Volume 7 Issue 6 Kitchen Drawer Illustrated

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TABLE OF CONTENTS Plug In (4) staff picks (6) Entrepreneur Focus (7) artist profile: kevin liles (10) Health focus (14) outdoors: snakes alive (20) soul train (21) paparazzi (28, 55) restoring the longleaf pine (30) calendar (33) movie review: madame bovary (35) big mama lump: the front porch cat (37) Kitchen Table (40) sports (43) restaurant review: saki japanese sushi & steakhouse (47) vent (53) Fiction: the bracelet (61)

draw me like one of your French girls...

We treat fractures.

Even on holiday breaks.

Our pediatricians are standing by this Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s Day. And with our online scheduling, you can get in line before you leave home.

Learn more at choa.org/urgentcare.

©2015 Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, Inc. All rights reserved.

CHILDREN’S AT HUDSON BRIDGE | 1510 HUDSON BRIDGE ROAD, STOCKBRIDGE HOLIDAY HOURS: 9 AM TO 7 PM If you think your child’s illness or injury is life-threatening, call 911. We accept walk-in patients during business hours.

Hours may be affected by unanticipated circumstances. Visit choa.org/urgentcare for real-time updates.

NOVEMBER

DECEMBER

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1110 Memorial Drive 770.228.1318

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November/December

This is the last issue of 2015

Cheers to new friends and loyal readers....

Plug In

Call 770.412.0441

Write stuff@kitchendrawer.net

Look

Now in our 7th year of existence, Kitchen Drawer Illustrated is a community magazine that covers all things local, including businesses, people, art, food, causes, and events.

Each issue includes a calendar of events, local stories, historical information, photos of local residents and much more. (We try to throw in some surprises too!)

We thrive on community involvement. we’re always looking for: Writers Photographers Artists Commentators Cooks Opinionated feedback givers

kitchendrawer.net

Join

Our Second Annual Fiction Contest Submit an original, unpublished work of fiction in 1,500 words or less.

INSTAGRAM @kitchendrawer Facebook.com/ kitchendrawer Pinterest.com/ KDmagazine

Email your entry to stuff@kitchendrawer.net by November 30, 2015, with “Fiction Contest Entry” in the subject line. Please include your name, address, phone number, and birth date, including year. Winners whose entries are selected for publication will receive a cash prize.

Kitchen Drawer reserves the right to edit contributions.

He’s BACK! We want you to find Freedman. His photo is hidden 3 times throughought the content of this issue. Find all 3 locations and email the details to stuff@kitchendrawer.net to be added to our distinguished list of winners.

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STAFF PICKS PHOTOS BY MY LIFE PHOTOGRAPHY

ALLISON

WHAT TV SITCOM FAMILY WOULD YOU BE A MEMBER OF?

ASHLEY

The Cunninghams from Happy Days

JAKE

BEN

Mr. Pickles

The Bluths

MICHELLE

JOSH

Seinfeld They’re a family, right?

I don’t fit in with any of those people

The Ricardos I Love Lucy

NICOLE

Blackish

ASHLEY

BETSY

CLARK

DREW

WRITER

WRITER

WRITER

WRITER

WRITER

Friends

Leave it to Beaver

Arrested Development

The Simpsons

3rd Rock from the Sun

PETE

RACHEL

RONNIE

STAN

TAYLOR

WRITER

WRITER

Everybody Loves Raymond

Golden Girls

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OUTDOORS WRITER HISTORY WRITER All in the Family

Gilligan’s Island

ELAINE

SPORTS WRITER Arrested Development

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ENTREPRENEUR FOCUS When Al Pasley and Chad Nuce began practicing Pasley & Nuce, LLC law together, they ATTORNEYS AT LAW had a vision for how they would help local people with their legal needs. From the business model of the practice to the kind of chairs to provide, Al and Chad agreed on how the practice would be run. Their vision was of a regional firm where people could come for top-quality legal services without any hassle. Their Thomaston, Griffin, and Barnesville offices are easy to find, and there’s no long trip to Atlanta, no high-rise office building to navigate, and no intimidating façade.

That’s because Al and Chad aren’t in practice to play up to some TV version of law.

They’re here to help clients understand the realities of the law. They believe that handling a case is just as much about educating their clients as it is presenting the facts. Going through a legal issue can be one of the most difficult things people experience, and to Al and Chad, the best way to help their clients through the process is to keep them informed about the real issues important to their case.

With the help of their associates Adam Nagel and Jody Sellers, Chad and Al have established a practice that focuses on relationships. Clients can talk to them about their legal issues just as they would with their own family. Al, Chad, Adam, and Jody all make themselves available to communicate with their clients as often as possible. “Anyone who needs our help deserves to meet us in person and get our real opinion on the matter at hand,” says Chad.

“It’s the right thing to do.”

From what their clients have to say about them, Pasley & Nuce doesn’t just talk. They really deliver. When clients say things like “I’ve found my lawyer for life,” “best decision I ever made,” “their office went above and beyond,” and “you all have so much compassion for what you do and it shows,” that means something to Al, Chad, Adam, and Jody. “Guiding people through the legal process is rewarding,” says Chad, and, for him, helping clients to be in the best possible position at the end of the legal process is the most rewarding aspect of all.

ther’s barbecue restaurant, Piggy Park in Thomaston, that sparked his interest in the law. It seemed that there was a legal component to everything in the business—navigating issues related to the property, employees, or regulations.

The more Al helped the restaurant through tough situations, the more intrigued he was by the law. One day Al told his grandfather he’d like to go to law school. “When he gave me his approval, I never looked back,” says Al. Although Pasley & Nuce is a regional firm with local offices, their ability to help people knows no boundaries.

A local client was dealing with an injury case in Florida, where she had retained legal counsel, but once she was back home, the lawyer stopped responding to her. With her case at a standstill, she was understandably upset. She approached Pasley & Nuce, and that same day Chad and Al tapped into their resources in Florida and were able to make progress on her case.

Pasley & Nuce is, and wants to remain, a small-town firm. They believe that people from Thomaston, Griffin, Barnesville and the surrounding areas shouldn’t have to drive to Atlanta to meet with an effective lawyer. Both Chad and Al grew up in the South, and they love helping the people here. Working with Pasley & Nuce is like being around family, and that’s just what Chad and Al wanted from the start. “We’re not in this for the short run, to find out how much we can make in the next few years and retire,” says Al. “We’re building something we want to be here for generations.”

103 North Center Street Thomaston, GA 30286 706-646-3200 101 South Hill Street Griffin, GA 30224 770-227-9880 25 Market Street Barnesville, GA 30204 770-358-3600 www.pnlawgroup.com

For Al and Chad, practicing law has always been about helping people. For Al, it was helping out at his grandfa-

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ENTREPRENEUR FOCUS When John and Jacki Raymond decided to open a business, they knew they were going to be in the business of making people happy. John worked for an event rental service before starting ShadeTree Event Rentals, and what he saw there was a reflection of what he was seeing everywhere. Organizers for events— brides and grooms planning their weddings, family members trying to cobble together reunions, married couples celebrating milestone anniversaries, and more—were stressed out and worn down to their last nerve. The rental company just came in and did their job, then left for the next drop-off.

Then John and Jacki had a daughter.

Their lives started filling with milestones, memorable moments, and important occasions. They rediscovered the reason that celebrating and making the most of joyful events is so crucial to a well-lived life. So they created ShadeTree to help lift the burden off the shoulders of anyone attempting to plan a beautiful, memorable, and unique event.

John and Jacki believe you shouldn’t be worried about when the people you’ve hired to help are going to show up. You should be looking forward to having your occa-

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sion all set up and ready to get underway. Even if it takes extra effort and time, ShadeTree is dedicated to making your role easier so you can enjoy the celebration right along with your guests.

ShadeTree believes that your event should be memorable not just because it’s a good time, but because it’s unique, too. Their willingness to customize your event to your personal style is what really sets ShadeTree apart. Whether you need a custom lighting setup or a particular silverware pattern, John and Jacki can bring you the perfect solution. They don’t outsource on jobs like these either; they both go antique hunting for pieces, and John himself engineers custom lighting. “If someone wants something particular for their event,” says John, “we’ll do everything we can to get it for them.”

ShadeTree isn’t just in business to set up tables and arrange chairs.

