LIFE BEGINS AT 50
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MEET THE NEW
Ms. Senior
Athens Marie Norris
the keeper of the
ALTAMAHA James Holland lives as a protector and photographer of the river
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features
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Ms. Senior Athens Marie Norris-- the woman who does it all
The Keeper of the Altamaha L I F E B E G I N S AT 5 0
S P R I N G 2 012
MEET THE NEW
Ms. Senior
Athens Marie Norris
the keeper of the
ALTAMAHA James Holland lives as a protector and photographer of the river
PRSRT STD US POSTAGE PAID ATHENS, GA PERMIT NO. 406
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On the Cover: Marie Norris, Ms. Senior Athens Photo by Richard Hamm
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departments
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ESTABLISHED JUNE 2009 PUBLISHER
Technology 101
Scot Morrissey V.P. OF AUDIENCE
Andrea Griffith
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EDITOR
Hot of the Press
Ivey Hamby CONTRIBUTING WRITERS
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Extreme Community Makeover
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Blogging Around the Internet
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Back to the Basics
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A Splash of Exercise
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Surfing the Net
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Eyes are the Window to Your Pets Health
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Alexandra Huff An Nguyen Don Nelson Ellen Barnes Joe VanHoose John English Kate Foster Katie Lindley Lee Shearer Sarah Brumbeloe CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS
A.J. Reynolds Sally Gustafson Richard Hamm ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES
Alicia Goss Joanne Tidwell Jena Wages Nikki Boatwright
ADDRESS
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What your Grandkids Really Want
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One Press Place Athens, Georgia 30601; (mailing) P.O. Box 912, Athens, Georgia 30603 TELEPHONES
706.208.2329, Advertising 706.208.2378, Customer/ Subscription Services 706.208.2220, Editorial Next is a product of Athens Magazine, which is a publication of the Magazine Division of Morris Publishing Group, LLC.
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The cover and contents are fully protected and may not be reproduced without written consent of Athens Magazine. Address letters and editorial contributions to Next of Athens Magazine, One Press Place, Athens, Georgia, 30601. Manuscripts not accompanied by a self-addressed stamped envelope will not be returned. Athens Magazine is not reponsible for unsolicited submissions.
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Technology 101 By An Nguyen
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Technology progresses incredibly fast, so fast that we can’t always keep up with the latest and greatest gadgets and gizmos. First, there were computers, then laptops, then came netbooks, and now there are tablets. So what do these newest gadgets do? Here’s a crash course in the basics of the newest technology.
Smart Phones Gone are the days where a phone simply made a phone call. Today, smart phones are beginning to dominate the market, with 44 percent of Americans owning at least one smart phone, according to the Infinite Dial 2012 report conducted by Edison Research. These so-called smart phones have more capabilities than the traditional cell phone; you can access the Internet, check your email, play games, navigate with GPS, take pictures, and even video chat with them. As with tablets, you can download and purchase apps onto a smart phone. Some can be for pure entertainment, like 8tracks, a musicplaying app, while others can be incredibly useful, like GasBuddy, which can help locate a nearby gas station with low prices.
Tablets
Tablets are mobile computers that lack an attached keyboard. Instead, everything is integrated into one flat screen that you can control through touch. Many come with wireless Internet browsing, phone and video functions, as well as apps. An app is a software program with a specific focus, such as music playing, or even gaming. Many of these apps are free for download, or can be purchased for a small fee. With tablets, you can stay connected to the Internet, watch movies, play music and games, and video chat. Apple’s iPad is one of the most popular tablets on the market right now.
E-Readers
E-readers, unlike tablets, are designed for a specific purpose. In this case, it’s for reading digital books. Many books come in a digital format now and can be purchased, downloaded, and read on-the-go. E-readers can hold and store multiple books, giving readers greater access and portability. Magazines can also be read on some e-readers. Popular e-readers include Amazon’s Kindle and the Barnes and Noble Nook.
