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D EPAR T M E N T S + FE AT U R E S 14 WEEKEND WARRIOR
V3 traveler-in-chief, Reagen Lowrey, tells us how to pack for summer vacation in the “3-1-1” era
18 HEARTWARMER
An old flame is rekindled via a shift in Evergreen Health & Rehabilitation’s company standard
27 NWGA SCRAPBOOK
Discover how Hubbard Pryor and the 44th USCI brought America’s longdrawn fight for equal rights to Rome
37 FITTER, HAPPIER
A joint effort among NWGA’s “family” of healthcare professionals bodes well for the fight against breast cancer
+++COLUMNS 42 THE ROOD REVIEW
With his take on The Watchmen, director Zack Snyder brings film noir roaring back to the big screen
44 WOMEN IN MIND
Trouble conceiving? Dr. Leigh Barrell tells us why it’s rarely a lost cause with help from today’s infertility treatments
COVER STORY
If you’re one of the timid few who’ve yet to succumb to the wonderful Asian delicacy known as sushi, Rome’s newest pair of successful restauranteurs, Eddie Yap and Xia Ping, just may be able to change your mind. The only catch: go “blue” or go home. Feature text by Ian Griffin and Neal Howard.
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EDITOR’S NOTE —Downtown Seattle, 4.04.09— My mother is far too pure of heart for the city. Had I not been there to chaperone, it surely would have eaten her alive. “Most of ’em are professionals, you know,” I chided—me in all my infinite, ex-metropolitan wisdom. “If you keep peeling off those ones and floating ’em on the breeze at this rate, you’ll be jangling a cup full of change yourself by the time we make it back to the hotel.” But in spite of my protests, and with that signature courteous giggle, the kind that for nearly 30 years of my smart-assed haranguing has intimated I’m sure that would’ve been a hoot—were I actually listening, she persisted in shuffling through her pocketbook. “I have to, Neal. You know I can’t just walk past them.” Then, ripping two fresh singles from the top of her pity stash. “You know it’s a thing with me.” “Yep,” I conceded. For that I did, and as she turned her determined little backside to the noonday gust off Puget Sound, I told myself to Zip it, for Chrissake, and learn to relegate this sort of gesture—another in a lifetime of selfless, Samaritan acts—to my mother’s insufferably sweet nature. “Don’t you mind me. Do your thing, baby doll, do your thing.” She threw a quick wave behind her, more like a playful slap at the breeze, actually, as if to say Oh, you! Hush! then proceeded to power walk back to the corner at Third and Pine. I was too near Second to hear the odd couple’s brief exchange of pleasantries, but I saw the well-fed grifter grin and nod as she lowered the crisp pair of bills into his coffee tin. Hook, line, sinker—without so much as one rehearsed word. Jesus, Mom! At least make him sell it! I bleated wildly behind vacuum-sealed lips. This cat’s acting makes me want to ring David Caruso and apologize for calling him a hack all these years... I am not a hard man, but, for one, the guy looked like a retired linebacker: 6’3” roundabout; deuce-and-a-half in mass, give or take; once taut muscle tissue now servicing as little more than a depository for Church’s Chicken and whatever subsequent lipids one might find suspended in a fifth of Mad Dog. Having been fleeced by heaven knows how many “career homeless” in my time as a resident of Midtown Atlanta, on the surface it looked to be another sad victimization: seasoned bum meets naïve, middle-aged do-gooder and easily seals the deal for two bones. However, when I saw the smile of self-satisfaction on my Mom’s face as she hustled back my way, I knew that, to her, whether or not the man was a “pro” carried zero weight in her decision to fork over the cheese; that the swell of pride from having merely attempted to do something generous, even in theory, was worth far more than to her whatever souvenir she might’ve purchased at Pike Place Market. “You never know who really needs it,” she lectured upon her return. Then, referencing some parable she used to drill in our heads as kids, “Remember: One day, one of these homeless people could be Jesus, and if you let your heart grow hard you might just pass right on by him.” Too cute. How could you not just want to eat her up with a spoon? “I hear you, Mom,” I conceded with a smile. “You’re right,” I lied. (After all, while the West’s surfer dude depiction of a narrowed-nosed, fair-haired Christ is, to be polite, beyond reason, as far as I am aware, no school of thought has rendered the flesh-and-blood deity a dead ringer for Michael Clarke Duncan—a.k.a. John Coffee; a.k.a. the cornbread-loving, headshaven, “M-M-Mis’tah Jingles, he ga-ga-gonna be a circus mouse” hulk of an avatar from The Green Mile.) “It could happen,” she assured me. “I’m just sayin’…” “Well,” I quipped, “if that last project of yours was in fact him, it appears ol’ J.C. has been hitting the weight room pretty hard. Dude looked like a champion dead-lifter moonlighting as a chimney sweep.” “You’re awful,” she said, covering her laugh with a cupped hand. “Just awful.” On second thought, though, who was I to finger someone a freeloader? Matter of fact, were it not for my mother’s insatiable need to give, the same tireless altruism for which I had
(continued on pg. 10)
vini vidi vici / v3 magazine
M AG A Z I N E NW GEORGIA’S PREMIER FEATURE READER / MAY 2009
YOURBLUE
HEAVEN
ROME’S BLUEFIN ROME’S BLUEFIN SUSHI COMPELS SUSHI & GRILL NORTHWEST GA COMPELS LOCAL DINERSTO TOCRAVE DINERS IN TERMS OF RIGHT AND RAW
$4.00
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF + PRODUCTION MANAGER + ART&DESIGN neal howard STAFF WRITERS anna armas, will seifert, reagen lowrey, matt rood, brian gilton, cody eirman, tricia steele PHOTOGRAPHY sabrina wilson CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS tracy page, ryan smith ADDITIONAL A&D jeremy hulsey, collin vaughn, anthony barba CHIEF OF ADVERTISING + OFFICE SALES DIRECTOR ian griffin CHIEF SALES REPRESENTATIVE jeff miller ORIGINAL AD DESIGN anthony barba, ian griffin LEAD MANAGEMENT + BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT anthony barba PUBLISHER v3 publications, llc CONTACT one west fourth avenue, rome, ga 30161/ phone: 706.235.0748 email: v3mag@bellsouth.net
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just spent the last four blocks deriding her, I would have never made the trip to Seattle to start. And aside from the fact that my end of the venture was fully comp’d, the very basis of our being there was for her to attend a conference with fellow members of the Council for Exceptional Children, an outfit comprised of soft hearts who had chosen to dedicate their lives to furthering education for special needs students. In their midst, I felt like an impostor who’d sobbed through a stranger’s wake just to raid the finger sandwiches. But before I could dwell on what a hypocrite I’d been, my travel buddy had already buried her muzzle in another scent trail, this time nosing out a gift for the old man back in Tuscaloosa. “Popcorn! Pa-pop-pop-pop-pop it like it’s hot POPCORN!” boomed the 30-something sidewalk purveyor in a throwback Joe Montana jersey. I wondered where KuKuRuZa Gourmet Popcorn’s management had unearthed such an energetic faceman to dole out their little sample cups. “Oh, YUM!” my mother gasped with delight. She was on her second flavor by the time I reached Throwback Joe’s badly crippled fold-out table. “Your dad just looooooves popcorn from these gourmet places. Your brother does, too. We need to pick out four flavors to put in one of those big tins. Ooh, it’s sooooo good! Taste it, baby boy. Oh, I hope they do shipping here!” As my mother lasered all concentration on the smorgasbord of options before her, picking through each tiny cup taste by taste, Throwback Joe shot me a wink that read, She’s a hoot, this one. Thoughtful too. “Definite keeper,” I told him. “Just don’t take the shirt off her back when she offers.”
