Posted by samantha on Apr 11, 2014 in What They Say
“Samantha Donaldson has been an asset in a variety of projects and events over the years which include Uncle Dave Macon Days, Macon Music Education, and New Year’s Eve Night Watch, as well as many downtown Murfreesboro events.
Samantha’s friendliness and resourcefulness make her adept at implementing her high-level promotion and advertising skills (which includes all social and print media).
Her strong interpersonal skills will facilitate anyone looking for an innovative, creative mind who is sensitive to your particular ideas and brand awareness.
She can use her strong literary skills to convey and promote with the highest level of professionalism.“
— Gloria Christy, Uncle Dave Macon Days, Inc., Macon Music Education
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Posted by samantha on Apr 11, 2014 in What They Say
“Samantha is a great resource for both developing and communicating ideas.
She is a versatile writer that can express concepts with both serious investigation or humor and wit; and maybe more importantly, she can discern the appropriateness between the two.
More than just competent, Samantha is also a pleasure to work with.”
— J. Brooks Christol, partner, Barker & Christol
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Posted by samantha on Apr 11, 2014 in What I've Done
As his name was called for a special award at Rockvale Elementary, Corben Sinthavong stepped away from his walker and took his first steps unassisted. Although his gait was slow and cautious, he made his way across the stage alone.
This milestone is one his mother, Elisabeth Sinthavong, recalls as a cherished memory. It was a triumph the family celebrated.
However, one of the hardest moments in the family’s shared memory was learning that Corben would need a kidney transplant, and fast.
“The kidney failure was the hardest for me,” Elisabeth says. “It progressed quickly.”
Corben, now 7, faced obstacles even before he was born. His parents learned that Corben had a cleft lip and palate and kidney problems.
“We knew when I was pregnant that he had some issues,” Elisabeth says. “After he was born, it still took months to do tests and put puzzle pieces together.”
At six months old, Corben received a diagnosis of Joubert Syndrome, a rare genetic disorder that manifests through decreased muscle tone, difficulty with coordination, abnormal eye movements and breathing patterns, and cognitive impairment.
It is caused by an underdevelopment of the cerebellar vermis and other portions of the brain. This produces a dysfunction in the cilium functions of the brain, which control the eyes’ ability to see light, the nose to smell, and fluid flow to the kidneys and liver.
“This is not something that is race or gender specific,” says Elisabeth. She had married her high school sweetheart, Johnny, and neither had any inclination they could be carriers for a genetic disorder that affects approximately 1 in 200,000.
“Most of the doctors don’t know; they’ve never seen it before,” she says. “There are only six families in Tennessee who have it.”
Elisabeth found strength in a Facebook group comprised of families who were looking for information on the same disorder.
“A group of moms came together to do research. We have conferences. It’s great to be on Facebook because we can share. It’s like, ‘Hey, my kid is doing that,'” she said.
In 2009 Corben was diagnosed with kidney disease and the search for a donor began.
“It’s hard. It was rough,” says Johnny Sinthavong, Corben’s father. “When you look ahead, you don’t know what’s going to happen, for him, for the family.”
Immediately Corben had to change his diet. The only problem was, most diets for kidney disease patients are for adults, not young children.
“There was stuff on that list that even I wouldn’t eat,” Johnny says. “How do you expect a child to?”
His diet limited and combined with the kidney disease, Corben stopped growing. He grew thin. He was going to need a new kidney soon.
Fortunately, both parents were matches, and Johnny gave his son one of his kidneys. Even with having a family member with an available kidney, ready and willing to donate, the process took six months before Corben received his transplant.
Corben’s school, Rockvale Elementary, was extremely supportive, according to Elisabeth.
“They have been amazing,” she says. “I’m more and more convinced that it was the right decision for him to go there.”
Corben, who has grown four inches since his surgery Nov. 30, 2011, is in both special education and inclusion classes.
“He’s pretty sociable,” Elisabeth says. “He loves his iPad. He loves hippotherapy (riding and working with horses), and he loves to go to church.”
“It never occurred to him that he would have any issues,” Johnny says.
Rockvale Elementary staff created a fundraising website, Coins for Corben, to help with medical expenses, which beyond the kidney transplant for both Corben and his father, includes monthly checkups and blood work, daily medication, and even a G-tube, which helps Corben get enough liquids — a necessity because he received an adult kidney.
Learning of Corben and his family, Oakland Middle School donated proceeds from tickets and concessions from its Jan. 17 basketball game against Rockvale Middle School to the fundraising cause.
“I never even met the coach. It’s amazing that people would be willing to help a stranger,” Elisabeth says.
The fundraising continues. A website has been set up at COTA.donorpages.com/PatientOnlineDonation/COTAforCorbenS/ where donations can be made to make up for the more than $50,000 needed.
“The average life of a kidney is 10 years. We don’t know if it will be one year or 20 years, but it is very likely he will need another one,” Elisabeth says.
Even with that future expense hanging in the balance, the family has made sacrifices on Corben’s therapies because money is tight.