Now that you’ve had a lesson in Technology 101, go ahead and impress your friends with your newfound knowledge. SPRING 2012 7
Hot Off the
PRESS 5 Essential Reads for the Summer By Sarah Brumbeloe
“The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry: A Novel” by Rachel Joyce Harold Fry, the retired Englishman married to an unappreciative wife, isn’t exactly your typical male hero. However, when a letter arrives from a dying friend, Harold decides to shake up his life and embark on a cross-country walk to see his friend in person. Rachel Joyce’s “The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry” is a novel of quirky characters and unexpected youth. Release date: July 24, 2012
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“The Red House: A Novel”
“Yes Chef: A Memoir”
by Mark Haddon Family gatherings are known to be a site of headache and frustration. In his new novel, “The Red House,” Mark Haddon paints a complex picture of this event, told through eight different viewpoints. Using very real characters, like remarried Richard and his alienated sister Angela, Haddon explores modern family life. Released: June 12, 2012
by Marcus Samuelsson Richard Samuelsson narrates his own life story in “Yes Chef: A Memoir,” an account of his journey to become a highly successful chef. It tells of Samuelsson’s first interest in cooking, sparked by his adoptive grandmother and her pan-fried herring, and his subsequent rise to fame. Through it all, Samuelsson fills his story with honesty, intimacy, and lots of flavor. Released: June 26, 2012
“The Impeachment of Abraham Lincoln” by Stephen L. Carter Stephen L. Carter’s newest novel, “The Impeachment of Abraham Lincoln,” is based on the assumption that Abraham Lincoln survived the assassination attempt. The story features a fictitious alternate history, where the living Lincoln is impeached for his actions during the Civil War. With excitement, intrigue, and political conspiracy, Carter’s novel is a suspenseful romp. Released: July 10, 2012
“Happy Birthday: A Novel” by Danielle Steel Danielle Steel’s newest work explores the inescapable frustration of aging. The novel concentrates on one day in which three people of various ages are celebrating their birthday, and also learning about the ups and downs of growing older. In her newest novel, Steele reveals the unexpected surprises that life can bring at any age. Rekeased: July 19, 2012
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Extreme Community Makeover: Rails-to-Trails Edition By Sarah Brumbeloe Photos by A.J. Reynolds
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estled in quaint downtown Winterville is a cleared, narrow stretch of grass that is about two miles long and fresh with opportunity. Some parts of the stretch run in front of the historic, yellow Winterville Railroad Station, and other parts are lined on both sides with lazily leaning trees, offering shade from the harsh sun. It is a beautiful, beckoning, and sadly useless piece of land. But did you know that this stretch of grass used to be one small link in the Georgia Railroad, the first railroad in the state? Georgia Railroad’s main line extended from Augusta to Atlanta, but there was a branch line built in 1841 that ran from Union Point Junction through Winterville and Athens. The line was officially out of use by 1998, and the tracks were torn up at some parts. The land the railroad occupied is now nothing more than grassy stretches, like the one in downtown Winterville. The Athens mayor and Commission decided this land was the perfect place to build a trail that would conveniently connect Athens and Winterville. Thus, the local Rails-to-Trails project was born, and the subsequent ACC Rails-to-Trails Committee was appointed by the mayor in 2001. The planned trail will begin on the east side near the Athens perimeter at a park and ride that has not been constructed yet. It will continue through the Oconee/Oak Street corridor, Dudley Park, downtown Athens, and then onward to Winterville. The trail will encompass two towns,
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three construction phases, and nine total miles. Today, the ACC Rails-to-Trails Committee is still in the beginning stages of funding and constructing the trail. Yet, over these past years, the project has garnered much local support from individuals and organizations. These supporters recognize the many benefits the trail will offer to both communities, ranging from transportation advantages to social and economic benefits as well. “Families [in Winterville] could stroll to Athens on Sunday afternoons to get ice cream,” suggested Mary Quinn, a Winterville resident who has been an ardent supporter of the project since 2007. “Or people could bike to work in downtown Athens from anywhere on the trail.” Mike Ely, a member of BikeAthens, says the biking organization has also given the project its stamp of approval because they both share common interests. “We both promote a connected network, a safe and secure way for everyone to have access to the community,” Ely explained. “We want people to get out and be able to bike for pleasure and exercise conveniently,” he says. There are also restaurants along the trail that will satisfy the needs of hungry bikers and walkers, who will create constant traffic outside the establishments. Imagine stopping in at Mama’s Boy one morning to savor a steaming cup of java and a plate of their warm Georgia Peach French Toast, before walking off your meal on your way to work. John Devine, the senior planner for the Northeast Georgia Regional Commission who is working with both towns to help move the project along, says these economic advantages will especially benefit the small, but picturesque town of Winterville. Since the distance to Athens is fairly short, the trail will create more transportation to Winterville, sending more business its way. Property owners who live around the proposed trail will also get a slice of the economic pie. According to Brent Buice, former chair of BikeAthens and another promoter of the project, research has shown that property values along the trails increase because of the nearby convenience that the trails provide. However, a project of this size and impact is naturally going to take quite a while to fully construct. Properties must be acquired, funding requirements must be met, and the support of the community is vital. So far, only one part of the trail has been built. It is a small pocket park with a few benches beside the Jittery Joe’s on Broad Street. The park was proudly christened with the addition of the traditional fiberglass bulldog statue back in early March. The bulldog is the color of the sky: bright blue, open, and hopeful. It holds the promise of good things to come for the Rails-to-Trails project.
