Our Town August 2010 - West Cobb

AUGUST 2010

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The West Cobb Area’s Family Lifestyle News Magazine

NORTHWEST GEORGIA DERMATOLOGY & SKIN CANCER SPECIALIST, LLCKENNESTONE NORTH • 840 CHURCH STREET • SUITE G3 • MARIETTA, GA 30060

www.nwgadermatologists .com

WE ACC E P T MA S T E RC A R D, VI S A, AM E X, DI S COV E R A N D CA R E CR E D I T

JOHN D. KAYAL, M.D.FELLOW, AMERICAN ACADEMY OF DERMATOLOGY

FELLOW, AMERICAN COLLEGE OF MOHSMICROGRAPHIC SURGERY AND CUTANEOUS ONCOLOGY

DIPLOMAT, AMERICAN SOCIETY OF DERMATOLOGIC SURGERY

Dr. Kayal specializes in diagnosis and treatment of skin

cancers, including: Basal Cell Carcinoma, Squamous Cell Car-

cinoma, Malignant Melanoma, Paget’s disease and Recurrent

Skin Cancers. He also specializes in a variety of cosmetic proce-

dures to include: Botox, Fillers, and Chemical Peels.

RSVP Today to Reserve Your Slot • Call: 770-426-7177 or [email protected]

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Cocktails & Cosmetics

JoinNORTHWEST GEORGIA

DERMATOLOGY AND

SKIN CANCER SPECIALISTSfor our

August 25th • 3pm-9pm840 Church Street Suite G-3 • Marietta, GA 30060

Microdermabrasions • Facials w/ Esthetician • B-lifts (light chemical peels)

Botox/Dysport - Purchase 1 area at regular price and get ½ off 2nd area!

Heavy Hors d’oeuvres and Drinks • Free Facial Skin Scan w/Neocutis Rep • Free Samples

Free Upper Body Mole Checks with Buchi McCrea, PA-C for 1st 50 Guests

Meet and Greet w/ Dr. John Kayal

Laser Veins, Sculptra®, Radiesse®, Restylane®, Juvéderm® with great discounts.

Bring a Friend and Receive a Free Gift

GLOMINERALS REPRESENTATIVE WILL BE ON HAND FOR

FREE COSMETIC COLOR MATCHES AND MAKEUP TIPS

Graphics and DesignTerry Tanner

Tanner Graphics, Inc.Feature Photographer

Sherri Noftsinger, Sherri’s Portraits

Contributing WritersJason Goggans

Leisa Bailey, PhD.Bob Sabin

Dara Hosch, MD, FAAPLindsey WeberVanessa BerryPam Walker

Dr. Hodari BrooksShasta Clark

Karen HartleyDr. John Kayal

Anne Kirrin

Publishers/Editors Linda Demery & Lori McLinden

The West Cobb Area’s Family Lifestyle News Magazine

OurTownMarietta Kennesaw Acworth PowderSprings

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 er-

rors in advertising beyond the cost of the space or for the validity

of claims made by advertisers.

Entire contents copyright 2010 by Our Town. Reproduction in

whole or in part is forbidden in any media without prior written

permission from the publisher.

Our Town Magazine101 Church Street Suite 175

Marietta, GA 30060

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

[email protected]

Calendar of EventsAbout the CoverOur Town FitnessAugust CrosswordWhat Makes a Good Marriage?Tour de Silver CometWhat’s New at The Avenue?Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome in Pediatric PatientsTwenty SomethingPreventive Screenings Can Keep Your Heart HealthyBusiness Spotlight – Learning RXOur Town Travel- Florida BeachesWorld Cup Soccer Without World Cup InjuriesUnderstanding Your Natural Gas StatementMommy MomentsHome & DesignHealth & BeautyOur Town GardeningWhat’s Cookin’?Pets of the Month

in this issue

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

68

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Dentist - Dr. Sean Breckley

Photography by Sherri’s Portraits


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tsFIRST FRIDAY ART WALK/JAZZ FRIDAYS: Art Walk is a free self-guided tour of the Ma-rietta Square’s eclectic art scene. Galleries, museums, cultural venues, restaurants and boutiques host artistswithin their businesses from 6pm to 9pm on the first Friday of every month, rain or shine. Look for anofficial Art Walk banner in the window to identify the participating venues. Choose your own route, orbegin from our Art Walk Headquarters tent in Artists’ Alley. With the exception of July, you can enjoy ArtWalk every first Friday of the month through October 1st. For more information, please call 770-427-5377.

KENNESAW FARMERS MARKET: The annual Kennesaw Farmers Market is open for businessfrom 7am to 1 pm at 2753 Watts Drive (Adams Park Soccer Field Parking Lot). The Market will thenbe in operation every Tuesday through the end of October. Sponsored by the Kennesaw DowntownDevelopment Authority (KDDA), the Farmers Market will feature a variety of vegetables, fruits, herbsand plants grown by local farmers, as well as baked goods, jams and jellies and other locally produceditems. For more information on the Farmers Market, or to obtain information about being a vendor,please call 770-499-0874 or 770-794-7075.

MARIETTA FARMERS MARKET: Shop for all fresh, locally grown produce and garden productsin Historic Marietta Square. The market has an average of 58 vendors and hundreds of customers eachweek. The Market is open Saturday mornings from 9am to noon. For more details or updates, contactJohnny Fulmer at 770.499.9393.

2010 LUNCH AND LEARN A series of new programs presented by Cobb County Masters forSummer and Fall. NOON – 1 PM. Bring your lunch and enjoy an hour-long presentation on a plantrelated subject. These programs are FREE. The programs will be held on the second Friday of eachmonth at the Cobb County Central Library – 266 Roswell Street, Marietta, GA 30060.

AUGUST 13 – “HYPERTUFA” - presented by Phyliss Goff. Make your own unique Flower pots andgarden art. Learn to mix and mold hypertufa to add a personal touch to your garden.

SEPTEMBER 10 - “HOSTAS” - presented by Jack Driskell. Jack shares the ups and downs of dealingwith Hostas in the south. Different Hosta leaves will be brought in to discuss.

GLOVER PARK CONCERT SERIES: The place to be on the last Friday of every month, nowthrough September. The concerts are free of charge with a limited number of tables that can be reserved.Reservations for tables are on a first come first serve basis and may be reserved the first working day of eachmonth. August 27th, brings Livin’ Large (Oldies). Bring a picnic dinner (beer and wine are permitted). Joinothers and participate in the table or blanket decorating contest sponsored by Coldwell Banker West Cobb.The winner will take home a picnic basket full of goodies! For more information, call 770.794.5601.

CITY OF KENNESAW SUMMER CONCERT SERIES: Butch and the Buckheads withspecial guest, The Folsom Prison Gang, Saturday, August 21st at 7pm. Ben Robertson Community Cen-ter, 2753 Watts Drive. Admission is FREE, and tables are available on a first come, first serve basis. Pleasevisit www.kennesaw-ga.gov for details and to reserve a table. Move and groove as the Atlanta based rock‘n roll party, dance and show band Butch and The Buckheads.

NORTHSTAR CHURCH GIRLS NIGHT OUT: The Women’s League of Northstar Church in-vites all ladies to a girls night out! This is your opportunity to see all the available Fall Bible studies withThe Women’s League of Northstar. Bring a friend, bring lots of friends! Our Fall kickoff evening includesdessert, coffee, worship, speaker, and plenty of time to preview all of our upcoming studies! Study booksavailable for purchase at the event. Tickets are $5 and can be purchased at www.northstarchurch.org/kick-off. Event is Tuesday, August 17th 7-9 pm.

DUE WEST TREASURE CHEST CHILDREN’S / TEEN CONSIGNMENT SALE:3956 Due West Road, Marietta. The sale is located at the corner of Acworth Due West Road and KennesawDue West Road in the Due West United Methodist Church Family Life Center. Admission is FREE. Saledates are Thursday, August 26 9:30 a.m. -7:00 p.m.; Friday, August 27 9:30 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.; and Saturday,August 28 8:00a.m. -12 noon. Many items are 1/2 price on Saturday ONLY. We offer high-quality items atgreatly reduced prices. Find gently used children’s, junior’s and teen’s clothing, accessories and shoes. We alsooffer FORMAL WEAR, school uniforms, baby items / furniture, electronics, books, CDs, videos/DVDs, TOYSand more! For more information, please call 678-318-1908 or email [email protected]

BORN AGAIN BLESSINGS CHILDREN’S CONSIGNMENT SALE:Children’s andmaternity clothes, shoes, toys, nursery items, baby equipment, and furniture and more. Friday August27: 9am-7pm. Saturday August 28: 9am-noon. Preview Sale: Thursday, open to sellers and workersonly. First time moms can sign up for early shopping privileges. Cobb County Civic Center, 548 MariettaParkway, Marietta. More info: www.bornagainblessings.com.

