Issue November 16, 2018

November 16th - December 6th, 2018

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

Frame Gallery To Showcase The “Visual Statements” Of Reesa Pearl Milam

See Our Listings Inside this edition...

Pages 25 - 32

From The Vets' Museum The 1343rd Engineering Battalion Reunites...

The Korean War is often called “The Forgotten War” because many feel it is overshadowed by WWII and the Vietnam Conflict, but I bet if you...

Page 10

Cooking With Anna Gobble, Gobble, Y’all...

It’s almost turkey time! Thanksgiving has always been one of my favorite holidays. It doesn’t focus on gifts; it only focuses on being...

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Learning As A Lifestyle Christmas Rush...

It seems time is traveling faster and faster and before we know it, Christmas will be here. It is only 38 days until Christmas, after all...

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November 16 - December 6, 2018

By Tracie Spain

Reesa Pearl Milam preparing for her exhibit at Frame Gallery

To celebrate our 35th year, we have opened a gallery and will be featuring a local artist each month. We are excited to feature Reesa Pearl Milam as Frame Gallery’s Artist of the Month. Her show, “It’s About Time,” is a reflection of her Continued on page 15

The Athens-Limestone Hospital Community Pharmacy: Beautiful Facility and Excellent Customer Care

By Ali Elizabeth Turner Earlier in September, the Athens-Limestone Hospital Surgical Expansion project was completed, celebrated, and opened for business. It is located in what is now being called the medical district down and across from the Publix shopping center. The address is 22454 US Highway 72, Athens, AL. The surgical tower houses four outpatient surgical suites, lab/imaging Continued on pages 17

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Sara Tanksley (foreground) and Erica Allison, of the new ALH Pharmacy

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November 16 - December 6, 2018

Publisher’s Point

On Turning 200

Publisher / Editor Ali Turner

Copy Editor

Yvonne Dempsey

Graphic Design

Jonathan Hamilton

Web Design Teddy Wolcott

Contributing Writers D. A. Slinkard Lisa Philippart Lynne Hart Anna Hamilton Sandra Thompson Rosemary Dewar Jackie Warner Roy Williams Wanda Campbell Tim Lambert Deb Kitchenmaster Tracie Spain

On Saturday, November 17, a once-in-a-lifetime party is going to be thrown in our dear town.

We are going to be 200 years young, and I have been thinking a lot lately about Athens and why it is such a grand place to live.

In this season of gratitude (that is, Thanksgiving and not the secular and mercenary aberration that has become Christmas) I think it would be fitting to add Athens to our list of things through which we have been most blessed.

in’s reign of terror, or hail from a state whose current governor boasts that “We have the best weed in the country,” the sight of high school students praying before the beginning of an assembly and asking God to bless the vets who have sacrificed for our freedom is enough to put a knot in your throat.

It can also make you glad that while you didn’t get here until you were nearly a half century old, it was utterly worth the wait.

You know what else is

how she’s a lesser life form because she can’t do it all by herself…yet.

What makes me proud to be an Athenian? Things like knowing that several young, innocent black guys escaped being found guilty of rape through the courage of a white judge by the name of Horton; whose mama taught him, “Let justice roll down though the heavens may fall.” Things like being the city that is the home of the first college for women in the entire United

George S. Houston House

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

I have often said that it is easy to take Athens for granted when you have been born and raised here, and I stand by my statement. When you have lived in the middle of a drug cartel or the aftermath of Saddam Husse-

Horse Whispering . . . . . . . 20 Mental Health Minute . . . 21 Alternative Approach . . . 22

November 16 - December 6, 2018

wonderful about Athens? A man can call you “Hon,” and the intent is clear. He can also do so without being mistaken for Harvey Weinstein.

And, a woman can ask for help with changing a tire without feeling like some-

States of America. Things like being the city where former slaves got to go to school, and that school produced world class musicians, physicians, and military officers.

Athens was sacked, and

Athens came back. Athens has endured several killer tornadoes, crop failures, drought, a Great Depression, a Great Recession, a War Between the States, two World Wars, two Asian wars and two Middle Eastern wars. Athenians perished in almost all of them.

Add to that various military operations, segregation, desegregation, Jim Crow laws, Civil Rights laws, fires, scandals, debates on the Courthouse steps between men dressed in full Sundaygo-to-meeting attire on a steamy Saturday afternoon regarding whether or not a person could go to heaven if they had not been immersed, and you have Athens. And, no matter who was declared the winner, Athens has never lost the faith.

People have fought tirelessly to save the unborn, to feed the poor, to tutor the foreign-born, to keep the homeless from freezing to death, to care for the dying, and plan well for future generations.

This is Athens, this is my home, and with a full heart I say, Happy 200th Birthday, girl, and may you have many more!

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

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All Things Soldier

A Bittersweet Send-off

by Ali Elizabeth Turner On Sunday, November 4, “just up the road a piece” in Murfreesboro, TN, a 69-year-old Vietnam vet by the name of Leo Stokely breathed his last and slipped away.

He was a resident of a nursing home, and while well-loved by the staff and fellow residents, he apparently was without any blood relatives or any type of kin anywhere. No one ever visited him, and no one claimed his body. Lance Corporal Leo was a Marine who had bravely served his country, and it was simply unacceptable to the veterans’ community of the Tennessee Valley that he not be given the honor he deserved in death.

While many times I get annoyed with social media, here is where the artificial linking of strangers via the modern miracle of electronics has paid off in a most remarkable and heartwarming fashion. A veterans’ Facebook group sprang into action and began to get the word out re: wanting to give Leo a proper funeral. Posts and shares went viral, and all of a sudden there were people offering to drive others, people offering to be pallbearers, and my favorite was the response of a fellow veteran who said, “I just had a port put in and a feeding tube put in my stomach; my wife and I will definitely be there.”

Another posted, “It’s only an hour and a half from me, seeing as its Veterans Day weekend,

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And then, knowing what I know about how staff members do their best to be with someone when they die, I would be quite sure that every effort would have been made to make sure he didn’t pass alone. I am confident that the Burial Detail would have given him a 21 gun salute. Jerry Barksdale would have interviewed Leo and would have tried to find out if he had family or friends anywhere across the fruited plain, and I can think of any number of ministers who would have considered it an honor to officiate at the funeral. That is how our North Alabama vets are, I can’t think of a better place to be.”

And so they came from all over, over 300 strong.

A veteran by the name of Andrew Conner noted, "I seen a post from the VFW you know saying that this gentleman had nobody. You know, the Marine Corps always says no man left behind, and I mean, we're not going to leave this guy behind today.”

Leo lived for the last four months of his life at a long-term care facility by the name of Waters of Cheatham, located in Ashland City. A group of his caregivers were interviewed at the service. They were all in tears, and through tears, Cherie Cox, one of his nurses, said, "He came to us with no family, no connections except for the VA staff and we be-

came his family. And we loved him and cared for him and laughed at him.

He was quite a character. He told a lot of jokes and he kept us laughing all day long.”

