February 20, 2015

February 20 - March 5, 2015

AthensNowal.com E-MAIL: info@athensnowal.com ADVERTISING: Ali: 256-468-9425 Deborah: 256-309-9399

See Our Listings Inside this edition...

Pages 25 - 32

Special Feature Top Job Roofing And Construction: Silver Sponsor Of The 2015 Home And Garden Show...

In September of 2014, Athens Now ran an advertorial about Top Job Roofing and...

Page 5

Serendipity Antiques And Interiors: The Hunt Is The Best Part!

By Ali Elizabeth Turner

From The Vets’ Museum

Sandy Collins, owner of Serendipity Antiques and Interiors, is a Southern gentlewoman who spent several years “swimming with the sharks” in the corporate world of the Northeast.

Before becoming a record setter in a Boston financial planning firm, Collins was a very successful realtor in New Hampshire, selling 22 million dollars in new homes for a prominent builder in southern New Hampshire and northern Massachusetts. Then, as it often does, “life happened,” and she and her husband decided to return to Alabama to be near her aging parents.

Black History And The Revolutionary War...

Although Black Americans have actively participated in every major U.S. conflict, it wasn’t until an executive order by President Harry S. Truman in 1948, that the U.S. military became...

Page 10

Clean And Green Protecting Our Waters...

Water - a transparent, odorless, tasteless liquid consisting of a compound of hydrogen and oxygen, that constitutes rain, oceans, lakes, rivers, etc., and is essential to life on earth...

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February 20 - March 5, 2015

It was her mother who cultivated SanContinued on pages 16-17

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February 20 - March 5, 2015

Publisher’s Point

The “People Of The Cross”

Publisher / Editor Ali Turner

Sales

Deborah Huff

Graphic Design

Jonathan Hamilton

Web Design Teddy Wolcott

Delivery

Hunter Williams

Contributing Writers Shelley Underhill Wanda Campbell Janet Hunt Sandra Thompson Deb Kitchenmaster Lynne Hart Jackie Warner Dr. Patrick Boyett Jim Doyle

Publisher’s Point . . . . . . . . 3

Most of us have had moments in our lives we will never forget, things like where we were on 9/11, or if we are old enough, when JFK, RFK, and Martin Luther King were assassinated. I had one this week, the sight of 21 Egyptian Christians kneeling in orange prison jumpsuits in front of their black clad executioners, with strangely gentle waves of the waters near Tripoli lapping around them both. All of the 21 were beheaded, a part I chose not to watch, and all the while on the crawler at the bottom of the screen, the same caption played continuously until the grisly deed was finished: “The people of the cross, followers of the hostile Egyptian church.”

Of course, this is on the heels of the 45 being burned alive in Iraq, the Jordanian soldier being put in a cage and burned alive, the Charlie attacks

in Paris, the woman beheaded in Oklahoma, the crucifixions, the beheading of a 5 year old, the beheading of Western journalists and no doubt other murders I have inadvertently omitted. There is only one good thing that is coming out of this: the politically correct belief that “jihad means an internal struggle” is circling the drain, at least for now.

At first our president would not describe those who were martyred because they were Christians as Christians, even though their murderers described them as such. He called them “Egyptian citizens.”

Thankfully he called their murders “despicable and cowardly,” and then later wrote a subsequent op-ed, (after there had been a significant outcry from Christians regarding the use of the uber-neutral term “citizens”) in which he then referred to them as Christians.

Meanwhile, Marie Harf,

one of the younger members of the Obama State Department, has come under well-deserved fire for what has become known as the “jobs for jihadis” gaffe. She said, that ‘we cannot win this war by killing them, we cannot kill our way out of this war.’ Instead, she said, the administration should ‘go after the root causes that leads [sic] people to join these groups’ – including ‘lack of opportunity for jobs. We can work with countries around the world to help improve their governance,’ she said. ‘We can help them build their economies so they can have job opportunities for these people.’

The great irony here is that it is the free market principles she espouses as the powerful solution to jihad are found in the teachings of the “people of the cross,” and their predecessors, “the people of the Book.” By this I mean Christians and Jews,

the very ones jihadists are sworn to destroy.

As I have been prayerfully pondering this package of madness, I have been thinking back more than 40 years ago when I was in theological school and studying the Book of Revelation. Back then, the concept of people being beheaded in our “day of supposed reason” for the cause of Christ seemed surreal.

But it is here, and while we have a duty to do everything we can to stop it, it is going to take the splitting of the Mount of Olives, the return of Messiah, and His ruling and reigning with a rod of iron to end forever the insanity of Ishmael.

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

All Things Soldier . . . . . . . 4 Special Feature . . . . . . . . . 5 Calendar of Events . . . . . . . . 6 What Makes Ronnie Roll . . . 8 From the Vets’ Museum . . . 10 Clean and Green . . . . . . . . 12 Cooking with Shelley . . . . . . 13 Health and Fitness . . . . . . 14 Cover Story . . . . . . . . . 16 - 17 Learning As A Lifestyle . . . 18 View From The Bridge . . . . 19 Horse Whispering . . . . . . 20 Medical Update . . . . . . . . 22 Security Savvy . . . . . . . . 23

February 20 - March 5, 2015

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All Things Soldier

An American Sniper

by Ali Elizabeth Turner I recently saw An American Sniper, the movie about Chris Kyle, the legendary SEAL sniper who was murdered after he returned from his last tour.

At the outset, it needs to be said that the language is foul, and the violence, while graphic, is in no way gratuitous. And, I would understand why many would stay away from seeing it for those two reasons.

However, I made myself go, in a way to show my respects to the SEALS amongst whom I lived for 16 months, and especially to Marc Lee, who was the first SEAL to die in Iraq.

In the process of writing my book, A Ballad for Baghdad, I got to know Marc Lee’s mom, Debbie, who is what is known as a Gold Star mom, someone who has lost a

take it in stride.

child in war. While I am not sure that the portrayal of Marc in the movie is very accurate, one thing is absolutely true: Marc had come in from a mission, and did not have to

go back out, but he chose to. And, that was his last mission.

American Sniper does the most outstanding job yet of illustrating just what it is that our Special Forces

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Vietnam Veterans of America (Chapt 511) 17915 W Elm St, Athens, Alabama (Call (256) 232Ͳ0029 for additional information) Page 4

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from all the branches of service go through to keep us safe, and the resulting bond that they forge in the process. The spec ops groups have the highest divorce rate amongst our military, in part because that “bond of brothers” at times is stronger than marriage. It takes a special man to be a SEAL, and it takes a special woman to be married to one.

