Greene Publishing, Inc.

By Lynette Norris
Greene Publishing, Inc.
After being introduced by Vicki Howerton, Dr. Stuart Steiger of Madison Chiropractic Center took the floor as the guest speaker at the Rotary’s Nov. 30 meeting. He began with the subject of chiropractic medicine in general, the third largest branch of medicine in the health care industry, a branch that approaches the human body from a more natural perspective than “traditional” medicine.

He also discussed a couple of other forms of alternative medicine, in particular, the closely related field of osteopathy, explaining how both had originated in the late 1800s, but osteopathy evolved into a focus on the musculoskeletal system, while chiropractic medicine focused on the spine and nervous system.

In speaking of his own particular practice, he began by explaining that his goal for his patients was to “be proactive rather than reactive…to create health rather than treat disease.”

If something with the spine or nervous system is out of line of out of whack, it throws off the entire body. Doing an adjustment and getting everything back into alignment benefits the entire body and allows the body to begin functioning properly again, creating better health and a better quality of life.

Talking to the patient was key, he told the audience. Many times, he did a lot of explaining of medical reports patients brought to him from other doctors; doctors who didn’t take the time to talk to their patients or did only a cursory job of explaining.

Listening to patients was important as well. “If you listen, the answers are there,” he said. “It is like putting together the pieces of a puzzle.”

In the era that has seen more and more specialized medicine, he sees the future of healthcare in the next 10-15 years as reversing this trend and slowly becoming more integrated again, as the AMA gets more on board with the more holistic approach and the industry recognizes the importance of seeing the body as a whole, an integrated system rather than a collection of discrete parts. He would like to see a future where a chiropractor and a medical doctor would work right across the hall from each other, rather than in separate hospitals, consulting with each other and caring for each other’s patients in an integrated fashion – treating the whole patient.

The problem with too much medical specialization, he said, is that “if your only tool is a hammer, every problem starts to look like a nail.”

Many people started to realize this in the 1990’s and began paying out of their own pockets for alternative medicine. When the insurance companies realized this, they “followed the money” and began to take a more serious look at alternative medicine’s approach to healthcare and reevaluate it. As a result, many insurance companies who once refused to cover chiropractic sessions now do so.

As part of his whole-body, holistic approach to patient care, he also talks to patients about nutrition, about “filling the voids” left by fast food and processed food. Although he admits to going through the McDonald’s line himself at times, and realizes that people become pressed for time with hectic schedules, they should not neglect this important part of their overall health – cleaning up the diet and giving the body what it needs to work properly.

“Human bodies were meant to repair themselves if they’re working right,” he said. But to work right, they need the proper nutrients to work with.

While chiropractic medicine cannot fix or treat every illness, it can help by providing a better quality of life and alleviating pain. It’s all part of the holistic, natural approach that he embraces, an approach that creates health instead of just treating disease, resulting in a better overall quality of life.

By Jacob Bembry
Greene Publishing, Inc.
Old Fashion Day was enjoyed at Jack Pickels’ Sugar Shack, off Mosely Hall Road in the New Home Community on Saturday, Nov. 19.

Guests enjoyed a day of cane grinding, as well as learning how to wash clothes with a washboard, make homemade butter and getting to ride horses. Musical artists LifeSong and Southern Joy provided southern gospel music and Rev. Tom Ray Kelley delivered the gospel message. The day was topped off with good old southern cooking.

Old Fashion Day is held every Saturday before Thanksgiving at the Sugar Shack.

Extra photos can be seen at Greene Publishing’s Facebook page and a video of Rev. Tom Ray Kelley preaching can be seen online at www.greenepublishing.com.

By Kristin Finney
Greene Publishing, Inc.
The United Way of Madison works hard each and every year to raise money for local and national charities in attempt to make the world a better place. While the money that they receive is given with that in mind, it does not hurt to thank those who have made the donation. To thank those who have donated $500 or more to the United Way, the UWBB hosts an appreciation event each year.

This year’s event took place at the Madison Senior Center on November 29. The theme for this year was sweet treats and the dining hall in the senior center was decorated accordingly. Large decorative candies were placed throughout the hall, and blue and yellow (the United Way’s identifying colors) decorations were placed sporadically in the hall.

The meal consisted of fondue, cookies, brownies, cupcakes, grapes, cheese, crackers and coffee. Everyone in attendance was sure to have a great time talking with the United Way team members and discussing the plans for the rest of this year and next year.

By Lynette Norris
Greene Publishing, Inc.
When autumn rolls around, so does the holiday season, but having a well-dressed table to go with the different holiday themes and decorations doesn’t have to mean stressing out or going broke.

Mina Bloodworth, speaking at the Dec. 1 meeting of the Madison Garden Club, said that her favorite places to buy floral supplies, including vases, were places like TJ Maxx, Target, Marshall’s and Walmart. She has even used baking pans, bread trays and other containers from her kitchen, she said, picking up a long, low, narrow arrangement of red and white carnations…in an hors d’eourve tray. No one had even guessed that was what it was.

When it comes to flowers, they can be hard to come by after Thanksgiving, but there are certain kinds of flowers like torch lilies that pop up in yards during this season. Sometimes, an arrangement can work even without flowers, consisting things like pine cones, holly berries, cast iron plants and cedar foliage, things she had found in her own yard and that of friend and neighbor Sarah Adams. They work just as well and last a good long time. If candles are used in a tablescape, they should be either above or below eye level, so that they don’t shine directly in everyone’s eyes.

A long table down the center of the room held about a dozen or more examples of Bloodworth’s tablescape designs, which included a floral centerpiece and place setting designed to complement each other. There were examples to suit every almost every occasion, not just the ones that occur in the fall. Her designs included everything from a casual, breezy summer setting with a yellow floral paper plate on a bamboo placemat, to a whimsical Halloween setting with a solid black plate with a black spider napkin ring holding an orange napkin, to an elegant red and white Christmas setting with touches of silver.

As she proceeded down the table, she explained the principles of floral arrangement, discussing such things as pattern, form, color, line and scale, and explained how to pair centerpieces with place settings. For the casual summer tablescape with the bamboo placemat, the centerpiece was a light, airy arrangement of sunny yellow flowers that made great use of open space, in a light vase raised up on legs that made it open underneath. By contrast, one of the more formal autumnal tablescapes with the heavier china plate in muted colors required a more substantial vase and a denser floral arrangement.

The fun Halloween setting was accompanied by a floral arrangement perched high on a tall narrow vase that stood on slender, spiraling metal legs, almost like a spider or jellyfish. The tall narrow legs allowed the guests to see each other through them, and the vase held orange Gerber daisies and contorted mulberry twigs spray-painted black.

Bloodworth and Adams had also been hard at work getting lush, green, fragrant Christmas wreaths together to sell as a fundraiser. About twenty of them were placed on a back table, and several had been sold by the end of the meeting.

With Christmas coming up fast, Martha Beggs reminded everyone that they still needed a few volunteers at the park to finish up decorations in time for Light Up Madison, and thanked those who had worked so hard to deck the halls of the Mansion, dressing it up in all its Victorian glory to delight its many visitors, for what might be the final year.

“Please go by and see it during Light Up Madison,” said Beggs.

It could very well be the last chance anyone would have to enjoy such a sight, she reminded them…unless a miracle happens before next Christmas!