Midtown Magazine

?

what’s

THE MATTER

withKIDS today

Illnesses. Perfectionism. Anxiety. depression.

Arm yourself against some of the many issues affecting kids today.

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WHICH WAY TO THE WATER

m ay / j u n e

2 0 1 3

The best water destinations outside of Midtown.

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ON THE[SCENE] >>>arts

by Christa Gala

chris smith A twist of irony plays out on canvas For years, local artist Chris Smith has worked in a Raleigh restaurant to pay the bills, a self-described starving artist. In a neat twist of irony, another restaurant is helping him sell his paintings, keeping him in the work he loves.

“They’re really moving; lately I can’t keep up,” says Smith, who started displaying his work at Flying Burrito in Raleigh a few months ago.

“He’d done two murals for my bathroom doors, and I mentioned I’d like to hang local artwork on the walls,” says Flying Burrito owner Jim Duignan. “His art is very creative and very interesting.

He brought in a couple of pieces, and I was just blown away by how nice they were and how good they were. We put them up, and I think he’s already sold five or six pieces in just three months.”

So Smith has been busy adding to his inventory, painting when he’s not waiting tables at Manchester’s Bar and Grill, also in Raleigh. “It’s not a bad problem to have,” Smith laughs. “I really hope the momentum keeps up.”

Smith is a graduate of Millbrook High School, where he took advanced placement art classes and even earned class credit by having his work published in The Princeton Review. But his journey started long before that.

“I started drawing in the second grade,” Smith says. “I was drawing monsters and I would sell them for ten cents off the corner of my desk.”

For years he did pen-and-ink drawings as well as large-scale murals in clients’ homes—from Beatrix Potter 28 | midtownmag.com

(Top) Chris Smith’s 3-D painting of a window that also looks like a door. (Below) Smith started his art career painting cartoons and murals. See more of Chris’ art at facebook.com/ArtbyChrisSmith.

to college mascots. and everything inbetween. Then, another man’s trash got Smith working in a new direction.

“There was an art student who lived above me,” says Smith. “He moved out and left this giant canvas sitting by the dumpster, and I just couldn’t let it go to waste.” Smith hit another jackpot about a year later when a friend of a friend gave him a stack of canvases that had been sitting in storage.

He’s been painting on canvas ever since. Color inspires him, and he relishes experimentation. “I like playing with colors and textures,” he says. “Sometimes it can be a mood that I’m in; other times it’s just an idea. I’m constantly looking around and observing things, because you see some of the coolest stuff in some of the most average things.”

Turns out, promoting local artwork is good for Duignan’s business. “Customers have really responded,” he says. “The art all hangs on one wall so you can see the continuity of his work. It gives an interesting feel to that space.

“Personally, I like the colors he uses, and he does things with depth that I find fascinating that I haven’t seen a lot of people do,” continues Duignan. “He’s got one piece that looks like a window but it also looks like a door. It’s almost three-dimensional. It looks like it was put together piece by piece.”

Interpretations like that thrill Smith. “I might make something a little bit askew just because I want to hear people talk about it,” he says. “If you’re willing to experiment, you can come up with the best piece.”

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bain’s beat

Devil’s in the Outfield... (...and Everywhere Else There’s a Ball in Play)

M

atthew has joined Little League, and in my mind, I’m already spending the millions he’ll earn playing first base in the Majors one day. But every great career has humble beginnings; his was the “Fundamentals of Baseball” course he took last fall. It took place inside a community center, and before we even walked through the front doors the first day, I realized “That Kid” was in his class. You know the kid I’m talking about; there’s one on every team.

That Kid struts onto the field of play, even if the coach tells him to run. That Kid knows more than the coach, see. In fact, That Kid knows more than everybody else there, combined – both in playing theory and in player stats.

That Kid doesn’t really belong in a course that has “for beginners” in the title, and if you don’t believe me, then That Kid will tell you. Because honestly, That Kid 70 | midtownmag.com

won’t let anyone else get a word in edgewise, including the coach.

That Kid turns warm-ups into a competition. That Kid takes it upon himself to demonstrate every technique the coach describes – sometimes before the coach describes it. That Kid runs in front of every ball, no matter where it is or to which other kid it might be heading.

