East Cobb Health & Wellness

Cobb public health officials issue coronavirus statement

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As the first cases of coronavirus in Georgia were revealed, the Cobb and Douglas Public Health Department has issued a statement about the outbreak.Cobb coronavirus statement

The alert was issued prior to a late-night press conference Monday by Gov. Brian Kemp confirming two cases of COVID-19 in Fulton County.

They’re a father and son, and one of them had traveled back recently from Milan, Italy, which is experiencing an outbreak of the virus.

During the press conference, state health officials said the two individuals were in home quarantine and in communication with their doctor.

More than 90,000 people have contracted coronavirus, a highly contagious illness, in nearly 80 countries around the world. More than 3,000 deaths have been reported, mostly in China.

The only deaths thus far in the U.S. have been in Washington State, where on Tuesday a ninth fatality was confirmed.

The Cobb/Douglas statement contains a basic explanation of the virus, along with preventative measures, such as thorough hand-washing, and that all testing is being done by the state at this time.

The statement said coronavirus spreads through the air when an infected person coughs or sneezes, and that symptoms appear between two and 14 days after exposure. They include:

  • runny nose
  • headache
  • cough
  • shortness of breath
  • fever
  • a general feeling of being unwell.

Here’s more about the local response, as the number of cases is expected to grow:

  • Cobb & Douglas Public Health (CDPH) is preparing internally, as well as with the state and the CDC to slow or prevent community spread. We are working with our partners, including the local governments, healthcare organizations, businesses, first responders, and local school districts to ensure our community is prepared for a potential COVID-19 outbreak.

  • We are reaching out to our county Boards of Health, emergency management agencies, chambers of commerce, and other partners who may need our guidance and are sending them guidance on how to prepare their organizations.

  • CDPH staff receive frequent updates from the CDC and the Georgia Department of Public Health. These updates include information on the current situation abroad and in the U.S., testing, surveillance, quarantine, and more. This helps shape our local response.

  • CDPH  has a previously-developed pandemic influenza plan that can serve as a template for responding to other outbreaks of severe respiratory disease, like COVID-19. We are reviewing our plan and are also prepared to implement specific COVID-19 guidance from the Georgia Department of Public Health and the CDC as the situation evolves.

The Cobb County School District last week sent out a notice about the coronavirus, including a statement from the Georgia Department of Public Health, as well as an updated FAQ Tuesday following the confirmation of the Georgia cases:

The District will continue to stay in constant communication with Georgia Department of Health officials and will follow their guidance every step of the way in order to keep our students and staff safe. Our schools continue to remind students and staff on how to prevent the spread of illness including hand washing, covering mouths when they cough, and keeping their hands away from their face. Parents are urged to keep students at home if they have any symptoms of sickness. 

Should a staff member or student become ill, Cobb Schools already has a reporting protocol in place regarding infectious diseases, which is part of the District’s Infectious Disease Response Plan. The District will use guidance from public health officials to update and apply the plan to respond to COVID-19.  

DPH has also issued guidance about the coronavirus, which was first diagnosed in December in Wuhan, China.

The federal Centers for Disease Control has issued its highest alerts for China and Iran, recommending against non-essential travel there, and that entry by foreign nationals from those countries has been suspended.

U.S. travelers are being advised against non-essential trips to South Korea and Italy, and older adults or those with chronic medical conditions not visit Japan.

More CDC coronavirus information can be found here.

 

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Cobb Opioid Fatality Review Project completes first review

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Cobb Opioids Fatality Review Project

Last fall we reported on some sobering numbers of opioids deaths in Cobb County, which has the highest overdose death rate in the state of Georgia.

A number of initiatives have been begun to address those trends, including the Cobb Opioid Fatality Review Project under the auspices of the Cobb District Attorney’s Office. That project received a nearly $900,000 U.S. Justice Department grant to cover three years.

On Wednesday DA Joyette Holmes sent out the following message about the project’s first review:

In the DA’s Office, Judicial Case Manager Latoya Inzar and Inv. Matthew Mize are dedicated to the Fatality Review Project.

“Cobb County completed its first opioid fatality review (OFR) on Nov. 20, with great participation from stakeholders and the U.S. Department of Justice,” Inzar said. “We were able to review three recent overdose deaths, and recommendations followed to improve policy and practice. As the OFRs are still new to Cobb County and the state of Georgia, our team will continue to improve the process.”

Among the accomplishments, Inzar created a treatment guide and community resource booklet of food, housing, healthcare and other resources available to Cobb residents impacted by the opioid crisis.

Project leaders have attended various trainings, and they participated in Marietta Police Department’s opioid symposium in September. They regularly review findings of the Cobb Medical Examiner on overdose deaths and are engaged in mapping and analyzing individual cases.

