northside. com and click on “Find a Doctor,” or call 404-851-8817.
Help Needed This is an email we received from one of our readers; we felt you might want to know about it and do what you can to help. Hello all, As you all know, my son SSG Kyle Tate is on his second tour of duty in Afghanistan and is returning home this August. It has been brought to my attention that about 60 of the returning soldiers will be going to the barracks at Fort Bragg, NC, and have no necessary items. We are in need of items that include the following: twin bed sheets (fitted and regular), pillows and pillow cases, mattress covers, throw rugs, towels, and shower curtains. If it is easier to make a monetary donation, please make the checks out to FRG BTroop 4-73 CAV. The FRG is the Family Readiness Group that keeps all of the families and loved ones informed as to what is taking place in the war zone and with their soldier’s movement. They are spearheading the effort to provide our returning soldiers with some necessary items and I am assisting. My company, Best Western Dawson Village Inn, located adjacent to the North Georgia Premium Outlet Mall in Dawsonville, has volunteered as a drop-off spot for all donations. We have between now and August 8 to collect the necessary items and/or donations to make this happen for our returning heroes. Any and all donations would be so appreciated. Please be sure that your name and mailing information are provided with any donation, as you will receive a certificate of appreciation from Bravo Troop for your generosity and support. Any questions, please call (404-391-8693) or email me (amycreeves@gmail.com). Blessings to all! Amy Reeves, Sales Director Best Western Dawson Village Inn
Health Matters: Making the Diagnosis by John P. Vansant, MD, FACC
R
heumatology is a sub-specialty of Internal Medicine, involving the diagnosis and treatment of inflammatory diseases affecting the body’s connective tissues. Although rheumatology is commonly thought of as a group of illnesses causing “arthritis” (inflammation of the joint lining), other organs may be involved due to a more systemic autoimmune process. Therefore, the scope and types of diseases are many and vary in their clinical presentations as well as in their treatments. Growing up as the oldest of four children, having three children of her own, and needing to work full-time outside of the home while meeting the demands of a mother and wife, Susan was no stranger to frequent joint and muscle aches and pains. However, her current pain seemed to be very different. It now involved many joints both small and large. It began to involve wrists, elbows, knees, and the small joints of her fingers. It no longer was just pain. Susan now experienced swelling, heat, and warmth of her joints. Mornings greeted her with a feeling of severe stiffness over her entire body that would remain for several hours. She visited her family physician, who did a few simple tests for “arthritis.” The classical clinical presentation, along with specific laboratory results, confirmed what her doctor had suspected. What is the Diagnosis? Rheumatoid Arthritis. Despite intensive research and acknowledgement of associated genetic markers and autoimmune processes, the cause of Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) remains unknown. Considerable evidence supports the role of infectious agents in addition to environmental exposures. A number of environmental factors may contribute to RA susceptibility. Smoking is currently the best-defined environmental risk for developing RA. Rheumatoid Arthritis is one of many autoimmune diseases that predominately affect women. Women are affected three times more often than men. Evidence suggests that RA is a relatively “new” disease in Europe, with ancient skeletal remains failing to demonstrate RA boney changes until the 17th century. In contrast, RA existence in North America was noted to have been present thousands of years ago. Due to frequently occurring destruction of the joints involved, RA was typically labeled the “crippling” arthritis. August 2010 • www.400edition.com
Its destructive nature, combined with the lack of effective treatments, resulted in a near certainty that the affected individual would have a high incidence of disability and an associated increased mortality. Fortunately, this scenario has dramatically changed. Beginning in the mid-1990s, major improvements in the treatment of RA began to develop. Perhaps no other disease process in Rheumatology has experienced such successful treatment transitions. We now recognize that treating early and treating aggressively will provide the best results. Much of the joint damage begins early in the course of the disease. One large study demonstrated that radiographic abnormalities occurred in 80% of patients within two years from the time of diagnosis. The key to successful treatment involves the early use of disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (DMARDs). Adjunctive (supportive) therapies such as analgesics, non-steroidal antiinflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), and low-dose glucocorticoids are frequently used. However, it is critical to recognize that adjunctive medical therapies do not prevent disease progression and potential joint destruction. DMARD therapy now offers a rather extensive number of drug choices. Selecting a specific drug or combination of drugs is based upon multiple variables, including the patient’s general health, disease severity (including the presence of other organ system involvement), and potential drug side effects and treatment complications. Perhaps the most notable group of DMARD agents added to the large group of successful drug therapies are the Biologic DiseaseModifying Agents, such being a class of drugs called Tumor Necrosis Factor (TNF) inhibitors. Commonly used drugs in this group would include Enbrel, Humira, and Remicade. The use of such agents requires a fully qualified and experienced physician and a well-informed patient. The many advances in the successful treatment of RA provides much encouragement and hope for a group of patients to whom medical science had previously provided marginal assistance at best. With such treatments, RA no longer should carry the label as the “crippling” arthritis. John P. Vansant, MD, FACC, is Board Certified in Nuclear Medicine, Internal Medicine, and Rheumatology. Dr. Vansant currently practices consultative Rheumatology as a member of the Chestatee Medical Group.
Comma Momma “M
y husband,” a woman once said, “claims that anybody who drives slower than he does is a moron, and anybody who drives faster than he does is an idiot.” I suspect that some of us are apt to apply the same kind of assessment to language skills—or to learning in general—and couch it this way: Anybody who knows less than we do is an illiterate barbarian; anybody who knows more than we do is a show-off and a snob. That position is absurd, of course. Everybody can’t know everything, so there will always be people who know less than we do and—big shock—people who know more than we do. But it might be illuminating to think about how we respond to the “More” people and the “Less” people. I take advantage of every opportunity to learn from those who know more than I do, whether it’s about language, or about Stuff In General. I love to learn, and I learn new things every day. So do you. But our encounters with those who know less than we do are the real measure of our character. Are we patronizing? Helpful? Sarcastic? Gentle? Condescending? Gracious? Scornful? Maybe even jubilant? I listen to a lot of audio books, the ones that are free to download because they’re in
More, or Less…
the public domain and have been recorded by volunteers. The site I download from will let anybody read, requiring only that the reader download and learn how to use the free recording software. There are no auditions. This means, of course, that the quality of the reading varies enormously from book to book. Some readers have professional voices, and sound as if they might have broadcasting or acting experience; others sound as if they just fell off a turnip truck. And thanks to the Internet, readers can be located anywhere in the world; they can choose English-language books to record, too, whether English is their native language or not. One non-native reader (I never figured out what her native language might have been) was barely intelligible. She mentioned a “gapping uh-PURCH-er” in one chapter, and it took me several seconds to work out from the context that the phrase was “gaping aperture.” But after all, she wasn’t a native speaker of English, and I was perfectly happy to cut her some slack. But I winced when a pleasant-voiced reader from Chicago pronounced taciturnity tackTURN-uh-tee instead of tass-i-TURN-uh-tee. I winced when she pronounced ennui as ee-NOO instead of ahn-WEE. And in a sentence about an argument (“We had a row”), she pronounced
August 2010 • www.400edition.com
by Nancy Wright
row to rhyme with go instead of with cow. So yes, I winced, and felt bad for her. But I also have to confess to a tiny shiver of private delight in knowing that I was familiar with these occurrences, and she was not. I knew more than she did. More recently, I listened to a book in which most of the action took place in Germany. The reader was excellent, a native speaker of British English, I think, with exquisite diction and phrasing. But it was her handling of German place names that blew me away. “Westeraccumersiel”? “Carolinengrodenwestseits”? “Werdumeraltendeich”? My year and a half of college German from fifty years ago would have allowed me to haltingly sound them out; but off her tongue, they all rolled trippingly. Whoa. Now I was not the snob, but the illiterate barbarian. OK, got it: All of us are both, at one time or another. Nancy Wright formats technical books for a specialty publishing house in New York. She and her husband live in White County; you can contact her at adairmill@windstream.net. You can visit the forums at www.400edition.com to read some earlier columns.
