OurTown Magazine Gwinnett January 2012

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The Gwinnett Area’s Family Lifestyle News Magazine

Lilburn l Lawrenceville l Snellville l GraysonOur Town

January 2012

Meet ourwriters for 2012

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These results may not be typical. Results with products may vary from individual to individual. These nutrition recommendations are provided solely to support good nutrition with the intent of sup-porting the physiological and biochemical process of the human body and not to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease or condition. Be advised that any nutritional program recommended by Dr. Gravante is not intended as a primary therapy for any disease. Prior to starting any diet, nutrition or exercise program, you should consult with your medical physician.

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My journey started with Dr. Gravante after some urging from my mom who is a patient of Dr. Gravante. I was being pretty stubborn about it as I was convinced that I could lose the pounds on my own since I had never had much trouble in the past. However, through a number of “diets” and ex-ercising four to six days a week I had only lost 5 pounds in 4 months. I was so frustrated because I thought I was putting the work in but nothing seemed to be changing and I was the biggest I had ever been! It was at this time I decided I needed to try something different. Dr. Gravante had an Open House that I attended with my mom and while I was there I won a free nutritional consultation. It was obvious to me I was meant to be a nutritional patient.

Since I started working with Dr. Gravante in July 2011 I am so happy to say that I have lost 22 pounds and 3 pant sizes!!! I finally have my confidence back!! I’m so much more physically fit than I had been in a long time. I have continued to work out 5-6 days a week and I recently ran my first 5k and am signed up for another one. I had given up on the fact that I was going ever be the size I was when I got married…I am now smaller!! Not only have I lost weight, I have more energy, I’m a decaf gal, my headaches have gone away and my allergies are significantly better.

I am a true believer in Dr. Gravante and her nutri-tional program. Thank you Dr. Gravante!

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January 2012 In THIS ISSuE…Our Town Lilburn l Lawenceville l Snellville l Grayson

MagazineThe Gwinnett Area’s Family Lifestyle News

about the Cover......................................................................5, 6

Calendar of Events.................................................................7, 15

Fitness: resolution, resolved......................................................8

Finance: a Little Help.......................................................9

Career: Make a SMarT new year’s resolution.....................10

Education Corner: The Twelve Gifts of Birth............................11

Wellness: Baby Steps.................................................................12

January Crossword.................................................................12

Health: Immune system, what is it?............................................13

Crossword Key...........................................................................14

Counselor’s Corner: Starting, with fear on your side.................16

Pet Page: Train your dog month..................................................17

recipe: ......................................................................................18

Page 4 For Advertising Information Call 404-824-5396 • E-mail: [email protected] Our Town Magazine

Contributing Writers:Glenton Ashby

Chef Jennifer Hill BookerCathy Bruce

Susan Cadley, LPCSagdrina Jalal, BS Ed, CPT

Alicia Philipp Carol Chandler-Wood

Julie Mills, CMT, LLCC

Our Town is published and direct mailed monthly to prestigious homes in the Gwinnett 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 con-tent. 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 2012 by Our Town. Reproduction in whole or in part is forbidden in any media without prior written permission from the publisher.

Publisher/editor

D. FloresNorma FloresgraPhiCs and design

Our Town

Our Town Magazine P.O. Box 644 l Snellville, Georgia 30078

Telephone: 404-824-5396www.OurTownMag.org

For reader comments or questions,please E-mail us at [email protected]

Follow us on Twitter & Facebook. Find links at www.ourtownmag.org

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Our Town Magazine For Advertising Information Call 404-824-5396 • E-mail: [email protected] Page 5

Welcome to 2012. It’s finally here and as we start this new year, we want to do a sort of a “relaunch” of Our Town Magazine here in Gwinnett. Perhaps to re-introduce our great contributing writers and also introduce you to some new ones. We take pride in bringing you valuable information from professionals month after month. It sets us apart and serves our community with helpful knowledge from professionals in their respective industry. For me it is a daily learning experience and I am honored to interact with such professsionals in our own community and to bring you great insite. So here they are, our wonderful contributing writers. D. Flores (Publisher)

Introducing our contributing writers

Carol Chandler-Wood Where are you from: I was born on Long Island, New York , raised in College Park, GA.Education: Georgia Tech degree in Management. At a very young age, I felt God’s prompting to help others. In 1986 I began tutoring students in my home. This is when Total Learning Concepts was founded.

How long have you lived in Gwinnett: My husband and I moved to Gwinnett County in 1988.

How long have you been in your profession: After leasing shopping center space for 10 years, My staff, students, and me excitedly moved into this new Lilburn cen-ter in 2000. In 2005, I opened a second center in Loganville and a third in Dacula in 2010. What do you love most about your profession: Helping people. Assisting young people in reaching their goals regarding their education and in their lives is exciting and rewarding!

Sagdrina Jalal, BS Ed, CPTWhere are you from: I was born in Ft. Gordon, Georgia but raised in Savannah. Education: BS in Education from University of Georgia, Certified personal trainer How long have you lived in Gwinnett: I have lived in Gwinnett for 12 years How long have you been in your profession: I have been in my field/self employed for 9yrs.

What do you love most about your profession: I love that I can live my passion through my work. Helping others take care of their wellness is so rewarding! It also helps me maintain my commitment to a healthy lifestyle for myself and my family.