I was reminded once again of my thankfulness for my husband, who somehow knew that as much as I loved being home on leave from Iraq, it was like living my life on a split screen TV. Part of me was wondering how everyone was doing back in the Great Sandbox, and just about the time I would actually start to feel like I was all the way home, it was time to go back. Somehow Steve “got that,” and I believe it was as a result of pure grace. Truly, I don’t know what I would have done if he hadn’t been able to

There is a saying about war: it either makes you grow together or grow apart. I watched both things happen in Iraq, and how glad I was that Chris and Taya Kyle, while they certainly had difficult struggles, ultimately grew stronger and closer. The tragedy of Chris’s murder is unspeakable, and I hope justice is served.

How strange that Chris’s killer is on trial for murder at the same time that the movie that ends with the murder in question is nominated for 6 Academy Awards, including Best Picture and Best Actor.

Bradley Cooper’s portrayal of Chris Kyle is seminal, and the depiction of his love for his country and his guys could be one of the finest of his career.

I hope he gets the Oscar, if for no other reason than to remind those who would call Kyle a “racist” who “went on killing sprees” that the only reason why they have the freedom to say those kinds of things is because of the very people they are vilifying, men such as Chris Kyle and Marc Lee.

Was An American Sniper rough? Absolutely. I told my family when we went that I needed to sit on the end of the aisle in case I needed to leave. I didn’t know what it would bring up in me, but I was glad that in spite of a number of tears shed, I emerged with my gratitude on fire, and the clear reminder of the caliber of men who are willing to give all for us, whether we appreciate them or not.

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Special Feature

Top Job Roofing And Construction: Silver Sponsor Of The 2015 Home And Garden Show

by Ali Elizabeth Turner In September of 2014, Athens Now ran an advertorial about Top Job Roofing and Construction. Our intention was essentially to welcome them to the community, and cheer them on as they decided to join the ever growing group of customers who are starting their own business, and breathing much appreciated life into the local economy. They have done well, and there is good news to be celebrated.

y It is our pleasure to announce that recently Top Job was awarded the Master Elite certification

by GAF, the largest roofing manufacturer in America. n Only 2% of all contracty ing and roofing firms have e been granted this certifi. cation, and in Limestone f County, Top Job is the first and only. It is an “invitation d only” designation, subject o to strict scrutiny, investigation and guidelines, and y one of the highest awards in the industry. With the s Master Elite classificay tion, Top Job can offer the , Golden Pledge Warranty e on certain materials as well as the job itself, all of r which is good for 25 years. d In addition, the warranty t on some roofing systems e lasts for 50 years.

I “GAF looked at our work t record, checked our supply companies, credit, d and made sure we never r cut any corners,” said cod owner Steve Ridinger. Zeb , Lewter, the other co-ownf er, also mentioned that Top o Job is now in a position r to offer financing for jobs e up to 55 thousand dollars.

are made locally in Tuscaloosa.

Top Job offers monthly specials, as well as special discounts for members of our Armed Forces, Educators, and Emergency Response Personnel, (active, retired and their surviving spouses). They also offer incentives for referrals. This year they are going to be what is known as Silver Sponsors at the Limestone County Chamber of Commerce Home and Garden Show, to be held for one day only at the County Event Henry Watson, (far left) presents the GAF Master Elite Certification to Center on March 15th. If Steve Ridinger, (l) Henry Fudge, and Zeb Lewter, (far right). you are looking for a local roofing and contract“One company does not ter moisture barrier. “75% the reasons they can do that ing company with memrun a credit score, and one of our installs this year used because their roofers are bership in the best national company does. The interest the architectural grade ma- not covered by Workman’s trade related certifying orrate is 12%,” he said. Steve terials,” Steve said. He then Comp, and the State of Alganizations, Top Job Roofwas quick to add that “12 added, “We are paying more abama only requires that ing and Construction is goper roof in our contracts roofing companies guaranmonths is same as cash.” ing to be your best choice, In addition, they are mem- than anyone else. We use tee their work for one year. because Steve and Zeb will bers of the National Roof- lead boots instead of rubber “All our roofers are covered make your job their “top ing Contractors Associa- gasket boots.” The result is by Workmen’s Comp,” they priority.” tion, the Limestone County simply a much better prod- told me. What you as a conChamber of Commerce, the uct, with a higher level of sumer may not know is, if a worker gets hurt on your Better Business Bureau, customer satisfaction.

Top Job also puts profes- property, and does not have have the Good Housekeeping Seal of Approval, sional “starter strip” at the insurance coverage, you as and are considered Master edge of the roof, rather than the homeowner are liable.

Top Job Roofing and Construction

Roofers. They are also what is known as Green Roofers, a certification that demonstrates that their methods are eco-friendly.

I learned some things about roofing during our time, one thing being that what are known as architectural roofing materials have to be nailed in six specific locations per shingle, or they can slide off the roof. All felt must be removed in order for the job to be done right, and not everyone does that.

Top Job uses synthetic felt, which provides a much bet-

February 20 - March 5, 2015

do what many companies do, and that is flip around a shingle tab to make a strip. The problem is, there is no seal on the makeshift strip, and it can peel up far more easily. The professional starter strip greatly increases a shingle’s ability to withstand high winds.

Top Job provides 10-50 year warranties and itemized statements as part of the contract process prior to beginning the job. The contractors are certified, and the shingles used for each job

803 South Jefferson St Athens, AL, 35611 256-232-5559 www.topjobroofing.com They are also on Facebook and Twitter

Storm season is upon us, and for the last several years as we have had to contend with Nature’s wrath, bargain rate roofing companies have come out of the woodwork, offering “unbelievable prices.” One of

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Calendar of Events 101 Inventions That Changed the World Through Mar 15th

U.S. Space and Rocket Center. One Tranquility Base, Huntsville, AL. Explore the key turning points in humankind’s history defined by creation or discovery in an “unforgettable multi-sensory experience... that’s like traveling the world and moving swiftly thorugh time.” For hours, admission and more information rocketcenter.com/admission

Mardi Gras Masquerade Ball Feb 21st

Joe Wheeler State Park. 4403 McLean Drive, Rogersville, AL. Grab your Mardi Gras beads and book this Mardi Gras escape to Joe Wheeler State Park. Package includes room for Saturday night, party and party favors for two on Saturday night, breakfast for two Sunday morning and all taxes and gratuities for $99.00. To make your reservation: 256-247-5461.

