May Issue by Aroundabout Local Media, Inc.

may 2011 AroundAbout — TowneLaker

May 2011 Volume 17, Issue 1

72 Featured Articles

51 – 54

On the Cover Health & Wellness: The Mosquito Authority, Dermatology Associates of Atlanta, OrthoSport Physical Therapy, Cherokee Internal Medicine, Wellstar Medical Group Kennestone OB/GYN and Towne Lake Family Chiropractic.

In Every Issue Around Towne. . . . . . . . . . . . . 4

Happy Mother’s Day! Celebrating Towne Lake Moms.

Local Player Drafted

Matt Imbornone reports on Jake Skole.

Special Olympics

Birthdays. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 Recent Product Recalls . . . . . 26

Community News. . . . . . . . . . .8

Local kids participate and volunteer

Riverbend Festival

Community Calendar. . . . . . . 28 TLBA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32 Everyday Angels. . . . . . . . . . . 36 School Information . . . . . . . . 81 Church Listings. . . . . . . . . . . . 84 Local Clubs. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 90

Looking for something different to do?

Community Numbers . . . . . . 92

Etowah’s High School Prom

Classifieds. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 98

Students enjoy a special night under the “Southern Sky.”

Elected Officials. . . . . . . . . . . 94 Real Deals. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 100 Community Coupons. . . . . . 101 Advertisers Directory. . . . . . 102

Keep up-to-date with our community! www.townelaker.com Patty Ponder is the Market Director for AroundAbout — TowneLaker. She can be reached at (770) 615-3322 or patty@townelaker.com.

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may 2011

Community 14 Breaking the Surface Don Akridge 16

How Do I Sell a Home that is Need of Repairs Shelia & Kurt Johnson

18 Tax Reform State Sen. Chip Rogers 20 Musing from Towne Lake Robyn Hohensee 24 Who Will Remember You? Bennie Droese

Lifestyle 34

Heart and Soul Dr. Mike Litrel

36 Moms and Kids Colin Morris 38 Change Your Posture, Change Your Life Dr. Jared Lasseigne

40 The Tassel is Worth the Hassle Shelley Herod

42 Expectations If You Need Extensive Dental Care Dr. Scott Harden

63 Up Around the Bend Don Martin

44 Dizziness Versus Vertigo Katie Lawrence and Joe Kafati 48 Recalculating Kara Kiefer 49

Less Pine Straw, More Happiness Lauri Wischner

55 Unheard of Savings Available Now! Dan Jape 56 Discover Facebook Carol Montgomery 59 On to the Next Phase Dee Locklin 60 Top Five Landscaping Mistakes Paul Pugliese 62

Fear Not Cindy Morrow

may 2011 AroundAbout — TowneLaker

Happy Smother’s Day Amber Klippel

64 A Fool for Humingbirds Scott Lemmon 66 Mosquito Borne Disease Rick Coughlin

It’s an Itchy Situation Dr. Randy Beck

Schools and Sports 78 You Can Make a Difference E.T. Booth Seventh Graders 79 What Is Mental Toughness? Mark Billson

Faith 82 Marriage Moments Bill Ratliff 83 A Time for Prayers Doug Thrasher

Community

Around Towne

Kara is the Editor of AroundAbout — Townelaker magazine. She lives in Towne Lake with her husband Mike and their two sons Brandon and Garrett. Feel free to send your comments or questions to editor@townelaker.com.

The People, The Places and The Pleasures that make Towne Lake by Kara Kiefer If you bungle raising your children, I don’t think whatever else you do well matters very much — Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis I love this quote. When you become a mother, your entire paradigm changes. It can be overwhelming when you realize you are in charge of raising another human being. I had thoughts, perhaps some of the same as you: “What if I do something that causes irreparable damage?” “What if I can’t read Goodnight Moon one more time?” “What if my child never gets potty trained?” I think mothers struggle with providing the best of themselves to their children while trying to retain part of themselves through work, sports, hobbies etc. That’s when I recall this quote. I have learned that it doesn’t matter if I make a ton of money, have the big expensive house or a high powered job. What does matter to me is if my children grow up to productive, caring and independent members of society. It matters if my children possess empathy, a strong work ethic and most of all, it matters that they know they are loved each and every day. To my fellow moms, Happy Mother’s Day! You are all amazing!

Kara with son Brandon in 1992.

company offers the sale and installation of metal buildings, carports, commercial and residential overhead doors. For more information, call (770) 874-4703 or feel free to stop by.

What’s Coming? TwoSome — Organic Herb Tea and Bakery will be opening soon. The business is located at 2485 Towne Lake Parkway, in the former Curves spot. Ipps, an Italian eatery, will be opening in the former location of the 1904 House on Main Street. Oolala Yogurt Ur Way will be opening at 2990 Eagle Drive, Suite 102, in the Eagle Point shopping center, in the former location of Ink Spot. The store will rotate 14 of 20 available flavors of yogurt with more than 40 toppings.

We Want to Hear from You! Let us know what you are thinking by sending your comments and questions to our AroundAbout –TowneLaker Mailbag, a new feature designed to inform and entertain you by featuring questions, comments, humorous statements and pithy observations. Send by e-mail to editor@townelaker.com, fax to (770) 516-4809 or mail to Editor, AroundAbout – TowneLaker, 2449 Towne Lake Parkway, Woodstock, GA 30189. Be sure to include your first and last name. Comments may be edited for space and clarity.

What’s New?

What’s Closed? We are sad to report that for a second time, Quiznos Subs, Soups and Salads has closed.

www.thedailyvalue.com

A new shop, Computers/Repairs, recently opened in the Colonnade shopping center, adjacent to Pro Nails, 2370 Towne Lake Parkway. For more information, call (678) 749-7200. Discover Wellness, L.L.C. recently relocated to 1025 Rose Creek Drive, Suite 340, in the former location of AroundAbout – TowneLaker. Discover is owned by Dr. Michael and Dr. Abigail Donaldson. For more information, visit www. mydiscoverwellness.com or call (678) 398-7338. Horizon Steel Structures LLC recently moved to 1501 Regency Way Suite 202, across from Hobgood Park. The 4

AroundAbout — TowneLaker

See page 13 for more details.

may 2011

may 2011 AroundAbout — TowneLaker

Community

www.townelaker.com Keeping You Plugged in to the Latest Happenings Online

Publisher AroundAbout Local Media, Inc.

by James Ball, Digital Marketing Director, AroundAbout Local Media

patty@townelaker.com, (770) 615-3322

We’re pleased to introduce our newest offering to the Towne Lake business community:

The Trust Agent Program The Trust Agent program is designed specifically for small business owners in order to meet their needs on the Internet. As we become an increasingly more connected and mobile society, it’s imperative that all small businesses are searchable online. A Trust Agent is your own personal online marketing director that is constantly keeping your portfolio up-to-date in a constantly evolving online world. Your Trust Agent will help you launch online marketing campaigns, maintain and update your website and handle public relations for your small business. Our program is designed to not only keep you competitive and “in the game” but to help you dominate locally so that your phone is ringing and customers are walking through your door.

Meet Kevin Ekmark: Kevin Ekmark is our newest Trust Agent for Towne Lake. He is a graduate of Georgia College & State University, and comes to us with a rich history of digital marketing and social media experience. He is a friendly and easygoing guy who can help encourage, and build enthusiasm around your Trust Agent program. Kevin has a background in the small business and corporate world of digital marketing. His love and belief in small business was a major draw for becoming our first Trust Agent. Kevin is extremely excited about our Trust Agent program and is looking forward to giving small businesses the kind of attention and competitive edge that they deserve in Towne Lake. For more information on how your business can benefit from the Trust Agent program, please contact Patty Ponder at (770) 615-3322 or email her at patty@townelaker.com.

Market Director Patty Ponder Executive Editor Kara Kiefer

editor@townelaker.com, (770) 615-3309

Art Director Michelle McCulloch

art@townelaker.com, (770) 615-3307

Digital Marketing Director James Ball

james@aroundaboutmagazines.com, (770) 615-3310

Trust Agent Kevin Ekmark

kevin@aroundaboutmagazines.com, (770) 615-3302

Graphic Artist Leslie Proctor

leslie@aroundaboutmagazines.com, (770) 615-3304

Video Correspondent Brandon Schultze Community Board Sen. Chip Rogers, Colin Morris, Debi Radcliff, Bill Ratliff, Doug Thrasher AroundAbout — TowneLaker, a publication of AroundAbout Local Media, Inc., is a monthly community magazine. The magazine’s goal is to build a sense of community and pride in the Towne Lake area by providing its residents with positive stories and timely information. It is distributed free to approximately 12,500 homes by mail to all Towne Lakers. An additional 1,900 are placed in racks around the community. AroundAbout — TowneLaker welcomes your comments, stories, and advertisements. The deadline is the 10th of the previous month. Subscriptions are available for $24 per year. Send check or money order to the address below. The viewpoints of the advertisers, columnists and submissions are not necessarily those of the Editor/Publisher and the Publisher makes no claims as to the validity of any charitable organizations mentioned. AroundAbout — TowneLaker is not responsible for errors or omissions. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means without written permission from the Publisher. All rights reserved. © Copyright 2011. AroundAbout — TowneLaker 2449 Towne Lake Parkway, Woodstock, GA 30189 Website: www.townelaker.com Franchise Opportunities Available: www.AroundAboutMagazines.com

Volume 17, Issue 1 6

AroundAbout — TowneLaker

may 2011

may 2011 AroundAbout — TowneLaker

Community

Local News House and Garden to Host Book Signing Cookbook author Ginny McCormack will appear at House and Garden Boutique to sign her book Sunday in the South. Ginny is a cooking instructor, speaker, food columnist host of GinnyMcCormackCooks. com and editor of the online food magazine, Food Lover. The event will be held from 1 – 3 p.m. on Friday, May 6. Cookbooks will be available to purchase for $29.95. House and Garden Boutique is located at 103 Bowles Drive in downtown Woodstock. For more information, call (678) 494-5800 or visit www. houseandgardenboutique.com.

Woodstock Students Achieve Eagle Award Matthew Johnson, a sophomore at Woodstock High School, recently received his Eagle award. For his Eagle project, Matthew built a retaining wall and walkway at Bascomb United Methodist Church. Matthew is a member of Troop 641 and the son of Stacy and Charlie Childers. Woodstock High senior Brett Carter has earned his Eagle rank after being involved in scouting since age seven. He rebuilt a flower bed and constructed two picnic tables at CrossRoads Middle/High School for his Eagle project. Brett is a member of Troop 994 and the son of Kathy and Ed Carter.

Golf Tournament to Benefit Marine Scholarship The Marine Corp League of Woodstock recently named a scholarship in honor of local Marine Master Sergeant George A. Masters, who passed away in December 2010 of lung cancer. The league will hold a golf tournament on May 12 at Towne Lake Hills Golf Club, with proceeds going toward the scholarship. The tournament will begin with an 8 a.m. shotgun start. The tournament will be hosted by Major General Warren Johnson. For more information or to register, please contact Joe Kraft at (678) 858-8595.

Research Today for a Cancer-Free Tomorrow

Furtah to Hold Annual Golf Tournament Furtah Preparatory School will hold its annual golf tournament on May 12 at Bentwater Country Club. This is the school’s largest fundraising event. Proceeds will benefit Furtah’s athletic department. There will be several large prizes including a $10,000 hole-in-one prize. For more information, please visit www.furtahprep.org, call Sheila Rowland at (404) 379-1125 or e-mail sheila@atranscriptioncompany.com or Coach Fries at (678) 770-6144 or e-mail coachf21@gmail.com.

Shoes for Africa Huge Success Emma Swendsen, a senior at Etowah High School, received an overwhelming response to her “Shoes for Africa” senior project.

To better understand ways to prevent cancer, the American Cancer Society is recruiting 500,000 adults from the U.S. and Puerto Rico for a landmark new research study – Cancer Prevention Study-3 (CPS-3). Enrollment will take place at the American Cancer Society’s 2011 Cherokee County Relay For Life at Creekview High School located in Canton, from 5 – 9 p.m. on May 20. Individuals may choose to participate if they are willing to make a long-term commitment to the study (which involves completing follow-up surveys periodically over the next 20-30 years), are between the ages of 30 and 65 and have never been diagnosed with cancer. CPS-3 will help researchers better understand the genetic, environmental and other factors that may cause or prevent cancer. For more information, visit cancer.org/ cps3, call (770) 429-0089 or e-mail dani.walsh@cancer.org. continued on page 10 8

AroundAbout — TowneLaker

may 2011

may 2011 AroundAbout — TowneLaker

Community Emma collected 880 pairs of gently used shoes to send to Africa, with the help of local schools and businesses that displayed donation boxes, Emma delivered the shoes to Yes, Inc. in Riverdale, whose representatives were thrilled with the results of Emma’s shoe drive and the generosity of the Towne Lake community. “Thank you for helping make this project such a success and helping those in need in Africa,” said Emma.

Local Students Serve as Pages Several local students recently served as pages for State Senator Chip Rogers. The students were selected through an essay contest. The pages were Hayley Cohen, Jack Dobkin, Durham Hamilton, Max Keeton, Ethan Lance, Ahila Manivannan, Ashley Quagliaroli and Allie Ibarra.

Local Student Donates Locks Kali Terza (right), a student at Boston Elementary School, recently donated10 inches of her hair to Locks of Love. Lisa Tribble at Salon Suites cut Kali’s hair. Kali is the daughter of Farrah and Josh Terza.

Crochet Group Set to Meet The Chain Gang Crochet Group will hold its next meeting from 6 – 8 p.m. on Thursday, May 5 at Towne View Baptist Church at 1115 Shiloh Road in Kennesaw. Crocheters of all levels are welcome to join. Feel free to bring your current work in progress. For more information, please email gina0516@comcast.net.

Local Design Firm Featured at Show

Contest Corner Congratulations to Sandy Griffin for being the first to find our hidden picture on page 48 of the April issue. Congratulations also to Robert Strozier (right) for being the first to spot the April Fools joke “Teen for Hire” ad on page 81. Sandy won a gift certificate to the Corner Bistro and Robert won a gift certificate to Bar-BCutie. Be the first to find the phrase: “Things Are Heating Up”

Wall Expressions, Inc. a local Faux Finish Art and Design firm currently is featured in the 2011 Atlanta Symphony Decorators’ Show House & Gardens. This Show House is one of the top ten in the nation and showcases the best designers and ideas in their region. With Award winning designer Brenda Zaharchak of Noelle Michael Interiors, Karen Lutz the artist and owner of Wall Expressions created a custom faux finish for the walls of the Garden Room supporting the designer’s vision of earthy, natural, and sun-kissed surfaces. The Show House is open through May 8th, and all proceeds from the Decorators’ Show House & Gardens will benefit Atlanta Symphony Orchestra Education and Community. For information on dates and times, please visit www.decoratorsshowhouse.org.

Find the hidden picture:

If you know the answer to the contest question or find the hidden picture, be the first to call (770) 615-3325 or e-mail editor@townelaker.com. Contest rules: A player is eligible to win once every 12 months.

AroundAbout — TowneLaker

may 2011

Community

Happy Birthday! Wedding, Birthday and Anniversary Announcements are Free! E-mail to: editor@townelaker.com • June deadline is May 10.

Mason Belleza

Age 9 on April 28 Son of Ellie & Rouel Belleza Big Brother of Logan

Tyler Andrew Zellefow

Age 22 on April 24

Madeleine Lily O’Neal

Age 1 on April 29 Daughter of Courtney & Kelly O’Neal Little sister of Brock

Christina Williams

Age 21 on May 29 We love you, Kylie and Mom

Brock Rowland O’Neal

Age 6 on May 21 Son of Courtney & Kelly O’Neal Big brother of Madeleine

Lamer Hayes

Age 52 on May 9 Father of Caroline

Connor Durst

Age 6 on May 27 Son of Kay & Brian Durst Brother of Ethan & Samantha

Spencer Petrus

Age 5 on May 10 Son of Stacy & Steve Petrus Little brother of Shelby

Samantha Durst Age 6 on May 27 Daughter of Kay & Brian Durst Sister of Ethan & Connor

Stork Watch Bentley Hunter Espitia Born on March 24, 2011 8 lbs., 3 oz., 20 inches Parents: Terry Espitia & Delaina Snarski Proud Grandparents: Cheryl & Robert Espitia Jr Deanna Morgan & David Snarski,

AroundAbout — TowneLaker

Dryden Connor Markovic

Born March 18, 2011 7 lbs., 2 oz., 20.5 Inches Parents: Leah & Josh Markovic

may 2011

Celebrating Dads! At AroundAbout-TowneLaker, we feel that each and every dad is his family’s “Father of the Year.” For this reason, we would like to honor as many of our dads as possible for our June issue with a special pictorial celebrating all fathers! We are looking for photos of our Towne Lake area dads with their children. The photos can be from babyhood through present day. If you don’t have children, we also would love to share your photos of you and your dad, even if it was in the 70s! Here are the guidelines: 1. Please ensure all submitted photographs have identifications listed for each person in the photo. 2. Please submit the photos via email to editor@townelaker.com or by mail to: AroundAbout-Townelaker, 2449 Towne Lake Parkway, Woodstock GA 30189.(Please include a self-addressed stamped envelope for photo return) 3. The deadline for submissions is May 10.

Sign up today at www.thedailyvalue.com to receive money-saving group coupon offers in your email inbox featuring only local businesses!

Local businesses that offered deals recently

Don’t miss another great deal! may 2011 AroundAbout — TowneLaker

Community

Breaking The Surface Four tips for recovering from unemployment. Don Akridge, MBA, CPA, CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ U.S. Marine Corps Veteran – Emory University Alumnus

Any period of unemployment is fraught with stress – both personal and financial. While landing that formerly elusive new job can be a relief, it is only the first step on the road to recovery from unemployment. This transition time is akin to breaking the surface after being underwater for several minutes. It’s a relief to be breathing again and feel the sun on your face, but it’s no time to relax. You must start swimming right away to get back to a healthy financial shore. Here are four steps you can take to make sure your recent unemployment doesn’t cast a long shadow across your future financial health.

Continue to live lean. More likely than not, you weren’t buying $4 coffees while unemployed. Five star restaurants were out too. Hamburger may have replaced steak. You may want to continue to follow that pattern. We tend to grow into our incomes, our budgets bloating along with our salaries. Fighting that urge will help with the rest of the steps to unemployment recovery.

If you are behind on your mortgage, call your lender to let them know of your new job and to work with them on a plan to catch up on your payments. If they are unwilling to work with you, consider using Federal resources such as those offered by the U.S. Housing and Urban Development Administration. While there are fewer similar programs for car loans, calling your lender and trying to develop a plan for a loan you’re behind on should be your first step.

All too often during unemployment, credit cards may be used to get by when cash is low. While your interest rates may have been low when you initially signed up for the card, new legislation has caused a “The longer your spike in credit card rates. Rates of 20 to 30 unemployment lasts, percent are not uncommon as banks react to new rules. Paying down these balances the more important should also be a primary goal. basic survival

becomes.”

Protect yourself ASAP. The longer your unemployment lasts, the more important basic survival becomes. Someone who is unemployed may let life insurance, disability insurance or health insurance policies lapse as they try to keep current on the mortgage, pay utilities and put groceries in the pantry. Sometime during the first few days of your employment, you should enroll in whatever benefits you need that your company offers. If the new firm does not offer the coverage you need, make an appointment with an insurance professional and use part of your first paycheck to protect you and your family. Remember, the income from your new job won’t benefit anyone if a catastrophic illness, disability or death suddenly takes it away. Develop a plan to pay down your debts. When

you have a job, debts are a nuisance. When you don’t have a job, they may become a threat to your future financial well-

being. While it’s normal to hope that you never have to go through unemployment again, you must start preparing for the possibility.

Remember to start paying yourself.

Whether you call it a rainy day fund, a nest egg or emergency cash, slowly, paycheck by paycheck, begin paying yourself a fraction of your salary. Some experts will argue that a family should keep six months to one year’s worth of expenses in the bank for unexpected events such as a blown car engine, the roof caving in, or another round of unemployment. For many families, that may feel like an insurmountable sum. But as the old joke goes, “How do you eat an elephant?” The answer: “One bite at a time.” Paying yourself has to be done paycheck-topaycheck, little by little. Don Akridge is President of Citadel CPA, Financial Planning & Investment Services founded in 1994 and conveniently located off Chastain Road between I-575 & I-75 in Kennesaw. Phone 770-9526707. Securities offered through 1st Global Capital Corp. Member FINRA, SIPC. Investment advisory services offered through 1st Global Advisors, Inc. Created by 1st Global or Peter Montoya, Inc. for use by our financial advisors.

AroundAbout — TowneLaker

may 2011

may 2011 AroundAbout — TowneLaker

Community

How Do I Sell a Home That is in Need of Repairs? by Sheila & Kurt Johnson It is not recommended to sell your home if it needs repairs because it will dramatically affect the home’s value, and the need for certain repairs will make it difficult for potential buyers to get a loan. Unfortunately, the prolonged recession has forced many home sellers to postpone making repairs that they can’t afford. An FHA 203(k) streamlined renovation loan is an excellent remedy for this problem. The loan allows the buyer to include up to $35,000 for repairs in their loan amount. Here are the facts about FHA 203(k) loans: 1. Once the sale is complete, the repairs must be completed by a lender-approved, licensed contractor. When all the repairs/ improvements are completed satisfactorily, these contractors are paid by the lender from the buyer’s loan proceeds. 2. These loans are offered by most traditional lenders and have competitive rates. 3. These loans require only a 3.5 percent down payment but are only available to owner occupant borrowers. 4. These loans permit borrowers to include lender-required repairs as well as optional improvements like granite countertops, stainless appliances and minor bathroom and kitchen remodels. When marketing a home with lender required repairs, we recommend that estimates for these repairs be readily available to buyers viewing the property. Ideally, it is best to provide quotes prepared by a lender-approved contractor in conjunction with the contact information for your preferred FHA 203(k) lender. Taking this added step before marketing the home will reduce the buyer’s anxiety about the “unknown” costs of repairs and ensure that the closing goes smoothly for all involved. Kurt and Sheila Johnson have bought, renovated, rented and sold more than 130 homes for their own investment since 2000. www. KurtandSheila.com. (404) 954-2486. 16

AroundAbout — TowneLaker

may 2011

may 2011 AroundAbout — TowneLaker

Community

Tax Reform by State Senator Chip Rogers A move from taxing income to taxing consumption. It’s at the heart of the Fair Tax idea and it’s the driving force for tax reform in Georgia. Currently the state of Georgia has a progressive income tax that ranges from 1 to 5 percent up to $7,000 and 6 percent for everything over $7,000. This six percent rate is one of the highest state income tax rates in the nation. By comparison, our neighboring states of Florida and Tennessee have no income tax and Alabama is five percent. The recent groundbreaking work by economist Dr. Art Laffer confirms what is a commonly accepted truth; states with low, or no, income tax do significantly better at creating jobs and increasing personal income when compared to states with high income tax rates. This is particularly important for Georgia. Our current state “Consequently the unemployment rate is higher demand for tax reform than the national average and, even more disturbing, is supported by those over the last 20 years Georgia on the left and right of individual income growth is the political spectrum.” ranked 49th. The legislature has long recognized the need for a true overhaul of Georgia’s tax system. As a state we are heavily dependent on the income tax and have created a sales tax system that has more exemptions that actual taxation. Consequently the demand for tax reform is supported by those on the left and right of the political spectrum.

introducing the Council recommendations has done so and a revised plan has emerged. A new Georgia Flat Tax would be created at a rate of 4.5 percent. This would be an estimated 25 percent income tax rate reduction for almost all Georgians. Additionally the state sales tax on energy used in agriculture and manufacturing would be eliminated to help create jobs in those important industries. The suggestion of reinstating the state sales tax on groceries was rejected by legislators and not part of the final legislation. On the consumption side of the ledger, a sales tax would be added to automotive repairs. Currently parts are taxed but not labor. Additionally, Georgia would join 47 other states and collect a sales tax on casual sales of automobiles. Finally, the current hodgepodge of communications taxes on phone, cable, and satellite would be wiped away and replaced with one simple sales tax applied equally to all communication services. The net result of this tax reform is expected to be a $130 million tax cut in 2012, followed by an annual cut of $200 million each year thereafter. If enacted, Georgia would be the only state in the nation to pass a tax cut of this size this year. The tax reform proposal marks the first step in what is expected to be an eventual elimination of the Georgia income tax and a reliance on a more transparent and easy to understand consumption tax. Such change is never easy, but a more efficient tax system that rewards production/income should serve Georgia well. Chip Rogers is the State Senator for District 21. You can call him at (404) 463-1378 or fax him at (404) 657-9887. You also can e-mail Chip at Chip@SenatorChipRogers.com. Chip also serves on the AroundAbout — Townelaker Community Board.

