11-22 Around Kennesaw webfinal.pdf

Contents

the Cover

Lending a Helping Hand

your part to help nonprofits

Cobb County provide a happy Thanksgiving and a merry Christmas for

in need this holiday season.

A Day With Dansby

A positive attitude and good sportsmanship earned five local baseball players the chance to spend time with Braves shortstop and Kennesaw native Dansby Swanson.

Gem

Johnson is much more than a custodian to students at Pine Mountain Middle School — much, much more.

Every Issue

Kennesaw

North Cobb Christian School

The school’s calendar is punctuated with intentional opportunities for students to grow in their faith. Parents say they feel “something different” when they walk into the school.

by

Jae Photography

Local News

Banz

Page - Homecoming

Rob’s Rescues

School News

News

Calendar

Photographic Society

Gardeners

of Advertisers

Events

Contributors

Andrew Bramlett

Cobb Schools

Cobb Schools

Dana Dorris

Derek Easterling

Greg Fonzeno

Erinn Gardner

Mike Llewellyn

Susannah MacKay

Rob Macmillan

Susan Schulz

Lanise Shortell

Nicole Smith

Elisabeth Stubbs

Tom Tanner

Bill Westenberger

Around Kennesaw

Letter From the Editor

As we enter November, we have a number of important events to remember. Besides all the “National Month of This, That and the Others” (Banana Pudding Lovers Month and Raisin Bread Month, among the many foods being recognized in November), we have to set our clocks back one hour to mark the end of daylight saving time on Nov. 6. We also have midterm elections, so if you haven’t voted already, head to the polls Nov. 8.

Honor our brave men and women who’ve fought for our country’s freedom by remembering them on Veterans Day Nov. 11. Buy them a meal, attend a ceremony — we’ve included a listing of local programs on Page 14 — or simply thank them for their service. Just don’t let them think they’ve been forgotten.

Of course, this is a month for gratitude as we celebrate Thanksgiving every fourth Thursday of November. I love watching the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade and donning my stretchy pants for our family feast each year. But I also reflect on the past year and thank God for the blessings he’s given me. This year, he gave me this great new job — the best job I’ve ever had — at Aroundabout Local Media in February. I welcomed my first grandchild, Dani Linley, into the world in May, and that little girl has brought me so much joy. If only we could skip the kids and go straight to the grandkids. No, I’m joking. I love my son with all my heart.

My family has gone through some tough times this year, too. My sister-in-law passed away in April, and my mom had her third heart-valve replacement in June, but I’m grateful my sisterin-law isn’t suffering anymore, and my mom is feeling better.

One of my most memorable Thanksgivings was when I was living in Plymouth, Massachusetts, and my entire family flew up to spend the holiday in the town where it originated. I don’t think it hit me right away how cool it was to be visiting Plymouth Rock and a Mayflower replica at that particular time. I’m very grateful for that experience and being able to share it with my family.

But this time of year can be hard for people who are struggling to make ends meet. Check out our Helping Hands feature on Pages 20-22 to see how you can help those in need during the holiday season. If you need some new recipes for Thanksgiving — or anytime in the fall, really — turn to Pages 36-37 for a few ideas.

And don’t miss the article on Pages 26-27 about five local baseball players who were blessed with the opportunity to meet Braves All-Star shortstop (and Kennesaw native) Dansby Swanson.

Happy Thanksgiving and happy reading!

Donna Harris

Bridal forBest 2023

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 ready for you to vote through Nov. 15 at www.aroundaboutlocalmedia.com. Results will be posted Jan. 1 and will be included in the January issue of Around Kennesaw.

Kudos!

Regina Bradley , associate professor of English and African diaspora studies at Kennesaw State University, has been named to Georgia Trend Magazine’s 40 Under 40 class of 2022.

What’s New?

Moxie Burger at 1600 Kennesaw Due West Road, Suite 104, in Kennesaw has been open since mid-September.

Let Us Celebrate You!

It's our joy to be able to celebrate life's milestones with you! Please send your birthday, anniversary, engagement, wedding, graduation, birth or other celebratory announcements to edit@aroundaboutmagazines.com by the 10th of each month for the following month. Specify Around Kennesaw in the subject line, and limit announcements to 25 words. Thanks!

Ribbon Cutting

Empire Ink Tattoo Studio, 3055 N. Main St., Suite 109, Kennesaw. https://empireinkstudio.com

Upcoming Ribbon Cutting

Dynamic Urgent Care PC — Nov. 16 1600 Kennesaw Due West Road, Suite 205, Kennesaw

Donna Harris is the managing editor of Aroundabout Local Media. She’s a Cobb County native and a veteran journalist with newspaper and magazine experience. Email her at donna@aroundaboutmagazines.com.

Publisher Aroundabout Local Media, Inc. www.aroundaboutlocalmedia.com

President Kim Dahnke 770-778-5314

kim@aroundaboutmagazines.com

Vice President Jennifer Coleman 678-279-5502 jen@aroundaboutmagazines.com

Executive Editor Candi Hannigan 770-615-3309 candi@aroundaboutmagazines.com

Managing Editor Donna Harris 770-852-8481 donna@aroundaboutmagazines.com

Content Editor Jessica Forrester 770-615-3318 jessica@aroundaboutmagazines.com

Production Manager Michelle McCulloch 770-615-3307 michelle@aroundaboutmagazines.com

Page Designer Laura Latchford laura@aroundaboutmagazines.com

Graphic Designer Savannah Winn savannah@aroundaboutmagazines.com

Controller Denise Griffin 770-615-3315 denise@aroundaboutmagazines.com

Social Media Manager Kathryn Holt kat@aroundaboutmagazines.com

Market & Advertising Specialist Michelle Smith 770-615-3324 michelle.smith@aroundaboutmagazines.com

Copy Editors Bill King, Eliza Somers

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

Around Kennesaw welcomes your comments, stories and advertisements. Editorial deadline is the first, and the advertising deadline is the 10th of the month prior to publication.

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

The viewpoints of the advertisers, writers and other submissions do not necessarily reflect those of the editor/publisher. And the publisher makes no claims to the validity of any opinions expressed by charitable, business or civic organizations mentioned, or statements made within the editorial content. The cover and inside related article, and other editorial-type submissions labeled SPONSORED CONTENT, are paid content. The publisher neither guarantees nor supports any product or service mentioned in this magazine, nor does it guarantee any assertions made by the manufacturers or providers of such products or services, or claims regarding the status of such businesses.

No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means without written permission from the publisher. All rights reserved. Copyright 2022.

BY BILL WESTENBERGER

Thanksgiving came into existence as a harvest celebration. With the help of Native Americans, the Pilgrims learned to plant, cultivate and harvest. As we move into November, this marks a special time for us at the Kennesaw Police Department. We will be celebrating our team and its accomplishments at our annual awards banquet. As the chief, I’m blessed to serve in this amazing community and honored to serve with this amazing family. These photos are just a sample of the people that I’m blessed with in my world and love sharing with you.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Bill Westenberger has served as chief since 2008. He was given the 2019 Kennesaw Citizen of the Year Award.

Chief Bill Westenberger and his wife, Bonnie, attend KPD Family Day.

From left, Sgt. James Crane, Officers Nicholas Burns, Jared Wheeler, Jacob Metcalf, Lauren Ferree and Stephen Bagwell, Sgt. Joe Morgan and Officer Justin Lapp work at Pigs & Peaches in August.

Officer Brianna Thomas, assisted by her dad, David Thomas, is sworn in by Chief Bill Westenberger, as Capt. Rick Shumpert, left, and Capt. Kevin Mitchell look on.

Detective Zachary Bihari, left, receives his blue belt in Brazilian jiujitsu from instructor James Shook.

Criminal analyst Bayleigh Brown, with her family, graduates from Kennesaw State University.

P Flugstad

Advisor

Get to Know

Richard Banz

Executive Director, Southern Museum

What are your main responsibilities?

I am responsible for the overall staffing, activities, programming and exhibitions for the Southern Museum. It also is my charge to oversee the proper preservation of the historic collections, including artifacts, documents, manuscripts and photographs.

What is your background?

I became executive director of the Southern Museum in 2010. Prior to the Southern Museum, my work history included York College of Pennsylvania, the York County Heritage Trust and the Baltimore Museum of Industry. I have a doctorate in adult education from Pennsylvania State University and a master’s degree in history from the University of Maryland.

What’s been the biggest surprise about your job?

The overwhelming support and encouragement from our community. Everyone has been so helpful during the past 12 years. I love listening to people’s stories, about their experiences and perspectives of history. The Southern Museum has something for everyone. Our most successful ongoing weekly program has been our Thursday Mommy and Me. It is so wonderful to see such pure fun and excitement among all of those faces, knowing they are truly enjoying learning.

What is the most unusual request you’ve had?

I was asked to participate with a freight train crew on the Georgia Northeastern Railroad for one day. I eagerly accepted the invitation and learned a lot about railroad operations, along with developing a great deal of respect for the train crew. The experience has continued to inspire events and activities that celebrate railroading history at the Southern Museum.

What do you like most about your job?

I enjoy every day working for the Southern Museum. I make a point to walk by and briefly admire the 1855 General steam locomotive each morning. I am so fortunate to have a position that I truly love. The Southern Museum is owned and operated by the city of Kennesaw, which is an incredible and forwardthinking municipality. The Kennesaw Museum Foundation also is genuinely helpful and supportive of the Southern Museum educational mission, projects and events. The Greater Kennesaw community is simply a wonderful place for families to live, play and work.

What are you most excited about for the future?

Kennesaw has a tremendous present and future. As a Smithsonian Institution affiliate, the Southern Museum is the Smithsonian in our neighborhood. We have so many exciting exhibits, educational programs and special events that everyone should become a member to enjoy this tremendous educational institution located right here in our community. One truly exciting project is our Silenced Voices initiative. The objective of this unique program is to make Southern history relevant to our modern community and to encourage current dialogue by researching and sharing stories of individuals who, traditionally, have been ignored or silenced. As a result of Silenced Voices, the Southern Museum is one of only nine organizations selected as part of a cohort to participate in the Fostering Critical Conversations with Our Communities program, a yearlong Smithsonian Institution community engagement initiative in collaboration with the International Coalition of Sites of Conscience.

What are your personal and professional goals?

The very first Medals of Honor awarded in our nation’s history were as a result of the Great Locomotive Chase that began in Kennesaw. As such, we have a special responsibility to serve our military community. I really wish to expand our reach to military personnel and their families through special memberships and educational opportunities. We are looking for partners to help us in this worthy endeavor.

Tell us about your family and hobbies.

I am lucky to have married the most wonderful person I know. We have three young sons (ages 10, 8 and 2), all of whom were born in Kennesaw. In addition to playing the trumpet, my hobbies include collecting and operating Lionel electric trains and reading about the Civil War. My sons, so far, share these same interests. Obviously, the Southern Museum has been the perfect fit for my personal and professional interests.

Kennesaw Native Working in Navy Oceanography

Ensign Michael Barnhill of the U.S. Navy is working in naval oceanography at Naval Oceanography Mine Warfare Center at Naval Meteorology and Oceanography Command (METOC), headquartered at Stennis Space Center in Mississippi.

Sailors and civilians working throughout naval oceanography collect, measure and analyze the elements of the physical environment — land, sea, air, space — and synthesize an array of oceanographic and meteorological data to produce forecasts and warnings in support of flight and navigation safety.

Barnhill graduated from Kennesaw Mountain High School in 2015 and from the Georgia Institute of Technology in 2019, with a degree in physics. The Kennesaw native serves as a meteorology and oceanography officer.

“Growing up and seeing what kind of leaders you want to follow helps you decide what kind of leader you want to be,” he said. “Having coaches when I was a kid, I learned what works and what wouldn’t work. Coach (John) Schafer taught me earth systems, and that’s probably why I became interested in meteorology and oceanography.”

Traffic Relief Coming to Town Center

Kennesaw drivers are one step closer to getting some relief from heavy rush-hour traffic around Town Center at Barrett Parkway and Interstate 75. Cobb County leaders joined the Town Center community last month to break ground on Phase 3 of the South Barrett Reliever, which will give drivers an alternate route around Barrett Parkway, one of the busiest corridors in Town Center.

The reliever is expected to decrease traffic during peak hours by 22%. In the third phase, a roadway will be built from the Costco area, over I-75, to Roberts Court by Home Depot. The road also will have bike lanes and crosswalks.

The project is estimated to cost more than $36.5 million and is funded by the Town Center Community Improvement District, Atlanta Regional Commission, Cobb and Georgia Departments of Transportation and State Road and Tollway Authority. This project was included in the 2016 Cobb County special-purpose local-option sales tax work plan.

Honoring Our Veterans

Wreaths Across America is looking for volunteers to help place 22,000 wreaths on the graves at the Georgia National Cemetery in Canton on Dec. 17. This volunteer opportunity is perfect for families, Scout troops or JROTC units from area high schools.

Prospective volunteers should contact Russ Seltenright at 678-852-4591 or salty31@hotmail.com as soon as possible to ensure proper training for the event.

Credit Union Hosts Coat Drive

Credit Union of Georgia is hosting a local drive until 5 p.m. Nov. 9 to collect new and gently worn coats for MUST Ministries. Area residents are encouraged to donate coats of all sizes and styles to fill an urgent need this winter. Coat donations can be dropped off at any Credit Union of Georgia location, including the branches on Jiles Road in Kennesaw and Dallas Highway in west Cobb.

