December 15, 2017

December 15th, 2017 - January 5th, 2018

AthensNowal.com E-MAIL: info@athensnowal.com ADVERTISING: Ali Elizabeth: 256-468-9425

See Our Listings Inside this edition...

Pages 25 - 32

Special Feature Community Helps Santa Deliver Christmas...

The community worked together to ensure children in Athens enjoyed the Christmas season.

About 85 children received...

Page 7

What Makes Ronnie Roll

One Love Hearing Concepts: Hear Better, Live Better

By Ali Elizabeth Turner Two years ago, Athens Now did an article about a friendly and fascinating hearing center located in the Hobbs Plaza on Hwy 72 called One Love Hearing Concepts. Since that time, due to a great deal of hard work and outstanding customer care, there Continued on page 15

The SK Salon: Your Paul Mitchell Getaway Place

Much To Celebrate In The Season Of Celebration...

Mayor Ronnie came into the office dressed for the interview he was due to film for the promotional spot on...

Page 8

Tourism “Christmas on the Farm” Brings Delight And Cheer To Annual Elkmont Christmas Parade...

Elkmont, Alabama, is a small community in Limestone County, between Athens and...

Page 12

December 15, 2017 - January 5, 2018

The One Love Hearing Concepts Crew From left: Renea Eaves, Anna Jones, Zeke Creasy and Tonyia Shepherd

By Ali Elizabeth Turner

Sandee Kranz, Rebecca Chandler, Emily Stinnett and Nicole Dowden make up the SK team.

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This past March, Sandee Kranz opened what is referred to as a “Paul Mitchell Focus Salon” near Lowe’s on Hwy 72 E in Athens. It is called The SK Salon, and there is just something special about the place and its team. For starters, in the few short months since they have been

Continued on pages 17

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December 15, 2017 - January 5, 2018

Publisher’s Point

Why Moving The Embassy To Jerusalem Is Crucial

Publisher / Editor Ali Turner

Copy Editor

Yvonne Dempsey

Graphic Design

Jonathan Hamilton

Web Design Teddy Wolcott

Contributing Writers Janet Hunt D. A. Slinkard Holly Hollman Paul Foreman Lisa Philippart Lynne Hart Rosemary Dewar Eric Betts Anna Hamilton Jackie Warner Deb Kitchenmaster Rachel Clark, BSN RN Caycee Clark Tim Lambert

Publisher’s Point . . . . . . . . 3 All Things Soldier . . . . . . . 4 Calendar of Events . . . . . . . 6 Special Feature . . . . . . . . . . . 7 What Makes Ronnie Roll . . . 8 Slinkard on Success . . . . . . 9 Tourism . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 PlayAction Sports . . . . . . . 11 Clean and Green . . . . . . . 12 Cooking With Anna . . . . 13 The Millennial Mind . . . . . 14 Cover Stories . . . . . . 15 & 17 Health and Fitness . . . . . . 16 Learning As A Lifestyle . . . 18 View From The Bridge . . . . 19 Horse Whispering . . . . . . 20

When Ted Cruz was in Huntsville campaigning in the sweltering heat of August 2015, he announced to the crowd that was packed in the room to listen to him speak that the first thing he would do on the first day of his presidency would be “to move the United States Embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem.”

The crowd stomped and cheered. When I had my ten seconds with the guy for a photo op, I quipped, “And, you will have Bibi (Benjamin Netanyahu) over for lunch!” “Great idea!” he said, laughing as the camera clicked. Our mutual and momentary humorous reference was to the fact that when a different POTUS was in the Oval Office, Bibi was essentially made to wait in the lunchroom while the president finished his dinner. No state dinner, not even an invitation to the Residence for a quick bite or a pepperoni-free slice. It was embarrassing, especially if you live in a region which is as legendary for its hospitality as is the South.

That same POTUS had said in 2008 that any agreement with the Palestinians “must preserve Israel’s identity as a Jewish state with secure, recognized, defensible borders.

And Jerusalem will remain the capital of Israel and it must remain undivided.”

Interestingly, when former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich briefly ran for the Presidency in 2011, he promised the same thing as Sena-

Mental Health Minute . . . 21 Medical Update . . . . . . . . 22 Foreman's Forum . . . . . . . . 23

December 15, 2017 - January 5, 2018

tor Cruz, as did then-rival presidential candidate U.S. Congresswoman Michelle Bachmann. She said during a televised debate, “Of moving the embassy, I already have secured a donor who said they will personally pay for the ambassador's home to be moved from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem."

She then told the audience,

"Like you, my commitment is unequivocal and unchanging.

We stand with Israel."

I walked into the Keep Athens Limestone Beautiful office on December 6, the day President Donald Trump announced that he had hauled off and done what had been promised way back in 1995; he had called for us to keep our word, and move the embassy. By “word,” I mean that on October 23 of that year, the 104th U.S. Senate voted 93-5, and the House voted 374-37 to move the U.S. Embassy to Jerusalem. However, no one in the Oval Office had done anything to make that happen, and as weird as

this may sound, no U.S. Embassy on the planet has ever been located anywhere than the capital of a sovereign nation, except in Israel.

Happy tears as the result of Lynne Hart’s enthusiastic “breaking news” greeted my cheeks, and I could only imagine what the response was in Israel. While the mainstream

the question remains: Why is this such a big deal? Because every country should have the right to determine the location of its own capital, and we were simply acknowledging that.

It is not the business of “the international community,” and hopefully the U.S. will be followed by other allies in respecting Israel’s rights as a democratic state and our strongest ally. Even people who hate Israel acknowledge that Jerusalem has always been seen as the eternal capital of the Jewish people, and anyone with common sense knows that if you attack a country, as happened 50 years ago in the Six Day War, and you lose, you forfeit anything you thought you had claim to. These are the universal rules of war, end of story.

news warned that this would only serve to cause the region to blow up…again, the truth of the matter is that with the exception of a few flag burners, the response in Israel was one of gratitude, not so much to President Trump, but to the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.

This December, when light is such an important part of the celebration season of Jews and Christians, when the impossible is recorded, remembered, acknowledged and feted, let us remember that even the promise of upholding an American law and keeping our collective word is an act of courage, and true courage will always chase the worst darkness.

From the Wailing Wall clear back up to the hillside terraces that start at the street, thousands of people crammed the area. They were not dancing, and trust me, Israelis know how to dance. They were praying, and I am sure they were celebratory prayers. Yet,

Ali Elizabeth Turner Athens Now Information & Inspiration 256-468-9425 ali@athensnowal.com Website: www.athensnowal.com

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All Things Soldier

Risha Sharma “Captures” The Greatest Generation

by Ali Elizabeth Turner

Rishi Sharma is barely 20 years old, and since graduating from high school, he has made it his “ten year plan” to interview every remaining WWII veteran possible and capture their story before they pass. Approximately 500 members of the Greatest Generation die every day, and while they have been famous for not talking much about their battlefield experiences, now that they are facing their own mortality they are ready to talk. And Rishi is ready to listen and record.

Rishi is a second generation American, the son of immigrants from India. The fire in his belly with regard to WWII vets was lit when he was a junior in high school, and although he was already quite interested in their stories, it was having the chance to interview Lyle Bouck, one

of the heroes of the Battle of the Bulge, that got him started on his quest to interview at least one vet per day.

Rishi’s parents are not exactly thrilled. He has put off going to college, building a career, as well as pursuing any dating relationship, and this was not what they had in mind for their son when they came to the States. Rishi’s peers don’t get it, either. Many of them don’t even know what WWII was about, where it was fought, or who the major players were. “Kids my age have absolutely no idea what it was like for these men,” he says. “They are more concerned about what the Kardashians are wearing.”

But the vets get it, and here they are, face to face with a pony-tailed kid who says of

their legacy, “What good is what they had to go through if we don’t learn from it?”

Rishi seriously doubts that there will ever be another Greatest Generation because

they went from having to be tough during the Great Depression straight into having to be tougher on the beaches of Normandy and Iwo Jima.

It was also a time of clearsighted morality and commitment. “It was good versus evil,” he said, and he believes that without apology.

Rishi enters the warriors’ presence with a Canon camera, a tri-pod, and respect.

He donates the DVD of the interview to each vet as a gift, and some interviews have ended up in museums.

