February 3rd - 16th, 2017
AthensNowal.com E-MAIL: info@athensnowal.com ADVERTISING: Ali Elizabeth: 256-468-9425
See Our Listings Inside this edition... Pages 25 - 32
All Things Soldier Plumb and PTG, Part 2... Last edition I introduced you to an extraordinary man by the name of Charlie Plumb, who was in the Hanoi Hilton for six years during the same time as... Page 4
What Makes Ronnie Roll
Sweetest Things Tea Room: Champagne Chicken, Coconut Cakes, And Love By Ali Elizabeth Turner I first encountered Sherrol Troupe Gideon, Vivian Troupe Jefferson, and their mother, Ada Troupe when I began my advenContinued on pages 14-15
The State Of The City, 2017... It was a gorgeous spring-like day on the Athens State University Campus, and the Chamber of Commerce sponsored luncheon and speech was sold out... Page 8
Athens Health And Rehab Spotlight Spotlight On Catherine Turner
Clean And Green Proud To Be Part Of The Scout House Project... Keep Athens-Limestone Beautiful is so proud to be a part of the Scout House project in Athens... Page 12
February 3 - February 16, 2017
Sherrol Troupe Gideon of Sweetest Things Tea Room
By Ali Elizabeth Turner
Catherine Louise Turner
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Catherine Louise Turner is 82 years old, and full of vim and vigor. She was raised by her grandparents, and graduated from Trinity High School. “Miss Cat� was not exactly thrilled with Continued on pages 17
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Publisher’s Point
Humans Are Hard-wired For Love
Publisher / Editor Ali Turner
Copy Editor
Yvonne Dempsey
Graphic Design
Jonathan Hamilton
Web Design Teddy Wolcott
Contributing Writers Janet Hunt Lynne Hart Paul Foreman Teresa Todd Joel Allen Shelley Underhill Rachel Clark, RN BSN Jerry Barksdale
Publisher’s Point . . . . . . . . 3 All Things Soldier . . . . . . . 4 Calendar of Events . . . . . . . 6 What Makes Ronnie Roll . . . 8 Tourism . . . . . . . . . . 10 Clean and Green . . . . . . . 12 Cooking With Shelley . . . . 13 Cover Stories . . . . . . . 14-15 & 17 Health and Fitness . . . . . . 16 Jerry's Journal . . . . . . . 19 Dog Barker . . . . . . . . . 20
It’s February, and depending on your level of cynicism, love is in the air or being extracted from your wallet. This is the month when love is celebrated and upon which it is capitalized commercially, and in our culture, we tend to get either squishy or grumpy about the demand in February to tangibly prove our love to those we love. You’ll find that in this edition of Athens Now the theme throughout is love, from love for the city, love for chocolate and history, love in food, properly loving the muscle that pumps blood throughout your body, and on it goes. Why are humans so obsessed with love? We literally can’t help it; we were hard-wired for it by our Creator. How do we know that’s true? Faith and science. Now, here in the region of the Rocket City I am sure there are people of letters that pooh pooh the idea that faith and science can peacefully co-exist, let alone corroborate each others’ findings, and I am not here to debate them. To me it takes way more faith to believe in scientism than it does to believe in creation or intelligent design, but that’s a topic for another day. What is now being able to be seen in our brains and our hearts is that the only way we function well is on love. It was first discovered in 1998 by Dr. P. Eriksson that our brains are made to change for the better, and
Medical Update . . . . . . . . 22 Foreman's Forum . . . . . . . . 23
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the term neuroplasticity was formed to describe the process. Prior to that, it was believed that we were born with a certain number of brain cells, and our personalities were basically set by the age of seven. It’s simply not true, and even the
to be dismissed.
most cynical of scientists know it, they just don’t always know what to do with the implications. It is now possible to literally see the difference between a brain bathed in the chemicals of love and forgiveness, and a brain made brittle by bitterness. The latter looks like a forest of burned trees.
ical School said the following: “…Being pushed out of social relationships and into isolation has health ramifications. In fact, there was a book done by health advocate Dr. Dean Ornish, called Love and Survival. There has been study after study done on the positive impact of loving relationships. What he had said at the time in that book was that if we had a drug that did for our health what love does, it would far outsell anything that has ever been made. The efficacy is that potent.”
We now know that we have a heart brain, that literally the heart and brain are linked together in function and purpose. We also know that “going by your gut” is not just something that Special Agent Leroy Jethro Gibbs does each Tuesday night on NCIS, it’s a function of your brain that is not
The brain registers social rejection in the exact way that it registers physical pain, and by contrast, love has a powerful impact on our total health. Dr. Amy Banks, MD, an instructor in Psychiatry at Harvard Med-
Dr. Caroline Leaf, Ph.D, neuroscientist and author of
numerous books on the topic, including Who Switched Off My Brain? puts it this way: “Our choices—the natural consequences of our thoughts and imagination— get “under the skin” of our DNA and can turn certain genes on and off, changing
the structure of the neurons in our brains. So our thoughts, imagination, and choices can change the structure and function of our brains on every level:” Literally, love makes good sense, and not just in February, so let’s get after choosing to grow new hearts and brains all year long. We’ll all be better for it.
