1 17 around acworth webfinal by Aroundabout Local Media, Inc.

WHERE CAN YOU FIND A NORTHSIDE HOSPITAL -CHEROKEE DOCTOR? AT A PTA MEETING. The physicians and staff of Northside Hospital-Cherokee are some of the most talented and professional individuals the world of medicine has to offer. They are also your neighbors. Most of our team lives right here in Cherokee County. Northside HospitalCherokee is devoted to supporting local community organizations, venues and schools. It’s because we live here, too.

Cherokee’s community hospital. Northside.com

AROUND ACWORTH | January 2017

January 2017 Volume 1, Issue 6

18 Readers’ Choice

It’s almost time to vote for your favorites.

20 Expansion Complete Playground, more walking trails open.

24 Party Time!

Cobb seniors enjoy holiday meal, gifts and surprises.

26 Christmas in Acworth

Santa, a parade and storytime with Mayor Allegood.

27 Here Comes Winter

Prepare a safety kit and understand watches and warnings.

38 Add Flavor to 2017

Hearty and healthy recipes.

42 Classic Car Feature

Acworth resident builds ultimate zombie slayer.

44 Christmas Trees for Fish Allatoona Lake tree recycling program.

Contributing Writers

In Every Issue

Tommy Allegood

16 Danielle Hilderbrand 19

Around Acworth

Ron Asby

Community News

Jennifer Bonn

Carla Caldwell

Steve Coleman

Wayne Dennard

Jeff Glover

James Gwin Dr. Scott Harden

Tiffany Hughes

Rob Macmillan

Christopher Purvis

Dr. Dylan Reach

Deb Tucker

Jay White

Faith

Torie Winkler

Directory of Advertisers 55

Celebrations

School News

Rob’s Rescues

Community Calendar 47 Library News 48

www.AroundAcworthMagazine.com

28 & 29 On the Cover Lake Pointe Wellness Center Photo by J. King Images 2

AROUND ACWORTH | January 2017

ADVERTISING Market Manager Katherine Amick 678-279-5502 Katherine@AroundAboutMagazines.com

We are on social media! Facebook: Around Acworth Magazine Twitter: @AroundAcworth Instagram: around_acworth

AROUND ACWORTH | January 2017

AROUND ACWORTH The

People, The Places and The Pleasures that make Acworth

From the Editor

year and recently raised money to train a service My daughters and I had dog for a veteran. Read the opportunity to attend about the project on the American Legion North page 22. Cobb Post 304 barbecue The Acworth Police in November. The food Department emphasizes was terrific and several service in the community women in the Auxiliary beyond traditional police went out of their way to work and in March will make us feel welcome. I Cobb Post 304 and Auxiliary Unit 304 presented Acworth Police Chief Wayne begin its 16th annual stopped by to take a photo North Dennard, far left, with checks for $500 and $250. Citizens’ Police Academy. for the magazine and to buy Officers are also participating in a contest to raise money for barbecue plates for my family. Post members said money Horizon Field, which serves children and adults with physical made that day would go back to the community. and/or cognitive disabilities. Read more about the academy In December, Post 304 and Auxiliary Unit 304 donated and contest on page 17. $750 to the Acworth Police Department’s Chaplain’s Fund There are numerous opportunities in the new year to make and the Kennesaw Police Department’s Jerry Worthan a difference in the community and to improve someone’s Memorial Christmas Fund to help make Christmas merrier for life. On Jan. 16, Acworth hosts its Martin Luther King Jr. Day area children in need. Celebration and Day of Service. Read more about the event “Christmas is a time for children to experience joy and in Community News on page 14. On page 49, you’ll find a list love,” Auxiliary President Pennie Groover said. “The Legion of Acworth-area clubs and organizations. Family of Post 304 makes it a priority to help children in The Acworth Business Association continues to grow and need. Their Christmas morning will be brighter and hopeful.” on Jan. 19 will host its first Women’s Business Network lunch. Post 304 participates in service projects throughout the The ABA recently contributed $33,000 to area charities. Read more about ABA on page 19. As we begin the new year, I look forward to writing about the people and projects making a difference in the lives of Acworth residents. Happy New Year and I hope to see you around town,

Carla Caldwell North Cobb Post 304 and Auxiliary Unit 304 presented Kennesaw Police Chief Bill Westenberger, second from right, with checks for $500 and $250.

Carla Caldwell is editor of Around Acworth. Send your comments or questions to Carla@AroundAboutMagazines.com

Happy Anniversary!

Mrs. L’s Sandwich Shop is celebrating 15 years in business on Main Street in Historic Downtown Acworth. The shop is located at 4817 S. Main St., Acworth. Jones Tire is celebrating 50 years in business. Jones Tire is located at 4590 S. Main St. Acworth.

What’s New

The long-awaited expansion of Logan Farm Park is complete. A ribbon cutting was held Dec. 20. Read about the park and view more photos on page 20. 4

AROUND ACWORTH | January 2017

Drew Brandon helps Mayor Tommy Allegood open the Logan Farm Park expansion. Photo by Alison Small.

AROUND ACWORTH | January 2017

COMMUNITY BOARD The Around Acworth community board consists of well-respected community leaders from different walks of life. Our board members assist us in many ways that range from serving as contributing writers to providing valuable feedback.

Tia Amlett, the principal of Barber Middle School, has been an educator for the past 19 years. Prior to becoming a principal, Tia served as an assistant principal at Garrett Middle School and North Cobb High School. She is a native of South Carolina who earned her bachelor’s degree at Clemson University and master’s and education specialist’s degrees from Nova Southeastern University. Tia is married to Jonah, and they have two children, Nia and Jordan, who attend Cobb County schools.

Ellen Kennerly has lived in Acworth since 1992. She has worked as a journalist for more than three decades, most of it with the Atlanta JournalConstitution holding positions as Olympics News Editor, Design Director, A1 Editor and Director of Content Development and Operations for ajc. com, among others. More recently, she worked as Professional in Residence at Louisiana State University and as Director of Asset Intelligence for WebMD. Her business, Kennerly Digital Directions, provides consulting and hands-on deliverables in communications, design and web development, largely for Acworth business people. Bob Weatherford has been a Cobb County

resident for two decades. Bob was a reserve police officer for more than 20 years, eight of those with Acworth PD including time as Captain. He is active in local charities, numerous civic organizations, and co-founded Shop with a Hero. He was elected Cobb County District 1 Commissioner in 2014. In addition to his duties as commissioner, he teaches motorcycle safety courses for the Department of Driver’s Services.

Danielle Hilderbrand is a Cobb County native. She has been a business owner on Main Street in Acworth for more than six years. Danielle is the proprietor of Pearl’s Spa and Boutique, a partner in Rustic Ruby gift shop and an active volunteer in Acworth. She has been a member of the Acworth Downtown Development Authority for several years and is the 2017 president of the Acworth Business Association. She is a graduate from McEachern High School and Acworth’s North Metro Technical College (now Chattahoochee Tech). 6

AROUND ACWORTH | January 2017

Publisher AroundAbout Local Media, Inc. ALM President Patty Ponder 770-615-3322 Patty@AroundAboutMagazines.com Market Manger Katherine Amick Katherine@AroundAboutMagazines.com Title Editor Carla Caldwell 770-852-8481 Carla@AroundAboutMagazines.com Executive Editor Candi Hannigan 770-615-3309 Candi@AroundAboutMagazines.com Art Director Michelle McCulloch 770-615-3307 Michelle@AroundAboutMagazines.com Page Designer Laura Latchford Laura@AroundAboutMagazines.com Controller Denise Griffin 770-615-3315 Denise@AroundAboutMagazines.com Marketing Support Associate Terri Spencer Terri@AroundAboutMagazines.com

Around Acworth, a publication of AroundAbout Local Media, Inc., is a monthly community magazine. The magazine’s goal is to build a sense of community and pride in Acworth and surrounding area by providing residents with positive stories and timely information. It distributes a total of 16,500 free copies. Approximately 15,300 are direct mailed to homes and businesses and an additional 1,200 are placed in racks around the community. See page 56 for a distribution map. Around Acworth also has many digital viewers of the magazine online each month. Around Acworth welcomes your comments, stories, and advertisements. The deadline is the 13th of the previous month. Subscriptions are available for $24 per year. Send check or money order to the address below. The viewpoints of the advertisers, columnists and submissions are not necessarily those of the editor/publisher and the publisher makes no claims as to the validity of any charitable organizations mentioned. Around Acworth 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 2017 Around Acworth

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

Website: www.AroundAcworthMagazine.com

Volume 1, Issue 6

America’s Community Magazine

AROUND ACWORTH | January 2017

Community

YOUR LOCAL NEWS Cobb County Transportation Projects Honored in State Design Awards Three transportation project designs in Cobb County were recently honored at the annual Georgia Partnership for Transportation Quality Pre-construction Design Awards. The awards recognize engineering consultants and firms for exemplary work, innovation and ingenuity in transportation and infrastructure projects across Georgia. American Council of Engineering Companies of Georgia and the Georgia Department of Transportation announced the staff of Arcadis U.S. Inc., a Cobb County Department From left: Russell McMurry, Georgia Commissioner of Transportation; Tracy Rathbone, of Transportation consultant, as the winner executive director, Town Center Community Improvement District; Shamir Poudel, Arcadis; in the categories of “Design of an Alternative Jim Wilgus, director, CCDOT; James Hudgins and James McNabb, Arcadis. Mode Transportation Facility” and “Bridge engineers at Arcadis and Pond to create projects that and/or Structural Design” for the Kennesaw exemplify the spirit of Cobb,” said Jim Wilgus, CCDOT Mountain to Chattahoochee River Trail (a City of Marietta director, in a prepared statement. “The work showcases our project) and the Skip Spann Connector Bridge in Kennesaw, desire for a sustainable future that improves quality of life respectively. For “Context Sensitive Design including Public through transportation as the county continues to grow.” Participation Plan,” CCDOT consultant Pond & Company was For a complete list of honorees, visit the Georgia honored for work on the Mableton Town Square. Department of Transportation website. “Our department is proud to partner with the exceptional

WellStar Receives Highest Honor Awarded to Cancer Program WellStar Health System’s Cancer Network has received a three-year accreditation with Gold Commendation by the Commission on Cancer (CoC), a quality program of the American College of Surgeons. The designation is the highest honor awarded to a cancer program, according to WellStar. WellStar Health System has achieved the honor twice, starting in 2013. Only 50 health systems in the United States have received this distinction, WellStar adds. To earn CoC accreditation, a cancer program must meet

AROUND ACWORTH | January 2017

or exceed the CoC’s quality care standards, be evaluated every three years through a survey process and show excellence in the delivery of patient-centered care. Threeyear accreditation with Commendation is awarded only to facilities that exceed the standard requirements at the time of its survey. “This accreditation and Outstanding Achievement Award could not have been made possible without our gifted and passionate team,” said Dr. Michael Andrews, WellStar Chief Cancer Officer, in a prepared statement. “The Commission on Cancer and the American College of Surgeons are both well respected and distinguished institutions. This distinction is an indication of the quality of care we deliver to our patients every day.” The hospitals accredited by the CoC are WellStar Cobb, Douglas, Kennestone, Paulding and Windy Hill hospitals. WellStar Health System takes a multidisciplinary approach to treating cancer as a complex group of diseases that requires consultations among surgeons, medical and radiation oncologists, diagnostic radiologists, pathologists and other cancer specialists.

EXPERIENCE PAIN RELIEF SO INCREDIBLE YOU HAVE TO FEEL IT TO BELIEVE IT! Have you heard the latest from the FDA about drugs like Advil, Aleve, Excedrin and Motrin? They’ve always warned about the long-term risks of HEART ATTACKS AND STROKES while taking these drugs but now they’ve also added even SHORT TERM USE of NSAIDs can have the same risk. To be exact the FDA warns: “the risk of heart attack or stroke can occur as early as the first week of using an NSAID. NSAIDs can increase the risk of heart attack or stroke in patients with or without heart disease or risk factors for heart disease.” So the question that begs to be asked is…

Are You Willing To DIE for Pain Relief?

Why would anyone choose to risk their health with NSAIDs while there are HIGH QUALITY, SAFE and POWERFUL pain relievers like DOCTOR’S BLEND CURCUMIN available? Just read one user’s experience: “First, I have not received any compensation or kick-backs for my review of this product. Due to a diagnosis of positional sleep apnea, I’ve been forced to sleep on my side for the past 6 months. The pressure pain that I’ve been experiencing has been unbearable to the point of keeping me up most of the night. I’ve had extreme pain in my arms, legs, hips, etc. The pain has been a direct result of the pressure that I’ve put on all of these areas due to the side sleeping. Up until now, I’ve tried using Aleve, other NSAID’s, as well as non NSAID formulas. Nothing worked until I tried the Curcumin. I take 3 capsules a day. At any rate, the only thing I know for sure is that this product is a miracle. These continue to

work so well for me that I just bought 2 more bottles. I’ve experienced absolutely no pain whatsoever since starting on them several weeks ago. I continue to be astounded by how well they work.” – Keith Reinhardt Hi, I’m Dr. Jimi Sharomi, and as a pharmacist, I’m always digging for more options to help my patients. I turn to natural products so people don’t need to worry about side effects, but more importantly I look for products that deliver MASSIVE results. And you won’t believe the MASSIVE solution I’ve come across for pain…that is until you try it like I did. I’m sure everyone’s heard of Turmeric as a kitchen spice, but when you hear about it in the media just remember it’s the curcuminoids in Turmeric that are worth anything. If you were to just eat turmeric or buy some grocery store brand you’ll notice it doesn’t do ANYTHING –AT ALL because hardly even a fraction is absorbed in the gut. Regular turmeric just goes down the toilet, (along with wasted money) but there are a few reputable labs that know how to get a 95% Curcumin yield into your blood stream…And I assure you, this DOCTOR’s BLEND will drive your pain into REMISSION!

What Makes Doctor’s Blend Work So Well?

DOCTOR’s BLEND CURCUMIN is effective for pain because it is one of the most effective anti-inflammatories and anti-oxidants around. In almost all cases of pain, there is a free-radical that floats around and causes damage to soft tissues and joints. This

causes the body to release substance P (a chemical that sends pain signals to the brain) which in turn sets up inflammation. CURCUMIN completely quenches freeradicals and depletes nerve endings of substance P. Thus DOCTOR’s BLEND CURCUMIN is an EXTREMELY effective option for treating chronic pain because it not only prevents the cause of most types of pain but also interrupts pain signals sent through the nerves! So whether you have rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, muscle soreness, gout, knee pain, tendonitis, shin splints, fibromyalgia, back pain, plantar fasciitis, frequent headaches, bone pain, post-surgical pain or any other unbearable pain DOCTOR’s BLEND CURCUMIN is the fail-proof answer you’re searching for.

Are You Tired Of Living In Constant Pain?

