1 15 sixes living webfinal by Aroundabout Local Media, Inc.

SIXES LIVING | January 2015

January 2015

Volume 2, Issue 10

14 A Haven for Children

New facility offers a safe place for foster kids, families.

15 Senior Sense

Accentuating the positives of growing older.

16 Cherokee High Rodeo

Rodeo team offers a unique opportunity for students.

18 The World of Nonprofits

New monthly features brings updates, opportunities.

21 A Warm Place to Sleep

Canton church opens its doors to the homeless.

29 Getting Rid of Gluten

Simple tips for going gluten-free.

48 Senior Bowl

Photo highlights of Cherokee Countyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s newest tradition.

18 In Every Issue

Contributing Writers Chantel Adams Don Akridge Hannah Bearden Kaley Bennett Kyle Bennett Meghan Griffin G. Lora Grooms Delia Halverson Dr. Jan Henriques Deidre Hollands Jason Hunter Leisa Jennings Kurt & Sheila Johnson Dr. Travis Jones Mark Kissel

39 38 16 16 57 25 58 15 44 14 52 43 30 40 47

Gary Lamb Ann Litrel Dr. Mike Litrel Rob Macmillan Rev. Joe McKechnie Dr. Scott Merritt Lisa Randall Beth Ray Susan Schulz Jessica Leigh Smith Nekeidra Taylor Jodi Tiberio Tim Timmons Scot Turner

21 34 28 31 54 42 23 20 22 29 46 26 35 13

Around Sixes

Community News

Birthdays

Everyday Angels

Community Calendar

School News

Faith

Parking Map

Woodstock Dining Guide 59 Recent Home Sales

Greenprints Trail Map

Classifieds

wwwSixesLivingMagazine.com

36 & 37 On the Cover Reel Seafood. Chef/owner David Silverman. Photo by Kim Bates. 2

SIXES LIVING | January 2015

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Patty Ponder, ALM President and Marketing & Advertising Sales. Contact her at (770) 615-3322 or Patty@aroundaboutmagazines.com.

SIXES LIVING | January 2015

Community

AROUND SIXES The People, The Places and The Pleasures that make Sixes/Holly Springs What’s New? Pharmacist Amanda Stankiewicz has joined the staff of Cherokee Custom Scripts in Holly Springs. Amanda will consult with patients about hormone replacement therapy. www.cherokeecustomrx.com. Candi Hannigan is the executive editor of Around Woodstock, TowneLaker and Sixes Living magazines. She has lived in Cherokee County for 25 years. Send your comments or questions to candi@ aroundaboutmagazines. com

ALDI has opened at 553 Riverstone Parkway in Canton. Hours are 9 a.m.-8 p.m. Monday-Saturday, 10 a.m.- 7 p.m. Sunday. The store was built with environmentally-friendly building materials, high ceilings and natural lighting and boasts prices that are 50 percent less than traditional supermarkets. www.aldi.com.

Bryanna Rusher has joined the Jan Rooney State Farm Agency as an associate agent specializing in business and personal lines. The agency is in Canton at 7768 Cumming Hwy., Suite 400. Affordable Vet Center has opened at 6422 Bells Ferry Road in the Streetside at Towne Lake shopping center. The center is a wellness clinic that offers vaccines, does dental work and treats skin, eye and ear issues. Hours are 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday and Friday, 10 a.m.-7 p.m. Wednesday and 8:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Saturday. (678) 503-2009. www.affordablevetcenter.com.

What’s Coming? An 18-pump RaceTrac gas station and convenience store will be built at the corner of Rope Mill Road and Ridgewalk Parkway, in front of The Outlet Shoppes at Atlanta. There’s no word about when it will be completed. Construction is underway on Salt Factory Pub at 8690 Main St. in Woodstock An opening date hasn’t been determined for this location, Salt’s third in the metro area. The menu will include shepherd’s pie, pizzas, sandwiches and salads, among other Salt favorites.

Cherokee Chamber Ribbon Cuttings Halo Restorations & Construction, 2400 Riverstone Blvd., #5382, Canton 30114, a full home remodeling service. www.halorestorations.com. Provident Village @ Canton off Reinhardt Parkway opened. Nationwide Insurance – The Mayo Agency, LLC, 157 Reinhardt College Pkwy., Suite 300, Canton. www.nwagent.com/james_mayo. U.S. Renal Care, 3753 Marietta Hwy., Suite 100, Canton. www.usrenalcare.com. Canton Heights Dental, 327 Heights Place, Canton. (770) 479-1444. Okinawa Steak & Sushi, 1359 Riverstone Pkwy., Suite 120, Canton. (770) 345-1182. Anchored Films, 956 Idlewood Dr., Canton. (770) 655-7116.

COURTESY GATE 3 DESIGN, INC.

The walls of the new Applebee’s at The Outlet Shoppes at Atlanta are covered with individual framed photos, taken by Woodstock photographer Darleen Prem, and several large murals depicting scenes in Cherokee County. The design company worked closely with local artists to compile the images that make up the murals. The largest - called the Community Mural, below — measures 268” by 80” and shows snippets of life from Holly Springs to Woodstock. Local residents may want to take a closer look and see if they’re part of these artistic collections.

Gary Moore is the new executive director of the Greenprints Alliance, appointed in December to succeed Jennifer Stockton, who served as the group’s volunteer director for the last three years. The Foundation Partnership with Premier Energy, completed in 2014, provided funding for the position.

SIXES LIVING | January 2015

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Community Board

Sixes Living Publisher AroundAbout Local Media, Inc.

The Sixes Living Community Board consists of well-respected community leaders who assist us as contributors to the magazine, judges for the annual Trailblazer award and advisors who offer valuable feedback. Pat Gold moved to Canton 33 years ago when she married Dr. Homer (Nugget) Gold. After 18 years with Delta Airlines and another 12 working for the Cherokee County School District, Pat began volunteering. She serves on the boards of the Cherokee County Arts Center, the Canton Main Street Program, Canton Tourism, Inc., and chairs the Canton Planning Commission. Pat and her husband have four children and four grandchildren. Pharmacist Dale Coker owns Cherokee Custom Script Pharmacy in Holly Springs and lives in Woodstock with wife Susan. The University of Georgia graduate is vice president of the International Academy of Compounding Pharmacists. His community involvement has included Cherokee County Habitat for Humanity, youth league coaching and church leadership. Dale’s latest achievement is co-inventing the patented TopiCLICK, a topical metered dosing device. Cindy Crews is a longtime Cherokee County educator. She joined the Sixes community as assistant principal of Sixes Elementary School in 2011 and is now principal. Cindy and her husband, Andy, have lived in Woodstock for 20 years, and they have two young adult daughters. Her motto: Children are the future of the human race; teach them well. Dr. Joe McKechnie senior pastor of Sixes United Methodist Church, grew up in Cobb County. After earning a degree in Broadcast Journalism from the University of Georgia, Joe spent six years as a television sportscaster. He has a master’s degree from Asbury Theological Seminary and a doctorate of ministry from Southern Methodist University. Joe and wife Catherine have two children, David and Grace Ann. Sonia Carruthers is the executive director and CEO of Cherokee FOCUS and the Cherokee Youth Works program, based in Holly Springs. The Cherokee County native grew up in Canton and has lived in Woodstock with her son and daughter for the past 17 years. She is very active in the community and currently serves with local and regional organizations to strengthen families and children. Chantel Adams is founder of The Princess Generation, an organization raising a generation of young women focused on serving others. Chantel, who has a biology degree from the University of Evansville, serves on Highland Rivers Health community service board and volunteers with the Cherokee County Juvenile Court. She and husband Gavin have lived in Canton for five years and have four children. 6

SIXES LIVING | January 2015

ALM President, Marketing & Advertising Sales Patty Ponder Patty@AroundAboutMagazines.com (770) 615-3322 Marketing Support Associate Christie Deese Christie@AroundAboutMagazines.com (770) 615-3324 Executive Editor Candi Hannigan Candi@AroundAboutMagazines.com (770) 615-3309 Assistant Editor Jackie Loudin Jackie@AroundAboutMagazines.com (770) 615-3318 Art Director Michelle McCulloch Michelle@AroundAboutMagazines.com (770) 615-3307 Graphic Designer Laura Latchford Laura@AroundAboutMagazines.com Sixes Living, a publication of AroundAbout Local Media, Inc., is a monthly magazine created to build a sense of community and pride in the Sixes, Holly Springs and Hickory Flat areas by sharing positive stories and timely information. A total of 16,250 free copies are distributed monthly; 14,890 are mailed to homes and businesses, with an additional 1,360 placed in racks around the community. Many readers catch the latest edition online each month. Sixes Living welcomes your comments, stories and advertisements. The deadline is the 10th of each month. Yearly subscriptions are available for $24. Send a check or money order to the address below. The viewpoints of the advertisers, columnists and submissions are not necessarily those of the editor or publisher and the publisher makes no claims about the validity of any charitable organizations mentioned. Sixes Living 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 2015. Sixes Living

PMB 380 1025 Rose Creek Dr., Ste. 620, Woodstock, GA 30189

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SIXES LIVING | January 2015

Community

YOUR LOCAL NEWS Service League Awards Grants Thanks to a successful Riverfest event last year, and several other profitable fundraisers, the Service League of Cherokee County was able to increase the amount given to local charities by $20,000. Initially the group committed to giving $30,000 to the Community Impact Grant Program, but upped the total to $50,000. Grant recipients are Bethesda Community Clinic, Inc., Cherokee High School CHOICE Program, Cherokee Thanksgiving Ministry, The Children’s Haven, Inc., Goshen Valley Foundation, House of Hope, Living Bread Ministries, Inc. and Woodstock Elementary School. Established in 1935, the Service League of Cherokee County is a volunteer group of 100 women who work yearAccepting the grants are, front row, from left: Sonya Breaux and Mary round, collectively Minicucci from Woodstock Elementary School, Sherrie Poirrier from volunteering more Living Bread Ministries, Inc., Deidre Hollands from The Children’s Haven, Inc., Wendy Graham from House of Hope, Debra Murdoch than 10,000 hours from Cherokee High School CHOICE Program and Delane Stevens per year to raise from the Service League of Cherokee County. Back row, from left: Chris Jackson, Jessica Ruiz and William Penniman from Woodstock funds for local needy Elementary School, Sharon McClurd from Living Bread Ministries, Inc., children. www. Zach Blend from Goshen Valley Foundation and Banks Brazell from serviceleague.net. Bethesda Community Clinic, Inc.

New Playground Open to Public The old playground at the Cherokee Recreation and Parks Center in Woodstock has been replaced as part of a project that renovated parts of the JJ Biello Park and the recreation center. Improvements include updating the playground and adding a fence around it for increased safety during the summer camp program, a new water fountain, new restrooms inside and outside the center and renovations to the existing pavilion. For details about the facility, call (770) 924-7768 or visit www.crpa. net.

A new fence surrounds the playground. 8

SIXES LIVING | January 2015

Donate a Tote for a Tot On Jan. 16, Georgia Cancer Specialists (GCS) and Northside Hospital will collect backpacks and kid-sized suitcases for foster children in Georgia as part of the 13th annual Totes 2 Tots suitcase drive. Approximately 8,500 children, from infants to teenagers, are currently in the foster care system in Georgia. Many of these children shuffle their belongings in garbage bags when they are removed from their homes. Since Totes 2 Tots was first launched in 2003, the annual volunteer event has collected and distributed more than 37,000 bags. Donations of new or nearly new backpacks and suitcases will be accepted between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. at GCS offices across Georgia, including the Canton location at 228 Riverstone Drive. GCS partners with the Georgia Division of Family and Children Services (DFCS) to distribute the bags in the counties in which they’re collected. For more info, visit www.gacancer.com, find Totes 2 Tots on Facebook, or call (877) 716CARE (2273).

County Leaders Part of Graduating Class Mitzi Saxon, Woodstock Downtown Program Manager, and Meghan Griffin, Canton Main Street Director, recently graduated from the 2014 Region 3 multi-day training program, held by the Board of the Georgia Academy for Economic Development. Participants represented a number of professional and Graduates include (from left) Georgia EMC’s Carrie Barnes, Woodstock Downtown Program Manager Mitzi Saxon, nonprofessional economic Canton Main Street Manager Meghan Griffin, and Johnna development fields, including Robinson and Steve Foster of Georgia Power. elected officials, public servants, business leaders, educators, and social service providers from 10 counties in metro Atlanta. The academy provided each graduate an opportunity to gain a unique understanding of the complexities of economic and community development on the local, regional, and state levels. “One of the goals for the multi-day regional Academies is to encourage multicounty cooperation,” says Corinne Thornton, director of the Georgia Academy for Economic Development. “Many times the participants discover the issues facing their community are the same as those facing other communities in their region, and can then combine limited resources to address the issue.” The next Region 3 Georgia Academy for Economic Development will begin in August 2015. For more information on this, please contact Corinne Thornton at (706) 340-6461 or by email at corinne.thornton@dca.ga.gov.

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SIXES LIVING | January 2015

Community

YOUR LOCAL NEWS Local Santa Gets International Fame Ball Ground resident Tim Cavender, who has portrayed Santa Claus for more than 40 years, will be inducted into the International Santa Claus Hall of Fame in April. Cavender is one of six in the world who will be inducted in 2015. The ceremony will be held at the Charles W. Howard Legendary Santa Claus Conference in Albion, NY. The hall of fame preserves the historical documentation of the many men Pam and Tim Cavender with Gov. Nathan and Sandra Deal. and women who have contributed to the legend of Santa Claus, and is dedicated to Saint Nicholas of Myra, the fourth century bishop known for his great deeds of generosity. He is the basis for the Santa Claus Legend. Cavender and his wife Pam, who portrays Mrs. Claus, have appeared at the Georgia Governor’s mansion for the past six years during the lighting of the mansion’s Christmas tree. According to Joy Forth, the mansion’s executive director, said: “He (Tim) brings so much joy and delight to the thousands of children and their families. Tim looks just like the traditional Santa Claus and is so perfect to make photographs with the visitors to the Governor’s Mansion.” Tim and Pam have used their Christmas personalities to assist many charities including Toys for Tots, the American Cancer Society’s Love Lights a Tree and WXIA’s (Channel 11) annual Can-A Thon. They have also donated their time to visit patients at the Grady Hospital Burn Center. One of the highlights of Tim’s career occurred in 2009. He and Mrs. Claus were able to make a little girl’s special Christmas wish come true. While visiting Santa in Ball Ground, she asked Santa to bring daddy, who was a soldier, home from Afghanistan. A few days later, Santa and Mrs. Claus delivered the dad to his little girl. The story was later picked up by CNN and was called “the story of the day.”

Historical Society Earns Award The governor-appointed Georgia Historical Records Advisory Council (GHRAC) recently honored the Cherokee County Historical Society and 14 other individuals and projects. The Cherokee County Historical Society was chosen to receive the Award for Excellence in Documenting Georgia’s History for The Historical Society’s Lisa the documentation and education Tressler and Stefanie Joyner effort titled “Unearthing the Past: with their awards. Archaeology in Cherokee County.” The project was designed to meet four recognized needs: to educate the general public on the archaeological sites in the county, the various cultures associated with those sites, the archaeological surveys performed in the county, and to document and display privately held artifacts in a secure manner. Members of the Cherokee historical society have announced the acquisition of the Lamar and Mary Fowler Holcomb Native American collection, which contains a significant number of artifacts from the Long Swamp archaeology site in Ball Ground. Long Swamp’s peak Native American occupation occurred from A.D. 1100- 1200, when the site included a mound, palisade wall and village. 10

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Trail Run Registrations Open Registration is open for the 2015 Trail Run Series, which includes a lengthened series finale. Both of the Rope Mill courses will utilize new trails that are under construction on the north side of Little River. • Mar. 7: Assault on Garland Mountain, a four-mile and nine-mile trail run. • April 18: Battle of Allatoona Creek, a four-mile and 10-mile trail run. • May 23: Sutallee Trace Trail Challenge, a 4 ½ and 10-mile trail run. • June 13: Rope Mill Half Marathon, a 10K and 13.1-mile trail run. Additional trail runs that aren’t part of the series include the April 11 Blankets Creek Spring Sports Festival - Dirty Duathlon and 5 Mile Trail Run, the Aug. 8 6-Hour Race to Sunset at Blankets Creek, and the Oct. 24 Rope Mill Dirty Duathlon and 5K Trail Run. For more details and to register, visit www.mountaingoatadventures.com.

Special Olympics Gets a Special Donation The BridgeMill Men’s Golf Association donated $20,200 to the Cherokee County Special Olympics program, money raised from a recent golf tournament. The funds will be used by the Cherokee County Special Olympics to provide year-round sport opportunities for community members with intellectual disabilities in Cherokee County. Adaptive physical education teachers Amy Aenchbacher and Dave Martinez accepted the contribution.

Adaptive PE Teachers Amy Aenchbacher and Dave Martinez, front row third from left, accept a donation for the Cherokee County Special Olympics from the BridgeMill Men’s Golf Association.

NORTHSIDE HOSPITAL-CHEROKEE IS WORKING TO KEEP CHEROKEE GREAT. BECAUSE, IT’S OUR HOME,TOO. Northside Hospital-Cherokee has served the residents of this county for many years. And our commitment to bring you the very best possible care goes well beyond our walls.

BEING NEIGHBORS Most of the people who work at Northside Hospital-Cherokee live in Cherokee. They’re not just your doctors or nurses, they’re your neighbors.

INVESTING

VOLUNTEERING

We’ve invested more than $100 million to bring the best the medical world has to offer right here to Cherokee.

Our employees and physicians have volunteered more than 10,000 hours to Cherokee County schools and organizations.

CONTRIBUTING We contribute to Cherokee County schools and support local venues and community activity centers.

Cherokee’s community hospital. Northside.com SIXES LIVING | January 2015

Community

Happy Birthday!

Meghan Farmer Age 8 on Jan. 8 You are a beautiful girl with a heart of gold. We love you so much! Happy birthday! Love, Mom, Dad and Zachary

Claire Evangeline Hypes Age 4 on Jan. 17 Wishing you a happy birthday! Love, Dad, Mom, Cierra and Colton

Lexie-Anne Age 12 on Jan. 8 Happy birthday to an amazing young lady! Love always, Mommy and Daddy

Cierra Hypes Turned 13 on Dec. 27 Happy Birthday! Love, Dad, Mom, Colton and Claire

Sophia Glover Age 2 on Jan. 1 Happy Birthday Sophia! You have brought us so much happiness! Love, Mommy, Daddy, Jocelyn, Madelyn and Hailey

Walker Collins Smith Age 1 on Jan. 17 Happy birthday Walker Man! We love you, Daddy, Mommy and Grayson

Celebrations! Announcements are free! E-mail to: Candi@ AroundAbout Magazines.com February deadline is Jan. 15. Evelyn Len Andretta Born Dec. 8, 2014 8 pounds, 5 ounces and 20 inches long Parents: Daniel & Autumn Siblings: Camryn & Ashlyn

SIXES LIVING | January 2015

Happy Anniversary to Steven and Katrina. One year and still madly in love!

Survey Answers Give Insight to Legislators BY SCOT TURNER

Recently, the Cherokee County Chamber of Commerce completed a survey of its members and presented the results to the Cherokee County legislative delegation. Four of the questions on the survey were submitted by members of the delegation and had 223 respondents. The results of the survey have provided some keen insight into what issues Scot Turner, an IT are important to our local business professional, lives in community. the Sixes community with his wife and two The first question addressed term children and is the State limits and was phrased in this manner: House Representative for District 21. You “Would you support or oppose can reach him on his limiting the terms of members of cell phone at (678) 576-2644 or follow the Georgia General Assembly (state him on Facebook at representatives and state senators)?” www.facebook.com/ turnerforhouse. Of those who answered the question, 80.7 percent support term limits. Rep. Michael Caldwell has filed a resolution recommending term limits again this year, HR2, and it is gaining some traction with more than 10 co-sponsors committed to signing on to the effort. I also support this effort, and will be a co-sponsor. The next question regarded tax reform. “Would you support a reduction in Georgia’s income tax rate (6 percent) in exchange for a slightly higher sales tax rate, as long as it would be revenue neutral or an overall tax cut?” Of those surveyed, 76.2 percent supported this idea. There will be an effort to move toward a consumption-based tax and away from income taxes at the state level in this legislative session. The third question regarded licensing: “Currently some business (example: CPA) and professional (example:

cosmetologist) licenses renew annually while others are on a two-year renewal cycle. Would you support moving all licenses to a two-year cycle while a study is conducted to evaluate moving them all to a four-year renewal period?” The response was 87.8 percent in favor of this reform. Licensing is a big burden on the state and our business owners. Little benefit is gained by making a hair stylist renew a license every year. Moving that burden out on a timeline would reduce the workload on government agencies, saving tax dollars while balancing the public interest. The final question: “Which statute that places a regulatory burden on your organization would you most like to eliminate and why?” The responses to this open-ended question were enlightening and diverse. Seventy-six people responded and no answers were identical. Yet there were some themes that were repeated throughout the responses. Concerns over health care, regulations from the state Environmental Protection Division, Department of Community Affairs and the Department of Revenue dominated the answers to this question. It is clear to me from this survey that there is much work to be done to continue to remove government as a barrier to business. I would like to thank the Cherokee County Chamber of Commerce for supplying the delegation with this data. It will be a valuable tool to help us continue to shrink the size, scope and intrusiveness of government.