—Mother’s Day and Postpartum Saints—
The Saturday afternoon following our mother-son excursion to the West Coast, I was flipping aimlessly through the channels
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and happened upon a cheesy romance, Dr. T and the Women, in which Richard Gere plays a gigolo-with-aheart-of-gold gynecologist so good-looking and in-tune with his feminine side that women across the state of Texas are literally lining up around the corner for a chance to plant their feet in his stirrups. I could only stomach the concept for a half-hour or so, but sometime in that brief window a quote leapt out that, despite every effort to excise it, somehow managed to burrow its way into my subconscious. “Women are saints,” Gere mentors a locker room full of sweaty, man-boobed upper-echelon types, “and should be treated as such.” Whoa now, Ed Lewis! I remember thinking reflexively. Sweeping, genderbased generalizations have always grated on me at first take, and this time was no different. Perhaps the hunting for a silver fox is bountiful in a forest full of cougars, but for those of us still tangling with the kittens, I think it’s safe to say the market has changed considerably since you cruised Miss Vivian in that Lotus. (*Note: If you don’t know Gere’s Pretty Woman, male readers, you probably don’t understand your own.) Despite my initial reaction, however, as the words Women are saints, and should be treated as such. Women are saints, and should be treated as such... spun ’round and ’round on the old hamster wheel, at last I came to a much different, and what I believe to be entirely valid, conclusion: Mothers—not women on the whole—are saints, and should be treated as such. And when it comes to your own Momma, christening her with this god-like esteem is the duty of every child fortunate enough to have been doted upon to adulthood. As Mother’s Day 2009 approaches this tenth of May, I think about the serial selflessness my beloved Mom has displayed
since the day she brought me jive-talking into this world, and it is in these very pauses for reflection that, with each passing year, I find myself more frequently overcome with a feeling that further assures me she did a fantastic job of raising us. The sensation begins with a cool tingle, deep in the mushy inner-matter of my brain, then trickles down into a little pool that feels like a Petri dish full of Coke and Pop Rocks pushing against my occipital lobe; my eyes well with emotion as the pocket of tiny chemical messengers suddenly releases, its contents flushing the length of my body and collecting in the balls of my toes. Across my mind’s eye flash memories of a life spent playing understudy to someone whose depth of compassion only dogs and hospice nurses can hope to replicate, and in the shadow of such towering character, I fear my resistance to certain ideals has rendered me icy and inept. Back on the streets of Seattle, when I convey this feeling to my Momma, she tells me, “You’re such a sweet boy, I just hope one day you can accept it.” And by no virtue of my own, I feel reconditioned to give my heart another at bat.
“Thanks, Mom,” I tell her. “You know that I really, really love you, right?” “Yes, I do,” she assures me, “and you are not hard-hearted, you hear me?” Yes, sweet pea, I surely do, and next time I make a run to the big bad city, I’m bringing extra quarters just to prove you right. Happy Mother’s Day to all—hug ’em if you got ’em and God bless.
Neal Howard, Editor-in-Chief
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Financial planning is no longer a choice... It’s a necessity. It’s time to meet with trusted advisors.
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So, as long as you can remain somewhat flexible, your dream European vacation might be in the cards after all. But whether you are traveling abroad or just over the Georgia state line, shaving pounds off your luggage can help lower your travel costs and make your summertime getaways more budgetfriendly, not to mention more convenient. By packing less, you’ll avoid the airlines’ outrageous penalties for overweight items, and by carrying-on your bags, you’ll forego the additional fees for
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checked luggage major carriers are now charging. Plus, you can be more flexible when it comes to taking advantage of overbooked flight incentives, such as free tickets and standby options. You’ll worry less about theft from baggage handlers and loss due to misrouting because your bags will be with you, as opposed to floating around the other side of the airport. For all you environmentalists out there, less cargo also means less fuel consumed by the plane and, thus, less harmful emissions. If you are worried about packing it all within
your carry-on allowance—one larger bag no more than 45 linear inches (= length + width + height) and one personal item—take a breath, take it easy, and have a look at the tips outlined below. They’ll surely help lighten your load.
to allow for lighter, more durable options. Fabrics such as ballistic and rip-stop nylons allow luggage to weigh as little as 8 pounds, and often lighter. Check out Colorado-based Fishpond’s brightly colored Lariat 21-inch Carry-on Rolling Duffel, which weighs only 7.5 pounds and meets all airline carry-on standards. Travel gear manufacturer Eagle Creek makes several lines of lightweight luggage as well, offering a variety of options that range in both price and organizational features. The company’s 22inch Tarmac model weighs only 8 pounds and comes with a variety of compartments to help travelers pack in a highly organized fashion. Plus, their smaller shoulder bags, which fit perfectly beneath the seat in front of you, are designed with a rear sleeve that slides
Go lighter, even before you start packing By exchanging your older, heavier luggage for newer, more lightweight gear, you’ll already by one step ahead of the game. Technology continues
Electronic and electrical items are not only bulky, but sometimes unnecessary, and they often require special accessories to be used in nations overseas. Apart from some Central American and Caribbean countries, most foreign states have different shaped wall sockets than the thin, rectangular slots commonly found in the U.S. Sockets in continental Europe have two round pins, while the United Kingdom has three larger, rectangular pins. Adapters are necessary for your appliance to fit into these various sockets. To top things off, most foreign countries operate on a 220-240 voltage system (the United States runs on 110-125 volts). Converters, often mistaken for adapters, step down the heightened voltage so your item will work properly overseas. Lower wattage converters, known as transformers, are generally used for battery charges and electric shavers, while higher wattage converters are used for hairdryers, et cetera. The good news is that many items, such as laptops and iPods, now have built-in transformers. Before plugging your electronic or electrical device into a foreign outlet, make sure to check its requirements for doing so, as well as your destination country’s.
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If stuffing a week’s worth of shampoo into a threeounce bottle stifles you, remember you can always purchase more... By leaving the bulk behind, you will be spared the extra weight and additional costs.
over the wheeled bag’s handle. Not only will you save time by not waiting on checked bags to arrive, but passing through the airport will be much easier.
re-wearing items will no doubt lower the amount of clothing you will need to bring. When packing, make sure to also choose items that can be mixed and matched. Sticking to one color scheme, say black or brown, can further help to cut down on bulk. Plus, it will help to limit the number of shoes required, which often take up the majority of your carry-on bag’s space and weight. For summer travel, try limiting yourself to three pairs: sandals, walking shoes, and a casual pair for nights.
laptops. For foreign travel, such items often require adapters or converters because most countries operate on a different voltage system than the United States (see pg. 16). By leaving the bulk behind, you’ll be spared the extra weight and additional costs. Plus, most hotels provide hairdryers and community computers for Internet access. Otherwise, check out the local
library for a free or low-cost Internet option. VVV In addition to writing for V3 Magazine, Reagen Lowrey works for Southern Treks, a Romebased international walking tour company, and Changes In Latitude Travel Store in Boulder, Colo. Check out her new travel blog at http://redbankstravelco. blogspot.com.
Make sure to choose “essentials” wisely Gone are the days of sticking out like, well, an American tourist. Travel-friendly clothes are no longer limited to bulky cargo shorts and unflattering zip-off pants. These days, you can find travel-friendly clothing that is comfortable, practical and sheik. Brands like Ex-Officio and Royal Robbins offer a wide variety of wrinkle-resistant and versatile clothing options for both men and women. Fabrics such as nylon and eco-friendly bamboo are often lightweight and quick drying, which are crucial for the efficient traveler. Quick-dry features allow you to wash items with the expectation that they will dry overnight. But don’t worry, you won’t have to seek out a laundry mat or pay for the expensive hotel service. Just bring several packs of powder detergent and use the hotel sink or tub to wash your necessities. Washing and
Consider trimming down on excesses Traveling carry-on means complying with the TSA’s “3-1-1 rule”, which limits all liquids, including suntan lotion, toothpaste and some makeup, to three-ounce bottles all stored in one clear, one-quart plastic bag. If stuffing a week’s worth of shampoo into a three-ounce bottle stifles you, remember you can always purchase more if you run out. Also, try to limit your electronic and electrical items, such as hairdryers and
vini vidi vici / v3 magazine
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GREENER PASTURES TEXT BY ANNA ARMAS
PHOTOS BY SABRINA WILSON
MEET HELEN HART AND OSCAR GODFREY.
