February 2012 ANNUAL BIRTHDAY PARTY GUIDE HANDLING “YOUNG LOVE”
Family AUGUSTA
ALTERNATIVE MEDICINE FOR KIDS? SIMPLIFYING BIRTHDAY PARTIES
m a g a z i n e
Party Time! Maddi, 7, and Will, 4, Griffin are the children of Greg and Cyndi Griffin.
2 • Augusta Family | February 2012
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Family AUGUSTA
m a g a z i n e
w w w. a u g u s tafamily.co m Publisher Kate Cooper Metts Editor Karin Calloway Production Art Director Miles Anderson Graphic Artist Mandy Herlong Advertising Director of Advertising Adriene Goldman Advertising Sales Donna Costello Maidi McMurtrie Thompson Mary Porter Vann marketing & circulation Manager Doressa Hawes photography Chris Thelen contributors Lucy Adams Grace Belangia Charmain Z. Brackett J. Ron Eaker, M.D. Cammie Jones Jennie Montgomery Michael Rushbrook Augusta Family Magazine is published 10 times per year and distributed throughout the Augusta and Aiken area. Send press releases, story ideas or comments to the editor at karin.calloway@augustafamily.com or mail to 127A 7th Street, Augusta, GA 30901 or telephone (706) 828-3946. For advertising information, telephone (706) 823-3702. For circulation/ distribution, call (706) 823-3722.
Contents 20
FEBRUARY 2012
- Lucy Adams
Our Guide To Party Places Throughout the CSRA
26
Fun Birthday Treats You Can Decorate With Your Kids - Family Features and Wilton
departments
5 editor’s page 7 mom2mom —Jennie Montgomery
13 doctor/dad The “I Want To Inject a Pregnancy Hormone” Diet
—J. Ron Eaker, M.D.
14 healthy family Alternative Medicine for Kids?
—Jessica Fisher
28 time out! Young Love Navigating Your Way Through Your Teen’s Romance
The Mediterranean Diet is Healthy, Delicious
—Kim Beavers, MS, RD, LD, CDE
Taking the Hype Out of Birthday Parties
A Place for Ace
8 news&notes 11 eating well with kim American Heart Month
16 home front Simple Celebrations
—Cammie Jones
—Lucy Adams
30 inspiration station In Service
Fort Gordon Spouses and Civilians Club Members Are Spirited Volunteers
on the cover:
Maddi, 7, and Will, 4, Griffin are the children of Greg and Cyndi Griffin. They were selected to be on the cover as part of the Fresh Faces search at www.augustafamily.com. Photo by Chris Thelen
—Charmain Z. Brackett
28 calendar 44 talkin’ about my generation
Miranda Brown, Chris Henry and Ann Beth Strelec —Grace Belangia
February
q ui c k pi c k
“A birthday is a celebration of a child’s life. But, it is not license to do it up as big as possible, no matter the cost to pocketbook, calendar and family sanity. Let’s simplify birthday celebrations and bring joy back to parents, kids and guests.” Read more about simplifying your children’s birthday parties in Jessica Fisher’s article on page 26.
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Augusta Family | February 2012 • 3
4 • Augusta Family | February 2012
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editor’spage by Karin Calloway
The Birthday of “No”
C.C. Calloway (center), Kelly Zapata (left) and Raleigh Noland (right) celebrated their first birthdays in 1994.
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round the time the above photo was taken, our daughter C.C. (now 18) discovered her first favorite word: No. “Let’s put on your shoes.” C.C.’s response: “No.” “It’s time for night-night.” C.C.’s response: “No.” “Can Grandaddy (or any other male except her father) hold you?” C.C.’s response: “No.” As C.C. approaches her 19th birthday, high school graduation and heading off to college this fall, her father and I think it would be a good time for, “No,” to become her favorite word again. Like when she has a test tomorrow but someone knocks on her door and says, “Hey, a bunch of us are going out…want to come?” We hope she’ll say, “No.” When a boy she’s just met says, “Want to go up to my room and check out my stereo?” We hope she’ll say, “No.” You get the idea. There will be many opportunities for C.C. to make wise decisions in which the optimal word will be “No.” About six months into the world of “No,” C.C. discovered a word that was music to our ears. In fact, we were so ecstatic when she first said, “Yes,” that we called both sets of grandparents. In this coming phase of C.C.’s life there are lots of times we hope she’ll say,“Yes.” We hope she’ll say, “Yes,” to following her dreams. And remember to say, “Yes,” to her internal instincts and protect herself in situations that don’t feel “right.” We hope she’ll say, “Yes,” to new friendships, laughter and, down the road, to love. And last, we hope she’ll say, “Yes,” to being a woman of integrity, responsibility, humility, empathy and service to others. Birthdays are milestones, and working on this issue, our annual Birthday Guide, allowed me the opportunity to reminisce about C.C.’s first birthday and the year of ,“No,” that followed. Until March,
Karin Calloway is a wife and mother of two teenagers. She’s also a journalist and recipe developer who writes the Wednesday cooking column for The Augusta Chronicle (augustachronicle.com/karin). You can follow Karin at twitter.com/KarinCalloway. Check out Karin’s cooking blog at www.cookingwithkarin.com. www.augustafamily.com
Augusta Family | February 2012 • 5
Dental Health Month
6 • November 2011 | Augusta Family
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2
mom m m
Illustration by Michael Rushbrook
by Jennie Montgomery
A Place for Ace “Ugh, I’m just too tired to even bother looking presentable,” I said to my 17-year-old daughter as she was driving and singing along to the radio. It was early on a Saturday morning and we were on the way to Atlanta. I grabbed my make-up bag anyway and pulled down the windshield visor. Lifting the cover on the little vanity mirror, I got a glimpse of my makeup-free self: “Wow! I look at this face and think…” “WHAT happened??” Maddy interrupted! She was all amused at herself for finishing the sentence I was absent-mindedly saying out loud. “Thanks a lot!” I laughed. At least she talked to me, I thought to myself. Zack was home from college over the holidays, but he spent more time with his friends on Skype than he did talking to me. It made me so sad! Even my baby is slowly crossing over to the dark side. “Mom, help!” Sky said frantically. “Where are your Christmas vests? I need to wear one to a Tacky Christmas Sweater party.” Did she just call my clothes tacky? I’ve drawn a couple of conclusions about this new loneliness I feel around my teenagers: My kids want less to do with me as they get older—while their friends seem to have these really engaging moms who share all kinds of excellent advice that couldn’t possibly come from someone as completely in the dark ages as their mother! The new loneliness must have been tugging on my heart when I unexpectedly met a handsome guy named Ace. He’s got dark eyes and curly black hair, he’s very affectionate and he makes me feel like I am the center of his universe. Ace is a 10-pound toy poodle that made his TV debut in an Adopt-a-Pet segment on NewsChannel 6. When that little guy looked at me and cocked his head, it was all over. Sky and I signed the papers that afternoon and brought him home. So now I have another baby…one who loves to cuddle up and be held, who races to me like I’m a rock star when I come home and who makes me feel like I’m the coolest and most engaging mom on the planet! JENNIE Montgomery anchors the evening news at WJBF-TV. She’s married to Scott and they have three children: Zack, 18, Maddy, 17, and Sky, 15. www.augustafamily.com
Augusta Family | February 2012 • 7
news notes
All the world is a birthday cake, so take a piece,
but not too much.”
~George Harrison
Christine and Jeff Rucker (pictured center in red) hosted an official Columbia County Chamber of Commerce grand opening and ribbon cutting in January. Their new math tutoring center, Mathnasium, opened in November.
Excellent Essays Rucker’s Right
Former WAGT chief meteorologist Jeff Rucker began his third career when he and his wife, Christine, opened the new Mathnasium Learning Center at Mullins Crossing last November. Rucker’s first career was in the U.S. Navy, his second was working as a television meteorologist and in his new role he serves as center director and franchisee. Rucker was attracted to the franchise because of his love of math. At the center, they strive to “teach Math in a way that makes sense to 2nd to 12th graders. Mathnasium is an after-school math learning center where kids can go to catch up, keep up and get ahead,” says Rucker. The Ruckers have more than doubled the projected enrollment since opening their doors.
The Augusta Chapter, National Society Daughters of the American Revolution presented the 2011-2012 Richmond County winners of the American History Essay Contest in early January. This year’s topic was “Young America Takes a Stand: The War of 1812.” Ten schools participated in the contest and the following essayists were winners. First Place Winners: Taylor Ferguson, 8th grade, Hillcrest Baptist School; Mercedes C. Jackson, 7th grade, Hillcrest Baptist School; Kayla Washington, 6th grade, Hillcrest Baptist School; and Damaris Billups, 5th grade, Tobacco Road Elementary. Second Place: Kiki Scales, 8th grade, Hillcrest Baptist School; Jayla Motley-Brown, 7th grade, Hillcrest Baptist School; Taliah Beasley, 6th grade, John M. Tutt Middle School; Nadiyah Buccanan, 5th grade Deer Chase Elementary.
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8 • Augusta Family | February 2012
To Your Health Enter to win one of two gift certificates from HFM Medi Spa. One lucky winner will receive a gift certificate for $25 off a weight-loss program and another will win a certificate for $25 off a massage.
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Party on Wheels Win a weekday party package from Rolling Video Games (Mon-Thurs). Two hours with a game coach, tons of game choices, game stations and vibration-rocking stadium seating— all in their self-powered game truck and trailer.
news notes
Aiken Opening The all-new Family Y of Aiken County held its Grand Opening Celebration on Saturday, January 142. More than 4,500 visitors enjoyed tours, lunch and family-friendly activities and demonstrations. The new facility is located at 621 Trolley Line Road in Aiken. For more information, visit thefamilyy.org.
Safe Kids Fast Fact
Head injuries are the leading cause of death and injury associated with wheeled sports and the most important determining factor in permanent disability. However, when properly worn, helmets have been shown to prevent head injuries by 85 percent and brain injuries by 88 percent. Please make sure your children wear the appropriate helmets and other protective equipment during wheeled sports activities, including cycling, skating and the like. Information provided by: Safe Kids East Central, led by Georgia Health Sciences Children’s Medical Center, Rene Hopkins, RN, Coordinator, 706-721-7606. Read the full article on toy safety at www.augustafamily.com. www.augustafamily.com
Augusta Family | February 2012 • 9
10 • February 2012 | Augusta Family
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American Heart Month
eating well with kim by Kim Beavers, MS, RD, LD, CDE
The Mediterranean Diet Is Healthy, Delicious
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ost of us have calendars—personal calendars, school calendars, activity calendars and, yes, there is even a health calendar. February is American Heart Month on the health calendar. This is the time when we (healthcare professionals) try to raise awareness about heart disease and, in my mind, heart-disease prevention. That is the wonderful thing about food and family. As moms, we have the chance to shape the food habits of our children. This is a tough task at times—but it matters. Balanced eating leads to a healthier life for the kiddos AND the family as a whole. There are many recommendations for heart-healthy eating, but so far my all-time favorite is the Mediterranean Diet. I like it because it focuses on good wholesome food, seasoned well. Delicious!
Basics of the Mediterranean Diet The term Mediterranean Diet is based on a large epidemiological study of men living in Crete in the 1950s. The basic diet consisted of the following: • Significant amounts of olive oil, olives, vegetables (especially greens), fish, fruits and nuts. • Moderate amounts of wine and cheese. • Small amounts of meat, milk and eggs. • Snacks were commonly figs and walnuts. Keep in mind this was rural Crete, where farming is common and you grow your own (and many times forage for) food/greens (i.e. an active lifestyles). While we do not live in rural Crete, we can add many Mediterranean principals to our diet. Here are some suggestions to get you started: • Limit use of processed foods. Use simple, fresh foods. • Eat more fruits and vegetables. Many take less than 30 seconds to prepare, rinse and eat. Apples, pears, plums, berries, celery, radishes, cucumbers, carrots and greens all fall into the quick preparation category. • Select vegetables you can bake or steam—a simple cooking method equals quick cooking. Potatoes, cauliflower, broccoli, asparagus and spinach top my list. Many of these taste good cold (think lunch for work the next day). • Season foods with olive oil and lemon or vinegar and a little salt/pepper. For example: broccoli steamed w/a squeeze of lemon juice and tossed with 1-2 teaspoons olive oil. Or a plate of tomatoes and avocados sliced and topped with olive oil, lemon, rosemary, salt and pepper. • Include lots of fresh (or dried) herbs as well. This decreases the need for lots of salt. Olive oil is a healthy fat, but it is a fat and high in calories. Most of us are not as active as the farmers of rural Crete, so use a moderate hand when adding olive oil to your delicious fresh foods. Until Next Tme: Eat Well, Live Well!
Health Heart Events Get started improving your family’s heart health by participating in some of University Hospital’s Heart Month events. Cardio on the Canal, February 4, 10 a.m., at the Salvation Army Kroc Center. Activities include but are not limited to: • Catch the Cardiologist. A 100-yard dash for kids 4 and under. • 10:30 a.m. One-mile fun run for kids aged 5-10. • 11 a.m. All-ages two-mile family walk. Healthy U Cooking Expo, February 15, from 10 a.m.–noon, at the Salvation Army Kroc Center. Learn more about eating for your heart and sample some delicious food.
Baked Fish With Mediterranean Sauce The sauce is delicious and would work equally well with chicken. Kim’s note: To easily cut stewed tomatoes, pour the can into a medium bowl and cut them with your kitchen sheers right in the bowl. That way the only mess to clean up is one bowl. 2 teaspoon olive oil 1 cup chopped onion 2 teaspoon garlic, minced ¼ cup dry white wine 1 14.5-ounce can stewed tomatoes (chopped, undrained) ½ teaspoon dried oregano
1 14-ounce can quartered artichoke hearts (packed in water) ¼ teaspoon salt ¼ teaspoon pepper 24 ounces firm white fish (halibut, mahi-mahi, cod) ¼ cup black olives, chopped (optional garnish)
Preheat oven to 350. Coat nonstick pan with cooking spray and add olive oil. Heat oil over medium-high heat, add onion and garlic, cook until soft and translucent, 3-5 minutes. Add wine. Stir in tomatoes, oregano and artichokes. Mix well and simmer for
about 5 minutes. Spray a baking dish with cooking spray. Arrange fish in baking pan. Sprinkle fish with salt and pepper. Top the fish evenly with sauce. Bake 12-15 minutes, until fish flakes with a fork. Sprinkle with olives before serving.
Yield: 6 servings Nutrient Breakdown: Calories 200; Fat 5g (0.5g saturated, 2.5 g monounsaturated, 500mg Omega-3); Cholesterol 35mg; Sodium 460 mg; Carbohydrate 9g; Fiber 1g; Protein 26g; Potassium 553mg; Phosphorus 261mg Percent Daily Value: 10% Vitamin A, 20% Vitamin C, 10% Iron, 8% Calcium Carbohydrate Choices: 1 Carbohydrate Diabetes Exchanges: 1 ½ Vegetable, 3 Very lean meats
Kim Beavers is a Registered Dietitian and Diabetes Educator for University Health Care System. She lives in North Augusta with her husband and two children and she is the cohost of the culinary nutrition segment Eating Well with Kim, which airs at noon Monday, Wednesday and Friday on WRDW. To join the recipe club or view recipes, visit www. universityhealth.org ewwk. You can also watch the segments at www.wrdw.com/ewwk.
