AthensNowAl

February 5th - February 18th, 2021

AthensNowal.com E-MAIL: info@athensnowal.com ADVERTISING: Ali Elizabeth: 256-468-9425 Degan Wilder: 256-426-2493

See Our Listings Inside this edition...

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Special Feature Athens Athletics: Gearing Up For Spring 2021...

While we are still at the beginning of an unusual year, Athens Athletics is staying positive and gearing up for...

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Blake's Beat

ChristyCare: A Loving, Caring, And Safe Place For Seniors To Spend Their Day

By Ali Elizabeth Turner For years we have heard the phrase, “Necessity is the mother of invention.” The idea originated Continued on page 15

Thermal Imaging Center: A Breakthrough In Health Care Imaging Services

Greater Ardmore Chamber Of Commerce’s New Logo...

On January 28, 2021, the Greater Ardmore Chamber of Commerce revealed its new logo and brand identity...

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By Cheree Vasquez

Cooking With Anna Do You Need An Attitude Adjustment?...

We are all born with certain abilities.

God in his wisdom gave us all different abilities and talents.

It is up to us to...

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February 05 - February 18, 2021

My name is Cheree Vasquez and my business is called Thermal Imaging Center where I do what is called thermography. My practice is located in Huntsville at 917 SW Merchants Walk, Suite C, and here is a bit about my background: Helping people improve their lives using holisContinued on page 17

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February 05 - February 18, 2021

Publisher’s Point

Pray Or Perish

Publisher / Editor Ali Turner

Copy Editor

Yvonne Dempsey

Sales & Distribution Degan Wilder

Graphic Design

Jonathan Hamilton

Web Design Teddy Wolcott

Contributing Writers D. A. Slinkard Lisa Philippart Leigh Patterson Anna Hamilton Joel Allen Nick Thomas Roy Williams Blake Williams Cayce Lee Andrew Dollar Jerry Barksdale Cheree Vasquez Steve Leland

For the last several weeks, I have been getting together with a Texas chiropractor friend with whom I am in business for one reason and one reason only: to pray for America. Every Wednesday morning, from 6:30 to 7, we “come together boldly before the throne of grace to find grace to help in a time of need.”

Why? What good does it do? If you look at the story of a UK WWIIera man of prayer by the name of Rees Howells, bodacious prayer can change history. And, if ever history needed to be changed, it’s now.

In Rees’s case, intercessory prayer, on his own or with others, resulted in things like the Luftwaffe mysteriously

turning back when they could have literally blown the RAF out of the sky. I don’t know if Winston Churchill knew of their persistent prayers when he said of the small group of pilots who had maintained air supremacy: “Never has so much been owed by so many to so few.”

Am I trying to imply that somehow our prayers are special?

Yes and no. What do I mean by that? I believe that believers, all believers, are hardwired to pray prayers that are supposed to change the world for the better in ways big and small. The problem is, we aren’t typically pressed into a place where we are so desperate that we must

have answers, so we give up before we press through. But, when people band together and bow the knee, things happen.

As tough as these times are, great good can and will come out of the chaos, and we may as well go all-in when it comes to prayer. If we don’t, the madness we encounter on a daily basis will dull and lull us into oblivion. And I don’t know about you, but I don’t ever want to have my Savior say of me that my “salt has lost its saltness, and is good for nothing but to be trodden under foot.”

I want my prayers to “pester,” if you will.

Not that God has ever needed to have us talk

Publisher’s Point . . . . . . . . 3 All Things Soldier . . . . . . . 4 Special Feature . . . . . . . . . . 5 Calendar Of Events . . . . . . . 6 What Makes Ronnie Roll . . . 8 Slinkard on Success . . . . . . 9 Tourism . . . . . . . . . . . 10 Blake's Beat . . . . . . . . . . 11

Him into anything, but rather, our need is to get the hindrances to prayer out of the way. That starts with repentance.

I asked Jonathan Hamilton, our graphic designer, to make a bottom banner on the front cover of this edition that simply says, “Pray for America.” What I want that banner to convey is the cry for something that transcends politics, the relentless insistence that if we hit our knees and humble ourselves, the sky is the limit. Fifty years ago, the last time our country looked like it was circling the drain and youth were going to be lost to rebellion and hallucinogens, desperate parents, grandparents, and friends hit their knees, and an alternative to the insanity of the hour emerged: revival. It swept through our country and rescued multitudes. I was one of them that would have perished had there had not been prayers on my behalf. That is why I know that it is our best, actually our only option.

So, respectfully, let’s get to it. Now.

Clean Green And Beautiful . . 12 Cooking With Anna . . . . . 13 Ali Elizabeth Turner Athens Now Information & Inspiration 256-468-9425 ali@athensnowal.com Website: www.athensnowal.com

Steve's Corner . . . . . . . . . 14 Cover Stories . . . . . . . . 15 & 17 Health And Fitness . . . . . . 16 Learning As A Lifestyle . . . 18 Jerry's Journal . . . . . . 19 Dog Barker . . . . . . . . 20 Mental Health Minute . . . 21 Alternative Approach . . . . 22

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All Things Soldier

Cyber Honeytraps Hit The IDF

by Ali Elizabeth Turner I grew up knowing about Mata Hari and Tokyo Rose, and had only a cursory understanding of what has come to be known in espionage as the “honeytrap,” i.e., the flagrant, proactive use of the power of a woman’s sexuality to secure intel. Sometimes, the strategy is known as “pillow talk,” but it all comes back to the same premise: if you want to get state secrets, the best ones are typically divulged in compromising circumstances.

Just ask Congressman Eric Swalwell, who amazingly is still on the House Intelligence Committee after having a dubious relationship with a female Chinese spy! And, the great irony is that her name is, wait for it…“Fang!”

Recently, the IDF (Israeli Defense Force) was targeted by Hamas militants who were posing online as beautiful Israeli women. The soldiers were encouraged to communicate on various social media platforms, never knowing that they were downloading malware which was embedded in fake

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eras to remotely take pictures. Conricus said that Hamas has been upping their game, but was glad that the IDF was able to thwart the attack.

Later on, the IDF tweeted, “What Hamas didn’t know was that Israeli intelligence caught onto their plot, tracked the malware, and downed Hamas’ hacking system.”

photo-sharing apps.

Lieutenant Colonel Jonathan Conricus, an IDF Army spokesman, said they have successfully thwarted the cyberattack, which is the third such attempt over the last three-and-a-half years. He also described it as being “more advanced and sophisticated than the previous attempts.”

The new strategy was to have the “women” claim that they had hearing difficulties and could not speak on the phone. The communi-

ques did successfully use Israeli slang, doctored photos, managed to block attempts to do reverse online searches, and sent generic voice messages in order to increase credibility. Some of the “names” of the faux honeys were Karen Cohen, Daniela Kovaliu, Jeme Aidan, Loren Alian, Nir Leitner, and Verena Sonner; and it is not known yet how many IDF soldiers were approached.

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The downloaded malware made it possible for Hamas to control the individual IDF soldiers’ phones, transfer files, lift phone data, read messages, and use cam-

If the classic honeypot approach didn’t work, then encouraging the soldiers to download fake insider access to the World Cup tried to. I guess if you can’t get a guy to “kick it” one way, you’ll try to get him to “kick it” another.

I am sure that the IDF soldiers that got tricked by one of the world’s oldest strategies have had to eat a lifetime supply of industrial-strength humble pie, and I can’t imagine the day of reckoning they endured.

I would assume that because Israel is our strongest ally, they have shared with “our guys” what went down and how Hamas was able to do what they did. I would also guess that they have put their heads together to make sure that both of our countries are stronger by being more secure against the misuse of that which was always designed to be sacred.

One can only hope.

February 05 - February 18, 2021

Special Feature

Athens Athletics: Gearing Up For Spring 2021

by Ali Elizabeth Turner While we are still at the beginning of an unusual year, Athens Athletics is staying positive and gearing up for spring and summer. The chances are great that there will actually be teams that will be able to play real games, and it’s a good bet that family reunions are going to be especially popular, even if there has to be social distancing. And, what is a sports season or a family reunion without a customized T-shirt or nowadays, a customized mask? That’s where Athens Athletics, located at 701 US-31 S in Athens, comes in.

Randy McKinney, who started the business almost 18 years ago is thankful that they were able to keep the shop open throughout 2020, and is also looking to hire.

As it was for many other businesses, the 2020 stay-at-home orders could not have come at a worse time. Randy literally was working on the shirts of several teams in preparation for the spring and summer sports seasons when the shutdown occurred, but he and his crew landed on their feet, and this past Christmas was so busy they were nearly living at the shop.

