October 2011 Issue by Aroundabout Local Media, Inc.

AroundAbout WALTON | October 2011

October 2011

Volume 1, Issue 4

Featured Articles

21 Fall Festivals

Grab the family and head out for some fall fun.

40 WHS Football

30 & 31 On the Cover

In Every Issue Around Walton.......................... 6 Birthdays................................. 11 Community Calendar............... 17 Everyday Angels...................... 20

There’s more than football at the games.

Yard Feature............................ 22

44 Rock-a-thon

School Information.................. 47

Change of Scenery................... 28

Celebration

Houses of Worship.................. 50

Mt. Bethel Christian Academy. Athletic Director Roger Kaiser (right) and Associate Athletic Director Greg Hall displaying MBCA’s North Atlanta Metro League cups from 2007, 2010 and 2011.

Fundraising band, color guard and orchestra members play all night.

Clubs & Organizations.............. 52

46 The Science Chain

Community Numbers.............. 56

Cover photo by Studio 7 —Dan Carmody.

Providing hands-on science to more students.

Product Recalls........................ 55

Humane Society...................... 57 Elected Officials....................... 58 Classifieds............................... 59 Advertiser Directory................ 60

Contributing Writers

Kellee Holland Garner is the Title Manager for AroundAbout Walton. She has more than 25 years experience assisting clients grow their businesses. Look for her out and about in Walton! You can reach her at (770) 615-3308 or kellee@aroundaboutmagazines. com. 2

AroundAbout WALTON | October 2011

Judson Adamson.............................18

Miranda Ludovice............................42

Don Akridge....................................14

Marietta Plastic Surgery...................33

Mary-Kathryn Boler.........................25 Dr. Cristi Cheek................................32 Sen. Judson Hill...............................12 Jennifer Jarosick..............................24

Dr. Eva Montgomery-McGuire.........34 Zett Quinn.......................................24 Dawn Reed......................................29

Linda & Kevin Keeton......................16

Doug Rohan.....................................19

Kara Kiefer.......................................26

Bryant Wright..................................48

Breast cancer had always been on Cathy Jones’ radar –

m 99 are or e i pe ava nf r c ila or m oup ble at ion le. for or Cal $19 to l 77 9 p sc he 0-9 er i 5 n du le 6-S divi yo TA du ur R a sc (7 l or ree 82 nin 7) g fo to r da y.

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her mom is a four-year survivor – so annual mammograms were a must. In April 2010, after an abnormal mammogram, a biopsy revealed cancer. During the journey from imaging and surgery through radiation, the WellStar Cancer Network was there for her. The WellStar Cancer Network provides advanced, multidisciplinary care including prevention, education, early detection, treatment and survivorship support. Each year, over 3,000 cancer patients benefit from WellStar’s compassionate, individualized care. WellStar also offers seven digital mammography locations, including one of the largest and most advanced women’s imaging locations in the country at the newly opened Kennestone Outpatient Pavilion. In addition, our breast nurse navigator provides one-on-one guidance and support to patients going through treatment. For more information on the WellStar Cancer Network, call 770-956-STAR or visit wellstar.org

wellstar.org

770-956-STAR

-Cathy Jones

The vision of WellStar Health System is to deliver world-class healthcare. Our not-for-profit health system includes: WellStar Cobb Hospital WellStar Douglas Hospital WellStar Kennestone Hospital WellStar Paulding Hospital

WellStar Windy Hill Hospital WellStar Medical Group Paulding Nursing Center

Urgent Care Centers Health Place Homecare

Hospice Atherton Place WellStar Foundation AroundAbout WALTON | October 2011

Community

Community Board The AroundAbout-Walton Community Board consists of wellrespected community leaders, from different walks of life. Our Board assists us in many ways including contributing to our magazine, and acting as our ambassadors to the community. We are happy to introduce three of our seven board members. Judy McNeil — Judy is the Principal at Walton High School. She has worked at Walton for 23 years, and she served as Chairman of the Guidance Department and Associate Principal over Curriculum and Instruction, prior to being appointed as Principal. Judy is originally from Indiana, and she and her husband Daniel moved to the Atlanta area when their two children were young. Judy and Daniel reside in Roswell and have three grandchildren. Judy can be reached at (770) 578-3225, x229.

Judson Adamson — Judson is a 24-year veteran of the Atlanta Real Estate Industry and has a long-standing intimate knowledge of our local area and the Atlanta real estate market. He was a Broker/Owner with a large international brokerage since 1990 and is now President and CEO of Atlanta Communities Real Estate Brokerage which he founded in 2009. Judson and his wife Marilyn have been residents of the Hampton Farms neighborhood in the Walton District for more than 20 years. Their interests include community activities, sports, nature, and unwinding at Hilton Head Beach. Judson can be reached at (770) 3240-2001.

Dawn Reed — Dawn Reed is a Certified Senior Advisor and the owner of Aloha To Senior Solutions Consulting. She also is the President and Founder of Aloha To Aging, Inc, a 501c-3 nonprofit serving seniors in Cobb, DeKalb and Fulton County. She has lived in East Cobb for 12 years and is an active member of Mt. Bethel United Methodist Church. She enjoys her role as volunteer support group facilitator for the Alzheimer’s Association of Georgia for the last eight years. Dawn can be reached at dawn@ alohatoseniors.com 4

AroundAbout WALTON | October 2011

Publisher AroundAbout Local Media, Inc. Executive Editor Kara Kiefer kara@aroundaboutmagazines.com, (770) 615-3309 Director of New Market Development Lee Ann Jones leeann@aroundaboutmagazines.com, (770) 615-3318 Title Manager Kellee Holland Garner kellee@aroundaboutmagazines.com, (770) 615-3308 Title Editor Lynne Lysaght lynne@aroundaboutmagazines.com, (770) 615-3306 Art Director Michelle McCulloch michelle@aroundaboutmagazines.com, (770) 615-3307 Digital Marketing Director James Ball james@aroundaboutmagazines.com, (770) 615-3310 AroundAbout Walton is a publication of AroundAbout Local Media, Inc., a monthly community magazine. The magazine’s goal is to build a sense of community and pride in the Walton area by providing its residents with positive stories and timely information. It is distributed free by mail to approximately 14,850 homes and businesses and 2,150 in racks throughout the Walton community. AroundAbout Walton welcomes your comments, stories, and advertisements. The deadline is the 20th of the preceding month. Subscriptions are available for $24 per year. Send payment to the address below. The viewpoints of the advertisers, columnists and submissions are not necessarily those of the Editor/Publisher and the Publisher makes no claims as to the validity of any charitable organizations mentioned. AroundAbout Walton is not responsible for errors or omissions. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means without written permission from the Publisher. All rights reserved. © Copyright 2011. AroundAbout Walton 2449 Towne Lake Parkway, Woodstock, GA 30189 Website: www.aroundaboutwalton.com Powered by TrustWorks, Inc. Franchise Opportunities Available: www.AroundAboutLocalMedia.com Volume 1, Issue 4

AroundAbout WALTON | October 2011

Community

AROUND WALTON by Lynne Lysaght

The People, The Places and The Pleasures that make Walton

It is hard to believe how fast it changes from the brutal heat of summer to the crisp cool fall. Changes are happening all around us here in our Walton Community. There are a number of new businesses, a new road project under way on Lower Roswell Road, new apple and pumpkin crops for picking, new chances for costume wearing and lots of football. As you read through this Lynne is the Editor of AroundAbout Walton month’s AroundAbout Walton, let the magazine. She Featured Yard remind you to send us a lives in the Walton picture of your festively decorated yard, community with her or Recipe Corner’s recipes remind you to husband Martin and send in your favorite dish, or Community their three sons Kyle, News remind you to send in good news Logan and Camden. to share. We look forward to your submissions, suggestions, comments and questions. Send them to lynne@aroundaboutmagazines.com. Changes are happening at AroundAbout Walton, too. Lee Ann Jones recently was named as Around About Local Media, Inc.’s Director of New Market Development. Taking over for Lee Ann as Title Manager is Kellee Garner. Kellee has lived in the Walton area since 1990. Kellee and her husband Jim have three children, Trey, Jazmen and Anslee. The Garners are members of St. Ann’s Catholic Church where Kellee has worked in the youth ministry for many years. She volunteers for Habitat for Humanity, the Hospitality House, the Chamber of Commerce Leadership Program, and she participates in the Susan Komen 3-Day Walk for the cure each year. Kellee has 25 years of experience in sales and marketing, and she will be glad to talk with you about how AroundAbout Walton can help your business grow. Kellee can be reached by email at kellee@ aroundaboutmagazines.com or by phone at (770) 615-3308.

What’s Coming? The Hub Boutique, a new clothing store is coming to 1311 Johnson Ferry Road in Merchants Walk next to Kohl’s.

What’s New? LaVida Massage for a healthier body, mind and life opened recently at 4880 Lower Roswell Road, Suite 70 in the Parkaire Shopping Center. LaVida has 12 massage rooms and is open seven days a week. You can make an appointment online at marietta.ga.lavidamassage.com or call (770) 973-6385. Marietta Facial Plastic Surgery & Aesthetics Center recently opened a new facility within Marietta Dermatology located at 111 Marble Mill Road. For more information, visit MariettaFacialPlastics.com or call (770) 425-7575. 6

AroundAbout WALTON | October 2011

The Broadway Diner “where the Big Apple meets East Cobb” opened recently at 1333 Johnson Ferry Road. The Diner serves breakfast, which is available all day, lunch and dinner. The portions are generous with lunch specials starting at $6.95 and dinner specials at $8.95. The large display case is filled with “Wicked” delights for dessert. For more information, call (770) 977-3337. The Giraffes Tree House opened recently in the Merchants Exchange Shopping Center at 4400 Roswell Road. The children’s clothing boutique will give you 20 percent off when you mention you read it in AroundAbout Walton. For more information, call (770) 509-3366. Life Quest Fitness located at 4930 Davidson Road opened recently and is located beside the Marietta Ice Center. Life Quest Fitness offers fitness classes, personal training, a kids club and more and is open seven days a week. New visitors can receive a free seven-day VIP pass. For more information, visit lqfit.net or call (770) 971-0557. Mathnasium, the Math Learning Center, recently moved four doors down in the Woodlawn Square Shopping Center at 1205 Johnson Ferry Road to Suite 135. The new owners are brothers, Steve and Joe Kleinrichert. Mathnasium specializes “in teaching kids math the way that makes sense to them.” The center offers program for elementary, middle and high school levels as well as Exam Prep for tests like the SAT. For more information, visit www.mathnasium.com or call (770) 578-6170. Front row (left to right): Mathnasium student Jillian and Instructor Katie Bluhm. Back row: Instructor Jon Ong and Director Steve Kleinrichert.

Carter’s baby and children clothing store opened recently in Merchants Walk at 1311 Johnson Ferry Road, Suite 544. To learn more, visit www.carters.com and print out 20 percent off of $40 purchase coupon or call (770) 971-4481. AroundAbout Walton sends its condolences to the family of Dr. Hugh C. McLeod, III who passed away recently. In last month’s issue, we did a feature story on Dr. McLeod and his countless hours of service to the athletes of Walton High School. He will never be forgotten for his contributions to our community.

Our purpose: At AroundAbout Local Media, we believe the world functions at the community level: diverse groups of people living in close proximity; sharing commonality of culture, values and local pride; developing safety nets for those in need; and helping each other to live richer lives. It is our heartfelt desire to contribute to the fabric that helps make a community happen. Through our magazines, we aim to provide everyone in the communities we serve with uplifting, interesting information about the community they are proud to call home. We encourage you to send us your photos, ideas, stories or anything else you think the community would like to know about. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s your community. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s your magazine.

Sincerely, Your Friends at AroundAbout Walton

The Community Of

WALTON

AroundAbout WALTON | October 2011

Community

What’s Happening in Walton... ‘Fun in the Park’ Photo Contest The 7th Annual Cobb County Parks and Recreation and Cultural Affairs “Fun in the Park’ Photo Contest will be accepting entries throughout the fall. Visitors are encouraged to take photographs depicting what they enjoy about the parks, including sports activities, the beauty of nature, wildlife in the parks, and more. Enter up to 10 of your best shots for awards! Open to all photographers. Digital and print photos accepted. The deadline for entry is November 3. See rules and download entry forms by visiting http://prca.cobbcountyga.gov/ FunintheParkPhotoContest.htm.

Third Annual Diaper Day Scheduled for October 24 The Third Annual Diaper Day community-wide collection will take place on October 24, at 5 p.m. at Glover Park on the Marietta Square. Cobb Diaper Day Committee, headed by Barbara Hickey, committee chairman is asking the business community, concerned citizens and non-profit organizations to collect diapers from employees, members and friends throughout the month of October. In the last two years, over 120,000 diapers were donated to assist low-income families. All donated diapers will be given to C.A.M.P., The Center for Family Resources, MUST Ministries, Reconnecting Families and the YWCA of Northwest Georgia to help ease some of the burden of the hundreds of families with infants and young children that they serve. Come to Glover Park, 50 Park Square, on October 24, 2011 with your diapers or call (404) 2760808 for diaper pickup or more information.

Local Teachers Honored The Cobb Chamber of Commerce is proud to be celebrating 23 years of Give Our Schools a Hand (GOSH). GOSH Week brings educators, students, parents, businesses and the community together to honor education. There will be a breakfast and pep rally (right) on Tuesday, October 25 to honor all Cobb county and Marietta’s Teachers of the Year at Roswell Street Baptist Church. The day will start with an invitation-only breakfast for the Teachers of the Year, principals and guests at 9 a.m. A pep rally, which is open to the public, will begin at 11 a.m. For more information, visit www.cobbchamber.org or contact Hannah Orr at (770) 859-2360. The Cobb County Teachers of the Year in our community are First grade teacher Lyssa Sahadevan from East Side Elementary, PE teacher Theresa Collins from Mount Bethel Elementary, Kindergarten teacher Meleesa McKenzie from Murdock Elementary, Third grade teacher Donna Blaeser from Sope Creek Elementary, First grade teacher Melinda Butler from Timber Ridge Elementary, Special Education teacher Scott McCord, Jr. from Dickerson Middle, Special Education teacher Ashley Miller from Dodgen Middle and Science teacher Tina Link from Walton High School. The crowd at the GOSH pep rally cheered for their teachers.

We Are Your Community’s Source for Information • www.aroundaboutwalton.com 8

AroundAbout WALTON | October 2011

WellStar Medical Group xxxx

xxxx

welcomes new physicians and medical specialties to East Cobb!

Pediatrics H 770-578-2868 l

Same-day sick appointments and extended hours

Comprehensive healthcare for newborn to 18 years

Meet and greets available for parents to meet the physicians Complimentary â&#x20AC;&#x153;teddy bearâ&#x20AC;? check-ups

A third pediatrician will join the practice this fall.

Amy Cooper, M.D., M.P.H., M.S. Pediatrics

Eva MontgomeryMcGuire, M.D., FAAP Pediatrics

3939 Roswell Road, Marietta GA 30062 H wellstar.org H 770-956-STAR

Family medicine, internal medicine and Pediatrics H 770-973-2272 l

Same-day sick appointments

Adult, child and newborn well-exams

Blood pressure, high cholesterol and diabetes management Transition of adolescents from childhood to adult care

Waldon Garriss, M.D., M.S., FAAP, FACP Internal Medicine and Pediatrics

Mitzi Rubin, M.D., FAAP Family Medicine

H Also in East Cobb at this location, WellStar Medical Group provides Pulmonary Medicine and Endrocrinology. H Coming this fall, WellStar Medical Group will welcome a new practice with Family Medicine and Geriatric Medicine, a new specialty to WellStar. AroundAbout WALTON | October 2011

Community

East Cobb Wine & Vine Market The East Cobb Civitan Club (ECCC) will partner with Friends of the East Cobb Park, Inc. to hold its 20th Annual Silent Auction and Wine Tasting, also known as the East Cobb Wine & Vine Market, on Wednesday, October 19 at the Indian Hills Country Club. Funds raised will be used for East Cobb Park development. The Honorary co-chairs for the event are Senator Johnny Isakson and the Honorable Sam Olens, the Attorney General of Georgia. The auction will start promptly at 6 p.m. and will end at 10 p.m. Hors d’oeuvres will be served, and tickets will be $20. For tickets or more information, please contact Patricia O’Toole at (770) 971-1916 or email her at patricia_otoole@att.net. The ECCC would like to thank its premier sponsors, the Indian Hills Country Club and the Wine Shop at Parkaire.

Santa Claus Available to Join Your Holiday Party Now that the fall weather has hit us, it’s time to plan for the holiday parties and gatherings both at work and in your neighborhood. Santa Claus has joined Aloha To Aging, Inc. to help raise funds for family caregiver education and support by donating his fee to the organization. Please help support those seniors in our community and their families as they struggle with the many facets of caring for an aging loved one by having Santa visit your holiday gathering. Aloha To Aging’s many different support groups, educational offerings and Aloha Day Club serve those ages 24-96 throughout Cobb, DeKalb and Fulton counties. Help all the seniors and their families to have a Merry Christmas by calling to reserve your date and time with Santa! Contact Dawn Reed at (678) 4391177 or dawn@alohatoaging.org.