Focus on Nature Photography Workshop Feb 27th - Mar 1st

Joe Wheeler State Park. 4403 McLean Drive, Rogersville, AL. Enjoy a photographers weekend at Joe Wheeler State Park with field trips and seminars. Packages start at $249.00 and include room for Friday and Saturday nights, Breakfast Saturday and Sunday (during regular hours), Reception Friday and Saturday nights and Dinner Saturday Night. To make your reservation: 256-247-5461.

25th Annual Gospel Fest Feb 27th

Grand Foyer, Calhoun Community College Huntsville Campus. 102 Wynn Drive NW, Huntsville, AL. Join the Black Student Alliance Club for this free showcase of local talent at 6:00PM. For more information, contact Mattie Burks 256-306-2614.

Hospice of Limestone County Chili Challenge and Silent Auction Feb 28th

Athens High School. 100 U.S. Highway 31N, Athens, AL. Sample and choose the Chili Challenge People’s Choice winner, enjoy live music and bid on a variety of silent auction items. (Competitors Registration FULL) For more information: 256-232-5017.

Athens Garden Club Meet and Greet Mar 2nd

Family Life Center, First Baptist Church. 11590 U.S. Highway 31S, Tanner, AL. Jon the Athens Garden Club at 6:30PM for a special presentation by renowned author and former Chief Operating Officer of the Huntsville Botanical Gardens Mr. Harvey Cotten on “Butterflies in the Garden”. Refreshments will be catered by the students of the Limestone Area Vo-Tech School. For more information, AGC President Deborah Thomas 256-233-0117 or Ms. Rosemary Latham 256-232-5110.

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Polk Sallet Follies Mar 5th, 6th, 7th

This annual dinner show is a wonderful night of entertainment and delicious food at the Limestone County Council on Aging Senior Center 912 West Pryor Street in Athens, AL. Tickets can be purchased during the day at the Athens Senior Center or on Monday evenings from 5-8 at the Center. Tickets go on sale February 9th at the Athens Senior Center 912 West Pryor Street, Athens. Tickets are by advanced sale only, $35.00 each includes a 3-course dinner. Checks or cash only. No phone reservations accepted. www.pokesalletfollies.org.

17th Annual UCP “An Irish Evening” Mar 6th

The Depot Roundhouse. 398 Monroe Street, Huntsville, AL. Join United Cerebral Palsy of Huntsville and the Tennessee Valley for a night of Irish-inspired fun. Irish and international food and beverages will be sampled from local vendors. Celtic Entertainment including music by Bourbon and Shamrocks as well as Irish Step dancers will set your Irish Eyes to shining. Silent auction items will tempt you too. All proceeds directly benefit UCP client services throughout the Tennessee Valley. Tickets are $25 per person include food and beverages (one child 12 and under is free with each paid adult ticket).

The Learn to Read Corporate Spelling Bee Mar 7th

10AM. Cafeteria, Athens High School. 100 U.S. Highway 31, Athens, AL. Come watch the fun as three-person teams from area businesses, clubs, and organizations come to compete in this annual fundraiser.

Team fee is $300.00 and benefits Learn to Read programs. Spectators Free. To enter your team or for more information, call 256-230-3050.

Athens Home and Garden Show Mar 14th

Athens Home and Garden Show presented by the Greater Limestone County Chamber of Commerce at the Limestone County Event Center on 114 West Pryor Street in Athens, AL. If you are looking for a unique item for your home or garden or maybe garden tips this event is for you. Activities for the kids to make and take too. For more information: 256-232-2600.

Ardmore Shamrock Shuffle Race Mar 14th

Ardmore Shamrock Shuffle is a chip-timed 5K Run and 1 Mile Fun Run/ Walk located in Ardmore, Alabama benefitting Ardmore area charities. The event is an annual event celebrating the good times and fun of the St. Patrick’s Day holiday with Irish music and food and with a variety of vendors. The race kicks off at the First Baptist Church (26670 5th Street, Ardmore, AL 35739) with a crowd of runners/walkers dressed in their best St. Paddy’s Day garb hitting the streets of Ardmore. The 1 mile Fun Run /Walk follows with walkers and runners of every age heading to that Pot O’ Gold. It is a fun filled day for family and friends to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day! Good times, good friends and the luck of the Irish all in the same place. For more information, Jackie Graham jferg10099@aol.com and www. ardmoreshamrockshuffle.com.

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February 20 - March 5, 2015

February 20 - March 5, 2015

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What Makes Ronnie Roll

Storm Season And Smart Boards

by Ali Elizabeth Turner

With as chilly as it has been this past week, it seemed a bit strange to be thinking about the storm season soon being upon us, but as Mayor Marks said, “It’s already here.”

There have been significant-to-legendary storms every year since he took office, and I am glad both for his battlefield experience in ‘Nam, as well as his pro-active stance regarding preparing for the challenges that come with each spring and its “predictably unpredictable” weather patterns.

This year, however, we have gotten some new help from the Emergency Management Agency in the form of what is known as

“Smart Boards.” There is one located just down the hall from his office, and is ready to be “deployed” as a “storm season soldier” for when everyone from first responders to media need to be kept in the loop.

A Smart Board is essentially a white board that has broadcast capabilities.

Doppler weather patterns, response intel, grids, even the ability to put circles and arrows or other handwritten directions can all be on it simultaneously, and can broadcast in real time. It keeps people from “walking” on each other, prevents the duplication of efforts, and speeds up response time. Mayor Marks gave an example of how it could be used.

“Say, for example,” he said, “you live in a house with a storm shelter. You can choose to register that information with the EMA. If a storm came and a tree fell on your house, you might be safe in your shelter, but trapped. They would know sooner that they would need to come and check on you because they would have both the information on the tree as well as the registered storm shelter at their disposable.”

Many of you are probably aware that every municipality has storm teams that are ready to deploy to help other areas when they are hit. The Smart Board helps co-ordinate everyone’s efforts. “This

thing is like Centcom,” I said, and he replied, “Exactly.”

