Lexington Woman Magazine

VOL 5, NO 5

COMPLIMENTARY

CELEBRATING, MOTIVATING, AND EDUCATING WOMEN

Real

TM

Extreme GENEROSITY Through extreme couponing, Joyce Hansell proves that everyone has time to give!

HOLIDAY SHOPPING TIPS

Locally Owned Businesses of

LEXINGTON

In this Issue

10

27

From the Editor

21 Meet Linda Welton of The Eclectic House 22 Med Mission – Heals on Wheels

TM

www.lexingtonwomanonline.com

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

Lori Samples Duncan (loriduncan86@gmail.com)

MEDIA REPRESENTATIVES Theresa Adams Cathy Williams info@lexingtonwomanonline.com

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Allison Atkins Ruth Chapman Briana Davis Lori Samples Duncan Tammy Ferris Ashley Ford Mayor Randy Halfacre Clay Hudson Clint Hudson Ashby Jones Dr. Samantha Morton Sandy Olson Crystal Poston Mandy Rivers Elaine Samples Matt Spain Rebecca Wallace-Kazimir Jennifer Wilson Leslie Wilson

COVER PHOTO

Clark Berry Photography

DESIGN

Melissa W. Morris

PHOTOGRAPHY

Clark Berry Photography Patrick Mooney

2 The Holidays are Back!

Things We Love!

3 Things We Love about Lexington!

Events

4 What’s Happening in Lexington?

Lexington Woman Magazine Woman 2 Woman Publishing (803) 785-4475 711 East Main Street, Suite A-2 Lexington, SC 29072

24 Obesity: An Expanding Problem

Keeping it Local

29 North Furniture – Where the Customer is Always Right 5 On the Menu at Cotton Grill 30 All in the Family: Hima and Nick Dalal 5 Kitchen Corner with Cotton Grill 33 Ashby Jones of Kinard & Jones, LLC Chef Jason Palmer 34 Four O’ Three North Lake 6 Talk of the Town with Mayor Randy Halfacre Celebrating the

7 Staying Safe Online this in You! Shopping Season 35 Agnes Babb: Breast Cancer Survivor 8 You’re Smoking What?

36 A Domestic Violence Success 9 Your Vote Counts!

Story: Abused to Investigator 10 Extreme Couponing, 37 Going Bald for Bella Fundraiser Extreme Generosity Kids’ Stuff 13 Day-to-Night Makeup Tips: 38 A One-Stop Shop for Kids Do’s and Dont’s 39 Columbia Children’s Theatre 14 Meet Mrs. Reiko Tabor 15 Angel Mommy Ministries Health & Wellness 16 How Hudson’s 40 The Firm Smokehouse Began 42 Antoinette’s Story

Let’s Talk

Survivor

Professional

Find us on facebook!

Pets

17

19

Holidays...A Great Time to Celebrate. A Great Time to Visit.

Keeping Your Holiday Bright, Safe and Comfortable

43 44 46 49

Dennae Handford is Always Busy Volunteering Makes a Difference!

Are You Sandwiched?

The Path to a Healthy Pregnancy

51 Business & Web Directory

Personal Note

52 Momentous Occasions

Every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of this publication. However, the publisher cannot assume responsibility for errors or omissions. No part of this book may be reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission. © 2011

www.lexingtonwomanonline.com

W

elcome to the Holiday issue of Lexington Woman Magazine — thank you for choosing us for your coffee table, or night stand. We appreciate our readers and try very hard to express that in every issue by bringing you stories about real women and educating you about all of the wonderful businesses in our community.

In this issue, we want to keep it local! It’s the season of giving, and the truth is when you spend money locally, you are saving and creating jobs in our community. We all know how important that is right now. Not to mention that the men and women who have created local businesses have worked incredibly hard to make shopping in Lexington convenient for us, the consumer. We have featured a few of those local owners for you in this issue. There are many more who are deserving and worthy of your patronage. I encourage you to check them out and use them when you can.

Happy

HOLIDAYS!

As always we want to “Celebrate the Survivor in you.” I know October is Breast Cancer Awareness month, but cancer happens 365 days a year. Don’t forget to get your mammogram, do self-breast checks, (yes men can get breast cancer too) and be aware of your body. Listen to it, and find a doctor who listens to you.

It’s the season of giving, and the truth is when you spend money locally, you are saving and creating jobs in our community. Check out our featured local businesses throughout this issue, and keep them in mind when you’re making your shopping list and checking it twice this season!

As the Holidays approach, we at Lexington Woman Magazine want to wish you and yours a happy and blessed holiday season. It doesn’t matter how you celebrate — if it’s with your family here locally, or perhaps you fly to another city, maybe you take a cruise or a family vacation while the kids are out of school, or you don’t celebrate the holidays at all. Regardless, we want to wish you well through the New Year!

Don’t forget to tell our advertisers where you saw them, and as always, thank you for sharing your stories and feedback with us. We appreciate your input.

Make today a great day!

Your friend,

Lori Samples Duncan Editor-in-Chief

Celebrating, Motivating and Educating

Real

Women

Isaiah 43:19 Behold, I am doing a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert.

C C

Events

THE

HAPMAN OMPANY

FINE JEWELERS

Happening

What’s in Lexington?

Lexington Woman’s Club “Holiday Fare” November 5, 10 a.m. – 1 p.m.

Saxe Gotha Presbyterian Church

Featuring casseroles, soups, baked goods, appetizers, pecans, tailgate items, gifts, holiday bows, ribbon scarvesdrawings. Proceeds will fund scholarships for Lexington School District One high school seniors and Adult Education graduates. Come one, come all, and bring your family, friends and neighbors. Remember, it’s not “your mama’s bazaar.” It is a fabulous Holiday Fare! Call (803) 520-4444 or (803) 359-3118 for more information.

Oyster Roast and Pig Pickin’ November 5, 5:00 p.m. – until The Caddy Shak in Lexington

Specializing in On-Site Repair and Custom Design

803-996-5530

903 North Lake Drive, Lexington (look for the black awning)

www.thechapmancompany.com Want Lexington Woman delivered?

Subscribe to either the online or print version of Lexington Woman at www.lexingtonwomanonline.com

Though we always have something for everyone, this year, the Rotary Club of Lexington’s Oyster Roast has become the Oyster Roast & Pig Pickin’ and will be bigger and better than ever! Tickets are $30 per person, which includes all the food you can eat, soft drinks, beer & wine, and live music by Marc Shipley! Clemson is off and Carolina is away at Arkansas.

We will have multiple TV’s as well as a 110” projection screen for you Gamecock fans to watch the Carolina game if it is a night game.

You can contact Greg David at 957-0455 if you are interested or have any questions.

Since its beginning six years ago, the Oyster Roast has become one of the premier Rotary events for Lexington. Through this event, the community has enabled us to make significant contributions to local charities, including the Town of Lexington Police Department KEYS after-school program, the Nancy K. Perry Children’s Shelter, and Lexington Interfaith Community Services. We also fund scholarships each year as a result of the funds generated by the Oyster Roast. We could not do so, however, without community support of the event, our volunteers, and the support of our sponsors, including US Foodservice and Lexington Medical Center, who have been our partners from the beginning.

Election Day November 8

Don’t forget to vote! This is an important election where you decide on three seats on the Lexington Town Council.

The Columbia Choral Society’s 81st Annual Holiday Concert December 9, 7:30 p.m.

St. Joseph’s Catholic Church, 3600 Devine Street in Columbia

Christopher Jacobson, Music Director will conduct the chorus in Benjamin Britten’s “Ceremony of Carols” and works by John Rutter and Francis Poulenc. Tickets will be available at the door on the day of the concert – Adults $12, Seniors $10, Students $5. Advance ticket sales and additional information may be obtained by calling the Choral Society at (803) 933-9060.

22nd Annual Midlands Heart Ball February 18, 2012, 6 – 11:00 p.m.

Township Auditorium

The Heart Ball is one of the region’s premier black-tie events. For the past twenty –one years, the Midlands Heart Ball has attracted the city’s largest companies and most recognized corporate, healthcare and social leaders.

It is a unique evening designed to celebrate the success of our year-round campaign and the generosity of individuals in our community.

The evening will include an incredible silent and live auction along with live music. The event accomplishes three goals: Raises money for cardiovascular research and education, builds awareness and understanding of the American Heart Association, and provide promotional avenues for our local partners. For more information, contact Cory Ritchie (803) 806-3091 or visit their website. www.heart.org/midlandsscheartball

2nd Annual Scarlet Party February 27, 2012, 6:30 p.m.

Cotton Grill, Lexington

Tickets are on sale now! Please give us a call for more information. The cost of tickets are $25 per person or $40 per couple. This is a Monday night event and all proceeds will go to the Midlands Chapter of the American Heart Association. Come get your red on!

www.lexingtonwomanonline.com

Things We Love!

Things We

H

love About Lexington!

ere are some of the things we love about Lexington:

Hair Bows!

Palmetto Thrift Store has the most darling hair bows for little girls and big girls. They are reasonably priced and just the sweetest thing especially if the little girls in your life have really long beautiful hair.

Holiday Parties It’s that time of year! Pull out your little black dresses and fella’s get your tux on. There is a fundraiser or holiday event almost every week from November 1 – January 2. Lexington loves a good party — especially when it is for a good cause!

Local Authors Kim Sanders is a local author living right here in Lexington. She will be featured in our next issue!

Music Therapy at Vital Energy Fitness This is where music and therapy come together to help children interact with each other. This type of therapy is good for fine motor and gross motor skills. This is a form of therapy that helps autistic

Celebrating, Motivating and Educating

Real

Women

by Lori Samples Duncan

children, developmentally delayed, ADD, and ADHD children. It’s also lots of fun for everyone! Visit www.vitalenergyfitness.com to learn more.

SC Door Boards Buy a SC Door Board for your favorite teacher or for yourself! Choose a theme or a team to make it personal. You can find them on Facebook.

Craig Reagin Clothiers Ladies, visit Main Street in Lexington to dress your fella’s in the latest holiday looks for the season or just for everyday wear. See their ad on page 50 of this issue!

Handblown Glass The Electic House, located on Highway 378, has handblown glass bulbs and ornaments by Loretta Eby. Each piece is individually made, and they make excellent gifts for anyone!

Pieces and Patches Memory Quilt Ms. Audrey at Pieces and Patches recently shared a memory quilt with me that was made for a man who passed away. His four children had taken their father’s shirts and had them sewn into a beautiful quilt in his memory. When I decided to take my own father’s shirts to Ms. Audrey to have a quilt

made in his memory, I held back the tears as we pulled the memories from the box. I think this is one of the best gifts to give or receive. I love the thought of covering up with the patches of Daddy’s shirts. You can visit Pieces and Patches in the Old Mill in Lexington or give Ms. Audrey a call at (803) 359-3442.

On the Menu at

COTTON GRILL Stop by Cotton Grill soon to take advantage of their lunch and dinner menu that features 19 items for $10 and under. You can also enjoy Sunday brunch on the water from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m.

• Oceans Delight – Calabash shrimp carrots, celery and onions in an

Apalachicola oysters, and North Carolina flounder lightly fried and served with a trio of sauces: Lemon Tartar, cocktail, and Cajun Remoulade • Manchester Farms stuffed and bacon wrapped quails – 2 semi boneless quails stuffed with bacon garlic and rosemary then wrapped with bacon belly bands, served on Marsala mushroom cream and grilled asparagus • Forever braised boneless beef short ribs – lightly seasoned and dusted with flour then seared and set to braise for over 4 hours with

IPA veal stock. Topped with parmesan and fresh herbs over roasted garlic whipped potatoes • Seared rare Ahi tuna Napoleon – seared rear Ahi Tuna layered between crisp wonton chips with mixed vegetable salad tossed in light ginger soy vinaigrette and finished with toasted sesame oil • Palmer’s Panini – Blackened chicken, warm mozzarella, tomatoes, and apple wood smoked bacon in a pressed hoagie roll with walnut basil pesto and fresh cut fries

Book your Holiday Party NOW! Custom Chef Menus to Fit Most Budgets Small and Intimate or Large and In Charge (60+ guests) Restaurant Available for Private Functions

Kitchen Corner with Cotton Grill Chef Jason Palmer Ahi Tuna Napoleon • 1 5oz center cut Ahi tuna steak • 2 outer leaves of Boston lettuce

(hydroponically grown is better)

• 2 leaves, hearts of romaine • Equal parts diced tomato, roasted red pepper, shaved red onion, shredded carrot, julienned cucumber, and scallions • 3 wonton chips fried until golden brown and lightly seasoned with salt and pepper

Vinaigrette • ¼ cup soy sauce • ½ cup rice wine vinegar • ¼ cup toasted sesame oil • 2 cups blended oil • 2 T honey • 1 T sugar • ¼ t mustard powder • ⅛ t cayenne pepper • 2 T grated ginger root Blend all by hand until smooth and creamy

Napoleon Shred the lettuce and add all the vegetables. Add dressing to taste.

Sear the tuna and slice into 6 equal strips.

Let us help you create a memorable experience this holiday season!

Place a wonton chip in the middle of a large plate. Put 2 pieces of tuna on the chip and ⅓ of the salad mix on the tuna. Repeat 2 more times and finish with a drizzle of vinaigrette for garnish and aroma.

We add a little toasted sesame oil to the plate to break up the vinaigrette.

— Chef Jay (803) 957-1996 • 711 East Main Street, Lexington (located at The Old Mill)

Full Menu and more at www.cottongrill.com www.lexingtonwomanonline.com

Let’s Talk

TALK

New Members of the Chamber

of the town

with MAYOR RANDY HALFACRE

I

t is a great honor and privilege that we as Americans have freedom but none more important than the right to VOTE. It is important that each person over 18 use their voice and power to make a difference in their community, state and country by participating in the electoral process.

ballot as such: “Shall the Department of Revenue be authorized to issue temporary permits in the Town of Lexington for a period not to exceed twenty-four hours to allow the sale of beer and wine sales at permitted off-premises locations without regard to the days or hours of sales?”

The Town of Lexington will be hosting a General Election on Tuesday, November 8, 2011. The ballot will consist of THREE at large Council Seats. The three incumbent council members are Danny Frazier, Richard Thompson and Todd Shevchik. Also joining them on the ballot will be newcomers Tripp Newsome, Steve MacDougall and Constance Caractor Flemming. I strongly encourage you to examine the incumbents record of service to our Town and research the other interested candidates credentials and community service before casting your ballot.

A yes vote would allow grocery stores and other retail outlets in the Town of Lexington to sell beer and wine on Sunday, so long as it is not consumed on the premises. A no vote would leave things as they are now. Sales of alcoholic beverages in bars and restaurants, which are already allowed on Sunday, would be unaffected.

Additionally the ballot will contain a Beer and Wine Sunday Sale Referendum. The Referendum will read on the

Celebrating, Motivating and Educating

Real

Remember, your voice makes a difference. I hope to see everyone at the polls on Municipal Election Day. Thank you for allowing me to serve as your Mayor since 2004!