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Blogging Around The Internet 5 Must-Read Blogs for All People Over 50 By Ellen Barnes
If you thought blogs were of the next generation, think again. With dozens of seniorfriendly blogs on the Internet, here are five that cover a wide array of interests.
Whisk: A Food Blog whiskblog.com
Shari refers to herself as a “food and travel writer/photographer/editor,” as well as a recipe developer and tester. She has been collecting recipes ever since she won a recipe contest at age 10, and she loves sharing her favorite new foods both from home and traveling abroad. The blog consists of musings on food, taste and life; her step-by-step, unique recipes along with crisp, colorful, and mouthwatering pictures will leave all cookers (experienced or not) ready to be a chef.
Sew Chic
sewchic.blogspot.com Mother and daughter team Ruth and Jessica made this blog not only to share their passion of sewing with the world, but also as a way to keep in touch with each other. Read about their current projects, as well as tutorials on how to convert jeans into maternity pants, sew crochet edge baby blankets, or sew bound edge tea towels. You can even buy their finished products on their Etsy sites, located on the blog.
The Grumpy Gardener Grumpygardener.southernliving.com
This blog boasts that you will “Get Your Garden Growing” with the wit and insight of Steve Bendor. Bendor, a Senior Writer for Southern Living, tells tales of his own gardening escapades while encouraging readers to try it out themselves. His stunning, vivid photographs and descriptions are enough to inspire even the most novice of gardeners to grow something beautiful.
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The 52 Weeks the52weeks.com
The subtitle of this blog is “Three Drinks, Two Friends, One Year.” It tells the story of Karen and Pam, who, after feeling like their lives were in a rut, made a pledge to try something “new, fun, challenging, or even ridiculous,” every week for a year. Tune in to read about their escapades that have amused, informed, and motivated many. For the 2012, they hope to “inspire many others to get better, get moving or get over it.”
Well—Tara Parker-Pope on Health well.blogs.nytimes.com
Join health expert Tara Parker-Pope as she gives up-to-date information and guidance on the latest research in the vast world of medicine and wellbeing. Her witty and easy to understand writing offers “practical advice to help readers take control of their health and live well every day.” Read to your health.
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Back to the Basics
Georgia’s Neurological Surgery and Comprehensive Spince Explores New Techniques for Pain Relief By Joe VanHoose Photos by Richard Hamm
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early 90 percent of Americans will suffer from back pain at some point in their lives, research from the American Academy of Family Physicians shows. Those back problems aren’t just the results of sports injuries or heavy lifting, either. “There’s a higher rate of back pain as one ages,” said Dr. Bryan Barnes, a partner at Georgia Neurological Surgery and Comprehensive Spine. “You also have degenerative conditions. Sometimes, pain happens for reasons we don’t know.” But the physicians at Georgia Neurological Surgery and Comprehensive Spine know how to alleviate it, often without using a scalpel. The group recently moved into a new office at 2142 W. Broad St., a state-of-the-art facility
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that is helping the practice expand its care. “What we’ve done is evolve the practice from surgically-oriented to more comprehensive spinal care,” Barnes said. “Elements of care are focused on nonsurgical treatment. “We’re looking at balancing out the practice to meet the demands of the public in a more proportional way – only 10 to 15 percent of our patients are candidates for spinal surgery.” Georgia Neurological Surgery and Comprehensive Spine offers several non-surgical care options, ranging from traditional physical therapy to targeted pain-alleviating injections. Dr. Cristian Jaliu is a non-surgical specialist. He’s also
board-certified in physical medicine and rehabilitation and fellowship-trained in pain management. “When I see a patient, I see and assist them through a non-surgical care prism,” Jaliu said. “My aim is to help the patient through nonsurgical care. If nonsurgical care fails, we have five excellent surgeons in the practice that can take care of them very well.” Those who suffer from pain around the spine don’t have to continue suffering, Barnes said. In most cases, patients get better with nonsurgical care or minimallyinvasive surgery. There are also steps they can take to help themselves. Some components of back pain are genetic, but the sufferers can accelerate their condition through smoking, poor diet or exercising too rigorously. To keep the pain away, it’s important to maintain a healthy weight and keep muscles stretched, supple and in a proper state of strength, Jaliu said. In general, abdominal and back strengthening exercises are very important to maintain spine care, Barnes added. “Your weight and core strength are very important,” Barnes said. With that in mind, there are a few signs that it’s time to pay a visit to the doctor’s office, Jaliu added. “If you’re getting worsening back pain or neck pain when exercising, or if you’re getting shooting pains in your movements, it’s time to come see us,” he said. “Or if you have numbness or weakness in the limbs without an associated intractable pain, that’s probably something that you should come see us about. “Anytime there’s worsening pain, that’s something that needs to be worked on.” But it’s not something that necessarily needs to be worked on in a hospital. Georgia Neurological Surgery and Comprehensive Spine’s new location between Athens’ two hospitals – along with the practice’s affiliated surgery center – gives patients an outpatient option. “It’s much more efficient,” Barnes said. “It’s really evolved into something new and exciting.”