During the last legislative session, a law passed that created a special Tax Reform Council to study our current tax scheme and recommend changes that would make Georgia a better place for creating jobs and growing wealth. The Council was made up of the state’s top economists along with small business owners and members of the Georgia Chamber of Commerce. The research by council members took them all across Georgia, where they studied most of our major industries. The amount of volunteer hours numbered in the thousands. In January, they released recommendations which called for a major shift away from the income tax and toward a consumption tax. Perhaps the most controversial measure suggested a restoration of the state portion of the tax on groceries, which still exists at the local level. The Legislative Committee tasked with accepting and 18

AroundAbout — TowneLaker

may 2011

may 2011 AroundAbout — TowneLaker

Community

Musings from Towne

Put Your Garbage in the Trash Can, Please by Robyn Hohensee My husband Todd and I are currently building a weekend home on land we purchased in North Carolina. We had hauled some doors to the home site and had just unloaded the last of them in the garage when we heard a very loud THUMP! and then a low growl. Instinctively, we both knew that it was a bear. Being the skittish coward I am, I ran and hid behind a tree. Todd decided to get a closer look at the bear and took off for the woods. I shouted out in a shaky voice, “Todd, please do not go down there!” Ignoring me, he headed off into the wilderness to investigate. As Todd got farther into the woods, the bear let out another growl. The trees were blocking my view, but I imagined that the bear was dragging Todd out into the woods to eat him as a mid-day snack. Again I hollered, “Todd! Are you okay?! Please don’t go down there.” Feeling guilty for cowering like a wimp behind the tree, I gathered all of my courage and decided I would scare the bear away. If I had to fight the bear off Todd to save his life, I would be a hero and do just that. I picked up a huge branch from the ground to use as a weapon. I am certain I did not look at all menacing. The bear would take one look at me and laugh. I wouldn’t blame it. Gripping the tree branch, I quietly crept to where Todd was standing. About 100 yards away sat a medium-sized black bear. I frantically whispered to Todd that maybe we should make a run for it, and he grabbed my arm to keep me in place. The bear was eating some leftover food that one of our workers had carelessly thrown into the woods. It regarded us with a bored look and kept right on eating. I again whispered to Todd that now would be a good time to make a run for the car. Todd gripped my arm harder and commanded me to keep still. Gee. Let’s just stand here like two morons and become bear bait, I thought to myself. We stood quietly together for what seemed like an eternity. The bear let out a loud belch, stood up and slowly sauntered off into the opposite direction. We then booked it back to our car, laughing all the way. I knew I had a good story to tell AroundAbout- Townelaker. Did I mention that our property is next to a huge bear retreat? How charming. I just hope that the next visitor we have is as bored and unimpressed with us as his friend “Mr Belch” was. Now excuse me while I read the riot act to the workers who threw their garbage in the woods. Robyn Hohensee is a fiction writer and poet who is a member of the Georgia writers Association. She has lived in Eagle Watch for the past 16 years with her husband Todd and two sons. You can contact her at Robyn561@Yahoo.com.

AroundAbout — TowneLaker

may 2011

may 2011 AroundAbout — TowneLaker

Feature

Celebrating Moms! Sandra Hayes and daughter Caroline

Shirley Waldron and son Sean Alyssa, Sandi and Tanner Adams

Ellie Belleza with sons, Mason and Logan 22

AroundAbout â&#x20AC;&#x201D; TowneLaker

Katie Harris with 4 year-old sons Andrew and Ethan

may 2011

Karen Gottschalk and children Lexi and Tanner

Beth Kearney with daughters Ellie, Sarah and Grace

Shana Giles and daughter Leighann

Kim Foster and son Mark Beth Pfohl, with children Grace and Jonny may 2011 AroundAbout â&#x20AC;&#x201D; TowneLaker

Community

Who Will Remember You? by Bennie Droese In everyone’s life, woman or man, there comes this moment of “rude awakening” or perhaps a time of reckoning. Within a fleeting second, there’s this realization: You need to fish or cut bait. I was browsing the pages of a local magazine when a “Happy Mother’s Day” cartoon contest caught my eye. I casually mentioned it to my 10-yearold daughter who loves to sketch and write short stories, because I thought she might be interested in submitting an entry. “What exactly do I have to do?” she asked. “It’s very simple,” I began. “You just have to draw and color a picture of your favorite thing to do with your mom.” She stared at me, slumped into a sofa and blurted, “Mom, there isn’t a single thing that you and I do together.” I glared! She frowned! “Well, how am I supposed to come up with anything?” she grumbled. I was shocked! What mother on earth wants to hear such a response from her child? Flustered and equally convinced that she most likely didn’t understand the question, I asked, “Would you remember me if I were to die today?” Her tense face relaxed into a wide grin. “Of course, I’d remember “What are some you. You’re our mom. You make of your favorite homemade waffles for us, you make childhood rice, tuna and broccoli for us, you memories?” do our laundry ...” Yep, everything that a professional maid could do better, I thought. Where had I gone wrong? At whom should I point the proverbial “blame” finger? Nonetheless, there was a problem, and I needed to start digging in order to get to the root of it. At a time when the South Beach music scene buzzed with new acts and churned out more performers than performance venues, John and I became members of a Miami-based local band. The competition for paying gigs - which often were few and far between - was fierce. To make ends meet, we leaned heavily on Visa and MasterCard. Consequently, our debt hole became deeper with every swipe of our credit cards. To top things off, a baby decided she’d grace us with her presence. New plans needed to be made! The cost of having a child without the shield of any medical insurance threatened to bury us alive. I received a job offer shortly after Sidney’s birth. As one of the Program Coordinators for a local teaching hospital, I would have to design training materials and manage the logistics of new hire orientations. The pay sounded decent, and we needed the money. However, who would care for the baby? John and I talked. We reasoned. Eventually, we both agreed that daycare was not an option because back then horrible stories about several childcare facilities floated around like snowflakes. There were no other 24

solutions. John would have to become “Mr. Mom” for the next couple years. As she grew, I began noticing that our relationship was straining under an awkwardness which I could not pinpoint. The typical mother-child bond seemed to be missing, and I quickly labeled her detached disposition as growing pains, a phase that she’d ultimately outgrow. However, the wall between us never budged, and I didn’t know how to break through it. The key to building a close relationship with any child, according to Dr. Phil, is to find a place, a thing, or an activity he or she enjoys and can share with the parent. Sidney is about to become a teenager. We’re still making progress. We continue to come up with new and special ways to show affection. We play tag. We crack jokes. We even make fun of each other. Will I ever stop kicking and screaming each time she nags me into window shopping at the mall? Never! Will I get tired of staying up late - especially during the weekends - to watch Harry Potter? I’m already there! Quite a decent number of us grew up in an underprivileged environment and, of course, want to provide a better lifestyle for our children. But in the process, more often than not, we end up pawning our children off on complete strangers, and they handle our child-rearing responsibilities. What are some of your favorite childhood memories? I have no recollection of the day I came home from the store with my new pair of “Made in England” shoes. What about that must-have designer dress, the one I desperately wanted for Christmas and truly believed I’d die if I didn’t have it. You get the point. Yet, at the age of forty-something, images of me squealing with excitement each time my mom splashed a bowl of cool water over my head during our bath time still fill me with warmth like a cup of hot cocoa on a chilly morning. Vivid recollections of us sitting under the hypnotic glow of a kerosene night lamp while she had me mesmerized by a bed time folk tale will always remain in my heart. As for Sidney and yours truly, I am keeping my fingers crossed and hoping that when the contest comes around again, her biggest challenge would be simply choosing from a long list. I hope someday when I’m no longer alive and kicking, my daughter will have memories we’d made together. Memories she would cherish. Memories that would make her feel fuzzy on the inside, like the warm embrace of a summer sea breeze. Life isn’t a matter of milestones, but moments, according to Rose Kennedy. If memories are forever, who will remember you? Bennie Droese is a freelance writer and a substitute teacher in the Cherokee County School District. She is married with three daughters. She can be reached at bdroese@hotmail.com.

AroundAbout — TowneLaker

may 2011

Experience the Canton Festival of the Arts

Farmers Market Baskets Announces Towne Lake Pick-Up Location Farmers Market Baskets (FMB), a family-run business, has been helping customers eat healthy and affordably for the past six years by offering baskets of fresh, quality produce each week from the Atlanta State Farmers Market. FMB also partners with a farmer in Franklin, N.C. to provide vegetables for them. Recent baskets featured hydroponic (grown in water) lettuce from Cartersville. Customers pre-order baskets through FMB’s website. Then, each Tuesday morning, FMB purchases the produce, assembles the baskets and distributes them to satellite pick-up locations. Towne Lake customers can pick up orders Tuesday afternoons from 1 – 6 p.m. at a FMB member’s home.

Canton Festival of the Arts, sponsored by the Cherokee Arts Center, is a two-day outdoor festival, May 21-22, with an emphasis on fine art and crafts, the art of living well, and the literary arts. Set in historic Brown Park, the festival offers free admission to the public and a variety of engaging activities. The popular Artist Market is the centerpiece of the festival, bringing together more than 60 talented artists and craftspeople from around the country, whose fine art mediums include oil, watercolor, fine blown glass, elegant and whimsical jewelry, decorative and functional pottery, sculpture and hand-turned wood, among others. Serenity Gardens encompasses the art of gardening, environmental protection and healthy living. Canton Festival of the Arts honors the written word through the Literary Celebration. More than 30 authors from several states will gather to discuss the writing process, their writing experience, the past and future of “The Book,” along with other topics. Festival visitors will have the opportunity to ask questions, purchase their favorite authors’ books, and have them signed. The Children’s Experience will feature a kaleidoscope of exciting projects and media. Children will have the opportunity to experiment with musical instruments, photography, mural painting, improv and other activities. Rounding out the festival this year will be a tempting variety of food and drink, and a soul-satisfying array of local talent on our stage. Hours: 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. both days. For additional information and a schedule of authors attending, go to the Cherokee Arts Center website at: www.cherokeearts.org.

A typical “classic regular” basket contains three to four types of fruits, like apples and bananas, two to three green items like lettuce, four to five additional varieties of vegetables and one to two

“What I like most about my produce baskets is how excited my son gets about what’s in them,”

specialty items like onions, garlic or fresh herbs. Regular and small non-organic and organic baskets are available. Customers receive recipes via e-mail for items in their basket and can sign up to receive baskets on a regular schedule or as needed. No ongoing commitment is required. “What I like most about my produce baskets is how excited my son gets about what’s in them,” said Kristin West, a FMB customer. “He asks to try many of the fruits and vegetables right away.” To order a basket, visit www.farmersmarketbaskets.com, and select Towne Lake when asked for “location.” The pick-up address is located on the web site and customers pay online via credit card or with cash or check at the pick-up location.

may 2011 AroundAbout — TowneLaker

Community

Recent Consumer Product Recalls AroundAbout — TowneLaker wants to help keep you and your family safe. The following items have been recalled by their manufacturers in cooperation with the Consumer Products Safety Commission (CPSC). Box Fans. Lasko Products, Inc. of West Chester, PA is voluntarily recalling approximately 4.8 million box fans. An electrical failure in the fan’s motor poses a fire hazard to consumers. Instant Power Toilet Bowl Restorer. Scotch Corporation, of Dallas, TX is voluntarily recalling approximately 74,760 Instant Power® Toilet Bowl Restorer™ bottles. The contents can leak from the cap when the bottle is turned on its side. When this happens, the cleaner can come into contact with consumers and property, posing a risk of chemical burns and irritation to the skin and eyes. Pogo Sticks. Bravo Sports of Santa Fe Springs, CA is voluntarily recalling approximately 169,000 pogo sticks. The bottom of the pogo stick’s frame tube can break or come apart and a pin holding the spring in place can break, posing laceration and fall hazards to consumers. Wooden Puzzles. Kid O Products, LLC of Perth Amboy, NJ is voluntarily recalling approximately 1,400 wooden fruit puzzles. The knobs attached to the puzzle fruits can come loose, posing a choking hazard to young children. Lantern Nightlights. The Land of Nod of Northbrook, IL is voluntarily recalling approximately 9,700 “Camp Nod” lantern nightlights. An electrical short circuit can occur in the nightlight’s wiring, posing a risk of fire or shock hazard to consumers. Wine Openers. Sunbeam Products, Inc. of Boca Raton, FL is voluntarily recalling approximately 159,000 wine bottle openers. The wine bottles can break when opened with the recalled opener, posing a laceration hazard to consumers.

Dirt Bikes. Baja, Inc. d/b/a Baja Motorsports, of Anderson, SC is voluntarily recalling approximately 4,300 dirt bikes. Fuel can leak from the fuel tank, posing a fire and burn hazard to consumers. Outdoor Wood Burning Fireplaces. Sunjoy Industries Group Limited, of Steubenville, Ohio is voluntarily recalling approximately 20,000 (in the United States) and 400 (in Canada) freestanding steel outdoor fireplaces. The decorative bronze powder coat finish on the fireplace chimney can ignite during use, posing a fire hazard to consumers. Wooden Activity Toys. Manhattan Group LLC of Minneapolis, MN is voluntarily recalling approximately 400 Parents® Busy Time Activity Centers™. Wooden pegs on the xylophone activity can come loose, posing a choking hazard to young children. Coffee/Tea Makers. IKEA Home Furnishings of Conshohocken, PA is voluntarily recalling approximately 94,000 (in the U.S.) and 34,000 (in Canada), FÖRSTÅ coffee/tea makers. Pressure from the metal pot holder against the coffee/tea maker can cause the glass to break unexpectedly, posing burn and laceration hazards. Beaded Door Curtains. Starpoint LLC, of New York, NY is voluntarily recalling 79,000 Circo beaded door curtains. Strangulations can occur when a child plays with the beaded strands by wrapping them around their necks or by creating loops in which they can insert their heads. Also, children can get entangled in the strands, which are prone to entangle, just by running through the doorway.

For more information on these and many other warnings issued by the Consumer Products Safety Commission, visit www.cpsc.gov or call 1-800-638-2772. 26

AroundAbout — TowneLaker

may 2011

Home Utility Guardians is a locally owned and operated company which specializes in residential solutions to control the thermal flow of energy into and out of your house.

We offer a wide range of Radiant Thermal Barrier products to meet every application for your home; including attics, crawl spaces, garage ceilings and basement ceilings. A Radiant Thermal Barrier is a product that Reflects Energy and is rated on an Emissivity scale instead of R-Value. The emissivity scale ranges from 0 to 100 with 100 having the greatest ability to reflect / block the Thermal Flow of Energy. Radiant Thermal Barriers are not Insulation. The R-Value rating system for insulation stands for Resistance to Thermal Flow, which means Insulation only “SLOWS DOWN” the loss of energy. Our Radiant Thermal Barriers have an Emissivity rating of 97% which STOPS (or Blocks) 97% of the flow of Energy escaping from your home. When our affordable products are coupled with your existing insulation the Heat Gain / Loss is reduced, thereby reducing your overall utility costs and optimizing the comfort inside your home. SAVE YOUR UTILITY DOLLARS WITH AN AFFORDABLE RADIANT THERMAL BARRIER from HOME UTILITY GUARDIANS.

may 2011 AroundAbout — TowneLaker

Community

Community Calendar: May May 4

Organic Gardening Made Easy

Time: 1:30 – 2:30 p.m. Location: Papa’s Pantry and The Master’s Training Center 6551 Commerce Parkway, Suite 200 Information: Free instructional class. Please register by calling (770) 592-4730. Visit www.papaspantry.org.

Location: 207 Windfield Drive, Woodstock, 30188 Information: Counts as volunteer hours for students. For directions or more information, call (770) 926-4758 or (678) 372-9362. Visit www.giveakidachance. org.

Pray For Tay Leukemia Poker Run

Time: 4 p.m. Location: Bascomb United Methodist Church, 2295 Bascomb Carmel Road Information: The Vertical Reality Band will perform, and activities include dunk tank, cake walk and more. Concessions available for purchase. Bring chairs and/ or blanket. Call (770) 926-9755.

Time: 12:30 p.m.; Registration begins at 11 a.m. Location: Bodock’s, 150 Riverstone Parkway, Canton Information: The event will benefit Etowah High School student Taylor Flanagan, who is fighting AML, a very aggressive type of leukemia. Registration fee $25 per motorcycle, $5 for each additional rider and $25 per car. For route information or other details, please call Jeff Flanagan at (770) 362-5583 or visit www.prayfortay.blogspot.com.

May 13 & 14, 20 & 21

May 21 – September 10

Time: 7:30, 9 p.m. Location: 8534 Main Street Information: iThink Improv Troupe with the Elm Street Players. Tickets $10 for one show, $15 for two shows on same night. Call (678) 494-4251 or visit www. elmstreetarts.org

Time: Location:

May 7

Spring Fling/Free Movie Night

Whose Line is it Anyway?

May 14

Concert in the Park Edwin McCain

Time: 7:30 p.m. Location: Woodstock City Park Information: Free, family friendly concert. Picnics, chairs and blankets welcome, but no alcohol. Vendors will be on hand.

Give a Kid a Chance Clothing Sorting Party Time:

9 a.m. – 3 p.m.

Main Street Woodstock Farmer’s Market

Saturdays, 8:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. Public parking lot, corner of Towne Lake Parkway and Main Street

May 21

Cherokee Chorale Pops Concert

Time: 7:30 p.m. Location: Falany Performing Arts Center, Reinhardt University, 7300 Reinhardt Circle, Waleska Information: Adults $10, students $5. Call (678) 439-8625 or visit www. cherokeechorale.org.

May 31 – July 29

Special Needs Camp Time:

9 a.m. – 3 p.m.

Location: Next Step Ministries, 3353 Trickum Road, Suite 100 Information: For middle and high school students with special needs, and recently transitioned campers. Cost is $200 – $250 per week. Call Lori Baker at (770) 592-1227 or visit www. nextstepministries.net.

June 1, 8, 15, 22, 29; July 13, 20 and 27

Earth Paint and Fire Summer Camp

Time: 10 a.m. - 12:30 P.M. Information: $25 for single session; 2-5 sessions at $23; 6-8 sessions for $21 (multiple sessions must be paid at same time to get discount). Call (770) 5924114 or visit www.earthpaintandfire. com.

Community Garage Sales May 13 – 14

Towne Lake Hills Time: 9 a.m. – 3 p.m.

May 14

Etowah Valley Estates/Spicers Grove Time: 8 a.m. – 3 p.m, rain or shine.

May 14

Next Step Ministries Time: 9 a.m. – 3 p.m. Location: 3353 Trickum Road, Suite 100.

May 14

Eagle Glen Time:

8 a.m. – 3 p.m.

Send Us Your Community Calendar Events • editor@townelaker.com• June deadline is May 10. 28

AroundAbout — TowneLaker

may 2011

may 2011 AroundAbout — TowneLaker

Community

The American Pillar Nursery 106 Village Ct Woodstock, GA 30188-1917 (678) 557-2163 Nursery / Landscape Supplies

Black Oak Asset Management 100 Churchill Court, Suite 104 Woodstock, GA 30188-6882 (770) 317-3299 Insurance & Financial Services

Book Browser, LLC 295 Molly Lane, Suite 130 Woodstock, GA 30189-3761 (770) 384-8644 Bookstore

AroundAbout â&#x20AC;&#x201D; TowneLaker

may 2011

may 2011 AroundAbout — TowneLaker

Community

Towne Lake Business Association Member Spotlight: LTCi Business LTCi Business specializes in helping people plan for the day when the unthinkable happens. Only about 30 percent of us will die quickly; the other 70 percent will need help before the end of our lives, according to the Department of Health and Human Services. We plan for other risks, and by the time we are in our late 40s and early 50s, we need to have a plan in place for the biggest risk most of us will face. Will we rely on our families, our retirement Diana Renton and her mother Midge. savings, or transfer the risk to a Long Term Care policy? What is your plan? Most of us do not wish to become a burden to our families and mistakenly believe that Medicare will provide for us. It does not. Medicare provides for health needs, not for chronic care. Being cared for in our home, or an assisted living facility, or a nursing home can be expensive and quickly exhaust savings. The cost for a year in a nursing home is $65,000 for a semi-private room. (It is expected to double over the next 15 years, and double again in 30 years). Medicaid will pay for a nursing home stay only after we exhaust our assets. Long Term Care coverage provides the funds to pay for care. Not only does it protect our assets and our families, it provides the peace of mind to enjoy our retirement and make our own choices. Brenda Joiner’s mother Evelyn is currently living in an Alzheimer’s facility. Brenda has seen firsthand the heartbreak and expense of caring for a loved one. Diana’s mother Midge introduced Diana to Long Term Care Insurance when she purchased a policy for herself after caring for Diana’s father the last two years of his life. Their own family experiences are what make Brenda and Diana passionate about protecting other families. LTCi Business represents all the major carriers. To find out more about Long Term Care Insurance for individuals, couples, or your business, call them for the free brochure “Long Term Care insurance: The Ten Most Commonly Asked Questions” at (706) 268-2076 or (770) 485-7614.

Scholarship awards in the amount of $1,000 each will be presented to the two winners of the Annual TLBA (Towne Lake Business Association) Entrepreneurial Scholarship Contest during Etowah and Woodstock High Schools’ Honors Programs. Please read next month’s column in AroundAbout — TowneLaker for more about each of these deserving recipients. It’s time again for the election of new of ficers for the TLBA. We encourage all members to get involved and help elect our next group of officers. Nominations can be submitted to donaldekyle@gmail.com and will be open through our June 21 meeting — Election Day! Our 11th Annual TLBA Golf Tournament, will be held on Wednesday, September 14 at the Towne Lake Hills Golf Club. The proceeds from this annual tournament fund our annual Entrepreneurial Scholarships mentioned above. To sign up to play, sponsor or volunteer, please contact either Jon LaMonte (Tournament Chairperson) at eesllc@ymail.com, Marc Replogle (Co-chair) at marc@thereploglefirm.com or Don Kyle (Cochair) at donaldekyle@gmail.com. Please don’t delay and sign up to play today to help us continue our annual scholarships! The topic of our April Lunch ‘N’ Workshop was “30 Minute Business Plan.” We want to thank Drew Tonsmeire, Area Director, Kennesaw State University Small Business Development Center for leading this workshop.

LUNCH ‘N’ LEARN WORKSHOPS Tuesday, May 17, 12:30 — 2 p.m. Getting What You Want Through Persuasive Communications, will be presented by Mike Stewart of Mike Stewart Sales Dynamics. Tuesday, June 21, 12:30 — 2 p.m. Your Client's Perception EQUALS Your Increased Profits, presented by Rico Pena, CEO of Pena Global. Rico will discuss the four critical steps to gaining new business, acquiring quality referrals and retaining loyal repeat customers and clients. All Workshops are held at Featherstone’s Grille at Towne Lake Hills. Please RSVP to all events at (770) 615-3350.

As always, we thank you for supporting our community and our local businesses, and thus “Keeping Towne Lake Dollars in Cherokee.”

