March Edition of 400Edition

400 Edition W h a t ’ s

u p

i n

N o r t h

March 2011

G e o r g i a

Easy Style is

professional design Ideas to try from

IN

White Interiors

Put the Fun in Function

mastering the secrets of kitchen storage

House or Home

steps to make your home warm and inviting

FREE

March 2011 Carole Lee, Founder/Creative Design

From the Editor...

Vanessa McBrayer, Account Manager Linda Merritt, Founder/Sales/Executive Editor Bob Merritt, Director of Sales Brooke Morris, Creative/Design Aaron Snider, Account Manager

W

elcome to our March 2011 issue.

We’ve had some top interior

designers contribute their ideas to help

Beth Snider, Founder/Sales/Creative Design

make your home a cozy, beautiful place

Nancy Wright, Proofing

to be. Their articles may be just the thing you need to give you ideas about how to put new spark into your kitchen, bedroom, or living area. Sometimes it takes new furniture, or a new lamp, colorful pillows, a new flower arrangement, or new

Contributing Writers: Dr. Mark Feinsilber

Steven Leibel

window treatments to change that dull room into a place of beauty. And a place

Nancy Forrest

Dr. Joyce Nations

you will be happy to invite your friends into. We encourage you to shop with

Martha Hynson

Patrick Snider

Joyce Jordan

John P. Vansant, MD

these advertisers, and tell them you read about them in 400 Edition.

Haven’t you enjoyed the nice warm days we had last month? Didn’t seem like a typical North Georgia February. Maybe we had all our cold weather early.

Staff Writers:

March 20 will be the first day of spring and I think we will all welcome it. I

Carole Lee

Aaron Snider

Vaness McBrayer

Beth Snider

heard someone say the other day that they couldn’t wait to get out in their yard

Bob Merritt

Nancy Wright

and start planting flowers. I agree—but Bob is usually the one who does the

Linda Merritt

planting. Our April issue will be about gardening, so email us with any ideas you may have about that. We live in a beautiful place, where flowers and trees are

400 Edition is published monthly in Dahlonega,

plentiful. Bob is already planning his garden; sounds like it will be another big

Georgia, with distribution in six counties.

one. Hopefully the deer will go somewhere else to eat this year.

Viewpoints expressed by contributing writers are not necessarily those of the publishers, staff or

You may notice some changes in the way this issue is laid out. We keep striving

advertisers. 400 Edition is not liable for inaccurate or

to make the magazine more appealing to you, in both looks and content. We have

erroneous information posted in advertising or event

an excellent group of folks who write for us and we thank them very much. It’s

submissions.

Ads must be submitted and paid in full by the 20th of every month, unless arrangements have been

quite a commitment to write every month.

Until next month…stay happy!

made in advance. Content and presentation of advertisements is subject to editorial review and modification. Ad dimensions and pricing may be obtained by calling 706-867-6455 or 866-867-7557.

These specs may also be viewed at www.400edition.com.

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Contents

March 2011 | Volume 7, Issue10

4

House or Home

There are several factors that come into play when creating a cozy environment. Find out the secrets to making your house a home.

6

Put the Fun in Function

Curtis Stone, star of the reality cooking show “Take Home Chef,” thinks that a beautiful, well-organized kitchen can make a world of difference to home cooks.

10

Comma Momma

Some errors that make it into print involve the kind of word substitutions that can make the reader go, “Where the heck did THAT come from?”

12

Through a Woman’s Eyes

A mother’s humorous perspective on family life’s often trivial, yet entertaining and insightful moments.

14

Mind & Heart

17

On the Cover

Decorating your home can be a fun, stress-free experience when you invite a

Mark P. Feinsilber, Ph.D., gives a brief overview of the symptoms of child anxiety and a list of resources to help.

professional to help you. Mary Ann and John Hansen did just that when they had Lauren Salter from White Interiors come to their Big Canoe home. Using her skill and experience, Lauren added some creative touches that the Hansens are glad to come home to.

A list of major distribution points in North Georgia can be found online at www.400edition.com.

March 2011 • www.400edition.com

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House or Home...

“Home Is Where the Heart Is” “Home Is Where Your Story Begins” ou have probably heard these sayings before.

But what really is the difference between a house and a home? Merriam-Webster defines house as “a building that serves as living quarters for one or a few families.” Home is defined as “a familiar or usual setting; congenial environment.” So what does it take to turn that building into a congenial environment?

Have you ever walked into a friend’s home and instantly felt welcome and comfortable and wondered what is it that makes this home so inviting? There are several factors that come into play when creating a cozy environment.

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golds, browns, and tans. You may decide that you like the clean, simple look of whites.

Although whites can sometimes feel stiff and untouchable, don’t despair. You can always mix in splashes of color with pillows or throws, artwork and accessories. Warm wood tones can be added for warmth. And be sure to use lots of textures and comfortable fabrics. These additions can turn an otherwise boring room into a very inviting one.

Next, let’s take a look at lighting. Lighting is a critical element in any space. In fact, lighting alone can create different atmospheres in a

To begin transforming your home, you must first determine what makes you feel relaxed.

To do this, there are several aspects that you will want to consider. What colors are you attracted to and make you feel relaxed? What design style appeals to you? What type of artwork and ornamentation do you like to be surrounded with? One way to easily determine where you fall in these areas is to thumb through decorating magazines. Pull out pages with pictures of rooms that you find yourself attracted to. Don’t think about the details, just the overall feeling of the room. After collecting a small stack of pages, you will probably begin to see a pattern of similar designs and colors.

Let’s start with color. Paint colors are probably one of the most important considerations when creating the “feel” of a space. If you are looking for energy, choose a red. Blues and greens are relaxing. For a warm feeling, select

room without having to do any additional decorating. There are situations when brighter lighting is necessary, such as beside a reading chair, or to brighten a room on a dreary day.

During these times, high-wattage lamps and overhead lighting are a good choice. However, imagine walking into a room for an evening dinner party and finding all the lighting on full blast. You might feel as if you were starring in a Broadway play! Don’t worry—there are easy solutions. Put a dimmer on your overhead lighting so you can vary the light levels as needed. Use three-way lamps that can provide good reading light, but that can be lowered for more intimate situations. And don’t forget the candles. They always add great ambience, as well as welcoming scents, to your home.

Accessories are the finishing touch to a home—elements that let you really personalize your space. A home without accessories is like a birthday cake without icing. But first and foremost, reduce your clutter. When you walk into a room that is cluttered with toys, mail, discarded shoes, etc., you will instantly feel disheveled and anxious. Now, I know that these items are a part of our daily lives.

However, providing a place to put all these items away will greatly reduce stress and allow for a much greater feeling of relaxation in your life.

Now that the clutter is put away, let’s consider your accessories.

Accessories and artwork are the best way to bring your personality to your home. Photos of family and friends, mementos from your travels, family heirlooms, or just pieces that you are particularly drawn to should be proudly displayed within your home. An oil painting of a place where you would like to be, a pair of whimsical frog bookends that make you laugh, framed artwork by your seven-year-old daughter— all of these accessories can personalize your space.

Lastly, keep in mind that not all design decisions have to be made at one time. Let things evolve. The most important goal is to create an environment that you feel good in.

MJ David is co-owner & decorator at Main Street Interiors, located at 2202 Canton Highway, Cumming, GA. She graduated from the College of Charleston and is certified through the Interior Design Society. She is also partnered with her husband, Jay, in Black Dog Art Studios. For more information, please visit these websites: www.mainstreetinteriors.com and www.blackdogartstudios.com

A House Is Made of Bricks and Beams A Home is Made of Love and Dreams

Home Makeover Marketplace

March 2011 • www.400edition.com

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I

Chef Curtis Stone

f cooking is a hassle for you, it may be time to do some reorganizing. Curtis Stone, star of the reality cooking show “Take Home Chef,” thinks that a beautiful, well-organized kitchen can make a world of difference to home cooks.

“When I was doing ‘Take Home Chef’ and cooking in all these different houses,” says Stone, “I was thinking, why is it so difficult to cook in people’s homes? It was so easy in a professional kitchen.

Well, one of the main differences between a professional kitchen and residential kitchen is organization. But with the right organizational features, cooking can be fun and relaxing.”

Making the most of kitchen storage Get in the Zone According to Paul Radoy, manager of design services for Merillat, the best way to approach kitchen organization and storage is to look at the room in sections. “All kitchens have a cooking zone and a cleanup zone,” he says. “And some kitchens may have an island or pantry. Each of these areas lends itself to various storage opportunities.”

The Cooking Zone Food preparation and cooking are the primary functions of a kitchen, which is why keeping cooking items organized and within easy reach is key.

A cutting board kit near the sink makes it easy to clean up during food prep and provides easy, clutter-free storage.

Peg dividers for drawers can be customized so you can fit your pots and pans however you like.

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The National Association of Professional Organizers recommends observing the flow of activity in your kitchen and organizing around it. Stone agrees, saying, “I believe the kitchen should be designed for the way you live.”

Whether you’re installing new cabinets or working with your existing units, try to optimize your space by creating specified storage areas.

• Group objects by purpose, and dedicate specific storage areas for them. Having all the bakeware together, or all the pots and pans together, lets you get to what you need quickly and efficiently.

• Store pots and pans as close to the stove as possible.

• Keep utensils where you can reach them easily while cooking. A utensil hanging system on the backsplash, or a pull-down knife rack under the wall cabinet next to the cooktop, keeps you from digging through drawers.

“Now, I know almost everyone has a pots and pans cabinet, and most of them are a mess,” says Stone. “Well, Merillat has come up with an ingenious solution. Peg dividers for drawers can be customized to neatly fit all your pots and pans as you like them. It’s not one-size-fits-all, so it can be nicely organized.”

Awkward items can be stored on a lazy susan or a swing-out base cabinet, both of which take advantage of a tricky blind-corner situation. The swing-out base cabinet allows full access to the entire cabinet with its two adjustable roll-out trays.

The Pantry Zone If you’re tired of hunting through a dozen canned goods to find the one you really need, or if you end up buying items you didn’t know you already had, then it’s time to reorganize the pantry.

Group similar food items together, the way you see them on grocery store shelves. Keep canned goods on one shelf, breakfast foods on another, baking ingredients on another. If you don’t have a lot of built-in storage space, look for ways to maximize what you do have.

• Individual turntables are great for organizing and storing spices and smaller pantry items. They can be put inside March 2011 • www.400edition.com

cabinets or on your counter to give you easy access.

• Stacking platforms can go in taller shelf spaces to eliminate wasted space.

• Pullout shelves or baskets can utilize even more space in a cupboard.

The Cleanup Zone Stone says that organizing the cleanup zone can minimize clutter and make cleanup easier. From the location of the sink and dishwasher, to various organizational accessories, any cleanup zone can shine.

Things like a tilt-out sink tray, which keeps soaps and sponges out of sight, an undersink tote, and a base wastebasket help keep things well organized. Also, a cutting board kit close to the sink makes for easy cleanup during food prep.

“From a chef’s perspective, and from a home cook’s perspective,” says Stone, “when you’re working in a kitchen that makes sense, it makes the whole cooking experience much easier—and more fun.”

For more on the latest kitchen storage solutions, visit www.merillat.com.

More Organizing Tips Get rid of what you don’t use. If you haven’t used the waffle maker or panini press in recent memory, it’s time to let them go. If they’re in working order, give them to someone who will use them, or donate them to a thrift store.

Store seasonal items. Make room for your everyday items by storing those holiday plates and the oversized soup tureen outside the kitchen. Label the boxes or storage containers so you can find them when you need them.

Don’t forget about the freezer. Use dividers or baskets to help you create designated sections in the freezer. That way, you don’t have to dig around for what you need.

Look for unused or underused spaces. Look at all areas, including above and below appliances and behind doors. Unused floor space could be maximized with a kitchen island that adds additional storage.

This is You... Only Better.

North Georgia Continuing Education is here to help you enhance your life.

- Professional Development - Creative Learning - Recreation Classes - Online Classes - Teacher Education - Industrial Certifications - Travel Programs - Summer Camps 2011 and much more!

Look for this brochure soon!

Spring is Near.

Warm Up with a new Hobby!