Randy Halfacre, Mayor Town of Lexington

Women

(As of June 2011) Andrew Farley, LLC (803) 359-0428 Bennett’s Landscaping (803) 427-5771 Bledsoe Family Medicine (803) 957-8000 Blight Allstate Agency (803) 957-3023 Bobo Smoke Shop (803) 356-0906 Calico Daisey Handmade (803) 767-4824 Carolina Blackflow Specialties, Inc (803) 359-3355 Carolina Collegiate Federal Credit Union (803) 227-5504 Cartridge World (803) 736-2992 Columbia College (803) 786-3766 Columbia Smiles (803) 794-5430 Ensight Homes ERA Wilder Realty (803) 319-9988 ERA Wilder Realty (803) 413-4328

Glo Salon & Spa (803) 356-4569 GNC (803) 359-7462 Green Earth Services (803) 735-1006 Kumon Math & Reading Center of Lexington (803) 361-3371 Lupton Law Firm (803) 358-7208 Manpower (803) 731-5469 McDonalds (803) 772-4202 McGuinn Homes (803) 356-1840 Palmetto Vein and Aesthetic Center (803) 359-8346 Reliable Technology Solutions (803) 422-1066 Residential Finance Corporation (803) 720-5209 Ronnie Wingard Real-Estate (803) 760-9595 SC Farm Bureau (803) 951-8739 Sea Hunt Boat Manufacturing (803) 755-6539 Service Printing (803) 799-6461 Sunset Periodontal Associates (803) 794-7520 T & J Kleaning Services (803) 261-3003 Vesta Builders (803) 957-1821

Let’s Talk

STAYING SAFE ONLINE

this Shopping Season

by Matt Spain

W

ith Christmas coming up soon, we will all be on the hunt to find the perfect present for our loved ones. I love to shop locally and support the local community, but sometimes it is not possible. While shopping online may be more convenient and offer a larger selection, it can also involve more risk. Fortunately, there are several ways to reduce this risk.

Make sure the site you go to is reputable. Avoid shopping at sites that appear on pop ups or that send you emails you did not request. These sites can be fake and may lure you into giving out your bank information.

When purchasing an item online, be sure the site is secure. There should be a lock symbol at the top or bottom of your browser to indicate that you are on a secure site. You should also look in the address line of your browser (the line that says http:// www.example.com) and be sure that the http actually is https://. This is a quick and easy way to be sure you are on a secure site.

Another great way to be sure that

you are safe online is to keep your computer updated with the latest Windows or Apple updates (depending on which you use). Also,

bunch of pop-ups and your computer is unusually slow, you could have an infection. I would strongly advise you to not use your bank information on this computer and to give us a call.

When purchasing an item online, be sure the site is secure. it is extremely important that you have good security software on your computer. I recommend Norton Internet Security 2011. No security software is 100%, but Norton has proven to be one of the better ones.

Just a side note… If you are having a

Using your credit card, instead of your debit card, when purchasing items online provides additional security. Many credit card companies have systems in place to prevent fraud and allow you to dispute a charge that you did not make, which provides an extra layer of protection.

Debit cards are directly linked to your checking account and some banks do not offer this protection.

The only advantage of a debit card

is that it will not allow you to buy items with money you do not have.

Just remember to pay off your credit cards each month to avoid unnecessary interest and fees.

One final note… My beautiful wife, Lauren, introduced me to www. retailmenot.com, which allows you to type in a stores name and view many great coupons for that store. I use it for almost every online purchase that I make.

I hope that these valuable tips will keep you safe not only this season, but during the rest of the year as well.

God Bless and Happy Shopping!

803.354.0074 336 Old Chapin Road • Lexington ON-SITE REPAIR FOR YOUR COMPUTER EMERGENCY

WE SERVICE ALL BRANDS OF COMPUTERS! RESIDENTIAL & BUSINESS COMPUTER SALES & SERVICE • IT Consulting Services • Network & Server Management • Wired and Wireless Networking • Virus, Spyware, ETC. Removal • Upgrades

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WWW.COMPUTERPARAMEDICSOFSC.COM www.lexingtonwomanonline.com

Smoked Beef Brisket • ¾ cup Smokin’ Cole’s BBQ Dry Rub (approximately) • 1 5-8 pound beef brisket • 4 cups hardwood chips (oak, hickory or mesquite) • 1 bag charcoal • 1 quart apple juice • Water as needed

You’re Smoking

WHAT?

by Mandy Rivers

I

’m a South Carolina girl. Among many, many other things, that means I have a few born-and-bred ideas about barbeque. For starters, it means I spell it with a “q”. It also means my barbeque sauce is mustard based. And it means pork shoulders and butts. I do own a television so I am aware that somewhere around the Mississippi River, barbeque can also mean beef brisket.

The only exposure I’ve ever had with beef brisket has been in the bigger barbeque restaurants around town. My experience has been that the meat is almost always overcooked and usually drowning in barbeque sauce. Errr… no thanks.

I was a little less than enthusiastic when my dad informed me that we were going to have brisket for Sunday dinner. He said my cousin had smoked one and everyone raved about it so he wanted to try it out. Dad found out the particulars of how my cousin cooked his brisket (technique, seasoning, etc.) and set out to duplicate it. No need to try and reinvent the wheel before you know how to roll one, right?

Dad applied a liberal amount of the rub on the brisket then smoked it (fat side up) for about 12 hours using a standard charcoal smoker with charcoal, hickory chips and apple juice. Most home-use smokers slow cook the meat by way of heat (charcoal), smoke (hickory chips) and steam (apple juice).

He let it rest about an hour, thinly sliced it and served it up (sans sauce). It. Was. Amazing. The meat was moist, tender and flavored perfectly. The combination of marbling, cooking method and seasoning was simply perfect.

Celebrating, Motivating and Educating

Real

I’m of the mind that if you have to put barbeque sauce on meat to eat it, then you’ve already failed. Sauce should serve as an accent – not as a means to return moisture to dry, overcooked meat or as a means to provide flavor to something that was under seasoned to begin with.

We used Smokin’ Coles BBQ Dry Rub and I could not have been more pleased. It was a perfect compliment to the brisket. The spices offered the right amount of heat and flavor while providing a subtle earthiness, then finished with just the right amount of sweetness.

Smokin’ Coles is based right here in Lexington county. Ask your local butcher or meat market about it or you can buy it at www. smokincolessauce.com.

If you are reading this and you love barbeque, you’re already making mental notes of the comments you could send wherein you inform me about everything I don’t know about barbeque. And you might be right. I’m no barbeque expert. What I am is a food writer who ate some wicked good brisket this weekend and has a new appreciation and respect for it.

Women

Pat the dry rub onto the brisket thoroughly (use more or less depending on the size of your brisket to ensure the meat is generously coated) and wrap tightly in plastic wrap. Allow the meat to marinate, refrigerated, at least 6 hours or overnight.

Soak wood chips in a large bowl of water for 1 to 2 hours. Drain water and set aside.

Remove the meat from the refrigerator and let come to room temperature.

Prepare a charcoal smoker* with charcoal and wood chips according to the manufacturer’s instructions. Place the water pan in the smoker and add apple juice to the fill line (use additional water as need to reach the fill line).

Place the unwrapped brisket – fat side up – on the upper rack of the smoker, close the lid and cook, regularly stoking the fire and adding additional wood chips, until an instant-read thermometer registers an internal temperature of 140 to 145 degrees (cooking time can vary from 5 to 12 hours depending on smoker and size of brisket – be sure to follow the manufacturer’s instructions for your smoker).

Remove the brisket from the smoker. Cover tightly with aluminum foil and let rest for 3545 minutes before serving. Carve against the grain into thin slices. Serve with barbeque sauce on the side if desired. *A gas or electric smoker can be used as well. Omit the charcoal and follow the manufacturer’s instructions.

View more of Mandy’s recipes online at www.mandyrivers.com

Let’s Talk

saving money

Your VOTE Counts!

never looked so good.

by Lori Samples Duncan

No Appointments Necessary Open 7 Days a Week Costcutters.com

I

LEXINGTON LOCATIONS:

t is election year in Lexington! I know it isn’t the presidency; however, just like every four years, it’s an opportunity for your voice to be heard. I think I was in the ninth grade when I first learned that there was a time in our nation’s history that women were not allowed to vote. To someone like myself who has never experienced gender discrimination this is unthinkable to me. It was at that moment that I told myself I would never miss an election.

Inside Walmart 5556 Sunset Boulevard 951-3333 Lexington Publix 100 Old Cherokee Road & Highway 378 356-6557 Mills Corner (next to Barnyard flea Market) 4360-B Augusta Road 356-0011 Redbank 1123-H South Lake Drive 808-2977

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Appointment recommended. Offer good at locations listed. Not valid with other offers. Expires 06/30/11

BOGO

GET ONE Buy one Shampoo at Regular Price Get Second One of Equal or Lesser Value at 50% OFF In-stock items only. Excludes liters and package sets.

Not valid on clearance items. Limit one per customer per visit.

BRANHAM’S LAWN MAINTENANCE

LANDSCAPING AND IRRIGATION Industrial • Commercial • Residential • Insured

803.513.7963 Greg Branham

I have a right to vote. I was given that right by women who stood up and said, “We deserve to be heard,” less than one hundred years ago in 1920.

I think most of us can agree that recent elections have been critical to our country. Why would local elections be any less important? Show up to the polls.

have made. Constance Caractor Flemming, Danny Frazier, Steve MacDougall, Tripp Newsome, Todd Shevchik, Richard Thompson are the candidates. Constance Caractor Flemming even sings a little intro and ending during her

Vote for who you feel will serve Lexington most ardently.

This year the Lexington town Council has three seats that are up for re-election and there are a few newcomers vying for those seats as well. I would encourage you to watch Channel 2 on Time Warner Cable on the following dates and times to see what each candidate stands for. Don’t just show up and vote for a name to say I voted.

Please log on to www.lexsc.com/ election_candidate_videos.htm to view the candidates’ video speeches for the election Tuesday, November 8, and watch ALL of the speeches before you decide who to vote for to fill the three positions.

Do your homework. Vote for who you feel will serve Lexington most ardently. Do a little digging around try to find out what contribution current candidates

speech. Danny Fraizer has served for six years — take a look at some of the projects Danny has helped to spearhead and which he has been an integral part. Not to toot Danny’s horn but you know how I love a good fundraiser. Danny helped with Camera’s for Kids, a fundraiser that helped put cameras in our schools.

If Tripp Newsome or Todd Shevchik is your choice, show up. Vote.

Let your voice be heard.

Don’t forget to listen to the speeches, do a little internet surfing. Educate, Educate, Educate yourself about these candidates.

Express Yourself! www.lexingtonwomanonline.com

Extreme Couponing,

EXTREME GENEROSITY

by Elaine Samples photography by Patrick Mooney

10

Celebrating, Motivating and Educating

Real

Women

Let’s Talk

A

few months ago, Lexington Woman received an email that began as follows: “I’m Hallie and I’m 12. I think ya’ll should do a story on my mom.” Actually, the fact that a pre-teen girl thinks her mom is worthy of a story may be a story in and of itself.

Upon reading the email from Hallie, it was evident that her mom Joyce is definitely the kind of lady we like to feature in our publication. Joyce Hansell is the mother of four kids, Billy, 17, Bobby, 16, Brandon, 13, and Hallie. She and her husband, Rob, also rescue pit bulls and currently have several dogs and an array of other animals residing with them.

Joyce also works a full time job as a waitress. So, she must be pretty busy, right? Probably doesn’t have a lot of time for extra activities with four children and a mini petting zoo on her property — but this could not be further from the truth.

In late June, Joyce happened upon an episode of Extreme Couponing on the cable network channel TLC. The lady who was the subject of the show used the items from her savings to help a less fortunate family and Joyce Hansell was inspired.

That weekend, her husband brought home three Sunday papers, so she started clipping coupons. Then she found a group on Facebook and began trading coupons with people in other parts of the country. When others heard about what she was doing, coupons from others started piling up. At the beginning, Joyce received a call from someone asking if she had any extra food she could donate to a family that was hungry, and she was able to prepare a box of food for that family. Joyce’s daughter told a friend about what her mom was doing, and the little girl’s aunt began donating Joyce 500 newspapers every week. It takes 40 hours every week to go through the papers, clip the coupons, and organize them. On the night before her weekly shopping trip, Joyce stays up all night in order to plan out the trip to the grocery store. She places the coupons in envelopes that correspond to each registry transaction and then goes to work. Once she gets home from the shopping trip, Joyce spends additional time sorting the food in her family room, which she has transformed into a storage room for all of her purchases.

Joyce saves anywhere between $900

and $1100 per week using her coupons. Because of the items received, the Hansell family has been able to help countless others who were struggling or less fortunate. “Trinity Baptist and Willow Ridge feed the

delivered to this lady and her children. Through the course of her actions, she learned that the family was indeed homeless, and she and her network were able to help them find shelter and secure a job interview for the mother.

I asked Joyce, “HOW?!

How do you find time to devote in excess of 40 hours each week to couponing, shopping and sorting food – especially when you have a full time job and are raising four children, two of whom are in wheel chairs? Aren’t you exhausted? Where do you draw the strength to keep going?”

And Joyce Hansell told me about an experience she had last Thanksgiving while delivering food to families who may not have otherwise been able to eat on that day. She was delivering to a lady and her two sons, but no one came to the door when she knocked. A neighbor from across the street came out and told Joyce and her husband that the person for whom they were looking had been in and out all day, but that he would be happy to take the food and make sure it made it into the neighbor’s hands when she got home that evening. Joyce and Rob left the food with this man and called the intended recipient to let her know.

Joyce saves anywhere between $900 and $1100 per week using her coupons...the Hansell family has been able to help countless others... homeless at Finley Park on Wednesday evenings. One day, I received a call from April Howell of Willow Ridge, asking if I could help with the Wednesday night project. I currently supply them with all of the toiletries, toothbrushes, toothpastes, shampoos, soap, and the lunch meat they needed to compile bags for 150 people,” says Joyce.

Joyce also told me the story of a mother and her two children who had been standing in front of Columbiana Mall a few weeks before I spoke to her. She received several calls from people telling her this lady was holding a sign reading, “We are not homeless, but we are very hungry.” Joyce gathered up some boxes of food and had them

continued on page 13 www.lexingtonwomanonline.com

11

Since my election in 2005, the Town’s general fund has grown from 6 million dollars to over 9 million dollars in 2011. The Town's enterprise fund, which includes our water and sewer operations, has increased from 7.5 million dollars to 11.7 million dollars in the last 6 years. The growth in both funds have been due to economic development planning. This growth has come in spite of the worst economic conditions since the Great Depression. This is remarkable and our hard work on Town Council has paid off. I would like to continue this growth for the next 4 years!

- Danny

Find me on facebook

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LEXINGTON TOWN COUNCIL

Celebrating, Motivating and Educating

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Women

Let’s Talk After a phone conversation, it became evident that the man had deceived the Hansells and the lady was in dire need.

Though they only had $20 left until Rob’s next paycheck, Joyce and Rob made a trip to Bi-Lo, bought a rotisserie chicken and some trimmings, and took them to the lady and her sons. “I’ll never forget the look on that young man’s face as he took the food from me,” says Joyce. “He was so polite and genuinely grateful. On the ride home, I thought about how my family may struggle sometimes, but I have never had to tell my children that they would not have food to eat at night. When I get tired or feel like it is too much, I always remember that young man’s face. And I know that I can go on — that I must go on.”

Joyce also teaches a couponing class every two weeks and the cost of admission is one canned good. “I tell people they don’t have to be extreme like I am,” says Joyce.

“But if they will just spend two hours each week, they can save a lot of money. And, if they will take five items they received as a result and give them to a homeless shelter or a food bank, then we can feed our country — one person at a time. We live in the greatest country in the world, and I guarantee you someone is hungry just ten minutes down the street from you.”

I was inspired by my conversation with Joyce Hansell. And I also felt very guilty, as I often find myself saying, “I’ve just been so busy.” But I don’t have four children to take care of and I certainly don’t spend an additional 40 hours each week selflessly engaging in acts that will help others. If you do, then I salute you, just as I salute Joyce. As a result of my hearing her story, I commit to spending just two hours each week to help someone less fortunate.