Ali Elizabeth Turner Athens Now Information & Inspiration 256-468-9425 ali@athensnowal.com Website: www.athensnowal.com
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All Things Soldier
Plumb and PTG, Part 2 by Ali Elizabeth Turner
Last edition I introduced you to an extraordinary man by the name of Charlie Plumb, who was in the Hanoi Hilton for six years during the same time as Senator John McCain. He came back with no discernible Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. Rather, his survival journey laid the foundation for the fact that it is possible to “suffer” instead from something called Post Traumatic Growth, or PTG. As I said in the first article, my purpose is not to minimize the struggles of anyone who experiences flashbacks or the rest of the nasty travelers typically associated with PTSD; it is simply to give proof and hope that you can indeed go from coping to conquering by, as neuroscientist Dr. Caroline Leaf says, “growing a new brain.” I don’t believe in very many coincidences, and as I was recently shopping for some age-appropriate shorts in a thrift store in Florida, of all places, I happened to spy a
book called, “I’m No Hero.” It was Charlie’s first work, published in 1973 not long after he came home from Vietnam, and I snapped it right up. It didn’t hurt that it was autographed in Charlie’s beautiful handwriting, something I am guessing he improved while in prison, and this book has become one of my treasures. I was “in love” with Charlie before, but now I am “over the moon.” Why? Because of the complex community, educational society, and support structure he and his fellow inmates were able to put in place, literally under the most tortuous of long term circumstances. By way of background, beginning after the Korean War and during Vietnam, there was a training program developed known as SERE that was taught to those who stood to have the greatest chance of being captured. It stands for Survival, Evasion, Resistance and Escape, and we had
to take the entry level training (without the torture, of course), when the kidnapping of contractors spiked in Iraq during 2005-2006. We also had to do re-certification until things calmed down, and the training we received was invaluable. In the last article, the focus was on the power of faith and
Vietnam Veterans of America (Chapter 511)
$7
February 20th
11am - 1pm and 5pm-7pm
Musical Entertainment • 5-7pm 17915 W Elm St • Athens, Alabama • 256-232-0029 Page 4
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community as to its impact on Charlie’s high level of functionality when he returned. In this one, we’ll talk more about how they ran their micro-society.
tory, geography, math, biology, and foreign languages. By the time Charlie was released, he could speak some French, Russian, German and Spanish.
Not surprisingly, much of their strength came from structure. The gong to awaken them would go off at 6:30am. Charlie would spend the next 30 minutes in prayer and meditation, focusing on some sketches of his bride, and asking God to make him into the husband and father that He needed Charlie to be. At 7am, Charlie would “practice the piano” for an hour. He had scratched out a total of three octaves on one of the boards of his bunk, and would work on scales and chord formations. Eventually, (and as a musician I find this most interesting,) after a few years he got to the place where he could “hear” the notes while he was playing.
They sang hymns when the guards were out of earshot, “took” each other to the movies at night time by describing their favorite films scene by scene, Charlie “taught” photography, and through the tap code they traded their favorite family recipes.
At 8am, they did functional fitness exercises and running in place, with someone keeping watch so as to avoid the wrath of the guards. He says, “Our imaginary school bell rang at 9:30am.” They had no books, paper, pencils or chalkboards, yet studied his-
What was the net result? Because they had to focus so intently on everything they were doing, their brains were too occupied with the acquisition of knowledge, communicating covertly, and the building of their unique community to have as much room or capacity to store trauma effectively as victims who endure trauma in isolation. I think the lessons speak for themselves, and I am planning on continuing to “plumb the depths of Charlie Plumb.” I hope you join me. Charlie’s book can be purchased on Amazon for a penny. I’d love to hear the thoughts that come out of that one-penny expenditure.
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Calendar of Events 7PM-9:30PM. Individual reservations for 2 will receive a private table for two, but Yesterday's can also accommodate group reservations, church groups, car clubs, social clubs, etc. and seat them together for the evening's event. Reserve seating by e-mail at info@yesterdaysevents.com. www.yesterdaysevents.com
Valentine's Gift Expo Feb 4th
9am - 2pm. VVA Chapter 511, 17915 W. Elm Street, Athens, AL. Craft and Direct sales vendors. Come check out all the products!! Free Admission to the public. Craft and small business owners. 34+ booths with variety of items from jewelry, handmade crafts, door hangers, warmers, wax, soap, wood crafts, treats and so much more! Proceeds will go to support Valentine "LOVE" Gift Bag project for the elderly living in nursing homes and assisted living homes in Limestone County! Don't Miss It!
Limestone County Master Gardener Association meeting Feb 13th
The next Limestone County Master Gardener Association meeting will be held at the Limestone County Extension office on Market Street on Monday, February 13. At 12:30, we will have social time with refreshments. At 1:00 we have a speaker for 20 minutes with a10minute break and meeting to follow at 1:30. Our speaker this month is Rhonda Britton, Regional Extension Agent. All are welcome. For more information, contact Janet Hunt at 256-6143530.
Premier Women's Organization & Food Pantry First Saturday of Each Month
Prayer • Elderly Assistance • Feed The Hungry Clothes • Scholarships • Empowering Women Volunteers Wanted & Needed Call for Details -256.233.5995 Meeting Time: First Saturday of Each Month at 1:30pm Food pantry open now. wewoa.org • E-Mail: wew5995@gmail.com
Hospice of Limestone County Chili Challenge Feb 18th
Suzanne Paysinger is the new director of Hospice of Limestone County, replacing Pat King who retired after 28 years as the first director. There are still team slots available if you are interested, however teams are urged to sign up as soon as possible. For more information on Hospice of Limestone County, visit www. hospiceolc.org.
Poke Sallet Follies Ticket Sales Begin Feb 4th
Athens Senior Center, 912 West Pryor Street, Athens, AL. Tickets for the 2017 show will go on sale Saturday, Feb 4th at 10:00 a.m. at the Athens Senior Center on Pryor Street. No tickets will be sold in advance. Out-of-town guests may purchase tickets over the phone beginning that date and time by calling 256-232-0323. Tickets may be purchased weekdays after February 4th from 7:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. at the Senior Center. Tickets are $35 each and include your meal.
Miss Alabama at the Toastmasters Feb 4th
Join the Toastmasters for Miss Alabama at the Toastmasters Community Outreach Program from 11:30am-1:00PM. Come meet Miss Alabama and learn more about the Toastmaster program. Light refreshments. Free of charge and open to the public. For more information: new.athens.club@outlook.com or call Mrs. Earnestine Doubek 708-691-2447.
Yesterday's Valentine's Dinner Show Feb 11th
Yesterday's Event Center, 15631 Brownsferry Rd, Athens, AL. Treat your sweetheart to something special. Enjoy a candlelit dinner with intimate seating, sit and enjoy the music or take the dance floor. Doors open 6PM, dinner available 6-7PM, showtime Page 6
Poke Sallet Follies Mar 2 - 4
Athens Senior Center, 912 West Pryor Street, Athens, AL. The successful Poke Sallet Follies is an annual fundraising event hosted by the foundation board each spring. This 3-night dinner event provides entertainment and comedy while showcasing many local politicians and dignitaries. Tickets for the 2017 show will go on sale Saturday, February 4th at 10:00 a.m. at the Athens Senior Center on Pryor Street.