He searches out vets’ locations all over the country and most often finds them in senior care facilities. While many times I am not a big fan of crowd-source funding, this is something I can get behind, and I hope Athens Now will consider backing him in his quest of preserving one of the greatest stories ever told.

The success of Rishi’s business plan, the amount raised to date, and the media at-

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tention he has received has made his parents slightly more supportive of his unusual passion. As of this month, Rishi has raised more than $130,000 for his project, the majority of which is used to fund his ability to quickly get to the vets, eat, shower, sleep, and move on.

He started out by riding his bike to talk to local vets, borrowed his parents’ car for a road trip, and now is crisscrossing the country, knowing he can’t get to everyone but determined to try.

“I am doing this until the last one passes away,” Rishi says. “Each interview helps me get closer to understanding what combat was like in the worst war the world has ever seen. You talk to them and take that load off,” he says. “They no longer need to worry about the war. They can die in peace.” If you wish to give an unusual gift this holiday, consider going to gofundme.com/ww2heroes to help Rishi honor our aged brave ones. The clock is ticking.

December 15, 2017 - January 5, 2018

December 15, 2017 - January 5, 2018

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Page 5

Calendar of Events Women Empower Women Organization & Food Pantry First Saturday of Each Month

Santa comes to Athens North Pole Stroll Dec 16th

Big Spring Memorial Park. 100 North Beaty Street in Athens.

5:00PM-7:00PM. Bring your camera or cell and take pictures of your child with Santa. Children can bring their letters to Santa too! Stay after your visit to hear Santa read Twas the Night Before Christmas. More information contact the AthensLimestone Visitor Center 256-232-5411 or email Teresa@ VisitAthensAL.com

Prayer • Elderly Assistance • Feed The Hungry Clothes • Scholarships • Empowering Women Volunteers Wanted & Needed Call for Details -256.233.5995 Meeting Time: First Saturday of Each Month at 1:30pm Food pantry open now. wewoa.org • E-Mail: wew5995@gmail.com

"The Christmas Story" Dec 16th & 17th 2017

SilverSneaker™ Stability class Every Thursday

11:30am – 12:15pm. This class will meet every Thursday at East Limestone Senior Center at 25820 Nick Davis Rd. SilverSneaker™ Stability is a group exercise class designed specifically to keep participants “safe on their feet”. This class will include standing and walking exercises that will be beneficial in decreasing the risk of falling. Chairs are encouraged for warm-up and cool-down only. Donations for the class are accepted. For additional information, call Janet at 256-614-3530 or email at jhunt9155@gmail.com.

"The Christmas Story" Drive-Thru Story of the Birth of Jesus at Emmanuel Baptist Church, 1917 U.S. Highway 72W in Athens.

5:30PM-8:30PM. Free.​

Winter Series 2017 Finals Dec 17th

1005 Elkton Street in Athens from 6:00PM-9:00PM. Santa Claus will be there taking free photo with all the kids.

2-S Arena, 26155 Thach Road in Athens. Off I-65 at Exit 361. Exhibition Barrels 12:00PM to 2:30PM and show starts after 3:00PM. Schedule: Exhibition Barrels, $5.00 each; 3D 6 & Under Barrels, $10.00 each; 3D Pee Wee (12&under), $10.00 each; 4D Open Barrels, $25.00 each; 3D Youth Barrels, $20.00 each; 3D Adult Barrels, $20.00; 3D Poles, $15.00.

Membership: Individual $25.00; Family $40.00; Day Permit $10.00. Paybacks in all classes and other qualifiers. Buckles Awarded to each D Champion except Poles. For more info: Mindy Sanders 256-278-5758

Sample Saturday Dec 16th

Say Goodbye 2017 Dec 30th

1st Annual Welleswood Christmas Open House Dec 15th

Chick-fil-A of Athens. 1291 U.S. Highway 72E in Athens, AL. 11:00AM-2:00PM featuring seasonal specials Peppermint Chocolate Chip Milkshakes and Chicken Tortilla Soup.

Mark Lowry Christmas Concert Dec 16th

Lindsay Lane Baptist Church. 1300 Lindsay Lane South in Athens. 7:00PM-10:00PM. Celebrate the Christmas season with the legendary Mark Lowry - funny man, singer and co-writer of the definitive Christmas song - "Mary Did You Know". Tickets $20.00-$50.00

Breakfast with Santa at The Red Caboose Cafe Dec 16th

25483 Railroad Street in Elkmont, AL from 8:30AM-11:00AM. Visit with Santa, bring your camera for a photo with him, kids take home a small gift, and coloring contest for ages 2-11. Breakfast includes pancakes, sausage or bacon and drink. Ages 9 to adult: $10.00; Ages 3-8: $8.00; Ages 2 and under: free. 256-226-4916 Page 6

Yesterday's Event Center. 15631 Brownsferry Road in Athens.

Yesterday's presents a “Say Goodbye to 2017” early dinner show Saturday evening from 5:00pm-8:00pm which features a complete dinner, 2 hr show featuring the Oldies group “Replay”, party hats and favors, great door prizes including a $100 cash prize, a flat screen TV, gift cards and more, and a balloon drop at 8:00PM to say goodbye to 2017. All tickets $25.00 each, includes dinner, show, party hats and favors, and door prize tickets. They have bus parking available, e-mail reservations are required to info@yesterdaysevents.com.

Play Outside Day Jan 6th

Families everywhere are encouraged to get outside the first Saturday of every month and play in public parks, enjoy trails, hit the waterways, explore greenspaces and just play!

Limestone County offers over 20 trails to explore including walking, cycling, horseback riding and kayaking – perfect for all ages. For more information: 256-232-5411

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December 15, 2017 - January 5, 2018

Special Feature

Community Helps Santa Deliver Christmas

by Holly Hollman

The community worked together to ensure children in Athens enjoyed the Christmas season.

About 85 children received presents and more than 20 won bicycles at the annual Lincoln-Bridgeforth Park Committee Tree Lighting and Gift Giveaway.

with assistance from Chick-fil-A, Edward Jones, Village Pizza at East Limestone, and Village Vet filled its trailer, the one recently stolen in Birmingham and recovered. East Limestone Band Director Jennifer "Miss Sam" Janzen said

dents wanted to give back to the community this season as a thank you for those who helped share news about the stolen trailer, which led to the recovery of the trailer which was filled with band instruments.

The donations meant that

Each year, the committee works with the Boys and Girls Club and families in the area to help Santa provide a gift to each child who attends.

In addition, there are random drawings for bicycles. The community ensured this year's event was one of the largest to date, said Councilman Frank Travis.

East

Limestone

Harmony Malone was one of the children who received a bicycle

Athens State University's Young Alumni Advisory Council, which donated $500, and employees at Limestone County DHR who shopped for gifts to donate.

Santa arrived via firetruck and danced on

Band

picnic tables, and Kingdom United sang carols.

The Youth Commission, Athens Fire and Rescue, and Mayor's Office helped the park committee give out snacks and distribute gifts. A wonderful time was had by all.

Athens Fire and Rescue Chief Bryan Thornton and Captain Leslie Williams help children who won bicycles pick out the correct size the stu-

Park committee member David Malone holds a giant teddy bear donated through the East Limestone Band's toy drive

December 15, 2017 - January 5, 2018

no child left the event without a gift.

“This event is one of my favorites because you see what can happen in a community when people work together to bring smiles to children’s faces,” Athens Mayor Ronnie Marks said.

The mayor's office assisted in event planning, and Athens Fire and Rescue assisted with collecting and wrapping presents.

The Athens Mayor's Youth Commission and Lowe's employees joined firefighters and committee members to help wrap the donated gifts.

Among the donors were

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Santa dances on a picnic table at the tree lighting and encourages children to sing carols with him

Page 7

What Makes Ronnie Roll

Much To Celebrate In The Season Of Celebration

by Ali Elizabeth Turner Mayor Ronnie came into the office dressed for the interview he was due to film for the promotional spot on our region’s sport fishing areas to be produced later this year

by Fishing University.

It has been amazing to see how quickly he has bounced back from his surgery, and he was focused on all the heartwarming things going on in Athens to celebrate “the most wonderful time of the year.”

