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2011 Thomasville Antiques Show & Sale

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February 25, 2011 to February 27, 2011

Often called the finest small antiques show in the country, the Thomasville Antiques Show and Sale hosts its 22nd annual event this year.  The show brings together more than thirty of the most respected antique dealers in America.  These dealers will showcase their finest pieces, including furniture, jewelry, ceramics, prints, paintings, sporting art and silver.
Please visit www.thomasvilleantiquesshow.com for all the details on events during the show, directions and other information.

About the Show
The Thomasville Antiques Show Committee is pleased to present thirty of the country’s most prestigious dealers, who will offer the opportunity to view and purchase exquisite antiques.  The dealers will showcase antique furniture, paintings, rugs, jewelry, tableware, accessories and collectibles to suit the taste of the casual and the serious collector.
The Show and Sale will be accompanied by several highly acclaimed speakers: Carolyne Roehm, sought-after interior designer and author; Richard Keith Langham, whose clients include Jacqueline Onassis and Hilary Swank; and William Stahl, Jr., the former Vice Chairman and Head of Decorative Arts for Sotheby’s.
The 2011 Thomasville Antiques Show is dedicated to the memory of Dr. Paul J.Vignos who died last June. Dr. Vignos, the father of Kathy Vignos Folsom, was a leading rheumatologist, known worldwide for his medical contributions to the treatment of children, as well as an avid art and antiques collector.
The personal art collection of Dr. Vignos and his wife, Edith Ingalls Vignos, will be donated to the Cleveland Art Museum. Dr.Vignos was a long-time supporter of the show and will be greatly missed by everyone – but especially the antique dealers who loved his wit and keen interest in their objects.
A gala black tie evening will kick-off the 2011 Thomasville Antiques Show & Sale with a benefactors preview, giving patrons the earliest opportunity to view and shop the twenty-nine booths for gifts and personal treasures while enjoying an elegant seated gourmet dinner.
For twenty-one years, the Thomasville Antiques Show Foundation, Inc. has focused on the single aim of benefiting local children.  The Foundation continues to provide funding for quality programs that enrich and assist children in Thomasville and Thomas County, Ga.  Over $1,500,000 has been raised by the Thomasville Antiques Show Foundation to ensure that the children’s programs of Thomasville continue to thrive.  Some of the organizations that have benefited from this event include:

Brookwood School
Halcyon Home
Hands & Hearts for Horses
Literacy Program of Southwest Georgia
Local School Scholarships
MNW Boys & Girls Club of Thomas County
Rescue Mission Ministries
Safe Haven
South Georgia Ballet
Thomas County CASA, Inc.
Thomas County Historical Society,
Inc. Summer Camps
Thomasville Community Resource Center
Thomasville Cultural Center
Thomasville Junior Service League
Thomasville Landmarks
Thomasville Music and Drama Troupe
Thomasville Scholars Academy
The Vashti Center for Children & Families
YMCA

Schedule Of Events

February 24, 2011 – 5:30 PM
2011 Benefactor Preview Party

February 24, 2011 – 7:00 PM
Patron Preview Party

February 25, 2011 – 10:00 AM
Lecture – Carolyne Roehm

February 25, 2011 – 11:00 AM
Thomasville Antiques Show

February 25, 2011 – 6:00 PM
Cocktails + Collecting

February 26, 2011 – 10:00 AM
Thomasville Antiques Show

February 26, 2011 – 11:00 AM
Lecture – Richard Keith Langham

February 26, 2011 – 2:30 PM
Lecture – William W. Stahl, Jr.

February 27, 2011 – 12:00 PM
Thomasville Antiques Show

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Warning: Facebook Virus

I have gotten a couple of posts on my Facebook account with the message: “ha ha ha check this out she is so busted” Do not open the attachment. It is most likely a virus

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Florida National Guard to host a grueling air assault course

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Submitted and Prepared by the Florida National Guard Public Affairs Office

WHAT: A U.S. Army air assault course will be conducted. The physically-demanding course is focused on teaching combat assault operations involving helicopters. Media are invited to observe Soldiers during this training.

WHEN: The course will run February 14-25. Days with the best visual interest will be: Weather permitting.
Feb. 15 for the Obstacle Course, 8:30am –

Noon, All Students will be through the course by noon.

Feb. 24 where the Soldiers will be rappelling from helicopters between 11:30am and 2pm.
*****Please call the day prior if interested in attending. The schedule may be adjusted due ****
******to weather conditions.*******

Feb. 25 when the Soldier will graduate from the course and be awarded their badges. Interested media should contact the Florida National Guard public affairs office to coordinate coverage times and entry onto Camp Blanding.