“It is clear to me from this survey that there is much work to be done to continue to remove government as a barrier to business.”

SIXES LIVING | January 2015

Community

New Children’s Haven a Safe Place for Foster Kids BY DEIDRE HOLLANDS/EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE CHILDREN’S HAVEN, INC.

The old state patrol building across from Cherokee High School has been transformed to become The Children’s Haven, a place where the health and happiness of children impacted by abuse and neglect can be promoted. The safe, child-friendly facility will offer foster youth the opportunities and support they need to fully realize their potential, pursue their dreams and become productive members of our community. Kids enter foster care through no fault of their own. All have experienced abuse and/or neglect due to a crisis of parenting. Family stress factors such as poverty, substance abuse, incarceration, mental illness and homelessness have forced the state to intervene in the lives of families to protect children from abusive and neglectful situations. In Cherokee County, hundreds of kids are touched every day by the emotional suffering caused by abuse, neglect and placement in the foster care system. Kids in foster care are just like any other child you know. They have the same needs, dreams, and unique potential as all children, and seek the same opportunities that all kids equally deserve to build a bright and promising future, and to be responsible and contributing members of their community. But life in foster care can be extraordinarily challenging and disruptive for kids and teens, emotionally and developmentally. Separated from their family, foster youth face tremendous obstacles due to changes in home placements and caregivers, school transitions, lack of basic services and emotional turmoil. The impact can be profound, and it can last a lifetime, unless we intervene. The mission of The Children’s Haven is to give kids the opportunity to succeed by making sure that every child has access to the following programs, integrated under one roof.

Foster Kids in Cherokee County On any given day there are approximately 390 children in foster care in Cherokee County. Region 3 (Bartow, Cherokee, Floyd, Polk, Haralson, Paulding and Douglas Counties) leads the state in the highest number of children in foster care. Of all these counties, Cherokee County has the largest number of kids in care. 14

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• Safety. Supervised visitation offers a safe, comfortable environment for a child to visit with parents, siblings and extended family while they are separated by child welfare involvement. This allows for bonded attachments to be kept intact while maintaining the safety and well-being of the child. • Advocacy. Focused court appointed child advocacy so that no child lingers in the foster care system without the security of a safe, nurturing and permanent family. Advocates work with parents to access services they need to stabilize their lives and improve their parenting skills so that families can be reunited. But when reunification is not appropriate, advocates help to quickly find relatives or adoptive parents who can provide a permanent and stable home. • Support. Children need guidance and compassion to prevent trauma and loss from defining their lives through later destructive choices. Here a child’s social, emotional and educational health is supported through goal-setting for education and tutoring, mentoring to focus on character development and esteem building, grief support groups and an emergency supply closet filled with essentials. The Children’s Haven will provide children with the support every young person deserves, no matter their circumstances. For more information, visit www.cherokeechildrenshaven.org. Donations can be mailed to 100 North St., Ste G22, Canton, GA 30114.

The exterior of the new facility (top), which includes a covered patio area (above) for outdoor gatherings.

Senior Sense: Dwelling on the Positives BY DELIA HALVERSON

This column may be titled Senior Sense, but those who aren’t seniors can find some interest in it too. Since this is a new column, I’ll introduce myself. I’ve written columns in two other communities where I’ve lived, and I’m excited to meet you through this magazine. Yes, with a husband who was employed by the U.S. Forest Service and a father who was a Methodist pastor, I’ve had my share of moves. When moving to a new place, I Delia has written more than 25 books, usually hit the ground running. In 2002 leads workshops and when we moved here, that was my plan. has trained teams in the Congo and However, our single daughter decided to Mozambique. She and adopt a child and I told her I would take her husband have lived in eight states, but now care of the baby when she taught. The reside in Woodstock, adoption turned out to bring us four-dayand have a daughter, son, daughter-in-law old twins, double blessings in our lives. and four grandchildren Consequently, most of my running was living in Cherokee County. with two sweet girls. The twins have kept me young, but I guess I have to admit that I’m a senior now. I remember that when I had my 50th birthday, I told everyone that I was middle age. If I was to live to 100, then 50 had to be middle age. Of course I was

happy to accept the price of a senior coffee from McDonald’s! My stepmother used to revel in being a senior. She said that she could blame forgetfulness on her senior-hood. I find that I’m blaming falling flat on my face on my senior-hood - literally falling flat on my face. I’ve been figuratively falling flat on my face most of my life! Last month I had my second cataract surgery, and I told my doctor that he gave me wrinkles overnight. When I looked in the mirror, I suddenly saw wrinkles in my face that hadn’t been there the night before. But there is an advantage to the surgery too. The people on television no longer have four eyes. We are fortunate in this area. We have doctors and hospitals nearby. Most of my doctors are within 15 minutes of my home, and all I have to do is hop on the interstate and be at a hospital in 25 minutes. For 13 years, I lived in the Dakotas. One town had a population of 92, and we traveled 75 miles of gravel road to the doctor and hospital. The other two towns had a bustling population of 2,000. One had a doctor when we moved there, but he retired, and although we had a small hospital, we had trouble getting a doctor to move to our town. They must have heard that we wore our other doctor out. Yes, senior-hood has its faults and advantages. Personally, I’d rather dwell on the advantages. We’ll see what next month’s advantages come to be.

SIXES LIVING | January 2015

Feature

Cherokee High Embraces Rodeo Team BY KALEY BENNETT AND HANNAH BEARDEN

We have several interesting things going on at Cherokee High School, but rodeo team is our favorite. This is Cherokee’s third year of having a rodeo team. In 2011, a group of bull riders at Cherokee High School began traveling together from rodeo to rodeo, competing in the Georgia High School Rodeo Association (GHSRA). Before long, a barrel racer and a steer wrestler who were part of the Cherokee’s FFA club showed an interest and —Cherokee Rodeo was born. Mrs. Debra Murdock, Cherokee High principal, loved the idea of another outlet of acceptance and an additional academic incentive. Of the original group, there are two seniors and two juniors on the team. The senior bull riders are Clay Pannell and Laine McCoy, and the junior bull riders are Bailey Smith and Macade Calliouet. Of the original group in 2011, both Tyler Leamer (steer wrestling) and Clay Pannell (bull riding) were in the top four in the state to compete in the high school national competition. Now graduated, Tyler received college scholarships totaling $1,500 from rodeo. In 2012, Matthew Bearden (bull riding) qualified for the national finals and won the first round, eventually placing eighth in the nation overall. Matt has also graduated and continues to ride professionally.

The rodeo team hosted its first rodeo this year.

The boys of Cherokee Rodeo: steer wrestler Lucas Jones, bull riders Bailey Smith, Jacob Little, Laine McCoy, Clay Pannell and Macade Calliouet, and Connor Bourn in team roping. 16

SIXES LIVING | January 2015

Unlike most high school athletic teams, our team is not able to practice together. Because we don’t all participate in the same rodeo events, we are required to practice on our own; however, we still have the same unity as every other team. At least once a month our team loads trailers and makes a trip to the rodeo as a group. Rodeos are not like typical sports that take only a couple of hours to complete. It typically takes an entire day to finish one round of a rodeo. Each member spends the entire day cheering on the other teammates in their various events. When the team first started, we had only five members. No one thought our team would grow due to the lack of knowledge about rodeos, but the passion for it quickly started to surface. As time has gone on, our team has grown to 11 Cherokee High students, and four others who have shown an interest in the sport on our team. This makes us the largest school rodeo team in GHSRA. Not only are we the largest team, but we also have the most supportive teammates and families in the entire rodeo association. When one of our teammates is competing, the support heard at the rodeo is deafening. Even though our team varies in ages and interests, we have all bonded into more of a family than friends. This is one of the great things about rodeo; everyone travels together and spends the entire weekend supporting and enjoying the presence of the other members. Along with the growth, this year has been a banner year for Cherokee Rodeo Team. We have our first national Cinch Team member, Clay Pannell. He will represent Cherokee Rodeo, Cherokee High School, GHSRA and the state of Georgia for the Cinch Team. Only one student per state, per event, is chosen for this honor. We also hosted our first high school rodeo this year at Bartow County Saddle Club. These proceeds are used to support the athletes of Cherokee Rodeo. According to GHSRA.com, five Cherokee Rodeo Team members are ranked among the top 20 in the state, qualifying them for state finals in May. Ranked athletes are Clay Pannell, who is tied for first in the state for bull riding; Cherokee junior Lucas Jones, who is in first place in steer wrestling; Macade Calliouet, who is in third place in bull riding; junior Lexi Ragsdale, who is 13th in barrel racing; and junior Claire Alexander, who is ranked 20th in barrel racing. We also have several who are very close to top 20 , including sophomore Connor Bourn, who is ranked 25th in team-roping. If our teammates make the top four, they will qualify for nationals. Some people think having a high school rodeo team is strange, but to us it has been one of the greatest things to happen to our school and ourselves. After talking to several of the other members, they all said the same thing, “Without the rodeo team, I would have just been another high school kid who didn’t participate in anything else.” This gives us the opportunity to show off our talents and participate in what we love. We are truly blessed to be part of such an amazing sport and hope to see it grow even further. Junior Kaley Bennett is a barrel racer and Hannah Bearden is a break-away roper with Cherokee High School’s rodeo team.

Original bull riders Clay Pannell, Laine McCoy and Bailey Smith.

Steer wrestler Lucas Jones.

Clay Pannell is first in the state at press time.

Hannah Bearden and Kaley Bennett in Cartersville.

Kaley Bennett waits for her turn.

Sophomore Connor Bourn competes in team roping.

Hannah Bearden roping.

Bailey Smith, Kara Laughlin, Hannah Bearden, Kaley Bennett, Jacob Little, Connor Bourn, Claire Alexander having fun in Cartersville SIXES LIVING | January 2015

Community

Nonprofit Roundup Our community has many nonprofits that work hard to help folks in need. Each month Around Woodstock will run an update to share news of activities and events. We’re hoping our readers will find plenty of opportunities to volunteer to help others, or use this page as a resource to reach out for assistance. Never Alone From a full-time outreach center at 291 Rope Mill Road in Woodstock, Never Alone serves more than 60 families a week who are in need of food, personal hygiene products and diapers. Through a partnership with the Atlanta Community Food Bank, $9 worth of food can be bought for every $1 donated, which helps the outreach meet the goal of providing clients with enough food to feed a family for one month. Currently, more than 17,000 pounds of food are distributed to the community through Never Alone. A $50 tax-deductible donation to this nonprofit will feed a local family for a month. Sign up online at www.NeverAlone.org. MUST Ministries - Cherokee County The strongest need during these cold winter months is gloves, hats, coats, mittens and scarves, as well as blankets, sheets, pillows, washcloths and towels. Other items requested are men’s shoes and work boots and winter clothing for boys and girls, sizes 5 through teens. They are also accepting donations of heavy-duty 33 gallon garbage bags, paper towels and 13-gallon kitchen trash bags. Over Thanksgiving, MUST provided food for more than 3,000 individuals in 932 families. MUST is a faithbased nonprofit that serves our neighbors in need with food, clothing and job and housing assistance. www. mustministries.org

SIXES LIVING | January 2015

Cherokee Youth Council members, front row from right: Dane Viker, Cory Smith, Gideon Ojo, Caleb Ductant, James Lindsay and Jasmine Lewis. Back Row: Gabi Latimer, Logan Struchtemeyer, Kristina Meyer, Zach Rider, Sarah Logan and Molly Perkins. Not Pictured: Terry Williams, Hope Mainieri and Jennifer Gomez.

Cherokee Youth Council Cherokee Youth Council (CYC), members of Cherokee Youth Works, a division of Cherokee FOCUS, spent a few days last month taking part in a sticker shock campaign, where they visited stores that sell packaged alcohol to distribute information reminding adults that it’s illegal to provide alcohol for minors. This is a misdemeanor that will require the offender to appear before a judge and could result in up

Members of the Cherokee Youth Council attach warning stickers to bottles during the Sticker Shock campaign. continued on page 60

EVERYDAY

Everyday Angels is a 501(c)3 nonprofit serving Cherokee County since 2000. If you would like to make a tax deductible donation, please visit www. everydayangels.info to donate via Paypal or send your donations to: Everyday Angels, PMB 380, 1025 Rose Creek Dr., Ste., 620, 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.

When 38-yearold Chad O’Laughlin died in his sleep on Nov. 5, he left behind a growing young family, a burgeoning business and a heartbroken community. He and his wife of six years are expecting a baby girl, Jayce Ryan, in April, a new sister for their 4-year-old daughter. Chad has lived in Cherokee County for more than 15 years. He’s one of seven boys of the O’Laughlin/Cull family, and was a devoted husband, son, brother, uncle, friend and Daddy to JoAnna Ruth. At 6-feet-6, Chad had a larger-than-life presence and he adored his 23 nieces and nephews. He was a big kid at heart and could always be found on the floor or in the yard playing games with them. Chad had recently started TurnTable Billiards, a pool table consignment and repair business that was beginning to thrive. “He worked his full-time job and moved tables nights and weekends until it was busy enough to require his attention full time. It was amazing to watch him create this thriving business. They were doing so well that they decided to expand their family, and are expecting their second child in April. We were so proud of him,” Chad’s mother said. Chad’s life wasn’t always easy and he spent many years learning by trial and error, but he always made

a point to openly share his personal experiences and hope with others to help them when they lost their way. He even provided jobs for those in need. Friends credit Chad with saving their lives as he honestly shared his past struggles with them, giving them the hope and strength they needed to get them through. He was a devoted Christian who believed that all blessings come from God and made certain that before big life decisions were made that he was truly ready to accept their challenges. He was finally at a very happy place in his life and was a doting husband and smitten with his baby girl. No one is ever ready to lose a spouse, dad and son at such a young age. Chad’s sudden passing, resulting from unknown causes, has been very difficult to understand and accept because he was a very healthy young man. He was the sole provider for his family and the small amount of insurance they he had was used for funeral expenses. Today, Chad’s wife works part-time and plans to work full time after their baby is born. Her hope is to remain in the family home, but she has many fears of what lies ahead. Everyday Angels would like to help this sweet mom by assisting with utility expenses and baby needs to help her get through the rest of her pregnancy. There is so much more we can do with community support. If you would like to make a tax-deductible donation to this family, please see the directions in the box on the upper left.

Untitled

By Chad O’Laughlin I know a little bit about the back of the line, missing the bus, and always fighting with time. And I kinda got a feeling that I’m not alone, we can’t be living this life just to hold up our bones! I’m afraid of heights ‘cause how far I could fall. Rather be on the ground then crashing down from it all. I have a small suspicion you’re a lot like me. We don’t have far to fall if we just stay on our knees. My old man told me once how things turn around, the end’s a new beginning, what goes up comes back down! And if I’m not mistaken, this ol’ back of the line can’t hold me back forever when my God says “it’s time!” My greatest moments aren’t when things go my way, it’s when I learn to let go, and just live for the day. I know a little bit about the back of the line and when it all turns around I’ll come in first and on time!

SIXES LIVING | January 2015

Community

A New Year Calls for New Job Search Tools BY BETH RAY

Beth Ray serves as Program Director for Employment Services at Must Ministries. She holds a BS in Marketing from Mercer University and an MBA from Kennesaw State University.

Everyone is talking about resolutions: weight loss, diet, exercise, even new jobs. Just like losing weight, you need a plan to find a new job or career. Here are some tips to help you start and stay on a positive path. Be honest with yourself. How much effort did you put into your search last year? Did you treat your search like a full-time job? Did you customize your résumé and cover letter for each opportunity? The devil truly is in the details. Even the best qualified candidate has to get all of the steps correct to land a job. These can be taught, but being in a receptive, positive state to receive the advice is the first step.

• Exercise Gaining weight during the holidays can happen to any of us. If we don’t feel our best, we don’t project our best. Exercise releases endorphins, which enhance our mood and burn excess calories. For tips, check out the American Heart Association’s Walking 101 (www.heart.org.).

SIXES LIVING | January 2015

• Journal People who journal, or keep a diary, experience many benefits. Recording events such as job loss, and honestly evaluating the event, releases emotions you may have bottled up. By viewing events objectively, you move past them and are better prepared to move forward. • Network It’s not about who you know, but who you connect with that is helpful. Who are you meeting and talking to? Be ready with your 30-second commercial or elevator speech and have a few simple questions ready to ask. Don’t forget to ask how you can help those you speak with, too. Networking works in both directions. • Volunteer By volunteering, you benefit the community and you can forget your worries for a short time. Meeting other volunteers and growing your network increases self-confidence, helps you learn new skills and decreases depression. Check out www. cherokeefocus.org for volunteer opportunities in the county. Searching for a job isn’t easy, but it is less of a struggle with the right frame of mind, and a plan. Agencies like MUST Ministries offer career assistance. The state Department of Labor offers online tools, and many churches have networking groups. Use these free tools to help in your search.

A Warm Place to Sleep on a Freezing Night BY GARY LAMB/ACTION CHURCH SENIOR PASTOR

year of building trust, we have seen record numbers this year. It is one of the most rewarding things I have ever been a part of. We are constantly getting questions from people asking how they can help. We can always use help. The biggest need we currently have is people willing to provide hot meals on the nights the shelter is open. We normally ask for people to make a meal (something easy) that will feed up to 25 people. We also always need winter coats, gloves, hats and hygiene products. Action Church recently acquired space to expand the church from 7,500 to 32,500 square feet, offering more room for the shelter next year. For more information on how you can partner with us, you can like us on Facebook at www.facebook. com/actionchurch.tv or email info@ actionchurch.tv. Action Church is at 271 Marietta St., Canton. Church doors open at 6 p.m. when temperatures are 32 degrees or lower. Overnight guests are given breakfast before they leave around 8 a.m.

Photos by Darleen Prem

Last December I received a phone call from one of our councilmen here in Canton, asking if I was aware of how bad the weather was going to be that night. After talking for a few minutes about the cold front that was moving in, he got to the point of the phone call and asked if the church I pastor, Action Church, would be willing to open our building as a temporary warming shelter for the night. Without hesitation, I answered yes. We intentionally started Action Church three years ago in the older part of town because of the huge needs there for people down on their luck. To have the city give us permission to use our building in this fashion was Winter came early in 2014. something we had prayed about since we had our first service. find a hot meal and a warm bed. Within four hours of the phone call, we The stories have been amazing and had cots, blankets, clothing and a hot heartbreaking at the same time. We’ve meal in place. We were ready to serve, had alcoholics who have chosen their and no one came that night. addiction over their family, married Even though no one came, a fire couples who lost their jobs and were was ignited in us to serve people in living in their van, disabled veterans this area. After much discussion with and people just out of prison with no representatives of the city, police, place to go. We have hosted families fire and various other non-profits, we with children who have come in decided we would open the church because they have no place to go as doors whenever the temperature they try and keep their family together. outside dropped below 32 degrees. Some of the people who stay the Night after night we opened last year night with us have no place because and slowly but surely the misplaced in they chose not to have a place by our community started trickling in to their actions. Some who stay with us have mental disabilities that have forced them to live in the woods, and some are people just like my family who are one missed paycheck away from homelessness. The reasons why they are misplaced really isn’t my concern. My concern is that when the temperature gets dangerously low, they have a place to get warm—no strings attached. Winter is here again and the warming shelter is open. Winter actually came Guests get a hot meal for dinner. early this year and we had to open several nights in November. After a

Action Church member Tommy Simmons volunteers in the shelter. SIXES LIVING | January 2015

Community

The Little Red Sixes School House BY SUSAN SCHULZ

Historical records reveal little about the three-room wooden school house located on Bells Ferry Road across from Hopewell Baptist Church, but we can put a few pieces together about the lives of the children who attended classes there. Now privately owned, the Sixes School was in operation from 1907 until 1952, according to the historical education records in Cherokee County. Bell Page was the first teacher and the Hillhouses, Rutledges, Cantrells and many others are listed as the family names of the students. Like many Cherokee County communities in days gone by, Sixes was a tight-knit, hardworking group of people. Their children attended school only six months out of the year because they had to be available to help their families plant, tend and harvest crops. Boys and girls who attended Sixes School were segregated during recess for two reasons: to keep down discord and for reasons of modesty. Each gender had their own outdoor toilet located in their designated area of play. Separating boys and girls just because of quarreling seems odd to us today, but bathrooms designated for boys and girls has not changed a bit. Students were given a basic education in the small, wooden schoolhouse. Those who wanted to go on to attend high school had to board with families in the city of Canton and attend Canton High School. After Sixes School closed in 1952,

SIXES LIVING | January 2015

the students were sent to Holly Springs Elementary until Sixes Elementary was constructed in the early 1990s. Thinking about the contrast between today’s children’s school experience and those who attended this old school house got my imagination going. Right here on Sixes Road was a “Little House on the Prairie” school experience that developed the leaders who built the foundation for our strong community today. They inspire us to carry on their heritage of hard work and to stay connected to our neighbors.