You see, That Kid can’t afford to have confidence in his teammates, so That Kid graciously volunteers to cover for them and save them the embarrassment of messing up. Besides, embarrassing his teammates is solely That Kid’s responsibility.

And on the first morning, as we crossed the parking lot, we saw That Kid holding court for his parents as they sat in the lobby. He was standing in front of them, glove in one hand, imaginary ball in the other, striking various grim-faced

poses and miming various baseball moves.

That Kid would make a great statue atop a trophy; he’s undoubtedly practiced his poses by imitating the thousands of trophy toppers that must adorn That Kid’s dresser, bookshelves, and trophy case (because That Dad has undoubtedly built him one).

But apparently, That Kid had been doing more than posing; I believe he might have been complaining. About his teammates. Before he met them.

Because obviously, That Kid is able to deduce every kid’s abilities simply by laying eyes on him – and I believe he had done so with Matthew as we approached the door, because once we were inside, Those Parents watched Matthew with keen eyes and mean smile as he tentatively approached their bench.

The class was for kids ages six through nine, and at seven, Matthew was in the

Unsung Heros

BY CHRIST A GALA

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Chickens for Charity Ninth Annual “Tour D’Coop” to Raise Thousands for Urban Ministries By dan bain

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hey bill it as a “parade of combs”, and this May 18th event might just be the most unique homes tour you’ve ever experienced – because these homes are for the birds. Specifically, chickens.

The “Henside the Beltline” Tour D’Coop started in 2005 as a shared event between a few chicken-raising neighbors, wanting to show off their hens and coops. Since then, it’s grown into a day-long event wherein thousands of visitors pay to see about two dozen urban chicken coops, their surrounding gardens, and of course, their colorful and amusing gallinaceous residents.

The coops are organized into several neighborhood groups on a circuit across Wake County, and visitors flock to the event to see the whimsical and/or artistic themes under which they were designed and built. There are plenty of surprises to discover on the tour, including bee hives, frog ponds, vegetable/fruit gardens, fascinating inventions and architectural elements, a multitude of chicken breeds, and a spectrum of egg colors. It’s a popular tour among adults and children alike, and the cause it supports is anything but fowl.

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Proceeds go to Urban Ministries of Wake County, a private, non-profit human service organization that provides healthcare, food, employment assistance and shelter to more than 24,000 people per year. More than 82,000 people live in poverty in Wake County, and Urban Ministries does what it can to help as many of them as possible.

Last year, the Ministries’ Open Door Clinic had more than 9,000 visits, providing medical and pharmacy services to uninsured, low-income patients during all of them. Its Food Pantry distributed 240 tons of food – more than 400,000 meals – to 8,290 families in need. The Crisis

The world’s best players will be tackling historic Pinehurst No. 2 under more “rugged” conditions this time around.

h i s t o r y f a s t

a p p r o a c h i n g Pinehurst Resort Closing In On Celebrated Golfing Doubleheader

By Dave Droschak

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© Pinehurst Resort

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he famous Donald Ross No. 2 layout produced its fair share of drama inside the ropes the first time around, including the inspiration for the “One Moment in Time” bronze statue of Payne Stewart, while attendance records were shattered during the last U.S. Open here.

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So what does the United States Golf Association plan for an encore in hosting a third men’s championship at Pinehurst Resort in the span of 15 years?

Well plenty, as the eyes and feet of the golfing world will once again descend on the Sandhills in 12 months.

The U.S. Women’s Open will be tacked on to a second week of glorious golf for the first time ever at the same venue, which officials say may swell the fan count to more than 400,000; the world-renowned golf course has a totally different look and feel following a restoration

by Hall of Famer Ben Crenshaw and Bill Coore; and the 18th green will have a new backdrop as the resort clubhouse is in the process of a makeover.

Add in Tiger’s relevance again and golfing fans across North Carolina will soon be swinging into ticket-buying mode.

“Certainly Tiger is the barometer for the perception of golf, and when he’s playing well it’s great for the game,” said Reg Jones of the USGA.