John and Jacki are here to help others embrace life and enjoy good times with people they care about, and they believe that’s what makes any occasion special.

shadetreeeventrentals@ yahoo.com (678) 588-0578 www.undertheshade.net

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ARTIST PROFILE Photojournalist

KEVIN LILES By Rachel Scoggins

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Photos By Kevin Liles

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A photojournalist is supposed to tell a story for others, but it also changes you because it changes the way you look at the world Now, he shoots for the Atlanta Falcons’ social media, focusing not on game play, but on moments from the sidelines, before the game, or behind the scenes. He also does work with Clayton State University, The New York Times, and even Buzzfeed.

“Freelance photography just kind of worked,” Kevin said. “I don’t know how it happened. It just did.”

K

evin Liles is a commercial and editorial photographer living in Atlanta. He moved to Griffin in 2004 to begin a job as staff photographer for the Griffin Daily News.

In addition, he shot the Mad Men-style staff portraits for Volume 1, Issue 5 of Kitchen Drawer Illustrated.

Kevin’s interest in photography started when he was a reporter in south Georgia and had to take his own photos for his articles. Photography quickly caught his interest, and he began reaching out and corresponding with other photographers at newspapers, including the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. “I felt like I had found what I was meant to do. Photography was the thing missing from my life, and I can’t imagine not doing it,” he said.

Kevin describes his style as vibrant and visually strong. He focuses mainly on storytelling in his photos. “My style has changed over the years,” he explained. “At the newspaper, everything had to focus on the face and expressions. Photos had to be tight and fill up the frame. Now I can be a little looser and focus on whatever tells the story.” For clients, he tries to offer a different way to look at things or find interesting ways to tell the same story. “I look at every assignment, whether for a corporate job or for The New York Times, as telling a story.” He uses a variety of different aesthetics, focal lengths, lighting, and other features to tell the story. Kevin said, “Once you have a deep understanding of the technical aspects of photography, you can just focus on the story.”

Kevin’s work has been extremely varied over the past few years. One of his favorite projects started when he was working with the Griffin Daily News. He approached the paper about doing a spread on a regional tent revival. The project focused on an older man who held tent revivals all over the Southeast. Kevin was so passionate about the subject that he shot much of the work on his own time. He spent time with the man and attended many services. “I’m not really religious, but that had an impact on me,” Kevin stated. “When you see

Kevin tried to become a photographer while working as a reporter. After applying for numerous photography jobs, he realized he needed a degree to pursue his passion. He left the Griffin Daily News in 2007 so he could attend Clayton State University and complete a degree in communications and media studies. While in school, he worked as an assistant for Sports Illustrated. This opportunity helped him learn how to work with photography technology and equipment while providing important experience.

Unable to find a photography job after graduating, Kevin became a freelance photographer in 2012. “I shot anything I could get my hands on,” he stated. He used his experience and contacts from Sports Illustrated to help him get into sports photography. He shot photos for NASCAR, among other professional sports. On his own, he shot projects on anything that piqued his interest. “I learned that I didn’t need an assignment. I could just do it,” he said. “You can go and make things happen if you go and do it. If you want to be better at photography, just go and shoot it.”

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religion in practice like that, it has an impact. The man was so dedicated and really wanted to make a difference in the world. A photojournalist is supposed to tell a story for others, but it also changes you because it changes the way you look at the world. This project had that impact on me.”

Other stories that have stayed with Kevin include one about Friendship Baptist Church in Atlanta. Before the church was demolished to make way for the new Falcons stadium, he attended the final service of this historic African-American church. He covered the story for The New York Times, and it was featured as the front centerpiece of the sports section. “It was a terrible thing to see a building like that torn down,” he said, “but that assignment was such a moving experience.” He also spent nine days in Charleston in the aftermath of the recent shootings, which had a great impact on him. Currently, he’s working on a story about a militia group near Barnesville. He said, “I want to make a difference—maybe change someone’s perception of something.”

Kevin believes that the South has numerous tales just waiting to be told. “I just want to tell meaningful stories,” he said. “I have lived in Georgia my entire life, and I’m in love with this region and the stories it holds. I want to shed some light on that and show it’s a beautiful, complicated place. I want to show people from outside the South that we aren’t a bunch of hillbillies.

I think Southern people are beautiful and want to tell their stories.”

You can view Kevin’s photography on his website at www.kevindliles.com and on Instagram at @kevindliles.

We assist clients with a wide variety of legal needs, including: Personal Injury • Wrongful Death Criminal Defense Divorce • Child Custody Child Support • Collections Local Government Issues Wills and Estates Education Law • Contract Disputes and other Civil Litigation.

Patrick M. Shepherd, Timothy N. Shepherd

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612 West Taylor Street, Griffin, Georgia 30224 (770) 229-1882 www.shepherdslaw.com

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Health

brought to you by:

Focus

SpaldingRegional.com

Spalding Regional Is Proud To Be Awarded

AMERICAN HEART ASSOCIATION GOLD PLUS AWARD – 2015

IN THIS ISSUE: • The Holiday Blues ?

• Are you BLUE or are you S.A.D. • Affordable Care Act 2016 Health Insurance Coverage • Events

CHANGE FOR THE BETTER.

HOLIDAYBlues

Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year’s… oh my! It’s that time of year again, the fifth season known as “holidays.” And you have holiday meals to organize, a seemingly endless shopping list, an unexpected house guest and several parties to attend.

The holidays seem to be getting busier and busier each year. And you seem to be getting more and more frazzled as the days go by. Take a deep breath and relax. Now is the time to stop the frantic pace so you can enjoy yourself and not get the holiday blues.

Many things can cause stress and even depression during the holidays, such as staying very busy all the time, having unrealistic expectations about how the holidays should be, not exercising or sleeping on an irregular schedule, drinking or eating more than usual and spending more than your budget. As a result, you may begin to feel depressed, overwhelmed, irritable, tired, unable to sleep well at night, or anxious. Before your holiday turns into a bah-humbug time of year, here are a few tips that can help you enjoy the ho-ho-holidays:

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•

Have realistic expectations about the holidays, and don’t make comparisons to what you see on television or the way things were years ago. Live in the present so you can enjoy spending quality time with loved ones.

•

Don’t try to do everything yourself. Do the best you can and ask for help or delegate responsibilities to others.

•

Learn to say “no.” You don’t have to accept invitations to every party, event or family gathering.

•

Realize that it is okay to be sad during the holidays if a loved one has recently died or you cannot be together with family.

Take some time for yourself so you can be refreshed and ready to tackle the next thing you need to do.

•

Set a budget and stick to it. Make the holidays about spending time with loved ones, not buying lots of expensive gifts.

Instead, make homemade gifts, start a family gift exchange or make a charitable donation.

•

Keep a regular sleep schedule so you won’t get overtired or worn out.

•

Don’t overindulge in holiday goodies or alcohol. Extra sweets can add to your waistline and too many drinks can disrupt your sleep.

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Don’t forget to keep exercising to help you relax. A bonus — many people report feeling more energetic and active following exercise.

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Spend time doing things that you enjoy, such as having lunch with a friend, listening to soothing music, or taking time for a relaxing walk to help clear your mind and recharge your batteries.

•

Try something new this year. Consider volunteering to help others and to give you a better perspective on your own life.

•

Remember to take medications as prescribed by your doctor.

Ta k e a dre eepl a x. br e a t h a n d It is important to remember that activities can be spread out to minimize stress and maximize enjoyment. The holidays really are a season, not just one day. If you start to feel overwhelmed, step back and focus on what you can do, not what you can’t.

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ARE YOU ARE YOU

BLUE OR S.A.D.?

Not to be confused with holiday blues, Seasonal Affective Disorder, or SAD, is a cyclic condition that also comes and goes at the same time each year. Symptoms usually appear in October or November and then subside in March or April. S.A.D. may be characterized by a change in appetite, weight gain, depression, feelings of hopelessness, anxiety, loss of energy, fatigue, oversleeping, problems concentrating and withdrawal from social situations. SAD tends to be more prevalent among women.

SAD may be diagnosed following a psychological evaluation, physical exam and medical tests. It is important to determine if there is an underlying medical condition causing the symptoms, because tiredness, fatigue and low energy level also could be signs of hypothyroidism, hypoglycemia or mononucleosis. SAD may be confirmed if the patient experiences seasonal depression for two consecutive years; these bouts of depression are followed by periods without depression; and there is no other explanation for the change in mood or behavior. Once identified, SAD can be treated through increased light exposure, light or talk therapy or medication.