Booked For the Evening… A Literary Masquerade The Cobb Library Foundation is hosting Booked for the Evening … A Literary Masquerade at 6:30 p.m. on Saturday, October 22, at the Marietta Country Club in Kennesaw. The black tie event will include cocktails, dinner and auctions. Masks are optional and are available for purchase. The Kennesaw State University Tellers from the Department of Theatre, Performance Studies & Dance will present “A Living Library” for your entertainment. Music will be provided by the Georgia Symphony Jazz Ensemble. Tickets will be $150 per person. Funds raised will benefit the Cobb County Public Library System. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit cobblibraryfoundation.org. 10

AroundAbout WALTON | October 2011

In my family, our national motto is also our motto. We trust in God. Our nation was founded on that principle. In 1863, as our country was in the midst of civil war, our president, Abraham Lincoln, signed a resolution recommended by the Senate calling for a National Day of Prayer and Fasting. A portion of his proclamation is as follows… ”Whereas, the Senate of the United States, devoutly recognizing the Supreme Authority and just Government of Almighty God, in all the affairs of men and of nations, has, by a resolution, requested the President to designate and set apart a day for National prayer and humiliation. And whereas it is the duty of nations as well as of men, to own their dependence upon the overruling power of God, to confess their sins and transgressions, in humble sorrow, yet with assured hope that genuine repentance will lead to mercy and pardon; and to recognize the sublime truth, announced in the Holy Scriptures and proven by all history, that those nations only are blessed whose God is the Lord.” Abraham Lincoln, leader of the greatest and most independent country in the world, recognized our need to rely on God for guidance and direction. Amazing how politics has changed. We now have laws to keep prayer and religion out of schools, public events, and the workplace under the pretense of being considerate of others. A 2008 Gallup poll found that only six percent of Americans do not believe in a God. So in trying to be tolerant and unobjectionable to six percent of Americans, we are willing to risk offending our Creator. Americans turned to God for solace when our country was terrorized on September 11, 2001. Clergy were intimately involved in helping the nation heal, and millions of distraught citizens prayed individually and in formed groups, including a city-sponsored ceremony at Yankee Stadium that included priests, pastors, and other religious leaders. Ten years later, as memorial services were held on September 11, 2011 to remember the lives lost after the terrorist attacks on the U.S., any consensus that existed about the appropriate role of religion in public ceremonies marking a monumental American trauma has fallen apart. Instead of turning to God with prayer for the families and victims of 9-11, the memorial ceremony was organized as a secular service that excluded religious speakers. I fear for the future of my children as they grow up in a country that makes rules which distance its citizens from God and disregards our connection to our Heavenly Father who has given our country more blessings than any other nation. Would it not have been amazing if, back in August, our Congressmen had thrown up their hands and said,” We can’t fix these budget issues on our own — let’s all stop and ask for God’s guidance?” Many times in the Bible, God let His people suffer the consequences of the bad decisions they made for themselves. My fear is that there has not yet been enough suffering to make us Americans announce our dependence on God and seek His wisdom. How long will we continue on this path of erroneously thinking WE are in control? As for me and my family we will serve the Lord. Jeremiah 29: 11-13 “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.” Dr. Cristi Cheek

Happy Birthday!

Shanley Jordan

Age 9 on October 20 We love you baby doll! Marie, Peter & Skylar

Jack McDonough

Hannah Williams

Age 2 on October 2 Happy Birthday to our sweet girl! Lots of love, Mommy, Daddy, Ansley and Chandler

Age 7 on October 4 Happy Birthday Jack! Love, Dad, Mom and Charlie

Patsy Smith

Celebrating on October 3 Happy Birthday NaNa!! You are the best Mom, Sister, Wife, Aunt, and friend, BUT you are the best NaNa in the world!!

Sarah Huckaby

Age 16 on October 26 We all love you SO much. GrandMary, Uncle Jimmy, Aunt Kellee, Aunt Sue, Uncle Rick, Trey, Jazmen and Anslee

Jazmen Garner

Anslee Holland

Age 16 on October 23

Trey Holland

Age 19 on November 16

Engagement! Glenn Fell, Vice President of

Flex Imaging in Cobb County, popped the question to April Booe in a cave in North Alabama.

Age 17 on October 1 Happy Birthday Jaz! Love, Dad, Kellee, Trey, Anslee, Kitty 1 and Kitty 2

Wedding, Birthday and Anniversary Announcements are Free! E-mail to: lynne@ aroundaboutmagazines. com. November deadline is October 20.

AroundAbout WALTON | October 2011

Community

Gas Prices: It’s Getting Better by State Senator Judson Hill

Sen. Judson Hill serves as Chairman of the Government Oversight Committee. He represents the 32nd Senate District, which includes portions of Cobb and Fulton counties. He may be reached by phone at (404) 656-0150 or by e-mail at judson.hill@ senate.ga.gov.

It’s hard to believe that summer is over, especially with the nice weather we’ve had for the past few weeks. It’s that time of year when children are back in school and daily routines again include tighter schedules and longer morning commutes due to school traffic. Of course, there are also afterschool activities, study groups and sporting events, all of which means many of us will spend more time every day in our cars. Unfortunately, the economy is still dragging along. As you commute to work and your children’s activities and complain about the traffic, please remember that many people remain out of work. Others are underemployed or working longer hours at low wages. When you stand at the gas pump and watch the big numbers roll over, it’s not hard to

AroundAbout WALTON | October 2011

realize how tight things remain. Please know that in August, the Georgia State Senate tried to help. In the last days of the special legislative session this summer, the Senate voted unanimously to save you money at the gas pump. How? We reduced the gas tax. In addition to local and federal gas taxes, Georgia has several gas taxes. A 7.5 percent excise tax is charged at the wholesale level and is passed to consumers at the gas pump. Georgia also charges an additional four percent sales tax at the pump. There is, however, another factor at work. This four percent tax is re-calculated and adjusted twice a year (once on January 1 and once on July 1) based on average gas prices on those dates. For at least the following six months, the gas tax is that new amount.

This automatic bi-annual recalculation is triggered by at least a 25 percent increase or decrease in gas prices. Between January and June 2011, the price of gas rose by more than 25 percent meaning the gas tax was supposed to rise accordingly. In July, Governor Nathan Deal put a temporary hold on that automatic gas tax increase. However, for the Governorâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s executive order to stand, the law requires the General Assembly to give its approval. During the August Special Session, we did just that freezing the gas tax by law to prevent the tax increase. Hopefully, this gas tax freeze is helpful to familiesâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; budgets. Recent reports show that gas prices nationally have been coming down, although we are still paying much higher prices than we did this time last year. At the time this was written, AAA South reported that gas prices nationally dropped $.09 in a week and are expected to continue to come down.

â&#x20AC;&#x153;

... the Senate voted unanimously to save you money at the gas pump. In Georgia, gas prices dropped $.11 per gallon between September 19 and September 26. Today, our average gas costs $3.35 a gallon compared to the national average of $3.50 per gallon. Although a savings of a few cents a gallon may not seem like much, the money saved from the gas tax freeze adds up quickly and has broad repercussions in an economy as large as ours. Officials with the National Retail Federation recently shared a study showing gas prices do impact consumer spending as well as increase the costs of all goods and services that are transported to the market. They also found that when it costs more than $50 to fill your gas tank, consumers are less likely to go shopping. When gas prices begin to fall, however, we are told that consumers increase their discretionary spending. Consumer spending accounts for about two-thirds of economic activity so gas prices have a big economic impact. This is especially important as we get closer to the holiday season. For now, your state gas tax is frozen and the additional savings hopefully will make a difference for Georgians. As always, I am interested in and welcome your input. Please feel free to contact my office at any time. This fall, we will continue to prepare for the 2012 Legislative Session and pursue ways to create a more favorable economic climate to create jobs and keep the good jobs we already have in Georgia. Please share your ideas with me. AroundAbout WALTON | October 2011

Community

Baby Boomer & Retirement Hopes A generation needs help to keep its dream alive by Don Akridge, MBA, CPA, CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ U.S. Marine Corps Veteran – Emory University Alumnus What do you think your retirement will be like? If you are like many baby boomers, you may be pessimistic about it. Look at the results of a recent poll conducted by the Associated Press and NBC’s LifeGoesStrong.com:

Don Akridge is President of Citadel CPA, Financial Planning & Investment Services founded in 1994 and conveniently located off Chastain Road between I-575 & I-75 in Kennesaw. Phone (770) 952-6707.

• Only 11 percent of boomers think they will retire to a comfortable lifestyle. • 24 percent of boomers say they have no retirement savings. • 64 percent feel that Social Security will be their main source of retirement income. • 25 percent of boomers in the work force say they will never retire. • 66 percent of working boomers intend to work part-time or full-time after they end their careers. Yet the

AroundAbout WALTON | October 2011

most recent Social Security Administration figures (2008) show that less than 50 percent of Americans age 65-74 earned income from a job.

Hopefully, you have reason for optimism. The poll found that about 1 in 10 respondents had more than $500,000 in dedicated retirement savings. Additionally, approximately half of those surveyed had retirement savings of more than $100,000. If you don’t, what can you do to save your dream? Retiring later may help – it will give you added years of earned income and group health coverage. You can also apply for Social Security later, which can result in substantially greater benefits. Don’t want to retire later? Then you may want to pour as much as you can into your 401(k) or IRA. If you are 50 and have a Roth IRA balance of about $80,000, you could potentially wind up with more than $450,000 in that IRA at age 65 if you contribute $5,000 per year and realize a 9 percent annual continued on page 54

AroundAbout WALTON | October 2011

Community

Insurance Trends by Linda and Kevin Keeton

Linda and Kevin Keeton live in the Walton community with their two sons, Christian and Matthew. With a combined experience of over 36 years within the insurance industry, Keeton Insurance Services, Inc. is a Trusted Choice® Independent Agency specializing in property and casualty insurance. They may be reached by calling (770) 971-8900 or visiting www.keetoninsurance.com.

According to a recent article in the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, a new wave of homeowner rate hikes are pending at the Georgia Department of Insurance, just a year after most homeowner premiums increased anywhere from nine percent to 23 percent. Weather is the most significant contributing factor cited. However, in addition to these increases, other trends are stirring within the industry that may become the new “normal” for quite some time. Insurers are inspecting homes with increased frequency and scrutiny for both new and current customers. Additionally, many of the major companies are moving towards percentage deductibles rather than a flat amount. This will result in many homeowners assuming more of a loss when a claim occurs. How can

AroundAbout WALTON | October 2011

you mitigate your long term costs? This month, we will review coverage and claims issues which could have a major impact on your overall risk. • Monitor your claim activity. Be cautious and consult your insurance agent when filing smaller claims. Insurance companies track the number and type of claims you file. Frequent claim activity, no matter how small, can be grounds for non-renewal. If your claim exceeds your deductible by $200 or less, consider withholding the claim and paying for the loss out of your own pocket. The out-of-pocket expense probably will be less than the premium increase you likely will pay. It also keeps your claim record clean and allows you to stay insured for major or catastrophic losses. • Combine your coverage. Many companies offer multi-policy discounts. It usually makes sense to insure your auto and home with the same company, which will save you up to 15 percent. • Think twice about liability. Carefully consider additions to your property that could be dangerous, because you are liable for anything that happens on your property. Understand that adding a pool, trampoline, recreational vehicle, or even a vicious dog to your property will significantly raise your risk of an accident in your insurer’s eyes. continued on page 54

EVENT CALENDAR: October 12 Aloha to Aging, Inc. Program: Affirmations for Caregivers

Time: 10 – 11 a.m. Location: Mt. Bethel Community Center, 4608 Lower Roswell Road Information: Interactive discussion with Janet Edmundson, author of “Finding Meaning with Charles.” Please RSVP by calling (678) 439-1177.

October 12 – 15 Junior League of Cobb-Marietta’s (JLCM) Mistletoe Market

Times: October 12, 6 – 9 p.m.; October 13 -14, 9 a.m. – 6 p.m.; October 15, 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. Location: Cobb Civic Center, 548 South Marietta Parkway Information: JLCM hosts the 21st Annual Mistletoe Market. Preview night tickets $20, regular Market tickets $8. For more information, visit www.jlcm.org or call (770) 422-5266.

October 14 – 16 Cobb County Friends of the Library Used Book Sale

Times: October 14-15, 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.; October 16, 1 – 5 p.m. Location: Jim R. Miller Park, 2245 Callaway Road Information: More than 100,000 items for sale. Prices start at $.50. For more information, visit cobbcat.org/friends.html or call Patty Latch at (770) 528-2342.

October/November October 16 Painting Demonstration at Frameworks Gallery

Time: 1 – 3 p.m. Location: 1205 Johnson Ferry Road, Suite 110 Information: Donna Thomas of the Sandy Springs Art School will feature rub out and palette knife techniques. Free admission. For more information, call (770) 973-6701 or visit www.frameworksgallery.com.

October 17 Healthy Brain Aging and 10 Warning Signs

Time: 9:30 – 11a.m. Location: Aloha to Aging, Inc., Mt. Bethel Community Center, 4608 Lower Roswell Road Information: Learn how and why it is important to apply key principles for a healthier life for both your body and brain. Speaker will be Sarah Carson of the Georgia Chapter of The Alzheimer’s Association. Please RSVP by calling (678) 439-1177.

October 18 Newcomers Club of East Cobb Monthly Meeting

Time: 10 a.m. Location: John Knox Presbyterian Church, 505 Powers Ferry Rd. Information: Women’s social organization dedicated to providing interesting, fun activities and events to facilitate new friendships. For more information, please call (770) 234-5068 or email newcomersofcobbcounty@yahoo.com.

October 18 East Cobb Business Association Monthly Luncheon

Time: 1:30 a.m. Location: Hollycrest Hall, 2235 Sewell Mill Road Information: Speaker Toren Anderson; $15 for members, $20 for non-members. Register at www.eastcobbba.com.

November 4, 5, 11, 12 Polk Street Players Present “Kosher Lutherans”

Time: 8 p.m. Location: Stellar Cellar Theatre St. James Episcopal Church, 161 Church Street Information: Hysterically funny comedy about a young childless Jewish couple and a pregnant Christian unwed girl from Iowa. Oy vey! Tickets will be $12.50-$20 and can be purchased by calling the box office at (770) 218-9669. For additional performance dates, visit stjames-marietta. episcopalatlanta.org.

November 5 Due West UMC Preschool’s Holiday Market, Bake Sale and Silent Auction

Time: 9 a.m. – 2 p.m. Location: Family Life Center, 3956 Due West Road Information: Free admission. There will be handcrafted items from 45 vendors. A Silent Auction will feature items from the market and local businesses. For more information, please call Karen Coffeen at (770) 590-0982.

Send Us Your Community Calendar Events to lynne@aroundaboutmagazines.com. November deadline is October 20. AroundAbout WALTON | October 2011

Community

Real Estate Industry — Current Market Analysis and Predictions by Judson Adamson

Judson Adamson is the President/CEO of Atlanta Communities Real Estate Brokerage serving the Walton community. He can be reached at (770) 240-2001.

The work of the Congress supercommittee is just beginning (the bipartisan 12 member panel assigned the task of cutting $1.5 trillion from the federal deficit), and one of the main items for discussion will be the popular mortgage interest tax deduction and local real estate write-offs. The preliminary good news is that there appears to be little appetite to limit, phase out or eliminate the mortgage interest tax deduction in the upcoming package. The more realistic scenario is that comprehensive tax reforms, including capping the mortgage interest tax deduction or turning it into a far less valuable tax credit and phasing out property tax write-offs, are very much on the agenda for after the 2012 election — no matter who wins.

When looking for some good news regarding the real estate recession, people now are making more responsible housing and mortgage decisions. Buyers are buying far below the maximum purchase price for which they have been approved. Our feelings about debt and equity have been reformed, and Americans no longer use their homes like ATM machines. Many are focused on paying down their non-mortgage debt and ceasing the pattern of spending more than they make. Wouldn’t it be nice if this fiscally responsible strategy made its way to Washington? It appears that banks have started taking swifter action against homeowners who have fallen behind on their mortgage payments after nearly a year of delays caused by robo-signing and other documentation problems. Since the bloated foreclosure pipeline represents one of the greatest obstacles to a housing

AroundAbout WALTON | October 2011

market recovery, a pickup in foreclosure activity means a potentially faster turnaround for the U.S. Housing market. Georgia continues to be ranked in the top five nationally in foreclosures. However, Cobb County did experience the second biggest drop in foreclosure notices for September for the 13 county metro Atlanta region. The Mortgage Bankers Association recently reported that lending had reached its lowest point since 1997, due partially to the tightening of lending standards in response to the 2008 financial crisis. In the boom days, government policies dramatically eased lending criteria in an effort to provide greater access to housing. When the market crashed, lenders

“

The housing market will not return to normal levels until the majority of the existing inventory is sold. swung the pendulum so far the other way that many qualified buyers are now unable to secure mortgage loans today. The housing market will not return to normal levels until the majority of the existing inventory is sold. As long as credit score requirements are kept unrealistically high, it will take many more years to absorb the current inventory. Many believe that if lending criteria shifted back to more normal requirements that sales would increase 15 – 20 percent as more qualified buyers would be eligible for loans once again. Price declines and low interest rates have combined to offer buyers record affordability. In this present buyer’s market, if you are able to “trade up” — then whatever you are going to trade up to is going to sell at a discount also. The fact that you are able to purchase now could end up being a great decision. A lot of people get excited when they sit down and do the math.

School Bus Law Refresher by Douglas B. Rohan, Esq., ROHAN LAW, PC

Doug Rohan lives in the Walton community with his wife, Julia, and three daughters. He is a bi-lingual attorney and owner of Rohan Law, PC where he specializes in Criminal Defense and Workers’ Compensation claims. He also is a member of AroundAbout Walton Community Board. You can email Doug at doug@ rohanlawpc.com.

During the last legislative session, the General Assembly gave school districts the authority to install cameras on school buses designed to catch vehicles illegally passing a school bus. Let me start by saying I am all for enforcement of this law, as I am personally familiar with two cases resulting in serious injuries to children who were struck while a vehicle was illegally passing a school bus. The purpose of this article is not to address the merits of this law or its implementation. I do however want to take this opportunity to educate the public about the presence of these cameras and to brush up on the rules and penalties associated with these cases.

