Athens Now Alabama

January 18 - 31, 2013

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The Chili Challenge And The “Silver” Spoons

Publisher’s Point The Lavorini Letters...

The “point of the Point” for this edition of Athens Now, is to celebrate the life of a dear friend who just passed away...

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By Ali Elizabeth Turner Ok, I know that the spoons with which we always taste the yummy chili crafted in the kitchens and crockpots of local “Limestonians” are really made out of plastic, but this year we get to pretend that they are silver, the color of a 25th anniversary celebration. It is hard to believe that a quarter of a century has passed since local residents began to band together in order

Cooking with Shelley Cpicy Turnips... You can buy turnips just about anywhere, in any shape and any size...

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Continued on pages 15

Horse Whispering Horse and Soul Tour... With any area of personal interest, there is the opportunity to engage on an adventurous journey... Page 20

Athens Rehab Spotlight George and Jeanne Clark... George and Jeanne Clark, who are currently receiving rehab care at Athens Rehab and Senior Care, are what you would call “long drinks of water.”... Page 22

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Consign World: Beautiful Clothing,

Home Décor, And Musical Instruments At Wonderful Prices

By Ali Elizabeth Turner During the summer of 2012 I found myself in a pickle. I had completely forgotten that I was supposed to be at Athens State University for a political forum, and I didn’t have time to go home to change clothes.

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Consign World Staff (L to R) Misty Tielking, Asst. Manager, Beth Rickard, Hannah Harris, Brenda Stapler, Owner, Jessie McAllister, and Mandi Parker

Marching, singing and celebrating planned in Athens for MLK Jr. Holiday

by Holly Hollman Two separate events in Athens will offer citizens a variety of ways to observe the Martin Luther King Jr. Holiday on Monday, Jan. 21, from marching to singing to celebrating.

The morning will kick-off with the annual AthensLimestone Martin Luther King Jr. Holiday March in downtown Athens.

Participants will gather at 8:50 a.m. and march around The Square at 9 a.m.

Marchers will march to the Limestone County Event Center on Pryor Street for a program.

The program will start at 9:30 a.m. Local students will read their winning essays on this year’s theme, “A Decision Today, Impacting Tomorrow.”

The Round Island Creek Male Chorus will perform, and refreshments will be available after the program.

The march and program are sponsored by the local NAACP chapter, City of Athens and Limestone County Commission.

Another traditional program is the Lincoln-Bridgeforth Park Committee’s Martin Luther King Jr. Holiday Ceremony. This is the 16th year for the program, held at Sweet Home Missionary Baptist Church on Westmoreland Street.

Committee member and Athens City Councilman Jimmy Gill said the program will start at 11 a.m. and lunch will be provided afterwards.

This year’s guest speaker is Limestone County Circuit Court Judge Jimmy

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Woodroof. The title of his speech is, “The Right Voice at the Right Time.”

Judge Jimmy Woodroof

“I will be focusing on taking a stand and making a difference,” Woodroof said.

He will reference King and Maxine E. Harris Pulley.

The Round Island Creek Male Chorus will perform at this event also.

The program will conclude with the committee’s naming of its Dr. C. Eric Lincoln Humanitarian of the Year award winner. The committee gives the award in memory of Lincoln, who was born in 1924 in Athens and was the 1939 valedictorian of the former all-black Trinity High School. Lincoln was an author, theologian, ordained Methodist minister and a professor of religion at Duke University. His book “The Avenue, Clayton City” won the Lillian Smith Award for best Southern fiction in 1988.

The public is invited to participate in both events.

January 18 - January 31, 2013

Publisher’s Point

The Lavorini Letters

Publisher / Editor Ali Turner

Contributing Writers Shelley Underhill Janet Hunt Lynne Hart Wanda Campbell Jeanette Dunnavant Jones Deb Kitchenmaster Will Anderson Brian Black Holly Hollman Chad Davis, O.D.

Publisher’s Point . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 All Things Soldier . . . . . . . . 4 Calendar of Events . . . . . . . . 7 Tourism . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 Cooking with Shelley . . . . . . 11 Clean and Green . . . . . . . . 12 Learning as a Lifestyle . . . 14 Cover Stories . . . . . . . 15,17 What Makes Ronnie Roll . . 16 Health and Fitness . . . . . . 18 Medical Update . . . . . . . . 19 Horse Whispering . . . . . . 20 World According to Will . . . . 21

The “point of the Point” for this edition of Athens Now, is to celebrate the life of a dear friend who just passed away, and to underscore the power of the lost art of letter writing. My friendship with Julie Lavorini, who is now safely in the presence of our Savior, is a tale of unlikely loyalty and unswerving support. Our lives were very different.

She was shy, God knows I am not.

She was famous for her pies, my pie crusts stink. She was a homebody, I’d just as soon trot the globe. We did, however, share several things, a love for God, our children, flowers, reading great books, and writing. She called me “Hummingbird,” an apt description of someone whose wings beat ‘til they are a blur while they dart about through life seeking sweetness.

Her name, in Italian, meant “little works,” and her life as an unsung heroine of the faith was indeed replete with “little works” that added up to a veritable trove of treasure. The lion’s share of the “loot” was bequeathed to me in the form of letters, real live letters that were written in cursive, put in an envelope, empowered to reach their destination courtesy of the United States Postal Service, ea-

Athens Rehab Spotlight . . . 22 Security Savvy . . . . . . . . . . 23

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gerly awaited, and always enjoyed.

She never attempted to be profound in her writings, she just was. Her tales of her life, a life which she often thought was so lacking in consequence, beautifully illustrated an extraordinary level of grace and mercy. She had been dealt a tough hand, one

that could not have been easily discerned outwardly, but full of relational anguish. She experienced a divorce which came as a total surprise after decades of being a true help that was meet. The shock was unspeakable. Seemingly out of nowhere a particularly vicious brand of brittle, adult onset Type 1 Diabetes struck her, and she found herself bereft on so many levels. The most pernicious attacks were not physical, however. They were the lies, spoken by the enemy in shrieks and whispers, as to her worth, and for a good while she believed

them.

But then this gentle, bright, articulate woman fought back in the most loving way, and God indeed was her shield, her sword and her buckler. She forgave, and it wasn’t just lip service. A young family named Hunter came to live with her, they indeed became family, and were

was not used to, and they became her avatar on facebook. Her appreciation for the tiniest kindness was at times unnerving.