Chef Jennifer Hill BookerWhere are you from: I was born in Michigan, grew up in Florida, went to college in Oklahoma and attended Le Cordon Bleu-College of Culinary Arts, Paris, FranceHow long have you lived in Gwinnett: I’ve lived in Gwinnett for 8 years.Education: Bachelor of Arts from the University of Tulsa then went on to get an Associate Degree in Occupational Science from Oklahoma State University, and a Base de Cuisine Certificate from Le Cordon Bleu-College of Culinary Arts, Paris, FranceHow long have you been in your profession: I have been a Professional

Chef and the Owner of Your Resident Gourmet, LLC for 16 years.What do you love most about your profession: Being a part of my client’s celebrations and the creativity I employ daily.

Continued on page 6

Glenton AshbyWhere are you from: Glenton was born in St. Lucia. Education: I have a degree in Management from Georgia Tech and have passed the Certified Financial Planner exam.How long have you lived in Gwinnett: Over 30 years.How long have you been in your profession: Halcyon Financial Plan-ning was started in 2010 and is a fee-only financial planning firm. What do you love most about your profession: One of the best things about being a financial planner is being able to help others with their financial issues.

Julie Mills, CMT, LLCCWhere are you from: McDonough, GAHow long have you lived in Gwinnett: 9 yearsEducation: Degree in Finance from Auburn University. Massage Cer-tification from Everest Institute, Lymphedema Certification Upledger Institute, Nutrition Coach Wellness Forum.How long have you been in your profession: 5 yearsWhat do you love most about your profession: Helping people experi-ence a better quality of life. I wanted to bring lymphedema and thera-peutic treatments to the East side of town so that our citizens would not

have to drive into the city for services.


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Susan Cadley, LPCWhere are you from: Northville, MichiganHow long have you lived in Gwinnett: I have worked in the Suwanee area for 11 years.Education: Master of Arts in Psychology; Professional Counseling from The Georgia School of Professional Psychology & a Bachelors in Business Administration; Marketing Western Michigan UniversityHow long have you been in your profession: I have been a counselor for 12 years.What do you love most about your profession: Guiding clients to

remember that they are so much more than their history, story, roles, work all the “things” they identify as themselves with.

Shayla Ortiz Where are you from: I was born in sunny Miami Florida and lived there throughout my childhood. How long have you lived in Gwinnett: I’ve lived in Gwinnett for 23 years, in Lawrenceville to be precise. I graduated from Berkmar High-school. How long have you been in your profession: I am a freelance article writer and blogger. I have been self employed and pursuing my passion as a writer for two years.

What do you love most about your profession: I love expressing myself and creating a mental picture for the reader; to convey emotion through words.

Alicia PhilippWhere are you from: I am originally from Downers Grove, IL, a suburb, west of Chicago.How long have you lived in Gwinnett: In Gwinnett since 1990Educational background: BA degree in Psychology from Southern Il-linois University, and after working a few years in Human Resources, con-tinued on to get a MS degree in Counseling from GA State University. How long have you been in your profession: I started working as a Ca-reer Counselor in 1998, working for a non-profit organization in Decatur.

I became self-employed in 2009What do you love most about your profession: I enjoy helping others to know their op-tions, and make good decisions. It’s important to find something you truly enjoy. I especially like working with high-school clients as they have so many choices ahead.

Cathy Bruce Where are you from: I am a Maryland native and moved here from New York City.How long have you lived in Gwinnett: We have lived in Gwinnett for exactly four years.Education: I hold a Bachelor of Arts in Music Performance and am a Certified Pet Dog Trainer through the Certification Council for Profes-sional Dog Trainers.How long have you been in your profession: I have been in my pro-fession for ten years and have been self employed for six years.

What do you love most about your profession: There are so many things I love about training dogs and people but the thing I love the most is helping owners understand their dogs better.

Althea Lawton-Thomas Where are you from: I’ve lived in so many different cities and states, I don’t claim to be from any one place, but my family and I moved here from Maryland.How long have you lived in Gwinnett: We’ve been Gwinnetians since September 2005Educational background: I have a BS in Business Admin from Florida A&M University, and several certifications in Yoga, Personal Training, Aquatics and Group Exercise.

How long have you been in your profession: I started my fitness consulting and video production company in 1998. We opened Aerobics, Yoga & More Studios in 2008.What do you love most about your profession: The joy of seeing the results of emotional, spiritual and physical strengthening and stretching beyond what people think is possible is indescribable.


January Calendar

Pancake BreakfastJanuary 7, 2012Briscoe Field Airport/Gwinnett Countywww.690.eaachapter.org/Come enjoy a delicious pancake breakfast and learn about the Experimental Aircraft Association.

Heaven’s EchoesJanuary 7, 2012Everett Brothers Music BarnStone Cypher Road, Suwaneewww.everettbrothers.com/The Everett Brothers Band performs at 8pm, followed by National or Regional touring bands

Prom Fashion ExtravaganzaJanuary 7, 2012Gwinnett Historic Courthouse 185 West Crogan Street, Lawrencevillewww.gwinnettcounty.com/Includes a fashion show, meet with dress shop owners, see the latest trends & accessories.

Georgia Bridal ShowJanuary 8, 2012Gwinnett Center 6400 Sugarloaf Parkway, Duluthwww.eliteevents.com/Join us for the South’s Elite Bridal Event since 1990!

World Spirit Federation Cheerleading: A- Town ChampionshipsJanuary 8, 2012 Arena at Gwinnett Center6400 Sugarloaf Parkway, Championships

Second SamuelJanuary 13 – 29, 2012New London Theatre 2485 East Main Street SW, Snellville www.newlondontheatre.org/This new adaptation restores the suspense and seduction of Bram Stoker’s classic novel to the stage.

