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OCTOBER 2010
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OCTOBER 2010
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all about
editor Sherrie Norris sherrie@aawmag.com 828-264-3612 ext. 251
MARKETING CONSULTANTs Aimee Hicks, Crystal Owens, Mark Mitchell, Laura Henley and Rex Goss
PRODUCTION / LAYOUT ARTIST Robert Moore
Graphic DesignerS Robert Moore, Jennifer Canosa, Robert Hampton, Meleah Petty
Contributing writers Corrinne Loucks Assad, Genevieve Austin, June W. Bare, Maggie Bishop, Sherry Boone, Heather Young Brandon, Sharon Carlton, Bonnie Church, Danica Goodman, Heather W. Jordan, Kelly Penick, Sue Spirit, Teri Wiggans and Vicki Randolph
Copy editing Sandy Shook
For advertising CALL
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Pumpkin Face Put Yours on for October
by Rob Moore www.mtnsnapshots.com 4
OCTOBER 2010
Cover and Feature Photos: Robert Moore Any reproduction of news articles, photographs, or advertising artwork is strictly prohibited without permission from management. ŠCopyright 2010 A Mountain Times Publication
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Preserving Her Mountain Heritage
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Features
Justice for All...................................pg 22 Bloom Where Planted..................pg 23 All About Authors.........................pg 42 The Pet Page..................................pg 40 Mom’s World..................................pg 47 Young @ Heart..............................pg 48 www.aawmag.com
Breast Cancer Turned Life Around
Features
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High Country Courtesies............pg 16 The Wedding Dress......................pg 18 You Go Girl....................................pg 24 All About Men: Ronnie Marsh..... pg 34 Refinancing Your Home................pg 36 Fitness Bootcamp..........................pg 50
The Art of Oil for Every Palette
page
Columns
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Barbara Doughton Meredith Whitfield page
“Earns” The Triple Crown
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Curly Perzel
Sections
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News Bits........................................... pg 8 Travel & Leisure..............................pg 43 Motherhood & Parenting.............pg 44 Beauty & Style.................................pg 49 Health & Fitness............................ pg 50 Food & Drink................................. pg 54 OCTOBER 2010
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Editor’s Note
Change is inevitable. If you don’t like something change it; if you can’t change it, change the way you think about it. ~Mary Engelbreit
Visit aawmag.com to find links and resources for all stories mentioned in this issue.
As the leaves begin their annual transformation, we are quickly reminded that change is inevitable. It’s a continual process that started way before we left the womb and entered the world. As women, “change” is always a part of our lives, whether we’re “going through it,” or just talking about it. We might decide to “change” our hairstyle; perhaps we need a “change” of scenery – if only for a long weekend. We might talk about needing a “change” of pace, a “change” in career, a “change” in the way we look at life, in general. Within the pages of this magazine in the last two-plus years, we have seen a lot of change – with each one, I hope, leading us to greater heights. We’ve seen a few staff members come and go; new bylines have appeared seemingly out of nowhere and others have vanished just as quickly and quietly. In the September issue of All About Women, perhaps you noticed yet another change. Responding to popular demand, we returned to a monthly print schedule. In doing so, we gave careful consideration to continuing to produce a high quality magazine in an economically, as well as an environmentally, friendly manner. Fortunately, we discovered a new publishing company that is all about protecting our natural resources through its Chain of Custody Certification, or COC. A company spokesperson explains, “The COC is the process by which certified forest products are verified to come from properly managed, sustainable sources. In becoming COC certified, we had to meet the minimum requirements in product traceability, storage and handling, etc., and meet three leading standards, which promote sustainable forestry management. Obtaining these standards assures you, the consumer, that your product has been produced with wood or fiber sourced from a properly managed forest.” Thus, as you feel and see the difference in the texture of paper we’re printed upon, be assured that we’re doing our part to protect and conserve nature. If we don’t all change our way of thinking, how will our future generations enjoy the benefits that we take for granted? As we move through this latest “change,” we thank you for standing by us and believing in us. We constantly receive compliments about the magazine – for which we are extremely grateful – but it’s very important to us that you let out advertisers know that you enjoy it and appreciate their support. We literally could not do it without them. That’s something that will never change. For A Better Tomorrow,
Sherrie Norris, Editor sherrie@aawmag.com 6 OCTOBER 2010
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Readers’
Thank You Dear Sherrie: I am elated to see that All About Women will again be a monthly publication. I look forward to every issue. I have been reading All About Women since its inception and there have been some spectacular issues. However, I have to say that the September magazine had a overpowering feeling of sensitivity. Not only were the women featured outstanding representatives of what women can accomplish, there was an empathy in the articles that ran like a thread through the whole magazine. I suspect that what we are seeing is Sherrie’s respect for people and tremendous optimistic outlook on life. Sherrie, your letter from the editor was so timely for all of us who fill our calendars with much more than we could ever accomplish. Thank you for helping me and many other women in our community make choices that will fulfill our purpose in life. Leslie Shavell
To send a letter contact: Sherrie Norris, Editor sherrie@aawmag.com
www.aawmag.com
Voice AAW, About So Many Things Dear Sherrie: I live in Ashe County and pick up All About Women up here and it is the most interesting magazine. I love the articles because they are about so many things. My sister and I go to Boone a lot. A few months ago, probably the May/June issue, or the one before that, there was an article in there about a lady who had a business, and I don’t remember what it was called, about fitting women who have had mastectomies with a bra. The following month, my sister was diagnosed with breast cancer. She has had a lumpectomy and now needs to have a
mastectomy as soon as it can be scheduled. Could you e-mail me the name of the lady or her business and phone number that we could give her a call after my sister has had her surgery and is on the road to recovery? Thank you very much for your help. We love your magazine and look forward to you each month, glad you are back to printing it each month. (Editor’s note: We were pleased to share the requested information with the writer of this letter, but have chosen to withhold her name to protect the privacy of her sister and family as they deal with this very personal issue.)
Let us know what you think. After all, this magazine is
All About YOU!
OCTOBER 2010
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&Clips
News Bits
Established in 1957 as an auxiliary women’s organization to the Boone Jaycees, the Boone Service League has grown to be one of the High Country’s largest women’s service groups. Today, the organization boasts a membership of 60 and actively seeks new members who are interested in providing much-needed service to the community, while meeting new friends. The purpose of the Boone Service League is to provide individual development and leadership experience for women and to promote community service. Membership is open to all women 21
years of age or older living in the High Country area, which includes Watauga, Avery and Ashe counties. Throughout the year, the Boone Service League serves the High Country through a number of events and services, including The Fashion Show and Silent Auction, which are among the league’s largest fundraisers. The league is largely responsible for the thousands of dollars given through grants to local nonprofit organizations. Throughout the year, league members are busy in various community programs meeting a
multitude of needs. Last year, the Boone Service League awarded $7,000 to local nonprofit organizations, including OASIS (Opposing Abuse with Service, Information and Shelter) Inc., the Children’s Council, Hospitality House, WeCan, Sugar Grove Developmental Day Care, Adult Services Coalition of Watauga County, Hope Pregnancy Center and the Blowing Rock Police Department. Visit www.booneserviceleague.org for more information.
High Country Mommies Free Community Network As part of The Mommies Network, HighCountr yMommies.com is a free community for moms in Ashe, Avery and Watauga counties. “We realize that all moms need local support -- and who can’t use another friend?” a spokeswoman asked.
HighCountryMommies.com offers a simple way to connect with local moms for friendship, support and fun. Members meet on private discussion forums to share information on everything from where to get the best haircut to tips on transitioning to a “big kid” bed.
Each month, the site offers many face-toface events for members, their children and their families. Register today to access discussion forums, events calendar and more. It’s free and your (personal) information will be kept secure and private.
32nd Annual Valle Country Fair Oct. 16
Mountain music, juried handmade crafts, tasty barbecue and Brunswick stew and a scenic mountain setting make the Valle Country Fair a “must attend” event in the North Carolina High Country on Saturday, Oct. 16. Started by a small church as a parish fundraiser, it has grown into an annual event that attracts thousands, and it raised more than $40,000 for local charities in 2009. Always on the third Saturday in October, the fair is held on the picturesque grounds of the Valle Crucis Conference Center on highway N.C. 194 from 9 a.m. until 4 p.m. Admission is free, and ample parking is available in the adjoining field for $5 per car. The 2009 Valle Country Fair grant recipients were WAMY Community Action, Western Youth Network, the Hunger 8
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& Health Coalition, Parent-to-Parent Family Support Network, Child Service Coordination Program, Caregiver’s Haven, School Social Work Back Pack Program,Watauga Children’s Council Parents as Teachers and the Watauga Habitat for Humanity. All remaining profits were distributed to individuals and families in crisis. For more information, visit www. vallecountryfair.org.
Apple butter is just one of the many homemade items to be found at the fair. Photo by Marie Freeman www.aawmag.com
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33rd Annual Woolly Worm Festival Oct. 16-17 in Banner Elk The 33rd annual Woolly Worm Festival takes place Saturday, Oct. 16, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday, Oct. 17, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. in Banner Elk. Since the late 1970s, the village of Banner Elk has celebrated the coming of winter with a Woolly Worm Festival on the third weekend in October every year to determine which worm will have the honor of predicting the severity of the coming winter. Of course,“the worm” has to first earn the honor by winning heat after heat of hard-fought races - up a three-foot length of string. The darker black segments of the woolly worm means the colder and snowier the winter. The festival attracts international attention and huge crowds every year. A $1,000 first prize accompanies the winning worm’s forecast. Woolly worm races begin around 9:30 a.m. on Saturday, with each race consisting of 25 worms, with races continuing until the grand finale around 4 p.m. The winning worm on Saturday is declared the official winter forecasting agent.The Sunday worm races are mainly for fun and small prizes. In addition to the woolly worm races, the festival features crafts, food vendors, live entertainment and much more. Last year’s festival attracted an estimated 23,000 fans, 140 vendors and around 1,000 race entrants. The Woolly Worm Festival is sponsored by the Avery County Chamber of Commerce and the Kiwanis Club of Banner Elk. A portion of the proceeds go to support children’s charities throughout the county. For more information, phone 828-8985605. www.aawmag.com
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Sharon
Caldwell There’s More Behind The Picture
It’s not all about numbers for accounting expert Sharon Caldwell, whose fascination with photography evolved into a natural focus. Photos by Bob Caldwell
By Corrinne Loucks Assad
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haron Caldwell and her husband, Bob, are fixtures around the Boone area, where, for many years, they have helped capture those special moments that live forever, at least through their amazing photography. It’s Bob who is usually in the spotlight, Sharon preferring to stay in the shadows, but as the saying goes … behind every successful man is a woman who helps make things happen. (If it’s not a saying, it should be!) Successful in her own right, Sharon knew by the age of 16 while in her first full-time job with a certified public accountant, that she enjoyed working with numbers. Bookkeeping and accounting always came easy for her, and it’s something she still enjoys. “I find accounting to be very fulfilling, she said. “Everything is in its place and
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works out in the end.” It comes as no surprise that she still practices her skills today, employed fulltime on the accounting team of ECR Software, a locally owned and operated business. In her “free time,” however, it’s another Boone-based business that not only captures her attention, but also her heart, as she is a big part of her husband’s business of 32 years. Bob Caldwell Photography has become a household reference through the years, and much credit goes to the lady of the house. Sharon “evolved” into the main wedding photographer since receiving rave reviews from snapping a friend’s wedding 17 years ago. One thing led to another, and with Bob’s encouragement, Sharon developed her own following, as word of her newfound expertise began to circulate.
Together, she and Bob make up one of Boone’s best teams. The two met more than 27 years ago while Sharon was vacationing here in the mountains. Mutual friends introduced them, and they’ve been clicking ever since. No negatives involved in this relationship! Having grown up in Connecticut, Sharon was already halfway here, living near Charlottesville, Va., when they met. She and Bob were married, and she moved to Boone to start her new life. Through the years, Sharon has been an active member of the community, contributing time and talent to the local Red Cross, Hospitality House, Hospice, and with Bob, sponsoring local sports teams and so much more. It’s the “big picture” that she prefers to talk about, as the photography business is such a big part of her life, www.aawmag.com
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both personally and professionally. “Photographs are very important in people’s lives,” she said. “They serve as chronological records and create keepsakes of those important milestones.” Sharon and Bob specialize in “people” pictures – special occasions that include family events like births, weddings and reunions – and everybody automatically thinks of the Caldwells when Little League sports are mentioned, as team and individual shots have been a primary focus of the duo for many years. Even during the recent economic
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downturn and advancements in photography, the Caldwells have stayed busy. Despite the fact that digital cameras and software programs that touch up photographs have opened the field to many amateur photographers, Sharon and Bob offer “longevity” in the business, an honest reputation and best overall value “in the long haul,” she adds. “We have kept our pricing very reasonable (in this economy) in order to meet the needs of our repeat clients,” she said. “This area is also a popular place for destination weddings and reunions.
People come up here to get married and their guests join them here.” Bob and Sharon are known for their ability to capture expressions and candid photos that make all of the difference in the heart of family and event photos. “The best part of our business is that we get to be there for people’s happy occasions,” Sharon said with a smile. “We feed off of that fun and capture photos that families will cherish for generations!” For more information, contact Sharon at www.bobcaldwellphotography.com, or (828) 264-9026.
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“Curly� Perzel
rarely hits the trail without her water bottle, camera, bear spray, maps, a GPS on her shoulder strap and hiking sticks in her hand. This photo was captured in the Big Hole Pass section of Montana. Photo submitted.
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“Earns” The Triple Crown By Vicki Randolph
W
ith more than 7,400 miles, 22 states and one million feet of upward climbing under her belt, Allmuth “Curly” Perzel has definitely earned the Triple Crown of hiking. The Triple Crown is not an easy accomplishment, as anyone who has earned it well knows. Less than one-hundred people worldwide have secured the title. For those who may not be familiar with the lingo of the hiking world, the Triple Crown is a coveted award reserved for only the most committed long-distance hikers. Only those who have finished the “big three” trails can claim it. The world famous, 2,179-mile-long Appalachian Trail is the most widely-known.
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interesting coincidence that they were both originally from Germany and both were ‘slightly’ older than other traditional longdistance hikers out there. After Curly and Analese found each other and became hiking buddies, they made it their goal to hike every summer together. With the exception of a hiatus for a broken leg, the ladies kept their commitment to one another. Even though the concept of the Triple Crown hadn’t really occurred to Curly, she says the idea just sort of evolved. “After hiking with Analese in Colorado and Wyoming, I started to pursue the idea,” she says. “The Triple Crown grew on me while I was on the CDT. Then I started to get into it. Then I had to get it; I got very goal-oriented.” According to Curly, “Long distance hikers
in days or weeks; on the PCT it is more often, but on the AT it is daily. The AT has many shelters and campsites, the PCT has a hand full of lean-tos and the CDT has none, not even a cabin.” On all three hikes, Curley “soloed,” about which she says, “I could never have imagined it at the outset of my AT hike because I was so new at it. However, previously, I hiked many dayhikes solo. It makes you free to enjoy and do your problem-solving, such as where are you, when is the next water stop (very important!) and what to eat, where to pitch your tent, etc. “Pitching the tent at the wrong location can cost you your life,” she stresses. “One of my most dangerous experiences was on the CDT when two huge boulders bounced in front of me on the trail. I could see with
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Long distance hikers are goal-oriented people from all walks of life. (No pun intended!) We are like a big family, in a way.