WHERE: Camp Blanding Joint Training Center, near Starke, Fla.

The air assault course incorporates mental and physical challenges to teach air assault skills and procedures, improve basic leadership skills, instill air assault spirit and award the Air Assault Badge.

Media are encouraged to observe the demanding school course as active duty U.S. Army Soldiers and potentially local Florida Army National Guard Soldiers participate to earn the badge. The course will include challenges such as:

Obstacle Course

Physical Training –

Conduct distance runs of up to three miles as the standard

Rappelling –

Tie a series of knots and conduct graded rappels from walls and helicopters; successfully complete three day and two night helicopter rappels

Troop Ladder –

Ascend and descend the troop ladder on a 35-foot tower and a CH-47 helicopter

Rigging and Sling Loading –

Prepare, rig and inspect numerous pieces of Army equipment for helicopter transport

Road Marches –

Complete a six-mile road march in one hour and 30 minutes or less; also complete a 12-mile road march in three hours or less at the end of the course

Evaluations – After each phase of training, all students are given a written and practical examination based on a “pass/fail”

system

To graduate, the student must receive a “pass” at the end of each phase. This course, like the U.S. Army’

s Airborne school, is a fast-paced exercise in mental alertness and physical endurance. Soldiers must meet the high standards of the 101st Airborne Division prior to being awarded the Air Assault Badge.

The following link is for a short video clip that will provide a basic concept of the course:

http://dvidshub.net/?script=video/video_show.php&id=54181

Contact the Florida National Guard Public Affairs office at (904) 823-0166 for further details and coordination.

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Woman Celebrates 126th Birthday

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Basketball Update

By MCHS Head Varsity Basketbal Coach Eddie Richie
Boys basketball season is winding down to the end. Varsity has 3 regular season games left, JV has 2. Varsity boys are holding strong to the 3rd seed in the district. Madison hosts the district tournament this year for the first time in 6 years. If things hold true, we will play East Gadsden Feb 11 at 6pm. We lost to East Gadsden by only 2 points at home the last time we played them.

Again, I would like to publicly congratulate the ongoing success of our JV team. As varsity coach, I am extremely proud of those guys and excited about the future of the program. Allen Demps has done a stand-up job, devoting hours upon hours of time to help building a program. The JV boys are currently 17-1 and undefeated at home. Their last home game is Saturday at 4:30 against Live Oak. Lets make sure that they end the year with a bang. After that game, a few will move up to varsity to start preparing for District play.

This Saturday will be Senior Night. The girl seniors will be recognized before their game (around 6pm) and the boys will be before their game (around 7:30). The varsity boy seniors are as follows:

Thomas Weatherspoon
Chris Brown
Stephen Watts
Laterrian McDaniel
Martterius McDaniel
Keith Thomas
Jermaine Hart
Bryan Williams
Nicko Thomas

PLEASE come and support your MCHS basketball program!!!

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Public Service Announcement: Update on water services at South Georgia Medical Center

Water services and usage have been restored at SGMC. Other than redirecting requests to transfer patients from other hospitals, SGMC handled the water outage with no interruption or compromise to patient care. Significant action was taken to maintain sanitation, which was the greatest challenge. This required restricting visitation to emergencies only. 

 “We appreciate the community’s understanding and cooperation as we worked through this situation and we apologize for any inconvenience it may have caused our patients and their families,” stated Ken Kiser, Assistant Administrator of Patient Care Services. “Water is vital, especially during the flu season, to allow for adequate hand washing, sanitation and infection prevention and we did not want to compromise the care environment of our patients.”

SGMC will continue providing bottled drinking water to patients and staff until the city water supply is safe for consumption

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Breaking News: City of Valdosta Water Customers Asked To Boil Water

The following is a press release from The City of Valdosta, Georgia. We have also learned that some restaurants could be closed today. It could be a good time to stay in Madison and eat at local restaurants.

Residents are asked to avoid the use of any city water at this time. Any water that is currently left in the lines or that becomes available once water services are restored, should be boiled first before use.

Residents are advised to bring water to a boil for at least one minute, and cool before using, or use bottled water.

Water should be boiled for uses such as drinking, making ice, brushing teeth, washing dishes and food preparation. Boiling the water kills bacteria and other potential organisms.

This Boil Water Advisory is in effect until further notice.

Crews are working diligently to restore water services as quickly as possible. Updates will continue to be posted to the City of Valdosta website at www.valdostacity.com, or citizens may call the city’s Utilities Department to receive additional information and updates at (229) 259-3592

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Journey Aust Wins Fourth Grade Spelling Bee

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 Journey Aust, left, won the fourth grade spelling bee held Friday, Jan. 21. She is pictured with Aubrey Day, who placed second in the bee.