Leo’s legacy leaves a lump in my throat, and a deep feeling of hope that if he had been at any of the fine health facilities in Athens-Limestone,

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the story would have been even better. First of all, if I were a betting woman, I’d go high dollar on the premise that members of the respective health care staffs would have contacted any number of veterans’ organizations in our area and get after them about coming and seeing Leo while he was still alive.

and they would have made Leo one of their own. As it was, to me Leo’s end of days and send-off did much to offset whatever dishonor he may have suffered, and my sad-andglad heart says, “Rest in peace, Marine, and thank you for your service.”

November 16 - December 6, 2018

November 16 - December 6, 2018

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Calendar of Events Athens Christmas Open House Nov 16-18

“Shop, Skate, and Celebrate 200 Years” This year marks the 32nd year of the Athens Christmas Open House, organized by the Greater Limestone County Chamber of Commerce and Athens Main Street. Each year, Christmas Open House kicks off the holiday shopping season. In addition to our traditional Christmas Open House activities, there will be a number of Bicentennial celebrations also taking place during the weekend. www.tourathens.com

Athens Bicentennial Bash Nov 17

Downtown Athens from 10:00AM-5:00PM with shopping, cupcakes, bicentennial exhibit, commemorative shopping totes

by WOW!, a recreation of the historic Trade Days including vehicle giveaway sponsored by Dealers Auto Auction and more.

Made By My Hand: A Day of Making, Shopping and Fun Nov 17

Featuring a variety of workshops to try your creative hand at with Mooresville Mercantile. 5081 Mooresville Road in Mooresville.

8:00AM-5:00PM. Limited space. For more info or to register: mooresvillemercantile.com or Joann 256-309-9085.

Festival of Trees Nov 17 - 18

Donnell House, 601 South Clinton Street in Athens. Amazing scapes and decorated Christmas trees celebrating Christmas and the Alabama Bicentennial. Open 1:00PM-5:00PM. Admission $5.00; Ages 12&under: Free For more info: 256-509-2172.

Friends Bake and Craft Sale Nov 17

With the Friends of the Library at Ardmore Public Library. 25836 Main Street in Ardmore, TN. Variety of fresh baked goods and crafted items from 9:00AM-12:00PM.

A Plantation Christmas Dec 2

1569 Cook Lane (County Road 53), Tuscumbia, AL. Each year, Belle Mont Mansion plays host to an old-fashioned holiday celebration, opening its grand doors and welcoming visitors from near and far. Through traditional holiday decorations and period music and dancing, A Plantation Christmas offers a glimpse into how Christmas was celebrated on a Southern plantation during the 1800s. During A Plantation Christmas, fresh greenery, fruit and traditional decorations will fill the elegant 1828 mansion Page 6

as vocalists and musicians present period music and dancers perform vintage ballroom dance. Costumed docents will be on hand to share the history of the house and to serve refreshments.

1 - 5pm. Admission is $8 for adults, $4 for children 6 to 12 years old and free for children under six. Sponsored by the Colbert County Historical Landmarks Foundation. Proceeds benefit Belle Mont and local historic preservation projects. For more information call 256.381.5052 or 256.710.9081 or Colbert County Tourism Bureau at 256.383.0783.

Mommy & Me Nutcracker Tea Dec 8

Enjoy delicious treats, make a keepsake craft, meet our dancers and hear the story of The Nutcracker at our Mommy & Me Nutcracker Tea. The tea party will conclude with a mini presentation of The Nutcracker. Admission is $10 per person. Alabama Youth Ballet Studios at 1405-C Weatherly Plaza SE in Huntsville. 10am. Get your tickets online at www. alabamayouthballet.org.

Sip and Shop in Downtown Athens Dec 8

Everyone is invited to sip, shop and celebrate the holiday season in downtown Athens during the annual Sippin’ Cider Festival.

5 - 8pm. Winter’s favorite drink will take center stage and there will be special activities for children, visits with Santa Claus, shopping among local merchants and other family-friendly fun.

Participating merchants will prepare and offer sample tastings of their favorite hot cider recipe. Door prizes. Tackle your Christmas shopping and browse for unique holiday decorations.

Merchants of downtown Athens will serve up plenty of gift ideas and special sales throughout the evening. Additional activities include festive holiday music, roasting marshmallows for s’mores and a visit by Santa Claus. For more information, contact Tere Richardson at 256.232.9040 or tererichardson@ athensmainstreet.org.

The Nutcracker - A Yuletide Ballet Dec 21-23

Celebrate your holidays with Alabama Youth Ballet Theatre and The Nutcracker – A Yuletide Ballet. Lee High School Theater.

Led by David Herriott and Keren Gibb Hilliard, the AYBT dancers present the magical story of Clara and her special Christmas gift a Nutcracker; which comes to life in her dreams to defeat the Mouse King and together they travel through dancing snowflakes to the Land of the Sweets. Our special guest artist this year is Aaron Melendez, of the Ballet Palm Beach, dancing the role of the Sugar Plum Cavalier. Tickets are $18 for adults; $12 for children (10 & under) or $14 for Seniors/ Military/Students. Discounts are available for large groups.

Tickets are available online at www.alabamayouthballet.org/ tickets.html; via phone at 256-881-5930; or at the door.

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November 16 - December 6, 2018

November 16 - December 6, 2018

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What Makes Ronnie Roll

Samuel Johnson And Keeping Friendships In Constant Repair

by Ali Elizabeth Turner Mayor Ronnie and I started off our time together talking about our area’s involvement in a number of Veterans Day celebrations, and compared notes as to our favorites. He had been the speaker at Monday’s VFW event, and while he doesn’t talk all that much about his time in Vietnam, he did emphasize the power of friendship, especially in combat or in natural disaster.

“Disasters have a way of bringing us together,” and I nodded, having lived through a few of them myself.

While we have been producing a series based on chapters from Andy Andrews’ The Traveler’s Gift (and we will be re-

turning to it), the lessons for this edition of Ronnie were gleaned from the life of Samuel Johnson, and were taken from William Bennett’s The Book Of Virtues.

Mayor Ronnie had “rediscovered” Virtues, and showed me a copy that he had given to a church library in memory of his father. What had grabbed Ronnie was the dissertation on friendship, and we discussed the fact that sometimes people who struggle with substance abuse are fueled in part by not having many true friends. We moved seamlessly into reminiscing about Mayor Ronnie’s deep friendship with the late Jimmy Gill, who served with

him for years on the Athens City Council. At times the two of them were like kids, trying hard not to egg each other on in meetings, and making sure they didn’t make eye contact lest they bust out laughing. I know Mayor Ronnie misses Jimmy greatly, and will forever be grateful for their friendship.

So, what of famed English writer, Samuel Johnson?

There were many things Johnson said to illustrate this point, but here are two: “We cannot tell the precise moment when friendship is formed. As in filling a vessel drop by drop, there is at last a drop which makes it run over; so in a series of kindnesses there is at last one which makes the heart run over.” Samuel Johnson was a friend of Sir Joshua Reynolds, and Johnson poignantly told Reynolds, “If a man does not make new acquaintances as he advances through life, he will soon find himself left alone. A man, Sir, should keep his friendship in constant repair.” What both Ronnie and Jimmy had to do over the years was keep their friendship in constant repair. There were some things they had to work through, and they did. “We were friends,”

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said the mayor, and the simplicity of his statement spoke volumes.

Who knew when their friendship began? Only one, and that was the One who made them both.