The mayor asked me, “Have you ever heard John Malone and the Athens High School Choir?” I nodded enthusiastically in the affirmative, and he was so excited that the choir was going to be singing at Athens State University. The Christmas Parade had been the previous Thursday, as had been the lighting of the tree and the new Courthouse lights. Brian Patterson, who is our Limestone County Revenue Commissioner, put together a float called “Alice In A Winter Wonderland.” It was so stunning that it won the best float award in both the Athens as well as Ardmore parades. The Lincoln-Bridgeforth Christmas event started by the late Jimmy Gill was due to be a great success, too, and Holly Hollman goes into more detail on that in her column on page 7.

Mayor

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Ronnie

called

with them to shop. It is not at all uncommon for kids to want to use their “treat money” to buy groceries for their family or something special for a parent or sibling, and the event is greatly loved by all who participate.

Mayor Ronnie closed our time with the happy reminder that we ended up with a million dollars more in revenue than expenses, and promised that we would go into Holly in to the office to tell us about what’s going on with the kids in the Mayor’s Youth Commission.

They were in the middle of a project where they were split into two groups: one went to High Cotton Arts to paint on canvasses, and the rest went to the water treatment plant to learn about how a municipal water facility is run. But don’t worry, once they come back from Christmas break, the groups will switch.

By the way, the stats are in: Athens has the 5th purest water in the entire state of Alabama!

The Youth Commission is an idea whose time has indeed come, and other cities in Alabama are looking to Athens to help them start their own group. The League of Municipalities Leadership Institute had just been held at Ross Bridge in Birmingham.

Montevallo and Ala-

baster were present and are on board with their own commissions, and Decatur has become very interested in starting one as well. Sippin’ Cider had been successful, and part of the reason was that there were six kids from our Youth Commission helping to serve.

Our bi-centennial celebration preparations are moving along, and Councilman Frank Travis is heading up Poke Sallet, which will be a stage production that

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tells the story of our wonderful town. The county’s birthday is in February of 2018, and the city’s is in November.

Athens Fire Chief Brian Thornton came in to talk about the annual Shopping With A Firefighter event. Every year for the past 19 years, school counselors have given the Fire Department the names of families who could use a boost at Christmas time. They are then paired with a firefighter who goes

more detail next time we get together. Then, even though he was a bit hoarse, he broke into his own rendition of “We Wish You A Merry Christmas And A Happy New Year,” and Holly and I said, “Give it up, Mr. Mayor,” which he has apparently been told before. He came back with, “We about to bust into a great new year!”

Then we prayed, and it was time for the last time in 2017 for Ronnie to roll.

December 15, 2017 - January 5, 2018

Slinkard On Success

No Holding Back In ‘18

by D. A. Slinkard

D.A. Slinkard is the manager of the Athens Staples store year 2017 back, but you can make sure that you make up for it in 2018. I know I have my ideas in place, I know what I want to achieve and you better darn well believe that I will not be leaving loose ends in 2018 like I did in 2017.

Ready or not, here it comes! 2018 is upon you even if you are not ready to flip that calendar into a new year. I was recently looking back and could not believe how quickly the year had flown by with many things that I wanted to accomplish in 2017 just being left undone.

Does this sound like you?

We are in the same boat, but the difference is that I am not making the same mistakes in 2018.

If you look at the road we had in 2017, it really was a beautiful journey we had together. We have spoken about attitude, we have spoken about persistence beating resistance, and to be honest we have hit on just about every kind of subject there is when it comes to a positive mental attitude. If you want success to happen it is there for the taking, but you must be willing to grab it.

My final article for 2017 is going to be about goal setting for 2018, and I want you to think long and hard about what it is you want to accomplish in the next year. You really need to put some thought behind this because 2017 is proof that time waits around for no one. If you are not living the life that you feel destined to live, now is the time to change.

If your life is not going the way you want, now is the time to change.

What a wonderful time of the year it is as we put the final wrappings on 2017, and whether it was a good

year or a bad year, it makes no difference, the question is what did you learn from the previous 12 months? If you didn’t learn anything, then what a shame because that’s a prime example of someone just wasting their time away. Stop doing it.

You have one life to live.

One shot to be all that you can be. What are you going to do with it?

Before you can know what you are going to do in the future, you need to know where you were in the past. What went well for you in 2017? What were some of the year’s highs for you? What could have gone better for you? More importantly, what did you learn about 2017 that will keep you from making the same mistakes in 2018?

Life is all about learning

December 15, 2017 - January 5, 2018

and when you learn, you grow, but when you stop learning that is when you stop growing. We need to keep growing because we are not finished with what we have started.

need to take the time to just go do it. There is no better time than now to act upon that which your heart desires. You cannot get the

We are going to need to be aggressive when it comes to what we want to accomplish. We are going to need a plan, and the plan needs to be deliberate. Everything we do in 2018 needs to be with an intent and with a purpose to make sure we achieve the success we missed out on in 2017. There is no looking back, no time to clean up spilled milk; there is only time for us to look ahead and know that we will be successful because mentally we will be so much stronger in ‘18 than in ‘17. No holding back.

I am curious; what is the one thing you would do if you knew you could not fail in 2018? Open your own business? Write your first book? Pop the question? Go ahead and take the time to think about what your one thing is and then decide to act. You must act upon that decision. The success we have written about in 2017, the success you want in 2018, it all hinges upon the thought process you just had about that one decision.

I am going to tell you that whatever is on your mind about this decision, you

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Tourism

“Christmas on the Farm” Brings Delight And Cheer To Annual Elkmont Christmas Parade

by Cayce Lee Social Media Specialist

Elkmont, Alabama, is a small community in Limestone County, between Athens and the Tennessee State line. It is probably best known for the Richard Martin Rails-to-Trails, goat cheese makers Belle Chevre and Humble Heart Farms, and antique and specialty shops. Elkmont’s rural roots and agricultural traditions lend to its year-round draw.

Elkmont’s population of approximately 253 triples on the first Saturday in December each year as the promise of marching bands, floats and the “Man in Red” appearance flourish before the annual Christmas Parade.

Elkmont’s small police department had a communitywide response to help with the increased population and traffic that moved into the community for the big day.

As main roads were closed to traffic for the parade, the Elkmont Fire Department; Ardmore Volunteer Fire Departments; and officers from the Limestone County Sheriff’s Office and the City of Athens Police Department volunteered their time to keep the community and visitors safe and direct traffic.

The temporary population boom – and economic boon to downtown businesses -- results from the parade

hosted by the Elkmont Lions Club, which was planned by 7 members of the very active community civic club for the 2017 event. This year’s parade theme was “Christmas on the Farm,” paying homage to the contributions of farmers and agriculture to the community and the world. This year’s parade stretched from end to end with 46 entries including Elkmont High School’s Marching Red Devil Band

1st Place - New Bethel Baptist Church tique Tractor” was added to the yearly category of Best Float. The Elkmont Lions Club invited Teresa Todd, Rita Jordan, and Barbara Evans to judge the floats, and Tim Toone from Owens and Mike Gooch to judge the tractors for this year’s event.

This year’s awards are as follows:

1st Place - Tommy Elmore's 1936 BR John Deere Wagon and cheerleaders, 4-H Club, Girl Scouts, and even participation from the Limestone County Revenue Commission.

Fortunately for this year’s parade, the week of sunny skies and seasonably warm temperatures continued for its December 2nd 1:00 P.M. kickoff leading to happy, large

crowds for the day. The parade started at Elkmont High School and wound through the heart of Downtown Elkmont, Alabama, ending at the Piggly Wiggly Shopping Center on AL-127, giving folks from near and far plenty of opportunities to line the route and enjoy the season’s greetings from each float, tractor, car and in-between

entrants.

To highlight this year’s “Christmas on the Farm” theme, tractors rolled out for the parade, as well, and a special division for “Best An-

Best Antique Tractor: 1st Place-- Tommy Elmore's 1936 BR John Deere and Wagon; 2nd Place - Larry Appleton's 1957 601 Ford, and 3rd Place - Rusty Beddingfield's 1956 Allis Chalmers WD45.