Another thing that helped them get through COVID is that they are a U-Haul rental franchise, which was deemed an essential business. I can tell you that we have used their U-Haul services to go pick up people and their stuff more than once, and they have always treated us like VIPs. When you walk into Athens Athletics, you can tell that Ran-

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dy loves baseball. The walls sport vintage posters of Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig, and Randy has made a point of travelling to places like Fenway Park and Wrigley Stadium just to soak up the history of the game that has been called America’s pastime. He likes the Braves, and is especially fond of the Boston Red Sox. Athens Athletics specializes in sporting goods and T-shirts, and a tour of the facility showed me how complex custom T-shirt production can be. They can produce shirts that sport up to six colors (although those are rare) and have made a name for themselves for being able to turn orders quickly. Last year they produced the “We Are One Athens Limestone” T-shirts, as a visible brand of comfort for and commitment to our community during the quarantine and beyond. “We donated a dollar of every ‘We Are One’ T-shirt sale to the Full Tummy Project,” said Randy. They also have made their mark in 2020 with custom-designed masks, and early on last year I was pleased to sport a black one with the white Athens Now logo across my face.

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While custom T-shirts are the “bread and butter” of Athens Athletics, they offer several other services that can be seen all over our area. One of their most important services is custom embroidery. Randy showed me the computer-driven machine that produces and embroiders the logos for shirts, jackets, hats, and more. He loves doing the embroidery, but finds that often he has to delegate it because T-shirts demand so much of his time. The shop also has an engraving machine that can do wood, metal YETI-style cups, and plastic. They are the perfect blend of “artisan” and “professional,” and while Athens Athletics has only been offering wood for about two years, it is one of Randy’s favorites.

You can see a local example of the wood laser craft work on the wall of Frame Gallery Off The Square on Marion Street and on trophies in the shop.

Another custom personalization product offered by Athens Athletics is what is called sublimation. An example of sublimation is a shiny front license plate with names and hearts, which would make a great Va-

lentine’s Day gift. Sublimated items are created by a heat process where the design actually goes into the metal. The result makes the colors bright for years, and they stay free of rust and corrosion.

I asked Randy why I should come to Athens Athletics for all my U-Haul, T-shirt, embroidery, sporting goods, laser, and sublimation needs.

His answer was simple: “We have always tried to make the customer number one, and we want people to leave here satisfied.” I can say from experience that this is what they do, and I invite you to come see what I am talking about.

Athens Athletics

701 US-31 S, Athens, AL 35611 (256) 232-6038 Hours: Monday-Friday 9-5, Saturday 9-noon Facebook: Athens Athletics Page 5

Calendar of Events Chicken Stew Pre-Sale Through March 6

With City of Athens Relay for Life Team to be picked up at the Parking Lot Behind Athens City on March 6, 2021 from 11:00AM-2:00PM. Corner of Bryan and North Marion Street in Athens. Stew will be made by Charles and Kathy Cothren.

Tickets available for Gallon - $25.00 and Quart $10.00. For more information or to purchase tickets call Kim at 256-2338730 or email hhollman@athensal.us

Buzzard Roost Cleanup ​February 6

With Keep Athens-Limestone Beautiful in Lester. Intersection of Shoal Creek Road and Buzzard Roost Road. GPS: 34.965883, -87.083639) from 10:00AM-2:15PM. You are encouraged to bring your own supplies if you'd like; however, there will be trash bags, litter grabbers, gloves, buckets, and safety vests available. Volunteers are encouraged to wear waterproof shoes/ boots and work clothes. This event is outdoors, however, when in group settings masks and social distancing will be required.

Please email KALBCARES@GMAIL.COM to register your attendance.

Ask A Master Gardener February 6

At the Athens-Limestone Public Library. 603 South Jefferson Street in Athens from 10:15AM-2:15PM with the AthensLimestone Master Gardeners. For more information about the Master Gardeners, you can contact them at limestonemg@ yahoo.com.

2nd Annual Valentine's Day Raffle & Fundraiser February 6

With the DAV AL-51 Post at the Vietnam Veterans Building (17915 West Elm Street in Athens) starting at 10:00AM. Give the gift of life with a blood donation with LifeSouth from 10:00AM to 2:00PM. Come enjoy a meal with your sweetheart for $10.00 per plate and includes a door prize ticket that includes chances at one of six Chocolate Heart Boxes from Russel Stover's of Athens. More door prize tickets are available for $2.00 each or 3 for $5.00. Watch the excitement as the raffle draw gets

underway at 12:00PM for prizes including hotel stays, jewelry, gift cards and more. Raffle tickets are $5.00 or 5 for $20.00 (Do not have to be present to win) For tickets or more information, contact James Thoni at 256-508-2151.

Play Outside Day February 6

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.

Bama Blues Catfish Trail Tournament ​February 13

Joe Wheeler State Park. 4403 McLean Drive in Rogersville at the 1st Creek Boat Ramp. Registration starts at 6:00AM, no lines in the water until 7:00AM. $10.00 trail fee per boat plus registration fee. Maximum 3 people per boat; unlimited rod; boats inspected prior to the event; no pre-event fishing on waters except for bait; live weigh-in; 3 fish limit - only 2 can exceed 34"; Blue, Channel and Flathead Catfish; other rules and restrictions apply; see thebamablues.com. For more information: b​ amabluescatfishtrail@gmail.com

Alabama Severe Weather Preparedness Sales Tax Holiday February 26 - 28

Will be from Friday, Feb 26 at 12:01AM to Sunday, Feb 28 at 12:00AM to give shoppers the opportunity to purchase certain severe weather preparedness items free of state sales tax.

Reference sheet available online.

In downtown Athens from 6:00PM-9:00PM. No judging, no trophies-- just show and shine; enjoy the shops and eateries around the Square. All cars, trucks, and bikes welcome.

Coffee Call at the Alabama Veterans Museum will be cancelled for February and the museum will be closed on Presidents Day, Monday, Feb. 15.

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March Cruise In on the Square March 6

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For the health and safety of our volunteers and the public, we regret that the VVA Spaghetti Day has been canceled until further notice.

Thank you for your support and understanding.

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February 05 - February 18, 2021

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What Makes Ronnie Roll

Using Friday Forward To Build Your Capacity

by Ali Elizabeth Turner Every year Mayor Ronnie and his team work hard to produce what is known as the State of the City address, and it is always something I anticipate, especially if the mid-winter blahs are trying to badger.

For years the ballroom at Athens State University has been filled to capacity for the address, but due to COVID, this year all that had to be changed. A hybrid event was held at City Hall and online, and to me it was one of the best ever. Besides the requisite “look-back-lookforward” features, there were touching tributes to medical first responders; City Councilman Frank Travis spoke from the famous Trinity School bridge about building community relationship bridges, and Jerome Malone’s powerful original song, Love For The City was played as we were treated to an aerial tour of Athens.

There is no question that Athens is growing, but the perpetual question that is always on Mayor Ronnie’s heart and mind is, “How can we grow well?” One source for some wise answers as to how to grow successfully comes from the book, Friday Forward, by Robert Glazer, which was initially discussed in the first Athens Now edition of January. A key concept is the practice of what Glazer calls “capacity building,” and the four main sources from which to build are spiritual, intellectual, emotional, and physical. The idea is that when individuals, businesses, corporations, teams of any kind, and families get serious about capacity building, amazing things can happen.

“Spiritual capacity building is not just about going to church, important as that is.

The answer to the question of core values is crucial for community building,” said

the mayor.

Friday Forward is designed to be a part of one’s daily ritual, the few minutes you take in the morning to feed your mind before you hit the ground running. And one of the things that makes it work is if you share briefly with even one person something that spoke to you about what you read. That is how it became a movement. With regard to building spiritual capacity, here is something that was worth underlining: “We cannot inspire, moti-

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vate and guide others until we understand what is important to us and are consistent in our thoughts and actions. On a deeper level, building spiritual capacity means truly getting to know ourselves and aligning our lives based on that knowledge. One of the scariest things about building spiritual capacity is it removes any excuses -- once we know what we want most, it feels especially disappointing not to pursue it.”

Mayor Ronnie also referred to the book Strong Towns

for the State of the City address, and that is a series we will begin after we are finished with this one. Strong Towns is largely the “how,” and Friday Forward is more of the “why.”

Mayor Ronnie described another way of illustrating the net effect of capacity building when he told me a mandate that had impacted him strongly: “Carve your name on hearts, not tombstones.” “Ooh, that is good,” I replied. The concept of “tombstones” admittedly was not something either of us thought of much when we were younger, but becoming “seasoned citizens” has changed all that, and especially these days we realize that there is less time to make a difference.