Mize, who works to identify the drug dealers behind overdose deaths, said: “The significance of this work is that it will save lives, but more importantly, we aim to transform the lives of those suffering from addiction so that they may reach a sustainable recovery.”

In 2018, Cobb recorded 95 overdose deaths.

Here are more resources collected on the county government’s opioids awareness page, and more background information from the Cobb Community Alliance to Prevent Substance Abuse. The CDC also has more data about opioid deaths in Cobb.

 

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Cobb has 3 more measles cases; 1 confirmed at Transfiguration Catholic

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The Georgia Department of Public Health said Friday that three more cases of the measles have been diagnosed in Cobb County, and that testing is underway on another possible case.Georgia DPH, Cobb measles cases

Two of those new cases involve two individuals who were unvaccinated, and the vaccination history of the other person is “unclear.”

The news comes after Georgia DPH announced last weekend a measles diagnosis for a person later identified as a Mabry Middle School student. That student was not vaccinated.

The Cobb County School District asked any unvaccinated students to stay away from school until Nov. 22, but declined to identify how many individuals that may involve, citing federal student privacy laws.

The district also declined to answer questions from East Cobb News if any of the new confirmed measles cases involve enrolled students. A district spokeswoman issued this statement:

“The District continues to operate at the direction of the Georgia Department of Health. We do not diagnose measles, outside of official notification from Cobb parents that their child has been diagnosed with measles, all questions should be directed to the Georgia Department of Public Health.”

When East Cobb News followed that response to ask the initial question a second time, the spokeswoman did not respond.

According to a post on the Transfiguration Catholic Church Facebook page Friday afternoon, the East Cobb parish had a confirmed measles case at its 6 p.m. Mass last Sunday, Nov. 10.

In Friday’s announcement, Georgia DPH said the three individuals may have exposed others between Oct. 30-Nov. 13. Public health officials said that “it is highly likely” those people “are all related, but the investigation into any linkage is ongoing at this time.”

Georgia DPH said in its release it does not believe the new cases are related to the case involving the Mabry student.

Thus far in 2019, 11 measles cases have been reported in Georgia, more than in the previous decade combined, and four of them have been in Cobb County.

Here’s more from today’s release by Georgia DPH:

“These additional cases of measles should be highly concerning for anyone who is not vaccinated with MMR. Measles is a serious disease, one which can lead to dangerous complications, even death,” said Kathleen E. Toomey, M.D., M.P.H. “The MMR vaccine is safe and about 97% effective in preventing measles. Vaccination is strongly advised for individuals not only to protect themselves, but to protect vulnerable populations – such as infants who are too young to be vaccinated and those who cannot be vaccinated for medical reasons.”

Measles spreads when an infected person coughs or sneezes. Droplets from the nose or mouth become airborne, or land on surfaces where they can live for two hours. Measles is so contagious that if one person has it, up to 90% of the people around him or her will also become infected if they are not vaccinated.

Measles starts with a high fever, cough, runny nose and red, watery eyes. Then a rash of tiny, red spots breaks out. It starts at the head and spreads to the rest of the body.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends children receive their first dose of MMR vaccine between 12-15 months of age and a second dose between 4-6 years old. More than 95% of the people who receive a single dose of MMR will develop immunity to all three viruses. A second dose boosts immunity, typically enhancing protection to 98%.

Adults who are not sure about their measles immunity should speak to their health care provider.There is no harm in getting another dose of MMR vaccine if you may already be immune to measles (or mumps or rubella).

People with symptoms of measles should contact their health care provider immediately. DO NOT go to the doctor’s office, the hospital, or a public health clinic without FIRST calling to let them know about your symptoms. Health care providers who suspect measles in a patient should notify public health immediately.

For more information about measles and measles vaccine, log on to https://www.vaccines.gov/diseases/measles or https://www.cdc.gov/measles/index.html.

 

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Mabry Middle School student diagnosed with measles

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A student at Mabry Middle School in East Cobb has been diagnosed with the measles in a case that was announced over the weekend by the Georgia Department of Public Health. Mabry Middle School

On Saturday, Georgia DPH issued a statement saying that an “unvaccinated Cobb County resident” may have exposed others between Oct. 31 and Nov. 6, and that it was “notifying individuals who may have been exposed to the virus and may be at increased risk for developing measles.”

A Cobb County School District spokeswoman said Monday the district had been notified by Georgia DPH that it was a Mabry student and that:

‘Mabry parents have been communicated with and any student who is at risk will not be allowed in school through November 22nd. The unaffected teachers and students remain focused on teaching and learning while affected students and families are supported by Public Health.”

