WellStar and Mayo Clinic. Working together. Working for you. Achieving our vision of world-class healthcare is even closer now that we are a proud member of the Mayo Clinic Care Network, an innovative collaboration which brings the expertise of Mayo to our patients. As the first and only member of the Mayo Clinic Care Network in metro Atlanta, our depth of specialty care is enhanced with new resources and tools while keeping patient care right here at home. Innovation. World-class care. WellStar. For more information, please visit wellstar.org/mayo. For physician referral, please call 770-956-STAR (7827).
WellStar Health System, the largest health system in Georgia, is known nationally for its innovative care models, focused on improving quality and access to healthcare. WellStar consists of WellStar Medical Group, 240 medical office locations, outpatient centers, health parks, a pediatric center, nursing centers, hospice, homecare, as well as 11 inpatient hospitals: WellStar Atlanta Medical Center, WellStar Atlanta Medical Center South, WellStar Kennestone Regional Medical Center (anchored by WellStar Kennestone Hospital), WellStar West Georgia Medical Center, and WellStar Cobb, Douglas, North Fulton, Paulding, Spalding Regional, Sylvan Grove and Windy Hill hospitals. As a not-forprofit, WellStar continues to reinvest in the health of the communities it serves with new technologies and treatments.
We believe in life well-lived.
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CALL TODAY! 770-479-4639 AROUND WOODSTOCK | February 2018
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Contents
32 & 33 On the Cover
Hale Healthcare Lá-Shaun Elliott MD, MPH photo by J. King Images
February 2018
18
7
24
Features
In This Issue
16 Winter Break Survival Guide
4 Around Woodstock 12 Birthdays & Celebrations 63 Directory of Advertisers
If you’re out of ideas about what to do when the kids are
home from school, check out this list of activities for
winter break that will keep your kids from crying “We’re bored.”
18 Cycling Stage Race Returns To Woodstock
Professional and amateur cyclists will compete in the Tour of
the Southern Highlands stage race and the community is
invited to watch and cheer on participants.
Community 7 19 30 52
Meet the MLK Unity Award Winner Readers’ Choice Voting Begins Officials Sworn Into Office A Haven for Children
Resources
56 A New Trail and Updated Map
The new Towne Lake Pass Trail is open and spring is not far
away, so get out and enjoy the Greenprints Alliance trail system.
24 28 29 41 59
Start Planning for Summer Camp A List of Consignment Sales Guarding Seniors From Scams Scouting Opportunities Abound Recent Home Sales
Advertising
Health
Patty Ponder, ALM President 770-615-3322 Patty@AroundAboutMagazines.com www.AroundWoodstockMagazine.com
Schools
AroundWoodstockMagazine
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AROUND WOODSTOCK | February 2018
26 Look Younger, Without a Facelift 27 Hearing Loss and Telephone Talk
AroundWoodstock
around_woodstock
48 Scholarship to The Citadel 48 Summer Feeding Program Needs Help
A difference you can see. TOTAL EYE CARE
Specializing in: Cataracts, Retina, Glaucoma, Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus, Cornea, LASIK and Cosmetic Services Eyewear and contact lenses for all ages
Mark Berman, M.D. Jerry Berland, M.D. Paul Kaufman, M.D. Glaucoma and Pediatric Ophthalmology Retina and Cataract Surgery and Strabismus Vitreous Surgery
Lakhvir Singh, O.D. Comprehensive Optometry
Woodstock
149 Towne Lake Pkwy., Suite 102 - Woodstock, GA 30188
770.928.4544
www.thomaseye.com
Welcoming New Patients! A native of Louisville, Kentucky, Dr. Mian is a board-certified physician in family medicine who is proud to serve the families of Canton and North Georgia with the highest standard of care. Dr. Mian works alongside our experienced nurse practitioner, Leslie Jackson NP-C, serving each patient with the time, attention and personalized care you and your family deserve. We offer early office hours for your busy schedule, same-day appointments for sick visits and a convenient, new location in the BridgeMill Communuty.
Haroon Mian, M.D.
Services: • Care for patients aged 2 and older • Chronic disease management and acute illness care • Physical exams for school and sports participation • Immunizations for children and adults
NEW Location! 10515 Bells Ferry Road, Suite 200 Canton, GA 30114 Hours: 7:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. Call 770-395-1130 to schedule an appointment PNFM.com
Leslie Jackson, NP-C
AROUND WOODSTOCK | February 2018
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AROUND WOODSTOCK The
People, The Places and The Pleasures that make Woodstock
From the Editor
We didn’t go into this issue with a theme in mind, other than acknowledging Valentine’s month here and there. But as we wrap up the magazine, I’m realizing there is a focus on loving our senior citizens. My friend Nathan Brandon does an amazing job of that and tells the story of one rainy World’s Fair trip and how that led to a career in caring for seniors. Read about it on pages 20-21. On page 29 Shelley Winter offers tips avoid falling victim to scams aimed at seniors. I’m a voracious advocate for my Mom, and I’m learning so much from our contributing writers who share their wisdom to help senior citizens and their families navigate the often turbulent waters of aging. I hope you are learning from them as well. My mother celebrated her 94th birthday during the February production cycle. I could add that my husband reached his 60th year, but that really isn’t considered senior status, is it? Don’t answer that question. As a self-confessed, spoiled-rotten only child, I hope I am Candi and her mom celebrate with one making up for the temper tantrums and of her favorites: an ice cream cake. ornery attitudes that characterized my younger years. Add to the mix that I never wanted to leave my mother’s side. Bless her heart! I remember my pediatrician telling her she needed to hire a babysitter once a week and get away from me. See why I have a lot of making up to do? The advantage our Aroundabout Local Media staff has is that we are residents of this community, and get our magazines in the mail just like you do. We were readers long before we became employees. As your neighbors, we work hard to make sure the content of each issue is relevant, interesting, fun and uplifting for you. Reach out to us and let us know how we’re doing!
Candi Hannigan is the executive editor of Around Woodstock. She has lived in Cherokee County since 1987. Send your comments or questions to Candi@AroundAboutMagazines.com.
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AROUND WOODSTOCK | February 2018
Congratulations!
North Georgia CPA Services was named 2018 Small Business of the Year by the Cherokee Chamber of Commerce, which also awarded Scott McElroy as Citizen of the Year. Both awards are given at the chamber’s annual meeting, held each January. www.cherokeechamber.org. A groundbreaking ceremony of the Rubes Creek Trail extension was held on Jan. 22. The extension will connect the William G. Long Senior Center to the Northside Hospital Cherokee Amphitheater, which effectively connects Rubes Creek Trail to downtown Woodstock. The ribbon cutting on the William G. Long Senior Center expansion project, held after the trail groundbreaking, includes a 2,400-squarefoot, multi-purpose room for activities such as arts and crafts, exercise classes, meetings and more. The expansion was partially funded through a Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) of $250,000. “We’re very excited about unveiling these two projects.I believe these projects further our commitment to provide exceptional leisure opportunities to our community” Parks and Recreation Department Director Preston Pooser said.
What’s Coming
The Providence Group is building Mason Main, a community of 57 townhomes priced from the 400s, featuring open floor plans and personalized interior finishes with HOA maintained landscaping and lawn care. GPS address is 7784 Main St. Visit www.theprovidencegroup.com/ mason-main for more details.
What’s New
Campbell & Brannon, LLC, one of Atlanta’s largest residential real
estate law firms, opened a new location in downtown Woodstock. The office is managed by Jimmy Moore, a Woodstock resident for more than 12 years. The office is located at 8744 Main St., Suite 101, Woodstock. 404-939-9250. ww.campbellandbrannon.com.
What’s Changing
Blush Nail Bar will be relocating to 9539 Highway 92, Suite 110 in
Woodstock, in the St. Thomas Square, sometime this month. Expanded services will include eyelash extensions and more. For more details, visit www.blushnairbar.com and on Facebook.
Look Who’s Coming to Georgia!
American Pickers plans to film in Georgia this winter, and the show’s stars, Mike Wolfe and Frank Fritz, are looking for places to pick. American Pickers is a History channel series that follows Mike and Frank as they hunt for valuable antiques. The guys search for sizeable, unique collections, learn the stories behind the treasures, and work to give these objects a new lease on life. If you or someone you know has a large, private collection or accumulation of antiques that the pickers can look through, send the contact’s name, phone number, location and description of the collection to americanpickers@cineflix.com or call 855-OLD-RUST. Follow on Facebook at GotAPick. They only pick private collections, therefore malls, flea markets, museums, auctions and other businesses open to the public don’t qualify.
AROUND WOODSTOCK | February 2018
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COMMUNITY BOARD The Around Woodstock Community Board consists of well-respected community leaders from different walks of life. Our board assists us in many ways that include serving as contributing writers, judging our annual Trailblazer award and providing valuable feedback.
Donnie Henriques has been mayor of Woodstock
since 2006, after having served as city council member beginning with the creation of Ward 6 in 1999. Donnie and his wife, Dr. Jan Henriques, have three children and three grandchildren. He works for Northside Hospital Cherokee in the community relations department.
Kris McKeeth is team leader and visionary for
The Premier Group Keller Williams Realty on Main Street in Woodstock, and has more than 25 years experience in real estate. She’s active in many community efforts that include her position on the Business Board of downtown Woodstock and as president of Etowah Foundation.
Photographer Darleen Prem specializes in natural light portrait photography and enjoys dog, pet and family photography. She spends much of her time photographing local events for the city of Woodstock and is the official “unofficial” photographer for Woodstock’s fire and police departments. Darleen’s son serves overseas as an Army Military Police Officer.
Ross Wiseman started Momentum Church
in 2005 and still serves as head pastor. He draws from his experiences in more than 21 years of ministry and 19 years of marriage to challenge, inspire and instruct people in what it takes for better living, loving and laughter.
Renee Gable, a sales and marketing executive for Window Expert Tinting, volunteers for many committees that work to improve downtown Woodstock. She is an avid cyclist who aligned herself with Greenprints Alliance because of her desire to help create safe and natural trail riding experiences. Dan Thrailkill loves living in the “city
unexpected” with his family. He currently serves on the Main Street Woodstock Board of Directors, the board of trustees for Ebenezer UMC, and is actively involved in the Young Professionals organization. By day, he works in community relations and business development for two local companies and, in his free time, you might see him and Joe doing good in and around Woodstock. Dan was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes in 1988 and believes no one should be a victim of their disease, so you’ll also see him at the gym. 6
AROUND WOODSTOCK | February 2018
Publisher Aroundabout Local Media, Inc. ALM President Patty Ponder 770-615-3322 Patty@AroundAboutMagazines.com Executive Editor Candi Hannigan 770-615-3309 Candi@AroundAboutMagazines.com Managing Editor Jackie Loudin 770-615-3318 Jackie@AroundAboutMagazines.com Art Director Michelle McCulloch 770-615-3307 Michelle@AroundAboutMagazines.com Page Designer Laura Latchford Laura@AroundAboutMagazines.com Controller Denise Griffin 770-615-3315 Denise@AroundAboutMagazines.com Market Support Associate Christie Deese Christie@AroundAboutMagazines.com Copy Editors Bill King, Eliza Somers
Around Woodstock, a publication of Aroundabout Local Media, Inc., is a monthly community magazine. The magazine’s goal is to build a sense of community and pride in Woodstock and surrounding area by providing residents with positive stories and timely information. It distributes a total of 16,900 free copies. Approximately 15,700 are direct mailed to homes and businesses and an additional 1,200 are placed in racks around the community. See page 64 for a distribution map. Around Woodstock also has many digital viewers of the magazine online each month. Around Woodstock welcomes your comments, stories, and advertisements. The deadline is the 10th of the previous month. Subscriptions are available for $24 per year. Send check or money order to the address below. The viewpoints of the advertisers, columnists and submissions are not necessarily those of the editor/publisher and the publisher makes no claims as to the validity of any charitable organizations mentioned. Around Woodstock 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 2018 Around Woodstock PMB 380, 1025 Rose Creek Dr., Ste. 620, Woodstock, GA 30189 For Advertising: Patty Ponder, 770-615-3322 Website: www.AroundWoodstockMagazine.com Volume 5, Issue 4
America’s Community Magazine
COMMUNITY
MLK Unity Award Recipient
Percy D. Vaughn Percy Vaughn was given the MLK Unity Award during the 20th annual Martin Luther King Jr. Unity Breakfast in January at the Northside Hospital Cherokee Conference Center. The annual event recognizes the legacy of one of America’s greatest civil rights icons and draws approximately 500 residents from all racial, political, social and religious backgrounds to promote unity among the citizens of the county. Here are the highlights of the award winner’s accomplishments. Vaughn was born in Atlanta and graduated from Cornado High School in Lubbock, Texas. He earned his bachelor’s degree from Southern University in Baton Rouge and his MBA from Atlanta University. After graduation, he worked for Ford Motor Co., fulfilling several managerial positions and increasing his responsibilities over his 10-year tenure. After leaving Percy D. Vaughn Ford in 1986, he worked with Hyundai Motor Co. in Atlanta and was promoted to general manager of the Southern Region within six years. In 1995, Vaughn opened the Southern region office for Kia Motors America in Atlanta, where he now serves as the executive director. The Kia Southern Region office has been the No. 1 region for the past 23 years and contributes 37 percent of total sales for Kia Motors America. Vaughn currently serves as chairman of the Chick-fil-A Peach
Bowl board, where he oversees the Peach Bowl’s board of directors and board of trustees, which includes management of the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl, the Chick-fil-A Kickoff Game, the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl Challenge charity golf tournament and the Bobby Dodd Coach of the Year Award. Vaughn previously served as vice chairman and has been involved with the bowl for six years through his time at Kia. Vaughn is also a member of the Cobb Chamber of Commerce Chairman’s Club, received Father of the Year for 2013 from the American Diabetes Association, and is a board member for the Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre. Vaughn’s devotion to children, charity and the community is evident in his service. He has been responsible for providing more than $20,000 a year to the Boys and Girls Club of Cherokee County for several years, and has been their fundraising event sponsor. Additionally, under Vaughn’s leadership, Carriage Kia became the 2017 title sponsor of the Allen Temple Annual Scholarship Golf Event, which provides scholarship funds for Cherokee County seniors. He also has been a major contributor to the SISTA elite golf event, which has sponsored young women in the arts and cancer awareness in Birmingham, Ala., for the past 10 years. Vaughn and his wife, Audree, have two adult children and enjoy spoiling their grandchildren.
AROUND WOODSTOCK | February 2018
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YOUR LOCAL NEWS
Breaking Ground for the Next Phase
Elm Street Cultural Arts Village celebrated a milestone with groundbreaking for the new Reeves House, which will include community space, a gallery for local and regional art, areas for artists to work 24/7, and a place for the preservation of local history. To follow the progress, check www.revivethereeves.org or on Facebook at Elm Street Cultural Arts Village. The above photo was taken at groundbreaking: from left, Debbie Tidwell, local artist with Elm Street; Kenny Kligman, Reeves House chair; Mayor Donnie Henriques; City Historian Juanita Hughes; Ann Litrel and Shawn McLeod, founders; Siobhan Brumbelow, Christopher Brazelton, Elm Street staffers; County Commissioner Scott Gordon; Councilman David Potts, Brian Gamel and Jillian Melko, Elm Street staff; Councilman Rob Usher; City Manager Jeff Moon; Council members Brian Wolfe, Tracy Collins and Colin Ake. Photo by Jillian Melko.
Architect’s rendering of the renovated Reeves House.
The Exchange Taps Into Topic of Self Care The topic of The Exchange on Feb. 8 will be Soul Keeping, featuring a fun yet meaningful discussion with Vikki Fraker and Elizabeth Pherson. Their dialogue will touch on the importance of women taking time to do something each day to recharge themselves, to take care of their souls. The topic of the gathering is based on the premise by John Ortberg that we each have an outer life and an inner life. Our outer life is the public, visible life — the one that everyone sees: our accomplishments, our work, and our reputation. Our inner life is not visible. It is where our secret thoughts and hopes and wishes live. Because our inner lives are not visible, they are easy to neglect. The Exchange meets at 7 p.m. at Venue 92, 12015 Highway 92 in Woodstock. Suggested donation is $10. RSVP at www.theexchangeus.org. 8
AROUND WOODSTOCK | February 2018
Mini Grant Awarded to Health Departments Health departments in the North Georgia Health District were awarded the 2018 Car Seat Mini Grant by the Georgia Department of Public Health Injury Prevention Program. Through the mini grant, Cherokee, Fannin, Gilmer, Murray, Pickens and Whitfield county health departments, and local collaborative partners, work together to provide car seats and education to financially eligible families. This program is funded by the Governor’s Office of Highway Safety to help ensure Georgia’s children are safe while riding in motor vehicles. For details, visit www.nghd.org and click on the locations tab.