400 Edition
North Georgia Enrollment Climbs to Meet Education Demands
W
ith a college education essential to meeting the demands of today’s workforce and competing in a global marketplace, the percentage of today’s teens aspiring to college is higher than in any previous generation. As a result, North Georgia College & State University, the region’s comprehensive state university and a member of the University System of Georgia, has witnessed steady increases in the demand for higher education. North Georgia’s enrollment has increased by nearly 2,000 students— from 3,627 to 5,527—since 2000. This fall, with a record number of applications, the university will set new enrollment records. For Fall 2010, North Georgia received 3,100 freshman applications, about 1,000 more than last year. The number of applicants exceeded the university’s freshman capacity by more than 300 percent, resulting in the university’s offering acceptance to only 1,446 students, and halting its application process earlier than usual. Actual freshman enrollment will be about 775-800 students, placing total enrollment at nearly 6,000 students. “Admission is competitive, because there are many students who wish to attend North Georgia,” said Jennifer Chadwick, director of undergraduate admissions. “We are limited in the number we can enroll, because of the services and personalized attention that we want to be able to provide to our students. Students are encouraged to apply for admission early, and contact the admissions office to discuss admission requirements.” The grade point average of last year’s incoming freshman class positioned North Georgia third in the University System of Georgia after the University of Georgia and Georgia Tech, and North Georgia students had the sixth-highest SAT score in the state. As the competition for the university’s limited spaces has increased, so has the average performance of its freshman classes. “The average SAT score for our freshman students in 2009 increased 9 points from 2008 and 18 points since 2007, and the average GPA
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August 2010 • www.400edition.com
increased from a 3.31 to a 3.43,” Chadwick said. “Students are very concerned about their education and the level of academic excellence. They see North Georgia’s rigorous academics, and how the distinction of a degree from North Georgia will advance their career.” Lauren Adams, a marketing major from Gainesville, applied and was accepted through the university’s early action admission process, which requires students to apply in November for enrollment the following fall term. Dr. Patricia Donat, acting vice president of academic affairs, agreed that the university’s reputation for excellence is drawing students to North Georgia, which is also distinguished as a state leadership institution. “New students are attracted to North Georgia because of our dedication to providing high-quality experiences for our students inside and outside the classroom,” Donat said. “Learning at North Georgia extends beyond the traditional classroom, preparing our students to be actively engaged in their communities and the world in which they live. Undergraduate research, service-learning projects, intensive language learning communities, study abroad experiences, and internships are all part of the North Georgia experience.” Students also are drawn by the competitive tuition rates, and the value they represent in terms of academic strength. In 2010, North Georgia was one of only four schools in Georgia recognized by Kiplinger Personal Finance magazine in its list of the country’s 100 best values in public colleges and universities, a recognition based on affordability as well as academic excellence. While managing growth over the years, the university’s administration has focused on retaining its intimate, studentfocused learning environment. New residence halls slated to open in August will provide increased opportunities for students who want a traditional residential college experience. Adams, whose parents graduated from North Georgia, was attracted
to North Georgia because the campus offers a small-college atmosphere but the same level of opportunity as a larger university. “Here, I am a person instead of a number,” she said. Parents, who are increasingly becoming more involved in the college search process, are looking for many of the same qualities, but are also concerned about campus safety, Chadwick said. “Parents like our campus because it’s so safe when they compare it to other schools. They feel good about their son or daughter enrolling here,” she said. At least one member of the incoming freshman class is moving all the way from Alaska to attend North Georgia. Sadie Newhouse took part in INTRO, an optional orientation program for incoming freshmen, this summer at North Georgia. Her mother is an alumna, and Newhouse has family living in Dawsonville. Newhouse’s excitement about attending North Georgia is evident in the enthusiastic way she already talks about the university, and she is among a growing number of out-of-state students attending North Georgia. “North Georgia is perfect for me. The first time I came here I fell in love with it,” Newhouse said. “I love it here, and I’m just really excited.” She plans to pursue programs in biology and physical therapy and said she is especially interested in the new doctorate in physical therapy offered at North Georgia. Chadwick, whose office counsels students
who were declined admission or waitlisted, tries to offer them appropriate options to increase their opportunities to enroll at North Georgia—retaking the SAT, submitting the most current grade transcript, applying for a different semester, or, in some cases, beginning coursework at another accredited institution for eventual transfer. North Georgia’s Corps of Cadets, which represents nearly 15 percent of the student population, is also growing. In 2009, the corps included about 700 students. Col. Tom Palmer, North Georgia’s commandant of cadets, expects the corps to continue growing in response to national recruitment efforts ultimately designed to produce more Army officers. “The U.S. Army Cadet Command wants [North Georgia] to commission 85 new lieutenants each year beginning in 2015,” said Keith Antonia, director of cadet admissions. “Accomplishing that goal will mean eventually increasing the Corps of Cadets to 850.” North Georgia and each of the other five senior
August 2010 • www.400edition.com
military colleges in the United States—The Citadel, Norwich University, Texas A&M, Virginia Military Institute, and Virginia Tech—have been tasked to produce more Army officers to meet national defense needs. Antonia’s staff nationally promotes opportunities in the Corps of Cadets, and has bolstered its presence on the Web, including many online videos featuring cadet activities. Patriot Hall, one of the two new residence halls opening on campus this fall, was designed specifically for cadets and their needs. North Georgia will hold an open house for prospective students on Saturday, November 6. For more information, visit www. northgeorgia.edu or phone 706-864-1800. Fall 2009 student population at North Georgia Undergraduate students Graduate students ROTC students Non-ROTC students Female students Male students Resident students Commuter students International students
5,099 428 708 4,819 3,207 2,291 1,581 3,946 274
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11
Gardening Tasks:
August
by Walter Reeves
First Week
Third Week
• Water figs deeply now as they begin to ripen. Harvest every morning, before the birds can do their damage.
• Look on the ground around your blackberry and raspberry plants. The canes snaking across the ground should be tied back on their wire arbor.
• The soil in outdoor clay pots dries out quickly. Poke holes in it with a pencil to make sure water saturates the soil when you tend your plants. • The best way to control snakes is to remove their habitat. Move log piles, leaf piles, and rock piles to the edge of your yard, away from the house. • Prune tropical hibiscus plants you plan to bring indoors. Reduce them to a size that will fit in front of your sunniest window in December. • Remove faded crape myrtle blooms and dry seed clusters now. With a little water and fertilizer, you may get more blooms in September.