ACWORTH UMC PASSitON CONSIGNMENT SALE :The Fall PASSitON Consign-ment Sale date is scheduled for Friday, August 27 from 9am-6:30 pm and Saturday, August 28 from9am-noon with many items ½ price. We sell gently used clothing in infant, children’s and junior sizes,including school uniforms & formals, shoes, accessories and maternity clothing. Infant items such asstrollers, furniture and accessories, children’s toys, outdoor toys, bikes, books, videos, DVD’s and somuch more! Go to www.acworthumc.org/passiton or call 770-974-3312 for more information. ThePASSitON Consignment Sale is a ministry of Acworth United Methodist Church located off of Hwy92 at Lake Acworth, 4340 Collins Circle, Acworth GA 30101. Proceeds benefit our music and children’sprograms, as well as local and foreign missions.

WEST COBB CHRISTIAN ACADEMY FALL/WINTER CHILDREN’S CONSIGNMENT SALE: Friday August 27th 9am – 7pm. Saturday, August 28th from 9am to1 pm. (many items ½ price). 2732 Macland Rd., Marietta, GA 30064 (located at Macland Rd.)Church of Christ on the corner of West Sandtown & Macland Rd If interested in selling, please contactus at [email protected] or call 404.312.8767. Visit www.westcobbchristian.orgfor more information.

McEACHERN UNITED METHODIST CHURCH TWICE BLESSED CHILDREN’SCONSIGNMENT SALE: Thursday, August 26th 5:00-9:00 Friday, August 27th 9:30-6:00 Sat-urday, August 28th 9:00-1:00 Many items are half off on Saturday. Cash and Check accepted. Nostrollers please. www.twice-blessed.org

US 10K CLASSIC, RACE FOR CHILDREN IN NEED: Monday, September 6th, witha Family Festival and Kids Classic on Saturday, September 4th. Atlanta’s premier multi-event road race.Each year we bring runners, walkers, inline skaters, wheelchair athletes and professional cyclists togetherfor a single cause — to raise awareness and funds for children’s charities in Georgia and for the futuredevelopment of the World Children’s Center. 100% of profits from the U.S.10K Classic and FamilyFestival benefit children in need. For detailed information and registration, visit www.us10k.org.

THE 2010 TASTE OF KENNESAW: The Kennesaw Business Association and the City ofKennesaw invite you and your family to sample over 35 restaurants on Saturday, September 11th from11am to 8pm. There will also be a concert featuring Scott Thompson at 6pm. Taste will be held in theheart of Historic downtown Kennesaw at 2829 Cherokee Street, Kennesaw GA 30144. The Taste ofKennesaw will benefit many local charities. Admission is FREE, with food samples costing $.50 to $4each. For more information, call JRM Management at 770.423.1330.

2nd ANNUAL GREAT LOCOMOTIVE CHASE 5K: Saturday, September 11th, withan 8am start (9am for the 1 mile Fun Run and Tot Trot). This NEW, fast and flat course begins at Ken-nesaw First Baptist Church, loops through Swift-Cantrell Park and finishes in Historic Downtown Ken-nesaw, just in time for the Taste of Kennesaw! All proceeds go to support the educational and outreachprograms of the Southern Museum. Registration available on www.Active.com. For details, please visitwww.GreatLocomotiveRace.com

LIL’ LAMBS CLOSET CHILDREN CONSIGNMENT SALE: Lil’ Lambs Closet. FirstUnited Methodist Church of Marietta. Shop Early on Thursday, September 9th 6pm – 8pm ($5.00early shopping fee, Thursday only), Friday, September 10th 9am-7pm and Saturday, September 11th9am-1pm. No strollers. 56 Whitlock Ave., Marietta 30064. (770) 429-7850, ext. 7858 or www.lil-lambs.org.

Trunk Keeper Selena Binkley 770-294-9020

[email protected]

Unpredictable childrens’ clothing line!

For more events, please visit www.ourtownmonthly.com

about the cover


Meetthe

BinkleyFamily!

Jeff and Selena Binkleyhave been married 8years and are bothlong time CobbCounty residents. Jeffis a successful businessowner of an electricalcontracting business inAcworth, BinkleyElectrical Services. Se-lena works for MatildaJane clothing as atrunk keeper. EllieKate and Sam are out-fitted in Matilda Janeclothing on our cover.

Ellie Kate is 5, and will be attending Picketts Mill Elementary school as a kindergartener.Ellie Kate enjoys tumbling and cheer, and is a great little helper around the house. Samis 4, and will be in pre-k this year. Sam enjoys playing baseball and loves planes and isdaddy’s little co-pilot. He will definitely be lonely when sissy starts school. As a familythey love spending time at the pool and being outside. Sherri Noftzinger of Sherri’s pho-tography took the cover shot and has been photographing the Binkley kids since theywere only weeks old.


“In one month I’ve lost 12 lbs, 3% body fat, and 6 inches! I’mdown 2, almost 3, dress sizes too!! I look at my arms and legsnow and say wow…where did that muscle come from? I havenever had definition like this in my life! I actually look forwardto coming to boot camp! Thank you so much!”

Bridget Tweedy- Acworth, GA

“In the first four weeks I lost 10 inches and4% body fat. I actually began seeing results within twoweeks of beginning. I now have tons of energy and I’mback into the clothes that I wore in high school. I alsohave much more confidence. BodyBack! Boot Campwas the best decision of my life."

Memselle Johnson - Kennesaw, GA

“The results have been awesome. It’s incredibly exciting! I’ve lost12 pounds, 5% body fat, and 2 dress sizes. All of my old clothesare now in boxes to go to friends because they no longer fit! BootCamp has been tremendous!”

Nancy Dooley, Marietta, GA

“I’ve lost 15 pounds and 3 dress sizes and I feelgreat! My energy is through the roof and I feelfit! For the first time in a long time I feel alive!”

Katherine Martinez - Marietta, GA

“In the first six weeks I was 3 ½ dress sizes down,I lost 4 inches and 3% body fat. Jason really puts

it all together with the nutrition piece to go alongwith the exercise. It all finally just “clicked” for me and the weightstarted to just fall off!”

Ann Fitzpatrick - Acworth, GA

For a Free Report: "Finally...The Truth About Weight Loss"visit www.BodyBackBootCamps.com

WOMEN OF ALL AGES, ABILITY AND SIZE

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When it comes to nutrition we have all heard how important eating right is to our weight lossefforts. We know that in order to achieve significant results we must watch our caloric intake(by not eating too many or too few calories) we must watch our sugar intake, not skip meals,etc. All of this is absolutely 100% true. But there is another reason that eating right is so im-portant to our fitness and weight loss results. I call this the “other side” of nutrition. This reasonmay seem obvious but I can assure you that very few people take thisinto consideration when thinking about nutrition and exercise.

When trying to lose weight, it is important that you burn more caloriesthan you consume. Many people do this by cutting their caloric intakevery low. These same people struggle with weight their entire lives be-cause cutting calories too low will cause you to hold on to body fatand burn muscle and water instead. As opposed to creating a caloricdeficit by eating fewer calories, it is best to create the deficit by burningmore calories through exercise. That means either exercising more fre-quently or exercising with more intensity.

This all sounds good in theory, but finding the energy to exercise moreintensely or more frequently is difficult for many. This is where the“other side” of nutrition comes in.

If you have ever gone to the gym and tried to exercise on an emptystomach or after you have eaten poorly throughout the day then youknow how difficult it can be. You feel lethargic, you get light headed,and more often than not you slowly and reluctantly finish the workout,or you quit the workout all together. The problem is when you don’tattack your workouts with a high intensity, you cut the workouts short,or you simply don’t workout often enough the result is your overallcaloric expenditure (how many calories you burn during your workout)goes way down. When your caloric expenditure is way down then itis very difficult to create a caloric deficit through exercise.

So, the question becomes, “how do I get the energy to increase workout intensity and/or fre-quency”. As you have probably guessed by now, the answer is through our food intake andoverall nutrition regimen. Food is not only used to feed the body in a way that maximizes fatloss, it is also our body’s fuel. The fuel we use to make it through our hectic days and the fuelwe use to maximize our workouts to create the caloric deficit we so desperately need to burn

body fat. And sorry folks, coffee does not count as fuel : )

Trying to embark on an exercise routine and expecting to excel whileeating poorly is akin to dumping sand into the gas tank of a Ferrariand expecting it to perform optimally. You and the Ferrari will justend up broken down and out of commission.

So, if you are currently on an exercise routine and the results aren’twhat you want them to be, take a second look at your nutrition. Besure that you are eating enough calories, be sure that you are eatingyour lean proteins, fruits, vegetables, healthy fats, and sprinkling insome whole grains here and there. Make sure you are eating frequentmeals throughout the day and limiting your sugar intake to keep yourblood sugar levels stabilized and your energy high. This will enableyou to maximize your workouts every single day you train and the re-sult will be a huge spike in your caloric output. And a spike in caloricoutput means lower numbers on the scale.

Jason Goggans, B.A., ISSA Certified Fitness Trainer, graduate of theUniversity of Florida and fitness professional located in Kennesaw andMarietta, GA. Goggans is the owner of BodyBack! Women’s FitnessBoot Camps and has posted more information on his website,www.BodyBackBootCamps.com. Log on to receive a copy of Jason’ slatest report, “10 Quick Ways to Weight Loss…How to Look and FeelBetter FAST!” or call Jason @ (404) 452-5208.