Valuable Volunteer at the Senior Center Gayle Bautz has been named the 2017 Volunteer of the Year for the William G. Long Senior Center. She is the line dancing instructor, cooks, cleans, assists other cooks, is a member of the advisory committee, covers the office for the staff when needed, and does much more. “We have an outstanding group of volunteers at the William G. Long Senior Center. We appreciate all of their hard work and dedication to our programs there. Our activities and programs at the center would not be nearly as successful without our volunteers,” said Preston Pooser, director of Woodstock Parks and Recreation.
Gayle Bautz
Brett Waits, founder and CEO of Plae and Plae Hard
The Lunch Circuit 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. Feb. 14 The Circuit, 1 Innovation Way, Woodstock 30188 770-345-0600 Tickets available at http://circuitwoodstock.com/ or the event page at www.facebook.com/circuitwoodstock/.
Plug Into The Circuit The Lunch Circuit is a monthly exclusive gathering where aspiring and current entrepreneurs can meet to eat, build community and learn the stories behind successful Cherokee County entrepreneurs. The event is powered by Fresh Start Cherokee, hosted by Cherokee Office of Economic Development and held at The Circuit Woodstock, 1 Innovation Way, Woodstock 30188. February’s featured entrepreneur is Brett Waits, founder and CEO of Plae and Plae Hard, headquartered in downtown Woodstock. Get the full story behind Waits’ unique company and gain behind-the-scenes access to his entrepreneurial journey. The Lunch Circuit is held in The Circuit office, the restored former Woodstock Elementary School on the Chattahoochee Technical College campus. The 3,000-squarefoot innovation space is a gathering place for students, burgeoning and established businesses to meet, consult, advise and explore new opportunities. For more information, visit www.circuitwoodstock.com.
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Stay Connected with Specials and Promotions. AROUND WOODSTOCK | February 2018
9
YOUR LOCAL NEWS WellStar System, Employee Honored
From left: Rich Sabo, Richard Proof and Robert Ekholm.
Marine Corps League Chooses New Leaders New officers were named recently for the Marine Corps League Detachment 1311 in Woodstock. Rich Sabo was named commandant of Marine Corps League Detachment 1311 for 2018 while Richard Proof was named senior vice commandant and Robert Ekholm continues as junior vice commandant. The detachment was founded in early April 2008 by 16 Marine veterans, who are referred to as plank owners. The detachment received its national charter in September 2008. Current membership includes 122 Marine veterans, FMF Naval corpsmen and FMF Naval chaplains. It is Georgia’s largest and most rapidly growing detachment. The annual “Rip” Masters Golf Tournament is set for May 7, with a shotgun start at 9:30 a.m., at Cobblestone Golf Course in Acworth. Funds from this event go to sponsor worthy students for college scholarships. It is open to the general public, with a special emphasis on all veterans, regardless of branch of service. For details, call Ron Welborn at 404-217-2246. Marine Corps League Detachment 1311 meets at 9:30 a.m. on the third Saturday of each month at the Semper Fi Bar and Grille, 9770 Main St. in Woodstock.
Woodstock resident Joy Peterson, a clinical pharmacist at WellStar Kennestone Hospital, has been given WellStar’s 2017 Working Mother of the Year award. The announcement was made along with the ranking of WellStar Health System as one of the top places in the United States for mothers to work. Working Mother magazine placed WellStar on its 100 Best Companies List for its innovative work-life balance programs and emphasis on team member wellness, the 10th consecutive year for this honor. Peterson juggles the demands of her career while caring for her twin daughters. Her dedication to success and to her family earned her the honor. While caring for her young daughters, Peterson entered pharmacy school at Mercer University’s Gwinnett campus. Peterson joined the team at Kennestone as a post-graduate clinical pharmacy resident. Because of the work-life balance, Peterson never left WellStar. “It is so rare to have so many demands and a fulfilling career,” she said. “And I have a healthy home life! I am so blessed.”
Joy Peterson balanced work and raising her twins.
City Earns Distinguished Budget Award In late 2017, the Government Finance Officers Association announced that the city of Woodstock has received the GFOA’s Distinguished Budget Presentation Award for its budget. The award represents a significant achievement by the city for its commitment to meeting the highest principles of governmental budgeting. The guidelines are designed to assess how well an entity’s budget serves as a policy document, financial plan, operations guide and communications device. Crystal Welch, the city’s budget analyst, oversaw the city’s efforts to earn the award and was presented with a certificate of recognition for budget presentation by the GFOA. Mayor Donnie Henriques, middle, and City Manager Jeffrey Moon, right, presented Crystal Welch with her Certificate of Recognition. 10
AROUND WOODSTOCK | February 2018
AROUND WOODSTOCK | February 2018
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Celebrations!
Happy 1st birthday, Rowen!
Dylan
You bring us so much joy! Love, Mom and Dad
Age 6 on Feb. 6 Happy, happy birthday Dyl Pickle! Love always, Daddy, Mommy and Julian
Zoe Rose Moylan
Happy birthday, Ryker
Happy happy 7th birthday to our sweet, smart and funny Zoe! Love, Mommy, Daddy, Ziggy and Ellie Mae
Benjamyn Moreland
Age 12 on Feb. 10 Celebrate, it’s your birthday! Love, Dad, Mom, Kyle and Mason
Helen Marie Goodwin
Nicolas Talbot
Age 5 on Feb. 26 Mommy and Daddy love you very much.
Celebrating Sweet 16 on Feb. 14. We love you and are so proud of you! Daddy, Mommy and Abby
Brysen Blauser
Age 1 on Feb. 23 Happy birthday to our always smiling, happy little Brycemister! We love you so very much. You bring so much joy to all of our lives daily. Mommy, Daddy, Victoria, Shawn and doggies Kiser and Stella.
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Nicole Vest
Age 8 on Feb. 22 Happy birthday to our favorite son! We love you more than you'll ever know!
AROUND WOODSTOCK | February 2018
Age 6 on Feb. 17 Happy birthday to our big boy! You are such a great son and brother. We are very proud of you and love you very much. Mom, Dad, and Anthony
Ava Claire Steelman
Turned 1 on Dec. 11 Happy birthday, Boog! We love you, Momma and Daddy
ANNOUNCEMENTS ARE FREE! E-mail to: Candi@AroundaboutMagazines.com March deadline is Feb. 10. Please specify Around Woodstock.
The Advantages of a Pre-Listing Inspection SUBMITTED BY THE PREMIER GROUP
A pre-listing inspection is conducted before putting a home on the market. The purpose is to identify potential issues with the home that are included in a written report stating the condition of the home. Just like a home inspection paid for by the potential buyer, this inspection evaluates the overall state of repair of the home and identifies problem areas. The National Association of Home Inspectors uses a 1,600 point list, but the main components are: • Grounds • Structure • Roof • Exterior • Interior rooms • Kitchen • Bathrooms • Plumbing • Electrical • Windows, doors and trim
Typically, a potential buyer will pay to have an inspection performed on the property toward the end of the sales cycle. The benefits of a seller conducting a pre-listing inspection is to identify issues with the property that might show up on a home inspection report and kill the deal. A pre-listing inspection can help address major issues before your home ever goes on the market, making your property more attractive to buyers, or it can help with your decision-making process when it comes to setting a price. It also shortens the sales process by allowing potential buyers to know up-front what they’re getting into. No one ends up wasting time, and everyone goes into the deal with the necessary facts.
AROUND WOODSTOCK | February 2018
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Wintertime Cornhole
The CornholeATL winter league returned to Woodstock Jan. 10. It might have been dark and little chilly, but players and spectators enjoyed the party-like atmosphere on the Elm Street Park lawn located behind Truck and Tap. The winter cornhole league lasts for seven Wednesdays, and the community is invited to watch and cheer on their favorite players and teams. For more information, visit the website www.cornholeatl.com or on Facebook at @CornholeATL.
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PHOTOS COURTESY OF DARLEEN PREM AROUND WOODSTOCK | February 2018
AROUND WOODSTOCK | February 2018
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Winter Break
While the Cherokee County School District has designated Feb. 21-23 as inclement weather makeup days, here are some ideas to keep the kids entertained at the first of the week.
@ the Library Rose Creek
4476 Towne Lake Parkway, Woodstock / 770-591-1491
Feb. 22
Games Galore at 2 p.m. Bring your own board games to play, or play one that belongs to the library. All ages and games are welcome; children 9 and younger must be accompanied by an adult.
Woodstock
7735 Main St. / 770-926-5859
Feb. 23
Sing First at 10:30 a.m. These music and movement classes for children and their parents (divided into three sessions) are provided by music teacher Justine Lemmo. For ages 0-7; children must be accompanied by a participating adult. Crafternoon at 4:30 p.m. will feature knitting, continued from last month, with a focus on the purl stitch to make cozy hand warmers. For ages 9 and older; children aged 9 must be accompanied by an adult.
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AROUND WOODSTOCK | February 2018
Reader Colin has a blast with reading dog Zoey at the Rose Creek Public Library.
Hickory Flat
2740 E. Cherokee Drive, Canton / 770-345-7565
@ the YMCA
Feb. 20
Cherokee County YMCA
different manga series and related topics. This program will encourage reading and group discussion in a fun and innovative way. Refreshments are provided.
Feb. 19-23 at both Cherokee County branches. The focus is to provide a fun, safe environment for kids to explore new things, make new friends, and grow collectively and as individuals. Price is $31 each day for facility members, or $34 for nonmembers. www.ymcaatlanta.org/ymca-locations/ cherokee.
Manga Club at 5 p.m. Teens are encouraged to read and discuss
Feb. 22
Sherlock Holmes Murder Mystery Night at 6:30 p.m. There’s been a murder! Sherlock Holmes has been found dead, and it’s up to you to find out the whos, whats and wheres. Think you have what it takes to solve the mystery? Prizes will be awarded to the top sleuths. Refreshments will be provided. For all ages; children 9 and younger must be accompanied by an adult.
Feb. 23-March 21
The Game Is Afoot. Ready to put your detective skills to the
School break camp for ages 5-12, daily 7:30 a.m.-6 p.m.
• At the Cecil Pruett Family YMCA
151 Waleska St., Canton, include: swimming, arts and crafts, nature hikes, playground, basketball/soccer/kickball, organic gardening, team-building games, and games and activities on the large field.
• At the Cherokee Outdoor Family YMCA
ultimate test? Join the first interactive, multiplayer logic game. Grab your game board during Week 1 and then visit the library once a week to get a new clue. Using library and online resources, be the first person to solve the crime of the century. The game will end March 21 with a party for the players.
201 E. Bells Ferry Road, campers will enjoy: nature hikes, arts and crafts, building forts, playground time, basketball/ soccer/kickball, archery, field games, canoeing when a lifeguard is present, and a climbing tower when an instructor is present.
R.T. Jones
@ the Rec Center
116 Brown Industrial Parkway, Canton / 770-479-3090
Feb. 19
How Slimy at 3 p.m. Make your own slime! In this STEAM program, mix, measure and stir to whip up slime to take home. For ages 9 and older; children aged 9 must be accompanied by an adult.
The Canton Eclectic Readers at 6 p.m. This month, the book club for unconventional readers will be reading “Hidden Figures” by Margot Lee Shetterly. Meeting in the Georgia Room.
Cherokee Recreation and Parks
School break camps include daily fields trips, indoor gym games, outside play, arts and crafts, and movie time. For more information on these camps, call 770-924-7768 or email Frankie Sanders at fsanders@cherokeega.com. Activities also are available at the Aquatic Center. www.crpa.net/camps/school-break-camps.
Reading Dogs at 4:30 p.m. Children age 6 and older can read to a
nonjudgmental, furry listener who won’t laugh if the reader stumbles or makes a mistake. Children are asked to select their own reading material before their scheduled session. Parents can register their child (two weeks in advance) for a 10-15 minute reading session.
Feb. 20
Drop-In Crafternoon at 3:30 p.m. Make and take home all the crafts you want. Get in touch with your creative side. Children must be accompanied by a participating adult.
Feb. 24
Lego Club at 3 p.m. A different theme each month. Children may work alone or in teams to build Lego masterpieces, which will be displayed in the library until next month’s meeting. Lego and Duplo are provided. Children 9 and younger must be accompanied by an adult.
Canton residents Steven and Grace get creative during a recent Lego Club event. AROUND WOODSTOCK | February 2018
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Tour of the Southern Highlands
Woodstock welcomes cycling event back for the second year. and fast, straight, with a few 90 degree and 180 degree turns. Best The Tour of the Southern viewing will be in front of Arnold Highlands cycling stage race is Mill Elementary School, with an returning to the area this year. awards ceremony at the finish line. The weekend’s events will kick off Sunday’s High Country Road downtown March 2. Race consists of counter-clockwise The men’s and women’s pro laps around a 15-mile circuit. criterium prologue race will take The course starts and finishes place on a .8-mile course starting on Valley Street in front of Ball at Market Street, going clockwise Ground Elementary School. The taking a right on Hickory Street, a Stage 3 Road Race begins at 8:30 right on Paden Street, and a right a.m., with up to three fields on on Mill Street to return to Market the course at any one time. The Street. road course is glorious scenery of The public is invited to an infield rolling, pastoral terrain, and it is race watch party on the Elm Street epic, sporting short, challenging Event Green, where spectators climbs to separate the field, before will get a perfect view of all the the long, flowing downhills give it action. There will be Reformation a chance to come back together. Brewery craft beer, food trucks, Best spectator viewing on cornhole and more. This night also On the winner’s stand are, from left: Lauren Hall, Ruth the course will be at or near the Winder and Kate Buss. is the kickoff of the 2018 Friday corner of Valley Street and Beck Night Live season, so there will be a great atmosphere in Street, where Ball Ground City Hall sits by the Botanical downtown Woodstock to welcome competitors and their Gardens. There will be an awards ceremony and closing families. festival with food and activities following the men’s race. On Saturday, amateurs will join the action with the Merckx continued on page 58 Time Trial, beginning and ending at Arnold Mill Elementary School. The race consists of clockwise laps around a 5.3mile circuit. There will be one lap for Stage 1, Merckx TT, Stacy Brown is the marketing and tourism coordinator and multiple laps, dependent on category or class, for the for the City of Woodstock. She can be reached at circuit race. Competitors will go off at 30-second intervals, sbrown@woodstockga.gov. beginning at 7:30 a.m., for a 2-mile out and back of fast, flat BY STACY BROWN
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AROUND WOODSTOCK | February 2018
Time to
Among the categories you can expect to find:
Restaurants American Asian Bakery Barbecue Breakfast Coffee Shop Dessert Fine Dining Italian Kid-Friendly Mexican Pizzeria Seafood
Retailers
Bicycle Sales Boutique Florist Garden Center/Nursery Gifts/Home Décor Jeweler Music Animal/Pet Supplies Liquor Store Pharmacy Specialty Foods Tires
Recreation & Entertainment Our 2018 voting opens at 9 a.m. Feb. 1. We hope you will take time out from your busy schedules to vote for your favorites in the categories listed here. Our local business owners bring so much value to our community - here’s a unique way to show our appreciation. Visit www.aroundwoodstockmagazine.com and with a click of your mouse, you will be directed to the voting site. Follow the prompts and cast your vote for your favorite SMALL businesses.
As you vote, please keep in mind:
1. Most of us spend a fair amount of time in
big-box retailers. Let’s keep the focus of Readers' Choice on local small businesses and celebrate the entrepreneurial spirit.
2. If you don’t see the name of your favorite business, feel free to write it in. Please include the location of the business, if there are multiple sites. For example, many restaurants have three or four locations. Help us know which one you’re voting for by giving as much information as possible, such as a street or community name.
3. Voting begins Feb. 1 and ends at 5 p.m. March 10. 4. Winners will be announced in the April issue. Businesses will not be notified ahead of time. Everyone will find out at the same time.
5. Vote in as few or as many categories as you’d like. There isn’t a minimum number of votes required for your votes to count.
6. No more than five votes per category will be accepted from each IP address.
Dance Studio Golf Course/Club Gymnastics Center
Services
Adult Day Care/Respite Attorney Audiologist Automotive Bank/Credit Union Barber Shop Business Support Cardiologist Chiropractor Counseling Day Care/Preschool Day Spa Dentist Dog Training ENT/Allergy Center Equestrian Financial Adviser Funeral Home Gastroenterologist General Practitioner Hair Salon Health/Fitness Home Cleaning Home Improvement/Repair Insurance Interior Design Landscaping/Lawn Care
Music Venue Swim Lessons Theater
Massage Music Lessons Nail Salon Obstetrician/Gynecologist Ophthalmologist Optometrist Orthodontist Orthopedics/Sports Medicine Pediatric Dentist Pediatrician Pest Control Pet Grooming/Boarding Photographer Physical Therapist Plastic Surgeons Podiatrist Private School Realtor Senior Living Facility Travel Agency Tutoring Vacation Rentals Veterinarian
Happy Voting! AROUND WOODSTOCK | February 2018
19
Staying Healthy in the Senior Years
It didn’t take long for Nathan Brandon, fresh out of seminary, to realize that he shouldn’t underestimate senior citizens. All it took was a trip to the World’s Fair with an active group of senior adults to set him on a course that would ultimately benefit him in his retirement years. While Brandon retired in 2015 as director of Cherokee County Senior Services, he is as active as ever. We asked him to tell us how he got involved working with seniors and what inspires him to keep busy exercising every day of the week.