She was my most vocal cheerleader, and I have a bright blue gift box full of her letters in my office.

Whenever I am struggling, all I have to do is look at an example of her lovely handwriting, and know that in a sentence or two, she’ll turn from the current chapter of her endearing personal story to encouraging me. I have a permanent, powerful source of personal strength at my fingertips, and I am grateful beyond words.

Little Works is gone, but not for long. She is free, soaring all Julie Lavorini with son Loren Miller over heaven, and until I get there, I shall have her lovely letwith her to the last. She ters and the memory of wrote her memoirs, using her hearty laugh to keep the analogy of her life as a me warm. I am an unpie. If a pie is going to be speakably rich woman as a pie, the crust has to be a result. A letter has lebaked, and the ingredients verage, my friends, and need to be transformed in my life, the “Lavorini into deliciousness by way Letters” served to be a of heat. That was her sto- lever so long and strong ry, and she was sticking to that it moved my world. it.

God used everything from Max Lucado books to a dog to speak to her of His love for her, and what got me was that even though she could not afford to, she would purchase and send me copies of the very books that had touched her. We would send her flowers, something she

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

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All Things Soldier

The Marine Corps League

by Ali Elizabeth Turner

There is an understanding amongst military personnel and civilians alike that Marines stay Marines as long as they are six feet above ground, and that they have a unique level of camaraderie and commitment that sets them apart.

but the Corps will NEVER leave the Marine!” There are over 3,000 Marines in Northern Alabama, a number that surprised me, and it is the desire of the League

to see that those who have served be served well.

Besides the recent holiday service effort of Toys for Tots, which garnered several boxes of toys as well as a

It was to that end in 1937 that the Marine Corps League was established by Congress during the Roosevelt Administration, and since that time its basic mission is to help Marines continue to serve their country and communities, whether they are still active or are retired. They have a saying, and that is, “A Marine may leave the Corps...

bike for needy kids in Limestone County, the Marine Corps League has a scholarship program, an outreach to wounded Marines, whether they have just recently been wounded or their injury occurred in past wars, a youth physical fitness program designed to keep kids off drugs and to embrace a healthy lifestyle, and the Young Marines Program, which is described as being a “youth program emphasizing honesty, courage, respect, industry, loyalty, dependability , and a sense of devotion to God, country, community and family.”

The Marine League is the only of the many veterans’ organization that has a federal charter.

The MCL also is involved in other areas of activity, including a legislative program that keeps an eye on things that can affect benefits, entitlements of active duty as well as retired personnel, and military readiness. One of the my favorite things about their mission statement is their commitment to aid and render service not only to Marines, but “to their widows and or-

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phans.” They are also most interested in preserving the history and legacy of the Corps, and those who have served in it.

Retired USMC Staff Sergeant Skip Ferguson and Private Tony Grigsby are the Commandant and Junior Vice Commandant, respectively of the local chapter.

They are both Viet Nam era vets, Skip having served for 20 years, and Tony only for one, due to an injury to his knee.

They are running into a problem that is plaguing all the veterans’ organizations: the old guard is passing on, and there is a need for young blood. Sometimes when vets have been involved in combat, they don’t want to be around other vets, but that’s when you need the “Band of Brothers,” (as William Shakespeare called them,) the very most.

The Marine Corps League is different from other vets’ organizations, in that you have to have been a Marine in order to belong to the MLC. They do come together with other vets’ organizations for joint projects, but if you are in need of the presence of other Marines, or have been “away for awhile,” and wish to rekindle that fire, call Skip at 256-529-5907 for more information.

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Concern Over Proposed Courthouse Renovation Are you concerned over the proposal to replace one set of interior steps in the Limestone County Courthouse with an elevator?

Contact Your Limestone County Commissioner to let them know. The remodeling project is beginning soon!

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January 18 - January 31, 2013

Calendar of Events Horse Fair January 19 and 20

The Alabama Horse Council will be holding the annual Horse Fair at Garrett Coliseum in Montgomery, AL. Go to www.AlabamaHorseCouncil.org click on the Alabama Horse Fair tab, scroll to the bottom and click Mini Clinic Entry form, download and print. Fill out and send in. There is only room for 10 horses and riders in each mini clinic.

Jim Swanner www.JimSwanner.com

Martin Luther King, Jr Celebration Jan 21 at 8:50 AM

The local NAACP Chaper and the Lincoln Bridgeforth Park Committee have events planned to commemorate Dr. King’s life. Festivities will begin at 8:50 AM when marchers gather on the south side of the courthouse to pray. From there they will march around downtown, making their way to Athens Event Center on Pryor Street. The community is invited to the program. The essays winners will be announced and the Round Island Creek Missionary Baptist Church men’s chorus will perform.

Optimist Club Pancake Breakfast Jan 26 at 7:00 - 11:00 AM

Come and enjoy the delicious pancakes at the First Christian Church at the corner of Madison and Market Streets. Takeout and delivery available. Treat your family, firends and/or employees and support the youth activities in your community.

Tickets are $5.00 per person. Contact Jim Miner at 256-2327977 or 256-777-7937.

Spirit Awards Luncheon Jan. 31 at 11:30 AM

Spirit of Athens is hosting their annual Spirit Awards Luncheon Thursday, Jan 31st at 11:30am. It will be held in the Rogers Center at First Presbyterian Church on the downtown square.

There is limited seating for this very popular event which will feature a Greek Menu this year. Tickets are $25 and can be purchased at www.athensspirit.blogspot.com. For more information, call Pam at 256-729-1160.

The Brett Family Concert Feb 1 at 6:00 PM Feb 2 at 12:00 PM

Athens Middle School Auditorium Branson’s #1 show is coming to Athens. Tickets are $35 adults, $15 for 13 and under, 2 and under free, $45 at the door. Contact Shelli Waggoner at Athens-Limestone Hospital for more information.

Spoon & Croon Valentine Luncheon Feb 14 at 11:30 AM - 1:00 PM

Make your reservation early for this luncheon with musical

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entertainment. Tickets are $13 each or $25 per couple. The luncheon will be in the Athens State University Sandridge Hall Ballroom. Contact 256-233-8260, email CLL@athens.edu, www. athens.edu/cll.

25th Annual Hospice of Limestone County Chili Challenge Feb 23 at 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM

Join the fun at Athens High School. Tickets are $10.00 each.

