Augusta Family Magazine November 2013

November 2013 ANNUAL HOLIDAY TOY GUIDE MOMS AND ADDICTION ACTION MINISTRIES

Family AUGUSTA

m a g a z i n e

PARENTING MEDIA ASSOCIATION

2013 Gold Award Winner Editorial and Design Awards Competition

Happiest

HOLIDAYS EZEKIEL, 4, AND EDEN tilLman, 2, ARE THE CHILDREN OF RODNEY AND TONYA TILLMAN OF NORTH AUGUSTA.

Family AUGUSTA

m a g a z i n e

w w w. a u g u s t afamily.co m Publisher Kate Cooper Metts

Contents

November 2013

Editor Karin Calloway

26

Production Art Director / Web Producer Michael Rushbrook

Past the Sipping Point

Graphic Artist Chris Goodman

21

Advertising Director of Advertising Lisa Dorn

photography Branch Carter and John Harpring contributors Lucy Adams Kim Beavers, MS, RD, CDE Grace Belangia Monica Dutcher J. Ron Eaker, M.D. Jennie Montgomery Danielle Wong Moores Augusta Family Magazine is published 10 times per year and distributed throughout the Augusta and Aiken area. Send press releases, story ideas or comments to the editor at karin.calloway@augustafamily.com or mail to 127A 7th Street, Augusta, GA 30901 or telephone (706) 828-3946.

For advertising information, telephone (706) 823-3702. For circulation/ distribution, call (706) 823-3722.

By Lucy Adams

Top Gifts for Giving

Advertising Sales Maidi McMurtrie Thompson Mary Porter Vann Audience Development Manager Doressa Hawes

When Does a Mom’s “Way To Relax” Become an Addiction?

This Year’s Stand-Out Toys, Books, Games and More

departments

7 editor’s page 9 mom2mom

Holiday Harmony: Accept Gifts Graciously!

-Jennie Montgomery

10 news&notes 14 eating well with kim

Fall Food Adventures

Take a Little Time To Enjoy Fall Foods and Family Fun -Kim Beavers, MS, RD, LD, CDE

17 doctor/dad

Sneeze, Wheeze, Cover Please -J. Ron Eaker, M.D.

18 home front

Keep the Hush in Your Holiday Rush

21 Sanity Saving Ideas To Help You Enjoy the Busy Holiday Season

-Christina Katz

32 inspiration station

Helping the Homeless

Action Ministries Provides Furniture, Housing and More to Augusta’s Homeless Population

-Danielle Wong Moores

34 calendar 48 talkin’ about my generation

Raegan Mace, Anton Pavlas and Erin Walkotten -Grace Belangia

On the cover: Ezekiel, 4, and Eden Tillman, 2, are the children of Rodney and Tonya Tillman of North Augusta.

Ezekiel and Eden were selected as the November cover children as the result of their mother entering our cover kid search at www.augustafamily.com.

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November quick pick “Mothers drink at home alone or in the car alone.

Sippy cups are used to disguise the alcohol.

Bottles are disposed of in other people’s garbage or recycling. Pills are taken to treat a ‘legitimate’ malady of which the husband is aware. He may have even encouraged her to seek medical attention.” Read more of Lucy Adams’ article on mothers and addiction beginning on page 26.

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editor’s

by Karin Calloway

Too Quiet

Some of the Gage, Calloway and Marcus families on Thanksgiving 2012.

T

he past few years have brought a lot of change at Casa Calloway. With both kids in college, I’ve had to adjust to having an empty nest. I’ll admit it—the house is way too quiet! It was noticeably quieter when our son, Tripp, went to college because he’s a loud, expressive, dramatic guy who paces back, forth and around in circles. C.C., our youngest, was much quieter, but that didn’t mean it wasn’t a drastic change when she joined Tripp in Athens, Ga..

When both kids are home from college, everything feels “right” again. Tripp is making all kinds of noise, and since she’s passed through her angst-ridden teen years, C.C.’s quite the chatterbox. (Some changes are good!) There are a few days of “too quiet” after they head back to school and the house is empty except for Bond and me. But, it’s not a sad kind of emptiness I feel. They’re happy and well, so I’m just rolling with the changes and relishing in their collegiate successes.

Another change is occurring this Thanksgiving. For many years we’ve celebrated the holiday at my parent’s house in Evans. My sister and her family come, and her in-laws join us as well. This year, my parents are going to see my brother in Florida for the holiday, so it’ll just be the four Calloways for an at-home Thanksgiving. I haven’t cooked the entirety of the Thanksgiving meal in years, since we’ve always divided the cooking duties up. But I’m rolling with the change and am glad my folks will get to spend some time with my brother and his family this year. Anyway, it’ll be a much quieter holiday than I’m used to—but with Tripp in the house, it won’t be THAT quiet!

I hope you and your family will have a wonderful Thanksgiving. In the meantime, I hope you enjoy this issue of Augusta Family Magazine.

Until December,

Karin Calloway is a wife and mother of two teenagers. She’s also a journalist and recipe developer who writes the Wednesday cooking column for The Augusta Chronicle (augustachronicle.com/karin). You can follow Karin at twitter.com/KarinCalloway. Check out Karin’s cooking blog at www.karinsvikingkitchen.com.

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mom m m

by Jennie Montgomery

Holiday Harmony: Accept Gifts Graciously!

H

ave you noticed that the Christmas merchandise goes up earlier and earlier, in every store from Target to Dollar Tree?

It seems like we go straight from Back-to-School to Jolly Old St. Nick. Makes me feel kind of sad for Thanksgiving.

I remember a time when Thanksgiving indeed got lost in the Illustration by Michael Rushbrook mix for me. My husband and I had a planned a “surprise” December wedding—no one would know our big “Christmas Party” was actually going to be our wedding. However, on Halloween night we had the good sense to let my parents know the truth.

We were both dressed as punk rockers, wearing wild wigs and crazy makeup, when we stopped at my folks’ house to break the (good) news. So in the six weeks between that Halloween night and December 13th, Thanksgiving was indeed an overlooked event.

Twenty-some years later I still think about that first holiday season Scott and I spent with our extended families.

We were just back from our honeymoon when Christmas came.

In the shuffle of stuffing last-minute gifts under the tree, some nametags got knocked off. My mom opened boxers that were meant for my brother. Somebody else opened a box of chocolates meant for my dad. You get the idea.

Poor Scott wasn’t paying attention. He completely missed the whole mixed-up tags business. He was opening a big box and pulling up tissue paper when he hesitated.

“Oh, that’s so nice,” he said, a little too enthusiastically, as he tried to figure out what he had unwrapped.

He was holding up something long, silky and teal.

“Scott!” I howled, laughing at both his fake appreciation for the gift and his immediate impulse that it was actually for him.

“That’s my present for your mother! It’s a NIGHTGOWN—you don’t have to pretend to like it!”

I watched him slowly drop the fabric back in to box. He was trying so hard not to offend his new family.

“I would have liked it anyway, even if it didn’t fit me!” he offered.

What a relief when the next package he unwrapped turned out to be a box of golf balls!

JENNIE Montgomery anchors the evening news at WJBF-TV. She’s married to Scott and they have three children: Zack, 20, Maddy, 19, and Sky, 17.

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news notes

Just as a puppy can be more of a challenge than a gift, so too can the holidays.

-John Clayton

Beastly Book The Beast of Blue Mountain

by Lucy Adams

Medication Safety Many medications look and taste like candy. So, it’s not surprising that a child is rushed to an emergency room somewhere in the United States about every eight minutes for medicine poisoning. The best thing to do to keep children safe is to store medicines out of reach and out of sight in locked cabinets. Also, keep the Poison Control Center phone number handy: 1-800-222-1222.

Crunch, crunch.

Swish, swish.

Safe Kids Greater Augusta, led by Children’s Hospital of Georgia, works to prevent accidental childhood injury, the leading killer of children ages 1 to 14. Safe Kids Greater Augusta is a member of the Safe Kids USA network. To find out more about local Safe Kids programs, call 706-721-7606, or visit grhealth.org/ safekids. Read the whole article about pool drain safety at www.augustafamily.com.

What is that noise in the night?

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Local author and Augusta Family Magazine contributor Lucy Adams has penned and illustrated her first children’s picture book, The Beast of Blue Mountain. A measure of suspense, a dose of surprise and a good giggle combine with colorful pictures rendered in the medium of pastels. The storyline appeals to preschoolers through the elementary grades.

Inspired by a tale Adams constructed to entertain her own children around the campfire, The Beast of Blue Mountain teaches kids that noises in the night aren’t always what they seem. Available from online book retailers.

Register to win a copy at www. augustafamily.com.

FOLLOW US ONLINE! facebook.com/augustafamilymagazine twitter.com/AUGFamilyMag

View Our On-Line Extras at www.AUGUSTAFAMILY.com

Register To Win!

Sugar Plum Fairies

Contemporary Bluegrass

Jacobs chamber music

Experience the delight of one of Augusta’s most beloved holiday traditions—The Nutcracker performed by Dance Augusta Thanksgiving weekend. Visit augustafamily. com and register to win tickets.

DON’T MISS BLUE HIGHWAY, when the Grammy winning contemporary Bluegrass band performs along with Sierra Hull on Nov. 15. Part of the Southern Soul & Song concert series. augustafamily.com

ENJOY AN EVENING OF CHAMBER MUSIC with tickets to any of the remaining Jacobs Concert Series performances. Visit augustafamily.com to register.

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Superstars... ...Act It Out... ...Animals Gone Wild Blockbuster Movies...

! c i t s App-Ta Heads Up!

Heads Up! is the fun and hilarious new game that Ellen DeGeneres plays on her show—and now you can play it with your friends and family. From naming celebrities, to singing, to silly accents—guess the word on the card that’s on your head from your friends’ clues before the timer runs out.

Download Now

• Play with one friend or one hundred at the same time.

• Draw a new card simply by tilting your phone.

• Keep videos of your hilarious game play for your own amusement or share them right to Facebook.

• Diverse categories let you challenge your smartypants friends and entertain your kids for hours, all from one app.

The app is available for free at iTunes and other app retailers and is the perfect way to enjoy time with your family over the holidays.

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eating well with kim

by Kim Beavers, MS, RD, LD, CDE

Fall Food Adventures

Illustration by Michael Rushbrook

Take a Little Time To Enjoy Fall Foods and Family Fun

F

amily adventures are so fun and fall is the perfect time to add family food adventures to the calendar. This time of year means apples, pumpkins and hay rides.

Sadly, apples don’t grow well in the CSRA—for everything there is a season and a region. What that really means is that in order to have a fall apple adventure you must go on a road trip, specifically to Ellijay, Ga. Ellijay is the heart of Georgia’s apple country. From late August to early December, roadside stands abound with the tastiest, tree-ripened mountain apples available. You will find a variety of apples in Ellijay from sweet Galas, Honeycrisps and Ginger Golds to tart Granny Smith and Ozark Gold varieties.

Mullis, director of the University of Georgia’s Richmond County Extension Office, the reason we don’t see apple orchards here is because they “do better in colder climates.” In my hurried mother-brain that translated to: “Don’t plant apple trees.” My next question to Sid was, “Well, then what is the lowest maintenance fruit to plant in the backyard?” Sid says the fruit trees that require the least maintenance are blueberries and figs, and now is the time to consider planting them (fall through winter).

If you are not up for road-tripping or tree-planting here are a couple of additional food adventures to consider that are available through Augusta Locally Grown (ALG).

To answer this I turned to the experts at the extension office for advice. According to Sid

Saturday, November 9. Crop Mob Augusta, at East Georgia Produce. Volunteer activities include planting thousands of onions and putting up a greenhouse at East Georgia Produce in Bartow, Ga. Volunteers work all day and then enjoy a fabulous farm meal afterwards.

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What About Planting Your Own Apple Tree?

Sunday, November 10. Urban Gardening Education Tour and Picnic at Legacy Gardens in Evans. Learn about sustainable vegetable gardening in one of Columbia County’s most impressive urban gardens.

Ticket prices are $10 and include a deeply informative tour and a light meal of soup, bread and salad, right from the garden. Space is limited.

Sunday, November 10. Holiday Spirits Workshop and Road Trip. (This one may be best for parents only.) Join other ALG members for a holiday spirit-making workshop at the Homestead in Atlanta.

Tuesday, November 19. Veggie Truck Farmers Market. Closing day celebration and activities.

For more information or to purchase tickets for these local food activities see: http://augusta.locallygrown.net In the meantime, here is a fun kitchen adventure for your family’s enjoyment.