IN 2007, THESE ENERGETIC, ON-THE-GO LOVEBIRDS WERE DISPLACED FROM THEIR SHARED HOME AT EVERGREEN HEALTH & REHAB AND LEFT TO WONDER IF THEY WOULD EVER REUNITE. NOW, THANKS TO A DRASTIC SHIFT IN COMPANY PHILOSOPHY AND MANAGEMENT, DISCOVER
HOW THE FLAME IS BACK AND BURNING HOTTER THAN JULY
vini vidi vici / v3 magazine
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LISA LANDERS Administrative Director
When walking into Rome’s Evergreen Health & Rehabilitation, firsttime visitors may receive an unexpected shock. For despite popular culture’s depiction of “nursing homes” as bleak and sometimes morbid, the seniors who have chosen to spend their days here are not at all confined or stripped of their happiness, but rather spunky and full of life. Why is this? Well, it could have something to do with Evergreen’s impressive menu of options for senior care. The Subacute Services, Inc. affiliate is a short and long-term
home for persons in need of a residence that provides all-day, individual attention, and one that offers licensed nursing care,
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24-hour on-call physicians, and comprehensive physical, occupational, respiratory and speech therapy programs. Dental, Ophthalmological, X-Ray, and Laboratory services are available, as well. To start, each resident is evaluated upon his or her admission, after which a care plan is developed, in agreement with each newcomer’s physician and family members to fit his or her personal needs and goals. Rehabilitation services are available seven days a week, and include, but are not limited to, training in day-to-day living, therapeutic exercises, range of motion activities, pain reduction, wound care management, speech and swallowing disorders, and many more. Evergreen also provides
an array of accompanying perks, including daily meals prepared by a registered dietician, daily housekeeping, a full-service beauty/barber shop, and many planned recreational, social and religious activities. “We are committed to serving each of our residents and their families with compassion and dignity,” says directing administrator Lisa Landers, “by combining excellence, integrity in health care and support 24 hours a day.” Landers, who has been in the care-giving industry for over ten years, explains, “This is a sister company of Summit. Both facilities were previously shut down in the summer of 2007 due to past owner’s discrepancies. Longterm residents were uprooted
from their homes; it was very hard on them.” Under new management, Evergreen was renovated from the inside and out and reopened a year later. Over a dozen original residents have returned to date, all with full confidence that the facility has been restored to a safe and loving environment. Currently, 69 thriving men and women call it home. “I’m just glad that now people can come here and have a real home. We have a very caring and dedicated staff, and I wish we could get all the original residents back,” Landers adds. “It was so sad to see old friends having to be separated when the nursing home closed,” says Caren Kelley, daughter of
V3 MAGAZINE wine of the month
We have the perfect gift for all the ones you treasure! Tyler Candles Dogeared Jewelry Tervis Tumbler Waxing Poetic Charms
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cabernet sauvignon riserve The grapes of this cabernet sauvignon are cultivated from 40-year old vines grown in the Melozal Valley. Aging 12 months in French oak barrels. The wines is unfiltered to maximize flavor and is 100% Cabernet. Well bodied, Bright ruby red color, intense and concentrated aromas with hints of leather, dried plum, vanilla, toast, cocoa and coffee.
Just in time for Graduation and Summer Vacation! Gigi’s now carries Lilly Pulitzer for girls in sizes 2T-14!
The Wine Selection of the month is available at:
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The Tradition of Excellence in Workforce Education Continues Coosa Valley Technical College & Northwestern Technical College will become Georgia Northwestern Technical College, the largest college in Northwest Georgia.
www.gntc.edu Georgia Northwestern Technical College is a Unit of the Technical College System of Georgia and an Equal Opportunity Institute.
locally owned. friendly. knowledgeable.
706.295.5055 1905 calhoun road rome ga 30161 22
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original resident Helen Hart, who was one of those forced to move. “But then, a year later, we found that it had been remodeled under new owners, and that some of the former nurses and aides were going to be back. My mother wanted to go back.” Helen Hart’s desire was to return to the place she had enjoyed living so much for four years prior to being displaced. In fact, her only stipulation was that she would not return without her best friend and boyfriend, Oscar Godfrey, a fellow original resident who was also among the displaced in 2007. “We were here for several years,” Hart explains, “then we were moved to another home. It was nice, but we wanted to come back here. We thought maybe our friends would still be here, so we moved back… and we think it is really nice. [Everyone here] is good.” Hart and Godfrey have known each other for almost seven years. Side by side, they spend their days playing bingo, watching movies, listening to Johnny Cash, and enjoying the fresh air and sunshine found in the home’s lovely courtyard. Their comfort here, as well as the bond they have formed, is
obvious at first glance. Godfrey takes the lead, sauntering down the hall, past the cafeteria a-buzz with residents who are visiting with loved ones, and makes his way to the outside area. He gently guides Hart’s wheelchair as they lean closer to one another and whisper. The pair is happy, and it shows. “They have so many planned activities all day long,” says daughter Caren, “They even do nails and hair once a week. It keeps them busy. “Even when I take my mom out with me, she can’t wait to get back. She wants to get back to see what Oscar and her other friends are doing. My mother has mentioned many times about how dear the nurses and aides are. They are so compassionate and treat them with such dignity.” When relayed this sentiment in a later interview, Landers responds, “A lot of people don’t realize how much we come to feel like a part of the residents’ families. We’re with these people more than we are with our own families. They become a part of us, and we become a part of their lives.” Landers and the entire Evergreen staff have made it their mission to assure people that their loved ones will receive the highest caliber medical and nursing services at an affordable price. And as they strive to preserve the quality of life for Northwest Georgia’s senior community, these caregivers say they will remain committed, first and foremost, to recognizing all residents’ rights and maintaining the dignity of each individual. VVV
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706.295.0014
THE
RIGHT
TODIE
How Hubbard Pryor (right) and the men of the 44th USCI brought America’s long-drawn fight for equal rights to Rome TEXT BY BRIAN FOSTER.
PHOTOS COURTESY OF CHERYL JOHNSON LUDECKE AND THE U.S. LIBRARY OF CONGRESS Many of us are familiar with the story of the 54th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry. Immortalized in the Oscarwinning 1990 film, Glory, theirs is the story of a courageous and wildly successfully band of African-American soldiers who, bestowing their loyalties to the Union that made them “free” men, came together to serve their country and fight for the future liberties of not only their own race, but in some instances, their own family members still enslaved in the South. The 54th Massachusetts, one of the first of hundreds of black regiments that would fight for the North, was formed in March of 1861 and would later be called to action in 1862, after the passing of the Emancipation Proclamation. The regiment was primarily composed of free black men from Massachusetts and neighboring New England states, but also constituted a number of former slaves who
had managed to find rebirth north of the Mason-Dixon. It was their loyalty and toughness in the face of bitter defeat, particularly on the dunes of James Island, S.C., that helped to dispel the prejudice also held by many in the Union Army, including General William T. Sherman, that black men—free and slave—could not be trusted to bear arms, follow orders, or fight with the same bravery as their white counterparts. From the example set by the 54th, first ideas, then policy regarding the black military man, began to shift in favor of truth. Some men were conscripted, some volunteered, but a stark commonality between these brave AfricanAmericans lay in their stunning performance on the battlefield.
By the end of the Civil War, the 54th Massachusetts had helped to pave the way for the nearly 200,000 black troops—North and South—that had gone about establishing their place as a surprise asset to the Union Army or Navy.
of 1864, and was approved by the authority of staunch abolitionist and commissioner of the Organization for Colored Troops, Colonel Ruben D. Mussey. Whereas the 54th Massachusetts had been established in the free North and was comprised THE 44TH UNITED STATES primarily of free blacks, COLORED INFANTRY: the 44th and others like it CHATTANOOGA, TENN. were organized in UnionOne such regiment that controlled areas of the South. followed this path was the 44th These regiments relied almost exclusively upon the enlistment U.S. Colored Infantry. Stationed of freed or runaway slaves in Chattanooga after the Yankee from their surrounding areas, victory there, the 44th USCI was fugitive men who, though established by Union Colonel later given the opportunity to Thomas J. Morgan in March
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UNION OCCUPATION/
RECONSTRUCTION
and their influence will go down with all history of that people and gather strength as it grows.” Command of Colonel Morgan’s 44th USCI would eventually be handed to Colonel Lewis Johnson, a highly praised 23-year-old hailing from Germany. Johnson too was an abolitionist who shared the same vision for black troops as did Massey and Morgan, and would later lead a number of black regiments under his command into battle, even along the Texas border opposite Mexican forces.