Visit us at www.tlba.org. 32

AroundAbout — TowneLaker

may 2011

may 2011 AroundAbout — TowneLaker

Lifestyle

Heart and Soul by Mike Litrel, M.D. When my son Joseph sat down at the piano after his first lesson, I experienced a moment of sublime joy. My son, the piano player! In my mind’s eye I saw Joseph receiving a standing ovation at Carnegie Hall, his voice cracking with emotion as he pronounced Ann and Mike Litrel and their sons, to the sold-out audience Tyler and Joseph. that he owed all his success to his Dad. As I basked in this fatherly fantasy, my eyes almost welled with tears. Sadly, this reverie didn’t last long. Indeed, it ended quite abruptly – with the sound of Joseph’s fingers, first pressing on the keys.

he massacred a preschool piano ditty and immediately turned to me with his eyebrows raised smugly, like he had just played Beethoven’s ninth. This is the kind of attitude that makes proper parental encouragement a challenge. “Oh, that was great, Joseph,” I intoned neutrally. Big whoop, I couldn’t help thinking. Thirty bucks for that? Over the next month Joseph practiced each day. And once again, I began to dread the sounds a piano can make. What Joseph lacked in skill, he made up in volume. I struggled to remain properly complimentary in the face of classic fourteen-year-old swagger. To me, it seemed the kid expected applause every time he didn’t fall off the stool. Then something happened I couldn’t handle: Joseph learned “Heart and Soul.” And just like his musically inept Uncle Chris,

When Ann and I were newlyweds, I flinched when she mentioned wanting a piano. Certain childhood memories of enforced lessons cast a black cloud over the whole subject for me. But she dragged me to an auction and persuaded me to throw $300 into a used upright, an instrument which sits in our living room to this day. It turns out Ann is an accomplished pianist. In the evenings while the boys and I lounge on the couch, she plays Bach or Beethoven. At Christmas when friends gather round to sing carols, she accompanies for hours. But most of the time when Ann plays, I am in a different room, her songs wafting through our home, lifting me in ways of which I am barely conscious. Now I can regret not putting more effort into my musical skills. But still, I would never force my sons to take piano lessons like my Chinese mother did to me and my twin brother Chris. The only thing I hated more than practicing piano myself was listening to my brother practice. Chris must have learned more than one song in three years of lessons, but to this day the only one that comes to mind is “Heart and Soul,” the melody half of the duet “Chopsticks.” When it was my brother’s turn to practice, no matter what our teacher had assigned, Chris would play this song over and over again. Thus it was during my childhood that I first became aware of the ungodly noises a piano can make. Even so, when Joseph expressed interest in piano lessons, I was enthusiastic. Joseph will be a musician — like his mother, I thought…

it was all he would play. I lasted three days before I lost it. “Joseph!!! I can’t take it anymore!” the words erupted. “Are you trying to ruin my life?” I could feel my temple veins throbbing over the din. An unmistakable smirk flitted across Joseph’s face. Without pausing, he simply continued to play, even louder. It suddenly dawned on me he was happy to both practice the piano and annoy his father at the same time. But Ann was appalled. She motioned me to the other room. My job as a father was to provide encouragement, she emphasized with some agitation. How dare I jeopardize his fragile efforts in a new endeavor!

Joseph is a cocky, self satisfied fellow. After his first lesson,

continued on page 88

AroundAbout — TowneLaker

may 2011

may 2011 AroundAbout — TowneLaker

Lifestyle

Moms and Kids by Colin Morris May has become one of my favorite months. Before my kids were in school, I enjoyed May for its nice days that were not too hot. We could go to the park or even start to swim at the pool. Now that all three of my Colin Morris with her children (left to children are in school, right) Patrick, Micaela and Gabriel. May’s pace has picked up considerably. Every activity has a recital or a program or an end-of the-year gathering. We juggle spring football with family birthday parties and exams. I am learning that May, with its many endings, feels satisfying. We committed to this or that for a season, and now we are finished. We fulfilled our commitment, and now we wipe the slate clean in anticipation of something else. I am a list-person, and May is one big checkingoff for this year’s activities. First grade? Check. Tumbling? Check. Carpool? Check. My mom and kid suggestion for this month is to take a moment to reflect on your year. All three of my kids have been taught first grade by the same phenomenal teacher at Woodstock Elementary: Mrs. Jane Hancock. She hosts a cookout for her class at the end of every school year. Her husband cooks hot dogs at J.J. Biello Park, and all the parents and kids bring food to share. We get a chance to talk back and forth about the year, and remember how far our kids have come. Many years and in various grades, teachers will have slide shows or give back journals that my kids have been writing in all year. Those are valuable opportunities to help my kids see their own progress. They don’t feel any different now than they did nine months ago on the first day of class, but they certainly are. With sports, too, there is a chance to talk about lessons learned, and skills acquired. Performances and recitals and tournament games allow us to acknowledge our children’s growth. Some school years are more difficult than others. I remember at the end of a particularly challenging year, I was talking with one of my kids. All year long we had labored together in this subject. The teacher was tough, and my child sometimes felt discouraged. But at the end of the year, we looked back together, and suddenly, there was a willingness on his part to see how much he had learned. I think if we had not processed it together, he would have just felt negative. Instead, we were able to pull out the good and remember the positive too. Take some time this month to ask your kids: “What was your favorite part about this year?” “What would you have done differently?” and “What did you learn?” You might be surprised at what you will hear. 36

Our community has recently stepped up in support of Taylor Flanagan and last month’s feature, Dylan. Everyday Angels feels it is important to keep you up-to-date of their current status. Taylor Flanagan was diagnosed with leukemia in October, 2010. Our community assisted Taylor and her family during her long months of chemo. In mid April, her mom sent us this update:: “We are still in the hospital after Taylor’s 4th round of chemo (day 37 and counting, but she is responding well to the chemo. Her doctor has said he is cutting out the 5th and final round as he sees no benefit that outweighs the toxicity of the chemo drug she would get. We have made it, friends!! My daughter has been blessed with her second chance through lots of love, prayers, support along with her brilliant doctors and nurses here at Egleston.” Last month, Everyday Angels featured, Dylan, a five year old with cancer in his ankle: “Good news! Dylan’s last tests came back, he had a few lymph nodes taken out & they WERE CLEAR!!! His cancer has not spread! However, due to his age, chemo is out. We are so thankful! Dylan will however face amputation below his knee sometime next week. This is difficult for a five year old to understand but we happily face it head-on given the alternative. We are anxious for him to finally be free of pain.” Dylan’s surgery was scheduled for April 26, so please continue to pray for he and his family. He has a long journey ahead and the next few months will be most difficult. Thank you for your donations and gift cards in support of these families. Everyday Angels has been busy behind the scenes gathering clothing for families referred to us by local school counselors. Additionally, we are seeking a qualified, licensed counselor to donate hours to several children who were removed from their family home. For more information, please contact us at aaeverydayangels@gmail.com. A local family recently lost their business in a recent flea market fire. The father’s job is concrete work, but due to a lack of business with the current economy, he and his wife earn a living by selling western wear clothing at the Pendergrass Flea market, which is the largest flea market in Georgia. The fire recently burned and destroyed their extensive inventory of clothes to sell. They lost their business and livelihood. They also one of their cars in the fire. Everyday Angels would like to assist this family by donating grocery gift cards. Please pick one up next time you are in the checkout line and send to us. Let’s show them encouragement and hope during this challenging time. Everyday Angels has a new web page that will allow you to donate online through Paypal. Please visit www.everydayangels.info or send your donations to our new address: Everyday Angels, 2449 Towne Lake Parkway, Woodstock GA, 30189. One hundred percent of your funds will go to the family you specify. Also, if you know of a special need within your community that you would like to share, please send an e-mail to aaeverydayangels@gmail.com for consideration and qualification.

AroundAbout — TowneLaker

may 2011

may 2011 AroundAbout — TowneLaker

Lifestyle

Change Your Posture, Change Your Life by Dr. Jared J. Lasseigne

When evaluating human posture and performance, we must take a closer look at the spine and the function of the central nervous system. This major system of our body is composed of the brain, spinal cord and spinal nerves, and controls all function and healing in the human body. The most common way to interfere with the body’s major system is “abnormal” positions of the spine, called spinal misalignments.

When looking at a person from the front, the spine must be straight. The head, shoulders, hips, and feet should be lined up. When looking at a person from the side, the ears should be aligned with the shoulders, and the shoulders should be back directly over the pelvis. “…Posture affects and moderates every physiologic function from breathing to hormonal productions.” C Norman Shealy, MD, Roger K. Cady, MD, APJM, 1994. The effort we apply now to help stay balanced will go a long way in keeping us upright and healthy for years to come. Your doctor of chiropractic can give you many personalized tips to help you attain the benefits that good posture offers!

For more information, contact Dr. Jared at Discover Chiropractic in Dr. Daniel J. Murphy, DC states, “Vital information travels Towne Lake (770) 516-9900 from the brain and spinal cord to every part of the body, and back up to the brain. When this information is interfered with, problems arise in the body.” Any abnormal position of the spine, misalignment of the bones, or changes in the spinal curves can indicate potential health problems. Any changes from normal will interfere with and eventually damage the central nervous system. These misalignments will always result in abnormal function of the body, 1. Muscles are used properly when bones and joints are in improper healing, and inferior health. the correct alignment.

Benefits of proper posture:

Poor posture is easy to develop, unlike proper posture which requires effort and repetition of specific posture-based exercises. Over time, everyday activities such as sitting in office chairs, computer work, driving, sleeping, and standing for long periods of time can cause poor posture habits. Poor posture will eventually result in aggravating episodes of back and neck pain. The benefits of having proper posture far outweigh the complications that can arise from poor posture. Proper posture involves training the body to stand, walk, sit and lie in positions where the least strain is placed on supporting bones, ligaments and muscles resulting in musculoskeletal balance. This balance helps to protect the joints of the spine from excessive stress, and helps to prevent neck and back pain.

2. Helps decrease the abnormal wearing of joint surfaces, including discs. 3. Decreases the stress on the ligaments holding the joints of the spine together. 4. Stops the spine from becoming fixed in abnormal positions. 5. Muscles are used more efficiently, allowing the body to use less energy. 6. Prevention of muscle aches, back and neck pain. 7. Balanced physical appearance.

Posture is considered the window to your spine.

AroundAbout — TowneLaker

may 2011

may 2011 AroundAbout — TowneLaker

Lifestyle

The Tassel is Worth the Hassle by Shelley Herod It’s that time of year again; graduation is looming in the near future. Robes will be fluttering and mortarboards flying as students celebrate during their commencement ceremonies. This is not only an exciting and significant event for the graduate, but the graduate’s parents as well. This is a very momentous time in one’s life and calls for a celebration. “You can salute the graduate in your life with a fun party,” says Penny Warner, author of “The Best Party Book: 1001 Creative Ideas for Fun Parties.” “All it takes is a little planning and a touch of creativity.” Listed below is a brief outline to assist in planning a memorable graduation gathering. Budget — The most important advice is to set a budget and plan early. Graduation celebrations cost money and if you have more than one child, remember that you are setting a precedent with your oldest that you need to be able to continue with the other children. A budget is not only crucial, but will determine the number of guests that you can invite and the venue where you can host your event. Venue— Hosting the party at home, sharing a location with several graduates, or renting an inexpensive party hall are budget friendly ideas. A backyard or living room can create the perfect backdrop for a personal celebration. Make sure that the space is large enough, however, to comfortably accommodate guests. If you’re thinking about having a party at a restaurant, don’t forget extra costs incurred through drinks and gratuity. Invitations — After determining your budget and securing a venue, settle on your date and announce it early. There will

be many celebrations taking place in a short period of time; by announcing your gathering in a timely manner it will help others determine their date to avoid conflicts. There are many options when ordering invitations. There are online websites as well as ordering them in local print shops. However, when working with a budget, printing your own invitations typically is the least expensive option. Many office supply stores carry a variety of invitation stationary and with a little creativity you can add the high school or college logo or even a photo of the graduate. Decorations — Keep it simple! Mortarboards, graduation year signs, mascot pictures, and balloons and streamers are the most obvious decorations. However, the graduates and their guests are gathered to celebrate the accomplishments of the last few years. The invited guests will naturally want to talk to the guest of honor. In order to divert some pressure off the graduate, create a display using personal items such as yearbooks, photos, and scrapbooks. Enlarge a senior picture and frame it with an oversized mat for the guests to sign. For a more technical approach, create a slide show of favorite photos. A special gift for a graduate could be a memory quilt. They are made with the graduate’s special T-shirts and sewn into a quilt. They are not only special at the time of graduation but something to be treasured forever. If the gathering is shared by several graduates, make sure each has his or her own memory table. Food — The easiest choice is to hire a caterer do the work, but that alternative might be too costly. If you need to cut costs but worry about the presentation, the most inexpensive food can

AroundAbout — TowneLaker

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may 2011

may 2011 AroundAbout — TowneLaker

Lifestyle

Expectations If You Need Extensive Dental Care by Dr. Scott R. Harden As with many editorials, a single person can greatly inspire a story that helps influence others and provides insight into an area that may otherwise be vague or misconstrued. So is the case with John Bishop, husband, father, and recent patient. This story begins with understanding the mindset of John Bishop and why after not going to the dentist for over 20 years, he suddenly appears in my office for comprehensive dental care and determined to do something about his teeth that he has seriously neglected over the past several decades.

placing bad stresses on opposing teeth when he chewed, his front teeth presented an extremely complex restorative problem. John was presented with two fundamental options of treatment that involved getting braces or avoiding braces and pursuing treatment with crowns and bridges. Option 1 offered braces to eliminate his overbite, moving his teeth into more ideal positions, and making other restorative care much easier. Option 2 would not involve braces because many adults, especially males, do not wish to have braces on their teeth. This option would achieve a similar outcome as braces, would entail more extensive restorative care and expense, but could achieve John’s dental goals without people being aware of his dental treatment.

John is now 47 years old and felt overwhelmed about his dental condition and with the constant aversion of his appearance Multiple options of care are always important for patients to when looking in the mirror every day, was embarrassed by make informed decisions. After numerous phone calls between badly decayed teeth. The state of his mouth had become a doctor and patient, John chose option 2, because it allowed him self-perpetuating problem for years since he did not want to to fulfill his dental requirements and because it was an efficient be ridiculed or lectured about his poor dental health. His wife process that would allow him to feel good and look good on put things in perspective for him redirecting his focus on the an upcoming cruise with his wife in three months for their harmful affects of chronic abscesses in his anniversary. mouth, his bad breath, and the fact his front teeth were brown with decay and greatly “John knew he was going to A separate appointment to sit down detracting from his smile and general and discuss all the findings and options need extensive dental care appearance. Ironically, his choice to visit between the doctor, patient and preferably based upon how bad his the dentist was as much to appease her and spouse always is a good idea. This allows teeth had gotten without it was to benefit him. open discussion to focus on the patient’s any professional dental primary goals and desires, review what attention for so long.” John knew he was going to need extensive treatment paths are available and to answer dental care based upon how bad his teeth many questions that include number of had gotten without any professional dental appointments, duration of appointments, attention for so long. He explained his purpose was to develop cost of treatment and financing arrangements, special concerns a smile that would make him and his wife proud and develop or limitations of case. It is important for the dental office to take a new bite that would let him chew comfortably, which he had the time to review this process for the more complicated cases not been able to do for so long. John was looking for a clear such as John’s treatment. understanding of his dental needs, the steps it would take to restore his teeth, the cost and a confident approach that would The experience with John’s dental needs brings to light the motivate him to achieve something he instinctively knew was most crucial factors for patient success involves a thorough difficult to accomplish. diagnosis, multiple treatment options, patient understanding and His examination revealed that his teeth seemed to be from two different mouths. His back teeth were relatively level and straight and initially made his dental care look routine. Further examination of his front teeth, however, offered a complex series of problems. His upper front teeth were badly decayed and several teeth required root canal therapy while several others required extraction; fundamental procedures to eliminate active abscesses and infection circulating through his body. His upper front teeth completely overlapped his lower teeth all the way to his lower gum tissue and because he had very crowded eyeteeth 42

confidence in the treatment, consultation to discuss treatment prior to beginning dental work, ongoing communication, patient involvement, willingness of doctor and staff to work with the patient not only to achieve all their dental needs, but most importantly to provide to stay within their budget.

Dr. Scott Harden is a dentist at Fountain View Family Dentistry and has served the Towne Lake area for more than 21 years. He is a Dental Advisor for two nationally renowned dental research companies. You can reach him at (770) 926-0000 or visit FountainViewSmiles.com.

AroundAbout — TowneLaker

may 2011

may 2011 AroundAbout — TowneLaker

Lifestyle

Dizziness Versus Vertigo by Katie Lawrence, MPT and Joe Kafati, DPT Many people will experience dizziness in their lifetime. Dizziness can occur due to vascular issues, toxicity, motion intolerance, otologic disease and disorders, or trauma. True vertigo is characterized by the sensation of spinning, when the world appears to be spinning around you. Also present is nystagmus, which is an abnormal movement of the eyes that makes the patient feel like the eyes are jerking back and forth. Nonvestibular dizziness is often described as spinning inside the head without nystagmus. Symptoms of vertigo are typically intermittent and provoked by head movements. Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV) is the most common type of vertigo. BPPV is most common in people over the age of 40. Fifty percent of people over 70 will experience an attack of vertigo. The cause of vertigo is often a mystery and remains unknown. Potential causes include minor head injuries, viral infections, neuritis, medication side effects, rapid head movements and complication from ear surgeries. Spinning with nystagmus, nausea, vomiting, tinnitus and hearing loss are common symptoms. These symptoms are aggravated with head movements, such as rolling over or getting in or out of bed. Symptoms are caused by the movement of calcium carbonate crystals (otoconia) within the semicircular canals of the inner ear. Movement of the head causes the crystals to move, bending hair like structures within these canals, which signals the brain

that the body is in motion. Symptoms most commonly last for less than one minute and are preceded by an initial attack. Diagnosis of vertigo is made by a physician through subjective and physical examination. During the physical examination, the patient will be placed in particular positions that will provoke symptoms. Provocation of the symptoms will confirm diagnosis of BPPV. Treatment of BPPV consists of specific head and body movements to reposition the crystals of calcium carbonate.

“ Symptoms of vertigo are typically intermittent and provoked by head movements.”

These movements must be performed in a particular sequence in order to be effective and will depend on the location of the crystals. The repositioning of these crystals can be performed by a physical therapist. Symptoms will typically be cleared within one to two visits. Joe Kafati opened Rebound Physical Therapy in 2006. He graduated from the University of St. Augustine in 2001 with a Doctorate Degree in Physical Therapy and also has earned his MTC (Manual Therapy Certification). He can be reached at (678) 445-9799.

AroundAbout — TowneLaker

may 2011

may 2011 AroundAbout — TowneLaker

Lifestyle

Local Athlete Living His Dream by Matt Imbornone

Jake Skole, with brothers Matt, 20 & Mickey, 11 in Arlington, Texas in the Rangers Media Room on signing day in June.

acob Michael Skole was raised in Towne Lake by his parents, Mike and Leigh, along with his two brothers Matt and Mickey. He began playing baseball out of Hobgood Park when he was five years old coached by his dad. Jake always played “up” on his big brother’s team, usually being the youngest and smallest. However, blessed with above average athleticism and speed, he was always able to hold his own with the older boys. At age eleven, he began playing travel baseball in the elite East Cobb Baseball travel program. Skole

also excelled in basketball, football and track. When it was time for high school, Jake and his brothers made the decision to attend Blessed Trinity (BT) High School in Roswell. While at BT, Jake experienced great success in every sport. He started as a freshman on BT’s Elite Eight baseball team, earning the 2008 All Fulton County Outfielder (.459 BA), Stolen Base Leader (39) and Runs Scored (58) leader awards. His football career was also quite impressive while at BT. He was selected as All Fulton County in 2007 and 2008 at Safety, second in the state of Georgia in interceptions as a sophomore, 96 tackles in 2007, and 17 TD’s. If that wasn’t enough, he accomplished this while maintaining a solid 3.5 GPA. Consequently, Jake received many full ride scholarship offers from major Division I schools. Before he was drafted into the Major Baseball League (MLB), Skole had committed to attend Georgia Tech (GT) to play both football and

Jake with his dad, Mike and Kipp Fagg, Rangers Head Recruiting Manager signing his contract. 46

AroundAbout — TowneLaker

may 2011

baseball. He was excited to once again be playing with his older brother, Matt, while remaining in the area to assist his younger brother, Mickey, and his 11 year-old East Cobb Astro team. Jake’s achievements required hard work, selfdiscipline, dedication and sacrifice from both he and his family. Every summer and free moment was spent on the field, working out and training. His summer ball programs required he play in exhibition tournaments playing more than 100 games in a single season. Even the best of athletes have their setbacks and Jake suffered a serious ankle injury at a critical time in his high school career. He had to sit out his entire senior regular baseball season. He wasn’t released to return until the playoffs, when he helped his team and himself “Being drafted by hitting .452, 6 home runs, in the first round and 21 RBI’s in just 14 playoff is a chance of games. The news of his playoff a lifetime and I performance spread quickly could not let that and sent scouts scrambling, which put him back on the get away” draft radar. Two weeks after his high school graduation, Skole was drafted in the first round of the MLB Draft being the 15th overall pick to the Texas Rangers. On the night of the televised draft, Jake and his family were at a Georgia Tech (GT) baseball game watching his older brother, Matt, an All-Atlantic Coast Conference and third team All-American third basemen with GT, play in the regional Championship game against Alabama. Jake, not able to watch the draft live, began getting texts and calls as soon as his name was announced. Then he received a phone call from Nolan Ryan of the Texas Rangers congratulating him. One week after the day he was drafted, Jake

was sent to Arizona to play with the Arizona rookie league team. After hitting .286, knocking in five runs and hitting safely in six of his first eight games, on July 2nd, the Rangers decided to promote Skole to their single A team in Spokane, WA. Since then, has proven himself and has already been promoted again to Hickory, NC playing for the Hickory Crawdads. Skole was offered a $1.557 million bonus to lure him away from Georgia Tech. “Being drafted in the first round is a chance of a lifetime and I could not let that get away. I’ll come back to

The announcement made official on the jumbotron at the Rangers vs. Nationals game to a full house.

college and play GT football when I retire from professional baseball,” he said. Today, Jake is humble and grateful for the opportunity to live his dream. He thanks his family for their love and support along with friends, coaches and community. At the rate Jake is moving up through the Ranger’s organization, it seems it won’t be long until his name will appear on the big screen and we will be able to watch him from the comfort of our home. Stay tuned for another upcoming Skole article as we anticipate his brother, Matt, will be next in the draft.

Matt Imbornone is a senior at Etowah High School, and for his Senior Project, he chose to pursue sports journalism. Every Senior Project is required to present a “product,” and this article is Matt’s product. Jake is a former classmate of Matt’s, and he felt Jake’s story was a great one to share.

may 2011 AroundAbout — TowneLaker

Lifestyle

Recalculating by Kara Kiefer The key to most articles is to write about something you know. And this month’s topic is something I know all too well. It’s something I have struggled with my entire life, and a lot of fun has been made at my expense over this. So here goes … I am missing the “sense of direction” gene. I can and have gotten lost in my own backyard. My children know that if I’m taking them anyplace for the first time, I will get lost, not once, not twice, but several times. They know to build “lost” time into any plans that involve me driving them for the first time. I have learned not to trust what I feel might be the right direction. If I feel one direction is correct, I will go the opposite because chances are my instincts are wrong. So with this seemingly unfixable personal defect, I got what any self respecting no-sense-of-direction-person would do — I invested in a GPS.

“ I have learned not to trust what I feel might be the right direction.”

My GPS, like a lot of models, came with several voices to guide you to your destination. I chose “Jack” because he sounded like a confident direction-giver.

One of the first times I used “Jack,” I was heading to a home tour in downtown Atlanta. Even with Jack, I managed to get off on the wrong exit. This is how it went down: Jack: Turn left at the next intersection So I did. Jack: Recalculating. Turn right at the next intersection. So I did Jack: Recalculating. Make a U turn when possible. “Jack!” I screamed. “You’re killing me! And what did he say in return? “Recalculating.” I later learned that GPS units sometimes fail their drivers when in congested downtown areas. DUH! My questionable sense of direction (or lack thereof) is something I have learned to accept, and I continue to have “recalculating” moments with and without Jack. One thing is for certain … it’s always an adventure! Kara Kiefer is the Editor of AroundAbout — TowneLaker. She lives in Towne Lake with her husband Mike and sons Brandon and Garrett. 48

AroundAbout — TowneLaker

may 2011

Less Pine Straw, More Happiness by Lauri Wischner Foreclosures are so common these days. I often think of the people involved and how distressed they must be to leave their homes and part of their lives behind. I had to sell my house unexpectedly a number of years ago for a different reason, but the anguish was the same. I cried for weeks afterwards. It was where I built my life and where all my friends lived. My house had been a large one with more rooms than the Duggers have children (19). In fact, I wished the Duggars would have visited so I could have lovingly popped a dust rag into each one of those nineteen children’s hands to help me clean all those rooms. When we bought again, my husband and I consciously chose to purchase a smaller home in a more modest neighborhood. I missed my old neighborhood, but noticed some nice side effects. The lower mortgage payment was an obvious plus, but there was more. The old house required a whopping 32 bales of pine straw each spring and fall, which was costly. I didn’t own a car big enough to haul all the bales, so I also paid delivery fees and then spent half of my Saturday spreading the bales. Our new home, however, needed only six bales each season. They fit perfectly in my car, eliminating delivery fees, and it only took a few quick minutes on a weekday evening to spread them. We celebrated our money and time savings by taking full advantage of Georgia’s warm and inviting spring and fall weekends. Instead of wrestling with all those pokey pine needles on a luminous Saturday morning, my family and I played an impromptu game of beach-ball soccer on the front lawn and I spent time helping my husband in his latest plot to foil the diabolical squirrels who delight in pillaging our birdfeeder. Little by little, I felt more at ease in my new home. I made new neighborhood friends and felt less pressure to “keep up with the Jones’” for landscaping and decorating. Even when we made improvements, they weren’t as elaborate or expensive as my more sizeable house would have dictated. To this day, I enjoy visiting friends from my old neighborhood. I admire their latest renovations and brilliant decorating additions. Do I get a smidge envious when I see their home enhancements? Sometimes. Even so, I’m content with my smaller house. It’s what works for our family and our attempt at a more simplified lifestyle. My smaller home has genuinely enhanced my life. Lauri Wischner left her sales career behind to be a stay-at-home wife and mother. may 2011 AroundAbout — TowneLaker

Feature

Special Olympics Cherokee County Special Olympics provides year-round training and athletic competition for children and adults with intellectual disabilities. Four events are offered each year: Cherokee County Spring Olympics, Special Olympics Georgia Summer Games, Special Olympics Georgia Masters Bowling and Special Olympics Georgia Fall Games. The Spring Games recently took place at Sequoyah High School with lots of fun and smiles! For more information on Cherokee County Special Olympics, please visit www.cherokeecountyspecialolympics.org.

