January 8, 2015

January 8 - January 21, 2016

AthensNowal.com E-MAIL: info@athensnowal.com ADVERTISING: Ali Elizabeth: 256-468-9425 David: 256-702-2237

See Our Listings Inside this edition...

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Publisher's Point The Courage Of Dr. Carson...

Dr. Ben Carson is a true American hero, one about whom I have already written in this column.

Whether or not he becomes...

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SportsFit of Athens: Making Your New Year's Resolutions A Reality

By Jacob Pope It’s ing ing this

that time again: everyone is makNew Year's resolutions and dreamabout how they are going to make their best year yet. Sure, we have

Tourism Limestone County "Quality of Life:” Looking Forward To 2016...

What turns a city into a place you want to call home? What gives it its edge over its rivals?...

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Learning As A Lifestyle “The Doorway” That Is January...

January is here, and the weather is colder, so we are moving slower and making plans to stay inside. January is named for the Roman god...

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January 8 - January 21, 2016

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high hopes, but how often do we follow through with our promises to ourselves?

Wouldn’t it be so much easier if you had an entire community to help inspire and motivate you? Well, Athens is lucky enough to have SportsFit Fitness Cen-

Continued on pages 16-17

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January 8 - January 21, 2016

Publisher’s Point

The Courage Of Dr. Carson

Publisher / Editor Ali Turner

Sales

David Henry

Graphic Design

Jonathan Hamilton

Web Design Teddy Wolcott

Delivery

Hunter Williams

Contributing Writers Janet Hunt Lynne Hart Rachel Clark, RN, BSN Shelley Underhill Teresa Todd Wanda Campbell Jerry Barksdale Jacob Pope

Dr. Ben Carson is a true American hero, one about whom I have already written in this column. Whether or not he becomes our next President, I have no doubt that he will continue to speak from a place of conviction, courage, and a

tion: “No religious test shall ever be required as a qualification to any office or public trust under the United States.” The challenger, whose name is Hesham El-Meligy, tried to then make it seem that Ben Carson had

tion, and it went on for quite awhile.

It does not take a rocket scientist to show that Shariah law and our Constitution are at permanent loggerheads. The following is a comparison of critical portions of the two documents, proving that one would have to supplant the other:

Publisher’s Point . . . . . . . . 3 All Things Soldier . . . . . . . 4 Calendar of Events . . . . . . . . 6 Tourism . . . . . . . . . 10 Clean and Green . . . . . . . 12 Cooking With Shelley . . . . . 13 Health and Fitness . . . . . . 14 Cover Story . . . . . . . 16 - 17 Learning As A Lifestyle . . . 18 What Makes Ronnie Roll . . . 19 Dog Barker . . . . . . . . . . 20

refreshing lack of political correctness.

One of the things I like the most about him is that when he speaks up in adversarial situations, his moral and spiritual compass remain fixed, and his level of selfcontrol is exemplary. Such was the case recently when someone tried to use the Constitution to trip him up and make him appear to be Islamaphobic.

The place was Staten Island, and a Muslim fellow, who interestingly is the chairman of the Staten Island Libertarian Party, quoted the following from Article 6, Section 3 of the United States Constitu-

Jerry's Journal . . . . . . . 21 Medical Update . . . . . . . . 22

January 8 - January 21, 2016

previously stated that he would never want to see a Muslim in the Oval Office, and wanted to know how Dr. Carson could reconcile his alleged statements with what he was trying to make the Constitution appear to say. The response was as follows: “That’s very easy to reconcile, actually. If you go back and look at what I said, I said I would not want a Muslim who accepts all the precepts of Islam, including Shariah.”

What happened next was pretty surprising, given that Staten Island is in the middle of New York City.

Dr. C got a standing ova-

Article VI: The Constitution is the supreme law of the land: Article VI: “This Constitution, and the Laws of the United States which shall• be made in Pursuance thereof; and all Treaties made, or which shall be made, under the Authority of the United States, shall be the supreme Law of the Land; and the Judges in every State shall be bound thereby” Shariah: “The source of legal rulings for all acts of those who are morally responsible is• Allah.” (a1.1, Umdat al-salik or The Reliance of the Traveller, commonly accepted work of Shariah jurisprudence); “There is only

one law which ought to be followed, and that is the Sharia.” (Seyed Qutb); “Islam wishes to destroy all states and governments anywhere on the face of the earth which are opposed to the ideology and program of Islam regardless of the country or the nation which rules it. The purpose of Islam is to set up a State on the basis of its own ideology and program.” (Seyed Abul A’ala Maududi) Ben was being beneficent and gracious, and I will not judge the motives of Mr. El-Meligy. All I know, is I am grateful for a man who will fight for the truth of who we are as Americans, and what defines us. May God bless Ben all the days of his life.

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

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All Things Soldier

Intimidating The ISIL

by Ali Elizabeth Turner Sometimes I am tempted to become discouraged when I see what is happening globally with ISIS/ ISIL. From my perspective, the alarming actions of the Islamic State, whether in San Bernardino, Paris, or Oklahoma are consistent with the timeless mission of jihadists: to force (through the use of terror), involuntary conversion to Islam, or at the very least, require non-believers to pay the tribute tax. As an infant nation, we tried that for awhile, and for a season we were allocating 16% of the entire US budget to pay jihadists/pirates in Africa for “protection.”

George Washington began the effort to put a stop to it, as did Jefferson and Adams, and the Barbary Wars were the result. It is not an exaggeration to say that we have been outwardly free of

jihad for only around 180 years, however, the goal of worldwide control as administered by “the faithful” has never been abandoned.