Second Week • Collect seeds from hosta, iris, and blackberry lily to save for planting next spring. • To prevent ants from coming indoors, spread insecticide granules in a band 24 inches wide around the foundation of your house. Use ant bait traps near entrance doors. • Bermuda or zoysia grass encroaching in your fescue lawn? Spray it with glyphosate (Roundup) now, and again in September before you plant fescue this fall. • If you had tremendous numbers of Japanese beetles, you might get some control next year by poisoning the grubs. Now is the best time to do it; remember to water heavily after the insecticide application. • Fertilize roses with 1 tablespoon of 10-10-10 per foot of height now to stimulate some new growth. As the weather cools, you’ll get roses for the fall.
• How long has it been since your lawnmower blade was sharpened? It should be done once each summer to avoid shredding the grass instead of cutting it cleanly. • Cut back faded annual flowers by half, then water and lightly fertilize with liquid 20-20-20 or equivalent. A second season of blooms will begin to appear in two weeks. • Water big trees. Apply at least 15 gallons per inch of trunk thickness each week. • Plant fall blooming bulbs like colchicum, fall crocus, and sternbergia.
Fourth Week • Watch for the red or yellow spider-like flowers of spider lily, also called surprise lily— because the foliage is nowhere to be seen when it blooms. • Make a slug trap from a small board raised an inch off the ground by small stones. Check it at noon and scrape the slimy crawlers into a bucket of soapy water • Wrap cheesecloth around sunflower heads to keep the birds away. The head is ready to harvest when the back has turned from green to brown. • Pull English ivy out of your trees. The leaves act like a sail in a thunderstorm—you don't want that tree to navigate onto your roof! • It’s easy to see the big webs of fall webworm in your trees. If you can reach it with a stick, wrap and destroy the webbing to expose worms to the elements.
Walter Reeves hosts a radio call-in show on WSB-AM every Saturday morning from 6:00 to 10:00am. He is the host of Your Southern Garden on GPB and writes a weekly column in the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Get answers to your garden questions at www.walterreeves.com.
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August 2010 • www.400edition.com
Get the Buzz on Insect Stings S
by Dr. Bill Dolen, Allergist/Immunologist, MCGHealth Children’s Medical Center
tinging insects are as much a part of summer as pool parties and picnics. But don’t let these uninvited guests spoil your family’s fun. According to the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology, stings from insects— including honey bees, wasps, hornets, yellow jackets, and fire ants—send more than half a million people to hospitals, and cause at least 50 deaths each year. Since they won’t just buzz off, allergists at the MCGHealth Children’s Medical Center recommend these steps to avoid insect stings: • Be cautious when eating outdoors, and consider keeping food covered. • If you can, avoid drinking beverages outside. Stinging insects are attracted to beverages and may crawl inside drink cans or other containers. • Cover garbage cans with tight lids. • Avoid wearing sweet-smelling perfumes, hair sprays, colognes, and deodorants. • Avoid wearing bright-colored clothing outdoors, such as floral patterns. • Don’t walk barefoot in the grass. • Watch for signs of stinging insects when gardening, mowing the yard, or doing outside house maintenance. Hornets, for example, can build huge nests in shrubs. • Be cautious around fire ant mounds, and don’t disturb them. Even with precaution, stings may still happen, so it’s also important to be aware of the signs of an allergic reaction, since reactions can be deadly. A normal reaction to an insect sting will include pain, swelling, and redness at the sting site. However, an allergic reaction requires immediate medical attention. Symptoms include:
• Hives, itching, and swelling in areas other than the sting site • Tightness in the chest and difficulty breathing • Swelling of the tongue, throat, nose, and lips • Dizziness and fainting, or loss of consciousness, which can lead to shock and heart failure If you or your children have ever had an allergic reaction to an insect sting, you are at high risk for a more severe reaction if stung again. An allergist can help you determine what kind of insect you are allergic to and recommend ways to stay safe if you are stung again. If a severe allergic reaction develops at the time of a sting, an epinephrine injection is the most immediate way to treat it. An allergist can prescribe an epinephrine auto-injector and teach you and your family members how to use it. Or, you may be a candidate for venom immunotherapy. These are allergy shots that treat insect sting allergy and may prevent future allergic reactions. These shots are 97 percent effective in preventing potentially lifethreatening reactions to insect stings. If your child is allergic to insect stings, be sure to alert teachers, coaches, and camp counselors and teach them how to use epinephrine. Also talk to your child about how to avoid situations where stinging insects may be encountered. MCG Health, Inc. (d/b/a MCGHealth) is a not-for-profit corporation operating the MCGHealth Medical Center, MCGHealth Children’s Medical Center, MCGHealth Cancer Center, Georgia Radiation Therapy Center, and related outpatient facilities and services throughout the state. For more information, please visit mcghealth.org.
August 2010 • www.400edition.com
400 Edition 13
Mary Beecham Appointed to Public Relations Manager
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he Alpharetta Convention and Visitors Bureau is pleased to announce the appointment of Mary Beecham to the position of Public Relations Manager. Ms. Beecham brings with her previous experience working with the Alpharetta CVB as Assistant to the President. In her new role, Ms. Beecham is responsible for helping to promote the mission of the Bureau to attract overnight visitors by focusing positive attention on the City of Alpharetta. According to Alpharetta Convention and Visitors Bureau President and CEO Janet Rodgers, “We all know Mary well and know the quality of her work. It is great to have her back at the Alpharetta CVB in her new position as PR Manager.”
Ms. Beecham is an Atlanta area native and attended the University of West Georgia, where she graduated with a BBA in Marketing. During her professional career she has worked for IBM, the Atlanta Committee for the Olympic Games, The Margaret Mitchell House, and King’s Ridge Christian School. She and her husband Steve, a Roswell native, volunteer and serve on the Development Committee for The Ron Clark Academy in south Atlanta. They have three children: Connor, Elyse, and Colin. Says Ms. Beecham, “I am very excited to be returning to the Alpharetta CVB and look forward to showcasing a great city in the area that my family calls home.”