Homemade Chunky Applesauce Fresh apple sauce may become a family favorite. Try mixing different apples for different flavors.

1 Golden Delicious apple, peeled, cored and chopped 1 Granny Smith apple, peeled, cored and chopped 2 Fuji apples, peeled, cored and chopped 1 vanilla bean, cut crosswise into 3 pieces 1 cup apple juice (preferably without added sugar) Cinnamon, optional, to garnish each serving.

Combine all ingredients in a large pot over medium-high heat and bring contents to a boil. Immediately reduce heat to medium and simmer apples until tender but not falling apart, about 13 minutes.

Remove from heat, remove vanilla bean (rinse vanilla bean and leave out to dry and reuse later).

Transfer apples to a food processor in batches and puree just until slightly chunky.

Note: When transferring apples from the pan to the food processor you do not have to use all the liquid from the pan. How much you liquid you add depends on the consistency you prefer. Once processed, cool and enjoy.

Yield: 6 servings (Serving size: 1/2 cup) Nutrient Breakdown: Calories 90, Fat 0g, Cholesterol 0mg, Carbohydrate 25g, Fiber 3g.

Nutrition Bonus: Excellent source of vitamin C

(40% daily value).

Kim Beavers is a Registered Dietitian and Diabetes Educator for University Health Care System. She lives in North Augusta with her husband and two children and she is the co-host of the culinary nutrition segment Eating Well with Kim, which airs at noon Monday, Wednesday and Friday on WRDW. To join the recipe club or view recipes, visit www.universityhealth.org/ewwk. You can also watch the segments at www.wrdw.com/ewwk.

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doctor dad

by J. Ron Eaker, M.D.

Sneeze, Wheeze, Cover Please remember gutter bumpers? Those are the mile long pads they place on either side of the lane to keep your ball in play. They are generally used by 4-year-old children and apparently now...me.

Practice, Practice

I

started allergy shots a few weeks ago. Like millions of other folks, I’m not a big fan of needles. I don’t necessarily mind them...as long as I am the one giving the shot. Allergy shots are quite innocuous as they are given subcutaneously— that is, the harpoon skirts the skin and deposits its cargo into the underlying tissue instead of being jabbed into an unsuspecting muscle. Supposedly this reduces pain and the potential for complications, like slashing a blood vessel.

My wife, who is a registered nurse, administers my injections and this is very convenient except that she has not “nursed” in 25 years. Understandably, if I didn’t do something for 25 years I believe I would get a bit rusty. For example, I was a decent bowler in high school. I was even on the high school bowling team. Okay, I can hear the nerd alarms ringing loud. Not long ago I went bowling for the first time since high school. I looked like a newborn colt trying to walk for the first time with the coordination of a puppy and the grace of an earthworm with Parkinsonism. I knew I had lost my former glory when the pimpled attendant giving out bowling shoes asked me if I needed gutter bumpers. You all

All this to emphasize the point that not doing something for many years sometimes distorts ones perception of competence. I love my wife dearly, so it was with trepidation and trembling that I consented to her giving me my allergy shot, knowing the last shot she administered was during the Reagan administration.

The needle for this type of injection is almost microscopic, yet to the stickee appears like a whaling harpoon. As I slowly drew up the correct dosage, I glanced at Susan with a look of “please don’t hurt me.” She was obviously much less concerned as she was busily watching a YouTube video. I thought to myself, “How sweet, she is reviewing how to give a shot,” only to find it was a video of my daughter’s recent cheerleading competition.

Once I armed the syringe, she grabbed an alcohol wipe and told me to turn my head. I grimaced in anticipation, prepared for the trauma of metal piercing skin, tissue and sinew, and told her to proceed.

She let out a chuckle and said calmly, “I’ve already done it!” I was stunned. I hadn’t felt a thing. All the worry, fear and what now appears to have been foolish anxiety evaporated in an instant. As I relaxed, Susan said, “Just kidding” and plunged the needle into my now unsuspecting arm.

This I felt!

In an effort to gain sympathy I later described it as a searing, flesh melting, burning pain that engulfed my shoulder like a mighty wind. My daughter simply called me a melodramatic wimp. Indeed it hurt, not like the embellished description I relayed, but more like a milli-second prick with a micro-needle.

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Desensitization The whole concept of allergy shots is based on the immunological phenomenon called desensitization. You take what is offensive (the serum mixture) and inject it to create a protection against the offending substance (ragweed, dust mites, taxes, etc.)

The uneducated may mistakenly draw a parallel between the science of immunology and the buffoonery of homeopathy. Homeopathy claims that ingesting, for example, something that causes nausea in normal amounts can idiosyncratically treat nausea when given in an extremely diluted form. This is vaguely the principal utilized by allergy immunity, with one huge difference. The allergy mixture actually contains the proteins of, for example, grasses that someone is allergic to. These small dilutions stimulate the immune system (the little Pac Men of the blood stream) to multiply and arm themselves against foreign invaders so when ragweed blooms you have a whole army in your veins to stamp out the offending marauders.

In homeopathy, however, the solutions one ingests of the offending substance are so vastly diluted that they virtually contain none of the original substances. According to their own literature, the more dilute the better, so most homeopathic mixtures are water and nothing else.

There is nothing magic about why allergy shots work for most people, but there is plenty of science. With homeopathy there is no science and only magic.

The shots seem to be helping me this allergy season, so I have become a believer. Augusta was once labeled “allergy capital of the universe” but with the advent of effective treatments like allergen injections, we can just go back to being that place where they hold a golf tournament.

Dr. Eaker is an Augusta Ob/GYN and author. He and his wife, Susan, have two daughters in college.

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homefront }

by Christina Katz

Keep The Hush In Your Holiday Rush 21 Sanity Saving Ideas To Help You Enjoy the Busy Holiday Season

probably could use some help now. Why not call in a cleaning service in midDecember and in mid-January to bookend the holidays, even if you don’t use one the rest of the year? Consider it a holiday present to yourself.

4. Hum Your Favorite Tunes. Haul out your seasonal music early before you tire of the omnipresent muzak that is sure to come. Load up your smart phone or iPod and carry headphones in your purse to jolly things up when you are ticking chores and errands off your to-do list. If your old faves are getting overplayed, jazz up your playlist with some fresh downloads or albums.

5. Shop The Plan. First, the plan: write down the names of everyone you truly want to give to and what you think they would like. Then, the shop: keep the list in your wallet to jog your memory when hunting down a gift each person you cherish. For store shopping, pay cash, so you won’t overspend. For online shopping, search for coupons before ordering and act early for cheaper shipping.

A

re you excited about the holidays but dreading the end-of-year rush?

If so, you are not alone.

Most parents approach the season with equal parts excitement and trepidation, which can lead to difficulties with decision-making from moment to moment. That’s why I’ve created this list of twenty-one reminders to help you preserve your family’s good cheer all the way through the most wonderful time of the year.

1. Go For Good Enough. If you have an idea in your mind of the “perfect” holiday, you may to be disappointed when your imperfect brood can’t uphold your image. Aim for “good enough” instead. You’ll smile more if you can let unimportant things—like slightly burnt cookies, lights that won’t blink in unison, and late holiday cards—slide.

2. Just Hit Delete. If you think your holiday schedule is grossly overloaded, call a family meeting and vote on what to scratch off your joint to-do list. Decide what you don’t want to do, first. Then decide what matters most to each family member. A one-giftper-family-member tradition might be a sanity-saving plan that sticks.

3. Call In Fresh Recruits. Even if you don’t normally hire a housecleaner, you

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6. Sip Your Way To Heaven. When you are having a hectic day, take a time-out.

Warm up or buy an extra-hot cup of Chai tea with a spritz of whipped cream on top. The spices will put you back in touch with your senses and the warmth will spread through your belly and soothe your frazzled cheer.

7. Get Bazaar. Take the whole family to a local holiday craft bazaar. Look for gifts for teachers and other folks who enrich your family life. Give each child a spending limit and enjoy interacting with the vendors. Plan to spend a couple of hours browsing, so you can soak up all the creative energy.

8. Take 30. Line up winter reads from the library or download them onto your ereader. Encourage the whole family to take thirty minutes a day to relax and read.

Collections of short stories or essays are good choices for moms with very young or multiple children. This is a great way for everyone to decompress after a busy day.

9. Bring Mother Nature Inside. Pine cones, holly, evergreen boughs, twigs, and poinsettias all remind us that there is life hibernating underneath that blanket of snow or wicked frost. Gather reminders of the season from your backyard or local garden shop and decorate the front hall, mantle, and stairway. Remember: simple is as merry as ornate.

10. Huggy Holidays. Use “Happy Holidays!” as an excuse to hug your loved ones often.

Every time you feel stressed, hug or get hugged. Your holiday stress will melt away.

11. Stay Healthy. Put holiday-scented soaps by every sink and encourage plenty of

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{ homefront hand washing. Install a bottle of hand-sanitizer next to every box of tissues. Chase every “Ah-choo!” away. (But stock up on cold medicines, just in case, to avoid midnight trips to the market.)

12. Lighten Up. Twinkling lights create a comforting mood. Don’t limit shimmery lights to the tree and outdoor eves. If it sounds fun, bring some solace into the kid’s bedrooms as well as yours.

13. Take A Deep Breath. Bring some uplifting scents into your cleaning routine. Check out the Mrs. Meyers brand of earth-friendly cleaning supplies. Your home and laundry will smell winter-wonderful.

14. Enjoy Spreading Cheer. Save the annual holiday letter composing and Christmas card address labeling for when you can carve out time to relax and enjoy the process. And don’t try to do it all yourself. Break the job down into steps and enlist the whole family. Remember: taking everything on without helpers is naughty, not nice.

15. Question Tradition. Traditions are wonderful but

let’s face it—sometimes even the fondest can become tired. So, if you don’t feel like tromping around all afternoon hunting for the most splendiferous evergreen on the tree farm or frying the most perfect potato latkes, buy a pre-cut tree at your local grocery store or pick up latkes at the deli instead. Use saved time to enjoy tree trimming or dreidel playing instead.

16. Create Classic Memories. Play hooky from holiday prep for the day and go ice-skating or frolic in the snow with your kids. Drink hot chocolate. Take lots of family photos. Build a fire. Goof off. Enjoy the grins.

17. Save It For A Heatwave. If you are really feeling a time crunch, don’t donate time to help the less fortunate during holiday time. Give time later during a less hectic time of year. There are people in need throughout every season, after all.

19. Hit The Hay Harder. There’s less light during the winter. Take advantage of it and put the kids to bed an hour earlier than normal. There’s the extra hour you need to keep some hustle in your holiday muscle or at least wrap some presents without interruption.

20. Pop Plenty Of Corn. Line up holiday movie classics in your mail order DVD queue. Watch some with the kids and some with your honey in the wee hours. See sidebar for movie ideas.

21. Deck The Bathroom. Hang up some scented pomanders. Bring in lots of little candles (beyond the reach of little hands, of course). Look for winter-scented bath indulges in Juniper, Cedar or Musk. Sink into a bubble bath wonderland. Forget your name for ten minutes.

You’ll feel more holly-jolly if can get calm and stay centered all holiday season long.

18. Sock It To ‘Em. Don’t wait until the temperature hits zero to stock up on slippers and socks. You’ll keep your heating bills down and your kids smiling if everyone in your brood has warm tootsies as the mercury plunges.

Christina Katz is a freelance writer who adores the holidays. Her latest book is The Writer’s Workout from Writer’s Digest Books.

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Holiday Gift Guide

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{ homefront

Past the

Sipping Point

When Does a Mom’s “Way To Relax” Become an Addiction?

By Lucy Adams | Illustrations by Michael Rushbrook

A

ll we need is gossip and alcohol” says one greeting card. Another reads “Birthdays I like.

It’s the morning after that I hate.” Scribed across a third is “A drop of wine never hurt anyone. Must be why a whole bottle makes you feel a whole lot better.” The accompanying illustrations encourage female bonding over booze. And these sentiments are not in slim company. Greeting cards designed for women to exchange tend to concentrate on alcohol and celebrate vices. Social media, too, is saturated with drinking humor.

While funny, the ideas also provide a level of permission. Not only is it okay to drink, but it’s okay to overdo it. Charlotte (her name has been changed at her request), age 42, remembers the dismissive laugh she shared with her drinking friends: “We would joke that ‘We aren’t alcoholics. Alcoholics go to meetings! We’re just drunks.’” Among her comrades, the behavior was normalized. They told each other that excessive drinking was acceptable and fun.