What’s your background with seniors in Cherokee County? “We moved to Canton in 1982 from seminary, and I was hired as a staff minister at First Baptist Church, Canton. That job also had responsibilities with senior adults. That was my first experience. It was incredible! My first trip with them was to the World’s Fair in Knoxville, Tenn. It rained like a cow urinating on a flat rock! I thought the seniors would be miserable. WRONG! They outran us and insisted on a fire when we returned to the condo. It only got better. In 1986, I went to Berea College for
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training in the Body Recall exercise programs for older adults. It was a hit and soon our senior group included many seniors from the community. From that experience, I eventually went into work with seniors through the assisted living industry. It was my pleasure to work with families to help their loved ones thrive in a safe and enjoyable environment. “I transitioned from assIsted living work to direct the Cherokee Senior Services Agency. We served many adults who did not have the means to chose assisted living. Through providing meals on wheels, homemaker services and case management, we were able to help seniors stay in their homes longer. Then, about four years ago, I started the Body Recall exercises for the seniors we served.”
What prompted you to help seniors pursue exercise? “I felt like our programs took care of personal needs and material needs but lacked the physical needs of our seniors. Body Recall stresses emphasis on strength, flexibility, balance and coordination in order to sustain independence as long as possible. Since that
first class in February of 2013, the program has grown significantly. We now meet in the Boys and Girls Club gym across from senior services [office on Univeter Road in Canton]. Their director, Keisha Day, has been very supportive. She allows us to use the gym each morning for exercise as well as Pickleball. “Recently, in May of 2017, I was introduced to Pickleball. It’s a combination of racquetball and tennis and badminton. It’s perfect for older adults, of which I am now a member, who want some cardio exercise without excessive running. Our group now plays five days a week in the Boys and Girls Club gym. We invite beginners to come and play without being intimidated by the competition.”
Is transportation an issue? “Transportation for seniors is the number one biggest challenge. Independence requires the ability to travel to doctor appointments, grocery shopping and worship. We started the volunteer driver program at senior services that still provides rides for seniors at no cost. It’s a delicate balance for families to discourage their senior from driving, yet can’t provide transportation when needed. The ‘talk’ about driving is second only to moving out of one’s home.”
Explain the benefits of exercise for senior adults. “As we age, we can experience challenges to our normal or youthful range of motion, flexibility, balance and coordination. If we continue to move, we’ll be better able to deal with these natural changes in our physical abilities.”
Nathan Brandon encourages Wayne Page as he works out in the new pocket park, an exercise area built with a $43,000 grant from Northside Hospital. The park was constructed at the Canton senior center at 1001 Univeter Road.
Cherokee Senior Services classes: Body Recall
8:30 a.m. Monday, Wednesday and Friday at the Malon D. Mimms Boys and Girls Club, 1082 Univeter Road, Canton. 770-720-7712. www.bgcma.org/club/mimms/. Free.
S.A.F.E.
Strength and Flexibility Exercises held Tuesdays and Thursdays at the William G. Long Senior Center, 223 Arnold Mill Road, Woodstock. 678-445-6518. www.woodstockga.gov/92/William-GLong-Senior-Center. Free.
Pickleball
9:45 a.m. Monday, Wednesday and Friday, and 8 a.m. Tuesday and Thursday at the Malon D. Mimms Boys and Girls Club gym. Free.
What if someone has never exercised? “The first step you can take is walking. Set realistic, measurable goals to help you start a meaningful exercise program. (The Cherokee Recreation and Parks Agency offers a Silver Roamers program for seniors to remain active and enjoy fellowship. Call or visit 770-924-7768 or visit www.crpa.net.) “Every exercise program should include a combination of cardio and weights. It may be wise to have supervision if you have a medical history that prevents cardio work without supervision. And remember that it’s important to stay hydrated. A balanced nutrition program and proper hydration will enable most older adults to enjoy an exceptional quality of life.”
Parachutes are among the equipment provided by the Cherokee County Senior Center for Body Recall classes. Participants also use foam balls, resistance bands and wooden dowels they call “magic wands.”
AROUND WOODSTOCK | February 2018
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Kids and Boxes, A Match Made in Heaven BY MATT NEAL
It’s several weeks after Christmas, and my son still finds enjoyment with all the stuff. I don’t mean the actual gifts, but the boxes they came in. Even as we started early spring cleaning he was in our way, sneaking cardboard out of the recycle bin and hoarding it someplace. And then, seemingly overnight, a gigantic box fort emerged in our living room. It looked quite eclectic, made with a crazy assortment of colors and sizes. It had a turret so he could point a Nerf gun and fire on the enemy. His friends came over and great battles ensued. For the most part, the actual presents he received were barely used. At first I was disappointed. He played with them for a few weeks, then they sat in his room. I remembered something though: Childhood is the place where imagination flourishes best, and allows young minds to expand and try new things while learning about their world. My son used his chore money to buy duct tape and yardsticks. He used them to reinforce the cardboard wings of a plane with a 6-foot wingspan. He threw it off our second
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story deck countless times, each time repairing it and adjusting it until it glided with perfection. He figured out what things like rudders and stabilizers are, and how they work. And he did it all with cardboard I meant to discard. My daughter was always the same way. Old boxes and packing material would be transformed into elaborate dollhouses. When she was young, I could see she liked dollhouses so I bought her a plastic one for her birthday. However, the magic was lacking without her own work and creativity. That was a powerful lesson to me. That shiny plastic thing with its gadgets and features meant less than her own creations, simply because the ones she made came from inside her, and from her hard work. continued on page 58
Matt Neal is a freelance writer who has lived in Woodstock with his wife since 1999. He can be reached at mattnealwriter@outlook.com.
Elm Street
Play Like a Kid BY SIOBHAN BRUMBELOW
Have you ever wished you could be a kid again? To not have to work all the time and just play? Kids have it easy, don’t they? Not always. Over the years, there has been an increase in student work from schools and pressure to succeed in testing. This has resulted in children studying so much that they do not have time to play and be a kid, except for holiday breaks. When I was little, I used to play with dolls and toys, taking them on crazy adventures full of magic and mystery. I would play outside with my brothers and their friends, exploring woods and riding bikes down steep hills. I miss those days, but now, I’m blessed to play “house” with my almost 5-year-old daughter. I feel lucky sometimes. I work in a field that challenges my creativity every day and allows children to do the same. I had the chance to play when I was younger and I can still play When we now. Not many individuals get play, we these opportunities or have the courage to express themselves, are more and I wish they could. open to all Our February musical, “School of Rock,” delves into the topic of possibilities. children working and studying so much that they don’t get a chance to be themselves. Their parents are constantly pressuring them to be “good students” and pay a lot of money for them to go to a prestigious private school. Dewey Finn, a fake substitute teacher/rock enthusiast, discovers the students’ true talents and encourages them to help him create a rock band. He also encourages them to believe in themselves, have courage, and that play can be just as important as work. Albert Einstein stated, “Play is the highest form of research.” Brainstorming, which can be an enjoyable and highly productive form of play, is among the best creative activities. When we play, we are more open to all possibilities. Assumptions about our limitations disappear. You don’t have to be a child to still play. Whether you have kids or not, I encourage you to join us, Feb. 1-4, to see “School of Rock.” The message behind this show is clear: it’s never too late to believe in your potential. It’s performed by our SPOTLIGHT cast, ages 10-18, and they have proven to be a talented bunch of students who like to play.
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.
DOWNTOWN WOODSTOCK
FEB 1 - 4
FRI - SAT AT 7:30PM SUN AT 2:00PM Rated PG-13 Call or visit us on the web to learn about our
SPRING CLASSES Registration Open Now
ELMSTREETARTS.ORG 678.494.4251
AROUND WOODSTOCK | February 2018
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Not to rush you, but summer break will be here before we know it. If you’re making plans for your family’s vacations, don’t forget to book a week or two of camp activities for the kids. Our annual guide of local summer camps should help you find overnight and day camps that work for your family. Register early since many camps fill up quickly.
2018 Brainy Bytes Technology Camps STEM adventures await, whether you are looking to conquer robot, drone and minecraft challenges or wanting to create games, movies, 3D objects, websites and more. Weekly half-day and full-day camps for ages 5 and up start June 4. Locations throughout Cherokee and Cobb. 770-8260449. www.brainy-bytes.com/nw-atlanta.
Camp Gideon A Christian camp located on Lake Allatoona that offers day and overnight camping programs for children and youth to engage them socially, spiritually and physically through a variety of outdoor activities. IMPACT Camp (co-ed, ages 12+) June 9-15, Discovery Day Camps (co-ed, ages 5-11) June 11-15, 18-22, 25-29 and D24 Overnight Camp (co-ed, ages 7-13) July 2-6, July 9-13. Visit www.campgideon.com for more information, pricing and online registration. Camp Invention For children entering K-6th grades at Lyndon Academy, 485 Toonigh Road, Woodstock. June 11-15, July 9-13. Participants enjoy hands-on fun by designing and building prototypes, problem solving, exploring STEM concepts and learning teamwork. In partnership with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. 800-968-4332. www.campinvention.org. 24
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Guide Camp Juliette Low An overnight camp for girls ages 7-17 that offers outdoor programs to foster self-confidence, independence, teamwork and leadership. Traditional camping, platform tents, outdoor adventure, fun and friendship await. One- and two-week sessions available June 3-July 28. Located on Lookout Mountain in Cloudland, Ga. For more info call 770-428-1062, email info@ CJL.org or visit www.CJL.org.
Cherokee County YMCA Day Camps Summer camping experience available at the Woodstock and Canton locations. Full-day camp for ages 5-15, and halfday camp for ages 4-5. Traditional and specialty programs offered. Cost of traditional full-day camp is $170 per child per week. For more info, call 678-8803502, email robertbe@ymcaatlanta.org or visit www.ymcaatlanta.org/coy.
Camp Splash The Woodstock Aquatic Center and Gold Swim school will host weekly Summer Camp Splash June 4 through July 20 for ages 5-12 with a of maximum 16 campers per week. Campers need to bring a packed lunch daily; snacks and water provided. Camp is $265 per week, $250 for multiple weeks, 10 percent off for siblings. To register, call 770-591-1998, email Frontdesk@goldswim.com, or online at www.goldswim.com.
Dance Imagination Fairytale Dance Camp is four hours of games, craft activities, snack, play time, tumble, lunch and dance. 9 a.m.-1 p.m. in June and July. Call 678-445-2731 or check www.danceimagination.com for updates.
Cherokee Tennis Center Tiny Tots Camp for ages 8 and younger Monday-Thursday 8:15-9 a.m. Cost is $50 per session. Includes tennis games, review of tennis fundamentals with the emphasis on fun. The USTA 10-and-under format uses smaller nets, softer/lower bouncing balls, and short courts tailored to younger players. Each camper will receive a prize each week. Day camp is for ages 8 and older, Monday-Thursday 9 a.m.-noon. Cost is $160 per session and consists of tennis drills, point play, game play and more. Each session will end with prizes and a pizza party. Campers will receive a T-shirt during the first week. Multiple-child discounts are offered. Camp dates are June 11-14, 1821,15-28. July 9-12, 16-19, 23-26. Register online at www.cherokeetenniscenter.com or call 770-592-4582.
Dance For His Glory Camps will be held June 11-15 and July 9-13, and are available for ages 7-18. More information and registration available online at www.danceforhisglory.net. Elm Street Cultural Arts Village This organization has one of the oldest and largest arts education programs for young people in the region. Camps are taught by trained counselors, who introduce children ages 5-14 to the exciting world of the theater. Campers explore the craft of acting and learn the discipline of performing, as they develop their unique creative voices. Elm Street’s camps are to provide young people with performance and creative thinking skills that will serve them in whatever profession they one day choose. Campers develop poise, movement, speaking and acting skills as they explore improvisation, theater games, character development and the many other skills. Call 678-494-4251 for more information.
Georgia All-Star Gymnastics Day Camp Children will participate in gymnastics, arts and crafts, outdoor and indoor games, sprinkler time, watch movies, and have quiet time to read, rest or play alone. Children need to bring a snack and drinks for the morning and afternoon, and a sack lunch. Sessions are 9 a.m.-5 p.m. weekly May 29-July 27. Half-day and full-day rates available. Early drop-off (7-9 a.m.) and late pick-up (5-6 p.m.) available for additional $7. Located at 105 Arnold Mill Park, Woodstock. 770-516-2654. info@ga-allstars.com. www.ga-allstars.com.
Cherokee Recreation and Parks Registration begins 9 a.m. April 16 770-924-7768, www.crpa.net
K.A.O.S. Camp Designed for individuals ages 6-22 with disabilities, sponsored by the Cherokee County Recreation and Parks Association, will be held at Woodstock Elementary School May 29July 27. Hours are 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Contact Jen Fischer, jlfischer@cherokeega.com. Adventures Express Camp Weekly camps May 29-July 27 at the rec center for kindergarten-age 8 and Hickory Flat Elementary for kindergarten-age 12. 6:30-9 a.m. drop-off, 9 a.m.-4 p.m. camp activities, 4-6:30 p.m. pick-up. $130 weekly, $30 deposit per week due at registration. Fishing Camp The basics of fishing, strategies and tactics, and other skills will be taught to campers ages 9-14, June 4-8 and June 18-22. Campers will travel to new destinations each day. A cookout and fish fry will wrap up the week. Cost is $150 for each week. Contact Adam Fussell, cafussell@cherokeega.com. Summit Lacrosse At Riverside Athletic Complex, ages 8-18, 9 a.m.-noon May 29-June 1. $160. Contact Adam Fussell, cafussell@cherokeega.com. Waterlogged At the Recreation Center pavilion for ages 9-12, 9 a.m.-4 p.m. June 11-15 and July 9-13. Water field trip daily. $250. Contact Frankie Sanders, fsanders@cherokeega.com.
Paper.Scissors.Cake. Camps for ages 2-12 are broken down into three camp days and times. Toddler and preschool camps have weekly themes, while school-age children will explore painting, drawing, collage, mixed media and printmaking. No two camp sessions are alike. Located at 6687 Bells Ferry Road, Woodstock. For more details, visit www.paperscissorscakeartstudio.com, call 404-867-1630 or email paperscissorscake@windstream.net. Safety Town A summer camp with a pint-sized town where safety messages are taught by Cherokee County safety professionals to children entering kindergarten in the fall. Topics covered include water, poison and fire safety, stranger awareness, school bus, pedestrian and traffic safety, and more. Volunteers help run three one-week sessions at Bascomb Elementary School 9 a.m.-noon, June 4-8, 11-15 and 18-22. Cost is $80 per child per week and includes crafts, snacks and a T-shirt. For more information and registration forms, visit http://safekidscherokeecounty.org/. Contact director Ashley Arp cherokeecountysafetytown@gmail.com or 770-894-2151 for questions.