Our meeting time had flown and it was time to pray, so we did. And then it was time once again for Ronnie to roll.

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Slinkard On Success

The Perspective You Take

by D. A. Slinkard D.A. Slinkard would love your feedback. You can contact him at da.slinkard@gmail.com

to look at what is happening in your life. Why? Sometimes things are not as bad as we realize, and other times things are not as good as we realize.

We need to be prepared to evaluate our lives and ask the tough questions, but really be honest with ourselves. The hardest obstacle we all have is being totally honest with ourselves. Too many times we want to give ourselves the easy out and allow for excuses to come in. This is where those you are hanging out with come into play.

What do you do when you want to give up and throw in the towel? What do you do when you feel like the whole world is against you? Anything you touch immediately falls apart?

What do you do when the struggle is real? I ask these questions because I was posed these very same questions recently, and the person wanted to know how I maintain such a positive attitude in dire situations.

My response – Attitude is everything. We cannot always control what happens in our lives, but we can ALWAYS control how we respond to events, whether it be negative or positive. I was speaking with someone else who seemed amazed that you can have two people face the exact same situation and you are going to get two different reactions from them. I was not taken off guard by this because I understand that many times our life is about the perspective we take.

If you have a winner’s mentality, then chances are you will be a winner more times than not. If you have a loser’s mentality, then chances are you will find yourself losing.

We become who and what we think we are, and it is not a difficult subject to master. But the reality is that many people are walking around self-sabotaging their own lives, and they do not realize it.

Yes, what you think and say does have an impact on the world around you and the perspective you

have.

My question would be: Who are the top five people you hang around with, and what does their attitude say about them? It is much easier for us to answer logically and honestly about others than ourselves. Think about how much easier it is to give someone else advice; yet when we try to take our own advice, well, that becomes a pill we just cannot swallow. Those five people that you hang around the most are exactly the person you are. Yes, the five people you hang around the most are hav-

February 05 - February 18, 2021

ing more of an influence in your life than what you realize.

I have had some times in my life when I took a quick assessment of who I was hanging around, and I knew I needed to make some changes. I made the changes; those people are long gone, and who I am today is not the same person I was fifteen, ten, or even five years ago. It is crucial to make sure you are hanging around bucket fillers, those people who add value to others lives, and that you also are a bucket filler and not a bucket dipper.

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I remember with our two girls, as we would be driving them to school and before we would drop them off, we would remind them to be bucket fillers and not bucket dippers. Great advice and it is something that has stuck with my girls. We as a society need to start focusing in on leaving people better than we found them; yet, too often people get greedy, and they want to know what is in it for them. Wrong mentality.

When it seems like your entire world is falling apart, it is time to set apart some time and really begin

Those people closest to you need to be your support system. They do not need to be enablers in allowing you to throw pityparties for yourself. If people are not bringing you up, they are tearing you down, and your actions towards others is doing the exact same thing.

What impact are you having in the lives of others?

Your perspective is what you make of it. If you think life is hard, do not expect it to be easy. You have the control over your thought process. And although you cannot predict every event in your life, you can influence more than you realize. Attitude is everything!

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Tourism

February Dashed With Love, Community, And Outdoors

by Cayce Lee Social Media Specialist, Athens-Limestone County Tourism Association February is here with thoughts of Cupid, chocolates, and warmer weather on the minds of many. A steady stream of explorers have been visiting the AthensLimestone Visitors Center as the clouds part to share the powder blue sky and brilliant sun. Many of them have heard about one or two of our trails, such as the Columns and Culture Antebellum Home Driving Trail, Richard Martin Rails-to-Trails, Beaty Historic District, and Noah Bike Trail and come seeking trail brochures – and we don’t let them leave before sharing that we’re home to over 30 trails, tracks, and treks too.

Here are a few highlights to help you plan your February – you can find the specifics for our featured events at VisitAthensAL.com Hearts – Love – Shop Small…

Athens-Limestone has a few options for your Valentine’s consideration this year. The Disabled American Veterans Chapter 51

are hosting their Second Annual Valentine’s Fundraiser and Raffle at the VVA building on Elm St. on February 6 where there will be food plates, the raffle drawing, and door prizes. The lightening-fast sold-out Athens Main Street Chocolate Walk is also happening on February 6.

Why not show our local merchants and businesses a little love this Valentine’s Day and shop small. You can get sweets for your sweetheart with chocolates from U.G. White in downtown Athens, Russell Stovers Outlet at Exit 351 and U.S. Highway 72, or Wise Ants General Store and Bakery in Ardmore. Looking to add a little bling to your Valentine’s Day? Be sure to check out Hobbs Jewelers on U.S. Highway 72 in Athens, Tammy’s Fine Jewelry in downtown Athens, Osbourne’s at Eastside Junction on U.S. Highway 72, or Hobbs Jewelers on Main Street in Ardmore. Plus there are over 100 dining options to choose from in Limestone County to

treat your sweetheart to a meal. Take in a movie at Cinemagic in Athens or check out one of our many music venues. You can explore these ideas and more at VisitAthensAL.com.

Let the Good Times Roll…

Mardi Gras is upon us and it’s a great time to have some fun. This year’s Smallest Mardi Gras Parade in the South will have a twist, it will be a shoebox parade exhibit in the window of High Cotton Art from February 6 - 16, culminating in a digital “parade” of floats. Redstone Harley-Davidson will be throwing their Mardi Gras Party on March 20 with music, food truck, and more.

Nature Calls…

Keep Athens-Limestone Beautiful and community volunteers will take on the litter at Buz-

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zard Roost on February 6. The Great Backyard Bird Count is coming February 12- 15 and citizen scientists can help count the birds of Limestone County whether in the backyard, school yard, or along a trail.

The Forest School of Joe Wheeler State Park resumes their Growing Up Wild Series on February 24 with First Impressions. Mark your calendars for Alabama Severe Weather Preparedness Tax Holiday from February 26 to 28.

Black History Month…

Want to explore the African-American history of Athens-Limestone Alabama? AthensLimestone Tourism has a brochure highlighting the contributions, history, and legacy of our African-American community. Copies are available at the Athens-Limestone Visitors Center at

100 North Beaty Street in Athens from 8 A.M.5 P.M., Monday-Friday (excluding holidays).

Coming soon…

Chipotle is coming to Athens at 1289 U.S. Highway 72, adjacent to the Chick-Fil-A. Chipotle is known for its tacos and Mission Burritos.

Valentina’s Pizzeria and Wine Bar marks the return of Joe Carlucci to sit-down dining in Athens and can be found at 25951 HuntsvilleBrownsferry Road.

You’ll find even more events including trivia nights, live music, karaoke, and more on the calendars at VisitAthensAL.com or you can stop into the Athens-Limestone Visitors Center 100 North Beaty Street in Athens from 8 A.M.-5 P.M. MondayFriday for events, brochures, and more.

February 05 - February 18, 2021

Blake's Beat

Greater Ardmore Chamber Of Commerce’s New Logo

by Blake Williams On January 28, 2021, the Greater Ardmore Chamber of Commerce revealed its new logo and brand identity. The logo was developed through a partnership with Blake Williams Communications (BWC), a local full-service marketing and public relations consulting firm.

The development process of the Chamber’s logo took several months of meetings and discussions on how the logo should be designed to complement the chamber’s tagline. The four counties are

showcased in the oval. The two states and one community are displayed in the banner and flag artwork. The flags are an iconic landmark on the state line in Ardmore and the crape myrtles account for the Chamber’s premier annual festival that draws hundreds of attendees to the community each August. “My graphic designer, Ellen Hunter, incorporated the chamber’s tagline of ‘four counties, two states, and one community’ exceptionally well throughout the logo,” said BWC President and CEO,

Blake Williams.

Yolandia Eubanks, director of the Greater Ardmore Chamber of Commerce, gave BWC high praise for their work. “The Greater Ardmore Chamber has greatly profited from working with Blake Williams Communications on our logo,” said Eubanks. “The chamber will benefit significantly from our new and innovative logo.”

For more information regarding the Greater Ardmore Chamber of Commerce visitwww.greaterardmorechamber. com.

Athens Trio Purchases Historic Downtown Building

by Blake Williams A prime storefront in downtown Athens sold after being on the market for only one day. Danny Whitfield, David Gregory, and Stephen Ryberg purchased the vacant, historic 8 Balls Billiards building located at 100 W. Market Street.

The trio graduated from Athens High School together in 1982 and has major plans for the 2800 square foot building. The group of friends, now business partners, are not ready to announce exactly what they plan to do; however, they have the passion to enhance the downtown district.