McDonald’s On 53 and 400
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very day, thousands of people pass the McDonald’s restaurant at the corner of Highways 400 and 53 in Dawson County and have no idea of the uniqueness of this particular store. Even when these passersby stop in for a Big Mac or Happy Meal, most are in and out and don’t realize the grandeur they have just brushed up against. Jamie Smith, the store’s manager, has just been awarded the “Ray Kroc Award,” an award given to the top 1% of McDonald’s managers across the United States; this also means this McDonald’s is in the top 1% of all McDonald’s restaurants in America. But as proud as we are of Jamie, those achievements are only a part of what makes this McDonald’s so unique. Those of you who eat at McDonald’s from time to time have noticed that many of these restaurants have a theme. All the themes are different. For instance, at Exit 17 off 400, motorcycles are the theme. Here at 53 and 400, the theme used to be NASCAR and Bill Elliott, but since Awesome Bill is in semi-retirement, the theme is now Bluegrass Music— and now we are closing in on the uniqueness of this restaurant, for a few years ago a tradition was born here. One providential morning, Charlie and Joyce Teague of Dawsonville were sitting at this McDonald’s with Henry and Violet Byrd and members of the Byrd’s Nest Coffee Crew. (Requirements for membership: Anyone can join if they have at least two surgical scars they don’t mind showing and talking about). Now, Charlie Teague has been a guitarist and singer in a bluegrass band for many, many years, and a guitar is part of who he is. Charlie’s wife, Joyce, said that when Charlie came a-courtin’ (65 years ago) he always brought along his guitar. And he took his guitar with him to the Pacific in WWII. So with all the instruments
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August 2010 • www.400edition.com
by Bill Tate
lining the walls of this McDonald’s, Charlie Teague was feeling like Brer Rabbit in the briar patch. Now, among this group of liars, storytellers, and solvers-of-allworldly-problems was a lovely lady named Sharon Wenson. Sharon just happened to be a local violin instructor of classical music; so in this musical ambience, she was right in the briar patch with Charlie. When Charlie found that Sharon played the fiddle (Violin? Don’t git above yer raisin’!), a thought struck him and he presented it to her: “Why don’t you bring your fiddle, I’ll bring my guitar, I’ll see if I can’t get Neal Norman to bring his fiddle and banjo, and we’ll make some music in this place.” That idea fascinated Sharon, and learning to play bluegrass seemed like a fun new thing—but the question quickly arose: “Will they let us play here?” Immediately, Henry Byrd was dispatched to get the manager’s approval, and who could say no to Henry? Certainly not the manager, or the owner, Keith Muller. So there you have it. A tradition was born. The bluegrass theme became more than retired instruments on the wall, it came alive. Really not much of a chore for the Lord; just shuffling a few folks, planting a thought here and there, a leetle nudge or two, and now there’s another wonderful way to bring some brightness into this world. So if you want to eat breakfast at a top 1% McDonald’s while listening to top 1% bluegrass and bluegrass gospel music, go to the Mickey D’s at 400 and 53 about 9:30 every Wednesday morning and listen to Charlie Teague, Neal Norman, Wayne Garrett, Donnie Seay, and Dean Gilstrap. What a fun way to start a day! If you can’t make it on a Wednesday, Sharon Wenson has a group there every Friday morning at 9:30.
58thOld Soldiers Day Parade
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he American Legion Post 201 and City of Alpharetta will present the 58th Annual Old Soldiers Day Parade on Saturday, August 7, 2010. This year’s parade theme is “Supporting Our Troops…Home and Abroad” while always recognizing the living memory of All Veterans of All Wars. The festivities begin at City Hall at 8:45am with a performance by the Alpharetta City Band, followed by a special program at 9:30am with introduction of guests. This patriotic summer parade begins around 10:15am, starting at City Hall (2 South Main Street), turning west on Old Milton Parkway, and ending at the American Legion Post 201 at Wills Road. “We recognize not only the veterans of past but current wars,” said Mayor Arthur Letchas. “By bringing together the community, we can pay tribute to our soldiers and veterans for the great courage they have demonstrated for our country.” The Old Soldiers Day Parade first began in 1865 after the guns were silenced in the War Between the States. The Confederate Soldiers living in and around Milton County, now part of Fulton County, established a time each year to relive a fellowship born of war. They came from miles around
by horse, wagon, and on foot to a very small town called Alpharetta. Many of them were still living in Alpharetta when the young soldiers of World War I returned to their homes in Milton County. Best evidence would indicate that sometime during 1920 the elderly Confederate soldiers invited the “young-uns,” the new veterans of World War I, to assemble to the rear and parade with them down Main Street of Alpharetta. They marched together for only a few years until most were gone and the event faded during the Depression. Twenty-eight years later, in 1952, a small
group of men in Alpharetta from American Legion Post 201 rededicated the Old Soldiers Day Parade and began having a parade again in downtown Alpharetta. This would be a tribute and a living memorial to All Veterans of All Wars. Thanks to these few men and their belief in keeping this memorable tradition alive, the parade has become an annual celebration marking 58 consecutive years to date. Alpharetta’s 145-yearold event is expected to have approximately 150 units in
August 2010 • www.400edition.com
the parade line-up, consisting of marching military units, the Shriners, floats, bands, wagons and horses, classic cars, clowns, prizes, and of course, candy. The parade will end at the American Legion Post 201 where the celebration continues with entertainment and children’s activities. The Varsity will serve free hot dogs and American Legion Post 201 will provide free soft drinks. The 58th Old Soldiers Day Parade is proud to have as sponsors American Legion Post 201; The Varsity; Revue & News; ADP; Alpharetta Rotary Club; Bank of North Georgia; Carl Black of Roswell; City of Alpharetta; Coca Cola; HDS Vans & Mobility; Lusk & Company, Inc.; Mazzy’s Sports Bar & Grill; Midway Lumber; News/Talk 750 WSB; Northside Chapel Funeral Directors; Parc Alpharetta; Publix Super Markets; Sam’s Club; WalMart Alpharetta; Wal-Mart Roswell; and WGKA 920 AM. The public is invited to take part in this annual tradition to recognize the living memory of All Veterans of All Wars. For more information: www.alpharetta.ga.us, 678-297-6078, or 770-475-9023. Pictures by Jack Tuszynski.
400 Edition 15
Back to School Adjustment: Tips for Parents
Mind and heart mind & heart
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ithin the next few weeks, millions of children will be making the transition from the relaxed, loosely structured life of summer to the more demanding and structured nature of school. For many of these children, this abrupt lifestyle contrast can cause some psychologically challenging adjustment issues. Below are some tips for parents that have proven to be helpful in easing this transition for children. The general principle underlying these suggestions can best be described as the gradual, systematic re-introduction of structured living into children’s lives. Here are some more specific suggestions for parents preparing their children to resume school:
1. Begin re-setting bedtimes and wake-up times. The looser structure of summertime can wreak havoc with a child’s sleep/wake cycle. Many children become accustomed to going to bed at variable and usually later bedtimes, and then often sleep much later into the following morning, or perhaps even beyond. When school resumes, they are then obligated to make a drastic change of sleep/wake time frames that can be quite difficult and disruptive if not handled properly. I usually recommend to parents that over the last 2-3 weeks of summer break, they begin setting progressively earlier bedtimes and wake-up times for children. This has been found to ease the diurnal cycle changes that the return to school will bring. 2. Involve children in the backto-school-materials purchasing
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process. It has been noted that allowing children to participate in the selection of new school clothes and other necessary materials (notebooks, backpacks, etc.) helps to establish a tangible, material connection between the summer life that is soon to end and the academic life that will soon begin again. In essence, it seems to impart to them a feeling of having “a stake in the game” and a more personal, symbolic identification with the paraphernalia of school. 3. Battling the “Butterflies.” It is natural for many children to experience varying degrees of anxiety about the new school year beginning. It is important for parents to project a positive and hopeful attitude about school resuming, and to emphasize those aspects of school that they know their children normally value. In the event that these elements are still unknown to the parents, then some exploration of this with the child can be helpful. Keeping children busy and distracted with fun activities during the last few days of vacation can also be a useful strategy. 4. Summertime Scholastics. For those students who have been struggling with one or more academic subjects at school, it is helpful to establish and maintain a limited, at-home summer schoolwork program to make the transition to more advanced work the next term easier for them. These programs have proven to be most successful when they utilize enjoyable learning formats and are limited in time each day to no more than one hour. August 2010 • www.400edition.com
Mark P. Feinsilber, Ph.D.
