February, March 2014
Lapping up success Talented young swimmer on his way to the top
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Check us out on Facebook 515 Sawnee Corners Blvd • Cumming, GA 30040 • 678.947.3114
Vince Johnson Publisher Kevin Atwill Editor
Contents
8 Making a splash
Meet honor student, Eagle Scout and competitive swimmer Michael Wacho.
Adlen Robinson Director of Content Ryan Garmon Advertising Director Jennifer Sami Photographer Times Staff Graphic Design Contributing Writers Tim Keyser Alyssa LaRenzie Crystal Ledford Jennifer Sami Youth Magazine
is published bimonthly by the Forsyth County News Co., 302 Veterans Memorial Boulevard, Cumming, GA 30040. Advertising rates and deadlines available upon request. Contact Ryan Garmon at (770) 205-8960 or rgarmon@forsythnews.com. Follow us online at forsythnews.com, as well as:
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Youth Magazine | February, March 2014
12 Family of runners The four Patterson children, including 11-year-old twins, are active in Gotta Run Kids, an organization begun by their father.
14 Young Volunteers Emily Lundstrom and Christina Keyser are among the young volunteers at the local Humane Society shelter.
28 What’s trending
Our I.T. guy takes a look at tech trends for 2014. Michael Wacho - Page 8
A good kind of drama . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .16 Band program booming. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .20 Concerts are coming . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .24 Make your own pizza . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .26
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Welcome to
B
rrr, winter is definitely here and we still have a few more months of it before we can enjoy spring. In the meantime, I know you’ll love getting to know this issue’s cover kid, Michael Wacho. What an all-around great young man. An accomplished competitive swimmer, honor student and Eagle Scout, Michael is also a natural leader. Be sure to check out the feature on Gotta Run Kids, a running club. I really enjoyed visiting with the founder, Greg Patterson. Greg and his lovely wife, Monique, have four children, and the family of six loves to run. Greg is committed to helping other children learn how to
improve their running abilities and experience his passion for the sport. This action-packed issue also features many other stories of interest, from technology trends in 2014 and tips for having a pizza party to indoor activities during the colder months. Welcome to this winter issue of Youth. And remember, we’re always looking for interesting young people to profile in the magazine! Best,
Adlen W. Robinson is an award-winning columnist and feature writer who has been a contributor to the Forsyth County News for more than a decade. Adlen has lived in Forsyth County with husband Paul for 23 years and they have four children. Author of “Home Matters: The Guide to Organizing Your Life and Home,” Adlen is also busy working on her first cookbook. E-mail her at contact@adlenrobinson.com.
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Making a
Splash Teen finds his focus, success in swimming
D
on’t be surprised if you see 16-year-old Michael Wacho competing in a future summer Olympics. The lifelong Forsyth County resident, who’s a sophomore at Lakeview Academy in Gainesville, has been swimming competitively for seven years. “I grew up on Lake Lanier, so I have always loved swimming and everything about the water,” he said. At age 9, Wacho decided to join a summer swimming league that had a few practices a week and competed in some meets. “I found I enjoyed it,” he said. “I have a competitive spirit.” Wacho’s parents, Jodi and John, supported their son’s newfound interest, but had no idea how serious it would become. Seeking more of a challenge, Wacho took part in increasingly competitive leagues as he grew older. Three years ago, he joined the Chattahoochee Gold Swim Club, a year-round program that provides
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Youth Magazine | February, March 2014
Photos by Jennifer Sami professional coaching for all levels of competitive swimming. It was an ideal fit. The club boasts four locations in the metro Atlanta area, and Wacho’s team practices at the Cumming Aquatic Center. His swim schedule is grueling, to say the least. “We practice six times a week, with morning and evening practices twice a week,” he said. “And then we have two or three meets a month.” The meets could be as close as an hour away or as far as another state. They typically last three days, each at least six or seven hours long. In addition, the team has “dry land” workouts in which they do strength training and cardio exercises to stay in tip-top shape. While Wacho is proficient in all swim strokes, he prefers freestyle
and favors events such as the 100-and the 200-free. “Coach wants us to be versatile, so I also compete in other events, but those are my favorite ones,” he said. Wacho’s coach is Neil Savage, who heads the Chattahoochee Gold team at the Cumming location. He has been a swim coach for more than a decade, the past five years with Gold. Savage said Wacho’s skill is matched only by his character. “Michael is confident, but not arrogant at all. He’s actually very humble,” Savage said. “He is that good kind of confident that you have to have to be successful at sports.” The club emphasizes coaching each child individually, as well as a team. Savage added that coaches are interested in developing more than just swim skills. “We really strive to not only focus on performance, but also teaching the kids life lessons,” Savage said. “We want to instill strong values in them at a young age, so hopefully they will carry those values with them as they get older.” He went on to note that most people see swimming as an individual sport, but he wants the swimmers to remember they are part of a team. “We stress that cheering on your teammates is also important.” Wacho, one of two captains on the team, said Savage has been his best coach so far. “He is such a great coach because he is honest,” said Wacho. “If you don’t do well, he doesn’t sugarcoat it, but he also tells you when you have a good swim. He is really good at motivating you.” His mother echoed her son’s sentiments about
Michael Wacho enjoys the training involved in swimming. He practices six times a week, with two to three meets a month.
