Towne Lake Area
Halloween Fun!

UNMASKING HIDDEN
HALLOWEEN DANGERS

The haunting hours of Halloween can mean big trouble for little Trick-or-Treaters. The American Association of Orthodontists (AAO) reminds patients to follow special guidelines for keeping braces intact and keeping themselves safe. "If it's sticky, chewy, hard or crunchy, it's a food that anyone wearing braces or retainers should avoid," says Dr. Frederick G. Preis, President of the AAO.

October is National Orthodontic Health Month, and orthodontists urge patients to steer clear of caramel, gum and taffy. AAO members also advise those in treatment to beware of popcorn, peanuts and taco chips. And braces or not, no one should ever chew ice.

Orthodontists frequently remind patients that consuming "off limit" foods could lengthen their treatment time. "Sneaking food that could harm your braces may affect treatment — just as if you weren't tending to oral hygiene or wearing your rubber bands," notes Dr. Preis. For patients wearing a retainer, remember: remove it before indulging — especially before bobbing for apples at the Halloween party. (And don't wrap it in a napkin. Retainers end up in the trash more often than you might think.) Once removed from the mouth, orthodontists advise patients to place retainers in their cases for safekeeping. Well, what if a patient chooses to chew on the wrong treat and damages braces? Contact your orthodontist so that arrangements can be made to correct the problem. "Usually small problems can be solved over the phone. Loose or protruding brackets or wires can be held in place with orthodontic wax until the patient can come into the office," Dr. Preis says.

Of course Halloween does not have to be completely treat-less. Plain chocolate candy is OK, provided you remember to brush afterwards. "We want patients to have fun while in orthodontic treatment," emphasizes Dr. Preis. "Cooperation is always key, and exercising caution at Halloween could keep patients on track to great results!"

In addition to orthodontic safety, AAO members advise parents and children to follow Trick-or-Treating safety guidelines. Young children should always be accompanied by an adult; carry a flashlight; wear a light-colored or reflective costume; choose face paint over masks for young ghosts and goblins; and have an adult inspect all treats before the children dig in. For more information about orthodontics or for the name of an orthodontist in your area, call 1 (800) STRAIGHT or visit www.braces.org.

Towne Lake Trick or Treat

Although the city of Woodstock and the Cherokee County Commission do not take any position on the time or date of Trick-or-Treating, Towne Lake area residents have traditionally Trick-or-Treated on October 31 from 6 until 9 p.m. For information about individual neighborhood parties, contact your community's social committee chairperson.

The Fall Hay Day at the
Cherokee Recreation Center

The Cherokee Recreation and Parks Authority is sponsoring a Fall Hay Day on Saturday, October 27 from 11 a.m. until 3 p.m. The day will be filled with a variety of events for folks of all ages. Children will marvel as they meet Sylvester and Tweetie, Dorothy and the Tinman, Batman and Superman. Enjoy a cakewalk, a bingo room, a haunted house, food and drinks and more.

Children are also invited to participate in an eventwide Halloween costume contest. Admission is $2 per person or $6 for a family pass. Tickets for games and rides are additional. For more information, call (770) 924-7768.

Fall Harvest Tour at Cagle's Dairy

Harvest Tours will be held every Saturday during the month of October from 10 a.m. until 3:30 p.m. The cost is $5 per person two years and older. No reservations are required. Hayrides will leave on the hour starting at 10 a.m.

Come learn what it is like to live and work on a farm. Watch how the animals are fed from this year's harvest. Take a hayride through the farm to the pumpkin patch and turnip patch. Receive a free baby pumpkin with a hayride. For more information, call (770) 345-5591 or visit the Cagle's Dairy Website at www.caglesdairy.com.

Pumpkin Patches

Hillside United Methodist Church Rising Tide is holding its annual "Pumpkin Patch" from October 8 through 30 from noon until 8 p.m. Pumpkins of all sizes are available and proceeds will go to fund the Rising Tide programs for children grades 4 - 6.

Heritage Presbyterian Church is holding its sixth annual "Pumpkin Patch" from October 10 through 31. The Patch is open from 10 a.m. until dark Monday through Saturday and 12:30 p.m. until dark on Sundays. A wide selection of sizes will be available. There will also be decorative items including yard signs, Indian corn and cornhusks. Heritage Presbyterian Church is located ¼ mile south of Highway 92 on Bells Ferry Road.

Halloween at Kroger

Kroger will have many activities for children on October 30. From 4 —- 7 p.m. games and projects will be available in each department for the children. Students from E.T. Booth and Woodstock Middle School, will help man the booths and pass out trinkets and candy. The booths will be located in different departments within the store and the kids can participate in each booth.

The meat department will feature the Basketball Throw. The produce department will have "Apple on a String." In the dairy department, children can join the fun in the "Dairy Bowl" (this involves trying to hit empty milk jugs with a ball). The seafood department will have their "Fish Pond." And, of course, every child will want to go to the bakery department to decorate donuts and cookies. In addition to each department, the kiosks located in Kroger, Bell South and Xerox, will also have booths.

The fire department will be on hand to carve pumpkins and proceeds will benefit Safe Kids of Cherokee. A costume contest for children will begin at 5 p.m. for children up to 10 years of age.