The Aiken Golf Club`s 100-Year History
Transcription
The Aiken Golf Club`s 100-Year History
April 2012 The Aiken Golf Club’s 100-Year History Marilyn Van Derbur’s Trials and Triumphs Choctaw Ancestral Quilts Earth Day Pioneers Highland Park Home & Garden Tour contents • Intriguing • Empowering • Entertaining April Features April 2012, Volume 9, No.3 Bella Favorites Mailing Address 5 Stitched with Love Choctaw Ancestral Quilts by Phyllis Maclay 8 The Evolving Masters by Steve Huff, Guest Writer 12 Marilyn Van Derbur: Her Trials and Triumphs by Kathy Huff 14 World Book Night by Judy Cross and Darlene Rittel 18 The Poliakoffs and the Poliakoff Building Part III in a series about Old Aiken by Anna Dangerfield 20 Aiken Golf Club Celebrates Its Centennial by Steve Hale 22 Heroes for the American Red Cross by Anna Dangerfield 24 Treat the Earth Well Earth Day’s Pioneers 32 Update on the Red Hots! 33 St. Thaddeus Tour of Highland Park Area by Kathy Huff Aiken, SC 29801 4 Catching the Wave: Starting a Home-Based Business by Liz Stewart 9 Publisher Kathy Urban Huff Bella Buzz editor@aikenbellamagazine.com 13 Roots and Wings: The Best Gift is a Stable, Secure Marriage Advertising by Betts Hunter Gatewood Kathy Huff 803/439-4026 16 Children’s Literature: Wolves: Big and Bad? Or Good and Noble? ads@aikenbellamagazine.com by Ann D. Holley Photography 28 The Flying Foodie: Hot Cross Buns and Natural Easter Egg Dyes Kathy Huff, Jim Stafford, Steve Hale, Phyllis Maclay by Chef Belinda 31 Heard It Through the Grapevine: Shelton Varietals Staff Writers Anna Dangerfield, Phyllis Maclay Steve Hale by Missie Boisvert 35 Scene Around Town Graphic Design 36 Good Sense Medicine: Allergies Are Driving Me Crazy Jim Stafford by Zoom Heaton 38 Scene Around Town ? Want BELLA delivered to your mailbox Subscriptions (9 issues per year) are available via US Mail for $27. Send checks payable to: 37 College Dating: One Student’s Perspective BELLA Magazine 124 Trafalgar Street SW by Alesha Jones, Guest Writer 124 Trafalgar St., SW Ciao Bella by Phyllis Maclay 30 Detoxify Yourself 3 Aiken, SC 29801 Hink Salley Recognized Cover photo courtesy of Jim Stafford Photo courtesy of Allen Riddick. …What every Aiken body needs! Kristen Sojourner, CMT Nationally Certified in Therapeutic Massage & Bodywork (803) 761-1127 109 Laurens St. NW Aiken, SC 29801 myaikenbody@gmail.com 2 Hemrick N. “Hink” Salley, Jr., stands beside the Salley Alcove Plaque and the portraits of his parents, the late Judges Ena Boylston Salley and Hemrick N. Salley, Sr. In a recent ceremony at the University of South Carolina’s South Caroliniana Library, Hink was recognized for his gift to the University of The Hemrick Nathan Salley Family Collection. The Collection contains quilts and other textiles from the late 18th to late 20th centuries; historical newsletters, manuscripts, books, correspondence and other documents; musical items such as American sheet music of more than 100 years; and other rare works of literature including Mary Wollstonecraft’s Original Stories from Real Life (1796). Part of the collection will remain in the Salley alcove in the South Caroliniana Library on the second floor, and other items will be placed in the McKissick Museum, the Music Library, and the Irvin Department of Rare Books and Special Collections in the Ernest F. Hollings Library. BELLA MAGAZINE APRIL 2012 Ciao Bella! The best laid schemes o’ Mice an’ Men, Gang aft agley, An’ lea’e us nought but grief an’ pain, For promis’d joy! * Robert Burns, To a Mouse (Poem, November, 1785) Scottish national poet (1759 - 1796) Once upon a time in Ohio, I had a catering business that grew from occasionally making birthday cakes and veggie platters out of my home kitchen to a successful commercial business that eventually served 750 guests at a cocktail party. One of my most jaw-dropping moments in that business happened on the day of a small family wedding I was catering in the afternoon at 2 p.m. The phone rang about 10 that morning and the best man told me the wedding would most likely be called off because the bride and groom had had a major blow-up. “But you haven’t started making the food yet, have you?” he asked. Just like the catering business, plans for publishing have to be made in advance. Stories must be assigned and written, photos taken, ads sold. But sometimes last minute changes are fortuitous. Just as March means horse BELLA MAGAZINE APRIL 2012 events, April means golf, with the Masters and now the Sage Valley Junior Invitational (covered next month) in the spotlight. The week before publishing this April issue, I learned about The Aiken Golf Club’s 100th anniversary this year. To me this was an important event that merited top billing in the April/ golf issue. With some gnashing of teeth, we managed to replace our earlier plans with the cover you now see, as well as a center spread devoted to this beloved historical landmark with a fascinating history and a rosy future. It was a change well made. Send Me Stories About Your Fathers It’s a good thing to capitalize on lucky breaks—that’s called serendipity. But now I’m back to planning ahead, looking at the Summer issue. The Bella Q (Bella Questions) stories that readers email me to share in print are some of my favorites. Last year, Bella featured many tributes to mothers in the May issue, sent in by loving sons and daughters. This year, it’s Dad’s turn. Bella will print stories about your fathers—poignant, happy, comical, quizzical—for Father’s Day. Any story will be considered, but make it short, please! Write Father’s Day in the subject line and send to editor@aikenbellamagazine.com no later than May 15. Then watch for the Summer issue on the stands in early June. By the way, the wedding went forward after the bride and groom made up, and presumably they are living happily ever after! Kathy Huff *The best laid schemes of Mice and Men oft go awry, And leave us nothing but grief and pain, For promised joy! 3 Catching the Wave Successful Strategies for Business by Liz Stewart Starting a Home-Based Business In the past several years there has been a significant increase in the number of home-based business start-ups. Employees who find themselves without a job often decide to try entrepreneurship even on a temporary basis until the job market improves. Now that the economy is showing signs of improvement, some workers will be considering a home-based business in the hope of minimizing the threat of being unemployed again. The first two things you should do when considering a home-based business are to assess your talents and examine your skills. Talents are the things you are really good at; for example, creativity or communication. Skills are the things you do well to use your talents; for example, drawing or public speaking. Ask yourself these seven questions: 1. What do you have to offer? 2. What makes you an expert? 3. Do you have all the education and skills you need? 4. Does the product or service you are considering meet a true need? How do you know? 5. Is this is a seasonal or year-round product or service? 6. How sensitive is marketing this product or service to general economic conditions? When the economy is weak, how will the business be affected? 7. Is this something you’ll love to do or sell, or are you going through the motions to try to make some money? The last one is particularly important – a key condition for success is commitment. Your prospective customers will recognize if you have a passion for your product or service and that perception will play into their decision to do business with you. Three key attributes for successfully working at home are: 1. Self-discipline – you are now your own boss. 2. Time management – only you can control your use of time. 3. Assertiveness – you must be able to say “no” to interruptions or distractions. Liz: There are several pitfalls to watch out for: • Attention must be paid to separating work from family time. If it all blends together, neither will probably get the right amount of attention. Set hours for work and ask for family and friend support by respecting that time and minimizing interruptions. Conversely, since you are always in your work environment, working too much can become an issue and lead to burnout. Set a time to end the workday and use a transition step to being with family – take a 15-minute walk or read a book. • Working in a non-productive environment will impact success. Make sure you have a dedicated workspace. (A kitchen or dining room table doesn’t count!) Your work setting will set the tone for productivity. • Feeling isolated can also impact efficiency and effectiveness. Make sure you schedule networking time to talk with colleagues, attend Chamber or other civic events and seek a mentor. Creating an atmosphere of professionalism will put you in the right frame of mind to work. Regardless of certain advertising messages about the wonders of working in your PJs, it is best to dress for the day – being too casual doesn’t put you in a productive mind frame. GB: How can I be certain I will be taken seriously as a professional businessperson if I work from home? Liz: Paying attention to the image you want to create is an important aspect of success. While it’s not necessarily accurate, there is sometimes the perception that people working from home are not as “serious” about their work as others. To minimize this issue, make sure that you have a private and quiet place to make business calls, have professional marketing materials and Internet presence and consider networking with other professionals for the occasional use of an office or conference room to meet with customers. SW: I receive a lot of emails about working from home. How can I be certain they are not scams? customers for your work. 2. Don’t believe that you can make big profits easily. Operating a home-based business is just like any other business – it requires hard work, skill, good products or services, and time to make a profit. 3. Get all the details before you pay. A legitimate company will be happy to give you information about exactly what you will be doing and for whom. 4. Get references for other people who are doing the work. Ask them if the company kept its promises. 5. Be aware of legal requirements. To do some types of work, such as medical billing, you may need a license or certificate. Check with the state attorney general’s office. Ask your local zoning board if there are any restrictions on operating a business from your home. Some types of work cannot be done at home under federal law. Look for the nearest U.S. Department of Labor in the government listings of your phone book. 6. Know the refund policy. If you have to buy equipment or supplies, ask whether and under what circumstances you can return them for a refund. 7. Be wary of requests for personal or bank information. A legitimate company will not insist that you share this information. Next month we will discuss how to motivate employees. Submit your questions to me at lstewart@stewartandassociates.com. Liz Stewart is president of Stewart and Associates, Inc., a national management and training consulting firm specializing in helping leaders grow successful organizations. Her specialties are in the areas of strategic planning, human resource management systems, management and leadership development training, and executive coaching. Author of “Back To The Basics © In Strategic Planning” and a current book entitled, “Leading the Disciplined Organization”, Ms Stewart is the current Past Chair for the Board of Directors of the Aiken Chamber of Commerce, Past President of the Aiken Rotary Club, and is a member of the City of Aiken Planning Commission. Visit www.stewartandassociates.com and contact Liz at 803-502-0099. Here are this month’s questions. Liz: The Internet is a wonderful thing but can also be a haven for scam artists. Here are seven ways to confirm the validity of email offers: MB: How do I start working at home without disrupting my home life or losing a work/life balance? 1. Know who you’re dealing with. The company may not be offering to employ you directly, only to sell you training and materials and to find 4 BELLA MAGAZINE APRIL 2012 Stitched With Love Even though they signed nine treaties with the U.S. government before the Civil War, the Choctaw Nation was consistently shoved off its land. Forced to give up millions of acres of ancestral land, the Choctaws watched the United States Government seize the last of their territory in 1830, and relocate them west of the Mississippi River. This nation of American Indians was the first to walk the Trail of Tears where nearly 2,500 members died on that torturous journey between Alabama or Mississippi and Oklahoma. This corrupt treatment didn’t snuff out the spirit of the Choctaws. Once in Oklahoma, they drafted a new constitution and opened up a school and church. When they heard of the Great Potato Famine in Ireland, they responded by collecting money and sending it to that country. Things didn’t improve after the Civil War. The U.S. absorbed two million acres more of Indian land, dissolved other commonly held Indian property, and opened the newly formed Oklahoma Territory to white settlers. The Choctaws were victims of theft, violent crime, even murders by whites and by other Indians. These amazing people rose above these injustices to become the Code Talkers. Their reward was to face what the Government termed “Indian termination” during the 1940-1960s. Tribes were dissolved and American Indians were assimilated into America’s mainstream. The Choctaw nation was to be abolished, but Congress stopped the termination in 1970. This event was a catalyst for the revitalized Choctaws. They elected a chief, started a tribal newspaper, and took action to preserve their language. BELLA MAGAZINE APRIL 2012 American Indian Tiajuana Cochnauer stitches Ancestral Quilts of her Choctaw heritage into beautiful creations right in Aiken’s backyard The Choctaw Nation initiated the use of American Indian languages turned into coded messages during World War I. This successfully stumped enemy forces, and wiretapping by the Germans became useless. Choctaw soldiers were also used as runners and telephone communicators. Recognition was nonexistent until Hollywood produced a movie. Even then the movie was not about the Choctaws; instead it told the story of the Navajo Indian Code Talkers during World War II. In 1989 France awarded posthumous medals of valor for the Choctaw Code Talkers. It is estimated there are more than 200,000 Choctaw today who are dedicated to improving the lives of their people. It is Aiken’s good fortune to have one of them call this town “home.” Originally from Oklahoma, Tiajuana Cochnauer is passionate about the creations she sews, stitching family history into her beautiful quilts. “We prefer to be called ‘American Indian’ over ‘Native American’,” she stated. Tiajuana is not the only artist in her family. Her brother, illustrator and artist Paul King, had his artwork on display last June at the Smithsonian National Museum of the American Indian in Washington DC. His art was used for the branding of the event. “His exhibit was one of two featured by Phyllis Maclay artists,” Tiajuana proclaimed with pride. King helped her label her quilts by designing the logo that documents their ancestry. The name, the Choctaw Roll Number and logo are put on each tag in the back of the quilts. You can see Tiajuana’s beautiful ancestry quilt she made for her second cousin, Janice Dyer Whaling in San Antonio. A photo is scanned onto paperback fabric on the computer, then appliquéd onto fabric. The baby in this photo is Tiajuana’s maternal grandfather, Willy. Another child, a girl, was born later. The mother died at age 42, but Tiajuana’s grandfather lived to be 86. (Continued on next page) 5 “James Dyer, my grandfather, built the home for the former Chief of the Choctaws before Oklahoma’s statehood in 1907,” she says. History has been unkind to the American Indian, but just like her ancestors, Tiajuana continues the tradition of giving back to her people and those who appreciate the Choctaw Heritage. The quilt Tiajuana holds up her ancestral quilt took a third after many hours of careful stitching. place ribbon at the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma Quilt Show over last Labor Day weekend. Here is a close-up of the James Dyer family. The quilt was made for the granddaughter of the eldest son in the picture. A photo of her cousin, Janice Dyer Whaling, is on the back. “You always label the quilt,” says Tiajuana. “You list for whom and from whom with the date.” The quilt is machined- pieced but hand quilted. Tiajuana chose the pattern “Road to Oklahoma” for quilting. Look closely and you’ ll see the outline of the state. She used her grandmother’s quilt frame to stitch the pattern. 