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Michael Wacho has been swimming competitively for seven years, the last three with the Chattahoochee Gold Swim Club in Cumming.
His mother echoed her son’s sentiments about Savage. “He is such a great role model and is committed to every single one of these kids,” she said. “He mainly works with the older kids, but he knows and encourages all of them. He sees each swimmer as an individual.” Swimming is not Wacho’s only interest. A Boy Scout since second grade, he earned the rank of Eagle last summer. For his Eagle Scout Project, he built a memorial garden at the family’s church, Deer Creek Shores Presbyterian. “He wanted to do something for the church he grew up in,” said his mother. The project involved developing a plan, fundraising, buying all of the equipment and plants and then installing, planting and finishing the garden. The Wachos have always stressed that swimming and extra-curricular activities are wonderful, but academics are more important. Perhaps not surprisingly, their son is an excellent student, having made Lakeview’s director’s list or honor roll the
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40 Majors Accredited Low Tuition Rate HOPE Grant Available 100% Placement Rate College Transfer Courses past two semesters. In addition, he’s in the Senior Beta Club. “Really all of these kids Michael swims and competes with are amazing,” Jodi Wacho said. “They are disciplined and have an incredible work ethic. “They are so committed, it is actually fascinating to see. All of us parents are always talking about what great kids they are and how blessed we are to have them.” Such a crazy schedule would make many people’s heads spin, but her son takes it all in stride. “It can be tiring, and sometimes I don’t get enough sleep, but it is worth it,” he said. “Once I am in the water, I tune everything else out and just focus on swimming.”
Lanier Technical College www.laniertech.edu Ph. 770-781-6800
— Adlen W. Robinson
EOI Youth Magazine | February, March 2014
11
Kids Gotta Photo submitted
RUN
Josh, top left, and 11-yearold twins Mikey and Caroline are members of the Patterson family. They participate in the Gotta Run Kids program in Forsyth County that is led by their father, Greg, and routinely run races.
Program helps instill discipline
W
hether they’re training to try out for a school team or just want to stay in shape, participants in a new youth program are enjoying the benefits of running. Gotta Run Kids is the brainchild of Greg Patterson, a longtime Forsyth County resident whose love of coaching and all things running led him to found it a year ago. The program is committed to “inspiring children to unlock their potential and achieve personal goals, through the discipline of running.”
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Youth Magazine | February, March 2014
“It is amazing to see how much a child’s confidence grows when they start running or just improve,” he said. Passionate about athletics, Patterson is a certified soccer and running coach, as well as a sports administrator. The father of four started focusing on running a couple of years ago after oldest son Matthew didn’t make the track team in seventh grade. After working to improve his performance, Matthew not only earned a spot on the Piney Grove team the next year, he went on to win the 1-mile race at the county’s middle school track championship. Now 15 and a freshman at South Forsyth High, he continues to run track. For the Pattersons, running is truly a family affair. Mom Monique and the couple’s other children — Josh, 14, and 11-year old twins
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The Gotta Run Kids program in Forsyth County is committed to “inspiring children to unlock their potential and achieve personal goals through the discipline of running.”