Here’s what public health officials said in a note that went out to Mabry parents over the weekend:

“It is very unlikely that your child will get measles if they have been vaccinated with the MMR vaccine, but if he/she becomes sick with a fever, cough, runny nose or red eyes, with or without rash, before November 22, contact your healthcare provider immediately. At this time, it has been advised that if your child is not vaccinated, he/she should not return back to school until November 25. If your child is up to date on their vaccinations, they are safe to return back to school on Monday, November 11.”

(Read the letter here.)

The Cobb school district declined to provide information to follow-up questions from East Cobb News about how many students and staff may be held out, nor would it explain how the unvaccinated student was allowed to attend school.

“To comply with federal laws which protect student confidentiality, no further details will be available,” the district spokeswoman said, referring those questions to Georgia DPH.

We have asked the Georgia DPH to comment and will update.

The Cobb school district requires immunization for students in kindergarten and seventh grade and newly enrolled students, and allows for waivers due to religious beliefs or for health reasons.

Here’s more from the Georgia DPH about the measles:

“Measles can be prevented with the MMR (measles, mumps, rubella) vaccine. The vaccine is safe and effective. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends children receive their first dose of MMR vaccine between 12-15 months of age and a second dose between 4-6 years old. More than 95% of the people who receive a single dose of MMR will develop immunity to all three viruses. A second dose boosts immunity, typically enhancing protection to 98%.”

 

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East Cobb dentist seeking volunteers for Free Dental Day

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East Cobb free dental day

 

For the ninth year, East Cobb dentists Michael and Azita Mansouri will be holding their free dental day event on Nov. 9, and they’re looking for hygienists and dental assistants to help out.

If you’re interested, go to the Mansouris’ website at https://www.naturalsmile.biz/free-dental-day-2019/ and fill out the volunteer form.

Here’s more about the free dental day, which typically serves about 300 or so people in need:

Doors will open at 5:00 am, and patients will be seen on a first-come, first-serve basis. It is recommended that participants arrive early, as lines for this event have started at 10 pm the night before the event in previous years. Before joining the line, participants must reply to the confirmation email or phone call that is sent out. Participants must be at least 18 years old, and they will receive one procedure of their choice: a professional dental cleaning, a dental filling, or an extraction.

This event is made possible by the non-profit organization, Dentistry From the Heart. This organization partners with thousands of dental professionals throughout the year to provide no-cost dental care to those without the means to acquire care.

“This is our favorite day of the year!” boasts Dr. Michael Mansouri. “We have been able to leave our mark on this community by giving back. So many people cannot afford dental treatments and do not have dental insurance. It is our great privilege to offer no-cost dental treatments to those in need.”

The 9th Annual No-Cost Dental Day event will be at Mansouri Dental Care & Associates (4720 Lower Roswell Road). For more information and a chance to win one of 10 guaranteed tickets, please visit us at https://www.naturalsmile.biz/free-dental-day-2019/ and like us on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/MansouriDMD.

 

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State Rep. Sharon Cooper to hold addiction and recovery meeting

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To observe National Recovery Month in September, State Rep. Sharon Cooper (R-East Cobb) will hold an addiction and recovery meeting next week.

State Rep. Sharon Cooper
State Rep. Sharon Cooper

The meeting is Monday, from 7-8:30 p.m. at the Sewell Mill Library (2051 Lower Roswell Road). Cooper is the chairwoman of the House Health and Human Services Committee.

Cobb County has one of the highest rates of opioid addiction in the state of Georgia.

Several experts in the field will be present to discuss the issues and answer questions. They include:

  • Robin Elliot, GA Overdose Prevention
  • Neil Campbell, GA Overdose Prevention Council on Substance Abuse
  • TaTa-Nisha Frazier (Individual in long term recovery)
  • Amy Armstrong, MARR Addiction Treatment Center.

The meeting is free and open to anyone who wants to learn more about addiction and recovery.

Related stories

 

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New Atlanta VA Health Care clinic opens in East Cobb

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East Cobb VA clinic opens
Cobb Commission Chairman Mike Boyce (in uniform) and Cobb Superior Court Judge Reuben Green (with scissors) at the East Cobb VA clinic ribbon-cutting.

Submitted information and photo:

The Atlanta VA Health Care System held a ribbon cutting ceremony May 16 for its Northeast Cobb County VA Clinic, located at 2217 Roswell Road in Marietta. The new VA clinic provides local veterans with primary care, mental health, telehealth and laboratory services. It is open 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m., Mondays through Fridays.