Athens Main Street Executive Director Tere Richardson is excited to partner with the trio to welcome them to downtown Athens. “Seeing new life brought to a down-

February 05 - February 18, 2021

town building long vacant is one of the most exciting and gratifying components of the revitalization process,” said Richardson. “You get to see buildings come back to life right before your eyes.” Richardson wishes them well in their renovations and will be there to offer help along the way.

Elkmont Volunteer Fire Dept. News

by Blake Williams The Elkmont Police Department donated PPE supplies (gloves, masks, hand sanitizer, and a fogging machine plus gallons of disinfectant) to the Elkmont Volunteer Fire Dept.

The Town of Elkmont donated two AEDs (automated external defibrillator) and two aspirated suction pumps to the Volunteer Dept.

Athens Mayor Ronnie Marks said of the venture, "This is another exciting project for Athens, and I look forward to seeing this building repurposed into an asset for the downtown area.”

“We have enjoyed seeing the excitement of the community on the possibilities of this project,” said Ryberg. “Stay tuned for future announcements regarding this establishment very soon.”

Assistant Fire Chief Michael Carter (right) is pictured receiving the supply for his department

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Clean, Green And Beautiful

Household Hazardous Waste Collection Event on April 10!

by Leigh Patterson - Executive Coordinator - Keep Athens-Limestone Beautiful Mark your calendar!

Keep Athens-Limestone Beautiful is pleased to announce that we will be hosting another Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) Collection Event in 2021. If you missed our last event, now is your chance! Springtime is a great time to clean out and gather up all of your household cleaners, household chemicals, old paint, lawn and garden chemicals, or other items that you may have been storing for years. Our collection offers you an opportunity to rid your home of potentially dangerous items and to properly dispose of them once and for all!

KALB would like to cordially invite all Limestone County residents to our 2021 Household Hazardous Waste Collection Event. This event will be held on Saturday, April 10 from 8:00 a.m. to noon in the Athens Middle School north parking lot (between the school and the football stadium), located at 100 US Hwy 31 in Athens. The gates will close at noon sharp, so be sure to arrive in plenty of time. Volunteers will be on site to provide traffic direction in the parking lot and to help unload vehicles. This event will be a drive-through, drop-off event, and residents are encouraged to stay inside their vehicle to allow the volunteers to unload their HHW items. Please note, this event is for LIMESTONE COUNTY RESIDENTS ONLY.

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Examples of (including but not limited to) acceptable household hazardous waste items: • Paint (spray paint, liquid paint) and paint-related products such as mineral spirits, turpentine, furniture strippers, paint removers, stains • Automotive products such as transmission and brake fluid, anti-freeze, gasoline • Lawn and garden poisons such as weed killers, fertilizers, herbicides, pesticides, rodent poisons, roach and flea powder • Household cleaners and chemicals such as oven and toilet cleaners, disinfectants, drain cleaners, rug shampoo, polishes, ammonia, bleach-based products, pool chemicals • Fluorescent bulbs (contact KALB to specify type) Items Not Accepted: We cannot accept explosives, medical waste, biological waste, or radioactive materials.

If you have an item that you are unsure about, please contact us and we will get an answer for you.

For Your Safety: Please do not load your HHW items into an enclosed vehicle the night before the collection event. These chemicals may release toxic or harmful fumes into your vehicle when left for an extended period of time.

Also, do not allow these items to get wet before the event. Some chemicals are water reactive and may cause injury or harm. Do not mix unknown items

together as this may cause a dangerous chemical reaction. Please try to bring these items in their original containers. However, if these containers are damaged, please put them in a box that has been lined with two garbage bags or in a container with a lid. If your household wastes are leaking, put the box or container in cat litter, sawdust, or other similar absorbent materials.

Why This Event Is Important: Household hazardous waste items, when burned or poured down the sink or storm drains, are very harmful to our environment. When these items are placed inside household garbage, they pose a safety risk to sanitation workers, including fires and damage to sanitation trucks. Collectively they pollute our ground water, our soil, and our air.

Many people have admitted to disposing of these items improperly because there has been no proper

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way offered to them for disposal. This collection offers everyone in Limestone County a proper way to dispose of these items.

We, at KALB, are excited and grateful to be able to provide this collection event to our city and county residents. Without the support of the organizations listed below, this collection would not take place. We would like to thank the following for their partnership and support in making this muchneeded event happen: • Solid Waste Authority of Limestone County

Chairman Collin Daly • Athens City Council and Mayor Ronnie Marks • Solid Waste Disposal Authority of the City of Huntsville • Mayor’s Youth Commission Please feel free to contact KALB with any questions you may have. If we don’t have the answer, we can find one for you!

For information on our upcoming Trash Attack event on March 6, please visit the Keep Athens-Limestone Beautiful Facebook page, email us, or give us a call.

• Limestone County Commission and Commission

Become a Fan

(256) 233-8000 KALBCares@gmail.com www.KALBCares.com February 05 - February 18, 2021

Cooking with Anna

Do You Need An Attitude Adjustment?

by Anna Hamilton

“Ability is what you’re capable of doing. Motivation determines what you do. Attitude determines how well you do it.” Lou Holtz.

We are all born with certain abilities. God in his wisdom gave us all different abilities and talents. It is up to us to develop those talents further. I started taking piano lessons when I was in the second grade.

My mother made sure I practiced every day for at least 30 minutes. I’m not going to sugar coat it; it was a struggle. I fought it hard! But, with my mother’s persistence, I continued to practice and learn all I could.

I continued to take piano lessons all through high school and was even invited to audition for the Alabama School of Fine Arts. My love of music began from my motivation to continue to learn.

In college, I was a vocal performance major. I love to sing; I love all things music related. Part of being a vocal performance major included taking piano every semester. My piano teacher in college was a completely different animal than my teacher all through elementary and high school. She lived and breathed piano. I have never meet someone so talented. She knew everything! I soaked up her knowledge like a sponge. But I was a vocal major and spent most of my time focusing on vocal exercises. My teacher would get so frustrated because I didn’t fully apply myself to piano. On many occasions she would even hit my hands with a pencil when I didn’t play up to her standards. She would tell me on numerous occasions that I had wasted my talent in piano by focusing on my vocal performance. I had the ability to play piano, I was motivated because I had to take a piano class every semester, but I had an attitude of indifference towards piano. That attitude is what drove my teacher crazy.

I have the ability to lose weight. I am motivated to lose weight. But lately, my attitude stinks! I mean a smelly, stinks-to-the-high-heavens, rotten attitude! I just want to lay on the couch, eat pizza, drink soda, and eat

The “Best” Low-Carb Pizza

ice cream right out of the tub, all while a bag of chips sits on my chest.

For most people, this time of year is easy to eat healthy. Most everyone is focusing on eating healthy. I need an attitude adjustment, and guess what is giving me the adjustment? It’s my knees y’all! I am 40 and my joints are killing me! They are letting me know quickly that I am going to have to give them a break. Stop putting bad foods in my mouth, drop some pounds, and give my knees some relief. So, I am adjusting my attitude. I want to be able to get out and still do things; and if I continue abusing my body, that will not happen. So, new attitude and hopefully new knees soon. Y’all pray I can keep this good attitude going!

Next Tuesday, February 9, is National Pizza Day. Let’s just face it, pizza is amazing, it’s delicious, it’s cheesy, it’s a favorite among pretty much everyone. However, as much as we love it, it does not love us back. It’s heavy, it’s greasy, it’s loaded with sodium and fatty ingredients, and it is for sure to give you indigestion. So how can something so good be so bad?

Eating healthy and living a better lifestyle doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy pizza. You just have to make a few adjustments to make it fit into your new way of eating. Instead of the carb-heavy crust, this delicious pizza swap has a base that is gluten free, crazy low carb and diabetic friendly.

This pizza swap is so good that you can make this for the big Super Bowl game this Sunday, and everyone will want to enjoy this instead of the traditional store-bought pizza. My husband and I have still been able to enjoy pizza with this recipe, and I hope your family loves it as well. Be sure to add the toppings that you love the most! Make healthy food fun; trust me, if you do, you will stick with this new way of eating longer and it will become your way of eating!

“Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms.” 1 Peter 4:10

Ingredients: Crust: 1 (8oz) package cream cheese, softened 2 eggs ¼ tsp black pepper 1 tsp garlic powder ¼ cup grated parmesan cheese Topping: ½ cup pizza sauce 1 ½ cup shredded mozzarella cheese Toppings of choice: Pepperoni, sausage, ham, mushrooms, onions, peppers, olives Garlic powder Italian seasoning

February 05 - February 18, 2021

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Lightly spray a 9x13 baking dish with cooking spray. With a handheld mixer, mix cream cheese, eggs, pepper, garlic powder, and parmesan cheese well. Spread into baking dish. Bake 12-15 minutes, or until golden brown. Allow crust to cool for 10 minutes.