Online Registration Available Now! See All Classes and Register:

northgeorgia.edu/ce Or Call to Register 706-864-1918

North Georgia Choral Groups Set Spring Concert Schedule

N

orth Georgia College & State University choirs have several performances coming up, including a tour that will take two groups throughout the midwestern United States.

The North Georgia College & State University Singers and Le Belle Voci will be on tour March 11-19; they’ll be hitting the road early on the morning of March 11 in order to make it to a performance that evening in Evansville, Indiana. The tour takes the groups to Iowa, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Chicago, Louisville, and Knoxville.

The all-male Patriot Choir performs regularly for numerous military, athletic, and university functions, and has performed the national anthem for the Atlanta Falcons, the Atlanta Hawks, and the Atlanta Thrashers. Le Belle Voci is the university’s all-female singing group, and the North Georgia Singers are the university’s mixed ensemble. All groups perform a variety of pieces, and the ensembles tour throughout the United States and overseas every other year.

Other upcoming performances, all of which are open to the public: • March 21, 8:00pm, Shott Auditorium: Patriot Choir and North Georgia Men’s Quartet spring concer • March 26, 8:00am, Memorial Hall gym: Patriot Choir at North Georgia’s Spring Open House

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March 2011 • www.400edition.com

• March 28, 8:00pm, Dahlonega United Methodist Church: “Homecoming” Concert with North Georgia Singers and Le Belle Voci • March 29, 8:00pm, St. Paul the Apostle Catholic Church in Cleveland: “Homecoming” Concert with North Georgia Singers and Le Belle Voci • April 8: Military Ball with Patriot Choir • April 9, Memorial Hall gym: Parent-Alumni Weekend Memorial Retreat with Patriot Choir • April 10, 2:00pm, Livsey Drill Field: Parent-Alumni Weekend Review with Patriot Choir • April 10, 7:00pm, St. Paul the Apostle Catholic Church, Cleveland: Choral Explosion with North Georgia Singers, Le Belle Voci, and high school choirs from Lumpkin County and Dawson County.

Founded in 1873 and located in Dahlonega, North Georgia College & State University is the second-oldest public institution of higher education in the state and currently has about 6,000 students.

The liberal arts university is designated by the University System of Georgia as a state leadership institution and by the Georgia General Assembly as The Military College of Georgia.

I

Historic Forsyth

n every generation, there are men who rise to the top, for good or not-so-good reasons.

These men’s legacies typically will long outlive them. Such is the story of James Vann, leader of the Old Cherokee Nation.

I first became acquainted with James Vann while reading about him in Forest C. Wade’s book entitled The Cry of the Eagle. Mr. Wade was somewhat of a storyteller, who weaved many yarns about the local Indians that he had learned from W. M. Wade, his grandfather.

Daniel Davis (1785-1866) was W.M. Wade’s great-grandfather; he had married Rachel Martin (1788-1843), a mixed-blood Cherokee. Rachel Martin was the daughter of a white man by the name of Joseph Martin, and Susannah Emory, a Cherokee Indian. Davis was a wealthy man who made his home on a 640-acre reservation awarded to him through the 1817 Cherokee Treaty with the U.S. Government.

In the early 1830s, assessments were made of his extensive holdings in Lumpkin County. In Cherokee Planters in Georgia 18321838, Don L. Shadburn stated that Davis owned a large two-story house, an orchard Joe Vann, Son of James Vann with more than 900 fruit trees, 40 acres of fenced woodland, 60 acres of improved upland, and 152 acres of cleared, planted bottomlands on the Etowah River. He had seven cabins for the 23 slaves that he owned that were reported on the 1835 Cherokee Census. Davis also had two other cabins, 10 acres of upland, as well as grist and saw mills, one old cabin, and a frame house that was built on Clay Creek. Although he was dispossessed of his land in the early 1830s, he was able to buy back 212 acres of his land.

Today, many of his descendants still make their home in North Georgia and proudly carry on the traditions of their ancestors.

The legacy of James Vann has been retold by each generation since his untimely death in 1809.

He was possibly the son of Joseph Vann, Scotch

trader, and Wur-li Mary “Polly” Sonicooie.

Polly later married Clement Vann, who was believed to be the brother of Joseph. James was an intelligent, bilingual Cherokee who rose to prominence at an early age. James, along with Major Ridge and Charles R. Hicks, were considered influential leaders of their day. They brought many changes to the Cherokee Nation.

Although James was a controversial figure, he was credited with several progressive accomplishments within a short period of time. In the book Unhallowed Intrusion, Don L. Shadburn wrote that James built the first brick house in the Cherokee Nation in the early nineteenth century. He actively promoted trade with the white settlers, and allowed Moravian missionaries and teachers to build a permanent station at Spring Place in present-day Murray County. A major accomplishment of James Vann was the opening of the first major federal trading road through the Cherokee Nation.

Today, we call this road the Old Federal Road. Currently, the Georgia Department of Transportation, along with the Centers for Archaeological Research and the Study of Southern Culture at the University of Mississippi, are involved in a two-phase project to commemorate the 200th anniversary of Georgia’s Old Federal Road. Phase I of this project describes the important places and moments along the Old Federal Road from 1805 through the 1860s; Phase II of the study records the physical remains of the Old Federal Road and its relevance to the National Register of Historic Places. In addition, a driving tour has been developed that highlights the important people, places, and history along the Old Federal Road (www.dot.state.ga.us).

Volunteers from local historical societies such as the Historical Society of Forsyth County and Georgia Chapter of the Trail of Tears have worked with the Georgia DOT to produce a Traveling Tour of the Old Federal Road. In Forsyth County, there are numerous sites that can be found along this route; the following driving directions are excerpted from “Traveling the Route of the Federal Road: A Tour for Travelers Interested in History,” directions developed by the Center for the Study of Southern Culture for the Georgia DOT. March 2011 • www.400edition.com

by Myra Reidy

“The road offers an impressive sight crossing the Chattahoochee River, then goes through Oscarville. Past Oscarville, take a left at the sign announcing Vann’s Tavern Park. The stretch between the turn on 369 to Vann’s Tavern Park is about five miles. The spot of the park, an excellent location to pause and view the Chattahoochee River, is the location of old Vann’s Ferry, also called Winn’s Ferry and William’s Ferry.”

“From Vann’s Tavern Park, the traveler should return to Highway 369 heading west. The highway is largely faithful to the route of the Federal Road, passing through Coal Mountain and Matt. This is one of the few stretches along the route of the Older Federal Road where today’s traveler may have to pause for lines of traffic, with growing numbers of people moving east and west in the area of greater Atlanta. The route from Vann’s Tavern Park to the next turn is about 16 miles.”

“The traveler then turns right at Hightower at an important spot in the history of the Federal Road. The road sign in the northwestern corner of Forsyth County identifies the right fork as the Old Federal Road, a road some maps also name the Hightower Road, heading northwest. In the early 1800s, this junction was both the site of Scudder’s Inn, an early establishment along

Vann Plantation at Spring Place, Georgia

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the road and, later, two forts used by the U.S. military in the 1830s. The fort the military used to imprison Cherokees prior to sending them along the Trail of Tears was Fort Campbell, located just north of the Federal Road, at the spot where it intersects today with Highway 369.”

Once the traveler leaves Highway 369, turns onto the Old Federal Road, and crosses the Etowah River, the site of Lewis Blackburn’s Tavern can be found. Over the years, there has been much talk about whether Thomas Buffington’s Tavern and Lewis Blackburn’s Tavern are the same buildings. In recent years, the tavern has been moved to the City of Cumming Fairgrounds. During the fall, everyone who visits the local fair will have the opportunity to tour the restored tavern in the Indian Village.

Just a short distance from the original site of Blackburn’s Tavern is the final resting place of James Vann. Near midnight on February 21, 1809, while at Buffington Tavern, James was pierced in the heart by a bullet from an unknown gun, which resulted in his death at 41 years of age. Upon hearing the tragic news, a family attendant gathered up James’ young son, Joseph “Joe” Vann, and rode eighteen miles on horseback to the public house on the Chattahoochee River for safety. The next morning, James’ parents, Polly and Clement Vann, rushed to Buffington’s Tavern in a carriage. Upon their arrival, Tom Buffington told them that James had been buried earlier that morning. He escorted them to a woodland grave on the north side of the Federal Road, a short distance south of where he had been murdered just a few hours before (Don L. Shadburn,

Comma Momma W

ord mistakes make it into print in a number of ways. The mistake might be the result of a simple mechanical typo; a finger accidentally hits the wrong key. Or the mistake might be caused by what some people call a “thinko,” when the writer is well aware of the correct word but in a moment of haste or inattention types the wrong one.

Typing isthmus instead of ichthus for the Christian fish symbol would be a thinko. Although readers might get all huffy about carelessness when they see typos and thinkos, they’re reasonably sure the writer knows better.

Sometimes the mistake occurs when the writer has the correct word but simply doesn’t know how it’s spelled. When a reporter quotes a source as saying, “We were just really bumbed,” we’re not dealing with a typo or a thinko; we’re dealing with a reporter who doesn’t know how to spell bummed. But at least it’s easy to figure out what was intended.

But some errors that make it into print involve the kind of word substitutions that can make the reader go, “Where the heck did THAT come from?”

Consider these eight examples;

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the error is italicized in each one.

Extra credit if you can figure out what connects all eight examples.

1. “Additional arched partisans were added…”

2. “…with his dark hair tussled from using his shirt as a pillow…”

3. “…ridged hull inflatable boat, or RHIB…” 4. “…for anything that might get damaged by emersion…”

5. “…wide-open grassy planes…”

6. “So they made due with…”

7. “You happen to know anybody in the city Ph.D.?”

8. “The gristly sergeant had more than earned…”

Errors like this really slow down comprehension, even if the reader can eventually figure out what was meant, and maybe even how the mistake was made.

1. A partisan is “a fervent, sometimes militant supporter” of something. It’s clear from the context that the intended word is partition, meaning a wall dividing one space from another. Maybe the writer misspelled partition as partison? Microsoft Word’s spellchecker would have offered partisan as an option, and might even have made

Unhallowed Intrusion, 1993). James Vann’s gravesite can be found in the Lewis Blackburn cemetery in northwest Forsyth County on the Old Federal Road. So goes the legacy of James Vann, a man who lived a hard, fast life and met death an early age.

In case you have not heard, it is not too late to submit your family, military, or organization’s stories to the Forsyth County Heritage Book.

You can also still pre-order your copy of this book. For further information, please visit historicforsyth.com.

Myra Reidy is a volunteer for the Historical Society of Forsyth County and the Georgia Chapter of the Trail of Tears. Contact: myrareidy@live.com.

Where Did THAT Come From?

by Nancy Wright the change automatically.

Mine did. This kind of wildly inappropriate automatic substitution by a spellchecker has come to be known as a Cupertino, from the word that was substituted for the word cooperation in European versions of Word some years back.

2. The correct word is tousled.

Simple misspelling? Thinko?

Another Cupertino?

3. An RHIB is a rigid (not ridged ) hull inflatable boat.

If you misspell rigid as ridgid, the spellchecker offers ridged.

Another Cupertino if you accept the offer unthinkingly.

4. Emersion is the act of emerging. Immersion (being totally submerged) is what’s intended.

5. Planes, either the kind that fly or the kind that shave wood, aren’t usually grassy.

From the context, it’s clear that what’s meant here is plains. A Cupertino? A thinko?

6. The correct idiomatic expression is make do, meaning “to manage to get along with the means available.” I get just a whiff here of a fundamental misunderstanding of the construction.

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7. Know anybody in the city Ph.D.? Um, folks…that should be P.D., the abbreviation for “Police Department.”

8. Gristly means full of gristle (aka cartilage), that tough connective tissue found in meat. Unless we’re having the sergeant for dinner with some fava beans and a nice Chianti, I’m betting we’re describing his beard, in which case the word is grizzled, meaning “having hair streaked or tipped with gray.”

So what ties all these examples together? They were all found in a 400-page adventure novel I read recently, a book put out last year by a large and reputable publishing house.

