Contents
January 2016
VOLUME 3 | ISSUE 6
28-29
[28-29]
On the Cover:
Howard's Auto Body
36-38
2016 Best of Life Winners Announced!
[36-38]
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Canton Family Life | JANUARY 2016
04
.......................... Perspective
06
............................. Calendar
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....................... Business Life
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..................... Canton Minute
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............................ Quotables
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....................... Capitol Ideas
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........................ Book Review
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......................... Taste of Life
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......................... Artist Profile
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................... Faces of Canton
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................... Ribbon Cuttings
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Publisher’s Perspective
PUBLISHER/PHOTOGRAPHER Jack Tuszynski Jack@FamilyLifePublications.com EDITORIAL Julie Senger Editor@FamilyLifePublications.com ART Candice Williams Candice@FamilyLifePublications.com Laurie Litke Laurie@FamilyLifePublications.com SALES Janet Ponichtera Janet@FamilyLifePublications.com
“What you do today is important, because you are exchanging a day of your life for it.” — Unknown
W
hen I’m active, I get tired. The activity is certainly remembered longer in my muscles than it used to be. Back in my younger days, after running around in the woods, riding up and down Toonigh Road on my bike, working in the garden with my dad or completing other chores, I would soon be sleeping on a pillow, surrounded by shag carpet, while being comforted by the breezy hum of an old metal fan. So I think I like being physically active. It reminds me of when I was younger, enjoying youth and simpler times. With so many activities readily available in our current day, deciding which ones to participate in can be a challenge, in and of itself. Often, we aren’t even given a choice with career, family and other obligations we encounter. Being an adult can certainly be exhausting on a new level, as the mind tends to stay active, even as our bodies attempt to rest.
Family Life Publishing Group Inc. 150 North Street, Suite A Canton, GA 30114
770-213-7095
FamilyLifePublications.com FamilyLifePublications Canton Family Life welcomes your comments, stories and advertisements. The viewpoints of the advertisers, columnists and submissions are not necessarily those of the Editor/ Publisher, and the Publisher makes no claims as to the validity of any charitable organizations mentioned. Canton Family Life magazine is not responsible for errors and omissions. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means without written permission from the Publisher. Subscriptions are available for $25 per year. Please contact us for payment options. AS
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It’s a New Year. If you have plans to do something amazing for yourself or for others this year, or plans to stop doing something that you don’t think you should be doing — there’s no time like the present to begin. The year is young, and it’s the perfect time to make a change for the better. Seek to rekindle the vitality of your younger self again, with a childlike faith and energy. You should find that in the process, it will positively benefit you, your family and your future.
CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Andrea Addington, Jose Baez, Rep. Mandi Ballinger, Kathleen Boehmig, Larissa Bradford, Mary Kay Buquoi, Jennifer Calandra, Jyl Craven, Natalie De Velle, Arlene Dickerson, Anna Katheryn Duquette, Micah Fowler, Joshua Fuder, Corey Harkins, Lisa-Marie Haygood, Norman Hunt, Cameron Johnson, Vicki Knight-Mathis, James E. Leake, Beth Major, Pamela Marquess, Robbie Matiak, Scott Merritt, Tim Morris, E. Anthony Musarra, Vishant Nath, Cindy Nelson, Michael Petrosky, Marcelle Robustelli, Nick Roper, Booke Sillay, Matthew Thomas, Farris Yawn
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M AG A ZI
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Jack Tuszynski, Publisher
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© 2016 All rights reserved.
Calendar JANUARY
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Rooted in Love — A non-profit here in Cherokee County that provides a meal and specific needs to the homeless in Cherokee County on the first Saturday of each month. They offer the homeless families food, toilet paper, water, clothes, and goody bags. The meals usually take place at Changed 2 Ministries, 2484 Marietta Hwy, Canton. RootedInLoveGA.org
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Cherokee Christian School’s Open House — Light refreshments will be served, and children are welcome to attend. 7:00 pm, 678-494-5464. For more information, please contact Kim Howell at Kim.Howell@CherokeeChristian.org
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Joe Gransden & His Big Band Joe Gransden, originally from Manhattan and now residing in Atlanta, has performed worldwide and released 14 CDs under his own name. Gransden is renowned for both the hard bop approach of his trumpet and his singing voice, which has been compared to that of Chet Baker and Frank Sinatra. The Joe Gransden 16 Piece Big Band is quickly becoming one of the busiest groups on the jazz scene. 7:30 pm, Falany Performing Arts Center, 7300 Reinhardt Circle, Waleska.770-720-9167. Reinhardt.edu
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The Glenn Miller Orchestra — The legendary Glenn Miller was one of the most successful of all dance bandleaders back in the Swing Era of the 1930’s and 40’s. Today, the 18 member ensemble, led by Nick Hilscher, continues to play many of the original Miller arrangements, both from the civilian
band and the American Air Force Band libraries. Additionally, it also plays some more modern selections, arranged and performed in the Miller style and sound. Just as it was in Glenn’s day, the Glenn Miller Orchestra is still the most sought after big band in the world. 7:30 pm, Falany Performing Arts Center, 7300 Reinhardt Circle, Waleska. 770-720-9167. Reinhardt.edu
21, 22, 23
The Friends of Cherokee County Public Libraries First Sale of 2016 — This will be a large sale of donated materials. All proceeds from the sale will go for youth materials and audio materials. Sale dates and times are: Friday, January 22, 10:00 am-5:30 pm and Saturday, January 23, 10:00 am-4:00 pm. There will be a preview day Thursday, January 21 at 3:00-5:30 pm for Friends members. Non-members may join at the door for an individual fee of $15 and a couple for $25. R.T. Jones Library, 116 Brown Industrial Pkwy., Canton. 770-4793090. SequoyahRegionalLibrary.org
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“Skillet Lickers” Country Music ‘Down Yonder’ Theatre Show — This show tells the true story of the band. After a sellout show last August, they are back by popular request! All seats $15, seating is limited. A “not to be missed” event! Call for reservations! Canton Theatre, 171 E Main St, Canton. 770-704-0755. CantonTheatre.com
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The Atlanta Symphony Orchestra The Atlanta Symphony Orchestra, currently in its 70th season, consistently affirms its position as one of America’s leading orchestras by performing great music, presenting great artists, educating and engaging. The Orchestra is known for the excellence of its live performances, presentations, renowned choruses and its impressive list of GRAMMY® Award-winning recordings. 8:00 pm, Falany Performing Arts Center, 7300 Reinhardt Circle, Waleska. 770-720-9167. Reinhardt.edu
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Scan to submit your upcoming event!
FEBRUARY
2
David Burgess, Latin Guitarist — Praised by musicians and critics worldwide, David Burgess is recognized as one of today’s outstanding guitarists. His international appearances as a soloist and chamber musician have taken him to concert halls throughout North and South America, Europe and the Far East. Through his extensive travels in both Spain and Latin America, Mr. Burgess has explored traditional guitar styles, along with many popular and folkloric types of music. He has acquired one of the largest collections of Latin American guitar music in the U.S., from which he often draws interesting and unusual works for his programs. 7:30 pm, Falany Performing Arts Center, 7300 Reinhardt Circle, Waleska. 770-720-9167. Reinhardt.edu
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LIBRARY EVENTS SequoyahRegionalLibrary.org BALL GROUND 435 Old Canton Road, Ball Ground, 770-735-2025 HICKORY FLAT 2740 East Cherokee Drive, Canton, 770-345-7565 R.T. JONES 116 Brown Industrial Pkwy., Canton, 770-479-3090
FAMILY STORYTIME Tuesdays, 10:30 am & 3:30 pm, R.T. Jones Saturdays, 10:30 am, R.T. Jones Thursdays, 10:30 am, Ball Ground Thursdays, 10:30 am, Hickory Flat LAP-SIT STORYTIME Wednesdays, 10:30 am & 11:30 am, R.T. Jones Designed for ages 1-3 years THE JOY OF COLORING Wednesdays, 11:00 am-2:00 pm, Ball Ground Find out why coloring books are so popular again. Have fun, and make new friends. All materials provided. This event is for individuals 16 and older. DROP-IN CRAFTER-NOON January 2, 2:00-4:00 pm, R.T. Jones January 16, 2:00-4:00 pm, R.T. Jones Don’t let boredom get the best of you! For all ages who enjoy crafting with paper, glue and crayons. All materials will be provided. This drop-in program requires a participating adult. LEGO CLUB January 2, 2:00 pm, Hickory Flat Children can work alone or in teams to make their own special creation, which will be displayed at the library until next month’s meeting. Each month, Lego Club will feature a new theme. All ages are invited; 9 and under must be accompanied by an adult. LEGO ROBOTICS STEAM TEAM January 4, 2:00-3:00 pm, R.T. Jones Create, build, control and play with LEGO Robotics. This program is for ages 9-14. Registration is required. Call 770479-3090 ext. 233 to register. MOBILE CAREER LAB January 6, 10:00 am-3:00 pm, R.T. Jones January 20, 10:00 am-3:00 pm, R.T. Jones The Atlanta Regional Workforce Board’s Mobile Career Lab is coming to your library. Get free assistance with your job search, information about training opportunities and access
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to computer workstations. Services are available for ages 16 years and older. AUTHOR EVENT, AMANDA KYLE WILLIAMS January 9, 1:00 pm, R.T. Jones Friends of Cherokee County Public Libraries, Inc. is proud to host author, Amanda Kyle Williams. Williams is a mystery/ thriller writer from Decatur, GA. She is the author of The Stranger You Seek, The Stranger in the Room, and Don’t Talk To Strangers. She is currently working on her fourth book. Her books have been on the shortlist of the Shamus Award and praised by Publishers Weekly. She has an inspiring story about her life with dyslexia and her recent battle with cancer. Friends of Cherokee County Public Libraries will be presenting the Susan White Award at the beginning of this event. Immediately following the event will be the annual Friends of Cherokee County Public Libraries meeting. THE CIVIL WAR IN CHEROKEE & NORTH COBB COUNTIES January 9, 3:00 pm, Hickory Flat Local Author, Gerald Flinchum of Woodstock, will discuss Civil War skirmishes in Cherokee & North Cobb counties in 1864. BALL GROUND BOOK CLUB January 11, 11:00 am, Ball Ground Come join the group as they discuss Frenchman’s Creek by Daphne DuMaurier. MARGIE CARROLL’S VIEW OF THE WORLD January 19, 6:00 pm, Ball Ground Margie Carroll, local author, photographer, and inventor shares her experiences in observing and photographing animal behavior that has produced several delightful children’s books. Let’s journey into the world of Bette Brown Bear, Barnabas Bluebird and other wildlife, as seen through Ms. Carroll’s imagination and camera lens. DIARY OF A WIMPY KID January 21, 4:00 pm, Ball Ground Fans ages 8-12 of the Dork Diaries and Diary of a Wimpy Kid
series are invited to join us for fun games and a craft. We’ll have trivia, make our own dork or wimpy diary, and avoid the cheese touch at all costs! Space is limited; registration is required. CHESS & CHAT January 23, 1:00-2:00 pm, R.T. Jones Chess & Chat is our informal chess group that meets once a month to play. While our Adult Services Desk always has chess sets available to use, we have a nice group of opponents on these special Saturdays. No need to register, just drop by and see who is interested in playing a game. POTATO CHIP TASTE OFF January 25, 6:00 pm, R.T. Jones Calling all potato chip connoisseurs! Teens and tweens in 6th grade and up will taste and decide on the best potato chip out there and will also have a chance to create their own unique potato chip flavor. DIY FRIDAY January 29, 11:30 am-1:30 pm, R.T. Jones Drop in for DIY Friday! Do you knit? Bring your yarn and needles! You create jewelry? Bring your tools! This program is a great chance to work on your craft of choice, meet other crafters, share your DIY skills and maybe learn some new ones. Brown-bag lunches welcome. INTERACTION SUNDAYS January 31, 2:00-5:30 pm, R.T. Jones Escape to the library for an afternoon of gaming with new and old friends. If gaming isn’t your style, then pick an adult coloring page and color the time away! A selection of games are available to use, as well as pencils, crayons and coloring pages. Most games are appropriate for ages 10+. All children must be accompanied by an adult. Enjoy our provided, light refreshments!