As King Solomon said, “there is nothing new under the sun,” and the present day term or application

for this type of “protectionat-a-price” is called Mafia, Cartel, or Tong.

There is some good news, though, on several fronts.

The US led military operation that is going after the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria is called Operation

Vietnam Veterans of America (Chapter 511)

$7

January 18th

11am - 1pm and 5pm-7pm

17915 W Elm St • Athens, Alabama • 256-232-0029 Page 4

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Internal Resolve. In Iraq, the IS has lost about 40 percent of territory previously held near Baghdad and Ramadi, and about 20 percent of the territory held in Syria. The Kurds, who are always the unsung heroes, and who, I believe shall remain undaunted in their quest for freedom, have beaten ISIS back from places in Northern Iraq. Other victories have been along the Turkish Syrian border.

Last year, Tikrit was recaptured by Iraqi forces along with Shiite militias, strange bedfellows to be sure, but thankfully Tikrit has stood.

It warms my heart to know that the city that produced Saddam Hussein is pushing back the bullies once again.

On the humanitarian front, close to 150 Iraqi Christians were rescued in December, and safely airlifted to Slovakia, as discussed at more length in the last Publisher’s Point. They have been the subject of a recently aired 20/20 episode, and their level of gratitude at having been freed is deeply touching.

There is one more thing that is in the formation stage, and that is a small squad of warriors with a number of specialized skills that are going in to Northern Iraq independently of our military. While it makes me nervous from the standpoint of operational security to even see their pictures posted anywhere online, or know the tiniest thing about their identities, I have to trust that they know what they are doing if they released the shot of their team to the media. They consist of a female veteran, formerly with the US National Guard, who heads up what she calls the “Dream Team.” The rest of the crew has experience in combat medicine, marksmanship, intel, humanitarian assistance, and mechanics.

Their specific purpose is to rescue wounded Kurdish fighters, using a truck for an ambulance. The former NG officer, whose “handle” is Kat Argo, has served in Afghanistan and near Russia. Her fields of expertise are in intel as well as journalism. The name of the Dream Team is Qalubna Ma’kum, which means, “Our heart is with you.”

Words fail to express my gratitude for those like Kat and her crew; people who come out of retirement and refuse to give up when others think a situation is hopeless. Ultimately, it is exactly this spirit that will intimidate ISIS/ISIL into permanent oblivion, and while the work won’t be completed until the Millennium, the day will indeed come when “Mission Accomplished” will literally mean “Well done, thou good and faithful servants.”

January 8 - January 21, 2016

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Calendar of Events The Heritage Children's Chorale Auditions Jan 11th & 25th • Jan12th & 19th

The Heritage Children's Chorale mid season audition dates are as follows: Monday, January 11th and 25th - 4:30 pm at First Methodist Church, Athens Al. Tuesday, January 12th and 19th - 4:30 pm at First Presbyterian Church, Pulaski, TN. All boys and girls, ages 8-18 are welcome. Call 256-874-5572 or visit hccofthesouth.org for more details.

Science Fiction: Science Future Now - Mar 6th

U.S. Space and Rocket Center. One Tranquility Base, Huntsville, AL. The future is now! Move objects with your mind! Become invisible! Play games with a robot! Experience augmented reality! Science, Fiction, Science Future brings the science of the future into the present, sending visitors on a unique journey filled with science exploration, curiosity and discovery. For hours of operation, admission, and contact information: rocketcenter.com/ admission

2nd Annual Festival of the Cranes Juried Art Exhibit Jan 9th - Feb 26th

Alabama Center for the Arts. 133 2nd Avenue Decatur, AL. The show will feature selected artwork from students, alumni artist, and faculty of Athens State University and Calhoun Community College. It includes a diverse collection of art forms and media that depict cranes, birds, waterfowl, ducks, geese, raptors, eagles, falcons, wildlife, and nautre, The galleries are open from 10:00AM-3:00PM.

Chicken Stew Jan 9th

country on the rural roads. About 7-8 miles into the race, runners will move off the road and onto the old L&N Railroad bed, which is now known as the Richard Martin Trail. This is part of the Rails to Trails Conservancy, and from the Martin Trail they will run the final 5-6 miles of the half marathon. Proceeds from this race will benefit the Elkmont High School Cross Country and Track/Field programs. Register at https://runsignup.com/Race/AL/Elkmont/ ElkmontHalfMarathon

Senior Lunch Matinee Show Jan 22nd

Yesterdays Event Center. 15631 Brownsferry Road, Athens, AL. Join Yesterdays for a complete lunch including drink and dessert for $11.00, and entertainment featuring The Sophisticated Swingers oldies group. Doors open 10:30AM, Event begins 11:00AM and showtime 12:00PM with a show length 60-75 minutes. Groups of all size welcome. Bus parking available. Cancellation fee may apply. Pre-reservation required, send reservation email to: Info@ YesterdaysEvents.com

One Year Celebration Jan 23rd

Athens-Limestone County Public Library. 603 South Jefferson Street, Athens, AL. Please join the Friends of the Library from 10:00am-4:00PM as they mark the Library's first year in its new "home". Refreshments, book sale and more.

Fandemonium: Shadowhunters Jan 25th

Athens-Limestone County Public Library. 603 South Jefferson Street, Athens, AL. Teens are invited to Fandemonium to share their passion and knowledge about their favorites. Fun games and crafts will be centered around this month's feature: Shadowhunters.

No registration necessary.

East Limestone Volunteer Fire Department. 15801 E Limestone Rd, Athens, AL. Grab a container or two and join the East Limestone VFD at 10:00AM for Chicken Stew.

