Otmag march16

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High School Baseball 2016

Hiram s Dallas s Cedarcrest s New Hope

The Paulding Area’s Family Lifestyle News Magazine

Our TownMarch 2016

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Our Town is published and direct mailed monthly to prestigious homes in the Paulding County Area. Opinions expressed by the editorial staff are their own and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the publisher. Our Town reserves the right to edit and or reject any editorial or advertising content. Our Town is not responsible for errors in advertising beyond the cost of the space or for the validity of claims made by advertisers. Entire contents, including ad design created by Our Town Media Group, Inc., copyright 2016, belong to Our Town of Paulding. Reproduction in whole or in part is forbidden in any media without prior written permission from the publisher.

Our TOwn Magazine P.O. Box 614

Hiram, Georgia 30141Telephone: 770-222-2699

Email: [email protected]

Publisher/ediTOr: Jules Fandos / Teresa Parrish

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Graphics and desiGn

Our Town Media Group, Inc.

photoGraphy

contributinG Writers:

Our Town Hiram s Dallas s Cedarcrest s New Hope

www.OurTownFamily.com

in this issue...

Katie AndersonRoberto De JesusGeorge Fandos

Donald Fowler, MDHunter Graham

Rich HermanEugene Hurwitz, MD

Our Town Media Group, Inc.Mary Carol Sheffield

independant sales reps

Alie Ayers

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About the CoverCommunity Spotlight: Music in Our Schools MonthFamily Focus: Using Stories to Teach Children LessonsCalendar of EventsRelationships: Have We Given Up ThinkingFinance: What Do Low Oil Prices Mean For Investors?Health & Fitness: Spring Allergies Medical: March MadnessGardening: Spring Forward PauldingFeature Photographer: Drew AmandoliaEducation Profile: Praise AcademyNew Feature: Paulding Star: IlianaPet News: A Tale of Live Easter AnimalsMarch Crossword What’s Cookin’: 2016 Celebration of Food!

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11, 241215182123262727293030

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Straightaway Designs - Website

Baseball was, is and always will be to me the best game in the world.” ~Babe Ruth

aseball is America’s game. Though the sport has morphed over the years, the love and spirit of the game never changes. Fans of baseball know this sport choos-es you! One writes, “[Love for] baseball is like your great-grandfather’s pocket

watch handed down to you with care. A kind of inheritance.” It’s a family game. A game that gives us a reason to come together at the ball park, eat a hot dog, do the wave, and root, root, root for the home team!

Our Town is proud to highlight five talented players from our own Paulding County high schools. These young men bring this sport to life, right here in our community with their talent, spirit and determination to play the best they can.

Mitch White - #21 - East Paulding High School

Mitch is the son of Patty Durrett and Richard White. He has played baseball fourteen years and is an outfielder and pitcher for the Raiders. He is looking forward to playing one last season with his friends; many of whom he’s played with since he was eight years old. Together they hope to have a strong season and become Region champs. Mitch is a member of DECA, National Honor Society and Spanish NHS. After graduation, he plans to attend Kennesaw State University and go into the nursing program.

Tanner Jones - #11 - Hiram High School

Tanner has played baseball fourteen years, and is a pitcher and utility player for the Hornets. As a senior, he is looking forward to playing this last year with his teammates and preparing to play college ball. He is currently committed to Southern Union State Community College in Alabama, where he plans to be a pitcher for their baseball team. Tanner is also involved at West Ridge Church, and is the son of

Tim and Tammy Jones.

Christian Ryder - #26 - North Paulding High School

Christian has been involved in baseball since he was five years old. He is a pitcher for the Wolfpack and is excit-ed about playing this season with a “good core” of great players. He hopes they’ll be able to compete in the Re-gion and return to the playoffs. At NPHS he is a student section leader and a member of SALT (Student Athletic Leadership Team). Christian is the son of Scott and Rhon-da Ryder. After graduation, he will head to the University of Georgia where he will pitch for the ‘DAWGS!”

Read more about our cover on page 26

Our Town For Advertising information Call 770.222.2699 l [email protected] l OurTownFamily.com PAGE 5

Lisa Y. West, D.M.D.Pediatric Dentistry

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about the cover

2016 Paulding High School BASEBALL!!!

B

For Advertising information Call 770.222.2699 l [email protected] l OurTownFamily.com Our Town

aulding County School District is proud to honor the fine arts programs in our schools. Walk into any of our schools on any day and you will find our talented students playing instruments, composing, singing, dancing, painting, sculpting,

sketching, and acting. The fine arts programs are boosted in support by our admin-istrators, teachers, parents, and community members. The month of March is Music in Our Schools Month (MIOSM)! Please take a look at the list of events open to the public and make a point to come on out and support your local schools’ fine arts programs. Month of MarchMarch 2: Pre-Festival Performances by Moses MS Band, McClure MS Band, and North Paulding HS Band 5:30pm/Free AdmissionMarch 5: District 5th grade Honor Chorus at 5:00pm at EPHS theater/Free Ad.March 4: West Georgia Chorus Invitational at NPHS at 6:30pm/Free AdmissionMarch 7: Paulding County 6th Grade Spring Sing at EPHS at 7:30pm/Free Ad.March 8: EPHS & EPMS Pre-Festival Concert at EPHS/6:00-8:00pm/Free AdmissionMarch 12: Fine Arts Day 10:00 – 4:00pm at the Dallas Theater/Admission is $2March 10: Burnt Hickory Elementary School Kindergarten Musical at 6:30pm/FreeMarch 10: Pre-Festival Concert with McClure Middle, Moses Middle, and NPHS at NPHS at 6:30pm/Free AdmissionMarch 18: District Honor Band at 7:00 pm at NPHS/Free AdmissionMarch 22: Titan Talent Night at Moses Middle at 7:00pm/Admission is $3March 24: Dugan Elementary Annual Night of the Arts- Art Show from 5:30-8:00. During the evening we will have Kindergarten perform at 6:00, 1st and 2nd grade perform at 6:30 and the Chorus performs at 7:00/Free Ad.March 24: Austin Middle and SPHS Pre-Festival Choral Concert at 7:00pm/Free Ad.Mar 25-26:EPHS Children’s Show/TBA – contact school for more informationMarch 29: Roberts Elementary “Rocket Choir” presents How Sweet the Sound! at 7:00 pm/Free AdmissionMarch 29: Ragsdale Elementary chorus presents Trip Around the World concert at 6:30pm/Free AdmissionMarch 29: Language Arts/Chorus Curriculum Night at Moses Middle at 6:00pmMarch 29: GMEA Chorus Festival at Woodland High School, times TBA (all schools participate)