Photo courtesy of Peggy Fallin

Get Out and Run, Cherokee! BY LISA RANDALL

Lisa Randall is a mom, small business owner and athlete from Canton. She is owner of Mountain Goat Adventures, LLC, which organizes local trail running and mountain bike events.

With the beginning of the new year, many decide to make positive changes in their lives that include getting more active. We are blessed to be surrounded by many beautiful city and county parks where outdoor recreation opportunities abound. One of the easiest ways to get active is hiking or running. Hiking or running on trails is very relaxing and eliminates the noise and potential dangers of vehicles that you find by running on roadways. If you are looking for a new adventure, check out some of these local parks the next time you want to get away from the hustle, bustle and noise.

Rope Mill Park

690 Rope Mill Road, Woodstock, GA 30188 Trails built and maintained by SORBA Woodstock. Rope Mill Park offers nine miles of hilly, wooded singletrack trails suitable for bike and foot travel. Nearly all the trails at Rope Mill Park were purpose-built for mountain bikes, so the tread is fairly narrow and there are a lot of ups, downs, twists and turns. Rope Mill Park is a good destination for runners and hikers, as it is much less crowded than nearby Blankets Creek Bike Trails, especially during the early morning hours. Trails are well marked and there is a map at the trailhead. Five additional miles of trail are planned and scheduled to be built on the north side of Little River by this spring.

Boling Park

1098 Marietta Highway, Canton, GA 30114 Trails built and maintained by Boy Scout Troop 241. Boling Park offers nearly 15 miles of rugged, wooded trails suitable for foot travel. Trails range from narrow, rocky singletrack to wide wooded roadbeds. The hike along the Etowah River (white blaze trail) is quite flat, while other trails can have half-mile sustained climbs. Trails are blazed, but a trail map is recommended as there are numerous trails but no map at the trailhead. Hikers can also park near Hightower Church for easier access to the more remote sections of the Etowah trails. You can print a map from this link: http:// mountaingoatadventures.com/forms/EtowahTrailMap.pdf

Garland Mountain Horse and Hike Trails 1411 Garland Mountain Way, Waleska, GA 30183

Trails built and maintained by the Cherokee County Saddle Club. Garland Mountain offers roughly 11 miles of wooded trails suitable for horse or foot travel. Trails are wide, well marked and offer spectacular views of Pine Log Mountain during winter months. All trails meander through rolling hills, but the layout of the park allows for trail loops of various distances. There is a userfriendly map at the trailhead and the park is seldom crowded, making it well worth the drive to Waleska.

Views from the trails at Garland Mountain.

SIXES LIVING | January 2015

Community

JANUARY CALENDAR Jan 9, Feb. 13

Parents’ Night Out: 5:30-10 p.m. at the Cherokee County Aquatic Center, 1200 Gresham Mill Parkway, Holly Springs. Price is $10 per person for advance registration, $15 at the door (678) 880-4763. www.crpa.net.

Jan. 10

Friends of the Library annual meeting 1-3 p.m. at the R. T. Jones Memorial Library, 116 Brown Industrial Parkway in Canton, featuring local historian and author Juanita Hughes as guest speaker. Open to the public, refreshments will be served. The Cherokee Music Teachers Association meeting will begin at 10 a.m at Reinhardt University’s Falany Performing Arts Center. A short business meeting will be followed by a program on teaching students with special needs, to be presented by Wendi O’Reilly Stunzi. Free and open to the public. For more info, contact Linda Lokey at (770) 7201701 or linda@lokey.net.

Jan. 17

Martin Luther King, Jr. Unity Breakfast: 9-11 a.m. at the NorthsideCherokee Conference Center, 1130 Bluffs Parkway, Canton. The winner of the annual Unity Award will be announced during the breakfast. The honor was established in 1999 by the Rev. Carl A. Moore, Sr., pastor of Allen Temple AME Church in Woodstock, to recognize the contributions of an individual who has made a positive impact on the community by fostering harmonious racial and cultural relations.

Jan. 22-24

Book Sale at R.T. Jones Memorial Library, 116 Brown Industrial Parkway in Canton, 4-6 p.m. Jan. 22, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Jan. 23 and 10 a.m.4 p.m. Jan. 24. Gently used adult paperbacks are $1, hardbacks are $2. Proceeds benefit the library’s purchase of children’s books and media.

Jan 23, Feb. 6

Teen Night at the Cherokee County Aquatic Center, 1200 Gresham Mill

SIXES LIVING | January 2015

Parkway, Holly Springs. Price is $10 per person for advance registration, $15 at the door (678) 880-4763. www.crpa.net.

Jan. 31

Restore Your Health Summit is set for 9 a.m.-2:15 p.m. at The Land Retreat Center, 2135 E. Cherokee Dr. in Woodstock. Health professionals will discuss changes that can lead to a healthier life. $25 fee includes a healthy lunch. For more details or to register, call (404) 216-4943.

Through Feb. 1

“Images of the Atlanta Campaign and the March to the Sea” photo exhibit on display in Hill Freeman Library and Spruill Learning Center at Reinhardt University through Feb. 1. From the private collection of Gordon Rich Elwel. Free and open during library operating hours. http://library.reinhardt.edu/.

Feb. 7

Ladies’ tea fundraiser for Camp Gideon, 11 a.m.-1 p.m. featuring guest speaker Elizabeth Weatherby, founder of Feed My Lambs. The event raises money to help local, underprivileged “at risk” girls attend a weekend of Princess Camp in the spring. $20. Details at www. camgideon.com/ladiestea. 2nd Time Around Dinner sponsored by Win2ition, 7:30-11 p.m. at Bradshaw Farm Golf Club. Proceeds from the fundraiser will support single caregivers and their children. Cost is $50 per person. Includes dinner, dancing and entertainment, silent auction and photo booth. Cash bar. For reservations, email W2i@Win2ition.org or call (404) 2293840.

March 13-15, 20-22

“The Dining Room,” directed by Myrna Feldman, will be performed at the Canton Historic Theatre, 171 E. Main St., by the Cherokee Theatre Company. $15 general admission, $12 seniors or students, $10 group rate for 10 or more seats. www.cherokeetheatre.org.

Reflecting on 2014 and Looking Forward to 2015 BY MEGHAN GRIFFIN

Shhhh…do you hear that? The silence is so nice. The hullabaloo of the holidays is over, and it’s quiet and peaceful. I know some folks go stir crazy this time of the year when the holidays are over and the weather turns colder. I think that’s why so many people (myself included) get that gym membership, which will be forgotten by February. But I really Meghan Griffin is Canton’s Main Street appreciate the time to remember Director. She was raised 2014. in a military family and grew up all over the This is also a great time for the United States, mostly in Canton Main Street Program because Kodiak, Alaska. She has happily called Canton we get to reflect on last year and all home for the last 10 years. that we accomplished, and also focus on 2015. January is a perfect time for reflection, planning, creative brainstorming, and community dialogue. We already have some great ideas for future First Fridays , including Wine Into Winter, an art and wine walk in October. We also have another Cherokee High Reunion First Friday scheduled, dedicated to the classes of 1957 through 1969 with a theme created just for them. The organization committee

Canton Historic Downtown Loop

is hard at work recruiting volunteers for our events and committees. We are considering planning another stakeholder’s meeting so we can hear from you. If you are interested in volunteering, call me at (770) 704-1548. The design committee members have a lot on their plate, including façade grant opportunities for downtown businesses. We will even help business owners with a façade rendering of their building if they need ideas for the exterior. We are also in the beginning stages of a downtown directional sign package that you will hear more about in the future.

continued on page 60

Canton Main Street Program, First Friday.

What goes around comes around

Best Wishes for the New Year! We are looking for volunteers for our activities and programs, if you are interested– give us a call at 770-704-1548!

Historic Downtown Loop Canton Main Street Program, Meghan Griffin 770.704.1500 SIXES LIVING | January 2015

Community

A Look Back BY JODI TIBERIO

Over the past 11 months, we have been fortunate to provide makeovers for many deserving women in our area. We are so proud of them that we wanted to feature them one more time before we begin our 2015 makeovers!

And speaking of makeovers, if you are interested in participating in one of our makeovers and being featured in this magazine, please contact me at jodi@tiberioretail.com.

Jodi Tiberio owns Branches Boutique for women in Towne Lake as well as a second Branches location and Brooklynnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s boutique in Downtown Woodstock. Contact Jodi at jodi@tiberioretail.com.

February: Erika Tipper

March: Amy Walker

April: Jesse Champion

May: Vikki Frost

June: Cassie Fainter

July: Ann Findlay

August: Dana Draper

September: Tammy Owens

October: Kelly Pate

November: Madonna Mezzanotte

December: Emily Hart

SIXES LIVING | January 2015

Lifestyle

New Year’s Resolutions: Don’t Be a Spiritual Couch Potato BY MIKE LITREL, MD

My office schedule was packed with patients one day when a colleague called me into an exam room to see her patient. The situation was urgent, and I tried not to think about the delays our patients would experience because I was making time for someone else. This patient was a 30-year-old woman who had been bleeding Dr. Mike Litrel has heavily for almost two years. Her pain authored hundreds of had increasingly become worse, so articles and two books on the faith-health severe that today that she had arrived connection. He is a at the office without an appointment, board certified OB/GYN and specialist in pelvic insisting on being seen. Our nurse reconstructive surgery practitioner had made time for at Cherokee Women’s Health Specialists in her, but it turned out her problem Roswell and Woodstock. was complicated, too complicated Dr. Litrel can be reached at www. to be diagnosed without a surgical herokeewomens perspective. health.com I could clearly feel the large mass in her pelvis: it was obvious she needed surgery. We performed the ultrasound and necessary biopsy to line her up for the help she needed. Unfortunately, the patient didn’t have health insurance. For a doctor or anyone in the healing profession, it’s heartbreaking to see patients who need help but can’t afford care. The patient glared at me with a mixture of pain and anger, and asked what she was supposed to do. I suggested going to the health department to see if she was eligible for Medicaid— or perhaps to the hospital, to see if she could get charity care. “I already tried that!” she snapped. “And it didn’t work!” She angrily held out her hands in a gesture that seemed to offer up her problems for me to take on. The tone of voice clearly

SIXES LIVING | January 2015

conveyed that this was someone else’s fault. I pointed out that she had been suffering with this problem for years—she needed to take some responsibility for not having health insurance. She was very capable. If she had begun looking for a job with benefits a year ago, instead of staying at home, she would not be in this situation, and we could perform the surgery. Whose health problem is it? I try to be as honest and open with patients as possible about how I can help them—and how I can’t. Sometimes maybe I am too honest, and I began thinking this was one of those times. I’d tried to communicate in a non-judgmental way, but I wondered as I went back to my waiting patients if I had not just been a big jerk. About six months ago, a patient arrived at the office unannounced, with a plate full of home-baked cookies. She asked if I remembered her. I didn’t. It was the same patient. She had come in to thank me. Three months after I had examined her, she had gotten health insurance, and one of my partners had performed her surgery. She felt better than she had in years. She just wanted me to know she had made changes. And she thanked me for my honest words. “All these years I felt like my problems were somebody else’s fault,” she said. “I think you were the first person to tell me I had to help take care of myself.” She said she felt better physically, but she was most surprised that she actually felt better spiritually and emotionally. “I feel like my life is finally on the right track.” Health is not what someone does for you, and it’s not just about your body. It’s about your soul, and what you do for yourself. To be healthy and happy, you have to assume responsibility for your life. And as we come to the time of year for making new resolutions, it’s important to know that God doesn’t smile on the Spiritual Couch Potato.

Living Gluten-Free Doesn’t Have to be Difficult BY JESSICA LEIGH SMITH

With the new year comes resolutions to be healthier. For many, that means eating gluten-free (GF). No longer a foreign concept, the GF lifestyle is seen by many as too difficult to maintain. My GF trial started over three years ago. Within weeks, I no longer got sick with every bite, my skin cleared up, and I had an abundance of energy Jessica Leigh Smith (I dropped a full minute on my mile!). lives in Cherokee Now, when I am tempted to cheat, County with her family. Jessica is I only need remind myself of the also an actress and consequences. Feeling good is the producer. www. JessicaLeighSmith.com reward. and Facebook.com/ Going gluten-free doesn’t have NotFinishedInc. to be a final decision. If it doesn’t provide the results you want, you can simply quit. Just remember that you need to commit to three months of strict GF eating to see accurate results. I’d like to share a few things I learned that will make your new venture a little easier. 1. Stick to the perimeter. The key to eating healthy is to shop the perimeter of the grocery store. The same is true

for eating GF. All fruits, meats, and vegetables are inherently gluten-free; therefore, you can eat as much as you want. 2. Bake at home. Cooking at home saves money and is healthier. Our favorite guilty-pleasure foods have been manufactured GF, but tend to be expensive, unhealthy, and taste like cardboard. I have learned what I make at home tastes better than anything I can buy. I actually prefer my GF cookies and cake to their gluten-filled counterparts! 3. Use a flour blend. The key to yummy desserts is to use a flour blend. No single gluten-free flour can do what you need. However, they are designed to complement each other— where one yields flavor, another provides moisture, etc. There are many recipes out there for the “best” blend, but a simple one I use in a pinch is this: sorghum flour, rice flour, and tapioca starch. Use equal parts of each and substitute cup for cup in any of your old recipes. Also, don’t forget the xanthan gum! For reference, you’ll need about a teaspoon in a batch of cookies. Bake GF without xanthan and you’ll never forget it again. 4. Buy in bulk. You’ll save money buying your flours in bulk from Amazon. It is really easy to reach the $35 threshold for free shipping and you’ll have your flours in no time. Here’s to a healthy 2015!

Gluten-Free Pumpkin Cinnamon Rolls Dough:

with Maple Cream Cheese Icing Filling:

¼ cup butter

¼ cup butter, melted

½ cup sugar

½ cup brown sugar

2 eggs

1 teaspoon cinnamon

1 cup warm water

1 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice

1 package Bob’s Red Mill Gluten Free Pizza Crust (yeast packet is inside) www.bobsredmill.com.

1 cup walnuts, chopped (optional)

1 can pumpkin 1 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice Add 1 tablespoon of the sugar to the warm water. Add in the yeast packet and let it stand for about 5 minutes. Cream together the butter and sugar, then add the eggs one at a time. Add the yeast mixture to the egg, sugar, and butter mix. Add in the package of the pizza crust and blend well. Mix in the pumpkin pie spice and can of pumpkin. Heavily dust a 19-inch piece of wax paper with all-purpose gluten free flour or rice flour and spread the batter evenly over the wax paper. Melt the ¼ cup of butter and set aside for filling. Dip a small roller in the melted butter and use that to spread the batter evenly. If there is any butter left, pour it over the batter. Yields 12 rolls

Combine the pumpkin pie spice, cinnamon and brown sugar. Add in the chopped walnuts, if using. Sprinkle this evenly over the rolled-out dough. Beginning at one of the long sides of the dough, use the wax paper to roll the dough. Roll it all the way to the other side. Once you have your finished roll, cut it into 1-inch pieces and place into a 9 x 13-inch greased baking dish. It is okay if they’re a little crowded. Cover with plastic wrap and place in a warm place for 30 minutes to rise. During the last 10 minutes, preheat oven to 375 degrees. Bake the rolls for 20-25 minutes.

Icing: ½ cup butter

1 tablespoon pure maple syrup

8 oz. cream cheese, softened 2 cups powdered sugar Cream together the butter and cream cheese. Mix in maple syrup. Slowly add powdered sugar until combined. Spread on warm pumpkin cinnamon rolls.

SIXES LIVING | January 2015

Lifestyle

I’m Not Going to Renovate My Home Just to Sell It! BY KURT & SHEILA JOHNSON

While we will always recommend you update your home before it’s marketed to maximize its sales price in the shortest time, there is an alternative. The best way to market a home in need of updates or repairs is to answer your potential buyer’s concerns up front regarding repair costs and the home’s lendability. We recommend that Kurt and Sheila Johnson are Keller Williams estimates for updating and repairs be Top Producing Agents readily available to buyers viewing the (over 80 deals in 2014) and have been serving property. Providing information about a Cherokee County for more lending solution that can possibly include than 10 years. www. KurtandSheilaTeam.com the money for updates and repairs in the loan could ease the buyer’s mind and remove objections. An FHA 203(k) streamlined renovation loan is an excellent loan for homes in need of repairs or updates. An FHA 203(k) loan allows the buyer to include up to $35,000 for repairs in his or her loan amount. Ideally, it is best to provide quotes prepared by a lenderapproved contractor in conjunction with the contact information for a preferred FHA 203(k) lender.

SIXES LIVING | January 2015

Here are the facts about FHA 203(k) loans: 1. Once the sale is completed, the repairs must be completed by a lender-approved, licensed contractor. When all the repairs/ improvements are completed satisfactorily, these contractors are paid from funds the lender holds in escrow. 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 available only to owner-occupant borrowers. 4. These loans permit borrowers to include lender required repairs as well as optional improvements such as granite countertops, stainless appliances and minor bathroom and kitchen remodels. Addressing these concerns before marketing the home will reduce the buyer’s anxiety about the costs of repairs and the feasibility of getting the repairs completed after the purchase. Again, you will net the most money for your home if you make the updates and repairs before marketing the property; however, these alternatives are good for sellers that aren’t able to do so.

Rob’s Rescues This dog is Princess. She’s OK with other dogs and she knows how to sit. She walks well on a leash. Her owner could not afford to keep her. I wish they had known about Pet Buddies Food Pantry. Princess likes laps and treats. She is 7-years-old and a bit chubby. She is a Chihuahua mix. She does not play much. I’m Rob Macmillan and I’m on a mission to help shelter dogs and cats. These animals are at the Cherokee County Animal Shelter at 1015 Univeter Road, Canton. Contact me at robsrescues@ gmail.com www.robsrescues.com

This cat is named Nicholas. He doesn’t like being carried, probably because he is a baby at the shelter and probably because he is nervous. He likes to lie on his blanket. He is grey with white paws. He is a domestic short hair mix. Party people – moms and party places – get a Rob’s Rescues Pet Food Collection Bin for your party and ask friends to bring a can or bag of pet food for the bin. I will send a thank you note to the birthday kid. I will also put places that have a birthday bin on my web site: www.robsrescues.com. The shelter has cool calendars. They show some of the dogs and cats and guinea pigs that have been adopted. I am on the October page.