5. Arrange Visits to New Schools. For children transferring to a new school, either due to districting moves or natural advancement (i.e., from elementary to middle school, for example), it is recommended that a visit to the new school be arranged in advance to create a visual sense of familiarity and orientation. Children tend to think in more concrete and visual terms than do adults, and having an accurate mental picture of where they are about to be seems to help their imaginations stay grounded. As a final note, I have found that if parents utilize preparatory tips like the ones outlined above, they can also allay some of their own anticipatory anxieties about how their children will fare in the new school year. Mark P. Feinsilber, Ph.D., is a licensed clinical psychologist with over 20 years’ experience treating adults, children, adolescents, couples, and families; and is a founding member of the Behavioral Health Association of Forsyth (BHAF). His practice is located at 6030 Bethelview Road, Suite 401, in Cumming. Appointments or other consultations can be arranged by calling the administrative office at 770-205-5760, and more detailed information can be found at www.APSDoc.com.
Heart Health and What Family History Can Tell You by Heather Westmoreland, MD, General Cardiology, Northeast Georgia Heart Center
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e all know that our blue eyes came from Granddad, and that dimple in our chin came from mom; but did you also know that your heart health may also be inherited? Research has shown that a person with both a first degree relative (like a parent or sibling) who suffered from heart disease before age 60, and a second degree relative like an aunt, uncle, or grandparent with a similar profile, is nearly ten times as likely to suffer from heart disease early in life than someone whose family history includes no heart disease. Knowing if a relative has experienced heart disease can make you more aware of actions that might be needed to prevent or minimize heart disease in yourself. Family history is a determining factor in people who may develop heart disease. Are you at risk? What is a Family History? A Family History is a record of your current and past illnesses, and those of your parents, brothers, sisters, children, and other blood relatives. A family health history shows the pattern of certain diseases in a family, and helps to determine risk factors for those and other diseases. It is like looking through a window into your own future. Acquiring this information about family heart disease can be pivotal for determining risk factors and treating problems if they exist. A person who has a family history of heart disease may receive more intensive treatment than someone without a family history but whose risk profile otherwise looks the same. For example, patient A may have high cholesterol, but no family history of heart disease. In this patient, delaying cholesterol medication and trying therapeutic lifestyle modifications including diet and exercise first may be acceptable. However, patient B with known family history of heart disease may need to start cholesterol-lowering medication immediately. The American Heart Association has identified several risk factors for heart disease.
Major risk factors are those that research has shown to significantly increase the risk of cardiovascular disease. Other factors are associated with increased risk of cardiovascular disease, but their significance and prevalence haven’t yet been precisely determined. They’’re called contributing risk factors. Some of them can be modified, treated, or controlled, and some can’t. The more risk factors you have, the greater your chance of developing coronary heart disease. Talk to your family and find out your Family History. You may find there is a strong association in your family of heart disease. Although there are no national guidelines for screening and treating individuals with a family history of cardiovascular disease, individuals with a family history of premature coronary heart disease (before 55 for men and before 65 for women) need a comprehensive examination and screening to evaluate for other risk factors that can contribute to heart disease. That means finding out about cholesterol and blood pressure levels and keeping weight under control. Talk to your healthcare provider about your family health history and make a personalized plan to maintain your health for today and for generations to come. Dr. Westmoreland earned her bachelor’s degree from North Georgia College and State University in Dahlonega and graduated with honors from Mercer University School of Medicine in Macon. She completed her internship and residency at Duke University School of Medicine in Durham, North Carolina, and a fellowship in Cardiovascular Medicine at Emory University in Atlanta, where she also served as the chief fellow. She has just joined the Northeast Georgia Heart Center (www.ngheartcenter.com) and will be seeing patients at the Cumming and Dahlonega offices, as well as one day a week in Gainesville.
Back to School
by Linda Merritt
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ummer is just about over and a new school year is coming! School bells start ringing and so do early-morning alarm clocks. The days start getting shorter, and new school-year sports, activities, and events seem to take up every waking moment. So…get organized now and be prepared for the busy days ahead. My daughter has had a calendar on her refrigerator ever since her two boys started school, and it seems to have worked out very well. Make sure that all the kids’ activities are noted on the calendar for at least the next two months (if possible). You certainly cannot remember all those dates. I know we all use our computer calendars or our cell phones as reminders, and that is an excellent way to keep us on our toes. But as a second source of information, find a large calendar with large squares, so you can easily enter all the information for your family. You may also want to place a corkboard or some sort of magnetic board close to the calendar. That makes a good place to put lunch menus, class assignments, sports practice schedules, or any other item you might want to keep as hard copy. The calendar and board can have a calming effect on your whole family, and especially on the students at your house. You may want to color-code family members. Do not wait until the first week of school to adjust the sleep schedules in your household. During the summer, parents tend to be less strict about bedtimes. At least two weeks before school starts, gradually get your child back to the “school” bedtimes. By the first day of school, your little students will be getting the
August 2010 • www.400edition.com
necessary rest their bodies need. Mealtimes also go by the wayside during the summer. We tend to snack more and not fix the usual nutritious meals that our children need for their wellbeing. This is something else that should be started well before the first day of school. Plan your meals, and make sure your children eat a good breakfast before leaving for school. Before school starts, you should go through your child’s closet and dresser drawers. Take out items that are too small, and store or donate them to a worthy organization. This is a good opportunity to train your child to make sure dirty clothes are in the hamper or a designated place. This will cut down on those dreaded words, “Mom, I don’t have a clean shirt.” After you take an inventory of the clothing, you will know if additional items need to be purchased or if it is time for some hand-me-downs to be used. Long before the first day of school, you should have checked immunization records to be sure they are up to date. Check with the school and make sure you have all the required documents together, so you won’t have those frantic last-minute searches on the first day of school. The important thing is to make your child’s school day morning as calm and cheerful as it can be. Morning is not the time to bring up things that can be done at a later time. Send your child to school in a happy mood. You will be surprised at how wonderful the day can be for both of you.
400 Edition 17
Humane Society Offers Special Fees
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he Humane Society of Northeast Georgia (HSNEGA) will be offering special adoption fees for all adult large dogs and adult cats and kittens adopted at the shelter until August 29, 2010. Normally $100 per animal, the adoption fee for adult dogs will be $50 per dog, and adult cats and kittens will be available to adopt at $100 for two animals (two cats, two kittens, or one cat/one kitten). “During the summer months, we have an influx of kittens, but like many shelters, we’ve also experienced a drop in adoptions, due in part to the economy,” says Rick Aiken, HSNEGA President. Aiken also says that adult animals, particularly adult dogs, are often more challenging to place in new homes, so he hopes offering a special adoption fee for adult dogs and cats—as well as kittens—will help find more animals new homes. All adoptable animals at HSNEGA are current on their vaccinations, fecal tested/ dewormed, heartworm tested, up to date on heartworm and flea/tick preventative, health-checked, and, most importantly, spayed or neutered. The Humane Society of Northeast Georgia, located in Gainesville, is open for adoptions Monday through Saturday from 10:00am to 5:00pm and Sunday from 1:00pm to 5:00pm. To see the animals currently available for adoption at HSNEGA, visit www.hsnega.org; for more information, please contact HSNEGA at 770-532-6617.
