Our Town Monthly

NOVEMBER 2013

FAM I LY L I F E S T Y L E NEWS MAGAZ I N E

WE DELIVER!Limited Area

CHICAGO PIZZA FOUNDER VIC COMASTRO IS BACK IN GACHICAGO PIZZA

WELCOMES FOUNDER BACK TOVININGS, GA!

The founder of the original Chicago Pizza,Vic Comastro, is back in Atlanta! Not onlybringing new recipe ideas to his classic fa-vorites, but the flavor of Chi-Town to theSouth! A Chicago native, Vic has strived tomake the most authentic Chicago StylePizza outside of his hometown. TraditionalChicago Style Perfected!Q: Vic, Welcome Back to the Atlanta Area!

What brings you back to Georgia?A: I was missing the wonderful people of Atlanta. This town also

appreciates great food,much like the people of Chicago.Q: Chicago Pizza is a great addition to Vinings, GA! How did

you get your famous Pizza recipes?A: After many years of owning restaurants in Chicago, I per-

fected the best recipes I could find. I didn't stop with the

deep dish, I also wanted the perfect thin crust. To make a"true Chicago Pizza", we use water shipped in straightfrom Chi-Town for our dough, only the best ingredients,and the freshest toppings.

Q: As any good patron knows, always ask the owner for hispersonal recommendation...So What is your favorite Pizza?

A: The thin crust is my favorite, but our most popular itemon the menu is the traditional Chicago Deep Dish!

Q: There has been changes to the menu over the years, doyou plan to bring back a Chicago "blast from the past?

A: We are bringing back the Vienna Beef Hot Dog on aPoppy Seed Bun with all the trimmings! Yes, that meansHot Giardiniera and Sport Peppers! A Chicago traditionand right here in Georgia!

Classic Chicago Favorites and New Recipes with onlythe Best ingredients from a man who knows the

Taste of Chicago! Chicago Pizza has "Topped It's Self"!

Android iPhone

Scan the QR codeand download theapp to get $5 offinstantly on yournext visit!

$5CHICAGO PIZZA AND SPORTS GRILLE

3150 Highlands Pkwy SE • Smyrna • 678-213-0238With this coupon. Not valid with other offers or prior purchases.

Offer expires 12-1-13 .

any large pizzawith 2 or moretoppings

off Come and Taste the authentic

Chicago Style Pizza!Chicago Pizza is Located at 3150 Highlands Pkwy. SE.

Smyrna, GA.

PAGE 4 For Advertising Information Call 678-337-7844 • www.ourtownmonthly.com Our Town

in this issue

6 Calendar of Events8 Business Spotlight

– the honeybee and the bird and the bee10 About the Cover12 November Crossword16 Expressing Anger in Healthy and Effective Ways18 Sleep Apnea: Sleeping Problems Could be Hurting Your Heart!20 Let’s Talk Turkey21 Oreos, Skittles and Toilet Paper…Oh My!22 The Abnorman Rockwell Thanksgiving24 Our Town Travel – Ecuador27 What’s Cookin’?28 A Look Back at Paws in the Park30 Are You Thinking About Getting a Puppy for the Holidays?31/32 Holiday Gift Guide33 Business Spotlight

–The Music Studio at Vinings34 Real Estate in Our Town35 The School Corner

Graphics and DesignTerry Tanner

Tanner Graphics, Inc.Account Executive

Sara Young, [email protected]

Feature PhotographerCrystal James,

Tiny Heart Studio

Contributing WritersLeisa A. Bailey, PhD

Michael T. Morris II, MDMercedes Verhine

Mark OrlerHolly & Diana Parks

Pam WalkerAmber BurckhalterDeborah Ratchford

Publishers/Editors Linda Demery & Lori McLinden

Our Town is published and direct mailed monthly to prestigious homes in the

West Cobb Area. Opinions expressed by the editorial staff are their own and do not

necessarily reflect the opinions of the publisher. Our Town reserves the right to

edit and or reject any editorial or advertising content. Our Town is not responsible

for errors in advertising beyond the cost of the space or for the validity of claims made

by advertisers.

Entire contents copyright 2013 by Our Town. Reproduction in whole or in part

is forbidden in any media without prior written permission from the publisher.

Our Town Monthly109 Anderson Street

Suite 109Marietta, GA 30060

678-337-7844Fax: 678-337-7825

[email protected]

onthlyMFAMILY LIFESTYLE NEWS MAGAZINE

Our Town


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MOM’S WALKING GROUP: Meets Monday, Wednesday and Saturday at 10am at Smyrna First United MethodistChurch, 1315 Concord Rd., SE, Smyrna, GA 30080. Come meet other moms and enjoy a walk by the river. Contact DebCook, www.smyrnafumc.org or email [email protected] for more information.

ATLANTA CYCLING RIDES-SATURDAY VININGS LOOP: Year round on Saturdays, at Atlanta Cycling Vinings,4335 Cobb Pkwy, Atlanta, GA 30339. Meet at 9am for a 55 mile ride and at 10am for a 22 mile in-town ride. Pace on all ridesis optional, so ride at your own pace and enjoy the route or ride with the group. The painted routes are very well marked andeasy to follow. For more information, call 770.952.7731 or visit www.atlantacycling.com/articles/rides-and-events.

MOMS CLUB OF SMYRNA: Are you looking for a support group of other stay-at-home moms and their children?If so, the MOMS Club of Smyrna/Vinings West would love to meet you! Please join us for an Open House on Wednesday,November 13th from 3:30 to 5:30 pm at Small Cakes (4624 Camp Highland Road). Mini cupcakes and a craft will be providedfor the children. RSVP to [email protected]. For more info visit momsclubofsmyrnaviningswest.webs.com. Ourclub is zoned for Teasley, Nickajack and Russell elementary school residents in the 30080 and 30082 zip codes.

SMYRNA MOPS (MOTHERS OF PRESCHOOLERS): Smyrna First United Methodist Church’s MOPS (Mothersof Preschoolers) group will now offer a Night Group in addition to its traditional program. Keeping up with the program de-mand and meeting the needs of working Moms, the Night Group will meet once a month on Wednesday evenings. All Smyrna-area Moms of kids age birth to Kindergarten are welcome, both SFUMC members and non-members alike. If you are interestedin joining the MOPS Night Group, please contact [email protected] or visit www.smyrnafirstmops.com.

LOVE STREET OPEN HOUSE: Kickstart the holiday season with Love Street! November 15th and 16th. They will havedoor prizes, a gift with purchase, and refreshments. Time to start your shopping! 1295 Concord Rd. SE, Smyrna, GA 30080.770.434.8578.

JONQUIL GARDEN CLUB: “The Prettiest Native Plants” Master Gardner and Master Gardener Volunteer of Cobb Countygarden tour docent, Carmen Cudd, will present a visual program of the prettiest of the native plants; including trees, shrubs, andperennials that will encourage all of us to “ go native.” The Jonquil Garden Club meets every 4th Tuesday at the library in downtownSmyrna at 10:30 a.m. The objective of the Jonquil Garden Club is to beautify and preserve our environment by encouraging con-servation and plantings, not only in our own gardens, but in public places as well. For further information regarding registration orinquiries about membership, contact Marilynn Parker at 770-949-6640. You may also want to learn more about the club andupcoming events at: www.jonquilgardenclub.org

LIGHTS OF LIFE: A Holiday tradition started by Life University since 1989. A visual treat that the whole family will enjoy.From November 29th, through December 31st, every night rain or shine. Sunday through Thursday 6pm to 10pm, and Friday &Saturday from 6pm to 11pm. For cost and directions, please visit www.life.edu.