Spread pizza sauce on crust. Top with cheese and your favorite toppings. Sprinkle pizza with garlic powder and Italian seasoning.

Bake 10-12 minutes, until cheese is melted and bubbly.

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Steve’s Corner

Reaping Where You Did Not Sow

by Steve Leland

Luke 19:21 (KJV) For I feared thee, because thou art an austere man: thou takest up that thou layedst not down, and reapest that thou didst not sow.

This verse occurs during the wrap-up of the parable of the man who gave his servants some money and told them to occupy until he returned from a trip that he was taking.

Sidebar: To “occupy” doesn’t mean to just be present in a location, it means to take charge of the situation. Think of an occupying army; they impose their will on the country over which they have taken charge. They may loot it and terrorize the populace, or they may rebuild it and assist the

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people to thrive.

Yeshua told his disciples, extending to us, to occupy till his return. We are to be building the Kingdom and transforming society around us while we wait; not just entertaining ourselves.

What always bothered me was the statement that the servant made to the master. He told his master that he had been afraid because his master was harsh and rigid who picked things up that he hadn’t laid down and harvested what he hadn’t planted. In response, his master flat out admitted these statements.

This seemed to imply to me that his master was a thief.

How could this be? I take this parable as being an example for us occupying until our master Yeshua returns. He is in the war with us against the enemy, so I can understand that there are times that his expectations of us might feel a bit harsh and rigid, but to have him portrayed as a thief just didn’t sit well with me.

So, I spent many years being bothered by this, until I realized the scenario in which the last statement could make sense without equaling theft. If a farmer was going broke in between the time that he had planted a field of wheat, for instance, and the maturing of the crop, and he was forced to sell

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the land prior to the ripening of the grain, the new owner would have the right to harvest what the original owner had planted.

Another sidebar: Land in the Old Testament was owned in perpetuity by the family. Any land that was sold reverted to the family at the 50-year Jubilee. So, the only real value that the new owner could realize was the crops grown on that land in the number of years left until the Jubilee. Allowing the previous owner to harvest the growing crop would diminish his return on investment.

As far as the “taking up what he hadn’t laid down,” I don’t have any

understanding, but I would imagine that Yah has a perfect answer that we will know at some point down the road.

Luke 19:26 (KJV) For I say unto you, That unto every one which hath shall be given; and from him that hath not, even that he hath shall be taken away from him.

Notice that even those that think that they don’t have anything have more to lose than they realize.

Personally, I have never been a writer. But Yah has convinced me that with His help I can do a bit of it. If I had left it buried, I wouldn’t be sharing these thoughts that may bless a few people here and there.

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Cover Story

ChristyCare: A Loving, Caring, And Safe Place For Seniors To Spend Their Day

I h by Ali Elizabeth Turner t e continued from page 1

I o h m n -

e t e

r s h f I e s d

with Plato; the loose translation made its way to the English language in 1894, and most recently was put into action by Christy Todd of ChristyCare Senior Day Care. You see, Christy found herself in need of specialized care for her mom once a diagnosis of dementia changed both of their lives. Christy was working full time and tried utilizing personal sitters, but the cost was too expensive and her mother seemed to be declining just staying home.

Christy wanted her mom to have a high quality of life, something to engage her more, and had been researching the benefits of socialization and how it had been proven to slow down the decline brought on by dementia.

She said, “I knew there were other people like me taking care of spouses, parents, or grandparents, and that needed a break-A place that not only provided care but would bring joy and laughter and love to everyone.” That’s how ChristyCare was born.

Christy Todd knows the medical world well. She has done respiratory therapy and has sold medical equipment. She also worked in the senior care industry as it pertains to visiting caregivers. She is resourceful, for sure, but the problem was that she needed to be able to take care of her mom as well as make a living. So, the doors opened right and left that led to the creation of ChristyCare Senior Day Care in Huntsville, as well as the Athens/Harvest ChristyCare that is located close to the corner

Lisa Toney, Director of ChristyCare Athens/Harvest

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of Capshaw and East Limestone Rd. Both locations were going great guns until COVID hit, and they had to close for a couple of months.

But they are back open and ready to take care of your loved one who needs TLC during weekdays or on Saturday.

Christy is certified in dementia training, but her truest “school” has been what she has learned in the process of caring for her mom; and now others are reaping the benefits.

I visited the Harvest/ Athens ChristyCare center and was thoroughly delighted by what I observed and experienced.

It is bright, sunny, and spacious. There are examples of artwork and crafts created by the ChristyCare seniors. There are activities galore, which include dancing, basketball (appropriate for seniors), painting, storytelling, listening to oldies, and the hope is that when the weather warms up, a raised garden will be ready to plant in the outside back patio. I saw a video of Christy’s mom getting a chance to experience a visit from a baby goat, and it was heartwarming. Sometimes (when COVID isn’t a problem) younger kids get a chance to come in and interact with the seniors. The results for both are nothing short of amazing.

As wonderful as it was to see that there

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was lots of fun stuff to do, what sold me on ChristyCare is the obvious love of the staff for the clients, as well as how the clients enjoyed each other. Christy will be the first to tell you that her fierce protective love for seniors parlayed into a successful business is the result ultimately of walking in her calling. Her use of the word “precious” is not colloquial, she genuinely feels those in her charge are worthy of the description. ChristyCare is not just for people battling with dementia. Some folks have had strokes, some are hospice patients or have Parkinson’s, some have balance issues, and some are just lonely or depressed. No matter their struggle, they are treated with love, honor, and respect.

pleasure of promoting Lisa Toney to the position of director at the Harvest facility. Lisa has the same heart of love as does Christy, and if either of my parents were still alive, this is the kind of care I would want them to receive.

Recently, Christy had the

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Here are some real endorsements from raving fan clients: “I love this place and ChristyCare caretakers. I take my 82-year-old husband here every day. Why do I love this place?

Because my husband loves it here. He loves the workers and speaks glowingly of them.”

- Cathi Shomin Rotan

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Health and Fitness

Back To Basics - Quinoa

by Nick Thomas, owner of Prime Performance Training, and Certified Sports Nutritionist This strange food everyone has heard of but no one can pronounce has a huge nutritional value.

It can be extremely beneficial, and it might even be worthy enough to be deemed a “superfood.”

Quinoa is botanically considered a seed rather than a grain. It is a broadleaf plant that produces seeds rather than fruit.

Unlike actual grains, such as wheat and barley which grow in grasses, quinoa plants grow edible seeds. Because of this process, it is officially labeled as a “pseudocereal,” a seed used in nutrition the same way a cereal grain such as barley would be.

Quinoa holds some pretty awesome anti-inflammatory and disease fighting properties. It is a rich source of complete protein, especially for a grain. The secret is lysine which is a rare amino acid not found in many other gains.

This “super grain” reduces chances of developing type 2 diabetes, and can also help keep glucose levels balanced for those already affected by diabetes. The reason this works is because quinoa is rich in complex carbohydrates, or healthy car-

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bohydrates, that slowly digest and keep the body full longer while maintaining blood sugar and appetite level.

Magnesium, which is a vital mineral required for optimal metabolism, cardiovascular, and blood vessel function, is found in quinoa as well.

For those who suffer from migraines, quinoa may be a great choice for weekly meals because it is high in riboflavin, or vitamin B2.

This promotes blood vessel expansion in the brain and reduces the chances of migraines.

ing cooking, red quinoa is used mostly in salads or other recipes where a grain like texture is desired. Black quinoa actually has a bit of a different taste than the other two types. It has more of an earthy, sweet flavor and takes the longest to cook.

Quinoa is a very practical superfood side dish

that can easily be added to a weekly menu for the whole family. It can be found in the grain aisle at almost any grocery store these days. Simply follow the directions on the bag; just add a generous sprinkle of sea salt to the water for extra flavor. Bone broth can even be used instead of water when boiling for added

flavor depth. Use quinoa instead of rice or other grains as a side dish to any meal or even mix it in with your salad for an added texture, taste, and nutritional punch.

For more information regarding a personalized general or sports nutrition plan contact me at Prime Performance 423805-0870.

If celiac disease or a gluten intolerance is an issue, quinoa should become a mealtime staple item. It is technically a seed; however, because it is unrelated to wheat, it makes the perfect substitute for pasta, wheat flour, oatmeal, and so much more. Quinoa is so diverse, it can be ground, boiled, baked, steamed, and even fried.

There are three verities of quinoa -- white, red, and black. White quinoa is the most widely sold and takes the least amount of time to cook.

