LOVE YOUR LUNGS | BURNING RUBBER NASCAR ACTION HEATS UP IN BRISTOL
THE PEDIATRIC PROS SCOTT NISWONGER DISCUSSES KID-FRIENDLY CARE IN THE TRI-CITIES
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hen you enter the gates of The Virginian, it is clear the staff has a passion for their club. What may not be as obvious is our passion for teaching the next generation of athletes. Golf and tennis are often called “lifetime sports�, meaning that they can be enjoyed throughout all phases of life. What better time than adolescence to introduce these sports to athletes? When children begin golf and tennis, they are being prepared for much more than the obstacles they face on the course or court. They will learn to enjoy the outdoors, develop lifelong friendships, practice personal responsibility, have a safe place to play, learn to manage their emotions, appreciate diversity and learn etiquette. Both sports allow spending time with family and will develop healthy habits for life. Our certified staff includes Jim Blackmore and Bob Helton. Blackmore is the PGA Head Golf Professional, whose career in golf spans 41 years as an accomplished player, instructor and PGA golf professional. Helton is the USPTA Tennis Professional, whose success on the courts includes winning both singles and doubles national championships on all court surfaces. Most recently, Helton won the 2014 National Championship for ages 75+ in Men's Doubles.
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| vol. 1 no. 12
features life in the fast lane p18
It’s the biggest event of the year at Bristol Motor Speedway, and it’s one of the biggest in NASCAR: the August night race. Held under the lights on a typically balmy evening near the season’s end, it’s an environment ripe for the kind of drama on the track that racing fans love.
BY DEBRA MCCOWN
ON THE COVER
for the children p24
Niswonger Children’s Hospital serves more than 200,000 children in a four-state, 29-county region. The 69-bed hospital’s design incorporates light, color and shape to appeal to young patients and their families. But it’s what goes on THE inside the brick-and- PEDIATRIC PROS mortar structure that is most important. LOVE YOUR LUNGS | BURNING RUBBER NASCAR ACTION HEATS UP IN BRISTOL
just breathe p30
There are some organs you can live without—a kidney, your gallbladder or spleen. It’s not ideal but certainly doable. Your lungs, however, don’t fall into this “expendable” category. They’re a crucial part of the process of sending oxygen—that essential gas every living thing needs to survive—to every cell in your body.
SCOTT NISWONGER DISCUSSES KID-FRIENDLY CARE IN THE TRI-CITIES
BY LEIGH ANN LAUBE
BY CYNTHIA MCFARLAND
On the cover: Scott Niswonger, photo by www.freshairphoto.com Hospital photo courtesy of Mountain States Health Alliance
departments
7
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beat
TRENDS | NEWS | PEOPLE
37
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body
NUTRITION | FITNESS | BEAUT Y
BY LAUREL GILLUM, LEIGH ANN LAUBE AND DEBR A MCCOWN
BY LAUREL GILLUM, JOANN GUIDRY AND K ATIE MCPHERSON
8
Football returns to ETSU.
38
Beauty hacks for beauty-holics.
10
Bringing fun to Kingsport.
40
A summertime snack.
42
Make your workout work for you.
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INSIGHT | ADVICE | SOLUTIONS
BY LAUREL GILLUM, JOANN GUIDRY AND LEIGH ANN LAUBE
14
Honey for your health.
16
Solutions for sensitive teeth.
43
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balance
MIND | SPIRIT | FINANCE
B Y C E A L I A AT H A N A S O N & L A U R E L G I L L U M
44
Scholarships, grants and loans, oh my!
46
Buy it now?
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Healthy Living Tri-Cities, August 2015. Published monthly by Healthy Living Media, LLC and distributed by The Caddy Group, Inc. 2332 Volunteer Parkway, Bristol, TN 37620. All contents copyright 2015 by Healthy Living Media, LLC. All rights reserved. Nothing may be reprinted in whole or in part without written permission from the publisher. For back issues or advertising information, call (423) 794-8780. Return postage must accompany all unsolicited manuscripts and artwork if they are to be returned. Manuscripts are welcomed, but no responsibility can be assumed for unsolicited materials. “Promotional” and “Promotional Feature” denote a paid advertising feature. Publisher is not responsible for claims and content of advertisements.
HE ALT H Y
beat TRENDS | NEWS | PEOPLE
Source: money.cnn.com
not so smart after all
If you think your child is too distracted when it comes to their smartphone, you’re probably right! In a recent study by the London School of Economics, two researchers, Richard Murphy and Louis-Philippe Beland, deemed 91 schools as “phone free.” The results were clearly reflected in the student’s grades—and in a good way! With 130,000 pupils giving up their smartphones during school time, their collective test scores improved by 6.4 percent, and the test scores of underachieving students rose by 14 percent—a major difference! Who knows? Pocket your phone long enough, and you may find that you actually like what you learn! Some food for thought as kids get ready to head back to school this month.
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beat happenings PHOTOS BY ETSU PHOTOGRAPHY
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football is back at ETSU J ohnson City has something new to look forward to in the sports world this fall: After more than a decade without a football team, ETSU is getting back on the field. BY DEBRA MCCOWN “It’s a fresh start,” says Scott Carter, senior associate athletic director and chief operating officer for athletics at ETSU. “It’s created a rallying point around our entire athletic program and our entire campus.” It’s especially significant for Carter, who played football for the Bucs from 1998-2002 and was working on campus when, in the midst of financial challenges, the university disbanded the program in 2003. After
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a decade away, he has returned to ETSU to get the new football program going. “To think that it’s not been part of our campus and part of our region for a dozen years, I think the area has really been starved to have college football back on our campus, and I think the students have really missed it,” Carter says, explaining that the students—who voted for a $120-per-semester fee to pay for it—have really bought in. The program, he says, will offer 63 full scholarships for student athletes, and its 120 team spots will provide opportunities for young men from the Tri-Cities region to play college ball. “There are so many stories of young men where their athleticism enabled them to continue their
education where they might not have had the opportunity otherwise, and it’s a lifechanger,” Carter says. “It can really change their lives and generations of their families’ lives by the opportunity that a scholarship can provide.” Carter says the university is also recruiting musicians for a 250-member marching band and bringing back football will provide a variety of other opportunities for students; overall, it’s expected to bring about 500 new students to campus. Meanwhile, Carter says, ETSU is raising money at record levels for a new football stadium that’s
expected to break ground later this year and be complete in 2017; until then, the Bucs will play at Kermit Tipton Stadium. Carter says he’s looking forward to homecoming this fall, which will likely bring back generations of ETSU football players who’ve taken an interest in the new program. “When those older guys come back, they’re so enamored with what’s happened now: with the new stadium and the new infrastructure, the new team, new helmets and new uniforms,” he says. “It’s kind of like a brand-new baby, and it’s here for all of us to raise.”
FIND OUT MORE For ETSU football tickets, call (423) 439-3878.
For info on ETSU athletics, visit etsubucs.com.
For info on the new stadium, visit etsustadium.com.
Come check out the Johnson City Country Club! We offer memberships with golf, tennis, pool, food and beverage.
General Membership:
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beat good deeds PHOTOS BY JEFFREY STONER FINE ART PHOTOGRAPHY
when pigs fly Man’s dream of carousel becomes a reality.
A
fter more than six years and countless hours of work by more than 300 volunteer woodcarvers, painters, mechanics and artisans with the nonprofit organization Engage Kingsport, music from a calliope band organ wafts from the farmers market in downtown Kingsport, now home to a restored antique carousel. BY LEIGH ANN LAUBE
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The carousel celebrated its grand opening on July 25, National Carousel Day. Kingsport’s carousel sports 32 whimsical, hand-carved platform animals, two chariots, 24 hand-carved sweep animals and 24 rounding boards with historical paintings related to the city. It was one man’s dream, but it took a small army of volunteers and donors to make the dream a reality. Gale Joh’s wish to build a carousel in Kingsport began in 2008. Joh had grown up in Binghamton, New York, home to six carousels. Joh’s research led him to Bud Ellis’ Horsin’ Around carousel carving school in Soddy Daisy, Tennessee, near Chattanooga, and in April 2009, a team of volunteers paid a visit to the studio. After that visit, Joh and the others were even more determined to bring a carousel to Kingsport. Joh’s wife, however, wasn’t quite on board with the dream. Valerie Joh pointed out to her husband that “Kingsport will have a carousel when pigs fly.” Because it would cost $400,000 to purchase a complete carousel, the volunteers knew they would have to build their carousel, little by little, one animal at a time. That was the plan anyway, according to volunteer Reggie Martin. “This was going to be a volunteer project from the beginning,” he says.
Sadly, during the spring of 2010, Joh passed away. “He wanted to be involved in something that meant something, something that would last,” Valerie Joh says. It was really after Joh’s death that his wife threw her full support behind the project—sponsoring the 760-pound white buffalo “Spirit,” carved by Joe Pilkenton, and attending Bud Ellis’ carving school. She carved a white and gold unicorn with its namesake flowering vine “Morning Glory” and a ballerina cat she named “Sassy.” She also carved two sweep animals. The carousel project team located a 1956 Allan Herschell frame in storage at the Beardsley Zoo in Bridgeport, Connecticut. Zoo officials were asking $25,000, but when they heard about the all-volunteer Kingsport project, they agreed to donate the frame. Kingsport’s carousel, housed in a 65-foot octagonal roundhouse, features horses, a frog, a dragon, a zebra, a giraffe, a wolf, a golden retriever and a lynx. Atop the ticket booth sits a special animal. Joh, recalling that she told her late husband that “Kingsport would have a carousel when pigs fly,” carved a flying pig that she named “Pickle.” Rides are $1. For more information on the Kingsport Carousel Project, visit engagekingsport.com.