At this point I should be going all ballistic about rampant carelessness and criminally inept proofreading. But I’m out of space here. You’ll have to do the rant yourself; you probably know the drill by now.

Nancy Wright formats technical books for a specialty publishing house in New York. She and her husband live in White County; you can contact her at adairmill@windstream.net.

Health Matters: Speaking from the Heart Hippocratic Oath:

“I swear by Apollo, the healer, Asclepius, Hygieia, and Panacea, and I take to witness all the gods, all the goddesses, to keep according to my ability and my judgment, the following Oath and agreement: To consider dear to me, as my parents, him who taught me this art; to live in common with him and, if necessary, to share my goods with him; to look upon his children as my own brothers, to teach them this art.

I will prescribe regimens for the good of my patients according to my ability and my judgment and never do harm to anyone.

I will not give a lethal drug to anyone if I am asked, nor will I advise such a plan; and similarly I will not give a woman a pessary to cause an abortion.

But I will preserve the purity of my life and my arts.

I will not cut for stone, even for patients in whom the disease is manifest; I will leave this operation to be performed by practitioners, specialists in this art.

In every house where I come I will enter only for the good of my patients, keeping myself far from all intentional ill-doing and all seduction and especially from the

pleasures of love with women or with men, be they free or slaves.

All that may come to my knowledge in the exercise of my profession or in daily commerce with men, which ought not to be spread abroad, I will keep secret and will never reveal.

If I keep this oath faithfully, may I enjoy my life and practice my art, respected by all men and in all times; but if I swerve from it or violate it, may the reverse be my lot.”

Many of you may recognize the above as being what is felt to be an interpretation of the original Hippocratic Oath. Historically, the oath was taken by physicians, defining their commitment to practice medicine with the highest of ethical standards. Hippocrates, regarded as the father of western medicine, is believed to have written the oath during the late 5th century BC. Although currently held by most countries and medical schools as a valued historical and traditional document, the Hippocratic Oath has been “modernized” into a document signifying a passage from the science of medicine into the practice of medicine.

The most widely used “modern” version of the traditional oath was penned in 1964

by Dr. Louis Lasagna, a dean of the School of Medicine at Tufts University. The new version(s) essentially excludes any philosophical references to the formerly held Greek mythology

March 2011 • www.400edition.com

by John P. Vansant, MD, FACC concepts regarding the importance and function of the gods and goddesses related to medicine.

However, the rod of Asclepius, a snakeentwined staff, remains a symbol of medicine today.

The changes from the original Hippocratic Oath were predominantly done in order to present a more politically and religiously correct document. Even with said changes, the oath still represents many important and time-honored concepts, recognizing standards that should be embraced and practiced by today’s physicians.

I would like to take a close look at the most frequently used version of the Hippocratic and review the valued principles therein with you in next month’s Health Matters.

John P. Vansant, MD, FACC, is Board Certified in Internal Medicine, Rheumatology, and Nuclear Medicine.

Among other appointments, he formerly served as Associate Professor of Radiology, Director of Nuclear Medicine, and Chief of Nuclear Cardiology services at Emory University Hospital. He is nationally recognized for his achievements in the clinical advancement of Nuclear Cardiology.

400 Edition 11

Through aWoman’s Eyes Watching What I’m Watching

F

or the past year, I’ve been writing about the 31st chapter of Proverbs and, although I’ve avoided this particular passage of scripture in the past, I’m a little sad to be nearing the end! Maybe that’s why I decided to spend two months on the 27th verse. Last time I wrote about the temptation to move from simply watching over, to trying to control, the affairs of my household. This month I want to focus on what happens when I begin watching over not only my own, but other people’s households, and then comparing them to mine.

Several years ago I wrote about an experience in my life that helped me gain some perspective on this subject and I want to share some of that story again.

Years ago (before I had kids) I read an article by humorist Erma Bombeck called What Kind of Mother Would…? I laughed at her exaggerated descriptions of motherhood. It was only after I became a mother that I saw beyond the humor to the heart-wrenching emotion that often accompanies that question.

I was reminded of that article after receiving a note from the mother of one of my first-grade students apologizing for something she felt would cause me to think she was a bad mother. The funny thing was that, until she called the incident to my attention, I

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She watches over the affairs of her household….

wasn’t even aware of it. She was busy with a new baby, and dad was doing his best to help out.

The mistake she had obviously agonized over was simply one of those humorous things that tend to happen when dear old dad tries to fill mom’s shoes. I couldn’t help but wonder at the irony of the situation. No doubt exhausted and sleep deprived, she had felt compelled to use what precious time and energy she had to write a full-page letter apologizing for something I hadn’t even noticed.

How often had I done the same sort of thing myself? “Mother” is often another name for “guiltridden one.” We look around at other moms with their children, and our own insecurities prompt us to ask the question “What kind of mother would…?”

I found myself asking this question one cold January day. I awoke to snow on the ground and the announcement that school would be delayed two hours for students, with teachers reporting as usual. This meant that my son Seth, a high school senior, would be responsible for getting his eightyear-old sister to school.

I peeked in at my daughter, sleeping peacefully with rows of tiny pink curlers in her hair. She had asked me to put them in the night before and was no doubt dreaming of the bouncy curls she

by Martha Hynson

Proverbs 31:27

was sure they would produce.

Seth groggily assured me that he would handle getting Ally to school, before rolling back over in bed. I left, feeling guilty about not being home making hot chocolate and warm memories with my kids, and asking myself What kind of mother would leave her children to fend for themselves on a day like this?

By afternoon, the sun was out. I drove to my parents’ home to pick up Ally. When I got there, I saw a girl about her size on the floor watching cartoons. It took a moment for me to realize I was looking at my daughter. Great globs of matted, mangled hair stuck out from her head in every direction.

“Hey, Mama,” she said, looking up at me.

“Ally,” I managed. “What happened to your hair?”

“Oh,” she said, “we had a hard time getting my curlers out. Seth tried to help me…he finally said to just wear my hat. Guess what!” she continued. “We went to Chick-fil-a for breakfast!”

What kind of mother would send her child to school looking like her hair had been combed with an eggbeater? A mother like me, apparently. When I saw Ally’s teacher a few days later, however, she helped me see things in a

March 2011 • www.400edition.com

different light. “What a wonderful memory she’ll have of hanging out with her brother before he leaves for college,” she said.

How easy it is to miss the good things happening right under my nose when my eyes are busy looking at and comparing myself to others. The memories made that day may not have been what I had in mind, but they were tailor-made for my household and, when I look at them from that perspective, I wouldn’t really change them if I could!

Martha Hynson is a wife, mom, teacher, and freelance writer from Watkinsville, Georgia. Check out her blog: www.marthahynson.blogspot.com.

CASA of Forsyth County Hosts Superhero Run CASA of Forsyth County, Inc., announced recently that it will hold its 3rd annual 5K Run/Walk and 1K Fun Run on March 26. The event will be the inaugural run at the new Fowler Park, located at the corner of Highway 9 and Castleberry Road in south Forsyth County.

The race course will spill out onto the Big Creek Greenway and is a flat, fast course, perfect for the serious runner, families, and everyone in between.

Because the CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocate) program believes that every child needs a hero, but that abused children need Superheroes, this year’s 5K Run/Walk will feature a Superhero theme. In addition to awards for top male and female runners, there will be a contest to recognize the best and most creative Superhero costumes.

The event raises much-needed funding used to train volunteer child advocates who become the voice of an abused and/or neglected child in Juvenile Court deprivation proceedings.

The primary goals at CASA of Forsyth County are to recruit, screen, train, and supervise volunteers to advocate for the best interests of abused or neglected children, and to ensure the quality of volunteer advocacy for the children we serve. Each year it costs approximately $740 to serve one child through the CASA program, and approximately $400 to train each volunteer advocate. Last year, 74 CASA

volunteers advocated for 179 children in Forsyth County.

CASA of Forsyth County serves abused and neglected children by advocating for each child, working toward providing the child with a safe, loving, and permanent home. These highly trained volunteer advocates serve as the child’s lay guardian ad litem and work to ensure the child’s physical, medical, emotional, and educational needs are met during Juvenile Court deprivation proceedings.

“The relationship formed between a CASA volunteer and the child becomes a stable part of an otherwise chaotic life for a child in foster care,” said Janet Walden, Executive Director of CASA of Forsyth County. “So often DFCS case managers change, therapists change, schools change, and placements change for the child. The CASA volunteer is the one face in the crowd that is constant during a child’s journey through the child welfare system.”

Entry fees for the Superhero 5K Run/Walk are $25 for individuals in advance ($30 on race day), or $20 per person for families of three or more in advance ($25 on race day).

Fees for the 1K Fun Run are $10 per person in advance ($15 on race day). For more information, to register, or to find out how to sponsor this event, visit the CASA website (www.forsythcountycasa.org) or call 770-886-4082.

March 2011 • www.400edition.com

400 Edition 13

Children and Anxiety Disorders:

Yes, They Have Them Too Mark P. Feinsilber, Ph.D.

Mmind i n&dhearta n d h e a r t I

n the not too distant past, the idea that children could experience anxiety in ways similar to that of adults seemed not to make logical sense to many parents. After all, childhood is (in the minds of adults, at least) supposed to be a time of relatively carefree irresponsibility, with grownups making most or all life decisions for children and taking care of their everyday needs.

Other than perhaps the

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occasional school phobia or the commonly occurring fears of the dark, anxiety issues were generally believed to primarily inhabit the world of adults.

As it turns out, we have learned over years of research, observation, and treatment in psychology and psychiatry that children do experience anxiety disorders, at roughly the same population incidence rate (about 3% nationally) as do adults. Furthermore, many (if not most) anxiety disorders are genetically based, and many adults being treated for anxiety can trace their symptoms back to their childhood or adolescence. Children of parents with an anxiety disorder are more likely to have an anxiety disorder.

A chemical imbalance involving two chemicals in the brain (norepinephrine and serotonin) is believed to contribute to the development of anxiety disorders, but there are family and environmental factors as well. Anxiety and fear can also be learned by children

from family members and others who frequently display anxiety around them. For example, a child with a parent who is afraid of thunderstorms may learn to also fear thunderstorms.

Traumatic experiences occurring during childhood (abuse events, parental divorce, peer bullying, etc.) can also trigger anxiety.

All children and adolescents experience some anxiety, and this is a normal part of growing up. However, when worries and fears do not go away, and interfere with a child or adolescent’s usual activities, an anxiety disorder may be present.

Unlike adults with this disorder, children and adolescents usually do not realize that their anxiety is more intense than the situation warrants, and may often require frequent reassurance from the adults in their lives.

Here are some of the most common symptoms of Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD) seen in children and teens; however, each child may experience symptoms differently: • Many worries about things

March 2011 • www.400edition.com

before they happen • Many worries about friends, school, or activities • Constant thoughts and fears about safety of self and/or safety of parents • Refusing to go to school • Frequent somatic symptoms (headaches, stomach aches, etc.)

• Muscle aches or tension • Sleep disturbances • Excessive worry about sleeping away from home • Clingy behavior with family members • Feeling as though there is a “lump” in the throat • Fatigue • Lack of concentration • Being easily startled • Irritability • Inability to relax GAD is usually diagnosed by a child psychologist, psychiatrist, or other qualified mental health professional following a comprehensive evaluation.

Parents noting symptoms of severe anxiety in their child or teen can improve treatment outcomes by seeking early intervention.

Fortunately, anxiety disorders can usually be very effectively treated and managed.

Treatment strategies may include cognitive behavior therapy (CBT), with the focus on helping the child or teen learn skills to manage his/her anxiety and master the situations that contribute to the anxiety. Some children also benefit from treatment with antidepressant or antianxiety medications to help correct the aforementioned brain chemistry imbalances.

Naturally, parents play a vital, supportive role in any treatment process and, therefore, family therapy and consultation with the child’s school may also be recommended.

Some resource books that I have found to be very helpful to children and teens struggling with anxiety are the following: • The Relaxation & Stress Reduction Workbook for Kids, by Lawrence E.

Shapiro, Ph.D., and Robin K. Sprague, LPC • Cool Cats/Calm Kids, by Mary Williams • Anxiety-Free Kids, by Bonnie Zucker • My Anxious Mind: A Teen’s Guide to Managing Anxiety & Panic, by Michael A. Tompkins, Ph.D., and Katherine Martinez, Psy.D.