By 1864, Union troops had pushed their way deeper into the South, and were beginning to set up camp in a number of towns yet to have been devastated by the war. Rome was a prime example; it had escaped a premature death toll the year prior, when Confederate General Nathan Bedford Forrest, along with the help of the Roman citizenry, fought off a marauding band of Federal troops who were hell bent on destroying the town (see Streight Through the Heart, April 2009 V3). Rome was not so lucky in 1864, however. The city, an important link in the Confederate supply chain, lay in the path of General Sherman’s catastrophic march to Atlanta, and later, Savannah. In May, Federal troops, under the leadership of General Jefferson C. Davis, overtook Rome and its hilltop forts. Union forces would occupy the town until November of that year, and Rome would be the first to fall victim to Sherman’s campaign. Though the town was not completely destroyed, as were some of her neighbors to the south, enough damage had been done to warrant a lengthy reconstruction period.
HUBBARD PRYOR:
POLK COUNTY, GA. Colonel Lewis Johnson 44th USCI Commanding Officer serve as full-time soldiers, were originally put to work as hired hands for non-military Union projects—ditchdigging, general maintenance and so forth. As official infantrymen, they would face harsh discrimination and bitter abuse from both Union compatriots and enemy Rebels, yet, as quixotic as it may have seemed to many on both sides, somehow manage to capitalize upon the opportunity to help fight for such an incredibly personal cause. In reality, there were numerous instances of Union officers blatantly disregarding the black soldiers’ basic human rights as they related to whites. Many African-Americans were forced into the Army and relegated back-breaking hard labor with little to no pay, essentially substituting the shackles of plantation slavery with brass buttons. Records show, however, that this wasn’t the case with Colonels Mussey and Morgan. Both were abolitionists, and both were of the common mindset that black soldiers, even the numerous, illiterate
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former slaves that filled their regiments, were just as capable in the field as any other man. Mussey personally lobbied the purse-string holders in Washington for equal pay, feeling that the disparity between black soldiers’ $7 per month and whites’ $13 was unjust. Colonel Morgan, commander of the 1st Colored Brigade and its five total regiments, was an experienced leader of and vocal advocate for black troops, particularly those who had escaped bondage in the South. He also was an outspoken proponent of, progressively enough, increasing literacy levels among African-American troops. “…Black men are being tried as soldiers and upon the [outcome] of the experiment rests largely the fate of their race,” Morgan conveyed his hopes in a January 1864 letter to Major General George Stearns. “By proper discipline and instruction black regiments will be successful… These men are not always to be soldiers; they are to be men. The heroes of a redeemed race
Understandably, not much is known about Hubbard Pryor’s life prior to the Civil War, but being one of the few men in the 44th to provide a full name and photographs that managed to survive the elements, more is known of him today than countless others who fought alongside him. History holds that Pryor was a 22 year-old runaway slave in the spring of 1864, when he fled the sprawling Polk County where he had been held captive with some 120 fellow slaves. Torn and tattered, he arrived in Chattanooga in April of that year, at which time he enlisted in the 44th USCI. Pryor sat for two photographs: before (as a fugitive slave) and after (as a soldier in the United States Army). The two portraits, the only known photos of the 44th, would be used as a marketing tool for troop organizers across the country. Union commanders foresaw that fugitive slaves and freedmen, upon viewing the images of a black man transformed, would flock to the Federal lines. The direct affect these images of Pryor had upon enlistment numbers for black soldiers is not known, but the 44th was successful in attracting hundreds of AfricanAmericans when the regiment set up a recruitment camp that summer in Rome.
44TH RECRUITMENT:
ROME,JULY1864 July 1864 found Colonel Lewis Johnson and his 44th USCI in Union-controlled Rome, on the lookout for new black recruits to add to their front lines. Records are scarce regarding the regiment’s mission here that summer, but we do know that the men were sent south from Chattanooga to Floyd County in July and stayed through September. Enlistment of soldiers into the 44th USCI in Rome proved a great success, with Colonel Johnson and his troops meeting their quota of 800 by the time of their departure, and over 200 of these being local recruits. Potential soldiers seemed to be the only ones openly
welcomed by the Union occupiers, though, and this only for a brief time. Many black women and children seeking their protection in the city were shipped north to Tennessee, perhaps to safety, perhaps dismissed as nothing more than a burden.
odds stacked against them, were forced to retreat. Lewis and his men had known what they would be up against. Hood was an extremely aggressive leader, and one who did not approve of the use of Rebel “property” as soldiers. Under truce, Hood presented Johnson with a warning and his terms of surrender. “I DALTON, GA. OCTOBER 1864 demand the complete Sherman and his lead and unconditional surrender commanders had successfully of the post and garrison under pushed south through your command,” it read, “and Atlanta by July, but the threat should this be acceded to, all to the north was far from white officers and soldiers will extinguished. Skirmishes be paroled in a few days. If the continued to erupt along place is carried by assault, no the corridor from Atlanta to prisoners will be taken.” Chattanooga and, eventually, In short, immediate even further north into the surrender was the 44th’s only Nashville area. proposed hope for survival. One such clash took place From Johnson’s later reports, in Dalton in October 1864. we learn that Hood, though Having met their Rome quota planning to parole white of 800 men, the 44th returned officers and soldiers, would to Chattanooga in September, still regard the black soldiers but were not there long before as fugitive slaves, regardless they were recalled south once of their pre-war status, more. At their new assignment, and, hence, they would be Dalton, another crucial stop returned to their rightful along the Western and Atlantic owners. Initially, Johnson Railway (now controlled by the refused Hood’s terms for the Union), the 44th USCI was to “extradition” of his Africanman a garrison just south of American troops, hoping to town in order to protect the see both white and black union flow of troops and supplies soldiers taken as legal prisoners headed south to aid Sherman’s of war. But in the end, he had front lines. no choice but to succumb to Colonel Lewis Johnson and the General’s demands, and his men were in for much more soon surrendered himself and than they had bargained. As his men. they began taking position “It grieved me to be at the garrison in Dalton, compelled to surrender men General John Bell Hood, the who showed so much spirit decorated and battle-hardened and bravery,” Johnson would Rebel cavalry commander, later write in his official report. was marching north from Atlanta with some 40,000 troops who hoped to disrupt Sherman’s supply line and, ultimately, lure him Hood made good on his threat. back toward Tennessee for The captured black soldiers pitched battle. Roughly 25,000 of the 44th USCI, including of Hood’s men encountered Hubbard Pryor, were taken the 44th’s 800 soldiers and prisoner as fugitive slaves. officers at the Dalton garrison Shoes and personal belongings on October 13. Brief bursts were stripped from them of fighting broke out, costing and the slow-moving and/or the Confederates a number wounded were killed. Word of men. Yet, the men of the spread throughout the region opposing Union regiment, that many escaped slaves were realizing the overwhelming now under Confederate guard
44TH USCI IN BATTLE:
and, subsequently, a number of men were returned to their owners. The black soldiers who were not returned, killed, or lucky enough to escape carried on as prisoners in various Confederate outfits as they marched through Selma, Ala. and Corinth, Miss. They would toil as forced labor until the war end’s in the spring of 1865.
for a time, before eventually returning to Polk Country where he began work as a tenant farmer. There, he married another former slave, Ann Deaves, with whom he had four children and later moved to Texas before his death in 1890. Northwest Georgia was no doubt a stronghold of the Confederacy, and thousands of Southerners today are the descendents of men who fought to protect their families and their freedom. But let us not forget the brave African-Americans of the region who also took up arms. Hubbard Pryor and the men of the 44th United States Colored Infantry should also be remembered as well, as Southerners who, though born into slavery, sacrificed life and limb in pursuit of freedom for all. VVV
HUBBARD PRYOR:
RETURN TO ROME Hubbard Pryor had been in Griffin, Ga. under the auspices of Rebel troops when, at the close of the war, he was finally released. Still very much in dangerous territory, Pryor made his way north through Polk County, and soon arrived in Rome in a “sick, broken down, naked and starved condition.” He sought shelter in a nearby U.S. military camp
Hubbard Pryor Before joining the 44th USCI
44TH USCI CAPTURED: RETURN TO BONDAGE
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THERE IS A FEELING OF DETACHMENT FROM THE OUTSIDE WORLD WHEN ONE SAUNTERS THROUGH THE FRONT DOOR OF ROME’S
BLUEFIN SUSHI & GRILL.
