1-23 Around Canton webfinal.pdf

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On the Cover

Gentle Force

The Canton practice’s owner, Dr. Niki Sullivan, and doctors use an integrative approach in their holistic treatment. On the cover, Dr. Niki Sullivan uses an activator for a gentle adjustment on Nancy O’Connor. Above, Dr. Niki assists Carolyn at an inversion table, which tilts up to help patients get on the table. Pages 28 & 29 Cover photo by Abigail Peyton

LIVING WISER IN RETIREMENT

ever underestimate the impact that a wise decision can have over time. Even in retirement, our choices can determine how well we continue to live in the future.

If you’re considering moving to a retirement community, it’s never been more important to make a wise decision — one that takes into consideration all of the aspects that contribute to a happy, healthy lifestyle. At St. George Village, we take pride in creating a welcoming and inclusive environment, with a wide range of activities, services and amenities to address individual needs. Additionally, our LifePlan structure offers the peace of mind that comes with protection of financial assets, as well as the assurance of continuing care. A decision to move to St. George Village is a choice to live confidently and independently in retirement.

Learn more about how St. George Village can be a wise investment for your retirement. Call 678-987-0409 for details. (Visit us at stgeorgevillage.org, and on Facebook to get a closer look at our lifestyle of active engagement.)

*St. George Village is Roswell’s only LifePlan community offering independent living, assisted living, memory care and skilled nursing neighborhoods.

Woodstock Road, Roswell, GA 30075 | (678) 987-0410 |

Our business is your business. We succeed when you succeed. And our goal is to help community businesses thrive. Our marketing experts have experience on the national and international level. They’ll help you put together an advertising program that targets your market, and fits your needs, style and budget. Let us put our experience to work for you!

• Publishing in Cherokee County since 1996.

• Won Excellence in Customer Service and Small Business of the Year awards from the Cherokee Chamber of Commerce.

• Marketing experts with national, international account experience.

• Editorial team with 50-plus years’ experience with major metropolitan newspapers.

What’s Open

Canton Cigar Co. has opened at The Mill On Etowah, 225 Reformation Parkway in Canton, and offers an extensive selection of cigars, bourbon and craft cocktails. On Facebook.

Kudos

Congratulations to Cherokee Recreation and Parks for earning the Outstanding Program Award for its Cherokee Youth Basketball program, awarded by the Georgia Recreation and Parks Association. The award highlights the steps the agency has taken to grow the program from its inaugural season in 2011 to a program that now boasts 556 teams with more than 4,000 basketball players playing annually from October to March. www.playcherokee.org.

Keep Georgia Beautiful and Keep America Beautiful Inc. recently welcomed Keep Cherokee Beautiful (KCB) into its expanding community-based network of affiliates after a year of preparing for the certification. According to Cherokee County District 3 Commissioner Benny Carter, the affiliation allows KCB to grow and expand programs.

Letter From the Editor

Last month marked the beginning of my 11th year with Aroundabout Local Media. I was looking through my scrapbook as I was reminiscing about my time with the company and all the changes in Cherokee County since I’ve worked here.

OK, don’t be too impressed. I don’t have a scrapbook. I do, however, just like you, have access to past issues on each magazines’ website. When you have time, go to www.aroundcantonmagazine.com and click on the Archives tab. If you read Page 4 of each issue, starting with the March 2013 issue of Sixes Living, you’ll get a quick history lesson about the growth in the area and countywide.

When I started with ALM in 2012, the aquatic center was one month away from opening, The Outlet Shoppes at Atlanta had a late summer 2013 completion date, and the ground clearing had just begun for a new Walmart Supercenter in Holly Springs. MUST Ministries was preparing to move to its new location in Canton.

As many of you can relate, I applied for the job at ALM as a distraction when our youngest left for college; it’s been an exciting time for this empty nester. My first project was to relaunch Sixes Living magazine (currently Around Canton) in March 2013, bringing back the title after a 12-year absence. In May 2014, I was named executive editor and the rest, as they say, is history.

The greatest blessing has been how my position at ALM pulls together all of my journalism experience: as a copy editor and page designer in St. Petersburg, Florida; a section editor in Charlotte, N.C., and then a copy editor and special sections designer in Atlanta. Not to mention the years of freelance writing.

That should explain why I’m so passionate about print. While our major metropolitan newspapers are shrinking, we continue to grow at our hyperlocal level. Right now, we have five publications. Notice I said, right now?

Stay tuned!

In the past 11 years, we’ve seen our fair share of change in Cherokee County. I hope you are enjoying the monthly updates from Commission Chairman Harry Johnston (Page 22). Stay on top of all the activities this year by posting our Year at a Glance (Pages 24-25) on your refrigerator.

Another common theme over the years is the care and concern we have for one another. Learn how Cherokee Connect, the Facebook page with more than 63,500 members, has made a difference in the lives of our neighbors (Page 16-17). Connecting with each other makes the difference, and I hope that, by reading our magazines each month, you’ll be able to stay connected to your immediate community.

Happy New Year!

Around Canton, a publication of Aroundabout Local Media, Inc., is a community magazine with 17,000 free copies distributed monthly. Approximately 16,600 are direct mailed to homes and businesses and an additional 400 are placed in racks in the community.

Around Canton welcomes your comments, stories, and advertisements. Editorial deadline is the first and advertising deadline is the fifth of the previous month.

Subscriptions are available for $24 per year. Send check or money order to: Around Canton, 1025 Rose Creek Drive, PMB 380, Suite 620, Woodstock, GA 30189.

The viewpoints of the advertisers, writers and other submissions do not necessarily reflect those of the editor/publisher. And the publisher makes no claims

America’s Community Magazine

Volume 10, Issue 9

PUBLISHER

Aroundabout Local Media, Inc. www.aroundaboutlocalmedia.com

PRESIDENT

Kim Dahnke | 770-778-5314 kim@aroundaboutmagazines.com

VICE PRESIDENT OF SALES

Jennifer Coleman | 470-263-8414 jen@aroundaboutmagazines.com

EXECUTIVE EDITOR

Candi Hannigan | 770-615-3309 candi@aroundaboutmagazines.com

MANAGING EDITOR Donna Harris | 770-852-8481 donna@aroundaboutmagazines.com

CONTENT EDITOR Jessica Forrester | 770-615-3318 jessica@aroundaboutmagazines.com

PRODUCTION MANAGER

Michelle McCulloch | 770-615-3307 michelle@aroundaboutmagazines.com

CONTROLLER Denise Griffin | 770-615-3315 denise@aroundaboutmagazines.com

PAGE DESIGNER

Laura Latchford laura@aroundaboutmagazines.com

GRAPHIC DESIGNER Savannah Winn savannah@aroundaboutmagazines.com

SOCIAL MEDIA MANAGER Kathryn Holt kat@aroundaboutmagazines.com

MARKET & ADVERTISING

SPECIALIST | Michelle Smith michelle.smith@aroundaboutmagazines.com

COPY EDITORS

Bill King, Eliza Somers

to the validity of any opinions expressed by charitable, business or civic organizations mentioned, or statements made within the editorial content. The cover and inside related article, and other editorial-type submissions labeled SPONSORED CONTENT, are paid content. The publisher neither guarantees nor supports any product or service mentioned in this magazine, nor does it guarantee any assertions made by the manufacturers or providers of such products or services, or claims regarding the status of such businesses.

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 2023.

Candi Hannigan is the executive editor of Aroundabout Local Media. She has lived in Cherokee County since 1987. Send your comments or questions to candi@aroundaboutmagazines.com

Canton IN town

All ages enjoy skating around the Rink on the River at The Mill on Etowah.

R.T. JONES MEMORIAL LIBRARY

www.sequoyahregionallibrary.org

Jan. 9

The Adult Eclectics Book Club is meeting to discuss “The Hate U Give” by Angie Thomas, 6-7:30 p.m., in the community room. Registration is not required.

Jan. 18

Neon Paint Night for adults is set for 5-6 p.m. Registration is required.

Jan. 19

Bring your toddlers to Penguin Music and Moves, 10:30-11:30 a.m. Sing, dance, play games and more. Registration is not required.

Jan. 20

Join the Red Cross Blood Drive, 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Giving one pint of blood can save up to three lives! To make an appointment, visit redcrossblood.org and enter code: RTJones, or call 1-800-Red-Cross.

Jan. 26

Swing by the library for a friendship bracelet workshop, 4:305:30 p.m. Materials will be provided. Registration is not required, but children younger than 13 must be accompanied by an adult.

Jan. 27

The Crafters’ Club will meet to work on their projects and socialize, 11 a.m.-noon. Registration is not required.

Jan. 31

The Tween Book Club meets the last Tuesday of the month, 4:455:45 p.m., to go over books through discussion, games and more. This month’s book is “A Wrinkle in Time” by Madeleine L’Engle. This club is best suited for ages 10 and older, or for those at a fifth-grade reading level or higher. Registration is required.

Through Jan. 16

Rink on the River is at The Mill on Etowah Tuesdays-Sundays. Bring the family to enjoy ice skating, an awesome winter activity. Visit https://bit.ly/3HiHVtr for hours.

0 5

Trivia Night on the Green begins at 7 p.m. Thursdays at The Mill on Etowah. Gather your dream team and compete for first-, second- and third-place prizes. www.etowahmill.com/events

0 6

Schedule an appointment to participate in a blood drive , beginning at 10 a.m., at the Canton City Hall auditorium. Visit redcrossblood.org and enter code: cantoncityhall.

21 Bree’s Miles of Memories 5K and Fun Run begins at 8 a.m. in Etowah River Park. https://bit.ly/3WbZvTY

28 The Service League Gala and Benefit is set for 6-9 p.m. at Timbers on Etowah in Canton. Proceeds will benefit the children of Cherokee County and the Children’s Haven. Tickets are $125 and can be purchased at www.serviceleague.net.

“Sounds of Georgia,” a Georgia Players Guild production, will be at the Canton Theatre, 8:30-10 p.m. This historical revue celebrates the rich musical history of artists who were born in Georgia, or established their careers here. www.cantonga.gov/events

CHEROKEE THEATRE CO.

www.cherokeetheatre.org. Performances are 8 p.m. Fridays, 2:30 p.m. and 8 p.m. Saturdays and 2:30 p.m. Sundays at the Canton Theatre.

Feb. 3-5, 10-12

“Faith County II: The Saga Continues.” Comedy. Directed by Becca Hogue.

June 16-18, 23-25

“A Bad Year for Tomatoes.” Comedy. Directed by Nancy Jensen.

CANTON BUSINESS CLUB

Meets weekly, 8-9 a.m. Wednesdays at Reformation Brewery, 125 Railroad St. Check Facebook for an optional Zoom link, and other club news and events.

Celebrations!

ANNOUNCEMENTS ARE FREE!

Email: edit@aroundaboutmagazines.com

February deadline is Jan. 10. Word limit: 25. Please specify Around Canton.

Lisette — Age 1 on Jan. 3

Giuliana — Age 9 on Jan. 7

Wishing our two beautiful girls a very special birthday! May all your dreams come true!

Love, Mama, Daddy, Ella, Coco and Louie

Sydney Age 4 on Jan. 28

Happy fourth birthday to our Syd the Kid!

You are my sunshine, and we love you more than you will ever know. Mommy, Daddy and Harper

Daniel Ellis Jan. 11

Happy birthday! We love you!

Lexie-Anne

Age 20 on Jan. 8

Happy birthday!

We love celebrating you!

Love always, Mama and Daddy

Frederick Jan. 9

Happy birthday, Frederick! We all love you so much! Christine, Hannah,Tiani and Abygail

Debbie Jan. 10

Happy birthday to Debbie! We love you so much, and thank you for being so giving and thoughtful.

Happy birthday, Naia! Age 16 on Jan. 30

We are happy to be celebrating your birthday with you!

Janna, Rich, Bennett, Percy and Atticus

Lisette and Giuliana

Photo by Coryographix

Celebrations!

Walker

Happy ninth birthday, Walker! We love you very much!

Mommy, Daddy, Grayson, Colton and Barrett

Happy, happy birthday, Kobe (13) and Mason (11)!

We love you!

Dad, Lindsay and Rylin

Savannah Age 4 on Jan. 8.

Happy birthday, Savannah!

We all love you very much!

Mommy, Daddy and Madison

Colton

Happy sixth birthday, Colton! We love you so much!

Mommy, Daddy, Grayson, Walker and Barrett

Jeff Forrester

Age 60 on Jan. 24

Happy birthday, Dad!

We love you!

Janis, Jake, Jessica and Andrew

Happy birthday, Connor! Age 16 on Jan. 17

We are very proud of the young man you are becoming, and we love you so much!

Kobe and Mason

Summer Arts Intensives

Department of Dance*

June 5-9 | Day - $295 | Overnight - $580

Department of Theatre & Performance Studies*

June 5-9 | Day - $295 | Overnight - $580 Acting | Musical Theatre | Design/Tech

Bailey School of Music*

Strings | Choral/Voice June 5-9 | Day - $295 | Overnight Trumpet | May 31-June 2 | 1-5 p.m. Percussion | May 31-June 2 | 8:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. | $125

School of Art & Design

New this year is our option for OVERNIGHT! Stay overnight on the Kennesaw campus and experience what it might be like to major in the arts at KSU. Enjoy meals at the award-winning Commons and get to know other high school students who are passionate about the arts.*

STRONGER TOGETHER

Through Networking

Aroundabout Local Media’s mission statement is to “help local businesses grow and prosper by offering affordable advertising opportunities in a quality publication that provides positive, relevant information to our readers.”

Using this as a plumb line for all that we do on the advertising and editorial sides of our company, we created a new feature. Once a quarter, we will share photos of the entrepreneurs in our community, gathering to exchange ideas and information, and developing relationships by supporting and encouraging one another while opening doors to new opportunities.