Live at The Red Caboose Jan 9th

The Red Caboose. 25483 Railroad Street, Elkmont, AL. Enjoy a night of music featuring the talents of Roger Murrah, Neal Coty, Jimmy Melton and Chris Holt. Doors open at 6:00PM. Show starts at 7:00PM. Admission: $25.00; Children 12 & Under Free.

For more information: www.theredcaboose.com

Elkmont Trackless Train Trek Half Marathon Jan 16th

Elkmont, AL. Beautiful, CERTIFIED (USATF #AL15062JD) half marathon through the rolling hills of Elkmont, Alabama.

The course begins in downtown Elkmont and heads out into the Page 6

January Mystery Book Club Jan 28th

Steelcase Board Room. 603 South Jefferson Street, Athens, AL. Enjoy a good mystery? Come to the library and join the Mystery Book Club at 6:00PM for discussion and fellowship. This month's featured book: Feint of Art by Hailey Lind. For more information: Mrs. Laura 256-232-1233.

Valentine's Gift Expo Feb 6th

Vietnam Veterans of American Post. 17915 West Elm Street, Athens, AL. Join over 30 vendors from 9:00AM-3:00PM and find a gift for your valentine. Kids craft table featuring valentine projects. Concession and door prizes including a $50 Visa Gift Card giveaway. For more information: vendorshowinathens@ yahoo.com

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Tourism

Limestone County "Quality of Life:” Looking Forward To 2016

by Teresa Todd, President, Athens-Limestone County Tourism Association What turns a city into a place you want to call home? What gives it its edge over its rivals?

When every city begins to look a bit alike, what lets some cities (either big or small) create a special allure, develop as a powerful brand, or just become known as the ideal place to do business?

What makes a city fail or work is if it can deliver quality of life!

Quality of life is a reflection of both the hard and the softer elements of city and rural living. And it's not just about wealth. This is about shared experiences - a community that's inclusive, but works for all.

It's kayaking in the shadow of our beautiful Elk River. It's about Mooresville’s quiet historic village, which is nestled between larger cities, yet continues to inspire others with its early 19th century ar-

chitecture.

With the many challenges facing our communities, how do we maintain the city's heart, create homes for all, and add to our city’s density without reducing services, all while maintaining life and vitality on our streets?

Parts of the solutions are simple in that many

of the things that create quality of life are inexpensive, such as places to assemble while enjoying a beautiful water fountain, or biking the many miles of charted trails.

Additionally, we have begun expanding on our involvement with the Southern Makers Festi-

val in Montgomery. The festival features independent craftsmen and vendors where you can still find food, furniture, and other merchandise which have been expertly produced in and around Alabama. Local participants in the festival include Belle Chevre Creamery and

Robin Wade Furniture, where visitors can enjoy personal tours. According to the Southern Makers website, “proceeds from ticket sales at the Festival benefit E.A.T. South, which is a non-profit organization that encourages healthy

lifestyles through educational and sustainable food production in urban areas throughout the southeast.”

However, our city also needs to hold on to what makes her unique. That's why people seek out the distinctive festivals like our Fiddlers’ Convention and Storytelling Festival along with the unusual at our Grease Festival.

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Our local culture and history can be celebrated and enjoyed at the Alabama Veterans’ Museum, as well as Athens State University.

We are blessed with talented musicians performing at our monthly concert series in the park, and artists teaching and delighting us at High Cotton Arts.

We also provide oral history during our Cemetery Strolls and Historic Walks. This is why people fall in love with our communities, which in some ways, have lived past others’ sell-by dates.

The Athens-Limestone County Tourism is anxious to show you what we will enjoy bringing to our county in 2016.

Each year, we are preparing for new and exciting activities for our communities and our guests. We also help to bring new life and business to Limestone County passionately and expose every resident and visitor to high quality experiences.

We would like to wish you all a fascinating 2016!

January 8 - January 21, 2016

January 8 - January 21, 2016

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Clean and Green

OK, Let’s Take It Outside

by Lynne Hart

When you hear the words “nature” or “outdoors,” what does that mean to you?

When I was a child, I lived upstairs from my grandparents in a double house in Cleveland, Ohio. The section of yard with grass was about the size of a postage stamp, and the rest consisted of driveway. I spent many hours of play outside with friends climbing the tree that grew in an empty lot down the road, playing kickball in the street, or riding bikes. There were small playgrounds nearby, but we could drive for miles and miles, seeing nothing but concrete and patches of grass.

books together. It was exciting to see the deer play or watch the turkeys make their way across our property. I was truly a city girl in awe of having nature visit my back yard.

I am grateful for the forward thinking people who reserved land around Cleveland for those of us living in the “concrete jungle.” Here in Limestone County, I am grateful to those who have worked so hard and continue their efforts to create the “Rails to Trails” and the walking trail in Athens, as well as the Mayor’s appreciation of green space in fu-

So what can we as individuals do? First, let’s make sure our children turn off the electronics and go outside. Fresh air and sunshine are good for the body and soul. An appreciation for nature must be nurtured. Let’s take time to go on nature hikes or stroll on local trails to refresh ourselves and remember why we need to care about our environment. As you walk, stop to inspect the plant life, search for insects, talk to your children and grandchildren about the miracle of a tree, the importance of bees and bats to crop

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•“They show us and talk to us about the colors of the flowers and also why we shouldn’t step on cracks.”

•“They don’t say, ‘Hurry up.’”

Don’t deny your children the precious gift of time spent outside together.