Smith-Gilbert Gardens Wins Grant

Smith-Gilbert Gardens recently was awarded a grant by Georgia Council for the Arts (GCA), a strategic arm of the Georgia Department of Economic Development, as part of its initial disbursement of grants for fiscal year 2023. A total of 213 organizations throughout the state were awarded 253 grants that provide more than $3.1 million in funding to arts organizations. The Bridge Grant will provide operating support funding to 134 organizations, the Project Grant will help fund 59 arts projects, and the Arts Education Program Grant will be distributed to 60 organizations.

“Support from GCA’s Project Grant has allowed the gardens to bring new outdoor sculptures to the Kennesaw community,” Guest Experience Manager Vanita Keswani said. “It provides opportunities to K-12 students, university students and visitors in art education, all while inviting local resources to expand the impact of Art Blooms.”

Local officials break ground on Phase 3 of the South Barrett Reliever.

Michael Barnhill

V Support for

eterans

in Cobb County

RESOURCES

Veterans Guide helps veterans from all branches of the military obtain the maximum benefits they deserve when they retire or leave military service. veteransguide.org; pr@veteransguide.org.

The Jim Cunningham Veteran Services Center on the Marietta campus of Chattahoochee Technical College (CTC) is a support center for military personnel, veterans and their families who are attending CTC. www.chattahoocheetech.edu/ veteran-services.

Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 5408 in Acworth offers support and resources for veterans who fought on foreign soil. https://vfw5408.org/about.

Ron Asby North Cobb American Legion Post 304 has a mission to serve the veterans and youth of north Cobb. Visit https://bit.ly/3TeAhmR for a list of restaurants offering free meals, deals and discounts to veterans and active-duty military on Veterans Day. https://post304.org.

Veteran Connection is a group that meets the third Tuesday of each month at 10 a.m. at the West Cobb Senior Center and the fourth Thursday of each month at 10 a.m. at North Cobb Senior Center. Join veterans 55 and older for an informal get-together with coffee, doughnuts, camaraderie and special guest presentations. Mike Nichols, 770-528-1448.

West Cobb County VA Clinic at 333 Midway Road in Marietta is an outpatient clinic offering primary care to help veterans stay healthy. https://bit.ly/3gk0pOw.

The Cherokee Veterans Community is a military ministry at First Baptist Church Woodstock, serving all branches of the military community in and around Cherokee County. www.cherokeeveteranscommunity. org; veteransministry@fbcw.net.

VETERANS DAY EVENTS

Nov. 10

The North Cobb Senior Center will present a free Veteran Salute, 11 a.m.-2 p.m., for veterans and spouses only. The event will include a presentation on the Daffodil Program, and daffodils will be planted. Registration is required.

Nov. 11

A Veterans Day Luncheon, presented by the Rotary Club of North Cobb, will be held at the Ben Robertson Community Center in Kennesaw, noon-2 p.m., for all veterans and active-duty military. The program will include lunch from Copeland’s of Kennesaw, acknowledgments from Mayor Derek Easterling, a guest speaker, a presentation of colors by the North Cobb-Harrison Navy JROTC unit and the POW/MIA recognition ceremony by the North Cobb American Legion Post 304. Registration is not required. 770-422-9714; https://bit.ly/3fPlaRX.

The city of Acworth is honoring veterans and active-duty military by hosting a Veterans Day Ceremony at 2 p.m. at the Veterans Memorial at Patriots Point in Cauble Park. https://bit.ly/3RK5QDH.

The 18th annual Marietta Veterans Day Parade, presented by the Kiwanis Club of Marietta and the city of Marietta, will begin at 11 a.m. at Roswell Street Baptist Church. It will head toward the Marietta Square then back down Lawrence Street, with the intention of being at the square by 11:11 a.m. The parade includes marching bands from Marietta and Cobb County schools, drill teams, floats, military vehicles, veterans’ organizations and JROTC units. lwiles@mariettaga.gov or 770-794-5509; BKelley@mariettaga.gov or 770-794-5502.

Veterans Day Candlelight Ceremony honors veterans at The Park at City Center in downtown Woodstock at 7 p.m. A coffee and cookie social will follow. www.woodstockparksandrec.com.

Nov. 12

The eighth annual Veterans Memorial 5K, presented by American Legion Post 29, is open to runners and walkers of all ages and is wheelchair- and stroller-accessible and pet-friendly. The 5K begins at the Marietta Square, 7:30 a.m. https://bit.ly/3fQRDHH.

The 41st annual Georgia Veterans Day Parade, Observance Ceremony and Festival will be at The Battery Atlanta. The parade will begin at 11 a.m., followed by a ceremony, featuring veterans speaking and a performance by the 116th Army Band, at noon. The festival, noon-3 p.m., will include more than 20 exhibits, equipment displays from the National Infantry Museum and educational presentations. The festivities are free and open to the public. For more details, including a parade route map, visit www.georgiaveteransday.org/events-1.

Cherokee Veterans Community will hold a free Veteran Appreciation Breakfast, 9-11 a.m., at First Baptist Church Woodstock. All military members, past and present, as well as spouses and children, are welcome. Register at www.cherokeeveteranscommunity.org/events by Nov. 6.

A Word From Mayor Derek Easterling

Hello,

Kennesaw! November is an awesome month in which we set aside a day to honor our veterans and a day to give thanks for peace and opportunity and reflect on the importance of family.

Veterans Day. The foundation of our personal success, as well as the success of this country, is forged in freedom. Famed news anchor Walter Cronkite said, “There is no such thing as a little freedom. Either you are all free, or you are not free.”

There have been many conflicts and wars in which brave American men and women have served, and, today, thousands of troops continue to stand watch across the globe, protecting our inalienable rights, liberty and opportunities. The men and women who served their country before us didn’t fight for recognition; they fought because it was the right thing to do.

Young men and women from all walks of life, from cities and towns near and far in this great country, have strongly defended the right for you to do what you want to do; to say what you feel like saying; to choose whether to stand, kneel or fall on your knees in prayer. They defend those rights through their courage, commitment, dedication and sacrifice.

Freedom, equality, justice and humanity — our country has defended these principles not only for our nation but also for other countries that have seen the value of democracy and freedom of choice.

We have done well to come this far, but our future and our country’s future lie ahead. How will you respond to the call? What will you do to deserve such sacrifice?

When it comes to you and the United States of America:

• Do not tear her down or mock her. Her flame burns brightly to lead others home.

• Do not let her flag fall. Allow courage, hope and honor to wave overhead.

• Pray for our nation, for the men and women who know too well the cost of serving and for victory in the many battles against evil and wrongdoers. Acknowledge their selfless devotion.

• Honor the victory of independence and ideals that all people are free.

• Strive to make a lasting impression on those around you and make a positive difference in their lives. Be a leader, but always remember the team.

• Serve those who serve you, and remember where you came from.

It’s time for you to start doing what you were meant to do and to respond by living your best life. We must continue to be the change we desire in our hearts and actions. We must stand together!

God bless our veterans and God bless America!

Join us Nov. 11, noon-2 p.m., at the Ben Robertson Community Center, 2753 Watts Drive, for our annual Veterans Day luncheon. Veterans, active-duty service members and their family members will be treated to a ceremony that will include the presentation of colors, the national anthem and a guest speaker, as well as a free sit-down lunch.

Curbside to-go meals also will be available by registering at https://bit.ly/2KHfqGC.

Finally, happy Thanksgiving! As you gather around the table, I pray you find much to be thankful for in celebrating your family, friends and the opportunity to live, work and play in this awesome community.

Be blessed!

Derek Easterling has served as Kennesaw’s mayor since 2016. He is dedicated to serving his community to the highest level possible.

S anta

Teams Up With

BY SUSAN BROWNING SCHULZ

The March of the Toys Parade in downtown Ball Ground has become a north Georgia tradition. Ten years ago, local Santa and Mrs. Claus, Tim and Pam Cavender, launched the parade to join Toys for Tots (TFT) and help children in need.

This holiday season marks the 75th anniversary of the Marine Corps Reserve TFT Program. Maj. Bill Hendricks started the charity in Los Angeles in 1947 after a nudge from his wife, Diane. She was the real inspiration and had a few handcrafted dolls that she asked Bill to deliver to an agency that supported underprivileged children. Bill could not find such an organization. After

Bill’s unsuccessful search, Diane instructed him to start one. He and the Marines in his reserve unit collected and distributed 5,000 toys in 1947.

Seeing the great success of this first community engagement, the commandant directed all Marine Reserve sites to implement a TFT campaign, transforming the program into a national community action in 1948.

At the time, Bill’s civilian job was director of public relations at Warner Bros. Studios. Friends with many celebrities, he asked them to help support the newly created program. As a personal friend and as a favor to Bill, Walt Disney designed the first TFT poster, which included a miniature three-car train. This image was subsequently adopted as the official logo.

Toys For Tots has grown exponentially since. In 1991, The Marine Toys for Tots Foundation, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, was established at the behest of the Marine Corps to help run and support the program. The foundation raises funds, purchases toys, distributes donations and handles day-to-day operations. To date, 627 million toys have been distributed, supporting 281 million happy children.

Local Support for a National Effort

The ninth annual March of the Toys Parade is Dec. 2. The vendor market will open at 4 p.m. in Ball Ground’s City Park, and the parade will begin at 7 p.m. Last year, it was estimated 5,000 people attended the parade.

“I can’t stand the idea of a child going through Christmas without toys,” Tim Cavender said. “The toys we collect are distributed through the TFT branch in Marietta. Besides collecting unwrapped toys for TFT, we celebrate the season with vendors and lots of superheroes, princesses and ‘Star Wars’ characters who come

Santa Tim and Pam Claus with Lulu Roman, this year’s grand marshal of the parade.

from all over the Southeast.” Santa and Mrs. Claus will bring snow with them as they travel down Main Street. After the parade, a meet and greet with free photo opportunities will feature Santa and Mrs. Claus, as well as all of the children’s favorite cosplayers (participants who wear costumes and accessories to represent a character). The cosplayers will gather in City Park, and Santa will be available on the stage.

“Our 2022 grand marshal is Lulu Roman from the famed TV sitcom, ‘Hee Haw.’ Lulu will be doing a meet and greet prior to the parade, from 4-6 p.m., at Barrel House Coffee on Main Street (275 Gilmer

Ferry Road),” Cavendar said. Don’t forget to bring a new, unwrapped toy to the parade for TFT. Collection boxes for toys will be available along Main Street (the parade route) and at City Park. For more information, visit marchofthetoysparade.com or contact Tim Cavender, parade chairman, at tmcavender@ cherokeega.com or 770-735-4263.

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

Jeweler's Focus is on Customers and Family

The story behind The Jewelsmith, a familyowned jewelry store at The Avenue of West Cobb, may have been described best by Monique Sparks, wife of third-generation jeweler Oliver Ronquillo, as “the epitome of the American dream.”

Oliver, a GIA-certified master jeweler, immigrated from the Philippines in 1971. His primary education started at age 15, as he watched and worked with his father and grandfather, who also came to work in the U.S.

“Oliver’s father is well-known in metro Atlanta by most of the larger jewelry stores for whom they’ve done repair work,” Monique said. While Oliver began his career as an independent jeweler, the economy caused him to change course in 2008. He entered the corporate world, where he managed repair shops, gaining valuable business experience and developing skills for training and encouraging other jewelers.

“After 10 years of doing this, he realized he truly wanted to have his own shop,” Monique said. “Working behind the scenes at other shops didn’t allow him to develop relationships with the customers. This was something he felt was lacking in his craft.”

With a fresh, customer-oriented focus, Oliver and Monique opened The Jewelsmith in June 2019 with some essential guiding principles:

• Establish a great relationship with each customer. Each piece created at The Jewelsmith is designed and planned carefully with the customer’s input as the primary driver.

• Maintain integrity and quality of work, committing to each customer’s complete

PHOTOS BY RED BARYL PORTRAITS.

satisfaction, whether it’s engraving, repair or creating new jewelry.

• Create an environment where customers can watch as the jewelers work. Almost all work is done in-house; they have the equipment to develop, cast and complete each piece.

Just as The Jewelsmith’s owners value family, they also love being part of special occasions celebrated by other families.

“We have received engagement videos from happy couples, and a video of an 88-yearold grandmother, who received a gift of her mother’s ring turned into a pendant. Her tears of joy were priceless,” Monique said.

“We were also able to restore a 100-year-old rosary, which is a family heirloom. It is now going to be passed down to another generation. We consider it a great privilege to be able to be a part of something so extraordinarily special as these occasions.”

With son Zach, the fourth generation, training to continue the family tradition, Oliver and Monique are excited about The Jewelsmith’s future. Tristan, another son, is an apprentice, learning the trade, and his wife, Courtney, is responsible for computer-aided design, and designs jewelry to carry in the shop and online.

“We have gone from being just Oliver and Monique, to being able to hire three employees, all of whom are our kids,” she said. “We love being able to provide jobs for some of our children, as well as spend time with them in the family business. All of this happened as we faced a global pandemic; we can only credit God for our continued success.”

The Jewelsmith family, from left: Aspen, Zach and Oliver Ronquillo, Monique, Courtney and Tristan Sparks.

Oliver creates a custom piece of jewelry.

Lend a

Helping Hand

Many of our friends and neighbors struggle financially every day, and the holiday season is especially difficult. Here’s a list of local nonprofits working to make sure everyone has a great holiday season. Please do what you can to help, whether it’s donating money or time. While you’re at it, consider bringing a basket of homemade goodies, fresh fruit or colorful flowers to show your appreciation for the staff and volunteers at these nonprofits.