Cherokee Chamber of Commerce

Power Hour Networking is held monthly, 10-11 a.m., at the chamber office, 3605 Marietta Highway, Canton. Business After Hours meets monthly in rotating chamber member businesses, except July and August, 4:30-6 p.m. Good Morning Cherokee breakfasts are held monthly, excluding January and July, 6:30-9 a.m. at 1130 Bluffs Parkway in Canton. https://cherokeechamber.com

Canton Business Club

Meets 8 a.m. Wednesdays at Reformation Brewery. https://bit.ly/3FLJjU2

Ball Ground Business Club

Meets 10:30 a.m. Fridays at Rock Solid Brewing Co. https://bit.ly/3FQMpGE

Ball Ground Business & Community Association

Meets monthly on the second Wednesday, either at breakfast, lunch or after hours. www.ballgroundbusinessassociation.com

Other business associations in Canton are invited to send photos from their monthly meetings to edit@aroundaboutmagazines.com. Please include the names of everyone in each photo, along with the date, time and location of your meetings.

Bronson Kurtz interviews Mayor Bill Grant at an October Canton Business Club meeting.

ALM President Kim Dahnke, right, with Gretchen Corbin, president and CEO of the Georgia Lottery, at the December Good Morning Cherokee breakfast.

In December, Ball Ground Business Club members donated toys to the March of the Toys Parade for Toys for Tots.

Cherokee Connect

Facebook Group Celebrates 3 Years of Community

BY JESSICA FORRESTER

Cherokee Connect, the illustrious Cherokee County Facebook group, sparks connections, inspires residents to help neighbors in need and fosters a greater sense of community, which was especially impactful during the pandemic, when we were not always able to interact faceto-face. The group’s creator and fearless leader, Canton resident Josh Bagby, started the page in October 2019. And, in just over three years, the group has grown to more than 63,500 members who can create posts asking for recommendations for the best food, goods and services or for help with food, shelter and clothing.

“To say that it has grown into something I didn’t expect would be an understatement,” Bagby said. “The heart behind the group was to connect people. Originally, I thought we’d connect people to local businesses and local charities. As a small-business owner, I have a passion and desire to help others succeed. My family and I also have a desire to give back and leave this place better than we found it. I knew we were not alone in those feelings, so Facebook’s group feature seemed like a great way to bring like-minded folks together.”

Our county is continuously growing, yet residents who were born here and those who have moved here love the tight-knit community and small-town feel in our cities. It comes as no surprise that, when asked, members of Cherokee Connect said some of the best things that have come from the platform are the humor and the love and support group members show our community.

“What I quickly realized was that people connect over all sorts of things — the first I noticed was humor,” Bagby said. Each Friday, he gets things rolling with a “Friday Funnies” post and a meme. This tradition has been a hit for three years, and the group still responds each week with 400-plus of the funniest memes on the internet, Bagby said.

Some of the funniest, most memorable posts include the ballad of Cherokee Connect, the Chic Black Man and the sleeping horse. Kelli Miller wrote a poem about the group, also known as the “Cherokeet Beat,” which highlights some of the most notable group posts to date: http://bit.ly/3UZ9jQF. Her poem references the Chic Black Man (of course), which came about from a voice-

Josh Bagby and Carlos Hill, aka the Chic Black Man of Canton.

Kainan Schramm clears out Heaven’s Gait’s therapy riding trail in 2021.

to-text fail after a gentleman created a post looking for a “sheetrock man” in Canton. Carlos Hill, former Canton resident, answered the call and ran with it: http://bit. ly/3g55cnt. And, after multiple visits from animal control and members of the community about a “dead” horse along Univeter Road (also referenced in Miller’s poem), Danielle Rowe posted signs, which read: Horse is not dead. He is sleeping (http://bit.ly/3AhZw03).

While the group bonds over memes and all things funny, members also come together to help neighbors and strangers. “We’ve located the owner of a Sequoyah class ring found in a north Georgia river. We’ve seen a local businessman quickly step up and buy the River Ridge band a new refrigerator for its concession stand. We’ve had total strangers buy furniture to send to a young man adopting his siblings out of foster care. We had a guy show up with a chainsaw to clear a trail for children with special needs to take therapeutic rides on (http://bit. ly/3O8UVD7). We’ve had car clubs spin off of the group. We have a wildlife group (http://bit.ly/3hJ2BA7) that was birthed out of Connect. Book clubs. Walking groups. Friends, and maybe a marriage or two,” Bagby said. It would be nearly impossible to name everyone who has donated money, goods or services, or those who have gone out of their way to return lost wallets and other items, as many remain anonymous. “Folks with hearts like that often prefer it that way,” Bagby said. There are things

that come from the group that no one knows about, but here are a handful of the best things Cherokee Connect has facilitated, according to the group:

• Someone helped provide a refrigerator and a microwave to ACE/i-Grad academy for the teachers’ lunch room.

• A local resident donated an older vehicle to a mother in need.

• The group arranged for an unsheltered woman to stay in a hotel for nearly two months during the winter, through Butterfly Whisper, a Canton-based nonprofit that provides assistance. She received help in obtaining identification documents and getting two jobs.

• A local couple rebuilt a back deck for an elderly man.

• Cherokee County School District’s reduced lunch program debt has been knocked out twice by the group.

• The group donated money and services to have a widowed senior’s house painted on Crisler Street.

As of November, Bagby pulled the numbers, and there were more than 66,000-plus posts, 1.2 million comments and 2.3 million likes and reactions last year. “It’s a lot to keep tabs on, but I have an awesome moderation team helping me out. It’s social media, but we do our best to keep it productive, useful and as friendly as possible. I wholeheartedly believe the good outweighs the bad,” he said.

To join the group, visit www.facebook.com/ groups/1308529209319801.

Danielle Rowe’s horse, Melman.

180 Years

Canton First United Methodist Celebrates a Milestone

Canton First United Methodist’s 180th anniversary was commemorated by a gathering of the faithful in November. Attended by more than 400 celebrants, one of the special guests was 95-year-old Dot Patterson, whose grandfather was the music director in 1842, the year the church began.

The day was described as festive, unifying, sentimental and glorifying to God. Julie Little, the church’s director of administration, said the event exceeded expectations as everyone celebrated “What He’s Done” in the church and community.

Just a year earlier, in November 2021, members celebrated retiring all debt on the facilities during a special Reconsecration and Dedication Service.

Phyllis Ogle with Dot Patterson.

The choir, along with the organ and brass accompaniment, perform for the special service.

It All Started Downtown

The church originally was located in downtown Canton, at 94 North St., now home to the Cherokee Arts Center. For years, the church also served as a school in an area that was small and rural.

As church membership grew, along with the vision to add new ministries and services, church leaders realized they had no room to expand facilities or parking in the downtown location. The decision was made to relocate the congregation.

In 1992, the old building was deconsecrated, and members of the congregation walked across town to their new home on 10 acres at 930 Lower Scott Mill Road, just east of downtown. Each person carried something from the former building to the new church (Bible, hymnal, flags).

The new facility was consecrated on the same day, with office space, classrooms and a fellowship hall, which served as the temporary worship space. Subsequently, the chapel, sanctuary and additional classrooms and office space were added to provide the facility the resources needed to serve a growing church and community.

A History of Caring

Throughout the years, Canton First members have supported and helped ministries expand their services for individuals and families in Cherokee County. As a result of this advocacy work, the Cherokee Family Violence Center was formed, Methodists United in Service and Training (MUST Ministries, Cherokee location) began as a food closet in the basement of the church building in downtown Canton, and Cherokee Thanksgiving was created.

A long-awaited dream of opening a weekday preschool came true in the new location. The Canton First Preschool has expanded over the years, and currently serves more than 160 children and their families.

Members partner with service organizations, international missions helping children, and provide a community fund that gives financial assistance with utilities, food and gas to those in need. An active care ministry includes grief support and bereavement services, prayer and Stephen Ministries, a one-to-one lay caring ministry. Two new Stephen Ministers were consecrated during the 180th celebration.

“Since 1842, Canton First Methodist has ministered to the needs of the Canton and Cherokee County community,” said the Rev. Kenny Ott, lead pastor. “They started the first school in the area and launched organizations like MUST Ministries and the Homeless Coalition of Cherokee County. Even more exciting is our new vision to reach 100 next-generation families by 2026.”

That five-year vision is to connect with families with school-age children (cradle to college) and young people. Work is underway to upgrade the children’s and youth areas with a new playground (which will be open to the community) and covered entryway, along with other improvements to family-oriented ministries. www.cantonumc.org.

A recent Google search mapped the 1992 walk from old to new buildings at 1.9 miles.

Joan Duff, Sherry and Jeff McGhee, Dr. Jim and Ruth Kilgore.

Sherrod and Sandy Waites with Dr. Jack Cauble.

Serving Ethically, Responsibly and Efficiently

BY LAUREN JOHNSON

When the city of Canton created its Roadmap for Success and adopted it in 2021, it was a plan to guide the city for the next 10 years of work. Now, at a little more than two years in, the city has accomplished more than 70% of the goals and projects the Roadmap set forth. This was possible because of the excellence in leadership from the mayor, council, city staff, boards and commissions.

Celebrating City Services

“Municipal government is the level of government closest to the people,” City Manager Billy Peppers said. “Our city government is nonpartisan, so it is built on people with ideas, and not party platforms. The services of your city government impact your daily life: police, fire, water, sewer, parks, streets, development, code compliance, recreation, sanitation and community events.”

Canton will celebrate Georgia Cities Week, sponsored by the Georgia Municipal Association (GMA), April 23-29, with a variety of events to recognize the leadership and services the city provides to the community.

“The city of Canton works diligently to maintain the highest possible quality of services to our citizens,” Mayor Bill Grant said. “In celebration of Georgia Cities Week, we will share the ways we continue to move Canton forward.”

Roadmap for Success

Initiatives to Lead

Canton recently was named one of five municipalities in the state selected to participate in the Georgia Initiative for Community Housing (GICH). This three-year program provides collaboration and technical assistance to help communities create and implement a locally based plan to meet their housing needs.

Housing Initiatives Director Ken Patton led the charge on providing a thorough application for GICH on the city’s behalf. He believes participation in the program is critical for the city to have a successful strategy for building a housing plan.

Game Changer

City Council, staff and citizen boards will foster civic participation and serve ethically, transparently, responsibly and efficiently.

GeorgiaForward selected Canton City Planner Brittany Anderson, who has worked for the city for more than five years, as one of the 50 evolving professionals to serve the organization’s 2022 Young Gamechangers (YG) program. YG is a unique leadership action program hosted by GeorgiaForward, a nonprofit organization administered by GMA. YG brings professionals from across the state to work on the persistent challenges of one Georgia community; the 2022 selected city was Dalton.

City Planner Brittany Anderson

A Vision for the Future

During the GMA 2022 Cities United Summit, GMA and Georgia Trend magazine presented the city of Canton with a Visionary City Award for the City’s Roadmap for Success. Awarded to nine cities each year — three from each population size group: less than 4,999, 5,00024,999 and more than 25,000 — the award honors cities that have created positive community change through effective civic engagement and collaboration.

“The city was extremely honored to receive the Visionary City Award from GMA and Georgia Trend magazine,” Grant said. “This prestigious recognition for the city of Canton’s forward thinking, collaboration and civic engagement is a true testament to the exemplary leadership our council and management team have demonstrated with the creation and implementation of our Roadmap for Success.”

Top 10 in 10

In 2022, City Engineer Bethany Watson was recognized as one of the Top 10 in 10 Young Professionals to Watch in Cherokee County. The Cherokee Chamber of Commerce and Enjoy Cherokee Magazine give this annual award to 10 county residents, under age 40, to watch in the next 10 years.

“As a member of Team Canton, Bethany leads many projects including trails, transportation, development engineering and the new parking deck,” Peppers said. “We are proud of her and this recognition.” Watson has worked for the city of Canton for more than eight years.

Canton’s Boards and Commissions

For more details, visit www.cantonga. gov/government/city-council/boardscommissions.

• Board of Appeals (Variance Board)

• Canton Building Authority

• Canton Development Authority

• Canton Housing Authority

• Canton Main Street Board

• Canton Tourism Board

• Cultural Arts Commission

• Diversity and Inclusion Task Force

• Downtown Development Authority

• Environmental and Sustainability Advisory Board

• Historic Preservation Committee

• Library Board

• Public Safety Citizen Advisory Committee

host the 2023 Georgia Downtown Association Annual Conference, Aug. 21-24. This annual conference attracts more than 200 downtown professionals from across the state to network, learn and grow through a variety of session topics and tours.

Lauren Johnson is the marketing and communications specialist for the city of Canton.

From left, City Manager Billy Peppers, Mayor Bill Grant, council members Brooke Schmidt, Sandy McGrew, Dwayne Waterman and Assistant City Manager Nathan Ingram accept the Visionary City Award.

City Engineer Bethany Watson

Moving Forward Together in 2023

BY HARRY JOHNSTON

It’s a new year! And, for me, a new four-year term as chairman of Cherokee’s Board of Commissioners (BOC). It’s a natural time of looking forward and mapping plans for the future.

Traditionally, we consider goals for the upcoming year, and that’s important. This year, we’ve got to keep up our momentum on road improvements. We need to finish several building projects — one is the “Buzz,” the fabulous new indoor recreation center at Veterans Park, named for my predecessor, L.B. “Buzz” Ahrens.

Other goals include a new facility for the sheriff’s special units and the coroner. We need to get started on the new parking deck at the justice center and get ready to expand the actual court facilities. We’ll need another round of salary increases to stay competitive for quality employees, especially public safety officers. We need to do all of this while holding our place among the very lowest BOC-controlled tax rates in Georgia. Finally, we’ve got to fend off threatened state legislation that could prohibit local governments from setting quality standards for residential development and construction.

More important, we need to look further into the future and consider new ways to keep making Cherokee County the best place in the world to live. We’re already doing more than most counties to manage our growth and development and preserve our quality of life. We’ve brought our annual population growth down from 5% pre-2008 to 2% since then. But, even at that rate, we’ll grow to 460,000 in 25 years and 790,000 in 50. That’s not consistent with the small-town and rural character that makes Cherokee so great today.