Elk River Cleanup Mar 4th
Join KALB at 8 am to help clean up the Limestone County portion of the Elk River and surrounding land areas. Learn about your river, help remove debris, and meet other community volunteers. Canoes, kayaks, and boats welcome but not required. Volunteers will gather at the Hatchery Rd. boat launch in West Limestone for instructions and supplies, then be disbursed to areas along the river. There will be no trash weighing this year! Work from 8 a.m. to noon and have your name entered into a drawing for prizes and enjoy a complimentary lunch. Contact KALB at 256-233-8000 or KALBCares@gmail.com for information or to let us know you're coming.
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What Makes Ronnie Roll
The State Of The City, 2017 by Ali Elizabeth Turner It was a gorgeous springlike day on the Athens State University Campus, and the Chamber of Commerce sponsored luncheon and speech was sold out. Mayor Ronnie Marks opened by saying that he was going to make us uncomfortable by talking about love, and he quipped that he had instructed Security to not allow anyone to leave out the back. Clearly it was a bit early to be talking about Valentine’s Day, so what was the reference? Peter Kageyama’s book, For The Love Of Cities, which we have been talking about in the last two Ronnies.
I could hear people around me murmur just a touch when he quoted the following from the book, and that was that according to Kageyama, in most cities, 40% of the residents feel unattached to their city, (In other words, it’s just a place to sleep, work, and eat), 36% are neutral, and 24% feel attached and are involved. I think it’s safe to say that in Athens the percentage of those who feel attached is higher than 24%, but as the Mayor told the crowd, “Seven out of ten feeling unattached is unac-
ceptable, and we’ve got to do better.” He gave examples of loving the city, and peo-
He also spoke about the Mayor’s Youth Commission’s response to the $18,000 worth of broken windows at Trinity, perpetrated by three young kids. The MYC students invested some of their surplus Dekko funds to help repair the windows, and the community at large raised more than enough to do the repairs. It was noteworthy that he read Raven Warner’s letter written to the perpetrators decrying their actions, demonstrating that sometimes kids can be the most effective of all in remonstrating other kids. “It takes lots of little things to make the big effort,” he said. It was “For The Love Of Cities” in action.
Youth Commissioner Kennedi Brown introduced Mayor Ronnie Marks at the State of the City Address
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ple who do just that. As many tributes as there have been to the late Jimmy Gill, I heard a catch in the Mayor’s
voice that moved me as he said that he regretted not bringing Jimmy by ambulance to see the new City Hall before Jimmy passed. The Mayor told us that Jimmy wouldn’t hear of it, and kept saying, “I am going to get better, and I’m on the ballot.” Mayor Ronnie added that Frank Travis had done a splendid job of stepping into Jimmy’s place, and chuckled as he said the city’s Facebook site had gotten thousands of hits when Frank and the cast of “Arise And Build” had invaded City Hall with their a cappella version of “Sunday Mornin’.”
So,
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what
about
the
February 3 - February 16, 2017
one that was purchased in 1987). We have found funding for the new high school. Progress is being made regarding the abandoned Pilgrim’s Pride plant, and the hope is to make the whole area into a park, with a place for dogs and their owners to enjoy the beauty of Athens. “There
pie charts, the graphs, and the line item components of our fiscal health? Once again, we have a million dollar surplus, we were able
to put $1.7 million toward road repair, and in 2017 Washington Street is going to be repaired all the way from Hwy 72 to Hwy 31. $817K
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is
still
much
work to be done,” he said, and illustrated his point by saying, “If you are emotionally involved in a relationship, you put a lot in it.” I think it’s safe to say, judging by the smiles that I saw, folks left feeling more attached to each other and our city, and then it was time for Ronnie and the rest of us to roll.
will go toward badly needed neighborhood road repair. We are going to take possession of a new fire truck this spring, (replacing the
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Tourism
Love And History – Two Of My Favorite Things! by Teresa Todd, President, Athens-Limestone County Tourism Association
Everyone knows Valentine’s Day is in February. For some, it slips up on them, but for the most part, they can still run out and pick up a beautiful heart shaped box of delectable chocolates and find a romantic card. If they are really running late, they might even get an exquisite piece of jewelry. It seems the closer to the day (or hour), the more guilt there is and the better the gift! Here is a way you can escape the “Honey I’ve been so busy,” or “It just comes too close after Christmas for me to remember everything” excuses. Athens Main Street vendors will be having their Chocolate Walk on February 11th in downtown Athens, where you can go as a couple for a wonderful night. You do purchase a $5 ticket to participate, however the enjoyment of going to each merchant to receive a scrumptious chocolate delight until you fill your box will be a new experience!
