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AROUND CANTON | December 2016

December 2016 Volume 4, Issue 9

10 At Their CORE

Students serve by clearing land, writing letters to orphans in Kenya.

16 The Way They Were

Simpler times bring back fond Christmas memories.

18 Helping Hands

Donate time, food or cash to offer seasonal assistance.

20 Holiday Happenings

Events range from live nativity to Santa sightings, parades.

24 Fiery Concerns

Park ranger sheds light on good and bad fires.

28 Coffee with a Cop

Canton officers take time out to serve in a unique way.

32 One Big Family

Community rallies to show support for beloved teacher and his family.

Contributing Writers

In Every Issue

Don Akridge

Dan Jape

Around Canton

Siobhan Brumbelow

Dr. Leisa Jennings

Community News

Last trail run of the season raises funds for upkeep.

Becky Buice

Rob Macmillan

Ribbon Cuttings

Sonia Carruthers

Matt Neal

46 Reel to Real

Dr. Wendy Cates

Cindy Nelson

40 A Win for SORBA

Release dates, actor interviews for locally filmed movies.

4 8 12

Birthdays

Canton Dining Guide

Community Calendar

Josh Davis

Premier Group

Tim Downing

Lisa Randall

Dr. Samina Fakhr

Lynne Saunders

Dr. Scott Harden

Tim Timmons

School News

Jeremy Isaacs

Scot Turner

Recent Home Sales

Sean Kaufman

Torie Winkler

Directory of Advertisers 70

Library Events 45 Everyday Angels

Faith

www.AroundCantonMagazine.com

36 & 37 On the Cover

River Fine Jewelry from left: Janet, Ibrahim, Beyhan and Ece Ehican. Photo by J King Images 2 AROUND CANTON | December 2016

ADVERTISING Market Manager Christie Deese 770-615-3324 Christie@AroundAboutMagazines.com

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AROUND CANTON | December 2016

AROUND CANTON The The

From the Editor By this point in the holiday season, I’ve been forced to make a major transition in my home. My oven is no longer a storage unit. I had to take out all the roasting pans and casserole dishes that fit so nicely inside and actually put food in them so my family could enjoy a Thanksgiving turkey, side dishes and desserts. GASP! I’d almost forgotten what it’s intended for in the first place. It has come in handy since we’ve downsized and I needed extra storage space in the kitchen. And all the while I thought the gleam in my husband’s eyes was anticipation of our children coming home. I’m sure that is part of it, but he also knows a full house means I’m going to make sure the kids don’t miss a meal. Not sure why I don’t feel as committed when it’s just the two of us. Apologies to my mother-inlaw, who gets the magazine in the mailbox. Mom, this might not be the article to cut out and mail to Aunt Mary. I don’t want my failure in the kitchen to become common knowledge among the aunts, uncles and cousins. That isn’t news than an Italian family would take very well! I hope each of you is looking forward to a full house and fun holiday season with family and friends. If you’re stumped for something to do, turn to pages 20-21 and start making plans. Cherokee County is filled with parades and festivals, musicals and Santa visits. While you’re enjoying time with relatives, I’d like to recommend that you take the time to record the memories they share by taking notes or using a tape recorder or video camera. We know how precious those memories are, so we asked residents of several senior citizen communities to tell us about their favorite Christmas gifts. We hope you’ll enjoy reminiscing with them on pages 16-17. Maybe their answers will be good conversation starters with your parents or grandparents. What better gift to give future generations than a recording of relatives they may never meet. The staff at AroundAbout Local Media considers it an honor and a blessing to experience life in our community with you. We hope you have a Merry Christmas and Happy Hanukkah!

Candi Hannigan is the executive editor of Around Canton. She has lived in Cherokee County since 1987. Send your comments or questions to Candi@AroundAboutMagazines.com.

AROUND CANTON | December 2016

People, The Places and Pleasures that make Canton/ Holly Springs/ Sixes What’s Coming

Local on North, planned for the 2,578-square-foot space at 170 North St., is a new restaurant that’s promoting a five-star atmosphere featuring something for everyone, from pizza and burgers to seafood, steaks and specialty cocktails. The restaurant could open in January 2017. The family that owns Downtown Kitchen and Goin’ Coastal will be opening Queenies, a Southern Restaurant and Bar, at 151 West Main St. In addition to homestyle cooking, Queenies will have barbecue on the menu, prepared in a special smoker on the premises. Targeted Sixes Ridge, Holly Springs Parkway opening is February 2017. Holly Springs City Council voted to annex and rezone a parcel of land to accommodate a 340-unit apartment complex called Sixes Ridge, Holly Springs Parkway. The Lynwood Development Group complex will be built along Holly Springs Parkway next to Home Depot near Sixes Road.

What’s New Terri Spencer has joined AroundAbout Local Media as a marketing and administrative support associate. Terri has lived in Towne Lake since 1990 with her husband Gaylord and children Jacob and Sophia, graduates of Etowah High School. Terri is a graduate of Ball State University, where she earned bachelor of science degrees in psychology and criminology. Welcome to our team, Terri!

Update Chart Industries, Inc. is consolidating a majority of its U.S. respiratory operation and engineering activities to the existing Canton campus. Chart is a diversified global manufacturer of highly engineered equipment for the industrial gas, energy and biomedical industries. The majority of Chart’s products are used throughout the liquid gas supply chain for purification, liquefaction, distribution, storage and end-use applications. Chart has domestic operations located across the United States and an international presence in Asia, Australia, Europe and South America. For more information, visit www.chartindustries.com. Holly Springs city council will hold a work session on Dec. 5 and a business meeting on Dec. 19 to discuss construction of a liquor store where the abandoned gas station is Proposed liquor store on Sixes Road near I-575. Council meetings are held at 7 p.m. at the Holly Springs Public Safety Building, 3235 Holly Springs Parkway.

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AROUND CANTON | December 2016

Community Board The Around Canton Community Board consists of well-respected community leaders who assist us as contributors to the magazine, judges for the annual Trailblazer award and advisors who offer valuable feedback. Pat Gold moved to Canton 33 years ago when she married Dr. Homer (Nugget) Gold. After 18 years with Delta Airlines and another 12 working for the Cherokee County School District, Pat began volunteering. She serves on the boards of the Cherokee County Arts Center, the Canton Main Street Program, Canton Tourism, Inc., and chairs the Canton Planning Commission. Pat and her husband have four children and four grandchildren. Pharmacist Dale Coker owns Cherokee Custom Script Pharmacy in Holly Springs and lives in Woodstock with wife Susan. The University of Georgia graduate is vice president of the International Academy of Compounding Pharmacists. His community involvement has included Cherokee County Habitat for Humanity, youth league coaching and church leadership. Dale’s latest achievement is co-inventing the patented TopiCLICK, a topical metered dosing device. Cindy Crews is a longtime Cherokee County educator. She joined the Sixes community as assistant principal of Sixes Elementary School in 2011 and is now principal. Cindy and her husband, Andy, have lived in Woodstock for more than 20 years, and they have two young adult daughters. Her motto: Children are the future of the human race; teach them well. Dr. Joe McKechnie senior pastor of Sixes United Methodist Church, grew up in Cobb County. After earning a degree in broadcast journalism from the University of Georgia, Joe spent six years as a television sportscaster. He has a master’s degree from Asbury Theological Seminary and a doctorate of ministry from Southern Methodist University. Joe and wife Catherine have two children, David and Grace Ann. Sonia Carruthers is the executive director and CEO of Cherokee FOCUS and the Cherokee Youth Works program, based in Holly Springs. The Cherokee County native grew up in Canton and lives in Woodstock with her son and daughter. She is very active in the community and currently serves with local and regional organizations to strengthen families and children. Chantel Adams is the founder and CEO of Forever We, Inc., a socially responsible toy company that believes every child deserves a forever family, safe housing and a healthy body. She has a biology degree from the University of Evansville, serves on the Executive Board of Highland Rivers Health, and volunteers with the Cherokee County Juvenile Court. Chantel and her husband, Gavin, live in Canton and have four children. 6

AROUND CANTON | December 2016

Publisher AroundAbout Local Media, Inc. ALM President Patty Ponder Patty@AroundAboutMagazines.com 770-615-3322 Market Manager Christie Deese Christie@AroundAboutMagazines.com 770-615-3324 Executive Editor Candi Hannigan Candi@AroundAboutMagazines.com 770-615-3309 Managing Editor Jackie Loudin 770-615-3318 Jackie@AroundAboutMagazines.com Art Director Michelle McCulloch Michelle@AroundAboutMagazines.com 770-615-3307 Page Designer Laura Latchford Laura@AroundAboutMagazines.com Controller Denise Griffin Denise@AroundAboutMagazines.com 770-615-3315 Marketing Support Associate Terri Spencer Terri@AroundAboutMagazines.com Around Canton, a publication of AroundAbout Local Media, Inc., is a monthly magazine created to build a sense of community and pride in the Canton, Holly Springs and Sixes areas by sharing positive stories and timely information. A total of 16,500 free copies are distributed monthly; approximately 15,400 are mailed to homes and businesses, with an additional 1,100 placed in racks around the community. Many readers catch the latest edition online each month. Around Canton welcomes your comments, stories and advertisements. The deadline is the 15th of each month. Yearly subscriptions are available for $24. Send a check or money order to the address below. The viewpoints of the advertisers, columnists and submissions are not necessarily those of the editor or publisher and the publisher makes no claims about the validity of any charitable organizations mentioned. Around Canton is not responsible for errors or omissions. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means without written permission from the publisher. All rights reserved. © Copyright 2016. Around Canton 1025 Rose Creek Drive, Suite 620, PMB 380 Woodstock, GA 30189 For Advertising: Christie Deese, 770-615-3324 Website: www.aroundcantonmagazine.com

America’s Community Magazine Volume 4, Issue 9

Why drive to the mall?

SHOP LOCAL. DO GOOD. Every purchase helps provide food, water & shelter to those who live without.

Huge selection of furniture, mattresses, home goods, clothing, holiday decor & gifts. 50% off retail!

Canton: 3145 Marietta Hwy. 30114 ~ (770) 213.1000 Cartersville: 1274 Joe Frank Harris Pkwy. 30120 ~ (470) 227.7441

www.servone.org/servstore

AROUND CANTON | December 2016

Community

YOUR LOCAL NEWS Reinhardt Announces 10 Under 10 Homecoming celebrations at Reinhardt University included a trip down memory lane with several Canton leaders, and the announcement of the 2016-17 10 Under 10, a group of distinguished alumni who graduated within the last 10 years. Canton Mayor Gene Hobgood, representing the Class of 1967 – the Golden Anniversary Class – delivered remarks about the institution that helped shape him. “It’s hard to believe it’s been 50 years. When Dale Morrissey asked me to deliver a few remarks tonight, I was hesitant until she told me that transcripts are destroyed after 30 years,” he joked. He said 50 years ago was a different time. They did not have family support for college educations and if they wanted it, they had to work hard for it and get as many scholarship dollars as possible. He spoke of his and his wife, Elly’s, experience at Reinhardt. “There was never any doubt that we intended to get a college education,” Hobgood said. “Reinhardt was so good to us that they gave us both jobs on campus. I spent long hours cleaning Mayor Gene Hobgood addresses restrooms and stripping and waxing floors in the administration and other buildings on campus. the crowd. Elly worked at that time in the main central office. We worked four hours each and every day.” “[My family] also instilled in me that if you want something bad enough, there are good people like those at Reinhardt willing to encourage you and help you along the way,” Hobgood said. Reinhardt Board of Trustees Chair Billy Hasty, a member of the Class of 1967, reflected on Reinhardt and recalled his days as a classmate of Mayor Hobgood. “Those were great days while we were here at Reinhardt, and we’re on the move in significant ways under the leadership of our remarkable president, Dr. [Kina] Mallard.” Among those chosen for the 2016-17 10 Under 10 are a longtime firefighter and battalion chief for Cobb County (Sean Boggess), a Kentucky High school science teacher and coach (Dr. Kerstin Edberg), a former semi-professional basketball player (Donovan McMullen) and a Canton law firm operations manager (Amanda Lam). Other members are: Dr. Heath Hooper, Jeff McCurry, Alexa Huston, Front row, from left: Natalie King, Dr. Kina S. Mallard, Alexa Huston, Stephen Karafa and Dr. Kerstin Jamie Landers, Stephen Karafa and Edberg. Back row: Donovan McMullen, Jamie Landers, Amanda Lam, Sean Boggess, Dr. Heath Hooper Natalie King. and Jeff McCurry.

Northside Recognized for Heart Attack Care Northside Hospital Cherokee has earned Disease Specific Certification for Acute Myocardial Infarction care from The Joint Commission. Acute myocardial infarction is the medical term for a heart attack. About 750,000 people in the United States have a heart attack each year, according to the American Heart Association. “Patients in Cherokee, who have a heart attack and call 911, are transported to the emergency department at Northside Hospital Cherokee and receive life-saving care in our cardiac catheterization laboratory, all in less than 65 minutes,” said Beverly Hunt, chief nursing officer. Northside Hospital Cherokee is the second-fastest hospital, out of 19, in metro Atlanta. The average length of time among all hospitals is 76 minutes. 8

AROUND CANTON | December 2016

Cherokee Chamber is Recertified The Cherokee Chamber of Commerce, along with 22 other chambers, recently was recognized as a Georgia Certified Chamber during a conference held by the Georgia Association of Chamber of Commerce Executives (GACCE). The Georgia Certified Chamber program was created in 2011 when the GACCE board of directors wanted a way to recognize chambers that have focused internally on their operations to assess their strengths, weaknesses and opportunities to create efficient, effective organizations positioned to deliver great value. Chambers must meet standards in organization, service intent and capacity, professional administration, financial management, communications and advocacy to achieve the designation.

YOUR LOCAL NEWS Authors Dedicate Book to the Memory of a Special Girl The death of 11-year-old Juliette Lyng inspired Woodstock authors, and husband and wife team Darryl and Mary Rose Green, to dedicate their third book, “The Rules,” to her memory. Juliette was a friend of their daughter Tori; a portion of the book sales will be given to the Seattle Children’s Hospital to support the research of Dr. Paul Carpenter, who treated Juliette. The book, written for the kindergarten through second grade range, takes a humorous look at the rules children are exposed to, almost from the moment they are born. For more information, visit www.greenspublications.com.

Holly Springs Receives Financial Reporting Award The City of Holly Springs has been awarded the Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting by the Government Finance Officers Association (GFOA) for its 2015 comprehensive annual financial report. Robert H. Logan, city manager/finance director, was presented with the award. The city also received this award for their 2012, 2013 and 2014 comprehensive annual financial reports.

G O

T H E

D I S TA N C E

WellStar to Start Health Park Construction WellStar Health System will begin construction on the WellStar Cherokee Health Park in late summer 2017, with an anticipated completion date in 2018. The nearly $80-million facility will be built in two phases on a 60-acre site at Sixes Road in Holly Springs, just off Interstate 575. With 85,000 square feet of space, Phase 1 will include physician offices, medical imaging, urgent care, a sleep center, cardiac diagnostics, lab outreach and physical therapy. Phase 1 represents a $39.6 million investment in Cherokee County.

W I T H

BMW and MINI Specialists 204 Bell Place, Woodstock, GA 30188 770.310.2381 bavarianrepair.com service@bavarianrepair.com

AROUND CANTON | December 2016

YOUR LOCAL NEWS Students Work Together to Help Neighbors in Need Below, Savannah Godfrey and Ava The students of CORE Grace Fournier helped clear rocks . Community School recently reached out to underprivileged children here and in Africa. The students, ages 7 to 13, removed large rocks, sticks, broken asphalt and trash from property behind Changed 2 Ministry’s building in Canton where a playground is planned. A safe green space would give the 30 to 40 children of families, who go to Changed 2 for support, services and fellowship, an outdoor place to play. Changed 2 is a Christ-based nonprofit serving low-income families in North Georgia Patric Flanagan (red hat) and other students work on creating (www.changed2ministries.com). the green space for a playground at Changed 2 Ministries in Canton. “This makes me feel happy water, shelter and life in countries including Kenya, the Dominican because we are helping out people in need,” said Patric Flanagan, Republic and Costa Rica. (https://servone.org/) a seventh-grader at CORE. “We are helping little kids to have a “We are honored to partner with CORE Community School,” place to have fun and make some friends.” says Cathi Lindsey, director of donor relations for SERV. “These The students also delivered 57 letters they wrote for Kenyan kids are amazing, and the work that Dymond and Anne are orphans to SERV International’s doing is certainly raising the bar for community involvement and offices in Canton. The letters will showing the students what it’s like to learn while giving back and go to youngsters at SERV’s making a difference. They poured their hearts into these letters orphanage, the House of to help children thousands of miles away who don’t have a family. Hope, in Kenya. All of the It’s always a blessing to witness their big hearts and see their letters were handwritten sweet smiles.” to individual recipients. Good works and creativity are foundations of CORE’s SERV International is a curriculum. “Community service is part of our weekly school Canton-based ministry schedule,” said Annie Johnston-Jones, who founded the school that provides food, with her husband, Dymond Jones. “Serving in the community Left, Annie Naples, gives our students perspective and they develop compassion and Samantha Evaschuk and learn ways to express gratitude. We want our students to feel the Ava Grace Fournier are joy that comes with giving back through service and creativity.” among students who wrote 57 letters to orphans. www.thecoreschool.org

Seth Evaschuk enjoyed writing letters to orphans at the House of Hope in Kenya. 10

AROUND CANTON | December 2016

Students and teachers at CORE Community School in Canton celebrate after clearing rocks and other debris from a future playground.

WE’RE CHEROKEE’S COMMUNITY HOSPITAL WITH AN EMPHASIS ON “COMMUNITY. ” Northside Hospital-Cherokee offers more than the latest medical treatments. Since becoming part of Cherokee County in 1997, we’ve been a devoted member of the community. We contribute to Partners in Education in Cherokee County schools and our physicians and staff have donated more than 10,000 hours of volunteer work to local organizations. In all, we’ve invested millions in local community centers, academic institutions and charity organizations in Cherokee County. We will continue to invest in and support Cherokee. Because it’s our home, too.

Cherokee’s community hospital. Northside.com AROUND CANTON | December 2016

Chamber of Commerce

Ribbon Cuttings

1. Addison Taylor Salon

2900 Marietta Highway, Canton 770-224-8484

2. Mathnasium of Holly Springs 6768 Hickory Flat Highway, Suite 102, Canton 678-880-7592

3. Pleasant Union Farm

1994 Pleasant Union Rd., Canton 404-277-7685

4. LuLaRoe Elaine Federico

104 Gold Springs Court, Canton 407-435-3454

5. Cherokee Collision Center

300 Old Ball Ground Highway, Canton 678-388-7000

6. Northside Hospital â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Cherokee

Outpatient Rehabilitation Services 720 Transit Avenue, Suite 102, Canton 770-720-5127

5 4

AROUND CANTON | December 2016

Celebrations!