18 400 Edition
Through a Woman’s Eyes
by Martha Hynson
Working Hard
She is energetic and strong, a hard worker. She makes sure her dealings are profitable; her lamp burns late into the night. Proverbs 31:17-18
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uring the past several months, I’ve been taking a look at the 31st chapter of Proverbs—after years of avoiding it—and it should come as no surprise that my assumptions about it were all wrong. It turns out that it’s not a narrow list of “superwoman” qualities to which I should aspire. Instead, it actually encourages creativity. Of course, no matter how creative and fulfilling life may be, there will always be some things I am just not motivated to do—which brings me to verses 17 and 18. Here we learn that a virtuous wife is energetic and hardworking. She makes sure her dealings are profitable and her lamp burns late into the night. When I first read these verses, they seemed to be a reminder that there are times when I need to just grit my teeth and do whatever needs doing, whether I want to or not. If I work hard enough, the verses seem to say, the results will be profitable. In other words, “just do it!” Before putting my nose to the grindstone, however, I began to wonder just what this scripture means by “profitable.” What, exactly, does this word mean in God’s economy? 1 Corinthians 13 sheds some light on this. It says that without love I profit nothing, no matter what I might do. Looking at the verses from Proverbs, in light of this passage from Corinthians, was an “ah-hah” moment for me. It turns out that
simply putting my nose to the grindstone, when I’m faced with a task I’m not very motivated about, is not enough. If I want my work to have any value, I can’t “just do it.” In order for it to be profitable, it must be done with an attitude of love. I’m glad the Lord showed me the connection between these two passages of scripture, because I believe He’s been patiently trying to teach me this lesson for a while now. One particular experience comes to mind. I’m sure God was speaking to me about this very thing, but, unfortunately, I missed it at the time. I enjoy helping in the area of children’s ministry at church. Lately, I’ve volunteered to be a “helper” in a class, rather than the lead teacher. After teaching kindergarten all week, it’s nice not to have the responsibility of preparing a lesson for Sunday, but to be able to just “show up and help out.” A while back, a sweet young woman volunteered to teach the class I was helping with. She was eager to take on this job, but it seemed she hadn’t had much experience working with young children. In addition, she didn’t appear to be thinking ahead. Each week, she seemed to be “winging it.” This isn’t easy with four-year-olds, especially when you haven’t been teaching long enough to have a bag of tricks to pull from. Not surprisingly, the lack of structure led to discipline problems. As the weeks went by, I
August 2010 • www.400edition.com
began taking on more and more responsibility for lessons. I was egotistical enough to think the Lord apparently needed me in this capacity, so I decided to just grit my teeth and do it. Although I tried to encourage the young woman I was “helping” I’m sure that, at times, my irritation was apparent. Eventually, she decided to stop teaching the class. She said her work schedule had become too busy, but I couldn’t help but wonder if her decision was influenced by my “helpfulness.” I had worked hard, but I’m afraid my attitude kept the results from being profitable. 1 Corinthians 13: 4 says that love is patient and kind. I hope I can remember that my attitude toward my work is just as important as the work itself. Thankfully, this passage of scripture is not just a list of how we should love others. It describes how God loves us. In fact, allowing Him to love through me is the only way I’ll ever be able to truly love. So I’m glad He will continue to be patient with me as I sloooowly learn how to make my work truly valuable in His sight.
Martha Hynson is a wife, mom, teacher, and freelance writer from Watkinsville, Georgia. Check out her blog at marthahynson.blogspot. com.
Events!
Tip: Keep in mind that 400 Edition is now released on or about the 1st of each month. Your event needs to be submitted via our web site 30-45 days prior to your event date and no later than the 20th of the month. We have to have all the information requested on the submission form, so be sure your form is complete. Just go to 400edition.com and click “Submit an Event” on the home page.
Alpharetta
Fame, the Musical Presented by RISPA Theatrical Productions
August 1-8, 7:30pm, Milton Center Theatre, 86 School Drive. First the hit movie, then the TV series. Now the screen sensation of the ’80s is the stage sensation of the ’90s and beyond. “Fame” is “gonna live forever.” Tickets at www.rispa.net. For more information: Kathy Eibler at 678-232-0099 or Kathye@bellsouth.net.
Heroes and Hotcakes
August 14, 7:30am to 11:30am. “Hometown Heroes and Hotcakes” breakfast at Alpharetta Presbyterian Church, hosted by the Alpharetta Public Safety Foundation. With a Split the Pot Raffle, fire engine, and police car displays, the event is sure to be a memorable experience for the entire family. Tickets are $6 each and can be purchased by contacting Susan Brown at 770-751-6500 or sbrown@northridgerestoration.com, or Phil Baldwin at 770- 294-5148 or philbaldwin111@gmail.com.
Blairsville
Taste of Blairsville
August 7, noon to 8:00pm. Join us for a day of cars, food, and music in downtown Blairsville. Classic cars, the sounds of live music and entertainment, and the delightful scents of your favorite foods being cooked right there on the square. For more information: www.tasteof blairsville.com.
Concert Series at the Old Courthouse
August 6, 7:00pm to 8:30pm. Every Friday night through October you’ll hear the sounds of local musicians as they sing and play gospel, country, bluegrass, and more in the downtown Historic Courthouse. For more information: www.unioncountyhistory.org.
Garden Tour at Georgia Mountain Research & Education Center
August 23 (and Mondays through September), 9:00am to noon. The Preservation Committee of the Community Council of the GMRE Center is pleased to announce that the
demonstration gardens, woodland trail, and Interpretive Center will be open to the public. Exceptions to the schedule will be days when the Research and Education Center is closed (September 6 and 13 this year). Group tours can be arranged by contacting Clare Johnson at the GMRE Center. For more information: www.gmrec.uga.edu.
Rock ’n’ Roll Fundraiser
August 28, 6:00pm to10:00pm. Rock ’n’ Roll Fundraiser for The Mountain United Soccer Association at Meeks Park. There will be local bands, music, food, and lots of fun. Show your support, help raise funds, and have a great time. The High Five Band, Sundown, and the Rubber Band will perform while you enjoy some good rock ’n’ roll. For more information: www.mountainsoccer.org
Cleveland
Sit ’n Stitch
August 7, 11:00am to 2:00pm, 515 West Kytle Street. Bring your crocheting or knitting project and enjoy the warm and friendly hospitality at Wanda’s Place. If you have a project that has you stumped, this is the place to come. We have very talented instructors to walk you through your project for a “sit down” fee of $10. Fee applies only if you work with an instructor. For more information: www.mywandasplace.com or Debbie Battibulli, 706-348-6877.
Cumming
Breath, Centering and Meditation for Cancer Patients
August 10, 9:30am to 11:30am at Breath, Centering and Meditation free class for cancer patients. Come learn the benefits of meditation. It improves your concentration, clarity, and memory; lowers blood pressure and heart rate; reduces anxiety and stress. You will have the opportunity for discussion. Ellen Sichel, RYT500, leads. RSVP 404843-1880. For more information: Eleanor Smith, 404-843-1880 or eleanor@twc-atlanta.org.
