14 minute read
Laine Kirby Wood
The Etowah River flows from its headwaters near Dahlonega, through Allatoona Lake, past Cartersville and on to Rome, where it joins the Oostanaula River to form the Coosa River, which eventually makes its way to Mobile Bay. This ancient Appalachian watershed is one of the most diverse river ecosystems in the nation. The most recent count recorded 92 native species, five of which are endemic (native and restricted to a certain place). And there are 17 species that are state and federally listed for protection.
A new species of river darter, a very small and colorful fish, was discovered last summer by Bud and Mary Freeman, ecologists at the University of Georgia. The Etowah bridled darter, also known as Percina freemanorum, is the latest endemic species added to the list. (Read more about the Etowah bridled darter at https://news.uga.edu/new-fishspecies-named-for-uga-ecologists. ) Our watershed is worth protecting, and you can help.
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The Upper Etowah River Alliance
The Upper Etowah River Alliance (UERA) has been keeping an eye on the Etowah River since 1999. The mission is to provide regional leadership, resources, consultation, education, training materials and events to protect and enhance the natural and economic resources of the watershed for present and future generations.
From left, Laine Kirby Wood, Nolton Johnson and John Steinheimer with some of the bags of trash collected during the river cleanup in October. Laine Kirby Wood kayaks the Etowah River, Dawson Forest section.
Covering five counties — Cherokee, Dawson, Forsyth, Lumpkin and Pickens — UERA began as a forum for dialogue among watershed stakeholders, and soon developed a strong, volunteer-run program with Georgia Adopt-A-Stream (AAS). UERA provides training, equipment and chemicals for citizen scientists to test the river and tributaries, at selected sites, at regular intervals, returning the results to the state’s online AAS records. These records form an important database for environmentalists and local governments for water utilities planning, as well as commercial and residential developers and other businesses, including recreation outfitters.
Free workshops are offered to train adults and kids (grades 6-12) in the scientific protocols and methods required to collect and record accurate results from standardized biological, chemical and macroinvertebrate tests. If you’re interested in becoming a citizen scientist, contact UERA at EtowahRiver.org to arrange for training you, your classroom or club.
Volunteers always are needed for the river cleanups throughout the year. The latest was Oct. 24 of last year, where volunteers scoured 3 miles of the Etowah River, and 1 mile of Canton Creek. More than 100 volunteers pulled trash and debris off the riverbanks and out of the water.
Paddle trips on the Etowah and other local rivers, as well as informative hikes with naturalists, botanists, environmentalists and foresters during the warmer months, are among the UERA offerings. Board members always are available to share their diverse talents, knowledge and experience.
UERA is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that operates entirely on grants, donations and membership dues. The next annual membership meeting and dinner, featuring a keynote speaker and silent auction, is set for April 20 at the Rock Barn in Canton. Those interested in becoming a member, citizen scientist or participant in a river cleanup are encouraged to attend the annual membership meeting. Visit the website for more details.
Laine Kirby Wood, Canton resident and the executive director of The Upper Etowah River Alliance, is a writer, wildlife enthusiast and grandmother to seven.
Ava Grace performs in “The Dragon King,” February 2019. Right, Ava Grace in the spring 2019 production of “Newsies,” her favorite show with the Academy Street Theatre Group.
The Curtain Rises for 2022
Magic of Theatre Inspires Students
Cherokee County School District (CCSD) high schools present shows throughout the school year, as well as select middle schools and the districtwide Academy Street Theatre Group program for elementary through high school students. With the help of CCSD staff, and a student and parent, we learned how the theater program inspires students and further connects them to the community, and included a list of theater productions for the spring semester. “The theater is a magical place for students to grow and learn, trying their hands at many different aspects. They can learn tech and be the magicians behind the scenes, learn to build sets, become a prop master, help make or resource costumes, learn music and choreography, manage the stage, or completely transform into a different character and act! There is a place for everyone who desires to be a part of something bigger than they can imagine, a place where magic actually does exist.” — Jodi Burn, director of the Cherokee High
School theater program
The Curtain Rises for 2022
Kristi and Daniel Roberts with their daughter Ava Grace at the performance of “Something Rotten” last spring.
Onstage With Academy Street Theatre
The Academy Street Theatre Group (ASTG) is an arts in education extension of the Cherokee County School District, offering students in grades 2-12 onstage and offstage opportunities in theater production. ASTG has staged more than 50 productions, including 30 presentations of “The Best Christmas Pageant Ever,” as well as “Music Man,” “Newsies” and “Singin’ in the Rain,” to name a few.