Amanda Jo Marshall

Celebrating December birthdays at The Lodge at BridgeMill

Age 20 on Dec. 18 As you celebrate, remember the love we all have for you. Mom, Dad and Joseph

are: Leona Crane, left, and Miriam Smith. Camera shy celebrants are Jean Allison, Elizabeth Carbone, Emmet Thomas, Margaret White and Rita Rose.

Happy birthday Patty!!!

We love you! David, Tanner, Katie, Devon, Cooper, and all your sneaky Gal Pals

Happy birthday, Emilee

Age 10 on Dec. 30 We are so proud of you sweet girl! Love you BIG! Mom, Daddy and Landon

ANNOUNCEMENTS ARE FREE! Happy first birthday, sweet Jellybean!

Love, Momma and Daddy

AROUND CANTON | December 2016

Happy birthday Pawpaw!

Age 49 on Dec. 20 Thanks for everything you do! Love, Knox

E-mail to: Candi@AroundAboutMagazines.com January deadline is Dec. 10. Please specify Around Canton.

It’s the

Most Wonder ful Time of the Year! We love spending this time of year with family and friends, and we love sharing special holiday features with our readers. This year we invite you to walk down memory lane with some local senior citizens as they remember their favorite Christmas gifts. Our Helping Hands guide offers a way for members of the community to help those who have a difficult time putting presents under the tree or a holiday meal on the table. There’s no shortage of activities for families to enjoy, and each season we make it our goal to provide an extensive list so you’ll know what our county has to offer. We hope you enjoy the holidays and will spend some time creating new traditions and memories that will last for years to come. From our families to yours − Happy Holidays! Special thanks to artist Brenda Tustian, who let us reproduce her masterpiece, “Christmas Love,” a painting that uses Cherokee County’s own hall of fame Santa Tim Cavender and his wife Pam as the models. Proceeds from the sale of the painting benefit the American Heart Association. For info, contact Brenda at 770-843-6981.

AROUND CANTON | December 2016

Christmas Memories BY JANICE KIMBER, MARKETING SPECIALIST, THE LODGE AT BRIDGEMILL

This was my favorite Christmas gift: taking the time to talk with our residents about days gone by. The first person I asked chuckled and said, “Oh my, that was so long ago, I don’t remember!” I suggested she give it a little thought and get back to me. She later shared with me her favorite gift, and thanked me for getting her thinking about her childhood, family stories and things long forgotten. Many of our residents were born during or shortly after the Great Depression, when families were struggling to survive and goods and services were not as abundant as they are today. It got me thinking that possessions — even gifts from the heart — are just things easily forgotten over time. Here’s what our residents had to say:

Bill W.

I was about 5 or 6 and I got a new tricycle, it was maroon and big! On my first ride I met a boy in the neighborhood who said he didn’t get anything from Santa for Christmas. How could this be? I couldn’t imagine and felt so bad for him, I gave him my bike. I went home and told my parents what I had done, they were mad. We didn’t have much and they had to save to get me that bike.

Theresa C.

A toy cash register. My brothers bought it for $2; it was metal with a drawer that opened. I set up a little store. I liked to handle money!

Carol T.

My engagement ring from my soon-to-be husband.

Lois Frank, left, and Phyllis Day at The Lodge at BridgeMill.

Susan S.

My baby brother!

Philly H.

My Betsy Wetsy doll.

An electric train like my brothers had. I passed it on to my son, who still has it!

Paul S.

My favorite gift was from my aunt, who knitted me hats and gloves for Christmas. They kept me warm through the cold Northeast winters.

Bob W.

Marilyn M.

Millie M.

Nancy K.

A new bicycle from Montgomery Ward. It had a tank in front, a bell and a rack on the back to carry my things. I was 10, and I rode that bike everywhere.

A puppy! My parents wrapped him in a blanket and he was waiting for me under the tree on Christmas morning. I loved that little guy so much!

Th e

Lois F.

Th Lo e r dg es e ide at n Br ts a id t ge M ill

Toni S.

As a special treat my Mom gave us nuts, a delicious Italian tradition! I grew up in Italy and we had very little.

I grew up during the Depression, we were lucky if we got an orange in our stocking. One year I got a new winter coat, I was so proud — and warm!

Figure skates. I thought I was going to be the next Sonja Henie (three-time Olympic figure skating champion — 1928, 1932, 1936 — and film star).

Phyllis D.

My Bi-Lo Baby. I was a little girl and my great-aunt made lots of beautiful clothes for her. I still have her today!

In T sig he ni re a sid of e To nts w a ne t La ke

Ann Morgan, 70 One of my favorite memories is my two young sons dressed in pajamas, sitting and looking up at the Christmas tree for a few minutes before bedtime. They did this every night. My favorite Christmas gift was from my sons, Britten and Ben O’Dell when they were in college. They started my set of Spode Christmas china. I was told, “No one should want something for 20 years and not have it.” I really appreciated them doing that.

Ann’s sons Britten and Ben at a young age.

Joan McArthur My favorite Christmas gift was not that long ago … when I was 75. I received a family locket, which was a gift from children and grandchildren.

Betty Myers, 94 My sister, Mimi, and I received a Christmas pony when I was 14. Our racehorse (which was too old to race) had a little colt. We rode it to town to pick up groceries and other supplies. We had so much fun!

Irene Fletcher, 86 My most memorable Christmas was when I was 55 years old. My husband bought me a sweeper, which was something I needed but I was upset when I received it. He made up for it though – he bought me a string of pearls and the earrings to match. He was a sweetie pie!

Mae Long, 90 About 83 years ago, when I was 7, I received a Dionne quintuplet doll for Christmas. Everyone knew about the five babies, and talked about them a lot. No one else knew that I had one of the dolls. I was so proud of that doll! My best friend, Inez, played with me and my doll. That was a magic Christmas, when everything seemed simple and magical.

Lucille Loudin My husband, Leonard, surprised us with a family trip to Palma de Mallorca off the coast of Spain for Christmas and New Year’s. We were living in Holland at the time, and it had been raining for over a month. The sunshine in Palma de Mallorca was wonderful. It was the most beautiful place I’ve ever been. Our son David had his 3rd birthday there. They brought us a rum cake, which had rum poured over it. After eating it, he was out for the evening! Lucille at dinner with her three children: on her left, Douglas, David and Anne. AROUND CANTON | December 2016

Helping Hands Because many of our friends and neighbors struggle financially every day, there are many charities that work hard to help people in need. Here’s a list of local nonprofits that have additional needs for the holidays. To learn about many other ways to help throughout the year, visit www.volunteercherokee.org.

Cherokee County Senior Services

Feed My Lambs

Registration for Adopt a Senior started Nov. 7. The following items are needed to fill gift bags: wallets for men, purses for women, $25 grocery gift cards and a book of stamps. Other items also accepted, but nothing perishable. Drop off donations at the senior center at 1001 Univeter Road, Canton. 770-704-2320

The nonprofit, which offers free Christian preschools, including a location in Canton, holds Happy Birthday Jesus parties each year for the young students. The Canton party, which is expected to draw 300 children, will be held 6:30-8:30 p.m. Dec. 11 at the Canton YMCA. Volunteers can help with setup beginning at 5 p.m. Individuals or groups can sponsor a child: $10 gets a Happy Birthday Jesus shirt, $25 gets the child a shirt, gift bag, balloon, cake and drink. For more details, call Maggie Bridges at 770-795-9349.

www.cherokeega.com

Hugs for Seniors www.crpa.net

The Cherokee Recreation and Parks Agency is collecting items for Canton Nursing Center residents until Dec. 9 for the first Hugs in a Blanket campaign. Individuals can bring a warm blanket and a pair of unisex, one-sizefits-all socks to the rec center at 7545 Main St., building 200 in Woodstock. For more information, call 770-924-7768 or email lcollett@cherokeega.com.

Cherokee Family Violence Center www.cfvc.org

Items are needed year-round for the emergency shelter. A few special toys have been added to the list: lapadoodle lap desks for children and Crayola Color Wonders. The center has a transitional housing complex with 72 apartments and emergency shelter that accommodates 12 women and children. Officials are asking for donations of household items like pots and pans, plates, cups, mugs, silverware, Tupperware, etc. For delivery details, call 770-479-4641 or email jessica@cfvc.org.

Cherokee FOCUS

www.cherokeefocus.org

The agency, which works to improve the lives of children and families through collaborative programs and initiatives, has a wish list that focuses on education. Donors can give a gift to cover the cost of GED testing, college entrance fees, interview clothing, transportation, childcare, etc. 770-345-5483

The Children’s Haven

www.CherokeeChildrensHaven.org

The Children’s Haven promotes the health and happiness of children in Cherokee who are affected by abuse. The group works to ensure their safety, advocate on their behalf and respond to meet their needs. Holiday needs include new coats, socks, pajamas and underwear. Target or Walmart gift cards are welcome. Items can be dropped off at 1083 Marietta Highway in Canton. 770-345-3274.

AROUND CANTON | December 2016

www.feedmylambs.net

Forever Fed

www.hopectr.com

Forever Fed is distributing 560 Christmas food boxes to families in need, a project that requires 14,000 pounds of donated nonperishable foods. Groups, businesses and individuals can donate peanut butter, jelly, canned beans, canned soups, 1-pound bags of rice, 1-pound packages of pasta, small bottles of vegetable oil, breakfast-style snacks and hygiene items. To donate, contact Susan@ForeverFed.org or phone 678-883-3314.

Goshen Valley Foundation www.goshenvalley.org

The holidays can be difficult times for the foster youth, who are served by Goshen Valley. The youth can use a little extra support from their community, and area residents can help by providing meals for the youth and house parents. “Frozen casseroles are a huge blessing for our house parents who are having to prepare three meals a day when the boys are out of school,” says Zach Blend, executive director of Goshen Valley. Individuals or small groups are encouraged to donate frozen meals. You can even deliver them in person and take a tour of Goshen Valley. Gift cards from Walmart, Target and Amazon can also help to fill many Christmas wish lists. Another need is artificial Christmas trees for the homes. These can be small, tabletop trees to full-size trees. For more information, email Carley Jacobs at cstephens@goshenvalley.org or call 770-345-9535.

Hope Center

www.hopectr.com

The pregnancy diagnosis and support center can use donations of new, unwrapped toys for children ages 0-8 for the Christmas toy closet. Donations accepted through Dec. 5 at Seeds Thrift Store, 295 Molly Lane, Woodstock. 770-517-4450 www.seedsthriftstore.com

MUST Ministries - Cherokee www.mustministries.org

The nonprofit provides a Christmas Toy Shop where clients can shop for their families. MUST can use donations of unwrapped new toys, as well as blankets, underwear, socks, scarves and gloves. A pair of new socks can be stuffed with hygiene items, small toys, nail polish, playing cards, etc. Volunteers are needed to set up and man the toy shop, beginning Dec. 6. For more information or to schedule a dropoff date and time email: toyshop@mustministries.org. MUST’s Canton office for donation drop is 111 Brown Industrial Parkway.

Never Alone

www.neveralone.org

The Woodstock nonprofit, which helps area residents in need by distributing food and clothing, is providing Christmas hams and meal boxes. Cost to sponsor a family is $25. Donations are tax deductible. Make a tax-deductible donation online or mail a check, payable to Never Alone, to P.O. Box 1904, Woodstock, GA 30188.

North Ga. Pregnancy and Family Resource Center

The Jasper agency serves North Cherokee, Pickens and surrounding counties. FREE and confidential services, include pregnancy tests, first semester ultrasounds, parenting classes and much more. The nonprofit, which serves pregnant moms and families with children up to 5 years old, needs diapers, wipes, baby clothes size 0-3T, pack-n-plays, baby shower items and financial contributions. 706-253-6303. www.babyontheway.org

Papa’s Pantry

www.papaspantry.org

The pantry is accepting donations for holiday meals, including turkeys, hams, produce and nonperishable food items. A list of seasonal needs is kept up-to-date on the website. Papa’s Pantry is a food and stability training organization for Cherokee residents. For details, call 770-591-4730.

Secret Santa

www.cherokeesanta.com

The Secret Santa program of the Department of Family and Children’s Services for Cherokee County offers a way for individuals, businesses or larger groups such as Sunday school classes or Scout troops to help the more than 350 children in foster care this year. Sponsors can donate as much or as little as they can. All size donations are appreciated. For more details, call Secret Santa at 470-235-0753 or email cherokeesanta@yahoo.com.

AROUND CANTON | December 2016

Holiday Happenings Dec. 1-18

Santa’s Mailbox will be open for those special wish lists and letters Dec. 1-17 in the gazebo at The Park at City Center, 101 Arnold Mill Road, so children in the community can drop off their letters to Santa. They can expect a personalized letter from Santa before Christmas! www.woodstockga.gov

Through Dec. 22

A holiday show featuring Cherokee Arts Center members will include a sale for less than $100. The center is at 94 North St. www.cherokeearts.org

Dec. 15

Kennesaw State University School of Music hosts, 8 p.m. Dec. 15, the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra performing music from “The Nutcracker” and offering a festive sing-along in Morgan Concert Hall at the Bailey Performance Center, 488 Prillaman Way NW, Kennesaw. www.arts.ksu.edu

Dec. 8-23

Holiday Lights of Hope is a large scale walk-through light display and holiday activity open nightly at 6 p.m. for kids of all ages at Hobgood Park, at the corner of Towne Lake Parkway and Bells Ferry Road in Woodstock. This community event benefits the Anna Crawford Children’s Center, which serves families in Cherokee County. With almost 2 million lights and animated light displays, Santa’s Village including pictures with Santa, vendor and activity areas, concessions and more. www.holidaylightsofhope.com

Dec. 9

Shop with a Hero helps children whose families are facing financial difficulties by taking them Christmas shopping. Kids have lots of fun shopping with men and women in uniform, beginning at 7 p.m. at Walmart on Highway 92 and Trickum Road. www.WPSFoundation.org

Dec. 9-10

Bethlehem Walk 2016 at Mountain View United Methodist Church, 2300 Jamerson Road, Marietta. No charge. www.bethlehemwalkatmountainview.org

AROUND CANTON | December 2016

Dec. 9-10

Canton’s annual Art & Wine Walk is 6-10 p.m. Tickets available through Main Street events at www.cantonhdl.com.

Dec. 9-11

The Atlanta Christmas Musical will begin at 8 p.m. Friday, 6 p.m. Saturday and 3 p.m. Sunday at First Baptist Church Woodstock, 11905 Highway 92. This year’s musical is set in 1870 when the president announces the first national Christmas holiday; the focus is centered around three families whose lives are intertwined through faith, love and hope.

Dec. 10

Breakfast with Santa at Bascomb United Methodist Church will be held 9-11 a.m. The church is at 2295 Bascomb Carmel Road, Woodstock. www.BascombUMC.org

Dec. 11

“Prep & Landing” and “Prep & Landing: Naughty vs. Nice” at 2 and 5 p.m. at Reinhardt University’s Falany Performing Arts Center. ABC and Walt Disney Studios team up to deliver this jovial holiday movie special detailing the Christmas adventures of Prep & Landing, an elite and high-tech unit of elves whose job is to prepare homes for a Santa visit. Devoted elf Wayne (Dave Foley) has been working for 227 years and he’s ready for a promotion to Director of Naughty List Intelligence. But North Pole Christmas Eve Command Center Coordinator Magee (Sarah Chalke) has other plans for Wayne. When Magee teams Wayne with enthusiastic rookie elf Lanny (Derek Richardson), it becomes obvious that this Christmas is going to be anything but typical! Wayne and Lanny race to recover classified North Pole technology after a mischievous kid hacks into Santa’s database. Cost is $15 for adults, $10 ages 55 and older, and $5 ages 12 and younger. To purchase tickets, call 770-720-9167 or go to www.reinhardt.edu/fpac.

Dec. 17

Canton Music Shoppe Christmas Recital at 6:30 p.m. at the Canton Historic Theatre. Tickets $7. The theatre is at 171 East Main St. www.cantontheatre.com

Dec. 18

Showing of the movie â&#x20AC;&#x153;White Christmasâ&#x20AC;? with Bing Crosby, Rosemary Clooney, Danny Kaye and Vera-Ellen from 1954 in hi-def Blu-ray with popcorn and drinks, chocolate bars and chips. 3 p.m. at the Canton Historic Theatre, 171 East Main St. Tickets $5. www.cantontheatre.com

Dec. 26- Jan. 15

Christmas Tree Chip & Dip at Olde Rope Mill Park starts the day after Christmas. Trees (no flocked or decorated) are run through the chipper to create mulch, which is available for free during park hours (8 a.m.-dusk). Sponsored by the Keep Georgia Beautiful campaign and the City of Woodstock Stormwater Department. Free tree seedlings will be available 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Jan. 7.

AROUND CANTON | December 2016

Holiday Happenings Public Menorah Lightings Dec. 29

Abbie, left, and Delilah Parkes at the 2015 lighting of the ice menorah at The Outlet Shoppes at Atlanta.

Ice menorah lighting at The Outlet Shoppes at Atlanta will begin at 4:15 p.m. with an ice carving, followed by the lighting ceremony at 5:15 p.m. The event features hot latkes, menorahs, dreidels, Chanukah gelt and family events. Music by the Atlanta Jewish Men’s Choir. Sponsored by the Chabad Jewish Center and The Outlet Shoppes, 915 Ridgewalk Parkway, Woodstock. www.jewishwoodstock.com

Dec. 30

Congregation Ner Tamid will hold its second annual Menorah Lighting on the Marietta Square beginning at 6:30 p.m. at the Glover Park stage. The celebration will also include holiday music, fun children’s games and hot chocolate. Ner Tamid also will have a children’s Shabbat at 6:30 p.m. Dec. 16. Rabbi Prass will tell a story, there will be potato latkas and flashing menorahs. Kid sitter will be provided and an adult service will take place at 7:30 p.m. RSVP to events@ mynertamid,org. 678-264-8575. www.mynertamid.org

Christmas @ the Library Rose Creek 4476 Towne Lake Parkway, Woodstock 770-591-1491

Dec. 8

Enjoy a Holiday Celebration 5:30-6:30 p.m. The air is getting colder, the holidays are near. It’s time for a celebration with those we hold so dear, our patrons! Enjoy our holiday festivities this season with the children’s choir from Bascomb Elementary. There will be crafts, face painting, and a special visit from Santa and Mrs. Claus. Bring your camera; all ages welcome.