Float Awards: Grand Prize - The Limestone County Revenue Commission, 1st Place - New Bethel Baptist Church, 2nd Place Girl Scout Troop 1133/1134, 3rd Place Limestone County 4-H. Photos by Susan Plyant of Elkmont Lions Club

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December 15, 2017 - January 5, 2018

PlayAction Sports

Changes Highlight the End of 2017

by Tim Lambert

Tune in for the PlayAction Sports Update, three times each weekday on 1080 AM WKAC. Visit us online at www.pasnetwork.net!

email: playactionsports@hotmail.com

The Alabama High School Athletic Association released their classifications and sports alignments for the next two school years. The only change to our Limestone County schools in classification was to Elkmont, who will be moving up to Class 4A. Region and area changes were more widespread, however. A new wrinkle was also introduced – the Competitive Balance factor affecting private schools.

A listing of these changes can be found on the AHSAA website at www.ahsaa.com/ Home/2018-20-Classification-and-Alignments.

Several local athletes have signed scholarships or letters of intent: James Clemens has had nine to make their decisions known: Samantha Burns (Montevallo, cross country/track), Zack Toth (Montevallo, baseball), Katie Sharp (UAH, volleyball), Eve Mallard (UAH, softball), Adrian Grant (UAH, basketball), Jordan McMeans (Wallace State, softball), Tommy Crider (Belmont, baseball), Laken Lansdell (UNA, baseball) and Genesis Taylor (Wallace State, volleyball).

Athens High’s Alexis Woods signed to play basketball with UAH and Athens Bible School’s Kenneth Adams will go to Wallace State to play baseball.

Former Limestone County athletes have also been honored recently--Paxton Schrimsher, an Athens High alumnus (now a sophomore at Southern Miss) and Reed Blankenship, a 2017 graduate of West Limestone (now at Middle Tennessee State), were both honorable-mention defense on the 2017 Conference USA football

team. Blankenship was also named to the all-freshman team. Tanner grad Oman Smothers, now at Lakeland University, was tapped as the Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference's Offensive Player of the Year.

Athens High and James Clemens sent swimmers and divers to the Class 6A-7A state meet at Auburn. Top finishers included Athens’ Kobie Melton, who won the girls' 200-yard freestyle and set a state record in the 100-yard backstroke. Connor Hill had a fourth-place finish in the boys’ 100-yard breaststroke.

James Clemens’ Alec Benzek was fourth in the boys’ 1-meter diving, Eric Messer finished fourth in the boys’ 100yard butterfly, Caleb Williams came in fifth in the boys’ 200yard intermediate medley, the Lady Jets’ 200-yard medley relay team placed fourth while the boys were fifth. The girls’ 200-yard freestyle relay team also posted a fourth place. The James Clemens girls came in fifth as a team, while the boys finished up in eighth place. The Athens girls and boys were 13th and 17th respectively.

Basketball results by school (as of this writing): The Ardmore boys’ only victories so far have come over Clements and Cornersville.

The Lady Tigers have also split with Clements and St. John Paul II and posted wins against West Limestone, Lindsay Lane, Decatur Heritage and Huntland.

Athens Bible School’s varsity boys have two wins to their credit (St. Bernard and Shoals Christian); the young Lady Trojans are still in search of

December 15, 2017 - January 5, 2018

East Limestone's JaKeese Erskine attempts a free throw in recent game at Clements their first win.

ner and Clements).

Athens High School has posted winning varsity records so far -- the Golden Eagles have defeated Decatur, Cullman, East Limestone and Austin.

The Athens girls have split with Hartselle and posted additional victories over Midfield, Colbert County, Cullman, East Limestone and Decatur. The Lady Golden Eagles were also ranked #8 in Class 6A in the latest poll.

The Elkmont boys defeated Lexington, ABS and East Lawrence; the Lady Red Devils have come out on top against Lindsay Lane (twice) and ABS.

The Clements boys have notched wins against Danville, Fayetteville, West Morgan, Ardmore and Wilson; the Lady Colts thus far have gone 1-1 with Ardmore and defeated West Limestone and Brooks.

Both James Clemens teams were in the top 10 in the latest Class 7A rankings: the boys were ninth and the girls were at the fifth spot. The Lady Jets started the season at #6, the first time they had ever made an appearance in the poll. So far, the boys have claimed victories over Fairview, Arab, Laverne (TN), Decatur and Grissom. The girls have topped Fairview, Muscle Shoals, Columbia, Madison County and Bob Jones.

Lindsay Lane’s boys were ranked third in the Class 1A poll behind an undefeated record. The Lady Lions have victories over Paint Rock and ABS.

The Tanner boys have defeated Ardmore, Hatton and Elkmont while the third-ranked (2A) Lady Rattlers have beaten Red Bay, Ardmore, West Limestone, Hatton and Elkmont.

The #10 (4A) West Limestone boys have wins over Ardmore, Clements, Hatton, West Point, Tanner, Priceville and Lauderdale County; the Lady Wildcats are another team looking for their first victory.

East Limestone’s boys are even on the season with five wins (Elkmont, Ardmore, West Limestone, Tanner and Clements) while the Lady Indians have seven (Elkmont, Bob Jones, Randolph, Ardmore, West Limestone, Tan-

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Clean and Green

“All Creatures Great And Small” – Helping Wildlife Through Cold Winter Months

by Lynne Hart Executive Coordinator - Keep Athens-Limestone Beautiful As I write this article, the temperatures outside are dropping. I’m ready to go home and snuggle up under a warm blanket with my dog, Annie, and a cup of hot chocolate. How about you?

Before we get too comfortable in our warm homes, let’s take a few minutes to think about what we can do to make the winter months more comfortable for local wildlife.

Land development is pushing wildlife out of areas they once called home, leaving them to search for food, water, and shelter outside of their normal habitat. I have always felt a strong tie to the natural world, and agree with Peter Coyote’s statement, “Habitat for wildlife is continually shrinking – I can at least provide a way

station.”

You will find some ideas below on how to provide a “way station” for local wildlife right in your own back yard.

FOOD •Fill your feeders with seeds that will provide high energy, such as black oil sunflower seeds. See the recipe included in this article for birdseed ornaments you can hang outdoors. Then enjoy watching the birds dine on your creations!

•Woodpeckers, Blue Jays, and other birds love suet. It provides the fats needed to help keep the birds warm.

Be careful not to leave them out too long when the weather is above freezing as they can spoil.

•If you prefer to go natural, consider hanging dried sunflower heads for the birds

to pick out the seeds. Hang strings of popcorn and cranberries where the animals and birds can reach them.

•Prepare for next winter by planting shrubs that produce berries, nuts, and seeds.

The animals and birds will thank you for the healthy winter meals.

WATER •Provide a birdbath or two.

Place one on the ground for animals that can’t climb.

•Heat your birdbath if you are able. A warm bath is always nice!

•If you have the inclination, build a pond! Even a small one in your flower garden will be a welcomed addition.

•Keep your birdbaths and ponds clean.

SHELTER Providing shelter doesn’t have to be difficult or expensive!

•Create a brush pile. Find a corner of your yard and pile leaves as the base. Add sticks and twigs and other brush. Small animals will find safety and warmth.

•Covering your flower garden with leaves provides shelter to small animals and insects.

cooler in a protected area.

•Consider waiting until spring to trim your flowers and prune your hedges. The extra coverage will offer protection to small animals.

I find my greatest peace when I connect with nature,

and I have a huge love for animals. How true are the words of Cecil Frances Alexander: “All things bright and beautiful, all creatures great and small, all things wise and wonderful, the Lord God made them all.”

BIRDSEED-FILLED APPLES Ingredients: •2 cups birdseed

•4 apples

•2/3 cup water

•8 small screws

•2 packets unflavored gelatin

•Twine

Directions: 1.Bring water to a boil, add gelatin, and stir until completely dissolved.

2.Mix the birdseed into this mixture.

3.Cut the apples in half lengthwise and hollow out the insides with a spoon or knife.

4.Fill each apple with birdseed mixture, set on a cookie sheet, and put in the refrigerator for 1-2 hours until firm.

5.Poke a screw into the top of each apple and tie a piece of twine to it.

6.Hang outside for the birds to enjoy!

VARIATION: Pack the seed mixture into decorative tea cups. String them together using the handles and hang from a tree branch or other structure. You may also press the mixture into well-greased cookie cutters on waxed paper. Cut a hole in each with a straw while still soft. Press out the shapes and let cool until firm. Once firm, hang outdoors with ribbon or twine.

•Add birdhouses, hollow logs, old drain tiles, rock piles and other creative shelters to your yard.