(Centcom is the “nerve center” in a combat zone.) He went on to remind me of the town of Guin, where jeans were literally falling out of the sky because a blue jeans manufacturing facility had gotten hit in a storm, and our team went to help. If something like that happened again, because of the Smart Board, we would be able to respond even more quickly. What most people don’t realize is that one of the most daunting things about storm management is the documentation necessary to present to FEMA for disaster relief. Last year’s storms would have cost the city

about 5 million dollars in damage, but due to excellent documentation, we were reimbursed 80% of that. The Smart Board will also assist in keeping track of equipment used, man hours charged, and resources utilized, which will greatly reduce the cost of “digging out” after we get hit.

One of the things that helps the teams be of true service to each other is the relationships that exist between the mayors and managers of various municipalities. As such, Mayor Ronnie makes sure that he attends the meetings with other mayors where “they have a meal, fellowship, and have a mission to stay in touch with each other, support each other, and look at ‘items on the table’ that each town deals with.” The most recent meeting of the North Alabama Mayors’ Alliance, of which Mayor Ronnie is president, was held on the 19th of February. He also spent time in the Shoals this week at a Waste Water Management Conference.

Switching gears, he also recently taught Sunday School in a rotation of six teachers at his church who are covering the “High Praise Psalms,” Psalms 146-150. He taught from 146 and 147, and reminded his class and me that we need to “stop and recognize that praise is always something we must do.” He’s right, that’s true, we then prayed, and once again Ronnie was rollin’.

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February 20 - March 5, 2015

February 20 - March 5, 2015

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From the Alabama Veterans’ Museum

Black History And The Revolutionary War

by Sandra Thompson, Director, Alabama Veterans’ Museum Although Black Americans have actively participated in every major U.S. conflict, it wasn’t until an executive order by President Harry S. Truman in 1948, that the U.S. military became integrated.

As I started doing research for this article, I started thinking about all the battles that African Americans have participated in that we tend to forget. Of course everyone knows the name Crispus Attucks; I must admit it took me way back to a history class years ago that I thought I had forgotten.

Crispus Attucks was the first casualty of the Boston Massacre, and is considered the first “American” casualty in the American Revolutionary War. Not much is known about Crispus Attucks and it’s debated whether he was a free man or an escaped slave, but in the 18th century he became a face for the antislavery movement.

At the beginning of the Revolutionary War, about 20% of the population in the colonies was black; however, all but 25,000 of the almost 500,000 were slaves. This was an important time for both free and enslaved African Americans, as all of a sudden public officials realized they may need them to win the war. While freedom was the principal motivating factor for the African American soldier, there may have been others such as the desire for adventure, the true belief in justice, or a promise of payment.

There was also the James Somersett ruling. Somer-

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sett was a runaway slave who was recaptured by his master and was on his way to Jamaica when he decided to sue his master. This led to the abolition of slav-

slaught and devastated the Hessian ranks, one in every five was a black freeman or run-away-slave!

How many of the four hundred defenders of

Fort Mercer were African Americans? There is no historical account of an exact number. Some sources on the Internet state that the defenders were mainly black, however, the battle was fought four months before the 1st Rhode Island became a segregated black regiment. As many as 80 African Americans, or one in every five, of the fort’s defenders fought shoulder to shoulder with white patriots pummeling the Hessian force to such an extent the British could not rely

on these German mercenaries ever again during the revolution.

During Black History Month, let us celebrate the lives of African Americans who were willing to shed their blood for America’s dream of liberty and justice for all clear back to the Revolutionary War. http://www.harryschenawolf. com/african-americans-andthe-revolutionary-war-victory-at-red-bank/ http://www.myblackhistory. net/Revolutionary_War.htm

ery in England, but did not apply to the British colonies. By 1773, the General Court in Boston received the first of three petitions in which slaves pleaded their freedom with the argument that Mansfield’s decision should indeed apply to the colonies where they were “held in a state of Slavery within a free and Christian Country.”

Another significant battle for African Americans was the Battle of Red Bank. I admit I knew nothing of this battle until it was recently brought to my attention.

The Battle of Red Bank saw four hundred Americans defend Fort Mercer, New Jersey, against 1,000-2,000 Hessians resulting in the second most costly defeat for the British forces after the Battle of Bunker Hill. It was an incredible feat of gallantry and determination by Rhode Island “rebels” who doggedly faced the Hessian attackers’ promise that every defender would be put to the sword. Of those men who stood before the on-

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February 20 - March 5, 2015

February 20 - March 5, 2015

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Clean and Green

Protecting Our Waters

by Lynne Hart

Water - a transparent, odorless, tasteless liquid consisting of a compound of hydrogen and oxygen, that constitutes rain, oceans, lakes, rivers, etc., and is essential to life on earth.

Water is a natural resource that will not increase or decrease in amounts found on the earth, but it will take on different forms. 97% of earth’s water is salty, and only 3% is fresh. About 2/3 of the fresh water is frozen, which leaves only 1% of the earth’s water available for our use; therefore, it is vitally important that we work hard to keep it clean!

Elk River Our Elk River is an important resource to Limestone County. One of the biggest uses of the Elk River, other than recreation, is drinking water for the City of Athens Utilities and the Limestone County Water and Sewer Authority. Over 14 million gallons per day is drawn from the Elk River, purified, and sent to our homes and businesses.

Water from storms can pick up debris, chemicals, and other pollutants and flow into our lakes, streams, rivers, and wetlands. Water that enters a storm sewer system is discharged untreated into the water bodies we use for swimming, fishing, and provision of drinking water. Debris such as six-pack rings, bottles, plastic bags, and cigarette butts can choke, suffocate, or disable aquatic life like ducks, fish turtles, and birds. Household hazardous wastes like paint, solvents, used motor oil, insecti-

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cides, and pesticides can poison aquatic life. Land animals and people can become sick or die from eating diseased fish or ingesting polluted water.* Here are some things you can do to insure you are not adding to water pollution: •Use fertilizers and pesticides as little as possible.

Use organic mulch or less dangerous pest control methods whenever possible.

•Repair oil or other fluid leaks and recycle your used motor oil and auto batteries at the Athens-Limestone Recycling Center or other collection center. Check with local transmission repair businesses to see if they will accept your used transmission fluid.

•Inspect your septic system every 3 years and pump your tank as necessary to prevent bacteria and viruses from leaking into storm water or ground water.

•Don’t dispose of household hazardous waste in sinks or toilets.