To Maximize Your Fat Loss Efforts You MUST be Aware of the “Other Side” of Nutrition

by Jason Goggans

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No marriage is perfect, but many are happy. For a marriage to survive through tough times itis important to acknowledge that all marriages require effort and specific skills to be happy.Having a good marriage is always the result of commitment and some hard work.

Dr. John Gottman is an internationally recognized psychologist who has identified what makesmarriages successful and what predicts divorce. Dr. Gottman has studied what he calls the“masters and disasters” of marriage and has written many excellent books to help couples im-prove their relationship. Gottman defines a “master” as “people who stay married and kind oflike each other”. The “masters” are not perfect couples who live without conflict or difficulty.Gottman says couples who have a happy marriage “aren’t smarter, richer, or more psychologicallyastute than others. But in their day-to-day lives, they have hit upon a dynamic that keeps theirnegative thoughts and feelings about each other (which all couples have) from overwhelmingtheir positive ones. They have what I call an emotionally intelligent marriage.”

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It is important that couples get help early whenserious issues arise; before there is irreparabledamage to the marital friendship. However,the average couple struggles six years beforeseeking help and only 1% of couples takethe step to find professional help. Divorcestatistics are heartbreaking – over half ofmarriages will result in divorce. We livein a disposable world and sometimespotentially good relationships are tooquickly discarded when inevitabledifficulties are experienced. If youdon’t have the marriage youwant, you and your spouse canlearn the skills to change it!

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Tour de Silver CometSince I can remember, I have been enamored with bicycles. I’m not sure whether that’s becausemy older brothers always had newer, nicer bikes than me, or because I had a paper route andwished I had a more upscale way to deliver the daily news rather than my hand-me-down West-ern Flyer that was rusty and got flat tires way too often.

No matter the reason, as an 18 year old, I bought with my own money a brand new 1971 flu-orescent green Schwinn Super Sport ten speed road bike for the sum of $150. And consideringa year and half earlier I had bought (and quickly wrecked) a Honda motor scooter – new – for$350, I think my dad grounded me for being stupid enough to spend that much on somethingwithout a motor. But I LOVED it. Some of my buddies speculated I was insecure in my mas-culinity and making up for my lack of a…. nice car.

Most guys have toys that they lust after. Bass boats, golf clubs, and guns all are items that Ihave admired as my friends have shown off their new possessions. Sometimes I have feignedmy approval either because I was not interested in their new fly fishing gear, or because maybeI was a little jealous of the new Boxster I knew I couldn’t afford. God was not smiling….

Recently, in the name of fitness and dropping a few pounds, I have renewed my commitmentto being a cyclist. (Not a “biker” as I was admonished after using that Harley lover’s term atthe local bike shop.)

Now – way too many hundreds of dollars later – to my wife’s chagrin – I have a bike that Ireally enjoy riding, and quite a few add-ons that were not anticipated. A super light, expensive,carbon frame was out of the question, but it’s on my dream list. Things like special pedals andshoes that lock in to those pedals help going up the hills. Air pump, helmet, spare tires, bikerack for the car, are all necessary items that have added quite a few pennies to the initial invest-ment. As my wife says, “I guess that means you won’t be taking up golf for a while.”

I thought all was going well with the adoption of my new hobby. Butone thing is an issue with my wife. If one is going to sit on a threeinch wide piece of firm plastic for several hours while ridingtwenty to thirty miles, one needs a comfy pair of pants. Cy-clists wear unique shorts that have silicon gel padding wherethe posterior meets the “saddle” as it’s called. But in orderfor the padding not to move and cause rashes down there,the shorts are necessarily tight enough to provide too muchvisual information for unsuspecting non-riders. Additionally– if riding a nice bike on the Silver Comet Trail, one needsa flashy cyclist’s shirt that fits (too) tightly to the middleaged torso, complete with advertising by sponsors ofa favorite cycling team or other logo. (Mine hasthe name of my college cycling team with brightpurple and gold hues.) My wife giggles every timeI walk out of the house in that getup.

Believe it or not, I am somewhat modest. So oneday while driving home from a ride in Pauld-ing County with our bikes on the back ofthe car, my wife had me stop at a road-side stand to buy a fresh out of thefield watermelon. Needless to say, Iturned up the country music on theradio and had her get out to negoti-ate the transaction – not wantingto take either harassment or de-risive looks by the rural pro-duce seller who unlike mewas wearing overalls.

These days, I get to the Silver Comet Trail once or twice a week. If I had been there a few yearsago, it would have been easy to recognize me. I would be the one trying to look like a “profes-sional” cyclist, except with a much less expensive bike and riding much more slowly. Today,there are hundreds of folks who look like me out there. Andthere’s more carbon on The Trail these days than you can findcoming from a fleet of MARTA buses. But if more folks aregetting in shape with this new hobby, maybe it’s worth theinvestment. Hey! Look out for that woman walking her dogand baby stroller!!!! …Or as we serious riders like to say, “Onyour left…”


West Cobb residents havealways loved the Avenue®West Cobb and now thereare five more reasons tolove it even more. Comingthis month and next theAvenue West Cobb will behome to five new retailersand three new brands inthe Atlanta market: I.OMetro, Otter’s Chicken,Parisian Nail Salon,Charming Charlie, andYankee Candle. The Av-enue West Cobb is expand-ing its dynamic mix offamily friendly shoppingand dining options.

Charming Charlie provides a one stop shop for the latest women’s accessories and jewelry at rea-sonable prices. Specialty lifestyle furniture retailer I.O. Metro offers shoppers eclectic furniture,art, lighting, accessories, customizable upholstery options and complimentary in-home designservice, while Yankee Candle boasts the world’s largest selection of candle and home scents withmore than 150 fragrances. Opening its first metro-Atlanta location, Otter’s Chicken is a familyfriendly sports-themed restaurant that specializes in quality chicken in a casual atmosphere.Parisian Nail Salon will feature upscale nail services, complimentary refreshments and superiorservice. As a resident of West Cobb, owner Matthias Dang is committed to providing a uniqueexperience to clients. Brighton Collectibles presents the latest in accessories from small leathergoods, watches, jewelry, handbags and more.

“The Avenue’s open-air, family-friendly atmosphere, coupled with our commitment to our ten-ants, makes it the ideal home for these retailers and businesses,” said Kim Tanalgo-Minshew –marketing manager, The Avenue West Cobb. “We’re happy to be able to offer West Cobb familiesthese new, convenient shopping and dining options.”

WELCOMES FIVE NEW RETAILERSAND RESTAURANTS

ONLY $20 TO ANYONE WHO NEEDS HELP BUT HAS NEVER BEEN TO A CHIROPRACTOR BEFORE

(Or Hasn’t Been In A Long Time)Dear Friend, If you’ve ever thought about going to a chiropractor but you’ve hesitated because you weren’t sure it was right for you please read on… My name is Dr. Amy Valente. I would like to show my appreciation for the warm welcome the community has shown me by announcing Community Appreciation Week. It’s my way of saying THANK YOU to the people who have been so helpful and mean so much. I hope this will benefit you and yours. I have agreed to “give away” (to anyone who asks for it) $200 worth of my services for only $20. That’s right-$20. In the years that I have been practicing I have helped many people in the North Georgia area feel better and live healthier, more productive lives through chiropractic care. I would now like to introduce you to the many benefits my profession has to offer. For instance, chiropractic care may be able to help you if you are suffering from any of the following conditions.• Low back pain• Neck Pain• Migraines• Sciatica• Herniated discs• Degenerated discs• Shoulder/arm pain And a whole host of other problems, ranging from TMJ to carpal tunnel.

These symptoms can be caused whenever the vertebrae in your spine are out of alignment, because this “misalignment” directly affects your nervous system. Fortunately, if you are suffering from such problems or similar conditions right now, they may be relieved or eliminated by proper chiropractic treatment (commonly called “adjustments”). So if you’ve always wanted to “check out” chiropractic care and see what is in it for you, now is the best time because….. Right now $20 will get you all the services I normally charge my new patients $200 for!

What does this include? Everything. Take a look at what you’ll get….• An in-depth private consultation about your health and well being.• A chiropractic spinal

examination….• A set of specialized X-rays to determine if a misalignment in your spine is causing your pain or symptoms…(NOTE: Nobody gives these kinds of X-rays FREE. They would usually cost $100)…• An analysis of your X-rays and spinal exam results so we can see what needs to be done to help.• Helpful literature that shows how your body works and why you experience pain…• Answers to all your most probing questions about chiropractic care and what it can do for you….

The appointment will not take long at all. And like I said, we normally charge $200 for this (most of which just covers the cost of the set of X-rays).

But now, as a part of this one time offer, you can come in and find out for certain if you need chiropractic care and how it can help you eliminate the pain you are feeling. Before you come in, though, you’ll probably want to know a little bit about me. So let me tell you….