Georgia Neurological Surgery and Comprehensive Spine Where: 2142 W. Broad St., Building 100 Suite 200 Hours: 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday Call: (706) 548-6881 Online: www.georgianeuro.com
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Photo by Richard Hamm
Ms. Senior
Athens
The woman who does it all By Jessica Morris Photos by Richard Hamm and Sally Gustafson
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etween her target shooting, nine grandchildren, choir practice, and career as a Realtor for Coldwell Banker, Marie Norris may not seem like she needs to add another title to her repertoire. She is doing so, however, and wants to be remembered for her “dedication to education” as the 2012 Ms. Senior Athens. The Athens Community Council on Aging held its second annual signature fundraiser, the Ms. Senior Athens Pageant, on April 21 at the Athens Country Club. The pageant celebrates women age 50 and older in the community who embody the ideals of living well and aging well. This year’s winner, Marie Norris, will represent the beauty and vitality of older women in Athens and the surrounding community for a year as Ms. Senior Athens. "Marie is a great example of how staying active and involved promotes healthy aging. She obviously is a beautiful lady, both physically and on the inside. Her involvement with her community and family makes her
a great person all around," said KaDee Holt, ACCA’s Outreach Coordinator. Marie is originally from Franklin County and moved to Athens in 1971. She was Athens’ first licensed Esthetician and opened Athens’ first salon and skin care clinic, Remar Jesu, in 1980. The name comes from a combination of her and her three daughter’s names. “I put all three of my girls through college by working at the salon,” Norris said.
“We decided that Athens had everything we wanted in a home. We wanted a University and to be around young people, sports, and a good sense of community.” SPRING 2012 17
Photo by Sally Gustafson
In 1996 though, Marie found she needed a change of pace. “Standing for hours in the salon was starting to take a toll on my legs, so I went back to school and became a realtor,” Norris said. “I liked it because I could show people such pretty things, and I like working with people. Changing careers was definitely a challenge but fun too.” Some of Marie’s hobbies include shooting targets with her husband, Ron, singing in the church choir, and spending time with her family. She has three daughters, eight grandchildren, and one great-grandchild. Marie also enjoys traveling with her husband, Ron, and says that several years ago the couple considered settling down elsewhere. “We’ve traveled all over the past several years, from California to Colorado to Maine, and we decided that Athens had everything we wanted in a home. We wanted a University and to be around young people, sports, and a good sense of community,” Norris said. As Ms. Senior Athens Marie will also enjoy the opportunity to share another passion of hers, educating people on the various programs ACCA sponsors. “I want to educate people as much as possible on the 14 programs ACCA offers. There are great programs that teach the elderly how to use new technology so that they can communicate with the younger generations as well as adult daycare programs, and an especially wonderful program that helps grandparents that are raising grandchildren, and even in some cases, great-grandchildren. I want to educate people on these programs and help people get involved,” Norris said. Proceeds from the pageant went directly to these ACCA programs and were estimated at about $15,000. "The Ms. Senior Athens Pageant is just a feel good event that promotes what the council does, it promotes our ideas of 'live well, age well' and symbolizes what the council does," Holt said. Marie said she is most excited about a few events specifically as Ms. Senior Athens. “The Fall Festival, Christmas Parade, and all of the wonderful speaking opportunities at meetings I am looking forward to the most. I was already in a fashion show sponsored by Belk and I will also compete in the state pageant in August and this will be the first time Athens has a contestant featured,” Norris said. With a full load of events on her calendar and the passion to complete them all, Marie Norris will spend the next year fulfilling her duties as Ms. Senior Athens. With such dedication and enthusiasm, the Athens community will certainly see her for many more years to come.