While there have been some initial technical glitches with the installation of these cameras (see Marietta Daily Journal article 09/07/2011), all indications are that these technical issues will be resolved no later than the printing of this article. These issues include capturing the license plate numbers of the violators, as well as the transmission of the data to an enforcement office who will process the violations. There are also some legal issues yet to be resolved, including who will prosecute the cases. Most traffic citations and code violations

“

... I am personally familiar with two cases resulting in serious injuries to children who were struck while a vehicle was illegally passing a school bus. are handled by the State Court Solicitor’s office. Presently, the new stop arm camera law does not grant authority to the Solicitor’s office to prosecute these camera only violations. The laws regarding a stopped school bus can be found in Chapter 9 of the DDS Handbook located online in PDF format at www.dds-ga.gov. The bottom line is that ALL traffic traveling in both directions must stop for a school bus once the flashing red signals are activated. The ONLY exception to this rule is traffic traveling in the opposite direction of a four-lane roadway with a fixed concrete median separation. If it is a four, six or even eight lane roadway with a center turn lane, all traffic in both directions must stop. The key is whether or not there is a safe place for children to stand in between the lanes of traffic traveling in different directions. For the purpose of clarification, a median would be any raised curb separating the lanes of travel. It can be filled in with grass and trees, or bricks continued on page 49

AroundAbout WALTON | October 2011

Community

Dear Everyday Angels: I am writing to you on behalf of my neighbor of 20 years. For the past few years, her eyesight has been steadily getting worse, but she has not been able to afford to go to the eye doctor. Consequently, her eyesight has affected her ability to work efficiently as a medical transcriber, and she is having difficulty driving to and from work. I knew that she was having a difficult time but didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t realize just how bad it had gotten. Today, her home is up for auction, and I have great concern for her. I understand that many people are in similar situations; however, she cannot get on her feet until she can work and drive. She desperately needs help with her eyes first followed by many other needs. She is single and lives alone and does not have anyone else to help her. I have been taking her everywhere this summer but as of August, I had to go back to work myself. I have helped her all I can but now I am really concerned for her. Her needs are growing every day, and I am not sure what she is going to do. Any little bit of help you can provide would be much more than she has today and greatly appreciated. Everyday Angels will assist this sweet neighbor with an initial eye examination to determine the underlying problem with her eyes. Additionally, we will provide her with gift cards for food and assist with potential living options for her future. If anyone is able to assist this sweet lady, please contact us at aaeverydayangels@gmail.com Also, thanks to the help of our generous readers, Everyday Angels is able to assist several families with their disconnected utilities this month. These recipients are carefully qualified families with children who were referred by school counselors. It is difficult to get caught up once your utilities are disconnected. We always pay just a portion of the balance directly to the utility company to insure funds are properly applied and necessary. Everyday Angels takes great responsibility and respect for those who generously give to others.

Will your charity need some help this holiday season? We live in a great community with many helping hands to volunteer their time! Email lynne@aroundaboutmagazines.com with contact information and specific needs of your charity and we will include you in the Holiday Helping Hands section of AroundAbout Walton in November and December. 20

AroundAbout WALTON | October 2011

Halloween Happenings and Fall Festivals Walton and Surrounding Area October 15 — Harvest Square Arts & Crafts Festivals, Glover Park – Marietta Square, 50 Park

Square, 9 a.m. – 6 p.m. Area artists, Halloween Happenings, Scarecrows on the Square, farmers’ market. Cost: free and free parking available. For more information, call (770) 794-5601 or visit www.mariettaga.gov.

October 15 — Sukkot Festival of Chabad of Cobb, East Cobb Park, 3322 Roswell Road, 4-6 p.m. carnival booths, rides, music and food. Free, donations welcomed. For more information, call (770) 565-4412.

hayrides, food, playground, baby animals. Parking is $2. Only accept cash and checks. For more information, call (770) 926-0561.

Through November 13 — Friday - Sunday; Cagle’s Family Farm Fall Fun, 368 Stringer Road near Canton, Corn Maze, Ag-Venture Farm Tours, bonfire hayrides, haunted barn (only through Oct. 29). For times and ticket prices, visit www. caglesfamilyfarm.com.

Through October 30 — Fridays - Sundays; 9th Annual Pumpkin Festival, Stone Mountain Park, 1000

October 21 & 22 — Marietta Fall Craft Fair, Marietta Church of God, 1083 Allgood Road, 9 a.m. – 5 p.m., arts and

crafts, food. Fall Festival activities for the family on Saturday, October 22 from 2-5 p.m. For more information, call (770) 9714232.

Robert E. Lee Drive, Stone Mountain, 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. Pumpkin Palooza game show, Pumpkin Puppet parade, scavenger hunts, costume contest, pie eating contest, storytelling. For times and ticket prices, visit www.stonemountainpark.com. Save $7 on passes at Kroger.

October 29 — Fall Festival, East Cobb Church of Christ, 5240 Roswell Road, 10 a.m. – 1 p.m. Free games

October 29 — 11th Fall Festival of Fun, Cobb Safety Village, 1220 Al Bishop Drive, 4 – 7 p.m. Arts and crafts,

and food for all. Come in costume. Rain or shine. For more information, call (770) 587-5999.

November 5 — 20th Annual Ribbons and Holly Handcrafted Market Show, Mt. Bethel United Methodist Church, 4385 Lower Roswell Road, 9 a.m. – 5

p.m. Handcrafts, silent auction, quilt raffle, bake sale, food and entertainment. For more information, call (770) 971-2880.

November 11 & 12 — 26th Annual Mt. Zion Craft Show, Mt. Zion United Methodist Church, 1770

Johnson Ferry Road, 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. on November 11, 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. on November 12. More than 50 arts and crafts vendors, silent auction, door prize, bake sale, casserole pool, (Saturday only), quilt drawing, pictures with Santa and fresh baked apple pies and cookies. Free admission. For more information, call (770) 971-1465 or visit www.mtzionumw.org.

November 12 — Faith’s Craft Shoppe, Faith Lutheran Church and School, 2111 Lower Roswell Road, 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. Handcrafts, food, drinks, bake sale, musical entertainment by Faith Lutheran School Children. Free admission and parking. For more information, call (770) 973-8877.

30 Minutes – 1 Hour Away

Through October 30 — Weekends, Berry Patch Farms, 786

Arnold Mill Road, Woodstock, 10 a.m. – 7 p.m. Pumpkin patch,

games, inflatable rides, police and fire prevention activities, costume and coloring contest, a photo booth and a safe alternative to traditional trick or treating. Free parking and activities, small fee for inflatables and food. Don’t forget a bag to collect candy. For more information please call (770) 5288875.

October 29 — Annual Fall Festival and Open House, In Harmony Pediatric Therapy, 310 Paper Trail Way, Suite

302, Canton, 10 a.m. – 12 p.m. Free fun activities for kids, music, bouncy house, fire truck, great raffle prizes and various vendors. For more information, call (770) 345-2804.

One Hour or More Away

Through November 10 — Burt’s Farm, 5 Burt’s Farm Road, Dawsonville, 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. Located in the

North Georgia Mountains, visitors will experience the fall with thousands of pumpkins, winter squash, gourds, Indian corn and fall decorations. Hayrides, adults $5, Kids 12 and under $4. Parking is free. For more information, call 1-800-BURT or visit www.burtsfarm.com.

October 29 — Fall Harvest Festival, Main Street,

Toccoa, 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. Handcrafted items, regional and international foods, a classic car cruise-in, two stages of entertainment, a petting zoo, horse and buggy rides, puppet shows, farm displays, and the Currahee Artist Guild's art exhibit and sale. For more information, call Sharon at (706) 282-3309. AroundAbout WALTON | October 2011

Lifestyle

AroundAbout Walton Featured Yard of the Month Featured Yard: Henrichs Family This month, our featured yard belongs to Cami and Matt Henrichs who live in the Hampton Lake subdivision. They recently finished a complete makeover of both the front and back yard of their home. Matt and Cami have two children. The Henrichs wanted a yard that was a great place for the children to play. Before the makeover, there were drainage issues that kept the yard from being a good playground. With the help of Brian, from Core Scapes, these issues were addressed and beautiful yards obtained. Check out the before and after pictures.

Before

The Henrichs moved to the Walton community five years ago to be closer to family and closer to a major airport for job related travel. Matt, sometimes with the help of Josh, maintains the yard. Cami said, “Sometimes I think he uses it as an escape from the chaos inside the house. Matt is active and enjoys working in the yard.”

Wanted: Beautiful yards! Each month, we will feature local yards, submitted by you, our readers. If you have a yard, or know someone else with a beautiful yard, that showcases a green thumb and landscape prowess, send us a photo and it could be featured in next month’s AroundAbout Walton! All featured yards will receive a yard sign stating “AroundAbout Walton Featured Yard.” Please submit your photos to lynne@ aroundaboutmagazines.com by October 20 for our November issue.

AroundAbout WALTON | October 2011

Love

Why I

Living In

WALTON

Brian Cuthrell “We moved to the Walton area more than 10 years ago mostly for the great school district, but we also loved the whole area and feel of East Cobb. When we moved in, our family consisted of my wife and our son, Alexander, who was two. We also were three months pregnant with our second child Karli. Just two short years later, along came our third child, Olivia. We have enjoyed living in Walton; it is a wonderful place to live and raise children. Our children have been active with our neighborhood swim team for three years and love the camaraderie it provides. Mt. Bethel Elementary School has taken care of our children with some fabulous teachers and extracurricular activities like unicycle, baton, choir, drama, gymnastics, chess, art and pottery clubs just to name a few. Our girls really love “Dance Stop” and enjoy tap, ballet and jazz the best. However, when asking our girls what they enjoy the most, it is hanging out and having fun with their friends in the Girl Scouts.

Our son Alexander, who is now 12, attends Dickerson Middle School, and has been involved in a number of the above activities as well as the Boy Scouts for the past 7 years. He is with Troop 1776 and really enjoys the activities the troop provides. Alexander is able to fund his own Scout adventures because he works really hard during First Row (left to right): Karli, Olivia and Alexander the Troop’s popcorn Cuthrell. Back Row: Jeanne and Brian Cuthrell fund raising period and the wonderful people here in our Walton community help support his efforts. Alexander has been a top seller of popcorn for the Scouts for three years now. We are so very proud of him and all his accomplishments. Alexander has Asperger’s, and for him communication can be rather difficult. This is why selling popcorn has been not only rewarding but educational and therapeutic. We enjoy our neighborhood and schools and cannot imagine living anywhere else. It is fantastic and getting better all the time.”

AroundAbout WALTON | October 2011

Lifestyle

The Best Time to Remodel Your Kitchen is Now by Zett Quinn The question most homeowners ask me is, “Should I remodel my home now or wait until we’re ready to sell?” My answer is always the same: “Do you want to enjoy your home or simply live in it?”

Zett Quinn is the founder of Quality Craftsmen, offering more than 20 years of experience in the construction and renovation business. To learn more, visit www. quality-craftsmen. com or contact him at zett@qualitycraftsmen.com.

Most people put off home improvement projects because they’re worried about the cost; however, the challenging economy also has revealed more affordable building materials. If you want to enhance one room of your home, make the kitchen a priority, since it’s where families spend most of their time. You can give your kitchen a budget-friendly facelift with a fresh coat of paint, decorative trim and new cabinet knobs and hinges. If you have a larger budget, consider minor enhancements that will make a major impression on guests, such as accent

Hayrides, Mazes and Pumpkins — Fall Fun! by Jennifer Jarosick

Jennifer Jarosick, a former teacher and MOMS Club chapter president, is the mother to three children ages five and under. E-mail her at Jenniferjarosick@ yahoo.com.

Cooler weather, large piles of crispy leaves to jump in and football games can only mean one thing: fall is here! It’s a great season to spend quality time outdoors with the family. One of our favorite things to do in the fall is to pack up the car for a daytrip and head out to one of the pumpkin farms in the area. The kids get so excited to run the mazes, ride the hayrides, enjoy the yummy food and pick out their pumpkins. Most of the farms do a fantastic job of creating fall fun for all ages, providing the perfect opportunity for family bonding, and even a few pictures of the kids.

If you want to take your family out to the farm this fall, here are a few suggestions to help you plan an excursion. Each of these will be a bit of a drive from the Walton area, but it’s worth the time. Berry Patch Farm in Woodstock has a large selection of pumpkins, a hayride, baby animals, yummy food and a playground for the kids. I’ve enjoyed their hayrides! Cagle’s

AroundAbout WALTON | October 2011

lighting, countertops and cabinets. Accent lighting adds charisma to any kitchen. Update an old kitchen with recessed lights, create luxury with undercabinet lighting, or add a creative focal point with pendant lights. New countertops will add a dramatic amount of color to the kitchen. While there are a variety of materials available in East Cobb, I recommend granite. You often can install beautiful granite countertops at a lower cost than a lot of manmade products. Granite countertops can range from $1,500 for a small kitchen up to $7,000 for a large, high-end kitchen. continued on page 49

Family Farm in Canton provides a variety of activities, including bonfires, hayrides, a corn maze, a jumpy pillow, farm tours and even a haunted barn. Looking for a giant pumpkin? Check out Burt’s Farm in Dawsonville where you can enjoy a hayride and some tasty food from the barn store. Also in Dawsonville, you’ll find Uncle Shuck’s Corn Maze and Pumpkin Patch, where you can test your map skills to get out of the haunted corn maze. Uncle Shuck’s also provides hayrides, bonfires, a corn cannon, pumpkins and good food. If you don’t mind driving a bit further, check out Stone Mountain Park’s Pumpkin Festival where there is everything from a pumpkin parade to a costume contest to dressing your own scarecrow and more. Although each place is a little different, they all offer fun for everyone. Hopefully you will be able to enjoy a nice day on the farm this fall with your family and friends. If you have other fun fall activity suggestions, you can email me at jenniferjarosick@ yahoo.com. Happy Fall!

Avoid Cash Cycle Chaos: Offer Excellent Customer Service by Mary-Kathryn Boler The importance of keeping customers happy cannot be understated. Business owners have long known satisfied customers are a great source of repeat sales and referrals, and through social media, their influence is rising. But customer service is more than just a sales tool: it has direct impact on your ability to maintain a positive cash flow. Mary-Kathryn Boler is the owner of Catapult Strategic Consulting, LLC (www. CatapultStrategies. com), located in the Walton area. Her proven approach to creating business strategies and action plans has helped hundreds of entrepreneurs grow their businesses faster and more profitabilty than they thought possible.

One of the most challenging aspects of any business owner’s job is ensuring the company collects from customers before it is obligated to pay its bills. More often than not, payables are due before receivables are collected, resulting in cash cycle chaos. The level of chaos is increasing, rather than decreasing. According to American Express OPEN’s Small Business Monitor survey released in April, by the spring of 2011 66 percent of surveyed small businesses were concerned about cash flow, up from 53 percent in the spring of 2010. Happy customers pay their bills faster and return items less often than their disgruntled peers. A few statistics illustrate how important these clients are to your financial health.

“

Business owners have long known satisfied customers are a great source of repeat sales ... According to the Commercial Collection Agency Association, the chance you will ever collect from your clients decreases to 73 percent when the receivable is 90 days overdue. After a year, the chance of collecting drops to just 29 percent. When a bill has been outstanding for 90 days, you have been carrying the cost of the goods sold for three months. It’s as if you made your client a 90-day loan without interest. For 27 percent of your delinquent clients, that loan will turn into a grant. It’s painful to think of the hit your bottom line takes from that. continued on page 49 AroundAbout WALTON | October 2011

Lifestyle

Not Ready for Oz… by Kara Kiefer Labor Day is the last long weekend of the summer, and typically, it’s filled with the last visits to the pool, barbeques with friends or, if you’re lucky, one more trip to the beach. This year, Tropical Storm Lee had his own Labor Day plans.

Kara Kiefer is the Executive Editor of AroundAbout Local Media, Inc. She lives in southwest Cherokee with her husband Mike and sons Brandon and Garrett.

On the heels of Hurricane Irene, Lee was swirling in the Gulf at the start of the long weekend, and at this point, I was glad our trip to the beach had fallen through. After all, being cooped up in a condo with one husband and three teenage boys did not spell “relaxing” to me! Lee was promising to dump a lot of rain on the Gulf Coast and move into our area Sunday night and Monday, making at least Monday a wash out.

Monday started like a lot of our last days of the weekend with grocery shopping and chores. It was drizzling with occasional pockets of heavier rain, but nothing that would indicate what was about to happen. Tornado warnings first began in Heard County with tornado watches for most of the Atlanta Metro area, including Cherokee County. I’m a closet “storm chaser,” so while others get nervous by impending severe weather, I get excited. I had a false sense of security since in all the 17 years we’ve lived here and the many tornado warnings

was working, debris was hitting the house, and we immediately went to the basement. In no more than 30 seconds, it was over.

we’ve had, nothing has come close to our neighborhood. Again, Lee had other plans. At around 3 p.m., tornado warnings were issued for Cherokee County. I watched the trees out my back door, and saw not even a breeze. But then, the wind started 26

AroundAbout WALTON | October 2011

increasing and the rain started coming down harder — no thunder, no lightening, no “train” noise, just wind. The trees were bending, and I had seen this before, but when I couldn’t close the door due to the wind, I knew this was different. As my husband came in from the garage where he

Later, as we exited our home, we were speechless. We had holes in our siding where debris impaled it and a large pine tree on our back property had snapped and was laying in the woods. All around us, trees were uprooted and branches snapped off, and the air was scented with pine, making me think inappropriately of Christmas. Everyone slowly emerged from their homes, their shocked faces reflecting our own. The first thing that was said was, “Everyone ok?” The next thing was, “Do you have any damage?” followed by “What can we do to help?” Less than one block away, the damage was much more severe. Roofs were torn off or impaled by trees, metal gutters were twisted and pieces of lawn furniture from the community pool were in the trees. Immediately, neighbors rushed to the hardest hit area of our neighborhood with chainsaws, moving from one house to another to help where needed. Some were friends, others strangers, but they all had one thing in commonthey came together to help those in need. I knew that kind of community outpouring and spirit existed, but I had never seen it to this extent before. While the debris is now gone and houses have been repaired or will be shortly, the memory of all those people helping will trump any lingering memories of Lee.