Amy Young, MD
John Johnson, MD
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HE ALT H Y
dose INSIGHT | ADVICE | SOLUTIONS
numbers to know
The road to longevity is simple. You strive to eat healthy, exercise daily and stay positive. But how much is enough? Here are five numbers to help maintain your body in the healthiest way possible.
WAIST SIZE FOR WOMEN, NO MORE THAN 35 INCHES. MEN, NO MORE THAN 40 INCHES.
BMI 18.5 TO 24.9 IS A PERFECT BODY MASS INDEX TARGET FIGURE.
CHOLESTEROL AIM FOR A TOTAL CHOLESTEROL BELOW 200MG/DL AND AN LDL BELOW 100MG/DL. THE HIGHER YOUR HDL, THE BETTER. ABOVE 60MG/ DL IS CONSIDERED TO PROTECT YOUR HEART AGAINST DISEASE.
FASTING BLOOD SUGAR YOU WANT YOUR NUMBER BELOW 100MG/DL. BETWEEN 100-120MG/ DL IS CONSIDERED PRE-DIABETIC, AND ANYTHING OVER 126MG/ DL ON TWO SEPARATE TESTS IS CONSIDERED DIABETIC.
Source: prevention.com, fitday.com, nlm.nih.gov
BLOOD PRESSURE THE IDEAL NUMBER IS SET AT 115/75.
AUGUST 2015
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liquid gold? P
ossible health benefits of honey are debated
BY LEIGH ANN LAUBE Ken Saylor knows there’s no scientific evidence to support the ability of local honey to help relieve pollen-related allergies, but that doesn’t matter to this Washington County beekeeper. “I get people in here all the time saying their allergies are killing them and they’ve run out of honey, and they get honey from me,” says Saylor, owner of K&K Bee Farm in Jonesborough. “I consider it like a flu shot. You take a flu shot in the fall and it builds up your immunity, and you’re not supposed to [get] the flu. I think the honey and pollen [works] the same way.” By some accounts, raw honey has been used as medicine for more than 4,000 years. It’s said to naturally suppress coughs, soothe burns, aid sleep, help heal wounds, boost immunity and help relieve pollenrelated allergies. Saylor became a beekeeper in 1977. He jokes that he’s probably the largest employer in Washington County.
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“I consider it like a flu shot.” “I’ve got about 10 million workers,” he explains. “A beehive has 80,000 bees. Right now I have about 50 to 60 [beehives].” K&K sells everything bee related, including beekeeping supplies, bees and honey. The honey is available year-round at the farm, as
well as at Natural Foods Market, Val-U-Pharmacy and the Health Barn in Johnson City. It’s available seasonally at the Kingsport Farmers Market. “The honey that you get at the Health Barn is local honey. What you get at [local grocery stores],
there’s a few labels that have it as area honey, but a lot of your Sue Bee honey and others is made from imported honey from 17 different countries. It’s just no good for people for health reasons,” Saylor says. “If you go to the grocery store and you get orange blossom and you live in this area and you want it for allergies, it’s not going to do you any good. You need local honey that’s made from plants made from within 20 miles, but I say 50 miles. You want the pollen that’s naturally in the honey off the plants that are near you that are causing your allergies. You eat the honey, and it helps build up your immunity.”
Saylor stands behind that statement, but the medical community doesn’t.
ACCORDING TO WEBMD: “The theory that taking in small amounts of pollen by eating local honey to build up immunity is false.”
ACCORDING TO THE MAYO CLINIC: “Q: Can honey lessen
seasonal allergy symptoms? A: Probably not. Honey has been anecdotally reported to lessen symptoms in people with seasonal allergies. But these results haven’t been consistently duplicated in clinical studies.”
ACCORDING TO THE AMERICAN COLLEGE OF ALLERGY, ASTHMA & IMMUNOLOGY: “Q: Several
people have recommended I eat local honey as a remedy for my seasonal allergies. Does it really help? A: There is no scientific proof that eating local honey will improve seasonal allergies.” “It’s a controversy,” says Crystal West, a clinical dietitian at Holston Valley Medical Center. “Some say it may help. Others say if it helps, it’s only a small amount. I guess it depends on the person. Scientifically, I don’t think anything has been proven. I think it’s one of those things
where if you wanted to try it, I wouldn’t repute it and say it wouldn’t work at all.” Something to consider when consuming honey is that a tablespoon of honey has about 68 calories, which is more than a tablespoon of sugar, West says. “Honey isn’t low in calories. A lot of people are going to honey as their new sweetener, and it is natural. You have to keep in mind that the guidelines we are recommending are that you reduce that intake of natural sugar.” West warns that honey should not be consumed by anyone under the age of 1 because of the risk of infant botulism, a rare but potentially fatal illness. Aside from allergy relief, there are other indications for raw honey, including as a wound healer, something Saylor experienced himself. “Bacteria will not grow in honey, and you can put that on a wound. I’ve done it myself, put honey on a wound, and it will heal better than any saline you can put on it,” he says. West agrees that honey has recently been introduced into modern medical care but cautions that it’s a specific medical-grade honey that is purported to treat wound infections.
“Bacteria will not grow in honey, and you can put that on a wound.” “There’s research going on in New Zealand with Manuka honey. It has antibacterial properties. You should still see a doctor for help with a wound,” she says. Saylor also sells commercially prepared honey candy, much of which is sold to customers to calm a cough.
“A lot of people take honey and vinegar at nighttime, and it helps them sleep,” he adds. Honey naturally contains 18 amino acids, plus small amounts of many vitamins and minerals. “It’s just a health pill,” Saylor says.
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tooth trouble dental defenses I f when you eat your favorite ice cream, it’s “Ouch!” instead of “Mmmm,” you may have a case of dentin hypersensitivity, aka sensitive teeth. Eating or drinking anything cold or hot, even a breath of cold air, can trigger sharp pains in sensitive teeth. According to the American Dental Association, at least 40 million Americans suffer from sensitive teeth. Although it can happen at any age, it is more prevalent in adults, and women are more affected than men.
tchealthyliving.com | AUGUST 2015
DEN
TUM
TIN
Aggressive brushing, particularly with a hardbristled toothbrush, can wear away tooth enamel. Use a soft-bristled brush and gentle circular motions. If you grind or clench your teeth while sleeping, it’s causing enamel erosion that could lead to dentin exposure. Talk to your dentist about sleeping with a mouth guard.
FLUORIDE GELS/VARNISHES/ FILLINGS/BONDS: YOUR DENTIST WILL APPLY THESE IN THE OFFICE. SURGICAL GUM GRAFT: IF THERE IS TOO MUCH GUM RECESSION, YOUR DENTIST MAY SUGGEST A GUM GRAFT TO COVER THE ROOT.
ROOT CANAL: IF HYPERSENSITIVITY IS PERSISTENTLY SEVERE, A ROOT CANAL WILL ELIMINATE THE PROBLEM.
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CEMEN
L
Each tooth has three layers of defense, and when these are breached, we end up with dental problems, including sensitive teeth. First is the enamel, which is the strongest mineralized substance in our bodies and serves as the overall outside shield. Beneath the gum line is the cementum, which protects the tooth root. Underneath the enamel and the cementum is the dentin, a soft layer comprised of thousands of tiny tubules that lead to a tooth’s nerve center. When the dentin layer becomes exposed, hot and cold food and drinks stimulate the nerves and trigger the pain response. Here’s a look at what causes your dental defenses to break down.
sensitivity solutions DESENSITIZING TOOTHPASTE: YOUR DENTIST CAN PRESCRIBE OR RECOMMEND AN OVER-THECOUNTER TOOTHPASTE WITH FLUORIDE AND EITHER POTASSIUM NITRATE OR STRONTIUM CHLORIDE. THERE ARE ALSO OTC FLUORIDATED MOUTHWASHES.
ENAME
Another enemy of enamel is food and drinks with a high acid content. These include citrus fruits (including tomatoes), pickles, tea, wine, coffee and soda. Try to reduce your intake of these foods; maybe even consider using a straw for acidic drinks. Acid softens enamel, so avoid brushing your teeth for at least 60 minutes
after ingesting acidic food and drinks, swish water immediately after instead. If you are using too many teeth whitening products, including toothpastes and mouthwashes, you could be damaging the enamel. If you opt for teeth whitening, it’s best to go to a dentist, who will use teeth protection products before and after the procedure. Regular dental checkups every six months are key to avoiding plaque buildup, cavities, periodontal disease and gingivitis, all of which cause teeth sensitivity.
Sources: ada.org, webmd.com, mayoclinic.org
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TOR O M L O T S THE BRI Y TRACK HEATS A SPEEDW PCOMING UP FOR URACE. AUGUST wn o ra McC By Deb
dway r Spee l Moto o t is r om y of B photo.c ourtes hoto c reshair p .f o w r w t w In s by r photo Interio
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TO PROVIDE A GLIMPSE INTO THE PAST, PRESENT AND FUTURE OF RACING AT BRISTOL MOTOR SPEEDWAY, WE SPOKE WITH EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT AND GENERAL MANAGER JERRY CALDWELL. SPEEDWAY CHILDREN’S CHARITIES: RACE WEEK FUNDRAISERS
August 3-17 ONLINE AUCTION: Bid on a chance to ride with a NASCAR superstar during driver introductions at the night race, special speedway passes, and other items; online at sccauctions.com.