Symptoms of SAD can be managed so they do not worsen over time. Some people may benefit from making their environment sunnier, going outside more, exercising regularly, and participating in mind-body therapies such as yoga or meditation.

For more information about SAD, talk with your doctor or visit the National Association on Mental Illness website at www.nami.org.

While the exact cause of the disorder is not known, several factors may contribute to the development of SAD.

•

LESS SUNLIGHT DURING THE DAY CAN UPSET THE BODY’S INTERNAL CLOCK.

•

CHANGING SEASONS MAY CAUSE AN IMBALANCE IN MELATONIN LEVELS, A HORMONE THAT IS INVOLVED IN SLEEP PATTERNS AND MOOD.

•

REDUCED SUNLIGHT MAY CONTRIBUTE TO A DROP IN SEROTONIN, A BRAIN CHEMICAL THAT AFFECTS MOOD.

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HEALTH INSURANCE COVERAGE 2016 — OPEN ENROLLMENT FOR THE AFFORDABLE CARE ACT BEGINS NOVEMBER 1, 2015 What can you expect once your insurance starts? The basics are covered, including essential health benefits such as ambulatory services, ER services, hospitalization, maternity and newborn care, mental health and substance abuse services, help with prescription drugs, rehabilitation services and devices, lab services, chronic disease management and pediatric services. Your insurance not only helps you become healthy, but also to maintain your health with FREE preventive screenings, including blood pressure, cholesterol, depression and type 2 diabetes. AND your insurance can’t keep you from getting health care coverage or services due to pre-existing conditions.

Learn more or get help with enrollment through our Health Insurance Counselor/ Navigator, Diane Pass (770.228.2721 ext. 1147 or 678.313.9714).

DIANE IS AVAILABLE AT THE BELOW DATES & LOCATIONS FROM NOVEMBER 1 THROUGH JANUARY 31: MONDAYS 9am – 3pm Hope Health Clinic TUES/WED/THURS* 9am – 3pm Spalding Regional’s Outpatient Center *Excluding Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve

UPCOMING COMMUNITY EVENTS Spalding Regional’s Auxiliary Services presents Love Lights a Tree: Thursday, December 10th at 6pm Join us for a holiday musical evening featuring the Oak Hill Baptist Church Children’s Choir

Classes for moms-to-be and the entire family; all classes are free, but registration is required. For more information on any of the classes below, or to register, call 770.467.6136 or visit us online at www.SpaldingRegional.com/WomansServices.

PREPARED CHILDBIRTH: Weekends Nov. 6 & 7 and Dec. 11 & 12. Friday, 6:30 – 8:30pm; Saturday 8:30am to noon BREASTFEEDING: Dec. 7 6-8pm INFANT CPR AND SAFETY: Dec. 14 6-8pm

OB TOURS: First and Third Tuesdays of each month 6:30pm

Happy (and Healthy) HOLIDAY SEASON WISHING YOU A

– The Nurses, Physicians, Staff and Volunteers of Spalding Regional Hospital

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The result is melt-in-your-mouth, authentic (and slightly addictive) Georgia BBQ. No sauce required, but feel free to add our homemade sauces to enhance the flavor.

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outdoors

SNAKES ALIVE

By Ronnie Garrison The third week of September started out as “snake week” for me. On Sunday, I came home from a tournament at West Point and backed my boat into the garage. After taking some things into the house, I unhooked the boat, and something just didn’t look right. When I looked closer, there was a 4-foot-long black snake slowly crawling across the floor.

That Monday, I was cutting the field at my farm, and I noticed something white where I had cut the last pass. It was a 3-foot-long black snake that had gotten too close to the bush hog blade. Lying on its back, the white belly really stood out.

I hated that I accidentally killed the one at the farm and did not bother the one in my garage. Snakes won’t bother you if you leave them alone, and they eat mice and other vermin. I have always been interested in snakes, and they don’t worry me much.

The two I saw recently were both what we called “black runners” when I was growing up on the farm. We liked having them around the chicken houses since they ate the rats that ate the chicken feed, but they could be a problem since they would eat eggs, too.

My mom was terrified of snakes, but Dad would sometimes walk into the house with a king snake wrapped around his arm. We knew king snakes were good since they ate rats and would kill venomous snakes. My dad taught me how to identify dangerous snakes and how to catch the nonvenomous ones.

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The church I attended had an old pond behind it, and we used to go out there and play after church. The concrete dam had a square overflow spillway, and the water in it was about 15 feet down since the pond had been drained. One day when I was about 12 years old, we went back there and a water snake was trapped in the spillway. I went home and made a snake catcher—a long pole with a cord stapled to its side with a loop at the end.

I rode my bicycle back to the church the next day, taking with me my snake catcher and an old metal minnow bucket, the kind that had a top with a clip to keep it closed. The snake was still there, and I managed to catch it with the loop. It was not happy, but I got it in the bucket and took it home. Mom was not thrilled with my new pet! I tried to keep that water snake in a wooden box, but the next day it was gone. I am pretty sure it got out on its own and my mom didn’t make Dad release it. Snakes can get through a tiny hole, much smaller than you would think.

I don’t even kill venomous snakes unless they are a problem. A couple of years ago I was fishing at my pond and noticed a snake heading toward my fish basket. I picked up a stick and shooed it away, but it came right back. The second time I ran it off, I saw it had a triangular head, the sign of a viper. It was a young cottonmouth. The third time it came back, I got my pistol out of the truck and shot it in the head, since I did not want to be worried about a venomous snake at my feet while I fished. Since I like to eat anything I kill, I skinned it (which was much easier than expected), gutted it, and cut it into four-inch-long pieces. It tasted pretty good after the pieces were floured and

fried, but since it was only about three feet long there was not much meat.

One snake almost gave me a heart attack.

I came home from work one sunny earlyspring day back in the 1980s and decided to walk through the garden. As I took a step, I realized I was about to put my foot on a huge black snake lying in the sun, so I did a one-legged hop about three feet back. That snake lived around my house for years, and I saw it fairly often. One day my dog kept barking at something under the deck, and when I looked, it was coiled on one of the supports at the corner of the deck. Some days, I would see it sunning in the garden. I watched carefully where I stepped after the thrill of almost stepping on it.

Another day, I was kneeling on the floor of my well house working on my pump. I had been in and out several times getting tools, but one time when I stood up, on a shelf at eye level, there was a snake skin.

It had not been there when I had kneeled by the pump a few minutes earlier. That big black snake had shed its skin right over my head. The skin was perfect; you could see the bumps on the head end where its eyes had been. That 6-foot2-inch skin was pinned on my wall for several years.

Snakes are good in many ways, so don’t fear them; just respect them and what they do. Find out about them and realize they are just part of the natural world.

Read more from Ronnie at http://fishing-about.com.

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THIS ARTICLE WAS WRITTEN BY

PHOTOS WERE TAKEN BY

J A K E GE N T R Y

MICHELLE COBB

SOUL TRAIN

The days are getting shorter. As cold weather sends us indoors, we may search for a hobby to fill our free time. Local model railroaders Larry Kynast and Dan Hinel have found an avocation that does much more than just occupy them through the mind-numbing winter months—it can provide creative fulfillment through a lifetime of changes.

odel railroading might seem like a throwback. Urban sprawl means fewer new rail lines are being built, and the average person in the U.S. doesn’t often ride a passenger train anymore. Even the phrase “model railroading” may conjure up images of a Lionel train set running in a small circle or a cheap model train struggling around the waiting area of a kitschy chain restaurant. The model railroad layouts created by Larry and Dan replace these images with a more technical, inspiring, and beautiful vision for what a hobby can be.

M

Larry Kynast, a retired Veterans Administration biomedical engineer, takes action when confronted

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with a challenge. His work for the VA was part humanitarian effort and part engineering feat.

He worked closely with medical professionals and veterans to find solutions to help disabled veterans accomplish everyday tasks. That’s why, when Larry was diagnosed with Lou Gehrig’s disease, or ALS, he refused to dwell on the diagnosis and started changing his lifestyle to accommodate the changes he knew were coming.

ALS is a neurodegenerative disease in which the neurons that let the brain control the muscles deteriorate. As they do, muscles become unresponsive and atrophy; this results in loss of control of parts of one’s body. Eventually a person with ALS relies on a wheelchair to get around. Larry knew all of this, and he began taking action to ensure a better future. First, he made sure his house was completely wheelchair accessible.