MEET THE DOCTOR Prior to obtaining my Doctor of Chiropractic Degree at Life University in Marietta, GA, I received my B.S. degree from Excelsior College. I am nationally and state board certified in Chiropractic and Physiotherapy. I am one of the few doctors in this area that performs specific Activator analysis technique for the treatment of degenerative discs, scoliosis, herniated discs just to name a few. I have happily donated my time to organizations such as MUST Ministries, YWCA (Domestic Violence Shelter for Women), and Ross Memorial. I am very proud to be a wife and mother of four boys and a member of Liberty Church in Marietta, GA.

DOES CHIROPRACTIC REALLY WORK

Absolutely! When you come in I’ll provide you with studies that show why chiropractic is a preferred method of treatment. But what provides the best “proof” on how

well chiropractic works is what our patients say about it.

NECK AND SHOULDER PAIN When I first came to see my doctor I was having problems in a few different areas. Before I started chiropractic care I could not sit at my computer for as long as was needed for work. Now I am able to

work for hours without pain. My posture has improved, my sinuses have improved and I can finally get a good night sleep! I was amazed with the results. The office is a pleasant atmosphere and I travel over an hour for my appointment and it is well worth the drive!

Cheryl Gipson

HEADACHES AND DIGESTIVE ISSUES

I came into the clinic after meeting the doctor at an educational event she came to at the learning center. I was suffering with digestive issues and severe headaches. Since I have been getting adjustments I can do more things and go more places without having to worry about my stomach issues. I have more energy and have less pain which makes my family very happy! Getting chiropractic adjustments has changed my life and the way that I listen to my body.

Cindy Vochatzer-Murrillo

LOW BACK PAIN, HIP PAIN AND REFLUX

Chiropractic care has helped me with many different issues. For a very long time I suffered with hip pain and low back pain from an injury from the service. Since receiving care from the doctor I can stand and sit for long periods of time. I USED to suffer from reflux everyday! My symptoms have gotten a lot better and I am even off of the daily medications I used to take for it. I have learned the importance of a healthy lifestyle and I am able to participate in more activites!

Mike Creech

SCOLIOSIS When I first came into the office I did not know the extent of my health issues. After the exam, the doctor told me I had a scoliosis that

affected my health in many different ways. Chiropractic has helped me to restore my physical balance and as a dancer that is very important! I also had numbness in my hands and now I can take notes without my hand going numb. Since I have been getting adjusted I have more energy and my heartburn and circulation has improved! I am happy to say that chiropractic is easier than I expected and not as time consuming as I once thought.

Thanks! Christine Pearce

GUARANTEE OF GREAT SERVICE

Obviously we can’t guarantee results. No one can. But there is one guarantee we can give you and that’s a guarantee to accept your case only if we truly feel we can help.

LIMITED TIME OFFER Obviously, with an offer like this we can’t afford to do it for very long. So we’ve picked the dates of Aug. 1-15th. If you would like to take us up on our offer and see what chiropractic can do for you, all you have to do is call our office and set up an appointment.

Call our 24 hour help line @ 678-574-5678 and tell the receptionist you’d like to come in for the Special Introductory Examination during Aug. 1-15th. I expect to get flooded with appointments for this event, so please call me as soon as possible to be sure that you don’t miss out. Thank you very much, and I look forward to helping you get rid of your pain so you can start living a healthier, more productive life. God bless.Sincerely,

Dr. Amy Valente, D.C.

New Life Chiropractic Center

3451 Cobb ParkwaySuite 6

Acworth, GA

Call Today678-574-5678

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Polycystic ovarian syndrome, (PCOS) is estimated to affect fifteen million adolescent girlsand young women in the United States. That is approximately one in ten females of re-productive age. This common condition can lead to chronic medical and physical prob-lems if left untreated. Many parents fail to realize this condition is frequently seen inpediatrics. The purpose of this article is to help parents recognize the symptoms in theirteenage daughters. Understanding the associated health problems and treating affectedpatients earlier can reduce the risk for long term complications.

PCOS is an endocrine or hormonal disorder that results from an excess of male hormonescalled androgens. It is thought to be a genetic problem related to elevated insulin levelsbut the actual cause is unknown. There is a strong correlation between this conditionand obesity, insulin resistance and high cholesterol. Women with PCOS are at increasedrisk for infertility, insulin resistant diabetes, high blood pressure, stroke, heart disease andendometrial cancer. Minimizing the development of these problems is the goal of treat-ment.

Most pediatric patients with PCOS present to their doctors because of menstrual irregu-larities like heavy or infrequent periods. It is normal for girls to have irregular periodsduring the first few years of menstruation. However, they should development and main-tain a more regular pattern within two years of their first cycle. PCOS is more frequentlyseen in overweight teens with a history of early puberty but this is not always the case.Acne and male hair patterns are less common symptoms among younger patients withPCOS.

A good medical history and blood work are usually sufficient to identify PCOS in pedi-atric patients. An ovarian ultrasound is usually not necessary unless the lab results areunclear. Despite the name polycystic ovarian syndrome, not all patients with PCOS haveovarian cysts. Teenage girls with the following problems should be screened for PCOS:

Heavy or irregular periods

Infrequent or absent periods

Unexplained weight gain especially around the middle

Thickened, dark skin behind the neck, under the arms and in the groin

Excessive facial and body hair

Cystic acne on the face and back

To be diagnosed with PCOS, girls need to have two of the following three conditions:irregular or absent menstrual cycles; excess androgen (male hormone) production; andmultiple ovarian cysts.

Treatments are focused on regulating periods, lowering blood insulin levels and preventingmale physical characteristics such as acne, balding and facial hair. When the insulin levelis normalized, many of the other symptoms improve, including menstrual irregularities.Weight loss and exercise can be very effective in lowering high insulin levels. However,patients with PCOS often have trouble losing weight. Diabetic medications such as met-formin are safely used to lower blood insulin levels and improve PCOS symptoms. A di-etary supplement called D-chiro-inositol has been shown to effectively lower blood insulinlevels as well. Oral contraceptive pills can be helpful to solve menstrual irregularities, im-prove acne and reduce male physical characteristics. However, this treatment does notreduce insulin levels and the symptoms usually recur once the patient stops taking thepill. Spironolactone is another hormonal medication used to counter the effects of an-drogens (male hormones) in patients with PCOS.

If your daughter has symptoms of PCOS, see a doctor for a diagnostic work up. Propertreatment can improve her quality of life and reduce the likelihood of the long term com-plications of this condition.

Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome In Pediatric Patientsby Dara Hosch, MD, FAAP - Cobb Pediatrics, PC

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Wedding BellesFor the second time this summer, I find myself in David’s Bridal, having more fun than isprobably allowed. Two dear friends are engaged and –after some serious hint-dropping—they

invited me to help them pick out their wedding gowns.I am acting like a preteen girl watching Twilight. Eachof these women has meant something to me, and theirstories make this far more than a shopping trip for awhite dress.

The first bride is Christie—my friend and temporaryroommate. She met her man at church; they were bothworking in student ministry. He actually proposed toher in front of the entire youth group. Christie’s neverbeen married, and she was considering moving toKansas City before she met her Prince Charming. Oh—and one more thing—Prince Charming has 4 kids froma previous marriage. Christie will be a new wife and anew stepmom.

The second bride is Megan—a longtime friend of thefamily. Megan’s a schoolteacher who lives in a more rural area where single men are few andfar between. She created a profile on eHarmony. After the site matched her with a militaryman from North Carolina, Megan was still unsure. But, after many weekend trips, long-dis-tance phone calls, and surprise flower deliveries, she fell for him. In patriotic fashion, he pro-posed on the 4th of July, and Megan’s wedding colors are red, white, and Navy dress blues.Megan figures the two will be together for a year before her hubby is deployed overseas.

Why do these stories mean so much to me? Let me give you a few more details. Christie andMegan are both turning 30. Neither feels like crash-dieting to squeeze into a smaller dresssize. They are both having elegant, yet simple, weddings that they’re planning on their own—and pulling it all off without turning into Bridezillas. Megan and Christie went to college,established their careers, supported themselves, and by the time they met their guys, theyknew what they wanted and needed in a husband. Now, neither of them could have predicted4 kids, or becoming a military wife, but they’re both confident in their decision. Watchingtheir love stories, I’ve learned that how you get to the altar doesn’t matter as much as makingsure your best friend is there to meet you.

So, I can’t help but be crazy-excited for them. After trying on two other dresses, Christiecomes out of the dressing room in a fitted strapless lace gown, and buys it on the spot. Shelooks beautiful and is able to dance in it—her top priorityin picking a dress. Megan—after about 30 gowns—selectsan off-white satin number with a portrait collar. It’s simple,traditional, and doesn’t need one alteration. These gownsare perfect representations of what I hope their marriageswill be—a perfect fit.

As for me, I’ll be rocking the dance floor at their receptionsand avoiding getting tackled when the bouquet’s thrown.


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Preventive Screenings CanKeep Your Heart Healthy

Health screenings are an excellent way to catch health issues early, and they give physicians in-sight into what’s happening below the surface.

That’s why WellStar Health System, WellStar Cardiovascular Medicine and Quantum Radiologyare now offering heart screenings.