Children 10 and under free. Over 30 groups will be competing for the winning chili. Bid on hundreds of silent auction items.

Live entertainment and much more. Contact 256-232-5017.

2nd Annual Storybook Ball Mar 2 at 7:00 PM

Athens-Limestone Public Library Foundation invites you to attend this library fund raiser. Tickets go on sale Jan 28th for $20 each for adults and $15 for ages 3-18 years. Sponsorships are available and the deadline is Feb 15th. Visit www.alcpl.org for more information.

Polk Sallet Follies Mar 7, 8 & 9 at 7:00 PM

Enjoy this dinner musical at the Athens Senior Center. Local residents entertain with skits and songs. It’s a night to remember. Tickets sell out fast, so purchase yours early. Contact 256233-6412.

Home and Garden Show Mar 16 & 17

It’s time to start planning that garden and this is the perfect place to get your plants and lots of ideas. The event is hosted by the Greater Limestone County Chamber of Commerce at the Limestone County Event Center. Contact 256-232-2600.

ONGOING EVENTS The Friends of the Athens-Limestone Public Library hold used book sales on the 2nd and 4th Tuesdays of each month from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm and on the 1st Saturday of each month from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm. The sale is held at the library, 405 E. South St. For further information, please call (256) 232-1233.

The Alabama Veterans’ Museum needs volunteers! If you have a few hours per week and would like to help out, please call the museum at 256.771.7578. Pick the days and hours you would like to volunteer.

The Shirts-n-Skirts square dance club would like to invite anyone who would like to stop by. The 1st & 3rd Thursdays of the month we meet at The Dance Factory on Freeman Ave then on the 2nd & 4th Thursdays we meet at the Athens Recreation Center on Hwy 31. Call Kay 256-423-4141 www.shirts-n-skirts.com for more information.

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Tourism

Hospice Chili Challenge is Just Around the Corner!

By Jeanette Dunnavant Jones, President, Athens-Limestone County Tourism Association Teams are now signing up to compete in the 25th Annual Hospice Chili Challenge and Silent Auction. They are practicing their favorite recipes. Each cook wants to ensure that their recipe will be delicious not only to the judges, but to the attendees also. All the chili varieties will be delicious whether hot, spicy, mild, beef, chicken, vegetable or other interesting concoctions.

certificates, home décor, jewelry and accessories, lessons and services, sporting goods, prints, lawn and garden items, children’s items, antiques and collectibles, fine art and more.

Live entertainment by local artists will be provided all day. Tickets are

$10. Children 10 and under get in free. Lunch will be available at 11am.

Sorry, no take out on lunch. Bring the entire family. It’s fun!

The organization is a care system for the terminally

Proceeds from this project go to Hospice of Limestone County.

Hundreds of residents and visitors will gather at Athens High School on February 25th to taste all the chili and support their favorite group. Over 30 groups and individuals will be competing for the title of Best Chili, People’s Choice and other categories.

The tasting will be from 10am until 2pm.

comfortably as possible during the lifetime remaining, through pain and symptom control, counseling and spiritual support.

Hospice recognizes that we cannot cure the dying person, nor remove the pain and grief, but, we can care enough to be there.

Hospice offers the healing grace of compassionate presence.

ill patient and their families. Care is provided by a team of professional and trained volunteers.

The goal of Hospice of Limestone County is to help the terminally ill patient and family live as fully and

For more information, contact Hospice at 256-232-5017 or email hospice@hiwaay. net. If you need information about other events and attractions in AthensLimestone, visit the Athens Visitors Center located at 100 North Beaty Street or call 256-232-5411. Information is also posted on our websites - www. visitathensal.com.

Be sure and bid on hundreds of items in the Silent Auction. There are beautiful paintings, gift

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Cooking with Shelley

Spicy Turnips

by Shelley Underhill

You can buy turnips just about anywhere, in any shape and any size. I personally prefer the baseball size ones. If you have never tried them, then you are in for a treat.

Some people call them mock potatoes! I will agree with them! They are quite tasty and very easy to prepare.

Because it’s the beginning of the new year and everyone at my house has set some kind of goal to lose weight or

to eat better in 2013, I came up with this recipe that I hope you will try.

I enjoyed them so much that I fixed them again several days later.

Send your questions and recipes to shelleysdesk@gmail.com.

What you will need: 3 to 4 turnips (peel off outer skin) cut into fourths 1/2 tablespoon dehydrated garlic 1/2 tablespoon dehydrated onion 1 teaspoon Dale’s Seasoning 1/2 tablespoon powdered Ranch dressing mix 1/2 tablespoon Maggi instant chicken bouillon 4 cups water Tony Chachere’s seasoning to taste Bring water to a boil and add all remaining ingredients. Bring back to a boil and boil until liquid is reduced to a light sauce.

Enjoy.

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Clean and Green

Robotics Students Take on the Future

by Lynne Hart On Thursday, January 10, 2013, 41 students from Athens Middle School accompanied their robotics teacher, Mrs. Jennifer Kennedy, on a search for knowledge about plastics recycling.

That search for information took them to the Athens-Limestone Recycling Center where they toured the plant. The students and Mrs. Kennedy all left with a new appreciation for the work that takes place at the recycling center, especially the sorting that must be done when

Seth Hughes, an 8th grader wrote, “I didn’t realize, first of all, plastic bags are recycling’s worst enemy.

Second, I never realized how much work went into sorting the plastic.” Lexi Donahue, a 7th grader said she was surprised at how messy the plastic sorting process can be and was impressed at how quickly the employees could do the job. The seemingly endless mountain of plastic that was waiting to be sorted loomed high over their heads and appeared to be an impossible task.

The students then contin-

Mac Fairbanks, Camryn Flowers, Lexi Donahue

CJ Hamilton, Carter McCain, Lexi Donahue the public is not careful about what is placed in the recycling containers.

Every student on the tour took their turn at the plastics sorting table, deciding what type of plastic they were handling and into what baler it was to be tossed. Every piece of plastic is handled, as well as some pretty nasty garbage that ends up in with the recycled materials.

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ued on to see the next step of the plastics recycling process that takes place at Custom Polymers PET, located here in Athens. PET plastic pellets are made from the bales of plastic Custom Polymers purchases from recycling centers like ours in Athens. These pellets are sold to companies that use them to create new products such as new bottles, carpeting, cloth-

ing, food-grade containers, and much more.