Monday, August 17 GOLF TOURNAMENT: 18th annual tournament at Tri-Cities Golf Course in Blountville. 10am registration, 11am lunch, 12pm start. $750 team entry and hole sponsorship. For more info: (423) 989-7975.
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How did the August race at BMS come to be such a big event in motorsports? As with any event that has the aura steeped in the magic around it that the night race does at Bristol, it’s not just one thing; it’s a lot of different elements. I think it’s the history of different feuds [between drivers] that have either begun or intensified during that race; I think it’s being one of the first night races in NASCAR ever under the lights; I think you couple that with being in the hills of East Tennessee and Southwest Virginia at the end of summer, and there’s just something about when the sun goes down and the lights are on and those 43 drivers want so badly to do what their heroes before them have done, and that’s to win at Bristol.
What’s the atmosphere like at the race? To be in Bristol in August is like the state fair of NASCAR: It’s one of the largest sporting events in the country throughout the year. It’s a lot of people’s family reunions. It’s all this camaraderie where people travel from all over the world—we have people from all 50 states and
24 countries—who descend on East Tennessee and Southwest Virginia, and they all become one in a sense. A lot of them are camping around Bristol, so within a 2-mile radius you’ve got 75,000 people that are camping right in that area, so they create these little villages or neighborhoods around the speedway where they all come together and share Bristol stories and share life stories and have a campfire and some fun.
How did the night race at Bristol come to be seen as such a “bucket list” event? A few years ago, Car and Driver magazine voted it one of the top things a sports fan has to do before they die. That’s up there with the Masters, the Super Bowl and the World Series: It’s just one of those things that you want to be able to say you’ve done—and once you’ve done it, you want to do it again.
How many people does it take to pull off an event of this size? Several thousand. You have to work on traffic patterns with the cities, and not just Bristol, Tennessee, but
Tuesday, August 18 NRA SHOOTING STARS TOURNAMENT: Spend time with NASCAR’s rising stars while target shooting at Shooter’s Edge in Piney Flats. Guns and ammo provided; to register, call (423) 989-6975.
Sullivan County, Bristol, Virginia, and the Tennessee Highway Patrol and Virginia State Troopers, plus Kingsport, Johnson City and Abingdon. Thankfully, we really have tremendous support from the entire region when we’re hosting these events. And then, when you get onto our property, it has to have security and parkers and ticket checkers and gate security, and then you need all the folks who work the concession stands and suite level to deliver food, so it’s a major, major undertaking, and thankfully we’re blessed with a great team that pulls that off.
What would you consider to be the highlights that everyone who comes during race week should be sure not to miss? It’s the action on the track. We have action on Wednesday night (August 19) with our trucks and our modified race. They’re shorter races and not as big of crowds because they’re earlier in the week, so for someone local who just wants to try it out, Wednesday night is a great time to bring the kids and try it out. Thursday (August 20) is another day that you don’t want to miss, whether you’re from this region or you’re from outside
Thursday, August 20 MEMORABILIA LIVE AUCTION: Bid on autographed jackets, rides with your favorite driver and other NASCAR items. 5pm preview and 6pm auction on the third floor of the Bruton Smith Building. SEAT TIME RACING SCHOOL: Test out the World’s Fastest HalfMile at high speeds like NASCAR drivers do, from 5:30-8:30pm; for info, call (704) 998-1957 or visit seattimeracingexperience.com. NIGHT RACE 5K: Go for a 5K night run on the Bristol Dragway, Bristol Motor
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Speedway, campgrounds and transporter parade party, 8:30pm; registration: bristol.speedwaycharities.org/events.
Friday, August 21 FLEXSEAL CHARITY CORNHOLE CLASSIC: Qualifying at 10am and 2pm; $40 team entry includes T-shirts. For more info: bristol.speedwaycharities.org/events. KRISPY KREME DONUTS & JOHNSONVILLE BRATS: Both for sale on the speedway grounds!
Saturday, August 22 FLEXSEAL CHARITY CORNHOLE CLASSIC: Qualifying at 9am and 1pm; $40 team entry includes T-shirts. Championship tournament, 3pm. For more info: bristol.speedwaycharities.org/events. KRISPY KREME DONUTS & JOHNSONVILLE BRATS: Both for sale on the speedway grounds! SUPERPASS: Spend two hours experiencing the track before the race during an exclusive prerace track tour. For more info: bristolmotorspeedway.com.
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visiting. Food City Family Race Night in downtown Bristol is an event like none other in NASCAR. It’s a race fest, a community festival where Food City does a wonderful job showcasing our region and providing very affordable fun that raises money for charity while giving race fans and visitors in this region something to do. The Bristol Transport Parade is also a unique event in our sport. The transporters will gather at a location on the other side of Bristol that night, and they all drive together down State Street and Volunteer Parkway leading to the racetrack, and you’ll have tens of thousands of race fans lining the streets. Friday (August 21) is an actionpacked day on the track, with the Food City 300 and the Bass Pro Shops Qualifying. There’s something on the racetrack going on all day long on Friday, so there’s a lot to see and music at night, whether it be on the surrounding property or on our property. It is basically a music festival that is going on around our NASCAR event. Saturday (August 22) is the big day—the most anticipated race of the year for most race fans. We’ll have a huge concert, and that will be during the pre-race show, and then the drivers will come out and introduce themselves [before the Irwin Tools Night Race].
Let’s talk about the history a bit. A few decades ago, this area was farm fields. How did Bristol Motor Speedway come to be what it is today? Larry Carrier, Carl Moore and R.G. Pope had a dream to build a racetrack, so they purchased a dairy farm and built a nice little racetrack. But really what has taken Bristol from a nice little racetrack to a mecca was Bruton Smith. Bruton Smith and Speedway Motorsports purchased the track in 1996. He took it from 70,000 seats that Larry Carrier had put in to 160,000 seats—one of the largest spectator facilities in the world.
What was the rationale behind building a half-mile track? That’s a lot shorter than most of the tracks in NASCAR. It was built a half-mile because of the landscape: a half-mile track is what would fit in an affordable manner. Back in the day, short tracks were much more common because you had a lot of backyard mechanics and individuals who had cars who would come race them, and there were other short tracks kind of scattered throughout the Southeast.
How did the August race first get started, and how did it evolve into an event with sellout crowds? It was 1978 when they first put the lights up. Being one of the first night races, there was some debate: Can you really light a racetrack like this, and can you do it in such a manner that it isn’t going to blind the drivers? For them to be able to pull that off was impressive at the time. And there’s just something about that event. When you turn those lights on and you fire those cars up on a Saturday night, it’s something special. For some reason, tempers flare and chaos can ensue in short order. It puts fans on the edge of their seats. It’s a relatively short race, so the end of the race is going to get up upon you as a driver, so you’re not having time to kind of lay in the back; you’ve got to be on the move, you’ve got to kind of move toward the front of the field, and that’s going to cause things to happen and create excitement.
What goes on during the rest of the year at the speedway? We stay busy through the year. On more than 300 days of the year, we have something going on at our property. Many of those days we’ll have two or three events going on at the same time, so we’ll have 800 or so events we put on through the year, most of those being smaller events.
Looking ahead, we’re hearing a lot about this Battle at Bristol next year. Can you tell us about this game and why it’s going to be such a big deal? A football game at Bristol Motor Speedway between Tennessee and Virginia Tech has been talked about for almost 20 years now. I think any time something is talked about for that long, it almost develops a
personality of its own. So for it to come to fruition is a dream come true for many in this region. Many Tennessee fans and Virginia Tech fans have lobbied for years to put on a game here, and for them to finally see that dream come true, not only for this region but for the sports world, it’s going to make history. It’s going to be the largest football game, from an attendance standpoint, that’s ever happened.
When you first took this job back in 2010, everyone said you had big shoes to fill. How has that been so far? Jeff Byrd paved the way. He certainly cast a vision and created a culture here that has allowed us to continue to be very successful, and, fortunately for me, Jeff and I have a lot of the same vision and the same passion for this place. We want it to be the best sports facility in the country.”
What is your vision for the future at BMS? I think the vision is for us to find other ways to showcase this property to the world, so we will continue to look for other types of events. We’re always going to be a NASCAR track and a motorsports facility—that’s our focus and our core, but we do have this massive, world-class facility, and we’re going to find other ways to use that and showcase it to the world.
GO? WANT TO ets and other
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Niswonger Children’s Hospital specializes in treating the youngest patients. BY LEIGH ANN LAUBE
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hen Scott Niswonger encountered a young man years ago who had leukemia, the businessman and philanthropist was appalled that the boy’s mother had to quit her job to accompany him to his treatments at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital in Memphis. The young man was a local high school student who had applied to join the Niswonger Scholarship and Leadership Program, a program of The Niswonger Foundation. “That’s terrible,” Niswonger recalls thinking. “We’ve got to have better access to health care in this region.” Niswonger, who lives in Greeneville, called his hometown hospital. The head of Laughlin Memorial Hospital suggested he get in touch with Dennis Vonderfecht who, for 23 years, was president and CEO of Mountain States Health Alliance. About that time, MSHA had announced that it would pursue a dream of building a new hospital dedicated to children. The Mountain States Foundation began raising the financial support needed to build the $34 million facility. Niswonger, along with his wife, Nikki, donated $10 million toward the construction of the hospital. “There was a rendering that looked like a prison,” Niswonger recalls. “It was redesigned to be kid-friendly.”