Now there’s reason to celebrate! DOCTOR’S BLEND CURCUMIN is a one-and-done powerhouse that will help you to work PAIN FREE and sleep PAIN FREE. DOCTOR’S BLEND CURCUMIN’s unmatched formulation will provide unprecedented pain relief –without a prescription and without risk of side effects or addiction. If DOCTOR’S BLEND CURCUMIN fails to relieve your pain after complete use of the bottle, simply return to us your empty bottle and we’ll cheerfully grant you a full refund of your money. Get DOCTOR’s BLEND CURCUMIN risk free at just $39.98 today if you want to feel better!

VISIT US ONLINE @ REDCARPETPHARMACY.COM

AROUND ACWORTH | January 2017

YOUR LOCAL NEWS Tour Guides Needed for Spring Garden Tours Smith-Gilbert Gardens will offer a docent training course beginning Jan. 23 to prepare individuals to lead tours and assist with programs designed for children in kindergarten through fourth grade, as well as adult groups. Classes will be conducted 9:30 a.m.-noon for five consecutive weeks at the Gardens located at 2382 Pine Mountain Road in Kennesaw. Docents will learn about the variety of plants, flowers and sculptures in the 16-acre gardens as well as the story of the property and its historic Hiram Butler House. Docents will also become familiar with techniques for presenting educational programs to 5-10 year olds. Docents are required to submit a formal application, available on the website www.smithgilbertgardens.com, and must submit to a background check and drug screening. For more information contact Anna Bell King at 770-919-0248 or via e-mail at aking@kennesaw-ga.gov.

Operation Give a Dog a Chance

SENIOR ACTIVITIES Senior Lunch

Noon on Jan. 17, sponsored by Acworth Parks and Recreation Department at Roberts School Community and Education Center. Bingo with prizes and other activities. Program is free to all seniors.

February “Senior’s Got Groove” Day Trip

Experience a world of adventure filled with dinosaurs, live animals, cultural artifacts and hands-on science explorations during a visit to Fernbank Museum of Natural History. On Feb. 17, the group will explore 75 acres of new outdoor nature adventures that feature bird’s-eye tree pods, boardwalks, interactive exhibits and giant old-growth trees. The group leaves the Parks and Recreation Office at 9 a.m. The trip includes walking and stairs. The cost is $20 for city residents and $25 for nonresidents. Lunch is not included in the cost. Registration opens Jan. 4 for residents and Jan. 11 for non-residents. For more information call 770-917-1234.

Senior Chair Yoga

Learn stretching and strengthening exercises, breathing techniques and much more during this class. The 12-week spring session will be held Monday’s beginning Jan. 23. Classes are 10-10:45 a.m. and again from 11-11:45 a.m. at the Roberts School Community Education Center. The class is free for residents and $15 for non-residents. Register online at www.acworthparksandrecreation.org or in person at 4762 Logan Road, Acworth. For more information call 770-917-1234.

Senior Cardio Combo

Elevate your metabolism by moving rhythmically to music. Strengthen and tighten muscles using free weights. The 12-week spring session will be held Thursday’s beginning Jan. 26. Classes are 10-10:45 a.m. and again from 11-11:45 a.m. at the Roberts School Community Education Center. Cost of the class is free to residents and $15 for non-residents. Register online at www.acworthparksandrecreation.org or in person at 4762 Logan Road, Acworth. For more information call 770-917-1234. 10

AROUND ACWORTH | January 2017

Cobb Animal Control continues to seek dog houses to help pets that live outside during the winter. Drop off new or used plastic or igloo-type dog houses that are in good condition to Cobb Animal Control shelter, 1060 Al Bishop Drive, Marietta. Shelter staff cannot accept barrel-type dog houses. If you are unable to deliver a dog house, contact the shelter to schedule a pickup at 770-499-4136 or go to control@cobbcounty. org. The donation program is part of Cobb County Animal Control’s Holiday Community Outreach Effort.

Beekeeping Classes Begin at Smith-Gilbert Gardens Smith-Gilbert Gardens will offer beekeeping courses for the aspiring apiary enthusiast Jan. 21-Aug. 19. The multi-module program strives to introduce students to beekeeping and to support participants along the way for the first year. The course is split into two modules. Becoming a beekeeper and running your own hive require both modules. The course fee is $90 per person for Module I, $180 for Module II, or $250 for both modules. Smith-Gilbert Gardens members receive a 10 percent discount. There is an additional cost for protective equipment, hives and frames. Nucs (small honey bee colonies) are not included in the course fee. Register at www.smithgilbertgardens.com. For more information, contact Anna Bell King at 770-919-0248 or via e-mail at aking@ kennesaw-ga.gov.

Healthier Heart

Each Know Your Heart participant receives a personalized report with test results, reviewed with a WellStar Medical Group, Cardiovascular Medicine provider. The consultation also includes risk factor education, diet, weight and exercise recommendations.

Heart Screen â&#x20AC;&#x201C; $99 or $149 per couple

Basic Risk Assessment â&#x20AC;&#x201C; $49

Offered in Acworth, Austell, East Cobb, Marietta & Woodstock.

Call 770-956-STAR (7827) to determine eligibility and to schedule an appointment. AROUND ACWORTH | January 2017

YOUR LOCAL NEWS Daddy-Daughter Dance The annual DaddyDaughter Dance sponsored by Acworth Parks, Recreation and Community Resource Department is 7-9 p.m. Feb. 11 at North Cobb High School in the Old Gym. This year’s dance is a Blacklight Ball. Girls age 13 and under are invited to attend and light up the night with their dads (or an uncle or grandfather). The daddy-daughter duos should wear something white or neon so that they glow brightly as they dance the night away! The dance provides the opportunity for dads and their daughters to spend a special evening together. The event includes a DJ, light refreshments and gifts for the girls. A photographer will be available for optional pictures. The cost per couple for Acworth residents is $25 and $35 for nonresidents. The fee for additional daughters to attend is $10 each. Pre-register for the event. Day-of registration will be held only if space is available and increased rates will apply. For more information or to register go to www.acworthparksandrecreation.org.

COMMUNITY CLASSES Tai Chi

The Acworth Parks and Recreation Department will offer three levels of Tai Chi classes beginning Jan. 6. Beginners classes are 7:30 p.m. Tuesdays, Intermediate classes are 6:30 p.m. Mondays, and Advanced Tai Chi classes are 7:30 p.m. Mondays. All classes are taught by Phil Robinson and his certified instructors. Classes are held at the Roberts School Community Center. If unsure of which class to attend, contact the Acworth Parks and Recreation Department at 770-917-1234. The cost for the two-month session is $100 for residents and $105 for nonresidents. Register at www.acworthparksandrecreation.org.

Tap/Ballet

The Acworth Parks, Recreation and Community Resource Department will offer the combination dance class for 2-½ to 5 years old Jan. 17May 2. Classes are 4:30-5:15 p.m. and are divided with 20 minutes of tap and 25 minutes of ballet. The technical training is taught through ballet, which in turn helps teach the proper shifting of weight and patterns in movement for tap. Classes are taught by Heather Pace, a Creative Movement and Dance instructor. All classes are held at the Roberts School Community Center. The cost for three-month session is $195 for residents and $200 for the non-residents. Register at www.acworthparksandrecreation.org. 12

AROUND ACWORTH | January 2017

Cobb School District Exceeds State Average on College, Career Readiness For the fifth consecutive year, Cobb County School District’s score exceeded the state average on the College and Career Readiness Performance Index (CCRPI), Georgia’s school ratings measure. The district’s score increased 0.8 points to 80.5, making its average score 6.9 points higher than the state. CCSD’s middle and high schools showed the most improvement. For the first time, two high schools scored above 100 points. The CCRPI is Georgia’s accountability measure, which is scored on a 100-point scale. It has three components: achievement (50 points), progress (40 points), and achievement gap (10 points). Schools can also receive up to 10 challenge or bonus points.

• Most Improved Schools in 2016 Several CCSD schools showed significant improvement on the CCRPI. For high schools, Campbell (11.3) and Kell (10.4) both produced double-digit increases over 2015. At the middle school level, Cooper (8.1) and Durham (7.5) increased their scores from last year. For elementary schools, Lewis (11.7), Hayes (9.7), and Mountain View (8.7) were the most improved. Detailed information about the CCRPI is available from the Georgia Department of Education at http://ccrpi.gadoe.org/.

• Highest Performing Schools in 2016 Eight of CCSD’s 16 high schools had scores above 90, and 13 high schools scored above the state average. Walton (102.2) and Lassiter (100.6) had the highest scores in the district. The district’s high-scoring middle schools include Dodgen (99.6) and Dickerson (98.7). Three other middle schools, Hightower Trail (97.6), Mabry (91.3) and McClure (90.7) also scored above 90. Eighteen of 25 middle schools exceeded the state average. At the elementary level, Garrison Mill (95.3) and Mount Bethel (95.0) had the highest CCRPI scores, while nine other schools had scores above 90, and 39 exceeded the state average for elementary schools. To read more school news, please go to page 34.

Michael Gaston

Corbin Cunningham

Age 3 on Jan. 6 Happy Birthday! With much love, from Papa and Nonna

Age 8 on Jan. 1 Happy Birthday Corbin! We love you! Love, Dad, Mom, Mac and Dylan

Linda and Bill Terhune joyfully announce the engagement of their daughter

Erin to Coy Roberts,

son of Tim Roberts and Lara Roberts. Wedding is Sept. 30 at St. Simons Island

Dominick James Bruley

Turned ONE on Dec. 25 We are so blessed that you came into our lives. We love you! Nana and Pawpaw

Nelyn Duckworth

Age 40 on Jan. 31 Daughter of Nelson Medina (above) and bonus daughter of Paige Medina. Happy Birthday from Papi, Pepe, and NJ. We love you!

Nelson â&#x20AC;&#x153;NJâ&#x20AC;? Medina

Celebrated his birthday on Dec. 31 Happy Birthday to our New Year baby 13 years ago! Love, Mommy and Papi

Carson Lim

Age 6 on Jan. 24 Happy Birthday! Son of Denny and Kimberly Lim and little brother to Jackson Lim

Erskine and Audrey Asiedu

Celebrating five years of marriage Jan. 1

ANNOUNCEMENTS ARE FREE! Paige Bullard Medina

Celebrated her birthday Dec. 22 Cheers to a Fabulous Year, Mi Amor! Love, Papi and NJ

Audrey Asiedu

Age 30 on Jan. 1 Happy Birthday! From Erskine, Carol and Kobe

E-mail to: Carla@AroundAboutMagazines.com February deadline is Jan. 10. Please specify Around Acworth. AROUND ACWORTH | January 2017

Cobb Young Professionals Announces Mentoring Program Pairs Cobb Young Professionals selected 15 mentees for the organization’s 2017 Next Generation Mentoring Program. Mentees were chosen from applicants who are active in the community and Cobb Young Professionals program. Mentors are selected from the Cobb community, and are active in the Cobb Chamber and various industries. The Next Generation Mentoring Program was founded in 2013 to build connections between young professionals and established leaders within the Cobb Chamber membership community. The program’s goal is to develop the future leaders of the Cobb County business community. The program consists of events and face-to-face meetings throughout the program year. Mentors offer young professionals expertise and insight needed to successfully grow in their careers. The Next Generation Mentoring Program sponsor is Mauldin & Jenkins, LLC. “The CYP mentoring program is another perfect example of the great work the Cobb Chamber of Commerce does in our community,” said 2017 mentor Greg Morgan, of Mauldin & Jenkins, LLC, in a prepared statement. “The mentoring program, in its fourth year, continues to grow in popularity with the young professionals in the community. As you would expect, the mentor usually receives as much, if not more, benefit from the relation as the mentee. I’m looking forward to this year’s program to see how much more I can learn.” The 2017 Next Generation Mentoring Program participants are: • Greg Allen, AVP: Commercial Credit Analysis, First Landmark Bank Mentor: Greg Morgan, Partner, Mauldin & Jenkins, LLC • Trevor Beemon, Executive Director, Cobb Landmarks and Historical Society, Inc. Mentor: Michelle Cooper-Kelly, Councilwoman, City of Marietta • Alyssa Blanchard, Attorney, O’Dell & O’Neal Mentor: Ellen Smith, Partner, Holt Ney Zatcoff & Wasserman, LLP • Zachary Buffington, Project Engineer, Croy Engineering, LLC Mentor: Chris Fields, SVP – Programs & Administration, MUST Ministries

• Danielle Chaney, Police Records Technician, Cobb Co. Police Department Mentor: Sam Heaton, Director, Cobb County Department of Public Safety • Andy Gaines, Director of Facilities & Events, Earl Smith Strand Theatre Mentor: Mazi Mazloom, President, The Mazloom Law Firm, LLC • Lindsay Gardner, Assistant District Attorney, Office of the District Attorney, Cobb Judicial Circuit Mentor: Dena Rodrigues, EVP, Business Development & Property Management, SK Commercial Realty • Laura Higginbotham, Vice President, Insurance Services Mentor: Nurdan Cornelius, Director of Residential Marketing, Cobb EMC • Jonathan Ingram, District Director, Boy Scouts of America Mentor: Cheryl Hungerford, Former Deputy Superintendent, Cobb County School System (Retired) • Robert Lee, Strategy Director, 2g Strategies Mentor: Andy Crowe, Chief Executive Officer, Velociteach • Mimi Morton, Accountant, Mauldin & Jenkins Mentor: Rob Garcia, President & CEO, Bank of North Georgia • Joshua Portnoy, Attorney, Greenberg Traurig, LLP Mentor: Carmen Chubb, Deputy Commissioner for Housing, Georgia Department of Community Affairs • Erin Smith, Marketing/Sales, O’Brien Productions Mentor: Sally Macaulay, Executive Director, Marietta/Cobb Museum of Art • David Ward, Jr., Product Manager, Genuine Parts Company Mentor: Al Martin, Regional External Affairs Manager, Georgia Power Company • Ashley Warner, Events Manager, Cobb Chamber Mentor: Wendy Bunch, Owner, RE/MAX Wendy Bunch Team For more information on Cobb Young Professionals or the Next Generation Mentoring Program, contact Maddie Nachtmann at 770-859-2353 or mnachtmann@cobbchamber.org.

Martin Luther King Jr. Day Celebration The fourth annual Martin Luther King Jr. Day Celebration and sixth annual Day of Service sponsored by Acworth Parks, Recreation and Community Resource Department will be Jan. 16. The ceremony begins at 10 a.m. at Acworth City Hall. The keynote speaker is Vaughn Williams, Athletic Director at Kennesaw State University. Acworth United Methodist Youth Choir will perform. For more information go to www.acworthparksandrecreation. org or call 770-917-1234. 14

AROUND ACWORTH | January 2017

Heart pounding fourth quarter Four stairs made your heart pound

IS IT AN EMERGENCY? Ongoing symptoms could mean a more serious problem. If you are experiencing recurring symptoms, you can rely on our emergency room to be there for you 24/7. Our team of expert emergency trained physicians will diagnose and treat you so you can get back in the game.

