The Gwinnett Area’s Family Lifestyle News Magazine
July 2010
Meet Kevin & Melissa Baxter See cover story on page 5
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I am Sharyn and I am a longtime patient, friend and Give-aways, Cocktails, andas I call her. Years great fan of Dr. Gravante or Doc of stress and a very busy schedule just made it so easy to make excuses for why I was not able to exercise and control my weight. My breaking point was Monday, December 29, 2008 at a doctor’s appointment; of course I was asked to step on the scale. My weight was at its highest ever at 188 pounds. This was just the most devastating thing to see the scale reading 188 pounds especially because I only stand 5 feet tall. That very same day I told Dr. Gravante that I was now ready to get on board with her Nutritional Workshop. I followed everything Dr. Gravante told me to do to the “T.” My first task was a 28 day cleanse. I felt that if I can make it through the 28 day cleanse I would be successful with her Nutritional Program. Dr. Gravante’s Nutritional Program helped change my life, now I prefer healthy foods, no longer have cravings, and I understand the importance of exercise. I feel wonderful! I have lost a total of 44 pounds to date and currently weigh 144 pounds. Dr. Gravante is a doctor with an extreme understanding of how to change fat to muscle. My body has healed itself from the inside out from allergies, sinus problems, you name it! I feel better, people tell me I look better; it is absolutely fabulous! We as women take care of everyone else but ourselves. Make the sacrifice, invest in yourself.
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There is a beautiful you waiting to be fearless, fun, fit and fabulous!
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Are you ready to feel better and get healthy? Call Today for Your Appointment! …. Call Dr. Gravante today! Please RSVP at 678.990.9400 by Monday, June 15. 678.990.9400 We’re looking forward to meeting you at our Summer Evening Open House!
Lorraine Gravante, D.C.See our website for a complete listing of workshops. NUTRITIONAL WORKSHOPS The Center for Natural Healing and Weight Loss 1790 Presidential Circle, Suite A Snellville, GA 30078 www.drgravante.com
at Dr. Gravante’s office 7:00 PM July 21st August 4th & 25th Please call to reserve your seat!
678.990.9400 These results may not be typical. Results with products may vary from individual to individual. These nutrition recommendations are provided solely to support good nutrition with the intent of supporting the physiological and biochemical process of the human body and not to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease or condition. Be advised that any nutritional program recommended by Dr. Gravante is not intended to starting any diet, nutrition orCall exercise program, you should consult with your medical physician. PAGE as a primary therapy for any disease. For Prior Advertising information 770.222.2699 • ourtownmagazine@bellsouth.net Our Town
Introducing Gentle Chiropractic.
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Hi, I’m David Futral, Doctor of Chiropractic at Scott Chiropractic Neurology and Rehab Center. Perhaps gentleness in chiropractic is a new concept to you. It was to me, before I began the eight years of college training necessary for my doctorate degree. But during those years, I learned the precise location where light pressure can bring great relief to chronic and acute pain. Our office specializes in this gentle, but powerful non-force technique in addition to traditional methods. We also offer physiological therapeutics, exercise rehabilitation, nutrition with healthy weight loss, and massage therapy. In addition to my Doctorate, I am involved in a three year post graduate Chiropractic Neurology program and work with the only Board Certified Chiropractic Neurologist in Gwinnett, Dr. Jane Scott, who has served the community since 1988. I devote one weekend a month attending chiropractic seminars to assure you the latest techniques, research and discoveries to better serve my patients.
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PAGE Page 3
The Gwinnett Area’s Family Lifestyle News Magazine
Our Town
Lilburn
l
Lawenceville
Publisher/Editor D. Flores Norma Flores
Cover Photography D. Flores
Graphics
and
Our Town Jules Williams
Design
l
Snellville
l
Grayson
JULY 2010 IN THIS ISSUE… About the Cover........................................................................5
Contributing Writers:
Counselor’s Corner: Sit Back and Brew.....................................6
Susan Cadley, LPC Andrea Haupt, RVT, CVMRT Sagdrina Jalal, BS Ed, CPT Cassidy Johnson Althea Lawton-Thompson, CPT Cami Nail Ryan T. Sauers Carol Chandler-Wood
Calendar of Events.....................................................................7
O ur T own M agazine , I nc .