Business WellStar Health System is deploying an innovative solution to improve the patient experience and care. WellStar’s electronic medical record patient portal, WellStar MyChart, will provide patients with round-the-clock access to their providers’ notes in addition to instructions, next steps, medication lists and test results from outpatient medical visits. WellStar is the first Georgia-based health system to offer this service to its patients. Evidence has shown that patients who become part of the care team are more actively involved in their healthcare and experience better outcomes with lower costs. When a patient is sick, tired or stressed during a doctor’s visit, they or their caregivers may forget what the doctor said or prescribed. WellStar MyChart takes away the need to remember every detail by allowing the patient the ability to review this important information on their own schedule. Physician notes provide a concise, comprehensive summary of a patient’s condition. This information is shared within WellStar’s electronic health record and shared with the patient through WellStar MyChart. To sign up for a WellStar MyChart account, you can visit your WellStar Medical Group physician or WellStar facility to receive an activation code or visit the webpage at MyChart.WellStar.org/MyChart/. For additional assistance or details, please speak with your healthcare provider.
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Cherokee County Farm Bureau Wins GFB State Award Cherokee County Farm Bureau (CCFB) received the Georgia Farm Bureau Outstanding Legislative Committee Award during the organization’s 2015 annual meeting. The CCFB Legislative Committee was recognized for the efforts it made during the past year to advocate for agriculture with elected officials. One of the many activities the committee conducted was holding a candidate forum in July, attended by more than 200 people that gave local residents the chance to meet the 16 candidates running for local offices. Picured: Georgia Farm Bureau President, Zippy Duvall, (center) presents the GFB Outstanding Legislative Committee Award to Cherokee County Farm Bureau President, William Grizzle (left) and CCFB Legislative Committee Chairman, Len Cagle (right) during the 78th Annual GFB Convention.
County Leaders Graduate from the GA Academy of Economic Development
The Board of the Georgia Academy for Economic Development announces Cherokee County graduates from the 2015 Region 3, Multi-Day Training Program. Class participants represented a number of professional and nonprofessional economic development fields, including elected officials, public servants, business leaders, educators and social service providers from ten counties in metro Atlanta, Georgia. The Academy provided each of the graduates an opportunity to gain a unique understanding of the complexities of economic and community development on the local, regional and state levels. Cherokee County graduates included: Erin Honea, Main Street Director, City of Holly Springs; Micah Fowler, Main Street Director, City of Canton; Sara Skeen, Office Manager, Cherokee Office of Economic Development. The Academy’s multi-day program, taught one day a month over a four-month period, includes training in the basics of economic and community development, plus specialized segments on business recruitment and retention, tourism product development, downtown development, planning and other essentials for community success. In addition, the curriculum features specific leadership skills, such as consensus building, ethics in public service, collaborative leadership and other segments needed for effective community leadership in economic development.
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Each year, seniors struggle to choose “the right plan.” Start with your medication list. You will know the name of your medication, but make sure you add the STRENGTH of your medication to your list. First — Each plan has a list of medications that they cover with the amount paid for each. This list is known as the “formulary.” The real point of choice is to see if your medication, at the STRENGTH you need, is on the list at the price tier you want to pay.
Making the
Medicare Part D
Choice
For example, once you find your medication on the list for each tier of coverage, then you need to see what strength you use and which tier covers that strength. Many times, the stronger dosage is not covered on a lesser priced tier because the medication is more costly. While you pay more on a monthly basis, choosing the tier that covers your medication will save you more in the long run. Second — Check to see if any medications on the “formulary” require a prior authorization. Insurance companies use this as a tool to review the need for certain
By Pamela S. Marquess, Pharm. D.
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medications, and thus contain costs for their plan. A prior authorization can occur on a medication that you’ve taken for years, simply because you have a new plan. If your consultant does not have that information, request to speak to someone who does. Third — Ask which medications in your plan are “step therapy.” Some medications are not covered until it has been shown in your insurance record that you have taken other, less expensive medications, in a particular sequence for therapy and had no relief from these medications. If you know the answers to these questions, then you will know what TIER to choose, what PRICE to pay and what SCRIPTS will be covered when you enter the pharmacy.
Pamela S. Marquess, Pharm. D. is Co-Owner of PharMoore Health Mart Pharmacy, 3422 Sixes Road, Canton. 770-213-3341. PharMoore.com
Canton Minute
Industry Thriving Breeds Optimism By Matthew A. Thomas
T
hey are tucked away, hidden from view. Their business does not need visibility. You will not find their coupons in the Sunday newspaper. You will not see their names on a list of local “things to do.” They employ hundreds of people. They create numerous jobs that support local families and households. Their presence sends ripples throughout the economy that we often take for granted. These are our existing industries, the companies whose operations comprise a significant amount of the community’s job base. Their existence is critical to our economic stability, sustainability and growth. Their investment indicates community and regional prosperity in addition to direct and indirect work opportunities for people both far and near. They have names like Universal Alloy Corporation, PlayNation Play Systems, Piolax USA, Mullen & Company, Morrison Products, Wadeken, International Thermocast, Furniture Guild and Northside Hospital-Cherokee. These companies create and supply goods and services to hundreds or even millions of people. The output of their work reaches far beyond our borders and supports wellpaying jobs. Based on some of these companies’ most
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recent expansion announcements, they either have or intend to create somewhere around 400 jobs, with about $490 million dollars in investments since 2013. The quality jobs and gainful employment they create are necessary to provide family wages, benefits and numerous degrees of permanence and opportunities for advancement. They also carry high employment multipliers, which support other businesses and jobs in the community. High employment multiplier industries are traditionally those that attract income and investment from outside the area, domestically and internationally. Our local manufacturers and industries have weathered a tumultuous economic downturn and are now adding jobs, investing in new capital and being innovative. This not only says a lot about the quality of their work, but also reflects our community’s capacity to support the jobs, infrastructure and accessibility that is critical for retaining businesses. The wide-ranging diversity of these businesses also helps stabilize our economic well-being. Not having all of our eggs in one basket is a good thing. Just to give you an idea, Universal Alloy is a global leader in the aerospace industry. Morrison Products
creates blower wheels, impellers and other assemblages for air conditioning units. PlayNation Play Systems creates play grounds and swing sets. Piolax manufactures metal and plastic automotive parts. Furniture Guild handcrafts original furniture pieces that are requested by clientele internationally, and Northside Hospital delivers more babies than any other hospital in the United States. Canton was named for and built by its enterprising capabilities. From our city’s roots in manufacturing cotton fabrics, to our thriving commerce and industrial realities today, we are very fortunate to be in a place that so many businesses can call home. It’s because businesses have expanded and invested at such high and unprecedented levels in 2015 that we should all be optimistic about 2016.
Matthew A. Thomas is Economic Development Manager for the City of Canton. 770-704-1516. Matthew.Thomas@ Canton-Georgia.com
Community Feature Community Donations Used to Purchase New Fire Engine Cherokee County Fire & Emergency Services received a check for $110,000 from the volunteers with the Hickory Flat Volunteer Fire Department.
Robinson, Field Operations Chief, Greg Erdely and firefighters from Station 23 were also in attendance.
The funding, with additional monies from the county, was used in the purchase of a new fire engine that will be used at Station 23 in the Hickory Flat Community. According to Chief Larry Berry, “The funds came from donations obtained from the people within our community.”
Chief Tim Prather said, “The Hickory Flat Volunteer Fire Department has been an important part of our county for 40 years now. Still, to this day, they are committed to helping their community by providing quality fire service protection.” Hickory Flat volunteers also serve parts of Canton and Woodstock.
Cherokee County Commissioner and former Fire Chief, Raymond Gunnin, accepted the check from Chief Larry Berry, with HFVFD Rookie of the Year, Alex Stice, HFVFD Firefighter of the Year, Jack Tuszynski and HFVFD Board member, Jim Hubbard. Cherokee County Fire Chief, Tim Prather, Assistant Fire Chief, Eddie
The Hickory Flat Volunteer Fire Department is recruiting for new membership. If you or someone you know is looking for an exciting and rewarding way to serve your local community, consider volunteering and being part of your local volunteer fire department.
Congratulations Congratulationstotoour ourOctober December “7 Differences” “7 Differences” winner, winner, Melanie TonyaTugman! Bruce!
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Community Feature CCEF Raises $29,000 at 3rd Annual Golf Classic The Cherokee County Educational Foundation scored a hole-in-one at its Third Annual CCEF Golf Classic by raising a record $29,000 to support schools, teachers and students. The nonprofit CCEF, which raises funds and awareness for the Cherokee County School District, recently held the tournament at Woodmont Golf & Country Club with presenting sponsor, Northside Hospital-Cherokee. The trophies, as has become a CCEF Golf Classic tradition, were designed and crafted by art students at all of CCSD’s high schools. Each school’s art department was presented with an honorarium donation by CCEF in appreciation for their work.
Farm Bureau Seeks Entries for Art Contest
Cherokee High School ceramics students show off their designs, from left to right: Martha Voizin, Amber Jenkins, Lincoln Johnson, Elexis Muse, Thu Nguyen, Ashley Heard, Maria Vicente, Katlin Norman and Joseph Alas.
Students in 9th through 12th grade are invited to enter the Georgia Farm Bureau Art Contest. The artwork should be drawn in black ink or dark soft lead pencil, on an 8 1/2 x 11 inch piece of white paper. The artwork should be camera ready. The winner of the Cherokee County Farm Bureau Art Contest will receive: First Place County Winner $100 Walmart gift card, and Second Place County Winner $75 Walmart gift card. Each First Place and Second Place School winner will receive a $50 Walmart gift card. Drawings will be judged on how well the artwork represents modern agriculture found in Cherokee or Georgia’s agriculture industry and artistic merit. To enter this contest and view other contests and scholarship opportunities available, students should contact the Cherokee County Farm Bureau for an official entry form and contest rules (770-479-1481 ext. 0), or visit GFB.org/programs/aic for more information. All entries must be received at the Cherokee County Farm Bureau office by Friday, February 12, 2016.
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Community Feature CCSD Students Continued to Exceed State, Nation on AP Exams Cherokee County School District high school students not only continue to exceed State and National averages on rigorous Advance Placement (AP) exams, but the school system has also garnered national recognition for its AP achievement for the third consecutive year. CCSD has earned the third-highest AP exam passage rate in Georgia in 2015, as well as being named to the College Board’s AP Honor Roll. Only six school districts in Georgia were named to the AP Honor Roll for 2015, and this was CCSD’s third consecutive year to earn the distinction. The School District, with a passage rate of 73% among the 4,125 tests administered in the spring of 2015, ranks third out of Georgia’s 180 school systems and exceeds the State average of 55% and the National average of 58%. The AP Program allows high school students who score a 3, 4 or 5 on an AP exam to earn college credit in high school and, subsequently, to exempt those courses in college. Studies show that students who participate in AP courses are more likely to earn higher scores on the SAT and ACT and to complete their college education. Passage of AP exams places students at an academic and financial advantage, studies show, as they can both begin classes in their major sooner and avoid tuition costs for exempted courses. Scores of 3, 4, or 5 receive college credit at most colleges and universities.