DAY-TO-NIGHT MAKEUP TIPS:

Do’s and Don’ts Rebecca Wallace-Kazimir

by Rebecca Wallace-Kazimir

W

ith the holiday season upon us, the need to not only multitask but also simplifying our beauty routine has become more important than ever. With these tips, you can switch from day to night with a flawless, easy transition that kicks it up a notch when the sun goes down.

DO use blotting papers to soak up excess oil and blotches your complexion may have from throughout your day. Blotting papers can be found in the skincare section of any drugstore, and allow you to freshen up your complexion before adding further foundation or concealer for maximum coverage.

DON’T apply extra mascara on top of what you already have on your eyelashes. This can lead to a clumpy, spider-like effect.

DO add a darker eyeshadow shade in the crease (see photo) of your eye socket to add dimension to your eyes. You can also apply the same shade to your lower lash line to mimic eyeliner and give a smokey-eye look.

DON’T apply more blush unless you feel the blush you applied during the day has

faded. Circulation increases as the day goes on, often aiding in a natural “blushed” look.

DO add shimmer to your nighttime look.

Shimmer can be applied to your upper cheekbones, decolletage, and on your brow bones. Highlighting area’s of your face and body where the sun would normally hit during the daytime creates a candelit effect at night.

DO amp up your lips with a darker or brighter lipstick shade, such as anything with berry, red, or bright pink tones.

DO use dry shampoo to soak up excess oil in your hair and to refresh your current hair style. A few spritzes can add volume, life, and texture back into your hair before a night out.

Questions? Email Rebecca@beautygala.com

Even at the age of 12 when mom isn’t necessarily the coolest person to hang out with, Hallie Hansell is very proud of her mother. And on her Facebook page she lists “extreme couponing with my mom” as one of her hobbies. Dr. Dorothy Law Nolte said, “If children live with sharing, they learn generosity.” It seems certain that the Hansells are raising four generous children who are sure to make the world a brighter, better place, one gesture at a time. What will you do to make it better?

www.lexingtonwomanonline.com

13

Let’s Talk

Meet Mrs. Reiko Tabor

by Lori Samples Duncan

L

ast week I stopped by Southlake Village Retirement Community to meet with one of the residents. Her name is Reiko Tabor. I was planning to interview Reiko about her favorite holiday traditions. However, we ended up talking about Southlake Village. What a happy resident!

Mrs. Reiko Tabor Some of you may have read about Reiko six years ago in The Lexington Chronicle featuring the groundbreaking of Lake Murray Child Development Center in Lexington.

Reiko opened the center that is now run by her daughter, Linda Tabor Colbert. Since the death of her husband, Don, Reiko now plans to split her time between Georgia and South Carolina. Her son is an attorney in Georgia and she has grandchildren in both states. I asked what she loved about Southlake Village and her answer was threefold.

First she loves the interaction with the other residents. She said one of the things she missed when living in Tocoa, Georgia was the socialization. Though her son visited often, she still missed the connection with people of her own age. She said hello to many people as we moved down the hallway after our interview. I got the impression that she is becoming quite the social butterfly.

The second thing she loved was the décor. She was very complimentary of the facilities and the personal suites.

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Celebrating, Motivating and Educating

Reiko said, “It is beautiful here. Just like a brand new home.” It is quite lovely, if you haven’t taken a tour, stop by and ask one of the ladies to show you around. While I was there, I saw some residents outside, others had gathered in the “living” area and were about to be entertained by a couple of singers. A bus of residents had traveled to Hendersonville for the day to pick apples and didn’t get home until after I had left.

Southlake Village offers resort style living with no long term commitment. Whether you are looking for an apartment, garden home or patio home, we have a floor plan to meet every need. * Mention this ad and receive a $99 Move-In Special!

Call us at (803) 356-1158 to set up a complimentary lunch and tour!

Lastly, she spoke about the dining hall and how much she enjoyed meal times. Mrs. Tabor said to me of the staff of Southlake Village, “They treat us like royalty.” Now she did go on to compliment the menu and talk about how every meal is a grand affair. I believe she compared the meals to those on a cruise ship.

Yes, we did get around to talking about the holidays. She celebrates the holidays in traditional American ways. She also told me that she plans to spend Christmas in South Carolina to watch her grandchildren open presents.

Mrs. Reiko Tabor was open and very delightful to chat with. I do believe I will return again soon and ask her to lunch or have lunch at Southlake with her. Her enthusiasm about her new home was infectious. There are many seasons in our life and it is nice to know for this season she is enjoying her new found friendships and living at Southlake Village in beautiful Lexington South Carolina!

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123 Gibson Road Lexington, SC www.southlakevillage.net

Let’s Talk

ANGEL MOMMY MINISTRIES A Time to

Heal

by Crystal Poston

I

n the months following the loss of my son, I leaned on other Moms who had suffered the same grief that I was feeling.

I remember a sense of comfort knowing that I was not alone. Since that time, Moms who have suffered a loss, have in return reached out to me.

Whether you have been an Angel Mommy for days, or an Angel Mommy for years; We all share a common bond. We want to come together to celebrate, and honor, and share in an uplifting environment.

I pray that in helping myself to heal, I may also help others.

Our God is one of compassion. He comforts us when we go through trials. But it doesn’t stop there. Our troubles give us a vocabulary to help others who are going through the same thing! The Scripture tells us that the very weight around our neck can become the launching pad for ministry to others.

I am starting Angel Mommy Ministries as a way to promote healing hearts, and offer support to mothers who have lost their babies too soon. I

know the path they are on; because I am on it too. My wish is to provide an atmosphere of friendship, understanding, and hope to those going through the natural grieving process after the loss of an infant. I have learned that sometimes all we need is just to see the face of someone who understands. This ministry will provide a time to share and console, and a time to pray and inspire.

By praying together, and sharing our stories with one another, we can restore hope, and encourage happiness in the face of tragedy. I have come to understand that feeling peace and contentment doesn’t mean that you are in the absence of heartache. But instead, confirms that you are in the presence of Christ.

My prayer is that in the future, Angel Mommy Ministries will provide bereaved parents and families opportunities to honor, and seek healing through events, support, education and remembrance.

Leaving the hospital with empty arms is a pain that only an Angel Mommy can understand. I pray that in helping myself to heal, I may also help others. I have met so many amazing Moms that are grieving just as I am, and if you have been effected by infant loss, I want you to meet them too. If you are interested in becoming a part of this support group, please contact AngelMommyMinistries@aol.com for more information.

photo by Clark Berry Photography (2009)

I often remind myself that God is in control, and He has such

an amazing plan. We may not be the poet, but we can live to be the poem.

It has been said that an entire lifetime of love can be squeezed into a few brief miraculous moments when necessary. What a blessing this is! For nine months I carried Benjamin, and for the 34 minutes that he lived, I cuddled him. All that I needed to give him, I gave.

In return, he has given me so much more. Through his death, he has shown me life.

For those who trust in God, in pain and sorrow there is consolation, in the face of despair there is hope, and in the midst of death there is life.

Beautiful Life.

Matthew 5:4 Blessed [are] they that mourn: for they shall be comforted.

CELEBRATING, MOTIVATING, AND EDUCATING

Real WOMEN

Turn this issue over for a spotlight on an amazing business woman:

Getting a KICK out of life with Jackie Howie

Cayce, Chapin, Columbia, Irmo, Lexington, West Columbia, and White Knoll

Read the article on the Poston family in the 2009 Mother’s Day issue on our website at www.lexingtonwomanonline.com

www.lexingtonwomanonline.com

15

Let’s Talk

How Hudson’s SMOKEHOUSE BEGAN

by Clay and Clint Hudson

H

udson’s Smokehouse began in our father, Robin, and Barbara’s kitchen in 1995. On Fridays and Saturdays we would wake up to the smell of collards cooking down stairs and hickory smoking as dad was in the backyard shoveling coals on the fire. This was their hobby and they loved to share their recipes with family and friends.

Voted #1 BBQ & RIBS in the Midlands

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4592 Sunset Boulevard (Hwy 378) • Lexington 931 Old Two Notch Road • Lexington Enjoy our country BBQ buffet or order from the menu!

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Local commercials are awful.

Today it’s a much different picture.

We now have over 100 employees, two restaurant locations and recently opened our state of the

top four BBQ joints in the south.

We have also been voted #1 by many other newspapers and magazines. This has helped our BBQ business grow into a family restaurant that we are very proud of.

They don’t have to be.

We strive to provide the best service possible.

16

art catering location, also in Lexington. Our catering business is one of the largest in the state and we cater to businesses, churches, weddings and regular folks like us all over SC, and parts of NC and Georgia. Our Smokehouse was featured on Turner South’s “Blue Ribbon Award Show” as one of the

Although our business has grown our food still has all the love and quality that went into it back in 1995. We thank our loyal friends and patrons. Whether you’re dining in, simply picking up take out or being catered, we strive to provide the best service possible. Our dad still says “be careful what you pray for, you just might get it.” Our father’s hobby has gotten way out of hand.

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HD Video Production • Consulting • Photography (803) 360-9164

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HOLIDAYS… A Great Time to Celebrate.

A Great Time to Visit.

by Sandy Olson

W

hether it is Thanksgiving, Christmas or New Years the holidays are a great time to visit the Columbia Presbyterian Community when it is festooned in holiday finery and bustling with events and activities.

We don’t always have the luxury of planning or selecting just the right time to visit a retirement community. After all, no one is ever “ready for that yet.” But if we could choose the time for a visit, especially to the Columbia Presbyterian Community, then the holidays would be a great choice. Not that the calendar is any busier because it is always chock full of fun things to do every month. There just seems to be a little extra excitement and festivity at this special time of year.

One very good reason for a holiday visit is you don’t want to miss the “Festival of Trees” which has quickly become a tradition at the Columbia Presbyterian Community. No less than fifteen trees are lovingly deco-

rated by residents and volunteers from the Metro Columbia Presbyterian Church (USA) women representing as many as eleven different churches. These “wise” women come bearing a variety of homemade snacks to be enjoyed by all. After all, decorating that many trees you can work up a real appetite.

And while the volunteers are mostly church women, an occasional husband has been known to tag along.

Good food will always bring them out.. The Festival of Trees should be ready by December 7.

There’s another good reason to visit the Presbyterian Community at this time of year. The holidays are traditionally when families gather to celebrate and catch up on what’s

Columbia Presbyterian Community Holidays happening in everyone’s lives. More often than not with everyone so busy these days and some of us living great distances apart, it may be the only time of year we have a chance to see family. And so it is, at this time of year, that we may begin to notice changes in mom or dad.

Maybe you pick up on the fact that mom or dad has become a little more forgetful since the last time you saw them.

Are they becoming a little concerned about living alone? Is the neighborhood they’ve lived in for many years changing? Are they not quite sure about that new medicine the doctor prescribed? What condition is the checkbook in or is it missing?

These and other questions can easily come up when gathered with parents during the holidays. What better time to visit the Columbia Presbyterian Community? It can be a fun outing “just to check out the Presbyterian Community and see what they have to offer.” We would be delighted to host you and your family for a scheduled tour of the community along with complimentary lunch. That way you can sample the food that is served in the residents’ dining room. Make sure you take in the “Festival of Trees” and have a chat with residents and staff.

The holidays…what a great time to celebrate and what a great time to visit the Columbia Presbyterian Community.

The Midland’s Best Kept Secret in Retirement Living Celebrating 35 years of quality care and residency options for seniors of all faiths!

The Columbia Presbyterian Community offers choices in patio homes, apartments, assisted living, health care and memory support. Currently featuring one and two bedroom apartments with attractive upgrades that are ready for immediate occupancy.

Come and experience life at the Columbia Community where active living seniors enjoy friendship, fellowship and fun. Call today for a complimentary lunch and tour.

700 DaVega Drive Lexington, SC 29073 (803) 227-8342 • Toll Free 1-866-315-4724

Visit us online at www.preshomesc.org www.lexingtonwomanonline.com

17

Make sure your guests are comfortable in your home for the holidays. Put your house in our hands.

Tel: 803-719-5334

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7XQH XS \RXU IXUQDFH WR ensure cozy gatherings. ,QVWDOO D SURJUDPPDEOH thermostat for temperature control.

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Not valid with other offers. Cannot be applied towards Service Call charge or specials.

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Dinner: Mon - Thurs, 5:30pm - 9:00pm Fri & Sat, 5:30pm - 9:30pm

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Fine Specialty Items Garden Pots Indoor and Outdoor Plants Garden Design

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KEEPING YOUR HOLIDAYS Bright, Safe and Comfortable

by Tammy Ferris

T

he holiday season is my favorite time of year, and my favorite place to celebrate is in my very own home. I know how important it is for me to feel comfortable in my home, so I own a company that prides itself on making our customers comfortable in their homes.

This holiday season, I’m grateful for our dedicated team of professionals at Gene Love Plumbing, Air and Electrical and for you, our customers, who welcome us into your homes every day and place your trust in our staff and our service. If we’ve done our job right, you’ll have a safe, warm and bright holiday season. With this in mind, I want to offer you some home comfort tips.

Since I love to be home for the holidays and I love cooking, beginning with Thanksgiving, my husband and I invite lots of guests in to enjoy good food and celebrate with us. I know that many of our customers do too because the day after Thanksgiving is when Gene Love plumbers clear out more clogged drains than any other day of the year! Knowing this, I want to offer you a tip for running your garbage disposal: Run the water and let the disposal take in the food instead of stuffing the stuffing down into it. Don’t let the day go down the drain – just your unwanted food.

If you’re entertaining overnight guests, make sure your furnace works properly. Getting a tune-up now will guarantee you’ll have heat when you need it. You’ll also need enough hot water for everyone’s showers. A tankless water system provides unlimited hot water without storing it all like traditional hot water heaters do. I love mine and we’ve found it saves about 40% on energy bills and conserves lots of water.

My sister Vickie, who happens to be “mom” to Bucky, our company spokesdog, wished she’d had a tankless system when her hot water heater burst recently. Vickie didn’t know where the shut-off valve was and within minutes, her carpeting and

other belongings were ruined. Take it from Vickie and Bucky: make sure everyone in your family knows how to shut off the water.

Welcoming guests around the holidays is a great excuse for doing a few home improvement projects. My Gene Love crew recently did a major remodel on my bathroom. It’s exactly what I wanted, but you don’t have to do an extreme makeover to change your bathroom’s appearance.

You might be surprised how simply changing out the fixtures can make a huge difference. Whether your taste in faucets is fancy or fun, Gene Love will install exactly what you’re looking for.

As long as you’re “sprucing” up the house, let’s talk about trimming the Christmas tree – a favorite tradition for my family. All of our ornaments are gifts from friends or ones we bought while traveling. Hanging them each year gives us time to reminisce about people and memories we hold dear.

And what’s a Christmas tree without all the bright lights? If you load the tree and the yard with lights, be sure not to overload your circuits. If your wall socket is warm to the touch, it’s overloaded. Don’t put electrical cords in high-traffic areas, over nails or under rugs. Heat can build up and start a fire.

One other note of caution: check to see if you have a Federal Pacific Electric circuit breaker panel. While it may appear that it’s working just fine, federal investigators have questioned its safety. Some homeowners complain it overheats easily and poses a severe fire hazard. In fact, in 2005, FPE agreed to settle a class-action lawsuit

brought by New Jersey homeowners who claimed its panels did not meet the safety standards established by Underwriters Laboratories (UL). If you’re not sure what system you have, call Gene Love electricians. They’ll advise you on the best options for keeping your home and family safe.