For those closely working on the 2014 Opens, the eternal clock has already started ticking. In fact, close to a dozen USGA officials are already on site working under the direction of Jones, the former Pinehurst Resort executive who now

Golf fans swarm their favorites for autographs at the past two Us Opens.

oversees the national championships for golf ’s governing body.

“Our tickets for USGA members and Pinehurst Resort members have been on sale since March 1st.

That’s when the lights start going off in my head saying, ‘Wow, we’re really this close to it,”’ Jones said. “And then once we start really launching into the full-scale ticket campaign the week of this year’s U.S. Open – then it’s real.”

“The Opens do come up in conversation every day now, where six months ago we might talk about it once a month,” added Bob Farren, director of grounds and golf course management at Pinehurst Resort.

“After this year’s Open in June it will be all-consuming, it will be hourly.”

It almost seems silly now to think back to the years leading up to the 1999 U.S. Open, when questions were raised about whether the Village of Pinehurst could logistically pull off such an event or if the USGA was making a mistake by bringing the championship to the scorching South in the middle of June.

The initial experience was such a hit that the USGA returned in only six years, to record crowds of 325,000 golf fanatics, and then midtownmag.com| 87

© Bob Donnan Photography

© Bob Donnan Photography

Tiger Woods had second and third place finishes at the last two U.S. Opens on No. 2.

Vijay Singh tees off on the first hole.

awarded Pinehurst the historic doubleheader for 2014.

When asked if there was any added pressure this time around, Jones immediately sounded confident.

“I guess success breeds success,” he said. “For a lot of our guys this is sort of a home game. Pinehurst has always proven, certainly outside the ropes, as being one of our absolute best venues to host a championship. And certainly inside the ropes we’re expecting great things as well. We go to some challenging sites, but Pinehurst is one of those places we know we can depend on to have a great championship.”

“We look at it as experience,” Farren added about hosting four Opens in a span of just 15 years. “We understand the scope of things. Having the restored aspect of the golf course as a challenge for the golfers kind of re-sets the bar for us 88 | midtownmag.com

a little bit. The bar is high and we’re planning on it being even higher.”

Pinehurst No. 2 is one of the USGA’s largest Open sites, with the ability to sell between 42,500 and 45,000 tickets per round. By comparison, the 2013 Open at Merion Golf Club can accommodate just 25,000 fans per day. Three U.S. Women’s Opens at nearby Pine Needles Resort also drew over 100,000 fans each year, meaning some record-etting numbers could be on the horizon.

“If there is one place we can do this doubleheader it is Pinehurst,” Jones said. “This wasn’t a decision based on economics or logistics; it was truly to give us an opportunity to be able to crown our two national champions on the same golf course within a week of each other under the same conditions. It’s about making history and there is no other better place to do that than right here in Pinehurst.”

Jones and his team continue to focus on amassing an army of volunteers to cover for two weeks of championship golf. As of mid April, 6,300 volunteers have been secured and Jones expects a waiting list within a few months, with 70 percent signed up to work both weeks.

“Trying to manage that operation for two weeks

is certainly a new challenge,” he said. “That was one of the big question marks we had, ‘Can we make this scenario work? Would we get the volunteer support?’ We’ve felt comfortable over the years with the level of volunteer support we’ve received in Pinehurst, and this certainly validates that.”

Fans should be on the lookout for some PGA Tour players making the trip to Pinehurst before or after the Wells Fargo or Wyndham tournaments (held in Charlotte and Greensboro) to test out the new look of No. 2.

“What Ben and Bill have done is really change the esthetics of the course,” Jones said.

“The visual stimulation you get from playing it is so different, yet you are hitting the same shots.

Weather is going to play a part in this area. It will be a lot of fun to watch – a hard, fast Pinehurst.”

“I’m sure there will be a difference and a divergent set of opinions,” Crenshaw said of his No. 2 renovation work. “Some people will like it a lot and others may not understand it. Both Opens midtownmag.com| 89

© pinehurst resort

More than 320,000 fans flocked to the 2005 Us Open in pinehurst, setting all-time attendance records.

are vital and will be exciting for the area, but we wanted to do something that was good for the resort in the long term.”