Then there is the Pacific Crest Trail, which spans 2,645 miles between Mexico and Canada. And the least traveled of all is the 2, 588 mile Continental Divide Trail. Hiking has always been something Curly and her family have enjoyed. She began hiking with her kids as soon as they could walk. But achieving the Triple Crown, or taking any long distance thru-hikes, wasn’t on her radar. She didn’t even begin hiking seriously until she was in her fifties. The first time she took a long backpacking trip with her son, they both said they would never hike again. But ten years later, while he was living in Oregon, they hiked for a few days on the Pacific Crest Trail and had a wonderful experience. “You might say never,” says Curly, “but it may not be true at all.” From there the bug just started to work its way into her system. In 1992, she hiked the entire Appalachian Trail. In 1996, she conquered the Pacific Crest Trail. In 2002 she took her first section hike on the Continental Divide Trail. Even then, on the CDT in New Mexico, she had no intentions of hiking the whole thing. At about that same time, she connected with her friend Analese. It seemed a rather www.aawmag.com
are goal-oriented people from all walks of life.” (No pun intended!) “We are like a big family, in a way.” Although she prefers to hike with a partner, she has had to hike plenty of miles on her own. With only about 30 people per year even attempting to thru-hike the Continental Divide Trail (compared to more than 3,000 on the Appalachian Trail annually) the CDT can get to be quite a lonely place. “My biggest concern was the weather, with terribly dangerous storms almost daily in Colorado. But getting lost was always hanging over my head,” she remembers. “The CDT is very rugged and hard to follow; towns are few and far away. The CDT is not marked well, and getting lost is a big concern.” “You just never know, you have to make decisions—taking bearings,bushwhacking,going cross country; the slowdowns are enormous. I just kept believing in myself, that I could get there. I just said, ‘Yep, I can do this!’” And do it she did! August marked the one-year anniversary of her coronation—it was also her 70th birthday! Why does she do it? “I like adventure,” Curly says. “I like challenges to the extreme, figuring out how to do it and survive.” “On the CDT, you may not meet a person
my eyes the force and thunder of the energy coming towards me, not knowing where the rocks would bounce to.” Another “life threatening force of nature,” she described, occurred in Colorado during the monsoon season “when every day the sky would tell you it was time for lightening to strike - deadly situations you try to avoid. “The lightening comes with rain, snow or hail depending on your elevation. Harmless streams are turned within minutes into dangerous waters.” She’s also dealt with a wild badger trying to get in her pack, grizzly bear threats, injuries, being lost, etc., but she always made it through. “What’s next?” we ask the royal hiker. She responds, “What is next? There doesn’t need to be anything next!” But of course she can’t just stop hiking. She plans to take a trek on the Long Trail in Vermont in October, the oldest long-distance trail in the nation. As for her husband George, he is very understanding, long-suffering and supportive—and she readily admits that she couldn’t do it without him. Congratulations, Curly, on the anniversary of your coronation!
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FERTILIZING Y O U R F A M I LY T R E E
By June W. Bare
I
n less than a quarter of one second, one can have access to 1,470,000 sites on the Internet for family reunions. More than 400,000 family reunions are held each year in the United States, including many “old families” in our High Country communities who carry on the tradition. Summertime, when the children are out of school, is the typical reunion time. On any given summer Saturday, families gather in church fellowship halls, local parks, homes and any number of other facilities. License plates in the parking lots of these places tell the story of family migration beyond our mountains. Why write about family reunions in the autumn, when folks are settled back to their routines and vacations are over? Now is the time to think about the next year’s reunion – time to plan. Some family reunions began long ago by past generations, but extended families have lost interest in the celebration. Those reunions shrink to the few local relatives who live either within a day’s drive, go to the same church or schools, or have a keen sense of family loyalty. The gatherings are usually focused around food. What reasons draw cousins from other areas to the annual get-together? Here are a few overheard at a family reunion this summer: · Last opportunity to escape the heat of the flatlands. · See favorite cousins who haven’t been here for a while. · Compare genealogy notes. · Memorial service at the family cemetery. In an online article in Christianity Today/ momsense, Kenneth Phillips, a psychiatrist in suburban Chicago, said, “The tendency for jobs to define the part of the country where people live subtly scissors family ties. Reunions are a means by which siblings who no longer live near each other (or their parents) can maintain regular contact and fertilize their family tree.” How can we avoid the scissor effect on family ties and fertilize the family tree? What changes can be made to draw young people to a family reunion? One youth relates, “The food was great, and it was good to meet relatives I’ve never 14 OCTOBER 2010
met before, but …” But? He said, “We really didn’t have anything in common. There weren’t any other kids our age.” His solution? “Provide a large screen TV for games and videos. Make certain there are other kids in the same age group to hang out with. Don’t insist that the kids stay to listen to what our parents did when they were kids.” There is a difference between reminiscence and significant family history. The history of how the family came to the area, where they originated, what they did, how they lived, and what they were like is important to pass on to future generations. Even the
mythical history is important, because it is a part of who these people become in later generations. It may not be true that the eighth greatgrandmother chased wolves away with a firebrand from the newborn calf all night. However, the story is one that will connect extended families for generations to come. It needs to be told, but it needs to be told in a way that will hold the interest of young people. Who at your house anticipates your family reunion? If it is not your children, consider an overhaul of the reunion structure with future generations in mind. www.aawmag.com
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Suggestions To Put A Spark Back Into Your Family Reunion: Planning: 1. Committee to be responsible for reunion; includes entertainment/ activities. 2. Addresses, telephone numbers, email addresses of family members; notify them of date and time, place and planned activities. 3. Family archivist to record deaths, marriages, births, divorces; photo albums for annual pictures from reunion and old photos of ancestors. 4. Reunion photo of all present with patriarch/matriarch in center, taken by a non-family member (may consider professional photographer). 5. Genealogist/historian or committee for family genealogy/history. 6. Schedule reunion at a time when children from distant states will not be in school.
Possible activities: 1. Picnic at a park where children can play, swim, have competitive games, badminton, softball, or relay races, etc. 2. Tour of family heritage sites. 3. Rent lodge or resort for reunion. 4. Big family evening meal at a nice restaurant. 5. Family recipe exchange, use family heirloom recipes; cook-off. 6. Rent a large screen DVD for a familyoriented movie or video games. 7. Storytelling, include family history/lore. 8. Fishing tournament, campfire, fireworks. 9. Gals’ shopping spree/guys’ golf tournament. 10. If cemetery memorial involved, encourage family to participate. 11. Worship together; if a musical family, provide musical program for family church.
Practical websites for family reunion planning: family-reunion.com/ www.bhg.com/health-family/reunions/ www.familyreuniontips.com/html/ index.html
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High Country Courtesies Appreciating
Our Differences - Preventing Bullying by Sharon Carlton
Part 2
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o prepare our children to succeed in the global community they will inherit, we need to foster in them an appreciation of the humanity of every individual. We can instill the message of the intrinsic value of every person by communicating openly, by modeling personal values, by exposing our children to people who are different from themselves. Along with those efforts, we must also be aware of the influence of our children’s “social worlds.” In spite of our best efforts to protect them, our children will most likely be ostracized and witness situations where someone else is disrespected for their differences. When a more powerful person repeatedly oppresses a less powerful person, either physically or psychologically, that action is considered bullying. According to the American Academy of Clinical Psychiatrists, 77 percent of all schoolaged children will be bullied at some point during their school years. Fourteen percent will be severely bullied. Beyond these early years, they will encounter bullies their entire lives. The long-term effects of bullying are far reaching. Not only are there wounds for victims, but there are severe consequences for bullies who may not learn to relate to others appropriately and who may continue their destructive behavior. Learning to understand bullying issues may aid in preventing and dealing with bullying. Most bullies are seeking the feeling of control. They may feel causing others pain shows how strong they are or bullying is the best way to get what they want. Some bullies think scaring someone or making them cry is funny and view those tactics as gaining the approval of his or her peer group. When children are bullied at their home, hurt becomes anger which often comes out as aggression toward others. Although boys tend to be bullies more often than do girls, both report being bullied equally. Boys tend to be more physically threatening, while girl bullies tend to be more psychological in their aggression. With the age of social media, the advent of “cyber-bullying” has arrived. Bullies can reach potentially mass networks through texting, the 16 OCTOBER 2010
Internet, and social sites like Facebook and YouTube. Slanderous remarks, taunts or innuendo reach large audiences instantly, creating a new dynamic for bullying. What you can do: BE PRO-ACTIVE: Ask your child regularly how others are treating him or her at school. Be alert to warning signs of bullying. If your child acts afraid to go to school, has torn clothes or damaged school materials, cries himself sleep or has nightmares, begins to bully siblings or act unreasonable, has unlikely answers for injuries or any of the previous warning signs, pursue those red flags by talking with, but not grilling your child. GIVE THEM TOOLS: Build children’s self-esteem. Let them know they are special, loved and appreciated. Use your network of family and friends to encourage your children’s sense of belonging and to validate their unique talents and value. Enroll them in martial arts, sports, dance, scouting, 4-H or similar programs that teach self-discipline, perseverance and leadership. IF YOUR CHILD IS BEING BULLIED: First assess the level of bullying. Whether your child is experiencing verbal taunts by a group, physical abuse by one person, or ugly texting messages by acquaintances, all types of bullying are serious and should be taken seriously. Many children hesitate to tell parents because they hope they can handle the situation by themselves. They may be embarrassed, fear reprisal or think their parents’ involvement may make matters worse. Next, get help. Contact the authorities at
school, bringing any documentation you may have. Make sure your child knows being bullied is not his or her fault. Enlist slightly older peers to mentor your child. Ask your child’s friends, teachers and counselors to provide a positive support system. Role-play techniques to project confidence with your child: Standing tall, holding your head high, looking others in the eyes, and speaking with a firm voice. Remind them that being part of a group makes them less of a target. IF YOUR CHILD MIGHT BE A BULLY: If you suspect your child may be teasing, pressuring or interacting inappropriately with his peers, let him or her know that type of behavior will not be tolerated. Explore underlying hurts that may be leading to this aggression (lack of self-esteem, boredom, insecurity). Explain the pain and damage caused by his or her actions. Enlist authorities to hold your child accountable and to further counsel and encourage him or her. Teach your child about the intrinsic value of every person to help him or her look beyond the superficial exterior to the real person. We all want to feel good about ourselves. Without an appreciation for our differences, we can subtly slip into judgmental, disrespectful behavior. By being alert to signs of bullying, educating others and intervening when bullying occurs, we can make a difference one situation at a time. Sharon Carlton, High Country Courtesies ©2010. Sharon Carlton conducts High Country Courtesies customer service workshops and is director of High Country Cotillion, a social education program for youth. She writes and speaks on modern etiquette and life skill topics. Contact her at sacarlton@skybest. com www.aawmag.com
Kaye England Local Seamstresses Learn From World Renowned Quilt Instructor By Corrinne Loucks Assad
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ocal quilters enjoyed a rare opportunity recently to meet with and learn from worldrenowned quilter Kaye England during a stop at Sew Original in Boone. England presented ‘Memoirs of a Quilt Maker,’ during which she addressed everything from stitch types to the use of appropriate needles, thread and everything in between. Self-described as a “piecer,” even though she also embroiders and quilts, England explained that only two percent of seamstresses can actually sew a perfect ¼-inch seam every time. She promised to teach the class how to become part of that two percent, saying, “It’s nothing magical. It’s a place. Once you find it, you can be consistent 100-percent of the time. It’s like driving at 35-miles-per- hour.You can do it. You just have to hunt for it and once you find it, you stay there!” Her humorous approach, for which she is also well-known, has helped pave the way for her to find a comfort zone in the lives of quilters across the world. Kaye found her Boone audience wellversed in many techniques, saying that Sew Original is actually the first store in which she’s taught in the past 10 years where participants actually knew what a SSTP (Straight Stitch Throat Plate) was. She accredited their knowledge to the shop and its owners’ emphasis on educating their clients rather than just selling them products and sending them on their way. Before she left town, Kaye shared valuable tips that will further enhance the skills of the local seamstress community. Kaye shared how she began making quilts and collecting fabric in the early 1980s, “before it was the rage,” she said, her influence coming much earlier by a family of needle workers. Kaye now designs fabrics for Wilmington Prints and heads her own publishing company, Kaye England Publications. She travels the world over conducting sell-out lectures and workshops showcasing her wonderful and infectious fabrics, patterns and quilts, as well as her unique and honest outlook on life. She has appeared on several episodes of HGTV’s ‘Simply Quilts’ and has written www.aawmag.com
13 books and produced 3 instructional programs on DVD. Kaye has been described as a colorful individual generating enthusiasm and excitement in her work and having great fun in the process. Despite a hectic teaching schedule, Kaye always finds time to quilt. Kaye was born and raised on a farm in Glasgow, Kentucky. She now resides in Indianapolis, Indiana. She has two children and six grandchildren. Kaye’s visit is just one of many opportunities offered by Sew Original which includes classes in beginning quilting, basic sewing, machine quilting, smocking and lace making, to name a few. Also, lectures, workshops and hands-on learning events, often facilitated by world class guest teachers, are common. Upcoming events are listed on the
Known around the world for her skills and humor, Kaye England taught a recent class at Sew Original in Boone. Photo by Corrinne Loucks Assad
business website at www.seworiginal.org which also serves as a guide to the Bernina product line and site for a quarterly newsletter. Sew Original is a one-stop sewing and quilting destination for residents and visitors alike. Between a talented staff, continuing education, technical support and guest teachers, the shop has every angle covered for your sewing needs.
OCTOBER 2010
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Eight brides who have worn “the dress” surround the most recent family bride, following her wedding to Tom Rittenhouse in Valle Crucis on Sept. 4. Pictured, left to right, are Sarah Mitchell Hook, Lauren Cason Haney, Carol Coffey Clark, Nancy Coffey Mitchell, Susan Coffey Riley, Julia Mitchell Rittenhouse, Joan Coffey Morehead, Jane Coffey Cason and Debbie Coffey Langley. Photo by Stacey Bode Photography.
9 Trips to the Altar Wedding Gown Becomes A Family Treasure By Sherrie Norris
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about the dress changed for Jane, the second sister to marry. “I had a short engagement,” she said, “so it was the practical thing to do, and when I tried it on, it looked great. We always wore each other’s prom dresses, too, so I didn’t think much about it.” Joan, her twin and the third bride, wanted a today.” different headpiece so hand-sewed a mantilla. “I used a She found the perfect dress at her hometown complementary lace to go with the dress, which was bridal shop - on sale for $100, including the train, veil, used next by our sister, Susan,” she said. alterations and a description of the dress for the wedding Julia’s mother, Nancy, was the fifth sister to wear announcement. the dress. Little did she know that she was starting a family Nancy said, “I remember looking at other dresses tradition; since then, she, her five sisters and three nieces but by then, beyond the practicality, it was beginning to have worn the same dress at their weddings. be cool, or real, like the Velveteen Rabbit – a kind of On Saturday, Sept. 4, Debbie’s niece, Julia, became the confirmation of being sisters, and sharing life, love and ninth bride to get married wearing the dress. since, many heartaches and much laughter. I wore the As an Appalachian State University alumna from veil Joan had made, without the train.” Atlanta who worked at Dutch Creek Stables and Storie Nancy was taller, so a sheer, pleated layer was Street Grill while living in Boone, Julia wanted to return added to the bottom. “Then our baby sister, Carol, to the area – and to the Stables – for her wedding. wore the dress and the hemline was shortened,” The fact that her Aunt Debbie, a great organizer, lived Nancy says. in Boone, was a big plus. Carol shares, “You always want to be like your big At one time, Julia had no desire to wear the dress Debbie Coffey Langley was the first bride to sisters. It was just the thing to do.” but she, too, eventually fell under its spell. “After Carol’s wedding, Nancy said, “the dress After Debbie’s wedding in 1969, very little, if anything wear the dress in 1969. orty-one years ago, Debbie Coffey Langley and her mother went shopping for her wedding dress – “an ivory (candlelight) dress,” Debbie describes. “We didn’t have the myriad of styles to choose from then that brides have
18 OCTOBER 2010
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Jane Coffey Cason, 2nd bride and her husband, Gene.