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Photo by Sally Gustafson
Did You Know? In 1924, President Franklin D. Roosevelt traveled to Warm Springs, Ga., where he began rehabilitation to alleviate the difficulties from polio. His doctor, Leroy Hubbard helped him implement exercises in a tank designed especially for his therapy. Water aerobics increases your metabolism, builds muscle strength, develops balance and range of motion, and eliminates tension and stress.
A Splash of Exercise The Many Benefits of Water Aerobics By Alexandra Huff
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lthough running and weight lifting may become more difficult with age, not all exercise is just for younger, fitter people. Water aerobics is one of many activities in which a person does not have to be youthful and flexible in order to participate. As an activity that is focused on cardio, it is an easy way to get a good workout. Elyse Giles, the wellness and fitness director of the YMCA in Athens, suggests using water weights and bands to tone muscle and cardio (although weights are not always necessary). Giles says that because the resistance in water is 12 percent greater than on land, even simply using one’s hands can be a sufficient replacement for weights. Unlike regular aerobics, however, the water alleviates pressure on joints and lowers the risk of injury. “You are supporting 85-90 percent of your body weight [so there is] less stress on your joints, bones, and muscles,” Giles said. The YMCA offers a variety of water aerobics classes, including deep-water hydrobics and shallow water hyrobics.
The organization’s website says that deep-water aerobics involves using water weights, noodles, and one’s on body momentum for exercise. Shallow water aerobics helps strengthen the heart and lungs while toning muscles and increasing flexibility. Giles explains that water aerobics in general is particularly helpful for older people. Because people lose muscle mass and balancing capabilities as they grow older, water aerobics can help strengthen and rebuild both of these areas. “Water aerobics is a wonderful alternative to land classes because it…helps with balance where people can do the exercises without the worry of falling,” Giles said. The benefits of water aerobics also go beyond balance and muscle restoration. Unlike land aerobics, where sweat is obvious, exercising in a pool allows for sweat to mix with the water. Giles also says that a person can burn 250 calories in a 30-minute class, simply by constantly moving. Though it may be intense, water aerobics produces good results and, unlike other forms of exercise, causes fewer injuries.
It may be useful, though not required, to bring a swim cap to avoid the possibility of an ear infection. Water shoes are permissible, and give your feet traction on the slippery pool floor. The temperature of the water is important when participating in water aerobics. The best temperatures for this exercise range from 83 to 88 degrees Fahrenheit. Elderly adults, as well as young children, may not want to spend too much time in the pool, because they are more likely to become overheated.
YMCA Class Times Deep-water hydrobics are offered Monday through Friday at 8 a.m., and at 7 a.m. on Wednesdays. Shallow water hydrobics are offered every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday at 9 a.m. Arthritis classes are offered at 10 a.m., every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday.
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the Altamaha By Lee Shearer Photos by James Holland
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ames Holland never imagined 20 years ago he would one day document the Altamaha River’s beauty and destruction in photographs, or become the person who may know Georgia’s great river better than anyone. Back then, Holland just wanted to know why fewer and fewer crabs were showing up in the crab traps he depended on to make a living. But a lot has happened in the ensuing two decades for Holland, whose photographs are featured in “Altamaha: A River and Its Keeper,” to be published in June by the University of Georgia Press. Two of the South’s most respected environmental writers, Janisse Ray and Dorinda Dallmeyer, also contributed essays; Dallmeyer, director of the Environmental Ethics Certificate Program at the University of Georgia, also wrote the captions for the photos, which celebrate the beauty Holland has found in the unique Altamaha, but also document the river’s continuing, slow destruction. The book in some ways has its origins more than two decades ago, as Holland, now 71, began to learn back in the 1990s how how upstream pollution and water withdrawals were making life hard for crabs and other creatures that live in the river. That knowledge helped him stand up for the interests of crabbers, shrimp fishermen and others whose livelihoods depend on the river’s good
health. He testified at government hearings and told politicians and environmental regulators, often in no uncertain terms, how their decisions could help preserve the river, or contribute to what Holland came to see as a long, slow dying process. He took another step on his path in 1999, when Holland became the first Altamaha Riverkeeper, charged with protecting as best he could the river formed by the union of the Ocmulgee River and the Oconee River that flows through metro Athens. At first, Holland took up his camera to photograph the abuses we inflict on the river, such as pollution from big factories far upstream. But as he began to photograph the Altamaha’s James Holland (photo by Lee Shearer) problems, he began
Page 22 (left to right): The Georgia Power Company’s Plant Hatch withdraws about 60 million gallons a day of Altamaha water to cool its nuclear generators, enough to supply four towns the size of Athens. (right) Sediment from runoff is cutting off part of the river to form an oxbow lake.