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How Are 3D Movies And Video Games Affecting Your Eyes?

Are all those 3D movies and video games affecting our family’s eyes?
America’s love for the movies is no secret, and the record number of 3D films that hit movie theaters and Blu-ray players every month is helping satisfy our cinematic appetite, transforming entertainment into a super sensory experience.
But as 3D continues to make its mark on our culture, many of us are asking what impact it is having on our eyes? Moreover, not everyone can even view 3D effects, say experts.
Some 3D viewers have found themselves experiencing eye strain, headaches or even nausea while watching 3D movies. While some attribute this to the 3D imagery, it’s actually more likely that the person may have an undiagnosed vision problem.
“About five percent of the population can’t perceive 3D because they’re monocular, which means they only use one eye to see,” says Dr. Roger Phelps, a private practice VSP Vision Care optometrist based in Ojai, Calif. “Another 25 percent of the population has borderline binocular vision, meaning they can use both eyes to perceive 3D, but it’s difficult for them because their eyes may not be working in synch together.”
3D movies present two different images on screen, separated by a certain distance to enhance the perception of depth. Without 3D glasses — which filter the light and present different images to each eye — the scene on screen looks blurry and unclear. And if either eye is not in excellent focus, or if the eyes have a tendency to misalign with each other, it may be difficult for that person to enjoy a 3D film.
So what’s a 3D fan with less-than-perfect eye coordination to do?
The first step is to visit your eye doctor, who will first make sure that both of your eyes are in the best possible focus. If you still have problems even with your best glasses, the doctor may recommend treatment with vision therapy — a series of special techniques that help you learn how to better coordinate your eyes. You can even seek out an optometrist specializing in binocular vision therapy.
Some of the techniques used in vision therapy include extended viewing of 3D images. While this can cause fatigue, temporary nausea and headaches, longer viewing times and special glasses can actually provide more comfort and enjoyment for the 3D viewing experience. Seeing your eye doctor can help determine any underlying causes of problems, and best ways to treat the issue so you can enjoy all that 3D has to offer.
To find an eye doctor near you, visit vsp.com.
As for the rest of us, Dr. Phelps recommends common sense when deciding how much 3D viewing is too much. While a two-hour movie might be fine at first, over three hours is more likely to cause temporary eye strain for many viewers.

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BRUSH FIRE IN MADISON

At 12:43 pm on Saturday, January 15, 2011 Madison Fire/Rescue responded to a report of heavy smoke near the area of Hudson Street and MLK (Hwy 360-A). Upon arrival fire units found a private burn in progress that jumped one of the fire lines.  The wind was also blowing flames toward three structures. Assistance was requested and New Home Fire and Rescue and the Division of Forestry sent personnel and equipment. The fire was contained to the prescribed area and no damage or injuries were reported.

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Bible Deliverance Church Serving Up A Free Hot Breakfast

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On Saturday, January 15, at 9 a.m., stop by Bible Deliverance Church in Madison for a free hot breakfast, sponsored by the Men’s Fellowship of the church. The breakfast will be available for take-out or dine in.
“We are excited to be offering this new program to the community,” Bryant Thigpen stated. “Every third Saturday of the month, the men of the church get together and does an outstanding job preparing and serving the best breakfast in town. We invite everyone in the community to come out and enjoy a nice hot meal, at absolutely no cost to them.”
Bible Deliverance Church is located at 720 SW Range Avenue, located by the cotton gin and in front of Farmer’s Co-op.
For more information, please call (850) 464-0114 or (850) 973-4622.

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SHIP Classes Set

Are you ready for homeownership? Learn about the steps you need to take to achieve homeownership in the home buying series, which begins Monday, Jan. 24, at 6 p.m. Upon completion, participants receive a certificate that is required for SHIP assistant and rural development loans. To register, call the Madison County Extension Service at (850) 973-4138.

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Tobacco Use And Influenza

When you’re thinking about quitting use of tobacco – today is the time to take the appropriate steps to do so.
- Some research studies show an increase in flu infections among smokers compared to nonsmokers.
- There is a higher mortality rate for smokers than nonsmokers from influenza
Additional respiratory health consequences –
- Use of tobacco is related to chronic coughing and wheezing among adults and kids and chronic bronchitis and emphysema among adults.
- Smokers are more likely than nonsmokers to have upper and lower respiratory tract infections, perhaps because use of tobacco suppresses immune function.
Within 20 minutes after you smoke that last cigarette, your body begins a series of positive changes that continue for years.
Tobacco use Cessation –
- Use of tobacco harms almost every organ of the body, causing many illnesses and decling the health of smokers. Quitting smoking has immediate, as well as long-term health benefits.
- Web-Based Guide to Quitting Tobacco use at http – //www.smoke free.gov/
Additional Information on How to Quit Smoking at http – //www.cdc.gov/tobacco/how2quit.htm

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Retirement Contribution Limits Largely Unchanged

By Jason Alderman

You’ll probably hate me for bringing this up, but it’s time to begin planning for your 2011 taxes – or at least, about the tax implications of your retirement account contributions. 