SIXES LIVING | January 2015

Lifestyle

Cherokee Photography Club Congratulations to the winners in our competition! As usual, our very talented members submitted lots of truly beautiful images! Digital Projection:

1st David Ferguson “Tattered”

3rd Eillene Kirk “Color Blocks”

2nd Karen Beedle “Bleeding Colors”

HM Mike Voeltner “Autumn in the Japanese Garden”

Color Prints:

1st Kim Bates “Bridge Over Colored Waters” 32

SIXES LIVING | January 2015

2nd David Ferguson “Marquis Stripes”

3rd Bill Bradford “Dark Glow”

HM Peter Kilpo “Autumn”

Monochromatic:

1st David Ferguson “Sleeves”

3rd Martin Longstaff “Autumn Gold”

2nd Percy Clapp “Wheelchair”

HM Karen Beedle “Painted Desert”

The Cherokee Photography Club meets on the fourth Monday of the month, and for those participating in the monthly contest, that meeting is held on the second Monday of the month. Both meetings are from 7-9 p.m. and held at the Cherokee County Arts Center, 94 North Street, Canton. For more information, please contact Kim Bates at (770) 617-7595 or email him at kbphotoart@comcast.net. SIXES LIVING | January 2015

Lifestyle

The Safari Stick BY ANN LITREL

My 5-year-old nephew Jackson arrived for a visit on a dreary winter day, forlorn because he’d left behind his favorite toy truck. I suggested an alternative: a safari. Curious, he followed me outside. We rummaged in the brush pile at the side of the house. Here it is! He was disgusted. ”That’s just a stick.” Oh, no, I say. “It’s a SAFARI Stick. Ann is an artist and writer whose nationally We need this for protection. And it published work includes decorative art, paintings does other things, too.” I put my for private and corporate finger to my lips. “Shhh! There’s wild collections, and writing and illustration for a animals everywhere!” range of publications. We crouch behind a stump. Sure Ann lives with her husband and co-author enough, a huge ruckus erupts in the Dr. Mike Litrel and their leaves at the end of the yard. Mind two sons in Woodstock. Ann@annlitrel.com you, it’s not a big yard. The typical suburban handkerchief: three eighths of an acre. The alarming rustling increases. Is it a bear? A deer? A wild coyote? We creep close, keeping low. Dry leaves rattle and fly into the air. Then we see it. A small black bird brushed with red, furiously scrabbling in the leaves. “A rufous-sided towhee!” I keep my eyes wide. “He looks small, but he’s HUNGRY. Hold on to your stick—just in case.” “What’s he eating?” Out comes the Safari Stick, now Scientific Investigative Tool. We poke at the leaves and unearth two specimens: a beetle

and an earthworm. We agree the bird is eating bugs. But how come he’s in the ratty old leaves, not the nice green grass? We march to the small strip of lawn in front. I get a spade; Jackson has the Stick. We pry up the edge of grass, manicured per association standards. It lifts like a doormat, unattached to the earth. Underneath is dry, compacted construction dirt, unchanged from 25 years ago. No wonder the towhee is in the leaves. The grass is green, but it’s as barren as any desert. Jackson heads for the tiny pond in the back, a hole with a black liner to hold water, edged with rocks. Jackson spears the leaves floating on top. They layer on the Stick like a shish-kabob. I tell him about the four frogs that lived here this summer. Plop, plop, they would jump into the water when I walked by. Jackson peers into the water. They sleep in the winter, I say. In goes the Stick. Now it’s a ruler. He pulls it out to look. It’s wet up to, maybe, 18 inches. “Okay; we have a demolition project!” The Stick can whack things. We walk down to the remnants of field weeds and flowers in my butterfly garden. The bare stems are lovely with textured seedheads. “Let’s knock these seeds out!” Enthusiastically Jackson begins whacking at the dry stems. This is Stick as Demolition Equipment. Fluffy bits of seed drift to the ground. I explain we have to stomp them in so they have good contact with the soil. Stomp, stomp. Jackson stomps with vigor. We’ll check back in the spring, I promise, and see what comes up. As we go inside, we leave the invaluable Safari Stick propped by the back door. Giving children an experience with nature doesn’t have to be a once-a-year vacation, or even a weekend outing at the park. The best gift you can give a child—and yourself—is learning to see what is right in front of our eyes. It’s so easy to miss the gifts just under our noses. Winter safari with a Stick. Right in the backyard.

The book to read: “Noah’s Garden: Restoring the Ecology Of Our Own Back Yards” by Sarah Stein. It’s a story about becoming an advocate for nature in one’s own yard, and offers a captivating vision for transforming the landscape of American subdivisions. Ann Litrel - www.annlitrel.com 34

SIXES LIVING | January 2015

To The Rescue with Seasonal Hair Remedies BY TIM TIMMONS

Summer sun and heat take their toll on your hair, but did you know that Old Man Winter wreaks hair havoc with his arsenal of storms, snow and cold spells as well? Artificially heated air also adds a lot of extra stress to hair. There is a wide selection of hair care treatments to repair and protect hair through the seasons. They will also help prevent hair damage in the Tim Timmons is first place. the owner of Salon It is best to weatherize your Gloss. Tim has been a hairstylist for 13 years hair before the summer or winter and has extensive seasons start to take their toll. industry experience. Tim can be reached at Dry heated air is particularly hard (678) 483-8900. on hair; hats and caps rank a close second in terms of ruining hair cuticle and style. Hair needs tender loving care to protect it against extreme environmental conditions. Convenient hair treatments come in the shape of deeply penetrating oils and elixirs, designed to restore hydration, elasticity, strength and luster.

Although there are several at-home remedies and over-thecounter treatments to choose from, professional salons offer the most concentrated ingredients and the latest technology for all hair types and textures. Salon experts can choose from added boosters containing moisture, ceramides, protein, and even collagen. In-salon professional treatments can be customized to the client’s specific needs and often include a stimulating massage of the head, neck, and scalp for a spa-like experience. Another popular salon option is a hair mask treatment under a special micro-steamer that lasts for approximately 15 minutes. The steam opens up the hair cuticle, allowing the product to travel deep down, sealing it for better moisture results and maximum concentration. You can even indulge in a spa color. Adding treatment technology directly into your hair color formula can result in longer-lasting vibrant pigments, luster and softness. Many of us let our hair define us. We let it dictate how we feel about ourselves. If we are having a bad hair day, chances are the rest of our day follows suit. We wear our hair everydayit’s our most important accessory. Take a moment to give it some love!

Quality Pediatric Care, Close to Home Northside Cherokee Pediatrics provides compassionate, comprehensive medical care for patients from birth to 18 years of age. Dr. Jamie Rollins and Dr. Shalini Shah offer the quality one-on-one care you demand to keep your child happy and healthy including, short wait times, same-day appointments and personalized care at a location convenient for your busy lifestyle. Northside Pediatrics offers: • Board-certified in Pediatrics. Northside Cherokee Pediatrics provides attentive, complete care to children in every stage of development from infancy to adolescence. • Timely Access. For sick patients who require immediate attention, we offer same-day appointments whenever possible. • Continuous Care. Patients are able to see the same provider at each visit to ensure continuous and seamless care for your child.

684 Sixes Road, Suite 220, Holly Springs, GA 30115 I-575, Exit 11

Call (678) 388-5485 to schedule an appointment Shalini Shah, MD

Jamie Rollins, MD

northsidecherokeepediatrics.com

SIXES LIVING | January 2015

Feature

The Reel Experience

Fresh Seafood, Fine Dining in a Casual Atmosphere Reel Seafood • 8670 Main St., Woodstock 30188 • (770) 627-3006 • reel-seafood.com • facebook.com/reelseafood Hours: 10:30 a.m.-10 p.m. Sunday, 11:30 a.m.-10 p.m. Monday-Thursday, 11:30 a.m.-11 p.m. Friday-Saturday. Bar open late.

hen Reel Seafood opened in downtown Woodstock in May, owners David and Karen Silverman (right) knew they were offering a new option for Cherokee County diners: a menu that featured fresh seafood. After being open not quite a year, they’ve also learned that area residents are hungry for a Sunday brunch destination, an upscale venue for watching sports or holding corporate meetings, and outdoor dining options. Meeting and anticipating the needs of their guests—regulars and new diners—is a priority as the Silvermans work to offer a full-service dining experience. They have also expanded their menus to increase entrée selections at lunch and appetizers at dinner. David and Karen are involved owners, and spend time getting to know their guests. “Karen and I enjoy being in the dining room and making a connection with our guests,” said David. “I’m grateful with how the neighborhood has embraced and welcomed us. We want to be here for many years to come.” Diners can choose to have an engaging interactive experience by sitting at the bar in front of the open kitchen while watching David and his chefs prepare the meals. Patrons interested in a quieter dining experience can opt for a table further back in the restaurant. Large windows facing Woodstock’s Main Street bring in plenty of natural light during the day, and soft lighting in the evening creates a relaxing ambiance. The Silvermans have added several features to round out the restaurant’s options, responding to and anticipating the needs of their regular and newer guests.

Sunday brunch hours are 10:30 a.m. until 3:30 p.m., and the menu includes specialty dishes such as New England lobster roll, bananas foster’s crepes with caramel drizzle, spiced apple mascarpone stuffed French toast, coffee-crusted steak and eggs, and buttermilk fried chicken and waffles. Sunday brunch always features bottomless mimosas and a Bloody Mary bar. Fans of outdoor dining won’t have to worry about cooler weather. The Silvermans plan to build an arbor over the patio area and include heaters to keep diners warm.

PRIVATE ROOM, UPSCALE BAR

Business men or women looking for a private dining area with media capabilities can reserve a room at Reel. The curtain enclosure creates privacy, and guests can choose a

SIXES LIVING | January 2015

photos by Kim Bates

SUNDAY BRUNCH, PATIO DINING

special package that includes a three- or four-course meal with house wine. A large flatscreen television with media connections is mounted to the wall, offering an easy display for business presentations. The area can also be used for birthday, anniversary or just about any type of celebration. A fully stocked premium bar, flanked by two large-screen TVs, offers an upscale environment for watching sports. Sports fans and others who visit the bar will be greeted by highly trained bartenders.

Operating a seafood restaurant requires hourly monitoring and daily deliveries of the freshest fish available. David is continually checking for updates. “We have a lot of resources in Hawaii, Washington state, New Bedford, Cape Cod and local companies,” he said, “in case one company doesn’t have what I’m looking for, someone else might.” The menu will change three to four times a year, reflecting the fish and ingredients in season. Aside from the traditional items you’d expect on a seafood menu, Reel Seafood offers jerk grilled salmon that has been marinated eight hours, pan seared scallops on a bed of lobster succotash, pan sautéed flounder, pepperseared tuna and more.

BEYOND SEAFOOD

Reel is a seafood concept restaurant, but there is plenty on the menu for meat lovers. David prepares NY strip Au Poivre with shallot brandy cream, aged coffee crusted ribeye and marinated skirt steaks, as well as chicken from a natural poultry program. While gluten free and vegetarian items aren’t listed on the menu, he encourages diners to make their requests known. “I want people to be confident and challenge the kitchen, so to speak, to prepare a meal that will meet their dietary restrictions,” said David. “We can meet everyone’s needs, from gluten free, lactose intolerant and vegetarians. My cooks are trained to prepare special items when needed.”

REEL SEAFOOD

A FRESH MENU

EXPERIENCE COUNTS

Both David and Karen were involved in the food industry at age 15. David, who had his first culinary apprenticeship at 19, spent seven years at Ray’s on the River and eventually became executive chef of Prime and opened Strip in Atlantic Station as executive chef. Karen has worked in many roles, including server, bartender and manager, across the U.S. Most recently, she was a server at Capital Grille. “When you visit Reel, you are my guest, and I want you to feel at home,” she says. “David and I want to blow our guests away with the food and the service, not just one or the other.”

SIXES LIVING | January 2015

Lifestyle

How Women are Planning Their Financial Futures From assorted survey data, an interesting snapshot emerges. DON AKRIDGE, MBA, CPA/PFS, CFP® U.S. MARINE CORPS VETERAN – EMORY UNIVERSITY ALUMNUS

Women are taking action to approach retirement with greater confidence. Some recent, intriguing survey data indicate that women are planning their financial futures with some degree of pragmatism, but also with considerable motivation. One of the key motivations, it seems, is receiving financial advice. Results from a new TIAA-CREF survey Don Akridge is (and other studies) bear this out. The president of Citadel Professional Services, retirement services giant polled a LLC, an independent random, national sample of 1,000 firm, founded in 1994 and conveniently men and women age 18 and older for located off Chastain its 2014 Advice Matters survey, and it Road between I-575 & I-75 in Kennesaw. found that 81 percent of women who Phone 770-952-6707. had obtained financial advice were more likely to feel informed about retirement planning and retirement saving than women who hadn’t. Additionally, 63 percent of women who had received financial advice felt confident that they were saving sufficiently for retirement. What kind of difference does financial advice make? A significant difference, it seems. In the big picture, 87 percent of the women surveyed by TIAA-CREF this summer said they had taken “positive steps” in their financial lives as a consequence. In particular, 64 percent altered spending habits and 53 percent took an organized approach to managing debt. In addition, 51 percent of the women had created an emergency fund and 57 percent had increased monthly saving rates since getting advice, and that leads us toward another interesting statistic. One study suggests women are more dedicated to retirement saving than men. Looking back at 2013, Vanguard discovered that 79 percent of women earning between $50,000 and $75,000 were participating in employer-sponsored retirement plans; only 60 percent of men in that income group were. Another notable difference appeared, this one across all income levels. Examining data from all of its retirement plans, Vanguard found that women saved for retirement at rates ranging from 6 percent to 12 percent greater than men. The message that women need more money for (a potentially longer) retirement than men is being heard loud and clear, it seems. Where are women getting their financial advice? TIAA-CREF’s survey asked this question, but it counted only online sources. Back in 2012, 20 percent of women in TIAA-CREF’s survey said they went to financial websites for advice; this year, that rose to 41 percent. Most telling is that 49 percent of the women TIAA-CREF polled felt that it would be helpful to turn to a real person online with their basic personal financial questions. In fact, 61 percent of women respondents in the survey reported relying on financial 38

SIXES LIVING | January 2015

services providers (and presumably, the financial professionals who work for them) for advice. Still, 66 percent of the women answering TIAA-CREF’s questions indicated that it was hard for them to determine what sources of financial advice to trust. (That was across all women surveyed, including those who had not sought advice.) Women may put more importance on long-term care planning than men. Or so suggests Genworth’s 2014 Online Consumer Survey. The insurer collected responses from more than 1,200 U.S. adults age 18 and older during October, and 64 percent of women respondents said they were motivated to plan for longterm care needs. Only 40 percent of men responding said they were concerned about that. Even so, Genworth discovered that less than 30 percent of respondents had talked with their loved ones about planning for eldercare or aging issues. Long-term care insurance is getting costlier as the baby boom generation matures, and it may get more expensive for women in the near future than for men: as Morningstar columnist Mark Miller recently noted, gender-based pricing is quickly emerging and may become standard practice. Single women need to plan and save aggressively for the years ahead. The Transamerica Center for Retirement Studies recently surveyed American workers 50 and older and found that the median retirement savings for single women was only $35,000. (For single men, the median was $70,000; for married women, it was $153,000.) Women living alone anticipated a financial struggle; 48 percent of those surveyed believed they would retire to a lower standard of living, and 52 percent assumed their main income resource would be Social Security. Perhaps most troubling, 56 percent of these single women expected to work into their 70s or never retire. The takeaways here for a single woman: save early, save consistently, exploit Social Security-claiming strategies for any potential advantage, and find a social support network that can help you look after yourself as you age. Advice promotes action. As you amass financial knowledge, you gain perspective. When you run the numbers and estimate the level of retirement savings and income you will need, you are able to set goals and timelines for your financial future. Planning the financial future starts with a commitment, and following through on that commitment is critical. Don Akridge is president of Citadel Professional Services, LLC, an independent firm, founded in 1994 and conveniently located off Chastain Road between I-575 & I-75 in Kennesaw. Phone 770-952-6707. Securities offered through Raymond James Financial Services, Inc. Member FINRA/SIPC. Raymond James is not affiliated with and does not endorse the opinions or services of Peter Montoya, Inc. or MarketingPro, Inc This material was prepared by MarketingPro, Inc., and does not necessarily represent the views of the presenting party, nor their affiliates. This information has been derived from sources believed to be accurate. Please note - investing involves risk, and past performance is no guarantee of future results. The publisher is not engaged in rendering legal, accounting or other professional services. If assistance is needed, the reader is advised to engage the services of a competent professional. This information should not be construed as investment, tax or legal advice and may not be relied on for the purpose of avoiding any Federal tax penalty. This is neither a solicitation nor recommendation to purchase or sell any investment or insurance product or service, and should not be relied upon as such. All indices are unmanaged and are not illustrative of any particular investment.

KEEPING IT

Cozy

BY CHANTEL ADAMS | CHANLYNNADAMS@GMAIL.COM

It’s no surprise that many Southerners don’t love winter. While we might be counting down the days until spring arrives, we don’t have to be down for the count. This month’s shopping guide can help you stay cozy and warm, inside and out. January is your opportunity to shine a light that will warm the hearts of the people you love most.

1. I heard the founder of Krochet Kids speak at a conference two years ago and was instantly “hooked.”

Krochet Kids began when four high school kids started crocheting for fun. After a mission trip to Uganda, they felt compelled to begin a nonprofit that employs and empowers people from around the world. The beautiful head wraps will warm your head and your heart. Each one is handcrafted and signed by a real person in a developing country. B. Loved offers an assortment of unique beanies, scarves and wraps from Krochet Kids. Downtown Canton. Prices start at $17.

2. Shauna Niequist is the

Queen of Cozy. I devoured this book because of the beautiful prose and the delicious recipes. Shauna says, “People aren’t longing to be impressed; they’re longing to feel like they’re home. If you create a space full of love and character and creativity and soul, they’ll take off their shoes and curl up with gratitude and rest.” Come on in. Wrap up in a warm blanket. Let’s get cozy. Available at Foxtale Book Shoppe in Woodstock or Books-a-Million at the Canton Marketplace. $15.

3. Keeping it cozy is often about the

atmosphere you create at home. When people visit me, I want them to feel like they can take a seat at my table and stay awhile. The sweet, embroidered message on these tea towels lends a cheery vibe to the kitchen. I was also pleased to discover that the towels are handmade by women pursuing freedom in southern India. Downtown Canton. $17.95.

I will never take this off. It’s a wrap, but oh so luxurious. Wear it at home, wear it out. Rub it against your cheek, close your eyes and imagine your own Barefoot Dreams. Barefoot Dreams Calypso Luxe Wrap, $94. B. Loved, Downtown Canton.

Don’t want to leave the house? You don’t have to! These tasty mixes will fill your kitchen with the heavenly aroma of a three-course meal. Prepared mixes often lack flavor or harbor a lingering aftertaste, but Plentiful Pantry’s line of artisan food products is perfectly seasoned, delicious, and maybe best of all, easy to prepare. A wide variety of flavors is available. Try the tortilla soup and cornbread. Willows Gift Shoppe, Canton Marketplace (next to Target). Prices start at $6.95. SIXES LIVING | January 2015

Health & Wellness

Ankle Replacement Puts You Back On Your Feet BY TRAVIS JONES, D.P.M., NORTHSIDE CHEROKEE ORTHOPEDICS AND SPORTS MEDICINE

Most people have heard of knee or hip replacements, but there’s another aging joint being replaced that’s gaining ground. By replacing arthritic or injured ankles with artificial joints, foot and ankle surgeons help get people back on their feet. Ankle replacement surgery relieves debilitating pain and discomfort caused by arthritis, and also restores and maintains ankle motion in people Dr. Travis Jones is a foot and ankle surgeon with compromised ankle function. at Northside Cherokee During the two- to three-hour surgical Orthopedics and Sports Medicine. procedure, the ankle joint is exposed, www.northside diseased cartilage and bone are cherokeeortho.com. removed, and a metal and lightweight plastic bearing is inserted. In general, healthy, non-diabetic older patients—who also have exhausted non-surgical treatment and continue to experience painful and disabling ankle arthritis—are ideal candidates for ankle replacement. Ankle arthritis is the progressive loss of the smooth gliding surface that lines the ends of the bones that form the ankle, causing pain, stiffness, swelling and warmth at the joint. These detrimental effects lead to discomfort and a lack of endurance for everyday activities such as standing and walking. Many people might not have heard of ankle replacement surgery because when compared to the other major joints, arthritis of the ankle is uncommon. About 50,000 people a year experience end-stage ankle arthritis, when the ankle cartilage wears away completely, causing bone-onbone contact. How long an ankle replacement lasts depends on many factors, including the type of implant used and the patient’s physical condition, activity level and lifestyle. While prosthetic joints can provide increased mobility and pain relief for many years, most patients can expect their ankle replacement to last 10 to 20 years. As with any surgery, there is always a risk of infection or complications, including nerve, vessel, tendon or bone injuries and persistent pain. A surgeon specialized in foot and ankle surgery can best evaluate your condition and determine if an ankle replacement is right for you.

“About 50,000 people a year experience end-stage ankle arthritis, when the ankle cartilage wears away completely...”

SIXES LIVING | January 2015

Health & Wellness

Tooth Sensitivity Causes and Treatments BY DR. SCOTT MERRITT

Tooth sensitivity is something most people have experienced at least a few times in their lives. It may have been a cold or hot beverage that caused that sharp pain in one or more of your teeth, or it may have been an acidic drink or a deep breath of cold air. Typically, infrequent sensitivity in teeth is nothing to get too concerned about. For some people, however, Dr. Scott Merritt has tooth sensitivity is an ongoing been providing dental condition which can range from mildly care to residents of Cherokee and the annoying to intolerably painful. When surrounding counties it comes to oral pain, knowledge of since founding BridgeMill Dentistry the underlying causes and treatment in 2002. The office is options can go a long way. This is located on Sixes Road between Ridge and particularly true with sensitivity. Bells Ferry roads. Tooth sensitivity most commonly occurs when enamel or gum tissue fails to adequately cover the intermediate layer of the tooth called the dentin. Dentin is porous and, microscopically, looks like small tubes layered together. When substances such as cold drinks travel into those tubes, the nerve feels it, and sensitivity

occurs. Therefore, the key to preventing tooth sensitivity is to keep the dentin covered by healthy gums and enamel. The most effective way to do this is to use a soft bristle toothbrush and brush the gumline gently, but diligently. But what if your gums have already receded, or the enamel on your teeth has eroded to the point where sensitivity is constant? There are additional options that are usually very effective, including: • Daily use of a prescribed high fluoride toothpaste. • Applying a fluoride varnish to strengthen tooth surfaces. • Placing a dental restoration or filling to compensate for enamel loss. The new year is a perfect time to recommit to making health a priority in your household. We recommend that every family member have a thorough evaluation of their oral health by a licensed dentist and put a plan in place to address any issues which may be bothering you or a loved one. In the case of tooth sensitivity, prevention and early detection can go an incredibly long way toward avoiding larger and more painful conditions later.