Scott Niswonger photo by www.freshairphoto.com / All other photos courtesy of Mountain States Health Alliance
W
Scott Niswonger
“My goal is to have the best
health care for children anywhere in America, right here in Johnson City.” Niswonger Children’s Hospital serves more than 200,000 children in a fourstate, 29-county region. The 69-bed hospital’s design incorporates light, color and shape to appeal to young patients and their families. But it’s what goes on inside the brick-andmortar structure that is most important. Niswonger provides comprehensive pediatric services with access to roughly 22 pediatric specialties thanks to partnerships with Quillen College of Medicine’s pediatric residency program and other pediatric specialty groups in the region.
The hospital also has partnerships with St. Jude and Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center. “My goal is to have the best health care for children’s
anywhere in America, right here in Johnson City,” Niswonger says. Pediatric specialties include gynecology,
psychiatry, neonatology, allergy/immunology, cardiology, dermatology, hematology/oncology, radiology, surgery, nephrology and pulmonology, just to name a few. “The number now sits at about 22 [specialties]. We’re bringing on five new positions this summer. We’re bringing on pediatric endocrinology and neurology,” says hospital Assistant Vice President and Chief Executive Officer Steven Godbold. “We’re waiting to see if gastroenterology will commit, and we want to add a pediatric orthopedic surgeon.” There are other specialties the hospital would like to attract. “Some of these we have to build up in other subspecialties before we can bring them on,” Godbold says. The hospital has a 39bed Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) and a 10-bed Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU). Niswonger staff is dedicated to the safe transport of its smallest and most critical patients. Transport teams of nursing and respiratory staff from both the NICU and the PICU travel alongside pediatric patients by helicopter in Wings Air Rescue and by ground in an ambulance. In 1999, the St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital Tri-Cities Affiliate Clinic was established as a partnership between St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, East Tennessee State University and Niswonger. “[St. Jude] had created a domestic affiliate program,
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In March, the hospital opened a new playroom, courtesy
of the Tim Tebow
Foundation. Timmy’s Playroom features activities, video games and state-of-the-art technology.
and they were looking for areas not too far away from them—within a day’s drive of Memphis—where they saw a fair amount of patients who came to Memphis and who had a fair amount of oncology or cancers they were looking to do research on,” Godbold explains. “They did reach out to Mountain States and ETSU as a trilateral partnership. One of the key pieces is to keep kids and their families closer to home.” The Affiliate Clinic participates in pediatric clinical trials in the treatment of childhood cancers. The pediatric hematology/oncology division had approximately 3,000 outpatient visits last year and follows more than 200 youngsters with malignancies, 25 youngsters with congenital bleeding disorders
and a variety of other hematological problems. In March, the hospital opened a new playroom, courtesy of the Tim Tebow Foundation. Timmy’s Playroom features activities, video games and state-ofthe-art technology. About 70 percent of Niswonger’s patients are from the counties of Northeast Tennessee, along with Washington County, Va. Another 25 percent are from Southwest Virginia, and a smaller portion come from border counties in Kentucky and North Carolina. Only 27 percent of all patients are between the ages of 12 and 17. The children’s hospital benefits from a number of fundraisers each year. The
2015 Golf Classic in late June featured Peyton Manning, Jason Witten, Dan Marino, Philip Fulmer and Darius Rucker, as well as a concert by the Beach Boys at the Niswonger Performing Arts Center in Greeneville. The 2015 tournament was the third annual event. Last year’s tournament raised $700,000 for the hospital. Niswonger co-chairs the annual Golf Classic with Steve Johnson, a former NFL player and current president of Johnson Commercial Development in Bristol, Virginia. “Most celebrities have been good friends of [Johnson’s] and come for him and the children,” Niswonger says.
Other fundraisers that have benefited the hospital include a Broadway-style show, a radiothon and the Dragon Boat Festival. This year’s Dragon Boat Festival will not benefit Niswonger. “Fundraisers are very important from the standpoint of having the communities involved and feeling a part of the hospital,” Niswonger says. “We don’t want it to just be a place to bring a sick or injured child. We want them to feel comfortable coming to wellness classes and for other resources.” Those fundraisers are vital to the operation of the hospital, Godbold explained. “One of the key things I’ll say about pediatric health care is predominantly the payer of the patient population is the state government, through Medicaid or TennCare. Sixtythree percent of patients at Niswonger are TennCare patients,” he says. “That means we get paid about 60 cents of every dollar of cost. No profit there. So we still have 40 cents of cost to make up. When 63 percent are paying you that much, there’s
no way to make that up. You have to make that up through philanthropic endeavors.” The hospital’s wish list mentions items specifically needed to help children during their hospital stay—everything from crafts and toys to books, DVDs and video game systems. But there are other, bigger needs as well. “We have capital needs and have softly announced that we’re trying to create four centers of excellence around pediatric neurosciences, musculoskeletal, metabolic diseases and a center for child and family health,” Godbold says “Those will create support networks of specialists, mid-level providers, case managers and dietitian support to help children deal with life-long diseases. We’re trying to create endowments around these centers.” Scott Niswonger’s name is attached to numerous ventures in Northeast Tennessee. He created The Niswonger Foundation in 2001 with the mission to create opportunities for
individual and community growth through education and other sustainable projects. In 2003, he made a $2.5 million donation to Tusculum College for the expansion and renovation of the college’s library. In December 2004, the Niswonger Performing Arts Center (NPAC) opened its doors in Greeneville. The $7 million, 39,000-squarefoot venue can seat nearly 1,150 guests. In April of this year, he donated a million dollars to East Tennessee State University to help with the construction of the new football stadium on campus. But he’s more than just a check writer. He helps plan the annual Golf Classic and attends many of the hospital’s activities, including the annual Christmas tree lighting ceremony and the Broadway performance event. He helps organize the annual radiothon—recruiting sponsors and manning the phones.
He sits on the hospital’s advisory board and serves as a trustee at Tusculum College and on the college’s executive committee. A graduate of The School of Aviation Technology at Purdue University, he received his bachelor of science in business administration from Tusculum. He was awarded a Doctorate of Technology degree from Purdue. Both Niswonger and CEO Godbold have nothing but praise for the staff at the region’s only children’s hospital. “It’s not the hospital I’m most proud of,” Niswonger explains. “I’m proud of the care given by the professionals who work here. This [building] is just a tool given to them. We had 27,000 patient visits last year. There are 240,000 kids under age 18 in this service area.” Godbold made the transition from adult medicine to pediatrics in 2000.
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“I find it the most rewarding. No matter what a child faces in their stay here, they seem to always continue to be a child, have a smile on their face, laughing about it, and it makes you feel good at the end of the day,” he says. “You go home and know you made a difference. There’s nothing more rewarding than helping children and helping them have a better future than they would have otherwise.” Godbold says he is most proud of the services that the hospital offers to children every day. “The children of this region deserve to have the same great health care the kids in Atlanta have, the kids in Nashville have, the kids in Knoxville have. We continue every day to try to bring new specialties here. It’s an amazing thing to watch what they do day in and day out.”
Kyah’s Story Kyah Jones spends one day a week getting chemotherapy to fight the leukemia she was diagnosed with in July 2014. Instead of having to move to Memphis for treatment at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, she and her mother drive about a half hour to St. Jude’s Tri-Cities Affiliate Clinic located inside Niswonger Children’s Hospital.
Kyah Jones and her mother Layne Jones. PHOTO COURTESY OF NISWONGER CHILDREN’S HOSPITAL
“I would have had to move to Memphis. We’re lucky that we’re only 30 minutes away,” says mom Layne Jones. “The affiliate has been a blessing for us because we’re so close.” Kyah was 11 when she was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia. Even at such a young age, she had some idea of the seriousness of the situation. “Kyah looked right at me and said, ‘Oh my gosh, mom. I’m going to lose my hair, and I’m going to die,’” Layne recalls. It was Kyah’s Kingsport pediatrician who first suspected leukemia. She sent Kyah immediately to the children’s hospital. “I couldn’t even drive from the pediatrician’s office to Johnson City,” Layne recalls. “My mom had to come get me; I was so upset. I cried from that day for probably a straight month. I kept telling myself, ‘It’s not leukemia. It’s not leukemia.” But it was leukemia, and after staying overnight
at Niswonger, Kyah and Layne were flown to Memphis. There, a PICC (peripherally inserted central catheter) line was put in her arm so she could receive chemotherapy. On Sept. 11, the PICC line was taken out in favor of a chemotherapy port in her chest, and Kyah was able to come home on Sept. 18. Every Wednesday since then, she’s at Niswonger for chemo. She still returns to Memphis on occasion for checkups. “Kyah likes to go have chemo at home,” Layne says. “It’s the same doctors and the same nurses. She jokes around with them when she goes to chemo. She says it feels like family. They make her feel comfortable, and they know exactly what she needs.”