At home, you can create gardens that provide the native plants that welcome birds, bees, butterflies, and bunnies. Native plants are “built” for the area and require less care

than non-native plants.

There is a great deal of information on the internet regarding what is native to this area and the wildlife they will attract.

One of the local nurseries would also be a great resource.

So much of nature is in the hands of the human race. As individuals, we can’t fix it all. We can, however, teach upcoming generations of children how it all ties together, how every creature on this planet (big, small, and microscopic) rely on one another. Maybe along the way we will awaken our own love of nature and concern for the environment.

Here are a few websites that have great information on outdoor activities:

It was a great treat when my family went to the Metro Parks for a picnic.

The Cleveland Metro Parks System consists of 18 park reservations spanning 23,000+ acres which form a “necklace” around the City of Cleveland. It is referred to as the “Emerald Necklace.” Thank goodness for the Metro Parks, where we could breathe in the beauty of nature.

Moving to Athens gave my husband and me a chance to experience living outside of a big city.

We built a home in West Limestone on 7 acres.

I enjoyed watching the birds come to our feeders and logged each new species I saw. When my granddaughters visited, we would sit at the window and search the bird

•“When they take us for walks, they slow down past things like pretty leaves and caterpillars.”

Parks and Recreation in Limestone County (includes the Elk River Canoe & Kayak Trail and Rails to Trails): http:// www.limestoneparks. com/ Alabama State Parks: http://alapark.com/ Land Trust of North Alabama: http://www. landtrustnal.org/ ture planning. As Athens, Madison, and Huntsville continue to grow toward each other, we run the risk of losing easy access to the wonders of nature.

The loss of land to “progress” also means wildlife find the space they share to be crowded and move into populated areas to find food and shelter.

production, or how we rely on our Elk River for our drinking water.

The following quotes were from papers written by a class of 8-year-olds when they were asked “What is a Grandparent” and published anonymously. I found the following three to be so telling.

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Become a Fan

(256) 233-8728 KALBCares@gmail.com www.KALBCares.com January 8 - January 21, 2016

Cooking with Shelley

Call It What You Want . . .

by Shelley Underhill In Louisiana, we call it “head cheese.” In Alabama we call it “souse.” Call it what you want, this stuff is good. This is a version that I came up with over the holidays. Sit down with a big hunk of it, and a sleeve of Ritz crackers and . . . If you eat either of the above, well you get my point.

Give it a try and let me know what you think. You can email me at shelleysdesk@gmail.com. Enjoy.

Call It What You Want 5 chicken breasts (cut in small chunks) 3 cans chicken broth 16 green onions (sliced thin) 3/4 cup of celery (sliced thin) 1 white onions (chopped fine) 8 packs gelatin Tony Chachere’s to taste Boil and chop chicken, set to side. Bring chicken broth to a boil, then add onions and celery. Cook until tender, add chicken. Let mixture cool slightly. Poor in gelatin, two packs at a time while stirring. Once mixture is stirred well, pour into a well greased loaf pan. Refrigerate overnight, or until firm.

January 8 - January 21, 2016

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Health and Fitness

New Year’s Weight Loss Resolution

by Janet Hunt

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

Did you make a New Year’s Resolution this year? If so, you are one of the 45% of all Americans that do make a New Year’s Resolution.

Unfortunately, only 8% of the resolution makers are successful. And, the most common resolution is “to lose weight.”

So why do so many people fail to keep their resolutions? Most often, there is no clear connection between a person’s objectives and his or her actions. To be successful, a resolution must be a goal and not a wish. When establishing your resolution use the SMART goal approach. SMART goals are Specific, Measureable, Achievable, Realistic and Time-bound.

For example, a SMART

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weight goal might be to lose 10 pounds by St. Patrick’s Day (March 17, 2016). By stating your goal like this, it is Specific. It is Measureable because you can easily weigh yourself to see how you are progressing. It is Achievable because it is recommended to lose 1 or 2 pounds a week. Because you set an end, the goal is Time-bound.

As you can see, this approach is much better than just saying “I want to lose weight.” You will also want to make sure your SMART goal is Realistic based on your limitations and lifestyle.

This is where you will need to take this a step further and set a plan of action.

On Thursday, January 14 at 1:00 p.m., at

Round Island Baptist Church, I will be holding a workshop for anyone making a New Year’s Resolution “to lose weight.” We will begin working on a SMART goal. After individual goals are set, we will talk about food diaries and how to use one. A food diary is a critical tool when losing weight. After that, we will spend time talking about nutrition labels, calories, carbohydrates, fats, and proteins.

Before we end the workshop, we will decide if we need to have another workshop and if so, set the date. To make your resolution even more desirable, everyone will contribute $25. Those that reach their goals will split the money.

Those that do not . . .

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well, you know.

For more information regarding the Weight Loss Resolution Workshop, contact Janet

Hunt at 256-614-3530 or jhunt1@pclnet.net.

Janet is an ACE certified Health Coach.

January 8 - January 21, 2016

January 8 - January 21, 2016

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Cover Story

SportsFit of Athens: Making Your New Year's Resolutions A Reality

by Jacob Pope continued from page 1

ter to help people make their dreams come true.

To make achieving these goals even easier, SportsFit is offering a special rate for all new members until the end of January. Their new member special is a 3 month membership for $99! There is no enrollment fee, and you can purchase up to 4 of these offers. That would cover you for an entire year! This special also includes all of the amenities that SportsFit offers, including extensive group fitness classes.

The group fitness classes that are offered range in different paces and intensity levels, led by nationally certified instructors.

There are over 200 classes every month.