For the second year in a row, one widely used inflation measurement, the Department of Labor’s Consumer Price Index for Urban Consumers (CPI-U), remained flat for the quarter ending September 30, 2010, compared to the same period a year earlier. That’s important because the IRS uses this measurement to determine whether dozens of tax-related numbers will stay the same or increase from year to year.

Bottom line: In 2011, most contribution levels remain unchanged. Here’s an overview of common retirement savings plans:

Defined contribution plans. The maximum annual contribution to 401(k), 403(b), 457(b) and federal Thrift Savings plans remains unchanged at $16,500 (plus an additional $5,500 if you’re at least 50). Other factors to remember:

  • Your plan may limit the percentage of pay you can contribute so, depending on your salary, your maximum contribution may actually be less.
  • Company-matching contributions don’t count toward your maximum contribution.
  • With pretax contributions, your account grows tax-free until withdrawn, at which point withdrawals are taxed at the rate then in effect.
  • With after-tax contributions, you pay income tax on the money now, but your contributions and their earnings will not be taxed at retirement.

 

Individual Retirement Accounts (IRAs). The maximum annual contribution to IRAs remains unchanged at $5,000 (plus another $1,000 if 50 or older). Contributions to a regular IRA are not impacted by your income, but if your modified adjusted gross income (AGI) exceeds certain limits, the maximum contribution to Roth IRAs gradually phases out:

  • For singles/heads of households the phase-out range is $107,000 to $122,000 in AGI (up from $105,000 to $120,000 in 2010).
  • For married couples filing jointly, it’s $169,000 to $179,000 (up from $167,000 to $177,000).

 

A few rules on deducting IRA contributions on your tax return:

  • If you’re single, a head of household or married and neither spouse is covered by an employer-provided retirement plan, you can deduct the full IRA contribution, regardless of income.
  • If you are covered by an employer plan and are single/head of household, the tax deduction phases out for AGI between $56,000 and $66,000 (unchanged from 2010); if married and filing jointly, it’s $90,000 to $110,000 (up from $89,000 to $109,000 in 2010).
  • If you’re married and aren’t covered by an employer plan but your spouse is, the IRA deduction is phased out if your combined AGI is between $160,000 (s/b $169,000) and $179,000 (up from $167,000 to $177,000).
  • For more details, read IRS Publication 590 at www.irs.gov.

 

A final note: As an incentive for low- and moderate-income workers to save for retirement through an IRA or company-sponsored plan, many are eligible for a savers credit of up to $1,000 ($2,000 if filing jointly). This credit lowers your tax bill, dollar for dollar, in addition to any other tax deduction you already receive for your contribution.

Qualifying income ceiling limits for the Retirement Savers’ Tax Credit increased in 2011 to $55,600 for joint filers, $42,375 for heads of household, and $28,250 for singles or married persons filing separately. Consult IRS Form 8880 for more information.

Jason Alderman directs Visa’s financial education programs. To Follow Jason Alderman on Twitter: www.twitter.com/PracticalMoney.

 

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Stamp Prices Rising; What’s Next?

2011 is underway, and as we welcome in this New Year, Madison County also welcoming an increase in the prices of some exceedingly necessary items. Gas is predicted to exceed $5 per gallon this year. Gasoline is a resource that the Americas rely on.
Another resource that Americans are dependent upon is postage. Earlier this year, the United States Postal Service announced a plan to increase prices on postage. The price of stamps has been on an uphill slope for several years. However, the United States has not experienced an increase in almost two years.
On Jan. 2, the USPS met in the middle with the economy. Instead of increasing the price of all postage, they increased the price of some stamps, while decreasing the price of others.
For those who are unsure of the new prices, they are as follows:
First-class mail 1oz. +, postcard, first-class mail flat and parcel, certified mail and international mail will all remain the same. The price of priority mail has increased by $.20 and up, now reaching $5.10 and up. The price of express mail has dropped $.40, from $13.65-$13.25.
Other price increases have been predicted for 2011. DirecTV has announced a plan to increase the price of their satellite television service. Some higher quality cameras have predicted an increase in their prices by as much as 10 percent. The price of recreational travel is also predicted to increase during 2011.

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