CreativeLiving Features 5 10 11
Entertaining tips Shape up your home for any occasion
What to do if your child is being bullied Tips on how to handle this very serious situation
Create lasting memories Learn about personal and visual ways to remember those you love.
Editor’s note I just love playing hostess. Opening up my home to family and friends is something I dearly cherish. I’m sure it’s important to you as well. That’s why this month we’ve included a feature story on how to prepare your home for guests on any occassion. Also in this issue you’ll learn how to deal with a bully problem. Another topic dear to my heart is memories. Learn about a variety of ways you can honor the memories of your loved ones through personal and visual memorials. Have a great read.
Specialty Publications Editor
Contact Creative Living is a monthly advertising-sponsored magazine published by the Specialty Publications Department of The Community Press/The Community Recorder.
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Questions and comments can be sent to Editor Melissa Hayden c/o The Community Press/ 394 Wards Corner/Loveland, OH 45140 or e-mail mhayden@communitypress.com.
Topics
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Business 3 Local Goods • Services
Living 6 Senior Apartments • Care
4 At Home
9 Health & Fitness
Decor • Repair
Mind • Body • Spirit
L O C A L
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A ‘sweet’ celebration You are invited to join A Sweet Life on Saturday Oct. 2 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. as the staff and crafters celebrate the shop’s Second Anniversary! All day you can enjoy new fall and Halloween crafts, taste testing, sidewalk sale, face painting, Crafter Meet ‘n’ Greet, and enter to win a $50 gift certificate to A Sweet Life. The crafters have been working hard to bring you a large selection of unique, handcrafted, one-of-a-kind items. Choose from beautifuly hand painted yard art, support your local high school, college, and pro sports teams with whimsical letter art photography, laser engraved picture frames, glasses, and much more. Decorate your home with table runners, placemats, floral designs, scented soy candles, diaper
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cakes, and scrapbooks. Start your Christmas shopping with gifts for the children on your list. Crayon bags, Barbie dresses, 18-inch doll clothes, child aprons & chef hats for boys and girls, dresses, hairbows; just to suggest a few ideas. Love pets? Select from Schnauzer Rescue decorated items including sweatshirts, purses, key chains, comfy pet blankets, and more! One-hundred percent of proceeds from these sales goes directly to Schnauzer Rescue. Gourmet cupcakes, assorted candies, and chocolate covered pretzels are available daily. As a thank you for your business these past two years, make sure to bring in the coupon on this page for 10 percent off your purchase valid only during their Oct. 2 celebration.
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Why didn't it last? It is a common complaint: roof shingles that fail too soon, leaving frustrated homeowners asking; why didn’t it last? Roof Time has the answer. According to Justin Shoemaker, a company estimator, it has to do with far more than the shingles. “Shingles today are well made, but depend on what I call the ‘Energy Trilogy.’ he explains. “It’s due to the ventilation, insulation, and radiation, not being properly balanced.” The problem starts with unbalanced ventilation, not enough attic insulation, and no radiation barrier. Ventilation and insulation are now
required by code, but a radiation barrier is not. Therefore, most builders and roofers don’t take it into consideration, according to Shoemaker. Roof Time conducts a free Energy audit with every quote. By using a thermal image camera (like the ones the cable TV ghost hunters use) and digital thermometer, their estimators can pinpoint the problem areas that hide under the roof. Roof Time is an Owens Corning Preferred Contractor and is one of only three roofers locally who have obtained the added certification as a TOP OF THE HOUSE roofer-insulator. “We have
the knowledge,” says Shoemaker. “We have quality products. But more importantly, we are passionate about serving our customer. We know that our integrity depends on our service.” A Roof Time quote includes options for installing a roof ventilation system that meets or exceeds the FHA specification, and also increases the attic insulation to the Department of Energy recommended level of R-60. With the current 1500 dollar tax credit that is available, it’s like getting FREE insulation added to your home. The estimators also offer the option of
installing a radiant barrier that reduces an attic’s temperature by as much as 50 degrees every day. Using these techniques Roof Time is confidant that homeowners can add another 5-10 years to their roof’s warranty, and the best part according to Terry Littleton, a Roof Time estimator? “Homeowners tell us every day that when they compare our bid to other roofers, we are doing so much more; but our price matches up with their other quotes!” These factors will pay immediate dividends too, as you’ll be able to save 20 percent on your monthly energy bill and receive as