Joan Coffey Morehead chose a different headpiece.
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Fourth bride, Susan Coffey Riley, liked things just the way they were.
Fifth bride, Nancy Coffey Mitchell, left the train behind, but added length.
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was cleaned and boxed up for eternity … or so we thought.” No one is sure how or why each bride decided to wear the dress, but as Debbie says, “It’s possibly less of a choice with each bride, but possibly more pressure for each new one not to break the chain!” The sisters all agree that it was “tradition enough” that they all wore the dress; they were surprised and delighted when Jane’s daughter, Lauren, the first niece to wed, asked to wear the dress. Nancy’s older daughter, Sarah wasn’t interested in the dress, until she tried it on. “Then she loved it,” her mother said. “She tried on dresses all over Atlanta, but nothing was as pretty as the lace on this dress. We took it to Rodica Lazarian, a Romanian immigrant, for alterations. “She could see something in the lace and beading that we had not even visualized. In her thick accent, she told us how it repulsed her that so many brides and mothers had no sense of heritage. “Rodica described leaving the old country with only a suitcase in hand, no heirlooms, no treasures, no pictures — nothing. She made us feel so fortunate to have this piece of our history.” “Sarah uncapped the sleeves that Lauren had put on; the lace was painstakingly removed from the train and made into a beautiful new cathedral veil,” Nancy said. At the time, Julia told Sarah to “Stop the madness … if you wear it, we all have to!” That was three years ago. One week after Julia’s engagement, she enthusiastically tried on the dress. She wanted to tweak the design, “V” the back, take off Sarah’s lengthening, and add organdy pleating to the bottom, Nancy said. On the morning of her wedding, Julia said, “There was no pressure for me to wear it, but once I tried it on the first time, it was magical and I said, ‘Oh yeah, I have to do it!’” She was stunning in her dress, and at least eight other women at the wedding knew just how glamorous she felt. “We have three more nieces who could possibly wear the dress and there are already seven little girls in the next generation,” Debbie said. Amy Coffey Spencer, the proud Georgia matriarch of her large family – mother of the first six brides and their three brothers – has been in attendance for every wedding and made many of the bridesmaid’s dresses herself. She smiled during the most recent wedding events, saying,“Each one has been as beautiful as the one before. I’m so proud of them all.” The fact that Mrs. Spencer wore her sister’s gown at her wedding just adds to the magic, the sisters agree. Debbie says the dress should’ve had its own wedding album over the years. “It seems to have taken on a life of its own and has been worn in ceremonies in South Carolina, Alabama, Georgia, and now Valle Crucis, N.C.” A cousin in Georgia borrowed the train to wear with her own wedding gown. “There were nine children in our mother’s family and nine in ours, so there’s never been very many treasures to pass from one generation to another. This makes the dress even more special,” she said.
Carol Coffey Clark needed the dress hemmed.
Lauren Cason Haney was the first bride of the second generation to use the dress.
Sarah Mitchell Hook, eighth family bride, wasn’t interested in wearing the dress – until she tried it on.
OCTOBER 2010
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Breast Cancer Turned Life Around For Survivor By Sherrie Norris
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arbara Doughton knows the importance of annual mammograms. She also confirms the stats that family history and stress contribute
to cancer. At the age of 42, the Pennsylvania native was living a life filled with anxiety. Going through the motions of a loveless marriage, divorce was on the horizon when she heard the words that all women fear: A malignant mass had been discovered in her right breast during an annual exam. Barbara had breast cancer. “I was reeling from the shock … absolutely stunned and unsure what to do next,” she said. “My family had been riddled with cancer, but no one had breast cancer before.” “I was trying to work to support myself. I was a Christian, but in the throes of trying to make my marriage work, I had lost my identity. I was trying so hard. I clearly felt that the Lord was trying to get my attention … and he did. “ I don’t believe he gave me breast cancer, but he got my attention.” The best way to deal with it, she said, was to put on a brave front. “Those in my family who had had cancer had been older. My friends had no experience with serious illness. I felt like I had to be strong,” she said. Barbara was referred to the top breast cancer surgeons in her area at the time.After a second opinion,“Since the lump was rather small at the time, I was able to have a lumpectomy,” she said. Six weeks of radiation followed, as did the divorce. “I turned closer to the Lord and asked for his help. It seemed that all the right people
20 OCTOBER 2010
Barbara Doughton is pretty in pink and all smiles as she celebrates 22 years as a cancer survivor. Photo by Sherrie Norris
began coming into my path. I look back now and believe that’s when a new chapter of my life began,” she said. Barbara began to concentrate more on herself, for a change. “I focused on trying to love myself. Most women don’t know what it means to do that. Just like our mothers, we’re always taking care of others, instead,” she said. “I learned to relax. I began to read a lot and started attending church again, and asking God for help, admitting that I was
broken.” At about that time, Barbara recalls, a movement began in which people were deciding to participate in their own medical care. “People were no longer taking things for granted. We began to ask questions and see our doctors as partners.We became more involved, rather than allowing them (doctors) to have full control,” she said. Barbara began looking at her diet and “finding ways to feed my soul and relieve stress.” A pathway to healing and fulfillment ensued. “So many women are single parents, trying www.aawmag.com
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to be everything to everyone. We’re trying to keep our eyes on our children and more so now, often on our parents, too. So many demands are placed upon women today and we have no choice but to give ourselves away. When women are under such stress, our immune system is shot and bodies break down. As women, we must take better care of ourselves,” she said. Twenty-two years later, Barbara is living her dream. “I no longer have to ask ‘Who am I?’ The Lord has my complete attention now. I have learned to love myself – and to love someone else again. “I once prayed that I would find someone who would love me. On Sept. 6, my wonderful husband, Walt Doughton, and I celebrated our 19th wedding anniversary. “I think it’s important to keep my eye on the goal, to keep as healthy as I can for as long as I can, and to be an example to other women.” The Doughtons moved to Boone nine years ago. Barbara, who has two master’s degrees and spent her early career in the corporate world of banking, worked at Samaritan’s Purse for six years and retired two years ago She remains consistent with a healthy lifestyle, which includes routine exercise, eating whole foods “and lots of vegetables.” In the meantime, Barbara began considering the “stats” regarding women and the fact that one in eight women still get breast cancer. After reading an article about the Cancer Resource Alliance needing volunteers, Barbara thought it would be a good way to get involved and put her administrative skills to good use. “I went in thinking I could help answer phones, etc., but realized I could do much more,” she said.
She soon became part of the WMC Cancer Committee, a subcommittee of the Cancer Resource Alliance. “It was a perfect move,” she said. “Obviously, people who come to Watauga Medical Center and the Seby B. Jones Cancer Center get marvelous care, where treatment involves the whole person,” she said. “Cancer does not always equal a death sentence. The center teaches the importance of knowing how to relieve stress, battle fatigue, eat well and relax.The techniques they share and the care they administer help to take away so much of the fear associated with cancer. They also offer complimentary care programs like pilates, yoga and massages that make treatment much easier. In summary, Barbara said, “I turn 65 next July, and I know that my time is limited. I have been given some gifts and I need to make sure that I’m on track. I want to hear,‘Well done, good and faithful servant.’ “My cancer was a good thing for me, at the time. It allowed me to turn things around and learn to take better care of myself. Sometimes it has to be a big thing that God allows, to get our attention.” Barbara is currently a volunteer/chairperson of the Cancer Resource Alliance, a group of volunteers who work under the direction of the Cancer Committee to develop community support programs for cancer patients and their families. The Cancer Resource Alliance is launching a new program called Connections, through which a cancer survivor or a caregiver is teamed up with a newly diagnosed cancer patient, or their family/caregiver, to help them navigate the disease and all associated with it. (see sidebar)
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Making the Connection
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Volunteer Opportunity for Cancer Survivors
re you a cancer survivor who would like to support others facing cancer? Seby B. Jones Cancer Center and the Cancer Resource Alliance at Watauga Medical Center are pleased to introduce “Connections,” a peer support program whereby survivors (and their caregivers) are trained to become guides for more newly diagnosed survivors and their families. Twenty-two year breast cancer survivor Barbara Doughton, who serves as a volunteer/chair of the Cancer Resource Alliance, states, “Those of us who have been through this journey and have arrived on the other side just want to come up beside and encourage current cancer patients and their families. We want to bring them along with us and give them hope.” Cancer survivors who completed treatment at least one year ago, and go through a selection and brief training process, will be eligible to serve as a guide. This volunteer program offers survivors a chance to share their wisdom and hope in a oneon-one connection with another person with cancer. Doughton says that in its search “to do the most good,” the program coordinators surveyed former cancer patients and their families who had been treated at Seby B. Jones Cancer Center, “at least a year out.” “We asked about their experience and how we could have made it better; what they needed that we didn’t offer, etc.” Following the survey, the top three concerns were addressed. From those results – and from concerns voiced earlier in the year regarding needed support for newly diagnosed cancer patients and their families – “Connections” was born. “This program is not designed to give medical advice but simply to listen, answer the questions that we can, and offer any support that we can to make the journey easier to bear,” Doughtton said. “We will all have special training and ask that potential guides give at least a six-month commitment.” The level of support might range from a listening ear and a weekly phone call to accompanying someone to a doctor’s appointment or to lunch, Doughton said. “We think it will be important for a number of reasons,” she said. “People want and need support but they don’t always want to go to a support group setting.” Connections will be administered by the Pastoral Care Department at Watauga Medical Center. For more information and an application, contact Melanie Childers by email at mchilders@ apprhs.org, call (828) 266-1178 or visit www. apprhs.org/cancercenter/connections-cancer-survivors.
OCTOBER 2010
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Justice for ALL
LANDLORDS and the LAW
Other Tips.
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s Halloween approaches, ghosts, goblins, and other scary creatures may be lurking nearby. One of the scariest surprises you may ever encounter, however, can occur at any time: the lawsuit. This article offers a lawyer’s suggestions to help you avoid a landlord-tenant lawsuit. Well-intentioned people may run into problems if they are unaware of their legal obligations. But if you know legal basics, there’s nothing to fear.You can protect both yourself and your tenants. Following is a brief summary of North Carolina law on private, residential rental agreements.
What are a Landlord’s Legal Duties and Responsibilities? The Lease. The basis of all landlord-tenant obligations is the lease, a contract that can be oral or written. The landlord (the owner or the owner’s agent) and the tenant (the person paying to use the premises) both have legal responsibilities. Oral leases are enforceable. However, it’s a usually a good idea to
have a written lease: this prevents confusion and misunderstanding. Leases typically state the amount of rent due and the date of payment, and set out additional obligations of the landlord and tenant.The amount of rent should be based on the fair market value. In addition, a late fee can be included; it cannot be more than five percent (5%) of the monthly rent or $15.00 per month, whichever is greater. The lease can specify the permitted and prohibited uses of the property. It also often sets out the amount required as a deposit. Deposits must be kept in a separate account, and this must be identified in writing for the tenant at the start of the tenancy. If you choose to withhold part of the deposit to offset damages to the property when the tenant moves out, be prepared to document the costs fully. Deposits must be returned to the tenant within thirty days of their move.
Inspect the residence before leasing it out. It’s also a good idea to take photos before the tenant moves in. The residence must be in a “habitable” (fit for living in) condition. New North Carolina law says the landlord has to comply with current building and housing codes; maintain the premises in a fit, habitable and safe condition; maintain all electrical, plumbing, sanitary, heating, ventilating, air conditioning, and other appliances. A landlord must also provide working smoke detectors. It saves time and money to repair things quickly. Keep track of any repairs and their costs. You may be able to deduct these from your taxes. Also, if the problem is attributable to a tenant’s destructive behavior rather than “normal wear and tear,” you may seek reimbursement or may keep the relevant portion of their deposit.You should always notify a tenant if you are coming to make a repair: you cannot just show up at any time, without the tenant’s prior permission.
What if the Tenant Doesn’t Pay or Breaches the Lease in Another Way? If a tenant is being destructive, or is not paying rent, you should follow the small claims eviction process. You should never try to evict the person by cutting off the utilities or by padlocking the door. This could subject you to legal penalties. Forms for this process are available from the local civil clerk’s office or online at www.nccourts.org. This is usually tried in small claims (“magistrates”) court, and you do not need an attorney but you may want one if you feel the case is complicated or if the tenant makes claims against you. After the hearing, either party has ten days to appeal the decision. If there is an appeal, it will be handled in district court, and a judge will hear the case again from the beginning (“de novo”). If no one appeals, and you were granted possession of the premises, ask the Clerk of Court to issue a Writ of Possession, which will then be served by the sheriff. The tenant will have to leave at that point.
Other Available Resources
If things are confusing or complicated, you may want to have a consultation with a lawyer. Legal research should focus on North Carolina, not another state’s, laws. Some useful links are the North Carolina Cooperative Extension (llink:http://www.ces. ncsu.edu/depts/fcs/pdfs/fcs428.pdf) and the North Carolina General Assembly site (link: http://www. ncleg.net). Also, Legal Aid periodically offers free clinics available to both landlords and tenants. Check your local library or call (828) 264-5640 or 1-800-264-5667 for details. “Justice For All” is a new column provided by Legal Aid of North Carolina 171 Grand Blvd. Boone, NC 28607. (828) 264-5640 ext. 1105 22 OCTOBER 2010
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Bloom Where You’re Planted
Soul Sisters By Sherry Boone
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ctober is a special month for me, because 34 years ago my late husband, Sam, and I opened our Zionville restaurant called “The Boone Place.” It was the beginning of a new life for us. We had moved 900 miles away from our grown children to open a business in which we had no experience other than good cooking at home. We weren’t sure we could make it. We didn’t know anyone here on whose business we could depend. Before long, strangers entered our door as customers, and many became our good friends. I was reminded about those early days, especially, after recently receiving an e-mail message titled “The Girls in my Circle.” I enjoyed reading it and could relate to the description of most types of girlfriends. Girlfriends and “soul sisters.” There is a difference between the two. I love my girlfriends; some are very young and others very old. I have only one biological sister, but I am thankful to have more “soul sisters” here in the mountains than I ever dreamed of having. The friend that picked me up after my husband died and drove me around, listening while I tried to talk, but couldn’t without tears. She had lost her husband earlier and knew exactly how I felt. She listened and soon became my “soul sister.” The friend that came to help me pack and take boxes of inventory to an auction house after I had to close my antique and collectible business. We worked hard together. She helped me get through an extremely difficult day. She was my helper, my “soul sister.” One day after Hurricane Ivan had flooded my vacant building and I was alone in there sweeping out water and mud, I heard a car pull into the parking lot. When I looked out I saw a woman getting out of her car with a mop, broom and bucket in hand. I didn’t know she was coming to help. My heart became lighter as we worked together for many hours. She was my one-woman cleaning crew, my “soul sister.” I would not be writing this column today if several friends had not helped me to believe in myself as a writer. At first, I’d say, “I like to write.” I could not say, “I’m a writer.” I’d share some of my essays with them and will never forget the first time I saw someone wipe www.aawmag.com
a tear as she read my story. Or, when a literature professor in my community, after reading one of my stories, said, “First, Sherry, let me tell you, you are a writer.” Two women have been such blessings to me in getting my columns in the newspaper and this magazine. These women were my encouragers, my “soul sisters.” I thanked a friend for trying to help me solve a problem several years ago. She said,”Hey, we’re in this together.” God has blessed me with many friends and “soul sisters.” Have you counted yours lately? Do they
See Us Through
know that you truly appreciate them? I couldn’t imagine life without mine. The following words, from “The Servant Song” by Richard Gillard, perfectly describe “soul sisters.”