•Don’t litter. Place all trash in a garbage bag before placing it in your trashcan and

place the lid on tight. Cover loads and don’t toss loose trash into your truck bed.

Hold trash until you find a waste or recycling container.

Trash littered miles away from our waterways can find their way to them by wind, rain, and wildlife.

ELK RIVER CANOE & KAYAK TRAIL CLEANUP Be part of the solution!

At 8:00 a.m. Saturday, March 7th, volunteers will be gathering at the old fish hatchery off Hwy. 99 in West Limestone. TVA and Keep Athens-Limestone Beautiful will provide trash bags, gloves, pickup sticks, bottled water, and lunch to all volunteers.

Trash and debris will be removed from the river and land areas surrounding

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the Elk River. Everyone is welcome to come and help. There will be work suitable for everyone on land and on the river. Children under 18 must be accompanied by an adult and have liability waivers signed by a parent or guardian.

Kayaks will be available for use on a first-come, first-served basis. You may reserve them now by contacting KALB. Personal flatbottom boats, kayaks, and canoes are also welcome.

We will have a TVA boat that will cruise the river collecting debris from those cleaning on the river.

prizes to the top three registered groups picking up the most pounds of trash and recyclables. Teams must be registered by March 2nd.

Prizes will be $250, $150, and $100 respectively. All volunteers are requested to register for lunch purposes, but you may come even if you haven’t registered.

For details and rules for the Team Challenge or information about the River Cleanup in general, please visit KALBCares.com, email KALBCares@gmail.com, or call 256-233-8000. * Source: Alabama Clean Water Partnership

TEAM CHALLENGE TVA is providing a sponsorship that will cover cash Become a Fan

(256) 233-8728 KALBCares@gmail.com www.KALBCares.com February 20 - March 5, 2015

Cooking with Shelley

Mardi Gras Cornbread

by Shelley Underhill With all of the Gulf Cost celebrating the Mardi Gras season, I thought it only proper to name this “Mardi Gras Corn Bread.” It’s not only pleasing to the palate but festive too. My family and I are always trying out new recipes on each other. Granted, we make these recipes up most of the time, so they really are coming from our kitchen to yours. I have to thank my baby brother for this one. If you have followed this column for any length of time, then you know I feature his culinary skills here from time to time. This recipe is worth trying. Let me know if do try it. You can email me at shelleysdesk@gmail.com Enjoy!

What you will need: 1 box “JIFFY” cornbread mix ½ can of whole kernel corn (drained) 1 heaping tablespoon minced garlic 1 jar pimentos (drained) ¼ cup jalapeño peppers (mild)

1 cup of Four Cheese Mexican Blend ½ cup diced onions ½ cup bacon bits 2 tablespoons jalapeño juice 1 large egg ½ cup milk

Pour all ingredients into a large bowl and mix well. Pour into a well-greased pie plate.

Preheat oven to 400F. When oven is hot, place cornbread in oven and cook until golden brown, or until you can stick with a toothpick and toothpick comes out clean. Allow to cool slightly and enjoy.

February 20 - March 5, 2015

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Health and Fitness

Hot Flashes

by Janet Hunt

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

Hot flashes are one of the most frequent symptoms of menopause. They occur in more than two-thirds of women in this country during normal menopause time and almost all women with menopause as a result of radiation, chemotherapy, medications, or surgeries in which both ovaries removed.

A hot flash is a quick feeling of heat often with a flushed face and sweating.

Hot flashes happen when the blood vessels near the skin’s surface dilate to cool.

Sweating occurs to cool down the body. When hot flashes with sweating happen at night, they are called night sweats. Night sweats can often make it difficult to sleep.

Some women have hot flashes for a very short time during menopause while other women may have hot flashes for the rest of their life. In most cases, they lessen severity over time.

If you are prone to hot flashes, you probably cannot avoid them. However, some things bring them on more often or increase the

severity. Some of the triggers include stress, caffeine, alcohol, spicy foods, tight clothing, heat, and cigarette smoke.

There are a few things you can do, to reduce hot flashes and their severity: •Exercise daily •Stay cool, especially at night. Use a fan and wear light layers of clothes.

•Deep breathing or meditation •Chill pillows There are many prescription options in dealing with hot flashes during menopause, including hormone replacement therapy and other drugs. Lately, these methods in “conventional/Western” medicine have come under fire. They have many side effects that are worse than the original symptoms,

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and don’t fix the underlying issue.

There are also many nonprescription and home remedies that aid in reducing hot flashes, including essential oils and herbal remedies. There is a multitude of information available on the internet, however you should be very careful. Not everything you read is true, and some suggestions from online sources can be just as harmful as prescription options.

What is encouraging is that there is a new study published in the Journal of Clinical Nutrition that looks at the connection between what we eat and the occurrence of hot flashes, as well as offering support to the idea that changing our diets could help reduce them. The study identified two food-

related patterns that were linked to fewer hot flashes: high fruit intake, and Mediterranean diets (those rich in veggies, garlic, red wine, and tomatoes). Those whose diets with large amounts of processed sugar and fat were linked to increased incidence of hot flashes.

So what does food have to do with hot flashes? Food affects estrogen metabolism; sugar metabolism and blood sugar levels can affect blood vessel dilation, a main component in hot flashes. All the more reason for us to move away from diets full of highly processed sugar, and towards a more plant-based diet.

For additional information about exercise opportunities in the Athens area, please contact Janet Hunt at 256-614-3530

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Cover Story

Serendipity Antiques And Interiors: The Hunt Is The Best Part!

by Ali Elizabeth Turner continued from page 1

dy’s love for antiques and collecting, something that never waned despite her travels. Sandy started out collecting glassware, and then “When we lived in Kansas, I discovered auctions. I started buying antiques, collected, and after returning to Alabama, began to travel to the Lakewood Antiques Show in Atlanta,” she said.

After moving to Athens, she rented her first booth at Regency Antiques, which was then owned by Bill and Nancy Johnson, and eventually purchased Regency in 2004. In June 2011, she sold Regency Antiques, thinking she was going to actually retire. The new owner called it Champagne Lane, and it was open from 2011 until late December 2014. In early January of 2015, the shop reopened as Serendipity, and Sandy is “back at it” as the owner. She says with a smile, “Antiquing is an addiction, and the best part is the hunt!”

I asked her what she and the vendors that make up the huge store near the Athens Publix on Hwy 72 that is now known as Serendipity have to offer that has led to their ongoing success.