Adventure Teen Camp At Recreation Center pavilion for ages 13-15, 9 a.m.-4 p.m. July 16-20. Outdoor adventures including zip-lining, ropes challenge courses, canoeing/kayaking and more. Contact Jen Fischer, jlfischer@cherokeega.com. Teen Camp At Recreation Center pavilion for ages 13-15, 9 a.m.-4 p.m. June 25-29. Fun trips to White Water, rafting, Six Flags, white water rafting and more. $250. Contact Jen Fischer, jlfischer@cherokeega.com. Cherokee High School fast-pitch At Twin Creeks Softball Complex for ages 7-14, 9 a.m.-noon June 25-28. Glove, bat, cleats and athletic clothing needed. $130. Contact Kate Borden, kborden@cherokeega.com. Champions Fast-Pitch Softball At Twin Creeks for ages 7-14, 9 a.m.-1 p.m. July 23-26. Glove, bat, cleats and athletic clothing needed. $125. Contact Kate Borden, kborden@cherokeega.com. Xplosive Speed & Agility For ages 6-15, 6-8:30 p.m. June 25-28. Participants will refine their techniques, increase speed, strength and agility for any sport. $95. Contact Neely Motijunas, nmotiejunas@ cherokeega.com. Gymnastics At Recreation Center gym for ages 6-12, 9 a.m.-4:30 p.m. July 2-3 and 5-6. $75 for two days, $140 for four. No camp July 4. Learn fundamentals of gymnastics and tumbling. Contact Jen Fischer, jlfischer@cherokeega.com. Challenge Island STEM-Wars Camp for ages 6-11, 9 a.m.-noon June 11-15. Movie-inspired challenges, including building your own spaceship, droids and rockets. Includes all materials. $170. Contact Frankie Sanders, fsanders@cherokeega.com. Magic Camp At Recreation Center stage for ages 5-12, 9 a.m.-noon June 4-8, and ages 13 and older 1-4 p.m. June 4-8. Discover the art of magic including card and coin tricks, making objects appear and disappear, levitation and read a spectator’s mind. Parent show on Friday. Contact Frankie Sanders, fsanders@cherokeega.com.com or 770-894-2151 for questions. AROUND WOODSTOCK | February 2018
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HEALTH & WELLNESS
Quick Action Gives Local Man a Second Chance treatment is essential to the patient’s recovery. Scott had a head injury, broken ribs, bruised lung, broken thigh Patti Yapp looked out a lake house bone, broken leg and shattered hips. window. The calm waters reflected But that wasn’t the biggest threat to the sun. Her husband, Scott, and his Scott’s life: He lost six pints of blood. brother laughed while they played on “He came to us with a very low their jet skis. It was a perfect day on blood pressure, barely alive,” said Lake Allatoona. Dr. Jinu Kamdar, a WellStar trauma Something gave her pause and she surgeon. “He was hanging on by a glanced out the window again. What thread.” she saw chilled her to the bone that When someone has a bleeding hot summer day. Two jet skis collided. emergency, minutes can mean life Bodies flew. A sunbeam formed a or death. In Scott’s case, a series of spotlight to reveal their empty jet skis, Patti and Scott Yapp with Dr. Jinu Kamdar (center). surgeries was needed to repair his rocking on the water. broken bones, and an intensive care “I looked over my right-hand shoulder,” Scott said, remembering team nursed him through the critical days and weeks after the the moment before the crash. “My brother wasn’t there. I took a surgeries. quick turn. In a couple seconds, he had moved from my left side to “There were a host of nurses. I was in five or six rooms as I my right side. I didn’t take that second glance. I went into a sharp progressed through my care. Different doctors would come see me. turn and he had nowhere to go. He T-boned right into me and that’s Everybody was really thoughtful, and I could tell and feel that I was pretty much when everything went dark.” the priority. I’m glad they chose to do what they do with their lives. On the dock, Patti called 911. It made a difference in mine,” he said. “I yelled at the first boat I saw,” Patti said. “Please, go help my A few years later, Scott jokes that Patti won’t let him on another husband!” jet ski. But, he is thankful for her quick thinking and the medical A boater found the men; Scott’s brother was OK. But the collision care he received. Fully recovered, he enjoys the sunshine, the water crushed Scott’s body. Paramedics rushed him to the nearest trauma and his family more than ever. center, at WellStar Kennestone Hospital. “Scott had that fighting spirit; he kept on fighting, and that’s why Quick response after such a devastating accident and proper he’s here today,” Dr. Kamdar said. SUBMITTED BY WELLSTAR HEALTH SYSTEMS
Dermal Fillers vs. Traditional Facelifts BY JAMES HALEY, MD, FACOG, FPMRS
The fountain of youth may be just around the corner. Actually, the truth is that there have been tremendous advancements in non-invasive cosmetic procedures. All-natural dermal fillers have become more popular as their incredible benefits have become apparent. These products are made from natural elements found in the skin, elements that decline with age. Using these products as fillers produces a lasting positive benefit - stimulating skin to rejuvenate itself without having to go through the pain and long recovery of plastic surgery.
The Downfall of Traditional Facelifts
A traditional facelift requires a substantial investment of money and involves a long recovery period, usually about six weeks. There are risks associated with anesthesia and undergoing surgery. We have all seen the pictures of celebrity facelifts gone bad, and you always run the risk of becoming disfigured or scarred in some way. When done properly, a facelift can have great results, but there is considerable pain and recovery time.
The Benefits of Dermal Fillers
Natural dermal fillers are an excellent way to achieve a rejuvenated youthful appearance, with virtually no pain and 26
AROUND WOODSTOCK | February 2018
no downtime. In the aging process, skin loses elasticity and shape. The face begins to sag. Dermal fillers, such as Juvederm, are injectable gels made from hyaluronic acid, a hydrating substance that your body produces naturally. Injecting different types of these fillers under the skin immediately adds volume and reduces wrinkles and deep folds. Different types of fillers are formulated for each distinct purpose. Some add volume and contour to the cheeks, reducing lines and giving the face an overall lift. Others add volume to the lips and fill in the lines around the mouth. There also are fillers for deep lines such as the nasolabial folds or marionette lines (the downturned lines from the corner of your mouth to the jawline). The results are not only instant, but can be quite dramatic. Your face is the most visible part of you, and dermal fillers can help give you a more youthful and refreshed look.
James Haley, M.D. is a double board certified OB/GYN and urogynecologist with Cherokee Women’s Health Specialists. www.cherokeewomenshealth.com.
Telephone Tips for Hearing Aid Users BY DR. SARAH LICHT
The overall sound quality and clarity of a phone conversation can depend on many factors, including cell service, unfamiliar voices and even the environment around you, the listener. These factors can be even more daunting to someone who has a hearing loss. Many patients with hearing loss struggle to talk on the phone, because they can’t see visual cues from the speaker. Here are some recommendations to make communicating over the phone easier: • Ask the person on the other end of the line to speak slower, not necessarily louder. • Reduce the background noise as much as possible.
Landlines
1.
Ask your audiologist if you have the telecoil feature (also known as “t-coil”) in your hearing aid. This is a small, copper coil that allows you to enhance the signal from a telephone call. Sometimes, this feature is automatic, or you may have to activate it manually.
2.
Most individuals with hearing loss tend to hold the phone exactly where they did before they had hearing aids. However, the sound coming out of the telephone needs to be lined up with the hearing aid microphones, which can be located on the top of your hearing aid.
Cellphones
1.
Most hearing aids now have direct connectivity with cellphones. Some only connect with iPhones, while others connect with Androids. Depending on your hearing aid, you may need an intermediary device to connect to your phone.
2.
Use FaceTime or Skype to communicate with loved ones. Visual cues help your brain fill in the information that your ears may not hear. One free option that may help is CaptionCall, a special phone that captions the conversation and displays the text on a large screen for the listener to read. The program is funded by the Federal Communications Commission as part of the Americans With Disabilities Act. An audiologist is required to sign a certification form verifying that the individual has hearing loss. Otherwise, all that is necessary is an internet connection and a standard home phone connection. The CaptionCall organization will install the device in your home. There are also mobile CaptionCall options available for a cellphone or iPad. Communicating with loved ones who are far away can be an obstacle for many people with hearing loss, but the available options help reduce the stress of phone communications.
Sarah Licht, Au.D. is a Doctor of Audiology and provider at North Georgia Audiology in Woodstock. She has been practicing since 2016. AROUND WOODSTOCK | February 2018
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Event Benefits Towne Lake Nonprofit
Dallas and Cindy Donald with parents Darlene and Jerry.
A benefit for the Woodstock-based Cindy Donald Dreams of Recovery Foundation and BlazeSports America, two nonprofit organizations that serve people with disabilities, is set for 7:30-10:30 p.m. Feb. 14 at Olde Towne Athletic Club in East Cobb. Cindy sustained quadriplegia after an accident at her home in 2005, when she was sunbathing in her driveway and her father, Jerry, came home from work and did not see her. Because of Cindy’s reliance on catheters, her mother Darlene founded Donaco Medical Supply, which is hosting the event. Cindy’s brother and Canton resident Dallas Donald is general manager of Donaco, a family-owned Towne Lake business that specializes in urological products. Cindy’s experience with physical therapy and insurance limits on therapy led her to create a nonprofit organization she named the Cindy Donald Dreams of Recovery Foundation. The nonprofit awards monetary grants to patients who are recovering from spinal cord or traumatic brain injuries so they can receive extended physical therapy. BlazeSports America is the legacy of the 1996 Atlanta Paralympic Games and provides adaptive sports for children and veterans with physical disabilities. Cynthia Frisina is the executive director and has a teenage daughter with cerebral palsy who is training for the paralympics in track and field. As a fully inclusive event, there will be participants, as well as attendees, at the ball who have disabilities, including dancers from Full Radius Dance, an Atlanta company with professional dancers who use their wheelchairs in their performance. In addition, the disc jockey hired for the event was born with cerebral palsy. Purchase tickets at http://2018valentinesball.eventbrite.com/?s=80939752. Several sponsors have purchased tickets and donated them to participants of BlazeSports America. Anyone interested in becoming a sponsor can contact Holly CothranDrake at holly@donacomedical.com.
Consignment Sale Guide
It’s strategic planning time for moms, dads and grandparents looking for bargains for their little ones. Here's a list of sales in Cherokee and neighboring counties that should help as you map your plan of action.
March 1-3
March 10
Times: 9:30 a.m.-8 p.m. Thursday, 9 a.m.-6 p.m. Friday, 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Saturday Location: His Hands Church, 550 Molly Lane, Woodstock
Time: 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Location: Sandy Plains Baptist Church, 2825 Sandy Plains Road, Marietta
March 8-10
Cumming First UMC, http://cfumcga.com/kids-consignment-sale/
All 4 Kids Woodstock, http://all4kids.com
All 4 Kids Cobb County, http://all4kids.com
Times: 9:30 a.m.-8 p.m. Thursday, 9 a.m.-6 p.m. Friday, 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Saturday Location: Cobb Civic Center, 548 South Marietta Parkway SE, Marietta
Due West Treasure Chest, www.duewest.org Times: 9:30 a.m.-7.p.m. Thursday, 9:30 a.m.-6 p.m. Friday, 8 a.m.-noon Saturday Location: 3965 Due West Road, Marietta
March 9-10
Mt. Bethel UMC, www.mtbethel.org
Times: 9 a.m.-7 p.m. Friday, 9 a.m.-noon Saturday Location: 4385 Lower Roswell Road, Marietta
Born Again Blessings, www.bornagainblessings.com
Times: 9 a.m.-7 p.m. Friday, 9 a.m.-noon Saturday Location: Riverstone Church, 2005 Stilesboro Road NW, Kennesaw 28
AROUND WOODSTOCK | February 2018
Tots to Tweens, www.nowamom.org
March 15-17
Times: 8:30 a.m.-8 p.m. Thursday, 8:30 a.m.-1 p.m. Friday and Saturday Location: 770 Canton Highway, Cumming
Green With Envy, www.greenwithenvykids.com Times: Preview Thursday night, 9 a.m.-6 p.m. Friday, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday Location: TBD
March 15-18
Angel’s Attic, www.johnscreekumc.org
Times: 6-8 p.m. Thursday, 8 a.m.-1:30 p.m. Friday, 8 a.m.-1 p.m. Saturday Location: Johns Creek UMC, 11180 Medlock Bridge Road, Johns Creek
March 16-17
Canton First Baptist Kids Sale, www.fbckidssale.com Times: 9 a.m.-7 p.m. Friday, 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday Location: 1 Mission Point, Canton
Preventing Senior Scams BY SHELLEY WINTER
Unfortunately, seniors can be easy targets for fraud. Scams threaten seniors’ assets and independence, and can cause emotional and physical harm. Fraud can happen over the phone, via mail, in person or on the internet. Senior citizens are more readily available to scammers, because they tend to be home during the day, read their mail and answer the phone. Seniors often are lonely, so they may be glad someone is calling. They may think it is rude to hang up. Scammers may call about a problem with an account and ask for updated information or a password. If the senior gives out personal information, such as verifying their Social Security number, scammers can match that with phone numbers, home address, etc., and take out home loans or open credit cards. Charity calls also are common, with callers stating they are from a reputable organization, asking for donations. Sometimes, fraudulent calls are for medical supplies. Callers will take medical cards or personal accounts and charge for supplies that are never delivered. Sweepstakes and prizes also are a common mailed scam. Scammers may come to a senior citizen’s house to make home repairs or pretend to be from a utility company. They may enter the home and steal valuables or pretend to make unnecessary repairs for large sums of money.
Here are a few ways to protect your elderly loved one’s assets: • Remind them to never give out personal information, such as bank account numbers and Social Security numbers, unless they initiated the call. • Get your loved one an unlisted number. You also can put their number on the National Do Not Call List. • Insist they hang up immediately if they get a solicitation call. • Shred documents such as bank statements, credit card statements and offers. • Post a “No Solicitation” sign on the senior’s front door. • If you live in a different state, have a trusted friend or neighbor check on your loved one. Often, scammers prey on individuals they feel are more isolated, so their scam will go unnoticed. Seniors are under attack daily from criminals who attempt to steal their money, identification or property. Don’t hesitate to contact local law enforcement if you think someone has or is trying to scam your loved one. If they have been the victim of fraud, they may be embarrassed or fear losing their independence. Be patient with your loved one, but act swiftly to prevent a lifetime of savings from being taken by a criminal.
The Downtown Buzz is held at the Chambers at City Center (8534 Main Street) on the last Friday of the month and begins at 8 a.m. unless otherwise noted.
Meeting Feb. 23, Topic TBA For more information on the Downtown Buzz program or to suggest a topic for consideration, please contact Mitzi at 770-592-6056 mainstreetwoodstock.org/connect/#buzz Business, individual and non-profit memberships are available
Shelley Winter, community relations director at Oaks at Towne Lake, has worked in assisted living/memory care communities since 2008. 770-592-2195. shelley@oaksseniorliving.com. AROUND WOODSTOCK | February 2018
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Brian Wolfe with wife Nancy and their children.
Warren Johnson, sworn in by Judge Phillip Taylor, with wife Andi, son Alexander and daughter Abby.
It’s Official! New and returning city council members Colin Ake, Warren Johnson and Brian Wolfe were sworn in recently, as well as Mayor Donnie Henriques. PHOTOS COURTESY OF DARLEEN PREM
Woodstock's city council and mayor, from left: Warren Johnson, David Potts, Colin Ake, Mayor Donnie Henriques, Tracy Collins, Brian Wolfe and Rob Usher.
Mayor Donnie Henriques, wife Jan and brother Bobby Henriques with his wife Mary.
Top, right: Sojourn Community Church pastor Trent Chambers officiates the swearing in of Colin Ake, with wife Nikki, son Owen, 3, and daughter Lealynn, 1, at his side. Above, council members take their seats. 30
AROUND WOODSTOCK | February 2018
Telltale Signs of Furnace Trouble BY DAN JAPE
Our furnaces have gotten quite a workout keeping us warm during the last few months of cold weather. Make sure to properly maintain your unit and watch for signs of trouble. The average lifespan of a furnace is 15 to 18 years, with some builder-grade furnaces failing is as few as 10 years. Even if your furnace is producing heat, there could be some problems lurking beneath the surface.
Rising Energy Costs Over time, your furnace will need to run longer just to produce standard comfort levels. Furnaces that have been in operation for more than 15 years start to suffer from this kind of problem. If you have maintained your furnace properly yet see continuous rises in energy bills, you are probably spending more money than is necessary.
Slipping Comfort Levels Furnaces that have reached their expiration date tend to slip on performance drastically: You may discover cool air blowing through your home during the winter. The furnace’s air cleaning and processing functions may have lost their use. If you’ve had your home performance audit and your furnace’s parts checked but your HVAC still can’t keep up with your demands, it’s likely time for full furnace replacement.
Carbon Monoxide Dangers Homeowners who are unaware of a broken carbon monoxide detector may have small amounts of the odorless, colorless gas leaking into their home. A study conducted in Michigan found one-quarter of carbon monoxide deaths were related to furnaces and other heating systems. Stuffy air, high levels of soot and black streaks near vents and a yellow flame (rather than a blue flame) are signs that carbon monoxide levels have become dangerously high.
Increase in Illnesses Family members exposed to higher levels of carbon monoxide will immediately get flu-like symptoms, headaches and a feeling of nausea. However, other illnesses may reflect a poorly functioning heating system. Extra dust in the air, as well as excessively dry conditions, hint at a furnace with a lackluster operation. In this situation, anyone suffering from respiratory issues or allergies will encounter a great deal of discomfort.
Dan Jape is the owner of Reliable Heating & Air. He can be reached at 770-594-9969. AROUND WOODSTOCK | February 2018
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At the Heart Preventive, Regenerative and Holistic Care
D
and nutrition counseling, hormone balancing, acne and skin care therapies, treatment for sexual wellness and more.