If you’re traveling to see family this holiday season, a programmable thermostat will assure your comfort while saving energy. You simply set it to turn the heat down while you’re away and warm it up upon your return. This thermostat can save hundreds in energy costs.

As we anticipate more economic challenges in 2012, maximizing the return on your home service investment will be more important than ever.

As a company dedicated to providing service with integrity, we promise to serve you well as we keep your plumbing, heating, cooling and electrical systems running efficiently.

Tammy Ferris is the owner of Gene Love Plumbing, Air and Electric, serving the greater Columbia, South Carolina area for more than 25 years. Gene Love plumbers contain and control water and guarantee their work.

Gene Love consistently earns “Best Plumbing Company” and other service industry awards. It has a solid reputation for keeping people comfortable in their homes and offering upfront pricing as well as prompt and respectful service. www.lexingtonwomanonline.com

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Furniture & Home Accessories • Candles and Fragrances including Thymes • Vera Bradley Personal Accessories • Miscellaneous Gifts for all Occasions • Baby Products

Holiday Open House November 4 – 6

Linda Welton

(803) 791-7740 • www.theeclectichouse.com 1709 Sunset Boulevard, West Columbia, SC

Serving stylish women in Lexington for over 30 years

The

Eclectic House

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Holiday Shopping TIPS The holidays are upon us again, and Lexington Woman wants to offer you a few simple tips for shopping this season!

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Meet Linda Welton of

THE ECLECTIC HOUSE

Buy Locally!

Are you sensing a theme? We have so many great shops right here in Lexington to help complete your shopping list. Many of those businesses are featured in this very issue — they all have great things to offer!

by Lori Samples Duncan

Make a List and Stick to It! It is easy to spend well over our limits these days thanks to credit cards, and with stores having constant sales during the holidays, there always seems to be a bargain that we just cannot pass up. Keep track of the gifts you need to buy, and try not to splurge just because the deal seems too good to be true — you may be faced with unwanted expenses in January!

Make Your Gifts Count Rather than buying a gift for each sibling, niece, nephew, aunt, uncle, or cousin, consider drawing names with your extended family. The gift will become more meaningful, because you’ll have more time and money to spend on it.

Buy Online If for some reason, the gift you’re looking for is not available here in Lexington, shopping online is a great alternative. Online retailers give huge discounts during this time of year.

For tips on staying safe while shopping online, see the article on page 7!

Linda Welton

T

he Eclectic House opened in May of 2001. The owner, Linda Welton, has always liked to decorate. Linda has never formally been trained. In fact, she works as an accountant for her day job.

Though she is a numbers person Linda loves envisioning floral arrangements, art and furniture in homes. Her specialty is adding something new to something old using multi-functional pieces.

She has a knowledgeable staff and personally chooses most pieces. Linda has added so much inventory this holiday season you will have a hard time deciding what to bring home first.

She was inspired to open the Eclectic House when she saw the old house on Hwy 378. In that moment she thought how wonderful it would be for customers to come and browse through a wide assortment of items in such a lovely home filled with history. The house actually looks small but is 3600 square feet, and Linda has filled every inch with a wonderful array of gifts and home decor.

If you stop by the Eclectic House buy a gift for yourself or someone you love! This little house is a definite representation of it’s name.

The Eclectic House is located at 1709 Sunset Boulevard in West Columbia. Be sure to check out their Holiday Open House November 4 – 6.

www.lexingtonwomanonline.com

21

Professional

MED MISSION Heals On Wheels

by Ruth Chapman

W

hile working at Lexington Medical Center’s Urgent Care Dr. Suzy Schwab saw a need for health care for the uninsured. People have reached a new level of desperation with the grim economic outcome. The single parent who works a minimum wage job and cannot afford medical insurance typically can’t afford to see the doctor when necessary either. This is a particular truth for uninsured diabetics or people with high blood pressure who can’t afford the doctor visits, equipment or treatment that they require. That’s when Dr. Schwab got the idea for free medical services for the working pooruninsured and unemployed. That is when she partnered with the non denominational Christian Mission Group Mission of Hope Ministries.

Fast forward several years later, after forming a group of interested citizens who shared her vision and desire to share her missionary spirit and a lot of luck and prayers, her dream has been realized. Perhaps you’ve seen the Medi-Van which is parked in the Mt. Horeb United Methodist Church parking lot here in Lexington. Dr. Schwab and other volunteer doctors, nurses and non-medical staff partner with local churches in Pelion, Lexington, Batesburg and West Columbia, monthly, to serve the uninsured in their area. In fact, the medical services provided have become something that many locals look forward to and line up sometimes hours before the van arrives. In addition the people who are served through Medmission the name of the organization that Dr. Schwab is affiliated with, are also able to purchase food, clothing and other items at the food pantries and thrift stores that operate at the same time.

The model that she has developed utilizes a community leadership model where the communities they serve embrace their own, providing facilities and volunteers. They have some superb leaders that have emerged. “This is a tremendously generous county and takes care of

22

Celebrating, Motivating and Educating

its own by pulling together. None of our funding has come from the government,” Dr. Schwab says.

Dr. Schwab’s long term goals include wanting to loan out the Medi-Van to other communities so that they can serve more people on a regular basis, especially in the tough economic times that we are facing. She would like to see more volunteers

communities need to step up and embrace the needy.

Some of the services that the Med Mission offers include diagnostic testing for diabetes, HIV, hypertension and EKG’s to name a few. They also offer some medications for diabetes and blood pressure, although no narcotic or controlled substances are kept on the van or dispensed from the site. They also assist patients to complete paperwork for prescription assistance follow up care and testing to be done at local hospitals.

The medical services provided have become something that many locals look forward to and line up sometimes hours before the van arrives.

to include doctors, nurse practitioners, physicians assistants nurses and non-medical staff work with local churches to affect change for the working poor. Her philosophy is shared by the board of directors for Med Mission, SC. She feels that government should not provide every social service and that local

Real

Women

Dr. Schwab says that even though they are targeting the working poor, more children are starting to be treated at the site. She would like to be able to assist with medical treatment for the local migrant workers, but because they work during the day, she needs to locate volunteers who are willing to work at night for a few hours a couple of times a month as well as to locate a facility, such as a church that is willing to allow the treatment of patients on their site.

Even though the van is equipped to

How can we as a community support this worthwhile program?

• Churches, businesses and

benefactors can designate donations to specific funds, such as medications; gift cards for fuel and oil changes for the van; donations of office supplies, cleaning products, bottled water and healthy snacks for the volunteers and patients that often work through lunch.

• Hygiene packs are also appreciated with shampoo, soap, toothbrush, deodorant and a washcloth.

• She also accepts donations for

the $12.00 glucose monitors that she gives her patients who need them as well as asthma nebulizer machines. The most costly part of the project is insurance. They give out many over the counter medications donated by church groups and Sunday school classes. St Stephens Lutheran Church ran a tremendous drive last year.

There is a list of medications and supplies that are given out.

• She could use any number of

volunteers, both with medical backgrounds to screen and treat patients and non-medical staff to assist with completing registration forms or to be greeters and to offer prayers with the patients. They always offer a prayer with the patient and as of yet, she has rarely seen had a patient refuse.

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www.bouknightpumps.biz

Weddings by Woolbrights Event and Floral Design

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Donations are NEEDED! Most clothing priced $3.50 and under!

accommodate patient care with 2 rooms, one for triage and one for treatment, it is easier for the patients to be treated at the churches with whom she partners. Many times the church classrooms are converted into makeshift treatment rooms and the kitchen is transformed into a pharmacy of sorts. They typically spend 4-5 hours treating patients at any given sight.

Batesburg Currently, patients are seen on the 2nd and 4th Mondays from 10:00a. m.-1:00p.m. in Batesburg through Operation Reachout at The First Baptist Church of Batesburg. A food pantry and thrift shop are open onsite during the treatment periods.

Pelion They also go to Pelion one Saturday a month at the Pelion United Methodist Church. In the recent past they were able to coordinate with the Lexington Medical Center to have the Mammography van present at the same time. Dr. Paul Espinoza, Family Practitioner and Dr. Michelle Welch, Dermatologist typically see patients for various illnesses and cancer screenings at that location.

can Optometry Association has borrowed the van to perform screenings for infants and children. They also collaborated with community churches with operation In As Much at Lexington Middle school.

Dr. Schwab also would like to publicly thank God, her husband, without whom none of this is possible, the most dedicated group of volunteers some of her benefactors to include Pastor Jeff Kersey and Pastor Brian Rainwater, from Mt. Horeb United Methodist Church who have been on board with the idea since she first approached them so many years ago.

She would also like to thank SCBT bank for the loan to the buy the van which she purchased on faith and to Blue Cross/Blue Shield Foundation of South Carolina which paid off the loan through a generous grant.

She would like to thank her board of directors, to include Gov. Nikki Haley; Brent Mackie, SCBT; Pastor Brian Rainwater, Pastor Viafanua Mulitaua pele, Attorney Hugh Rogers Mt. Horeb United Methodist Church for their service and believing in this project.

Cayce The Mission of Hope Outreach at 1819 Middleton Rd, near Maurice’s BBQ runs a food pantry and sees patients two times per month.

This location is the main headquarters of Med Mission, Heals on Wheels. Their motto is “Bringing the doctor’s office to the uninsured patient.”

Dr. Schwab was also able to secure grants through the Generous donors at BCBS Foundation of South Carolina and is currently seeking a grant through Duke Endowment.

Lexington Lexington is the newest clinic on the third Thursday of each month from 10a.m.-1p.m.

If you or your church would like to volunteer your time, talent or gift, go to their website, www.medmissionsc.com, call the office in Cayce at (803) 530-8805 or send your comments to Mission of Hope Medmission, PO Box 1661, Lexington, SC 29071.

Community Outreach This summer Med Mission, SC partnered with Saxe Gotha Presbyterian Church to assist with the migrant ministry and the Ameri-

She said the general demeanor of the patients they see is appreciation for what the mission is doing to help serve the uninsured.

www.lexingtonwomanonline.com

23

Pets

OBESITY: AN EXPANDING PROBLEM

by Briana Davis

T

he battle of the bulge is a growing epidemic, not only in humans, but also in our pets. Excess weight has become the most common medical condition diagnosed in companion animals. Obese animals exceed their ideal body weight by more than 30%. An animal is considered at their ideal body weight when you can easily feel their ribs but not see them, the back has a thin layer of fat, and there is an indentation at the waist line (not a bulge!).

There may be several predisposing factors to obesity. Obesity can have detrimental effects to the musculoskeletal, cardio-pulmonary, endocrine, and urinary systems. There may even be a link between obesity and certain cancers. As with their two-legged counterparts, diet and exercise play a vital role in the fight against obesity in animals. There is even a prescription available to help dogs lose weight. However, one of the biggest role-players in the pet’s quest to maintain a healthy weight is the pet’s owner.

Several factors can contribute to obesity. One such factor is the animals own genetics. Labs, Terriers, Beagles, Basset Hounds, Cocker Spaniels, Dachshunds, and Cavalier King Charles Spaniels are just some of the breeds predisposed to obe-

sity. Other predisposing factors include a slowing metabolism, which may occur with neutering or aging. An animal’s daily energy requirements may be decreased by as much as 20% by these conditions. Certain endocrine diseases (ie hypothyroidism or Cushings disease) can contribute to weight gain. Steroids or anti-seizure drugs can cause weight gain because their potential side effect is an increased appetite. The most significant factor in an animal’s development of a weight problem is often that animal’s human. Usually a pet’s obesity is the end-result of an owner that is overfeeding (food, table scraps, treats) and/or under-exercising.

dysplasia, cruciate ligament disease, intervertebral disc disease, and osteoarthritis are worsened by obesity. Excessive weight places additional strain on the joints, hastening their degeneration.

Respiratory conditions such as tracheal collapse, laryngeal paralysis, brachycephalic syndrome, and asthma are all worsened by carrying excessive weight. Obesity can also cause hypertension, which can lead to cardiac disease. Obese pets may be predisposed to hypothyroidism and diabetes mellitus. Obesity has even been linked to some cases of incontinence. Retrospective studies are evaluating possible links between obesity and certain types of bladder and mammary tumors.

Obesity can negatively impact multiple aspects of a pet’s health. Orthopedic diseases such as hip

Like most diseases, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. It is easier to prevent obe-

Small Animal Medicine and Surgery

COMPLETE, COMPASSIONATE CARE

Small Animal Dentistry

From Your Other Family Doctor

Equine Services Pharmacy and Laboratory

Dr. Briana Davis Dr. Tim Loonam Dr. Jacinda DeRoy

Grace Animal Hospital

147 Charter Oak Road • Lexington, SC 29072

24

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and Pet Lodge

Behavior and Training Consulation Goats, Sheep and Llama Services Nutrition and Retail Products Referral and Consultation Services Pet Lodge

803.808.PETS (7387) www.gracepets.com

sity than it is to implement a weight loss program once it has occurred.

For owners whose pets are getting older or were recently neutered, it is a good idea to regularly weigh them and monitor activity level. If their pet is gaining weight then the caloric intake should be decreased and exercise increased accordingly. Feeding measured amounts of food daily rather than free choice feeding lessens the likelihood for weight issues developing. Routine lab-work can help screen for predisposing factors such as hypothyroidism or Cushings disease.

Owners of obese pets can collaborate with their veterinarian to determine the pet’s daily recommended energy requirements.

Once that is determined, a diet and exercise program specific for their pet can be implemented. The ideal rate of weight loss should be 1-2% of body weight per week. It may be beneficial to change to a weight loss diet versus restricting the amount of regular diet the pet receives. Weight-loss diets are boosted with essential nutrients so even though the calories are restricted, the protein, vitamins, and minerals are not. If pets are

still hungry after receiving their recommended allotment of food, low-calorie fillers can be used to supplement their diet. These fillers include cooked green beans, carrots, and pumpkin. Pets can continue to receive treats but the treats should only take up to 10% of the pet’s total daily energy allowance. The only weight-loss drug approved for use in dogs is Slentrol, which acts as an appetite suppressant. It has the potential for significant side effects and should be considered as a short term intervention. Weight loss achieved

by Slentrol will only be temporary if owners don’t modify a more healthful lifestyle for their pet through diet and exercise.

Obesity is a serious condition that can lead to several health issues.

Multiple factors can contribute to the development of obesity in our pets. It is up to us as owners to recognize these predisposing factors and make adjustments in our pet’s life-style as needed. Obese pets can return to a healthier body condition with committed owners, diet adjustments, and an exercise program.

Usually, a pet’s obesity is the end-result of an owner that is overfeeding (food, table scraps, treats) and/or under-exercising.

First Visit FREE!

• Veterinarian Recommended • Lifetime Betterdog Warrantee • Any Age, Any Breed • Problem solving and obedience training

(803) 561-9090 www.betterdog.com

Buy the Lexington Woman bead and help our furry friends!

When you purchase the Lexington Woman bead named Blessings from Dems Jewelers, they will donate 20% of the purchase price to Pets Inc. to help with their mission.

To see what other beads Dems is offering through their Bead It to BEAT IT! program, visit www.demsjewelers.com.

www.lexingtonwomanonline.com

25

ical experience at

: Clin Nursing Major

local hospitals

Education Major: Classroom experience with Master Mentors

Visit Newberry College!

A campus visit is a great way to see for yourself why Newberry College is the place you could easily call home.