Layne too has found much-needed support at Niswonger. “I actually had to quit my job. I’m a single mom with two kids. It’s been really hard financially more than anything. First I was upset; then I was mad; now I’m angry. The sad thing now is this is normal. You kind of know what to expect, what will happen,” she says. With help from a social worker, Layne has found local resources to help financially. Her family also helps. Kyah has kept her spirits up, despite missing her friends and not being able to play sports. “Her attitude toward the medicines and the surgeries is actually pretty good. The most emotional part for me and her was when her hair fell out. We cried for days,” Layne says.
Welcoming Johnson City’s New Pediatric Endocrinologist
George Ford, MD Pediatric Endocrinologist
Pediatric Endocrinology Care is Close to Home Niswonger Children’s Hospital welcomes George Ford, MD, to the medical staff. He specializes in the treatment of endocrinologic problems in children and adolescents, such as diabetes, thyroid disorders and growth disorders. Dr. Ford received his medical degree from the University of Washington School of Medicine in Seattle. He also completed fellowship training in pediatric endocrinology at Oregon Health and Science University in Portland. Dr. Ford has extensive research experience; and has received numerous awards and honors for his contributions to pediatric endocrinology. He is also committed to making his community a better place through volunteer activities at churches, schools, camps and other non-profit organizations. Dr. Ford is accepting new patients beginning in August—right here in Johnson City. That means families and children with endocrinologic problems will no longer need to travel outside the region for treatment.
For more information, call 423-431-4946 or visit MountainStatesHealth.com/children.
400 N. State of Franklin Rd. • Johnson City, TN 37604 • MountainStatesHealth.com/children
Member of the medical staff.
A guide to lung health and what you can do to improve and maintain it
T
here are some organs you can live without—a kidney, your gallbladder or spleen. It’s not ideal but certainly doable. Your lungs, however, don’t fall into this “expendable” category. They’re a crucial part of the process of sending oxygen—that essential gas every living thing needs to survive—to every cell in your body. They also do the work of exchanging the waste gas of carbon dioxide and expelling it. BOTTOM LINE: You want to do everything in your power to protect your lungs and keep them functioning at optimal level. For insight and expert advice on how to keep lungs as healthy as possible, we turned to Norman H. Edelman, M.D., senior consultant for scientific affairs for the American Lung Association. By Cynthia McFarland
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Your Lungs:
What’s Happening When You Breathe
B
reathing is such a natural thing that we don’t give it much thought, but in reality, there’s a whole lot going on. Here’s a look at your lungs and how they work. RIGHT LUNG: It’s divided into three lobes (sections). Think of these lobes as balloons filled with spongy tissue. Air moves in and out through a branch of the bronchial tube. LEFT LUNG: It’s divided into two lobes. PLEURA: These are the membranes that surround each lobe and separate the lungs from your chest wall.
FASCINATING FACTS The average adult takes over 20,000 breaths per day or 6 million breaths a year. Your right lung is
CILIA: Think of tiny hairs that line the bronchial tubes and you can better picture the cilia that have a wave-like motion, which carries mucus up and into your throat where you either cough it up or swallow it. MUCUS: Despite the icky name, this sticky phlegm or liquid is a good thing because it catches hold of germs, dust and other undesirables that get into your lungs. You get them out of your lungs when you cough, sneeze, clear your throat or swallow. BRONCHIOLES: These are the smallest subdivisions of the bronchial tubes. ALVEOLI: When you breathe in air, it goes to these small air sacs located at the end of the bronchioles.
slightly larger than your left.
CAPILLARIES: Embedded in the walls of the alveoli are these vital blood vessels. Blood gives off carbon dioxide while in the capillaries. This passes through the capillary wall into the alveoli and takes up oxygen from the air in the alveoli.
A sneeze travels about
PULMONARY ARTERY: Blood is brought to the capillaries via this major artery.
100 miles per hour.
60 miles per hour.
A cough travels about
PULMONARY VEIN: Blood is taken away from the capillaries by this vein. DIAPHRAGM: Although not a part of the lung, this strong wall of muscle separates the chest cavity from the abdominal cavity, and when it moves downward, it creates suction in the chest to draw air in and expand the lungs. RIBS: Although they only move to a limited degree, these bones support and protect the chest cavity and help the lungs expand and contract.
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!
The BIGGIES
COPD
C
hronic obstructive pulmonary disease, typically referred to as COPD, is the third leading cause of death in the United States. There is presently no When it comes to lung cure. Experts believe as many as 24 million may have COPD disease and infection, because it’s often not diagnosed until in an advanced stage. several are of When found early, it can be managed and treated with great concern. medication to relieve symptoms. AS M “We used to call it ‘chronic bronchitis’ or ‘emphysema,’ so a CAUUCH AS 9 lot of people still know it by these terms,” observes Dr. Edelman. SMAL SED 0 PER “COPD not only causes many deaths, it also causes a great deal CAUS L PERCEN BY CI CEN ED BY TAGE GA T O of disability, as well as restrained and constricted lives.” AN IN OF PA RET F CO COPD makes it harder to breathe HERIT TIENT TE S PD ED LA S HAV I M S over time because the airways CK OF E A RA OKIN become inflamed and A PRO RE FO TECTI RM O G. A thickened. Symptoms VE BL F COP OOD P D include chronic ROTE cough and shortness IN. of breath while doing normal activities.
Lung Disease
G N I N WA R Signs
so gn of lung disease,u have si a be ay m g in w Any of the follo th care provider right away if yo contact your healese symptoms: one or more of th HEEZING OR NOISY W • R FO H G U • CHRONIC CO MONTH BREATHING A N A TH RE O M GHING UP BLOOD U CO • H AT RE B F • SHORTNESS O GO AWAY CHRONIC CHEST PAIN • THAT DOESN’T N THAT LASTS FORGAER O AFTER EXERTI MONTH OR LON R O D RE O • LAB HING DIFFICULT Y BREAT
Worldwide,
An estimated
lung cancer in 2012.
Americans are expected to die from lung cancer in 2015.
1.6 million people died from
158,040
Lung Cancer
L
ung cancer is the leading cause of preventable death. It’s to blame for more deaths than breast, prostate and colorectal cancers combined. “This is the leading cause of death from cancer in both men and women. Women tend to be more afraid of breast cancer, but many more women die of lung cancer than breast cancer. About 85 percent of the people who get lung cancer are smokers or have smoked, but in the 15 percent who haven’t smoked, women are highly represented,” says Dr. Edelman. “If someone has lung cancer and is going to have surgery, they need to tell the doctor they want their lung cells examined and the genetics tested. The cell type adenocarcinoma may be amenable to treatment by the newest lung cancer drugs.”
Over the past 37 years, the rate of new lung cancer cases has increased 98
percent for women.
The lung cancer fiveyear survival rate (17.8 percent) is lower than many other leading cancers.
More than half the people with lung cancer
die within one year of being diagnosed.
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Lung cancer’s five-year survival rate is 54 percent if cases are detected when the disease is still within the lungs. Once distant tumors are present because the cancer has spread to other organs, that five-year survival rate drops to just 4 percent. Unfortunately, only 15 percent of lung cancer cases are diagnosed in an early stage.
Influenza
M
any people don’t really think of the flu as a serious respiratory illness, but this is a mistake. Although a healthy person is usually back to normal within a week, the flu can pack a wallop for those in higher-risk categories, such as the elderly, very young children and anyone with chronic illness or a compromised immune system. Every year, some 226,000 people are hospitalized due to the flu, and as many as 49,000 people die from it. “In a bad year, the flu can affect as much as 25 percent of our population,” says Dr. Edelman. “Death usually occurs because of complications. If someone already has a weakened heart, their body may not be able to handle the flu.” Influenza is highly contagious and spreads easily, typically when an infected person coughs or sneezes. The most common way people catch the flu is by touching their eyes, nose or mouth with their own germ-laden hand. This is why washing your hands thoroughly and often is one of the best ways to stay healthy. (Soap up and scrub for as long as it takes to hum Happy Birthday To You.) There are three influenza virus families: A, B and C. Vaccines for the flu change each year, depending on which strain is expected to be prevalent that year. Once you get vaccinated, it takes about two weeks for the vaccine to take effect.
“VACCI NATION WE HAVE. W IS TH AGE OF 6 MOE RECOMMEND EVEERBEST PROTECTION CAUTIONS D NTHS BE VACCINATE YONE OVER THE D EVERY YEA R. EDELMAN R,” . “Even if you get flu shots, stay away from people who might have it. Kids are considered the ‘Typhoid Mary’ of flu. Whenever flu is introduced into a community, it’s done through children and spreads through children. A study in Europe showed you can protect older people more by vaccinating the children than by vaccinating older people.”
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A Closer Look at PNEUMONIA
P
neumonia is the cause of over 1 million hospitalizations each year, and nearly 50,000 people die from it annually.