COMING HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS:Tuesday, Dec. 3 on the Village Green from 5:00 p.m. until 9:00 p.m. for ComingHome for the Holidays. Watch Santa light the big Christmas Tree on the Village Green and transform downtown Smyrna withbrilliant lights. Enjoy holiday festivities, musical performances by local church and school choral groups, activities for the kids, paradeand a visit with Santa at the Smyrna Community Center. Bring the entire family for all of it and ring in the season downtown. Thisevent marks the first official evening of holiday lights in the downtown. 200 Village Green Circle, Smyrna, GA 30080. www.smyr-nacity.com.

COMMUNITY EDUCATION CLASSES AT EMORY-ADVENTIST HOSPITALDiabetes Education Classes: Whether you have pre-diabetes, have recently been diagnosed with diabetes, or have had to live withdiabetes for a while, this class is for you! The class is conducted by a Registered Nurse, a Registered Dietitian, a Podiatrist, and aPharmacist. Topics include signs and symptoms, monitoring, key test results, complication prevention, exercise, medications, a per-sonalized meal plan, carbohydrate counting, label reading, eating out and sick day management. The classes will be held from 6:00to 9:00 p.m. and are held in the hospital’s cafeteria. Cost is $45.00 for three classes. A support person—without diabetes—mayattend without charge. Fee is payable the first night of class. Call 770-437-6913 or 770-438-4373 for upcoming dates or to register.You may also register on-line at www.emoryadventist.org/education-events.

Managing Diabetes with Insulin: If you are knowledgeable about diabetes, but want more information about insulin or are havingproblems with your insulin, this would be an excellent review class for you. This free class is held in the hospital cafeteria on the 4thMonday of each month at 6:30 pm. Please call the Education Department at 770-437-6913 to register or for further questions.

Emory-Adventist Hospital at Smyrna will offer “Staying Safe for the Holidays” on Wednesday, November 13, at 7:00 p.m.Staying smart to avoid becoming a target should be a priority every day. Unfortunately, the hectic pace of the holiday season requiresextra precaution. Learn how to keep you and your family safe during the holidays by attending this informative talk by Officer MarcCouey, certified instructor in Non-Violent Crisis Intervention by the Crisis Prevention Institute. He will offer tips and steps to safe-guard you and your family during the upcoming holiday season. Topics included will be shopping safely and protecting your homewhile you’re out of town. Learn how to be proactive in defending yourself and detect the warning signs of potential thieves. Call770-319-2025 before November 6 to make your reservation.

e Volunteer Auxiliary of Emory-Adventist Hospital at Smyrna will offer a “Masquerade” Jewelry and AccessorySale on Wednesday, December 4, from 7 am to 7 pm in the cafeteria of Emory-Adventist Hospital. Everything is only$5 so make sure you stop by to do your holiday shopping. Cash, checks and credit cards will be accepted. Please call770-438-5233 for more information.

Emory-Adventist Hospital at Smyrna will bring Christmas to the Community on Thursday, December 5, at 6:30 p.m. Enjoythe sights, sounds, tastes and blessings of the season at this special tree lighting event. Festivities will include holiday musical per-formances, refreshments and an appearance by Santa! Bring your camera to capture the evening’s special moments. Visitwww.emoryadventist.org for updates or call 770-434-0710 for more information.

The Foundation of Emory-Adventist Hospital will sponsor a “Holiday Home Tour” on Sunday, December 8, from Noon to6:00 p.m. The Foundation of Emory-Adventist Hospital welcomes the holiday season with a tour of some Smyrna/Vinings homesthat are beautifully decorated for the holiday season. Your tour will include complimentary refreshments in the Tea Room at Com-munity Bank of the South and entry into Santa’s Workshop of artisan gifts. Tickets are $20 if purchased in advance and $25 perperson the day of the tour. Proceeds will go toward the purchase of new patient beds for Emory-Adventist Hospital. Log ontowww.smyrnacares.org to purchase your tickets or call 770-438-5233.

calendar of events


the honeybee and the bird and the beeIt’s hard to believe the honeybee, the quaint boutique located on Atlanta Road in Smyrna,just turned 4 years old last month! The honeybee, one of Smyrna’s jewels, is a widely popularwomen’s clothing boutique featuring women’s clothing, accessories jewelry and gifts. Stepinto this magical haven of fashion and if you close your eyes, you will imagine you’re in anupscale, Atlanta area boutique catering to the chic and most discriminating of shoppers.The honeybee carries fashion’s new trends, tried and true staples, one of a kind items andlocal artisans offerings. Brand names such as Beija Flor, Lilla P, and TOMS are main staysin the store along with new styles and handmade jewelry that arrive daily.

Last year, when the shop located directly behind the honeybee became available, the birdand the bee was born. The bird and the bee is unique in its own right, a home and gardenshop, that showcases Chalk Paint® decorative paint by Annie Sloan, painted furniture, localartwork, home accessories, plants, gifts and more. Chalk Paint® workshops are also heldat the bird and the bee. Our Town caught up with owner, Betsy DiGiorgio, late last monthto reflect on the past, the future, and what’s in store for the holidays.

OT: The honeybee and the bird and the bee have been such a success. What has beenyour mission statement andwhat makes things tick?

the bee: The bee is morehonored than other animals,not because she labors, but be-cause she labors for others.This is a statement that re-sounds on so many levels for allof us at the honeybee and the

bird and the bee. As a part of our mission we have strived to be a part of the communityand to give back whenever possible. We want to not only be a place to shop for the latestfashions for your wardrobe and home goods, but also be a part of the fabric of our com-munity.

OT: Can you share with us the excitement and buzz coming out of the bird and the beethese days?

the bee: We are always trying to create energy by changing things up at the shop. TheChalk Paint® decorative paint by Annie Sloan, is a wonderful product. We’ve had fantasticparticipation for our 101 paint workshops and are now adding 202 workshops. We made adecision earlier in the year to bring in furniture, and the response has been fantastic. Thenewly expanded space in the bird and the bee has given a great place to showcase the fur-niture. When deciding to open the bird and the bee, I knew it had to be different. Homestores can be found throughout Atlanta, but what we offer is unique due to a great deal ofwork, talented employees and local artisans; we can truly say we are different than otherhome and garden shops. We offer an array of furniture painted with Chalk Paint®, livecontainers, preserved containers, local art work and other great accessories and gifts forthe home. We encourage everyone to stop in and see the difference for themselves.

OT:What’s in store for the upcoming holidays at the honeybee and the bird and the bee?

the bee: We’re so excited about what’s happening in November and December. On November 9th, join us in welcoming James T. Farmer to the bird and bee for a book signing.

On November 23rd we will hold a Jill Massey Trunk Show at the honeybee and a TOM'SStyle Your Sole Event will be held in "the barn".

And don’t miss our Black Friday Sale on November 29th from 12-5pm

We will kick off the month of December with an Edith Ann Trunk Show at the honeybeeAND Holiday Open House at the bird and the bee on December 5th.

OT: We understand the honeybee just celebrated its 4-year anniversary. Congratulations!

the bee: It is really hard to believe it has been four years in the honeybee and one yearat the bird and the bee. We have grown in so many ways. The honeybee has expanded fromone floor to two, and we’ve built the most incredible client base. The people that shop atboth stores are actually more than customers; many are dear friends. Seeing a small businessdream become a reality is mind blowing! I feel so incredibly blessed each day, and am thank-ful for my wonderful employees, friends and family members that never stop supportingand guiding me.

e honeybee and the bird and the bee are located at 2968 Atlanta Road in Smyrna.ey are open from 10-6 pm on Mondays thru Saturday and on Sundays from 1-5 pm.the honeybee 770.432.5120 the bird and the bee 678.309.1149 Visit their Facebookpage for new arrivals for fashion and your home . Facebook/the honeybee and Facebook/the bird and the bee, home and garden.