Make sure you go to our new Lucia’s or LuVici’s for a romantic dinner, or to Village Pizza to see what they have on the menu to tempt your palate and then show off your collection of tasty
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bonbons later while you are still out! But did you know February is also Black History Month? Black History Month is an annual observance in the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom whose purpose is the remembrance of important people and events in the history of the African diaspora. It is celebrated each February in the United States and Canada, and in October in the United Kingdom. The precursor to Black History Month was created in 1915 in the United States, when historian Carter G. Woodson and the Association for the Study of Negro Life and History announced the second week of February to be "Negro History Week.” This week was chosen because it coincided with the birthday of Abraham Lincoln on February 12 and of Frederick Douglass on February 14, both of which dates black communities had celebrated together since the late 19th century. In Limestone County, we have a rich black history heritage. In 2015, Trinity School was revitalized and opened as the Pincham-Lincoln Community Center. The center is part of Trinity School, Limestone County's only all-black high school until the Limestone County School System was ordered by a federal judge to integrate in 1970 or face $3,000 a day fine for each day the sys-
to serve the community with educational, cultural, and other programs. ALCA raised the match money and secured $25,000 from AthensLimestone County Tourism to save the old band room from being destroyed. It will eventually become a museum and archives facility for the site. tem remained segregated. As described on the Fort Henderson National Historic Preservation sign, the site served as a Union Civil War fort called Fort Henderson (built in 1863) and was situated on Coleman Hill. It was “a fivesided earthen fort with some frame buildings and underground “bombproofs.” Abatis (a defensive obstacle formed by felled, sharpened trees) lined the 15-foot deep perimeter ditch, a small portion of which is still visible today.” It was here that runaway slaves fought and were captured by Confederate General Nathan Bedford Forrest. After the war, missionary Mary Fletcher Wells es-
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tablished Trinity to educate former slaves. The school educated black students from 1930 through the 1970s and was the first school in the northern half of the state to provide kindergarten instruction for blacks. Among its most prominent students was world renowned singer Patti Malone. The school served the community until integration, and then fell into disrepair. The Athens-Limestone Community Association started an effort to save the remaining part of the fort and some of the school. The City of Athens obtained a $290,000 Community Development Block Grant from ADECA to build the Pincham-Lincoln Community Center
The project received support from other various facets of the community from Trinity staff and students, City of Athens, Limestone County Commission, the Limestone County Legislative Delegation, Athens Rotary, NAACP, Sons of Confederate Veterans, Resource Conservation and Development Council, and many others. To read more on Trinity School and Fort Henderson, you can purchase “Holding the Fort” by Charlotte Fulton at the Athens-Limestone County Tourism office, 100 N. Beaty Street, Athens, AL 35611 for $40. There is a $7 shipping & handling fee to have it mailed.
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Clean and Green
Proud To Be Part Of The Scout House Project by Lynne Hart provements to the interior of the building.
Keep Athens-Limestone Beautiful is so proud to be a part of the Scout House project in Athens.
KALB is in the business of promoting pride. People who take pride in their country, their state, and their community are more likely to take ownership and work toward a clean, healthy, more beautiful and culturally-rich city and county. We look forward to the day when this building will bring our musical history and opportunities to engage in many forms of music to all who wish to partake.
Through a $20,000 grant provided by Lowe’s through Keep America Beautiful, KALB has helped kick start the renovations needed to turn the Scout House, also known as the Little Red Schoolhouse, into a place that will bring musical arts in a variety of formats. The Scout House, located on the corner of Washington and East Streets, was built in 1938 as a place for Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts to meet and have recreation. The building has since been used for other purposes, including housing the Athens City Schools administrative office. Over the years, the Scout House has seen deterioration and is now vacant; however, it is listed on the National Register of Historic Places Inventory – Nomination Form and is significant to Athens and Limestone County. KALB’s grant money was used to complete Phase 1 of the project. This included complete repair and repainting of the front façade, and the addition of xeriscaping to the front of the property. Xeriscape is a type of landscape that uses plants that will easily tolerate the water conditions in the location chosen. It was also important that the plants used be native and reflect the period in
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which the Scout House was built. When working with our landscaper, Distinctive Landscaping, Inc., we also asked for plants that would attract pollinators, including butterflies. Plants selected include wintergreen boxwoods and, low and behold, butterfly bushes, which are varieties that will remain small. Also included are azaleas, endless summer
hydrangeas, and a variety of spring bulbs. It should be beautiful once the plants are established. We at KALB are so grateful to Keep America Beautiful and Lowe’s for providing the grant opportunity, and Scott Brannan of Distinctive Landscaping, Inc. for donating a portion of services to this project. It has been so exciting to see the work being done
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and seeing the difference being made. Friends of the Scout House are working to secure additional grants and donations to complete the remaining work on the exterior, as well as im-
For information and ongoing progress of this project, visit the Friends of the Scout House Facebook page.
Become a Fan
(256) 233-8728 KALBCares@gmail.com www.KALBCares.com February 3 - February 16, 2017
Cooking with Shelley
Cheesy Pasta by Shelley Underhill
Add all these ingredients in a largestockpot, cover and boil for 1 hour. Strain broth and set aside. Remove chicken from the bone, set aside.
1/2 a box of angel hair pasta cooked and drained well. 1/2 stick real butter 1/2 cup half and half 1/2 cup of whole milk 1/2 cup Velveeta Cheese - cut in small pieces Place cooked pasta in a pot along with other ingredients. Simmer and make sure everything is melted. When ready, set to the side and let thicken. Enjoy! Email your questions to shelleysdesk@gmail.com.
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Cover Story
Sweetest Things Tea Room: Champagne Chicken, Coconut Cakes, And Love by Ali Elizabeth Turner
continued from page 1
tures as the publisher of Athens Now in March of 2011. It was always one of my favorite stops on my delivery route, a place where my stomach and my soul could find sweetness. I am so pleased to have a chance to tell you their story, and invite you to their new location on the north side of the Square in the former location of Pablo’s on Market. Sherrol
and
Vivian
are the owners of the tea room, and it is definitely a family affair, down to a small granddaughter functioning as a tiny helper in between coloring and playing with her grandmother’s cell phone. The success of Sweetest Things is something for which all of them give God the glory, as no one in “the Troupe” had any restaurant experience at all prior to 2006 when they opened. What Sherrol did have, however, was a degree in Business Ad-
ministration from Athens State University, experience as a trainer for a large corporation in Huntsville, a lifelong love for cooking started by her grandmothers, and a vibrant prayer life. I asked her, “How did you start?” “Well,” she said, “We have always cooked.” Now please understand, when she makes that statement, you need to know a bit about their heritage. The grandmothers on both sides were legendary as bakers in Limestone County, and
Sherrol Troupe Gideon and her mother, Ada Troupe
Vivian Troupe Jefferson and her sister, Sherrol are the sources of the recipes used in the Tea Room. For one grandmother, it was customary during the holidays to have every square inch of counter space lined with cakes and pies that people had hired her to bake for them. It didn’t stop
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there, she would improvise by making more flat surfaces by putting pieces of plywood across armchairs to accommodate her creations, and it wasn’t until everyone came to get their “sweetest things” that she could take back her own home for the holidays. For her part, Sherrol used to make cakes at home and sell them at
work, and at the time she also was decorating cakes on the side, something she no longer has the time to do. Her husband Ronnie was career military, and it was during his first deployment to Iraq during the Operation Iraqi Freedom assault phase in 2003 that she began to feel an inexplicable shift inside. “I was restless, and didn’t know why. Everything was ok, my husband was safe, and so was my daughter. Nothing was wrong, I just had the feeling that a change was coming, but I didn’t know what it was,” she said. For about two weeks straight, Sherrol got up in the wee hours to pray, and basically told God, “I don’t know what to do, so please just put me where You want me to be.” At the end of the two weeks, the powerful, manifest presence of the Lord came into
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Cover Story her prayer room, and she just knew that everything was going to be ok, but had no idea what was next. It was a good thing, too, as when she got to work that day, she was informed that she had been laid off. What she felt the Lord told her was that this was the answer to her prayers, and though she loved her job and the people she worked with, she was being “moved on to move on.” People expected her to be upset, but she truly was at peace.