6 Another beautiful creation of Tiajuana Cochnauer. BELLA MAGAZINE APRIL 2012 BELLA MAGAZINE APRIL 2012 7 by Steve Huff, Guest Writer The Evolving Masters: Ever New and Ever Traditional My satellite HD DVR replayed a preview of the 2011 Masters tournament on my LCD flat screen TV. I emailed a friend who rang my smart phone: She had an extra ticket! I logged on my office desktop through remote desktop from my home laptop and, darn, my schedule was booked. I texted the scheduler who cleared the template and verified by office intranet. I programmed the GPS and tuned the satellite car radio to ESPN for a turbo charged, fuel injected foray to Aiken, the home of my stepmom and your intrepid Bella publisher, Kathy Huff. Phew. I had no idea how ready I was for a break from ringtones, keyboards, mouse clicks, passwords and error bleeps that characterize the day of a family doctor. Even free time on the home golf course requires juggling a cell phone, pager and GPS distance device. Not so at the Masters, or for that matter, any PGA golf tournament. All those bleeps and bloops and blaring ringtones would drive the golfers nuts. But the Masters has more in mind than just avoiding distraction for the golfers. The gentlemen in the green jackets are fulfilling a vision and protecting a tradition. Within that tradition, though, the Augusta National and the Masters have evolved more than you might think. Born in 1933 during a decade of flux, Augusta National promptly flipped its front and back nines. Six years later the name of the tournament changed from the Augusta National Invitation Tournament to the Masters. During part of World War II the tournament was suspended and cattle roamed the venerable grounds. The post-war Masters sported newfangled scoreboards, the first to employ different colored numbers to signify whether a player was above or below par. In 1956 the Masters reached new audiences through the marvel of television. Over the decades the course accumulated bridges, buildings and monuments, named after great champions: Sarazen, Hogan, Nelson, Palmer, Nicklaus. Ike Eisenhower lobbied successfully to dam up a fishing pond next to the par 3 course, but was deemed out-of-order at the meeting when he demanded the removal of a pesky pine on 17. Although segregation has been an undeniable “elephant on the tee box” at Augusta National, Lee Elder became the first African-American to play in the Masters in 1975. In 1991 the first AfricanAmerican member was admitted to the club. (The exclusion of female members remains a singular, thorny issue.) In the past decade Augusta National has been “Tiger-proofed,” lengthened more than 500 yards. The old driving range with the net at the end has been replaced by a state-of-the-art practice facility. For techies, there are Masters apps for computer, iPad and smart phone. Despite all the changes over the past 79 years, it is safe to say that founders Bobby Jones and Clifford Roberts and architect Alister Mackenzie, would still embrace Augusta National and the Masters as their very own. The course retains the challenge, charm and nuance with which it was designed. The tournament features the world’s very best professional and amateur golfers. The whitewashed, hand-operated scoreboards persevere over electronic ones. 8 Television coverage retains the soft tones, the scant commercials and restricted airtime as decades ago, on the same network. Sponsorship and branding are absent or invisible. Eisenhower’s tree still punishes errant shots on 17. Bridges, monuments and buildings meld naturally into the landscape. Roars and moans rather than Jumbotrons and electronic message boards broadcast the fates of golfers across the course. When something changes at Augusta National, it changes for good. It’s not about money, fame or progress. It’s about golf—quality, tradition, integrity—and its champions—rising, peaking, resurging. It is a combination of comfort and excitement, like being a kid again, eager to get to Grandma’s, where young and old mingle fondly, where time slows down, where the atmosphere is safe and relaxed and clean, where the smells, sounds and quirks are all their own, and where pleasant surprises pop out of nowhere, like Easter eggs, or golf balls, in the grass. I remember how fanatical Grandpa was about golf. He used to let me chip around with him in his yard, even after I once shattered his garage window. On Masters weekend we would put the clubs away, grab some of Grandma’s cookies off the kitchen counter and head for the living room. The old console TV would groan to life and on would come the Masters; a whack, a roar, a new drama unfolding; round after round, year after year, generation after generation, time out of mind. BELLA MAGAZINE APRIL 2012 BUZZZZZ APRILcommunitycalendar Downtown Aiken April 5 Horses and Courses event debut designed especially for Masters Week visitors, 5:30 to 9 p.m.; showcasing Aiken’s diverse talents, hobbies, and interests. Features performers on stage at Laurens St. and Hayne Avenue; artwork on display and for sale through the downtown area, including The Alley; parade with artistic golf carts. Sponsored by the City of Aiken Arts Commission and the City Parks, Recreation and Tourism Department. For more information, call 642-7631. April 6, 13, 20, 27 Free yoga classes at Just Breathe Studio, 10 a.m., 116 Pendleton St. SW. Participants are asked to bring personal items (toothbrushes, deodorant, etc.) to donate to the Cumbee Center and to bring their own mat. 648-8048. April 7, 14, 21, 28 April 2-28 Exhibitions by D.S. Owens and St. Mary’s Help of Christians Catholic School April 21 Art Spring Fling, 9 a.m. to noon April 24 Singing with our Friends, 7 p.m., concert, featuring Aiken Singers, South Boundary and M’Aiken Music. $10 for open seats, $25 for reserved seats. April 26 Homebrew Video Competition event announcing the winners, 6:30-8:30 p.m. Aiken County Library 314 Chesterfield St. SW 803-642-2020, www.abbe-lib.org Aiken Historic Tours, 10 a.m., reservations recommended. Call 803-642-7631 for $15 tickets, sold at Odell Weeks Center, 1700 Whiskey Road. Arrive at Aiken Visitors Center (Railroad Depot) 15 minutes early before tour departure. Private and group tour arrangements available by calling 293-7846 or 649-6608. April 3: April 19 Wii golf video game, 7-8 p.m. for adults only, ages 18 and up Midday Music and Lunch Concert Series, 12 noon, First Presbyterian Church, 224 Barnwell Ave. NW, featuring USCA Choral Department. Free and open to the public. $9 lunch in Fellowship Hall immediately after the concert with advance ticket purchased by April 16 at the church office, 648-2662. April 28 Inaugural Oyster Roast to benefit The Best Chance Network, presented by WE (Women Enlightened, a program of the Aiken Regional Medical Centers), 5 to 9 p.m.; Rose Hill Estate, silent auction, live music, oysters and Beaufort Stew, cash bar. This event will help provide annual mammograms for women in Aiken County. $30/ticket; sold at Wayne’s Automotive, Allegra, Aiken Standard, Aiken Regional Medical Centers. Information: 641-5974. Golf Movie Marathon featuring: Legend of Bagger Vance, rated PG-13, 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Greatest Game Ever Played, rated PG, 2:30-4:30 p.m. Seven Days in Utopia, rated G, 5-6 p.m. April 12 April 14 The Adventures of Tintin, rated PG, 3- 4:45 p.m. April 21 War Horse, rated PG-13, 3-5 p.m. April 24 Land of Opportunity book discussion of Dreaming in Cuban by Cristina Garcia, led by USCA Professor Timothy Ashton, 7 to 8:30 p.m. Funded by the Friends of the Aiken County Public Library. Third in a four-part series. April 26 Aiken TruGrass Festival, Newberry Street, featuring local artists, craft and food vendors. Medicare Questions Answered program by representatives from the Aging, Disability and Transportation Center of the Lower Savannah Council of Governments, 4-5 p.m. Followed by question and answer period. Aiken Center for the Arts Aiken County Historical Museum www.aikencenterforthearts.org www.aikencountyhistoricalmuseum.org 122 Laurens St. SW 803-641-9094 433 Newberry St. SW 803-642-2015 April 1-May 4 April 5, 12, 19, 26 April 2-6 April 6, 13, 20, 27 Exhibitions by John Fort, Gwen McDonald, and Joanne Evans Spring Break Camps BELLA MAGAZINE APRIL 2012 April 15-29 Recycle Your Art Sale, during regular Museum hours, 10-5 daily except for Sunday, 2-5 p.m., closed Monday. Community members may bring their artwork to be displayed for sale; 20% of purchase price goes to the Museum. Drop-off is April 13 between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. Preview sale and reception for Friends of the Museum on April 15, 6-8 p.m. Information: 642-2015. URS Center for the Performing Arts 126 Newberry St. SW Tickets and Information: 803-648-1438 April 6-7, 13-14, 20-21 Twelfth Night presented by the Aiken Community Playhouse, 8 p.m. April 15 Twelfth Night presented by the Aiken Community Playhouse, 3 p.m. April 26-27 Concert by The Grascals, part of the Portfolio Series, 8 p.m., featuring a tribute to the music of the Andy Griffith Show. University of South Carolina-Aiken (usca) 471 University Parkway 803-648-6851 www.sc.edu April 5 Film and discussion from the 2000s: A Mighty Heart, 7 p.m., Humanities and Social Sciences Building, Room 116; sponsored by the Department of Communications. April 11 Student Life Leadership Awards Banquet, 5:50 p.m., Newberry Hall, special celebration of student achievements with a focus on 50 years of student life at USCA. April 18 “Irene Rudnick Day” at the School of Business Administration, Gregg-Graniteville Library Memorial Room, 11 a.m. to 11:50 a.m., to celebrate her 50 years of service to USCA. April 23 School of Business Administration Award Ceremony, 6 p.m., Aiken Municipal Center; annual event includes a special recognition of people who have made significant contributions over the past 50 years. Thursday morning tours, 10 a.m., with advance reservations made at 642-2015. Friday morning tours, 10 a.m., with advance reservations made at 642-2015. 9 ZZZ ZZZ DuPont Planetarium Ruth Patrick Science Education Center 471 University Parkway http://rpsec.usca.edu/Planetarium/ pubshows.html Tickets and Information: 803-641-3654 April 7, 14, 21, 28 To the Moon and Beyond (40th anniversary of Apollo 16), 7 and 8 p.m. April 28 Earth and Sky Night, including a planetarium show, hands-on activities, night-sky viewing, and viewings through the Bechtel Telescope. The Etherredge Center at usca 471 University Parkway Tickets and Information: 803-641-3305 web.usca.edu/etherredge-center April 5 BELLA Magazine will run announcements for free for non-profit organizations, community events, and BELLA advertisers. Space may be limited. Please email event information to bellabuzz@aikenbellamagazine.com by the 15th of the month before the event. Faculty Artist Recital, by Richard Maltz, composer. 7:30 p.m. April 12 University Wind Ensemble Spring Concert, 7 p.m. light dinner. Reservations are required; call Direct Doctor’s Plus Referral line at 1-800-882-7445. April 18-21 April 12 Intimate Apparel, presented by the University Theatre Players, 7:30 p.m. April 22 Intimate Apparel, presented by the University Players, 2 p.m. April 23 USCA Chamber Music concert, featuring the USCA Chamber and Percussion Ensembles, 7 p.m. April 27 Symphony Augusta, featuring Dramatic Voices, 8 p.m. Aiken Regional Medical Centers 302 University Parkway 803-641-5000 “Surgical Weight Loss Options” program by Dr. Edward J. Rapp II and Dr. Luciano Fiszer for people who are seriously considering weight-loss surgery; 6 p.m., ARMC, 4th floor classroom. Reservations are required; call Bariatric Nurse Navigator at 803-641-5751. “Urgent Care” program by Dr. James Dillion and Dr. David Hatmaker, 6 p.m., Towncreek Baptist church; about what and when urgent care is needed. Includes light dinner. Reservations are required; call Direct Doctor’s Plus Referral line at 1-800-882-7445. April 13 “Stroke Prevention” program by Roland Saavedra, MD, at the Senior Wellness Breakfast Club meeting, 9 a.m., at the USCA Business Conference Center; includes complimentary breakfast. Reservations are required. Call Direct Doctor’s Plus Referral line, 1-800-882-7445. April 10 “What’s Going On? ARMC Emergency Department Update by Dr. David Hatmaker, 6 p.m., St. John’s United Methodist Church—Ward Hall, 6 p.m.; includes Family Owned and Operated 10 BELLA MAGAZINE APRIL 2012 ZZZ ZZZ Miscellaneous Events and Venues April 1 Aiken Horse Show, 9 a.m., Hitchcock Woods at Laurens Street entrance. Free except for tent patronage; $10 parking fee per vehicle—the only day in the year vehicles can drive in Hitchcock Woods. April 2-8 Masters Golf Tournament in Augusta. and inflatables. 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Citizens Park. Free. Children must be accompanied by an adult. Call 642-7631 for more information. April 20 An Evening of Enchantment and Mystery Masquerade Party, the annual Hitchcock Healthcare Gala, featuring dinner and auction, 6:30 p.m., 690 Medical Park Drive. Tickets are $75 each or $550 for a table of 8. Black tie optional. Call 293-4375 for more information. April 21 April 3, 10, 17, 24 Storytime in the Gardens spring season, every Tuesday through May 29, 4 p.m., in the grassy area behind the Aiken Thoroughbred Racing Hall of Fame at Hopelands Gardens, 135 Dupree Place. 642-7631 or 642-7650. Odell Weeks Center is the alternate site in case of inclement weather. St. Thaddeus Home and Garden Tour, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., 8 homes in the Highland Park district. Strawberries and cream tea plus Heritage Market at the church between 3 and 5 p.m. $25 tickets available at Material Things, The Curiosity Chop, Plum Pudding and the St. Thaddeus Church office, or online through PayPal at stthaddeushomeandgardentour.org. April 7, 14, 21, 28 April 25 Boyd Pond Programs, held each Saturday at dusk, weather permitting; Boyd Pond Park, 373 Boyd Pond Rd. Aiken, SC. Free. Visit www.boydobservatory.org or call 803-642-7559 for more information. April 7 9 Annual Spring Fling Show & Shine sponsored by Aiken Horsepower, 9-3:30 p.m., in front of Sears at the Aiken Mall. Featuring a Kiddie Karz show for ages 15 and under, silent auction items, door prizes; various vendors, including food. Proceeds benefit the Cumbee Center. No charge for admission but donations accepted for the active drive to collect toys, canned goods and cell phones for the Cumbee Center. Call Vickie at 270-3505 or Manny at 270-8219 for information. www.aikenhorsepower.com th April 13 Area 15 Special Olympics Spring Games, 9:30 a.m., Midland Valley High School football field. Parade of Athletes begins at 9:30 a.m. To volunteer, contact volunteerarea15@bellsouth.net. To donate, send to Area 15, Special Olympics-South Carolina, PO Box 698, Aiken SC 29801. For more information, Bill Boyce at 293-6136. April 14 5th Annual Aiken SPCA Barn Tour, featuring barns in the heart of the Aiken Horse District, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., $25/ ticket. Call 648-6863 or email cmiller@aikenspca.org Luncheon and inspirational speech featuring former Miss America Marilyn Van Derbur, author, advocate, and child abuse survivor, 11:30-1:30 p.m., Business and Education Building at USCA, $25/ticket available at the Child Advocacy Center office, 644-5100, or at www.cacofaiken.org. Proceeds benefit the Child Advocacy Center. Red Cross Adult CPR Class, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., 1314 Pine Log Road, $90 per person. To register, call the Red Cross Training Support Center at 800-733-2767. April 27-28 Aiken Lions Club Broom Sale, 9-3 p.m., at Kroger. Call Jim Iwert at 641-6740 for details. April 27-29 Woodside Festival of Homes, 11-5 p.m. on Friday and Saturday, 1-5 p.m. on Sunday; tickets $10 in advance at Woodside Plantation Sales Center, The Village Center and The Reserve Club, $15 at the door. Proceeds benefit the Child Advocacy Center. April 28 Red Cross Pediatric CPR and First Aid Class, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., 1314 Pine Log Road, $90/person. To register, call the Red Cross Training Support Center at 800-733-2767. Outside Aiken April 12 6th Annual Undercover Artists Show to benefit Walton’s Camp To Be Independent, a five day spend-the-night camp for children with traumatic brain injuries ages 8-21, 7 p.m. until …, on the lawn of Walton Rehabilitation Hospital, 1355 Independence Dr., Augusta, featuring 100+ canvases to be auctioned off. All signatures are hidden until the last thirty minutes of bidding. For more information, contact Alice Salley, 706-826-5809 Coming in May May 4 Annual Lobster Race, 6-11 p.m., Newberry Festival Site. May 4-5 Aiken Lions Club Broom Sale, 9-3 p.m. at Roses. Call Jim Iwert at 641-6740 for details. May 7 Celebrity Waiter Night, benefiting Children’s Place. Call 641-4144 for more information. May 12 Mead Hall’s annual Strawberry Festival, 10-2. Festivities will take place outside on Greenville Street, as well as in the gym and on the playground. Homemade goodies, games, rides, a pie eating contest and more. Wristbands for all-access will be available at the gate. May 19 Healthy Lifestyle Expo, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., USCA Convocation Center, presented by Aiken Regional Medical Centers; free blood screenings (cholesterol testing, prostate cancer screening). May 21 Dick Flynt Memorial Golf Outing sponsored by the Aiken Lions Club, Houndslake Country Club. Call Adam Keller at 644-5405 for details. Aiken Kite Festival, family event with variety of activities including kite flying demonstrations, kite design contest, kite flying contest, kite vendors, food vendors, Tax Planning Medicaid Planning Elder Law Estate Planning Revocable Trust Probate BELLA MAGAZINE APRIL 2012 Wm. Ray Massey Tax Attorney Smith, Massey, Brodie, Guynn & Mayes, P.A. Phone 803-643-4110 Facsimile 803-644-9057 rmassey@smbgm.com www.smbgm.com 11 “I Thought It Was the End of All I Had Built” S he was 53 when the story broke on the front page of the Denver paper, her worst nightmare. Now everyone knew that she had been been repeatedly raped by her father. She, Miss America 1958. The only woman guest lecturer for General Motors for 10 years. Voted the Outstanding Woman Speaker in America, television hostess of the Miss America Pageant, TV spokeswoman for AT&T. “I thought it was the end of all I had built,” Marilyn Van Derbur told Bella in a recent interview. “I thought, ‘I’m done.’ People will turn away from me.” Then her daughter Jennifer’s best friend arrived at the front door with fresh flowers and said the magic words that touched her heart deeply: “I love you.” As she told the story, her voice caught. “It still gets me,” she said. As news of the incest spread, she was besieged by phone calls that she could not take and reporters she would not speak to. Believing herself to be dirty, ugly, unlovable and guilty, she thought no one could possibly want to be around her again, knowing her secret. Overwhelmed and in Hiding The news-breaking story overwhelmed Marilyn. After three days of hiding in her house, she woke her family and told them she had to get out. They all dressed in sweats and headed to the high school track to jog. It was there that a pivotal moment propelled Marilyn into a new life. The day before, Marilyn’s oldest sister Gwen had been front page news as she, too, came forward with her own child abuse story. A friend at the track told Marilyn that on the talk radio shows, people had been questioning why they should believe Marilyn’s story. Then the friend added, “But now that your sister has come out, they have to believe you.” Far from being comforted by this pronouncement, Marilyn grew enraged and responded, “If people don’t believe a 53-year-old woman, who is going to believe a child? Let’s go to work.” From then on, Marilyn burst out of hiding and became a staple on every TV talk show, radio program, and public forum, speaking about child abuse, the “dirty little secret” that became Marilyn’s life’s mission to expose and prevent. If Marilyn had had her way before the Denver newspaper story, the world would still be ignorant of her father’s abuse. Most victims of child abuse believe that it’s their own fault, that the shame is theirs. After years of therapy and searching for answers, Marilyn has become the mentor she sought during the worst times of her adult life, the 13 years during which intermittent bouts of total paralysis inexplicably disabled her. A raft of medical tests showed no physical cause for the paralysis. However, therapy eventually brought out the rage and humiliation she had repressed between the ages of 5 to 18 over her father’s stealthy night visits to her bedroom, while she feigned sleep. 