The first thing is education and resources. In addition to being a collector for about 40 years, Sandy has a huge reference library on antiques and collectibles, and has learned to recognize “the real deal,” as opposed to a fine reproduction. She knows what is a fair price, keeps on top of the market, and stays abreast of what is hot and trendy.

She is also careful to not try and “sell,” which is something I personally appreciate greatly. “When people come in, we listen, we care, and we do our best to find what it is that they really want,” she told me. Sandy then put it another way: “We help people find what they were already looking for.”

She added, “We also make a note of what it is that they

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wanted and couldn’t find, and if it comes in, we get in touch with them.”

I also observed that she maintains a high level of integrity. While I was in the store for the interview, a customer found a glass shade that would have worked well for an antique kerosene lamp. It looked perfect, was about to be purchased, and then the staff noticed that at the back of the shade there was a nearly undetectable crack. She could have gone ahead and closed the deal, but chose to point it out to the customer instead, and allow her to make an informed decision. That impressed me.

I always love it when I have the opportunity to be a customer of an Athens Now client, and that day I became an enthusiastic one.

For awhile I had been looking for an antique school desk, the kind that has curly ironwork supports on the side, would have been bolted to the floor back in the day, and hopefully, had an inkwell. There was a beautiful one in what is called the “John Wayne”

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ever of advertising memorabilia and other popular collectibles,” she said, and I noticed the most unusual antique manual typewriter I had ever seen not far from where I found my desk.

Sandy’s personal favorites range from Limoges china to 18th century furniture to glassware from the ‘30s and ‘40s. “The selection of vintage back to the 1800s is great,” she said. “We also have a lot of advertising signs, which are red hot, as are the re-purposed items.”

Going green and recycling is at the forefront of a lot of

our customers’ agenda, as more clients are realizing the value of buying used or vintage furnishings for their homes.

She has noticed that young people in particular are getting into the re-purposing trend, and she loves to teach them what she knows and help them avoid pitfalls while they are “on the hunt.” With a happy sigh before I left she told me again, “Antiquing is an addiction, and the best part is the hunt!” If you need a guide for your “hunt,” come to Serendipity Antiques and Interiors, where Sandy and the dealers will fix you right up.

Serendipity Antiques and Interiors

room toward the rear of the store, and it was more than reasonably priced. I called my husband, announced that at last I have “found it,” and happily snapped it right up.

I was also looking for a pair of cut glass salt and pepper shakers for our special

February 14th dinner, and she took me throughout the store, clearly demonstrating a thorough knowledge of the items available at each vendor’s booth. While I did not find exactly what I was looking for, I have no doubt that Sandy and the “Serendipity Crew” will keep an

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eye out for it, and that when the time is right, it will arrive!

So, if a school desk or a salt and pepper shaker set is not your thing, what is at Serendipity that may catch your fancy? “We have a bigger selection than

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Sandy Collins

22335 US Hwy 72 E, Suite B Athens, AL 35613 Hours: Mon-Sat 10-5, Sun 1-5 256-232-9007 256-232-9060 Facebook: Serendipity Antiques and Interiors

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Learning As A Lifestyle

These Are A Few Of My Favorite Things

by Wanda Campbell

Center for Lifelong Learning - 121 South Marion Street, Athens, AL 35611 - 256-233-8262 to cover costs. Each session will be led by local experts.

You can bring your own lunch or buy a lunch from Square Clock Coffee in our building.

You might not know who Richard Rodgers (19021979) and Oscar Hammerstein II (1895-1960) are, but I am sure you have heard the music they created. Most of their music was for movies and theater in the 1940’s and 1950’s.

Songs like Oklahoma, State Fair, Carousel, and The King and I were presented on Broadway, in New York, and then, in movies in the 1950s and 1960s. One of my favorite songs of all times was from The King and I. I still hum “Getting to Know You” whenever I go somewhere new.

Advanced Life Planning, presented Limestone Chapel Funeral Home Staff, will be the first class in the series.

Learn how to discuss this very sensitive, but very important topic. This class is Tuesday, February 24, from 12:00pm – 1:00pm at the Center for Lifelong Learning Conference Room.

Shelli Waggoner from Reliance Investment Management will discuss the next two topics. Social Security

Some of their work, like

Cinderella, was for television. Even young people have heard the songs in commercials and the new Anna and the King from the 1990s. Rodgers and Hammerstein won 34 Tony Awards, 15 Academy Awards, a Pulitzer Prize and two Grammy Awards.

On March 5, the Center for Lifelong Learning will host the Athens Community Chorus and the Decatur Civic Chorus as they present a concert of favorite Rodgers and Hammerstein numbers. This presentation

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includes dinner and a show.

Tickets are $25, which helps to fund the Chorus. You can get your tickets by calling 256-233-8260 or you can order tickets on our web site – www.athens.edu/CLL. I hope I will see you there.

Rodgers and Hammerstein’s work is mostly cheery and I know you will be tapping your toes during the concert. Both Chorus groups are filled with excellent singers.

And, if you come to the concert, we can all go around humming “Getting to Know You.”

Benefits is Tuesday, March 3. Estate Planning is scheduled Tuesday, March 10.

Dementia and Alzheimer’s Facts will be presented by Brandi Medina, Director of Programming and Education at the Alzheimer’s Association. Class is scheduled Tuesday, March 17.

Our final class, Power of Attorney vs. Guardianship, will be on Tuesday, March 24.

We are offering many more classes and trips at the Center for Lifelong Learning.

Stop by to talk about what is happening. Every day is a learning day at the CLL.

On another note, the Center will also be sponsoring a Brown Bag Lunch Series called “Caring for Older Adults.” We offered this program about 18 months ago and it was very popular.

We have had so many requests, we decided to offer it again. The program has five lectures / discussions. You can attend one lecture, or attend them all.

Beginning Tuesday, February 24th, the classes are held each week from noon to 1:00pm at the Center.

There is a $5/person fee for each class attended in order

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The View From The Bridge

Pay Check Already Spent?

Dollar Sense Up Ahead!

by Jackie Warner

Jackie Warner

Community Outreach “Impact, Engage, Grow” Community Matters

Tight budgets. Utilities Costs, groceries…the list goes on and on. Finding ways for our dollars to stretch is getting more difficult every day. Many of us just don’t seem to be able to do it. The closer you get to the end of the month, the tougher it is to see yourself getting to the next payday.