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feature photographer

Crystal James is the owner and photographer behind Tiny Heart Studios, where the motto is "it's all aboutlove!" She told us how thrilled she was to be photographing the students of St. Benedict's for the Novemberissue of Our Town, since her children attend the school. "The St. Benedict's Episcopal Day School com-munity is like my second family. There is so much joy and excitement in the hallways, and my kids lovegoing to school!"

Crystal is a merit-winning photographer in the National Association of Professional Child Photographers(NAPCP), where she also serves as a Global Moderator, helping others learn the business and develop theircraft. Crystal has a studio in Marietta where she photographs newborns, but prefers to do families and chil-dren outdoors so they can run, laugh, and be silly together. A native of California, Crystal now calls Atlantahome after being here for more than 13 years. She and her husband Jeff live in Smyrna with their two chil-dren, Kylie and Jake. When she's not taking pictures, you will find Crystal on the tennis court, drivingcarpool, or writing tips for healthy living on her new website FindingClean.com. For more informationabout Crystal and her photography, you can visit tinyheartstudios.com or facebook.com/TinyHeartStudios.

Zone 5 Events has partnered with the City of Smyrna andwill be bringing the first ever-11k road race to town. Thiswill be a fun and exciting race promoting health and well-ness in the community of Smyrna. People of all ages arewelcome to participate in this first time event. Race dayregistration begins at 5:30 am. Start time is 7:00 am whereracers will gather at the Smyrna Community Center tobegin. The course is flat with one short downhill and uphill.There will be 5 aid stations along the course to refresh.Come on out and get involved with your Smyrna neighborsand see what the villages are all about. All race participantswill receive a long sleeve technical t-shirt and a medal forfinishing. Food and liquids provided at the finish. A portionof the race proceeds benefit the Smyrna Education Foun-dation. Visit www.runsmyrna.com for online registrationand more information about the Village to Village 11K.

Village to Village 11K

Save the DateSaturday, November 16th

About the CoverHead of School, Rick Betts, stands under an historicoak tree on the field of St. Benedict's new MiddleSchool campus with students from preschool through6th grade.

Joining Mr. Betts are front row: Daniel K. (Kinder-garten); Olivia K. (Pre-Kindergarten); Shaan S. (1stgrade); Avery P. (1st grade); and Ansley G. (2ndgrade). Back row: Ella K. (3rd grade); Mary Pat B.(6th grade); Lily H. (3rd grade); Sage AR. (5thgrade); Catherine S. (6th grade); and Chase M. (4thgrade).

St. Benedict's Episcopal DaySchool is a preschool through6th grade (growing to 8thgrade by 2015) located in theSmyrna/Vinings communitynear the intersection of At-lanta Road, CumberlandParkway and the East-WestConnector. Rigorous academ-ics, daily Spanish instruction,religious education, physicaleducation, music, art andChapel form the structure ofour week. Our 6th grade stu-dents benefit from our one-to-one iPad program. All of this takes place in an inclusive,faith based environment that defines Episcopal Education.

Mr. Butler, our resident rockstar, taught this song to ourstudents. Its message, drawthe circle wide, is importantto all of us. When we singthis song in music class andin Chapel, we are reminded of the biggerpicture of which we are all a part. We arealso reminded of our own potential togrow as global citizens, always thinking ofthe larger circle. As our circle widens, ourstudent body and our campus continuesto grow. Our Middle School opened inAugust 2013.

Sharing in the cycle of renewal, St. Benedict’s occupies the spacethat once was Locust Grove BaptistChurch. A building over one hundred years old lives on with theSt. Benedict’s Episcopal Day Schooland St. Benedict’s EpiscopalChurch.

As an Episcopal School, while developing compassionate leaders,St. Benedict’s is always seeking waysto care for the community and theworld. Whether we are collectingdiapers or coats or caroling, takingour voices out into the community,we are doing our best to draw thecircle wide, encompassing morethan we can possibly imagine.

Once a week, students gather together in Chapel.We celebrate with one an-other and hold each other upin times of sadness. We do it to-gether so everyone can join in.

Visit Us.

Join us for

an Open House,

an Admissions

Coffee or

an individual

appointment to

better understand

our community and

the values we hold.We look forwardto meeting you!


Visit our website at www.stbenedictsdayschool.org to schedule your time with us.


across down1 Writings2 Capital of

WesternSamoa

3 Bucket4 Calorie5 Extra-virgin

sauce (2wds.)

6 5280 feet7 Noggin8 One time9 Vagary10 Constellation11 Brand of

sandwichcookie

12 Weakling13 Bird's home21 Officer23 And so forth26 Limited

(abbr.)28 Uncon-

sciousness29 __ cotta

(clay)30 Jacob's

father31 Water

retention32 Side note

33 Militaryhonor

34 Influentialperson

35 Still37 IOU part39 Oodles41 Box43 Book bags46 Shoulder

blade48 Caustic

substance51 The other

half of Jima53 Female par-

ent56 Flukey57 Fatigue58 Look over60 What

children talk with

61 S.A. Indian62 Heavenly

light64 Tides65 Tropical

island66 Black gem68 Strike70 Seed bread

1 Charges4 Fast food meal9 Man in a funny

costume14 Environmental

protectionagency (abbr)15 Foreign16 Eagle's nest17 Caesar's twelve18 Spring flower19 Rhyming

verses20 Baby powder22 Overlay24 Choose25 Roberto's yes27 Twitch29 Walk quietly32 Address35 Affirmative36 Tricks38 Electronic mail40 Extremely long

time periods42 Author C. S.44 Singing voice

45 Animal catching devices

47 Palm49 Value-added

tax50 Gum tree52 Earlier form of

a word54 Crude55 Executive56 __ A Small

World...59 Shine63 Reminder67 Sheer,

triangular scarf69 Entomb71 Disallow72 Infirm73 What a snake

skin is74 Purchase75 Rumormonger76 Analyze

syntactically77 VI

november crossw

ord

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770.435.1596ccssmyrna.org

OPEN HOUSENovember 14, 2013 (9:30-11:00 am and 7:00 pm)December 12th, 2013 (9:30-11:00 am) January 23rd, 2014 (9:30-11:00 am and 7:00 pm)Educating Christian families since 1975

CCS is fully accredited by the Georgia Accrediting Commission (GAC), member of ACSA (Atlanta ChristianSchool Association) and is a member of the Association of Classical and Christian Schools (ACCS).

Notice of Nondiscriminatory Policy as to StudentsCovenant Christian School admits students of any race, color, nationaland ethnic origin to all the rights, privileges, programs and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the school. It doesnot discriminate on the basis of race, color, national or ethnic origin inadministration of its educational policies, admissions policies, scholarshipand loan programs, and athletic and other school-administered programs.

3130 Atlanta Rd.Near Smyrna Market Village

• Biblical worldview,strong academics inthe classical tradition

• K4 - 8th grade

• Low student -teacher ratio

• Positive, nurturing environment

Expressing Anger in Healthy and Effective Ways

by Leisa A. Bailey, Ph.D.

“Anger management” is a commonly heard term to describe the skills necessary to recognize angry feel-ings and express those feelings in a constructive way. Anger management is not the same thing as denyingor suppressing anger. When life does not go the way one wishes, or when one has been treated in a waywhich feels wrong or unfair; feelings of anger are typical. While everyone feels angry at times, when thefeelings cause a lashing out where destructive things are said or done, the anger is clearly destructive.