Women Versus Men Substance abuse treatment centers serve a population primarily addicted to alcohol and/or prescription medications. “Men are more likely to become addicts in general,” states Laura Makey, a member of the board of directors for Women For Sobriety (WFS) and a recovering alcoholic. “Women tend to become addicts more quickly than men and to have a harder time quitting.”

Lifestyle changes that cause emotional stress, such as a new baby, a death in the family, a divorce, a child moving out, etc., trigger substance use in women. Men are drug-cued—seeing the substance or passing by the place where it is purchased triggers use.

Six-million women in the U.S. alone are estimated to be dependent on alcohol, as reported by the National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse at Columbia University. According to the National Institute of Alcohol and Alcoholism (NIAAA), 13 percent of women who use alcohol intake more than seven drinks per week. In addition, prescription pill use tends to be a problem predominant among females. Dr. Paul Browne, M.D., director of Maternal-Fetal Medicine at Georgia Regents Medical Center, notes, “Women are more likely to become addicted to prescription narcotics than men. A lot of it has to do with women being more likely to seek healthcare than men.” According

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to the National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse at Columbia University, more than 7.5 million women and girls misuse or abuse prescription drugs each year. Use of heroine, an inexpensive alternative to prescription narcotics, is also on the rise. Morethan 2.5 million women abuse or are dependent on illicit drugs like heroine and cocaine.

The health risks for women who use drugs and alcohol are far greater than those for men. The NIAAA states that 5.3 million U.S. women drink in a way that threatens their health and safety. “A man’s drinking doesn’t impact his unborn child’s development,” says Makey. Use of alcohol during pregnancy is known to cause Fetal Alcohol Syndrome, a cluster of birth defects affecting growth and development of the infant. Alcohol also impairs the efficiency of nutrient absorption by the mother’s body. Since the unborn baby receives its nutrition from the mother, its health is affected as well.

Narcotics interfere with calorie intake, suppressing the appetite. Babies born to mothers with narcotics addictions tend to be underweight. Unlike alcohol, narcotics do not cause birth defects, but withdrawal from narcotics during pregnancy can cause miscarriage or pre-term delivery.

Babies born to mothers using narcotics may go into life-threatening withdrawal after birth.

Women who drink to excess, whether pregnant or not, run a higher risk than men of developing alcoholic hepatitis. They are more likely than men to die from cirrhosis of the liver. They are more likely than male alcoholics to suffer alcohol-induced brain damage. Their chances of breast cancer increase and their fertility goes down. Female alcoholics experience early onset of menopause.

Addiction also has social ramifications. Female addicts are viewed as sexually promiscuous. Use of alcohol and drugs increases a woman’s chances of being a victim of violence or sexual assault. Women hide their

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substance use to avoid losing their children, their job, or their marriage, thus delaying intervention.

The Pattern of Addiction Addiction is insidious. It begins with direct or indirect permission. A friend says it’s okay to have a glass of wine with lunch or a doctor prescribes a pill. Continued and increasing use is bolstered by justification: “I stay at home all day with the kids so I deserve a few drinks to unwind,” or “these pills give me energy and they’re legal so they must be safe.”

Justification leads to increasing use accompanied by denial. Self-talk like, “I’m not an alcoholic because I didn’t drink while I was pregnant” or “I take a few pain pills, but I’m taking care of my responsibilities” takes over. At the same time, though maybe suppressed, there’s some level of recognition that other people don’t use or obsess over the substance in the same way. Since fear of losing one’s children, what others will think and/or committing to never using the substance again creates a barrier to seeking help, a major, usually tragic, turning point event is what forces the person to enter treatment.

“No one wakes up in the morning and says, ‘Today I’m going to become an addict,’” says Anne H. Moss, M.Ed., a licensed professional counselor and certified advanced drug and alcohol counselor with Bradford Health Services. Makey agrees, “It happens so slowly.” Addiction is a chronic disease with benign beginnings. Its victims start out sipping a glass of wine over lunch with friends or taking a pill to control pain or anxiety or letting loose at a party and trying little cocaine “just this once.”

Cali Estes, M.S., an internationally certified addictions and drug counselor and the owner of The Addictions Coach in Miami, Fla., reports a rising trend in “drinking” play groups. The children play while the moms chat and imbibe a couple of glasses of wine. “It usually starts in the group with one person who has that mentality (that it’s okay),” says Estes. She encourages the other women to indulge with her. For some of these mothers, “It goes from being a once a week thing to an everyday thing,” she says.

Mallory, age 22, a resident of Hope House Augusta, is a sales rep and the mother of a 3-year-old son. She’s also recovering from an addiction to pain pills. After her C-section, the physician sent her home with a prescription for pain medication. It didn’t take long before taking the pills had nothing

Resources

Finding Information, Education and Treatment in the CSRA to do with relief from her incision. She says, “Pain pills gave me energy and motivation to get up and do what I had to do in the morning. It got so I couldn’t get out of bed without taking something.”

Charlotte, whose son is now almost 7 years old, would tell herself she earned a drink after staying home with him all day. “Didn’t I deserve a few drinks at the end of a long day with a baby? It became a reward system for me,” she says.

Denial exacerbates substance abuse. Mallory applauded her dedication to taking care of her son even while under the influence of narcotics. Yes, she admitted, she was taking pills to get through her day, but she was at home with her child. Charlotte gives a similar description of her denial: “I was holding down a good job and I was getting promotions and raises. My bills were getting paid, my house was clean and nobody seemed to know I was getting hammered every night so I must not be a true alcoholic.” Like many women, she used the nine months of sobriety during her pregnancy as additional evidence that her alcohol use was not problematic.

After her son’s birth, she decided not to breast feed and resumed drinking, which she managed to keep “within reason” for the first year. Gradually the alcohol use increased.

She’d start a little earlier each day and drink a little more. “Before long I was drinking in the morning, then sleeping it off while my son took his afternoon nap. I kept that hidden from my husband. Then I’d drink my usual amount in the evenings when he got home. The gap between the two drinking sessions got closer and closer together,” says Charlotte.

Mothers and Substance Abuse The news media have recently pointed attention to tragedies in which mothers driving under the influence have catapulted themselves and their family members into tragic accidents. The common thread between the stories is that no one knew or suspected the mothers had substance abuse problems. In June, a Sacramento, Calif., mother was arrested for driving under the influence and causing the death of her 12-year-old son who was a passenger when the SUV crashed. In September, a Miramar, Fla., mother was arrested in her 6 year old’s elementary school carpool pick-up line for driving under the influence. A Google search finds numerous stories of this kind. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reports arrests of women for DUI increased 30 percent from 1998-2007.

In the early stages of substance abuse, it’s relatively easy for a person to hide. Usage is controlled to fit within the patterns of family life and is reserved for times when Mom is alone or with only the children. “Women are closet drinkers,” says Makey, “especially mothers.” She says of her own alcoholism that private time was drinking time. Mothers drink at home alone or in the car alone. Sippy cups are used to disguise the alcohol.

Bottles are disposed of in other people’s garbage or recycling. Pills are taken to treat a “legitimate” malady of which the husband is aware. He may have even encouraged her to seek medical attention.

As use of substances accelerates, warning signs emerge. “The first signs are always inappropriate behavior,” notes Dr. Browne. Lapses in childcare or personal grooming are clues. Maybe she hides alcohol in unusual places, like the linen closet or the mop bucket or on a shelf in the garage. Does she refuse to answer the phone or run an errand after a certain time in the afternoon or evening? Possibly the bank statement shows frequent cash withdrawals.

Is Mom nodding out, slurring her speech or moving in slow motion? Is she counting pills, concerned about running out, or is she seeing the doctor more frequently than expected? Perhaps there are repeated periods of time during which she is off-the-grid—not

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• The Aiken Center 803-649-1900 www.aikencenter.org • Aiken Treatment Specialists 803- 641-6911 www.aikentreatment.com • Family Counseling Center of the CSRA, Inc. 706-868-5011 http://www.fcccsra.com • Hope House Inc. 706-737-9879 http://www.hopehouseforwomen.org • Serenity Behavioral Health Systems 706-432-3800 www.serenitybhs.com • Augusta Area CSB of East Central Georgia 706-432-4800 • Augusta Metro Treatment Center 706- 722-3855 • Steppingstones To Recovery 706-733-1935 www.steppingstonestorecovery.com • Valdosta Addiction Associates (Augusta) 706-854-9225 • Bradford Health Services 706-854-1126 800-333-1865 www.bradfordhealth.com • 24-Hour Alcohol & Drug Abuse Helpline 706-722-0362 • Augusta Counseling Service 706-737-5700 • Larry Golbom The Prescription Addiction Radio Show— Breaking the Silence http://www.prescriptionaddictionradio. com • Office on Women’s Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services http://www.womenshealth.gov • Women For Sobriety www.womenforsobriety.org • The Addictions Coach http://theaddictionscoach.com

at work, not at home, not answering her cell phone— without a reasonable explanation. A family history of drug and alcohol abuse is a red flag too.

Makey adds, “If a woman really doesn’t have a problem, you should be able to discuss it with her without her being defensive.” The sufferers of addiction, even while caught up in obsessing over their next drink or next pill, may toy with the idea that they have a problem before justification and denial jump in to shut down the thought. “If you think you have a problem,” says Moss, “then you probably do.”

Barriers To Seeking Help

that it would turn out I really was an alcoholic and I really would have to quit for good.”

Worries about labeling weigh on the minds of women as well. “The stereotype,” says Elicia Taylor, the clinical director of Hope House Augusta, “is that it’s not the girl next door, but often times it is.” Mallory is the prototypical girl-next-door. She’s attractive and intelligent, well-spoken and compassionate.

No one would peg her as a drug user.

Charlotte resisted treatment because she dreaded identifying herself as an alcoholic. She says, “Alcoholics are downtrodden, dirty, homeless, clinging to a bottle in a bag sitting on the curb, stumbling around town, etc. I didn’t want to be one of them. I knew that is how everyone perceives an alcoholic.” This is where clinicians like Taylor come in. She says, “We want to dispose of the myth that a substance abusing woman looks a certain way.” Estes, adds, “Society condemns women and forgives men.” Removing blame, stigma and the threat of losing custody of children improves the likelihood that a woman will seek treatment.

Unfortunately, it takes a major event to force the issue. Estes states, “It all comes to a head because it spirals out of control.” Charlotte’s turning point came after spending a day at a cookout with friends. She left the party drunk with her 2-year-old son buckled in the back seat. Driving under the influence, wrecking her car with her 2-year-old in the back seat and getting arrested on the side of the road in front of her son and her parents turned out to be the worst and best thing that ever happened to her. Likewise, serving a jail sentence for stealing put Mallory on the path to recovery.

“Seventy percent of women in treatment were sexually abused as a child,” says Moss. “Thirty to 59 percent of women in drug treatment suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).” Many have been victimized as a result of their addiction. To enter treatment means to face the past and its influence on the present. Humiliation and remorse associated with addiction are magnified by emotions surrounding abuse or other painful experiences. Moss says, “There’s so much shame and guilt built into it. That’s what hurts people who need to be in treatment.” Moss reminds her patients and their families, “This is a brain disease.”

Dr. Browne explains, “There’s new genetic research that suggests addictive personalities run in families.

There may be genetic pre-disposition for addiction.” In that respect, drug and alcohol addiction is a chronic illness mediated by stress and biology and manifested in behavior. Just like a patient isn’t blamed for contracting cancer or heart disease, sufferers of addiction aren’t responsible for susceptibility to their disease.

Treatment, however, is a scary prospect for women and for mothers in particular. They worry that if they reveal their substance use, they may lose their children or their marriage or both. Anxiety also arises over how the children will be cared for while Mom receives treatment. Lack of suitable childcare prevents some women from getting the help they need.

Because they are driven by their craving for the substance, they can’t imagine life without it. Mallory says, “My biggest fear about seeking treatment was the thought of never using again. I just did not think I had it in me.” Charlotte echoes Mallory, saying, “My biggest fear about addressing the problem was

The National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse at Columbia University reports that 92 percent of women who need treatment do not get it. Despite the overwhelming acceptance of the 12-step method popularized by AA and NA, these groups and the process fit the needs of men better than those of women. “It’s a lot of telling war stories,” explains Estes. “Women don’t connect with that.” Recounting the gory details of things done under the influence of or in pursuit of alcohol and drugs bonds men. “Women find it excruciating to live it over and over again,” says Makey. For women, the retelling of

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Treatment

these events is embarrassing. Men receive high-fives while women are tagged with negative labels.