12 Paralysis Brought on by Repression “When you don’t have a way to express those feelings, you have to put them somewhere. The body has memories, the skin has memories,” she explained. The paralysis began when she was around 40 years old; only later would she understand that it was triggered by her daughter’s 5th birthday, for that was the age when Marilyn’s father began his night-time forays into her room. “I used to lock myself into a tight fetal position every night. I tightened every muscle as tight as I could. Eventually I couldn’t unlock my body any more,” she said. The paralysis continued on and off for 13 years, during which Marilyn begged her husband Larry to find her someone who had been through the agony she was experiencing and emerged whole. They could find no one. “Role model for yourself,” he told her. This she accomplished in therapy where her memories—blocked out for years—came surging back. “People asked me how I could forget. I answered, ‘How could I remember?’—and still go on functioning?” she said. According to Marilyn, most adult victims find their constant efforts at repression fail around 40 years of age. “It works at 20 and even 30, but it begins breaking down around 40.” Another step in her recovery was the book she wrote about her experiences (Miss America by Day, Oak Hill Press) which she labeled “the best thing I have ever done besides my family.” “No, I Cannot” Marilyn’s story includes the heart-rending realization that she had no one to turn to for help. At a particularly emotional time in her healing, Marilyn turned to her mother and asked, “Can you help me?” only to hear the words, “No, I cannot.” As another cornerstone in her healing, Marilyn developed her own support network, including her husband, her daughter, and the minister that first suspected the abuse and coaxed her into revealing it. “Victims need to speak the words,” she said. “People come to me and very often they are by Kathy Huff speechless because they have never told a soul. Some of them whisper in my ear, ‘my father’ or ‘my brother’ or ‘my mother.’ Even though many of them have read my book, they feel the need to look in my eyes and see for themselves that they can make it through the darkness, that they can find peace, that the night terrors and panic will end, if they are willing to do the work to heal.” It is Marilyn’s belief that all communities need to be protecting children now. “If we understand the long-term impact of child abuse, then we have to put our resources into prevention and intervention,” she said. The statistics are staggering. One in four girls experiences child abuse by the age of 18, and one in six boys. In Aiken County last year there were 302 suspected child abuse cases seen by the Child Advocacy Center. Eventually Marilyn became the whole woman she sought as a beacon during those days of physical debilitation and mental anguish. Currently, in addition to her demanding speaking career, she spends four to six hours a day emailing adults who turn to her for help to heal the trauma of their childhood abuse. (Visit www.missamericabyday. com to email Marilyn.) Today she is the role model countless people now turn to for hope. Marilyn Van Derbur Will Speak in Aiken in April On April 25, to support the Child Advocacy Center, Marilyn Van Derbur will speak at a luncheon in Aiken from 11:30 to 1:30 at the USCA Business and Education Building. Individual tickets are $25 each and can be purchased through the CAC (803-644-9165) or on the Center’s website, cacofaiken.org. Tables seat eight people and may be reserved for $200. Miss America by Day will be offered for sale before and after the luncheon ($20 by check or cash). It is the goal of 100 Women to lower the incidence of child abuse in Aiken and educate the community to prevent child abuse. A new program, 100 Women was recently launched by the Child Advocacy Center to gather and train 100 local supporters to become knowledgeable advocates in the community and financially support the Center by raising or donating $1,000 each. Women interested in joining this mission are encouraged to contact Gayle Lofgren, Executive Director of the Child Advocacy Center, at 803-644-5100. BELLA MAGAZINE APRIL 2012 by Betts Hunter Gatewood The Best Gift: A Stable, Secure Marriage For the past year this column has focused on ideas and theories for readers to consider as you raise your children. Some of you are married, some are single parents, and some are nurturing a blended family. There is certainly no one way to be a parent or a family. As our society continues to change, we are witnessing diverse patterns of healthy families. This month, however, I would like to focus on the traditional family of a father and mother and 2.5 children. Hopefully the rest of you can also gain some ideas to use. Sometimes we “marrieds” try so hard to be the perfect parent that we forget the person who made these children possible, our spouse. The best gift we can give our children is a stable, secure marriage. This takes time, energy, and attention to each other. A well-respected marriage counselor has said that we should spend at least 15 hours with our spouse each week to keep the romance alive. After all, when we were dating if we had not spent time together, each of us would have found someone else. Are our basic selves and needs that different now that we are parents? But, you ask, how in the world can I do that? Who is going to drive Mary to her music, soccer, tutoring, and vocal lessons each week? Who is going to cook the meals, wash the clothes, grocery shop, help with homework, bring home the paycheck, etc??? Who indeed? Every couple faces the same struggles to balance time and energy, and none of us would say it is easy. Important, yes. Easy, no. How then can it be done? Won’t this hurt our children if we spend less time with them? Down Memory Lane Think back to your own home as a child. What do you remember about your parents? Did they laugh together? Did they go out? Did they have time with each other when you were not included? How did this feel to you? This may help you get in touch with how your children perceive you and your spouse. Even though they do not verbalize it, they are constantly watching us, observing our moods, facial expressions, and actions. As they do this they are forming opinions about adult relationships, a family, and their place in it. Children need to sense the boundaries between their world and the adult world. They need to know they are not the center of the family, but their parents are. This gives them a sense of security. Children also need to contribute to the running of the household. They gain a sense of self-worth when others depend on them to do some of the chores. These two ideas may give you a starting point for prioritizing time with your spouse. Finding 15 Hours How can we find 15 hours a week? Let’s start with looking at all the time we waste using electronics and gadgets. Most of us could find at least an hour every day when we could trade that time for conversation and fun time with our spouse. How about a date night on the weekends? It doesn’t have to cost a lot to be meaningful time together. Finding hobbies you can share, taking walks, cooking together, and listening to favorite music or a book on CD are a few examples of meaningful ways to share time. While we are enjoying our spouses and securing our marriage for the future, what are our children doing? They are entertaining themselves, playing outside, adjusting to babysitters, making their own lunches, doing their own homework, etc. Are you beginning to see what is happening here? As you and your spouse make more time for each other, your children are becoming independent. When we look at the big picture of our parenting roles, isn’t this the bottom line – to raise independent, self-confident, productive citizens? So…let’s get organized, dole out the house chores, schedule some date nights and daily time with each other, and enjoy those 15 hours! You may find you’re having so much fun you will figure out how to raise it to 20 or more! BELLA MAGAZINE APRIL 2012 Betts Hunter Gatewood is a National Board Certified school counselor with 28 years’ experience in elementary and middle school counseling. She holds an EdS degree from USC and has authored or co-authored four books on school counseling strategies and activities. She and her husband are the proud parents of three adult children and have four granddaughters. 13 World Book Night Promises Books to Share “Spreading the love of reading, person to person.” In October of 2011, everyone in Aiken County had the opportunity to participate in Aiken’s Wild Read, a celebration of reading centered on Jack London’s novel The Call of the Wild. Now April brings another exciting reading opportunity. April 23 is the UNESCO International Day of the Book, chosen in honor of Shakespeare and Cervantes, who both died on April 23, 1616. It is also the anniversary of Shakespeare’s birthday. “There is a great deal of excitement about this opportunity to spread the love of reading and recognize the importance of reading in our community,” said Darlene Rittel, who was the first Book Giver to sign up in Aiken. In the Catalan region of Spain, the day is celebrated by giving a book and a flower to a loved one. Here in the USA, a coalition of authors, printers, and publishers, along with UPS, are sponsoring WORLD BOOK NIGHT U.S. on April 23. This celebration of reading and books will see tens of thousands of people share books with others in their communities across America to spread the joy and love of reading. The goal is “to get books in the hands of people who are underserved because of income or location or other reasons” according to Carl Lennertz, Director, WORLD BOOK NIGHT U.S. Boo… k! “It will be like Halloween on an intellectual level,” said Novelist Anna Quindlen, honorary chairwoman of World Book Night in the USA. This is an American expansion of the inaugural event in Great Britain – 20,000 volunteers gave away one million books in the UK and Ireland on March 5, 2011. From thousands of applications across the United States, the WORLD BOOK NIGHT U.S. Committee has selected several Book Givers in each of hundreds of participating communities. Book Givers have each chosen a favorite book (from a list of 30 books) and a preferred location for giving books away. Each Book Giver will receive a number of books to be distributed at the chosen location to young people and adults who probably do not read much and might be inspired to read more. These books will be special not-for-resale editions. Authors are forgoing royalties to make this possible, and American book publishers, the American Booksellers Association, Barnes and Noble, The American Library Association, The Association of American Publishers, Ingram Book Company, UPS, and a dozen printers and bookbinders have paid for the production and shipping. The books selected for this year’s distribution are chiefly award-winning contemporary books. Many are aimed at the young adult reader, but can be enjoyed by readers of all ages. Details of the 30 selected books and authors can be found at the WBN website, www.us.worldbooknight.org/wbn2012-the-books. by Judy Cross and Darlene Rittel, Guest Writers Aiken Distribution Centers Booklovers Bookstore at 1886 Huntsman Drive, Aiken, SC has been selected as a WBN Distribution Center. A reception for Book Givers will be held at Booklovers during the week of April 16. In addition, Booklovers and all of the other stores in the Country Square Shopping Center will be hosting the Country Square Book Festival and Open House on Saturday, April 21. Fran Bush, owner, noted that there will be activities and events for children and adults of all ages and invites the public to attend. Michael Swan, Library Manager of the Aiken County Public Library, expressed support and promotion of this event. Information about World Book Night will be provided in the library newsletter, including the distribution points. The staff will have a book display of the available selections so that patrons may easily peruse them. At the end of March, there were several Book Givers in Aiken County, representing woman’s clubs, book clubs, and Aiken Technical College. In addition, several other individuals and groups are planning to join in the event by donating books or reading to groups. The following sample of the WBN Book Givers illustrates the diversity of the titles to be given out, and the distribution sites. A nd the “Givers” Are … Dr. Darlene Rittel, a member of Aiken Woman’s Club, will be giving away The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot to patients at Dr. Judith Hoover’s office. Thomasina Hughey, Academic Coordinator and Instructor of Reading at Aiken Technical College, will be giving away I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings by poet/author Dr. Maya Angelou. Renee Beatty, educator, will also be distributing her free books at Aiken Technical College. The title she received is Just Kids by Patti Smith, a legendary American artist. Ellen Miller, another member of Aiken Woman’s Club, plans to distribute her selection, The Poisonwood Bible by Barbara Kingsolver to students at Aiken High School. Other individuals are also planning to participate on their own, and may be delivering some books to emerging reading groups at schools, or at senior citizen sites. For more information, go to www.us.worldbooknight.org/wbn2012-the-books, or e-mail april23@worldbooknight.org 100 Women Initiative Launched Shown with a poster advertising the Marilyn Van Derbur luncheon, the 100 Women Committee gathered recently at the home of Penny Rue to launch the new program. From left to right are Penny Rue, Neasey Greene, Leslie Alexander, Molly Hunt, Kathy Huff, Anne Laver, Mary Helen Simons, Kim Sawyer, and Gayle Lofgren, Executive Director of the Child Advocacy Center. (Absent are Kathy Reynolds and Angela Burkhalter.) Now in its formative stage, 100 Women is composed of women who will act as advocates in the community on behalf of the CAC. Each woman will support the Center’s efforts to reduce child abuse in the community and also donate or raise $1,000 each for financial support. As part of its outreach mission, the group has invited Marilyn Van Derbur, former Miss America and incest survivor, to speak about child abuse at a luncheon on April 25. See page 12 for more details. Women interested in becoming one of 100 Women should call Gayle Lofgren at the Child Advocacy Center, 803-644-5100. 14 BELLA MAGAZINE APRIL 2012 BELLA MAGAZINE APRIL 2012 15 Wolves: Big and Bad or Good and Noble? by Ann Dudley Holley I was shocked to see the false portrayal of wolves in Liam Neeson’s new movie The Grey, where wolves are more menacing than ever as they attack and kill the men Neeson’s character is protecting. The Hollywood thriller portrays the wolf in his natural habitat as the villain. This movie takes the big bad wolf folklore to new extremes. As I study children’s literature, I realize that wolves have long been maligned in stories and movies. Carter Niemeyer, a former Wolf Recovery Coordinator for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, is author of Wolfer (2010, BottleFly Press). About his authentic first-hand knowledge of wolves, he said, “From my experience, they’re curious, they’re cautious, they’re aloof, and they really don’t want anything to do with you.” In a recent interview he said, “Movies like The Grey are a retrogressive trend that threatens one of nature’s magnificent creatures.” It is curious to me, too, why Hollywood would portray an endangered species like the grey wolf as the enemy. It has been noted that many scientists have stated that there are no known instances of a healthy wolf attacking human beings. As long as there have been legends and stories, there have been tales about the big, bad wolf. Maybe early man feared this creature because the wolf is cunning and smart. Maybe the wolf appeared in ancient folklore simply to promote the idea to be cautious and not aggravate this powerful carnivore. Maybe the wolf and man were hunting the same game and man needed to overcome the wolf to survive. Maybe the wolf character was intended to draw the listener or reader in because he is such a fascinating, elusive foe. Whatever the reason, we are all familiar with tales depicting this big and bad wolf. The Little Red Riding Hood stories portray the antagonist wolf as evil. The oldest versions have the good woodcutter chopping the wolf open to release Grandmother, who survives. Thus, the dead wolf cannot return, and this satisfies a young reader’s understanding that the menace is gone. However, some sanitized versions depict the wolf running away. Modern children may not be satisfied with this ending because the bad guy in authentic folktales should be punished. 