Mikey and Caroline — also are runners who participate in the club and routinely run races. “I started the group because I saw so many kids who just didn’t know how to improve their running, or just didn’t have a sport,” Patterson said. “We decided to try it and our first session we had 40 kids. In this session, we have more than doubled to 90.” There is one session each season, and they’re currently in their sixth session. There’s also a more competitive branch of the club, Great Strides. “For those who want to run track in high school, this is an excellent way to get ready for that,” Patterson said. “It is a great way to prepare them for how competitions work.” Parents often share with Patterson the positive effects running has had on their children. “(They) tell me that after running, their kids are more mentally alert, sleep better and have so much more energy,” he said. Encouraging even the slower runners is a priority. “We are all about helping these kids achieve their goals,” he said. “Many want to try out for the track team, or just have a higher level of fitness.” Gotta Run Kids is not affiliated with any particular school, and students in third through eighth grades are welcome. “We want our runners to concentrate on improving their own individual times and work on their personal goals,” Patterson said. “We are here to help them do that.” At the end of each session, the group participates in one of the local 5K races. Mikey recently came in first overall in a 5K with 900 runners (Lilly’s Run), while Caroline has finished first overall among women in five 5K races, including the recent Jingle Jog. The Great Strides team as a whole posted a fantastic year, winning or placing in many competitions. The 11/12-year-old girls won the USATF State Championship and placed second at the regional competition. Patterson said many parents of runners are active in their practices. “Sometimes there are 15 or more moms and dads out there running with their kids,” he said. “If you think about it, running is one of the only sports you can do with your child.” When asked about the requirements to get into Gotta Run Kids, Patterson said runners need just three things — shoes, a water bottle and a smile. — Adlen W. Robinson
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CUMMING FIRST UNITED METHODIST CHURCH 770 CANTON HWY., CUMMING, GA 30040 770-887-2900 Ext. 300 upward@cfumcga.com
SOCCER REGISTRATION OPEN UNTIL FEB. 15TH COST: 110.00 PER CHILD AGES 3 (BY 2/1/2014) THRU 4TH GRADE REGISTRATION FOR FLAG FOOTBALL BEGINS JUNE, 2014 COST: 110.00 PER CHILD AGES: KINDERGARTEN-7TH GRADE Youth Magazine | February, March 2014
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Young volunteers making an impact
Humane society grateful for help
Among the youngest volunteers at the Humane Society of Forsyth County are, from left, Christina Keyser and Emily and Brandon Lundstrum. Below, Emily Lundstrum comforts a cat at the shelter in north Forsyth.
V
olunteers are the backbone of many a nonprofit, and the Humane Society of Forsyth County is no exception. The society has served the county as a nonprofit, no-kill animal shelter since 1975. Lauren Bayles, who works there, said the organization would not be able to make it without community support and help from dedicated volunteers. “We love and appreciate all of our volunteers, from the youngest to the oldest.” Three of the youngest — Brandon and Emily Lundstrum and Christina Keyser — take their duties quite seriously, while also managing to have some serious fun. Emily and Christina are fourth-grade classmates at Cumming Elementary, while Emily’s brother Brandon is a seventh-grader at Otwell Middle. They began by attending an orientation session, which explained how the shelter operates and what volunteers can do to help. “You can play with the cats and kittens and just help them learn how to socialize with people,” Emily said. “And there is always lots of cleaning to do.” Both girls later celebrated their birthdays with the humane society in mind. In lieu of presents, Emily asked for donations to the shelter, while Christina brought her friends there to volunteer. “They are really a neat group of kids,” said Christina’s mother, Catherine. “They all have a heart for these animals
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Youth Magazine | February, March 2014
Photos by Jennifer Sami
(Left) From left, Emily and Brandon Lundstrum and Christina Keyser visit with a dog at the Humane Society of Forsyth County. (Above) Christina Keyser.
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mother, Catherine. “They all have a heart for these animals and want to help as much as they can.” The shelter also has a food pantry for people who don’t want to give up their pets but don’t have the money to feed them. It also offers spaying and neutering services. “They always need donations of food for the pantry,” Emily said. The Keyser family didn’t have a household pet when the girls began volunteering. They have since adopted two cats, Regis and Artemis. “I have always loved animals and I just felt like volunteering is a way I can help these pets that don’t have homes,” Christina said. According to Emily, fostering cats is a big part of how her family helps the shelter. Since September, the Lundstrums have fostered seven cats and adopted one right before Christmas. Two of the fostered cats were adopted by one of their neighbors, so Emily and Brandon can still visit their furry friends. The Lundstrums’ mother, Jennifer, said her children are not upset when the cats find a home. “They understand that the cat is ours just to love and help find a forever home,” she said.
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CONTACT For more information on volunteering at the Humane Society of Forsyth County or adopting a pet, go online at www.forsythpets.org. Also, check out the organization’s thrift store at 168 Tri County Plaza in Cumming.