Month of AprilApril 21, 22, and 23 at 7:00 pm and April 24 at 3:00/PCHS present Disney’s Beauty and the Beast/Admission is $7 at the doorApr 22-24:EPHS Spring musical, The Addams Family/contact school for times and tickets 770-445-5100April 23: Moses Middle School 7th & 8th Grade Choruses singing National Anthem at Rome BravesApril 28: Burnt Hickory Elementary Fine Arts Club presents the spring musical The Best Little Theater in Town 6:30pm/Free admissionApr 28-29:Moses Middle School presents The Lion King, Jr., the musical at 7:00pm/ Admission is $3 Month of MayMay 3: Spring Choral Concert at NPHS at 7pm/Free AdmissionMay 5: McClure Middle School band concert at 6:00pm/Free AdmissionMay 10: Northside Elementary Chorus performs at Dallas Chick-fil-a at 6pm and 7pm/Free AdmissionMay 12: Austin Middle School Night of the Arts, art show starts at 6:00pm, concert starts at 7:00pm/Free AdmissionMay 12: Northside Elementary Chorus Spring Concert at 6:00pm/Free AdmissionMay 17: EPHS Spring Chorus Concert at 7:00pm/Free AdmissionMay 17: Austin Middle School Band Spring Concert at 7:00pm/Free Admission

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Music in Our Schools Month

By Rich Herman

s a parent who deeply loves and cares about your chil-dren, you want to do all that

you can to help teach and instruct them, and prepare them for life as an adult. You want them to have a well-rounded education, demonstrate good common sense, be honest and trust-worthy, and be kind and respectful to others.

There are many different ways that you can teach and instruct your children. Just spending time with them and setting the right example is probably one of the best ways, however, other ways are effective too. This article deals primarily with chil-dren’s stories, and explains how they can be used as effective teaching tools.

In addition to being fun and entertaining, children’s stories are great for teaching many of life’s important lessons. For example, children can be taught honesty, per-sistence, kindness, obedience, courage, the value of hard work, and many other les-sons through stories. Some good examples of stories that teach some of these lessons are: “The Boy and the Robbers”, “The Boy Who Cried Wolf ”, “Try, Try, Again”, “A True Story About a Girl”, “Jonah and the Whale”, “David and Goliath” , “The Little Red Hen”, and “Read and You Will Know”.

There are many other stories that teach valuable lessons to our children. Lessons like handling money wisely, honoring our parents, and treating others with kindness and respect can be taught through stories. Here, are some good stories that drive home these important lessons: “The Whistle”, “Going to Sea”, and “Stories about Jefferson”.

So much of what we learn is through reading and listening, so it is vitally important that your children master these two skills. When you read stories to your children or they hear stories by listening to audio CDs, they improve their attention span and listening skills. When kids master these skills early, they are more likely to become better learners. They also develop a greater interest in both books and reading. By listening, while following along in a book or printed story, your children will quickly learn to recognize more words and steadily increase their vocabulary.

Children’s stories can also be great tools for stimulating your child’s imagination. Many of the classic children’s stories or fairy tales are great for doing this, and there are many stories readily available to choose from. Some good examples of these types of stories are: “Cinderella”, “The Sleeping Beauty”, and “The Emperor’s New Clothes”.

If you would like your children to gain a better appreciation for history, then chil-dren’s stories can be great learning aids for developing this interest. There are many good historical stories to choose from, depending on the period of history that you are interested in. For example, “How George Washington Escaped a Trap”, “The Midnight Ride”, “The Young Scout”, and “Washington’s Last Battle” are just a few examples of some good stories if you want your children to learn more about the American Revolution.

Hopefully, this information has been helpful. Teaching children many of life’s import-ant lessons is often challenging, but can be both fun and rewarding. You’ll be thrilled to see how quickly your kids can grasp new concepts, as you teach and instruct them. Remember, children’s stories are just one of many tools you have available. Good luck!

Rich Herman creates family-friendly websites and publishes a wide variety of children’s stories. For free, printable Children’s Stories visit his website: www.FamilyBooksandCDs.com

A

family focus

PAGE 8 For Advertising information Call 770.222.2699 l [email protected] l OurTownFamily.com Our Town

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Introducing the new Cancer Center at WellStar

Kennestone Hospital. Redesigned inside and out to ensure our vision of world-class cancer care is experienced by both patients and families. By changing patient flow, adding new services and enhancing the overall care experienced, a new focus on Mind/Body/Spirit has arrived. With recognition by Becker’s Hospital Review’s “100 Hospitals and Health Systems with Great Oncology Programs,” our redeveloped cancer program offers:

• Cyberknife® and Tomotherapy®: the only health system in Georgia offering both forms of radiation therapy.

• Pancreatic Hepatobiliary Program structured to reduce the time of diagnosis to treatment.

• Center for Genetics, the largest in Georgia

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March 2016

Our Town For Advertising information Call 770.222.2699 l info@ourtownfamily l OurTownFamily.com PAGE 11

CHURCHES, NON-PROFITS, SCHOOLS – SEND US YOUR EVENTS!Events for the Our Town Calendar are listed FREE (Restrictions Apply*-see pg 24 for instructions) **Dates, times and locations are always subject to change prior to printing. Please confirm with the event coordi-nator. For the full Calendar visit OurTownFamily.com.

Paulding Chamber - Georgia Power Luncheon-Paulding Senior CenterMarch 3; Thursday 11am - 1pm Louise Blais, Consul General for Canada in Atlanta; ($20/mem, $25/non-mem prepaid; $5 more at door.) To register visit pauldingchamber.org or call 770-445-6016.

Disney’s High School Musical Jr presented by The Dallas TheaterMarch 4 and 5, Friday and Saturday at 7pm and March 6, Sunday at 3pmLIVE on stage! This classic story of friendship and love is full of infectious

music that is loved by all ages! For more info visit www.dallastheater-civic center.com or call 678-363-0813

19th Annual Sister in Christ Women’s ConferenceMarch 5; Saturday 8:30am to 4pm - Mount Holly Church in CarrolltonA day of fun, praise, fellowship. MHC is located at 4685 N. Hwy. 27, Carrollton, GA 30117 (half a mile south of I-20, Exit 11 Bremen). Conference is free, but please pre-register online to receive Conference Package and door prizes. Lunch not provid-ed. For agenda and more visit sistersinchrist.com or call 678-653-7409.