We talked about the things for which we are thankful, with Veterans Day just behind us and Thanksgiving ahead of us. Add in the 200th birthday of our fair berg, as well as the near completion of a beautiful high school, and there is great reason to have an attitude of gratitude. We needed to quickly get to the swearing in ceremony for the Limestone County Commissioners, so we prayed, and then it was time for Ronnie to roll.

November 16 - December 6, 2018

Slinkard On Success

Be The Champ Not The Chump

by D. A. Slinkard

D.A. Slinkard is the manager of the Athens Staples store This is a story about two people, one person named Steve, the other person named Thomas. Two different people indeed but they were both born into the same family. One was successful and the other was a bum. You could say that one was the champ while the other was the chump. This is a fictional story I just conjured up in my mind; so if your name is Steve and your brother Thomas is doing better than you in life, just relax, this story is not technically about you.

have not had a job, are not looking for a job, and plan on staying at home with Mom and Dad?

However, this story depicts the lives of millions of individuals living throughout the United States. You have some people who do well in life while others will be struggling just to make it. We truly live in the greatest country known to man because of all the opportunities we have at our disposal. You can be anything in life you want to be, if you just put your mind to it.

The problem is that too many people do not really want to put their mind to it.

Sometimes people think that being confident in your abilities is a bad thing. Let me set things straight -there is a difference between being confident and

This is the society we live in today in which we have these people desiring a million dollar paycheck with minimum wage work. Not going to happen. Again, if you take the example of Steve and Thomas from above, you have two people from the same household; one is a success while the other is not. What is the difference? I am a firm believer it comes down to mentality.

being cocky. Too many people no longer believe in themselves, no longer believe in their ability to pull themselves up by the bootstraps, no longer believe they can make it. Point blank -- we need to stop coddling our children because someone is going to have to step up to the plate with the right mentality.

What is that right mentality? It is one where someone knows what it is to be a success only because they know what it is like to be a failure. I have failed many times in my life and because of this, victory is bittersweet. Yet, sadly, too many people have not felt the discomforts of losing until life smacks them in the face; and because these

people were always told they are winners, they suddenly do not know how to handle the reality of being a loser in life. In reality, these people are not complete losers because everyone is going to fail at one time or another. Think about Abraham Lincoln and the many failed attempts he had in life, or maybe Thomas Edison. Regardless, the fact is that bad things are going to happen to everyone.

For success to happen in your life, you are going to have to start to expect success to happen. Luck in life is only going to take you so far, but there is going to come a point in your life when you are going to have to depend upon yourself. This goes back to the

“pull-yourself-up-withthe-bootstraps” mentality because the magical and mythical “goal fairy” is not going to come in the middle of the night and bring you the dreams you have been wishing for.

For me, I get this overwhelming sense of success, and this feeling builds up inside of me so I know that no matter what life throws at me, I will be successful. I guess you could say that the difference with my mentality is that I expect success to happen while other people hope they will find success. This is the one attribute more people need to have. More and more people need to expect to be the champ not the chump.

We live in the age of convenience in which if people have to work to get something, they do not want to do it. Not too long ago I was talking to a young adult, and he told me of his aspiration to be a millionaire by the time he turned thirty. I asked him a question that obviously had never been posed to him before. How exactly are you going to be a millionaire within the next eight years when you

November 16 - December 6, 2018

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From the Alabama Veterans’ Museum

The 1343rd Engineering Battalion Reunites

by Sandra Thompson, Director, Alabama Veterans’ Museum The Korean War is often called “The Forgotten War” because many feel it is overshadowed

by WWII and the Vietnam Conflict, but I bet if you ask any remaining member of the 1343rd Engineering Battalion from Athens, not one of them have forgotten anything about it.

With many of its members gone now, CSM

Cecil Monk thinks it is more important than ever to meet and remember those who have passed and honor those who are still with us. All remaining members are invited to come, the reunion will be held on January 19, at the Limestone County Event Center. Lunch will be provided and will start at 1145.

Originally formed in 1926 as the 127th Engineering Battalion, the 1343rd saw many changes through the years before finally being released from active federal service and reverted to Alabama state control in 1955. The 1343rd was ordered into federal service again on 14 August 1950, at that time 41 officers and warrant officers,

and 625 enlisted personnel were taken into federal service.

Movement orders were received on 19 Dec. 1950 and the battalion departed by rail from Fort Campbell on 6 Jan 1951 to Fort Lawton, Washington, where it completed preparation for overseas shipment. On 17 Jan 1951, the 1343rd embarked on the USNS Marine Phoenix at Seattle Port of Entry and arrived in Pusan, Korea, on 9 February 1951. Upon arrival in Korea, the 1343rd was attached to the 36th Engineer Combat Group with the mission of further engineer training while awaiting the arrival of the bulk of the battalion’s equipment. This training involved actual work projects which were required in the Pusan area. While in the Pusan area, the 1343rd accomplished significant projects involving engineer work on the United Nations Cemetery on the outskirts of Pusan, and road maintenance and development missions on supply routes with the 2nd Logistical Command area of responsibility.

Their main job in Korea was to keep the main supply route open to the front lines in support of the 1st Marine Division, the U.S. Army, and the Republic of Korea Army.

The remaining members would also like to honor their members with a donation to the Alabama

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Veterans Museum building fund. CSM Monk’s cousin, Laverne Stewart from Mobile, wanted to do something for our veterans, so she decided to donate a handmade quilt to be raffled off.

The quilt can be seen at the Veterans Museum, now through the day of the reunion; donations may be made and tickets received there. For more information on the quilt, contact the museum at 256-771-7578.

CSM Monk says that “during the years of 1947 – 1993 Limestone County, Athens, AL. was a good National Guard Community. The unit did ballfields for the county and city schools and many other projects around the county. The 1343rd was moved out of Limestone County in the fall of 1993; at that time the unit had 250 troops assigned.”

If you have been contacted and would like to attend, make checks payable to the 1343rd Engineering Battalion Reunion and mail to Cecil Monk at 1800 Brookmeade Ave., Athens, AL, 35611, or call 256-771-0987 or 256431-5521 to make reservations.

November 16 - December 6, 2018

PlayAction Sports

Local Volleyball And Cross Country Give Way To Winter Sports; Football Still Hanging On

by Tim Lambert

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

State volleyball and crosscountry competitions marked the end of those seasons and most schools are making the transition to winter sports. Football is still going, though, at East Limestone; the Indians will play their second game of the playoffs this Friday at Mortimer Jordan.

Ardmore football went 1-2 to finish out their regular season, losing close ones to Guntersville and Madison County before their final win at West Limestone. The boys' cross-country team finished eighth in Class 4A7A at the ABS Invitational while the Lady Tigers came in sixth.

Athens Bible School's volleyball team won their own annual Pink Out tournament, defeating Elkmont and Lauderdale County.

The Lady Trojans swept through the area tournament with victories over St. Bernard and R.A. Hubbard. They knocked off Oakwood Academy, Appalachian, Meek, and Lindsay Lane in the regional tournament to move on to the state tournament where they beat Brantley and Faith Christian before coming up short in the finals against Pleasant Home.

The boys' and girls' cross-country teams placed third and fourth in Class 1A-3A at their own invitational; the junior high girls won their race. At the James Clemens Last Chance Invita-

tional, the boys were third in Class 1A-3A, the girls posted a second place, and the JV boys finished sixth.