“Live theater requires an extremely diverse set of skills. My favorite part about theater is that the stage is where written word, music, dance, movement and visual arts come together with science and technology, to create something new every single time the curtain rises. It’s a space full of potential that allows students to gather together, to tell stories and learn about life. It’s a place where, regardless of your strength or strong suit, there is a way for you to shine and learn. As the director of the ASTG, a countywide program, I am unbelievably fortunate in that I get to work with students from every public school in the county. I get to see unlikely friendships forged and skills developed as students share what they’ve learned from their school directors and take some new ideas and skills from ASTG back to their home stages.” — Reed Christian, director of Academy Street Theatre Group
As a parent, it is a wonderful thing when your child finds his or her “thing,” or passion. My daughter, Ava Grace Roberts, fell in love with acting and performing onstage at a very young age. We have been so blessed that the Cherokee County School District has an arts in education program like ASTG! Ava Grace has been a part of ASTG since the second grade, and she has been able to perform in approximately 20 productions, so far. ASTG and the amazing director, Reed Christian, have given our daughter a creative outlet to explore and build on her talents and do what she loves.
All the experiences and wonderful opportunities she has had with ASTG have given her the confidence and helped catapult her into exploring acting and theater professionally. Ava Grace recently played Louisa von Trapp in “The Sound of Music” with City Springs Theatre Company, where she shared the stage with several Broadway actors, and was directed by Tony Award-winner Shuler Hensley. We are incredibly grateful to CCSD, Reed Christian and ASTG for providing such an amazing opportunity for our daughter, and all the CCSD theater-loving kids!
What a Difference a Play Makes
Kristi Roberts and daughter Ava Grace share their experiences with the Academy Street Theatre Group. Now a student at Sequoyah High School, Ava Grace has been a part of ASTG since second grade.
— Kristi Roberts
I discovered that I loved acting when I was 5 years old, after I took a local children’s theater class. I couldn’t wait to get into second grade, so that I could start auditioning for productions with ASTG. I have learned so much from our awesome director, Reed Christian, our talented choreographer, Cindi Bekas, and so many others. Most elementary and middle schools do not have drama programs, and that is why I am so grateful that our school system has ASTG. I have been able to perform in two to three productions a year with ASTG, and I have met so many friends from all over the county who love performing, too. ASTG is like a family to me, and I am so grateful for the opportunities I have had to do what I love with them.
The Academy Street Theatre Group 2020 production of “The Best Christmas Pageant Ever.”
The Curtain Rises
Productions in 2022
For many shows, advance tickets will be for sale online. Whenever there is a link, it will be posted to www.cherokeek12.net/ news/ccsdtheatre2122. Otherwise, anyone interested in purchasing tickets can contact the school front office for information. Performances are at 7 p.m., unless otherwise noted.
Jan. 21-22, 24-26
“G2K Footloose”
River Ridge High School. There also is a 3 p.m. matinee on Jan. 22. Tickets are $7.
Jan. 28-29
Woodstock High School. There also is a 2 p.m. matinee on Jan. 28. Ticket price to be determined.
Feb. 10-11
Academy Street Theatre Group performs at River Ridge High School. Tickets are $5.
Feb. 10-13
“Xanadu Jr.” and “Legally Blonde Jr.”
Creekview High School. 7:30 p.m., and a 2:30 p.m. matinee on Feb. 13. Adult tickets are $15; student tickets are $12.
Feb. 16-17
“The Magic Treehouse: Pirates Past Noon”
Cherokee High School. Tickets are $5.
March 24-26
Sequoyah High School. Adult tickets are $15; student tickets are $12.
March 25-26
“Lost Girl”
Cherokee High School. Tickets are $5.
Etowah High School. There also is a 2 p.m. matinee on March 26. General admission tickets are $12. Tickets are $10 for senior citizens and children, age 12 and younger. Tickets are $8 for thespians and drama club members.
Creekland Middle School. 5 p.m. on March 26. Ticket price to be determined.
April 21-23
Cherokee High School. There also is a 2 p.m. matinee on April 23. Tickets are $10.
Woodstock High School. There also is a 2 p.m. matinee on April 23. Ticket price to be determined.
April 22-23
Dean Rusk Middle School. There also is a 1 p.m. matinee on April 23. Tickets are $5.
April 22-23, 25-27
River Ridge High School. There also is a 3 p.m. matinee on April 23. Tickets are $10.
May 6-7
Etowah High School. General admission tickets are $10. Tickets are $7 for thespians and drama club members, senior citizens and children, ages 12 and younger.
June 2-4
Academy Street Theatre Group performs at Cherokee High School. Tickets are $5.
Mayor Bill Grant and Downtown Development Manager Velinda Hardy pose with Santa during the lighting of the tree. Photo courtesy of Velinda Hardy.
Celebrations in Canton!