Dr. Tony Fiore and Dr. Ari Novick have developed eight anger management techniques. These tech-niques are comprehensively described in their book, Anger Management for the 21st Century. A sum-mary of their program to successfully manage anger:

1. Recognize Stress. Understand how stress underlies anger and how to reduce stress beforeit turns to anger. Recognizing the triggers for anger as early as possible is a part of the processof learning to express these feelings appropriately.

2. Develop Empathy. Anger can be reduced to learning how to see things from the perspectiveof others. Feelings of compassion for others are not compatible with feelings of anger.

3. Respond rather than React. There is the capacity to learn to choose how to expressanger and effectively communicate needs, feelings or requests. These learned skills are possibleto develop at any age.

4. Change That Conversation With Yourself. Learning to change the “self-talk” em-powers the ability to deal with anger more effectively in terms of how strongly you feel the anger,how long you hold onto anger, and how the anger is expressed.

5. Communicate Assertively. Being able to honestly and effectively communicate feelingsand how to respond without hostility.

6. Adjust Expectations. Anger is often triggered by a discrepancy between what is expectedand what actually happens. Learning to adjust expectations diffuses severe feeling of disappoint-ment, which can be a trigger for anger outbursts.

7. Forgive, but Don’t Forget. Making a decision to “let go” (while still protecting ourselvesif necessary) is often a process of forgiveness – or at least acceptance – and a major step towardanger control. However, this is not an open permission to others for bad behavior.

8. Retreat and Think Things Over. While perhaps a cliché; at times, it is most effective totake a “time out” by “counting to 10”, or getting away from the situation until feelings have calmed.

Research on anger has identified additional tools to the techniques developed by Drs. Fiore and Novick,to keep angry expressions appropriate and healthy. Many of these involve the suggestions offered tomaintain emotional health and balance in all areas of life, and include: regular exercise, appropriate sleep,talking to friends about upsetting events or situations, distraction, use of humor to release tension, use“I” statements, deep breathing or other relaxation techniques.

Cognitive structuring is a specific tool developed by psychologists. This is a process of challenging andchanging angry responses. It is about changing the way you think. When extremely angry, thinking canget overly dramatic. The tools to help stop the process which create patterns of angry responses in-clude:

• Avoid words like “never” or “always”.

• Focus on goals.

• Use logic and reason.

• Focus on desires….not expectations. Expressing what you would like is healthier than saying you must have it.

While anger is a part of every life, clearly at times it is destructive. Most will be able to learn to expressnegativity appropriately, but some cannot. You should seek professional help if anger is having a long-term negative impact on your relationships, is making you unhappy, or is resulting in any dangerous orviolent behavior.

Dr. Bailey is a Licensed Clinical Psychologist with a private practice in Marietta. You can learnmore about her by visiting: www.marietta-psychologist.com. You may reach her at (770) 428-6698or [email protected]. Your comments or questions are welcome.


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SLEEP APNEA: SLEEPING PROBLEMS COULD BE HURTING YOUR HEART!

by Michael T. Morris II, MDDo you snore at night? Do you wake up in the middle of the night? Or, do you simply findyourself tired during the day, even though you had a normal amount of sleep at night? If you an-swered yes to any of these questions, you may be at risk for sleep apnea. Sleep apnea affects about12 million adults in the U.S. and is simply the interruption of breathing during sleep (for 10 secondsor more at least 5 times per hour). This is most commonly due to the collapse of the airway, whichis called 'obstructive sleep apnea'.

When your breathing stops during sleep, your oxygen level drops and you will awaken in order toresume respiration. This will often happen multiple times over the course of the night, causing adisruption in the normal sleep patterns. Surprisingly, most people will not realize they ever wokeup at night. Your body requires a certain amount of time in "deep sleep" called REM. In the ab-sence of REM sleep, you will wake up the next morning and remain tired.

So how does this affect my heart?

While you are sleep, your cardiovascular system is able to relax. Your parasympathetic nervoussystem is activated and your blood pressure drops, your heart rate slows, and the overall tone ofyour vascular system is lowered. The exact opposite happens when you are under stress and yoursympathetic nervous system is activated. The sympathetic nervous system is responsible for whatis commonly called the 'fight or flight' response. Unfortunately, when your respirations are inter-rupted by sleep apnea, the drop in oxygen levels activates your sympathetic nervous system andcauses you to have a sudden increase in blood pressure and heart rate. Even more concerning isthat these effects persist after waking in the morning.

Ultimately, sleep apnea can lead to high blood pressure (hypertension), which is a major risk factorfor problems such as coronary artery disease, stroke, and heart failure. For those who already have

hypertension, it often becomes more severe or becomes more difficult to control. There is evendata linking sleep apnea to sudden cardiac death, which is when the heart stops beating properlydue to a problem in the electrical system of the heart.

Do I have sleep apnea?

Some of the risk factors for sleep apnea include being overweight or having a thick neck. The in-creased fat tissue around the neck can contribute to the collapse of the airway. If you have a familyhistory of sleep apnea, this will increase your risk. Use of alcohol or sedatives can increase yourrisk of sleep apnea by relaxing the muscles of the throat. Smokers are also at up to 3 times higherrisk due to inflammation and fluid retention of the upper airway. Those with nasal congestionand difficulty breathing through the nose can be more likely to develop sleep apnea.

What do I do?

If you have any of these symptoms or risk factors, it is recommended that you discuss these con-cerns with your physician. They will be able to use screening tools to determine if you should befurther evaluated with a sleep study. A sleep study is used to monitor your sleeping pattern and di-agnose sleep apnea. If you do have sleep apnea, you may need treatment with a CPAP machine.This machine uses a mask to provide pressure to your airway to help keep it open. You should alsotry to improve on any other risk factors, such as obesity, smoking, or use of alcohol or sedatives.

Michael T. Morris II, MD

About the author: Dr. Morris is a Board Certified Cardiologist and is the Founding Partner of Atlanta Vanguard Medical Associates in Smyrna, GA


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This year as you sit around the dining table with your friends and family, maybe you can spark a feistygame of Thanksgiving Turkey Trivia. Let me get you started with some interesting facts I have comeacross over the years.

1. Turkeys received their names from Christopher Columbus. He thought he had landed near Indiaand that the big birds were a type of peacock. (Turkeys are actually in the pheasant family.) Hecalled them “tuka,” which means “peacock” in the Indian language, Tamil.

2. Wild turkeys can run up to 20 mile per hour, and when startled, they can burst into flight at speedsof 50 to 55 miles per hour. Domesticated turkeys are almost twice as large as wild turkeys andcannot fly.

3. A domesticated turkey will die if left in the rain. Intrigued by the droplets, it will look skyward, al-lowing the rain to flood its nose, thereby drowning the bird. (Maybe this is the origin of the saying,“not smart enough to come in from the rain”)

4. Turkey has more protein than chicken or red meat. And although it does contain tryptophan, it isnot enough to induce drowseness. Sorry, the after dinner napping probably has more to do withthe full belly and fine wine than the drumstick.

5. Turkeys can have heart attacks. After Chuck Yeager broke the sound barrier in 1947, the Air Forcecontinued testing planes. They found that when the planes broke the sound barrier over turkeyfarms, entire fields of the birds below the pilots simultaneously dropped dead.