I will weep when you are weeping; When you laugh, I’ll laugh with you. I will share your joy and sorrow Till we’ve seen this journey thro’.
OCTOBER 2010
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’ e v i t a e r C ‘ g Headind A Towar
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As an ASU senior majoring in interior design, Laura Parnelle is pursuing a career in health-care design to facilitate positive healing environments.
By Sharon Carlton
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aura Parnelle does her part and more to make the High Country more congenial and beautiful. It just comes natural for her in more ways than one. In her fifth year of teaching High Country Cotillion students, grades 5-12, Laura has inspired more than 450 students to make great first impressions and to represent themselves confidently and courteously in every social setting. As an interior design major, the Appalachian State University senior is pursuing a career in health-care design to facilitate positive healing environments. When the Gastonia native chose her parents’ alma mater for its environment and selection of majors, she already knew she wanted a “creative” career. 24 OCTOBER 2010
Her love of art and her concern for others blend perfectly in her aspirations to design welcoming, comfortable arenas for both patients and employees. “I believe good design has the power to help the patient recover faster and boost morale,“ Laura said. Laura is the president of the Appalachian State Interior Design Society and a leader for the Interior Design Ambassadors. Last year, she presented her class project on King S t r e e t R e s e a rc h a n d Renovation.
Laura shares her passion for teaching students dance and social skills with her longtime hometown boyfriend/fiancée, Thomas Griffin, who is also an ASU senior and High Country Cotillion leader. Photos submitted
Laura was also involved with the Student Research & Creative Endeavors Celebration and the academic honors society, Gamma Beta Phi. Laura learned to model hospitality from her parents Tom and Sandra Parnelle. “They welcomed everyone – and I mean everyone – into our home,” she said. “ Growing up in such a loving environment shaped the way I think about family.” Her social skills were further honed www.aawmag.com
’
ills with also an
through her participation as a middle-schooler in the Gastonia chapter of the National Junior League of Cotillions. During high school, she was asked to serve as a cotillion assistant. Her entire experience, as a student and leader, she says, helped prepare her for success in college and the workplace. “Cotillion taught me things I could not learn in school. No one teaches you how to eat a fivecourse meal in middle school. You don’t learn how to properly introduce yourself in high school. Etiquette is crucial in today’s casual world; it sets you apart from others.” Beyond practicing the social skills, Laura loved the dancing and being with her friends. During her freshman year at ASU, Laura saw an ad for a “dance instructor” for the fledging High Country Cotillion; she knew immediately that it was a tailor-made job. Within a few weeks, Laura was at the Broyhill Inn and Conference Center sharing with students the very lessons she had learned and was utilizing in her own life. “I love meeting the students every year,” she said. “It is great to see how excited they are about learning new dances. I also love hearing their stories; they tell me about how they have used their ‘cotillion knowledge’ to impress adults. What a rewarding experience. I would not trade it for anything!” Students are attracted to Laura’s gracious enthusiasm. She engages students with easy-to-follow, humorous dance instruction. Students feel accepted and appreciated by her; female students want to be like her. When Laura shares stories from her own experiences, students understand that she wants them to succeed in making their dreams come true. Laura shares her passion for teaching students dance and social skills with her longtime hometown boyfriend Thomas Griffin, who is also a High Country Cotillion leader. As best friend to Laura’s brother, Tommy, Thomas sparked a connection with Laura on a mission trip to Philadelphia in 2005. When not studying for his business degree or leading cotillion, the ASU senior builds websites and leads worship at their church, Journey Church of the Highlands. Recently engaged, the couple is planning their Sept. 10, 2011 wedding. They both agree that faith is an important aspect of their relationship; their future will most likely see Thomas attending seminary, with continued church involvement. Laura is involved in their church’s mission/ community group that meets weekly, as well as a Bible study, similar to one she led earlier for middle-school girls back home. Laura makes a great first impression with her sunny smile and respectful demeanor. In using her artistry to improve interiors aesthetically and functionally, she welcomes people to positive healing environments. As Laura encourages adolescents to represent themselves with courtesy for others, the High Country benefits from her passionate concern for others. www.aawmag.com
OCTOBER 2010
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Fashion Fun for the
Fabulous 40-Somethings
OK,
you fabulous 40-somethings out there, the time has come to take a good, long look inside your closet. Notice, we did not say your daughter’s closet. So, you think you look good in that cute little black dress your daughter wore to her graduation party – and perhaps you do. But, it’s probably not what you need to wear to your class reunion, even if it looks really good on you, too. You’ve reached that pivotal point in life when your attire says a lot about who you are. You may be wavering back and forth, trying to decide if you should continue to share clothes with your teen or go for a more mature look. Having a (fashion) midlife crisis seems to manifest itself in two ways, says Trinny and Susannah, TV fashion gurus. Dressing far too young or giving in to frumpiness is a common dilemma, according to their book, What You Wear Can Change Your Life (Weidenfeld & Nicolson, 2004). The secret is to look stylish and elegant, following some, not all of the fashion trends. At 40, a woman should know enough about her body to begin to understand which cuts and colors flatter her most. Reaching 40-something is not so much about following fashion, but more about creating a sense of style.
10 Rules of Style for 40-somethings Colors •
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Reaching your 40s doesn’t mean hiding behind boring colors. While keynote essentials are crisp white and slimming black, a woman is not doomed to a dull life. Select the best of the season’s colors, avoiding those which make the skin look sallow and are not compatible with skin tone. Eye color is usually a good guide for what suits you. Bolder and more sophisticated shades are less draining and aging than pastels.
26 OCTOBER 2010
Dresses •
With so many styles to choose from, go for simple styles. Longer dresses are a feminine alternative to pants for those who wish to hide their legs and hips.
•
Showing too much flesh is a faux pas. You can get away with a smock dress if you balance out bare legs by covering up the shoulders and chest, or layering it with pants. If showing a wide expanse of flesh up top, then balance it out with longer length skirts.
•
Take comfort in the fact that only middleaged curvy women can really carry off a wrap-over dress. It is one of the few styles that size zeros fail to have cornered the market in.
Trousers or Pants •
A well-cut pair of black pants in an expensive material will go with almost anything.Avoid the high-waisted cummerbund pants trend unless you are tall and sleek enough to carry it off.
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Leggings, the fashion furniture of our www.aawmag.com
generation, should be worn under dresses or tunics and not be the focus of an outfit.
Tops •
Avoid babydoll, smock-type tops or ones that are too tight-fitting. Nothing screams “stylish” more than a crisp white shirt with a pair of well-cut pants. Longer length tops are more flattering for most.
Handbags or Purses •
Invest in one or two great designer bags which suit your body shape and can be teamed with the wardrobe staples. Women carry their life around in their handbags, so a big bag is both trendy and practical, especially for mums.
Shoes •
Turning 40 does not have to mean flats and boring court shoes. A mid-height heel is stylish and sexy, and can make you trendy by accessorizing a classic item with shoes of this season’s colors.
Underwear •
You are what you bra. An badly fitting bra is both unflattering and aging. A bra that fits correctly can take years off your figure. It pushes up your breasts and guides them inwards, giving a much slimmer outline.
Hair and Make up •
Silver hair is hot, hot, hot. Get inspired to stop coloring yours by reading about Anne Kreamer and her book, “Going Gray.” At 49, Kreamer gave up the dye for good and found she even got more “dates” as a silver-haired fox.
•
These days, women of all ages look gorgeous in long hair. Just be careful not to go too long. A perfect cut is just above the shoulders, not very long, but certainly not short either. On the other hand, a short, layered bob or sassy cut can really melt away the years.
•
You can take 10 years off your face without plastic surgery by using the right anti-aging products. Microdermabrasion, chemical peels, retinoids and antioxidants are all methods more and more women are embracing.
•
For a more sophisticated yet “natural look,” opt for neutral colors of eye shadow, lipstick, blush, etc., or those that have been proven to complement your skin tone, eye color, etc. No more sharing your teen’s bright, iridescent makeup!
Sources include: Suite101.com and About.com www.aawmag.com
OCTOBER 2010
27
A S
A l l A b o u t Wo m e n
Lynn Mason, left, executive director of the Hospitality House in Boone, accepts a gift from local crafter Leniavell Trivette, who donated the handmade quilt to be used as a fundraiser for the new homeless shelter.
t c e f r Pe
Among those in attendance for the 5th Annual Food and Shelter for Hope fundraiser for the Hospitality House in Boone were: seated, l-r, Rickey Jacobs, Ann Brown (table host), Carole Bollini, Cheryl Bland; Standing: Linda Todd and Pam Todd.
Photos By Sherrie Norris
Pict
ru e
Judy Carmichael is always a good hand to help with special events, as evidenced during a recent fundraiser.
Marie Henson and daughter Wanda Taylor enjoy a beautiful day at the park with family and friends.
Marianne Romanant, pastor of Faith Bridge United Methodist Church in Blowing Rock, is one of many members of the clergy being honored during October’s Pastor Appreciation Month.
28 OCTOBER 2010
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A Day With The Soap Stars
Boone Mayor, Loretta Clawson, gets up close and personal with cast members of the popular soap opera The Young and the Restless during summer vacation in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
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OCTOBER 2010
29
l l e b p m a C Jane
By Sherrie Norris
T
Jane Campbell will be sharing her love for the loom at this year’s N.C. State Fair in Raleigh. She will be among an approximate 75 crafters demonstrating traditional crafts in the Village of Yesteryear.
Photos by Rob Moore
Preserving Her Mountain Heritage
o call Jane Coffey Campbell a fiber artist is an understatement. Her world is surrounded by yarns and threads, but that’s just part of a much bigger picture. Jane has a deep appreciation for her family heritage, much of which includes mountain crafting, such as weaving and spinning. However, her commitment to protecting her legacy extends into the historic place she calls home and the surrounding fields and orchards that her family has nurtured for five generations. As one of four children, Jane has vivid memories of growing up on the farm; despite a short reprieve when she married and moved away, it’s where she’s spent her life. Her husband, Mike Campbell, a TV engineer in his younger days and now employed at Appalachian State University, is all about preserving history as much or more so than she. Together, they make the perfect couple and have also instilled a love for the land and mountain customs into their teenage children, Cole and Ivy. “They’ve always done a lot with us,” their mother said. “Cole, 18, is in college now studying engineering, but he still knows how to weave. Ivy, a Watauga High student (and Pacer) enjoys knitting and spinning.” It was two of her aunts, Stella Barnes and Addie Norris, accomplished weavers who worked on looms in her grandparents’ home, Jane recalls, who had a huge impact on her young, impressionable mind. “I loved watching them work,” she said. Her sixth-grade teacher, Florence Greene, taught the entire class to knit.“She was a major influence in our lives and taught the boys to knit as good or better than the girls,” Jane said. Jane has always enjoyed doing things with her hands. “I’d take twine and braid ropes and halters for the horses when I was a little girl. It just came natural,” she said. It saddens Jane to see how the modern world has consumed much of “the good old days” she knew as a child. “We still prefer the simpler way of life,” she said. The Campbells live in a unique log cabin, the main part of which was built in the 1800s and moved to Watauga from Yadkin County. Through the years, they have added to it from various other colonial homesteads and have furnished and decorated it with era specific pieces – much of which they’ve crafted themselves. Their residence, on Ridge Road outside of Boone once known as the Old Buffalo Trail, is where her forefathers settled in the late 1800s. Jane and her siblings still nurture the land www.aawmag.com
“
Photos by Rob Moore
I’d take twine
and braid
ropes and halters for the horses when I was a little girl. It just came natural.
”
upon which they continue the tradition of growing apples, Christmas trees, raising cattle and more. “ T h e re ’s a lw ay s b e e n wo m e n i n agriculture,” Jane said. “Our mother worked as hard as anyone and always fed the work hands when it came time to pick apples. Our daddy took produce off the mountain to sell and got a contract selling cabbage to Ruth’s Salads in Charlotte. Dad was among the first to grow Christmas trees around here, too.” Jane’s corner of the world is a viable part of history, and one that she and her family work hard to preserve. The Campbells have volunteered at Hickory Ridge Homestead at the Horn in the West complex in Boone for many years, often dressed in period costumes and demonstrating the early American lifestyle. Jane is known far and wide for her expertise as a fiber artist; her love for fabric, and especially weaving and spinning, has grown from a childhood fascination into an adult enterprise. Since obtaining an old loom from a neighbor many years ago – one that she recently returned to its original home – Jane began collecting looms of all shapes and sizes. “They just seemed to find me,” she said. As her collection grew, so did her skills as she advanced to weaving rugs, blankets, scarves, coverlets, dolls and more. Spinning came later, the art of dyeing fibers and felting soon followed – through hands-on experience, research, community classes, workshops, fiber guilds, spinning groups, and from old-time weavers and spinners. Despite being a master crafter, Jane never feels that she’s learned enough. She spends hours on end in her “weave house,” another log structure added to the back of the family cabin that houses her 10-plus floor looms, several table looms, shelves and boxes full of supplies. Jane has enjoyed many opportunities to demonstrate her crafts at museums, fairs, heritage festivals and in classrooms. It is her hope that through something she does, others – especially the younger generation - will give more serious consideration to their past. One of her looms was used as a prop in the movie, “The Winter People,” filmed in the area in the late 1980s. Jane has been invited to participate in this year’s N.C. State Fair in Raleigh and will spend the 10-day period demonstrating her work in the Village of Yesteryear. While excited, she also expressed some trepidation at having to be away from her Continued On Page 32 OCTOBER 2010
31
Coffey Family Keeps Family Tradition Alive
By Sherrie Norris
F
or the Coffey family on Ridge Road, an apple is more than a fruit and a Fraser fir is more than a tree … it’s a way of life and has been for at least five generations. Sisters Nancy Moretz, Judy Coffey and Jane Campbell, along with brother Kent Coffey, grew up on the family farm, learning everything there is to know about apples, trees, livestock – and more. Their knowledge and skills are now passing down the line to their offspring. The Coffeys have opened their orchard to the public for many years, for more than two decades, providing educational, yet fun, experiences for local schoolchildren and civic groups who tour the orchard. The siblings have a deep love for the land and what it produces. The last three generations have farmed the same fertile land on the picturesque ridge, representing at least five generations of apple growers. Their grandmother came to the area in a covered wagon as a little girl in the 1880s and from there, a family tradition was begun. It is with a deep sense of pride and hard work that the Coffeys nurture the land. Each member of the “middle” generation initially followed dreams to work in other vocations, but returned to their roots. As children of the late Walter and Cleo Coffey, they know that successful farming requires sacrifice and hard work. In the early years, Walter grew a variety of crops, including cabbage, tomatoes, beans, potatoes and apples, and hauled a lot off the mountain with a horse-drawn wagon. For some time, he supplied most of the cabbage used by Ruth’s Salads of Charlotte. The women in the family were in the fields long before the term “women in agriculture” was a more common term, Jane said. Walter was the first farmer “on this side of the mountain” who began growing Christmas trees in the early ‘60s, another tradition his children, mainly, Judy, carry on today. The family also grew tobacco. Kent has kept the love for livestock alive with cattle and horses grazing contentedly over the ridge. A major family focus today is the orchard, where the year-round operation produces twenty-plus varieties of apples each year. Hundreds of bushels of apples are harvested annually, grown on approximately 300 trees that cover the family orchard, many of which “are very old
32 OCTOBER 2010
Jane Campbell Continued From Page 31
Sisters Judy Coffey, Jane Campbell (standing) and Nancy Moretz.
trees,”’ Nancy tells us. Some, they calculate, are “well over one-hundred years old.” Most of the apples are sold on the farm, with faithful, long-time customers returning each year. Student tours take kids through the orchard on a wagon, in addition to a stop in the apple house, where the sorting, processing and storage takes place. Visitors are easily captivated by the antique apple grader/fruit polisher brought by Walter from a South Carolina peach orchard in the 60s. “Kent has kept it running for us through the years. He’s our mechanic,” Jane states. Tidbits of area history are always thrown into the tours as well as those regarding the life cycle of apples – the pruning, clearing, pruning, spraying, grafting, and actual picking processes. The tour guides talk about “apple pests” and critters that love their fruit . . . the wild turkeys, raccoons and deer. They talk about how the honeybees pollinate, and ask their visitors questions – before they depart - about what they’ve learned. “Some of these kids don’t know how apples are grown,” Jane said. “They think they just show up in the grocery store. We want them to leave here with a better understanding, not only of apples, but also of the land on which they are grown. We want them to have fun, but to learn something while they’re here.” The apple house is decorated with pictures, letters, posters and other keepsakes the family receives from visitors. While the orchard keeps the Coffey family busy year round, they barely have time to look up this time every year – and they wouldn’t have it any other way.
comfort zone.“I’m a homebody,” she said, with a chuckle. “Mike and the kids will come down on the weekends, but I don’t like to be away from them or from home. City life is not for us. In fact, Boone is too big! We’d rather be back in a holler somewhere.” The apples in the family orchard will be ready for picking at about the same time she’s in Raleigh, she said. Jane and sister, Nancy Moretz, who oversee the apple business, were recently named Watauga County’s 2010 Women in Agriculture.They welcome hundreds of schoolchildren to the “Coffey Grounds” every year, take them for a wagon ride through the orchard, and teach them about how apples are grown and harvested. Again, it’s about preserving local history and Jane Campbell is all about it. In the meantime, if she’s not at the loom or in the orchard, she might be gardening or attending the Blue Ridge Fiber Guild meeting at Cove Creek with Ivy. “I’ve gotta have a little time for me once in a while, but it doesn’t take much to make me happy,” she said. “Just looking at a pile of wool makes me smile.”