DIRECT-FEE MODEL
Hale Healthcare operates on the r. Lá-Shaun Elliott has built her direct-fee primary care (DPC) model, medical practice with a focus which removes the middleman on whole body health and beauty, (insurance companies) from the doctorincorporating preventive and holistic patient relationship and decisioncare for her patients. In her quest to making process. meet the ever-changing needs of her “What sets us apart from others in patients, she has added a new form the industry is we are not limited by of treatment to address women’s insurance; we do not have to operate regenerative medicine. by seeing as many patients “Clients who go to as possible in the shortest Hale Healthcare get amount of time,” Dr. Elliott personalized care, to extend one’s life, Synonyms: healthy, said. Through this model, Dr. and happiness.” Dr. fit, vigorous, Elliott offers unhurried Elliott said. “I am able robust, full of life. office visits, gives direct to provide healthcare access to her patients, that is directed by and only schedules office the patient-physician visits when necessary, since many relationship and my patients’ personal straightforward and uncomplicated medical goals.” issues can be resolved through phone, Patients visit Hale Healthcare text or email. for many reasons, including their preventive care and total beauty ELITE MEMBERSHIP needs. From annual checkups, sameHale Healthcare offers an Elite day sick visits and immunizations to aesthetic services, like Botox®, Membership, an annual subscription Juvéderm® and laser hair removal, program that is limited to a few clients benefit from a complete hundred patients. Elite Membership is spectrum of healthcare services. billed monthly, and may be submitted to Clients also can receive weight loss insurance providers for reimbursement
PHOTO BY J. KING IMAGES
hale
Lá-Shaun Elliott MD, MPH
A board-certified primary care physician, Dr. Elliott graduated from Rutgers New Jersey Medical School and completed her residency in preventive medicine at Stony Brook University Hospital in New York. She received her master’s in public health from Columbia University’s Mailman School of Public Health. Dr. Elliott has worked as a fellow for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and was a recipient of the American Cancer Society Physician Training Award. Dr. Elliott also has certifications in internal medicine, anti-aging medicine, medical weight loss and nutrition, bioidentical hormone replacement, sexual dysfunction management, aesthetic medicine, chronic disease management, women’s and men’s health, addiction and occupational medicines. 32
AROUND WOODSTOCK | February 2018
Dr. Lá-Shaun Elliott — Primary Care Physician
HaleHealthcare.com • 678-744-HALE (4253) 120 N Medical Parkway • Building 100 • Suite 201 Woodstock, GA 30189 9 a.m.- 4:30 p.m. Mondays-Thursdays Sponsored Content
of Hale Healthcare The cost is $200 enrollment and $99 per month for 1 year. The program provides members with access to Dr. Elliott for regular office visits, same-day appointments (when scheduled before 9 a.m.), urgent care services, same-day laboratory tests, annual physical and wellness evaluations, and prescriptions. Benefits include: • Direct access and individualized care. • Urgent care services. • No wait time beyond 15 minutes. • Three regular office visits per month. • No insurance or co-pays required. • Comprehensive Life Risk Assessment™. • Coordination of Care™. • Travel medicine. • Unlimited access to health and beauty plans. • Three Vitality Boost™ Therapy visits per month. Vitality Boost™ Therapy delivers vital nutrients and vitamins by injection to help with illness prevention or recovery, enhance athletic performance or recovery, and boost health and beauty goals.
INSURANCE ACCEPTED
Dr. Elliott’s office accepts Cigna, Blue Cross and Blue Shield, and Humana insurance. Call 678-7444253 to schedule an appointment or consultation.
SPECIALTY SERVICES • Weight Loss & Nutrition • Acne &Skin Care • Hormone Balancing • Aesthetics & Rejuvenation • Hair Regeneration Therapy • Stress & Fatigue
WHAT’S NEW
A recent addition to Hale Healthcare is a service that focuses on women’s regenerative medicine. The Diamond Kitti package, developed by Dr. Elliott, offers combined medical treatments for optimal feminine wellness. Among the options are: • An FDA-approved device called VOTIVA to restore the female pelvic body, and reduce incontinence. • Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP) shots. • Hormone balancing, nutrition counseling and physical therapy for pelvic floor muscles.
WHAT IS VOTIVA?
It’s an innovative non-surgical, non-laser procedure that’s FDA approved. The technology has been used in surgery for years, delivering radio-frequency (RF) waves that heat and stimulate vaginal cells in a controlled manner. As a result, the cells produce collagen fibers that increase moisture, blood flow and elasticity. Especially helpful for women who can’t or don’t want to use hormone replacement therapy. Since 2016, more than 5 million women of all skin colors, types and ethnicities have had successful treatments, according to the manufacturer InMode.
TREATMENT PLANS
For the maximum benefit, the doctor will perform three treatments one to four weeks apart in the office. Each treatment takes approximately 10-30 minutes with minimal discomfort, and has no downtime. An annual maintenance treatment is recommended, and can be done during the patient’s well-woman exam.
A UNIQUE GIFT
Dr. Elliott also has designed a diamond necklace pendant with intricate scrollwork for women who choose these services. “I would like to give it to women as a reminder to maintain mindfulness and be present in their bodies. The work that will be done by the patients (mindfulness practices, journaling, sharing) will be for them as it is a personal journey to choose to heal their pelvic body. Too often, the feminine pelvic body is shrouded in secrecy, shame, guilt. They may have experienced traumas, abuses and medical neglect. Women may disconnect, abandon or dread their pelvic body. This program is designed to transform those energies into positivity and restore functionality.”
Valentine ’ s Event
For women or couples interested in learning more
February 15 @ 7 p.m.
Call the office 678-744-4253 to RSVP for a complimentary private consultation.
• Sexual Wellness AROUND WOODSTOCK | February 2018
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Election Adventures May primary can take its toll on the legislative session. BY STATE REP. MICHAEL CALDWELL
This is my sixth year as your voice in Georgia’s House of Representatives. We’ve accomplished so much in six short years, but it amazes me how fast the time has disappeared. I have written articles for the TowneLaker during my entire time in office, and I treat it as a window into the issues pressing on my mind the most at the point of writing. As I write this, we are about to start the 2018 session, and the leading concern in my mind is the 2018 election. The upcoming May primary can color a legislative session that lasts from January to April, especially considering this is the first open gubernatorial election in eight years. Gov. Nathan Deal has reached his term limit, which has created a Wild West in Georgia politics for the 2018 election season on both sides of the aisle. On the right, Lt. Gov. Casey Cagle, Secretary of State Brian Kemp, State Sens. Hunter Hill and Michael Williams, and newcomer Clay Tippens are vying for the Republican nomination. On the left, State Reps. Stacey Abrams and Stacey Evans are seeking the Democratic ... there are nomination. When you see that occasionally many people with current titles running for the highest elected some truly office in Georgia, it means clever there will be a rather large game of musical chairs taking conservative place. reforms thrown In addition to an open governor’s seat, these into the mix. candidates have created open races for lieutenant governor, secretary of state, and more than a dozen legislative seats. Now, keep in mind, qualifying (the weeklong period in which candidates pay fees to have their names placed on the ballot) won’t take place until March, so this list is subject to change. Each candidate has been campaigning for some time, though, and has amassed significant support in their own corners. Barring unforeseen events (which almost seem guaranteed in this day and age), by the time you read this article, the field of candidates likely won’t have changed dramatically. So, how does this affect the legislative session? Sitting legislators and statewide officers are not legally allowed to raise funds to campaign for any state office during the legislative session. That’s why several of the legislators on the list above (Stacey Abrams and Hunter Hill, so far) have 34
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resigned their seats. The same prohibition on fundraising does not apply to other candidates, only those currently in office. That creates a very interesting dynamic when you have a mix of elected and unelected candidates vying for the same seat. The next campaign finance disclosure is due Jan. 31, and we’ll gain insight about who can afford to ride out the legislative session, and who can’t. Keep in mind: Our legislative session isn’t a set calendar. It could end in March or May, depending on how the chambers coordinate and schedule. That can create significant financial risk for candidates who decide to stick it out. These dynamics can be a little spooky, but they also present a great opportunity. As these candidates present legislation to aid the narratives of their campaigns, there are occasionally some truly clever conservative reforms thrown into the mix. As I’ve been reflecting on and praying about the upcoming session, I started in fear for the pain and chaos that election cycles like this can cause in a legislative body. Yet, the more I consider the upcoming session, the more optimistic I am. There’s nothing like a little chaos to get people thinking outside the box, and, while policy makers and policy influencers across the state are walking on eggshells in anticipation, I remain cautiously optimistic that some genuine conservative reforms are on the horizon. I’d encourage you to start vetting the candidates. The primary will be here before you know it, and each of those men and women is asking for the privilege to lead our state into the next decade. The bright side of having that many candidates already in office is that they have records to examine. Compare their actions with the rhetoric from their campaigns. After qualifying has ended, I’ll pull together a write-up with a summary on each of them for you. In the meantime, hold on to your hats: This year is certainly shaping up to be an adventure! As always, if you ever have any questions for me, please feel free to reach out to me on my cellphone at 678-523-8570 or email me at Michael@ caldwellforhouse.com. You also can meet me at one of my weekly coffees with District 20 nearly every Saturday at Copper Coin Coffee in downtown Woodstock. Thank you again for allowing me the honor of representing our families in Georgia’s General Assembly!
Michael Caldwell is the state representative for District 20, which includes Towne Lake and Woodstock. He can be reached at 678-523-8570 or email him at Michael. Caldwell@house.ga.gov.
What’s My Auto Injury Case Worth? BY JAMES IMBRIALE ESQ.
You are in an auto wreck. You are injured and decide to hire an attorney to pursue medical expenses, lost wages, and pain and suffering settlement. Clients ask us all the time what their injury is worth for settlement. And, like any attorney worth his or her salt, the answer is ... it depends! There is not a simple answer to this because of many factors. Clients do not want to hear this, because they want to be certain of what to expect. At our office, we like to underpromise and then overperform. We like to give clients the worst case scenario – that this will take a lot of time (at least nine months to settle and then another year to two years should we have to file suit against the defendant because the liable insurance company is just being unfair with their offer to settle, which is often the case.) It depends on your injury. One possibility is a soft tissue injury (no broken bones, no torn ligaments or tendons), also known as whiplash with neck and back pain. Or, you may have broken bones, torn ligaments and tendons and/or herniated discs, both verifiable by an MRI report. It depends on the doctors who treat you. Chiropractors are fine, but insurance companies also want to see corroboration from a medical doctor or orthopedic specialist or neurologist. It also depends on the length of time you are in treatment, and whether you improve or make a full recovery. A full recovery is worth less than ongoing pain after maximum medical improvement from
reasonable and necessary treatment. Also, do you still have daily impediments to doing chores and household duties? The more permanent the injury, the more it is worth. It depends on your medical records. Auto insurance companies do not care about what the attorney says or what the plaintiff says about their condition; they only care about the medical opinions of independent, uninterested third parties. Your records are everything to an injury case. This is not a time to be stoic when you visit the doctor. If you say you are fine and/or greatly improved, that goes in the records, and the insurance company questions paying for significant pain and suffering if you say you’ve improved. Make sure to tell your doctor every symptom you are experiencing. If you are forgetful, write down your complaints for the doctor, chiropractor or physical therapist, and ask that it be included in you medical records. It depends if there were aggravated circumstances. Did the defendant leave the scene? Was he or she driving under the influence? These facts typically add value to settlements; often, many thousands of dollars can be added on top of medical expenses and lost wages for these claims. continued on page 58 James Imbriale is a personal injury attorney at Hartman-Imbriale LLP. He has strictly practiced personal injury law for 27 years, and he works and lives in Towne Lake. 678-445-7423.
AROUND WOODSTOCK | February 2018
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EVERYDAY
Everyday Angels has been how much we appreciate that sharing community stories gift. Thank you to the teachers and needs for 17 years. During from Oak Grove who made sure this time, we have entered the that my other children had the world of some of the bravest, love and attention they needed yet broken, hearts and lives. when their mommy could not be We form a personal connection there for them. as people share their pain and “We want to thank the Makefears as we follow, pray for and A-Wish Foundation for providing encourage them. us with priceless memories However, sometimes the together. I can still hear her stories do not end as we hope laughter. I am thankful to Diem’s and pray. Last month’s story father, Dae, whose love for his of Diem Kwon, the 5-year-old children made co-parenting Clark Creek Elementary student easy. Finally, to my rock, my diagnosed with Glioblastoma, husband, Kyle Dutcher, who was one of those stories that insisted that I leave my job to remind us that God’s plans are care for Diem as he stepped up not always our plans. Between to make up the difference. He the time her story was written continues to hold me as I cry and and sent to print, her health reminds me to breathe through Top right, Diem, Sa’reon (her twin sister) with big brother Zavair. drastically changed as Diem’s my pain. It didn’t end as we had Above, Aloni with Diem. organs began to shut down. hoped and prayed, like so many Sweet Diem spent Christmas morning in the arms of Jesus, other innocent children who suffer from childhood cancers. This leaving her family and friends heartbroken. We were concerned journey was life-changing in many ways. It has opened my eyes that a story was in the January issue without the update. to the need of more cancer research for our children who have However, Aloni, Diem’s mom, assured us that the story would so much life ahead of them. Our children are worth more than 4 honor her sweet daughter and bring awareness to Glioblastoma percent of government research funding,” Aloni said. and the need for more childhood cancer research. As we begin 2018, Diem and the stories of so many others “We are trying to cope the best we know how. Every day is a remind us of what truly matters. We have been given this one life, new day – some better than others for all of us. Looking back, one opportunity, to make a positive difference. Make it your daily our hearts are full as we reflect upon all the love and support intention to choose LOVE and THANKSGIVING, taking nothing for our Diem and family received from our community. During granted while making it your mission to selflessly serve others. Diem’s short life, she touched so many people, and for that I am “USE YOUR GOD-GIVEN GIFTS TO SERVE OTHERS.” 1 Peter, 4:10 thankful. Her ‘tribe’ rallied around us all and was there for us until her last breath,” Aloni said. Everyday Angels is a 501(c)3 nonprofit serving Cherokee County since “There were so many of them that we had to relocate to 2000. If you would like to make a tax deductible donation, please visit another room to accommodate everyone. We want to thank www.everydayangels.info to donate via Paypal or send your donations everyone who joined us on this difficult journey. I must thank to: Everyday Angels, PMB 380, 1025 Rose Creek Drive, Suite 620, Woodstock GA, 30189. One hundred percent of your funds will go my dear friend, Cory Patterson, who was there since the day of to the family you specify. Also, if you know of a special need within Diem’s diagnosis; the Clark Creek Elementary counselors and your community that you would like to share, please send an e-mail to teachers who loved us through it all and made sure our van had aaeverydayangels@gmail.com for consideration and qualification. heat as we traveled back and forth to radiation. I cannot tell you 36
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Fear Must Not Inhibit a Financial Strategy DON AKRIDGE, MBA, CFP®, CPA/PFS U.S. MARINE CORPS VETERAN – EMORY UNIVERSITY ALUMNUS
Fear affects investors in two distinct ways. Too often, it persuades investors to make questionable moves. Every so often, a bulletin, headline or sustained economic or market trend will scare them and make them question their investing approach. If they overreact, they might sell low now and buy high later – or, in the worst-case scenario, they derail their whole investing and retirement planning strategy. Besides the fear of potential market shocks, there also is another fear worth noting – the fear of being too involved in the market. People with this worry are often superb savers, but reluctant investors. They amass large bank accounts, yet their aversion to investing in equities may hurt them in the long run. Impulsive investment decisions tend to carry a cost. People who jump in and out of investment sectors or classes tend to pay a price for it. A statistic hints at how much: Across the 20 years ending on Dec. 31, 2015, the S&P 500 returned an average of 8.91 percent per year, but the average equity investor’s portfolio returned just 4.67 percent annually. Fixedincome investors also failed to beat a key benchmark: In this same period, the Barclays Aggregate Bond Index advanced an average of 5.34 percent a year, but the average fixed-income investor realized an annual return of only 0.51 percent.1 This data was compiled by DALBAR, a highly respected investment research firm, which has studied the behavior of individual investors since the mid-1980s. The numbers partly reflect the behavior of the typical individual investor who loses patience and tries to time the market. A hypothetical “average” investor who merely bought and held, with an equity or fixedincome portfolio merely copying the components of the above benchmarks, would have been better off across those 20 years.
In monetary terms, the sustained difference in performance could have been hundreds of thousands of dollars in earnings for an investor across a lifetime, given compounding.1 Other people are held back by their anxiety about investing. They become great savers, steadily building sixfigure cash positions in enormous savings or checking accounts – but they never sufficiently invest their money. That confusion comes with a severe potential downside. Just how much interest are their deposit accounts earning? Right now, almost nothing. If they invested more of the money they were saving into equities – or some kind of investment vehicle with the potential to outrun inflation – those invested dollars could grow and compound over time to a degree that idle cash does not. A large emergency fund is a great thing to have, but it can be argued that a tax-advantaged retirement fund of invested dollars is a better thing to have. After all, who retires on cash savings alone? Tomorrow’s retirees will live mainly on the earnings generated from the investment of the dollars they have saved over the decades. Seen one way, a focus on cash is financially nearsighted; it ignores the possibility that even greater abundance may be realized through its sustained investment. Fear dissuades some people from sticking with a longterm financial strategy and discourages other people from developing one. Patience and knowledge can help investors contend with the fears that may risk hurting their retirement saving prospects. continued on page 58
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.
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Rob’s Rescues For the Cherokee County Council of PTAs (CCCPTA) 10th annual Presidents and Principals Luncheon to Celebrate the Season, the Cherokee County schools PTAs and principals collected items for Rob’s Rescues. I would like to thank all the schools and PTAs that donated stuff and to Ms. Kathy Strom, Ms. Monica Orrico, Ms. Amy Krumrey, Ms. Heather Shaw and Ms. Beth Morrish of CCCPTA and also the Freedom Middle School PTA for choosing Rob’s Rescues this year. They collected so much. Exactly what was collected is on my website. We packed 46 blessing bags for the homeless people that live on the streets of Atlanta with their pets with blankets, food, gloves, bowls, treats, protein bars, toothbrushes and paste, gum, wipes and more. These are being distributed on the streets in Atlanta by Pet Buddies Food Pantry, Lifeline and W-Underdogs.