What will it really take to preserve our precious lifestyle while other suburban metro counties lose theirs? How can we capitalize on recently improved city-county cooperation, to build and maintain fantastic, thriving small cities and rural countryside, all with a unique and desirable identity? If we steadily ramp our annual growth down, to reach 0.5% by 2073, we’d hold the population to 390,000 in 25 years and 456,000 in 50. At those levels, the beautiful vision most of us want still could be possible. What reasonable steps can we take to do that?

Even at a further reduced growth rate, we’ll need adequate infrastructure. We’ve already mapped out a long list of road projects needed over the next 20-plus years, but are they enough? Where will the chokepoints be, and what do we need to start planning now to address them? How will we pay for those additional improvements?

What’s the best way to pay for parks and other infrastructure needed for a great future? Can we continue to roll back tax rates each year and still pay for increases in the number of, and compensation of, public safety officers and other county services?

Clearly, we’ve got more questions than answers. But, isn’t that always true about the future? Let’s find the answers together.

Harry Johnston is chairman of the Cherokee County Board of Commissioners. He’s a retired CPA and accounting manager, and a former district commissioner. Email him at hjohnston@cherokeega.com.

... manage our growth and development and preserve our quality of life. " "

AT A GLANCE

If getting organized is one of your New Year’s resolutions, this comprehensive calendar should help. We’ve included as many city festivals, community events and school breaks as we could find. Some of these dates and times might change, so keep a watch on our community calendars each month for additional details and activities. For more information on city and county events, check https://visitwoodstockga.com, www.cantonga.gov, www.woodstockparksandrec.com, https://cherokeechamber.com and www.crpa.net.

JANUARY

Jan. 1: Best for Bridal winners announced.

Jan. 9: School resumes.

Jan. 9-Feb. 8: Project Valentine, CRPA.

Through Jan. 10: Woodstock Christmas Tree Chip and Dip, Rope Mill Park.

Jan. 16: Martin Luther King Day. No school.

Jan. 19: Cherokee Chamber annual meeting.

Jan. 28: Service League Gala and Benefit, 6-9 p.m., Timbers on Etowah, Canton.

FEBRUARY

Feb. 11: CRPA’s Guns and Hoses 5K, Hobgood Park.

Feb. 11: Chocolate Walk, Canton.

Feb. 17: Arbor Day Celebration, 8 a.m.-5 p.m., Woodstock.

Feb. 20-24: Winter break. No school.

Feb. 20-24: February Break Splish Splash Camp, Cherokee County Aquatic Center.

MARCH

March 1: Readers’ Choice nominations begin.

March 1-April 4: Some Bunny Special, CRPA.

March 11: CCEF Fundraising Gala.

March 16: COED’s Cherokee Film Summit.

March 18: Garland Mountain Trail Run.

March 31: Readers’ Choice nominations end.

APRIL

April 1: Blankets Creek Dirty 15/30 Mountain Bike Race and Trail Run.

April 3-7: Spring break. No school.

April 3-7: Spring Break Splish Splash Camp, Cherokee County Aquatic Center.

April 8: Eggs-traordinary Extravaganza, Cherokee County Aquatic Center.

April 8: Flashlight Egg Hunt, CRPA.

April 8: BBQ and Brews, Ball Ground.

April 15: Lantern Series, 7:30-9:30 p.m.

April 20: Upper Etowah River Alliance Annual Membership Meeting at the Rock Barn.

April 21: Chamber’s Recycling Event, 1-4 p.m.

April 22: Woodstock’s Citywide Yard Sale.

April 22: Woodstock’s Recycling Event, 9 a.m.-1 p.m.

April 26: Unwind Wednesdays, Veterans Park, 5:30-8 p.m., last Wednesdays through October.

April 27: Taste of Canton.

April 29: Lantern Series, 7:30-9:30 p.m.

MAY

May 4, 11, 18, 25: Brown Bag Concert Series, noon-1 p.m., Woodstock.

May 5: Canton First Fridays begin, monthly through October.

May 6: Kentucky Derby Day, Canton.

May 6: Lantern Series, 7:30-9:30 p.m.

May 13: Woodstock Summer Concert Series, 7:30 p.m.

May 15: Readers’ Choice voting begins.

May 25: Last day of school. Modified dismissal.

May 25: i-Grad Virtual Academy graduation, 2 p.m.

May 25: River Ridge graduation, 4 p.m. Cherokee High graduation, 8 p.m.

May 26: Sequoyah High graduation, 4 p.m. Woodstock High graduation, 8 p.m.

May 26: Therapeutic Recreation Talent Show, CRPA.

May 27: Creekview High graduation, 9 a.m. Etowah High graduation, 1 p.m.

May 27: Rope Mill Trail Run and Mountain Bike Rumble.

May 29: Memorial Day ceremony, 10 a.m., Woodstock.

JUNE

June 3: Canton Farmers Market’s opening day.

June 10: Woodstock Summer Concert Series, 7:30 p.m.

June 17: Lantern Series, 7:30-9:30 p.m.

June 19-23: Water Safety Week, Cherokee County Aquatic Center.

June 22: World’s Largest Swim Lesson, Cherokee County Aquatic Center.

June 30: Readers’ Choice voting ends.

JULY

July 1: Back to the 80s, The Mill on Etowah.

July 4: July Fourth Spectacular, 10 a.m., Woodstock.

July 4: Canton’s July Fourth celebration (fireworks!).

July 8: Woodstock Summer Concert Series, 7:30 p.m.

July 22: Lantern Series, 7:30-9:30 p.m.

AUGUST

Aug. 1: First day of school.

Aug. 1: Police Night Out, Woodstock.

Aug. 1: Readers’ Choice winners announced.

Aug. 10: Chamber’s SchmoozaPalooza, 4-7 p.m.

Aug. 12: Woodstock Summer Concert Series, 7:30 p.m.

Aug. 14: Chamber Classic Golf Tournament (tentative).

Aug. 19: Chick-fil-A 5K.

Aug. 22: Georgia Downtown Association Conference Big Bash, Canton.

SEPTEMBER

Sept. 4: Labor Day. No school.

Sept. 7, 14, 21, 28: Brown Bag Concert Series, noon-1 p.m., Woodstock.

Sept. 9: Woodstock Summer Concert Series, 7:30 p.m.

Sept. 10: Paws in the Pool, Cherokee County Aquatic Center.

Sept. 11: 9/11 Day of Remembrance service, 6 p.m., Woodstock.

Sept. 16: Touch-A-Truck, CRPA.

Sept. 18-22: Fall break. No school.

Sept. 23-24: Riverfest, Etowah River Park.

Sept. 30: Blankets Creek 3- and 6-Hour Race.

OCTOBER

Oct. 1: Scarecrow Invasion, Woodstock.

Oct. 1: Best for Bridal voting begins.

Oct. 7: Ball Ground Rocks.

Oct. 9: Columbus Day. No school.

Oct. 9: CCEF Golf, Tennis and Pickleball Classics.

Oct. 15: Sunset Symphony, 7 p.m., Woodstock.

Oct. 18: Chamber’s Women in Business.

Oct. 21: Great Pumpkin Fest, CRPA.

Oct. 28-29: Denim Fest, The Mill on Etowah.

Oct. 31: Halloween Trail of Tricks and Treats, 5-9 p.m., Woodstock.

NOVEMBER

Nov. 1-Dec. 15: Hugs in a Blanket, CRPA.

Nov. 7: Election Day. Remote learning day.

Nov. 11: Rope Mill Dirty Duathlon and Trail Run.

Nov. 11: Veterans Day ceremony, 7 p.m., Woodstock.

Nov. 15: Best for Bridal voting ends.

Nov. 15: Tree lighting, Canton.

Nov. 18: Recycling and Paper Shredding Event, 9 a.m.-1 p.m., Woodstock.

Nov. 20-24: Thanksgiving break. No school.

Nov. 21: Shopping by Lantern Light, Canton.

Nov. 28-Dec. 13: Santa’s Mailbox in Woodstock.

DECEMBER

Dec. 2: Christmas Jubilee and Parade of Lights, 5:30 p.m., Woodstock.

Dec. 2, 16: Visit With Santa, Canton.

Dec. 7, 14: Mistletoe on Main, Canton.

Dec. 8: Christmas in Canton.

Dec. 9: Swim with the Grinch, Cherokee County Aquatic Center.

Dec. 9: Merry Market and Parade, Canton.

Dec. 21: Last day of the semester. Modified dismissal.

Dec. 22-Jan. 5: Christmas break. No school.

Dec. 26-Jan. 8: Christmas Tree Chip and Dip, Woodstock.

BRI DAL BEST FOR 2023 CONGRATULATIONS to the WINNERS!

In our quest to help couples prepare for their weddings and to support local businesses, Aroundabout Local Media launched its first Best for Bridal contest in October — which we understand is the new June in the wedding world. Check out the winners on these pages and on our website: www. aroundaboutlocalmedia.com. We hope this list helps you prepare for your big day.

While we’re talking weddings, we’d love to help you celebrate this milestone by sharing your engagement stories. If your story is chosen for a future feature in our magazines, you will be entered to win a prize. Just scan the QR code to open our engagement story form, where you can write your story and upload photos, or email edit@aroundaboutmagazines.com and put Best for Bridal in the subject line. Be sure to let us know how we can contact you.

P BAKERY

Winner: Shannon Turner Cakes, Acworth Second Place: Cakehouse on Main, Acworth Runner-up: Cakes by Anna, Woodstock

P BEAUTY (HAIR & MAKEUP)

Winner: B. Wild Hair and Makeup, Roswell Second Place: A Glamour Affair, Marietta Runner-up: Three-13 Salon, Spa & Boutique, Marietta

P BRIDAL SHOP

Winner: Anna Christine Bridal, Canton Second Place: A Formal Occasion, Kennesaw Runner-up: Bravura Fashion, Marietta

P CATERING

Winner: Zeigler's BBQ & Catering, Acworth

Second Place (tied): - Big Girls Catering & Events, Acworth - Prestige Catering, Canton - Talk of the Town, Roswell

P CINEMA/VIDEOGRAPHY

Winner: Keystone Production Network, Acworth Second Place: Tiffany Greeson Photography, Calhoun Runner-up (tied): - Burns Videography, Acworth - NE Studios, Acworth

P DECOR

Winner: Rosely Events, Cherokee County Second Place: The Prissy Plate Co., Cartersville Runner-up (tied): - A Peachy Keen Wedding, Marietta - House of Bash, Alpharetta

P ENTERTAINMENT (DJ & BAND)

Winner: DJ Ray’s Entertainment, Woodstock Second Place: DJ Dano North Georgia Entertainment, Marietta Runner-up (tied): - Club Rett DJ & Photobooth Services, Marietta

- Pirone Entertainment — North GA Wedding DJ, Woodstock

P FAVORS

Winner: Signature Keepsakes, Acworth

Second Place: Designs on Main, Jasper

P FLORIST

Winner: Wedding Wishes by Wanda, Woodstock

Second Place (tied):

- Canton Florist, Canton

- Faith Designs Florist, Kennesaw

- South Canton Florist, Canton

- West End Florist, Rome

P PHOTOGRAPHY

Winner (tied):

- 24/7 Digital Media Productions, Acworth

- Harlow’s Photography + Film, Ball Ground

Runner-up: Kristin Faye Photography, Cartersville

P PLANNER

Winner (tied):

- Kristina Eaton Signature Weddings, Acworth

- Rosely Events, Cherokee County

Runner-up: Natalie Durham Events, Canton

P STATIONERY

Winner: C’est La Vie Stationery, Kennesaw

Second Place (tied): - Inkwell Designers, Woodstock - Sugar and Spice Invitations, Waleska

P TRANSPORTATION

Winner: RIS Limousine & Transportation, Ball Ground

Second Place (tied): - Atlanta Party Bus, Kennesaw - Top Hat Limousine, Woodstock

P TUXEDO SHOP

Winner (tied):

- Little River Clothing, Woodstock

- Savvi Formalwear, Marietta

Runner-up: A Formal Affair, Roswell

P VENUE

Winner: The Cowan Historic Mill, Acworth

Second Place: Lewallen Farms, Waleska

Runner-up: Ivy & Oak Weddings, Talking Rock

Integrative Approach is Key

I

n 2020, Dr. Nichole “Niki” Sullivan purchased Gentle Force Chiropractic from Dr. Linda Force, after outgrowing her Woodstock practice. Since the move, she has expanded the Canton office to more than double its original size and has added services to benefit her patients.

Through a holistic approach to patient care, Dr. Niki takes a whole-body view to find the source of each patient’s problem, and uses integrated treatments (chiropractic, nutrition, muscle and physical therapy) to free each patient of pain. “We do not believe pain is a lifestyle,” she said. The goal is to “heal from within, not just treat the symptoms.”

Dr. Niki and her associates continue to educate themselves in the integrative model to fulfill her vision of serving patients with the latest methods possible, and incorporating a holistic approach that doesn’t require narcotics.

A personal experience with an injury as a college student fueled Dr. Niki’s desire to become a chiropractor. After her primary care physician gave her pain medication, she

realized she could not function at school while medicated, and decided to visit a chiropractor for pain relief.

“After one adjustment, the pain was gone, and I knew this is how I wanted to help people, with an alternative to traditional treatment where narcotics tend to be prescribed,” she said.

“Chiropractic is unique to the individual, and offers many different avenues for treatment, from muscle work or nutrition, whatever the individual needs. It’s not the chiropractor who does the healing. The human body is made to heal itself. We just need to get out of the way sometimes. My job is to clear any interference and let the body do its job.”

The doctors and staff at Gentle Force Integrative Health treat patients from infancy to geriatric, addressing symptoms that include low-back and neck pain, joint issues, immune support, sports injuries and auto accidents. Treatment is tailored to each individual’s condition, and can involve: instrumental or manual adjusting; muscle

PHOTOS

BY ABIGAIL

PEYTON

Dr. Niki Sullivan, seated, surrounded by Dr. Brent Greene, back left, Dr. Betsy Carlo-Vega and Dr. Jack Dalhauser.