Farren said his crew is now focusing on growing the greens and perfecting the texture of the putting surfaces.

“We’re excited about the golf course since we don’t have to grow rough,” he said of the 1940s throwback look of rugged sandy areas accompanied by wire grass and expansive fairways.

Some in golfing circles believe No. 2 is now easier. Well, the best golfers in the world shouldn’t begin sharpening their pencils just yet.

“The USGA has a way of bringing par into play, and course No. 2 still allows them to do that,” Farren said. “There just aren’t many golf courses that have jubala_mj.pdf that capability.” 1 3/25/13 2:40 PM

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Talk of the Open’s potential impact has already begun in the quaint Village of Pinehurst, where Tom Stewart owns a successful golf memorabilia store.

“Back in 1999 was the first really big exposure of everybody to Pinehurst, and it was kind of at the peak of golf and real estate, and it was a home run for everybody,” Stewart said. “In ’05 it was also big, so it will be interesting with some of the downturn in the economy to see how it affects things.

“There are a lot of people worried about the women playing after the men, but I disagree. It is going to be so much bigger for the women because a lot of people will stay over to watch them who might not have been here. It is a big deal to all of us to have the Opens here. We’re better at it, it functions very well the way the resort and the USGA run things; it’s like clockwork,” added Stewart.

Triangle Spokes & the Tour de Fat

How does the idea of one big bike parade, complete with costumed riders, followed by a festival with entertainment, music and beer sound? If the answer is great, then consider checking out the third annual Tour de Fat, sponsored by New Belgium Brewery, as it passes through Durham on Saturday, June 15th.

This stop is part of a 15-city tour, and proceeds from the day’s event are split between three nonprofits, all interested in promoting alternative forms of transportation, with one of them being Triangle Spokes Group. “It’s sort of like a moving costume party,” says Randy Dykes, a volunteer turned board member with Triangle Spokes. “Being a cyclist, Triangle Spokes’s mission resonated with me. I can still remember getting my first bike for Christmas – what better gift?”

Now, Dykes is spearheading the Bike Parade, which takes cyclists on an escorted tour of Durham’s American Tobacco Campus. He’s hoping to top last year’s number of 750 participants, and he’s also hoping to find volunteers interested in helping with the event. Ideally, they would be moved enough by the cause, just as he was years ago, and want to continue to help the group all year long. “This is a true team effort, ” says Dykes. “We know that people have different spheres of influence, and they may have some synergy with what Triangle Spikes is trying to do.”

For more information, please visit: trianglespokesgroup. org/tour_de_fat.

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providing the perfect venue to distribute the brand new bicycles. And perhaps most important, Nowalk and Wilson were able to count on two volunteers who assembled the bikes for the Charlotte Spokes chapter; two men who were willing to come to Raleigh and assemble all of the bikes, no matter how long it took. “That first year, we were able to donate 200 new bikes,” says Nowalk.

This past Christmas, Triangle Spokes donated 500 new bikes, and to date, it has donated over 2,000. But to achieve its goal of helping even more children – the Salvation Army had 3,900 families come to it for help during the holiday season- Nowalk and Wilson already have Christmas on the brain, even though it’s the beginning of May.

Christmas Thoughts All Year

While it may be hard for most of us to think about any trees other than flowering dogwoods and crape myrtles this time of year, Wilson and Nowalk know that in order for Triangle Spokes to accomplish its goal of raising funds to donate new bikes to kids at Christmas, the fast-approaching summer months are critical. It’s when the non-profit determines how many bicycles it is able purchase.

To get the bikes in and assembled by the time the Toy Shop opens, Wilson and Nowalk have to place the order, along with putting down a 50 percent deposit, with Huffy in August. Based on a combination of past fundraising efforts, the two do their best to estimate the number of bikes they can cover. But that estimation comes with an element of risk.

midtowndowntown

Raleigh’s Memorial Day Wreath Laying ceremony, which drew about 600 participants last year, was started in 1995 by the Marine Corps League’s Tar Heel Detachment.