Warning Signs: Chest Pain Shortness of Breath Weakness Cough Indigestion Nausea Sweating

C A R T E R S V I L L E M E D I C A L .CO M / F O O T B A L L

AROUND ACWORTH | January 2017

A Message from the

appy New Year, Acworthians! On behalf of our great city team, we are excited to welcome 2017 and share in this new year with our friends and neighbors. We pray that 2017 will be a wonderful year for you and your family. We are blessed to live in a community full of caring, hardworking and honest citizens who enrich our quality of life just by being a part of our community. We are preparing for 2017 and look forward to sharing our ideas with you and your families. We are getting ready for the annual State of the City presentation at 11:30 a.m. Feb. 2 at the Acworth Business Association meeting at NorthStar Church. This year’s theme is “Building Community.” The luncheon is $15 for members and $25 for non-members. You are invited. The presentation is an opportunity to celebrate our community’s extraordinary achievements in the last year and to lay out the vision for what will be accomplished in the coming year. If you are a business owner, manage a nonprofit organization or operate a church in the community and are not familiar with the Acworth Business Association, we encourage you to get involved. The Acworth Business Association connects, informs, promotes and gives. Through a nominal fee of $90 per year, your membership will give you access to a network of organizations that support each other in the community. As a city, we are excited to see what all is ahead for this organization

that is led by a special group of people in our community. To find out more about the Acworth Business Association, visit www.acworthbusiness.org. The new Logan Farm Park Expansion is officially open! We are thrilled to have this additional 14 acres incorporated into the existing park. Logan Farm Park is 120 acres that encompasses the parks formally known as Tanyard Creek and Terrace Drive. It includes a playground, fishing pond and nature trail that connects to Cowan Road, Terrace Drive, Cherokee Street, School Street and McClain Circle. This new expansion adds additional multi-use pathways, open green space, a destination playground, a group pavilion, a restroom facility and parking. We can’t wait to see this new space being enjoyed by the community! As always, for more information on any of our projects, events and programs you can visit www.cityofacworth.org, sign up for our e-news blasts on our home page, “like” Visit Acworth on Facebook, or follow us on Twitter at @VisitAcworth. God Bless, Tommy

Atlanta native Tommy Allegood is a University of Georgia graduate. He was elected to Acworth’s city council in 2000 and has served as mayor since 2002. The mayor is director for the Cobb Community Foundation, building community through creating charitable resources.

AROUND ACWORTH | January 2017

Acworth Police Department to Offer Citizens’ Police Academy BY WAYNE DENNARD

our officers with a little more facial hair than usual. For the second consecutive year, officers are participating in our The hustle and bustle of the holidays has passed, and I hope Covering the Faces competition. Officers pay to participate in that everyone in our city has had a joyful season. the competition for the best beard, and 100 percent of funds The Acworth Police Department is gearing up for another go toward our Covering the Bases (CTB) phenomenal year with a number of event in September to support Horizon community outreach activities planned. We have an Field. Last year, we added $3,000 to our Online registration is open for our 16th outstanding CTB totals! It’s a fun way to raise funds for annual Citizens’ Police Academy, which will cause, and just one of the ways that begin in March. The CPA offers the public an department filled athegreat Acworth Police Department works to opportunity to gain a deeper understanding with dedicated, support the Special Needs Development of the job knowledge, skills and abilities Group and Horizon Field. required of those in the law enforcement caring people We have an outstanding department community. who work hard filled with dedicated, caring people who In the past, the students of the Citizens’ work hard every day to be the best of the Police Academy have learned from members every day to be best. We begin each year with a new motto of the Acworth Police Department, members the best of the to set the tone, and this year’s motto of the District Attorney’s office, the office of is a challenge to our staff: “Never stop the Medical Examiner and our dispatchers. best. improving, always get better, until you are A highlight of the 12 weeks of classes is the best. Then get better!” The Acworth the firing range experience. Students will Police Department is up to the challenge, and we are off to learn from a police firearms instructor and can participate in a great start for 2017. On behalf of the entire department, exercises on the firing range. At the conclusion of the CPA, we I’d like to wish everyone a happy 2017! will have a graduation celebration that family members are welcome to attend. Each year, our Citizens’ Police Academy graduates approximately 40 students. After successful completion of the course, participants can schedule a ridealong with an Acworth police officer. Classes are free and meet Tuesday from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. The CPA will fill up quickly as Chief Dennard has served as chief since 2012 and has lived in seating is limited, so be sure to register early. this community for more than 40 years. Keep your eyes peeled this month and you may notice

Citizens’ Police Academy Class of 2016.

AROUND ACWORTH | January 2017

Readers’ Choice 2017

Presented by AroundAbout Local Media Our local business owners bring so much value to our community. They offer restaurants where we can grab a delicious meal, service centers to keep our cars in tune, individuals who help educate our children and care for our pets, and medical facilities with physicians we trust to treat our families. Here is your chance to thank them. On Feb. 1, we will open Readers’ Choice 2017. Visit www. aroundacworthmagazine. com and with a click of your mouse, you will be directed to the voting site. Follow the prompts and cast your votes for your favorite SMALL businesses.

Here are the categories you can expect to find.

Happy voting! Recreation & Entertainment Dance Studio Gymnastics Center Theater Golf Course/Club Music Venue

As you vote, please keep in mind: 1. Most of us spend a fair amount of time in big-box retailers. Let’s keep the focus of Readers’ Choice on local small businesses and celebrate the entrepreneurial spirit. 2. If you don’t see the name of your favorite business, feel free to write it in. Please include the location of the business if there are multiple sites. For example, many restaurants have three or four locations. Help us know which one you’re voting for by giving as much information as possible, such as a street or community name. 3. Voting begins Feb. 1 and ends at 5 p.m. March 10. 4. Winners will be announced in the April issue. Businesses will not be notified ahead of time. Everyone will find out at the same time. 5. Vote in as few or as many categories as you’d like. There isn’t a minimum number of votes required for your votes to count. 6. No more than five votes per category will be accepted from each IP address.

Restaurants American Asian Bakery Barbecue Breakfast Coffee Shop Dessert Fine Dining Italian Kid-Friendly Mexican Pizzeria Seafood

Retailers Bicycle Sales Boutique Florist Garden Center/Nursery Gifts/Home Décor Jeweler Music Animal/Pet Supplies Liquor Store Pharmacy Specialty Foods Tires

Services Attorney Audiologist Automotive Bank/Credit Union Business Support Chiropractor Counseling Day Care/Preschool Day Spa Dentist Private School Equestrian Financial Adviser 18

AROUND ACWORTH | January 2017

Funeral Home Hair Salon Health/Fitness Home Cleaning Home Improvement/Repair Insurance Interior Design Landscaping/Lawn Care Music Lessons Nail Salon Optometrist/Ophthalmologist Orthodontist Pediatric Dentist

Pest Control Pet Grooming/Boarding Physician - General Physician - Specialist Photographer Physical Therapist Realtor Senior Living Facility Travel Agency Tutoring Veterinarian

Celebrating Service, Superstars and Success BY DANIELLE HILDERBRAND

I am proud to serve as president of the Acworth Business Association in 2017. As an Acworth resident, it is wonderful to see our community grow and thrive. We have amazing leadership in city government and residents who work to make Acworth a great place to live, in addition to our beautiful lakes. The Acworth Business Association (ABA) provides a platform for local ABA awarded $33,000 to area charities. Photos by Katherine Amick businesses, schools, nonprofits, churches and government to come together to share ideas and referrals. We offer five monthly meetings as networking opportunities and take great pride in the large volume of business generated from ABA referrals. Jan. 10, 22 The Acworth Business Association gives back to the community Morning Jolt through fundraisers, including the ABA Golf Tournament and 7:45-9 a.m., American Legion Post 304 Taste of Acworth. You will also see our name associated with the 4220 Main St., Acworth Smoke on The Lake BBQ Festival and July 4th Concert & Fireworks. Sponsorships for these events help raise money that feeds directly back into the community. Attendees of our December luncheon Jan. 12 saw the donations being awarded during our “Gifts of Love” Monthly Luncheon segment. 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m., NorthStar Church We encourage you to utilize our meetings as a resource to get 3413 Blue Springs Road, Kennesaw plugged into this wonderful community. For more information about ABA, our events and membership, please visit www. Jan. 12 AcworthBusiness.org. Alive After 5 ABA ended 2016 with a luncheon to celebrate a year of “Service, 5:30-7:30 p.m., Center Street Tavern Superstars and Success.” 4381 Senator Russell Ave., Acworth During the luncheon, ABA awarded $33,000 to area charities and recognized Jan. 19 several residents for their service to the ABA’s first Women’s Business Network lunch community. Speaker is Johnnie Gabriel, owner of • ABA Person of the Year: Gabriel’s at the Old Mill Mayor Tommy Allegood 11:30 a.m., Dogwood Terrace Restaurant • Business of the Year: 4975 N. Main St., Acworth Jay White, Bay Equity Home Loans RSVP required. • Service Beyond Expectation Award: Visit acworthbusiness.org to sign up. James Albright, City of Acworth • Rising Star: Mac Ruiz, LPH Productions Feb. 2

UPCOMING EVENTS

Mayor Tommy Allegood

Monthly Luncheon

Mayor Tommy Allegood, annual “State of the City” presentation 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m., NorthStar Church 3413 Blue Springs Road, Kennesaw

Danielle Hilderbrand is 2017 president of the Acworth Business Association and the proud owner of both Pearl’s Spa & Boutique and Rustic Ruby in Historic Downtown Acworth.

Jay White

James Albright

Mac Ruiz AROUND ACWORTH | January 2017

Aerial photo courtesy of City of Acworth. Other photos by Alison Small.

Logan Farm Park Expansion Opens BY CARLA CALDWELL

The long-awaited Logan Farm Park expansion is open. City officials said in mid-2016 that the park would open in late 2016 in time for the holidays. A ribbon cutting was held Dec. 20. The expansion adds 15 acres to the 120-acre Logan Farm Park, which winds through the center of the city along Cherokee and Taylor streets. The addition includes a large playground, a group shelter, restrooms, more walking trails and greenspace. Money for the expansion was provided by a Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax (SPLOST) approved by voters.

AROUND ACWORTH | January 2017

79 From your doorstep to the airport. Avoid the airport hassle!

(404) 444-6622

MoMo Mowaz52@yahoo.com

AROUND ACWORTH | January 2017

Post 304 Raises Money to Train Service Dogs for Veterans BY RON ASBY

The new year brings hope, challenges and opportunities. An age-old tradition is making New Year’s resolutions. I am not one that adheres to that tradition. If I did, one of the things on my list would be to see the actual result(s) of my charitable donations. All too often we donate to charity and never see results we can identify as ours. In 2015, Post 304 took on the mission to raise funds to train a service dog for a PTSD/ TBI veteran. We researched and found PawsBeGood, Inc., a familyowned nonprofit organization located in Talking Rock. Owner Sharon Callan is a certified dog trainer. Our first major fundraiser in 2015 was the Combating PTSD motorcycle Scott Siegel and Lucy. poker run. We have since raised Photo by Bob Kozora more than $10,350, which is enough to fund training for a second PTSD/TBI service dog (the first was Roxie for a TBI veteran). We were introduced to Lucy, a 3½-year-old Catahoula/ Labrador mix and Scott Siegel, a U.S. Air Force veteran who served from February 1980 until July 1990. Siegel and his wife

From left: Pepper (Sharon Callan’s sidekick), Sharon Callan, owner of PawsBeGood, Inc., Bob Kozora, commander, North Cobb American Legion Post 304 and Mike Lefevre, Post 304 adjutant. Photo by Alan Finch 22

AROUND ACWORTH | January 2017

Scott Siegel, Lucy, and Mike Lefevre, Post 304 adjutant. Photo by Alan Finch

adopted Lucy from the Rome/Floyd County Humane Society in 2013. After his diagnosis, Siegel reached out to Callan to train Lucy as his service dog. Siegel and Lucy completed the Canine Good Citizen training and the Public Access training. Both trainings are required to be a certified service dog. “She goes with me everywhere from grocery shopping to doctor’s appointments,” Siegel said. “When I first began training with Lucy, my wife was skeptical and thought others would see me with a service dog and think I was somehow weaker or handicapped because of it. Exactly the opposite is true. Having Lucy with me allows me to go places and do things I might never have been able to do without her. Thank you Post 304 for your generous donations and for caring for veterans with PTSD/TBI so that we may have service dogs to help us with our struggles.” Callan said training dogs to help veterans is a passion. “Properly trained service dogs do make a difference in the lives of these veterans,” she said. “And we are saving the lives of these ‘rescue’ animals and giving them a new purpose in life. North Cobb Post 304 has been a great partner in making it possible for us to do more for veterans suffering with PTSD/TBI.” Seeing how my donations were used is satisfying and motivating. Make a difference, you will be blessed.

Ron Asby is the past commander of American Legion Post 304. He can be reached at pcdr304@gmail.com.

AROUND ACWORTH | January 2017

Cobb Seniors Celebrate with Friends, Santa

Atlanta Ballet performing excerpts from “The Nutcracker.”

Mary Dickerson with Santa.

Cobb Senior Services (CSS) recently hosted its 11th annual holiday party for clients of the organization’s care support services. Many of the participants are homebound and do not have family members in the area. CSS takes clients to the party and provides a holiday meal, entertainment and visits with Santa Claus. Entertainment this year included the Atlanta Ballet performing excerpts from “The Nutcracker.” Party-goers were given gift bags filled with items from their own wish lists. The lists included robes, lotions, toiletries, blankets, perfume and microwaves. Donations are collected year-round to meet Cobb County seniors’ needs. Donors include individuals, businesses, churches and civic organizations. Needs include meals, transportation, emergency housing, assistance with utilities and more. For more information about how to make a difference in the lives of Cobb County seniors, call the Cobb County Christmas365 program at 770-528-5368 or go to www. CobbSeniors.org.

Party-goers enjoying the celebration.

Seniors are served a holiday meal. Photos courtesy of Cobb Senior Services. 24

AROUND ACWORTH | January 2017

Members of Atlanta Ballet.

Harris and Jeanette Canada.

Joyce Sears with Santa.

Edna Gullat and Allison Padgett.

Gifts donated to seniors. AROUND ACWORTH | January 2017

Sights of the Santa arrived in Historic Downtown Acworth in early December to a delighted crowd. Activities that helped celebrate Santa’s arrival and the beginning of the holiday season included a parade, Mayor Tommy Allegood reading “Twas the Night Before Christmas,” and Acworth United Methodist Church’s live Nativity.