It’s a struggle, and especially during the winter months. I am thankful for the lower gas prices we have right now. It has been a big help to many families, including ours. Although it looks like the prices are starting to rise a little, it is still great to be able to pull up to the pump and spend less than $40.00.

We are now working more hours than we ever have, our incomes have increased, but as Americans we save less and less. So really why is it so hard to save money? Two of the biggest reasons we as adults have such a hard time saving are because we don’t know how and we don’t know why. Numerous adults have never really been taught how to save and develop specific goals for savings. We have money, and then what do we do? We spend it! We have all heard the phrase “saving for a rainy day.” Defining what a rainy day means is just as important as saving for the rainy day. It is time for us all to become educated on true financial wealth. It starts with us taking the time to evaluate

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where we are and really take a serious look at our finances, or the lack thereof.

Recently my husband and I decided to take some time to evaluate our (my) spending habits. Yes, it was hard because when you like to shop as I do, you really don’t pay attention to how much you have spent. I just enjoy the items purchased until my husband is balancing the checkbook.

Well I must admit, it has been a real awakening for me these last few months to truly stop and think about what it is I am purchasing, how much I am spending, and truly why do I need it? It has started with me making better decisions about the money we actually earn and what are the goals for its usage. My “Dollar Sense” has

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increased a little, and I am working on it so I will be able to save for the goals we as a family have for defined future purchases. I still like to shop and will continue to, but the key is with more purpose and definition.

Here a few tips to increase our Dollar Sense: 1. Mindless consumption always turns into excessive consumption.

2. Don’t get caught up in copying other people. You are not that person! Be You! 3. Stop, think and see the big picture. Income, mortgage, car payment, and your personal spending habits.

4. Realize your trigger points.

Stay away from the sales racks, clearance items, and

sales papers.

5. Purchases always have a hidden cost. Henry David Thoreau said it best, “The price of anything is the amount of life you exchange for it.”

6. Just because you have the money to buy something doesn’t mean you should always buy it.

Until Next Time, Be Sincere, Kind and Intentional Jackie Warner, Community Outreach Specialist Email: thebridge.us@gmail.com Check out upcoming events: Website: http://thebridge-us. yolasite.com/

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Horse Whispering

Nature’s Conspiracy

by Deb Kitchenmaster What “bundle up” days we are having here in the Valley!

Layers are welcomed. Having lived in Minnesota for twenty years I understand cold, layers, and fields of white. Here in the South, we experience a season where the white fields are white with cotton. In the North we experience a season (sometimes longer than not) where the white fields are white with snow. Isn’t it interesting that the field of cotton can be woven into something that protects you from the field of snow?

So, what is a conspiracy? Simply, it’s a plot, scheme or plan.

Last month I wrote about the importance of having a plan for your horse, yourself, and your connections as we enter into a new year. The dimensional quality of the root word, “conspire” is like a 2-edged sword, meaning, yours can be an experience of “working together” OR “working against.”

What you are experiencing is mirroring your relationship, whether it is with a horse or a human. The hope is to bring a unity. To join, fuse, and bond together. Connect.

ers in the classroom of life, self-discovery and how much you are loved perfectly and unfailingly by your Heavenly Father. What makes them such great teachers and revealers?

Their intuitive nature and their ability to evoke emotion in humans are their credentials.

Horses mirror an illumination

had been successful and there was no visible evidence, her body was carrying some related trauma. The horse revealed this trauma and she was set free! That’s one snapshot of what it looks like to work together! Nature’s Conspiracy!

Nature is made to conspire with spirit to emancipate us.

-Ralph Waldo Emerson “Nature’s Conspiracy” is a connection with your true self to liberate you, to set you free, to release you, to free you, to untie you, to unshackle you, to unfetter you, and to let you go from what has you on a leash.

In the book of Job, (35:11) we see that God sets out the entire creation as a science classroom, using birds and beasts to teach wisdom. What about the invitation to look at an ant? Being instructed to watch the ant closely, letting it teach you a thing or two. (Proverbs 6:6) One of the beasts is the horse.

Horses are wonderful teach-

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without glare our struggles without judgment. Horses are skilled at revealing “pieces of trauma that our unconscious mind hides.”

A woman called and scheduled some sessions at CORRAL CONNECTIONS. On our third session, I noticed the mare she was leading was walking as if her left hip was out. Being an Animal B.E.S.T.

practitioner, I knew the horse was not “off.” After a few moments and “the look” from the mare, I realized I was present in an illuminating, revealing moment for the handler. The horse having done its part, illuminating /revealing, it was time for me to do my part, ask questions. I simply asked her to talk to me about her left side. A memory of a car accident surfaced from her unconscious mind. Though surgery

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raise their heads and come running to the northwest corner where pasture and yard connects single file. As they approached the corner, their gallop slowed to a trot, and they remained in their single file positions and formed a perfect figure-eight pattern. The insurance rep asked me, “What are they doing?” My response, “I don’t have a clue.” In that moment I realized I was present in an illuminating, without glare revelation. I said, “Someone in that car must need this.” This statement evoked questions and revealed a story. I discovered that two abandoned children had been rescued by law enforcement in the Huntsville area (we were not living in the area when it came out in the news). Long story short, she had adopted those two children. They were in the car!

The figure-eight pattern is the pattern used in Animal B.E.S.T. protocol. It is to re-establish a normal neurological configuration for cross crawl, resetting internal thermostat. The horses were revealing “pieces of trauma” one more time and bringing healing.

One more snapshot from Nature’s Conspiracy album. On an ordinary day, a woman It has been said the outside of was coming out to talk about a horse is good for the inside insurance. Her teenage daugh- of a person. I agree! ter had driven her to the house Enjoying God’s Science with an understanding of a Classroom, designated time to come back.

Your NEIGHbor, Having completed the task, Deb Kitchenmaster three of us were visiting on Corral Connections the porch when her teenager www.corralconnections.com turned onto our lengthy drive‘A church of great heart’ way. We witnessed five of 256-426-7947 our horses who were grazing in the southeast corner of our Animal B.E.S.T. practitioner pasture in front of our house dkitchenmaster@mchsi.com

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Medical Update

Common Childhood Orthopedic Concerns

By Dr. Patrick Boyett Nursemaid’s Elbow:

Growing Pains:

Children between the ages of 2 and 4 are susceptible to certain injury patterns because of the stage of skeletal development. A common injury that is seen frequently in the ER is nursemaid’s elbow.