A heart screening, also known as a CT cardiac calcium score, is a fast and non-invasive CT scanused to determine the risk of coronary artery disease and detect areas of hardening in the coro-nary arteries. Using a multi-slice scan, the heart screening can help cardiologists determine the

participant’s level of risk for heart disease or future cardiac issues. The screening is recommendedfor those who have diabetes, family history of heart disease, history of smoking or tobacco use,high blood pressure or high cholesterol.

To Learn More

If you are age 35 or older and

• Smoke or use tobacco

• Have a family history of heart disease

• Have high blood pressure and/or high cholesterol

• Have a weight problem/are obese

• Are not physically active

If you have any one of the above risk factors, call 770-956-STAR (7827) to find out more aboutheart screenings at WellStar.

The screenings are currently offered at theWellStar Imaging Centers at:

WellStar Cobb, Kennestone and Douglas hospitals as well as the Paulding Physicians Center andEast Cobb Imaging Center. Since this is a screening exam, it may not be covered by insurance. Theexam is available currently for $150 per person or $250 per couple, and it covers all associated fees

Imaging Center Locations for Heart Screenings:WellStar Kennestone Hospital Campus:

WellStar Cardiac CT Imaging Center at 55 Whitcher Street55 Whitcher Street, Suite 150

Marietta, GA 30060

WellStar Kennestone Imaging Center in East Cobb1070 Woodlawn Drive, Suite 100

Marietta, GA 30068

WellStar Cobb Hospital Campus: WellStar Cobb CT Imaging Center at the 1700 Building

1700 Hospital South Drive, Suite 202Austell, GA 30106

WellStar Douglas Hospital Campus: WellStar Douglas Imaging Center at Professional Parkway

6002 Professional Parkway, Suite 120Douglasville, GA 30134

Paulding Physicians Center:WellStar Paulding Imaging Center

148 Bill Carruth Parkway, Suite LL20Hiram, GA 30141


August marks the beginning of a new school year and parents everywhere are concerned abouthow their children will perform during this academic period. We caught up with KristenThompson, Owner of LearningRx in Kennesaw, to get the inside information about the ad-vancements in learning, the learning center itself, and tips for West Cobb parents.

OTM: LearningRx has been a great friend and partner with Our Town Magazine for severalyears. We thought it would be interesting for our readers to learn a little more about you andthe center and what makes it tick. Can you describe what led you to open up a LearningRxcenter in Kennesaw?

LearningRx: A true joy for me has always been to work with kids, so teaching 2nd gradehere in Cobb County was a perfect position for me for several years. My husband and I movedto Charleston, SC after getting married, and I kind of stumbled upon the LearningRx centerthere. Right away I realized the Cognitive Skills Trainer position was a good fit for me; it al-lowed me to work with kids one on one while making a huge difference in how they learnedand processed information. I got to see the light bulbs flash over their heads daily! When myhusband’s job brought him back to the Atlanta area, opening a LearningRx center in Kennesawwas a natural next step for my family. Being a business owner has been such a gift—I get towork with amazing people, help change people’s lives, and help impact our community in apositive way. I definitely believe in the saying, “love what you do and you’ll never work a dayin your life!”

OTM: What is the Cognitive Skills Assessment test and what can you determine from theoutcome?

LearningRx: We use the Woodcock-Johnson III Tests of Cognitive Abilities and Achieve-ment. We are able to determine someone’s strengths and weaknesses in Short and Long TermMemory, Logic & Reasoning, Processing Speed, Visual Processing, Word Attack and AuditoryProcessing. Those seven areas can give us an idea of why someone struggles with reading, com-prehension, test taking, studying, spelling, math

and many other symptomsthat surface at school orduring homework time.

OTM: What are yourthoughts about medica-tion and ADHD? Pros?Cons?

LearningRx: Thiscan be a hot buttonwith parents and med-ical professionals alike!We work with somany kids who bene-fit from medicine totreat their AD/HD;we also hear frommoms and dadsalike who are frus-

trated with the side effects of their child’smedication and who are looking for an alternative or even a supplement

to that medication. There are different kinds of attention, including sustained attention, se-lective attention and divided attention skills. These skills can be identified, measured andtrained. When those skills are trained we usually see dramatic improvement in behaviors typ-ically associated with ADD or AD/HD. Being able to offer hope to families dealing with at-tention issues in their children is a favorite part of what we do.

OTM: What do you mean by, “Building better readers is a process”?

LearningRx: I love to read. Always have. Seeing someone struggle with reading or justnot wanting to read at all drives me to help find out what the problem is and how we can help.Students will go through the process of ‘learning to read’ and then transition to ‘reading tolearn’. Being a strong reader who can read fluently, comprehend what is read and retain infor-mation is key to being a strong learner. We build reading skills by using a sound-to-code ap-proach, combined with strengthening auditory processing skills, memory, processing speedand visualization skills to create the “whole package” so our students can be better readers andlearners. The results can be astounding. A student’s entire reading system can often be rebuiltin as little as 12 to 24 weeks.

OTM: At what age do you recommend kids get started when they have a learning disability?

LearningRX: Kids as young as 4 ½ can begin a program geared toward prevention as wellas remediation. It’s never too late, though, to get your child on the right track. Listening toa parent’s gut feelings about their child is so important; oftentimes parents have commentedto us that they wish they had started their child in our programs years before.

OTM: Howlong do thesessions usu-ally last?

L e a r n -ingRX :One-on-onetraining ses-sions lastfrom 1hour to 1hour and15 min-utes, fromthree tofive timesper week. Our Cog-nitive Skills Trainers create a challenging, intensive,yet fun environment to build mental skills. Students may walk in after schooltired but leave the center re-energized and ready to tackle the homework waiting for them intheir backpack! Regardless of age or ability, our students enjoy training and feeling the changesthat occur on a weekly basis.

OTM: Can you describe the process that a child will go through once they enroll with you?

LearningRx: We start off with an assessment—one hour to get a snapshot of cognitiveabilities. From there, we meet with the parents to discuss the needs of their child, review theassessment results and together come up with a plan to move forward. Once training begins,parents are encouraged to observe sessions and meet with their child’s trainer as needed. Wepost test at the end of each child’s training program to measure the skills gained throughoutthe program.

OTM: What is the difference between “tutoring” and “training”?

LearningRx:Tutoring is basically homework in a different setting, re-teaching what shouldhave been learned the first time. To truly improve learning speed and ability most people needsomething more foundational and powerful than tutoring. If helping your child pass a classor remove the stress of excess homework, then tutoring could be a quick fix. If you are lookingfor your child to be a more consistent learner and enjoy lifelong educational success, cognitiveskills training is the solution.

OTM: Can you tell us about your staff?

LearningRx: Our staff and trainers at LearningRx are some of the best I have ever workedwith. Our trainers all have degrees and have been certified in the LearningRx training program.They are excellent at keeping the program fun and challenging and work hard to build rapportwith their students and families. It’s not unusual to see our trainers going to a student’s baseballgame or piano recital; the relationships that are built between trainers and students are so spe-cial. We routinely have graduates of our programs come back to the center for a visit and toupdate us on how life is going. Hearing the lasting effects of our programs reminds us againand again why we do what we do.

Our Town readers are invited to a Free Seminar on Monday, August 16th. Dr. Carolyn Ware,Dean of North Cobb Christian School, will be speaking on “Making this year the best yet!”Call to reserve your spot: 770-529-4800

Our Town readers’ assessment special: $50 off the $199 testing fee.

LearningRx bu

sine

ss s

potl

ight

Matt Wilkes, LearningRX trainer

If your child struggles to learn or read—but you don’t know with absolute certainty WHY—have your child’s underlying cognitive skills tested at LearningRx.gain will help you know exactly how your child learns, why he struggles in

and enjoy a lifetime of learning and reading success.

Don’t put him through another disappointingschool year.

www.learningrx.com/kennesaw

Give us a call. It’s the smart decision you’ll be glad you made.

C

If your child struggles to learn or read—but you don’t know with absolute certainty WHY—have your child’s underlying cognitive skills tested at LearningRx.gain will help you know exactly how your child learns, why he struggles in

and enjoy a lifetime of learning and reading success.

Give us a call. It’s the smart decision you’ll be glad you made.

C

Call for Seminar Information.

Redeem by 08/31/2010.Complete Testing Only: $149.

LearningRx testing accurately measures your child’s critical cognitive skills strength using the most nationally recognized tests. A follow-up consultation with a learning specialist will match test results with parent’s observations to create a personalized Cognitive Skills Profile™ and customized training plan for your child.

This fall you can finallyhelp him catch up for good.

fall savings!

Get Answers. Save $50!

LearningRx Kennesaw

770-529-4800


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travelTHE “OILY’ TRUTH ABOUT

FLORIDA’S BEACHES

Ring....Ring....... .” I want to cancel my reservation because of the oil in the Gulf! “

“What? There is no oil on the beaches in Florida? “

“What? Well I am scared anyway. So please cancel my reservation!”