P.O. Box 644 l Snellville, Georgia 30078 Telephone: 404-824-5396 www.OurTownMag.org For reader comments or questions, please E-mail us at life@ourtownmag.org
Fitness: Getting Off the Diet Roller Coaster.............................8 More About the Cover..............................................................9 Education Corner: Who’s in Charge at Your House?...............11 Wellness Corner: Simple Pleasures..........................................12 July Crossword..........................................................................12 Crossword Key...........................................................................14 Business: Business Sense............................................................16 Pet Page: Massage Therapy........................................................17 Recipe: Nanaimo Bars................................................................18
Our Town is published and direct mailed monthly to prestigious homes in the Gwinnett Area. Opinions expressed by the editorial staff are their own and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the publisher. Our Town reserves the right to edit and or reject any editorial or advertising content. Our Town is not responsible for errors in advertising beyond the cost of the space or for the validity of claims made by advertisers. Entire contents copyright 2010 by Our Town. Reproduction in whole or in part is forbidden in any media without prior written permission from the publisher.
Page 4
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Our Town Magazine
About the cover
Meet Kevin & Melissa Baxter
H
ow do you measure success? Everyone measures it differently. Is it by how much money you earn? What college you attended? How many friends you have? Today we often let the media set the standard for “success;” for example, how many times have you looked at someone’s car or home and tried to determine how successful they were? Fortunately, there is more to success than just material things. And some of the most successful people aren’t even millionaires! Take Melissa Baxter, for example; she’s a daughter, wife, small business owner, athlete, and philanthropist - and she’s not even 30! Those accomplishments aside, it’s what lies beneath the surface that makes Melissa a real success story. “I attended the University of Georgia as a graphic design major. My grand plan was to move to New York and make six figures working as a creative director,” she said. “But I ended up as a small business owner in a small town instead.” A resident of Lawrenceville for over five years, most people would recognize Melissa as the owner of Back by Popular Demand, one of the largest consignment stores in Gwinnett County. “I dropped out of college to purchase BBPD in October of 2002. At the time it was located in down-
town Lilburn right next to the Blue Rooster,” Baxter said. “I was so young when I bought the store that for the first year people didn’t believe I was the owner. They would walk up to one of my older employees and congratulate them; it was pretty funny.” But Melissa was no newcomer to the consignment industry. Before purchasing BBPD, Melissa worked at Finder’s Keeper’s Consignment located in Avondale Estates. “My mother actually got me the job; I didn’t want to work there at first,” she said. “I just remember thinking ‘consignment? What is that?’” Despite her initial inexperience, Melissa grew Back by Popular Demand into a reputable business and has made quite a stir in the consignment industry. In 2008, she founded Atlanta Consignment Stores. “It’s a directory of over 50 consignment stores in Georgia,” she said. “I wanted anyone who was passionate about consignment shopping to be able to easily find where to go. No two consignment stores are the same; if my store doesn’t have what they’re looking for, another one will. That’s what’s so great about the business. It’s constantly changing.”
top priority, but much like consignment, Melissa is hardly predictable. Instead, she makes helping others her number one goal- people and animals alike. “I am always finding stray dogs and have tried to help as many as I can. I have two miniature pincers named Mimi and Max; yes, they are my children,” she said. “If I could have my way, I would own a huge farm and collect all the stray animals and just let them run wild.” Melissa’s heart for animals goes above and beyond just rescuing strays; she fosters them, takes them for veterinary check ups, and places them in loving homes. “I just wish more people understood how to properly treat animals. They are not accessories you pick up at the store, or something you leave unattended in
Most business owners make growing their business a
Continued on pg. 9
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Our Town Magazine
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Page 5
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Counselor’s Corner
Sit Back and Brew By Susan Cadley
“Ideas are the beginning points of all fortunes.” ~Napoleon Hill
I Southern Land Care Unlimited is locally owned and operated and specializes in year-round care and maintenance of lawns, trees and shrubs 4 Lawn Maintenance 4 Pruning of Ornamental Trees & Shrubs 4 Deep Root Fertilization 4 Arboricultural Services 4 Aeration and Overseeding 4 Seasonal Clean-up & Seasonal Color We understand that your landscape Mention this ad and get is an extension of your home, 10% off and a well maintained landscape any annual adds significant value to your home’s maintenance contract signed curb appeal and market worth. by August 2! Contact us today for your FREE ESTIMATE!
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f you are a coffee aficionado, what do you experience when coffee is brewing? Do you enjoy the smell of the ground coffee being saturated with hot steaming water anticipating the finished product with glee? Or are you impatient, placing your cup under the brew basket while it’s still brewing? Perhaps you’ve done both, I know I have!