Dec. 13

Build a snowman craft without having to go outside. Begins at 10:30 a.m. Socks, stuffing, and decorations provided for participants, ages 16 and older. Call to register. 22

AROUND CANTON | December 2016

Woodstock 7735 Main St., Woodstock 770-926-5859

Dec. 7

Pinterest Family Edition 4-5 p.m. to make holiday themed bookmarks. For all ages.

Dec. 8

Ugly Holiday Sweater Party for teens 6-7:45 p.m. Wear your tackiest holiday sweater or T-shirt and enter the contest, design an ugly sweater cookie and make a holiday craft. For grades 6-12.

Dec. 9

STEM Holiday Lights program at 4:30 p.m., studying circuits using Christmas lights. For ages 9-12.

Dec. 15

Polar Express Read Aloud, 6 p.m. Bring your blanket and wear your best pajamas to experience the magic of Chris Van Allsburg’s classic holiday tale come to life. Call to reserve your spot.

Hickory Flat

2740 East Cherokee Drive, Canton 770-345-7565

Dec. 14

Polar Express Read Aloud, 6 p.m. Bring your blanket and wear your best pajamas to experience the magic of Chris Van Allsburg’s classic holiday tale come to life. Call to reserve your spot.

Dec. 20

Free Holiday Movie 1-3 p.m. Get in the Christmas spirit with a Muppet holiday classic. All ages welcome. Refreshments will be served. Rated G.

R.T. Jones 116 Brown Industrial Parkway, Canton 770-479-3090

Dec. 7

Celebrate the Season and enjoy the Festival of Trees during the 6-7:30 p.m. R.T. Jones Holiday Open House. Crafts, refreshments, a tree lighting, songs performed by the Hasty Elementary Chorus, and a visit from Santa. All ages are welcome.

Dec. 12

Polar Express Read Aloud, 6:30 p.m. Bring your blanket and wear your best pajamas to experience the magic of Chris Van Allsburg’s classic holiday tale come to life. Your ticket to an evening of festive fun, photo ops, and refreshments. Space is limited and registration is required. Call to reserve your spot. All ages welcome.

Holly Springs Mayor Shares Parting Thoughts BY MAYOR TIMOTHY B. DOWNING

Writing this will be one of my final duties as the Mayor of Holly Springs. I have enjoyed my time serving the citizens of Holly Springs as both a councilman and the mayor, and my decision to not seek re-election did not come easily. However, being able to look back at the past 15 years with pride at what has been accomplished will make the transition much easier. Since 2002, we have seen Holly Springs grow from a population of approximately 3,000 people to a little over 10,000. In that same period of time, our city has grown from a position of fiscal irresponsibility with a budget that was in the red in 2002 to a position of fiscal responsibility and strength with a budget that demonstrates that we not only live within our means, but we also have a financial plan and reserves that prepare the city for the challenges of the future. Along with the growth of Holly Springsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; financial maturity, we have also improved the level of service our staff provides our residents day in and day out. The Holly Springs Police Department is one of the finest in the state as Holly Springs has been consistently recognized as one of the safest cities in Georgia. While we face many challenges as we move forward, the future of our city hinges significantly on how we execute our

downtown development. I cannot emphasize enough how important it is to ensure our downtown raises the bar for quality, because what we do here will affect our city from this day forward. There will be no bigger impact on the direction of Holly Springs than this development and it will set the stage for any development which follows it. Finally, I wanted to recognize and thank our council. While we have not always agreed, our disagreements have been respectful and always in the best interests of our citizens and our city. While their decisions have at times been controversial and complicated, they have made these decisions with nothing but the long-term health and quality of life of our residents in mind. Thank you for your trust during the past 15 years. It has been my honor to serve you as both a city councilman and mayor.

Holly Springs Mayor Timothy Downing, wife Sandra, and two children have lived in Holly Springs since 1999. 770-345-5536. www.hollyspringsga.us.

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AROUND CANTON | December 2016

A Closer Look at Fires - Both Good and Bad BY JOSH DAVIS

With the increase in wildfires across Georgia and surrounding states over the last few months, we wanted to share some information to educate everyone on the benefits and dangers that come along with wildfires. To be clear, there are good fires and bad fires. A good fire can be classified as a natural way to allow proper regrowth of the ecosystem while being at a low intensity. A bad fire can be classified as an uncontrolled wildfire that may prove dangerous to surrounding homes or businesses. While both fires have their pros and cons, we must remain observant as they both can change due to factors that are beyond our control. There is a type of fire called a prescribed fire, which is controlled burning conducted by certified, experienced and trained fire managers who apply prescribed burning on public and private lands throughout Georgia. A prescribed fire is a safe method to apply a natural process to ensure ecosystem health and to reduce wildfire risk. Professionals assess forest conditions, determine the type of fire needed, and write a “prescription” for the application of fire. The Georgia Forestry Commission (GFC) permits prescribed burns depending upon weather conditions and applicable safety measures.

Many native plants and animals are fire adapted and prefer ecosystems where fire is a recurring event. A prime example of the benefits from a prescribed burn is the Longleaf Pine Restoration Site. In partnership with state agencies and local non-profits, the USACE Allatoona Lake staff manages a 350-acre Longleaf Pine stand on the According to the GFC, north shore of the lake. To here are a few reasons Prescribed fires are tended to by certified, experienced and trained managers. maintain the ecosystem’s for a prescribed burn: balance, the stand and the • Reduce hazardous fuels. microcosm require fire. The system prefers fire on frequent cycles of 3 to 5 years between burns. • Prepare sites for seeding and planting. With the high density of homes and development near • Improve wildlife habitat. the lake, smoke management is a primary concern during • Manage competing vegetation. a prescribed burn. Careful planning is taken by prescribed fire managers to minimize any potential smoke impacts on • Control insects and disease. public health and safety. • Improve forage for grazing. For more information, visit www.garxfire.com and www.gfc.state.ga.us/forest-management/prescribed-fire/ • Enhance appearance. • Improve access.

At Allatoona Lake, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) implements prescribed fire to manage the land around the lake. Fire is commonly applied to manage timber stands and to control unwanted vegetation in campgrounds. 24

AROUND CANTON | December 2016

Josh Davis is a Natural Resource Specialist with USACE, Allatoona Lake, and a B.S. graduate of NC State in Parks, Recreation, and Tourism Management.

Gifts of Care.

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stay connected. specials & promotions. AROUND CANTON | December 2016

Sharing a Vision of Unity BY SCOT TURNER

I recently had the honor of being a guest lecturer at Kennesaw State University for a class on political parties. The professor had asked me to share some details about my efforts in Georgia politics as well as give an overview of the state party structure. During the question and answer period of my presentation, a young woman asked if I had ever supported legislation that would have specifically helped minorities. In my mind, the question highlights one of the sources of division in our country in our current political climate. Frankly, it highlights a significant difference in thinking between our two major political parties as well. In my view, we have one side that is busily dividing us by labels and trying to fit us into neat little boxes. This alone is enough to pit us against each other, but then they begin saying that the other side doesn’t care about you or the others in your box and that only they have the solutions and ideas that will help you. The other side isn’t so (at least this is traditionally true) enamored with policies that help one label over another. This is where I am at. The policies I support are not designed to help one little box of people over another. No. I prefer to tackle and champion policies that help all people all the time regardless of their background, gender, ethnicity, religious beliefs or any other label one may use. To use a cliché, I want to support policies that

are a rising tide for all boats, not just a few. And I certainly do not want to choose winners and losers. So, I answered the young lady’s question by highlighting that difference in thought pattern. Then I gave her specific examples of how policies that allow everyone to keep more of their own money help minority populations equally with majorities. I spoke about tax reform and how it is color blind. I spoke in detail about how empowering it is for any individual to be able to open and own a business free of burdensome government regulations. And lastly, and for the sake of time, I concluded by pointing out that when we stand in defense of the Bill of Rights and individual liberties, we fight for all people no matter the circumstance. As we head into a new political climate, I hope we do not lose sight of those ideals that unite us and that we are also somehow able to move past the failed philosophy of division that has dominated our politics. I am committed to a vision of unity, and I hope that you’ll join me in making that vision a reality.

Scot Turner is a small business owner and the State House Representative for District 21. He can be reached at 678-576-2644 or www.facebook.com/turnerforhouse.

DOWNTOWN CANTON DINING GUIDE Your complete guide to casual and upscale sit-down dining in downtown Canton

RESTAURANT CUISINE BREAKFAST LUNCH DINNER SUNDAY

SPIRITS RESERV.

R&M Sandwich Shop 117 W. Main St. 770-479-4413 Look for R&M on Facebook.

Custom-made sandwiches

closed

Downtown Kitchen 140 E. Marietta St. 770-479-1616 thedowntownkitchen.com

Steak & Seafood

$$$

closed

Full bar

yes

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

Seafood

$$$

closed

Full bar

yes

The Snug Gastro Pub 190 E. Main St. 770-213-4814 thesnuggastropub.com

Gastropub

$$$

closed

Full bar

yes

Sun. only

$$$

open

Full bar

yes

Mancini’s Italian Tradition 250 E. Main St. 678-880-7770 mancinisitaliantradition.com

Italian

$ = most entrees under $10 • $$ = most entrees $10 - $15 • $$$ = most entrees $15 - $20 • $$$$ = most entrees over $20

AROUND CANTON | December 2016

5.00%APY* Youth Savings + $50 Cash**

Even Santa’s impressed. This year, give your kids or grandkids the gift of good savings habits. With our Youth Savings account, your kids earn an extraordinary 5.00% APY on the first $500.* And for a limited time, we’ll put $50 into their new account to get them off to a good start.** So give the gift that even has Santa impressed. Open a Youth Savings account today! For branch locations visit LGEccu.org. Membership eligibility and $5 minimum balance required to maintain base savings account. Federally insured by NCUA. *APY = Annual Percentage Yield. Fees could reduce earnings on accounts. Rate effective 11/01/16 and subject to change without notice. 5.00% APY applies to balances up to $500 only and balances over $500 will earn the base savings rate. This is a variable rate account and the rate may change without notice after the account is opened. Rate applies only to Dollar Dog®, Cha-Ching!SM, and The EdgeSM youth savings accounts. Fees could reduce earnings on accounts. *Offer valid 11/01/16 – 12/31/16 (“promotional period”) but may be withdrawn at any time. Offer is valid for new members only and cannot be combined with any other offer. Custodial accounts are not eligible. To participate, you must become a new member by opening an LGE Dollar Dog, Cha-Ching!, or Edge savings account with an initial savings deposit during the first 10 days of at least $5. After the account has been open for 10 days and has received the initial deposit, $50 will be deposited into the savings account within 10 business days. Bonuses may be taxable. Terms and conditions apply. Dollar Dog, Cha-Ching!, and The Edge are licensed service marks of Marketing Partners, Bethlehem, PA.

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PHOTO BY GARY MULLET

Coffee

With a Cop Members of the Canton Police Department recently took a morning to serve Dunkinâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Donuts customers.

PHOTO BY GARY MULLET

PHOTO BY GARY MULLET 28 AROUND CANTON | December 2016

AROUND CANTON | December 2016

Rob’s Rescues I went to Rochester, Minn., to interview Roo Yori. He is an American Ninja Warrior and was a world champion with his rescue dog Wallace in Frisbee dog competitions. How were you feeling when you were on “American Ninja Warrior?” Very excited and nervous. Excited for the opportunity; I had wanted to do it for a long time. Nervous because you only get one shot. The better I do the better the chance that my message of advocating for shelter dogs can be put out there. How many dogs do you have, and what are their names and breeds? We have three very old dogs: Angus is black lab mix, Mindy-Lou is a toy Aussie mix and Scooby is a rat terrier mix. Johnny is a 2-year-old pit bull. He is a court case dog, which means that when his owner was arrested, he went to a shelter and was held as evidence in a dog-fighting case. It used to happen in these circumstances that these dogs would be routinely euthanized but Safe Humane Chicago changed that and these days these dogs are mostly able to be adopted.

World champions Roo and Wallace show off their Frisbee skills.

There are a lot of kittens at the shelter. Sixteen are ready to get adopted. All of them would make a great cat to have. This dog’s name is Puppy. He is 6 months old and is a hound Alaskan Malamute mixed breed. He is an owner surrender. Puppy has lots of energy and would be a perfect dog for someone. He likes toys.

Above, Puppy waits for his new forever home. Right: Rob with one of the many kittens available for adoption.

Rob’s Rescues 30

AROUND CANTON | December 2016

Follow Rob on Facebook!

What made you think that Wallace would make a good Frisbee dog? It was my wife Clara’s idea. She suggested I give Wallace a try since he liked playing fetch at the shelter. He took to it immediately and was a natural.

Clara Yori, Rob, Roo Yori with Scooby, Mindy-Lou and Angus

Besides a pit bull, what is your best dog breed? A medium-sized mutt. When did you create the Wallace the Pit Bull Foundation? In 2014 after Wallace passed. I wanted to do something to have his memory continue. He had a large Facebook following and I wanted to continue the work we did with pit bulls and shelter dog advocacy. What does the foundation do? It raises money for donations to other dog advocacy organizations and programs. Safe Humane Chicago is one. The Pit Bulletin Legal News created the annual Wallace Award for an individual who is a voice for pit bulls. The foundation gives $1,000 to a charity of the winner’s choice. The foundation also focuses on education. I talk to schools and encourage awareness of shelter needs. Social media is also utilized to educate on the needs of shelter dogs. How can I help you? Do what you are doing. Encourage people to adopt dogs and cats in your area. Do you have a tattoo of Wallace? No. Not yet. Do your dogs right now compete in tournaments? No. Scooby used to; he is retired now. Johnny is not a competitive Frisbee dog, we just have fun in the backyard. What makes a good Frisbee dog? Dogs that like to play fetch. If a dog likes to play with toys you can sometimes teach them. Some dogs are just natural fetchers. What was your favorite and least favorite obstacle on “American Ninja Warrior?” Salmon ladder is my favorite and the rolling log is definitely my least favorite. Why do you do “American Ninja Warrior?” I enjoy the physical challenge. I have always loved obstacle courses and to see what’s possible. It is also a great platform to spread a message that I am passionate about: shelter dogs.

I’m Rob Macmillan and I’m on a mission to help shelter dogs and cats. These animals are at the Cherokee County Animal Shelter at 1015 Univeter Road, Canton. Contact me at robsrescues@gmail.com. AROUND CANTON | December 2016

Community Comes Together to Benefit Local Family

Brandon and Paige English are known throughout the Canton and Cherokee School District communities. Chances are, if you don’t know who Brandon and Paige are, you probably have heard of Paige’s dad, Robert Wofford, former Cherokee County School board member and previous Assistant Superintendent of Personnel for Cherokee County schools. Brandon and Paige are teachers in the community. Paige is a teacher at Teasley Middle School and Brandon most recently was the physical education teacher at Sixes Elementary School. Recently, Brandon was diagnosed with Frontotemporal Degeneration (FTD), a rare form of dementia that affects people of all ages. The school communities of Sixes Elementary, Teasley Middle and Knox Elementary recently held a benefit for the English family to help with the costs of Brandon’s care and to raise awareness for FTD. Cherokee High student Emily Shelton assisted with the benefit as her senior project. The Oct. 22 family fun run and chili dinner was held at River Church on Sixes Road in Canton. Boosterthon, Inc. set up the course and people of all ages ran for fun and to encourage a healthy lifestyle, as the English family exemplifies every day. Afterward, chili was served and a raffle was held, with prizes like a weekend cabin getaway, tickets to sporting events and gift certificates to local restaurants. At the end of the evening, more than $9,000 was raised on behalf of the English family. But more importantly, the community came together to show support for a family and a man who means so much to so many.

Paige and Brandon English.

Sixes teachers/family volunteer to serve dinner from left: Margaret Swarts, Mary Werner, Jessica Jones, Tracy Cavallaro, and Caroline Cavallaro.

AROUND CANTON | December 2016

Brandon English with Sixes student Blake Lavrich.

Volunteers prepare for dinner: Laurie Hodges, Lauren Melehan, and Trevor Melehan.

Brandon English running for health and fun.

Volunteers making it all happen, Deena Smith and Ginny Martin.

Sixes faculty/family walking in the fun run. Principal Cindy Crews, student Grayson Sinco, teachers Tori Sinco, Shona Roberts, Nicole Bayler and Assistant Principal Clay Gunter.

Brandon English with many members of his Sixes family.

AROUND CANTON | December 2016

Coloring Outside the Box BY TIM TIMMONS

People often ask me, “What is the difference between box color at the grocery store and professional color at a salon?” There are several major differences that can produce possibly unreliable and undesirable results. Knowing the differences will help you make an educated decision when it comes to choosing between box and professional color. Many things contribute to the end result of your hair color: application, color formula, hair condition and previous color services are a few. Box color is somewhat of a one-sizefits-all solution. The box includes a specific solution and a specific developer that does not take into account what your hair condition is in or what has been done to it in the past. It provides the same solution for the client with virgin (never before colored) blonde hair and the client with resistant gray hair. The coloring process is a personal thing and hair color needs to be able to adapt. The canvas you start with will affect the outcome. To illustrate the color selection process, I have created two formulas.

1. 2.

CURRENT HAIR + BOX COLOR = UNKNOWN RESULTS CURRENT HAIR + FORMULA CREATED FOR CLIENT = DESIRED RESULT

Because the current condition of your hair affects the outcome of your new color, it is important that the formula

AROUND CANTON | December 2016

created for application is personalized so you get the results you want. For example, if someone, has dark brown hair and desires to be a bright Reese Witherspoon blonde, she will not see these results by grabbing a box of blonde coloring from the grocery store. Most likely, she would end up with light brown hair and very brassy undertones. When it comes to hair color, like most things, you get what you pay for. If you run into undesired results or end up with damaged hair, it’s time to seek a professional. The time and money spent on corrective color can be quite a sacrifice. It does not surprise us when a correction takes three to four hours. With damage, a more long-term treatment plan is needed. So, when you contemplate color options, it is imperative to decide how important it is to have healthy and beautiful hair. You may end up wanting to ditch the box all together and head straight to the salon. Stylists are trained in color, chemistry and processing of color. A personalized solution takes into account the hair’s texture, density, porosity, color and length. Even your skin tone and eye color are important in determining what is best for your hair.

Tim Timmons is the owner of Salon Gloss Woodstock. Tim’s industry experience includes positions as trainer/educator, celebrity stylist and beauty consultant for the Grammys and MTV video music awards.