Mark P. Feinsilber, Ph.D., is a licensed clinical psychologist with over 20 years’ experience treating adults, children, adolescents, couples, and families; and is a founding member of the Behavioral Health Association of Forsyth (BHAF). His practice is located at 6030 Bethelview Road, Suite 401, in Cumming.

Appointments or other consultations can be arranged by calling the administrative office at 770-205-5760, and more detailed information can be found at www.APSDoc.com.

Spelling Bee Champion

Congratulations to Forsyth County Schools’

School, alternate Justin Ebert

2011 Spelling Bee Champion

from North Forsyth Middle

Parker Davenport from Otwell

School, and second runner-up

Middle School, photographed

Drayton Ellis from Silver City

with (from left to right) first

Elementary School.

runner-up Morgan Voshall from Vickery Creek Middle

March 2011 • www.400edition.com

400 Edition 15

Leibel on the Law Brain Injury

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ne of the more tragic consequences of any accident is brain injury. Brain injury occurs as a result of various types of trauma, and can range in severity from mild to moderate to severe.

A typical cause of brain injury is the striking of the head on a fixed object like the pillar post of a car, or by falling onto a hard surface.

However, some brain trauma can be caused by forward and backward motion in a whiplash type accident, when the brain hits the skull and becomes damaged.

After an accident, EMTs and other first responders use medical tests to determine whether a person appears to have brain

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by Steven K. Leibel

trauma. They look at the pupils of the eyes to look for unequal size, and they ask questions to determine whether a person seems confused or dazed.

If head trauma is suspected, doctors may order a CT scan to rule out swelling or brain bleeds.

In our practice, we often question our clients on the head trauma they sustained in an accident. Mild head trauma may show up as forgetfulness and anxiousness. This can also lead to depression. In some cases head trauma from whiplash can damage the brain stalk where the pituitary and hypothalamus glands are located. There are reported cases of women who can, as a result of this brain stalk injury, lose fertility.

More severe head trauma can lead to swelling in the brain,

requiring the placement of shunts to remove fluid so that the brain does not suffer as much damage.

These major traumas can lead to the loss of short-term and longterm memory. Major brain injuries can also result in more significant cognitive deficits, such as delayed speech, as well as full and partial facial paralysis. Brain injuries can also affect personality. They can also significantly lower the IQ of the injured party.

Loved ones who live with braininjured persons may have their own claims against the person who caused their spouse to be injured.

Everyone has read about the horrific shooting of Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords. The gunshot caused major brain damage, which is being treated. Details about her recovery have been spotty.

However, the New York Times reported that members of her staff say Congresswoman Giffords recently began speaking for the first time since the January 8 attack by a gunman in Tucson.

Brain injury patients who regain speech typically begin to do so within months of the event.

With determination and good medical care, recovery can be made sooner. Unfortunately, many of our clients are woefully underinsured. They will never be able to receive necessary treatment and rehabilitation for a complete recovery. That is why I always recommend that everyone carry good insurance.

In Georgia an injured person is responsible for their own medical treatment unless they have adequate medical pay or health insurance to cover their loss. Most of the time, people with catastrophic injuries will be unable to recover enough money

March 2011 • www.400edition.com

from the person who caused their injuries, because that person has only minimum limits coverage.

As a former member of the Brain and Spinal Injury Trust Fund Commission, I am aware of the devastating impact of brain injuries. I have seen the need for trauma centers, and well-trained first responders. I also know how important it is to have a competent legal assessment of the situation. In any brain injury case, experts may be called upon to review a life care plan, and to create special needs trusts. Often a guardian has to be appointed, because the individual is no longer competent to take care of themselves.

Everyone needs to go over their financial situation with a qualified financial advisor and insurance professional. The best way to protect yourself is to be careful, and to plan well.

Steven Leibel is a Georgia personal injury lawyer with offices in Dawson County and in Dahlonega. He currently serves as a member of the Georgia Bar Board of Governors for the Enotah Circuit. He is a Commission member of the Georgia Brain and Spinal Injury Trust Fund Commission. He is AV rated by Martindale Hubbell for his legal ability and ethical conduct. He can be reached at 706-867-7575 or 404-892-0700. Questions about his column can be sent to his email at steven@leibel.com.

Nothing in this column can be construed as the giving of legal advice. Legal advice can only be made through an attorney-client relationship. The statements made in this column are for general education purposes only.

Complete Style

W

hen I met Mary Ann Hansen, she was in a quandary. After meandering through White Interiors, she found many items she liked but was not sure how to use them in her home.

With the vast selection of unique and one-of-akind accessories available, it can sometimes be difficult to know how to use them in a familiar home environment. After our discussion in the store, she realized she could use some assistance with the finishing touches for her home.

Elegant flagstone steps led me to the Hansens’ Big Canoe home, which has appealing landscape, architecture, and natural wood trim.

After modifying the exterior entrance to the home, Mary Ann and John made structural alterations to the main floor by transforming the existing galley kitchen into an expansive layout surrounding a lovely large island, allowing for functional workspaces and ample room for entertaining. The Hansens had paid close attention to each detail of the new design. The pattern of the slate backsplash, the hand-blown pendant lights from a local artist, and the high open shelving above her cabinets provided eye-pleasing visual elements. I loved the added windows, which gave light and opened up a nice view to the back, highlighting the new stone porch overlooking the wooded area. The room was now open to the dining area and connected to the great room, making it a welcoming and approachable haven; but it lacked the degree of coziness and charm Mary Ann desired. They were satisfied with the renovation but not with the overall feeling the rooms conveyed.

During our in-home consulting, Mary Ann told me she was pleased with all the changes they had made and the unique areas that had been created, but needed assistance uniting the rooms. Since it would be a frequent setting for neighbors and out-of-town guests, the Hansens wanted a warm, comfortable, and relaxed feeling for their interior.

My first goal was to bring some life to the dark spaces, adding character, color, and rich texture for interest. I drew inspiration for their plan from the warm woodlands and dramatic mountains surrounding the Hansen home. I looked to

by Lauren Salter

nature’s combinations, using earth tones to add warmth to the natural stone and wood interior.

The nature-inspired palette of rust, green, brown, and gold allowed for invigorating splashes of color throughout the rooms.

Mary Ann is creative and artistic and not afraid to add pattern and color, so I planned to use accessories, rugs, drapes, and pillows to complement her existing furniture. The focal point of the main floor is a fireplace flanked by tall windows with unusual angles, heavily trimmed with natural wood. Asymmetric drapery panels were used to balance this side of the room, soften the window angles, and warm the room without blocking the view or light. The colors and texture of the drapery tie together all the colors used in the main floor. The botanicalinspired linen panels were hung from a bronze metal pole with oak leaf and acorn detailed finials, which continue the theme of bringing a touch of nature inside.

Pillows were added to the existing sofa and chairs, bringing even more pattern and texture to the room. We accented the leather sofa with a pair of rust, leaf-patterned pillows; a large lumbar pillow in the center brings our drapery fabric into the room. A pair of heavily textured houndstooth pillows was designed for the hearth, where John likes to sit while enjoying the fire.

To balance the tall draperies, I placed handpainted canvases on the mantle to fill the vertical space above the fireplace, as well as to add more color and texture. Wood-turned candlesticks and Turkish urns with sticks add earthy and rustic charm to the room. Many of the accessories I placed throughout her home are organic materials, such as antique clay urns, driftwood vases, and hand-woven baskets. These materials add validity to the concept of the interior as an extension of the outdoors that surrounds this lovely home.

The existing rug was too small for the space, leaving all of the furniture floating around it instead of being anchored by the rug into a cohesive seating area. They preferred not to use a cocktail table because it blocked the fireplace and openness of the area; so we added a larger March 2011 • www.400edition.com

patterned hemp rug and layered her existing rug on top, adding interest and color to the center of the floor. To relieve the stark look of the back of the sofa, we added a functional rustic bench made of reclaimed wood. Softened with pillows, this piece added another cozy detail to give that relaxed feeling.

To add interest and texture to the kitchen, antique wine bottle baskets with vines and pine greenery were placed in the upper open cubbies. I interspersed some of her collected pottery and art sculptures with woven baskets.

Mary Ann’s favorite new detail was the large round driftwood sculpture added to the island; it hides a sunken vase in the center that can hold a candle or florals. I love accessories that can stand on their own and at the same time be multifunctional.

We were pleased with our finished work and the goals we accomplished. The rooms are well dressed, but neither cluttered nor out of balance.

The accessories add the color, texture, and interest that was needed to complete the room. I know with spring approaching, the Hansens will continue to enjoy entertaining their guests in their warm woodlands home.

Designer Lauren Salter and owner Judith Johnson invite you to visit White Interiors to find beautiful new treasures for your home. Whether you need a special item to complete an area of your home, or full design services, White Interiors can help. White Interiors is located at 278 Highway 400 North, Dawsonville. You can reach them at 706-216-1230 or staff@whiteinteriorsllc.com.

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TH

Bear on the Square Mountain Festival

ANNUAL

Family-friendly April Event Brings Music and Arts to the North Georgia Mountains

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he North Georgia mountains will spring to life like a bear coming out of hibernation when the 15th annual Bear on the Square Mountain Festival returns to Dahlonega April 15-17. More than 17 bands and performers, folk dancers, a live auction, a juried artists’ market, and a Teddy Bear Picnic highlight this spring festival that takes place just 70 miles northeast of Atlanta. A popular celebration, the event draws more than fifty thousand visitors to enjoy a variety of talented local, regional, and national musicians, performers, and artists for three days of concerts, workshops, auctions, and shopping in the historic Public Square and the adjacent Hancock Park.

The fun begins on Friday, April 15, when bluegrass musicians gather in the historic Public Square during the late afternoon for street jam

Salon 08

sessions. Visitors are encouraged to bring their instruments and join the music making. Master Class Workshops— two-hourlong music workshops with top bluegrass and old-time musicians and instructors—take place that afternoon as well. The live country auction, which will feature works by area folk artist Billy Roper, along with works by other local and juried artists, occurs Friday night.

On Saturday and Sunday, the main stage tent in Hancock Park is where the action is, with performances by legendary fiddlers James Bryan and Carl Jones, The Packway Handle Band, Curley Maple, John Lilly, Red June, Sonny Houston, Curtis Jones, The Buzzard Mountain Boys, Gold Rush with Neel Pender, Whitepath, The Rosin Sisters with Whit Connah, Camp Creek Committee, The Solstice Sisters, BlueBilly Grit, Ugly Cousin, and the Georgia Pick and Bow Band (students from the Georgia Pick and Bow Traditional Music School Program, an after-school program for Lumpkin County students). Tickets to the performances are $20 for Saturday and $15 for Sunday afternoon. The Sunday morning Gospel Jam is free of

Ribbon Cutting

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charge. All tickets will be sold at the festival.

The juried artists’ marketplace, known as the Mountain Marketplace, takes place on Saturday and Sunday around the square. The John C. Campbell Folk School returns as the Marketplace sponsor and will bring its ensemble of traditional craft demonstrators to the square.

Shoppers will be able to purchase one-of-akind, handmade items directly from some of the mountain region’s best artists. There will be more jamming on the square, and music workshops, on Saturday and Sunday, plus a Saturday evening old-time mountain dance and family-friendly activities that include the play “Goldilocks and the Three Bears” at the Holly Theater, and a Teddy Bear Picnic.

For additional information on the Bear on the Square Mountain Festival, including a full listing of times and performances, visit www.bearonthesquare.org.

ynn Watson has been in Dawsonville since 1989. In 2008 she decided to establish her own business and opened Salon 08 at 42 Grant Road.

Being voted “Best Salon” by the people of Dawsonville for the last two years has truly been an honor, and has fueled her excitement about the future of her business. She anticipates continued growth, and will be diversifying her products and services as she and her stylists follow trends, continue their professional education, and listen to the needs of their clients.

March 2011 • www.400edition.com

Call 706-216-0098 or see www.salon08.com for more information.