AroundAbout â&#x20AC;&#x201D; TowneLaker

may 2011

H e a l t h & Wellness T

aking care of ourselves should be a year round goal, not just one we set on December 31. The Towne Lake area is fortunate in that it offers a myriad of outstanding physicians to help care for our physical body as well as businesses that help in our quest for health and wellness. As our cover feature, we are bringing several practitioners representing different specialties. We also are featuring a business that helps eradicate disease-bearing mosquitoes. The following pages include internal medicine, OBGYN, physical therapy, dermatology, chiropractic and mosquito barrier for the home. We hope you enjoy learning about the following practitioners and business, and their dedication to your health and wellbeing!

Cover Feature

OrthoSport Physical Therapy Cherokee Internal Medicine The Mosquito Authority Towne Lake Family Chiropractic Dermatology Associates of Atlanta Wellstar OB/Gyn

may 2011 AroundAbout â&#x20AC;&#x201D; TowneLaker

C over F eature : H ealth & W ellness

hen you’re in pain and need the services of a physical therapist, first and foremost, you want relief. 209 Towne Lake Parkway Secondly, you want the (in the “Red Barn”) Woodstock facility to be close to (770) 591-9111 home or work, and most www.ospthome.com importantly you want a genuinely caring staff that has proven results in getting to the bottom of the problem and fixing it. OrthoSport encompasses it all.

OrthoSport Physical Therapy

OrthoSport has three locations, one being in Woodstock in the beautiful Towne Lake landmark - “The Red Barn.” OrthoSport is owned by Kim Chastain, BS,PT, DPT,OCS, a PT with more than 24 years experience who is one of the few in Georgia with Board Certification in Orthopedics. OrthoSport sees patients who are experiencing a large variety of problems including pain or trouble functioning as a result of an injury or disease to any joint or spine. They also help patients who suffer from Fibromyalgia, headaches, TMJ, dizziness/ vertigo and hand/wrist pain. Kim first discovered physical therapy when she was in high school at a career fair. “In my senior year of high school, I

was offered an internship in a physical therapy department, and this solidified my decision to pursue physical therapy.” she said. Since then, she has primarily focused on treating out-patient orthopedic and sports medicine patients.” OrthoSport is the only company that offers aquatic therapy on-site at all of its locations. Kim also noted OrthoSport has the largest and most equipped facility in Cobb, Cherokee and Paulding counties allowing the practice to offer advanced spinal and sports medicine programs. “We strive everyday to make sure our patients have their therapy in a fun, friendly and relaxing environment while keeping our focus on achieving results. We all take our job seriously when it comes to getting our patients better for the long haul,” said Kim.

herokee Internal Medicine provides primary care for patients age 15 and older. The physicians treat chronic conditions 1192 Buckhead Crossing Suite C such as diabetes, (678) 238-0301 high blood pressure, thyroid conditions, high cholesterol, asthma, arthritis and headaches. We provide wellness exams (pap smears, prostate checks, cancer screenings and immunizations).

Cherokee Internal Medicine

In-office services include phlebotomy (blood drawing for labs), urine analysis for urinary tract infections, pregnancy testing, spirometry (lung function testing), EKG, cryotherapy for warts and small abscess incision and drainage. One of the practice’s latest advancements is the implementation of electronic medical records and a patient portal. Established patients can review old appointments and request new appointments, prescriptions and referrals as well as view their past medical history, recent visit summaries and lab and diagnostic reports. These improvements will improve patientdoctor communications. Cherokee Internal Medicine strives to provide the best possible care for its patients. Diagnoses are thoroughly explained along 52

Drs. Akamatsu and Maniatis and staff

with treatment options with each patient. The practice’s goal is to have a mutually beneficial relationship with the patients based on trust and respect. Cherokee Internal Medicine is accepting new patients, and the practice accepts Medicare and is on most insurance plans.

AroundAbout — TowneLaker

may 2011

C over F eature : H ealth & W ellness

ummer is just around the corner, and with that comes a lot more time spent outdoors. Whether it’s barbecuing, gardening or entertaining, a lot of homeowners enjoy spending times outdoors. However, there is one thing that is guaranteed to ruin everyone’s outdoor experience — mosquitoes. These pesky, buzzing insects are not only annoying, they can be a health hazard. In fact, according to American Mosquito Control Association, more than one million people die from mosquitoborne illnesses per year and another 700 million become sick due to bites. And because mosquitoes can infect your pet with heartworm disease, your four-legged friends are at risk as well. But, with The Mosquito Authority and its Barrier Spray Program, you can rid your yard, weeks at a time, of these unwelcome visitors. Not only will the barrier application immediately rid your yard of any existing mosquitoes, it will keep other mosquitoes away for up to three weeks. The Mosquito Authority uses an EPA approved solution and applies it to trees, shrubs and foliage that surround your outdoor living space. No more sticky, smelly bug repellent spray or citronella candles or torches; just mosquitofree outdoor living!

here is one thing you want when you are in pain — relief. Drs Kirk Pusey, Peter 1000 Wyngate Parkway #200 Walsh, Deborah (corner of Towne Lake Parkway) Pogrelis and (770) 592-1877 Vincent Williams www.townelakechiro.com have a combined 96 years of experience. Patients can receive chiropractic care, physical therapy and massage services all under one roof. And if the doctor feels chiropractic care will not help a patient’s condition, Towne Lake Family Chiropractic has a great referral relationship with other health care providers in the community.

Towne Lake Family Chiropractic

Towne Lake Family Chiropractic was the first chiropractic office in Towne Lake and has earned the community’s trust and loyalty. In fact, the practice has won AroundAbout – TowneLaker Readers’ Choice “Best Chiropractor” 11 times. The office handles patients of all ages and services include scoliosis screenings, treatment for traumatic injuries, and of course, the crux of the business, treatment of spinal and extremity problems. “We have the latest equipment that enhances the doctors’ ability to treat the patient efficiently and effectively,” said Director Kirk Pusey. “Patients can always expect superior health

If you choose the ongoingtreatment option, The Mosquito Authority will return every three weeks to re-treat the perimeter, keeping your property mosquito-free all summer long.

The Mosquito Authority (678) 294-7597 www.BugsBite.com

The Mosquito Authority is confident in the effectiveness of its treatment, and offers a “No Mosquito Guarantee.” If you are bothered by mosquitoes during the three week interim between treatments, the company will return and provide an additional treatment at no charge. Single treatment options also are available, perfect for that special occasion such as a graduation party, 4th of July barbeque or birthday celebration. Don’t let mosquitoes ruin your summer fun! Take back your yard and call The Mosquito Authority today!

care from caring doctors with extensive experience. We are unique in that we have special Decompression Treatment Benches which enables the doctors to treat low back pain and lumbar disc injuries. Cervical traction units aid in the treatment of neck injuries, arthritis and disc issues. The latest in physical therapy modalities enhance healing and reduce pain and inflammation in an injured area. The office also uses a state-of-the-art electronic scanner to evaluate problems involving the feet. Nutritional advice and supplements also are offered. Patients will find a spacious 3,500 square foot clinic that has office hours to meet patients’ needs, not doctors’. The office is open six days per week, staying open until 7 p.m. on weeknights. Walk-ins are welcome, and emergencies always are seen immediately. There also is a 24-hour emergency number. Patients can expect quality care with caring, compassionate and experienced doctors. If you’re in pain, it’s time to give Towne Lake Family Chiropractic a call!

may 2011 AroundAbout — TowneLaker

C over F eature : H ealth & W ellness

Dermatology Associates of Atlanta Ashley Curtis, M.D.

The Medical Quarters, Suite 190, 5555 Peachtree Dunwoody Road, NE, Atlanta • (404) 955-8931 • Dermatlanta.com

aking care of your skin is an essential part of maintaining good health and beauty, regardless of your age. Dr. Ashley Curtis with Dermatology Associates of Atlanta provides comprehensive dermatological care as well as complete skin care solutions for the entire family. Dr. Curtis graduated with honors from Georgia Tech, receiving a degree in Industrial Engineering. She followed her passion to become a dermatologist and graduated from the Medical College of Georgia. Following her time in Augusta, Dr. Curtis served as Wake Forest University Department of Dermatology’s Chief Resident where she volunteered her time performing skin cancer screenings at community care clinics. She also reviewed and authored articles for the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology.

as a female dermatologist to assist women who are experiencing hair loss. The beauty of dermatology is that it is a universally applicable field of medicine because everyone has hair, skin and nails,” she said. Dr. Curtis not only treats existing conditions, but provides the proper dermatological care that can prevent future problems. “Whether it’s an examination of a questionable mole, female hair loss or wrinkle reduction, I am that patient’s partner in achieving and maintaining healthy skin.” Dr. Curtis loves the flexibility provided by the latest advancements in cosmetic skin treatments available for her patients. “Treatments like Exilis skin tightening, noninvasive wrinkle reducing injectables such as Botox®, laser skin resurfacing treatments, and chemical peels can keep you looking youthful even if you haven’t always taken the best care of your skin in the past.”

She chose her specialty because it allows her the ability to directly help patients. She has a special interest in hair restoration, particularly in women. “I enjoy using my unique perspective

Dermatology Associates of Atlanta, founded in 1976, is composed of 8 in-house specialty centers offering everything from skin cancer treatment to laser hair removal. “We strive to provide all of our patients with complete skin care, head to toe.”

WellStar Medical Group Kennestone OB/GYN, Dr. Harold McLendon

opportunity to care for moms and babies in utero and being part of such a momentous occasion as the birth of a child.

2230 Towne Lake Parkway, Building 500, Suite 100 (678) 445-5941 • www.kennestoneobgyn.org

inding the perfect OB/GYN is not an easy task. You want an experienced physician along with compassionate care. Dr. Harold McLendon and WellStar Medical Group Kennestone OB/GYN offer the latest technologies right here in Towne Lake. Dr. Harold McLendon has a long list of credentials, making his expertise in the field of OB/GYN unparalleled. He graduated from the Oxford College of Emory University and the Emory University School of Medicine. He is a Diplomate with the American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology, a Fellow with the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology, a member of the Georgia State OB/GYN society and a member of the American Association of GYN Laparoscopic. Dr. McClendon grew up with an OB/GYN father. “A normal part of our daily talk around the dinner table was about babies being born and surgeries,” he said. He chose to follow in his father’s footsteps because he liked the fact the specialty used both medicine and surgery to treat patients. He also enjoys the 54

Dr. McLendon sees patients with issues relating to the female reproductive system. For the obstetric side, he may begin with pre-pregnancy counseling, followed by pregnancy, delivery and the post-partum period. In gynecology, he provides his patients with wellness exams as well as any problems in relation to a patient’s reproductive system including abnormal pap smears, abnormal bleeding, pelvic pain and menopause issues. One of the latest advancements Dr. McLendon offers is the ability to provide minimally invasive in-office procedures. Women can receive less invasive care for tubal ligations and endometrial oblation, which can help prevent the need for a hysterectomy. If a hospital stay ever is needed, patients have the convenience of WellStar Kennestone Hospital, minutes from Towne Lake. Dr. McLendon currently is accepting new patients and most insurance is welcome.

AroundAbout — TowneLaker

may 2011

Unheard of Savings Available Now! by Dan Jape This is an exciting time to be in the market for a new HVAC system in the greater Atlanta area due to the many programs and specials available to help with the cost of replacing an old, inefficient system. The tax credit program, still available for homeowners, is $500 as a straight bottom line credit off your income taxes. It is called the 25C program and it is available to most taxpayers without any income limits. You simply have to purchase a high efficiency furnace and air conditioner or heat pump to earn this lucrative credit. The major EMC (Electric Membership Corporation) companies are offering a 36-month, no-interest loan that can make payments affordable on a new comfort system. The purchase can save hundreds of dollars in energy bills every year. They also have very low interest loans for people who need long-term payments. Atlanta Gas Light has a number of specials available to almost anyone in the Atlanta area who has gas at their home. There are a number of different gas marketers, but they all buy their gas from Atlanta Gas Light Company. A few cities like Austell and Sugar Hill have their own gas companies and do not participate in the gas promotions. If you replace a furnace and an air conditioner and use an 80 percent efficient furnace, you can earn a $200 cash rebate. If you purchase a 90 percent furnace and an a/c unit, you can earn a $400 cash rebate. If you currently have a heat pump or a dual fuel system with a gas furnace or a heat pump, you can earn a $1000 cash rebate if you replace the gas furnace and air conditioner or if you just replace the gas furnace and have the heat pump rewired to work as an a/c unit. This is a very lucrative program and this money will go a long way in helping with the cost of a new HVAC system replacement. Trane also has incentives of $200, $400 and $1000 or interestfree financing for 36 months if you purchase a high efficiency heating cooling system. The rebate is given atthe time of purchase. If you have not had your existing system serviced for the summer, now is the time. If your unit’s coils are not clean or if your units are slightly low on refrigerant, it can cost hundreds of dollars in wasted energy bills. A dirty blower wheel and any number of items out of sync can cause higher bills and poor comfort. People who schedule routine service are assured they are getting their money’s worth when the long hot summer days arrive with a vengeance. Dan Jape is the owner of Reliable Heating & Air. You may contact him at (770) 594-9096. may 2011 AroundAbout — TowneLaker

Lifestyle

Discover Facebook by Carol Montgomery Facebook is in the news a lot lately, with “Social Network” having been a big hit and winning several Oscars. From avid advocates to naysayers, everyone seems to have an opinion. I am a fairly recent convert, myself. I have a son who uses it to promote himself as a world wide modern troubadour. Every time I went to his website, it took me to his Facebook page. Because of him and some courses I took online that touted the virtues of social media, I decided to try it.

About a year ago, I began to see their names pop up as mutual friends. Until I started reconnecting with these old friends I didn’t realize how much I missed them! Now, we encourage each other through illnesses and accidents (like slipping on the ice and having to have surgery for a broken foot), celebrations of weddings or children or grandchildren, getting songs cut, winning awards, etc.! One man I’ve reconnected with is someone I worked with when we both moved to Nashville about the same time. He was a top session musician, went on to the presidency of a couple of record companies, and then built the top jingle company in Nashville. We’ve been reminiscing ever since we reconnected!

In these days of frenzied “busyness,” Facebook has proven invaluable in connecting to old friends and relatives who are scattered not only across the United States, but the whole world. I now regularly hear from or about nieces and nephews, my siblings, grand nieces, church friends from my former hometown, and business friends. Best of all, I am re-connecting with friends from the music business. For years I had been isolated from them after moving away from Nashville.

Social media is revolutionizing the way people communicate and learn, and how companies market their products and services. Why not test the waters? Just be sure and wade in slowly.

Isn’t that the main reason Facebook has become so popular? I didn’t just jump into it. And I’m glad I didn’t. We’ve all heard Everyone is hungering for relationships, but in these days of horror stories about giving out too much information online. mobility, a lot of people don’t have the deep friendships that So I filled my profile out carefully, giving can help carry us through life’s inevitable just the month and day of my birth and troubles. We’ve moved several times, live the town I live in now along with a few in neighborhoods that aren’t conducive to “Everyone is hungering interests. Too many people can ferret out forming friendships or we’re just too busy to for relationships, but in too much information about you if you make new friends. Divorce, loss of a child, a give your birth date, address, and phone child getting on drugs, loss of a job, etc. can these days of mobility, a number online. I also made sure to specify be devastating if we don’t have someone to lot of people don’t have that only friends can see my profile…not lean on. Having friends to help us celebrate deep friendships that can “friends of friends”. life’s victories, an award, a new job, a new carry us through life’s baby, graduation from high school or college I am very cautious about putting pictures — or even wishing you happy birthday — is inevitable troubles.” of my family, especially children and incredibly uplifting! grandchildren, on Facebook because of my former career as a backup singer in Lately, businesses large and small are Nashville studios, and my son’s career as a performer. But every discovering the advantages of using Social Media properly. day I get numerous pictures and posts from friends showing People love being able to voice kudos or gripes immediately their pictures of family outings, etc. I just don’t feel comfortable with the business down the street as well as the mega-businesses doing that, with so many predators around. Am I being all over the world…and get results. 1-800-Flowers has already paranoid? Maybe. Everyone has to make his/her own choices experienced increased sales by including a form for ordering in navigating this phenomenon of communication. Use caution from them on Facebook. Ford has even launched cars via in what you put out there because you can’t take it back! Also, Facebook…and met with huge success! Comcast has turned look for that icon for private messages if you have anything their company around by becoming much more responsive to remotely personal you need to communicate with a friend. complaints from customers.

Carol Montgomery was a backup singer in Nashville Recording Studios from 1960-1977. She is writing a romance novel and also writes non-fiction articles. Her website, mymusiccitymemories.com, will be published on the Web within the next three months. Carol can be reached at ccmont7@gmail.com.

AroundAbout — TowneLaker

may 2011

may 2011 AroundAbout — TowneLaker

Feature

On a trip to Chattanooga last year, I saw banners for Riverbend Festival throughout the downtown area. After a Google search, I learned Riverbend was an annual 10-day music festival in early June, taking place by the river (hence the name) in downtown Chattanooga.

including the Chattanooga Choo Choo (www.choochoo. com), The Chattanoogan (www.chattanooganhotel. com), the Marriott (www. chattanoogamarriottdowntown. com)

Make a day of it. Go up early and explore downtown by Kara Kiefer Chattanooga. Have lunch This sounded like the perfect getaway, only an hour and a half at one of our favorite spots, The Terminal Brewhouse (www. away, and the opportunity to experience some great music. terminalbrewhouse.com), Genghis Grill mongolian barbeque (www.genghisgrill.com) or the Big River Grill (www. We were not disappointed. Bands played at various stages bigrivergrill.com). located throughout the river area — reggae, country, rock and l Bring a folding/portable chair or blanket. Chairs (not roll and more. Food and drink stands were abundant and if you want a true Riverbend experience, be sure to get chicken and blankets) can be set up before the gates open. biscuit on a stick. Each night of the festival featured a headliner l Bring cash. There are plenty of food and beverage stands, on the Coke stage (a floating stage on the Tennessee River). That night, we saw Sheryl Crow as we sat on the lawn by the but they only take tokens, which must be purchased with cash. river. There was nothing that could compare to this experience. The tokens are non-refundable but can be used throughout the festival. There are plenty of ATMs and discounted rolls of Wrist bands are $30 (advance purchase at any Kangaroo Express tokens can be purchased at any Bi-Lo supermarket. convenience store May 1 – June 9) or $40 at the gate. One wristband includes admission to each day of the festival - eight This year’s Riverbend Festival is June 10 – 18, and we’ll be days! One-night wristbands also are available for $24. there again! Headliners include Miranda Lambert, Huey Lewis and the News, The Beach Boys, Brian McKnight and more. If you go: For complete information, including a list of the scheduled l Several hotels are offering Riverbend package deals entertainers, visit www.riverbendfestival.com.

AroundAbout — TowneLaker

may 2011

On to the Next Phase by Dee Locklin As of April 1, I am retired. There, I said it. Frankly, it is not an easy statement to say or write and I am not sure I understand why. My husband and son are very supportive of my retirement, so that is not a problem. And I am definitely not one of those people who worries about getting bored or feels the need to get a – gasp – part-time job to keep occupied. This retiree has enough cluttered closets, cabinets, and corner cobwebs to keep her busy for the remainder of the decade. Plus a lifetime of unfiled photographs and mementos ready for scrapbooking. I have always looked forward to retirement, knowing that I would finally have time for friends, family, and unimportant hobbies. Retirement means that one’s time, for the most part, is their own. No nagging parents, bosses, or demanding toddlers. If I want to read a book with zero social value, I can do so without guilt. If I want to lounge in the Eagle Watch pool during a weekday, I am free to do so. I have no lingering desire to save the world or be all that useful to others. Indeed, my tired self attests to the fact that I spent many years in the work world being useful. It is time to bask proudly in worthlessness. Perhaps the joy accompanying my retirement is why I find it so difficult to say it out loud or throw myself a party. I am simply afraid an annoying alarm clock will wake me at an absurd hour and I will find that my release from career life was merely a dream. That I am expected on a rainy Monday morning to complete a two-hour commute, then meet with various groups of people who want to suck my soul dry before lunchtime.

Don’t get me wrong. My 30-year career brought countless rewards. But it is time to slow down. In fact, some health issues require me to slow down, which led to the early retirement. Here are things I will miss: Long-time colleagues, my undergraduate students, the feeling of accomplishment following a successfully-executed project, travel to interesting destinations. Here are things I will not miss: Politics in the workplace, unnecessary procedures, parking fees, travel to really awful destinations. Here is the closest I will ever get to a mission statement from here forward: Find joy in each moment. Here are some goals from my new operational plan: Find really hip linens for my son’s college dorm; get a brown butterbean tan this summer; donate all the “skinny clothes” in my closet in recognition of the fact that I am destined to be full figured and that is okay. Retirement is a time to reflect on legacy. In a 2007 interview, Dr. Stephen Barnes of San Diego State University said that an important part of legacy is to show the way for others. So as I shop for those linens and work on that tan, I must never forget that I may have retired from saving the world, but my role as a mother showing the way as her son enters adulthood will never end. Indeed, my highest level of joy these days accompanies the realization that I will have more time to devote to this particular legacy. And that is not a worthless goal at all. Dee Locklin is retired from Georgia State University. She lives with husband Lewis and son Taylor in a cluttered home filled with love and lots of dust bunnies. Contact Dee at dlocklin89@gmail.com or follow her on Twitter and Facebook.

may 2011 AroundAbout — TowneLaker

Lifestyle

Top Five Landscape Mistakes by Paul J. Pugliese As we pass through another spring, local county Extension offices are buzzing with lots of calls from home gardeners and landscapers with just about every tree, shrub, flower, and lawn question you can imagine. Over and over, county Extension agents have conversations with people who say they heard or saw someone else plant something a certain way, they followed suit, and then problems happened. Unfortunately, most folks call our office after it’s too late. This article highlights the top landscape mistakes that agents see and hear about all too often. Hopefully, you can avoid future problems by changing some old habits and learning from the mistakes of your neighbors. 1. Leaving burlap, straps, ropes, or wire cages on a newly planted tree or shrub root ball is not okay. Any material left on the root ball could potentially restrict root growth and create a “pot-bound” root system. There is greater potential for root problems if these materials are in the way. To avoid these problems, all burlap, straps, containers, or cages should be cut off and removed prior to planting. Also, all stakes, ties, or tags should be removed to avoid girdling the stems of plants. 2. As a general rule, it is better to not use any soil amendments than to use them the wrong way. Soil amendments or compost should never be backfilled into a planting hole with new trees or shrubs. Soil amendments act like a sponge and either stay too wet when it rains or too dry during a drought. These extreme

changes in soil moisture can cause major problems for plants’ roots. Soil amendments are better used over large planting areas, such as vegetable gardens, by thoroughly mixing 2” to 3” inches of compost in with the clay subsoil several inches deep to create a uniform soil profile. 3. Planting trees and shrubs too deep creates long-term, irreversible problems. When plants are buried too deep, there is greater potential for root rot, stem rot, bark cracking, and disease. To avoid this, all plants should be inspected prior to planting to find and expose the root flare, where the first set of major roots meets the stem. This root flare should be level with the existing grade around the planting hole or slightly higher for certain plants such as Azaleas that need well drained roots. Be sure to “Unfortunately, have a firm foundation of soil under most folks call larger trees so they don’t settle after our office after planting.

it’s too late.”