Dr. Niki uses an activator to apply gentle force during a patient adjustment.

Key to Holistic Chiropractic Care

stretching and strengthening; nutritional assessment; or decompression therapy.

“Our motto is, we have something for that,” Dr. Niki said. “We go beyond chiropractic, to work with you to bring total wellness to your body.”

Gentle Force doctors use the activator technique, as well as full-spine, which ensures each care plan is as unique as the individual. An activator is an adjusting instrument that offers a gentle, low-force and specific adjustment for treatment of TMJ or extremity discomfort.

“I love when patients say, ‘How did you know my knee was hurting?’” Dr. Niki said. “As we use the activator analysis to scan the entire body, we are able to determine any segment of the spine that is not in proper alignment, including joints not in position, so we can adjust and correct the issue.”

Dr. Niki, Dr. Jack Dahlhauser, Dr. Brent Greene and Dr. Betsy Carlo-Vega are Life University graduates with more than 50 years’ experience combined in chiropractic care.

Dr. Niki is advanced-proficient in the activator technique and her associates, Dr. Greene and Dr. Carlo-Vega, also are activator-technique proficient. Dr. Dahlhauser is a former Life University instructor and uses the Thompson and Gonstead adjusting techniques.

The doctors are trained in prenatal and pediatric care, and can create a lifestyle of wellness from infancy to geriatric. Gentle Force Integrative Health offers therapeutic massage therapy by licensed therapist Tamatha Willis, along with therapeutic exercise and stretching with Dawn Mitchell, CPT, CNC and CSF.

TESTIMONIAL

“When I came to Gentle Force to see Dr. Niki, I was a mess. Within six weeks, she and her wonderful staff got me out of pain and helped me so much. All of her staff are wonderful. They’re caring, patient and kind. Our whole family comes here now; we LOVE this practice! We love that they take a holistic approach.” — Brie K.

Dr. Niki uses a visual aide to demonstrate the connection between the spine and organs.

CHEROKEE HIGH Warriors’ spring Season

Track

BaseballHead Coach Josh Thomas

Cherokee looks to continue building on two straight 22-win seasons with Sweet 16 appearances. After graduating 11 seniors last year, a host of new faces will try to secure the school’s first baseball region championship. Returning starters Jackson Bradfield, outfielder; Evan Holstein, catcher; Liam Kirkman, right-handed pitcher; and Tams Mullins, left-handed pitcher, will lead the talented young team. Seniors Cooper Isaacs, Alex Shaw and Caiden Townsend will step into leadership roles, while a big group of talented sophomores and juniors will complete the reload.

Tennis Boys Tennis

Head Coach Brian Wegrzyn

The 2022 team made the state playoffs for the first time in school history. This year, the Warriors will compete in a competitive Region 5-7A, which includes last year’s state champion Walton, Kennesaw Mountain, North Cobb, Osborne and Wheeler.

A young core group returns, including juniors Hayden Roberson and Spencer Rosant, and sophomore Finn O’Neill. With the addition of some new young players, seniors Michael Deal, Jackson Lees and Connor Sobczak will see an increased role.

Girls Tennis

Head Coach Angela Pannell

With a new region and a mostly returning varsity line, great things are expected this season. The team is led by returning varsity line players Sophie Salazar, Lauren Posey and Laney Cline, as well as junior Anna Snyder. Returning sophomore Annaleise Wildermuth brings much promise to the varsity line. Leading the charge in doubles is senior Austyn Palmer and sophomore Kaia Easterbrook. Cherokee will be playing out of the newly refurbished courts in Bowling Park, as well as the Bridgemill and Towne Mill tennis facilities.

Head Coach Chris Curtiss

Curtiss, the sprint and hurdle coach for the previous two seasons, is excited about his first season as the head coach of the boys and girls track programs.

The girls team is working to build off its third-place finish at the 7A Georgia High School Association (GHSA) State Championship meet last spring. Gone are jumper/sprinter phenom Skylar Harrelson and distance all-stater Lily Cincola, but a number of key performers return.

Senior and University of Tennessee commit Lexi Pavese heads the group as she looks to improve on her all-state performances in the 1600 and 3200. Senior and all-state pole vaulter Tara Parks will improve and add depth to a young and talented sprint group, which returns Mac Pavese, Elizabeth Waller and Summer Smiley. Junior high jumper Tony Warren returns, and senior Jaeda Nesnick and junior Grace McPherson are back as top returners in throws.

The boys team will improve upon last season’s overall performance as it returns key performers, as well. Leading the group is senior and reigning 7A long jump state champion Ryane Martin, who was a part of a school-record 4x200 team and state-qualifying 4x100 team. In addition, senior Jeremiah Johnson returns and is poised to improve on his fourth-place finish at the 7A GHSA State Championship meet in the 300 hurdle.

Juniors Kaden “Pops” Jameson and Reid Schmidt also return as key components to an experienced and hardworking sprint group. Junior Seth Grogan leads the way in the distance crew, coming off a very strong Top 20 finish at the 7A GHSA Cross-Country State Championship meet last fall. And junior J.D. Burns will lead a young group of throwers, who will be much improved from last year.

Slow-Pitch Softball

Head Coach Tonya Carlisle

The Lady Warriors are excited to carry on the winning tradition that has been established at Cherokee. Competing in area play, the season begins in February and runs through mid-April. The Warriors have finished the last two seasons as state runner-up, and the goal is to win a state championship this season.

“The amount of talent and depth on the 2023 team ranks at the top of the teams that have come through this program. We look forward to the upcoming season and the opportunity to proudly represent our school and our program on the field, in the classroom and in the community,” Coach Tonya Carlisle said.

HIGH SCHOOL

Kicks Off Gymnastics

Head Coach Tricia Parks

The 2022 team became county champions for the first time, and Haley Courtwright set some school records in gymnastics. The season finished up with Courtwright and Abby Diaz qualifying for preliminaries in all-around and Ruthie Elkins qualifying for preliminaries on bars. At preliminaries, Courtwright qualified for state, where she finished sixth on beam, fifth on floor, and seventh all-around.

This season’s goal is to keep the county champion title and improve the team level to qualify for preliminaries. The public is invited to support Cherokee and other county schools at this year’s home meet, at World of Gymnastics on March 3.

Soccer Girls Soccer

Head Coach Chrissy Davis

After placing one spot out of playoff position in 2022 and graduating Kaia King, the Warriors will be led by a group of juniors. Reagan Horton, who averaged four saves a game last season, will anchor the defense. Juniors Shea Baker and Abbie McCarty, as well as senior Miranda Miller, will add experience to the midfield.

Boys Soccer Head Coach Riley Wildeman

Coming off a 6-9 season, the boys are excited to enter a new region and play against new and quality opponents. The region will introduce out-of-county opponents, as well as notable nonregion games, including matchups with in-county rivals Creekview, Sequoyah and Woodstock.

This season, the boys will have a new coaching staff in Riley Wildeman and assistant coaches Cliff Hamilton and Wessly Soronellas. The new staff brings experience from the youth, collegiate and professional levels. Wildeman is looking to make changes to the soccer culture and develop a program that pushes players to excel as students, athletes and members of the community.

After graduating two all-region seniors, the boys aim to rally with upperclassmen Tony Herrera, Cooper Ceballos, Camilo Lorenzo and Rodion Averianov. The seniors will be supported by a highlevel underclass and some notable juniors — Pedro Lopez, Carter Kimpe and Jimmy Pacheco.

Lacrosse

Boys Lacrosse

Head

Coach Julian Woodward

Coming off a 12-win season in 2022, which set a school record, the team established school records for goals scored, fewest goals against and highest faceoff win percentage. However, the team finished one game out of playoff seeding. This season, the Warriors will compete for playoff contention in a new area, as 7A was separated into a new division for the first time.

Offensive impact players include senior captain and threeyear starter Jack Fitzgerald (attack); senior middie and fouryear starter Mitchell Burke; and junior three-year starter Chase Gorum (attack).

Defensive impact players include senior captain and Reinhardt commit Holden Whitecliffe (long stick middie); senior three-year starter and LaGrange commit Matt Caskey; junior goalie and three-year starter Peter Mier, and senior Young Harris commit Hayden Fagerstrom.

Girls Lacrosse

Head Coach Keith Whitaker

After finishing 17-3 last season, the team lost eight seniors and some young key contributors. Senior leadership will be strong with Division I commit and first-team all-state goalie Hailey Darko, Lilly Stock, Elle Kenney, Reinhardt commit Grace Ashworth and Katie Snyder. Returning is junior 73-goal scorer Marissa Davis, as well as a strong and deep sophomore class led by Alex Whitecliff, a dynamic midfielder, athlete and leader.

Golf Boys Golf

Head Coach Gerald Sharpe

It will be a rebuilding year for the Warriors as they return five of 12 players. Luke Iverson, who qualified for state as an individual, returns with Austin Burns and Tanner Savasir. Returners Michael King and Aiden Watkins are hoping to crack the starting lineup. New players are anticipated to help get the Warriors in the playoff hunt.

Girls Golf Head Coach Jeremy Law

With the loss of four-year starters Caroline Goddard and Ellie Phelps, the Lady Warriors will look at some juniors and seniors to fill those holes. Returning six golfers, among those are four key seniors — Catherine Butterworth, Nuru Kibare, Savannah King and Morgan Rosales. Also returning are juniors Grace Ross and Julia Stevens.

CREEKVIEW A Preview for Grizzlies Fans

Slow-Pitch Softball

Head Coach Jen Maloney

The slow-pitch softball team returns a majority of its players from last year, having only graduated one senior. Newcomers will help round out the talent on the team. The area is full of highly competitive teams that played in the state championships. The Grizzlies are looking to return to the sectional tournament and make a run at state. The team will be solid on defense and pose a threat offensively with a combination of power hitters and speedy baserunners.

Track

Head Coach Kirk Scharich

Last year, the girls finished second in the county, and the boys finished third. Despite losing the school record holder in the shot and discus, Jacob Thomas, the boys have several key returners: Hayden Reyes in the 100- and 200-meter and Taylor Cox-Young in the sprints and long jump. Dillon Berger and newcomer Malachi Burnett will anchor the distance group in the 800, 1600 and 3200. Ryder Shoe, county champion, will lead the hurdlers in the 110 and 300. Grayson Venezia and Gabe Parker will be looking at the 15-foot mark in the pole vault. It will be another strong year in the throws with Stephen Thomas in the discus and Andrew Rosinski and Reed Anderson in the shot put.

The girls return Katelynn Dollar, who was a state qualifier in the 1600 and 3200. She will be joined by Lauren Fath and Madeleine Moss, to help with the distance races. Victoria Momeh, county 100 hurdle champion, returns and will have help in the hurdles from Emma Smithwick. Gabby Aiello will be a strong contender in the triple jump and sprints. Also look for Allison Cantrell and Brynne DuBois to perform in the sprints and relays. Kayla Ward, who is just a few inches away from the school record in the discus, will lead the Grizzlies in both throws this year.

Creekview will open its 2023 track season at West Forsyth on Feb. 8, and will host the Creekview Invitational at home on March 11.

Golf

Girls Golf

Head Coach Casey Gramling

Following two seasons finishing first and second in 6A, the team is poised to compete for an area championship and make another run to state. Returning all-state senior Makena Dubois will be one of the favorites in 6A to vie for the title of individual state champion. Other returners are Abigail Arthur, Rylie Gramling, Gracielle Weil and Reese Brauer. The girls will compete in several high-profile tournaments, including the Esther Cannizzo Classic and the Grizzly Classic.

boys Golf Head Coach Jimmy Thigpen

After losing three four-year lettermen and another two lettermen to graduation, this team will be young. Led by senior Zane May and a host of underclassmen, young players have been working their tails off to get back to the state championship for a ninth time in the last 10 years. Making a late run in one of the toughest areas in all classifications, winning the sectional tournament to earn a spot in the state championship and finishing third last season, this team is primed to make another trip to the state championship.

Along with May, junior Michael Roach and sophomores Matt Calhoun, Griffin Latimer, Tanner Latimer and Reece Whaley look to defend their county golf title for the seventh straight year.

Girls Tennis

Head Coach Greg Pfennig

A talented group of returning varsity players and promising freshman talent will take to the court this season. Returning seniors Addison Hawkins and Lyla Malecki, along with a core group of underclassmen — Sophie Markham, Sofia Mulkey, Sophia Orris and Kinley Sikes — gained invaluable experience in previous seasons, in a highly competitive region, and stand poised to make an impact in region play this year.

HIGH Baseball

Head Coach Matt Gershon

Creekview returns six starters from the 2022 team in Blake Brown, Carter Gilliam, Cam Lusk, Adam Murphy, Easton Sears and Jackson Stanley. Other returning players are Brodie Carter, Jack Gibson, Spencer Golden, Jacob Hefner, Will Richardson and Wyatt Seals. Top newcomers include Micah Bailey, Levi Crowe, Alec Hotaling, Will Lumpkin and Brant Tucker.

Soccer boys Soccer

Head Coach Jesey Murdock

As the team moves into a new region, Murdock enters his third season as head coach, and the team is looking for its first state playoff appearance during his tenure.

Offensively, the Grizzlies will replace 2022 top goal scorer Harrison Ramsey (15 goals). The team will focus on a group scoring effort led by secondteam all-region midfielder, Brian Marquez, who was on pace to score more than 10 goals last season before his season-ending injury.

Speedy wingers Jesse Martinez, Isaac Babcock and Jarrett LeSueur will continue to develop as scorers and distributors. Miles Babcock also will be a key piece of the team’s attack, in starting and finishing attack play from the midfield.

Defensively, the Grizzlies must replace two senior center-backs, including a first-team allregion defender, Wedds Sims. However, the team has two seniors to lead the defensive unit in Andy Moncada and Harrison French. Four-year starting goalkeeper Cooper Cherry will build on his 2022 season, where he finished 24th in the nation for number of goals saved.