Keeping Long-Distance Loved Ones Safe BY CINDY NELSON

Unfortunately, many of us have families scattered throughout the state, or even farther. Family gatherings for the holidays will be the first time we have seen some of our loved ones in months and the last time we get to see our distant loved ones for a while. This makes noticing changes in health a lot more difficult. When visiting with aging loved ones, especially those who live farther away, there are a few things to watch for and a few steps to take that can make their home a safer place. To make sure loved ones are still able to take care of themselves, pay attention to the appearance of the individuals and their homes. Failure to keep up with daily routines and hygiene could indicate that they are struggling with dementia or physical impairments. A few signs to watch for are neglected housework, lights that don’t work, or even things like scorched pans that may indicate they have forgotten about food on the stove. For your aging loved ones who are local, the Cherokee Volunteer Aging Council may be able to help with home repairs and other safety issues they cannot afford (www.vac-cherokeega.org). Weight loss could also be a sign of more severe underlying conditions. Here in Cherokee County, Senior Services (770-345-5320) may be able to offer assistance with case management or delivered meals for your loved one. Memory loss is something many aging loved ones

will experience. If it is more severe than misplacing glasses or a forgotten appointment, start watching for them to get lost in familiar places or forget common words when speaking. Safety in your aging loved ones’ home is also a major concern. Did you notice them having a hard time getting around, especially on stairs? Are they still driving and, if so, can they remember directions and see well enough to do so safely? If not it may be time to start exploring other options such as senior transportation buses or ride sharing programs like the one we have here - CATS (Cherokee Area Transportation Services - 770345-6238). Another safety concern is rugs or carpet that have loose edges or ripples. Removing things like bed skirts and rugs can help to avoid fall hazards. Making sure your distant loved ones are being taken care of and are safe is always worrisome, but by working with someone who focuses on helping seniors it may be easier.

Cindy Nelson is an Elder Care Law Attorney with Nelson Elder Care Law, LLC, 2230 Towne Lake Parkway, Suite 900-200, Woodstock, GA 30189, www.NelsonElderCareLaw.com

AROUND CANTON | December 2016

SELECTION, STYLE AND SERVICE

A Family Tradition

PHOTOS BY J. KING IMAGES

Ece Ehican helps a customer find the right fit.

hen the Ehican family opened River Fine Jewelry in Canton, the goal was to provide the broadest selection of high-quality jewelry at the most competitive prices. During this holiday shopping season, the selection is bigger and the deals are amazing. In fact, until Dec. 24, shoppers can enjoy discounts of up to 40 percent to 50 percent off all merchandise. Ibrahim Ehican, owner of River Fine Jewelry, is proud to continue the tradition of jewelry service that was started in Turkey by his grandfather. Ehican’s wife Beyhan and his sister Ece are also part of the three-generation family business. Their strong Christian faith and family ties are what guide them in their dedication to quality and customer service. The inventory is extensive and if a watch is on this year’s shopping list, you are likely to find what you are looking for at River Fine Jewelry. Luxury watches such as Citizen, Caravelle, Pulsar, Seiko, and Bulova fill the display cases, along with gold watches and pre-owned Rolexes for men and women. Watches are discounted up to 40 percent until Dec. 24. Watch repairs and battery replacements are also available. With more than 300 engagement rings to choose from,

are the only people I buy from. Every “timeThese I walk in, I feel like part of their family.

The most important thing is they don’t try to upsell you. I feel like I save money when I walk in there. I recently bought an engagement ring for my wife for our 10th anniversary at a very reasonable price. —Peter E.

”

AROUND CANTON | December 2016

there is little chance that your special ring will look like your best friend’s. In fact, if a custom-made piece of jewelry is your desire, the staff can create an unforgettable and unique ring, pendant or bracelet to fit your style and taste. You can choose from a large collection of loose gems and collaborate on the custom design process. River Fine Jewelry is a full-service jewelry store which includes repairs, appraisals, cleanings, personalized engraving and customdesigned jewelry. The store also buys coins, diamonds, gold and Rolex watches at the most competitive market prices. You won’t encounter high-pressure sales people; only outstanding customer service from people who bring generations of knowledge and expertise to the jewelry counter. The personal touch you’ll receive from this small, family-owned business will keep you coming back − long after the holidays are over.

Great selection and exceptional customer “service! I wouldn’t go anywhere else if I am

looking for a great investment for myself or a gift for my loved ones. You can tell they know what they are doing. —Elif T.

”

1431 Riverstone Parkway Canton 30114 678-880-0400 Holiday Hours: 10 a.m. – 7 p.m. Dec. 1 - 14 10- a.m. - 8 p.m. Dec. 15 - 24

Christmas Sale Up to 50% OFF!

Ibrahim Ehican is a third-generation jeweler.

Monday – Saturday Noon - 5 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 1 - 24 www.riverfinejewelry.com River Fine Jewelry Canton

SERVICES INCLUDE:

• Custom jewelry design • Appraisals • Engraving • Jewelry and watch repair • Buys gold, diamonds and Rolex watches

visited family in Canton, Ga., and I ended up getting “myRecently watch repaired. I had a hard time finding a jewelry or

watch store that can repair a Rolex watch. I finally found River Fine Jewelry. The owner was very helpful and knowledgeable. He repaired my Rolex watch at an affordable price and I picked it up same day. If you need a watch repair shop in Canton or surrounding area, you may want to stop by River Fine Jewelry. They will take care of you. —Melinda W.

”

AROUND CANTON | December 2016

Funding 35-40 Years of Retirement

If you live to 100, can you avoid outliving your money? DON AKRIDGE, MBA, CFP®, CPA/PFS U.S. MARINE CORPS VETERAN – EMORY UNIVERSITY ALUMNUS

Will you live to 100? Your odds of becoming a centenarian may be improving. Earlier this year, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported that the population of Americans aged 100 or older rose 44 percent between 2000 and 2014. The Pew Research Center says that the world had more than four times as many centenarians in 2015 as it did in 1990.1,2 If you do live to 100, will your money last as long as you do? What financial steps may help you maintain your retirement savings and income? Consider these ideas. Keep investing in equities. The S&P 500 does not automatically gain 10 percent or more each year, but it certainly has the potential to do so in any year. As the benchmark interest rate is still well below 1 percent, fixed-rate investments are not producing anything close to double-digit returns. Some fixed-rate vehicles are even failing to keep up with the current inflation rate (1.5 percent). Turning away from equity investments in retirement may seriously hinder the growth of your savings and your level of income.3 Arrange some kind of pension-like income. If you can retire with a pension, great; if not, you may want other income streams besides Social Security and distributions from investment accounts. Renting out some property may provide it, though, the cost of third-party management can cut into your revenue. Dividends can function like a passive income stream, albeit a highly variable one. Even creating online content may provide residual income.

AROUND CANTON | December 2016

Hold off filing for Social Security. If you are in reasonably good health and think you may live into your 90s or beyond – and that could prove true for you – then retiring later and claiming Social Security later can make great financial sense. If you wait to claim your benefits at Full Retirement Age (which will range from 66 to 67, depending on your birthdate), you will have fewer years of retirement to fund than if you left work at 62 and claimed benefits immediately. By continuing to work, you are also allowing your retirement savings a few more years to potentially grow and compound when they are at their greatest – so this might be the wisest step of all. If your savings are large enough, you could try living only off the interest. If your invested assets equal $1 million and your investments return 5 percent in a year, could you live on that $50,000 plus Social Security or your pension in the succeeding year? You may be able to do that, perhaps easily depending on where you choose to live in retirement. You would not be able to do that every year, of course – you would have to dip into your principal if your portfolio returned almost nothing or took a loss. For every year you manage to live off the equivalent of your investment returns, however, your principal goes untouched.

continued on page 62

Don Akridge is president of Citadel Professional Services, LLC, an independent firm, founded in 1994 and conveniently located off Chastain Road between I-575 & I-75 in Kennesaw. 770-952-6707.

Consider Furnace Upgrade for Energy Savings BY DAN JAPE

The rising cost of gas has many people in the market for a more efficient furnace before winter weather arrives. While most homeowners think they can save the most energy dollars on their cooling bills, a furnace upgrade gives the best and the quickest return on investment. There are two furnace efficiency categories (80 and 90 percent AFUE) and three basic types of gas furnaces (single stage, two-stage and variable speed two-stage). AFUE stands for annual fuel utilization efficiency with the higher the number denoting the most efficiency. An 80 percent AFUE efficient furnace, the most popular type in Atlanta, uses 80 cents of a dollarâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s worth of gas to heat your home and sends 20 cents of waste up the chimney. This furnace has no standing pilot light and uses a metal exhaust pipe to vent the unburned gas and carbon monoxide fumes. It has a blower/fan called the draft inducer that injects air into the burner chamber to help the combustion process. This type of furnace will normally save 25 percent to 40 percent of the gas consumed by an old standing pilot type. A 90 percent AFUE furnace is so efficient that it no longer uses a metal flue pipe to take the waste products away. It is vented out the sidewall of your home using PVC piping and it takes fresh air for the combustion process from the outside instead of depleting the air in your home. This type is called a condensing furnace and like the 80 percent version, it also has no pilot and it has a draft inducer fan for a good clean burn. It has two heat exchangers to help the furnace use all but a very small amount of the gas burned to heat your home. The most efficient furnaces today are 96.7 percent AFUE and only waste 3.3 cents on the dollar of gas consumed. The 90 percent AFUE furnace is so efficient that water is condensed from the flue products and has to be disposed of in a sanitary drain or a freeze proof French drain. Within these two furnace categories, the three types are very similar in what they have to offer. Most are accustomed to the single stage furnace which, regardless of the outside temperature, puts out the same amount of heat constantly. A furnace has to be large enough to warm your home on the coldest day of the year, but the winters in the Southeast can fluctuate from extreme cold to moderate, so it would be logical that this type of furnace will heat the home very quickly on anything but the coldest day of the year. This quick heating only heats the air in your home, not the articles, walls, floors and people. The twostage furnace solves this problem by having two stages or continued on page 62

Dan Jape is the owner of Reliable Heating & Air. He can be reached at 770-594-9969. AROUND CANTON | December 2016

PHOTO BY DASHING IMAGES LLC.

SORBA Woodstock Race Season Finale

A Win for Local Trails BY LISA RANDALL

Top: Martin Maldinado of Canton on the Avalanche Trail. Right: Dan, Logan and Ella Kaufman of Atlanta on the duathlon podium in the three-person division.

Angelica Gatica of Acworth competed in the trail run. 40

AROUND CANTON | December 2016

A record number of mountain bikers and runners hit the trails on Oct. 22 for the 2016 Rope Mill Dirty Duathlon and Trail Run. The soldout event was the final SORBA Woodstock/Mountain Goat Adventures event of 2016 and raised $3,500 for local trail construction and maintenance, the bulk of which came from a large donation from the event’s title sponsor, Northside Hospital-Cherokee. Participants could choose to run a 3.3-mile trail run course or an offroad duathlon which consisted of 3.3 miles of trail running and 11 miles of mountain biking. During 2016, race events at Rope Mill Park and Blankets Creek have raised a combined total of $14,000 for SORBA Woodstock, which will be used to maintain and build new trails at the two parks. SORBA Woodstock is a volunteer organization that maintains nearly 30 miles of singletrack mountain bike trails in the Canton and Woodstock area. If you are interested in volunteering, please visit sorbawoodstock.org for upcoming trail work days. No experience is required and working on the trails is a great way to give back to the community.

Juan Velasquez of Woodstock on the Mill Trails.

Marika King of Canton on the duathlon podium in intermediate solo women.

The Right Decorations Can Help Sell Your Home PROVIDED BY THE PREMIER GROUP

Can you believe it? It’s the time of year for holiday parties, packed calendars, strained budgets and spending time with family and loved ones. It’s also the time when house hunting slows, but the few brave househunters who do venture out are serious about buying a house. Stylish trimmings and a welcoming environment will make them want to ring in the new year in your home. “Holidays can be personal on a lot of levels, but you want to make sure your décor is neutral,” says Amy Powers, owner of Accent Home Staging and Interiors of Atlanta. “You want to romance your buyer, not invite them to your Christmas party.” Try these tips to get buyers in the right spirit: • Declutter, clean and stage. Before you decorate, your house needs to be staged. If your living room is piled high with clutter and tchotchkes, your ceramic reindeer collection is only going to add to the sense of overcrowding. • Create a warm and cozy vibe. The less-is-more mantra of home staging may tempt you to forgo holiday cheer this year.

However, a few subtle touches like a bowl of pinecones, an evergreen wreath, or a pot of cider simmering on the stove can create a warm and festive feeling in your home. • Complement your existing palette. Before you pull out all of the holiday décor boxes, make sure your collection matches your current décor. • Accentuate the positive. Too many trimmings may distract buyers, but the right accessories can draw attention to your home’s best features. Don’t block a beautiful view with stick-on snowflake decals or clutter an elegant fireplace with personalized stockings. • Go light on lights. Remember, one man’s “merry” is another man’s “tacky.” Use simple string lighting to play up your home’s architecture and landscaping. • Mind the tree. A tall Christmas tree can help show off your twostory great room, but make sure the wide base won’t overwhelm the floor space. If your living area is on the small side, save space with a skinny tree. Keep your ornaments on the neutral side.

AROUND CANTON | December 2016

We Danced BY SEAN KAUFMAN

Stress is a funny thing. It creates a shadow like the “boogie man” chasing you. When you finally get a moment of silence, it catches up to you and seems to make you begin to run even more, never giving you a chance to breathe. That’s what it was like building up to my last business trip. Eagle Watch had just lost Dick McSween — whom both my wife and I had grown to respect and cherish — to retirement. Saddened by this and a weekend full of running here and there for three children who play for Cherokee Impact Soccer, the opportunities to breathe were minimal. I know it is hard for my wife to see me struggle. I get so consumed with where I am going and what I have to do that I literally lack the ability to see she is struggling. To make things worse, I put more weight on the family’s foundation by increasing my expectations of her instead of slowing down to appreciate her. On the way to the airport we were both stressed and sad, regretful we had not stopped for a moment to appreciate each other. We were consumed by the stress of the moment, focusing on what we didn’t have and what we would be missing. She was hurting and I knew it, which of course hurt me.

When we arrived at the departures terminal, I jumped out of our convertible, picked a love song, blasted it, grabbed my wife, and we danced right there — holding each other tight and crying together. I couldn’t have her for the next seven days, but we could have each other in that moment, and we did. We even made others cry with us! This holiday season the boogie man will be out and our stress levels will be high. We tend to attack our loved ones and take them for granted. When it becomes overwhelming, when you feel you cannot breathe, and when you feel like you just need a break, pick a nice relaxing song, grab the one you love, look him or her in the eyes, and take that chance to give up the moment and get lost together. It may not end the stress, but it will reduce it while shining light on the shadow following you around. Merry Christmas, happy holidays and blessings to all!

Sean Kaufman, an expert in behaviour change, specializes in life coaching and workforce motivation and owns The Texting Coach and Behavior-Based Improvement Solutions. sean@seankaufman.com

Scaling Down the Holidays for More Joy BY LYNNE SAUNDERS

As a grandmother, I try to anticipate the magic of the holidays through the eyes of my grandchildren. When Christmas trees are being put up and people light up their houses and front yards, I imagine their “ooos” and “ahhhs!” They will have a nice long break from school, and there will be new stuff to play with ... for hours! Oh, to be able to re-create that anticipation for ourselves. It may not be too late to salvage the merriment of the Christmas holidays. Being a legal pad and a list person, I create a list for just about everything. I love paper schedules, too.

decorating, people, gifts and events. (These same lists work well if you are throwing a holiday party.) Start with your budget. How much, apart from your normal household finances, is available? This may be the first step of taking a realistic, honest look at your expectations versus those of others. If cut backs are needed, it will be easier if the conversation is held early. Gift buying and wrapping should be scheduled early to avoid last minute late, harried nights. Decorating can be a chore, or it can be exhilarating. Kids generally love to be a part, so if you have access to some, use them.

Maintain that inner peace created during Thanksgiving; that feeling in your spirit when you realize there are more blessings than problems. If you didn’t write them down, create that gratitude list now.

Cut it all in half! Find ways to cut back, or even eliminate. Make it a manageable plan and you will experience joyful success and no guilt for not reaching an unaccomplishable goal. Merry Christmas! Keep Making Progress!

1. 2.

You will need a notebook, calendar, pen and 30 uninterrupted minutes to make thoughtful lists. You owe it to yourself to make a promise not to be stressed out. It will take some preparation and not just happen on its own. Carefully describe the feelings you want on the big day. Happy? Joyful? Confident? Five basic lists to create are: budget, 42

AROUND CANTON | December 2016

Lynne Saunders is director of Papa’s Pantry (www.papaspantry.org) and the Master’s Training Center. She can be reached at 770-591-4730.

A Novel Idea The theme for the November gathering at The Snug in Canton was children’s books. No December meeting is planned; stay tuned to the January issue of Around Canton for the January lineup.

Children’s book authors who participated were, from left: Jim O’Brien, Vanessa Fortenberry, Acree Graham Macam, Jean Neff Guthrie, Jennifer Cooke, Patti Pruitt and Kevin Springer.

PHOTOS BY GARY MULLET AROUND CANTON | December 2016

The Exchange meeting begins at 7 p.m. at Venue 92, 12015 Highway 92, Woodstock. December meeting theme is: My Favorite Things Party. The Exchange is a monthly gathering of women in Woodstock and Canton who meet to explore a topic, engage it in their lives and are empowered to live on purpose and with intention. www.theexchangega.org. Also on Facebook, The Woodstock Exchange.

Bascomb Mission Thrift Store is holding an open house 3-5 p.m. at 9550 Main St., Woodstock. The store offers a food pantry and quality household goods and clothing at a low price. Regular business hours are 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Wednesday-Friday, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday.

Jaimee Paul will perform “Always and Forever” at 7:30 p.m. at the Falany Performing Arts Center at Reinhardt University. Jaime and her jazz combo, led by husband Leif Shires, present a 1940s jazz club style in the tradition of Ella Fitzgerald, Billie Holiday and Rosemary Cloony. Tickets are $35-$40 for adults, $30-$35 for ages 55 and older, $10$15 for children ages 12 and younger. To purchase tickets, call 770-720-9167 or go to www.reinhardt.edu/fpac.

JANUARY

DECEMBER

Out & About

The Handsome Little Devils (at left) will present “Squirm Burpee” at 3 p.m. at the Falany Performing Arts Center at Reinhardt University. The production specializes in original, American comedy and storytelling with an emphasis in Vaudeville-style routines. In 2010, the company made its off-Broadway debut at the New Victory Theater with a production of The Squirm Burpee Circus. Tickets are $35-$40 for adults, $30-$35 for ages 55 and older, $10-$15 for ages 12 and younger. To purchase tickets, call 770-720-9167 or visit www.reinhardt.edu/fpac.

