Around WALTON | March 2012
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March 2012
Volume 1, Issue 9
44
38 Featured Articles
28 Kids in the Kitchen
Junior League helps fight childhood obesity.
30 Summer Camps March Walton Cover.indd 1
2/29/2012 9:22:17 AM
32 & 33 On the Cover Rohan Law, PC: Attorney Doug Rohan Photo by Dan Carmody/Studio 7 www.studio7hub.com
Local drama, sports and day camps.
43 Scouting
Local Boy Scout Alexander Cuthrell — Atlanta’s top fundraiser
Around WALTON | March 2012
Birthdays................................. 12 Community Calendar............... 21 Everyday Angels...................... 22 Houses of Worship.................. 52 Clubs & Organizations.............. 56 School Information.................. 58 Product Recalls........................ 59
Community Numbers.............. 60
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44 An Adventure in Spain Students immersed in language and culture.
48 National Signing Day
As our Market Manager, Chris is the guy you call when you want to place an ad in Around Walton. He’s lived and worked in Cobb County for over 20 years, and is active in the Atlanta music scene so you might catch him playing bass and singing at a local club. You can reach him at (770) 615-3311 or Chris@ AroundAboutLocalMedia.com.
In Every Issue
WHS student-athletes commit to play in college.
Humane Society...................... 61 Elected Officials....................... 62 Advertiser Directory................ 64
Contributing Writers Judson Adamson.............................17 Don Akridge....................................16 Mary-Kathryn Boler.........................20 Cristi Cheek.....................................38 Angela Butler-Hacket.......................24 Sen. Judson Hill...............................14 Jennifer Jarosick..............................25 Linda & Kevin Keeton......................18 Kara Kiefer.......................................29
Scott Lemmon.................................40 Northside Hospital..........................36 Zett Quinn.......................................19 Doug Rohan.....................................13 Scott Sweeney.................................50 WellStar..........................................34 Caroline Whaley..............................28 Bryant Wright..................................51
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Community
Our Community Board Doug Rohan is a bi-lingual attorney and owner of Rohan Law, PC. Doug can be reached at doug@rohanlawpc.com. Dr. Cristi Cheek is a dentist and owner of Cristi Y. Cheek, D.M.D., P.C. Dr. Cheek can be reached at CCDental@bellsouth.net. Caroline Whaley is the President of the Junior League of Cobb-Marietta. Caroline can be reached at carolinewhaley@ earthlink.net. Judy McNeill — Judy is the Principal at Walton High School. Judy can be reached at (770) 578-3225, x229. Judson Adamson — Judson is a 24-year veteran of the Atlanta Real Estate Industry. Judson can be reached at (770) 240-2001. Dawn Reed — Dawn Reed is a Certified Senior Advisor and the owner of Aloha To Senior Solutions Consulting. Dawn can be reached at dawn@ alohatoseniors.com. Mary Stephens — Mary currently serves as Media Director for Right From The Heart Ministries. Mary can be reached at (678) 388-1862. Zett Quinn — Zett is the owner and founder of Quality Craftsmen. Zett can be reached at (404) 483-7446.
Around Walton
Your Community, Your Magazine
Publisher
AroundAbout Local Media, Inc.
Executive Editor
Kara Kiefer kara@aroundaboutmagazines.com, (770) 615-3309
Title Editor
Lynne Lysaght lynne@aroundaboutmagazines.com, (770) 615-3306
Market Manager
Chris Kennedy chris@aroundaboutlocalmedia.com, (770) 615-3311
Art Director
Michelle McCulloch michelle@aroundaboutmagazines.com, (770) 615-3307
Digital Marketing Director
James Ball james@aroundaboutmagazines.com, (770) 615-3310 Around Walton is a publication of AroundAbout Local Media, Inc., a monthly community magazine. The magazine’s goal is to build a sense of community and pride in the Walton area by providing its residents with positive stories and timely information. It is distributed free by mail to approximately 14,300 homes and businesses and 2,200 in racks throughout the Walton community. Around Walton welcomes your comments, stories, and advertisements. The deadline is the 20th of the preceding month. Subscriptions are available for $24 per year. Send payment 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 Walton 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 2012. Around Walton 2449 Towne Lake Parkway, Woodstock, GA 30189 For Advertising Chris Kennedy, (770) 615-3311 chris@aroundaboutlocalmedia.com Website: www.aroundaboutwalton.com Powered by TrustWorks, Inc. Franchise Opportunities Available: www.AroundAboutLocalMedia.com Volume 1, Issue 9
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Around WALTON | March 2012
Around WALTON | March 2012
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Community
AROUND WALTON by Lynne Lysaght
Lynne is the Editor of Around Walton magazine. She lives in the Walton community with her husband Martin and their three sons Kyle, Logan and Camden.
The People, The Places and The Pleasures that make Walton
On our website, www. aroundaboutwalton.com, our readers can submit pictures, contact the editor, submit events to be added to the community calendar, submit lost or found pet information, and find reference lists like area church information, area clubs, school information and more. Readers can also find the current issue of Around Walton or participate in special events, like voting in the Readers’ Choice poll that was open for the past two months. When contacting the editor, feel free to share suggestions, ideas, criticisms and compliments to continue to help us improve your magazine.