CHS CVHS EHS RRHS SHS WHS
CCSD
Total AP Exams
560
732
801
626
568
838
4,125
Total AP Courses
18
20
21
22
19
21
26
AP Scores 3,4,5
73%
75%
71%
55%
80%
82%
73%
382
424
329
329
405
2,221
# of Students Tested
352
CCSD Tops Metro Atlanta on 2015 Georgia Milestones End of Course Tests Cherokee County School District students not only exceeded state passage rates on the new, more challenging Georgia Milestones statewide exams, but its middle and high school students also topped their Metro Atlanta peers in a majority of subjects.
CCSD Adaptive PE Teacher Wins State “Triumph of the Human Spirit” Award Cherokee County School District Adaptive Physical Education teacher, Amy Aenchbacher, has won a state award for her outstanding service to special needs students. She is one of 20 winners statewide of the 2015 BlazeSports Triumph of the Human Spirit Award, previously named the Georgia Disability Sports Award, which honors significant impacts made in Georgia through adaptive sport and recreation. These awards pay tribute to individuals, groups and organizations that demonstrate qualities beyond athletic achievement, such as leadership and a positive attitude, and to those who inspire, motivate and truly epitomize the “Triumph of the Human Spirit.” A lifelong advocate and educator of quality physical education programs for children with disabilities in Georgia, Ms. Aenchbacher has served as CoCoordinator of the Cherokee County Special Olympics for more than a decade.
Georgia Milestones, which assesses the mastery of Georgia Performance Standards and replaces the State’s previous testing system, includes End of Grade tests for Grades 3-8 and End of Course tests for middle and high school students taking specific classes for high school credit. Results are reported as percentages of students who are Beginning, Developing, Proficient or Distinguished Learners and include English Language Learners and students who receive Special Education services. On the End of Course tests, CCSD middle and high school students, in addition to exceeding state passage rates (Developing to Distinguished Learners) on every test, also lead all Metro Atlanta county school systems in six of the eight subjects: American Literature and Composition, Biology, Coordinate Algebra, Economics, Ninth Grade Literature and Composition and U.S. History (tied with Cobb County).
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Are You
SAD?
the farther north you live — perhaps because these areas experience decreased daylight time.
Has the red and green of the holiday season left you blue? Like many people, you may experience cabin fever during the winter months. Or, you may tend to eat more or sleep more when the temperature drops. But Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) goes well beyond those symptoms. Seasonal Affective Disorder is much more than the winter blahs. It’s a type of depressive disorder, sometimes called winter depression.
Symptoms of SAD usually appear during the colder months of fall and winter, when there is less exposure to sunlight during the day. The typical symptoms of winter depression are: increased sleep or sleepiness, overeating, weight gain, daytime fatigue, lack of interest in activities you once enjoyed and social withdrawal. If you feel down for days at a time, notice that your sleep patterns and appetite have changed — and certainly if you think about suicide, you should see your doctor.
As many as half a million people in the U.S. may have winter depression. SAD is more common in women than in men. The main age of onset is between 18 and 30 years old. It becomes more common
Researchers have also found that another way to help treat SAD is light therapy. They’ve proven that bright light makes a difference to the brain chemistry. This form of therapy involves exposure to
By Larisa Bradford, M.D.
very bright light (usually from a special fluorescent lamp) between 30 and 90 minutes a day during the winter months. Nearly 70% of people experience a reduction of their symptoms from daily light therapy, and about 50% experience remission. Your doctor may prescribe an antidepressant medication in combination with light therapy or as an alternative, if light therapy isn’t working. With the right course of treatment, SAD can be a very manageable condition. Information obtained from MayoCo-clinic.com, FamilyDoctor.org and Nami.org.
Larisa Bradford is a physician with M.D. Minor Emergency & Family Medicine in Canton. 770720-7000. MD0911.com
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The Importance
Dirty Air Filter
As the temperature continues to drop outside, we rely upon on our home heating system for comfort. We just want to be able to walk over to the thermostat and “bump” it up so we’re warm and cozy in our home environments, without giving a thought to whether or not the system is operating properly. Having regular maintenance performed by a qualified HVAC professional is key for efficient operation of the moving parts and pieces of the mechanical system that need to be cleaned, inspected and adjusted. Dirt is a big enemy of your home’s furnace, affecting all three basic components of the furnace: the filter, blower and motor. A dirty filter impacts the quality of air in your home, resulting in aggravated allergies, asthma and other illnesses. It also restricts air flow, causing strain on the fan motor, which forces the motor to overwork, using more energy and potentially burning out, which causes your system to overheat or fail. On average, the filter should be changed twice a year, or more often if there is someone with allergies, asthma or other breathing difficulties residing in the home. Depending on the age and current operating condition of your home’s HVAC system, properly scheduled maintenance can potentially increase the life of the system, decrease energy costs and greatly decrease the chance of a breakdown. For those homes heating with a gas furnace, regular maintenance on your home’s heating system also increases the health and safety of those living in your home. In addition to checking items such as voltage, automatic controls, thermostat operation, limit switches, safeties, ignitors, flame sensors, gas valve operation, flue conditions, etc., 20
Canton Family Life | JANUARY 2016
of Maintenance
Clean Air Filter
the technician should also check the carbon monoxide level in your home, and visually inspect the heat exchanger component of your home’s gas furnace. Carbon monoxide (CO) becomes a concern in the home when the heat exchanger is rusted, allowing the combustion gases back into the ductwork or when the flue pipe is rusted, allowing the combustion gases to leak into the living environment. In addition to having your home’s heating system maintained by a professional HVAC technician, install a battery-operated or battery back-up CO detector in your home, and check or replace the battery when you change the time on your clocks each spring and fall. The United States Consumer Product Safety Commission has stated, “carbon monoxide detectors are as important to home safety as smoke detectors are,” and recommends each home have at least one, and preferably one on each level of the building. If the proper measures are taken on a regular basis, your chances of carbon monoxide poisoning can be greatly reduced, and you can ensure your family’s comfort and safety inside your home.
Robbie Matiak is a project coordinator at R & D Mechanical Services, Inc. 770-917-1795. RandDMechanical.net
A New Year… A New You!
By Drs. Petrosky, Musarra, Harkins & Leake The hustle and bustle of the holiday season is over. Your stress level is finally coming down a few notches, but what has this done to your facial appearance? Many men and women are troubled by the sagging, tired appearance that their faces have taken on with age. 2016 is a perfect time to take care of YOU with a mini facelift.
Often referred to as a S-lift, short scar facelift, weekend facelift, lunch time lift or Band-Aid lift, the mini facelift offers significant, lasting results with small incisions and less downtime than a traditional facelift. The incision may be in the shape of an S, beginning near the hairline in front of the ear and ending just behind the earlobe. In other variations of the short scar facelift, the incision ends right at the earlobe rather than extending to the area behind the ear, as it does in a full facelift. Through the small incision, the underlying tissue is lifted to a more youthful position, and the skin is tightened. The result is a smoothing of smile lines and wrinkles in the lower face and a firmer, more youthful-looking jawline. For those with sagging jowls, excess fat and loose skin under the chin, a neck lift or liposuction may be necessary. The more limited nature of a mini facelift means reduced bruising and swelling,
which reduces discomfort and recovery time. Recovery from a mini facelift may take only several days. The mini facelift is designed to correct the earlier signs of aging, helping you to “turn back the clock,” but it cannot stop the aging process. Although mini facelift patients can expect to enjoy their new faces for quite some time, the results are not as long-lasting as those of a traditional facelift. This is because a traditional facelift adjusts deeper layers of tissue. Longevity will depend on many factors, including lifestyle, age and heredity. As with any procedure you are considering, make sure your consultation is with a specialty trained, board certified plastic surgeon. Drs. Petrosky, Musarra, Harkins and Leake are board-certified plastic surgeons at Plastic Surgery Center of the South. 770-421-1242. PlasticSurgery CenterOf TheSouth.net
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Quotables Although no one can go back and make a brand new start, anyone can start from now and make a brand new ending. Carl Bard
Physical fitness is not only one of the most important keys to a healthy body, it is the basis of dynamic and creative intellectual activity. John F. Kennedy The doctor of the future will no longer treat In all affairs, it’s a the human frame with drugs, but rather will healthy thing now When wealth is cure and prevent disease with nutrition. Rock bottom The healthy man and then to hang lost, nothing is lost; Thomas Edison became the solid does not torture a question mark when health is lost, foundation on others; generally, it on the things you something is lost; If a man achieves victory over this body, who which I built my is the tortured who have long taken for when character is lost, in the world can exercise power over him? life. turn into torturers. granted. all is lost. He who rules himself rules over the whole J.K. Rowling Carl Jung Bertrand Russell Billy Graham world. Vinoba Bhave There comes a day when you realize turning a page is the best feeling in the world, because you realize there is so much more to the book than the page you were stuck on. Zayn Malik You know, all that really matters is that the people you love are happy and healthy. Everything else is just sprinkles on the sundae. Paul Walker
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Leave all the afternoon for exercise and recreation, which are as necessary as reading. I will rather say more necessary because health is worth more than learning. Thomas Jefferson
Canton Family Life | JANUARY 2016
The human body is the best picture of the human soul. Ludwig Wittgenstein
If it weren’t for the fact that the TV set and the refrigerator are so far apart, some of us wouldn’t get any exercise at all. Joey Adams
The food you eat can be either the safest and most powerful form of medicine or the slowest form of poison. Ann Wigmore
The greatest wealth is health. Virgil
Make This the
2016
Best Year of Your Life By Rev. Norman R. Hunt
C. S. Lewis once wrote, “What a sorry world it would be if it were always winter but never Christmas.” The chill of December is certainly alleviated by the warmth of the holidays. Here is a corollary, “What a sad life it would be if it were always the old year and never the new.” Time, of course, does not know the divisions we give it. It is man who rings bells, blows horns and throws confetti to usher in the New Year. We do this because out of all of God’s creatures, humans are the only ones who have an awareness of time. We long for times of new beginnings. Lewis Fletcher Tarkington expressed
the longings of many when he wrote, “I wish there were some wonderful place called ‘the Land of Beginning Again,’ where all of our mistakes, all of our heartaches and all of our selfish griefs could be cast like a shabby old coat at the door, and never to be put on again.” The new year is upon us. Relentlessly, the pages of the calendar fall away so that the future is suddenly now. No thoughtful person can approach such a time without some introspection. We are bound to ask, “What will it mean to me? What can I do with it?” These are thoughts which come naturally each year.
holds, we do know this: It will largely be what you and I and God make of it. It’s appropriate, therefore, that in these first days of the new year that we plan for the remaining days within it. A long time ago, Ralph Waldo Emerson expressed what ought to be the desire of every one of us. “Write it on your heart that every day is the best day of the year.” Despite the failures and mistakes of the past, we can make it so.