Organizations and businesses offering an alternative to AA and NA are gaining in popularity.

Women For Sobriety reaches female substance abusers through the 13 statements of the New Life Acceptance Program. Statement nine reads, “The past is gone forever.” Other treatment programs, like Estes’s The Addictions Coach, dig to the root problem, repair that and then aid the client in developing momentum to move forward.

An emerging strategy in the treatment field is the use of recovery coaches who monitor the patient in her home 24/7 to ensure she isn’t drinking or using. As of January 2014, recovery coaches will be required to achieve national certification. The downside of this type of treatment is that insurance companies don’t cover it.

Along with behavioral intervention, drug protocols may be used to treat substance abuse. Antabuse is for short-term use under supervision to treat alcoholism. It induces illness in reaction to ingestion of even a small amount of alcohol. Naltrexone, recently approved by the FDA to treat alcohol dependence, blocks the buzz attained from alcohol, reducing the craving.

It’s most effective when used regularly and paired with behavior modification. The drugs methadone and suboxone control cravings and symptoms of withdrawal from narcotics (pain medications and heroine).

Recovering from substance abuse and addiction isn’t easy. It’s hard work. It requires a person to take an honest look at herself, to face her past and take ownership of her future. “Treatment just starts the process.

She has to do the work to not relapse,” says Taylor.

At the time of interviewing Mallory, she had been in recovery for nine months, a milestone of which she is very proud. “I love going to meetings. I just got a job. I’m a respected citizen. I never would have thought that a year ago,” she confides. “My heart was in the right place. I just couldn’t get my head there.” Her head is there now and she works daily to keep herself, her son, her head and her heart together and focused on success.

Lucy Adams is a freelance writer and the author of Tuck Your Skirt in Your Panties and Run. She lives in Thomson, GA with her husband and their four children. Contact Lucy at lucybgoosey@aol.com

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Augusta Family | November 2013 • 31

inspirationstation

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by Danielle Wong Moores

Helping the Homeless

Action Ministries Provides Furniture, Housing and More to Augusta’s Homeless Population

Laurie Cook is the executive director of Action Ministries.

T

he man was in his 60s, gruff and stern. In his disheveled clothing, he appeared to be homeless, and he was standing there, inside the lobby of Action Ministries, demanding to speak to the executive director, Laurie Cook.

Cook came out of her office, ready in case there might be a problem. But when he saw her, he gave her a big toothless smile. “He just wanted to thank me and shake my hand,” says Cook. Action Ministries had recently given the homeless man a bike, enabling him to get a job as a runner for several downtown law offices. Through that connection, the law firm had found him a place to live as a caretaker.

And his next stop that day was to the dental clinic at Georgia Regents University to check his teeth. “He said he’d never been happier in his life,” says Cook, “and he wanted to come back and volunteer.”

Making Connections Connecting the homeless and at-risk to jobs,

32 • Augusta Family | November 2013

housing and a stable lifestyle, after all, is what Action Ministries is all about. Established in Augusta about 25 years ago as Augusta Urban Ministries, the non-profit is part of a statewide network with other locations in Athens, Rome, Atlanta and Gainesville, all with a goal of leading fellow Georgians out of poverty.

Each location may be differently focused—one might have a food pantry or a clothing closet, for example, depending on the community needs. Over its quarter-century history, Action Ministries Augusta has evolved to offer a number of different services.

Through their bike program, a dedicated team of volunteers refurbishes bikes to give to those who don’t have transportation to jobs. A furniture bank accepts donations of furniture from individuals and companies (Weinberger’s, for example) that are then provided to those who may have recently moved into a home but don’t have the means to buy furniture (and one of the requirements of the Department of Family and Child Services is that there must be fur-

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niture if children are living in a home).

Action Ministries also operates 10 transitional homes in the CSRA (eight in Richmond County, one in Columbia County and one in McDuffie County), where families transitioning out of homelessness can live rent-free for up to 24 months. There, a case manager works with them to get a job or additional education or training to help them be more employable, get children back in school and learn how to be self-sufficient, including managing a budget so they can pay rent and utilities, buy groceries and also save for the future.

The ministry’s White Christmas program is only second in size to the Salvation Army of Augusta’s, providing food, necessities and toys to 1,700 children and 8,933 meals to families in 2012 alone.

Action Ministries also completed the second year of its Smart Lunch Smart Kid Program, which provided 26,000 lunches to kids during the summer months, who otherwise might have gone without a midday meal.

{ inspirationstation The Role of Volunteers A census taken this year found that Augusta’s homeless population totals around 800, ranking the city as the third highest in Georgia, behind Atlanta and Savannah. (And surveyors admit that the numbers are far from accurate, as some homeless declined to participate and others were missed.) But thanks to the help of numerous community volunteers and partners, the ministry is able to serve a majority of these individuals. In the Smart Kid Smart Lunch program, for example, every day companies, churches, civic organizations and individuals commit to making a certain number of sack lunches (with a sandwich, salty snack, fruit and healthy drink). Action Ministries gathers these lunches then delivers them daily to community centers where more volunteers distribute them to children— and often read stories or play games with them as well.

“The volunteers are amazing—they’re here and it’s definitely not for the looks of the building,” Cook says with a laugh (she herself started as a volunteer before taking a job as development director then transitioning to her current role this past January). “They definitely want to make a difference in somebody’s life.”

Looking Toward the Future About 15 years ago, Action Ministries inherited the old Murray Cookie factory on Hale Street, ideally situated in the heart of the urban community they serve. The brick exterior, emblazoned with colorful murals, encloses office space, meeting areas and the furniture bank, taking up roughly 28,000 square feet of the 100,000-plus-square-foot factory. Other tenants, including Kids Restart, also use some of the space.

But Cook and other community partners have a vision for the future: Why not use the additional square footage to create a “one-stop information center” where the homeless can go to have all their needs met? While Augusta currently has resources via numerous agencies, including the Salvation Army, Julie’s House, SafeHomes, Goodwill, Christ Community Health Services, local churches and many, many others, there is no one location where people at risk can go to find help. “We don’t need to recreate the wheel. There’s a lot of people doing really good work, but we sure would like to share resources,” says Cook. “There are several of us working together—both nonprofits and several churches—trying to figure out what this would look like,” she says. “It’s a way to connect all the dots.”

By working together, says Cook, the agencies can put all the pieces of the puzzle together. They’re already making a difference—the stories they hear tell them that—but there’s so much more they can do.

“Sometimes this can be a really depressing type of work—the stories you hear,” she says. “But you have people come back who’ve been able to escape out of it—and that does it.”

Action Ministries helps homeless and at-risk families and individuals referred to them by other agencies, including churches. To find out how you can help, call 706-722-8195 or visit actionministries.net/ locations/augusta.

Danielle Wong Moores is an Augusta freelance writer who also writes for Augusta Magazine and The Augusta Chronicle.

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Augusta Family | November 2013 • 33

calendar November 2013

Lights of the South More than five million lights arranged in spectacular displays throughout a 100-acre forest dazzle each holiday season at Lights of the South in Grovetown. Enjoy food, sweets, hot chocolate, hay rides, visits with Santa and marshmallow roasting. Open November 20-December 30 from 6 to 10 p.m. (Closed Christmas Day.) For more information call 706-825-6441 or go to www.lightsofthesouth.com.

34 • Augusta Family | November 2013

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calendar Special Events November 1-December 30. Annual Quilt Exhibition.

The Brown Sugar Stitchers once again display their unique quilts. Featuring quilter Pollie Stevenson, long-time art exhibitor from New York. Lucy Craft Laney Museum of Black History. 706-724-3576.

November 2-3. Hounds Around Towne. Pet costume contest, doggy vendors, veterinarians on hand to answer your pet questions and raffle prizes. Also featuring the Hyperflite Skyhoundz 2014 DiscDogathon World Qualifier on November 2 and 3, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Performance by Eryn Eubanks and the Family Fold on November 2 at 11 a.m. All other activities, 10 a.m.-3 p.m. both days. Evans Towne Center Park. 706-312-7194.

November 2. St. John’s Apple Fest. Fresh apples and apple desserts will be for sale at this annual harvest celebration. Games for the kids, trash and treasure booths and a silent auction. 8 a.m.-2 p.m.

St. John’s United Methodists Church at Richland Avenue and Newberry Street. Downtown Aiken.

803-648-6891.

November 2, 9, 16, 23 & 30. Planetarium Shows.

The DuPont Planetarium at the Ruth Patrick Science Education Center in Aiken has two special shows every Saturday in November. In My Backyard will begin at 7 p.m. and More Than Meets the Eye begins at 8 p.m. Shows include a live sky tour. The observatory, which houses the Bechtel telescope, is open after the shows, weather permitting. Make a reservation by calling 803-641-3654.

November 4-24. Aiken County Historical Museum Annual Quilt Show. A variety of handmade quilts will be on display. Aiken County Historical Museum. 803642-2015. www.aikencountyhistoricmuseum.org.

November 4. Story Time at the Park. A time for stories, games, prizes, books and refreshments. Each child will receive a book to take home. Ages 8 and under accompanied by an adult. 10-11 a.m. at the Eustis Park Shelter, Aiken. (In case of inclement weather, story time will be held at the Smith Hazel Recreation Center Gym.) Call 803-642-7632.

November 7. Oysters on Telfair. Enjoy a cool autumn evening in the gardens of Ware’s Folly. Raw and steamed oyster bars, a delectable “down on the bayou” feast, soulful live music and more. Proceeds benefit the Gertrude Herbert Institute of Art. 7 p.m.

Gertrude Herbert Institute of Art. 706-722-5495.

November 8. A Chef’s Extravaganza. Join Helping Hands for their 10th anniversary celebration. This black-tie dinner offers a six- to eight-course menu, selection of fine wines, silent auction and live entertainment. Event benefits programs of Helping

Hands, which aims to enrich the quality of life and well-being of children, youth and families in need in Aiken County. Woodside Plantation Country Club.

For tickets, 803-648-3456.

November 14. Sacred Heart Holiday Open House.

A premier holiday shopping destination to find that unique gift for everyone on your list. Bake sale of items created by Sacred Heart Guild Members.

Free gift wrapping. Special guest Jennifer Shuford of Tastefully Yours gives a cooking demonstration at 1 p.m. Event is from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Sacred Heart Cultural Center. 706-826-4700.

November 15-17. 27th Annual Christmas Made in the South. Hundreds of artists sell pottery, blown glass, personalized ornaments for your trees, floral centerpieces, glass beaded jewelry, seasonal table furnishings, indoor and outdoor decorations. Enjoy specialty coffees, soups and other delectable holiday treats. Nov. 15 and 16, 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Nov. 17, 11 a.m.- 5 p.m. James Brown Arena. www.augustaentertainmentcomplex.com.

November 16. Christmas Crafts and Caroling. Featuring local arts, crafts and food vendors. Gift wrapping, a visit from Santa and children’s activities. 10 a.m.-5 p.m. The new Exhibition Center in Grovetown.

November 16. Art After Dark. The Columbia County Artists’ Guild invites the community to experience an evening of visual art including watercolors, oils, acrylics, photography, pottery, fiber arts, jewelry and mixed media. Silent auction with proceeds benefitting the guild’s scholarship fund. 7-10 p.m. Savannah Rapids Pavilion. www.artistsguildcc.org.

November 20-December 30. Lights of the South.

More than five million lights arranged in spectacular displays throughout the 100-acre forest. Plus great food, sweets, hot chocolate, hay rides, visits with Santa and marshmallow roasting. 6-10 p.m. seven days a week. Closed Christmas Day. Grovetown.

706-825-6441 or www.lightsofthesouth.com.

November 24. Photos with Santa. 10 a.m.-4 p.m. at the Old Government House, 432 Telfair St. Call 706-821-1812.

November 23-February 23. Snowville. Strap on some ice skates and pack your mittens for a frosty, funfilled trip to Snowville, where every day is a snow day.

Crawl through an ice tunnel, climb a snow-capped mountain, sled down a snowy hill or visit the Penguin Observation Station. EdVenture Children’s Museum.

211 Gervais St., Columbia. www.edventure.org.

November 25. James Brown Turkey Giveaway.

This annual event is a living tradition and legacy of the Godfather of Soul, Mr. James Brown, continued through the James Brown Family Foundation.

9-11 a.m. at the Dyess Park Community Center, 902 James Brown Blvd. For more information call 706724-0504 or visit www.jamesbrownfamilyfdn.org.