Acworth Police Department Christmas Shoppe

www.acworthpolice.org

Every year, the Acworth Police Department invites parents in need to come and select holiday gifts for their children at the station’s Christmas Shoppe. The community can assist the Christmas Shoppe by donating new, unwrapped toys and clothes for school-age children. Donations can be dropped off at the police department anytime before Dec. 15. 770-974-1232, ext. 1145.

The Center for Family Resources

https://thecfr.org/thanks-for-giving

The center has a goal of providing 1,000 boxes of food for local families for Thanksgiving week. Register to be a Smart Stuffer Packing Partner; each box costs $65-$75 and contains traditional holiday foods as well as staples such as cereal, peanut butter and jelly, pasta and beans. Another option is to become a Thanks for Giving 2022 sponsor, which helps underwrite the costs of the holiday campaign, as well as providing gift cards. 770-428-2601.

Cobb Christmas Stuff-A-Bus

www.cobbchristmas.net/stuff-a-bus

Help the Stuff-A-Bus program brighten the holidays for local children in need by donating new toys, food or monetary contributions to Cobb Christmas, a nonprofit, nondenominational organization that helps low-income families during the holidays. It is 100% run by volunteers, so all donations go directly to help the community. Cobb Christmas provides a minimum of three age-appropriate toys to each child, ages 3-13. Families go through a qualification process. Check the website to find a donation location near you or drop off donations 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Dec. 13-15 at IAM Lodge 709 (1032 S. Marietta Parkway, Marietta).

Cobb Senior Services

www.cobbcounty.org

Brighten the holidays for senior clients who won’t receive gifts or visits from family during the season through Santa’s Elves for Seniors 2022. Ways to help include:

• Be a Santa’s Elf. Purchase items from a local senior’s wish list, and drop them off at the senior services office by Nov. 18.

• Donate gift cards. Cards for Kroger, Publix, Walmart and Target allow seniors to purchase muchneeded items and should be dropped off by Nov. 18.

• Make a monetary donation. Donate funds at https://bit.ly/3SCii9i.

For more information or to receive a wish list, contact Andrea Rapowitz at andrea.rapowitz@cobbcounty.org or 770-528-1445.

Encompass Ministries

https://encompassministriesinc.org

Encompass Ministries and its food pantry offer yearround food and stability, as well as life-skills training assistance. Special holiday needs: donations of turkeys, ham and nonperishable food items. A list of the Top 10 food needs is kept up-to-date on the website. Taxdeductible donations also are accepted on the website. For more details, call 770-591-4730.

Volunteers bring toys and other gifts to last year’s Cobb Christmas Stuff-A-Bus.

Family Promise

Cobb County

www.family promise cobb county.org

Family Promise serves housing-insecure families with children by providing shelter through community faith partnerships. While the family has shelter, the day center staff stays busy working to help the adults find jobs, learn budgeting and connect with benefits and services that will help them. Donations of gas cards and Walmart, Publix, Kroger or Target gift cards are requested to help the families being served. Donations of new bed pillows, laundry detergent, cleaning supplies, paper towels and toilet paper always are needed.

Goshen Valley Foundation

www.goshenvalley.org

Goshen Valley Boys Ranch attempts to provide a memorable Christmas experience for foster children, with the community’s help. This includes building traditions, talking about the true meaning of Christmas, as well as fulfilling young people’s wants and needs through giftgiving, to teach them that they are loved. With 42 kids to purchase gifts for, Goshen Valley relies on the generosity of the community to fulfill these wishes. A list of gifts has been compiled on Amazon through a charity wish list. For details, visit http://goshenwishlist. org, email Executive Director Stacy Cooper at scooper@goshenvalley.org or call 770-796-4618 for a clickable link to view gifts the boys have requested.

The Hope Box

www.thehopebox.org/donate

The Hope Box, a nonprofit dedicated to rescuing abandoned babies and toddlers, needs donations via gift cards for Walmart and Target to cover the costs of car seats and other needs of mothers and infants in crisis. Mail gift cards to 3330 Cobb Parkway, Suite 324-180, Acworth, GA 30101. For more information, call 770-765-6301.

Jerry Worthan Memorial Christmas Fund

www.facebook.com/KennPD

Each year, Kennesaw Police Department hosts the Jerry Worthan Memorial Christmas Fund, which ensures Kennesaw children don’t go without Christmas gifts. The KPD is accepting monetary and toy donations. Drop off all donations at the police department by Dec. 14. To adopt a family for Christmas, contact KPD_PIO@ kennesaw-ga.gov or 770-429-4532.

KSU CARE Services

http://care.kennesaw.edu

The Campus Awareness, Resource & Empowerment (CARE) Services office offers program support to students who are experiencing homelessness, food insecurity and/or the foster care system. Monetary donations to the fund can make a huge difference in the lives of students and their academic careers. There is an online shopping gift list for granting holiday wishes to students within this special population. For details, contact CARE Services at careservices@kennesaw.edu or 470-KSU-5260 or check out the website at care.kennesaw.edu.

MUST Ministries

www.mustministries.org

The MUST Ministries Thanksgiving Food Box Program long has been a source of help and hope to those living in poverty. To help your neighbors in need, MUST is collecting donations of canned green beans, corn, cranberry sauce and sweet potatoes. Also requested are boxes or packets of mashed potatoes, macaroni and cheese, cornbread stuffing and gravy mixes (no glass, please). Monetary donations for turkeys and frozen pies are the most helpful. The Donation Center can accept donations of nonperishable items Tuesdays-Saturdays, 9 a.m.-5 p.m., at the MUST Ministries Donation Center at 1280 Field Parkway, Marietta. For more information, email Tom Tapp at ttapp@mustministries.org.

Never Alone

www.neveralone.org

The food pantry is seeking partners to help fight hunger in our community. The pantry provides more than 126,100 meals to approximately 800 households each month. Never Alone’s partnership with the Atlanta Community Food Bank allows it to purchase food at greatly discounted prices. Please consider making a tax-deductible donation online at www.neveralone.org or by check, made payable to and mailed to: Never Alone Outreach, P.O. Box 1904, Woodstock, GA 30188.

North Georgia Angel House

www.angelhousega.com

The organization has served girls since 2006 by providing shelter, life skills, job readiness services, family support and more for up to 40 females at a time. Current needs include: MP3 players, earbuds, gift cards for clothing or activities in the area and journals. Visit the website to donate, or shop on Amazon Smile and select North Georgia Angel House Inc. as your charity to support.

NorthStar Church Bags of Kindness

https://northstarchurch.org

The NorthStar Church November Big Give is the annual Bags of Kindness giveaway. Pick up a NorthStar grocery bag through Nov. 10 at the church, then fill it with the items on the shopping list inside the bag. Return bags to NorthStar Church Nov. 13, 9 a.m.-noon. The bags, filled with items needed for a Thanksgiving meal, will be given to families in need, referred by local school social workers. Visit http:// northstarchurch.org/biggive to download the shopping list.

Operation Christmas Child

www.samaritanspurse.org

Representatives will be collecting donations of filled shoeboxes Nov. 14-21. Check the website for updates on locations in the area that will be accepting shoeboxes, including RiverStone Church and Ellison & Ellison Co. in Kennesaw, and for directions on donating or filling a virtual shoebox.

Simple Needs GA

www.simpleneedsga.org

The Spirit of Christmas program helps schooland agency-referred families who are getting close to Christmas and were unable to register for other local programs earlier in the year. Volunteer opportunities include buying requested presents, wrapping gifts, making deliveries, sorting and organizing, and more. For more information, email brenda@simpleneedsga.org.

Toys for Tots

www.toysfortots.org

Toys for Tots is a national program started by the Marine Corps. Toys for Tots collects new, unwrapped toys year-round to distribute to children in need during the holiday season as a way of spreading joy to the less fortunate. Visit the website for an updated list of collection sites in Acworth and Kennesaw.

A volunteer serves desserts during Thanksgiving dinner at MUST Ministries.

Thanks

BY SUSANNAH MACKAY

Thanksgiving is just around the corner, and the best way to give thanks for our own blessings is by sharing them with others. This time of year, there are so many ways you can help. Take a look at the many JustServe partners mentioned in the Helping Hands article (Pages 20-22). And, for more opportunities, check out the projects below. As we begin the holiday season, there is no better time than now to support those in need and lift their spirits.

1. Volunteer at MUST Ministries’ Gobble

Jog. Get a jump start on burning off all those Thanksgiving calories by participating in the Gobble Jog! You can register to race or, even better, become a volunteer. They need an army of volunteers to make this event a success, and it’s a perfect way to start your Thanksgiving Day (https://bit.ly/3CrbvtU).

2. Donate food to Noonday StoreHouse Ministries. If you would rather support a feast, check out Noonday Storehouse Ministries’ Thanksgiving Food Drive. This amazing network of more than 120 churches in our area seeks to help families in need by providing much-needed food and supplies to keep them healthy and well (https://bit.ly/3dYXD0D).

3. Assemble hygiene kits for local families. If you are looking for a different approach, consider assembling kits and dropping them off to YMCA locations. Complete with a special Thanksgiving note, these kits are sure to provide hope and security to families in need (https://bit.ly/3fG1NuN).

You can check out these great projects — and more! — on the JustServe website. Or, for additional ideas, join the JustServe Georgia Volunteers public Facebook group. You truly can make an impact with simple acts of service!

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

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

ROYALTY AMONG US

The four public high schools and two private schools in Kennesaw and Acworth crowned their homecoming queens and kings during the 2022 football season. We’d like to introduce you to the newest members of royalty in north and west Cobb.

• Allatoona High School

Crowning Sept. 9

Queen: Valeria Lopez

King: Cayden Phillips

• Harrison High School

Crowning Aug. 26

Queen: Sophie Austin King: John Rockefeller

• Kennesaw Mountain High School

Crowning Oct. 14

Queen: Serena Parker

• North Cobb High School

Crowning Oct. 14

Queen: Aniyah Suggs King: Kameron Owens

• Mount Paran Christian Crowning Oct. 14

Queen: Sophie Kate Chambley

• North Cobb Christian School

Crowning Sept. 16

Queen: Jayci Jeffreys King: Gabe Fortson

Cayden Phillips and Valeria Lopez

Sophie Austin and John Rockefeller

Kameron Owens and Aniyah Suggs

Sophie Kate Chambley

Homecoming Princess Presley Stevens, 2021 Queen Izzy Oller, 2022 Queen Jayci Jeffreys, 2022 King Gabe Fortson and 2021 King Tremain Davis

Todd Parker, 2022 Queen Serena Parker, Principal Nathan Stark, 2021 Queen Mia Clark

Living the Dream Meeting Dansby Swanson

Five local youth baseball players got the opportunity of a lifetime when their coaches and association boards chose them as their park’s Wellstar Positive Athlete of the Year. Their reward for being selected for the honor was getting an inside tour of Truist Park in September and spending an hour on the field with

Atlanta Braves All-Star shortstop (and Kennesaw native) Dansby Swanson. He also autographed more than a few balls, hats and jerseys during his time with the future major leaguers.

Braves rookie sensation Vaughn Grissom made an unexpected appearance and talked with the kids while also signing some items for them.

Player selection for the event was based on attributes such as displaying great sportsmanship; encouraging fellow teammates and competitors; being respectful to coaches, parents and umpires; and taking pride in their park by keeping it neat and litter-free.

The Acworth and Kennesaw players and associations that participated were Levi Wheeler from Acworth Baseball, Lucas Smith and Christian Scragg (there was a tie among the board members who voted) from Kennesaw Baseball and Softball, Eli Furnish from Oregon Park Baseball and Patrick Layne from West Cobb Baseball.

Acworth Baseball Association

Levi Wheeler is 12, lives in Acworth and plays for the Bronco Cardinals.

What was it like to meet Dansby Swanson? Love it.

What did you do during your time with him? Got to ask questions about him and had pictures taken.

What is something you learned from him? What a nice guy he is.

West Cobb Baseball Association

Patrick Layne is 14, lives in Marietta and plays for the West Cobb Cardinals.

What was it like to meet Dansby Swanson? Really cool experience. He was very nice and humble.

What did you do during your time with him? Talk with Dansby and ask questions. He also autographed items for me.

What is something you learned from him? Dansby spoke about some infield drills and being a faith-based person.

Dansby and Levi Dansby and Patrick

Kennesaw Baseball Association

Lucas Smith and Christian Scragg are both 7 years old, live in Kennesaw and play for the Bananas and Kennesaw All-Stars.

LUCAS

What was it like to meet Dansby Swanson? It was the coolest thing I have ever done!

What did you do during your time with him? It was interesting to hear all he had to say and all the advice he had to give. We got to talk a lot, and he signed a bunch of things.

What is something you learned from him? I learned to never get down on yourself, to never give up and to always try harder.

CHRISTIAN

What was it like to meet Dansby Swanson? I was really excited to meet Dansby since he grew up playing at the same park I do (Adams Park). He was really nice and took the time to answer everyone’s questions.

What did you do during your time with him? I gave him some shirts and hats from Kennesaw Baseball. He also signed my jersey and a baseball for me. I asked him if he was excited to get Ozzie (Albies) back, and he said “Yes, he is like my little brother and always brings the energy.” We sat and listened to him answer questions everyone had.

What is something you learned from him? I asked what he thinks the most important drill is, and he said, “It’s really important to work on hops, and that baseball is a game of highs and lows and that we have to learn from the lows to appreciate the highs.”