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Knowing what lay ahead, Larry also realized he would need a way to keep his mind from stewing on the situation. Medical professionals suggest that hobbies are useful, especially when a disability makes mobility more difficult. Larry’s friend Cliff Barber, himself a model railroad enthusiast, suggested model railroading. Larry liked the idea, but needed somewhere to put his setup. As he had done so often in the past, he looked at the problem with an engineering mindset and found a solution.

It dawned on him that his garage had plenty of space. In addition to the horizontal space, which was already in use, his garage also had lots of vertical space.

Larry constructed a system that would lift his whole model train layout off the floor and up to the ceiling at the push of a button. With his years of industrial experience and in anticipation of his future needs, Larry created a system that could not only be raised out of the way, but could also be lowered to wheelchair height. He also considered affordability. Though Larry’s rigging system has a capacity of hundreds of pounds, it was mostly made with widely available garage door parts. His personal system acts as a working prototype for anyone interested in building one of their own, and he has even created a smaller version to lift objects into the attic for storage.

Creating a model railroading setup like Larry’s is not easy. He directed a lifetime’s worth of experience toward solving a problem, not to mention the time he’s poured into the hobby itself. His layout is simple and beautiful, yet engaging. A model railroad like Larry’s requires constant tweaking and small fixes; perfecting it is a pursuit that could last as long as the hobby itself. nother model railroad enthusiast, Dan Hinel, proves that a hobby doesn’t have to stay simple or small to be coherent and perfectly manageable. In the control center, which is part remote, part rail line map, and part dispatch interface, three extended-display monitors reveal what’s happening on the tracks. From here, Dan or a guest dispatcher can see the status of trains, control signals, switch tracks, and much more. The

A

triple-screen display can show the entire rail map at once, so making changes is as simple as finding the object you’d like to interact with and clicking on it. A huge map and an array of monitors make the setup feel like a sci-fi cockpit, but nothing could prepare a first-time visitor for what sits just around the corner from Dan’s desk.

Standing near Dan’s control center, through a doorway you see an adjoining room with a model railroad layout. The decorated part of the setup is about two feet tall from treetops to plywood base.

Holding the platforms are sturdy painted wooden struts. At first, it looks like this is the entire layout that all the fuss on the computer is about. It certainly does seem like a lot of work; it’s a beautifully decorated room-sized layout on well-built platforms.

As you walk into this room, you see another entire room’s worth of railroad connected to this one, again, perfectly well-built, beautifully decorated, and wired into the control center. The next room over, however, runs the entire length of the house, and even this long room is full of sturdy and beautiful wired railroad platforms.

“When I fully

comprehended the scale of this model railroad,

I was speechless.“

When I fully comprehended the scale of this model railroad, I was speechless. From corner to corner, Dan’s layout is meticulously painted, decorated, and detailed.

About 30 small scenes are set up for visitors to admire. Hikers look for their lost friend on their way down to a coal plant (and a tiny backpack on the edge of a nearby cliff reveals his fate). A group of fly fishermen stand in a clear river, casting their lines. Three bears rummage through garbage cans just out of sight of a group of beachgoers.

The scenery is incredibly consistent. Dan uses

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commercially available modeling materials like foam foliage and finely-ground gravel and improvises as needed. Sheer rock faces are made with pieces of slate flooring, and some structures are made of leftover parts from other model kits. Dan planned and built by hand the entire setup: from the circuit boards, logic blocks, and wiring to the LED signals, models, and scenery. He even programmed the software in the control center.

It takes about thirty minutes for a train to navigate Dan’s layout, and that’s without stops. Visiting railroad enthusiasts are given a card system to follow. Each operator gets a set of orders, a controller for a train, and a headset to communicate with the dispatcher at the control panel.

The visitor then sends the train from station to station, railyard to railyard, picking up and dropping off cards, cars, and cargo. Dan truly enjoys making this experience available to fellow hobbyists, and that’s one reason he pursues model railroading as passionately as he does.

LARRY KYNAST

DAN HINEL

Larry Kynast and Dan Hinel prove that a hobby can be much more than entertainment for a season. It can be a creative outlet, an opportunity to spend time with others with similar interests, and even a way to provide meaningful solutions that make a difference in the world.

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Restoring the Longleaf Pine I

t’s that most wonderful time of the year when the hunt is on for the perfectly conical Christmas tree. A predictable winner of this beauty pageant: North Carolina’s Fraser fir. But what about the other nine to 10 months out of the year?

It seems Georgia is home to another noteworthy, yet nearly forgotten tree. In many instances, in a town as historic as ours, it could be right under our feet. In my case, I’m told, it’s likely the source of the 115-year-old heart pine floors that I walk across every day.

We’re talking about the longleaf pine. And why not?

Excluding exports of peaches and peanuts, Georgia may be best known for its pine trees. First made famous by Ray Charles when he put Georgia on everyone’s mind, singing of “moonlight through the pines,” and more recently with the Zac Brown Band’s mention of being “raised up beneath the shade of a Georgia pine,” our pines are our signature.

But according to the USDA, this once dominant tree species is in decline. Longleaf forests that once spanned an estimated 60 million acres (plus an additional spattering of longleaf trees that made up another 30 million mixed acres across parts of Texas, Alabama, Georgia, and Virginia) today occupy fewer than 4 million acres of the historic range. From settlement days through the turn of the century, longleaf pines provided the premier wood of choice and were heavily harvested for making flooring and ship masts.

Longleaf pines are still a commercial source of timber (because of their straight trunks they are commonly used for making power poles), but they are slow-growing compared to loblolly pines; therefore, the timber industry doesn’t invest heavily in planting longleaf forests.

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But there’s a movement across the South to restore longleaf pine trees. Twenty years ago the Longleaf Alliance (LLA) based in Andalusia, Alabama, formed to coordinate partnerships with organizations and individuals interested in managing and restoring longleaf forests. While it’s not an endangered tree, the ecosystem longleaf pines create is home to creatures that are endangered—specifically the redcockaded woodpecker. It’s a bird that likes established longleaf forests where the trees are 80 to 100 years old. The mature longleaf trees develop a fungus the woodpecker uses for nesting.

Article and photos by Ashley Callahan

Texas longleaf implementation team coordinator Kent Evans says, “It’s the longleaf-fire ecosystem that has huge value.”

According to Evans, longleaf needles feed forest floors and burn easily after thundershowers. Though counterintuitive to many people, these low-intensity, frequently occurring burns are really beneficial. They create biodiversity and an herbaceous ecosystem that turkeys, bobwhite quails, Bachman’s sparrows, and other wildlife love. According to Evans, the ground layer of grasses and forests created within the ecosystem provide biodiversity not found in other pine forests.

And so the LLA, while acknowledging it’s unlikely the longleaf forest ecosystem will dominate the South again, is focused on helping owners of private lands see the benefits of planting longleaf forests.

The vast majority of forest acreage in the Southeast is privately owned, and that’s where most of the losses are occurring.

Though slower growers, longleaf pines do have a leg up on their shortleaf and loblolly counterparts in several areas. Being native to the natural system of the South, the longleafs are more resistant to threats such as fire, drought, wind, and southern pine beetles, says Evans. Not long after hurricanes Katrina and Rita hit the Gulf

30

Coast, Mississippi State University conducted wind studies on tree strength—and the longleaf came out ahead.

pines in the areas cleared by a tornado that hit the county a few years back.

Combine its environmental hardiness with the longleaf ’s storied heritage in the Deep South and it’s hard to deny its place here. For many families, it’s the longleaf forests that connect the present generation to the past ones. Creating a sense of place through the land, one longleaf forest can serve as the picnicking and quail hunting destination where a son, his father, grandfather, and great-grandfather all retired for sport and respite. In colonial times, the longleaf was a valuable source of tar and turpentine that contributed to North Carolina’s nickname, the Tar Heel State.

Just this past fall, United Bank gave away longleaf pine seedlings during its annual customer appreciation week. In line with United’s theme of “banks have branches, we have roots,” United Bank of Griffin President Jim Ogletree said the nine banking divisions gave away 4,475 longleaf pines to their customers.

Whether it’s the forests’ history or their hardiness that appeals to the masses, the longleaf pine movement is one that Griffin resident Charles Jones hopes takes root. Jones grew up in Albany, Georgia—what he calls the Longleaf Capital.

