Valley Homes & Style Magazine | Holidays
Dec23

Valley Homes & Style Magazine | Holidays

Holidays Edition

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Because Life as a Working Parent is Hard Enough
Dec23

Because Life as a Working Parent is Hard Enough

By Crystal Schelle HAGERSTOWN — The names are different but the scenario is often the same: Bobby seemed fine when he was sent off to school, but now it’s after dinner and he’s complaining of an earache and is starting to run a fever. A parent has to make a decision: Is it bad enough to spend hours in the emergency room or in urgent care? Likelihood there isn’t a pediatrician on call at either who were trained to deal with the ailments of children. And it’s exactly because of that struggle is why After Hours Pediatrics in Hagerstown opened. Pediatrician Dr. Anand Budi, a founding member, managing partner and medical director of the business, always had the dream of having a space to treat pediatric patients separately from adults. He had been working in Hagerstown since 1998. He was required to serve an underserved area in order for the New Delhi, India-born Budi could obtain his green card. He said he thought he would be in Hagerstown for three years and then move on, but he found himself invested in the community. That’s when Budi decided that as “a group of pediatricians, we should help the kids in the community by providing the right care and keep the cost of medical care as low as possible for not only the families, but also generally speaking for the insurance companies as well.” In 2009, Washington County Hospital received a new name as Meritus Medical Center and was moved to Robinwood Drive. Budi served from 2009-10 as Meritus’ chairman of Pediatrics. With the new location, he said, the emergency room had tripled in size. His hope was with the larger space, he could have not only have designated pediatric beds for children that were separated from the adults but be staffed by pediatricians who specialized in treating children. “That way we take care of pediatric patients and they don’t get unnecessary X-rays or antibiotics, lab work and blood work,” he explained. The idea, too, was to allow ER doctors to focus on what he called “real emergencies.” In fact, Budi researched the impact during a five-year period. At that time, he said, the medical center was getting about 88,000 medical visits total, which increased significantly with the new hospital. Budi explained of those visits, 10 to 14,000 were pediatric patients, and 75 percent of those patients would present the same thing they would at a pediatrician’s office like a cough or cold. With all the time and effort Budi had invested into the idea, he said he decided to “put my money where my mouth is” and started looking for...

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Horses Help Heal the Hurting and Handicapped
Dec23

Horses Help Heal the Hurting and Handicapped

By CRYSTAL SCHELLE Three years ago when Jennifer Kearns first enrolled her sons, Mikey, 13, and Timothy, 11, into the program at Horses with Hearts in Martinsburg she had to cajole them into getting ready for their lessons. That quickly changed when they connected with the horses. And today, Jennifer said, the boys are usually ready and waiting for her to take them to the lessons. Kay Barkwill, along with Cathy Dodson, started Horses with Hearts. Barkwill oversees administrative duties while Dodson is the lead instructor and is a certified therapeutic riding instructor. The organization is a nonprofit therapeutic riding program for children as young as 3 years old and adults with special needs. Horses with Hearts, which has been a 501(c)(3) since 2006, has helped hundreds of those with disabilities grow their confidence. “Our motto is to create a smile, grow confidence and change a life, but our mission is to make sure every person knows they’re a person of great value. That’s our core,” Barkwill said. Barkwill explained that therapeutic riding provides a recreational activity for individuals with special needs. “Our job is to find a way to adapt the situation so they can ride,” she said. “They have to have a documented special need whether that’s physical, mental or emotional. And with that, we have safely mount, maintain and dismount them on and off the horse. So even if they have a documented special need but physically I can’t safely mount, maintain and dismount them, I can’t allow them to ride. I also must have the right horse and the right volunteers.” Volunteers are important to the organization as the organization is 100% run with volunteers. She said she averages about 70 volunteers per year. But it’s also the horses that are central to the Horses with Hearts’ mission. There are eight horses in the program, with 11 on the farm. “They’re comforting and it’s good to be around them. I wanted to be able to share that,” Dodson said of the horses. She said she’s seen horses sense that a child needs some attention and will go over and place its head in the lap of a person in a wheelchair or nuzzle a crying child. It’s not something she’s trained some of the horses to do, she said, it’s instinctual. Their program has grown significantly since the early days, she said. “It’s gotten somewhat bigger than we necessarily thought it would,” Dodson said. “We hoped it would get this big, but when we started we didn’t know a lot. We said ‘Let’s get it going and see how it goes.’ It’s just been wonderful.”...