November 28. One Table. A unique event made possible by local churches, sponsors and dedicated volunteers, One Table is a full, traditional Thanksgiving feast served—at no charge—in downtown Aiken’s The Alley. Gather with old friends and meet new ones around a banquet of turkey, dressing, sweet potatoes, green beans, rice and gravy, cranberry sauce and more. Live music provided by local churches.

November 28. Blessing of the Hounds. The traditional ceremony held in Hitchcock Woods gathers people from across the community as a priest blesses the hounds, horses, and riders before a drag hunt.

11 a.m. Memorial Gate in Hitchcock Woods. There is no parking at the South Boundary entrance, but attendees can park downtown. No motorized vehicles or dogs are permitted in the woods for this event. www.hitchcockwoods.org or call 803-642-0528.

November 30. Christmas Tree Lighting. Celebrate the season ’round the Christmas tree and bring your loved ones for an evening filled with glee. Enjoy live music, meet Santa and shop the arts and crafts. 3 p.m. at Evans Towne Center Park.

November 21-December 1. Holiday Gingerbread Village. Ten local bakers create amazing gingerbread replicas of historic structures of the CSRA. Augusta Museum of History. 706-722-8454.

November 30. Christmas in the Backcountry. Learn how colonists and their slaves observed Christmas.

Storytelling, holiday treats and a visit from Santa Claus.

North Augusta Living History Park. 803-979-9776.

November 22-23. Copper Artist Ben Caldwell. A show and sale of sculptural serveware crafted by nationally recognized coppersmith Ben Caldwell.

The White Crane. 706-738-6359.

Museum and Science Programs

November 22-24. Junior League Augusta Holiday Market. Holiday shopping event features more than 40 boutiques and speciality shops, door prizes, ladies night out and more. Noon to 6 p.m. Friday. 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday. 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday.

The Legends Club. 706-736-0033. jlaugusta.org.

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November 1. Searching for Prehistoric Indians in the Southeast. Two professors from the University of West Georgia present an update on their 2013 excavations in Phinizy Swamp in search of our region’s earliest inhabitants. 5 p.m. Augusta Museum of History. 706-722-8454.

November 2. Swamp Saturday. The Academy’s trained volunteers lead free 2.5-mile, 1.5-hour hikes

Augusta Family | November 2013 • 35

calendar through the Phinizy Swamp Nature Park. Don’t miss a walk through wetlands over picturesque trails with scenic outlooks. Call 706-828-2109 in advance for groups. For more information, contact the Academy office at 706-828-2109 or info@naturalsciencesacademy.org.

November 6. Brown Bag History Series. Steve Rauch presents The Military Presence in Augusta. Beverages served at 11:30 a.m., lecture begins at 12:30 p.m. Augusta Museum of History.

706-722-8454.

November 9. Voices of the Past Museum Theater Series: The Other Tubmans. Performed in a theater format by actors, the character in The Other Tubmans tells a story explaining the connection between local Tubman slaves freed in the 1830s and William Tubman, who served as Liberia, Africa’s longest running president from 1944-1971. Noon, 12:30 p.m. and 1:30 p.m. Free with Museum admission. Augusta Museum of History. 706-722-8454.

November 9-10. Oka’Chaffa Indian Festival. Celebrate harvest time with an immersion in Native American culture. Phinizy Swamp Nature Park. 706828-2109.

November 15. Cherokee Leaf Painting. Head to Reed Creek Park to learn about the Native American craft of Cherokee leaf pounding. Transfer a leaf’s natural dyes to fabric by beating its chlorophyll directly onto the cloth. 4:30-5:30 p.m. For ages 5 and up. Children must be accompanied by an adult. Preregistration is required by calling 706-210-4027.

The Arts, Music and More November 1. Augusta Canal Moonlight Music Cruise. Featuring the Living Room Legends. 5:45 p.m. 706-823-0440.

November 1. Al Stewart. By the time he was 22, Al Stewart met with the Beatles and played with John Lennon’s guitar. He opened for the Rolling Stones, recorded with Jimmy Page, spent a year playing guitar for Yoko Ono and co-produced her film # Four.

7:30 p.m. Jabez S. Hardin Performing Arts Center.

706-726-0366.

November 1. Augusta Children’s Chorale Dessert Concert. Annual holiday fundraising performance followed by a dessert party. 7 p.m. Sacred Heart Cultural Center. 706-826-4700.

November 1-2. Bilbo and the Magic Ring. A musical loosely based on The Hobbit. Presented by Storyland Theatre. School shows, Nov. 1 at 9:30 a.m., 10:45 a.m. and 12:15 p.m. Reservations required.

Saturday family matinee, Nov. 2 at 3 p.m. No reservations needed. Meet the actors after the show.

Active duty military personnel and their families admitted free with military ID. Imperial Theatre. 706736-3455.

November 5. Tuesday’s Music Live—Event Horizons: Baroque to Blue Grass to Gospel. Enjoy lunch in the River Room while listening to a variety of musical styles. Advance lunch reservations are required and can be made online at www.TuesdaysMusicLive.com or by calling 706-722-3463. St. Paul’s Church, 605 Reynolds St. November 7-8. Galway to Broadway: Ciarán Sheehan & Friends. Broadway favorites balanced with lively, heart-tugging Irish melodies and humor. The stage is led by Dublin native Ciarán, who made his Broadway debut in Les Miserables and later in The Phantom of the Opera. 7:30 p.m. URS Theater. Aiken. 803-643-4774.

November 7. Women on Paper 25th Anniversary Art Exhibition. Opening reception, 5-7 p.m. Sacred Heart Cultural Center. Exhibit through December 27.

706-826-4700.

November 7-10. The Importance of Being Earnest.

Presented by the Georgia Regents University theater students. Nov. 7-9 at 7:30 p.m. Nov. 10 at 3 p.m.

Maxwell Theatre. GRU campus. 706-667-4100.

November 7-December 10. Jeff Schmuki. Arizona ceramicist Jeff Schmuki uses art as a means of connecting nature to everyday life, linking ecological issues to highly creative installations. Reflecting his deep concern for the environment, his work often incorporates repurposed commercial products, horticultural materials and ceramic objects, inspiring viewers to take the first step towards playing a role in creating a sustainable future. Opening reception and gallery talk, Nov. 15. 6-8 p.m. Gertrude Herbert Institute of Art. 706-722-5495.

November 7-December 10. Ulrike Beck. Master weaver Ulrike Beck exhibits examples of her beautifully creative and colorful fiber art. Opening reception, Nov. 15. 6-8 p.m. Gertrude Herbert Institute of Art. 706-722-5495.

November 8-9, 15-16, and 21-23. The Match Girl.

Presented by Enopion Theatre Company. Nov. 8, 15 and 22 at 7 p.m. Nov. 9 at 3 p.m. Nov. 16 at 3 p.m. and 7 p.m. Nov. 21 at 11 a.m. Nov. 23 at 3 p.m.

Evening dinner shows on Nov. 8, 16 and 22. Meal provided by Café on the Canal at the Kroc Center.

Reservations required. All performances at the Kroc Center. 706-771-7777.

November 9. Symphony Orchestra Augusta in Aiken: Brilliant Baroque. An evening of the refined works of Haydn, Handel and Ravel. Featuring Vonda Darr, harp. 8 p.m. USC-Aiken Etherredge Center.

706-826-4705.

November 10. Live at the Lake! Live music, art and movement hosted by Garden City Jazz and Humanitree House. Open jam with Mike Frost Jazz; visual artists interpreting the music; dance and spoken word. Also featuring Wycliffe Gordon and the Nu Funk Revolution. 7 p.m. Julian Smith Casino. www. gardencityjazz.com.

November 11. Veteran’s Day Concert. Presented by the Savannah River Winds. Those attending can have names of family members or friends who have served or are serving in the military honored by putting their names in the program. All proceeds benefit the Augusta Wounded Warrior Project and the veterans at the Augusta V.A. Hospital. 7:30 p.m. Grace Methodist Church, Wesley Center. North Augusta. www.savannahriverwinds.com.

November 14. University Health Care System Pops! at the Bell: Big Bad Voodoo Daddy. Come swing, Big Band style, with Symphony Orchestra Augusta.

7:30 p.m. Bell Auditorium. 706-826-4705.

November 15-16 and 22-23, December 5-7. Miracle on South Division Street. It’s Christmas Eve as we experience the story of the Nowak family. Clara happily runs her soup kitchen and tends to the family heirloom: a 20-foot shrine to the Blessed Mother.

This neighborhood beacon of faith commemorates the day in 1942 when the Blessed Virgin Mary materialized in her father’s barber shop. Daughter Ruth divulges her plan to finally “go public” with the family miracle. Dinner, 7 p.m. Show, 8 p.m. Fort Gordon Dinner Theatre. 706-793-8552.

November 15. Southern Soul & Song Concert Series: Blue Highway and Sierra Hull. 7:30 p.m. Imperial Theatre. For tickets call 706-722-8341 or www. imperialtheatre.com.

November 15. The Lukens Piano Trio. Presented by the Harry Jacobs Chamber Music Society. 7:30 p.m.

Maxwell Theatre. GRU campus. 706-667-4100.

November 15. Frantz Joseph Haydn’s Mass in DMinor (The Nelson Mass). Featuring the Columbia County Choral Society and the Columbia County Orchestra. 7:30 p.m. Wesley United Methodist Church.

Evans. www.columbiacountychoralsociety.org.

November 8. Brilliant Baroque. SOA Series event.

An evening of the refined works of Haydn, Handel and Ravel. Featuring Vonda Darr, harp. 7:30 p.m.

First Baptist of Augusta. 706-826-4705.

November 16. Stolen Lives. Raisin AJ Productions and the Augusta-based non-profit organization I’m Aware have teamed up to present an eye-opening stage play about human trafficking. 7 p.m. Imperial Theatre. 706-722-8341.

www.augustafamily.com

Augusta Family | November 2013 • 37

calendar two of the leading contemporary glass artists working in this demanding medium, husband and wife Richard Jolley and Tommie Rush.

November 1-24. Starters: Selections From the Wells Fargo Collection. This exhibition of 50 paintings, photographs and works on paper from the renowned collection of Wells Fargo Bank provides a broad overview of one of the most respected corporate collections in America.

November 3. Artrageous! Family Sunday: Symphony Petting Zoo. Learn all about instruments as dozens of musicians provide hands-on demonstrations. Create your own musically-inspired crafts. Free. 1-4 p.m.

Dance Augusta’s The Nutcracker The holidays are right around the corner and what better way to get in the Christmas spirit than watching the classic tale of The Nutcracker. Celebrating excellence in dance since 1964, Nutcracker 2013 tickets are on sale now for the shows on November 29 at 7 p.m., November 30 and December 1 at 1 p.m. and 4 p.m. Imperial Theatre.

706-722-8341 or www.imperialtheatre.com.

November 17. Music at the Morris: Trio Intermezzo. Trio Intermezzo presents As Time Goes By: A Harvest Celebration, an eclectic mix blending the beautiful sounds of oboe, cello and piano. Free. 2 p.m. Morris Museum of Art. 706-724-7501.

November 20. Joe Bonamassa. Hailed worldwide as one of the greatest guitar players of his generation, Joe Bonamassa has almost single-handedly redefined the blues-rock genre and brought it into the mainstream. 8 p.m. Bell Auditorium. www.georgialinatix.com or 1-877-4AUGTIX. November 21-24. Ordinary Days. The story of four young New Yorkers whose lives intersect as they search for fulfillment, happiness, love and cabs.

Through a score of vibrant and memorable songs, their experiences ring startlingly true to life. Nov. 2123, 7:30 p.m. Nov. 24, 2 p.m. Main Stage Theatre.

USC-Aiken Etherredge Center. 803-641-3305.

November 29-December 1. Dance Augusta Presents The Nutcracker. One of Augusta’s favorite holiday traditions. Nov. 29 at 7 p.m. Nov. 30 and Dec. 1 at 1 p.m. and 4 p.m. Imperial Theatre. 706-722-8341 or www.imperialtheatre.com.

November 29-30, December 6-8 and 13-14. Dear Santa. Santa and his helpers shed light on many of the mysteries surrounding him. Of course, sometimes being Santa isn’t all that great. In the end, it

38 • Augusta Family | November 2013

is the faith of the many that sustains Santa. Fri. and Sat. shows, 8 p.m. Sun. show, 3 p.m. Aiken Community Playhouse. 803-648-1438.