4. Knowing the names of your plants and their specific cultural needs (light, water, and space) is probably the single most important part of plant installation and maintenance. Do your homework before you buy a new tree or shrub. Find out how tall and how wide the plant gets and make sure you plant in a spot that allows enough room to reach its mature size. Plants that are placed too close will eventually shade each other out, compete for water and nutrients, and diseases will spread more quickly between them. . 5. It’s important to take the time to read and follow the label before using any chemical or pesticide in your lawn or garden. continued on page 96

AroundAbout — TowneLaker

may 2011

may 2011 AroundAbout — TowneLaker

Lifestyle

Fear Not

Happy Smother’s Day

by Cindy Morrow

Confessions of a Serial Room Mom by Amber Klippel

I met Lorre several months ago over a bathtub, and it was all her idea. The bathtub, that is. Lorre Lamarca owns Bark Station in Woodstock, where Sheba and I use the self-washing station for dogs. I like clean dogs and I cannot lie. Lorre is petite and pretty. She is a woman driven by a vision that is anything but small and not always pretty, given the often-messy details of her job. A native Georgian and Cherokee county resident for seven years, Lorre not only offers three self-wash stations but also grooming, boarding and — Lorre’s ‘baby’ — Doggie Daycare. “I think the idea has been on my mind since I was a small child,” said Lorre. ”My love for dogs was kind of like a little girl’s love for her dolls. I always wanted to be around them. I did a lot of volunteering for rescue groups and animal shelters before and during college. I knew my love for these creatures would one day be more than just a hobby.” While in college, with four dogs and a job, she was frustrated with the challenges of caring for them while gone most of the day. Intuitively she knew there had to be a solution. “Through the rescue work I gained the know-how and understanding of dogs and their behavior. After college I worked in real estate, home design and marketing, and used those skills when I began sketching this facility years ago.” The hardest part of her job is self-imposed due to her work ethic and business style: she is very hands-on. “Animal care is a 24-hour-7-days-a-week-including-holidays business. I am a very present owner, and I am so lucky to have such great family to help tackle the many jobs.” The best part of her job is her happy clients. “The dogs literally jump out of their owner’s car and run straight for the playroom doors. If you get in their way, you are in for it!” The best advice she was ever given was actually a question: “What could you do in life if fear was not involved? And from the Psalms: ‘He does not fear bad news, nor live in dread of what may happen, for he is settled in his mind that the lord will take care of him. That is why he is not afraid, but can calmly face his foes.’” Often the biggest foes we face are in our head. Lorre took the advice, settled her mind, and calmly faced her fears and now she is living her dream.

I remember it well. My son Myke was probably around four years old when he presented me with a Mother’s Day card that proclaimed: “Happy Smother’s Day.” I still have that card, of course, along with all the other handmade cards, poems and macaroni objects d’art he has bestowed upon me over the years. Is it possible that my little bowl-cut-sporting cherub was actually a wise prognosticator? Was he a seer of things to come? Did he know even then that, over the course of his upbringing, I, his wellmeaning mother, would frequently confuse Smothering and Mothering? I have reason to believe that he looked forward to entering high school mostly because there are no room moms in high school — meaning I would no longer be showing up in his classroom constantly. I mean, “Your self-worth really... what if the other kids isn’t derived from found out he had a mother? your uncanny The horror!

knack for locating a

Recently, he had a presentation missing sock, or your to give in Spanish class, where fabulous casserolehe would have to explain making skills!” how he created an authentic Mexican dish to his fellow classmates in “Espanol.” I remarked that it would be cool if I could come and watch (especially since I did the actual cooking part). His response was, and I quote, “ No, mom, that would be the opposite of ‘cool.’” Then to make sure I was clear, he said, “Do not come to my classroom.” Certainly in yoga, when we talk about letting go of our titles, roles, and descriptions, there is no harder one to let go of than the title of Mom. Why is this? I think it’s because as moms, we identify so wholeheartedly with that role, we can’t imagine not having it. Some of us even let the role of motherhood define us. We become mothers so completely that we lose ourselves in the process. We also do too much, and this isn’t exclusive to mothers or even women for that matter. We train our children, spouses, co-workers, friends and family to be dependant upon us. We thrive on being needed! “Whatever would they do without me?” we think to ourselves.

And now, you have met Lorre. 62

AroundAbout — TowneLaker

continued on page 88 may 2011

Up Around The Bend Dee’s Roadkill Café by Don Martin There’s not much to White, Georgia. It’s little more than a spit of a town, located as a dot on the road, Hwy. 411, just north of Cartersville. A couple of churches, a food warehouse, a fishing supply store, and a storage facility is pretty much all that White has to offer. Except for one little café, sitting in what the locals call “the middle of town.” It’s not a big place, and it’s certainly not fancy. The name is Dee’s Roadkill Café. Yep, roadkill. And, yes, Dee really runs the place. Dee’s Roadkill Café may not seem like much, but the people all around know about the place, and come here on a daily basis. Why? The country food served with a surprising flair is good – great, actually. And the folks who own and run it, Dee and her husband John, are big-hearted, happy people who love gospel music and also love to sit down and talk with folks they feed. But the little café has something bigger going for it; it has become the town center for a small yet thriving community. It’s not just a café. It is City Hall, downtown, and Town Hall all in one. People come to eat, but they also come to talk, to meet local leaders, to ask questions about growth or traffic or political decisions that may impact the community. It’s known as a safe place. Dee and John moved to White six years ago. Even though have never run a restaurant, they decided to open one because Dee is a good cook, John is a hard worker, and they thought they could make a go of it. There was no other restaurant in town, so they bought an old building, restored it and bought used kitchen equipment.

They haven’t looked back. Dee’s gets plenty of business because Dee is a good cook, and she and John are just nice folks. But as they ran the café, they realized that something else was happening. People stopped in not just to eat, but to talk, to argue, to plan, to laugh. John offered the café to the mayor and councilmen of White as a place to hold town meetings. It was a great, neutral location. Spontaneous gatherings were held, and the residents of White and the surrounding Dawson County communities discovered a new community forum. “It was like rediscovering America the way it used to be,” John said. “With gospel music playing softly in the background, no one gets out of line. They know they can come here, get a full belly, sit back, and truly talk to their neighbors and leaders about this little town, its past, its future and how we all can work together to keep it a great place to live.” I asked John about the Roadkill part of the name. “Well, the adults laugh at it, and the kids get excited because they think they are going to see a dead possum on the plate. So, everybody gets a kick out of it and it certainly draws attention.” You can find Dee’s Roadkill Café just north of Cartersville on Hwy. 411. It’s open for breakfast and lunch, but don’t go for dinner – it’s not on the menu yet. Don Martin is a long-time resident of Cherokee County and Towne Lake. He is the President of The Institute of Convergent Spirituality. He is a nonprofit consultant and campaign director, having worked for Habitat for Humanity since 2005. He can be reached at (770) 355-0197

may 2011 AroundAbout — TowneLaker

Lifestyle

A Fool for Hummingbirds! by Scott Lemmon Prepare for Cherokee County to be all a-buzz because hummingbirds have been spotted throughout the area. These miniature marvels have been migrating between North and Central America for hundreds of years, a round trip in which millions of hummingbirds instinctively participate.

they are capable of hovering while they feed. When they fly, they can perform some acrobatics that other birds cannot – they can fly up, down, forward, backward and even sideways. They’re quite bold too, so place your feeder close to the house so you can catch all the action.

It’s not too late to put your feeders out, and join those of us who are fools for hummingbirds! For the next six months, backyards around the area will play host to these amazing, food-frenzied birds. They have the fastest metabolism of any animal on the planet. Although there are 19 varieties of hummingbirds in North America, the Ruby-Throated Hummingbird is most common here in the eastern US. The males have the distinctive red throat when the sun hits them just right (it sometimes looks black), and the females are green on their backs and gray below, with no red throat feathers. There has also been a report of a Rufous Hummingbird here in the Towne Lake area – a coppery, dark orange variety.

The best hummingbird nectar is a simple solution that you can make: Four parts water to one part white table sugar. You can make several batches at a time using this same ratio; just boil the solution and keep the extra in the fridge. That way, you’ll be ahead of the game when it’s time to clean and refill your feeders. In cooler weather, once a week is sufficient, but once the weather warms up, at least twice a week is recommended. Never add honey, artificial sweeteners or red food coloring to your nectar. Clean your feeders with hot water only, or if they’re really dirty, a quick soak in a mild bleach solution (10 to one) and a good scrubbing is the best way to go.

Despite popular belief, hummingbirds do not suck up nectar with their bills. Hummingbirds love to lap up nectar from flowers and feeders with their long tongues at a rate of almost 12 times a second. These tiny birds use so much energy flying that they need to eat nearly half their weight in nectar and insects each day. They love gnats, spiders and especially spider’s eggs.

Hummingbirds will head back to Mexico and Central America usually in October, which will be here before you know it. Then we’ll have to wait almost six months for the hummingbird show to return. So get your feeders outside, fill with fresh nectar and enjoy the show!

Scott Lemmon can be reached at (770) 928-3014 or e-mail him at wbuwoodstock@comcast.net.

These birds are most comfortable in the air, and

AroundAbout — TowneLaker

may 2011

may 2011 AroundAbout — TowneLaker

Lifestyle

Mosquito-Borne Diseases

It’s an Itchy Situation

by Rick Coughlin

by Dr. Randy Beck, DVM

This month AroundAbout-TowneLaker has a health care based theme for its cover, so I thought I would go over mosquito-borne diseases. As I have stated in the past mosquitoes cause more human suffering then any other organism. They are also just as dangerous to our pets. The following are some of the most recognized diseases that begin with a mosquito bite.

Itchy dogs and cats might be the most common things veterinarians see on a daily basis. Unfortunately, the list of reasons for the itchiness can be a very long one indeed. One cause of itchy skin is food allergies. If a food allergy is not found early in the treatment, a lot of time and money can be wasted treating for other causes of itching.

Malaria

Malaria is an ancient disease that most likely originated in Africa. The malaria parasite is transmitted by a female mosquito. Approximately 40 percent of the world’s population is susceptible to malaria, mostly in the tropical and sub-tropical areas of the world. According to the American Mosquito Control Association, more then three million deaths and 300 – 500 million cases are still reported each year.

West Nile Virus

West Nile Virus (WNV) emerged from its origins in 1937 in Africa into Europe, the Middle East, west and central Asia and the associated islands. It first appeared in North America in 1999 in New York. WNV is cycled between birds and mosquitoes and transmitted to mammals, including horses, and man by infected mosquitoes. The virus can be described by various illnesses. West Nile Fever might be the least severe and can be characterized by flu-like symptoms including fever, headache, aches or rashes, and lack of energy. This could last a couple of days or several weeks. The other types are described as neuroinvasive diseases which affect the nervous system. West Nile meningitis is an inflammation of the brain and the membrane around it and West Nile encephalitis affects the brain.

Dog Heartworm

Dog heartworm can be a life threatening disease for canines. The disease is caused by a roundworm. Dogs and some times other animals, including cats, foxes and raccoons, are infected through the bite of a mosquito carrying the larva of the worm. The larva enters the skin through the wound caused by the mosquito bite. The worms burrow into the skin where they remain for 3 – 4 months. If the worms have infected an unsuitable host such as a human, the worms usually die. The disease in dogs and cats cannot be eliminated but it can be controlled or prevented with pills or injections. Of course, good residential mosquito control practices reduce the threat of mosquito transmission.

Dengue

Dengue is a serious arboviral disease of the Americas, Asia and Africa. Although it has a low mortality rate, it has very uncomfortable symptoms. A flat, red rash may appear over most of the body 2 – 5 days after the fever starts. A second rash, which looks like the measles, appears later in the disease. Infected people may have increased skin sensitivity and are very uncomfortable. Other symptoms include headache, fatigue, joint

Although many people think a food allergy will only cause vomiting, the majority of the time it causes intense itchiness. Gastrointestinal signs such as vomiting or diarrhea are the usually referred to as a food intolerance and not an allergy. Pets with food allergies may have recurrent “hotspots” or areas of redness and ulceration. There may be hair loss, and these pets may keep owners up all night scratching away! Another misconception is the amount of time that it takes to develop food allergies. It is very typical for a dog to develop the allergy to the food even after being on that type of food for many years. The body has to be exposed to the food first and then develop the allergy. Also it takes at least two months of feeding a new diet to determine if the pet is allergic to it.

There are two schools of thought on what makes a good hypoallergenic diet. The first option is to feed a diet with a single protein and carbohydrate source, to which the pet has not had any exposure. This may be venison and potato, duck and potato, rabbit and green pea and even kangaroo! Lamb and rice diets and fish and potato diets are not considered to be hypoallergenic because of the amount of these products present in so many foods and the amount of time they have been available on the market. The second option is to feed a diet that has a hydrolyzed protein, which is one that has been broken down to a size that is theoretically too small to cause an allergic response. Your veterinarian can help you with both of these options. The pet food industry is a big market and while many diets will claim to be all natural or hypoallergenic, they maybe very poor choices. It is very important to remember that diagnosing a food allergy takes time and may take trying a few different foods. Also

continued on page 88 66

“Pets with food allergies may have recurrent ‘hotspots’ or areas of redness and ulceration.”

AroundAbout — TowneLaker

continued on page 96 may 2011

may 2011 AroundAbout — TowneLaker

AroundAbout — TowneLaker

may 2011

It Happened One Night by Tim Grady

he weather service was watching a line of severe thunderstorms move through the Southeast on Monday, April 4th. This storm, capable of producing high winds, damaging hail and tornadoes, came through Georgia from 10:00 p.m. through about 2:30 a.m. April 5th. At sunrise, Debbie Cylke, Wildlife Director at the The Wildlife Sanctuary in Ellijay, began climbing through trees to get a head count. Dozens of large white pines and several hardwoods had either been blown down by the storm or were snapped off by the tornado and thrown about the sanctuary. Roads and paths throughout the sanctuary were blocked. The root balls of uprooted trees stood as high as 20 feet and equally as wide. Clearly, Debbie prayed for the best but feared the worst. The worst would be an escaped animal — not because it was dangerous, but because an animal housed in a sanctuary has little chance of securing food and water to survive on its own. It would be a slow death for any that were not recaptured. Methodically, Debbie assessed each habitat and checked the condition of every animal. Some cages were torn open by a falling tree, but the heavy trunks and wide branches blocked the exit for one of the bears. Advanced planning the day before paid off at the cougar habitat. All the large cats were still in their three-story habitat, which was untouched by any of the fallen or thrown trees. However, the perimeter fences and interior fences were badly damaged. After climbing around cages and buildings for several hours, the final tally was in — not a single animal had died or was injured. Only one escaped, a wallaby. While not indigenous to Georgia, it had been brought to the sanctuary by Ed Cylke, sanctuary president, to help him cope with the loss of his wife. The chances of a wallaby, indigenous to Australia, surviving in the foothills of the Appalachian mountains, was clearly zero. Resigned to the loss of Buddy, Debbie headed uphill to check on Ed’s house. Again, she found more downed trees, some of the oldest and largest on the sanctuary grounds. While checking around the perimeter with the help of a fulltime volunteer, Wes, who should pop his head around a corner... Buddy!

Wallabies jump like kangaroos, and can defend themselves with their powerful tails, feet or a bite, but Buddy was accustomed to Debbie and Wes, and with her usual quickness, Debbie had Buddy in her arms and secured. Now the next task — starting the recovery work. It will be a substantial challenge to rebuild the sanctuary. Most of it was built step-bystep over years as donations allowed. Now, it has to be reconstructed for tours, starting in just a few weeks. We encourage you to visit our web site, www.thewildlifesanctuary.com or Facebook page and let your own heart guide you whether or not to donate of your time or money. Your donations go to the support and reconstruction of The Wildlife Sanctuary. Some of this requires dollars, and some of it requires hard work by hand. Please visit the Sanctuary or call us to arrange a time to volunteer.

may 2011 AroundAbout — TowneLaker

AroundAbout — TowneLaker

may 2011

Summer Photo Contest Is Coming Soon!

When you go on a vacation this summer, take AroundAbout â&#x20AC;&#x201D; TowneLaker with you. Submit a photo of yourself holding the magazine. Two contest winners will be determined by the contestant who travelled the farthest in the U.S. and in the world. Email to editor@townelaker.com. Mail in or drop off at 2449 Towne Lake Parkway, Woodstock, GA 30189 Please identify where you are, city, state or country and people in photo from left to right. Deadline is August 10.

may 2011 AroundAbout â&#x20AC;&#x201D; TowneLaker

Feature

Etowah High School Prom Will Pollard, Andrew Ford, Michael Carlson and Cory Turbyfield.

Beth Glickman, Mark Nystrom, Colin Curry, Bailey Cole, Gavin Sinclair and Hannah Hansberry Sean Fuller and Alana Ashley.

Logan Gantt, Aaron Mills, Megan Tolber and Brandon Cannon.

Lauren LoPiccolo, Taylor Thompson, Zach Ball and Sophie Smith. 72

Caroline Tilton, Kelly Crumpton, Erin Martin, Jessica Butler and Nicole Mott.

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Travis Frocione and Savannah Ramsdell.

may 2011

Heather Tinsley and Frankie Pucci.

Ben Miller and Kate Messerly.

Front row (left to right): Alana Ashley, Becca Hannigan, Hannah Rich, Emma Levido and Paige Schandevel. Back row: Sean Fuller, Jacob Young, Peter Brandt, Jake Rich and Matt Rich.

Cory Turbyfield and Melissa Lea.

Brett Madden and Abby Reidy.

Bryan McCulloch and Kristy Carter. Jordy Roberts, Ashland Deese, Ansley Ponder and Brandon Schultze.

Eric Rylands and Kari Kviten.

Lauren LaRicci, Cody Lobick, Kyle Jenkins and Layne Livingston. Caroline Waters, Matt Wysocki, Dylan Herod and Katheryn Donati.

March 26 2011 Ally Hellenga, Laila Goharioon and Megan Vande Corput. may 2011 AroundAbout â&#x20AC;&#x201D; TowneLaker

Mark Nystom, Will Mason, Ryan Barden, Nick Merino, Christian Harris and Jason Holdway. 73

Schools & Sports

Boston Celebrates Honor Roll Students Boston Elementary recently awarded 14 4th grade students at the quarterly Honor Roll Brunch. The students were recognized for achieving all As on their report cards. Congratulations!

Front row (left to right): Olivia Quillian, Sara Casagrande, Jamila Otieno, Barbara Thomas, Maria Gonzalez, Arianna Medina and Keeley Thayer. Back row: A.J. Anderson, Andres Contreras, Christian Cutright, Lance Crawford, Jared Smith and Kieran Black. Not pictured: Logan Droke.

Etowah Teacher Receives Distinction Award Lisa Carroll, a Career Tech teacher at Etowah High School, recently was selected as a Claes Nobel Educator of Distinction by the National Society of High School Scholars (NSHSS). Ms. Carroll was nominated by student Alyssa Fallin for outstanding dedication and commitment to excellence in the classroom. Student members of NSHSS have the opportunity to nominate an educator who has made the most significant contribution to his/her academic career. Ms. Carroll said, “I am honored to be recognized and blessed to be able to teach such talented students. As a teacher, the impact that we have on our students is very important and to know we are having a positive influence is encouraging. My enthusiasm for teaching has created a great rapport with my students, and I hope it gives them the encouragement to continue to accomplish their goals and dreams.”

concert. Seventh graders Bailey Burks (trumpet), Shaina Futch (oboe) and eighth grader Dieter Hartmann (clarinet) earned the distinction of playing with the honor band, while seventh grader Elizabeth Hale (flute) and eighth graders Samantha Kaczaral (flute) and Abby Smith (trombone) were chosen to perform with the concert band. Band Director Cary Johnson accompanied the group.

Left to right: Abby Smith, Elizabeth Hale, Samantha Kaczaral, Cary Johnson, Dieter Hartmann, Shaina Futch and Bailey Burks.

Bascomb Raises Money for American Heart Association Bascomb Elementary School recently held its annual Jump Rope for Heart event. The students raised more than $7,085 for the American Heart Association. A special drawing was held for the top online fundraisers to have a Chick-fil-A lunch with the Bascomb coaches. The winners were Will Curcio, Grace Campbell, Riley Corona, Hunter Chard and Jenna Berounsky with Coaches Nettie Mosteller, Trip Holton and Lynn Choquette.

E.T. Booth Students Selected for Honor Bands Six E.T. Booth Middle School students recently were chosen to perform with the District 9 Middle School Concert and Honor Bands. Students are selected through an audition process of hundreds of students from 18 north Georgia counties. The band then met for one weekend to rehearse and perform a 74

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Grad Ad Grad Ad may 2011 AroundAbout — TowneLaker

Schools & Sports

Shackelford Named Teacher of the Year Cynthia Shackelford (left) is the Oak Grove Elementary School Teacher of the Year for 2010-2011. She currently teaches fourth grade and has been teaching for 34 years, 18 of them at Oak Grove. Cynthia is inspired by her students every day. “The children and the love of learning inspire me to find new and exciting ways to teach.”

The State winners for the Technology Fair: Emma Aycock, Boston Elementary School, 1st place in grades 3-4 Robotics

Katie Basford, Carmel Elementary School, 1st place in grades 5-6 Case Modification and 2nd place in grades 5-6 Technology Literacy Challenge

Dylan Mason, Carmel Elementary School, 3rd place in grades 5-6 Animated Graphic Design

Musical Honors Earned by Local Vocalist Sarah Shiver (right) recently received four Superior ratings for voice and piano performances at Kennesaw State University during the annual Solo Festival of the Cobb County Music Teachers Association. Sarah sang “Sebben, Crudele” by Caldara in Italian, and played “Autumn, The Hunt” by Vivaldi, among other selections. She also received the highest rating possible for vocal performance and a gold seal during her participation in the 2010 Georgia Music Educators All State Choral Festival held at the Henry Mercer Civic Center in Savannah. She was chosen to perform with the District 12 Honor Choir in Smyrna. The ninth grade home school student serves as a choir teacher for elementary students at First Baptist Church Woodstock, where she is also a member of the “Joyful Noize” vocal ensemble. She is the daughter of Farrell and Kay Shiver.

Regional And State Technology Fair Winners Announced Sixty-three students competed in the Sequoyah Regional Technology Fair where students from 15 schools across three counties competed in the following categories: 3-D Modeling, Case Modification, Multimedia Applications, Animated and Non-Animated Graphic Design, Digital Photography and Digital Video Production, Robotics and Web 2.0 Applications. Students showed their projects and discussed how they were created in a 10-15 minute presentation. Judges were given statecompetition-approved rubrics as a guide, as well as feedback forms that were given to the students at the conclusion of judging. Twenty-nine students qualified to advance to the state competition held in March.

Regional First Place Winners: Preston Alsup and Garrett Bass, Carmel Elementary School

Boston Elementary School 4th grade State Champion Emma Aycock with her AIM teacher, Lynn Robertson.

Bobby Kutschke, Chapman Intermediate School

Eagles Announce Junior Volleyball Camp The Etowah Eagle Junior Volleyball summer camp is set for June 6-9, with rising fourth-seventh graders attending 9 a.m.-noon, and rising eighth and ninth graders scheduled 1-4 p.m. The camp is run by Etowah coaches and players from the 2010 season, and will be held in the school’s new gym. Cost is $115. To register, go online to Error! Hyperlink reference not valid. http://etowaheaglesvolleyball.com or mail a check payable to EVBC to 230 Ascott Lane Woodstock Ga 30189.

Free Tennis Kids Day There will be a free 10U Tennis for Kids event from 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. on Saturday, May 21. The event will be held at Cherokee Ford (in the Collision Center parking lot), 195 Woodstock Parkway. Special courts will be set up in the parking lot, allowing the participants to hit as well as learn more about what is being offered through Cherokee County in regards to leagues, camps, lessons and future elementary school programs. This event is for children 7-10 years old. For more information, please e-mail tenzball@tenniztrendz.com.