Impact Dance students perform during the parade. Photo by Wayne Tumbleson

A group of Impact Dance students. Photo by Wayne Tumbleson

A group of Red Hat Ladies visited Santa during a visit to Historic Downtown to dine and shop. Photo by Michelle Berryman

Acworth United Methodist Church’s live Nativity. Photo by Wayne Tumbleson

Mayor Tommy Allegood reads “Twas the Night Before Christmas.” Photo by Wayne Tumbleson 26

AROUND ACWORTH | January 2017

Allatoona High School Marching Band performs in the parade. Photo by Wayne Tumbleson.

Winter Weather Advice: Remember the catastrophic ice storm that hit metro Atlanta in early 2014? Commuters were stuck overnight on the highways. Students had to sleep in their school gyms because buses couldn’t run and parents couldn’t get to the schools to pick up their children. It’s a scenario that isn’t easy to forget and certainly one that no one wants to repeat. We could face another significant winter storm, so it doesn’t hurt to follow the old Boy Scouts’ motto:“Be prepared.” These guidelines were recently released by the National Weather Service. Keep this page handy just in case!

Travel Safety Kit

Winter Weather Safety

A major key to preparedness is having a ready kit—a portable emergency supply kit of basic items you may need if a disaster occurs.

The National Weather Service refers to winter storms as the “deceptive killers” because most deaths are indirectly related to the storm. Instead, people die in traffic accidents on icy roads and of hypothermia from prolonged exposure to cold. Be sure to follow winter weather safety rules during winter storms and extreme cold.

• Batteries • Blankets • First aid kit

During winter storms and extreme cold:

• Pocket knife

• Stay indoors during the storm.

• Tow rope

• Walk carefully on snowy, icy walkways.

• Shovel

• Avoid overexertion when shoveling snow. Overexertion can bring on a heart attack, a major cause of death in the winter. Use caution, take breaks, push the snow instead of lifting it when possible and lift lighter loads.

• Road maps/GPS equipment • Ice scraper/brush • Sand/cat litter for traction • Water/non-perishable food • Mobile phone/charger

Terminology Winter Storm Watch: Issued 12-48 hours in advance of an event for a 50 percent or greater chance of conditions favorable for a significant winter storm (including heavy sleet, heavy snow or an ice storm). Winter storm conditions include two or more inches of snow, a half inch or more of sleet or a quarter inch or more of freezing rain. Winter Weather Advisory: Issued up to 36 hours before an event for an 80 percent or greater chance of a winter precipitation event (snow, freezing rain/drizzle, sleet or blowing snow) that causes inconveniences but does not meet warning criteria. Winter Storm Warning: Issued up to 36 hours before an event for an 80 percent or greater chance of a winter weather event that meets at least one of these criteria: two or more inches of snow, half inch or more of sleet or quarter inch or more of freezing rain.

• Keep dry. Change wet clothing frequently to prevent a loss of body heat. Wet clothing loses all of its insulating value and transmits heat rapidly. • Drive only if it’s absolutely necessary. If you must drive: travel in the day; don’t travel alone; keep others informed of your schedule; stay on on main roads and avoid back road shortcuts. • If you become trapped in your car, pull off the highway. Turn on hazard lights and hang a distress flag from the radio antenna or window. • Remain in your vehicle, where rescuers are most likely to find you. Do not set out on foot unless you can see a building close by where you know you can take shelter. Be careful; distances are distorted by blowing snow. A building may seem close, but be too far to walk to in deep snow. • Run the engine and heater about 10 minutes each hour to keep warm. When the engine is running, open a downwind window slightly for ventilation and periodically clear snow from the exhaust pipe. This will protect you from possible carbon monoxide poisoning.

AROUND ACWORTH | January 2017

LAKE POINTE WELLNESS CENTER 3950 Cobb Parkway, Suite 401, Acworth, GA 30101 770-974-5215 www.lakepointewellness.net

HOLISTIC HEALING

at the Heart of Dr. Deb’s Practice

When Dr. Debra Schreibman opened Lake Pointe Wellness Center 14 years ago, her goal was to be a vital part of the community while helping its residents get well. She believes her dedication to her patients, which includes spending as much time with them as needed, is one of the reasons she has a loyal following and frequent referrals. “When we first opened, it was just myself and an administrator,” says Schreibman. “In those days, we opened the doors each morning hoping someone would come to us so we could help! It was exciting and nerve wracking at the same time — wanting to help so badly and only seeing a few people each day.” At Lake Pointe Wellness Center, Schreibman and her staff are dedicated to holistic medicine, which focuses on treatment of the patient as a whole rather than treating physical symptoms alone. The pace is much quicker at the practice these days. “Between all of the different therapists, providers and equipment stations we see 50, 60, sometimes 70 patients a day now. It’s wonderful seeing people leave here smiling,” Schreibman says. Schreibman believes that many times alternatives are available to prescription medications. “There is a time and place for medicine, but there is also a balance,” says Schreibman. “I am fortunate to have phenomenal relationships with numerous doctors, but there are some doctors who don’t have enough information to recommend natural alternatives to prescriptions.” The practice offers a large chiropractic care facility, massage therapy in a spa setting, acupuncture, and exercise and nutritional counseling. Schreibman often goes

with patients to the gym to demonstrate effective ways to exercise, and to the grocery store to help patients better understand food labels. “Many patients come to us and say they are exercising to be healthy and lose weight, but that they aren’t losing weight and are far from healthy,” Schreibman says. “We look at the person as a whole and address the issue rather than the symptom. For example, we can use acupuncture to assist with weight loss, headache reduction and smoking cessation. There isn’t a predetermined illness we are looking for, we use all of the tools available to us to address the issue at hand.” People often visit Lake Pointe looking for pain relief. “Patients come in to get adjusted and they do great,” says Schreibman. “And we put them on a few supplements and they do even better. We can often replace pain meds with no negative side effects.” Schreibman became a doctor of chiropractic because she wanted to help people. She was at one time quite ill herself and was diagnosed with endometriosis, which went undetected for 18 months. “I was in so much pain I was taking prescribed medications at night just to survive,” Schreibman explains. Following surgery, doctors recommended a hysterectomy or taking a cancer drug. “I thought there has to be something else and I kicked off my journey to find another choice,” Schreibman says. “I was introduced to functional medicine and determined it was a matter of removing estrogen from my life. I made lifestyle changes and we used supplements to bring everything into balance. I am pain free now. And on no meds. I am an educated medical professional and even I initially got stuck in that model of prescribed medications.” Schreibman firmly believes that medications serve a purpose and should be used - just not in cases when lifestyle changes, chiropractic treatment, massage therapy, natural supplements, or a combination of those things, can achieve the same result. “With all the money in this country, we should be healthier. Instead, we seem to be sicker as a whole,” says Schreibman. “People come in all the time who

Sponsored Content 28

AROUND ACWORTH | January 2017

don’t think there is anything wrong with being on so many medications until we show them a healthy approach to wellness.” Schreibman says it is unfortunate that insurance companies often won’t pay for treatments they deem alternative. Her new book, “The Madness of Modern Medicine - Your life is worth more than your deductible. Creating extraordinary wellness through preventative care,” which will be available in early 2017, examines the state of health care, insurance and why she believes people are being prescribed so many medications. “We have to decide how much we want to invest in our health,” says Schreibman. “Is it a gym membership? Or more? You work your butt off your whole life so that hopefully you can retire and enjoy your life with your grandchildren … and then you are sick. Sometimes, it is just about doing the right testing to figure out what’s going on.” Schreibman often educates people through speaking engagements. She passionately speaks to clubs, businesses and community groups on topics including: • Fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue • Reversing diabetes • Reversing thyroid disease • Autoimmune diseases • Cardiovascular disease “I feel blessed that every single day I get to go to work and impact people’s lives,” Schreibman says. “My heart is to help people get well and make people aware that there is an alternative to a cabinet full of medicine.”

PHOTOS BY J. KING IMAGES

DR. DEBRA SCHREIBMAN, known as Dr. Deb to her patients, received a bachelor’s degree in psychology in 1991 from the University of Connecticut. In May 1997, she received a second degree in occupational therapy from Springfield Technical Community College. In 1998, she graduated from New Life Institute, now a part of Gwinnett College, with a license in massage therapy. Schreibman graduated summa cum laude from Life University in 2003 with a doctorate degree in chiropractic and started her practice in Acworth. She is licensed in Georgia and Florida and is a member of the Georgia and Florida chiropractic associations, Business Network International and Acworth Business Association. She is an active member of the Paulding and Cobb County chambers of commerce.

TREATMENT AND PROGRAMS OFFERED Chiropractic Care Headache Relief Personal Injury Pain Management Non-Surgical Spinal Decompression Functional Medicine Lifestyle Programs Supplements For Your Diet Acupuncture Massage Therapy Cupping Therapy Myofascial Release Products for Pain-Free Living Weight Loss Non-Invasive Diagnostic Testing

AROUND ACWORTH | January 2017

Andy Ahrens: Actor Moves South for Opportunities BY TORIE WINKLER

The growing Georgia entertainment market is attracting actors from around the country to relocate to metro Atlanta. Chicago native Andy Ahrens is one of them. Ahrens made a name for himself as a featured actor on television shows “Chicago Fire” and “Chicago P.D.” Ahrens was always a creative child, from pretending to be professional sports stars to acting out his favorite scenes from books he had read. Those childhood games led him to participate in both sports and theater in high school, and he received a scholarship to pursue his acting at Butler University. He jokingly attributes his love of performance to being the middle child: “It was always great to be able to talk and have people listen to me,” he said. After college, Ahrens went on to perform in numerous shows at the Indiana Repertory Theatre and then transitioned into acting for the screen. He describes the two as satisfying in their own ways. “When it comes to film and television, the process is very quick. Once you’ve filmed your scenes, it’s over. But with theater you get to live with the role. It’s very exciting to get to

revisit your character day after day.” So why would a successful Chicago actor relocate to northeast Atlanta? “The weather!” Ahrens jokes at first. Atlanta’s warm, humid climate is certainly a change compared to Chicago’s harsh winters. But Ahrens said that the biggest reason for his move is the growing entertainment community in Atlanta. “It has a wealth of opportunity for an Andy Ahrens actor,” he says. Ahrens doesn’t anticipate his schedule slowing down anytime soon. He’s currently watching the awards come in for his newest film “Dead Draw” with Gil Bellows. It has already won the Audience Choice Award at the San Diego Film Festival, as well as Best of Festival at the Metropolitan Film Festival of NYC. Ahrens said the success is particularly meaningful since he had been a part of the creative process from the very beginning. “Dead Draw” is currently in distribution negotiations and Ahrens is hoping for a theatrical release soon.

2017 Goals and an Actor’s Toolbox This is the time of year for reflection and renewal. If you’re an actor you should reflect on last year and the progress you made in your career and also look at the year ahead and honestly express realistic short-term goals that will continue to move you toward your ultimate goals. As actors, that long-range goal is always out there calling, keeping us moving, giving hope life. Every once in a while (like the end of the year) it is beneficial to take a realistic look at the past and the future. What tools in your actor toolbox need sharpening? • Headshots: Are they professionally done? Remember the headshot is your calling card. It is your job application and quality matters. If your headshot is not professionally done, it is one of the first clues to industry professionals that you are either new or do

Film • “Hidden Figures” www.youtube.com/ watch?v=5wfrDhgUMGI with Taraji P. Henson, Octavia Spencer and Kevin Costner. • “Sleepless” www.youtube.com/watch?v=grqVFoJ3jJg with Jamie Foxx Television • “Sleepy Hollow” Returning favorite • “Too Close to Home” Returning series • “Six,” on the History Channel (filmed in South Carolina but features a lot of local talent) 30

AROUND ACWORTH | January 2017

not take your career seriously. Invest in quality work from someone who can make you look professional. • Résumés: Do they follow industry standard formatting? There are several great samples online and http://www.dailyactor.com/ acting-resume/ has a great breakdown of exactly what you should do. Make sure your film and television credits follow the “type of role” standard. Tip: Buy a ream of paper at Kinko’s or similar and ask them to cut it to 8x10 for you. It’s cheap and gives the resume a clean edge and makes attaching it less time consuming. • Reels: Everyone wants to see your work before trusting you with their project. Yes. I said trust. This is an industry built on trust and solid relationships. The audition process is structured the way it is because of trust relationships. Your reel demonstrates multiple things: the quality of work you have been involved with as well as your skill as an actor; the trust you have gained from others; that you are a professional. Make sure your reel is about you. A good editor can re-cut a scene to keep it focused on you. Keep the length short. Two minutes to two minutes and 30 seconds is solid. Better to have a high impact 45-second reel than one that appears to be trying too hard. If your tools need an update, now is the time to do it. The industry slows down for the holidays and goes back into full swing in January. Actor Jim Dougherty contributed to this article.www.imdb.me/ jimdougherty. He is an instructor at Southeast Actors Academy. You can follow Jim’s blog Acting is a Business at http://jimside8.tumblr. com for the full article.

Torie Winkler is a Woodstock native and a public relations coordinator for RCM Talent and Management. She can be reached at toriewinkler@gmail.com.

Are You Prepared to Buy a New Home? BY JAY WHITE

In the many years I have been in the mortgage business I have seen numerous common mistakes made by consumers. Unfortunately, consumers often do not realize when purchasing a home that they might be making a mistake that could cause multiple headaches and possibly cost them the home of their dreams. One of the biggest mistakes I see is how consumers select their lender. Consumers get fixated on a rate. The rate is important, but there are many other factors that come into play when selecting a lender. When choosing a lender, consumers need to consider with whom they will be working. Does the lender have the loan figured prior to home shopping so that there are no surprises right before closing? Will the lender be able to close on time and not miss the closing date? Is it possible that the lender canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t close the loan at all?

Ask yourself these questions when you use an online lender or the person at your bank. Do they have the knowledge or experience to get your loan closed? Do they listen to your needs so that they can customize your loan to you? Do they have the ability to get your loan closed in 25 days? Lastly, do they really care about you or if the loan will close? When a consumer uses a local lender it is a guarantee that these things matter because the local lender will see you around the town and their name is their business.

Jay White is area sales manager for Bay Equity Home Loans in Acworth. The company was named 2016 Business of the Year by Acworth Business Association.

AROUND ACWORTH | January 2017

Enhance Your Home’s Appearance To Attract Potential Buyers BY JEFF GLOVER

Are you are selling your home or contemplating it? If so, there are things you can do to give your home maximum appeal to potential buyers. Consider hiring a certified home inspector to thoroughly and impartially evaluate your home. Most buyers will request an inspection, so be proactive and get one done on your terms. You will know what needs to be addressed to sell your home and having an inspection report available to buyers could lead to a faster sale. If your inspection yields a fix-it list, talk with a real estate professional and a contractor to establish necessities and priorities. Depending on your budget and objectives, you may want to repair the items that could cause significant deterioration to your property, such as a leaky roof. The closer you get your home to “move-in-ready” status, the more likely you are to attract today’s cautious and discerning buyers. Some of the most common repairs and enhancements that yield immediate buyer appeal include: • Paint inside and outside in neutral colors • Steam clean or replace carpets • Polish or replace hardwood floors • Clean or re-grout kitchen and bathrooms • Replace light fixtures • Change lightbulbs throughout and replace wall switch covers • Repair dripping faucets

Other projects that will enhance your home include: • Entry door replacement (steel) • Garage door replacement (four-section door, reuse existing motorized opener) • Siding replacement (fiber-cement siding) • Kitchen remodel (new cabinet doors, drawers and hardware, new energy-efficient appliances, upgraded flooring, counters, sink and faucet) • Deck addition (wood) Be sure to document your repairs and enhancements and to share the report with prospective buyers. Walk prospects through the enhancements and include their costs. A home in good condition demonstrates pride of ownership. Taking time to make enhancements helps ensure your home is presented in its best light and is primed for a quick and profitable sale.