The classes include

Zumba, CycleFit, Pilates, Yoga, Strength Training, Abs, and Step, as well as water aerobics classes.

The exclusive aquatics area features a large indoor pool with a year-round temperature of 88 degrees. The pool welcomes members to participate in lap swimming, walking, or scheduled water aerobics classes. The water aerobics classes offer a low impact workout especially for those who are unable to participate in a traditional floor class.

The resistance of the water can also provide a challenge for even the most experienced gym-goer. The area also includes a whirlpool and sauna.

SportsFit also offers

an array of cardiovascular machines, including treadmills, elliptical machines, arc trainers, upright bikes and recumbent bikes to help modify each workout.

Strength training systems and free weights are also available on site to train specific muscle groups, and are the optimal way to build a dynamic, cut physique. To help ensure that all of their members get started on the right track, SportsFit offers each of its new members a complimentary training session. These are done one on one with a Certified Personal Trainer.

Some of the members who are new to the gym often use this training session as a way to learn all of the equipment, while more experienced members will use this as a way to get started in the right direction a fitness plan.

SportsFit has staffed hours, but is also a

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24 hour facility. This means that members are given an access card that they can use to gain entrance the gym 24 hours a day.

This gives everyone an opportunity to use the facility, no matter what their schedule may be. Another perk of a SportsFit membership is the use of their tanning beds. Use of the tanning beds in included in the price of a membership, and is the perfect way to get prepared for that beach trip that will be here before you know it!

SportsFit provides a family environment where everyone feels comfortable, no matter their age, or level of fitness knowledge. They even offer free childcare with every membership. The childcare is for ages 1-8, and is available during the morning as well as the afternoon. To help keep the children active and

January 8 - January 21, 2016

healthy, SportsFit offers KidsFit Camp during the summer months.

This is a great way for children to learn about exercise while still hav-

gym members compete in pairs of two, logging miles they have completed of cardio,” Facility Director Phil Snyder said. “Teams are set up

ing fun. The time during camp is usually split between time doing aerobics, relay type exercises in the group fitness room, and having fun in the pool.

against each other in a bracket style format, so it’s a head to head competition, and it goes through an elimination process of total miles against total miles.”

The gym offers more than just classes, free weights, and machines; it also encourages its members to dive into several competitions put on by the facility each year. “Each year during March Madness we have a four-week cardiovascular driven competition where

Snyder said the process includes team members logging all completed cardio miles within the gym such as those on the treadmill, stationary bike, and the elliptical.

In addition, competitors receive five miles for each completed fitness classes. The members pay a $5 fee to join the

January 8 - January 21, 2016

March Madness competition, and receive a free t-shirt for doing so.

They are also getting ready for their annual

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Spring FitFest which takes place in May. This is a 2 day event that is free for everyone in the community, not just members. It is 2 days of fitness and fun which gives everyone in the area a chance to check out exactly what SportsFit is all about.

The FitFest usually consists of free food, a bounce house for the children, and plenty of fellowship.

Free 30 minute sample aerobics classes are held throughout the day.

This gives non members an opportunity to try out all that SportsFit has to offer before they decide to spring for a membership. It

also gives members a shot to try out a class that they may not have been able to participate in yet. The FitFest is then wrapped up by a drawing for a free membership for everyone who participated in a class.

No matter what your fitness goals may be, SportsFit is the place for you. Stop by for a tour of the facility, get a VIP 3 day pass, and see for yourself why SportsFit is the #1 fitness center in the Athens area.

Call 256233-3994 for more information or visit the website www.sportsfit247.com.

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Learning As A Lifestyle

“The Doorway” That Is January

by Wanda Campbell

Center for Lifelong Learning - 121 South Marion Street, Athens, AL 35611 - 256-233-8262 January is here, and the weather is colder, so we are moving slower and making plans to stay inside. January is named for the Roman god Janus, who was the spirit of doorways.

There were lots of archways, doorways, and ceremonial gateways built in Rome to honor Janus. Encyclopedia Britannica says that some scholars believe Janus was the god of all beginnings.

The beginning of the day, month, and year were sacred to him.

The festival for Janus was January 9.

In the time of Julius Caesar, the calendar was 365 days divided into 12 months of either 29 or 31 days.

This Julian calendar was developed by Julius Caesar in 45AD. The Julian calendar was adjusted in the time of Pope Gregory XIII (1582), and the Gregorian calendar is what we use today. As I was reading up on the history of the calendar, I discovered that even the Julian calendar had to be adjusted so that the equinox was about

the same time each year. The equinox is either of the two times in the year when the sun is exactly above the equator, and day and night are of equal length.

ter Catalog will be available to the public. If you attended a program in 2015, you are automatically on our mailing list. If you did not attend, you can give us a call and we will mail you one, or stop by the lobby of the Center for Lifelong Learning and get one.

The adjustments to the Julian and Gregorian calendars were called

leap years. This year – 2016 - is a leap year.

That means we will add in an extra day to make sure the calendar stays lined up with the astronomical year. “It takes the Earth approximately 365.242199 days – or 365 days, 5 hours, 48 minutes, and

46 seconds – to circle once around the sun.

This is called a tropical year. The Gregorian calendar has only 365 days in a year, so if we didn’t add a day on February 29 nearly every 4 years, we would lose almost six hours off our calendar every year. After only 100 years, our calendar would be off by approximately 24 days!” http://www.timeanddate.com/date/leapday.html January is one of seven months in the year that has 31 days. You remember the rhyme – 30 days has September,

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April, June and November, all the rest have 31, except February.