AroundAbout WALTON | October 2011

Lifestyle

Change of Scenery

Everyone needs a change of scenery every now and then. Each month, we will feature unusual places to visit, including museums, family friendly activities and dining. If you have any suggestions, please email lynne@aroundaboutmagazines.com.

Fort Hood State Park The journey to Fort Hood State Park is almost as spectacular as the destination itself! As you travel on Highway 52, you will be treated to breathtaking views and especially this time of the year, colors. Located eight miles east of Chatsworth, Fort Mountain State Park offers visitors plenty of outdoor fun. Hikers, mountain bike riders and horseback riders will be enthralled by the variety of trails. Hikers can explore the tower built by the Civilian Conversation Corp and mysterious 855 foot ancient rock wall, which is on the highest point of the mountain. The wall is believe to have been built by Indians. Visitors can stay overnight or for a weekend in one of the many campsites or cottages. Other attractions include a horse stable for guided horseback rides, playground, GeoCaching and mini golf (Saturday and Sundays only in October, weather permitting). To get there, take 1-75, north, to exit 333 toward GA Highway 411. Detailed directions as well as camping reservations and more can be found at http://gastateparks.org/FortMountain/

AroundAbout WALTON | October 2011

Community Connection by Dawn Reed

Dawn Reed is the Founder of Aloha To Aging, Inc, www. alohatoaging.org, 501c3 nonprofit serving Cobb, DeKalb and Fulton County, Adult Day Club (adult day respite) and Caregiver Education and Owner, Aloha To Senior Solutions. She can be reached at (678) 777-7241.

What an amazing community we live in, filled with opportunities for families both young and old. A list of the ten fastest growing retirement spots, published by U.S. News and World Report, places Marietta (as part of the Atlanta area) as fifth. The list was compiled using the 2010 census data to determine the percent change in age 65-and-older population from 2000 to 2010. This shows that many in our community are choosing to age in place. What does this mean? It means people are staying in their homes or choosing alternative housing such as an assisted living facility within our community for their retirement years. The Atlanta Regional Commission statistics propose that by 2030, 1 out of 5 of us will be over 55! As individuals and as a community, we need to be mindful of our aging seniors. These aging adults are the very people who helped shape this community. If you are

reading this article, and you are age 36 or older, you will be the one I am speaking of in 2030. Now, imagine you can no longer manage the stairs to your favorite restaurant or neighborhood clubhouse or even worse, due to macular degeneration you can no longer drive to see your grandchild play soccer. The list of issues that arise for

â&#x20AC;&#x153;

... people are staying in their homes or choosing alternative housing such as an assisted living facility within our community ... seniors, which limit their ability to enjoy their independent lives and cherished activities, can go on and on. Think of all the errands you as a person without physical or cognitive impairments can run. Now imagine those errands plus opportunities like meeting your friends for lunch, taking the dog for a walk, reading for a book club or making your favorite meal are no longer possible. Your ability to enjoy even everyday continued on page 54

AroundAbout WALTON | October 2011

Feature

Mt. Bethel Christian

Academy

4385 Lower Roswell Road Marietta (770) 971-0245 www.mtbethelchristian.org

Haley Gamis

t. Bethel Christian Academy, located on a beautiful 44-acre campus at 4385 Lower Roswell Road is a private Christ-centered school for kindergarten through eighth grade. The mission of Mt. Bethel Christian Academy (MBCA) is “to provide a truly Christ-centered education for our children through an environment that develops and encourages academic excellence, spiritual growth, and a lifelong love and desire for learning.” The Academy, a ministry of the Mt. Bethel United Methodist Church, opened its doors in 1998 with 25 students in 2 kindergarten classes. Today, MBCA has a total of 486 students in its kindergarten through 8th grade program. Jim R. Callis, Head of School, hopes to remain at this size to keep the family feel and community connectedness Jim Callis the school currently enjoys. Mr. Callis stated that MBCA is unapologetically committed to excellence in academics from a Christian worldview. At the same time, MBCA strives to prepare the whole child academically, athletically, spiritually and artistically for secondary school and beyond. As an evangelical school, students represent a diversity of religious doctrines and beliefs and thus will study a nondenominational Christ-centered curriculum. All 82 staff and faculty members are required to be practicing Christians and reflect Christian character and values in their daily life in and outside of school. All lead teachers are certified, average 14 years of teaching experience and 50 percent of them hold advanced degrees.

Academics

The challenging curriculum prepares students to succeed in highly competitive area high schools as evidenced by their widespread acceptance into, and success at, the area’s best private and applicationonly public high schools. One of the Academy’s founding principles states 30

AroundAbout WALTON | October 2011

Olivia Bechtel

Where a Lifelong Love of Learning Begins that the curriculum “follow the Biblical pattern of learning: knowledge, understanding and wisdom.” This rigorous Christ-centered curriculum provides students with strong foundational academic knowledge and understanding to help develop the wisdom to apply their knowledge from a Christian worldview. As an independent school with manageable class sizes, MBCA has the freedom and ability to customize the curriculum to meet the needs of the students and to stretch them to reach their highest potential. In the Lower School, in addition to the core subjects, the curriculum includes Bible, Latin, art, music, physical education (PE), and technology. In the Middle School, the curriculum includes the core subjects as well as logic, Latin, Spanish, Bible/Apologetics, technology, PE/health, chorus, band, art, forensics and life management. Technology is used to enhance instruction and to prepare students for the technological world they live in. MBCA integrates iMac labs, iPad and iPod Touch labs, PC laptops, SMART Boards and Promethean ActivBoards into the curriculum and instruction. The Academy continues a significant and ongoing investment in educational technology. This investment includes training for faculty so that teachers can effectively integrate technology into their lessons.

Athletics

The Academy’s strive for excellence has always included athletics and as its students approached middle school age, the search for a seasoned Athletic Director began. The Athletic Director would be tasked with developing not only a well-rounded athletic program, but also integrating well-defined Biblical life skills into the program. With this criteria defined, MBCA reached out to Roger Kaiser, a man with an impressive record as both an athlete and coach, as well as a man of strong Christian values. Roger Kaiser, best known for his national championship record in basketball, brought a depth and breadth of knowledge and experience to MBCA and joined the administrative team as Athletic Director in 2003. As a student and accomplished basketball player at Georgia Tech, Athletic Director Bobby Dodd said Roger was the “finest all around athlete

in Georgia Tech history.” Mr. Kaiser’s other accomplishments include coaching and winning a national basketball championship title at West Georgia College in 1974, founding the athletic program at Life University in 1990 and winning national basketball championships at Life University in 1997, 1999 and 2000. Mr. Kaiser was inducted into the Georgia Tech Hall of Fame in 1966, the Georgia Sports Hall of Fame in 1984, the Indiana Sports Hall of Fame for basketball in 1996 and the Atlanta Sports Hall of Fame in 2009. The Mt. Bethel Eagles have 13 acres of playing fields and a 35,000 square foot gymnasium that was built in 2004. The gym has a suspended track and an indoor rock-climbing wall. Under the leadership of Coach Kaiser and Associate Athletic Director, Greg Hall, 80 percent of all middle school students participate in the program. It’s important to note that each athlete must earn his/her place on the team through tryouts and maintain a set academic standard to keep his /her place. The coaches of the Eagle teams all reflect Christian character and enjoy helping the athletes grow and develop their own. Growth opportunities occur through teamwork, Logan Devereaux

levels. This year’s second grade classes are participating in a toy collection to help fulfill a sick child’s wish through Make-a-Wish Foundation of Georgia and Alabama. Xavier, struggling with his own illness, did not want a wish for himself but asked to give back to the doctors and hospital that had done so much for him. His wish was to collect and distribute toys to all the sick children in the children’s hospital, and the MBCA second graders have helped him fulfill this wish. At the middle school level, MBCA requires each student to earn community service hours to build servant leadership skills. Within the obligation, each middle school grade requires an increasing number of service hours culminating in 20 hours annually for 8th grade students. As a result of its strong servant leadership program, MBCA was awarded the Association of Christian Schools International Award for mission work.

The Arts

At Mt. Bethel Christian Academy, there are countless ways students can explore the arts. Visual, literary, and performing arts all provide an opportunity for expression and growth.

discipline, goal setting, and in both winning and losing situations with an emphasis on good sportsmanship. Mr. Kaiser holds firm that “A good coach improves your game; a great coach improves your life.” The MBCA coaches strive everyday to achieve this. The MBCA Eagles athletic program includes girls volleyball, boys soccer, girls soccer, cross-country, boys basketball, girls basketball, boys baseball, coed golf, coed tennis and cheerleading. The Eagles belong to the North Atlanta Metro League (NAML), which includes 28 private middle schools in two divisions. Each year, the NAML Cup is awarded to one school in each division that achieves the highest level of success across a number of sports for the entire school year. The MBCA Eagles have been honored to win this trophy three times since their athletic program began in 2004. Coach Kaiser and Associate Athletic Director Greg Hall are shown on the cover with the NAML cups won by the Eagles in 2007, 2010 and 2011. The Eagles leave MBCA prepared to be successful in some of the most competitive high schools and colleges both on the playing field and in the classroom. MBCA graduates have gone on to make varsity teams as freshmen in high school as well as receive athletic scholarships to college.

Service

MBCA encourages its students to grow spiritually beyond the classroom by incorporating mission work and community service projects at all grade

Fine art instruction begins in kindergarten and builds a foundation for continued study throughout middle school. Fall and spring musical performances showcase students in both music and drama while the annual Night of the Arts includes a presentation of visual and performing arts. The fine arts program extends students beyond the study and creation of music and art. From an understanding of art history and technique, to music appreciation and instrumentation, students work with various mediums and dimensions to explore the diverse world of the arts. Whether in weekly chapel, choral and band performances, or area competitions, the arts play a major role in the culture of the Academy. At Mt. Bethel Christian Academy, students learn to think and learn to lead guided by faculty who reflect strong Christian character and a desire to prepare students academically, athletically, artistically and spiritually. If you are looking for an extraordinary school for your child, consider MBCA for its high academic standards and well-rounded Christ-centered education. During the school year, one hour tours are offered most Wednesdays at 10 a.m. Please contact the school at (770) 971-0245 to confirm that a tour has been scheduled. Deadline for applications for the 2012-2013 school year will be February 3, 2012. Financial aid and the Georgia GOAL scholarship are both available. For more information, please visit www. mtbethelchristian.org or contact Rhea Adkins, Director of Admission at (770) 971-0245 or rhea.adkins@mtbethel.org. AroundAbout WALTON | October 2011

Health & Wellness

Are You at Risk for Oral Cancer? by Dr. Cristi Cheek, DMD

Dr. Cristi Cheek, D.M.D., is the owner of Cristi Y. Cheek, D.M.D., P.C., Family and Cosmetic Dentistry in the Walton community. Dr. Cheek is also a member of the AroundAbout Walton Community Board. You may contact her at (770) 993-3775 or visit www.cheekdental.com.

Approximately 35,000 new cases of oral cancer are diagnosed each year in the United States. According to the American Cancer Society, approximately 25 percent of those people will die of the disease. Although the use of tobacco and alcohol are risk factors in developing oral cancer, approximately 25 percent of oral cancer patients have no known risk factors. Therefore, it is imperative that everyone receives regular examinations of the oral and facial tissues. These examinations are typically done by a dentist as part of a regular dental visit.

Many types of abnormal cells can develop in the oral cavity, often in the form of red or white spots. Some are harmless and benign; some are cancerous, and others are pre-cancerous, meaning they can develop into cancer if not detected early and removed. Most oral cancers arise on the

AroundAbout WALTON | October 2011

lips, tongue or on the floor of the mouth. They also may occur inside your cheeks, on your gums, or on the roof of your mouth. Oral cancer typically begins as a painless lesion. Left untreated, it may or may not become painful. Often patients never know there is a lesion. The stage at which oral cancer is diagnosed is critical to the course of the disease. When detected at its earliest stage, oral cancer is more easily treated and cured. When detected late, the overall five-year survival rate, as reported by the National

â&#x20AC;&#x153;

The stage at which oral cancer is diagnosed is critical to the course of the disease. Institutes of Health, is approximately 50 percent. When oral cancer spreads (metastasizes), it usually travels through the lymphatic system and often appears first in nearby lymph nodes. It can then spread to other tissues and organs. continued on page 54

For Prevention, Wear Pink this October by Drs. Thaddeus Fabian, Keith Hanna, Keith West, John Symbas and Michael McNeel

Drs. Thaddeus Fabian*, Keith Hanna*, Keith West*, John Symbas and Michael McNeel* are plastic surgeons with Marietta Plastic Surgery, with offices in Woodstock and Marietta. Trained at top teaching institutions, they are skilled in the latest techniques and procedures in the field of plastic surgery. For a private consultation, contact www. mariettaplasticsurgery.com. *Members of the American Board of Plastic Surgery and The American Society of Plastic Surgeons.

October is a time for pumpkins, hayrides, and, of course, all things pink. October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month; in the past 25 years, we have seen growing interest, awareness and support for eradicating this devastating disease. Pink is everywhere: in supermarkets, on sneakers, on NFL players, and even in the Georgia Aquarium, which is going pink this October. Has it made a difference? In 1982,

the five-year survival rate was just 74 percent (for breast cancers that hadn’t spread beyond the breast); today the survival rate for the same type of cancer is an amazing 98 percent. Back then, only about 30 percent of women over 40 received regular mammograms, compared to the nearly 75 percent who do today.1 Plastic surgeons have been privileged to help women as they navigate the waters of recovery and reconstruction from the effects of breast cancer surgery and take great pride in offering women an option to maintain some semblance of themselves, often at the beginning of their treatment and recovery process. Patients also need someone who will listen to their concerns and provide a steady arm of support during this trying time. It’s hard to find anyone these days that hasn’t been touched by breast cancer — we have within our own practice, unfortunately. That’s why we support the Susan G. Komen for the Cure foundation. Only with dedicated research will we see improvements in prevention and treatment that may someday wipe out breast cancer. We hope that eventually our surgical expertise in breast reconstruction won’t be needed. But until that day, women of all ages should focus on their breast health. Regular mammograms are imperative for early detection, but aren’t usually recommended until after 40 years old. Self-exams (which have not proven to statistically improve the detection rate) do help women understand the continued on page 49 AroundAbout WALTON | October 2011

Health & Wellness

Your Child Safety Questions Answered by Dr. Eva Montgomery-McGuire

Eva MontgomeryMcGuire M.D. is a pediatrician with WellStar Pediatrics -East Cobb, 3939 Roswell Road, Suite 300. Contact her at (770) 578-2868.

How do I know what size bike is safe for my child to ride? Don’t buy a bike so that your child can “grow into it.” Oversized bikes are especially dangerous because your child can lose control and be injured. Your child should be able to sit on the seat, with hands on the handlebars, and place the balls of their feet on the ground. Straddling the center bar, the child should be able to stand with both feet flat on the ground with about one-inch clearance between the crotch and the bar.

“

Your child needs to wear a bicycle helmet on every bike ride ...