OB/GYN Offices Located in Canton and Towne Lake

Get back to living your life.

The Downtown Buzz is held at the Chambers at City Center (8534 Main Street) on the last Friday of the month and begins at 8 a.m. unless otherwise noted.

For heavy periods, cramps, bladder leakage, fatigue, mood swings, pelvic discomfort and vaginal rejuvenation, we can help. Contact us for simple solutions that will get your life back on track.

770-720-7733 www.cherokeewomenshealth.com www.facebook.com/cherokeewomenshealth 42

SIXES LIVING | January 2015

For more information on the Downtown Buzz program or to suggest a topic for consideration, please contact Mitzi at (770) 592-6056. Business Membership Information: $80 investment per year (2 reps) + $30 investment per year for each additional rep Subscription to email newsletter Main Street Woodstock decal Individual and nonDowntown Buzz meeting (monthly) profit memberships Member appreciation event also available Access to workshops Directory listing on website Ribbon cutting or groundbreaking Hobnob - a social event (quarterly)

Don’t Overlook Travel Safety for Your Pets BY LEISA JENNINGS

Many of us treat our pets as family members who are fully involved in our daily lives. It’s becoming more common for our pets to accompany us on car rides, but rarely are they properly restrained. According to Paws to Click, unrestrained pets account for more than 30,000 accidents per year. In fact, many safety experts believe that doggie distraction is Dr. Leisa Jennings just as dangerous as texting while grew up in Georgia and graduated Summa driving, putting our pets, other Cum Laude/First Honor passengers and other drivers at risk. Graduate from the University of Georgia To bring awareness to the problem, College of Agriculture Jan. 2 has been designated as and Environmental Sciences in 2001. She National Pet Travel Safety Day. remained in Athens and I often cringe when I see vehicles received her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine with dogs jumping from seat to in 2006. She has a seat and front to back, sitting in the special interest in birds/ avian medicine. She driver’s lap and hanging out of the shares her home with window. I imagine every cute face her husband Adam and their furry children. and wagging tail as a furry projectile in the case of an accident or abrupt stop. It’s irresponsible to neglect our pets. As a veterinarian, I can’t help but imagine the gruesome scenarios that could occur: bumps, bruises, broken bones, internal injuries, contusions, concussions, or death. A quick stop at just 10 miles per hour could send your dog through the car’s windshield. Many accidents are preventable if you make sure your dog is properly restrained. Securely fastening a carrier in your car is one of the easiest methods. Make sure the carrier is well ventilated and the correct size. Injury could still occur with a carrier that is too large. There is a variety of safety harnesses, doggie seat belts, booster and car safety seats that can help. In a pinch, you could loop your dog’s leash thought the car’s seat belt. A harness instead of a collar works best with this

method. Safety hammocks can keep pets from rolling onto the floor. A pet barrier that confines your pet to the back seat or cargo area provides poor restraint but alleviates distraction. While restraint is most important, there are other things to consider. Is your dog calm and comfortable in the car? Does he or she get car sick? Does your dog experience car-related anxiety or unusual behaviors? Does your dog

Many accidents are preventable if you make sure your dog is properly restrained. Securely fastening a carrier in your car is one of the easiest methods. Make sure the carrier is well ventilated and the correct size. react aggressively at the sight of unfamiliar people such as pedestrians? It is important to know the answer to these questions before travel. Discuss any issues or concerns with your veterinarian, who may suggest training, behavior modification or medication. Keep in mind that training and acclimation may take months, so consider long-term planning if your dog has behavioral or medical issues.

It is important to always restrain your pets when the car is in motion. SIXES LIVING | January 2015

Health & Wellness

Don’t Forget to Exercise Your Brain BY JAN HENRIQUES AU. D.

We can all benefit from exercising our brains. Studies show a strong link between hearing loss and dementia. Research also supports that there is more brain shrinkage in older adults who have hearing loss. According to the Johns Hopkins Medicine website, these findings include a growing list of health issues associated with hearing loss that result in diminished physical and mental health. Dr. Henriques is Did you know that we actually hear a board certified with our brains? The eardrum, bones audiologist and lead provider at North and cochlea carry sound to the brain, Georgia Audiology in but it’s the brain that makes sense of Woodstock. She has been practicing since it all. If your brain is not receiving the 1985, after earning a whole message due to hearing loss, then doctorate in audiology from the University of giving your brain improved sound will Florida and a master’s help. Hearing aid manufacturers are degree from LSU Medical Center. incorporating brain hearing technology into their latest devices. You have heard of the expression “use it or lose it.” That goes for physical exercise to maintain strength and stability, and also for brain function for understanding and balance. Stimulate the

brain with sound, and you might possibly be preserving brain tissue. According to Frank Lin, M.D., Ph.D, there may be some urgency in treating hearing loss rather than ignoring it. “If you want to address hearing loss, well, you want to do it sooner than later. If hearing loss is potentially contributing to the differences we are seeing on MRI, you want to treat it before these brain structural changes take place.” He also states that we place stress and strain on the brain in an effort to hear and understand. “If you put a lot of effort just to comprehend what you’re hearing, it takes resources that would otherwise be available for encoding [what you hear] in memory,” says Arthur Wingfield, who leads

You have heard of the expression “use it or lose it.” That goes for physical exercise to maintain strength and stability, and also for brain function for understanding and balance.

continued on page 60

overty Not every child in p rld... lives in the Third Wo

M a n y liv e in Y O UR w o rl d . CHILDREN ARE THE YOUNGEST CASUALTIES OF POVERTY. THEY DON’T UNDERSTAND WHY THEY ARE HUNGRY. WHY THEY LACK APPROPRIATE SCHOOL CLOTHES. WHY THEY LIVE IN CHALLENGING CONDITIONS.

Ways to help NOW

SIXES LIVING | January 2015

They do know that someone cares.

Pediatric Orthopedic Surgery AT W E L L S TA R W I N D Y H I L L H O S P I TA L Leading orthopedic surgeons and fellowship-trained pediatric anesthesiologists are offering surgery options for pediatric patients up to age 21. Our pediatric patients are treated in a child-friendly setting with the following areas of specialty: •

Pediatric Anesthesia

•

Specialized Nursing

•

Pediatric Imaging with Pediatric-Trained Radiologists

•

Pediatric Physical Therapy

For more information, please call 770-956-STAR (7827).

WELLSTAR WINDY HILL HOSPITAL | 2540 Windy Hill Road | Marietta, GA 30067 The WellStar Pediatric Network offers a range of services for children of all ages. These include emergency care, urgent care, after-hours care, primary care, orthopedic surgery, anesthesia, imaging, lab, physical therapy and a child-life specialist to help ease your child’s fears in a clinical setting. Through a collaborative partnership with pediatric subspecialists such as orthopedics, neurology and GI, children have access to physician experts close to home. For more information about WellStar’s pediatric services and locations, go to wellstar.org. SIXES LIVING | January 2015

School & Sports

Girl Scout Volunteers Needed to Meet the Need in Cherokee County BY NEKEIDRA TAYLOR / GIRL SCOUTS OF GREATER ATLANTA

In Cherokee County, more than 1,000 Girl Scouts rely upon roughly 500 adult volunteers and members to effectively run programs, but there are still girls on waiting lists because of a need for volunteers. The rewards are great for the leaders who step up to guide the scouts in diverse curriculum and creative activities formed around the interests of the girls. Volunteers are essential to the Girl Scout Leadership Experience. A Girl Scout volunteer is giving, dedicated, and genuinely interested in mentoring future leaders. The essence Activities like camping are fun for all ages. of a Girl Scout volunteer is leading by example and devotion to a 102-old institution whose mission is to “build girls of courage, confidence, and character who make the world a better place.“

SIXES LIVING | January 2015

“Without our committed volunteers, we wouldn’t be the organization we are today. They lead our girls, who eventually become leaders in their communities,” stated Kirby LewisHobba, membership specialist in Cherokee County. Girl Scouts of Greater Atlanta encourages more than 42,000 girls to “follow the fun” and do what they love with the help of 16,000 volunteers. Every day is different in Girl Scouting, requiring volunteers to be easily adaptable. The reward is invaluable. Whether learning about STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math), making s’mores, or embracing natural camp environments, girls learn new skills. “Seeing how important Girl Scouting is in providing new continued on page 60

Be Alert to Risks of Social Media BY MARK KISSEL

Smartphones, tablets, notebooks: When you give these amazing devices to your child, do you have a plan for dealing with the inevitable drama created in the world of social media? Many parents may not be adequately informed of the inherent risks associated with the software applications (apps) that can be downloaded. A recent online article, “Seven Chief of Police Mark dangerous apps that parents need to Kissel has served the know about,” addressed applications that Cherokee County School District since seem innocent at first glance. The first, 1999 and has more Yik Yak, is a GPS-based app that allows than 35 years of law enforcement the user to send a 200-character text experience. message that will go to 500 people, also known as Yakkers, who are closest to the sender. SnapChat allows users to send photos that disappear within 10 seconds on both the sender’s and the receiver’s device, but the receiver can “capture” the photo and send it to others. More information on these and the other apps can be found at www.checkupnewsroom.com/7-dangerous-apps-that-parentsneed-to-know-about. Develop a game plan for your child’s safety:

• Start an ongoing conversation with your child. Explain that you own the device (you paid for it and are likely paying the monthly bill) and, as a result, there will be periodic inspections. If that seems unreasonable, think about the phone or computer given to you by your employer for work purposes. At any time, the employer can inspect it, put filters on it and monitor the software. • Enable parental controls. On Apple devices, go to settingsgeneral-restrictions where you can manage the apps that came with the device, the iTunes store and in-App purchase. Next, go to allowed content and create basic filtering options on music, movies and Internet sites. Finally, go to location services. If enabled, the device allows various apps to use GPS antenna; if GPS is enabled for the camera, every photo taken by the user will be imprinted with the GPS location where it was taken. When the photo is posted online, anyone who knows how to find this data will know exactly where it was taken. This could raise security concerns with regards to stalking and abduction. Finally, always protect the restriction’s password and iTunes password. • Social Media. Facebook, Instagram and Kik Messenger tend to be used predominantly by teens to connect to their friends. Many social media sites do not allow children younger than 13 to have social media accounts. Do you set up the account even though the media site restricts access? If you decide to allow your child access continued on page 60

Towne Lake Primary Care is proud to announce the addition of Dr. kirk Hewling to our practice. Towne Lake Primary Care provides compassionate, comprehensive medical care for the entire family. Our board-certified physicians, Dr. Loe, Dr. Mercando and Dr. Hewling, offer exceptional knowledge while serving with the empathetic touch and attention to detail you and your family deserve. Towne Lake Primary Care offers same-day appointments for sick visits and comprehensive women’s health services. Our board-certified physicians offer: • Chronic disease management

900 Towne Lake Pkwy. Suite 410 Woodstock, ga 30189

• Acute illness care • Comprehensive physical exams for sports participation & college students • Pediatric care for school-aged children • Immunizations for children and adults • In-house EKG tests

kirk Hewling, M.D.

Conveniently located at I-575, on Towne Lake Parkway Free ParkIng

Call today for an appointment (678) 445-0819

SIXES LIVING | January 2015

School & Sports

Seniors Make Memories, Start New Tradition PHOTOS COURTESY OF SKIP DAUGHERTY

Congratulations to the White Team and Coach Dave Svehla for their 35-16 victory over the Red Team, coached by Cherokee High School’s Josh Shaw, in the inaugural Northside Hospital-Cherokee CCSD Senior Bowl football game. More than 300 senior football players, cheerleaders, band members and Junior ROTC members were recognized in front of a crowd of about 2,000 people in the stadium at Etowah High School. White team quarterbacks were Justin Agner of Woodstock

SIXES LIVING | January 2015

and Robby Knox of Etowah, and team captains were Scott Morgan, Dawson Ewers, Andrew Harris and Agner. Red Team quarterback was Spencer Ashley of Cherokee High, and team captains were Jacob Schoeb, Jordan Riddle, Stanlee Logue and Ashley. Cherokee’s Andrew Harris was named Offensive Player of the Game. Sharrone Gates of Woodstock earned Defensive Player of the Game, and Etowah’s Robby Knox was named Most Valuable Player.

SIXES LIVING | January 2015

School & Sports

CHS Students Participate in Reflections Program

Local Creek Becomes an Outdoor Classroom

Two Cherokee High School Students recently competed at the county level in the 2014-2015 National PTA Reflections program, which encourages students to express themselves through theme-based From left, Joseph Marshall, Principal Debra artwork in dance Murdock and Amanda Marshall. choreography, film production, literature, musical composition, photography and visual arts. Freshman Joseph Marshall won first place in the photography category. Senior Amanda Marshall placed second in photography and second in the film production category. This year’s theme is, “The World Would Be a Better Place If…”

With the help of the Cherokee Water & Sewerage Authority and Adopt-a-Stream, seventh-graders at Cherokee Charter Academy explored Blankets Creek near the school’s Canton campus. Students Cherokee Charter Academy students explore did a stream Blankets Creek. habitat survey and measured basic chemical aspects of the waterway (including temperature, pH, dissolved oxygen and conductivity). The students also did rocky bottom method macroinvertebrate sampling and macrovertebrate identification. The information they collected will contribute to an environmental database.

International News Anchor Visits Cherokee Charter Academy

Local Charity Awards Its First Sponsorship

CNN Student News anchor Carl Azuz recently visited Cherokee Charter Academy to give students a look into the life of the news business. Azuz explained that some weeks can be extremely challenging for him and his news team, like last years’ “snowmageddon.” While many people in the Atlanta area were unable to work, Carl and his team had major news stories to cover. He was able to do his research, writing and shooting video from home and still get the news out to classrooms worldwide.

Woodstock High School sophomore Brooke Bowling has been selected as the first recipient of a sponsorship for Indoor Color Guard/Indoor Drumline by Kirsti’s Wishing Well, a nonprofit for musicians, writers and artists in memory of Kirsti Sue Baiel. (www. kirstiswishingwell. com) Brooke is a member of Woodstock High School’s Winter Guard as well as the Marching Wolverines’ Color Guard. She is the daughter of Jim and Christy Bowling. Brooke Bowling

Board Bids Farewell to Departing Members

Carl Azuz answers student’s questions. 50

SIXES LIVING | January 2015

Vice Chair Robert Wofford and school board members Michael Geist and Rob Usher recently served in the last meeting of their four-year terms on the Cherokee County Board of Education. Each was presented with a plaque and words of appreciation from board Chairwoman Janet Read. All three members completed one four-year term and did not seek re-election. Wofford’s service on the board followed a long career with the school district that—including his education as a student in the system—totals 60 years.

Students Help Families in Need Members of Avery Elementary School’s Friends Club collected toys, clothes and gift cards to help three families in need during the holiday season. The students stayed after school to wrap the presents before sending them to the families.

From left, front row: John Hyatt, Hannah Martin, Kailen Kershner, Danny McElroy, Wyatt Ford, GraceAnn Ford, Ellie Jobe, Sammy Grugan, Sean Reeves, Delaney Dickerson, teacher Patty Sloan. Second row: Cade Sousa Jay Eno, Carson Sousa and Jack Teachworth. Third row: Katie Pelot and Aunna Dustin. Back row: Amy Youngblood, Ashley Tippens, Ramsey Cook, Brooke Setser, Ella Walker, Rebekah Dirrim, Kalee Hart, Grace Ikerd, Morgan Adams, Eliie Johnson, Madeline Baker, Meredith Collett, Olivia Mynes, Sammy Martin, Kate McTyre; Ellie Godwin, Anna Connelly, Rachel Love, Jenna Garner, MacKynze Williams, Katie Coker, Melanie Gary, Michael Davis and Logan Woodall.

The Woodstock Elementary School Student Council conducted a canned food drive that netted more than 1,000 cans. The donations were given to Mt. Zion Church Food Bank.

Student council members Yang Hui Bowen, Aiden Briggs, Ellie Entrekin, Anthony Gentile, Braxton Ghetti, TJ Huston, Andrew Hyman, Kyle Motsiff, Jessica Sow, Manov Tilca and Ashlyn Utley count cans.

Woodstock High School students donated more than 5,000 pounds of canned food for needy families, winning second place in the Atlanta Falcons “FalCan” Food Drive School Challenge, sponsored by Publix supermarkets. Players and cheerleaders from the Atlanta Falcons visited the school to thank students for their efforts, including Falcons players Corey Peters and Sean Baker, who answered questions and signed autographs.

Senior Parsh Patel gets a football signed, while Hope Nuttall, also a senior, waits for her autographs. SIXES LIVING | January 2015

School & Sports

High School Track and Field Stars Near Finish Line BY JASON HUNTER

Owen Bailey

Kingsley Green

Arielle Hunter

Alexandra Melehan

Leena Morris 52

SIXES LIVING | January 2015

The graduating class of 2015 for Woodstock and Etowah high schools has five hard-working athletes who deserve recognition for their athletic accomplishments over the past three years. Track and field typically doesn’t get the same interest that’s shown to the more popular sports like football, basketball and baseball, or cross country, although it is the fastest-growing sport on the high school level. However, our two schools athletically are in the toughest and highest class (6A) in the state. Right here among us, we have five outstanding athletes that I’ve personally witnessed grow from babies in the sport to some of the top athletes in the state by their sophomore or junior seasons. At Woodstock the athletes are Arielle Hunter (sprints), Alexandra Melehan (distance) and Owen Bailey (distance). At Etowah, they are state champion Leena Morris (field events) and Kingsley Green (distance). In this group of athletes we have county, regional, sectional, and even a state champion. While they all have made it to state finals—the highest level of competition—over the past three years, their senior year will be an especially important and exciting one. This is due in part to the fact that they all will be attempting to make it back to the top one more time and bring home the coveted state title before graduating from high school. Track and field is a very competitive sport that has more athletes participating than any other sport. So, starting in February 2015, please come out to witness and support some of Georgia’s top athletes and help root them on during their final journey on the road to the state high school track and field championships.

SIXES LIVING | January 2015

Faith

There’s Always a Chance for a New Beginning BY DR. JOE MCKECHNIE

The generation in which you grew up would dictate how you respond to this question. What is the B-52? My generation would respond by saying that the B-52s is an alternative rock band from Athens, Georgia. But they took their name from the iconic aircraft that first made its way into the national lexicon in the mid-1950s. The Boeing B-52 Stratofortress made its maiden Dr. Joe McKechnie is flight in April 1952 and, since then, more the senior pastor of than 700 have been built for the United Sixes United Methodist Church, and a member States Air Force. The B-52 was used of the Sixes Living to carry nuclear bombs and, up until community board. 1991, a flotilla of B-52s was continually Email him at joe@sixesumc.org. patrolling the skies, being re-fueled in the air and only landing to relieve flight crews. This massive aircraft was constantly on guard for potential nuclear attacks. At the height of the Cold War, the B-52 epitomized American ingenuity and military might. In a span of eleven years, 744 B-52s were built, and in June of 1962 the final B-52 rolled off of Boeing’s assembly line in Wichita, Kansas. That was more than five decades ago. But guess what? The B-52 is still flying, and the military has plans to keep these aircraft around for another 25 years or so. In 2012, an Air Force engineering study indicated that the lifespan of these planes

SIXES LIVING | January 2015

could extend to the year 2040. That’s nearly 90 years after they were introduced. How is that possible? Well, the B-52s are frequently refitted with the latest technology. The old is updated and improved. So are we. I want you to realize that God loves you, God created you, and like the Air Force updating the B-52 bomber, God wants to upgrade and update your life. About 700 years before Jesus was born, the prophet Isaiah was delivering a message of hope to people who were hurting and scared: “Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing!” (Isaiah 43:18). He was writing to a people torn apart by war and exile. The Israelites were going to be overrun by the Babylonians, and they would be taken far away from their homeland. There, they would reminisce about the “good old days.” But God tells them, “Forget the former things. Do not dwell on the past.” In other words, God wants them to focus on their future. The past is behind them. The work that God has done for them is not finished – far from it! The bad things they have experienced are no match for God’s healing. The times they messed up or made mistakes can be washed away by God’s mercy. The moments of heartache and mourning are small potatoes when compared to the mighty things the Lord has in store for them… and for us! God is a God of new beginnings. God is continually providing new opportunities and fresh starts. We never get to a point where we are done learning, or where God stops working. continued on page 60

Welcome to

photo by Darleen Prem

DOWNTOWN WOODSTOCK

The Outlet Shoppes

T at Atlanta at Saks

Fifth Avenue Off Fifth

- park in marked spaces only - parking in Woodstock UMC lot is M-Sa only - Chatt Tech parking is limited until early 2015

Trolley Routes outlined in red

Chattahoochee Technical College

Parks Cir

Trolley Stop

Public Parking Lots

Rope Mill Rd

Dobbs Rd

Kyle St

On-Street Parking - park in marked spaces only

Woodstock UMC (M-Sa)

Arnold Mill Rd

ek Tr

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Mca

Reeves St

S er

Hu ar d Rd

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tim

CSB Bank (after 5PM)

Dupre

L iley

Main

Mark et S t

n St

Fowler St

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Sat 1:45-4:15

Wheel

Oak St

Hicko

Reformation Brewery

T Fri 6:00-8:15

Elm

Pade

in St

to Cre

le St

To GA Hwy 140

Map

Pinehill

Park at City Center

ffee

Pinehi ll Dr

E Ma

Mill

Town

City Center

Pkwy

Lake

Cham bers

To I-575 Exit 8

Wall St

Town e

To GA Hwy 92

ns ki

Fow le

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Download the Visit Woodstock App for info on downtown businesses and events!