If you can’t remember this rhyme, you can use the knuckles and spaces between the knuckles to remember how many days in a month.

When I was in school, my teacher taught me that the knuckles had 31 days and spaces between the knuckles had 30 days. If you start on a knuckle with January, the space will be February and so on. It will always line up even if you start on the opposite end.

On January 8, our Win-

On January 14, Mayor Ronnie Marks will be the featured speaker for the Lunch and Learn segment called Effective Leadership.

This course is part of the Transformational Leadership Certificate Students Program. who wish to earn the certificate must attend five sessions of the certificate program and read at least one suggested text. The program is scheduled from 11:30am to 1:00pm at the Center for Lifelong Learning.

Fee for this segment is $25/person and includes your lunch.

You can register online at www.athens. edu/CLL or call us at 256-233-8260.

Learning is just beginning for January.

January 8 - January 21, 2016

What Makes Ronnie Roll

Gettin ‘Over Humps And Slumps In 2016

by Ali Elizabeth Turner It was our first meeting of this Leap Year, and per usual, Mayor Ronnie nearly bounded into the room. I would say that around 95% of the time that’s how “Ronnie rolls,” but today he was virtually turbo-charged.

“I can’t tell you how excited I am about 2016,” he said, as he proceeded to whip out his somewhat beat up notes from the previous day’s sermon. It had been entitled something along the lines of “Gettin’ Over The Hump, Gettin’ Over The Slump,” and it provided for the Mayor a board from which to vigorously spring into our conversation.

We compared notes on

our respective holidays, and he was quick to express his gratitude for how hard the utilities crews worked during what will most likely come to be known as to as the “Christmas Floods.” He told me, “Those guys were literally down in culverts pulling out leaves so that the water could move,” He said. “They worked for just about 24 hours straight,” he added.

do; there is no ‘try.’” We talked for awhile about the fact that personal development, whether it is on the part of an individual, a family, a business, or a city is not optional. We can and must rest, but too much, and we rust.

He went back to his sermon notes, and began to preach. “Are you trying, or are you in training?”

I chose not to resist the temptation to reply in my crummy impersonation of Master Yoda by saying, “Do or do not

“2016 has me as excited as I have ever been about a new year,” he said. He continued by saying, “If you can’t get excited about living in North Alabama, I guess you just can’t get excited.” He went down

“We (the City of Athens) are in training to be better stewards of money, public safety, kids, seniors, and our resources,” he said.

the list of all the things that are either finished or will be soon—the Asahi plant, the Courthouse remodeling project, and the City Hall building.

“I inherited an office in a building built in 1954 that had black mold and asbestos,” he said, and I reminded him that’s where we did our very first interview for this column.

He talked for a bit about the “one stop shop” concept that will be a part of the new services that will be available when City Hall opens this spring.

What he means by that term is that there will be someone at City Hall who will walk a person or corporation wishing

to build in Limestone County through the entire permit and inspection process so that they don’t have to be sent all over the County. This approach has been used in Florence and has saved time, money and resources.

“For the first time, the City is going to have a significant amount of money, (close to a million dollars) for street and road repair,” he said.

The recent storm was a good thing in that it exposed what needed to be either built, repaired, or upgraded when it comes to drains and culverts.

As far as new projects, there is the Shape plant, and while he couldn’t mention any specifics, so far there are two or three new commercial projects that will bring growth to Limestone County. “I am excited about jobs,” he said.

Over the holidays he sent a letter to the City Council, encouraging them to brainstorm with him, either in what are known as one-on-ones, as well as when they get back together after the holiday recess. He talked a bit about the importance of setting goals. I asked him, “Do you have any personal goals for 2016?” “Taking out consistent time for exercise,” was his response. One last time he talked about how excited he was about this year. Then we prayed, and Ronnie had to roll.

January 8 - January 21, 2016

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Dog Barker

Reinvent Your New Year's Resolution: Include Your Pet courtesy BrandPoint content (BPT) - Tis' the season for new beginnings. As holiday gifts give way to New Year's resolutions, general health and wellness is top-of-mind, consistently ranking as a top goal for both men and women this time of year.

This resolution season, try incorporating lifestyle changes that benefit both you and your pet.

PetSmart veterinarian and pet care expert Dr. Kemba Marshall provides some helpful tips for achieving a healthier lifestyle for you and your animal companions.

news is giving your pet adequate daily exercise is easy! For some dog breeds, 30-minute walks are enough. For others, a game of fetch does the trick. Interested in trying something new? Mix up the activity. Try sprinting alongside your pet in quick intervals. Balls are great for fetch, but have you ever tried a Frisbee?

Even a quick trip to the mailbox each day is a great option. No matter what, both you and your pet will have fun spending time together and getting a workout.

1. Exercise is key. Pets, like humans, need physical activity in order to be healthy. The good

2. Stimulate the brain.

Maintaining a healthy pet lifestyle goes beyond physical exercise.

Activities to stimulate a pet's mental skills are fun and important too.

Try a treat-dispensing or puzzle toy with your dog or cat to keep their mind active. Introduce the new toy before a meal, this way your pet will be hungry to learn.

3. Optimize the diet.

Have you been feeding your pet the same food for years? It may be time for you and your veterinarian to assess his food and make sure you're providing one that is healthy and satisfying. Only Natural Pet was recently launched at PetSmart as a brand dedicated to the paleoinspired diet for pets. It

blends proteins with allnatural ingredients with a minimal processing, resulting in dehydrated, freeze-dried and airdried raw products that deliver the paleo diet for pets. This natural brand eliminates all artificial ingredients such as flavorings or preservatives.