Board Certified Orthodontist Invisalign and Braces for Children and Adults Complimentary Exam and Consultation Flexible Payment Plans and Insurance Accepted WOODSTOCK 770-592-5554

CANTON 770-345-4155

145 Towne Lake Pkwy, Suite 201

205 Waleska Rd, Suite 1A

Woodstock GA 30188

Canton GA 30114

“#1 Orthodontist for 18 years in a row by TowneLaker, Around Woodstock and Sixes Living”

DRWILLIAMSORTHODONTICS.COM 44

AROUND CANTON | December 2016

@ the Library www.SequoyahRegionalLibrary.org

Sequoyah Regional Library System 116 Brown Industrial Pkwy • Canton, GA 30014 • 770-479-3090

Hickory Flat • 770-345-7565 2740 East Cherokee Drive, Canton Dec. 12

Jewelry Making for Beginners, 6 p.m. to discover the jewelry artist in you while learning basic jewelry making and design. A limited selection of beads will be available or you may bring your own. Large beads do not work for this project. Space is limited and registration is required.

Dec. 19

Pilates and Prevention, 6:30 p.m. Learn how to prevent illness and disease through proper nutrition and mind/body exercise. Bring your yoga mat or towel. Instructed by Lisa Dudash, Certified Personal Trainer. Consult with your physician before beginning any exercise to reduce risk of injury.

Woodstock • 770-926-5859 7735 Main St., Woodstock Mondays

Coloring Group 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Find out why coloring books are so popular again. Have fun and make new friends. All materials provided; for age 16 and older.

Tuesdays

Brain Games 10 a.m.-noon. Have fun, grow young with puzzles, cards, games, coloring, word puzzles and stimulating conversations.

Dec. 16

American Girl Club at 4:30 p.m. Feel free to bring a doll. For ages 7-12.

Dec. 18

LEGO Club meets 3-4:30 p.m. Lego Club has a different theme each month. Children can work alone or in teams to make their special creation, which will be displayed in the library until next month’s meeting. All ages are invited; ages 9 and under must be accompanied by an adult.

Dec. 20

Book Discussion Group at noon. Enjoy coffee, conversation and a book discussion with new friends. Everyone is welcome, new members encouraged. Call for more information, including this month’s title.

R.T. Jones • 770-479-3090 116 Brown Industrial Parkway, Canton Saturdays

Family Storytime at 10:30 a.m. for families with children of all ages. Storytime is followed by a craft activity. Children must be accompanied by a participating adult.

Dec. 11

Sit & Stitch Social and enjoy the company of other creative people while you stitch your current project from 10 a.m.-noon. Finish a work in progress or try something new. No meeting Dec. 29.

DIG: Drop-in Genealogy meets 2-4 p.m. Grow your family tree through genealogy. Join this monthly group to learn and work on your genealogical research. Topics will vary each month but will include how to use Ancestry.com, using your smartphone to scan documents, and how to use local newspapers on microfilm. Meets in the computer lab.

Fridays

Dec. 13, 27

Thursdays

MahJongg Meet-Up 1:30-4 p.m. American MahJongg for beginners to advanced players. No meeting Dec. 23 or 30.

Dec. 10

Inklings, Writer’s Critique Group 11 a.m.-1 p.m. Individuals interested in starting a new group to support their writings are invited to attend. Meetings are the second Saturday of the month.

Dec. 12

Feeder Frenzy Craft for toddlers at 11 a.m. Make a birdfeeder to keep our feathered friends full during the chilly December days. This program will be outside on the back patio and the children will be making birdfeeders out of sunbutter, honey, birdseed, pinecones, and/or toilet paper rolls.

Tech Tuesday is a chance to get answers to many basic technology questions. Get help downloading eBooks and audiobooks to your computer or mobile device (phone or tablet.) We can provide assistance with setting up and using email, flash drives, and posting photos to Facebook. The staff is unable to repair or setup computers. Bring your device and/ or laptop and power cords. Call the adult services desk to make an appointment.

Dec. 30

Crafter-Noon and drop in 2-3 p.m. to get in touch with your creative side! Make and take as many crafts as you want! For all ages; parent participation is required.

AROUND CANTON | December 2016

Reel News

With numerous film projects landing in Cherokee County, we want to make sure we keep you informed on the recent releases and introduce you to some of the actors and actresses who have local ties. Special thanks to Laureen Muller at RCM Talent & Management for help in arranging the interviews, and providing material for future stories.

Acting Bug Bit Early for Woodstock Resident BY TORIE WINKLER

Georgia has become a popular destination for film and TV projects ranging from blockbuster Marvel superhero films to “The Walking Dead.” This has been great news for Southeast actors such as Woodstock resident Jim Dougherty, who has a career spanning 10 years and was recently cast in “Ozark,” a Netflix original series being filmed in Canton. “I knew I wanted to be an actor when I was 7 years old,” Dougherty said. “I loved playing cops and robbers. When I was 7 years old I had this idea that I wanted to be other people, like the people I was seeing on TV.” But Dougherty is no ordinary actor. He is also one of the founding members of the Chicago Stunt Team. “I trained in martial arts at the Degerberg Academy, so stunt work was the next logical step for me.” Dougherty trained under stuntman John Hicks Pierce and they began the Chicago Stunt Team around the late 1980s. “Since then, my stunt work has helped me book many jobs, both as an actor and as a stunt coordinator.” During his career, Dougherty has acted on both screen and stage across the country. But the experience that shaped his acting aspirations was an eighth grade original play. “We were rehearsing a few days before and everyone was joking around continued on page 62

COMING SOON to a Theater Near You The following movies were filmed in Cherokee County and metro Atlanta.

• • • •

“Billy Lynn’s Long Halftime Walk” filmed at the Georgia National Cemetery. Released in November. “Office Christmas Party” with Jennifer Aniston and Jason Bateman. December release. “The Passengers” with Jennifer Lawrence and Chris Pratt. December release. “The Founder” with Michael Keaton filmed in Canton. Limited release Dec. 16. Full release will be Jan. 20. AROUND CANTON | December 2016

Woodstock resident Jim Dougherty.

Actress Deena Dill.

From Athlete to Actress BY TORIE WINKLER

Actress Deena Dill, who spends time in her Woodstock home when she’s not traveling, took an unusual track to the movie industry. The student-athlete was “discovered” while she was focusing on athletics at a Tennessee university. “I got my first opportunity to act, if you can call it that, through athletics,” said Dill, who ran Division I track and was a cheerleader at Vanderbilt University. She was contacted by a producer in Nashville who saw her in an athletic department media guide. “They asked if I would play the love interest in a country music video. It sounded like a hoot and I decided to do it.” She then went on to model for several companies, but couldn’t get acting off her mind. “I really felt like I had to give it a try or I would always regret it.” That passion for acting has led to recurring guest roles on hit shows across many networks such as ABC, Nickelodeon and the CW. Fans of “iCarly” and “Suburgatory” would recognize her. Dill doesn’t pick favorites though, and enjoys working on everything from family comedies to sci-fi shows to intensely dramatic independent films. When it comes to experiences, however, she says that children’s shows have brought her the most joy. “Some of the most rewarding experiences of my life have come from meeting amazing kids and getting to try to help them through difficult times.” Dill is also involved behind the camera. She has produced, written and created her own shows both in the U.S. and abroad. She is an executive producer of the hit CW show “Oh Sit!,” which was named the best international game show of 2013. And although she says producing is more stressful, “it’s nice sometimes to be one of the folks more involved in calling the shots.” Next up for Dill is promotion for her newest film, “Billy Lynn’s Long Halftime Walk,” a drama directed by Academy Award winner Ang Lee. The film follows a war hero and his squadron, juxtaposing the realities of the Iraq war with the halftime show that honors them when they return to America. For a more comedic viewing experience you can catch Dill in the HBO comedy “Vice Principals” in early 2017. Follow Dill on Twitter and Instagram @DeenaDill.

Torie Winkler is a Woodstock native and a public relations coordinator for RCM Talent and Management. She can be reached at toriewinkler@gmail.com.

Zombie Invasion Left a Path of Hope for Families BY SONIA CARRUTHERS

Zombies, humans and other assorted creatures came out in droves to participate in the 2016 Georgia Zombie Fest and Food Truck Fair in historic downtown Canton on a warm October Saturday. In its fourth year, this familyfriendly experience continues to grow in popularity with new visitors from around the state and the faithful who haven’t missed a year. This year, 8,000 people attended the fundraiser that is developed and coordinated by Cherokee FOCUS, a 501(c)3 nonprofit that has served youth, youth adults and their families for 15 years. The proceeds —$14,000 this year go directly to help Cherokee County residents. A member of the Georgia Family Connection Partnership, the work of Cherokee FOCUS began by bringing community members together to focus efforts on important community issues that could not be accomplished by one agency or organization alone. Current programs and initiatives include Cherokee Youth Works, Drug Free Cherokee, Cherokee Youth Connection, Hotel to Home and VolunteerCherokee.com. Cherokee FOCUS currently has 120 active young people between the ages of 16 and 24 in its Cherokee Youth Works (CYW) program. Participants of CYW have either dropped out of the traditional school setting or have graduated high school and are not in college and have not obtained the skills to get a job that would provide a livable wage. The staff, tutors and volunteers of CYW work on an individual level to develop a plan and set goals that will give each young man or young woman the best chance at becoming a strong, educated, employed, stable adult that gives back to their community. In order to meet these goals, FOCUS offers GED classes, college prep, life skills, work readiness classes and work experience opportunities, all at no cost to the student.

In its fourth year, this family-friendly experience continues to grow in popularity with new visitors from around the state ... Drug Free Cherokee (DFC) is an initiative of Cherokee FOCUS that you might be familiar with through billboards, football stadium commercials or radio ads by their youth partner initiative the Cherokee Youth Council. The goal of the DFC coalition is to prevent our youth from falling prey to drugs and alcohol at an early age and educate both youth and adults on the physical and legal dangers of underage drinking and drug use. From tobacco, alcohol, marijuana and prescription pills, to the heroin epidemic, DFC partners are focused on protecting our youth from early onset of use, to the harmful outcomes that drug use can bring. For more information on the many ways that Cherokee FOCUS is helping our community visit CherokeeFOCUS.org, and to volunteer email Sonia@Cherokeefocus.org or call 770-345-5483.

Sonia Carruthers is the executive director and CEO of Cherokee FOCUS. www.cherokeefocus.org

AROUND CANTON | December 2016

Health & Wellness

EVERYDAY

Dec. 29 marks the fifth anniversary of Tyler Rolison’s “Alive Day,” a holiday he created to commemorate the day of his tragic car accident and his second chance at life. In 2011, Tyler was a 17-year-old junior at Etowah High School returning home to Woodstock after spending Christmas break with his grandmother. While driving on Interstate 85, a car encroached into Tyler’s lane, causing him to lose control flipping his car five times. Tyler was airlifted to Atlanta Medical Center. His spinal cord injuries left him a quadriplegic. The raw and desperate emotions were overwhelming for his mother Pam. “It was so much bigger than me,” she said, “I didn’t even know where to begin. I desperately prayed and would figure the rest out later.” Pam, a single mom, had spent her life putting Tyler before herself. After the accident, Pam lost her job and had no place to live once Tyler was released from the Shepherd Center. Everyday Angels featured Tyler and Pam in January 2012; they witnessed a miraculous response. The community rallied, donated and raised funds to help Pam and Tyler return to solid ground. Pam’s father, who was trying to sell his home in Marietta, took it off the market so they would have a place to live. A complete stranger donated and installed a handicap shower in the garage while a local family whose son was born with disabilities purchased Christmas gifts and a new Guldmann lift system. “These donations were huge for my mom and I. I still use them every day and cannot thank them enough for all they did for us,” Tyler said. The past five years have been far from easy. Tyler has overcome countless setbacks and life-threatening infections. He graduated high school with his senior class, enrolled in community college, and volunteers at the Shepherd Center to mentor those in similar situations. Pam is a nurse technician at the Shepherd Center. When she is not caring for Tyler, she is helping

Tyler and his mother Pam. 48

AROUND CANTON | December 2016

Tyler with high school friend Taylor Snow of the Braves’ Tomahawk team.

other spinal patients. “She puts their minds at ease because she can share our story and experiences with patients and parents. I am so proud of my mom. She has managed to positively change her path and passion,” Tyler said. Tyler recently had tendon and nerve transfer surgery and celebrates small progress. “I can now turn a doorknob, pinch, eat with a fork, paint my name and even throw a baseball. I believe my accident has changed me for the better. Before the accident, I was a selfish kid that was on the verge of making poor decisions that could have taken me down a very bad road. I believe the accident saved me. My body may not be whole, but my heart is full and my spirit and faith are stronger than ever. I have chosen to embrace who I am and my goal is to live independently – for myself and for my mom,” Tyler said. Tyler’s favorite sports team is the Atlanta Braves. “I go to their games even when they aren’t winning. I cried during the last game at Turner Field. We have made some special memories there – especially during the past five years when I had little to look forward to. My hope is to be able to afford a few handicapped games at the new stadium and continue to support my team.” Tyler’s next big adventure is to be able to drive independently. “I have taken driving classes and am saving for a newer truck so that it can be converted for me. I was given a second chance and it is my goal to get a degree in secondary education and minor in history and make a positive difference in this world.“ Everyday Angels is so proud of this amazing young man and his daily accomplishments. Tyler’s journey is a blessing to all who follow him. We wish you all a Christmas season filled with great love and joy and always remember the power of selfless giving and a compassionate community! Everyday Angels is a 501(c)3 nonprofit serving Cherokee County since 2000. If you would like to make a tax deductible donation, please visit www.everydayangels.info to donate via Paypal or send your donations to: Everyday Angels, PMB 380, 1025 Rose Creek Drive, Suite 620, Woodstock GA, 30189. One hundred percent of your funds will go to the family you specify. Also, if you know of a special need within your community that you would like to share, please send an e-mail to aaeverydayangels@gmail.com for consideration and qualification.

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AROUND CANTON | December 2016

Health & Wellness

Protect Family Pets from Potential Holiday Hazards

A Silent Killer

BY LEISA JENNINGS

BY SAMINA FAKHR, M.D.

The holidays are a festive time and it is easy to get distracted and overlook the potential hazards that the holidays pose for our fur babies. Health hazards lurk everywhere: poisonous plants, dangerous décor, treacherous trimmings, forbidden food, and even humble house guests. Seasonal plants serve as the basis for much of our holiday décor. They are fundamental to the nostalgic sights and smells of the season. Our pets can also find holiday décor irresistible and can get into life-threatening-trouble when left unattended. Many seasonal plants may be poisonous for our pets. Poinsettias have received bad publicity as being extremely toxic, but they are actually only mildly toxic. They do contain a milky sap that can irritate the mouth and may cause vomiting. Luckily, this irritating sap usually prevents pets from ingesting substantial quantities that would result in true toxicosis. The leaves and berries of mistletoe and holly are much more toxic than poinsettias. Holly can cause pets to suffer vomiting, diarrhea and depression. Mistletoe can be extremely toxic and should be treated as an emergency. It can cause vomiting, severe diarrhea, difficulty breathing, shock and death within hours of ingestion. Also avoid lilies, as many of them can cause kidney failure in cats if ingested. Similar to many plants, the pine needles shed from the Christmas tree can cause gastrointestinal irritation or Mistletoe can be extremely perforation. However, there are many additional potential hazards associated toxic. with the tree. Poorly secured trees can fall on rambunctious pets as they tug, climb or run around the tree. The tree water provides a more interesting drinking source than the clean water bowl. The tree may leach toxic additives and preservatives into the water. Likewise, stagnant tree water is a breeding ground for bacteria that may be harmful if ingested. Ornaments and ornament hooks can cause oral lacerations or become imbedded in your pet’s mouth. All decorations, tinsel and ribbon can cause gastrointestinal blockage if swallowed. Chewing on lights or electrical cords can cause problems such as burned mouths, electrical shock and even death by electrocution. Our pets are integral family members and should be included in our holiday festivities. Just take a moment to recognize the potential dangers. Plan ahead, pet proof your home, and educate your guests to ensure that this holiday is memorable for all the right reasons.

It’s normal for people to get symptoms and diagnose themselves with something far worse than what they actually have. But what people rarely worry about is something that kills Americans every day: hypertension, also known as high blood pressure. Physicians can help patients protect themselves against this asymptomatic condition, which can lead to multiple health problems. Protecting yourself starts with a phone call to schedule your annual physical. Blood pressure is measured as the systolic pressure over diastolic pressure. Normal blood pressure is less than 120 over less than 80. The top number is the pressure inside your arteries when your heart is contracting at the time of a heartbeat. The bottom number is the pressure inside your arteries when your heart is relaxed between heartbeats. We need to keep high blood pressure under control because it can lead to major health issues, such as:

Dr. Leisa Jennings received her doctor of veterinary medicine in 2006 at the University of Georgia. She currently works as a small companion animal practitioner at BridgeMill Animal Hospital.

AROUND CANTON | December 2016

Hypertension

• Heart failure, causing shortness of breath and leg swelling • Stroke and brain hemorrhage, leading to long-term side effectsthat affect speech and activities of daily living • Ischemic heart disease such as heart attacks • Chronic kidney disease and end-stage renal disease • Blood vessel damage in the eyes, leading to loss of vision We are able to recognize hypertension when we see patients for an annual physical and do a simple blood pressure measurement. When a patient has high blood pressure, first we’ll confirm if it is persistent. We also look for other possible causes of high blood pressure such as oral contraceptives, decongestants, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medicines (for example, Advil or Aleve) or even sleep apnea. Once high blood pressure is confirmed, a variety of medicines help manage it. We also encourage patients to quit smoking if they smoke, walk 30 minutes a day and lose weight. Losing just 10 pounds can make a significant difference in reducing blood pressure. One of my patients had bariatric surgery and combined with lifestyle changes, he was able to completely come off of his medication for high blood pressure. Hypertension affects nearly a third of our population and it’s believed that one in five people don’t even know they have it. It affects everyone no matter your gender or ethnicity. African Americans have slighter higher instances. But it’s manageable for all of us. You can take a step toward living a better life with something as easy as an annual physical. One call could save your life. That makes it hard to argue with picking up the phone, right?

Samina Fakrh, M.D. is a family medicine practitioner at WellStar Towne Lake Medical Center, 145 N. Medical Parkway, Woodstock. 770-592-3000.

Find the people living in poverty in these pictures. That’s right. You can’t. Poverty isn’t always easy to spot. In fact, people at the end of hope are just like you.