Send In Your Woodstock High School Prom Photos! Deadline is June 10 • editor@townelaker.com 76

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Woodstock Wolverine

Baseball Photos by Skip Daugherty

may 2011 AroundAbout â&#x20AC;&#x201D; TowneLaker

Schools & Sports

You Can Make a Difference Words of Inspiration

Joe Lemmo’s 7th grade Language Arts students at E.T. Booth share their thoughts with the community. Ryleigh Cooke You’ve heard of the earthquakes and the tsunami in Japan, right? Of course you have! Thousands of people are dead and even more people are missing! Parts of the country have been left in ruins even today, weeks after the disastrous events. Those people need help! More people should definitely donate money to help Japan. In the midst of all this, women and even children are lost and sad. They have no idea if they will ever see their neighbors or family members again. Bodies wash up every day and the people alive still need help. I’m asking you to donate to any of the many relief charities helping Japan. They need their home back, free from debris and floodwater. They need a place where they aren’t scared of leaking radiation or the uncertainty of when they’ll get to grieve in peace. Donate today to help Japan. Even months after the disaster, they still need the help, and you can provide it!

Eva Lozano Are you an older sibling? If so, is your younger brother or sister constantly annoying you? Do they follow you around and ask you what you’re doing? Do they want to hang out with you and your friends? Have you ever thought about why they bug you so much? Maybe it’s because they look up to you and want to spend time with you. Did you ever think of it that way? I have a little brother who is five years old. He looks up to me like I look up to my Mom and Nana. I think most young children look up to older kids in their lives to be their role models. If you are nice to them, they will follow your example and be nice to their friends. A lot of little kids don’t have role models to teach them the right things to do. Many of the young teens these kids are looking up to aren’t being good examples at all. That makes me want to be a better example for my brother because I want him to be a good role model for his friends too!

Sydney Moran Do you have a dog? If you don’t, I encourage you to possibly adopt one, and I’ll give you good reasons why. Pets are like companions to people - especially dogs and cats. They always keep you company; they’re sweet, cuddly, fun to play with, and believe it or not…protective! Dogs and cats will bring joy and happiness to your family. I have a dog named Sunny. His name might be unusual for a dog, but there’s a particular reason why I gave him that name. Sunny means bright and cheerful, which fits my dog, because he’s so happy and cheerful all of the time. When I’m sad, or mad, or just not having a good day, somehow Sunny senses that. He usually hops on the couch with me and licks my face, and that makes me feel a lot better. Dogs are great pets, and are always there for you to cheer you up. They’re very loveable, so I encourage you to try to adopt one. When you do, you’ll soon get to experience the joy I do, and you will never regret it!

Brent Kuhnel A few days ago it struck me - those who have the least, give the most. Those who have to make a sincere, strong effort to make an impact in the world, do. Yet those of us for which it would be so easy to give, don’t. Sharing is something so basic – we learn it in Kindergarten, but most of us quit after first grade! Even those who think they can’t make a change are blinding themselves because they don’t really want to put forth the effort. If everyone in the world would donate some money and their time, the world could be much better. We could almost completely solve world hunger, build plants to change sea water into fresh water, stop corrupt rulers, and fight Aids. We have buried ourselves in greed, yet a little time and money could dig us out. The world will eventually solve its problems, but we just may kill it before it does. So what are you going to do to help today? 78

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What Is Mental Toughness? by Mark Billson Countless hours of research and development have been dedicated to understanding mental toughness in tennis. I have heard so much talk about mental toughness among all levels of players that I definitely feel it is a topic worth discussing. I often hear people say that they lost a game because they were mentally weak. The question is: “What does it really mean to be mentally weak or tough?” I thought it would be fun to find out what a regular club or junior player thought about when asked the question. Here are some responses. “In my opinion, Dani said: “It is what a person thinks about the outcome of the match.” Cheri said: “It is confidence, focus and determination to win under pressure.”

mental toughness is having the ability to play consistently without large swings in performance.”

Alice said: “It is the ability to block out any distractions and to concentrate on the points being played on your court.” Naomi said: “It is when you are able to bring yourself back in the game when you are down and if you hit a bad shot, you don’t let it bring you down.” Sammy said: “It is the ability to believe in your game and have confidence in yourself.”

As you can see from these definitions, mental toughness means different things to different people. Having worked with all levels of players, I have come up with my own definition of mental toughness. I also believe that most of the top sportsmen are born with it. It is a trait that can be learned, but it’s not easy. In my opinion, mental toughness in tennis is having the ability to play consistently, without large swings in performance. It is not about having the best shots in the game, but having some shots and using those consistently as the occasions demand. If you can do this, you will be consistent in your performances. Too many players try all the shots that they know but are not able to control, which leads to inconsistency. To be mentally tough means to be consistent and avoid mistakes. So how can an average player improve his or her mental toughness? Here are some ideas. Learn your game and know what you can and can’t do under pressure. Realize that tennis is a sport to be enjoyed and do not expect perfection. If you have a good year playing at your correct level, you will probably only win around 60 percent of your matches. Finally, play each match without thinking about the outcome. You are not in charge of the result but you are in charge of how hard you try. I don’t expect my pupils to enjoy losing, but they need to understand that it is part of competing. Give it your all and the loss is easier to accept. Good luck.

Mark Billson is Director of Tennis at Towne Lake Hills Tennis Club. He is USPTR certified with more than 20 years teaching experience. He works with players of all ages and levels. Mark can be contacted at tlhtennis@comcast.net.

may 2011 AroundAbout — TowneLaker

Schools & Sports

Where’s Wolfie? During the recent Spring Break, faculty and staff of Woodstock Middle School (WMS) were asked to take pictures of themselves, family or other in WMS gear. Prizes were awarded for the most creative, most number of individuals in a picture wearing WMS spirit wear and furthest travel showcasing WMS spirit.

Stephanie Ray and sons with divers at the Oyster Secret at Sea World in Orlando, Florida.

Jennifer Ross at Hilton Head, SC.

Seventh grade teacher Debi Taylor’s husband Michael in Afghanistan.

Front row (left to right) June Papendick, Jennifer Leopard and Lindsay Woodward. Back row: Kim Brown and Karen Egner.

Erin Stonecipher and Paula Chastain at Myrtle Beach, SC.

Stephanie Ray with Big Bird. 80

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School Information Public Schools Bascomb Elementary School 1335 Wyngate Parkway Woodstock, GA 30189 (770) 592-1091 Principal: Ruth Flowers www.cherokee.k12.ga.us/Schools/ bascomb-es Carmel Elementary School 2275 Bascomb-Carmel Road Woodstock, GA 30189 (770) 926-1237 Principal: Keith Bryant www.cherokee.k12.ga.us/Schools/ carmel-es Chapman Intermediate School 6500 Putnam Ford Road Woodstock, GA 30189 (770) 926-6424 Principal: Dr. Pam Colvin www.cherokee.k12.ga.us/Schools/ chapman-es E. T. Booth Middle School 6550 Putnam Ford Road Woodstock, GA 30189 (770) 926-5707 Principal: Dawn Weinbaum www.cherokee.k12.ga.us/Schools/ etbooth-ms Etowah High School 6565 Putnam Ford Road Woodstock, GA 30189, (770) 926-4411 Principal: Keith Ball www.cherokee.k12.ga.us/Schools/ etowah-hs Kleven Boston Elementary School 105 Othello Drive Woodstock, GA 30189 (770) 924-6260 Principal: Les Conley www.cherokee.k12.ga.us/Schools/boston-es Oak Grove Elementary School 6118 Woodstock Road Acworth, GA 30102 (770) 974-6682 Principal: Dr. Jennifer Scrivner www.cherokee.k12.ga.us/Schools/oakgrove-es Polaris Evening School 2010 Towne Lake Hills South Drive

Woodstock, GA. 30189, (770) 926-1662 Administrator: Bob Hahn www.cherokee.k12.ga.us/Schools/polaris Woodstock High School 2010 Towne Lake Hills South Drive Woodstock, GA 30189 (770) 592-3500 Principal: William Sebring www.cherokee.k12.ga.us/Schools/ woodstock-hs Woodstock Middle School 2000 Towne Lake Hills South Drive Woodstock, GA 30189, (770) 592-3516 Principal: Mark Smith www.cherokee.k12.ga.us/Schools/woodstockms

Private Schools American Heritage Academy 2126 Sixes Road Canton, GA 30114 (770) 926-7779, www.ahacademy.com Principals: Maryann Radnovich (PreK & K) Sharon Day (1 — 12 grade) PTO President: Fran Chandler Cherokee Christian Academy and Cherokee Christian High School 3075 Trickum Road Woodstock, GA 30188 (678) 494-5464, www.cherokeechristian.org Principal: Hal Scripka Furtah Preparatory School 5496 Highway 92 Acworth, GA 30102 (678) 574-6488, www.furtahprep.org Headmaster: Fred Furtah

Harvest Baptist School 3460 Kellogg Creek Road Acworth, GA 30102 Principal: David Goings (770) 974-9091 www.harvestbaptist.org Lyndon Academy 485 Toonigh Rd. Woodstock, GA 30188 (770) 926-0166 Headmaster: Linda Murdock www.lyndonacademy.org North Cobb Christian School 4500 Lakeview Drive Kennesaw, GA 30144 (770) 975-0252 Headmaster: Todd Clingman www.ncchristian.org Omega Learning Center 5330 Brookstone Drive, Suite 320 Acworth, GA 30101 (770) 792-7431 www.omegalearningcenter.com Shiloh Hills Christian School 260 Hawkins Store Road Kennesaw, GA 30144 (770) 926-7729 Administrator: John D. Ward www.shilohhills.com St. Joseph Catholic School 81 Lacy Street Marietta, GA 30060 (770) 428-3328 Principal: Pat Allen www.stjosephschool.org

Cherokee County School District Calendar at a Glance

May 27

Last Day of School

Etowah Graduation

Sat. May 28, 9 a.m. First Baptist Church of Woodstock

Woodstock Graduation

Sat. May 28, 5 p.m. First Baptist Church of Woodstock

August 1

First Day of 2011-2012 school year Cafeteria account information: www.mealpayplus.com Aspen: https://sis.cherokee.k12.ga.us/aspen/home.do School District Website: www.cherokee.k12.ga.us

may 2011 AroundAbout — TowneLaker

Faith

Marriage Moments by Bill Ratliff There are not perfect marriages and no perfect partners. When we look at marriages throughout history, we must realize that we don’t always have the complete picture. With this understanding in mind, I offer for your consideration a married couple named Charbonneau from American history. They met under difficult circumstances, to say the least. He was a fur trader in the early 1800s in the Northwest Territory. She was a Native American enslaved by a hostile tribe. He became interested in her and purchased her as his slave. This was not a great beginning. However, it is obvious to me that he considered her “quite something.” He removed the idea of slavehood from their relationship by marrying her. He was not required to marry, but loved and respected her enough to change her status within their culture. She had been separated from her tribe for a number of years, but on one occasion she was reunited with tribal members while accompanied by her husband. Since childhood, she had originally been promised in marriage to a man in her tribe who was twice her age. The man watched the Charbonneaus interacting with each other and was impressed with their relationship. He could have exercised the betrothal promise from within his tribe, but he decided not to claim his right to have her as his wife. It so happens that Charbonneau’s wife is famous in American history. She is none other than Sacagawea, the Native American woman who greatly assisted the Lewis and Clark expedition. During the expedition, Toussant the husband, was somewhat of a Barney Fife type. On one occasion, he tipped over one of the canoes with some of their most important supplies. His wife, Sacagawea, went into the water, rescued the supplies and saved the day. At the end of the expedition, Toussant was paid $500 for his services. His wife was paid nothing, even though she provided the greatest assistance. But there seemed to be no jealousy or competition in their relationship. At the end of their lives, they lived in a fort in South Dakota which I had the privilege to visit. Although they had many challenges and struggles as a married couple, Toussant and Sacagawea found a way to make their marriage work. This couple reminds me of this verse. Ephesians 4:3…..Make every effort to keep unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. Date Your Mate: Go somewhere outdoors and enjoy this glorious spring weather together. Recently, my wife and I went to Helen and found a swing we could both fit on by the banks of the river. We spent several hours there talking, reading and listening to the soothing sound of the river washing over the rocks. If you can find a river or other body of water, try it out. If you get really adventurous, wade together out into the icy water. The chill will cause you to want to get warm and cuddly later. Bill Ratliff is the Senior Pastor at Towne Lake Community Church. He is also a member of the Around About — TowneLaker’s Community Board. He can be reached at (678) 445-8766. 82

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may 2011

Time for Prayers by Dr. Doug Thrasher The National Day of Prayer is May 5th this year. As the day approaches, I am reminded of a passage in 2 Chronicles 7:14 which says, “If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land.” Certainly, if you look at our country and our world, I think you would agree with me that there are a lot of things that need healing and that would call us to prayer. Let me suggest a few things for your prayers.

Pray for the people of America that they would rediscover faith in God. America was once considered a

Christian nation. The statistics revealed that the great majority of Americans believed in God and most of us practiced our faith through our involvement in churches. I don’t think we can say that anymore. Pray that Americans would once more “seek God’s face.”

Pray for our leaders. The

“The Bible is clear Bible is clear about the need to pray for those in authority about the need and government. I don’t care to pray for those whether you are Republican in authority and or Democrat, and it doesn’t government.” matter what candidates you supported in the last election. What matters is that we all pray for our leaders – that they would lead justly and wisely and faithfully.

Pray for peace in our world. I was born in 1954. I have seen fighting in the world all of my life, with the United States involved most of those years. It is hard for me to imagine a world and country at peace, but that won’t stop me from praying for it. The cost of war is astronomical both in people who die and in resources that are used. Pray for peace. Pray for the economy. I don’t understand how this “global economy” thing works. I do understand that there are many people who need jobs to support families. I also understand that greed and self-centered consumerism are real problems in our country. I believe if we humble ourselves before God and seek His face, He will show us a way to deal with our economic problems in ways we have yet to imagine. Pray for unity. Our Pledge of Allegiance states that we are:

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Faith

Towne Lake Area Religious Services Baptist

Jewish

Crossroads Community Church 2317 Bascomb-Carmel Road, (770) 592-7007 Sunday Services: 11 a.m. & 6 p.m. Sunday Morning Bible Study: 9:30 a.m. Pastor: Bob Goodner

Chabad Jewish Center 1635 Old Hwy 41 NW, Suite 112-265, Kennesaw (770) 771-9952, info@JewishwestCobb.com Introductory Service: 1st Shabbat of each month at 11 a.m. Traditional Service: 3rd Shabbat of each month at 10:30 a.m. Rabbi: Zalman Charytan www.JewishWestCobb.com

First Baptist Church of Woodstock 11905 Highway 92, (770) 926-4428 Sunday Services: 8, 9:30 & 11 a.m. & 6 p.m. Pastor: Dr. Johnny M. Hunt www.fbcw.org Hillcrest Baptist Church 6069 Woodstock Road, Acworth, (770) 917-9100 Sunday Services: 9 & 11 a.m. Sunday School: 10 a.m. Wednesday Services: Youth 6:30 p.m., Adults 7 p.m. Pastor: Paul Vance New Victoria Baptist Church 6659 Bells Ferry Road, (770) 926-8448 Sunday Services: 10:50 a.m Sunday Bible Study: 9:45 a.m. Wednesday Awana/Youth: 6:30 – 8 p.m. Pastor: Monty Guice www.newvictoriabaptistchurch.org South Cherokee Baptist Church 7504 Highway 92, (770) 926-0422 Sunday Services: 10:30 a.m. & 6 p.m. Sunday School: 9:30 a.m. Wednesday Service: 7 p.m. Pastor: Steven Lambert

Episcopal Christ Episcopal Church 1210 Wooten Lake Road, Kennesaw, (770) 422-9114 Sunday Services: 8 & 10:30 a.m. Sunday School: 9:15 a.m. Wednesday: 6:30 p.m. praise music, 7 p.m. Eucharist Rector: Doris Graf Smith Christ the Redeemer Charismatic Episcopal Church 411 Scott Mill Road, Canton, (770) 479-1778 Sunday Service: 10 a.m. Morning Prayer: Sunday at 8:30 a.m. Rector: Kurt Wheeler Christ the Redeemer Charismatic Episcopal Church 6488 Hickory Flat Highway, Canton, (404) 395-5003 Saturday Service: 5:30 p.m. Priest: Stephen Hunter Episcopal Church of the Annunciation 1673 Jamerson Road, Marietta, (770) 928-7916 Sunday Service: 10:30 a.m. Sunday School: 9:30 a.m. Rector: Rev. Paul McCabe www.annunciationepiscopal.org Saint Clement’s Episcopal Church 2795 Ridge Road, Canton, (770) 345-6722 Sunday Eucharist Services: 8, 9 & 11 a.m. Christian Education: 10 a.m. Wednesday Eucharist Service: 6:30 p.m. Rector: James B. Stutler

Tikvah l’ Chaim “Hope for Life” Messianic Jewish Fellowship 132 North Medical Parkway, Woodstock (678) 936-4125 or (678) 445-8766 Shabbat Services — Saturday’s 10 a.m. Rabbi Gary Maxted www.tlchaim.com (partnering with TLC Church, Woodstock, GA)

Lutheran Celebration of Grace Lutheran Church 411 Scott Mill Road, Canton (770) 503-5050 Sunday Service: 10:30 a.m. Nursery available Sunday School: 9 a.m., Faith Formation: 9 a.m. Pastor: Virginia Krekling www.CelebrationofGrace.org Good Shepherd Lutheran Church 1208 Rose Creek Drive (770) 924-7286, sheeptalk-gslc@comcast.net Sunday Services: 8, 9:30 & 11 a.m. Sunday School: 9:30 & 11 a.m. Thursday Youth Activities: 6:30 p.m. Pastors: Paul Baumgartner & Justin Ask www.goodshepherdwoodstock.org Timothy Lutheran Church (LC-MS) 556 Arnold Mill Road, (770) 928-2812 Sunday Services: 8:30 & 11 a.m. Sunday School: 9:45 a.m. Pastor: Stephen Constien

Orthodox St. Elizabeth Orthodox Church Service at the Woodstock Funeral Home Chapel, 8855 Main Street, Woodstock (770) 485-0504 Sunday Divine Liturgy: 10 a.m. Priest Frederick Watson www.stelizabethga.org

Presbyterian Cherokee Presbyterian Church, PCA 1160 Butterworth Road, Canton, (770) 704-9594 Sunday Services: 9 a.m. & 6:30 p.m. Sunday School: 11 a.m. Pastor: Alan Lutz www.cherokee-pca.org Heritage Presbyterian Church 5323 Bells Ferry Road, (770) 926-3558 Sunday Services: 9 & 11:10 a.m. Sunday School: 10 a.m.

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Pastor: Dr. Sid Gunter www.heritagepres.com Sixes Presbyterian Church Meeting at our Fellowship Hall at 2335 Sixes Road, Canton, (770) 485-1975 Sunday Service: 10:30 a.m. Pastor: Dr. Lucas Pina www.sixeschurch.org Woodstock Presbyterian Church 345 Arnold Mill Road, (770) 926-0074 Adult Sunday School: 10 a.m. Traditional Worship Service: 11 a.m. Pastor: Rev. Dr. Jake Marshall

Roman Catholic St. Michael the Archangel Catholic Church 490 Arnold Mill Road, (770) 516-0009 Saturday Vigil Mass: 5:30 p.m. Sunday Masses: 7:30, 9 & 11 a.m. & 12:45 & 5:30 p.m. Sunday Spanish Mass: 2:30 p.m. Pastor: Larry Niese www.stmichaelthearchangelwoodstock.catholicweb.com Transfiguration Catholic Church 1815 Blackwell Rd. NE., Marietta, (770) 977-1442 Saturday Vigil Mass: 5 p.m. Sunday Masses: 8 & 10 a.m. & 12 noon Sunday Spanish Mass: 2 p.m. Pastor: Monsignor Patrick Bishop www.transfiguration.com

United Methodist Bascomb United Methodist Church 2295 Bascomb-Carmel Road, (770) 926-9755 Contemporary Service: 9 a.m. Traditional Service: 11 a.m. Sunday School: 10 a.m. Pastor: Rev. Millie Kim www.bascombumc.org CITY ON A HILL United Methodist Church Worship Experiences at Johnston Elementary School 2031 East Cherokee Drive, (404) 862-7850 Sunday Service: 9 & 10:45 a.m. Nursery available at both times Pastor: Chris Bryant www.COAHUMC.org First United Methodist Church of Woodstock 109 Towne Lake Parkway, (770) 926-6440 Sunday School: 10 a.m. Sunday Worship: 11 a.m. Over 50s meet 1st Saturday each month at 11:30 a.m. Pastor: Rev. Claude Herbert Hillside United Methodist Church 4474 Towne Lake Parkway, (770) 924-4777 Traditional Services: 8:30 & 11 a.m. Contemporary Services: 9:30 & 11 a.m. Sunday School: 9:30 & 11 a.m Pastor: Dr. Doug Thrasher www.hillsideumc.org

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may 2011 AroundAbout â&#x20AC;&#x201D; TowneLaker

continued from page 84 Liberty Hill Church at the Mill 141 Railroad Street (678) 493-8920 Sunday Service: 11 a.m. Nursery available Pastor: Jamey Prickett www.libertyhillumc.org Sixes United Methodist Church 8385 Bells Ferry Road, Canton, (770) 345-7644 Sunday Services: 9 and 11 a.m. Sunday School: 10 a.m. Pastor: Jim Buckman www.sixesumc.org

Other Churches Allen Temple, AME Church 232 N. Arnold Mill Road, (770) 926-6348 Prayer Time: Friday, 7:14 — 8:14 p.m. Sunday Services: 8 & 11 a.m. Sunday Church School: 9:45 a.m. Pastor: Carl A. Moore, Sr. www.allentempleame.org Bells Ferry Church of God 6718 Bells Ferry Road, (770) 592-2956 Sunday School: 10 a.m. Sunday Service: 11 a.m. Wednesday Service: 7 p.m. Pastor: Ted Wooldridge www.bellsferry.com Branches of Christ 5946 Jacobs Road, Acworth, (770) 917-4964 Sunday Service: 10 a.m. Wednesday Service: 7 p.m. Pastor: Steve Pettit www.branchesofchrist.com BridgePointe Church Meeting at Woodstock Middle/High School (770) 517-2977 Sunday Services: 9 & 11 a.m. Pastor: Mat Garcia www.bridgepointechurch.org Celebration Church 340 Towne Lake Parkway, (678) 461-9626 Sunday Service: 9:30 a.m. Cherokee Seventh Day Adventist 101 Rope Mill Road (770) 591-7304 Saturday Worship: 11 a.m. Sabbath School: 9:30 a.m. Wednesday Service: 7:30 p.m. Pastor: Jonathan Williamson Christ the King Church of Greater Atlanta 6464 Highway 92 (770) 924-9161 Sunday Service: 10:30 a.m. Pastor: Larry Tomczak www.ctkatlanta.com Christian Praise Center 1358 Sixes Road, (770) 924-7532 www.christianpraisecenter.com Church at North Gate 9876 Main Street, Suite 250 (behind NAPA) (678) 494-2193 Sunday Service: 10:30 a.m. Wednesday Program: 7:30 p.m. Pastor: Marc Lawson www.ngca.org

Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints Allatoona Ward, 2205 Bascomb Carmel Road Sunday School & Auxiliary Meetings: 12:30 p.m. Sacrament Meeting: 2:15 p.m. Bishop Phil Karski Canton Ward, 3459 E. Cherokee Drive, Canton Sunday School & Auxiliary Meetings: 10:20 a.m. Sacrament Meeting: 9 a.m. Bishop Scott Harman Church of the Messiah (Non-denominational) 415 Charles Cox Drive, Canton (770) 479-5280 Sunday Service: 10 a.m. Pastor: Fred L. Goodwin Cornerstone Community Church 503 Hickory Ridge Trail Suite 160 (678) 439-5108, dlkight@comcast.net Sunday Service: 11 a.m. Pastor David Kight www.ccchurchonline.org Covenant Christian Center 330 Adam Jenkins Memorial Blvd, Canton (770) 345-0307 Sunday Service: 10 a.m. Wednesday Service: 7 p.m. Pastor: Apostle Kito J. Johnson www.CityOfCovenant.org Dayspring Church 6835 Victory Drive, Woodstock (770) 516-5733 Sunday Service: 10:30 a.m. Pastor: Tony Crawford www.dayspring-online.com Faith Family Church 5744 Bells Ferry Road, Acworth (770) 926-4560 Sunday Service: 10 a.m. Wednesday Service: 7 p.m. Pastor: Tommy White Freedom Church Meeting at North Cobb High School 3400 Old Highway 41 NW, Kennesaw (770) 529-6006 Sunday Services: 9:30 & 11 a.m. www.freedomchurch.tv Pastor: J.R. Lee Jubilee Church (Newfrontiers) Meets at Kell High School 4770 Lee Waters Road, Marietta (678) 471-1930 Sunday Service: 10 a.m. www.jubileechurch.us Love Community Church 5598 Bells Ferry Rd., Acworth (Cherokee Corners) (404) 663-1828 Sunday School: 9 a.m. Sunday Service: 10 a.m. Pastor: Rev. Donna T. Lucas

The Pointe Church Hasty Elementary, 205 Brown Industrial Parkway, Canton, (404) 557-9640 Sunday Service: 10:30 a.m. Pastor: Brian Jones www.myfriendschurch.com Prayer & Praise Christian Fellowship Church 6409 Bells Ferry Road, (770) 928-2795 Sunday Service: 10:30 a.m. Christian Living Class: 9:30 a.m. Wednesday Youth Meeting: 6:30 p.m. Pastor: Larry H. Baker http://www.prayerandpraise.org Resurrection Anglican Church 231 Arnold Mill Road (770) 591-0040 Holy Communion: Sunday 10 a.m. Christian Education (all ages): Sunday 9 a.m. Pastor: Rev. Greg Goebel www.resurrectionwoodstock.org Towne Lake Community Church (TLC Church) 132 North Medical Parkway (678) 445-8766 Contemporary Family Style Worship: Sunday 10:30 a.m. Messianic Jewish Fellowship (Tikvah l’Chaim): Saturday 10 a.m. The Walk — Adult Singles Worship: Saturday 6 p.m. Celebrate Recovery: Friday 6 p.m. Sr. Pastor William S. Ratliff www.tlcchurch.com Unity Christ Church 2871 Cherokee St., Kennesaw (770) 422-9552 Sunday Service: 11 a.m. Pastor: Rev. Terrence Padgett www.unitycc.com Woodstock Christian Church 7700 Highway 92 (770) 926-8238 Sunday School: 9 a.m. Sunday Worship Service: 10:30 a.m. Sunday Small Groups: 6 p.m. Wednesday Meal: 6 p.m.; Worship: 6:40 p.m.; Program: 7 p.m. Pastor: Lynn Eynon www.woodstockchristian.org Woodstock Church of Christ 219 Rope Mill Road (770) 926-8838 Sunday Services: 10:30 a.m. & 6 p.m. Servico En Espanol Domingo: 10:30 a.m. Aprenda Ingles Gratis (Free ESL): Lunes 7 — 9 p.m. Ministro: Rafael Uzcategui, (770) 926-8271 Pastor: Bryan Collins www.woodstockchurchofchrist.org

Momentum Church 110 Londonderry Court Suite 130, Woodstock, on Hwy 92 — ½ mile east of Hwy 5 (678) 384-4919 Sunday Service Times: 9:30 & 11:15 a.m. Pastor: Ross Wiseman www.MomentumChurch.tv

Woodstock Church of the Nazarene 874 Arnold Mill Road, (770) 924-4499 Sunday Services: 10:45 a.m. & 6 p.m. Sunday School: 9:30 a.m. Wednesday Program: 7 p.m. Pastor: Greg Brown www.wcnga.com

Northern Hills Church of Christ 4563 Hickory Flat Highway, Canton, (404) 579-0885 Sunday Service: 10 a.m. Pastor: Ronny West www.northernhillsfamily.org

Woodstock Community Church 8534 Main Street (770) 926-8990 Sunday Service: 10:30 a.m. Pastor: Greg Michael

AroundAbout — TowneLaker

may 2011

may 2011 AroundAbout — TowneLaker

Mosquito Borne Diseases

Heart and Soul

continued from page 66

continued from page 34

and muscle aches, nausea, swollen lymph nodes and vomiting. The spread of Dengue throughout the world can be directly attributed to the proliferation and adaptation of mosquitoes.