Greeted by the modern interior and elegant waterfall set at the front entrance, the mood is pre-set for the customer from the onset of his or her dining experience. In fact, by the time you’ve been seated, Bluefin’s meticulous attention to detail is apparent. From its colorfully tempting sushi bar to the main dining room floor, owners Xia Ping and Eddie Yap succeed, first, in establishing a charismatic ambiance before the first bite is taken, then refining it, then putting a Tommy Bahama shirt on it to lighten the tension. Then, of course, the food seals the deal, making this new Rome hotspot a welcome—and highly intriguing— addition to your list of options for a night on the town. (continued on pg. 32)
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BLUEISTHE NEWBLACK
BY IAN GRIFFIN NEAL HOWARD
&
“WE ARE DEDICATED TO MAKING A QUALITY
PRODUCT FROM START TO FINISH,” SAYS OWNER PARTNER EDDIE YAP Ping and Yap opened the restaurant several months ago and, almost immediately, it became a favorite lunch destination for the working people of Rome. The dinner crowd has been just as steady, and Yap believes this success to be a direct result of their insistence upon using only the freshest ingredients. “We do whatever it takes to obtain the finest fish and seafood for not only our sushi, but for every dish in our restaurant,” he says. “The fish that you eat [here] is flown in and purchased that day, and we won’t accept anything less.” Given these vaulted standards, most culinary aficionados would presume an equally pricey tab to arrive with them at meal’s end. The truth of the matter, however, is that you can spend as much or as little as you prefer, yet still walk away satisfied (and full). Entrées on BlueFin’s lunch menu range from $6.95 to $15.95, with dinner selections going for $9.95 to $28.95. There are also choices from the All-time Favorites section that may perk your tastebuds, showcasing such Asian-infused classics as Mongolian Beef and Sesame Chicken. But while the freedom to adhere to the classics is certainly available, BlueFin’s signature taste is truly found behind its sushi bar. The space is buzzing with a friendly team of veteran “itamae sans,” or sushi chefs, as it spans the full breadth of the main wall seen at the rear of the establishment, flaunting its beautiful assortment from the open sea. “Our concept is what I like to call a modern hibachi restaurant,” says Yap. “Instead of the grill being out in the dining room, it is back in the kitchen. [This allows our guests to have 32
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greater privacy at their own table, as opposed to] sitting with a large group of people they don’t know.” Ping and Yap’s sushi menu is extensive, and selections can be purchased in appetizer sizes or combos that can, if you so choose, comprise your entire meal. And, hey, if you ever find yourself dining solo, the bar is lined with all-access, front-row seating to watch the itamae sans do their thing. Head BlueFin sushi chef, Dody, and accompanying sushi chef, Johnny, are constantly coming
up with new and progressive recipes to spice up the menu and nightly specials, which can vary widely, depending upon the seasonal catches available.
If you are a first-time visitor or new to Japanese cuisine in general, then “Hibachi Night” is the perfect opportunity for you to get your feet wet. Every Monday and Tuesday, BlueFin offers $9.95 hibachi specials. This includes a salad, fried rice and mixed vegetables, accompanied by your choice of protein (available for said price). Of course, it’s always easier to start with the basics and work your way into foreign territory, but, according to Yap, his culinary experience allows him to blend a background in
traditional Asian cooking with classic French and Italian styles. “My first restaurant was in New York City when I was 22 years old,” Yap explains. “I was very young, but gained some invaluable experience and moved on to open two restaurants in Massachusetts. I sold those before moving to the Atlanta area, opening restaurants in Marietta, Acworth, Canton, Ellijay, Rome, and soon to be Cartersville.” Throughout his years in the food and beverage industry, Eddie retained and refined many different styles of cuisine, and these days he strives to incorporate them into his BlueFin menu. “I love cooking,” he adds, “and I [gained] a lot of experience…in New York by working at a variety of different restaurants, including Italian, French, Thai, Chinese and Japanese. Putting all these styles together makes our entrées unique and delicious.” This culinary “fusion” to which Yap refers, translates into options aplenty for those with reserved or daring palates, and its inherent variety plays well to a city just head over heels for dining out. The forward-thinking feel of the restaurant is, more often than not, a welcome one to walk-in customers, but its owners like to remind us that they offer a private dining area that comfortably seats parties from 6-14 people. This section is dubbed the “Tatami Room”, and there is no additional cost to book it. Here, you will experience a more traditional hibachi-style dining experience, as BlueFin’s chefs still prepare the meal in the rear kitchen, yet the area’s “sunken booth” succeeds in separating your party from the chatter of the main floor. And, as Ping and Yap put it, it’s also good to know that if the room is not booked on a given night, walk-in parties may take advantage of it as well. A final advantage is that this new kid on the block offers is an extremely well-trained and knowledgeable staff. Case in point: All servers, says Yap, are required to have at least
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our journey never ends at Horizon Bay.* From international travel clubs to treks to local sightseeing spots, our resident travelers always look forward to sharing their wealth of travel stories—and planning new adventures together. Jim and Carol plan trips around the country and host show-and-tell dinners to share pictures and their passion for traveling. How will you spend your evenings? With planned social and cultural events, you’ll have a great opportunity to explore the next chapter in your life. And with scheduled transportation, delicious dining services, and weekly housekeeping, it will be easier for you to do the things that mean the most to you. We’d love for you to continue your story at Horizon Bay. *Formerly known as Merrill Gardens.