“I had no idea there was so much need for the plastic pellets, or what could be made from them,” said Lexi Donahue.

“This has made me think about recycling in a very different way.”

The students were shocked to learn that the plastic baled at the recycling center each month only keeps Custom Polymers’ lines operating for about 2 hours! “We love the plastic that comes from the Athens-Lime-

Become a Fan

stone Recycling Center because it’s hand sorted and very clean,” said Byron Geiger, President of Custom Polymers. Because Custom Polymers simply does not get enough PET plastic bottles and containers from Limestone County or the State of Alabama, they must purchase baled PET plastic from across the United States and some foreign countries just to keep their plant operating.

their new found knowledge to build a virtual neighborhood with a robot that will pick up and sort plastic as a way to bring math and science together to solve an environmental problem.

We at KALB will be rooting for them big time!

If you would like information on how to schedule a tour, please contact KALB.

Mrs. Kennedy and her robotics students have progressed to the semi-finals in an attempt to win a $110,000 grant from the Samsung Corporation. To complete the competition, these students will use

(256) 233-8728 KeepALBeautiful@att.net

www.KeepAthensLimestoneBeautiful.com

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January 18 - January 31, 2013

BILL of RIGHTS AFFIRMATION RALLY SATURDAY, JANUARY 19th @ 9 A:M LIMESTONE COUNTY COURTHOUSE SQUARE WE RECOGNIZE THAT WITHOUT THESE TEN BONDING AMENDMENTS, DEFENDED BY THE SECOND AMENDMENT, WE HAVE NO CONSTITUTION AND NO GOVERNMENT!

THESE RIGHTS ARE NON-NEGOTIABLE! THIS DEMONSTRATION COINCIDES WITH A STATEWIDE AND NATIONAL CITIZEN DEMAND TO BE HEARD WITH OUR CONCERNS REGARDING THE VERY REAL ATTACKS ON OUR CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS, OUR FREEDOMS, AND THE VERY FABRIC OF OUR SOCIETY. WE THE PEOPLE ARE DETERMINED TO DEMONSTRATE TO THE POWER AND FREEDOM GRABBERS IN WASHINGTON AND WHEREVER ELSE THAT ILK RESIDES THAT WE ARE FED-UP, THAT UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES WILL WE BE DEPRIVED OF OUR BASIC RIGHT TO BEAR ARMS, OF OUR VERY MEANS TO DEFEND OURSELVES AND OUR LOVED ONES AND OUR FREEDOMS FROM A TYRANNICAL GOVERNMENT. WE WILL BE HEARD! THIS WILL BE A PEACEFUL, RESPECTFUL, NON-PARTISAN, AND FAMILY-FRIENDLY DEMONSTRATION. BRING YOUR FAMILY, YOUR NEIGHBORS, YOUR FRIENDS AND SHOW YOUR LOVE OF THIS COUNTRY!

BE THERE! January 18 - January 31, 2013

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Learning As A Lifestyle

Has It Been That Long?

by Wanda Campbell Last night we had a family discussion about “lifetimes” while sitting around the dinner table. We talked about Aunt Ruby being 97 when she died and all the things that happened in her lifetime.

Ben, my oldest son, said that there weren’t even 50 stars on the flag when I was born. Everyone laughed.

But then I realized there were not 50 stars on the flag when I was born there were only 48. This realization made me start thinking about what else happened the year I was born.

The internet is a great and powerful thing when you want to know about what was happening a long time ago. I looked up my birth year and found out the cost of a gallon of gas was $0.22; a new car cost about $1700; the average rent was $85/month; and movie tickets were $0.70.

to do is call 256-2338260. You don’t have to be a professional to enter, just a fan of Elvis and willing to get up in front of people. You can come in your blue suede shoes or in your blue jeans because it is all in fun. We’ve already had a couple of Elvis sightings at the CLL.

(http://www.thepeoplehistory.com/) I remember going to the Saturday matinee with an RC bottle cap and a quarter.

I remember listening to The Shadow and The Lone Ranger on AFN Radio while we were stationed in Germany.

I remember Maynard G. Krebs (Bob Denver) on Dobie Gillis (1959 to 1963) before

he became the famous Gilligan of Gilligan’s Island (1964 to 1967).

Maybe you remember this stuff too!

All Right (Mama) at Sun Studios in July 1954 and before too long, Elvis was the King of Rock and Roll.

Best of all, for me, I was born in the dawn of Rock and Roll music. Common on the radio were such legends as, Buddy Holly and the Crickets, Bo Diddley, Bill Haley and the Comets, Chuck Berry, Little Richard, Jerry Lee Lewis, and, of course, Elvis Presley.

Today, the Center for Lifelong Learning is looking for Elvis fans. We will have an Elvis Impersonator contest on Friday, January 25 at our ALL SHOOK UP Kick Off Party.

To enter the contest all you have

Also happening at the CLL is Retrobics Dance Fitness led by Pam Hartmann.

Retrobics is offered Tuesday and Thursday, January 22 – February 14 (no class Feb 7), from 9am to 10am.

The fee is $30. I know you will enjoy this new fitness class.

Guitar Lessons with Barry Kay will also start Mondays, January 28. His lessons are by appointment, so call 256-233-8260 to set up your time slot. The fee is $80 for four 30-minute lessons a month.

Bill Haley and the Comets recorded Rock Around the Clock (Happy Days theme) in 1954. Buddy Holly recorded Maybe Baby in 1957.

Little Richard recorded Good Golly Miss Molly in 1956.

And Elvis recorded That’s

You can Like us on Facebook – Center for Lifelong Learning at Athens State – for pictures and flyers. You can register for classes on the web page – www.athens.edu/CLL. And you can always call us at 256-233-8260. We love to hear from you.

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January 18 - January 31, 2013

Cover Story

The Chili Challenge And The “Silver” Spoons

by Ali Elizabeth Turner

Chris is going to be one of this year’s judges, and there are several categories of competition. There is a Critics’ Choice for an individual entry, Critics’ Choice for a group entry, the Peoples’ Choice, and an award for the Best Booth.

Names for booths and chili can be as varied as “Crime Scene” and “Dragon Breath,” and the creativity, hard work and team efforts that go into chili and the “cribs” are one of the things that makes the Challenge so fun. As of this printing, there are still slots available for those who wish to compete in the 2013 Challenge, but you’d better move fast, because they always fill up.

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to support an organization whose purpose is to make the passage from life to death less difficult for all.