Brewing is a very important stage in the realms of creativity, life transitions, emotions, career, relationships... the list is endless. Brewing is allowing, not doing. If you are feeling stuck in any area of your life, you are in the brewing stage. When in this stage many people report feeling frustrated, scared, and anxious. These feelings are normal and they surface because you are no longer where you were and you’re not so sure of where you are going. Author and teacher Caroline Myss calls this “the place between orbits”. How can you reframe feeling stuck into an idea place? Name and claim that you are now in the brewing stage; a time when you are receiving new ideas and yet not knowing the “how’s” just yet. In our download, drive through world, we can get caught up in the idea that things need to manifest now. And yet, that is not how nature works. The brewing stage asks us to slow down and receive. This can be an exciting time because the possibilities are endless. When you decide, you narrow choices down.
Page 6
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If you are in the brewing stage, here are some helpful tips to support you there; 1) Name and claim that this is where you are. It takes the edge off striving and keeps the ideas coming. 2) Write, journal, collage your ideas and feelings. This will offer you rich material to come back to and it may open the door to even more possibilities. 3) Share and brainstorm with a trusted confidant that will listen and hold the space for you to brew. 4) Research, read, or attend workshops online or in person to keep your creative juices flowing. 5) Create quiet time to reflect on what has and has not worked in the past. Gather, sit with, honor, ponder and embrace the brewing time. You’ll enjoy the next place that much more when it arrives knowing you’ve allowed for all possibilities to be explored. Susan Cadley, LPC, CSC, Licensed Professional Counselor & Certified Soul Coach is available for couples/ adult individual counseling, Soul Coaching workshops, and book studies in Suwanee, GA. She may be reached directly and confidentially at 678-296-1278; www. coachingforyoursoul.com.
Our Town Magazine
JULY Calendar Moonlight & Music Concert Series Through September 24, 2010 Times: 8pm www.visitlawrenceville.com Location: Gwinnett Historic Courthouse Phone: 678-226-2639 Admission: FREE Stone Mountain Park’s Summer at the Rock! Through August 8, 2010 Times: 10am-8pm www.stonemountainpark.com Location: Crossroads® Phone: (770) 498-5690
Lawrenceville Ghost Tours Through September 25, 2010 Times: 8:30pm www.scarystroll.com Location: Aurora Theatre, Lawrenceville Phone: 678-226-6222 Admission: $25 all riders
Lilburn Farmers Market Through August 27, 2010 Times: 4pm-8pm http://www.cityoflilburn.com Location: Railroad Street, Lilburn Phone: 678-380-4095 Admission: FREE Lawrenceville Farmers Market Through September 25, 2010 Times: 8am-noon www.visitlawrenceville.com Location: Historic Courthouse Square, Lawrenceville Phone: 678-226-2639 Admission: FREE
Our Town Magazine
Snellville Farmers Market Through October 23, 2010 Times: 8am-noon www.squidoo.com/snellvillefarmers-market Location: Snellville City Hall Phone: 770-985-3500 Admission: FREE
Stone Mountain Park’s Lasershow Spectacular™ July 1, 2010 - July 31, 2010 Times: 9:30 pm www.stonemountainpark.com Location: Memorial / Laser Lawn Phone: (770) 498-5690 Admission: The Lasershow is free. Gwinnett Braves All-Star Break July 12, 2010 - July 14, 2010 Times: TBA www.gwinnettbraves.com Location: Coolray Field Phone: 678-277-0300 Admission: $6-$16
Beach Party Benefit July 22, 2010 Times: 6pm - 8:30pm Location: Delmar Gardens, Lawrenceville Phone: 770-923-3100 or 770-822-8774 Admission: $25 in advance/ $30 door
“No Junk EXPO 2010” Free Health Screenings, Vendors, Book Signings & Job Opportunities Saturday, July 31, 2010 Winfield Hall, 3890 Satellite Blvd., Duluth www.nojunkproductions.com Free Admission & Great Giveaways 678-371-6036
Lilburn Idol III in City Park July 23, 2010 http://www.cityoflilburn.com Location: Lilburn City Park Phone: 770-921-2210 Admission: FREE
American Idol LIVE Tour 2010 August 1, 2010 Times: 7:30pm www.ticketmaster.com Location: Arena at Gwinnett Center Phone: 404-249-6400 Admission: $40.50 / $50.50 / $70.50
Gwinnett Daily Post Health Fair July 24, 2010 Times: 10am-6pm www.simon.com Location: Discover Mills Mall Phone: 678-847-5000 Admission: FREE
Lilburn Idol Finale in City Park August 6, 2010 http://www.cityoflilburn.com Location: Lilburn City Park Phone: 770-921-2210 Admission: FREE
Summer Concert Series July 31, 2010 Times: 8:30pm www.chateauelan.com Location: Chateau Elan, Braselton Phone: 678-425-0900
NASA August 6, 2010 - August 8, 2010 Times: All Day www.roadatlanta.com Location: Road Atlanta Phone: 800-849-7223 Admission: $5 members/ $10 non-members, per day. Free parking
For Advertising Information Call 404-824-5396 • E-mail: life@OurTownMag.org
Page 7
Mother’s Day Special:
Inner Strength Fitness would like to welcome Ilana Katz, licensed dietician, and fitness expert. Please contact Inner Strength Fitness to schedule your personalized nutritional assessment.