So goes one of the many calls that are coming into Florida hotels these days. Working in thetourism industry and being part of a tourism commission that is promoting beaches in FlaglerCounty (just south of St. Augustine and a little north of Daytona), I can tell you that callslike those above are coming in on a regular basis all over the this state. Even in Orlando, aplace where Mickey Mouse seldom sees a wave, people are cancelling!

Why are people listening to the talking heads on TV? When are these nightly reports on TVand radio going to stop sensationalizing what is happening and terrifying the general publicto death? From the pictures that they show, they would have us believe that if you stick yourbig toe in the ocean it will come out slimy and covered with goo! When are they going toshow pictures of those wonderful white sugar beaches in the Ft. Walton or perhaps the beachesof the Keys or Daytona?

I am continually amazed at the mass thought process of the American public. You hear it onthe news and it must be true. When is the average American going to stand up and see whatis really around them? Don’t listen to the nightly gloom and doom nut jobs on TV. Don’tyou realize that they get paid for “stirring the pot”? The more viewers they can get to watchthem and their horrifying broadcasts, the more advertisers flock to their stations and ply themwith money. Why is it that the average program is 1 hour long, but there is more commercialcontent than substance these days?

The beaches this year in Florida are wonderful, white and pristine as ever. In Flagler County,on the relaxed east coast of Florida, the beaches are a pretty pink, which comes from little col-ored coquina shells and reefs off the coast. The only oil we have ever seen is when some tankeror cargo ship has the bad taste to clean their bilge out at sea and the small pieces float to shore.Growing up in New Jersey, I remember my grandmother with a small can of gasoline by theback door to clean our feet from the tar every time we came from the beach.

Why are we fretting so much when the beaches are so beautiful? On the 4th of July we had apicnic on the beach here in Flagler. Nice friends, a warm breeze, surf rolling in with warmwater, and a beautiful pink sand beach and fireworks to enjoy. I must admit that part of thatbeach came home in the car with me, but I don’t mind. There was no tar, no oil, and noworry.

Most all the beaches in Florida are free from oil and the famed tar balls. But the Federal Gov-ernment and BP had to give the State of Florida $25,000 to fund new advertising, becauseeveryone was listening to the talking heads and cancelling their beach vacations.

Don’t miss out on the best time of the year, and the best beaches in the world! Come andenjoy Flagler, Daytona, Miami, Key West, Naples, Panama City Beach, and Ft. Walton Beach.All are open to the public and waiting for you to have a wonderful time.

Come on down! The water and the beaches are fine!

Pam Walker is a Virtuoso travel consultant and can be reached at [email protected] can follow her travels by visiting Pam’s blog at http://www.pamwalkers.blogspot.com

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At Pinnacle, our physicians maximize results and minimize recoverytime. How? By using leading edge technologies and the most innovative techniques. We take this advanced approach in everyarea of orthopaedic care, including Pinnacle specialties such assports medicine, joint replacement, fracture care, spine, foot andankle, hand, general orthopaedics and pain management.

Visit www.pinnacle-ortho.com for a complete list of services, physicians andlocations near you.

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With the excitement over the FIFA World Cup, as well as the summer season, significant at-tention has been turned towards soccer. Chances are that either you, your child, or a friendof yours is playing soccer these days. As a board certified orthopedic surgeon practicing in thegreater Atlanta metropolitan area, I treat a number of soccer related injuries. Here are some ofthe more common injuries that I treat, and tips to avoid them.

Hamstring strain – the hamstring is one of the longest muscles in the human body and as suchis vulnerable to injury. Most commonly individuals fail to stretch and warm up properly beforeplaying. Soccer is a sport that involves significant running with quick directional changes andif muscles are not properly warmed up it is easy to injure them. So make sure you stretch, andbegin with a light jog before starting your game.

Knee sprain – the knee is especially vulnerable to injury because of the sudden change in di-rection as well as force required to kick a soccer ball with speed. Proper kicking technique isimportant so pay attention to your coaches. In addition, proper shoe wear, especially the rightcleats, are important to allow for appropriate traction while kicking and running.

Achilles tendon injuries – the Achilles tendon helps the large muscles of the calf to power theankle and foot. Typically injuries occur due to improper stretching before playing. The mostcommon symptom is that patients feel as if someone kicked them in the back of their leg. Thistendon is torn quite often and usually requires surgery for active younger individuals. It cantake up to one year to fully get over an Achilles tear so the best treatment is to avoid injury.

Shin splints – these injuries typically result from overuse and the repetitive stress running placeson the lower extremities. In particular shin splints produce pain over the tibial (shin) bonesthat can often be quite intense. The good news is that rest is usually enough to treat this prob-lem . If the pain continues then a stress fracture may have occurred and more aggressive treat-ment is necessary.

Thus, as you, your family and friends enjoy playing soccer thissummer , remember to stretch, warm up and utilize appropriateshoe wear to help reduce injuries. Occasionally you may have totake a break from soccer to allow your body to rest, but even theprofessionals come off the field for a rest e very once in a while.Stay smart and score some goals.

Dr. Hodari Brooks is an orthopaedic surgeon with Pinnacle Or-thopaedics. Get to Know Pinnacle. Call 770-944-3303 or visitwww.pinnacle-ortho.com for a complete list of services, physiciansand locations near you.

Are You Ready for Some Soccer? World Cup Fever without World Cup Injuries

by D. Hodari Brooks, MD

health & fitness


Understanding Your Natural Gas StatementHome and business owners alike are working harder to manage costs these days. Although naturalgas is the cleanest of all fossil fuels and is simply the best energy choice for the environment, manypeople think that their natural gas bill is difficult to understand with all the industry terminologyand abbreviations. Learning about natural gas and understanding your bill is an easy way to makesure you are paying the correct amount for your natural gas service. Below are some commonnatural gas terms* and items that are found on most natural gas bills in Georgia.

NATURAL GAS: A naturally occurring mixture of hydrocarbon and non-hydrocarbon gasesfound in porous rock formations. Its principal component is methane.

CUBIC FOOT: The amount of natural gas required at room temperature at sea level to fill avolume of one cubic foot.

CCF: One CCF is one hundred cubic feet of natural gas at standard distribution pressure of14.73 pounds per square inch and 60° Fahrenheit. This is how your natural gas usage is initiallymeasured before converted to therms.

BTU FACTOR: British Ther-mal Units is the factor used toconvert the amount of gas youuse in CCF to therms. OneBTU is the amount of heat re-quired to raise the temperatureof one pound of water one de-gree Fahrenheit.

THERMS: The amount of gasused during billing cycle whichis calculated by multiplyingCCF x BTU Factor. A therm isapproximately 100,000 BTUs.It is a standard unit of measure-ment. CCFs are converted totherms for purposes of billing.

DDDC: Dedicated Design Day Capacity Charge. This is a factor calculated by Atlanta Gas Lighteach year for every home and business and it is based on your gas usage on the coldest day of theyear. This factor is used to determine your AGL base charges.

AGL BASE CHARGE: Fixed costs for Atlanta Gas Light to service a customer, these chargesare based upon your DDDC factor and will be the same regardless of who your marketer is. Ifyou think your AGL Base Charge is too high, ask your marketer to have your DDDC analyzedfor accuracy. A typical DDDC for a 2500 square foot house with natural gas heat and water tankis 2.00.

CUSTOMER SERVICE CHARGE: This is a fee charged by the marketer to service your ac-count and will vary depending on your natural gas provider.

OTHER CHARGES: Other charges may include a meter turn on fee, late fees, and switchingfees. These will vary from marketer to marketer. Atlanta Gas Light charges an underlying fee toturn gas on in your name or to turn gas on seasonally at any location, and your marketer may ormay not add additional fees to these underlying fees. You are allowed to switch marketers oncein a 12 month period without being charged a switch fee, if you switch marketers more frequentlythan that you will be charged $7.50 each time you switch. Late fees vary by marketer, but theyare rarely less than $10.

As you can see, your natural gas bill consists of more than just natural gas. By being informed,you can monitor your usage to maximize efficiency efforts and obtain the best deal available in aderegulated natural gas market. Ultimately, your gas marketer should be just a phone call away ifyou still need further explanation or have questions about your natural gas bill.

*Please be aware that these terms are relevant to deregulated customers only. If you are not servicedby an Atlanta Gas Light backed marketer these definitions may not apply to you.

FireSide Natural Gas is locally owned and operated and provides natural gas to homes andbusinesses throughout the state of Georgia. Their competitive pricing, simple rate plans,

and excellent customer service make selecting a natural gas provider a “no brainer.” For more information you may contact them at 678-872-0250

or visit their website at http://www.firesidenaturalgas.com.


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Shasta Clark, a former writer for CNN Headline News is a freelance journalist who writes about her most

challenging job yet, motherhood. You may contact her at [email protected].

Mommy MomentsThe Kiss and The Spit

by Shasta ClarkTo Lebron James fans, this summer will go down in history as the summer of “The Decision.”To me, it’ll go down as the summer of “The Kiss” and “The Spit.”