SIXES LIVING | January 2015

Downtown Woodstock

Christmas in Woodstock PHOTOS COURTESY OF DARLEEN PREM

Shop with a Hero

Downtown Parade

SIXES LIVING | January 2015

Don’t Overlook the Past in the Excitement for the Future BY KYLE BENNETT

Downtown Woodstock has seen a tremendous amount of change in recent years. Seemingly every month the excitement builds over the latest stores and restaurants to open their doors for business, a new festival debuting, a new trail opening, and so on. But with most eyes focused on the Kyle Bennett is the director of tourism exciting future, it can be easy for the Woodstock to overlook Woodstock’s Downtown Development fascinating history. Authority. He can be For instance, Woodstock reached at kbennett@ woodstockga.gov. was home to two Rhodes Scholars: Dean Rusk, secretary of state under presidents John Kennedy and Lyndon Johnson, and Eugene Booth, an atomic scientist involved with the Manhattan Project and the development of the atomic bomb. It is amazing to think that a small town like Woodstock produced two winners of this prestigious honor! Traffic is a topic that’s often discussed, but a look back in time Dean Rusk offers a great perspective. Did you know that Woodstock’s Main Street wasn’t paved until 1929? Go back farther and you will witness a time period where Main Street was traversed by cars, riders on

The train depot opened in 1912.

horseback and horse-drawn carriages and wagons. That doesn’t even factor in pedestrians and the train passing by. Now that sounds like one historic traffic jam! You can see the history of Woodstock in the buildings downtown. The current Woodstock Train Depot, which is now home to the restaurant Freight Kitchen & Tap, opened in 1912. The original depot sat a few yards north of today’s structure on the west side of the tracks, and was probably built in 1879, the year railroad construction reached Woodstock. The Woodstock Train Depot is the only building located in Woodstock that is on the National Register of Historic Places. Another building in Woodstock of historic note is the Dean House. Built in 1875 this is the oldest residential house in Woodstock. The Dean House, located next to the Park at City Center in Downtown Woodstock, is now home to the offices of the Cherokee Ledger News. If you are interested in the history of Woodstock, please consider becoming involved Eugene Booth with Preservation Woodstock, Inc., an organization dedicated to preserving the history of Woodstock for future generations. For more information, call (770) 9240406 or attend the next meeting, set for 7 p.m. Jan. 12 at the Woodstock Visitors Center at Dean’s Store.

Horse and buggy and pedestrian traffic is shown clogging Main Street in this photo featured on page 14 of “Georgia’s Woodstock,” a history of the city written by Felicia Whitmore in 1997. SIXES LIVING | January 2015

Downtown Woodstock

Experience Elm Street Humor - a difficult concept! BY G. LORA GROOMS

G. Lora Grooms is the director for the Elm Street Cultural Arts Village. She has been teaching, writing, directing and performing in the Atlanta area since 1990. You can reach her at director@ elmstreetarts.org

The subtitle of this article is a line from a droid in a sci-fi TV show when he doesn’t understand a joke spoken by a human. Even human to human, a particular joke may be funny to one person and not at all to another. Ask any stand-up comedian or actor. Performance to performance, you never know if the same joke or sight gag is going to get a laugh. And certainly, modern humor has changed a great deal in the past several decades. From Bob Hope to Jerry Seinfeld, from Phyllis Diller to Tina Fey, what is deemed funny by both comedians and audiences is not what it used to be. The style and content is very different.

At Elm Street, we offer a wide variety of comedy intended for different audiences. The iThink Improv Troupe is wellknown in the county for its student-friendly school tour programming, which is wildly hilarious while keeping it clean.

CITY CENTER • WOODSTOCK

JANUARY

16 & 17 - PRELIMINARIES 24th - FINALS AT 7:30PM

Fortunately, for the grown-ups who like comedy with a bit more kick to it but don’t want to drive all the way to Atlanta, the iThink Improv Troupe is versatile enough to also provide mature humor. As downtown Woodstock attracts more out-of-county visitors to its fabulous restaurants, the ability to present after-dinner-and-drinks programming for those folks becomes important. And who doesn’t enjoy great comedy?

Call or visit us on the web to learn about our

Better yet, how about a comedy/stand-up competition?

ELMSTREETARTS.ORG 678.494.4251

It’s happening in January: Elm Street and iThink’s first comedy competition - “Last Laugh.” There will be judged preliminaries on Jan. 16 and 17 and the final showdown for cash prizes on Jan. 24. Comedic talent from all over metro Atlanta will be right here in town. Perhaps you or someone you know might like to be up there trying out fresh material. Come have a laugh or two at Elm Street this month!

WINTER CLASSES

This often surprises people, as modern improv is rarely considered appropriate for children. But it really can be appropriate with the right folks in charge. Troupe Founder and Director Siobhan Brumbelow has proved that over and over again since 2008. Teachers, staff and administrators really appreciate the students’ interaction with the troupe as it offers an opportunity for them to be creative and have fun.

SIXES LIVING | January 2015

DOWNTOWN WOODSTOCK DINING GUIDE RESTAURANT Canyons 335 Chambers St. 678-494-8868 canyonsburgercompany.com

CUISINE

BREAKFAST

LUNCH

DINNER

SUNDAY

SPIRITS

RESERV.

American

open

Beer/Wine

Century House Tavern 125 E Main St. 770-693-4552 centuryhousetavern.com

Modern American

$$$

open

Full bar

8 persons +

Fire Stone 120 Chambers St. 770-926-6778 firestonerestaurants.com

Wood-fired Pizza & Grill

$$$

open

Full bar

yes

Southern

Sat./Sun. Brunch

$$$

open

Full bar

American

open

Tapas/Sushi

Fri./Sat. only

open

Full bar

yes

Ipps Pastaria & Bar 8496 Main St. 770-517-7305 ippspastaria.com

Italian

open

Full bar

J Christopher’s 315 Chambers St. 770-592-5990 jchristophers.com

Diner

$-$$

$ - $$

open

weekdays only

BBQ & Southern Sandwiches

$ - $$

open

Beer

Freight Kitchen & Tap 251 E Main St. 770-924-0144 freightkitchen.com Hot Dog Heaven 8588 Main St. 770-591-5605 Ice Martini & Sushi Bar 380 Chambers St. 770-672-6334 icemartinibar.com

J Miller’s Smokehouse 156 Towne Lake Pkwy. 770-592-8295 jmillerssmokehouse.com Magnolia Thomas 108 Arnold Mill Rd. 678-445-5789 magnoliathomas.com

Southern

Sunday Brunch

$$$$

open

Beer/Wine

yes

Pure Taqueria 405 Chambers St. 770-952-7873 puretaqueria.com/woodstock

Mexican

Sat./Sun. Brunch

open

Full bar

6 persons +

Seafood

Sunday Brunch

$$-$$$

open

Full bar

limited

English Tea room

closed

yes

Italian

$$$

closed

Full bar

yes

Reel Seafood 8670 Main St. 770-627-3006 Tea Leaves & Thyme 8990 Main St. 770-516-2609 tealeavesandthyme.com Vingenzo’s 105 E Main St. 770-924-9133 vingenzos.com

SIXES LIVING | January 2015

$ = most entrees under $10 • $$ = most entrees $10 - $15 • $$$ = most entrees $15 - $20 • $$$$ = most entrees over $20

Casual and Upscale Dine-In Restaurants

There’s Always a Chance for a New Beginning continued from page 54

God had already set into motion the events and people who would lead Israel out of captivity and back to the land of blessing. But it was still up to them to decide if they wanted what God was offering. The same is true for us. We may not be held captive by another nation, but we are held captive by our fears, doubts, sin, anxiety, worry, pain, guilt, frustration, loneliness, insecurity and shame. God had already set into motion “the way” (Jesus) who will lead you to a new place of freedom. We need to understand that God is far more interested in our future than He is in our past.

Reflecting on 2014 and Looking Forward to 2015 continued from page 25

We are working more closely this year with our awesome Downtown Development Authority and we have some excellent plans to improve Canton and to support small businesses, including small business financing with low interest rates. All of these things make for a very exciting year and I can’t wait to share it with you. Come to downtown Canton when you can - we are always happy to see you.

Nonprofit Roundup continued from page 18

to 12 months in jail and a $1,000 fine. This effort is part of an initiative by Cherokee Youth Works to curb alcohol use among minors. Sonia Carruthers, Executive Director and CEO of Cherokee Focus, says, “We are very proud of these young people for taking on this initiative to reach the adults of the community.” This effort is spearheaded by Kristina Meyer, CYC youth chairperson and senior at Cherokee High School as part of her senior project to educate the community and diminish alcoholism in our community. For more information, visit www. drugfreecherokee.org. Serenade Heights This ministry for single mothers is beginning a free workshop series this month to cover a series of topics that includes cooking, basic car mechanics, organizational ideas and financial education. The meetings are set for Jan. 29, Feb 12 and 26, March 12 and 26, and April 9 and 23. Dinner and childcare provided. Serenade Heights is a supportive transitional housing ministry that bridges the gap between homelessness and permanent housing for single-mom families in Cherokee County through housing assistance life coaching and mentoring. www. serenadeheights.org

Girl Scout Volunteers Needed to Meet the Need in Cherokee County Don’t Forget to Exercise Your Brain continued from page 44

neuroscience at Brandeis University. He goes on to say that getting clearer speech signals to the brain might allow the brain structures to grow back to their previous size and function. In addition to stimulating your brain with sound, there are many exercises available to improve understanding. How do we exercise our brains? The first step is to be evaluated by a licensed doctor of audiology to find out if you have hearing loss and to see if hearing aids might be recommended for you. One exercise audiologists use is called LACE (Listening and Communication Enhancement) - a system that can be used at home. Another one we recommend is Lumosity, computerbased brain games and brain training. Of course you can take out pen and paper and do crossword puzzles and Sudoku as well - all are good ways to keep your brain sharp!

continued from page 46

experiences and developing leadership skills in our girls makes you want to volunteer and do more,” said Leslie Wagner, service unit director of Cherokee Rose Service Unit. “I find that our adult volunteers often get as much out of the experience as the girls they mentor. It’s exciting to see that you can have a positive impact on individual girls and in the community. Whether that impact is big or small - it’s valuable.” Wagner is also the executive director at Southern Peanut Growers and devotes her time to Girl Scouts by leading an 8th grade Girl Scout Cadette troop and providing support to the troops in her Service Unit. Volunteer opportunities are available, either short or longterm. “There is always a demand, especially for troop leaders. We look for people who are interested and excited about the difference they can make,” said Lewis-Hobba. “For our volunteers, it’s always about making a positive impact in our community and a girl’s life.” To learn more and volunteer with Girl Scouts, visit GirlScoutsATL.org.

Be Alert to the Risks of Social Media continued from page 47

to social media, have a discussion on cyberbullying and make sure your child has a clear understanding that every post, picture and comment made on social media is permanent, it is a reflection of the child as a person and it can be unforgiving. More importantly, personal information is to be kept private! 60

SIXES LIVING | January 2015

Happy New Year!

SIXES AREA HOMES SOLD IN NOVEMBER

Sixes Living Sales for November 2014 List Price

Address

$ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $

225,000.00 127 Windsong TRL 239,900.00 997 Bridgemill AVE 329,900.00 415 Gold XING 469,900.00 4994 Millwood DR 639,900.00 5162 MILLWOOD DR 159,500.00 418 Glenleigh DR 215,900.00 528 CRESTMONT LN 217,900.00 518 CRESTMONT LN 239,000.00 454 Crestmont LN 179,900.00 237 DIAMOND VALLEY PASS 129,900.00 511 Sautee PL 295,000.00 100 Falcon Pointe DR 208,000.00 631 Syemore PASS 214,900.00 732 Berkeley TER 218,000.00 818 Poplar TER 220,000.00 608 Syemore PASS 263,500.00 911 Idlewood DR 286,075.00 720 Lorimore PASS 324,900.00 128 Edgewater TRL 354,900.00 768 Crescent CIR 379,000.00 776 Crescent CIR

$ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $

176,000.00 175,000.00 200,000.00 149,900.00 41,000.00 159,900.00 299,400.00 144,000.00 419,000.00 184,000.00 210,000.00 165,000.00 225,000.00 234,675.00 265,141.00 185,000.00 425,000.00 145,000.00

Subdivision

Beds

Baths

Yr Built

BridgeMill BridgeMill BridgeMill BridgeMill BridgeMill Creekside at Prominence Crestmont Crestmont Crestmont Diamnond Ridge Enclave/Holly Mill Falcon Pointe Harmony on the Lakes Harmony on the Lakes Harmony on the Lakes Harmony on the Lakes Harmony on the Lakes Harmony on the Lakes Harmony on the Lakes Harmony on the Lakes Harmony on the Lakes

4 5 6 6 6 3 4 4 5 4 2 4 3 4 4 4 4 5 4 4 5

2.5 3 4 4 5.5 2 2.5 2.5 3 3.5 2.5 2.5 2.5 2.5 2.5 2.5 2.5 3 2.5 3.5 4

2002 2000 2005 2005 2004 2004 2014 2014 2008 2005 2006 1998 2006 2010 2012 2009 2007 2014 2009 2012 2009

Days on Market 69 35 10 190 48 4 85 0 1 15 57 5 7 4 8 6 4 23 30 27 21

Sales Price

$$/sq ft

$ 209,000.00 $ 228,000.00 $ 329,900.00 $ 455,000.00 $ 620,000.00 $ 165,000.00 $ 215,900.00 $ 215,000.00 $ 230,000.00 $ 178,000.00 $ 127,500.00 $ 315,000.00 $ 200,000.00 $ 206,000.00 $ 210,000.00 $ 210,000.00 $ 268,800.00 $ 286,075.00 $ 310,000.00 $ 344,900.00 $ 368,500.00

$ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $

104 81 83 101 121 115 90 89 90 76 81 127 100 102 105 91 120 92 96 115 99

See all the photos and details of these sold listings at http://SLNOV2014.KurtandSheilaTeam.com

$ 246,512.59

126 Hidden Lake CIR 510 Honeysuckle LN 405 Sweetgum DR 1240 Little Deer RUN 8430 Knox Bridge HWY 311 India LN 1045 Middlebrooke DR 12017 Bells Ferry RD 1881 Palm ST 416 Little River RD 308 Springs XING 127 Oleander WAY 370 Ridge Brook STA 403 Payne RD 225 Amylou CIR 204 Taylors Farm DR 305 William Falls DR 257 Osmanthus WAY AVERAGES IN NOV 2014

Hidden Lake Holly Creek Estates Holly Creek Estates Indian Brook Johnny Sims Lake Norton Middlebrooke None None Preserve At Holly Springs Preserve At Holly Springs Prominence Court Ridge Brook Station Riverside Riverside Taylors Farm The Falls of Cherokee Village At Holly Mill

4 4 4 3 3 4 5 3 3 3 4 4 4 4 5 4 4 3

2.5 3 3.5 2 1 2.5 4 2 2.5 2 2.5 2.5 3 2.5 3 3 4.5 2.5

2005 1986 1986 1989 1935 2014 2002 1957 1966 2004 2004 2004 1997 2014 2014 2000 1999 2002

We have seen a surge lately in buyer activity. Seize this opportunity to sell. Rates can only go up from here which will make homes less affordable for buyers using financing.

60 19 27 27 110 18 77 46 87 4 8 15 9 12 29 29 16 7 32.03

$ 170,000.00 $ 175,000.00 $ 187,000.00 $ 139,500.00 $ 32,000.00 $ 149,000.00 $ 285,000.00 $ 144,000.00 $ 285,000.00 $ 176,500.00 $ 192,000.00 $ 154,000.00 $ 214,000.00 $ 235,214.00 $ 258,141.00 $ 184,900.00 $ 405,000.00 $ 127,000.00

$ 76 $ 74 $ 76 $ 87 No data $ 74 $ 75 $ 94 $ 146 $ 102 $ 82 $ 75 $ 76 $ 107 $ 96 $ 73 No data No data

$ 236,046.92 $ 94.19

Data compiled by the Kurt & Sheila Team / Keller Williams Realty Partners / www.KurtandSheilaTeam.com Sales Data derived from the FMLS (Area covered by Sixes Living)

SIXES LIVING | January 2015

Reference

G R E E NP R IN T S T RA IL SY ST EM WOODSTOCK, GA

Town to Creek Trail - This 0.57 mile paved trail begins at Market Street in downtown Woodstock one block west of Main Street. It continues downhill toward Noonday Creek where it intersects with the Noonday Creek & Towne Lake Pass trails. Noonday Creek Trail - This 0.86 mile paved trail is a continuation of the Town to Creek trail meandering along Noonday Creek. It intersects the future Towne Lake Pass trail and the bridge to Woofstock Park. Trestle Rock Trail - This 0.40 mile paved trail is located in Olde Rope Mill Park and is an easy flat trail on the banks of Little River. Towne Lake Pass (2015) - This approx. 1.2-mile trail will connect the Towne Lake community to downtown along the banks of Noonday Creek. It will begin at the interesection of Towne Lake Parkway and Towne Lake Hills South. Rubes Creek Trail (2015) - This 1-mile paved trail runs along Rubes Creek and will ultimately connect into a larger run of trails. 62

SIXES LIVING | January 2015

SCHOOL INFORMATION PUBLIC SCHOOLS ACE Principal: Mr. Richard Landolt 3921 Holly Springs Pkwy., Holly Springs 30142 (770) 345-2005

Johnston Elementary Principal: Kathleen Chandler 2031 East Cherokee Dr. Woodstock 30188 (770) 928-2910

Middle & High School Principal: Richard Goff Elementary School: Robert Lester

Mountain Road Elementary Principal: Jennifer Landry 615 Mountain Rd., Woodstock 30188 (770) 664-9708

Compass Prep Academy Director: Laura George www.compassprep.org info@compassprep.org (404) 643-9424

Indian Knoll Elementary Principal: Dr. Ann Gazell 3635 Univeter Rd., Canton 30115 (770) 721-6600

Furtah Preparatory School Headmaster: Fred Furtah 5496 Highway 92, Acworth 30102 (678) 574-6488

Holly Springs Elementary — STEM Academy Principal: Dr. Dianne Steinbeck 1965 Hickory Rd., Canton 30115 (770) 345-5035

Harvest Baptist School 3460 Kellogg Creek Road, Acworth 30102 Principal: Jamie Smithey (770) 974-9091

Woodstock High School Principal: Dr. Paul Weir 2010 Towne Lake Hills South Dr. Woodstock 30189 (770) 592-3500

Holdheide Education K-2 5234 Old Highway 5, Woodstock Principal: Tammy Dorsten (770) 516-2292 www.MyGiftedKids.org

R.M. Moore Elementary Principal: Jan Adamson 1375 Puckett Rd., Waleska 30183 (770) 479-3978

Woodstock Middle Principal: Mark Smith 2000 Towne Lake Hills South Dr. Woodstock 30189 (770) 592-3516

Lyndon Academy Headmaster: Linda Murdock 485 Toonigh Rd., Woodstock 30188 (770) 926-0166

Liberty Elementary Principal: Doug Knott 10500 Bells Ferry Rd., Canton 30114 (770) 345-6411

Freedom Middle Principal: Shelia Grimes 10550 Bells Ferry Rd., Canton 30114 (770) 345-4100

Canton Elementary — STEM Academy Principal: Beth Long 712 Marietta Hwy., Canton 30114 (770) 720-6100

Sixes Elementary Principal: Cindy Crews 20 Ridge Rd., Canton 30114 (770) 345-3070

Hasty Elementary — Fine Arts Academy Principal: Izell McGruder 205 Brown Industrial Pkwy., Canton 30114 (770) 479-1600

Woodstock Elementary Principal: Dr. Christy Bowling 230 Rope Mill Rd., Woodstock 30188 (770) 926-6969

Sequoyah High School Principal: Elliott Berman 4485 Hickory Rd., Canton 30115 (770) 345-1474

Cherokee Charter Academy Principal: Dr. Scott O’Prey 2126 Sixes Rd. Canton 30114 (678) 385-7322

Cherokee High School Principal: Debra Murdock 930 Marietta Hwy., Canton 30114 (770) 479-4112 Teasley Middle Principal: Dr. Susan Zinkil 8871 Knox Bridge Hwy., Canton 30114 (770) 479-7077 Clayton Elementary Principal: John Hultquist 221 Upper Burris Rd., Canton 30114 (770) 479-2550 Knox Elementary School Principal: Tammy Sandell 151 River Bend Way, Canton 30114 (770) 345-4307

Dean Rusk Middle Principal: Cindy Cooper 4695 Hickory Rd., Canton 30115 (770) 345-2832 Hickory Flat Elementary Principal: Whitney Nolan 2755 East Cherokee Dr., Canton 30115 (770) 345-6841

PRIVATE SCHOOLS Cherokee Christian Academy and Cherokee Christian High School 3075 Trickum Road, Woodstock (678) 494-5464 www.cherokeechristian.org

Homeschool Homeschool Community Classical Conversations Woodstock Director: Cari Lingerfelt carinwoody@bellsouth.net

Cherokee County School District Calendar at a Glance Jan. 19

No School

Feb. 16-20

No School

March 30- April 3

No School

Cafeteria account information: www.mypaymentsplus.com Aspen: https://sis.cherokee.k12. ga.us/aspen/home.do School District Website: www.cherokee.k12.ga.us

SIXES LIVING | January 2015

Reference

SIXES AREA CLUBS & ORGANIZATIONS Business Organizations Canton Cherokee Business and Professional Women’s Club Meets: Noon on third Thursdays at Canton IHOP Contact: Glenda Hinton (770) 345-1751 Canton Communicators Toastmasters Club Meets: Noon-1:15 p.m. Thursdays at the Canton YMCA Contact: Steven Van Schooten, (770) 3668224. www.toastmasters.org Cherokee Area Business Connection Meets: 7:15 a.m. Wednesdays Contact: Marci Zied, (770) 345-8687 customerservice@aloveoftravel.com Cherokee B2B Network Meets: 8 a.m. second and fourth Thursdays at Best Western, 705 Transit Ave., Canton 30114 Contact: (770) 781-3452. www.CherokeeB2B.com

Contact: Marie Blackwell (770) 378-0759 www.fosteroradopt.org Cherokee County Senior Services offers educational, social, leisure and recreational activities for senior citizens. Contact: (770) 345-2675 www.cherokeega.com Cherokee County Special Olympics provides year-round sports training and athletic competition for children and adults with intellectual disabilities. www.cherokeecountyspecialolympics.org Cherokee County Family Violence Center offers emergency shelter and crisis intervention, affordable housing, education, support services. Contact: (770) 479-1703, in Spanish (770) 7207050, www.cfvc.org

Cherokee Toastmasters Club. Meets: noon-1:15 p.m. Wednesdays at the Bank of North Georgia, 200 Parkway 575, Woodstock 30188. Contact: Richard Stacy at (843) 697-5189, richbstacy@ gmail.com. www.cherokeetoastmasters.com.