“We have a county of over 45 thousand veterans and the needs here for medical services and primary care are urgent,” said Chairman Boyce, who spent nearly 30 years in leadership positions in the Marine Corps and was in Operations Desert Shield/Desert Storm in Iraq and Operation Restore Hope in Somalia. “I’m glad to see the VA recognizes that and is going to build that kind of care and begin serving all these warriors that live around here. It’s a long time coming.”

“Opening the VA clinic here will make a huge difference for our veterans in Cobb County both in the Veterans court but also for the veterans in our community that need services,” said Superior Court Chief Judge Reuben Green, a veteran of the Marine Corps.

Veterans previously requesting to receive care at this site will be contacted directly. Enrolled veterans interested in transferring to the new site, please contact the new clinic by calling 404-321-6111, ext. 204403. Veterans not enrolled in the Atlanta VAHCS, please call Eligibility Service at 404-321-6111, ext. 206450.

 

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East Cobb YMCA taking part in Healthy Kids Day event

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Submitted information:

East Cobb YMCA Healthy Kids Day

On Saturday, April 27, the McCleskey-East Cobb YMCA is holding a free community event to inspire more kids to keep their minds and bodies active at the annual YMCA’s Healthy Kids Day, the Y’s national initiative to improve health and well-being for kids and families. Healthy Kids Day is an opportunity to ignite children’s imaginations so that they can imagine what they’ll accomplish this summer. The event features activities such as a kids run, family stretch class and family Zumba to motivate and teach families how to develop and maintain healthy routines at home throughout the summer months.

Healthy Kids Day, celebrated at over 1,500 Ys across the country by over one million participants, works to get more kids moving and learning, creating habits that they continue all summer long.  When kids are out of school, they can face hurdles that prevent them from reaching their full potential. Research shows that without access to out-of-school learning activities, kids fall behind academically. Kids also gain weight twice as fast during summer than the school year. As spring turns to summer, Healthy Kids Day is a powerful reminder not to let children idle away their summer days. Instead, the Y wants families to focus on helping children imagine what they can accomplish over the summer.

“When a child is healthy, happy, and supported they can make great things happen,” says Becky Shipley, Executive Director “We believe in the potential of all children, and we strive to help kids find that potential within themselves. A child’s development is never on vacation and Healthy Kids Day is a great opportunity to educate families and motivate kids to stay active in spirit, mind and body throughout the summer.”

Keeping Kids Healthy All Summer Long

In celebration of YMCA’s Healthy Kids Day, the Y offers the following tips to help families develop healthy habits this summer that can have a lifetime effect:

  • High Five the Fruits and Veggies – Make sure kids get at least five servings of fruits and veggies each day, the minimum number nutritionists recommend for healthy childhood development. And to keep kids’ taste buds evolving, have everyone in the family try at least one bite of a new fruit or vegetable at least once a month.
  • Read Together – The summer is a great time to enjoy books with summer program participants—and 30 minutes a day goes a long way! Take trips to the local library or create a family reading challenge to see who can log the most minutes of reading. Encourage youth to create their own stories as well.
  • Get Moving! – Activities that require movement also help kids flex their mental muscle. Use materials in unique ways: ask youth to build models, manipulate tools or develop their own theatrical scenes.
  • Play Together – Play may be the best way to prevent childhood obesity. By putting more play into your family’s day, you will soon find yourself getting the activity that will have your family feeling energized and strong.
  • Make sleep a priority – Doctors recommend 10-12 hours of sleep a day for children ages 5-12 and 7-8 hours per night for adults. Sleep plays a critical role in maintaining our healthy immune system, metabolism, mood, memory, and learning.

McCleskey-East Cobb YMCA’s Healthy Kids Day takes place at 1055 E. Piedmont from 10 a.m. – 1 p.m. and features fun, active play and educational activities. This year, in partnership with Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, the YMCA will be offering vouchers for a session of FREE swimming lessons.

Locally, Healthy Kids Day is sponsored by Life University, Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta and many more.

For more information, contact McCleskey-East Cobb YMCA at 770-977-5991.

 

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East Cobb health and fitness pros: ‘It’s never too late to get healthy’

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ECBA health and fitness pros
“Every little choice adds up,” said Katie Rodgers (center) of Rove Fitness, flanked by Cindy Trow of Wellness Now (left) and Noelle Abent of Energetic Therapies. 

Imagine taking off 80 pounds with a diet that consists of six small meals a day.

Mix in a modest exercise plan customized for your level of fitness and what you want to achieve.

And address your physical and mental well-being with deep-breathing techniques that help reduce stress as you go about a busy daily routine.

Several East Cobb health and fitness pros insist anyone can incorporate these practices into their lives to improve their quality of life.