6. Only a male turkey “gobbles.” A female turkey “clucks”. A male turkey is called a “Tom”.

7. George Washington was among a group of people that wanted to proclaim a National Day ofThanksgiving, in 1789. Thomas Jefferson remarked to the proposal as, “the most ridiculous ideaever conceived.” George Washington named the male turkey a “Tom” turkey in retaliation toThomas Jefferson’s comment.

8. There is no evidence of turkey being on the thanksgiving menu in the Plymouth colony. However,there are records of deer and shellfish being served.

9. Swanson invented TV dinners in 1953, in part, because he had 260 tons of unsold turkey left overfrom thanksgiving.

10. According to the National Turkey Association, Americans eat more turkey on Thanksgiving, thanthe weight of the entire population of Singapore.

11. The tradition of a turkey being pardoned by the president began in 1947, although rumor has itthat Lincoln pardoned his son’s pet turkey.

12. Turkeys were one of the first animals domesticated in the Americas.13. Wild turkeys are almost all-dark meat and have a more intense flavor than their domesticated

cousins.

14. The first meal in space was a turkey dinner.Mercedes Verhine has had a passion for writing since she was a small child. A high school English teachersecretly submitted one of her short stories to a contest, which she won. Mercedes is a member of the Georgia’sWriting Association and has written short stories, fanzines, and articles. She is currently working on asupernatural thriller. www.Mercedes Verhine.com

Let’s TalkTurkeyby Mercedes Verhine


Oreos, Skittles and Toilet Paper……Oh, My!by Mark Orler

November is Diabetes Awareness Month. The irony is not lost upon me that one of the maincauses of Type II Diabetes is the overconsumption of sugary food, and that one of the greatestholidays synonymous with gluttony just happens to fall within this month.

What’s even more ironic to me is that during this month when our minds should be focusedon limiting food consumption, my wife and I spend most evenings BEGGING our childrento eat more. It had gotten so bad that my wife began serving them dinner in salad plates justso we wouldn’t feel so guilty when we saw the leftovers.

I was about to schedule a mass family colonoscopy when I noticed something odd about ourpantry. It ate lots of cookies and hated toilet paper. To explain, I have a Sam’s card so when Igo shopping I buy in what the rest of the world calls “American” quantities. I do this so thateveryone in the parking lot knows what my most desperate needs are; toilet paper, diapers,bottled water, Skittles and Oreos. It is not lost on me that anyone seeing the industrial sizeOreo’s and Skittles boxes might say to themselves’, “You know, if he would cut back on thesweets he might not need all that TP.”

Anyway, how I discovered that my pantry was consuming unholy amounts of Oreos and Skit-tles and squashing toilet paper rolls was realized after I watched my children from the backporch one Saturday afternoon. The plan worked like this. The oldest girl convinced her youngerbrother that it was okay to climb the pantry shelves to reach the hidden boxes of cookies andcandy while she guarded the door and created a safe zone for him to achieve his mischief. Thewords were not even out of her mouth before he was scaling the wire shelving. Meanwhile,the instigator pulled the huge bags of toilet paper out from underneath the lowest shelf tocreate a “landing zone” should her agent fail in his mission. He did…but not before dumpingan entire box of Oreos onto his sister. Think “It’s Raining Mocha Men” playing in the back-ground.

As soon as the last Oreo hit the floor he proceeded to lose his footing and landed squarely onthe 192 rolls of Angel Soft. Again…irony. The two of them gathered the bounty and calledfor their other sister who had been standing watch near the front door and the three of themheaded off to their playroom where they stashed their booty under a loveseat. And had it notbeen for the simple fact that 192 rolls of Angel Soft now resembled 80 and that the Oreo boxwas 10lbs lighter, no one would have been the wiser.

At dinner that night I insisted that we enjoy a meal of Brussels sprouts, cabbage and carrotsalong with roast beef or I was going to remove a certain loveseat from upstairs.

And ironically, everyone found their appetites…Happy Thanksgiving.

Mark Orler is a full-time husband, father and part-time observationist.

Mark can be reached at [email protected]


The Abnorman Rockwell Thanksgiving (A True Story)by Holly and Diana Parks

Grasping the corners of her apron as oven mitts, Grandma eased the golden basted bird out of the ovenonto the faithful china platter that Grandpaheld steady. The cranberry sauce jiggled inthe jelly dish and the crystal rang nervouslyas two of the youngest grandkids sprintedpast the full table, narrowly missing thepumpkin pies and bread pudding coolingon the sideboard.

At this point, the scene captured by Nor-man Rockwell and long cherished as an iconof the traditional American family veeredsharply from convention. The high schoolfreshman bounded in to the den. “Time toeat! Find your name on the table.” Thefootball fans heaved themselves off thecouch and hesitatingly turned off the TV.

My dad appropriately found his place at thehead of the table. Next to him sat his fi-ancé. Along the wall, my two teenaged sonswere flanked by two of their five aunts.Rounding the corner, my mom’s chair re-mained empty; she was still in the kitchen,filling the gravy boat and untying her apron.Her husband patiently waited behind herchair. The newest sleep-deprived mamawedged her baby’s chubby thighs into thehigh chair while my ex-stepmother dis-

tracted the toddler with the ducks on the terrycloth bib. Her boyfriend, our most recent addition to thetable, slid comfortably into his place like a hand into an old glove. The college contingent lined the fourthside of the table, returning jabs with the ever-rowdy uncles.

The butter dish made its way past more than twenty heaping plates and rested back in its place, wedgedbetween the rolls and the sweet potato casserole. Topics of conversation spanned three generations,covering everything from golf to school projects and touching only briefly on politics before deflectinginto safer territory.

As I scraped the last bite of apple crisp off my plate, I watched my daughter absent-mindedly press herfinger on the tablecloth, collecting the wayward piecrust crumbs from her favorite dessert. Our latestmember of the fold scooted his chair back, stood, and reached for his silver spoon to tap the side of hisempty wine glass. A rare moment of silence filled the room. With smiling aplomb, my mother’s ex-hus-band’s ex-wife’s boyfriend announced his excitement at plans to become her fourth husband. The diningroom erupted in applause as my dad (her ex-husband), and my mom (my dad’s ex-wife), led the wellwishes with genuine sincerity.

Today blended families seem more common than the traditional Rockwell model, but rarely do you findthem willingly in the same room, much less around the table. My friends shake their heads at the absurdityof our family dynamics, but then I think of the alternative. Family has less to do with blood and moreto do with choice. Celebrating these moments together beats spitting nails.

One of my favorite books is Ann Voskamp’s Thousand Gifts. (Give yourself an early Christmas presentand read it.) If I started my list of thanks with family members, I’d be halfway to a thousand prettyquickly. My family relationships have not come without pain or sacrifice, but then again, things worthhaving rarely do. On a “related” note, we are currently seeking extra table leaves for this year’s Thanks-giving Day dinner.

Diana and Holly Parks are mother-daughter duo who have co-authored the book I Didn’t See Me Do It.Visit their website at www.ididntseemedoit.com or go to Amazon to order.


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ECUADOR’S NEW RAIL TRIP DOWNTHE AVENUE OF THE VOLCANOS

This was my 10th visit to Ecuador. This little South American country is doing everything in its powerto make their country as inviting and special as Peru. Ecuador sends constant invitations to travel pro-fessionals to show off new touristic venues in hopes that we will help sell this hidden gem.