Fragile efforts? What about my fragile ear drums? But I took a deep breath and bit my lip to keep more criticism from escaping. God has blessed us with children. Our job as parents is to guide them to become the best they can — hopefully without screwing them up too much. But Joseph had been banging on those keys for over an hour. In my opinion, he needed encouragement a lot less than I needed earplugs.

Eastern equine encephalitis (EEE)

EEE is spread to horse and humans by infected mosquitoes. It is among the most serious of a group of mosquito-borne arboviruses that can affect the nervous system and cause severe complications and even death. More serious infections of the central nervous system lead to sudden fever and severe headache followed quickly by seizure and coma. About half the people who develop serious cases die from the disease and of those who survive, many suffer permanent brain damage. There is no specific treatment. A vaccine is available for horses but not humans. According to the CDC, from 1964 to 2009 there have been 28 reported cases in Georgia. There are other mosquito borne diseases including Yellow fever, St. Louis encephalitis, LaCrosse encephalitis, and more. This is why it is very important to reduce the exposure of mosquito bites to yourself, your children and your pets. Good habits and a good residential mosquito program will help you accomplish this. If you have any questions or comments, please email me at rick@ themosquitoauthority.com. Rick Coughlin is the owner of The Mosquito Authority. Email him at rick@themosquitoauthority.com.

Happy Smother’s Day continued from page 62

Unfortunately, being too needed is dangerous and can backfire if we are not careful. We should nurture our family, but also ourselves, and I’m not just talking about one day out of the year! Our children should be allowed to move toward independence, encouraged to trust in themselves. We must step out of the way for this to happen. Your self-worth isn’t derived from your uncanny knack for locating a missing sock, or your fabulous casserole-making skills! And not from boo-boo healing, taxi-driving, miraculous stain- removing, cupcake making, home-repairing, event scheduling, planning and executing, homework tutoring, sideline cheerleading, argument mediating, bringing home the bacon — Totally Awesome Superwoman abilities. Your self-worth should be derived from simply being you. You are indispensable because of who you are, not because of what you do, and what you give. Let’s take the smother out of mother. Happy Mother’s Day!

And then a miracle! “Oh my goodness, Joseph what did you just do?!” I said eagerly with astonishment. “It sounds fantastic!” Joseph grinned and played straight man. “Yeah Dad, I just stopped playing. I’m taking a break.” “Well, whatever it is, it sounds really good,” I smiled proudly. “You definitely need to do more of that!” I glanced over at Ann to see if this would pass as fatherly encouragement. She shook her head ruefully, her face buried in a book, fighting back a smile. Ann would never admit it, but I suspect she too was enjoying the peaceful sound of Joseph’s fingers not pressing down on the piano keys. Joseph was snickering. Carnegie Hall is out – but I console myself that just a few more months of torture, and Joseph can’t help but get better. Despite himself — and his dad. Dr. Mike Litrel practices with his fellow OB/GYNs Cherokee Women’s Health Specialists in Canton and Woodstock. Dr. Litrel lives in Woodstock with his wife Ann and their two sons, Tyler and Joseph. E-mail Dr. Litrel at www.cherokeewomenshealth.com

The Tassel is Worth the Hassle continued from page 40

look classy when placed on a silver or glass platter. Some low-cost alternatives include finger sandwiches made from a variety of sandwich spreads and cut into triangles, removing the crust. Adding pasta to veggies will not only serve more guests but is less expensive than a veggie tray. Punch is more economical than soda. Cupcakes or a sheet cake personalized for the graduate also serves as the centerpiece for the food table. With presentation in mind, a simple idea is to buy a case of water bottles and remove the store labels and replace them with personal labels. Presentation, presentation, presentation! “As fun as it is, a graduation party is more than a gathering of friends and family,” Warner says. “It’s also a celebration of an accomplishment and a hope for a bright future.”

AroundAbout — TowneLaker

may 2011

may 2011 AroundAbout — TowneLaker

Reference

Towne Lake Area Clubs and Organizations Business Organizations ABWA-Women Empowered Through Synergy Meeting: 3rd Thursday at 8:30 a.m. Location: J Christopher’s in Downtown Woodstock Contact: abwasynergy@hotmail.com American Business Women’s Association, Cherokee Eagles Charter Chapter Meeting: Third Tuesday at 6:30 p.m. Contact: Jacqueline Miller Van Hook, (678) 493-3618 Cherokee Area Business Connection Meeting: Every Wednesday at 7:15 a.m. Contact: Marci Zied, (770) 345-8687 Cherokee Financial Women International Contact: Mitzi Saxon, (770) 479-3400 Cherokee Toastmasters Meeting: Every Wednesday from 12 noon Location: Keller Williams Realty, 220 Heritage Pkwy Contact: Steve Monahan, (770) 712-4077 Website: www.CherokeeToastmasters.com No Fee Referral Network Woodstock Meeting: Every Thursday morning at 7:30am Location: Corner Bistro off Towne Lake Pkwy Contact: Stephanie Natarus, (770) 928-2700 stephanie@livinginsured.com Website: http://www.meetup.com/No-Fee Referral-Network-Woodstock/ North Georgia Referral Network Meeting: Every Tuesday morning at 7:30 a.m. Location: Featherstone’s Grille at Towne Lake Hills Contact: Steve Green, (770) 427-2799 Together We Rise Meeting: Second & Fourth Tuesdays at 11:30 a.m. Location: Featherstone’s at Towne Lake Hills Contact: Pat Snipes, (404) 569-5280 Towne Lake Business Association Meeting: May 17, 12:30 p.m. Location: Featherstone’s Grille at Towne Lake Hills Contact: (770) 615-3350 Website: www.tlba.org

Cherokee County Animal Shelter Auxiliary Contact: (770) 704-PAWS or ccasa4paws@yahoo.com Website: www.ccasauxiliary.org Cherokee County Humane Society (CCHS) Contact: (770) 928-5115, admin@cchumanesociety.org Website: www.cchumanesociety.org CCHS Thrift Store located at 5900 Bells Ferry Road, Acworth, (770) 592-8072, accepts donations and sells used household items to raise money for CCHS. Cherokee County Special Olympics Meeting: First Monday at 7 p.m. Location: CrossRoads Middle/High School Contact: Colleen Konwick, (770) 517-7101 Cherokee Child Advocacy Council, Inc. Anna Crawford Children’s Center and Parents HELP 319 Lamar Haley Pkwy., Canton, (770) 345-8100 Contact: Amy Economopolous, (770) 592-9779 www.cherokeechildadvocates.org Companion Animal Connection Contact: (678) 493-9847 Website: www.cacadopt.petfinder.com Feed My Lambs, Inc. Contact: Candice Knight, (770) 795-9349 Website: www.feedmylambs.net Genesis Adoptions Contact: Lindsay Kirk, (770) 517-0043, Website: www.genesis-adoptions.org Habitat for Humanity North Central Georgia. Contact: (770) 345-1879 Website: www.habitatncg.org Hope Center offers support for unplanned pregnancy. Contact: (770) 924-0864, info@TheHopeCtr.com Website: www.hopectr.com Hospice Advantage needs volunteers. Contact: Shari Koch, (770) 218-1997 Website: www.hospiceadvantage.com iCOR helping orphans, seeks volunteers. Contact: Lily Colgate, (404) 992-8155 Website: www.iCORorphans.com

Towne Lake PowerCore Team Meeting: Every Friday at 7:15 — 8:45 a.m. Location: Featherstone’s Grille at Towne Lake Hills Contact: Marc Replogle, (770) 952-5000, X20 (404) 816-3377 Website: www.powercore.net

Pet Buddies Food Pantry has pet food collection bin at AroundAbout — TowneLaker offices. Website: www.petbuddiesfoodpantry.org

Woodstock Business Networking Group Meeting: Thursdays at 7:45 a.m. Location: Atlanta Bread Company on Highway 92 Contact: Lee West, (770) 591-7101

Papa’s Pantry is a year-round local food ministry. Contact: Lynne Saunders, (770) 591-4730 Website: www.papaspantry.org

Woodstock Community Business Association Meeting: Second Monday at 12 noon Location: Latimer Hall Contact: info@woodstockcba.com Women of Woodstock Meeting: First & third Wednesday. Location: Featherstone’s Grille at Towne Lake Hills Contact: Stephanie Natarus, (770) 928-2700 stephanie@livinginsured.com Website: www.womenofwoodstock.com

Charitable Organizations Ahimsa House help for victims of domestic violence who need help getting their pets to safety. Contact: 24-hour, (404) 452-6248, Info (404) 496-4038 Website: www.ahimsahouse.org Chance Afrika Contact: Eric Mwangi, Exec. Dir., ericm@chanceafrika. org, (770) 256 2280, www.chanceafrika.org

MUST Ministries Contact: Kim Loesing, (770) 479-5397

Safe Kids Cherokee County — Call for an appointment for free child safety seat inspections. Contact: Chad Arp, (678) 493-4343 Website: www.cherokeesafekids.org

Civic Organizations AARP Woodstock Chapter is for anyone 50 and older. Meeting: Second Tuesday at 11:30 a.m. Location: Featherstone’s Grille at Towne Lake Hills Contact: Rich, (770) 926-1944 American Legion & Auxiliary Meeting: Third Thursday at 7:30 p.m. Location: Woodstock Community Church Contact: Charles Tucker, (678) 643-0794 Beta Sigma, Kappa Chi Chapter Meeting: Third Thursday at 7 p.m. Contact: Maria Kuhn, vccibaker@aol.com or April Bolle, (678) 327-7233 Hickory Flat Optimist Club Meeting: First & third Tuesdays 12 noon

AroundAbout — TowneLaker

Location: Family Tradition, Highway 140 Contact: Alan Flint, (770) 720- 9056 Junior Service League of Woodstock 24 hour information line: (770) 592-3535 Kiwanis Club of Woodstock Meeting: Every Thursday at 6:30 p.m. Location: Featherstone’s Grille at Towne Lake Hills Contact: (678) 494-4841 Website: www.kiwanisofwoodstock.org Rotary Club of Woodstock Meeting: Every Tuesday at 7:30 a.m. Location: IHOP on Highway 92 Contact: Gary Floyd, (404) 506-6878, glfloyd@ southernco.com Rotary Club of Towne Lake Meeting: Every Thursday at 12 noon (lunch) Location: Featherstone’s Grille at Towne Lake Hills Contact: Ivan Garcia (770) 926-0105 Sewrifics of Cherokee Meeting: Third Tuesday at 7 p.m. Location: Sixes United Methodist Church, Canton Contact: Sheri Torch, (770) 591-8335 Sons of the American Legion Meeting: Third Thursday at 6:30 p.m. Location: Woodstock Community Church Contact: Charles Tucker, (678) 643-0794 South Cherokee Optimist Club Meeting: Every Friday at 7:30 a.m. Location: Featherstone’s Grille at Towne Lake Hills Contact: (770) 926-3522 Towne Lake Optimist Club Meeting: Every Wednesday at 7:30 a.m. Location: Featherstone’s Grille at Towne Lake Hills Contact: Terry Morrison, (770) 715-3375 Woodstock Jaycees Meeting: First Tuesday & third Thursday at 7 p.m. Location: 216 Rope Mill Road Contact: (770) 926-8336 Woodstock Lions Club Meeting: Second & fourth Tuesdays at 7 p.m. Location: New Victoria Baptist Church Contact: (770) 906-2958 Woodstock Masons Lodge #246 F. & A.M., Inc. Meeting: Second & fourth Thursdays at 7:30 p.m. Location: Corner of Air Acres Way & Arnold Mill Rd. Contact: (770) 993-3145 or (770) 926-0627 Woodstock Midday Optimist Club Meeting: Every Wednesday at 12 noon Location: Folks Contact: Johnny Young, (770) 345-6158 Woodstock VFW Post 10683 Meeting: Second Tuesday at 7 p.m. Location: Woodstock Senior Center Contact: Andrew Yrabedra, (404) 663-4663

Political Organizations Cherokee County Democrat Party Meeting: Third Monday at 7 p.m. Location: The Holly Springs Train Depot Contact: Judy Hamilton, (770) 380-7071, jkmailbox@yahoo.com Website: www.cherokeedems.com Cherokee County Republican Party Meeting: First Saturday at 9 a.m. Breakfast served Location: Lodge at BridgeMill, 10451 Bells Ferry Rd. Contact: (678) 809-1411 Cherokee County Republican Women Meeting: Third Wednesday, Dinner at 6 p.m., Speaker at 7 p.m. Location: Featherstone’s at BridgeMill Contact: (678) 520-2236 for reservations Website: www.ccrwcga.com may 2011

Cherokee Tea Party Patriots Meeting: Second Sunday at 4 p.m. Location: Woodstock Library, Main St. Contact: Conrad Quagliaroli (770)592-6545 Website: cherokeeteapartypatriots.org

Recreation & Hobbies Airstream Caravan Club Website: http://home.windstream.net/topofga/ Contact: Rob Kelly, (770) 516-7044 Allatoona Gold Panners Location: Creeks around Lake Allatoona Contact: Rob Kelly, (770) 516-7044 rrkelly@bellsouth.net Arts Alliance of Georgia, Inc. Meeting: Second Saturday at 9:30 a.m. Location: Woodstock Art Center 205 Arnold Mill Rd. Contacts: Madeline Hall, (678) 754-8482 woodstockartcenter@comcast.net Blue Skies Laughter Club Meeting: Every Wednesday 7 — 8 p.m. Location: Northside-Cherokee Medical Offices 100 Stoneforest Dr., 1st floor conf. room Contact: Craig Whitley (404) 520-0221 Website: www.addlaughter.com Cherokee Amateur Radio Society Meeting First Saturday at 10 a.m. Location: BridgeMill Community Center Contact: Jim Millsap, PIO, (770) 928-8590 Website: www.cherokee-ares.org/ccars Cherokee County Arts Center Meeting Fourth Friday at 10 a.m. Location: 94 North Street, Canton Contact: (770) 704-6244 Website: www.CherokeeArts.org Cherokee County Saddle Club Meeting Third Wednesday at 6:30 p.m. Location: Family Tradition, Hickory Flat Contact: Tamma Trump, (770) 655-0819 Website: www.cherokeesaddleclub.com Cherokee Fencing Club Meeting: Beginners, Wednesdays at 5 p.m.; Club, Wednesdays at 6 p.m. Location: Recreation Center, Main Street Contact: Andy McCann, (678) 494-9750 Website: www.cherokeefencingclub.com Cherokee Youth Lacrosse Association Contact: Dan Baldwin, 770-846-4843 Website: www.cherokeelacrosse.com Cherokee Music Teachers Association Contact: Melanie Williams, (770) 345-2983 Website: www.cherokeemta.org Crossfit WOD Club Meeting: Daily for the “Work Out of the Day” Contact: www.crossfitgarage.com Les Marmitons is for men interested in culinary arts. Meeting: Third Tuesday at 6:30 p.m. Location: Chattahoochee Tech Contact: Larry Lodisio, (770) 516-5197 Neighbors & Newcomers of Towne Lake Meeting: Third Tuesday Contact: Carolyn White, (770) 926-6756 Singles of Towne Lake 35+ holds monthly mixers. Contacts: Lisa, (770) 597-3430 LisaR789@bellsouth.net Wildlife Action, Inc. is a conservation organization. Meeting: Third Sunday at 1 p.m. Location: Wildlife Action, 2075 Kellogg Creek Contact: WLA Office, (800) 753-2264

Support Organizations

WoodstockSHHH-info@phydeaux.org

Adoption/Infertility Support Group Meeting: First Wednesday at 7 p.m. Location: First Baptist Church of Woodstock Contact: Cindy Braddock, (678) 445-3131

JDRF Cherokee Pickens Family Support Group for families of children with Juvenile (type 1) diabetes. Meeting: Second Saturday Location: River Green Subdivision Facilities Contact: Tom, (770) 345-4864, Tom@brushwithart.com

Alzheimer/Dementia Support Group Meeting: First Thursday at 7 p.m. Location: Atria, 1000 Professional Way Contact: Atria Woodstock, (770) 926-0119

Jewish Havurah Contact: Marcia, (770) 345-8687

Autism Parent Support Group Meeting: Second Tuesday at 6:30 p.m. Location: Cherokee County Community Service Center, BridgeMill Fire Station, Canton Contact: Sharon Jones, (770) 345-6551 Breast Cancer Support Group Meeting: First Thursday of each month Time: 10 a.m. — 12 noon Location: Northside Hospital — Cherokee, Diabetes Classroom, Educational Center Contact: (404) 843-1880 Canadian Women’s Club Contact: Lesley Frappier, cwcatlanta@yahoo.com CASA for Children Inc. provides child advocacy to abused and neglected children through trained community volunteers. Contact: Deidre Hollands, (770) 345-3274 Website: www.casaforchildren.org Cherokee Autism Spectrum Support Group A support group for families with children on the autism spectrum. Contact: Heidi at hcf67@comcast.net or Renee at mrjperrelli@yahoo.com Cherokee County Family Child Care Association Contact: Brenda Bowen, (770) 926-8055 Cherokee County Foster & Adoptive Parents Assoc. Contact: Marie Blackwell, (770) 378-0759, mblackwell@fosteroradopt.org Website: www.fosteroradopt.org C.H.O.O.S.E. of Woodstock Meeting: First Monday at 7 p.m. 24-hour information line: (770) 517-3043 Depression and Bipolar Support Group Meeting: Second Tuesday at 7 p.m. Location: 8534 Main Street, Woodstock Contact: (770) 560-7112, healthymoods@aol.com Website: www.Myspace.Com/healthymoods Emotions Anonymous Meeting: Tuesdays at 7 p.m. Location: Good Shepherd Lutheran Church Contacts: Cindy, (770) 928-6554; Sherry, (770) 926-1889 Fellowship of Companies for Christ International Meeting: Second & fourth Thursdays at 7 a.m. Location: Woodstock Family Restaurant Contact: Randall Hill, (770) 516-5887 Georgia Canines for Independence Meeting: First Monday at 6:30 p.m. Location: 6683 Bells Ferry Road, Suite H Contact: Ramona Nichols, (404) 735-3647 Grandparents Raising GRANDchildren Meeting: 2nd & 4th Tuesday at 7 p.m. (nursery available) Location: Transfiguration Catholic Church, Marietta Contact: Jeannie, (770) 919-9275 Hearing Loss Resource Group Contacts: Cathy, (678) 483-9135

may 2011 AroundAbout — TowneLaker

La Leche League of South Cherokee Meeting: First Tuesday at 10 a.m. Location: Bascomb United Methodist Church Contacts: Marguerite, (770) 926-2791 Megan, (770) 517-0191 Miracle Mothers is for women trying to conceive or adopt. Contact: Melissa, (770) 516-1078 Website: www.miraclemothers.org MOMS Club Towne Lake — 30189 Contacts: www.momsclubtownelake.com momscluboftownelake@gmail.com MOMS Club Woodstock — 30188 Contacts: momsclubwoodstockn@yahoo.com MOPS — Mothers of Preschoolers (birth — K) Meeting: Second & Fourth Tues. a.m. or Wed. p.m. Location: First Baptist Church of Woodstock Contact: (770) 926-4428, www.fbcw.org Mothers & More Meeting: First & third Tuesdays at 7 p.m. Location: Kroger at Towne Lake Contact: Michelle Wise, (770) 720-8834 Website: www.woodstockmm.com National Alliance for Mental Illness Family Support Group Meeting: Second & fourth Tuesdays, 7 — 8:30 p.m. Location: Hillside United Methodist Church Contact: Jill, (404) 394-1229 or Patrick, (678) 654-2091 Website: www.nami.org National Psoriasis Foundation Support Group Meeting: First Tuesday at 7 p.m. (call for directions) Contact: Scott Bell, (404) 218-6626 Website: http://support.psoriasis.org/woodstock NWAtlantaMommies.com Play dates, mom’s night out, and online support Meeting: Weekly Contact: Stephanie Peterson, (678) 653-1418 admin@nwatlantamommies.com Website: http://www.nwatlantamommies.com Overeaters Anonymous Meeting: Every Wednesday at 10:30 a.m. Location: H.O.W. Place, behind fire station on Bells Ferry Road at Old Bascomb Court Contact: Lois, (770) 592-6421 Spirit of Success Career Clothing Connection Provides professional business attire at no cost. Contact: (770) 956-0711. S.N.A.P. offers resources for children with special needs. Meeting: Second Monday from 10 — 11:30 a.m. Location: 100 Hickory Circle, Holly Springs Contact: (770) 720-4068 Tender Hearts Caregivers Support Group Meeting: Second & fourth Wednesday at 10 a.m. Location: Hillside United Methodist Church Contact: Robin Galloway, (770) 517-5899

Reference

Community Information Numbers & Websites Emergency — 911 • AroundAbout — TowneLaker • (770) 516-7105 Cherokee County Chamber of Commerce

(770) 345-0400

Cherokee County Government:

Animal Shelter Business Licenses Clean & Beautiful Commission Commissioners Courthouse Engineering Office (Traffic Signals) Extension Office Jury Phone Justice Center (Courts, Judges, etc.) Planning & Zoning Senior Services Tax Assessors/Evaluation