Spring Fling and Family Kite Day at White Oak Park - DallasMarch 5; Saturday - Sign-In: 12:30pm / Start: 1:00pmFamilies are invited to come fly a kite at this FREE events with lots of fun and prizes. Bring a picnic and enjoy the kite flying; participants must furnish their own kite. For more information call 770-443-7540 or email [email protected].

Candlelight Hike to the Mill at Sweetwater State Park, Lithia SpringsMarch 5, Saturday 7pm – 9pm Candle lanterns are provided. No children under 6 years or dogs permitted. No res-ervations possible. Meet and pay (exact change, $5, cash only) at the Visitor’s Center. $5 plus $5 parking. For more info call 770-732-5871.

Tellin’ Tales Comedy Tour presented by The Dallas TheaterMarch 11; Friday 7:30pmClean comedy is back with this one of a kind southern comedy show with Paulding County’s own, Joey Thurmond (NOJOE’s Circus), and Dan Whitehurst. For more information visit www.dallastheater-civiccenter.com or call 678-363-0813

American Craft Atlanta Show at Cobb Galleria CentreMarch 11; Friday 10am – 8pm March 12; Saturday 10am – 6pm March 13; Sunday 11am – 5pm For more info visit http://shows.craftcouncil.org/atlanta

Spring Jam 2016 - Dallas Senior Community CenterMarch 12; Saturday 6pmA fundraiser event sponsored by Homeplace Communities for Hiram HS Band. Reverse raffle, silent auction, dinner, live music entertainment, and photo booth. Raffle tickets on sale now. Questions and ticket requests can be sent to [email protected] or call 770-786-3273.

Low-Cost Vaccine Clinic at Kritters Country Club*March 12; 2nd Saturday of the monthKritters Country Club is located at 7377 W. Strickland Street in Douglasville. Call 770-489-7500 for hours and more information.

Spring Forward - Spring Fling Festival at Tractor Supply in DallasMarch 12; Saturday 9am – 2pm Paulding County 4-H Horse and Pony club will offer activities, games, food for sale, pony rides for $5 and information on soil and forage testing for pasture managers. For info call 770-443-7616.

Cruise the Coop VW Show and Swap - Paulding Meadows - DallasMarch 12; Saturday - Gates open at 9am A fun gathering of old and new VWs – New/Used parts for sale; Food Vendors; Hand Crafted awards; Door Prizes; and more. Spectator $5; Show Car Entry $10 (Includes drivers gate entry); Swap/Vendors $20. cruisethecoop.com

Events continued on pg 24

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vent

s


hat does that mean? It begins with understand-ing what commands our attention, what we listen to in our daily walk, what we notice, and

what becomes important enough to pursue.

I started my career with IBM and the slogan was THINK. It was everywhere, appearing on business cards, filling spots on walls, and even the title of the employee magazine. Thomas J. Watson, the company’s found-er, introduced the motto as a way to drive the culture and challenge employees to go beyond their competition: “The trouble with every one of us is that we don’t think enough,” he boomed. “Knowledge is the result of thought, and thought is the keynote of success in this business.”

The IBM archives, Icons of Progress, pointed out that Watson realized that by thinking more, “there would be practically limitless potential for machines that help people think—and there would be tremendous oppor-tunities for the companies that employed the smart people who could imagine, design, manufacture and sell them.” Collective thinking for a company started with individual thinking.

Jump ahead to now, how are we doing when it comes to individual thinking? How dependent are we on “machines” or devices for how we think or where we turn our attention?

Today’s generations, dominated by Millennials (80% sleep with their phones beside them in bed), are so overwhelmingly “plugged in” they are not only distract-ed from Thinking, but don’t even perceive a calling to consider what lies ahead in life.

But why think about this? We have much smarter machines than we did in Tom Watson’s era. Why mem-orize when we can Google who led baseball in hits or who was our first left-handed President? All this

and more done from a device no bigger than a wallet, even a wristwatch. Devices now think for us through interruption and dis-traction. In the absence of quiet, noise rushes to fill the vacuum. We don’t even realize what we’ve relinquished or why it’s such a great loss.

We can share everything: words, images, and sounds with people across the globe, in micro-seconds.

Why think about it when we can share our experiences and enjoy others’ experiences without being there? But let’s do think about this from a couple of other points of view.

First, who or what is driving our agenda, our day? Are we intentionally thinking about our precious time or are we just interrupt-driven? Have we allowed a man-made idol to sneak up and steal our hearts?

W

relationshipsIn Genesis 1:26 God says: “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness…” Great detail is given on God speaking to create the world we live in. Aren’t we called to create as in His image and not just consume video, music, or social media?

Finally, for those with a faith, we listen to hear that still small voice and understand the unique will of God for each of us. The Bible teaches us to pay attention to this important element of life. Satan’s goal is to distract, to draw us into meaninglessness and away from what mat-ters. With so much noise, when do we listen and then consider our roles as parents, friends, and workers or to actually hear God’s great plan for us.

The prophet Habakkuk said it well in the second chapter of his book: “I will take my stand at my watch post and station myself on the tower, and look out to see what He will say to me…”

The Apostle Paul used a military metaphor as we battle in this world, “Share in suffering as a good soldier of Christ Jesus. No soldier gets entangled in civilian pursuits since his aim is to please the one who enlisted him.” (2 Timothy 2:3-4)

Mobile phones, computers, and televisions can be useful for learning, communicating, and even creating as long as we stay in control. There is also value in shutting them down. Taking a “no-tech” day or weekend might open your eyes to things and people normally missed in your daily walk. Listen and think about where you’re headed.

By George Fandos Have We Given Up Thinking?

Our Town For Advertising information Call 770.222.2699 l info@ourtownfamily l OurTownFamily.com PAGE 13

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Contributed by Roberto De Jesus of Edward Jones Investments, Dallas/Acworth

finance

s you’ve no doubt noticed, your trips to the gas station have been a lot more pleasant these past several months.

There’s not much doubt that low oil prices have been welcome to you as a driver. But when oil is cheap, is that good for you as an investor? There’s no clear-cut answer. But consider the following effects of low oil prices:

Positive impact on economy: When you spend less at the gas pump, relative to recent years, what will you do with your savings? Like most people, you’ll probably spend most of it on goods and ser-vices. If you multiply the amount of your increased spending by the millions of other Americans who are also saving money on gas, you can see that you and your fellow consumers are likely adding billions of dollars to the economy. Typically, a strong economy is also good for the financial markets — and for the people who invest in them.