The best way to switch your pet's food is by providing a gradual transition, mixing the old food with the new for up to 10 days.

4. Monitor your pet's activity and behavior. This may come as a surprise to many, but discovering an unhealthy habit in your pet's day-to-day life is as simple as pay-

ing closer attention to his or her behavior. While many humans monitor their daily behavior with technical gadgets and apps, monitoring a pet's daily activity may also lead to a healthier lifestyle. Is your pup demonstrating pent-up energy? More exercise might be necessary. Are they devouring their food too quickly? Maybe an active feeding approach is the right solution. Most often, correcting the behavior is as easy as discovering it in the first place.

5. Stick with your resolutions. Change can be tough on pets, especially when it disrupts diet or day-to-day routines.

The important thing to remember is that positive results rarely come without work. As clichĂŠ as it may sound, both you and your pet will be thankful for the change in the long run.

These tips are a wonderful way to kick-start a healthier lifestyle for both you and your pet in the new year. Increasing your physical activity and improving your diet are just the first two steps. By monitoring yourself and your pet, increasing mental stimulation and sticking with your resolutions, a newer, healthier life for both you and your furry friend is well within reach. Visit http://petsmartsocial. com/ResourceCenter for additional tips on how to maintain a healthier lifestyle.

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January 8 - January 21, 2016

Jerry’s Journal

Where Hell Was Green, Part 3

by Jerry Barksdale

South Vietnam,1969. Lt. Joe Rogers had been forewarned not to make close friends.

He ignored the admonition.

"Everybody wants to know that somebody has got their back.” Lt. Chuck Chambers (not a real name, of course) of Arkansas was platoon leader.

“He was my best friend, a super guy. We had family back home and daughters we’d never seen – only in pictures.”

Chuck served his time in the field and was rotated to a noncombat job until sent back to the States. Soon, he would be home in the arms of his wife and cuddling his precious little girl.

In short order, Roger’s company had four company commanders. Then Captain Bailey (again, not a real name) took command. He had been commissioned in transportation, knew practically nothing about field operations, and wasn't liked by the men. They called him Beetle Bailey.

"He'd get people killed needlessly," says Rogers. "He was a poor officer, he'd give orders to platoon leaders who knew it was a death assignment, but they did it anyway.” Rogers and his fellow officers took action. They asked the Battalion Commander to relieve Bailey.

A chopper flew in and Beetle Bailey was relieved on the spot, and flown back to the rear. Lt. Chuck Chambers, who was scheduled to go home in 30 days, was sent to replace Bailey. "One day we were in combat," says Rogers, his voice cracking slightly.

"And no matter where we sat down, we were fired on by the enemy. It was right before nightfall, and we had to find a place to stay for the night. We were trying to dig in. Mortar

fire was coming in and counter fire was going out. Darkness came, and many of us didn't have a hole to get in. First Cav had a policy that nobody slept in a hammock at night because of incoming rounds. Chuck hadn't had a chance to dig in, so he hung a hammock. Mortar fire kept coming in that night.

A scout was sent out with a dog to locate the enemy bunker. The ambush team was a hundred yards away, fighting in close combat and trying to keep from being overrun. There was a lull in the fighting for 25 to 30 minutes and Chuck climbed in his hammock to go to sleep.

A mortar round hit a tree and killed Chuck," says Rogers.

"He remained on the ground during the night. The enemy was trying to break through.

When daylight came, a chopper came in and picked up casualties. I had to pick up Chuck's body parts and put them in a bag. Me and two other guys took him to a helicopter and put him on. Later on, I had to write his wife in Arkansas. It was the hardest thing I ever had to do."

Rogers pauses to gain control of his emotions. Finally, he said "that's why you don't make friends. It had a little effect on me then. I had little time to concentrate on it. There were lots of guys I knew that were killed, but he was the one that hurt me the most." Rogers pauses. "His death was attributed to having to come back to the field. He wouldn't have come back if we hadn't taken action to relieve Captain Bailey.”

Later, Rogers considered visiting Chuck's wife and daughter in Arkansas, but didn’t. “I just tried to put it out of my mind.”

Death was a constant companion. A third of his OCS class at Ft. Sill were killed. The enemy launched waves of human assaults against the firebase.

“We'd kill 'em by the dozens

January 8 - January 21, 2016

in the wire. Next day, a dozer would be helicoptered in, dig a big hole and push the bodies in."

Death stalked Rogers. "I had a guy killed by a sniper closer than you and me,” he gestures.

“I was touching them when they were shot in the head. That's how lucky I was. They were killed and I wasn't. We never wore rank insignia - no name.

Dog tags were the only identity we had. One of my friends was hit in the chest by a 40 mm RPG. There was hardly anything left to pick up.” He saw plenty of dead NVA North Vietnamese. "We killed so many of them. They were smart fighters.

They were brainwashed, propagandized, and totally committed to their cause," says Rogers.

"One of the most fierce enemies you'd ever fight - fight to the death." They constructed bridges that were under water during the day and couldn't be detected from the air. They would raise them at night and cross. Bicycles were loaded with several hundred pounds of rice and pushed 200 miles down the Ho Chi Minh Trail.

They used elephants to transport munitions and supplies. A huge underground ball bearing and bicycle repair shop was discovered in the jungles. A flight of B52s was called in and dropped bombs.

"Their call sign was "ARC light" because when they went off, it looked like the northern lights," says Rogers. "They left total destruction; nothing standing; no trees. We reported over 100 dead. Body parts were scattered everywhere. Most of the casualties were concussions. We'd find enemy soldiers walking around totally delirious, bleeding from the ears. An enemy Corps Commander was bleeding from his ears, eyes and nose. We found radio op-

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erators that still had ear phones on, six to eight in a clump, all dead.”