The Lady Trojans ran to seventh place in 1A-2A at the state meet.

Athens High School lost to Muscle Shoals (35-7) on the football field before wrapping up the regular season on a high note, beating Lee and Austin.

The Golden Eagles were eliminated from post-season play at Homewood.

Athens volleyball topped Austin, Ardmore, and St. John Paul II in regular season action. The Lady Golden Eagles beat Columbia in the area tournament, but finished as runner-up after a loss to Muscle Shoals.

The team was eliminated

by Albertville in the regionals. The boys' and girls' cross-country teams were fifth and sixth at the

James Clemens Invitational. At the state meet, the Athens boys were sixth in Class 6A. Clements' football team was 1-2 in their last two regular season games: 18-21 at Colbert Heights, 30-7 versus Lexington and 6-41 against Hatton. The Colts were eliminated by Piedmont (41-0) in their first playoff game in nine seasons. The girl’s crosscountry team notched a third place at the Scottsboro Last Chance Invitational.

East Limestone closed out their regular season with victories against Brewer, Guntersville, and Tanner.

The Indians were the only local team to make it past the first round of playoff games with a 53-33 defeat of Boaz to put them in the second round at Mortimer Jordan. Volleyball scored

regular season wins over Madison Academy, West Limestone, and Lindsay Lane. The Lady Indians won their area tournament, defeating Ardmore and Madison Academy.

They beat West Point and Southside Gadsden in the regional tournament before the road ended in the state tournament against Saint James.

Elkmont's boys' crosscountry team finished seventh in Class 4A-7A at the ABS Invitational; the girls were eighth. Football losses to Rogers, Brooks, and Falkville marked the end of their regular season.

East Limestone's Zach Cosby fights for yardage against Boaz Photo credit: Dean Baucom

November 16 - December 6, 2018

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James Clemens marked their bestever region football record (7-0), winning 49-7 over Sparkman and 3623 at Austin. A 2017 loss at HillcrestTuscaloosa came in their regular seasonender, followed by a 43-41 heartbreaker to Hewitt-Trussville in the first round of the playoffs. The boys' cross-country team came in fourth in 4A-7A at their own Last Chance Invitational, the girls were third and the JV boys placed second.

Lindsay Lane finished up their volleyball regular season with victories over Oakwood Academy, Ardmore, Priceville, Lee, and West Limestone. The Lady Lions were area tournament champs after beating Woodville and Oakwood Academy. At the regional tournament, wins came against R.A. Hubbard, Spring Garden, and Faith Christian. The state tournament also saw the team defeat Isabella before falling to Pleasant Home in the semi-finals. The girls' cross-country team posted a seventh place in Class 1A-3A at the ABS Invitational. The JV boys were fourth at the James Clemens Invitational.

Tanner ended their football season with three losses to Red Bay, Sheffield and East Limestone.

On the volleyball court, West Limestone defeated Falkville and Rogers in the regular season before moving on to the area tournament, where they were runner-up after a win over Elkmont and a loss to Brooks. At the James Clemens Last Chance CrossCountry Invitational, the boys placed ninth in 4A7A. Wildcats football finished out their season with losses to Brooks, Deshler, and Ardmore.

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Clean and Green

Electronics Recycling Monday Through Friday

And Other Helpful Recycling Information

by Lynne Hart - Executive Coordinator - Keep Athens-Limestone Beautiful KALB recently partnered with the Better Business Bureau and the Athens Police Department to hold a shredding, electronics collection, and drug takeback event. It was a huge success with over 200 cars coming through to utilize services.

I did learn one important fact as I spoke to nearly all of the people who came through the line. Of those I asked, 90% were unaware that electronics can be recycled at our Athens-Limestone Recycling Center on Lucas Ferry Rd. Monday through Friday from 6 a.m. to 3 p.m.

We know there are some who cannot get to the center with electronics during those hours, and that’s why we participated in the collection event. We were, however, very surprised at the number of people who were unaware that we accept electronics all year long.

When bringing your electronics, you can pull up onto the scale by the front door. Let someone in the office know and they will send staff out to help unload. If you can’t get out of your vehicle, please honk your horn.

If you have large appliances, please call the center at 256-233-8746, and let them know you are coming so they can be prepared to direct you and assist with unloading the item(s).

What are considered electronics?

Anything that uses elec-

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tricity or batteries to operate is considered electronics.

That includes computers, monitors, telephones, microwaves, printers, household appliances, crock pots, electric fry pans, clippers, VCRs, and much more!

Television sets are accepted with a $10 recycling fee per TV. All other electronics are accepted free of charge.

Items you may not know we recycle:

Center: The items listed below represent just some of the things that should never be brought to the recycling center. I have included information with some of the items on alternative ways to dispose of them. Please remember that any items we cannot recycle end up in the center’s dumpster which must be paid for each time it is dumped. The center currently pays about

• Car parts: Only metal parts can be recycled. Parts made of other materials should not be brought to the center.

• Scrap wood •Plastic toys, lattice, pools, pool liners or any plastic items other than bottles and jars.

• Furniture unless it is 100% metal. No wood or plastic.

• Paint of any kind. Latex

• Motor oil: There is a tank to the right of the building into which you can pour your oil, or you can leave motor oil in a sealed container near the tank.

• Construction debris • Tires: NO tires accepted at the recycling center.

The Limestone County Commission has recently received a grant from the Alabama Department of Environmental Management for tire recycling.

Collection trailers will be at the garages to begin the program in a few weeks.

This is for use by individuals and farmers. No dealers will be permitted to recycle tires at county garages.

• Cooking oil: Cooking fats, oils, and grease (FOG) can be recycled by taking a free FOG container available in white metal cages at the recycling center, at the KALB office on East St., or at the Utility Building on Wilkinson St. Fill the container and return it to the bottom shelf of any of these cages.

• Glass bottles and jars: Yes, we do recycle glass, but ONLY bottles and jars. Please do not bring window glass, ceramics, dishes, windshields, or any other type of glass.

• Gas canisters and fire extinguishers: ONLY IF EMPTY! Items you should NEVER bring to the Recycling

paint can be disposed of properly by letting small amounts dry in the can, then recycling the can.

Larger amounts of paint can be poured into a cardboard box lined with a trash bag. Add kitty litter, shredded paper, or purchase paint dry powder.

Once the paint is dry, it can be placed in your household trash. Oil-based paint and Kilz-type products must be disposed of at a household hazardous waste collection. Please let your city councilman and/or county commissioner know there is a need. We have not had a household hazardous waste collection since 2008.

$6,000 per year for dumpster service. The majority of items filling the dumpster are things people have dropped off that we cannot recycle. This is very costly to the center, which is part of the KALB non-profit organization.

• Antifreeze: You can take antifreeze to most radiator shops for recycling.

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Become a Fan

(256) 233-8728 KALBCares@gmail.com www.KALBCares.com November 16 - December 6, 2018

Cooking with Anna

Gobble, Gobble, Y’all

by Anna Hamilton

It’s almost turkey time! Thanksgiving has always been one of my favorite holidays.

It doesn’t focus on gifts; it only focuses on being thankful.