(404) 271-0071
www.innerstrength-fitness.com
FITNESS
Gift Certificates Available
NOW FEATURING!
Getting Off the Diet Roller Coaster By Sagdrina Jalal
S
ummer means family vacations, relaxed schedules, and often... plateaued fitness goals. Some even take the summer off; surrendering to the temptation of long days and less than healthy eating. Unfortunately, our bodies do not take a ‘time-out’. Despite the time of year, solid nutrition remains a critical component of ultimate wellness.
Registered Dietician, Ilana Katz, shares her ideas on reaving up stagnant weight loss:
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What are your thoughts on current dieting trends? After examining the most popular diets and fads over time, (from the grapefruit diet to the low carb revolution) I realized that the problem is not just in losing weight, it’s keeping it off. The key to sustained weight loss is creating a maintainable lifestyle change. With cookie cutter diets, willpower eventually fades and old habits surface. It is important to follow an eating plan that can realistically last a lifetime. Why do so many people plateau? There is so much focus on the scale. Many dieters do not realize that they are losing muscle mass instead of fat by using diets that are not nutritionally sound. Developing and maintaining muscle is important for a healthy body. Muscle is our most metabolic active tissue, and by losing muscle, you lose the potential to burn additional calories. Every pound of muscle burns about 50 calories per day. “Yo-yo dieting” (going on and off fad diets) also lowers metabolic potential for burning calories in the future. What does a sound weight loss plan look like? Weight loss is most effective when it is customized. My individual meal planning sessions are based on my own journey with weight struggles and proven scientific research. Meal plans should never include deprivation, restriction, appetite suppressants, or any supposed magic weight loss promises. There are simply no quick fixes. Lasting weight loss takes a focused approach.
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By Sagdrina Jalal, BS Ed, CPT, Fitness Consultant, Inner Strength Fitness, 404-271-0071 www.innerstrength-fitness.com
Our Town Magazine
Cover continued from pg. 5 the back yard. They are living beings, and deserve to be treated humanely,” Baxter said. “The condition we find some of these dogs in is heart-breaking. But thanks to help from Beaver Ruin Animal Hospital and support from our wonderful customers, we have successfully rescued over 20 dogs and cats.”
When she’s not running her business or chasing after a stray dog, Melissa enjoys training for and competing in triathlons. Her next competition is Chattanooga Waterfront on July 11th; she will also compete in the Augusta Half Iron Man in September. “I’ve always been extremely competitive,” she said. “I enjoy a good challenge, and a triathlon offers plenty!” She and her husband, Kevin Baxter, often train together. Kevin owns Pro Twin Performance, a retail and custom motorcycle shop in Lawrenceville. “As a Master Bike Builder, he builds and designs custom motorcycles, restore classic motorcycles, custom paint, and does high performance engine modifications for Harley Davidson and for well known professional bike builders,” she said. “We’ve always heard that if you do what you enjoy, you will never work a day in your life; both of us have something we are passionate about.” From the outside looking in, everything about Melissa’s life is a success. She has accomplished so much in so little time; it’s hard to argue otherwise. But have her tell it, there is a lot more to do. “Of course I want the store to grow; I’d like to get to the point where I have enough money saved up to put our kids through private school,” she said. “But more than anything, I just want be able to help others.” After all, isn’t that what real success is all about?
Our Town Magazine
Writer, Cassidy Johnson
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Page 9
Register Today for
SUMMER TUTORING! NEW CLASSES FORMING NOW! NEW CLASSES FORMING NOW! Expires August 31, 2010
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Page 10
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Our Town Magazine
EDUCATION Corner Who’s in Charge at Your House?