For tickets and showtime information please visit our website playhousecumming.com The Cumming Playhouse 101 School Street Cumming, GA 30040 playhousecumming.com 770.781.9178 Youth Magazine | February, March 2014
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of drama A good kind
Every Liberty student takes theater course
While she got her start at Liberty Middle School among laboratory supplies, Evelyn Cummo now spends her days on stage. Cummo has been leading the school’s dramatic arts program for the past five years. “When (Principal) Connie (Stovall) hired me, right away she found out that I had a passion for musical theater, so she asked if I would direct the spring musical that year,” Cummo said. “And of course I said yes.” Later her job “morphed into teaching science almost all classes,” but she was given one drama course and continued directing the school’s annual musical. “It was sort of the best of both worlds,” Cummo said, adding that things got The cast of Liberty Middle School’s production of “Suessical the Musical” included Hannah Manikowski as a bespectacled JoJo and Rayne Crivelli as the Cat in the Hat.
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Youth Magazine | February, March 2014
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Art Camp “That’s All Folks!” “I Got the Music in Me” Camp Cooking Camp Kupcake Kamp Science / STEM Camp Chase Colson as Mr. Fezziwig and Katelyn Campbell as Mrs. Fezziwig in Liberty Middle School’s production of “A Christmas Carol.”
even better a couple of years later when the county received an allotment for one more Connections class. She became the full-time drama teacher, which “was a dream come true.” Now all sixth-graders at the school on Wallace Tatum Road in northwest Forsyth take drama as part of their Connections courses, which are programs such as art and chorus that they rotate through every nine weeks. Those who want to continue to study theatrical arts in seventh and eighth grades can audition for advanced classes. Currently there are about 30 students doing so and they present large-scales shows each semester. This fall, Cummo said, the eighth-graders presented “A Christmas Carol,” while seventh-graders presented a Broadway musical review in conjunction with chorus students. This spring, they will present one-act comedies. Cummo said it’s great for every sixth-grader to experience theatrical arts to help them decide if it is something they want to delve more deeply into. “They get the benefit of being in a safe environment in this classroom where I’m not going to allow anyone to laugh at them and they’re not going to be judged,” she said. “They get to get up on stage and realize that it’s not so scary after all.” Eight-graders Emily Hennessey and Chase Colson both
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knew they wanted to go as far in the program as possible. “I saw movies and TV shows and I thought how amazing it is that actors can make people feel things,” Hennessey said. “The way they can walk on and … speak and talk, it can create a character that can tear you apart or make you laugh. I thought that was so extraordinary that I really wanted to try it out.” Colson, who has been acting since he was in the third grade through various church and community productions, said drama is important in developing real-life skills. “It will help with future things like job interviews because it can help you get over shyness and things,” he said. “It can help with presentation skills if you have a project for school or a job.
Top photo, Liberty Middle School students perform “Suessical the Musical.” Above, the narrators for the school’s production of “A Christmas Carol” were, from left, Cassidy Pearson, Sydney Ridings and Taylor Smallwood. At right, Perri Rabbit played the blue bird Gertrude in “Suessical.”
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Youth Magazine | February, March 2014
Philip Rivaldo as Jacob Marley’s Ghost and Nick Lyon as Ebenezer Scrooge in in Liberty Middle School’s production of “A Christmas Carol.” “You get over stage fright and it helps with your projecting and your diction. It helps with a lot of real-life skills.” His teacher couldn’t agree more. “They come into the program and they could be a shy kid or an athletic guy, somebody you would never suspect would love it and they do … whether they end up in advanced drama or not, they’ve at least had nine weeks of realizing that they can get up here and not just drop dead from fear,” she said. “They have good experiences up on stage and that helps them as people.” — Crystal Ledford
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Band on the rise Pinecrest musicians are hitting all the right notes
In just a couple of years, the number of musicians has nearly tripled and the bands have increased from one to five at Pinecrest Academy. Director Len Insalaca and band members saw success as the reason for the growth at the private Catholic school in south Forsyth. The young program, which started about five years ago, has already received several top ratings at competitions, played at famed music venue Carnegie Hall in New York City and recently been invited to play for the Pope in Italy. The recognition may have drawn atten-
tion to the program, but it’s not necessarily the band’s idea of success. Playing Carnegie Hall was “a great deal,” Insalaca said, but he picked another instance as their biggest achievement — a Christmas performance at a nursing home. “That was probably the most moving moment that I’ve had in my time here,” he said. “It wasn’t so much the fact that they went there and played for them, which was great, but afterwards they could have just gone home. “Instead, every single one of them stayed behind for about an hour or
more and just sat and mingled with the people, learning about them and what they did in their lives. They were there to spread Christmas joy. And to me, that was the most touching thing. That’s what we’re about." Insalaca said the school community has seen the value in the band program in forming a “complete student.” As a parent of a Pinecrest student, Insalaca first pitched the idea to launch a band in 2008. The funding wouldn’t immediately support the program, he said, but a parent survey the following spring gave band Pinecrest Academy’s band program recently performed at Carnegie Hall in New York City.