much as $1,500 in government credit from the American Recovery Act that goes through 2010! As Shoemaker says,” If you are buying a roof anyway, why not be sure it lasts and get paid for doing it right the first time, by qualifying for the tax credit?!” Rooftime began back in 1995, when Ricky Feltner and his wife Sandy started a small family business. By 1999, Preferred Roofing’s four estimators (which included one son and one son-in-law) and terrific work crews had earned a ranking in the Top 100 Contractors in America, and had sales in excess of $2 million! Ricky passed away at the end of 1999, and the company struggled to carry on without his dynamic leadership. Today Ricky’s legacy has been preserved by no less than FIVE roofing contractors that were once part of his vision, all successfully operating their own companies using the same principles and ideals he established over 15 years ago! At Roof Time, Sandy is still answering the calls (even at nights and on the weekends) and Ricky’s grandson Justin is now a project estimator! Roof Time is a true family owned and operated business with deep community roots; over fifteen year’s business experience, and is now into their 3RD generation of serving Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky! Roof Time’s attention to the details has earned LAST see page 5
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Easy entertaining tips to shape up your home for any occasion First and foremost, decide what type of ambiance your event needs and embrace it. If you are having an evening event, indulge in deep colors, soft lighting and upbeat music to keep your company awake! If it’s a daytime event, go bold and bright with your color scheme. “I love to target my audience and add things to my table settings that inspire my guests,” says Angela Giannopoulos, a premier New York event stylist and owner of SC3 Group who has worked with brands such as Estee Lauder, Donna Karan and Missoni. “I recently decorated a birthday table for a group of grade school children. I used oversized legos and bright candy to entertain them.” For unique ideas such as these, Giannopoulos has offered several tips for easy athome entertaining. • Versatility is key. Make considerations when stocking your kitchen cabinets -- consider cookware and serving dishes that can be used both for smaller and larger occasions, as well as casual
and formal ones. I also love expandable kitchen tables because you can accommodate a house full of guests and break it down for breakfast for two the morning after. My last bit of advice is to choose dinnerware that is versatile. Consider something that is durable enough for daily use and chic enough for evening occasions, such as Oneida’s Chef’s Table Collection. This mix and match collection was designed with a modern look and crafted in all white porcelain to complement any table setting.
near your home to add life to your table settings. Various shades of colors found in wildflowers often create an organic energy making a table setting more inviting for guests. Also, arranging flowers in different sized vases can be visually appealing on a long table while single, tall flowers work well with a table for two.
• Accessorize your home. I often hang on to things that I shouldn’t, but have learned that any little knick knack can come into play when decorating for events. I’ve made candle holders out of mason jars, a menu with a chalkboard and centerpieces using old pitchers. I’m not encouraging clutter- just keep a stash of items that could be useful when entertaining and it may save you that extra trip to the store.
• Accumulate a beverage collection. Nothing makes your visitors feel welcome like offering them a drink when they walk in the door. Rather than going out and stocking up on wine, liquor or soft drinks before you host, gradually accumulate a collection. Your guests will be impressed by your selection when you have an assortment to offer. Also, consider outfitting your home with drinkware for every occasion.
• Use nature to your advantage. When decorating, use sprigs and blooms grown
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LAST from page 4 them the prestigious Angie’s List Super Service Award for the past four years in a row as well as, the Community Press Favorite Roofer for 2009! Estimators arrive on time and prepared, in neatly lettered vehicles and uniforms; inspect the
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attic portion of the roof, then inspect and measure from the roof top (not from the ground like most companies have started to do). An estimate can be prepared right from their vehicles or emailed back the same day! Estimates are free and
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include color digital pictures of what they find. Roof Time utilizes all the best of today’s technology such as Thermal imaging cameras to pinpoint hidden leaks and decay, and satellite measurement software to offer ‘to the inch measurements” for
“to the penny pricing’. Call Sandy, at 859-341TIME or 513-753-TIME, to schedule a FREE roof inspection and visit, www.time2roof.com for valuable Internet only offers! For more information on Roof Time call Sandy
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the Office Manager, at 859-341-TIME or 513-528TIME, to schedule a free roof inspection and visit, www.time2roof.com, for a valuable Internet only offer.