Morris Museum of Art 1 Tenth St. 706-724-7501 or www.themorris.org.

November 1. Films on Friday: The Yearling (1946).

Nominated for multiple Academy Awards, its juvenile start, Claude Jarman Jr. was awarded a special Oscar for his performance. After viewing the film, museum director Kevin Grogan leads a discussion. Participants are invited to bring a lunch. Free. Noon.

November 1-10. Formal Candids: Photographs by Greg Kinney. Atlanta native Greg Kinney joined the air force in 1969. After six years of military service, he became a corporate and airline pilot. When he gave up flying in 1982 to pursue his interest in photography, he established himself as one of Nashville, Tenn.’s leading commercial photographers.

November 7. Mommy and Me: Patterns and Prints.

Explore how artists use patterns and create your own patterned fabric painting. Registration required.

10-11 a.m.

November 8-9. Symposium: Augusta and the Civil War—Family, Medicine and the Homefront. A twoday symposium focusing on Augusta’s role in the Civil War. Dr. Stephen Berry presents Lincolns and Todds: A House Divided at First Presbyterian on Friday. The program continues on Saturday with a series of lectures and performances by noted historians. View a special exhibition of Civil War-themed artwork in the Education Gallery through November 17. November 8, 6:30 p.m. November 9, 9 a.m.-4:45 p.m. Advance registration required.

November 9. Adult Artist Workshop: Printing to Painting With Darryl DeBruhl. Inspired by the work of Jasper Johns, DeBruhl leads participants through a combined process of silkscreen and painting to create a dynamic and unique image. 10 a.m.-4 p.m.

Registration due by November 4.

November 10. Senn Designs Trunk Show. Noon-4 p.m.

November 12. Southern Circuit Film Series: Out of Print. Narrated by Meryl Streep, this film draws us into the topsy-turvy world of words, illuminating the exciting and turbulent journey from the book through the digital revolution. After the movie, there will be a question-and-answer session with producer and director Vivienne Roumani. Free.

November 1-December 15. Dark Corners: The Appalachian Murder Ballads—Paintings by Julyan Davis. Davis’s most recent work, Dark Corners interprets traditional American, English and Celtic ballads through images of the contemporary South.

November 15. Art at Lunch: Guidestones. Filmmaker Noel Brown discusses his award-winning documentary Guidestones and shows clips of the film, which explores a mysterious granite monument in Elbert County, Ga., inscribed with a set of guidelines for living written in 12 languages. Food by A Catered Affair.

Noon. Paid reservations due by November 13.

November 1-17. Richard Jolley and Tommie Rush: The Art of Glass. Exhibition features sculpture by

November 16. Film Screening: Guidestones. A documentary that explores a mysterious granite monu-

www.augustafamily.com

calendar ment in Elbert County, Ga., that is inscribed with a set of guidelines for living written in 12 languages.

Free. 2 p.m.

November 21. Art Now Contemporary Artist Talk: The Art Bomb. Diane Kilgore Condon, founder of the Art Bomb, a nonprofit cooperative studio, will provide an overview of its 16 artists, all of whom will have artwork on display in the Education Gallery.

Reception and music will follow. 6-8 p.m.

November 23. Saturday Special: Printmaking 101.

Hands-on demonstrations and discussions help you learn more about lithographs, etchings and engravings. 2 p.m.

Sports Augusta-Richmond County Recreation Department East Augusta, May Park, 622 4th St. 706-724-0505.

South Augusta, Fleming Athletic Office, Daniel Street. 706-796-5047.

West Augusta, Eisenhower Athletic Office, 488 Eisenhower Dr. 706-821-2801.

Through November 8. Youth Winter Athletic Registration. Leagues: Boys and girls bantam basketball, ages 6-8. Pee Wee basketball, ages 9-10. Midget basketball, ages 11-12. Junior basketball, ages 1314. Senior basketball, ages 15-17.

November 1-29. Adult Winter Athletic Basketball Registration. Divisions: Open coed and men’s open, men’s and women’s church, open coed church and open men’s industrial. Register at Diamond Lakes Regional Park—Adult Complex, 108 Diamond Lakes Way, Hephzibah. Call 706-771-2980.

Columbia County Recreation Department 5445 Columbia Road, Grovetown.

706-863-7523 Through November 8. Winter Sports Registration.

Basketball. Ages 5-14. Season played January/February 2014.

CSRA Defensive Arts 803-221-0330 or csraDefensiveArts.com.

Martial Arts Classes. Ages 8-adult. Goshinjitsu, Kindai Karate and Kobojutsu. Call for information.

Recreation Programs Champions Made From Adversity P.O. Box 980, Evans, Ga. 706-364-2422. www.cmfa.us This nonprofit organization strives to advance the lives of people with physical disabilities

and their families through sport and leisure opportunities.

Wilson Family Y on November 11 and at the Aiken and North Augusta Family Y’s November 27 & 29.

Current weekly schedule: Monday—Adapted fitness at the Kroc Center, 2-4 p.m. and wheelchair basketball at Garrett Elementary School, 6:30-8 p.m.

Tuesday—Swimming at Fort Gordon, 9-11 a.m., and quad rugby at the Kroc Center, 6-8 p.m.

Wednesday—Wheelchair basketball, 6:30-8 p.m.

Thursday—Swimming at Fort Gordon, 9-11 a.m., and Adapted Fitness at the Kroc Center, 3-5 p.m.

Friday—Adapted cycling at the uptown VA, 1:302:30 p.m.

November 16. Parent’s Night Out at Family Y of Aiken County. Take the kids to the Y and enjoy an adult night out. Ages 2-12. 5:30-9 p.m.

The Family Y

November 23. Gasping Gobbler 5K. Enjoy a morning activity or challenge yourself with a 5K run. The course will begin and end at Warren Road Recreational Center, 300 Warren Rd., with the course running through the local neighborhood. A free kids’ fun run for ages 4-11 begins at 8 a.m. and the 5K will follow immediately after the children’s race. Registration required.

Financial assistance is available for all Family Y programs. Register at any branch or online at www.thefamilyy.org or call 706-922-9622.

November 23. Parent’s Night Out at Wilson Family Y and Family Y of Augusta South. Enjoy a date night while your kids have fun at the Y from 6-9:30 p.m.

Through November 3 & 4. Cheerleading and Basketball Registration at the Wilson Family Y. Each team meets for two hours each week for practice and play. Games played on Saturdays. No practices during winter break. Ages 5-14. Registration for basketball ends Nov. 3, cheerleading ends Nov 4.

November 23. Parent’s Night Out for Children of Deployed Soldiers at Marshall Family Y. Enjoy a night off while your kids have a fun evening at the Y. Ages 2-12. 6-9:30 p.m. Free for children of deployed soldiers.

Through November 3. Registration for Youth Basketball and Cheerleading at Aiken Family Y. Ages 3-4 and 5-12.

November 4-December 5. Swim Lessons Fall Session. Classes for all levels are offered at the Family Y of Downtown Augusta, the Wilson Family Y and the Family Y of Aiken County. Ages 6 months to adult beginners.

November 5-December 6. Family Y Swim Club Fall Session. Swim club is a bridge between swim lessons and a swim team with specific training in endurance and stroke work for ages 6-18. Wilson Family Y. November 8. Freedom Friday at the Family Y of Augusta South. It’s hard to find time for yourself when your spouse is overseas. Let your kids, ages 8 weeks to 12 years, have a fun evening at the Y. 6-9:30 p.m.

Free for all active duty military families.

November 9. Parent’s Night Out at Family Y of North Augusta. Let the kids have fun while you enjoy a date night. Ages 2-12. 6-9 p.m.

November 9 & 23. Parent’s Night Out at Marshall Family Y. Fun, entertaining night for children ages 2-12. 6-9 p.m.

November 11, 27 & 29. School Days Out. For students in K-5th grades when there is a student holiday or teacher work day. Focus on character development through core values of caring, honesty, respect, responsibility and faith. Held at the

www.augustafamily.com

Ongoing. Mother’s Morning Out at the North Augusta Family Y. Moms enjoy a relaxing productive morning while kids are taught a basic educational curriculum, sports and creative arts. Monday/ Wednesday or Tuesday/Thursday sessions from 9 a.m.-noon for ages 2-4. Call 803-278-0882.

The Salvation Army Kroc Center 1833 Broad Street, Augusta. www.krocaugusta.org.

706-364-KROC or info@krocaugusta.org.

November 1, 8, 15 & 22. Kroc Tots Activity Hour.

Ages 18 months to 5 years. Action-packed play date for parent and toddlers. 9:30-10:30 a.m.

November 4-16. Lifeguarding. The content and activities of this course prepare participants to quickly recognize and effectively respond to emergencies to prevent drownings and injuries. Ages 15 and up. 6-10 p.m. or Saturday from 8 a.m.-2 p.m.

November 8. Kid’s Night Out. Parents enjoy a night out by bringing your child to the Kroc Center. Activities may include swimming, gym play, inflatables and crafts. Dinner included. 6-10 p.m.

November 16. CPR & First Aid. Designed for the everyday person who wants to be prepared for emergencies. Ages 15 and up. 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Call for fee information.

November 16. Holiday Wreathmaking. Learn different creative methods to create holiday pocket

Augusta Family | November 2013 • 39

calendar wreaths with fresh or silk flowers and greenery. Autumn and Winter designs will be featured. Call for a supply list. 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Ages 15 and up.

November 16. Kids’ Holiday Clay Creations. Bring an adult buddy to make Thanksgiving projects.

Learn to mix colors and take home the decorations you’ve made. Register early—space is limited. 1111:45 a.m.

November 19. Lunch and Learn: Tips for Keeping the Holidays Healthy. Join nutrition coach Cindy Stephens for a nutrition Q&A discussion at the Café on the Canal. Attendees will receive 10 percent off of their lunch purchase at the event. Noon-1 p.m.

November 22. Family Movie Night. A free movie in the Kroc theater. Refreshments available for purchase.

Children must be accompanied by an adult. 6 p.m.

FAMILY ACTIVITIES Aiken Home School Times Playgroup 803-648-7042 or fourmckeels@yahoo.com.

40 • Augusta Family | November 2013

Thursdays. This playgroup is open to all home schoolers. Meets at the O’Dell Weeks playground for unstructured play for the children and time with other home school parents for the adults. Noon.

Augusta Jewish Community Center 898 Weinberger Way. 706-228-3636 or log on at augustajcc.org.

Ongoing. The Mothers Circle. Free course, resources, education and events for women of other backgrounds raising Jewish children. Call for details.

Sign Up for Class! The AJCC offers a wide variety of classes for children of all ages and adults, including athletics, the arts, cooking, language and more. Log on to download a complete listing.

Classical Conversations www.classicalconversations.com. kelli.c.graham@att.net.

Classical Conversations is a community of home educators following a Christian, classical model of education. Five locations currently serve families in the CSRA­—Augusta, Evans/Grovetown, Grovetown/ Martinez, North Augusta and Aiken.

www.augustafamily.com

Monkey Joe’s 368 Furys Ferry Rd. 706-922-JUMP (5867). monkeyjoes.com.

First Sunday of Each Month. Special Needs Night at Monkey Joe’s. This event is held the first Sunday of each month after general store hours to ensure a calm environment for special needs children and their parents. 6-7 p.m.

North Augusta Homeschool Playgroup Meets Thursdays at various North Augusta parks for play. Field trips will also be scheduled. All homeschoolers are welcome. Call 803-613-0484 or e-mail emilykohlbacher@hotmail.com.

CHILDBIRTH, BREASTFEEDING AND PARENTING SUPPORT GROUPS AugustaAreaMommies Contact Jennifer Stanley at 706-855-0072 or phlegalesfan@att.net.

A community for moms in the Augusta area offering

calendar support, friendship and fun as well as the opportunity to exchange information. The group, which is part of The Mommies Network, also provides discussion forums, an events calendar and more.

Meeting are held online, at local parks, members homes (for monthly BUNCO) and on field trips. All mothers are welcome.

Augusta Food Allergy Group Does your child have severe, potentially fatal food allergies. Would you like to get together with other parents who face the same challenges? This group meets the fourth Tuesday of each month in the Evans Government Center Auditorium, Building A, 630 Ronald Reagan Dr. Free and welcome to anyone dealing with food allergies. Meetings often include special guest speakers. 6 p.m. Contact Sheena Whitlock at swhitlock@augustafoodallergy.org or go to www.augustafoodallergy.org.

AustiCare Contact Donyale Clarke at 803-384-0522.