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Local group organizes Memorial Day Wreath Laying

By Kate Turgeon

Patriotic music is an integral part of the event. This year’s Wreath Laying ceremony begins at 11am on Memorial Day at the State Capitol downtown.

F

uquay-Varina’s Harry Schweitzer watches war films through the eyes of a veteran.

“To this day, I watch some of these old war movies … where these Army Rangers scale these cliffs while people fire from the top of the cliffs. That sounds like a movie. And it is a movie. But it’s also true,” says Schweitzer, who served in the U.S. Marine Corps The Memorial Day Wreath Laying during the Vietnam War. Ceremony takes place on the State Today Schweitzer, a member Capitol grounds in front of the North of the Marine Corp League’s Tar Carolina Veterans’ Monument.

Heel Detachment, has a mission that focuses on honoring war’s true heroes. And come Memorial North Carolina Veteran’s Day he will honor those in the Monument honors the veterans U.S. Armed Forces who died servof the state who served in World ing their country.

Wars I and II and the Korean War. Each year the Tar Heel DeThe base features scenes and lists tachment, a local group of active duty, reserve and former Marines, major battles from each of the organizes a Memorial Day Wreath wars. Atop a granite shaft stands Laying in downtown Raleigh on Lady Liberty holding a palm frond the grounds of the State Capitol. to symbolize peace and victory. The They started the event in 1995 as flags of each of the armed services a family-friendly occasion where fly at the rear of the monument. people could honor US military men and women killed in action.

Source: North Carolina Historic Sites, a division of the From the red, white and blue North Carolina Department of Cultural Resources Office of Archives & History.

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Memorial Day Timeline Late 1860s: Americans hold springtime tributes to fallen soldiers following the Civil War, which claimed more lives than any conflict in US history. People sing, pray and decorate the graves of those who died in battle.

May 5, 1866: Waterloo, NY hosts a community-wide event.

Businesses close and residents decorate the graves of soldiers with flowers and flags.

May 30, 1868: First official observance of what’s called “Decoration Day.” Five thousand participants

decorate the graves of 20,000 Union and Confederate soldiers at Arlington National Cemetery.

For nearly 100 years, Decoration Day is celebrated on May 30th.

1966: Federal government declares Waterloo the official birthplace of Memorial Day. 1968: Congress passes the Uniform Monday Holiday Act, establishing Memorial Day as the last Monday in May. 1971: Memorial Day becomes a federal holiday.

Source: History Chanel

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wreath prepared by Forest Hills Florist in Garner to the patriotic songs performed by Cary’s St. Francis Brass Quintet, the event has a local feel. The Young Marines, a group for children ages eight to 18, volunteer their time at the event as well.

Music, including selections from a bagpiper, marks the first 30 minutes of the ceremony. The second half includes a wreath laying, comments from the detachment’s commandant and a brief speech by an invited guest, who is often a seniorranking member of the military.

“The speech is never geared to the Marine Corps,” explains Schweitzer. “It’s strictly about veterans, veterans who have given their lives. It doesn’t matter if you’re Marine, Navy, Air Force or Army.”

While he says the saying “freedom isn’t free” has become somewhat cliché, that doesn’t mean it isn’t true. And his hope is that those who attend will remember the ultimate sacrifice made by others.

For those planning to attend the event, Schweitzer has some advice: bring a lawn chair, sunscreen and look for a spot under a shady tree. “Just bring the family and come out and enjoy yourself,” he says.

midtowndowntown

Fun Done

Downtown by christa gala

D

owntown Raleigh offers some of the best museum experiences, no doubt about it, but sometimes it’s possible to get a little “museum-ed” out.

You know what we’re talking about. But that’s no reason to ditch downtown. Check out these places Midtown found to keep you busy in our capital city’s edgy urban landscape.

Free Governor’s Mansion garden tours Head on a guided tour of five acres of flower and vegetable gardens surrounding the Executive Mansion, an historic Victorian home built in 1891 that’s housed 29 North Carolina governors and their families. Through June 6th, garden

tours are available Wednesdays and Thursdays at 9:30 and 10:30am Wednesday tours are designed for children, while Thursday tours are geared toward adults. Free house tours are also available through June 27th at 10 and 10:30am and 2, 2:30 and 3pm Garden tours last approximately an hour and house tours are 30 minutes. Parties of ten or more should book two weeks in advance by calling the Capitol Area Visitors Center at 919.807.7950 or completing an online reservation form at www.ncmuseumofhistory.org/vs/index.