Jeff Glover is a licensed and insured general contractor. He is a lifelong resident of Cobb County and lived in the Acworth community for the past 17 years.

• Fix sticking doors • Repair broken fencing

At Dogwood Forest™, we know that the environment you live in significantly impacts the quality of life that you live. That’s why our communities were created with elements that have been clinically proven to have positive outcomes for seniors, including:

Assisted living like you‘ve never seen it before.

• elegantly decorated interiors • caring, optimistic professional staff • life enrichment & holistic wellness programs • spa & salon services • delicious therapeutic diet • memory care, respite care & post-operative care services

4461 South Main Street Acworth, GA 30101 32

AROUND ACWORTH | January 2017

(678) 831-4999

w w w.dogwoodforest.com

Health & Wellness

Glaucoma a Leading Cause of Blindness BY DR. DYLAN REACH

January is National Glaucoma Awareness Month. Today, approximately 3 million people have glaucoma, making it the second leading cause of blindness in the United States, and the first major leading cause of preventable blindness. Glaucoma is also six to eight times more common in African-Americans than in Caucasians. Glaucoma is an eye disease that damages the optic nerve in the back of the eye, most often when eye pressure is elevated for an extended period of time. This Annual eye process can often decrease peripheral vision without exams are the symptoms, thus earning it best deterrent the moniker of “the silent thief of sight.” Many people to vision loss may know of the “air puff” caused by test or other tests used to measure eye pressure in an glaucoma eye examination. But this and other test alone cannot detect glaucoma. preventable Damage from glaucoma is eye diseases. always preceded by loss and thinning of the nerve fiber layer. It often occurs when there is too much fluid in the eye, causing pressure to build up and damage to the optic nerve, which is responsible for sending vision information to the brain. Since this damage cannot be repaired, prevention is important. By accurately measuring the thickness of the nerve fiber layer and comparing the results to known glaucoma patients, we can quickly diagnose patients who may be at risk. If glaucoma is detected early, the chance of serious visual damage is reduced. We can also use this technology to diagnose patients with diabetic retinopathy, macular degeneration and other diseases of the retina. Annual eye exams are the best deterrent to vision loss caused by glaucoma and other preventable eye diseases. Even in a routine eye exam, your eye doctor can detect signs and risk factors of glaucoma. Whether you wear corrective lenses or not, getting an annual eye exam is an important part of your health care and critical to maintaining healthy vision.

Dr. Dylan Reach, an optometrist at Acworth Family Eyecare, has been providing eye care in the Acworth area for more than 15 years. AROUND ACWORTH | January 2017

School & Sports

YOUR SCHOOL NEWS Cobb Schools Foundation, Atlanta Braves Foundation Award $30,000 to Cobb Teachers Cobb Schools Foundation in partnership with the Atlanta Braves Foundation awarded 19 Impact grants that totaled more than $30,000 to Cobb educators. More than 120 teachers throughout the district submitted grant applications. The grants are awarded to teachers, teacher teams, specialists and schools to implement educational programs and initiatives. “It is a very hard decision, and we would love to award more,” said Natalie Rutledge, interim director Cobb Schools Foundation. The Atlanta Braves Foundation helped fund seven Impact grants worth about $10,000. “It is a great partnership we have forged with the Atlanta Braves Foundation,” Rutledge said. Acworth and Lewis elementary schools are among grant recipients. A $2,500 grant was awarded to Peggy Clay, a library media specialist at Acworth Elementary, to modernize a production room used to produce the school’s morning news show. The show is student driven and involves 28 fifth-grade students who audition and apply to help produce the daily news. Broadcast each morning, the news program highlights weather, announcements, student birthdays and a character word of the day while integrating music, movement and photography A $449 grant was awarded to Karen Parris, a speech teacher at Lewis Elementary, for “Themed Box Learning.” The program provides a hands-on curriculum for preschool-age children with language communication deficits. A $325 grant was awarded to Kimberly Pair, a special education teacher at Lewis Elementary, for a “Fairy Tale STEAM kit.” The kit integrates STEM, literacy, creative expression and social-emotional development for preschool - secondgrade students. To read more about the grants and to view a full list of recipients go to http://www.cobbk12.org/. 34

AROUND ACWORTH | January 2017

Natalie Rutledge, interim director Cobb Schools Foundation, surprised Lewis Elementary speech teacher Karen Parris and special education teacher Kimberly Pair with Impact grants.

Natalie Rutledge, interim director Cobb Schools Foundation, surprised Acworth Elementary teacher Peggy Clay with an Impact grant. The library media specialist celebrated with Rutledge, principal Pamela Adeli and students.

Cornerstone Prep Student Designs Cards For School Cornerstone Preparatory Academy sophomore Lillian Cook was selected to design a set of note cards featuring school mascot Charlie the Cougar that will be sold to benefit the school’s capital campaign. The set of 12 cards costs $10 and is available for purchase at the school. The card project was proposed last spring by Jeanine Marlow, the school’s director of communications and marketing. Marlow approached Jill Barrett, the school’s secondary art Lillian Cook with her Cougar teacher about the possibility of Cards a Cornerstone student creating Cougar-theme note cards. Barrett asked several students to create samples using Google Drawings. Cook’s drawings were selected from the samples. Barrett worked with Cook throughout the summer to perfect the drawing of the Cougar character and she asked Cook to add cards including: Thank You, Get Well and Hello. “It took a lot of work to revise and edit them before they were finished, but it was worth the time,” Cook said. Barrett praised Cook’s work on the project. “Working with Lillian was wonderful because she is talented, diligent, and communicates well,” Barrett said. “She is also dedicated; she spent many hours of her summer free time on this project. Everyone was thrilled with the finished project.”

Home sweet home . . . protect all that you’ve built Safe. Sound. Secure.® insurance from Auto-Owners Insurance.

Call or visit us

DEBBIE WARD, AAI

770-974-0670 Call Today Request A Quote Online: dwardinsurance.com

Durham Middle School 5K and Fun Run Durham Middle School will host its fourth annual Durham Derby May 6 to benefit the Durham Foundation. The race begins and ends at the school, 2891 Mars Hill Road, Acworth. The school is seeking business sponsors. For more information about the race and sponsorship opportunities visit www.cobbk12.org/durham/.

North Cobb Christian Makes Best Schools List North Cobb Christian School is included on the 2017 Niche list of Best Christian High Schools in Georgia. NCCS scored highly on a variety of factors, including SAT/ACT scores, studentteacher ratio, the quality of colleges that students consider and reviews from students and parents.

Because they’re family, we care for them that way! Cobb County’s only pet funeral home & crematory owned by a licensed funeral director.

678-594-0041 DreamLandPetCremation.com AROUND ACWORTH | January 2017

YOUR SCHOOL NEWS Baker Elementary launches district’s first zSpace STEM lab Baker Elementary School staff members began last year looking for ways to incorporate virtual reality at the school. A district-wide Science, Technology, Engineering and Math event sparked the school’s pursuit of a virtual reality learning experience using zSpace, which was set up as a demo at the STEM conference. A $9,000 Cobb Tank grant partially funded Baker’s zSpace STEM Lab. The Baker School family raised the additional money needed to complete the project. Baker Principal Alison Broughton largely credited the school’s student council for their fund-raising efforts as well as donations by community partners. Each zSpace unit Cobb County School District Superintendent costs $5,000. Baker has 10 zSpace units, Chris Ragsdale wears virtual reality glasses to test Baker Elementary School’s new and plans to add two more zSpace STEM Lab. units, to allow students to bring lessons off the pages of textbooks and examine them in a Baker Elementary Students participate in a ribbon cutting at their computer-generated space. school’s new zSpace STEM Lab.

Program Pairs Students with Residents of Gaines Park Assisted Living BY JENNIFER BONN

Mount Paran Christian School is giving its students a chance to serve the community through a program called Truth in Action and one of the projects has had resounding success. One Wednesday a month students meet to ride the short distance to Gaines Park Assisted Living in Kennesaw. Faculty sponsor Ruth Henderson prepares activities and crafts that benefit both students and residents. I recently had the opportunity to go with a group of girls from Mount Paran. When we arrived, the students raced in as if they had just gotten home and could not wait to see their family. When I walked into the main room, I was surprised by what I saw. Teenagers are often a little hesitant at first, but the students were already seated with the residents and the conversations were flowing. As I watched the two age groups interact, I could not help but think that the generation gap had disappeared. I listened to one lady talk about hairstyles to our student Caroline, while Caroline asked her how she kept her hair so beautiful. It sounded like a conversation that two women of any age would Student Alicia Pitts meets with her have. great aunt as they catch up with each Program director Kim Pickering said the residents don’t realize that they are just as much other. of a blessing to the students as the students are to them. The students and residents enjoy sharing their stories with each other. When we have the opportunity to watch two groups of people interact with such love, it proves that age really is just a number. Henderson said her Mount Paran students never want to leave. The school’s program is a great way to teach our students to respect our seniors Residents wait for the students to start the and to encourage interaction with them for mutual benefits. activity for that day. Jennifer Bonn is a teacher at Mount Paran Christian School. 36

AROUND ACWORTH | January 2017

KSU to Offer Degree in Digital Animation Kennesaw State University will offer a Bachelor of Fine Arts in digital animation beginning in fall 2017. The degree program is the first of its kind among University System of Georgia schools, according to the school. The digital animation degree will prepare students to work in Georgia’s fast-growing entertainment industry. The degree will be offered within Kennesaw State’s College of the Arts. “Kennesaw State’s new digital animation degree is a fine example of how higher education best supports the region’s economy and meets marketplace demands,” said Kennesaw State President Sam Olens in a prepared statement. “The university continues to be a strong leader in creating innovative programs that serve our students and the state’s thriving entertainment industry.” Georgia has the second-highest concentration of animation jobs in the country and is one of the largest employers in the gaming and digital entertainment industries, according to KSU. The industries have a $7 billion economic impact and employ more than 25,000 people in the state, according to Gov. Nathan Deal. KSU’s digital animation degree program will provide discipline-specific training and prepare students for a variety of animation and animation-related careers. The degree will combine course work in general studies, along with courses in computer gaming, engineering, music, graphic communications, and theater and performance studies. “By intentionally designing this program in a way that blends the institution’s collaborative strengths, we are able to increase and enhance the academic opportunities for our students,” added Ken Harmon, Kennesaw State’s provost and vice president for academic affairs. “The addition of the Bachelor of Fine Arts in Digital Animation is a paragon of our growing unique professional offerings.”

START YOUR YEAR

UP RIGHT BUY 5, GET 1 FREE WALK-INS WELCOME | NO INSURANCE NEEDED | OPEN EVENINGS & WEEKENDS

Acworth (678) 574-5959 3384 Cobb Parkway NW, Suite #450 Acworth, GA 30101

USE YOUR HSA/FSA FOR CHIROPRACTIC thejoint.com

*Offer valued at $39. Valid for new patients only. See clinic for chiropractor(s)’ name and license info. Clinics managed and/or owned by franchisee or Prof. Corps. Restrictions may apply to Medicare eligible patients. Individual results may vary. © 2016 The Joint Corp. All Rights Reserved.

AROUND ACWORTH | January 2017

TO YOUR HEALTH! In the spirit of cooperation and support of those of you who are trying to make a lifestyle change to better eating habits, here is a collection of healthy recipes from folks we know are diligent about eating well and staying healthy. Enjoy!

Oven Roasted Butternut Squash From Jeaneen Mitchim

This dish is very high in vitamins A and C, potassium and fiber.

Slow Cooker Aloo Gobi

• One butternut squash

From Ann Litrel

• ¼ teaspoon pepper

(spiced cauliflower and potatoes) Slightly adapted from “The Indian Slow Cooker,” this recipe serves eight.

• 1 large cauliflower, cut into 1-inch pieces • 2 medium sweet potatoes, peeled and diced • 1 medium onion, peeled and diced • 1 medium tomato, diced

• 3 Tablespoons olive oil • ¼ teaspoon sea salt • 1 tablespoon cinnamon Cut the squash into cubes, toss with olive oil, pepper, salt and cinnamon. Shake it all in a gallon size zipper food storage bag. Spread onto a roasting pan and bake at 350 degrees for 30-40 minutes.

• ½ can coconut milk • 1 2-inch piece of fresh ginger root, peeled and grated • 2 cloves garlic, peeled and grated • 1 ½ teaspoon Thai chili garlic paste • 1 Tablespoon cumin seeds • 1 pinch cayenne pepper, or more to taste • 1 Tablespoon garam masala • 1 Tablespoon kosher salt • 1 teaspoon turmeric • 3 Tablespoon canola or vegetable oil • 1 cup frozen peas • 1 heaping Tablespoon fresh cilantro, roughly chopped In a 4- or 5-quart slow cooker, combine all ingredients except the cilantro. Stir well to distribute the spices. Cook on low for four hours, stirring once or twice if you’re around. Thirty minutes before serving, add 1 cup of frozen peas and stir in to cook. Add the cilantro just before you’re ready to serve the aloo gobi with jasmine rice or naan.

AROUND ACWORTH | January 2017

The Best Paleo Brownies From Joni Gommo • 1 cup almond butter • 1/3 cup maple syrup • 1 egg • 2 Tablespoons ghee • 1 teaspoon vanilla • 1/3 cup cocoa powder • 1/2 teaspoon baking soda Heat the oven to 325 degrees. In a large bowl, whisk together the almond butter, syrup, egg, ghee and vanilla. Stir in the cocoa powder and baking soda. Pour the batter into a 9-inch baking pan. Bake for 20-23 minutes, until the brownie is done, but still soft in the middle. I substitute maple syrup with Cary’s sugar free syrup, and I substitute the ghee with the same amount of Kerrygold butter.