16 One of my favorite Little Red Riding Hood versions is Ed Young’s Lon Po Po (1989, Philomel Books). Young won the prized 1990 Caldecott Medal for his illustrations that compliment the text. This Chinese version has frightening images of the wolf, but the three young sisters do eventually outsmart and kill him. From studying the origins of this tale, it appears that the story originated to keep young, innocent girls from straying off the path of life while they mature. The story implicitly warns them to keep away from men who could harm (deflower) them. Thus, the big, bad wolf was a warning in ancient cultures for children to be aware of the dangers in the world. As I dissect the origins of folklore in my Children’s Literature classes at USCA, I make it clear that all of the wonderful stories have survived to make the learning lessons of life richer. I believe that the enchantment of fairy tales--with allusions that young girls should mind their parents and follow strict rules--is more appealing than just telling them to do so. Of the many Three Little Pigs and the Big, Bad Wolf versions, the Disney version and songs are most memorable. The wolf is doing what wolves do – eat meat but he is characterized as the villain again and is outsmarted by the smartest pig. Still, he is a force to be reckoned with. Margaret Wild’s modern science fiction children’s book Woolvs in the Sitee (2006, Front Street Press), is a dark, post-apocalyptic story filled with curiosity about who the “wolves” actually are. It is evident that they represent the sinister element threatening survivors in this strange, frightening world. The unconventional spelling of the text is written by Ben, who probably had a first grade education before the world changed. He is nine now, alone, and he writes: “These woolvs are hatefuls and hating. They spare no won.” Shadows of the wolves are seen everywhere, and Ben is terrified. The wolves in this story represent all the danger in this world. Again, the wolf is portrayed as the most evil of all dangers. But despite the numerous, more popular representations of the big bad wolf, not all stories are so clearly biased. Since the beginning of time people have looked at the wolf with awe, wonder, fear, and respect. Wolves have refined parental instincts and survival skills that show intelligence and a connection with nature. Even though there is a fear of wolves in Western literature, Native American Indians venerated the wolf and prayed for their hunting skills and courage. To be a descendant from the wolf spirit was an honor. Some Native Americans modeled hunting and gathering techniques from observing the wolf. We learn from their stories that the world must be listened to and respected, as should the wolf. Wolf Tales by Deborah Reade, (1992, Ancient City Press), contains wonderful wolf stories for young readers that infer how man must learn to live with these creatures and gain wisdom from them. This collection is from the oral tradition that was passed down orally for generations before being written down. Sioux and Cherokee stories detail how the wolves and humans lived and hunted together, and how man and creature were rewarded with a lifelong loyalty. The Native Americans’ deep respect for the wolf is embedded in these tales. We must not forget that Mowgli, in Rudyard Kipling’s Jungle Book, was raised by (good, honorable) wolves. He and the reader understand what it means to be part of a “pack”– something humans can identify with and associate with family. This positive portrayal gives readers a new vehicle to consider when analyzing wolves in literature. BELLA MAGAZINE APRIL 2012 Aesop’s famous fable The Boy Who Cried Wolf has been retold in countless volumes. This wolf is in his natural element and of course he wants to eat sheep. The Boy Who Cried Wolf, illustrated by Milo Winter in a 1919 Aesop anthology, (reprinted by Watchmaker Publishing, 2010), depicts the wolf in his natural habitat doing what he is supposed to do. The boy, not the wolf, is the menace in this story. The lesson is that if you lie, you will not be believed when you do tell the truth. Perhaps the wolf functions more as a device to capture the reader’s attention so that the lesson may be heard. Maybe wolves are in ancient tales because they are enchanting and elusive, a wonder of nature. Renowned author Seymour Simon is often called the “dean of children’s science writers” and has authored more than 250 science trade books. His Wolves (1993, Scholastic, Inc.) is replete with authentic photographs of North American wolves in their natural habitat. He says that wolves are one of nature’s most misunderstood creatures. Like Native American Indians, he believes that by learning more about the wolf in the natural BELLA MAGAZINE APRIL 2012 world, we can distinguish the real animal from the folktales. Simon shows that wolves are marvelous hunters and that they work in groups to catch their prey. He reasons that wolves in packs are friendly-they travel, hunt, eat, and play together. Wolves communicate by howling, which is their means to gather up the pack, give a warning, and also just for pleasure. It is their music. Wolves have always been fascinating to observe and study, and recently they have been reintroduced into Yellowstone National Park. Two summers ago, while I was hiking there with Aiken friends, we came upon two beautiful, majestic, healthy wolves. They paused, unthreateningly, to look at us. What an honor to glimpse them in their natural habitat. I believe that in nature the wolf is completely at home, and his true identity is revealed as sophisticated and intelligent. We should value and respect his place in the world. Knowing that wolves are falsely depicted in stories should not take away the enjoyment of Little Red Riding Hood, The Three Pigs, and the Twilight series with werewolves, or indeed, all of the tales where wolves are big and bad. These tales have lasted over eons of time and are part of our literary heritage. Young people who read Seymour Simon and other authors who reveal the true nature of wolves can critically discuss how they know the truth about real wolves. This still allows them to love and enjoy the big, bad wolf stories where wolves are misrepresented. It’s no wonder that for centuries in stories the wolf has been the villain– evil and feared. These ideas continue to fuel the imagination today. It is human nature to gravitate to the unknown, titillating side of a story to enrich one’s curiosity. Maybe we do know why the big, bad wolf tales survived and why Hollywood’s recent movie The Grey depicts wolves as big and bad–pure entertainment. It’s a human thing and wolves are just misunderstood. Ann Dudley Holley is a Senior Instructor in the School of Education at USCA and has been acknowledged by her students and colleagues for teaching excellence. Prior to her 22 years with USCA, she taught both elementary and middle school students. 17 Exploring the History of Aiken: Part III A series by Anna Boylston Dangerfield The Poliakoff Building The structure adjoining the Weeks building on the corner of Laurens Street and Park Avenue— across from the Morgan Fountain—has been referred to as the Poliakoff building. Although the builder of this brick mercantile design is unknown, it is believed to have been constructed in the late 1800s or early 1900s. Renovations and expansions eventually joined the Weeks and Poliakoff buildings, and today, Arthur “Buzz” Rich owns the property. The street level Park Avenue bays of the Poliakoff building were once used for offices and businesses, including tenants such as the City Barber Shop. Now, Nandina Home and Design occupies this ground floor. Over the years, the upstairs area has been used primarily for professional offices and continues to be used for office space. At the top of the steep stairs leading up from Park Avenue, a foyer opens into a suite of four offices and a conference room. A mural painted by an R. Worth decorates the foyer walls with scenes depicting both sides of Laurens Street. This area is currently subleased by Columbia Energy, a full service engineering firm focusing on the nuclear side. Kelly Hunter, manager of business development, says he enjoys working from this office because of its downtown accessibility. The original owner of this building is unknown at this time, and the connection with the Poliakoff family is not certain. A search of the deeds and records at the Registrar Mesne Conveyance showed that the Poliakoffs purchased property in Aiken at least as early as 1906, but determined no ownership of theirs in this building. However, at one time, the name of Poliakoff and Poliakoff appeared on the second floor windows and Park Avenue steps to advertise the law firm upstairs. people in a fair, courteous and efficient manner.” By the next year, he died in Baltimore as the result of an accident. He and his daughter, Gussie, had been passengers on the steamship City of Baltimore, which was heading from Baltimore, Maryland, to Norfolk, Virginia, on an overnight trip. The Park Avenue view of the northeast corner of Laurens Street and Park Avenue. (Courtesy of Susan French and the City of Aiken) the trustees who purchased the land for the Sons of Israel burial ground in Aiken’s Bethany Cemetery. This final resting place is chosen by members of both Aiken’s Jewish community and those from other cities because of the scarcity of Jewish cemeteries and the personal desire to be buried near relatives. On one of the supporting pillars of the arch leading into this section is a plaque that reads “In Memory of the Poliakoff Family.” According to Ed Poliakoff, “The plaque is there because Ben Poliakoff (one of the Anderson, SC brothers) initiated a family project that raised the money for the entrance gate.” The Poliakoffs Jacob S. Polikoff, one of the founders of Aiken’s Adath Yeshurun Synagogue. (Courtesy of Doris Baumgarten) steamship caught fire, burned in the Chesapeake Bay, and Jacob died as a result of burns; Gussie survived. Jacob and his wife, both from Russia, are buried in the Sons of Israel section of the Bethany Cemetery. The Polikoffs’ beautiful home still stands. This property, including an adjoining lot purchased by Julia Rebecca in 1926, was bought by Henderson Johnson and his late son Barry in 1982, for $56,250. They had formed the Johnson and Johnson law firm in 1980, which evolved into the law firm of Johnson, Johnson & Whittle. This firm continues to practice from the Polikoffs’ former home at 117 Pendleton Street. Bennett Poliakoff (Benet Polikoff) The Poliakoffs, or Polikoffs,* have made their homes in Aiken and South Carolina for many years. An interview with David and Sam Draisen published in The Jewish Heritage Collection of Oral Histories notes: “If you take a ruler from Aiken to Walhalla, and all along that area, there were little stores along the way. Abbeville, Walhalla, Anderson ... all those little places had little stores that the Poliakoffs lived in and ran.” Second cousins and spouses Sam and Rachel Leah Poliakoff were merchants in Aiken, then traveled to Laurens, Greenville, and Anderson, and opened dry goods stores. Other Poliakoffs made their homes in Abbeville, where the Poliakoff Department Store has operated for more than 100 years. Nathan and Moses were Aiken merchants, with Moses the owner of M. Poliakoff on Main Street. In 1913, an M. Poliakoff (Moses?) was one of Jacob S. Polikoff 18 Jacob S. Polikoff was a member of Aiken’s mercantile business community for 35 years and operated his store on Laurens Street. He was also an active member of the Jewish community and was one of the founders of Aiken’s Adath Yeshurun Synagogue. Fires were not an unusual occurrence in the early 1900s. The Journal and Review of June 1921 reported that Jacob’s “six-room residence on Greenville Street was destroyed by fire.” In less than a year, he and his family were happily “settled in their new two story brick home on Pendleton Street—12 rooms, 2 baths, 2 sleeping porches. It is quite modern and cost close to $10,000.” The lot had been purchased by his wife, Julia Rebecca, in 1907 for $605. In July 1936, Jacob was ready to retire and announced that he was going out of business. The local paper reported that “he has been serving the Benet Polikoff was the son of Jacob and Julia Rebecca. Born and reared in Aiken, he graduated from the USC law school and practiced in Winston-Salem. He appeared in the local newspaper along with one of his clients in November of 1954 regarding the Reynolds tobacco fortune. Ed Kenney’s column noted in The Aiken Standard and Review that Libby Holman planned to invest in Aiken: “She was the widow of the late tobacco millionaire Dick Reynolds, and had maintained a high profile since their marriage, and later after his death in Durham in the late 1930s. In the settlement following his death, Miss Holman was represented by Bennett Poliakoff and she was awarded about $8 million dollars, with a court directed fee of about $1 million for Bennett.” BELLA MAGAZINE APRIL 2012 When the Reynolds’ son died many years later, about 1953, Miss Holman “inherited a considerable sum” and Bennett Poliakoff was awarded “another big fee.” It was reported that Bennett, Miss Holman and two others joined forces to do business as Aiken Realty Company and purchased Aiken’s Parkview Hotel at the corner of Chesterfield Street The Parkview Hotel, which once stood at the corner of Park Avenue and Chesterfield Street. (Courtesy of Allen Riddick and the Aiken County Historical Museum) and Park Avenue. Perhaps some of the fee from his representation of Miss Holman provided the means to invest in his hometown. J. Manning Poliakoff While Benet may have been one of the wealthiest members of the Poliakoff family, lawyer J. Manning Poliakoff appears to have been one of the most colorful. Around the time he came to Aiken in the early 50s, J. Manning was making the pages of Life magazine. BELLA MAGAZINE APRIL 2012 “In Spartanburg County, where the Revolutionary War Battle of Cowpens was fought, Gen. Daniel Morgan is quite the hero. A large statue of him sits in the center of downtown, though he is buried in Winchester, Virginia, where he last lived. In 1951, Uncle Manning obtained an affidavit from a multi-great niece of General Morgan, authorizing the moving of his remains to Spartanburg County, where he would be more appreciated,” said J. Manning’s nephew, Gary Poliakoff. “Armed with the affidavit, Uncle Manning filed Court papers in Virginia, and travelled to Winchester with the Mayor of Cowpens and a Spartanburg undertaker to retrieve the remains. Life magazine covered the event. There was a large photo spread, including a large photo of Manning, the mayor and undertaker on one side of the grave, and several town fathers of Winchester on the other side, apparently arguing over the General. The General is still in Winchester today,” said Gary. J. Manning—who disliked his first name of Julian—practiced law in Aiken in the ‘50s and ‘60s, in both the Parkview Hotel and the Poliakoff building. Perhaps he was the one who painted Poliakoff and Poliakoff on the second floor windows of the building and on the narrow stairs leading up from Park Avenue to promote his law firm. J. Manning’s appearance of working solo in the law firm led one local citizen to believe that his pet monkey, and later his full-sized skeleton, practiced with him as “silent” partners. According to Andy Poliakoff, J. Manning’s nephew, “Poliakoff and Poliakoff was the name of the law firm in Spartanburg. Manning was the third brother to join, but they kept the name as it was. When Uncle Manning moved to Aiken, he decided to call his practice also by that name.” And a monkey and a skeleton? J. Manning was said to have kept a monkey in a cage in his office. When the monkey died, he obtained a full-sized skeleton and dragged it down Park Avenue, back and forth to the courthouse. Andy said the skeleton was purchased as a court room prop. “Back in the ‘50s, Uncle Manning didn’t have power points and computers, and modern ways of presenting evidence. The skeleton was a good demonstration for injury cases. I’ve been told that sometimes for fun, he would prop the skeleton up in the passenger seat of his car and drive around. Imagine the looks he got when pulling up at a red light alongside another car with the skeleton sitting beside him,” he continued. And the “Poliakoff building”? It’s possible that the Poliakoff reference is made not to any legal claim of the building, but refers both to the law firm and the colorful lawyer who entertained Aiken’s citizens by parading his court props up and down Park Avenue. *Poliakoff and Polikoff are both found as spellings in official records and newspapers. Signatures by Jacob S. Polikoff and his heirs were written as Polikoff, though newspapers and other documents used the Poliakoff spelling. Bennett Poliakoff was consistently found in the newspapers, while the spelling of his signature on official documents is Benet Polikoff. Unless found differently, the Poliakoff spelling was used. 19 Aiken Golf Club Celebrates a Century of Innovation, Sportsmanship and Stewardship 100 years. A century. There aren’t many things in America that last 100 years. All this year The Aiken Golf Club is celebrating 100 years of enjoyment of the great game of golf, and the many contributions it has made to the city. It’s good to be successful at the age of 100! It was a century ago that a group of local businessmen formed the Real Estate and Fidelity Company to develop a resort hotel with a golf course for winter guests in Aiken. They named the building The Highland Park Hotel after an older inn that was built on the same site in 1869-70 and destroyed by fire in 1898. The Highland Park Hotel The course opened in 1912 with 11 holes and was completed with a final seven (“the loop,” as it still exists today) in 1915. As with anything of value, many people and forces came together to create the emerald treasure in downtown Aiken that is now The Aiken Golf Club. It started with the Tufts family who owned and operated Pinehurst resort in North Carolina. A Necklace of Golf Courses The Tufts son, Leonard, became Federal Highway Commissioner and was instrumental in combining road, primarily the existing Atlantic Highway, into U.S. Highway 1, running from Key West to the Canadian border in Maine. The Tufts family had a vision of creating a ribbon of resorts from Pinehurst to Aiken and commissioned Leonard’s friend and Hall of Fame golf architect, Donald Ross, to design a necklace of golf courses along the road. Ross probably laid out, or routed, what became the Highland Park Golf Club in 1905. But the great man became so busy that he assigned his assistant, John Inglis, to finish the design in 1915. As a founding member of the PGA and summer professional at Fairview Country Club in Elmsford, N.Y., where he worked with Ross, Inglis had many famous students and friends. In Aiken he was often visited by former pupils, such as U.S. Open Champion Chick Evans and the seven 20 famed Turnesa brothers from Elmsford, near the Connecticut border. Women’s Tees Begin in Aiken May Dunn, the first female golf professional in the U.S., also visited here. On her recommendation, Inglis built the first ladies’ tees in America at Highland Park. Women would find more inclusion at Highland Park in the future. Under Inglis’ leadership, the course became a cultural center in Aiken during the Roaring Twenties. Most notable of Inglis’ many innovations was the Women’s’ Invitational Tournament, held in 1937, ‘38 and ‘39. The tournament brought the likes of Babe Didrikson Zaharias, later voted the Best Female Athlete of the First Half Century (1900s) and considered by many to be the greatest female athlete in American history. Other great golfers, such as Patty Berg and Helen Detwiller, also played the course. The pioneers of the Ladies Professional Golf Tour (LPGA) had a home at The Aiken Golf Club. The stock market crash of 1929 changed forever the history of the golf course at the Highland Park Hotel. The hotel struggled following the Great Depression until it was torn down in 1941. The golf course was able to survive due to the efforts of the city government. Joe Frasca, who had been an assistant to Inglis, took over the duties as head professional. The course was made public, becoming The Aiken Golf Club and a new era began for the course. by Stephen Delaney Hale White, a former PGA Tour player and a 1935 and 1936 Masters Tournament player, became the club’s professional in 1951. White ran the tournament for nine years and gave many fine players their start in the game. The City of Aiken decided to sell the course in 1959 due to the lack of funds to operate it properly, according to current owner, James McNair, Jr. His father, James McNair, Sr., had been a renowned amateur golfer and frequented the club. Among other great achievements, McNair, Sr., never lost a match in two years as captain of the Duke University golf team, winning the Southern Conference (precursor of the Atlantic Coast Conference) championship both years. McNair, Sr., won several important amateur championships before turning professional and was a 43-year member of the PGA. Jim McNair, Sr., Buys the Golf Course In 1947, Jim McNair, Sr., shot a 58 at Highland Park, still the course record. He had made many trips to Aiken to visit relatives, including his cousin James McNair who was president of the Farmers and Merchants Bank (now the Bank of America location). McNair knew the City’s lease would be up in 1959 and he moved to Aiken to buy the course. He changed its name to Highland Park Country Club. From Private to Public Ownership The city purchased the course in 1939, changed its name to the Aiken Municipal Golf Course, and operated it until 1959. During those 20 years, golf professionals Mike Lucas and Orville White carried on the tradition of teaching and promoting golf in Aiken. Lucas founded the Tri-States Open at the club in 1946 for the best golfers of Georgia, North Carolina and South Carolina, and ran it until he went to the prestigious Greenville Country Club in 1949. Robert W. “Bobby” Knowles, Jr., of Aiken, was the first champion of the event. Knowles, headquartered on the other side of Hitchcock Woods at Palmetto Golf Club, played in The Masters as an amateur in 1950 and 1951. The TriStates tournament ran for 16 years, drawing PGA players such as Julius Boros, Johnny Palmer and P.J. Boatwright. Boros, a future PGA Championship winner and perennial Masters contestant, collected his first professional check at the Tri-States Open. Patty Berg and Babe Didrikson Zaharias McNair, Sr., brought the course in step with the times. He added a pool and hosted many club functions that provided an environment where families were welcome. He taught many juniors to play and love the game. The legacy of the course and McNair’s influence can be seen in the number of successful professionals he trained here. He retired in 1987 and handed the course over to his son, James McNair, Jr. Jim, Jr., would be faced with an increase in the number of area courses and a lack of irrigation. The layout was great, but the old infrastructure was not maintainable by market standards. It was time to rebuild the facility from the ground up. Construction began in 1997, and the work BELLA MAGAZINE APRIL 2012 Jim McNair, Jr.’s vision for The Aiken Golf Club’s future is to provide a golfing experience for its members and guests that is reminiscent of a time when the game was appreciated for its Scottish traditions. Jim, Jr., hopes his legacy will be that the Scottish “Ross” has been brought back to The Aiken Golf Club. Jim McNair, Jr. Pays Tribute to the Club’s Centennial December 31, 2011 The McNairs— Jim, Sr., Jim, III, and Jim, Jr. was completed in the fall of 1999, when Jim, Jr., renamed the course The Aiken Golf Club. Accolades Abound His tireless efforts have paid off with enthusiastic national recognition for the great old course. Golf Digest named Aiken Golf Club among its Best Places to Play in the Nation in 2008, Palmetto Golfer named it among the Top 9 Most Underrated Courses in South Carolina in 2011 and Golfweek magazine named it among the Best Courses You Can Play in both 2011 and again in 2012. This past January, Jim, Jr., and his wife Vicki were presented with the Stewardship Award by the Historic Aiken Foundation “in recognition of outstanding upkeep of a key historic property in Aiken.” Centennial Celebration Begins in May Jim invites everyone to join in the club’s centennial celebration all year long, but especially during three special tournaments this year. The City of Aiken Championship is to be played on the weekend following Labor Day and the historic renewal of the Ladies Hickory Shafted Golf Tournament comes in November, for the third year. The real birthday party, though, will be Saturday and Sunday May 19 and 20, during The McNair Cup with a celebration open to the public on Friday evening at Legends restaurant above the pro shop. BELLA MAGAZINE APRIL 2012 In 2012, The Aiken Golf Club will accomplish a milestone by entering her 100th year. I will celebrate this achievement; I will congratulate her onher longevity. I will also pause to reflect and remember the journey she has taken. The Highland Park Hotel golf course, the Aiken Municipal golf course, and the Highland Park Country Club are yes, the same wonderful course we know today as The Aiken Golf Club. I’m also proud to call her a survivor. Our Club has braved two World wars, the Great Depression, natural disasters, and most recently the real estate crash that has thousands of golf courses nationwide teetering on insolvency. We have not survived because of good fortune or luck. The Aiken Golf Club is a story of perseverance, struggle, dedication, determination, and leadership. I wish I had known Mr. John R. Inglis. His contributions over his 24-year tenure as our golf professional from 1915 to 1939 are legendary. He served as the co-designer, builder, teacher, club maker, golf promoter, and guided the Club through the Depression years. Mr. Joe Frasca championed major improvement projects in the 1940’s; Orville White brought notoriety to our Club as one of South Carolina’s greatest players in the 1950’s. Each of these special men steered our Club through four decades; each were leaders that shared a common bond: They dedicated their lives to their craft and we still benefit from their stewardship today. In 1959, a talented young golf professional named James McNair, Sr. realized his lifelong dream to own a golf course. His passion to teach, his embracing smile, and his welcoming demeanor endeared him to so many who were fortunateenough to know him during his 27 years “behind the counter” and on the course. I become emotional when I recall vivid childhood memories of my first introduction into the life that my father led, and the hardships he overcame seemingly on a daily basis. At age 8, my father bestowed upon me the job of “irrigation engineer”—a title which had no meaning to me, but I soon realized what an important position I held. The irrigation system in 1965 consisted of 18 hoses and sprinklers, one at each green. I can still feel the cool, wet grass under my bare feet as I ran from his pickup truck to position the sprinklers with his headlights illuminating my way. I soon became so proficient at my task I needed no instructions from my father as to their proper placement on each green. Unknowingly, a lifelong bond was being forged with my father that only strengthened as the years passed. We were like two soldiers, side-by-side, battling to save our turf. Today, a keystroke on my computer signals irrigation heads to water anytime, anywhere I need. I look back and marvel at where we have been, and I prepare myself for the challenges that I know lie ahead. The hardships and sacrifices that have been made over the last 100 years will never quite balance out on a list of pros and cons, but those special moments alone at dusk watching the mist of the irrigation reflect in the sunset give me a quiet satisfaction that my father and I have played a small part in “her” survival. Happy 100th birthday to The Aiken Golf Club! Sincerely, Jim McNair, Jr. 21 Heroes for the American Red Cross by Anna Dangerfield T he Heroes for the American Red Cross is a “grassroots” campaign in which individuals, corporations and organizations raise money or personally donate to the Red Cross. The national standard is $1,000 to be designated as a Hero, but the Aiken County Chapter requires $1,250. “On an average, that’s what it costs our chapter to assist a family of four following a local disaster such as a house fire,” said Lindsay Findley, Executive Director of the American Red Cross Aiken County Chapter. “Our goal this year is $75,000.” Donations provide immediate assistance for families after a disaster. The American Red Cross Aiken County Chapter is in the Columbia Region which serves Aiken, Allendale, Bamberg, Barnwell, Edgefield, Newberry and Saluda. More than half of the services are provided in Aiken County alone. Heroes Raise Money Heroes may involve friends, family and co workers in their money raising efforts, or they may give an outright donation. Some organize spaghetti dinners, garage sales or bake sales to meet their goals. “Over time, many individuals and businesses choose to write a check for the entire amount rather than go out and fundraise,” Lindsay said. advertising for the campaign. “We try to give back to Aiken, because Aiken blesses us so much in our business,” Craig said. “After talking with Lindsay, we wanted to give. The Red Cross is passionate in helping others in need and does a good job. So we wanted to help, too.” Betty and Greg Ryberg are also Heroes and approached their giving with the military as their focus. “The Red Cross cuts through red tape so the military people who are serving this country have no difficulties in making connections if there is a need,” Betty said. “A loved one, a friend, and a family member can contact the Red Cross, and it is handled so beautifully and seamlessly. Can you imagine if there were a crisis and all that had to be done was to make ONE phone call! The American Red Cross has made that available so that across the continents, even in battle zones, the authority and the credibility of the Red Cross are recognized by our government and their requests are respected. It means a lot to all who serve.” Country Club work together to provide a fun day for the golfers and to raise money. Houndslake Country Club General Manager Jeff Howell said, “We’ve been hosting the tournament for about five or six years. We look forward to it, and enjoy seeing about 50 middle and high school players and their parents who follow them. It’s a really special day. The Red Cross raises a lot of money and does a lot of the work.” Lindsay agrees. “Houndslake does a great job. The golf outing is another mechanism for our Board members and staff to go out and secure additional donations at a wider giving range. It also raises awareness about the Disaster Relief Program. Board members drive teams around, and golfers enjoy a boxed lunch, picnic dinner and an awards ceremony with door prizes and recognitions of sponsors and winners,” she said. Jeff added, “While some of the golfers shoot well, some do not finish the round. But that doesn’t matter, because it’s a fun day for everyone. Houndslake has a track record of helping kids in the community, because we want to make a difference. We offer the First Tee program, junior clinics and Safety Day uniting kids with members of the Aiken Public Safety teams, in addition to the Heroes Jr. Golf Outing.” While the funds raised Butch Rachal She recalls that one local supporter raised money at her dentistry practice using creative ideas such as posting a “no cavity board” for children who were cavity free and making a donation in their honor. Aiken Pest Control is a member of the Heroes. Co-owner Craig Heath made a larger donation to make sure his company would not only support the services the Aiken County Chapter provides but also support the printing and Social Media Connects Some Heroes use social media to connect with churches and high schools and to issue challenges to Facebook friends. The Aiken County Chapter can even set up an online “Team Raiser” thermometer for individuals or groups. Found on its current Facebook page is a competition between the Aiken County Chapter Administrative Volunteers versus Disaster Volunteers versus Youth Board Volunteers for Heroes fundraising. The annual Heroes Jr. Golf Outing, which benefits the Disaster Relief Program, will signify the end of this year’s Heroes campaign. It will be held on May 28. The Red Cross and Houndslake 22 BELLA MAGAZINE APRIL 2012 through the Heroes campaign are important, so are the volunteers who help distribute those donations. Red Cross Volunteer Butch Rachal said, “At the Red Cross, we have a disaster action team. When something happens, like a fire, we hear about it usually from the first responders. We provide the disaster victims with money to stay in a hotel, and to replace some food, clothes, and shoes—enough to get the family by for about three days.” They also make referrals to other community agencies like ACTS. “Fires are the most frequent problems,” Butch said. “We respond to several a month. We also respond to tornadoes like those in the valley a few years ago. We opened a shelter there, and also have shelters from Barnwell to Aiken and have identified schools that can open in hurricanes. People can stay in some of the shelters as long as they need.” What led Butch to volunteer? “An article in the paper reported a class on mass care offered by the Red Cross in Aiken. I took the class about two or three years ago and learned how to get involved,” he said. Teen Calls for Help Perhaps he was one of the ones who helped the Menefee family not long ago. An electrical problem caused the fire that burned down the Menefee’s Ridge Spring house on New Year’s Day. However, it wasn’t father, Terry, or mother, Belinda, who contacted the Aiken County Chapter. It was their 13-year-old son Daniel who reached out for help. BELLA MAGAZINE APRIL 2012 “I had to make a stop at Walmart and left Daniel in the car,” Terry said. “When I returned, he told me that we needed to go to the Red Cross. All of the credit goes to Daniel for contacting them.” “We were staying at the Daniel Menefee Quality Inn and the lady at the hotel is a Red Cross volunteer,” Daniel said. “She told me about it, gave me the number and said they’d set up an appointment. Later, I called them. Dad and I went and talked with the man there who asked us about the house and other general questions. He gave us afghans and a debit card with $400 to use for food and things we needed. We bought bedding with it because we were about to find a rental place.” There was even one extra donation that the Aiken Middle School student and his family received that day. “The wife of that Red Cross volunteer works at O’Charley’s restaurant, and they gave us a free dinner,” Daniel said. Daniel learned early in life what many in Aiken and across the nation already know. “The Red Cross is a very helpful organization, and they do a good service,” he said. “They are very kind and charitable people.” According to Lindsay, “Supporters of our Heroes campaign are among the most valuable Red Cross disaster partners. Financial contributors through this campaign empower the American Red Cross Aiken County Chapter to help minimize damage, calm fears, and provide hope in the wake of a disaster. They are proactive individuals, corporations and organizations that understand proper supplies and systems must be in place well before any emergency response can be activated. They are our partners who want the community to be safe. We could not fulfill our mission if it were not for the Heroes in our community.” RED CROSS HEROES JR. GOLF OUTING The Heroes Jr. Golf Outing will be held on Memorial Day Monday, May 28, 2012 at Houndslake Country Club. Sponsorship levels from $100 to $5,000 are still available. Further information about the Heroes for the American Red Cross campaign or the Heroes Jr. Golf Outing may be obtained at the American Red Cross Aiken County Chapter, 1314 Pine Log Road, Aiken, SC 29803 or by calling 803-641-4152. 