Different results for different sectors: Different sectors within the financial markets may respond in different ways to low oil prices, even if the overall effect is generally positive. For example, businesses such as consumer goods companies and auto manufacturers may respond favorably to cheap-er oil and gas. But the picture might be quite a bit different for energy companies.

You could spend a lot of time and effort trying to adjust your investment portfolio in response to low oil prices. In fact, you may well want to consult with your finan-cial professional to determine which moves might make sense for your individual situation. Yet there’s actually a bigger lesson to be learned here: Don’t overreact to temporary developments. The recent decline in oil prices has certainly had an eco-nomic impact, but no one can predict how long these prices will stay low or what other factors may arise that would affect the financial markets. That’s why you can’t reconfigure your portfolio based on particular events, whatever they may be — oil price drops, interest-rate fluctuations, political squabbles at home, natural disasters in faraway lands, and so on.

If you can keep from being overly influenced by specific events, you may be able to gain at least two key benefits: First, by not making trades constantly in reaction to the headlines of the day, you can avoid piling up heavy fees and commissions — costs that can reduce the return rate on your investments. Second, you’ll find that if you aren’t always thinking about what’s going on in the world today, you can focus your invest-ment efforts more intensely on where you want to be tomorrow. The most successful investors set long-term goals and don’t focus on factors they cannot control, such as oil prices, interest-rate changes or other economic events. Instead, these investors make adjustments, as necessary, to accommodate changes in their goals as well as other changes, such as revisions in tax laws — but they basically stick to their same approach for the long term.

So be aware of low oil prices, but don’t get so “pumped” about them that you sludge up your consistent investment strategy — because that strategy has the energy to keep you moving toward your important objectives.

This article was contributed by Roberto De Jesus of Edward Jones Investments in Dallas/Acworth - 678.574.5166

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What Do Low Oil Prices Mean For Investors?


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he spring allergy season has already started, with warm weather resulting in rapidly rising tree pol-len counts as early as February. People with aller-

gies can breathe easier this spring if they know how to take control of their spring allergies and practice a few key survival techniques.

What are the symptoms of spring allergies?

How do I avoid spring allergies?First, reduce your exposure to the pollens that trigger allergy symptoms. We recommend that patients:l Postpone outdoor activities till later in the morning. Pollens are usually highest between the hours of 5–10 am.l Know your local pollen count (caageorgia.com has a count daily). Wash all bedding and linens weekly in hot water.

l Shower and wash your hair each night before going to bed.l If possible, keep all windows and doors closed.l Be sure to use a filter mask when mowing the lawn or rak-ing leaves.

Medications to Treat Spring Allergy Symptoms:Although spring allergies can make both children and adults feel miserable, there are medi-cations that can help curb allergy symptoms. These medications are now over the counter and include:l Antihistamines. These medications help to control symptoms such as itching, sneezing, and runny nose.l Nasal Steroid Spray. Nasal corticosteroids, the stron-gest medication available for the treatment of allergies, controls allergy symptoms such as itchy, watery eyes, sneezing, congestion, and runny nose.

Allergy Shot Treatment for Spring and year around AllergiesIf you or your child dread spring because of allergy

T

health & fitness

symptoms, sinusitis or asthma prob-lems, don’t despair. There are treat-

ments to reduce and eliminate your spring allergies, Allergy shots, or immunotherapy, are an effective treatment option for both chil-dren and adults. Allergy shots are more effective and less expensive than relying on daily medica-tions, and they reduce the symp-

toms of allergies, including asso-ciated sinus problems by 80-90%.

Be sure to get your allergy shots from BOARD CERTIFIED ALLERGISTS

like those at the Center for Allergy and Asthma, as these shots are the strongest

and most effective available to treat allergy related problems.

Dr. Eugene Hurwitz is the medical director of the Center for Allergy and Asthma with 8 local locations to serve you. See their ad on page 7 for loca-tions or call 770.766.5347 to set up an appointment.

By Dr. Eugene Hurwitz, Center for Allergy and Asthma of Georgia

Spring Allergies

Spring allergy symptoms can include:

l Runny nosel Itchy, watery eyesl Sneezing and coughingl Dark circles under the eyes

l Fatiguel Sinus problemsl Coughingl Wheezing

OurTown For Advertising information Call 770.222.2699 l [email protected] l OurTownFamily.com PAGE 19

For Advertising information Call 770.222.2699 l [email protected] l OurTownFamily.com Our Town* Must accompany recommended wellness consultation, medical evaluation, and/or lab work. These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. Individual results may vary. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.

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medical

s our younger athletes hit the hardwood, now would be a good time to review some of the common injuries in basket-

ball and what you can do for treatment and prevention.

ACL Tear:Anterior cruciate ligament tears are common in all “rapid change of direction” sports such

as basketball, football and soccer. This important ligament is the main stabilizer of the knee, and

once injured there is a high risk of further damage to internal structures like the meniscus and cartilage,

which can lead to early arthritis. Unfortunately the ACL is generally unable to heal by itself, and surgical reconstruction is required to re-stabi-lize the knee. Typically we make a new liga-ment using the patient’s own tissue – either from their patellar tendon or hamstrings.

Surgery is outpatient and walking in a brace with crutches is immediately allowed, but the rehabilitation process is lengthy. Most athletes are able to return to competi-tive sports 8-12 months after their operation.

Ankle Sprains/Fractures:Ankle injuries are frequent in basketball, with the typical cause being jumping up in the air for a shot or rebound and landing on another player’s foot. Most fractures involve the distal fibula (lateral part of the ankle) and are typically treated non-opera-tively as long as there is not significant displacement. Most fractures completely heal by 6 weeks – and we temporarily immobilize the patient in a cast or walking boot during that process. Ankle sprains can actually be more difficult to recover from if not handled properly. Once the soft tissues are stretched out it is extremely important to undergo proper rehab to help re-strengthen the ligaments, otherwise there is a high risk for repetitive sprains. The most common ligament injured is the ATFL (anterior talofibular ligament). In some cases we will see a “high-ankle sprain” which is more severe involving the syndesmotic ligaments. When returning to basketball after an ankle injury we recommend either having a trainer tape the ankle or wearing a lace up ankle brace.