The Graduate
August 12 – 29, Thursday-Saturday 8:00pm, Sunday 3:00pm, Cumming
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Events, Events!
Playhouse, 101 School Street. “The Graduate” brings the quintessential movie hit of the Sixties, one of the most popular films of all time, vividly to life on stage. It is the classic story of a young man coming of age and trying to find himself. In doing so, he takes a few wrong paths down his journey of life. Mature audiences only. For more information: 770-781-9178, or www.playhousecumming.com to order tickets.
interested in strengthening and growing their business. All participants are given the opportunity to present their business and receive an attendance roster. No membership requirements. Reservations and pre-payment required. For more information: Annette Walden Mason, Annette@PaintedLadyEnterprises.com, 770-887-6792, or www. TheJoyofConnecting-CummingGA. com. Meetings are held on the third Tuesday of each month.
Pet Fair & Yard Sale
Lymphedema Education for Cancer Patients
August 14. Forsyth County Humane Society Pet Fair & Yard Sale at the Cumming Fairground. For more information: Jill Gooch, 770-889-1365, Ext. 8, or www.forsythpets.org.
The Joy of Connecting
August 17, 7:00pm to 9:30pm, at The Columns at Pilgrim Mill, Cumming. The Joy of Connecting is a relaxed dinner/networking gathering for women business owners, entrepreneurs, and other professionals who are seriously
August 19, 11:30am to 1:00pm, Northside-Forsyth Hospital, Bldg 1200, Suite 190, in the Admin Conference Room. Janie Smith, PT, CLT of Northside hospital will discuss how lymphedema can lead to decreased mobility, repeated episodes of infection, and depression. Learn who is at risk and get some tips for lowering the chance of developing this condition. Lunch provided. RSVP 404-843-1880. For more information: Eleanor Smith, 404-843-1880 or
eleanor@twc-atlanta.org.
Creekside MOPS Fall Consignment Sale
August 27-28, 9:00am to 1:00pm at Creekside UMC, 673 Peachtree Parkway. Semi-annual consignment sale. Thousands of great bargains on children’s clothing, maternity clothing, baby furniture, baby equipment, toys, and much more. Open to the public on Friday, August 27, and Saturday, August 28, 9am-1pm (many items half-off on Saturday). Private preview sale Thursday, August 26, 8pm-9pm. Anyone is welcome to attend the preview sale, with a $5 donation. Still accepting consignors for this hightraffic sale. If you are interested in being a consignor, please visit www. creekside.net. For more information: Creekside MOPS, 770-888-8449 or MOPS@creekside.net.
IPRA World Championship Rodeo
September 4, 8:00pm, and September 5, 7:00pm, Cumming Fairgrounds Covered Arena. A seven-event rodeo that includes Bull Riding, Bare Back Riding, Barrel Racing, Calf Roping, Steer Wrestling, Team Roping, and Saddle Bronc Riding. For more information: Fairgrounds office, 70-781-3491.
Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs
September 9-25, 8:00pm Thursday, Friday, Saturday; 1:00pm Saturday matinee; 3:00pm Sunday matinee. Cumming Playhouse. The wicked Queen is determined to be the fairest in all the land. But in order to do that she must eliminate her stepdaughter Snow White. Come join us as Snow White runs away into the forest and discovers the Seven Dwarfs, who fall in love with Snow White and help as best they can to protect her. This classic story is loved by children from 3 to 103. For more information : 770-781-9178, or www. playhousecumming.com to order tickets.
Dahlonega
Dahlonega Senior (50+) Co-ed Softball
Mondays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays. Games start at 9:00am. Bring your glove and come play at the Lumpkin County Parks & Recreation Field #5, 266 Mechanicsville Road (adjacent to the Senior Center). For more information: 678-343-8069.
Bingo at St. Luke’s
Bingo every Tuesday night. Doors open at 5:30pm, with warm-up at 6:00pm
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and games at 7:00pm. Cash prizes. Refreshments available. St. Luke Roman Catholic Church Parish Center, 91 North Grove Street, across from Hancock Park.
Artist Market Place in Hancock Park
Saturdays through October 30. Local artists have been working all winter to prepare for the 2010 Artist Market. Artists will be available from 10:00am to 3:00pm. The Artist Market Place, presented by the Dahlonega Arts Council, features juried original handcrafted artwork from local area artists. If you are an artist interesting in participating in the Artist Marketplace, email the Arts Council at dahlonegaarts@gmail.com.
Appalachian Jam Returns to the Square
Saturdays through October 9, from 2:00pm until 5:00 pm. Downtown Dahlonega hosts Appalachian Jam. Thousands enjoy acoustic mountain music in Historic Downtown Dahlonega at the Gold Museum. For more information: Convention & Visitors Bureau, 706-864-3513, or Joel Cordle at 706-864-6133.
Vickery House Open House
August 3, 10:00am to 7:00pm. Drop by the historic Vickery House, home of the Georgia Appalachian Studies Center, for Open House and Volunteer Day. Tour the heirloom garden, listen to Appalachian music recordings, learn about the Center’s activities and projects, and enjoy some cold lemonade. See Picturing Smokey Holler, a photo exhibit documenting the historic African American community in Tate, Georgia. This series of portraits was produced by Pickens County High School students and their mentors. You are also invited to stop by and train as an NGCSU certified volunteer for the Center (takes only a few minutes). A variety of volunteer opportunities are available, from working on a computer to working at the house. For more information: 706-864-1540 or email gasc@northgeorgia.edu.
Dawsonville
Lucky Dog Casino
August 28, 7:00pm to 10:00pm. Come roll the dice for the Dawson County Humane Society at the Dawsonville Municipal Complex, 415 Highway 53 East. Try your hand at blackjack, poker (Texas hold’em), craps, and roulette. Howlin’ good fun, and a great way
to support the homeless dogs, cats, puppies, and kittens of Dawson County. Jerry Glanville, former head coach of the NFL Atlanta Falcons, will be the Special Celebrity Emcee, and you’ll enjoy tasty hors d’oeuvres, great prizes, silent auction, and cash bar. Lucky Dog Casino tickets are $50.00/person, available online at luckydogcasino. eventbrite.com; or mail your check (payable to Dawson County Humane Society) to Peach Brandy Cottage, 3 Shepherd’s Lane, Dawsonville, GA 30534. For event ticket information, contact Caroline, 770-490-3833.
Southern Nights
August 14, 5:00pm to 9:00pm. City of Dawsonville presents “Southern Nights” in celebration of the City of Dawsonville’s 150th Birthday. Admission is $15/person. Enjoy great food and entertainment at the Dawsonville Municipal Complex. Proceeds to benefit the Dawson County Senior Center Elevator Fund. For more information: 706-265-3256.
Gainesville
Alzheimer’s Support Group
August 10, 2:00pm to 3:30pm at The Guest House. A safe, confidential place for the caregivers of people with dementia to come share their feelings, listen to others, and learn valuable information from educational speakers. For more
information: Erin, 770-535-1487 or info@theguesthouse.org.
Jasper
Jasper Farmers’ Market
Wednesdays and Saturdays, August 4-28, 7:30am to 12:00pm at the Park and Ride lot near Lee Newton. Purchase wholesome, fresh produce and hand-made arts and crafts from local producers. For more information: Kathy Bell, 706 253 8840, or farmersmarket@pickensmg.com.