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expect [the best] when they walk through the door,” says Yap. “If you order something expensive or not, I promise you can see the difference in every dish we prepare when comparing it to a lot of our competitors. He concludes in saying, “The best test is to come in and try it, because taste doesn’t lie.” VVV
(from left) BlueFin owners Xia Ping and Eddie Yap; staffers Dianne Yap and Dody Hidayat Phan
thrive on freshness, it appears BlueFin has thrown all the bold new components it takes to become a longstanding success in Rome on a bed of rice and invited us to ‘Please, enjoy.’ And with a focus on giving customers great food at a more than fair price, it’s safe to presume that Ping and Yap could very well be here to stay. “We want our customers to
one year’s experience waiting or must be slowly integrated into the rotation while learning the ropes. This allows their customers to receive topnotch service at the behest of a staff that is both capable and venerated—qualities, we all can agree, that are all-too-often amiss. Ironically enough, for an establishment that is said to
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BLUEFIN SUSHI & GRILL is located at 727 TURNER McCALL BOULEVARD in Rome, and is open for lunch Mon-Fri:11:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m.; SatSun:12:00-2:30 p.m. Dinner hours are MonThurs:4:30-10:00 p.m.; Fri-Sat:4:3010:30; and Sun:4:309:00. For reservations made or questions answered, please call 706.232.3317
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ABREASTOFTHE
FUTURE A JOINT EFFORT AMONG ROME’S “FAMILY” OF HEALTHCARE PROFESSIONALS BODES WELL FOR THE FIGHT AGAINST BREAST CANCER. TEXT BY CODY EIRMAN. PHOTOS BY RYAN SMITH
“THERE IS A DECIDED DIFFERENCE, NO QUESTION, BETWEEN THE WAY and MEDICINE IS DELIVERED IN A TOWN diagnostics treatment, the LIKE THIS AND HOW IT’S DELIVERED likes of which be found IN A LARGE CITY OR UNIVERSITY,” cannot anywhere else says Dr. Paul Brock, a surgeon at Rome’s Harbin Clinic who has worked with cancer patients for 21 years. “You treat people differently when you go to church with them, when you see them on the street, in the grocery store. That means a higher level of engagement with the patient and, ultimately, I think, a higher level of care.” Dr. Brock, in his experience, has discovered that the “ivory towers” are no longer the places in which the most exceptional in medical science is carried out. Rather, it’s the smaller communities, where top-trained physicians return home to apply their expertise after earning their stripes,
where these instances often occur; communities in which the combination of know-how and meaningful, personal interaction can create an environment ripe for making a real difference. This very sort of balance is what has always made Rome and Northwest Georgia a strong home base for medicine, and out of this equilibrium has recently blossomed an effective and efficient center for breast cancer treatment unlike any other. The Breast Center (TBC) opened at Floyd Medical Center in Fall 2008, is a $4 million project of collusion between Floyd Medical Center, The Harbin Clinic, and the cancer centers of Rome. Essentially, this innovative new program offers a fast-track for screening,
in the country. Where the traditional process of screening and testing for breast cancers can take two or more weeks, The Breast Center’s diligent and compassionate staff can execute the entire process in an astounding 12 to 24 hours. This level of care offers not only priceless expedience in what is sure to be a nerve-wracking process, but also the comfort of knowing that, given the small chance a breast problem is detected, the patient can proceed to the first step of treatment, literally, right away. “I had a grandmother die of breast cancer,” says Dr. Brock, “and we all have mothers, daughters, sisters, who have to be screened regularly. But there are women in our community who are not being screened by mammograms like they’re supposed to—60-year-old women coming in for the first time.” There had to be a way, Brock realized, to bring in women from all walks of life for annual screening by the highest standards available. A quick, comfortable, patient-centric system to get them in and out, with record speed and minimal inconvenience/anxiety, simply had to be out there. “Women tell me the waiting is worse than the diagnosis,” says Aimee Griffin, director of TBC. “Our promise to them is ‘No more than one sleepless night.’ ” Unfortunately, it sometimes takes until the next day for the pathologist’s work to be completed, but with the current capabilities of breast cancer screening, the Center has fine-tuned its process so that they get it done as fast as humanly possible. They even offer a ‘rapid results’ visit, which takes a mere 45 minutes to an hour. The idea is this: the
quicker a patient is screened and assured that she’s fine, the more likely she is to come back again on a regular basis, particularly if the process is a comfortable one. In the rare case that something is in fact found, “It’s 12 to 24 hours from I didn’t know anything was wrong, to sitting in the surgeon’s office,” says Dr. Brock. With one in seven women being affected by breast cancer at some point in their lives, one can only hope that this type of program will someday become a nationwide standard. In the traditional system of breast cancer screenings, a woman may go in for a routine mammogram, then receive a call two to three days later saying, ‘We found something, and you’ll have to come back.’ After the second appointment, she may be informed that in another few days she’ll have to return, yet again, for yet another test, and the anxiety mounts exponentially. “For those two or three days waiting to come back,” says Brock, “she’s basically decided where she wants to be buried and who her husband is going to marry next. She’s scared to death.” With TBC’s streamlined fast track program, all of that waiting and worrying is avoided, along with the negative health effects that come hand-in-hand with high stress. “Making someone have anxiety will create a barrier; there is a price for psychological trauma on a patient’s long-term outcome,” Brock explains. “No question that trauma was being put on them by making them wait. A willing heart and happy person does better than one who’s not.” In addition to fast-track convenience, the Breast Center has gone the extra mile by providing an environment of privacy and comfort to ease the worried mind. Located in a separate corner of the Floyd Medical complex, TBC has
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its own reserved parking lot, waiting area and registration. The carefully planned décor features Zen color schemes, soft natural light, pleasant music and cozy nooks, all the
environment where you’re sitting there terrified in a waiting room,” says Becky Agnew, a TBC patient from nearby Summerville. “It’s as pleasant as [can] possibly
proceeding right away. “Before I left I’d had a mammogram, ultrasound, and
“IN 10 YEARS, WE COULD WRITE THE STUDY OF WHAT WE HAVE ACHIEVED IN THIS SMALL TOWN... HOPEFULLY, SOMETIME WITHIN OUR LIFETIMES, SOMEONE WILL FINALLY DISCOVER THE ‘LITTLE BLACK BOX’...AND DEVELOP A CURE. IT’LL BE THE NOBEL PRIZE DAY.” way down to spa robes and an inviting private library. “I thought, If I were a woman, what would make this perfect?” Brock recalls. “I’d want surroundings that look like the Ritz-Carlton; cloth gowns, not just paper; Saturday hours; friendly staff; and a high level of service. And I’d want it all done in one day so I don’t have to keep taking off work to come back.” The more Brock and other TBC developers thought about the process, the more evident it became that a wholly patient-centric approach
be, given the circumstances.” Agnew, who was diagnosed in December 2008, found a lump during a self-exam and didn’t want to have to trek all the way to Chattanooga to see a doctor. Having noticed the brand new Breast Center billboards—the ones with the bright pink flowers—during her commute to work in Rome, she decided to call and make an appointment. “I can’t say enough good things about how I was treated. When I got there and told them I found something, they immediately
was key. Logistically speaking, it was difficult to streamline everything to the last detail, and it took two to three years to pull it all together, but the result has been as special and worthwhile as anyone could have hoped. “It’s not this sterile
went into compassion mode. They knew I was scared; they were just wonderful.” Agnew’s appointment was on a Friday, but the on-site radiologist did indeed spot something on the mammogram, and gave her the option of
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the biopsy,” she says. “Because I was there by myself and had come from work, I had no one there with me, so Lee Ann Howell, one of the physicians at The Breast Center, actually sat with me while they did the biopsy. They are a really compassionate group of healthcare professionals.” When Agnew came back later for an MRI, she was accompanied by her daughter, Laura Beth, a thirdyear medical student at Emory. “They actually showed her the films from my mammogram, so she had a chance to see just what I was going through. All of this happened the week before Christmas; I got my biopsy back on December 23rd. It was a very emotional time, and they were outstanding.” Each patient goes through the Center with a personal “navigator” by her side, a dedicated staff member whose job it is to provide guidance, information, familiarity and support at every turn. If a cancer is in fact detected, the patient is then provided an enormous, and incredibly thorough, personalized information
folder, affectionately nicknamed the breast cancer “wedding planner.” This resource includes all individual records and results, literature on her specific cancer and a list of potential treatments, as well as a “Lifetime Risk Analysis”, suggested scheduling for future screenings, and even space for new information to be added down the line. The TBC Resource Center, a comfortable private library and computer room, is available at any time to patients and family members in need of information or, perhaps, simply a quiet spot to sit and meditate. “We have everything from Chicken Soup books to texts on specific navigation, anatomy and physiology, and more. There is something for every interest and education level,” says Griffin. For Agnew, the Resource Center was invaluable. “When you get your diagnosis, you want to know everything about it. There’s so much different material out there, but [TBC has] already gone through the process of picking out the legitimate information for you.” The importance of breast cancer research is finally beginning to permeate the public