Chemistry

Varied Curriculum: 25 majors, 33 minors Excellence in the liberal arts, sciences, business, teacher education, nursing, and pre-professional studies High Four Year Graduation Rate: Great acceptance rate for graduate and professional schools, excellent career placement First Class Academics: Small classes, 17:1 student-to-faculty ratio Student Life: A diverse student body with more than 50 organizations Residential Community: 90 beautiful acres and wireless Internet campus centered in the safest town in the state, with 24-hour security Athletics: 16 NCAA Division II teams, SAC Academic Champions Private yet Affordable: Close to 90% of our students receive financial assistance Newberry College is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACS COC) http://sacscoc.org/

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Schedule a visit through our website at www.newberry.edu | 1-800-845-4955 ext. 5127 26

Celebrating, Motivating and Educating

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Women

Locally Owned Businesses of

LEXINGTON photo by Clark Berry Photography

Lexington is a great place to live and made even better, we believe by the companies that have made an investment in our community. We have included a few for you this in this issue — businesses who have invested in the community they live in. Their drive to be successful is even greater than a company housed in another state or country — as my pastor says, “they have a dog in this fight.” This issue of Lexington Woman wants to celebrate local businesses.

We would like to encourage all of you to support theses companies when you can and keep our dollars local! If you know a local business owner who should be featured in future issues, please feel free to email us at info@lexingtonwomanonline.com.

— Lori Samples Duncan

www.lexingtonwomanonline.com

27

Family Owned and Operated for over 50 Years!

We’ve got the furniture and the prices to put comfort and style in every room of your house!

Check us out on facebook • Special Clearance Section

• Clayton Marcus Gallery • Lane Gallery • Complete line of Ashley Furniture • Solid Wood by Kincaid • Serta Bedding including the new iComfort Beds!

• Many other furniture lines available along with accessories!

North Furniture Company (803) 247-2681 • www.northfurniture.net • 4581 Savannah Hwy • North, SC 29112

Occupational Therapy

Physical Therapy

Our goal is to achieve mental and physical wellness through our combination of Complementary/Alternative therapies with traditional Occupational Therapy.

OUR SERVICES INCLUDE: • Occupational Therapy • Physical Therapy

Pediatric Therapy

Aquatic Therapy

• Sports Physical Therapy • Reiki Therapy • Pediatric Therapy • Aqua Therapy

• Fibromyalgia/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome • Chronic/Acute Pain • Migraine Headache Treatment • Yoga/Personal Fitness • Neuro/Ortho Injury Rehab

• Scoliosis Rehab • Myofascial Release Treatment and Craniosacral Therapy • Rheumatoid/Osteoarthritis Therapy Underwater Treadmill

Reiki Treatment

Hima N. Dalal

Celebrating, Motivating and Educating

Real

• Hand Therapy

• TMJ Therapy

• Cancer Rehab

www.vitalenergytherapy.com

Occupational Therapist Reiki and Myofascial Release Consultant Sports Personal Fitness Consultant

28

• Work Reconditioning

FM/CFS Support Group Meets Monthly

Women

803.359.1551

163 Charter Oak Road Lexington, SC 29072

North Furniture – Where the Customer is ALWAYS Right

by Elaine Samples

I

don’t know about you, but I find that one of the most frustrating aspects of being a consumer today is the customer service (or lack thereof) that I receive from many businesses, from my mortgage company to the grocery store clerk. That’s why it was especially refreshing to sit down with Brian Drew of North Furniture.

Brian’s grandmother started the business in 1958 and all of her sons worked at the store until Brian’s father, Paul Drew, took over in 1970. Brian speaks lovingly of an old rocking chair out on the front sidewalk where his grandmother sat near the front door and greeted customers as they visited the store. From the time he was just a boy, Brian’s father would pick him up from school and take him straight to the family run business, where he would work every day. He learned all aspects of the business now owned by his mother, Cynthia Drew, and is running the entire operation whose facilities on Savannah Highway consist of eight buildings, including a 25,000 square foot show room and two warehouses.

Brian fondly related to me stories of how proud his father, who passed just over a year ago, was of the business, and how he solicited new customers everywhere he went, including long stays in the hospital before he died. “My dad was very proud of his work. He took a lot of pride in his store and it has been passed down to me,” states Brian. “One of the things he taught me: Always make sure the customer is right. If someone calls me with a complaint, we do everything we can to get it right with them because we want to make everyone happy. We always stand behind our product.”

North Furniture carries “a little bit of everything that will fit the various budgets of our customers,” says Brian. The store carries various product lines, including the Clayton Marcus Gallery, which offers solid oak frames, the Lane Gallery, and a Serta Mattress Gallery. “We offer discount prices,” Brian goes on to say, “And we don’t do a lot of advertising. Most of our business is from referrals and repeat customers. Our name speaks for itself.”

photo by Clark Berry Photography

The FIRM Emily Welsh is the owner of The Firm in Lexington. Emily opened The Firm in August 2007 and has been helping Lexington get in shape ever since then. The Firm offers cardio, yoga, weight training, Zumba, boot camps, and much more for all different levels of fitness. Visit www.theFirmStudios. com to see their studio schedule. You can also read more about The Firm and what they have to offer the Lexington community on page starting on page 40.

Brian Drew Brian also has several employees who have been with the business for more than thirty years. His assistant, Trudy Cook, started with his father 31 years ago. One of the men in the warehouse, Darrel Wise, started with the company 30 years ago.

“He used to pick me up from school and take me on deliveries,” remembers Brian, “My dad used him to train me on how to deliver furniture.”

Check out the great products and prices at North Furniture, where the customer is always right and a rocking chair in honor of Brian’s grandmother still sits on the front sidewalk. With their new “Three Years Same as Cash” plan, you will be sure to find something you can take home with you.

Don’t forget to stop by the newly converted Clearance Room, including merchandise up to 75% off retail. Tell them Lexington Woman sent you!

photos by Clark Berry Photography

Café 403 Gail Seagle is the manager of Café 403. You can find her serving lunch and mingling with the customers most days at the beautiful restaurant at 403 North Main street. It is perfect for a baby shower or lunch with your girlfriends. I love the heritage and decor of this Lexington landmark. See their ad on page 37 to find out more about Café 403 or visit www.cafe403.com.

www.lexingtonwomanonline.com

29

Keeping

photo by Clark Berry Photography

All in the FAMILY Hima and Nick Dalal

by Lori Samples Duncan

I

f you are a long time reader of Lexington Woman Magazine, you already know about Hima Dalal. She is an amazing woman with inspiring passion to change as well as better the lives of her patients. You may not know her husband Nick, who is also a local business owner. The couple started their life together with no money. All Hima and Nick possessed, aside from a supportive family, was an education and a determination to succeed. Hima says her husband “always had the drive and motivation to do something exceptional. His readiness for new challenges along with a broad vision is what makes him so successful in business.” Hima feels like a great passion for what he does is also an important component of Nick’s success. Nick doesn’t like to “put all his eggs in one basket,” and he isn’t scared to take risks.

I wanted to know how Vital Energy emerged from that drive and passion. Hima says, “I had so much to offer to patients, but no one place would let me offer all those things.

So Nick encouraged me to open up Vital Energy Therapy and Wellness, where all the things I offered could be received in one modern facility – a facility with the latest technology and equipment. A place where ancient healing techniques are also offered to our patients.” We have interviewed many of Vital Energy’s patients in the past few years, and all of them site one constant factor is the quality of the care they receive. The commitment of Hima and her staff, to improving the quality of lives of their patients. Even when they don’t have insurance coverage or if private pay patient is struggling, Hima doesn’t waiver in her drive and de-

30

Celebrating, Motivating and Educating

termination to help them with their situation.

Nick Dalal and Sanket Dalal run a real estate investment company with properties in Lexington. Both Nick and Hima grew up in Mumbai, married at the age of twenty, and made the journey to the United States of America. Moving to Lexington, South Carolina in 2002 was a leap of faith for the Dalal’s. For the first few years, they were uncertain as to what the slower paced lifestyle would offer them. It wasn’t long before they fell in love with the Lexington community. Hima has always felt a strong sense of acceptance from the people of Lexington. This is partially why maintaining a high standard of care in important to her as well as Nick.

Nick and Hima have two children

Real

Women

who share their entrepreneurial spirit. Their son Sanket, a USC graduate with a major in economics and Hotel Management, has been a licensed commercial real estate agent since he was eighteen years old. He is developing a shopping center convenience store outparcel in Lexington on Platt Springs Road. Sanket is working hard to breathe new life into the White Knoll landmark, The Village Store, which has been in existence for 58 years. As we go to print with this issue, Sanket is wrapping up a major build and expanding what this local business offers to consumers. It is a well-known fact by the coaches at White Knoll High School both past and present the Village Store has the best hot dogs in White Knoll.

The magic ingredient, Sanket says, “is the chili.” The recipe was used

by Mrs. Cox who formerly owned the business. It is inspiring that this young man has taken something that has been a part of the community for so long and completely revitalizing it. I asked Sanket why it was so important to him to keep the name and the same location of this business. His response was, “We are giving people options of eating food that is local, unique and fresh while keeping the price point low and affordable.” That is what he hopes to accomplish with the new eat in cafeteria. Families can enjoy dinner together in a nice new facility. If someone is just working in the area or if they live across the street from the Village Store, they can enjoy the same comfortable atmosphere. We plan to have pictures and a review of his new café in the January issue of Lexington Woman.

Sanket’s sister, Sneh Patel, graduated from USC with a degree in exercise science and is running Vital Energy Fitness, a personal fitness studio which helps patients who are returning from rehab to normal exercise under the care of a professional.

If you aren’t comfortable working out in front of a large group, you might explore Sneh’s facility, which features state-of-theart equipment in a relaxed environment.

Sneh especially enjoys working with overweight men and women and helping them to return to a healthier weight.

She helps cardiac rehabilitation patients, children, pre-/post-pregnancy, the aging population (all of us), and those who would like to exercise, but aren’t quite ready for a regular gym. Her husband Lokesh is a civil engineer who works for the State of South Carolina, and they currently co-own the new Marble Slab Ice Cream store next to the Pavalion Movie Theater Mall in Lexington.

Not only is this family doing their best to provide quality services and products but they are often making contributions to the local schools and community projects as well. Vital Energy Therapy and Wellness is involved in many charitable events throughout the greater Columbia area, even offering support group meetings to Fibromyalgia patients. The Village Store is often involved in special events at CSMS and WKHS to help promote the arts and sporting events.

The one thread of commonality in all the business this family has a hand in, is the commitment to the community.

The beauty of it is, as Hima puts it, “we all work together as a team to help each other, and Nick is always there as the head of his family to offer direction and advise. Lexington is our home and we feel at home with the people here,” continues Hima. “They are so very kind, warm, helping and welcoming. They have accepted us as one of them and that motivates us to make sure we are offering the best to Lexington people.” Whether it’s healthcare, the convenience of resting in a hotel, helping someone to achieve their weight loss goals, serving ice cream or the best hot dogs Lexington has to offer, business with the Dalal’s is a family affair.

For more information be sure to visit them online at www.vitalenergytherapy.com

Computer Paramedics

Mae’s on Main

Matt Spain started Computer Paramedics in 2007, while he was a junior in high school in Alabama. It was his second company and it started out just like most other small business start-ups—with only him working on his own to build the company. In 2009, Matt met Lauren on eHarmony.com, a South Carolina native! Matt and Lauren were married a year later and eventually moved to Lexington. (Lexington Medical Center recently hired Lauren to work in their accounting department. Congratulations, Lauren!) Matt started his second Computer Paramedics in Lexington, but they serve the entire area around Columbia. Computer Paramedics’ goal is to stand out from the crowd when it comes to computer sales and service. They are not your typical computer shop. Providing excellent customer service above and beyond what you typically expect from a computer shop is the standard they uphold! Turn to page 7 to read Matt’s article.

Connie Stuckey is keeping Mae’s on Main a locally owned business. After purchasing the business last year, Connie has added lots of new inventory, including some great pieces for professionals and young trend setters. Though she has added some new flavor to a Lexington favorite, you can still see some familiar faces at Mae’s. Some employees have been at Mae’s for double digit years. Mae’s is also carrying petit and larger sizes. See their ad on page 20.

photos by Clark Berry Photography

BrightStar Care

The Chapman Company

After a scare when her own 73 year old mother wandered away in June 2010, Patti Mack was lead to start BrightStar Care in Lexington. Their mission is to provide compassionate, quality, home care services so that families will have peace of mind knowing their loved ones are being cared for and enabling them to age gracefully at home with dignity and respect. See their article, and learn more on page 46 of this issue.

Chris and Ruth Chapman are the owners of The Chapman Company, a fine jewelry store in Lexington. Chris has owned the store for over ten years and has spent his entire adult life in the jewelry industry. Ruth is a contributing writer for Lexington Woman and also owns her own consulting business. They have three children.

Their oldest daughter Christine worked with Lexington Woman this summer, while at home from Lander University. The Chapman Company carries LeStage Convertible Bracelets, Bulova and Hamilton watches. They also sell and install replacement watch bands and change watch batteries while you wait. Oh, and guess what? They have an in store playroom! See their ad on page 3.

www.lexingtonwomanonline.com

31

KINARD

JONES

LLC

Attorneys at Law

RESPECTED LEXINGTON ATTORNEYS WHO CARE

• Auto Accidents • Injury • Divorce • Custody • Criminal Defense

803-359-1003

kinardandjones.com

303 South Lake Drive 32

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•

Lexington, SC 29072

•

Fax (803) 359-1378

ASHBY JONES of Kinard & Jones, LLC

by Lori Samples Duncan

A

nother locally owned and operated business in Lexingon is Kinard & Jones, LLC. Ashby Jones is one of our regulars here at Lexingon Woman Magazine. photo by Clark Berry Photography

In addition to being a pretty darn loyal friend, Ashby is particularly devoted to her clients.

Dems Fine Jewelers Dems Fine Jewelers has been in business for over forty years and is locally owned by third generation jewelers Steve Livingston and his sister, Deborah Lucas. In 1969, their parents “BJ” and Louise Livingston purchased a small store from Reinhart Dems, a master goldsmith and a WWll concentration camp survivor who immigrated from Poland. The Dems name was kept to honor Reinhart Dems and his family, hence the name Dems Fine Jewelers.

Dems is located in a beautiful, free-standing store at 1068 Lake Murray Blvd in Irmo. Dems features many designer jewelry collections including diamond and platinum jewelry by Tacori and Hearts On Fire along with fabulous collections in sterling silver and gold. They give back to the community with their exclusive “Bead It to BEAT IT” program which has raised over $25,000 in contributions given to many local charities. Dems Fine Jewelers . . . where love brings you in and trust brings you back.

See their ads on page 4 and the back cover of this issue.

Ashby Jones The intro to her blog at www.youhavetogettoknowher.blogspot.com reads: “You know “those women” — the ones who seem a little cold and can be a little intimidating?

You ever noticed when you take the time to get to know them, you discover they are not AT ALL like that? That they are really kinda funny, sensitive, and can be a pretty darn loyal friend? I am that woman. These are my stories.”

Ashby Jones of Kinard & Jones, LLC is a graduate of Presbyterian College in Clinton, South Carolina and the University of South Carolina School of Law. It was during college that she met and married the love of her life, Bret Jones, who is a lifelong resident of Lexington and also the boy’s basketball coach at White Knoll High School. Ashby and Bret live in Lexington with their two children, Maggie and Houston.

In addition to being a pretty darn loyal friend, Ashby is particularly devoted to her clients. She is forthright, compassionate and sensitive to their needs. Experienced in a variety of areas, you can go to Ashby for your legal needs including Divorce and Family Law, Personal Injury and Wrongful Death cases. Though her practice is currently concentrated in the Midlands, she has represented clients statewide, and has appeared in the majority of Circuit Courts in South Carolina.

