Our Town Magazine Paulding JUNE/JULY 2019 by ourtownfamilypaulding

THE PAULDING AREA’S FAMILY LIFESTYLE NEWS MAGAZINE

Our Town JUNE/JULY 2019

Hiram s Dallas s Cedarcrest s New Hope

Celebrate Summer ‘19 PERMIT #2397 TAMPA, FL

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Our Town

in this issue...

Hiram s Dallas s Cedarcrest s New Hope Publisher/Editor: Jules Fandos / Teresa Parrish Graphics and Design Our Town Media Group, Inc. Photography April Estes Reflective Images Photography Independant Sales Rep Stephanie Row GOHF

Contributing Writers: Anthony Osei Boateng, PhD BrandpointContent.com Roberto De Jesus Eveline Eppers Donald E. Fowler, III, MD Blair Lonergan Our Town Media Group, Inc. Dan Pervorse Andy Smith Robyn Tumlin

www.OurTownFamily.com 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 2019, belong to Our Town of Paulding. Reproduction in whole or in part is forbidden in any media without prior written permission from the publisher.

5, 24 6 8 11, 22 12 14 16 18 20 24 25 26 26

About the Cover: The Loftin Family Community Spotlight: CAYA Summer Lunch Program Gardening: Landscaping Ideas Calendar of Events Medical: Shoulder Impingement Syndrome Faith: Seeing God as Your Father Finance: Vacation and Retirement Investment Goals Home Improvement: Is Your Cool Not Cool Enough? Family Focus: Help Your Kids Learn All Summer Feature Photographer: April Estes Pets: Games You Can Play With Your Cat Whatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Cookinâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;: Doritos Taco Salad Crossword Puzzle

O ur T own M agazine

P.O. Box 614 Hiram, Georgia 30141 Telephone: 770-222-2699 Email: info@ourtownfamily.com

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About the Cover

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ohn and Lyndi Loftin celebrated nine years of marriage this past May and have two sons, Colton age 7 and Jordan age 5. John was born and raised in Paulding County. His parents are both retired from the Paulding County School System. Lyndi is originally from Ohio, but was living in Savannah when she met John. Mutual friends brought them together during a Fourth of July weekend in North Georgia and they have been together ever since.

Lyndi graduated from Ohio State University with a communication degree and is now a paralegal for The Plumley Law Firm in Dallas. John graduated from the University of Georgia with a degree in Housing; emphasizing consumer economics. He was also a place kicker for the Bulldogs for three years, and was a member of the 2002 SEC Championship and the 2003 Sugar Bowl Championship teams.

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John began working in the insurance industry in 2004 and found great joy in helping people by making sure they were covered for many of life’s surprises. In 2014, he decided to start his own insurance brokerage agency, so the plans were put in motion to start Fairway Insurance Group in Acworth. It was hard work for his family, but they are very proud of how the business has grown. Today, John runs sales and operations for all lines of insurance in Georgia, South Carolina, and Florida.

Accepting new patients from infants to adolescents. Dr. Lisa’s goal is to provide the highest individualized care possible.

The Loftin’s are an active, fun-loving family, and there is never a dull moment with two young boys. Colton and Jordan enjoy going to the putting green with their dad and hitting wiffle balls in the back yard. When asked what they want to be when they grow up, Colton says he wants to be an archaeologist, and Jordan says he wants to be a construction worker and a rock star on the guitar.

As a mother herself, and the only dentist in her practice, Dr. Lisa understands that your child’s well-being and your time is just as valuable as hers. That’s why we NEVER over book, and how we stay on schedule.

Summer is a special time of year for them. They enjoy swimming in their community pool, playing backyard games like life-size Jenga, hanging out with their cousins and travelling to Hilton Head to play on the beach, ride bikes and visit their family there.

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John and Lyndi grew up playing soccer and have passed their love of the sport on to their sons. Both boys play soccer for Paulding SSA Rec, and Lyndi is a coach for Jordan’s U5Team. Together the whole family are BIG fans of Atlanta United.

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Community Spotlight Great American Cookie and Marble Slab Creamery of Hiram

Paulding Summer Lunch Program

NOW OPEN!

By Dan Pervorse

he Paulding Summer Lunch program is in full swing right now as CAYA Ministries once again is serving children and families in need during their summer break from school. CAYA Reconciliation Ministries is working with a small army of volunteers and other supporting ministries and businesses to provide sack lunches to kids in our community during their summer break from school. Volunteers come together daily from numerous organizations (churches, businesses and other service organizations) throughout Paulding County to prepare and deliver more than 500 lunches a day.

Order Online at greatamericancookies.com 4484 Jimmy Lee Smith Parkway Suite E114 Hiram, GA 30141

The recipients of these lunches are children and youth who would typically receive a free or reduced price lunch at school. That service provided throughout the school year helps families who struggle financially to make ends meet, stretch their budget by not having to use their limited resources to purchase a school lunch or food to make a lunch for their kids to take to school. Over the past several years the Paulding County school system has averaged between 45% and 50% of the student body benefitting from the lunch program.

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Once summer hits many of these families struggle to shuffle those limited dollars to provide food for their kids who are home from school. Although The Summer Lunch Program cannot feed all of these kids on the school free lunch program, we are reaching as many as we can with the resources that we have. This summer program is designed to help them make it through the summer by providing a free sack lunch to the children of these families. In 2018, The Paulding Summer Lunch Program provided just over 20,000 sack lunches to the children in our community.