Jumper’s Knee (Osgood-Schlatter Disease):This is a common problem in our younger athletes, especially those who are still growing and have yet to close their growth plates. The bony bump on the front of your leg just below the knee is called the tibial tubercle, and this is where your entire extensor mechanism attaches (quadriceps tendon/patella/patellar tendon). The typi-cal age for this bone to completely fuse to the rest of your tibia is 14 in girls and 16 in boys. Prior to that, repetitive jumping causing stress on that growth plate which can cause pain and swelling. Most patients do well with non-surgical management, consisting of rest, ice, anti-inflammatories, and strengthening exercises. Even when symptoms resolve, some patients will always note an excessive prominence in that area – although it should not be painful.

Achilles Tendon RuptureAchilles injuries can be devastating, and we tend to see these in our “older” recre-ational athletes playing basketball. As we age our tendons get more stiff and brittle, and the Achilles is what we primarily use to push off with when jumping. Most patients describe a feeling of “getting shot, smacked, or kicked” in the back of the heel, but then realize nothing has struck them. The diagnosis is easily made in clinic by feeling a palpable defect, and typically the patient cannot push their foot towards the ground. Achilles tears like the ACL generally require surgery, however we are usu-ally able to use suture to sew the tendon back together. Rehabilitation is important; most people can start some light jogging about 4 months after surgery, but it takes longer to return to competitive sports.

Donald Fowler, M.D. is an orthopaedic surgeon with OrthoAtlanta - 770-445-5666 or visit www.orthoatlanta.com.

A

By Donald Fowler, M.D.

* Must accompany recommended wellness consultation, medical evaluation, and/or lab work. These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. Individual results may vary. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.

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gardening

ith spring near, our clocks SPRING FORWARD an hour on March 13. Paulding County UGA Extension and their friends will herald spring’s arrival through a series of countywide events. These events are part of a continuous

outreach to the community supported by the University of Georgia Extension and Paulding County. They are fun, interesting and informative seminars aimed at our helping our community to live, learn and prosper with local experts taking center stage.

In previous years Spring Forward Paulding has been a day long festival, but this year, the Paulding County UGA Extension Agriculture and Natural Resources Program Development Team has decided to spread the festival activities out over a week and take the events on the road. In collaboration with the Paulding County libraries, Elrod Garden Center, Master Gardener Extension Volunteers, Paulding County 4-H, Keep Paulding Beautiful and the Paulding County Water Department, you’ll find something for everyone and events that are happening in your part of the county!

Learn about vegetable and landscape gardening, water conservation, and farming practices from experts! Events are free and open to the public, but in some cases space may be limited.

March 9-March 19 - Spring Forward Paulding Events Schedule Choose the events that suits your interest and schedule!March 9 Seed Starting - Master Gardener Mickey Gazaway-Crossroads Library 5:30 pmMarch 12 Spring Fling! 9 am – 2 pm-Tractor Supply in Dallas-Paulding County 4-H Horse and Pony club will offer activities, games, food for sale, pony rides for $5 and information on soil and forage testing for pasture managersMarch 15 6 pm, Enhancing the Safety of Locally Grown Produce-Paulding County Extension Office, Training for local Farmers Market VendorsMarch 15 Composting, Hiram Library, 5:30 pm with Master Gardener Marguerite ToddMarch 19 Vegetable Gardening, Dallas Library, 2 pm, Master Gardener Robbie CheathamMarch 19 Ask a Master Gardener at Local Garden Centers from 10 am – 2pm. Master Gardeners will help you as you plan for your spring gardening tasks!March 19 Organic Gardening Class, New Georgia Library, 2pm with Patti Cook from Spreading Oaks FarmMarch 19 Native Trees for the Landscape, Crossroads Library, 2 pm with Mary Carol Sheffield, Paulding County Agriculture and Natural Resources Agent

For more information about Spring Forward Paulding, you may contact the UGA Cooperative Extension office in Paulding County at 770-443-7616, [email protected] or visit www.ugaex-tension.com/paulding. The Extension office provides unbiased, research-based, educational resources and classes in three program areas -- Agriculture & Natural Resources, 4-H Youth Development and Family & Consumer Sciences.

W

Contributed By Mary Carol Sheffield, Paulding County Extension Coordinator

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“Hidden Gem” Creekside Hike at Sweetwater State Park, Lithia SpringsMarch 13 - Sunday 1pm – 4pm Hike to a little-known “hidden gem” area around the mill ruins at Sweetwater Creek. Sturdy, closed toe shoes are required. Meet at the Visitors Center. $10 plus $5 parking (cash only). For more information call 770-732-5871.

Empowering Women Fashion Fling presented by Cobb EMC March 15; Tuesday 11am – 1pm at Che’ne RougeFASHION FLING featuring two special workshops: “Shop Your Closet” and “Brush up your Make-Up” ($20/mem, $25/non-mem). Visit pauldingchamber.org or call 770-445-6016

Spring Atlanta Home Show at Cobb Galleria CentreMarch 18, Friday; 10:00am - 6:00pm March 19, Saturday; 10:00am - 7:00pm March 20, Sunday; 11:00am - 5:00pm Admission $10.00. For Additional Information, Call 770-998-9800

WELSHfest 2016 in Downtown RockmartMarch 19; Saturday 9am – 5pm WELSHfest is the only Welsh centered festival in Georgia! The Festival features great Welsh & Local entertainment; fun and educational events; vendor village! Fun for the whole family. For more info visit http://welshfest.vpweb.com/

Georgia Classic Rides Block Party and Car Cruise* - Downtown DallasMarch 26; 4th Saturday of the month; 4pm - 9pmGeorgia Classic Rides block party and car cruise. Beautiful cars, great people, and family fun! For membership and photos visit georgiaclassicrides.com

Northwest Georgia 8th Annual Women’s Expo and Artisans’ Market March 26; Saturday 9am – 3pm at Clarence Brown Conference CenterThe expo will feature 90 exhibitors showcasing great products and services for women. Cash and door prizes; Free health screenings; Live entertainment; Great food and more! Admission is $5.00. Visit NWGAWomensExpo.com for info.

Soldier and Civilian Life during the Civil War April 2; Saturday 10am – 4pm at Pickett’s Mill Battlefield Historic SiteLearn about the life of Soldiers and Families during the Civil War. $3 - $5.50. For more information call 770-443-7850.