Ecuador is green and beautiful filled with historic buildings, colonial churches and lovely old haciendas.It even has Incan ruins (though nothing as amazing as Machu Picchu). Its other touristic attributes arethe 26 active volcanos that line a central valley known as the Avenue of the Volcanos

I love Ecuador’s historichaciendas, which havebeen accepting guests forsome years now. Oper-ated like hotels, there isnothing like getting upfrom a cozy bed to enjoybreakfast in front of aroaring fire while gazingat the snow coveredAndes out the window.Because of Ecuador’s lo-cation on the equatormornings are brisk. Butby the time you are readyto saddle your horse (orhike or mountain bike);the temperatures are al-ready nearing 75degrees.This is the land of constant spring, where you can go from the cool climate of the Andes in the morning,to the summer warmth of its beaches in the afternoon.

I am in Ecuador to transit the Avenue of the Volcano’s in the brand new Tren Crucero. Complete withelegant dining car, bar car, lounge cars and classic styled observation car, Tren Crucero begins the journeyin historic Quito. It winds its way through the Avenue of the Volcano’s and some of the highest moun-tains in South America. The train makes stops along the way in small towns and villages, but best of all,

we get to stay in someof the beautiful ha-ciendas at night.

Ecuadorians havetraveled this sameroute for over a cen-tury. The originalGuayaquil and QuitoRailway Company wascreated in 1897 by oneof Ecuador’s firstpresidents to accessthe coastal areas fromthe highlands. FromQuito to Guayaquilwith a drop of 3000meters between thetwo cities, the difficultpart was the Devils

Nose, where a system of switchbacks on the edge of cliffs led to the excitement of the trip.

It is still one of the most exciting parts of the trip. From the high glacier covered volcanos down to thehot and humid coast, our little train takes us in 4 days through the most beautiful areas of Ecuador. Fourdays of visiting towns, photographing the scenery and learning the history of the haciendas to make itan enjoyable journey. Today’s Tren Crucero is a train for tourists.

I do hope that Ecuador’s new slogan, Ecuador, Love Life, is a success, and that as many people come tovisit this beautiful country as they do its neighbor next door[Peru]. Tren Crucero is a new highlight alongits Avenue of the Volcanos and a great way to see this wonderful little Andean nation.

Pam Walker is a Virtuoso Travel Advisor

and can be reached at [email protected]


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As the chill in the Fall air begins to settle, it means it istime to start planning for family gatherings and theholiday season.

Below are some quick and tasty recipes that yourfamily will enjoy while reminiscing about theyears’ past and waiting for family supper.

These recipes and more can be found in copies ofthe JLCM’s cookbooks, Georgia On My Menu and Southern On Occasion.Place your order by visiting the JLCM Website at www.jlcm.org. All proceedsfrom these award-winning books will be utilized to promote JLCM’s missionof improving the lives of women and children in Cobb County through col-laboration with community partners. The JLCM also provides training to itsmembers that teach lifelong volunteer leadership skills in the charitable andnonprofit arenas.

what’s cookin’?

Pennsylvania Dutch Green BeansGeorgia on my Menu, page 149

Yield: 6 servings3 Slices Bacon, diced1 Small Onion, diced2 teaspoons cornstarch¼ Teaspoon Dry Mustard1 (16-ounce) can French Style GreenBeans1 Tablespoon Brown Sugar1 Tablespoon VinegarSalt, to taste

Cook bacon until crisp and remove fromskillet. Add onion to 1 tablespoon of thebacon drippings. Cook until tender.Blend in cornstarch and mustard. Drainbeans, reserving ½ cup liquid. Stir in re-served liquid. Cook, stirring constantly,until thickened and translucent. Blend insugar, vinegar, and salt. Add beans andheat. Top with bacon.

Whole Wheat Rolls Southern on Occasion, page 178

Makes one and one-half to two dozenrollsDissolve the yeast and sugar in the warmwater in a large mixer bowl and mix well.Let stand for 5 minutes. Stir in the but-termilk, oil, honey, and egg. Add thewhole wheat flour, salt, and baking pow-der. Beat for three minutes or untilsmooth. Mix in just enough bread flourto make a soft dough. Knead the dough on a lightly floured sur-face for eight minutes or until smooth

and elastic. Place the dough in a greasedbowl, turning to coat the surface. Let rise,covered, in a warm place for 1.5 hours oruntil doubled in size. Punch the doughdown.

Shape the dough into one-inch balls.Place three balls in each muffin cupsprayed with non-stick cooking spray. Letrise for one hour. Bake at 400 degrees for12 to 15 minutes or until light brown.

Apricot Jam Southern on Occasion, page 17Makes one and one-half cups8 ounces Dried Apricots¾ cup sugarCombine the apricots with enough waterto cover in a saucepan. Bring to a boilover high heat; reduce heat to low. Sim-mer until the apricots are plump and ten-der, stirring occasionally. Add the sugar,stirring until dissolved. Cook for 10 min-utes longer, stirring frequently. Process ina blender or food processor until the de-sired consistency is reached.

Paws in the Park took place last month atCentennial Olympic Park and Our Town washappy to be there for our furry friends.

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Our Town’s very own K-9 Coach was the leadsponsor for the event. K-9 Coach is an award-win-ning dog training, boarding, grooming, and playcarefacility. Their staff members are the most highlycertified and credentialed possible, completing over20 hours of continuing education every year.


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The holidays are upon us! Weather is cooling, decorations are out and the air is abuzz with excitement. Thistime of year, many people decide to bring a new puppy into their home. New puppies require a lot of timeand attention, and if only one family member is doing most of the workload or the training plan is not con-sistent, your new furry friend can quickly become your not so welcome guest. Getting a puppy is a familydecision; so make sure all family members are prepared to pitch in! If you are thinking about adding a four-legged friend to your family, either from a rescue or a breeder, make sure you follow these tips:

1) Educate yourself on the best dog for your situation. Are you active? Quiet? Lots of kids? Travela lot? Want a sport dog? How will this dog fit into your life? Make sure you select the rightbreed or mix of breeds for you lifestyle. A house full of children under 12 is not a good fit fora very active herding dog nor is a huge Mastiff when you live in a small apartment. Think longterm and take your situation into consideration during your decision. Take this time to educateyour children on how to handle and treat a puppy as well, as many young children do not realizepuppies are not stuffed animals.

2) Make sure that you prepare on the front end on how are you going to care for your new puppy.When will he sleep, eat, walk, train and exercise? What vet will you use? Food, tags, vet care,crate training, housebreaking, toys and training are all areas in which that you need to have aplan and purchase on beforehand. Starting on the right foot is vital to success and a well thoughtout care/training plan will help you greatly.

3) Training is extremely important to a new puppy. New pups do not know the rules of your homeor your life and can quickly get hurt or into trouble and it is up to you to teach them these rulesfairly, with patience and positivity. Early basic manners, safe socialization, housebreaking andboundary controls are key to keeping your pup happy, safe and healthy. Training has changed alot of the past 10 years and the days of choke chains and alpha rolling are in the past, disprovenby scientific data and shown to create behavioral issues. Find a positive good trainer who workswith puppies and start as soon as you can. Because we believe so much in the importance of

early training helping to make dog’s successfulfamily members, K-9 Coach offers freepuppy classes that cover training, house-breaking, crate training and more.

4) New pups will chew on anything and havepotty mistakes. Keeping your pup confinedto smaller areas that are safe and the floor iseasy to clean is great for the first few days.Using a kitchen with baby gates or a playpenarea is useful. Removing all dangerous chewitems such as cords, medications and toys andget down and crawl around to see what thepup may discover that you do not seestanding.

5) On the big day your pup comes home, ideally between 10-12 weeks old, get some of the foodshe has been eating so you can either mix it in when you transition to your dog food or buysome of what you were given to avoid upset tummies. Bring home a blanket or other item thatthe litter or mommy dog has slept with to help your pup transition to being away from the litter.Until your pup is fully vaccinated, avoid taking them to places with high canine traffic. See yourvet within 3 days of bringing the pup home and start your care/training plan the day the littlefurry whirlwind comes.