I find her blog to be engaging and smart, as well as entertaining and funny. If you are looking for a reprieve during your day, I don’t think you’ll regret stopping by for a few minutes or following along.

And if you are in the market for good legal counsel who you can trust, give Ashby Jones a call.

photos by Clark Berry Photography

Grace Animal Hospital and Pet Lodge Grace Animal Hospital and Pet Lodge’s Mission statement starts like this, “Our Mission is to provide our patients with the highest quality, modern, compassionate veterinary care, that exceeds our clients expectations, and provide our employees with the opportunity for personal and professional growth.” Betsy and DVM Tim Loonam are the owner/operators of Grace Animal Hospital & Pet Lodge. Extraordinarily kind and compassionate people, they never miss an opportunity to give back to the community and are raising their family in Lexington. If you haven’t seen their beautiful facility, stop by for a visit with your family’s other doctor! Turn to page 24 to find out more.

www.lexingtonwomanonline.com

33

Keeping it Local

Four O’ Three

North Lake

by Ruth Chapman

A

re you planning an upcoming wedding for yourself or a loved one?

Let me tell you about a great all-inclusive wedding facility here in Lexington. Four O’ Three North Lake is a very elegant venue with a rich history for weddings, receptions and special events. photo by Clark Berry Photography

Weddings & Receptions Custom Catering

Marci Huber and Karen Knight The house’s history and beautiful façade are what make it such a unique destination.

make recommendations for details such as décor, music and photography.

Built in 1914 by Thomas H. and Amanda Corley Wingard, this home was lovingly renovated

by Jimmy and Charlotte Caughman Compton, a granddaughter of the original owners. Since purchasing the property over 3 years ago the Hubers have added the carriage house to provide a large indoor space for events.

All catering is provided by owner and chef Rodney Huber. A pastry chef is also on-staff to help create memorable cakes and confections. The staff ’s attention to detail and knowledge of food, wine and event planning make the process simple and enjoyable.

Situated on almost one and one half acres, the gardens have been designed to create quaint outdoor rooms and gathering spots. Each season presents a spectacular show of color and elegance, the perfect setting for any occasion! There is also a brick walkway with the names and dates of the couples who have been married there. Inside the historic house there is a large suite that provides enough room for brides to relax and get ready for their special day.

Marci Huber and Karen Knight are there to help each client create their vision for the event. They specialize in not only weddings and receptions but rehearsal dinners, showers and special events.

They offer packages with area florists and can

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Women

Visit their website www.403northlake.com for sample menu options; or call them at (803) 8082992.

The restaurant located inside the Historic House is called Café 403. There are three rooms each with their own decorating style, comfy chairs and beautiful colors. However, with fall upon us, it would also be a great time to lunch outdoors on their wide front porch. The owner, Rodney Huber, also our very adept waiter the two times I’ve been there for a very special ladies lunch, tells us that Café 403 is a favorite for luncheons, birthday parties, showers, and meetings. Visit their website at www.cafe403.com for the lunch menu or call them at (803) 622.8141. They serve lunch Monday-Friday from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.

Café 403 Specialty Events • Corporate Meetings Parties • Lunch Groups • Showers Serving Lunch M-F 11-2

Four O’ Three Northlake: 803.808.2992 Café 403: 803.622.8141

AGNES BABB

by Elaine Samples

{Breast Cancer Survivor}

Breast Self-Exam Tips:

T

hankful. Perhaps gratitude is a sentiment expressed more often around the holidays than at other times of year. And thankful is exactly how Agnes Babb feels about being a survivor of breast cancer for five years now.

She first received her diagnosis in November, 2007, when after feeling some pain and a cyst in one of her breast, she decided to have it checked out by a doctor. That decision may have saved Agnes’ life. It was surreal when she got the news, “I remember driving out of the parking garage thinking, ‘I cannot believe this has happened to me.’ It was the Wednesday before Thanksgiving. I waited to tell my family until after Thanksgiving.”

Agnes is involved in dance and theater and she credits continuing to engage in her regular activities and staying positive as being instrumental in helping her beat cancer. “Attitude is everything,” says Agnes. “I think it helped me to make it through. In retrospect, I had an easy time compared to

L e x i n g t o n Wo m a n c e l e b r a t e s t h e s u r v i vo r i n yo u

some of the struggles I know others face as they fight cancer. I never got sick and my energy level remained consistent during the treatment. I attribute much of that to attitude.

And I also did everything exactly as I was instructed by my doctor.”

As I spoke with Agnes, I was reminded of one of the commitments from author Valorie Burton’s book: I will not feel sorry for myself.

“Don’t feel sorry for yourself,” say Agnes, “Although in the back of your mind you’re thinking, ‘Why did that happen to me?,’ do not allow yourself to dwell on it. Stay positive.”

Agnes had the benefit of a great network of people who were in her corner – her friends, colleagues, and family.

I have a dear friend that always asks the question, “What was the takeaway?” any time she hears of a particular struggle, the thought being that we should learn something from every difficulty we face. Agnes Babb’s takeaway from her fight with breast cancer? “Cherish every moment.” How much richer would our lives be if we made an effort not only to be more thankful, but to cherish every moment?

This article is brought to you by Dems Fine Jewelers. Visit www.demsjewelers. com or call (803) 407-5290.

“Agnes” Dance like nobody is watching… and joy will fill your heart again and again just like a garden of flowers!

To purchase the “Agnes” bead and to see others, visit www.demsjewelers.com or call (803) 407-5290.

Dems Fine Jewelers, through their Bead It to BEAT IT! program, donates 20% of the proceeds from the sale of this bead to SCOA Cares Foundation.

In honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, please take the time to do a self-examination. Taking a few minutes once a month can make a lifetime of difference.

In the Shower Fingers flat, move gently over every part of each breast. Use your right hand to examine the left breast, left hand for the right breast. Check for any lump, hard knot, or thickening.

Carefully observe any changes in your breasts.

In the Mirror Inspect your breasts with your arms at your sides. Next, raise your arms high overhead. Look for any changes in the contour of each breast, a swelling, a dimpling of the skin, or changes in the nipples. Then rest your palms on your hips and press firmly to flex your chest muscles.

Left and right breasts will not exactly match—few women’s breasts do.

Lying Down Place a pillow under your right shoulder and put your right arm behind your head. With the fingers of your left hand flat, press your right breast gently in small circular motions, moving vertically or in a circular pattern covering the entire breast. Use light, medium, and firm pressure. Squeeze the nipple; check for discharge and lumps.

Repeat these steps for your left breast.

www.nationalbreast cancer.org

Thank you for your support!

www.lexingtonwomanonline.com

35

Celebrating the

Survivor in You!

A Domestic Violence Success Story:

ABUSED to INVESTIGATOR

by Ruth Chapman

D

anielle McCord has not always taken the traditional path. She was very young when she found herself pregnant, unintentionally. She had to give up her hopes of going to college but felt that she now had a child to raise, and that child would be her first responsibility. She decided to marry the father and thus began a tumultuous ride. As she states, “in 2000 I divorced after surviving years of domestic violence.”

Danielle describes the abuse as black eyes, bald spots in her head from him ripping her hair out, bruised arms and busted lips. Two of their children witnessed the assaults that continued occurring even though she was pregnant with their third child. He was convicted of criminal domestic violence (CDV) more than once, but because the laws against CDV in our state are very weak, he was freed to perpetuate the violence again and again.

photo by Clark Berry Photography

Danielle says that she left 7 times but returned each time, until finally her resolve held. She says, “I finally said I was done letting my kids watch me suffer and I deserved better and could live on my own. It was a hard struggle because I had lost all my friends, my family was barely speaking to me, I was pregnant with my third child and already had two children and no job. But I was determined and I survived it.”

She found herself a single parent with three young children, struggling to make ends meet. She was working two jobs when she found one working as a dispatcher for law enforcement in Lexington County.

As she describes it, “it was such an awesome experience but being behind the desk and answering calls from frantic victims, I had the fever to go to the police academy.”

Law enforcement is my passion, I love making a difference...

In 2001 she began her career at the Cayce Police Department as a dispatcher and a year later her chief sent her to the academy. She spent less than a year on the road and was promoted to Investigations, where she has been ever since.

She says, “Family means everything to me and I have a great support network. I love my job and

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I am passionate about it. I always see my cases through and I am always available to my victims.

I always put myself in my victim’s shoes to make sure that I cover all the bases I would want covered if it were me.”

Because her abuser is the father of three of her children, he still has parental visitation rights. She says even after all this time “I still get that same sick feeling in my stomach every time I see him.”

She says that the children have been in counseling and are doing well.

On a positive note, Danielle was married this past September 2010 and says the union has truly taught her what marriage and partnership is all about. He loves her children as though they were his own and says that unless she told you, you would think they were his biological children. She has four children now ranging from teen to adolescent and says there is ‘never a dull moment’.

Finally, she says that she believes she was “called” to the life of law enforcement and has been fortunate to work for a Director who supports her and all of his officers, pushing them to be their very best. She also says, “law enforcement is my passion, I love making a difference and sharing my experience with victims who feel like there is no better life for them. Domestic violence is a cycle that our state needs to break.” Danielle advocates stiffer penalties for those who are convicted of criminal domestic violence as well as a support system for victims and their children. She‘s also considering going to college and pursuing a law degree now that her children are all in school. She is truly a success story and a Survivor!

If you are suffering from any type of violence call Sistercare’s Crisis Line: 803-765-9428 and stop the cycle!

They offer a 24 hour help line, shelter, children’s services, counseling and Hispanic Outreach Services.

Celebrating the

Going Bald for Bella

Survivor in You!

FUNDRAISER

by Elaine Samples

Fight Like a Little Girl!

I

’m philanthropic. I feel very fulfilled when doing something for a person who will never be able to return the favor.

I’m not really sure why that is. To borrow from Lady Gaga, perhaps I was just born this way. But more than likely, it is because while growing up I lived in a home where doing good for others was as natural as waking up in the morning. I watched my parents give of themselves way more than they ever took, and I didn’t necessarily like it when I was young. I was a bit selfish and I saw it as taking time and resources from the most important person in my life — ME. What a blessing that not all children are as self absorbed as I was — especially not Colton Lane Duncan.

Colton decided one evening that he wanted to make a statement and, in doing so, make a difference. And that is precisely what he did. When Colton announced to his mom, Lori, that he wanted to shave his head for childhood cancer, Lori started moving very quickly. She identified a child in the community who was battling cancer, contacted the child’s family, and organized a fundraiser.

Colton called his friends and family and invited them to be a part of “Going Bald for Bella.” I consider myself very blessed to be among the group who gathered at Snip-Its in Lexington on that day.

I watched as complete strangers gathered in the parking lot to rally around a little girl who was fighting bravely and a little boy who cared enough to do something to acknowledge and support her fight. Colton walked around the crowd like a

shave his head, he sat on the stage in the barber chair and flashed a mega watt smile, little Bella standing at his side.

The countdown began and I couldn’t hold back the tears as I considered the weight of this day. No matter how much money Colton raised, he was helping Bella experience one of life’s greatest joys. He was showing another person that she was loved and cared for by someone who, just a month ago, she had never even met.

...he was helping Bella experience one of life’s greatest joys. politician, shaking hands, smiling, playing with Bella, even talking to local reporters, and I couldn’t help but wonder — with compassion like this at the age of eight, what would this little boy be doing in twenty years.

Perhaps some of the little ones attending the fundraiser weren’t really aware of what the day was about, but it was evident that most of the kids knew exactly why they had come out on this beautiful Saturday morning. While they had their faces painted and played with balloon animals, I heard some ask, “Where’s Bella?!” and “Is Bella here today?!”

When the time came for Colton to

I will never forget the day I watched Colton Duncan shave his head for Bella Steuer. I am sure the same can be said for most, if not all, of the people in attendance. My prayer is that more children care enough to make a difference like Colton, more parents encourage that in their children like his parents, and more people in the community rally around these courageous kids just like the people of Lexington on the day Colton went bald for Bella.

“A Bead for Bella”

To date, the friends of Bella have organized fundraisers and raised more than $5,000 to help Bella and her family in her fight against Leukemia.

As part of this effort, Dems Jewelers has created “A Bead for Bella.”

To purchase, visit www.demsjewelers.com or call (803) 407-5290 for more information.

www.lexingtonwomanonline.com

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Kids’ Stuff

A One-Stop Shop for Kids

by Ashley Ford

R

hythmics Performing Arts and Athletics is a one-stop shop for kids. At least that’s what director Blake Lett said about her Lexington after-school and performing arts studio, as she quickly rattled off a list of classes offered at the studio’s Old Two Notch Road location.

“We have a dance studio, and then we added an after-school program,” she said. “We added a karate program, a music program with voice and piano, an art program and a drama program. We really are a one-stop shop.”

Today, Lett’s studio serves as many as 450 students that range in ages as young as 18 months old to as old as high school seniors, a far cry from the small dance studio she opened nearly a decade ago with only 25 students.

While she says that she now spends much more time managing her business than actually teaching any classes, anyone who knows Lett knows that she has an extensive background in performing arts, which includes years of ballet, tap, jazz and character dance training.

So most people probably wouldn’t be surprised to know that she began

making plans to open her own onestop shop much earlier than only 10 years ago. In fact, Lett said she never imagined herself doing anything else.

“I remember wanting to do something like this as far back as college.

In an arts management class we had to do an art project, and my project was a place where you could come and take anything,” she said.

“It wasn’t just a dance studio, it wasn’t just a music studio — you could take several different things at one place.”

it was the one service that they had been waiting on.

“I think there was probably a larger need for something like this, probably more than I ever realized,” Lett said. “I knew that it would be something that people would really like, more like a novelty than a necessity. But people have really enjoyed the fact that they can get everything in one place.”

‘We really are a one-stop shop.’

It wasn’t until she moved to Lexington with her husband, after working at a dance studio in Sumter, that Lett began to realize that her dream of opening a one-stop shop for kids was much more than just her dream. For some local parents,

The one thing that sets her studio apart from other after-school programs and studios, she added, is the fact that Rhythmics Performing Arts and Athletics is home to a variety of performing arts classes. While Lett said that other studios may offer dance classes for kids “being taught by kids,” her goal is to give quality and value to her customers with 16 “fantastic” staff members.

“While the kids are here we make sure they go to class and get studio experience. As opposed to someone teaching dance at your daycare, you get that studio experience, as if you drove to the place,” Lett said.

With nearly 500 students taking classes and attending the afterschool program, Lett said she hopes that, ultimately, each student will walk away from this experience having gained a lifelong enjoyment and appreciation of the arts.

“They may not be a famous dancer or a professional dancer, but as they grow, they can share what they learned and their love of the arts with their children, family and friends,” she said. “That’s the one thing that I really try to convey to the kids when they come through the door, that lifelong appreciation and love of the arts.”

Rhythmics Performing Arts & Athletics Building Active, Creative Kids Is Our Passion!

Art • Break Dancing/Hip Hop • Dance • Drama Karate • Music • Parties & Special Events

803-356-3063

www.rhythmicsonline.com

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1106 Two Notch Road Lexington, SC 29073

Kids’ Stuff

COLUMBIA

Children’s Theatre

C

olumbia Children’s Theatre (CCT) was founded in 2005 to serve a need in the Midlands and surrounding areas of Columbia for professional live theater for families and young audiences.

Each of their productions features professional directors, actors, writers and designers, all focused on delivering a live theater experience for the entire family, which crosses cultural, ethnic, and generational boundaries, and gives families memories that last long after the curtain falls.

Their programming has three types of creations, as follows: Mainstage productions: Live, engaging theatrical productions featuring adult actors performing for children and their families. These are usually based on well-known works of children’s literature. The target audience is children from three years to middle school and their guardians.