Soup’s On! A dash of creativity, a cup of leftovers BY TIFFANY HUGHES

Soup is a wonderful meal, especially this time of year. It is comforting in so many ways, not to mention economical. It’s also a great way to use leftovers that aren’t plentiful enough to feed an entire family. Got turkey left from Christmas? Throw it into a pot with rice, oil, minced onion and salt, and cook until the rice turns golden. Add at least four cups of water or chicken broth. Continue to cook until the rice is tender. Additional veggies (carrots, spinach, etc.) can be added for Taco Soup extra flavor, volume and vitamins. Taco soup can be made by cooking hamburger meat in a dutch oven, then mixing with a jar of pasta sauce, taco seasoning, cans of black beans, beans, and garbanzo It’s also a great red beans, and garlic and cilantro. Taco sauce or salsa can be way to use added for extra seasoning. Add leftovers that at least two cans chicken or aren’t plentiful beef broth, a little water, and cook until the mixture thickens enough to a bit. Serve with sour cream, lime juice and tortilla chips. feed an entire Leftover turkey, steak and family. even shrimp are tasty ways to enhance canned soups. If you serve them with a sandwich or salad, you’ve got a whole meal! Frozen spinach is a good addition to broth-based, tomato or creamy canned soups. You can also add diced potatoes.

Baked potato soup can be made with cooked, mashed potatoes, chicken broth, sour cream and whole milk. Add bacon bits. Season with garlic, salt, pepper and parsley. Top with cheddar cheese and enjoy! This soup can easily be turned into corn chowder by increasing the liquids, and adding 2 cans of corn niblets. Like clam chowder? Then add two cans chopped clams (including juice), a dash of lemon juice and hot sauce, and you’ve got chowder that won’t make them clam up! Root vegetables, particularly butternut squash or baked sweet potatoes, make fantastic soup. Cut the squash in half, scrape out the seeds, and bake at 400° with cut side down in olive oil until it turns golden. Scrape out the cooked squash and put into a large saucepot with a quart of half-n-half, ground nutmeg, and salt and pepper to taste. Frequent stirring will dissolve the squash or sweet potatoes into velvety goodness. This dish is wonderful when topped with feta cheese or dry roasted peanuts. Don’t be afraid to try something new with your soup creations and who knows, your family might actually want to come out of hibernation to enjoy the tasty goodness! Happy cooking!

Tiffany Hughes is an Acworth resident who is an educator at Tellus Science Museum. She enjoys spending time with her family and furbabies. Contact her at creativecook11@ yahoo.com.

AROUND ACWORTH | January 2017

Health & Wellness

Teeth Formation:

Amazing!

BY DR. SCOTT R. HARDEN

Teeth are fundamental to our overall health by allowing us to eat and digest our food properly, and playing an important role in speech. Teeth are easily taken for granted until problems develop. Because of their value, it’s helpful to understand more about our teeth so we can better respect them, maintain good preventive measures and avoid problems. Humans develop two sets of teeth: primary or baby teeth and permanent or adult teeth. Our primary teeth accommodate us from 6 months to 12 years of age. Our adult teeth begin erupting at 6 years old and continue until we are 18. Sink your teeth in these facts: • Teeth develop symmetrically (mirror-image). Your upper 6-year molars on the right and left side erupt at the same time. The grooves and anatomy of the teeth are almost always the same. If a tooth develops a cavity on one side, the symmetrical tooth will almost always develop the same type of cavity. • The crown of a tooth (the part we brush) forms first and the roots continue to develop after the tooth has erupted. • Teeth begin forming as buds in the jawbone during the early second trimester of pregnancy. • We receive 20 primary teeth that develop and erupt by age 3. These teeth are sized to match our child-sized jaws. • We typically get 32 adult teeth. • Permanent teeth are larger than primary teeth. Adult

AROUND ACWORTH | January 2017

premolars, also called bicuspids, push out baby molars as they erupt and adult front teeth push out the baby front teeth. Adult molars erupt into the oral cavity behind all the baby molars and actually do not push out any baby teeth. • A tooth has two basic elements: the crown (visible white portion of a tooth), and the root (anchors into the bone). • Teeth have four types of structures: enamel is the white hard covering; dentin is the second layer that accounts for the largest part of the tooth; cementum covers the root, and pulp is in the center and consists of nerves. Each of us has four types of teeth: • Incisors are the eight teeth in front that are used to bite food. They erupt between 6-8 years. • Canines, also called cuspids or eyeteeth, are the sharpest teeth, and erupt between ages 11 and 13. • Premolars, also called bicuspids, are the eight premolars between our front teeth and molars. They erupt between ages 10 and 11. • Molars are the back teeth that we use for chewing. They erupt between ages 11 and 13. • Third molars, also called wisdom teeth, erupt between ages 18 and 20.

Dr. Scott Harden, a dentist at Fountain View Family Dentistry, has served Woodstock for more than 25 years. 770-926-0000. www.FountainViewSmiles.com

AROUND ACWORTH | January 2017

Tell Us About Your Classic or Favorite Car Acworth Resident Builds Ultimate Zombie-Slaying Machine

BY DEB TUCKER

I have lived in Acworth for the past 20 years. I am not a native Georgian, but I have grown to love this area and enjoy everything about Acworth. I was a tomboy growing up, just like my mother, and loved sports and cars. I acquired an aggressive interest in cars as a teenager. I loved fixing them up. My first love was a yellow, 1976 Camaro. Boy, that thing was pretty. I bought an old Chevy truck with a 350cc block and put it into the Camaro. I chromed out the engine and was working my way toward my first show car. Unfortunately, I let my brother drive the Camaro while I was out of town and he managed to blow the engine. The Camaro was trashed and I did not have the money to fix it. I sold what was left of the Camaro and went to college, heartbroken. Later, I attended car shows in Acworth and traveled to Pigeon Forge for car events along the famous Parkway. It was so exciting

AROUND ACWORTH | January 2017

and I dreamed of having another opportunity to fix up another classic car and show it. I was drawn to the 1967-69 Camaro. However, with every car show I attended, there were so many of these cars I did not see any way to have anything special. I always liked the 1967-69 Firebird and shifted my attention on that car. Although I searched and searched for a Firebird, there were few to find. Firebirds were either fully restored and extremely expensive, or they were rust buckets with too much to fix. So I decided to do something entirely different. In 2011, I bought a base model Jeep Wrangler Unlimited Sport Edition. I thought I would go for the Black Ops look with black on black everything. The Jeep certainly turned heads for a while until Jeep themselves presented their “Black Ops” Edition Wrangler. Well, so much for that unique look. After much thought, I decided to create a unique, one of a kind, “Zombie Jeep.” So in 2013, the

project began. I am four years into this Jeep project. Although the majority of the Jeep is complete, there are always more things to add or change. Since 2015, the Jeep has been in show condition. We have been in the 2015 and the 2016 Acworth car shows, we won the 2016 Zombie fest Jeep show in Canton, and we won the 2016 Best in Show at a car show in Marietta, benefiting the Marietta Police Department’s PALS organization. The “Zombie Jeep” has been such a huge success. We draw large crowds everywhere we go. All the smiles and laughter warm my heart. Both kids and adults appear excited to see the Jeep, which only confirms that the hard work is worth the response. The fans drive me to continue on with this project. There is a saying in the Jeep owner’s world - JEEP stands for “Just Empty Every Pocket” because you are never finished when fixing up a Jeep. The “Zombie Jeep” has too many enhancements to list them all. Highlights include green under-glow lighting, green lighting in the headlights and the hood vents and an entire roof rack loaded with green lighting. The “Zombie Jeep” glows green at night. We are a huge hit driving in neighborhoods during Halloween handing out candy. There is a stockpile of weapons for fighting the zombies in the back of the Jeep. No worries, these weapons are props, as is the huge Browning M50 machine gun replica that sits on top of the Jeep. The replica took me four weeks to build in the garage. We are very proud to present to everyone, the “Z-Slayer.” Yes, she now has a name she wears proudly to let everyone know she means business. We plan to continue entering “Z-Slayer” in

car shows. Additionally, we have plans to allow the Jeep to sit at special events such as birthday parties, grand openings, Jeep dealership events, and at the Walker-Stalker conferences across the country. To answer the main question on everyone’s mind, “Are you a Walking Dead fan?” Yes, indeed. Our main focus is on the zombie apocalypse, but we do want people to know that the Jeep is an actual survival vehicle. We have medical equipment on board, MREs, water jugs, fire equipment, and have plans to become a certified part of Georgia’s disaster response team in the near future once we finish a few more additions necessary for responding to real emergencies.

Z-Slayer features non-working prop guns. AROUND ACWORTH | January 2017

Rangers and volunteers drop bamboo structures.

Anchoring trees at Galts Ferry.

Turning Christmas Trees Into Fish Habitats BY CHRISTOPHER PURVIS

Have you ever wondered why there are Christmas tree drop-off points on Allatoona Lake? And why are the trees put in the lake? The trees are part of a program that is geared toward improving fishing on the lake. Creating and sustaining suitable fish habitats has always been an ongoing challenge on Allatoona Lake, considering the substantial 17-foot seasonal change in the lake level for flood risk management. Over the past decade, several projects and partnerships have been developed to help create fish habitats and to improve fishing on the lake. In 2006, a popular partnership between Keep Bartow Beautiful, Georgia Department of Natural Resourcesâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Fisheries Management section, Boy Scouts of America, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and volunteers was

developed, not only to recycle Christmas trees but to create fish structures. Every January, agency staff and volunteers from Marietta BassMasters take donated trees from the public and businesses and cable them to pre-constructed anchoring systems in the lake bed. When the lake level rises a few months later, the trees create underwater habitats for small fish. Most of these structures are situated next to Corps-operated fishing jetties, but a new location was developed last year by an Eagle Scout in the Cooper Branch area near the Corps offices. Other structures are also located in areas managed by the City of Acworth and by Cherokee County at Fields Landing. This program was recently awarded second

place in the state from the Keep Georgia Beautiful Foundation for outstanding contributions to protect and preserve the environment. Marietta BassMasters has also been instrumental in another habitat program. Members have planted several coves on the lake the last few years with buttonbush, a native plant species that provides cover for small fish in addition to food for other wildlife. Other groups have also worked with Corps rangers and DNR to implement best management practices for shoreline management by felling trees for fish habitat before they erode out and cause greater destabilization. Â Another innovative Corps ranger-led program involved the creation of deep water fish attractors made of golden bamboo. Rangers cut and remove the bamboo, an invasive non-native species, from Corps property and utilize volunteers to create structures from the durable bamboo culms. Then staff and volunteers use a small barge to drop the structures in deep water near popular fishing areas. If you would like more information or would like to participate in one these programs, please contact the Allatoona Lake Operations Project Management Office at 678-721-6700.

Christopher Purvis is the lead ranger at Lake Allatoona over Partnerships, Volunteers and Project Security. He has been a ranger on Allatoona Lake since 2005.

Marietta BassMasters planting button bush. 44

AROUND ACWORTH | January 2017

in 2016 Fun in the Park Contest More than 80 photos were submitted in the 2016 Fun in the Park photo contest hosted by Cobb County P.A.R.K.S. The photos were taken throughout the year at the county’s parks and judged in one of three categories - general, nature and wildlife, and sports and action. P.A.R.K.S. will host the contest again in 2017. For more information visit the county’s website at www.cobbcounty. org and search for Fun in the Park photo contest.

2016 winners: General Category 1st place: Isabella Walters 2nd place: David Robinson 3rd place: Craig Ehler Honorable Mention: Larry Schnall

Trish Albert, Sports and Action first place

Ariadna Muriel Clinton-Santos, Sports and Action second place

Nature and Wildlife 1st place: Craig Ehler 2nd place: April Saine 3rd place: Kevin Hill Honorable Mention: Katie Bryant Sports and Action 1st place: Trish Albert 2nd place: Ariadna Muriel Clinton-Santos 3rd place: David Robinson Honorable Mention: Nicole John Honorable Mention: Robin Beck

David Robinson, General second place

Kevin Hill, Nature and Wildlife third place

Katie Bryant, Nature and Wildlife honorable mention

Larry Schnall, General honorable mention AROUND ACWORTH | January 2017

Rob’s Rescues This dog does not have a name. Its tag number is 590475. She is a Pomeranian and is 5 years old. This dog is interested in everything and is also super active. She came to the shelter as a stray. She likes to run in circles and to be carried. She is super small and would be a perfect dog for somebody. This cat’s name is Tate and his tag number is 589964. He is a domestic medium-haired tortoise-shell cat with yellow eyes. He is very small with a long tail and looks like he does not sleep a lot. These animals are at Cobb County Animal Control, 1060 Al Bishop Drive, Marietta.

I went to Rochester, Minn., to interview Roo Yori. He is an American Ninja Warrior and was a world champion with his rescue dog Wallace in Frisbee dog competitions. The first part of my interview with him was in the December issue. This is the second part of the interview. If you could describe a pit bull in one word what would it be? A dog. If you could describe Wallace in one word what would it be? Driven. Complicated would work, too. When did you start doing Frisbee tournaments and what was your best part of it? We started with Ajax, our first rescue dog, because we thought he would enjoy it. My favorite thing was competing with Wallace and seeing everyone cheering for him. Seeing Wallace in real life changed perceptions of what people had heard about pit bulls and helped to open lines of communication. Pit bulls are often seen as “different” but I am educating people that they are dogs first and foremost.

Above: World champion Wallace shows off his Frisbee skills. Right: Rob with Roo Yori.

Blanket and Pet Food Drive! There will be a Rob’s Rescues collection bin at the new YUMSA International Market, 106 Arnold Mill Road, Woodstock, Jan. 7-21. Please stop by and drop off any food, treats or blankets that will help needy animals in our greater community. There will also be pictures of shelter pets waiting for forever homes on display. Thank you!

Rob’s Rescues 46

AROUND ACWORTH | January 2017

How do you want to grow Wallace the Pit Bull Foundation? Operationally I need volunteers to further the cause and increase fundraising efforts for the dogs. What did Wallace struggle with? He had a lot of health problems. Lots of allergies and autoimmune issues. It never really fazed him too much; it was more of a concern for Clara and I. We had to work with his diet a lot. His ideal diet turned out to be venison, rabbit, elk, bison and a raw diet. What advice do you have for me? Keep doing what you are doing. Dogs and cats don’t have a choice in the circumstances they end up in. They are not in a shelter because they are “bad.” They need people like you and I to step up and help spread the message of shelter awareness and educate people that they are there through no fault of their own. What do you want people to know about pit bulls? They are just like other dogs and should be judged on their own merits and who they are as individual dogs, not just because they happen to have a big head and wide chest. Don’t act just on others’ opinions. For example, Hector (a former Michael Vick dog adopted by Roo and Clara). Everyone said he needed to be put down because of where he came from. You have to take the time to find out if the opinions out there are true or not. Educate yourself.

Follow Rob on Facebook!

I’m Rob Macmillan and I’m on a mission to help shelter dogs and cats. These animals are at the Cobb County Animal Control. Contact me at robsrescues@gmail.com.

SPORTS REGISTRATION

FEBRUARY Feb. 2

Mayor Tommy Allegood, annual “State of the City” presentation.