After an underground bunker was discovered in the jungle, Rogers decided to watch the troops destroy it. They were going to pump in Persistent CS gas, a strong irritant that affects the eyes and lungs for six months. "You sure you want to go?" asked his Company Commander. "Yes sir," replied Rogers. "I had two radio operators with me. They were my shadow. The wind was blowing just right when they gassed the bunker, then it shifted. We took off running as fast as we could through the jungles, totally oblivious to anything out there - NVA, tigers, snakes - running for our lives, that cloud of gas behind us."

A fire fight erupted between the Americans and the NVA inside the bunker. "I'm going to send in flame throwers," said the Battalion Commander. The helicopter delivered them, but dropped them in the wrong place. "It didn't make any difference, no one in 1st Cavalry knew how to use them," says Rogers. “The Air Force dropped bombs on the bunker." Rogers received a Purple Heart after being hit with shrapnel behind his knee; two Bronze Stars, two air medals and a host of others.

But his most treasured award is a Soldier's Medal awarded "for distinguishing himself by heroism not involving actual combat with the enemy." Right after Chuck Chambers’ mangled body was flown out, the new Company Commander was choppered in. "I was supposed to fly out on that helicopter. It never landed," says Rogers.

“The rotary blades struck a tree trunk about 15 feet up and it crashed and caught fire. Me and the new Company Commander pulled the crew out and saved

them."

August, 1969. Rogers had done his duty and was headed home.

He stopped by S-1 (Administration) before leaving for Ton Son Nhut Airbase. "Here are your awards and decorations," a clerk said and tossed a box at Rogers. "That's your ceremony." Rogers walked up the steps of that airliner, called "Freedom Bird," his medals so unceremoniously presented inside a box. He didn't care. He was going home to see his wife and hold his baby daughter that he’d never seen.

The plane lifted off and headed to San Francisco. By Christmas, more than 40,000 Americans would be dead, killed in action. His weight had dropped from 180 to 132 pounds; he had suffered dysentery for 5 days in the jungle and once went 37 days without a bath, but he knew he had been lucky. Why had death chosen others instead of him?

His greatest fear had been capture by the enemy. Once he was grabbed, but escaped.

When he deplaned at San Francisco he was disrespected.

“No respect, no gratitude.”

Rogers remained in the Army and made numerous trips to the Pentagon in Washington, but avoided the wall where 58,307 names of the dead are chiseled in black granite. "I stayed away from the wall all those years, then I finally went.

Chuck's name was the first one I looked for; I traced his name on paper.” His voice trembles.

“One trip was enough."

Rogers retired in 1993 with the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. He is Adjunct Professor of Economics at Calhoun College. He and his wife, Margaret recently moved from Elkmont Village to the Vineyard in Athens.

To Be Continued...

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Medical Update

Why New Year’s Resolutions Don’t Work

by Rachel Clark, RN, BSN It’s that time of year again: New Year’s. For many people, it is a time to set goals for the year ahead, an opportunity to start over. A new year signals something inside us to change, and we are more aware of our own shortcomings. There are all kinds of promises we make to ourselves, such as learning something new (my classes started on January 4th), paying off debt, or getting organized. Also, most people have at least one healthrelated goal on their list of “resolutions.” Incidentally, it is often the one that was also present last New Year’s, but that somehow never became a priority.

Instead of needing to lose that 20 pounds, we now need to lose 30 or maybe even more.

Why is it that we don’t meet these goals we set for ourselves? Part of the problem is that we don’t know how to set goals. If we set goals that are unrealistic, then we set ourselves up for failure from the very beginning. For more information on goalsetting, especially as it relates to exercise, see Janet Hunt’s article on page …

Rather than making a generalized goal like “eating healthy,” losing weight, or “getting in shape,” it is important to clearly and specifically define your terms. Make the most of your New Year’s resolutions by making a plan that you can actually stick to and accomplish that goal you’ve been setting for yourself year after year.

Also, make sure that you are truly ready to change

your habits before promising yourself you will. If you aren’t committed to the change, it is much less likely to occur, thus setting you up for lower selfesteem and more procras-

tination.

Many people set goals for themselves with the wrong motivation. They think that if they lose that weight, get that new job, or pay off that debt, then it will make them happy, improve their relationships, or somehow make life easier. When these things don’t happen, the “bad behaviors” that people are attempting to change revert back to the comfortable lack of action.

In order to make your resolutions stick, you must rewire the pathways in your brain. Dr. Caroline Leaf, a neuroscientist, says “It all begins in your mind: your thinking, your emotions, and your choices. If your mind isn’t right, then you will not stick with anything, no matter how great.”

Below you will find some tips to improve your outcomes when making resolutions.

1.Focus on one goal as op-

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posed to several. Changing just one little thing at a time is much more manageable than trying to totally reinvent yourself.

2.Make resolutions SMART: Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Realistic, and Timely.

3.Don’t wait until the new year to make your resolutions. Instead, try making one new resolution every 3 months (or more often if you like).

4.Fully integrating a change takes at least 21 days, so make a goal that you are willing to spend some time on.

5.Find a buddy. Having someone to hold you accountable will increase your likelihood of accomplishing your goals, and will help your friend accomplish theirs in return.

6.Focus on what you can do today. Worrying about tomorrow, next week, or next year only sets you back.

January 8 - January 21, 2016

January 8 - January 21, 2016

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January 8 - January 21, 2016