Dallas Food Truck Friday on Main Street Dallas*April 8; Friday 6pm – 9pm Delicious BBQ, American fare, Italian, Mexican and more. Plus cupcakes, funnel cakes and other sweets. Live Music, Games, and Facepainting!

10th Annual Dallas City Yard Sale – Main Street Dallas April 9; Saturday 9am – 3pmFor more information visit www.dallasgeorgiama.com

Ongoing Monthly Events-During Holidays confirm dates/times with coordinator

Book Writers Critique Group*Every Wednesday 1pm - 2:30pm at Starbucks - Crossroads8655 Hiram Acworth Hwy, Dallas. [email protected] or simply stop by.

Dallas Rotary Club at Audrey’s Café*Thursdays; 7:30am networking, 8am meetingContact Madge Lovingood 770-439-7991 with any questions.

Lighthouse Food Pantry*Thursday of the month (except holidays) 11am-1pmFREE food for those in need. Open to the first 200 families or until food runs out. *Restrictions apply. The food bank is located at 294 White/ Ingram Parkway Dallas. Call 678-363-7470 for more information.

Manna Food Ministry - Feed the Hungry*Offering affordable, pre-packaged, high-quality nutritious food boxes. Visit MannaFoodMinistry.org to see menu and cutoff date for orders. 678-310-9660. Major credit cards accepted. Located at 460 S. Johnston St, Dallas, 30132.

**Email events to [email protected], by the 12th of the month. *Please follow sam-ple in calendar; 50 WORDS OR LESS; SPACE IS LIMITED! Put “Event” in the subject line. RESTRICTIONS APPLY.

Continued from page 11more calendar of events

Our Town For Advertising information Call 770.222.2699 • [email protected] PAGE 25Our Town For Advertising information Call 770.222.2699 l [email protected] l OurTownFamily.com PAGE 25

770-852-88544215 Jimmy Lee Smith Pkwy, Hiram(Between Hobby Lobby and Stevi B’s Pizza)

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Continued from Pg. 5

Blake Westbrook - #9-Paulding County High School

Blake is the son of Larry and Nicole Westbrook. He has played baseball for fifteen years and plays in the demand-ing defensive position of Shortstop for the Patriots. He looks forward to a winning season with his teammates and hopefully making it to the playoffs. Upon finishing at PCHS, Blake plans to go to EMT School at Faithful Guard-ian and become a firefighter.

Jacob Kincaid - #11 - South Paulding High School

Jacob is a pitcher and outfielder for the South Paulding Spartans and has played the sport for fourteen years. He is looking forward to his senior year and playing along-side his “brothers” one last time. Also at SPHS he is in-volved in Beta Club, National Honor Society and Spartan Brothers. After graduation Jacob plans to attend Ken-nesaw State University and study Engineering. He is the son of Ed and Jean Kincaid.

These players have a busy season ahead of them and we hope you’ll check out a game and cheer them on! Their game schedules are available online at: East Paulding High School - http://www.epraidersbaseball.com/ Hiram High School - http://hiramathletics.com/baseball/baseball-schedule/ North Paulding High School - http://www.northpauldingwolfpackbaseball.com/ Paulding County High School - http://www.pchsbaseball.com/index.html South Paulding High School - http://www.southpauldingbaseball.com/

We appreciate the assistance from the high school’s Athletic Directors and Head Coaches for sending these players for the second annual Our Town baseball cover. Paulding is truly blessed with these amazing young men. A special thanks to Coach Shane “Pecos” Galamore at South Paulding for accommodating our shoot and allow-ing us access to the locker room and field.

more about the coverDREW AMANDOLIA

iram’s own Drew Amandolia picked up his first camera just a short year ago, and is quickly becoming one of the area’s

most trusted photographers. After receiving his educational foundation from Praise Academy, a local Christian school, and the area’s collegiate up-and-comer Kennesaw State University, Drew picked up this new career path as a means of capturing the beauty of his ever changing com-munity.

Raised in the local skateboarding and music scenes, he has been surrounded by the style of these highly individualistic groups since he was a young boy. Inspired by the fast-moving pace of his friends and their energy to create, picking up a camera seemed like the greatest way to contribute to the art that surrounded him. Drew has photographed bands all throughout the Atlanta area and Nashville, a city in which he would eventually like to base his work out of.

A combination of these alternative crowds against beautiful backdrops ranging from the streets of Atlanta to our towering pines gives Drew’s work a highly characteristic style that makes every shot its own piece of art. One can only imagine how much more this highly talented young artist will grow in the next several years, and where his lens will take Paulding’s native son.

Drew is currently booking appointments for all kinds of work, ranging from birth announcements and wedding events to your high schooler’s senior pictures. Along with capturing your most precious memories, Drew’s photography promises to cap-ture everything about your event that makes it unique. His work is available to view at amandolia.com. Contact him at [email protected].

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feature photographer

Our Town For Advertising information Call 770.222.2699 • [email protected] PAGE 27Our Town For Advertising information Call 770.222.2699 l [email protected] l OurTownFamily.com PAGE 27Our Town For Advertising information Call 770.222.2699 l [email protected] l OurTownFamily.com PAGE 27

raise Academy is a private Christian school serving metro Atlanta and the tri-county

communities of Cobb, Paulding, and Douglas. They partner with Christian families by providing the very best in Christian education; a system where students can achieve academic excellence, a life long commitment to Christ, and a pas-sion for success. They believe that “our children are God’s greatest gift to the family” and their philoso-phy is anchored by three pillars: “Christ First, Self-worth and Academics.”

Praise Academy has a proven track record. Celebrating over 30 years of Christian education, Praise Academy has provided students with a level of education that has helped them achieve their long term goals at a collegiate academic level. Praise Academy is fully accredited by the Association of Christian School International (ACSI) and by AdvancED, The Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS).

At Praise Academy children are taught to think and live biblically in a loving and stable environment. There is a strong family atmosphere shared by the faculty, staff, students and parents. Their administration has over 50 years of combined experience in Christian education. The teachers are certified and Governance is by an expe-rienced school board. There are over 375 students at

Praises Academy in K-3 through 12th grade; large enough to incorporate many co-curricular activ-ities and small enough to keep the family envi-ronment. The curriculum is regularly reviewed, meticulously evaluat-ed, and consistently improved to reflect “best practices” in education.