Senior’s Snow Flake DanceJanuary 14, 2012 Bethesda Park Senior Center225 Bethesda Church Road, Lawrencevillewww.gwinnettcounty.com/ring your loved one or friend for a fun eve-ning of dancing. Refreshements served.

“Dollar Day”January 16, 2012Yellow River Game Ranch4525 Highway 78, Lilburnwww.yellowrivergameranch.com/Everyone admitted for only $1 per person. Bring your mom, dad and your pesky little brother to visit our squirrels, chipmunks, brown bears and deer! This is your big chance to “pay a buck to see a buck!”.

A Body of Water January 19 – February 12, 2012Aurora Theatre128 Pike Street, Lawrenceville www.auroratheatre.com

Funny FridaysJanuary 20, 2012Aurora Theatre128 Pike Street, Lawrenceville www.auroratheatre.com

An Engaging Affair Bridal Show January 22, 2012Gwinnett Historic Courthouse185 West Crogan Street, Lawrencevillewww.gwinnettcounty.comIncludes a fashion show, dance exhibitions and up to 50 vendors. Door prizes also, register in adavnce.

Gwinnett Symphony Orchestra presents “Chamberworks”January 23, 2012Mountain View High School2351 Sunny Hill Rd, Lawrenceville www.gwinnettsymphony.orgOrchestra Fine Art ExhibitJanuary 24 – April 18, 2012Gwinnett Historic Courthouse185 West Crogan Street, Lawrenceville www.gwinnettcounty.com

Happy New Year 2012Lawrenceville is honored to have an exhibit of world renowned artist Robert Christie. The show will be a snapshot of his award winning 60+ year career including portraits, wildlife and illustrations from books and col-lector plates.

8th Annual Birthday BashJanuary 28, 2012Wild Bill’s Country Music Dance Hall 2075 Market St., Duluthwww.ticketmaster.comConcert and a birthday bash celebrating Wild Bill’s birthday.

Aurora Dance NightsJanuary 28, 2012550 Trackside LawrencevilleEach dance night will feature lessons with expert Kathy Casper and the great folks from All About Ballroom

If You Give A Mouse a CookieJanuary 28, 2012Aurora Theatre 128 Pike Street, Lawrencevillewww.auroratheatre.comChildrens Playhouse

Continued on pg. 15

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By Sagdrina Jalal

Every year most of us make and reaffirm New Year’s resolutions. There’s one major problem--New Year’s resolutions generally lose their luster by Spring. You’ve probably made resolutions to get healthy. How do you plan to stay motivated past Spring?

Why not combine Getting Healthy with community involvement?

Killing those two birds with one stone is entirely possible. Having a target outside of yourself will help keep you motivated towards your personal health and fitness goals all year long.

Lately, there has been a new exciting trend. As people reflect on what matters most, connecting with the community seems to be a top priority for many. For these, it means using their passion to help others. Running races is a great way to achieve a goal and support a cause. Organizations like the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society’s Team in Training and the American Cancer Society’s DetermiNation have seen an influx of interest.

The Metro-Atlanta community has recently become home to an innovative running program. Set in urban environments across the country, Back on My Feet (wwww.backonmyfeet.org) promotes independence and helps build confidence for those experiencing homelessness. Volunteers commit to train in teams with those who live in partner homeless facilities. The organization also hosts races and other events designed to heighten awareness.

Looking for a way to get in shape and involved? Join me, other local fitness professionals on 400daysuntil40.com. There you will find training advice and nutrition and fitness tips. You can connect with others with similar goals and find ways to reach out to the community.

Now is the time to get and stay motivated. Commit to staying healthy, and helping the community throughout all of 2012

By Sagdrina Jalal, BS Ed, CPT, Fitness Consultant, Inner Strength Fitness, 404-271-0071

www.innerstrength-fitness.com

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Want to be in the best shape of your life in 2012? Go to 400daysuntil40.com for free online support

Why Advertise in Our Town?Our Town is the only direct mail community publication that stands out from the rest with beautiful covers of local families in an OVERSIZED format.

Our Town has a long shelf life. With informative articles, calendar of events, and monthly crosswords, all designed to keep OT in your home and on the coffee table all month long!

Our Town is affordable! Take advantage of our full color, larger ads at competitive prices. OT also offers reasonably priced, professional ad design!

Our Town is delivered directly to your target audience.We mail to homeowners and businesses in your own neighborhood. Folks who shop, dine or use your serviceswithout having to travel far.

Our Town is locally owned and operated. We are small, but wear many hats, and are proud to service our clients personally!

404-824-5396 l [email protected]

404-824-5396 [email protected]


FINANCE

Halcyon Times– Helping you enjoy smooth financial sailing.

Can I Get A Little Help?By Glenton Ashby

was reading recently about the need for children to be aware of, and involved in, the personal and financial affairs of older parents for whom they may eventually

become caregivers. This involvement is especially important before a parent becomes incapacitated or otherwise unable to properly and easily participate in discussing caregiv-ing issues with children or other loved ones. The same applies for a younger relative who will have caregiver responsibility for an older relative in the future.

Discussion of the parent’s current or future desires and needs regarding healthcare, finances and personal property is a prudent step for all parties who will potentially be involved.Having these discussions earlier in life, rather than later, reduces the possibility of dif-ficult discussions with parents or siblings after a loved one becomes incapacitated or impaired.Children may need to take the initiative with their parents. Parents in turn must be open, honest and responsive with their children. The process should be collaborative and honesty on all sides is essential.