Rob with Zena.
At the moment there are no dogs at the shelter, but that changes all the time. Cobb County Animal Control has lots of dogs if the Cherokee County Animal Shelter has none. Anyway, they always have cats. Zena is about 2½ years old. She was brought to the shelter because the owners were moving in with their father and the father is allergic to cats. Zena is super nice to people and would make a good pet. She is very unusual looking.
Rob with 46 blessing bags filled with contributions from the Cherokee County Council of PTAs and Cherokee County schools.
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.
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Tiger is about 3½ years old. They say he is good with children, just not small children. He might be a little shy and nervous of you but after a while he would be fine and a perfect cat for you. Tiger has been at the shelter since July 2017 so really deserves to find someone.
Follow Rob on Facebook!
@robsrescues
Getting Your House in Order BY LYNNE SAUNDERS
The Christmas decorations are put away. The house always seems a bit naked for a few days, but, then, a peacefulness seems to permeate. Everything is back in place, clutter gone and the basics restored. There’s a lot to be said for the “basics.” I remember, years ago, when I worked in sales. I was taught that, when things seemed to stop working, yet busyness continued, STOP, LOOK and LISTEN. Remember yourself as a teen when your task was to clean your room. Just one room, and you couldn’t leave until the job was finished. Oh, the pain! And the attitude! It probably began with a time of sulking, lying on the bed. I didn’t have a TV in my room. And there were no devices such as in-home computers, tablets or cellphones. All I had was a clock radio; just me and the music. It wasn’t all that pleasant in the beginning. Yet, after the temper tantrum passed and motivation kicked in, I would begin tackling the project … handling one item at a time. Clothes, shoes, books, papers — all the clutter had to be restored to its rightful place. When the job was done, not only did I earn my freedom, my spirits actually were lifted. STOP: This is the hardest. When you are maintaining speedier-than-light mode, stopping — really stopping —
seems nearly impossible. Call it a “mini retreat,” or a series of minis. This is time that is for you only. Shut yourself away and energize. Don’t answer any calls or texts. Keep the TV off, but put on your favorite music. LOOK: “A place for everything and everything in its place.” If you haven’t heard this phrase, embrace it. The problem with clutter is that items are either not in their place, or they have no place! This is a time for trash bags, donation boxes and storage bins. Start small, one room at a time. Preferably, a space that can become your retreat. LISTEN: As you make small decisions on the cleanup project you are tackling, listen to your own voice. What is your vision for the area? What is its function? What can you do today to create beauty? Certainly, this is an oversimplified scenario. Most projects will take planning, preparation and implementation. Another phrase to remember: “The hardest part is just getting started!” Keep making progress!
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.
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Around & About FEBRUARY Project Valentine
The Cherokee Recreation and Parks Agency is taking donations for Project Valentine through Feb. 10. Items requested include: chapstick, lotion, sticky notes, pens, markers, word searches, any art or music activities as well as candy (sugar free and regular) and any holiday related items. The items will be include in gift bags for the Cherokee Training Center and Eagle Point. Donations can be dropped off at the Recreation Center at 7545 Main St., Building 200 in Woodstock. Contact Lindsey Collett at 770-924-7768 or lcollett@cherokeega.com for more information.
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In celebration of Arbor Day, the city of Woodstock is giving away seedlings and tree care guides 8 a.m.-5 p.m. at Woodstock Parks and Recreation office, 105 East Main St., Suite 142; City Hall annex at 12453 Highway 92; Dean’s Store at 8588 Main St. and the senior center at 223 Arnold Mill Road. www.woodstockga.gov.
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Northside Hospital’s Cancer Institute is offering a prostate cancer screening for men ages 45-75 at 5:30-8 p.m. at Northside Hospital Forsyth Cancer Center, 1100 Northside Forsyth Drive, Suite 140 in Cumming. The screening will determine the risk of developing prostate cancer. Free parking. Other qualifications are that men have not had prostate cancer before or an exam within the past year. Registration is required. Call 404531-4444 to schedule an appointment.
23 Main Street Woodstock, meets
The Buzz, a networking arm of
at 8 a.m. on the last Friday of each month at the Chambers at City Center, 8534 Main St. Memberships available. https://mainstreetwoodstock.org/ connect/#buzz. 40
AROUND WOODSTOCK | February 2018
and Beaus 24 Beauties Mother-Son Bash, with a
DJ playing your favorite songs. Enjoy quality fun together with a candy bar buffet, cornhole, craft station, prizes, photo booth, snack bar and bounce house. Pre-register by visiting www. crpa.net. Price is $40 per couple, $10 per additional son. Contact Frankie Sanders, fsanders@cherokeega.com for more information.
Guns & Hoses 5K will pit the Cherokee County Fire Department (Hoses) against the County Sheriff’s Department (Guns) in a good-spirited fundraiser, hosted by the Cherokee Recreation and Parks Agency. Proceeds from the Hoses will go to Goshen Valley Boys Ranch, a nonprofit home serving young men in foster care. The Guns are competing for the Cherokee Sheriff’s Foundation, dedicated to helping local families. For details, contact Kate Borden at 770-924-7768 or kborden@cherokeega.com. http:// gunshoses5kandfunrun.blogspot.com.
Preschool Registration
Open at Timothy Lutheran Church and School, 556 Arnold Mill Road in Woodstock. Classes for children ages 21 months - 5 years, including transitional Kindergarten. Traditional school day is 9 a.m.-1 p.m., with extended hours 8 am. - 3 p.m. 770-924-7995. barbara.bowler@ comcast.net. www.tlcwoodstock.org.
CHAMBER OF COMMERCE Feb. 7
B.L.A.S.T.T. Workshop: "Build Your 12-Month Marketing Plan and Social Media Calendar" presented by business and marketing coach Stephanie Hines. Cost: chamber members, $30; future members, $45. Register online or email brandy@cherokeechamber.com.
Feb. 8
Power Hour, 10-11 a.m. for
fast-paced networking with fellow business leaders, takes place in the chamber board room. $5 for members, $10 future members, payable at the door, no advanced registration required. Sponsor is Cobb EMC.
Feb. 13
Business After Hours, 4:30-
MARCH of Faith launch 17 Branches party is a drop-in planned for 6:30-8:30 p.m. at Blank Stage Acting Studio, Highway 92 in Woodstock. Guests can learn more about the new faith-based nonprofit created to hold community events with a focus on families, faith, fellowship and leadership. For details, contact Brandon Roberts at 678-232-7488 or brandon@branchesoffaith.org.
& Walk 9 a.m.-noon 24 Wag at Pawtriots Park, located in
Patriots Park at 1485 Kellogg Creek Road, Acworth. A morning of a onemile wag and walk, breakfast items for sale and doggy treat bags. $5 per dog, pre-registration required. 770-924-7768. www.crpa.net.
6:30 p.m. at the Bank of North Georgia, 200 Parkway 575, Woodstock. Presented by AT&T. Cost: members, $5; future members, $10. Registration due Feb. 9. Register online or email brandy@ cherokeechamber.com.
March 1
Good Morning Cherokee Breakfast: 7 a.m. March sponsor is
Edward Jones Investments, offices of Ned Castleberry and Kelly Geiken. Breakfast meetings offer current and future chamber members the opportunity to conduct business and network with more than 200 fellow business leaders. Held at the Cherokee County Conference Center, 1130 Bluffs Parkway in Canton. Register by emailing gini@ cherokeechamber.com or online at www.cherokeechamber.com.
Appalachian Trail District scouts prepare to lay wreaths at the Georgia National Cemetery, a project that’s part of Wreaths Across America.
Scouting for Fun in Cherokee BY LEE SMATHERS
In 1910, the Boy Scouts of America was established as a way to encourage young men working in factories during the Industrial Revolution to get out and enjoy nature. They were given the opportunity to explore the woods, scavenge the fields and learn outdoor survival skills they could put to use for the rest of their lives. In Cherokee County, the Boy Scouts of America still is going strong and is a great place for young men to continue to explore, scavenge and learn. But, today, scouting offers much more than that. Beginning at the first grade level, Cub Scouts is the family’s first exposure to scouting. The program promotes family participation and encourages everyone to take part in developing an exciting environment, with lots of great activities. The annual Cub Scout Pinewood Derby will be held at Carriage Kia on Olde Rope Mill Park Road at 8:30 a.m., Feb. 10. Cub Adventure Quest, held Aug. 25 this year, is a day filled with shooting BB guns, bow and arrows, and more. This year’s theme is Let the Games Begin and will feature tons of Olympic-inspired games and activities. The Boy Scouts also are stepping things up a notch. In January, Troop 8880 from Canton went to Escalade Climbing for a climbing merit badge lock-in. On Feb. 24, Troop 241 in Canton is encouraging other troops to join them in taking the Polar Bear Plunge — walking into the lake in full uniform posting the American flag. Other troops
in the area are busy with preparation hikes for attending multiple high-adventure camps across the country this year. In March, there will be a spring Camporee for all the troops from the Appalachian Trail District to join in celebration of scouting. Venturing is yet another scouting opportunity offered in this area, and is available to coed participants, ages 14-20. Venturing is based on a unique and dynamic relationship between youths, adult leaders and organizations in their communities. Local community organizations establish a venturing crew by matching their people and program resources to the interests of young people in the community. The result is a program of exciting and meaningful activities that helps youths pursue their special interests, grow and develop leadership skills, and become good citizens. Venturing crews can specialize in a variety of vocation or hobby interests. Sea Scouts, a specialized segment of the venturing program, was organized to address members' boating skills and promote knowledge of our maritime heritage. Sea Scout units, called "ships," focus on sailing and cruising either sailboats or power vessels. Most ships hold formal continued on page 58
Lee Smathers is district executive of the Appalachian Trail for the Atlanta Area Council of the Boys Scouts of America. 770-989-2885. www.atbsa.org. AROUND WOODSTOCK | February 2018
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The Anatomy of
Going Gray
BY TIM TIMMONS
We tend to think of gray hair as being something that hits women in their 40s or 50s; those first telltale signs of aging that seemingly come from nowhere, popping up in wiry threads all over our heads. For some women, those grays come in much earlier, and we spend the next few decades waging a color war against those silvery intruders in our otherwise brunette (or blonde, red or black) locks. Women who color their hair to cover the gray sometimes reach a point where the gray hair at the temples, front of the hairline or along the part show up faster and are more numerous than they used to be. The darker the hair color, the more noticeable the gray. The plus is that there are products to help cover the gray between colorings, or you can choose to color more often. The drawback is that all this processing can lead to dry, brittle hair. For these reasons, some women decide that the extra expense, not to mention the amount of time and effort it takes to hide the gray, are no longer worth it. Not only that, but they see other women who look great wearing their natural gray, which can lead women to the big question of how to grow out gray hair hold on to a sense of Before you start and style in the process. the growingWhen you think about the transition between out process, coloring your hair and consider a letting your hair grow out its natural gray, one changeover to a to concern is how awful it will blonde or light look during the process. No one wants that line brown shade ... of definition that draws attention to our hair. If you want to go natural and aren't ready for such a drastic step, here are a few ways to make the transition a little less dramatic. Before you start the growing-out process, consider a changeover to a blonde or light brown shade, so the new light gray, silver or white growth won't be as noticeable. When choosing your new shade, your colorist will pick a color that complements your skin tone. Part of keeping your hair healthy requires getting it trimmed regularly, but when it comes to growing out your hair, getting a haircut also serves the purposes of cutting off 44
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the old color. You might want to consider a shorter hairstyle, at least temporarily. Short hair will let you accomplish the task of growing your hair out sooner rather than later. Even with the lighter color, and shorter hair, the gray will still show as your hair grows. It won't be as noticeable but it will still be there. Natural sunlight or bright lighting will highlight the gray even more. If you would rather camouflage the new growth a little more, you can temporarily hide it by using a non-permanent hair color. This will wash out over the course of five or six shampoos so it will have to be reapplied until the old color is cut off and the gray is completely grown out. This will help you ease into your new look with your dignity and fears intact. Another way to ease into it is to have your hair highlighted. You can start with heavy highlights and gradually decrease them as your gray hair comes in. Talk to your hair professional for advice on the best approach. No matter which approach you take, it will take patience. During the process you're sure to get comments from family and friends. Some will think it's great, while others may say things like, "You're too young for gray hair." Don't let peer pressure sway you from what you really want. Many women are very happy with their new look when they return to their natural color − even though the natural color is now gray.
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.
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@ the Library WOODSTOCK 7735 Main St., Woodstock, 770-926-5859
Sequoyah Regional Library System 116 Brown Industrial Parkway • Canton, GA 30114 770-479-3090 • www.SequoyahRegionalLibrary.org
Feb. 18
Project Pinterest at 3 p.m. Explore Pinterest inspired creative projects, for ages 16 and older. Registration required.
Feb. 1
Feb. 20
provided in four consecutive sessions for individuals interested in learning how to play American MahJongg. Registration required.
and a book discussion with new friends. This month’s selection is “The Help” by Kathryn Stockett. All ages are welcome; new members are encouraged.
Learn to Play MahJongg at 1 p.m. Instructions of the game are
Feb. 4
Book Discussion Group at noon. Enjoy coffee, conversation,
Introduction to Acrylic Painting at 3 p.m. This program
provides an introduction to painting with acrylics for anyone interested in starting a new hobby. All materials are provided. For ages 16 and older. Registration required.
Feb. 6, 13 & 27
Tuesday Night Tutors at 6 p.m. Join teachers and volunteers
from Woodstock Elementary School in our youth department as they help children struggling with homework, projects and school assignments.
Feb. 10, 24
Inklings Writers Critique Group at 11 a.m. Love to write, but
need some feedback? All writers interested in joining a group to share writings, ideas and feedback are invited to attend.
Feb. 12
Toddler STEAM: Bee Bots at 11 a.m. Bee Bots are exciting, fun
robots that introduce coding to young children. Explore coding and having fun in this toddler STEAM lab. Children must be accompanied by a participating adult.
Feb. 14
Quilting Club Block-of-the-Month Project at 10 a.m. Gather
with other friends interested in learning to quilt. This program is designed for those interested in trying a new craft and provides instruction in sewing a different 12-inch block each month. For ages 16 and older. Registration required.
Feb. 15
HICKORY FLAT 2740 East Cherokee Drive, Canton, 770-345-7565
Tuesdays
Lap-Sit Storytime at 10:30 a.m., designed for the needs of
1 to 3-year-old. This is a time for children to learn about the storytime experience and encourage early literacy by including books, songs, rhymes and physical activity. Children must be accompanied by a participating adult.
Feb. 3, 17
Mom-Dad & Me Yoga at 10:30 a.m. Explore and enjoy fun
yoga stretches for parents and children. Registration required.
Feb. 3
LEGO Club at 2 p.m. A different theme each month. Children
may work alone or in teams to build Lego masterpieces, which will be displayed in the library until next month’s meeting. Lego and Duplo are provided. Children 9 and under must be accompanied by an adult.
Feb. 6, 20
Reading Dogs at 4:30 p.m. Children 6 and older can read to
a non-judgmental, furry listener who won’t laugh if the reader stumbles or makes a mistake. Children are asked to select their reading material before their scheduled session. Parents can register their child (two weeks in advance) for a 10-15 minute reading session.
DIY Duct Tape Roses at 5:30 p.m. Teens can use duct tape and pencils to create a post-Valentine’s Day craft to foster fun, creativity and art appreciation.
Feb. 7
Feb. 17
The Art of Feminine Presence and Women Energy Healing at 6 p.m. Presented by Adele Wang, this seminar
STEAM Saturday: Snow Slime Lab at 3 p.m. Make “snow” slime, build it into a snowman and watch it “melt.”
Feb. 18
Lego Club at 3 p.m. A different theme each month. Children may work alone or in teams to build Lego masterpieces, which will be displayed in the library until next month’s meeting. Lego and Duplo are provided. Children 9 and under must be accompanied by an adult. 46
AROUND WOODSTOCK | February 2018
Music and Moves at 10:30 a.m. A dance party to remember. Children 9 and under must be accompanied by an adult.
covers how to instantly increase your magnetic presence, how to attract better relationships, and how to avoid being drained by the energy of others. Registration required.
Feb. 12
Family Bingo Night at 6 p.m. Join the fun and win prizes. Refreshments are provided. For all ages; children 9 and under must be accompanied by an adult.
Make 2018 the Year of Service BY REV. DR. JOSEPH N. COUSIN, SR.