Rev. Norman R. Hunt is the Pastor of Hopewell Baptist Church. HopewellBaptist.com
While we cannot know what the future
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Capitol Ideas
By Representative Mandi L. Ballinger
E
arlier this year, my colleague, John Carson, who represents part of Cherokee County, introduced the More Take Home Pay Act (MTHPA) to reduce the state income tax rates and diversify the state’s revenues towards more of a consumption tax. Rep. Carson seeks to restructure the state tax code to allow Georgia families to keep more of their own money. Although Georgia remains among the top five states in the country to do business, we must always strive to become even better, particularly since we have the 2nd highest income tax rates among our border states. Any time such a large initiative is introduced, there will be misconceptions. Here is what the bill does and does not do. •
•
•
•
•
The MTHPA eliminates the income tax — FALSE. The bill incrementally reduces the personal income tax rate from 6% to 4%, and the state corporate tax rate from 6% to 5% over three years. The MTHPA significantly cuts taxes — FALSE. We are managing the revenue estimates to be revenue neutral, or a slight tax cut. This bill reduces the income tax rate and transitions Georgia to more of a consumption tax. Keep in mind that Georgia was recently ranked by the Tax Foundation as having the 49th lowest state tax burden. The MTHPA will damage Georgia’s AAA bond rating. According to economists, the bond rating analysts look for diversity and flexibility in our state’s revenues, and the MTHPA improves both. Income taxes are a more stable source of revenue. By studying over 12 years of state revenue to date, a consumption tax is as reliable as income tax, as compared to state GDP. The MTHPA “pays for” an income tax cut with taxes on satellite, digital goods and higher cigarette taxes. The additional state revenues from these items would generate less than $400 million annually, where it takes a whopping $2 billion or so to reduce the state income tax by just 1%. The provisions addressing these taxes are for parity in the free market and average rates among our border states.
•
Finally, the MTHPA does not tax certain purchases suggested in previous proposals, such as Girl Scout cookies, Boy Scout popcorn, lemonade stands, etc. It continues to exempt haircuts, nail care, dry cleaning or any other personal care services, in addition to doctors, lawyers, accountants, architects, engineers or any other professional services.
I sincerely hope that dispelling some of these myths on the MTHPA is helpful. This legislation is not an elimination of the state income tax, but is rather a major step towards lowering our state income tax rates and diversifying towards more of a consumption tax. It is your money, not the government’s. Under the proposal by Rep. Carson, you keep more of it, and you and your family can decide how to spend it.
Please email or call me if you have any thoughts on this initiative; I would love to hear them.
Mandi Ballinger serves District 23 in the Georgia House of Representatives. 770-479-1011. Mandi.Ballinger@House. Ga.gov
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Canton Family Life | JANUARY 2016
Valuable employees are the backbone of most small businesses. In the U.S., a small business is considered any business with greater than 1 and less than 251 employees. The work completed by these employees is what sets a successful small business apart from an unsuccessful small business. Employees are the largest asset and the biggest expense for most companies, which means it’s imperative to conduct background checks and hire quality, drug-free individuals. In addition to being the biggest expense of most companies, your employees are also the face of your company. Small businesses should require employees to come to work in a uniform, as well as maintain a wellgroomed appearance. The last thing that any business needs is a bad image caused by a poorly dressed, ill-mannered employee.
Employees Can
Make or Break Your Small Business By Nick Roper
Companies should hold training sessions with employees to go over everything from work ethic and attitude, to fine tuning how to complete a job. It’s important to stress that a job isn’t complete until every detail is covered, and the paperwork is properly completed and filed away. A chain is only as strong as its weakest link. This is especially true for
businesses with few employees. If one employee out of twenty is not pulling their weight, then 5% of your staff is not producing a profit for the company. So, if your company has a net profit of $100,000 at the end of the year, and you subtract 5%, you’ve lost $5,000. I feel confident that no small business owner wants to throw 5% of their profit into the garbage can. Employee turnover is also an unfortunate obstacle that small businesses have to deal with. Maintaining quality standards and high expectations allows companies to hire employees who value working for the same company for many years, and weeds out those who bounce from job to job.
Nick Roper is manager of business development for H&H Electric and Security LLC. 770-735-1136. MyAtlantaElectrician.net
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In 2009, the Cherokee County Historical Society released its first list of endangered historic sites, called “Cherokee County Sites Worth Saving.” The twelve chosen represented the rich historic sites in the county, from our Native American history to the 1950s. During the past six years, one of the sites has been demolished, three have been saved, and progress has been made on three more. Four, however, are still threatened by demolition, neglect, lack of maintenance or inappropriate development. The Historical Society needs assistance from the community to help identify more threatened historic resources to add to the list. Cherokee County’s threatened sites may include buildings, cemeteries, structures, districts, archaeological sites and cultural landscapes. The “Sites Worth Saving” list is designed to encourage community dialogue about Cherokee County’s important historic resources. The Historical Society will offer assistance to the chosen site owners with proven preservation tools and partnerships to help stabilize or rehabilitate the properties. Designation on this list will not restrict or limit the properties in any way. The main goal of this program is to identify historic sites in the area that are endangered, and by recognizing these sites, we hope to create community involvement to assist the owner in stabilizing or preserving the site. Our goal is to integrate the historic sites that define Cherokee County with new construction and future development.
1. Stripling/Homiller House — Saved. The family has restored the exterior of this neoclassical home in Ball Ground and is currently working on the interior.
2. Hickory Flat Store
— Threatened. Built ca. 1950, the second floor was originally used as a Masonic Hall.
3. Gramling House — Lost. Despite attempts by the
Historical Society to relocate the property and find a new owner, the current owner demolished this Sutallee landmark.
4. Reeves House — In Progress. The Elm Street Cultural Arts Village has acquired this property in Woodstock and is fundraising for its rehabilitation. For more information go to ElmStreet.org.
To view the list of sites and complete a nomination form, please visit RockBarn.org/ historic-sites-worth-saving/, or call 770-345-3288. 26
Canton Family Life | JANUARY 2016
Book Review BY FARRIS YAWN
How to Be a Loser Like many of you out there, I’m in a constant struggle to control my weight. I’ve eaten my share of prepackaged meals, calculated points and journaled every bite of food. Keeping track of diet plans can be exhausting and frustrating, which is why we all have so much trouble, and many times wind up gaining back more than we lost. In Secrets of a Successful Loser: The Problems People Have with Weight Loss and How We’ve Solved Them, by Drs. Katherine Gettys and Susan D. Reynolds, the authors present a simple and straightforward approach to weight loss that will make the process much easier. The authors explain, in easy to understand language, some of the factors that lead to obesity in modern society and the negative consequences to our health caused by a high fat, high sugar and high calorie diet.They help you find what will motivate you to make the necessary lifestyle changes to shed the excess weight and the health problems that come with it. The book provides ideas and strategies to help you set and reach your goals with questions and worksheets, as well as healthy recipes to replace the bad foods.This is a workbook as well as a diet guide, so that you can chart your progress and also review and update your motivations. The information provided by Drs. Gettys and Reynolds will provide you the tools to evaluate your food options and make the healthiest choice, so that you can take control of your diet and your health. As they explain, it’s not all about willpower. It’s about having the information and tools to choose wisely. I highly recommend this book to anyone looking to lose weight. The book is available at YawnsBooks.com and Amazon.com.
Farris Yawn is the owner of Yawns Publishing, 198 North Canton Street, Canton. 678-880-1922. YawnsBooks.com
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COVER STORY
BY KATHLEEN BOEHMIG
Auto body shops are not always friendly, trustworthy and family-oriented businesses. When you visit Howard’s Auto Body, you can expect a friendly, hospitable and knowledgeable staff to meet and surpass any of your automobile repair expectations. Their professional technicians offer top quality craftsmanship, with handson repair. They offer a variety of auto repair services and proudly serve Canton, Woodstock and Holly Springs. With over thirty years of experience, Howard’s Auto Body is well known for friendly expert service, an exceptional, high-quality guarantee and for creating lasting relationships with customers. They are fullservice specialists in auto body collision and dent repair, accident related mechanic servicing, auto body parts, auto painting and glass chip repair and replacement, as well as the restoration of antique and classic cars. Howard Vallimont, who has passionately worked on cars since age fourteen, started his first business out of his home garage. Howard’s Auto Body opened at its current location in 1996 and has flourished, growing from a small start-up into a successful, busy operation, mostly through word-of-mouth referrals. Howard’s wife, Melissa, and daughter, Megan, are also part of the dayto-day operation. “Accidents happen,” Melissa says. “Our expert auto technicians can repair or replace collision damages, such as dents, windshield and body part replacements, at the most affordable prices available to you. We also do paint color matching by using your vehicle’s specific factory
(770) 720-1107 28
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paint code to make sure your car looks just as good or better than before the accident.” “We love our customers and have built trusting relationships with them,” Melissa says. “Many of them have become friends over the years. We love our employees too! Several have been with us from the beginning. We are not just in the repair business; we are about relationships, and we are committed to earning and keeping your business.” Melissa continues, “We take pride in remaining a small local business, because our dedication goes into the quality of our work, not into expanding. We understand that the repair of auto collision damage is critical to the safety and performance of your vehicle.” To that end, the knowledgeable auto techs at Howard’s are I-CAR and ASI certified craftsmen, meaning they keep up with the most up-to-date and effective industry standards. “We have a team of professional technicians in specialized areas, including metal and paint technicians, as well as glass technicians for chip repair and replacement.” Howard’s expert auto painting technicians understand the need to eliminate scratches and blemishes from your car’s surface. “We prime with a special base coat, producing a consistent surface for optimal paint adhesiveness on all paint jobs. Restoring your car back to its beauty is our business,” Melissa says.
we work on all makes and models,” Melissa says, “and we also have towing available.” In addition, Howard’s offers Enterprise Rent-a-Car and Canton Auto Exchange options. “We even help to make the appointment for you!” says Melissa. Howard’s expert technicians honor a commitment to quality and stand with pride behind their work, offering this guarantee on labor: at Howard’s Auto Body, as long as you own your vehicle, repairs are guaranteed against any imperfections in craftsmanship or paint jobs. Here, you’ll find the top expertise, convenience and reliability in the area. “At Howard’s Auto Body,” Melissa declares, “we provide quality collision repair services to Canton and its surrounding areas. We have over 30 years of experience in the industry, and we know how to repair your vehicle quickly, accurately and efficiently. Because of our focus on providing excellent customer service and quality auto body repairs, by highlyskilled auto technicians, the choice is clear when you need auto body work!” Melissa assures that, “we promise to go the extra mile to provide exceptional automotive services…and to ensure that our customers drive away happy.”
Howard’s Auto Body strives to provide a hassle-free experience for every customer. It is the preferred repair facility for several major insurance companies, offering assistance throughout the entire insurance claims process. “We offer free estimates, and
2650 Marietta Hwy. Ste 180 • Canton, GA 30114 Melissa@HowardsAutoBody.net • Facebook.com/HowardsAutoBody
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Going Long? LIFESTYLE Long hair is something that we’ve all wanted at some point in our lives. If you want to grow your hair long, winter is the season to go for it. But before you grow out those gorgeous locks, there are a few things to know that will help you gain the most benefit from your newly grownout look. Sure, anyone can grow their hair long, but why not do it with style? So whether you already have long hair or are going to experiment this season with a longer hairstyle, here are a few beauty tips to consider that will help you achieve a more graceful grow-out.
