The Autumnal Equinox

The coming of fall is bittersweet for some but for others, it's the best time of the year! In some parts of North America, the landscape turns vibrant shades of orange and red and there is a freshness in the air that is unrivaled by any other season. In the South, the heavy heat of summer lessens and there is a welcoming coolness.

The word equinox comes from the Latin words for "equal night." The fall and spring equinoxes are the only days of the year in which the hours of day and night are equal as the Sun crosses the celestial equator. The Earth's axis isn't tilted at all, and with no tilt, the North and South Poles are virtually straight up and down. 

From here on out, the temperatures begin to drop and the days start to get shorter.

Signs of Fall
The landscape silently explodes with vibrant colors of red, yellow, and orange. The leaves begin to drop off the trees, providing endless hours of jumping into leaf piles for kids and raking them back up for parents! Baseball season hits the homestretch, while football season is just warming up. Temperatures begin to drop, and nights begin to get longer, and animals are storing up for the long haul of winter.

Educational Seminar

My GA DAWGS are Barking: Common Causes and Treatments of Foot Pain
with Bruce Reid, MD (Orthopedics).

Bruce Reid, MD is a Board Certified Orthopaedic Surgeon. He will discuss common causes, treatment, and prevention of foot pain including the value of arch supports, stretching and how to select proper footwear. 

Drawing for a FREE FOOT MASSAGE!

Tuesday, September 27th at 3:00 pm. 

This session is FREE and open to members and guests.

To register click HERE

URMC Wellness Center
801 W Gordon St
Thomaston
706-647-4466

Boss Hog BBQ

Boss Hog BBQ and City Fest Car Show will take place Saturday, September 24th from
10 am to 3 pm at the Greatest Generation Memorial Park.

Contact the City of Thomaston for more information, 706-647-4242.

Westwood Lending Hands Serve-a-Thon and Clay Shoot

Westwood students will be completing service projects on campus and around Thomaston the week of September 19. The school will host its first-ever clay shoot on Friday, September 23 at the Big Red Oak Plantation in Gay, GA.

Corporate sponsors donating $250 or more may participate in the clay shoot. Ammunition and lunch will be provided as well as door prizes.

Contact Derek Pardue at 770-845-8965 if you are interested in being a corporate sponsor for any amount.

If you are interested in being a shooter, contact Brent Daniel at 706-975-6150 or Greg Boyt at 706-765-8488.

Business After Hours Tailgate

The Sertoma Women of Upson will host the September 20, Business After Hours from 5 pm to 6:30 pm at the Thomaston-Upson Arts Council. The theme this year is Tailgate.

There will be a 50/50 drawing, a $400 cash pot drawing and the Sertoma Women have football tickets to raffle off. You can't win if your name is not in!

Call us today and let us know if you will be attending!

It will be a great time to network with your business peers, win prizes and of course BRAG about your favorite team! Dress is Casual, but wear your Favorite Team Colors!

Call the Chamber to register, 706-647-9686.

FLU SEASON

The 2011-2012 Seasonal Flu Vaccine has arrived at Walgreens. It is not too early to get vaccinated, so get your Flu Vaccine today. Walk-ins are welcome and most health plans cover the vaccine. Walgreens has over 26,000 certified immunizing pharmacists who provide an array of immunizations in the pharmacy all day, every day.

ULHS is hosting the High 5 Sports Game of the Week!

Congratulations, and thanks for the votes!!! You are all awesome! Now, let's have some FUN!!! Check out the activities that will be going on at Matthews Field Friday night:

5:15 p.m. Fox 5 will have a camera crew at Matthews Field, so we are asking fans to come early and be on T.V.!!! They will be shooting video of the band, cheerleaders, and fans, and they may even interview you on camera!

5:30 p.m. Fans will line the streets of Triune Mill Road for the KNIGHT WALK. Bring posters, signs, noise makers, etc. and wear your PURPLE (or black and silver) as the Knights players and coaches make the walk to the stadium. We will cheer them on to victory as the Fox 5 video crew tapes the Knight Walk. This should be so much fun. Knight Walk starts at 5:45, but please be there by 5:30, so we can line the street with "Purple People". 

Also starting at 5:30 p.m. Fox 5 will set up a Pep Team Tent. They will be giving away prizes and Fox 5 items. You can also SPIN THE WHEEL to win prizes from Fox 5.