A common lung infection, pneumonia often follows a respiratory infection, such as influenza. A third of the pneumonia cases in the United States each year are the result of respiratory viruses. See your health care provider promptly if you have respiratory symptoms that stick around longer than a few days. Symptoms include cough, fever, chills and difficulty breathing. Pneumonia patients also typically have reduced oxygen levels in their blood because the lungs aren’t working normally. When the body’s oxygen level decreases, infection can spread, and this can be life threatening. A healthy person may only have mild symptoms and may recover completely in one to three weeks. For someone
Asthma
“A
sthma affects 10 percent of our population. The amount of people affected has doubled over the last 20 years or so,” notes Dr. Edelman. “Although it doesn’t cause as many deaths as other lung diseases, it certainly causes the inability to do many things and it also impairs sleep, which affects all aspects of daily life, so it must be considered a serious lung disease.” Symptoms include wheezing, frequent cough, shortness of breath and chest tightness. While asthma can typically be controlled by medication, it’s important to know your “triggers.” Triggers include respiratory infections (flu, cold, sinus infection), food allergies, medications, smoke, pollen, temperature extremes, pet dander and saliva, pests (dust mites, cockroaches, rodents), mold, exercise and even emotions. If you’re stressed, angry or afraid, this can exacerbate asthma symptoms. Even yelling, crying or laughing too hard can trigger a flare-up. Allergy testing (skin test and/or blood test) can help pinpoint your triggers, so you can work to reduce and eliminate them. If you test positive for allergies, your health care provider can offer advice on how to make changes to your environment.
Pulmonary Fibrosis
in the high-risk category, pneumonia can be deadly. This includes people age 65 or older, someone recovering from severe illness or anyone with a chronic illness (lung disease, heart disease, diabetes, kidney disorder, sickle cell anemia, etc.). Pneumonia can be caused by many different germs, such as bacteria, virus or fungi. Once you get viral pneumonia, you’re also at risk of getting bacterial pneumonia. Treatment for pneumonia will vary depending on the cause and the severity of symptoms as well as the person’s age and overall health.
A
lthough not nearly as well known, pulmonary fibrosis kills as many people as breast cancer each year: about 40,000. “We are seeing an increase in this disease because we have a large aging population,” says Dr. Edelman. “It causes scarring of the lungs for reasons we don’t understand and frequently follows an infection.” When scars form in the lung, the excess fibrous tissue causes the lung walls to thicken and reduces oxygen supply in the blood. Symptoms of pulmonary fibrosis include perpetual shortness of breath, dry, hacking cough, fatigue, chest discomfort and loss of appetite/weight loss. Diagnosis is confirmed by lung biopsy. Once scarring occurs, it’s permanent and there is no cure for the damage caused by scarring, although corticosteroids and some newer drugs may be given to decrease lung inflammation and further scarring.
LEARN MORE AND GET HELP
THE AMERICAN LUNG ASSOCIATION LUNG HELPLINE OFFERS FREE COUNSELING WITH REGISTERED NURSES, PNEUMONIA IS PREVENTABLE, RESPIRATORY THERAPISTS AND SO GET A FLU SHOT ANNUALLY. TALK TO YOUR QUIT SMOKING SPECIALISTS. DOCTOR ABOUT A VACCINE FOR PNEUMOCOCCAL CALL 800 LUNGUSA PNEUMONIA IF YOU ARE AT HIGH RISK. 5864872). YOU CAN ALSO LEARN MORE ABOUT LUNG DISEASE AND TREATMENT OPTIONS BY VISITING LUNG.ORG.
FIGHT BACK! These are the most important things you can do to protect the health of your lungs. • DON’T SMOKE, AND DON’T BE AROUND SMOKING. • GET A FLU VACINATION AND, IF YOU’RE AT RISK, A PNEUMONIA VACCINATION, TOO. • STAY AWAY FROM SICK PEOPLE IF YOU ARE AT RISK FOR COMPLICATIONS, AND WHEN YOU’RE SICK, DON’T EXPOSE OTHERS. • EAT A HEALTHY DIET. • EXERCISE REGULARLY. • FIGHT FOR CLEAN AIR.
Help Us Help Kids! 10TH ANNUAL
CASA Golf Tournament Monday, August 24, 2015
HEALTH MATTERS
8:30am AND 1:30pm • Including a Par-Tee Sunday evening
Over 70 million Americans suffer with chronic insomnia, which is known to have a direct link with an increased risk of obesity, diabetes, hypertension and heart disease, not to mention accidents. A good night’s sleep gives our bodies the chance to detoxify, heal and revitalize itself, all necessary for good health.
Join us Sunday evening for
atJohnson City Country Club
the Par-Tee!
at the Johnson City Country Club • Sunday, August 23 • 6-9pm Join us even if you’re not playing the tournament! Live music by the Lauren Cole Band, Wine Tasting, Heavy Hors d’Oeuvres and a Silent Auction Featuring Local Art Players in the tournament are FREE, guests are $25.
Most commonly caused by anxiety and tension, insomnia is also associated with the use of stimulants, such as caffeine and sugar, as well as Rx and OTC drugs. A regular routine of relaxation before bedtime, such as deep breathing, stretching or taking a warm bath with soothing essential oils, can help improve your sleep. Natural remedies such as Passionflower, a native plant discovered by Spanish explorers in Peru in the 16th century, have a long history of use with insomnia, nervous tension, heart palpitations and even pain. Available in liquid extract, chewable tablets, capsules or an herbal tea blend called “Bedtime”, Passionflower is also our state’s flower.
Patsy Meridith, CNC
SPONSORS: N C’ H AO S • P C • C P H I G • T C H L
Certified Nutrition Consultant Owner of Natural Foods Market
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body NUTRITION | FITNESS | BEAUT Y
fit orfat? T
urns out Washington, D.C. is America’s fittest city according to a recent study conducted by the American Fitness Index. WHO KNEW?
America’s healthiest cities
So where does the Tri-Cities region rank? Turns out we don’t even make the top 25! Come on, we can do better than that. With our fantastic weather year-round, we really have no excuse to not get up, get out and get moving. Grab your weights, and lace up your shoes. Maybe next year we can give them a run for their money!
1........Washington, D.C. 2........Minneapolis, MN 3 .......San Diego, CA 4 .......San Francisco, CA 5 .......Sacramento, CA 6 .......Denver, CO 7 .......Portland, OR 8 .......Seattle, WA 9 .......Boston , MA 10 ....San Jose, CA
Source: americanfitnessindex.org, mensfitness.com
AUGUST 2015
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body
so pretty, so easy B
eing a girl is hard enough, which is why we think when it comes to your beauty routine it should be a piece of cake. Take a look at these tips that we venture to guess will become some of your favorite go-to beauty habits.
NAIL IT. Hide a manicure that’s growing out by creating a glitter ombre effect starting at the base of your nails. Your nails will have the in-look of the season, and more importantly, you’ll avoid the downward glances belonging to those questioning why you didn’t take the time to redo your mani before heading out. PERFECT YOUR POUT. No one likes to smile and realize they have been flashing a mess of red or pink in place of their pearly whites. To avoid the embarrassment, right after you apply lipstick, make an “O” with your lips, stick your finger in your mouth, close your lips around your finger and pull it out. Your finger will wipe away the excess lipstick and leave you open to strike a pose. NO MESS, NO PROBLEM. Apply Vaseline
around the edges of nails before painting to easily wipe away any stray marks without smudging your manicure.
IRON IT OUT. No need to haul out the cumbersome ironing board and iron for a few wrinkles. For quick touch-up jobs, your flat iron will work just as well! Just make sure you’re not wearing it!
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YES, THEY’RE REAL.
If you want longer lashes without gluing falsies to your eyelids, just add baby powder to your lash routine. Simply use a cotton swab to dab on baby powder in between applications and you’ll have long, lush lashes in no time!
MAKE IT LAST. Tired of applying and reapplying what was supposed to be the perfect shade to your lips? Coat a dry toothbrush with lip balm and use it to gently exfoliate your lips. Blot dry, and apply your lipstick one final time! PARTING WAYS. To make your hair appear instantly thicker, brush a little dark eyeshadow on your part to make it a tad less noticeable.
MAKE WAVES. For faster, just-left-thebeach waves, secure your hair in a tight ponytail, twist hair around finger, flat iron the whole thing two times through and let go of your hair. (If you have thick hair, you may need to twist and iron in sections.) Thirty seconds for the cutest style this summer? We vote yes!
BRING ON THE BARRIER. Blistering
stilettos or boring flats? We’ll take the former. Deodorant helps prevent blisters when breaking in new shoes. Use a clear gel to keep the shoe-foot friction at bay.
PILE ON THE PILLOWS.
Want to fight the daily struggle of puffiness? Sleep propped on two pillows instead of just one. That’s it! The extra pillow will assist in draining the fluid in your face and help prevent sagging.
Source: allure.com, cosmopolitan.com
BE A BEAUT Y CHEF. Head to the kitchen, we are about to whip up some... bronzer? That’s right! One tablespoon cinnamon, two tablespoons cornstarch, one teaspoon nutmeg and one teaspoon cocoa powder mixed together will create a perfect glow for any skin tone. Not only will you look great, but you’ll smell amazing, too!
Back-To-School Blues The first day of school is an exciting time for children and parents. It can also be a time of anxiety if your child has asthma or allergies. Anderson Compounding can help. The American Academy of Allergy Asthma & Immunology recommends preparing before the new school year begins so you can feel confident sending your child off to class by following the steps listed below. Make sure your child takes his asthma or allergy medications as prescribed. Keep this routine during the summer so doses aren’t missed. Skipping medications can lead to increased symptoms, which often equals less time learning. There are many potential allergy and asthma triggers in schools. Common asthma and allergy triggers in the classroom include dust mites, mold, chalk dust and animal dander. Depending on your child’s allergic condition, you may want to:
Recess may be the favorite time of the school day for many children, but for those with allergies or asthma, it can be a minefield of potential triggers. If your child has allergic rhinitis (hay fever), sign up for regular National Allergy Bureau pollen count email alerts. When levels are very high, plan accordingly if your child takes medication to control symptoms. When indoors, ask staff to keep windows closed to keep pollen out. Anderson Compounding Pharmacy can work with you and your child’s doctor to formulate custom allergy treatment plans based on individual needs. Please call us for more information, and let us help you beat the back-to-school allergy blues.