Your face shape tells a lot about whether a particular hairstyle is right for you. Round or oval face shapes are best for anyone wanting to grow their hair longer. Those of us with more prominent or elongated chins should consider holding back the length, because longer hair will only give the illusion of an extended face shape. However, if you still feel the need for longer hair (and have a lengthier face shape), then cutting a 30
Canton Family Life | JANUARY 2016
By Jyl Craven
blunt fringe (a.k.a. bangs) will help to widen your face. Hair texture is another important feature to consider when growing out your hair. For fine hair, consider adding long layers for body and movement. Face framing with carefully placed layers can add more interest to one’s appearance. Also, keeping your hair just below your collarbone will help ensure your ends don’t appear too stringy. For medium textured hair, try something fun — like an undercut. Recently, undercuts have been all the rage for someone wanting to punk up their lengthening locks. If your hair is curly, then your hair will look best naturally long. Allow the weight of the longer hair to pull down those curls, giving you some natural looking wave and body. Having the right balance between hair length and body height is also important when deciding how long
to grow your hair. Long hair is best on anyone that is of average or taller than average body height. Long hairstyles on shorter women can give the illusion of making someone appear shorter, whereas super-short hairstyles on taller women can leave an unflattering impression. While we can’t change our face shape, hair texture or body height, we can definitely change our hair style. So if your goal is to go longer this winter (with your hair that is), why not allow your natural features to work in your favor? Remember that growing your hair long will not happen overnight, but by following these few beauty tips, your finished look will surely turn some heads. L
Jyl Craven is owner of Jyl Craven Hair Design of Canton. 770-345-9411. JylCraven.com
Choosing the Right Toothbrush
factors specific to your mouth. For example, if you have large gaps between teeth, it may be better to use a brush head that fits well into those spaces.
Dr. Scott V. Merritt, D.M.D.
There are many tools and habits that are important to excellent oral health. The toothbrush, however, is the single most important tool for maintaining a healthy mouth. 25 years ago, choosing the right toothbrush was relatively straightforward. Today, there are many more options.
navigate all the areas of their mouth. •
Which toothbrush is the best one for you? Here are 4 main issues to consider when choosing a toothbrush: •
Size — As a general rule, you’ll want to use a toothbrush that allows you to reach and clean all surfaces in your mouth, including teeth, gums and tongue. Thus children will usually need toothbrushes with smaller heads, especially as they learn to
•
Type of Bristles — Most dentists recommend soft-bristles. However, the right bristle-type will depend on how hard and for how long you typically brush your teeth. If you use a lot of pressure or run the brush over the teeth many times while cleaning, a soft bristled brush is the right choice. Form of Head and Bristle Tips — Today’s toothbrush heads come in oval, round, diamond and other shapes. Bristles are also cut in many different formations, including rippled, flat, trimmed, tapered and dome-shaped. The correct brush for a person is the one that allows for effective cleaning in hard-to-reach areas. It’s also worth considering
•
Handle — The 3 main variations for toothbrush handles are flexible vs. stiff, non-slip vs. regular and straight vs. bent or curved. The optimal one is based entirely on individual comfort and preference.
There are at least two other helpful steps to take with respect to toothbrushes. First, do not buy the same toothbrush for family members who share a bathroom. This eliminates the chance of using the wrong one. And second, replace toothbrushes frequently, at least every 3 months.
Dr. Merritt has been helping families in and around Canton since opening BridgeMill Dentistry on Sixes Road in 2002. 770-704-1812. BridgeMillDentistry.com
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Community Partners BY MARCELLE ROBUSTELLI
How a House Became an Angel Situated in the foothills of the mountains on an ordinary street, lies a not-so-ordinary home. The home was built in the late 1990’s and served as a foster home for both girls and boys in Cherokee County for over a decade. The children attended public school, as they do today, and they lived and worked in our community. As society changed, the needs of those seeking shelter changed, as well. With retirement imminent, the foster family, in collaboration with the local community, created a nonprofit to continue to care for those who needed a home. The home went through extensive renovations, such as installing a commercial kitchen, adding a fire hydrant and sprinkler system and ensuring that all other ordinances were met in order to become a licensed provider to care for our youth. February 2016 will mark ten years that the North Georgia Angel House has been caring for children in our community. Over 400 girls have passed through the home, with over 150 of them remaining involved as our extended family grows. We are blessed every day to see our girls grow into self-sufficient adults who can give back to the community that cared 32
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for them. We have raised veterans, college graduates, high school graduates and excellent mothers who opt to stay home and care for their children to compensate for what they wished for as a child. Two of our former youth are now House Parents and full-time college students while raising children of their own.
Foster Gift Shop The North Georgia Angel House is so fortunate to have a board of directors that shares the level of compassion found within the walls of our home. It is their compassion that has provided stability to girls who have often drifted from home to home and school to school without the opportunity to put down roots. In addition to providing a home, our girls receive counseling, tutoring, medical
care, family time, scheduled activities, involvement in community activities, spiritual worship and most recently — our job readiness program. The job readiness program includes a one-of-a-kind gift shop, Foster, which provides a secure environment to learn employment skills, such as resume writing, marketing, customer service, finance and community involvement. Our 100 Hospital Road location is open from 10:00 am-6:00 pm, Tuesday-Saturday, with some of the most talented volunteers and artists in the community helping our girls learn marketable skills. All proceeds go back to the North Georgia Angel House Inc., as well as establishing a “rainy day fund” to subsidize an expense for another foster child with a demonstrated need. We truly appreciate the friendship, grace and leadership of those who serve alongside us each day. If you would like to earn your wings, please visit us at 100 Hospital Road in Canton, or at FosterGiftShop.com to give the gift that keeps on giving. To learn more about us, please visit AngelHouseGa.com.
How You Start Your Day, Shapes Your Day…
By Lisa-Marie Haygood In the spirit of the New Year and the idea that lots of folks make resolutions to change habits for the better this time of year, I have a proposal for you. As a PTA volunteer, I get to spend lots of hands-on time in the schools. Mornings are tough for everyone! I’ve assisted in car pool lines with children on the verge of a meltdown the minute I open the door. Sometimes it’s about separation issues, but often it has to do with that child’s earlier events that morning. Bad mornings are hard on parents, too, and can set the tone for a bad day. Here are some tips for getting the day started on a positive note: Get enough sleep the night before! Parents sometimes let bed times slip over the holidays. You need to start scaling back to normal bed time 3-4 days before school starts back. Children need a full 8-10 hours of sleep each night to function properly. You can’t expect them to stay up late watching movies and then hop right back into the routine overnight. Let kids get themselves up. I treated my girls to Barbie alarm clocks before
they started kindergarten. Let them select the music or sound they would most like to wake up to, and talk about the importance of the “big girl task” of getting up and ready all by themselves. We talked ahead of time about what time they needed to be downstairs for breakfast and laid their clothes out the night before. Of course, I would check-in and say “good morning,” make sure the lights were on, and progress was being made. In the event that they don’t get up by their selves, try to come up with a funny “plan B.” When I was little, my father would blast the Fiddler on the Roof album and dance around like a crazy man until we got out of bed. We were able to laugh about it, then and now. Feed them well. We’ve heard that “breakfast is the most important meal of the day,” yet it’s the one most kids skip. If you’re pressed for time, consider making granola or trail mix packages the night before, and keep yogurt and fresh fruit on hand. Pack up dinner leftovers for school lunches
the next day. Give the kids choices the night before to avoid morning arguments over lunch contents. If they get a say about what you are packing, they are more likely to eat it at lunch time. Slip a short note into packed lunches to lift your child’s spirits during the day. If something works for you and your family, use it and share the idea with others. Everyone wants to avoid morning meltdowns. They’re hard on parents and children, alike. Remember to treat your children the way you want to be treated, and it is sure to be a better day for everyone.
Lisa-Marie Haygood is the President of Georgia PTA. 404-659-0214. LMHaygood@GeorgiaPTA.org
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Tasteof BY BETH MAJOR
Pear Salad:
Asian Dressing:
Ingredients
Ingredients
p 2 cups of red cabbage, shredded p 2 cups of romaine lettuce, torn p ½ cup carrots, chopped p 3 pears, sliced p 1 green onion, chopped p Sesame seeds, toasted
p ½ cup vegetable oil p 4 tablespoons white wine vinegar p 2 tablespoons soy sauce p 4 teaspoons sugar p ½ teaspoon sesame oil p ½ teaspoon crushed red pepper
Procedure: - Combine all salad ingredients in a large bowl or platter.
Procedure: - Combine all dressing ingredients and whisk together - Pour over salad and serve immediately.
Recipe is from the Gatherings & Traditions Cookbook, produced by the Service League of Cherokee County. The Service League of Cherokee County has been working to meet the needs of the children of Cherokee County since 1935. In addition to the cookbook, the organization’s fundraising efforts include the annual Riverfest Arts and Crafts Festival; “Run for the Children” 5K Walk/1-mile Fun Run and Annual Ball, featuring the “Dancing for the Children” competition. ServiceLeague.net
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Canton Family Life | JANUARY 2016
Say “NO” to a New Year’s Resolution to Lose Weight By Vicki Knight-Mathis, MD For as long as I can remember, I’ve had a New Year’s Resolution — TO LOSE WEIGHT. After the holidays have added a few extra pounds to many of us, we start thinking about dieting. I’ve been on what seems like hundreds of diets over the years. I was obese by the age of one, weighing 30 pounds. As early as age 12, I remember being bullied and made fun of because of my obesity. But, diets only left me hungry, frustrated and adding more pounds after I stopped dieting. This year, I applied for a new life insurance policy and was told “they don’t like your body habitus,” and “you are at risk for developing diabetes.” My doctor offered me medication to reduce my risk. Over the years, I’ve written medication for many teenagers with prediabetes and provided education on healthy lifestyles. I know that medication along with healthy choices should help teenagers lose weight. But I’ve seen very little success in my practice. So, I said “no” to medication and “yes” to LIFESTYLE MODIFICATION. A lot of what I tell children and teenagers actually works. It’s a change in mindset, a conscious eating and exercise program, combined with stress reduction and good sleep habits. Based on BMI (Body Mass Index), almost 2/3 of adults are overweight or obese. 1/3 of children ages 2-19 are overweight or obese. This is easily the biggest medical problem facing America today, because it increases your risk of everything from heart disease, to diabetes, to cancer. It’s the most common cause of preventable, early death. Are we doomed? No; we have many new advantages that can help us along in our journey to good health. For now, just start to think about what is holding you back from getting healthier in 2016. Say “NO” to that New Year’s resolution to lose weight and “YES” to making lifestyle changes.