Us Honor

Veterans

Dansby and Christian

Dansby and Lucas

‘We Are God’s School’

Parents Feel ‘Something Different’ at North Cobb Christian

Perhaps it’s the prayer garden situated at the entrance to the campus as you drive in or the praise music playing in the lobby. Maybe it’s just the way everyone is authentically welcoming and kind. Whatever it is, there’s something tangible that parents say they feel when they first visit North Cobb Christian School (NCCS).

“It’s the comment we receive most often. Everyone says that they just ‘feel something different’ when they walk in this school. But that feeling is not us. It’s God working here,” said Todd Clingman, head of school since 2007.

“We are a Christian school first. Above being a private school, we are God’s school. Not because we are perfect or have all the answers. It’s because we put our faith and trust in the holy, infallible Word of God. That’s why we’re here.”

The school’s firm commitment to providing faith-based education is increasingly appealing to families looking for a foundation of Christian values for their children.

In fact, enrollment is at an all-time high. Like most private schools, NCCS saw a bump in enrollment during 2020. Those families have stayed, and more have come.

“During 2020, most private schools saw a jump in enrollment, as families sought out school options during that uncertain season. We honestly didn’t know if those families were ‘renting’ us for a year and would then leave, but they stayed,” Clingman said. “Families may have originally come during the pandemic, but now they are staying for our school culture, which hinges on an unwavering commitment to faith in Jesus Christ and to biblical truth.”

Parents aren’t the only ones noting this difference. An independent school consulting firm recently reported that, “the strength of NCCS is their Christian mission. Of all the schools we have worked with nationally and globally, NCCS’s Christian mission is the strongest we have seen.”

So how, exactly, does this Christian mission play out in students’ lives? At NCCS, the school calendar is punctuated with intentional

PHOTOS BY M.JAE PHOTOGRAPHY

BY KATE HARTLEY

Students in K3-4th grade explore the interactive STEAM Courtyard during science class.

opportunities for students to grow in their faith: daily Bible class and weekly chapel for preschool K3 through 12th grade, in addition to discipleship groups for every student in grades 5-12. Students also take part in the school’s annual Circle of Prayer at the start of every year, fall retreats every August, Spiritual Emphasis Week in winter, Spring Term mission trips in March and community service projects throughout the year.

Karen and Brandon Carter, parents of 12th-grader Ella and eighth-grader Emmy, believe that beyond the opportunities and programs are the people — particularly the teachers — at NCCS. “We have been amazed at the love the girls’ teachers have shown them and how they apply the principles from God’s word to every subject being taught and to real-life situations being faced,” Karen said.

“Some people’s thoughts are that a secular school environment will strengthen their children by forcing them to stand up for their own beliefs, but God’s word does not endorse that viewpoint,” she said. “It does not say, ‘Give a child 12 years of training in the way he should not go, and he will be made strong by it.’ Instead, God tells us, ‘Train up a child in the way he should go, and even when he is old, he will not depart from it’ (Proverbs 22:6). Our hope is that our children will become like their teachers at NCCS, whose love for the Lord and the Word is the central focus of all of life.”

Top, robotics students at NCCS demonstrate the robot they constructed and programmed. Below, lower school students painted rocks to place throughout the community as reminders of God’s love.

First-grade students participate in an integrated science and Bible lesson with their teacher, Mrs. Attard.

North Cobb Christian School is home to more than 1,150 students in preschool K3-12th grades.

Tours and information: K ncchristian.org

770-975-0252

info@ncchristian.org

Eagle Drive, Kennesaw

Teaching Backward

At North Cobb Christian School, an uncompromising Christian education means marrying spiritual formation with academic excellence. In addition to biblical foundations, NCCS students engage in rigorous, college-preparatory academics.

Currently, every teacher from K3 through 12th grade is implementing an academic best practice called Understanding by Design. This method of teaching employs a “backward design” approach, meaning teachers begin planning units with the learning outcomes in mind. Rather than focusing first on the activities and instruction (the teaching), teachers identify student outcomes (the learning), asking, “What will students learn through this?” Hands-on methods, project-based learning and authentic assessments then are planned around that essential question.

“Understanding by Design is a methodology of teaching that puts the learner at the center, ensuring understanding on a deeper level,” said Dr. Chip Houston, assistant head of school at NCCS. “Our students are learning how to learn, how to critically think and question. They can then transfer that knowledge to real-world contexts, leveraging their gifts and intellect to impact the world for Christ.”

The ABC s of Flooring

From Wood and Carpet, to Tile and Luxury Vinyl Plank

BY ELISABETH STUBBS

Let’s learn more about my favorite floors as we continue with the letter T. (If you missed Part 2 last month, visit https://aroundkennesawmagazine.com.)

T is for tile — luxury vinyl tile (LVT), that is. Most people think luxury vinyl comes only in wood looks, but there are lots of great tile looks as well. Some of my favorites are COREtec Stone, TRUCOR Tile and Pergo Tile. LVT is not as cold as real tile; it’s much more comfortable underfoot, waterproof and you don’t have to grout.

Uis for Urban Terrace. This real hardwood floor by Mohawk is one of my go-to floors, as there is a color that works for most everyone. It’s available in maple, birch, oak and natural walnut, all in the popular 5-inch width.

Vis for Villa Pointe — possibly the most beautiful maple hardwood floor you will ever see. It is one of the thickest engineered woods on the market, superbly crafted by Karastan, and it is 7½ inches wide. Engineered floors are a thinner wood floor, made in plies, with the actual species of wood on the top layer. The bottom layers utilize other species of wood for stability. It is composed of 100% hardwood. Most engineered wood floors can be sanded at least once.

Wis for wood — hardwoods, of course. Site-finished hardwoods are installed raw (unfinished) and sanded, stained and coated with polyurethane in your home. This allows you to select the stain color and the gloss level of the floor. Conversely, prefinished hardwood floors are fully manufactured and finished in the factory. A prefinished floor offers a quick and more convenient installation, but you have fewer choices in stain color, etc. Site-finished and prefinished floors are available in solid and engineered wood. All solidwood floors can be sanded numerous times.

Xis for Xanadu. The gorgeous wool carpet by Stanton is great for rugs, staircase runners and wall-to-wall installations.

Yis for Yakima, a nice wood color in the Thatcher line of laminate vinyl plank floor by Mohawk Flooring. This style is one of the few luxury vinyls made in America.

Zis for zebra. Not a real zebra — a faux zebra print by Karastan. This design captures nature’s true spirit of the wild and inspires adventures in decorating. Never fear; it’s nylon, so it’s very durable. The design is great for rugs and staircase runners, too.

Elisabeth Stubbs is one of the owners of Enhance Floors & More, one of Atlanta’s toprated flooring dealers, located in Marietta.

Yakima

Enhance Floors & More is one of the most experienced flooring companies in North Georgia. Founded 37 years ago in Marietta, the flooring showroom is locally owned and staffed by a skilled team with a combined 150-plus years of experience.

Clients rave about how Enhance Floors is a “one-stop shop and made what could have been an overwhelming experience easy and fun.” Pop in to browse the large selection of flooring options and see for yourself what all the hype is about.

Rob’s Rescues

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

I interviewed Tori Reibel, education and communications coordinator of Appalachian Bear Rescue (ABR), an organization dedicated to caring for orphaned and injured black bear cubs. www.appalachianbearrescue.org. This interview is the first of two parts.

How did ABR start?

ABR started in 1996, just outside the Great Smoky Mountains National Park (GSMNP), after a hard mast failure, in which there were no acorns, and bears were starving. The National Park Service, Wildlife Services and volunteers came together, and ABR grew from that. We have helped more than 360 bears to date – cubs and bears under 2 years old, per our permit. Currently, we have 13 at the rescue.

What was the first bear you rescued?

Zero Bear in 1996. He was a yearling that was starving and injured. He was successfully released back into the GSMNP.

How do you tell the difference between bears?

In our part of the world, we only have black bears. Physically, black bears also can be brown. The best way to differentiate between black bears and grizzlies is grizzly claws are longer and straight (to shovel and dig). Black bear claws are 1 to 2 inches long and are curved for climbing. Grizzly bears also have a very muscular hump on their shoulders.

How do you find the bears that come to ABR?

This dog’s name is Becca. She is quite a hyper 11-month-old stray. She is a very loving and friendly dog. Becca would be a great dog for a family, with some training.

Mostly from calls from the public. People out hiking sometimes report cubs by themselves. Mom might be close by, so we monitor the situation for 24 to 48 hours before we deem help necessary. Mother bears are sometimes hit by cars, and the police will call us to help cubs on the roadway. We also take bears in from surrounding states that need help.

What is the usual age range of bears you help?

The typical age range is 3 weeks to 2 years. In hard mast failure years, a lot will be yearlings fending for themselves for the first time. If the food mast is good, we usually get more cubs.

What types of problems are bears facing?

In some cases, mother bears are poached, and we get lots of orphaned or abandoned bears. Most often, we deal with malnutrition and parasites, as well as injuries as a result of being hit by a car. One bear recently needed a blood transfusion. We worked with the University of Tennessee Vet College, and a bear from the Knoxville Zoo gave blood needed for the injured bear’s transfusion. We named him Summit.

Humans and trash create a huge problem for bears. Mother bears often will have to be euthanized because they get into trash and get aggressive. Her cubs then come to ABR.

Have you always wanted to help bears?

My dad works for the Michigan Department of Natural Resources, and I grew up loving wildlife. I enjoy outreach and educating people about wildlife, and I do a lot of ABR interviews. I also host educational programs about bears and coexistence.

What is an interesting thing about bears?

This cat’s name is Callie. She is 8 years old. She is a domestic short-haired cat and is super sweet. She is an ownersurrender, which doesn’t make a lot of sense, but I guess people have their reasons. Anyone would love this cat.

Bears have a really good sense of smell. Bears often are portrayed as slow-moving foragers, but they are very quick and can run at speeds of about 35 mph. They are fast climbers, too.

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

Appalachian Bear Rescue facility.

Offering Respite Care, Support to Weary Parents

BY LANISE SHORTELL

Atlanta families of children with medical complexities and life-limiting illnesses are suffering. The cumulative daily pressures of 24/7 caregiving are unrelenting and often life-altering.

Through compelling research, we are learning that families with these unique stressors are impacted financially, emotionally and physically. Life House Atlanta (LHA), a Marietta-based 501(c) (3), has recognized the need and, with community awareness and support, has taken on the task of providing a physical respite space for Atlanta families who often feel unseen.

Studies through the University of California-San Francisco compared biological mothers of chronically ill children to those of healthy children and found the mothers of sick children had higher levels of chronic stress that made a significant impact on three biological factors: the length of telomeres, the activity of telomerase and levels of oxidative stress. Telomeres protect the ends of chromosomes from becoming frayed or tangled. Those factors, noted within the study, showed impacted immune responses, diminished

emotional well-being and a higher risk of certain cancers and cardiovascular disease.

What we are learning is the weight of everyday stress on mothers of chronically ill children is not just a social advocacy issue; it’s a public health issue. With this information, we reasonably can assume the negative impacts of caregiving affects fathers as well.

LHA is seeking a location in metro Atlanta for a pediatric respite and palliative care home for medically fragile children and children with shortened life expectancies — the only such specialized facility in the Southeast. With Atlanta being nationally and internationally known for expert care of children with medical complexities, the number of families with limited respite/ relief support is growing.

LHA is on a mission to provide physical respite care for medically fragile children, as well as emotional/bereavement support for families — support groups for all ages, community care classes to craft resilience and a safe space for parents and siblings to feel seen and be directed to helpful resources for the unique needs of each child.

Guided by Executive Director Kathleen

Fleiszar of Kennesaw, the board is driven to bring awareness and vital ongoing support to at-risk families in our community. Visit lifehouseatlanta.org or connect with us on Facebook and/or Instagram to follow along as we secure the space, provide blogs/ support groups access and offer avenues for contributing financially or through volunteering.

Finding the Necessary Rest for Your Soul

BY THOMAS TANNER

We all have an inner life and an outer life. Our inner life is supposed to be the guardian of our outer life. Unfortunately, we have a tendency to focus more on our outer life. The problem with this way of living is the outer life can’t truly satisfy the inner; yet, success in the inner life almost always satisfies the outer life.

Philosopher Dallas Willard said, “You’re a soul made by God, made for God and made to need God, which means you were not made to be self-sufficient.”

Your soul is the deepest part of you. It’s the part that longs to know and be known. It’s the place where your thoughts, will and body come together to find peace. To lose your soul means to lose your connection to God and other people. To care for your soul is to give priority to this connection intentionally. We are made for relationships. We were created by a relational God who invites us to know him and be known by him. Many people give themselves to a life of “doing for God,” while failing to realize his desire is for us also to be with him. Only when my soul is healthy can I truly be of use to others, and only when I am in a right relationship to God can my soul be healthy.

We often believe the next thing will make us truly happy. We say to ourselves, “I’ll be happy when this happens,” or “I’ll be happy when that happens.” In reality, happiness is not found in events or accomplishments. True happiness is found in a person. Jesus said, “I came that you might have life and have it at its highest level” (John 10:10). In his book “Soul Keeping,” John Ortberg said, “My mind may be obsessed with idols, my will may be enslaved to habits, my body may be consumed with appetites. But my soul will never find rest until it rests in God.”

The soul is needy. It longs for meaning and purpose. The only one who truly can meet the need of your soul is God. His desire is for you to know him deeply. Say yes to him, and let your inner life guide your outer life to a place of peace and rest.