3698 Largent Way

This is a huge undertaking that depends greatly on volunteer involvement. Help is needed to donate supplies for the lunches and to help us make the lunches. All lunches are provided through the generous donations of people in our community. If you would like to volunteer, donate lunch supplies or give financially to this wonderful endeavor, please call:

Suite 201 l Marietta

Conveniently located across from The Avenue West Cobb

CAYA at 770-445-9303 or email us at info@CAYAministries.com

We provide an environment where kids can have a fun and happy dental experience while receiving the very best dental care available. Come tour our state of the art office with with themed rooms representing each continent from around the world.

Please consider coming along side of us to get involved in what God is doing right here in Paulding County as we serve lunches this summer to our children. He is bringing people together to enjoy being part of an uplifting and inspirational experience where friendships are developed as we share hope from God. Don’t miss out on lifting up someone that is discouraged, or being a smiling face to someone who really needs joy. The lunch program operates Monday through Friday mornings. There are many ways you can participate. Come help one time, once a week or all Summer long. Come alone, with friends or with your family. Help with food donations or financial donations. Call us or check us out on Facebook. You’ll find us on Facebook at “Paulding Summer Lunch.” Come see what can happen when you make yourself available to be used by Him.

Michael A. Rossitch, DDS, MS, PC Specialist in Pediatric Dentistry

770.420.6565

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Gardening

Landscaping Ideas to add Color, Texture and Interest

By Robyn Tumlin

ot summer days may not be perfect for working outdoors, but can be ideal for planning! From blooming shrubs, to annuals and perennials, there are plenty of ways to make your home inviting and appealing. Some of the best landscaping ideas include adding varying heights and creating spaces for outdoor entertaining. Landscaping ideas can be both attractive and functional. Dress Up Your Driveway Start by creating a plan for islands or focal points. Remember your maintenance needs and pick plants that when mature will not overshadow your lawn. Native trees such as magnolia or river birch can add interest and texture. Begin placing plants by height, tallest in the back. This could include a boxwood hedge with roses, annuals, and perennials. Blend a variety of colors, textures, and heights for a great look. Try knockout roses for color and lamb’s ears for texture. Greet Guests with Flowers Flowers always make a home seem more welcoming. Adorn your entrance with assorted annuals and perennials to keep your home fresh with color all year long. Petunia, Snapdragon, and even wildflowers are great additions to your entry.

Plant Rambling Vine Another way to make the most of your landscape is by planting lovely rambling vines. While your landscape design needs to have definition and structure, there is also a place for natural elements. There’s nothing more stately or romantic than French-inspired trellises covered in a delicate, flowering vine. Jasmine is a beautiful evergreen with elegant white blooms and a sweet fragrance. Other vines such as ivy can ramble under your shrubs and perennials. Grow Blooming Shrubs Blossoming flowers, shrubs, and trees make an incredible impact across a yard, and you can add color from foliage as well as blooms. Try high contrasts with deep burgundy framed with lime greens. Tea Olives are evergreens and add an extra bonus with a beautiful fragrance. Plan a Garden Surprise Design small hideaways where people can gather for food and drinks-even yard games. You can also get creative—a vertical wall of plants, a fountain, a statue, or a bench. You’ll create your own secret garden just moments from your front door. You can choose vintage varieties for a grandmother’s garden tribute, or an

herb garden for the cooking enthusiast. Vegetables are a must to educate young gardeners to enjoy what they have grown. A raised bed with tomatoes, peppers, and other favorite veggies is a fun weekend project. No need to till, and it can be moved to the perfect spot for appropriate sun. Enjoy Color Year-Round A great thing about gardening in the South is that we get treated to colorful flowers, leaves, or berries in every season. These are fantastic additions to your landscape, and you’ll love the accent that they offer to your front porch, mailbox, flowerbed, or backyard. Here are some seasonal flower ideas: Spring: azalea, daffodil, forsythia mandevilla, dogwood, wisteria, bearded iris, peony Summer: hydrangea, daylily, gardenia, crinum, lantana, crepe myrtle, impatiens, zinnia Fall: pansy, aster, sugar maple, beautyberry, ginger lily sasanqua camellia, holly, autumn crocus, mum Winter: winterberry, Colorado blue spruce, amaryllis, Lenten rose, rosemary, saucer magnolia, flowering quince, crocus Robyn Tumlin, is a Paulding County Master Gardener Extension Volunteer. These volunteers are trained experts, who answer questions about home horticulture, sustainable landscaping, and environmentally friendly gardening practices. For more information on gardening in Paulding, contact the Paulding County Cooperative Extension Office at 770-443-7616 or visit ugaextension.org/Paulding.

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Calendar of Events CHURCHES, NON-PROFITS, SCHOOLS: SEND US YOUR EVENTS!