Because it does not easily lose it shape dur-

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February 05 - February 18, 2021

Cover Story

Thermal Imaging Center: A Breakthrough In Health Care Imaging Services

by Cheree Vasquez offering another set of eyes for this invisible, unique, non-verbal communication. Not only is the skin a recipient of signals, but produces hormones that are released into circulation. Even before the patient or provider is aware, the skin is already shouting for help… but we can only see that invisible warning with an infrared device.

continued from page 1

tic approaches is what drives me. I previously worked in the medical industry where I gained experience in emergency department care, occupational health, and primary care. My experiences allowed me to see that most of the patients coming in for treatment were suffering from chronic conditions that were completely preventable. My own need for knowledge led me to the Institute of Integrative Nutrition (IIN), where I studied over 100 dietary theories, practical lifestyle management techniques, and innovative coaching methods with top health and wellness experts. After becoming a Certified Health Coach at IIN, I earned my Certification in Exercise Nutrition from Precision Nutrition, home of the world’s top nutrition coaches.

A couple of years later, I decided to continue my education in prevention of disease and holistic alternatives to provide my clients a roadmap for optimal health. This desire led me to thermography, a unique technology that detects physiological changes that can lead to chronic disease. In June 2019, I received official training in technical and clinical thermography and became a certified thermography technician. Thermal Imaging Center was created and it became my dream career! Please read on to find out what thermography is and how it can benefit you.

Have you ever heard of thermography or infrared imaging for the human sciences? If not, this is an opportunity for an astonishing discovery about the human body. If you have

The FDA accepts the following indications for use: “Thermography is intended for use as an adjunct to other clinical diagnostic procedures for quantifying and screening of differences in skin surface temperature changes.” Simple and so complete. It covers the whole body. heard of thermography, this may offer you a new perspective and awareness for what it really offers.

Thermography is a highly sensitive study of the largest, most intelligent, and most available organ of the body: the skin.

Are you thinking, “Only the skin?” Here’s the good news about the skin: Central Processing Unit: The skin is like the body’s central processing unit that shares information between all systems, including the neurological, immune, and endocrine function and pathways. The skin has the information, and thermography functions as the monitor; it measures and evaluates the metabolic signals that change the temperature on the skin’s surface.

phy can see the different color changes that can indicate a lack of oxygen, various types of trauma, and exposure to chemicals, radiation, hot and cold conditions, embarrassment, and stress. It also exposes signs of alcohol and tobacco abuse.

However, these signs along with visible skin disorders are often a sign of morbidity or advanced damage -- even psychological disorders.

The skin is constantly experiencing dynamic change. This change emits from the body as subtle voltage variations.

Thermography is the interface

Non-Verbal Communication: These temperature differences on the skin can’t be seen with the naked eye. Thermogra-

February 05 - February 18, 2021

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The human body is miraculously programmed to maintain and heal itself as long as we don’t abuse it. Thermography, with its heightened sensitivity allows us the ability to observe the body in the process of prioritizing problem areas, so we can ask the question and see the answer to: “What is going on?”

We can then investigate with focused guidance.

Whether we realize it or not, we unconsciously look at people’s skin to evaluate their general health. Now we can intentionally and uniquely observe the skin for that very purpose. So you see, thermography is not just a device that sees heat, but

it’s a health discovery tool!

Thermography is not a standalone diagnostic tool. It can be used with any other test. That could be ultrasound, x-ray, mammogram, MRI, CT scan, etc. In fact, because the FDA identifies thermography as an adjunct to mammography, anyone who has ever had a mammogram should also have a thermogram!

Mindful Wellness - If you are a believer in mindful wellness, I invite you to discover the unspoken communication revealed by clinical infrared thermography.

If you would like to schedule an appointment, please visit www.thermalimagingcenter. com or you can call me at 256337-1946. Also, if you have any questions about thermography, please shoot me an email cheree@thermalimagingcenter.com. I look forward to hearing from you!

Thermal Imaging Center 917 SW Merchants Walk, Suite C Huntsville, AL 35801 Hours: Monday and Tuesday: 10:00 AM - 4:00 PM Wednesday: 10:00 AM - 5:30 PM Thursday: 10:00 AM - 6:00 PM Friday: 10:00 AM - 2:00 PM Saturday and Sunday: CLOSED Page 17

Learning As A Lifestyle

The Myth Of Multitasking

by Andrew Dollar

Director, Center for Lifelong Learning - 121 South Marion Street, Athens, AL 35611 - 256-233-8262 The other weekend, I was sitting at my desk working on a homework assignment. I heard the ding from my computer alerting me of an email in my work account. It was a short request for information.

I instantly replied and returned to my assignment. A few minutes later, my phone buzzed with a text message.

Another instant, quick reply. I again returned to my assignment. But now I am unfocused, still distracted, and well removed from my state of flow. My mind is wandering through the dark abyss of all the things I could be doing (suddenly there was a growing need to wash my car) instead of the assignment before me.

Thirty minutes later, I have shopped on Amazon for stuff I don’t need, caught up with a friend, and written maybe two sentences. And I wondered why this paper was taking me so long.

up lunch. If you couldn’t juggle it all, then you were seen as inefficient or, maybe, even lacking important skills. Over the past decade, the push for multitasking seems to have shifted a bit. Maybe people finally came to their senses.

Of course, 2020 brought a different type of multitasking. You were expected to stay on top of your work while away from your colleagues, keep track of virtually defined outcomes, sit in front of your computer screen all day, and stay composed during the meeting all while a fiveyear-old was having a meltdown immediately outside your makeshift office. Welcome to the modern multitasking challenge. I hope you came prepared.

The downside to multitasking is that you never really do any one of those things very well.

You might complete them. You might even do a good job. But it is difficult to imagine a scenario where you give 100% effort if you are constantly flipping back and forth between items.

While I probably can’t provide advice to curtail the five-year-old’s meltdown, I can suggest a few things to help you achieve your state of flow and attend to the task at hand.

1. Put your phone in the other room. Phones are the #1 distraction.

Texts, notifications, Tik-Tok videos, and all those cute puppy memes.

2. Sit down before you

Many of us operate like this all day long. There are some people who call this multitasking. They even wear it as a badge of honor. But does this really work well?

In the late ‘90s, multitasking was all the rage. You were expected to give a presentation while answering your phone and picking

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start your work and prioritize. Ask yourself, “If I complete X, or these 3 things, will I feel accomplished for the day?” Mark your intentions.

3. Set a timer for yourself. Fifteen minutes at a minimum; maybe 45 minutes if you need more. Tell yourself that for the next 15 minutes you will work on one project and one project only. Give the task 100% of your focus.

4. Go for a walk outside. Clear your head and come back with the goal of prioritizing the workload.

Be careful not to fall in the trap of doing something around the house/office…or you will suddenly spend three hours alphabetizing your book col-

lection.

More often than not, we stand in our own way. Just the other day, I was complaining that I didn’t have enough time to complete the needed work.

In all honesty, I probably didn’t. What compounded the issue was that I bounced from task to task nonstop all day long. I was making slow, incremental progress on each of the projects, but the finish line still felt so far away. I wasn’t focused.

I had to leave the office and recalibrate my thinking. Luckily, my office is on the square in Athens and there is plenty to peruse during a brief walk.

Only then was I able to focus on completing one simple task at a time. The next hour I felt that more was accomplished than the previous two days. And more importantly, the quality of the work product was high and I marked things off the list. Completion of a task (and subsequent mark-through on a checklist) is a euphoric feeling of accomplishment and progress. And the feeling grows as you complete one task and move to another.

So, sit down, remove the distraction, prioritize, and devote a specified time to a task. As for the fiveyear-old, good luck.

February 05 - February 18, 2021

Jerry’s Journal

Get Tattooed And Get Rich

by Jerry Barksdale

The epic Southern novel, Gone with the Wind, describes Scarlett O’Hara with “skin so prized by southern women and so carefully guarded with bonnets, veils and mittens against hot Georgia sun…” A perfect description of Mama. Her skin looked like buttermilk and was beautiful and unblemished until the day she died at age 82.

Skin is our largest organ. It protects us against invading pathogens that seek to attack our bodies as well as insulating and regulating our temperature. It can be a thing of beauty. Mama was born in 1916, long before folks in America began defacing their skin with graffiti, piercing, and cooking in frying beds. Piercing was unheard of, except for putting rings in hogs noses to keep them from rooting out of their pen.

Mama didn’t go to the cotton field at daybreak with the rest of us. First, she first had chores to do. There was well water to draw and fill the black iron kettle in the backyard where she washed our clothes. After wringing and hanging them on the line to dry, she cleaned house, cooked dinner and finally dressed in her work outfit.