Creekview opens this season with a challenging nonregion schedule. The region schedule includes county rivals Sequoyah, Etowah and Woodstock, as well as 14th state-ranked county rival River Ridge and 30th state-ranked Rome. The Grizzlies are excited to chase their first playoff appearance since 2018.

Girls Soccer

Head Coach Lauren Dodd

After graduating nine seniors last year, this year’s team must fill several positions. Seniors Emily Gudermuth and Lauren Denereaz return to help lead the attacking and defensive end. Denereaz was named to the all-region 7-6A second team as a midfielder and junior; Anna Rhodes was named honorable mention and is returning as the starting keeper. The team will have some key returning juniors and sophomores, as well as talented freshmen.

The Grizzlies will be tested early and often with a schedule that features four opponents and 10 games versus teams that played for a state title last year in their respective classifications. With such a challenging schedule, pitching will be at a premium. Golden, Hefner and Lumpkin will look to provide stability to what was a very solid pitching staff last season.

The Grizzlies have the pieces to put together a solid season in what may be the best baseball region in the state. Depth on the pitching staff and an increase in offensive production are key in order for the Grizzlies to contend for the playoffs.

Lacrosse

Boys Lacrosse

Head Coaches Matthew Renney (Varsity) and Jason Fitts (Junior Varsity)

Coming off the best season in program history, with a trip to the Sweet 16 and an overall record of 17-3, the Grizzlies have made state playoffs for five years in a row and are looking to make it six. The area realignment consists of all Cherokee County teams except for Cherokee, which will be competing in 7A. Essentially, whoever wins the county championship will win the region championship this season.

The Grizzlies return a talented group of players on offense and defense. They will have the most seniors in any class in Creekview history for boys lacrosse, with 18. These young men are high-character individuals who put in a lot of time and effort. Seniors Jackson Sedlacek and Evan Saunders will lead the offensive firepower and seniors Jacob Munger and Dalton Green will lead the defense.

Girls Lacrosse Head Coach Matthew Webb

The girls lacrosse team finished with a record-breaking 2022 season as area champion and state runner-up. With the areas realigned, there will be new competition and new matchups. The Grizzlies are excited to kick off the season with a scrimmage against Milton on Feb. 9 and play games against major opponents Blessed Trinity, Hillgrove and Walton. The boys and girls lacrosse programs will travel to Dalton on March 3 for a boys and girls doubleheader.

Several returning standouts are Ansley Walters, Jenny Blanton, Tatiana Gouger, Rylee Boulineau, Katie Collier and Frances Garcia. The team is under new leadership with the arrival of Webb, a former goalie for the Reinhardt Men’s Lacrosse Team, whose expertise and knowledge of the game is an asset.

Junior varsity and varsity hope to compete for a state title on May 13.

SEQUOYAH Coaches Share the

Soccer Boys Soccer Head

Coach John Zonin

The Chiefs’ goal is to improve on a 6-9-1 record in 2022 and make it back to the state playoffs, moving into a new region with familiar teams. The team graduated five players, but will return several starters, including the goalkeeping duo of Bradley Fuchs and Ethan Ellis, as well as defenders Daniel Cruz, Emilio Juarez, Jacob Frantz, Armand Kroeppler and Braniff Mahoney.

Attacking will be forward Noah Sawkins and midfielders Ervin Perez-Noyola, Tyler Whitaker, Zyion Terry, Caleb McClure and a transfer from Kentucky, Tanner Catrine. The team will play a challenging schedule against some of the state’s best teams, including 2022 6A champion Lassiter, Blessed Trinity, Pope, Forsyth Central and Kennesaw Mountain.

The Chiefs remain in a challenging region, with River Ridge, Creekview and newcomers Etowah, Woodstock, Allatoona and Rome. Coach Zonin looks to get his 100th win with the program, entering the season with 95 career wins at Sequoyah, over 15 seasons.

Girls Soccer Head Coach Nick Brown

With growth and experience, the girls soccer team looks to build on the momentum gained from the end of last year’s season, and is poised to compete for a playoff spot within a new region. The Lady Chiefs’ returning players are excited to welcome a new head coach and incoming new talent.

Slow-Pitch Softball

Head Coach Lisa Chapman

Chapman, entering her first year coaching slow-pitch at Sequoyah, is excited about this season. Even though Sequoyah did not have a team last year, she hopes to recruit her fast-pitch players to play the sport.

Chapman ran a successful slow-pitch program at her former school, and knows it will be a competitive team, based on the athletes at Sequoyah.

Tennis

Head Coaches Betsy Powell (Girls) and Kym Van Hout (Boys)

The Chiefs are ready for a great 2023 season with new coaching staff. The girls team welcomes its new head coach and Assistant Coach Emma Talley. Returning are seniors Sklyar Martin and Megan Kirby.

The boys team is ready for another exciting season. With only one graduating senior last year, the team should have an amazing season. Returning are seniors Brock Freeman, Niki Kendall, Brett Bailey, Brayden Bailey, Aaron Miranda, Michael Strommen, Austin Whittle, Nathan Cook and Will Hoogendyk.

Track and Field Head Coaches Corrine Ingram (Girls) and Travis Sheffield (Boys)

Ingram is stepping into the head coach position for girls track, and Sheffield is returning to the boys team. After graduating several seniors, the team has hungry freshmen who are ready to make their mark this season.

For the girls, watch out for returning seniors Mya Mcrae (100, 4x100 and long jump), Kiera Height (pole vault) and Sam Destin (shot put and discus). Junior Taryn Bannister is excited to set some records in the 100 meter.

Coming off a successful 2022 cross-country season, the distance team hopes to make another state run, with seniors Ella Grace Cothren and Stella Waites in the 3200 and 1600. They will add sophomore Natalie Sinclair and freshmen Rebekah Rogers and Eleni Giannopoulos to the 4x800 team, hoping to make a third run for state.

For the boys, the team was young and successful in 2022, and many returning athletes are looking to set new records. Cantrell Davis will be returning for the 100, 200, long jump and relay teams. Asher Martineau and Daniel Morales will be returning for the throwing events. Xavier Willis will be back for the 200, 400 and relay events.

Freshmen to watch on the boys team are Cash Kremer, Ben Kearns and Cam Champion. The team is excited to kick off the season this month.

SEQUOYAH HIGH the Season’s Scoop

Golf Girls Golf Head Coach Sarah

Caponigro-Williams

Williams is entering her first year coaching Sequoyah’s girls golf team. She has coached several sports over the past 15 years, including soccer, flag football and basketball, and is excited to be involved in golf, and to grow the program.

Returning veterans are Alaina Harris, who is the team’s only four-year starter, and vital seniors Skylar Thompson and Paige Falcomata. Coming in new to the program are strong underclassmen, including freshman Chyenne McClure.

Boys Golf Head Coach Greg Ross

Ross is excited about his first season coaching Sequoyah’s golf team, because he has several returning veterans: Landon Sipe, Evan Camerlengo and David Hughes. Upcoming freshman Brody McLaughlin has proved he can go low in big tournaments, as well. The Chiefs are proud to call Bradshaw Farms their home course.

Baseball

Head

Coach Scott Barber

In the 2023 season, the Chiefs hope to make the state playoffs for the third consecutive year. After losing 10 seniors to graduation, they will rebuild around returning starters in senior outfielder/pitcher Ty Moores, senior outfielder/pitcher Acton Smith, senior infielder Ryan Coughanour and senior outfielder Nolan Caldwell.

Also returning is a strong and experienced junior class. Coleman Wylie, Hunter Smith, Carson Howard and Cooper Zeckman will anchor the main part of the pitching rotation. Junior pitchers Michael Gagliano and Ethan Mack, and sophomore Luke Barber will add depth on the back end of the rotation.

The infield, led by sophomore third baseman Ean Marria, sophomore shortstop Seth Pettett, junior second baseman Gavin Savage and junior catcher Colin Campbell, is expected to be solid again this year. The team is excited for a challenging season in a revamped, strong region.

Lacrosse

Girls Lacrosse Head Coach Brent Budde

The Chiefs are ready for this season, the second with the same coaching staff. After going 7-8 last season, they will work to improve that record and earn a playoff berth.

Three leading scorers, Peyton Harper, Makenzie Sanders and Katie McCrobie, are returning. Junior Amelia Griffiths came on strong in the second half of last season, and she is expected to continue to improve and be an integral part of the team’s success on the offensive end. The Chiefs were hit hard on the defensive end with the loss of four senior starters. However, junior Alice Pelton and sophomore Olivia Guerrero are returning at goalie.

Moving to a new region this season, the team no longer will face the powerhouse lacrosse programs found in Forsyth County, but will be in the 5A-6A Area 4. This region includes Dalton and all of the county schools, except for Cherokee.

Boys Lacrosse Head Coach Ben Sparks

Although the team graduated 17 seniors, the future is bright, as there are a lot of talented young players waiting to showcase their skills. The Chiefs have been working diligently in the weight room and conditioning since September, hoping the hard work will pay dividends this season.

“This year, we are in a new region that I feel we can be much more competitive, and we have a nonregion schedule to help prepare us for, hopefully, our first playoff appearance in program history,” Sparks said.

The team will be led by a young group of players on offense; top contributors are seniors Jake Bertils and Cason Diamond, juniors Max Derman and Nolan Marsh, and freshman Logan Pichon. The defense will be led by senior goalie Chris Frankle, junior defenseman Chris Jordan, junior Javon Salazar, senior Dominic Lucente, junior short-stick defensive midfielder Graydon Zarter and senior Will Pichon.

WOODSTOCK Teams Gear Up for New Season

Lacrosse

Boys Lacrosse

Head Coach Mason Wren

The boys lacrosse team is building on its most successful season in program history, which saw 15 wins, a second-place area finish, two home playoff wins and an Elite Eight appearance in the GHSA 6A/7A playoffs. After graduating a record 18 seniors, the 2023 senior class looks to build on that foundation.

Led by Cam Autry, Michael Scoleri, Jackson Childers, Brayden Callahan and Ryan Capozzi, the seniors will be counted on for both on- and off-field leadership. Moving into the newly created GHSA 5A-6A division, the Wolverines are eager to make another playoff run.

The offense will be led by senior all-area attackman Ryan Capozzi, juniors Riley O’Connor and Jacob Price, and sophomore Ethan Forbes. All-area faceoff specialist Reagan Joiner, a sophomore, will be counted on again to dominate the X.

Defense will be led by senior and Lenoir-Rhyne commit Cam Autry, senior goalie Michael Scoleri and senior D-mids Brayden Callahan and Jackson Childers.

The Wolverines will be tested, as their 2023 nonarea schedule is full of playoff teams, headlined by Roswell, Milton, Allatoona, West Forsyth, Hillgrove and North Paulding. The Wolverines find themselves in a new area for 2023, featuring Creekview, Etowah, River Ridge, Sequoyah and Dalton. The Top 4 teams will advance to the state playoffs.

Girls Lacrosse

Head Coach Peter Logan

Building on a successful 2022 season, in which the team made the state playoffs for the first time in four years, the Lady Wolverines return 13 players from last season. The team will be led by seniors Lainey Byrne, Jaidyn Cochran, Sophie Gaudette, Peyton Robinson, Annie Wise, Kayla Curry, Ava Georgescu and Gabby Haedo.

The Wolverines hope to improve on their fourthplace finish in the 6A-7A Area 5 Region. They will compete against a competitive, newly aligned 5A-6A Area 4, which includes Creekview, Dalton, Etowah, River Ridge and Sequoyah.

Tennis Varsity Boys

Tennis

Head Coach Jared Wallace

Building on last season’s trip to the GHSA playoffs, the move to a competitive Class 6A, Region 6 is exciting.

Woodstock needs to replace two four-year letter winners in Ben Onufrock and Preston Lawrence; however, the team returns six players with varsity experience. The Wolverines have strong senior leadership in Brad Bohannan, Davis Haliburton, Dodge Mullen and Milan Yadav, who are expected to guide the underclassmen. In addition to the senior class, the return of junior Matthew Court and sophomore Charlie Welch gives the Wolverines a strong nucleus.

Varsity Girls Tennis

Head Coach Phelan Robb

The Wolverine tennis team is excited to open the season in a new region. Four seniors will lead the charge: team captain Molly McWethy, Kylie Mudie, Madeline Skene and Chloe Wenzel.

New junior varsity team coach Zachary VanDine brings youthful exuberance, work ethic and optimism, and already has proved to be a valuable addition.

The varsity girls’ regular season begins Jan. 31 against rival Blessed Trinity. Region play starts on March 2 against Sequoyah. The junior varsity team’s first match is Jan. 30 against Sequoyah.

Track and Field

Head Coaches Wakely Louis

and Josh Weaver

Woodstock’s boys and girls track and field programs look to continue the successes of last year. Last season, the boys program brought home its first region championship in school history, as well as a state championship in the 400 and 4x800.

With the departure of Will Sumner, Jensen Boyette, Joseph Mines and David Sayles, the boys will lean on seniors Kevin Mitchell, Will McLemore and Cameron Stuart. Those three competed at the GHSA state meet last year, and were a big reason for the region championship run. With their leadership and experience, the boys should be able to compete for another region championship.

The girls were a young group last season, and have most of their highest point earners returning. The program is led by junior thrower Kyndal McKinney and senior mid-distance runners Sam Burmeister and Lily Bailey. McKinney finished last year as one of the top throwers in the state, as she earned a spot on the podium in the shot put, placing seventh at the GHSA state championship. Burmeister and Bailey are looking for a standout senior year, as they use the momentum from cross-country to transition into track.

WOODSTOCK HIGH Season

Soccer Boys Soccer

Head Coach Colin Ross

For nine seniors and one foreign exchange student, the first round of the 2022 state playoffs was their last time taking the field. It was an emotional end to a hard-fought game, following a mentally and physically demanding season. After narrowly beating Cherokee and Etowah in a three-way tie for fourth place in the region, the Wolverines were minutes away from advancing to the Sweet 16, but lost to Meadowcreek in double overtime.