YouTheatre productions: Live theatrical productions featuring student actors in grades K-12.

This program began in 2009 in response to many parents seeking performance opportunities for their children.

Theatre education: after school classes and summer camps in theater techniques geared for grades K-8. They also provide in school residencies that focus on either acting skills or producing a performance.

In addition to the three main areas of focus, CCT partners with other performing artists and nonprofit organizations to produce special events throughout the year.

November 25 – December 4

Columbia Children's Theatre Richland Mall, 2nd level 3400 Forest Drive, Forest Acres For more info or to purchase tickets: www.columbiachildrenstheatre.com (803) 691-4548

For the first four years of their existence, the theater was housed in shared arts incubator space provided by the Columbia Department of Parks and Recreation. After more than three years of steady growth, it became clear that they were outgrowing the incubator space. In an attempt to increase the standard opportunities available through CCT’s offerings, and to give a more stable impression of artistic excellence, they sought space that would be solely theirs.

In order to provide a centrally-located, safe, easily-accessible performance location with lots of parking, CCT decided to make its home at a former upscale retail store in Richland Mall in 2009. Being in a mall has many advantages to theater goers: it’s always easy to find and get into, and there are other stores and restaurants nearby for dining and shopping before and after shows.

They simply built a stage, put platforms in the back, added some stage lights and scenery, and it’s just like a theater.

What makes CCT Unique • They are the only true professional resident Children’s Theatre in the region, producing shows with adult actors geared especially for families and young audiences. Unlike other theaters in the area, 100% of CCT’s shows are produced with children or for them.

• In every production, CCT strives to live up to its motto “For the Kid In Everyone!” by putting elements in performances that tickle the funny bones of adults in the audience. Many guardians have compared watching the shows to watching a Disney-Pixar movie, or Bullwinkle cartoon; they always try to give a wink to the adults with humor that they will appreciate, without sacrificing the child-centered material.

• The physical theater is unique in that they have converted an empty storefront into an intimate “black box” style theater. With costumes and props on display throughout the space, attending a show is a truly immersive experience. A special “VIP” stage-level seating area allows children to sit on a padded floor area where they can interact with characters throughout the performance. Seating in chairs is provided for those who would rather not sit on the floor.

Plan an outing with your little ones and take in a play at the Columbia Children’s Theatre soon.

Make a memory that will also nurture a love of culture!

www.lexingtonwomanonline.com

39

Health & Wellness

Get Fit with The FIRM

by Ruth Chapman

L

adies, if you haven’t checked out The FIRM in a while, you should consider it. It’s not the typical gym where you have to worry about being hit on, working out with weight machines, not knowing if you’re lifting properly and never seeing any results. At The FIRM there are one hour classes that focus on ALL areas of the body. It is definitely a total body workout. They are mostly known for the aerobic weight training (AWT) class which is offered mornings and evenings every day of the week.

This class combines an energetic instructor with high energy, contemporary music, free weights and aerobic exercise. Class begins with a breathing and stretching warm up, followed by about 40 minutes of al-

ternating intervals of weight training and aerobics; finally moving to the floor for abdominal and floor work and ending with a final stretch.

Other popular classes are Body Shaping (BS) and FIRM Cardio (FC) which are concentrated versions of

The FIRM guarantees ‘visible results within 10 workouts or less!’ the weight training and aerobics aspects of the AWT class. In addition to these offerings are Yoga, an hour long stretching and alignment session, and Zumba, an hour of fun and dancing to burn even more calories!

The great thing about The FIRM workout is that the classes have been designed to allow the participant to reach their full potential and to continue to burn calories even after the class is over. The FIRM guarantees “visible results within 10 workouts or less!” which is a bold claim, but one they fully achieve.

The FIRM classes are generally all women of all ages, shapes, sizes, and levels and it’s a place where everyone works hard and sweats.

You don’t have to be self conscious about your size or that you are not

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wearing the latest fashion trend in workout attire. Every woman present is there because she wants to see results, get healthier, and feel good about herself. In no time you’ll find a work out buddy, someone you see at the same class each time you go.

You’ll be surprised at how many people you know, perhaps from church or your local bank, day care, your child’s teacher, etc. It’s also a great way to meet new people and share a common interest.

One of the greatest things about The FIRM is that there is always someone there to answer your questions.

If you don’t think you are performing an exercise correctly, simply approach the instructor after class for tips. Perhaps something is hurting, not the feels-so-good hurt, but the ‘ouch, that really hurts’ pain; this is the time to ask the Instructor, the office manager/FIRM Instructor, Rebekah or the owner/FIRM Instructor, Emily for advice. The FIRM offers personal attention so that you can achieve the results you are after.

The FIRM also offers Childcare services during the classes (for FREE!) Just call ahead to reserve a space for your child and feel comfortable that your kiddos are having fun while you work out!

To jump start your personal fitness program The FIRM also offers their extremely successful Boot Camps

frequently throughout the year.

The FIRM Boot Camps are the best way to kick start your weight loss program. Within the Boot Camps, you get personalized workouts, nutrition advice and meal plans, food journals, and great results! There are always morning and evening options for class and of course, childcare is always provided.

The FIRM completes their line-up with personal training services! ALL of The FIRM’s Instructors are Certified Personal Trainers and they also have 2 full time Personal Trainers on staff, ready and willing to help you achieve your personal weight loss goals, with individual and group sessions.

And if this isn’t enough, The FIRM is building a brand new studio right here in Lexington! Adjacent to Monkey Joe’s off Sunset Boulevard, The FIRM’s new facility, opening in June 2012, will have 2 large studios for classes which equals more classes and more variety for you, a Yoga studio for more Yoga all day, an expanded weight gym, 2 childcare rooms and a smoothie bar.

So, what are you waiting for? The first week is FREE! There is no excuse not to at least try them out! For a more in depth course description and class times, visit their website at www.TheFIRMstudios.com or call them at 951-FIRM (3476). They’ll be ready for your call!

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Boresha is directly donating a portion of its proceeds to the non-profit organization, Invisible Children, to help put an end to the abduction, brainwashing, torture and killing of the children of Northern Uganda. With every cup of Boresha coffee you too can help the children in northern Uganda by giving them back their childhood, their dreams, and their lives.

We have a workout for EVERYONE! • Aerobic Weight Training • Boot Camp Cardio • Total Body Circuit • FIRM Cardio • Boot Camp Cardio Express • Yoga • Body Shaping • Time Crunch • Zumba

Visit or call us today and prepare to get FIRM! Your 1st class is always FREE!

951-FIRM

5300 Sunset Boulevard, Lexington

www.TheFIRMstudios.com

© 2011 Welsh Fitness, LLC. All Rights Reserved. The FIRM is a registered trademark of Gaiam Americas, Inc.

www.lexingtonwomanonline.com

41

Health & Wellness

Antoinette’s Story

by Allison Atkins

A

ntoinette grew up in Philadelphia with her twin sister and mother. She was a shy child and kept to herself. To find comfort in social scenes, Antoinette began using alcohol and drugs in her teenage years. She said, “I soon realized that I was actually addicted to alcohol.” Antoinette first entered recovery in her early twenties, but later relapsed.

“I gave into peer pressure,” she admitted, “It was easier to just have a drink around people.” Because of her addiction, she lost her job and home and moved in with her sister and nephews.

“For a whole year, I did nothing but drink on the front porch,” she added.

Eventually, her sister asked her to leave.

Antoinette is now in recovery, has a steady job, lives in her own apartment, and volunteers at a local food bank.

Antoinette found herself unemployed, homeless, and without support. Looking for a place to go, she read online about a shelter in Columbia. She soon drove herself to South Carolina and slept in a dark parking lot alone until the shelter opened in the morning.

Realizing her severe dependence on alcohol, staff at the shelter sent Antoinette to LRADAC. While in services at LRADAC, she met staff and other clients that supported her and helped her overcome her addiction.

Antoinette is now in recovery, has a steady job,

lives in her own apartment, and volunteers at a local food bank. She said, “Through LRADAC, I’ve gotten to where I am today.”

Even though Antoinette plans to stay in Columbia, she says that her relationships with family members she left in Philadelphia have healed thanks to her recovery.

“My relationship with my sister now is awesome.”

She traveled home to Philadelphia recently to attend her nephew’s wedding. “It was good to visit with family again” she said.

When someone is suffering from addiction, their entire family is affected. Family members struggle to trust their loved one, children are put in danger, and close ties are broken. Thankfully, thousands of people in the Midlands seek help at LRADAC. Through treatment, not only do individuals recover, but entire families recover. Each day, trust is restored, relationships are rebuilt, and children are safer.

This holiday season, if a loved one is suffering from addiction, help that person begin a journey toward recovery at LRADAC.

Hope is right around the corner.

The way to access LRADAC is to call or visit one of their two locations: Richland County – 2711 Colonial Drive in downtown Columbia, call 726-9300 or Lexington County – 1068 South Lake Dr. in Red Bank, call 7269400. You can also visit their website: www.lradac.org

Offering a wide array of alcohol and other drug prevention, intervention and treatment programs at two convenient locations

Help is HERE – Recovery is Possible 42

Celebrating, Motivating and Educating

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Learn more at www.lradac.org (803) 726-9300

2711 Colonial Drive Columbia, SC

(803) 726-9400

1068 South Lake Drive Lexington, SC

Health & Wellness

Dennae Handford is Always Busy

by Ashley Ford

W Dannae Handford And while she readily acknowledges that enjoys running her husband’s businesses, Handford is quick to point out that a career in sales is certainly not a path that she ever planned to pursue. After all, when she met her husband, Dr. Daniel Handford, in a Greenville chiropractic office in the fall of 2003, she was just a college student who was studying to be a teacher.

“When we met, it wasn’t really a love at first sight thing...because we were very good friends for a while at first,” Handford said, laughing. “We knew each other for almost two years before we started dating.”

But one thing that she knew that she had in common with Daniel, Handford added, was that they were both ambitious and driven.

hen the 29-year-old mother isn’t coaching volleyball at Grace Christian School in West Columbia, she’s running the day-to-day operations of two of her husband’s businesses, Shop Anatomical and Portable Chiro. “My husband ran those businesses for a long time, but I’ve pretty much taken over now. So I stay very, very busy,” she said. “At Shop Anatomical, we sell anatomy models, charts and educational tools to colleges and doctors offices. At Portable Chiro, we sell portable chiropractic tables and massage supplies.”

In the fall of 2007, Daniel started Shop Anatomical. The following year, the two married and Daniel started the Portable Chiro business.

So when her husband showed interest in opening his own chiropractic office, Handford said she was a little hesitant to the idea.

“But I knew that’s what he wanted to do for a long time. He’s doing a great job with his practice — he did a great job with the other businesses,” she said. “I know that he has the ability, it was just a matter of having enough time.”

It didn’t take Handford long to step in and “do all of the day-to-day running” of her husband’s online businesses so that he could put all of his energy and time into his chiroprac-

tic practice, Vitality Spine Center.

When running a small business, she added, it’s best to do as much of it “in-house” as possible in order to make a profit.

And helping her husband with his businesses has afforded the couple opportunities to make trips to chiropractic conventions in Orlando, Las Vegas, Canada and California — places that Handford said they wouldn’t have been able to afford or have had the opportunity to visit to if it weren’t for the businesses.

“It’s great, but at the same time it’s definitely a 24-7 job. I’ve found that most of our friends are not quite as busy as we are,” she said. “We both have the same job, and we’re both very ambitious and motivated people so it’s very hard for us to set aside

time for a vacation when we’re not discussing business. We both really enjoy it, so we’re partners as well.”

In the future, Handford said she looks forward to adding another business to her already-full plate — a new business of her own.

“I’ve always been an educator and teacher because that’s what I really love to do. But I recently began looking into an opportunity to sell books,” she said. “That would interest me because it would be in the educational realm for children and families, and I really think that would be fun. But you know what, I would have never thought about that before I helped run these other businesses.”

www.lexingtonwomanonline.com

43

Love by&Activation Health Wellness

Volunteers Make a Difference!

Lisa Gillam began volunteering as a candy striper at age 15

by Shirley Keels

I

n November of 2006, Lisa’s mother-in-law was diagnosed with lung cancer. In December of 2006, Lisa’s sister Pam was diagnosed with lung cancer too. Her motherin-law passed away on Valentine’s Day 2008, and her sister passed away on June 30, 2008. Living through that experience Lisa has learned to number her days, to “do it today because no one is promised tomorrow”.

Lisa Knows — by Jackie Talbert — Lisa knows how to live life to the fullest in the present With a loving attitude that we find so pleasant Lisa shows us how to be a contented mother and wife By caring for her family all the days of her life Lisa knows that her sisters sometimes need a hand So she steps forward to prove she will understand Daily she studies the Bible and seeks the Light Lisa knows the Lord grants some heavenly insight Lisa knows that the sunshine we see in her eyes

Lisa Gillam Last June Lisa and her niece Samantha “Sami” went on a mission trip to Guatemala with a group from Trinity Baptist Church and Columbia World Outreach. In November, she will be traveling to Israel on a mission trip with a group of 16 other volunteers representing 7 different churches.

Each Wednesday evening from 7 to 9, you’ll find Lisa at Finlay Park helping to feed the homeless, both physically and spiritually. Volunteers from several different churches in the community provide a balanced meal each week which includes desserts, bottled water and lemonade.

This is close to Lisa’s heart as she sees the smiles on the faces of men, women and children after they have been fed.

Hannah House, A Christ Cen-

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Hannah House Fundraiser Baskets tral Ministry, is another one of Lisa’s favorite places to serve. Hannah House is a housing facility for women. It provides help for them until they become self sufficient and allows them a chance to break the destructive cycle of chronic poverty.

Some of the things she has provided, with the help of many friends, are women and children’s clothing, linens, and kitchen items. “Don’t throw anything away” says Lisa. They can use anything and everything!

A “Carolina” and a “Clemson” basket raffle was held for our employees. Each raffle ticket was 50 cents.

In just 2 weeks, almost $150.00 was raised for Hannah House.

Our community needs more volunteers as there are many people with many needs.

Thank you Lisa for making a difference in someone’s life!

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Women

While some of us stumble around in a daze Lisa knows how to lead us through a confusing maze Should ever dark days roll through and cold winds blow Lisa will rest safely in our Father’s hands This I know.

The Director of Hannah House is Suzanne Hackett. She can be reached at 803-771-4357 Suzanne@hhsc.org.

A wish list (or needs) is posted on the Hannah House website: www. hannahhousesc.org After talking with Lisa, Columbia Women’s Healthcare decided we wanted to help Hannah House too.

Chases away pesky rain clouds for brighter skies

This article was submitted by Shirley Keels of Columbia Women’s Healthcare.

Visit columbiawhc.com or call them at (803) 254-3230.

Many will be shocked to find, When the Day of Judgment nears, That there a special place in Heaven, Set aside for volunteers.

www.lexingtonwomanonline.com

45

Health & Wellness

Are You Sandwiched?

The Growing Phenomena of Caring for Your Parents as Well as Your Own Children

by Gayle Culpepper

A

few years ago Patti Mack was faced with a situation that is becoming increasingly more common: her mother went missing for 5 hours in another state. She had a health issue and became dehydrated after she locked her keys in her house while she was in the yard in June. She wandered away and ended up at a car dealership 3 miles away with no identification on her and no idea who or where she was. She was taken to a hospital and eventually her family was tracked down. Patti found out after that harrowing experience that her life was about to change for the better.

This particular group of adult children is known as the “sandwich generation,” people who care for their aging parents while supporting their own children.