Are You Thinking About Getting a Puppy for the Holidays?by Amber Burckhalter

Amber Burckhalter, CNWI, CPDT, CDBC is the owner of K-9 Coach, APDT Board of Trustees,IAABC Certified Member, AKC Canine Good Citizen Evaluator, and Business U Task Force, CobbChamber. K-9 Coach is located at 4870 South Atlanta Road, Ste 200, in Smyrna. 404.603.9744http://www.k-9coach.com.

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Smyrna, GA 30080. 678.213.0238


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Scorea homerun thisholiday sea-son! Received onefree pair of batting gloves with any bat or glovepurchase in excess of $100. Jonquil Sporting Goods, 1848 Spring Rd., Smyrna, GA 30080.770.432.1194.

Primal Elements Candles, “Theylook good enough to eat!” At

$20, scents like Pumpkin Patch,Angel Food Cake, and Baked

apple are sure to please any can-dle lover on your holiday list.

Salon Lotus, 2999 Cumberland Blvd. SE,

Atlanta, GA 30339. 770.432.7868


Give the gift of local or USA madewhen you shop at Love Street.One of their most popular holidayitems are wooden reindeer, madelocally by the owner’s brother.Each one has a unique personalityand many sizes are available, pricesrange from $30 for babies to $75for a big daddy reindeer!

Love Street Gifts, 1295 Concord Rd., Smyrna, GA 30080. 770.434.8578.

Quality tools are a great choice this year. Dewalt andmore on sale at your favorite family-owned hardwarestore. Dewalt 37-Bit Screwdriver Set Regularprice, $27.00, Holiday Price, $19.99.

Vickery’s Hardware, 881 Concord Rd., Smyrna, GA 30080, 770-435-4567

Get Pure results this holiday season with a Pure Barre Viningsgift card. Join the fastest growingworkout in the nation. This low-impact, high results workout iscompletely safe and works yourentire body in less that an hour, all set to killer music!

pure barre, Vinings Jubilee, 4300 Paces Ferry Rd., SE,#476, Atlanta, GA 30339. 770.989.1375

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phone: 800.878.4756email: [email protected]

With the school year underway, there is no better way tosupplement a child’s educa-tion than by enriching his orher schedule with the arts!Local parents need look nofurther than the newly ex-panded Music Studio at Vin-ings. Conveniently located inthe same building, this arts

center has more than doubled its original size! Upon walking in the front door, student families are greetedwith a bright and inviting atmosphere. Colorful flowers and inspirational quotations adorn the walls. Thenew family lounge and student activity room have become a comfortable retreat for parents and siblingsalike. Owner and operator Cecilia Rowe expresses “We are so excited to serve this wonderful communitywith an all-encompassing fine arts hub!”

As in the previous space,The Music Studio offersmusic lessons in most allinstruments seven days aweek: piano, voice, guitar,drums, brass, strings andwoodwinds. Each of theinstructors teach a varietyof instruments, methods,and styles of music. In addition to the wonderfulmusic lessons, there aremany fun, quality classesfor children and adults aswell! Some of these engaging offerings are etiquette, theatre and

dance, adult and kids comedy, group music classes, chess, and knitting classes. Most classes will be $50 permonth, running on 8-week sessions, starting the week of October 1st.

They are so pleased to welcome to The Art Room Susan Pavone of “Art A La Carte” into the Studiofamily. The Art Room will feature themed afternoon art classes, specialty classes like sketching andsewing and knitting, and kids birthday parties on the weekends. ForAdults, there will be fabulous BYOB adult art classes at night, as well asOpen Studio and “Coffee and Canvas” in the mornings.

If you are interested more in “Mommy and Me” activities, The MusicStudio is thrilled to include Miss Jennifer’s “Music Together” classes forparents and children aged infant to 5 years, with many class times avail-able to fit your schedule. Also available are “Mommy and Me” Yoga(starting at 18months and up) and “My Smart Hands” baby signing.

The Music Studio at Vinings is also pleased to extend a discount to allAtlanta homeschoolers and families with flexible schedules. Weekdaymusic lessons from 10:00am–2:00 pm and ALL Friday classes will be $20for 30 minutes!

What started out 25 years ago as one family’s vision has evolved fromIn-home instruction to now include one of Atlanta’s premiere afterschoolarts centers. This family consists of Marilyn and Jack Courtnay (momand Dad) daughters Ariane Courtnay Crumley and Cecilia Courtnay Rowe, and husband Sean Rowe. Ifyou have been around any of the Courtnays or Rowes, you will know that they are avid believers in the“power of positive thinking,” imparting a totally different teaching philosophy than most music instruc-tors in town. Because of this philosophy and their stellar reputation, they’ve been fortunate to attractmany of the finest teachers in Atlanta. Cecilia beamed as she concluded “We are so thrilled for thesenew enrichment options – there is truly a fabulous teacher, instrument, class or activity to inspire everymember of the family, and at all hours of the day.”

Mention Our Town and get half off music registration ($25 value) or a FREE Afternoon Art Class!

e Music Studio at Vinings, 4686 S. Atlanta Road, Smyrna 30080. Phone: 404-351-9722. For more information, call the office or visit their website at www.cr-themusicstudio.com.



REAL ESTATE IN OUR TOWNby Deborah Ratchford

WHAT IS GOING ON IN TODAY'S MARKET?

Deborah RatchfordKeller Williams Realty Cityside

678-570-4779 [email protected]

The truth is, no one really knows what is going on in today's market. It has many people asking,“Are we in an economic bubble?” Some people you speak to think we will continue to expe-rience a good market for a couple of years, and then possibly see another correction. I tend toagree with this group of people, who think a correction may be in our future.

Currently, we are seeing home prices on the rise. Sellers are able to get a little more for theirhomes than they would have several years ago. This could be due to low inventory. As we lookback at the last couple of months, we have seen a small increase in the number of homes forsale, but inventory is still incredibly low. If homes are priced right, according to comparableproperties, and are in good condition, they will sell. Appraisers are looking for upgrades andsquare footage. However, upgrades should be implemented with caution, because there is noguarantee that you will re-coup your costs, even in today’s market.

If you have been thinking about selling your home, consult a local Realtor to decide if makingthe upgrade (s) you have in mind will add value to your home. Your Realtor will be able toadvise you on the best way to move forward, when listing your home for sale.

This is the best time to sell and buy, especially with interest rates still at an all time low.

Please feel free to use my team and me as a resource for any of your real estate needs. We can be reached at 770-874-6382 or 678-570-4779.

You can also email us your questions or request a free market analysis [email protected]. Don’t forget to visit Deb on the web at

www.debsellshouses.com and www.debdiditagain.com.

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TEASLEY ELEMENTARY IS 50!

Known as “the best little school inGeorgia”, Teasley Elementary hasreason to boast. This month marksthe school’s 50th year of providingeducation to young minds inSmyrna and Vinings. A special cel-

ebration/open house foralumni, students, parents, teachers, and local dig-nitaries was held on Sunday, October 13 com-plete with birthday cake and a performance bythe school’s Music Club.