(continued) 2006, another set of miracles occurred that just might need another story, and Sherrol, Vivian, and Mother Ada opened up the Tea Room on Jefferson Street. “Then,” she told me, “We outgrew that,” and it was time to pray again. “We began to thank God for a new location before one
ever opened up and we moved to our new place right around the week of Thanksgiving this past fall.” Faith most definitely had been rewarded once again. As mesmerized as I was by their story, I knew that some
For about a year she baked from her home; things like “million dollar chocolate chip cookies,” which she would produce 30 dozen at a time. They always sold out. She baked for a hotel in Huntsville, for her friends, family, church and community. In
of our readers would need to know what the “Troupers” bring to the table, literally. I asked Sherrol, “Why should I come here?” She replied, “We have three generations of recipes, and the meals we prepare for our customers are like what we prepare for our own families. We make things in small batches, specifically for you. We pray over the food before it goes out, we pray while we’re working, and at the end of the day, we ask God to bless our customers for coming here. We know they don’t have to come here, and we are thankful.” They also keep a prayer request list on the wall in the kitchen, and I put myself on it.
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I asked Ada what she enjoyed the most about the business, which is her third career and she said, “I LOVE to cook.” Vivian’s answer to the same question was, “I love meeting new and interesting people.” Business is brisk, and now they are going to have to hire extra help for the Monday and Tuesday lunch rush. In addition to the lunch crowd, people were coming in to pick up their custom dessert orders. “We can’t make enough caramel cakes,” she said, and that is also the case for the coconut cakes. In addition, they make pies, including caramel pecan, chocolate, chess pie, buttermilk, and sweet potato pie. Their daily specials include champagne chicken, smothered pork chops, and chicken stew, and when Pablo’s was in the same spot serving
lunch, it was Sweetest Things that prepared the chicken salad. The day I ate there and conducted the interview, the place was packed and the gals were running the whole time. Sweetest Things does high teas by reservation only, on and off-site catering for baby showers, bridal showers, community and church dinners, and more. But, truth be told, the “sweetest things” in the building are Sherrol, Vivian, and Ada, lovely women, all. Come and find out for yourself.
Sweetest Things Tea Room
216 West Market Street, Athens, AL 35611 Hours: 11-5, Mon-Fri Phone: 256-232-5042 www.sweetestthing tearoom.com Page 15
Health and Fitness
What Is High Blood Pressure? by Janet Hunt
Janet Hunt is a Certified Personal Trainer and can be reached at 256-614-3530 to schedule an appointment. Blood pressure is the force of blood pushing against blood vessel walls. High blood pressure (HBP) means the pressure in your arteries is higher than it should be. (Also known as hypertension.) Blood pressure is written as two numbers (120/70 mm Hg). Top or systolic number is the pressure when the heart beats. The bottom or diastolic number is the pressure when the heart rests between beats. Normal blood pressure is below 120/80 mm Hg. For adults with systolic pressure 120 to 139 or diastolic pressure 80 to 89, you have prehypertension. High blood pressure is a pressure of 140 systolic or higher and/ or 90 diastolic or higher that stays high over time. High blood pressure cannot be cured, but it can be managed. HBP usually has no signs or symptoms and that is why it is so dangerous. 1 in 3 adults have HBP; and many are not aware of it. Not treating HBP is dangerous because it increases the risk of heart attack and stroke. You can live a healthier life if you treat and manage HBP. Who is at risk? •People with family histories of HBP •African Americans •People over 35yrs old •Overweight people •People who eat too much salt •People who drink too much alcohol •People with diabetes, gout, or kidney disease •Pregnant women •Women who take birth con-
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trol pills, who are overweight, had HBP during a pregnancy, have family history with HBP or have mild kidney disease. What can HBP lead to? •Stroke •Heart attack, angina, heart failure •Kidney failure •Peripheral arterial disease (PAD) What can I do about it? •Lose weight if you are overweight. Talk to a health coach about lifestyle changes. •Eat a heart-healthy diet low in saturated fat, trans fat, cholesterol, salt and added sugars. Eat a variety of deeply-colored fruits and vegetables, fiber-rich whole grains, low fat or fat-free dairy products; lean meats and skinless poultry; fish with healthy omega-3 fatty acids; and nuts, seeds and legumes. Talk to a dietician about a healthy eating plan. •Be more physically active. (Aim for 150 minutes of moderate intensity aerobic exercise each week or 75 minutes of vigorous intensity.) Make an appointment with a Certified Personal Trainer for a safe workout recommendation. •Limit alcohol intake. •Take medicine as prescribed. Never stop treatment on your own. If you have problems or side effects with your medicine, talk to your physician.