Pregame (probably starting around 6:15-6:30: Fox 5 will have their T-shirt shooter on the field and will be shooting t-shirts into the crowd.

6:50 p.m. Fox 5 will be video taping on the field, and we want our stands full of Knights fans! Advance tickets are available at ULHS for $5 for adults and $3 for students. All tickets are $7 at the gate.

10:30 p.m. Fox 5 will be live on T.V. from Matthews Field -- hopefully talking about the Knights WIN over Starrs Mill! Fan can stay for this live broadcast.

This is such a great opportunity for our high school, our school system, and our community. Let's show everyone in the Fox 5 viewing area that Thomaston and Upson County have SPIRIT! The excitement begins at 5:15 Friday night! Be there!!!!!

Also, we are asking our community to put signs supporting the Knights in front of their businesses or purple ribbons on their mailboxes -- anything you can do to show school spirit and school pride. Thank you Thomaston and Upson County!!! GOOOOOOO KNIGHTS!!!!!!!

September…Full Moon

September is the month of the Full Corn Moon. This full Moon corresponds with the time of harvesting corn. It is also called the Barley Moon, because it is the time to harvest and thresh the ripened barley. The Harvest Moon is the full Moon nearest the autumnal equinox, which can occur in September or October and is bright enough to allow finishing all the harvest chores. At this time, crops such as corn, pumpkins, squash, and wild rice are ready for gathering.

It’s Saturday Down South

When it comes to sports, you won't find a more rowdy and fun group than football fans. And why not? We live in the south and everyone's got their allegiances.

But the best part is……Tailgating!

You don't need to know a snap from a lateral, the difference between a running back and a tight end, or what a PAT is. All you need to do is show up in the parking lot with a side dish or a six-pack and get ready for some grilling and good times.

But what about Healthy Tailgating?

Rather than sitting around snacking and drinking, play a tailgating game instead. It’s rather difficult to overeat if you are throwing around the football or playing corn hole. By preoccupying yourself with a diversion like tailgating games, you will not be eating and not blowing your goal of healthy tailgating.

Always drink plenty of water before you start eating and you will eat less. Another great way to stay healthy while tailgating is to volunteer to be the designated driver for after the game. By being the DD you have an excuse for not drinking and can choose a diet drink or water instead of beer and cocktails. If tailgating is just not the same without a beer, a light beer is a better choice than a regular one.

Now, what about food?

Have BBQ skinless chicken and choose a smokey mesquite sauce with less sugar. Lean sirloin for grilled burgers and low fat or turkey hot dogs with wheat buns (hold the mayo).

Snacks and appetizers can load on the calories. Stick with baked chips and salsa. And have lots of chopped crunchy veggies. Celery, carrots, broccoli, cherry tomatoes, cauliflower and mushrooms are easy and nutritious and a low fat dressing can be used for a dip.

The real key to a healthy tailgate party is self-control. You won’t feel heavy and bloated from over indulgence.

Now get your game face on and get ready for some football!

Healthy Habits for Life

Are you exercising without concern for food intake or watching your food intake without concern for how much exercise you do?  It would be great if we could accomplish our weight management goal by working on just one behavior but it isn’t that simple. 

If you have only changed your exercise level and are having trouble reaching your weight goal you should consider attending this program presented by URMC dietitians Joy Daniel and Dawn McCoy. 

This six week program begins on Monday September 12^th and will provide you with the tools needed to better balance eating and exercise behaviors. 

For more information or to pre-register call Joy Daniel, RD at 706 647-8111 x1682. 

Cost: $20.

For information contact:
http://urmcwellness.org/august-wellness-center-news/

Labor Day

On Sept. 5, 1882, about 20,000 working people marched in New York City to demand an eight-hour workday and other labor law reforms. In a parade up Broadway, sponsored by New York’s Central Labor Union, they carried banners reading, “Labor Creates All Wealth” and “Eight Hours for Work, Eight Hours for Rest, Eight Hours for Recreation.” About a quarter million New Yorkers turned out to watch.

After the first Labor Day in New York City, celebrations began to spread to other states as workers fought to win workplace rights and better working conditions and wages at a time when they had little power. In 1893, New York City workers took an unpaid day off and marched around Union Square in support of a national Labor Day.

The following year, 12,000 federal troops were called into Pullman, Illinois, to break up a huge strike against the Pullman railway company and two workers were shot and killed by U.S. deputy marshals. In what most historians call an election year attempt to appease workers after the federal crackdown on the Pullman strike, shortly after the strike was broken, President Grover Cleveland signed legislation making the first Monday in September Labor Day and a federal holiday. Cleveland lost the election.