Events for the Our Town Calendar are listed FREE (Restrictions Apply*-see pg 22 for instructions) **Dates, times and locations are always subject to change prior to printing. Please confirm with the event coordinator. For the full Calendar visit OurTownFamily.com

The Dallas Farmers Market-Regions Bank Parking Lot* Saturdays 8am – 12pm, Downtown Dallas, www.farmersdallas.com Get Outdoors/ National Trails Day June 1; Saturday 9am – 12pm Celebrate Nationals Trails Day by joining a guided hike through historical grounds and nature’s hideaways. The flexible hike will cover 1 to 4 miles and participation is specific to each individual. $3 child $5.50 adults 770-443-7850 12th Annual Penny McHenry Hydrangea Festival June 1-2; Saturday and Sunday at Douglas County High School For complete schedule, visit http://hydrangeafest.org/ 6th Annual 2019 Run with the Badges 5K/Glow Run - Seven Hills - Dallas June 7; Friday Kick off 6:30pm - Race at 9pm Sponsored by Paulding Public Safety Appreciation, Inc. Register early at www.run withthebadges.org. FREE Summer Concert with the Sons of Sailors from PCPRCA June 8; Saturday 8pm; Veterans Park Pack a picnic basket and bring a blanket so you can enjoy the music. Questions? 770445-8065 FREE Outdoor Movie from PCPRCA June 15; Saturday 7pm; Veterans Park Bring the family to see “Ralph Breaks the Internet” on the big screen! Questions? 770445-8065 1st Annual Paulding County Sheriff’s Office Car Show June 15; Saturday; 8:30am - 2pm Questions? https://www.carlblackhiram.com/blog/1st-annual-paulding-countysheriffs-office-car-show/

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Georgia Classic Rides “Block Parties”* - Downtown Dallas June 22 and July 27; 4th Saturday of the month; 4pm - 9pm Beautiful cars and family fun! www.georgiaclassicrides.com Experience the Eagles Presented by the GlowBand June 22; Saturday 7pm at the Dallas Theater Fun and entertaining double feature evening with two shows; Southern Rock Revue followed by Experience the Eagles. Questions? 678-386-4782 Purchase tickets at: www.showclix.com/event/experience-the-eagles Paulding County Master Gardeners Monthly Meeting June 26; Wednesday 10am at the Paulding County UGA Extension Questions? 770-443-7616 or www.ugaextension.org/paulding Dallas Food Truck Fridays Main Street – Dallas June 28; Friday 6pm – 9pm Thomas A. Dorsey Birthplace Festival in Villa Rica June 28 - 30; Friday - Sunday Celebrating Gospel Music, Blues and Jazz. Free Admission! Questions? http://down townvillarica.com/thomas-a-dorsey-festival/ 4th of July Celebrations and Fireworks Prime of Paulding Red, White & Boom Fireworks and Expo - Hiram June 29; Saturday Expo 5pm-8:30pm, Fireworks 9:30pm FREE admission at Ben Hill Strickland Park, Fun Zone, Live Music, Interactive Games, Exhibitors and Taste of Paulding. www.pauldingchamber.org Fourth in the Park Celebration - Marietta Square July 4th - Thursday; 10:00am SpringsFest on the 4th! - Powder Springs Park July 4th - Thursday; 4:00pm - 10:00pm Questions? www.springsfest4th.com

Events continued on pg 22

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PAGE 11

Medical Shoulder Impingement Syndrome in Tennis Players By Donald E. Fowler, III, MD, OrthoAtlanta

houlder pain is one of the most common physical complaints faced by tennis players. Consisting of several joints combined with tendons and muscles, the shoulder enables a great range of motion and strength in the arm, but we ask a lot of this complex structure, particularly in tennis. The dreaded rotator cuff tear is most feared, but seemingly less serious conditions, such as tendonitis, bursitis and shoulder impingement, can take a tennis player off his or her game, and ultimately out of the game if not diagnosed correctly, treated properly, and allowed the appropriate time to heal. Causes Activities that require repeated overhead arm movements, such as overhand tennis serves, can often bring about injury to the shoulder that irritate and cause inflammation. Dynamic instability (loosening) of the shoulder, typically caused over time by repetitive overhead activity, trauma, previous injury, poor posture, or inactivity can cause your rotator cuff to work harder, causing injury. Training too hard is a common cause of overuse injury to the shoulder. Common Symptoms Shoulder impingement can present the following symptoms: • Local swelling and tenderness in the front of the shoulder • An arc of shoulder pain when your arm is at shoulder height and/or overhead • Shoulder pain that can extend from the top of the shoulder to the elbow • Muscle weakness or sudden pain when reaching or lifting • Pain when putting your hand behind your back or head Surgical and Nonsurgical Treatment Options In most cases, initial treatment of shoulder impingement is nonsurgical, with patients experiencing gradual improvement and return to function after several weeks or months. Nonsurgical treatments may include rest, reduced activity, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medications (NSAIDs), physical therapy and possibly steroid injections. When more conservative treatment options do not relieve pain, minimally-invasive arthroscopic surgery is a frequently used technique to address shoulder impingement. A small camera is used to examine the affected area, and tiny instruments may be used to remove bone and soft tissue. When facing sudden or repeated shoulder pain, a trained orthopedic specialist can determine the cause of your shoulder pain and provide you with treatment options. Donald E. Fowler, III, MD, OrthoAtlanta, is an orthopedic surgeon specializing in sports medicine and shoulder disorders. Dr. Fowler serves as chair of surgery at WellStar Paulding Hospital. He is the Medical Consultant and Atlanta Affiliate physician to the New York Mets and has served as a sideline physician for the Chick-fil-A Kickoff Game, Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl and the BB&T Atlanta Open. Dr. Fowler sees patients at OrthoAtlanta offices in Paulding and The Battery Atlanta adjacent to SunTrust Park. Dr. Fowler serves as team physician to McEachern, Paulding County and Hiram High Schools. For more information regarding Dr. Fowler or to schedule an appointment, please call our OrthoAtlanta Paulding office, 770-445-5666 or visit www.orthoatlanta.com. OrthoAtlanta Paulding is located at 148 Bill Carruth Parkway, Suite 120 in the Paulding Outpatient South Pavilion. OrthoAtlanta proudly serves as the official orthopedic and sports medicine provider of the 2019 BB&T Atlanta Open, one of the top ATP Tour tennis events in the U.S., to be held from July 20 – 28 at Atlantic Station, Atlanta, Georgia. The players, coaches and officials rely on OrthoAtlanta to provide superior sports medicine expertise and service throughout the tournament.