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February 3 - February 16, 2017
Cover Story
Athens Health And Rehab Spotlight On Catherine Turner by Ali Elizabeth Turner continued from page 1
the prospect of telling me her exact age, but I think it’s safe to say that she graduated from Trinity just about the same time Ike was inaugurated as President of the United States. Her grandfather ran a store at the intersection of BrownsFerry and Highway 72. “It was owned by Ed Shelton, but my grandfather ran it for him, ‘cuz Mr. Ed, he liked to fish a lot,” Miss Cat told me. By her own admission, Catherine was “teacher’s pet,” and she also had teachers that
were her favorites. She went to Miller Public School, which was near Trinity, and she called Miss Watkins her pet. “We used to carry things for our teachers, and that’s how we became the pets,” she said. She also told me that one of her teachers by the name of Miss King tried to teach her how to dance, but Cat said that she was just “too stiff.” Not too stiff, though, to enjoy the music of Little Richard, and it was recorded on 78s. There were times when she and her schoolmates were, by their own admission, rascals. They
would poke each other with pencils, and deny it. In return, her teacher, Miss Harris, affectionately called them “barbarians.” Her half sisters were present for the interview, and said that one of their favorite memories was having 4th of July picnics at Miss Cat’s. “We had them under a big oak tree.” Catherine didn’t want to tell me much about her husband, “Because he was one of the good ones.” Interesting reply, as most of the time it’s the bad spouses that get all the press in these inter-
views. All she told me was that his name was Frank Turner, and they had three children. She now has a grandchild, and two great grandchildren. One of her “greats” calls Cat her “gwait-gwait.” Mrs. Turner has no shortage of stories, one of which was the fact that “back in the day” she used to cook for legendary rocket scientist Werner Von Braun. She was also very active in her church, Oak Grove C.M.E., and became well known in her district and attended the national conference held by the denomination. She taught Sunday school, sang in the choir, was president of the church’s Stewardesses Board, and served as an usher. Catherine also collects bibles. “I have 34 of them,” she said, “and I reads them all.” She gives them away to people to whom she is ministering, particularly people who are going to the hospital. There is just about every translation you can think of, and they are all lined up in a row. We moved on to the topic of favorites: Favorite color? “White.” Favorite food? “Sweet potato custard pie.” Favorite actor/actress? “Roy Rogers and Dale Evans.”
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Favorite singer? “James Brown.” We broke into our own version of “I Feel Good, I Knew That I Would.”
Favorite movie? “To Kill A Mockingbird.” Favorite song? “Tutti Fruitti.” Favorite scripture? “Psalm 23, but really, I loves all of ‘em.” Favorite President of the United States?” “Barack Obama, the first African American president.” I wish I could effectively describe the way Miss Cat says the word “superb.” That was the word she used to illustrate the quality of the care she has received at Athens Health and Rehab. “And the food, oh Lord it is good.” In addition, this is not the first time that Keisha in Activities has been described as someone’s favorite. Keisha and Cat tease each other mercilessly. Her favorite activity at the facility is Bingo, and apparently she has been quite the winner. She also really enjoys the bible study. I asked her for some words of wisdom for young people, and here’s what she said: “Get out of the street and into the church, and find out what’s going on.” Sage advice from the indomitable Miss Catherine Louise Turner.
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Jerry’s Journal
Ma And Pa Take Taos: Part 1 by Jerry Barksdale www.jerrybarksdale.com My good friend (and sometimes red-head) Pat and I were off on another adventure, this time across the purple sage to Taos, New Mexico. It has been described by one resident as “wacky and weird.” That’s where my daughter, Shannon lives. As usual everything started off going my way – downhill.
And that includes scotch!
First, I had a toothache. Then, when I presented plastic at Huntsville Airport to pay a $25.00 baggage fee, it was rejected – and in front of many people. “There must be a mistake,” I said. She swiped it again. “No mistake.”
“Does it also have three wheels,” I asked. He frowned. No humor. We couldn’t find it in the parking lot. No wonder. It was parked between two VW beetles. It was aptly named Mirage. It sort of looked like a car, but it really wasn’t. Pat christened it, the “three wheel sewing machine.” I call it the “Runt.” We hummed up I-25 looking for a Best Western. Had to call Siri. That hussy kept yelling, “TURN AROUND NOW!” I didn’t like her tone of voice. She’s probably a red head. How could I turn around in six lanes of 75 mph traffic?
When we arrived in Atlanta I called Barclay Bank. Someone in North Dakota had charged $6.30 on my card. I’ve never been to North Dakota. My card was cancelled on the first day of our vacation. Perfect timing. And my tooth was about to jump out of my mouth. On the flight to Albuquerque, we encountered 100 mph head winds. “Look!” Pat exclaimed. “The wing is flapping.” I needed tranquilizing. I ordered a scotch and handed the hostess a ten. “Sir, we don’t accept cash,” she said. What kind of country rejects your credit card and doesn’t accept cash? And on the first day of vacation! It’s written on the face of a bill, “Legal tender for all debts.”
It was dark in Albuquerque when we went to pick up our Thrifty rental car. Pat had arranged for an economy car, knowing that I’m a thrifty kind of guy. The young clerk explained that we needed to upgrade. “It’s a Mitsubishi Mirage and has only three cylinders and isn’t suitable for mountain driving,” he said.