As a kid, he also spent a lot of time in Lowndes County where his maternal grandparents lived. His grandmother had a mature longleaf pine forest where he learned to hunt and fish as a boy. Those memories of home and trips to his family’s land have Charles experimenting with growing longleaf pines on his own property. He also organized the Rotary Club of Griffin’s efforts to plant 2,000 longleaf

If you’re interested in growing your own longleaf pines, it is fun to observe these trees. Their unusual growth form starts by sending a taproot deep into the ground. For the first couple years a young longleaf looks like lump of wiregrass or a bundle of needles on the ground, so be careful when weed whacking. Eventually they elongate like a candle before sprouting branches.

Longleaf pine seedlings are a little challenging to find, but it’s worth the effort to help restore these native trees. The Forest Service releases them in large batches. United Bank ordered their trees through the Arbor Foundation. You can find more information on longleaf pines at

longleafalliance.org.

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MOVIE REVIEW

Madame Bovary

BY CLARK DOUGLAS

Gustave Flaubert’s debut novel Madame Bovary is one of those literary chestnuts that gets revived for a new audience every couple of decades or so. The first prominent film adaptation was Albert Ray’s Unholy Love (the same story with a sensationalist title), while Vincente Minnelli’s larger production (starring Jennifer Jones and James Mason) arrived in 1949. David Lean offered a modern reworking of the story with his 1970 epic Ryan’s Daughter, and Claude Chabrol turned in the most critically acclaimed adaptation to date in 1991. According to my calendar, it should be just about...oh! Well, here’s the 2015 version of Madame Bovary, right on time.

The thing that sets the latest Madame Bovary apart from its predecessors is that this is the first adaptation helmed by a woman—an important difference, given that the story is fundamentally an attempt to understand a woman’s actions. Director Sophie Barthes (who previously gave us the excellent-but-overlooked existential drama Cold Souls) doesn’t bring a lot of new ideas to the table, but this is nonetheless a handsomely staged, well-acted production of a literary classic.

In an effort to keep the film’s running time manageable without losing the substance of the tale, Barthes basically lops off the opening and closing sections of the book, opting to limit her focus to the marriage of Charles (Henry Lloyd-Hughes, Anna Karenina) and Emma Bovary (Mia Wasikowska, Jane Eyre). Charles is a humble country doctor with a reserved personality, while Emma is a romantic who dreamt that married life would be something vastly more exciting. Eventually, Emma begins to seek escape by engaging in a series of extramarital affairs and by spending her husband’s money on expensive clothes and trinkets.

Emma is not a particularly good person—she is ultimately defined by selfishness, snobbery and infidelity—but it’s to Barthes’ credit (and to Flaubert’s) that we still manage to feel for her in spite of everything. Madame Bovary doesn’t gawk w w w. k it chendr aw er.net

at bad behavior and cluck its tongue, but rather seeks to help us understand what made Emma the sort of person she becomes. A telling moment arrives early, when Emma spends an afternoon making an elaborate meal for her husband— a process she greatly enjoys. Charles thanks her, but quickly suggests that she ought not to spend so much time on food preparation. “The maid will take care of it,” he says. His suggestion isn’t rooted in dismissiveness or malice—he’s genuinely attempting to save her the effort—but it’s the first of many little reminders that life for a country doctor’s wife in 19th-century France is terminally dull. Charles is a good man, but clearly is a poor match for his wife—his no-nonsense practicality meshes poorly with Emma’s lust for life.

Emma is a passionate woman, and that passion quickly withers within the confines of marriage.

The chief villain of Madame Bovary is mere circumstance, but a couple of others are happy to assist. First, we have the duplicitous Monsieur Homais (Paul Giamatti, Sideways), a local pharmacist who secretly plots to undercut Charles’ career. Second, we have the vile Monsieur Lheureux (Rhys Ifans, Pirate Radio), a dry-goods dealer who recognizes Emma’s weakness for luxury and takes advantage of it. Lheureux constantly reminds Emma that he is willing to extend her credit (“Charles is good for it!”), all the while waiting for just the right moment to call in the debt. Clearly, the world of Madame Bovary is vastly different from the one in which most of us currently live, but Homais’ professional jealousy and Lheureux’s professional greed feel uncomfortably familiar (Lheureux is more or less the personification of those credit card offers you’re always getting in the mail).

Wasikowska is one of the most gifted actresses of her generation, and you never catch her overplaying any stage of Emma’s transformation. Contrast her discontented haughtiness here with her gleeful madness in Only Lovers Left Alive, her oddball inquisitiveness in Map to the Stars,

and her long-suffering heartbreak in Jane Eyre, and you begin to see the depth of her range. In every case, she’s alarmingly natural and convincing. She’s remarkable during Madame Bovary’s closing scenes, underplaying wildly melodramatic moments to heartbreaking effect. The film’s handheld cinematography quietly underlines the film’s turbulent emotions and prevents the movie from feeling too much like a Masterpiece Theatre production.

If the film has one significant weakness, it’s that Emma’s assorted lovers are a little bland. That’s completely intentional in the case of Charles (played with affecting cluelessness by Lloyd-Hughes), but the young Leon Dupuis (Ezra Miller, The Perks of Being a Wallflower) and the wealthy Marquis (Logan Marshall-Green, Prometheus) come across as dullards of different stripes. They are supposed to represent the sort of exciting alternatives to Charles the world has to offer (Leon shares Emma’s romanticism, while the Marquis shares her affection for expensive things), but neither actor manages to make much of an impression.

Still, Wasikowska sells everything she needs to sell even when her co-stars don’t, and that’s enough to make the film work.

This isn’t a definitive adaptation of Flaubert’s novel, but it’s an absorbing take on the story that benefits from Barthes’ light touch. In a bold move, the film opens with Emma’s death, then jumps back in time and works its way back to that point. The result of this spoiler-y decision is that we spend less time wondering what will happen to Emma and more time focusing on why things happen to Emma. In other words, our focus is redirected in a way that allows us to pay attention to what the story is really about. Not every departure from the original text works, but the boldness is commendable.

READ A MOVIE REVIEW A DAY FROM CLARK AT 365MOVIEGUY.COM.

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Article & Photos by Pete Chagnon

While the world was mourning Cecil the Lion, my family was mourning the death of Tiger the Tabby. Death visited Tiger at 2 a.m. on a weekday after an encounter with a stray dog, and my young daughters discovered his body in the morning light.

Though he was with us for only a brief time, Tiger held a dear place in our hearts because he was the last surviving offspring of Big Mama Lump, the front-porch cat.

I’ve often said that every house should have a welcoming front porch where folks can stop by for an unexpected visit—but I was almost inclined to ditch that theory when the cat later known as Big Mama Lump showed up unexpectedly. This cat looked like she had been hit by a runaway train when we found her curled up on our front porch with cuts, bruises, and a rib poking out of her side. She was down about 8.5 lives, but my wife and kids felt pity on her. Despite my better judgment, I allowed the cat to reside on our porch until her number was called, but much to my surprise, she survived the night, the next day, and the day after that—well, you get the picture. I find that the Lord speaks to us in life’s interruptions, and little did we know that we were about to embark on a journey that would create a new awareness of the problem of abandoned animals.

My girls were desperate to shower their love on some little animal, and perhaps it was their love that healed this one’s wounds; however, I suspect it might have had more to do with my daughters feeding her from my private stock of canned tuna fish. It was shortly thereafter that my grocery list started to include cat food.

It’s been said that once you buy food for a stray animal, the relationship crosses the line from tolerance to adoption. I still had rules about coexisting with animals, but those would be challenged when the cat annexed my garage. She was a good tenant, though, and would pay her rent in wood rats left by the front door. At the moment I realized she would earn her keep, I decided that coexistence wasn’t so bad after all. Besides, I could use this foray into pet ownership to teach my girls some life lessons on responsibility.

Speaking of responsibility, the words of game show host Bob Barker echoed in my mind—spay or neuter your pets! Of course, we wanted to wait until the cat was fully healed from her wounds before taking her in for surgery, but apparently she was back

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37

looking wet cat took off like greased lighting when I went to investigate the ruckus.

So now we were down to two cats, both of them Big Mama Lump’s offspring. Eventually, Ollie disappeared one night; we suspect stray dogs or coyotes were involved. Then Tiger met his demise. It was difficult for us to lose those stray cats that had interrupted our lives but left us with a lot of great memories.

to 100 percent before we realized it, as she was already expecting when we took her to the vet to have her spayed.