From left, Cecilia, Catherine and Mary Reed were among the supporters who attended Life House Atlanta’s recent fundraiser, the premiere of the award-winning documentary “Unseen: How We’re Failing Parent Caregivers and Why It Matters.”

Lanise Shortell is a registered nurse and a board member for Life House Atlanta.

Dr. Thomas Tanner is lead pastor of RiverStone Church and president of the Transformation Network. He and Melissa have two children and five grandchildren. tom@riverstoneonline.org.

Waterfowl Hunting and Boating Safety

BY GREG FONZENO

Fall is a good time to review water-safety guidelines for hunting season. The next few months, hunters will be seeking waterfowl, mostly ducks and geese. Any type of hunting needs to be done safely, but hunting on the water comes with special dangers.

While boating accidents and deaths mostly are considered summer occurrences, one-third of all water deaths occur during hunting season. Statistically, hunters are more likely to die from drowning than accidental gunshot wounds. Many boating accidents involve small, open motor boats 16 feet or shorter, and 70% of hunters who die in accidents fall overboard due to an improperly loaded boat, unsafe moves around the boat or a hunting dog repeatedly changing the center of gravity.

Wearing a life jacket is the No. 1 safety practice for boaters, yet 86% of hunters who died in boating accidents in 2020 and 2021 were NOT wearing one. In fact, 47% didn’t have one on board. Such drownings are tragic because they easily are preventable.

Heed these safety practices to keep your hunting experience safe and fun, instead of tragic:

• Do not exceed your boat’s weight capacity. Carefully check the weight of passengers, as well as equipment, dogs, food, guns, ammunition, etc.

• Leave a float plan with someone. Include times you plan to leave and return, where you plan to go on the water, a boat description and who to call if you’re overdue.

• Load the boat safely. Do not overload. Keep the weight centered and balanced. Don’t allow dogs to move around freely.

• Wear a life jacket or float coat. Be sure it’s Coast Guard-approved and fits properly. Modern flotation devices are comfortable to wear with warm clothing and come in hunting styles.

• Dress warmly. Cold-water immersion and hypothermia can cause death. If your boat capsizes, get as much of your body out of the water as possible, and stay with the boat to be more visible.

• No alcohol or drugs. They have no business being mixed with guns or boating ever!

• Do not shoot from a moving boat. Establish shooting zones if there are multiple hunters, and never shoot outside your assigned zone — NO EXCEPTIONS.

• Keep all firearms unloaded while the boat is moving. Treat them as if they were loaded, and point the muzzle in a safe direction.

• Download the free Coast Guard app to your phone. It contains safety information and boating laws.

• Take a boating-safety class, offered monthly February through September. For information, email the Lake Allatoona Coast Guard Auxiliary at flotilla22pe@gmail.com.

Greg Fonzeno is the public education officer and commander of the local U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary Unit (Flotilla 22) at Allatoona Lake.

for Good Food!

While the turkey might be the star of the Thanksgiving dinner, it needs a supporting cast of tasty side dishes and spectacular desserts to round out the holiday meal. Try some of these recipes to add a new flavor to the Thanksgiving table.

Chocolate Chip Pumpkin Bread

AND PHOTO COURTESY OF TIFFANY HUGHES

Ingredients

• 3⅓ cups all-purpose flour

• 3 cups dark brown sugar

• 2 teaspoons baking soda

• 1½ teaspoons salt

• 3 teaspoons pumpkin pie spice

• ½ teaspoon ground nutmeg

Directions

• 1 cup canola oil

• ⅔ cup water

• 4 eggs

• 15-ounce can pumpkin puree

• 1 cup semisweet chocolate chips

• 1 cup chopped pecans or walnuts

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Whisk flour and the next nine ingredients (through pumpkin puree) in a large bowl until smooth. Stir in chocolate chips and nuts. Divide batter evenly among 2 greased and floured loaf pans. Bake for 50 minutes to 1 hour or until wooden toothpick inserted into center of each loaf comes out clean. Cool in pans on wire rack for 10 minutes. Remove from pans and cool completely on wire rack. Store leftovers in refrigerator.

NOTE: Two tablespoons dark cocoa powder can be added with the flour to make Chocolate Pumpkin Bread.

Pumpkin Cheesecake

RECIPE AND PHOTO FROM NATASHASKITCHEN.COM (VIA CHELSEA BODENHAMER)

Ingredients

The crust:

• 1½ cups graham cracker crumbs

• 6 tablespoons melted, unsalted butter

• 1 tablespoon sugar

• ½ teaspoon cinnamon

The filling:

• 24 ounces cream cheese, room temperature

• 1½ cups packed light brown sugar

• 15-ounce can pumpkin pie mix

• 4 large eggs

• ¼ cup sour cream

• 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour

• 2 teaspoons pumpkin pie spice

• ¼ teaspoon salt

• 1 tablespoon real vanilla extract

Directions

The crust: Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Pulse graham crackers in a food processor until fine crumbs form. In a medium bowl, stir together graham cracker crumbs, sugar, cinnamon and melted butter. Transfer into a 9-inch springform pan with 3-inch walls, and use a large spoon to press crumbs into the bottom of the pan and about one-half inch up the sides of the pan. Bake for 8 minutes. Remove from oven and cool to room temperature.

The filling: In the bowl of your mixer with the paddle attachment, beat softened cream cheese and brown sugar on medium speed until light and fluffy and without lumps (5 minutes), scraping down the bowl once to make sure you don’t have chunks of cream cheese. In a separate bowl, using a whisk, stir together pumpkin pie mix, eggs, sour cream, flour, pumpkin pie spice, salt and vanilla extract. Mix until well-combined. Add this mixture to the cheesecake filling and continue mixing on low speed, just until well-combined, scraping down the bowl as needed. Transfer filling into prebaked crust and bake on the middle rack at 350 degrees for 1 hour. Turn off heat, prop the oven door open slightly with a wooden spoon and let cheesecake sit for another 45 minutes. Remove from oven and let cool to room temperature before covering with plastic wrap and refrigerating. Chill at least 4 hours in the refrigerator or overnight. Before serving, carefully remove cheesecake from pan by running a blunt knife along the sides to release it from the springform mold. Add desired toppings and serve. Makes 10 servings.

Yummy Pumpkin Cookies

RECIPE COURTESY OF BETSY MANLEY

Ingredients

• 1 cup butter

• 1 cup sugar

• 1 cup pureed cooked pumpkin

• 1 medium egg

• 2 cups flour

• 1 teaspoon baking powder

• 1 teaspoon baking soda

• 1 teaspoon cinnamon

Turkey Pot Pie

RECIPE FROM TWOPEASANDTHEIRPOD.COM (VIA CHELSEA BODENHAMER)

Ingredients

• Pie crust (store-bought or homemade )

• ¼ cup unsalted butter

• ⅓ cup diced onion

• 2 medium carrots, sliced (about 1 cup)

• 1 stalk celery, sliced (about ½ cup)

• 2 cloves garlic, minced

• ⅓ cup all-purpose flour

• 1½ teaspoons minced fresh thyme

Directions

• 1 tablespoon minced fresh Italian parsley

• 1 teaspoon salt

• ½ teaspoon black pepper

• 1¾ cups chicken broth

• ½ cup heavy cream

• 3 cups shredded turkey

• 1 cup frozen peas

Heat butter over medium-high heat in a large skillet. Add onions, carrots and celery (mirepoix), cooking until tender. Add garlic and cook until fragrant. Whisk in flour, salt, black pepper, thyme and parsley. Add chicken broth, mixing until smooth. Continue to cook until well-thickened. Remove from heat and mix in heavy cream (sauce should thin out to a more desirable consistency). Stir in shredded turkey and frozen peas. Set aside while you prepare pie crusts.

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Fill pie crust with filling. Roll out second disk of dough and carefully cover the pie. Trim extra overhang off the sides. Seal edges by crimping with a fork or your fingers. With a sharp knife, slice a few small slits in center of the top crust. Using a pastry brush, brush crust and edges with beaten egg. Bake for 45 minutes or until crust is golden brown.

Cinnamon Pumpkin Bread Pudding

RECIPE COURTESY OF TIFFANY HUGHES

Ingredients

• 5 cups pumpkin bread/muffin cubes

• 5 cups sourdough bread cubes

• 4 eggs

• ¼ teaspoon salt

• 2 cups heavy cream (or evaporated milk)

Directions

• 2 cups brown sugar

• 4 tablespoons melted butter

• 1 tablespoon pumpkin pie spice

• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Toss bread cubes in large bowl. In medium bowl, whisk eggs together, then add salt, cream and sugar. Whisk until well blended. Add vanilla and chocolate chips., then add melted butter, pumpkin pie spice and cinnamon. Spray a 9-by-13-inch pan or 3-quart casserole dish with cooking spray and add bread cubes. Pour egg mixture over bread. Bake for approximately 30 minutes or until egg mixture is absorbed and top is golden. NOTE: Bake uncovered unless top begins to darken before egg mixture is absorbed.

• 1 teaspoon vanilla

• ½ teaspoon salt

• 2 cups chocolate chips

Directions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Cream butter and sugar in large bowl. Add pumpkin and egg and beat well. In a separate large bowl, sift together remaining dry ingredients. Add to pumpkin mixture, beating to blend. Add vanilla and chocolate chips. Shape dough into 1-inch balls and flatten into cookie shapes. Place on a parchment-covered baking sheet and bake until light golden, 9-11 minutes. Remove and cool.

Roasted Sweet Potatoes

RECIPE COURTESY OF ZOE SOLTANMAMMEDOVA

Ingredients

• 3 medium sweet potatoes

• 3 tablespoons pure maple syrup

• 1 tablespoon olive oil

• ½ cup pecans, roughly chopped

• ½ cup dried cranberries

• 1 teaspoon cinnamon

• ¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper

• ½ teaspoon chili powder

• ¼ teaspoon salt

Directions

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Line large baking sheet with nonstick foil and spray with cooking spray. Chop sweet potatoes into bite-size pieces (1-inch cubes) and place in a large bowl. Stir in maple syrup, oil and spices. Toss well to coat sweet potatoes. Spread sweet potatoes on baking sheet. Be sure to scrape all maple syrup out of the bowl. Roast in the oven for 30-35 minutes, until the sweet potatoes are lightly golden brown on the edges, stirring once halfway through. With 5 minutes remaining in baking time, toss pecans and cranberries with the sweet potatoes. Serve warm.

Cleaning Project Helps Cancer Patients

BY NICOLE SMITH

Battling cancer is an exhausting ordeal, which is why several businesses in Kennesaw and Acworth banded together last month to offer a little relief to some local cancer patients.

In honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month in October, members of the Kennesaw Business Association (KBA) participated in Cleaning for a Reason, a Texas-based nonprofit organization that offers free home cleaning to cancer patients in the United States and Canada. The goal is to eliminate the burden of cleaning, so patients can focus on their health. KBA members cleaned the homes of 21 local cancer patients, who were identified by the nonprofit and matched with volunteers based on their ZIP code.

Businesses that participated in this project, organized by PCT Clean, were:

• 1885 Grill Acworth

• Relocal Move Real Estate Benefits

• Copeland’s

• Risk & Insurance Consultants of North Georgia

• Loud Security

• Great Gig Dance Co.

• Kennesaw Driving School

• Piedmont Injury Law

• Realty One Edge

• Springer & Co. CPAs PC

Veda Stapleton, a volunteer from 1885 Grill, said, “It felt amazing to be able to go home, knowing I made someone’s day just a little bit easier. I’m thankful I was given the opportunity to be able to help make a difference, and sitting down, talking with them and hearing their stories was my favorite part.”

The recipient of Veda’s generosity said, “Breast cancer can cause a woman to lose control of the world she’s worked so hard to create and nurture. Having someone to clean her home in a kind and thoughtful way can help alleviate that piece of stress from her suddenly chaotic and painful world. Cancer is a battle. Having backup warriors is priceless.”

Dave Griffith and Jackie Gallo of Relocal Move Real Estate Benefits had the pleasure of cleaning Brenda’s home. “Jackie and I were excited to be able to come alongside PCT to make a tangible difference in the lives of women who are fighting cancer,” Dave said. “I was humbled by Brenda’s joy in the midst of her battle and honored to be able to serve her as the ‘cleaning’ hands of Jesus.”

Dana Dorris and Laurie Tambasco with Risk & Insurance Consultants were thankful for the chance to take part. “It was heartwarming to participate,” Dana said. “When we left the recipient’s home,

Laurie turned to me and said, ‘I feel really good inside.’ I really think that says it all.”

Kay, one of the cleaning recipients, was moved by this service. “It was an absolute luxury to have my house sparkling clean when I came home from a surgery,” she said. “I was as pleased for my fellow warriors as I was for myself. Again, it was an absolute luxury!”

PCT Sales and Marketing Director Angela Bockman, who supervised the project, has seen the impact of Cleaning for a Reason firsthand.

“Given the opportunity to manage this initiative in support of Cleaning for a Reason in October has been not only amazing, but is close to my heart, as I am a breast cancer survivor myself,” she said. “Listening to their journeys and seeing the relief and gratitude as we clean the homes of these strong people who are fighting to keep going is something everyone should get to experience.”

Nicole Smith is a public health professional living in Kennesaw with her epic houseplant collection and two senior dogs, Jax and Lily Grace.

KBA President Dana Dorris cleans the blinds in a Cleaning for a Reason recipient’s home.