•Create a warm hideaway by cutting a hole in the side of a Styrofoam cooler. Add some straw (not hay or blankets) to add some warmth and tape the lid closed to prevent air leaks. Tuck the

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Become a Fan

(256) 233-8728 KALBCares@gmail.com www.KALBCares.com December 15, 2017 - January 5, 2018

Cooking with Anna

Mulaga... Molaga... Mele Kalikimake! Merry Christmas!

by Anna Hamilton Even though winter doesn’t actual begin until December 21st, the weather the past few weeks seems to think otherwise. As soon as we have the first chilly night, I want to curl up under a cozy blanket with a big bowl of hearty soup. Some of the classics are tomato, chili, or chicken stew.

When I’m wanting something a little different, my go to is Mulligatawny Soup. Unlike traditional Mulligatawny Soup, which has rice and apples in it, mine has a classic Southern twist by substituting potatoes for rice and apples.

The potatoes add a hearty

element, making this soup truly eat like a meal and become a favorite on cold winter nights.

My sweet, Southern husband can never remember the name of this soup. He stumbles through the name and always lands on Mele Kalikimake.

Now as some of you may know, Mele Kalikimake means Merry Christmas in Hawaiian.

So now in our house we have Mele Kalikimake soup, especially during Christmas. So this Christmas, enjoy a big bowl and Mele Kalikimake Soup.

Merry Christmas Y’all!

"Mele Kalikimake Mulligatawny Soup What You Need:

1 small onion, chopped 2 stalks celery, chopped 1 carrot, diced 1 garlic clove, minced ¼ cup butter 1 Tbsp flour 1-2 tsp curry powder 4 cups chicken broth 4 large potatoes, peeled and diced 1 lb chicken breast, cooked and shredded 1 small can diced mushrooms ½ -1 cup heavy cream Salt and pepper to taste December 15, 2017 - January 5, 2018

Directions: Saute onions, celery, carrot, garlic, and butter in a large soup pot until vegetables are soft. Add flour and curry, and cook for 5 minutes. Add chicken stock and mix well. Add potatoes, mushrooms, and chicken.

Simmer until potatoes are tender. Stir in heavy cream. Simmer until cream is heated through. Serve with warm bread and a green salad.

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Page 13

The Millennial Mind

How the Light Gets In

by Rosemary Dewar This past year has been nothing short of a whirlwind, and all that has been highlighted by culture itself is desperation and the grotesque. The tenets of nature’s law seem weakened even though they are holding as true as they always have. The dark will continue to darken; however the light can only grow more brilliant. The principles of morality are akin to the general understanding of gravity; they are universal, absolute, and unrelenting.

Similar to Newton’s third law of motion, where every action has an equal and opposite reaction; every unforgettable dark hour will be eventually be met with an hour of undeniable brilliance. Our culture has a chronic habit of focusing on

it breaks under the weight of its rebellion. When it chooses unwisely, it cannot help but fail and crack again.

what displeases the human consciousness. It seems to take additional effort to perceive positivity and wholesomeness.

Mankind is broken. It is observable that humans do not consis-

tently make decisions that have beneficial outcomes. Hopefully the moral standards of the society assist in curbing disaster and dread.

When the standard fails to withstand damage, what manifests?

The gravity of morality strains society until it eventually cracks the shell that it has built up around itself. That frail veneer that blotted out the light systematically falls apart.

When a crack in a structure reveals itself, that which is outside cannot help but pierce what inhabits the inside. The air and the light begin to permeate what is barricaded within. As pressure mounts, the crack stretches across the structure until it collapses. Then, you are exposed, broken, and forced to create equi-

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librium with what was forcefully kept out.

Structure is still an essential, and you can’t make it out of what just failed to protect you.

A binding agent to refortify the defense must be made of something valuable and resilient.

A repairing technique called ‘golden joinery’ is a process of using precious metals like gold, silver, or platinum to restore broken pottery. It is most interesting that an object has the potential to become more valuable after once being damaged.

Much as it is with a person; they may make mistakes. They may even cause great harm.

Additionally, should one break under the weight of ethics, what one determines to repair themselves with is just as vital. As for society,

Experience, turmoil, and responsibility break everyone on some level. While broken, you get to see what you have made yourself to be. The quandary is, what are you going to use to pick yourself back up with?

Will what you use be easily tampered with and unsustainable, or will it be something of intrinsic worth that can stand the test of time?

Brokenness can be a stunning place to start.

Once the light is let in and that atmosphere is aired out, an extravagant confidence can be rebuilt.

As we enter the season of lights, let’s be aware of the darkness that is broken by the things that hold the greatest value to us.

The very thing that we need the most is sometimes that which will humble. Once the pressure is lifted, we will mend each other with the most precious substance that sustains us. Whether it is your faith, love, or morals, find what will reinforce your value, and do not squander what will bring the greatest return.

Let it catch the light.

December 15, 2017 - January 5, 2018

Cover Story

One Love Hearing Concepts: Hear Better, Live Better

by Ali Elizabeth Turner continued from page 1

are now six locations in North Alabama. The hearing industry is highly competitive, and Zeke Creasy, the owner of One Love, is no stranger to competition. In fact, he thrives on it because he knows it just makes him better.

Zeke graduated from East Limestone High School, and was a “determined” point guard all throughout middle school. For a while, he was a member of the ELHS basketball team. He went on to graduate from Auburn in Hotel and Restaurant Management, and additionally in Business Management. He also completed his course requirements at Le Cordon Bleu Culinary School, and built up a highly successful catering business. All of those skills were successfully parlayed into a business that has not only grown quickly, but has built a reputation of “treating you like family.”

Zeke told me, “I know that sounds kind of corny, but that really is how we all feel. We love our clients.” I can speak from experience that the staff thoroughly enjoys working at One Love. Even the Auburn grad and the Alabama fan work in peace together!

One of the things that makes One Love work so well is that Starkey, their parent company and supplier, sets the tone when it comes to employee support, as well as serving their clients. “I have an employee who works at one of the other locations who did not tell me until she had been working for me for three months that she was hearing impaired,” Zeke said. Starkey sent her some state of the art hearing aids at no charge, and she is able to connect with clients as a “fellow traveler.”

She can say from experience that she has never heard better, and it has been life-changing for her.

Speaking of “state-of-theart,” hearing aids have even improved so much in the last two years that it almost seems like something out of a sci-fi movie. “We now have hearing aids that can read your emails

fixed incomes; and they are wanting something perhaps less fancy. It is apparent that Zeke’s heart toward seniors is that of a warrior, and he is unashamedly protective of those who walk through his doors. “It’s true that there are a number of big box stores and pharmacies who are offering less expensive

Zeke Creasy of One Love Hearing

Tonyia Shepherd with Zeke's daughter, Parleigh to you while you are driving down the road,” Zeke said.

There are also hearing aids that are connected to a GPS service that will locate them for you if you misplace them. “In probably no more than five years, there will be hearing aids that will function faster than your brain, and turn the directional microphone toward the sound before your brain does. They exist now, but they are still being perfected,” Zeke said.

Hearing aids are now able to distinguish between noise and voices, and adjust how they process sound to the hearer.

While all this high-tech stuff is genuinely interesting, the lion’s share of One Love’s clients are elderly; many are on

December 15, 2017 - January 5, 2018

merchandise, but their customers get just that, merchandise.

At One Love you get us, we are on this journey with you, and you are our family. We do not sell hearing aids, we sell better hearing,” he said.

The concept of “journey” even shows up on the Athens staff’s business cards, which describe the various team members as “Patient Hearing Journey Specialist” on the top line, and then their specific duty description below that, such as Executive Manager of Operations, or Executive Personal Assistant. On a more whimsical and nearly humorous note, the newest millennial member of the crew is described as “Humble Hear-

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ing Angel, Sales Assistant and Social Media Guru Specialist.”

The affectionate camaraderie amongst the staff is passed on to the client, and if the time ever comes when I need help with my hearing, this is where I am coming! “If you need to improve your hearing, we will find a way to make that happen,” Zeke said. One Love has in-house financing, and one woman on a fixed income designates her $40 monthly payment as her “hearing budget.”

In 2017, Johns Hopkins University released a study which proved that hearing loss has a number of negative side effects one would not immediately conclude are related. Here is some of what they found: those with untreated haring loss have significantly higher incidence of depression, have a shorter lifespan, have a 30-40% faster decline in cognitive abilities, are up to 5 times more likely to develop dementia, and a 3 times greater risk of falling.