Cents
& Sensibility
Teaching Your Kids to Manage Money
By Corrinne Loucks Assad
H
ow are our children learning to manage money? It’s usually by trial and error that they learn these skills by the time they become adults and are out of the house. Most youngsters haven’t had the luxury of taking courses in school or watching educational programs on TV that teach money management. Many will learn from watching their parents – which may or may not be helpful. Not all parents practice good money management skills, and in some homes, the financial picture is so complex that the kids don’t really know what’s going on. Add to the mix the fact that most kids have more money at their disposal today and have access to money at an earlier age than ever before. It may be from monetary gifts for special occasions, or that the tooth fairy seems to have hit the lottery since we were kids. Without guidance, kids can learn bad money habits that will carry over through their adult lives. Most parents don’t deal with their kids’ money management problems until the kids become adults. By then, the issues can be costly and emotionally charged. Given the responsibility of handling money and guidance from parents along the way, kids can learn money management skills that will take them through financial successes and pitfalls for the rest of their lives. The best place to start is by giving your child an allowance to manage. Having a set amount of income is the only way they can learn to budget, save and prioritize their funds. They need to make mistakes now, when the cost is minimal. This allowance management helps children learn how much things cost, prioritize what they really want or think they need, and to have more appreciation
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for the things that they buy with their “own” money. As soon as children show an interest in, and an understanding of the concept of money, i.e. that it can be exchanged for goods, they are ready to start managing their own. In many cases this can be as early as age 3 or 4. Allowance should be given weekly and be a set amount every week. If you’re wondering how much al-
lowance to give, consider what you are giving the child each week now. Without an allowance, your kid’s role has been that of salesperson or manipulator in getting money from you. Give them that same amount each week, let them make their own decisions, and they will become managers while you avoid the battles. Consider that kids need money to spend, save and share. Once you’ve decided on an amount, sit down and make a list of what that allowance is meant to cover. Review this list with your child. The list will help prevent those moments in stores or before a movie on the weekend when your child wants to negotiate for your money: The amount required to buy and do things became their allowance. The amount can change as needs
change, but not so often that it becomes a constant negotiation. For example, you may change the amount every six months or so as your teenager spends more time in activities away from home. Keep chores separate from allowance. If you believe that chores are a responsibility that each person has, as a member of the family, then kids should not be paid for them. If the “chore” is above and beyond their usual responsibility, then do pay them for it, but keep the money separate from allowance. If their chores go undone, be careful not to let that affect allowance but, rather, take away a privilege. Connecting allowance to chores can unleash other problems like not doing the chores if they don’t need the money that week. Roping allowance to chores invites them to ask “how much?” every time they do something. Our goal, as parents, is to teach them money management skills outside of other responsibility. It is exciting to see local high schools offering personal finance and money management courses to students this year. If the students choose the elective course, they will learn tasks such as what it takes to maintain a checking account, including balancing a checkbook. Hopefully, your kids already have bank accounts and some experience in those logistics before hitting high school. They may also learn the theory of compounding savings and/or the difference between account types, certificates of deposit, or bonds. The only way they are really going to learn lifelong skills are through their own experience – and hopefully with your parental guidance. If they don’t learn as children, the price of money mistakes as adults can be major, both monetarily and relationally. OCTOBER 2010
33
All About Men
Putting Out The Fires With
h s r a M e i Ronn
“
By Sherrie Norris
A firefighter’s job is something that his or her entire family must be committed to. Without the patience, support and encouragement of my wife and kids, I couldn’t do what I do.
”
Ronnie Marsh joined the Boone Fire Department as a volunteer while a senior at Watauga High School. Since 1992, he has served as fire marshal for the town of Boone. Photo by Sherrie Norris
O
Firefighting is a family affair for Ronnie and his son, Taylor, who, representing different departments, ended up sideby-side earlier this year when a large fire required mutual aid.
Photo Provided
ctober is National Fire Prevention Month and no one knows employee of the Boone Fire Department when he accepted the position of what it takes to keep the fires from burning any better than fire inspector. In 1992, he assumed the double role of assistant fire chief/fire marshal, Ronnie Marsh. which eventually evolved into his current position as the A Boone native who has devoted his life to town’s fire marshal. community service, Ronnie was raised in a home where doing As such, it is his duty, in addition to administrative tasks, for others was a central focus. He was inspired early in life by to enforce fire codes, provide fire and life safety programs, the example set forth by his parents, as well as his paternal investigate fires, suppress fires and assist the fire chief in grandfather and a maternal uncle, who “worked all the time” related activities. with a deep concern for their fellowman. Those who know Ronnie best agree that he is the Ronnie’s decision to become a fireman “just came natural,” epitome of what every neighborhood wants in a fireman he said, as his three older brothers were volunteer firefighters – a helping hand and a friend to all. Definitely, he’s one of for the town of Boone when he signed on as a high school the good guys in uniform who most people want to see in senior. a time of crisis. After graduation, he attended Appalachian State University, Ronnie has received numerous certifications and where he received his bachelor’s degree in criminal justice in accolades through the years, including the Watauga County 1980. Outstanding Young Firefighter’s Award and the Outstanding Fortunately, Ronnie realized early in life that he had a Young Men of America Award. gift of service and has done well to fulfill that calling since the An avid football fan, Ronnie has He has spent countless hours in training, as a student mid-70s. Within his 34 years’ experience as a dedicated firefighter, been a part of the WHS “chain and instructor, and is well-versed in all aspects of fire safety gang” for about 11 years. and emergency management. evidence of Ronnie’s leadership qualities spread like … well, Photo by Rob Moore Ronnie is a member of the N.C. Fire Marshal’s wildfire. He was named Watauga County’s first fire marshal (in charge of Association, for which he has served as treasurer for 12 years. He is also emergency management) in 1984; two years later, he became the first career a member of the National Fire Protection Association, N.C. Chapter of 34 OCTOBER 2010 www.aawmag.com
”
International Arson Investigators Association and the WNC Fire and Life Safety Educators. He has seen a lot of changes throughout his career and will always remember the example of the late Jack Roark, former fire chief in Boone. “Jack was a laborer who worked all the time. It was inspiring to me to see how he constantly gave of his time and efforts for the community. He helped me see that serving others was never about the $5 stipend we got for each call, or about any amount of money we might’ve earned later on. It was about community service. That’s what it is for me today,” Ronnie said. Following a tragic Queen Street fire in the early ’80s that claimed the lives of two college students, Ronnie, with Neil Hartley, appeared before the N.C. Building Code Council to request that smoke detectors become mandatory in existing residential settings. Soon afterward, the ordinance was passed. Ronnie was delighted to activate the first smoke detector in Boone. That’s just one example of many that could be shared regarding his good deeds, whether professionally or personally. Ronnie gives much credit for his success to his family and especially to his wife, Denise, and their children, Andrea and Taylor. “A firefighter’s job is something that his or her entire family must be committed to. Without the patience, support and encouragement of my wife and kids, I couldn’t do what I do. There have been many nights and special occasions during which I’ve been called out for hours at a time and left them at home alone,” he said. Ronnie has much to say about his comrades, too.“One man or woman cannot fight a fire alone. In the older days, we might’ve referred to our department as a brotherhood. Today, we have women, also, who are very good at what they do, and we all rely on each other for our success. It requires a team effort all the way and we’ve got a great team here in the High Country,” he said. Ronnie knows a thing or two about teamwork. He coached T-ball, coach-pitch and Little League baseball for several years. Still today, some of those “boys,” now adults, come to him when they need a strong shoulder and a word of advice. Ronnie has also been part of the “chain gang” for WHS football for about 11 years and is an avid ASU Mountaineer fan, attending both home and away games. He and his family are active members at Perkinsville Baptist Church in Boone, where he has served as a deacon, on numerous committees and is the current Brotherhood director. He loves to play golf and spend quality time with family and special friends. As others have inspired him through the years, it’s little wonder now that his son Taylor is following in his footsteps. As a member of the Deep Gap Volunteer Fire Department, Taylor is an emergency medical technician (EMT) and captain of the first responders, has obtained his firefighter II certification and is working toward his paramedic status and a degree in fire science. www.aawmag.com
Ronnie is as equally proud of his daughter, Andrea, a 2008 graduate of ASU, now employed at the university in Advancement Services and owner of a photography business. Denise has been employed at ASU for 27
“ O
years and is program coordinator for Health Promotion for Faculty and Staff. Ronnie Marsh is a hero to many and a friend to all; he’s been “Sparky” to some, but to those who know him best, he’s just “Bear.”
Smoke Alarms:
”
A Sound You Can Live With
ctober is National Fire Prevention Month, with the week of Oct. 3-9 as a time to increase awareness and prevention strategies. The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), of which Boone fire marshal Ronnie Marsh is a member, has chosen, for this year’s theme — “Smoke Alarms: A Sound You Can Live With!” A strong advocate for smoke alarms, Marsh was instrumental in the state’s passage of an ordinance that required all existing residences to have a working smoke detector back in the early 1980s, after two college students died in a Boone fire. This year’s fire prevention campaign is reaching across the country in an effort to educate people about the importance of smoke alarms and encourage everyone to take the steps to update and maintain their home smoke alarm protection. The NFPA offers the following “fast facts” for home safety and fire prevention:
or disconnected, nuisance alarms were the leading reason for the disconnected alarms. • More than half of the smoke alarms found in reported fires and two-thirds of the alarms found in homes with fire deaths were powered by battery only. • Most homes still have smoke alarms powered by battery only. In a 2007, American Housing Survey (AHS) reported that 67 percent of the respondents who reported having smoke alarms said they were powered by battery only. • In a 2008 telephone survey, only 12 percent knew that smoke alarms should be replaced every 10 years. • In fires considered large enough to activate a smoke alarm, hard-wired alarms operated 91 percent of the time; battery-powered smoke alarms operated 75 percent of the time. • Interconnected smoke alarms on all floors increase safety. - In a U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) survey of households with any fires, interconnected smoke alarms were more likely to operate and alert occupants to a fire. (This includes fires in which the fire department was not called.)
Fire Smoke alarms • I n s t a l l s m o k e a l a r m s f o l l o w i n g manufacturers’ instructions. Smoke alarms cut the risk of dying in a reported fire in half. • Most homes (96 percent) have at least one smoke alarm (according to a 2008 telephone survey). • Overall, three-quarters of all U.S. homes have at least one working smoke alarm. • Each year, nearly 3,000 people die in U.S. home fires. • In 2003-2006, roughly two-thirds of home fire deaths resulted from home fires in homes with no smoke alarms or no working smoke alarms. - No smoke alarms were present in 40 percent of the home fire deaths. - In 23 percent of the home fire deaths, smoke alarms were present but did not sound. • In more than half of the reported home fires in which the smoke alarms were present but did not operate even though the fire was large enough, batteries were missing
• Cooking is the No. 1 cause of home fires and injuries. • Smoking is the leading cause of fire deaths. • Heating is the second leading cause of home fires, fire deaths and fire injuries. • Electrical failures or malfunctions are factors in roughly 50,000 reported fires each year. • Roughly 30, 000 intentionally set home structure fires are reported each year.
2008 Stats: • U.S. fire departments responded to 386,500 home fires. • Home fires killed 2,755 people and injured 13,160. • Someone was injured in a reported home fire every 40 minutes. • Roughly eight people died in home fires every day. • A fire department responded to a home fire every 82 seconds. • Eighty three percent of all fire deaths and 79 percent of fire injuries resulted from home fires. OCTOBER 2010
35
Real Estate
&Home
REFINANCING
YOUR HOME by Corrinne Loucks Assad
T
hese days, it seems to all come down to lowering your monthly payments. If making your mortgage payment is a stretch, refinancing your home could significantly help. Thanks to all-time low interest rates, a refinancing craze has hit our country. Some people have even refinanced several times over the past five years to take advantage of these offers. If you’ve owned your home for at least a few years and purchased before 36 OCTOBER 2010
rates hit rock bottom, you have many options available for saving money every month. You may choose to take the great rate and lower your payment. You could also take the lower rate, continue to make the same payment and pay off your home faster. Or, you could refinance into a 15year mortgage and, with a lower interest rate, have almost the same payment each month for half the time. Depending on how much equity you have, you could even choose to take some money out to
repair or remodel your home and still have lower payments. The trick is finding the right refinance program for your individual needs.You will see and hear offers all over the Internet, TV and radio.You may find the lowest rate online, or seek out your favorite mortgage broker(s). First, decide why you are considering the refinance. Is it to lower your payments? Do you need to take money out to pay off credit card debt or other bills? Do you just want to shorten the time left and pay www.aawmag.com
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off your home faster? Your answers will determine the right loan for you.Your job is to negotiate the best deal. Just like the terms on a car, you can negotiate rates, fees and programs with your mortgage broker. Work with several mortgage brokers and get the banks to vie for your business. You will find both fixed and adjustable rate loans available to you today. A fixed rate mortgage is usually for 15 or 30 years, and the payment stays the same, or “fixed” every month for the duration of the loan. An adjustable rate mortgage (ARM) stays fixed, usually for three or five years, at which time the rate can change.At today’s low interest rates, the ARM is almost assured to go up at the end of that fixed term. If you plan to sell the home before the end of the three or five years, this could be the option for you. The way real estate values look today, if you sell your home you may not be able to afford to live in your own neighborhood again. With this in mind, many homeowners are choosing to refinance, take money out of the equity in their homes and repair or remodel. Banks and other financial institutions offer incentives for homeowners to take out equity lines of credit for improving their homes. If you choose this route, be careful not to borrow more than you can afford to pay back, which is
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what originally got many people into the financial struggle they are in today. The positive side of borrowing to remodel is that you’ll be building equity in your home by making it more valuable in the process. You may be wondering if interest rates are as low as they’re going to go.When it comes to the interest rate, don’t get greedy.The difference 1/10 or even a ¼ of a point makes in your mortgage payment is negligible. Lock in today’s low rate as soon as possible and don’t wait around for the rates to get better. Real estate is an investment, and when an investment is increasing in value, people want to put more and more money into it. As home values drop, interest rates may rise again because lenders won’t want to put as much money into real estate. This is why it’s initially so important to buy a home that is affordable for you and one that will appreciate in value. Be smart and you’re protected even if home values drop. Mortgage shopping can be frustrating. Rates and refinancing programs are constantly changing. Read up on interest rates and the U.S. economy. Sites like Bankrate.com give opinions about mortgages and today’s low rates. Check the local newspaper for up-to-date information. Educate yourself and you’ll make smart decisions about your long-term financial goals, in real estate and otherwise.