FIVE FORKS ACADEMY 3079 Five Forks Trickum Road
l
Lilburn, GA 30047
Summer Camp
By Carol C. Wood Founder/CEO, Total Learning Concepts, Inc.
for ages 5 to 12. $175 for first child, $100 siblings. See our website for complete schedule.
D
uring the many years of work with students, I have often observed parents being both afraid of disciplining their children and taking charge in their homes. This month I am going to venture away from an educational topic and onto one that can affect your home environment, which will eventually affect your children’s academics.
Are you afraid you are going to make your children angry with you if you discipline them? Are you worried you may cause them emotional harm? Who is in charge in your house? If your answers are yes and your children are in charge at home, please continue reading. Following are some principles to put into practice at home in order to take charge. 1) Practice calm, conscious, confident parenting. 2) Practice the self discipline necessary to remain emotionally balanced in response to your children’s behavior. 3) Change things in small degrees because you can only improve your responses to your children’s behavior a little at a time. 4) Take note of your children’s misbehavior without immediately reacting, unless an immediate real danger exists. 5) Take a good look at your parenting anger and parenting fears because these emotional states indicate there is work you need to do on your own self. 6) Learn how to be firm without being emotional. 7) Communicate your children’s appropriate boundaries by consistently demonstrating respectful, responsible self discipline yourself, clearly communicating exactly the behavior you expect and you disallow, and follow through with consequences when patience and words do not work. 8) Be observant and learn how to talk to your children so they will listen. 9) Do not use harsh, angry criticism towards your children because this does not work. It lowers their expectations of themselves, lowers their self-confidence, and it fuels their fears, rebellion, and defensiveness, all resulting in an even worse behaviors and attitudes. 10) Do not fight with your children. Fighting does not work because when you engage in a frustrating power struggle with them, you will lose your own power and authority. 11) Do not do too much for your children to protect them from life’s challenges. Sometimes children learn more by dealing with events without your help and by you remaining uninvolved. 12) Remember children learn to behave in the ways that get them what they want. If you give them what they desire when they have been bossy and demanding, you have taught them that these traits satisfy their desires and they will disrespect others. 13) Remember that when children’s bad behavior goes without conse quences, it causes them to feel confused about what is expected of them and they may even doubt that they are truly cared about and interpret your leniency as apathy. 14) Develop emotional strength by remaining patient and composed when our children express hurt and angry feelings. You cannot teach your children self control when you are losing your own.
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The minister of a local church, Dr. Bill Blanchard, presented five important points on parenting in his sermon on Father’s Day. He taught that when parents demonstrate affirmation, acceptance, appreciation, availability, and affection towards their children, it fosters in them a sense of authenticity, security, significance, importance, and lovability, respectively. He also taught that when parents have only rules in their homes and no relationship with their children, this could lead to rebellion. Take charge in your homes as parents, while at the same time developing a relationship with your children. Set an example they can model of responsible, respectful, and accountable behavior, which will enable them to develop these same positive traits and become more confident and successful as students in the classroom. Your children will then also likely carry these same positive character qualities into their adult lives! Carol Wood is the founder and owner of Total Learning Concepts, Inc., a private, professional tutorial service located in Gwinnett County. Please email questions to ccwood@bellsouth.net or fax to 770-381-1626. OTM
Our Town Magazine
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Page 11
WELLNESS CORNER
H
Simple Pleasures
l Seeking Business Women and Entrepreneurs l Professional Networking l Solid Foundation l Established Membership
Could it be true? I had the house to myself and no appointments for the rest of the day? I checked my Blackberry calendar to be sure. No appointments… freedom confirmed. I initially didn’t know what to do, so I just stood in the middle of the floor looking around. I saw clothes on the floor and bed – maybe I should start the laundry and clean up the kitchen. Hm… no. I saw my computer bag and thought about going through my email in-box and following up with past-due correspondence. Hm… no, again. I saw my cell phone and thought about calling my girlfriends and arranging to go out for dinner. Uh… maybe. But I couldn’t face putting my feet back into any shoes and interacting with anyone. In the end, I did nothing. I changed into comfortable clothing and simply lay on my bed. Feeling the soft, cool texture of the clean sheets on the bed immediately relaxed me. I could smell the fabric softener from the dryer on them and I closed my eyes as I inhaled deeply. I relished the silence around me. All I could hear was the low hum of the air conditioner cooling off my hot skin from being outside in the Georgia summer heat. I wiggled my toes around, happy to have them free from the restrictions of my heeled sandals. I looked out the window at the various shades of green leaves on the trees and vibrantly colored blossoms hanging from the crepe myrtle. I heard birds singing to one another and watched the sky change colors as the sun dipped behind the trees. As I lay there, replays of conversations, meetings, presentations, email exchanges, and client interactions went through my mind. The emotions related to each memory – frustration, excitement, sadness, anger, joy, comfort, anxiety, confusion – flashed through my body and soul. But the simple pleasure of being still, quiet and comfortable made the memories of the week and the day fade. The next thing I knew, the phone was ringing but the room was completely dark. I’d fallen asleep. I glanced at the green lights of the digital clock glowing in the darkness. 8:30. I’d only been asleep for an hour, but my body felt completely rested and my mind was peaceful. Feeling, hearing, and smelling the comfort of my bedroom were exactly what I needed to renew my spirit. Don’t overlook the simple pleasures of a quiet moment. Letting go doesn’t have to cost money, you don’t have to go anywhere, and no one is needed but you. Every once in a while allow yourself to see, hear, smell and feel your surroundings. Be still, be quiet… just be. Althea Lawton-Thompson, Certified Fitness Expert, is the owner of Aerobics, Yoga & More Fitness Studios in Lilburn, GA and the Fitness Coordinator of the Johns Hopkins Youth Obesity Program in Baltimore, MD. See classes and workshops she offers at www.AYMFitness.com.