Volunteer Jackie Gallo wipes off a flower pot at cancer patient Brenda’s home.

STRONGER TOGETHER

Through Networking

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

Using this as a plumb line for all that we do on the advertising and editorial sides of our company, we wanted to let you know what it looks like when the entrepreneurs in our community gather to exchange ideas and information and develop relationships by supporting and encouraging one another while opening doors to new opportunities.

The Kennesaw Business Association (KBA) meets the second Tuesday of each month for a luncheon, 11 a.m.-1 p.m., at the Recreation Center at Adams Park, 2737 Watts Drive. Dana Dorris of Risk & Insurance Consultants of North

Georgia is president.

“We are invested in making sure that our members have numerous opportunities throughout the year to not only showcase their businesses, but we also love the networking opportunities where our members get to meet one another and learn how to grow together in our awesome Kennesaw community,” Dorris said. “This goes back to my 2022 president’s theme of the year, which is creating a bigger purpose, better business and a brighter future.”

Other business associations in the Kennesaw area are invited to send photos from their monthly meetings to edit@aroundaboutmagazines.com. Please include the names of everyone in each photo, along with the date, time and location of your meetings, as well as the president’s name and employer.

Maureen Malvar, right, of Varenita of West Cobb and Aroundabout Local Media President Kim Dahnke attend the SUPER Women’s Conference in August.

From left, Dr. Angie King, Vera Williams and Rich Biro of BluTree Advantage are seen at the KBA’s Alive After 5 in August.

State Rep. Devan Seabaugh speaks with Shelley Elder of Crane Elder Law Firm at the KBA luncheon in September.

Credit Union of Georgia employees, from left, Kathy Winiarczyk, Beth Whatley, Mike Gibson, Amy Miller, Chandler Ardis and Adam Basilio attend the September Alive After 5.

UPCOMING EVENTS

Nov. 8 KBA Luncheon

11 a.m.-1 p.m. Recreation Center at Adams Park 2737 Watts Drive Nov. 15 Alive After 5 5:30-7:30 p.m. The Jewelsmith 3625 Dallas Highway Suite 780, Marietta

Nov. 18

SUPER Women’s Luncheon

11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. Copeland’s Kennesaw 1142 Barrett Parkway

BOX

Nov. 29

Fifth Tuesday Luncheon 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. Copeland’s Kennesaw 1142 Barrett Parkway

Join

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Show Gratitude in the Business World

BY DANA DORRIS

November always is such a special month to celebrate what we are thankful for in life. It’s not always popular, but I like for everyone at our Thanksgiving table to share the one thing they are most thankful for each year. Aside from friends and family, being thankful and showing gratitude in business have become more important in setting businesses apart and helping them thrive.

The modern business model is shifting from transactional to relational. After all, at the heart of every business is heart, especially for small businesses in which owners personally are invested. Their purpose is to make an impact on the world. Business is about relationships, and relationships flourish when people feel heard and valued. This is what gives gratitude in business such immense and transformative power.

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Businesses can show gratitude by being personal. There is a lot to be said for the handwritten thank-you card. Taking the time to be intentional and specific to the person purchasing your product or service still is relevant and is very much appreciated. It’s often the smallest gestures that can be the most impactful.

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Be purposeful and have a plan. Well-implemented processes in your business are the most effective, and consistency is key. Have a policy and process in place to thank people throughout the year. Make thoughtful and creative gestures of appreciation part of your strategy to nurture your relationships. You can make it easy on your team and yourself by being prepared. Have your gifts and supplies ready to go.

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As with most business efforts, being strategic is a must. It’s completely possible to be heartfelt and deliberate at the same time. Generosity should be a principle in your organization to recognize those who go above and beyond. The more gratitude you express, the richer your relationships will be. Also, it is acceptable to go public. You easily can recognize the contributions, efforts and victories of others by highlighting them in social media posts, blogs, articles or emails to your subscribers.

As you experience this season of Thanksgiving, I encourage you to take a moment and write down what you are most thankful for, both personally and professionally. Then give some thought to how you can promote gratitude in your professional environment.

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As President John F. Kennedy said, “As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter words but to live by them.”

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Dana Dorris is the first two-time female president of the Kennesaw Business Association. She is an independent insurance agent and senior partner with Risk & Insurance Consultants of North Georgia.

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Johnson Praised as Pine Mountain’s Hidden Gem

SUBMITTED BY COBB SCHOOLS

Mark Johnson watched as a student walked into school, his eyes downcast. The Pine Mountain Middle School (PMMS) custodian peeked into the summer learning classroom and saw the student walk to his desk and put his head down. The teacher tried to talk to him, but he never responded, never lifted his head. Johnson’s traditional morning greeting to the class brought smiles and reactions from all but that one student.

Some would have walked on, but not Johnson. His love for PMMS students wouldn’t let him ignore one who obviously needed to talk to someone. Johnson asked the student his name and if he was having a problem.

“I have a lot of issues at home,” the student responded.

The custodian reassured the student that he was there to listen and provide support, if needed.

“I want you to know that I'm here for you. I'm here for you,” Johnson told him. “If you ever want to talk, want to talk about anything, I'm here for you.”

With that, the student lifted his head and had a question for the beloved custodian — what was his name?

“Mr. Mark, nobody ever talked to me like that, nobody ever,” the student said.

Every day after that, the student would look for Johnson as soon as he came in the door.

“He was telling me about his day,” Johnson said. “He said, ‘It started off a little rough, but I knew that I was going to come here. I was going to see you, and things were going to get better.’”

Johnson reminded him he was at school to learn and that the teacher was there to help him and encouraged him to show he cared about learning and to keep his head up.

“He started coming in school, taking the hood off and keeping his head up,” Johnson said.

That type of student interaction is what gave Johnson the reputation as Pine Mountain’s hidden gem.

“He's very nice,” eighth-grader Jaydin said. “He asks how we're doing, how we're feeling, and it makes us feel welcome at school.”

Jaydin’s classmates echo that praise.

“Sometimes in the morning, or just throughout the day, you'll run into him in the hall, and he'll give you a fist bump,” eighth-grader Jordan said. “It's really nice. It’s nice to know that someone is paying attention to you and appreciates that you're there.”

Johnson tries to build up the middle school students, just like his father did for him.

“I've had children that have come to me, and they've voiced their concern about situations that they have at home,” the father of four said. “Some of

Mark Johnson and Pine Mountain seventh-grader Nylla, share a fist bump.

them don't communicate with their parents. They'll come to me. Some kids have even come to me and said, ‘Wow, I wish you were my father. I wish my dad taught me the way you did.’”

The Marietta resident wants students to know he is more than just someone who collects the trash and cleans the school. And the kids know. They know he cares, and they know Pine Mountain would not be the same without him.

“Sometimes, like when we are walking into the lunchroom or walking into school, he'll give every one of us a fist bump, and that's really just fun and lightens the mood, especially in the morning when you're tired,” eighth-grader Grace said.

Even students who leave Pine Mountain can’t forget their favorite custodian. Kennesaw Mountain High freshman Phoebe said Johnson is someone they could talk to if they ever needed anything.

“He was the most loved staff member, and he was

the hidden gem of the school,” she said. “He was the behind-the-scenes person for everything. He always talked to students. He was never mean to anybody. He always welcomed everybody with open arms. He was just really a nice guy.”

When Johnson applied for the job at Pine Mountain four years ago, he told the principal that the school was not going to find anyone better, and he certainly has lived up to his promise.

“I felt that I could make a difference at this school,” Johnson said. “Coming up, my father only had a third-grade education. He never knew his father, but he used to always tell me and my brothers, he said, ‘One thing I want you to always do is take care of your family and be the best, try to be the best you can. Wherever you work, whatever job you have, you do the best and try to be the best that you can.’ So I've always carried that. So wherever I go, whatever I do, I try to do the best I could do.”

Mark Johnson spends time each day talking to Pine Mountain students like seventh-grader Naomi.

Who Was Kennesaw?

Stories Abound About How City, Mountain Got Their Name

BY ANDREW J. BRAMLETT

Why do we call our city Kennesaw? Our community officially was named Kennesaw when it was incorporated in September 1887. We were named after the nearby mountain, which, since 1864, had been nationally famous for its role in the Civil War. Where, then, did our mountain get its name?

In the past, the National Park Service has claimed the mountain’s name originated with the Cherokee word “gah-nee-sah,” meaning “cemetery or burial ground” — a fitting name for the site of a bloody battle. More recently, park rangers have discovered no word similar to “gah-neesah” with that meaning exists in the Cherokee language, so this possible origin can be ruled out.

In his book “Ancient Roots,” historian Richard Thornton mentioned Kennesaw might be a Muskogee word meaning “raccoon people,” but no similar historical claims have been found. In 1916, author R.F. Jarrett mentioned the name might be related to Gansagi or Canasoga, a town visited by Hernando de Soto that was believed to have been in our area. But more recent research by the University of Georgia’s Charles M. Hudson revealed Canasoga, also called Conasauga, probably was in North Carolina or Tennessee. Finally, the Sept. 3, 1891, edition of the Marietta Journal featured a trite poem titled “Two Lovers: Marietta and Kennesaw,” which tells a “Romeo and Juliet”-type story of two Native American lovers named Marietta and Kennesaw. No similar historical account has been found, and by the poem’s own admission, “to prove this legend, there is no evidence conclusive/And the evidence to some may seem very elusive.”

Many hard-to-prove theories about the origin of the mountain’s name have been proposed over the years, but the oldest documents all have a single answer. The 1849 book Statistics of the State of Georgia by George White mentions the name originated with a Cherokee chief “accidentally shot by a white man, while on a hunting excursion.” Five years later, White wrote a second book titled “Historical Collections of Georgia,” which says a chief named Kenesaw led a village of 300. It is believed to

This map from the 1830s shows part of northwest Georgia that was home to the Cherokee. Kennesaw is in the square labeled 20, just above and to the right of the 20. Map from the Library of Congress.

This is the introduction to a poem titled “The Legend of Kenesaw,” published in the Sept. 26, 1849, edition of the Charleston Courier.

have been located near the corner of Old 41 and Barrett Parkway. White also gives an “Indian name” for the mountain, Chuquetah.

Amazingly, there are records of a Chief Kenesaw. The Treaty of Holston, signed by Cherokee and U.S. representatives in 1791, had a signer named Chief Kinnesah, also called Cabin. The Cherokees lived in parts of Georgia, Alabama, Tennessee and the Carolinas, so it is possible that Kinnesah did not live in our area. During the Creek Wars, which took place at the time of the War of 1812, U.S. Army records mention a Kinnessaw or Kennesaw who was in a Cherokee regiment. He was a private who served on horseback. Once again, it is not known where this individual lived.

In 1849, legends started being created around the Kenesaw mentioned by George White. On Sept. 26, a poem titled “The Legend of Kenesaw” was published in the Charleston Courier. The poem tells of a man named Kenesaw who was hunting on the mountain, killed a deer and put the antlers on his head in celebration. One of his followers saw the antlers moving, thought it was a deer and shot and killed Kenesaw. The poet included an introduction that said these details were fact, but the additional parts of the story — such as Kenesaw’s wife and child jumping into the creek in despair and his ghost haunting the mountain — were “inventions of the Muse.” Interestingly, he is described in the poem as Creek (or Muskogee) instead of Cherokee, which is

how he is described in other sources.

In 1870, Robert Francis Goulding of Roswell wrote the book “Sal-O-Quah,” which is part novel, part memoir. In 1822, Kennesaw was a chief “of good heart and great courage,” according to the book. Several years before, Kennesaw had too much to drink, destroyed the village of Suwanee and, as punishment, was exiled to Kennesaw Mountain. According to Goulding, Kennesaw was part of the Trail of Tears and was not accidentally killed on the mountain. Additionally, Goulding noted, “Some of the old white settlers still speak of Kennesaw’s drunken frolic in burning Suwannee.” Because it is unclear which parts of “Sal-O-Quah” are fact and which are fiction, it is hard to tell which parts of Kennesaw’s tale are true.

Later newspaper articles contain stories from people who claimed to have met Kennesaw, while other articles give accounts of his death on Kennesaw Mountain. Based on the wide range of historical sources that mention a Native American named Kennesaw, we can conclude our mountain and city most likely were named for a long-forgotten Cherokee chief.

Andrew Bramlett is vice president of the Kennesaw Historical Society and an honorary member of the Kennesaw Cemetery Preservation Commission.

A postcard showing Kennesaw Mountain was mailed in 1949. From the Bramlett Family Collection.

Brain Food Club Makes a Comeback

BY ERINN GARDNER

North Cobb High School started September with a bang as Brain Food held its first club meeting of the school year. Brain Food is a Psychology 101 club for students who take an interest in psychology, social science and human behavior. Although the club started in 2019, President Allison Castaneda and Vice President Alison Bolanos, both seniors, strive to carry on the dynamic of the club and expand its membership. Nothing beats meeting on the first Thursday of every month to discuss topics ranging from cognitive behavior to sleeping patterns. Castaneda and Bolanos lead the club with games and activities centered around psychology and sociology to create a fun learning environment.

Castaneda followed in former President Ochuwa Garuba’s footsteps as she graciously took over as president. She joined the club her sophomore year with an avid interest in educating herself on a topic about which she had little knowledge.

In addition to serving as president of Brain Food, she also organized Warriors of the World (WotW), a club that promotes diversity and inclusion within the student body.