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Inexpensive Way to Update your Kitchen…
Dec23

Inexpensive Way to Update your Kitchen…

Over the years of working with customers, I have found that not everyone has an unlimited budget. So here’s a few tips on how you can make a few changes in your kitchen to give it a refreshed look and update its style. First of all you need to have your cabinets evaluated by a professional. Once you know that your existing cabinets are of good quality you can then think of in expensive ways to bring more life into the hub of your home. The first thing is to remember a fresh coat of paint doesn’t hurt and it’s an easy fix. Then take a look at your existing hardware on your cabinetry. If your hardware is out dated or just blends in then it’s time for a change. Take a look around your home and always keep in mind that you want something that’s going to complement not only your style but your home’s style. For instance, look at the handles on your appliances you may want keep the same style as that in the kitchen. Years ago you only had brass knobs or handles. But in today’s market there are so many different styles and colors. For instance, did you know that the sky’s the limit when it comes to finishes for hardware? So let’s visit what’s available: Brushed Nickel, Polished Nickel, Satin Nickel, Black Nickel, Brushed Black Nickel, Rustic Black Nickel, Weathered Nickel, Vintage Nickel, Tin, Brushed Tin, Rustic Tin, Antique Pewter, Brushed Antique Pewter, Rustic Iron, Rustic Nickel, Weathered Iron, Polished Chrome, Brushed/Satin Chrome, Aluminum, Stainless Steel, Polished Brass, Satin Brass, Brushed Antique Brass, Dull Antique Brass, Dull Bronze, Rustic Brushed Brass, Dull Rust, Rustic Copper, Weathered, Brushed Antique Copper, Modern Brushed Gold, Brushed Bronze, Verona Bronze, Oil Rubbed Bronze, Weathered Verona Bronze, Slate, Rubbed Bronze and Matte Black. So Let’s find you style: Transitional Classic Comfort is an casual and refined. It’s transitional design that’s flexible, marrying soft traditional style with crisp chic of contemporary. This style takes a clean minimalist approach, yet maintains warmth. The profile is curves combine with straight lines in transitional design. Ornamentation is used sparingly, keeping the focus on the simplicity and sophistication of the design. Emphasize contrast by mixing dark cabinetry with polished or brushed nickel pulls. For lighter cabinetry, accent with dark finishes like oil rubbed bronze and verona bronze to add depth. Contemporary – Uptown Appeal is sleek and modern. The contemporary designs evident in its clean lines and simple, uncluttered approach. Sleek hardware complements flat, flush cabinetry, where color choices can be fresh and bold. The profile is smooth, clean lines shine through in...

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Dairy Products From Farm to Doorstep
Dec23

Dairy Products From Farm to Doorstep

By: Beth Vollmer South Mountain Creamery began when Randy and Karen Sowers began farming in 1981, by renting the land and taking out a loan to buy 100 cows. In 1987, they purchased the 100-acre farm and by 2001 they established their farm-dairy processing plant, the first in Maryland. Currently, the Sowers family owns and farms 2,200 acres, milks 550 head, raises over 100 beef cattle and 16,000 laying chickens. Three generations happily work on the farm and second-generation Tony & Abby (Sowers) Brusco and Ben & Kate Sowers run it. Tony married into the family and is the CEO. Abby and Ben are Randy and Karen’s kids and there are 6 third-generation kids always running around the farm.   It had been a long-time dream to have a farm and in 2000, a company out of Israel started to market a “mini” dairy package in the US. Included were a few recipes for fluid milk, flavored milk, farmers cheese, yogurt, sour cream plus training on how to use the equipment. South Mountain Creamery can deliver your milk right to your doorstep, just like the milkman from decades ago. Milk home delivery was slow starting out because they were returning a trend that had not been in the area for over forty years. Growth occurred from good timing and a great product. Production consists of glass and plastic bottled milk, half and half, heavy cream, buttermilk, kefir, yogurt, butter, flavored butters, ice cream, egg nog, iced tea, and lemonade. The family enjoys hearing customers call their delivery drives “dairy fairies” and are amused when customers are out of milk and pour grocery store milk into their glass bottles to trick their kids, but the kids can tell a difference. Their delicious ice cream base took 7 years to create and is a combination of other popular recipes. Also working with over 150 local farmers and producers to deliver a “farmers market to your doorstep” experience makes South Mountain Creamery unique. On site, is a dairy and ice cream shop. Their farm to table restaurant, Hometown Harvest Kitchen, featuring southern inspired comfort food is located in Frederick at 50 Citizens Way, suite 101 and is open Tuesday – Friday 11am – 9pm, Saturday & Sunday, 12pm – 8pm. Their reliable network of growers and farmers provide the produce and some of the meat, and their creamery provides the dairy and eggs. Featuring a new menu of fried pork chops, blackened cat fish, Salisbury steak and roasted chicken, along with daily chef specials are sure to hit the spot. From the restaurant, prepared meals of soups, salads, pot pies and side...

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