Roswell
the executive chef at Brasstown Valley Resort, with ribbons being awarded. There is no fee to enter the contest and no fee to enjoy the show. Highly skilled artisans will be demonstrating their work. Soap making, pottery, blacksmithing, and chain saw art are just a few of the exhibitors. Over 50 vendors and great food will be available to enjoy. For more information: Robin Roberts, 706-897-6179, mermaidrobin@aol.com.
Annual Tomato Festival at Crane Creek Vineyard
August 21, 11:00am to 6:00pm, 916 Crane Creek Road. Celebrate the fruit
Dessert First
of the other vine with your friends and family at Crane Creek Vineyards. Local restaurants and food vendors will be out giving away samples of their cuisine. Chef David and his Culinary Team will be preparing lunch for everyone with all things tomato. This is a great day of food and wine. Tickets will be sold at the door: adults $20, ages 13-20 $10, children under 12 free. Ticket price includes wine tasting, a souvenir wine glass, lunch, and admission to all of the activities. For more information: Crane Creek Vineyard, 706-379-1236, www.cranecreekvineyards.com, or info@cranecreekvineyards.com.
August 15, 2:00pm-5:00pm. Part of the Roswell Historical Society’s Dinner Y’all 2010, featuring recipes the Hembree women loved to make — cakes, pies, and other desserts, with a few savory baked items as well. Beverages will include coffee, iced tea, water, wine, and an adult punch. Held in Marie and Ozella’s little green house, 780 Hembree Rd. Limit 45 guests. Members $15, non-members $20.
Young Harris Art Festival
August 28-29, 10:00am to 5:00pm, Young Harris Mayors Park. This festival features a baking and canning competition judged by the extension offices of Union and Towns County and
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400 Edition Wining & Dining
Knowing Wine Two Buck Chuck C
harles Shaw is a brand name of wine known as “Two Buck Chuck.” These California wines sell for $1.99, exclusively at Trader Joe’s specialty grocery stores. This concept was first introduced by Fred Franzia, a vintner who shook up California wine country some seven years ago. In 2002, he got Trader Joe’s to sell a lowend label called Charles Shaw. The label is one of America’s fastest-growing wines, selling 5 million cases per year, all through one chain of stores. It
is recognized as a consistent and good quality wine for its price range. Naturally, competitors from other countries began to look at producing a good-quality, low-cost wine (anywhere from $2.00 to $4.00/bottle). This is now the rage. Retailers from drug stores to super box stores now offer a two-dollar or threedollar bottle of wine. Once in a while, a bad bottle may show up, but at this price point, who cares? Recipes for Sangria or other refreshing wine mixes can be made with
Wine of the Month inexpensive wine. Here is a list of local places where common “Two Buck” wines are available.
1 1/2 cups graham crackers 1/4 pound (1 stick) butter, melted 1/4 cup sugar 4 (8-ounce) packages cream cheese, softened 1 1/4 cups confectioners sugar 1/4 cup all-purpose flour 3 tablespoons hazelnut syrup 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Atteca Old Vines 2007, Grenache, Spain
Wal-Mart CVS Walgreens Trader Joe’s (Charles Shaw) Harry’s Farmers Market Kroger
—Anonymous
Real Men Cook
by Nancy Forrest
Jammy, with strawberry and raspberry flavors. Fruity. Drink young.
by Patrick Snider
4 eggs 1 cup whipping cream 2 cups blackberries 1/4 cup chopped almonds 1/2 cup whipping cream 2 tablespoons confectioners sugar 1 1/2 cups blackberries, slightly crushed
Blackberry Hazelnut Cheesecake
Crust Crush graham cracker crumbs in food processor, or seal in plastic bag and crush with rolling pin. Mix cracker crumbs, sugar, and melted butter in bowl. Press in bottom of 9” springform pan, and 1 1/2 inches up the side; freeze. Filling Preheat oven to 350°F. In mixing bowl, beat cream cheese with electric mixer on low speed. Use spatula to scrape sides and beaters. Slowly add confectioners sugar, and continue to beat until creamy. Add flour, hazelnut syrup, and vanilla extract and continue to mix. Add eggs one at a time and continue to mix at lowest speed until eggs are incorporated in the batter. Stir in 1 cup whipping cream. Fold in the whole blackberries and chopped almonds. Pour mixture into crust, and smooth with spatula. Bake for 1 hour or until center jiggles and the top is slightly brown. Remove from oven and let cool on wire rack. Place in refrigerator and allow to set, preferably overnight. Topping Mix 1/2 cup whipping cream on medium-high speed until soft peaks form. While still mixing, add confectioners sugar and continue whipping until firm peaks form. Cover entire cake with topping. Top with blackberries.
by Aaron Snider
Restaurant Reviews for the GA 400 Corridor Piazza Italian Restaurant 837 Hwy 400 South Dawsonville, GA 30534 706-216-3142 | www.piazza-restaurant.com
Fare: Italian | Price: Moderate | Atmosphere: Casual, quiet
F
irst impressions are a big deal, especially at a dine-in restaurant. I have to say, the first impression I got from the Piazza Italian Restaurant was right. Quality food, top-notch service, and the parking wasn’t bad either. But let’s be serious; Piazza has a lot to offer the city of Dawsonville. They have a wide variety of Italian and American dishes to choose from— so many, in fact, that anyone, no matter how picky, could find a meal that would satisfy. When we walked in we were immediately greeted, seated, and ready to order. The staff at Piazza is eager and willing to serve, but at the same time calm and collected, creating somewhat of a quiet and reserved atmosphere,
perfect for a dine-in restaurant such as Piazza. Our waitress, Daree Everette, was excellent, reserved and refined, while maintaining a happy and energetic attitude. My grandparents and I enjoyed the fine bread with olive oil dipping sauce before ordering. We finished the bread, and each of us ordered different wonderful meals from their extensive menu. Linda, my grandmother, ordered the Chicken Scallopini, and according to her, the dish was amazing and one of the best she’s ever had. Bob, my grandfather, ordered the Potato Gnocchi Gratin with garlic butter, mozzarella, and marinara. All during the meal, he would remark to us about how delicious his meal
was. I had my all-time favorite— Pepperoni Pizza. We finished our meals and broke more bread to end the dinner. We left with full and satisfied stomachs, and I’m sure it’s not going to be the last time. There are many selections on the menu, from starters to pasta. The entrées are served with all-youcan-eat salad and bread. Just a few of the entrée selections: Balsamic Glazed Salmon, Crab Crusted Tilapia, and Gorgonzola Sirloin. Some of the old standbys: ravioli, several types of lasagna, calzones, and pasta, with just about any sauces you want. Hours of operation: Sunday through Thursday from 11:00am to
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9:00pm, and Friday and Saturday from 11:00am to 10:00pm. Payment options: AMEX, MasterCard, Visa. Additional details: Bar Dining, Bar/Lounge, Beer, Counter Seating, Entertainment, Non-Smoking Area, Non-Smoking Restaurant, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Takeout, Wheelchair Access, Wine. Parking available in front, side, and back of restaurant. Full service caterer. On Friday and Saturday nights there is live acoustic music on the patio.
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