It may be necessary, or beneficial, to divide responsibility for various things such as per-sonal or day-to-day care, transportation, finances, healthcare and housing. Siblings may have different roles for which they are best suited. Children who live at a distance should consider taking on responsibilities that do not require them to be close by. Expectations should be discussed and understood by all involved.Questions to consider include:Do elderly parents have enough money to live on or will financial assistance be need-ed?Who will elderly parents live with when they can no longer live on their own?How will assisted living or nursing home accommodations be paid for?Who will provide transportation when parents can no longer drive themselves?Who will manage, or at least keep an eye on, finances?Who will manage medical and healthcare issues?Is long-term care insurance needed or already in place?

As part of this process take steps to be sure that insurance, wills, powers of attorney for finances and healthcare and other critical documents are up to date and that their location is known.Discuss “who gets what” as far as inherited items ahead of time to reduce the potential for conflict down the road. That is, resolve who will receive items that may be desired, or expected, by two or more people.

Even if it is uncomfortable to address, or to even think about, these types of questions and issues, doing so will make things easier in the long run.

A couple things to keep in mind as you begin the new year:

As you work toward filing your 2011 tax return don’t forget actions you can take before April 15 which are tax-favorable for 2011. For example, make IRA contributions for 2011.

If you have a Flexible Spending Account (FSA) and did not use up your 2011 funds by December, plan to use the funds in the first two months of 2012 rather than lose that money.

Feedback and topic suggestions are welcome – email [email protected], or comment at www.HalcyonFP.com/halcyon-times. Tweet @halcyonplanning.

Glenton Ashby is the founder and owner of Halcyon Financial Planning, LLC, a fee-only financial planning and Registered Investment Advisor firm. Visit HalcyonFP.com.

I


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CaREER

hile I didn’t come up with this SMART idea, with the New Year upon us, it’s a good idea to review. We

all make resolutions in our lives, especially around New Year’s Day. We naturally want to make our own life and the world around us better in some way. As you consider any New Year’s resolution, try to keep it SMART. There are a few versions of this acronym, but the basic one is good to get started.

SMART = Specific + Measurable + Attainable + Realistic + Timely

Resolutions around your work life can include many things such as: getting a new job; changing careers; managing our time better; improving networking efforts; seeking new busi-ness opportunities; being more organized; improving relation-ships with peers, a boss, or clients; increasing sales;

Consider the goal of improving networking efforts. When we’re employed, we can sometimes neglect keeping in contact with prior work contacts, or we find ourselves so busy with work that we don’t reach out to our current contacts in ways that would build stronger relationships. So often, it is when we become unemployed that we regret not having spent a little more time networking.

Keeping your goal SPECIFIC, you want to address certain aspects of networking. You might decide to improve your involvement with members of a specific professional organi-

zation. You might decide to take on a board position with the group, or be a presenter for an upcoming conference. If your goal is too loosely defined, you will never be able to know if you achieved it.

To keep our goal MEASURABLE, decide how many meeting you will attend during the year, or how many people you will introduce yourself to at each meeting. You need to be able to see if you are hitting your target. Try to break down the numbers into weekly or monthly goals so you can keep tabs on your progress.

Keeping your goal ATTAINABLE, think of what might have kept you from being successful in the past. There will always be roadblocks to reaching our goals, the trick is figuring out how to blast through those roadblocks, one-at-a-time. If you can’t see a way past those roadblocks, then you might be set-ting yourself up for failure. If in the past, there have been conflicts in the meeting times, how will you plan your time differently so that you can get to the meetings?

Is the goal REALISTIC? Too often we go overboard, expecting perfection on day one. It’s okay to have a less-than-perfect goal in mind, as long it is improvement from before. If in the past, you have only been able to get to 2 of the monthly meetings, it might be unrealistic to think you will get to all 12, and the annual conference. Set a realistic goal and you are more likely to have success, which you will then build on for higher goals.

Make a Smart New Year’s Resolution

W Lastly, your goal should be TIMELY. Having a time frame gives your goals structure. To improve your networking efforts, you need to get meetings on your calendar well in advance, making them a priority. Also get on the email list for the group, join their LinkedIn group, or ‘like’ their Facebook page so that you are sure to get regular communication from the group.

Whatever your New Year’s resolutions will be, in work and your personal life, keep them SMART and you will have more success in reaching your goals.

By Alicia Philipp, MS, LPC, NCC, Career Counselor2563-2563-2563 www.AP-LPC.com Email your comments or article suggestions to: [email protected]

By Alicia Philipp

EDUCATION COrNEr

n my work with young people in their academics, often I find them lacking confidence, motivation, and hope. They also sometimes have no clear vision as to what their life is

to be all about. This is what has propelled me to want to help them!

I believe that at the core of all student success is a young person who feels worthy, accepted, understood, and loved. And, if children do not receive this within their own family, school and/or in the community, they must go somewhere else to find it. That place is within their own selves and what they believe to be true about themselves. If we can help children understand the miracle of their own birth and help foster a positive relationship with their creator, God, then I believe we have helped them establish a foundation for a life of fulfill-ment and purpose.

I read a children’s book recently written by Charlene Constanzo and want to share its content in this month’s article. Please share this with the children you interact with at home and/or in your community in order to encourage them to appreciate who they are, accept how God created them, and embrace their possible contribution to others and the world.

When born, there are twelve gifts each of us inherited from God as described by Ms. Costanzo. They are strength, beauty, courage, compassion, hope, joy, talent, imagination, reverence, wisdom, love, and faith.