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Page 23 (top to bottom): The white ibis likes to nest deep in the Altamaha’s swamps. Delicate spider lilies bloom at night, then fade away the next day. Blue butterworts are beautiful but carnivorous. An alligator and a turtle share some sun.
more and more to want to document its exotic beauty. Holland retired as Riverkeeper a couple of years ago. During a decade in the job, he won some battles, but mostly fought a losing battle, he said. “Absolutely, we are killing it, in many, many different ways,” he said. The main way is by simply starving the river of water, he said. Factories and towns upstream, including Athens, suck up millions of gallons of water every day. Though he’s no longer officially the Riverkeeper, Holland still watches out for the Altamaha, which is not just one of the the state’s treasures, but is one of the world’s. The Altamaha is the longest free-flowing river system left in the eastern United States. With literally hundreds of species of rare animals and plants, some found nowhere else on earth, the river has been designated one of the 75 “Last Great Places on Earth” by the Nature Conservancy. One day last month, Holland took visitors out to see some of the river’s hidden beauty. In the main channel, a bald eagle snatched a fish out of the water, and alligators slid from muddy banks into the river. Guiding his boat carefully down ever-narrowing side channels, Holland also found a place to nudge his boat under an overhanging limb so his visitors could stand up on the bow to peer down at a yellow-crowned night heron’s nest containing a single blue egg. In other places, he found plants like the star-shaped Spider Lilies that open at night and fade the next day, and Bartram’s Airplant, which perches on tree branches overhanging the water on the Altamaha’s maze of side channels. All that is threatened, Holland says — not just the beauty, but the economic and recreational benefits the Altamaha confers on the Georgia coast. Holland still has hope for the Altamaha, though. He tries to get young people involved in the fight to save it, and hopes a younger generation will figure out how to use the mighty river more gently. “To the youth of Georgia. Here, children, here. Here it is,” reads the book’s dedication.
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Surfing The Net How to Stay Safe Online
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By Katie Lindley
n the mid 1990s, the Internet commercialized and transformed the way people communicate, shop and entertain themselves. Now email, search engines, online shopping, online banking and websites like Facebook, YouTube and Flickr exist to make life easier and more enjoyable. With many different outlets asking to create accounts, enter passwords and submit personal information, the Internet can seem like a dangerous place. With simple precautions, you can surf the web with piece of mind.
Passwords Usernames and passwords keep your personal data private. Create strong unique passwords for your accounts. Avoid using a password that could be easily guessed, and combine uppercase letters, lowercase letters, numbers and characters. “More important than changing your password is using a different password for every account,” said Simon Booher, a local web developer. If one account is hacked, the rest will not be jeopardized. For bank accounts or other accounts that contain sensitive information, Booher recommends changing the password every 90 days. For all other accounts, change passwords every six months.
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Email Email makes communicating faster and easier than ever, but scams can lurk in every mailbox. “Don't click on links or open attachments in emails unless you know the sender or were expecting them,” said Booher. Never give out personal information like passwords, account numbers or Social Security numbers over email. Reputable companies do not request sensitive information over email. If the email seems concerning, verify its authenticity by contacting the company directly, the National Cyber Security Alliance adds.
Online Shopping Shopping online brings the best of the world to your fingertips, but it can also leave your banking or credit card information vulnerable. Booher recommends always shopping at reputable websites, and if shopping at lesser-known sites, using PayPal as a payment method. Ripoff Report also has reviews of websites by consumers, so you can see if a company has been fraudulent before. Before entering credit card information, check the URL to see that it reads https:// or shttp://. This means that website takes extra measures to ensure the security of data entered explains the National Cyber Security Alliance.
Software Your greatest defense against viruses is security software. Invest in it and make sure all of your other operating systems are up to date as well. Booher suggests that if you use Windows, upgrade to Windows 7. The newest versions of software contain updated security features for better protection. He also recommends using the most updated versions of Firefox or Google Chrome as your web browser, and installing the Adblock Plus or NoScript plugin. Many viruses and other malware come from ad networks. Security software is a must for PCs. “Microsoft Security Essentials is a great free antivirus program, and Malwarebytes is a really effective, free anti-spyware tool,� said Booher. But he also reminds users that Macs are not immune to viruses, so surf carefully.