Your child’s first bike should also be equipped with footbrakes, since your child’s hand muscles and coordination are not mature enough to control hand brakes. Your child needs to wear a bicycle helmet on every bike ride, no matter how short or close to home. At what age is it safe for kids to sleep in bunk beds? Children under six should not be allowed to sleep in the top bunk because they may not be able to climb down safely or stop themselves from falling out. Also, remember that bunk beds can be dangerous. A child sleeping on the top bunk can fall out, and a child sleeping on the bottom bunk can be injured by another child falling on him or her. The bunk bed should be placed in the corner of the room so that there are walls on two sides to decrease the likelihood of a child falling out. Guardrails should be placed along the top bunk. A ladder should be firmly attached to the top bunk and a nightlight put in the room so the ladder will be visible. At what age should children begin swim lessons? Previously, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) advised that children were not developmentally ready for formal swimming lessons until after their fourth birthday. The AAP recently made a decision to revise their policy statement on drowning prevention. This decision was based on information and research from the World Health Organization. In addition, a study published by the National Institute of Child and Health Development concluded that swimming lessons do not increase the risk of drowning in one to four year olds and may in fact reduce the risk of drowning in this age group. Parents and caregivers should always supervise children playing in and around water and use touch supervision (by keeping 34

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children within an arm’s reach at all times) for children younger than five. Also, never allow young children and those who cannot swim to use inflatable pool toys as flotation devices. How do we childproof the in-ground pool in our backyard? Pool fences are the best way to provide pool safety. A fence should completely surround the pool and separate it from the house and the rest of the yard. It should be climb resistant and should not have anything alongside, such as lawn furniture, that can be used to climb it. The fence should have no more than four inches between vertical slats, and the distance between the bottom of the fence to the ground should be less than four inches. Chain-link fences are very easy to climb and are not recommended. A fence should be well-maintained, self-closing and self-latching, and it should only open away from the pool. The latch should be higher than a child can reach, at least 54 inches above the bottom of the gate. Additional products can be used but should not be a substitute for a fence. They include: • Automatic pool covers that cover the entire pool (Make sure no standing water is on the top of the cover) • Door alarms • Doors to the house that are self closing, self-latching • Window guards • Pool alarms

they find. HealthSource® uses some of the newest treatments and technology. Spinal adjustments are often used along with other types of therapy such as neuromuscular reeducation, electrical stimulation, cold laser, non-surgical spinal decompression (NSSD), and light therapy. Daniel F. Martin, D. C. (Doctor of Chiropractic) owns the HealthSource® Chiropractic and Progressive Rehab™ Office located at 3036 Roswell Road, Marietta. HealthSource® Chiropractic has been caring for patients in our community since 1996. What sets HealthSource® Chiropractic care apart from others is that it designs a customized treatment program that gets the patient out of pain quickly and then keeps the patient pain free for the long run, allowing patients to return to activities the pain has limited or stopped. Doctors of Chiropractic treat many problems, but focus mainly on conditions that affect muscles, joints and nerves. In order to fully meet his patients’ needs, Dr. Martin has added a new associate, Dr. Van Tran. The patient’s care begins with a diagnostic consultation with Dr. Martin and his team. They use computerized muscle testing, range of motion studies, x-rays and more to determine what is causing the pain. They design a program to address the problems

Chronic back pain and sciatica are treated with NSSD at HealthSource®, eliminating the need for surgery, drugs or injections. By removing the pressure on the spine, NSSD gives patients powerful pain reduction. HealthSource® also offers treatment of peripheral neuropathy (PN). Dr. Martin and his team, as members of Neuropathy Treatment Centers of America, are trained to diagnose and treat PN patients with light therapy. After getting the patient out of pain, the treatment program will begin “active” therapies to fix the underlying problem. This is Progressive Rehab™. Therapeutic exercises and neuromuscular reeducation along with spinal or extremity adjustments are used. Dr. Martin and his staff believe it is easier to stay healthy than to get back to health. HealthSource® will explain what you need to do to keep and reach your optimum health through preventive and wellness care. Don’t suffer any longer. Pick up the phone and call HealthSource® Chiropractic and Progressive Rehab™ at (770) 578-0785. Dr. Martin, Dr. Tran and the whole HealthSource® team are ready to help you become pain free and living the healthy life that you want.

AroundAbout WALTON | October 2011

Lifestyle Katie and Matt Brenckle

“Gather ‘Round”

Recipe Corner

This month’s recipes were submitted by Katie Brenckle. She and her husband Matt have been married three years and moved to the Walton community in 2010. Katie, originally from Marietta, attended Lassiter High School, and Matt is from New Orleans.

”I always say it’s a good thing I married someone who likes to eat because I enjoy cooking and trying new recipes far too often for our waistlines! Fortunately, we both make our way to LA Fitness often. I am a seasonal eater and associate certain food groups with different seasons. In my mind, Crock-Pot cooking is reserved for cool weather, just as the grill is reserved for summer nights. The Crock-Pot is the perfect way to create delicious food for a cold, winter evening or a crisp, fall football Saturday. Though I collect cookbooks, I find most of my recipes on cooking websites and blogs. My favorite sites are Skinny Taste (www.skinnytaste.com) and The Pioneer Woman (www.thepioneerwoman.com). I tweak most recipes based on ingredients I have or on my preferred taste, and I usually post the revised recipe on my own blog (www. taleofagrits.blogspot.com).

Chicken Fajitas

3-4 chicken breasts 1 jar of salsa 1 can of chicken broth 1 packet of fajita seasoning 2 large onions, sliced in 2-inch long slices 1-2 green peppers, sliced Pour last four ingredients on the chicken in the Crock-Pot. Cook on low for 8 hours. Shred chicken and serve with your favorite fajita toppings in tortillas.

AroundAbout WALTON | October 2011

On Labor Day, I pulled out my Crock-Pot and dusted it off, not having seen it since March. I tried out a new recipe for pulled pork barbecue and began plotting the many recipes I would try this fall and winter. I’m secretly hoping for another snowstorm, the perfect excuse to make Brunswick stew and let it simmer all day while the snow falls outside.” Here are two go-to recipes for the Crock-Pot! These are easy and are always a crowd-pleaser.

Pulled Pork BBQ 3-5 pounds of Pork Boston Butt IBC Root Beer Salt and Pepper Any kind of BBQ sauce. (I use Sticky Fingers Carolina Sweet) Season pork really well with salt and pepper. Put in the Crock-Pot. Pour root beer until the pork is halfway covered. Cook on high for 8 hours. At 4 hours, flip the pork over and add some more root beer. At 8 hours, shred the pork with two forks and coat with your favorite barbeque sauce.

AroundAbout WALTON | October 2011

Schools & Sports

Guiding Students through WHS and Beyond There are six guidance counselors at Walton High School (WHS). appointments to speak with their counselor anytime they have These counselors are assigned students alphabetically by last questions or concerns. The counselors also act as liaison between name and this allows the student to have the same guidance teachers and parents. counselor for all four years, if no staff changes occur. The WHS counselors like the continuity that it gives the student and The Guidance Department plays a vital role as students make families, as siblings will have the same counselor. Currently, post-secondary choices. At WHS, 99 percent of the students each counselor has approximately 430 students. WHS has six go on to college. In the fall, counselors assist seniors with counselors who are assigned to students based on their last college applications and write many recommendations for names: Laura Clary, Paula Ferguson, Donna Dunham, Anne students. Juniors and seniors are encouraged to use the College Carlson, Pam Lavangie and Christine Wise. Assistant Principal Corner, located in the Guidance Department, where they can Catherine Mallanda oversees the Guidance Department as part of use computers to research colleges and scholarships, begin the her curriculum management duties. admissions process, work on applications and essays, and borrow Department Chair Anne Carlson said that each counselor feels publications. The class of 2011 earned $4.9 million in additional like every student at WHS is her student to guide. All counselors scholarships over the amount earned for the Hope Scholarship and provide services in the the Guidance Department classroom. The focus for processed 7,500 college each grade is different. applications for students. For ninth grade, the focus Cheryl Lenenski is the is on study skills and College Corner advisor and organization, and the helps both students and sophomore year focuses parents on this journey. on career choices and She posts weekly updates post secondary options in to the department’s blog, Georgia. The counselors which posts information introduce the website about scholarships. GAcollege411.org to help More than 250 college the sophomores begin to representatives visit WHS see the choices available personally to speak with after high school. In interested students, and the junior year, college Cheryl coordinates this selection is the focus and activity. for seniors, counselors Walton High School Guidance Department Additionally, the focus on college selection, Front row (left to right): Laura Clary, Paula Ferguson, Donna Dunham, Melissa department employs applications, financial aid Schrenk and Patti Rose. Back row: Cheryl Lenenski, Anne Carlson, Christine Wise, Karen Schwartz, Melissa and scholarships in the fall. Pam LaVangie and Assistant Principal Catherine Mallanda. Schrenk and Patti Rose. WHS shares Karen Schwartz, the school social worker with The Guidance Department conducts parent nights each school Dodgen Middle School and Timber Ridge, Mt. Bethel and Eastside year for each grade to keep parents informed including a night for Elementary Schools. She helps connect families with outside parents of eighth graders in the spring. The Probe College Fair is hosted by the Guidance Department each fall and this year 165 community resources. She monitors attendance and takes action colleges, universities, and technical institutions attended the Fair when there is a need. The Guidance Department Records room is held at North Point Mall. A Financial Aid parent meeting is held staffed by Melissa Schrenk and maintains student transcripts and each year to help parents and students take on the sometimes other records. Patti Rose is Catherine Mallanda’s Administrative daunting task of paying for college. Assistant and supports the entire Guidance Department. The WHS Guidance Department is driven by student needs. Last Each student has a personal advisement meeting with his or year when there were significant changes made to the Hope her counselor, homeroom teacher and parent(s) in ninth grade Scholarship, the department spoke to the students in their in February to determine the student’s curriculum path for the classrooms and held a special meeting at night for parents to next three years. In October of a student’s junior year, another explain the changes. Using department resources and working personal advisement meeting takes place with his/her counselor, together, the counselors address academic, social, emotional and homeroom teacher and parent(s) to be sure that the student is career needs for all WHS students. on track to meet graduation requirements. Students can make 38

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Schools & Sports

Photos by C & W Photography

AroundAbout WALTON | October 2011

Schools & Sports

TaeKwonDo by Miranda Ludovice

I started Tae Kwon Do a little over three years ago, but at the time, I had little interest in it. It simply was something to try. My best friend at the time had enjoyed Tae Kwon Do when she was very young, but my only encounter with martial arts had been a tormenting karate class that I tried when I was five. Never before had I had much interest in any sort of sport. I could not do a cartwheel in gymnastics; I never ever hit the ball in volleyball; soccer and football only meant a ball to my face or back. Even my annual summer swim team was quickly losing its appeal. Why would Tae Kwon Do be any different? Still despite my doubts, I agreed to a trial class to appease my eager friend and brother. To this day, I still remember that trial class vividly. I remember the strong disinfectant smell that filled the whole room. I remember the music on the radio. I remember how strange I felt standing there in street clothes while everyone else was in the same uniform. Most of all, I remember how much I loved it. In my following classes, I worked harder physically than I had ever worked before. I discovered how much sweat really resides in my pores. I found aches in muscles I did not know I had. I fell so often I knew what the ceiling looked like better than the floor. Every day I went to class, I felt my stomach flutter and clench with nerves. Still I loved it. With every class, I grew a little stronger and a little more confident. Tae Kwon Do gave me confidence, strength, endurance, determination, coordination and many more things I 42

AroundAbout WALTON | October 2011

Miranda Ludovice is a junior at Walton High School and the daughter of Jennifer Clair and Pete Ludovice.

cannot explain. I have met amazing people that I would not have otherwise encountered. Tae Kwon Do brought me through multiple struggles and changes in my life. I made the transition to high school, and made it through two subsequent years. I adjusted from having the security of my best friend and brother always by my side, to facing my martial arts classes alone. I, somehow, found the courage to leave the familiarity of my first martial arts school when the classes no longer held my interest. The most important thing I have learned is never to

let my fears or insecurities stop me from trying. Before this year, I never really thought much about earning my black belt. I did not reach the rank of black belt because I craved a title or felt pressured simply to continue. I reached black belt because I have a passion for Tae Kwon Do. I hope that Tae Kwon Do will lead me through many more struggles and triumphs in my life to come. Black belt is not the end of my journey, but simply a new step.

AroundAbout WALTON | October 2011

Feature

Rock-A-Thon

Rock-a-thon is the Walton High School (WHS) Band, Color Guard and Orchestraâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s major fundraiser of the year. The students ask local businesses and patrons for support. A book of sponsors is compiled and distributed to the families of the 500 band, color guard and orchestra students. Every student who collects at least $100 is invited to the Rock-a-thon Celebration. This yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s theme was Harry Potter, and the students entered a transformed WHS into Hogwarts Academy. The party started at 11 p.m. and lasted until 6 a.m. The students enjoyed many activities including rolling in giant hamster balls, jumping onto an inflated slide, playing Quidditch, singing karaoke, watching Harry Potter films and eating chocolate frogs and consuming butter beer (non-alcoholic, of course).

AroundAbout WALTON | October 2011

celebration

Timber Ridge Elementary Earns National Award Timber Ridge Elementary School has been named a National Blue Ribbon School for 2011. This award is given by the United States Department of Education. A school has to be nominated by its state Department of Education to be considered for this award. The U. S. Department of Education looked at data collected at Timber Ridge for the past seven years. Principal Dr. Tracie Doe was asked last winter to submit data from standardized test scores and explanations of the focus in every content level for all grades. The U. S. Department of Education is looking for steady progress towards a high level of achievement and then maintenance of achievement reached by the school. The U. S. Department of Education also looks closely at the test data to see that the gap in achievement is closing within all student groups. To be named a National Blue Ribbon School is the highest honor that a private or public school can earn in our country. After learning Timber Ridge had been selected for 2011, Dr. Doe said, “I want everybody to know that the credit for this honor goes to the incredible staff, amazing students and supportive community of Timber Ridge.” Timber Ridge has a staff of 83 and an enrollment of 630 students this year, which is the largest enrollment since the school opened in 1990. The community support includes parental involvement at home and school, the TRE Parent Teacher Association, the Timber Ridge Foundation and Timber Ridge’s Partners in Education.

Dickerson Middle School Holds Shoe Drive

Dr. Doe, principal, pictured with current 5th grade students of Timber Ridge Elementary. Front row (left to right): Anisa Handa, Emme Benoit, Anna Blake Langley and Ava Grimes. Second Row: Alex Eaton, Sunjay Shanker, Declan Loughlin, Leland Burrows and Molly Dopfel. Back row: Trey Ealy, Dr. Tracie Doe, Jodie Smith and Drew Michalek.

Nationwide, 305 schools earned the designation of 2011 National Blue Ribbon School. These schools included 256 public and 49 private elementary, middle and high schools. Timber Ridge was one of nine schools selected across the state of Georgia. In November, Dr. Doe and Patti Aasen, Instructional Support Teacher at Timber Ridge, will travel to Washington, D.C. to accept the award. Congratulations to all who helped earn this special distinction.

Dickerson Middle School Chorus at the Braves Game

The Environmental Club of Dickerson Middle School recently held its fourth annual Reuse A Shoe Drive. As parents dropped off students in the carpool line, they could drop off shoes and gently used shirts to be collected by volunteers right from the car. The club collected for the Big Peach Outreach – S³ (shoes, shirts, service) to share our abundance of outgrown shoes and shirts with others. Susan Villanueva, co-chair of the PTSA Environmental and Recycling Committee who sponsor the club said that more than 500 pairs of shoes were collected and would go to local shelters first and when those needs were met, sent globally.

Left to right: DMS student Elise Hoffmann, parent volunteer Kari Hoffmann, PTSA Environmental Committee Co-Chair Susan Villanueva, and DMS student Ruth Aaron.

The Dickerson Middle School Chorus was invited to perform the National Anthem at the last regular season Braves baseball game. AroundAbout WALTON | October 2011

Schools & Sports

Catherine Leftwich’s fourth grade class at Brown Elementary School after participating in a science lesson with The Science Chain, Inc. and Eka Chemical employees. Eka employee Fredrick Clark stands between the Science Chain founder Joan Griffith (left) and Brown Elementary School teacher Catherine Leftwich (right) while Eka employees Jennifer Riser (left) and Pam Tanous (right) sit with the fourth graders.

Enriching Students Through The Science Chain In 2008, Walton resident Joan Griffith began teaching at Mt. Bethel Elementary School in the Science Lab. The Science Lab is a special program funded by the Mt. Bethel Elementary School Foundation (MBESF). The Foundation provides funds for the teacher, equipment and lab supplies. In the Science Lab, students take part in hands-on experiments that follow the established Cobb County curriculum standards. At Mt. Bethel, students in Kindergarten through fifth grade attend Science Lab on a regular rotation with other specials like Art, Music and Physical Education. The impact on the students is seen on a daily basis as they come into class saying, “We love science” and “we want to be scientists.” Science careers are one of the fastest growing employment categories according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, which is why there is an increased emphasis in school on science. According to Joan, in 46

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1975 the United States was third in the world for students pursing natural science and engineering degrees and now, the U.S. is 17th in the world. After teaching in the Science Lab for two years, Joan realized the need for programs like this in economically disadvantaged schools. She decided to create a nonprofit organization called The Science Chain, Inc. whose mission is “to link students, educators, scientists, businesses, government and the community together with financially disadvantaged schools to provide interactive and accessible science education.” The science will be taught with a focus on sustainability and environmental awareness and responsibility. Joan approached Eka Chemicals with her science education proposal. Eka Chemicals is a pulp and paper chemicals business whose North American headquarters is located here in Marietta. Their parent company is AkzoNobel. In

January of 2011, Eka Chemicals agreed to provide The Science Chain with $30,000 over the next three years as well as a team to work with the science teacher to connect the real world with classroom science. Eka is investing in the future of their workforce and the community. The support provided by Eka made this dream of science education a reality. The first school chosen to receive this new program is Brown Elementary, here in Cobb County. As the new school year begins, Joan will have the opportunity to teach students at Brown the hands-on science that she continues to teach part-time at Mt. Bethel Elementary. Joan lives here in the Walton community with her daughter Anna, a freshmen at Walton High School and her son, Matthew, a sixth grader at Dickerson Middle School. Others interested in supporting The Science Chain, Inc. please contact Joan at (770) 309-3153 or email her at joan. griffith@thesciencechain.org.