I am, of course, speaking of the mission of Hospice of Limestone County, and I have personally seen them in action. They are wonderful, and I am glad we come together once a year to make sure they can continue to do their job well. In these times of uncertainty regarding health care, and when our culture is increasingly encouraged to look to government to provide all our needs, it is a healthy statement that the private citizens of Limestone County are of a mind to see to it that excellent, highly professional end of life inhome care is provided for all those in need, as well as their families.

In addition, Hospice of Limestone County sees to it that bereaved families have access to professionally trained counselors and support long after the initial shock of losing a loved one has passed. Their focus is not just adult children who have lost their parents or other loved ones. Camp Hope is operated specifically for grieving kids aged 5-12 in order to give them the help and tools they need to cope with tremendous loss at such a vulnerable age, have a chance to build community with their peers and adults who understand their situation, and even manage to have some fun in the process.

Between hospice in-home care and Camp Hope, over 300 families in Limestone County were touched by the care that Hospice of Limestone County extends

Athens Police Capt. Trevor Harris and his wife Carol at the police booth last year

to the community. Pat King, the Executive Director for Hospice of Limestone County, says that the actual number of families that are helped by non-hospice related counseling as well as indigent care is greater than what is reflected by their records.

On February 23rd, we will once again have a chance to enjoy great chili, music, homemade goodies, and each other, as well as bid on everything from art to antiques to lawn care at the Silent Auction. Athens High School will again be the site where we go for the “gastronomical gusto,” and we will leave with full tummies and hearts. Tickets are $10, kids 10 and under get in free, and last year over 3,000 people attended.

More than $50,000 was raised; there’s no reason why we can’t beat that amount in 2013. Amanda Speegle is this year’s chair,

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and says that it is fascinating to see what the cooks come up with, especially when you consider that they use everything from pumpkin to venison for their ingredients.

Many recipes are kept secret, but in honor of the

25th anniversary of Chili Challenge, Chris Spann, the original winner from the first Challenge, has graciously shared his first place prize winner with us below:

Tickets are available at the Hospice headquarters, located in Athens at 405 S. Marion, as well as at the door. The Hospice phone is 256-232-5017, and they can give you more information, whether you want to compete or only to attend.

See you at the Challenge!

Chris Spann’s Winning Recipe Ingredients: 3 pounds ground chuck 2 cans Rotel whole tomatoes 3 cans tomato soup 28 oz. can whole tomatoes 1 1/2 cans Bush’s chili beans (31 oz.)

1 cans pork and beans (31 oz.)

5 onions blended 5 diced chili peppers 5 cloves diced garlic 1 tablespoon cumin 5 tablespoon chili powder 1 tablespoon black pepper 2 tablespoon sugar 3 cups diced bell peppers Brown meat and garlic. Add all ingredients except beans. Cook 1 hour. Add beans. Cook 15 minutes. Makes 7 quarts. www.athensnowal.com

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What Makes Ronnie Roll

Teenagers, Trucks And Tile

by Ali Elizabeth Turner Per usual, we had way more to talk about than we had time, but, as always, we made time for prayer, my favorite part of our bi-weekly meetings. “So much is happening in our city and county, and so much of it is positive,” said the Mayor. We have corporations seriously courting us, we have an up and coming group of leaders in the form of the Mayor’s Youth Commission, a plan for getting the old clay tile sewer pipe system replaced, and much more.

So let’s start with the teens.

The Mayor’s Youth Commission has been a rousing success, inspiring both the kids as well as those who are mentoring them. In fact, more schools than just AHS and Athens Bible School are showing an interest in the program, and brainstorming is ongoing as to how that can be accommodated. Both

Holly Hollman and Jackie Warner are being kept busy by these teens, and Congressman Mo Brooks came and spoke to the Youth Commission the first week of this month.

The kids peppered him with some questions that showed wisdom beyond their years, not the least of which was, “What would have happened if we had gone over the fiscal cliff?” Personally, I’d like to ask Speaker Boehner the same question.

them with tales of local Athens WWII vets who were in the same German POW camp. There is nothing to make history come alive like a local story, and the students loved it.

The “trucks” spoken of in the title have to do with fleet management with specific regard to garbage

trucks. The City of Athens is in need of three new garbage trucks, and they are not cheap. Because running a city is very much like running a household or a corporation, finding ways to fund a major and necessary investment which is as important as

The members of the Youth Commission are not just learning what makes things tick in government, the Constitution, and the Bill of Rights, they are also taught how to dress for an interview, are given projects and homework, and most recently Jerry Barksdale regaled

waste management is important, and the City Council is hard at work doing so.

Did you know that there are literally 34 miles of old, decaying, clay tile pipes under our city? We have cameras that are able to get an accurate idea of what is going on down there, and it ain’t pretty.

There are roots that have clogged them up or broken them down completely, and while they have had more

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than one go around with an aggressive auger to get them cleared out, the fact is, they need to be replaced. The city has a

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plan to replace them over the next five years, and given the kind of demand the recent successive rainy days have put on the sewer system and the water treatment plant, it is a good thing it is going to get underway soon.

“We’ve got to find a way to streamline, and to meet the needs of a growing population,” said the Mayor. That is no small task, and I for one am glad that we have a Mayor who understands the need for wisdom to accomplish the task that can only come from above.

January 18 - January 31, 2013

Cover Story

Consign World: Beautiful Clothing, Home Décor, And Musical Instruments At Wonderful Prices

by Ali Elizabeth Turner

continued from page 1

I came flying in to Consign World, explained my dilemma, and the crew snapped into action. They found me something that was stylish, professional, summery, appropriate, and I got out of there truly “on time and under budget.” My wallet may have been 12 dollars lighter, but I became a raving fan customer, someone who is routinely greeted and treated like the Queen of the May, whether I am shopping or delivering the latest edition of Athens Now. Now I feel like I have my own personal wardrobe stylists, they love what they do, and we both love the results and the savings. “It’s just smart to be frugal,” says Consign World owner Brenda Stapler, and I agree.

Brenda and her husband Gary, along with their friendly and experienced team, have put together a shop that looks like what you’d expect in a big box mall store.