Spring Baseball

The Acworth Baseball Association is accepting online

registrations for the 2017 Spring Baseball Season at www.acworthbaseball.org. A safe, challenging and fun instructional and competitive baseball experience for boys and girls, ages 4 to 19. The goal is to instill the ideas of good sportsmanship, honesty, loyalty and a sense of teamwork so that they may become strong, healthy and well-adjusted members of the community. On-site registration takes place Jan. 7 at Roberts School Community Center from 10 a.m.-noon. Fees vary depending on the age of participant. All registration fees, age group information and additional information are posted at www.acworthbaseball.org.

Adult Flag Football

The Acworth Adult Flag Football League is a fun experience for football fans who still love to play the game. Game play is seven-on-seven and teams may have a roster of up to 17 players. All games are played at the Acworth Sports Complex with no cost to spectators. Records, statistics, player(s) of the week, write-ups and box scores are posted online after each game. The AAFFL Cotton Bowl will end postseason play. Both men and women are welcome. There are two divisions this season: the Open Division (players 18 and older) and the Masters Division (players 35 and older). Register your team and build your team dynasty! If you do not have a team, participate in the Free Agent Sign-Up Day at 6:30 p.m. Feb. 27 at the Acworth Sports Complex football fields. Register at www.acworthparksandrecreation.org.

Horizon League

Acworth Business Association luncheon, 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m., NorthStar Church, 3413 Blue Springs Road, Kennesaw. www.acworthbusiness.org

Spring Horizon League. The Horizon

Feb. 11

Registration is open for the

League is a non-competitive baseball league for athletes ages 5 years and older with physical and/or cognitive disabilities. Games are played on the Horizon Field at the Acworth Sports Complex. The cost is $15 per player. The deadline to register without a late fee is March 22. Games for the youth and teen league begin April 15 and continue through May 20. Adult games are Thursday nights April 13-May 18. Register online at www.acworthparksandrecreation.org.

JANUARY Jan. 16.

Fourth annual Martin Luther King Jr. Day Celebration and sixth annual Day of Service sponsored

Annual Daddy-Daughter Dance.

Sponsored by Acworth Parks, Recreation and Community Resource Department. 7-9 p.m. at North Cobb High School in the Old Gym. This year’s dance is a Blacklight Ball. For girls ages 13 and under. Cost per couple for Acworth residents is $25 and $35 for non-residents. The fee for additional daughters to attend is $10 each. Pre-register for the event. For more information about this event, please contact Michelle Berryman at mberryman@acworth.org.

LOOK AHEAD May 6

by Acworth Parks, Recreation and Community Resource Department. Ceremony begins at 10 a.m. at Acworth City Hall. Keynote speaker is Vaughn Williams, Athletic Director at Kennesaw State University. Acworth United Methodist Youth Choir will perform. For more information, www. acworthparksandrecreation.org or call 770-917-1234.

the Durham Foundation. The race begins and ends at the school, 2891 Mars Hill Road, Acworth. The school is seeking business sponsors. For more information about the race and sponsorship opportunities, www. cobbk12.org/durham/.

Jan. 21- Aug. 19

Aging by Design Summit & Expo

Smith-Gilbert Gardens beekeeping courses. Register at www.smithgilbertgardens.com. For more information, contact Anna Bell King at 770-919-0248 or via e-mail at aking@kennesaw-ga.gov. 770-924‐7768. www.crpa.net

Fourth annual Durham Middle School 5K and Fun Run. Benefits

sponsored by Cobb Senior Services. Roswell Street Baptist Church, 774 Roswell St. NE, Marietta. Applications are being accepted for exhibitors. Call 770-528-5393 for more information.

AROUND ACWORTH | January 2017

Cobb County Public Library System www.cobbcat.org

ACWORTH LIBRARY 4569 Dallas St., Acworth, 770-917-5165 Hours: 10 a.m.-7 p.m. Monday-Wednesday • 1-6 p.m. Saturday Closed Thursday, Friday and Sunday

Jan. 9, 23, 30

Baby Storytime. 10:15-10:45 a.m. A morning of books, songs

and nursery rhymes. A fun activity that introduces little ones to the library, and also can be an important step in a child’s journey to literacy and love of reading! Baby LEGOs will follow after storytime.

Jan. 10, 17, 24, 31

School-Age Storytime. 3:30-4 p.m. Elementary-age students

are invited to hear readings from a variety of books and engage in discussion with a librarian and fellow participants. The program is designed to encourage students to use comprehension skills.

Jan. 10, 17

Family Night. 6-6:45 p.m. Board games, puzzles and card games

available to play. Creative coloring sheets are available for artists interested in advanced coloring. Feel free to bring a favorite board game to teach to a new friend at the library!

Jan. 11, 18, 25

Toddler/Preschool Storytime. 10:30-11 a.m. Books, songs and nursery rhymes. Movie and craft are included.

Jan. 17

Acworth CAREing Paws: Read to a Dog! 4-5 p.m. Read a favorite book to Polly the dog. Registration is required. Sign up for a 15-minute reading session by visiting or calling the Acworth Library. Polly is available the first and third Tuesday of every month. This program is intended for independent readers who will either enjoy or benefit from practicing reading aloud to a furry listener.

Jan. 24

LEGOMania! 4-5 p.m. Everything is awesome the fourth Tuesday of the month at the Acworth Library! Library provides the LEGOs.

KENNESAW LIBRARY 2250 Lewis St., Kennesaw, 770-528-2529 Hours: 10 a.m.-8 p.m. Monday-Wednesday • 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Thursday-Friday • 1-6 p.m. Saturday • Closed Sunday

Jan. 4, 11, 18, 25

Baby Bookworms. 10:15-10:40 a.m. Songs, stories and rhymes that enhance early literacy and social skills. Geared to children up to age 18 months old. Toddler Time. 11:15-11:45. Songs, stories and rhymes that enhance early literacy and social skills. Geared to ages 18 months to 3 years.

School-Age Storytime. 3:45-4:25 p.m. A movie or craft may be included. Geared to children age 5 and up.

Jan. 10, 17, 24, 31

Preschool Storytime. 11:30-noon. Songs, stories and

rhymes that enhance early literacy. Geared to ages 3-5.

Jan. 12, 26

CAREing Paws at Kennesaw: Read to a Dog! 3:30-4:30 p.m. Read a favorite book to Polly the dog. Registration is required. Sign up for a 15-minute reading session by visiting or calling the Kennesaw Library. This program is intended for independent readers who will either enjoy or benefit from practicing reading aloud to a furry listener.

Feb. 9, 23

AROUND ACWORTH | January 2017

ACWORTH AREA CLUBS & ORGANIZATIONS BUSINESS ORGANIZATIONS Acworth Business Association 770-423-1330 www.acworthbusiness.org Cherokee Chamber of Commerce 770-345-0400 www.cherokeechamber.com Cobb Chamber of Commerce 770-980-2000 www.cobbchamber.org KSU Small Business Development Center 470-578-6450 LeadsNet Business Referral Group 404-819-8896 No Fee Referral Network - Acworth Contact: Betty Motter 770-256-4864 West Cobb Business Association www.westcobbbusiness.com CHARITABLE ORGANIZATIONS Cherokee Child Advocacy Council 770-345-8100 www.cherokeechildadvocates.org Cherokee County Habitat for Humanity 770-345-1879 www.cherokeehabitat.net Cherokee County Humane Society 770-928-5115 www.cchumanesociety.org Cobb County Habitat for Humanity 770-432-7954 www.cobbhabitat.org

Southern Hope Humane Society 770-445-7294 www.hopehumane.org CIVIC ORGANIZATIONS Acworth Optimist Club Contact: Debbie Ward 770-974-0670 Acworth Masonic Lodge 4497 McLain Circle 770-974-3577 Air Force Aviation Heritage Foundation 770-529-9003 Ext. 40 www.afahf.org American Legion North Cobb Post 304 www.post304.org Atlanta Area Council Boy Scouts of America 770-989-8820 Girl Scout Council of North Georgia 770-974-4278 Girl Scout — Camp Pine Acres 770-974-6696 Junior League of Cobb — Marietta 770-422-5266 www.jlcm.org Kennesaw-Acworth Lions Club www.kennesawacworthlions.org Kiwanis Club of Kennworth Golden K Contact: Marjory Everett 770-966-0100 Rotary Club of North Cobb www.northcobbrotary.org

Forgotten Paws Animal Rescue 404-993-7958 www.forgottenpaws.com

Sigma Gamma RHO Sorority Contact: Jackie Ajudua 770-529-5654

Here Am I Ministries, Inc. 770-529-4644 Contact: Rev. DeAnna Fountain

VFW Post 5408 (Acworth & Kennesaw Post) 770-974-0958 www.vfwpost5408.org

Homeward Bound Pet Rescue 706-698-HOME www.homeward.petfinder.com

POLITICAL ORGANIZATIONS Acworth Business and Professional Chapter of the John Birch Society Contact: Boyd Parks 770-975-3303

Humane Society of Cobb County 770-428-9882 www.humanecobb.org Lung Cancer Alliance Georgia Contact: Edward J. Levitt 770-590-7898 MUST Ministries 770-427-9862 www.mustministries.org Mostly Mutts Animal Rescue & Adoption 770-325-PETS www.mostlymutts.org Papa’s Pantry 770-591-4730 www.papaspantry.org

Cherokee County Democratic Party 770-345-3489 Cherokee County Republican Party 770-592-0575

RECREATION & HOBBIES Atlanta Yacht Club www.atlantayachtclub.org Atlanta Water Ski Club 770-425-3679 Cherokee Soccer Association 770-704-0187 www.csaimpact.com Children’s PEACE Center 770-917-8815 www.childrenspeacecenter.org Cobb County Radio Control Modelers Club www.ccrc.info Friends and Neighbors Club (F.A.N. club) Judy, 770-514-7819 Kennesaw Futbol Club Carrie Crawford, 404-630-8805 www.kennesawfc.org Northwest YMCA (Brookstone Area) 770-423-9622 West Cobb Lacrosse Club 770-641-2222 http://eteamz.active.com/westcobblacrosse SUPPORT ORGANIZATIONS Active Adults Living with Arthritis (AALA) Contact: Marcia 770-605-7960 Celebrate Life International www.CelebrateLife.org Celebrate Recovery Contact: Sheryl Banister 770-428-2100 Grandparents Support Group 678-699-3400 MOMS Club of Acworth-West www.acworthwestmomsclub.weebly.com MOMS Club of Acworth-East www.momsclubacwortheast.clubspaces.com Moms in Ministry @ Summit Baptist Church Every other Tuesday AM 770-794-0442 mnm@summitchurch.org Newcomers of Cobb County Meets 3rd Tuesday 770-234-5068 www.newcomersofcobbcounty.com

Cobb County Democracy For America www.dfalink.com/cobbcounty

Parents of Prodigals Mt. Calvary Baptist Church Meets 1st & 3rd Wednesday 770-424-4387

Cobb County Democratic Party 770-420-7133

Sisters of Support (Breast Cancer Support) Contact: Sandy, 770-926-3488

Cobb County Libertarian Party 770-425-2856

Widows / Widowers Grief Support Recovery 770-590-0334 www.burnthickory.com

Cobb County Republican Party 770-421-1833

Paws for Disabilities www.pawsfordisabilities.org

Cobb County Republican Women’s Club 770-785-2522

West Cobb CHADD Meets 1st Thursday at Due West United Methodist Church 404-368-9394

Pet Buddies Food Pantry 678-310-9858 www.petbuddiesfoodpantry.org

Republican Women of Cherokee County 404-747-3353 www.rwccga.com

West Cobb Mothers and More www.westcobbmothersandmore.weebly.com 770-314-1211 AROUND ACWORTH | January 2017

Faith

Every Moment Is A

BY STEVE COLEMAN

This past summer we took a family vacation to Windy Hill Beach in South Carolina. At dusk on the final night of our trip, I sat on our condo balcony overlooking the ocean to take in the majesty of creation. I watched as three floors below at ground level a man and woman assisted a very frail elderly man around the condo pool and to the steps of the deck that led from the resort property over the dunes and down onto the beach. The man was extremely pale and had patches of hair on his head. He relied heavily on the help of the adults to his right and left as he labored slowly and carefully, step by step. His helpers got him to the beach and I watched as he stood looking at the ocean, occasionally motioning with one hand at the various waves and waterfowl. I realized that I was the unintended guest at a significant moment. I was most likely watching the fulfillment of a last request, and a few minutes later about a dozen people of various ages with similar familial attributes gathered on the beach. With the ailing patriarch in the middle, they posed for a few photographs. The journey ended as it had begun, with the same two adults – maybe a daughter and son-in-law – helping the man, step by step, back to the condo property. This most significant moment in someone else’s life became a moment for me as well. 50

AROUND ACWORTH | January 2017

The truth is, every moment is a potential moment. Maybe not as dramatic as the last requests of a dying man, but moments do not have to be poignant in order to be significant. A Scripture from Ecclesiastes says this, Say not, “Why were the former days better than these?” For it is not from wisdom that you ask this. - Ecclesiastes 7:10 The most significant moment in your life is the one right now. And then it will be the moment right after that because every moment is a moment. So, how would you treat this moment right now if you thought it could be the most significant moment of your life? How would you approach the next 90 seconds of your life if you knew that, upon reading the last sentence in this paragraph, you would see God moving and working in ways greater than ever before? Would that perspective change your attitude? Would the things that used to be mundane become more important? Would you say and do things differently as a result? After all, every moment is potentially a moment.

Steve Coleman is an associate pastor and worship pastor at Wildwood Baptist Church in Acworth.

Is a Four-Letter Word BY PASTOR JAMES GWIN

Todd Stocker, a Christian leaders coach who teaches stress management and life balance, once stated, “I wanted to figure out why I was so busy, but I couldn’t find the time to do it.” His words haunt me in a familiar way. There is always a meeting to plan, a number to dial, a question to answer, a car to fix, problem to resolve, or an article to Once your life write. . passes a healthy I am discovering that “busyness” is not my level of busyness, friend. I doubt it is your you become less friend either. Once your life passes a healthy level compassionate, of busyness, you become less creative and less compassionate, less creative and less happy. less happy. Feeling productive is good. Feeling busy …. not so much. I am determined to “de-busy-fy” my life and become more productive in the coming year. Here are three strategies that are helping me.

Give yourself a break. Years ago on my first visit to a gym, I set the speed too fast on a treadmill machine. As a result, I was running at an unsustainable pace and did not know how to slow down the machine. This did not end well for me. If you suspect you are “too busy,” hit the STOP button. I see little evidence that Jesus was ever too busy. He rested. He ate meals with friends. He spent time with children and even went fishing a time or two. Live life at a sustainable pace with intentional periods of rest.

Give your life meaning. Busyness is like a fog between you and the life you want to live. It does not help you achieve a goal. Instead, busyness often prevents you from progressing toward a goal. Write down one thing you wish to accomplish. Take one step toward that goal each day until you achieve it. Then pick another goal. This practice helps you prioritize your life and minimize busyness.