The next morning, we hummed northwest on State 550 into Indian country. Big blue skies, distant buttes and mesas, endless purple sage, pinon and juniper trees and chamisa, a gorgeous plant that hates my guts, filled the landscape. Everything was still going my way; sinuses in panic mode, nose stuffy and bleeding, and tooth aching. On the edge of the Jemez Reservation, we stopped at CWW Feed
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fb.com/jerry.barksdale.7 Store in tiny San Ysidro and asked directions. Several Indian children were out front near pens holding goats and the fattest hog I’ve ever seen. Nearby was a corral of horses. Chili riestas hung from the front porch of the old store building. That’s where I met Connie Collis, the proprietor, a friendly, late fortyish blonde. “I’m from Alabama,” I said. “I own a Bible, have a permit to pack heat – and I’m lost.” She grinned. “Sounds okay to me,” she said. Connie has been living in San Ysidro for 20 years. Her husband, a big game hunter, had died on a hunting trip in Mexico. Afterwards, she dedicated her life to rescuing critters. She cares for 51 rescue horses – some are wild mustangs – including others, for a total of 92; one fat hog, one cow, 7 goats and two dogs. “Why do you do it?” I asked. “It is my heart,” she said. “It gives me a reason to get up in the morning.” The store name “CWW” stands for crazy white woman, a handle given her by local Jemez Indians. Working with Connie was Taylor Clark, a 24-year-old, attractive red head originally from Albuquerque, who is a rock climber. Taylor was working on a volunteer therapy horse ranch and studying for a masters’ degree when she went to work for Connie rescuing horses. Two thumbs up for these ladies. I
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yanked the crank cord on the Runt and we hummed up State 4 and across the beautiful Jemez Mountain, toward Los Alamos. There we toured the museum, learned about splitting atoms and saw where some of the scientists had lived during WWII. “Fat Man,” the first atomic bomb, was developed at Los Alamos and dropped on Hiroshima to bring WWII to an end. From start to finish, it took only two years. When our backs are against the wall, Americans excel. Why can’t we discover a cure for cancer? If we can develop a blue pill to raise the dead, surely we can find a cure for cancer. In old Santa Fe (elev. 7198 ft), we had a late lunch at La Fonda, a Pueblo style hotel on the plaza. That’s where, after eating a burrito smothered with red chili and black beans, I developed my new theory about atom splitting. That lunch also led to me to make a pact with the Lord that night. Why split uranium atoms and endanger the environment? Split the bean! A plate of black beans produces enough methane gas to power every taxi in New York City for a day. That night, I woke in a miserable state. My tooth ached, my nose bled, I couldn’t breathe, and my stomach was about to explode. I was desperate. I reached for Mama’s favorite cure-all- Vicks Salve. Rub it on the chest for coughs, apply to hem-
orrhoids, and poke it up the nostrils for a stuffy nose. I figured if I could scare off a hemorrhoid, it could open a stuffy nose. The label warned: “DO NOT PLACE UP NOSTRILS,” but I figured that was meant for idiots who used the same finger. Anyway, up the nose it went. Ahh, thank you Mama. It was around midnight when I asked the Lord to strike me dead if I ever ate another black bean. There ought to be a law requiring black beans be sold with this warning: “Consumption may result in loud praying, methane emissions, and global warming.” We overnighted at El Rey Inn on Cerrillos Road. Very Santa Fe-ish. First constructed as a motor court in 1936, it reminded me of Melody Ranch, Gene Autry’s cowboy movie set. Next morning, we breakfasted nearby at the Pantry, opened in 1948. Nothing slick about it, simply the best. I ordered an egg white veggie omelet. Old Satan was up early, tempting me, having heard about my pact with the Lord. “Sir, do you want black beans with your omelet?” asked his servant, our dark eyed waitress. “HECK NO!” I’ve since learned that a raw carrot cooked with black beans will absorb the methane gas. Don’t eat the carrot! He-he-he. Give it to your ex.
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Dog Barker
Who’s Your Counter Surfer? COWABUNGA!!!! by Joel Allen If you have a large breed dog then you know why I asked. But, I have seen small breeds succeed in this area too. Alright, imagine you are in the kitchen and you set your plate of food on the counter and turn toward your refrigerator. You open the refrigerator and “UHOH” no ketchup. Without a thought of danger toward your food you walk to the pantry. Now, enters the Villain, the Family Dog, drooling. Who, unbeknownst to you, has been stalking his prey (your plate), you conveniently left unguarded. There you are, your back to the counter, in the pantry with not a worry in the world, thinking, ‘this steak is going to taste so good with this Lea and Perrin’s and the fries are going to go good with this ketchup’, and you turn back toward your plate. “WHAT!? Where’s my dinner!?,” you scream as you see that someone has cleaned your plate. You look to see who did it and while you walk one way the Villain, known as the Family Dog, makes his escape in the other direction. Look at the bright side, you still have the plate so you are able to go back for more and it is clean too, LOL. Does all this sound familiar? I can be a Page 20
prankster myself and I have witnessed this before. No, I didn’t warn the victim. I couldn’t help but not say something because it was too good to pass up. Let’s just say that person learned the hard way
sight? So, how do we stop a sneaking, counter surfer? The first option to try cost as much as a meal at your favorite restaurant. You will need one aluminum can, 22 pennies or washers, duct
or Gotcha!” One thing is for certain, they will be less likely to repeat the event again and you will have a cool “Redneck Motion Sensor and Alarm” device. “Hey look ya’ll, it’s easy to reset.”
because I had warned them before. You know kids, “I know, I know”, is their favorite saying when you give them advice. What does this have to do with counter surfing? What I just told you is only the beginning. Our Canine Family Members tend to surf our kitchen counters when they know there is food to be found. Cats are worse. Ever seen a Cat and Dog team up to get what’s on the counter? Neither have I, but wouldn’t that be a
tape, and fishing line. Place the 22 pennies inside the can, tape the opening closed and tie the fishing line to the tab on top. Next, place the can on a shelf above the counter. (The higher, the better) Now, let the fish line fall to the counter and tape it down near the edge of the counter. Ensure the line is tight. Set up quite a few for better results. Now when the trap is sprung you will know when it happens and be able to firmly say, “Out of the kitchen! or Bad!
The second option you can try is a chemical deterrent called Boundary. It helps keep dogs and cats away from areas you don’t want them accessing. This product can be found at your local pet store. It is used indoors and outdoors. Be careful about its use in your food prep areas and be sure you read the instructions carefully before applying. Option three is a shock collar. Shop around before settling on one. I would advise that you look at a rechargeable
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system, with a remote. The collar should be waterproof and have the option of a tone or vibration, and shock levels. Next time you hear them in the kitchen holler out and hit the tone or vibrate button. If they don’t comply then hit them with the “lightning”, but use the lowest setting first. “Sparky” will get the idea. Additionally, if you get the right collar you can buy an accessory known as “Zones” made by INNOTEK, an instant pet proofing barrier device that can pair with the collar. You place it where you don’t want your Canine Family Member to enter or get near and it signals the collar if they approach. If they ignore the warning it will activate the collar and stop when they are out of the zoned area. Some of these devices come with a collar already. Now, if Fido or Fidette, is still bucking the system, call me. Don’t wait until you have scorched their hair off please, LOL. “Remember to love your dogs because they love you. Maybe not the way you want them to, like chewing up your favorite shoes or what not, but that is just love chewing. Be thankful for the time you have with them always.”