This Autism support group meets the first Thursday of each month at 6 p.m. at AGC Teacher Supply.

Preregistration is required. Attendance is free.

Burn Survivors Support Group The Southeastern Firefighters Burn Foundation invites all burn survivors to attend this monthly support group. Meetings are held the fourth Wednesday each month at 2 p.m. at the Southeastern Firefighters Burn Foundation, 3614 J. Dewey Gray Circle, Building C. Call 800-650-BURN or go to www.sfbd. net.

Celiac Disease Support Group Email RoseforHealth@aol.com.

Meets the third Tuesday of every month in Suite 120 of the Summerville Building, adjacent to Trinity Hospital of Augusta. Open to those with celiac disease, gluten intolerance or on a gluten-free diet. Discussions include information on celiac disease, do’s and don’ts of a gluten-free diet and more. 7-8:30 p.m.

Common Bond Parent Support Group Geneice McCoy, organizer.

706-729-0012 or commonbond@comcast.net.

For parents of children of all ages and diagnoses with challenging disabilities but remarkable perseverance and resilience. Meets the second Thursday of each month at 7 p.m. Call for location.

La Leche League This breastfeeding support group meets the second Tuesday of each month at 10 a.m. at the First Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church, 2204 Kimberly Dr. Evening meetings are held on the third Thursday of each month at 7 p.m. at Wesley United Methodist Church. Call 706-737-2405 or log on at lllusa.org/web/AugustaGA.html.

MOMS Club Visit momsclubaugusta.org.

Ever feel like you’re the only mother who stays home? You are not alone! Come meet other athome mothers at the MOMS Club, an international nonprofit organization.

MOMS Club of Grovetown www.momsclubofgrovetown.weebly.com Momsclubofgrovetown@gmail.com Members come from Grovetown, Harlem and the communities of Fort Gordon. The group is not affiliated with any parenting style, religion, or ethnic group. MOMS Club is open to and accepting of any and all moms who are at-home with their children.

Moms Connection Call 706-721-8283 for more information.

Every Tuesday. A free weekly support group for new mothers. All new moms are welcome and can bring their baby. Information from International Board Certified Lactation Consultant/Educator/ Perinatal Nurse. Weigh your baby, share refreshments and meet other moms while getting answers to your questions along with timely advice from the Georgia Regents Women’s Health team and guest speakers. 1-2 p.m. , Georgia Regents Medical Center, second floor, Terrace Dining Magnolia Room.

Mothers of Advanced Maternal Age (Mama’s) Did you have a child at age 35 or older? Are you expecting? This group of “older” moms welcomes you for meetings, support and play dates. Disabled children welcome. Contact Ami McKenzie at 706-3645245 or hoopnhollar2@yahoo.com or go to http:// groups.yahoo.com/group/MaMasInAugusta/.

Mothers of Preschoolers (MOPS) A nondenominational Christian group for mothers of preschool-aged children. Childcare provided.

Meets the first and third Tuesday of each month from 10 a.m.-noon at First Presbyterian Church of Augusta, 642 Telfair Street. Call Amy Toney at 803-341-1904 or go to www.firstpresaugusta.org/MOPS. The Aiken charter group of MOPS meets the Second Tuesday of each month for moms to learn, share, support each other and socialize. Meetings are held in the South Aiken Presbyterian Church fellowship hall, 1711 Whiskey Rd. Free childcare and dinner for those attending, reservations required. You do not need to be a member of South Aiken Presbyterian to attend. Check out MOPS Aiken on Facebook, contact Jennie Beat at 803640-4742 or email mopsaiken@gmail.com for more information or to register for childcare.

recruitment and training at 706-396-2180, ext. 107.

The goal of this organization is to revolutionize foster care by keeping siblings together while building healthier families.

Overeaters Anonymous 907-854-1509.

A non-profit 12-step support group for people addicted to food. No dues or fees for membership.

Meets in Augusta on Tuesdays at 7:30 p.m. at St. Andrews Presbyterian Church, 3551 Wheeler Road, and Saturdays at 1:30 p.m. at Covenant Presbyterian Church, 3131 Walton Way.

Parent Support Group The Child Advocacy Center, a program of Child Enrichment Inc., a nonprofit organization serving victims of sexual abuse in our community, is offering a support group for parents and caregivers of children who have been sexually abused.

Groups will be held the second Tuesday of each month. Call 706-737-4631 for information and location. This group is not appropriate for sex offenders.

Peaceful Parenting Augusta This unofficial Attachment Parenting support group is for families who believe in parenting gently and building children’s spirits, minds and bodies through nurturing, attentive and practical approaches. Join their Yahoo! group at Peaceful_ Parenting_Augusta or email Jen at theotherbradford@yahoo.com.

HOSPITAL PROGRAMS Doctors Hospital Call 706-651-BABY (2229) or go to doctors-hospital.net for registration and class location. Pre-registration required for most programs.

November 2. Safe Sitter. This is a nationally recognized program that teaches students ages 11-13 safe and nurturing child care techniques, management and appropriate responses to medical emergencies. 9 a.m.–4 p.m. Registration required.

November 5. The Daddy Class. This class is for Dads only. Taught by an experienced dad, this class talks about the joys and challenges of fatherhood, and ways to support mom. 7 p.m.

November 7. Babies, Bumps and Bruises. Class for families, parents and friends. Infant CPR taught by the American Heart Association. Infant safety issues are also covered. 7 p.m.

801 Greene St., Augusta.

Call Kimberly Lee-Branch, coordinator of licensing,

November 12. Pickles & Ice Cream. This class is great for the first-time mom, but recommended for all. Nutrition, exercise, fetal development and body changes are discussed. 7 p.m.

www.augustafamily.com

Augusta Family | November 2013 • 41

Neighbor To Family

calendar November 14. Baby 101. This class will discuss infant development and offer guidance on care for their new bundle of joy. Topics include normal newborn appearance and behavior, bathing, crying, diapering, swaddling and feeding. 7 p.m.

November 16 & 17. Short and Sweet. A weekend childbirth class covering the process of labor and delivery, comfort techniques and childbirth, medication/ epidurals and relaxation and breathing techniques.

November 19, 26, December 3, 10 & 17. Ready & Able. This five-session class is recommended for late pregnancy. Topics include childbirth process, comfort techniques, medications/epidurals, relaxation, and breathing techniques. Intended to be taken with Showing and Glowing. 7 p.m.

Georgia Regents Health System Register online at gru.edu.

Ongoing. Support Group for Families Who Have Lost a Baby During Pregnancy, Childbirth or Early Infancy. Call 706-721-8299 or visit their Web site.

November 1 & 13. Child Safety Seat Inspections.

Four out of five car seats are used incorrectly. Schedule an appointment to make sure yours is installed properly. November 1 in Building 1010C, 1225 Walton Way. Call Rene Hopkins, RN, at 706-721-7606 to schedule an appointment at the downtown location. November 13 at Columbia County Sheriff’s Office Substation, 650 Ronald Reagan Drive. Call 706541-3870 to make an appointment at the Columbia County location.

November 5. Autism Spectrum Disorder Support and Resource Group (The “A-Team”). Provides support for families, caregivers and friends of children with autism spectrum disorders including autism, Asperger’s and PDD NOS. 6-7 p.m. Children’s Hospital of Georgia, First Floor, Family Resource Library, Room 1801. Call Family Services Development at 706-721-5160 for more information.

November 7 & 20. Safe Kids Greater Augusta Presents Cribs for Kids. Learn how to provide a safe sleep environment for your child. Families who demonstrate a financial need will receive a portable crib, fitted sheet, sleep sac and pacifier for a small fee. 9:45-noon. Safe Kids Greater Augusta Office, building 1010C, 1225 Walton Way. Call Rene Hopkins, RN, at 706-721-7606 or go to grhealth.org/ safekids.

November 14 & 27. Car Seat Class. Safe Kids Greater Augusta offers car seat safety, education and training. Financial assistance is available to Medicaid and Peach Care eligible families. Safe Kids Office, Building 1010C, 1225 Walton Way.

42 • Augusta Family | November 2013

Call 706-721-7606 to register. 5:45-8 p.m.

November 20. Safe Kids Greater Augusta Presents Cribs for Kids. Learn how to provide a safe sleep environment for your child. Families who demonstrate a financial need will receive a portable crib, fitted sheet, sleep sac and pacifier for a small fee. 9:45noon. Safe Kids Greater Augusta Office, building 1010C, 1225 Walton Way. Call Rene Hopkins, RN, at 706-721-7606 or go to grhealth.org/safekids.

Trinity Hospital of Augusta Call Women’s Health Services at 706-481-7727 or visit trinityofaugusta.com for information and registration.

November 2. Saturday Express Lamaze Childbirth Education. Helps mother and support person understand the final stages of pregnancy as well as labor and the birth of your baby. Covers natural and medicated deliveries, Lamaze coping techniques and more. 8:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m.

November 4. Infant CPR. Learn how to respond in an emergency situation using infant mannequins and a simple step-by-step method. 6-8 p.m.

November 5. On Being a Girl. This class is designed for girls ages 9 to 12 accompanied by their mother, a female friend or relative. Discussion is focused on physical and emotional changes of puberty. 6-9 p.m.

November 5. Childbirth Education 101. Learn about the signs and symptoms of labor as well as labor and delivery. 6-8:30 p.m.

November 9. Baby Care Basics and Breastfeeding.

Two popular classes offered together. 9 a.m.-noon.

and friends who have lost infants through miscarriage, death, ectopic pregnancy or stillbirth. Meets the first Monday of each month.

November 4-25 (Mondays) or November 5-19 (Tuesdays). Prenatal Education. This series of childbirth preparation classes is designed to inform and prepare all expectant parents regardless of birth plans.

Class topics include various states of labor, breathing and relaxation and how to care for yourself and your new baby. 7-9 p.m. in the Women’s Center Third Floor Classroom. Registration required.

November 7. Introduction to Infant CPR. Do you worry about knowing how to revive your baby should the need arise? This class provides an opportunity to learn and practice infant CPR on mannequins and learn other aspects of infant safety.

Space is limited, so early registration is suggested. 7-8:30 p.m.

November 8 & 9 or 22 & 23. Childbirth Preparation Weekend Class. A complete childbirth preparation class designed for those with time constraints of fluctuating schedules. Class meets from 6:30-9:30 p.m. on Friday and from 9 a.m.-5:30 p.m. on Saturday. Also included is a follow-up evening at the W.G. Watson, M.D., Women’s Center for a tour, questionand-answer session and review.

November 21. Breastfeeding. This class is designed for the expectant mother who plans to breastfeed. If you want in-depth information on how to evaluate breastfeeding and get off to a good start, this class is for you. Call 706-7742825 to register. 7-9 p.m. at Babies R Us, 4225 Washington Rd., Evans.

Library Events

November 16. Childcare and Babysitting Safety.

Emphasizes that the number one priority of a childcare provider is to be responsible for the safety and wellbeing of the children in one’s care. Includes playtime, hand-washing, telephone calls, infant and child feeding, diapering, sleep time and providing emergency care. For students ages 11-14. 9 a.m.-3 p.m.

Lunch included in registration fee.

November 27. Toddler Story Time. Ages 18 to 35 months. Enjoy a story time presentation. Adult must stay with child. 10:05-10:25 a.m.

University Health Care System

Diamond Lakes Branch Library

Call 706-774-2825 or logon at www.universityhealth. org/calendar for information. Registration is required for most programs.

101 Diamond Lakes Way, Hephzibah.

706-772-2432.

Young Women with Breast Cancer. Meets the third Friday each month. A support group for women in their 20s through 30s dealing with breast cancer.

12:20 p.m. at the University Hospital Breast Health Center, Professional Center 2, Suite 205, 818 St. Sebastian Way. November 4. Support Group. For parents, families

www.augustafamily.com

Appleby Branch Library 2260 Walton Way. 706-736-6244.

November 2. Meet the Author. Enjoy a book signing and reading with C.L. Greenlee, author of the Christian romance Promises Under the Stars. Best for adults and older teens. 11 a.m.-1 p.m.

November 5. Young Children’s Story Time. Songs, finger plays, and story readings best for children ages 0-3. Registration required for groups of six or more. 9:30-9:50 a.m.

calendar November 5. Preschool Story Time. Stories, songs, games, short movies and crafts. Registration required for groups of 6 or more. Best for ages 3-5. 10-10:35 a.m.

November 6. Galileo’s Learning Express Library.