Named after the 1st principal, Roy A. Teasley,of nearby Fitzhugh Lee Elementary School, theschool opened its doors to students in Grades1-8 in 1963. By 1978, the kindergarten pro-gram was added. Today, Teasley’s student pop-ulation is 735 students, and growing. Growingso fast, that this year, the school is undergoinga major construction project that has split thestudents into two campuses: one at the former Brown Elemen-tary and the other at Teasley’s 3640 Spring Hill Road location. This project consists of a 20- classroom addition,relocation of existing administrative/student services areas, a kitchen addition and cafeteria expansion, a newgymnasium to replace the existing facility, and various mechanical/electrical system upgrades. School PrincipalLeslie Mansfield says, “When its all finished, students and teachers will have an exciting opportunity to continuea tradition of excellence at Teasley.”

The school has always been innovative in its community outreach: its chorus regularly performs at the annualVining’s Christmas Tree Lighting; the International Night, bringing multi-cultures together, has been a greatsuccess; and the Teasley PAWS Foundation-named to honor the school’s Tiger mascot-has encouraged sur-rounding businesses and community groups to provide funds and in-kind donations for much- needed specialprojects, including paying for a Science Specialist to be part of the school’s staff. Foundation President ElizabethMcRae says, “The generosity of our corporate and civic club partners has made it possible for school adminis-trators and teachers to be more creative in their approach to educating our children and solidly preparing themfor high school and beyond.”

For more information on Teasley, visit http://www.cobbk12.org/teasley

THE FEW. THE PROUD. THE NICKAJACK MATH TEAM!

We are proud to announce that this is our second year and due to an overwhelming number of students inter-ested in joining (far more than we could accept) our membership has grown significantly. The Nickajack MathTeam is now made up of over forty 3rd - 5th grade math enthusiasts. Our mission is to empower studentsmathematically and have lots of fun doing it! We provide a place for children who love mathematics to strengthentheir critical thinking and team building skills by participating in several math competitions throughout the year.We talk math, we play math games, we learn about mathematicians, and much, much more! Most importantly,we strive to develop confidence and an excitement for mathematics that will last forever.

THE HARMONY LELAND CHESS CLUB

The new school year also brings competitive chess to our area schools.The Harmony Leland Chess Club, in its inaugural year, (pictured below),serves over 20 children, ranging from beginner to advanced students.Other public schools with active chess clubs around Cobb County in-clude King Springs Elementary, Nickajack Elementary, The Interna-tional Academy of Smyrna and Mableton Elementary. Chess will soonbegin at the new Smyrna Elementary School. Many of these brightstudents will participate in individual Scholastic Chess tournamentsaround Georgia, including a rated tournament held atCampbell High School on October 19, 2013. Area

school teams will compete beginning in Winter 2014. In recent years,teams from around Smyrna have competed and won at the regional and state level. Playing chesshas proven to help students enhance their creativity, improve their power of concentration, de-velop and expand critical thinking skills, boost memory and retention, and achieve superior aca-demic performance. Additionally, chess has been shown to augment problem-solving capabilities,provide cultural enrichment, advance intellectual maturity, and enhance self-esteem. Chess2Chil-dren provides instruction at 16 area schools, including those listed above, and continues its com-mitment to educating and enriching young minds by expanding programming into private schoolsand non-traditional venues. Visit www.chess2children.com to learn more.

GRIFFIN MIDDLE SCHOOL LAUNCHES FOUNDATION TO RAISE FUNDS FOR EDUCATIONAL AND CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS

Located in Smyrna, Griffin Middle School recently started a foundation to raise funds and provide resourcesbeyond those provided by the Cobb County School District. A non-profit organization, the Griffin MiddleSchool Foundation (GMSF) will spearhead an annual capital campaign and sponsor events throughout theschool year to help increase community involvement, parent participation, and student achievement.

“Our primary goal is to help enhance the educational opportunity offered at Griffin Middle School and, in turn,build a stronger community,” said Denise Raymond, GMS Foundation President. “Our first order of businessis to raise enough money to repaint the gym and theater, two areas that are highly visible to current and prospec-tive parents and students. By improving these two facilities, we can positively impact the reputation Griffin hasin the community.”

To learn more about how you can support the Griffin Foundation,please visit http://www.cobbk12.org/griffin/Foundation.aspx.

ST. BENEDICT'S EPISCOPAL DAY SCHOOL

Cobb County Commissioner Bob Ott visited the new middle schoolexpansion of St. Benedict's Episcopal Day School on a beautiful fallday last week. Chairman of the St. Benedict's Board of Trustees, TheRev. Brian Sullivan, emphasized how Commissioner Ott was instru-mental in bringing the neighbors and school together to approve a finalplan for St. Benedict's new middle school campus. Pictured with Mr.Ott are several members of the 4th grade class on the site of their newfield. Looking at the children on the field and seeing the traffic along Cooper Lake Roadand the East/West Connector, Mr. Ott delighted in the visibility of children for the whole community. Imme-diately after this picture was taken, one of the students, Brady P., looked up at Mr. Ott to ask him what he didfor a living. Commissioner Ott quickly reverted to his former profession as a teacher by explaining what itmeant to be a Member of the Cobb County Commission while teaching the differences between cities, countiesand their different government structures.

With a middle school building that has the capacity to add 60 new children every year for the next two years, St.Benedict’s Episcopal Day School is poised to graduate their first 8th grade class in the 2016. The expansion in-cludes rooms dedicated to science and math, a multi-purpose room for P.E., music and a cafeteria, as well as,four classrooms for the current fourth, fifth and sixth grades. With their new Head of School, Rick Betts(former Assistant Head of School at Holy Innocents’ Episcopal School), firmly in place – the future is lookingvery bright for St. Benedict’s Episcopal Day School.

As the tour was ending, Mr. Ott asked St. Benedict's Assistant Head of School and Director of Admissions,Mrs. Anne Shamanski, about her future plans. She simply said, “My future plans only go as far as the end ofthe month when Admissions Coffees begin. I am very excited about this new chapter of our school, and I amanxious to share our growing school with prospective families. ” With so much to offer our neighboring com-munities, it is easy to see why she will be so busy as the admissions season begins.

St. Benedict’s Episcopal Day School admits students without regard to race, sexual orientation, color, national,religious or ethnic origin to all the rights, privileges, programs and activities generally accorded or made availableto students at the school. The school does not discriminate on the basis of race, sexual orientation, color,national, religious or ethnic origin in administration of its educational policies, tuition assistance programs,athletic and other administered programs.

ATLANTA CLASSICAL CHRISTIAN ACADEMY

Atlanta Classical Christian Academy is a school striving to glorify God by providing a rigorous and unapologeticallyChristian education in the classical tradition. We aim to cultivate truth, goodness, and beauty in our students witha thorough Christian worldview. Such an education equips students with more than simply facts and knowledge.It gives students the tools of learning so that they are capable of learning independently. It cultivates in students alove of knowledge and a desire to know more about the Creator and his creation.

Serving grades Pre-K through 8th in the greater Atlanta area for the last 9 years, ACCA recently moved just northof Smyrna to new facilities at GracePointe Church, located at 505 Atlanta Street in Ma-rietta. Come visit us during one of our upcoming Open House events and see whatmakes ACCA truly exceptional! We are now accepting applications for the 2014-15academic year. Open House Dates: November 12, 2013 - 9:30am and 7pm • January14, 2014 - 9:30am and 7pm

In the News: September 26th was a beautiful, sunny day for the 2013 ACCA FallSoccer Classic. Students, parents, siblings, faculty, and staff all joined in the fun! Weclashed on the soccer fields at Jonquil Park in Smyrna, and as always it was a greattime of fellowship for our school community.

ACCA held its annual Jog-a-thon fundraiser on October 25th, in which students getpledges and then race around a track to raise funds for their school. We exceeded our

goal and will be installing an additional playground structure for our new facility this month!

The School Corner


Mrs. Doyle’s 1st grade 1963 Class

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