Dr. Vicki Knight-Mathis is a pediatric physician at DV Pediatrics. 770-704-0057. DVPediatrics.com
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Best Specialist Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta — Sports Medicine 404-785-4268 CHOA.org/SportsMed
Best Dance Studio Hickory Flat Dance Academy 770-704-7091 HickoryFlatDance.com
Best Day Spa/Massage LaVida Massage of Canton
Best Chiropractor
Best Orthodontist
Canton Wellness Center
Williams Orthodontics
770-345-1200 LaVidaMassageCantonGA.com
770-720-4090 CantonWellness.com
770-345-4155 DrWilliamsOrthodontics.com
Best Fitness/Health Club
Best Dentist BridgeMill Dentistry 770-704-1812 BridgeMillDentistry.com
Best Eye Doctor BridgeMill Eyecare 770-852-2733 BridgeMillEyecare.com
Best Medical Practice/ Family/Internal Medicine Medical Associates of North Georgia 770-479-5535 MedAssoc.com
Best OB/GYN
Best Pediatric Dentist Park Pediatric Dentistry of Woodstock 770-926-9260 PediatricWoodstockDentist.com
Best Pediatrician DV Pediatrics
Superior Healthclub 770-720-0505 SuperiorHealthcareGA.com
Best Gymnastics Center Canton Gymnastics Academy 770-720-2653 CantonGymnastics.com
770-704-0057 DVPediatrics.com
Best Health Food
Best Plastic Surgeon
770-479-4193 HarvestMoonMarket.tflmag.com
Plastic Surgery Center of the South 770-421-1242 PlasticSurgeryCenterOf TheSouth.net
Best Pediatric Therapy
Harvest Moon
Best Martial Arts Canton ATA Martial Arts 678-880-7033 CantonATA.com
Best Electrician
Cherokee Women’s Health
In Harmony Pediatric Therapy
770-720-7733 CherokeeWomensHealth.com
770-345-2804 InHarmonyPediatricTherapy.com
770-735-1136 HHElectrician.com
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Canton Family Life | JANUARY 2016
H&H Electric & Security, LLC
Best Handyman
Best Cleaning Service
Best Travel Agent
This Handy Man Can
Live Clean, Inc.
The Flagg Agency
770-743-4371 This-Handyman-Can.com
770-345-8035 LiveCleanInc.com
770-355-9569 TheFlaggAgency.com
Best Nursery
Best Furniture/Home Design
Best Auto Repairs/ Maintenance
Buck Jones 770-345-5506 BuckJonesWoodstock.net
Best Heating and Air R & D Mechanical, Inc. 770-917-1795 RAndDMechanical.net
Best Landscaping Design/ Installation Landscape Matters 770-403-5813 LandscapeMattersInc.com
Best Lawn Care/ Maintenance X-treme Outdoors 706-889-6820 XtremeOutdoorsLLC.com
Best Remodeling/ Painting Three Brothers Painting 770-928-3667 ThreeBrothersPainting.com
Best Roofer Keith Pritchett Roofing 770-345-1622 KeithPritchettRoofing.com
Best Plumber
Chamberhouse 770-479-9115 Chamberhouse.net
Best Art Décor Fun Finds & Designs, Inc. 770-704-0448 FunFindsAndDesigns.com
Best Antiques The Green Bean Exchange 770-888-6212 TheGreenBeanExchange.com
Best Florist/Gift Baskets Gail’s Flower Shop
770-345-5873 KilliansAuto.com
Best Body Shop Howard’s Auto Body 770-720-1107 HowardsAutoBody.net
Best Breakfast Chick-fil-A, Canton Marketplace 770-479-0802 CFACanton.com
Best Dinner The Snug Gastro Pub
770-720-6022 GailsFloristOfCanton.com
770-213-4814 TheSnugGastroPub.com
Best Realtor
Best Fine Dining
ERA Sunrise Realty — Canton 770-720-1515 ERA.com/real_estate/ga/canton/
Best Live Music Venue Downtown Kitchen 770-479-1616 TheDowntownKitchen.com
Integrated Plumbing Solutions
Best Karaoke Bar
770-795-9522 IPSPlumber.com
678-880-0284 SidelinesGrille.com
Killian Automotive
Sidelines Grille — Canton
Goin’ Coastal 770-479-3737 GoinCoastalSeafood.com
Best Lunch Riverstone Corner Bistro 770-704-7325 RCBCanton.com
Best Coffee Shop Cup Up Coffee 770-861-5146 Facebook.com/pages/Cup-Up-Coffee/ 1434705693433553?sk=info&tab=ove rview WWW. FAMILYLIFE PUBLICATIONS.COM
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Best Farmers Market
Best Attorney
Best Tutoring
Canton Farmers Market
Burns and Speights, P.C.
Huntington Learning Center
770-704-1548 Facebook.com/pages/Canton-FarmersMarket/167712443290710
678-493-2003 BASLG.com
678-445-4746 Woodstock.HuntingtonHelps.com
Best Bakery Jill’s Cakes & Bakes 678-493-7277 JillsCakesNBakes.com
Best CPA/Bookkeeping/ Tax Service Jeffrey L. Jackson, CPA LLC 678-919-1250 JJacksonCPA.com
Best Special Event Venue The Wheeler House 770-402-1686 TheWheelerHouse.net
Best Wine/Growler shop Stout’s Growlers
Best Financial Planner Summit Financial Solutions 770-928-8100 SFSGA.com
678-899-6684 StoutsGrowlers.com
Best Financial Institution/Bank/Credit Union
Best Pumpkin Patch/ Tree Farm
LGE Community Credit Union
Cagle’s Family Farm 770-345-5591 CaglesFamilyFarm.com
Best Boutique/Gift Shop Three Sisters Gifts and Home Accents 770-345-3090 Facebook.com/pages/ThreeSisters-Gifts-and-HomeAccents/194232817266457
Best Ice Cream/Frozen Yogurt
770-424-0060 LGECCU.org
Best Hair Salon Jyl Craven Hair Design 770-345-9411 JylCraven.com
Best Jeweler Key’s Jewelry 770-479-4834 KeysJewelry.com
Frosty Frog Creamery & Café
Best Private School
770-704-9333 FrostyFrogCreamery.com
770-592-5464 TheKingsAcademy.org
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The King’s Academy
Best Kids’ Clothes What a Girl Wants 770-720-2040 Facebook.com/wagwclothingboutique
Best Day Care/Preschool The Carpenter’s Shop Christian Preschool 770-720-2333 TheCarpenterShopCanton.com
Best Pet Care/Grooming Boarding Savy Paws Pet Resort 770-704-6433 SavyPaws.com
Best Veterinarian Cherokee Animal Hospital 770-479-6505 CherokeeAnimalHospital.com
Best Art Classes/Supplies Play! Music and Art 770-345-7529 PlayMusicAndArt.com
Best Music Lessons/Store Donley’s Music 678-880-8783 DonleysMusic.com
Arranged to Eat, LLC is owned and operated by Natalie Durham, a resident of Cherokee County. She began her company in 2009, and it has grown from just a chocolate fountain rental company to a very successful event and wedding planning company. She now provides all-inclusive packages for any event. The streamlined approach of having the majority of your needs met by a single company significantly reduces your risk of having any issues arise before, during or after your event, thus allowing clients more time to immerse themselves in the joy of the occasion, and spend less time worrying about the details. Throughout Arranged to Eat’s growth, Natalie always held true to the fact that
creating an authentic relationship with each client was the key to her company’s success. With over a few hundred events under their belt, the experience that Arranged to Eat brings to the table is top notch. They provide a very easy and budget friendly way to achieve your dream wedding, birthday party or big corporate event. Their services include event consulting and planning, floral
WEDDING PLANNING SEMINAR FOR
Brides-To-Be
A powerful and informative workshop detailing everything you need to know about planning a dream wedding on a budget. February 7, 2016 11:00 am-3:00 pm Frosty Frog Creamery & Café 6205 Hickory Flat Hwy., Canton, GA 30115 Book online at ArrangedToEat.com to reserve your spot! For more information, call 770-842-9200.
design, specialty event décor, full-service catering and chocolate fountain rental. Arranged to Eat is a one-of-a-kind experience. Not only do they WOW their clients, but they truly care about your guests. The goal to make everyone feel like a VIP is just another way the company operates, and it’s what you can expect. In addition, due to the large number of brides who constantly seek out Natalie’s advice, she is now going to offer monthly wedding planning seminars, beginning in February. The classes will be held locally and will accommodate brides, their bridal parties and any other family members that will be involved in planning. To register, visit ArrangedToEat.com, or call 770-842-9200 for more information about the seminars or any of your other event planning needs.
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A Plan to
Eat Healthy for the New Year
1 1 2016
By Brooke Sillay, RD, LD and Andrea Addington, RD, LD
You’ve struggled with eating healthy last year, and like clockwork — the holidays put an end to your healthy eating streak.
eating during the main course. If someone offers an unhealthy dish, just say, “No, thank you. I’m saving room for (insert a healthy item).”
But don’t be discouraged.
Be mindful about your starches, and think protein first.
Here’s a plan to help kick start your new healthy eating habits for the New Year.
Bring your own food.
This is a great way to avoid awkward moments when you look at the dishes on the buffet, and there’s nothing healthy to enjoy.
Stand far away from the finger foods.
Munchies like chips, dips and other easy-tograb snacks can be an easy way to overdo it. If you need to nibble, stick with veggies, fruit, salsa or a handful of nuts.
Fill up on the good stuff first.
Fill up on a broth-based (not cream-based) soup first. Eat a hearty helping of salad, and you’ll be better prepared for not over-
Choose lean protein sources, such as skinless turkey, chicken and fish. Aim for half of your plate to be non-starchy vegetables. If you’re eating starch, do so in moderation.
Chew it up.
Did you know multitasking during meals can make you mindlessly eat? Instead, focus on chewing your food well. Enjoy the smell, taste and texture of each item. This awareness will help you take in the food. Also, if you don’t love it, don’t eat it. While it may be easier to give in to temptations, if you do, don’t beat yourself up about it. Just get right back to eating well again and exercising. Pretty soon, healthy habits will be your only habits.
Brooke Sillay, RD, LD, is a Registered Dietician and Licensed Dietician at Northside Hospital. Andrea Addington, RD, LD, is the System Clinical Nutrition Manager at Northside Hospital. 404-236-8036. Northside.com/nutrition
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ArtistProfile BY NATALIE DE VALLE
From the lens of her camera to the special watercolor paper, Elly’s passion and talent with watercolors is obvious in the way she captures powerful images with the graceful stroke of her brush. “I never know what will inspire me to paint,” Elly Hobgood, Cherokee County Watercolor Artist, explains. “It has to grab me. There has to be some sort of emotional connection.”
mean I keep it. Sometimes, I don’t like how my work turned out, and I have to restart it completely.” For two years, she painted beautiful pieces of art work and set them aside, allowing them to pile up, until her husband suggested she should sell her work. She now does art shows across the southeast and sells her work at Chamberhouse in downtown Canton. “My art pieces are like children to me. I don’t really sell them, but transfer custody of them.” It’s obvious in her beautiful textures, colors and shapes that Elly spends an abundance of time putting her whole heart into each painting. “People who’ve previously bought and enjoyed my art return to visit me at art shows. I’ve made a lot of friends that way.”
Although she was born in Pennsylvania, Elly spent her school years growing up in Georgia. “I started with cows and barns because I grew up on a farm. They came out of my paint brush first,” she says. Rural scenes aren’t the only thing Elly enjoys painting. She also paints pictures of local landmarks, like the Crescent Farm Historical Center, locally known as the Rock Barn, and the Cherokee County Courthouse. Her favorite things to paint, however, are flowers and other still life pictures. All of her work starts from photographs she takes with her camera, and sometimes she combines multiple photographs to make one original painting. “I started dabbling in watercolors as a stress reliever, taking a few workshops and classes every now and then.” That was fourteen years ago, and now Elly is hooked. She has always had a fondness for painting, but it wasn’t until after Elly retired from nursing that she started painting full time. She creates a new painting every seven to ten days, but it doesn’t always take 42
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that long. “Sometimes, I’ll start a painting in the morning and work all day, through lunch and dinner, and finish it,” she says. “But just because I finish a piece, doesn’t
Probably one of the most amazing things about Elly and her work is that she’s “90% self-taught.” She admits that she only “took a few workshops to learn how to make certain things better.” She now shares her personal tips and ideas in her local workshops and classes. “I teach about 5 workshops a year and have been teaching my foundation class and landscape class for about six years now,” Elly says. Her classes and workshops average about 10-15 people, all of whom admire Elly’s work and teaching style. To view Elly Hobgood’s wonderful pieces, and learn dates for her classes and workshops, go to EllyHobgood.com.