Watch for warnings. When the black void of busyness creeps into my life, several warning signals go off. First, I drive faster. I run “yellowish” lights and stay frustrated at slow cars that won’t get out of my way. Second, I am less patient with my family. When I become aware of either symptoms (or both,) I hit the stop button and rest. Then I resume at a slower sustainable pace that allows me to be productive without being unhealthy. Sound simple? It’s not. Busyness is like your cable bill. It increases slowly over time without you noticing. Set your own pace at a healthy, sustainable level with intentional rest periods. Oh, and don’t forget to eat with friends, bless children and go fishing every so often.

James Gwin has been the pastor of Acworth United Methodist Church since 2011. As a native Georgian, he loves the rich diversity of the Acworth community.

AROUND ACWORTH | January 2017

Reference

COMMUNITY OF FAITH BAPTIST

Antioch Baptist Bible Church 5871 Glade Road SE, 770-529-1546 Awtrey-Westwood Baptist Church 5855 Awtrey Church Road NW 770-974-0023 Calvary Baptist Church of Acworth 4361 Westside Drive 770-974-4965 www.CalvaryBaptistAcworth.org Cedarcrest Church 4600 Cobb Pkwy NW 678- 460-3500 www.CedarcrestChurch.com First Baptist Church of Acworth 4583 Church Street 770-974-3021 www.FBCAcworth.com Glade Road Baptist Church 6570 Glade Road SE 770-975-1143 www.GladeRoadBaptist.com Harvest Baptist Church 3460 Kellogg Creek Road 770-974-9091 www.HBCGA.org Hickory Grove Baptist Church 2862 Hickory Grove Road Hickory Heights Baptist Church 221 Dabbs Bridge Road, Dallas GA 30132 404-488-3667 www.HickoryHeights.org Hillcrest Baptist Church 6069 Woodstock Road 770-917-9100 www.HBCAcworth.org Iron Hill Baptist Church 5172 Groovers Landing Road SE 770-974-2951 www.IronhillBaptist.org Keystone Baptist Church Meets at Allatoona High School 3300 Dallas Acworth Hwy NW, www.KeystoneOnline.org Lost Mountain Baptist Church 5400 Old Dallas Road Powder Springs www.lmbc.us Morning View Baptist Church 3750 Dallas Acworth Hwy. www.MorningViewBaptistChurch.org 52

AROUND ACWORTH | January 2017

Mount Olivet Baptist Church 2385 Acworth Due West Road 770-974-8335 New Hope Baptist Church 3814 New Hope Church Road 770-974-7612 Pickett’s Mill Baptist Church 7147 Hiram Acworth Hwy 770-423-0955 www.PMBChurch.net Piney Grove Baptist Church 1605 Mars Hill Road 770-428-5122 www.PineyGrove.net Redemption Baptist Church 4160 New Hope Church Road SE 770-529-0509 Sardis Missionary Baptist Church 2741 S. Main St., Kennesaw 770-428-4031 www.SardisMBCKennesawGA.org Summit Baptist Church 4310 Moon Station Lane NW 770-975-4595 www.SummitChurch.org Thankful Baptist Church of Kennesaw 928 Kennesaw Due West Road NW 678-797-0611 www.ThankfulBaptistKennesaw.org The Entire Bible Baptist Church 4980 Cobb Parkway North NW 770-975-1100 Three Taverns Church 3575 Acworth Due West Road 678-856-8002 www.ThreeTavernsChurch.org Victory Baptist Church 5717 Priest Road 770-337-0952 www.VictoryBaptist.net

Zion Hill Missionary Baptist Church 4255 Taylor St. 770-974-8221 www.ZionHillAcworth.com

EPISCOPAL

Christ Episcopal Church 1210 Wooten Lake Road NW 770-422-9114 www.ChristChurchKennesaw.com St. Teresa’s Episcopal Church 5725 Fords Road 770-590-9040 www.StTeresasAcworth.com

JEHOVAH’S WITNESS

Kingdom Hall of Jehovah’s Witness 2515 Old Highway 92 770-672-6838

JUDAISM

Chabad Jewish Center of Acworth 1480 Shiloh Road NW #500 678-460-7702 www.JewishWestCobb.com Congregation Ner Tamid Reform Jewish Synagogue Old 41 Highway NW suite 220 678-264-8575 www.MyNerTamid.info

LUTHERAN

Christ Lutheran Church 176 West Sandtown Road SW Marietta 770-424-2850 www.christlutheranchurchmarietta.org Living Hope Lutheran Church 3450 Stilesboro Road 770-425-6726 www.LivingHopeGA.com First United Lutheran Church 3481 Campus Loop Rd., Kennesaw 770-427-0325 www.FULC.org

PRESBYTERIAN

Acworth Presbyterian Church 4561 Church Street 770-974-6552

West Ridge Church 3522 Hiram Acworth Hwy 770-222-2125 www.Westridge.com

Christ Community Church 2753 Watts Drive 770-529-2600 www.ChristCommunityCobb.org

Western Hills Baptist Church 700 Mars Hill Road, Kennesaw 770-425-7118 www.WesternHillsBaptist.net

Heritage Presbyterian Church 5323 Bells Ferry Road 770-926-3558 www.HeritagePres.com

Wildwood Baptist Church 4801 Wade Green Road NW 770-428-2100 www.WildwoodBaptist.org

Kirkwood Presbyterian Church USA 618 Acworth Due West Road NW 770-427-3545 www.KirkwoodPC.org

Mars Hill Presbyterian Church 3385 Mars Hill Road NW 770-974-4395 www.MHChurch.com

ROMAN CATHOLIC

St. Catherine of Siena Roman Catholic Church 1618 Ben King Road, NW 770-428-7139 www.StCatherineRCC.org St. Clare of Assisi Roman Catholic Church Meets at St. Teresa’s Episcopal, 5725 Fords Road 770-485-0825 www.StClareCC.org St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Church 680 West Memorial Drive 770-443-0566 www.SaintVincentDePaulChurch.org

UNITED METHODIST

Acworth United Methodist Church 4340 Collins Circle 770-974-3312 www.AcworthUMC.org County Line United Methodist Church 1183 County Line Road, NW 770-428-0511 www.CountyLineUMC.org Due West United Methodist Church 3956 Due West Road 770-427-3835 www.DueWest.org Kennesaw United Methodist Church 1801 Ben King Road 770-428-1543 www.KennesawUMC.org New Beginnings United Methodist Church 2925 Mack Dobbs Road 770-421-9980 www.NBUMC.org

OTHERS

Abiding Church 1370 Lockhart Drive 678-888-1515 www.Abiding.church

Bethel A.M.E. Church 4826 School Street 770-905-9539 Calvary Chapel River Oaks Meets at Brookwood Christian Academy, 4728 Wood Street 770-881-4862 or 678-977-0087 www.CalvaryChapelRiverOaks.org Christ the King Church of Greater Atlanta 6464 Highway 92 770-924-9161 Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints 5055 Holt Road NW 770-974-9697 Cobb Vineyard Church 3206 Old Highway 41 NW 678-574-0005 www.CobbVineyard.com Dayspring Church 6835 Victory Drive 770-516-5733 www.DayspringChurch-Online.com Eagle Pointe Church 5100 Old Stilesboro Road NW 770-421-1643 www.EaglePointe.org

Love Community Church 5598 Bells Ferry Road 404-663-1828 or 770-975-8042 www.LoveCommunityChurch.com Mission For Life Church Meets at Pitner Elementary School 4575 Wade Green Rd. 678-613-9256 www.MissionForLife.org Mount Olives Church of God 5065 Cherokee Street 678-651-9042 New Covenant Full Gospel Inc 5653 Priest Road 770-974-0685 NorthStar Church 3413 Blue Springs Road 770-420-9808 www.NorthStarChurch.org Northwest Christian Church 3737 Dallas-Acworth Hwy 770-425-2525 www.NWCC.net Open Doors Church 2011 Hickory Grove Road

Empowerment Worship Center 4192 Main Street 770-609-9062 www.EmpowermentWC.org

Prayer & Praise Christian Fellowship Church 6409 Bells Ferry Road 770-928-2795 www.PrayerAndPraise.org

Faith Family Church 5744 Bells Ferry Road 770-926-4560 www.FFCAcworth.com

River’s Edge Church 3450 Acworth Due West Road NW 678-318-1918

Four Points Church Meets at Picketts Mill Elementary 6400 Old Stilesboro Road 678-402-6632 www.FourPointsChurch.tv Freedom Church 3611 Cobb Parkway 770-529-6006 www.FreedomChurch.tv

RiverStone Church 2005 Stilesboro Road 678-384-5200 www.RiverStoneOnline.org Sanctuary Church 700 Mars Hill Road 770-884-1963 www.SanctuaryInHim.org

Gateway Church 1455 Ben King Road 770-701-0003 www.GatewayKennesaw.org

Unity of Kennesaw Meets at Big Shanty Elementary, 1575 Ben King Road 770-422-9552 www.UnityOfKennesaw.org

Acworth Christian Church 4476 Northside Drive 770-974-1358

Household of Faith Bible Church Meets at North Cobb Christian School 4500 Lakeview Drive NW 770-365-6723 www.HOFBC.org

Victory Church 4625 Highway 92 770-794-7366 www.VictoryGA.com

Acworth Church of God of Prophecy Ministry 3891 Nance Road NW 770-975-1124 www.AcworthChurch.com

Kellogg Creek Church of Christ 3510 Kellogg Creek Road 770-974-2814 www.KelloggCreekChurchOfChrist.org

Vintage 242 Church 8492 Hiram Acworth Highway 678-383-2299 www.Vintage242.com

Branches of Christ 5946 Jacobs Road 770-917-4964 www.BranchesOfChrist.com

LifeBridge Church 3102 Loring Road 770-422-3010 www.MyLifeBridgeChurch.com

Wholistic Life Ministry 1719 Nemours Dr. NW, Kennesaw 678-836-9586 www.WLMinistry.org

Activation Church 3415 Old Highway 41, Suite 720 www.ActivationOnline.org

AROUND ACWORTH | January 2017

AROUND ACWORTH DIRECTORY OF ADVERTISERS Celebration Village 800-762-1194 www.CVillage.com

Goddard School, The 770-516-0880 www.GoddardSchool.com

Dogwood Forest 678-831-4999 www.dogwoodforest.com

North Cobb Christian School 770-975-0252 www.ncchristian.org

ASSISTED LIVING

COUNSELING

Thrive Counseling 678-217-7529 www.thrivecounseling.com

DENTAL

(Cosmetic, Family, Orthodontics, Prosthodontics and Pediatric) Acworth Family Dentistry 770-974-8211 www.AcworthFamilyDentistry.com

Albritton Construction 678-907-4931

AquaDoc Plumbing 770-516-9000 www.plumdr.com

Dr. Fixit, Ph.D. 770-974-2390 www.DrFixitPHD.com

Jeffery C. Glover, LLC 404-694-0550 www.bren-abby.com

Mancilla Roofing & Construction 678-855-1919 www.MancillaRoofingEtc.com

Reliable Heating & Air 770-594-9969 www.ReliableAir.com

Daniel Lee DMD, PC 770-974-4146

TK & Sons Plumbing 770-529-0799 www.tkandsonsplumbing.com

Fountain View Dentistry 770-926-0000 www.FountainViewSmiles.com

Trinity Reconstruction 404-250-2707

Gentle Dental Care/Georgia Dental Implants Inside back 770-926-2784 www.georgiadic.com Kragor Orthodontics 770-485-8827 www.kragorortho.com

Williams Orthodontics Woodstock: 770-592-5554 Canton: 770-345-4155 www.DrWilliamsOrthodontics.com

MORTGAGE

Bay Equity Home Loans Back cover Jay White Area Sales Manager Direct: 470-443-1839 www.jayclosesloans.com

Acworth Family EyeCare 770-974-3153 www.acwortheyes.com

Cartersville Medical Center 15 800-242-5662 www.CartersvillMedical.com/JointPain Cherokee Internal Medicine 678-238-0301 www.cherokeeim.com

North Georgia Audiology & Hearing Aid Center 1 770-726-8948 www.YourHearingLink.com Northside Hospital Cherokee www.Northside.com

Inside cover

Red Carpet Pharmacy 770-529-9277 www.redcarpetpharmacy.com WellstarCardiac Network 770-956-STAR (7827) wellstar.org

REAL ESTATE & RELATED SERVICES

Anchor Realty Partners Back cover Malinda Howe, Broker D: 404-444-0225 / O: 770-917-0322 www.anchorrealtypartners.net Debi Smith Properties Cell: 404-660-6652 Office: 770-240-2004 www.DebiSmithProperties.com

RECREATION/ENTERTAINMENT

Southern Soccer Academy Cobb: 678-594-5041 Kennesaw: 678-5041 Paulding:770-712-7698 www.ssaelite.org

World of Gymnastics and Cheer 3 770-516-6898 www.worldofgymnasticsandcheer.com RESTAURANT

OPTOMETRIST

EDUCATION/TUTORING

Brookwood Christian 678-401-5855 www.brookwoodchristian.com

INSURANCE

D Ward Insurance 770-974-0670 www.DWardInsurance.com

J. King Images 404-384-2794, 404-200-0881 www.jkingimages.com PHYSICIANS AND MEDICAL SERVICES

HOME & GARDEN

CLEANING SERVICES

Carpet Dry-Tech 678-368-5991 www.carpetdrytech.com

Poole Funeral Home & Cremation Services 678-932-2097 www.poolefuneralhome.net

Lake Pointe Wellness Center Cover, 28, 29 770-974-5215 www.lakepointewellness.net

CHURCHES

Acworth UMC Paw Patrol 770-974-3312

PHOTOGRAPHY

HEALTH & WELLNESS

CHIROPRACTIC

Joint Chiropractic, The 678-574-5959 www.thejoint.com

PETS

Dream Land Pet Memorial Center 35 678-594-0041 www.DreamLandPetCremation.com

FUNERAL SERVICES

ATTORNEY

James D. Haley, PC 770-974-1494

Doroâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Italian Restaurant 678-903-2607 www.dorositalian

TRANSPORTATION

Airport Limo 404-444-6622 AROUND ACWORTH | January 2017

27 55

Since 1996, we have brought relevant, uplifting and reader-driven content to readers. We publish TowneLaker, Around Canton, Around Woodstock and Around Acworth. 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.

Seated, from left: Patty Ponder, Jon and Karen Flaig and Jackie Loudin. Standing, from left: Katherine Amick, Denise Griffin, Susan Rodney, Michelle McCulloch, Carla Caldwell, Laura Latchford, Candi Hannigan and Christie Deese. Not pictured Terri Spencer. Photo by J King Images

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. 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. Look on page 6 for our contact information.

Around Acworth Distribution Map Circulation: 16,500

AROUND ACWORTH | January 2017