Entering this season, team members look to build on the foundation established by graduates. Seniors Nathan Coburn, Lucas Fernandes and Walker Kallbreier return to lead the attack, while Brayden Ellis looks to build on his breakout 2022 season in defense. The junior class will bring experience and talent to the team.

Girls Soccer

Head Coach Tracy Addison

Nine returning seniors, led by Hannah Obenauf, who earned honorable mention all-state and all-county as a defender, will be joined by Katy Krumrey, Adi Rooskrans, Alyssa Neville, Camy Neville, Citlali Aguilar, Beatriz Islas, Madison Morgan and Sydney Como.

In a new region, the ladies have their sights set on qualifying for the 6A state tournament, by staying competitive, learning from one another and working toward team growth each week. The season outlook is extremely positive, and the season opens against Meadowcreek at home at 7:30 p.m. on Jan. 31.

Gymnastics

Head Coach Rachel DeLay

The girls gymnastics team begins its fourth season with four-year varsity seniors Riley Powell, Reagan Stiber and Macayla Butler, who were instrumental in bringing gymnastics to Woodstock High. Coach DeLay can’t wait to see what leadership and experience they bring this year.

Woodstock gymnastics will host the third annual Cherokee County Championship, with Etowah, Cherokee, River Ridge and Sequoyah, at World of Gymnastics this spring. The team hopes to represent Woodstock at the state championships in April.

Golf Varsity

Boys Golf

Head Coach Derek Engram

The golf team is hoping to build on the program’s legacy with a younger-than-normal squad this season. Six seniors graduated, so it will be up to the younger players to step up and deliver. Returning are seniors Walker Ade and Michael McGinn; juniors Robbie Macmillan, Keeton Nelson, Camden Browning, Brennan Butcher and Landon Broaded; and sophomores TH Maravich and Dalton Triplett. They’ve worked hard in the offseason and hope to qualify for another state tournament.

Girls Golf

Head Coach Nate Ogle

The girls golf team will compete in the newly aligned 6A Area 2. The team returns six players: senior Rylee Depp, junior Kasia Ebbs and sophomores Avery Cauwels, Bree Boyer, Alyssa Imrie and Olivia Altschul. Daily improvement and the development of a love for the game, as well as being competitive with other Cherokee County schools, are the goals of this young team. The home course is Towne Lake Hills Golf Club, which has been very accommodating and truly supports the growth of youth golf in Cherokee County.

Baseball

Head Coach Jeff Brown

The Woodstock Wolverines will be in the most competitive region in the state, across all classifications. Coming off a historic year — ending the season on a 14-game winning streak and hoisting the 7A state championship trophy at Truist Park in May — the Wolverines will look to fill in key lineup spots lost to graduation. Returning senior and junior classes, including key players from the championship team, are eager to see who will step up and into the starting nine. Senior Colin Bryant and junior Kevin Maurer will anchor the pitching staff and bring back plenty of big-game experience. Offensively, senior Jack Poor and junior Brooks McKenna will be key contributors.

Slow-Pitch Softball

Head Coach Carolyn Edwards

After a building year with many new athletes, the Wolverines are eager to improve skills and add new faces to the team. Returning players will continue to lead with passion and discipline. The coaching staff will utilize the team’s young talent, with a strong freshmen class, and will continue to grow and work on game fundamentals.

Annual GYN Visits Important at Any Age

BY CHEROKEE WOMEN’S HEALTH SPECIALISTS, PC

Annual gynecologist visits are very important because your doctor can discover conditions such as ovarian cysts, fibroids and cancer. Early detection often leads to a more optimistic prognosis.

Teens and Young Adults

A young woman should begin seeing a gynecologist between the ages of 13 and 15. The first visit is more of a discussion, as most girls will not need a pelvic exam. Among the topics doctors discuss are menstrual cycles, contraceptives and sexually transmitted disease prevention. The first appointment also can help young women get comfortable with an OB-GYN they can trust. At around 21 years of age, doctors perform a Pap smear to test for abnormal cervical cells, which can lead to cervical cancer.

Early 20s to Mid-40s

During this age range, doctors conduct breast, abdominal and pelvic exams, and discuss family medical history and concerns. Contraception and fertility become a focus. Women receive their first mammogram order at 40, unless there is a family history or other issue that warrants starting them sooner. Many doctors recommend getting a baseline mammogram at age 35.

Mid-40s to Mid-50s

On average, women are 51 years of age at natural menopause. However, a woman can start menopause as young as 40 or as late as 60. A woman is considered to have reached menopause after she has missed her menstrual cycle for 12 consecutive months.

Some of the topics discussed during this age range are menstrual cycle changes, menopause symptoms, hormone options and sex drive. Your doctor will continue to perform all tests and procedures from before.

Mid-50s and Beyond

Significant changes occur during this stage of life. Increased hormonal changes may cause conditions such as vaginal dryness, pain, vulva changes, decreased desire and loss of bone density. Your doctor also may suggest a baseline bone density test, especially if you have a strong family history of osteoporosis.

Another common condition during this time is pelvic organ prolapse, which most commonly develops years after childbirth, after a hysterectomy or after menopause. At your annual appointment, your doctor can diagnose the stage of prolapse and recommend treatments and procedures to correct this issue.

Annual gynecologist visits throughout a woman’s life are crucial, as women require an expert in female anatomy to stay healthy.

Fostering Change: A Forever Family

BY CHARLICE BYRD

Did you know participating in the foster care system is a wonderful service that can lead to adopting a child? According to https://adoptuskids.org, Georgia has approximately 14,000 children in foster care. Of those, the Division of Family and Children Services (DFCS) reports there are 2,740 children with a goal of adoption, and 350 of those children are freed for adoption (the birth parents’ rights have been terminated by the state). Adoption is possible when the child is in foster care and the likelihood of reunification is low; DFCS has built infrastructure to address children who are legally free for adoption.

There are specific departments within DFCS that carry a caseload of children waiting for a forever family. The case managers should ensure children who are free for adoption are getting the necessary services and visibility on adoption recruitment sites to find a forever family. However, many of our neighbors are unaware there are children in foster care who need a forever family.

Even one child without a parent should result in an increase in public awareness. When there are 2,740 children waiting to be adopted and 350 are freed for adoption, we should be frantic. These children need to exit care immediately and find a home to begin to heal.

There are benefits to the child and the family who adopt from the foster care system. According to the DFCS, benefits to the adoptive family include a subsidy that ranges from $441.04 to $486.67 each month, depending on the needs of the child. In addition, adoptive parents receive up to $1,500 for adoption expenses such as court costs and adoption fees. Other incentives include a tax credit of $2,000 per child and free college tuition.

Adoption gives children legal parents and allows them to exit the foster care system with a name change and a fresh start. Next month, I will shed light on the strengths and weaknesses of the adoption process for our foster youth. There are problems, including lost revenue of continued adoption subsidies and child support for those who return a child, and the lack of resources available to strengthen a family post-adoption.

A new year is upon us. Let us tackle these tough issues and raise the bar for those who need our advocacy.

Cherokee Women’s Health Specialists, PC has seven OB-GYNs and five advanced practice providers, with offices in Canton and Woodstock.

Rep. Charlice Byrd represents Georgia House District 20. If you have any feedback, call 404-557-2218, email charlice.byrd@house.ga.gov or engage on Facebook.

A Pathway to Success for Youth in Crisis

BY SUSAN BROWNING SCHULZ

The Four Corners Group, a nonprofit headquartered in Kennesaw, offers a variety of effective programs for at-risk students. The staff and volunteers at Four Corners seek to decrease juvenile recidivism and end the school-to-prison pipeline. They accomplish this by providing youth with education, support and empowerment to realize their full potential and live successful lives.

The students they serve are:

• Historically underserved and facing challenges.

• Attending Title I schools.

• Dropped out of school.

• Enrolled in an alternative school.

• Recently released from juvenile detention centers.

• Currently involved in the juvenile court system or juvenile facilities.

“One of the most eye-opening and impactful things that occurs at our youth development organization is the transformation of our youth,” said Ron Green, program developer of Four Corners Group.

Serving in the schools and detention centers of Cobb County, the nonprofit offers a variety of programming, including an eight-week Pathways to Success program, which covers topics such as character education, integrity and self-control, emotional health and job-readiness training. “As a resident of Cherokee County, my hope is to expand our programs into my home county this year,” Green said.

“Many of our participants come from challenging backgrounds — severe poverty, abuse, violence, underachievement, no direction, low self-esteem and more,” Green said. “(Yet) most participants experience a change in psyche during our programs. They simply morph into young people who become the best versions of themselves. They become leaders in their homes, schools and communities.”

Four Corners’ 1625 Initiative involves trained teams visiting youth in juvenile detention centers and holding workshops. The group also offers a Parenting on Purpose program,

Participants take a trip to a Kennesaw State University football game.

Four Corners Group offers participants a chance to gather for games and fellowship.

in-school programs, Toastmasters (a club that teaches public speaking and leadership skills) and a Continuum of Care program, in which students are partnered with a mentor and success coach for the year following graduation.

“Let me tell you about one of our shining stars, Phillip, a teenager who was in the juvenile detention center because of misconduct,” Green said. “After finishing our program and being appointed to one of our success coaches, Phillip is now gainfully employed and on track for an internship at BMW! I have a special place in my heart for these kids, because my past is similar to theirs, in many ways.”

Joshua, also a successful Four Corners participant, shared his experience: “Wow, what a blessed opportunity it was to come to the Four Corners Pathways program. Honestly, I learned a lot and developed a passion for public speaking. Before Four Corners I wouldn’t ever have thought I had a voice, but this program really built my confidence. I’m forever thankful.”

Stories like Phillip’s and Joshua’s are heard over and over at Four Corners. To keep the momentum going of restoring hope for young people in crisis, William Johnson, the founder, built a team that consists of success coaches, Parenting on Purpose coaches, mentors and other vital support staff.

Johnson has a deep passion for youth in urban communities. Before launching

Four Corners Group, he equipped students, adults and leaders to rise to the top for more than 14 years as a student pastor with Young Life, a worldwide organization. He also served as chaplain for the Gwinnett Youth Detention Center for seven years. His goal is to bring awareness to the need for social justice and inspire more leaders to get involved in reaching out in their own backyards, to unlock our communities and save our youth.

Four Corners volunteers are critically important for the organization’s growth. If you have a desire to get involved with developing the future generation, visit the Volunteer tab

Opportunities also are available to help with operational needs, such as providing a wish-list item. The list includes such things as a rolling white board; Samsung tablets; gift cards from Walmart, Amazon, Kroger, etc.; and Pathways cohort meal sponsorships. For more information, visit the website, email info@fourcornersgroup.net or call 470-210-1625.

Susan Schulz is a Bible teacher and mentor who lives and plays on the Etowah River in Canton. Connect with her on social media or at

Toastmasters training helps students develop their public speaking and leadership skills.

Happy New Year!

A new year brings new resolutions — a thoughtful journal of our goals, hopes and dreams for the year ahead in an attempt to control the outcome. This month’s story serves as a reminder that despite our best-laid plans, our lives instantly can change course.

Each day is a gift that we should never take for granted.

It was a Saturday in October before Halloween. Stacie Humphries, 36, had taken her three children to spend the night with their grandparents and had planned a much-needed evening with her girlfriends. It was the first time she had left her baby since he was born the previous November. Her husband, Preston, manager of the Cheesecake Factory, Perimeter, was working his late shift and meeting her at home later that evening. He texted her when he was leaving work and when he got home. Stacie had not yet arrived, so he waited. After a while, he decided to check their tracking app and noticed that she had left and was on her way; however, there was no movement. He watched and waited and tried calling her phone several times. There was no answer. Concerned, he decided he would go to that location. When he put the coordinates in his map app, it showed the color red, indicating that traffic had stopped. When his calls and texts were unanswered, he called 911 while driving to her location. He explained what he was seeing and that she wasn’t responding to calls. As he approached the location, the road was blocked. Helpless and worried, he sat and waited until a police car stopped beside him. “They got out and approached my car. They asked my name and told me that my wife didn’t make it,” Preston said. Devastated and heartbroken, Preston was faced with informing their families and their children. “It was the hardest thing I have ever had to do. I pulled from all of the lessons Stacie had taught me

over the years for the difficult days that followed. She was always so strong and has taught me so much,” Preston said.

Stacie tragically passed away that night from injuries sustained in a single car accident, leaving Preston, her husband of 12 years, and their three children, Tristan, 8, Ashby, 6, and Adrian, 11 months, to navigate life without her.

Stacie was a graduate of Kennesaw State University, where she studied early childhood education. She was a teacher before devoting herself full time to her children. Her favorite role was being a mother and pouring herself into her family, friends and community. Stacie touched the lives of so many in her short 36 years. She was a bright light, and anyone who knew her, loved her.

“I am grateful for a lot of things in my life, but, this year, I wanted to give thanks for time. I wanted to thank God for the 18 years he gave me with Stacie.

I am thankful for the late nights/early mornings we had with the kids, our family vacations and our phone calls.

I am thankful for all the time we had laughing, loving, fighting and arguing. I am thankful for all the time Stacie poured into me to make me a better person, husband and father. I wish I had more time with her. Be thankful and appreciative of your time. Don’t waste a second; forever is not long enough,” Preston said. “Our life will forever be different, but I know I have the best support system in the world. I am thankful for the love and support of our family and friends.”

A GoFundMe account has been set up for the Humphries family. Preston is now filling the roles of mom and dad, as well as provider for his three children. Everyday Angels will accept donations in support of this precious family; 100% of what’s given will go to the family.

Everyday Angels is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit serving Cherokee County since 2000. To make a tax deductible donation, visit www.everydayangels.info to donate via Paypal, or send your donations to: Everyday Angels, PMB 380, 1025 Rose Creek Drive, Suite 620, Woodstock, GA 30189. One hundred percent of your funds will go to the family you specify. If you know of a special need in our community, email aaeverydayangels@gmail.com.

Stacie and Preston Humphries, on a 2021 vacation with their children Tristan, Ashby and Adrian.