Joel Allen 256-651-2211
February 3 - February 16, 2017
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Medical Update
Show Your Heart Some Love: February is American Heart Month by Rachel Clark, RN, BSN During the month of February, Americans see hearts everywhere. Most Americans see it as a month that is dedicated to love. It is also American heart month, a time to show your anatomical heart some love in addition to the heart as you emotional center. Cardiovascular disease (a fancy medical term that includes heart disease, high blood pressure and stroke) is the number one killer nationwide. It is also known as the “silent killer” as there are many times no warning signs or symptoms associated with heart disease. According to the Center for Disease Control, it is also a leading cause of disability in the US
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and costs us over $300 billion annually in cost of healthcare, medications, and productivity. There are many risks associated with CVD. Some of them you can alter, others you can’t. Modifiable risk factors include diet, exercise, tobacco use, obesity, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and diabetes. Non-modifiable risk factors include gender, family history, age, and ethnicity. As you begin to take the journey toward better cardiovascular health, it is important not to get overwhelmed. At a conference recently I heard a word that will help keep you from feeling you are in over your head: JOLT, which stands for
Just One Little Thing. Rather than thinking you have to make multiple major changes at once, taking it one small modification at a time will have tremendous effects on your heart health. Other things you can do include partnering up with someone else, don’t get discouraged, and reward yourself! Let’s face it. No one wants to make major changes on their own and we all need a little accountability and encouragement from time to time! It is easy to get discouraged with changes when we are focusing on the negative, so reward yourself through the process as you make those small changes. Set goals, and when you reach them, celebrate!
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Prevention is key when it comes to cardiovascular disease. At a recent lecture I attended in regard to Whole Food Nutrition, an MD said “Your body never forgets how to prevent what you don’t yet have.”
terol- have it checked at your annual exam
So what are some things you can do to help prevent cardiovascular disease? The list below is just a few things you can change (http://www. cdc.gov/features/heartmonth/).
•Maintain a healthy weight- through diet and exercise
•Work with your healthcare team-get a check up at least annually •Monitor your blood pressure-remember there are no symptoms of high blood pressure most of the time, so check it regularly •Monitor your choles-
•Eat a well balanced diet with lots of FRESH, RAW fruits and vegetables with moderate amounts of healthy fats such as coconut oil, olive oil, and avocodos
•Regular exercise- at least 30 minutes of activity 5 days a week •Don’t smoke- if you currently smoke, you should quit; if you don’t, don’t start •Manage other chronic health conditions such as diabetes Happy Heart Month! Keep your heart healthy. And remember: JOLTJust One Little Thing.
February 3 - February 16, 2017
Foreman’s Forum
Could Firearms Training Save Your Life? by Paul Foreman Everybody knows how to shoot a gun, right? Well, no, because I have a lot of folks call and tell me they have NEVER shot a gun before. Actually, those people who have no experience with guns are the easiest to teach. I believe this is true do to the fact they have no bad habits to overcome. I have also had quite a few students who were experienced with firearms, but they wisely felt that a professional trainer would be very valuable. Those students who had prior experience and training expressed to me the fact that they learned a lot during my class. Of all the students I have taught, I only had two which had trouble with the basic skills needed to handle a firearm safely. It ap-
peared to me that the fear of the loud noise was the main deterrent, along with the “kick” or recoil when they pulled the trigger. One student, I call her “Nine Inch Nails” had a great deal of difficulty because along with the extra long bright blue finger nails, she would recoil with fear even before she pulled the trigger. The gun was too small and light weight for what she needed. I offered a free follow-up training another day, as it was beginning to rain after about an hour and a half of time spent with just her. She was moving out of town the following week and was unable to accept my offer of additional training. I certainly do not tell about the above difficulties to discourage anyone, but
getting a special nail job the day before you take the pistol class will definitely create problems with the proper handling of your gun. My number one goal is that each student would leave my class with a solid basic understanding of handling their gun SAFELY and properly, along with a full understanding of self defense laws. When my students call or e-mail to ask about my Basic Pistol Training and Basic Self Defense Class, we usually discuss everything from the selection of various guns and ammo to what purpose the gun is being used for. Many of those who call are interested in concealed carry. Others do not plan to carry their gun on their person, but plan to keep the gun in their home
for self defense. I have had numerous students, including many ladies, who did very well with the small “Mouse” guns, as I like to call them. Small guns such as the Ruger LCR series and others are great concealed carry guns. But, for some, the small size and light weight, causes the user to feel more “kick,” or recoil. Everything else being equal, such as the caliber (size) of the bullet, the small light weight gun will kick a lot more than the same bullet shot out of a larger heavier gun. The smaller gun is a lot easier to carry concealed than a larger gun. Ok, so you know how to shoot a gun. You can stand in front of a target and hit within a nine inch round
area most, if not all the time. I'll bet that paper target has NEVER shot back, has it? Back in the ‘70s when I was first a Deputy Sheriff, we would all go to the gun range every six months to qualify. We had to hit the target forty out of fifty shots at various distances from 25 yards to 3 yards.Back in the day, we trained out in the open, standing and shooting with no cover or tactical defense.
Later into the ‘90s we finally got some realistic training such as shooting from behind cover and various positions. We even trained shooting from inside our patrol cars. I will let you in on a little secret: Statistics show most gun fights are THREE yards or closer, and the shooter never had time to aim. Another scary fact: a bad guy with a knife, running toward you from 21 feet away can stab you before you even draw your gun. How about shooting from inside your car? Can you produce your gun and defend yourself while seated inside your car with a seat belt on?
If your gun jams, can you clear the jam or malfunction and stay fighting within a few seconds? How about that little five shot snub nose, can you reload it fast enough to save your own life or that of a loved one? Paul Foreman, NRA recruiter, former Lee County Sheriff’s Deputy 256-431-6702 www.PaulForeman.com
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