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Protect Your teen's hearing with Kidzsafe Earbuds Hearing loss among adolescents is on the rise, probably because kids are listening to loud sounds on their iPods and computers through earbuds, doctors say. Children as young as 12 are experiencing noticeable hearing loss, and hearing loss from noise that occurs early in life isn’t reversible. “Once you have hearing loss, there’s a greater risk of that hearing loss progressing as you get older,” a clinical professor of otolaryngology at USC told Bloomberg.
What’s more, hearing loss may affect teenagers’ social development and education. As another physician told Bloomberg, “In an educational setting, even kids with slight hearing loss do not perform as well as those with normal hearing.” Most importantly, though, adolescent hearing loss is potentially preventable. Many experts agree that the surge in hearing loss among the young is attributable to noise. It’s no wonder, when you consider that an iPod can reach 120 decibels-the equiv-
alent of standing next to a jet plane during takeoff. Hearing damage can begin when listening to sounds above 85 decibels. That’s why Christopherson & Clark Hearing Center is offering Kidzsafe Earbuds by Westone. Kidzsafe Earbuds are compatible with any audio device, and no matter how high the volume is turned up, the earbuds will keep the sound your child hears below 85 decibels. Earbuds come in pink, blue, and green, and are on sale now for $16.95 with coupon.
You can’t always be around, but you can protect your child’s hearing when you’re not. Start the school year off right. Stop in to pick up Kidzsafe Earbuds for your child, or even yourself. If you or a loved one would like a no-obligation demonstration of new hearing technology, a personalized consultation, or a free copy of the Consumer’s Guide to Hearing Aids, call 5989444 today.
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Autumn health notes Here are some sure indications that the season is changing-the air is getting crisp, leaves are changing colors, Halloween candy is on the shelves . . . and “flu vaccinations available” signs are popping up all over. What should you do to stay healthy as we move out of summer? Here’s some sound advice for you and your family. The seasonal flu is clearly a health hazard, especially for seniors. Seasonal flu is contagious and can range from a minor illness to a lifethreatening one. In fact, the CDC reports that about 36,000 people in the United States die each year from the flu. The best way to prevent flu is to have a vaccination. In fact, even if you receive the
vaccine late in the season, it is still worth doing. Fall is the best time to get that all important flu shot and there are lots of places to get it-from the local drug store to your doctor’s office. Make sure you take the time to get that flu shot! Last winter we had lots of concerns about another type of flu. That was H1N1 and standard flu vaccine did not prevent it. To this point, there’s no indication that H1N1 vaccinations will be necessary this year so we’ll watch and hope that stays the case. In addition to your flu shot, some of the key ways to stay healthy are good all year long. If there is one thing you need to do well to maintain your health, it is good hand
washing. Washing your hands thoroughly is one of the very best ways to prevent the spread of disease. Use soap and warm water and try singing two choruses of “Happy birthday” to yourself to get a sense of how long that washing should take. Make sure that the chill in the air does not put a chill in your activity regime. Keep moving, walking outside when you can and inside when the weather is not conducive, can help keep your body strong and healthy. Eat properly and make sure that you are putting the right “fuel” in to nourish your “engine.” Take care of yourselfthat’s the key to a healthy today and a healthy future.
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Quality nursing care, rehabilitation Make a 90 percent Clovernook provides quality nursing care and rehabilitation, as well as one of the most progressive, effective wound care centers in the Tristate. Clovernook is nestled into six park-like acres in the residential neighborhood of North College Hill and its caring professional staff is dedicated to serving the needs of the residents and their families. The Progressive Wound Centre was
opened in 2004, due to Clovernook’s successes in healing vascular, venous, diabetic, surgical, pressure and complex wounds. The Progressive Wound Centre team uses state of the art products and innovative treatments. With quality care, careful monitoring, and a unified team approach, the professionals at The Progressive Wound Centre advance healing in dramatic ways. The Progressive Wound
Centre is like no other in the region! All rehabilitation therapies: Physical, Occupational, Speech, Respiratory, and Recreational are available to their residents. Clovernook is Medicaid and Medicare certified and provides private pay, as well as some private insurances. They provide long-term and short-term care, and skilled and intermediate care.