This is how Big Mama Lump came to be affectionately named by my youngest daughter. Kayla thought the cat looked like a big lumpy sack of potatoes and we explained that the cat would soon be a mother—and there you have it: Big Mama Lump.

Only one of Big Mama Lump’s first litter of kittens would survive for long. One cat became two as we welcomed Ollie into the family. Before our second attempt to get Big Mama Lump spayed, she again lived up to her name. Again, only one kitten in this litter survived, Tiger. Now we had three cats living in our garage. At this point, Big Mama Lump must have decided she had outstayed her welcome because one afternoon she took off across the front lawn, never to be seen again. (My kids, however, claim a Big Mama Lump sighting every now and then.)

To be honest, I’m surprised that Big Mama Lump stayed as long as she did.

My girls loved her, but really didn’t understand that some of their affectionate acts were traumatic to cats, such as the time they decided that Big Mama Lump needed a shower and snuck her into our master bathroom. I have yet to repair the claw marks on the wall by the shower stall. The second attempt at cleaning Big Mama Lump happened when my youngest daughter threw her into the little kiddie pool on the back porch. The commotion was enough to wake the dead, and the scrawny

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Our home felt empty without a cat, so we started the process of searching for another stray to adopt. The perfect cat came into our lives when a business owner friend of ours from Locust Grove told us about a stray cat that showed up at their loading dock. The cat was extremely friendly and avoided being sent to a shelter when our friend learned Big Mama Lump’s story and became aware that we were searching for a new pet.

have burgeoned to about 100 cats per square mile in urban areas. The problem is all around us, even in our neck of the woods. Further compounding the problem, these feral cats decimate native bird species to the tune of millions of birds per year.

Combating this is a program called Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR), endorsed by a number of organizations, in which male cats in feral populations are neutered and then returned to their habitat. Neutered cats are marked by a nick in one ear for identification. This program is believed to cause feral populations to stabilize and eventually decline over time.

Another successful program is the Humane Society’s mobile spay and neuter clinic, which makes rounds to various communities throughout the state. Our family utilized this cost-effective service for pet owners. A complete schedule is available at www.AtlantaHumane.org.

My kids fell in love with this cat at first sight and named him Shadow because of his smoky gray coat. This time, we promptly took advantage of the Humane Society’s mobile spay and neuter services and had Shadow neutered for a fee of $35. I have since increased my tolerance for cats and erased the imaginary line between human habitat and animal habitat. Shadow has become our first indoor cat and is extremely happy to be off the streets.

Through Big Mama Lump, Ollie, Tiger, and now Shadow, my family has become aware of a serious problem in the U.S.—stray and feral cat populations

Nothing pains me more now than seeing unwanted animals roaming around without a loving home to call their own.

Until Big Mama Lump showed up on our front porch, I didn’t think twice about the problem of homeless animals. Her arrival forced my family to take notice of the issue in an awareness campaign all her own. On behalf of Big Mama Lump, consider the journey of pet adoption and embrace the interruptions of life.

This cat looked like she had been hit by a runaway train when we found her curled up on our front porch

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KITCHEN TABLE CHEESECAKE 101 with ANDREA GOODSELL

Photo by Michelle Cobb

Cheesecakes are a favorite during the holidays or at any gathering. Of course, if you have ever attempted to bake a cheesecake, you know it’s not as easy as it sounds. Take it from someone who has had cheesecakes fall apart on her countertop and has recovered from cracks that rival the Grand Canyon, you can’t talk about baking cheesecakes without thinking about the challenges. The most common question is how to prevent cracking. The second challenge is

learning to tell when the cheesecake is done. Here, we address these questions and more to get you on your way to making the perfect cheesecake. But remember, even if it’s not perfect, an ugly cheesecake is still delicious. You can serve a cracked cheesecake exactly as is and it will still taste amazing, but if you want to hide cracks with a topping, one of my favorites is Chocolate Ganache.

To prevent cracking: • • • •

Use ROOM TEMPERATURE INGREDIENTS. If the cream cheese and eggs are cold, you will have to mix longer, which can result in cracking.

Do not open the oven during the first 30 minutes of baking.

Do not over-whip your ingredients—air in the batter can cause cracks.

If the internal temperature of a cheesecake rises above 160º while baking, it will crack every time, so use a WATER BATH to keep the temperature consistent from the outside of the pan to the center of the cake.

Bonus tips:

How can I tell when my cheesecake is done?

This one is always tricky. The cheesecake is done when the center is almost

set but jiggles slightly when gently shaken.To avoid over-baking, use a

cooking thermometer, and take the cheesecake out of the oven when the center reaches 150º. Expect slight shrinkage as it cools; more than that means the heat was too high.

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If you have OLDER EGGS, use those first! Older eggs mix better because the albumen is less firm, and that means less whipping for you. To test older eggs, put them in a bowl of water. If they sink, use them; if they float, toss them. If you have access to DUCK EGGS, you can use those for an extramoist cheesecake. If the duck eggs are much larger than chicken eggs, use four duck eggs rather than five chicken eggs. Because of the larger yolks, a cheesecake made with duck eggs will appear more yellow. Also, to avoid getting eggshell in your batter, always CRACK EGGS INTO A SEPARATE BOWL before adding.

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New York Cheesecake Let’s get our hands dirty—literally. The first thing you need to do is prepare your springform pan and make the crust.

Filling 32 oz. cream cheese, at room temperature (use full-fat, not reduced-fat or fat-free cream cheese) 1 cup granulated white sugar 3 Tbsp all-purpose flour 5 large eggs, at room temperature 1/3 cup heavy whipping cream (double cream) 1 Tbsp lemon zest 1 tsp pure vanilla extract Place cream cheese, sugar, and flour in a large, mixer-safe bowl. Beat on medium speed until smooth (about two minutes), scraping the sides of the bowl as needed. Add the eggs one at a time, beating well (about 30 seconds) after each addition. Scrape the sides of the bowl. Add whipping cream, lemon zest, and vanilla extract and beat until incorporated.

Do not over-beat.

Remove the crust from the refrigerator. Pour filling into crust. Place the springform pan in a larger oven-proof pan that can hold the water bath.

(I use a turkey roasting pan that is three inches deep.) Add one inch of water to the larger pan. (If you have correctly wrapped the springform pan with foil, water in the bath will be pressed against the sides but will not seep in.)

Put cheesecake and water bath in the oven and bake for 15 minutes at 350º. Then, lower oven temperature to 250º and continue to bake for another 60-90 minutes or until mostly firm; only the center of the cheesecake should look a little wet and “wobbly.” (Baking times can vary due to the differences in ovens.) Remove from oven and place on a wire rack.

While the cake is still hot: •

•

Run a knife around the outside of the cake between the crust/ cake and the springform pan. Do not release the springform until the cake is completely cool. Then you can add the chocolate topping, if desired.

If you are not adding a topping, let cool completely to room temperature before covering with plastic wrap—condensation is your enemy. Refrigerate several hours, preferably overnight.

Crust 2 cups graham cracker crumbs or finely crushed digestive biscuits 1/4 cup granulated white sugar 1/2 cup unsalted butter, melted Grease, or spray with Pam, a 9” springform pan. (I use butter.)

Tightly wrap the entire outside of the springform pan with foil.

Preheat oven to 350º with rack in center of oven, but don’t put the pan in yet. In a mediumsized bowl, combine graham cracker crumbs, sugar, and melted butter. Mix ingredients till the butter has soaked into all of the crumbs. To check the consistency, squeeze some into your fist; if it holds its shape, it is the correct consistency. Press the crumbs evenly over the bottom and about one inch up the sides of the springform pan.

Cover and refrigerate while you make the filling.

Note: If Chocolate Ganache

If your cheesecake cracks despite your best efforts, here’s one tasty way to hide them.

8 oz. semisweet or bittersweet chocolate, cut into small pieces 3/4 cup heavy whipping cream 2 Tbsp unsalted butter 1 Tbsp cognac or brandy (optional) Place chopped chocolate in medium-sized heatproof bowl and set aside. Pour cream into a small saucepan and add butter; heat to a low boil or simmer. (Milk products will start to foam and bubble very subtly— keep an eye on it.) Pour hot cream and butter mixture over the chopped chocolate, and allow it to sit for a w w w. k it chendr aw er.net

you want crust on the bottom only, just don’t press it up the sides. Benefits to side crust are that it can help prevent cracking, and it holds the cake together nicely for topping.

few minutes to melt the chocolate. Use a spatula to mix slowly from the center of the bowl outward. If desired, add cognac. First pour Ganache along any cracks in the cheesecake, then spread the rest over the top. (It’s up to you if you want it to run down the sides or not!)