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Augusta Family | February 2012 • 11
}Doctor/Dad
by J. Ron Eaker, M.D.
The “I Want To Inject a Pregnancy Hormone” Diet
“I feel about airplanes the way I feel about diets. It seems to me that they are wonderful things for other people to go on.” —Jean Kerr
L
ose a pound a day! New weight-loss phenomenon burns fat while you sleep! Eat your way to weight loss! The new mustard diet works miracles! Eat 30,000 calories a day and lose weight! We have all heard the maniacal rantings of the carnival barker—advertisers lulling you into a gullible stupor like the Siren’s call of ancient mythology. Nowhere is the P.T. Barnum quote, “There is a sucker born every minute,” more applicable than in the billion-dollar business of weight loss. Quick, easy weight loss has become the holy grail of aspiring snake oil salesmen ever since Americans lost the battle of the stomach bulge. With almost two-thirds of adults overweight and an alarming 30 percent of kids busting out of their designer jeans, it is no wonder that the diet de jour is the darling of Madison Avenue. The most recent promise of no fault, no effort and no cares weight loss is the hCG diet. A scrutiny of this latest craze serves as a template for assessing what’s generally bogus about all quick-fix diets. So with expectations and intentions of making some of you really mad (especially those who are selling the myth), let me detail why this and other fad diets are neither effective long term nor predictable in their results and, more importantly, how some of these diets can actually hurt you.
What’s hCG? hCG stands for human chorionic gonadotrophin, a hormone produced predominately during pregnancy. In fact, it is the hormone that is measured to determine if that little strip turns color in most overthe-counter pregnancy tests.
In the 1950s a physician, Dr. A.T.W. Simeons, made the claim that hCG could simultaneously suppress the appetite and help the body burn more fat. Wow! If you were designing a perfect drug for weight loss that is exactly what it would be (maybe making you 10 years younger would help also). The only drawback was that it wasn’t true. He used hCG injections and placed his subjects on a 500-calorie-a-day diet. Indeed they lost weight, but Jabba the Hutt would lose weight on 500 calories a day.
How They Say It Works The promoters of the diet state that the hCG allows subjects to eat this starvation diet and feel minimal hunger pains while promoting fat burning. Unfortunately I found 16 other published, valid studies that showed it was no more effective than a placebo at accomplishing these wondrous effects, and I could have read many more as the negative scientific evidence surrounding this diet is both voluminous and consistent. The Food and Drug Administration said it best way back in 1975 when it stated: “hCG has not been demonstrated to be effective adjunctive therapy in the treatment of obesity. There is no substantial evidence that it increases weight loss beyond that resulting from caloric restriction, that it causes a more attractive or ‘normal’ distribution of fat or that it decreases the hunger and discomfort associated with calorie-restricted diets.” Now I realize some of you folks may feel the the FDA is ganging up on and suppressing a miracle drug, but as recently as 2009 the American Society of Bariatric Physicians, an international group of doctors who specialize in weight loss, issued the following statement: “Numerous clinical trials have shown hCG to be ineffectual in producing weight loss. The diet used in the Simeons method provides a lower protein inwww.augustafamily.com
take than is advisable in view of current knowledge and practice. There are few medical literature reports favorable to the Simeons method; the overwhelming majority of medical reports are critical of it. Physicians employing either the hCG or the diet recommended by Simeons may expose themselves to criticism from other physicians, from insurers or from government bodies.” Not exactly a glowing recommendation! What makes the hCG diet especially egregious is the distortion surrounding how the hCG is administered. The use of injectable hCG requires a prescription and physician supervision, yet a quick Google search reveals hCG supposedly available over-thecounter in drops, troches, pills, sublingual tablets, liquids, sprays, pellets and even a homeopathic concoction. I was especially taken aback by the variety of homeopathic mixtures, as homeopathy is based on providing such a dilute solution of a substance to the point of there being virtually none of the active ingredient present. Nothing like a special weight loss product that contains none of the “special” ingredient! A rational person can look at the science behind any medical treatment and assess its effectiveness. Therefore, a rational person can only conclude from the abundance of scientific evidence that the hCG diet is one of a long line of ineffective, misleading and potentially harmful approaches to weight management. Let’s face it everyone, the only thing that works long term is taking less in and burning more off. Dr. Eaker is an Augusta Ob/ GYN and author. He and his wife, Susan, have two teenage daughters.
Augusta Family | February 2012 • 13
healthyfamily}
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by Cammie Jones
Alternative Medicine for Kids?
lternative medicine is a hot topic in the medical world right now. I can’t pick up a paper or watch a news program without some type of breaking medical news incorporating the word “alternative” into the lingo. What does it mean? What are some ways we can treat our children using unconventional methods? What is safe and what is not?
Alternative or Integrative? Dr. Robert Pendergrast, associate professor of pediatrics at Georgia Health Sciences University (GHSU), director of adolescent medicine and pediatric mind-body medicine and owner of AikenAugusta Holistic Health in North Augusta, says that he does not like to use the term “alternative medicine” and would rather use “integrative medicine” to describe his philosophy. There is a sense of polarization in the community between people who believe mainstream medicine is bad for them versus those who think that of alternative medicine. “What we really want is good medicine,” he says. “Wherever it came from, if it works and is safe, use it.” Pennie Sempell, integrative medicine specialist and author of the Healthier Happier Life Skills Series (www.healthierhappierlife.com), agrees alternative medicine and integrative medicine are not synonymous. “Alternative medicine commonly refers to a wide range of practices that are used instead of Western medicine treatments or medications,” she says. “Integrative medicine refers to approaches that are used together with, or in coordination with, Western medical approaches.” For example, she says, a child may be taught a self-coping skill, such as relaxation training or an acupuncture point to hold when initially experiencing an asthma attack. If that approach is not effective, then a pharmaceutical approach is taken. “Typically the doctor and the parent are in communication and agreement on the approach,” she adds. The idea of integrative medicine is how we in14 • Augusta Family | February 2012
corporate the best of all treatments in the solution, says Dr. Pendergrast. As Americans, we have a bias against medical practices that are not of the mainstream, Western-based world that we didn’t invent, even if they work and are safe. Acupuncture is an example of a safe treatment for postoperative nausea and vomiting that is effective, although it is treatment we did not invent. “Much of what we do in pediatrics could be considered integrative,” says Augusta Pediatrician Dr. Douglas Nesbit. “All pediatricians have ‘non-medical’ treatments for a host of common complaints that aid or seem to aid healing and symptoms.” Sometimes a hot shower or cold night air for croup does the trick. Honey is effective for some types of cough and safer and cheaper than some over-the-counter cold medicines.
Use the Best Treatment for the Symptoms When children have significant illnesses with treatments that have been proven to work, forgoing or compromising these treatments with unproven CAM (Complementary and Alternative Medicine) is both dangerous and wrong, according to Dr. Nesbit. For example, honey and pushing fluids are used to treat a common cold but not in an infant who could be at risk for botulism from eating the honey. Dr. Nesbit cautions that integrative medicine or CAM is one type of medicine where there has not been much research. “In pediatrics, there is even less research into CAM than in adult medicine, so we have less solid knowledge,” he says. “In addition, children can be more fragile than adults and often are not the primary decision makers in their own care, which can complicate matters more.” Dr. Pendergrast says to use common sense when approaching natural medicines and not throw out important Western treatments such as immunizations and vaccinations. Dr. Nesbit says he believes vaccines are one of www.augustafamily.com
the largest public health advances in history and have saved millions of lives. With this said, Dr. Pendergrast adds that it is important to be suspicious of medicines and prescriptions that we are so quick to write. If you tip the balance in favor of the child, the child may get well on his own using natural means, he says. This is where the mind-body approach comes in—using hypnosis, nutrition, exercise, massage and some herbal remedies to treat illnesses.
The Mind-Body Approach “Children have an enormous capacity to learn self-coping skills to reduce stress and anxiety, improve sleep hygiene, increase exercise, improve diet and make other lifestyle changes that support the body’s natural healing system,” says Sempell. Dr. Pendergrast started a program at GHSU called the Pediatric Mind-Body Clinic to see if he could help alleviate children’s pain where conventional medicines weren’t working. “It is great to work with kids’ imaginations and to help them get to that ‘happy place’ where pain does not exist,” he says. For example, a child goes to the emergency room with a broken arm and the doctor talks to him about concentrating on where he would much rather be than in the hospital. The child uses mental imagery to help ease the pain. To ensure the safety of these integrative approaches to healing, Sempell suggests that parent first research the efficacy of the approach and discuss it with their healthcare provider. She says that open communication between the parent and the doctor is essential when dealing with children to avoid potential problems. She also suggests avoiding any approach that is invasive or untested in rigorous clinical trials as they may potentially be unsafe. Dr. Nesbit agrees and suggests that if you are thinking of using the integrative approach to healthcare to talk with your doctor to make sure that it will “first, do no harm.” Even if your phy-
sician is not familiar with the therapy, they can certainly give you a medically informed opinion, according to Dr. Nesbit. “The primary benefit of many integrative approaches to care is decreased stress, improved immune functioning and better self-responsibility and empowerment in one’s health,” says Sempell. When used in addition to or in coordination with conventional medications and treatments, integrative medicine can be extremely effective and successful.
Integrative Treatments for Children Massage Integrative medicine includes using massage in children, especially for babies in the NICU. It has been proven that premature babies who get a regular massage in the hospital grow at a more accelerated rate, gain weight more quickly and thus, leave the NICU faster. “Is there a place for massage in pediatrics?” says Dr. Pendergrast. “Yes.”
Nutrition Not really seen as an alternative treatment, nutrition does play a large part in preventing and controlling ailments. Eczema is an example of a skin condition that can be controlled, in part, by eating anti-inflammatory foods. “Pediatricians have known for years the importance of vitamin and mineral deficiencies and other nutrition-related components of health and we keep improving our knowledge with better research,” says Dr. Nesbit.
Herbal Medications Herbs and botanical means of treating children is a little tougher. There have not been many studies on children. The results of adult studies, in reality, cannot be applied to children since children are not just small adults. There are some exceptions, according to Dr. Pendergrast, and one is chamomile tea. “This is an herb used for centuries to help with tummy aches, colicky babies, sleep issues and anxiety,” he says. “I do recommend this.”
Chiropractic Dr. Pendergrast cautions about using chiropractic means for younger children but says it is okay for older children and teenagers. Dr. Gregg Stern, D.C., DACCP, of Stern Chiropractic, Ltd., says, “First and foremost, when performed by a properly trained chiropractor, pediatric chiropractic care is very safe.” He says that the nerve system is the master control system of the body and that interferences with the nerve system (subluxation) will interfere with the proper function of the body. “Chiropractic care will help to ‘flick the fuses,’ turning the power back on and allowing the body to heal and perform at higher levels,” he adds.
Neti Pots For children with chronic allergies or nasal symptoms, the use of the Neti pot is very effective, according to Dr. Pendergrast. Basically, the teapot-like structure is used to thin mucous and flush it out of the nasal passages using a saline rinse. It has become popular recently but has been around for centuries. Cammie Jones is an Augusta freelance writer and mother of three. www.augustafamily.com
Augusta Family | February 2012 • 15
homefront }
by Jessica Fisher
Simple Celebrations
Taking the Hype Out of Birthday Parties
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ecently I read about parents who spend thousands of dollars on their children’s birthday parties. Llamas, helicopter rides, visits from sports celebrities or other extreme celebrations are things that neither I nor my bank account can muster. With five kids, we’d be in the poor house pretty quickly. And then, what would they expect for graduations and weddings?! But economics aside, it’s still pretty easy for me to get carried away, even if it’s only my time and effort (and that of my loved ones) that it costs me. Like the time I couldn’t find a dragon piñata for my son’s Knight in Shining Armor party? After hunting in every store in town, I stayed up late one night, gluing hundreds of tissue paper scales onto a long-necked dinosaur while my husband spray painted cardboard wings with real 14K gold. Yes, it was beautiful, but then they hacked it up with a stick. And then there was the time I spent an entire day preparing a four-car train cake with buttercream frosting made from scratch. Or how about the time when my mother (God bless 16 • Augusta Family | February 2012
her!) spent hours bent over the sewing machine, transforming an old black-and-white striped blanket into a dozen pirate shirts for the bold young men coming to walk the plank. Shiver me timbers! No wonder my husband starts to get a little nervous when a birthday approaches. So I proclaim, “Let’s get back to basics!” (And my husband heaves a great sigh of relief!) A birthday is a celebration of a child’s life. But it is not license to do it up as big as possible, no matter the cost to pocketbook, calendar and family sanity. Let’s simplify birthday celebrations and bring joy back to parents, kids and guests.
Choose a Theme, but Don’t Go Overboard
Supplement with solid color plates and cups, which are infinitely less expensive and a little more restful to the senses. Though life-size cutouts and inflatable critters are fun, they are not necessary to life. A few streamers and balloons will make things festive. Let’s face it— the kids probably won’t notice anyway.
You Don’t Have To Feed the Masses In the old days a birthday party included cake, punch and ice cream. Set a new trend by serving classic refreshments. Make sure to choose a time when a meal won’t be expected, like mid-morning or after lunch. Note in the invitations that “cake and ice cream will be served,” so no child comes famished and expecting a full meal.
Serve a Cute Cake If your kid is crazy about Dora, Bob or the Movie Character of the Week, feel free to buy a few napkins or a cute disposable tablecloth. But you don’t have to purchase everything that Hallmark makes. www.augustafamily.com
A cake decorating class is not necessary to bake someone happy. And neither is an elaborate and expensive bakery dessert. Don’t even think of baking it from scratch or making that butter-
cream! (Trust me on this one.) A decorated sheet cake from the grocer’s bakery is pretty inexpensive these days. Peruse their catalog—often they feature character cakes that any kid will love. It’s also super easy to make one of your own. A few bucks will buy you a mix and canned frosting. Choose a few small toys that match your theme to use as cake toppers and wash and dry them well. I love to raid my kids’ stash of Playmobil. Once the cake is baked and cooled, craft a scene for the toys with frosting and assorted candies. Candy rocks and pull-apart licorice are great accents. Use your imagination and be sure to let the birthday kid help. Set the toys in place and you’ll have a cute and simple cake ready to go.
nuts. Decide on how many before you talk about who to include. Consider varying the type of guest list each year. You might invite three families for a barbecue one year and have a multi-age celebration. Have five kids from the soccer team the next year. Maybe another year the birthday kid can invite a buddy for a sleepover or a trip to the amusement park. Be tactful, however, and don’t broadcast the party details to those whose feelings might get hurt. Likewise, when your child doesn’t get invited to a friend’s party, remind him that it doesn’t have to be viewed as an affront. We can’t be all places all the time.