BY SUSANNAH MACKAY

January is an exciting time of year. It’s a chance to start fresh, change direction and focus on new priorities. Setting goals is an opportunity to bring new meaning and momentum, but it’s important to choose meaningful, attainable goals. Have you considered making regular community service one of them?

Getting involved in the community — and serving our neighbors — is a proven method of adding joy and meaning to daily life. Studies have shown that regular acts of kindness and service increase self-esteem, hope and gratitude, and improve mental health. This especially is true for teens, but the benefits reach all ages. There is no reason not to build service into your regular routine, and January is a perfect time to make a new commitment to yourself and others.

Justserve.org has a variety of volunteer opportunities for those wanting to make a sustained commitment, which is one of the highest areas of need. Nonprofits love and welcome volunteers whenever they come, but volunteers who can come on a regular basis and remain involved are needed. Here are four high-impact examples:

1. Become a mentor with Big Brothers Big Sisters of Atlanta. This outreach program pairs adult mentors with youth in need of attention, guidance and love. https://bit.ly/3OX7MZM.

2. Help out at Capstone Hospice or Heartland Hospice. These services count on caring volunteers to show love and kindness to those dealing with terminal illness. From playing games or music to helping with office work, there is an opportunity for everyone. https://bit.ly/3d1ExGf and https://bit.ly/3FkhRwE.

3. Foster a dog with Mostly Mutts. Make a difference in a sustained way, and mostly from the comfort of home. Mostly Mutts always is in need of foster families. https://bit.ly/3VpNoTo.

4. Simply spend time at Next Step Ministries. The nonprofit serves adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities, and community involvement is welcome. From bowling and playing games to reading, there are several ways to show up and show you care. https://bit.ly/3BBjaFO.

Justserve.org is a free, nationwide website and app that works to match volunteers with nonprofit organizations and service opportunities. If you run a nonprofit, or are looking for ways to make service a regular part of your life, check out justserve.org. You can sign up for regular updates and learn more about organizations nearby, too. JustServe makes it easy to just go out and serve!

Susannah MacKay is a local JustServe specialist. She grew up in Marietta and loves helping strengthen her community through service! Follow her on Facebook @JustServeGeorgia.

Above,

Right,

Wonderings

of th e

WANDERER

BY THE WANDERER

Marcus Tullius Cicero famously stated: “In times of war, the law falls silent.” This observation, made by Cicero more than 2,000 years ago, rested on his experience during the end of the Roman Republic, and the civil wars that brought it down. He saw firsthand that war provides ample opportunity for politically motivated mob violence, as partisan leaders in the senate were supported by armed gangs.

Civil wars birth mob violence, as it is all too easy to accuse the opposition of treason, which always has been (and likely always will be) a capital offense. The American Civil War is no exception, and it is entangled with Cherokee County’s history.

In Georgia, the vote on the Ordinance of Secession passed with 70% of delegates approving, but virtually all of the votes against were by delegates from northern counties. Cherokee County cast all three of its votes for secession. Notably, Gov. Joseph Emerson Brown, an ardent secessionist, was from Canton. In contrast, Pickens County voted unanimously against secession.

Regardless of which of the 33 states you resided in during this time, you had neighbors who agreed with you and others who did not. In the minds of Unionists and Confederates, those with an opposing view could be seen as treasonous, and that is where the life of Lt. Col. Benjamin McCollum went awry.

McCollum, the son of a prominent Canton family, was in his late teens when he and his brother Robert found themselves privates in the Confederate Army. By all accounts, Benjamin served quite honorably, seeing action at major battles, including Gettysburg, and rising to the rank of captain. Robert was injured in 1864, and it’s thought that Benjamin brought him home.

Once here, the governor promoted Benjamin to the rank of lieutenant colonel. Brown believed in states’ rights, and he also believed that local troops should be used only for the defense of Georgia. The war was raging in Georgia at the time — Atlanta fell to Gen. William T. Sherman in the summer of 1864 — so Brown authorized McCollum to form McCollum’s Scouts.

These “scouts” were formed to exist as a guerrilla group within the citizenry, and were charged to ensure locals didn’t assist Sherman’s men with information or provision. As much of North Georgia hadn’t been in favor of secession to begin with, and many still were vocal in the opposition to the war, McCollum’s Scouts were to make clear to everyone that supporting the Union was considered treasonous, and they would be dealt with violently. The scouts weren’t the only group; another organized by Benjamin Jordan, also a returning soldier, was known as the Cherokee Scouts. And, in keeping with Cicero’s observation, there was nothing similar to due process involved. If word came to them that someone had supported Sherman’s men, they were caught, then shot or hanged.

Benjamin McCollum and his wife. Photo courtesy of History Cherokee.

Benjamin McCollum in uniform. Photo courtesy of History Cherokee.

Larry Cavender’s “Patchwork Quilt” book series on the history of Cherokee and nearby counties has much more detailed information on these bands, and almost all of what I include here comes directly from his work. Among other specific events, Cavender relates the unfortunate story of Andrew Jones in November 1864.

Approached by two men asking for food and shelter, Jones fed them and allowed them to spend one night on his porch. As it turns out, the men were Confederate Army deserters. When McCollum learned of the assistance given by Jones (it isn’t clear whether or not Jones knew who they were), Jones was captured and taken away from his property. His family learned three days later that he’d been taken south of Canton, and hung alongside the Etowah River. A daughter and daughter-in-law carted the body back for burial. (After the war ended, McCollum eventually was indicted in Pickens County for murdering Jones, but he never stood trial.)

Later that month, Sherman sent soldiers to burn down Canton, an act which an Augusta newspaper reported “was done in retaliation for the hanging of some Tories in that section by our Scouts.”

As always in civil wars, one man’s traitor is another man’s hero. And, when the war ends, the viewpoint of the victor often is the one that carries the force of law. As such, in 1873 men from Pickens County came to Cherokee and arrested McCollum for Jones’ hanging. On their way back to Pickens, McCollum attacked one of the men with a knife and escaped unhurt. He left the area, became an attorney and eventually wound up in Hampton. During this time, he had several run-ins with others. And, in 1880, an encounter with a deputy sheriff proved fatal.

By then, McCollum was married, with four children. His family rushed to the scene, only to find him dead. After surviving battles from 1861 to 1864, a bullet finally caught up to him.

If Cicero’s quote captured the essence of Ben McCollum’s life, then another man living less than 100 years after Cicero may have captured the essence of McCollum’s passing: “Then Jesus said unto him, put up again thy sword into his place; for all they that take the sword shall perish with the sword.” — Matthew 26:52

McCollum’s wife remarried. His daughter, Evelyn, who’d been born in Holly Springs and was around 10 when her father died, achieved a certain notoriety herself after marriage to her second husband. He was a football coach, a man named John Heisman … but that is another story, for another time.

The Wanderer has been a resident of Cherokee County for nearly 20 years, and constantly is learning about his community on daily walks, which totaled a little more than 1,800 miles in 2021. Send questions or comments to wanderingga@gmail.com.

Seeds: An Offer Too Good to Refuse!

BY MARY TUCKER

You rarely get something for nothing, but the next best thing — at least, when it comes to annual bedding plants, vegetables, herbs and many perennials — is seeds. By spending just a few dollars on a packet of seeds, you can reap hundreds of dollars worth of prized plants. For gardeners who want to expand their plant selection, it is an offer too good to refuse.

You can purchase seeds from online or brick-andmortar retailers, seed-swap with gardening friends or shop at the Cherokee County Master Gardener plant sales. One advantage of acquiring seeds locally is that the plants are likely to do well in your garden, since they are accustomed to the same climate.

Starting plants from seeds also will give you the opportunity to grow plants that are difficult or impossible to find in a nursery. Commercial nurseries are limited in space, and often carry only plants they know the public will buy. But, seed companies carry a diverse stock.

Annuals, including most vegetable seeds, often are the easiest to start, and they usually don’t require any special treatment. In contrast, some perennials have mechanisms to keep their seeds from sprouting until the time is right, and a gardener will need to employ methods to overcome these obstacles to germination.

Seeds can be sown directly in the garden, if you time it right, but you’ll be at the mercy of weather conditions

and digging varmints, such as squirrels and chipmunks. I prefer to start most seeds indoors, where I can keep an eye on them and don’t have to wait for the soil to warm. I just time everything properly, so the plants are ready to go outdoors when conditions are right.

Seeds should be sown in sterile pots (I often use plastic six-pack cells), filled with a moistened seedstarting medium. Be sure to label your pots if you are starting multiple kinds of seeds. Then, create a humid, greenhouse-like environment for the seeds. You can achieve this with sealed plastic bags or clear plastic containers. I purchase large containers of mixed greens at our membership club, and the plastic containers are ideal for seed-starting.

A general rule of thumb is to sow the seeds at a depth equal to their thickness. However, some seeds require light for germination, so these should be sown on the surface of the soil.

Once the seeds have germinated, you don’t need the greenhouse anymore, so you can take the top off the container or remove the pot from its plastic bag. It’s best to do this gradually, to avoid shocking the seedlings by changing the humidity level too much at one time.

Upon germination, it’s very important to give seedlings ample light. This will create strong growth and prevent them from getting leggy. Light from a windowsill is insufficient, so you must use artificial lights, the approximate wavelength of sunlight. The most reliable way to achieve this is to purchase light bulbs specifically designed for growing plants. Place the light source close to the seedlings, and move it up, if necessary, as the plants grow.

Once they have developed several sets of leaves, you can start giving the plants a weak fertilizer. Recommended most often is a fertilizer concentration that is a quarter to half of the normal amount. A higher concentration is likely to burn the tender seedlings.

As the plants grow, you don’t want them to become root-bound, which may necessitate potting them in larger containers. When you do this, you can use regular, high-quality potting soil, rather than a medium specific to seed-starting.

Finally, before transplanting them into your garden, you will need to accustom the seedlings to outdoor conditions by exposing them to brighter light and wider temperature swings. This is called “hardening off,” and is done by taking them outdoors for a few hours each day for about a week. Check them carefully during this period, to be sure they don’t dry out or get too much sun.

For more information, the University of Georgia’s Bulletin 1432, “Starting Plants From Seed for the Home Gardener,” can be found online. Also, be sure to watch Cherokee County Master Gardener Mike Lloyd’s seminar on seedstarting, which is available on the UGA Extension Cherokee County’s Youtube channel: https://bit.ly/3F2eDMO.

Mary Tucker is a North Carolina native who has lived in Cherokee County for more than 25 years. She is a Lifetime Master Gardener whose special interest is gardening with native plants.

Celosia spicata, also known as purple flamingo, is easy to start from seed. Photo by Mary Tucker.

DOWNTOWN Canton Dining

Atomic Biscuit Breakfast, brunch 225 Reformation Parkway 678-391-9937 Facebook/AtomicBiscuit

Branchwater

Steak & Seafood 190 East Main St. 678-880-7540 www.bwsteakandseafood.com

C’est la Vie French 361 East Main St. 770-213-4282 https://cestlaviegeorgia.com

Community Burger American 225 Reformation Parkway, Suite 300 770-224-9584 www.yourcommunityburger.com

Downtown Kitchen Steak & Seafood 140 E. Marietta St. 770-479-1616 downtownkitchencanton.com

Goin’ Coastal Seafood 125 W. Main St. 770-479-3737 goincoastalseafood.com

Green Line Brewery Craft Beer, Street Tacos, Pub Food 192 E. Main St. 770-213-4420 www.greenlinebrews.com

Local on North

Eatery & Bar 170 North St. 770-213-8970 localonnorth.com

Magnolia Villa Italian

225 Reformation Parkway, Suite 108 678-880-8133 www.magnoliavillaitalian.com

Mamma Onesta’s Italian Italian 250 E. Main St. 678-880-7770 mammaonesta.com/canton-ga

Nava Taqueria Tex-Mex 25 Reformation Parkway, Suite 106 770-213-8197 www.navataqueria.com

New Georgian Hills Southern 69 Waleska St. 770-479-8311 Facebook/GahillsRest2005

Panera Bread Sandwich Shop 205 W. Main St. 770-720-1565 panerabread.com

Queenie’s Southern Cooking 151 W. Main St. 770-213-4897 eatatqueenies.com

The Salty Mule Seafood 169 Church St. 770-213-4479 www.thesaltymule.com

Around & About Around & About

FEBRUARY

Through Feb. 10

Entries for the Farm Bureau Middle School Bookmark Contest, depicting some aspect of Georgia agriculture, must be received at the Cherokee County Farm Bureau Office by Feb. 10. The contest is open to all students in sixth, seventh and eighth grade. Prizes include a $75 gift card for the first-place county winner, a $50 gift card for the first-place school winner (in every county school that enters), $159 for the state winner and $100 for 10 district winners. Interested students or teachers should contact the Cherokee County Farm Bureau for an official entry form and contest rules at 770479-1481, ext. 0. If you would like volunteers to pick up your bookmarks, email rcstargel@gfbco.org.

JANUARY

Through Jan. 10

Bring one for the chipper, 9 a.m.-4 p.m., to Olde Rope Mill Park in Woodstock. Trees should be unbound and free of decorations. They will be recycled into mulch or used for fish habitats. www.kgbf.org 0 8

Shop locally made goods at Maker’s Mash , a pop-up shop featuring local artisans, the second Sunday of the month, 1-6 p.m., at Reformation Brewery in Woodstock. https://visitwoodstockga.com/events 1 2

An Alzheimer’s Caregivers Support Group meets at 11 a.m. the second Thursday of each month at Little River Methodist Church in Woodstock. Wheelchair-accessible. 770-926-2495

1 4

Join a piano master class, presented by the Cherokee Music Teachers Association, 10 a.m. at Reinhardt University’s Falany Performing Arts Center. CMTA students, chosen by audition, will perform and receive coaching. The event is free and open to the public. For more information, email linda@lokey.net. 18

Join Northside Hospital experts for a virtual health presentation every Wednesday at noon. Visit www. northside.com/community-wellness/classes-events for registration. This week, Charlene Wilson will present sustainable lifestyle tips for weight management, how to eat for energy and more.