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WOMEN IN SPORTS Female athletes who are changing the way their games are played

By Taylor Gantt

For the most part, athletics has been a male-dominated mainstay of American culture. Most of us can agree that this is still the case in the present day, especially in major spectator sports. Although there are a significant number of female leagues and athletes, women mostly have been marginalized compared to their male counterparts.

In recent years, however, several female athletes have gained incredible recognition for their athletic achievements. Although female competitors have made meaningful contributions in the past, now they are changing the way their respective sports are viewed by the public and by the higher-ups in the sporting stratosphere. Let’s take a look at some of my favorite female figures in the world of sports and determine how they are shifting the narrative in their professions.

U.S. Women’s National Team (Soccer) After years of being unappreciated domestically, soccer’s popularity in America is on the rise. Major League Soccer is expanding into new cities (including Atlanta in 2017) and acquiring star international players who are raising the profile of the league. Female club soccer is still largely anonymous in the States, but the popularity of the Women’s National Team has never been higher.

The U.S. Women’s National Team entered the 2015 World Cup, which was held in Canada, as one of the few favorites to challenge Japan, Germany, and Brazil for a chance at the title. Thousands of soccer fans poured across our northern border to cheer on veterans like Abby Wambach and Carli Lloyd and rising stars

Alex Morgan and Megan Rapinoe. TV ratings were also record-setting, as an estimated 43.2 million viewers tuned in to the championship game against Japan, according to mlssoccer.com.

After securing the championship behind a hattrick performance from Carli Lloyd, it became clear that the American public has firmly wrapped their arms around this team. To me, it speaks about the growing appreciation for a team that can perform at a high level against meaningful competition. While some women’s sports currently struggle to offer this, I think that international soccer provides a bevy of interesting matchups, allowing the U.S. Women to showcase their talent on the world stage. One thing is certainly clear: after 2015, the U.S. Men have a lot to live up to... photo credit (Ralph Landau)

Ronda Rousey, Ultimate Fighting Championship Fighter In the mid-to-late 1800s, bare-knuckle boxing became one of America’s national interests and a representation of masculinity for both participants and onlookers. Even today, iconic blackand-white snapshots of early pugilist John L. Sullivan serve as enduring symbols of virility and manhood.

But in the span of only a few years, fighter Ronda Rousey has changed the world of combat sports and made onlookers give more attention to the female competitors than ever before. With a title reign spanning more than 1,000 days and a match history that has drawn comparisons to Mike

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Tyson’s early ascent in boxing, Rousey has become an invaluable asset to the UFC, and arguably, the company’s biggest draw.

Although questions about the skill level of her opponents are often raised, what she has accomplished in her relatively short time in the UFC has been amazing. Few would have ever predicted that a women’s championship would be headlining a pay-per-view event, but that is simply the appeal that Rousey generates. Behind her, the women’s division will continue to thrive as she looks to stay atop the mountain and hungry challengers do their best to dethrone her. photo credit (Getty / Matthew Stockman)

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Becky Hammon, San Antonio Spurs Assistant Coach The proposition of women playing alongside male athletes in sports has been a tricky debate at best. Even more beyond the pale is a woman coaching male athletes in an all-male sport. Many question the potential effectiveness of a female coach, claiming that players would not be able to respond to a woman calling the shots.

But in San Antonio, a competent female coach is quickly proving that she can get the job done.

Former WNBA standout Becky Hammon became the first salaried female coach in NBA history last year, breaking a barrier that had been standing strong for decades.

Furthermore, legendary Spurs head coach Gregg Popovich gave her the head coaching duties for the Spurs Summer League developmental team over the offseason. She went on to lead her team to the Summer League title, prompting many to view her as the first woman to have a real shot at an NBA head coaching position in the near future.

For Hammon, her journey to the NBA sidelines isn’t about taking a stand for women, but rather proving that her gender

has no bearing on her ability to coach. “I hope we get to the point in society where this is not news anymore and [the story becomes] ‘We hired this person because they are best for the job,’” she said to ESPN. If she continues to prove her coaching acumen, it won’t be long until Hammon breaks the final barrier and takes stewardship of her own team.

While these serve as only a few examples of standout female athletes, I think they epitomize a cultural shift in our collective perception of women in sports. And while we may be a long way from equal footing for men and women on the sports landscape, I am greatly heartened by the strides made in the past few years. photo credit (Bahram Mark Sobhani, AP)

now they are changing the way their respective sports are viewed by the public and by the higher-ups in the sporting stratosphere.

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R E S TA U R A N T R E V I E W

S A K I J A PA N E S E S U S H I & S T E A K H O U S E

BY THE KD CREW PHOTOS BY MICHELLE COBB Just off Jackson’s town square, Saki Japanese Sushi & Steakhouse offers a wide variety of Japanese dishes prepared in various ways, including an impressive array of raw and cooked sushi, a sushi bar, hibachi, and tempura. Kitchen Drawer spent an enjoyable evening sampling some of these tasty creations. A highlight was the Love Boat, supersized for the KD crew and attractively laden with various kinds of sushi and sashimi. Another favorite was the Udon Noodles, which are not on the menu but can be ordered with any kind of meat or vegetables. Here, our team members share their impressions.

lings to rival the ones I had in New York’s Chinatown.

The first thing I tried was the Rock Shrimp Appetizer, which is breaded in a tempura-style batter. It was delicious, and the mildly spicy sauce drizzled on it was just the right amount of spicy and sweet. And the Harumaki Spring Rolls were so delicious that I could have eaten my fill of that appetizer alone—but I didn’t. I tried everything that came to the table.

Nicole

The next round of dishes included my favorite of the night, udon noodles with hibachi chicken and vegetables.

I truly couldn’t get enough and felt sorry when I had to pass the bowl for others to try. They were the perfect combination of thick and creamy, sweet and savory, plus I can’t think of another place within a 30-mile radius to get a dish like this.

As our jolly (and hungry) group made its way to Saki Japanese Sushi & Steakhouse, the excitement was palpable as most of us hold a deep appreciation for different and exotic food. I, personally, am always down for sushi. I knew it was going to be good as the owner handed me my tiny vase of Hot Sake and a cold Sapporo Beer—this, my friends, is the first step to enjoying sushi. The appetizer round was a definite win: classic, salted Edamame pods, light and crisp shrimp tempura, and Gyoza, pork dump-

Next up was the sushi round, served on a giant wooden boat-plate. For those not down with the raw fish thing there were plenty of delicious pieces with cooked seafood. My piece of Salmon Nigiri was perfectly melt-inyour-mouth good. At this point, most of us were sufficiently full; however, this did not stop us from partaking in the fried ice cream, fried Oreos, and green tea (matcha) ice cream, also an extremely unique dish for the area.

Even as I write this, I wouldn’t mind heading to the square in Jackson again to eat the exact same meal.

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Josh

The Super Hot Roll, which has spicy salmon, avocado and “crunchy” on the inside and is topped with spicy white tuna, a slice of jalapeño, and a chef’s special hot sauce, really brought the heat—it was probably my favorite roll of the night and is definitely worth trying if you like it hot. The Mountain Roll is deep-fried goodness, with tuna, wasabi, and the chef’s special sauce. From the kitchen, my favorite was the Chicken Udon. It was sweet, savory, and tangy all at the same time, and the udon noodles were perfect. Can’t wait to go back for more.

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Drew Saki made its impression first by finding a well-thought-out balance which should easily delight the steak-andchicken crowd as well as providing a more challenging experience to anyone looking to step outside their comfort zone. A perfect example of this would be the Super Hot Roll,

boo water features. In the South we drink a lot of sweet tea, but if you ask for Hot Tea at Saki you’re treated to another special touch: a pretty teapot full of green tea and a matching cup.

As we ate the first courses, behind the bar the sushi chef was meticulously preparing a gigantic wooden boat full of sushi. That was the most beautiful part of the meal and the part that disappeared the fastest. The details really make Saki stand out.