• TOUR THE SCHOOL TO IDENTIFY • IF YOUR CHILD IS AT RISK FOR LIFE-THREATENING REACTIONS, POTENTIAL ASTHMA OR SUCH AS THOSE TO FOOD OR ALLERGY TRIGGERS. INSECT STINGS, COMPLETE AN • TALK WITH YOUR CHILD’S ANAPHYLAXIS ACTION PLAN TEACHER(S) AND OTHER AND VERIFY THAT SCHOOL RELEVANT SCHOOL PERSONNEL STAFF MEMBERS KNOW HOW TO (SUCH AS SPORTS COACHES) ADMINISTER AUTO-INJECTABLE ABOUT YOUR CHILD’S CONDITION EPINEPHRINE. AND TREATMENT PLAN.
PROMOTIONAL FEATURE
310 BLUFF CITY HWY. BRISTOL, TN 37620 (423) 764-4136 / ANDERSONCOMPOUNDING.COM
AUGUST 2015
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HE ALT H Y
body
one summer W splurge
e know, we know, this is Healthy Living. But what’s a steamy Florida summer without a chilly ice cream sandwich? Making your own frozen treats at home is a great way to pass a hot afternoon inside, and if you’re worried about nutritional value, we’ve got some easy ingredient swaps to make your cookies a liiiittle better for you.
chocolate chip cookie ice cream sandwich Blogger Kathleen Morimoto Kiebler of hapanom.com has created the perfect cookie recipe to survive the freezer and hold on to all that delicious ice cream. What flavor will you put in the middle? You’ll need… 1
egg yolk
2 ½ cups all-purpose flour
12
oz semisweet chocolate chips
2 ½ tsp vanilla extract
Semisweet chocolate mini morsels, to taste
1 ½ cups brown sugar
1
tsp baking powder
1
tsp baking soda
1
tsp salt
1
large egg
½
cup granulated sugar
8
oz vegetable shortening
8
oz unsalted butter Ice cream
Makes 12 sandwiches
and some swaps
Trading one ingredient for another can increase nutrition and decrease food guilt. We’ll even
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give you the ratios so you can try these easily! For every cup of white flour, use 7⁄8 cup of wheat flour for a fiber boost that will aid digestion while lowering the risk of diabetes and heart disease.
before assembling sandwiches. Place one scoop of ice cream on flat side of cookie, and gently press on the second to flatten. Roll the sandwich in mini morsels to coat the ice cream, and place in the freezer for at least four hours before serving. Recipe and photo courtesy of Kathleen Morimoto Kiebler, hapanom.com, via SideChef. SideChef is a step-by-step cooking app available at SideChef.com. It has been ranked in the iTunes Store’s Top 10 Food & Drinks apps as well as USA Today’s Best Apps of 2014. Using your phone? This recipe is available at http://rdrct.it/sidechef?recipe/233 and on hapanom.com.
Cacao nibs isn’t just fun to say, but using them instead of processed chocolate morsels means cutting out added sugar and additives but keeping all the antioxidants.
Rather than a cup of sugar, which holds around 770 calories, try 1 cup of unsweetened applesauce at just 100. Only catch: For every cup, reduce the overall liquid amount in the recipe by ¼ cup.
Source: greatist.com
Preheat oven to 350°F. In mixer, combine unsalted butter, vegetable shortening, brown sugar, granulated sugar, large egg, egg yolk and vanilla extract. In another bowl, mix flour, salt, baking soda and baking powder. Slowly add dry ingredients to wet ingredients, and mix well in mixer. Add chocolate chips, and mix until incorporated. Roll dough into golf ball-sized balls, and place on an ungreased cookie sheet. Bake two sheets at a time for 10-12 minutes or until edges are lightly browned. Rotate cookie sheets halfway through baking time. Transfer cookies to cooling rack. Allow to cool
Life’s even better when you get your premiums back. Find out how you can help protect your family for less, build cash value, or even get your premiums back if the life insurance benefit has not been paid out at the end of the level premium period. CALL ME TODAY. Kristy Baggarly, Agent 2332 Volunteer Parkway Bristol, TN 37620 Bus: 423-968-9221 kristy.baggarly.t2kw@statefarm.com Adjustable Premium Level Term Life Insurance policy series 08025 in all states except MT, NY, WI; 08075 in MT; A08025 in NY & WI. State Farm Life Insurance Company, Bloomington, IL (Not licensed in MA, NY and WI) State Farm Life and Accident Assurance Company (Licensed in NY and WI), Bloomington, IL
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AUGUST 2015
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HE ALT H Y
body
freshen up your fitness go for some personal attention. I CONSIDER A PERSONAL TRAINER TO HELP YOU TWEAK YOUR WORKOUT ROUTINE. A
certified personal trainer’s expertise can bring a fresh perspective and reinvigorate you. Most gyms have personal trainers, and some will even come to your home. Just make sure to check their credentials first.
get social.
IF YOU’VE BEEN GOING SOLO, THINK ABOUT SWITCHING TO GROUP FITNESS CLASSES. A wide
variety, from yoga and Zumba to Pilates and aquaerobics, will give you plenty to choose from while staving off boredom—and battling the bulge. Sample a few classes until you find one or two that suit you, and get your sweat on! Or think about joining a sports team or league. Tennis, anyone?
Change your mindset. SWAP OUT THE WORD “WORKOUT” FOR “PLAY TIME.” Think
of this time as your hard-earned recess! A study published in the Journal of Applied Sports Psychology asked participants to evaluate their mental state before and after exercise. The more they enjoyed the exercise activity, the better their mood and energy afterward.
take it outside. MAYBE IT’S TIME TO GET A LITTLE SUNSHINE AND FRESH AIR! Find a nearby park and
just do a freestyle workout, using benches or even the playground equipment. Many parks now have outside exercise stations. Go on a nature hike. Jump on your bike, and explore your community. Numerous scientific studies have shown that outdoor exercise benefits include greater enjoyment, increased energy, an improved mental state and stress reduction.
shortcircuit your workout. NO, WE’RE NOT TALKING ABOUT ELECTRICIT Y HERE.
Instead, inject rejuvenating mini-circuits into your workout. If you’re in the gym, in between strength-training sets, jump on the treadmill for a quick 10-15 minute aerobic workout. Go back to the weights for 10-15 minutes; then do a high-intensity interval on the stationary bike. Bingo—fun and fast!
take a break.
EXERCISE BURNOUT IS A REAL THING. So before
you beat yourself up mentally and physically, there’s no shame in just taking a break. Give yourself a week to forego working out and see how you respond. Instead of working out, take a nap, go to the movies or read a book. Chances are the break will do the trick, and, in no time, you’ll be refreshed and ready to get moving again!
Sources: experiencelife.com, onfitness.com, runnersworld.com
s your fitness routine less than stimulating these days? Well fix it! Here are some great suggestions for getting you up and moving… and loving it at the same time!
WOMAN © EDYTA PAWLOWSKA / SHUTTERSTOCK.COM
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balance MIND | SPIRIT | FINANCE
kindness counts AUG
is a week to set aside
25-31 differences, put others
Source: jobs.aol.com
first and just be kind. Be Kind to Humankind week celebrates all the things that are good about humans, and each day of the week features its own theme. Touch-a-heart Tuesday? Write someone a nice note! Motorist Consideration Monday—let that other driver go first at the stop sign. And once the week ends, keep up the kindness because, let’s face it, a little kindness goes a long way. SUN. Sacrifice Our Wants For Others Sunday
MON.
TUE.
WED.
THU.
FRI.
SAT.
Motorist Consideration Monday
Touch-AHeart Tuesday
Willing-ToLend-A-Hand Wednesday
Thoughtful Thursday
Forgive Your Foe Friday
Speak Kind Words Saturday
AUGUST 2015
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fafsa, funds and Y federal loans… Financing your college experience.
ou’re dying to get accepted to the school of your dreams, but then what? How are you going to pay for tuition, books and room and board? With all kinds of scholarships and financial aid options, all you college-bound seniors can stop freaking out. We’ve got all the info you need to get things in order.
fill out your fafsa First things first. Find out how much financial aid you qualify for by filling out your Free Application for Federal Student Aid. Even if you don’t think you’ll qualify for financial aid, still fill it out. At the very least, you’ll qualify for some type of aid like a low-cost loan, and you’ll gain access to federal grants. It’s best to start early on this form, because it will take longer to process if there are errors. Filling it out online might speed up the process, though. You can use the IRS Data Retrieval Tool to fill in your financial information correctly, and the online FAFSA form also has an editing system to help prevent mistakes. Before you get started, use the Pre-Application Worksheet to make sure you have all the information you need— most of the frustration comes from not having all your information readily available. State deadlines are often earlier than the federal deadline, so don’t procrastinate. Once the form is submitted, your Expected Family Contribution amount will be determined for any and all colleges you apply to. This is the amount of money your family is expected to pay each year to the college you attend based on your FAFSA information. Colleges use the EFC amount to determine how much financial aid you qualify for.