Strength - To call upon when needed

Beauty – So your deeds can reflect its depth

Courage – To follow your own path and speak and act with confidence

Compassion - To be gentle with and forgive yourself and others when mistakes are made

Hope – To trust in its goodness during each event and phase of life

Joy – To keep your heart and mind open and filled with the positive aspects of life

Talent - To discover your own special abilities and use them to make the world bet-ter

Imagination - To use to nourish your dreams and visions

Reverence – To appreciate the wonder of who you are and the miracle of creation

Wisdom – To listen to its soft voice and allow it to guide your way to understanding

Love – To give away and then experience it growing in your own life

Faith – So you can believe!

By encouraging children to use these gifts and recognize them in other people, we can instill in them a foundation of positive values and self worth!

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The Twelve Gifts of Birth

WELLNESS

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?Page 12 For Advertising Information Call 404-824-5396 • E-mail: [email protected] Our Town Magazine

CRO

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Across1 - After five

16 - The best

34 - From Hell

38 - to help

42 - Critical

51 - Short for Ashley

59 - Israli fire arm

62 - Fanatic

65 - So be it (in Hebrew)

88 - Keanu in the Matrix

94- Right to use another’s property for a specific purpose

100 - Record of Arrest and Prosecution

103 - Paul on the road to ____

91 - Honda’s luxury line

84 - Cain and _____

75 - The name of God in the Bible (Hebrew)

52 - Where you are from

60 - Capital of Florida

63 - Hiatus (plural)

66 - Frequently Asked Questions

69 - U2 song from October

79 - different kind of car company

86 - ______ Rica, GA

67 - _____Rigby picks up the rice in the church (Beatles Song)

74 - As soon as possible

96 - James ______

101 - Lady ______

104 - After Afghanistan USA invaded _______

4 - Swedish pop group formed in Stockholm in 1970

28 - Forbidden based on moral judgment

35 - Store with the bullseye logo

40 - A tiling puzzle that requires the assembly of interlocking pieces

81 - Commonly known as the century plant

87 - Indifferent

93 - A small, often mischievous creature considered to have magical powers

99 - Institute legal proceedings against (a person or institution), typically for redress.

102 - Electric Membership Corporation

105 - Second song from “Band on the run” record by Paul McCartney

23 - Late for school

8 - The making of quilts as an activity

18 - Strict conformity to the letter of the law rather than its spirit

21 - Without any blemishes or imperfections

24 - American Broadcasting Company

32 - American Express

37 - Expensive, costly, dear, precious

45 - United Parcel Service

47 - Abbreviation for répondez s’il vous plaît

58 - A drink made from dry white wine and crème de cassis.

61 - Muhammad the champ

64 - Unidentified Flying Object

Down80 - National Association of Securities Dealers Automated Quotations

1 - Holiness, or sanctity

2 - Age of ice

3 - Copy machine

4 - The ten ___________

88 - Intelligent but socially awkward and obsessive person

46 - Daughter of a Beatle

5 - ________ and Costello

6 - British Broadcasting Corporation

7 - To purchase

8 - Also Known As

24 - 10 fingers and 10 ______

27 - Heat (a liquid) to the temperature at which it bubbles and turns to vapor

83 - Cause & ________

82 - A book forming part of a work or series

12 - Attorney

50- Existing or coming before

have been a certified personal trainer since 1996 and have worked with many people of different backgrounds, but my most rewarding clients are those recovering from injuries

or managing debilitating diseases. Meet my client, Marlin McKeever…

Inherited genetic Spinal Cerebellum Ataxia is a neuro-logical disorder that damages the spinal cord and nerves that carry signals from the brain to the muscles. About 6 or 7 years ago, Marlin began losing his bal-ance and coordination and took a blood test revealing this debilitat-ing disease. As it progressed, he became dependent on a walker and stopped driving. Challenges with speech and the ability to write forced him to stop working. Marlin began visiting the Shepherd Center, a private non-profit hos-pital specializing in treatment of spinal cord diseases, for physical therapy and aquatic fitness training. After a couple of years, he felt the rehab at Shepherd wasn’t challenging enough and the water fitness was only seasonal. He needed something more that he could do throughout the year. Family friends told him about the classes they were attending at a small studio in Lilburn and about Yoga and Pilates private training offered there.

On May 18, 2011 Rose McKeever and her son, Marlin, came to meet me for a private train-ing consultation. Rose, one of the spriest 71 year olds I’ve ever seen, held the front door open for her 45 year-old son who was walking slowly behind a wheeled walker known as a Rolator. He was hunched and bent over as he pushed the Rolator awkwardly through the door and carefully sat for our meeting. As Rose described Marlin’s disease and its symptoms, I took notes and observed Marlin’s movements. When the verbal consultation was over, we went through a battery of core strength, resistance, and balance exercises for me to ascertain Marlin’s limitations and opportunities for strength. When the full session was complete, I calmly pronounced, “He can walk, you know.” Both Marlin and Rose looked at me like I had three heads, but they nodded politely and left after skeptically agreeing to return for a follow up session.

For the next month, I had Marlin do hip and leg exercises to mimic the movements of lifting the leg to walk. We worked on core abdominal and back strength for standing tall instead of stooping. I challenged his motor skills and coordination with repetitive multifunctional move-ments. My goal was to retrain the neural pathways of the brain to the muscles moving his joints around the core. Repetition for muscle memory and improved strength was my plan. After a few private sessions, I suggested Marlin come to my Mat Pilates class. He was ini-tially concerned about disrupting the class and not being able to perform the moves, but the entire program is lying on the back, the stomach or seated. After a few weeks, Marlin was a regular in the class and his core and upper body strength continued to increase. In addition to improvements in his physical strength, his confidence was soaring.