What I learned from Zeke is that hearing and balance are intimately linked, and there are even examples of commercial fishermen greatly diminishing their vertigo symptoms when they wear their hearing aids.

In a word, if you hear better, you are going to live better. And if you want help on your hearing journey, call One Love Hearing Concepts in Athens today for your noobligation appointment and hearing test. They will be with you all the way.

One Love

Hearing Concepts Athens location: 809 Hwy 72 W, Ste G, Athens, AL 35611 Phone: 256-233-3844 Email: onelovehearing@ yahoo.com Facebook: One Love Hearing Hours: Mon-Fri, 8-5 Page 15

Health and Fitness

Nutrition And The Aging Brain

by Janet Hunt

Janet Hunt is a Certified Personal Trainer and can be reached at 256-614-3530 to schedule an appointment.

Besides exercise, proper nutrition keeps an aging brain healthy. The Mediterranean diet and DASH (Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension) diet are both known for their cardiovascular health benefits. The Mediterranean diet emphasizes eating mostly plant-based foods, such as fruits, vegetables, whole grains, legumes and nuts; replacing butter with healthy fats such as olive oil; using herbs and spices instead of salt to flavor foods; limiting red meat to no more than a few times a month; and eating fish and poultry at least twice a week. The DASH diet includes lots of whole grains, fruits, vegetables and lowfat dairy products. The DASH diet also includes some fish, poultry and legumes, and encourages a small amount of nuts and seeds a few times a week.

You can eat red meat, sweets and fats in small amounts. The DASH diet is low in saturated fat, cholesterol and total fat. Recently, researchers have combined pieces of both the Mediterranean diet and the DASH diet to emphasize foods with the greatest impact on brain health. This is called MIND (MediterraneanDASH diet for Neurodegenerative Delay).

Two studies with more than 900 adults found that by sticking to the MIND diet, cognitive decline was slowed by as much as 53%. By strictly

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following the MIND diet principles, the best results were achieved. But even following the diet partially showed directly proportional results.

The MIND diet emphasizes 10 brain-healthy food groups: green leafy vegetables, other vegetables, nuts, berries, beans, whole grains, fish, poultry, olive oil, and moderate amounts of wine. It avoids foods from five unhealthy groups: red meats, butter and margarine, cheeses, pastries and sweets, and fried or fast foods.

If you or someone you know enjoys cookbooks, several excellent cook-

books for the MIND diet are available.

Additional healthy holiday gift ideas might include: •Personal sions

training

ses-

•Gym membership •Weight Watcher membership •Fitness boots

shoes/hiking

•Fitness wear

clothing/swim-

•Yoga mat •Activity tracker •Workout music For more answers to fitness questions, call Janet Hunt at 256-614-3530.

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December 15, 2017 - January 5, 2018

Cover Story

The SK Salon: Your Paul Mitchell Getaway Place

by Ali Elizabeth Turner continued from page 1

open, they have been able to give $1,000 to the Noah Crowe Foundation, which is dedicated to the memory of a little guy whose battle with cancer brought our whole town together. That is not the only non-profit that SK supports, and what makes any salon which carries Paul Mitchell products a “focus salon,” is their commitment to philanthropy.

By way of background, Sandee moved here from Tennessee with her family and graduated from Athens High in 1991. She married, had three kids, moved to Huntsville, worked, and got laid off, as well as divorced. She then decided to go to the Paul Mitchell training center, graduated, and worked at Bangs. Later she worked at the Stile Salon in Huntsville and fell in love with how involved they were with the community.

Sandee knew that no matter where she worked, that same generous heart was going to have to be a part of any salon’s culture where she had a chair and clients.

While Sandee was very happy at Stile, there was that restless hunger which afflicts true entrepreneurs to bring the same kind of “vibe” to Athens. With the blessing of Emma Stiles Bunyard, Stile’s owner, she began to look for a place of her own. “We looked everywhere,” said Sandee, “but I just knew that it had to be right on Hwy 72.” It was her mom who found the place, which is the location of the former Millar Chiropractic Clinic, and the moment Sandee went inside, she knew she was “home.”

Here is some of what Sandee says about The SK Salon experience: “We excel at brilliant blondes, beautiful

ell was wildly successful as a hairdresser in London in the ‘60s, having been trained by the legendary Vidal Sassoon.

Mitchell became burned out with the whole London scene, and spent some time as a recluse in Hawaii, where he essentially re-invented himself.

He then joined forces with another “John Paul” whose last name was DeJoria, and they developed a line around their signature Hawaiian ginger plant Awapuhi shampoo.

They also had a requirement that if someone was going to have the “Paul Mitchell Focus Salon” distinction, then demonstrable altruism was

brunettes and make redheads more feisty. We truly listen to the needs you have with your hair and deliver the best results.” She went on to tell me more of the Paul Mitchell philosophy, as well as her personal goals for the salon, how it serves the clients, and the wide variety of opportunities available to support all kinds of worthy causes. In addition to the Noah Crowe Foundation, The SK Salon features other non-profits for two months at a time. Re-centered.org, which is a restora-

December 15, 2017 - January 5, 2018

tion ministry for women, has been one. Another is Matt and Jana Pettus’ goal of raising money for adoptions. There is a jewelry line for sale, and $2 of each sale goes to the Full Tummy Project; Sandee’s dad makes wooden boot shuckers with 100% of the profits going to the Full Tummy Project as well. Sandee and her family fellowship at Friendship United Methodist Church, and the salon also raises funds for Esperanza, Rising Nicaragua, and other missions.

By way of history, Paul Mitch-

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going to be part and parcel of that salon’s modus operandi.

While Mr. Mitchell died of cancer in 1989, his vision has not, and “The Paul Mitchell System” continues to thrive.

Sandee has her own vision for the salon as well. “We want you to feel loved. We want you to feel welcomed, and we want this to be your getaway place. Another way of putting it is that we want this to be your sanctuary,” she said. The SK Salon is full service for both men and women, people whose style is everything from conservative to “edgy.”

The word is getting around, their client base is building rapidly, and if you are wanting to get ready for that special holiday party or event, you would be wise to make your appointment for a “full pampering” today. Christmas is in ten days, and if you are “stuck” trying to find a gift for that person on your list that has everything, Sandee would be happy to “fill the bill” for you with a gift certificate. Call today, and see what she and her team can do to help you or someone you love feel completely beautiful.

The SK Salon

1117 Hwy 72 E, Athens, AL 35611 Phone: 256-800-1088 Hours: Tue 10-5, Wed 10-3, Thur 10-7, Fri 10-6, and Sat 9-2 Email: thesksalon@gmail.com Facebook: The SK Salon Website: thesksalon.com Page 17

Learning As A Lifestyle

Opportunity is Knocking...

Will you Answer?

by Eric Betts Curtis Coleman Center for Religious Studies and Ethics, Athens State University I remember many years ago while living on the West Coast, I made a trip from Nevada to Alabama. I had a layover in Atlanta, but had it fixed in my mind that when we arrived in Alabama, I would be in the Central time zone. However, after arriving in Atlanta, somehow I kept thinking about the Central time zone, unmindful that Atlanta was East Coast time. The second flight from Atlanta to Alabama was missed by an hour because of my miscalculation of time zones. Is it possible that those who are reading this article could be missing opportunities in life because of miscalculations?

One of the chief miscalculations for missed opportunity in the lives of so many is that of second guessing of oneself. Many question their own abilities or giftedness. They convince themselves that they are not as good as the last person who seized their opportunity and found success. Opportunity is not an advantage that belongs only to those who have the most resources or the best connections. There may be those who reason within themselves that opportunities will never come because they are not well known in the community.

Brian Vaszily said it best, “Opportunity is always knocking. The problem is that most people have the self-doubt station in their head turned up way too loud to hear it.” Once

Page 18

you begin to shake off the self-doubt, you will be in a better position to recognize opportunity when it comes and to seize it.

fort of the plane are often considered well worth it when considering the enjoyment which is to come at the destination.