OCTOBER 2010
37
All About Men In Our Lives
Summer Days End to Bring in Autumn By Sherrie Norris
Chris Hayes and daughter Mackenlea share a special moment at the recent Boone Fair. Good friends Trevor Penick, Jacob Gilliam, and Ethan Henson having a good time while listening to the sounds of Surefire on a local outdoor stage.
38 OCTOBER 2010
S
hauna Godwin of Boone is no stranger to the stage and is making a name for herself in and away from her hometown. Not only does she direct the Miss High Country Sweetheart pageants held twice a year in Boone, but she is also well-known in the world of dance, both near and far. Her decision to direct pageants, she said, was to promote the positive in an industry that is often scowled upon.
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(above) Avery County’s Steve Stamey, left, and Doug Pritchard can always be counted on for a good laugh.
Richard Blackburn, executive board chair of the High Country Council of Governments, welcomes Jefferson Mayor Dana Tugman, center and Crossnore Mayor Tudor Vance to the “Hall of Fame” during the recent 36th Annual HCOG Banquet at Linville Ridge, in recognition for 15 or more years of service to the executive board.
Ben Ray and Scott Lyons talk things over during the annual picnic of High Country Classics Car Club.
Joey Parsons of Deep Gap lights up the corner wherever he goes.
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OCTOBER 2010
39
the Pet Page
“
Passion For Pets At
The Pet Place By Genevieve Austin
A
nimal friends tend to bring out the best in human beings. For animal lovers, what could be better than to work with these delightful creatures every day? Not much. Madolyn Cearley and her friendly staff at The Pet Place in Boone are all animal lovers and excited to be celebrating the 10th anniversary of The Pet Place. The milestone marks the fruition of a dream of Madolyn and her friend in realizing the need for a pet shop 40 OCTOBER 2010
in the High Country. Between the two of them they owned nine dogs and had the talent, skill and knowledge to meet that need. While The Pet Place carries small animals, exotic birds, fish and a variety of species, it also supports the local Humane Society and direct clientele there to adopt cats and dogs. Madolyn credits her wonderful staff, all of which are pet owners, for the warm and welcoming environment. They all appreciate their loyal
customers for their trust and dedication to giving their pets quality care. Madolyn tells her staff, “Treat customers like friends and their pets like family.” Integrity is a key factor in her business. It is very important to Madolyn that she and her employees can be trusted. For that reason, she instructs her employees to answer questions they can answer but to let customers know when they don’t know an answer to a specific question. With the many resources available, customers know that answers will be found and that products and options suggested are based upon solid information. With the multitude of questions www.aawmag.com
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“ ” Treat customers like friends and their pets like family.
pertaining to the care of so many different animals, there are definitely questions that need further investigation, the admit. Laughter and the music of pet sounds fill the air at The Pet Place. Upon entering, one may hear chirps, meows (as they act as an adoption hub for the Humane Society’s kittens and cats), and human voices talking up a storm. But don’t be surprised if the human laughter you hear, seemingly out of thin air, is a perfect mimic from one of the illustrious parrots! Madolyn loves all animals but considers herself a dog person. Perhaps the next dearest to her heart are the birds - their “intelligence” surpasses human expectation and their ability to entertain is ceaseless. Madolyn says the birds talk most in the morning before business hours or in the evening at closing. It’s as if the business has a double alarm system in that the parrots have learned alarm system vocabulary. As the employees prepare to leave and set the alarm system, they hear the automated, “Armed away. Exit now.” The birds repeat, “Armed. Away. Exit. Now.” As employees disarm the security system upon opening each day, it announces, “Disarmed. Not ready to arm.” And again, the birds repeat, “Disarmed. Not ready to arm.” Then, there are the delightful everyday greetings. “Hello! How are ya?” While there are many words they know, they greet and say goodbye to their human friends. “Bye-bye! See you tomorrow!” and “Love you!” A day at work just doesn’t get any better! For a “Pet Place experience” or your own, visit the friendly staff and the friends at 240 Shadowline Drive in Boone or for more information, call: (828) 268-1510, or check out The Pet Place online: www.petplaceboone.com/ pet-place-links.html.
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OCTOBER 2010
41
All About Authors
“
All About
Christy Tillery French and The (Female) Bodyguard
with Maggie Bishop
Maggie Bishop: Tell us about your latest book. Christy Tillery: My latest is The Bodyguard and the Snitch, Book 4 of the Bodyguard series. In this installment, protection specialist Natasha Chamberlain thinks guarding a defense attorney from a disgruntled client should be a fairly normal job, but when she learns he’s been targeted by the mafia, she’s ready to call it quits. However, the attorney holds her to their contract, and Natasha soon finds her life placed in danger along with her client. Natasha’s fiancé Jonce Striker is fit to be tied when he learns this, which only confirms to him the bodyguard field is too dangerous for his love. After Natasha is shot trying to protect her client, Striker delivers the final ultimatum: Leave the bodyguard field or lose him. Natasha makes her choice, but will she live to regret it?
Bishop: Why did you start writing novels? Tillery: I started a small business, and during periods when I didn’t have anything to do, I’d write to entertain myself. Before I knew it, I had a manuscript of over 1,000 pages. Needless to say, it has never been published and will probably never leave my office closet.
Bishop: What inspired your 42 OCTOBER 2010
Author Christy Tillery French makes the High Country connection through local writer’s group. Photo submitted
Bodyguard series? Tillery: I was driving home from a bookfest, trying to come up with an idea for a series, and it hit me:What better protagonist than a female bodyguard; think of all the characters I could place around her and all the different situations she could get herself into. And with that, Natasha Chamberlain was born. Once I arrived home, I immediately started on the first book, The Bodyguard, which I wrote in under a month.
Bishop: Why do you work with animal rescue? Tillery: It’s such rewarding work. When they’re first rescued, a lot of the dogs are so mentally traumatized and in poor physical
shape, it just breaks my heart. It’s wonderful to watch them blossom under our care, then match them up with their forever home, knowing they now have a chance for a happy, love-filled life.
Bishop: How did you learn about High Country Writers? Tillery: In 2005, I organized a Skill-Build in Knoxville, Tenn., for Southeast Mystery Writers of America and was privileged to schedule Judy Geary as one of our presenters. At the Skill-Build, I had the chance to chat with Judy, Maggie Bishop and Wendy Dingwall, at which time, I learned about HCW and joined a couple of years later. www.aawmag.com
Travel
& Leisure
“Elephant Magic” Part II – Traveling To Nepal
By Sue Spirit
followed by the ethereal sounds of a drum-brush, rain sticks, and tree-bells chiming, seemingly the entire tympani section of a celestial orchestra. Farther, soft splashing told me we must be entering a river. As the elephants waded deeper, the water music swelled, drawing me into another world, a spirit world. Their rhythmic water-lumbering afforded mystical sounds so unexpected, so pure, so heavenly, that for me the curtain was lifted between the seen world and the unseen. I was not just atop an amazing beast on an iconic journey. I was transported into a world of transcendent sound. Down from the elephant and back on the path to my cabin, I carried handfuls of water-word shards; tuneful, breakable glass; rich scraps of my journey, saved to be woven into a poem.
“Five Peopled Elephants Wade the Rapti River”
W
hitewater rafting on the Seti River in Nepal to a remote camp only reached by water was an adventure planned for our Overseas Adventure travel group. Our gung-ho group, except for me, was all set to go aboard and begin paddling the river. As we watched the fast-moving current, our river guide talked about what to do if we fell off the raft. Near tears, really frightened, I realized that perhaps I was not cut out for the fast-paced adventure life. What was a contemplative loner doing here? Somehow, I did manage the three and a-half hours of nail-biting rapids without falling off the raft. Seti River Camp, at over 100 degrees, was decidedly uncomfortable. The temperature in my tent was 96 degrees. Suffering from a sinus infection, I had no appetite. Next morning starting out at 6 for a twohour hike to a village, we stayed relatively cool for a while, and were entertained by watching a baby goat being born, a shaman concocting a cure for someone suffering from typhoid, and a woodcutting duo sawing boards from a twofoot-thick tree. By the time we returned to camp, it was again over 100 degrees, and I was in serious trouble. A short time later “Buddha’s Revenge” hit hard. Something I had eaten didn’t agree with me. It was all I could do the following morning to get back onto the raft and continue the whitewater trip three more hours downstream. Arriving at our lodge in Chitwan National Park, another 100 plus degree spot, I collapsed in bed for the rest of the day, while the others took www.aawmag.com
an oxcart ride, watched a stick dance and visited a crocodile nursery. The highlight of our Chitwan stay was to be a two-hour elephant ride the next morning through the jungle.Weak and wrung out, it never occurred to me that I would be able to go.To my surprise, I found myself dressing, drinking a cup of chiyya (Nepali tea), and following the others through the early morning mist to the elephant platform. Somehow, I managed to climb with two others into a small square basket atop our beast, and we were off, floating through the dawn on an elephant cloud. I was facing the rear, my sandals grazing the elephant’s flanks. The whole world seemed to stop. I was as empty as a new sheet of paper: No thoughts, no expectations, just flicking softly through jungle paths. Suddenly, there was a crash of cymbals,
In the bird-loud Chitwan dawn we shove off from the elephant platform, an elegant procession, each trio in a four-sided basket atop a symphony of lumbering grace. Immediately locked in 4/4 time we swish through jungle paths. I’m near the rear of the train facing backward, wrapped in contemplation, suddenly surprised by elephants entering a river, genuflecting to drink holy water, baptizing themselves with practiced solemnity and a hint of glee. Then a trumpet voluntary of sweet percussion, wading ecstasy, four-part harmony like the shake of tinkling bells, organ-pipe wind chimes, clanging donkey gongs, ice clinking in glasses, then a shudder of silence as we climb ashore. — Sue Spirit
OCTOBER 2010
43
Motherhood
&Parenting
“
Safety Tips For
HALLOWEEN
“Trick-or-treat!”
That’s the phrase shouted with glee by many youngsters across the country every Halloween night. But before your young ghosts and goblins trick-or-treat this year, parents should keep in mind these safety tips to make sure all the howls are those of fun. Have each child carry or wear something illuminated, such as a flashlight, glow bracelet, necklace, or flashing attire for visibility. Light-up shoes are also practical, and ever-so-noticeable on a dark Halloween night. Adults should plan out a route in advance and check it during the daylight for such obstacles as broken sidewalks (or no sidewalks), construction materials or other obstacles that
44 OCTOBER 2010
could cause a fall. Keep the kids in familiar neighborhoods. Require well-fitting shoes to be worn, preferably sneakers. While adorable in the store as a costume accessory, the princess high-heels are not practical, nor are boots, etc. that are too large. Avoid costumes that drag on the ground, which can trip up little feet, get caught on bushes, etc. Think comfort and ease for the younger set, especially, and costumes that are bathroomfriendly. Purchased costumes should be made of flame-retardant material. All attire should be reflective of the local weather. Some parents overdress their kids so that they sweat and are
uncomfortable in costumes that are very heavy or don’t “breathe.” Others freeze in skimpy costumes or those made of thin material. Feed your kids a healthy meal prior to hitting the street. They will be happier and it will help reduce the temptation to devour candy from the first stop. Children of all ages should be accompanied by a parent, if possible. Young teens who still pound the pavement for treats may resist this notion. If they do insist on setting out - minus an adult - set firm rules and require them to carry a cell phone that can be used for emergencies. Older kids should know where they can go, what etiquette they must follow, safety rules, carry a flashlight, etc. and have an absolute deadline for returning home. www.aawmag.com
“Treaters”
Must Do Their Part For a Safe, Fun Halloween
Pick up objects in the yard, sidewalk, or driveway that could create safety issues; be sure any tools are safely put away. Check hoses, flower pots and extension cords. Think “trick-or-treat safety” when decorating. Safety experts recommend using plug-in or battery-powered jack-o-lanterns instead of using a live candle. If opting for a live flame, make sure it’s away from any possible exposure to trick-or-treaters’ costumes or where they will be walking or standing. Keep your house well-lit and inviting, or if going for a spooky home theme, make sure trick-or-treaters know your house has a welcome mat extended. Be sure your pets are secured and put away, or other arrangements are made. Some pets might become frightened by the unusual visitors; others may become territorial or even aggressive. You don’t want your pets scaring the trick- or- treaters and vice-versa. Be especially careful with cats, that might dart out of open doors. Carefully consider healthier food alternatives. Non-sweet items like crackers, chips, raisins, or popcorn will most likely receive a “thumbs up” from parents. Some “treats” like pencils, spider rings, glow in the dark decals, etc., work as a great sweet substitute.
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OCTOBER 2010
45
Motherhood
&Parenting
SIDS - Be Aware Compliments of The Children’s Council of Watauga County
O
ctober is Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) Awareness Month, a time to educate parents, caregivers and family members about the risk factors associated with SIDS. SIDS is a sudden death of a baby that cannot be explained after autopsy, examination of death and/or a review of medical history. SIDS is the third leading cause of infant mortality in the U.S., behind prematurity and congenital anomalies. It is the leading cause of death in infants after one month of age, with most cases occurring between 2-4 months of age. Experts say that sleeping in a prone position, lying face down, puts the infant at a 13 times greater risk for SIDS. Statistics indicate that African Americans and American Indians have a three times greater incidence of SIDS.