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Youth Magazine | February, March 2014
(678) 549-5888
gregbpatterson@yahoo.com www.gottarunkids.com
Registration for Spring Redeemer Runners is Now Open! Redeemer Runners is an 8 week co-ed program aimed at 3rd – 8th grade children. The program will develop and encourage children of all running abilities to progress from their current level of ability to being able to complete a 5km race at the conclusion of the program. By reaching small milestones throughout the course of the program, the children’s selfconfidence will increase in tandem with their ability to run further distances.
The Spring Session is a Great Opportunity for:
the impetus it needed. Parents ranked it as the top new program they’d like to see at the school. Senior Jack Meersman said he had never considered picking up an instrument until he heard that the school was forming a band when he was in seventh grade. “I began playing French horn, and it really did a lot for me,” Meersman said. “It helped me through school. It made a difference in the school work I did. It made a difference in how I saw commitment and what commitment meant to me, even when it got tough at times.” Like Meersman, bandmate Lizzy Welsko said she probably wouldn’t have started playing her instrument, bass clarinet, if Pinecrest hadn’t started the program. Today, she can’t imagine her life without it. “Band has actually influenced and shaped my life in so many ways that I know I’d be a different person without it,” Welsko said. “Like most of my really good friends, who I know I can trust and go to, are in the band.” Making music together draws the group close, but the students also enjoy many other extracurricular activities. Meersman said most students are involved in athletics, which may not be possible at a public school.
• Those who have made great progress in their running and don’t want to lose their edge • For those who plan to run track with our running club, Great Strides, in the Spring • For those who have no Spring sports scheduled
Our first practice will be on March 13th and the session will end around May 15th with a 5k race Practice: Sundays 4:15 to 5:15pm and Thursdays from 5:30 to 6:30pm. No practices will be held during Spring break.
To learn more visit www.facebook.com/gottarunkids To register visit www.firstredeemersports.org
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Youth Magazine | February, March 2014
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“Within the band there’s a different dynamic because the students in our band are involved in many other different things. ... At the same time, we still perform at a very high level.” “Within the band there’s a different dynamic because the students in our band are involved in many other different things,” he said. “At the same time, we still perform at a very high level.” This year, the group has been invited to two prestigious performance locations. Insalaca had what he calls a “God-incidence” when meeting a man who had helped another band play for the Pope. The man offered a connection to send information about the group to the Vatican. Pinecrest was selected to play, but the group didn’t have the finances to go. “I don’t believe in coincidences. I believe in God-incidences,” Insalaca said. “There’s always a positive. There’s another reason why we’re meant to be here. Instead, what’s on the docket right now is to play the orchestra hall in Chicago.” The band received an invitation to perform at the Chicago Symphony Center, home of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, one of the best in the world. The group will travel in late March to Chicago to play. Insalaca said the band plays a wide variety of music, including marches, traditional concert music and film scores, but they always include at least one sacred piece in each concert. — Alyssa LaRenzie 22
Students Jack Meersman and Lizzy Welsko enjoy their roles as members of the Pinecrest Academy band.