Praise Academy offers a wide range of exceptional oppor-tunities for cultural, athletic, and community service

P

education profileinvolvement. Students can participate in Chess Club, the Art Club, Photography Club, the Robotics Club, and more. In fact, the High School Robotics Team, Twisted Axles, are the 2016 state champions. They were unde-feated and earned the highest score posted in the state of Georgia. They are on their way to Super Regionals in San Antonio, TX.

Praise Athletics has exceptional programs that are com-mitted to providing their students with competitive sports while encouraging Christ-like behavior among the student-athletes. At Praise Academy students can participate in Varsity and Junior Varsity Football, Boys and Girls Basketball and Volleyball, and Cheerleading. Most Our sports teams reach the region and state finals

in the GICAA.

Praise Academy offers the most com-petitive tuition rates among accredited schools in the metro-Atlanta area. You can see the Tuition Comparison Chart under Tuition and Fees section on their website.

Praise Academy is located at 4052 Hiram LithiaSprings Road in Powder Springs. If you would like more infor-mation or would like to schedule a tour, call them at 770-943-2484, ext. 2. You can find more information and enrollment forms on their website: www.PraiseAcademy. com.

PRAISE ACADEMY

Celebrating Over 31 Years of Christian Education

GRADES K3 - 12n SACS & ACSI Accredited (Don’t accept less in accreditation)n Certified Teachersn Dual Enrollment Classes (College Credit)n Chess, Robotics, Music, Drama, Art Clubsn Before & After School Care

n Christ Centered Programn Biblical World Viewn Christian Self-Imagen Sports Program (Tackle Football, Basketball, Baseball and other sports)

770-943-2484 www.PraiseAcademy.com4052 Hiram Lithia Springs Road, Powder Springs, GA 30127

Why Choose Praise Academy?

Now AcceptingApplications for the 2016-2017

Academic Year

Call for an Appointment

“Growing Disciples to make Disciples through Christian Education” (Matthew 28:19)

PRAISE ACADEMYFOOTBALL

Iliana “Angel”, born 3/2005, is an engaging, artic-ulate, insightful and stylish African American/Caucasian girl with high self-esteem and a desire to stay busy. She loves chorus, ballet and dance and enjoys practicing her dance routines as well as performing. This imaginative child also enjoys playing in the back yard, doing arts and crafts, putting puzzles together and playing games. Intelligent and self-motivated, Angel is a good student who loves to learn, enjoys studying and excels in school, especially in reading. Angel needs a loving adoptive family who will provide her with the attention, support, encourage-ment and nurturing environment she needs to continue to thrive. Her family will also need to support her desire to maintain her relation-ship with her foster mother as well as her need for ongoing therapy.

Iliana ‘Angel’aulding Stars is an exciting initiative created through the partnership of Paulding Family Connection Children’s Cab-inet, Paulding County Department of Family and Children

Services and Our Town Magazine. Each month, Paulding Stars will showcase a local child who is legally available for adoption; a child or sibling group waiting for a forever family. In Paulding County, there are 146 children in foster care. Many of those

children will be reunified with family members but some children, for any number of reasons, may never be returned to their biological family. Those are the children that will be featured each month in Paulding Stars; children in need of permanent, loving families. If you are interested in becoming a foster or adoptive parent please contact 1-877-210-5437 or 770-335-9757.

Paulding

StarP


Hi! My name is Mingo (DOB ~5/10/2012), a brown tabby and white Maine Coon mix. Aren’t I a handsome fellow? I am front-paw declawed, full of personality, and I’m looking for my new home. I am very affection-ate and would love a lap to snuggle on! And because I am not real fond of dogs, I would probably do best in a cat-only home. I do have a best feline friend I’d love to go with me, and her name is Cinderella – she’s a Maine Coon mix too (but we can talk more about that later!). Just look into my eyes . . . I am very even tempered - a real love bug, and I just need a good home! Might it be yours? I am neutered, up-to-date with vaccines, negative for Feline FIV/FeLV, dewormed, have received flea preventative, and will be microchipped and be eligible to receive at least 30 days of prepaid pet health insurance at the time of adoption. My adoption fee is $125.00. To see our cats available for adoption, please visit www.fancyfelinerescue.org/available.htm; then com-plete our online Adoption Application, www.fancyfelinerescue.org/adoptapp.htm, or email us, [email protected], to schedule an appointment to meet your new family member. And don’t forget to join us on Facebook, www.facebook.com/FancyFelineRescue! ***Fancy Feline Rescue of the South is in dire need of foster families and volunteers to help with cleaning, feeding, and socializing our cats at the Rescue Center to helping out at our weekend adoption events four times a month at the Kennesaw Petsmart. If you are willing to give of your time and your heart to help our kitties, please complete our online Volunteer Application at www.fancyfelinerescue.org/volapp.htm. The gratification of knowing you make a difference in the lives of these deserving cats is overwhelming.*** Fancy Feline Rescue of the South is a licensed, non-profit, no-kill rescue organization dedicated to individual attention and excellent care to homeless cats, working hard to find them good homes.

Available for Adoption:

Mingo

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Our Town For Advertising information Call 770.222.2699 • [email protected] PAGE 29


pet news

l Is Your Dog in Need of Training? Group classes, private lessons & Board & Train programs are available.l Rates Starting at $25 Per Night for Dogs!l Rates Starting at $14 Per Night for Cats!l Exclusive Cat Room!l Large Outdoor Areas Covered & Uncovered!l Offering Our Respected Military a Discount on All Services!l Refer a Friend and Receive a Free Night (up to $25) Off Your Pets’ Next Visit!

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he grass is green, the flowers are budding and there’s something in the air that might lead you to consider buying a cute fluffy bunny, chick or duckling for Easter. Although such adorable creatures make wonderful photo opportunities

for your children or grandchildren on Easter Sunday, the story doesn’t end there.

Baby chicks grow into chickens with a life expectancy of 15 years or so. Hens will lay eggs for about 5 years, and roosters crow all their lives. How does a 3 a.m. wake-up call sound to you? Think flocks, because baby chicks are not loners. You would need a few to get started, and is that something you’re truly prepared for? Do your neigh-borhood ordinances allow farm animals?

Ducklings when grown require a bit of space, specifically 10 feet per adult duck. Like baby chicks, ducklings are happiest in a group. They’ll need a shelter from the ele-ments and a body of water. For the first four or five weeks, they need to be kept inside to keep them warm and to protect them from natural predators. In warmer weather, that initial time could be reduced to two or three weeks. In captivity, a duck’s life expectancy is 15 to 20 years. That’s a string of Easter Sundays!