SIDS is NOT: • • • • • • •
Caused by external suffocation Caused by vomiting and choking Caused by immunizations Child abuse Contagious Hereditary Predictable or completely preventable
Factors that May Increase the Incidence of SIDS: • • • • • •
Smoke exposure in the home may predispose the infant to respiratory difficulties Overheating Respiratory illness Sleeping on a soft surface Bed-sharing Soft bedding or stuffed animals in bed
What You Should Know About These Risk Factors: • • • •
Risk factors do not cause SIDS, but may happen more often in babies that die of SIDS Even babies who have no risk factors can die of SIDS SIDS cannot be completely prevented SIDS is nobody’s fault
How You Can Help Reduce SIDS Risk:
Back Sleeping: The rate of SIDS has dropped 50 percent since the BACK to SLEEP campaign began. Side Sleeping: Better than stomach sleeping, but still TWICE the risk of back. Bed Sharing: • Adult beds are not designed for babies • Comforters, pillows, soft mattresses increase the risk of suffocation • Baby could become trapped between the headboard, wall or under an adult body • For breast-feeding mothers, share your room, not your bed For more information: • www.ichd.nih.gov. • www.marchofdimes.com • www.halosleep.com or www.firstcandle.org
46 OCTOBER 2010
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e
MOMs’ World By Heather W. Jordan, CNM, MSN
Diaper
Graduation R
ecently, my husband and I celebrated over the years, including “Flush the Potty” and a new and welcome phase in our lives “On Your Potty.” Sometimes, it seemed like we were never going to move beyond this phase, as parents: The Diaper Graduation. After almost seven years of even though I knew that he would be ready continuous diaper or pull-up changing, the reign when he was ready. We struggled with persuading him to of poop and pee has acquiesced to that of big not fight pooping on the potty and ultimately boy underwear and all the finer things in life. Granted, there are still those unexpected used a trick from our last son, which was to times as a mother when accidents occur and try to describe each poop in terms of what it you find yourself cleaning up after your children looked like. Our second son was forever tr ying (usually at 2 or 3 in the morning), but the end to the regular and seemingly never-ending cycle to poop out a T-rex, and Ben took to the descriptive aspect of the task. has a special place in all parents’ hearts. Suddenly, he was no longer apprehensive, Our training “potty” is being utilized only as a step stool to the sink, and the and my oldest son went to the extent of unused diapers and pull-ups lay in their telling Ben that he had to keep a running tally basket, beckoning me to donate them, while of his various creatures, so he could tell him I contemplate what the safe time frame is for all about them when he returned from Boy Scout camp. giving them away. I’m sure that some people would be Ben, enjoying his time at school despite repulsed that he exclaims with glee at the sea the naps, has impressed me monsters, puppy dogs, shells with his relatively smooth When I tried to put him and snakes that he identifies transition into underwear. At first, peeing on the into big boy underwear a few in the potty, but I can honestly potty was novel, but required months ago, I realized that I say that my excitement almost frequent reminders. Ben was not ready for changing matched his because it meant seemed perfectly content to his clothes multiple times that the long-awaited diaper continue to pee in his pull-up in a day without frustration graduation was near. I spoke with a good or underwear if we did not taking over. friend recently about this new “catch” him every one to two phase of parenting and our hours. conversation meandered into what it When I tried to put him into big boy meant to be “done” having babies. underwear a few months ago, I realized that However bittersweet this reality I was not ready for changing his clothes multiple times in a day without frustration may seem, we agreed that it did feel good to taking over. So, we went back to pull-ups and be moving on in our mothering. Of course, the sheer, awesome beauty diapers and continued to talk up all the things of pregnancy and birth is almost addictive, that “big boys” do that babies could not do. My son listened intently, but I think still particularly if you are blessed with healthy and really savored the time that we had to lay him uneventful pregnancies. My friend and colleague, Lisa Goldstein, down and change him. He would say things like, “Pretend that I’m a baby,” or “Remember once told me that, no matter how many children you have, there will always be a when I was tiny like a baby?” He wanted me to talk about his birth and “phantom baby” that all women muse and dream about. I think this is true. But, at some how small he was. We would read and re-read the multiple point, the female psyche relinquishes the hold potty-training books, which we had acquired of this baby and turns toward her real children,
delighting in the amazing personalities that kids have, pushing past the challenges of sibling rivalry, and starting to see how life unfolds without the all-night nursings, baby wearing, and, yes, the diaper changes. Comments or questions about this article? Contact Heather Jordan, certified nurse-midwife, at the office of Charles E. Baker, M.D., at 828-737-7711, ext. 253, or e-mail her at landh@localnet.com.
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OCTOBER 2010
47
Young at Heart
B ra i n
Chomping
FUN By Heather (Young) Brandon
A
s a general rule, I do not like romantic comedies. I like movies that are action packed, explosive (literally), suspenseful, dark and humorous. Because of my inclinations, I do enjoy a silly science fiction or horror movie – the more unrealistic the better. I grew up watching long forgotten Vincent Price B movies, as well as those with Ray Harryhausen and stop-motion animation, such as the original “Clash of the Titans,” “Jason and the Argonauts” and “The 7th Voyage of Sinbad.” As I matured, I discovered the old Sam Raimi classics, “Evil Dead” and “Army of Darkness.” Today’s filmmakers have given us the cinematic greatness that is “Sean of the Dead” and “Zombieland.” I am the first to acknowledge that I may be in the minority, but there is something about jerky skeleton armies, extremely fake, campy violence and subtle comparisons between today’s youth and the undead that I find highly amusing. I’ll take exploding dummies and ketchup blood over declarations of forbidden love and unfulfilled, neurotic ingénues any day! Luckily for me, the SYFY Channel shows some real gems year round, but the best time to find the true classics is during the month of October when networks roll out the annual Halloween film festivals. I eagerly scan the upcoming schedule to find the most harebrained monster movies I can
“
find and then, sit back and enjoy. Unfortunately, other than the above mentioned recent films, directors have strayed from making the ludicrous B movie-style horror films of which I am so fond. Those of us who are partial to such films, pardon the pun, need some fresh blood. You can imagine my delight, therefore, when I read that the re-imagined Jane Austin and Seth Grahame-Smith classic, “Pride and Prejudice and Zombies,” is being made into a film. What could be better than feisty heroines saving their quaint village from hoards of ghastly creatures who are solely driven to feast on their former friends and neighbors? That quiver you just felt was English teachers collectively collapsing (or swooning, perhaps) with dismay at the thought of this staple of British literature being rewritten. It is necessary to have a sense of humor that leans toward the morbid to fully appreciate this book. Needless to say, I found the adaptation to be fresh and engaging. I
found myself chuckling often at the pointed prose and accompanying illustrations. Elizabeth Bennet and Mr. Darcy make excellent zombie hunters; the storyline is witty and the addition of the undead is sure to attract a new audience. I recommend the novel to anyone who enjoys Jane Austin, the supernatural or books in general (and, look for the second in the series, “Sense and Sensibility and Sea Monsters”). I sincerely hope the upcoming movie will capture Elizabeth’s struggle with fulfilling her own desires while conforming to society’s expectations for young ladies in early 19th century England. Her mother would like Elizabeth and her sisters to gossip, cross stitch, excel at the pianoforte and find wealthy husbands, but the epidemic sweeping across the countryside calls for a well-trained and deadly zombie killer, who can protect her silly sisters from certain doom. What’s a girl to do? Pick up the book today, as the film is not scheduled to be released until 2011. It is sure to be brain chomping fun for the whole family!
I do enjoy a silly science fiction or horror movie – the more unrealistic the better.
48 OCTOBER 2010
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com
& Style
Beauty
Watch Out For Those Whiteners A By Kelly Penick
popular trend that you see these days is teeth whitening, even being done in a spa. Although it can be a great addition to a spa’s list of treatments, it might not be the safest route to go in terms of seeking out a whiter smile. In some states, it is illegal to offer teeth-whitening services outside of a professional dental practice or physician’s supervision. This is also a treatment that the ADA (American Dental Association) is urging spa clients to have done under a dentist’s care. It is out of the scope of the esthetician’s practice to insert any type of tray, or anything for that matter, into a client’s mouth. As you see more and more of these over-the-counter teeth-whitening solutions, keep in mind that there are dangers involved in applying them incorrectly – and outside of a professional dental practice. You need to be aware, also, that within these OTC products is a ten percent concentration of carbimide peroxide. When seeking out this procedure to be done professionally, those products consist of a concentration of around 35 percent. Therefore, a common side effect to teethwhitening can be gum irritation or tooth sensitivity. Most importantly, though, if you go to a non-professional to have this service rendered, he or she may not be able to detect oral problems that you might currently have. Also, such procedures could contribute to oral complications due to the concentration of strong chemicals. As the saying goes, “The mouth is the window to the body,” and you should consult your dentist if considering this treatment. Take every precaution to avoid any systemic problems due to issues not addressed prior to your treatment. Kelly Penick is an independent licensed esthetician who may be reached at (828) 773-3587.
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OCTOBER 2010
49
&Fitness
Health
s s e n t i F
Boot Camp By Corrinne Loucks Assad
“Lose Weight & Get Fit Fast” is the name of the game – the All Out Fitness Camp game, that is – Valerie Duggan’s fitness camp that meets on the Greenway Trail in Boone, Monday-Friday.
“Something for everyone” is not a cliché here. A beginner’s class meets three times a week – Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays at 5 p.m. For 50 minutes, beginning exercisers will focus on weight loss and/or toning, incorporating walking, low impact exercise, circuit training, etc. “In just four weeks of boot camp, I’ve seen people come out looking 10 years younger!” Valerie said. Exercisers do fitness testing at the beginning and again at the end of the course and all have shown remarkable improvement. With a bachelor’s degree in exercise science and health education, and a master’s in physiology and health promotion,Valerie has the knowledge to go with the enthusiasm and energy she has for fitness. Variety is one of the key factors she uses to help her clients get in shape fast. “I change the workouts every day, and this is what gets results,” she said. “When you do the same workout every time, your body gets used to it and that’s when people hit plateaus. My workouts are always different, so they trick the body into working harder and it also keeps people motivated.” In addition to the Light Boot Camp for beginners, Valerie offers a Regular Fitness Boot Camp that meets Monday through Friday at 6 p.m. Both classes meet at the Greenway behind the swim complex. Participants aren’t required to come every night, but if they do, they will, of course, get the best possible results. Regular Fitness Camp adds running, core work for abdominal and
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om
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lower back muscles, agility drills, resistance training and more. Regular Fitness Camp is considered “intense,” while the beginner’s camp is for those who consider themselves sedentary or have not exercised in a while. Incorporating mindful, healthy eating along with her exercise classes is one thing that makes Valerie’s camp stand out from other exercise programs. At the beginning of a new class, members receive a guide to eating and are encouraged to keep daily journals of their exercise and eating plans and accomplishments. She also sends out weekly e-mails with tips on nutrition, exercise and motivational ideas. Since the class is held outdoors, many of her clients find it more enjoyable than going to the gym and working out on machines, especially in nice weather. On rainy days, the classes meet inside the National Guard Armory where they are sometimes joined by the soldiers. The same ones who earlier called Valerie’s sessions “P.E. class” have often changed their tune by the end and have been overheard referring to Valerie as a drill sergeant. Her newest recruits signed on for the latest camp, which began Sept. 20, but enlistments are always welcome for upcoming training. Fo r m o re i n fo r m a t i o n , v i s i t w w w. alloutfitnesscamp.com.
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On the website, you will learn more about Valerie, register for classes, see before and after pictures and read the testimonies of clients, such as Tina who lost seven pounds,“many inches” and dropped two clothing sizes. Or Michael, who lost eight pounds, 1.5 inches off his waist and dropped his cholesterol by 82 points.
Photos by Rob Moore
enc r e f f i D A g n Maki
I
n the program since June 1, Pat Taylor lost 25 pounds in 12 weeks; her daughter, Crystal, lost 22 pounds. “Valerie is wonderful and she has made a difference in the lives of our entire family,” Pat said with enthusiasm, speaking of her husband, Jeff, and Crystal’s family of three, who are all involved in a new, healthier lifestyle. “Crystal prepares healthy meals, including glutenfree entrees and desserts for the family. Dad and grandpa baby sit while we head off to All Out Fitness Camp three nights each week. Everyone is surprised at our stick-toit-ness,” Pat said. “We’re the types who don’t like to sweat or get dirty, and now we’re out there rolling around on the ground, covered in grass and have even picked up a few slugs in the rain!” “At first, we thought we’d just exercise a little and not really change our eating, but the workouts are so great we don’t want to eat bad food anymore,” she said. Both Pat and Crystal hope that Valerie never leaves the area, as they plan to continue to work out with her for the foreseeable future. The family will be running a 5K race together in Myrtle Beach this month. Such testimonials are endless and are proof that Valerie’s Boot Camp is really working to change lives. Each camp includes exercisers of all ages, including several mother-child combos and husband-and-wife teams. Valerie offers different rate packages, a free oneweek trial and even a 30-day money back guarantee if for some reason a client decides the camp is not for her (or him). So, you really have nothing to lose but … well … you know.
OCTOBER 2010
51
October
Is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month Did You Know? Breast cancer is the most common cancer in women, aside from skin cancer. Breast cancer forms in tissues of the breast, usually the ducts (tubes that carry milk to the nipple) and lobules (glands that make milk). It occurs in both men and women. According to the American Cancer Society (ACS), an estimated 192,370 new cases of invasive breast cancer were diagnosed among women in the United States last year. Approximately 1,900 new cases in men. The American Cancer Society also reports that an estimated 40,600 breast cancer deaths occurred in 2009.
Most Common Risk Factors for Breast Cancer • Sex. The highest risk factor for breast cancer is being female; the disease is about 100 times more common among women. • Age. The risk increases as a woman grows older and is especially high for women age 60 and older. Uncommon in women younger than age 35, it does occur. Some evidence suggests young African American women are at greater risk than young Caucasian women. • Personal History. Women who have had breast cancer and women with a history of breast disease (not cancer, but a condition that may predispose them to cancer) may develop it again. • Family History. The risk increases for a woman whose mother, sister, daughter, or two or more close relatives have had the disease. It is important to know how old they were at the time they were diagnosed. • The Breast Cancer Genes. Some individuals, both women and men, may be born with an “alteration” (or change) in one of two genes that are important for regulating breast cell growth. Scientists estimate that only about 5-10 percent of all breast cancers are due to genetic changes. One out of two women with these changes are likely to develop breast cancer. • Women who begin menstruating before age 12 are at increased risk of developing breast cancer. The more menstrual cycles a woman has over her lifetime, the more likely she is to get the disease. • First pregnancy after age 25 or 35. Early pregnancies may help lower the chances of getting breast cancer, particularly before the age of 25, these same hormonal changes after age 35 may contribute to the incidence of breast cancer. • Having no children. Women who experience continuous menstrual cycles until menopause are at a higher than average risk. • Use of Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT). Based on the Women’s Health Initiative Study (2002), women do appear to have an increased risk of breast cancer while they are on HRT and a short time thereafter, compared to those who have never used postmenopausal HRT. This is based on a study of 16,000 healthy postmenopausal women aged 50 to 79 who were taking either estrogen plus progestin as HRT or a placebo (an inactive pill). • Use of Oral Contraceptives (OCs) and Breast Cancer. Current or former use of OCs among women ages 35 to 64 did not significantly increase the risk of breast cancer. Other factors include poor diet, insufficient physical activity, alcohol use, and smoking. Besides possibly reducing breast cancer risk, lifestyle improvements represent smart steps for a healthier life, since they can help prevent heart disease, diabetes, and many other chronic, life-threatening conditions. Source: American Cancer Society/Breast Cancer Awareness Month Promotion.
52 OCTOBER 2010
&Fitness
Health Healthy Lady
I Feel Your Pain
By Bonnie Church, CNC, wellness coach
W
hat do pop-artist Andy Warhol and scientist Charles Darwin have in common? Both were hypochondriacs. A hypochondriac is someone who is preoccupied with his or her body and perceives every pain as sign of a serious illness. They think they are ill, but they are not. It is “in their head,” so to speak. Unfortunately, the definition of hypochondria is often extended to mean anyone who hurts and the doctor cannot figure out why. Obviously, just because standard tests do not reveal illness, does not mean it doesn’t exist. It could simply mean that the illness is difficult to diagnose. One of these “easily dismissed” diseases is fibromyalgia [FM], a neurological disorder that manifests with a long list of symptoms, including chronic pain, fatigue and depression. The pain of FM has been described as more severe than the pain of rheumatoid arthritis. [Journal of Rheumatology] Due to the difficulty in assessing the disease, those who suffer from FM are sometimes dismissed as hypochondriacs, or given a misdiagnosis. The lack of understanding of the disease often leads friends, family and even health professionals to offer well-meaning, but misguided, advice. MISGUIDED ADVICE: You just need to get in shape. Exercise will not cure FM. Research indicates that anyone who is “cured” of FM by an exercise regime alone was often misdiagnosed, and found to be suffering from clinical depression and other disorders, which mimic many of the signs of FM. Exercise can actually exacerbate symptoms. Research shows that temperature and cerebral blood flow increase when a healthy person exercises. They actually decrease in those with FM. [J Rheumatology] MISGUIDED ADVICE: You need a psychological evaluation. FM is not a psychological aberration. There are actually a number of biological abnormalities that present in someone who has FM, that do not happen with psychiatric conditions, including: • • • • • •
Decreased blood flow to specific areas of the brain, particularly the thalamus region, which may help explain the pain sensitivity and cognitive functioning problems experienced by fibromyalgia patients. High levels of “substance P,” a central nervous system neurotransmitter involved in pain processing. Low levels of nerve growth factor. Low levels of somatomedin C, a hormone that promotes bone and muscle growth. Low levels of several neurochemicals: Serotonin, norepinephrine, dopamine and cortisol. Low levels of phosphocreatine and adenosine, muscle-cell chemicals.