BrightStar Care of Lexington is a non-medical homecare and staffing agency. In addition to offering many non-skilled services, BrightStar Care caters to adult children that are in need of respite care. In the midst of juggling one’s own children, holding a job and taking care of the home, providing the best care for an elder parent can be too much to handle at times. BrightStar Care offers a staff of highly trained PCAs, RNs and medical professionals to relieve the stress and give a loved one the compassionate care they need.

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Celebrating, Motivating and Educating

I feel a connection with all of my clients as soon as I meet them.

“Families often try to care for their loved ones by themselves. That’s admirable, but it often leads to a great deal of stress on the family caregiver as well as the relationship,” said Patti Mack, owner of BrightStar Care of Lexington. “We give the family caregiver a break by providing their loved one with the personal care and physical assistance needed for

Real

Women

Katrena Brown (right) with Bette Overholser (a resident at Deepwood Estates in Lexington on the left) an active, quality life. Even if one hour of service is needed, we can provide it.”

BrightStar Care matches up caregivers with a patient that fits well with their personality and will prove to

be a great fit. Choosing a caregiver that has the same interests and can empathize with a patient is imperative. This means learning about the patient’s hobbies, likes and dislikes and overall demeanor to really understand who will identify with them best.

“I feel a connection with all of my clients as soon as I meet them,” said Katrena Brown a PCA at BrightStar Care. “An elderly diabetic man that I care for forgets to take his medicine and I make sure to remind him to do so. He is so appreciative of that reminder and it creates a close and trusting bond.”

BrightStar Care puts forth due diligence in choosing quality staff, only hiring caregivers who have a minimum of one year hands on experience and fit in the compassionate company culture. They also perform situational interviews to gauge how well the caregiver would act in certain patient circumstances.

“There is a need for compassionate people with integrity in healthcare and my skills were thoroughly reviewed against BrightStar Care’s standards,” said Brown. “My degrees and certifications supported me in obtaining this position, but above all, my passion for helping others shined through to get me where I am. Helping a patient get dressed or even reminding them to take medication makes me feel like I’m working towards a gracious cause.”

Letting go of the responsibility of taking care of a loved one, even for a few hours, is very difficult. However, the family relationship will strengthen if the family caregiver is given the time they need to relax and care for themselves.

The health of the caregiver is just as important as the health of the patient. To that end, families can put their confidence into BrightStar Care and achieve peace of mind.

Envision...Brings Your World Into Focus!

www.EnvisionFamilyEyeCare.com

Complete Vision Care from 1 to 100 Dr. William Reynolds • Dr. Nathaniel Jensen

803.996.2020

5166 Sunset Boulevard, Suite J, Lexington, SC 29072

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Providing a new option in women’s health.

Now Dedicated to Gyn-only Services Beginning this September, P.D. Bullard Jr., MD, will exclusively offer gynecology services. He is a board-certified, experienced and compassionate physician who understands women’s health issues. This established practice also has the distinction of being a member of Lexington Medical Center’s Network of Care.

Providing comprehensive women’s services including: Annual Wellness Check-ups • Menopause Management • Cancer Screenings • Pre-conception Counseling • Family Planning Traditional Gynecologic Surgery, such as Hysterectomy NOW ACCEPTING NEW PATIENTS

Lexington Medical Park 1 2728 Sunset Boulevard • Suite 310 West Columbia, SC 29169

www.pdbullard.com • (803) 936-8080 A Lexington Medical Center Physician Practice

Phone: (803)731-7700 6169 St Andrews Rd., Columbia, SC 29212

SERVING THE LEXINGTON AND LAKE MURRAY COMMUNITIES

In Seven Oaks Shopping Center Check out our new Location!

Phone: (803)359-0909 205 Columbia Ave., Lexington, SC 29072 In Lexington Village Behind Rush’s close to Educational Wonderland

Great Mix of Music Local News • Weather • Traffic • Sports Community Radio Broadcasting from the Shoppes at Flight Deck

(803) 785-9596 or (803) 546-2203 109R Old Chapin Road • Lexington, South Carolina www.lakemurrayradio.com *At no cost beyond your health care premium. You must be a Medicare-eligible member of a participating health plan.

SilverSneakers® is a registered mark of Healthways, Inc. © 2011 Curves International, Inc.

48

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Health & Wellness

The Path to a Healthy Pregnancy

by Dr. Samantha Morton

O Dr. Samantha Morton Approximately 1 out of every 8 pregnancies will end in preterm birth, which accounts for one-third of all infant deaths in the United States and more than 26 billion dollars spent annually on long-term hospitalizations, sometimes resulting in permanent complications — every mother’s fear.

ne of the most exciting feelings is your baby’s first movement. Just a small flutter noticed around 20 weeks gives such reassurance. All expectations and hopes are manifested together in that initial feeling. Every mother wonders anxiously if their baby is okay, especially if impending delivery is premature.

Premature delivery is by definition delivery prior to 37 weeks gestation.

The severity of the complications both short- and long-term increases with decreasing gestational age. Premature babies are at increased risk of immediate breathing problems and potentially lasting disabilities including mental retardation, cerebral palsy and vision

Approximately 1 out of every 8 pregnancies will end in preterm birth. and hearing loss. Approximately 25% of preterm births are induced for medical reasons recommended for the health of both mother and baby. This means almost 75% of babies born early are secondary to other potentially avoidable conditions such as preterm labor, cervical weakening and premature rupture of the amniotic sac. This often involves problems of both the mother and the fetus, thus confounding preventative measures.

There are many chronic medical conditions that increase the likelihood that early delivery will be recommended, such as high blood pressure

and diabetes. It is very important to have these and other conditions well controlled prior to becoming pregnant. A woman may be able to reduce her risk of preterm birth by first obtaining a preconception visit with her health care provider, start a multivitamin containing 400 micrograms of folic acid every day as part of a healthy diet and obtain a healthy weight. Early evaluation and planning with your physician can help set the pregnancy off on the right footing. Frequent monitoring of both baby and mother may be required throughout pregnancy. Prenatal care is the most important way to help maintain a healthy outcome.

Although the cause of 40% of preterm births remains undetermined, understanding risk factors and avoiding known precipitating events may aid in prevention. The rate of premature birth has increased by more than 30% since 1980. This is primarily related to the increase in artificial fertility and improved neonatal services. Pregnancy with twins or triplets increases this risk dramatically. A history of a prior preterm delivery, infection in the urinary or reproductive tract or previous surgery on the cervix is also closely linked. Close monitoring and treatment during the pregnancy can decrease this risk and complications. Infection of the gums or periodontal disease will also predispose to preterm labor and potential internal infection.

Team-based approach with dental

evaluation early in pregnancy can avoid this negative impact.

Certain lifestyle factors put a woman at an increased risk of a premature delivery. Smoking, drinking alcohol or other drug use increases the risk of spontaneous preterm labor. Domestic violence and lack of social support and associated low socioeconomic status also correlate closely with this risk. Avoiding these activities and decreasing stress in your daily life definitely has a strong positive impact on the health of the pregnancy.

Recognize the symptoms of preterm labor – regular contractions where your abdomen tightens every 8-10 minutes or leakage of fluid or bleeding from your vagina.

Medications can be given to slow or stop labor if given early and corticosteroids can be given to decrease premature lung complications.

Treatment with the hormone progesterone may also be given early to help prevent another premature birth in a woman who has already had a premature baby. All mothers dream of a healthy full-term baby.

Coordinating your health care both before and during pregnancy with your provider should help identify and treat preterm complications.

Dr. Samantha Morton is an OB/Gyn at Carolina Women’s Physicians at Lexington Medical Center. For more information, visit cwp.lexmednetwork.org.

www.lexingtonwomanonline.com

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Traditional Business

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103 East Main Street |

Casual

Lexington

Business & Web Directory After School Programs Music Makers of the Midlands, LLC...........51 www.MusicAndDanceIrmo.com

Fitness Curves..............................................................48 www.curves.com

Jewelry Dems............................................4, Back Cover www.demsjewelers.com

Rhythmics Performing Arts & Athletics.....38 ww.rhythmicsonline.com w

The FIRM.........................................................41 www.thefirmstudios.com

The Chapman Company..................................3 ww.thechapmancompany.com w

Art and Entertainment Carolina 92.1 FM............................................25 www.new92.com

Furniture North Furniture..............................................28 www.northfurniture.net

Marketing Services Grant Digital Media.......................................16 www.grantdigitalmedia.com

Columbia Children’s Theatre........................39 ww.columbiachildrenstheatre.com w

Garden Design The Plant Shop at Old Mill............................18

OB/GYN Columbia Women’s Healthcare....................45 www.columbiawhc.com

Lexington 107.9 WLXM................................48 ww.lakemurrayradio.com w Assisted Living The Columbia Presbyterian Community....17 www.preshomesc.org S outhlake Village............................................14 www.southlakevillage.net Attorney Kinard & Jones................................................32 www.kinardandjones.com Coffee Boresha............................................................41 www.bfreesystem.com/drinkcoffeebeskinny.com Clothing Craig Reagin Clothiers..................................50 Mae’s on Main.................................................20 www.maesoflexington.com Palmetto Thrift Store......................................23 www.palmettothriftstore.com

Hair Salon Cost Cutters.......................................................9 www.costcutters.com Health Services BrightStar Care...............................................46 www.brightstarcare.com P.D. Bullard, Jr. M.D.......................................48 www.pdbullard.com Vital Energy Rehab Center............................28 ww.vitalenergytherapy.com w Vitality Spine Center......................................43 www.vitalityspine.com Home Decor and Gifts The Eclectic House.........................................20 www.theeclectichouse.com Home Services Bouknight Pumps...........................................23 www.bouknightpumps.biz

Pets Dog Training In Your Home.........................25 www.betterdog.com Grace Pets Animal Hospital..........................24 ww.gracepets.com w Photography Clark Berry . ......................Inside Front Cover www.clarkberry.com Restaurants 403 Café...........................................................34 www.cafe403.com Cotton Grill.......................................................5 ww.cottongrill.com w udson’s Smokehouse....................................16 H www.hudsonssmokehouse.com Mediterranean Café........................................18 ww.medcafelexsc.com w

Computer Repair Computer Paramedics.....................................7 www.computerparamedicsofsc.com

Branham’s Lawn Maintenance......................................................9

Travinia Italian Kitchen...................................6 ww.traviniaitaliankitchen.com w

Gene Love Plumbing, Air & Electrical........18 ww.genelove.com w

Education Newberry College...........................................26 www.newberry.edu

Hospital Lexington Medical Center.............................53 www.lexmed.com

Substance Abuse Treatment LRADAC.........................................................42 www.lradac.org

Eye Care Envision Eye Care...........................................47 www.envisionfamilyeyecare.com

Insurance M&P Specialty................................................20 www.mcelrathparrish.com

Weddings Four O’ Three North Lake.............................34 www.403northlake.com Weddings by Woolbright...............................23 www.weddingsbywoolbright.com

Kindermusik Creative Movement Ballet Tap Jazz Contemporary Praise Dance Private lessons in piano, voice, violin, viola, guitar, bass guitar, cello, clarinet, recorder, saxophone, trumpet, baritone, French horn, tuba, trombone, percussion and harmonica.

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10071 Broad River Road, Suite H • Irmo

Winner of Palmetto Parents' "Best Music Program for Children" www.lexingtonwomanonline.com

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A Personal Note

T

here are moments as a mom when you just know you got something right. I have had some of those moments, such as the time a stranger knocked on my door and told me that Abby helped their son to pass math. She held a gift card in her hand and wanted permission to give it to Abby for being kind to her son. (Yes, I cried…and cried.) Or like the time Trey stood before our entire church and recited the ABC’s of the Bible. Another time was when Colton knelt beside another baseball player and encouraged him to get up and keep trying, after the little boy struck out. These are all momentous occasions for me as a mom. Little bits of heaven on earth that I store in my memory to encourage myself.

Recently I experienced another of those moments. A few weeks ago, a movie called The Dolphin Tale opened at the theaters. Abby and I took the boys to check it out on opening weekend. From the moment we left the theater, Ryan began planning a trip to Clearwater Marine Aquarium to visit Winter, the dolphin.

As it turned out, I needed to travel to Tampa for business a few weeks later. I simply could not make the trip to Tampa without allowing my youngest sons to see Winter. My mother agreed to make the journey with me to Florida, so that she could be with Ryan and Colton while I was working.

We swung by Atlanta, picked Nana up, and began our trip to see Winter. If you are reading this and have traveled in a car to Florida by way of Atlanta, then you may remember that is a twelve hour trip. Ryan is four. Colton is nine. Need I say more? Overall, the boys did great. Abby and Trey stayed home with daddy to keep him company in the evenings, but more importantly, so they wouldn’t miss school on Monday. It stinks getting older, doesn’t it?

I worked hard to accomplish what I needed to get done, so mom and I could take the boys to the Clearwater Marine Aquarium. We started making our way over to the aquarium very early the next morning – and what a beautiful morning it was! Driving along the coast was picturesque, and I hadn’t even realized how close to the water we were.

Then they saw it. Colton spotted it first. He said, “Hey mom, there is the Clearwater Marine Aquarium!”

Ryan began to squeal. “It’s real! It’s real!” I looked over at my mom and smiled. They hurried to unfasten their seat belts and get out of the car. We saw the same poster that had been at the entrance of the movie.

Ryan looked up at me with those big blue eyes and smiled so sweet, “Mama, it’s real! Winter is real! I can’t believe I am really going to get to see her.” This was a moment. Those twelve hours in the car were forgotten. I had been frantically trying to complete my work so that I could get back to Lexington. Despite the fact that I had several deadlines looming over my head, all of the stress vanished at the joy that exuded from my children in that moment.

I melted. Colton was grinning ear to ear. He ran over to a trap display similar to what Winter was caught in before she had been rescued in the movie and asked a question at the presentation about Winter’s story that even the instructor didn’t know the answer. (Another of my moments.) The boys looked at Nurse Sharks and stroked stingrays. Both Ryan and Colton felt various other sea creatures, and I am not ashamed to say my hands were completely dry when we left.

Then the moment we were waiting for... Winter was going to don her prostatic tail to facilitate her physical therapy for the day. I looked around the large open area. The sun was shining. An announcer was making jokes, and my sons’ eyes were glued to Winter. She was a little dolphin who lost her tail in a fisherman’s trap and taught herself to swim in spite of her perceived handicap. Winter was special. She was courageous. She didn’t know any better.

Guess what? No one said to her, “You can’t swim and live anymore because dolphins are supposed to have tails and yours is gone.” Winter didn’t know she couldn’t swim, so she swam. I do not want to be the mother that tells her children they cannot do something they dream of. I don’t want to limit their potential or stifle their creativity. I don’t want to teach them to color elephants gray. I want them to decide what color their elephants will be, because they can.

I hope what Ryan and Colton took away from this day was that even when things are tough, they are not impossible. Even when I am different from others, I am still a loved child of God. Even if no one else has ever done it, with hard work and a little wherewithal, I can. We are so blessed, friends.

Ephesians 1:3-4 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love.

Until next time,

Lori Samples Duncan

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a blog for women by women

Real Women. Real Life.

Learn from experience at Lexington Medical Center’s Every Woman blog, a place where you can connect with ten local women who share life’s ups, downs and everything in between. Along the way, you’ll get helpful health and wellness tips from Lexington Medical Center guest bloggers.

Visit www.everywomanblog.com to read, comment and share your tips, too!

www.lexingtonwomanonline.com LMC EWBlog_8x10.5.indd 1

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Fine Jewelers 1068 Lake Murray Blvd Irmo SC 29063 803.407.5290 | www.demsjewelers.com 54

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