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PAGE 13

Faith

Seeing

By Anthony Osei Boateng, PhD

good father is someone you can totally rely on at every time to provide all your needs. Having a very reliable father in place means you have no need to worry about your cares since you have the assurance that He will be there to solve and resolve every situation for you. Matthew 6:9 states “After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name” (KJV). When Christians go before God having the knowledge and mentality that He is their Father, it reduces their stress and tensions, and also strengthens their faith. Sometimes, Christians fail to realize that they have the best, most reliable and most efficient father, who is God and hence they fret and worry about their lives and needs. Jesus was aware of the perception the people had about God as their Father, so He said in Matthew 7:9-11 “Or what man is there of you, whom if his son ask bread, will he give him a stone? Or if he ask a fish, will he give him a serpent? If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good

GOD Seeing God as our Father is a great sign of humility which God always honors. In Matthew 23:8-11 when Jesus was teaching about humility He said: “but be not ye called Rabbi: for one is your Master, even Christ; and all ye are brethren. And call no man your father upon the earth: for one is your Father, which is in heaven. Neither be ye called masters: for one is your Master, even Christ. But he that is greatest among you shall be your servant “(KJV).

as Your

FATHER things to them that ask him?” (KJV) It is quite unfortunate that some Christians even trust their earthly fathers more than God. We should realize that our earthly fathers can only see what is physical, but God who is our Heavenly Father sees and knows all things. He knows the end from the beginning and always knows what is best for us. The fact that He has not answered a particular prayer request does not mean that He hasn’t heard our prayer or that he doesn’t care about us. Because He loves us, He always does things in His own time and in His own way for our good. What we need to do is to trust God as our Father who knows what is best for us and who works things together for our good.

So how can we change our perspective and see God as our Father? We can change our perspective by renewing our mind. We need to realize that God, being a very good Father, is interested in every area of our lives and wants to play a key role in it. But He can’t come uninvited, hence we should pray and invite God our Father to take charge of every area of our lives, and also to lead and guide us in all that we do. In this way, our lives will be transformed and all our burdens will be taken away. We can rest secured knowing that God is in charge of our affairs. May God our Father bless us all in Jesus’ name. Amen!

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You don’t need to be an athlete to have shoulder problems. Or issues with your joints, hips, hands or knees, for that matter. That’s why the orthopedic specialists within the Northside Cherokee Sports Medicine Network provide comprehensive care based entirely on your needs, no matter your age or athletic level. From the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of injuries to knee and hip replacement, we’ve got you covered. Call 770-517-6636 to find the location near you. Because there’s a lot riding on your health.

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PAGE 15

Finance Vacation and Retirement: Different Goals Require Different Investment Strategies

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

o achieve any of your financial objectives, you need to save and invest – that much is clear. But just how you save and invest may differ from goal to goal. Let’s look at two common goals to see the differences in your savings and investment strategies. The first goal we’ll consider is a dream vacation – one lasting a couple of weeks or more, possibly to an exotic locale. So, for the investments you’ve designated to fund this vacation, you need two key attributes: liquidity and low risk. The liquidity requirement is pretty self-explanatory – you want to be able to get to your vacation funds exactly when you need them, and you don’t want to be slapped with some type of early withdrawal or tax penalty. The low-risk part of your vacation strategy means you want investments that won’t drop in value just when you need to sell them to use the proceeds for your trip. However, you need to be aware that those types of stable-value investment vehicles likely will not offer much growth potential. As you may know, the investments with the greatest possible rewards are also those that carry the highest degrees of risk. Yet, by starting to invest early enough in more conservative investments, and putting away money regularly, you may be able to compensate for the lack of growth opportunities. Now, let’s turn to your other goal – retirement. When you are saving for retirement, your primary objective is pretty simple: to accumulate as much money as you can. Consequently, you will need a reasonable percentage of your portfolio devoted to growth-oriented investments. But what’s a reasonable percentage? There’s no onesize-fits-all solution – the amount of growth investments in your portfolio should be based on several factors, including your age, risk tolerance and projected retirement lifestyle. Furthermore, this percentage may need to change over time. When you’re just starting out in your career, you may be able to afford to take on the greater risk that comes with having a higher percentage of your portfolio in growth investments. But as you get closer to retirement, you might want to begin shifting some dollars toward more conservative vehicles – you don’t want to be over-exposed to the volatility of the financial markets just when you need to start selling investments to help fund your retirement. Nonetheless, you won’t want to give up all growth investments, even during your retirement years. You could spend two or three decades as a retiree, and over that time, inflation could take a big toll on your purchasing power. To counter this effect, you will need to own some investments that have the potential at least to equal, and ideally outpace, the cost of living.