Rabbits multiply quickly to make up for the fact that they’re “dangling at the bottom of the food chain” like the hyenas in Disney’s Lion King. They’re capable of being litter box trained, but the process may take extra time and patience. Many rabbits are skittish and don’t care to be cuddled and held - despite their appealing furry looks! Unfortunately, a threatened, cornered rabbit may bite.

Rabbits are happier with another rabbit companion, but getting the chemistry right is tricky. For example, males will fight, and two females are not a sure bet either. A neutered male and female are probably best together, and any bonding takes time. Although life spans vary by breed, an average life span is about 10 to 15 years. Like cats or dogs, each rabbit has an individual personality and could be a great addition to your household.

If you’re still serious about getting an Easter pet for that basket, it’s prudent to do a bit of research before you make a decision. Visit your local library, local Audubon Society Office or talk to your veterinarian. They will help you find the best pet for you and your family.

T

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Beth Mitchell, OwnerProfessional Grooming

by Tracie HaygoodKRITTERS Country Club

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Hiram Animal HospitalEstablished 1985

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Puzzle Solution

MARCH

Cheepers, Quacky, & Twitch: A Tale of Live Easter Animals

By Hunter Graham


oodles!!! Seriously, how boring is that. We protest and are doing something more…seasonal. After all, Easter is this month and that means having to deal with a lot of leftover ham, dozens of hard-boiled eggs and chocolate Easter

bunnies! Here are a few ideas we found to help you figure out what to do with all the leftovers.

Leftover Chocolate BunniesIn a Ziploc bag, take a rolling pin to them and crush the life out of them. Then use the crumbs to sprinkle on:l ice cream l use in milk shakes l stir a few in a mug of hot chocolate l use in place of chocolate chips for making cookies l melt for dipping fruit and candy.

Remember the crumbs you don’t use, can be frozen for later use.

Leftover Ham – Chop and use in:l potato saladl scrambled eggsl omeletsl top baked potatoesl potato soupl scalloped potatoesl au gratin potatoesl pizza with pineapplel ham saladl chef salad

l ham sandwiches l add to macaroni and cheese to make a delicious casserole

Top tortillas with ham, salsa, and cheddar cheese. Warm in a toaster oven, then fold in half for a quick, hot ham and cheese sandwich. Also, make sure to save the ham bone for a bean or split pea soup (it can be frozen.) Also, remember to freeze any unused chopped ham.

Leftover Eggs – Use to make:The American Egg Board suggests that hard-boiled eggs have a shelf-life of one week so you’ll need to use these up quickly. Try these simple ideas:

l Spring Sandwich - Hard-boiled eggs, pickled onions and asparagus with French mustard on a freshly baked baguette. Oui! l Beet Juice Bunny - Just really cute–and healthy! Peel eggs and soak in pickled beet juice for two days.l Avocado and Egg Salad Sandwich – A nice, ripe avoca-do, Greek yogurt, fresh bread and hard-boiled eggs. l Brussel Sprouts and Chopped Egg Salad – peel the Brussels sprouts, sauté them, and then add chopped eggs, almond slices and sea salt.l Grilled Egg And Cheese – why not add a little protein to your grilled cheesel Chocolate Chip Cookies Made With Hard-Boiled Eggs? – Yes, cooks are now using chopped eggs whites in their cookie recipes with amazing results.l Power Breakfast - Broil an English muffin, sliced tomato, hard-boiled egg and moz-zarella cheese.l Fresh spinach salad with eggs and bacon – Popeye would be pleased!

You can also use them in your favorite recipes for potato, tuna, pasta and chef salads as well as good old deviled eggs.

DOWN1. “Chicago” lyricist2. ___ jacket3. An end to sex?4. Confederate soldier, for short5. Poured juices over6. A chorus line7. Radar image8. Fungal spore sacs9. Decide to leave, with “out”10. Confined11. Skin problem12. Assumed name13. Fortunate15. One bit per second20. “___ Lang Syne”22. End23. “Come in!”24. Pigeon shelters25. Came down27. Crows’ homes30. Cancel31. Babu32. Nonrigid airship34. Kind of board36. Flora and fauna37. Bit of high jinks38. Intimidate, with “out”

42. Catcall45. Fancy-schmancy47. Iodine compound48. Break time50. Belittle51. Those who work together52. In things54. Beach bird57. Kind of column58. ___ brat59. “Coriolanus” setting61. Census datum63. Store convenience, for short64. When doubled, a dance65. “The Joy Luck Club” author66. Arch

ACROSS1. Arabic for “commander”5. “Ali ___ and the 40 Thieves”9. In base 814. Used in batting cages16. W.W. I soldier17. Inflated18. Bartender’s supply19. Bliss21. Busiest22. 10 years26. Apprehensive28. Carbon compound29. Took part of33. Heirloom location35. Those without hair36. Protestant denom.39. Choppers, so to speak40. ___-Wan Kenobi41. Dilutes43. “48___”44. EROM46. Like a chimney sweep47. Heavy hydrogen, e.g.49. Auditory 50. Down’s opposite 53. Hook up 55. Actor Pitt 56. Raspy 60. Auspices 62. Prolongs 67. Jenny Lind, e.g.68. Type of Swiss cheese69. Antique auto70. Textile worker71. A bunch of

what’s cookin’cr

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2016 Our Town’s

Celebration of Food!

MarchNational Noodle Month – NOT!

OhhhhhNooooo!

Our Town For Advertising information Call 770.222.2699 • [email protected] PAGE 31Our Town For Advertising information Call 770.222.2699 l [email protected] l OurTownFamily.com PAGE 31

Photo by Drew Amandolia


We’re on Wallet Watch

GreyStone Power is an equal opportunity provider and employer.

greystonepower.com

*2015 summer rate survey by the Georgia Public Service Commission. Based on 1,000 kilowatt-hours monthly residential use.

With a rate reduction planned for the spring of 2016, and rates that are already among the lowest in the state,* GreyStone Power has been cutting costs to reduce rates.

We’ve held down operating expenses, negotiated lower power costs and worked with industry allies to ensure member concerns were heard on Capitol Hill.

The cooperative recently returned $5 million in capital credits to members and offers energy efficiency seminars, home energy audits and tips.

When it comes to power bills, GreyStone Power is on wallet watch. We’re working hard to provide you with reliable and cost-competitive electricity.

Otmag march16

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Transcript of Otmag march16