Limit Your Guest List
Watch the Clock
Help your child recognize that we can have many friends, but we don’t need to invite them all to every event. THAT is a hard thing to learn. Remember creating the guest list for your wedding? Don’t be guilt-tripped into thinking that you absolutely have to invite every kid you cross paths with. You’ll drive yourself and your child
Two to three hours is a great amount of time for a party. You don’t need to sign on for an all-day shindig. You’ll find that the time will go quickly. Consider dividing the party into chunks of time featuring play, refreshments, piñata and gifts. Having guests depart while they’re still enjoying themselves is a much better alternative to meltdown endings.
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Let the Kids Play Resist the urge to fill every minute with games and activities. Some of our best parties have been when the kids just had plenty of room to run around outside. If your yard can’t swing it, consider a party at the park. Talk to your child beforehand about what things he thinks his guests would enjoy and have some organized games as backup. Feel free to let kids be kids. Provide supervision. Let them enjoy one another’s company. If you plan a simple party, you may not be the talk of the town, but you’re sure to have some energy left by the time it starts, let alone when it ends. Your child and her friends will enjoy some simple fun and the day will be filled with laughter, love and lots of good company. Let the festivities begin! Jessica Fisher is a wife, mother and freelance writer. She is also group activity leader for her husband and six kids.
Augusta Family | February 2012 • 17
Party Time!
18 • Augusta Family | September 2010
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PhotoS by ChRIS THELEN
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ooking to go beyond balloons and cake for your child’s next party, but don’t want a bevy of clowns in your kitchen or ponies clomping across your petunias? Never fear. The CSRA abounds with businesses that can put on a birthday bash with panache. Let the professionals handle the details (and clean up the mess) while you enjoy your child’s special day.
Move and Groove! Adventure Crossing 4350 Wheeler Rd., Martinez 706-863-3087 • www.adventure-crossing.com Packages start at $159.90 plus tax for the first 10 children, minimum; $13.99 each for additional party participant. Includes: • Private party room for one hour. • Pizza or hot dogs/fries. • Drinks. • Paper products and basic decorations. • Party set-up and party guide. • Indoor and outdoor entertainment activities: Gocarts for ages 5-75, midway rides, 36 holes of mini20 • Augusta Family | February 2012
By Lucy Adams golf or batting cages. Play inside their 6,210-squarefoot Lasertron laser tag area and an arcade of fun.
Augusta Jewish Community Center
898 Weinberger Way, Evans 706-228-3636 • www.augustajcc.org Rent a banquet room starting at $300 for 6+ hours, the pool for $225 for 2 hours ($75 for each additional hour) or the entire facility, including tennis courts, baseball and soccer fields and the basketball court, for $1,500 for 10 hours. Pool rental and entire facility rental includes two lifeguards for up to 25 swimmers. Additional lifeguards are required, at $15 per hour, for greater than 25 swimmers.
Bouncy Bratz
226 Eastgate Dr., Aiken www.augustafamily.com
803-642-8200 • www.bouncybratz.com Choose a party package to suit your needs. Bouncy Bratz accommodates both semi-private and private parties. Prices start at $149, Monday through Thursday; $189 for Friday through Sunday. Up to 3 additional children may be added to each package for $10 each. Parents bring the cake. Private Parties Include: • Invitations. • Goody bags. • 1 ½ hours of bouncing fun. • Paper products. • Pizza, drinks & ice cream. • Private room (maximum capacity is 32 children). Note: If you would rather host your party at home, rent an inflatable for $150.
Jump City
4446 Washington Rd., Suite 7, Evans 706-262-4653 www.jumpcity.us or www.augustamoonwalks.com Exciting new party packages coming in 2012! Call or visit their Web site for information.
Jumpin’ Beans Inflatables
Family Adventure Center Parties Include: • Rock-climbing wall. • Inflatable fun. • Tumbling area fun. • Two party assistants. • Invitations.
Basic Party Includes: • Unlimited play. • 1 hour in the party room. • Party attendant. • Pizza and drinks. •Paper products. •Picture of the birthday child in the birthday chair.
INDOOR POOL PARTIES/SUMMER WATER PARK PARTIES INCLUDE: • Invitations. • Pool time/party time in private room. • Lifeguards. Fees for two-hour non-private pool parties are $200 for members, $250 for non-members. Fees for private indoor pool parties are $250 for members, $300 for non-members. Outdoor water park parties are seasonal and with non-private party rates of $250 for members and $300 for non-members. Private parties in the water park are $300 for members and $350 for non-members. Prices are for 21 children and each additional child is $5. Parent supplies cake and ice cream.
Monkey Joe’s
Marshall Family Y
1746 Knox Ave., N. Augusta 706-560-0594 • http://jumpinbeans.tripod.com A variety of party packages for children ages 5+. Call for pricing. Parents bring the cake and ice cream. Jumpin’ Beans will also bring the party to you with inflatables, moonwalks and more. Call for pricing.
368 Furys Ferry Rd., Suite 2 706-922-JUMP(5867) • www.monkeyjoes.com Choose from a theme or standard party package accommodating up to 24 children ages 12 and under. Parties start at $294. Additional guests over 24 are $9 each. Includes: • 2 hours in a private party suite. • Dedicated party pro. • Drinks. • Paper products. • Invitations. • Gift for the birthday child. • Pizza and ice cream can be purchased. • Bring your own cake. • Socks are required.
The Family Y Wilson Branch
3570 Wheeler Rd. 706-922-9656 • www.thefamilyy.org Fees for two-hour Clubhouse or Family Adventure Center Parties are $200 for members, $250 for nonmembers for up to 21 children. Additional children are $5 each. Parent supplies cake and ice cream. Clubhouse Parties with Play in the TwoStory Tree house Include: • Birthday games upon request. • Inflatable fun. • Two party assistants. • Invitations.
1202 Town Park Lane, Evans 706-364-3269 Children ages 3-12 can have a birthday party at the Marshall Family Y. Younger kids will enjoy the soft-play room. Older kids will like the Kids Club House stocked with video games and a foosball table. Members pay $100 for 2 hours of fun with 1-25 guests. Non-members pay $125. A $25 deposit holds the party date. Parents supply cake, food and games if desired. Parties Include: • Two attendants to help set up, clean up and supervise. •A separate room for food presents and cake. •A t-shirt for the birthday child.
Family Y of Aiken County
690 Medical Park Dr., Aiken 803-349-8080 Indoor parties are available on Saturdays and Sundays for children ages 2+. Younger children will enjoy the soft-play room. Children ages 5+ will want to party in the game room with X-box system, karaoke, art station and more. Invite 1-20 guests for a 2-hour party. Members pay $125; non-members pay $175. Pay $5 for each additional guest. Outdoor parties in the water park, available seasonally, include 1 hour of water park play and 1 hour in the party room for 1-20 guests. Members pay $250 and non-members pay $300.
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Whether celebrating indoors or out, parents supply cake, food and drinks. Every child receives a helium balloon. Either party can be customized with add-ons. Call for details.
Kroc Center
1833 Broad St. 706-922-1527 • www.krocaugusta.org Party like a Kroc star in the gym or the indoor pool. Party packages start at $225 for 2 hours for up to 20 guests. Each additional guest is $5. Al la carte options for an additional charge include food, beverage, themed packages, balloons and extra space. All Parties Include: • A party master. • Party room. • T-shirt for birthday child. • 20 invitations. • Paper products. • Lemonade. • Cake or cupcakes and ice cream.
Space Walk of Augusta
706-405-4577 • spacewalkaga@herecomesfun.com www.herecomesfun.com Let them bring the party to you with many inflatables to choose from. Call for party information and pricing.
Horse Around! Canterbury Trails
5581 Wrightsboro Rd., Grovetown 706-556-1287 • www.canterburytrails.org Basic parties are 2 hours long for 15 children, $5 for each additional child, and begin with a hayride to the exotic animal zoo. Packages range from $300-$350. Includes: • Invitations. • Paper products. • Pizza, beverages and cake. • Other options are available for additional fees including—Miniature horses, Shetland ponies, quarter horses, mule and covered wagon rides.
Hilltop Riding Stables
N. Range Rd., Building 508, Fort Gordon 706-791-4864 • www.fortgordon.com Call for party fees. Parent provides cake, food and drinks. Includes: • Four ponies on a carousel for one hour (for ages 6
Augusta Family | February 2012 • 21
Our Guide To Party Places Throughout the CSRA and under) or four one-hour guided trail rides (for ages 7 and up). • Tablecloths. • Balloons and streamers. • Additional horses are available for additional fees. • Party room. • Picnic areas, some with grills.
Make and Create! Build-A-Bear Workshop
Augusta Mall, 3450 Wrightsboro Rd. 706-736-0895 • www.buildabear.com Each guest makes his or her own stuffed animal friend. Party pricing starts at $10 per guest. Six guest minimum. The party leader makes sure kids have fun while staying within your pre-set budget. Parties last 1-1½ hours. Includes: • A party leader. • Party photo. • Gift for guest of honor. • Party favor for each guest. • A virtual party room for your Cub Condo house at buildabearville.com, complete with beary special gifts to share with friends. • Printable invitations and thank you cards. • Party favor for each guest.
Kroc Center
1833 Broad Street, Augusta 706-922-1527 • www.krocaugusta.org Party like a Kroc star cooking up goodies in the kitchen (ages 12+) or creating works of art (ages 6+). At Master Chef parties, kids can choose to prepare one of several tasty menus. At a Little Da Vinci party, the birthday child and guests can create a masterpiece on canvas, paint a piece of pottery, fashion jewelry or sculpt with clay. Party packages start at $225 for 2 hours for up to 20 guests. Each additional guest is $5. Al la carte options for an additional charge include food, beverage, themed packages, balloons and extra space. All Parties Include: • A party master. • T-shirt for birthday child. • 20 invitations. • Paper products. • Lemonade. • Cake or cupcakes and ice cream.
Neapolitan Cupcake & Gift Shoppe 106 Pleasant Home Rd., Le PavilionShopping Center 126 Lauren St., NW, Aiken 706-814-8959 (Augusta) or 803-514-4240 (Aiken) http://neapolitangifts.com Birthday party guests decorate their own cupcakes and play games. Parties last 60-90 minutes for a minimum of 6 children at $30 per child. Sundays only. 22 • Augusta Family | February 2012
Parties Include: • Cupcake-themed invitations. • Jumbo vanilla, strawberry or chocolate cupcake—one per child. • Frosting, decorating supplies and garnishes. • Capri Sun or chocolate milk for each guest. • Two themed games facilitated by NCS. • One “smash cake” birthday cupcake for the birthday child. • Party favor for each child.
Parties are held on Saturdays from 10 a.m.-noon. $150 fee includes admission for up to 20 swimmers.
Play and Pretend!
78 Milledge Rd. 706-736-7889 • www.greenjacketsbaseball.com Watch the game and celebrate together. Packages for 15 tickets to a scheduled game are $240 for general admission and $255 for reserved seating. Add $1 per guest on all fireworks nights. Season starts in mid-April.
Tea With a Dutchess
1403 Monte Sano Ave., Augusta 706-294-9626 • www.teadutchess.com Little girls will love any one of the four themed party packages: American Girl® Birthday Tea, Secret Garden Tea, Fairy Princess Tea and Alice in Wonderland Tea. Rates start at $250 for a party of eight and $20 for each additional guest for 1½ hours. All Parties Include: • Private tea room. • Delectable morsels fit for a dutchess. • Use of the store’s birthday hats and feather boas. • Beautifully decorated tables with centerpiece and china. • Favors for the guests. • Theme-related face painting, craft and story.
Children Parties Go LIVE 706-394-7782 • www.partiesgolive.com Specializing in children’s birthday parties, they bring the fun to your chosen location. From live characters to theme parties to princess and pirate parties, all of the entertainment is provided. Call or visit the web site for party details and prices.
Get in the Game! AMF Masters Lane Bowling Center
Includes: • Party room. • Beverages. • Paper products. • Goodie bags. • Display board message for birthday child.
Augusta GreenJackets
Includes: • 15 tickets to a scheduled game. • 15 Augusta GreenJackets Hats. • 15 food vouchers (good for hot dog, popcorn and soda). • Special Gift from the Augusta GreenJackets. • Free Admission to the Fun Zone. • Birthday Welcome over the PA system and Scoreboard. • 15 invitations to invite all your friends to the game!
Augusta Ice Sports Center
1249 Augusta West Pkwy. 706-955-5945 • www.augustaicesports.com The “coolest” party place in town. Two-hour skating parties cost $90 for up to 10 guests, $145 for up to 20 guests and $225 for up to 30 guests. Additional guests are $10 each. Schedule the party during any public skate session. Includes: • Party room. • Choice of hot dogs or pizza with soft drink. • Paper products. • Bring cake, ice cream and decorations.
1810 Gordon Hwy. 706-733-3624 • www.amf.com/masterslanes From food to activities, they take care of everything for you. Bumper bowling for younger children and Xtreme bowling for older kids. Call for party package pricing.
Augusta RiverHawks
Includes: • Food and drinks. • Goodie bags. • Invitations. • Bowling balls and shoes. • Some packages include souvenir bowling pin for guests to sign for the birthday child. • Bring cake.
Group Benefits Include: • Block seating. • Discounted tickets. • PA welcome during the game. • Food, merchandise and party area options.
Augusta Aquatics Center 3157 Damascus Rd. 706-261-0424
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601 7th Street, Augusta 706-993-2645 • www.augustariverhawks.com Bring out a group of 10 or more to a RiverHawks game and save. Let them custom-design a birthday party for your hockey lover.
Brunwsick National Lanes
3067 Washington Rd. 706-860-1668 • www.bowlbrunswick.com Bowling, video games and pizza in a smoke-free environment. Choose either the Party Kidz package for $14.99 per person or the Mega Part Kidz package for $18.99 per
Our Guide To Party Places Throughout the CSRA person. Minimum group size is 5 for 2 hours of fun. Both Parties Include: • Party attendant. • Shoes and balls. • Pizza and soft drinks. • Balloon bouquet. • Paper goods. • Bowling pin sipper bottle for the birthday child.
Gymnastics Gold
124 Cedar Lane 706-650-2111 • www.gymnasticsgold.com Party packages for up to 20 children are $150 for members, $175 for non-members. Additional fees for additional children. Parties are held Friday nights and Saturdays. Two trained instructors supervise. Includes: • Age-appropriate games. • A variety of gymnastics equipment. • Party area. • Punch. • Balloons. • Invitations. • T-shirt for birthday child. • Cleanup.
Hayden’s International Gymnastics
4300 Evans to Lock Rd. 706-868-0608 • www.haydensgym.com The Hayden’s birthday experience for up to 10 friends, not including the birthday child, begins with games in the gym, followed by an obstacle course and time on the trampoline and in the pit. Trained coaches supervise. Parties last 90 minutes for $175. Additional half hour of gym time can be scheduled for $50. Parent supplies food and cake. Pay $4 for each guest over 10.