consciousness, with popular “3-Day Walks” taking place across the country, “Save the Ta-Tas” bumper stickers, and increasingly recognizable pink ribbons seen on shirt lapels and grocery labels. But particularly in regions like Northwest Georgia, where access to yearly mammogram screenings is limited, an inexcusable statistic still remains: of the one in seven women diagnosed with this life-threatening disease, far too many in our area are going unscreened and untreated for far too long. In fact, at least two counties in Floyd’s seven-county service area have breast cancer death tolls higher than the national average. “If you realize that we spend more money on AIDS research than on breast cancer…when more women are dying of the latter, you start to see that the inequity is a problem,” Brock notes. Cue TBC’s Mobile Unit: a bus similar in appearance to the well-known blood donation vehicles, and one featuring a comfortable waiting area, dressing rooms and full-service, state-of-the-art mammogram technology. The bus travels all across the region in an unprecedented effort to reach those women who otherwise may never have themselves tested. “The women at the Menlo glove factory, for instance,” suggests Brock. “Many never get screened. Either they don’t have the money or can’t get the time off work, so instead we [go] to them.” The quick and easy mobile screening takes only 15 minutes, so women can come out during lunch or their midafternoon breaks, skirting the hassle of ever having to ask time off, and their results are ready the following day. Since the bus began its services in Fall 2008, it has detected four cancers that may very well have gone unnoticed until much further advanced. The Breast Center is integrated into the current cancer program in Rome and participates in a regular conference every Friday,
one in which every cancer patient, from all seven counties, is presented the necessary information before a treatment is decided. Here, physicians discuss each diagnosis proactively, its treatment options, and what each department will need—all before the doctor presents specific options to the patient. Whereas similar meetings in other areas are, more or less, reporting sessions, the difference in Rome is critical: a true weekly planning session in which all the vetted experts have an opportunity to collaborate on the best possible approaches prior to a treatment being decided upon or administered. According to TBC staffers, this sort of individual focus simply isn’t found anywhere else, and can’t stay afloat in the patient-packed “ivory towers” referenced by Dr. Brock. “Everybody is in the system together and we all share information in real time,” he says, “which leads to a much higher level of communication and treatment. It’s how we can dream up the 12 to 24 hour turnaround and actually make it happen. “As far as cancer treatment (in Rome) goes, this is only the tip of the iceberg; this will spin off into a lot of different fields. I want to make sure we also cover the number one killers in men: lung cancer, prostate cancer. If this works for women, we’ll roll out a dedicated cancer center here in Rome.” The proposed location would have the facility erected in the empty lot between Floyd Medical and Barron Stadium. “In that cancer center will be this breast center, our radiation and linear accelerators for our radiation treatments, our medical oncologists, and our surgeons. We’ll have a dedicated, thoroughly integrated center for all cancer care, and all these other initiatives will be simple to bring off the board.” But this lofty vision doesn’t stop at simply building the facility and providing its aforementioned range of services, as community
awareness and education initiatives are also in the cards. With Rome currently sitting somewhat removed from I-75, it is feasible to not only make impressive leaps in treatment, but also to start a unique research initiative. “If we could find a way to have so much community involvement—every woman on a calling list every year to make sure there are no outliers, all [of them] getting tested on protocol—we can study the drops in our death rate for breast cancer.” Organizations such as Kaiser Permanente have conducted similar long-term studies within their companies, but never before has a town taken on such an effort as a civic responsibility. Brock and TBC hope to so ingrain this initiative into the public consciousness that every woman in the community will step up for regular screenings on her own accord, with 90 percent penetrance being the ultimate goal.
For those with low income or in lack of health insurance, there are grant proposals for indigent funding, as no woman should have to make the choice between paying the bills and being screened for cancer. “It would be phenomenal if it could happen, and it would be very hard,” says Brock, “but [Rome is] small enough and closed in enough that it is conceivable. In 10 years, we could write the study of what we have achieved in this small town. “Hopefully, sometime within our lifetimes, someone will finally discover the ‘little black box’ of breast cancer and develop a cure. It’ll be Nobel Prize day.” Until then, however, we can only hope that the rest of the world will follow in the footsteps of our compassionate family of healthcare professionals right here in Floyd County, who are not only making strides on a medicinal and scientific level, but also in heart. VVV
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Recently I had to finally admit to myself how bad I felt. I didn’t feel like doing what I’ve always loved doing. I was chronically fatigued and had no energy. Activities I once enjoyed; exercising, writing, cleaning my home, staying in touch with loved ones, cooking for family and friends, now felt like chores I dreaded doing. I missed the old Maria, the one who had energy for everything! I was tired of feeling bad all the time. I shared my observations with a new friend, a woman 20 years younger than myself. She told me she had once felt the same way until she experienced the relief of natural bioidentical hormone solutions. I was intrigued! She told me about Byers Wellness Center in Cartersville, Georgia. I decided to research natural bio identical hormone solutions and all of their ramifications. This is what I learned. When we’re naturally hormonally balanced, we feel great! When our hormones are out of whack or simply non-existent, we don’t feel great; we can feel bad, really bad. Natural hormone solutions imply that our hormones can get out of sync and that we need help! The kind of help that the human body needs is not synthetic inventions by pharmaceutical companies, but natural bioidentical help from plants! After interviewing several women and even men who were happily being treated at the Byers Wellness Center, I came to the following conclusion: ”Maria, if you fail to take the obvious action necessary to lovingly support yourself emotionally, spiritually, and physically, then you have unwittingly shackled yourself to an inferior life. Is continuing to feel bad what you want for yourself? Or do you desire optimum health brimming with the highest possibilities of self actualization?” Since I had experienced both ways of being in this world, the answers were obvious: I opted for natural bioidentical hormonal solutions. I called the Byers Wellness Center and scheduled an appointment. I’m so glad I did. I now sleep through the night once again. My core body temperature is balanced, not erratic as it once was. My over all sense of well being has returned. The new Maria is happier and more productive. My energy is renewed: I am blessed! Thank you, Byers Wellness Center. Thank you, Dr. Byers.
Maria Beale Fletcher Former Miss America, 1962
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THEROODREVIEW withMATTROOD
A “Meaty” Adaptation:
With his unique take on The Watchmen, director Zack Snyder brings film noir—and sound complexity—roaring back to the big screen
the only way to review zack snyder’s the watchmen is to touch heavily on the gratuitous, full-frontal male nudity, which parades in an out of the film like a six-inch pendulum clocking the seconds. At first, I just assumed it was a large vein protruding through Dr. Manhattan’s makeup, or maybe an angry snake with really terrible aim, but pretty soon I had to accept the truth. It wasn’t that I was “angry” from having to view a male reproductive organ in the virtual raw for three hours, but, instead, that the folks behind the scenes didn’t offer to “go low” in the CGI department. After all, if you’re going to make a sexually explicit movie, then it’s best to scale things back a little for all us non-glowing, non-radioactive men and our dates, whom, thanks to you, now have totally unattainable expectations. Essentially, The Watchmen is a deep, complex movie that probably isn’t what you set out to see. This superhero flick isn’t of the sappy Spiderman variety, or the balls-to-the-wall ilk introduced by the X-Men, a film in which the villains are all relatively transparent and easy to understand. Instead, this one is from the talented mind of Alan Moore, also respected for his work in The Swamp 42
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Thing and V for Vendetta, among others. In the late ’80s, Moore ushered in a new era for graphic novels, producing 12 issues of complex plot points directly focused on conflicts that mirrored the fears of the day. And rather than have a somewhat vague, more general moral lying beneath the surface, The Watchmen’s onscreen incarnation is successful by the same right as its hand-drawn predecessor—i.e., direct and topical. Watchmen is set in another dimension, one in which Richard Nixon was reelected in a landslide, we won the Vietnam War, and the major world powers are all on the precipice of nuclear war. During the 1940s, everyday men and women began donning masks and fighting crime, and in the process, many of them became incredibly popular. Though these superheroes did not have “real” powers, they used strength and brains to battle various villains, all of whom had evolved through time.