THE CUMMING PLAYHOUSE PROUDLY PRESENTS... FEB. 13TH – MAR. 9TH Thurs., Fri., Sat., 8 PM Sun. Matinee 3 PM
For tickets and showtime information please visit our website playhousecumming.com The Cumming Playhouse 101 School Street Cumming, GA 30040 playhousecumming.com 770.781.9178
Youth Magazine | February, March 2014
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Some BIG names coming to town M
an, has it been a slow and cold start to entertainment in 2014. Fortunately, February is here to warm things up for the rest of the winter and early spring, starting Feb. 5 with the Kings of Leon at Philips Arena. I was a late adopter of the kings. The band has been around since 2000, but it wasn’t until a few years ago that I really jumped on board. The members started as a Southern version of the Strokes, but the three brothers and their cousin have gradually grown into their own since becoming stars in Europe and eventually touring with U2. Yellowcard has not become as successful as the Kings, but it did go double platinum with the album “Ocean Avenue.” That’s an accomplishment you don’t see from a lot of punk bands. But that’s how good these guys are. You can see for yourself Feb. 7 at the Masquerade. On the surface, Yellowcard may appear to resemble some of the other punk bands we all know and love, only it added violins. That’s not quite the horn section ska brings, but it adds a really interesting sound — almost like when Metallica did its “S&M” album with the San Francisco Symphony. It’s enough to set the band apart, and makes it worth going to the
show. I’d also check out Flogging Molly on Feb. 15 at the Tabernacle. This is a Celtic punk rock band that’s just phenomenal. The group rocks hard, and that’s impressive considering it features a penny whistle and mandolin. One of the bigger shows coming up is Demi Lovato on Feb. 21 at Philips Arena. It’s no surprise Lovato is stepping down as a judge on the “X Factor,” which really stinks because she was the best one on the TV show. But I understand her wanting to focus on her viable career as a musician. And she’s not leaving all of her “X Factor” roots behind her. As part of this tour, she’s taking along Fifth Harmony, the “frankenband” of individual female contestants that was thrown together as a group during the show’s second season. It finished in third place, so as usual Simon Cowell knew what he was doing when he put the girl band together. Lovato and Fifth Harmony will be vying for attention with Robin Thicke, who will be at the Fox Theatre that same night. Now that he’s not touring with Miley Cyrus, hopefully the lines are a little less blurred for the talented musician. I know he was just here in December, but with the success of his
Youth Magazine | February, March 2014
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song, “Blurred Lines” and all the drama, I don’t think he’ll stop touring anytime soon. That’s why if it was my choice, I’d pick Lovato. That and she’s much more reasonably priced. I like his music, but I’m not spending $60 for Thicke when I can see Lovato for half that. Up next is Imagine Dragons on Feb. 26 at Philips Arena. It didn’t take long for these guys to make it big. The band started in 2009 and seemingly exploded on the scene with the album “Night Visions.” The mix of synthetic, dance, pop and rock gives them everything the Killers had — without annoying high-pitched vocals. The fact that after one album Imagine Dragons can play a venue like Philips is a true testament to talent. Hopefully, the members can sustain this level of fame, because I’ve seen too many bands hit gold quickly and fizzle just as fast. While February is going to be busy, March also has some good offerings. It’s bringing Miley Cyrus to town — again. I know it will only have been a few months since her last appearance in Atlanta, but the March 25 show at Philips Arena also features Icona Pop. Speaking of things that may fizzle, Pop is riding high on the hit single “I Love It.” However, the Swedish electro-pop duo could head the way of Psy and Gangnam style if it can’t sustain that catchy tune in future singles and albums. While they’re still on top, the best friends will be fun to watch in concert. And maybe Cyrus can behave long enough to sing the tunes that made her famous. Before you check out the big venue, head to the Tabernacle on March 1 to see Emblem3. I hate to focus on another “X Factor” talent, but the hip-hop/ pop trio was talented long before appearing as contestants in 2012. The members have a 311 feel to them, with a little bit of underplayed Red Hot Chili Peppers. When they first auditioned for the show, I underestimated them. Between stage presence, confidence and raw talent, they were a threat. The group finished fourth on the show. With polishing from the competition and mentors, it could be turning this show at the Tabernacle into an arena gig next year. — Jennifer Sami
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Jennifer Sami writes a weekly entertainment column for the Forsyth County News. In each edition of Youth, she’ll alert readers to upcoming concerts and events in the metro Atlanta area. Contact her at (770) 205-8975 or jsami@forsythnews.com.
featuring:
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Thurs., Fri., Sat. (2/13, 2/14 & 2/15/2014) Call for Reservations 770-205-5512 • Vickery Village | 5810 Bond Street, Cumming (Post Rd. & Majors Rd.) | RTannersVickery@gmail.com
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Upcoming shows Feb. 15
March 2
March 25
FLOGGING MOLLY
SWITCHFOOT
Tabernacle
Buckhead Theatre
MILEY CYRUS WITH ICONA POP
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Free Colon Cancer Screening
DEMI LOVATO WITH FIFTH HARMONY
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Fox Theatre $60.60 - $116.40
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thousands of patients avoid painful and unnecessary surgery. There is no longer a reason to suffer from the pain, bleeding, swelling, and itching from hemorrhoids. You can get the relief you deserve today with a quick, effective, painless office treatment. Through the use of the CRH-O’Regan Banding system they treat all grades of hemorrhoids quickly and effectively. No anesthesia is required and you can return to work the same day.
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experienced physician in the United States when it comes to the non-operative treatment practice to help patients avoid surgery.