(770) 345-7270 (770) 721-7810 (770) 517-7650 (678) 493-6000 (770) 479-1953 (678) 493-6077 (770) 479-0418 (770) 479-9011 (770) 479-1953 (678) 493-6101 (770) 345-5312 (678) 493-6120

License Plates/Tags, Property Tax Woodstock Office Voter Registration

(678) 493-6400 (770) 924-4099 (770) 479-0407

(770) 345-8100 (770) 720-7712 (770) 479-1804 (770) 345-5483 (770) 720-3581 (770) 720-3610 (770) 924-0864 (770) 479-5397 (770) 591-4730

(678) 413-8400

Fire Department (District 1, Station 20)

(770) 926-7155

Georgia State Patrol

(770) 205-5400

Health Department

(770) 345-7371

Taxes:

Children/Family:

Anna Crawford Children’s Center Cherokee County Boys & Girls Club Cherokee Family Violence Center Cherokee Focus Child Support Enforcement Department of Family & Children Services The Hope Center MUST Cherokee Ministries Papa’s Pantry

Driver’s Licenses (Tues — Sat)

Hospitals: Kennestone Hospital North Fulton Hospital Northside Hospital — Cherokee

(770) 793-5000 (770) 751-2500 (770) 720-5100

Battered Women Hotline Drug Tip Line (Cherokee Co. Sheriff) Poison Control Center — Atlanta Outside Metro Atlanta Probate Court Information Line Rite-Call (Child Medical Problems) Sexual Assault & Family Violence Center

(770) 479-1703 (770) 345-7920 (404) 616-9000 (800) 222-1222 (770) 704-2610 (404) 250-KIDS (770) 428-2666

Hotlines — 24 Hour Help Lines:

Libraries: Rose Creek R.T. Jones Woodstock

Non-Emergency 911 Parks and Recreation:

www.sequoyahregionallibrary.org (770) 591-1491 (770) 479-3090 (770) 926-5859 (770) 479-3117

BridgeMill Athletic Club (770) 345-5500 Cherokee County Outdoor YMCA (770) 591-5820 Cherokee Recreation and Parks Agency (770) 924-7768 www.crpa.net Cherokee Soccer Association (770) 704-0187 www.cherokeesoccer.com Eagle Watch Golf Club (770) 591-1000 Hobgood Park (770) 924-7865 North Atlanta Soccer Assoc. www.nasa-ga.org (770) 926-4175 SCRA Park (770) 926-5672 Towne Lake Hills Golf Club (770) 592-9969 Wildlife Action, Inc. (800) 753-2264

Pets:

Animal Control (678) 493-6200 CatSnip (low cost spay & neuter) www.atlantaanimalalliance.com Cherokee County Animal Shelter — Adoptions (770) 345-7270 Cherokee County Humane Society (770) 928-5115 www.cchumanesociety.org Emergency Veterinary Clinic (770) 924-3720 Lost Pet Hotline (770) 615-3333 Pet Buddies Food Pantry www.petbuddiesfoodpantry.org SPARE (Sterilizing Pets And Reducing Euthanasia) (770) 928-5120 Second Chance Dog Rescue www.secondchancedogs.org

Post Office (Woodstock) www.usps.com

(800) 275-8777

Recycling Center

(770) 516-4195

Schools: see www.townelaker.com for complete listing Board of Education www.cherokee.k12.ga.us (770) 479-1871 Sheriff’s Department www.cherokeega-sheriff.org (678) 493-4200 Georgia Sex Offender Registry www.cherokeega-sheriff.org/offender/offender.htm Utilities:

Atlanta Gas Light Co. www.aglc.com A T & T www.bellsouth.com Cherokee Water & Sewerage Authority Comcast Cobb EMC www.cobbemc.com Georgia Power

Urgent Care Facility

Wellstar Urgent Care

Woodstock, City of:

(770) 907-4231 (404) 780-2355 (770) 479-1813 (770) 926-0334 (770) 429-2100 (888) 660-5890

(678) 494-2500

(in Towne Lake, only applies to Avonlea, Deer Run,

ParkView, Paces and certain annexed commercial parcels) www.ci.woodstock.ga.us City Hall (770) 926-8852 Fire Department (770) 926-2302 Police Information (770) 592-6025

AroundAbout — TowneLaker

may 2011

may 2011 AroundAbout — TowneLaker

Reference

Elected & Appointed Officials United States Government:

President Barack Obama (D)

1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, Washington, D.C. 20500 Website: www.whitehouse.gov e-mail: president@whitehouse.gov

Senator Saxby Chambliss (R)

Senate Russell Courtyard-2 Washington, D.C. 20510 Website: http://chambliss.senate.gov e-mail: use contact form on website

Senator Johnny Isakson (R)

1 Overton Park, Suite 970 3625 Cumberland Blvd, Atlanta, GA 30339 Website: http://isakson.senate.gov

Rep. Tom Price (R), District 6

P.O. Box 425 Roswell, GA 30077 Website: http://tom.house.gov e-mail: use contact form on website

(202) 456-1414 fax: (202) 456-2461

(202) 224-3521 fax: (202) 224-0103

(202) 224-3643 GA: (770) 661-0999 fax: (770) 661-0768 (202) 225-4501 GA: (770) 565-4990 fax: (770) 565-7570

(404) 652-7003 fax: (404) 652-7123

Senator Chip Rogers (R), District 21

(404) 463-1378 fax: (404) 657-9887

Senator Jack Murphy (R), District 27

(770) 887-1960 fax: (770) 205-0602

Rep. Charlice Byrd (R), District 20

(404) 656-0126 fax: (404) 463-2793

e-mail: jack.murphy@senate.ga.gov e-mail: charlice.byrd@house.ga.gov

Rep. Sean Jerguson (R), District 22

e-mail: sean.jerguson@house.ga.gov

(404) 656-0287

(678) 493-6270 (678) 493-6260 (678) 493-6240 (678) 493-6480 (678) 493-6490

Magistrate Court: Judge James E. Drane III (R)

(678) 493-6431

Juvenile Court: Judge John B. Sumner

(678) 493-6160 (678) 493-6250

Cherokee County Coroner Earl W. Darby

(404) 362-1600

90 North Street, Suite 310 Canton, GA 30114 Website: www.cherokeega.com

Jason Nelms (R) Post 4

Cherokee County School System

Superintendent, Dr. Frank Petruzielo

P.O. Box 769, 110 Academy St., Canton, GA 30114 Website: www.cherokee.k12.ga.us e-mail: drp@cherokee.k12.ga.us

Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office Sheriff Roger Garrison (R)

498 Chattin Drive Canton, GA 30115 Website: www.cherokeega-sheriff.org e-mail: rdgarrison@cherokeega.com

Cherokee County Tax Commissioner Sonya Little

100 North St., Canton, GA 30114 e-mail: slittle@cherokeega.com Woodstock Annex 8681 Highway 92, Woodstock, GA 30189

(770) 479-1871 fax: (770) 479-1236

(678) 493-4200 fax: (678) 493-4228

(678) 493-6400 fax: (678) 493-6420 (770) 924-4099 fax: (770) 924-9567

Board of Education: Robert Wofford (R), Post 1

(770) 704-4398, x4374

Mike Chapman (R), Post 2

(770) 704-4398, x4372

e-mail: mike.chapman@cherokee.k12.ga.us

Michael Geist (R), Post 3

(770) 928-3315

Janet Read (R), Post 4

(770) 516-1444

e-mail: janet.read@cherokee.k12.ga.us

Rick Steiner (R), Post 5 (Chair)

e-mail: rick.steiner@cherokee.k12.ga.us

Rob Usher (R), Post 6

(770) 704-4398, x4370 (770) 592-7864

Kim Cochran (R), Post 7 (Vice-Chair) e-mail: kimgcochran@gmail.com

(678) 493-6511

Cherokee County Board of Commissioners

e-mail: kbosch@cherokeega.com

e-mail: rob.usher@cherokee.k12.ga.us

Clerk of Courts: Patty Baker

90 North Street, Suite 310Canton, GA 30114

Karen Bosch (R), Post 3

e-mail: michael.geist@cherokee.k12.ga.us

State Court: Chief Judge Clyde J. Gober, Jr. Judge W. Alan Jordan

Probate Court: Judge Keith Wood (R)

Jim Hubbard (R), Post 2

e-mail: robert.wofford@cherokee.k12.ga.us

Cherokee County Courts:

Superior Court: Chief Judge Frank C. Mills, III Judge Jackson Harris Judge Ellen McElyea

e-mail: hjohnston@cherokeega.com

e-mail: cnelms2@gmail.com

Governor Nathan Deal (R)

e-mail: chip@SenatorChipRogers.com

(678) 493-6001

e-mail: jhubbard@cherokeega.com

Website: www.woodall.house.gov

State Capitol, Room 111 Atlanta, GA 30334 Website: www.gov.state.ga.us

e-mail: lbahrens@cherokeega.com

Harry Johnston (R), Post 1

Rep. Rob Woodall (R), District 7

State Government:

Commissioners: Buzz Ahrens (R), Chairperson

City of Woodstock Mayor Donnie Henriques

e-mail: dhenriques@progressiveaudiology.com

(770) 592-6017

Towne Lake Residential and Commercial Owners’ Association (678) 493-6000 fax: (678) 493-6013

(Covenant enforcement issues — all Towne Lake common areas)

Douglas Properties

117 Towne Lake Parkway, Woodstock, GA 30188

AroundAbout — TowneLaker

(770) 926-3086

may 2011

may 2011 AroundAbout — TowneLaker

It’s An Itchy Situation continued from page 66

remember that treats like rawhides, table scraps and dental chews may not be given during this time. Other causes of itchiness may be allergies due to things that your pet is breathing in such as pollen, grasses, trees, house dust, etc., or different types of skin parasites like fleas or mange mites. It is extremely common for food allergic dogs to also have these diseases at the same time. So remember, this can take some time to completely diagnose. If you have an itchy dog or cat and think that there could be a food allergy, get them checked out and see if a food allergy could be the problem. Dr. Randy Beck is the owner of South Cherokee Veterinary Hospital located at 513 Sharp Street in Woodstock.

Top Five Landscape Mistakes continued from page 60

Even if it’s an organic or natural product, you should closely follow the directions. All chemicals have the potential to cause damage to plants if applied at the wrong rate, the wrong time, or in the wrong place. Also, be sure to follow any safety precautions listed for personal protection equipment. And, be sure that your lawn type or plant is listed on the label or else there’s a good chance it could get damaged. Consider all the other alternatives to pesticides first. Please share this article with your friends and neighbors. Help change their habits by setting a good example for others to follow as a gardener who learns from experience. Perhaps the best advice is to think like a plant: If I were a tree, how would I like my feet strapped to a cage, my arms amputated, buried alive in compost, smothered in mulch, and drowning in too much water? Paul Pugliese is the Agriculture & Natural Resources Extension Agent for Cherokee County Cooperative Extension, a partnership of The University of Georgia, The U.S. Department of Agriculture, and Cherokee County. (770) 479-0418. For more information and free publications, visit our local website at www.ugaextension.com/cherokee

A TIme for Prayers continued from page 83

all.” I’m not so sure we are functioning today as one nation, but as many smaller populations with partisan interests. Pray that we might learn once more to work together in obedience to God. This list is not exhaustive, but it is a start. Check the newspaper and I’m sure you will easily find opportunities to join with others in praying on our National Day of Prayer. I know I’ll be somewhere praying in confession, humility, and seeking God to lead us in these difficult times. Dr. Doug Thrasher is the Senior Pastor at Hillside United Methodist Church. He is also a member of the AroundAbout — TowneLaker’s Community Board. You may contact him at dthrasher@hillsideumc.org. 96

AroundAbout — TowneLaker

may 2011

may 2011 AroundAbout — TowneLaker

Classifieds FOR RENT Basement Apartment for Rent, $500. Utilities included. Two minute walk to lake. Quiet, private. (770) 516-2563 or (770) 337-2170.

Free to Good Home

(these ADS ARE FREE)

help wanted

instruction/tutoring

CityWide Maintenance, located in Marietta, is hiring for Account Managers and Night Managers. Part-time. For more information, visit www. gocitywide.com/Atlanta or Scott, (770) 990-3334.

CPR Class. Medical, corporate and personal. Small or large groups. (404) 369-6285. Ask for Sherri.

Home Services Maid To Order. Affordable/reliable cleaning since 1998. Satisfaction guaranteed. Excellent references. Call Renee', (678) 986-9366. A licensed and bonded service.

FREE TO GOOD HOME Three Beautiful Cats that I must give free to a good home. They are indoor cats and have been well cared for. Please call Karen. (404) 431-6900.

Penny Clean "One Woman Show." Residential, commercial, moving and deep cleans. Reasonable rates, 25 years experience. Licensed, bonded and insured. Free estimates. (678) 494-3602. Custom Home Decor Sewing. Window treatments, pillows, bedding, etc. Call Caron, (404) 372-1706, www.caroncreates.com.

Tutor Time Special needs teacher and Regular Ed certified. Specializes in reading, math and social skills. Pre K - 6. Call Suzanne, (678) 231-8372.

Pet sitting/Services Paddington & Friends Pet Sitting. www. paddyandfriends.com. Biography, services, testimonials, thank you notes. Bringing travelers peace of mind since 2004. 15 year Money Magazine contributor. "Paddy & Friends" at Bridgemill on Facebook. BridgeMill resident. (404) 402-3533.

Dance Curtain Designs. It's all about the details. Custom window treatments and more! Call Lisa, (404) 556-7481.

GARAGE/YARD SALES Eagle Glen Community Garage Sale. Saturday, May 14, 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Community Yard Sale. Spicers Grove - Etowah Valley Estates. May 14, 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Rain or shine. Towne Lake Hills Community Garage Sale. Friday and Saturday, May 13 and 14, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. $

Local High School Student Available for lawn care and pet sitting. References available. Responsible, dependable and reasonably priced. Call Garrett Kiefer at (404) 862-1756. EP Pressure Wash. Reasonable rates, free estimates, insured. (770) 380-2325. Handyman. Wood floor, tile, painting, deck construction. Call Ferdi, (678) 913-3669 or (678) 499-5533.

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PLEASE CHECK ALL THAT APPLY

 July

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PET SITTING JoAnn's Pet Sitting. Loving, in-home pet care. Bonded and insured. (770) 617-0221. Visit www.JoAnnspetsitting.com.

Mail this Form with your Payment to: AroundAbout Local Media, Inc. 2449 Towne Lake Parkway Woodstock, GA 30189 • Fax: (770) 516-4809

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Ad Wording (please include contact info):

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City, State, Zip: Daytime Phone: AroundAbout TowneLaker Classifieds is a monthly feature. All ads are accepted and placed under categories at the discretion of the publisher. Rates are only $1 per word, per month, with a 10-word minimum. “Pet Lost and Found,” “Ride Share” and “Free to Good Home” pet placement ads are FREE.

NEXT CLASSIFIED DEADLINE IS THE 10 th FOR THE FOLLOWING MONTH'S ISSUE! 98

AroundAbout — TowneLaker

may 2011

may 2011 AroundAbout — TowneLaker

Heating & Air

Automotive C&T Automotive Service Christian Brothers Automotive My Mechanic Joe Towne Lake’s Car Wash & Detail Wood & Fullerton Goodyear

49 37 41 104 55

Retail & Boutiques Animal Atlanta Art Jewelers Justina’s Accessories Boutique La Chic Boutique Maxwell’s Cigar Bar

82 95 5 99 27

Hammock’s Heating & Air

Reliable Heating & Air

Lawn & Landscaping Calvary Landscaping & Irrigation

104

Landscape Matters

The Lawn Squad

Medical & Dental Dr. Jerry Smith Orthodontics

Plumbing & Roofing

Cleaning & Home Services Carpet Dry Tech Bam Fence Georgia Hardwood Mr. Junk Tile Masters TLC Renovations

99 31 15 65 104 15

Health & Beauty Azure Salon & Spa Big Apple Nails Bon Vivant Salon Endless Fitness Skin Essentials by Marilyn The Sundance Center

93 89 9 17 16 93

Casey’s Painting

Liberty Roofing

The Plumbing Doctor

Restaurants & Eateries Bar-B-Cutie

Cotton Mill Deli

JD’s Bar-B-Que

Kani House

Monti’s Food Express

Tuscany

Wow Cafe & Wingery

Zest & Zing

Affordable Coupon Advertising that gets customers in your door! AroundAbout TowneLaker Advertisers who can benefit from coupons:

• Auto services

• Carpet cleaning

• Restaurants

• Hair salons

• HVAC

• Jewelers

• Clothing store

• Nail salons

• Pet sitting

• Retail

• Spa services

• Medical/Dental All advertisements in the Community Clipper must be a coupon offer(s) only. This page cannot be used for regular advertising.

Total Distribution: 15,400 Over 12,500 direct mailed to homes and businesses in the Towne Lake area. To reserve your spot, call (770) 615-3322 or email patty@townelaker.com today! may 2011 AroundAbout — TowneLaker

101

Attorneys/Legal Services

Churches

Kathleen McGillick, Attorney at Law Merino & Associates, LLC (770) 874-4600

83, Back Cover

Bridgepointe Church www.bridgepointechurch.org

Dentists/Orthodontists

Landrum & Friduss, LLC (678) 384-3012 www.landrumfriduss.com

Replogle Firm, P.C., The (770) 952-5000

Robertson Law (678) 313 -0122

Automotive C&T Auto Service (770) 926-4276

Christian Brothers Automotive (770) 926-4500

My Mechanic Joe (770) 591-6640

Towne Lake’s Car Wash & Detail (770) 592-8102

104

Wood & Fullerton Goodyear (770) 928-5959

Banking/Financial Services

Fountain View Dentistry (770) 926-0000 www.fountainviewsmiles.com 1816 Eagle Drive, Bldg. 200, Suite A

Skin Essentials by Marilyn

Sundance Massage Center, The (678) 591-5066

Park Pediatric Denistry of Woodstock, LLC (770) 926-9260

S. Bruce O’Neal, DDS (770) 924-8848

Thad Baird & Tyler Baird, DMD (770) 517-0444 4595 Towne Lake Parkway, Woodstock

Williams Orthodontics (770) 592-5554

Casey’s Painting

Chris’ Painting & Home Repair Services (770) 826-7034

Hammocks Heating & Air (770) 794-0428

Handy Handyman, The (404) 316-1490

Home Utility Guardians (770) 842-6655 www.homeutilityguardians.com

JDH Electric, LLC (770) 607-6900

Liberty Roofing (678) 797-5325

Park View Montessori School (770) 926-0044

102

Georgia Hardwood (770) 374-5555

Music Together (404) 209-9953

Health & Beauty

53, 79

Bryan Plumbing Services (770) 826-5277

Towne Lake Family Chiropractic (770) 592-1877

Goddard School, The (770) 516-0880

Bam Fence (678) 525-1125

Dr. Fixit, Ph.D.

Discover Chiropractic & Rehabilitation (770) 516-9900 www.discoverrehab.com

Educational Therapy Services (770) 579-1743

Home Improvement/Repair & Service Advanced Stucco Repair Inc. (770) 592-1597

Access Education Towne Lake Driving School (678) 494-2200

Back Cover

1st Choice Chiropractic (770) 924-6757, (678) 438-9355 1000 Woodstock Parkway

Salon & Spa Venessa (770) 591-2079

Towne Lake Mortgage (770-591-8277

Chiropractors

Jyl Craven Hair Colour Studio (770) 345-9411

Inside Back

Dr. Jerry Smith, Orthodontist (678) 905-0300

First Cherokee State Bank www.2gochecking.com

Carpet Dry-Tech (678) 368-5991

Bon Vivant Salon (770) 516-9100 www.bonvivantsalon.com 40

American Heritage Academy (770) 926-7779 www.ahacademy.com

Carpet & Upholstery Cleaners

Canton Marketplace Dentistry (678) 880-0087

Education/Instruction/Counseling

Citadel Professional Services, LLC 39 (770) 952-6707 225 Town Park Drive, Suite 440, Kennesaw

Big Apple Nail & Spa (770) 516-9996

Art Hair Salon & Spa (770) 998-5648

Azure Salon & Spa (770) 345-8280

AroundAbout — TowneLaker

Mosquito Authority, The (678) 294-7597

Mr. Junk

65 may 2011

Nelson Painting& Home Improvements (678) 283-8171

Plumbing Doctor, The (770) 516-9000

Precision Painting (678) 234-9668

Pro Wash Solutions (404) 551-3053

Physicians and Medical Services Cherokee Internal Medicine (678) 238-0301

52, 93 54

John Lutz, PhD

Northside Hospital – Cherokee (770) 720-5100 201 Hospital Road, Canton www.northside.com

Northside Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine (770) 928-0016

OrthoSport Physical Therapy (770) 591-9111 www.ospthome.com

Plastic Surgery Center of the South (770) 421-1242 www.plasticsurgerycenterofthesouth.net

Progressive Audiology Center Inc. (770) 592-4744, (706) 253-7244 95

104

Roswell Woodstock Plumbing (770) 663-0600

Southern Roofing Solutions (770) 899-0003

Tile Masters (404) 368-3067

104

TLC Renovations (678) 524-6676

Wood Floors Are Us (678) 977-1327 Zachos Construction, Inc. (770) 365-7276

39 21

Lawn Maintenance/Landscaping

Calvary Landscaping & Irrigation (770) 720-1727

Dermatology Associates of Atlanta Ashley Curtis, M.D. (404) 955-8931 www.dermatlanta.com

Reliable Heating & Air (770) 594-9969 www.reliableair.com

Between The Pines (770) 591-8863

South Cherokee Veterinary Hospital (770) 924-6746

Featherstone’s Grille at Towne Lake Hills (770) 926-6097

J.D.’s Bar-B-Que (678) 445-7730

Kani House (770) 592-5264 www.kanihouse.com

Maxwell’s Cigar Bar (770) 627-2006

Monti’s Food Express (678) 809-4333

Tuscany (678) 453-0888

Rausch Family Practice (678) 384-7305

Zest & Zing (770) 591-4000

Village Podiatry Centers (770) 928-9263 www.vpcenters.com

WOW Cafe & Wingery (770) 926-9225

Pet/Veterinarian Services & Supplies

1, 97

Real estate & related services Keller Williams, Kurt & Sheila Johnson (404) 954-2486 www.kurtandsheila.com Lake Nantahala (828) 321-3101 www.visitlakesend.com

Services/Retailers Miscellaneous

WellStar Medical Group Kennestone OB/GYN 54 Dr. Harold McLendon (678) 445-5941 www.kennestoneobgyn.org

Daugherty Photography (770) 329-5807 www.skipdaughertyphotography.com

Woodstock Wolverines www.woodstockwolverinesfootball.com

Cotton Mill Deli (770) 591-2227

Lawn Squad, The (770) 591-4745

Photographer

Wellstar (770) 956-7827 www.wellstar.org

Hester Photography (770) 310-4259

Tenniz Trendz (678) 772-4212

Bar-B-Cutie (770) 924-9491

Towne Lake Eye Associates (770) 926-2858

Restaurants/Food Services

Landscape Matters (770) 403-5813

Optometrist/Eyewear

Steps Dance Center (770) 516-1363

Back Cover

Inside Front

A Home Away From Home

Animal Atlanta (770) 591-0007

Animal Hospital at Towne Lake (770) 591-9500

Dancentre South (770) 516-7229

Cat Clinic of Woodstock (770) 780-2800

Endless Fitness Center (678) 402-6755

Cherokee County Animal Shelter (770) 345-7270 www.petfinder.com/shelters/GA460.html 1015 Univeter Road, Canton

Etowah Eagles Basketball www.etowaheagles.com

Etowah Eagles Football www.etowaheaglesfootball.com

Reflection - Lake Nantahala Inside Front www.reflectionlakenantahala.com

Recreation and Fitness

may 2011 AroundAbout — TowneLaker

Art Jewelers (770) 924-3133

Canton Festival of the Arts (770) 704-6244

Critter Catchers

Econo Rides (678) 218-7170

FoxTale Book Shoppe (770) 516-9989 www.foxtalebookshoppe.com

Georgia Patio (770) 751-5800 www.georgiapatio.com

Justina’s Accessories Boutique (678) 494-6331

La Chic Boutique (678) 402-5788

Moms’ Helping Hand (770) 345-7134

Towne Lake Arts Center (678) 494-4251 www.tlaclive.org

Towne Lake Insurance (678) 494-8038

Towne Lake Tech/webkudzu.com

Wildlife Sanctuary, The

Woodstock Furniture Outlet

103

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may 2011