The U.S. Department of Labor describes Labor Day this way: “It is a creation of the labor movement and is dedicated to the social and economic achievements of American workers. It constitutes a yearly national tribute to the contributions workers have made to the strength, prosperity and well-being of our country.”

Touchdown for the Arts

Get Ready for the Annual TUAC Solstice

"Touchdown for the Arts"

Would you like tickets to a Georgia football game or to see the Atlanta Falcons? Want to spend 3 nights at St. Simons or a weekend getaway at a Beautiful Cabin on the Flint? How about a Murder Mystery Dinner for eight?

All you have to do is be the high bidder for these or any of several other items which will be auctioned at the 21st Annual Thomaston-Upson Arts Council (TUAC) Solstice.

This years theme is "Touchdown for the Arts" and will take place on Saturday, September 17, at Phoenix Rising (located at The Old Rock School - next to Bickley's Lake). Come dressed in your favorite team attire! The Kick Off will be at 6:00 pm with the opening of the silent auction, followed by the Tailgating Buffet at 6:45 pm and a live auction at 7:30 pm.

"This is our only fundraiser of the year," said Carmen Ellerbee, executive director of TUAC. "It accounts for about 12 percent of our funding and is very important to us," she said.

The money raised goes toward TUAC's community performances and Childrens' Arts Programs.

“We will have many items in the auction," Ellerbee said, "including some that will go from $10 and up. There will be something for everyone."

In addition to the items already mentioned above, auctioneer Kenny Coggins will be seeking bids on a variety of planters, season tickets to the Macon Symphony, Teeth Whitening, artworks by several well-known local artists, dinner at Oscars Steak and Seafood restaurant, Day Spa services, gift certificates from several local businesses, a flat screen TV, health club use, UGA Birdhouse, tickets to Dollywood, Junior Golf Clubs, 1 hour massage, free car wash for a year and much, much more!

This event is FREE to TUAC members but non-members are welcome to attend. Cost for non-members is $15 individuals and $25 couples (the entrance fee will go toward your yearly membership into TUAC). Reservations must be made by Wednesday, September 14th by calling 706-647-1605 or by visiting the TUAC gallery at 118 South Church Street (next to the Ritz Theatre).

Mrs. Ellerbee and the TUAC Board wishes to thank all the businesses and individuals for their generous donations to this years Solstice.

Yummy Pasta Salad

1-1/2 boxes of tri-colored pasta
  cooked per directions
A red, yellow and green small bell pepper
Green onions
1/2 jar artichokes, diced
1/2 jar Kalamato sliced olives
A good helping of Parmesan cheese
3/4 jar Kraft Zesty Italian
1/4 jar Kraft Lemon poppy seed dressing

Mix everything together and enjoy!

Julie’s Garden Tips: September

Fertilize salvia and chrysanthemums with liquid plant food. They will reward you with lots of blooms later this fall.

Examine your flower beds for tired out perennials like Shasta daisy, black-eyed Susan and purple coneflower. You can cut off dead flowers and brown foliage to neaten the plants for fall.

Preserve excess basil leaves by pureeing in a blender with a little water. Freeze the slush in an ice tray and use the cubes in your wintertime spaghetti sauce.

Lightly trim back the tropical hibiscus you kept outdoors for the summer. Make plans for where you’ll place it indoors in bright light.

Divide daylily, iris and monkey grass while you still have several weeks of warm weather to encourage root growth.

It’s a great time to plant peony roots. A good, old-time favorite is ‘Festiva Maxima’. For real excitement, plant a tree peony and get huge blooms next May.

Spring-flowering bulbs are for sale now. You can buy them – but don’t put them in the ground until soil temperatures are in the 60′s or cooler in October.

Get ready to plant cool season vegetable seedlings. Broccoli, collards and cabbage plants should be available at garden centers.

Examine patio plants for insects if you intend to bring them indoors. Treat with insecticide if necessary.

Cooler weather means it’s time to plant shrubs and trees. Make sure to dig a hole three times as wide as the root ball.

Propagate limber-limbed hydrangea, grape and forsythia plants by placing a thin branch on the ground and partially covering it with soil and a brick.

Replace all of the mulch under roses, red tip photinia and crabapples. You’ll prevent diseases on next year’s leaves.