Learn how to use the online tools at Learning Express Library to prepare for the SAT, ASVAB and many other standardized tests and how to create a resume and organize your job search. Registration begins on Monday, September 30. For adults and older teens. 6-7:45 p.m.

November 6. Self-Esteem Seminar. A free seminar led by Certified Life Coach Tara Tanksley Stallings.

Recommended registration bagin October 3. Call to register. 6-7:45 p.m.

November 13. Tutor.com Orientation for Teens.

Learn about the one-on-one learning services offered free online from Tutor.com. Designed especially for middle school and high school students.

Required registration begins Monday, November 4.

Ages 12-17. 6-7:30 p.m.

November 14. Spreadsheet (Excel) Basics.

Learn essential spreadsheet skills, including entering data, using formulas and formatting workbooks. Taught in two sessions; class continues on November 21. Registration required.

10 a.m.-noon.

November 14. Community Wellness Day. Diamond Lakes Community Center and Library teams up with Fifth Third Bank and other community organizations to bring area residents oneon-one financial and health and wellness information and advice. Featured is Fifth Third Bank’s eBus—a 40-foot self-contained resource center with on-board computer workstations and full Internet connectivity. No registration. For all ages.

4:30-7:30 p.m.

November 16. Game Day for Kids and Families.

Celebrate International Games Day with board games and Wii games. Snacks provided. Required registration begins on Monday, November 4. Best for ages 3-10, but fun for all. 10 a.m.-2 p.m.

November 18. Evening Book Club. Contact the library beginning October 22 for the book to be discussed. Light refreshments provided. No registration necessary, but ask to be placed on a reminder call/email list. 6-7:45 p.m.

November 19. Your Tech, Your Way. Bring your laptop or portable device—tablet, smart phone, ereader, etc.—and receive one-on-one assistance from library staff and volunteers. Required registration begins Monday, November 4. 2:30-5 p.m.

November 20. Game Night for Teens. Join your friends at the library for board games and Wii games.

Snacks provided. Required registration begins on Monday, November 4. Ages 12-17. 5:30-7 p.m.

November 26. Turkey Day Crafts. Drop-in for makeit and take-it Thanksgiving crafts. All materials provided. Registration for groups of 6 or more begins Monday, November 4. Ages 1-11. 9:30 a.m.-noon.

November 27. School’s Out Movie. Enjoy a movie rated G or PG on the library’s almost-big screen.

After November 4, phone 706-772-2432 for the movie’s title and MPAA rating. No registration. Bring your own snacks. All ages. 3-5 p.m.

Euchee Creek Library 5907 Euchee Creek Dr., Grovetown.

706- 556-0594.

ages welcome. 4:30 p.m.

November 6, 13, 20 & 27. Child Enrichment. All ages welcome. 10:30 a.m.

November 21. On the Same Page Book Club. Eat, Pray, Love by Elizabeth Gilbert. 10:30 a.m.

Evans Branch Library 7022 Evans Town Center Blvd.

706-863-1946.

Child Enrichment Tuesdays. Lapsit. Under 2. 10:15 & 11 a.m.

Monday, Wednesday and Thursday. Two-ddler Time. 2 year olds. 10:15 a.m.

Monday, Wednesday and Thursday. Preschool.

Ages 3-5. 11 a.m.

Thursdays. Family Time Enrichment. 4:30 p.m.

November 11. Marshmallow Shooter Craft. Build and decorate your own marshmallow shooters.

Registration required no later than 5 p.m. the previous business day. 4-5 p.m.

November 14. Sensory Friendly Day. A special family enrichment experience involving a visual schedule and many interactive songs and materials. 4:30 p.m.

November 19. Poetry Workshop. Representatives from Poetry Matters will conduct a poetry workshop for any interested teens. 4-5 p.m.

November 20. Marshmallow Shooter Tag. Meet at closing time for an after hours battle among the stacks in the tradition of the Battle Room from Ender’s Game. Registration required no later than 5 p.m. the previous business day. 5-6:30 p.m.

November 4. Movie: Charlie Brown Thanksgiving.

4 p.m.

Friedman Branch Library

November 5, 12, 19 & 26. Child Enrichment. All

1447 Jackson Road.

706-736-6758.

www.augustafamily.com

Augusta Family | November 2013 • 43

calendar November 4, 11, 18 & 25. Intermediate Spanish.

Instructor Edwin A. Perez of the Asociacion Cultural Hispanoamericana. No registration necessary, just come to class. 3:30 p.m.

November 4, 11, 18 & 25. Beginner Spanish. Instructor: Edwin A. Perez of the Asociacion Cultural Hispanoamericana. 5:30-6:30 p.m. Register by calling 706-736-6758 November 5, 12, 19 & 26. Preschool Story Time.

Stories, crafts and fun at the library. 10-10:30 a.m.

November 9. Kid Safe Workshop. Presented by Premier Martial Arts of North Augusta. For ages 5-12. Parent must sign permission form for children to participate. This can be done in advance. Call 706-736-6758 to register. 10-11 a.m.

November 16. Kidney Smart Class. Learn about chronic kidney disease. Discussion includes: causes, medications, prevention, treatments and related diseases such as diabetes and hypertension. For adults ages 20 and older. Provided by DaVita Heathcare Partners. 10 a.m.-12:30 p.m.

November 18. Teen Board Game Night. Drop in or stay the whole time. Light snacks provided. Grades 6-12 only. 5:30-7:30 p.m.

November 21. Health Topics with the CSRA Partnership for Community Health. Maria Cephas will be here to discuss important health topics such as obesity, diabetes, breast health and hypertension. Learn to stay healthy over the calorie-laden holidays. 10-11 a.m.

November 25. “Funny Food” Thanksgiving Craft.

For ages preschool-5th grade. Supplies provided.

No registration. 2:30-3:30 p.m.

November 26 & 27. School’s Out Movie Matinee.

Come by for a free family movie! Snacks are welcome in the meeting room theatre only. 2:30-4 p.m.

Harlem Library 375 North Louisville St., 706-556-9795.

November 5, 12, 19 & 26. Child Enrichment. All ages welcome. 10:30 a.m.

Headquarters Library

November 5. Children’s School-Age Story Time.

Ages 3-10. Join your friends at the library for stories, songs, games and crafts. This week’s story time is about voting your for favorite cookie.

Sample three cookies and find out our favorite cookie. Registration required for groups of 6 or more. 10-11 a.m.

November 6, 13 & 20. Story Time for Tots. Music, finger rhymes and stories for ages birth to 3 years old. Come early and stay late! 10-11 a.m.

November 6 or 7. Email Class. 10 a.m.-noon on the 6th, 6:30-8:30 p.m. on the 7th.

November 9. Children’s Matinee: Monster University. Rated G. Monster University unlocks the door to how Mike and Sulley overcame their differences and became the best of friends. 2-4 p.m.

November 13 & 14. Beginning Computer. 10 a.m.noon on the 13th, 6:30-8:30 p.m. on the 14th.

November 2, 16, 23 & 30. Yoga for Beginners. 11 a.m. Contact Ame Johnson 706-814-1129.

November 2. Children’s Wii Gaming “Just 4 Dance.”

2-4 p.m.

44 • Augusta Family | November 2013

November 2. Digital Photography. 2-4 p.m.

November 4, 11, 18 & 25. Yoga. 3:30-5 p.m.

November 5. Movies at the Maxwell. Enjoy a screening of Big Mama’s House. 3:30-5:30 p.m.

November 6 & 27. Bettina’s Story Time. 10-10:30 a.m.

November 7. Therapy Dogs. Come meet some special pooches. 3:30-4:30 p.m.

November 8. Geocaching 3.0 with Kathy. 3:304:30 p.m.

November 13. Children’s Story Time. 10-10:30 a.m.

November 14. Kissing Frogs or How to Navigate the Swamp. For women only. 6-7:30 p.m.

November 16. Board Game Day.

November 16. Children’s Drive-In Movie on the Wheel. Enjoy a movie, popcorn and drink. 2-4 p.m.

November 20. Morris Museum Story Time. 10-11 a.m.

November 17. International Gaming Day. Have fun at the library on this special day.

November 21. Vegetarian Cooking. Sponsored by the CSRA Vegetarian Society. 6-7:30 p.m.

November 19. Talk the Talk Book Club. TTT will be discussing Sula by Toni Morrison. 5:30-9 p.m. Program starts at 6:30 p.m.

Wallace Branch Library

November 20. Introduction to Microsoft Word 1.

For this class you will need basic computer skills including keyboarding and mouse skills. You must be able to highlight with the mouse and use the right mouse button. 10 a.m.-noon or 6:30-8:30 p.m..

November 5. Introduction to Computers. 1011:30 a.m.

November 21. It’s Your Book Club. It’s Your Book Club will be Skyping with author Nakia R. Laushaul about her new book Locked in Purgatory. 5:30-8 p.m. Program starts at 6:30 p.m.

November 6. Tawanna Kelly & Joy–Ventriloquist.

10-10:30 a.m.

November 21. Healthy Living Demo. Watch You Tube videos on how to make almond milk, rice milk and peanut milk. 6:30-8:30 p.m.

November 23. Children’s Thanksgiving Trivia Scavenger Hunt. Come and test your skills in finding the turkeys throughout the library. 2-4 p.m.

823 Telfair St. 706-821-2600.

November 2, 16, 23 & 30. Yoga for Kids. 10 a.m.

Contact Ame Johnson 706-814-1129.

November 2. Coupon Class. 10 a.m.-noon.

November 25, 26 & 27. Diary of a Wimpy Kid Movie Marathon. All movies are rated PG. Nov. 25—Diary of a Wimpy Kid. Nov. 26—Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Rodrick Rules. Nov. 27—Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Dog Days. All movies start at 2 p.m.

Maxwell Branch 1927 Lumpkin Rd. 706-793-2020.

www.augustafamily.com

1237 Laney-Walker Blvd.

706-722-6275.

November 5. Tai Chi, Qigong & Mindful Madness.

6-7 p.m.

November 12. Community Health Outreach. 1011 a.m.

November 12. Computer Job Search Skills. 1011:30 a.m.

November 19. Introduction to Microsoft Access.

10-11:30 a.m.

November 19. Movie: Charlie Brown Thanksgiving.

Noon.

November 20. Mr. Bill and George the Guitar—Holidays of the World! 10-10:30 a.m.

Submit calendar entries to Karin Calloway at karin. calloway@augustafamily.com or enter your event online at www.augustafamily.com.

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Augusta Family | November 2013 • 45

Talkin’ About My Generation

Three residents representing three age groups share their reflections on family, life and fun.

by Grace Belangia photos by John Harpring

52, of Martinez, is vice president of the engineering division of The Angelo Group, Inc. He has three sons and a dog named Porthos.

13, lives in North Augusta with her parents, Jeremy and Kimberly Mace, her brother, Noah, and a dog named Jock.

Raegan Mace,

Erin Walkotten, 33, of Evans,

Likes To: Kayak, cycle, hike.

Likes To: Sing, hang out with friends, photo blog on Instagram, edit photos and listen to music.

Likes To: Play baseball and basketball, go outlet shopping and spend time with friends.

Favorite Possession: My pictures and memories.

Favorite Indulgence: When I have an hour to just sit and soak in the tub, no kids running in asking when dinnner is or can you take me here? Just one hour of total relaxation.

Anton Pavlas,

Favorite Possession: My health.

Favorite Thanksgiving Food: Turkey sandwich the day after!

Words He Lives By: “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind; and, love your neighbor as yourself.”

Favorite Thanksgiving Food: Mac and cheese.

Friends Say She’s: Reliable.

is a travel agent. She and her husband, Drew, have two sons, a dog, a cat and two turtles.

Favorite Indulgence: A good meal with friends.

Words She Lives By: “Don’t worry about anything—pray about everything.”

Words She Lives By: “It’s not about waiting for the storm to pass, but learning to dance in the rain.”

Finds Inspiration: Usually on a long walk.

Biggest Fear: Armadillos.

Friends Say She’s: Smiley.

Friends Say He’s: A good person? What do they say?

Greatest Hope: To have a wonderful, lovefilled life.

Favorite Place To Be: Outside, anywhere from the beach to the mountains, enjoying God’s creation.

Favorite Indulgence: Arizona Tea.

Admires the Most: My mother. She has been battling cancer since she was 42. She is 60 now. If you met her you would never know her struggles with pain. She is the strongest person I know.

Biggest Fear: Heights.

46 • Augusta Family | November 2013

Favorite Place To Be: Youth group at New Life.

www.augustafamily.com

Can’t Live Without: My family.