During our private session on July 28, 2011, Marlin’s mother, Rose, sat in her usual corner taking notes while Marlin and I went through our various exercises. I asked him to stand up and hold his stance without support while I counted to five. He did it four times without a problem. I don’t know what made me do it, but as he completed the last one, I heard myself say, “Okay, Marlin, take a step to me.”

His Rolator was across the room, I was standing two feet away from him and there was no table or chair for him to use as support. He looked at me, grunted in disbelief at my request, and blinked a couple of times. I saw Rose cover her mouth in shock in my peripheral sight. No one spoke as we all held a collective breath. I waited. Eventually, he shuffled his left foot a few inches toward me. I felt in my heart and core that he could do this… right now… on this day. I was only a foot in front of him. I whispered, “Take another step. You can do it.”

He tentatively dragged his right food forward, then, again with the left. After several minutes, we all realized he and I had walked across the room to the door. No one dared to say any-thing. None of us could. He looked at me and I looked at him as we locked hands silently.

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HealTH and yOu

’m thrilled and delighted to tell you about the Lymphatic System and the importance of immune function. It is my spe-cialty and I love working with such a delicate system of the body.

Your Lymphatic System is just that, an independent func-tioning system in the body. We have multiple systems such as the cardiovascular (heart), and the pulmonary (lung), and the nervous system each having its own important function. The Lymphatic system, in short, is the Immune system. It has its own network of capillaries, channels, and nodes. Its job is to help the body get rid of anything and everything it does not use. It takes care of the larger proteins that cannot enter the blood capillaries. It also allows unrecognized particles and molecules to be absorbed into the lymph capillaries. And guess what… it destroys viruses, bacteria and diseases that enter the body. Without this vital system, we would die!

The way it works is actually very simple. The lymph capillar-ies are not like blood capillaries. A blood capillary is similar to a straw that has an opening at each end and is solid in the middle. A lymph capillary has overlapping filaments, much like fish guiles. These filaments are attached to the derma of the skin. So, any kind of movement helps open these filaments and allows larger particles and fluid to enter.

Now, once in the capillaries, it travels to the lymph nodes. You have nodes all over the body, however there are several major “dumping stations” or node areas. These are on the neck, un-der the arms and at the crease of the legs. The function of the

I node is to destroy the foreign matter or toxins. If these nodes are full (too much for the body to handle), there is a “traffic” jam and the toxins cannot exit the body which will make you very sick.

The same is true if you have an injury or surgery. The extra inflammation or fluid is absorbed into the lymphatic system which takes care of swelling. Swelling is your body’s natural protection when the body is traumatized. In addition, when you have had surgery, you are given many medications (pain medications, anesthesia, etc). This causes additional toxins in the body, which inundates the lymph system. This coupled with additional swelling totally overloads your lymph nodes.

There really is no medication for the lymph system itself, so manual therapy is the best way to help the system and assist the body to “dump” the toxins and heal faster. If you are suf-fering from a chronic illness or recovering from surgery, lymph drainage therapy is critical in your recovery. Manually moving the fluids and assisting the nodes to dump and refill greatly im-proves the capacity of the lymph and helps lessen your pain.

The next best thing to help improve lymph function and actually prevent sickness is limiting your exposure to toxic foods. Think about it, if you put something in your body, let’s say processed food, your body cannot recognize it. These toxins are then sent to the lymph because they are unusable by the cells. The lymph is forced to divert from fighting disease to work on the tox-ins you just put in it. In other words, by eating that Twinkie,

you have just side-tracked the lymph from doing its major job of fighting viruses and dis-ease to being a garbage dispos-al for the empty food you ate. Don’t assume that cookies and chips just turn into fat, they are actually harmful and lower your immune function. So, give the body fresh fruits and vegetables and lots of water. This helps the lymph system because the body recognizes the food, uses it like fuel, and there is very little debris for the lymph to handle. Instead the nodes can work on keeping you well!

There are many factors that affect our immune function. Nutrition, toxins, stress and sleep all play a part. They may seem pretty simple but they are extremely important. When your immune is overloaded, you are more prone to allergies. Think about how many people you know that are on allergy medications. If your immune system is at its best, your body

Immune System: What is it?

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Repticon - A Reptile & Exotic Animal ExpoJanuary 28 – 29, 2012Gwinnett County Fairgrounds www.repticon.comRepticon is excited to be back at the Gwinnett County Fairgrounds. See website for details.

Monthly Family BreakfastJanuary 8, 2012Killian Hall908 Killian Hill Rd. Lilburnwww.kofclilburn.org/activities.htmCome one, come all to the family breakfast at Killian Hall. 9:30am-1pm. Sponsored by the Knights of Columbus council 7923. Join and help us serve our community. See website for details.

Pork Chop DinnerJanuary 19, 2012Killian Hall908 Killian Hill Rd. Lilburnwww.kofclilburn.org/activities.htmSponsored by the Knights of Columbus council 7923. Join and help us serve our community. See website for details.

Nutritional WorkshopsJanuary 24th & February 21st. 2012

Dr. Gravante’s Office1790 Presidential Circle, Suite A Snellvillewww.drgravante.comOffering a free one hour Nutiritional Worskshop to give you an overview of the program and to see if it is right for you! RSVP at: 678-990-9400

Red Hot Chili Peppers January 30, 2012Arena at Gwinnett Center6400 Sugarloaf Parkway, Duluthwww.ticketmaster.comRock/Pop band

2nd Thursday Preschool Program Starting January 12, 2012Southeastern Railway Museum3595 Peachtree Road, Duluth www.southeasternrailwaymuseum.comVisit the museum with you pre-school kids ages 1-4 and enjoy circle time, songs, crafts and a chance to climb aboard the featured vehicle of the month.