Premiere Martial Arts
401 West Martintown Rd., North Augusta 803-640-8443 • www.hensleypma.com Be a black belt for the day. Parties start at $99 (plus $25 for the teacher) for the basic option and $299 for the Premierre party option. INCLUDES: • 30 minutes martial arts class. • Games. • Martial Arts instructor (plus a party host for the Premiere party). • Premiere party includes decorations, cake, pizza, drinks and cleanup.
Putt-Putt Fun Center
3763 Martinez Blvd., Martinez 706-868-0083 • http://puttputt.com Welcome to the party zone. Party package #1 costs $9.99 per person, 10-person minimum. Party package #2 offers unlimited fun for $14.99 per person.
Both Packages Include: • Party room. • One attraction. • Cake or Dippin’ Dots ice cream or a birthday cake. • Soft drinks. • Paper products. • Invitations. • Gift for the birthday child •Game tokens. • Group photo. • A trained party captain. • Private party room.
Red Wing Rollerway
3065 Washington Rd. 706-860-1548 • www.redwingrollerway.net Open-session parties start at $195 for up to 10 guests and two-hour private parties are $295 for up to 20 guests. The birthday child participates for free in both packages and additional guests are $7 each. Includes: • DJ. • Games. • Skates. • Invitations. • Balloons. • Soft drink, hot dogs, chips and cake. • Paper products. • T-shirt for birthday child.
Rolling Video Games
706-830-4389 • http://RollingVideoGames.com Email: rvgaugusta@aol.com They set up, entertain and clean up! Packages start at $199 for a one-hour party with the Game Coach. A two-hour party with the Game Coach, 30 full color invitations and cake is $299 and a two-hour party with the Game Coach MondayThursday is $225. Rolling Video Games also offers events, tournaments, fundraisers, festivals and more. Includes: • Tons of game choices available. • A Game Coach who serves as an on-site tech that assists with playing the games and encourages fun and balanced play for guests. • Game Truck and trailer come rain or shine. A fairly level area is needed to park their truck or trailer, which are self-powered. • Game Truck and trailer are equipped with Xbox 360 stations, Wii stations and PS3stations, allowing 16 gamers to game at once or separately. • Vibration-rocking stadium seating allows more observers and friends. • Tons of game choices available, including the newest released titles. • A flashing, glowing power necklace medallion www.augustafamily.com
for the guest(s) of honor.
Southern Tang Soo Do Martial Arts Studio
2007 Tobacco Rd. 706-793-6603 • www.stsdkarate.com Two-hour parties cost $195 for up to 12 children. Additional children are $7 each. Parents are welcome to bring food and snacks Includes: • Karate-themed invitations and thank you notes. • Karate uniform for the birthday child. • Martial arts headbands for each child. • A balloon for each child. • Party tables with karate theme. • Paper products. • Cake. • Goodie bags with VIP pass for a free karate class for each participating child.
Eats and Treats! Stevie B’s 212 Bobby Jones Expressway 706-863-2021 • www.stevibs.com The perfect combination of pizza, games and fun. Three party packages to choose from starting at $5.99 per child, with an 8-child minimum. Includes: • All you can eat pizza buffet. • All you can eat salad bar. • All you can eat dessert pizza. • Drinks with unlimited refills. • Balloons on the table. • Game tokens for each child. Chuck E Cheese 3435 Wrightsboro Rd. 706-737-4557 • www.chuckecheese.com Plan a birthday party with pizza and games. On-line party reservation is available as well as e-vites. Choose between the Star package for $11.99 per child and the Super Star package for $16.99 per child. Includes: • Two hours of reserved table space. • Inflatable crown for the birthday child. • Star recognition in the show. • Game tokens for each child. • Free refills on drinks. • Pizza. • Party host or hostess. • Festive tablecloth and plates. Bruster’s Real Ice Cream and Nathan’s Famous 1115 Agerton Lane, Augusta, 706-731-9929 516 North Belair Road, Evans, 706-210-5160 Augusta Family | February 2012 • 23
Our Guide To Party Places Throughout the CSRA www.Brusters.com Outdoor parties during store hours at Bruster’s are $125 for up to 20 people (2 hours). Please inquire about prices for ice cream catering for off-site parties. Packages available for Augusta and Evans locations only. Includes: • Bruster’s ice cream cake. • Nathan’s Famous hot dogs, chips and lemonade. • Balloons. • Paper products. • Set-up and cleanup. • A birthday message on their leaderboard.
Dippin’ Dots
3328 Washington Rd. 706-364-3476 • www.dippindots.com What kid isn’t crazy about hotdogs and ice cream? Schedule a party for 10 or more guests, $5 per person. Parent can supply cake or order a Dippin’ Dots cake for an additional charge. They will even open to host parties before regular store hours upon request. Take home party packs, ranging in price from $55-$110, are available by pre-order. Call for details. Includes: • Hotdog, chips, drink and small Dippin’ Dots for each child. • Party favors. • Reserved table area.
The Pink Dipper
501 Georgia Ave., North Augusta 803-279-4100 Call for information.
Build Their Brains! EdVenture Children’s Museum
211 Gervais St., Columbia 803-400-1151 • www.edventure.org Throw Eddie’s Big Birthday Bash for $175 for members, $195 for non-members for 15 children (2 hours). Additional children are $13 each. All adults are admitted for no additional charge. Parent brings cake and ice cream and other food. Party add-ons available for additional charge. Includes: • Balloon bouquet. • Guided museum exploration. • Party room. • Special birthday ceremony in front of Eddie®. • Professional “Birthday Buddy.” • All-day admission for party guests. • Invitations. • Decorations. 24 • Augusta Family | February 2012
• Paper products. • T-shirt for birthday child. • Bring food, cake and ice cream.
Bricks 4 Kidz
706-513-5789 • http://www.bricks4kidz.com Ninety minutes of non-stop fun tailored to the Lego® theme of your child’s choice. The basic birthday package is $150 for 10 children. Al la carte add-ons available for additional charge. Parties Include: • Party host. • 10 invitations. • 10 thank you cards. • Lots of games & challenges. • Free-play time. • Mini-figure factory (each child creates their own custom mini-figure and takes it home). • Bricks 4 Kidz® t-shirt for birthday child. • Duplo for smaller children.
Adventures Outside! Augusta Canal Interpretive Center
1405 Greene St. 706-823-0440, ext. 2 • www.augustacanal.com Charter a Petersburg boat for up to 49 guests for $300 per boat for one hour, $500 for a threehour trip to the Headgates and back. • Bring refreshments of your choice. • You also can book your party at the Canal’s Interpretive Center.
Kackleberry Farm
1025 Verdree Rd., Louisville, Ga. 407-494-0185 • www.kackleberryfarm.com. Egg-ceptional fun at Kackleberry Farm. Tent rental is $30.00 for two hours. Party guests receive a discounted price of $9.00 a person (cannot use coupon). Guest of honor receives a Kackleberry Kool Kit of fun stuff! Other party options are available depending on the season. They’ll even bring their outdoor mobile laser tag party to your location. Call or visit their Web site for more information.
Steed’s Dairy
4635 Wrightsboro Rd., Grovetown 706-855-2948 • www.steedsdairy.com Birthday party activities on the farm include petting zoo, jumping pillow, giant tube slide, corn kernel pit, tube swings, rubber duckie races and more. The pavilion rents for $100. Cost per person is $4 except during corn maze season when it is $6 per person. Parent brings cake, ice cream and other party supplies.
Phinizy Swamp Nature Park
Off Doug Barnard Parkway 706-828-2109 • www.naturalsciencceacademy. www.augustafamily.com
org/PhinizySwamp.htm. The Pfizer Pavilion is a covered picnic area that can be reserved for a donation of $100 with a $50 refundable deposit. The Pavilion has electricity and nine eight-foot tables with seating for 60-70 guests. Reserve a private tour for an additional fee as part of your party of 10+ guests. Call ahead to reserve the Pavilion or a tour.
Reed Creek Park and Wetlands Interpretive Center
3820 Park Lane, Martinez 706-210-4027 • www.ReedCreekPark.com “Be a Young Naturalist” birthday parties for children ages 5 and up take the party to nature and the great outdoors. Call for more information.
The Family Y
Camp Lakeside, Lake Thurmond 1238 Dogwood Dr., Lincolnton 706-359-2153 • www.camplakeside.org Packages include options like Aqua-Adventure (including swimming, canoeing, and sailing), Nature Exploration (hikes, campfires, archery), or the Combo Package! Call for pricing. Includes: • Three hours of party time. • One hour of swimming/boating time. • Hiking. • Games. • Archery and sports. • Nature programs and more.
Invite Some Characters! Vintage Oolie 1121 Broad Street 706-724-4508 Costumes include a kitty, Teddy bears, bunny rabbits, puppy dogs and more. Rentals start at $50 with a $50 security deposit.
Roll That Clip! Regal Cinemas Augusta 1144 Agerton Lane 706-667-9713 or • www.regmovies.com Looking for something special for a birthday party? Head to the movies at a Regal Cinemas Augusta. Make your birthday child a “Star For A Day” with their own party at the movies. Call for complete information. Party information subject to change. This Party Guide will be archived at www.augustafamily.com.
Fun Time!
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Sweet Treats!
Fun Birthday Treats You Can Decorate With Your Kids Courtesy of Family Features and Wilton
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his year, why not let the birthday boy or girl help you create yummy and ohso-cute birthday treats that are easy and fun? Young stargazers will shoot into space when they make a blast-off snack cake, complete with astronaut and candy flames. Bee-utiful bee-topped cupcakes are sure to bring on quite a buzz, while princess-ready chariot cookies will sweep any minimajesty off her feet. Prepare these treats with your child or make decorating the treats part of their birthday party plans and get their friends involved. Ready to get started? These tips for decorating with kids will help. Note: Special supplies used to create these treats can be purchased online at www.Wilton.com or at local Michaels, Hobby Lobby and Jo Ann stores. Be prepared. Get organized and assemble all the tools and ingredients you’ll need before you start. Keep towels handy for quick and easy cleanup. Keep age in mind. Preschoolers have shorter attention spans and like instant results, while elementary age children can handle more involved tasks. Consider kid-friendly products. The Wilton Kids line offers a variety of fun tools and supplies. Mini pans, vibrant-colored icings and flexible silicone stretchy cutters—no sharp edges—make creating scrumptious sweet treats a cinch. Think sprinkles. Kids of all ages love this go-to decoration. Set out sprinkles in a variety of colors and shapes and let imaginations run wild with creative decorating ideas. Have fun. Turn up some music, take plenty of pictures and enjoy the quality time. Visit www.wilton.com for more kid-approved projects and to order products from the Wilton Kids line.
Blast Off Snack Cake Make several individual cakes to feed a larger crowd. 26 • Augusta Family | February 2012
Top: Colorful snack cakes or cupcakes can inspire the theme of your child’s birthday party. Bottom: Her Majesty’s Chariot uses prepared fondant and cookie dough to please your party princess.
Regular and large spice drops Serves 6 Special equipment: Rocket Mini Pan 1 package (9 ounces) small cake or snack cake mix Ingredients to prepare mix Color-N-Swirl Bright Icing Kit Cornstarch Mini marshmallows Mini candy-coated chocolates Color-N-Swirl Primary Icing Kit www.augustafamily.com
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spray Rocket Mini Pan with vegetable pan spray. Prepare cake mix following package instructions. Pour into prepared pan, filling ⅔ full. Bake 25 to 30 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean; cool in pan 10 minutes. Remove from pan and cool completely. Trim off top and engine detail from cake. Reserve trimmed pieces for another use such as a pudding
topper or for cake balls. With spatula or butter knife, ice smooth using violet tube icing from icing kit. Using round tip and orange tube icing from icing kit, pipe space man face. Pat smooth with finger dipped in cornstarch. Cut marshmallow in half for eyes. With cut sides down, attach to space man face. Pipe pupils and mouth with blue tube icing from icing kit. Attach mini candy-coated chocolates with icing. Using star tip and yellow tube icing from icing kit, pipe star pattern on cake. Cut regular spice drops in half. Attach to cake, cut sides down, with icing. Cut large spice drops into slices to resemble flames. Attach to cake with violet tube icing from icing kit.
They’ll Bee Delicious Cupcakes Each cupcake serves 1 Special equipment: Mega Cupcake Tote, 12-cup Standard Muffin Pan, Create-N-Color Primary Fondant Treat Kit and 9-inch Angled Spatula. Favorite cupcake recipe or cake mix White Ready-To-Use Decorator Icing Cornstarch
Place baking cups from cupcake tote into muffin pan. Prepare cupcake batter following instructions; fill baking cups ⅔ full. Bake following instructions; cool completely. Using spatula, ice cupcakes smooth with white icing. Dust face mold from fondant kit with cornstarch; fill with yellow fondant. Unmold. With edible color markers from kit, draw eyeballs and mouth. Using dark green fondant from kit, make a teardrop-shaped body, about 2 inches long x 1 ¼ inches wide. Attach head to body with icing; place on cupcake top. Using red fondant from kit, make six 1 ¼-inch-long logs for legs; bend in half. Attach three legs to each side of body with icing. Roll small red fondant balls for feet; attach. Using yellow fondant from kit, make a ½-inch triangle for tail; attach to body with icing. Position bee on top of cupcake.
Her Majesty’s Chariot Cookies Each cookie serves 1 Special equipment: Create-N-Color Bright Fondant Treat Kit, rolling pin, stretchy cutter set, Color-N-Swirl Bright Icing Kit, 9-inch Fondant Roller or rolling pin and Oval Fondant Cut-Outs.
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Cornstarch Roll-Out Cookie Dough (recipe atwilton.com) Make two flower wheels by kneading and softening a small amount of pink and the purple fondant from fondant kit. Dust flower mold from fondant kit with cornstarch. Press pink fondant into swirl portion of mold. Using violet fondant from kit, fill remaining portion of mold. Unmold. For crown, dust fondant mold from kit with cornstarch; press violet fondant from kit into crown mold. Unmold. Prepare and roll out cookie dough. Cut cookies using large round cutter in set. Bake and cool cookies following recipe instructions. Spatula ice cookies smooth using pink tube icing from icing kit. Press fondant flower wheels on the bottom of the cookie. Roll out violet fondant to 1/16 inch thick. Cut door using medium oval cut-out. Cut out windows using small oval cut-out; cut in half. Roll out pink fondant 1/16 inch thick. Cut oval using medium oval cut-out; cut oval in half. Place pink half over bottom of violet door. Roll small piece of violet fondant into ball and attach for door handle. Place door and windows on cookie; add crown to top of cookie.