Salon 08 stylists: Lynn Watson, Tammy Shelton, Mario Rueda, Arnette Sweany, and Valerie Lee. Esthetician/Medical Skin Care Therapist: Shelia Hickey.

Massage Therapist: Asha Gleason.

Reduce Your Skin Cancer Risk

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our skin is the largest organ in your body, protecting it from injury and infection. Shielding your skin from sun exposure can reduce your risk of developing skin cancer and potentially save your life.

According to the American Cancer Society, more than two million cases of skin cancer are diagnosed each year, and it doesn’t just affect those who like to lie out in the sun or visit tanning beds. Even your everyday activities can leave your skin exposed to the sun and increase your risk for cancer. Plan ahead and protect yourself, so you can enjoy being outside—cancer free.

Northside offers these tips to protect your skin: • Schedule your “sun time” for before 10:00am or after 4:00pm, when exposure is less harmful. If you are outside during “peak hours,” seek shade or a covered area, instead of being in direct sun.

• Wear (and reapply) sunscreen. Choose a product with an SPF (sun protection factor) of at least 15, applying at least 20 minutes before going outside. When you can, reapply every two hours, especially if you will be sweating or swimming.

Protect yourself on overcast days, too. UV rays still travel through clouds.

• Remember that skin cancer can occur in places you don’t expect – the backs of your hands and feet, eyelids, ears, in between your toes, and your lips. Be thorough with sunscreen.

• Accessorize. Wear tightly woven, bright-colored clothing that covers most of the body. These are more effective at blocking the suns rays and preventing unnecessary exposure. Wear a wide-brimmed hat, longsleeved shirt, and long pants when in the sun. Choose

by Patti Owen, MN, RN, director of oncology services, Northside Hospital

wrap-around sunglasses that absorb at least 100% of UV rays to help protect your eyes and the surrounding skin.

• Check your medications.

Some, including acne treatment and birth control, can make your skin extra sensitive to sun exposure.

Check with your doctor to see if your medication may have such an effect.

• Ditch the tanning bed. With or without sunscreen, tanning beds can damage your skin, putting you at increased risk for cancer. Continued tanning exposure can bring wrinkles, brown spots, blotchiness, and leatherylooking skin.

Free Skin Cancer Screenings Northside Hospital will offer participants full or partial body assessments, conducted in private settings by licensed medical staff and physicians.

Appointments required; call 404-845-5555, press “0.” www.northside.com Tuesday, April 12 6:00pm to 8:00pm Northside Hospital-Cherokee Outpatient Rehabilitation Services Building 211 Hospital Road, Canton Tuesday, May 17 6:00pm to 8:00pm Northside Hospital-Forsyth Cancer Center 1100 Northside Forsyth Drive, Suite 140, Cumming Tuesday, May 24 6:00pm to 8:00pm Northside Hospital-Atlanta Cancer Center 1000 Johnson Ferry Road, Atlanta

March 2011 • www.400edition.com

400 Edition 19

Life is a mirror. We look forward, that’s the future. We look back, remember and learn—that’s a reflection.

by Bob Merritt

A Day Trip for your Family

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his year most of us will find that the dollar will not take us as far as we would like to go. Our lives will be constrained by the necessity to work longer, harder, and at lower paying jobs than we had a year or two ago. Just because the dollar has been devalued, though, and our travel for family pleasure has been curtailed, doesn’t mean it has to stop. Here in North Georgia we have many attractions that our kids need to see, value, and protect. This article is dedicated to sharing a designated destination from Dahlonega, via a designated route, with designated sightseeing

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and enjoyable stops. If you take this trip, you will see many of the sights man and nature have prepared for you, your family, and your friends. I stand in awe of the creation, development, and preservation of the parks and recreational sites that have been established for family enjoyment, and I wish to share them with you and your valued family. Many of you have experienced the marvels I am planning to lead you to, but more have not had this experience; so if you can, go with them and be their guide.

There will be other markers along the way that may tend to distract you, but if you will stick to the

plan, I can guarantee you and yours a memorable trip. Take your camera and capture the moment for the memories to come.

For many, just a drive to Dahlonega is scary, never mind a drive through the winding scenic mountains. There is no better way to get to know the towns and countryside around you than to have a map to go by. When we first moved to Cumming, it was scary to venture to Dawsonville; but we overcame it and now enjoy the travels, and wish to share our experiences with you and your family. I do hope that mothers and fathers will share this trip with their children; but if necessary, maybe the grandparent will step up and take a day to share, care, and enjoy.

As on any trip, there has to be a starting point, and for that, I have picked GA 400 and Highway 60. If you like horses or want to find out if your kids might like horseback riding, then venture on beyond the official end of GA400 here (the road beyond is called Long Branch Road) for about ½ mile to the Sunrise Stables on your right.

Then return to the intersection at 400 and 60, head west to Dahlonega, and follow the signs to the gold museum in the center of Dahlonega’s historic square. Continue past the gold museum, and out the other side of the square. At the second traffic light, go straight through, as if you were going to WalMart. Almost immediately past the light, on your right, you will see the Consolidated Gold Mine sign; turn right. This is a true educational experience that I

March 2011 • www.400edition.com

recommend for all ages. The tour underground is worthwhile, and so is the panning for gold when you come back up. It is all included in the ticket.

Go back to the traffic light and turn right. Winding road ahead, so encourage the driver to keep their eyes on it, and stay on US 19. Mile markers are important on this trip. Those are the vertical green signs with numbers on them. The first sign I want you to look for is 24. Just beyond this sign, on your left, will be two signs; one will read Mount Pisgah Baptist Church, and the other green sign will read Wildlife Management Area.

Turn left and go to the end of the road. Near the end on the left is Dick’s Creek. This is the site of a favorite waterfall. It is easy to see this time of the year, and is surrounded in spring by blooming dogwood and mountain laurel. The hemlocks accent the tumbling water and the mirrored pool below. It is a masterful setting for photographs.

Return to the highway the way you came and turn left. Just down the road is a country store where you can get cold drinks and other refreshments. From the store, go on to Turners Corner. The road will “T” with the right side going to Cleveland and the left toward Blairsville (19/129). Notice the campground on the left; the stream has some big trout. Turn left toward Blairsville. Past mile marker 6, you will see a sign on the left: “Desoto Park.” Turn here for bathrooms and a two-part walk up to separate waterfalls.

The lower waterfall is the easier walk, and in the interest of time I would recommend that one this trip. ...Continued Next Month

CreekStone CreekStone Academy Academy What a way to spend the day.

I

n the 30 years she has been in childcare, Cathy Mauragas has seen many changes. “Probably one of the most interesting is the involvement of entire families.

Way back when, ALL the childcare decisions, all the dropping off and picking up, were done by mothers.

Today, dads are REALLY involved in the decision-making and in the ongoing education and success of their kids, and other family members are active as well.”

Miss Cathy, as she is known around CreekStone Academy where she is the Director, is happy about this evolution. “I try to run CreekStone as a place of ‘community,’ where parents, grandparents, relatives, and even friends of the family can interact with their children and the children of others. The grownups love it and feel a part of CreekStone, but the kids are the real beneficiaries.” She says that she has uncles come in and read story time; grandparents sit on the carpet in class and help build block towers; aunts share a spot of tea; and family members meet their little ones for lunch in

Bucs

The

T

the CreekStone Café. “All I need is an hour’s notice to the kitchen, but family is always welcome,” she says.

Another change to childcare circa 2011: more options. “When I was coming up, schedules were the same every day, ratios were not on anyone’s radar, and a lot of the child’s day revolved around television. Mothers were entering the workforce in large numbers, and childcare was a growing industry. The children’s basic needs were being met…but not much else.”

Miss Cathy and CreekStone Academy have joined forces to create a total childcare program that is a hit with CreekStone children and their parents. One of her basics is the “revolving curricula” concept. When she saw that extracurricular programs, such as ballet, karate, and even art, were being offered as “extras” at other centers, with extra fees associated with them, she also saw how many children couldn’t participate and how it negatively affected them.

She decided a change was in

order, so at CreekStone Academy all the children participate, at no extra charge, in Music and Music Appreciation, Ballet, Spanish language classes, P.E., Culinary Arts, and Computer Lab on a revolving schedule. “All children need variety in their day, not just those whose parents can afford it,” says Miss Cathy.

And it seems to be working: “Reece (3 yrs) learned more in her first two months at CreekStone Academy,” says Tina Thatcher, “than she did in two years at her former childcare center. We’re thrilled!”

In her role as Director of CreekStone Academy, Cathy Mauragas guides and motivates her experienced and caring staff of teachers and aides daily, reminding them that in addition to meeting the children’s physical needs, they must also act as cheerleaders. “We must be in every child’s corner, be excited about their every new achievement, and realize that each child has a different learning curve.

Our staff is always trying harder.”

And, again, it’s working: “Sydney’s wonderful teacher is her second mother and CreekStone is her second home,” says April

Are Back!

he Georgia Buccaneers are back for another exciting semi-pro football season. The Bucs are a third-year minor-league football program affiliated with the Deep South Football League, and are in their 2011 spring season.

The Georgia Buccaneers organization was founded by Hugh Dixon to give young athletes a second opportunity to pursue their dreams in the game of football. The team was established in 2008 and quickly set the bar during their inaugural season, finishing as runner-up in the DSFL to the nationally ranked Chattanooga Steam.

In the upcoming season, the DSFL will be comprised of 14 established teams. The DSFL teams are all based in the Southeast, including teams such as the Augusta Pirates, the Atlanta Canes, and the North Georgia Gladiators. The DSFL is an adult, semi-pro, full-contact football league that plays by modified NFL rules.

The purpose and objectives of the Georgia Buccaneers: • •

•

• • •

To give athletes an opportunity to continue to play football at a high level To give athletes the opportunity to further develop their skills, thus possibly attracting college scouts who could help further their formal educational pursuits To give athletes the opportunity to be seen by pro-scouts from many levels, thus affording them a possible try-out in the NFL, CFL, AFL, or a host of other pro leagues in the U.S. and abroad.

To give athletes a structured outlet to learn and grow through intense competition To provide a wholesome form of entertainment for the communities involved To become, through community involvement, an integral part of the Alpharetta/Johns Creek/Cumming area.

Royalty of her 18-month old daughter.

In its beautiful new facility on Settingdown Road in Cumming, CreekStone Academy is providing an innovative learning environment for children from 6 weeks old to afterschoolers in the North Forsyth/ Dawson County community. Go visit. No appointment necessary.

“The best way to find out about a childcare center is to drop in unannounced,” says Miss Cathy.

Take her up on it.

CreekStone Academy (678-455-9292) is located at 5415 Settingdown Road, just south of Crossroads Road and Highway 400.

For the 2011 season, the Bucs are offering Corporate Sponsor Packages and Family Packages for every budget. Corporate and Family Sponsor Package funds will be used to cover typical operating expenses associated with a minor-league football organization, including marketing expense, equipment costs, uniforms, as well as practice and game facility rentals. In addition, the funds will be used to maximize sponsors’ advertising exposure in the community and online, with internet radio podcasts, “play by play” radio broadcasts, and premium banner advertising on www.GeorgiaBuccaneers.com and affiliate sites. Sponsors will have a presence on game day banners, programs, website banners, sponsored links, radio broadcasts, locally distributed schedule posters, and much more.

The season, which runs for 10 weeks, began with the home opener on February 26 and ends in early May. All home games will start at 7:00pm and will be played at Chattahoochee High Stadium in Johns Creek.

For more information or to purchase tickets, see www.GeorgiaBuccaneers.com.

March 2011 • www.400edition.com

400 Edition 21

Raising In An

W

G -Rated Kids X-Rated World

hat a challenge it is for parents today to bring a child up in this world with morals, values, goals, and conviction. Some may wonder if it is even possible. Others would say, “There’s no way!” There are so many “enemies” battling for the attention of our children. It seems parents have little help in developing godly, moral kids. What is a parent to do? Is there a weapon of defense that parents can draw to combat the negative influences around our children?

The answer to this question is an emphatic “Yes!” It is the weapon of prayer. James 5:16 (Amplified) says, “…The earnest (heartfelt, continued) prayer of a righteous man makes TREMENDOUS POWER available, (DYNAMIC in its working).”