Have you ever taken your child to the doctor with knee pain or ankle pain and been told, “Oh, it’s just growing pains?” You may have felt like you were just getting brushed off, but it actually is a common source of pain in the growing skeleton.

More specifically the injury is subluxation of the radial head. This means that one of the bones in the elbow called the radial head becomes partially dislocated.

The injury has been described most often when adults are simply playing with the child and while swinging the child by the arms the injury occurs. The child will complain of elbow pain, often the injury mechanism is not recognized because of the playful nature of the event.

The child will not use the arm and often hold the arm in a straightened position.

Most often the child is taken to the ER. The treatment consists of x-rays to rule out a fracture. Many times the radial head subluxation will reduce during the x-ray positioning. If not, the doctor will perform a simple reduction maneuver that moves the bone back into place. Usually within minutes the child uses the arm with no pain.

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The two most common locations are pain in the front of the knee on the shin bone, and over the heel in the back.

These disorders have fancy names that are grouped into a medical term “apophysitis”, which refers to strain at the attachment site of a tendon to an open growth plate.

In the knee, the specific diagnosis is called Osgood Slaughter’s disease. This refers to an apophysitis at the attachment of the Patellar tendon to the Tibia (shin).

What causes the problem is that as the long bones grow longer, it puts more strain on the tendons as they stretch to stay up. The weak link is the tendon attachment on the bone. A layperson’s way to think of this is the long bones outgrow the tendons.

Once growth reaches maturity, the pain is gone and the problem is solved.

In the ankle, this is called Sever’s disease and occurs where the Achilles tendon

abnormal wear underneath the knee cap.

Earlier we said that females experience this problem more than males. This is because God created the female pelvis in a different shape in preparation for childbirth. Because the quad muscle is anchored from the pelvis, it creates a more lateral pull on the knee cap and thus more knee cap pain. attaches to the heel bone (calcaneus). Again, the long bones grow too fast and it puts a strain on the attachment of the Achilles, on the heel bone. These kids will complain of possible heel or ankle pain and often times walk on their toes to get relief.

Treatment for both disorders is stretching, stretching, stretching, and anti-inflammatory medication. It rarely has any long-term consequences.

Knee Cap Pain: A very common complaint during the adolescent years is anterior knee pain. Especially common in girls, this pain is often attributed to knee cap pain. The condition is called patella femoral syndrome. This name describes the knee cap (patella) and its relationship to the leg bone

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(femur).

It is a disorder where the knee cap does not move, or track, correctly in its groove on the femur bone. If you feel your knee cap when you move your knee through range of motion, you will feel your knee cap move up and down as your knee moves. To make this happen, there is a joint in the front of the knee called the patellofemoral joint. When the knee cap tracks improperly it produces pain.

It has to do with the attachment of the quadriceps muscle to the knee cap. As the quad contracts, it moves the knee cap up and down within the knee joint. The problem arises when the knee cap pulls too hard toward the lateral side of the knee. In the short term this causes pain and in the long term it causes

Treatment for Patellofemoral Syndrome is physical therapy, bracing, and avoiding deep knee bend exercises. In difficult cases, sometimes arthroscopic surgery is performed to release the lateral knee structures to assist in improved tracking. Left untreated, it will develop into arthritis often times as early as the mid40’s. Injections can be used to treat symptoms, but they do not correct the underlying mechanics, so therefore are often not used. Bracing can be very effective when performing certain activities that are known to aggravate symptoms.

If you think your child may be experiencing these or other issues, give Dr. Boyett’s office a call at OrthoSports in Athens at (256) 233-2332.

February 20 - March 5, 2015

Security Savvy

Hacking Our World

by Jim Doyle, owner of Madison Security Group 203 Us Highway 31 S, Athens, AL 35611

What will it take for the human race to realize that we are becoming more and more vulnerable? I am in awe of even our government allowing hackers get close to some of our most important assets.

We now have hackers able to get into our vehicle computers, and I wonder, what could they possibly do?

Shut it down, lock up brakes, and mess with the steering? Then we hear almost daily that another major hospital, credit card company, or eatery has been hacked and our information is in the hands of strangers to do with what they want. Losing our identity is one of the most disabling situations anyone can be in.

Try to get it back. It’s “funny” how a person’s personal information can be lost due to a financial institution’s lack of security. They were responsible for the information in the first place. My question is, can you get a monetary settlement from them?

I was in a small store in Alabama a while ago, and the store owner was showing me around and what he had for sale. I noticed an older woman sitting at a desk working on what it seemed to be his books. I asked why he wasn’t using a computer to help with the workload. His answer was classic. He said that this woman has worked with him for years, knows the

to see how many people are talking to each other, vs. those who have their heads stuck in their smart phone.

Every time you use your credit card or debit card in a restaurant or coffee shop, you have given your information to that corporation which has been shown to be vulnerable to hacking. I’m not saying that we should stop using technology in our everyday lives, I just wish that corporations would put in place better firewalls to protect our information. Then again, those who write these programs can also hack them, which is also a scary thought.

Another situation that

because of this problem.

How do we as adults address this? My opinion is that these children are bullies, and in order to stop this problem, keep your children off Facebook.

Instead, they should try talking to their friends in person or on the phone.

If you are stupid enough to put your life on Facebook for the world to see, you deserve what comes your way. Look at yourself as a bank. Years ago, you kept your thoughts and personal information locked up to keep it safe from other people. Now we are opening the door for the world through Facebook and have become a possible target or a statistic. Let’s think about again becoming the safest possible “bank” around,

business, has never crashed her hard drive, works when the power is out, and can’t be hacked.

I realize that we need computers in today’s world, but it seems that computers were supposed to be a tool to help us. Now it seems we all need them just in order to function, and that is scary. We as a people socialize using the computer. It seems like we don’t need to talk or interact via face-to-face meetings anymore. Everything can be done by email, Twitter, Facebook, and other online venues.

We also attack each other using the computer, and

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we can spread rumors or hurtful things through the system so that anyone and everyone can see it. This bothers me deeply. Sit at a restaurant and just look around. Watch

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has grown to be a major problem is BULLYING using Facebook and other social media sites. We have children and teens taking their own lives

and make sure that only a trusted few have our “combination.”

As always, stay safe and aware.

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