Speaking at a recent East Cobb Business Association luncheon, they offered up some sobering figures about the state of Americans’ health:

  • Six out of 10 Americans have been diagnosed with at least one chronic disease;
  • Four out of 10 have two or more;
  • By next year, chronic diseases will affect 157 million Americans;
  • That’s projected to be 171 million by the year 2030.

Those illnesses add up, financially too, to around $35 trillion in health costs.

“As our lifespans get longer, we are getting sicker,” said Katie Rodgers, a certified personal trainer with Rove Fitness Systems, and who works out of East Cobb.

That may seem paradoxical, but she said seven out of 10 Americans die from chronic diseases “that are preventable.

The U.S. is 34th in the world in health indicators, according to East Cobb chiropractor Dan Ruitenbeek. “We suck,” he said, but his native Canada “is not much better.”

“You’ve got the power to change your body,” Rodgers said. “Every choice counts, every little choice adds up.”

She was joined by Dr. Dan Ruitenbeek, a chiropractor who recently opened a practice at Parkaire Landing; health coach Cindy Trow of Wellness Now; and Noelle Abent of Energetic Therapies, on Johnson Ferry Road.

While their talk was geared to business professionals, their advice and the staggering health figures and trends they discussed can apply to anyone.

Better fitness starts with better food

Trow said you don’t have to be overweight or appear to be in poor health or eat unhealthy diets to have issues. The very thin former special education teacher realized how life-changing a diagnosis of Type 1 diabetes was, and she now helps others learn to eat in moderation as the stepping stone to better health.

“It’s not just how you eat but how you move, and sleep and handle stress,” she said.

Portion control is the key, and Trow pointed to weight-loss stories from clients who followed her six-meals approach. Their “sweet cravings went away” and they felt more satiated.

These are healthy snacks of course, and include a variety of 100-calorie options that include fruit, nuts, yogurt, vegetables, greens, tuna, whole-wheat pasta, hummus and some pasta and cheeses.

For dinner, she suggests you fill no more than a nine-inch plate, and emphasize fruits and vegetables and proteins.

And drink lots of water, starting the day with 24 ounces, and between 64-80 ounces a day total.

Get started with gradual steps

Abent, who formerly worked at a church, had the audience do some deep-breathing exercises, putting their hands on their stomachs while they breathed in for five seconds, and then exhaling for five seconds more.

It’s a standard relaxation technique, she said, but it also helps people get a more tactile sense of themselves.

“We’re not centered in our bodies,” said Abent, who offers therapy options that include Reiki healing, inner light therapy and spiritual counseling. The aim is to help individuals derive and sustain higher energy levels that also improve health outcomes.

“If you don’t have enough energy during the day, how is that going to flow into your business?”

Ruitenbeek said the key to getting started is to develop gradual habits that build up over time.

“It takes 21 days of consistent action to create a new habit,” he said.

Trow said “80 percent” of the formula for better health “is in your head,” with 10 percent each for food and exercise. “You’re not going to create everything in a New York minute.”

But the best news of all, Rodgers said, is that better health results are within reach of anyone who commits to those goals and who can sustain those habits, regardless of age.

“It’s never too late to get healthy,” Rodgers said.

For more information

 

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Walton and Wheeler students team up for Leukemia and Lymphoma Society fundraising

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Thanks to Bhavini Rajan, an East Cobb resident, for information about her son’s ongoing fundraising project, along with Emma Mason, a junior at the Wheeler STEM magnet school. Here’s the appeal Anant Rajan, a Walton junior, is making to raise funds for The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society through March 23, and it’s similar to another one involving Walton students we posted about last month:Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, East Cobb students

I’m very excited to share with you that I am part of the 2019 Student of the Year campaign and I will be working to raise money and awareness for The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS) and their mission to find a cure for blood cancers.

It’s an honor to be a part of such an outstanding group of fellow students, but an even larger honor to be able to work for the patients, survivors and their families. I am fundraising in honor of Lauren Bass-Sanford, a shiningly brilliant girl who fought with blood cancer and came out the other side. We need to make this possible for more people, and we can only do that with your help! To learn more about why this cause is so important to me, watch THIS VIDEO.

My personal goal is to raise $40,000 between January 31st and March 23rd. It’s a lofty goal, but I am willing to work hard to reach it. I cannot do it alone, I need your help. There are a few ways you can support my fundraising efforts:

  1. Donate via my personal fundraising page: https://events.lls.org/ga/AtlantaSOY19/tcambiamon
  2. Share my message & fundraising link with your contacts via email or social media
  3. Donate a silent auction item that can be used for the Grand Finale Gala auction
  4. Help me secure a corporate sponsorship (Sponsorships start at $5,000 and sponsors receive Gala benefits)

Not only is this campaign a great way to support LLS and their life-saving work, but it’s a great leadership opportunity for me. Students receive scholarships based on our fundraising and awareness efforts. I am so excited to be able to make a difference in my community in this way.