0 1

Join the Volunteer Extravaganza, 10 a.m.-noon, at the Funk Heritage Center in Waleska. Learn about ways you can support the Funk Heritage Center by joining the team of volunteers and bringing history to the public. RSVP to 770-720-5969 or josiah.wolff@reinhardt.edu.

RECREATION

Cherokee Recreation and Parks Agency

www.playcherokee.org // Recreation Center: 770-9247768, Aquatic Center: 678-880-4760

Jan. 9-Feb. 8

Donations for Project Valentine will be given to Empower Cherokee, a nonprofit that supports people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, and can be dropped off at the Rec Center, 7545 Main St., Suite 200, Woodstock. Items include ChapStick, lotion, sticky notes, pens, markers, word searches, art or music activities, sugar-free and regular candy, and holiday-related items. For more details, email jshallman@cherokeega.com.

Feb. 11

The 17th annual Guns & Hoses 5K, a certified race for the Peachtree Qualifier, will benefit Sheriff Frank Reynolds Charities, which raises money to fill needs in the community, and the Goshen Valley Boys Ranch, a nonprofit home for young men in the foster care system. Registration is open; when registering, the runner can select which team (charity) he or she wants to represent.

Guns & Hoses 5K. Photo by Tim Cavender.

LIBRARY EVENTS

Sequoyah Regional Library System www.sequoyahregionallibrary.org

Fridays in January

Stop by Rose Creek Public Library every Friday in January for a free cup of coffee , 10:30 a.m.-5:45 p.m. Bring your own cup, or use one at the library. Limit one per person. Registration is not required.

Jan. 5

Join a hot chocolate tasting at Woodstock Public Library, 3-5 p.m. Various flavors and toppings will be available, as well as cocoa-themed crafts and fun facts. While supplies last. Registration is not required.

Jan. 14

Visit Woodstock Public Library for Yoga at the Library, 11 a.m.-noon. Certified yoga instructor Jigna Patel will guide you to a state of total relaxation in this free hourlong session. Bring your own mat. For ages 17 and older. Registration is not required.

Jan. 17

All supplies will be provided for the Adult Art Night at Woodstock Public Library, 6-7:30 p.m. Ages 18 and older are welcome. Registration is required.

Jan. 24

Adults approaching age 65 can stop by Rose Creek Public Library for a Medicare educational session , 11 a.m.-noon. Registration is not required.

Jan. 28

Break out of the book club box and join the Themed Adult Book Club to discuss your book at Woodstock Public Library, 10:30 a.m.-noon. For this month, choose any book set in winter. Registration is not required.

THEATER & MUSIC

Cherokee County School District

https://bit.ly/3CeUdPf. Contact the school front office for information. Performances are at 7 p.m.

Jan. 20-21: “Willy Wonka Jr.” Cherokee High School. Tickets: $7

Jan. 25-28, 30: “Little Shop of Horrors.” River Ridge High School. Tickets: $10

Feb. 3, 4: “Little Mermaid Jr.” Dean Rusk Middle School. There also is a 1 p.m. matinee Feb. 4. Tickets: to be determined.

Feb. 9, 10: “Mystery on 13th Street.” Woodstock Middle School students perform at Woodstock High School, 6:30 p.m. Tickets: $5

Falany Performing Arts Center

For tickets, visit www.facebook.com/falanyperformingartscenter.

Jan. 5: The Atlanta Symphony Orchestra, 8 p.m.

Jan. 28: So Good: The Neil Diamond Experience, 3-5 p.m. and 7:30-9:30 p.m.

Feb. 3: Hank and My Honky Tonk Heroes, 7:30 p.m.

Feb. 10: Shades of Buble: A Three-Man Tribute to Michael Buble, 7:30 p.m.

MadLife Stage & Studios

Events listed are held monthly at 8722 Main St., Woodstock. http://madlifestageandstudios.com.

Jan. 24: Live Band Karaoke Featuring You, 7 p.m.

Jan. 29: Big Band Jazz, performing the timeless music of Nat King Cole and Natalie Cole, 4 p.m.

Feb. 7: Country Dance Night, featuring The Honky Tonkers, 7 p.m. Dance lessons start at 6 p.m.

Woodstock Arts www.woodstockarts.org

Jan. 6-15: “Every Brilliant Thing” is a hilarious, warm, deeply imaginative play that asks the audience to become part of the story. Recommended for ages 10-plus (content).

Jan. 20: Beginning at 6 p.m. at the Reeves House, local artists will create a piece of art on the spot that will be raffled off at the end of the night.

Jan. 20-29: “The Lightning Thief,” based on the book series by Rick Riordan, features a cast of spectacular teen actors, directed by industry professionals. Recommended for ages 10-plus (content).

Jan. 25: The Lasting Laugh is a monthly comedy series that brings in Atlanta-based comedians, with Jessica It’s All Good as the host. Recommended for ages 12-plus (content).

Jan. 26: The Woodstock Arts Improv Troupe is ready to get its audiences rolling down the aisles with laughter. Recommended for ages 10-plus (content).

In December, senior citizens gathered at Sequoyah Regional Library’s Winter Ball to enjoy live music, crafts and tasty treats.

@ the Library

Start the New Year With a Library Card

BY JOHN RODGERS

The holidays have come and gone, but we’re not going anywhere. Libraries are important year-round, of course! No matter what you hope to accomplish this year — learning a new language, traveling the world or reading more books — we’ve got the tools you need to make 2023 the year.

Make your New Year’s resolutions a reality simply by using your library card. We have no-cost resources to help you get started, many of which can be accessed without having to leave home. Want to master a foreign language? Choose from courses for more than 70 languages by accessing Mango Languages on our website with your library card. Planning a vacation abroad? Brush

Sequoyah Regional Library System www.sequoyahregionallibrary.org

up on local customs, currency and culture with A-to-Z World Culture, another free resource in our e-library. Trying to learn to sew, or become tech savvy? Check out a sewing machine, Chromebook, or Wi-Fi hotspot from any of our libraries.

Is the e-reader or tablet you got for Christmas a little overwhelming? You’re not alone! Visit your local library to learn all about e-reading. Whether it’s reading your favorite magazines with Flipster or using the Libby app to download e-books and audiobooks, your library card provides access to thousands of titles to enjoy digitally.

Our libraries have launched a new service called “Ask Us!” sessions, which allow visitors to receive one-on-one help by reserving time (up to 30 minutes per session) with a library staff member in person, by phone or virtually. Sessions can be reserved by calling your library or by visiting sequoyahregionallibrary. org and clicking Contact Us.

Our staff can help you learn to use library technology, access e-library services, learn basic computer skills and more. Normally librarians help people find books, but this is your chance to “book” a librarian!

From “Polar Express” storytimes to festive parties to appearances from Jolly Ol’ Santa himself, our libraries are honored to have helped keep the holiday season merry and bright for thousands of families across Cherokee County. Readers of all ages, who aren’t quite ready to bid farewell to December, still can participate in the library’s Winter Literacy Challenge through Jan. 31 by downloading the Beanstack app or visiting our website. There’s still plenty of time to curl up with a warm book and win special prizes along the way.

Happy New Year from Sequoyah Regional Library System!

John Rodgers is the community engagement manager for the Sequoyah Regional Library System.

Farm Bureau visited the R.T. Jones Memorial Library in November to present a family storytime with a special surprise — a tractor!

Musical ... pumpkins? Not a problem with the library’s Makey-Makey Kit.

Advertisers

ACCOUNTING & TAX

Denson Pepper, CPA 5 678-797-5241 www.densonpeppercpa.com

ANIMALS/PETS

Cherokee County Animal Shelter 27 www.cherokeega-animals.org

AUTOMOTIVE

BridgeMill Auto Care 1 Canton: 770-720-0765 East Cobb: 770-641-9906

BUSINESS SUPPORT

Canton Business Club 7 CHIROPRACTIC

Gentle Force Integrative Health Cover, 28-29 770-720-0099 www.gentleforcehealth.com

DENTAL

BridgeMill Dentistry 7 770-704-1812 www.bridgemilldentistry.com

Gentle Dental Care and Inside back Georgia Dental Implant Center 770-926-2784 www.georgiadic.com

This wonderful publication is brought to you by these local businesses. When using our advertisers’ services, please let them know you found out about them from the Around Canton magazine!

Nia Pediatric Dentistry & Orthodontics 22 770-479-9999 www.niadentistry.com

EDUCATION/TRAINING

Chattahoochee Technical College 5 770-528-4545 www.chattahoocheetech.edu

Kennesaw State University 13 College of the Arts www.kennesaw.edu

ENTERTAINMENT/EVENTS

Cherokee Theatre Company 45 770-591-0282 www.cherokeetheatre.org

Downtown Canton 27

Georgia Food & Wine Festival 53 www.georgiafoodandwinefestival.com

MadLife Stage & Studios 15 678-384-2363 www.madlifestageandstudios.com

The Southern Museum 41 www.southernmuseum.org

FINANCIAL SERVICES

Credit Union of Georgia 23 678-486-1111 www.cuofga.org

Edward Jones, Sarah Kendall 1 770-720-6245 www.edwardjones.com/sarah-kendall

Medicare Insurance Advisors 39 & Guided Medicare Solutions 678-849-9513

Veracity Capital 9 678-685-3265 www.veracitycapital.com

HOME & GARDEN

Bryan Plumbing Services 9 770-826-5277

Servicewise Electric 11 404-704-4903 www.servicewiseelectrical.com

SOS Plumbing Service Inside front 866-767-7567 www.sosplmr.com

PHOTOGRAPHY

Abigail Peyton Photography 55 www.apeytonphotography.com

PHYSICIANS AND MEDICAL SERVICES

Cherokee Women’s Health Specialists 5 770-720-7733 www.cherokeewomenshealth.com

REAL ESTATE & RELATED SERVICES

Cherokee Association of Realtors 11 www.cherokeerealtors.org

Great Sky 53 770-704-0234 www.greatskyga.com

RESTAURANTS/FOOD

7 Tequilas Mexican Restaurant 11 www.7tequilasmexicanrestaurant.com

Dive Southern Coastal Kitchen 5 770-224-8816 www.divesoutherncoastalkitchen.com

Eggs Up Grill 7 678-990-3447 www.eggsupgrill.com

Mama Eva’s Pralines 11 www.mamaevaspralines.com

RETAIL/SHOPPING

Cotton Mill Exchange 9, 48 770-992-9294 www.cottonmillexchange.net

Golf Cars of Canton Back cover 678-880-1156 www.golfcarsofcanton.com

SENIOR LIVING/SENIOR SERVICES

Camellia Place 1 770-296-1513 www.camelliaplace.com

Lodge at BridgeMill, The Inside front 470-863-2690 www.bridgemillseniors.com

St. George Village 3 678-987-0409, 678-987-0410 www.stgeorgevillage.org

SUPPORT ORGANIZATIONS

MUST Ministries 43 www.mustministries.org

Next Step Ministries 43 www.nextstepministries.net

YOUTH SPORTS

CSA Impact Youth Soccer 39 770-704-0187 www.csaimpact.com

Rob’s Rescues

These animals are at Cobb County Animal Services, waiting for homes.

I interviewed Megan Wargula, Woodstock resident and author of the “Riley Carson” books, which are middle school mysteries. She also is the co-host of the “Dog Nerd Show” podcast. She interviewed me for her podcast, too, and you can find the podcast with me talking about Rob’s Rescues on Apple Podcasts.

Tell us about the “Riley Carson” books.

I have written three books that form the “Riley Carson” series. They are fun, mystery/adventure books for kids, with an animal twist. The purpose behind these books is that we’ve got to do better to help dogs. Through my writing, I believe I can really speak to kids and start teaching them from a young age to help animals.

This dog’s name is Woody. He is a small brown dog who is 10 years old. He is a stray and a very sweet dog who walks well, likes to be picked up and definitely will love you. He’s a very old dog, and seniors make very good pets, especially this one.

How did you get into podcasting?

I had a marketing and social media job. I realized that not everyone is going to read my books, and, in order to get my message out, I needed to broaden my scope. We chose to go the video and podcast route. It is an effort to take the message about changing the world for dogs to another level. We do videos about specific dog breeds to help people make good decisions when getting a dog. We also educate people on health and safety for dogs.

Do you have a story that you like to tell?

How do you come up with podcast ideas?

Our goal for the podcast and the guests we have on it is to help people make good decisions around dogs and keep dogs out of shelters. Once you get a dog, it should be for life.

What is your favorite thing about podcasting?

It is a fun thing to do with my husband, Michael, and a great way to connect with people.

What do you want the community to know?

This cat’s name is Kai. He is a 1-year-old stray. Kai is a great cat who is very loving and loves to be held. It shouldn’t be a problem to find a home for this cat because he would be a great cat anywhere. Maybe that is with you?

At the time, our dogs, two border terriers, got into a package of sugar-free chewing gum. We heard a noise, looked around and just saw wrappers! I prided myself on knowing that chocolate, grapes, etc. were bad for dogs, but I didn’t know anything about sugar-free gum. I Googled it and it contains xylitol. Of course, we didn’t know which one had eaten the gum. We put the one I thought would have done it into the car to take to the emergency vet, but then decided to take them both.

It turns out that it was the one (Finlay) I thought would not have ingested it that actually had! Xylitol will give a dog kidney failure. Finlay was pumped with fluids and kept for 24 hours of observation. He lived to be 17 years old, but it was a nervewracking experience in the moment!

My mission is to educate people about dogs. Kids enjoy my books and get excited about reading. By teaching kids to have compassion for animals, that compassion stretches to compassion for people, too. I often talk to kids in schools about helping dogs. If any schools or teachers want me to come in and talk to their kids, they are welcome to get in touch with me.

How can people get in touch with you?

They can visit https://rileycarsonseries. com or check out the “Dog Nerd Show” on the Apple Podcasts app.

Rob Macmillan is on a mission to help shelter dogs and cats. On Facebook @robsrescues. www.robsrescues.com.

Rob and Megan Wargula, author and a “Dog Nerd Show” podcaster.