She arrived at the cotton patch around 9 a.m. clothed from head to toe and looking like an Arab sheik. Her bonnet, made from a Martha White flour sack and snuggly tied beneath her chin, enclosed her head. She wore one of Daddy’s work shirts buttoned to the top; loose fitting jeans and gloves made from old socks with the ends cut out allowing her fingers

to poke through. No ray of direct sunlight touched her white skin. At bed time, she plastered her face with Avon cold cream. Back then, women took great pride in their skin – like Scarlett O’Hara did. Tattooing, piercing, and frying would have been unthinkable.

When I was a kid I saved my cotton picking money so I could attend the County Fair and see what we called the “freak show:” a two headed calf, bearded woman, and the tattooed lady. That kind of entertainment has “gone with the wind.” Nowadays, you can go to Walmart and see tattooed ladies all day long for free.

The first time I saw a tattooed lady outside the County Fair was in court many years ago.

Her name was Rebel, and she had a garland of flowers tattooed around her ankle. I mentioned to my client that it was strange to me. “Heck, that ain’t nothing,” he said. “I know a guy who has a gopher rat tattooed on his privates.”

Ouch! How drunk was he, and how many men did it take to hold him down?

In 1995, while interviewing a WWII Veteran, I noticed an American Flag tattooed on his forearm. It was upside down. “Aww, I was drunk,” he said embarrassed “and so was the tattoo artist.” It’s a rite of passage for servicemen to get a tattoo. I got mine in Juarez, Mexico when I was 16. It seemed the cool thing to do, along with smoking.

When I was young, tattoos were simple like: “I love Mom” on a man’s shoulder or perhaps a girlfriend’s name over an arrow pierc-

February 05 - February 18, 2021

ing a heart. Now, I see what looks like chicken scratching tattooed on arms and necks. It must be “I love mom” written in a Chinese dialect, I don’t know.

Why do people get tattoos?

To paraphrase Henry David Thoreau, a monkey in Hollywood gets a tattoo and all the other monkeys want one too. Monkey-see-monkey-do.

Young people – called millennials– have a need to express themselves. It’s normal.

My generation wore Mohawk haircuts before moving on to long, scraggly hair. A classmate dyed one half of his hair orange and peroxided the other half. Nothing much changes in life, just names and locations. Brittany Howard, lead singer of the Alabama Shakes, of whom we are immensely proud, has the shape of Alabama tattooed on her right shoulder and a red heart designating Limestone County. Pretty smart. It promotes her band and her business.

It gave me an idea. Unfortunately, millennials are saddled with college debt, can’t get a job and many have to live with their parents, eat Mama’s cooking and sleep all day. I have a solution for them. Express your inner self and earn money – lots of money. Turn your skin into a walking billboard! NASCAR drivers sell space on their race car and coveralls to STP, Good Year, Coors Light and Pennzoil. They earn big money. So why can’t you?

Since retiring, I live on a fixed income while the cost of Viagra, Dulcolax and prune juice is rising. My medical co-pay shot up from $15.00 to $40.00 per office visit. Pretty soon I’ll be back

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drinking Pabst Blue Ribbon.

I need more income. I propose to sell tattoo space on my chest to Pfizer Pharmaceutical that says “BODY POWERED BY VIAGRA.” On my arms, “WANT TO SUE? CALL ALEXANDER SHUNNARAH, NOW.” Tattooed across my forehead will be “BRAIN FUELED WITH DEWAR’S SCOTCH,” and on my rump, “PROTECTED WITH PREPARATION H.” I figure I’ll soon be picking up seashells at Gulf Shores and sipping Mint Juleps.

Millennials, you can cash in too! Guys, a gopher tattooed on your privates would be an excellent D-Con ad, but I wouldn’t advise it. Women are afraid of rats, even dead ones. Women are creative and clever. A notable local and classy lady told me she is having “MOM” tattooed on her rump. I can just hear people on the beach oohing and ahhing, “How sweet.” When she stands on her head, it says

“WOW.” Clever, huh?

Full figure folks can really cash in. They have more skin available to sell more ad space. Unfortunately, the wormy-looking runner types will miss out on this financial opportunity. They won’t have enough skin for a beef jerky ad. Times have changed for sure. I bet if Scarlett O’Hara were alive today and you saw her on the beach at Gulf Shores, sipping a Mint Julep, she’d be wearing a string bikini, her skin cooked to a crisp, “I love Rhett” tattooed on her rump, and a hog ring in her nose.

Yes, the wind has changed.

Tattooing is a 2-3 billion a year industry. Artists earn $100,000 plus annually. An even more profitable business is outpacing tattooing: a multi-billion dollar industry removing tattoos.

The wind always shifts.

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Dog Barker

Last Will And Testament

by Joel Allen

Hello folks! In the early 80s my “PeePaw” (Mom’s dad) passed and left the family dogs he had taken in. We inherited Sissy, a huge German shepherd mix, and Checkers, a collie mix. They grieved PeePaw’s passing, but we loved them so much that they were happy; and they lived long lives with us. They had their quirks too. Sissy liked to take her huge body and shove her backside against a bed to scratch her back by rubbing against the bed; and boy, could she move that bed with every shove. She would sound a “ruff” every time she pushed against the bed too, LOL. Checkers did not like kitties, and we found this out one day when we showed her a kitten. One second the kitten was meowing in our hand and then it was gone into her mouth with the tail wiggling out of her mouth and my mom smacking the back of her head telling her, “No! Spit that kitty out!” Don’t worry the kitty was fine but we learned… “Bad dog!”

dad being walked around by the biggest Dane I could send him…LOL, and the whole time this is happening, he is grumbling my name under his breath. Don’t misunderstand, I love my parents but I would be giggling wherever I might be if the Lord let me see that.

In all seriousness, I will share my final plans as an example for everyone to consider for their plans. Right now, I have four dogs. Three are great Danes and one is a border collie/heeler mix. Two are service dogs that carry medicines and are trained for the public life. My wish for them is that they be placed where they could be of service to someone they chose, provided they were still able; and if they were retired, that the family would keep them.

Houston, my service dog who is a Dane, unless my dad wanted him, would be sent to my friends Sally

and Terry where he was born because he loves them as much as me.

Zoey, my service dog who is mixed, would be sent to my mom because Zoey loves her and can always beg off treats from her.

Woodrow, I would send to my friend Rob because “Woody” loves him very much. Ollie Girl, my elderly Dane, would be offered the choice of being with my parents, Sally and Terry, or another member of my family should she choose them. My dogs have already chosen who they love, and it works out better that way for everybody. Did I give my parents a choice? Nope, my dad knows that if my wishes are not honored, somebody is going to find their life has gotten a bit difficult because if God allows it…LOL…their cell phones are going kaput, their bank cards are not going to work, and that nice TV is going to stop func-

Imagine that your life has ended and your spirit has passed on to be with the Lord. Was everything taken care of? I bet it wasn’t because we never think about all our loved ones (those fur babies).

Oh, some of us do think that far ahead but not everyone. Do your final plans include the care of your animals? I tell my parents all the time they better pray that they pass before me because if not, my dad’s short self will be stuck with a huge Dane. Yes, I envision my

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tioning all together! Folks, I am not being mean...I am just being real.

So, I have covered my wishes, now what are yours? Let me help everyone by making some suggestions. First, talk with your family and speak about the “what ifs.” Make sure everyone who is told your wishes meets your animals and see if they are a fit. My dogs have chosen the people I mentioned in my plans; so let yours do the same. By doing this, there will be less behavior issues, less shoes being chewed up and such…and everybody will get along better.

Second, tell your loved ones what is expected for the care of your animals.

We all have a different way of doing things, but we all know the quirks of our dogs too. Explain their likes and dislikes, especially if one of your dogs has a protective sense about them. When

they grieve, and they will grieve our passing, they tend to be like children and sometimes act out. So, be sure to cover the possibilities that could happen.

Lastly, make your wishes clear and the responsibility of care for each dog.

I Go over any health isc sues they might have. As a I have stated before, the c homes and people they a choose are the best trani sitions for them. It has t to be considered and rei membered that when they b are moved to their new t homes, it will be a shock n to them, and they may not m be themselves for a time. k Just give them space and t just love them because evw erything they have known y has been changed or taken w away. During these times, p nice walks will help divert t their minds and bond them p to their new humans. p One more parting shot,s don’t be that person whos just takes them to thei pound because it might ben hard to take care of them.j This happens a lot. I wouldt consider this a dishonor toy my memory and a lack ofc love toward me. Then yourT nice stuff would definitelyt stop working! I would be-r come your “Murphy”! i o

R “Remember to love your o dogs because they love c you. Maybe not the way c you want them to, like c chewing up your favorite i shoes or what not, but f that is just love chew- c ing. Be thankful for the s time you have with them i t always.” c Joel Allen b 256-651-2211 o

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February 05 - February 18, 2021

Mental Health Minute

Managing Chronic Loneliness

by Lisa Philippart, Licensed Professional Counselor

“You cannot be lonely if you like the person you are alone with.”