Page 12
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CROSSWORD PUZZLE
I recently had one of those weeks. It wouldn’t have been so bad if I could have stopped on Saturday and rested, regrouped and restored. But Saturday’s schedule was more hectic than the five previous days of the week. By the time I came home, dropped my bags on the sofa, kicked off my heels and fell face-first on my bed, I couldn’t think or move.
Gone 2 Stn Mtn w boys. B back ltr
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ave you ever had one of those weeks? A week where everything that could go wrong seems to have gone wrong. A week with days that seem to have no end and every minute is full of challenge, stress and tension. A week when every deadline needs to be met NOW, and the deadlines that were due last week are now past due.
After a few minutes lying prostrate, I realized the house was quiet. Where were the kids? Where was my husband? I checked my cell phone and found a text message:
Weekly meetings:
Business Women’s Network:
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Across
1. July 4th holiday, this year 6. Quite 10. Mountain range 14. Dental filling 15. ___-American 16. Baltic capital 17. Circular Junction 19. Alternative to Windows 20. Charlotte-to-Raleigh dir. 21. Density symbol 22. Cousin of the violin 24. Suave 28. Aloof 29. Chip away at 30. “La Bohème,” e.g. 33. Correspond 34. Apply gently 37. Statue of ___ 39. Champion 41. Center of a ball? 42. Hits 44. Arouse 45. Blood carrier 46. ___ lab 47. Cheerful disposition 52. During 53. Trick taker, often 54. “I see!”
57. Round sound 58. Arbitrarily 62. Arch type 63. Western blue flag, e.g. 64. Acknowledged 65. Backgammon 66. Blockhead 67. Clear, as a disk
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Down 1. __ works 2. Knowing, as a secret 3. Chimneys 4. “The Joy Luck Club” author 5. Simplest organic compound 6. Cousin of a clog 7. Amateur video subject, maybe 8. French vineyard 9. Hasty departure 10. Reluctant 11. Caste member 12. Catlike 13. Burdened 18. Call to a mate 23. ____ Day 25. Bog 26. “___ Town Too” (1981 hit)
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27. Attempts 30. Aged 31. Pandowdy, e.g. 32. “Chicago” lyricist 33. Earp 34. Batman and Robin, e.g. 35. “Don’t ___!” 36. Drone, e.g. 38. Like a monster 40. Elliptical 43. ___ cross 45. Confused 46. Art ___ 47. Libreville’s land 48. Alpha’s opposite 49. Edmonton hockey player 50. Bring up 51. W.W. II conference site 55. Brews 56. Jekyll’s alter ego 59. Ace 60. End 61. Balloon filler
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Our Town Magazine
Bust Summertime Boredom with 10 Wallet-Friendly Ideas
By Cami Nail, Primrose School of Five Forks
W
make-believe town in the desert out of rocks, boxes, and their imaginations. Read the book with your children and then challenge them to create their own town with materials they find in the backyard.
Studies show that without stimulation, children can lose up to 60 percent of what they learned during the school year. Primrose Schools, a family of 200 accredited private preschools, suggests the key to overcoming summertime boredom and the “brain drain” effect is to encourage imaginative play and have a plan in place to keep children engaged during the summer months.
