Around Acworth

Letter From the Editor

Something about this time of year makes people reflect on the past, and I’m no different. Decorated trees and favorite carols always take me back to the Christmases I celebrated as a kid. Man, were there some good times! During this year’s holiday trip down memory lane, I’ve been thinking about the Christmas celebrations I used to go to that aren’t around anymore.

One of my favorites was the lighting of the Rich’s Christmas tree in Atlanta. Each year, we’d ride the MARTA train downtown on Thanksgiving night and join thousands of revelers in welcoming the start of the Christmas season. We’d watch choral groups perform on the four-story Crystal Bridge that linked Rich’s with its next-door neighbor. Then came the culmination of the evening — lighting the live tree, which ranged from 65 to 75 feet and featured thousands of lights and basketball-size ornaments. Sadly, that tradition ended when the store closed in 1991.

Another favorite event also was in downtown Atlanta — the Festival of Trees. The celebration started with a parade, which included some balloons from the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, then continued as a dayslong festival at the Georgia World Congress Center. I looked forward to this event every year. We would stroll through sections of beautifully decorated trees, gingerbread houses, wreaths and vignettes; decorate (and eat) huge sugar cookies; watch my sister and, later, my son make crafts and ride the carousel and the famous Pink Pig (for a few years), shop for gifts and decorations; and, of course, visit Santa. I even got to meet my baseball hero, Dale Murphy (who belongs in the Hall of Fame, but I digress), and have my picture taken with him. What a thrill! Unfortunately, the festival as we knew it ended in 2006.

For many years, my family would take a trip to Paulding County to see the Hardy Lights at the compound of the Charles Hardy family, and there were several years when I went to Marietta’s Theatre in the Square to see “Sanders Family Christmas,” a hilarious comedy that provided me with many one-liners that I still use. Those, too, are now bygone traditions.

These traditions may be gone, but we’re offering you a guide, beginning on Page 15, to all things Christmas to help you start or continue your own traditions. Find out about light displays and holiday activities, try some cookie recipes or learn how to help those in need. We also asked the experts questions about Santa and his helpers, so be sure to read what they had to say on Pages 22-24.

Merry Christmas, and happy reading!

Donna Harris

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

Planning a wedding next year? Look for the results from our Best for Bridal 2023 online poll to be posted Jan. 1 at www.aroundaboutlocalmedia.com and published in the January issue of Around Acworth.

Kudos!

The Save Acworth History Foundation and city of Acworth presented the third annual Nancy Maxwell Award to Ernestine and Dallas Godfrey in a ceremony Nov. 17 at the Depot. This award recognizes people who have made a significant contribution to preserving the heritage and history of the Acworth community.

Nancy Maxwell, second from right, presents the award bearing her name to Ernestine and Dallas Godfrey, as Mack Turner, left, of the Save Acworth History Foundation looks on. Dedication

On Nov. 16, the Save Acworth History Foundation and the city of Acworth dedicated the historic marker erected on Main Street across from Scoops in honor of Dr. Richard Rosenberger, whose medical practice has been a mainstay in the community since 1972. The Vietnam veteran also has served on the Downtown Development Authority and the Main Street Program.

Mack Turner, Dr. Richard and Melody Rosenberger, Yvonne Leander and Becca Kienel attend the dedication ceremony. Ribbon Cutting

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Publisher Aroundabout Local Media, Inc. www.aroundaboutlocalmedia.com President Kim Dahnke 770-778-5314 kim@aroundaboutmagazines.com Vice President of Sales Jennifer Coleman 678-279-5502 jen@aroundaboutmagazines.com Executive Editor Candi Hannigan 770-615-3309 candi@aroundaboutmagazines.com Managing Editor Donna Harris 770-852-8481 donna@aroundaboutmagazines.com Content Editor Jessica Forrester 770-615-3318 jessica@aroundaboutmagazines.com Production Manager Michelle McCulloch 770-615-3307 michelle@aroundaboutmagazines.com Page Designer Laura Latchford laura@aroundaboutmagazines.com Graphic Designer Savannah Winn savannah@aroundaboutmagazines.com Controller Denise Griffin 770-615-3315 denise@aroundaboutmagazines.com Social Media Manager Kathryn Holt kat@aroundaboutmagazines.com Market & Advertising Specialist Michelle Smith 770-615-3324 michelle.smith@aroundaboutmagazines.com Copy Editors Bill King, Eliza Somers

Around Acworth, a publication of Aroundabout Local Media, Inc., is a monthly community magazine. The magazine’s mission is helping local businesses grow and prosper by offering affordable advertising opportunities in a quality publication that provides positive, relevant information to our readers. It distributes a total of 17,000 free copies. Approximately 16,600 are directly mailed to homes and businesses, and an additional 400 are placed in racks around the community. Around Acworth also has many digital viewers of the magazine online each month.

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