Websites to download suggested software Microsoft Security Essentials http://windows.microsoft.com/mse Malwarebytes http://www.malwarebytes.org/ Ripoff Report: http://ripoffreport.com/ Web of Trust, this plugin shows you which websites you can trust based on trustworthiness, vendor reliability, privacy and child safety: http://www.mywot.com/
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Eyes Are Windows to Your Pet’s Health Meet Dr. Victoria Pentlarge an Ophthalmologist with a Passion By Elaine Kalber Photos By A.J. Reynolds
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he eyes have it for Dr. Victoria Pentlarge. Although she knew early on she wanted to be a veterinarian, she discovered her specialty in a college class on veterinary ophthalmology. “That’s when I knew I had found my passion,” Pentlarge remember about the class. “We engage with our pets through eye contact; the eyes are delicate and beautiful to work on. The eyes also are a window to diseases of the body and often show the first evidence of systemic disease.” Pentlarge is one of a select number of veterinarians with the title of Diplomate, American College of Veterinary Ophthalmologists, with only eight in Georgia and fewer than 400 in the United States. The Animal Eye Care Clinic, the referral practice Pentlarge established in the 1980s, draws patients from four states. In addition, every month she holds clinics in Augusta, Thompson and Gray. The hours can be long and the work stressful, but Pentlarge says her profession is “exceptionally rewarding, especially when you can help a blind pet or animal in pain and bring it back to its owner’s arms with restored vision and out of pain. Pets are part of the family, bringing so much joy to people and enriching their lives.” Part of the Five Points commercial district, The Animal Eye Care Clinic is housed in a century-old Craftsman house, which retains its original character in décor but has state-ofthe-art facilities and equipment, including ultrasound, diode laser, electroretinogram and a human cataract machine. The clinic also houses two resident rescue cats, Tip and Keller, who is blind, as well as turtles Woody and Buzz. When Pentlarge comes to work, she is accompanied by Chihuahuas Little Bit, who is blind in one eye, and Hershey. Joining them is Runt, a 14-year-old blind Jack Russell terrier with a prosthetic eye, and a habit of accompanying Sally
Whitaker, receptionist at the clinic for six years. Other staff members include office managers and vet assistants Jennifer McBride and Monica Allen, 16 years, and vet assistant Renee Epps, four years. They all share a love of animals, a desire to help and heal and the opinion that The Animal Eye Care Clinic is a great place to work, “like a big happy family.” Pet owners are equally enthusiastic. Don and Gay Yager of Athens brought their nine-year-old part-Chihuahua Buddy Lee to have a temporary protective contact lens placed over a corneal scratch.
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“Dr. Pentlarge is awesome,” Gay Yager says. “We trust her totally and tell everybody about her.” Mickey Glore of Loganville had his Chihuahua mix Coco in the waiting room. Eight-year-old Coco had been diagnosed with diabetes in January and gets two shots of insulin a day; by May, he had cataracts, was blind, uncomfortable and needed surgery. “Dr. Pentlarge is very caring and is going to do everything she can to make sure that the dog recovers,” Glore says. Although Pentlarge usually sees dogs or cats, in her time she has helped treat a gorilla at the Boston Zoo and has seen owls, hawks and rabbits, as well as a wallaby. Recently, Pentlarge helped a duck with cataracts. The most frequent eye problems for pets are injuries, dry eye, glaucoma, cataracts, loose lenses and retinal diseases. Symptoms that a pet owner should be aware of include squinting, pain, decreased vision and cloudy eyes. “Unlike humans, it is a shocker that dogs can go blind from cataracts within 24 to 48 hours anytime between six months to 16 years old,” Pentlarge says. “Cataracts and diabetes are as common in animals as they are in people.” Pentlarge has volunteered for many years at the December Athens Area Humane Society rabies clinics. She also participates in the American College of Veterinary Ophthalmologists National Service Dog Eye Event in May, providing free eye exams for guide dogs, therapy dogs, military rescue dogs and police dogs at her clinic. A California girl from the Los Angeles area, Pentlarge earned her undergraduate degree at the University of California, Santa Barbara, and her D.V.M. at the University of California, Davis, followed by an internship and residency in small animal medicine at Cornell University, Ithaca, N.Y., and a big change from sunny California. “I wanted to have excellent skills and be the best I could possibly be,” Pentlarge says. She earned the designation of Diplomate, American