Please note that we have organized a fundraiser event of Indian Classical Dance & Percussion on Sunday, 10th March 2019 at Hindu Temple of Atlanta – the details are in http://evite.me/eHMyNEH36V

Thank you for your generosity and support. Your donation truly makes a difference and with your help, we’re one step closer to a cure for blood cancers.

I can’t wait to share the exciting updates of the next six weeks with you. Stay tuned to see what my team and I are able to accomplish!

Sincerely,
Anant Rajan and Emma Mason

 

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East Cobb students raising funds for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society

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Thanks to Katie Valley, a sophomore at Walton High School, for letting us know about a fundraiser she’s holding over the next few weeks for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.

LLS logo, East Cobb students

She tells us that she and her group of fellow students, who attend Walton, Lassiter, Pope and Wheeler, are selling T-shirts and taking donations, with all the proceeds going for blood cancer research.

It’s part of the “Steps to Strength” fundraising drive that involves teen fundraisers in honor of young patients who are battling or are in remission from cancer. Here’s more about what the Steps to Strength drive is all about:

“The candidate team that raises the most money at the end of the seven weeks is named Student(s) of the Year. Our mission is to not only raise the most money but also to bring attention to blood cancers like leukemia, which is the most common form of cancer in children and teens.”

Here’s the link to donate:
https://events.lls.org/ga/AtlantaSOY19/tstepstost

And here’s the link to buy a t-shirt:
https://goo.gl/forms/kndHzLrupsKOLzz22

The fundraiser continues to March 23, For more visit the main LLS website.

 

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McCleskey-East Cobb Family YMCA named recipient of Cobb Chamber health awards

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McCleskey-East Cobb Family YMCA
From L-R: Trey Sanders, 2018 Cobb Chamber Chairman; Becky Shipley, East Cobb YMCA, 2018 Health Hero Award Winner (organization); Misty Lathem, East Cobb YMCA, 2018 Health Hero Award Winner (individual); Dr. Ross Brakeville, 2018 Health & Wellness Committee Chair (Photo: Cobb Chamber)

Thanks to the Cobb Chamber of Commerce for the info and photo with some good news about the McCleskey-East Cobb Family YMCA:

The Cobb Chamber presented its 2018 Health Hero Awards to two recipients at its First Monday Breakfast at the Cobb Galleria Centre on Dec. 3. The awards, sponsored by MetroAtlanta Ambulance Service and the Cobb Community Foundation, recognized the outstanding accomplishments of one individual and one organization who have made significant impacts on the health of the Cobb County community.

The individual 2018 Health Hero Award was presented to Misty Lathem, Wellness Director for the YMCA of East Cobb. In addition to her role as wellness director, Lathem serves as the East Cobb Y hunger relief coordinator, organizes and manages the YMCA run club and oversees the Haunted Hustle 5K/10K, Little Nugget 1 Miler and Youth Fit 4 Life events.

Lathem further serves the Cobb community by managing Farm Fresh Markets for impoverished seniors, promoting active lifestyles through the Atlanta Y Kids Tri program and providing leadership as a board member of the Roswell Bike Club, Cobb 2020 and the Cobb Health and Wellness Committee. 

The organizational 2018 Health Hero Award was presented to the YMCA of East Cobb, which actively seeks gaps in the Cobb community and plays a critical role in the health and wellness of thousands of citizens. The Y tackles hunger through Farm Fresh Market food deliveries and the School’s Out Lunch program, and as America’s Swim Instructor, teaches thousands of children how to protect themselves in water.

Additionally, East Cobb YMCA addresses the needs of special community populations, having designed programs such as PD Gladiators, a program designed for people living with Parkinson’s Disease, and programs supporting cancer survivors and promoting diabetes prevention.

In 2018 alone, East Cobb YMCA partnered with Walton Communities to offer adult swimming lessons, with Brumby Elementary and MUST Ministries to create a food pantry, with Cobb and Douglas Public Health to prepare children for their first-ever triathlon and continued a partnership with East Valley Elementary School and Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, offering Youth Fit 4 Life, an after-school fitness program designed to lower the BMI and increase the cardio health of children.