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All About Flexor Tendons By Jose Baez, MD
Flexor tendons are cord-like extensions that connect the flexor muscles to the bone and allow these muscles to bend or flex the finger. The flexor muscles start from the elbow and forearm regions, turn into the tendons just past the middle of the forearm and attach into the bones of the fingers. In the finger, the tendon passes through fibrous rings (pulleys), which guide the tendons and keep them near the bone. This enables the tendons to move the joint much more effectively.
Flexor Tendon Injuries Deep cuts on the palm side of the wrist, hand or fingers may injure the flexor tendons and the nearby nerves and blood vessels. The injury may appear minor, but is more complex on the inside. If a tendon is cut, it acts like a rubber band with its cut ends pulling away from each other. A tendon that has not been cut completely through may allow the finger to bend, but will cause pain or catching and might eventually tear all the way through. When a tendon is completely cut through, the finger joint can’t bend on its own.
Treating Flexor Tendon Injuries Since the cut ends of a tendon usually separate after an injury, it will likely not heal without surgery. A hand specialist will advise you on how soon surgery is needed after the tendon is cut. There are many ways to repair the cut tendon, and certain types of cuts need a specific type of repair. It’s important to preserve certain pulleys in the finger, and there is little space between the tendon and the pulley in which to perform a repair. After surgery, the injured area can either be protected from movement or started on a very specific, limited-movement program for several weeks, depending on the type of cut. A hand specialist may also prescribe hand therapy after surgery. After four to six weeks, you should be allowed to move your finger slowly and without resistance.
Dr. Jose Baez is a physician with Atlanta Hand Specialist, located in Canton, Marietta, Smyrna, and Douglasville. 770-333-7888. AtlantaHandSpecialist. com
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Starting Off 2016 with Proper Back-Up After the hustle and bustle of the holiday season, we are now in “cleanup mode,” stashing the decorations, and returning to a sense of normalcy. Small business owners and managers are now wrapping up last year’s business reporting, while planning ways to streamline processes and ensure a successful outcome in 2016. Savvy business owners are aware of how helpful a CPA can be when preparing for tax reporting and payroll. They may also outsource projects, such as shredding old documents and organizing their offices in preparation for the new business year. Smart managers also hire experts to create goals, update marketing materials, and research expansion opportunities. Even though it represents an essential function in a successful business, an often-overlooked part of year-end/new-
year business planning is reviewing your business’s current technology, which includes secure data storage and back-up systems. According to studies by the U.S. Small Business Administration, nearly ¼ of businesses never re-open after a disaster. In the case of fire, flood, theft or other catastrophe, having an off-site back-up strategy can mean the difference between a successful recovery and a devastating loss. When choosing your back-up system, here are a few questions you should ask: • • • •
How often do I back up my files? Is data backed up from every device within the company? How can I access my files if my office is compromised? What is the most effective and costefficient back-up technology for my company?
By Arlene Dickerson
Having a dedicated, in-house backup is a good first step, but if the backups are lost or destroyed along with the server or computers being backed up, or you can’t access files from a remote location, this system will not help you in a disaster recovery situation. As we enter the new business year, resolve to give yourself and your business a secure, off-site back-up system. Before you choose a system, consider how often you need to back up your files, which devices to include in the back-up process and where off-site back-ups will be stored.
Arlene Dickerson is the co-owner/ director of Technical Resource Solutions. 678-928-9491, TechnicalRS.com
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New Year’s Resolutions — Dental Addition
By Vishant Nath, DMD
The start of a new year brings with it a clean slate. It’s time to hit the reset button and begin afresh. Many of us have made New Year’s resolutions regarding our health and wellness. When you examine your wellbeing, don’t forget your oral health status. There are many ways to reinvigorate your oral health wellness; here are a few ideas! Beginning this month, resolve to understand your dental insurance benefits!
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+
Understanding your dental insurance plan empowers you to use the benefits appropriately. Realize that you’re paying for these benefits through your monthly premium, so use your dollars wisely by taking some time to fully understand your plan. Being proactive about understanding your plan can make life simpler if you or your children need dental treatment later in the year.
If you or your children are not on a twice-yearly schedule for dental hygiene visits, start today! Call your dentist to make appointments for yourself and your children. If you would prefer to avoid scheduling your child’s appointment during school time, call now to schedule a summertime appointment. For many offices, these appointment times fill up fast, so calling now can help to ensure that you get your choice of appointment times.
Change your toothbrush! This might seem like a simple action, but it’s an important one. As a general rule, you should change your toothbrush or brush head every 3 months. The bristles begin to wear down over time and become less effective at adequately cleaning your teeth. Last but not least, pep up the daily oral hygiene routine in your house! Something as simple as changing your child’s toothpaste can add freshness to a mundane task. Perhaps you could try a different type of toothbrush, or add mouth rinse to your child’s routine. It’s so important to solidify your child’s daily oral care maintenance. Thoroughly brushing and flossing teeth on a daily basis can lead to great oral health all year long!
Dr. Vishant Nath is the owner of Canton/Alpharetta/Roswell Pediatric Dentistry & Orthodontics. 678-352-1090. KidsHappyTeeth.com
Hard Times
for the Elderly
By Tim Morris LIFESTYLE I was watching the news the other night, and it showed a large group of people protesting the minimum wage for fast food workers. Now it wasn’t the fact that people were voicing their concerns regarding pay, but it did make me wonder who is speaking up for our elderly population on a very limited income. Our services deal with seniors needing home delivered meals, homemaker services and other senior needs. Most are on very limited income, with Social Security as their only means to pay bills. Most of us in this business realize the amount you receive is based on the amount you put in. Some of our seniors are in their 90s and receive checks based on their annual income from back in the 50s, 60s and 70s. The range of amounts are anywhere from $400 to $800 a month. The cost of living is so much higher today than 40 to 50 years ago. I know someone reading this story will ask themselves, “Why didn’t these people just put more money away for retirement?” The simple truth is they didn’t have it to put away, because they were living day by day. Let’s do some simple math on a senior making around $600 a month from Social Security. They receive an annual income of $7200 a year. Based on a 40 hour work week, with 52 weeks in a year, these seniors make $3.46 an hour. Now ask yourself, “Who is speaking up for this group?” That is going to be our job. The Volunteer Aging Council raises money every year for seniors in need. The needs range from assistance with paying bills and buying food, to completing home repairs. You can visit VACCherokeeGa.org to make a donation. I have been the director for 6 months, and this is an outstanding group that does so much for seniors. L
Tim Morris is the Director of Cherokee County Senior Services. 1001 Univeter Road, Canton. 770-479-7438. CherokeeGa.com/Senior-Services
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By Cameron Johnson, MD
What is a refractive error?
The eye works similarly to a camera, with the clear cornea in the front of the eye focusing an image onto the retina (film) located in the back of the eye. When the image is focused perfectly on the retina, this results in clear vision. In nearsightedness, the cornea is too steep, causing light to be focused in front of the retina. In farsightedness, the cornea is not steep enough, causing the image to be focused behind the retina. Both of these problems cause the vision to be blurred.
How does refractive surgery work? The most common types of refractive surgery work by changing the shape of the cornea in order to increase or decrease its focusing power. This allows light to correctly focus on the retina, resulting in clear vision.
What is LASIK?
LASIK is a procedure in which a blade or a very precise laser creates a thin flap on the surface of the cornea. A second type of laser then reshapes the cornea in order to focus light precisely on the retina. The flap is then put back into
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place, and healing begins immediately.
How long does the recovery take after LASIK?
Right after the procedure, many patients feel as if they are looking at things from under water. However, by the next day, the vision is typically clear. For approximately one week after surgery, patients will be on drops to prevent infection and inflammation.
How do I determine if I am a candidate for LASIK?
Your eye doctor will perform an extensive examination to determine if you are a good candidate. The exam will include determining your current glasses prescription, checking your cornea with a special scanner to make sure it is healthy enough for LASIK and performing a complete eye examination, including a dilated exam to determine the health of the retina and optic nerve. Some people, such as those with active autoimmune disease, or those pregnant or nursing within the past three months would not be a candidate.
What are the risks of LASIK?
LASIK is a very safe procedure, but like all
surgeries, there are risks. These include infection, development of irregularity of the cornea and problems with the flap. It’s important to determine if you are at high risk for these problems during the preoperative evaluation. Having a laser make the flap reduces the risk of flap problems.
What are alternative procedures to LASIK?
Patients who are not candidates for LASIK due to thin corneas may be candidates for PRK (Photorefractive Keratectomy). In this procedure, the surface cells of the cornea are cleared off, and the reshaping of the cornea is performed directly on the surface of the eye. This procedure causes more discomfort post operatively than LASIK, and the vision takes longer to clear. However, once recovery is complete, the results are very equivalent to LASIK.
Dr. Cameron Johnson is a boardcertified ophthalmologist with Milan Eye Center, located in Canton. 678381-2020. MilanEyeCenter.com
Seed Catalogs Bring Relief to Winter Blues By Joshua Fuder The short, cold days of winter leave much to be desired for gardeners, but a successful summer garden begins with the arrival of winter seed catalogs. Today’s catalogs offer more than just seeds. From stories and recipes, to exquisite photos, seed catalogs offer growing advice, new and old plant introductions and welcome inspiration for the house-bound gardener.
Seed catalogs also offer an opportunity to grow new or different plants that you may not be able to find as seedlings at your local garden center. The information in catalogs can be a bit overwhelming to the novice gardener, so it’s important to know how to interpret some of the technical information and abbreviations. Hybrid seed, often abbreviated as F1, is a result of pollination of one genetically uniform variety with pollen from another, specific genetically uniform variety. Hybrid seeds are produced in a controlled manner and are often done by hand, which results in more expensive seed. The result is to produce more desired characteristics like: disease or drought resistance, uniformity and outstanding fruit or flower production. The downside to hybrid seed is that plants grown from them won’t produce seed that’s reliably similar to the parent plant.
Open pollinated (OP), sometimes referred to as heirloom (H) or standard (S) seed has more stable characteristics from one generation to the next. Because open pollinated plants were often chosen for one or two characteristics and adapted to different regions of the country, individual plants of these varieties may differ greatly in size, shape and other characteristics. If you plan on growing more than one variety of open pollinated plants, you may have to separate them by a certain distance, or utilize varying planting times. That way flowers are distant enough in location or bloom schedule to allow you to collect seeds that are true to type. Joshua Fuder is Agriculture and Natural Resources Agent, UGA Cooperative Extension Cherokee County. Contact the UGA Extension office for any gardening assistance, 770-721-7830 or CAES.UGA.Edu/extension/cherokee
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DUCK CONFIT
NEW POTATOES
Preparation
• • • • • •
• • • • • • • • • •
6 duck legs 3 bay leaves 3 sprigs of fresh thyme 1 tablespoon of olive oil Salt and pepper to taste Preheat oven to 250°. Heat oil slightly in a roasting pan. Season duck legs with salt and pepper, then add to pan (skin side down). Crisp the skin over medium heat until golden brown, then flip and brown the other side, as well. A decent amount of fat should render out of the legs. Mix in your bay leaf and thyme, and put in the oven, skin side up, for two hours.