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The examples of taking that extensive vacation and enjoying a long retirement illustrate the importance of recognizing that you will have many goals in life – and you’ll need to prioritize and plan for them, sometimes following significantly different investment strategies. When you do, you’ll give yourself a better chance of reaching your destinations. This article was written by Edward Jones for use by Roberto De Jesus, your local Edward Jones Financial Advisor. 678-574-5166

PAGE 16

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PAGE 17

Home Improvement

ABC Stairs

Using your TAX REFUND not only increases your home’s value but gives you years of enjoyment in your home!

Is Your Cool Not Cool Enough

Changing the look of your home is as easy as ABC! Let ABC Stairs retrofit your old wooden balusters with beautiful new metal balusters or let us remodel your entire staircase to make your house look New!

Quick, Easy, and more Affordable than you think. By Eveline Eppers

BEFORE

f your cool is not cool enough in these Hot-Lanta temps, you most certainly will be contacting your local Heating and Air team. And, if you are like most homeowners, you didn’t prepare for an Air Conditioner (AC) breakdown or replacement.

Deciding whether the repair or replacement option is better for you and your wallet is important to your comfort. Don’t get caught in buyer’s remorse. Sitting in a stifling home without AC, can create a sense of urgency that may cloud your judgement. These tips will help prepare you when you are faced with a HVAC repair or replace situation.

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How Old Is Your Air Conditioner? Most HVAC systems have a 10-15 year life span. This doesn’t mean your 10 year old system needs to go straight to the scrap yard. However, this is a good time to start preparing for the inevitable cost. Some factors you may want to consider with an older system are; the frequency of repairs, energy costs, and your comfort. If you find that your summer energy costs increase and your comfort has decreased, start researching replacement options.

AFTER

Call for a Free In Home Estimate. 678-207-8106

What is the Frequency and Cost of Repairs? An AC breakdown repair bill may be lower than a potential replacement, but if you find you’re calling out your AC technician multiple times a season, you may benefit from a new unit. Consider your HVAC system like you would a vehicle. Depending on the age and type of car, you may opt to trade it in for that new car smell. The mileage and age of your vehicle, combined with expensive repair costs, may warrant a shiny new ride! The same applies to your HVAC unit. You may be asked to pay costly repairs. A shiny new HVAC system can offer you better air flow, increased comfort, a new warranty, plus peace of mind! This formula may help you decide: Cost of Repair x Age of AC Unit < $5000 = Repair Cost of Repair x Age of AC Unit > $5000 = Replace Should R-22 Influence Your Decision? Yes! The phase out of R-22 has driven the costs of the refrigerant up. HVAC units that were charged with R-22 refrigerant stopped production in 2010. The complete phase out of this refrigerant is mandated by the year 2020. If your system requires the addition of refrigerant, that means there is a leak that needs to be addressed. You can either choose to replace the evaporator coil or the whole system. Make sure to get a number of replacement estimates and choose the right company for the job. Hire a Company with Your Best Interests in Mind With so many options, it can be confusing which company has your best interests at hand. If you don’t feel comfortable with the company, get another’s advice. If you feel pushed into making a quick decision, take a moment to ask questions or sleep on it. Salesmen count on your sense of urgency to push you into a sale. You should never hesitate to get a second opinion on your repair or replacement. One short appointment can save you thousands! Eveline Eppers is the Owner of Guardian Heating, Air, Plumbing & Electrical. For more information regarding your HVAC system, go to www.guardianexperts.com

PAGE 18

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Family Focus

Help Your Kids Learn All Summer

id you know 92% of teachers agree that students will be more successful overall if they keep learning during the summer months? Here are five ideas to keep your kids’ minds and bodies active all summer, so they’ll be eager to pick up where they left off when the new school year begins. 1. Plan fun field trips. Take advantage of your community’s attractions, museums or historical sites that offer wonderful learning opportunities, as well as being really fun outings the whole family can enjoy. Find interesting locations to visit online, involving older children in the search. Use trips to the zoo, farm or museum as learning opportunities by engaging your children in a little pre-trip research, exploring the background of the animals, artwork or history of the location beforehand to get them excited. Plan what you’ll do when you get there, and follow up with a related activity after you get home. Many family-friendly venues offer learning materials and guides for schools and parents, so call or check their website ahead of your trip! 2. Visit your public library. Most libraries offer summer reading programs to encourage kids to read, as well as fun events for infants through

middle-schoolers. Older students love choosing their own books and delving into reading for pleasure that they may not have time for during the school year. And all reading helps children develop their vocabulary and reading comprehension.

ting. Pages are numbered for each day, making it easy for kids to complete the activities on their own, with plenty of time left in the day for play! 4. Find summer camps. Any parent knows that kids thrive with structure, so finding day camps or other group activities your children will enjoy is a terrific idea. Whether built around physical activity, creative pursuits or specific interest, find programs that include skills you want to see your child keep up, like reading, writing, math, science or physical education. Classes that encourage your child’s curiosity and keep them engaged will help your children learn even while they’re socializing and having fun.