Thanksgiving has always been important in my family. It is my daddy’s favorite holiday. Every year we sit around the table and enjoy a great meal. But most importantly, we enjoy each other. We talk about what all we are thankful for and all the blessings we have been given throughout the year. Thanksgiving is about celebrating the small things. We have so much to be thankful about!

We enjoy turkey and dressing, cranberry sauce, sweet potato casserole, mashed potatoes, green beans,

rolls, and numerous desserts. One thing that I look forward to the most every year is Pumpkin Soup. It’s warm and cozy in a bowl. This soup is Thanksgiving in a bowl to me. It is easy to prepare and even easier to eat. Even if you don’t enjoy pumpkin, I encourage you to give this soup a try. It is truly delicious!

This holiday season, amid the hustle and the bustle, take time to slow down and truly think about all the blessings in your life. Truly be thankful! “Let them give thanks to the Lord for his unfailing love and his wonderful deeds for mankind, for he satisfies the thirsty and fills the hungry with good things.” Psalm 107:8-9

Pumpkin Soup What You Need:

1 can pumpkin (15 oz) 1 cup sweet yellow onion, finely chopped 1/2 cup bell pepper, finely chopped ½ Tbsp minced garlic 2 Tbsp olive oil 1 Tbsp flour 1 tsp curry powder 1 Tbsp brown sugar 1 tsp sage ¼ tsp ground nutmeg ½ tsp seasoned salt ¼ tsp pepper 3 cups chicken stock 3 cups half and half

Directions:

Sauté onion and bell pepper in oil until softened; add garlic and sauté until garlic is tender. Add flour and curry powder; cook for 3 minutes.

Stir in pumpkin, brown sugar, seasoned salt, sage, nutmeg, and pepper. Add broth and whisk until smooth.

Bring to a simmer, stirring occasionally. Add half and half and heat until hot.

November 16 - December 6, 2018

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The Millennial Mind

Mere Philosophy

by Rosemary Dewar Knowledge is simply not compelling enough to encourage morality.

One can reason one’s way in or out of every delusion; you are not impervious to your own misbelief. History has been marred by those who deigned to outwit an omniscient being by attempting to become one themselves. Ethics are only useful if you first tell the truth about what you find, and then apply what you’ve learned properly; but truth is not sufficient if someone convinces you it is not worth knowing.

The purpose of truth is to lead one to a course of action that is inarguably good, but intellectually realized truth has no power to do so. You alone cannot judge the virtue of your actions, and call yourself noble.

You are flawed and selfcentered—an incorrigible narcissist. Who will save you? Only a God that will never be you.

Every monumental scientific age was met with a detrimental result that lacked a moral center.

Societies abused The Enlightenment to exact injustice as they saw fit

through The Inquisition.

That is where a form of liberalism began with Protestantism (an intellectual liberating expression for Christianity).

The French Revolution resulted in their making their concept of reason a god. They separated themselves from the Catholic Church, and established a dictatorship. The French did abolish slavery, yet their national secularism murdered their wealthy in the streets for the public’s entertainment. The Industrial Revolution facilitated the birth of Germany’s golden age as Europe’s crown jewel in the mid-20th century. After forfeiting its Christian core, a persuasive minority embraced ethnic supremacy and eugenics. These are all atrocities. Losing one’s religion has become a catalyst for losing one’s humanity.

Truth has moved from something that is studied objectively to something that is observed subjectively.

Society may assert that what you perceive is vastly more important than what is actually true. While an

individual’s perspective is relevant, the reality that what one sees may also be wrong is more important. Two realities are occurring simultaneously, and one of them is more valuable than the other.

Truth is shocking.

It will usually fly in the face of what you think you know. Intellectuals will stress that some truths are not worth knowing at the time simply because of the assumed damage they could cause. That is not their call to make.

In that moment, they have made themselves a god in their own eyes. By some fantastical reasoning, they know better than you.

The Judeo-Christian worldview emphasizes that man is not to depend on his own understanding, but to lean on God’s wisdom. God processes matters better than you, He is not hindered by the frailty of humanity, and He cares about issues that you do not.

You’d think humanity would feel relieved from that burden.

Unfortunately, humans have the tendency to do God’s job for Him. That never turns out as cheerily as they planned.

Theologian G.K. Chesterton said, “There are no rules of architecture for

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a castle in the clouds.”

That sounds absolutely wonderful, if we are talking about creativity and imagination. However, if we are going to build a structure in this current reality, the attempt to build it on something as frail as ourselves will not be sufficient.

Truth is conveniently placed where you will fail. Rules and standards are present in order to teach you how not to fail the same way you did the time before. Insanity is where you fail the

same way for an undesirable and miserable amount of time without resolution. Success is simply learning how not to fail the same way indefinitely. Truth can be painful, and will shake you to your core.

The presence of pain does not mean there is no truth to it; that is to alert you to the fact that you have not acknowledged something yet.

What you need to learn is worth knowing, and you need to learn nothing short of the truth.

November 16 - December 6, 2018

Cover Story

Frame Gallery To Showcase The “Visual Statements” Of Reesa Pearl Milam

by Tracie Spain

continued from page 1

life shown through her artwork. Her framed art will be on exhibit the month of November. In December, she will add a special installation to her framed art.

Reesa’s trademark description of her work is called, “Visual Statements,” and she hopes you will come join us on December 6 for a “holiday evening with the artist.”

Reesa was born in Kentucky and her family settled in North Alabama in 1972. She attended Ft. Payne High School and at that time the high school did not offer art or music classes. She continued her sketchbooks of the Lookout Mountain area and was given the honor of coordinating an exhibition of student art work, poetry, and music for a fundraiser. The project sparked her passion for photography and graphic images.

Reesa moved to Huntsville and attended college at University of Alabama at Huntsville, and graduated as an Honor Scholar in Art/ English. She also attended the University of Missouri/ Columbia for a special art study program while pursuing her degree at UAH. During her college years, she worked for a manufacturing company that gave her flexible hours so she could work and study.

During her junior and senior years, she worked as Art Gallery Director at UAH where she designed displays and assisted with exhibits and advertising.

During that time, Reesa won a Merit Award for “Downshift,” and a first place award for “Heading

for a Fall.”

Reesa is skilled in most art media with the exception of the newer technological advances. She has a wide range of experience in the fields of lithography, woodcut and stone linoleum cut, and silkscreen printmaking.

November 16 - December 6, 2018

She also has enjoyed photography and etching.

After graduation, Reesa’s work was featured in a number of juried and non-juried shows all over the United States. She won several awards in the early 1980s for visual art dealing with women’s issues. Her award winner, “I Stayed Home With Mine” was highly regarded in many shows for its role in speaking to a range of women’s issues.

In 1988, Reesa was featured in a political art show at the Highland Gallery in Atlanta. Her work has been featured in international juried-print exhibitions ranging from the University of Montevallo Traveling Portfolio, to the Matrix Gallery in Sacramento, CA, to the Somerstown Gallery in Somers, NY. She’s given demonstrations at several museums, schools, and civic organizations.