Donations needed now Financial donations New socks and Underwear · Blankets www.mustministries.org 1407 Cobb Parkway N. Canned meat Marietta, GA 30061 AROUND CANTON | December 2016

Grinding Your Teeth Away BY DR. SCOTT R. HARDEN

Humans typically grind their teeth during sleep as a subconscious and involuntary habit. Grinding teeth, also called bruxism, occurs at all ages and it is estimated that 30 million to 40 million children and adults are affected. Bruxism is better defined as excessive teeth grinding or jaw clenching. It is not related to normal functions such as eating or talking. Most people probably grind and clench their teeth from time to time; occasional teeth grinding is not usually harmful. It is the regular habit of grinding your teeth that causes damage and other oral health issues. Teeth grinding is often associated with stress and anxiety, but it is more likely caused by an abnormal bite, missing teeth or crooked teeth. Tooth abnormalities trigger the brain into trying to correct the problem by invoking the action of grinding. It can also be activated by a sleep disorder such as sleep apnea. Grinding of teeth often occurs during sleep, so the person isn’t aware they are doing it. Awareness may happen indirectly based upon a dull, constant headache or sore jaw muscles or sore teeth. Teeth may fracture or become loose. A frequent grinder with strong intensity can wear the enamel off their teeth over time, exposing dentin, which can

make teeth sensitive to hot and cold. The best evidence of someone consistently grinding is when their loved one hears them and reports the problem to them. If grinding does enough damage over time, a person may require root canals, crowns, bridges, implants, partial dentures or even complete dentures. The simplest and quickest way to prevent damage from grinding is to be fitted by your dentist with a mouth guard. The most sophisticated appliances have a comfortable soft inner lining with a hard outer shell. Other techniques to reduce bruxism include alleviating stress through exercise and the use of prescription muscle relaxers. Avoid alcohol and decrease caffeine intake. Don’t routinely chew gum or other objects; which stimulate the jaw muscles used in grinding.

Dr. Scott Harden, a dentist at Fountain View Family Dentistry, has served Woodstock for more than 25 years. 770-926-0000. www.FountainViewSmiles.com

Trends in Hearing Aid Technology BY WENDY B. CATES, AU.D.

Twenty years ago, hearing aid manufacturers were just releasing the world’s first all-digital hearing aid circuits. Little did we know how that advancement was going to change the world of amplification. Let’s begin with the basic difference between digital and analog hearing aids. Analog hearing aids amplify speech and background noise together. Digital hearing aids aim to reduce background noise, reduce feedback (whistling), and amplify sounds based on the wearer’s slope of hearing loss. Wearers of early digital technology reported improvement in background noise and feedback but unfortunately there were still some complaints. Hearing instruments now have two decades worth of revolutionary technological advancements and engineering all made to fit into a tiny instrument. Current digital hearing aid circuits make hundreds of millions of calculations

Hearing instruments are now so intuitive they automatically adjust based on your listening environment...

AROUND CANTON | December 2016

per second. Feedback is almost nonexistent now due to enhanced digital feedback suppression strategies. Hearing instruments are now so intuitive they automatically adjust based on your listening environment, thus eliminating the need to push a button to change programs. Background noise can be significantly reduced in most noisy situations due to improvements in noise reduction strategies. Bluetooth™ capability is available in most hearing instruments allowing you to stream audio wirelessly. Hearing instrument manufacturers even have an app that enables you to control your hearing instruments through your smartphone. Wearers of current hearing instrument technology are reporting more improvement and satisfaction than they ever have before. If you feel you’re not successful with your current hearing instruments, or if your hearing instruments are more than 5 years old, it may be time to reassess your hearing needs.

Dr. Wendy B. Cates has an undergraduate degree in communication disorders from Tennessee State University and a Doctor of Audiology degree from East Tennessee State University.

AROUND CANTON | December 2016

Faith

Dealing with Loss at the Holidays BY JEREMY ISAACS

March 2, 2017 will be the six-year anniversary of my mom’s passing after a two-year battle with cancer. I remember the first Thanksgiving after she passed and my uncle saying at the dinner table, “Her absence is no more real than when we are all together.” She never got to meet four of her grandchildren. She doesn’t get to see the excitement of all eight grandchildren when they open presents or laugh with each other while trying to stay up late enough to catch Santa. The most wonderful time of the year is indeed still wonderful, even while we carry a loss in our hearts. So, how do you deal with loss during the holidays? Well, I’m not sure there is a cookie-cutter, one-size-fits-all process. However, I do think there are some things we can all do to ease the pain. First, find ways to “include” those who are no longer here in your holiday schedule. Tell stories about them from family gatherings gone by. Make sure the younger generations know how important those who are missing were in establishing the traditions we enjoy today. Second, don’t feel bad about feeling sad. Allow yourself room to grieve, especially in the first few years or holidays after they’ve passed. Grieving isn’t weakness, and is a natural response to loss. The healthiest thing to do is allow space to

cry, talk or process your emotions. Third, don’t feel bad about feeling happy. You aren’t dishonoring their memory while you laugh and celebrate with those around you. Free yourself from guilt and enjoy the moments you have with the special people in your life. Finally, make sure you tell the people in your life what they mean to you. For many people, Christmas is a time when they will give and receive words of affirmation and love more easily than perhaps any other time of the year. Don’t let another day go by without them knowing that you care, that they are special to you, and that they matter. In the Bible, Matthew 5:4 says, “Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.” My prayer for you this holiday season is that the Lord will comfort you through those around you, even as you mourn those who are no longer here.

Jeremy Isaacs is pastor of Canton Church, a campus of Mount Paran North. Jeremy and wife Corrie have three sons, one daughter and currently “live” at the baseball field.

Keeping Christmas Simple Is the Best Gift BY MATT NEAL

Congratulations! If you are like Chevy Chase’s character reading this then you have in the movie “Christmas survived Thanksgiving dinner Vacation.” It’s like a marathon with relatives and Black Friday. of spending, cleaning, While we’re on the subject, decorating, entertaining and I’ll share a Christmas shopping wrapping. But for many people, memory from my youth. it’s more like an endless parade I was a teenager, standing of things you cannot have, in the checkout line with presents you cannot afford for my father a few days before your kids, and the pressure to Christmas. We got into a spend more than you earn. I conversation with the man in can tell you from experience, front of us. I remember his growing up poor was hardest at clothes were a bit shabby. Christmas. The fact that I didn’t We were poor growing up, get much didn’t bother me A scene from “Christmas Vacation.” so I understood poor. But nearly as much as it bothered this man looked like he was spending his last dollar on his my parents. They felt the pressure in ways I couldn’t imagine kids’ presents. He told us how hard Christmas is, and it’s a until I was older. shame people feel obligated to spend so much. Then he said Our world is full of far too many good, happy things that something I will always remember. continued on page 62 “Sometimes I just want to run away.” A grown man with kids was considering leaving his family because he couldn’t buy them presents. Somewhere through Matt Neal is a freelance writer who has lived in the ages, we seem to have lost sight of what this holiday is all Woodstock with his wife since 1999. He can be reached about. We often put far too much pressure on ourselves to at mattnealwriter@outlook.com. make every Christmas the be-all, end-all of magical holidays, 54

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School & Sports

Veterans Day Celebrations Freedom Middle School hosted more than 50 veterans at its annual Veterans Day program. Veterans entered the gymnasium to a standing ovation from the student body and were honored with a medley of songs performed by the schoolâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s chorus and band, as well as student writings by Tams Mullin and Chandler Stevenson. The Cherokee High School Air Force Junior ROTC presented the colors, and Lexie Anne Rodkey lead the pledge. The keynote speaker was Master Chief Shawn D. DeWitte, chief recruiter for the Navy recruiting district of Atlanta; he spoke to the students about the honor and sacrifices of veterans worldwide. Master Chief Shawn D. DeWitte recognizes each branch of the military service.

Preschool Receives Donation in Memory of Former Student

The Christian Egner Foundation raised $10,000 from its recent Smile Run for the Ralph Bunche Center Preschool. Principal Donna Adams accepted the donation from the foundation, which is named in memory of student Christian Egner, who passed away last year from asthma complications. His parents, Keith and Tricia Egner, and brothers Kyle and Caleb, presented the donation to Adams along with supporters, back row from left, Kelley Vaughan, Michael Wills, Brian Ergle, Amy Baker and Dixie Williams.

Woodstock High School staff members who are veterans included teacher U.S. Marine Corps Sgt. (Ret.) Keith Myrick and Assistant Principal, U.S. Army and U.S. Army Reserves First Lt. Judy Bonnell.

Georgia Junior Classical League Hosted at Woodstock High More than 700 members of the Georgia Junior Classical League attended this yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Fall Forum at Woodstock High. Fall Forum is a statewide event that celebrates classics studies and includes several events, both academic and physical: ultimate Frisbee, tug of war, races, workshops, trivia competitions, creative competitions, and the opportunity for Latin students to bond with others from across the state. The forum is always hosted by the school of the current president of the League, which this year is Woodstock High School senior Nicolas FrancoRoldan. Members of Woodstock High School Georgia Junior Classical League. 56

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DECA Students Earn State Recognition Sequoyah High School DECA members earned state recognition at the fall leadership development conference in Atlanta, where students attended workshops and leadership sessions led by industry professionals and national DECA members. Members also took a test over general marketing and DECA Inc. information. Sequoyah DECA members Jacob Poole, Tatum Ussery, Katie DECA members, from left: Jacob Poole, Elaine Ware, Cammie Cox, Tatum Ussery, Katie Kirkland, Saigim Garcia, Sydney Kirkland, Saigim Garcia, Neubert, Hanna Palmer and Gavin Black. Sydney Neubert, Hanna Palmer and Gavin Black were top-scoring participants in the statesman exam and were recognized with a DECA pin and certificate of achievement. The club earned the highest level of recognition for the Georgia DECA Community Service Project in cooperation with Keep Georgia Beautiful and was recognized for completing a local officer training program, which requires chapter officers to develop a chapter calendar of events, a chapter budget and a program of leadership. The club was also recognized for recruiting more than 100 members. Teacher Kari Palmer is the club’s advisor.

One Act Play Competition Produces Winners

Admiring the repainted map are, from left, Sixes Elementary Assistant Principal Clay Gunter, Boy Scout Troop 241 Scout Master Mark Deveau, Eagle Scout Tom Lawrence and Principal Cindy Crews.

Levi Miller, a senior at Sequoyah High School, was awarded best actor for his role as Truffaldino in “Serving Two Masters” in the Region 6AAAAAA one act play competition. Junior Tori Turk and sophomore Sophia Clark were named to the region all-star cast for their roles as Beatrice and Smeraldina. The show was directed by Gerald Parker, who has taught at Sequoyah for 27 years, including 10 years as theater director.

Sixes Benefits from Eagle Scout Project

Tom Lawrence repainted the outdoor map of the United States at Sixes Elementary School for his Eagle Scout project. Lawrence is a freshman at Woodstock High School and a former student at Sixes. The map originally was painted by a class of students in the 1990s and had fallen into disrepair. In addition to repainting the map, Lawrence and the team of Boy Scout volunteers he recruited also painted “safety stars” on the sidewalk where students enter and exit cars during drop off and dismissal at the school. Students walk on the stars to keep them a safe distance from the moving vehicles in the car rider line.

From left: Tori Turk, Levi Miller and Sophia Clark. AROUND CANTON | December 2016

Changing Lives Canton Resident Subject of Video, in Line for National Prize Becky Buice, a paraprofessional at Freedom Middle School, has been recognized as a LifeChanger by the National Life Group LifeChanger of the Year program, and was the only Georgian chosen to be part of a video that will be highlighted on the LifeChanger website and Facebook page. LifeChanger is a national program that honors educators who have made an impact on their students, their school and their community. On Oct. 17, David Thoms from ValuTeachers, a corporate sponsor of LifeChangers, came to Freedom Middle School with Scoobi Film Productions to create the video. At the time of the filming, Thoms indicated that Buice is the only person from Georgia chosen to be filmed. The link to her video is: http://bit.ly/2gCBExM From the hundreds of nominees, 15 winners will be selected this spring with prizes ranging from $3,000 to $10,000. A LifeChanger Spirit Award of $5,000 will also be given to the nominee who has the greatest community support. Also nominated for the award: Clark Creek Elementary STEM Academy Linda Pierzchala, speech language pathologist Nina Eidson, third-grade teacher Jill Cole, counselor Bonnie Fleming, fourth-grade teacher Karen Garland, science lab support staff Aaron Robinson, counselor Free Home Elementary Susanna Brooks, counselor Holly Springs Elementary Lauren Pittman, special education teacher Sequoyah High School CMSgt. John Futral, ROTC teacher Stephanie Barber, special education teacher Allison Webb, Spanish and French teacher Woodstock Elementary Debby Pinion, first grade teacher

SHOW YOUR SUPPORT • View profiles at https://lifechangeroftheyear.com/ and leave a comment about how that person has touched your life or the life of your child. • Comment on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram using #LCOY after the comment. Links can be found at the end of the profile on the LifeChanger website. 58

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An Excerpt from the Nomination Letter “Becky Buice is truly a LifeChanger. She began her career as a hairdresser and volunteered in her niece’s elementary school. There, she fell in love with special needs children, especially one young lady who was blind and deaf, but who always had a smile on her face and a wave of her arms. Becky was sure that the young lady was listening to the songs of the angels that no one else could hear. The principal of the school noticed that Becky could see in the children what most others would never even imagine, and she asked Becky to give up her job and become a paraeducator. That was 20 years ago, and Becky continues to see the joy and the beauty in all children. … During her years at Sixes Elementary School, Becky worked in a variety of positions, including working in special needs classrooms to regular education classrooms to computer labs. During this time, she performed the Heimlich twice to save students who were choking in the lunchroom; helped a young man as he acclimated to hearing his first sounds after a cochlear implant; supported students through the Special Olympics; and served on the school’s hospitality committee ... Becky is now at Freedom Middle School, and many of her former elementary students attend school there. The students are so happy to see someone they know, many

The principal of the school noticed that Becky could see in the children what most others would never even imagine ...

continued on page 62

g n i m o c e m o H Woodstock High

Homecoming king is Kobe Overton, queen is Imani Lusega.

AROUND CANTON | December 2016

Cherokee Photography Club

Congratulations to all the participants in the “Animal Portraits” competition!

If you placed in either the color or monochromatic print category, please send a digital file of your image to: deankelley@windstream.net

Monochromatic:

1st Cassandra Bickel “Strike a Pose”

2nd Russ Miller “Alligator”

3rd Rick Sapp “Feathered Friend”

HM Jay Minor “Birds of a Feather”

Color Prints:

1st Rick Sapp “Post Position” 60 AROUND CANTON | December 2016

2nd Eillene Kirk “Jessie Mae”

HM Kim Bates “Blu”

3rd Cassandra Bickel “Day in the Life of a Cat”

HM Vickie Sellers “Majestic Black-faced Suffolk Sheep”

Digital Projection:

1st Vicki Sellers “Pretty Bird”

2nd Brenda Rehrig “Beach Happiness”

The Cherokee Photography Club meets on the fourth Monday of the month, and for those participating in the monthly contest, that meeting is held on the second Monday of the month. Both meetings are from 7-9 p.m. and held at the Cherokee County Arts Center, 94 North Street, Canton. For more information, please contact Kim Bates at 770-617-7595 or email him at kbphotoart@ comcast.net. 3rd Eillene Kirk “Lobo”

HM Jay Minor “Ready for my Closeup” AROUND CANTON | December 2016

Funding 35-40 Years of Retirement

Keeping Christmas Simple Is the Best Gift

Funding 35 or 40 years of retirement will be a major financial challenge. The earlier you plan and invest to meet that challenge, the better. Securities offered through Registered Representatives of Cambridge Investment Research, Inc., a broker-dealer, member FINRA / SIPC. Advisory services through Cambridge Investment Research Advisors, Inc., a Registered Investment Adviser. Cambridge is not affiliated with and does not endorse the opinions or services of Peter Montoya, Inc. or MarketingPro, Inc.

won’t fit under a tree and can’t be purchased with a credit card. Kids already know this. Enjoying simple things comes naturally to them. As I write this, my son is sitting in a big box he found and turned into a fort in the middle of our living room. My daughter is cutting paper snowflakes and decorating our mantel. I know that Christmas morning will be a flurry of presents, wrapping paper and discarded bows. But Christmas doesn’t start with the first present and end with the last one. There is so much more to the holidays — so much more to life — that we should be teaching our kids.

continued from page 38

This material was prepared by MarketingPro, Inc., and does not necessarily represent the views of the presenting party, nor their affiliates. This information has been derived from sources believed to be accurate. Please note - investing involves risk, and past performance is no guarantee of future results. The publisher is not engaged in rendering legal, accounting or other professional services. If assistance is needed, the reader is advised to engage the services of a competent professional. This information should not be construed as investment, tax or legal advice and may not be relied on for the purpose of avoiding any Federal tax penalty. This is neither a solicitation nor recommendation to purchase or sell any investment or insurance product or service, and should not be relied upon as such. All indices are unmanaged and are not illustrative of any particular investment. Citations. 1 - money.usnews.com/money/blogs/planning-to-retire/ articles/2016-01-22/how-to-finance-living-until-100 [1/22/16] 2 - pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2016/04/21/worldscentenarian-population-projected-to-grow-eightfold-by-2050/ [4/21/16] 3 - tradingeconomics.com/united-states/inflation-cpi [10/20/16]

Acting Bug Bit Early for Woodstock Resident continued from page 46

except me. My teacher said ‘Jim is the only one up there who is actually doing any acting!’ That was when I first felt like I had something special and could get recognized for it.” Recently Dougherty has brought his talents to the classroom as an instructor at the Southeast Actors Academy in Kennesaw. “I enjoy helping my students learn what works for them and what helps them succeed. There are so many different approaches to our craft and there is no technique that works for everyone. You can really only share your experience. I think everyone who has achieved some level of success should be sharing that knowledge with others. Everyone has that little 7-year-old kid inside.” What’s next for the actor? In addition to “Ozark,” Dougherty has filmed roles for the Netflix mega-hit “House of Cards” and the John Cho-led drama “Columbus,” both of which will be released in 2017. You can currently see Dougherty in “Reparation” and the National Geographic film “Killing Reagan” as Judge William Higgins. 62

AROUND CANTON | December 2016

continued from page 54

An Excerpt from the Nomination Letter continued from page 58

who have not seen her since kindergarten. She worked in self-contained classrooms at Freedom for three years, and for the past two years she has been a supportive instructional paraeducator in seventh-grade classrooms, where she makes sure that the needs of the students are being met in the regular classroom. She also gives up her lunch period each day to have a working lunch for students who need extra help and support. She also volunteered to be a part of the school’s Microsoft endorsement classes. Becky is also very involved in the school and the community. She is the school’s leader of the Relay for Life team, and she also serves on the Relay for Life County Steering Committee. She is an emeritus member of the Service League of Cherokee County, and she helps with various local charities. Perhaps Becky’s influence is best summed up in a letter she received last year from a former elementary student who is now attending the middle school: ‘My first impression of you was when I was walking into Sixes crying my heart out … and you picked me up and comforted me…. You make me excited to come to school. When I see you in the hallways, it’s like everything’s o.k. when you’re around. I am glad that you are here.’ Becky is the safe haven for many students who need her support, even if it is just her presence in the hallway, to get through the day.”