Cherokee Fellowship of Christian Athletes challenges professional, college, high school, junior high and youth level coaches and athletes to use athletics to impact the world for Christ. Contact: Bill Queen (404) 441-3508 www.cherokeefca.org

Empowered Women Through Synergy Meets: Third Thursday at 8.30 a.m. at J Christopher’s in Downtown Woodstock Contact: Shahida Baig (678) 445-3900 Facebook: Empowered Women Through Synergy

Cherokee FOCUS works to improve the lives of children and families through collaborative programs and initiatives. Contact: Sonia Carruthers (770) 345-5483 www.cherokeefocus.org

Woodstock Business Networking Group Meets: 7:30 a.m. Tuesdays at Atlanta Bread Company, 180 Woodstock Square Ave. Contact: Lee West (770) 591-7101

Community Veterinary Care provides professional veterinary care for pets whose owners have limited financial means. Contact: (678) 640-3512 www.communityveterinarycare.com

Charitable Organizations Ahimsa House for victims of domestic violence who need help getting their pets to safety. Contact: 24-hour line (404) 452-6248 Info (404) 496-4038. www.ahimsahouse.org American Heart Association - Cherokee Division Contact: (678) 385-2013 American Red Cross metro chapter Contact: (770) 428-2695 Angel House Girls Home is a residential facility for girls 12-18 to learn self-sufficiency. Contact: (770) 479-9555 www.angelhousega.com Anna Crawford Children’s Center a child abuse and prevention program for children and adults. Contact: (770) 345-8100 www.cherokeechildadvocates.org CASA for Children, Inc. needs volunteers to help advocate for children in the court system. Contact: Deidre Hollands (770) 345-3274 www.casacherokee.org Cherokee County Animal League is an association of pet owners, retailers, pet service providers, pet food pantries, veterinary offices, and rescue groups working together to care for and celebrate pets. Contact: Steve Monahan at (770) 712-4077 www.CherokeeCountyAnimalLeague.org Cherokee County Foster & Adoptive Parent Association of GA supports foster parents.

SIXES LIVING | January 2015

Everyday Angels offers financial assistance for local families in need. Email aaeverydayangels@gmail.com Forever Fed is a mobile food ministry that addresses physical hunger and hopelessness in North Georgia by providing meals and sharing the gospel. www.foreverfed.org Georgia Animal Project offers high quality, lowcost spay and neuter services for dogs and cats throughout North Georgia. Contact: (770) 704-PAWS (7297) www.theanimalproject.org Give a Kid a Chance – Cherokee sponsors a yearly back-to-school bash where thousands of children in need are given filled backpacks, haircuts, socks, underwear, gently used clothing and health screenings to prepare them to go back to school. www.giveakidachance.org Goshen Valley Boys Ranch offers care and counsel to young men in the DFCS system. Young men ages 8-21 call the ranch their home. Contact: (770) 796-4618 www.goshenvalley.org Habitat for Humanity North Central GA Contact: (770) 345-1879 www.habitat-ncg.org Harvesting Hope Ministries, Inc. raises money to send surgery care packs to children facing liver and kidney transplants. www.harvestinghopeministries.org Healing Hands Youth Ranch offers safe, peaceful

environment where abused and at-risk children are paired with rescue horses to find hope and healing. Contact: Jennifer Simonis (770) 633-4451 www.hhyr.org Hope Center offers pregnant teens, single women pregnancy testing and counseling, childbirth and parenting classes, budget counseling, provision of maternity and baby supplies. Contact: (770) 924-0864, www.hopectr.com Hope Center — Baby & More Thrift Store Contact: (770) 517-4450 www.babyandmorethriftstore.com HopeQuest Ministry Group helps people who struggle intensely with life dominating issues related to alcohol abuse, substance abuse and/or sexual brokenness. Contact: (678) 391-5950, www.hqmg.org international City of Refuge (iCOR) exists to share God’s love, hope and healing with children in need by providing loving homes with emphasis on family unification when appropriate. Contact: Lily Colgate (404) 992-8155 http://icor-orphans.org Iron Hearts is a therapeutic horsemanship program for children and adults with special needs. Contact: (678) 493-5775 www.ironhearts.org MUST Ministries offers clothes closet, employment services, GED prep classes, food pantry for Cherokee residents. Contact: Kendall Jones (770) 479-5397 www.mustministries.org National Alliance for Mental Illness is the nation’s largest grassroots organization in America working to build better lives for the millions affected by mental illness. www.nami.org Never Alone offers food and clothing assistance to residents of Cherokee County. Apply online or by calling (770) 363.5272 www.neveralone.org Next Step Ministries provides day programs Monday through Saturday for special needs kids, teens, and young adults. Contact: 770-592-1227 www.nextstepministries.net North Georgia Pregnancy Center offers help and care to young girls and women with an unplanned pregnancy or who need counseling. Contact: (706) 253-6303 www.ngapregnancy.org Papa’s Pantry partners with individuals facing a critical shortage of food or finances due to an unexpected crisis or job loss. Offers life skills, job classes, food pantry. Contact: (770) 591-4730 www.papaspantry.org Safe Kids of Georgia offers free child safety seat inspections. Contact: (770) 721-7808 www.cherokeesafekids.org SERV International operates the House of Hope orphanage in Africa, sponsors a clean water program in Dominican Republic and meal

distributions worldwide. Also offers mission trips. Contact: (770) 516-1108. www.servone.org

Civic Organizations BridgeMill-Sixes Service League Contact: Marlyn Patouillet (770) 345-7941 www.bssl.org Canton Lions Club Contact: (678) 224-7878. www.lionsofcanton.org Canton Optimist Club Meets: 7:30 a.m. Fridays at Canton IHOP Contact: canton_optimist@hotmail.com https://sites.google.com/site/cantonoptimistclub/ home Canton Rotary Club Meets: Noon Tuesdays at the Cherokee Conference Center at the Bluffs www.cantongarotary.org Cherokee County Historical Society Contact: (770) 345-3288. www.rockbarn.org Cherokee County Service League (770) 704-5991 Cherokee Triad S.A.L.T. (Senior and Law Enforcement Together) Council works to alleviate fear of victimization, build confidence, enhance delivery of law enforcement services and improve quality of life for senior population. Contact: Dale Walz at dale.walz@yahoo.com www.saltcherokee.com Rotary Club of Cherokee County Meets: 6:30 p.m. Thursdays at Sidelines Grille on Reinhardt College Parkway, Canton Contact: (770) 683-1327. www.cherokeerotary.org

Political Organizations Cherokee County Democrat Party meets 7 p.m. 2nd Thursdays at Holly Springs Depot, 164 Hickory Rd., Holly Springs. 8:30 a.m. 1st Saturdays at IHOP, 3010 Northside Pkwy., Canton 30014. Contact: (770) 345-3489 www.cherokeedemocrats.com/d2. Cherokee County Libertarians meet 7:30 p.m. on the third Tuesday at the Cherokee County Board of Realtors Training Center, 1600 River Park Blvd., Suite 104, Woodstock 30188. Contact: http:// cherokeelp.org. Cherokee County Republican Party Meets Second Saturday at 9 a.m. at Winchesters Woodfire Grill Contact: (678) 809-1411 Cherokee Tea Party Patriots meet at 4 p.m. the third Sunday at Latimer Hall in Woodstock. Contact Conrad Quagliaroli, (770) 378-8232. Republican Women of Cherokee County Contact: (678) 520-2236. www.rwccga.com

Recreation & Hobbies Allatoona Gold Panners. Periodic events and outings to pan the creeks in the Dahlonega Gold Belt along the Lake. Contact Rob Kelly, rrkelly@ bellsouth.net. Arts Alliance of Georgia, Inc. Meets: 10 a.m. second Saturdays at Studio 101, 101 Emma Ln., Woodstock 30188 www.artsalliancega.org

Blue Skies Laughter Club Meets: 7-8 p.m. Wednesdays at Northside Cherokee Medical Offices, 100 Stoneforest Dr., first floor conference room, Woodstock 30189 Contact (770) 517-3363 ext. 3 www.addlaughter.com

Contact: Rich Sanford (770) 926-1944

Christian Authors Guild Meets: 7-9 p.m. first and third Monday at Prayer and Praise Christian Fellowship, 6409 Bells Ferry Rd., Woodstock 30189 www.christianauthorsguild.org

Breast Cancer Support Group: Cancer Support Community Atlanta Contact: (404) 843-1880 http://cancersupportcommunityatlanta.org

Cherokee Amateur Radio Society Meets: 10 a.m. second Saturdays at the William G. Long Senior Center, 223 Arnold Mill Rd., Woodstock 30188. www.cherokeehams.com

Celebrate Recovery Christ-centered program for all types of habits, hurts and hangups • 6:30 p.m. Mondays at Sixes United Methodist. (770) 345-7644. www.sixesumc.org • 6:30 p.m. Tuesdays at Ministry House, (678) 459-2347, http://MinistryHouse.org. • 6:15 p.m. Thursdays at 411 Scott Mill Road, Canton, GA 30114 (678) 764-8660

Cherokee County Arts Center 94 North St., Canton 30115 Contact: (770) 704-6244. www.CherokeeArts.org Cherokee Community Chorale, a community of singers from all walks of life including housewives, teachers, retired professionals, office managers and professional musicians who love the art of choral singing. Contact: (678) 439-8625. www.cherokeechorale.org Cherokee County Master Gardeners: (770) 479-0418 www.caes.uga.edu/extension/cherokee/ mastergardeners/ Cherokee County Saddle Club www.cherokeesaddleclub.com Cherokee Music Teachers Association: Contact: Linda Lokey (770) 720-1701 www.cherokeemta.org Cherokee Photography Club www.cherokeepc.org Cherokee Senior Softball Association www.cssasoftball.com The Funk Heritage Center Book Club Meets: 2 p.m. second Tuesdays at the Funk Heritage Center, 7300 Reinhardt College Pkwy., Waleska 30183. Contact: (770) 720-5970 www.reinhardt.edu/funkheritage Sons of the American Revolution - Cherokee Meets: 7 p.m. second Tuesdays at the Rock Barn, 638 Marietta Hwy., Canton 30114 www.cherokeechapter.com

Support Organizations AA Meetings Meets 9:30 a.m. Monday-Saturday, noon Monday-Friday, 7 p.m. Monday, 4 p.m. Sunday (for women) at Canton First United Methodist, 930 Lower Scott Mill Rd., Canton 30115 Contact: (770) 479-6961 Al-Anon and Al-A-Teen Meets: 8 p.m. Thursdays at St. Clement’s Episcopal Church, 2795 Ridge Rd., Canton 30114; Al-Anon at 7 p.m. Tuesdays and Al-A-Teen at 7 p.m. Thursdays at Hillside UMC, 4474 Towne Lake Pkwy., Woodstock 30189; Al-Anon at 6 p.m. Wednesdays at Studio 121, 121 Brown St., Canton 30114. Contact: (770) 516-3502 AARP Woodstock Chapter Meets: 11:30 a.m. 2nd Tuesdays at Featherstones, 1003 Towne Lake Hills E, Woodstock 30189

Alzheimer/Dementia Support Group Meets: 3rd Thursday at Emeritus Woodstock Estates, 1000 Professional Way, Woodstock 30188 Contact: (770) 926-0119

Cherokee Christian Ministerial Association for pastors and ministry leaders of all Christian denominations. Meets: 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. the last Wednesday of the month at Dayspring Church, 6835 Victory Dr., Woodstock 30189, www.cherokeeministers.org Diabetes Support Group Meets 3rd Tuesday at 9:30 & 11 a.m. at Emeritus Assisted Living, 756 Neese Rd., Woodstock Linda Watson, (770) 793-7818 Grace Valley Ministries connects pastors by offering small group meetings, free counseling and a place to retreat. Contact: (727) 251-7690 www.gracevalleyministries.org Hearing Loss Association of America meets 2-4 p.m. on the last Sunday of the month at the William Long Senior Center in Woodstock. Lupus Support Group meets 2nd Thursdays at 6:30 p.m. in the New Light Church hall on New Light Road. Contact: Pam Bennett at (404) 9757580 MOMS Club of Canton, West GA (serving Canton, Ball Ground, Waleska and Holly Springs) http://momsclubofcantonwest.webs.com Next Step Ministries offers a therapeutic day program, Saturday Respite, camps and special events for people with special needs. Contact: (770) 592-1227 www.nextstepministries.net Northwest Atlanta Moms of Multiples for parents of multiples meets 7 p.m. second Mondays at North Metro Church on Barrett Parkway. www.NOWAMOM.org Recovery Meetings in downtown Canton 9 a.m. Sunday 11th Step; 4 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays “Serenity Sisters” 6 p.m. Wednesdays “Wednesday Night Wisdom” at Studio 121, 121 Brown St., Canton 30114 Contact: (770) 479-696 Unlimited Possibilities, support group for stroke and brain injury survivors. Meets: 7 p.m. first Tuesday of each month at Kennestone Outpatient Rehab Center Contact: Kelly (678) 677-2589 SIXES LIVING | January 2015

Reference

SIXES AREA COMMUNITY OF FAITH ADVENTIST

Canton Adventist 411 Scott Mill Rd., Canton 30114 (678) 880-0106, www.cantonadventist.org

AME

Allen Temple 232 Arnold Mill Rd., Woodstock 30188 (770) 926-6348, www.allentempleame.org St. Paul AME 390 Crisler St., Canton 30114 (770) 479-9691, www.stpaulame-canton.org

BAPTIST

First Baptist Canton One Mission Point, Canton 30114 (770) 479-5538, www.fbccanton.org First Baptist Holly Springs 2632 Holly Springs Pkwy., Holly Springs 30142 (770) 345-5349, www.fbchollysprings.com

LUTHERAN

Celebration of Grace 411 Scott Mill Rd., Canton 30114 (770) 503-5050, www.celebrationofgrace.org Good Shepherd 1208 Rose Creek Dr., Woodstock 30189 (770) 924-7286, www.gslutheran.org Living Hope Lutheran Church 3450 Stilesboro Road NW, Kennesaw (770) 425-6726 / office@livinghopega.com www.LivingHopeGA.com Timothy 556 Arnold Mill Rd., Woodstock 30188 (770) 928-2812, www.TLCWoodstock.org

METHODIST

Bascomb UMC 2299 Bascomb Carmel Rd., Woodstock 30189 (770) 926-9755, www.bascombchurch.org

First Baptist Woodstock 11905 Ga. 92, Woodstock 30188 (770) 926-4428, www.fbcw.org

Canton First 930 Lower Scott Mill Rd., Canton 30115 (770) 479-2502, www.cantonfirstumc.org

Heritage Baptist Fellowship 3615 Reinhardt College Pkwy. Canton 30114 (770) 479-9415, www.heritagebaptistfellowship.com

City On A Hill 7745 Main St., Woodstock 30188 (678) 445-3480, www.coahumc.org

Hopewell Baptist 78 Ridge Rd., Canton 30114 (770) 345-5723, www.hopewellbaptist.com

Fields Chapel 1331 Fields Chapel Rd., Canton 30114 (770) 479-6030, www.fieldschapel.org

Mt. Zion Baptist 4096 East Cherokee Dr., Canton 30115 (770) 479-3324, www.mtzb.org

Hillside 4474 Towne Lake Pkwy., Woodstock 30189 (770) 924-4777, www.hillsideumc.org

New Victoria Baptist 6659 Bells Ferry Rd., Woodstock 30189 (770) 926-8448, www.newvicbaptist.org

Holly Springs 2464 Holly Springs Pkwy., Canton 30115 (770) 345-2883, www.hollyspringsumc.com

River Church 2335 Sixes Rd., Canton 30114 (770) 485-1975 www.riveratlanta.org

Liberty Hill 141 Railroad St., Canton 30114 (678) 493-8920, www.libertyhillumc.org

Sutallee Baptist 895 Knox Bridge Hwy., White 30184 (770) 479-0101, www.sutalleebaptistchurch.com

Sixes 8385 Bells Ferry Rd., Canton 30114 (770) 345-7644, www.sixesumc.org

Toonigh Baptist 4999 Old Highway 5, Lebanon 30146 www.toonighbaptistchurch.lifewaylink.com

Woodstock UMC 109 Towne Lake Pkwy., Woodstock 30188

EPISCOPAL

Woodstock Church of the Nazarene 874 Arnold Mill Rd., Woodstock 30188 www.wcnga.com

Saint Clement’s 2795 Ridge Rd., Canton 30114 (770) 345-6722, www.stclementscanton.org

JEWISH

Chabad Jewish Center 4255 Wade Green Rd. NW, Suite 120, Kennesaw 30144, (678) 460-7702 www.jewishWoodstock.com Congregation Ner Tamid Reform Jewish Congregation (678) 264-8575, www.mynertamid.org

MESSIANIC JEWISH CONGREGATIONS Tikvah l’Chaim 4206 N. Arnold Mill, Woodstock 30188 (678) 936-4125, www.tlchaim.com Congregation Beth Hallel 950 Pine Grove Rd., Roswell 30075 (770) 641-3000, www.bethhallel.org

SIXES LIVING | January 2015

NAZARENE

ORTHODOX

St. Elizabeth 2263 East Cherokee Dr., Woodstock 30188 (770) 485-0504, www.stelizabethga.org

PENTECOSTAL

Fivestones Church 155 P Rickman Industrial Dr., Canton, GA 30115 (770)720-2227, www.fivestoneschurch.info

PRESBYTERIAN

Cherokee 1498 Johnson Brady Rd., Canton 30115 (770) 704-9564, www.cherokee-pca.org Faith 3655 Reinhardt College Parkway,Canton www.faithpc.us

Geneva Orthodox Meets at Hope Presbyterian Church, 4101 Sandy Plains Rd., Marietta (770) 833-3797, www.genevaopc.org Grace Church 1160 Butterworth Rd., Canton 30114 (678) 493-9869, www.gracecanton.org Heritage 5323 Bells Ferry Rd., Acworth 30102 (770) 926-3558, www.heritagepres.com Woodstock 345 Arnold Mill Rd., Woodstock 30188 (770) 926-0074, www.woodstockpcusa.com