3. Invest in daily learning activities. Help your kids retain skills in math, reading and language arts, as well as exploring science, social studies, fitness and character development with Carson Dellosa Education’s Summer Bridge Activities workbooks, available in paperback and eBooks. Just 15 minutes a day of fun, age-appropriate activities and hands-on projects help children review skills and knowledge learned the previous year. Then the lessons transition into exploring exciting new levels of learning to prepare them for the coming school year.

5. Involve the whole family. If one set of skills or area of knowledge you want your child to develop is not your strong suit, enlist help from a grandparent or other relative to spark your child’s interest. Often learning about hobbies or the career of someone they know has more impact than just telling them that math is useful in real life, for example. Learning how to measure correctly to build a treehouse with grandpa is a great - and practical - lesson in using math skills.

Summer Bridge Activities provide recommended reading lists, plus handy flash cards that are easy to use, even on the go. Designed for preschool through eighth grade and aligned with state standards, these award-winning, teacher-recommended workbooks include monthly goal-set-

Summer is all about fun and relaxation, but it’s easy to include effective learning with a little planning and creativity. To invest just 15 minutes a day to help your children be ready for the next grade, visit summerbrains. com. (BPT)

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PAGE 20

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PAGE 21

More Calendar

Continued from page 11

4th of July Concert – Fireworks - Cauble Park, Acworth July 4th - Thursday; 5:30pm; Fireworks at Approximately 9:30pm IndepenDance at the Pole Barn - Concert and Fireworks at Taylor Farm Park July 6; Saturday; Festivities 5pm, Concert 7pm, Fireworks 9pm Bring your picnic basket and a blanket, and get set for an evening of music, food, fun and games. Questions? Paulding County Parks & Recreation 770445-8065 Junior Ranger Road Trip at Pickett’s Mill Battlefield July 11-13, Thursday – Saturday 8am-12pm Enroll your child now for the Junior Ranger Program; open to ages 6 to 12. They’ll earn patches and badges while learning about the Battle of Pickett’s Mill through fun, challenging activities. $60 per child. To register call 770-443-7850. Raccoon Creek Bluegrass Festival Paulding Meadows/Earl Duncan Park July 12 and 13 – Friday 6pm – 10pm and Saturday 12pm – 10pm Questions? http://www.raccooncreekmusic.com/ Dallas Food Truck Fridays Main Street – Dallas July 19; Friday 6pm – 9pm 42nd Annual Homespun Festival in Polk County July 19 – 20; Friday 5:30pm - 9:30pm and Saturday 8am – 6pm Fireworks - Saturday at 9:00pm Questions? 678-883-9255 VOLUNTEERS NEEDED - ‘Feed the Hungry’ August 31; Saturday - Keystone Baptist Church needs 500 volunteers for one hour each to pack 50,000 meals in four hours. Volunteer or make a donation. Keystone Baptist Church, 3303 Dallas Hwy NW, Acworth. Register/Donate/Questions? http://www.keystoneonline.org. VOLUNTEERS NEEDED - CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocate) Paulding is seeking volunteers to advocate for the best interests of abused and neglected children in Juvenile Court. Questions on how you can help a child in foster care find a safe, permanent home call 770-505-0065 or email rlundy@casapaulding. org. Visit casapaulding.org to learn more.

Soaps in the South

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED - Helping Hands of Paulding - Pantry Volunteer, Case Managers, Store Pick-Up, Back-up Truck Driver, Clothing Center Volunteer, Fundraiser Volunteer and Grant Writer. Questions? 770-443-1230

August 24-25, 2019 Alpharetta, Georgia

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED - Keep Paulding Beautiful – Help us create a clean environment in which to live, work, and play. www.KeepPauldingBeautiful.org. ONGOING MONTHLY EVENTS - Confirm dates/times with coordinator: Book Writers Critique Group Every Wednesday 6:00pm - 7:30pm at Wendy’s - Crossroads 8659 Hiram Acworth Hwy. Dallas. Information? Email writers_muse@att.net or call 678-414-6146, leave a message Dallas Rotary Club at Rodney’s* Every Thursday; 7:30am networking, 8am meeting Questions? 770-439-7991 Paulding County Singles Ages 50 and Over* 2nd Tuesday of the month; 6pm at Los Arcos Mexican Restaurant, Hiram Paulding Singles 50 and Over on Facebook or call Phyllis Coble at 678-247-6499. Paulding Literacy Council Programs: Learn more by calling 770-974-5531 l Become An Adult Reading Tutor - tutors needed; training provided. l Learn and Improve Your Reading Skills - Tutoring sessions for Paulding residents. l English classes on Mondays and Wednesdays. To register, call 678-460-1587 l Class instruction for GED. To register call 678-460-1587

Join us in Hotlanta for a private Backyard BBQ/Pool Party, plus Breakfast with the Actors, and much more!

Paulding Photography Club – Downtown Dallas* 2nd and 4th Thursdays of the month; 7pm Meetings are at 122 Main Street, Dallas. Monthly competitions, field trips, etc. For more information visit www.facebook.com/PauldingPhotographyClub.