Augusta Family | February 2012 • 27
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by Lucy Adams
Young Love
Navigating Your Way Through Your Teen’s Romance
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hat I really wanted was my own phone line with my own phone number so I could talk to my boyfriend without my siblings teasing me. I settled for an extension in my bedroom. At least I wouldn’t have to stretch the phone cord across the kitchen and huddle on top of the washing machine behind the louvered doors anymore. On the other side of the thin impression of privacy, my mother cringed at the threads of dialogue that she could make sense of. Finally with a phone in my room, while my parents naively believed me to be deep in slumber, I hid beneath my covers in the dark and talked to my boyfriend into the wee hours of night. That was so 80s. My two teenage sons don’t talk on the phone. They text. Unlike my mother who could hear segments of my side of conversations with cohorts, I have to decipher code and piece the back and forth back together, frustrated that the most coherent phrase I can make out is, “Ha ha, yea, ha, ha, ha.” Cryptic messages from my sons’ love interests arrive at regular 30-second intervals. And if I’m honest with you and with myself, the whole girlfriend distraction really bothers me. Keeping my opinions
28 • Augusta Family | February 2012
private is just as hard now as it was when I nested myself on top of the washing machine chattering on the phone behind the louvered doors in the kitchen.
Love Relationships as a Developmental Task Those louvered doors were the first in a series of ways that I began separating myself from my family. Differentiation from parents and siblings is a normal developmental task for teenagers. They try on and awkwardly clomp around in adult roles like they once did in Mom or Dad’s oversized shoes. “Add to this the hormonal changes and biological pressures of budding adulthood, but without the full frontal lobe development of a mature adult, and you get the crazy world of an adolescent,” says Elsbeth Martindale, PsyD, author of Things to Know Before You Say “Go.” Throughout this gradual emancipation that hopefully ends with a responsible adult living independently, adolescents continue to require parental input and guidance. “Desire for connection is natural, especially for teenagers,” says Renee Flippo, a pediatric nurse practitioner with The Center for Pediatric and Adolescent Medicine. Social media platforms like FaceBook thrive on www.augustafamily.com
young people’s drive for connectivity. Teens are physiologically programmed to seek out romantic relationships. “The changes that take place in the body and mind through the course of puberty set the stage for attraction to the opposite sex,” says John Duffy, PsyD, author of The Available Parent: Radical Optimism for Raising Teens and Tweens. In other words, the need to form bonds with people outside of the family unit has a biological basis. A teenager’s realization that someone other than parents can care deeply for him or her aids in the process of establishing an identity apart from the family. According to Georgina Hammock, Ph.D., associate professor and director of Augusta State University’s graduate program in psychology, teenage boys and teenage girls have about the same level of interest in engaging in romantic relationships, but Flippo points out that for adolescent girls, because of the way they are wired, these relationships can pique deeper emotions.
Courtship of Nurture Environment also plays a role in influencing an adolescent’s beliefs about the importance of coupling. European cultures, for example, endorse adolescent pairings, while Asian cultures are less tolerant.
American children live in a media-dominated climate bombarding them with Ken and Barbie, Snow White pining for her prince and the theme that partnering based on beauty and devil-be-damned attitudes is highly valued. Teens are given the idea that involvement in a boyfriend-girlfriend relationship implies status, attractiveness or normalcy. “Quite often,” remarks Martindale, “the cultural, media and societal messages are louder and more frequent than the balancing or countering messages of parents.” Flippo says that communication between parent and child is key as adolescents try to make sense of it all. Ultimately, intimate relationships in adolescence are an important aspect of a child’s development. Experts agree that these early romances affect expectations about future relationships, beliefs about oneself and behavior toward a significant other. It’s normal and healthy for their interest in romance to increase.
Beyond Checking Yes or No Emotional intimacy, fostered by sharing personal information and spending time together, comprises a large part of a teenager’s romance. Parents worry, however, that the attachment will progress beyond conversation and a few kisses. Hammock addresses this worry, saying, “A majority (of adolescents) agree with the statement that sexual intercourse is inappropriate for teenagers.” They also tend to believe that physical intimacy should be reserved for committed relationships. Still, adolescents are very likely, according to Hammock, to have their first sexual experience with someone whom they are seeing steadily. Parents should not ignore their children’s blossoming curiosity in physical expressions of affection. “Kids need to hear about sex and sexuality from their parents, and parents need to make it comfortable enough that the conversations can be ongoing and open,” says Duffy. Parents can also head off temptation by encouraging their children to get together in groups of boys and girls, rather than one-on-one. Additionally, inviting the boyfriend or girlfriend over for meals, game nights or to just hang out affords the young couple some semi-private interaction and offers the parents peace of mind. A third way to protect your teenager from getting caught up in the moment is to discuss how decisions they make today can affect goals they have for the future. “Teenagers think in the here and now,” says Flippo, who advocates for discussions, not lectures, in which teens explore what they want for themselves and how risky behaviors might impact that.
Trouble in Paradise For adults and teens alike, good partnerships bring out our best. Duffy has observed that many of his adolescent clients, when they are in the thrilling throes of young love, work harder in school, convey positive outlooks and pay closer attention to their appearance and personal hygiene. But courtships aren’t always the bliss depicted in
a clever commercial or on the Hollywood screen. Hammock cites a study revealing that up to a third of teenagers report victimization and/or aggression. And adolescents aren’t always willing to discuss these problems. Martindale suggests that parents, particularly if they suspect trouble, create opportunities for the young couple to spend time together with the family or in the home, where parents can observe interactions without being intrusive. If the pair seems prone to frequent drama, arguing, name-calling or crying, parental guidance is in order. Managing a relationship is hard work and requires competencies as yet undeveloped in adolescents. Teens who withdraw from their other friendships or outside interests, express pessimism and anger, develop a low threshold for frustration or slack off on schoolwork may also be sending out signals for help. Flippo urges parents to investigate if their child, particularly a girl, isolates him or herself, choosing to spend time with the significant other to the exclusion of all else. Tearfulness and depression could also indicate that the relationship has ended. A break-up can be a very painful experience for a young person. Flippo says the end of a boyfriend-girlfriend romance can be particularly devastating for teen girls. Parents may feel inspired to impart wisdom in hopes of minimizing the grief or at least putting it into perspective. Avoid dismissing a love relationship as “temporary,” says Duffy, who finds that teens register this as disrespectful. Martindale encourages parents to instead lend loads of comfort and to listen. “Trust that your child will learn valuable lessons about life and self-care through this experience,” she says. In addition, she discourages parents from trying to fix things, reminding them that this is an opportunity for their child to develop important skills necessary for adulthood and independence.
Cupid’s Consultant The teen years are a period of intense social, emotional and physical growth. Every choice, good or bad, results in learning and change. Where parents were once looked to for instruction, they are now used as support personnel. Remembering back to their own early romances, says Martindale, helps parents tap into empathy and acceptance of their child’s naturally burgeoning search for true love. A first love interest is a milestone in a child’s life, like a first word or a first tooth, not to be diminished. “Teens need to know that romantic relationships can be powerful, soulshaking experiences,” says Martindale. Play your Valentine cards right as a parent and you will be named to the privileged position of Acting Consultant to Cupid. You may have to do it from the other side of a closed louvered door, but your child will be glad to know you’re there when he needs you. Lucy Adams is the author of Tuck Your Skirt in Your Panties and Run. She lives in Thomson, Ga., with her husband and their four children. www.augustafamily.com
Augusta Family | February 2012 • 29
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by Charmain Z. Brackett
In Service
Photo by Charmain z. brackett
Fort Gordon Spouses and Civilians Club Members Are Spirited Volunteers
Joan Stewart, who has been a Fort Gordon Thrift Shop volunteer for 15 years, tags a clothing item.
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hile they may wear the uniform of the Army, Navy, Air Force or Marine Corps, there is one often-used phrase which defines them even more than soldier, sailor, airmen or Marine. That phrase is “service member.” These men and women give their lives in service to the nation. And behind these men and women are family members who also seek to give back. At Fort Gordon, there is an organization made up of spouses, family members, military retirees and civilians who make this spirit of giving a high priority. The Fort Gordon Spouses and Civilians Club has about 100 members who work to improve the quality of life of service members as well as help the surrounding community. “It’s a way of life for us,” says Gail Fitzpatrick, the club’s second vice president and wife of an Army retiree. “It’s always natural for us to be helping out.”
Thrift Shop and Flea Markets
Located in the Brems Barracks area of Fort Gordon are three buildings which comprise the Fort Gordon Thrift Shop. Open to the general public from 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Tuesday and Thursdays and from 9:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. the first Saturday of each month from October to May, the thrift shop has a variety of items from furniture and clothing to jewelry and toys. 30 • Augusta Family | February 2012
“Our consignors travel the world and we get things from Poland, Korea, Germany. One of our volunteers brought in some of her Hummels. We have a lot of Polish pottery,” says Debbie Windhorn, thrift store manager. Only Department of Defense ID card holders can consign items, but anyone can purchase items. Anyone not affiliated with Fort Gordon can enter Gate 1 on Gordon Highway with a valid drivers’ license, car registration and proof of insurance. Fitzpatrick says people should definitely get the idea of sub-quality merchandise out of their heads when it comes to the thrift shop. Military families have to purge their closets frequently. “Military families have to move and, when they are packing, they realize ‘I’m over the weight limit,’ so they have to get rid of things,” she says. While there are some consignments, the thrift shop also accepts donations. The club also receives proceeds from two seasonal flea markets on Fort Gordon’s Barton Field. The annual fall flea market is held in October and typically coincides with the Oktoberfest celebration. The annual spring flea market is in May. Club members provide volunteer manpower during the event.
Scholarships and Grants Proceeds from the thrift shop and flea market are distributed in the forms of college scholarships and grants. Last May, the club gave more than $23,000 in
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college scholarships and welfare and service grants. Grants are available to area non-profit agencies. “It’s based on need and we do give more favor to militaryrelated organizations,” says Debbie Franco, grants and services chairwoman. Military-related grant recipients in 2011 included Fort Gordon Christmas House, Fort Gordon Fisher House, the Youth Challenge Academy and the Georgia War Veterans Nursing Home. Other grants went to entities outside the installation gates. Those organizations included the Augusta Rescue Mission, Junior Achievement, Child Enrichment Inc., the Golden Harvest Food Bank, Safe Homes of Augusta and the Interfaith Hospitality Network of Augusta. Applications for 2012 grants will be taken through March 1, and they are available at the club’s Web site www.fgscc.com. Nine high school seniors received scholarships in 2011. Scholarships are open to dependents of club members and dependents of active duty military. Applications are available on the Web site. The organization will award “merit scholarships for graduating seniors to assist them in their first year of education at an accredited university, college or vocational/technical school. Scholarships will also be awarded to adults continuing their education,” according to the Web site.
Other Volunteer Activities Club members aren’t just involved with the Fort Gordon Spouses and Civilians Club. Many of the club members are involved in a variety of other service organizations at Fort Gordon. For more than 40 years, Christmas House has provided toys and food for military families in need at the holidays. “About 90 percent of the work done with Christmas House is by club members,” says Fitzpatrick. “Everything we do is to improve the quality of life for Army families.” Nearly 400 families received assistance through this year’s Christmas House, she says. Susie Waldeman, who is the club president, has served as a long-time volunteer for
the Fisher House on Fort Gordon. The club reaches out to the Fisher House, which is a home away from home for military families with a loved one receiving treatment at a local hospital. The club sponsors the Thanksgiving meal for Fisher House families.
The Social Side
It’s not all hard work for Fort Gordon Spouses and Civilians Club members. There is a social side to this group. Each month, there are different events planned. In December, there was a Holiday Make, Bake and Take event tied with a silent auction. A thrift store fashion show is scheduled for February and a tour of homes is in the planning stages. There’s a Lunch Bunch that also meets to sample new restaurants each month as well as a quilting group and a breakfast club. Members also bowl and golf together.
About the Club
The club has its roots in the Officers Wives Clubs and Enlisted Wives Club. Over the years, the club has made several changes including undergoing name changes, but its missions have remained the same. For example, the word “wives” was dropped and “spouses” adopted because there are men who also participate in some club events, says Fitzpatrick. Membership in the Fort Gordon Spouses and Civilians Club organization is voluntary and open to all persons affiliated with Fort Gordon, including military ID card holders both active duty and retired and U.S. government civilian ID holders and the families of all of these groups. Members can be affiliated with other branches, not just the Army. Members must be at least 18 years old to join. Annual dues are $15. Charmain Z. Brackett is an Augusta freelance writer and mother of three.
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Augusta Family | February 2012 • 31
calendar
February
2012
Greatest Party on Earth Special Events February 2. Antiques in the Heart of Aiken Preview Party. Enjoy food and a special celebrated chef while previewing the antiques for sale at the show. Aiken Center for the Arts. 7-9 p.m. 803-641-9094. February 2-5. Barnum Bash. Ringling Brothers and Barnum and Bailey Circus will host the swankiest circus party in town with the new Ringling Bros. Ringlettes. James Brown Arena.www. ringlingbros.com.
Called the hippest circus spectacular ever produced, Ringling Brothers and Barnum and Bailey Circus will host the swankiest circus party in town with the new Ringling Bros. Ringlettes. Don’t miss it, February 2-5, at the James Brown Arena.www.ringlingbros.com.
Aiken Center for the Arts. 803-641-9094. February 4. Cardio on the Canal. Kick off Smart Heart month with a fun-filled family morning. The Family Y, Kroc Center, Boys and Girls Clubs and Augusta-Richmond County schools join with University Health Care Foundation to lead an action-packed event. Begins at 10 a.m. Kroc Center. 706729-5653.
February 3. Roots and Wings: Celebrating 40 Years of God’s Faithfulness. Westminster Schools of Augusta celebrates its 40th anniversary. Bid on exciting items and trips to Alaska, Hawaii and more at this silent and live auction event. 6:30 p.m. Sacred Heart Cultural Center. 706-731-5260.
February 10 & 11. Father-Daughter Dances. Treat your daughter to quality time with the first man she will love—her dad! The evening will include dinner, dance instruction, games, crafts and portraits. Register at any Family Y location or online at www. thefamilyy.org. February 10 at the Family Y of North Augusta. February 11 at the Family Y of Aiken County and Family Y of Augusta South.
February 3-5. Antiques in the Heart of Aiken. This 13th annual event features 23 antique dealers from New York to Texas. Preview party Thursday. 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Friday and Saturday. Noon-4 p.m. Sunday.
February 10. Paine College 12th Annual Scholarship Masked Ball. Part of the homecoming week events. 7 p.m. Augusta Marriott at the Convention Center. 706821-8233.
32 • Augusta Family | February 2012
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February 11. L’Amour at Cafe Lamar. A Valentine’s celebration with Historic Augusta featuring hors d’oeuvres, open bar, live acoustic music and prizes. Proceeds benefit the Woodros Wilson House. 7-10 p.m. 415 7th Street. www.wilsonboyhoodhome.org. February 11. Lewis Black. The funny man, actor, author and stand-up comedian will be live on stage as part of his national tour. 8 p.m. Bell Auditorium. (877) 4AUGTIX. February 11.Columbia County Charity Gala Las Vegas-Style. Benefits Columbia County Arts Development, Teenage Years 101 and Columbia County Cares Food Pantry. 7 p.m. Savannah Rapids Pavilion. 706-312-7192. February 15. Healthy U Cooking Expo. Learn more about eating for your health and sample some delicious food. Salvation Army Kroc Center. 10 a.m. February 17. Riverdance. The touring production of the internationally-acclaimed worldwide phenomenon performs during its final U.S tour. 8 p.m. Bell Auditorium. (877)-4AUGTIX.