CHEESE SAUCE
• ½ cup of heavy cream • ¼ cup of cheddar cheese
Preparation
• Bring heavy cream to a simmer, and whisk in your cheddar cheese until sauce has a smooth and thickened consistency.
Preparation • •
Canton Family Life | JANUARY 2016
Toss all ingredients together, and place on a baking sheet. Bake in the oven for 45 minutes at 350°.
PAN GRAVY • • •
After your duck is finished roasting, take some of the delicious juices the duck is has rendered and transfer to a sauté pan. Over medium heat, whisk in a small amount of flour until slightly thickened. Finish the gravy off with 1/2 teaspoon of chopped, fresh thyme.
PLATING • Plate your new potatoes, and then top with your duck and your delicious sauces.
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2 lbs. red or fingerling potatoes, halved or quartered 1 clove garlic, minced 1 sprig of fresh rosemary 1 sprig of fresh thyme Salt and pepper to taste ¼ cup of olive oil
This dish is best enjoyed with a nice, earthy red wine.
3
Easy Science Experiments Your Child is Sure to Love By Mary Kay Buquoi, Ed.S. Children have a natural curiosity in STEAM subjects (science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics). You can encourage your little scientist’s interests by conducting the following easy experiments at home. Milk Fireworks: Pour whole milk into a baking pan. Add drops of red and
blue food coloring. Add a “squirt” or two of dishwashing liquid, and watch the colors burst and swirl! When the “fireworks” slow down, add another couple of drops of dishwashing liquid to get them going again. Explanation: The soap separates the fat from the other liquids in the milk, causing patterns to appear.
Dancing Raisins: Put raisins (or dried corn or macaroni) in a clear cup. Fill the cup with lemon-lime soda. Watch how the raisins bob and sink in the cup. Ask your child what makes the raisins do this. Explanation: The gas bubbles in the soda lift each raisin up, and when the bubbles reach the surface and pop, the raisins sink. Salt and Vinegar Pennies: Put ¼ cup of white vinegar into a clear plastic or glass bowl. Add one teaspoon of table salt, and stir until the salt dissolves. Dip a dull, dirty penny halfway into the liquid, holding it there for 10 to 20 seconds. Remove the penny from the liquid. What does your child see? Explanation: Salt and vinegar create a weak acid that dissolves copper oxide, which is Mary Kay Buquoi is the tarnish on a dull owner of The Goddard penny. *An adult should oversee all activities. Activities may not be appropriate for all ages.
School, 140 Foster Road, Woodstock. 770-720-1311. GoddardSchools.com
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of Canton Faces FACES By Micah Fowler
It may surprise you to find out that the new Mancini’s Italian Restaurant in downtown Canton is actually run by some familiar faces. The Snug owners, Damien Mancini, his father Don, mother Linda, and friend Chef Bryan Rose, are all partners in this new culinary venture in downtown.
Damien, a former Aerospace Executive, fell in love with the idea of restaurant ownership while living in Belgium from 2002-2004. This European adventure led to the inspiration of Canton’s favorite pub, The Snug. A Pennsylvania native, Damien moved to Georgia with his wife, Holly, in 2004 when he was transferred within his aerospace company. His family soon followed, and in 2015, they joined forces to open the pub that Damien had been envisioning. Damien left aerospace for his dream and couldn’t be happier.
Damien
Bryan
Don & Linda 52
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Bryan was destined for the restaurant business from the start. In high school, he worked under Jon Banchet, the famous French chef responsible for opening the kitchen in Chicago’s Playboy Mansion. Inspired by this culinary genius, he went on to get his Associate’s degree in Culinary Arts in Charleston, SC. When 9/11 happened, Bryan was moved to join the Marine Corps Reserves. It was during his service with the Corps that he completed his Bachelor’s degree. After moving to Miami,
Bryan met his wife, and now the two of them have two beautiful little girls.
Don is retired Human Resources personnel for a major retail chain. Prior to his career, Don served in the armed forces and was deployed twice in service to our country. Don’s wife, Linda, is a retired superintendent for a Pennsylvania school system. Both Don and Linda have come out of retirement to help own and operate the family’s stake in their growing restaurant enterprise. Mancini’s began as an idea to partner with the existing business next door, The Study. But life gets in the way sometimes, and only a month into the partnership The Study owner needed to sell and move on to other pursuits. Leaning on each other, the Mancini and Rose families powered through the strain of operating one restaurant while opening another, and in October of this year, the doors to Mancini’s Italian Restaurant opened to the public. These families built The Snug and Mancini’s…and at day’s end, it’s these businesses that strengthen and build these families. Micah Fowler is Canton’s Main Street Director, 151 Elizabeth Street, Canton. 770-704-1548. Micah.Fowler@Canton-Georgia. com
How Well Do You Know
Your 401(k)? By Jennifer Calandra
employers absorb administrative costs on behalf of the employee, but others pass them along, either dividing those costs equally between plan participants or charging a percentage of assets.
There is limited investment selection. The 401(k) is a big chunk of America’s retirement nest egg. It’s favored for retirement saving for a few reasons — it allows for tax-deferred growth as it is funded by paycheck deferrals, and many companies offer to match a percentage of employee contributions. LIFESTYLE
But all 401(k) plans are not created equal, and there are some downsides to these accounts. Here are a few things you need to know about your 401(k):
Administrative fees can be costly. 401(k) plans can be an expensive offering from the employer’s perspective, as there are costs associated with providing the plan, such as paperwork, accounting, legal fees, etc. Administrative costs, combined with investment expenses, can total 1 percent or more and add up over the lifetime of a worker. Some
401(k) plans offer an average of 19 fund choices, a rather small selection compared to what can be accessed in an individual account like an IRA. Generally, what you find is passive index funds that charge less, and then there are little landmines — actively managed, higher-fee funds — mixed in. Actively managed funds are landmines because they can be more expensive for investors. They are managed by professionals, and investors in the fund pay for that service as part of the expense ratio, the annual fee charged by the fund. Investors want to be aware of these fees and, to the extent that they can, reposition their investment portfolio toward lower cost funds.
Be cautious of target-date funds. Many 401(k)s auto-enroll participants, which simply means your investments are automatically chosen for you. If you don’t make investment selections, the default option is typically a target-date fund,
a kind of mutual fund that is tied to a retirement year and re-balances to take less risk as that year draws near. But many target-date funds are actively managed and carry higher expense ratios. Even if you’re auto-enrolled in your plan, you want to take a look at your investment options. Keep in mind, however, that target-date funds do the work of rebalancing for you, which is part of the reason you may pay a premium. If you invest in index funds, you’ll need to keep an eye on your allocation, and re-balance as necessary.
Lack of education and involvement won’t help you reach your goals. People who fly solo with their 401(k) are likely to be too conservative, too aggressive or will simply ‘set it and forget it’ instead of making smart investment decisions. Lack of experience or knowledge can leave people unnecessarily exposed to financial risk. When it comes to making decisions about your 401(k), be in the know and pay attention … it’s your future! L
Jennifer Calandra, President of W.O.W (Women of Wealth) and COO of Calandra Financial Group, LLC, is a Registered Financial Consultant (RFC), women’s advocate and bestselling author.
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Ribbon Cuttings, Ground Breakings and Celebrations Sam’s Club
Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta 1554 Riverstone Pkwy., Suite 160 Canton 404-317-7443 Health Care
Urban Secrets Boutique
9464 Main St. Woodstock 678-402-0541 Retail
6175 Hickory Flat Hwy., Suite 165 Canton 678-493-5437 Retail Clothing & Accessories
Pain Solutions Treatment Centers
Jared Davis State Farm Insurance
2205 Riverstone Blvd., Suite 101 Canton 770-590-1078 Physicians
1775 Woodstock Rd., Suite 330 Roswell 770-559-9150 Insurance
For information on upcoming events, please visit
CherokeeChamber.com
MaThCliX MaTh Learning CenTer
1105 Parkside Ln., Suite 1322 Woodstock 770-852-0314 Math Tutoring, Education/Tutorial
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Canton Family Life | JANUARY 2016
City of Holly Springs J.B. Owens Park
2699 Hickory Rd. Holly Springs 770-345-5536 Government — City
Adaptive Music Lessons: Developing New Skills and Targeting Learning Difficulties By Anna Katheryn Duquette, LPMT, MT-BC
Why does my child get so frustrated while practicing his instrument? Why is she not making the progress she should be making? Parents desire for their child to be able to create music and enjoy it. Of course, music therapists desire for the child to be successful, too. The music is a form of selfexpression, which is intended to provide motivation for a child to practice, and practicing develops better musicians. Learning to play the piano requires a lot of work from the brain, which is important for parents to understand as their child is practicing. You have to use your eyes to read the written music. This uses the visual cortex and the occipital lobe. Your ears are there to help you listen to the notes that you are playing and adjust accordingly. This uses the temporal lobe and the auditory
cortex. What about using all ten of your fingers? That requires the use of your primary motor cortex, prefrontal cortex and cerebeullum. Eventually, the goal is to be able to play a song without having to look down at the keyboard. That means that you have to engage the parietal lobe, cerebellum and the right hemisphere. Needless to say, there’s a lot of brain activity going on when a child is playing the piano. It’s important to know what the specific needs of our children are as they learn new skills. Various difficulties may make music lessons more challenging, but all children are able to learn. Chances are, there’s a reason why they aren’t sitting still at the piano for more than 30 seconds. There’s also a reason why it may be difficult for them to retain information that we’ve said three times, but these things can be addressed through alternative approaches. Allowing them to get up and move or making visuals for them to see during practice time facilitates the learning process and are just some of the methods music therapists use to help children create music if learning difficulties emerge.
Anna Katheryn Duquette is a LPMT, MT-BC at In Harmony Pediatric Therapy. Kristi Estes and Jennifer Puckett are coowners of In Harmony Pediatric Therapy. 770-345-2804. InHarmonyPediatricTherapy.com
WWW. FAMILYLIFE PUBLICATIONS.COM
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What is
Elder Law? By Cindy Nelson When I first introduce myself to people as an elder law attorney I am often met with the response, “What is Elder Law?” Understandably, the confusion exists because elder law was a generally unknown practice area even 10 years ago. The first thing you should know about elder law is that it is very broad. It can describe any legal issue facing older adults and their families. It includes things like estate planning, probate, guardianship, real estate, nursing home neglect and many other areas of law. A huge advantage of working with an elder law attorney is their knowledge of the so called “elder network” in the community. For example, a good elder law attorney should be able to guide you to different public and private agencies/resources that are able to help local seniors. Overall the one essential skill that elder law attorneys must possess is an ability to be compassionate to their clients. The issues that elder lawyers address are very personal and their ability to cater to the needs of older adults makes them a more suitable choice for protecting older clients. Another type of lawyer may be able to solve these legal matters, but the process would be completely different and may lack the nuisances needed to properly advise older clients. Elder lawyers not only know how to take care of the legal matters presented above, they know how to take care of older adults. What elder law attorneys strive for when people walk out of their office is that clients are able to say, “Whew, that is a load off my shoulders and I feel so much better about my situation now.”
Cindy Nelson is an Elder Care Law Attorney with Nelson Elder Care Law, LLC. 2230 Towne Lake Parkway, Building 900, Suite 200, Woodstock. NelsonElderCareLaw.com
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Canton Family Life | JANUARY 2016
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