This scripture explains that tremendous power is available when a believer prays, and this power works in a dynamic (forceful) manner. According to this verse, we understand that prayer is powerful, but now the question is, how do parents pray for their kids? What do we pray? Our prayers must be focused and targeted. We must declare and decree specifics regarding our children.

With this in mind, the following are 12 guidelines of prayer you can use on a daily basis to help you pray intentionally and objectively for your children. Pray with confidence and know that you are fighting for your children.

1. Pray that your child will be saved at an early age. By coming to know Jesus as Lord and Savior at an early age, your children will be made aware of what the enemy has in store and they will know how to combat his activity. They will learn and know how to “stand against the wiles (strategies and deceits) of the devil.”

2. Pray that your children will develop a hate for sin. We don’t have to teach our children to sin. They come into this world already ‘programmed’ to sin. Pray that the Holy Spirit will teach them of the consequences of sin and convict them as soon as they are confronted with any degree of sin.

3. Pray for protection from the devil in every area of their life. As a parent, you have God-given authority over your children. You are their covering, and the enemy must pay attention as you command his dismissal from your children’s lives. Command the devil to go from your home. Give him no territory.

4. Pray that your children will know the truth and do the truth. The Bible says, “And you shall know the truth and the truth shall set you free.” It’s not always easy to accept and ‘do’ truth, but it has profound results— freedom. Be sure to pray that once truth is revealed to your kids, they take the next step and obey truth.

5. Pray your children get caught when they are guilty. This is tough because our natural instinct as parents is to protect and rescue.

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March 2011 • www.400edition.com

by Todd and Karen Smith

But when our children defy authority, the last thing we should do is rescue them.

What is that teaching them? It reinforces ill, unacceptable behavior. Investigate the situation. If your child is found guilty as charged, take the side of the authority and lovingly walk your child through his/her punishment.

6. Pray they will respect those in authority over them. There will always be an authority figure of some kind over your child. Pray they will learn submission and honor at an early age.

7. Pray your children will desire the right kinds of friends and that the wrong kinds of friends will be kept from them. As you pray, you must bless or break the relationships your children have with others. Don’t argue about their friends you like and the ones you don’t like. Take it to prayer.

8. Pray that your children will be hedged in so they cannot find wrong people, and wrong people cannot find them. Again, take authority. Pray protection around your children so negative influence is kept out.

9. Pray for their future mate. Pray they will be kept from the wrong mate. Divorce is a terribly devastating situation. By praying now for your child’s mate, you set the process in motion for your child to find the right mate one day. Pray that your child and your child’s future mate will be kept pure until marriage.

10. Pray that your child’s future mate will love God with all their heart. It is vital that your child marries someone who loves God more than anything. Marriage involves not two, but three: the Lord, the husband, and the wife.

11. Pray your child will grow up to do noble things for mankind. Everyone is born with a God-given assignment and purpose.

Ultimately, we are to serve God and man.

Pray that your child will grow up and discover God’s will for their life so that they may make a difference in someone else’s life.

12. Pray that the hand of God will always rest on your children. Pray that your child develops a keen awareness of the presence of the Lord and immediately responds to His voice.

Pastors Todd and Karen Smith have over 25 years of ministerial experience. They currently serve as Lead Pastors at Christ Fellowship Church in Dawsonville. They also operate as consultants for 24 To Double, a church growth process, in various states of the U.S.

How To Handle Test Stress

W

ith CRCT’s (CriterionReferenced Competency Tests) right around the corner, many students and their parents are already beginning to experience a sense of pressure, anxiety, and dread. Interestingly, what I have found over the last 12 years I have been consulting and tutoring, is that most people consider that it is “normal” to experience a multitude of phenomena in relation to study and test taking. When I first meet with a client, they often explain to me that, “Of course I, along with everyone else in the world, become stressed-out when I have to take an exam of some sort!”

But is this type of stress really unavoidable?

Can you imagine the reactions I receive from my clients when I initially explain to them that I can actually help them to get to a point where test taking becomes stressfree and even enjoyable?

“No way!” is probably the number one response I get back. A close second might be, “Maybe that is true for some of your other students but I’ve had ‘test-anxiety’ all my life… I don’t see that changing any time soon!”

When I assure them, “Yes, even YOU can get past your nervousness and anxiety associated with test taking and exams,” they usually look at me with one suspicious eye…but the other eye often expresses a glimmer of hope. And it is that little flicker of hope that allows us to move forward with success.

“So! What’s the secret?”

I will tell you what I have consistently found to be true. It is actually quite uncomplicated, really. If you KNOW, very well, the material you are to be tested on, you will not experience nervousness or apprehension about being examined on this. In fact, it is not uncommon for someone in such a situation to actually look forward to the challenge of being examined.

just mastered a new trick on your bicycle? What did you want to do next—more than anything else in the world? Didn’t you want to go find your parents to have them witness your new accomplishment?

Wasn’t that very much like asking them to “test you to verify that you could, indeed, do the trick you told them you could do?”

If you had been training hard for a marathon for six months, wouldn’t you be very excited to have the day of the marathon arrive, so you could put your body to the test? On the other hand, how much would you have been looking forward to race day if you had been skipping training sessions and eating lots of doughnuts during that preparation period instead? You might find yourself feeling the same type of stress a math student would feel if he had been playing video games every day after school instead of doing his homework, and now found himself facing his final exam.

by Kimberly Donaldson

standard of success, so they may experience the tremendous sense of joy and high morale that result from having their efforts validated.

4. To help the student achieve the ability to effectively study independently (eventually no longer needing the help of a tutor).

If you or your child have been working hard to achieve your academic goals and are still having difficulty progressing successfully, I would encourage you to contact a tutor for assistance.

Kimberly Donaldson is a licensed tutor with over 12 years experience in assisting children, teens, and adults to achieve their academic goals. To request more information or to schedule a consultation, call 706-489-9823 or email: licensedtutorkim@yahoo.com

Perhaps, at this juncture, you have arrived at some conclusions which align to the point I’ve been leading up to: When you are very well prepared for a challenge of any type—as with a test or exam—you are far less likely to experience anxiety, nervousness, or stress in anticipation. By contrast, test taking can even become something you find yourself looking forward to with positive emotion.

The key to success is competence.

And competence comes about through persistence and hard work. However, one factor that can interfere with success, despite your good intentions and honest efforts, is confusion or lack of understanding in the area where you’re trying to succeed.

This is where a tutor can be of great assistance.

The goals of every tutor should include the following: 1. To help clear away all confusions for the student.

At this point I would like to invite you to consider some of following questions for yourself:

2. To teach the student on a stepby-step basis, ensuring that each step is well understood before progressing onto a new step.

Can you remember a time when you were a child and you had

3. To encourage each student to strive toward a very high March 2011 • www.400edition.com

400 Edition 23

Events, Events!

Tip: Keep in mind that 400 Edition is now released on or about the 1st of each month. Your event needs to be submitted via our web site 30-45 days prior to your event date and no later than the 20th of the month. We have to have all the information requested on the submission form, so be sure your form is complete. Just go to 400edition.com and click “Submit an Event” on the home page.

March Events

March 9 – Ash Wednesday March 13 – Daylight Saving Time Begins March 17 – St. Patrick’s Day March 20 – First Day of Spring

Big Canoe

Big Canoe Tour of Homes and Springtime Marketplace May 21, 9:00am to 4:00pm. See www.bigcanoetour.org for more information.

Blairsville

Fourth Annual Trackrock Trials

March 12-13. Trackrock Campground, 141 Trackrock Camp Road. This really is an event to see, and great family fun. For more info on what Observed Motorcycle Trials are all about, call 706-745-2420, or see www. setrialsriders.org; click on the “Latest News” button and see photos from the 2009 and 2010 event.

Shamrock Dulcimer Blast March 18-19, 7:00pm. A Dulcimer Concert at Blairsville’s Old Courthouse on Friday kicks off the Shamrock Blast, with performances by Stephen Seifert and NGFDA groups.

On Saturday at Union County Civic Center, Stephen Seifert workshops begin at 10:00am, with lunch and dinner breaks. In the afternoon, Jamming and Open Mike for NGFDA performers are at the Old Courthouse.

A second Dulcimer Concert is planned for Saturday at 7:00pm with Seifert, In Town Down Home from Atlanta, and Blairsville’s groups Mountain Sounds and Sweet Mountain Music. For more information: Ken Ensley, 706-835-9230.

Spring Hammer-In

April 1-3. Trackrock Campground.

Activities include bladesmithing, hawk forging, leather crafting, and forge building. Watch, meet, and talk with

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several talented bladesmiths. See what it takes to transform old discarded steel scrap metal into functional works of art. Craftsmen from several states attend, some collectors bring their collections to display, knifemaking supply vendors participate, and others come just to look and talk knives. This is a family-oriented event open to all with no admission fees, so come on up.

Be sure to make a camping reservation soon. For more information: www. georgiaknifemakersguild.com.

Spring Break Horse Camps

March 14-18, March 28-April 1, and April 4-8. Trackrock Stables, 202 Trackrock Camp Road. $425 for the week. Camp includes riding instruction, trail riding, learning about horses, horse care, and much more.

Plus, it is way too much fun to miss.

For more information: 706-745-5252 or www.trackrock.com.

Blue Ridge

“Caught in the Net”

March 6, 7:30pm. Blue Ridge Community Theater. Even if you’ve never seen Ray Cooney’s smash hit “Run for Your Wife” (the predecessor to “Caught in the Net”), you’ll have no trouble following the action. High schoolers Vicki and Gavin hit it off when they meet online. The flirtatious teens can’t wait to meet in person, but have no idea that Gavin is, as the expression goes, “a brother of another mother.” Cab driver John Leonard Smith is father to both of them, having maintained two separate families in two separate towns for nearly two decades. For more information: Martha Prince, 706-632-9223, or www. blueridgecommunitytheater.com.

2011 Writer’s Conference

April 1-2. Writers can learn how to hone their skills and expand their markets, as well as enjoy numerous special guest speakers during this year’s Writer’s Conference at the Blue Ridge Mountains Arts Association.

An opening reception will be held on April 1 and is open to the public. After March 1, registration will be $70. For

more information: The Art Center, 706632-2144, or blueridgearts.net/WritersConference.cfm.

Canton

Free Prostate Cancer Screening

March 22, 6:00-8:00pm. Northside Hospital-Cherokee Outpatient Rehabilitation Services Building, 211 Hospital Road. It’s estimated that nearly 7,000 men in Georgia, more than 100 men in Cherokee County alone, will be diagnosed with prostate cancer this year, according to the National Cancer Institute (NCI). It remains the most frequently diagnosed cancer in men. To help raise awareness of the disease, Northside Hospital is offering free prostate cancer screening at its Cherokee campus. To register, call 404-845-5555 and press “0.”

Qualified interpreter available on site.

Cartersville

Georgia Hills of Iron

March 19. Red Top Mountain State Park. Hear the roar of two iron furnaces once again in the Etowah Valley. The iron business in Bartow County was one of Georgia’s first industries, long before the Civil War. Take guided tours of the historic Iron Hill section and watch molten iron pour from an operating blast furnace at 2800 degrees Fahrenheit. Scratch block molds will be available for purchase so you can make your own keepsake. $5 parking. For more information: 770975-4226.

Springtime at the Homestead

April 2-3. Red Top Mountain State Park. When the troops moved, they often camped on the property of local civilians. Join us at the Vaughan Cabin and step back into the 1860s to experience the sights, sounds, and smells of such an encampment as volunteers demonstrate daily life of the soldiers and their hosts. Saturday’s festivities will culminate in a periodstyle social and (informal) ball, with all invited. $5 parking. For more information: 770-975-4226.

Cumming

North Georgia Barbershop Singers

March 4, 8:00pm. Cumming Playhouse, 101 School Street. The North Georgia Barbershop Singers

March 2011 • www.400edition.com

are a group of men dedicated to the harmony found only in old-time barbershop singing. For more information: 770-781-9178 or www.playhousecumming.com.