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Save the Last Dance February 17. 2012 Mardi Gras Dinner Dance. Catch the festivities at this annual party with great food and live music. Proceeds benefit food ministries of Saint Paul’s Church. 7 p.m. The River Room at Saint Paul’s Church. 706-724-2485. February 20. Presidents’ Day Tours. Celebrate Presidents’ Day touring Woodrow Wilson Home by Historic Augusta. 10 a.m.4 p.m. 706-724-0436. February 25. Let’s Talk...Heart to Heart —Women and Heart Health Symposium. Doctors Hospital hosts a girl’s day out that may save your life. Featuring Zonya Foco, dietician and comedian, who will inspire you to get your heart healthy. This free program also includes lunch, cooking demonstrations, health screenings and more. More than $150 worth of free gifts and prizes will be given to all who attend. Pre-registration is required and space is limited. Call 706-651-4343 to register. February 25. Running for Justice: Natalee Holloway 5K. Event hosted by Augusta
Don’t miss the last touring production of the internationally acclaimed worldwide phenomenon Riverdance at 8 p.m. on February 17 at the Bell Auditorium. (877) 4AUGTIX.
Prep to benefit Natalee Holloway Resource Center (NHRC). Beth Holloway Twitty will speak at the event. 10 a.m. Augusta Prep. www.active.com. February 29. Smart Heart Month Luncheon. Join University Health Care Foundation to wrap up Heart Month with this special luncheon. 11:30 a.m. Richmond on Greene. www.universityhealth.org/calendar. History and Science Events Augusta Museum of History 560 Reynolds St. 706-722-8454. Museum Hours: Thursday-Saturday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Sunday, 1-5 p.m.. February 4. Voices of the Past—The Other Tubmans. Noon, 12:30 and 1:30 p.m. February 12. Tangled Thread. Quilting demonstrations. 1-4 p.m. February 18. Voices of the Past—A Petersburg Boat Pilot. 11:30 a.m., 12:30 and 1:30 p.m. www.augustafamily.com
Reed Creek Nature Park and Interpretive Center 3820 Park Lane, Martinez. 706-210-4027. Children must be accompanied by an adult. Pre-registration required. February 24. The World of Owls. Learn about owls that live in Georgia, their adaptations and their natural history. Then dissect owl pellets, regurgitated bones that cannot be digested by the owls, to find out what they have been eating. Ages 5 and up. 4:30-5:30 p.m. The Arts, Music and More February 1-February 17. Jerome Meadows and Staci Swider Exhibits. Gertrude Herbert Institute of Art. 706-722-5495. February 2. Igudesman and Joo. Classical musicians Aleksey Igudesman and Richard Hyung-ki Joo combine comedy with classical music and popular culture. Etherredge Center. USC-Aiken. 803-6413305. Augusta Family | February 2012 • 33
calendar February 4. SOA Columbia County Music Series Performance. Wendy Cohen, flute, and Vonda Darr, harp. 7:30 p.m. Jabez S. Hardin Performing Arts Center. 706-826-4705. February 9. Pops at the Bell! With the Temptations. One of the most successful groups to record for Motown records teams with the SOA for an unforgettable evening. Food donations for the Golden Harvest Food Bank will be collected at the concert in collection bins located throughout the auditorium. 7:30 p.m. Bell Auditorium. 706-826-4705. February 9. Faculty Artist Recital. Issac Holmes. 7:30 p.m. Etherredge Center. USC-Aiken. 803-641-3305. February 9-10. Stig Rossen: Lovers and Heroes of Broadway and Beyond. The best of romantic Broadway music in time for Valentine’s Day. Aiken Performing Arts. URS Center for the Performing Arts. 803-6434774. February 10. Southern Soul & Song With Rhonda Vincent and the Rage. One of the most in-demand artists in bluegrass returns to the series. 7:30 p.m. Imperial Theatre. 706-722-8341. February 10-12. Cinderella. ASU Opera Ensemble presentation. 7:30 p.m. Sunday at 3 p.m. Maxwell Theatre. ASU campus. 706-667-4100. February 11. Valentine’s Serenade. Masterworks Chorale. 8 p.m. Aiken Center for the Performing Arts. 803-641-3305. February 14. ASU Jazz Ensemble Concert. 7:30 p.m. Maxwell Theatre. ASU campus. 706667-4100. February 14. Friends in Song: Music of the Heart. Love songs for a Valentine’s evening. Benefits CSRA Humane Society. 7 p.m. St. John United Methodist Church. 706-724-9641. 34 • Augusta Family | February 2012
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February 18. SOA Symphony Series Performance: The Great. Liszt’s Dante’s Inferno, Stravinsky’s Great Gamble and Schubert’s Great C Major. 7:30 p.m. First Baptist Church of Augusta. 706-826-4705. February 23. ASU Orchestra and Wind Ensemble. 7:30 p.m. Maxwell Theatre. ASU campus. 706-667-4100. February 24-26. Chicago. Presented by the Augusta Players. 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday. 3 p.m. Sunday. Imperial Theatre. 706-826-4707. February 24, 25, 26, March 2, 3. You Can’t Take It With You. In this classic comedy learn how to put fun in dysfunction. 8 p.m. Feb. 26, 3 p.m. Aiken Community Playhouse. URS Center for Performing Arts. Aiken. 803-648-1438. February 25. Band Art Project. This event started as a senior class project and has turned into a highly anticipated annual event. Thirteen artists will complete a painting in the time frame of one song. The works are donated to the Walton Rehabilitation Health System’s Annual Undercover Artists Show. This year’s bands include The Industry, The Mood and Eleventhour. 7 p.m. at Freedom Bible Church, 702 North Belair Rd., Evans. February 28. Richmond County All Elementary School Choral Festival. 7 p.m. Sacred Heart Cultural Center. 706-826-4700. Morris Museum of Art 1 Tenth St. 706-724-7501 or www.themorris.org February 2. Toddler Time: A Man Named Dave. February 2. Art as a Window to the Mind. The Music and Mystique of Johnny Mercer. Performance and discussion about the musician. Reception follows. 6-8:30 p.m. February 5. Artrageous! Family
calendar Sunday: Feel the Rhythm. An exciting look at African-American heritage. February 9. Art Now! Marcus Kenney. New program features conversation with cuttingedge contemporary artists. February 12. Music at the Morris: Tim Owings. Romantic tunes by classical pianist. 2 p.m. February 15. The Toe Tactic. Southern Circuit Film Series. 6 p.m. February 17. Art at Lunch: Framing Mary Whyte. Smith Coleman discusses frames he created for his wife’s watercolor paintings in Working South. February 18, 25. Artist Workshop. Face Jugs With David Stuart. Musical Theatre Workshops and Footnotes Dance Academy 3833 Martinez Blvd., Martinez (in front of the Martinez Post Office). Contact Mickey Lubeck, director, at 706231-1759, musicaltheatredirector@gmail. com. www.onwiththeshow.biz. Ongoing Multiple studios for classes in acting, voice and dance. Visit their Web site for current class offerings. Visual Praise Studios 3497 Wheeler Rd., Augusta Call Jocelyn Richard, Director, at 706-733-2926. Tuesdays. Worship Dance Classes for Homeschoolers. Ages 4 and up. Classes are held in the afternoons. Call for class times. Wednesdays and Saturdays. Praise Stretch and Tone for Moms. Call for times. Saturdays. Girls Liturgical Dance Workshop. Call for times. Sports February 11. Reid on Run. Benefitting Press On. Fun run begins at 9 a.m. and 5K begins at 9:30 a.m. Press On supports research for new treatments for neuroblastoma and acute lyeloie leukemia. Go to www.reidchurchaugusta.com for more information and to download registration or call 706-733-2275. Augusta Riverhawks All games at 7:35 unless otherwise noted. February 10. Fayetteville February 17. Columbus February 18. Fayetteville February 19. Knoxville. 4:35 p.m.
Columbia County Recreation 5445 Columbia Road, Grovetown. 706-863-7523 Through February 17. Spring Baseball & Softball Registration. Patriots Park Office. CSRA Defensive Arts 803-221-0300 or csraDefensiveArts.com. Martial Arts Classes. Ages 8-adult. Taught by a certified Karate for Christ International instructor with 18 years of experience. Classes are held at Heights Church, behind Mi-Rancho in Clearwater, S.C., directly on the Aiken-Augusta Highway. The Family Y Financial assistance is available for all Family Y programs. Register at any branch or online at www.thefamilyy.org or call 706-922-9622. Through April. Home School Clinic at the Family Y of North Augusta. Home school students will enjoy two-hour classes once a month from January-April. Each month will have a different class for kids and parents to enjoy. February 1. Registration for Adult Women’s Flag Football at Family Y of North Augusta. Move and make a friend on Sundays from March through April at Paul Knox Middle School. February 1-3. Registration for Trek/Cycle Duathlon at the Family Y of North Augusta. Come participate in a one-hour cycle class with a certified instructor followed by a onehour trek of your choice on an elliptical, AMT or Treadmill from 2-4 p.m. Ages 12 and up. February 1-5. Family Y Youth Flag Football Registration at Family Y of Augusta South. Recreational flag football for boys and girls ages 5-14. Late registration from February 6-12. February 1-5. Family Y Cheerleading Registration at Family Y of Augusta South. Recreational cheerleading for girls ages 5-14. Late registration from February 6-12. February 1-6. Adult Basketball Registration Family Y of Aiken County. Season is February 16-April 5. Age 18 and up. February 1-27. Adult Basketball at Family Y of Downtown Augusta. Ages 16 and up. Multiple three-person teams sign up to play a four-week schedule, two-week playoff and championship game. February 1-March 5. Registration for Adult Men’s and Women’s Basketball at www.augustafamily.com
Wilson Family Y. February 6-March 5. Indoor Triathlon at Family Y of Aiken County. Bringing healthy living from the outdoors to the indoors. Ages 13 and up. Run, bike and swim for 20 minutes with five-minute transitions. Call the Family Y of Aiken County at 803-349-8080 for details. February 6-March 1. Family Y Swim Lessons. Offering lessons for all ages and skill levels, ages 6 months to adult beginner. Lessons are held twice weekly with classes at the indoor pools at the Wilson Family Y, Family Y of Aiken County and Family Y of Downtown Augusta. February 10. Freedom Friday for Military Families. Free entertaining night for children of deployed soldiers. Ages 8 weeks to 12 years. 6-9:30. Family Y of Augusta South. February 10. Father-Daughter Dance at the Family Y of North Augusta. Treat your daughter to quality time with the first man she will love—her dad! The evening will include dinner, dance instruction, games, crafts and portraits. Register at any family Y location or online. February 11. Father-Daughter Dance at the Family Y of Aiken County or Family Y of Augusta South. Treat your daughter to quality time with the first man she will love—her dad! The evening will include dinner, dance instruction, games, crafts and portraits. Register at any family Y location or online. February 11. Valentine Date Night Out at Wilson Family Y, Family Y of Aiken County, Family Y of North Augusta and Family Y of Downtown Augusta. Create time for each other by giving your kids a fun evening at the Y. Creative play, arts and crafts and more. 5-11 p.m. at the Family Ys of Aiken County, .North Augusta and Wilson Family Y; 4:30-9 p.m. at the Family Y of Downtown Augusta. February 11. Parent’s Night Out at Family Y of North Augusta and Marshall Family Y. Ages 2-12. 6-9:30 p.m. Sibling discount available. February 14. Valentine Date Night Out. 4:30-9 p.m. at the Family Y of Downtown Augusta. February 15-March 1. Registration for Couch to 5K at the Family Y of Downtown Augusta. Learn how to run and complete a Augusta Family | February 2012 • 35
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calendar 5K (3.1 mile) race with one of the Y’s qualified trainers. Session is March 17-April 28. February 18. Youth Empowerment at the Family Y of Aiken County. Leading the way to help youth engage in healthy behavior that results in promising futures. Gender-specific class is two hours long and will primarily focus on the physical changes in teens transitioning from childhood to adulthood. February 18. Parents Night Out at Family Y of Aiken County. Ages 2-12. 6-9:30 p.m. Sibling discount available. February 20. School Day Out. Ages 5-12. Activities from 9 a.m.-4 p.m. with early dropoff at 7 a.m. and late pickup until 6 p.m. at no additional cost. Marshall Family Y, Family Y of Aiken County and Family Y of North Augusta. February 20 & 21. School Day Out at the Family Y of Augusta South and Wilson Family Y. Activities from 9 a.m.-4 p.m. with early drop-off at 7 a.m. and late pickup until 6 p.m. at no additional cost. February 25. CSC Adult Dodgeball Tournament at the Family Y of Aiken County. Join in this FUNraiser that will take you back to the school yard. Proceeds support the Community Support Campaign, a financial assistance program. February 25. Parent’s Night Out at the Wilson Family Y and Family Y of Augusta South. 6-9:30 p.m. for ages 4-12 at the Wilson Family Y and 8 weeks to 12 years at Family Y of Augusta South. February 25. Parent’s Night Out for Children of Deployed Soldiers at the Marshall Family Y. Ages 2-12 from 6-9:30 p.m. February 25. Parent’s Night Out at Marshall Family Y. Ages 2-12 from 6-9:30 p.m. February 25. Family Dodgeball Tournament Registration at the Wilson Family Y. Register a team of 6 players ages 13 years and up. February 27-March 25. Adult Kickball Registration at the Wilson Family Y. Ages 16 and up. February 27-March 25. Miracle League Baseball Registration. Miracle League is a baseball league specifically designed for youth and adults with physical and developmental disabilities. Games are played on a rubberized surface field at the Charlie
Norwood VA Medical Center on Wrightsboro Road. Call JD McCauley at 706-922-9597 for information. Parents’ Morning Out Programs Enjoy the morning out while your child plays games, does arts and crafts and more. Augusta South Family Y Drop and Shop. Monday-Friday from 8:30 a.m.-noon for ages 8 weeks-4 years. North Augusta Family Y Drop and Shop Program. No reservation needed. MondayFriday, 9 a.m.-noon for ages 6 months to 12 years. North Augusta Family Y Mother’s Morning Out. Basic educational curriculum and rotating instruction in creative arts, swimming and sports. Monday and Wednesdays or Tuesdays and Thursdays from 9 a.m.-noon for ages 2-4. Wilson Family Y. Ages 3-4. Tuesday and Thursday, 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Ongoing. Adapted Aquatics Special Populations at the Wilson Family Y. Individual 30 minute classes (one-to-one ratio) for physically and developmentally challenged individuals of all ages. Specially trained staff use swimming and aquatic fitness skills to improve participant’s independence and quality of life. By appointment only. Call Claudia Collins at 706-922-9662. Ongoing. BlazeSports Team. Swim team for all ages for physically challenged swimmers to train for competition. (Part of the BlazeSports Clubs of America training future Paralympians.) Ongoing. Adapted Wii Special Populations at the Wilson Family Y. Individual half-hour classes (one-on-one ratio) for physically and developmentally challenged individuals of all ages. Specially trained staff uses Wii Interactive Computer games to improve participant’s independence and quality of life. By appointment. Call Claudia Collins at 706-922-9662. Ongoing. Multiple Sclerosis and Parkinson Disease Aquatics Class. Sponsored by the CSRA Parkinson Support Group and the Family Y. Group class designed specifically for ambulatory participants affected by Multiple Sclerosis and Parkinson Disease. Mondays and Fridays at the Wilson Family Y. Noon. Registration required. Ongoing on Fridays. Break Dance Class at the Wilson Family Y. Designed to promote dance and culture for ages 13 and up while emphasizing Christian character values. Sessions are four weeks long beginning the first www.augustafamily.com