The KissI don’t have a daughter, but it’s easy to observe that girls and boys play completely different. Mysons like anything that gets dirty, drives fast and slithers on its belly. Girls, as I found out, like topretend they are princesses. And every princess needs a prince.

We were having a play date with a 4-year-old girl. When it was time for her to go home, she in-sisted that all the parents watch the play she and my son had been working on.

As she pretended to take a bite from a poi-sonous apple, I got a little nervous because,throughout history, anytime a woman bit anapple, it didn’t end well. Take Snow White,or Adam and Eve for example. But I satback and watched the fall of humanity un-fold.

The little actress keeled over with eyesclosed. When my son didn’t act quicklyenough, she opened one eye and demanded,“Now Harrison! It’s your turn. Come do it!”

Harrison sheepishly looked at her, then me,then my husband. He bolted out of theroom yelling, “No way! That’s for girls. I’m

not doing it.”

Later that night, he told my husband, “She wanted me to do this tongue thing. Gross!”

Phew! He thinks girls are gross and worms are fascinating. I hope it stays that way for a longtime!

The SpitAs any mom can attest, it’s nearly impossible to put on makeup with young children around. SoI let my sons do things I never thought I would, just so I can apply moisturizer and mascara.

For instance, one day my sons found my tampons and decided they’d make good rockets. Sothere I stood in front of the mirror, brushing my teeth while tampons whizzed from one end ofthe bathroom to the other, coming dangerously close to hitting my head.

A few days later I was attempting to put on deodorant, when my2-year-old son climbed on the toilet and started spitting into theelectrical outlet.

“Stop!” I said. “Don’t spit into electrical outlets! What have I toldyou about playing with outlets?”

Suddenly, the tampon launchers didn’t seem so dangerous.


Karen K Hartley, DDCD, IDS Associate

770-459-9096www.decdens.com\khartley www.DecoratingDen.com

Dream Beyond the Ordinary……

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It simply couldn’t be easier! With design solutions you’ll adore. A talented decorator you’ll love.

Impeccable service you’ll rave about. Visit our website and then call for an appointment.

I look forward to seeing you soon!

Today many people are looking for ways tochange the look in their home without spend-ing a lot of money. One of the best solutionscan be paint but choosing the right colors foryour home can affect not only the visual impactbut also the way you feel in the space!

When it comes to color, I advise my clients to follow their heart. As an interior decorator, my colorphilosophy revolves around the fact sometimes color preferences are not always the same as your favoritecolors. But with some sound thought when planning for a new color scheme, generally your heart’scolor desires will rule supreme! And, as most people have discovered, planning a color scheme needs tobe a carefully thought out process.

First, let’s talk about color psychology. Everyday there are more and more studies conducted whichreveal new information about how color impacts our lives. Did you know that…….

RED: Increases the pulse rate, breathing and blood pressure? If you like red you yearn for the impulsivelife. Red is the color of action, love, and courage. You are likely to be outspoken, athletic and somewhatfickle.

BLUE: A wonderful calming color. Did you know that blue actually causes the brain to send off elevenchemical tranquilizers? If you like blue, you are probably a capable, conservative and sensitive person.

GREEN: If you like green, you might be fresh, natural, and friendly by nature. Green shades tend toevoke a sense of relaxation, comfort and quietness. It also represents new growth and new beginnings,and can be used as a stress reducing color.

YELLOW: A stimulating color. People who like yellow tend to be smart and high minded. You mightfind yourself remaining optimistic in most situations, and are generally enthusiastic about new ideas.You enjoy action, and have the ability to project your ideas well to others.

ORANGE: An exuberant and bold color. Orange lovers tend to be friendly, cheerful, and are able toget along with practically everyone. You are social by nature, and hate to be alone. You want the worldto be warm and mellow like the glow of a fireplace.

PURPLE: A royal and fantasy invoking color. If you like purple, you could possibly be an artist atheart. You like to surround yourself with talented people and tend to be very free spirited by nature.

BROWN: A warm and comforting color. Brown lovers are often conscientious, and steady in theirways. You tend to be very interested in genealogy and home. The company of your family is paramountin your life.

Now, let’s talk about how to begin to select a color scheme for your home. I suggest that my clientsfollow 5 easy steps in assessing their space for a new color scheme.

First, decide where your best opportunities are for using color in a room. Will painting an accent colorgive your room the spark you desire? Or perhaps, a soft blending of similar color hues will give yournew room it’s desired “feeling or mood”.

Then, take a critical look at your room’s architectural features. Do you want them to stand out – takecenter stage – or be minimized? For instance, perhaps you have painted bookshelves flanking a room’sfireplace. Adding an accent color to the back walls of your bookshelves, might add just a bit of muchneeded color flair to the entire wall scheme. Or, you may want to use color to bring the outside in at thewindows.

Thirdly, try to define how your space is being used. Reading, relaxing, game playing, watching TV?An important consideration in selecting your new color scheme is how you actually use and enjoy thespace. Choose colors that will enhance that activity.

Next, analyze your room’s lighting. How much natural light does your room have? A room with a lotof natural light can usually take stronger colors better than a room which requires a lot of artificial light.

And last, but not least, it’s critical that you take into account your “new” room’s relationship to the ad-joining rooms. Color continuity is a key to creating the best overall look. Most homes really need nomore than three colors intersecting with one another and there needs to be some sense of all these colorsin each room. (Of course, your bedrooms can each stand alone.)

Now, go pick a new paint color and have some fun! And remember, Painting is one of the least expensiveways to make a big impact! AND, if you aren’t happy with the result, it’s still easy to repeat the processand make it great!

Karen Hartley is a member of the Interior Design Society and a DDCD, Decorating Den CertifiedDecorator. She has been the owner of Decorating Den Interiors for 24 years. You may preview her port-folio at www.decdens.com\khartley. Karen can also be reached at (770) 459-9096 or by e-mail at [email protected]

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health & beauty

Mohs micrographic surgery is a very advanced and highly effective procedure for treatingsome of the most common types of skin cancer. During this procedure, physicians are

able to surgically removethe entire skin cancer,layer by layer, whileleaving the surroundinghealthy tissue intact.

Mohs surgery limits thechances of regrowth ofthe skin cancer andlessens the potential forscarring and disfigure-ment. Mohs surgery hasthe highest success rate(99%) of all treatmentsfor skin cancer.

Mohs surgery is prima-rily used to treat basal cell and squamous cell carcinomas. It is the treatment of choice inskin cancers that occur in areas where it is crucial to preserve as much healthy tissue aspossible, including the eyelids, ears, nose, mouth, lips, fingers, toes, and genitals. The pro-cedure is also very effective when dealing with very large or aggressive tumors of the skin,or in cancers that were previously treated and recurred.

The procedure is named after its founder and originator, Dr. Frederic E. Mohs who devel-oped the technique in the early 1940s. The Mohs micrographic surgical procedure hasbeen refined and perfected for more than half a century.

Mohs surgery is typically performed as an outpatient procedure under local anesthesia.During the procedure, the visible portion of the tumor is surgically removed along withlayer of skin underneath the tumor. This layer is then divided into sections. These sections

are then microscopically examined for evidence of remaining cancer cells. If cancer cellsare found under the microscope, the surgeon will remove another layer of skin, but onlyfrom the precise location that the cells remain. The removal process is complete whenthere is no evidence of abnormal cells remaining at the surgical site.

After the skin cancer has been completely removed, the wound may be repaired with simplestitches, a skin graft or flap, or may even be allowed to heal on its own.

The American College of Mohs Surgery currently recognizes more than 60 training centerswhere qualified applicants receive comprehensive training in Mohs Micrographic Surgery.The minimum training period is one year during which the dermatologist acquires exten-sive experience in all aspects of Mohs Surgery, pathology and training in reconstructiveSurgery.

Dr. John Kayal is a college trained Mohs surgeon who specializes in the diagnosis and treat-ment of skin cancers. He is an active member of the American Academy of Dermatologyand the American College of Mohs Surgery. 770.426.7177

Mohs Micrographic Surgery

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Roses are one of the most popular domesticated plants around the world today. Protected andtreasured, they hold universal appeal; whether around the cottage doorway or the grandest palacegrounds. Today there is a rose for every place and purpose, from the formal garden, arbors, trellisesand fences to hedges, accent plants and decorative features on patios or terraces. One of the mostversatile of plants, the rose is exciting species for anyone interested in gardening.

There are several factors in successfully growing roses of fine quality in your home garden. Theyinclude: location, fertile soil, drainage, correct planting, pruning, fertilizing, mulching, winterprotection and the control of pests.

Location - In order to produce a good bloom, roses need a minimum of six hours of sunlighta day. While not necessary, roses should get a good dose of light shade in the afternoon as thiswill help their blooms retain color longer. They should be planted away from trees, shrubs orhedges which are heavy surface feeders as this will deprive the roses of much needed nutrientsand water. Roses also need good air circulation and don’t like confined spaces.