“We can’t afford all of the therapy he needs: speech, physical, occupational. That’s why the hippotherapy is only a summer thing,” Elisabeth says.
“We’ve had to cut that short,” Johnny adds.
“A transplant is a treatment for his disorder, not a cure,” Elisabeth says.
For now Corben is growing and developing, making milestones for his mother to remember, being a big brother to 4-year-old Cowen and singing in church. He is making friends in his classes at Rockvale Elementary and playing communication and learning games on the iPad.
“You have to take it one day at a time,” Johnny says.
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Posted by samantha on Apr 11, 2014 in What I've Done
The time between Thanksgiving and New Year’s is often filled with parties and celebrations. To show your appreciation for an invitation, you may want to bring a hostess gift to the next party or dinner you attend.
And while wine is often the go-to gift, you can make it extra special by creating it yourself, suggests Cheryl Lisi, wine enthusiast and co-owner of Let’s Make Wine, a store on Spring Street near Public Square that she opened a few months back with her husband, Jack. The couple sell wine-making supplies and kits, giving away advice as a bonus.
“Riesling is the most popular of the whites,” Lisi says.
“Reds are where you get the health benefits from the antioxidants and tannins. I can’t keep reds on the shelf,” she adds, swirling a red Sangiovese, a deep, dry, oaky Italian wine, in her glass.
“Through centuries, wine has been a part of our culture,” says Lisi. “It used to be a tradition that the way you welcomed someone to a new home was with a bottle of wine and a loaf of bread.”
Other wine-related accessories make fun hostess gifts as well, Lisi notes, pointing out the glasses, chalkboard trays, wine stoppers, glass charms and bottle lights she has in supply.
For someone who is looking to give the gift of wine, without having to make it, Will Merrell with Stones River Total Beverages offers a few suggestions for selecting a great bottle.
“Some of the most popular gift wines this year are from smaller vintages,” he notes.
The Biltmore Estate’s Christmas White is popular, as well as Duplin Christmas Red or Naughty and Nice, Merrell says.
“Pinot noirs are also a good choice because they go with foods and during the holidays you are typically enjoying larger meals,” Merrell says. “Try the Meiomi (pinot noir).”
Another popular choice Merrell says, is the Sophia Rosé, from the Francis Coppola label, “because it looks like a big bottle of perfume, which is nice for the ladies.”
“Wine is always a staple, of course,” for gift giving, agrees Polly Blair of Blackberry House, one of downtown Murfreesboro’s newest home accessories and furnishing stores, specializing in vintage pieces. “But I would also suggest something they can use again such as a soup tureen, a decorative pitcher they can serve drinks in or a set of mugs, something they will use on a regular basis when entertaining in the future.”
The hostess puts a lot of thought into her event, so you should put some thought into your gift, Blair says.
“You want to show your appreciation, but you may want to get something that will remind the hostess of you every time she uses it,” Blair says.
Other popular hostess gifts
• Flowers or plants
• Food, such as cookies, bread or spreads
• Candles, soaps or lotion
• Linens, such as napkins or dish towels
• Salts, spices or oils for cooking
• Chocolate or candy
• Coffee
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Posted by samantha on Apr 11, 2014 in What I've Done
The whiz of the projectile is stopped dead by the instant collision with gloved hands creating a “thwack” before those same hands toss the ball with similar force to a waiting teammate.
The rush of air is felt even from a few feet away as bodies in constant motion jump and dive, twist and juke. Playing full contact, participants jab feet and ankles in to steal, slap and grab for the ball and even hip check each other in an attempt to score.
The game is in constant motion, requiring its players to be all in mentally and physically.
This is Kronum.
Developed in 2008 in the Northeast, “the revolution” of Kronum gained intense popularity among athletes familiar with rugby, lacrosse, basketball, soccer and handball. It even grew a strong following in Europe.
Now, several MTSU students have gotten a taste of the demanding extreme sport and want to start their own Kronum team.
“There’s never a dull moment. You are always in motion,” says Jack Johnson, an MTSU student who first learned about Kronum from a friend. “It’s a great way to stay active.”
Kronum combines the skills seen in other sports and creates a completely new one. Elements of soccer, rugby, handball, basketball and more are present, providing a playing field for participants who excel at one particular skill, as well as rewarding players who are well-rounded athletes.
“You can be good or have a background in a lot of different sports. It’s a nice mix of them,” says Spencer Brown, an MTSU student who has played soccer and lacrosse in the past. “It keeps things fast-paced.”
“I love that you can use your hands and your feet and that you have to know where you are on the Kronum Round (field) to know what can be used when,” says Matt Peck, another student player. “It requires you to be constantly thinking and aware.”
Miles Haynes was also a previous soccer player, and he has found a niche as a wedgeback, which is a Kronum position similar to goalie, but still requires a great deal of offensive play.
“I like that this is something new. There is something in it for everyone. Even if you have never excelled at any one sport, you can do this,” he says.
The motivation for Brown, Haynes, Peck and Johnson was Darren Young, a mutual friend of the athletes. Once Young saw a YouTube video on how to play the game, he says he was hooked immediately.