23 Treat the Earth Well by Phyllis Maclay “Treat the earth well: it was not given to you by your parents, it was loaned to you by your children. We do not inherit the Earth from our Ancestors; we borrow it from our Children.” Ancient Indian proverb It was April 22, 1970 when the first Earth Day was set aside with hopes of making people aware that it had become critical for populations to implement changes in the use of Earth’s natural resources. Rivers were dirty from unregulated industrial dumping, smog choked major cities, and large engine sedans chugged leaded gas. U.S. Senator Gaylord Nelson, the “Father of Earth Day,” wanted to grab the attention of politicians about the world using up Earth’s resources mindlessly. “The wealth of the nation is its air, water, soil, forests, minerals, rivers, lakes, oceans, scenic beauty, wildlife habitats …That’s all there is,” Nelson wrote. It was 20 years before the second Earth Day was observed. Gathered at the Mall in Washington DC., Americans listened to musicians sing about nature while celebrities gave public speeches urging everyone to recycle. Conservation groups warned about the shrinking rain forests, which could lead to disaster in many parts of the Earth. Today Earth Day is the perfect time to make a personal commitment to help conserve and restore the environment. One billion people in 180 countries will celebrate Earth Day. From recycling to petitioning to save endangered animals, global programs will focus on the future of our planet. I do not think the measure of a civilization is how tall its buildings of concrete are, But rather how well its people have learned to relate to their environment and fellow man. Sun Bear of the Chippewa Tribe Arbor Day Was First When pioneer J. Sterling Morton moved to the wide plains of the Nebraska Territory in the mid 1800s, he discovered the prairies were hostile to crops because the hot winds blew across the treeless land. His success at planting trees inspired an idea when he became Secretary of the Territory; he had people save April 10 as the day to plant trees. Nebraskans liked the idea so much they planted one million trees the first Arbor Day. Today all 50 states celebrate Arbor Day, choosing their own date according to their climate. South Carolina’s Arbor Day is the first Friday in December. “Arbor Day is not like other holidays,” said Morton. “Each of these reposes on the past, but Arbor Day preposes the future.” We must protect the forests for our children, grandchildren and children yet to be born. We must protect the forests for those who can't speak for themselves such as the birds, animals, fish and trees. Qwatsinas (Hereditary Chief Edward Moody), Nuxalk Nation Apples, Apes, and Oceans Jonathan Chapman was, in a way, a pioneer of Earth Day. Born in Massachusetts in 1774, this adventurous man with a gentle spirit took apple seeds from cider presses in Pennsylvania and grew nurseries in the newly opened lands of Ohio, Indiana, and Illinois. The tart, green apple from the Rambo trees that he planted were good for hard cider and apple jack. People grew to love this American Indian Wisdom man dedicated to growing trees, who wore a tin pan like a hat, and dubbed him Only after the last tree has been cut down, “Johnny Appleseed.” Only after the last river has been poisoned, Later, across the sea in France, filmmaker Only after the last fish has been caught, Jacques Cousteau made more than 115 TV Only then will you find that movies and documentaries, many of them about money cannot be eaten. the ocean he fell in love with. He was inspired to tell the world about the delicate universe of the sea, and the danger it was faced with because of pollution and man’s imprint. Cousteau remodeled an old ship and named her Calypso. Just the Facts, Ma’am He sailed her from 1950-1997, constantly filming Here are some eco eye-openers: and bringing the depths of the ocean into homes • Recycling one aluminum can saves enough energy to across the world. Cousteau developed special gear so he was able to film for watch a TV for three hours. longer stretches of time under water, and called it Self-contained Underwater • Recycling all newspapers would save about 250 million trees each year. Breathing Apparatus – or SCUBA equipment. In 1974 Cousteau started a U.S. • The average American discards about four pounds of garbage daily. based organization whose purpose was to protect the Earth and her seas. In • Each gallon of gas releases 20 pounds of carbon dioxide 1994 he successfully stopped mineral exploitation for 50 into the environment. years in pristine Antarctica. The Calypso sank in Singapore • The batteries we toss out make up 88 % of the mercury and after being rammed in 1996. It was raised and pumped dry 54 % of the cadmium deposited into landfills. in January, 1997. Cousteau died shortly thereafter, but his • 14 billion pounds of trash are dumped into the oceans annually. books and documentaries live on to remind us to care for Plastic bags and other plastic garbage kill as many as 1 million the sea he loved. sea creatures. • Each year Americans throw out 16 million diapers, 220 million car tires, 2 billion razor blades, and 1.6 billion pens. 24 BELLA MAGAZINE APRIL 2012 Another of Earth’s champions traveled from the U.S. to study the great apes in Rwanda. Born in 1932, Dian Fossey wanted to study these amazing gorillas in Africa. After arriving she found herself huddling alone in the rain, in the middle of dense trees, miles from any humans as she tracked a group of silverbacks. She felt a warm arm reach around her, patting her head. The surprised woman looked into the dark, warm eyes of the gorilla she had named “Digit” as he continued to pat her and pull her close, creature and human cuddling in the driving rain together. Fossey’s purpose for being in Africa changed when she discovered her beloved Digit has been brutally killed by poachers, who sold his head and feet to Westerners as trophies. Fossey learned that this was increasingly becoming a disaster for the great apes, and often baby gorillas were kidnapped for displays in zoos. She knew the price for this was terrific, for gorillas fight to their deaths to defend their young. So many adults were shot in the taking of the small ones that the population of the Mountain Gorillas decreased right in front of her eyes. Unfortunately, Fossey was murdered in her own cabin. At first her death was blamed on poachers, but it was later believed she was killed for her stance against poaching by political leaders. Her death remains unsolved, but her work brought to light the plight of the animals she loved. Lost Love As American Indians were driven from their homeland, as they watched the land they loved and revered being taken and changed, despair filled their hearts not only for the loss they suffered, but for the destruction of the Earth. The American Indian had a love affair with nature the white man didn’t understand. It is good to think of them and let their words remind us about the limited and sacred Earth we have been careless about tending. May Chief Seattle’s words be an inspiration for us as we observe Earth Day Every part of this earth is sacred to my people. Every shining pine needle, every sandy shore, every mist in the dark woods, every clearing and humming insect is holy in the memory and experience of my people. The sap which courses through the trees carries the memories of the red man ...We are part of the earth and it is part of us. The perfumed flowers are our sisters; the deer, the horse, the great eagle, these are our brothers. The rocky crests, the juices in the meadows, the body heat of the pony, and man—all belong to the same family. BELLA MAGAZINE APRIL 2012 The rivers are our brothers, they quench our thirst… The air is precious to the red man for all things share the same breath, the beast, the tree, the man; they all share the same breath. The white man does not seem to notice the air he breathes. ..The wind that gave our grandfather his first breath also receives his last sigh. … What is man without the beasts? If all the beasts were gone, man would die from a great loneliness of the spirit. For whatever happens to the beasts, soon happens to man. All things are connected. Teach your children that we have taught our children that the earth is our mother. Whatever befalls the earth befalls the sons of earth. If men spit upon the ground, they spit upon themselves. This we know; the earth does not belong to man; man belongs to the earth. This we know. All things are connected like the blood which unites one family. All things are connected. … The earth is precious to Him, and to harm the earth is to heap contempt on its creator. ..we do not understand when the buffalo are all slaughtered, the wild horses are tamed, the secret corners of the forest heavy with the scent of many men and the view of the ripe hills blotted by talking wires. Where is the thicket? Gone. Where is the eagle? Gone. The end of living and the beginning of survival… Humankind has not woven the web of life. We are but one thread within it. Whatever we do to the web, we do to ourselves… Man does not weave this web of life. He is merely a strand of it. Whatever he does to the web, he does to himself. Chief Seattle, Chief of the Suquamis Endangered Animals Rhino Polar bear California condor (under 350) Tiger Pacific walrus Mountain gorillas (under 400) Magellanic penguin Snow leopard Crested ibis (under 250) Leatherback turtle Bluefin tuna Hawaiian monk seal 25 Celebrating Women All Year Long March was Women’s History Month, and women were honored all month long. At Wayne’s Automotive and Towing Center, women are celebrated throughout the entire year because women are decision makers. The company is “Certified Female Friendly,” and they went to great lengths to achieve this certification through the AskPatty Program. “With most household decisions being made by women, my wife and I wanted our female customers to understand and feel comfortable with the service and repairs being done on their vehicles,” stated Jeff Corbett, owner of Wayne’s. “We believe every woman should understand the process that we perform in doing a courtesy safety check on their vehicles, so they can make good decisions about the repairs or maintenance needed. We believe the AskPatty.com Certified Female Friendly program is the perfect fit for the type of service we like to provide.” The company hosts two car care clinics per year titled Heels on Wheels. The purpose of these car care clinics is to teach women how to properly care for their vehicles and to know what to ask. Heels on Wheels allows women to learn about how to care for their cars in a “Certified Female Friendly Environment.” The women head straight into the shop, and the ASE certified technicians cover topics including vital fluids, check engine and service lights, battery cables and alternator testing, changing a tire, and visibility aids. The information is explained in a laid back environment allowing women to ask questions and understand more about their vehicles. “A well-maintained vehicle is safer and more dependable,” says Jeff Corbett. “In addition it is worth more at trade-in by Rebecca Head time. That is why we want women to understand more about their cars, the benefits of having them properly maintained, as well as the warning signs of compromised systems and components.” The next Heels on Wheels car care clinic will be held on Saturday, April 14th from 11 am to 1 pm at Wayne’s Automotive and Towing Center. The event includes five informational stations, lunch, door prizes, and free vehicle inspections. The event fills up fast so it is best to make reservations early by calling Wayne’s at (803) 649-0228. The cost for the event is $5 per person. A former participant of the clinc and a Wayne’s customer commented, “You can trust them, they treat you like family, and they’re very female friendly.” As a NAPA Auto Care Center and a AAA approved auto repair and towing center, Wayne’s Automotive follows a strict code of ethics so customers will know, up front, what to expect. As part of this code, they pledge to perform high-quality diagnostic and repair services at a fair price, using quality NAPA parts employing ASE-certified technicians in all areas of work performed. Wayne’s is dedicated to customer satisfaction and offers 24-hour towing and roadside assistance. Wayne’s Automotive & Towing Center is located at 1997 Richland Avenue East. For more information, call 803.649.0228 or find them on the web at www.waynesautomotivecenter.com as well as on Facebook. The ONLY Full-time Pain Center in Aiken! • • • • • • • • Flexible Scheduling Board Certified Physicians • On-Site Diagnostic Center Interventional, Non-Surgical Approach MRI, EMG, EEG, Fluoroscopy • Sleep Center Headache Center Massage Therapy • TMJ Treatment Advanced Radio Frequency & Spinal Cord Stimulation Headaches, Neck Pain, Back Pain, and ALL Pain Syndromes William E. Durrett, Jr., M.D. 410 University Parkway • Suite 2360 Aiken, SC 29801 Call (803) 642-6500 for appointments! www.aikenpain.com 26 BELLA MAGAZINE APRIL 2012 BELLA MAGAZINE APRIL 2012 27 The Flyin g Fo ie od s n u B s s o r C t o H Easter, like most holidays, has its food traditions. Two of those are dyed eggs and hot cross buns. Hot cross buns are made from a rich yeast dough containing flour, milk, sugar, butter, eggs, currants, and spices, such as cinnamon, nutmeg, allspice, and cloves. Traditionally eaten on Good Friday, they are marked on top with a cross, either cut in the dough, or with strips of pastry, or piped with a thick icing. Any way you finish them, your family is sure to enjoy them as they remind us of the nursery rhyme that is synonymous with this sweet treat. by Chef Belinda “Hot cross buns! Hot cross buns! One a penny, two a penny - Hot cross buns! If you have no daughters, Give them to your sons. One a penny, Two a penny - Hot Cross Buns!” Hot Cross Buns Yield: 12-14 buns DOUGH 1/4 cup rum or apple juice 1/2 cup mixed dried fruit 1/2 cup raisins or dried currants 1 1/4 cups milk, room temperature 2 large eggs 1 egg yolk, save white for later use 6 tablespoons butter, room temperature *2 teaspoons instant yeast 1/4 cup light brown sugar, firmly packed 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves or allspice 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg 1 3/4 teaspoons salt 1 tablespoon baking powder 4 1/2 cups unbleached all-purpose flour * Not to be confused with dry active yeast. Instant yeast is mixed in with all of the other dry ingredients and does not require proofing (mixing with water) 28 TOPPING 1 large egg white, reserved from Dough Recipe 1 tablespoon milk ICING 1 cup + 2 tablespoons confectioners’ sugar ½ teaspoon vanilla extract Pinch of salt 4 teaspoons milk, or enough to make a thick icing, capable of piping Lightly grease a 10" square pan or 9" x 13" pan. Mix the rum or apple juice with the dried fruit and raisins, cover with plastic wrap, and microwave briefly, just till the fruit and liquid are very warm, and the plastic starts to “shrink wrap” itself over the top of the bowl. Set aside to cool to room temperature. [Note: If you worry about using plastic wrap in your microwave, simply cover the bowl with a glass lid.] When the fruit is cool, mix together all of the dough ingredients except the fruit, and knead, using an electric mixer or bread machine, till the dough is soft and elastic. Mix in the fruit and any liquid not absorbed. Let the dough rise for 1 hour, covered. It should become puffy, though may not double in bulk. Divide the dough into billiard ball-sized BELLA MAGAZINE APRIL 2012 pieces, about 3 3/4 ounces each. A heaped muffin scoop (about 1/3 cup) makes about the right portion. You’ll make 12 to 14 buns. Use your greased hands to round them into balls. Arrange them in the prepared pan. Cover the pan, and let the buns rise for 1 hour, or until they’ve puffed up and are touching one another. While the dough is rising, preheat the oven to 375°F. Whisk together the reserved egg white and milk, and brush it over the buns. Bake the buns for 20 minutes, until they’re golden brown. Remove from the oven, and transfer to a rack to cool. Mix together the icing ingredients, and when the buns are completely cool, pipe icing in a cross shape atop each bun. Using Natural Dyes to Color Easter Eggs Color Desired Lavender Small quantity of purple grape juice Violet blossoms plus 2 tsp. lemon juice Red Zinger tea Violet Blue Violet blossoms Small quantity of red onion skins (boiled) Hibiscus tea Red wine Blue Canned blueberries Red cabbage leaves (boiled) Purple grape juice Green Spinach leaves (boiled) Liquid chlorophyll Greenish Yellow Yellow Delicious apple peels (boiled) Yellow Orange or lemon peels (boiled) Carrot tops (boiled) Celery seed (boiled) Ground cumin (boiled) Ground turmeric (boiled) Chamomile tea Green tea Golden Brown Dill seeds Brown Strong coffee Instant coffee Black walnut shells (boiled) Black tea Orange Yellow onion skins (boiled) Cooked carrots Chili powder Paprika Pink Beets Cranberries or juice Raspberries Red grape juice Juice from pickled beets If it is a tradition in your home to dye eggs for Easter, you may want to try these natural dyes versus the store-bought coloring kits. The colors will be more vibrant; and you won’t have to worry about the ingredients in the synthetic dyes. To save time, boil the eggs and dyes together. 1. Place the eggs in a single layer in a pan. Add water until the eggs are covered. 2. Add approximately one teaspoon of white distilled vinegar. 3. Add the natural dye ingredient. Use more dye material for more eggs or for a more intense color. 4. Bring water to a boil. 5. Reduce heat and simmer for 15 minutes. 6. If you are pleased with the color, remove the eggs from the liquid. 7. If you want more intensely colored eggs, temporarily remove the eggs from the liquid. Strain the dye through a coffee filter (unless you want speckled eggs). Cover the eggs with the filtered dye and let them remain in the refrigerator overnight. Naturally-colored eggs will not be glossy, but if you want a shiny appearance you can rub a bit of cooking oil onto the eggs once they are dry. BELLA MAGAZINE APRIL 2012 Choose one option in each color category to get the desired result Belinda Smith-Sullivan is a food writer, personal chef, and pilot who enjoys exploring the “off the beaten path” culinary world. Her love of cooking and entertaining motivated her to give up a corporate career to pursue a degree in Culinary Arts from Johnson & Wales University. Now living in Aiken, she currently markets her own spice line called Chef Belinda Spices. Visit her blog at www.flyingfoodie. blogspot.com. 29 by Kathy Huff Call it a personal tune-up to celebrate Earth Day. Detoxifying our own body is just as important as detoxing Earth itself. Whole industries have grown up around body detoxification, including specialties dealing with heavy metals, pesticides, plastic particles, fireretardant chemicals and many other residues of modern life that contribute to environmental disease. The body has its own natural healing system that works when we are kind to it—that is, eating healthy foods, exercising, going easy on salt and sugar, and practicing effective methods of de-stressing to maximize response to the demands of daily existence. However, many of us go into toxin-overload and suffer physically from the inability to rid ourselves of the substances slowing down our normal health processes. Natural ways to purify our bodies include fasting to rest the organs; refueling the body with healthy food choices, stimulating the liver to drive toxins from the body by giving up caffeine and sugar and chocolate; promoting healthy elimination through the intestines, kidneys and skin by drinking plenty of water and eating lots of fiber, and improving circulation of the blood through exercise, lots of water, massage, manual lymph drainage therapy, eating properly and “shaking it up” with rebounding physical therapy and vibrating for 10 minutes at 30Hz or 50Hz, such as the oscillating plates on the whole body vibration machines at Shake It Off Fitness and Wellness Center, 230 Silver Bluff Road. In addition, the Center offers an infrared sauna that detoxes the entire body. Detoxification is recommended by some professionals at least once a year. (Nursing mothers, children and patients with chronic degenerative diseases, cancer or tuberculosis should consult their health care practitioners beforehand.) There are many methods, including cleansing supplemental packages with nutrients, fasting with juices only, water-only diets one day a week, and also using specific equipment designed to extract toxins from the body. An ionic footbath is a modern energy therapy device that balances the body’s natural energy system. Soaking feet in a special basin with warm water with an ionic charge draws out heavy metals and other harmful toxins that accumulate in the body on a cellular level. “Detoxification is essential for our health, and our kidneys need it the most,” said Denise Gamble, manager of Shake It Off. “Kidneys work like water filters and play a major role in our well being.” The Center offers ionic or detox footbaths for $25, which some patrons use regularly because of professional exposure to chemicals and other toxins; others come in just to detoxify general exposure to environmental impurities. A session lasts only 12 minutes for a full detox. Foods that help detoxify the body include: 1. Fruits—high in liquid content to help wash out toxins, easy to digest, and high in antioxidants, nutrients, fiber and many important vitamins like vitamin C. 2. Green foods—eating green algae, barley, wheatgrass, kale, spinach, spirulina, alfalfa, chard, arugula or other organic leafy greens gives a chlorophyll boost to aid in the elimination of toxins from smog, heavy metals, herbicides, cleaning products and pesticides. 