Seven months ago, my family and I were blessed to relocate to Woodstock as God directed us to begin our ministry at Allen Temple Church. The Allen Temple family greeted us with open arms, kindness and, most of all, a spirit of service. The people are excited to serve, and are always looking for opportunities to serve God and God’s people. In fact, the spirit of service is so prevalent that we have embraced the mission that we are a church that is “AT” Your Service. With this in mind, I believe that for “But it shall not be so each of us, 2018 should be among you. Whoever the year of service. would be great among In Mark 10:43-45, we find you must be your Jesus talking about service. servant, and whoever He states that among those among you would who believe in him it is different because if we want be greatest must be to be a leader, we must first servant of all. For even learn to be a servant. In fact, the Son of Man came even Jesus came not to be not to be served, but to served, but to serve others, serve, and to give his life and he exemplified this as as a ransom for many.” he gave his life so that we Mark 10:43-45 (MEV) might be redeemed. Jesus challenges each of us to be
FAITH
servants and to make our lives reflect the spirit of servanthood. My sisters and brothers, as we begin this year, I ask that we would all consider making 2018 our year of service. This year, please take the time to look for opportunities to serve and make the most of these opportunities. Take a moment to serve within your church or religious organization as opportunities arise. Take time to serve your friends, family and even strangers as we are challenged to be servants. Most important, look for and use every opportunity to serve within your community. Through your service, you will make our community better; you will inspire others to serve, and you will fulfill the mandate set forth by Jesus Christ. If we all make 2018 our year of service imagine how much greater our community will be. Please join me, the Allen Temple Church family, and the entirety of God’s Kingdom as we make 2018 our year of service. Remember, we are to model ourselves after Jesus. And we, like Jesus, did not come so that we would be served. We came that we would be able to serve others, and make a difference in our community.
The Rev. Dr. Joseph N. Cousin, Sr. is pastor of Allen Temple AME church in Woodstock. www.allentempleame.org.
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SCHOOL & SPORTS
YOUR SCHOOL NEWS Summer Feeding Program Needs Volunteers
The school district’s School Nutrition Program is seeking potential new partners for its annual Summer Feeding Program. Local nonprofit organizations, churches, summer camps and other groups that serve Cherokee County children in need are invited to learn more at a meeting 2 p.m. Feb. 28 at the School Nutrition Office, 135 Mountain Brook Court, Canton. Contact 770-721-8419 for more information.
Kudos & Congratulations Do you know a student, teacher, parent volunteer, school group or team who deserves a “shout out”? Please send their picture and the details to jackie@aroundaboutmagazines.com.
Paper Airplanes Take Flight Fifth-graders at Arnold Mill Elementary School celebrated the conclusion of a recent social studies lesson on the historic flight of the Wright Brothers with a paper airplane contest. The contest is a school tradition that is in its eighth year; this year’s first-place winner was Grant Hellier.
Front row, from left: Auto tech instructor and team coach, Chuck Wilson, Spenser Mann, Gaven Reamy and Kacey Hearn; second row: Thomas Warren and Chaz Johnston; back row: volunteer coach Ron Shultheis, Jason Kissoon, Adam Edwards and Jacob Allred.
Sequoyah High School’s Hot Rodders team recently competed in the Hot Rodders of Tomorrow Dual National Championship in Las Vegas. The team earned $10,000 in scholarships and now is ranked third in the state and 25th in the country. For the competition, the eight-member team deconstructed a V-8 engine and reassembled it to manufacturer’s specifications. Groups were timed on how quickly they disassembled and reassembled the engine, and were scored on speed and accuracy.
Paper airplane contest finalists, front row, from left: Jaleesa Civil, Kayla Cleveland, winner Grant Hellier, second-place Alex Reeves, third-place Matthieu Buck, Jacob Imbeault and Reed McClure; back row: Kayla Cuppia, Bryce Epstein, Keshon Rowe, Zeke Pippins, Anthony Cruz, Ryan Martin and David Zakurdaev.
Students Take Recycling Challenge Seriously Students from Johnston Elementary School collected 10,069 plastic bags for a recycling campaign and contest organized by the Cherokee County Chamber of Commerce.
Ashley Hessman pictured at a worksite with Todd Besier, project manager for Martin Concrete.
River Ridge High School senior Ashley Hessman recently was recognized as the Cherokee County School District’s Work-Based Learning (WBL) Student of the Month. Hessman, who is in her third year of participating in the WBL program, has been working with Martin Concrete, a contractor that offers solutions with construction projects throughout the Southeast, including the new Atlanta Braves’ SunTrust Park and UPS sorting facility. After graduation, Hessman plans to attend Kennesaw State University and study accounting and business management.
Navy JROTC Commanding Officer Katlyn Deveau has been awarded a Marine Corps Scholarship to The Citadel worth approximately $183,000. The Citadel, also known as The Military College of South Carolina, is one of six senior military colleges in the United States. Students, who are known as Cadets, undergo four years of ROTC training in a branch of the armed services. Approximately 30 percent of Cadets graduate as commissioned officers. 48
AROUND WOODSTOCK | February 2018
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49
Casual and Upscale Restaurants
RESTAURANT CUISINE BREAKFAST LUNCH DINNER SUNDAY SPIRITS RESERV. Canyons American no $ $ open Beer/Wine no 335 Chambers St. 678-494-8868 canyonsburgercompany.com Century House Tavern Modern no $$ $$$ open Full bar 8 persons + 125 E Main St. 770-693-4552 American centuryhousetavern.com Fire Stone see ad on pg 5 Wood-fired no $$ $$$ open Full bar yes 120 Chambers St. Pizza & Grill 770-926-6778 firestonerestaurants.com Freight Kitchen & Tap Southern Sat./Sun. $$ $$$ open Full bar no 251 E Main St. 770-924-0144 Brunch freightkitchen.com Habanero’s Taqueria Mexican no $ $-$$ open Full bar yes 9550 Main St. 678-498-8243 Ice Martini & Sushi Bar Tapas/Sushi no Fri./Sat. $$ open Full bar 380 Chambers St. only 770-672-6334 icemartinibar.com Ipps Pastaria & Bar Italian no $$ $$ open Full bar 8496 Main St. 770-517-7305 ippspastaria.com J Christopher’s Diner $-$$ $-$$ no open no 315 Chambers St. 770-592-5990 jchristophers.com J Miller’s Smokehouse BBQ & no $-$$ $-$$ open Beer 150 Towne Lake Pkwy. Southern 770-592-8295 Sandwiches jmillerssmokehouse.com Mad Life Studios 8722 Main St madlifestageandstudios.com
Southern
Magnolia Thomas Southern 108 Arnold Mill Rd. 678-445-5789 magnoliathomas.com Pure Taqueria Mexican 405 Chambers St. 770-952-7873 puretaqueria.com/woodstock Reel Seafood Seafood 8670 Main St. 770-627-3006
yes
no Weekends only no
no
$-$$
$$-$$$$
open
Full bar
no
Sunday Brunch
no
$$$$
open
Beer/Wine
yes
Sat./Sun. Brunch
$$
$$
open
Full bar
6 persons+
Sunday Brunch
$$
$$-$$$
open
Full bar
yes
Rootstock and Vine 8558 Main St. 770 -544-9009 www.rootstockandvine.com
Wine bar Tapas
no
$-$$
$$-$$$
open
Full bar
yes
Salt Factory Pub 8690 Main St. 678-903-6225
Gastropub
no
$$
$$-$$$
open
Full bar
no
Semper Fi Bar and Grille 9770 Main St. 770-672-0026 Tea Leaves & Thyme 8990 Main St. 770-516-2609 tealeavesandthyme.com Truck & Tap 8640 Main St. 770-702-1670 truckandtap.com
American
no
$
$
open
Full bar
no
English Tea room
no
$$
no
closed
no
yes
Variety of Food trucks
no
$-$$
$-$$
open
Craft Beer
no
Sunday Brunch
$$
$$$
open
Full bar
yes
Vingenzo’s Italian 105 E Main St. 770-924-9133 vingenzos.com 50
AROUND WOODSTOCK | February 2018
$ = most entrees under $10 • $$ = most entrees $10 - $15 • $$$ = most entrees $15 - $20 • $$$$ = most entrees over $20 * denotes advertiser
DOWNTOWN WOODSTOCK DINING
AROUND WOODSTOCK | February 2018
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Supporting Children When They Need It Most BY SUSAN BROWNING SCHULZ
“You are loved ... always.” This beautiful, hand-painted sign is the first thing you see when you walk through the doors of The Children’s Haven in Canton. While interviewing the executive director, Deidre Hollands, I learned this message is behind everything done for the children The Children’s Haven (THC) serves — those plunged into the foster care system. “The children and families that come before us do so at the worst possible moments in their lives. As we strive to protect children and find safe and permanent homes, we need the assistance of concerned members of the community,” said John B. Sumner, chief Juvenile Court judge. The mission at TCH is simple: to promote the health and happiness of children impacted by abuse and neglect. The staff and volunteers are fully committed to building successful children by providing comprehensive abuse prevention and treatment programs in four ways.
Prevention
TCH is working with Prevent Child Abuse Georgia to develop innovative prevention programs using research-based models that prevent primary abuse, like home visitation for newborns and a 1-800-CHILDREN helpline for anyone concerned about a child.
Safety
The supervised WellStar Family Visitation Center offers a home-like environment for children to visit with parents, siblings and extended family while they are separated by child welfare involvement. The area includes a kitchen, a living room and playroom filled with toys for kids of all ages. The viewing area is inconspicuous, behind one-way glass, and equipped with adequate video monitors to keep all involved safe, yet comfortable and at ease.
Advocacy
CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates) provide focused child advocacy so that no child lingers in the foster care system without the security of a safe, nurturing and permanent family. Advocates work with parents to access services they need to stabilize their lives and improve their parenting skills so that their family can be reunited. When reunification is not appropriate, advocates quickly help to find relatives or adoptive parents who can provide a permanent and stable home.
Support
Children need compassion and guidance to prevent the trauma of abuse and out-of-home placement from defining their lives through later destructive choices. Supportive enrichment opportunities improve a child’s social, emotional and educational functioning. “It was hard to make the decision to become a CASA advocate,” said Olga E. Phillips, a CASA since 2009. “My main fear, as is the fear of all of us who volunteer, was to become so emotionally involved with the children I would be serving that I would want to adopt them all and fail at being practical on my recommendations to the court. As it turns out, no matter how much I would want to take these children home with me, they all want their own parents.” 52
AROUND WOODSTOCK | February 2018
The Children's Haven in Canton.
Success Stories
• A four-month-old boy went into foster care after his mother was arrested on drug charges. His father expressed an interest in gaining custody, but Family Services needed to be sure he was a fit parent. The father was referred to TCH and started visiting his son under the watchful eye of staff members at the WellStar Family Visitation Center. The father demonstrated his ability to appropriately care for his son. Father and son were brought together. • A teen girl was acting out and running away. It took the advocate months of visits before enough trust was built for the girl to feel safe enough share what was really happening: sexual abuse by the grandmother’s boyfriend. She was removed from that horrible environment, and has been adopted into a loving family, is thriving in high school, is and captain of the cheerleading squad. Phillips sums it up best: “If you were wondering if taking a few hours out of your week to advocate for a child in foster care can really make a difference, now you know. Yes, it does. You can change a child’s life. Is there a better job than that?” If you are interested in volunteering or training to be a CASA, contact The Children’s Haven at 770-345-3274 or info@casacherokee.org. Donations needed include: pajamas, socks and underwear (check the website for monthly drives), as well as monetary donations. Another fun way to support TCH is to run in their Superhero 5K at 8 a.m. May 12 at Etowah River Park. Runners can register at Active.com. For more information, visit: www.cherokeechildrenshaven.org.
Susan Browning Schulz is a Bible teacher, author, wife, and mom of three grown children. She lives and plays along the Etowah River and loves serving at Woodstock City Church.
Travel Resources
The Okefenokee Swamp is one of “Georgia’s 35 Natural Wonders” I am documenting over the next two years. Spring and fall are great times to visit!
Accommodations
Ted & Alease’s delightful B&B, the Inn at Folkston, is a welcome oasis in southeast Georgia. Amazing homemade breakfasts.
Guided Tours
Okefenokee Adventures offers guided kayak tours and boat rides. Book overnight excursions into the swamp. They supply the guide, the kayaks, all the meals and camping supplies.
Birthday in the Swamp BY ANN LITREL
I’ve told the story of my 50th birthday, when my sister Jane booked us a five-day trip in March to Nebraska, where we sat in a duck blind before dawn in sub-freezing temperatures, to witness one of the 10 Great Animal Migrations of the world – 400,000 great sandhill cranes migrating north to their winter breeding grounds in the Arctic. We watched as great clouds of birds with 6-foot wingspans circled the sky, dawn and sunset, over their nighttime roosting site in the shallows of the Platte River. As they called to one another, the sounds of their voices filled the sky. I’ll admit, it was spectacular. And cold. So, for Jane’s birthday this past November, I wanted to measure up with a comparable getaway. For sheer one-upmanship, I liked the sound of a swamp trip. Specifically, Okefenokee Swamp — the largest freshwater swamp east of the Mississippi, located in the middle of nowhere in South Georgia. I figured there was no way to top the spectacle of a great animal migration. I was hoping for alligators (and not too many mosquitos). I booked us a guided, three-day kayak trip, during which we would ferry our supplies in our boats, and camp each night on platforms raised above the swamp waters. As it turned out, there were alligators. Every hour. Everywhere. But there were also surprises. Our guide, Sheila, was a piece of living history – a selfproclaimed “Swamper,” whose family had lived in the trackless swamp going back almost 200 years. Sixty years old, she is a member of perhaps the last generation to know so many of the old
Sheila, self-proclaimed "Swamper" and Okefenokee guide.
settler stories, a trove of tales she shared with us about life in the swamp as it once was. As she led our kayaks through the maze of water trails, she often stopped us to point out countless strange bird calls, and name the source of each. In one instance, she pulled up to a hummock of ground where she stripped some leaves from a bush, wetted and crushed them, and showed us “poor man’s soap,” lathering in her hands. As for the alligators: One woke us with a huge bellow somewhere just beside our platform at dawn the first morning. And, as Jane and I paddled through a narrow channel the second afternoon, a big 12-footer slid from the grasses into the water just in front of our kayak. Jane and I froze — and then strained to stop our kayak. We knew he must be in the water just ahead of us. We called anxiously to Sheila behind us. Nonchalantly, she paddled up, glanced at the teatinted shallows, and said, “Looks like he has enough room down there to stay out of your way. Go ahead.” The real Okefenokee was not at all what I had pictured. There were moss-draped trees and dark waters, but there were also wide prairies, mirrors of glass-like water covered with pools of blooming continued on page 58
Ann is an artist who lives in Towne Lake with her husband Dr. Michael Litrel and their two sons. Ann can be reached at Ann@annlitrel.com. AROUND WOODSTOCK | February 2018
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Happy Trails and Happy Tails
Jeremy Loudin, Elaina Shorrock and Logan braved the cold temps to check out the newest Greenprints trail.
Austin Johanneson, age 4, and Braiden Bean, age 8, take a break from riding their scooters to share a smile with us.
The newest multi-purpose trail in the Greenprints Trail System officially opened to the community Jan. 4 with a ribbon cutting. The Towne Lake Pass Trail extends from Woofstock Dog Park, located at 150 Dupree Road, to Towne Lake Hills South. The 1.2 mile, 10-foot-wide trail connects Towne Lake residents to the Noonday Creek Trail, which runs from Market Street in downtown Woodstock to Highway 92. On a recent winter day, we ran into many families and fourlegged friends enjoying the new trail. Since the trailhead is located at the dog park, it’s a natural extension for canines and their owners looking to spend time outdoors. The project was funded using Woodstock's portion of the county's 2008 parks bond proceeds. The $2.86 million multipurpose trail connection was built by Integrated Construction and Nobility, Inc. “This trail is a vital connection for the city of Woodstock’s Greenprints Trail System. The new trail runs northwest from the dog park, under I-575 and through the wooded area near Woodstock Middle and High schools until it reaches Towne Lake Hills South,” said Woodstock Parks and Recreation Director Preston Pooser. “The project also includes concrete sidewalks along Towne Lake Hills Drive South from the trailhead to Woodstock High School and Towne Lake Hills South Drive to Towne Lake Parkway.” In 2016, the city of Woodstock and Cherokee County Board of Commissioners approved a joint resolution dedicating the trail to former Woodstock City Council member Tessa Basford, who passed away in 2014. See trail system map on page 57.
The Barsh family explored the new trail together. From left, Bill, Will, Caroline, Georgia and Melissa. Right, Grant and Lori Abbott hit the trail with their dog Shelby. 54
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Woodstock Mayor Donnie Henriques cuts the ribbon to officially open the Towne Lake Pass Trail.
Michele Pierce shared that she started running the Greenprints Trails in 2014, and has lost 20 pounds so far.