APPLY FOR FEDERAL GRANTS IF YOU QUALIFY FOR FINANCIAL AID, IT MIGHT COME IN THE FORM OF A FEDERAL GRANT. PERHAPS THE MOST COMMON ONE IS THE FEDERAL PELL GRANT, ALTHOUGH THERE ARE A FEW OTHERS. BECAUSE GRANTS ARE NEEDBASED, THEY DON’T HAVE TO BE REPAID. BUT, IN THE CASE OF THE PELL GRANT, THE AMOUNT YOU RECEIVE MAY BE LESS THAN THE MAXIMUM AMOUNT POSSIBLE. THIS IS BECAUSE AMOUNTS ARE DETERMINED BY INFORMATION ON YOUR FAFSA, YOUR STATUS AS A PART-TIME OR FULL-TIME STUDENT AND COLLEGE TUITION COSTS. FILLING OUT A FAFSA FORM WILL DETERMINE WHETHER YOU QUALIFY FOR THE PELL GRANT OR ONE OF THE OTHER FEDERAL GRANTS. TALK TO YOUR COLLEGE’S FINANCIAL ADVISOR FOR MORE INFORMATION.
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STUDENT © BURLINGHAM; LOANS ICONS © VOODOODOT; SHOES © LEMON TREE IMAGES; MONEY AND HAND © VERONCHICK84 / SHUTTERSTOCK.COM
balance
Sources: fastweb.com, collegedata.com, collegeapps.about.com, studentaid.ed.gov, hercampus.com, moneysavingpro.com, yescollege.com, scholarships.com, unigo.com, moneyfor20s.about.com
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search out scholarships Where grants are need-based, scholarships are merit-based. So, for those of you who don’t meet the criteria for need-based financial aid or federal grants, start applying for scholarships. Scholarships are free money, and you can find some pretty interesting ones. From The Wear Duct Tape To Prom Scholarship to the Jif Most Creative Sandwich Contest, the scholarships out there aren’t just for the smartest of the smartest—there’s plenty for everyone with unique talents and creativity, including the Annual Create-A-Greeting-Card $10,000 Scholarship Contest. Start the search on one of these websites and see what you find.
CO M PPEX. • CA B. CO M STWE M A F • R D. C O E B OA G E L L • CO M C H.CO CO M • ZIN TION. I U T E .CO M PL OINTS • SIM P P I H RS HOLA OM • SC IPS.C ARSH L O H • SC T. C O M CO M UDEN T S T HIPS. X E S R N A L • O M TSCH TS.CO UDEN XPER • ST E P I H RS HOLA • SC
student loans What about student loans? Loans can take care of any expenses not covered by scholarships and financial aid, but they are obviously not free money. The loan amount must be paid back plus any accrued interest. In fact, you’ve probably heard a few horror stories about them. Well, if you’re worried about drowning in loan payments for the rest of your life, here’s what you need to know:
FEDERAL STUDENT LOANS: THESE LOANS HAVE FIXED INTEREST RATES AND ARE ISSUED THROUGH THE FEDERAL DIRECT LOAN PROGRAM. YOU CAN APPLY FOR EITHER A SUBSIDIZED OR UNSUBSIDIZED LOAN WHEN YOU FILL OUT YOUR FAFSA.
SUBSIDIZED LOANS: THESE STUDENT LOANS ARE GOOD FOR COVERING SMALLER TUITION COSTS, AND THE GOVERNMENT PAYS INTEREST ON THEM WHILE YOU’RE IN SCHOOL. THAT MEANS INTEREST ONLY STARTS ACCRUING AFTER YOU’VE GRADUATED.
UNSUBSIDIZED LOANS: IF YOU’RE HEADING OFF TO A PRICIER COLLEGE, YOU’LL NEED TO TAKE OUT A BIGGER, UNSUBSIDIZED LOAN TO COVER TUITION COSTS. THESE LOANS START ACCUMULATING INTEREST RIGHT AWAY, ADDING SIGNIFICANTLY TO YOUR LOAN BALANCE. SO, IT’S A GOOD IDEA TO PAY THE INTEREST OFF EACH MONTH TO PREVENT IT FROM PILING UP. YOU DON’T WANT TO BE SHOCKED AT YOUR BALANCE COME GRADUATION.
PRIVATE STUDENT LOANS: IF YOU’D RATHER FILL IN THE GAPS WITH PRIVATE LOANS, TRY TO FIND ONE WITH A FIXED INTEREST RATE AND A GRACE PERIOD THAT’S LONG ENOUGH FOR YOU TO PREPARE FOR PAYMENTS. PRIVATE STUDENT LOANS ARE USUALLY OFFERED THROUGH A BANK OR LENDING COMPANY, SO YOU SHOULD LOOK AROUND AT DIFFERENT OFFERS UNTIL YOU FIND ONE THAT WORKS FOR YOU. BECAUSE THE INTEREST RATES ARE GENERALLY HIGHER THAN FEDERAL STUDENT LOAN INTEREST RATES, IT WOULD BE WORTH EXPLORING SUBSIDIZED LOAN OPTIONS.
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purchasing power
W
ondering when to make big purchases this year? Well wait no more. Here’s a go-to guide to help you decide when to purchase those bigticket items to snag the best deals.
Air-conditioning units: Replace your airconditioning unit during the colder months of the year—October, November and December—for the biggest discount. Airplane tickets: Get the best deal on airplane tickets 47 days before your flight departure date. That’s the magic number, according to one study. But, if that’s not possible, aim to buy your tickets in the ideal booking window between 114 and 27 days. Boats: January, February and March are the offseason months for boats as well as the season for boat shows, which means it’s the perfect time to snag last year’s model for a real deal. Cruises: Think nine months to one year ahead of time for this one, unless you don’t mind an undesirable cabin.
CARS: WITH NEW CARS COMING OUT AT THE END OF THE SUMMER, START LOOKING FOR ONE IN AUGUST AND SEPTEMBER. WAIT UNTIL THE END OF SEPTEMBER FOR EVEN MORE SAVINGS.
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Computers: Find computers for 30 to 40 percent off in late March and early April. Try back-to-school and Black Friday deals, too, for 25 to 30 percent off.
LAWNMOWERS: THERE ARE THREE TIMES TO LOOK FOR LAWNMOWERS THROUGHOUT THE YEAR. OLDER MODELS NEED TO BE CLEARED OUT IN APRIL TO MAKE ROOM FOR NEW ONES, SUMMER LEFTOVERS GO ON SALE IN SEPTEMBER AND BLACK FRIDAY WILL USUALLY HAVE SIGNIFICANT MARKDOWNS ON THEM.
HOUSEHOLD APPLIANCES: BECAUSE NEW MODELS START COMING OUT AROUND THIS TIME OF YEAR, SEPTEMBER AND OCTOBER ARE GOING TO BE YOUR BEST BET FOR APPLIANCE DEALS, WITH THE EXCEPTION OF REFRIGERATORS. NEW FRIDGE MODELS COME OUT IN THE SPRING, SO MAY IS THE BEST TIME TO GRAB LAST YEAR’S MODEL.
CAR ©IGITAL STORM; DISHWASHER © PPART; LAWNMOWER © VITALLIY / SHUTTERSTOCK.COM
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Pools: If you want to enjoy a pool by summertime, purchase it in December for your absolute best deal. Mattresses: Memorial Day beats Presidents’ Day and Labor Day mattress sales and will get you your best mattress deal. TVs: The week of Thanksgiving and right around Super Bowl Sunday (February 7, 2016) are the best times to look for deals on TVs.
Sources: today.com, moneycrashers.com, kiplinger.com, lifehacker.com, consumerreports.com
HE ALT H Y
the most comfortable chair in the world. THE INNOVATORS OF COMFORT™
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for info on health and features of recliners/chairs visit
ekornes.com
Kenneth N. Raff, II Regional Executive, NMLS #649436 Debbie Varney, Branch Manager, AVP, NMLS #870424 Brandy Mullins, Portfolio Specialist
Mortgages, HELOCS, Refinancing Business and Personal Loans Business Checking & Other Business Services Personal Checking with Valuable Features Mobile Banking with Mobile Deposit
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ENJOY NEW ENTERTAINMENT THIS SUMMER.
$327
*
SPECIAL INTRODUCTORY PRICE! Original retail price is $409.00. *Special introductory price expires 11/1/15.
THE ENTERTAINER FIRE PIT RETURNS in an all-new design! If you’re limited on time and have beginner-level building knowledge, all you need is a sunny weekend afternoon to bring new entertainment to your summer! At just 3'5" x 3'5" x 1'2½", the new Entertainer Fire Pit is ideal for limited outdoor space and perfect for simple outdoor enjoyment.
www.GeneralShale.com
423-952-4135
423-245-6131
3015 Bristol Highway Johnson City, TN 37601
925 East Stone Drive Kingsport, TN 37661
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310 Bluff City Hwy. Bristol, TN 37620 423-764-4136
Monday-Friday: 9am-5pm
www. ande rs oncom pou ndi ng . com
Where The Sinclairs
meet the
Virginia Highlands.
every family has a story. what will yours say? Set deep within the Virginia Highlands, The Virginian is a private, residential community with a deep heritage. Now, your family can be a part of this history. Experience the best of quiet, country living with a Tom Fazio-designed course, fly fishing, horseback riding, mountain biking, tennis and more. To learn about life here, visit TheVirginian.com/hl. Homes from $450k.
276.645.7050 | 22512 CLUBHOUSE RIDGE, BRISTOL, VA 24202