A second miscalculation that causes so many to miss the flight into the land of opportunity is that of hard work. Some calculate that the opportunity that lies before them will take too many years to work on. Others declare that it is too mentally draining to do it, or that they will have to sacrifice too many enjoyable activities in order to pursue it. None of these are reasonable excuses for missing opportunities. Thomas Edison understood this best. Edison said, “Opportunity is missed by most people because it is dressed in overalls and looks like work.”

Sometimes, going on a trip takes hard work and planning; packing, dragging luggage, walking through airports and the discom-

A third reason why so many miss the trip into the land of opportunity is because they have failed so many times before.

Remember that Michael Jordan, arguably the best professional basketball player ever, was cut from his high school basketball team when he first tried out. His coach did not see the value in his abilities the first time around. He went on to win a championship for his team at the University of North Carolina, and six championships for the NBA’s Chicago Bulls. What if he had given up the first time he did not succeed? Henry Ford, one of the great inventors of automobile manufacturing, understood that failure is not a barrier to future opportu-

nity. Ford said, “Failure is simply the opportunity to begin again, this time more intelligently.” Failure simply educates those who are making the attempt on what they should do or not do the next time opportunity comes.

Interestingly, many miss their opportunities because they do not seek them out and do not go where they are. One of the greatest mistakes that people make when in this area is that they wait for opportunity to come to them. Delay is a major hindrance to opportunity. I saw a marquee on a church sign which said, “If your ship doesn’t come in, swim out to it.”

Live your life ever seeking for opportunities to grow and improve. Do all that is within your power to fulfill your goals and dreams. Think of small things that will move you closer to your goals and

act on them. The comedian Milton Berle said something similar when he stated, “If opportunity doesn’t knock, build a door.”

A One way of building m doors to opportunity is d community engagement i and involvement. The e more engaged you are, s the more opportunities o will appear. Every day w opportunities come your way. Opportunities are often viewed as a new B job or a promotion. What s are you doing when it a comes to the often un- o noticed opportunities?

These may involve good deeds, reconciling dif- E ferences, spending time with your children, visiting the elderly, making a phone call and checking up on someone, encouraging someone, volunteering for the homeless, visiting the sick, and showing hospitality. It may also include sending a thank you card to show your appreciation, sending a care package to a college student, or listening to someone’s story. When smaller opportunities are taken, this creates room for more open doors of greater opportunity.

Most of all, rather than complain about the difficulties of life, understand that with every difficulty there are opportunities.

The words of Winston Churchill are timeless, “A pessimist sees the difficulty in every opportunity; an optimist sees the opportunity in every difficulty.”

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December 15, 2017 - January 5, 2018

The View From The Bridge

Perfect Christmas Gifts You Can Definitely Re-Gift!

Jackie Warner

Career Development Facilitator “Impact, Engage, Grow” Community Matters

by Jackie Warner

Time A telephone call, text message, holding the door for someone, meeting for a cup of coffee, etc. It is precious to share our time and just one minute can go along way.

Forgiveness Build bridges of understanding, acceptance, and peace. It is good for our souls.

Knowledge Empty

your

cup

to

fill someone else with growth.

Appreciation Say “Thank you,” and show you mean it!

Opportunity Blaze a trail for others and point them in the right direction.

Love Essence of Christmas Wishing everyone a wonderful Christmas and Happy New Year!

December 15, 2017 - January 5, 2018

Until Next Time, Be Sincere, Kind and Intentional Jackie Warner,

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Community Outreach Specialist Email: thebridge.us@gmail.com

Check out upcoming events: http://thebridgeus.yolasite.com/

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Horse Whispering

Horse And Soul

by Deb Kitchenmaster Have you ever had a conversation with someone and wondered what zone they live in? You know, it’s like what are we talking about here?

They tend to speak a language that creates confusing pictures in your mind as you listen. There are also people whose language is more like an artist with a paintbrush in their hand as they stoke each sentence with heartfelt conversation. You sense something INSIDE -- a ‘new,’ ‘fresh’ kind of language.

I’m laughing as I remember a conversation I had with my daughter back in the day. She looks at me and asks, “Mom, do we always have to have intense (deep) conversations? I mean, do you think maybe we could just talk about the weather sometime?” Seriously, that NEVER occurred to me. I did GET the message and I heard her loud and clear. The rest of the story is, I took her advice to heart.

The next time we had a mother/daughter connection, I made a sincere effort and talked about the weather. Basically, she started laughing halfway through my sincere weather reporting, and told me how lousy I was on this level of communication. You know what? She’s absolutely right! We had a great laugh!

As you interact with your horse, you will engage with leadership, language, and love; hopefully in equal dos-

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sensation is the region of the heart.” The words “heart” and “soul” are interchangeable. There is a danger in becoming too brain-focused when looking at horse/human relationships. We need to be more aware of the heart’s intelligence. We more-than-likely will find ourselves “stuck” in going forward with our horse if we are singly analytical. We need to invite our soul to meet their spirit.

HORSE AND SOUL #1 – A twelve-year-old girl sends a card expressing her experience with the horses … “Keep listening with your heart/ soul, not just your ears, because horses gave me that advice to pass on to es. Language is important on so many levels.

Let’s talk about our souls. Our soul is located midpoint between spirit and matter, somewhat like a rainbow bridging earth and sky.

Soul is a different reality than body. It is eternal. It hears with eternal ears, sees with eternal eyes, and smells with eternal nose. Its presence resonates with that “other dimension.” It has NO language. Therefore, it speaks in imagery – the only way it can communicate eternal truths to beings that are both eternal and temporal. “Matter” is not seen merely with the natural eye, but is perceived with the inner eye. Voilà! When matter is perceived, the soul has created an im-

the required time with my counselor.” Lucy, who has been spending time with horses, responds by saying, “Oh, my horse would never let me get by with that!

My horse knows exactly where I am and she holds me accountable. My horse knows when I’m real and when I’m not. She doesn’t let me get away with anything!” Note to teens: You may be able to fool a human, but you will not fool a horse.

HORSE AND SOUL #3 – I asked, “Does this horse speak to you?”

“Yes,” she responded.

“How do you know this horse is speaking to you?” I asked.

“HERE,” she answered, thumping her stomach area gently.

“I feel it here.” Curious, I asked, “What is that place where you hear the horse speaking to you?” She tenderly said, “It’s my soul; my heart.”

And the HORSE AND SOUL stories continue.

age. Perception requires imagination, creativity, and reflection.

Now, let’s saddle up and go on a little trail ride with Aristotle. “And of course the brain is not responsible for any of the sensations at all. The correct view is that the seat and the source of

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others.”

Note to self: “The best way to relate to a horse is to have the courage to follow your heart.”

HORSE AND SOUL #2 – A teenager who is MERRY CHRISTMAS in weekly profession- ya’ll!

Your NEIGHbor, al counseling tells her Deb Kitchenmaster friend (Lucy) who asked, Corral Connections “How’s it going?” that all www.corralconnections.com is going well. “I just tell 256-426-7947 them what they want to hear, get up, and walk out Animal B.E.S.T. practitioner the door after I have had dkitchenmaster@mchsi.com

December 15, 2017 - January 5, 2018

Mental Health Minute

Understanding ObsessiveCompulsive Disorder

by Lisa Philippart, Licensed Professional Counselor “OCD is like having a bully stuck inside your head and nobody else can see it.”

- Krissy McDermott

Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) used to be considered an anxiety disorder, but because of its complexity, it is now considered to be a unique condition. Do you double-check the locks at night or worry about the safety of a family member? This is “normal.” But for those with OCD, these types of thoughts and behaviors become so extreme that they interfere with daily routines, work, and even relationships.

For example, people with OCD have been known to wash their hands for eight hours in a day. (Think Jack Nicholson in the movie, “As Good As It Gets.”)

OCD does not just go away by itself. And in my opinion, it takes more than willpower to try to manage it. I have seen people with OCD who are trapped in patterns of thoughts and behaviors that are beyond their control. The obsessive part involves ideas or thoughts that continuously intrude on a person’s mind, such as fear, worry, dread, or perfectionism. The compulsive piece is repetitive actions driven by these obsessions,

such as hand washing, checking, and hoarding. For some people, OCD actions like counting, aren’t as obvious, so they continue to suffer in silence.

Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder may develop gradually, moving from thoughts to actions, which will eventually produce symptoms that affect daily life. People with OCD often feel embarrassed and will avoid talking to anyone about what is going on…even to their healthcare provider.