3. Lemons, oranges and limes—full of vitamin C. One of the best detox vitamins, it transform toxins into digestible material and jump-starts the digestive tract with enzymatic processes. To increase detoxification, start each morning with a warm glass of lemon water. 4. Garlic—stimulates the liver into producing enzymes that filter toxic residues in the digestive system. 5. Broccoli Sprouts—high in antioxidants that stimulate digestive tract enzymes. 6. Green tea—full of antioxidants that wash toxins out, plus catechins that increase liver function. 7. Mung beans—absorbs toxic residue on the sides of the intestinal walls. 8. Raw vegetables—Best eaten raw or for juicing detox regimens, they include onions, carrots, artichokes, asparagus, broccoli, cabbage, kale, brussel sprouts, cauliflower, garlic, beet, turmeric and oregano. They purge toxins during the cleansing process. 9. Seeds and nuts—Easily digestible, flaxseed, pumpkin seeds, almonds, walnuts, hemp seeds, sesame seeds, chia seeds, Siberian cedar nuts and sunflower seeds. Avoid nut butters while detoxing. 10. Omega-3 oils—help lubricate the intestinal walls, allowing toxins to be absorbed by the oil and eliminated by the body. Use hemp, avocado, olive oils or flax seed oil while detoxing. In general, detoxification will provide increased energy, glowing skin, faster mental capabilities, sounder sleep, a healthier body to greet each day, and a better outlook on life. 30 BELLA MAGAZINE APRIL 2012 Heard it through the grapevine… by Missie Boisvert by Missie Boisvert Beautiful Wines, Great Spirits! Shelton Varietals and their “Winometer” Register High Several years ago I brought a few wines from North Carolina’s Shelton Vineyards into the store. I liked the wines and was excited to have some from our sister state. They didn’t seem to generate the same excitement with my customers as they did for me. But lately there is renewed interest m in North Carolina wineries, so I decided to revisit Shelton’s wines when one of my distributors brought them back in. On the back of each bottle they now have the “Shelton Winometer,” rating the contents from light bodied to full bodied and bone dry to sweet. A nice touch to inform the purchaser. The Yadkin Valley was North Carolina’s first viticultural area, consisting of more than 1.116 million acres located in Surry, Yadkin, Wilkes, Davie, Davidson and Forsyth counties. It is in the northwest corner of the state. With a superb combination of sun, soil and soul, Yadkin Valley wineries are ideally located in the North Carolina region that is rapidly gaining a reputation for growing high-quality grapes and producing world-class award-winning wines. Located in the Piedmont area of the Tar Heel State, wineries in the Yadkin Valley benefit from what many winemakers consider the best terroir in North Carolina. The Freeze was Beneficial The Shelton Vineyards in the Yadkin Valley produce 17 different varietals. I chose the 2007 Cabernet Sauvignon. Apparently that year they had a spring freeze that decimated their crop by 50 percent but the old “survival of the fittest” kicked in and what survived was what they thought was the best fruit they had ever grown. Maybe that is why I liked this wine so very much. It is a true Cabernet with blackberry, cassis, black cherry, and tobacco, but I also felt it was slightly lighter. I thought … hmmmm! This would be good for those drinkers who are not seasonal in their choices—who always want to go with a red even in the heat of summer. The second wine I chose was the 2010 Bin 17 Chardonnay. This was quite delightful as it reminded me that wine is made from grapes! Sounds funny but some time they manipulate the juice so much you can forget that it is made from fruit. This Chardonnay has no malolactic fermentation* and is BELLA MAGAZINE APRIL 2012 not aged in oak. I find that refreshing. When tasting, I found it creamy on the palate but also clean, crisp, acidic with a sweet lime finish. This is another wine great for the warm weather we are having. Cab Franc in Demand Finally I chose a Cabernet Franc because lately so many of our customers have been asking for this varietal. Some can be quite expensive, but this one is a great wine at a value price. Cab Franc has some of the characteristics of a Cabernet Sauvignon but it will have a little more spiciness. If you have not tried one … now is the time. Shelton Vineyard Wines have won numerous awards … all kinds of double gold medals, gold, silver and bronze medals and I think you will find them all winners at your table as well. *Malolactic fermentation (or sometimes malolactic conversion or MLF) is a process in winemaking where tart-tasting malic acid, naturally present in grape must, is converted to softer-tasting lactic acid. Malolactic fermentation tends to create a rounder, fuller mouth-feel. It has been said that malic acid tastes of green apples. By contrast, lactic acid is richer and more buttery tasting. Grapes produced in cool regions tend to be high in acidity, much of which comes from the contribution of malic acid. MLF is also thought to generally enhance the body and flavor persistence of wine, producing wines of greater palate softness and roundness. Many winemakers also feel that better integration of fruit and oak character can be achieved if MLF occurs during the time the wine is in barrel. Elissa “Missie” Bowman Boisvert is the proprietor of Palmetto Package & Fine Wine Shop at 230 Park Avenue in historic downtown Aiken. Upon returning home to Aiken, she purchased Palmetto Package in 2002, and developed a great wine selection. She works every year with many charity wine tastings in Aiken and has also taught an adult education wine class at USC-Aiken. She specializes in hands-on, one-on-one service in the comfortable, relaxed atmosphere of her store. 803/ 649-6961. 31 The Red Hots Count Down to a Mud Bath WILL also train by doing boot camp three times a week. And many arm lifts at home. by Kristen Sojourner EDITOR’S NOTE: Bella is following the training progress of Kristen Sojourner, owner of My Aiken Body, and her teammates, daughter Meri Burgess, and sister Lauri Yeargin, who in January formed the Red Hots team. Named for their hair color and their fiery spirit, the Red Hots will compete in the April 21 U.S. Marine Corps Mud Run in Columbia. Just recently, the fourth member dropped out, but has been replaced, as you will read below. Following is Kristen’s runner’s creed, and an update on the team composition. Watch for photos of their experience in the May issue of Bella. The Mud Run Credo of Contestant Kristen Sojourner, aka TriXXie Sugarbush I, TriXXie Sugarbush, being of sober mind and soon-to-be-solid body... WILL NOT be ashamed of my spandex capris with the hole in them or my dog-chewed running shoes. WILL NOT make eye contact with other runners ... Mostly because I never see any out here. But if I do, I will coolly glide by, unnoticed, just another middle-aged sweat machine on a sandy trail. WILL NOT be ashamed of sweating --- I’ll just say my dog got too close when she shook herself off from her swim in the pond. Or that she pushed me in the pond. Depends on which mile. WILL NOT use a treadmill ... There will not be a treadmill in the mud run. Instead, I will run in the rain, cold and wind. Even if it gets down to a frosty 50 degrees, I will run. I am committed!! WILL NOT think about how I look like a fat middle-aged cow being chased down the trail by a turtle. WILL NOT be deterred by hills, mud puddles, big barking dogs or the smell of Gravatt’s dining hall when chicken is frying. WILL NOT be afraid of snakes. Wait. Yes, I will. I WILL be afraid of snakes -- I will run faster! WILL NOT be too lazy to stretch after my run. At least, not if lying across my bed is called stretching. 32 WILL make it through my workout uninjured. I don’t need to be fast. It takes a real woman to run slowly and look super cool doing it. WILL make this about becoming a stronger, healthier person ... who also happens to be VERY, VERY HOT, superior to all slothly humans, and a guilt-free beer drinker to boot. WILL be alive when this is done. And better off for it. WILL NOT make this about weight or... Never mind. Yes, I will. My insurance will go down $20 a month if I lose 20 pounds, so yes, I will make this about weight. I am too under-insured not to make it about weight. WILL NOT forget my iPod because I would otherwise have to listen to myself heavily plodding through the sand and breathing like a moose in heat. WILL NOT count .... on passing out. Or dying. WILL NOT whine. Whining is for whiners. I hate whiners. WILL NOT stop running... at least until I have to pee which, being an old woman, could be 48 times before I get home. I, TriXXie Sugarbush, being of sober mind and soon-to-be-solid body... WILL wear makeup when I run. I am a proper Southern girl, after all. We don’t leave the house without makeup. WILL focus on keeping up with my puppy. Even when she’s swimming. WILL look where I am going so I don’t fall into the lake or a big hole in the road. WILL drink lots of water before and after. And beer. LOTS of beer. WILL enjoy nature and sunshine and the joy of my puppy. And any hot athletic guy who happens to run past. Woof. WILL smile and try not to barf, hack, spit, cough or wheeze when I pass people along my way. WILL keep running. To the end of the street. Or maybe that pine tree way down there... no. No, not THAT one. THIS one. THIS pine tree. If I can make it... If not there, then at least home again and to the refrigerator. April 21st, we’re comin’ for ya!!!! Kristen Sojourner March 2012 Update Regarding my own progress, I am still running the dog—or she is running me! And I attend boot camp, though this month has been more of a challenge since business is on the uptick and I moved into a new house. I did meet a doctor from Aiken who said the hospital sends many paramedics and orthopedists to this event because, in his words, “they drop like flies,” which, after the initial panic wore off, inspired me to work even harder to make sure I was not one of the flies. Pressing on... Our 4th teammate, Tim, had to back out due to family commitments, so we opened the search for a new 4th and found him: Andrew Siders. Andrew is not only a former marine, but a local celebrity, known for singing the national anthem at Aiken events, banking and insurance expertise and generally knowing everybody in the entire city of Aiken and then some. Andrew always looks smart in his Lionel Smith attire, complete with bow tie, and it is hard get a word in edge-wise when hanging with him downtown because everyone wants to say hello. He won’t pass them by without a big smile and a proper how-do-you-do. Andrew is running for County Council seat 7, and is eager to show his talent for this position by carrying all of us Red Hots across the finish line. If he can do that, he can do anything. Aiken should definitely vote for him. And they probably will since they all know him. That and he is—so far—unopposed. I am daring Andrew to wear his signature bow tie for the Mud Run. Maybe we will all wear one, in solidarity Kristen BELLA MAGAZINE APRIL 2012 1900s Historical Neighborhood on Spring Tour Eight homes and gardens and two woodworking shops in the Highland Park area will be open to the public on Saturday, April 21 between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. The bi-annual Home and Garden Tour is sponsored by St. Thaddeus Episcopal Church as a fundraiser to support local agencies. “The tour has many attractions in a historical neighborhood not well known in Aiken,” said chair Jan Waugh. Advance tickets are available for $25 each at the church office, 125 Pendleton Street, Material Things, The Curiosity Shop and Plum Pudding, as well as the website, www. stthaddeushomeandgardentour.org. On the day of the event, tickets will be sold at the church office, but not at the homes on tour. Road to “Hill’s Rest,” recently remodeled home of Ray and Dana Massey, then on to Meg and Vaughan Massie’s home “The Manse,” formerly the manse of First Presbyterian Church. Next door is “Towns End,” named by the Francis Townsend family, now the home of Penny and Les Rue, whose workshop is accessed from the Happy Endings “Happy Endings” on Hills Woodland Drive is the final stop, where the “Hobby House” features Rachel’s knitting workshop on one level, and Roger’s woodworking shop on another. Come to Tea Homes Close to Old Hotel All of the tour homes are in the Highland Park Drive area, a neighborhood built in the early 1900s in the vicinity of the Highland Park Hotel, a 300-room grand hotel originally built in 1869-70 to bring tourism back to Aiken after the Civil War. The hotel burned to the ground in 1898 but was rebuilt 10 years later, and a golf course was added to attract more patrons. That same golf course is now The Aiken Golf Club, owned by the James McNair family, and is celebrating its 100th anniversary this year. The hotel went out of business in the early 1940s, and Palmetto Lane now occupies the land where the hotel used to overlook the golf course. Towns End lower level. Further on is “Cornerstone,” a new home on land carved out of the original Towns End property by former owners Taylor and Leslie Garnett. Park Once, Walk to Many Many of the tour homes are within walking distance of each other, and all offer unique designs to support the individual lifestyles of the residents within. Three of the homes are “new builds” by Aikenites who admired the area and worked with the land to capitalize on the views and tall pines of the golf course and the easy drive to downtown. The tour begins on Highland Park Drive, the home of Tim and Sue Shannon built only a year ago, overlooking one of the fairways of The Aiken Golf Club. The tour then progresses up Hillcrest by Kathy Huff Cornerstone Across the fairway on Chaffee Spring Drive is Bob and Henri Wade’s “Cottage in the Pines,” built on land purchased by Bob’s parents after World War II, regained by Bob from the second owner. At the corner of Bissell Lane and Dibble Road is Tom and Delly Young’s new home, where landscape designer Elliott Johnson will be on hand to guide garden enthusiasts. Tour ticket holders are encouraged to attend the Strawberries and Cream Tea in the St. Thaddeus Church parlor between 3 and 5 p.m. There, they may browse through the Heritage Market, featuring items hand made by women of the church from vintage linens donated by church members. “This year we have far more to offer,” said Chair Jan Waugh. “We had more people willing to sew this year, and we also received a great many linen donations. One large damask tablecloth can make many things,” explained Jan, citing drawer liners, lavender bags, pillows, sachets, and other genteel items not found in stores these days. This year many antique silver items will be offered for sale as well. Tours of the historic churchyard will be conducted at the time of the tea. The church is the oldest standing church building in the City of Aiken, dating to 1842. Jan credits her 15-member committee for bringing the event together “effortlessly” in an eightmonth period. The same committee has produced the tour during her chairmanship for the last four tours. The St. Thaddeus Home and Garden Tour began in the 1960s as an annual event, produced by the St. Elizabeth Chapter, a group of the church which later turned the event over to the women of the church. It was an annual event that eventually became bi-annual when Mead Hall School took over the Strawberry Festival, scheduled for May 12. Proceeds of the tour this year will benefit My Father’s House, the Child Advocacy Center, Helping Hands, the Cumbee Center, and the St. Thaddeus Soup Kitchen. The Shannon Residence BELLA MAGAZINE APRIL 2012 33 PAID ADVERTISEMENT Home Additions and Old Fashioned Values by Rebecca Head Meet Billy Hawley! He’s not your average builder. A native of South Carolina, he stands for good old fashioned values of honesty and integrity. He has spent his whole life in and around construction companies, and he knows what good customer service means. Billy grew up on job sites helping his father with his plumbing company, starting at the age of eight. He worked with his father on a part-time basis until he graduated from high school in 1982. He was then drafted as a pitcher by the Cincinnati Reds right out of high school in the first round of the June draft. After he finished his professional baseball career, he went to work in the trades for several construction companies and learned many valuable lessons that still serve him today in managing the construction process. Billy and his wife moved to Aiken in 1991, and after attending college at night, Billy earned his Bachelor’s Degree in Business Management in 2000 from Southern Wesleyan University. In 2001, Billy started Hawley Construction Incorporated, later South Point Construction, and established himself as one of the premiere remodelers and builders in the Aiken area. He is married to Kim Hawley who teaches at Kennedy Middle School. They have been married more than 26 years and have two sons, Tucker and Tanner, who play baseball for the University of Alabama and Spartanburg Methodist College, respectively. So what makes Billy such a great contractor? It could be his hands-on involvement in every project he undertakes and the pride he has in every job. Jerry Ingledue of Woodside Plantation, a client of South Point Construction whose basement was remodeled, said, “Billy was the best contractor I ever dealt with.” In Ingledue’s time as a Superintendent for Planning and Parks in California, he had much experience dealing with contractors. Ingledue explained, “Billy was easy Jerry Ingledue and Billy Hawley to work with because he met with us, discussed our goals, needs and vision, and helped us to make the best decisions. He even brought us computer-generated designs to show us what the room would look like before work was started.” 