Janet and Adam Lefever, along with Winston, at the trailhead, which is located at Woofstock Dog Park. AROUND WOODSTOCK | February 2018
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Connectivity Completion of Towne Lake Pass another step in pulling together all of Cherokee County. BY JENNIFER STOCKTON
O
n Jan. 4, Mayor Donnie Henriques, members of the Woodstock City Council, Cherokee County Commission and staff from the city and county gathered at Woofstock Dog Park to officially open the Towne Lake Pass Trail. Despite the frigid weather that day, many of the community trail enthusiasts attended to celebrate and get their first look of the next section of the Greenprints Trail System. This section of trail begins at Woofstock Dog Park and runs along Noonday Creek to Towne Lake Hills South. With multiple sections of boardwalk, this spur of the Greenprints Trail will undoubtedly be a beautiful walk through the treetops once spring arrives. This multipurpose trail connection was funded by the 2008 county parks bond. In December 2016, the Cherokee County Commission awarded the $2.86 million contract to Integrated Construction & Nobility, Inc. The city of Woodstock and Cherokee County Board of Commissioners approved a joint resolution dedicating this section of trail in loving memory of former council member Tessa Basford, who passed away in 2014. A longtime resident of Cherokee County, Bassford was an integral part of the support for the trail system. The uniqueness of the Greenprints Master Plan is the connectivity between schools, parks, greens space, neighborhoods and downtown Woodstock. That connectivity was at the heart of the overwhelming support that she shared with other city leaders. It has been almost 10 years since Mayor Henriques and the Woodstock City Council adopted the Greenprints Master Plan in June 2008. The award-winning plan was formulated through a steering committee of residents, business owners, and other vested partners. In that 10 years, the investment by the county commissioners and the city has seen the trail system continue to grow. Towne Lake Pass connects directly to the Noonday Creek Trail that runs from Downtown Woodstock to Highway 92. Together they form the beginning of meaningful trail connections in Cherokee County; there are more projects on the horizon. Parking can be found at Woofstock Dog Park or at the trailhead in downtown Woodstock along Market Street. In December, the Atlanta Regional Commission staff recommended funding for the Noonday Creek Trail extension, which would extend the current Noonday Creek Trail from Highway 92 to the Noonday Park in Cobb County. If approved by the board, this trail extension would be a critical connection for Cherokee County, enabling the future connectivity to multiple destinations in the Metro Atlanta area. At press time, Woodstock Parks and Recreation was planning a Jan. 22 groundbreaking ceremony for the Rubes Creek Trail extension. This extension will connect the William G. Long Senior Center to the Northside Hospital-Cherokee Amphitheater, connecting Rubes Creek Trail to downtown Woodstock. All this connectivity means that Woodstock residents can choose to spend less time in cars, exploring the world around them on the trail system. If you are looking to get connected take a stroll on one of the new trails, we guarantee the trails will connect you to parts of Cherokee County that you haven’t seen before.
Jennifer Stockton is the current chair of Greenprints Alliance and has been a member of the organization since 2009. She lives in Woodstock with her husband Brian.
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Visit our website for more information on these or other trail projects. greenprintsalliance.org AROUND WOODSTOCK | February 2018
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Tour of the Southern Highlands
What’s My Auto Injury Case Worth?
The ToSH is a three-day professional and two-day amateur cycling stage race. It’s a USA Cycling-sanctioned Pro/Am, with a full schedule, as well as a USA Junior National Team selection race. It’s the only United States Junior National Team selection race east of the Rocky Mountains. Participants and their families travel from as far as California to compete. “Downtown Woodstock is happy to have Tour of the Southern Highlands back this year,” Tourism Manager Kyle Bennett said. “The restaurants and shops are delighted to welcome competitors and spectators, alongside Friday Night Live eventgoers, with great sales and specials, and a fantastic atmosphere.” Positioned at the beginning of March, The ToSH attracts some of the top athletes in the sport and serves as perfect preparation for more racing throughout the region and across the country. Go to visitwoodstockga.com/tosh or visit www.toshsr.com for more information.
Generally speaking, most soft tissue cases without aggravating circumstances or good medical records are worth the cost of medical treatment plus lost wages plus another few thousand for pain and suffering — maybe another $5,000 if your records are good. The reason is that auto insurance companies are well versed in the typical awards for soft tissue cases. Juries do not give a lot of money for whiplash, since they never understand the true pain that it involves unless they have been in a wreck themselves. More serious claims, like broken bones, herniated discs that involve surgery or epidurals, or nerve ablations are worth more, depending on the circumstances. I’ve seen these cases settle for six figures up to multi-millions if surgery and serious permanent injury was involved.
continued from page 18
continued from page 35
Scouting for Fun in Cherokee continued from page 41
Kids and Boxes, A Match Made in Heaven continued from page 22
When I was 11 years old, a giant box once became my favorite toy for weeks. It was a spaceship with a round window, rocket fins, the whole works. I can’t say I actually went into space and made new discoveries, but I felt like I had. To quote Mark Twain: “He felt much as an astronomer feels who has discovered a new planet − no doubt, as far as strong, deep, unalloyed pleasure is concerned, the advantage was with the boy, not the astronomer.”
Fear Must Not Inhibit a Financial Strategy continued from page 37
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. 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 - zacksim.com/heres-investors-underperform-market/ [5/22/17] 58
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meetings conducted in either full dress or work uniforms. Swimming, lifesaving, first aid, Coast Guard Auxiliary Sailing and Seamanship, and cardiopulmonary resuscitation courses are taught by the ship’s own officers. For more information about the Sea Scouts, including how to join or start a Sea Scout ship in your area, please visit SeaScoutsAtlanta.org. The Appalachian Trail District encompasses Cherokee and Pickens counties. There are 64 units in the district, including packs, troops, crews and ships, with more than 2,200 youths. To learn where a unit meets in your area, go to www.atlantabsa.org and select the JOIN SCOUTING drop down tab. There, you can select the type of unit you’re interested in. You also can call 770-988-8820.
Birthday in the Swamp continued from page 53
water lilies under the sun. Great shining white egrets perched in watch tower trees above the water, and the healthy waters were alive with fish and turtles and frogs. At sunset the final night, like an unexpected benediction, we heard the strangely familiar bird cries across the swamp from our platform. Sheila pulled out her binoculars to let us look, and there, heads and necks bobbing above the marsh grasses, were four sandhill cranes, settling down for their evening roost in the water. For Jane’s birthday, nature had graced us once again – so we could see the sandhill cranes, 1,000 miles from Nebraska, for another birthday celebration.
WOODSTOCK AREA HOMES SOLD IN DECEMBER List Price $314,900 $285,000 $325,000 $324,900 $437,900 $424,900 $414,900 $285,000 $250,000 $453,755 $447,900 $381,775 $370,000 $418,310 $209,900 $320,000 $429,900 $184,000 $488,550 $324,900 $315,000 $280,000 $209,990 $442,900 $209,500 $219,900 $179,900 $379,000 $325,000 $229,900 $650,000 $190,000 $200,000 $215,000 $270,000 $225,000 $449,900 $239,900 $250,000 $260,000 $525,000 $190,000 $179,900 $369,800 $199,500 $275,000 $174,900 $150,000 $349,960 $215,000 $178,500 $199,900 $573,970 $469,900 $469,900 $352,813 $488,900 $185,000
Address 400 Gael Way 103 Springwater Trace 1001 Inca Lane 166 Owens Farm Lane 4058 Hickory Fairway Drive 169 Inwood Walk 167 Inwood Walk 617 Springharbor Drive 227 Highland Village Lane 309 Cochen Drive 311 Riverton Way 128 Altmore Way 330 Melrose Circle 204 Sweetbriar Club Drive 1277 W Wylie Bridge Road 308 Windsong Way 304 Luke Street 208 Carrington Way 112 Sweetbriar Farm Road 235 Cornerstone Drive 149 Highlands Drive 407 ISLANDORA Cove 150 River Marsh Lane 414 Olde Heritage Circle 304 WESTOVER Drive 724 Ivory Trail 102 Toonigh Court 302 Canter Way 312 Windsong Way 309 Westover Drive 195 Hubbard Road 4046 River Rock Way 604 River Place Court 321 Dunesbury Lane 1511 Willow Bend 111 Northtowne Drive 418 Trotters Run 105 Little Brook Drive 1620 WILLOW Way 151 Clifford Court 408 Huntington Estates Manor 305 Westchester Way 112 N River Drive 503 Glenridge Way 1132 Dunedin Trail 148 Cornerstone Circle 306 Apple Valley Court 2320 E Cherokee Drive 108 Wood Hollow Drive 534 Arden Close 1419 RIVER LANDING Way 140 Apple Valley Drive 504 Taymack Farm Court 435 Hathaway Avenue 427 Hathaway Avenue 409 Boyd Court 127 Sanctuary Avenue 205 Apple Branch Drive
Subdivision Woodlands Springfield Place Mill Creek Crossing Orchards at East Cherokee Bradshaw Farm Inwood Inwood Springfield Place Highland Village Hickory Manor Inwood Villas at Mountain View Wynchase Sweet Briar Farms Pioneer Crossing Serenade BRADSHAW FARM Carrington Farms Sweet Briar Farms Cornerstone Park Arbor View Glens At Kingsgate River Plantation Olde Heritage FARMINGTON Wellington Manor Toonigh Crossing Newcastle Farm Serenade Farmington Woodstock Downtown River Oaks River Oaks Waverly Hills Willow Tree Northtowne Newcastle Farm Little Brook Estates Willow Tree Mill Creek Overlook The Estates at Wiley Bridge Waverly Hills Little River North Arbor View Regency At Kingsgate Cornerstone Estates Applewood N/A Woodhaven Court Montclair At Ridgewalk COLEMANS LANDING Applewood Estates of Fernwood Creek Haney Walk Haney Walk Riverside Sanctuary Applewood
Beds
4 4 4 3 5 4 4 6 3 5 4 3 4 3 3 5 6 3 3 3 5 4 4 5 3 3 3 4 4 3 4 3 3 3 4 3 5 3 4 4 4 4 4 5 3 3 3 3 3 2 3 4 6 5 5 4 5 3
Full Baths Yr Built Sales Price Days On Market 2 2005 $310,000 189 3 1989 $256,000 35 2 2002 $307,000 51 2 2008 $310,000 74 4 1997 $431,000 147 3 2017 $446,429 94 3 2017 $419,890 38 3 1996 $276,900 105 2 2007 $237,500 145 4 2017 $430,000 102 3 2017 $449,140 125 3 2017 $398,820 137 2 2007 $329,900 124 3 2017 $418,310 0 2 1979 $204,500 92 4 2001 $312,000 43 3 1996 $395,000 101 2 1999 $178,000 1 2 2017 $489,937 0 3 2008 $300,000 253 3 2003 $309,000 67 2 2000 $283,000 3 2 1998 $177,000 92 4 2012 $442,900 16 2 1979 $202,500 56 2 1993 $215,000 32 2 1985 $184,000 39 3 2015 $342,000 85 2 2001 $315,000 49 2 1979 $224,500 28 3 2011 $635,000 7 2 1993 $175,500 16 2 1984 $204,000 0 2 1993 $215,000 4 3 1989 $250,000 61 2 1997 $216,000 41 3 2006 $435,000 175 2 1974 $225,000 20 2 1992 $232,000 26 3 2002 $250,000 35 3 2001 $500,000 18 2 1992 $197,000 4 2 1975 $185,000 35 3 2004 $364,800 20 2 2000 $215,000 2 2 2012 $270,000 4 2 1982 $174,900 6 2 1980 $162,000 7 3 2017 $319,960 0 2 2005 $215,000 11 2 1990 $177,000 3 2 1982 $187,000 7 3 2016 $510,000 426 3 2017 $424,775 91 4 2017 $469,025 6 3 2017 $335,000 29 4 2017 $491,100 19 2 1982 $185,000 2
FMLS SF Detached residences data provided by The Premier Group, Keller Williams Realty Partners, Woodstock, GA Data believed to be accurate, but not warranted.
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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: 3075 Trickum 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 Harvest Baptist Church 3460 Kellogg Creek Road, Acworth www.hbcga.org 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 Mt. Zion 4096 East Cherokee Drive, Canton 770-479-3324 www.mtzb.org
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New Victoria 6659 Bells Ferry Road, Woodstock 770-926-8448, www.newvicbaptist.org Rising Hills Church 615 Mountain Road, Woodstock www.gorhc.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 Clement’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 Beth Tikvah 9955 Coleman Road, Roswell
770-642-0434 www.bethtikvah.com 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 Trinity 1136 Trinity Church Road www.trinity-presbyterian-church.org 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.bascombumc.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 Christian Church 3595 Sugar Pike Road Canton, GA 30115 770-475-9628 www.antiochcanton.org 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 Hope Church 6576 Commerce Parkway, Woodstock www.HopeChurchAtl.com Iglesia Mana Para Siempre, Inc. Bilingual church Spanish & English 452 Milton Drive, Canton 678-880-8750 www.iglesiamanaparasiempre.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 8534 Main Street, Woodstock 770-769-7495 www.sojournwoodstock.com Sovereign Grace 471 Arnold Mill Road, Woodstock 678-494-2100 www.sgcatlanta.org Thrive Chapel 11303 Highway 92, Woodstock 770-835-5795 www.thrivechapel.com 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 WOODSTOCK | February 2018
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Advertisers
For advertising rates and information Patty Ponder 770-615-3322 Patty@AroundaboutMagazines.com
February 2018
ANIMALS/PETS Cherokee County Animal Shelter www.cherokeega-animals.org
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Salon Gloss and Spa 770-693-6968 www.salongloss.biz
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Hale Healthcare 678-744-4253 www.HaleHealthCare.com
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North Georgia Audiology and Hearing Aid Center 770-726-8948 www.YourHearingLink.com
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Perimeter North Family Medicine 770-395-1130
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Imbriale Injury Law 678-445-7423 www.imbrialeinjury.com
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Shape & Shave 404-290-9267 www.shapenshave.com
Tidwell Strimban 678-999-8500 www.tidwellstrimban.com
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Wake-Up Made-Up & Electrolysis by Vanessa 678-445-5000
ATTORNEYS/LEGAL SERVICES
HOME & GARDEN
AUTOMOTIVE Woodstock Quality Paint & Body 770-926-3898
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CREDIT UNION LGE Community Credit Union www.LGEccuu.org
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DENTAL Gentle Dental Care/Georgia Dental Implant Center Inside back cover 770-926-2784 www.georgiadic.com Park Pediatric Dentistry of Woodstock 770-926-9260 www.PediatricWoodstockDentist.com
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Williams Orthodontics Woodstock: 770-592-5554 Canton: 770-345-4155 www.DrWilliamsOrthodontics.com
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L.Bean Interiors 770-824-8386 Mr. Junk 678-MR-Junk1(675-8651) www.mrjunk1.com Red Oak Custom Homes & Renovations 678-718-5185 www.RedOakFineHomes.com Reliable Heating & Air 770-594-9969 www.ReliableAir.com
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OPHTHALMOLOGIST/OPTOMETRIST Thomas Eye Group 770-928-4544 www.thomaseye.com
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Evolve Bank & Trust 20 Andrea Meador, Senior Mortgage Loan Officer Office 770-924-2451, Cell 770-714-9227 www.getevolved.com
ORGANIZATIONS
HAIR SALON, SPA & BEAUTY
PHOTOGRAPHY Darleen Prem Photography 770-354-0675 J. King Images 404-384-2794, 404-200-0881 www.jkingimages.com
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Salon & Spa Venéssa 770-591-2079 www.salonvenessa.com
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Inside front
REAL ESTATE & RELATED SERVICES Atlanta Communities Real Estate Brokerage 9 Tara Daigle, Realtor 404-925-6351 Broadus Realty Group 404-583-8856 www.broadusrealtygroup.com
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Magnolia Cottages by the Sea www.MagnoliaDreamCottage.com Premier Group, The — Keller Williams 678-494-0102 www.TPGsells.com
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Back cover
Elm St. Cultural Arts Village 678-494-4251 www.ElmStreetArts.org
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Guns and Hoses 5K 5 770-924-7768 http://gunshoses5kandfunrun.blogspot.com RESTAURANTS Fire Stone Wood Fired Pizza & Grill 770-926-6778 www.FireStoneRestaurants.com
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SENIOR LIVING
PHYSICIANS AND MEDICAL SERVICES
Massage Envy 770-974-0880 www.MassageEnvy.com
WellStar Health System www.wellstar.org/mayo
RECREATION/ENTERTAINMENT
Downtown Buzz 29 770-592-6056 www.mainstreetwoodstock.org/connect/#buzz
FINANCIAL SERVICES Citadel Professional Services, LLC 770-952-6707
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Cherokee Internal Medicine 678-238-0301 www.cherokeeim.com
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Lodge at BridgeMill, The 770-479-4639 www.TheLodgeAtBridgeMill.com
Cherokee Women’s Health Specialists 770-720-7733 www.cherokeewomenshealth.com
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Oaks at Towne Lake 770-592-2195 www.oaksseniorliving.com AROUND WOODSTOCK | February 2018
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Since 1996, we have brought relevant, uplifting and reader-driven content to readers. We publish Around Acworth, Around Canton, Around Woodstock and TowneLaker. 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.
Patty Ponder
Katherine Amick
Christie Deese
Candi Hannigan
Jackie Loudin
Carla Caldwell
Michelle McCulloch
Laura Latchford
Denise Griffin
Around Woodstock Distribution Map Circulation: 16,900
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AROUND WOODSTOCK | February 2018
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. It’s your community. It’s your magazine. Look on page 6 for our contact information. Photos by J King Images
Karen and Jon Flaig