OCD can develop at any age, but the research indicates that it often begins in adolescence, with the average age being 19. If you or someone you know is suffering with OCD or OCD-like indicators, what can you do? Because OCD is chronic, it is important to understand that you can learn to handle it and be in recovery, but there is no cure.

I believe that the concept of doubt is what an OCD-sufferer struggles with daily. Doubt can override even the most intelligent person.

It causes the person to check things hundreds of times or ask endless questions. And only when the OCDsufferer recognizes the challenge of trying to resolve this doubt, can he or she make progress. You can resist act-

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ing out a compulsion, but it is extremely difficult to refuse to think an obsessive thought.

This is where cognitivebehavior therapy (CBT) comes in. CBT will help you to confront fearful thoughts and situations, while resisting the carrying out of your compulsions. Once you start questioning the likelihood of your fears actually coming true, you can challenge that logic.

But this can take time as there is no quick and easy fix….and no partial recovery.

work. So take care of yourself. Start now in this season of hope and joy! Merry Christmas!

Until next time…Lisa Lisa Philippart is a

Licensed Professional Counselor, who divides her time between her own private practice in Huntsville and providing personal counseling services at Athens State University.

As with most of life, balance is the key. And achieving balance is the result of being healthy and choosing a healthy lifestyle, which includes getting enough sleep, a proper diet, exercise, positive social relationships, and purposeful

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Medical Update

Five Simple Solutions To SAD (Seasonal Affective Disorder)

by Rachel Clark, RN, BSN It’s winter again, and the days are getting shorter.

The skies seem cloudier, the air colder, and the wind has a bite to it that isn’t there in Spring and Summer. With the change of the seasons can come a change in mood for some people.

This is known as Seasonal Affective Disorder, or SAD. According to the Mayo Clinic, SAD is a type of depression related to the change in seasons that begins and ends around the same time every year. For most, that happens in the winter.

How do you know if you’re “SAD?” Some common signs and symptoms include irritability, feeling tired or having less energy, issues getting along with others, hypersensitivity to rejection (real or perceived), oversleeping,

heavy feeling in arms or legs, appetite changes (especially increased cravings for high-carbohydrate foods), and weight gain. As SAD as this all sounds, there are some simple, natural ways to combat this change in moods. So if you’re ready to get back to your usual self, and leave the grumpy, irritable you that comes in the winter behind, below are five simple ways to get started.

1. Scents can be used as a “pick-me-up.” Most people have scents that they personally associate with positivity and comfort. For some, that is the mingled scents of baking sugar cookies, with warm vanilla and sugar wafting through the house. For others it might be roses, cinnamon, or oranges.

Diffusing essential oils can be a great way to help

lift your mood, without side effects connected to anti-depressants and other chemical alternatives.

A “recipe” of sorts that I can’t wait to try is as follows: 20 drops Sweet Orange oil, 20 drops Clove Bud oil, and 20 drops Cinnamon oil. Check out Pinterest or other social media sites for additional information on essential oils and blends that can help lift your mood this winter.

2. Let the sunshine in!

The lack of available sunlight is a key factor in SAD. Open up your curtains, blinds, and doors on sunny days. Letting in the sun can lift your mood exponentially. Sit next to those open windows to maximize your sunlight absorption. You can also use phototherapy to help. This involves using lights that mimic natural sunlight. You can also

surround yourself with imagery that is bright and sunny when the days are cloudy and dull. Set your screensaver on your phone or computer to something warm, inviting, and bright. This can also help elevate your mood.

3. Start listening! Music and mood have been linked for quite some time. Choose music that is uplifting rather than dark and moody. Christmas carols or summer themed choices are generally best for combating the blues. Who can be sad when the beat is happy? Also, schedule time to talk with your significant other, best friend, or someone else you care about. Consider an alarm clock that uses natural sounds and/or light to wake you rather than your usual methods.

And enjoy the peace and

quiet, get away from the noise and chaos that is everyday life.

4. Taste the joy! Many people gain weight when battling SAD. Choose foods that remind you of summer. Mix blueberries, chocolate, and nuts into trail mix and snack on it. Choose hot tea rather than coffee when you need to warm up on cold afternoons. Eat fresh fruits and vegetables as often as you can.

When you can’t choose frozen options. Put them in salads, smoothies, or as dessert itself. You’ll be amazed at the difference it can make as far as your mood is concerned.

5. Be sensitive to TOUCH! Touch is one of the first senses to develop inside the womb, so it only makes sense that it can be a huge anti-depressant for some people. Clothing that is soft, breathable and comfortable can go a long way. Also, the same characteristics in bedding can be helpful.

Get affirming touches such as hugs, cuddling, and other gentle affections from your spouse, significant other, or even your pets. You may also wish to consider getting regular massages from a licensed massage therapist.

Don’t be SAD this winter. Take some of the tips above and change the pattern that may have been going on for years.

You’ll be glad you did.

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Foreman’s Forum

The National Concealed Carry Reciprocity Act

by Paul Foreman Just last week, the U.S. Congress approved a bill titled, “The National Concealed Carry Reciprocity Act.” The bill now needs to be voted on by the Senate, then signed by President Trump before it becomes law. All of you need to contact your senators and urge them to vote YES and get the “Concealed Carry Reciprocity Act” (AKA HR 38) passed. Last I heard, there will be quite a battle in the Senate, to get this badly needed bill passed.

This proposed law, AKA HR 38, will require every state to recognize all other states’ concealed carry permits. This law is badly needed to prevent innocent law-abiding people from being arrested for exercising their constitutional right to keep and bear arms.

Some who are against the law being passed, the antigunners, are claiming all kinds of myths and outright lies about HR 38. Here some of them:

cealed carry permit holders, must go through a criminal background check, in order to have a concealed carry permit. They are also the most law-abiding section of society. Statistically they break laws less than law enforcement officers. Criminals get guns the illegal way, they steal them.

Myth #5: This bill will allow stalkers to carry guns.

Truth: Anyone who has a restraining order against them is not permitted to possess any firearms in any state (see Myth #3). The people who this bill will help are the very people, the victims, who are being stalked. The law will allow them to carry a gun for their protection.

Myth #6: Even if a person is prohibited from having a gun, this bill will give

them the right to carry one.

Truth: Once again, this bill does not overturn any laws on prohibited people. If you are banned from possessing a gun by federal law, then you cannot own or possess a gun.

Myth #7: This is a free pass to gun manufacturers and the NRA. Truth: As of 2017, according to Wikipedia, there are 16.3 million concealed weapon permits issued in the United States.

This bill would empower every single one of those permit holders to be able to travel freely from state to state with their firearms.

Law-abiding citizens are the people most affected by this law. Criminals will go right on being criminals. The NRA also represents the interest of firearms owners. The NRA is

about protecting the Second Amendment rights of the people, and this is what this bill does.

The anti-gun left tried to use a lot of emotion to defeat this bill, and they will still do so as it moves to the Senate. The reason they use emotion is that the facts are not on their side. The people on the pro-gun side need to keep hitting them with factual arguments, aka the Truth, and not get drawn into an emotional battle. This law will make it legal for those who have a concealed carry permit issued in Alabama to also be recognized and legal in all 49 other states, including Washington, DC. Right now, there are a dozen or so states that will throw you in the slammer for entering their state with your fire-

arm which is perfectly legal in your home state. How would you like it if those states did that with your driver’s license?

Paul Foreman is a retired deputy sheriff from Lee County Florida, now living in Athens. Paul is an NRA Certified Firearms Instructor. “As many of you may already know, due to my current battle with cancer, I am NOT doing firearms classes. Prayers are welcome. As for the classes, I have a gentleman whom I am referring people to, who is also an NRA Certified Firearms Instructor.” E-Mail me at: Captureman@ PaulForeman.com Go to my web site to Join The NRA. WWW. PaulForeman.com, click on the NRA Eagle.

Myth #1: Criminals will be able to have guns. Truth: Federal law prohibits criminals from possessing firearms.

Myth #2: Women will be less safe. Truth: Women will be safer when allowed to legally defend themselves and NOT be arrested for possessing a gun even though they have a permit from their home state.

Myth #3: Domestic abusers will be able to get a permit from another state. Truth: In all states, federal law prohibits domestic abusers from possessing firearms.

Myth #4: Gun crime rates will go up. Truth: Con-

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