34 Billy’s philosophy that has served him well in the construction industry is to treat each customer with respect and as he would wish to be treated when contracting others for their services. South Point takes pride in providing professional service with certified and licensed contractors. In response to the economic downturn and decreased demand for new housing, South Point Construction has seen a growth in remodeling and home renovation. Billy enjoys remodeling jobs because “they can be very challenging, and it is great to see the end product. You have to know what to expect before you open walls up.” He enjoys taking older homes and restoring them to look as if they were built yesterday. Billy has experience restoring some of the historic homes in downtown Aiken. The most common renovations in Aiken are basement or attic conversions and additions. Billy’s goal is to improve the home without making a room look like an addition. South Point will put more work into a job so that every addition looks as if it had always been there. This takes more time, but in the end, the work results in a better product. Another common renovation is remodeling to meet physical needs. These needs include wider doorways for wheelchair accessibility and bathroom upgrades for the elder generation. As the population grows older, more are moving into assisted living facilities or back in with their children as their own homes become inaccessible. South Point realizes that moving out of a home is not always the best option, but the company can make necessary improvements to keep people at home where they want to be. For information on remodeling or restoration projects, call South Point Construction at 648-9399 or email billysouthpointconstruction.net. His work can be found on www.southpointconstruciton.net or on the South Point Facebook page. BELLA MAGAZINE APRIL 2012 Juilliard in Aiken Week The Juilliard Jazz Concert and Lawn Tea Wednesday, March 14, 2012 The Green Boundary Club Irene Curtis and Sissy Brodie Helga Hulse and Peggy Vaughn Iwert Martha Lockhart and Barry Stevens Rebecca Gaetz and Whitney Evans Laura Witham, Betty Witham, and Karen Olsen Edwards Brad and Magdalena Kuhn BELLA MAGAZINE APRIL 2012 Suzanne Barnes, Kathy Hayde, Butch Rachal 35 Good Sense Medicine by Zoom Heaton Allergies are driving me crazy. What can I take? Are you sneezing, wheezing, blowing your nose until it’s raw? Are your eyes red, watery, itchy? Do you walk around feeling like your head is going to explode? These are all definite signs of seasonal allergies. Since we didn’t really have a winter this year, we went from one allergy season right into another with no break in between. More than 35 million Americans are affected each year as pollen from trees, grass, flowers, and plants makes its way into the air. Allergy is the result of your immune system’s overreaction to these foreign invaders. Your body has two choices on how it responds to any foreign invader. Bacteria, parasites, toxins and allergens all stimulate your body’s Killer T2 cells to react. Viruses, yeast and cancer cells activate your Killer T1 cells. More often than not, seasonal allergies are the result of your body’s overreaction of T2 cells in your immune system. Consequently there’s an under-response against viruses and cancer cells. Simply, when an allergen is introduced, the body fights back by producing an excess of inflammatory chemicals, such as histamine, from mast cells. This attempt to seek and destroy the allergen brings on those annoying symptoms of runny nose, watery eyes and sneezing. Allergic rhinitis is an inflammation of the nasal passages that can occur in response to airborne pathogens. This can lead to an inflammation of the sinuses such as sinusitis. If you have sinusitis, you may have some of the same symptoms as rhinitis such as cough, headache, painful sinuses, post-nasal drip, and yellow nasal drainage. Some natural seasonal allergy remedies that may help include: Reduce Stress: Stress causes your body to produce cortisol which triggers more T2 cells. Saline or nasal rinses: Our nose traps irritants which can produce seasonal allergy symptoms. Saline sprays can keep the inside of the nose moist and reduce irritation. A “neti pot”—or homemade nasal rinse—can rinse away foreign particles, flush out excess mucus naturally and keep the nasal passages clear. A recipe for homemade salt solution for neti pot: • 1 teaspoon of un-iodized salt (canning, kosher, pickling, or sea salt) • ½ teaspoon of baking soda • 2-3 cups (480ml to 720ml) of lukewarm tap water (some experts recommend boiling and cooling tap water to kill any germs). You can also use sterile or purified bottled water. Mix these ingredients together and use them to fill the neti pot. Doubling the amount of salt to two teaspoons will make a stronger saline solution. Be sure to mix a fresh solution before each use. Fish Oil: Omega 3 fatty acids, a powerful anti-inflammatory can help control allergic responses. Probiotics: 70% of your immune system lies in your intestinal tract so these friendly bacteria can do wonders for your allergies by improving your gut’s immune system. Herbs: Grape seed extract and quercetin (a flavonoid compound) are highly recommended by many naturopathic doctors. They both occur naturally in foods and are especially abundant in red wine. When used in a supplement form especially in conjunction with vitamin C, they can be extremely helpful in reducing allergy symptoms. Echinacea (a Native American herb) is one of the best immune enhancing supplements. However, if you suffer from ragweed or other weed pollen allergies, it is best to avoid eating melon, banana, cucumber, sunflower seeds, chamomile, and any herbal supplements containing Echinacea, since they can make symptoms much worse. If your allergy symptoms are severe enough to interfere with daily activities, enjoyment of outdoor activities or sleep, drug therapy may be necessary. Antihistamines, decongestants, and intranasal corticosteroids are often used. Oral antihistamines are often considered the first-line agents for the treatment of allergic rhinitis. Some common OTC agents like fexofenadine (Allegra), loratadine (Claritin), and cetirizine (Zyrtec) help to reduce symptoms of itching, sneezing, and runny noses. Allegra and Claritin are non-sedating and can be taken during the day. It is best to take Zyrtec at bedtime due to its sedating effect. Older antihistamines like diphenhydramine, chlorpheniramine, dimenhydrinate, and clemastine can still be used but they tend to have more of a sedating effect and can cause more dry mouth, constipation, increased heart rate, anxiety, and hallucinations. Antihistamines also come in intranasal formulations. Azelastine (Astelin) is an intranasal antihistamine effective against allergic rhinitis symptoms by reducing nasal congestion. It may be used as first line treatment of mild to moderate allergic rhinitis or in combination with intranasal corticosteroids or oral antihistamines. Oral decongestants are very effective in 36 reducing nasal congestion caused by allergic rhinitis. Common OTC products include pseudoephedrine and phenylephrine. Since pseudoephedrine was moved behind the counter, many OTC cold preparations have been reformulated with phenylephrine. For those of you with heart disease, high blood pressure, or those who cannot tolerate the increased heart rate that pseudoephedrine causes, phenylephrine is a better choice to start. Intranasal decongestants like phenylephrine (Neo-Synephrine) and oxymetazoline (Afrin, Drisdan) are effective in providing short-term relief of nasal congestion, but generally have no effect on itching, sneezing, or nasal secretion. Do NOT use more than 2-3 days since prolonged use can lead to rebound congestion. Nasal steroid sprays are the most effective monotherapy for the symptoms of allergic rhinitis, especially severe and/or persistent symptoms. These prescription nasal sprays prevent and treat inflammation in the nose and sinuses, but take up to a week to be effective. While nasal corticosteroids are considered safe for long-term use in most instances, some side effects can occur. These include nasal irritation and an unpleasant sense of smell or taste. Available options include Fluticasone furoate (Veramyst), Flunisolide (Nasarel), Beclomethasone (Beconase AQ), Budesonide (Rhinocort Aqua), Fluticasone propionate (Flonase), Mometasone (Nasonex), Triamcinolone (Nasacort AQ), and Ciclesonide (Omnaris). Flonase, Nasarel, and Nasacort AQ are all available in a less expensive generic version. The most common form of allergic eye disease is seasonal allergic conjunctivitis. Symptoms include itching of the eyes, red eyes, tearing, mucus production, foreign body sensation, and lid swelling. Treatment of itchy eyes due to allergic conjunctivitis may require eye drops that are a combination of medications. Ketotifen fumarate (Zaditor, Alaway) and olopatadine (Patanol) are indicated for the treatment of mild and moderately severe allergic conjunctivitis. These products are unique due to their dual mechanism of action. The antihistamine action is quick acting whereas the mast cell stabilizing action is more delayed. Prescription topical antihistamine only agents like emedastine (Emadine) and/or nonsteroidal antiinflammatory agents like ketorolac (Acular LS) work quickly. Other antihistamines/mast cell stabilizers include epinastine (Elestat) and azelastine (Optivar). Naphcon-A and Opcon-A are some available OTC antihistamine/decongestant ophthalmic products that are relatively inexpensive. These products are only recommended for short-term use (no more than 3 days) due to the risk of rebound congestion. If you have mild to moderate symptoms of allergic conjunctivitis, mast cell stabilizing medications, such as cromolyn and nedocromil (Alocril) are ideal BELLA MAGAZINE APRIL 2012 for prophylactic administration and are safe and effective for both short and long term use. Unfortunately, seasonal allergies affect many of us but it doesn’t have to be debilitating. There are treatment options available and they should be individualized based on the presence and severity of symptoms. Keep in mind that with seasonal changes, allergens change, and thus the nature and severity of our allergy symptoms will change. A treatment that worked one season may not work in the next. Your pharmacist or doctor can help guide you to choosing the appropriate treatments that are right for you. Zoom Heaton is the owner of TLC Medical Centre Inc., an Independent Community Pharmacy and Medical Equipment facility located at 190 Crepe Myrtle Drive off Silver Bluff Road. A pharmacist, she is a graduate of the University of South Carolina. She is a Certified Diabetes Educator and is certified in Immunization; she is also the chief compounding pharmacist at Custom Prescription Compounders, LLC, inside TLC Medical Centre, Inc., specializing in Bio-Identical Hormone Replacement Therapy and Women’s Health. Saliva testing is available at TLC/CPC. Call 803.648.7800 or visit nooneshoerx.com for more information. College Dating: One Student’s Perspective by Alesha Jones, Guest Writer Dating is universal and done differently among generations. Although it is a social function many generations have in common, it is not prevalent among many students in college today. Students opt to use other forms of communication and get-togethers to meet each other instead of the one-to-one dates that used to constitute part of courtship. Students court through text messaging, telephone conversations and social media networks. Before having a date, students will get acquainted with one another by using one or all of the three ways. For instance, two students may know one another from class and after having a 10-minute conversation, they may exchange cell phone numbers. Once the numbers are exchanged, the guy will text message the girl and usually will ask the girl to become his study partner or ask about something pertaining to the course they are both taking. This courting process usually takes about three weeks, and it can be a great way to meet a potential date in college. However, this does not happen often. Some students may not want to become that involved with a classmate, because if conflict occurs, it can become a class distraction. Socializing in New Ways College students socialize, but rarely date. Though I enjoy dating and I date often, I cannot say the same for other students. I enjoy hanging out and meeting new people through friends, kickbacks, and college parties. A kickback is a college social held in a friend’s apartment or dorm room. Drinks are served; music is played, but there is not much dancing. A kickback is not a party and it is not the best place to meet potential dates; but if students are not meeting at kickbacks, they are probably group dating. BELLA MAGAZINE APRIL 2012 Group dates are the modern form of double dating and are a lot safer than blind dates. During my sophomore year I went on group dates because I liked being around a group of single friends and being the only conversation starter, but now as a college senior I no longer feel that way. I have outgrown group dating, meeting people at kickbacks, and Thursday night fraternity parties. Now I like to meet potential dates at other places, such as business networking conventions, NBA, NFL, or college football or basketball games, dinner parties, and on vacation--because we all know meeting a cute date during a summer vacation makes the summer go a little smoother. It’s Complicated What is complicated about college dating is finding the right person who fits your personality and later keeping that person’s interest. Perhaps for this reason, students often message potential dates through social networking sites, such as Facebook, Twitter, or Skype. For instance, a guy from my history class has a crush on me. He is really shy and instead of asking me out face-to-face, he may send me a friend request on Facebook. If I accept his request and become his friend on Facebook, he will eventually message me and ask for my number. If I choose to give the lucky guy my number, he will text me. After three days of texting he will eventually call me and have a telephone conversation, which will lead to a date. Dating in Mom’s Time Dating now is a lot different from the way my mother dated in the early ‘80s when she attended college in Charleston. According to her, “Dating in college was creative, inexpensive, and always exciting. Many students did not have much money or the resources they do now.” Some of the creative ways students dated then were picnics in the park, going to the pond, and walking at Battery Park. “When we felt daring, we walked around Trident Hospital and jokingly guessed the names of newborn babies in the nursery,” she told me. Today my mother admits that was probably a foolish thing to do, and that now hospital security would probably prohibit such activities. “Looking forward to a date was what motivated me to finish all of my homework,” my mother said. This is much different from today, because now students finish their studying in order to attend parties, not dates. When comparing my own college experience with my mother’s, it seems that the early ‘80s were less hectic. Though attending college has been one of my best experiences, today things seem to be more complicated. Students are trying to keep up with the Kardashians and follow the lifestyles they see on reality TV shows such as The Real World, The Real Housewives, and The Bachelor, and The Bachelorette, and not focusing on the great things they have. Nowadays, students finish their work to watch TV and attend parties, not to do much dating. Though this is a reality for me, it saddens me to see my generation not take advantage of inexpensive things that can make them or their potential spouses happy. Instead of thinking outside the box of media, commerce, and technology, members of my generation at times think inside the box and limit their experiences. Though this saddens me, I do believe my generation will improve. I have high hopes that college dating can be exciting and perhaps more creative and inexpensive, and similar to the dates my mother experienced when she attended college in the early ‘80s. 37 The 70th Running of the Aiken Trials Benefiting the Aiken Thoroughbred Racing Hall of Fame and Museum and the Aiken Land Conservancy Aiken Training Track March 17, 2012 Jack Wetzel and friends enjoy the carriage ride at The Trials Sandra Heath and Linda Kennedy with St. Patrick's decoration named Seamus O'Tree Hat Contest entrants Seamus O'Tree's Pot o' Gold Katy Judd And the winner is ... Beverly Willis, left, represents Tea Garden Gifts, sponsor of the Trials Hat Contest, with winner Marilyn Brown. Marilyn attended The Trials last year as a guest. She was so enchanted with Aiken that she bought a house on Audubon Drive and attended The Trials this year as a resident. After researching the website of the Thoroughbred Racing Hall of Fame, she duplicated the racing silks of many local stables in needlepoint on the hat band of her winning creation. Chloe Gaines, Brodie Slayton, Madison Gregory , and Fielding Freed (St. Patrick's Day was his 7th birthday) 38 BELLA MAGAZINE APRIL 2012 BUSINESS DIRECTORY Guest Cottage Linens & Gifts Tom & Pam Powers Owner/Operators McDonald’s Restaurant P.O. Box 6630 Aiken, SC 29804-6630 Yves Delormé PARIS Office: (803) 232-0903 Fax: (803) 232-1198 E-mail: mcaiken6630@cs.com Lady Primrose 803.649.4565 405 Hayne Ave SW in Historic Downtown Aiken Recycled Paper Individual Health Medicare Supplements Life Insurance Long Term Care Medicare Advantage MARK TAYLOR A N D A S S O C I AT E S , L L C Ruby Masters Ask me about aging into Medicare 803-349-7468 Palmetto Package & Fine Wine Shop www.doncaster.com “It’s our pleasure to serve you!” 803.649.6961 aiken.boozetique.vino@gmail.com 230 Park Ave SW • Downtown Aiken BELLA MAGAZINE APRIL 2012 Lee Cavanaugh Wardrobe Consultant 803.649.1583 leecavanaugh@ymail.com 5 Burgundy Road SW, Aiken SC 29801 39