“I’ve been involved since my sophomore year, so I was able to get very connected to Ochuwa,” Castaneda said. “I really liked our team last year; there was a lot of leadership. I just started coming to every meeting, and, eventually, I would be the one who made the PowerPoint, so when it was my turn, leading it was easy for me. It’s tough balancing this club and WotW because WotW takes place once a week, while this club takes place once a month. I guess it’s more lenient, but it’s still a lot.”

Bolanos, on the other hand, is heavily interested in neuroscience, as she wants to pursue neuroendocrinology after graduating from college and graduate school.

Similar to Castaneda, she joined the club her sophomore year in hopes of exposing herself to her possible career path. These longterm aspirations inspired her to start North Cobb’s medical club, which feeds her desire to involve herself in STEM-based clubs and to educate others.

“I feel like being involved in high school activities that have to do with your interest is a great way to expose yourself to the fields,” she said. “Anybody can join Brain Food because we try to include everyone. I mean sociology, psychology and neuroscience relate to everyone in

every aspect of our life, so we really recommend you get exposed.”

The club serves as a safe space for students who want to kick off the day on a light note by playing games like trivia and Jeopardy and doing informative exercises. Fortunately, Brain Food caters to those who possess prior knowledge about these various sciences, as well as those who do not know the first thing about the brain. The inclusiveness of the club provides a positive environment and a learning opportunity for all students. Additionally, members form friendships and bonds with people who share similar interests.

Erinn Gardner is a senior at North Cobb High School who joined The Chant due to her passion for writing and creativity. She plans to attend college and eventually pursue screenwriting.

The club's first meeting of the 2022-23 school year was in September. Photo by Erinn Gardner.

Cobb Graduation Rate Among Best

Cobb Schools saw 87.4% of its seniors in the Class of 2022 graduate, giving the district the second-highest rate in metro Atlanta and topping the state’s all-time high rate (84.1%) by 3.3%.

The three high schools in Kennesaw had graduation rates in the 90% range. Harrison recorded the highest rate in the district, at 97.2%. Kennesaw Mountain’s rate was 93.6%, and North Cobb had a rate of 92.6%.

Top Classified Employee Honored

At its October meeting, the Cobb County Board of Education recognized Ann Ellis, school secretary at North Cobb High, as the district’s Classified Employee of the Year (CEOTY) for the high school level during the 2020-22 school years (due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the 2020 winners carried their school title for two years). Ellis found out she’d been chosen as the districtlevel winner for high school for those years at a recent recognition ceremony at Roswell Street Baptist Church. This was the first time since 2019 that the district was able to celebrate the CEOTY honorees.

Schwaig Invested as President

Kathy S. Schwaig formally was invested as the sixth president of Kennesaw State University last month. In a speech before faculty, students, staff and community leaders, the new president outlined her vision for the institution, the commitment needed to help students succeed and the positive impact the university can have on the lives of students.

“At KSU, we all have the opportunity to influence — to be a part of the process of helping students shape and build their lives,” she said, after being presented the presidential chain of office from University System of Georgia Chancellor Sonny Perdue. “Putting students first means that we care equally about their academic success and their KSU experience. We must be more deliberate in our work to engage and support students and ensure that they are on a path to graduate in four years.”

Primrose Donates Diapers, Wipes

As the season of giving approaches, families at Primrose School of Wade Green collected and donated nearly 1,700 diapers and 2,500 wipes to the Division of Family and Children Services and Foster4Love, two organizations that support the foster care system in Georgia. The diaper drive is one of the many events the school participates in to give back to the community.

Schwaig also said her passion and commitment to helping students succeed was formed as an undergraduate student who found her first experiences in higher education difficult.

“I struggled in every dimension and almost didn’t graduate,” she said. “When I look back on that time in my life, I remember the faces and the words of those who encouraged and supported me. They influenced me profoundly, and, somehow, I did graduate.”

Kathy Schwaig

Preschoolers at Primrose School of Wade Green collect diapers.

@ the Library

Cobb County Public Library System • www.cobbcat.org

WEST COBB REGIONAL LIBRARY

1750 Dennis Kemp Lane, Kennesaw • 770-528-4699

10 a.m.-8 p.m. Mondays-Wednesdays • 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Thursdays-Fridays 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturdays • 1-5 p.m. Sundays

Nov. 8, 15, 22, 29, Dec. 6

The Dungeons & Dragons Group, 5:30-7:30 p.m. Tuesdays. Ages 13-17 of all skill levels are welcome to come discover the world of Dungeons & Dragons.

Nov. 9, 16, 23, 30, Dec. 7

Open Play and Family-Style Chess Instruction , 6-7:30 p.m. Wednesdays. Tournament-style chess sets will be set up in the open library, or learn fiveminute mini games that introduce chess two pieces at a time, along with basic rules and etiquette, family-style. Black-light chess is available the first Wednesday.

Nov. 10, 17, Dec. 1, 8

Join the West Cobb Craft Club , 10 a.m.-noon Thursdays. Do you knit, crochet, needlepoint or create jewelry? Or do you want to learn how, while making friends? Join the group to craft and get inspired. All skill levels are welcome (especially beginners). Bring your craft supplies.

Nov. 12

My First Book Club , 11-11:45 a.m., is for kids ages 4-7. Parents should register their kids and check out this month’s picture book, then have them read it at home and attend the program for a brief discussion and a craft related to the story.

Nov. 14, 21, 28, Dec. 5

The West Cobb Pokémon Club , 3:30-4:30 p.m. Mondays. Pokémon enthusiasts ages 6-12 are invited to battle and train with each other, using their favorite Pokémon video game, Pokémon GO or 60-card Pokémon deck.

Nov. 17

Thursday Explorers , 3:45-4:30 p.m., offers children in grades pre-K-second grade a different type of program (storytime, STEM, seasonal craft) on the first and third Thursdays of each month. Registration is not required.

Nov. 28

The West Cobb Fourth Monday Book Discussion meets 6:30-7:30 p.m. and covers a variety of literature, including fiction, nonfiction, classics and new releases. The November book will be “Red Lotus” by Chris Bohjalian.

Nov. 29-30

Toddler Process Art , 10:30-11:10 a.m., focuses more on exploring new materials than finishing the perfect art project. Toddlers will use different mediums to make one-of-a-kind works of art. Registration is not required.

Nov. 30

Preschool Process Art, 11:30 a.m.-12:10 p.m., focuses more on exploring new materials than finishing the perfect art project. Preschoolers will use different mediums to make one-of-a-kind works of art. Registration is not required.

8 Uses for a Library Card

Libraries offer more than just books and programs. Here are eight ways to use your Cobb library card.

1. Take the internet with you. Check out a hotspot for seven days or a Chromebook for three weeks to use anytime, anywhere. cobbcat.org/ connectingcobb

2. Read a newspaper. You can find local, national and international newspapers in the library’s many databases. cobbcat.org/databases

3. Tackle vehicle maintenance and repair. Find online automotive repair and maintenance guidance or prep for the Delmar ASE technician test with available quizzes to help with the ASE certification exam. cobbcat.org/databases

4. Grow your business. Entrepreneurs can grow their business with learning resources, such as LinkedIn Learning, Business Source Complete and DemographicsNow. cobbcat.org/ businessincubator; cobbcat.org/ databases

5. Go on an adventure. Library cardholders have access to free passes to Georgia state parks and historic sites, the Chattahoochee Nature Center, Go Fish Education Center and Zoo Atlanta, as well as discounted entry to the Georgia Aquarium. cobbcat.org/ outdoor-adventures

6. Learn through art. Museums and theaters are great for learning about history and cultures, and library cardholders have free or discounted access to the Alliance Theatre, Center for Puppetry Arts, Southern Museum, William Breman Jewish Heritage Museum and more. cobbcat.org/ outdoor-adventures

7. Stream movies, TV shows and concerts. You can access streaming content for all ages straight to your mobile device 24/7. cobbcat.org/

streamingvideo

8. Cook your way around the world. Learn about international cultures through online cooking classes taught by professionals in The Great Courses. cobbcat.org/streamingvideo

Three Cheers! Palmer Teacher Wins State Award for 3rd Time

Being named Georgia’s Physical Education Teacher of the Year is a career milestone, an accomplishment few achieve. But for Palmer Middle School’s Kristen Cross, it’s an honor she has received not once, not twice, but three times during her more than two decades of teaching.

In September, the Georgia Association for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance (GAHPERD) named Cross the 2022 Middle School Physical Education Teacher of the Year, and she will be honored at an association awards ceremony in Athens in November.

“I am really humbled that my colleagues throughout the county have nominated me for this honor,” she said. “I am proud to have been chosen to represent my school and county as GAHPERD Teacher of the Year for the third time. The support and guidance of my administration, county supervisor and colleagues has shaped me into the educator I am today.”

According to GAHPERD, Cross’ performance as an educator, role model and community leader is evident, as is her dedication to her students, peers and professional association.

“Kristen Cross is so deserving of this award,” Palmer Principal Shannon Kiger said. “She is being honored for being an exceptional educator, role model and community leader. Mrs. Cross is a leader in her field because of her passion for physical education, her ability to build positive relationships and her

dedication to students, peers and her profession.”

The awardwinning PE teacher, who has called Palmer home for the past six years, first was honored as GAHPERD Secondary Physical Education Teacher of the Year in 2008 then earned the title of K-12 Health Education Teacher of the Year in 2016.

Cross has been teaching for 23 years, 16 of which have been in the Cobb County School District.

“I really enjoy interacting with and teaching my students about health and physical education and how it impacts their future physically, mentally and socially,” she said.

The Acworth resident, who is married and has two sons, 18 and 13, earned a Bachelor of Science in health and physical education (dual degree: teacher education and athletic training) from Salisbury University and a Master of Science in curriculum, instruction and assessment from Walden University.

Kristen Cross watches over her students during a physical education class.

Around & About

11 A Veterans Day Luncheon , presented by the Rotary Club of North Cobb, will be held at the Ben Robertson Community Center, 2753 Watts Drive in Kennesaw, noon-2 p.m., for all veterans and active-duty military. The program will include lunch from Copeland’s of Kennesaw, acknowledgments from Mayor Derek Easterling, a guest speaker, a presentation of colors by the North Cobb-Harrison Navy JROTC unit and the POW/MIA recognition ceremony by the North Cobb American Legion Post 304. Registration is not required. 770-422-9714, https://bit.ly/3fPlaRX.

Kennesaw State University's Bailey School of Music will present a Veterans Day Tribute concert, 8 p.m. Veterans are invited to attend the concert for free and should call 470-578-6650 with their dates of service and branch to receive a complimentary ticket.

NOVEMBER

05 The Superior Plumbing Taste of Kennesaw will take place 11 a.m.-6 p.m. on Main Street downtown. The event, which benefits five local charities, will feature samples from more than 20 Kennesaw and Cobb County restaurants, the Trackside Grill Beer Garden, music, local entertainment and children’s activities, including a rock wall, inflatable slides and bounces. Admission is free, and food samples will range from $1 to $5. 770-423-1330, Laura@jrmmanagement.com, www. kennesawbusiness.org.

Acworth Cultural Arts and Brookwood Christian School are sponsoring the Acworth Charm Home Tour, noon-5 p.m., in downtown Acworth. Visit recently renovated historic homes. www.acworthcharm.com.

The inaugural Never Alone Lantern Festival, 4 p.m., will be held at Etowah River Park in Canton. There will be a petting zoo, bounce houses, face painting, spin art and more, culminating with an organized lantern parade at dusk. https://bit.ly/3B5jRFJ.

06

Acworth will hold the Cornhole ATL Fall State Cornament at Logan Farm Park, 4405 Cherokee St. Stop by to check out leagues from across Georgia competing for the championship. Acworth's own Red Top Brewhouse will be there with food, drinks and its own league. www.cornholeatl.com/playoffs.

11-Dec. 26

Town Center at Cobb will be home to the Festival of Trees , bringing the community together during the holiday season to raise awareness about local nonprofits. The public can view the trees during mall hours in the Belk wing. Opening night, Nov. 11, 5-9 p.m., will include a Spotlight on Nonprofits event and will coincide with Santa’s arrival at the mall.

Hosted by North Atlanta Events, the festival will feature beautifully decorated trees that represent local nonprofits, and community members can learn how they can support the participating nonprofits through volunteerism, monetary donations and donations of needed items.

For information about nonprofits decorating a tree for the event, as well as a description of and link to each participating organization, visit NorthAtlantaEvents.com. Marie Koch, 678-557-0072 or info@northatlantaevents.com.

12 The last Kennesaw Grand Prix Series Race will be in front of Kennesaw First Baptist Church at 2958 N. Main St. and will benefit wounded veterans. Visit https://kennesawgrandprix.com/faq.

19 The Cobb County Public Safety Foundation 5K will take place at 8:30 at the Battery Atlanta. Before and after the race, enjoy a display of emergency vehicles, a kids’ dash with Braves mascot Blooper and entertainment from the Braves Heavy Hitters. Register now at www.CCPSF.org to lock in your shirt and medal for participating in this Peachtree Road Race qualifier.

Sample food from more than 20 local restaurants at Taste of Kennesaw.

About

19 The 14th annual Acworth Turkey Chase, a 5K fun run and 2K walk, is planned for downtown Acworth. Registration opens at 7:30 a.m., and the 5K begins at 9 a.m. To obtain more information, register or sponsor the event, visit www.acworthturkeychase.com.