SCHOOL INFORMATION

Elementary Schools

Private Schools

East Side Elementary School 3850 Roswell Road, Marietta, GA 30062 (770) 578-7200 Principal: Elizabeth Mavity Mount Bethel Elementary School 1210 Johnson Ferry Road, Marietta, GA 30068 (770) 578-7248 Principal: Joan Johnson Murdock Elementary School 2320 Murdock Road, Marietta, GA 30062 (770) 509-5071 Principal: Cynthia Hanauer Sope Creek Elementary School 3320 Paper Mill Road SE, Marietta, GA 30067 (770) 916-7085 Principal: Martha Whalen Timber Ridge Elementary School 5000 Timber Ridge Road, Marietta, GA 30068 (770) 642-5621 Principal: Dr. Tracie Doe

Middle Schools Dickerson Middle School 855 Woodlawn Drive, Marietta, GA 30068 (770) 578-2710 Principal: Carole Brink Dodgen Middle School 1725 Bill Murdock Road, Marietta, GA 30062 (770) 578-2726 Principal: Robin Lattizori

High School Walton High School 1590 Bill Murdock Road, Marietta, GA 30062 (770) 578-3225 Principal: Judy McNeill

School Websites: School District Website Pinnacle Picasso Meal Pay

East Cobb Christian School At East Cobb Presbyterian Church 4616 Roswell Road, Marietta, GA 30062 (770) 565-0881, www.eccs.org Grades: K — 8 Principal: Teresa Staley Eastside Christian School 2450 Lower Roswell Road, Marietta, GA 30068 (770) 971-2332, www.eastsidechristianschool.com Grades: K – 8 Head of School: Judy Cripps Faith Lutheran School 2111 Lower Roswell Road, Marietta, GA 30068 (770) 973-8921, www.FaithLCMS.org Grades: Pre-K – 8 Principal: Jack Hibbs

2011 — 2012 School Calendar October 24-28

School Holiday

November 8

Student Holiday

November 21-25

Thanksgiving Holiday

December 23

Student Holiday

December 26-30

Mt. Bethel Christian Academy 4385 Lower Roswell Road Marietta, GA 30068 (770) 971-0245, www.mtbethelchristian.org Grades: K – 8 Head of School: Jim Callis Lower School Principal: Vivian Lovett Middle School Principal: Jack Grimm

Omega Private Academy 2960 Shallowford Road, Marietta, GA 30066 (770) 529-1717,www.Omegaprivateacademy.com Grades K – 12, Certified Teachers, SACS Accredited/GSNS Approved Director: Kathy Keeton

January 16

Shreiner Academy 1340 Terrell Mill Road, Marietta, GA 30067 (770) 953-1340, www.shreiner.com Grades: Toddler – 8 Director: Sarah Walker

April 2-6

Woodacres School 1772 Johnson Ferry Road , Marietta, GA 30062 (770) 971-1880, www.woodacresschool.org Grades: Pre-K – 8 Head of School: Judy T. Thigpen

Winter Holiday

January 2-6

Winter Holiday

January 9

Student Holiday MLK Day Holiday

February 20

Pres. Day Holiday Spring Holiday

May 24

Last Day of School

www.cobbk12.org https://pinnacle.cobbk12.org/Pinnacle www.cobbk12.org/centraloffice/picasso www12.mealpayplus.com AroundAbout WALTON | October 2011

Faith

Facing Family Rejection by Bryant Wright “So it came about, that when Joseph reached his brothers, that they stripped Joseph of his tunic, the varicolored tunic that was on him; they took him and they threw him into the pit.” Genesis 37:23

Bryant Wright is the Senior Pastor of Johnson Ferry Baptist Church and the founder and chairman of Right from the Heart Ministries. He currently serves as the President of the Southern Baptist Convention. He can be reached at (770) 9736561 ext. 2962.

Though we all experience rejection in life, nothing cuts more deeply than rejection from your family. Maybe your siblings have turned their backs on you. Perhaps your spouse has divorced you. Or maybe your adult children have built an angry wall towards you. Joseph experienced this ultimate rejection when his own brothers sold him into slavery. And Jesus knew painful rejection as he heard the very people He had been sent to redeem screaming Crucify Him!

AroundAbout WALTON | October 2011

“

No matter how much the rejection hurts, and no matter how deep your pain, never give up. It is so easy to just give up when rejected by those who know us best. But a horrible tragedy occurs when we just give up. We miss out on the incredible plans God has for us upon overcoming that family rejection. No matter how much the rejection hurts, and no matter how deep your pain, never give up. No matter what kind of hatred and rejection you have faced, God can overrule all of that to fulfill His plan for your life – just as He did with Joseph and Jesus. That’s the message of the story of Joseph. It’s the message of the story of Jesus. Trust in God can help us overcome any family rejection. Copyrighted material. Used by permission of Right From The Heart Ministries, Marietta, GA.

School Bus Law Refresher

Avoid Cash Cycle Chaos

or concrete, but it has to be above street level. The new faux bricks they are installing in the median of Highway 9 north of Roswell would not qualify unless there is a raised concrete curb.

Returns have a similar effect on your cash flow. Retail experts report returns average from eight percent to ten percent of gross sales. Unless you can resell the goods, you must absorb the cost of those returns. Imagine what you could do if you could eliminate returns. Your revenues and profits would increase by eight to ten percent!

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Should you forget these rules, and you are cited for illegally passing a school bus, the penalties are severe. First, you will be required to make an appearance in court. You cannot phone in your credit card information to pay the fine or stop by the court on your lunch break. You must appear before the judge. If I am not mistaken, every current judge on the State Court Traffic Division bench has at least one child. They will have that in mind while talking to you about your traffic violation. Second, you will pay a fine up to $1,000 – the maximum allowed for most typical traffic offenses. Third, you will receive six (6) points on your license. A total of 15 points over the course of 24 months will result in your license being suspended. The legislature takes this very seriously. By contrast, reckless driving only carries four (4) points on your license. If you are under the age of 21 when you are convicted, your license will be suspended automatically regardless of points and you will lose your driving privilege.

For Prevention Wear Pink continued from page 33

changes in their bodies. Antioxidant-rich foods like berries, broccoli, almonds, apples and red beans can also help the body fight off cancer-causing free radicals. Healthy digestion and a fiber-rich diet are critical to good overall health because fiber helps pull toxins and excess hormones out of the digestive system. And the list goes on. So this October, wear pink and support worthwhile charities but, more importantly, become educated on the many ways to help prevent breast cancer in the first place. Marietta Plastic Surgery is hosting an Open House on October 19, 5 - 8 p.m. at the Woodstock location to showcase its newest office and share information about facial, breast and body procedures. Guests can participate in event-only specials, hourly raffles, earn a chance to win a $1,000 practice gift card and help support Susan G. Komen for the Cure. RSVP by 10/12/11 at openhouse@mariettaplasticsurgery.com. 1. Statistics from Susan G. Komen for the Cure, www.komen.org.

It’s time to send us your Homecoming pictures! Email to lynne@aroundaboutmagazines.com.

Deadline is October 28 Please identify people in photo from left to right.

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So how you do keep your customers happy? Here are my fab five suggestions: • Love What You Do: Enthusiastic employers and employees are the most important determinant of customer satisfaction. Be a positive role model, and train your employees well. • Hear Your Customers: A good conversation involves more than smiling and nodding your head while the client rambles. Ferret out problems and discover the true value of your goods and services to customers. Illustrate for them how you resolve their challenges. • Be Generous: Give away something for free. It could be a trinket, such as a pad or pen, or it could be a little of your time. Consultants, offer some advice for free. Become your client’s problem solving partner. • Exceed Expectations: Promise what you can deliver, then deliver more. Be on time and under budget. None of us like surprises so take care not to blind side your customers. • Say Thank You: We need our clients, and we should tell them that. Thank them at the time of the sale, and follow up with notes and special offers. Make your clients your partners in success. Need a few examples of who does this well? Zogby International recently conducted a study for MSN Money and identified the ten most customer service friendly companies. Four have outlets in the Walton area: UPS, FedEx, Publix and Trader Joe’s. Well done!

The Best Time to Remodel Your Kitchen continued from page 24

New cabinets also add personality to the kitchen, and several brands of stylish, quality wood cabinets are now an affordable option. Plus, many companies now offer free upgrades, such as glazing. Unique cabinet configurations can provide more storage space, such as special drawers for pots and pans, spices or canned goods. To get started on your dream kitchen, create a wish list of projects and obtain cost estimates from a remodeling contractor. Make sure your contractor is licensed, insured, has a long track record in the community and can provide you with a list of local referrals. Transform your house into your dream home…so you can enjoy it before you sell it. AroundAbout WALTON | October 2011

WALTON AREA Houses of Worship Anglican

Mt. Arbor Baptist Church 2235 Morgan Road, NE, (770) 971-9339

The Church of Our Redeemer 2625 Canton Road (770) 421-1928 Rector: Fr. James Danford www.ourredeemeracc.org

New Life Baptist Church 4010 Canton Road, (770) 592-6880 Pastor: Roger Brink www.thenewlife.org

Apostolic

New Providence Baptist Church 3740 Providence Road, (770) 971-3519 Pastor: Charles Whittaker www.newprovidencebc.com

Northside Apostolic Church 2115 Northfield Court, (770) 975-3001

Baha’i Faith Baha’i Faith of Marietta 2601 Sandy Plains Road, (770) 509-0070

Baptist Bible Baptist Church 2025 Eula Drive, NE, (770) 592-2660 Pastor: D.L. Cooper Chattahoochee Baptist Church 375 Johnson Ferry Road, (770) 977-2058 Pastor: Rick Shoup http://cbc.us.com Cornerstone Baptist Church 1506 Sawyer Road, (770) 422-3579 Pastor: Carl George Crossview Baptist Church 1100 Piedmont Road, (770) 973-0063 Pastor: John E. Johnson www.crossviewbaptist.org East Cobb Baptist Church 1940 Shallowford Road, (770) 928-2233 Pastor: David York Eastside Baptist Church 2450 Lower Roswell Road, (770) 971-2323 Pastor: Dr. David H. Chauncey www.ebcfamily.org Eastwood Baptist Church 1150 Allgood Road, (770) 973-9011 Pastor: Mike Hatton www.eastwoodbaptist.org Elizabeth Baptist Church 315 Kurtz Road, (770) 427-3325 Pastor: Steve Echols Galilee Baptist Church 2050 Bentley Lake Road, (770) 422-6487 Holt Road Baptist Church 675 Holt Road, NE, (770) 971-3052 www.holtroadbaptist.org Johnson Ferry Baptist Church 955 Johnson Ferry Road, (770) 973-6561 Pastor: Bryant Wright www.johnsonferry.org Liberty Hill Baptist Church 1053 Liberty Hill Road, NE, (770) 422-1406 Pastor: Amos Williams

AroundAbout WALTON | October 2011

Northside Primitive Baptist Church 5265 Roswell Road, (678)481-2793 Pastor: Jason Solomon www.northsidepbc.org Piedmont Baptist Church 570 Piedmont Road, Marietta, (770) 422-2566 www.piedmontchurch.tv Sandy Plains Baptist Church 2825 Sandy Plains Road, (770) 971-8525 Pastor: Dr. Alvin Southerland www.sandyplains.org

Sewell Mill Baptist Church 2550 Sewell Mill Road, (770) 971-3746 Pastor: David Watson www.sewellmill.org Shady Grove Baptist Church 1654 Bells Ferry Road, (770) 428-0216 Shallowford Free Will Baptist 1686 Shallowford Road, (770) 926-1163 Pastor: Len Blanchard www.shallowfordchurch.com

Catholic Holy Family Catholic Church 3401 Lower Roswell Road, (770) 973-0038 Pastor: Darragh Griffith www.holyfamilycc.org St. Ann’s Catholic Church 4905 Roswell Road, (770) 552-6400 Pastor: Tom Rielly www.st-ann.org Transfiguration Catholic Church 1815 Blackwell Road, (770) 977-1442 Pastor: Monsignor Patrick Bishop www.transfiguration.com

Christian Chestnut Ridge Christian Church 2663 Johnson Ferry Road, (770) 971-8888 Pastor: Byron Wells Northside Christian Church 3535 Shallowford Road, (770) 565-6613 Pastor: Jason Burchfield Walking By Faith Christian 1821 Kinridge Road, (678) 560-1144

Christian and Missionary Alliance Marietta Alliance Church 1787 E. Piedmont Road, (770) 973-2189 Pastor: David Hayes www.macweb.org

Christian Science Christian Science Churches & Reading Rooms 2641 Old Sewell Road, (770) 565-7271

Church of Christ Church of Christ at East Cobb 5240 Roswell Road, (770) 587-5888 Pastor: Ray Hawkins Church of Christ-Piedmont Road 1630 Piedmont Road, (770) 971-9933 Minister: Neil Richey www.pr-coc.com Emmanuel Tabernacle Christ Church 2692 Sandy Plains Road, #A32, (770) 422-3268 Pastor: Dwight Graves

Church of God Church of God of Prophecy 3393 Canton Road, (770) 427-5923 First Church of God 592 Shannon Drive, (770) 461-1925 Mount Paran North 1700 Allgood Road, (770) 578-9081 www.mtparan.com Town Center Church of God 1040 Blackwell Road, (770) 424-4004

Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints 3195 Trickum Road, NE, (770) 509-9074 Pastor: Bishop Ho Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints — Paper Mill Ward 95 Holt Road, (770) 578-8734

Community Churches Cobb Community Church at Highlands 4649 Sandy Plains Road, (770) 992-3330 Pastor: Alan Daniels www.cobbcc.com Shallowford Falls Community Church 3662 Shallowford Road, (770) 565-7468 Pastor: David White www.shallowfordfalls.com Vineyard Community Church 2692 Sandy Plains Road, #A25, (770) 565-1505 Pastor: Tommy Papevies

Episcopal Episcopal Church of St. Peter & St. Paul 1795 Johnson Ferry Road, (770) 977-7473 Rector: The Rev. Dr. Robert G. Certain www.peterandpaul.org Episcopal Church-Annunciation 1673 Jamerson Road, (770) 928-7916 Rev. Paul McCabe www.annunciationepiscopal.org St. Catherine’s Episcopal Church 571 Holt Road, NE, (770) 971-2839 Rev. Jim Nixon www.stcatherines.org

Greek Orthodox Holy Transfiguration Greek Orthodox Church 3431 Trickum Road, NE, (770) 924-8080 Rev. Father Panayiotis Papageorgiou www.HolyTransfiguration.info

Holy Trinity Lutheran Church 2922 Sandy Plains Road, (770) 971-4600 Pastor: Ronald Grunke www.holytrinitymarietta.org

Restoration Life Church 2692 Sandy Plains Road, (770) 509-1481 Pastor: Ken Kessler www.lifeschoolinternational.org

Lutheran Church of Incarnation 1200 Indian Hills Parkway, (770) 971-2738 Pastor: Rev. Jerry Reynolds www.lcilutheran.org

Orthodox

Lutheran Church of Resurrection 4814 Paper Mill Road, (770) 953-3193 www.lcrmarietta.org

Methodist East Cobb United Methodist 2325 Roswell Road, (770) 971-3643 Pastor: Brian Germano www.eastcobbumc.org

St. Elizabeth Orthodox Church 2263 East Cherokee Drive, (770) 485-0504 Priest Frederick Watson www.stelizabethga.org

Presbyterian Christ Presbyterian Church 495 Terrell Mill Road, (770) 956-7572 Pastor: Legree Finch www.christpreschurch.org

Jehovah’s Witness

Mount Bethel United Methodist Church 4385 Lower Roswell Road, (770) 971-2880 www.mtbethel.org

East Cobb Presbyterian 4616 Roswell Road, (770) 973-4114 Pastor: Richard Holmes www.ecpca.org

Jehovah’s Witness 2065 Bells Ferry Road, (770) 427-1881 Pastor: Hope Torkornoo www.watchtower.org

Mountain View United Methodist 2300 Jamerson Road, (770) 928-0050 Pastor: Bill Burch www.mvumc.org

Eastminster Presbyterian Church 3125 Sewell Mill Road, (770) 977-2976 Pastor: Dr. Tim McConnell www.epres.org

Jewish

Mt. Zion United Methodist Church 1770 Johnson Ferry Road, (770) 971-1465 Pastor: Dr. Joe Peabody www.mtzionumc.org

Geneva Orthodox Presbyterian 3605 Sandy Plains Road #240-161, (404) 786-9815 Pastor: John Fesko www.genevaopc.org

Congregation Etz Chaim 1190 Indian Hills Pkwy, (770) 973-0137 Rabbis Shalom Lewis and Paul Kerbel www.etzchaim.net

Powers Ferry United Methodist Church 245 Powers Ferry Road, (770) 973-5271 Pastor: Jane Nugent www.powerumc.com

Hope Presbyterian Church 4101 Sandy Plains Road, (770) 971-4673 Pastor: Martin Hawley www.hopepca.org

Temple Kol Emeth 1415 Old Canton Road, (770) 973-9205 Rabbi: Stephen Lebow www.kolemeth.net

Sacred Tapestry UMC 3000 Johnson Ferry Road, (770) 605-5083 www.sacredtapestry.com

John Knox Presbyterian Church 505 Powers Ferry Road, (770) 973-5050 Pastor: Fritz Bogar www.johnknoxpcmarietta.org

Korean

St. Andrew United Methodist Church 3455 Canton Road, (770) 926-4961

Bethany Korean Presbyterian Multi-cultural (Korean, Brazilian and American) 4644 Sandy Plains Road, (770) 643-1459 Pastor: Byeongho Choi www.bethanykorean.org

St. Paul United Methodist Church 244 Kurtz Road, (770) 422-1089 Pastor: Dana Overton-Garrett

Chabad of East Cobb 4450 Lower Roswell Road, (770) 565-4412

Korean Covenant Presbyterian 2100 Sandy Plains Road, (770) 565-4777 Pastor: Paul Sim www.sungyahk.org Korean United Methodist Church 945 Old Canton Road, (770) 321-0020

Lutheran Beautiful Savior Lutheran Church 2240 Shallowford Road, (770) 928-7919 Pastor: John Guse www.bslc.us Faith Lutheran Church 2111 Lower Roswell Road, (770) 973-8877 Pastor: Carl Schneidert www.faithLCMS.org

Wesley Chapel United Methodist 4495 Sandy Plains Road, (770) 993-4919 Pastor: Jim Bocian www.wesleychapelumc.com

Non-Denominational Marietta Vineyard Church 1492 Roswell Road, (770) 977-9496 Pastor: Jeremy Graves www.mariettavineyard.org North Atlanta Church

Ray-Thomas Memorial Presbyterian Church 4644 Sandy Plains Road, (770) 998-9321 Pastor: Carrie Scott www.rtmchurch.org