ROMAN CATHOLIC

Our Lady of LaSalette 2941 Sam Nelson Rd., Canton 30114 (770) 479-8923, www.lasalettecanton.com St. Michael the Archangel 490 Arnold Mill Rd., Woodstock 30188 (770) 516-0009, www.saintmichaelcc.org

OTHER

AllPoints Church 6884 Hickory Flat Hwy, Woodstock, GA 30188 www.allpointschurch.org Awakening Church 180 Parkway 575, Suite 140, Woodstock (770) 924-4150, www.awakeningwoodstock.com Christian Praise Center 1358 Sixes Rd., Canton 30114 (770) 924-7532, www.christianpraisecenter.com Church of the Messiah 415 Charles Cox Drive, Canton, GA 30115 770.479.5280 www.churchofthemessiah.net Dayspring Church 6835 Victory Dr., Acworth 30102 (770) 516-5733, www.dayspring-online.com Life Church 224 Brown Industrial Blvd. STE 103A Canton, GA 30114 770-847-0170, www.lifechurchcanton.com Ministry House 347 Holly Street Canton 30114 (678) 459-2347, http://MinistryHouse.org New Covenant Bible 1095 Scott Rd, Canton 30115 (770) 479-6412, www.newcovenantcanton.org Oak Leaf 151 East Marietta St., Canton 30114 (678) 653-4652, www.oakleafcanton.com Revolution Church 125 Union Trail Hill, Canton 30115 (770) 345-2737, www.therevolution.tv Sojourn Community Church Worship at 231 Arnold Mill Rd., Woodstock (770) 769-7495 www.sojournwoodstock.com Soul Medicine Sundays Suite 106, 3725 Sixes Rd. Canton 30114 (770) 479-4193 www.harvestmoonmarket.com Sunnyside Church of God 2510 East Cherokee Drive, Woodstock (770) 693-1018, www.sunnysidecog.com Toonigh Church of God 4775 Holly Springs Pkwy., Canton, GA 30115 (770) 926-3096, www.toonighcog.org Watermarke Church worship location: 2126 Sixes Rd., Canton 30114 (678) 880-9092, www.watermarkechurch.com Woodstock Community 237 Rope Mill Rd., Woodstock 30188 (770) 926-8990, www.woodstockcommunitychurch.org

COMMUNITY INFORMATION Cherokee County Chamber of Commerce Cherokee County Government Building Permits, Business Licenses Commissioners Engineering Office (Traffic Signals) Environmental Health Extension Office Jury Phone Justice Center (Courts, Judges, etc.) Planning & Land Use Senior Services Voter Registration

(770) 345-0400

www.cherokeega.com (770) 721-7810 (678) 493-6001 (678) 493-6077 (770) 479-0444 (770) 479-0418 (770) 479-9011 (770) 479-1953 (678) 493-6101 (770) 345-2675 (770) 479-0407

Taxes

License Plates/Tags, Property Tax – Canton office Woodstock office Renewals online https://mvd.dor.ga.gov/tags/ Tax Assessors/Evaluation

(678) 493-6400 (770) 924-4099 (678) 493-6120

Children and Family

Anna Crawford Children’s Center (770) 345-8100 Cherokee County Boys & Girls Club (770) 720-7712 Cherokee County Foster & Adoptive Parents Assoc. www.fosteroradopt.org (770) 378-0759 Cherokee Family Violence Center (770) 479-1804 Cherokee FOCUS (770) 345-5483 Court Appointed Special Advocates for Children (CASA) www.casacherokee.org (770) 345-3274 Division of Family & Children Services (770) 720-3610 Goshen Valley Boys Ranch www.goshenvalley.org (770) 796-4618 Hope Center www.hopectr.com (770) 924-0864 MUST Ministries - Cherokee www.mustministries.org (770) 479-5397 Never Alone www.neveralone.org (770) 363-5272 Next Step Ministries www.nextstepministries.net (770) 592-1227 North Georgia Angel House www.angelhousega.com (770) 479-9555 North Georgia Pregnancy Center www.ngapregnancy.org (706) 253-6303 Papa’s Pantry www.papaspantry.org (770) 591-4730 Timothy’s Cupboard Food Bank www.tlcwoodstock.org (770) 591-5515

Hospitals

Kennestone North Fulton Northside Hospital — Cherokee

Hotlines — 24-hour help lines

Battered Women Hotline Drug Tip Line (Cherokee Co. Sheriff) Poison Control Center Poison Control Center (outside metro Atlanta) Probate Court Information Line Sexual Assault & Family Violence Center

Parks and Recreation

BridgeMill Athletic Club Callahan Golf Links Cherokee County YMCA Cherokee County Soccer Assoc. www.csaimpact.com

(770) 793-5000 (770) 751-2500 (770) 720-5100 (770) 479-1703 (770) 345-7920 (404) 616-9000 (800) 222-1222 (770) 704-2610 (770) 427-3390 (770) 345-5500 (770) 720-1900 (770) 591-5820 (770) 704-0187

Cherokee Recreation and Parks Agency www.crpa.net. (770) 924-7768 (Includes Aquatic Center, Barnett Park, Blankets Creek, Cherokee Mills, Field’s Landing Park, Kenny Askew Park) Cherokee Youth Lacrosse Association www.cherokeelacrosse.com North Atlanta Soccer Association: www.nasa-ga.org (770) 926-4175 SCRA Baseball www.scrabaseball.com Wildlife Action, Inc. www.wildlifeactiongeorgia.com (770) 924-7464

Pets

Animal Control (678) 493-6200 Animal Shelter & Pet Adoptions www.cherokeega-animals.org (770) 345-7270 Cherokee County Humane Society www.cchumanesociety.org (770) 928-5115 Emergency Veterinary Clinic (770) 924-3720 Funds 4Furry Friends (770) 842-8893 Lost Pets: www.townelaker.com. (click on lost and found pet button to report missing pet) Pet Buddies Food Pantry www.petbuddiesfoodpantry.org Community Veterinary Care www.communityveterinarycare.com (678) 640-3512

Post Office locations Canton Holly Springs Lebanon Woodstock

(770) 720-8164 (770) 345-6318 (770) 591-9467 (770) 591-0364

Police Departments

Canton Holly Springs Woodstock Sheriff’s Office www.cherokeega-sheriff.org

(770) 720-4883 (770) 345-5537 (770) 592-6030 (678) 493-4100

Utilities

Atlanta Gas Light Co. www.aglc.com Canton Water www.canton-georgia.com Cherokee Water & Sewerage Auth. www.ccwsa.com Cobb EMC www.cobbemc.com Georgia Power www.georgiapower.com Woodstock Water www.woodstockga.gov Recycling Center

(770) 907-4231 (770) 704-1500 (770) 479-1813 (770) 429-2100 (888) 660-5890 (770) 926-8852 (770) 516-4195

Free, Reduced-Price Health Care

Bethesda Community Clinic www.bethesdacommunityclinic.org Cherokee County Health Department www.nghd.org/CherokeeHealth

Urgent Care Facilities

M.D. Minor Emergency & Family Medicine, off Riverstone Pkwy, 720 Transit Ave., Suite 101 Canton Northside Cherokee Urgent Care, off exit 11 at I-575 SHEFA Urgent Care 2000 Village Professional Dr. #110 Canton 30114 Wellstar Urgent Care off exit 8, 120 Stonebridge Pkwy. Woodstock, 30189

(678) 880-9654 (770) 345-7371

(770) 720-7000 (678) 426-5450 (678) 661-3166

(678) 494-2500

SIXES LIVING | January 2015

Reference

ELECTED & APPOINTED OFFICIALS United States Government

President Barack Obama (D)

1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, Washington, D.C. 20500 www.whitehouse.gov

Sen.-elect David Perdue (R) info@perduesenate.com

Sen. Johnny Isakson (R)

1 Overton Park, Suite 970 3625 Cumberland Blvd, Atlanta, GA 30339 http://isakson.senate.gov Rep. Phil Gingrey, M.D. (R) District 11 100 North Street Suite 150, Canton, GA 30114 http://gingrey.house.gov

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

(678) 248-6444 (202) 224-3643 GA: (770) 661-0999

Sen. Bruce Thompson (R) District 14 bruce.thompson@senate.ga.gov

(770) 546-7565

Sen. Brandon Beach (R) District 21 brandon.beach@senate.ga.gov

(404) 463-1378 (770) 887-1960 fax: (770) 205-0602 (678) 523-8570

Rep. Scot Turner (R) District 21

(678) 576-2644

Rep. Sam Moore (R) District 22 sam.moore@house.ga.gov

(404) 656-0220

mandi.ballinger@house.ga.gov

Cherokee County Courts Superior Court

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

State Court Chief Judge Clyde J. Gober, Jr. Judge W. Alan Jordan Judge A. Dee Morris

(678) 493-6480 (678) 493-6490 (678) 493-6480

Cherokee County Coroner Earl W. Darby

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

498 Chattin Drive Canton, GA 30115 rdgarrison@cherokeega.com

(770) 735-8055 www.cherokeega-sheriff.org (678) 493-4100 fax: (678) 493-4228

Sonya Little

2780 Marietta Highway, Canton, GA 30114 slittle@cherokeega.com

Cherokee County School Board Superintendent, Dr. Frank Petruzielo

221 West Main St., Canton, GA 30114 drp@cherokee.k12.ga.us

(678) 493-6400 fax: (678) 493-6420 www.cherokee.k12.ga.us (770) 479-1871 fax: (770) 479-1236

Kyla Cromer (R) District 1

(678) 493-8088

Patsy Jordan (R) District 2 patsy.jordan@cherokee.k12.ga.us

(770) 893-2970

John Harmon (R) District 3

(404) 462-4950

Janet Read (R) Chair

(770) 516-1444

john.harmon@cherokee.k12.ga.us janet.read@cherokee.k12.ga.us

Rick Steiner (R) District 4

rick.steiner@cherokee.k12.ga.us

(770) 721-4398, x4370

(678) 493-6431 (678) 493-6431

Mike Chapman (R) District 6 mike.chapman@cherokee.k12.ga.us

(770) 345-6256

(678) 493-6160

City Government City of Canton Mayor Gene Hobgood

geneh@canton-georgia.com

Juvenile Court Chief Judge John B. Sumner Judge Anthony Baker

District Attorney Shannon Wallace

(678) 493-6250 (678) 493-6280 (770) 479-1488

Clerk of Courts Patty Baker

(678) 493-6511

SIXES LIVING | January 2015

bpoole@cherokeega.com

(770) 928-0341

Probate Court

Brian Poole (R) District 3

Clark Menard (R) District 5

Judge Keith Wood (R)

Ray Gunnin (R) District 2

clark.menard@cherokee.k12.ga.us

Magistrate Court Chief Judge James E. Drane III (R) Judge Gregory Douds

swest@cherokeega.com

kyla.cromer@cherokee.k12.ga.us

Rep. Mandi Ballinger (R) District 23

Chief Judge David Cannon Jr. Judge Jackson Harris Judge Ellen McElyea

Steve West (R) District 1

Cherokee County Tax Commissioner

Rep. Michael Caldwell (R) District 20

scot@turnerforhouse.com

lbahrens@cherokeega.com

sgordon@cherokeega.com

(404) 652-7003 203 State Capitol, 206 Washington St. Atlanta, GA 30334 www.gov.georgia.gov

michael@CaldwellforHouse.com

Commissioners L.R. “Buzz” Ahrens (R) Chairman

Scott Gordon (R) District 4

Governor Nathan Deal (R)

Sen. Jack Murphy (R) District 27

www.cherokeega.com (678) 493-6001

rgunnin@cherokeega.com (202) 225-2931 GA: (770) 345-2931

State Government

jack.murphy@senate.ga.gov

Cherokee County Board of Commissioners

1130 Bluffs Pkwy., Canton, GA 30114

www.canton-georgia.gov (770) 704-1500

City of Holly Springs Mayor Timothy Downing

www.hollyspringsga.us (770) 345-5536

City of Woodstock Mayor Donnie Henriques

www.woodstockga.gov (770) 592-6001

tdowning@hollyspringsga.us

dhenriques@woodstockga.gov

CLASSIFIEDS FOR RENT

Basement Apartment. Utilities included on the lake. $500. Call 770-337-2170. HOUSE CLEANING

The Dynamic Clean Team. Let us put the *SPARKLE* back in your home! Weekly or Bi-weekly cleaning. Also move-in and moveouts! 10% off 1st service. 15 years experience, pet friendly, references available, bonded & insured. CALL TODAY Melissa Jones, 404-414-7743. PET SITTING

Sixes Pet Sitter: See www.crittersjitters.com, References: Angie’s List, Kudzu.com, 770-363-7565, Jim Conner. PUPPIES FOR SALE

AKC Doberman Puppies. Black/Rust and Red/Rust. Born 10-6-14. $800. Call 770-337-2170.

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ADVERTISERS DIRECTORY ANIMALS/PETS

DENTAL

BridgeMill Animal Hospital (770) 479-2200 www.bridgemillvet.com 9560 Bells Ferry Road, Canton

Cherokee County Animal Shelter www.cherokeega-animals.org

ATTORNEYS/LEGAL SERVICES Hartman Imbriale Attorneys (678) 445-7423 www.hartman-imbriale.com 145 Towne Lake Pkwy., Suite 200, Woodstock

AUTOMOTIVE BridgeMill Auto Care Canton location: (770) 720-0765 East Cobb location: (770) 641-9906

BUSINESS ORGANIZATIONS Downtown BUZZ

CLEANING SERVICES Rejoice Maids (678) 905-3476 www.rejoicemaids.com

CHIROPRACTIC Ribley Chiropractic 24 2453 Towne Lake Pkwy., Woodstock (770) 592-2505, www.ribleychrio.com Towne Lake Family Chiropractic 13 1000 Wyngate Pkwy., Ste. 200, Woodstock (770) 592-1877, www.townelakechiro.com

SIXES LIVING | January 2015

Advanced Dental Restorations, LLC (678) 810-0881 www.BringBackSmiles.com 1505 Stone Bridge Pkwy., Ste. 220, Woodstock

BridgeMill Dentistry (770) 704-1812 www.bridgemilldentistry.com 3682 Sixes Road, Canton 30114

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

FINANCIAL SERVICES Citadel Professional Services, LLC Inside front (770) 952-6707 225 Town Park Drive, Suite 440, Kennesaw EDUCATION/INSTRUCTION 41

Goddard School, The (770) 720-3003 310 Prominence Point Pkwy., Canton

HAIR SALON/MASSAGE/SPA

Park Pediatric Dentistry of Woodstock 52 (770) 926-9260 PediatricWoodstockDentist.com 1816 Eagle Drive Suite 200-C, Woodstock

Azure Salon & Spa 7 (770) 345-8280 www.azuresalon.net 1359 Riverstone Pkwy., Suite 110, Canton

Riverstone Dental Care Inside front Dr. Ruximar Linkous, (770) 479-3846 www.riverstonedentalcare.com

Bambu Salon 22 (770) 345-0027 www.BambuSalonAveda.com 150 Prominence Point Pkwy., Suite 700, Canton 30114

S. Bruce Oâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Neal, DDS 25 (770) 924-8848, 2230 Towne Lake Pkwy., Bldg. 100, Ste. 100, Woodstock

CHARITABLE ORGANIZATIONS Must Ministries

(Cosmetic, Family, Orthodontics, Prosthodontics and Pediatric)

Williams Orthodontics (770) 592-5554 145 Towne Lake Pkwy, Suite 201, Woodstock (770) 345-4155 205 Waleska Road, Suite 1A, Canton www.DrWilliamsOrthodontics.com

Spillane Orthodontics 18 (770) 928-4747 www.SpillaneOrtho.com 335 Parkway 575, Suite 200, Woodstock Werner Pediatric Dentistry of Woodstock 30 (678) 224-5722 www.ChildrensDentistWoodstock.com 250 Parkbrooke Place Suite 250, Woodstock

Salon Gloss (678) 483-8900 www.SalonGloss.biz 220 Chambers St., Woodstock

HOME & GARDEN Atlas Garage Door Company (770) 592-6217 Grout Doctor, The (678) 383-1311 www.groutdoctor.com

52 9

For advertising rates and information, please contact Patty Ponder 770.615.3322, Patty@AroundAboutMagazines.com Hammocks Heating & Air (770) 794-0428 www.hammockshvac.com

Mclellan Excavation & Landscaping (404) 520-0710, www.excavationandlandscaping.com Mr. Junk (678) 675-8651 www.mrjunk1.com Reliable Heating & Air (770) 594-9969 www.ReliableAir.com

Inside back

The Fireplace Company (770) 427-6636 www.TheFireplaceCompany.com 2493 Canton Rd., Marietta

Uptronix 9 (770) 928-0260 www.uptronix.com INSURANCE Clarke Agency, The (Farmers Insurance) 40 2360 Towne Lake Pkwy., Suite 105 (678) 400-6725 mclarke@farmersagent.com PHYSICIANS AND MEDICAL SERVICES Cherokee Internal Medicine 22 (678) 238-0301, www.cherokeeim.com 1192 Buckhead Crossing, Ste. C Cherokee Women’s Health Specialists (770) 720-7733 www.cherokeewomenshealth.com

North Georgia Audiology & Hearing Aid Center, Dr. Jan Henriques 1 (770) 560-4775 NorthGeorgiaHearing.com 203 Woodpark Place, Ste. B-100, Woodstock

Northside Cherokee Pediatrics (678) 388-5485 northsidecherokeepediatrics.com 684 Sixes Rd., Holly Springs

Northside Orthopedics 1 & Sports Medicine, Dr. Matthew Simmons (770) 517- 6636 northsidecherokeeortho.com 684 Sixes Road, Ste. 130, Holly Springs Northside Hospital – Cherokee (770) 720-5100, www.northside.com 201 Hospital Road, Canton

Northwest ENT and Allergy Center 3 (770) 427-0368 www.NW-ENT.com 134 Riverstone Terrace, Suite 202, Canton 960 Woodstock Parkway, Suite 101 Woodstock Plastic Surgery Center of the South 28 (770) 421-1242 www.plasticsurgerycenterofthesouth.net 120 Vann St., Ste. 150, Marietta Towne Lake Primary Care (678) 445-0819, Dr. Kirk Hewling 900 Towne Lake Pkwy., Ste. 410, Woodstock

Wellstar Pediatric Orthopedic Surgery at Wellstar Windy Hill Hospital 2540 Windy Hill Road, Marietta (770) 956-STAR (7827) wellstar.org

Keller Williams, Brenda Brown (404) 822-8716 BrendaBrown@KW.com Keller Williams, Kurt & Sheila Johnson (404) 954-2486 www.kurtandsheila.com

Back Cover

RECREATION/SPORTS/FITNESS It’s A Lifestyle Fitness (678) 637-5959 www.ItsALifestyleFitness.net

RESTAURANTS/ENTERTAINMENT Cherokee Theatre Company (770) 591-0282 www.cherokeetheatre.org

Elm Street Cultural Arts Village 58 (678) 494-4251, www.elmstreetarts.org Reel Seafood Cover, 36, 37 8670 Main Street, Woodstock (770) 627-3006 RETAILERS/SHOPPING

PHOTOGRAPHY Kim Bates Photography www.KimBatesPhotoArt.com

REAL ESTATE

Skip Daugherty Photography 40 (770) 329-5807 www.skipdaughertyphotography.com

Branches Boutique 2295 Towne Lake Pkwy., #140 (770) 517-1505 370 Chambers St., Woodstock (678) 540-5483 Canton Historic Downtown Loop (770) 704-1548

Max Video Games & More 5 (770) 924-9300 6424 Bells Ferry Rd., Ste. 124, Woodstock www.facebook.com/maxvideogames Rudi Fine Jewelry (678) 445-2626 6790 Hwy. 92, Acworth

SIXES LIVING | January 2015

Since 1996, we have brought relevant, uplifting and reader-driven content to the residents of Towne Lake, Canton and Woodstock. We look forward to serving you, our readers and advertisers every month. Thank you for your continued support and participation in making this truly your community magazine. At AroundAbout Local Media, we believe the world functions at the community level: diverse groups of people living in close proximity; sharing commonality of culture, values and local pride; developing safety nets for those in need; and helping each other to live richer lives. Candi Hannigan Executive Editor

Michelle McCulloch Art Director

Jackie Loudin Assistant Editor

Laura Latchford Page Designer

Patty Ponder ALM President Marketing & Advertising Sales

Denise Griffin Controller

Sixes Living Distribution Map Circulation: 16,250

SIXES LIVING | January 2015

Christie Deese Marketing Support Associate

Karen & Jon Flaig Owner/Publisher

It is our heartfelt desire to contribute to the fabric that helps make a community happen. Through our magazines, we aim to provide everyone in the communities we serve with uplifting, interesting information about the community they are proud to call home. We encourage you to send us your photos, ideas, stories or anything else you think the community would like to know about. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s your community. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s your magazine.