For details email lisalynch@campdreamga.org

ALL PROCEEDS go directly to CAMP DREAM! PAGE 22 PAGE 22

**Email events to info@ourtownfamily.com, by the 15th of the month. *Follow sample in calendar; 40 WORDS OR LESS; SPACE IS LIMITED! RESTRICTIONS APPLY. For Advertising information Call 770.222.2699 • ourtownmagazine@bellsouth.net Our Town

For Advertising information Call 770.222.2699

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EAGLES Experience the

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GlowBand’s eight performers presents “Experience the Eagles,” a non-stop tour of the Eagles’ top hits. The music, vocals and amazing 4 to 6 part harmonies are breathtaking, absolutely note-perfect reproductions of the quintessential “Eagles’ Sound.” This must-see production has sold-out every show.

Dallas Theatre - Saturday, June 22nd at 7:00pm Tickets on Sale at:

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PAGE 23

Feature Photographer

More About the Cover

APRIL ESTES

Continued from Pg. 5

It is clear the Loftin’s love each other, their life, and every second they spend together living it!

pril Estes is a native of Paulding County and has been married to her high school sweetheart for 16 years. They are blessed with four beautiful children who have become the inspiration and heartbeat of her business. April graduated from Kennesaw State University in 2002 with a BBA in Finance. She spent several years in her career until the birth of her first son. Although she always had an interest in photography, this is what altered her career path. She became passionate about the opportunity to be able to preserve and capture every sweet little moment. The emotions that can derive from a photograph are what inspired her to pursue the industry so that she could help bring that happiness to others. She began classes at the Showcase School of Photography and officially opened her own photography business in 2008. Reflective Images Photography is in its tenth year of business and April has been blown away how God has blessed her. The opportunities her career has unveiled and the many friendships she has developed through this journey have been such an encouragement of God’s provision and plan for her life and her business. April is an on-location photographer and offers sessions for whatever is special and dear to your heart. Whether you are growing your family, about to send him off to college or preparing to walk her down the aisle, April would love the opportunity to capture these important milestones and memories so they can be cherished forever. To contact her about booking a session, please visit www.reflectiveimagesphoto. com or email reflectiveimagesphotography@gmail.com

Lyndi shares, “John is a wonderful husband and amazing father.” Owning his own business has allowed John to have the flexibility to be there for Colton and Jordan’s activities. His favorite part of being their Dad is “watching them grow and seeing their different personalities come out; and loving each and every one of their little mannerisms.” Every day is a blessing, but John’s idea of a perfect Father’s Day is spending the day with his own father and two sons, grilling out and playing soccer in the backyard. Happy Father’s Day John!

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Our Town Our Town

Pet News Games You Can Play With Your Cat

www.hiramanimalhospital.com

By Andy Smith

few tips before starting: If your cat accidentally hurts you, let them know your disapproval by saying “ouch!” or “no!” and quit playing with them for half an hour or more. If you do this consistently, they will learn to be gentler with you. Don’t take play to the point where they are very scared of an object or of you. Choose a couple of sounds to use during some games and they will learn the sound means it’s game time. This lets you make fake threatening sounds and they will know they are safe. Choose a word or sound to let them know when you are done playing, too, so they won’t attack your hands while you are doing something else or trying to sleep. A classic cat game is to have them “hunt for burrowing mice.” Just run your hand underneath a blanket and let them pounce on top. Most cats can’t seem to resist a brown paper shopping bag left on the floor, but if yours need a little enticing, try scratching your finger at the back of the bag when they are near the opening. Fishing poles make great toys. All you need is a stick, a string, and some small, soft, bauble at the end like a knotted handkerchief or a stuffed mouse toy. Showdown is a game for a confrontational cat, once they know they can trust you. It’s best played once they know your signal of when to stop and how to be gentle. When they are batting at your legs or otherwise in a hunting mood, wave your arms up and down in front of them and make your playful fake fighting sounds. Don’t frighten them, and watch that they don’t get too serious, and it can be a fun game for both of you. Similarly, you can play, “en garde!” Find some object like a ruler or a pencil or hairbrush. That and their paws are the foils in your swordplay. If you want to get fancy, find a small laser pointer and watch your cat go wild trying to catch the dot of light. Do not let them stare directly into the laser source, but you can point the dot to a wall, or it’s particularly fun if you can sit in a position where you can point the laser from one end of the house to the other and back and forth. You won’t get tired, but they will get lots of exercise! Cats love being in the same room with you, and are sometimes waiting for your return just on the other side of a closed door. If there is a gap under the door, try poking a pencil or some other object underneath and see if paws appear when you pull it back.

Our Town Our Town

Available for Adoption: Hello everyone! We’re DILLY and DALLY (DOB ~10/28/2018), female Angora mixes. If you’ll notice, I, DILLY, have a blue eye and a green eye; and I, DALLY, have a precious grey spot on my head! We were surrendered to FFRS because our previous owner had too many cats and felt like she couldn’t provide appropriate care for us. We’re both sweet girls, full of love, enjoy our one-on-one attention, and we both love getting pets. Once we can learn to trust you, we are both quite affectionate. We get along well with other cats but are not sure how either of us feel about dogs. We promise, however, that we’ll provide you with years of love, laughter, loyalty, and companionship if you will give us the chance! We’d love to be adopted together - you’d get twice the love and affection for a lifetime! We are both spayed, up-to-date with vaccines, negative for Feline FIV/FeLV, dewormed, have received flea prevention, and will be microchipped and eligible to receive a 30-day free trial of pet health insurance at the time of our adoption. Our individual adoption fee is $125 each; but if you adopt both of us together, our adoption fee is $190