More recently, while taking

care of her parents, Reesa continued to develop her skills in painting, drawing and photography, attending exhibits as time allowed. Locally her work has been displayed in Decatur’s Second Street Gallery, Adrian Ford Gallery in Florence, and the Marlyn Wilson Gallery in Birmingham, to name a few. Her work has also been featured as part of Panoply in Huntsville, AL, the Tennessee Valley Fiddlers’ Convention in Athens, AL, and she has two pieces which are part of the permanent collection of local artists shown in the Huntsville Museum of Art. Reesa’s work has also been featured in sev-

eral newspapers and magazines such as The Huntsville Times, and the Athens News Courier’s quarterly publication known as Faith And Family.

To celebrate the season as well as Reesa’s installation, Frame Gallery is having a Christmas Open House on Thursday, December 6 from 5 p.m. – 8 p.m. Refreshments will be served, and the community is invited to come and enjoy meeting the artist. Reesa’s works will be available for purchase, as well as several other pieces on display throughout Frame Gallery’s recently renovated showroom.

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Health and Fitness

Opioids: How Physician Anesthesiologists Are Treating Pain Responsibly

By BrandPoint Content (BPT) - The opioid crisis has made physicians increasingly wary about prescribing the potentially addictive drugs to their patients in pain. Experts in pain medicine, such as physician anesthesiologists, are creating individualized pain management plans that include alternatives to opioids that are not only safer, but often work better.

"Opioids, or narcotics, can be helpful for short-term relief, but they are not a long-term solution for managing pain because of their many downsides, from significant side effects to a high risk of dependence or addiction," said Greg L. Thompson, M.D., physician anesthesiologist, pain medicine specialist and member of the American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA).

"Pain medicine specialists can help people in pain get relief and reduce or eliminate opioids often by using a combination of techniques from physical therapy and nerve blocks to non-addictive pain medications."

Opioids alleviated the excruciating pain 37-yearold mother of two Beth Hunt suffered while recovering from multiple surgeries after her leg was crushed in an accident. But after three months in the hospital on opioids, she came to rely on them just to be comfortable. Hunt turned to Dr. Thompson, who used ultrasound and tiny catheters, or tubes, to direct medication to the major nerves in her leg that were the source of

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the pain. This therapy reduced her opioid use by 90 percent while her leg healed, and she learned to walk again.

Now she is opioid-free, has regained her quality of life and is spending time being active with her children.

Hunt never dreamed she'd become dependent on opioids, but her experience shows it can happen to anyone. ASA urges people to learn how the opioid crisis is changing the way physicians treat pain responsibly, and the reasons your physician may limit or avoid prescribing opioids: They are not the only option: While opioids can provide general pain relief for a short while, they are not the solution for all pain because: • There are more effective methods for treating pain in a specific site, including nerve blocks or stimulation therapy.

• People who take them can begin tolerating the dose and may need higher doses to get the same relief.

There are many side effects and risks: • Addiction and dependence are major worries.

If there are signs of risk for addiction your physician may be more hesitant to prescribe opioids.

• Other side effects include: sleepiness, constipation, depression, life-threatening shallow breathing and slowed

heart rate - which could be a sign of an overdose.

• In older people, opioids can increase the risk of falling as well as interact with other medications, making them less effective or causing side effects.

It's the law: Legislators have enacted many rules and regulations to stem the opioid crisis. For example, because studies show the longer people take opioids, the more likely they are to become addicted, some states have enacted prescribing limits on opioids.

drugs (NSAIDs) such as ibuprofen) to high-tech methods (e.g., spinal stimulation and radiowave therapy) to alternative treatments (e.g., physical therapy, acupuncture and meditation).

For more information on pain treatment, visit the

American Society of Anesthesiologists online at asahq.org/pain or find them on Facebook and Twitter. To learn more about the role physician anesthesiologists play in ensuring patient safety, visit asahq.org/WhenSecondsCount.

It's important to know there are many other options for managing pain, from targeted therapies (e.g., nerve blocks) to non-addictive medications (e.g., antidepressants, antiseizure medications, acetaminophen and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory

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November 16 - December 6, 2018

Cover Story

The Athens-Limestone Hospital Community Pharmacy: Beautiful Facility and Excellent Customer Care

by Ali Elizabeth Turner continued from page 1

services, OrthoSport, which is now TOC (The Orthopaedic Center), and has physician office space. There are a number of services to talk about with respect to the stunning new facility, but an important one, as well as the focus of this article is the pharmacy.

ALH community pharmacy is run by Sara Glenn Tanksley, PharmD; and Certified Pharmacy Technician, Erica Allison. Sara had wanted to be in health care ever since she was a young girl, and her sister is also a pharmacist. She finds that the hours fit well with being the mother of an 8-monthold baby girl, as well as the wife of Hampton (Hamp), who farms with Sara’s dad.

(They grow cotton, soybeans, and wheat on Hamp’s fatherin-law’s farm in Ripley.) Both Sara and Erica have worked in several area pharmacies, and while they will tell you that starting up a brand new phar-

macy has been at times daunting, they are both glad to have been part of the surgical tower team. Some of the challenges have been getting communication and contracts with the insurance companies squared away, as well as the usual “punch list” of tiny things that invariably accompany brand new construction. They both told me that they like their new location very much.

One of the features of the pharmacy is a drive-through lane, where customers can call ahead and have their prescription waiting for them at the window. The pharmacy also offers what is known as “discharge prescription service,” which is explained below.

Sara chuckled as she told me that she grew up with the idea that “pharmacists didn’t talk to people.” She is just a touch shy, so early in her career talking to people about their prescriptions was outside of her comfort zone. Since then it

November 16 - December 6, 2018

has become one of her favorite things about the job, and she understands the importance of knowing as well as protecting her clients. To that end, she gets to do something that is an old-fashioned level of attentive patient care, and that is what she calls bedside delivery, or in the parlance of the profession, “discharge prescription service.” People who have come to the center for surgical procedures can have their medications delivered to them personally while they are still recovering in their room.

They also get a chance to ask any questions, express any concerns, and become fully aware as to the details of how and when to take their medications. They also know that they can call Sara at the pharmacy if anything comes up that might need to be relayed to their attending physician or health care team.

I am old enough to remember doctors who not only made house calls, but often brought medications in their black bag, and I remember how much both my parents and I appreciated that extra level of patient care and customer service.

Being a pharmacist these days carries a level of responsibility that is different than it was in past genera-

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tions. First, there are so many more prescription medications on the market, and the number of possible drug interactions is greater. Add to that the potential for cross-medication as well as the current opioid crisis about which we hear so much in the news, and you can begin to imagine just how much a pharmacy has to be alert, observant, and ready to respond.

Both Sara and Erica have received training in dealing with these situations and more, and I was assured after talking to them that they are up to the task. Sara said, “I am confident that prescriptions filled here are legitimate and not contributing to the opioid crisis.”

ALH Community Pharmacy accepts most insurance plans, and you can have your prescriptions filled there even if

you have not been a patient at the facility. They are open from 8:30 a.m.-5p.m., Monday through Friday. The hours for the pharmacy located in the Athens-Limestone Hospital on Market Street are 7:30 a.m.-4 p.m.

I asked Sara and Erica why, when I have pharmacy choices all over North Alabama, should I come to them for my prescription needs. They thought for a moment and replied, “We make a good team.