“An Evening with Mark Twain”

by Kurt Sutton March 5, 8:00pm. Cumming Playhouse, 101 School Street. Mr. Sutton has performed “An Evening with Mark Twain” throughout the United States, and tours on a regular basis. He has performed as a business speaker, musician, and entertainer for 30 years. In “An Evening with Mark Twain” his instruments include harmonica, guitar, and banjo. He has appeared in theatres nationally, pleasing audiences with Twain’s hilarious witticisms, wisdom, and love for music. This will prove to be an all-American evening as we revisit a simpler America. For more information: 770-781-9178 or www.playhousecumming.com.

Community Workshops

March 7 and 14, 5:00-8:00pm.

The Forsyth County Planning and Development Department will host two community workshops as part of the ongoing Comprehensive Plan update process. The March 7 workshop will be at the Brookwood Elementary School cafeteria. On March 14, it will be at the Coal Mountain Elementary School cafeteria.

These meetings will provide scenario options for the state-required, future development map and will be held in an open house format. The workshops are scheduled at two different locations for residents’ convenience but will cover the same content.

Brookwood Elementary School is at 2980 Vaughan Drive; Coal Mountain Elementary School is at 3455 Coal Mountain Drive.

Ash Wednesday Worship Service

March 9, 7:00-8:00pm at Living Faith Lutheran Church, 103 Buford Dam Road. We stand on the inspired Word of God. We proclaim the eternal Gospel of Jesus Christ every Sunday: 8:00am, 10:45am, and 12:30pm (Korean).

For more information: Pastor Tim Droegemueller, 770-887-0184, or www.LivingFaithLutheran.com.

Events, Events!

“Celtic Celebration Two”

March 12, 8:00pm. Cumming Playhouse, 101 School Street. The Sounds of Sawnee Concert Band presents “Celtic Celebration Two” featuring bagpipers from North Atlanta Pipes and Drums. Band music and community bands have long contributed to America’s cultural heritage, and adult concert bands have historically enjoyed strong associations with their communities, serving as musical resources for special civic, cultural, and patriotic events. The Sounds of Sawnee Concert Band continues this heritage.

The program includes Irish tunes and vocals by local artists. For more information: 770-781-9178 or www.playhousecumming.com.

Laura Monk and High Cotton

March 26, 8:00pm. Cumming Playhouse, 101 School Street. In the South, the phrase “high cotton” recalls a time when your fortune was determined by the success of your crops. If you grew cotton and things went well and the cotton grew high, you were guaranteed a good crop, and life was good. Well-seasoned performers whose musical experience includes pop, jazz, celtic, rock, and country, the musical group High Cotton started as a duo with Laura and John Monk in 2003; PJ (percussion) found Laura and John and joined to make a trio in the fall of 2005. In 2007, with the addition of Dan on lead guitar, their sound was complete. For more information: 770-781-9178 or www.playhousecumming.com.

The Joy of Connecting

March 15, 7:00-9:30pm. The Columns at Pilgrim Mill. The Joy of Connecting is a relaxed dinner/networking gathering for women business owners, entrepreneurs, and other professionals who are seriously interested in strengthening and growing their business. All participants have the opportunity to present their business and receive an attendance roster. No membership requirements.

Reservations and prepayment required. For more information: Annette, 770-887-6792 or Annette@ PaintedLadyEnterprises.com, or www.

TheJoyofConnecting-CummingGA. com.

Understanding Your Social Security Benefits

March 16, 6:00pm. Provino’s, 1610 Market Place Blvd. Free seminar presented by Alicia Saile, Public Affairs Specialist, Social Security Administration. Dinner will be served.

Limited seating. Reserve your seat now. For more information: Robin Grier, 770-887-2772, or Kerry Capeheart, 678-617-2193, or www.robingrier.com.

“The Wearing of the Green” Cumming Playhouse Singers

March 19, 8:00pm; March 20, Sunday matinee, 3:00pm. Cumming Playhouse, 101 School Street. The Cumming Playhouse Singers present a captivating program featuring the music of Ireland, filled with many memorable songs, sounds, and culture of the Irish. For more information: 770-781-9178 or www.playhousecumming.com.

Dahlonega

lectures, and there will be a “sidewalk stargazing” program to help the novice stargazer learn the winter night sky.

Weather and clouds permitting. $5 parking. 800-573-9659, ext. 305.

Wedding Cake Challenge and Bakery Showcase

March 20, 2:00-4:00pm at Helen Festhalle. Watch as cake artists create works of art to the theme “Vineyard Wedding Cake.” Call for decorators entry forms. Bakeries and vendors invited. For more information: Carol Williams, 706-867-0749 or razzledazzlecakes@windstream.net.

Hiawassee

Don Williams in Concert

March 26, 7:00pm. Georgia Mountain Fairgrounds. For more information: Georgia Mountain Fairgrounds, 706896-4191 or gamtfair@windstream.net.

The Luck of Long Branch 5K Run/Walk

Roswell

Roswell Woman’s Club 2011 Showcase Tour

March 10-27, 10:00 to 6:00, Wednesdays through Saturdays; 1:00 to 6:00 on Sundays. The Providence,

a group of classic brownstone homes in Roswell, will be the focus of the Roswell Woman’s Club

2011 Showcase Tour. Among the designers the club has selected are Cantoni, Room and Board, and Amy Spanier. Located just off Roswell’s historic Canton Street and within walking distance of the Canton Street shops and restaurants, developer Mike Walsh built The Providence in a tranquil setting that is perfect for families with an active lifestyle. The previous 14 tours have allowed the Roswell Woman’s Club to contribute over $1.6 million toward educational endeavors of local non-profits, grants to schools, and college scholarships to students. Ticket information: www.roswellwomansclub.org.

March 19, 8:00am. Yahoola Creek Park. Race distance: 5K run/walk for ages 5 and up, one mile Fun Run for kids. Benefits Relay for Life. For more information: Paige Gooch, pgooch@lumpkin.k12.ga.us.

Dawsonville

Appalachian Trail Celebration and Backpacking Clinic March 5-6, 10:00am-7:00pm.

Amicalola Falls State Park and Lodge. Hear about Appalachian Trail adventures from the past and present, and learn how you can conserve the trail and its legacy in the future.

Enjoy demonstrations and workshops by professionals and retailers on an assortment of backpacking gear, and take part in discussions on trip preparation. No registration required to attend. $5 parking. For more information: 706-265-1969.

Helen

Volunteer Days at Unicoi

March 12, 9:00am-1:00pm. Come out and help spruce up Unicoi State Park on this annual volunteer day. Lunch provided for all volunteers. Register in advance. $5 parking.

800-573-9659, ext. 305.

Astronomy Night at Unicoi

March 19, 7:00-10:00pm. Unicoi State Park. Handicapped accessible.

An Astronomy Club will conduct

March 2011 • www.400edition.com

400 Edition 25

Shades of Scarlett I

am SO excited! It’s March and

started that trend, but it was

was one of the three times we

spring is coming. I think we’re

like a rite of spring, and all up

got a new outfit. The other

all anxious to crawl out of our

and down our street, kids were

two were when school started,

places of hibernation and smell

outdoors till dark. I don’t ever

and Christmas. Sometimes my

the flowers. I was born near the

remember anyone “exercising”

birthday falls on Easter Sunday,

end of March a few years back

or “watching what we ate.” We

and you can hardly beat that.

(“few” as in “not a millennium”)

moved all the time. Running

and the flowers were blooming.

(sometimes from one another),

eggs, but the Easter Bunny

In fact, Mama told me she

walking (to school and just

wasn’t king. Mama said when

almost named me Wisteria, for

about everywhere else), jumping,

she was a child, her family

that beautiful purple flower so

skipping, and using all our

had chickens that laid colored

prominent in the south. I am

muscles all the time, except when

eggs, and they were hidden and

not sure I would have made it

sleeping. It was great.

hunted. I saw some of those in

through school with that moniker.

When I was a child, spring

Spring also meant Easter, and

We did dye, hide, and hunt

my time, and they were very

it was a major event. No, not

special. Of course I wanted to

meant playing jackstones,

Easter-Bunny major; church

know how that happened and I

jumping rope, yo-yoing, skating,

major. First, considering the

used to look for different-colored

and biking, to name a few non-

economy (you’ve heard about

hens, but never did really come

tech pleasures. I don’t know who

the Great Depression?), that

to a conclusion.

Another thing spring brought was spring cleaning. Now, for those of you who don’t know, this was a major operation.

Mama washed the bedsprings, the woodwork, the floors, the curtains, windows, etc. and etc. ad infinitum. Unless you had a good hiding place, you became a part of all this. No, I don’t mean I got washed; we had complete baths every Saturday night, and we needed them; in between baths, we spongebathed. Ask an older person.

We had clotheslines in those days, and I suspect most of you have seen the article going around on the internet about how you could tell what was going on in the neighborhood by looking at the Monday clotheslines. Oh yes, Monday was washday, Tuesday was

26

400 Edition

by Joyce Jordan

ironing day, Wednesday night March 2011 • www.400edition.com

was prayer meeting, Friday was grocery day, and Saturday was getting-ready-for Sunday day. I don’t remember what Thursday was, but you can be sure no one sat around all day.

Some of you, dear readers, may feel that I only have hindsight—that in my mind I still live in and love the good old days. Not so. I agree with what the Good Book says: To everything there is a season. I have lived fully and joyfully in every season, despite hills and valleys, ups and downs.

I have seen so much history, advancements, inventions, etc., and still get excited. Spring is coming. Enjoy the season.

Joyce Jordan is a native Georgian who enjoyed a 30year career as a journalist and radio personality, working in Forsyth and Lumpkin Counties.

She’s now a freelance writer, living happily in Dawsonville.

Clip ‘em. Keep ‘em.

SAVE A BUNCH! These coupons are your key to saving money and enjoying some of the best north Georgia has to offer.

Bad Dog?

Not with Our Help!

Humane Society Now Registering for Dog Training Classes Gainesville, GA—Did you know that more dogs are turned over to shelters for behavioral problems than any other reason? From jumping and chewing to not playing nicely, the Humane Society of Northeast Georgia has heard it all and is ready to help.

Tracey Schowalter of Puppy Adept, Inc. will be conducting a 7-week class for canines in need of good behavior beginning Wednesday, March 2, 2011 at the Humane Society of Northeast Georgia. The one-hour classes, entitled “Manners and More,” begin at 6:15 p.m.

Puppy Adept’s “Manners and More” workshop will cover walking nicely on a leash, polite greetings, and basic commands such as “sit,” “down,” and more.

Cost is $112 for the 7-week class. All dogs adopted from a shelter will receive a 25 percent discount, as well.

Please help the Humane Society of Northeast Georgia make a difference for the animals and register your dog today! For more information, or to register online, visit www.puppyadept.com, or call 770-967-7836. Registration deadline is Tuesday, March 1, 2011.

March 2011 • www.400edition.com

400 Edition 27

400 Edition Wining & Dining

Knowing Wine

Wine & Chocolate

W

ine and chocolate, two of the best things in life, should be enjoyed at the same time. Many people (I’m one of them) regard chocolate in very much the same way they regard wine. Chocolate has been used as a medicine, an aphrodisiac, a status symbol indicating wealth, and to raise mood levels. Wine has been used in much the same way.

Scientists say that eating a small amount of dark chocolate and consuming a glass of red wine each day is good for you. Studies have found that chocolate and wine can lower blood pressure and reduce the risk of having a heart attack or stroke.

Wine can complement the right chocolate if paired properly. When matching chocolate and wine, gauge the sweetness level of the chocolate. If there is only a little sugar in the chocolate, the wine does not have to be as sweet. Big (full bodied) red wines often have chocolate notes in them, particularly Cabernets from California.

Below are some tips for pairing them: The wine should be sweeter than the chocolate. Similar to food pairings, lighter chocolates should be matched with lighter bodied wine. The fuller bodied the wine, the darker the chocolate. As in wine tasting (whites to reds), start with the white chocolates and move to the darkest, most bittersweet ones. White chocolates tend to be more subdued and buttery in flavor and work well with sherries.

Bittersweet chocolate goes well with a bold Zinfandel. Dark chocolate goes with Cabernet Sauvignons, since both have a bitter, roasted flavor, making an excellent combination. Cabernets also have a hint of cocoa along with blackberries and spice.