Now, jump into the modern era: Superheroes have become grossly misunderstood. Some mysterious enemy has begun murdering them one-by-one, starting with “The Comedian” Edward Blake, and its up to the angry and strongly conservative Rorschach, along with the inventive Nite Owl, to find the culprit. Granting some assistance to Rorschach is the forever naked Dr. Manhattan (Billy Crudup), whose “real” powers have turned him godlike—and have helped me stop eating Hebrew Nationals—as well as the luscious Silk Spectre II, played by Malin Akerman. The plot plays out like a
They Are a-Changin’.” Problematic to any true fan may be Snyder’s changes to a few aspects of the plot, but, in the end, I’d have to say that they granted easier understanding to an otherwise convoluted story. On a personal level, the only problems I found within the film were the same minor issues I had with the novel— Ozymandias (Matthew Goode) being introduced too little in the early going, for one, which made his involvement seem like a last minute plug; the new ending, albeit more convincing, seemed pointless and against canon; the relationship between Nite Owl and the beautiful Silk Spectre II slowed things down unnecessarily. Thankfully, the characters of Rorschach (nailed by The Bad News Bears’ Jackie Earl Haley) and “The Comedian” (Jeffrey Dean Morgan) kept the film interesting for an immensely long 2 hours and 40-plus minutes, as well as Snyder’s ability to launch the screen into killer fight scenes and random explosions. If you are a Watchmen fan, overall, this is a first-class adaptation of one of the greatest graphic novels of all time. If you have no idea who Alan Moore is, then you’re probably going to waste 20 bones and a large portion of your day. In fact, if
we all know he wasn’t high at the olympics, due...to their extensive drug testing and the fact that phelps was toting a towel by the pool instead of a doritos bag. detective novel, and retains a strong “film noir” feel that hasn’t been done so effectively since Bogart ruled Hollywood. Director Zack Snyder [Dawn of the Dead (2004), 300] does a superb job in striving for coolness via intense, slowmotion fighting takes and other highly inventive scenes. The film’s opening sequence is, perhaps, one of the best montages in 21st-century cinema, mixing flashbacks of earlier superhero days to the tune of Bob Dylan’s “The Times
ROOD REVIEW
it were up to me, there’d be a quiz at the theater entrance to prove whether or not you’ve read the novel—a test that would easily cancel out 60 percent of potential viewers and 90 percent of the movie’s bad reviews. And definitely, definitely, definitely DO NOT take a date to see this one unless you like being alone for the latter part of the evening, which if you’re a die-hard fan of graphic novels, you’re probably used to anyhow. VVV
“Knowing” It’s Terrible:
Another Cage stinker claims an innocent life As I sat down with my $10 popcorn and settled in to watch Alex Proyas’ Knowing, another cookie-cutter blockbuster with good-actor-gone-bad Nicolas Cage, a small dog wandered into the side door of the theater. He didn’t appear to be a member of any special breed, and like most everyday canines he was instantly intrigued by
the large moving pictures and loud noises coming from the big screen—not to mention the remains of sugary delights that had been left on the floor by an earlier audience. Meandering, he finally made his way to the front of the theater, and being the only human in the seats at a 2 o’clock Tuesday matinee, I decided to not ruin his experience by alerting the prepubescent usher. When the movie began, the mystery pup seemed instantly mesmerized by Cage, though a bit put-off by his strange, child actor costars (Chandler Canterbury, Lara Robinson), who wielded powers reminiscent of The Sixth Sense. He, as did I, also seemed to enjoy the “Did You Know?” science references reminiscent of The Da Vinci Code, and the detailed codebreaking scenes reminiscent of A Beautiful Mind. Of course, the old white woman (Althea McGrath) made him nervous, a la Titanic, but when the hot love interest (Rose Byrne) with
no concise background or relative importance appeared on screen, he began licking himself vigorously and without shame, a la Donald Trump in The Apprentice. And, really, who could blame him? However, shortly thereafter, the plot began to unravel by way of taking itself too seriously, and the poor mutt soon covered his nose with his paws and began to whimper. This tiny cry slowly rose to a full growl, as the inherently nonsensical story spiraled toward an outcome so ridiculous that the actors didn’t even seem to understand it. Spines of fur then rose along his arched shoulders, as he reared back on his hind quarters and launched into a rabid, slobbering tirade (most likely in response to the fact that the film’s cliché, Armageddon-like theme had spun loose and out of control). The climax occurred suddenly, without warning, but he couldn’t withhold his rage-filled yelps of confusion and pain, masked only by the
multimillion-dollar THX audio blasting from the speakers. Now afraid of the once docile mutt turned monster, I hunkered down in my seat as he howled for someone to save him by flinging open the exit. Little did he know, the worst was yet to come. As the final moments of the film brought on such a level of absurdity that I was sure I he would have to be put down, I heard a terrifying, highpitched whine and, managing to overcome my fear, I ran down to see what was the matter. It was too late. As the credits began to roll overhead, the innocent pup died right there before me on a glob of spit up Sour Patch Kids and fetid cookie dough. In the aftermath, the only question left to ask was Why? Why must we be tricked into watching Cage’s ever-growing catalog of cruddy movies? Maybe one day—someday soon, I hope—someone will be held responsible for this sort of atrocity. VVV
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keeping the faith Age is a major factor of female infertility. For women, the chance of having a baby decreases by three to five percent each year after the age of 30. Chances decline exponentially after the age of 40. Being overweight or underweight can also play a role.
M
ore than 6 million people of childbearing age in the U.S. experience infertility each year, and only 1 million seek treatment. Infertility is defined as a couple’s inability to become pregnant after one year of unprotected intercourse. An infertile person has a reduced ability to have a child. It usually doesn’t mean a person is sterile or physically unable to ever have a child. Fertility problems often bring about feelings of guilt or inadequacy. A normally fertile couple has only about a 25 percent chance of conceiving each month. Up to 15 percent of all couples are infertile, but only one to two percent are sterile. Half of couples who seek help can bear a child, either on their own or with medical assistance. Men and women are equally likely to experience a fertility problem. In approximately one of five infertile couples, both partners have contributing problems, and in about 15 percent of these partnerships, no cause is ever found. This is called “unexplained infertility”. In men, the most common reasons for infertility trace back to sperm disorders. These problems include low sperm count (too few or no sperm in the semen); low sperm motility (sperm that don’t move as well as they should), which effects their ability to reach and penetrate the egg; malformation of the sperm; and blocked sperm ducts. A temporary drop in sperm production can happen when the testicles are injured. An extended period of time in a hot tub or underwear that holds the testicles too close to the body can increase testicular temperatures, resulting in impaired sperm production. Also, in a condition called varicocele, veins around the vas deferens become dilated, raising the temperature inside the scrotum. Excess alcohol intake and smoking can reduce sperm count, as well, and men over 40 are more likely to have decreased fertility. The primary reason for infertility in women is the lack of ovulation. The leading cause of anovulation is a condition called polycystic ovarian syndrome, or PCOS. Another reason for female infertility is the inability of the fallopian tubes to carry eggs from the ovary to the uterus, usually due to scar tissue from prior infection, surgery or endometriosis. In rare cases fibroid growths, endometriosis, tumors, cervical problems, or irregular development of the uterus can keep the egg from implanting.
Evaluation for infertility entails a complete medical history review, physical exam, and blood tests to check hormone levels and thyroid function. A semen analysis is done to evaluate the number and quality of the sperm. Physical blockage of the fallopian tubes or uterine abnormalities can be evaluated by a hysterosalpingogram (HSG), and a special X-ray is performed while injecting dye into the uterus. A diagnostic laparoscopy (scope is inserted through an incision in the abdomen) can look for blockages of the fallopian tubes, and the tubes can be repaired. Endometriosis, adhesions or ovarian cysts can also be removed. A diagnostic hysteroscopy (scope is inserted into the uterus) can look for an abnormality of the uterine cavity and fibroids, polyps, adhesions, and uterine septums can be removed. If anovulation is the problem, there are several ovulation induction drugs. These include Clomid or gonadotropins. Metformin is a medication used to treat PCOS. Intrauterine insemination is an office procedure in which semen is collected, rinsed in a special solution, then placed into the uterus at the time of ovulation. When there is a physical blockage of the tubes or other treatments have failed, in vitro fertilization (IVF) can be administered. IVF is a procedure in which eggs are fertilized in a culture dish and placed in the uterus. If a woman is over 40 or her ovaries do not function normally, egg donation is an option. Evidence suggests that couples should see their doctor for a preconception visit prior to attempting to become pregnant. This is especially important for couples with medical issues or women with menstrual abnormalities. At this visit, potential problems can be identified and treatment initiated that should improve the couple’s chances of achieving pregnancy. VVV
Biography Originally from Atlanta, Dr. Leigh Barrell did her undergraduate work at Berry College, medical school at Medical College of Georgia with a residency at Georgia Baptist Medical Center in Atlanta. Dr. Barrell is board certified in Obstetrics and Gynecology and has practiced in Rome since 1998. She opened Rome Women’s Health Center in October 2007 and resides in Rome with her husband Kevin and 7
year old daughter, Katie.
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