We are friendly and efficient, and we care about our patients.” It is good to know that we have them in our corner, and I invite you to come to the Athens-Limestone Hospital Surgical Tower and experience outstanding pharmacy care for yourself.

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Learning As A Lifestyle

Christmas Rush

by Wanda Campbell Center for Lifelong Learning - 121 South Marion Street, Athens, AL 35611 - 256-233-8262 It seems time is traveling faster and faster and before we know it, Christmas will be here.

It is only 38 days until Christmas, after all.

As we are running from project to party and from errand to errand, it might be a good time to take in a Free Yoga Class. This is your chance to get started! This is a Level One Class connecting postures (asanas) with breath, flowing from one posture to the next. The class includes standing and floor postures while elevating the heart rate to a moderate level. This means you will be breathing moderately but still be

able to speak. Depending on how you feel about your progress, the instructor will show ways to both increase and extend the pose or keep the pose at a beginner level. Bring your own mat; wear comfortable clothing. Classes are Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday, from 11:30 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. in the Carter Gymnasium, on the Athens State University Campus. Classes will run through December 13; no class on November 22 and 23.

Only 19 days until the Committed Holiday Concert on Friday, December 7, at 7:00 p.m. in McCandless Auditorium on the Athens State Uni-

versity campus. Committed is an a cappella singing group comprised of five educated, young men who love creativity, music, and God. The group began in 2003 at Forest Lake Academy and solidified their sound while in school at Oakwood University in Huntsville, AL. Committed has grown to be a very sought-after a cappella group for many events around the United States and also overseas.

The group had the amazing opportunity to be featured on the second season of NBC’s hit singing competition The Sing Off and emerged as the season two champions. It has been their strong faith, hard work, and creativity that has earned them the recognition as one of the nation’s top ten a cappella groups. Committed truly believes that “with God all things are possible,” and they will continue to work toward inspiring people through music.

vations as quickly as possible for the Academic Traveler trip to A Dickens of a Christmas Festival, in Franklin, Tennessee, on Saturday, December 8 from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Snow will be falling on the 34th annual street festival Dickens of a Christmas, an annual street festival that recreates the Charles Dickens era using historic downtown Franklin’s Victorian architecture as the backdrop. Some 200 musicians, dancers, and characters will fill the streets, including sever-

al from Charles Dickens’s stories. Expect to see and interact with the nefarious Fagin from Oliver Twist; Jacob Marley, Ebenezer Scrooge and Tiny Tim Cratchit with his parents from A Christmas Carol; and of course, a Victorian Father and Mother Christmas with treats for children. The fee is $75/person and includes transportation, and entry fees. Lunch is on your own. This trip has limited seating. For questions, call Wanda Campbell at 256-2338260.

You can buy your tickets on our website at www. athens.edu/CLL or call our office at 256-233-8260.

Tickets are only $15. Seating is general admission.

Don’t forget to make your reser-

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November 16 - December 6, 2018

The View From The Bridge

What Is Your Sum? How Do You Stack Up? Jackie Warner

by Jackie Warner

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

“As it is not one swallow or a fine day that makes a spring, so it is not one day or a short time that makes a man blessed and happy.”

- Aristotle Early this year we discussed Hezekiah and his call to action. Well, we have a similar call to answer.

I was attending a Bible study a few weeks ago, and the lesson was about our actions being the sum of who we are.

When Hezekiah was sick unto death. And the prophet Isaiah the

son of Amoz came to him, and said unto him, thus saith the LORD, Set thine house in order; for thou shalt die, and not live. – 2 Kings 20:1 What actions have you taken this year in order to understand the sum of who you are? Have you come to the realization that your core foundation will allow you to stand only if you put the work in for the life you desire?

Ponder for a moment, and ask yourself if you have a foundation built solid enough to be moved and tossed about at times in this life? If you cannot answer yes, then it is time for a teardown and rebuild. It is the body

November 16 - December 6, 2018

we inhabit daily -- our internal body, our spirit, the inner most part of us that is Our Soul! How has it been clothed?

Maya Angelou quoted: You are the sum total of everything you've ever seen, heard, eaten, smelled, been told, forgot - it's all there.

Everything influences each of us, and because

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of that I try to make sure that my experiences are positive.

Until Next Time, Be Sincere, Kind and Intentional

"Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.”

Colossians 3:12

Jackie Warner, Community Outreach Specialist

Happy Thanksgiving!

Email: thebridge.us@gmail.com Check out upcoming events: http://thebridgeus.yolasite.com/

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Horse Whispering

Seats

by Deb Kitchenmaster On November 6, 2018, we voted for specific governmental seats. A governor’s seat where someone would oversee a state, a Senate seat, a seat in the House of Representatives, a seat for a judge to hear cases and decree orders and affecting lives, both individually and corporately. Regardless of what level the “seat” is open and then filled; each seat is important and is a platform for a voice to be considered throughout our land. Yes! Your vote counts!

The 8th - century BC Jewish prophet, Isaiah, wrote, “For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, The Mighty God, The everlasting Father, and The Prince of Peace.”

Shoulder indicates acceptance of the burden of a responsibility; the phrase refers to kingly leadership rather than religious leadership.

One day, Jesus entered the temple courts and drove out all who were buying and selling there. He overturned the tables of the money changers and the seats of those selling doves. (Matthew 21:12) Then there’s that moment when Jesus is teaching and he said, “Watch out for the teachers of the law.

They like to walk around in flowing robes and be greeted with respect in the marketplaces, and have the most important seats in the synagogues and the places of honor at ban-

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ing with your legs. You stop following with your hands. You stop riding while remaining on your horse’s back. Your horse will halt.

Another seat would be what is called an independent seat. An independent seat starts on the ground (not because you have fallen off your horse).

The more control a rider develops over his or her own body movements, the more precisely he or she will be able to use body language to communicate with a horse, whether on the ground or from the saddle. Starting on the ground, relaxation is absolutely necessary to the development of an independent seat. Groundwork teaches you to move with relaxation and rhythm so that your horse will move that way too.

quets.” (Mark 12:39) Yes, Jesus dealt with seats also, didn’t he?

According to Ephesians 2:6, “And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with Him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus.’’

Another way of saying that is, “and has raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus.” A couple of words defining together are ‘jointly’ and ‘as one’.

Then, in the realm of horsemanship there is your seat!

Your seat is important to your horse. Have you heard of the phrase, “You have a quiet seat?” That doesn’t have anything to do with flatulence. It simply means when you ride you are settled (not bouncing all over the place), and you ‘hold’ or ‘sit’ balanced on the back of your horse.

You have come to understand your core, and from this place/seat you ride.

Your seat is found when

you follow your horse’s gait or motion at the walk (4-beat rhythms), the trot (2-beat rhythms) and the canter (3-beat rhythms).

You need strong core muscles to hold your upper body erect and flexible hips to follow the rhythm of your horse’s back as it lifts and rolls in a different motion with each gait.

Once you can follow the motion, your body understands the basic feel of your seat, which aids in improving your ride.

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The palomino I was riding jolted and ran with all his might. The jolt threw me off balance. It was relaxation of everything inside me and my hips synchronizing with the gallop (4-beat) that brought the horse to a halt with me remaining on. I was nearly unseated, managed to keep my seat, and at last I rested into a quiet seat, and you can, too!