Avoid Cabernet Sauvignons that are oaky, as this tends to block the sweetness of the chocolate and does not combine well. The strawberry flavor in a white Zinfandel is delightful with chocolate-covered strawberries.

Dessert wines and ports, because of their fruity flavors, and Framboise with its raspberry flavors, go exceptionally well with chocolate.

C hocolate the poor

Wine

Chocolate Type

Zinfandel

Bittersweet chocolate

Sherry

White chocolate/ milk chocolate

Pinot Noir Light Merlot

Milk chocolate/ mousse Milk chocolate/ mousse/chocolate accent

Dessert wines

Milk chocolate

Cabernet Sauvignon

Dark chocolate

Zinfandel Ice Wine White chocolate Muscat

Chocolate hazelnut/ chocolate-covered raisins

Shiraz

Dark chocolate (60% cocoa or more)

White Zinfandel

Chocolate-covered strawberries

Milk Chocolate Wine Suggestions Pinot Noir (Rex Goliath Pinot Noir, $9) or a lighter-bodied Merlot (try Hogue or Columbia Crest) will complement a bar of milk chocolate, a creamy chocolate mousse, or chocolate-accented cheesecake.

Rieslings, Muscats (try Bonny Doon’s Muscat Vin de Glaciere 2004 for $15) or dessert wines tend to hold up well to mild sweet chocolates.

Dark Chocolate Wine Suggestions Dark or bittersweet chocolates need a wine that offers a roasted, slightly bitter flavor itself, with perhaps a hint of its own chocolate notes. Cabs and Zinfandels have a history of perfecting the dark chocolate match, resulting in an unparalleled tasting combination. A Cabernet Sauvignon or a Zinfandel (try Grgich Hills Zinfandel 2004, $30) will more than fill your chocolate pairing expectations.

man’s champagne - Daniel Worona

28

by Nancy Forrest

400 Edition

March 2011 • www.400edition.com

Wine of the Month ChocoVine, Holland This wine is a French Cabernet combined with rich dark chocolate form Holland.

It makes a great dessert!

by Beth Snider

Restaurant Reviews for the GA 400 Corridor Pueblos Mexican Cuisine

some very traditional southof-the-border fare that is less 82 East Main Street common, including dishes with a Dahlonega, GA 30533 South American flair that is quite 706-867-7155 unexpected in the North Georgia www.pueblosmexicancuisine.com mountains. Finding mole and Price: Low to Moderate | Fare: Mexican traditional Sopa de Pollo is just Atmosphere: Casual open dining | Locally owned and operated. not typical of Latin eateries in this eing from Texas, I can be a little difficult to area. please about Mexican food. In fact, when My husband and son ordered Tacos a Las we first moved to Georgia about 19 years ago, Brasas and Chipotle Fish Tacos, respectively. I I was afraid I’d have to give up on one of my can never resist ordering Paella, a Portuguesefavorites. When we first stepped into Pueblos in inspired rice and seafood stew of sorts that is Dahlonega, however, I knew I would not have topped with a grill-seared chicken breast, and to kick my guacamole habit! rich with calamari. Paella is hard to come by in Pueblos is situated a block north of the any major metropolis because, when cooked historic downtown Dahlonega Square. Parking properly, it requires days of preparation. can be kind of tricky during the day, but Although this version doesn’t have clams, it is ample in the evening, thanks to neighboring flavorful and rich. I keep telling myself that I businesses. The interior is quaint and offers will order Chicken Mole the next time I go to booth and table seating for approximately 140 Pueblos, but when order time comes around, I people, making it one of the larger restaurants just can’t seem to stray from Paella. in Dahlonega. It is also one of the few The Tacos a Las Brasas, a simple marinated restaurants offering outside dining. Over the beef soft taco, was accompanied by a past several years, Pueblos has expanded its delicious sauce that impressed my saucedining area—evidence that business continues making spouse. My son found the Chipotle to thrive.

Fish Tacos rich in grilled tilapia and made Entry into Pueblos is always met by a perfect by the spicy sour cream-chipotle sauce. round of greetings from any staff in the foyer The use of red cabbage in the fish tacos was area, be it the hostess, cashier, owner, or a an unusual twist that complemented the smoky waiter or two passing through. It is warm and chipotle flavor well. The heat of the chilies welcoming from the moment you arrive. required two of the bottled, non-alcoholic In addition to the standard Tex-Mex fare Sangria drinks on the menu, which are now a that we’ve come to expect at any Mexican favorite. restaurant in the United States, Pueblos offers Another of the Pueblos-specific treats

B

Real Men Cook 5 cups hickory wood chips (or chips of your choice) 5 medium onions, or 4 cups smoked onions 4 cups mayonnaise 2 cups sour cream 1 cup milk 3 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce 2 tablespoons black pepper 1 tablespoon sugar 1 tablespoon salt, plus more for seasoning 1/2 teaspoon liquid smoke

March 2011 • www.400edition.com

I always enjoy is the array of Jarritos, a Mexican soft drink that you can occasionally find in local grocery stores. The fruit flavors offer an excellent complement to spicy Latin dishes, and Pueblos always has my favorite flavor—grapefruit.

Pueblos is amply staffed, so you can typically expect quick turnaround for orders, drink refills, and your check. All personnel are warm, friendly, and quick to clear a table or fulfill a need. They operate as a team to provide the best dining experience, dissolving many of the “my table/your table” issues that can leave diners waiting.

If you rely on sources like Google and TripAdvisor, Pueblos scores high with 4.5 stars, making it one of the top spots in Dahlonega.

With locations in Gainesville, Clarkesville, and Punta Del Este, Uruguay, you are sure to find one close enough to make it one of your favorites, too.

by Patrick Snider

Smoked Onion Dip Soak the hickory chips in water for 30 minutes, and then drain.

Place the soaked chips in a stovetop smoker or outdoor smoker over medium-high heat.

Peel and quarter the onions and place in a perforated pan. Cover with tin foil, poke a few holes in it, place in the smoker, and smoke for 1 hour. Your onions should be soft and have a nice brown color. Tasting the onions for smoke flavor is the best way to check for doneness, not all smokers are the same. When the onions are smoked, transfer to a food processor and puree until smooth. Cool. Combine with the rest of the ingredients. Mix well, and salt to taste.

400 Edition 29

Ben There, Ben Here

by Ben Beall

Hello, I’m Ben Beall.

and he’ll definitely be moving forward…at a high rate of speed, and

I

quite often without

lived most of my life as a

all his fingers on the

“flatlander” in a relatively

steering wheel.

high-population area. I now

One thing we don’t

live in the North Georgia

have to worry with

mountains. Saying there’s a

up here is skyscrapers

slight difference might be a

with multi-level

drastic understatement.

parking lots. In the

I’ve been coming up to the

big city, when you

mountains for years. First camping with my family, and later camping with my friends.

Now, having married a Union County native, I’m here to stay. One of the first differences I’ve noticed is, up here everything doesn’t have a sign on it telling you what it is.

We’re allowed to figure out for ourselves whether or not it’s a tree. That guy who told Benjamin Braddock in The Graduate that the future was “plastics” really knew what he was talking about.

Having been a courier in Atlanta, I see drivers are different up here. For the most part, drivers here actually let you know what they intend to do. With turn signals! What a concept! I couldn’t have survived 15-plus years delivering rush packages in Atlanta traffic with no major accidents without my philosophy of

”THE MORE PEOPLE WHO KNOW WHERE YOU INTEND TO GO, THE FEWER WILL BE THERE WHEN YOU ARRIVE.” In spite of moving through town at a pretty good clip, it seems I was always riding some clown’s rear bumper. Up here, even though we may not always have extra lanes at our disposal, folks will actually occasionally pull over if they notice you’re in more of a rush than they are. Now that’s downright neighborly. In Atlanta, if you expect the dude in your rearview to have

there would be more clearance if they overhead signs.

I love it in the mountains.

Ben Beall was a standup road comic for 15 years, a native of Douglasville, and is currently a writer residing in North Georgia with his wife, Joan.

Welcome Baby Briana Reese Neighbours!

mentality, you’re sorta right. He’s gonna pass you,

O

Tamara Myers Mortgage Officer 706-265-3232 tamara_myers@ucbi.com

400 Edition

I wonder if they ever considered that maybe

a “pass it forward”

&IXED 2ATE -ORTGAGES s &(!

6! s 4($! s 2URAL $EVELOPMENT

30

overhead that read “LOW CLEARANCE.”

removed those

It’s a buyer’s market… and that’s GREAT news for you!

Member FDIC | Normal credit criteria apply.

enter a parking deck there are signs hanging

ucbi.com

ne of the happiest days of my life was the day my sweet niece, Reese, was born.

She entered our world on Feb. 7, 2011. She was 5 pounds, 11 ounces, and 19 inches long.

She was born to my brother, Sgt. Michael Neighbours, who is currently on his second deployment to Afghanistan, and his amazing wife Holly.

Michael will meet his daughter for the first time in person in May when he comes home on leave. Holly delivered Reese at

March 2011 • www.400edition.com

by Vanessa McBrayer Chestatee Regional Hospital in Dahlonega. Mom and baby are both doing great. Reese is the couple’s first baby and the first grandchild for my parents, Kaye and Wayne Neighbours of Dawsonville. Proud maternal grandparents, Ronda and Gary Ledford of Dahlonega and Bruce and Alicia Barker of Franklin, Tennessee, warmly welcome her into their lives as well. Reese is a beautiful bundle of joy and has stolen all of our hearts forevermore.

Lekotek of Georgia - Making a Difference for Children with Disabilities

Announces New Dawsonville Location

T

he world of Lekotek is one

green monster quickly runs

education, child development

to participate with siblings at

filled with laughter and joy

behind one of five colored doors,

and occupational, speech and

home and peers at school. With

coupled with hard work and

trying to hide from David. But

recreation therapy. Coupled

space donated from Walker

personal challenges. Children

David carefully follows him and

with their knowledge and an

Therapy, Lekotek looks forward

with disabilities face challenges

uses the mouse with one hand

extensive inventory of adapted

to providing services to children

interacting with

and families in Dawson, Hall,

family members

Forsyth and surrounding counties.

and participating in

Children with disabilities from

school and community

birth to eight are eligible to

activities. That’s why

participate in Lekotek play

we’re here. Lekotek’s

sessions.

mission is the inclusion of children with

For additional information on

special needs into

the new site contact the Atlanta

their families, schools

office at 404-633-3430. Walker

and communities.

Therapy is located at:

The word “Lekotek”

7985 Knight Road,

comes from the

Gainesville, GA 30506.

Swedish work “lek,” meaning

to click open the door he’s hid

toys, educational materials

play, and the Greek suffix

behind. In the last six months

and computer devices, Lekotek

“tek” meaning library. Loosely

he has progressed from only

makes it possible for every child

translated, Lekotek means play

being able to play computer

library, but to the hundreds

games with a touch window to

of families we help, it is much

using a mouse with two hands

more. Using adapted toys and

to operating it with just one.

computer equipment, Lekotek

He’s always sad when it’s time

is a safe haven from medical

to leave Lekotek. But his frown

appointments and therapies. It’s

turns to a grin as he packs into

a place where parents find

his Lekotek bag all the toys and

resources and support while

computer games with which he’s

children have fun and learn

played to take home.

along the way.

David is an adorable five year

Since 1983, Lekotek of Georgia has made a difference

old who has Down syndrome.

for more than 4,400 families

Therapy sessions are part of his

traveling from metro Atlanta,

routine. But at Lekotek he’s a

rural Georgia and beyond.

typical kid, who has lots of fun.

Greater than four hundred

His leader, Helene, chooses

children with a wide range

toys that help him learn best.

of disabilities such as autism,

During the session, he plays Little

cerebral palsy, Down syndrome,

Monster, his favorite computer

hearing and/or vision loss,

game. He’s developing fine-

spina bifida, mitochondrial

motor skills, visual tracking,

disorders and genetic conditions

memory and the ability to

benefit each year. Staff members

distinguish colors. A friendly

have backgrounds in special March 2011 • www.400edition.com

400 Edition 31