 

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Lions Club vision screenings include East Cobb Library date in September

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We posted earlier this week about free eye exams and glasses for Brumby Elementary School students. The Cobb County Public Library announced this week that the Lions Club will have some vision screenings for the general public in September, including one at the East Cobb Library.Lions Club vision screenings

That screening on Sept. 21 will be conducted by the East Cobb Lions Club, which will be at Brumby later this fall and does many screenings at Cobb schools.

Here’s more about the screenings from Thomas Brooks at the library system, who says the screenings are for adults and children six months and older, and that walk-ins are encouraged:

Lions Club volunteers use a screening device to detect possible vision issues that require follow-up professional care. Vision issues have a significant impact on quality of life, including children’s success in school and injury risks for all ages.

Lions Club volunteers are providing Vision Screening events in September as part of Cobb County Public Libraries’ Falls Prevention Awareness Initiative.

The costs due to falls injuries are substantial for Cobb families, a major national healthcare burden and public safety challenge. The average hospital cost is more than $30,000 for a fall injury, according to the CDC. Reports by the Georgia Department of Public Health show about 10,000 emergency room visits by Cobb residents each year due to fall injuries.

  • Saturday, September 8, 2 pm to 4 pm: North Cobb Lions Club at the Kennesaw Library. 2250 Lewis St., Kennesaw 30144. (770) 528-2529.
  • Tuesday, September 11, 2 pm to 4 pm: Paulding-West Cobb Lions Clubat the West Cobb Regional Library, 1750 Dennis Kemp Lane, Kennesaw 30152. (770) 528-4677
  • Tuesday, September 18, 1 pm to 4 pm: South Cobb Lions Club at the South Cobb Regional Library, 805 Clay Rd., Mableton 30126. (678) 398-5828
  • Wednesday, September 19, 1 pm to 4 pm: South Cobb Lions Club at the Sibley Library, 2539 South Cobb Dr., Marietta 30060. (770) 528-2520
  • Friday, September 21, 12 pm to 2 pm: East Cobb Lions Club at the East Cobb Library, 4880 Lower Roswell Rd., Suite 510-B, Marietta 30068. (770) 509-2730

Another East Cobb entity that provides free health care assistance announced today the renewal of another popular event. The Mansouri Family Dental Care practice on Lower Roswell Road said its annual free dental exams will take place on Nov. 10.

For several years the Mansouris have enlisted volunteer dentists to provide exam for those in  need. We’ll have more details when we get them.

 

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East Cobb healthy eating advocate, shopowner pens new cookbook

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Smita Daya, East Cobb healthy eating advocate
“I want you to be able to go home and cook,” says Smita Daya, co-owner of the Olea Oliva! store and author of a new cookbook of plant-based recipes. (East Cobb News photos by Wendy Parker)

For Smita Daya, preparing a plant-based, olive oil-infused cuisine using natural herbs and spices has been a way of life. The East Cobb healthy eating advocate opened the Olea Oliva! store at The Avenue East Cobb two years ago to spread her passion for wholesome, easy-to-make dishes to those wanting to alter their own eating habits.

The shop sells more than 60 varieties of gourmet extra-virgin olive oils and balsamic vinegars, as well as spices, herbs, teas and other items that make up her “healthy eating and healthy cooking” philosophy. She also teaches classes there once a week.

“The passion for healthy cooking has always been there,” she explains.

In September, she’ll be publishing a cookbook, “An Odyssey of Flavors,” which contains many of her favorite recipes that she believes can be made easily and quickly, even for the busiest home cook.

That’s because she’s been one herself.

An olive oil comparison chart explained by Dilip Daya, ranging from delicate to medium to robust.

Smita and Dilip Daya, her husband and Olea Oliva! co-owner, grew up in Africa as members of families that planted, harvested and cooked their own vegetables. She left her native Zambia for an English boarding school at the age of 12. He lived on a farm in Mozambique.

When they arrived in the United States as younger adults, they brought their food habits with them, and have not wavered in passing them along.

Smita was a paralegal in the corporate world for 25 years, rising well before dawn every morning to prepare that evening’s dinner before going to work. She also made sure her now-grown daughters (both Walton High School graduates) packed homemade, healthy lunches. No cafeteria fare, but hummus dips, yogurts and salads.

The Dayas don’t eat meat, poultry or fish, although they help customers who do by offering paleo seasoning bags (no processed ingredients) specially mixed for each kind of dish.

Smita says that “it’s a lot of discipline, but it was never a question” about whether to maintain a plant-based diet.

Olea Oliva, Dilip Daya
“Some people treat olive oil like ketchup,” says Dilip Daya, a certified olive oil sommelier. But “like wine, olives have styles” and there are more than 2,000 varietals.

The dishes in her cookbook are all vegetarian. The only dairy products are in her homemade paneer cheese and yogurt. Sugar is used only in desserts. Very little salt is included in any recipe.