HCA has six offices to serve you; Atlanta, Cumming, Holly Springs, Lawrenceville, Marietta, and Roswell. Call us at 770-442-3117 or visit us at HCofAmerica.com to schedule an appointment. Youth Magazine | February, March 2014
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Pizza forever popular W
hen you want pizza, more than likely you pull out the cell phone and dial delivery or order online. While delivery is quick and easy, having a make-your-own-pie-party is a fun way to enjoy better tasting food. The key is to plan ahead so the dough is ready and the toppings are prepped. You can also skip the step of making the dough and buy it at a grocery store or favorite pizzeria. Do you know the history of pizza? Historians disagree about just who invented the first one, but I think we can all say “thank you” to whoever started that trend of putting toppings on dough and baking it. Food historians seem to agree that ancient Greeks and Egyptians did eat pizzalike dishes. “Modern” pizza has been attributed to Raffaele Esposito of Naples, Italy. Esposito owned a restaurant in 1889 that was called the Pizzeria di Pietro, where he baked and sold pizza. Obviously accomplished at his craft, Esposito served pizza to then-Italian King Umberto 1 and Queen Margherita. He also
created a pizza just for the queen, called the Margherita, consisting of fresh tomatoes, mozzarella and basil. This is one of my favorite pizzas, but you have to make sure to get summer-fresh tomatoes and a good quality mozzarella. Making pizza dough is not difficult, especially if you have a bread machine. Just add the ingredients according to manufacturer’s instructions (usually liquids first, followed by dry and then yeast on top of dry), and use the “dough” setting. You can also use the dough hook on a standing mixer, or just buy ready-made dough. For a pizza party, chop up a variety of vegetables — mushrooms, onions and peppers — and grate several kinds of cheese, including cheddar, feta, mozzarella and provolone. Next, add a few specialty toppings such as artichoke hearts, pepperochoni peppers and roasted peppers, just to name a few. Don’t forget the pepperoni and possibly some Canadian bacon and/or salami. Of course, you’ll want to have pizza sauce
on hand, but you could also spread roasted garlic paste and ricotta on the dough instead. — Adlen W. Robinson
Did you know: Americans eat about 350 slices of pizza per second. Nearly 40 percent of those slices are topped with pepperoni and cheese. The most popular toppings for pizza in India are ginger and paneer cheese. In Japan, eel and squid are among the favorites. Russians are fond of a good ol’ red herring pizza.
Making your own fun Bread machine pizza dough 1 ½ cups water 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil 1 ½ tablespoons sugar 1 ½ teaspoons salt 3 ¼ cups bread flour ¼ cup semolina flour 2 teaspoons yeast Add according to your bread machine instructions. Mine says put the water in first, then add olive oil, sugar and salt. Pour in flour and lastly make a little well in the flour and add yeast. Use the “bread dough” setting. When
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dough is done, turn out into a lightly oiled bowl and cover until ready to assemble pizza. When ready to assemble, punch down dough and cut either in half (to make two pizzas), or eight to 10 pieces to make small pieces. Place on baking sheet that has been sprinkled with cornmeal, or heat a pizza stone and use a wooden peel to put dough on the hot pizza stone. Bake in a preheated 425 oven for 10 minutes or so, just until the top of the dough has cooked a little and won’t get soggy when adding toppings. This could be done ahead of time.
When ready to bake the final pizza, allow guests to top theirs and bake until crust is done, another 10 to 15 minutes. Pizza sauce 2 tablespoons olive oil 1 garlic clove, crushed 1 (28-ounce) can tomato puree 1 teaspoon dried marjoram 1 teaspoon dried basil Salt and fresh ground pepper, to taste Over medium heat, heat oil in a saucepan until hot. Add all ingredients, cover and bring to a boil. Uncover, lower heat and allow to simmer for 30 minutes.