Art Treasure Chest: You’ll need to gather basic art supplies–child safe scissors, glue, markers, tape, and construction paper. Put them in a special box along with empty oatmeal boxes and paper towel rolls, colorful magazines, and bits of aluminum foil. Occasionally add a special surprise like chalk, stickers, or stamp pads so there’s always something new for the children to find. Even if you normally have these supplies around the house, it‘s fun for children to know that the Art Treasure Chest is just for them.
hat could be worse than a rainy summer day, when your children are cooped up inside and you have nothing planned? For parents, even sunny days that seem filled with endless opportunities, still yield the inevitable “I’m bored!” Undoubtedly, your children will utter those words at least once during the upcoming summer months.
Here are 10 ideas parents can use to keep young minds active during the summer months: Beat the Boredom Jar: At the beginning of the summer, sit down with your family and brainstorm a list of activities that can be done alone or that you can enjoy doing together. Encourage your children to share their own ideas and help you decorate and label a simple jar as the family “Boredom Buster Jar.” Next, write everyone’s ideas down on slips of paper and as a group decide which ones should go in the jar. Anyone in the family can pull any idea out of the jar to fight the summertime boredom blues.
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Stories Alive: It sounds too simple, but reading is one of the most important ways to keep young minds engaged during the summer. Make reading even more fun by finding ways to bring the stories to life. For example, in the book Roxaboxen by Alice McLerran, children create a
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Family Performances: Break out old clothes or costumes and encourage children to make up characters and create a play to act out. They are the directors, actors, and producers. They can also make musical instruments out of pots/pans, wooden spoons, empty canisters and have a parade; or everyone can play along to your family’s favorite songs. Record or video the performances, and enjoy the replay. You’ll also be capturing a bit of family history everyone will enjoy for years to come. Fort Building: Children love to build all kinds of structures--from small towns to large towers. Constructing forts or tents is an activity that can keep children focused and problem solving for hours. Cookbook Fun: Have you ever shared your favorite cookbook with your children? Take it out and ask your children to choose a recipe to try. Measuring can be a fun and easy way to keep math skills fresh.
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Summer Scrapbook: All you need for this project is a spiral notebook. Encourage everyone in the family to draw pictures of favorite activities and collect mementos from special events throughout the summer. They will also be building their storytelling skills at the same time. Listening Game: Lie down in the backyard, in the den or at the park and listen. What do you hear? Do you hear what I hear? Can you imitate the sound? This is similar to watching the clouds and naming the shapes, and it encourages everyone to slow down and focus on listening. Camping Out: Pretend to campout in the backyard. Plan a meal, pack a backpack and set up a campsite. You might even decide to spend the night! Scavenger Hunt: Make a list or picture cards of common household items and have your children find the items on the list. Invite friends or neighbors to join in the fun to make it a competition. Parents can use this list of ideas as a starting point for summer activities that offer a balance between the freedom of child-initiated play time and more structured activities. So with these tips in mind, sit down with your family and make a plan for an engaging, imaginative and fun summer.
Primrose School of Five Forks www. PrimroseFiveForks.com, 770.985.0028, admin@primrosefiveforks.com
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BUSINESS
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Our Town Magazine
PET PAGE MASSAGE THERAPY FOR YOUR COMPANION ANIMAL
M
assage therapy for pets? Absolutely, positively YES! At Gwinnett Animal Hospital massage therapy is used in conjunction with a variety of holistic modalities such as chiropractic and acupuncture for the care of our patients. The benefits of massage therapy for pets mirror those we see for humans such as relaxation, tension release, and pain reduction.
Massage therapy is a method of touch therapy using the hands. It incorporates long, smooth soothing strokes along the body, kneading, separating and stretching of superficial layers of body muscle, and on some occasions heat, ultrasound and vibrational therapy may be used. By improving the circulation of the blood, massage therapy brings much needed oxygen and other nutrients to the lymphatic and nervous systems, as well as to the body’s tissues and muscles. This helps to relieve muscle tension and pain, increases flexibility and mobility, and helps to remove lactic acid and other waste build-up from the body. This in turn helps to reduce pain, inflammation and stiffness in the body’s muscles and joints.