Consider Furnace Upgrade for Energy continued from page 39

levels of heat that the furnace can produce; low and high. The low heat setting will allow the furnace to run longer at a lower heat output, which will allow a more evenly heated home and much more comfortable occupants. The variable speed two-stage furnace has two stages of heat, but combines the efficient operation of a D/C powered variable speed furnace blower to give you just the right amount of heat needed to achieve the most comfort available from any forced air natural gas furnace today. The D/C powered variable speed blower will save you more than $200 a year in electrical costs while speeding up or slowing down to give you just the right amount of heat needed.

AROUND CANTON | December 2016

CANTON AREA HOMES SOLD IN OCTOBER                                                              

                                                             

                                                             

                                                                                                                                                                                         

                                                                                                                           

 

AROUND CANTON | December 2016

Downtown Woodstock

Elm Street

Communicating Through Art BY SIOBHAN BRUMBELOW

What is it about art that is so alluring, yet controversial? So basic, yet complex? So expensive, yet ignored? The term “art” can be defined in many ways: painting, music, dance, theater, literature — the list goes on. The dictionary defines “art” as something that is created with imagination and skill that expresses important ideas and feelings. In his essay “What is Art?” Leo Tolstoy states, “Art is not, as the metaphysicians say, the manifestation of some mysterious idea of beauty or God; it is not, as the aesthetical physiologists say, a game in which man lets off his excess of stored-up energy; it is not the expression of man’s emotions by external signs; it is not the production of pleasing objects; and, above all, it is not pleasure; but it is a union among men, joining them together in the same feelings, and indispensable for the life and progress toward well-being of individuals and of humanity.” So, why art? Why do I work in such a field that some people say is dying? Why do I do what I do? It’s a form of expression. It is part of my identity. I enjoy creating productions with others. And I especially love to share art with the community. I have always communicated through my creativity and imagination. I am a dreamer at heart and my aspirations are better expressed through my artistic endeavors. Never did I think that I could pursue a career in the performing arts. And I am extremely lucky to be part of an organization that is blossoming in downtown Woodstock. Recently, I’ve been encouraged to evaluate my life’s intention. Do I really enjoy what I do for a living? During the past 15 years, I’ve received tens of thousands of praises, thank yous, and hugs from children to adults. I’ve been criticized and misunderstood, only to research more and become stronger in my artistic worth. I’ve worked alongside those who admire my works and hundreds of those that I learn something new from every day. It’s the moments when someone connects with my art, my life, and they share a part of their lives with me, that make me want to reach everyone and help them make their own connection with art. Will I ever stop? Yes, when I don’t think I have any more to give.

I have always communicated through my creativity and imagination.

DOWNTOWN WOODSTOCK PRESENTING PARTNER:

DEC 9-24

FRI/SAT AT 7:30PM SUN AT 2:00PM DEC 24 AT 2:00PM Call or visit us on the web to learn about our

SPRING CLASSES ELMSTREETARTS.ORG 678.494.4251

Siobhan Brumbelow is on staff at Elm Street. She currently holds a BA in Theatre from Brenau University and toured with Missoula Children’s Theatre. AROUND CANTON | December 2016

CANTON AREA CLUBS & ORGANIZATIONS CHARITABLE ORGANIZATIONS

Forever Fed is a mobile food ministry that addresses physical hunger and hopelessness in North Georgia by providing meals and sharing the gospel. www.foreverfed.org

North Georgia Pregnancy Center offers help and care to young girls and women with an unplanned pregnancy or who need counseling. 706-253-6303 www.ngapregnancy.org

Angel House Girls Home is a residential facility to help girls ages 12-18 learn self-sufficiency. 770-479-9555 www.angelhousega.com

Funds 4 Furry Friends helps those in need with food, spay/neuter and medical attention for their pets. Gina Jeter 770-842-8893 www.funds4furryfriends.com

Papa’s Pantry is a year-round local food ministry, which also includes the Masters Training Center to help individuals and families in crisis get back on their feet. Lynne Saunders 770-591-4730 www.papaspantry.org

Anna Crawford Children’s Center is dedicated to preventing child abuse and neglect, and protecting and serving children and families through prevention and intervention services. 678-504-6388 www.cherokeechildadvocates.org

Georgia Animal Project, based in Ball Ground, offers high quality, low cost spay and neuter services for dogs and cats throughout North Georgia. 770-704-PAWS (7297) www.theanimalproject.org

Pet Buddies Food Pantry helps families in need by providing pet food, supplies, spaying and neutering, and education through community outreach programs. 678-310-9858 www.petbuddiesfoodpantry.org

Give a Kid a Chance – Cherokee sponsors a yearly backto-school bash, giving children in need filled backpacks to free haircuts. www.giveakidachance.org

Safe Kids Cherokee County provides free child safety seat inspections by appointment. 770-721-7808 www.cherokeesafekidscherokeecounty.org

Goshen Valley Boys Ranch offers a home, care and counsel to young men in the DFCS system. 770-796-4618 www.goshenvalley.org

SERV International operates the House of Hope orphanage in Africa, sponsors a clean water program in Dominican Republic and meal distributions worldwide. Also offers mission trips. 770-516-1108 www.servone.org

Ahimsa House helps victims of domestic violence 24-hours a day who need help getting their pets to safety. 404-452-6248 www.ahimsahouse.org

Bethany Place is a transitional home for single women, unwed mothers. 770-479-9462 www.bethanyplacehome.org CASA for Children promotes the health and happiness of children impacted by abuse through programs that increase their safety and improve their educational, social and emotional functioning. 770-345-3274 www.casacherokee.org CCHS Thrift Store accepts donations and sells used household items to raise money for Cherokee County Humane Society. 5900 Bells Ferry Road, Acworth. 770-592-8072 Cherokee Family Violence Center offers emergency shelter and crisis intervention, affordable housing, education, support services. 770-479-1703, Spanish 770-720-7050 or 800-334-2836 option 2. www.cfvc.org Cherokee Fellowship of Christian Athletes challenges professional, college, high school, junior high and youth level coaches and athletes to use athletics to impact the world for Christ. Bill Queen 404-441-3508 www.cherokeefca.org Cherokee County Humane Society (CCHS) 770-928-5115 or admin@cchumanesociety.org www.cchumanesociety.org Cherokee FOCUS works to improve the lives of children and families through collaborative programs and initiatives. Sonia Carruthers 770-345-5483 www.cherokeefocus.org Cherokee County Senior Services offers educational, social, leisure and recreational activities for senior citizens. 770-345-5312 or 770-345-5320 www.cherokeega.com/senior-services Collins Dixon Foundation: Bend Your Knees, Inc. raises awareness and helps children with pediatric brain tumors. Contact: Bob Dixon, 678-922-1560. Community Veterinary Care provides professional veterinary care for pets whose owners have limited financial means. 678-640-3512 www.communityveterinarycare.com Companion Animal Connection 678-493-9847 www.adoptapet.com

Green Shelters America animal rescue group. 770-712-4077 or GreenSheltersAmerica@gmail.com www.GreenSheltersAmeric.com Habitat for Humanity North Central Georgia 770-587-9697 www.habitat-ncg.org Healing Hands Youth Ranch offers safe, peaceful environment where abused and at-risk children are paired with rescue horses for hope and healing. Jennifer Simonis 770-633-4451 www.hhyr.org HopeQuest Ministry Group helps people who struggle intensely with life dominating issues related to alcohol abuse, substance abuse and/or sexual brokenness. 678-391-5950 www.hqmg.org HOPE Center offers support for unplanned pregnancy. 770-924-0864 or info@hopectr.com www.hopectr.com HOPE Center — Seeds Thrift Store offers men, women & children’s clothing, furniture & other homegoods. 770-517-4450 www.seedsthriftstore.com Life Connection Ministries helps empower and provide humanitarian relief in the form of wells and greenhouses to impoverished communities. Mission trips offered. Florine Russell 678-234-1798. www.lcm-ga.com Matthew E. Russell Foundation works to establish literacy and libraries in rural areas worldwide. Florine Russell 678-234-1798. www.mattrussell.org MUST Ministries offers groceries, hot meals, emergency shelter, supportive housing, clothing, employment services, summer lunch and more from five locations in eight counties, including the Canton office at 111 Brown Industrial Pkwy. www.mustministries.org National Alliance for Mental Illness is the nation’s largest grassroots organization in America working to build better lives for the millions affected by mental illness. www.nami.org

Everyday Angels offers financial assistance for local families in need. aaeverydayangels@gmail.com

Never Alone Outreach provides food and clothing assistance to Cherokee families in need. www.neveralone.org.

Feed My Lambs, Inc. provides free Christian preschools in the U.S. and around the world. 770-795-9348 office@feedmylambs.net www.feedmylambs.net

Next Step Ministries offers a therapeutic day program, Saturday respite, camps and special events for people with special needs. 770-592-1227 www.nextstepministries.net

AROUND CANTON | December 2016

The Blue Ribbon Foundation fosters a national dialog toward finding the cause, cure and prevention of ME (myalgic encephalomyelitis), CFS (chronic fatigue syndrome), fibromyalgia and Lyme disease. Tom Prior 478-397-5542 www.theblueribbonfoundation.org Volunteer Aging Council is a nonprofit that helps raise funds for the seniors of Cherokee County. A list of current needs is available. 770-310-3474 www.vac-cherokeega.org

SUPPORT ORGANIZATIONS AA Meetings Canton Meets: 9:30 a.m. Monday-Saturday, 7 p.m. Monday at Canton First United Methodist, 930 Lower Scott Mill Road. Woodstock Meets: 7 p.m. on Tuesday, Thursday and Friday at Hillside United Methodist, 4474 Towne Lake Parkway. www.aageorgia.org/14c-meetings.html Al-Anon and Al-A-Teen Canton Meets: 8 pm Thursday at St Clements Episcopal Church, 2795 Ridge Road. Woodstock Meets: Tuesday Al-anon and Alateen 8 pm Thursday Al-anon at Hillside United Methodist Church, 4474 Towne Lake Pkwy. Reba 770-516-3502 www.ga-al-anon.org/district-number.hp?district=17 American Heart Association - Cherokee Division 678-385-2013 American Red Cross metro chapter 770-428-2695 Caregivers Alzheimers Support Group Meets: 6:30 p.m. first Tuesday of Every Other Month at Benton House of Woodstock, 3385 Trickum Rd. 678-494-4500 woodstockinfo@bentonhouse.com Celebrate Recovery is a Christ-centered recovery program for all types of habits, hurts and hangups. Meets: 6:30 p.m. Thursdays at Woodstock Church of the Nazarene. 770-366-7515 Meets: 6:30 p.m. Mondays at Sixes United Methodist. 770-345-7644 www.sixesumc.org Meets: 6:30 p.m. Tuesdays at Ministry House 678-459-2347 www.MinistryHouse.org Meets: 6:15 p.m. Thursdays at 411 Scott Mill Road, Canton. 678-764-8660 www.celebraterecovery.com

Cherokee County Support Group provides support for people with autoimmune conditions. Meets: 6:30 - 8 pm second Thursday at New Light Baptist Church, 1716 New Light Rd, Holly Springs. Stacie Collett 404-402-0571, jhmom88@comcast. net and Christy Stephenson 770-337-0294 christystephenson@msn.com Cherokee County Special Olympics provides yearround sports training and athletic competition for children and adults with intellectual disabilities. www.cherokeecountyspecialolympics.org Cherokee Christian Ministerial Association for pastors and ministry leaders of all Christian denominations. Meets: 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. last Wednesday at Dayspring Church, 6835 Victory Drive, Woodstock. www.cherokeeministers.org Diabetes Support Group Meets: 9:30 and 11 a.m. third Tuesday at Emeritus Assisted Living, 756 Neese Road, Woodstock. Linda Watson 770-793-7818 Georgia Canines for Independence. 404-824-4637 gcidogs@aol.com www. gcidogs.org Grace Valley Ministries connects pastors by offering small group meetings, free counseling and a place to retreat. 727-251-7690, info@gracevalleyministries.org www.gracevalleyministries.org Grandparents Raising GRANDchildren Meets: 7:15 p.m. second Tuesdays Transfiguration Catholic Church, Marietta (nursery available). Jeannie 770-919-9275 Hearing Loss Association of America NW Metro Atlanta Chapter for people with hearing loss looking for support and resources, holds free and informative quarterly meetings at the Senior Center on Arnold Mill Road. nwmetroatlantahlaa@gmail.com La Leche League of South Cherokee Meets: 10 a.m. first Tuesday and 7 p.m. third Tuesday at Bascomb United Methodist Church. Marguerite 678-315-7686 or Megan 770-517-0191 MOMS Club of Woodstock-TowneLake momsclubofwoodstocktl@gmail.com www.sites.google.com/site/ momscluboftownelakewoodstock MOPS — Mothers of Preschoolers (birth — K) Meets: 9:30 a.m. second and fourth Mondays at Hillside UMC, 4474 Towne Lake Pkwy. 770-924-4777 Unlimited Possibilities, support group for stroke and brain injury survivors. Meets: 7 p.m. first Tuesday of each month at Kennestone Outpatient Rehab Center. Kelly 678-677-2589

BUSINESS ORGANIZATIONS Canton Cherokee Business and Professional Women’s Club Meets: Noon on third Thursdays at Canton IHOP Glenda Hinton 770-345-1751 Canton Communicators Toastmasters Club Meets: Noon-1:15 p.m. Thursdays at the Canton YMCA. Steven Van Schooten 770-366-8224 www.toastmasters.org The Joy of Connecting Networking for Women Meets: Various times and locations. Edeline Dryden 678-789-6158 www.xperienceconnections.com/spotlight/ woodstock/

CIVIC, COUNTY ORGANIZATIONS American Legion Post 45, Meets 7 p.m. fourth Thursday at 160 McClure St, Canton, GA 30114 770-479-4405 AARP Woodstock Chapter is for anyone age 50+ Meets: 11:30 a.m. second Tuesdays at Tuscany. Cost is $15. Rich Sanford, 770-926-1944.

Grassroots Conservatives of Cherokee Meets: 7- 9 a.m. Fridays at the Chick-fil-a on 951 Ridgewalk Parkway, Woodstock by the Outlet Mall. Bill Dewrell 770-294-0922 Republican Women of Cherokee County 678- 520-2236, www.rwccga.com

RECREATION & HOBBIES

BridgeMill-Sixes Service League Marlyn Patouillet 770- 345-7941 www.bssl.org Canton-Cherokee TRIAD/S.A.L.T. (Seniors and Law Enforcement Together) Meets: 8:30 a.m. first Tuesday at G.Cecil Pruitt YMCA in Canton (Hall of Fame Room) www.saltcherokee.com

Allatoona Gold Panners Periodic events and outings to pan the creeks in the Dahlonega Gold Belt along the Lake. Rob Kelly rrkelly@bellsouth.net

Canton Lions Club 678- 224-7878, www.lionsofcanton.org

Cherokee Community Chorale A community of singers from all walks of life who love the art of choral singing. 678-439-8625, www.cherokeechorale.org

Canton Optimist Club Meets: 7:30 a.m. Fridays at Canton IHOP. canton_optimist@hotmail.com www.sites.google.com/site/cantonoptimistclub/ home

Cherokee Amateur Radio Society Meets: 10 a.m. on the second Saturday at William G. Long Senior Center, 223 Arnold Mill Road. www.cherokeehams.com

Cherokee County Arts Center 94 North St., Canton 770-704-6244, www.CherokeeArts.org

Canton Rotary Club Meets: Noon Tuesdays at the Cherokee Conference Center at the Bluffs www.cantongarotary.org

Cherokee County Master Gardeners 770-721-7803 www.caes.uga.edu/extension/cherokee/ mastergardeners

Cherokee County Historical Society 770-345-3288, www.rockbarn.org

Cherokee Photography Club www.cherokeepc.org

Cherokee County Service League 770-704-5991

Cherokee County Saddle Club Hosts monthly meetings and group rides. www.cherokeesaddleclub.com

Pilot Club of Cherokee County Meet: 6: 30 p.m. second Mondays at IHOP on Hwy 20. Lynda Goodwin, 770-393-1766 or Lynda@edgoodwinassociates.com www.pilotinternational.com Rotary Club of Cherokee County Meets: 6:30 p.m. Thursdays at IHOP on Highway 92 770-480-4179 Service League of Cherokee County 770-704-5991, www.serviceleague.net VFW Post 5262 Meets 7 p.m. second Thursday at 278 Moose Loop Canton off Marietta Highway 404-275-2066

POLITICAL ORGANIZATIONS Cherokee County Democrat Party Meets: 7 p.m. second Thursdays at Holly Springs Depot, 164 Hickory Road, Holly Springs. 8:30 a.m. first Saturdays at IHOP, 3010 Northside Parkway, Canton 30014. 770- 345-3489 www.cherokeedemocrats.com/d2. Cherokee County Libertarians Meets: 7:30 p.m. third Tuesday at the Cherokee County Board of Realtors Training Center, 1600 River Park Blvd., Suite 104, Woodstock 30188. www.cherokeelp.org. Cherokee County Republican Party Meets: 9 a.m. third Saturday at 210 Main St. Canton. 678-882-0915 or connect@cherokeecountygop.com Cherokee Republican Assembly Meets: 6:30 p.m. first Tuesday at Holly Springs Train Depot 164 Hickory Road Kevin Wright 502-649-0089 or kevinwwrightenterprises@gmail.com Cherokee Tea Party Patriots Meets: 4 p.m. third Sunday at Latimer Hall in Woodstock. Conrad Quagliaroli 770- 378-8232

Cherokee Hockey In Line League (CHILL) Roller hockey. www.cherokeehockey.org Cherokee Music Teachers Association Linda Lokey 770-720-1701 www.cherokeemta.org Cherokee Soccer Association 770-704-0187, www.csaimpact.com Cherokee Youth Lacrosse Association www.cherokeelacrosse.com Christian Authors Guild Meets: 7-9 p.m. first and third Monday at Prayer and Praise Christian Fellowship, 6409 Bells Ferry Road, Woodstock. www.christianauthorsguild.org Kingdom Riders A forming chapter of the Christian Motorcyclists Association in Canton. Meets: 8 a.m. fourth Saturdays at Family Tradition restaurant in Hickory Flat. All makes of motorcycles welcome. Les Marmitons Is for men interested in culinary arts. www.lesmarmitons.org Wildlife Action, Inc. Is a conservation organization on Allatoona Lake at 2075 Kellogg Creek Road, Acworth. 770-924-7464, www.wildlifeactiongeorgia.com Cherokee Senior Softball Association www.seniorsoftball.com Sons of the American Revolution - Cherokee Meets: 7 p.m. second Tuesdays at the Rock Barn, 638 Marietta Hwy., Canton. www.cherokeechapter.com William G. Long Senior Center Offers activities for seniors at 223 Arnold Mill Road in Woodstock. 678-445-6518 AROUND CANTON | December 2016