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Youth Magazine | February, March 2014
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Speed, capability top qualities for 2014
T
he last few years have seen huge changes in technology, largely due to greater access to Internet-based services and mobile devices. Gaming consoles have become more commonplace in homes, not only for playing games but also as media-streaming devices. These consoles should continue to become more popular this year considering the recent launch of the Xbox One and Playstation 4, as well as their predecessors that were designed for gaming and media consumption. Smartphones and tablets continue to receive more advanced components, such as larger screens, faster processors with multiple cores, 64-bit technology and more advanced graphics processors. These improvements allow mobile devices to provide a faster, smoother experience overall, and they also increase their capability for gaming. The biggest improvements in hand-held devices are likely to be in the software category, since manufacturers realize the actual experience with the device is more critical than hardware specifications. Smartphone and tablet owners can expect to see a greater number of multiplayer game offerings for mobile devices, as well as more use of cloud storage. Wearable devices should certainly rise in popularity this year, considering products such as Google Glass and smartwatches like the Pebble, Toq and Galaxy Gear, as well as rumors of an Apple smartwatch continue to circulate. Also available are “wearables,” which use Near Field Communication. These include rings, earbuds, wallets, keychains, pet collars, etc. that allow people to perform tasks such as opening doors, toggling phone settings, measuring heart rate, and storing information about pets. Wearable technology has been a niche product in the past, but it looks like an area of the industry that is catching on. The inevitable trends in 2014 include greater integration of networked mobile devices into everyday life. Car manufactures are designing hardware and software that will
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The Xbox One (above) and the Nest thermostat (below) are just two examples of every-day items the have a smartphone/ tablet interface available. allow smartphones to have greater integration with systems in the vehicle. Some home appliances use operating systems that are compatible with computers and smartphones. Thermostats can be installed that allow the temperature in the home to be controlled from any location. These advancements are quite amazing compared to technology a decade ago, though they may compel some people to think of “Skynet” from the “Terminator” series. -- Tim Keyser Tim Keyser is an instructional technology specialist for the Forsyth County school system.
Growing together and depending on each other.
Youth Magazine | February, March 2014
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Word Wisdom Srsly, ‘jorts’ is in the dictionary So are ‘guac’ and ‘squee’ Most everybody knows what LOL and OMG stand for, but what about BYOD? Or how about MOOC? The Oxford Dictionary is at it again, adding many new words to its famous book. By the way, in case you didn’t know, the previous letters stand for “bring your own device” (as in computer, smartphone or tablet) and “massive open online course” (when you sign up online to take a free class). Here are some other additions to the 2013 dictionary.
• Selfie: That brings us to the most annoying word from 2013. I‘m pretty sure everybody knows what that is too. But for any older people who may be reading this and don’t know, it’s when you take photographs of yourself and post them on social media sites. • Twerking: Thanks to Miley Cyrus, most of us know what this is. And yes, the word twerk can be found in the dictionary. After reading all of these new words — and there are more — I definitely feel as if I need a little “me time.” — Adlen W. Robinson
• Omnishambles: This is a word referring to a situation that has been mismanaged with so many blunders and miscalculations that it’s just a big mess. • Fauxhawk: I suppose this is relatively obvious. It’s a hairstyle that has a section of hair from the front to the back that stands up straight. I’m not sure why you would want one of these, but I never understood the appeal of a mohawk either. • Guac: If you guessed this is the new word for guacamole, you would be correct. Are we all just getting lazier that we’re going to start speaking in abbreviations? • Squee: That’s when you squeal in delight or excitement. Why not just say squeal? • Srsly: This kind of bothers me. It stands for “seriously” and I understand using it as an abbreviation in a text message, but as a word? I mean seriously, err, I mean srsly? I feel as if a person using this word probably says “like” constantly. • LDL: This stands for “long-distance relationship.” In other words, it’s completely correct to write I’m srsly in an LDL with a guy who has a fauxhawk and wears jorts while he eats guac. • Jorts: This is the word for a combination of jeans and shorts. That just sounds wrong. • Me time: Well, technically isn’t that two words? They’re still adding it. It sounds pretty selfish to me.
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Youth Magazine | February, March 2014
Specializing in the Detection and Treatment of Pediatric Digestive Disorders
Atlanta Gastroenterology Associates is pleased to welcome
Nirav R. Patel, M.D.
to our new Pediatric and Adolescent Division As a Board Certified pediatric gastroenterologist, Dr. Patel brings the experience and personal care every parent values when their child is suffering from digestive issues.
5445 Meridian Mark Road NE Suite 490 For Appointments
404.843.6320
www.atlantagastro.com/pediatrics AGA is a participating provider for Medicare, Medicaid and most healthcare plans offered in Georgia.
r e h et G at she wh
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y a D s ’ e n i t n e l a V s i h t
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from:
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527 Atlanta Road, Cumming 770-884-7253
NO APPOINTMENT
NECESSARY. JUST AN ILLNESS OR INJURY. Minor illnesses and injuries can happen at any time. When they do, you don’t have to settle for anything less than our doctors and nurses, who are specially trained to care for your child. For Urgent Care Center wait times,* text CHOA to 4ER411 (437411) or visit choa.org/wait.
* Wait times are updated every 15 minutes and are estimates based on the average time it takes for a patient to be placed in an exam room. Standard messaging fees will apply for texting. ©2014 Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, Inc. All rights reserved.
CHILDREN’S AT AT FORSYTH - 410 PEACHTREE PKWY., CUMMING, 404-785-3100