RECREATION

The Battery Atlanta Mondays

Yoga by Kaiser Permanente, 6:30-7:30 p.m., is a free outdoor yoga class for all ages on the Plaza Green. Participants are required to bring a mat and encouraged to bring water. Register at batteryatlyoga2022.eventbrite.com.

The Battery Atlanta Walking Trail

A brisk walk can curb cravings, reduce stress and offer a healthy way to catch up with friends and family. Get active on the 1.5-mile loop circling the campus.

Parks and Recreation

2529 J.O. Stephenson Ave. // 770-424-8274 www.kennesaw-ga.gov/parks-and-recreation

Tuesdays

Awareness Through Movement, through Nov. 29, 10-11 a.m., Kennesaw Recreation Center, 2737 Watts Drive. Adults will learn how body awareness can help in correcting poor movement habits, reducing pain and developing new skills.

Wednesdays

Junior Coding: Animal Planet , Nov. 16-Dec. 14, 5:45-6:45 p.m., Ben Robertson Community Center, 2753 Watts Drive. Kids 4-7 will learn coding by exploring the animal world.

DECEMBER

17 Join the Wreaths Across America Ceremony and lay wreaths at the Georgia National Cemetery in Canton. Families with loved ones at GNC will place wreaths, 9-11 a.m. A public memorial ceremony will follow, and volunteers will place the remaining wreaths, 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m. ganationalcemetery.org.

THE ART STATION - BIG SHANTY www.artstationcobb.org.

Nov. 7-13

“Veterans Day: A Gallery of or by Veterans” is a photography exhibit celebrating our military heroes, past and present. Photos in the gallery have been taken of veterans or by veterans.

Nov. 30-Dec. 11

Holiday Market will take place 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Monday-Saturday and 1-5 p.m. Sunday and will feature handcrafted treasures made by local artisans.

Ongoing Register for winter classes and workshops offered for kids, teens and adults.

Software Engineering: Coding Games, Nov. 16-Dec. 14, 7-8 p.m., Ben Robertson Community Center, 2753 Watts Drive. Kids ages 8-14 will learn how to create games.

Thursdays

Painting and Drawing With Jessica Geist, through Dec. 22, 10:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m., Ben Robertson Community Center, 2753 Watts Drive. Intermediate and advanced oil painters ages 18 and older can expect to learn or improve on techniques for creating depth and realism, as well as color theory and color mixing.

Karate for Adults: Practical and Applied, Dec. 1-Feb. 16, 7-8 p.m., Ben Robertson Community Center, 2753 Watts Drive. This class, for ages 20-70, balances traditional karate techniques with real-world self-defense applications.

Master Gardeners

cobbmastergardeners.com

Nov. 11

Thyme to Read Book Club will be discussing "Yellow Bird: Oil, Murder and a Woman’s Search for Justice in Indian Country" by Sierra Crane Murdoch at 10 a.m.

Nov. 15

Organic Gardening: Growing Your Own Food Without Harsh Chemicals, 7 p.m., is a virtual class that will cover the principles of growing food organically.

The 14th annual Acworth Turkey Chase will race through downtown.

Cobb Photographic Society

Monochrome

Angie Nasrallah - Third Place (Bridge Through Gulpha Gorge)

Mark Chandler - First Place (Atlanta Hyatt Atrium)

Jeff Westland - Second Place (Willow)

Society

Congratulations to everyone who entered the Cobb Photographic Society competition. The topic for September was “Taken With a Smartphone.” The guest judge was photographer John Webb. The Cobb Photographic Society is a club open to photographers of all skill levels. It meets the first and third Monday of each month. For information, visit www.cobbphotosociety.com.

Color

Ben Moravitz - First Place (Timberlake Farewell)

Novice

Frank Seco de Lucena - First Place (Go West Young Man)

Helping to Make a House a Home

BY MIKE LLEWELLYN

One of the many things that goes into making a new house a home is landscaping. The trees, lawn and plants create a sense of permanency and belonging to a neighborhood and community, something in which every new homeowner can take pride. To help new owners get off to a good start, Master Gardener Volunteers of Cobb County partners with Habitat for Humanity of Northwest Metro Atlanta to transform new Habitat house construction sites from dirt — and lots of rocks and red Georgia clay — to finished landscaping for each house built. Master Gardeners help design a landscape plan and recommend appropriate plants for each house site.

Then the real fun begins. On landscape day, Master Gardeners guide and work alongside the house’s sponsor volunteers, the soon-to-be homeowners and Habitat for Humanity staff to install the plants, lay sod and mulch the newly created planting beds, transforming the property from a bare lot to a finished landscape in

one day. We also guide the prospective homeowners on a tour of their plantings, discussing each plant’s growth characteristics, features and long-term care needs. Again, we’re helping new homeowners get off to a good start.

“The collaboration with the Cobb Master Gardeners has been invaluable to our organization,” said Jessica Gill, CEO of Habitat for Humanity of Northwest Metro Atlanta. “This is a holistic approach to homeownership, using the talented resources in our own backyard to turn our Habitat houses into a home, while beautifying a community.”

Master Gardener Joy Chanin has found volunteering for Habitat to be a rewarding endeavor, one that furthers the educational aspects of gardening. “I like working on Habitat for Humanity projects because I meet wonderful new people; many want to learn more about gardening,” she said. “It gives me the opportunity to share gardening knowledge with others. I also like making the Habitat house look more like a home with the landscaping.”

John Kosik, another longtime Master Gardener and Habitat supporter, said

the University of Georgia Extension office offers a variety of projects throughout the county for Master Gardeners to volunteer their time and expertise.

“Over the last five years, I’ve worked on four of them and found this one to be the one that gives me the most satisfaction,” he said. “At the end of the landscape day, we’re all covered in dirt, sweat and smiles. It’s a tremendously positive feeling to be a little part of a very big effort to make this worthy cause happen over and over.”

Master Gardeners help new Habitat for Humanity homeowners in other ways as well. One of our missions is public education on gardening and maintaining landscaping. To help new homeowners, we periodically conduct training seminars to teach them the basics of landscape care and maintenance, and we’re available anytime to answer their questions.

The Master Gardener Volunteers of Cobb County supports the University of Georgia Cooperative Extension Service and strives to improve the quality of life in our community by delivering researchbased horticultural information, educational programs and projects.

Tired but happy Cobb Master Gardeners, from left, John Kosik, Mike Llewellyn, Joe Boland and Joy Chanin in the newly landscaped yard.

Master Gardener Volunteers of Cobb County is a part of the University of Georgia Extension.

Before the landscaping was done on a recently built Habitat for Humanity home.

Advertisers

ACCOUNTING & TAX

Denson Pepper, CPA 1 678-797-5241 www.densonpeppercpa.com

ATTORNEYS/LEGAL SERVICES

Orcutt Law Offices 3 678-383-7857 www.orcuttlawoffices.com

Williams | Elleby 1 833-LEGALGA www.gatrialattorney.com

BEAUTY SALON

Patricia Hill Color Studio 19 770-627-4725 https://phcolorstudio.com

BUSINESS ORGANIZATIONS

Kennesaw Business Association 41 www.kennesawbusiness.org

CHARITABLE ORGANIZATIONS

Mostly Mutts Animal Rescue 49 770-272-6888 www.mostlymutts.org/volunteer

CLEANING SERVCES

Star Group Commercial 25 Cleaning Services, LLC 470-410-5472 www.stargroupcleanse.com

DENTAL

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

Hildreth Dental 5 770-424-1705 www.hildrethdental.com

EDUCATION SERVICES

Chattahoochee Technical College 13 770-528-4545 www.chattahoocheetech.edu

Georgia Trade School 7 www.georgiatradeschool.com

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

North Cobb Christian School Cover, 28-29 770-975-0252 www.ncchristian.org

ENTERTAINMENT/EVENTS

Dashing through the Square 35 www.raceroster.com

Gobble Jog 25 www.gobblejog.org

Kennesaw Grand Prix Series 2022 39 www.kennesawgrandprix.com

KSU Arts Inside front www.ArtsKSU.com

Wreath Laying Ceremony 27 www.ganationalcemetery.org

FINANCIAL SERVICES

BluTree Advantage 9 470-481-0363 www.blutreeadvantage.com

Credit Union of Georgia 25 678-486-1111 www.cuofga.org

Edward Jones, Deborah P. Flugstad 9 770-795-0885 www.edwardjones.com

LGE Credit Union 11 www.lgeccu.org

HOME & GARDEN

Dayco Systems Heating & Cooling 3 770-336-7888 www.daycosystems.com

Enhance Floors & More 31 770-565-3808 www.enhancefloors.com

Towne Plumber 7 770-257-7503 www.towneplumber.com

INSURANCE

Provident Insurance Agency 21 770-499-2040 www.providentgroup.com

PHOTOGRAPHY

M. Jae Photography 39 www.mjaephotography.com

PHYSICIANS AND MEDICAL SERVICES

Governors MedSpa & 9, 23 Concierge Medicine 678-888-5181 www.governorsmedicine.com

REAL ESTATE & RELATED SERVICES

Keller Williams Realty, Joannie Bates 13 Cell: 678-788-6465 Office: 678-631-1700 www.joanniebatessells.com

SK Home Inspections 13 770-819-8453 www.skhomeinspection.com

RESTAU RANTS/FOOD Wasabi 5 770-515-9988 wasabisushiacworth.kwickmenu.com

RETAILERS/ SHOPPING

Cotton Mill Exchange 1 770-992-9294 www.cottonmillexchange.net

Golf Cars of Canton 33 678-880-1156 www.golfcarsofcanton.com

Jewelsmith, The 18 770-485-9133 www.thejewelsmithga.com

Mud Creek Market 3 770-799-8013 www.mudcreekmarket.com

SENIOR LIVING/SERVICES

DayBreak Village Back cover 770-218-6166 www.daybreakvillage.com

WIGS

Merle Norman Cosmetics 7 770-943-6447

Senior Activities

WEST COBB SENIOR CENTER

4915 Dallas Highway, Powder Springs // 770-528-8200 www.cobbcounty.org/public-services/senior-services/west-cobb-senior-center

Nov. 16

Ludwig van Beethoven’s 9th Symphony. 10-11 a.m. Learn about the process Beethoven went through and the obstacles he had to overcome to write his last complete symphony.

Nov. 22

What is Probate Court? 3-4 p.m. Join Judge Kelli Wolk to learn about required processes and procedures involved with probate court.

What You Didn’t Know About Your Cobb Library. 10-11 a.m. Learn how to get the most out of the public library.

Nov. 29

Standing Guard: Protect What You’ve Worked For. 10-11 a.m. Discover strategies designed to help guard valuable assets and protect preand post-retirement income.

Nov. 30

Walk West Cobb: Allatoona Creek Park. 9:30-11 a.m. Explore a different part of the county each month.

Dec. 5

Tech Talk: Register Online With Civic Rec. 10-11 a.m. Learn how to register for winter quarter classes from home, using the senior center’s new online registration system.

Dec. 7

The Search for the Star of Bethlehem. 10-11 a.m. Examine clues for dating the Star of Bethlehem, found in a second/third century fresco tomb painting in the Roman catacombs.

Mondays

Knit Wits. 9:30 a.m.-noon. Meet new friends while working on your latest projects.

Woodcarvers. 1-3:30 p.m. Work on small woodcarving projects. No experience is necessary. Bring your own materials.

Ballroom Dance. 2:30-4:30 p.m. Couples and singles can enjoy ballroom dancing to music provided by a deejay.

Tuesdays

Paper Crafting Fun. 10 a.m.4 p.m. Enjoy making cards and scrapbooking with others. Bring your own supplies.

Color Me Happy. 1-3:30 p.m. Color with others. Bring your own materials.

Wednesdays

Mahjong. 10 a.m.-noon. Game knowledge and mahjong cards are required.

Thursdays

Mexican Train Dominoes. 9:30 a.m.-2 p.m. Form domino chains from a central hub. Beginners welcome.

Advanced Bridge. 1-3:30 p.m. Competitive Standard American Bridge played at an advanced level.

Fridays

Dance N Squares. 1-3 p.m. Square dancing is the perfect activity for couples looking for fellowship, exercise and good, clean fun.

Cobb Senior Services

Registration is required for all activities; no walk-ins allowed. Call the center to register, or visit www.MyActiveCenter.com.

VETERAN CONNECTION

Meets the third Tuesday of each month at 10 a.m. at the West Cobb Senior Center and the fourth Thursday of each month at 10 a.m. at North Cobb Senior Center. Join veterans ages 55 and older for an informal get-together with coffee, doughnuts, camaraderie and special guest presentations. Call Mike Nichols at 770-528-1448 for more information.

DEMENTIA CAREGIVER SUPPORT GROUP

Meets monthly at 1 p.m. at Burnt Hickory Baptist Church in Powder Springs. Open to family members who are assisting an aging loved one in or out of the home. Care provided during the meeting, but you must RSVP in advance.

ALOHA TO AGING

Covenant Presbyterian Church 2881 Canton Road, Marietta 770-722-7641 // www.alohatoaging.org

Parkinson’s Support Group

Meets at 2 p.m. the first Monday of each month. Group discussion for the person with Parkinson’s and their care partner on helpful tips and resources.

Dementia Caregiver Support Group

Meets at 10:30 a.m. the first Wednesday of each month. Open to family members who are assisting an aging loved one in or out of the home. Care provided during the meeting, but you must RSVP in advance.

Aloha Social Day Club

Meets 10:30 a.m.-1 p.m. Mondays and Wednesdays. Respite care for you and engaging social activities for your loved one who no longer drives. Visit the website for details.