Locals enjoyed a variety of holiday activities and events in Canton leading up to the new year. Festivities began with tree lighting ceremonies in November, followed by the Canton Optimist Club Christmas Parade on Dec. 4, and continued with Christmas in Canton on Dec. 14, with lots of opportunities to visit with Santa.
Cannon Park, fully decorated in lights during Christmas in Canton. Photo by Andrew Markley.
Colby poses for a photo with Santa. Photo by Brandy Jones Rouselle. Families were encouraged to wear holiday pajamas at Christmas in Canton, following “The Polar Express” theme. Photo by Velinda Hardy.
Help Save Lives
Resolve to Give Blood at a Red Cross Location Near You
National Blood Donor Month has been observed in January since 1970, and recognizes the importance of giving blood and platelets while honoring those who roll up a sleeve to help patients in need. The community is invited to help save lives by donating blood at the Cobb Red Cross Blood, Platelet and Plasma Donation Center at East Lake Shopping Center, 2145 Roswell Road in Marietta, or at another community blood drive scheduled in the area.
The winter months can be especially difficult to collect enough blood and platelets to meet patient needs. Inclement weather can result in blood drive cancellations, and seasonal illnesses, like the flu, can prevent some donors from making or keeping appointments to give. Blood donors with all blood types are encouraged to make an appointment to give.
Each Red Cross blood drive and donation center follows the highest standards of safety and infection control, and additional precautions — including face masks for donors and staff, regardless of vaccination status — have been implemented to help protect the health of all those in attendance. Donors are asked to schedule an appointment prior to arriving at the drive.
How to Help
To make an appointment, or to learn more about blood drive locations, download the American Red Cross Blood Donor App, visit RedCrossBlood.org, call 1-800RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767) or enable the Blood Donor Skill on any Alexa Echo device. Completion of a RapidPass online health history questionnaire is encouraged to speed up the donation process. To get started, follow the instructions at RedCrossBlood.org/RapidPass, or use the Blood Donor App.
A blood donor card or driver’s license or two other forms of identification are required at checkin. Individuals who are 17 years old (16 with parental consent), weight at least 110 pounds, and are in generally good health may be eligible to donate blood, according to Georgia’s regulations. High school students and other donors 18 years of age and younger also have to meet certain height and weight requirements.
About the American Red Cross
The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and provides comfort to victims of disasters, supplies about 40% of the nation’s blood, teaches skills that save lives, distributes international humanitarian aid and supports veterans, military members and their families. The Red Cross is a not-for-profit organization that depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to deliver its mission. For more information, visit redcross.org or cruzrojaamericana.org, or visit us on Twitter at @RedCross.
Blood from Black donors is needed urgently to help patients with sickle cell disease.
Key Messages
• If you’re feeling healthy and well, your blood donation is needed now to help meet the needs of hospital patients. • The Red Cross continues to address a nationwide blood shortage. Donors of all blood types are needed to give now, to ensure blood is available when patients need it. • A diverse blood supply is important. Donors of all ethnicities are needed. A patient is more likely to find a compatible blood match from a donor of the same race or a similar ethnic group. • Help ensure blood is available to those with sickle cell disease when they need it. Blood donations from individuals who are Black are needed urgently to help meet the needs of patients with sickle cell disease.
Find more information at
RedCrossBlood.org/OurBlood. • Eligibility questions?
Call 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767) or visit
RedCrossBlood.org.
Local Blood Drives
Jan. 3
Northstar Church
3413 Blue Springs Road, Kennesaw 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Jan. 4
Hillside United Methodist Church
4474 Towne Lake Parkway Woodstock 2:30-7:30 p.m. Jan. 6
Cherokee Presbyterian Church
1498 Johnson Brady Road, Canton 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Jan. 7
Orange UMC
220 Orange Circle Road, Canton 2-7 p.m. Jan. 8
Good Shepherd Lutheran
1208 Rose Creek Blvd., Woodstock 8 a.m.-1 p.m. Jan. 10
Woodstock First Baptist
11905 Highway 92 2-7 p.m. Jan. 11
Kennesaw First Baptist
2958 N. Main St. 3-8 p.m.
Legacy Park
Jan. 11
Wellstar Cherokee Health Park
1120 Wellstar Way, Holly Springs 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Jan. 12
Kennesaw First UMC
1801 Ben King Road 2-7 p.m. Jan. 13
Hickory Flat Fellowship Church
5301 Hickory Flat Highway 2-7 p.m. Jan. 14
Canton City Hall
110 Academy St. 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Jan. 18
Canton American Legion
150 McClure St. 12:30-5:30 p.m. Jan. 20
Hickory Flat Fellowship Church
5301 Hickory Flat Highway 2-7 p.m. Jan. 22
Woodstock Christian Church
7700 Highway 92 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Jan. 24
St. Clements Episcopal Church
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