Friday of the month. 7-8:30 p.m. Ongoing. Tae Kwon Do. Family Y of Aiken County, Family Y of North Augusta, Family Y of Augusta South and Wilson Family Y. ll skill levels, ages 5 and up. Lessons are twice a week. Ongoing. Creative Art at the Family Y of Aiken County. Ages 5-12. Focus on a different medium each month: Painting, drawing, clay and more. Creations will be displayed in a spring art show. Classes once a week/four classes per month. Ongoing. Drama Lessons at the Family Y of North Augusta. Ages 5-12. Learn the basics of theater while playing games, creating arts and crafts and writing original scripts. Classes are once a week/four classes per month. Ongoing. Fairy Tale Ballet at Family Y of Aiken County. Ages 3-5. Introduces kids to basic ballet using fairy tales and dressing up. Classes are offered once a week/four times per month. Ongoing. Ballet Lessons at the Family Y of North Augusta. Basic ballet for kids. Classes are once a week/four per month. Ongoing. Teen Girls Bible Study at Family Y of Aiken County. Ages 12-16. For young ladies to discuss personal issues and learn strength from women in the Bible. Bible study meets once a week. Salvation Army Kroc Center 1833 Broad Street. 706-364-KROC (5762). www.krocaugusta.org. February 3. Kids Night Out. 6-10 p.m. Ages 2-12. Dinner included. Activities may include swimming, gym play, inflatables and crafts. Multi-child discounts are available. February 24. Family Night Out—Flick n’ Float. Grab your floats, bathing suits and bring your family to enjoy a family friendly movie in the pool. A fun family craft also will be completed at the event. Bring a standard-size inner tube but remember that the floats will need to be approved by the aquatic staff. 6:30-9:30 p.m. Richmond County Recreation and Parks Administrative Office: 2027 Lumpkin Rd. 706-796-5025. February 1-29. Adult Spring Athletic Registration. Open coed and men’s open, men’s and women’s church, open–coed church and open-men’s industrial. Diamond Lakes Regional Park Adult Softball Complex, 108 Diamonds Augusta Family | February 2012 • 37
calendar Lake Way, Hephzibah. 706-771-2980. February 13-24. Youth Baseball and Softball Registration. Coed T-Ball—boys and girls ages 5-6. Pitching Machine Baseball & Softball—boys and girls ages 7-8. Live Pitch Baseball & Softball—boys and girls ages 9-10. Dixie Youth Boys Baseball—11-12 year olds. Midget Girls Fast Pitch Softball—11-12 year olds. Junior Boys Baseball—13-14 year olds. Junior Girls Fast Pitch Softball—13-14 year olds. Registration is from noon to 6 p.m., Monday-Friday at the following locations: East Augusta—May Park, 622 4th St., 706-724-0505; South Augusta—Fleming Athletic Office, Daniel St., 706-796-5047; West Augusta—Eisenhower Athletic Office, 488 Eisenhower Dr., 706-821-2801. Family Activities Aiken Home School Times Playgroup. 803-648-7042 or fourmckeels@yahoo.com. Thursdays. This playgroup is open to all home schoolers. Meets at the O’Dell Weeks playground for unstructured play for the children and time with other home school parents for the adults. Noon. Augusta Jewish Community Center 898 Weinberger Way. 706-228-3636 or log on at augustajcc.org. Ongoing. The Mothers Circle. Free course, resources, education and events for women of other backgrounds raising Jewish children. Call for details. Sign Up for Class! The AJCC offers a wide variety of classes for children of all ages and adults, including athletics, the arts, cooking, language and more. Log on to download a complete listing. Classical Conversations Visit classicalconversations.com or e-mail Terri at classicalaugusta@yahoo.com. A Classical Christian Community of home schoolers that meets once a week from August through April with the goal of training their children to know God and to make Him known in all areas of life. E-mail Terri for information. Homeschool Playgroup Creighton Park, next to Living History Park in North Augusta. Call 803-613-0484 or emilykohlbacher@hotmail.com. Every Thursday at 10:30 a.m. All welcome. Monkey Joe’s 368 Furys Ferry Rd. 38 • Augusta Family | February 2012
706-922-JUMP (5867). monkeyjoes.com. First Sunday of Each Month. Special Needs Night at Monkey Joe’s. This event is held the first Sunday of each month after general store hours to ensure a calm environment for special needs children and their parents. 6-7 p.m. PHC Weight Loss and Wellness Martinez: 706-868-5332. Augusta: 706-7966267. Aiken: 803-649-3428. Logon at www. phcweightloss.com. Student Plan Orientations. Students with parent or guardian can attend 45-minute complimentary sessions by appointment on Mondays, Tuesdays or Thursdays between 3 and 6 p.m. Call for information. Childbirth, Breastfeeding and Parenting Support Groups AugustaAreaMommies Contact Jennifer Stanley at 706-855-0072 or phlegalesfan@att.net. A community for moms in the Augusta area offering support, friendship and fun as well as the opportunity to exchange information. The group, which is part of The Mommies Network, also provides discussion forums, an events calendar and more. Meeting are held online, at local parks, members homes (for monthly BUNCO) and on field trips. All mothers are welcome. Augusta Area Newcomers Organization Contact hospitality@augustanewcomers. com or call Susan Salisbury at 706-8146297. This non-profit organization helps people who are new to the area get acclimated and make friends. They offer a variety of activities including golf, book groups and dining out. Be sure to confirm your attendance at their events by e-mailing or calling the above numbers. Better Augusta Birth Experience (BABE) Free weekly meetings each Monday all months Augusta/CSRA. Go to www.AugustaBirthNetwork.org for calendar and contact information plus a directory of the CSRA’s many birthing options. BABE was founded in 1985 by Lynn Reed to promote safe alternative awareness for pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding and parenting. February 6. Augusta Birth Network (ABN): Birthing Options: Comfort Measures and Doulas. Augusta Birth Network believes that birth is normal, natural and healthy. They promote mother-friendly care through: Advocacy, information and support by ensuring www.augustafamily.com
that families have a network of experienced, encouraging people to help them make informed choices and embrace birth. Monthly meetings are held at Earth Fare, 368 Fury’s Ferry Rd. 7- 8:30 p.m. Contact Betsy Alger 706-364-7907 or Lynn Reed 706-833-5101. February 13. Meet the Doula Tea: What are the Benefits of Having a Doula? Enjoy a cup of tea, watch a short DVD and meet certified and trained Doulas. Topics include: Coping with labor the Doula way and who should come to my birth? This meeting is free and open to any friends or family members that are also interested in learning about Doulas. This is a couples event, so please bring your partner. Please do not bring children to this tea, but babes in arms are welcomed. Please call to confirm your attendance a few days in advance, 706-799-9213, or e-mail Jennifer Brown at birthingbychoice@gmail.com. Monthly meeting are held at Steinle Wellness Center, 122 Old Evans Rd. 7-8 p.m. February 20. VBAC Baby! Augusta: Birthing the Easy Way. Book presentation by Lindsey Whinghter; DONA-trained doula and mother of two. VBAC BABY! Augusta, Ga., offers in-person facilitated meetings to listen to and share birth-related stories in a safe and confidential setting as well as support and referrals to local community and national resources for Vaginal Birth After Cesarean (VBAC). Contact Crystal Strickland, 321-794-3695 or e-mail JadeTigr7@ aol.com. Monthly meetings are held at Steinle Wellness Center, 122 Old Evans Rd., Augusta. 7-8 p.m. February 27. Trust Birth Augusta Birth Stories & Cinema Circle: Guerilla Midwife. Robin Lim, CNN Hero of the Year, award-winning film advocates a more gentle approach to childbirth, where giving birth becomes the natural process it used to be instead of the clinical separation it now so often is. Meetings are held to watch a water/home birth film and then discuss and share birth stories. Trust Birth Initiative stands on the truth that birth is safe, interference is risky and that women (and their partners) have the ability and responsibility to educate themselves to make informed choices. They do not promote any birth attendant as being more essential to the process than the woman herself and fully supports a woman’s right to choose birth at home with any attendant or no attendant. Contact Lynn Reed, Trust Birth facilitator, TrustBirthaugusta@comcast. net or 706-833-5101. Monthly meeting are held at Steinle Wellness Center, 122 Old
calendar Evans Rd. 7-8:30 p.m. La Leche League This breastfeeding support group meets the second Tuesday of each month at 10 a.m. at the First Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church, 2204 Kimberly Dr. Evening meetings are held on the third Thursday of each month at 7 p.m. at Wesley United Methodist Church. Call 706-737-2405 or log on at lllusa.org/web/AugustaGA.html. Peaceful Parenting Augusta This unofficial Attachment Parenting support group is for families who believe in parenting gently and building children’s spirits, minds and bodies through nurturing, attentive and practical approaches. Join their Yahoo! group at Peaceful_Parenting_Augusta or email Jen at theotherbradford@yahoo.com. Celiac Disease Support Group E-mail RoseforHealth@aol.com. Meets the third Tuesday of every month in Suite 120 of the Summerville Building, adjacent to Trinity Hospital of Augusta. Open to those with celiac disease, gluten intolerance or on a gluten-free diet. Discussions include information on celiac
disease, do’s and don’ts of a gluten-free diet and more. 7-8:30 p.m. Common Bond Parent Support Group Geneice McCoy, organizer. 706-729-0012 or commonbond@comcast. net. For parents of children of all ages and diagnoses with challenging disabilities but remarkable perseverance and resilience. Meets the second Thursday of each month at 7 p.m. Call for location. Georgia Health Sciences Health System (formerly MCGHealth) Mom’s Connection This weekly support group for mothers meets each Tuesday at 1225 Walton Way in Room 101C. The group is for new moms and babies looking for support in the early stages of parenthood. Call 706-721-8283 or go to georgiahealth.org. Parent Support Group The Child Advocacy Center, a program of Child Enrichment Inc., a nonprofit organization serving victims of sexual abuse in our community, is offering a support group for parents and caregivers of children who have been sexually abused. Groups will be held the
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second Tuesday of each month. Call 706737-4631 for information and location. This group is not appropriate for sex offenders. Mothers of Advanced Maternal Age (Mama’s) Did you have a child at age 35 or older? Are you expecting? This group of “older” moms welcomes you for meetings, support and play dates. Disabled children welcome. Contact Ami McKenzie at 706-364-5245 or hoopnhollar2@yahoo.com or go to http:// groups.yahoo.com/group/MaMasInAugusta/. MOMS Club Visit momsclubaugusta.org. Ever feel like you’re the only mother who stays home? You are not alone! Come meet other at-home mothers at the MOMS Club, an international nonprofit organization. Mothers of Preschoolers (MOPS) A nondenominational Christian group for mothers of preschool-aged children. Meets the first and third Tuesday of each month from 10 a.m.-noon and the first Tuesday of each month from 7-9 p.m. at Trinity-on-theHill United Methodist Church on Monte Sano Ave. Call 706-738-8822 or visit orgsites.
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calendar com/ga/trinityumcmops. The Aiken Charter group of MOPS meets the second Tuesday of each month for moms to learn, share, support each other and socialize. Meetings are held in the South Aiken Presbyterian Church fellowship hall, 1711 Whiskey Rd. Free childcare and dinner for those attending, reservations required. You do not need to be a member of South Aiken Presbyterian to attend. Check out MOPS Aiken on Facebook, contact Jennie Beat at 803-640-4742 or e-mail mopsaiken@gmail. com for more information or to register for childcare. Hospital Programs Doctors Hospital Call 706-651-BABY (2229) or go to doctors-hospital.net for registration and class location. Pre-registration required for most programs. February 7. The Daddy Class. For dads, by a dad. Learn about the joys and challenges of fatherhood and ways to support mom. 7-9 p.m. February 21 & 28. Showing and Glowing. A two-session class for mid-pregnancy that dispels myths of pregnancy and childbirth. 7-9:30 p.m.
Ongoing. Support Group for Families Who Have Lost a Baby During Pregnancy, Childbirth or Early Infancy. Call 706-7218299 or visit their Web site.
successful breastfeeding. 7-9 p.m. Georgia Health Sciences Medical Center, 1120 15th St., West Entrance, First Floor, Patient and Family Resource Library.
February 2. Safe Kids East Central Presents Cribs for Kids. Learn how to provide a safe sleep environment for your child. Families who demonstrate a financial need will receive a portable crib, fitted sheet, sleep sac and pacifier for a small fee. 5:45-8 p.m. Building 1010C, 1125 Walton Way. Call Rene Hopkins, RN, at 706-721-7606.
February 28. IHOP Pancake Day CMN Fundraiser. Free short stacks from 7 a.m.-10 p.m. on National Pancake Day in support of the Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals. All local proceeds will go to the not-for-profit Georgia Health Sciences Children’s Medical Center. Local participating IHOPs are located at 2525 Washington Rd. and 3125 Peach Orchard Rd. in Augusta, 4361 Washington Rd. in Evans and 180 Aiken Mall Drive in Aiken. Contact Catherine Stewart at 706721-4004 or castewart@georgiahealth.edu for information.
February 7. Autism Spectrum Disorder Support and Resource Group (The “A-Team”). Provides support for families, caregivers and friends of children with autism spectrum disorders including autism, Asperger’s and PDD NOS. 6-7 p.m. Georgia Health Sciences Children’s Medical Center, first floor, Family Resource Library, Room 1801. Call Family Services Development at 706-721-5160 or e-mail ddrakele@georgiahealth.edu for more information. February 8. Safe Kids East Central Safety Seat Inspection. Four out of five car seats are used incorrectly. Schedule an appointment to make sure yours is installed properly by calling 706-541-3970. 10 a.m.-noon at the Columbia County Sheriff Substation, 650 Ronald Reagan Dr., Evans.
February 23. Babies, Bumps and Bruises. Class for families, parents and friends. Infant CPR taught by the American Heart Association. Infant safety issues also are covered. 7-9 p.m.
February 9. Car Seat Class. Car seat safety, education and training. Financial assistance is available to Medicaid and Peach Careeligible families. 5:45-8 p.m., MCGHealth Building 1010C, 1225 Walton Way. Call 706721-7606 to register.