Dally

Dilly

To see some of our cats available for adoption, please visit www.fancyfelinerescue.org/available.htm; then complete our online Adoption Application, www.fancyfelinerescue.org/adoptapp.htm, or email us at FancyFelineResQ@bellsouth.net. And don’t forget to “LIKE” 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 and/or helping at our weekend adoption events two weekends 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.***

CROSSWORD PUZZLE SOLUTION

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PAGE 25 PAGE 25

What’s Cookin’

Crossword Puzzle

Doritos Taco

Salad

By Blair Lonergan, The Seasoned Mom

ho doesn’t love an easy, delicious salad for a quick summer-time dinner? This retro favorite is a blast from the past! If you’re a child of the 80’s, then you’ve definitely enjoyed this Doritos Taco Salad on a number of different occasions. It’s an easy dinner recipe and a crowd-pleasing party food that always wins rave reviews!

ACROSS

1. Antares, for one 5. Secrets 11. Trick taker, often 14. Yorkshire river 15. Gobs 16. Howard of “Happy Days” 17. Discontent 19. Grooved on 20. Floated 21. Ancient manuscript marks 23. Hex 26. More peaceful 28. Healthy oil 32. Burgle 33. Propel, in a way 34. Anita Brookner’s “Hotel du ___” 35. Hypothetical original substance 37. Court figure 39. Bruce Banner 43. ___-Wan Kenobi 45. Holiday drink 46. “Seinfeld” uncle 47. Digestive tract 53. Odds and ends 54. 1970 World’s Fair site 55. Bartender on TV’s Pacific Princess 56. Bouquets 60. Decline 61. Pauses

66. Barely get, with “out” 67. Barfing 68. Cooking fat 69. Blue 70. Coercion 71. “Iliad” city DOWN 1. Former French coin 2. 252 wine gallons 3. Balaam’s mount 4. Actual fact 5. “___ I care!” 6. Medical advice, often 7. ___ noir 8. During 9. Formally 10. Pyrenees mountains country 11. Devoted 12. Grand ___ 13. Mesh generation software 18. Columbia resort town 22. Summer destination 23. Active

Ingredients (Serves 8) 1 lb. ground beef 1 (1 ounce) packet taco seasoning 2/3 cup water 1 head iceberg lettuce, chopped 1 sweet onion, diced 1 (16 ounce) can kidney beans, drained and rinsed 1 (15 ounce) can corn, drained 2 tomatoes, seeded and chopped 1 ½ cups shredded cheddar cheese 3 cups Doritos Nacho Cheese tortilla chips, coarsely crushed 8 ounces French salad dressing

24. “Dirty” activity 25. Dresden’s river 27. Funeral tribute 29. Rounded edge 30. College testing 31. “Gladiator” setting 36. Papa’s partner 38. “___ any drop to drink”: Coleridge 40. Arm bone 41. Pipe problem 42. ___ nut 44. _____ whale 47. Crops up 48. Zambia capital 49. Reproduced 50. Movie preview 51. Checked item 52. Back up 57. Acclivity 58. “Miss ___ Regrets” 59. Come together 62. Australian runner 63. “___ Gang” 64. “The Matrix” hero 65. Pig’s place

Instructions 1. Cook ground beef in a large skillet over medium-high heat until meat is no longer pink. Drain and return to skillet. Stir in taco seasoning mix and water. Bring to a boil, reduce heat to low, and simmer uncovered for 3-4 minutes (stirring often), until thickened. Set aside to cool. 2. Place lettuce in a large bowl. Add onion, beans, corn, tomatoes and cheese. Toss. 3. Add ground beef, Doritos and dressing. Toss gently to combine and serve immediately. Cook’s Tips and Recipe Variations: p Iceberg lettuce is our favorite in this retro classic, but you can substitute with romaine lettuce or other mixed greens if you prefer. We just love the refreshing crunch of the iceberg! p I always use French dressing (you can’t beat the sweet, creamy taste when paired with the zesty taco meat), but you can substitute with Catalina, Ranch, or any other dressing that you prefer. p If you prefer, you can substitute an equal amount of ground chicken or ground turkey in lieu of the beef. p I always use the classic Nacho Cheese flavored Doritos in this recipe, but Cool Ranch Doritos will also work well! p Add any of your other favorite taco ingredients, such as diced avocado, fresh cilantro or sliced olives! p Cooking for a smaller family? Cut all of the ingredients in half! The rest of the cooking instructions remain the same. If you prefer to cook a full 1-lb. of taco meat, you can save half of the cooked taco meat in the freezer for another meal. p For more information and pictures of this recipe visit: https://www.theseasonedmom.com/doritos-taco-salad/

Blair Lonergan started ‘The Seasoned Mom’ to simplify mealtime for her family. For more family friendly recipes visit www.theseasonedmom.com. Sign up to have her latest recipes delivered directly to your inbox. Recipes and images belong to TheSeasonedMom. com and are used with permission.

PAGE 26 PAGE 26

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LIFE.edu Our Town Our Town

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PAGE 27 PAGE 27

YOUR CONNECTION

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PAGE 28

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