“From the first time I saw Kronum I wanted to play badly,” Young says. “I’ve played basketball, football and soccer, and I like the mix of Kronum and how I use all those skills at once.”
Young and his friends are strong and agile, quick on their feet, and they are extremely competitive. Taking turns at the various positions — wedgeback, crosser and ranger — they hone skills using hands, feet, head and chest while passing, kicking and shooting the ball into the makeshift goal at the MTSU Recreation Center.
For now, the students use the indoor soccer arena to practice, using it as a bisected Kronum Round, similar to playing half-court basketball. They set up cones to create the various parts of the field including the Cross, Flex and Wedge zones to designate which body parts can be used at the different parts of the Kronum Round.
“A real game has three periods, and I think they are about 10 minutes long,” Young says before racing off to enter the game once again with his friends. “You can be a fast or skinny guy or a taller or bigger guy. It doesn’t matter because there is some place for you.”
Ten players are needed for a full team, not including any substitutes. Currently five students are practicing, making it somewhat difficult to get a full feel of the power, speed and acrobatic agility that more experienced players are demonstrating on the only Kronum Round in existence in Pennsylvania.
The Kronum organization currently consists of six teams: Evergreens, Night Owls, Nimble Jacks, Jet Sets, Work Horses and Urban Legends. These teams play each other in the Northeast while trying to raise awareness and interest in the extremely physical game.
Young hopes that others in Middle Tennessee hear about Kronum and join in the fun, helping to build teams that can then play each other and, in turn, gaining interest from the Kronum organization. It also means that Kronum goals, balls and other equipment can be purchased from team or club dues.
“I promise you won’t have any more fun doing anything else,” Young says, sweating, panting and glowing with an enthusiastic smile. “I want people to be able to experience this.”
For anyone who wants to play or simply learn more about Kronum, Young has started the Tennessee Kronum Facebook page. There he answers questions and shares his love and passion for Kronum, and he hopes to interest others to “join the revolution.”
How to Play…
Kronum (krõ-num): noun, a game designed for the practice and display of the full range of human athleticism. Kronum is fast-moving, free-flowing, non-stop action, involving incredible shots, saves, scores, passes and ball-handling. The game offers a wide array of strategies and tactics employed to win. Kronum offers a new measure of well-rounded athleticism.
The game of Kronum is played between two teams of 10 players on a circular playing surface with one ball and four goal structures. The field is divided into several zones that govern the style of play, the manner of handling the ball and the number of points awarded for scoring shots into various areas of the goal structure. The objectives of each match are to compete fairly, demonstrate good sportsmanship and score more points than your opponent.
Positions
• Ranger
Rangers are the players on a team who will cover the most ground in a game, ranging from the middle of the Cross to deep in the Wedge or Goal Zones in order to attack or defend. Rangers have a specialization in one of three main disciplines: throwing, kicking or defending. Key attributes for these players depend on their primary discipline, but strength, speed and field vision are a must. Team formations usually include four rangers.
• Crosser
Crossers are the players on a team who play principally within the large Cross Zone at the center of the Kronum Round. The primary offensive responsibilities of a crosser are to clear the ball into the second ring and direct scoring attacks. Therefore, field vision, ball handling, speed and agility are at a premium for players in these roles. Defensively, crossers will selectively pressure and follow the ball as it moves around the field, providing defensive support from the backside of the attack. Team formations usually include two crossers.
• Wedgeback
Wedgebacks are the players on a team who normally play within a given Quadrant or Wedge of the Kronum Round. The primary responsibility of a wedgeback is defense of a Kronum Goal. The critical skill is shot-blocking, so quick reflexes, acrobatic agility, strength and courage are at a premium to play this position. The best wedgebacks are versatile offensive players as well, providing front-line scoring options. Team formations usually include four wedgebacks.
Scoring
Scoring takes place in a variety of ways, depending on where the shot was taken from and where it clears the Kronum goal.
• Goal Zone = 1 point
• Wedge Zone = 2 points
• Flex Zone = 2 points
• Cross Zone/Second Ring = 4 points
Those points are doubled if the player makes a Ring Shot instead of simply kicking or throwing the ball into the chamber (the goal under the rings). If the player makes a Ring Shot from the Second Ring, he scores eight points for his team, or a “Kronum.” A Kronum is an extremely difficult shot to make, since it must be made from at least 25 feet from the goal.
Upon scoring, the Kronum ball must return to the center of the Kronum Ring to change possession from the scoring team.
Fouls
A foul is committed when a defensive player engages in contact with the opposing player in possession of the ball without making an attempt to create a turnover. This kind of foul awards the offensive team a penalty shot (or kick) taken from the point at which the wedge zone touches the second ring. No player is allowed to interfere with the shot except a single wedgeback guarding the goal. Three points are awarded for a shot into the chamber and six for a Ring Shot. An offensive foul can be committed by engaging in excessive physical contact or playing the ball with the hands in the Wedge Zone, which results in a throw-in for the opposite team at the nearest point at which the wedge zone touched the edge of the field of play.
Source: Kronum.com
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