February 24. Heart Health Education Program/Luncheon. Presented by Doris E. Tummillo, M.D. As people age it’s important that they remain active. Dr. Tummillo will discuss how to focus on the importance of exercise. 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. in the H2U Building, 1305 Interstate Pkwy., Augusta, Medical Office Building 3. Register by calling 706-651-6716 by February 22.
February 9. Weight Loss Seminar. Extra weight can lead to heart disease, sleep apnea, hypertension, diabetes and a myriad of other health problems. But reducing your weight can improve your health. Surgical options for weight loss at GHSU include gastric bypass, sleeve gastrectomy, adjustable gastric banding and body contouring. Find out more at this free weight loss seminar.
February 25. Let’s Talk...Heart to Heart —Women and Heart Health Symposium. A girl’s day out that may save your life. Inspiration and motivation to get your heart healthy. See complete details in SPECIAL EVENTS listings. Pre-registration is required and space is limited. Call 706-6514343 to register.
February 18. Safe Kids East Centeral Safe Sitter Program. Teaches 11 to 13-year-olds how to handle emergencies while caring for younger children. During the course, instructors provide students hands-on practice in basic techniques so they are prepared to act in a crisis. Call 706-721-7606 to register.
Georgia Health Sciences Health System Register online at georgiahealth.org.
February 21. Breastfeeding Class. This free class, led by an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant, helps expectant parents gain knowledge and support to ensure
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Ongoing. Safe Kids East Central Car Seat Classes. By appointment only at the following locations: Safe Kids Office, Medical Building 1010C, 1225 Walton Way and Martinez Columbia Fire Rescue Headquarters. Ongoing. Safe Kids East Central Child Safety Seat Inspections. By appointment only at the following locations: Safe Kids Office, Medical Building 1010C, 1225 Walton Way—Contact Rene Hopkins at 706-7217606. Martinez Columbia Fire Rescue Headquarters. Trinity Hospital of Augusta Call Women’s Health Services at 706-4817727 or visit trinityofaugusta.com for information and registration. February 3. Baby Care Basics and Breastfeeding. Two popular classes offered together. 9 a.m.-noon. February 4. Lamaze Childbirth Education. Helps mother and support person understand the final stages of pregnancy as well as labor and the birth of your baby. Covers natural and medicated deliveries, Lamaze coping techniques and more. 8:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m. February 11. Stepping Into Manhood. Boys ages 12 to 15 accompanied by their father, male relative or friend, join in a frank discussion of sexuality, peer pressure and responsible decision making. This course teaches teenage boys the importance of making their own decisions and how to assertively say “No.” 9:30 a.m.-noon. February 13. HUG Your Baby. Help, Understanding and Guidance for young families as they prepare for the birth of their infant. 4-5 p.m.
February 23. Childbirth Education 101. An overview of the signs and symptoms of labor as well as the stages of delivery. Information about pain relief, newborn bonding and postpartum adjustment. 6:008:30 p.m. February 28. The Birds, The Bees and Me. This course brings together 12-15-year-old girls and their mother, female relative or friend, for frank discussions on sexuality, peer pressure and responsible decision making. Course content deals with the changes, challenges and decisions that confront today’s teenage girls. 6:30-9 p.m.
• Columbia County Library. Tuesday and Thursday. 10 a.m.-2 p.m. • Headquarters. Wednesday, Thursday and Friday. 10 a.m.-2 p.m. • Maxwell Library. Thursdays from noon-4 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Augusta Headquarters Library 823 Telfair St. 706-821-2600. Story Times Preschoolers: Tuesdays at 10 a.m. Ages 2 and under: Wednesdays at 10 a.m. (parent must stay with child).
February 29. Infant CPR. Learn how to respond in an emergency situation using infant mannequins and a simple step-bystep method. 6-8 p.m.
Every Friday in February Is Game Day. Come play a board game, bring a friend or make a new friend. 3:30-4:30 p.m. in the Children’s Department.
University Health Care System Call 706-774-2825 or logon at www.universityhealth.org/calendar for information. Registration is required for most programs.
Black History Month Movie Series All shows at noon. Bring lunch and enjoy a short documentary. February 2. Mariana Anderson: A Portrait in Music. 48 minutes. February 9. Ralph Ellison: The Self-Taught Writer. 62 minutes. February 23. Lady Day: The Many Faces of Billie Holiday. 60 minutes.
New: Young Women with Breast Cancer. Meets the third Friday each month. A support group for women in their 20s through 30s dealing with breast cancer. 12:20 p.m. at the University Hospital Breast Health Center, Professional Center 2, Suite 205, 818 St. Sebastian Way. February 3 & 4 or 17 & 18. Weekender Childbirth Preparation Class. A complete childbirth preparation class designed for those with time constraints or fluctuating schedules. Friday from 6:30-9:30 p.m. and Saturday from 9 a.m.-5:30 p.m. February 6-27 (Mondays), February 7-28 (Tuesdays) and February 8-29 (Wednesdays). Childbirth Preparation. This fourweek series is designed to inform and prepare all expectant parents regardless of birth plans. Class topics include various stages of labor, breathing and relaxation and how to care yourself and your new baby. February 16. Breastfeeding Class. 7-9 p.m. at Babies R Us, 4225 Washington Rd., Evans. February 23. Introduction to Infant CPR. 7-8:30 p.m. Library Events AARP Tax Help will be offered at the following locations. • Euchee Creek Library. Monday. 10 a.m.-2 p.m.
Genealogy Programs February 2. Genealogy Research in Richmond County. 2 p.m. February 16. Government Land Records Online. 2:30 p.m. Children’s Program: Special Tuesday Stories 10 a.m. February 7. Celebrate Black History Month—Anansi Stories and Crafts. February 14. Valentine’s Day Craft. February 21. Children’s Mardi Gras Party and Craft. February 28. Meet Your Local Dentist. Learn about brushing, flossing, nutrition and plaque. Wednesday Computer Classes @HQ February 8. Beginner’s Computer. 10 a.m. February 15. Microsoft Publisher. 10 a.m. February 18. Saturday School: Excel I. 10 a.m.-1 p.m. February 22. Microsoft Word I at 10 a.m., Microsoft Word II at 2:30 p.m. February 29. Beyond Google. 10 a.m. February 1-March 1. Children’s Program—Dragon Scales Month. Come meet the challenge! For every book that you read ask for a dragon scale, write the name of the book in the scale and let’s see www.augustafamily.com
if you can make the dragon stretch all the way around the Children’s Department. The more books you read, the longer the dragon. February 11. Young Adult Programs: A Love It or Hate It Valentine’s Day Party. Ages 12-18. Make edible jewelry, play “name the famous couple” game, guess titles of the greatest love stories and sample delicious chocolate. 2:30 p.m. February 11. Children’s Program— Folktales. Grades K-3. Fun with Folktales (Valentine’s Day Stories). Listen to tales of love from around the world and decorate a Valentine’s Day cookie. Registration required. 2:30-3:30 p.m. February 16. It’s Your Book Club. Discuss Philip S. Foner’s Twelve Years a Slave. 6 p.m. February 17. Teen Library After Hours: A Night of Improv. Be at the HQ library before closing time, 5:30. Second Floor YA Room. February 18. Diamond in the Rough Artistic Showcase. Bringing the community together through the arts with music, poetry, spoken word, singing and more.4 p.m. Please call Joe Rob at 704-200-1293 to participate or volunteer. Appleby Branch 260 Walton Way. 706-736-6244. Story Times Wednesdays. 10:05-10:20 a.m., ages 1835 months (parent must stay with child). 10:30-11:15 a.m. age 3 and up. February 13. YA Movie Night. Grades 6-12. Mr. Popper’s Penguins. 5:30-7 p.m. February 18. Friends of the Library Book Sale. 10 a.m.-1 p.m. February 23. Healthy Heart Kids Crafts. Ages 3-5. Registration begins February 6. February 28. Computer Class—Beginning Word. Registration begins February 6. 11 a.m. Columbia County Library 7022 Evans Towne Center Blvd. 706-863-1946. Registration is required for all programs. Story Times Tuesdays. 11 a.m. for under age 2. Augusta Family | February 2012 • 41
calendar Monday, Wednesday and Thursday. 10:15 a.m. for 2-year-olds. Monday, Wednesday and Thursday. 11 a.m. for preschoolers. Computer Boot Camp @ Evans February 3. Introduction to Windows. 10 a.m. February 10. Introduction to the Internet. 10 a.m. February 13. E-mail for Beginners. 10 a.m. February 13. Google School. 1 p.m. Young Adult Programs February 8 at 1 p.m. and February 9 at 4 p.m. Valentine’s Day Gifs. Learn to make .gifs to send out to your friends instead of a traditional valentine. Registration required. February 21. Jewelry Workshop. Make a small set of bead jewelry. Registration required. 4 p.m. Valentine Craft Make a Valentine gift for Mom & Dad. February 9. Ages 6-11. 4-6 p.m. February 22. Ages 8-11. 1 p.m. February 23. Ages 8-11. 5 p.m. February 9. Special Winter Gadget Event—iPad or iPod. For children ages 8-11 and their parents. Bring your mobile devices and share some cool apps for school. 6:30 p.m. February 13. Sweetheart Story Time. Read stories, make a craft and have a snack. 5:30 p.m. February 16. Brown Bag Book Discussion. Picking Cotton by Jennifer Thompson. 11 a.m.
Diamond Lakes Library Diamond Lakes Regional Park. 706-772-2432. African-American History on the Web Explore multimedia resources devoted to African-American history during this guided tour of the Web. Resources discussed include the American Memory Collections and The African American Mosaic of the Library of Congress, online genealogical resources and more. Whether you have a general interest in the topic or need assistance with a project for African-American History Month, this course, designed for older children, teens and adults, offers information and starting places for further exploration. One session. Participants must have basic computer, keyboard and mouse skills. Registration required. Free. Three sections offered; register for one section only. Section A: February 6. 4-5:30 p.m. Section B: February 18. 10:30 a.m.-noon. Section C: February 29. 6-7:30 p.m. Technology Classes for Beginners Free. Registration required and begins February 6. February 8 & 15. Google Docs Basics. This is an introduction to Google Docs (Documents). Learn how to navigate Google Docs, use templates and create new documents, presentations and spreadsheets. Participants must have general knowledge of computing and be able to use a keyboard and mouse. 6 p.m.
February 25. Children’s Saturday Event. Presentation by special guest, former WAGT chief meteorologist Jeff Rucker. 10 a.m.
February 9, 16 and 23. Computing for Beginners. This course establishes a basic computing vocabulary and introduces first-time computer users to the mouse, keyboard and Windows desktop. Designed for those with little or no experience using personal computers. Those registering for this course may not register for another technology class in February at this branch. 10 a.m.
February 28. Teen Digital Photography Club New Year Party. Come meet other teens interested in photography to discuss ideas for the coming year. Light refreshments provided. Registration required. 4 p.m.
Google Calendar Basics. This course is an introduction to Google Calendar, which allows you to share calendars and create events. Users will learn about Web and mobile settings and how to set reminders.
February 20. Monday Night Book Discussion. Title decided in January. 6:30 p.m. February 21. Financial Aid Presentation. Georgia Department of Labor. 6 p.m.
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Must have general knowledge of computing and be able to use a keyboard and mouse. One session. Call for date and time. February 20. School’s Out Movie for Children and Families. Free. Bring your snacks. Call the branch for the title, description and rating of the family friendly movie to be shown. 2 p.m. Friedman Branch 1447 Jackson Rd. 706-736-6758. Story Times Tuesdays. 10 a.m. February 13. Kids’ Valentine’s Day Party. Games, crafts, treats and fun! Suggested for pre-school through 5th grade. Call to register. 6-7:30 p.m. Ongoing Spanish Language Class No registration required. Join any time. Mondays. Intermediate Spanish. 2:30-4 p.m. Mondays. Beginner’s Spanish. 4-5 p.m. Harlem Branch Library 375 N. Louisville St. 706-556-9795. February 9. A Charlie Brown Valentine. Special story time and craft. 5 p.m. February 14. YA Anti-Valentines Day Party. Featuring the movie Little Shop of Horrors. 5 p.m. February 16. Book Discussion Group. Discuss a modern Southern classic, Lamb in His Bosom, by Caroline Miller. Miss Miller was the first Georgia author to receive a Pulitzer Prize for literature. Maxwell Branch Library 1927 Lumpkin Rd. February 28. Maxwell Morning Book Club. Rebecca Makkai’s The Borrower will be discussed. Wallace Branch Library 1237 Laney-Walker Blvd. 706-722-6275. February 1. Valentine’s Card Craft. Ages 3-5. Registration required. 9:30 a.m. February 7. Movie: The Wedding Date. 5:30 p.m. Registration required. February 9. Movie: Nick and Norah’s Infinite Playlist. 5:30 p.m. Registration required.
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Augusta Family | February 2012 • 43
Talkin’ About My Generation
Three residents representing three age groups share their reflections on family, life and fun.
by Grace Belangia photos by Chris Thelen
Ann Beth Strelec, 43, lives in
Augusta with five Italian greyhounds. She works as a Richmond County High School gifted teacher. Likes To: Laugh.
Favorite Birthday Present Ever: My grandmother’s ring. Favorite Flavor of Birthday Cake: Carrot cake with extra cream cheese icing. Favorite Indulgence: Christian Louboutin shoes. Favorite Place To Be: The beach.
Chris Henry, 59, of Augusta, is
married to Anne Ealick Henry and works for Burke County Public Schools as administrative liaison. The couple has two daughters, a son and a golden retriever named Pawley. Likes To: Broadcast Burke County Football on the radio (94.9 FM).
Miranda Brown
, 13, lives in Martinez with her parents and little brother, Colby. Likes To: Hang out, act, goof off. Favorite Flavor of Birthday Cake: Extra chocolate.
Favorite Possession: College football ring.
Favorite Ice Cream Flavor: Mint chocolate chip.
Best Birthday Present Ever: Volkswagon Karmann Ghia in 1972 from my parents.
Favorite Indulgence: Starbucks coffee.
Favorite Flavor of Birthday Cake: Red velvet.
Favorite Place To Be: Outside. Can’t Live Without: Sesame chicken.
Favorite Indulgence: T’s hush puppies.
Biggest Fear: Spiders.
Can’t Live Without: Anne Ealick.
Greatest Hope: To be in a Broadway play.
Is Reading: Anna Karenina and Guns, Germs, and Steel.
Words He Lives By: You really do know a lot when you get older, but it’s boring stuff.
Friends Say She’s: Zany.
Keeps Her Up at Night: The very caffeine that kept me awake during the day—or a really good book.
Finds Inspiration: Sitting at the base of the Stonewall Jackson monument outside of Old Barracks at the Virginia Military Institute.
Is Reading: Extras.
Words She Lives By: You only get out of it what you put into it.
44 • Augusta Family | February 2012
www.augustafamily.com
Song Playing in Her Head: “Jar of Hearts.”
Inspiration: Jesus.