MISGUIDED ADVICE: Take an aspirin (or some other nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs). FM is not an inflammatory condition, so such medications are of little value. If any pain reduction is noted, it is likely arthritis or another inflammatory conditions pain that is being reduced. Fibromyalgia is a www.aawmag.com
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neurological disorder that is often seen in tandem with arthritis, lupus and other joint, muscle problems. MISGUIDED ADVICE: Get over it! If you are a fibro sufferer, that’s what you truly would like to do. You would like to “get over” this obstacle to enjoy life to the fullest, but you need help. WHAT SHOULD YOU DO, IF YOU THINK YOU HAVE FIBROMYALGIA? • Have a thorough physical to rule out other disease states. • Make sure your health professional has experience with the diagnostics and protocols addressing fibromyalgia, or is willing to refer to a practitioner who does. In addition to a trigger point assessment, there is a test called an APA Assay. This assay has been shown to be a reliable indicator of FM. Unfortunately, this assay is approved for use in Europe, but not in the USA. USA-based physicians can request the use of this test for research purposes. Go to www.autoimmune.com for details. • Discuss medical options to address pain, fatigue and sleep issues. Be sure to ask about the potential side effects. • Consider complementary therapies. Acupuncture, massage therapist, nutrition and supplementation have been shown to alleviate the symptoms for some. • Maintain a healthy diet. Sweet or fatty foods can increase inflammation and decrease energy. This only compounds the challenges FM presents. • Find a support group. There are online communities, including www.fibrotalk. com. Surrounding yourself with people who understand can help you cope with the daily challenges of living with FM.
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OCTOBER 2010
53
Food
&Drink
. . . l i O f o t r A e Th
Meredith Whitfield is living the good life today as proprietor at Art of Oil on Howard Street in Boone. Photo by Sherrie Norris
for Every
Palate
e
By Corrinne Loucks Assad
A
combined love for cooking led Meredith Whitfield and her husband Davis to visit an oil and vinegar tasting room in Denver, CO, where they reportedly “had a ball and spent a small fortune!” They brought their purchases home to Boone and enjoyed using the products in dressings, marinades and various combinations that left them wishing Boone offered such an experience. An ASU alumn, Meredith worked for a decade in Washington D.C. for two different Congressmen before deciding, at age 30, that a different lifestyle was in order. She applied at Appalachian State University for a Federal Relations position. She got the job, moved back to Boone and worked at the university until May of this year when she and Davis made their dream come true. “I’ve always wanted something that was mine,” Meredith explained. “Davis has worked for Wayne Trapp at Gallery 9 for eight years and has always wanted a gallery. We combined our loves and opened this gallery and tasting room! Meredith happily works twice as hard as she did in her former job but finds it rewarding to work with the public in her own business. The Art of Oil, in its second month on Howard Street, is already enjoying growing success. “The business seems to be recession proof,” Meredith noted, “as people are cooking at home more and looking for new ways to prepare food.” The shop offers several price points, offering something for ever y budget. The smallest bottle of either oil or vinegar is about 3 oz. for $3.95 or they now offer a six-pack for $18. The next size is a 7-oz. bottle for $8.95 or a 12.5 oz. bottle starting at $15.95. Truffle oils, as expected, and larger bottles of the products, are also available at additional costs. With over 50 flavors of extra virgin olive oils and balsamic vinegars, it’s little wonder that several flavors have already made their mark with repeat customers returning for more of the same. The Tuscan Herb Oil combines garlic, herbs and sun-dried tomato-making a fantastic garlic bread - and great to drizzle on tomatoes or chicken. Two best-selling vinegars are honey ginger and blueberry. Meredith and Davis created a delicious marinade using the honey ginger with soy on chicken wings. Their popular blueberry vinegar has been used on spinach salad and as a reduction on steaks. “Palettes are so different. We want to offer something for everyone,” www.aawmag.com
she explained. M e re d i t h w i l l b e “ t we a k i n g ” t h e i r selection based on customer demand – “and so that customers can always find something new to taste on repeat visits.” For example, many of their oils today are described as having a peppery finish. They’ll soon be adding an oil that is more buttery and another that hints of tropical fruit. In addition, they’ll be adding red wine, sherry and champagne vinegars. They are currently in search of a quality, unfiltered oil to meet customers’ requests. The Art of Oil has a facebook page on which customers are posting and sharing recipes using products from the galler y. In addition to oils and vinegars from Italy, Spain, France, etc., they also carry a selection of carefully chosen wines from the same countries. “We want to be a one-stop shop for people putting together a special dinner or gift,” Meredith explaines. At the Denver store that inspired the shop, they were able to pick up oil, vinegar, bread and wine as a ‘thank-you’ gift for their hosts. Along those same lines, The Art of Oil has also added Stickboy bread, Pasta Wench pastas and, coming soon, artisanal cheeses. “I want people to remember that oils and vinegars are not just for dressings,” Meredith pointed out. “They are also wonderful for marinades, sauces and many other taste sensations.” She described using the porcini oil on lamb chops with just a little bit of red wine, salt and pepper. She also described one of her favorites, the chipotle oil, as having more flavor than heat. “The spice just kind of slowly rises in your throat.” A big frustration for Meredith is that she doesn’t have as much time for cooking now that she’s running the tasting room. The Art of Oil offers a warm, cozy tasting room with a beautiful wine bar that Davis designed. In fact, the bar itself has drawn much attention from potential designoriented clients. His art is displayed around the tasting gallery and includes multi media inspired pieces. In addition, the gallery displays jewelry by Laura Fry, a long time favorite of the couple. Such an atmosphere lends itself to customers holding private parties at the tasting room. In addition, Art of Oil will custom label bottles for parties or party/wedding favors. Look for The Art of Oil online at www. theartofoil.com. All of their products are offered in the online store and shipped anywhere so out-of-
town customers can restock between visits. Keep your eyes peeled for special events like their upcoming October trunk show and wine tasting. The Art of Oil is located at 222 Howard Street in Boone. For more information, call (828) 3559313.
Meredith’s Picks
Dark Chocolate & Aged Vanilla Balsamic Truffles 1 pound quality dark chocolate, chopped (cocoa 56%+) 8 oz. heavy whipping cream 2 tbs. Delizia Aged Vanilla Balsamic 1/3 cup good quality cocoa powder 1/4 teaspoon salt
Place chopped chocolate in a wide, heatproof bowl; (I place mine in my stand-mixer bowl.This way I can melt the chocolate and then whip it, using only one bowl.) In a heavy bottom pan, bring the heavy cream and salt to a boil. Turn down the heat and let the cream simmer for a full minute. Stir often, making sure the cream does not burn. Immediately take the cream from the heat and pour evenly over the chopped chocolate. Resist the temptation to stir. Allow to sit for 2-4 minutes to melt the chocolate. When the chocolate has melted, stir ingredients together with a heatproof rubber spatula. Use spatula to stir any larger pieces of chocolate into the warm cream to dissolve. You should end up with a smooth, glossy mixture referred to as ganache. Add the Vanilla Balsamic to the ganache and mix thoroughly. The ganache will thicken as it cools and when it reaches room temperature, can be piped. To make traditional truffles, pipe small portions ( approximately 2 tsp.) of ganache onto parchment paper or another non-stick surface. These portions will continue to cool and solidify and can then be rolled in to small balls. Dredged the balls in to cocoa powder. If used while warm, the ganache can be poured over cakes or used to dip fruit.
Wild Mushroom-Sage Extra
Virgin Olive Oil Croutons
These homemade croutons will be the talk of the town and they’re a great way to use up leftover bread! Preheat oven to 375. Cut fresh or day old bread into 1” cubes. Toss 4 cups of bread with 1/2 cup of Art of Oil Wild Mushroom-Sage, 1 tablespoon of kosher salt and 1/2 teaspoon fresh ground pepper. Place the cubes on a rimmed baking sheet on the middle rack of the oven. Bake for 35 minutes, stirring twice.
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of HEALTH BENEFITS
WHITE FRUITS & VEGETABLES Potatoes, the number one vegetable crop in the world, are a very good source of vitamin C, vitamin B6, copper, potassium, manganese, tryptophan and fiber. Studies have identified 60 different kinds of phytochemicals and vitamins in the skin and flesh of potatoes, including flavonoids, quercetin and kukoamines. Anyone avoiding potatoes because they think they are fattening is missing out the blood pressure lowering potential and cardiovascular protection. Its vitamin B6 is also good for athletic performance and endurance, and normal brain cell and nervous system activity. Garlic is overflowing with a variety of powerful sulfur-containing compounds, which are responsible for its pungent odor and are the source of its many health-promoting effects, including its anti-inflammatory, antibacterial and antiviral power. Its other nutrients, like vitamins B6 and C, tryptophan, selenium, phosphorous and calcium, also are beneficial for weight control, cardiovascular and cancer protection, and promoting optimum health. It contains manganese, which aids in the formation of connective tissue, bones, blood-clotting factors, and sex hormones, and it plays a role in fat and carbohydrate metabolism, calcium absorption, and blood sugar regulation. Pears provide a good source of pectin, fiber, vitamin C and E and copper. They also are high in vitamin B-complex and potassium, which is beneficial for the heart and for blood pressure. Pears relieve fever because of their cooling effect, and they aid in digestion, cleanse the body of toxins and boost the immune system. They are good for diabetics because their sweetness is largely supplied by levulose – fruit sugar that is more easily tolerated by diabetics.
BY DANICA S. GOODM AN
A banana supplies 467 mg of potassium, an essential mineral for maintaining normal blood pressure and heart function. Consuming a banana a day may help prevent high blood pressure and protect against atherosclerosis. This fruit is known for its antacid effects, protecting the stomach against ulcers and ulcer damage. It also contains pectin, which can help normalize the movement through the digestive tract and ease constipation. Some additional health benefits include the reduction of depression and stroke risk, building better bones and promoting kidney health. Onions contain quercetin, flavonoids, chromium, natural probiotics and GPCS content. Quercetin has anti-inflammatory and anti-tumor properties. Onions also may help reduce symptoms of fatigue, depression and anxiety. Chromium helps cells respond to insulin to decrease glucose and insulin levels, improve glucose tolerance, and decrease cholesterol and triglyceride levels. It also is a natural cure for PMS. A peptide, known as GPCS, has been found to help maintain healthy bones by inhibiting the activity of osteoclasts – the cells that break down bone. The cauliflower is a treasure-trove of good things: promotion of liver detoxification due to its sulfur-containing phytonutrients, cell detoxification optimization, protection against rheumatoid arthritis and cardiovascular benefits. Cruciferous vegetables like cauliflower contain compounds that stop enzymes from activating cancercausing agents in the body. Cauliflower is loaded with vitamins C, K, and B-complex, folate, dietary fiber and other essential nutrients.
Despite their lack in color, the health-promoting effects of white-fleshed fruits and vegetables are not behind their colored relatives. In fact, some of their powerful nutrients are not found in colorful fruits and vegetables. 56 OCTOBER 2010
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Food
&Drink
b o l G i n s e H h T a p p py ee
By Sherrie Norris
Ghost Toast Bread slices Margarine Shredded coconut Raisins and/or chocolate chips Spread margarine to make faces on toast, then sprinkle with coconut. Arrange raisins or chocolate chips for eyes and mouth. (Cut toast into ghost shapes before decorating, if desired.)
Bat Wings 1 dozen chicken wings 1 cup soy sauce 1/3 cup honey 1 tsp. ginger, crushed and chopped Mix together soy sauce, honey, and ginger. Marinate chicken overnight. Bake in oven or grill until done.
Kool Witches Brew 1 envelope of orange Kool-Aid - unsweetened 1 envelope of grape Kool-Aid - unsweetened 2 cups sugar 1 qt. (bottle) chilled Sprite, 7-UP, or ginger ale 3 qt. of cold water Mix the Kool-Aid packets together with the sugar and water in a large pitcher(s). Before serving, add the Sprite. Serve over ice cubes. Tip: • Serve the drink in a large black bowl to simulate a cauldron. • Add a “frozen hand” of ice to creep out your guests! Here’s how: Freeze some of the punch or Mountain Dew in a plastic food service glove and tie tightly. (bread wrapper tie works great.) Or, use water tinted with your choice of food coloring to make it really stand out in the punchbowl. Carefully cut iced “hand” from glove after frozen and place into punch bowl when ready to serve.
Magic Wands 1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips 12 pretzel rods White chocolate or colored confectionery coating of choice Red and yellow food colorings, if not using colored coating Assorted sprinkles Ribbon www.aawmag.com
Line baking sheet with waxed paper. Melt semi-sweet chocolate in top of double boiler over hot, not boiling, water. Remove from heat. Dip pretzel rods into chocolate, spooning chocolate to coat about ¾ of each pretzel. Place on prepared baking sheet. Refrigerate until chocolate is firm. If using white chocolate, melt in top of clean double-boiler over hot, not boiling, water. Stir in food colorings to make orange, or melt colored coating, instead. Remove from heat. Dip coated pretzels quickly into colored white chocolate or coating to cover about ¼ of each pretzel. Place on baking sheet. Immediately top with sprinkles. Refrigerate until coating is firm. Tie ends with ribbons. Makes 12
Halloween Spiders 2 Tbs. smooth peanut butter 2 Tbs. powdered sugar 2 Tbs. graham cracker crumbs 2 Tbs. coconut Licorice Raisins Mix peanut butter, sugar and crumbs together and form a ball. Divide the ball into 2 parts to form 2 balls, 1 slightly smaller than the other. Roll balls in coconut and place smaller ball on top of larger one. The smaller ball with be the head, the larger one the abdomen. Add 8 licorice legs and 8 raisin eyes. Makes 1 Halloween spider. Multiply ingredients to make as many as you need.
Spider Web Dip 1 (16-oz.) jar black bean dip 1 (12-oz.) container guacamole ¼ cup sour cream 1 cup shredded lettuce 1 cup cheddar Cheese, shredded ½ cup chopped tomato Tortilla chips Spread bean dip onto center of large platter, leaving 1 to 2 inches around edge of platter. Carefully spread bean dip with guacamole. Spoon sour cream into resealable plastic food bag. Snip off corner. Pipe sour cream in 4 concentric circles onto guacamole. Drag toothpick or knife through sour cream from center outward to make spider web design. Layer lettuce, cheese and tomatoes on edge of platter. Serve with tortilla chips.
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Parting Shot
“
Photo by Rob Moore
May Jack-o-lanterns burning bright, Of soft and golden hue, Pierce through the future’s veil and show, What fate now holds for you.
58 OCTOBER 2010
– Author Unknown
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