Unitarian Universalist Emerson Unitarian Universalist 2799 Holly Springs Road, NE, (770) 578-1533 Pastor: Rev. Jeff Jones

United Church of Christ Pilgrimage Church UCC 3755 Sandy Plains Road, (770) 971-0007 Pastor: Kimberleigh Buchanan www.pilgrimageucc.org

2800 Johnson Ferry Road, (770) 518-0303

Unity

Overcomers World Church

Unity North Atlanta Church

2300 Shallowford Road, (770) 924-0607 Pastors: Allison and Isaac Crawford overcomerswc.org

4255 Sandy Plains Road, (678) 819-9100 Temporary Minister: Stephanie Seigh www.unitynorth.org AroundAbout WALTON | October 2011

Reference

WALTON AREA CLUBS & ORGANIZATIONS Business Organizations

Contact: www.aauwcobb.org

APICS, The Association for Operations Management Meeting: 3rd Tuesday for 5:30 p.m. networking; 6:15 - 8 p.m. dinner & speaker Location: Villa Christina, 4000 Summit Blvd, Atlanta Contact: www.atlantaapics.org or programs@ apicsatlanta.org

Cobb County WWII Veterans Meeting: 2nd Tuesday at 1 p.m. Location: Windy Hill Senior Center

East Cobb Business Association Meeting: 3rd Tuesday at 11:30 a.m. Contact: Susan Hampton, (404) 218-6216 www.eastcobbba.com East Cobb Open Networking A referral network for professionals Meeting: Fridays at 7:30 a.m. Location: Capozzi’s NY Deli, 4285 Roswell Road Contact: Tim Langley, (770) 289-9711 East Cobb PowerCore Team Meeting: Thursdays at 7 a.m. Location: IHOP, 3130 Johnson Ferry Road Contact: Mitch Lovell, (770) 851-8549 Northeast Cobb Business Association Meeting: Third Wednesday at 11:30 a.m. Location: Piedmont Church, 570 Piedmont Road Contact: crba@cantonroadba.org or (678) 229-2893 www.northeastcobbba.org Y Business Network Y membership not required. Meeting: Every other Friday, 7:30-8:45 a.m. Location: Northeast Cobb Y, 3010 Johnson Ferry Road Contact: Rosemary Macmillan, (678) 569-9622

Charitable Organizations Aloha To Aging, Inc. Support Programs for Seniors and their families. Contact: Dawn Reed, (678) 439-1177 Animals Deserve Better, Inc. Animal rescue and adoptions Contact: Kimberly Brenowitz, (770) 402-0297 kimberlyadb@aol.com Boys and Girls Clubs Contact: (770) 427-0418 Foundation for Hospital Art Contact: Scott Feight (678) 324-1695 www.hospitalart.org Meals on Wheels Contact: Shelia Perkins, (770) 528-5381 MUST Ministries Contact: (770) 426-7667 SafePath Children’s Advocacy Center, Inc. Contact: Elizabeth Underwood (770) 801-3465

Civic Organizations American Legion Post 29 Meeting: 2nd and 4th Wednesday and Saturday at 11 a.m.. Location: 921 Gresham Ave. NE. Contact: (770) 427-5900 Cobb American Association of University Women Meeting: 2nd Tuesday at 7 p.m.

AroundAbout WALTON | October 2011

East Cobb AARP Meeting: 1st Thursday at 1:30 p.m. Location: East Cobb Senior Center 3332 Sandy Plains Road East Cobb Civic Association Meeting: Last Wednesday at 7 p.m. Location: Government Services Center 4400 Lower Roswell Road Contact: Eric Flamm, President www.eastcobb.net East Cobb Civitans Meeting: 2nd and 4th Thursdays at 12 noon Location: Old Towne Athletic Club, Marietta Contact: Mary Karras, (770) 422-6485 East Cobb Community Friends for Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta Meeting: 3rd Tuesday at 7:30 p.m. Contact: Suzanne Strickland, (770) 992-2882 East Cobb Lions Club Meeting: 2nd and 4th Tuesdays at 7 p.m. Location: Eastside Baptist Church 2450 Lower Roswell Road, Marietta Contact: Susan Hampton, (404) 218-6216 East Cobb Optimist Clubs Meeting: Mondays at 7 p.m. Location: Shillings on the Square 19 N. Park Square NE, Marietta Contact: Jim David, (404) 683-0196 Kiwanis Club of East Cobb Meetings: Wednesdays at 7 p.m. Location: Paradise South of the Border 3605 Sandy Plains Rd. Contact: Johnny Johnson, (770) 977-2026 www.eastcobbkiwanis.org Kiwanis Club of Marietta — Golden K Meetings: Thursdays at 10 a.m. Location: East Cobb Senior Center 3332 Sandy Plains Rd. Contact: Joe Van Horn, Sr., (770) 428-3419 gajosbarb@comcast.net League of Women Voters of Marietta-Cobb Meeting : 2nd Monday Location: Various Contact: mariettacobb@lwvga.org or Elizabeth at (770) 592-0625 President’s Club Toastmasters Meeting: 1st, 3rd, and 5th Wednesdays at 7 p.m. Location: East Cobb Government Services Building, 4400 Lower Roswell Road Contact: Sean Ryan, sean_ryan@comcast.net Rotary Club of East Cobb Meeting: Wednesdays at 7 — 8 a.m. Location: Indian Hills Country Club Contact: (770) 971-2605 www.eastcobbrotary.com

VFW Post 2681 Location: 140 Powers Ferry Road Contact: (770) 977-2088 www.vfwwebcom.org/ga/post2681

Political Organizations Cobb County Democratic Party Committee Meeting: 2nd Saturday at 9 a.m. Location: Piccadilly Cafeteria, 536 Cobb Parkway Contact: (770) 420-7133 ccdc@cobbdemocrat.com Cobb Democratic Women Meeting: 2nd Thursday at 6 p.m. Contact: Beverly McMurry, (770) 426-6916 btmcmurray@comcaStreet.net Cobb Young Democrats Meeting: Wednesdays at 12 noon Contact: webmaster@ydcobb.org www.ydcobb.org Cobb County Libertarian Party Meeting: 1st Thursday at 7:30 p.m. Location: Council Chamber Marietta City Hall Contact: Ted Skirvin, (770) 795-1331 www.cobblp.org Cobb County Republican Party Meeting: 1st Saturday at 8:30 a.m. Location: Williamson Bros. BBQ, Marietta Contact: (770) 421-1833, scottj@applebank.net www.cobbgop.org Cobb County Republican Women Meeting: 4th Friday at 11:30 a.m. Location: Marietta Conference Center 500 Powder Springs Street Contact: (770) 785-2522, www.ccrwc.org East Cobb Democratic Alliance Meeting: 3rd Thursday at 7 p.m. Location: Delkwood Grill, 2769 Delk Rd. Contact: Tom Barksdale (770) 592-9424

Recreation and Hobbies American Needlepoint Guild Meeting: 2nd Tuesday at 6:45 p.m. Location: Mountainview Library, 3320 Sandy Plains Road Contact: Penny Boswinkle, (770) 394-0065 Bridge Club Meeting: Mon. – Fri. 10:30 a.m., Mon. – Sat. 7:30 p.m. Location: 1089 Roswell Road Contact: (770) 973-7717 Cobb Alley Cats People who help stray cats Contact: Sue Verner, (770) 436-6758 Cobb County Special Olympics Contact: (770) 819-3223 www.prca.cobbcoga.org Cobb County Stamp Club Meeting: 2nd Sunday at 1:30 p.m. Location: Jewish Towers, 3160 Howell Mill Rd Meeting: 4th Sunday at 1:30 p.m. Central Cobb Library, 266 Roswell St.

Contact: C. Rejent, (770) 330-0790 crejent@stampsclubs.com www.stampclubs.com/cobb Dog Hikers of Georgia Meeting: Sundays at 10 a.m. Contact: Dan Batchelor, (770) 992-2362 Sope Creek Garden Club Meeting: 1st Wednesday at 10 a.m. Contact: Karin Guzy, (770) 955-1303

Support Groups Al-Anon Meeting: Thursdays at 7:30 p.m. Location: Johnson Ferry Baptist Church 955 Johnson Ferry Road Contact: (770) 794-2978 www.johnsonferry.org/counseling Alzheimer’s/Caregiver Support Group Meeting: 1st Monday at 10:30 Location: the Mt. Bethel Community Center, 4608 Lower Roswell Road Contact: (678) 439-1177 Alzheimer’s/Dementia Support Group Meeting: 2nd Wednesday at 10:30 a.m. Location: Savannah Court, 866 Johnson Ferry Road Contact: Derin White, (770) 977-4420

Diabetes Support Group Contact: Wellstar, (770) 793-7828 East Cobb CHADD For parents with children who have ADHD. Contact: east-cobb@chadd.net Website: www.chadd.net/300 Families Anonymous (FA) Support group for families who have loved ones struggling with addiction. Meeting: Every Tuesday at 7:30 Location: Mt. Zion United Methodist Church Youth Center, 1770 Johnson Ferry Rd. Contact: jawadta@yahoo.com Family Caregiver & Alzheimer’s Support Group Meeting: First Monday at 10:30 a.m. Location: Aloha To Aging, Inc. , Mt. Bethel Community Center, 4608 Lower Roswell Rd., Contact: (678) 439-1177 Foundation for Ensuring Access and Equity Contact: Mychal Wynn, (678) 395-5825 or (678) 620-3685 Website: www.accessandequity.org

Next Century Youth, Inc. Location: 791 Mimosa Boulevard, Roswell Contact: Mary Brooks Green, (678) 278-9278 Website: www.nextcenturyyouth.org Northwest Atlanta Moms of Multiples Club Meeting: 2nd Monday at 7 p.m. Location: North Metro Church on Barrett Pkwy. Contact: (678) 404-0034, www.NOWaMOM.org. Overeaters Anonymous Meeting: Monday, Wednesday, and Friday at 10 a.m. Location: St. Ann’s Catholic Church, 4905 Roswell Rd Contact: Betsy, (404) 226-4931, www.oa.org Parents of Prodigals Children with self-destructive lifestyle. Meeting: 2nd and 4th Thursdays at 6:45 p.m. Location: Johnson Ferry Baptist Church 955 Johnson Ferry Road Contact: (770) 794-2978 www.johnsonferry.org/counseling Parents Without Partners Contact: Ted Perskey, (770) 973-4087 www.Pwpchapter698.org

Grandparents Raising Grandchildren Meeting: 2nd and 4th Tuesdays at 7:15 p.m. Location: Transfiguration Catholic Church Blackwell Road Contact: Jeannie DeCarlo, (770) 919-9275

Parkinson’s Disease Support Group Meeting: 2nd Sunday at 4 p.m. Location: Roswell UMC, 814 Mimosa Blvd., Bldg. A Contact: Robin Cleveland, (678) 819-3915 rcleveland@visitingangels.com

Blended Families Support Group Meeting: 3rd Sunday at 7 p.m. Location: Mount Bethel United Methodist Church, 4385 Lower Roswell Road Contact: (770) 971-2880

Grief and Loss Support Group All faiths are welcome. Meeting: 6 session format Location: Jewish Family & Career Services, 1501 Johnson Ferry Road Suite 100 Contact: Yael Stein, 770-677-9305, ystein@jfcs atlanta.org.

PASA (Parents of All Stages and Ages) Meeting: Fridays at 10 a.m.Free child care available Location: East Cobb UMC Lower Level Activities Building, 2325 Roswell Road Contact: Lisa Hunt (770) 984-0699

Breast Cancer Support Group Meeting: 1st and 3rd Thursdays at 7 p.m. Location: St. Andrew United Methodist Church 3455 Canton Road Contact: Sandy, (770) 926-3488 sandy@thepumpkinchurch.org

Grief Support Group Meeting: First Monday at 2:30 p.m. Location: Aloha To Aging, Inc. , Mt. Bethel Community Center, 4608 Lower Roswell Rd. Contact: (678) 439-1177.

Autism Support Group Meeting: 3rd Thursday at 9 a.m. or 7 p.m. Location: Mount Bethel United Methodist Church, 4385 Lower Roswell Road, Room F002 Contact: (770) 971-2880

Cancer Support Group Meeting: 2nd and 4th Mondays at 7 p.m. Location: Johnson Ferry Baptist Church 955 Johnson Ferry Road Contact: (770) 794-2978 www.johnsonferry.org/counseling Career Quest Ministry Meeting: Tuesdays at 7:30 p.m. Location: St. Ann’s Catholic Church 4905 Roswell Road Contact: (770) 552-6400 x 6104 Codependents Anonymous Meeting: Monday and Thursdays at 7:30pm Location: Unity North Church, 4225 Sandy Plains Road (Administration Bldg upstairs) Contact: Janet D. 770-578-6368 Website: northgeorgiacoda.org Compassionate Friends Support group for bereaved parents, grandparents and siblings. Contact: Kathy, (404) 429-4953, tcfmarietta.kathy@hotmail.com Erica, (404) 539-4287 erica_beltz@yahoo.com Website: www.tcfmarietta.org Dad 2 Dad For stay-at-home dads Contact: Richard Collins, (770) 579-5445

Job Seekers Meeting: 1st and 3rd Saturdays at 8 a.m. Location: Eastminster Presbyterian Church, 3125 Sewell Mill Road Contact: (770) 977-2976 Moms In Touch — East Side Elementary Meeting: Mondays at 10 a.m. Contact: Movita Stallworth, (770) 321-1783 Mo633@bellsouth.net Moms In Touch — Walton High School Meeting: Tuesdays at 1 p.m. Location: Johnson Ferry Baptist Church 955 Johnson Ferry Road, room 332 Contact: Cynthia Eller (770) 578-6301 eller2905@aol.com Mothers and More Meeting: 2nd and 4th Tuesdays at 7 p.m. Location: Saint Catherine’s Episcopal Church, 681 Holt Road Contact: www.mmeastcobb.homestead.com Newcomers of Cobb County Meeting: 3rd Tuesday at 10 a.m. Location: John Knox Presbyterian Church, 505 Powers Ferry Rd. Contact: (770) 234-5068 newcomersofcobbcounty@yahoo.com

Road to Recovery Divorce Support Group Meeting: Wednesdays at 6:45 p.m. Location: Mount Bethel United Methodist Church 4385 Lower Roswell Road Mission House Contact: (770) 971-2880 Sexual Assault Support Group Meeting: Mondays at 7 p.m. Location: YMCA of NW GA, 48 Henderson St, Contact: Susan Roberts, (770) 427-3390 Single Adult Ministry Location: Mount Bethel United Methodist Church, 4385 Lower Roswell Road Contact: (770) 971-3447, www.mtbethel.org Single’s Ministry Location: Johnson Ferry Baptist Church 955 Johnson Ferry Road Contact: (770) 973-6561, www.jfbc.org Treasures in Heaven (miscarriage/infant death) Meeting: 4th Monday at 7 p.m. Location: Johnson Ferry Baptist Church 955 Johnson Ferry Road Contact: (770) 794-2978 www.johnsonferry.org/counseling VOICE Today Survivors of child sexual abuse Meeting: 1st & 3rd Tuesday at 7 p.m. Location: Johnson Ferry Baptist Church Room 334 Contact: Tom Scales, (678) 578-4888 Website: www.voicetoday.org Widowed Helping Others Meeting: Twice each month Location: St. Ann’s Catholic Church, 4905 Roswell Rd Contact: Marguerite Williamson, (770) 977-8438 AroundAbout WALTON | October 2011

Community Connection

Are You at Risk for Oral Cancer?

tasks is impaired due to age related disease and illnesses. After contemplating this, would you or could you imagine feeling isolated, depressed, wondering what you will do with your time? Programming to keep seniors’ mind and bodies active and purposeful makes a huge impact on their overall physical and mental well being. I urge you to act now by being aware what services are available to our aging seniors. Take note of where your tax dollars are being spent and the amount allocated to senior services.

Treatment for cancers that have metastasized is more complicated than that of localized lesions. For smaller lesions, treatment can be as minimal as surgical removal of a small area of tissue. If the cancer cells have spread to surrounding tissues, radiation, chemotherapy, and/or removal of a large section of tissue, which may include bone, muscle, and teeth, could be necessary.

continued from page 29

Many of you are probably not aware that Cobb County recently made cuts to senior services. These cuts included transportation by the Cobb County Paratransit, as well as the county’s Adult Day Care program. Aging services in the community are a vital part of keeping our community a great place to live. Aging services make Cobb County that great community with connection. Please look to the future and take an interest in how we, as a county, are preparing to ensure we proudly stay one of the top places to age in place, our place, Cobb County.

Insurance Trends continued from page 16

• Don’t buy specific computer or high-tech equipment insurance policies. Nearly everyone now has a computer at home, and a standard homeowner’s policy will cover most basic personal computer equipment. The policy’s personal property coverage includes computer equipment not used for business. If used for business, the home insurance policy typically provides $2,500 of coverage for computers. Only people with a home-based businesses or elaborate high-tech equipment need to consider extra coverage. However, it is cheaper to buy an endorsement to the home or business policy rather than a separate computer policy. • Consult your Trusted Choice® agent. Working closely with a Trusted Choice® agent may be the easiest way to stay affordably insured. An agent can be your advocate when you have a claim or other problem. Relationships with many different companies allow them to shop around for the right coverage at the best value. The counsel of a Trusted Choice® agent may be your best protection in the current homeowner’s insurance market. Granted, there is no fool proof way for homeowners to avoid a rate increase or being non-renewed by an insurance company, but heeding some basic precautions can help you become a more valuable policyholder.

