Around Canton Bridal 2023 BEST FOR
Letter From the Content Editor
My family usually starts putting up Christmas decorations the week of Thanksgiving. But, this year, we decided to put our decorations up on Sept. 23, bypassing Halloween and Thanksgiving. I’m joking, but that is when I first noticed the garden section in Walmart had been completely transformed with Christmas trees and decorations. As content editor, I work on planning and editing articles, as well as compiling events for the calendars, a few months in advance — but September? — that’s still too early for me to be in the Christmas spirit! Even if Christmas wasn’t getting earlier and earlier each year, Thanksgiving has looked different for me (and my husband) the past few years. The pandemic certainly disrupted many family gatherings — including our wedding! — but getting married has brought our Thanksgiving events to a total of four. Sure, most of us wear stretchy pants each year, but we go from one parents’ house to another for back-to-back meals on Thanksgiving Day, as well as get together with 30-plus people on my mom and dad’s sides the weekends before and after. Skinny jeans are NOT an option … I’ve never doubted that my husband loves me. Going to three of my family’s Thanksgiving gatherings (and the same at Christmas) says it all. Yes, I know. It sounds like a lot. But, I’m a Canton native, and 90% of my family lives in a 40-mile radius, so it’s not as crazy as it seems. This year, on the other side of the pandemic, I’ll be shaking things up again in Lima, Peru, with my husband and his family on Thanksgiving. I’m excited to see the city his mom was born in, and I’m looking forward to celebrating and making new memories, even if we aren’t eating turkey and dressing. To read about our city and county leaders’ Thanksgiving traditions, flip to Pages 10-12. We may not make it to all four Thanksgiving gatherings this year, but I’m sure we’ll squeeze in at least two. I’m thankful to have grown up with my family so close by. My grandparents passed away before I started kindergarten, but my aunts and uncles filled a huge role in my life growing up. Family is important, no matter what form it comes. On Pages 30-31, meet Kaitlin Morgan and Skyler Mize, a couple who adopted a pair of siblings from the Cherokee County foster care system. I’m also thankful for each of my family members who served our country, as well as all of the veterans in our community and the organizations that serve them (Page 40). If you’re interested in volunteering or donating to nonprofits serving our families and neighbors in need this season, turn to Pages 22-25, for a list of ways to lend a helping hand. No matter where you are, or how you celebrate, I hope you have a wonderful holiday season!
Jessica Forrester
Jessica Forrester is the content editor of TowneLaker, Around Woodstock and Around Canton magazines. She grew up in Cherokee County and graduated from Sequoyah High School.
4
AROUND CANTON | November 2022
Do you want to take part in an online poll to find the best wedding service providers in Northwest Georgia? Get ready to say, I do! Our poll is open through Nov. 15 at www.aroundaboutlocalmedia. com. Results will be posted Jan. 1 and will be included in the January issue of Around Canton.
Kudos!
Heath Tippens, vice president of Cherokee Office of Economic Development, and Rajpal Sagoo, managing
partner of MDD Holdings, have been named to Georgia Trend Magazine’s 40 Under 40 class of 2022.
What’s Coming
Cherokee County is using the first propane-powered public transit buses in Georgia. Cherokee Area
Transportation Service (CATS) purchased three propanepowered buses from Coach and Equipment Bus Sales Inc. in February to replace aging buses in the fleet that provide service for the fixed route service by CATS. “We are excited to bring in three new vehicles that use a cleaner fuel source and have expected lower maintenance costs,” Community Services Agency Director Bryan Reynolds said. “With the purchase, we were able to secure increased federal transportation support and a Federal Transit Authority fuel subsidy, saving our taxpayers money.”
County officials held a ribbon cutting in mid-October.
At press time, the opening date for the Cherokee County History Center at 221 E. Marietta St., in Canton, was Nov. 5. Hours of operation will be 10 a.m.-5 p.m. WednesdaysSaturdays and noon-5 p.m. Sundays. The center will be closed Mondays and Tuesdays. https://historycherokee.org.
KPOP BBQ and Bar, an all-you-can-eat Korean barbecue restaurant with three metro Atlanta locations, will occupy space in a building being constructed off exit 19, in The Canton Exchange shopping center, which houses Hobby Lobby and Home Goods. www.kpopbbqandbar.com.
Forgive Our Error
In a story we ran in October about the Cherokee County Fire and Emergency Services honoring the legacy of Justin and Amber Hicks, who were tragically killed, their son Jacob Hicks was found unharmed.