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College of Veterinary Internal Medicine, and then trained at Tufts University, Boston, to earn the Diplomate, American College of Veterinary Ophthalmologists. With these impressive credentials, Pentlarge headed south and completed her board certification in ophthalmology while teaching as a clinical instructor of veterinary ophthalmology at the University of Georgia. Then she went into private practice, managing a small animal hospital for Dr. Max Sidner while developing her referral practice before opening The Animal Eye Care Clinic in Five Points. While Pentlarge’s life at the office is busy indeed, this does not change when she goes home to the small farm where she lives with her children, Ruth and James Barrow, and partner Trevor Stocklinski. She stays involved with the activities of Ruth, 13, a student at Clarke Middle whose original artwork of an eye has a prominent place at the clinic, and James, 17, a student at Clarke Central High School. A self-declared “farm girl raised in the city,” Pentlarge and her family enjoy fresh produce from their own garden. The family is vegetarian for “moral, philosophical and health reasons.” Adding to the agrarian atmosphere are three “peaceful and sweet” goats, Buddy, Riley and Copper, originally adopted for kudzu management. In addition, Henry, the big rooster, had a lucky fall from a chicken truck and landed himself in a great home. “Every day he waddles from the barn and pecks at the kitchen door to come in for breakfast,” Pentlarge says. Henry is not lonely for his own kind, however, as the family also has a flock of chickens, who each have a name. “Chickens are remarkable animals, peaceful, fun and beautiful,” according to Pentlarge. And then there is Rat. “The children have always had pet rats,” she says. “This one was rescued from being used as snake food.” Rounding out the menagerie are three rescue cats: Freeway and Highway came from the Athens Area Humane Society, and Tree Kitty was saved from a tree. Eight years ago, Pentlarge heard a cat screaming somewhere near her office. She searched into the night and finally found the cat hanging upside down with his rear leg caught between two branches. A policeman helped free the cat from the tree. The leg had to be amputated, but Tree Kitty, now about 11 years old, is doing fine. James and Ruth have a special way of celebrating birthdays -- they pick a charitable organization, and birthday party guests bring donations to it. Beneficiaries have included the Clute Barrow Nelson Life Foundation, which helps families with cancer-stricken children, Food Bank of Northeast Georgia, Athens Area Humane Society and the Red Cross for victims of the Japanese tsunami and U.S. tornados. “Instead of getting gifts, they are giving back,” Pentlarge explains “I am proud of my children and it allows other families an easy way to give. We love it and it’s fun.”
What Do Your Grandkids Really Want? The Perfect Guide to Gift Giving for a Younger Generation By Kate Foster
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et’s face it – there’s a huge generational gap when it comes to gift giving. Everything’s new, flashy, and multi-faceted. As new technology emerges, trendy music surfaces, and youth culture changes as a whole, it gets increasingly difficult for those in their golden years to keep gift trends from getting meddled. The trick? Stick with a few fail-safe options that will remind any young adult just how cool their grandparents are.
Simple Accessories
This is more of an option for the stylish granddaughters, and it does wonders. When getting dressed, she’s always wishing she had a plain black scarf or a pretty gold pendant necklace to really give her look that extra oomph. However, since kids, especially college students, are usually pretty strapped for cash, they’re not willing to spend their meager dollars on something so basic. Give her a scarf, jewelry, even some neutral makeup – trust us, she’ll be wearing it for the long haul, and with everything in her wardrobe.
Apple Products
A little on the pricey side, yes, but if you can afford it, you can never go wrong with an iPad, iPhone, or even an iPod. The thing that makes them universal is that they offer something to every type of person – whether they’re a music buff, a gamer, or a photography fanatic. Your lucky gift receiver will be able to connect with his or her friends easily through phone calls, text messages, emails, and FaceTime; play popular games like Draw Something or Angry Birds; and snap high quality pictures of moments they won’t want to forget.
Family Heirlooms
Sure, kids – especially teenagers – can seem insensitive sometimes. However, this doesn’t keep them from loving their family or having a sense of family pride. That pretty ring your mother gave you ages ago? Pull it out of that box in your closet and give it your granddaughter. Or dig up your uncle’s old watch and give it to your grandson. They’ll be happy to own something meaningful – and, gasp! - something made of real metals.
Book/Movie/TV Collections Get to know your grandkids a little better, and you’ll find that they’ve got a bundle of favorites (Facebook conditions them to be that way). Find out their most beloved writer, or their favorite movies and television shows. Chances are they want to own more books by Eugenides or the past season of Modern Family, but haven’t had the time or money to pick it up.
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You don’t say?
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