Most of all, it’s the olive oils, herbs and spices that are at the heart of her philosophy. Former neighbors now run a fresh pressed-olive farm near Florence, Italy, where the Dayas have a co-share interest.

Dilip, whose day job is as a computer engineer with a Hewlett-Packard R and D lab, visits every 18 months or so. He’s an olive oil sommelier certified by the UC-Davis Robert Mondavi Institute and is an industrial chemist.

She makes the spices on site at the store, and makes weekend rounds at local markets, including Martin’s Garden at Coleman Farms in Roswell.

“Eat better, not less,” Smita says. “It’s all about flavor, about an explosion” of tastes that burst from the recipes. They’re designed to be easy to prepare, using only a few ingredients that are readily available:

  • Herbaceous Kale Salad
  • Slow Cooker Red Lentil and Vegetable Soup
  • Broccoli Dal
  • Sorghum Pizza
  • Baby Stuffed Eggplant
  • Penne Pasta with Vegetables
  • Kohlrabi Masala Curry

The latter is a recipe she’ll be demonstrating at a class on Aug. 30. She said for some, the most challenging ingredient can be a commitment to cooking this way every day.

“You have to be passionate about being in the kitchen,” she said, “to be passionate about your family’s health.”

Smita, who has a certificate as a plant-based nutritionist from Cornell University, also will be doing a demonstration at the Atlanta Food Expo in September at the Cobb Galleria Centre.

“I want you to go home and be able to cook,” she said. “I love empowering people, to give them skills and tips to do healthy things.”

“An Odyssey of Flavors,” published by Atlanta-based VMH Publishing, can be preordered and will be sold on the Olea Oliva! website after Sept. 4. The store is located at 4475 Roswell Road, Suite 1000. Phone: 770-321-0099.

 

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East Cobb Library Adult Wellness class series continues in July

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The East Cobb Library Adult Wellness class series continues on Wednesday with a chair yoga class (calendar item).East Cobb Library Adult Wellness Classes

It’s part of the library’s Senior Wellness Series that takes place every Wednesday, but it’s open to anyone age 18 or older.

The class takes place from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. in the community room of the library, and that’s the venue for other classes in the series.

Next Wednesday, July 18, the series continues with a falls prevention class that’s also open to adults 18 and older.

On July 25, a pain relief meditation session is scheduled.

Those classes will continue on Aug. 8, 15 and 22, respectively.

On Aug. 1, the series also will include a Tai Chi wellness class.

All classes are free, but registration is required and can be done at the library’s adult information desk or by calling 770-509-2730.

 

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East Cobb Senior Center community health fair set for 10-2 on Saturday

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The East Cobb Senior Center community health fair returns from 10-2 Saturday, and it’s for all ages and is being held by Cobb Senior Services.

The fair is free, and includes health screenings, music and antique cars, games for kids and health and community vendors. Here’s a full list of vendors, including Aloha to Aging, Inc., East Cobb Garden Club, Marietta Golden Kiwanis, Sterling Estates East Cobb, YMCA-East Cobb, East Cobb Woodcarvers and the East Cobb Lions Club

Other activities include a Medicare presentation at 10:30 a.m. and a film screening at 1 p.m.

There’s also going to be a bake sale and a hot dog lunch will also be available.

The East Cobb Senior Center is located at 3332 Sandy Plains Road.

 

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WellStar Health System provided $648M in charity care in 2017

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East Cobb Health Park

 

Press release:

WellStar Health System, the largest not-for-profit health system in Georgia, provided more than $648 million in charity and unreimbursed care, as well as community programs during the 2017 fiscal year.

As a community-based health system, WellStar’s physicians, nurses, advanced practice professionals and team members are committed to helping patients and communities live healthier lives.  Currently, 10 percent of WellStar’s patients do not have insurance.  As part of its mission,WellStar cares for these patients, regardless of their ability to pay.

Through 11 hospitals and 250 medical office locations, WellStar provided more than $250 million in charity care and more than $117 million in care for those who were unable to pay for services but did not apply for charity care.  Additionally, community and outreach programs are important tools to help patients and families meet their health goals and understand their options, and WellStar funded $10 million in community programs during fiscal year 2017.

The amount of charity and unreimbursed care dramatically increased in 2017 due to WellStar’s recent expansion.  In 2016, WellStar grew to an 11-hopsital system when WellStar Atlanta Medical Center, WellStar Atlanta Medical Center South, WellStar North Fulton Hospital, WellStarSpalding Regional Hospital, WellStar Sylvan Grove Hospital and WellStar West Georgia Medical Center joined the health system.

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