COMMUNITY OF FAITH ADVENTIST

Cherokee 101 Rope Mill Road, Woodstock 770-591-7304 http://cherokee.netadvent.org/ Canton 411 Scott Mill Road, Canton 678-880-0106 www.cantonadventist.org

AME

Allen Temple AME 232 N. Arnold Mill Road, Woodstock 770-926-6348 www.allentempleame.org St. Paul 390 Crisler St., Canton 770-479-9691 www.stpaulame-canton.org

BAPTIST

Carmel 2001 Bascomb Carmel Road Cherokee 7770 Hickory Flat Highway, Woodstock 770-720-3399 www.cherokeebaptistchurch.org Cornerstone Community 4206 North Arnold Mill Rd, Woodstock 678-439-5108 www.ccchurchonline.org Crossroads Community Church 2317 Bascomb-Carmel Road, Woodstock 770-592-7007 Crossroads Primitive Baptist Church 3100 Trickum Road, Woodstock 770-710-1068 Faith Community Office: 110 Village Trail, Suite 110, Woodstock Sunday Services: 230 Rope Mill Road, Woodstock 770-516-1996 www.faithcommunitychurch.org First Baptist of Woodstock 11905 Highway 92, Woodstock 770-926-4428 www.fbcw.org First Baptist Canton One Mission Point 770-479-5538 www.fbccanton.org First Baptist Holly Springs 2632 Holly Springs Parkway 770-345-5349 www.fbchollysprings.com Heritage Fellowship 3615 Reinhardt College Parkway, Canton 770-479-9415 www.HeritageCanton.com Hillcrest 6069 Woodstock Road, Acworth 770-917-9100 www.hbcacworth.org Hopewell 78 Ridge Road, Canton 770-345-5723 www.hopewellbaptist.com

AROUND CANTON | December 2016

Mt. Zion 4096 East Cherokee Drive, Canton 770-479-3324 www.mtzb.org New Victoria 6659 Bells Ferry Road, Woodstock 770-926-8448 www.newvicbaptist.org River Church 2335 Sixes Road, Canton 770-485-1975 www.riveratlanta.org Shallowford Free Will Baptist Church 1686 Shallowford Road, Marietta 770-926-1163 www.shallowfordchurch.com South Cherokee 7504 Highway 92, Woodstock 770-926-0422 Sutallee 895 Knox Bridge Highway, White 770-479-0101 www.sutalleebaptistchurch.com Toonigh 4999 Old Highway 5, Lebanon www.toonightbaptistchurch.com

CHURCH OF GOD

Bells Ferry 6718 Bells Ferry Road, Woodstock 770-592-2956 www.bellsferry.com New Life Church 154 Lakeside Drive, Canton 770-345-2660 www.newlifecanton.com Sunnyside 2510 East Cherokee Drive, Woodstock 770-693-1018 www.sunnysidecog.org Toonigh 4775 Holly Springs Parkway, Canton 770-926-3096 www.toonighcog.org

EPISCOPAL

Christ the Redeemer Charismatic 6488 Hickory Flat Highway, Canton 404-395-5003 www.ctrcec.com Episcopal Church-Annunciation 1673 Jamerson Road, Marietta 770-928-7916 www.ecamarietta.org Saint Clementâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s 2795 Ridge Road, Canton 770-345-6722 www.stclementscanton.org

JEWISH

Chabad Jewish Center 1480 Shiloh Road, NW, Kennesaw 770-400-9255 www.jewishwestcobb.com Congregation Ner Tamid Reform Jewish Congregation 1349 Old 41 Highway NW, Suite 220, Marietta 678-264-8575 www.mynertamid.org

Congregation Etz Chaim 1190 Indian Hills, Marietta 770-973-0137 www.etzchaim.net Temple Kehillat Chaim 1145 Green St., Roswell 770-641-8630 www.kehillatchaim.org Temple Kol Emeth 1415 Old Canton Road, Marietta 770-973-3533 www.kolemeth.net

MESSIANIC JEWISH CONGREGATIONS Congregation Beth Hallel 950 Pine Grove Road, Roswell 770-641-3000 www.bethhallel.org

LUTHERAN

Celebration of Grace 411 Scott Mill Road, Canton 770-503-5050 www.celebrationofgrace.org Good Shepherd 1208 Rose Creek Drive, Woodstock 770-924-7286 www.gslutheran.org Timothy 556 Arnold Mill Road, Woodstock 770-928-2812 www.tlcwoodstock.org

ORTHODOX

St. Elizabeth 2263 East Cherokee Drive, Woodstock 770-485-0504 www.stelizabethga.org

PRESBYTERIAN

Cherokee 1498 Johnson Brady Road, Canton 770-704-9564 www.cherokee-pca.org. Covenant South Annex Rec Center 7545 Main St., Bldg. 200, Woodstock www.cc-pca.org Faith 3655 Reinhardt College Parkway, Canton www.faithpc.us Grace Church 1160 Butterworth Road, Canton 678-493-9869 www.gracecanton.org Heritage 5323 Bells Ferry Road, Acworth 770-926-3558 www.heritagepres.com Woodstock 345 Arnold Mill Road, Woodstock 770-926-0074 www.woodstockpcusa.com

ROMAN CATHOLIC

Our Lady of LaSalette 12941 Sam Nelson Road, Canton 770-479-8923 www.lasalettecanton.com St. Michael the Archangel 490 Arnold Mill Road, Woodstock 770-516-0009 www.saintmichaelcc.org

Transfiguration Catholic Church 1815 Blackwell Road NE., Marietta 770-977-1442 www.transfiguration.com

UNITED METHODIST

Bascomb 2295 Bascomb-Carmel Road, Woodstock 770-926-9755 www.bascombchurch.org Canton First 930 Lower Scott Mill Road 770-479-2502 www.cantonfirstumc.org CITY ON A HILL 7745 Main St., Woodstock 678-445-3480 www.coahumc.org Fields Chapel 1331 Fields Chapel Road, Canton 770-479-6030 www.fieldschapel.org Hickory Flat 4056 East Cherokee Drive, Canton 770-345.5969 www.hickoryflat.org Hillside 4474 Towne Lake Parkway, Woodstock 770-924-4777 www.hillsideumc.org Holly Springs 2464 Holly Springs Parkway 770-345-2883 www.hollyspringsumc.com Liberty Hill 141 Railroad St., Canton 678-493-8920 www.libertyhillumc.org Little River 12455 Highway 92, Woodstock 770-926-2495 www.littleriverumc.info Mt. Gilead 889 Arnold Mill Road, Woodstock 770-591- 0837 www.mtgilead-umc.org Sixes 8385 Bells Ferry Road, Canton 770-345-7644 www.sixesumc.org Woodstock 109 Towne Lake Parkway, Woodstock 770-516-0371

UNITARIAN UNIVERSALIST

Emerson 4010 Canton Road, Marietta 770-578-1533 www.emersonuu.org Unity North Atlanta 4255 Sandy Plains Rd. Marietta, GA 30066 678-819-9100 www.unitynorth.org

OTHERS

Action Church 271 Marietta Road, Canton 770-345-3030 www.actionchurch.tv Antioch Church 9876 Main St., Suite 250, Woodstock 678-494-2193

www.antiochchurch.life Awakening 180 Parkway 575, Suite 140, Woodstock 770-924-4150 www.awakeningwoodstock.com Branches of Christ 5946 Jacobs Road, Acworth 770-917-4964 www.branchesofchrist.com BridgePointe 233 Arnold Mill Road, Suite 400, Woodstock 770-517-2977 www.bridgepointechurch.org Christian Praise Center 1358 Sixes Road, Canton 770-924-7532 www.christianpraisecenter.com Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints 2205 Bascomb-Carmel Road, Woodstock 770-529-9572 www.mormon.org Church of the Messiah 4115 Charles Cox Drive, Canton 770-479-5280 www.churchofthemessiah.net Dayspring 6835 Victory Drive, Acworth 770-516-5733 www.dayspring-online.com Dwelling Place Church 110 Londonderry Court #130, Woodstock www.dwellingplacemovement.org Empowerment Tabernacle 507 Industrial Drive, Woodstock 770-928-7478 www.EmpowermentTabernacle.com The Factory 9872 Main St., Woodstock, 770-517-7265 www.thefactoryministries.org Faith Family 5744 Bells Ferry Road, Acworth 770-926-4560 www.ffcacworth.com Fivestones Church 155 P Rickman Industrial Drive, Canton 770-720-2227 www.fivestoneschurch.com Fresh Springs Worship Center 1910 Eagle Drive, Suite 100, Woodstock 678-557-9841 www.freshspringsworship.com Fuente de Vida (Fountain of Life) 205 Arnold Mill Road, Woodstock 678-880-3135 www.fdvida.org God’s Rolling Thunder Latimer Hall, 103 Towne Lake Parkway, Woodstock www.godsrollingthunder.org His Hands 550 Molly Lane, Woodstock 770-405-2500 www.hishandschurch.com Life Church 300 Adam Jenkins Memorial Drive, Suite 108, Canton 770-847-0170 www.lifechurchcanton.com Love Community Church 5598 Bells Ferry Road, Acworth Ministry House 347 Holly St., Canton 678-459-2347

http://MinistryHouse.org Momentum 659 Arnold Mill Road, Woodstock 678-384-4919 www.MomentumChurch.tv New Covenant Bible 1095 Scott Road, Canton 770-479-6412 www.newcovenantcanton.org North Atlanta Church 6233 Old Alabama Road, Acworth 770-975-3001 www.northatlantachurch.org Oak Leaf 151 East Marietta St., Canton 678-653-4652 www.oakleafcanton.com Prayer & Praise Christian Fellowship 6409 Bells Ferry Road, Woodstock 770-928-2795 www.prayerandpraise.org Resurrection Anglican 231 Arnold Mill Road, Woodstock 770-591-0040 www.rezwoodstock.org Revolution 125 Union Hill Trail, Canton 770-345-2737 www.therevolution.tv Sojourn Woodstock 231 Arnold Mill Road, Woodstock 770-769-7495 www.sojournwoodstock.com Sovereign Grace 471 Arnold Mill Road, Woodstock 678-494-2100 www.sgcatlanta.org Thrive Chapel 400 Arnold Mill Road, Woodstock 770-835-5795 www.thrivechapel.com Tower Church 11303 Highway 92, Woodstock 678-230-3590 towerchurch.tv Towne Lake Community 132 North Medical Parkway, Woodstock 678-445-8766 www.tlcchurch.com Victory 4625 Highway 92, Acworth 770-794-7366 www.victoryga.com Woodstock City Church 150 Ridgewalk Parkway, Woodstock 678-880-9092 www.woodstockcity.org Woodstock Christian 7700 Highway 92, Woodstock 770-926-8238 www.woodstockchristian.org Woodstock Church of Christ 219 Rope Mill Road, Woodstock 770-926-8838 www.woodstockchurchofchrist.org Woodstock Church of the Nazarene 874 Arnold Mill Road, Woodstock 770-366-7515 www.wcnga.com Woodstock Community Church 237 Rope Mill Road, Woodstock 770-926-8990 www.wcchurch.org AROUND CANTON | December 2016

Around Canton Directory of Advertisers ACCOUNTING/FINANCIAL SERVICES Citadel Professional Services, LLC 770-952-6707

Jeffrey L. Jackson, CPA 678-919-1250 www.jjacksoncpa.com

North Georgia CPA 770-924-4990. 770-361-6703 www.northgeorgiaCPA.com

ANIMALS/PETS BridgeMill Animal Hospital 770-479-2200 www.bridgemillvet.com

Cherokee County Animal Shelter www.cherokeega-animals.org

ATTORNEYS Law Office of William H. Turner 678-610-5990 www.lawyerturnerga.com

Nelson Elder Care Law, LLC 678-250-9355 www.NelsonElderCareLaw.com

Tidwell Firm, The 678-999-8500 www.thetidwellfirm.com

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

BANK/CREDIT UNION LGE Community Credit Union 770-424-0600 www.LGEccu.org

CHARITABLE ORGANIZATIONS Must Ministries www.mustministries.org 70

AROUND CANTON | December 2016

Dentistry at Hickory Flat 770-213-8166 www.HickoryFlatDentist.com Fountain View Dentistry 770-926-0000 www.FountainViewSmiles.com

HOME IMPROVEMENTS & REPAIR

Gentle Dental Care and Georgia Dental Implant Center Inside back 770-926-2784 www.georgiadic.com Kragor Orthodontics 770-485-8827 www.kragorortho.com

Park Pediatric Dentistry of Woodstock 21 770-926-9260 www.PediatricWoodstockDentist.com Williams Orthodontics Canton: 770-345-4155 Woodstock: 770-592-5554 www.DrWilliamsOrthodontics.com

Grant Academy, The 770-926-7827 www.thegrantacademy.net

ClearView Window Cleaning & Pressure Washing 13 770-926-1960 www.ClearViewAtl.com Hammock’s A/C, Inc. 770-794-0428 www.hammockshvac.com

JD Kitchens Baths & More LLC Inside front 770-516-1602 www.JDKitchens.com Mr. Junk 678-675-8651 www.mrjunk1.com

Reliable Heating & Air 770-594-9969

LANDSCAPING Masterscapes, Inc.

O: 678-445-6865 or C: 404-316-8252 MASSAGE/SPA LaVida Massage

770-345-1200 www.LaVidaMassageCantonGA.com 5

Massage Envy

770-974-0880 www.MassageEnvy.com Massages by Megan

FUNERAL SERVICES Poole Funeral Home & Cremation Services 678-932-2097 www.poolefuneralhome.net

Bryan Plumbing Services 770-826-5277

www.ReliableAir.com

EDUCATION/INSTRUCTION

AUTOMOTIVE Bavarian Repair 770-310-2381 www.bavarianrepair.com

DENTAL (Cosmetic, Family, Orthodontics, Prosthodontics and Pediatric) BridgeMill Dentistry 770-704-1812 www.BridgeMillDentistry.com

678-787-8833 7

www.massagesbymeganinc.com PHOTOGRAPHERS J King Images

404-384-2794, 404-200-0881

HAIR SALON Addison Taylor Salon 770-224-8484

Salon Spa Venéssa 770-591-2079 www.salonvenessa.com

www.JKingImages.com PHYSICIANS AND MEDICAL SERVICES Cherokee Internal Medicine 678-238-0301 www.cherokeeim.com

North Georgia Audiology & Hearing Aid Center 1 770-726-8948 www.YourHearingLink.com Northside Hospital – Cherokee www.northside.com Northwest ENT and Allergy Center 770-427-0368 www.NW-ENT.com

11 9

Plastic Surgery Center of the South 14 770-421-1242 www.plasticsurgerycenterofthesouth.net WellStar Cardiac Network 770-956-STAR (7827) www.wellstar.org

www.bentwatergc.com

REAL ESTATE Atlanta Communities Real Estate Brokerage, Tara Daigle, Realtor 404-925-6351 tara@keatingbrs.com Premier Group, The — Keller Williams 678-494-0102 www.TPGsells.com

Eagle Watch Golf Club and Bentwater Golf Club 404-960-9225 www.eaglewatchgc.com

RESTAURANTS/FOOD

Back cover

Yumsa International Market 770-757-6835 www.yumsa.com

RETAIL/SHOPPING

RECREATION/ENTERTAINMENT Art & Wine Walk www.CantonHDL.com

Elm St. Cultural Arts Village 678-494-4251 www.elmstreetarts.org

Inside front

SERV Store Canton: 770-213-1000 Cartersville: 470-227-7441 www.servone.org/serv-store

River Fine Jewelry Cover, 36, 37 678-880-0400 www.riverfinejewelry.com

AROUND CANTON | December 2016

Since 1996, we have brought relevant, uplifting and reader-driven content to readers. We publish TowneLaker, Around Canton, Around Woodstock and Around Acworth. We look forward to serving you, our readers and advertisers, every month. Thank you for your continued support and participation in making this truly your community magazine.

Seated, from left: Patty Ponder, Jon and Karen Flaig and Jackie Loudin. Standing, from left: Katherine Amick, Denise Griffin, Susan Rodney, Michelle McCulloch, Carla Caldwell, Laura Latchford, Candi Hannigan and Christie Deese. Not picutred, Terri Spencer. Photo by J King Images.

Distribution Map Circulation: 16,500

AROUND CANTON | December 2016

At AroundAbout Local Media, we believe the world functions at the community level: diverse groups of people living in close proximity, sharing commonality of culture, values and local pride, developing safety nets for those in need, and helping each other to live richer lives. It is our heartfelt desire to contribute to the fabric that helps make a community happen. Through our magazines, we aim to provide everyone in the communities we serve with uplifting, interesting information about the community they are proud to call home. We encourage you to send us your photos, ideas, stories or anything else you think the community would like to know about. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s your community. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s your magazine. Look on page 6 for our contact information.

This month's Featured Properties are available exclusively from:

678-494-0102 TPGsells.com

kw Ka.J..ERWILLIAMS.

REALTY PARTNERS

TPG's Featured Properties of the Month: Mill Park is located

just off Rope MIii Rd. Prices start in the mid $300's. You will find tree-lined streets and attention to architectural detail at Mill Park.

121 Mill Parl< Chase 3 bedroom/ 2.5 bath

Under Contract

Highland Park is Just a short stroll from the heart of Downtown Woodstock at the corner of OuJl(ee Rd. and Goshen Ln. Homes starting in th& low 400's. 202 Highland Park Point 4 bedroom/ 3.5 bath $475,00 0

The Telfair floor plan Includes master on main.

The Reeves floor plan offers a rear dBck off the kitchen as well as a keeping room.

252 Rope Mill Ad.

209 Highland Park Point 5 bedroom/ 4.5 bath $519,900

3 bedroom / 3 bath $380,400 The Ellis floor plan includes upgraded gourmet kitchen options as well as o/f,ce with built in desk.

For more info on !hese and many other properties in Woodstock, Cherokee and Cobb, contact The Premier Group (TPG) or visit our leam ;it TPG's Main Office at 8604 Main St., Downtown Woodstock

678-494-0102 TPGsells.com

The Barnsdale offers an open floor plan with upgrades galore.