Filmaker’s Showcase Presents in Norcross January 21, 2012Norcross Cultural Arts & Community Centernorcrossartsalliance.orgThis showcase features work produced by several filmmakers who produce throughout the Atlanta area and call Norcross “home”

Sensory friendly film for family with special needs Feb 25 9:30am

Carmike 12 1905 Scenic Hwy Snellville www.thegoldensoldiers.org

Special showing for families with special needs children. Families are invited to come together to enjoy a time of movie fun where kids can be themselves.

A sensory friendly movie is a movie which is shown without previews, the sound is not as loud as a regular movie, and the lights are not as dim. You can also talk, shout, scream and

run around the movie theater during these movies!

Continued from pg. 7


COunselOr’s COrner

Oh, where to begin? That is the question when faced with a blank calendar and an entire new year. It’s that time of year again where we reflect and reassess the past year and decide how we’ll create the New Year. Planning to begin something can be especially challenging when it’s something you’ve started before.I had been on a short hiatus from the gym and working out in general. The reasons why are not as important as beginning again, in the now. I’m careful not to admonish myself for not working out, it’s just not helpful. Instead, I first think about getting back into a routine, I remem-ber how energized and grounded I felt, and then I decide. I decide to start. At first I hesitate as my inner protector begins to speak, wanting to shield me from ANY pain; “you’ll be so tired, sore, you won’t be able to keep up with the workout class, blah, blah, blah “. There may be some truths in that little rant; however, it’s really trying to talk me out of it to avoid either perceived pain, which is really FEAR.The element of fear is meant to keep us safe from harm. Think about that intuitive feeling you have when you sense real danger. It’s a natural built in instinct. However, what is unique to humans is that we place danger on situations that may not be harmful at all. We

Starting, with Fear by Your SideBy Susan Cadley

do this based on our personal history, looking for evidence that something did not work in the past. In order to avoid feeling failure, disappointment, or sadness, hesitation sets in. Fear can stop you in your tracks from moving ahead.If you’ve been thinking about starting something such as a healthy lifestyle, work project, an event, anything that feels big and overwhelming to you, look for these signs that fear is in charge:

Negative self defeating talk – “you can’t do that, it’s too hard, you’ve failed before”

Procrastination• – “you can begin later’Comparing• – “other people have it easier, they are more talented”Complacency• - Doing nothing is a habit.

Here are some ways to get yourself at the starting line once you’ve decided to begin:

Do your research and have a plan in place. Name the •main goal and then create smaller attainable goals to keep overwhelm at bay.Imagine how you would feel if you began something •you’ve been putting off. This usually results in feeling a sense of calm, accomplishment, increased self-esteem.

Gain support and cheerleaders along the way.•Write down your goal and post it where you can see it •everyday.Celebrate yourself for starting with a healthy reward.•

Beginnings can be filled with excitement and fear, as the unknown offers a plethora of possibilities and fear offers only one; perceived safety. Consider starting something you’ve been putting off and open yourself up to learning and growing. And remember, even if you slide backwards, you can begin again in the next moment. Life is a series of starts. Be gentle with your-self and decide to start living even more fully, right now.

Susan Cadley, LPC, CSC, Licensed Professional Counselor & Certified Soul Coach is available for couples/ adult individ-ual counseling and workshops in Suwanee, GA. She may be reached directly and confidentially at 678-296-1278; www.coachingforyoursoul.com

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PET PAGE PET OF THE MONTH

Nancy Churchill, DVM n Pam Zaidspiner, DVM n Bill Connolly, DVM Brad Harris, DVM n Kathryn Padgett, DVM n Pat Zook, DVM

By Cathy Bruce, CPDT-KA/ Canine Country Academy LLC

id you know that January is National Train Your Dog month? In past articles I have highlighted some of the wonderful reasons why training your dog is important, so I will go over a few of them again to spotlight

this celebratory month!

One important reason to train your dog is to make a worthwhile investment in your relationship. Training and working with your dog strengthens your bond and if the training is fun for your dog then they will want to spend more time with you. This is why positive reinforcement training is critical. Dogs learn by association so if they are creating a positive association while being with their human then they are more likely to want to do more. Training also provides much needed mental stimulation which tires your dog out.

Dogs, like people, need good manners! We humans have social rules of how we are supposed to behave. These rules are taught to us at a very young age to help us get through life and social interactions. The same is true for our dogs. Not everyone likes a dog jumping all over that new suit they are wearing or when their dog decides to grab that pizza slice off the counter. Teaching your dog “real life skills” like we teach in our C.L.A.S.S. program (Canine Life and Social Skills) helps them have better social interactions and life experiences.

Lastly, training can (and should) be fun for the human. A good trainer is one who knows how to understand their dog’s body language and communicate with their dog effectively. There are some great dog sports out there like Agility and APDT Rally that help owners to learn better communication skills with their dog and to have fun while doing it.

Since January is the start of a new year, commit to training your dog in 2012. Even if it is just teaching them some new tricks (incidentally, old dogs CAN learn new tricks!) it will improve your relationship with your canine companion. For more information on finding a fun training class for your dog, check out our website at www.caninecountryacademy.com and sign up today for either of our training facilities in Dacula or Lawrenceville. Happy training!