change in your life Weight loss is 80 percent what you eat, 10 percent exercise and 10 percent genetics! Shake Shack Nutrition, located at 6701 Ruwes Oak and Rybolt Road, offers individual coaching to maintain, gain or lose weight and coaches provide weight loss competitions. Wellness Coach Laureen tells us the approach taken is results oriented and healthy. She is especially excited about the Saturday morning weight loss challenge that includes a companion exercise class, called Make a 90% Change! Past participant Michele Stanley lost 33 pounds and states: “I can’t begin to express how thrilled I am about the changes I have enjoyed as a result of Laureen’s Weight Loss Challenge and Herbal Life Products! All my lipid profile has changed for the better and I am now able to stop my cholesterol lowering medication”. For more information, you can reach Laureen at 574-7200 and request a private, complimentary consultation or ask about the weight loss challenges.
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Dr. Kitzmiller and his wife Lori help snoring and sleep apnea patients with Oral Appliance Therapy.
Struggle With Snoring, Sleep Apnea or CPAP? Call Dr. Kitzmiller Do you snore or know someone who does? Do you have Sleep Apnea but struggle nightly with your CPAP machine? You're not alone! An estimated 40 million Americans snore and nearly 20 million have Sleep Apnea, a condition where the airway collapses during sleep, causing the person to stop breathing and awaken multiple times every hour with a gasp. Sleep Apnea is a life threatening sleep disorder that left undiagnosed and untreated can shorten your lifespan up to 18 years! While CPAP is the gold standard of sleep apnea treatment, many
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people can't tolerate the wake up rested, without masks, hoses, and inconthat exhausted feeling. It venience. An oral appliis easy to use, every night, ance is an FDA and easy to care for. I approved CPAP can't imagine alternative that the nightly Want More fits over your noise and Information? teeth and hassle of a Visit cincisleep.com holds the CPAP machine lower jaw foranymore, for ward, keeping your me or my husband. airway from collapsing. A Dr. Kitzmiller and Lori sleep apnea sufferer himprovided excellent care. self, Dr. Kitzmiller tried They made this an easy CPAP but struggled with and uncomplicated soluit. He started using an tion to managing my Oral Appliance and now snoring and sleep apnea� he and his patients enjoy Jan quiet, healthful sleep Call Dr. Kitzmiller every night. today at 513-248-8848 to “I have been thrilled schedule your compliwith my oral appliance! I mentary consultation to saw improvement in just see if this solution is right a few days and now I for you!
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What to do your child is being
if
If your child is being bullied, she’s not alone. About 160,000 children in the United States miss school every day due to fear of attack or intimidation by other students, according to the National Education Association. Bullying is a serious problem that is growing worse, and is taking on new forms through the use of the Internet and mobile phones, say educators. Some estimates say that 25 percent of American children experience direct or indirect bullying daily. Broadly speaking, bullying can involve any number of behaviors, according to Findlaw.com, a leading online source of legal information, including sexual harassment of another student, teasing, excluding a student, calling a student names, physically pushing or attacking, threatening or hazing, spreading rumors, damaging or stealing belongings, or demanding money. Cyber-bullying, a rela-
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tively new form of bullying, takes place over the Internet through social media websites and forums, or through mobile devices. Many pre-teens and teens prefer to communicate with one another through texting on their mobile devices. Because kids can share messages quickly with a large group of students, cyber-bullying can be especially effective in spreading rumors about a student or harassing a student through the sharing of photos. Because this is a relatively new area of harassment, many school districts are still trying to determine the reach of their authority in off-campus cyber-bullying attacks. Bullying can have far-
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reaching consequences for the victim, the perpetrators and other students, who indirectly become distracted from their studies out of fear of becoming a bully’s next victim. Bullying has been cited as a factor in teen suicides as well as in a number of oncampus shooting massacres, including the infamous and tragic Columbine High School incident. In that case, media reports suggested that both of the shooters were victims of bullying. Historically, bullying among school children has not been a topic of broad public concern. In fact, some adults may view bullying as a rite of passage for children and
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youth, as popularized on the big screen and on TV programs. Because of events like Columbine, attention to bullying among children has increased dramatically among school personnel, members of the general public and policymakers. Today, according to Findlaw.com, 43 states have some form of antibullying laws in place, complementing anti-bullying policies established at the local level by private and public school boards. Here are some additional tips from Bullied see page 12
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Create lasting memories with a personal and visual memorial From the Egyptian pyramids to the Vietnam Veterans Wall in Washington, D.C., the emotional importance of memorialization transcends history and cultures, and it satisfies a basic human need to remember and to be remembered. In today’s completely customized society, the desire for personalization extends beyond life. In fact, nearly half of all consumers say that personalization has a significant impact on their funeral and memorial preferences, according to a study completed by Matthews International. Whether you choose a headstone, grave marker or cremation urn, consider how you would want to be remembered by future generations. Rob Newcombe, president of Matthews Cemetery Products, offers the following advice for creating a memorial that represents and celebrates life:
your children, your fishing pole, a favorite car or your family home – to a memorial plate through a bronze casting process. The result is a highly detailed and extremely personal memorial that can be used in conjunction with ground burials, cremation and mausoleum entombments. Professional designers work closely with individuals or families to create detailed renderings of each memorial. • Select the right words. Memorials can communicate much more than birth and death dates. While many people choose to have a favorite religious verse or inspirational quote engraved, also consider an excerpt from a beloved poem, lyrics from a song or even a special message to loved ones.