PETS OF THE MONTH Available for Adoption: Ezra is a handsome one year old Chihuahua mix who weighs 13 pounds. This sweetheart was abandoned at our adoption center. Our staff found him one morning, tied to the railing at our facility, along with his buddy Preston. Ezra is striking pooch. He has beautiful white coloring and light hazel eyes. Ezra has done very well with the other dogs and is always happy to receive the love and attention from the staff and volunteers. Ezra promises to be a wonderful lifetime companion. Atlanta Pet Rescue is open Tuesday – Friday 11am-4pm and Saturday 12pm-5pm. For more information about Atlanta Pet Rescue or how to adopt Ezra or any of our 80+ dogs, cats, puppies and kittens looking for homes, visit our web site: www.atlantapetrescue.org
Hope (DOB ~04/22/2005) is a beautiful female
calico van purebred Persian with gorgeous copper eyes who came to us from a cattery when the cattery owner discovered she is gravely ill and needed to place her cats in rescue. HOPE is a fun-loving, sweet, feisty, and curious girl who would love to have a family to call her own and where she could receive some much needed one-on-one attention and love.
What are some signs or symptoms that my pet may need or could benefit from massage therapy? Our companion animals will not always verbally communicate to us if they are painful or sore. Instead they may communicate in a non-verbal manner through different abnormal behaviors such as refusing or resisting walking, leash equipment or stair climbing, not jumping up on beds, couches or into cars, shortened strides or tossing of the head, stumbling or incorrect foot placement, limping or skipped steps, and poor disposition or behavioral changes.
Hope
What are some of the possible contributing factors to the mentioned signs or symptoms for the need of massage therapy? •
Athletic injuries (such as the “weekend athlete” who overdoes it)
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Arthritis or stiffness
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Inactivity due to injury, surgery, illness, age or obesity
What are some of the benefits of massage therapy? • Pain reduction or relief inflammation and pain •
Increased oxygenation into muscles and tissues
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Increased elasticity of muscles
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Increased range of motion, flexibility, movement
To see all our cats available for adoption, please visit www.fancyfelinerescue.org Fancy Feline Rescue of the South is a non-profit, no kill rescue, dedicated to individual attention and excellent care to homeless cats, working to find them good homes.
Our Town Reader Pet of the Month Frazier was adopted from animal
•
Release of stress, tension and contracted muscles
•
A general sense of calming and reduction of stress
control last year, was literally skin and bones and in pretty poor shape. He has since doubled his weight, trained really well, enjoys good health and a loving home.
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An increased sense of wellness in the mind, body and spirit
Judy Wood-Snellille
•
Removal of toxins from the body and its organs
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Decreased recovery time from surgery or trauma
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Increase level of performance in working pets
and stride length
Ezra
Frazier
All pets can benefit from massage therapy. Massage therapy is thought to particularly benefit elderly dogs, inactive dogs and dogs recovering from injuries or surgery. Elderly dogs suffering from stiffness and arthritis often respond well to massage therapy and begin to feel better, move easier and experience less pain. Massage is also thought to have behavioral benefits, such as helping to relax reactive or hyperactive dogs as well as helping to build confidence in shy, fearful dogs. Working pets such as competition dogs also benefit greatly from massage therapy because it can help to keep their muscles finely tuned in between trials. Please see our website www.gwinnettanimalhospital.com for more information on massage therapy for your pet and other beneficial services offered at Gwinnett Animal Hospital. Gwinnett Animal Hospital is proud to announce the addition of Dr. Pat Zook to our hospital. She will be joining our holistic veterinary care team as of July 1, 2010. Andrea Haupt, RVT, CVMRT
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Recipe Nanaimo Bars Original Recipe Yield 2 dozen Ingredients 1/2 cup butter 1/4 cup white sugar 5 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder 1 egg 1 teaspoon vanilla extract 2 cups graham cracker crumbs 1 cup shredded coconut 1/2 cup chopped walnuts 1/4 cup butter 2 cups confectioners' sugar 2 tablespoons vanilla custard powder 3 tablespoons milk 4 (1 ounce) squares semisweet chocolate, chopped 1 tablespoon butter Directions 1. Mix 1/2 cup butter or margarine, white sugar, cocoa, egg and vanilla in a heavy sauce pan or double boiler. Stir over low heat until mixture is of custard like consistency. 2. Combine graham crackers, coconut and walnuts and add to the melted mixture. Mix well and pack into buttered 9 inch square cake pan. 3. Cream 1/4 cup butter, confectioners’ sugar, vanilla custard powder and milk. Beat until creamy and spread over melted base. 4. Refrigerate till hardened. 5. Melt semi-sweet chocolate with 1 tablespoon butter and drizzle over custard icing. Refrigerate. When totally hard cut into square bars. Nutritional Information Amount Per Serving Calories: 391 | Total Fat: 23g | Cholesterol: 52mg
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Our Town Magazine
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