This is what it would look like if you were to use your seat to stop your horse.

Let’s say your horse is walking. You feel your hips swinging in the rhythm (4beat) with the horse’s feet -- one up, three down. As the horse’s barrel swings left and right, your lower Relax, take a seat, legs pulse left and right.

When you want the horse Your NEIGHbor, Deb Kitchenmaster to stop, you take in a deep breath. As you let your Corral Connections breath out, sink into your 256-426-7947 seat bones. At this point Animal B.E.S.T. practitioner you stop following with your hips. You stop puls- horsinaround188@gmail.com

November 16 - December 6, 2018

Mental Health Minute

The Mental Health Benefits Of Dreaming

by Lisa Philippart, Licensed Professional Counselor “Hope lies in dreams, in imagination, and in the courage of those who dare to make dreams into reality.”

- Jonas Salk I have always been fascinated with dreams and dreaming.

Sometimes my dreams are so vivid, it actually feels like I have existed in another world. Recently, I had a dream that I was sitting at the end a dock, with my feet dangling into the water, watching a beautiful sunset. In that moment, I felt relaxed, peaceful, and calm. It was so absorbing that I woke up with a feeling of contentment, which stayed with me for the rest of the day. There are many theories as to why we dream. Sigmund Freud believed that our dreams were the passageways to understanding our unconscious mind…where we might find those hidden secrets and longings that we dare not share with the rest of the world.

Carl Jung, saw dreams as our mind’s way of expressing things openly, the psyche’s way of communicating and reorganizing important information from our daily lives. And today, neuroscientists continue to explore dreams and dreaming as pathways to improving health, especially our mental health.

overcome your fears.

Neuroscientists use the term lucid dreaming to describe the state of dreaming when you are aware you are dreaming. When you are a lucid dreamer, you can manipulate and control the story line of your dream. For example, let’s say that you are afraid of being in large groups of people. Just the thought of going to a work party, makes your heart rate increase and you start sweating. In a lucid dream, you can be in complete control.

You can be however you want to be. In the dream world, you get to practice what you might be afraid to do in real life.

The more you practice dealing with your fears in your dreams, the more you are repro-

graming your brain. You are preparing for change through your dreams.

Dreams can be therapeutic. Even though our dreams are not real, the emotions that go along with them are quite tangible. If you are experiencing some form of PTSD or emotional trauma, dreams can be a form of overnight therapy. And, you don’t have to be experiencing some form of trauma in order to benefit from a night of dreaming. When you go through any type of emotional event, the release of hormones is triggered in your system which prioritized that event in your mind. This then serves as a reminder to your brain to work through the occurrence during sleep. What hap-

pens is that somewhere between the activating event and the point of recollection, the brain can separate the emotions from the memory, so it no longer presents as emotive. Essentially your dream story strips the feeling from the experience by creating a new memory of it.

Dreams help you learn.

This is my favorite benefit of dreaming, and I use it often to help me resolve issues or clarify a decision. Have you ever fallen asleep thinking about a decision that you have been trying to make? You wake up the next morning and somehow the answer has become clear. I know you have heard the expression, “Let me sleep on it.” Well, it looks like

there may be some scientific evidence to support our ability to learn while we sleep. According to researchers at Harvard Medical School, if you learn a task and then go to sleep, you could be ten times better at that activity than if you had stayed awake. Dreaming allows your brain to process and make sense of new information.

Dreams have the potential to positively change your life, so sweet dreams everyone!

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

Dreams can help you

November 16 - December 6, 2018

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The Alternative Approach

Eat Less – Live Longer

by Roy Williams Americans are obsessed with food. Everything we plan seems to be around food and much of the problem I have observed over the last 30 years is not only the amount we eat, but the foods that have been approved for human consumption.

On top of that we are in such a hurry, which reminds me of a movie that was released a few years back. One of the main characters had been in prison for several years. When he was released he wrote the others in the system and said, “The world has gone and got itself in a big damn hurry.” When we do eat, we rush and when we rush, we tend to overeat.

Food, in America, is everywhere. You can go thorough a drive through and eat while you drive, while you work, while you watch TV; and you can put money in a machine and food will drop out.

The FDA is one of the biggest problems. They have the power to decide what can be classified as food. Advertising a food product must meet their approval and their

whole premise is, public safety, right? If you believe that, then remember that I have some ocean front property in Tennessee for sale.

All chemicals used to preserve food, fertilize food, process food, and even cook food must meet their approval. The ingredients must be put on the label along with the preservatives, calories, vitamins, minerals, carbohydrates, sugars, proteins, and fats. And for your safety, they must let you know if it has been processed where they also process peanuts.

You would think that with all those rules and regulations more people would be aware of what they are putting in their bodies. In reality, most people simply take for granted that because it is FDA approved, it must be safe and therefore somewhat healthy.

It is not only what we eat that makes us fat, toxifies our systems, weakens our immune systems, taxes our liver, kidneys, and pancreas, but it is also the fact that we eat entirely too much when we do eat.

Americans look to food for recreation, comfort, boredom, celebration, and even depression. As a result, most Americans eat twice as many calories as they actually need to sustain their health.

When we overeat, the body suffers. Eat too much sugar and your pancreas may not be able

to produce enough insulin resulting in diabetes.

Eat too much protein and your kidneys can fail. Eat too much fat and you can develop a fatty liver. Eat too much for long periods of time and you will become obese.

Obesity has become epidemic in America. Almost one quarter of the children under seventeen in America are now considered obese. Obesity has been linked to diabetes, heart disease, low self-esteem, osteo arthritis, and many other medical problems that

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are costing the nation billions of dollars each year.

Have you ever heard someone say, “Get A Grip”? It is time for someone to simply tell the truth. Remember, only the truth will set you free. The truth is, we eat entirely too much to be healthy.

The foods we eat are too

acidic, contain too many calories from sugar and starch. They also contain too many chemicals such as preservatives, pesticides, heavy metals, and fertilizers made from aluminum salts. Those same foods are terribly deficient of the necessary vitamins, minerals, amino acids, essential fatty acids, glycol-nutrients, and proteins that are used to build a healthy body.

Our bodies must receive 16 vitamins, 74 minerals and trace elements, 12 amino acids, 3 essential fatty acids, and plenty protein daily in order to

maintain a healthy pH and build healthy tissue. Unfortunately, most Americans get less than half those amounts from the standard American diet.

When you continually eat too much food that is lacking the nutrients needed to maintain health, you will begin to crave even more food.

Those cravings are your body demanding more nutrients.

Unfortunately, most of us simply keep eating more calories and most of those calories are empty calories, which will increase the likelihood of obesity and disease.

What is an empty calorie? A perfect example is refined sugar or high fructose corn syrup, which are the primary calories in our food. A sugarsweetened soft drink is full of calories as seen on the label.

What is missing from the label are the nutrients.

To close out this article, just remember to read the labels, and if there is not a long list of nutrients (vitamins, minerals, amino acids, essential fatty acids, and protein) you probably should not eat or drink it. More on this subject next time because once you know the truth, you will be free to make healthier choices.

Your friend in health, Roy P. Williams

November 16 - December 6, 2018

Mondays at 10am 1080 AM WKAC November 16 - December 6, 2018

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