- Wayne W. Dyer

In my last article, we discussed the types, causes, and signs and symptoms of chronic loneliness. In this article I will be addressing several methods to better manage your feelings of isolation and aloneness. I believe that it is important to accept that loneliness is a normal function of our humanness. Sometimes, just knowing that others around the world are struggling with the same feelings as you are can be helpful. Even without the effects of the pandemic, research suggests that 40% of people will experience loneliness at some point in their lives. It may ,seem that with the internet, social media, and Zoom that eit is easier than ever to conenect. But loneliness is sub.jective. In fact, it’s possible dto feel lonely even when you have a significant other, fchildren, or lots of friends. rThis normal emotion is one ythat almost everyone experiences at some point, and it’s something that you can overcome.

loneliness may lead to selfdestructive habits. Drug and alcohol abuse, gambling, and other self-harming actions have all been linked to loneliness. Thus, finding a “cure” for loneliness can prevent these habits from developing in the first place.

It probably goes without saying, but loneliness can and does affect your mental health. As loneliness increases, so does depression.

One of the main signs of depression is no longer wanting to do things you used to enjoy, including spending time with friends.

Loneliness can make us pull away from our relationships, even when we need them the most. By nurturing the relationships you already have, you can place yourself on a path to overcoming isolation. Here are some ideas for connecting or reconnecting: 1. Schedule time daily or weekly to talk to or “visit” a friend.

2. Invite someone to lunch.

3. Start conversations with your neighbors.

4. Join a group or club.

This may be the time to find a hobby.

Boredom adds weight to loneliness. If you are struggling with feelings of separation, the cure isn’t watching Netflix by yourself every night! Instead, find something else to occupy your time…something that includes some social aspect. Take up photography and head out to the Botanical Garden or join a gardening group. Do your best to pick something fun that also places you in a social situation. The “getting-outthere” part is challenging in these times, but it can be done. If you aren’t into hobbies, how about finding a volunteer opportunity? By volunteering you’re not only putting yourself in a place where you can meet people, but you’ll also be focused on

a task. Volunteering helps with issues like shyness or social anxiety, and it gives you something to look forward to if you’re struggling to find meaning in your life.

An added bonus is that the people you meet volunteering are likely to share your interests. For example, if you love animals, volunteering at a local shelter will almost guarantee that you will meet other dog or cat people with whom you can connect.

When you are feeling lonely, and you start to think something like, “Ugh, I hate my life. No one wants to spend time with me,” you are adding to your loneliness. You are missing social connections, while taking a beating to your self-esteem. Make an effort to catch those thoughts and replace them with a positive message instead. The practice of positive self-talk takes practice, but it can be a simple cure for loneliness. A good mental health counsel-

or can share with you some positive self-talk techniques through cognitive behavior therapy. A therapist can also help you explore the factors behind your feelings.

Other issues surrounding your loneliness may need to be identified and explored.

Loneliness does not have to be a permanent feeling. You can get help and move on to happier days. And if you feel lonely and have thoughts of suicide, seek help immediately. There are national helplines like the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255, or locally, Crisis Services of North Alabama at 256-716-1000.

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.

Recognizing the effects of loneliness can help you combat them. Loneliness can actually be felt physically. Studies show that being lonely can make you feel colder, can increase cholesterol and blood pressure, and can even stop your immune system from functioning properly. Loneliness can also disrupt your sleep because it puts your body on “high alert.” In addition,

February 05 - February 18, 2021

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The Alternative Approach

Train Your Brain

by Roy Williams

“No,” you tell yourself.

“I’ve stopped.” You eat something and your subconscious reminds you that you always smoke after eating. Remember, it controls memory.

Is it time for you to train your brain? When I ask that question, many people say, “What do you mean. I went to school isn’t that the way to train your brain?”

To some degree, school can be used to help you with knowledge and to develop skills that can be used throughout life. For instance, in order become a skilled surgeon you must develop a specific set of skills. That may be recognized as a trained brain.

More specifically, I am talking about unleashing a power you may not even know you have. In this article, I will explain how two parts of your brain, when trained, will work together to help you accomplish almost anything you can imagine. Want to be slender, more muscular, or healthier; have a more appealing personality; be a more dynamic communicator; have more money; get more done; or maybe learn to relax and reduce stress. The sky is the limit when you learn to train your brain.

There are two parts of the brain that control almost every aspect of your life. Your conscious brain

controls your sensorium.

The Merriam-Webster dictionary says: “Sensorium is the parts of the brain or the mind concerned with the reception and interpretation of sensory stimuli; broadly, the entire sensory.”

The conscious brain controls the five senses giving you the ability to smell, taste, feel, hear, and see.

It is the only part of the brain that knows right and wrong, good and bad. It is the rational, logical, reasoning part of human existence. It controls only about 10% of the power you have.

The subconscious, on the other hand, does not know right from wrong, good

from bad, it has no ability to use logic, rationale, or reasoning when making decisions. It is more like a robot. Your subconscious controls the other 90% of your brain including memory, cravings, urges, desires, and emotions. It is also where all habits are seated.

Remember, your subconscious cannot tell the difference between something you vividly imagine and reality. You wake up from a nightmare scared to the point of crying, sweating, nervous, or panicked.

Was the dream real? No, but because your subconscious could not tell that the dream was not really happening, your subconscious believed it was real; your body responded as if it was really happening.

Your subconscious is a sum total of what you have programed it to be. Everything you have ever experienced is a permanent part of your subconscious and will act accordingly.

Someone who has smoked

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a pack a day for 20 years has programed his or her subconscious mind to smoke. It believes you are supposed to smoke, and it will drive you to smoke. It is a habit.

A habit is, anything you have learned to do since birth and have done it over and over so many times that you can do it without thinking about it. Your subconscious mind is estimated to be 90 times more powerful than your conscious mind.

One morning you decide to stop smoking. A conscious decision. Consciously you truly want to give up that nasty, disgusting, stinking, expensive habit. At that moment you are okay. No problem, no withdrawals, just that easy, right?

You get dressed and you catch yourself thinking, I should smoke. You think, “Why am I thinking about smoking? I’ve given up that habit.” You are okay at that point. You get in the car to go to work and your subconscious says, “You always smoke in the car.”

If you refuse, your subconscious will begin to cause cravings. Break time at work you find yourself craving a cigarette thinking, “I could smoke one a foot long.”

When you continue to resist, you may become emotional. Someone asks you a question, and you snap and say something really ugly almost before you can think. By the end of the day, you have the jitters, shakes, and are ready to climb the walls; you are angry and frustrated.

Your brain has been trained to smoke. What if you take that same type of programing to reach worthwhile goals? It is the same principle. The Bible says, “Train up a child in the way you would have them go and when they are old they will not depart from it.” To that I say, “Do what you know you should be doing, and with enough repetition your subconscious will take over and drive you to your destination.

To learn more, go to Herbs & More in Athens or NHC Herb Shop in Killen. We are dedicated to “Making America Healthy One Person At A Time.” Check us out at www.nhcherbs.com.

Your Friend in Health, Lana E. Woody

February 05 - February 18, 2021

Cover Story

ChristyCare: A Loving, Caring, And Safe Place For Seniors To Spend Their Day

by Ali Elizabeth Turner continued from page 15

“My mom has been coming to ChristyCare for several years now. At the beginning, she was hesitant when I left. Now she can’t wait for me to leave so she can have fun with her “new friends.” She loves bingo, music days, and even looks forward to chair exercises! I don’t know what I would do without ChristyCare!”

- Dr. Gail Bundow

ChristyCare is a “home away from home for your loved ones.” It is affordable, reliable, reduces stress for everyone, and improves family dynamics. A full ten-hour day is $80, half day is $60, and Saturday care (available at the Huntsville location) from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. is $65. The hours are Monday-Friday, 7 a.m.- 6 p.m., and special weekend packages are available.

Call ChristyCare today to speak with one of their caring staff and see if this is a good fit for your fam-

February 05 - February 18, 2021

ily. At ChristyCare, everyone experiences a blessing.

ChristyCare, Harvest location

27669 Capshaw Road Harvest, AL 35749 Phone: 256 604-3117 www.christy.care Facebook: ChristyCare

ChristyCare,

Huntsville location 7262 Governors West, Suite 111 Huntsville, AL, 35806

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Anderson Potts just came to ChristyCare for the first time and loved it

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