AroundAbout WALTON | October 2011

continued from page 32

When your dentist performs an oral cancer exam, he or she will inspect your face, neck, lips, and mouth as well as feel and look at the insides of your lips and cheeks. The dentist will pull your tongue to one side and then the other and also check underneath. He or she will look in the roof and floor of your mouth as well as back of your throat. There are also new devices that have been developed in the past few years to aid dentists in early detection of oral cancers. These devices use a special light to observe the fluorescence of the tissue to detect abnormalities that may not yet be visible to the naked eye. Although anyone can develop oral cancer, you can reduce your risk by avoiding tobacco and alcohol use and by using sunscreen on your lips, as frequent sun exposure can make you prone to developing lip cancer. Irritation from ill-fitting dentures and partials can also create areas of dysplasia which are prone to becoming cancerous. Certainly if you notice a sore or nodule that doesn’t seem to be healing, notify your dentist immediately.

Baby Boomer and Retirement Hopes continued from page 14

return. A 50-year-old with a $250,000 401(k) balance could potentially end up with more than $1 million in that 401(k) by age 65 if he or she contributes $16,500 a year and gets an 8 percent annual return. (That’s not even factoring in employer matches and “catch-up” contributions after age 50.) Yes, tapping your home equity may prove useful – but tax reduction strategies and new income sources resulting from investments or insurance contracts might give you a little more breathing room so you don’t have to make that decision. Start now, because procrastination is your greatest enemy. Meet with a financial professional – one with significant experience in retirement planning. You may have more options than you realize. Fight for your retirement dream! Securities offered through 1st Global Capital Corp. Member FINRA, SIPC. Investment advisory services offered through 1st Global Advisors, Inc. Created by 1st Global or Peter Montoya, Inc. for use by our financial advisors.

RECENT CONSUMER PRODUCT RECALLS AroundAbout Walton wants to help keep you and your family safe. The following items have been recalled by their manufacturers in cooperation with the Consumer Products Safety Commission (CPSC).

Resistance Cords

Target Corporation, of Minneapolis, MN is voluntarily recalling approximately 447,000 Embark resistance cords and cord kits. A black plastic ball attached to the resistance cord’s door anchor can unexpectedly release and strike the user, posing an injury hazard to consumers.

fit around a child’s head and neck, and the headband on the Audrey doll, if loosened, can form a loop that fits around a child’s head and neck. These loops can pose a strangulation hazard.

Music Table

Battat Inc., of Plattsburgh, NY is voluntarily recalling approximately 14,000 musical wooden table toys. Small pegs on the xylophone toy can loosen and detach, posing a choking hazard to young children.

Dehumidifier

LG Electronics Tianjin Appliance Co. is urging consumers to check if they have recalled Goldstar or Comfort-Aire dehumidifiers. The firm is re-announcing the recall of approximately 98,000 of the dangerous dehumidifiers that pose a serious fire and burn hazard, and are believed to be responsible for more than one million dollars in property damage.

Blender

Target Corporation, of Minneapolis, MN is voluntarily recalling approximately 304,000 Chefmate® 6-Speed blenders. While in operation, the plastic pitcher can separate from the blade assembly, leaving the blade assembly in the base and exposing the rotating blades. This poses a laceration hazard to consumers.

Toy Workshop

Little Tikes, of Hudson, Ohio is voluntarily recalling more than 1.7 million additional Little Tikes® workshop and tool sets (approximately 1.6 million toy workshop sets and trucks with the same toy nails were recalled in August 2009). The recalled workshop and tool sets have oversized, plastic toy nails that can pose a choking hazard to young children.

Pottery Barn Dolls

Pottery Barn Kids, a division of WilliamsSonoma Inc., of San Francisco, CA is voluntarily recalling approximately 81,000 (in the United States) and 1,300 (in Canada) Chloe, Sophie and Audrey soft dolls. The hair on the Chloe and Sophie dolls may contain loops that are large enough to

Lawn Tractor

Deere & Company of Moline, IL is voluntarily recalling approximately 15,500 lawn tractors. Hardware used to hold the mower blade brake assemblies on the mower decks can break. This can cause the mower blades to spin longer than normal after the operator turns off the power, posing a laceration hazard. Also, about 5,200 D100 lawn tractors. Hardware used to hold the brake assembly to the transmission housing can break. This can cause the brakes to fail, posing an injury hazard due to loss of control.

For more information on these and many other warnings issued by the Consumer Products Safety Commission, visit www.cpsc.gov or call 1-800-638-2772. AroundAbout WALTON | October 2011

Reference

COMMUNITY INFORMATION Emergency — 911 • AroundAbout Walton (770) 615-3318 Cobb County Chamber of Commerce Driver’s License Health Department Post Office Recycling Center

Cobb County Government:

Business License CCT Bus Service Commissioners Engineering Office Traffic Signals Extension Office Jury Phone — State Court Jury Phone — Superior Court Keep Cobb Beautiful Planning and Zoning Senior Services Tax Assessors/Evaluation Taxes: License Plates/Tags Property Tax Voter Registration

(770) 980-2000 (678) 413-8400 (678) 784-2180 (800) 275-8777 www.usps.com (770) 528-2500

(770) 528-8410 (770) 528-8465 (770) 528-1000 (770) 528-1616 (770) 528-1600 (770) 528-4070 (770) 528-2626 (770) 528-1804 (770) 528-1135 www.cobbcounty.org/kcb (770) 528-2004 (770) 528-5355 (770) 528-3100 (770) 528-8247 (770) 528-8600 (770) 528-2581

Children/Family:

Aloha to Aging, Inc. Family Caregiver Support

(678) 439-1177 ww.alohatoaging.org Child and Adolescent Services (770) 514-2300 Child Support Enforcement (770) 528-2410 Department of Family and Children’s Services (770) 528-5000 Meals on Wheels (770) 528-5381 Mothers Making a Change (770) 499-2422 Next Steps (Child/Adolescent) (770) 514-2300 MUST Ministries (770) 427-9862 YMCA of Northwest GA, Rape Crisis Center (770) 427-3390

Clubs/Groups:

AARP Kiwanis Club Lions Club Rotary Club

Public Service:

Fire Departments: 2905 Library Lane 4431 Trickum Road 3892 Oak Lane Georgia State Patrol Non-Emergency 911 Sheriff’s Department

Hospitals:

North Fulton Hospital Northside Hospital Atlanta Wellstar Kennestone Hospital AroundAbout WALTON | October 2011

(678) 290-9895 (770) 912-9632 (404) 218-6216 (770) 422-7551

Hotlines — 24 Hour Help Lines:

Cobb Judicial Victim Assistance Domestic Violence Unit Drug Tip Poison Control Center Public Outreach/Programs

(770) 528-3047 (770) 499-4665 (770) 590-5520 (404) 589-4400 (770) 499-4719

Libraries:

East Marietta Library Gritter’s Library East Cobb Library Mountain View Regional Library

(770) 509-2711 (770) 528-2524 (770) 509-2730 (770) 509-2725

Parks and Recreation: Aquatic Centers: Mountain View Sewell Park East Cobb Park Fullers Park Harrison Park Harrison Tennis Center Main Office Mount Bethel Park Sweat Mountain Park YMCA

(770) 509-4927 (770) 509-2741 (770) 591-3160 (770) 509-2737 (770) 591-3150 (770) 591-3151 (770) 528-8800 (770) 509-2748 (770) 591-3160 (770) 977-5991

Pets:

Animal Control Animal Shelter and Pet Adoptions Cobb County Animal Control Cobb County Humane Society Emergency Veterinary Clinic Good Mews Animal Foundation

(770) 499-4136 (770) 499-4136 (770) 499-4136 (770) 428-5678 (770) 424-9157 (770) 499-CATS

Schools: Board of Education

(770) 426-3300 www.cobbk12.org

Utilities: (770) 528-8000

(770) 205-5400 (770) 499-3900 (770) 499-4600 www.cobbsheriff.org

(770) 751-2500 (404) 851-8000 (770) 793-5000

AT&T Broadband/Comcast

AT&T Residential Phone Service Atlanta Gas Light Co. Cobb County Water System Cobb EMC Georgia Power Water Emergency

(404) 266-2278 www.comcast.com (888) 757-6500 www.att.com (770) 907-4231 www.aglc.com (770) 423-1000 water.cobbcountyga.gov (770) 429-2100 www.cobbemc.com (888) 660-5890 www.georgiapower.com (770) 419-6201

ADOPTION INFORMATION: Please call first to see if we have what you are looking for. We have many resources to help you find what you are looking for if we do not have it. 770-428-9882 We screen potential adopters to make sure our pets will be a good match for your family and vise versa. New adoptive dog owners will also need a home check before they can take their new dog home. DOGS: We only house small breed dogs. Our adoption fee is $200 for dogs. All of our dogs or puppies will be altered before they can be adopted. They will have as many vaccines as we can give them for the time they have spent here. If the dog is over six months old it will have been heart worm tested negative and be on preventative. All of our pets are micro chipped and will have flea preventative on them.

We need a home!

Pebbles

CATS: Our adoption fee for cats is $125.00. All of our cats and kittens (10 weeks and up) will be altered before they are adopted. If you would like a kitten younger than 10 weeks old, we can refer you to other resources. Our cats or kittens will have as many vaccines as we can give them for the time they have spent here. They are all tested negative for Feline Leukemia and FIV, and will have been micro chipped.

Timmy

IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO HELP

Please donate your household items: toys, furniture, knick knacks, kitchen items ect. to the Garage Sale Mart. Please tell them to donate the proceeds to the Humane Society of Cobb County. This will help us continue our life saving programs.

Serena

Marshmellow

Garage Sale Mart 461 S. Marietta Pkwy SE, Marietta, GA 30060 (678) 354-5100 Mon. - Sat. 10am - 7pm, Sun. 11am -5pm info@garagesalemart.com AroundAbout WALTON | October 2011

Reference

ELECTED & APPOINTED OFFICIALS United States Government: President Barack Obama (D) 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue Washington, D.C. 20500 Website: www.whitehouse.gov e-mail: president@whitehouse.gov

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

Senator Saxby Chambliss (R) (202) 224-3521 Senate Russell Courtyard-2 fax: (202) 224-0103 Washington, D.C. 20510 Website: www.saxby.org e-mail: saxby_chambliss@chambliss.senate.gov Senator Johnny Isakson (R) 1 Overton Park, Suite 970 3625 Cumberland Blvd, Atlanta, GA 30339 Website: http://isakson.senate.gov

(202) 224-3643 GA: (770) 661-0999

Rep. Tom Price (R), District 6 3730 Roswell Road Marietta, GA 30062 Website: http://tom.house.gov e-mail: tom@tomprice.com

GA: (770) 565-4990 fax: (770) 565-7570

Rep. Phil Gingrey (R), District 11 219 Roswell Street Marietta, GA 30060 Website: www.gingrey.house.gov e-mail: gingrey.ga@mail.house.gov

(202) 225-2931 GA: (770) 429-1776 fax: (770) 795-9551

fax: (770) 661-0768

State Government: Governor Nathan Deal (R) 203 State Capitol Atlanta, GA 30334

(404) 656-1776 fax: (404) 657-7332 www.gov.ga.gov.com

Senator Chip Rogers (R), District 21 chip@SenatorChipRogers.com

(404) 463-1378

Senator Judson Hill (R), District 32 judson.hill@senate.ga.gov

(770) 565-0024

Rep. Sharon Cooper (R), District 41 sharon.cooper@house.ga.gov

(770) 956-8357

Rep. Don L. Parsons (R), District 42 repdon@gmail.com

(770) 977-4426

Rep. Matt Dollar (R), District 45 matt.dollar@house.ga.gov

(404) 656-0254

County Government:

Juvenile Court Presiding Judge James Whitfield Director of Juvenile Court Services Michele Marchant-Wellmon

(770) 528-2290 fax: (770) 528-2214

Solicitor General, Barry E. Morgan

(770) 528-8500 fax: (770) 528-8578

District Attorney, Patrick H. Head cobbda@cobbcounty.org

(770) 528-3080 fax: (770) 528-3030

Cobb County Coroner Brian Frist 150 North Marietta Pkwy Marietta, GA 30060 Cobb County Board of Commissioners 100 Cherokee Street Marietta, GA 30090 www.cobbcountyga.gov

(770) 528-3300 fax: (770) 528-2606

(770) 528-3300

Helen Goreham, District 1 hgoreham@cobbcounty.org

(770) 528-3313

(770) 528-3316

Bob Ott, District 2 bob.ott@cobbcounty.org

JoAnn Birrell, District 3 joann.birrell@cobbcounty.org

(770)528-3317

Woody Thompson, District 4 woody.thompson@cobbcounty.org

(770) 528-3312

Cobb County Sheriffâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Office Sheriff Neil Warren 185 Roswell Street, Marietta, GA 30060 www.cobbsheriff.org

(770) 499-4600

Cobb County School System www.cobb.k12.ga.us Superintendent, Dr. Michael Hinojosa 514 Glover Street, Marietta, GA 30060 (770) 426-3453 michael.hinojosa@cobbk12.org fax: (678) 594-8559 Board of Education Kathleen Angelucci, Post 4 kangelucci.boardmember@cobbk12.org

Superior Court Judge Reuben Green

(770) 528-1800

Magistrate Court Chief Judge Frank R. Cox

(770) 528-8900

Scott Sweeny, Post 6 ssweeny.boardmember@cobbk12.org

Probate Court Chief Judge Kelli Wolk

(770) 528-1900

AroundAbout WALTON | October 2011

(770) 528-2200

Commissioners: Tim Lee, Chairman tlee@cobbcounty.org

David Banks, Post 5 dbanks.boardmember@cobbk12.org

(770) 528-2220

City of Marietta:

Mayor Steve Tumlin stumlin@mariettaga.gov

(770) 794-5501

classifieds Children / Family Parenting. Trouble understanding your teenagers & teen life? For parents, teenagers & young adults. www.TeenMyth.com

Home Services E.P. Pressure Wash. Reasonable rates, free estimates, insured. (770) 3802325. Dance Curtain Designs. Custom window treatments and more. Call Lisa, (404) 556-7481.

Services Save 50% to 80% on Holiday, Birthday & Greeting Cards! Professional quality & can add gifts. 20k customizable cards available. Try it for free!! www.sendoutcards.com/amazement

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

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attorneys/legal services Rohan Law, P.C. (404) 923-7570 www.rohanlawpc.com

Home Improvement/Repair & Service 22

automotive

Quality Craftsmen (404) 483-7446 www.quality-craftsmen.com

Insurance

Sellars Goodyear 27, 59. (770) 973-5780, 648 Johnson Ferry Road (770) 992-7977, 2950 Johnson Ferry Road (770) 509-1422, 3621 Sandy Plains Road

LGE Credit Union 1-800-286-1166

Cleaning Services 35

Image Maids (770) 627-4670

Dentists/Orthodontists Cristi Y. Cheek DMD, P.C. Inside Front (770) 993-3775, www.cheekdental.com Shenk Dental Care (770) 992-6568, www.drshenk.com 4690 Woodstock Rd. Suite 100 Roswell

E.nopi Back Cover 1401 Johnson Ferry Rd, Suite 140, Marietta (678) 318-3535, ext. 8, (770) 578-6317 www.enopiatlanta.com Mt. Bethel Christian Academy 4385 Lower Roswell Road (770) 971-0245 www.mtbethelchristian.org

Cover, 30, 31

Health & Beauty Nail Eagle (770) 565-5634

16.

LaVida Massage (770) 973-6385

Patrick Carmen NR.9 Salon (678) 427-8000

13.

AroundAbout WALTON | October 2011

Keeton Insurance Services (770) 971-8900

Resurgens OrthoNow (770) 423-2172 61 Whitcher St. Suite 1100, Marietta www.resurgens.com

57.

WellStar Health Systems (770) 956-STAR www.wellstar.org

Pets Humane Society of Cobb County (770) 428-5678 www.humanecobb.com 148 Fairground St. SE, Marietta

Atlanta Communities Real Estate (770) 240-2000 3173 Roswell Rd., Suite 101, Marietta www.atlantacommunities.net

15.

Studio 7 Photography (770) 685-7391 www.studio7hub.com

32.

Physicians and Medical Services

Health Source Chiropractic & Progressive RehabTM (770) 578-0785 www.HealthSourceMarietta.com Marietta Facial Plastic Surgery & Aesthetics Center (770) 425-7575 111 Marble Hill Road NW, Marietta

12.

Reflection - Lake Nantahala Inside Back Cover www.reflectionlakenantahala.com

REcreation/Fitness Legends Elite All-Star Cheerleading (770) 509-5500

Revelation Generation Productions (678) 310-0101

REstaurants/Food SErvices 14, 35

Marietta Plastic Surgery (770) 425-0118 823 Campbell Hill St., Marietta www.mariettaplasticsurgery.com

Northside Hospital Spine Center (404) 459-1809

Pearle Vision (770) 509-8480 1401 Johnson Ferry Road

3, 9

Real estate & related services

C & W Photography (770) 771-1340 www.CandWPhotos.com

Betsy Thurston Registered Dietitian (404) 295-1415

Education

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

Photographers

Carpet Dry-Tech (678) 368-5991

19 .

American Family Insurance (770) 250-1890

Banking/Financial Services Citadel CPA & Wealth Care Services Inside Front (770) 952-6707 225 Town Park Drive, Suite 440, Kennesaw

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

Cherokee Chamber Pignic

Good Measure Meals (404) 815-7695

Retail Stella & Dot Boutique Style Jewelry (678) 548-0285

Senior Services Atherton Place (770) 421-7300 www.athertonplace.org

Parc at Piedmontâ&#x20AC;&#x201D; East Cobb 999 Hood Road, Marietta, GA 30068 (770) 565-8828

Savannah Court of Marietta (770) 977-4420