ELLY

which had, oddly enough, a small slice of jalapeño on top of each portion. While sushi is an area ripe for experimentation, I will admit I was initially cautious about “Japanese Tex-Mex,” but after a taste it made total sense and worked on several levels. This trend of familiar-meetsadventure continued throughout the meal with udon noodles, a hearty and well-seasoned dish which tends to be a rarity in this area, followed by delicious pot stickers (gyoza) and a tempura rock shrimp that was made to perfection. Even the desserts followed this pattern, starting with a fried Oreo that you would expect to find at a state fair followed by green tea ice cream which was out of this world. This combination should help place Saki at the top of your list for meals with large groups, as you’ll certainly find something to fit almost anyone’s palate.

Jake The first thing that struck me upon entering Saki is the large sushi bar dominating the center of the dining room. To get to the dining room, you first had to pass through a noren, a Japanese room divider that’s part door, part curtain, and a striking touch that goes beyond your usual bam48

I must say I was thoroughly impressed. Saki provided a good mix of appetizers and main dishes, both hot and cold, followed by some of the most interesting desserts I’ve ever had. I had never experienced Fried Oreos or Green Tea Ice Cream. Since I am a dessert lover,

those two things definitely hit the spot. My favorite dish was the udon noodles, and the sushi was a close second. Not only was the food delicious, I did not have to drive an hour to get it, but instead got to enjoy the picturesque fields and a short, calm ride to enjoy a delectable meal with friends. That’s a winner in my book!

Manager Sean Li

By Allison Smyly Saki manager Xiang (Sean) Li grew up around the restaurant business.

While in school, he learned the ropes by helping his father with his Chinese food restaurant. In addition to spending more than a decade learning through hands-on experience, Sean received a Bachelor’s degree in Busi-

ness Management from the University of Georgia. Sean found his true calling, though, working at his cousin’s sushi restaurant, where he discovered that he thrives on the creativity associated with preparing sushi.

This interest in diversity manifests itself on Saki’s menu, which offers all sorts of imaginatively named choices. Most popular with customers are cooked sushi rolls, including Highway 75, South Side, Volcano, and Super Crunch. Sean’s personal favorite menu items are nigiri sushi (sliced raw fish with a molded ball of rice underneath) and sashimi (sliced raw fish served without rice).

Sean praises his partner, Jason Zhao, who serves as Saki’s primary sushi chef: “We have a good sushi chef.

Each chef has his own personality in making sushi rolls.” With Jason lending his creativity and patience to Saki’s sushi menu items and the sushi bar, Sean oversees the preparation of the other dishes and manages the business side of the establishment.

Saki Japanese Sushi & Steakhouse is a family-owned business that prides itself on loyalty from staff and customers. Sean’s wife, Sarah, is a server; sushi chef Jason and Sean are brothers-in-law. Sean, Jason, and their team have big plans for the future. They would like to reopen in Hampton and possibly even add a Griffin location. Local fans of Japanese food will surely be rooting for their success.

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Fiction Contest Winner - 6th Place

THE BRACELET L

BY PATSY HARDEN-YATES

ooking at the calendar, he saw it—July 25. Today was Patti’s birthday, a very special day at their house for years…forever.

Every year, he would dash down to the local flea market or five-and-ten and buy his wife a gaudy, outlandish piece of jewelry as a gag gift because he knew she wouldn’t accept a big 14-karat-and-platinum number dripping with jewels.

Every year, he’d try to get her a card and sometimes flowers.

His wife enjoyed kissing and hugging people after they gave her gifts more than the gifts themselves. She never called attention to herself or expected extravagance from anyone. The cost was not important to her, not to his Patti. He would stop by the drugstore and pick out a mushy card; she’d fawn over it and the words on the printed page as she read it aloud to him, but it was the simple signature and the words he had written on it that she cherished the most.

When she thought no one was looking, she would sit on the deck overlooking the beach and press his card to her chest, with her tiny fingers resting softly on the fine vellum. Patti was

w w w. k it chendr aw er.net

a “flowers all year” girl—she even loved the ones you would find in the yard or on a bush.

They didn’t have to be big bouquets of long-stemmed American Beauties. Patti was a jewel, and in her husband’s eyes and in the eyes of their friends and family she outshone the sun.

It seemed that everyone just loved Patti.

This birthday was different.

Patti was not bustling around in the kitchen pretending today was just another day in case her husband had not remembered it was her birthday. She was in heaven. The calendar still marked July 25, and it was going to be her birthday forever in her husband’s eyes.

After tidying up the kitchen and placing his hand on the calendar like a soft pat, he headed off in search of the “perfect” present for his dear Patti. This man had a plan.

It was a beautiful day at the beach. The sun was playing tag with the fluffy white clouds, and the seagulls would sometimes cry, “You’re it!” as they glided over the surf and pecked around in the waves on the sand. The sandpipers ran

in and out of the waves, trying not to get their feet wet. Patti always liked to watch them scurry around in search of anything and everything. Their dog, Shadow, liked the beach as well. He only chased the sandpipers and seagulls when given permission, and even then he was playful and never harmed them. The beach was their home and they shared it with everyone.

Walking down to the beach today just didn’t seem right. The sunrise had been spectacular, to say the least, but somehow it was all different. Patti was not there, and he was alone with Shadow. He pulled from his pocket a charm bracelet, the gift he had bought for Patti, just as in years past. This one was like no other. Little glass elephants, kittens, silver bows, pearls, and glass beads faceted to look like the maharaja’s crown jewels dangled around the bracelet. This was one of a kind for sure, and it had cost all of $1. She would have loved it.

An eerie calmness surrounded him. The waves subsided, and the breeze tickled his ears.

With one fast, hard pitch he flung the bracelet into the

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waves and said, “Happy birthday, Sweetie…I love you.” Shadow and his master walked on the beach for a long time that afternoon. It seemed like miles to both of them.

On the way back, Shadow barked and ran circles around Patti’s husband, happy to approach their house. On the beach, a little girl about five years old was jumping excitedly and screaming loudly, and her mother was running as fast as she could toward her little girl as if she were in immense peril. Shadow, too, ran as fast as he could to the little girl; there was no stopping him.

When everyone arrived at the scene, breathless and panting, the girl stretched out her hand and exclaimed, “Look, Mommy, look!

It’s a beautiful beach treasure!”

In her tiny hand was the most whimsical and beautiful prize a little girl of five could ever want.

“Mommy, can I keep it? It must have been lost by a mermaid, and I found it!”

He knew in an instant that this was the bracelet he had tossed into the waves as a remembrance of his beloved wife’s birthday.

He knelt down beside the little beauty and said softly, “It IS a beautiful treasure you have there.” As the tears welled up in his eyes, he blurted out without thinking, “I know she would want you to have it.”

The little girl looked puzzled at this remark from the stranger

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admiring her newly found bauble sparkling in the sunlight. The mother took the bracelet from the little girl and asked, “Does this belong to you?” Wiping the tears with his t-shirt, he answered, “Oh…no, it belongs to a mermaid I know who plays out there near the place where the sun touches the water. I think she would want you to have the bracelet. Today is her first birthday away from home, and I am sure that she sent it straight to you here on the beach,” he said, smiling at the little girl.

The tears sparkling in the mother’s eyes let him know that she understood. As the girl played, absorbed in the bracelet, he turned to her mother. “My wife was always giving of herself to others.

She was full of happy thoughts and laughter and got a lot more out of giving to everyone than receiving. I would expect no less from her on her birthday or any other day. Patti was the light in the sun’s rays and the twinkle in the stars in the night sky, and I miss her very much.”

He heard the girl whisper, “A real mermaid?” as she clutched her treasure tightly to her chest with her little hand, just as Patti used to do sometimes. As he turned to go, the mother breathed a thank you.

Walking away, he looked back at the little girl with her soft blonde hair blowing all about her face like Patti’s used to do. Two or three, maybe even more times, he looked back, and she was still happily playing with that $1 bracelet. Shadow quickly ran ahead to the house and waited patiently on the beach for his master to catch up.

Alone on the beach, the waves subsided and washed over his feet like a gentle caress. The sandpipers stood still in their straight lines, all looking at him. The gulls hushed overhead, and all was quiet except for the sound of the waves. Again the breeze tickled his ear, and he heard his mermaid softly whisper, “I love you…and the bracelet.”

When she thought no one was looking, she would sit on the deck overlooking the beach and press his card to her chest, with her tiny fingers resting softly on the fine vellum.

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