D

My name is Albie and I was adopted in September 2011 from Atlanta Pet Rescue. I came from a breeder that had too many dogs to care for and me and a few of my siblings were thankfully rescued and put in loving and comfortable homes. I went from sleeping in a crate all day to being in a nice warm home. I love to sleep in between my Mommy and Daddy on my back with my head on their pillow. I have a new sister at my new home who is still not so sure about me…I love to chase her and bite her tail. Although she doesn’t enjoy it as much as I do. My parents have spoiled me with toys and I tear them up the first chance I get. You will rarely ever see me without a toy in my mouth. My favorite thing to sneak away are socks but Im apparently not allowed to keep them! My favorite words to hear are “outside” and “treats”. I love to lay in my Mommy’s arms on my back and be cradled like a baby and have my belly rubbed. You can guess that I have adjusted to my new life pretty well as I am still a little submissive, but I am coming around and am King of the house…Next to my Daddy of course. My tail never stops wagging and I am so thankful for my forever home.

Sent in by: Bryan & Lindsay

SEND IN YOUR PET FOR “PET OF THE MONTH!Send to: PO BOX 644

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JanuaryNational

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Recipe

Turkey ‘Scramble’ with Spinach & Feta Cheese in a Toasted Whole Grain Pita Pocket

Makes: 4 servingsPrep Time: 20 minutesCooking Time: 15 minutes

1 pound ground Turkey breakfast sausage (remove casing if using links) 4 eggs + ½ cup egg whites4 cups fresh baby spinach leaves1 cup feta cheeseFresh ground black pepper, to taste2 whole grain Pita Pockets, cut in half

Recipe provided by: Chef Jennifer Hill BookerPlease free to contact Chef Jennifer at:

[email protected]

In a large skillet, brown the sausage over medium heat, drain any oil and return the sausage to the skillet and both back on medium heat. Add the spinach and stir until the spinach wilts and any liquid in the pan has evap-orated. Add the eggs and stir into the sausage and spinach mixture until the eggs have cooked through. Remove the pan from the heat and allow to cool. While the sausage mixture is cooling, toast the Pita Pockets and set aside. Add the feta cheese and fresh ground pepper to the sausage, spinach, and egg mixture. Divide into fourths and place the mixture into the pocket of the toasted whole grain Pita Pocket. The Turkey ‘Scramble’ with Spinach & Feta Cheese mixture freezes well or can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator and reheated when ready to eat.

Turkey ‘Scramble’ with Spinach & Feta Cheese in Toasted Whole Grain Pita Pocket

I guided him to a nearby chair, gave him a high five and a hug, then frantically began recording notes.

Rose cried and prayed out loud as she went to hug him. Marlin began repeating, “I walked, Mama, I walked!” I could hear the disbelief in his voice.

I nodded with a smile. “I told you you could walk!” I turned my back to them to hide the tears in my eyes. I wrote notes without seeing them. I closed my eyes, took a deep breath, then eventually turned to finish our session.

I later asked Rose what she felt that day as he walked for the first time since the disease had affected him. “I was shocked and exuberant at the same time. I was speechless. It was simply unbelievable. Just unbelievable.”

Marlin’s response was, “I have hope, again. I have hope.”

Since that day, Marlin has had good days and bad days. But every day he is stronger than the day before. Rose videotapes our sessions for Marlin to study and work from when we’re not together. He is the most dedicated client I have ever trained. When his neurologist saw him for the first time in six months, he was stunned by Marlin’s ability to stand, walk, and sit on his own. We accom-plished more with Pilates, faith and trust in seven months than anything he had done before.

As you start this new year with plans, hopes and resolutions, remember to be faithful, courageous, and surround yourself with support. When you fall down, it’s okay to cry, but eventually you’ve got to get up. And when you feel like you can’t do it, imagine a voice whispering to you, “Take another step. You can do it…”

Althea is the owner of Aerobics, Yoga & More Studios in Lilburn and producer of the Altheatized video series. Email

your fitness or wellness comment or question to her at [email protected]..

can fight off allergens (dust, pollen, etc.) much easier.

When the immune is compromised it is harder to focus. There is a direct link between be-havioral issues (ADHD) and nutrition. The body is craving nutrients to give the cells what they need to function. If you do not do this, you overload the immune and the body gets fatigued, it is more difficult to concentrate, and you are more susceptible to illness. When you experience higher levels of stress, your body actually produces debris and toxins due to extra combustion happening in the body (oxidative stress). The lymphatic system is then inundated with cellular debris and toxins which lower your immune! The good news is that you and your family do not have to be so sick. You can make those small changes, like eating healthier, drinking more water, getting more sleep, and slowing down to help your immune and strengthen your lymphatic system. Now do you see why I am so excited about sharing the news about your Lymph System? This system is the key to your well-being. Your body is very forgiving and does not require a whole lot to keep it up and going. All that is required is natural foods, lots of water and 8 hours of sleep.

What a great time of year to implement a new routine and set new goals for your family. Take care of that wonderful body of yours by taking the time to read labels, make dinner from scratch and go to bed early. It will require a team effort, so give special duties for each member of the family such as reading the labels, counting how many fruits and vegetables you have in the house, or setting the alarm to tell you when it is time to get ready for bed. If you do become ill or need surgery, remember you can recover faster with manual lymph therapies. I see it happen on a daily basis in my office.

Julie Mills, CMT, LLCCBody of HealthSee our ad on page 4More information about the lymph system please refer to www.bodyofhealthandlife.com or call 678-773-0630.

Continued from page 12 Continued from page 13


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OurTown Magazine Gwinnett January 2012