• Involve family and friends. Asking loved ones to participate in designing your memorial can make the process less intimidating and help them to fully understand your final wishes. Look through old family photo albums together, and • Plan ahead. Approximately one in five people share anecdotes and favorite stories that may prowith recent experience planning a funeral or memo- vide inspiration when selecting the creative rial say that the wishes of their loved ones were not elements of your memorial. known because they hadn’t provided written or verbal guidance. Take control over the final details of “Whether it’s just adding a photo or more your life and alleviate a future burden from those detailed information and imagery, families have closest to you by planning in advance the details of told us that personalized memorials provide future your memorial and sharing your after-life preferences generations with more information about their past with family and friends. and evoke powerful memories among visitors to the gravesite,” says Newcombe. “Each memorial can • Illustrate your life story. Images can transform a truly be a one-of-a-kind work of art that makes it posmemorial into a visual biography by depicting all sible for an individual to express his or her religious aspects of a life - from military service to special hon- devotion, patriotism and personal passions.” ors to leisure activities. For example, the Matthews Courtesy of ARAcontent Lasting Memories collection allows you to add up to eight of your favorite photos – such as snapshots with
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Bullied from page 10 Findlaw.com on what to do if you suspect that your child is the victim of a bully: Talk to your child. A lot of times your child will not want to talk about being bullied because they perceive it as embarrassing and humiliating. If you notice a change in your child’s behavior and attitudes, approach him first. Offer your support and let him know that action will be taken to improve the situation. Your child will most likely be feeling isolated at school and it’s important for him to know that he can confide in you. Document facts. Take pictures of any injuries and have your child give a detailed description of what happened. Write down the dates and times that these situations occurred and get statements from any other students, teachers or parents who may have observed the bullying. This information may be useful if police and school officials need to get involved to prove how long this has been going on and what the damage has been. Talk to teachers and the principal. Don’t wait. Immediately contact the school and alert school officials to the problems that your child is facing. Many schools are adopting a zero-tolerance policy toward bullying. Alert other adults about this situation as well, including parents of other children and the bus driver. The more people who are aware of bullying, the more chances the act has of being stopped.
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Put it in writing. In addition to talking directly to teachers and the school principal, put your concerns into writing to the principal, the superintendent and school board members. While many schools have adopted zero-tolerance policies, some school officials and teachers may not take seriously their own school’s bullying policies, or for that matter, state laws regarding bullying. Putting your concerns in writing sends a strong signal that you mean business. Encourage others to speak up. If the same child is bullying other students, persuade parents to report it too. School officials are more likely to respond immediately if they see the problem is affecting several students. Call the police. Many states require schools to report bullying incidents to the police, according to Findlaw.com. If your child has been the victim of a physical assault or repeated incidents of bullying, call the local authorities - especially if your school has not contacted local authorities. Talk with a lawyer. If your child has been physically or sexually harassed contact an attorney. Attorneys who specialize in personal injury litigation are probably best suited to represent you and your child. To learn about the law and what to do if your child is being bullied, visit Findlaw.com. Courtesy of ARAcontent
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