Smaller groups can join scheduled tours with less notice if space is available. The Executive Mansion is located at 201 N. Blount Street in downtown Raleigh.

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Southern charm and history Close to the Governor’s Mansion, Historic Oakwood is a great area to self-tour, featuring one of the largest collections of Victorian homes in the country, and its cemetery is one of Raleigh’s best-kept secrets. Founded in 1869, it features a Confederate Cemetery with 1,500 confederate soldiers and a House of Memory erected in 1935 to honor them. Enjoy stately architecture, statuaries and lush grounds. Located at 701 Oakwood Avenue; open daily from 8am to 6pm. Visit www.historicoakwoodcemetery. com for more information.

Dolly the Trolley If you need to take a load off your feet and rest in the air-conditioning (after all, the summer heat is notoriously oppressive in NC), head to Mordecai Historic Park to catch Dolly the Trolley, departing at 11, 12, 1 and 2pm You’ll see Mordecai Park (birthplace of Andrew Johnson), Bicentennial midtown park_mj.pdf

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Plaza, Joel Lane House, Fayetteville Street and Raleigh’s City Market. Best yet, de-board to check out the different areas and re-board at no extra cost. Tours last about an hour and cost $10 for adults and $4 for kids; 6 and under are free.

Located at 1 Mimosa Street. Call 919.857.4364 for more information or visit www.raleighnc.gov/mordecai.

City Market Stroll historic cobblestone streets lit by vintage lanterns and take in Raleigh’s City Market, full of shops, restaurants, pubs, street fairs and a farmer’s market. Nearby is Moore Square, providing the perfect lunch spot for a hot dog under a towering oak. City Market features First Fridays April through October from 7 to 10pm spotlighting local bands in front of Big Ed’s (a great spot for Southern cuisine) as well as talented artists from Artspace and other venues. Located at 127 W. Hargett Street; visit www.citymarketraleigh.com for more information. trinity baptist_mj.pdf

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JOINING HANDS WITH GOD

Shredding Day May 18, at 9am-4pm

by Cintas Document Management

In the TBC parking lot. Cross-cut 1/4" diameter or less with on-board camera security to watch items get shredded. No cost. 5 boxes per family, no businesses please. Bring 1 food item to NRM (Peanut butter, Jelly, Spaghetti Sauce or a canned fruit). Staples, rubber bands, folders, paper clips, etc. do not need to be removed before shredding

SAVE THE DATE 7th Annual North Hills 5k

September 7th, 2013

4815 SIX FORKS ROAD ~ RALEIGH ~ 919.787.3740 ~ WWW.TBCRALEIGH.COM 114 | midtownmag.com

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(left to right) The Governor’s Mansion, Dolly the Trolley, City Market and The Curatory at the Raleigh Denim Workshop.

How it’s Made See for yourself how two popular products are made right here in Raleigh.

Raleigh Denim Sold all over the world and recently featured in Vanity Fair, these highend jeans are handmade right here in Raleigh using local materials and artisanal methods. Visit The Curatory at the Raleigh Denim workshop at 319 W. Martin Street Tuesday through Friday from 12-6pm to see for yourself how each pair is made – designed, cut and sewn all under one roof. Visit www.raleighworkshop.com

Krispy Kreme If you’re not familiar with the “Hot Krispy Kreme Now” sign, you should be; it’s legendary. Although Krispy Kremes are sold internationally, one of the oldest stores is located at 549 Person Street in downtown Raleigh. Don a paper Krispy Kreme hat and watch these sugary delights make their way down the conveyor belt where they’re slathered with glaze and boxed up; buy a box – or two – to go. Bet you won’t make it out of the parking lot before the first one is gone. “Hot Light Hours” are from 6 to 11am and from 6pm to closing. For more information visit www.krispykreme.com.