From the bridal and formal wear, to the books, clothing, musical instruments and home décor, everything is top notch, with service to match. “We have more than 600 consigners,” Brenda told me, and something that puts a twinkle in her eye is the fact that they also carry the brand new overstock of three bridal and formal shops. “I absolutely love being able to make a woman’s day truly special for a fraction of what it would normally cost. We have hundreds of gowns,

90 percent of which still have the tags hanging on them.” On average, the bridal and formal gowns are at least 60 percent off retail, and then when the date on their tag passes a certain point, the savings are even greater. Consign World carries several bridal and formal wear labels, including Mon Cheri, Mori Lee, Landa, Jovani, Alyce and Riva. An example of the savings which are possible is a recently sold, brand new Jovani dress which would normally retail for $400. It started off being marked down to $180, and finally sold for $125. Brenda took me on an official tour of the store, and the formal wear is stunning in appearance, and current as to style.

risky to do so. Husband Gary has “been awesome,” according to Brenda, and she states that his support, and that of her family, friends and customers have all served to make Consign World both possible and successful. Gary works full time in Huntsville, Monday through Thursday, and then works at the store on Friday and Saturday. Ever the gentleman, he will carry your purchases out to your car for you. The Staplers consider their staff to be family, and customer service is very important to all of them. Brenda also appreciates the fact that when it comes to displaying the

Prior to opening Consign World in November of 2011, Brenda spent several years working in women’s fashions, and also at her daughter Christy Watkins’ consignment shop, Fashion Exchange, located in the Shoals. And, as so many Athens Now clients have done, she started the business at a time when it was

January 18 - January 31, 2013

I had at home “just weren’t working for me.” Sundown was coming, and again, I quickly headed to Consign World. I explained my dilemma, was led straight

to some brocade napkins and some beautiful blue glass candlesticks, and off I went for home, my needs having been met far beyond my expectations. The home décor items at Consign World include table wear, paintings, pillows, furniture, brand new bedding, and more.

merchandise, “they are all on the same page.”

Home décor is another of Consign World’s fortes.

This past December we decided to decorate our Hanukkah table in blue and white, and the cloth napkins

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One of the unusual features of Consign World is the music room. That is Gary’s “baby,” and is filled with guitars, banjos, keyboards, band instruments, all for sale at great prices. On the first Saturday of each month, the community is invited from 11am until whenever to come and jam, sing, observe, and most of all, enjoy. I have attended, had the pleasure of playing and singing with guys who had performed in the

Grand Ol’ Opry, and had a great time. The Saturday jam fest has been so popular that on the third Saturday of each month, (starting on January 19th,) Consign World will host local dulcimer players.

Both events are free, open to the public, a wonderful chance to build community and to enjoy music.

Whether you are in the market for a guitar or a gown, come to Consign World and let folks who love what they do help you find what you are looking for at a price that you’ll find more than pleasing. Gary and Brenda would like to again give “a heartfelt thanks to everyone, from our wonderful consigners to our faithful customers, for making Consign World a success.”

Consign World 661 Hwy 72 W Athens, AL 35611 Store hours: Mon-Sat, 10-6 Phone: 256-444-2055 Email: consignworld@ hotmail.com, and facebook

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Health and Fitness

Benefits Of Using A Personal Trainer

by Janet Hunt

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

I have my own studio or I will work with you at your home. As a trainer, I prefer to use free weights, elastic tubing, fitness balls, and other equipment that you may have at your home rather than use the weight machines at a gym.

INVEST IN THE BEST

Ask your trainer for his/her credentials. Avoid trainers with weekend-seminar or correspondence course certifications. Some of the best certifications come from the American Council on Exercise (ACE), the National Academy of Sports Medicine (NASM), American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM), and the National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA). Meet with the trainer before your first session to see if you are a good match.

Do you think personal trainers are just for the rich and famous? Think again. While we don’t come at bargain basement rates, we can fit into many fitness budgets.

And there is good reason to consider consulting one of us if you find yourself in a workout rut, are struggling to meet your health and fitness goals while working out on your own, need help with sports-specific challenges or injuries, or need the motivation and accountability. A personal trainer can make your workout more productive and challenge you in new ways. In addition, personal trainers can identify issues in your workouts that you may not see -- problems such as posture and incorrect form, things you can improve to provide a more effective workout.

If you think personal fit-

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ness training is something you could benefit from, but wonder how to fit it into your budget, below are some suggestions.

BUDDY UP Find several friends who will share workout sessions.

Small group training sessions can be a fraction of what one-on-one training can cost. These groups can be as small as two or three, or as large as fifteen or twenty.

(For example, I have trained groups of church members in their gym.) For more personalized attention, partner with someone who is at a similar fitness level to cut training cost in half.

A FAMILY AFFAIR Share a session with your son, daughter or other family member to save money and set a great example that fitness can be a family ac-

tivity.

BUY IN BULK With some trainers, the more you buy the lower the individual session.

will even provide a written routine to follow until the next tune-up.

SKIP THE GYM MEMBERSHIP

For additional information about Personal Fitness Training call (256-6143530) or email me (jhunt1@ pclnet.net).

HAVE A GOAL I enjoy working with clients who have specific results in mind as long as they are realistic. Then after your goal is reached, use your trainer for just an occasional maintenance session.

TRAIN FOR A BOOST Short or occasional training sessions can be extremely valuable if you already have a consistent fitness routine.

This can renew your motivation.

JUST A TUNE-UP I frequently work with clients on a limited basis, even once every few months, to tweak an existing routine. I

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January 18 - January 31, 2013

Medical Update

Left Untreated, Glaucoma Can Lead To Vision Loss

by Chad Davis, O.D.

The Alabama Optometric Association Emphasizes Importance Of Comprehensive Eye Exams During National Glaucoma Awareness Month Glaucoma can strike without pain or other symptoms and is a leading cause of blindness in the United States. According to the American Optometric Association (AOA), early detection and treatment is critical to maintain healthy vision and protect the eyes from the effects of potentially blinding diseases, such as glaucoma.

Awareness and understanding surrounding glaucoma is relatively low. According to data from the AOA’s latest American Eye-Q® consumer survey, less than 20 percent of all Americans know that glaucoma primarily causes deterioration to peripheral vision.

The survey also indicated 50 percent of Americans incorrectly believe glaucoma is preventable. While the disease is not preventable, it is treatable, and regular, comprehensive eye exams play a critical role in successful outcomes for patients. The AOA

recommends those who suffer from glaucoma have a dilated eye examination annually.

More frequent exams may be needed if you notice additional changes in your vision.