Soil - The most important requirements for the soil in which you will grow your roses aredrainage and fertility. Roses can thrive in fairly heavy clay or sandy loam soils if these two require-ments are met. The Ideal soil for growing roses is a good garden loam with lots of organic matter.Roses also prefer a slightly acid soil with a pH between 5.5 and 6.5

Drainage - While roses need large quantities of water for their best growth, it is absolutely es-sential that they have good drainage as they will be seriously injured in standing water. To fixareas with high water tables or poor drainage, laying tiles or crushed stone under the plantingwill assist the water draining away.

Planting - Roses may be planted in the autumn after the bushes have stopped active growthand are dormant but before the ground freezes. They can also be planted in the early spring whilethe plants are still dormant or they can be planted as potted roses after growth has started. Springplanting should be done as early in the spring as the ground can be successfully worked. Caremust be taken when planting potted roses to not break the ball of earth it was planted in.

Growing distances will depend on the type and variety of the roses you will be planting. However,

because of their very vigorous growing habits most roses should be planted about 2 feet apart ingeneral.

The roots of the rose should never be exposed to the sun or wind before planting, but should bekept wrapped in wet paper or moss and left in a dark place like a plastic bag or the garden shed.

In a hole of ample size, place the rose so that the roots are in a natural position and the point ofunion between the stock and the scion is between 1 and 2 inches below the surface. Planting tohigh will cause the rose to not have enough support and planting to deep will starve the rose ofoxygen. After back filling and packing in the soil firmly, thorough watering will be needed.

Pruning - The purpose of pruning is to remove dead or weak wood and to maintain heightand form. Pruning is dependent on the type of rose you have planted and the part of the worldyou are in. However there are several fundamentals which apply to all varieties and locals.

1. All dead cane should be removed at the base.2. Winter damaged canes should be cut back to sound wood.3. Canes interfering with the height or shape of the plant, or canes that are rubbing

other canes should be cut back or removed.4. Sharp pruning should always be used. Dull shears will damage the plant

making fungal and bacterial growth easier.5. Cuts should be made just above the bud, slanting in the same direction of the bud

and as close to the bud as possible without causing damage to it.

Mulching and Winter Protection - Roses benefit from mulching in the summer. Mulchroses with your desired material making sure not to exceed 1 inch in depth.

Winter protection is dependent on local, climate, exposure and hardiness. Make sure that theground is well supplied with water. Soil should be brought up around the roses to a height of 10to 15 inches. After the ground has frozen, mulch with hay or a similar material.

There are few flowers which bring the touches of warmth and graciousness, color and beauty tothe surroundings of the modest home like the rose.

A Beginners Guide to the Rose Gardenby Anne Kirrin


what’s cookin’?

Can you believe we are nearing the end of summer? Kids are getting ready to head back to schooland we are want to have those last soirees, sunset dinners with friends, and nights on the deck.The following menu is made of comforting food that won’t take you all day to pull together. Socall your friends, get the family together and enjoy those long nights and beautiful sunsets.

Chopped Salad with Pepper DressingPepper Dressing:1 cup mayonnaise 1 tablespoon drained, rinsed capers1 tablespoon freshly cracked pepper 1 teaspoon lemon juiceSalad:1 head iceberg lettuce, coarsely chopped2 tomatoes, seeded, choppedTo prepare the dressing, whisk the mayonnaise, capers, pepper, and lemon juice in a bowluntil mixed. To prepare the salad, mix the lettuce and tomatoes in a salad bowl. Add thedressing and toss to coat. Serve immediately.

Crescent Roll Chicken4 ounces cream cheese, softened ½ teaspoon pepper2 tablespoons milk 2 (8 ounce) refrigerated crescent dinner rolls2 cups cooked chicken, finely chopped ¼ cup plus 2 tablespoons butter, melted½ teaspoon salt 1 ½ cups crushed croutons

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Combine cream cheese with milk; beat or mix well enough untilsmooth. Stir in chicken, salt and pepper. Separate crescent roll dough into triangles. Place 2to 3 tablespoons chicken mixture on each of 8 triangles; spreading to within ½ inch of edges;moisten edges of dough with water. Place the remaining eight triangles of dough on top, pressedges to seal. Dip each sandwich in butter, roll in cushed croutons. Place on lightly greasedbaking sheets. Bake for 20 to 25 minutes until lightly browned. Yield: 8 servings

Sweet Potato Crunch2 (30 ounce) cans mashed sweet potatoes, drained 1 teaspoon cinnamon1 ¼ cups sugar 1 teaspoon vanilla extract1 cup milk 2 cups chopped pecans

½ cup melted butter 2 cups packed brown sugar4 eggs, lightly beaten 2/3 cup flour1 teaspoon salt 5 tablespoons + 1 teaspoon melted margarineCombine the sweet potatoes, sugar, milk, butter, eggs, salt, cinnamon, and vanilla in a bowland mix well. Spoon into a greased baking dish. Mix the pecans, brown sugar, and flour in abowl. Stir in the margarine. Sprinkle over the prepared layer. Bake at 350 degrees for 35minutes. Yeilds: 8 Servings

Sunshine Carrots3 cups carrots, sliced¼ cup sugar½ cup orange juice2 tablespoons flour2 tablespoons butter, meltedCook carrots in boiling salted water until tender. Drain. Combine sugar, orange juice, flourand melted butter. Place carrots in buttered casserole dish and pour juice mixture over. Bakeat 350 degrees for 20 minutes. Yields: 6 to 8 servings

Bama Chess Pie6 tablespoons butter, melted 1 tablespoon vanilla1 cup sugar 1 tablespoon white vinegar3 eggs, beaten 1 (9 inch) unbaked pie shell

Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Mix sugar, beaten eggs and butter. Add vanilla and vinegar; mixwell. Pour into unbaked pie shell and bake for 45 minutes to one hour.Yield: 8 servings

All recipes mentioned above can be found in the Junior League of Cobb-Ma-rietta’s nation award winning cookbook, Southern…On Occasion or Geor-gia on My Menu. You may purchase this online at www.jlcm.org.

August Fare-Fast, Fun and Enjoy

All of our menu items are $5.66! Stop in and enjoy our delicious:

Jambalaya • Crawfish Etoufee • Drunken ChickenRed Beans • Bourbon Street Chicken

BRING THE BAYOU….TO YOUR BELLYTry J. Gumbo’s Catering. The great taste of J. Gumbo’s Down-Home Cajun Cookin’ goes where you go...to the

boardroom, the beach, the ballgame and all points between!

745 Chastain RoadSte 1020 Kennesaw, Ga 30144770.514.5130 phone770.514.5131 [email protected]

Bring the family or your co-workersin and buy three entrees and get the

fourth free! Expires 8/31/2010

Purchase any entrée and receive afree small bowl. Expires 8/31/2010


3703 LARGENT WAYMARIETTA, GA 30064

Office Hours: Weekdays 8am - 6pm Saturday 8am - Noon

Suzanne Newsom, D.V.M.and Shadow

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Surgery • Laser• Ultrasound • Dermatology• Behavioral

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Suzanne Newsom, D.V.M.and Shadow

pets of the month

If you would like your pet to be Our Town’s Pet of the Month, please send a photo with a short bio to: Our Town Magazine, 101 Church Street Suite 175, Marietta, GA 30060

or email it to [email protected]

Do you know what may be in the air inside your home?

Dust • Pollen • Mold • Pet Hair • Dust mite fecal matter

Insulation brought in through duct leaks

AT GEORGIA FRESH AIR OUR MISSION IS SIMPLE. We are dedicated to helping you breath cleaner

air with our indoor air quality service.

Georgia FreshA Family Company

DRYER VENT CLEANED FOR $79 WITH PURCHASE OF DUCT CLEANINGSaves Energy! - Helps prevent a known fire hazard! (Offer expires August 31, 2010)

Now Offering FREE VIDEO INSPECTION of Your Air Ducts!

20% OFF FIRST TIME AIR DUCT CLEANING SERVICE!

[email protected]

www.gafreshair.com

Let us introduce you toSadie & Hines Johnson, our8 month old Beagle pups.They enjoy riding in the carwith their mom and dad and taking walks up to the Marietta Square. These two are a mess but a bundle of joy.

Hi! My name isStella Mitchell, I aman American-Eskimoand Shih Tzu mix.My mommy rescuedme from a shelter inNorth, GA. I will beone year old Aug28! I am very Sweetand friendly! My fa-vorite place to go isSwift-Cantrell DogPark to see and playwith all my friends!!

My name is Teddy Boy. I am a 3 year old, tall &handsome miniature poodle.I love walking and running inthe park with Dad. Athome, I jump 5 ft. when Isee deer, rabbits, andturkeys in our yard.

Lucky is a 13 year old WestHighland Terrier and Murphyis a 10 year old Lab mix.Lucky is a cancer survivorand Murphy was rescuedwhen she was only a fewweeks old. They have beensisters for almost 8 yearsand enjoy spending timetogether but older sister

Lucky is always the boss!

“Since FireSide Natural Gas provides such outstandingand valuable service at my home, it was a clear choiceto have them handle my business needs as well.”

Dr. Denny Lim, owner Cedarcrest Dental

Georgia’s Hometown Choice.

Providing service to homes and businesses.

Documents

Our Town August 2010 - West Cobb