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the stuff of

LEGEN Duke Raleigh’s Chief Medical Officer Emeritus P.G. Fox, Jr. earns (another)

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healthy you

P

atients who come to me for birth control always ask about possible side effects. And it’s a smart question.

The side effect most women are concerned about is weight gain. My short answer, although it comes with caveats, is that weight gain is not a side effect of taking the pill. That belief comes from an old myth, and it’s high time we debunk it.

In fact, the only birth control method that has been shown to result in weight gain is the Depo Provera injection (a contraceptive that’s effective for three months), and even that may lead to an annual gain of only two to three pounds.

Birth control pills have many positive side effects associated with them. They: • • • • •

weighing your

BirthControl

Lighten and shorten your cycle Help control acne Relieve premenstrual symptoms Control growth of facial hair Decrease the risk for uterine cancer (by about 40 percent) and ovarian cancer (by about 50 percent)

There are some risks worth considering, though. Women on the pill are at slightly higher risk of getting blood clots, which can be life-threatening. This risk is increased in women older than 35 who smoke. Some women on the pill will have irregular (or no) bleeding, headaches, breast tenderness or nausea. The risks associated with the pill are lower than the risks of pregnancy.

Birth control patches and the NuvaRing work the same way as pills. The patch is placed once a week for three weeks, and during the fourth week, it is removed. Women on NuvaRing insert it vaginally, leave it in for three weeks and then remove it for a week.

I always ask a patient considering the pill if she thinks she can remember to take it each day. It’s a vital consideration. If you’d rather not be bothered to remember to take a pill, there are other contraceptive methods that may be a better fit.

IUDs (intrauterine devices) got a bad rap in the 1970s, but have seen a recent resurgence in popularity, and with good reason. They have the highest success rate of any reversible contraception. (Their failure rate is less than one percent.) Besides being extremely effective, they’re also safe

options and side effects

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financial focus

First Things First Before You Decide to Purchase a Home – Do The Most Important Part First!

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eciding to buy your first home, or deciding to move “up” to the home of your dreams, is an exciting and often unsettling financial decision.

What is my credit score? Have I saved enough money for a down payment? Will I be able to afford a mortgage?

How do I know if I am getting the best deal? Sometimes, it is best to review your financial situation before deciding which home to purchase.

These questions, and the answers to them, often keep even those in good financial standing awake at night. The key, as is the case with any financial decision, is to find a trusted professional that specializes in what you are trying to accomplish. Residential mortgages can be complicated, depending on your individual situation. A mortgage banker or broker should work with you to evaluate you and your family’s needs – if they do not ask questions about your life and your goals and how this home purchase fits into those plans, then continue the search until you find someone who does.

One of the best ways to find a reliable mortgage representative is by asking family members, friends and co-workers whom you already trust. Is there someone that they would personally recommend? Mortgage professionals succeed or fail on the recommendations of others – they will not disappoint or they won’t be in this business for very long.

You should also check to see if the loan originator and company you are considering working with are indeed registered with the recently established National Mortgage Licensing System (NMLS). Visit nmlsconsumeraccess.org and enter the originator’s name and city. Simply check the box to agree with the registry’s terms and enter the security code given and you will be able to see if your originator is properly registered. The originator and the company they work for are legally required to be registered with NMLS or they may not originate residential mortgages. Period.

Once you have chosen a mortgage professional, the next step is to review your credit score, income, assets and liabilities to determine the type(s) of mortgages that you qualify for and just how much house you can comfortably afford. Providing copies of things like your pay stubs, W-2s (or tax returns if self-employed), bank statements, etc. will allow your originator to establish an amount that you can spend on a new home each month. This process is called pre-qualification and is coveted by Realtors® as proof that you are serious in your new home search. It is also a sign to sellers that your finances are already in order and there won’t be unnecessary, stressful waiting time to find out if you even qualify for a mortgage to buy their home.

So, even though it may not seem like the most logical route at first, working with a registered mortgage professional before you start the house hunting process often turns out to be the most productive route saving you time and stress on one of the largest and most important financial decisions you’ll ever make.

by MICAH RICKARD, VP BRANCH MANAGER, Cole Taylor Mortgage

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