“Those individuals who do not visit their eye doctor on a regular basis are putting their vision and quality of life at risk,” said Dr. Davis. “Vision lost to glaucoma cannot be restored, so early detection and treatment are important.”

Americans also are not aware of the factors that put them most at risk for developing glaucoma. Only 16 percent of those surveyed indicated knowing that race or ethnicity may increase their risk.

According to the Glaucoma Research Foundation, African Americans ages 45 to 65 are 14 to 17 times more likely to go blind from glaucoma than Caucasians. Other risk factors include people who have a family history of glaucoma,

are over age 60, or have had severe eye trauma.

To find a doctor of optometry in your area, or for additional information on glaucoma and other issues concerning eye health, please visit www.aoa. org.

About the survey: The sixth annual American Eye-Q® survey was conducted by Penn, Schoen & Berland Associates (PSB). From May 19-23, 2011 using an online methodology, PSB interviewed 1,000 Americans 18 years and older who embodied a nationally representative sample of the U.S. population.

(Margin of error at 95 percent confidence level.)

About the American Optometric Association (AOA): The American Optometric Association represents approximately 36,000 doctors of optometry, optometry students and paraoptometric assistants and technicians. Optometrists serve patients in nearly 6,500 communities across the country, and in 3,500 of those communities are the only eye doctors. Doctors of optometry provide two-thirds of all primary eye care in the United States.

American Optometric Association doctors of optometry are highly qualified, trained doctors on the frontline of eye and vision care who examine, diagnose, treat and manage diseases and disorders of the eye. In addition to providing eye and vision care, optometrists play a major role in a patient’s overall health and well-being by detecting systemic diseases such as diabetes and hypertension.

January 18 - January 31, 2013

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Prior to optometry school, optometrists typically complete four years of undergraduate study, culminating in a bachelor’s degree. Required undergraduate coursework for pre-optometry students is extensive and covers a wide variety of advanced health, science and mathematics.

Optometry school consists of

four years of post-graduate, doctoral study concentrating on both the eye and systemic health. In addition to their formal training, doctors of optometry must undergo annual continuing education to stay current on the latest standards of care. For more information, visit www.aoa.org.

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Horse Whispering

Horse And Soul Tour

by Deb Kitchenmaster With any area of personal interest, there is the opportunity to engage on an adventurous journey. We move forward, stand still, come to “intersections,” choose which direction to go, and hopefully on the road to mastery, we enter into a rest in the midst of involvement and activities!

connect with the Morgan horses that made up my little herd by playing seven different games with them. These games are ones that horses play with each other, and when you connect with

naturally mirror that so honestly. At times, my leadership was worthy to follow, and then there were days that the horse looked at me as if to say, “Really?” “What?” Yes, horses are great at asking

HORSE and SOUL event this week-end on Saturday, January 19th, and Sunday, January 20th, at Morgan County Celebration, 67 Horse Center Road Arena, located in Deca-

Holding a desire inside to master natural horsemanship, I welcome informative, challenging, relevant opportunities to connect with others who have the same passion.

The word ‘horsemanship’ sums it up quite well: Horse – Man – Ship!

Hope to see you there, and may your HEART and SOUL be touched by this HORSE and SOUL event!

Several years ago, I received a postcard sent to the previous owners at my address. The invitation was to attend a horse event in the Huntsville area. I went.

This was my first connection with Pat and Linda Parelli and their horses. I observed alert horses enjoying themselves with their human partners!

Unforced!

Willingly! I have been to rodeos, horseshows, county fairs and trail rides, but what I was eye witnessing in this large arena was a new thing!

I was already a homeschooling parent of two children, and decided to enroll us in a natural horsemanship homeschooling program through the Parelli approach to horse training.

One by one, I began to

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do not have Internet, some of the demos on Saturday are: Seven Keys to Success, Psychology 101, Pre-Saddle Training, and Quick and Easy Fixes for Straightness.

Sunday demos include Diagnosing and Solving Lead Change Challenges, Mastering Body Position, and Driving and Trailer Loading.

questions.

It is such an awakening when you realize they are asking, and what they are asking!

I am thrilled to announce the

the horse at this level, a relationship, respect and leadership begin to evolve! It’s quite amazing. Selfdiscovery is at the core of connecting and mastery. Horses

tur, Alabama. The doors open at 8 am, and the last demo will wrap up around 4:00 pm. Admission is free for military, police, firefighters, EMTs, and kids 16 and under. Parking is free. Cost is $25 at the door. Go to www. parellihorseandsoul. com for details and schedule.

Cowboy church starts at 8:00 a.m. on Sunday, January 20th with demos following. The show finale is at 4:00 p.m.

In the book of Genesis, it is recorded that God made man from dust, then God breathed into man’s nostrils His breath, and man became a living soul. In the original Hebrew language, the words “living soul” actually means “speaking spirit.” This is what differentiates us in the animal kingdom.

May the speaking spirit of the children of God connect with the conscious spirit of the equine, creating an awakened beauty of righteousness on this earth!

Your NEIGHbor, Deb Kitchenmaster Corral Connections: Connecting with LIFE through a horse Animal B.E.S.T practitioner dkitchenmaster@mchsi.com

For those of you who

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January 18 - January 31, 2013

Like me on

The World According To Will

The Will Anderson Show M-F 6pm-8pm on 800 and 1230AM and 106.5FM WBHP

On Guns Gun control was the issue of the week. The President issued 23 Executive “actions” Wednesday, proving that he is the most power-hungry president ever, right?

Maybe not. A cursory reading of the 23 leads to the conclusion that he was all talk and no action on guns. Action number one, for example, declares that the President will “issue a Presidential Memorandum to require federal agencies to make relevant data available to the federal background check system.” That’s benign enough, isn’t it? Background checks aren’t unreasonable.

And then there’s number seven, as harmless as ever: “Launch a national safe and responsible gun ownership campaign.” Aside from the fact that it will probably end up costing billions of dollars, who could be against that? Is anyone for the unsafe and irresponsible ownership of guns?

But wait, we skipped “action” number six. It reads, “[the federal government shall] publish a letter from ATF to federally licensed gun dealers providing guidance on how to run background checks for private sellers.”

What does that mean? Is it just poorly written, or has Obama declared that gun dealers need help doing their job?

Here’s my favorite (it’s action number 19). Obama is going to “develop model emergency-response plans for schools, houses

of worship and institutions of higher education.” The federal government is going to come up with a way for children, churchgoers, and college students to run and hide when a maniac barges in intent to kill as many people as possible.

No matter who you are or where you are, if you learn to escape a predator, you won’t have to worry about shooting if necessary. So no need for guns!

The 2nd Amendment aside, there are pragmatic reasons for being opposed to gun control. A woman in Atlanta, for example, was at home with her two children a week or so ago, and when she recognized that someone was trying to break into her house, she and her kids retreated to a closet upstairs. The intruder, after ransacking the first floor of the house, made it up to her bedroom closet, where she and the children were hiding. She was holding a 38, and she used it, hitting the bad guy in the face five times. He

January 18 - January 31, 2013

by Will Anderson

was still able to get away (he crashed his car just down the road), but she saved the lives of her children.

That story made news because she actually fired.

And it worked. We can’t quantify the number of lives saved because someone with a gun threatened to fire. We can, though, make an educated guess

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that if someone manages his way into a school or a church determined to shoot and kill as many people as possible, a bullet or three in his leg is the most effective way to stop him from killing.

Obama’s 23 Executive “actions” Wednesday were composed to mollify those of us who value the right to own a firearm. They are

vacuous. And, most conspicuously, they are conspicuous. When was the last time a president scheduled a speech to detail an executive order? They’re usually issued in private.

When Obama signs off on the real gun restrictions he has in mind, rest assured that no cameras will be present.

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Athens Rehabilitation and Senior Care Center Spotlight on George And Jeanne Clark

by Ali Elizabeth Turner

George and Jeanne Clark, who are currently receiving rehab care at Athens Rehab and Senior Care, are what you would call “long drinks of water.” That was my dad’s term for tall people, and they are indeed that—George is 6’5” and Jeanne is 5’9”. They are originally from Oklahoma, George having been born in Cushing, OK, and Jeanne in Ardmore, OK. (Yes, there really is an Ardmore in Oklahoma!) George and

Jeanne have lived in Athens for over 30 years. Mr. and Mrs. Clark were married in 1950, and met while in college. To hear Miss Jeanne tell it, she went to a dance, hoping for a chance to dance with someone who was tall. George filled the bill, swept her off her feet, and the rest, as they say, is history.

The dance that changed their lives was held at Oklahoma State University, and George went on to

get two degrees, a bachelor’s in mechanical engineering from Oklahoma State, and a bachelor’s in electrical engineering from the University of Houston. Jeanne studied Home Economics. He spent his career largely in the space program, and Jeanne used her Home Ec knowledge as a stay at home mom, raising two kids. Their daughter lives in Hoover, and their son is here in Athens.

They have six grandkids and 8 great-grands.

George also served in the United States Navy during WWII in the Pacific theatre. He was aboard the USS Boxer, which was an aircraft carrier. (Please note, there have been six naval vessels that have had the same name, the most current is a Wasp series assault ship involved in fighting piracy off the coast of Somalia.) The Boxer upon which George served was used for a number of things, including picking up Apollo spacecraft after they splashed down.

He spent his career in the Space and Rocket industry here in Rocket City.

Obviously they loved to dance, and they both like Italian as well as Mexican food. George also has enjoyed history, particularly that of the Civil War. George didn’t have a favorite film star, but Jeanne liked Cary Grant. She says that of the two of them, “George is the better danc-

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er,” and she also says, with obvious affection, “George is a very gentle guy.”

They have been lifelong Methodists, and members of First Methodist Church here in Athens for 30 years.

Who is their favorite president? George W. Bush. Who is their favorite CNA (Certified Nursing Assistant) at Athens Rehab? “They are all good to us, but Rebecca is our favorite.” They have been pleased with the care and the food at Athens Rehab, saying both have “been excellent.”

What words of advice would they give to a young couple? “Be willing to help each other,” as well as “to be patient with each other,”said Jeanne. The other day Jeanne told her son that he must have gotten his patience from his father. He replied with a laugh, “Well, it certainly didn’t come from you.”

That being said, I found them both to be dear folks, and it was my joy once again to have the chance to put the “Spotlight on a Senior,” courtesy of Athens Rehabilitation and Senior Care Center.

January 18 - January 31, 2013

Security Savvy

The Real Question

by Brian Black of Madison Security Group

When we in the security industry are faced with writing an incident report, we are taught to ask who, what, where, when and how. There is one more question that has to be asked, and that is, WHY? Why did it happen? This question is normally left up to the investigators and lawyers, but I think we need to ask the question. Why is there so much violence in schools? h There have always been e fights at schools. These fights happened for difgferent reasons -- over a sgirl, sports, or just to see hwho the toughest guy is. .But times have changed.

-We now have reports of ochildren fighting or kill-ing children for all kinds tof reasons, including egang initiations, for fun -and no reason at all. So, ywhy is this happening? e In my opinion, I feel that s the children that come mit these acts are empty inside. They have been enumbed to the reality that gactions have consequenco

es. I point the finger at Hollywood and the video game makers. Children nowadays play violent video games continually and watch violent movies. These video games have graphic scenes and encourage killing of both good and bad people. These video games are showing our children how to conquer the instinct of not killing. In some of these games, in order to win, I am told, you must kill yourself. Why would anybody allow their children to play these games?

dicted to these games and movies just as surely as if they were doing drugs. And, like a drug user, eventually they need more and more, just to feel the way they did when they started. At some point, some of these children lose their grip on reality and think life is like the games and movies. So, in an attempt to “feel” something, they act out the scenes they have seen time and time again. Unfortunately, there is not a rest button for Life.

Hollywood glamorizes the criminal and makes the police and other law enforcement to be the bad guys. Just look at the movies Fast and Furious and the classic, The Godfather. Also there is the hit show, The Sopranos. In these productions you will see that the “hero,” would be a bad guy in real life. Now don’t get me wrong, I am not saying that any of these should be banned.

I am saying this is part of the problem. We as a society need to make Hollywood and the video game producers know that, we want

January 18 - January 31, 2013

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products that represent our standards.

Unfortunately, a large number of kids play and watch, and then get ad-

These children no longer have the interaction with other children the way we did growing up.

They no longer are allowed to play outside or play sports, because they “might get hurt.” We need to make sure that these kids are properly supervised, and that inappropriate games and movies are kept away from them until, at least until they are more mature. The best way to secure your children is to be active in their life.

www.facebook.com/ElkmontBakery

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