What’s Coming? Abbadabba’s Shoe Store is coming to 1255 Johnson Ferry Road in Market Plaza where the Marine Fish and Reef Store was formerly located. Look for the new location to open in the spring of 2012. For more information about the company and its products, visit www.coolshoes.com. Sterling Estates Senior Living Community is being built on Lower Roswell Road beside the James E. Quarles Water Treatment Plant. There will be six cottages along the front of the property that will resemble the Wilmont Williams development just west of it on the same side of Lower Roswell Road.
What’s Moved? Justice, a girl’s and preteen clothing store, has temporarily moved across from its location in The Avenue while its store is being remodeled. Currently, you can find it located between Menchies Frozen Yogurt and Bed, Bath and Beyond.
What’s New? Advanced Auto Parts recently opened a new location at 4195 Roswell Road at the former Blockbuster location. Advanced Auto Parts carries thousands of items for vehicles, including replacement parts, engine parts, brakes, batteries, parts to enhance performance, vehicle accessories, tools and items the do-it-yourself garage might need. For more information, visit shop.advanceautoparts.com. Reader Mary Buechner submitted photos to remind us of what the whole area around us looked like in January of 2011. Remember school being closed for a week because we had no way to remove the ice on neighborhood streets? So far this winter, we have not experienced anything like this, but don’t say it won’t happen. The Atlanta area has had ice storms as late as April in the past. I know it is hard to believe, especially with all the pollen from the plants and flowers already in the air. While we wait for spring to officially begin, here are some things going on around Walton.
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Around WALTON | March 2012
Cactus Car Wash opened recently at 4216 Roswell Road in the location formerly occupied by Arby’s (before it moved across Roswell Road). For more information, visit www. cactuscarwash.com. The new restaurant Cheeky recently opened at 4475 Roswell Road, Suite 1510, in The Avenue. Cheeky has a chef-driven menu of Latin influenced cuisine and a “Pour Your Own Beer” system. For hours, menu and more information, visit eatcheeky.com or call (404) 801-3616. K-mart reopened recently in its former location at 4269 Roswell Road in the East Cobb Crossing shopping center. For more information on this specific location, call (678) 403-4600. For general information, visit www.kmart.com.
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Our purpose: 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 your photos, ideas, stories or anything else you think the community would like to know about to lynne@aroundaboutmagazines.com. Sincerely, It’s your community. It’s your magazine.
Your Friends at Around Walton
The Community Of
WALTON
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Around WALTON | March 2012
Around WALTON | March 2012
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Community
What’s Happening in Walton... Dodgen Middle School Presents Beauty and the Beast Blake Cooper Productions and Dodgen Middle School are proud to present Disney’s Beauty and the Beast. Performances are March 23 and 24 at 7 p.m. and March 25 at 3 p.m. The performances will be in the Dodgen theatre located at 1725 Bill Murdock Road. Tickets are $10 and are available in advance at www.bcprod.org, by email at tickets@bcprod.org or at the door.
Family Garage Sale to Benefit WHS Band The 20th Annual Walton Band Garage Sale will be held on Saturday, March 17 from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. More than 250 families have donated items, which will be sold at Walton High School, located at 1590 Bill Murdock Road. There will be two gymnasiums full of furniture, toys, electronics, garden tools, household items and clothes. Metal and electronic recycling also will be available in Lot D. All proceeds will benefit the Walton High School Band program.
Host a French Student this Summer Two different groups are looking for families in the Walton community to host students from France. The groups want families who will show the student warmth and hospitality during their visit here. This is a wonderful opportunity for local families, especially if they have students of similar age and sex who would like to be given the opportunity to learn about another culture and establish a real friend in a foreign country. These French teens, coming from Paris to Provence to Alsace, want to experience American life firsthand and be totally immersed in the English language.
Honorable Mention for Around Walton Tournament of Roses Contest
Retired French teacher Linda Farmer is working with Loisirs Culturels á l’Etranger (LEC) to find host families for 25 teens from professional French families from July 5-25. Ms. Farmer, along with a French chaperone, will oversee the program. LEC, the Paris-based sponsor, provides these students with comprehensive medical insurance and gives host families compensation for room and board. All come with ample spending money for expenses outside of the home and each has had three to six years of experience speaking English, depending on age. An excursion bus will take the French teens on sightseeing trips once per week while they are here. For more information, contact Linda at (770) 973-2452 or lgfarmer@aol.com. Also, see www.lec-usa.com. Language Safaris, a British firm, has one group of French teen students here July 11 – 26 and a second group from August 1 – 16. There will be a local facilitator who will coordinate events here, including three hours daily of English instruction, plus field trips to tourist venues. It is not necessary that a host family speak French. The host family would provide sleeping accommodation and meals for the visitor. In return, the host families would be paid a stipend to defray any costs. An adult coordinator will also be here in the event of any problems, and there would always be 24 hour help available. Families who may be interested in becoming hosts are invited to contact the local facilitator via email at fcp4tv@gmail. com, or leave a voice message at (678) 318-3518. Interviews will be scheduled in March, and they are seeking at least 15 host families for each session.
Each year, Around Walton honors a couple in the Walton community who has been married the longest. The winner is chosen from reader nominated entries, and this year, the winners were Betty and Al Gladding, featured in our February issue. However, we also would like to recognize an honorable mention couple, Sibyl and Bill Graham, who will have been married 62 years on July 1. Congratulations!
We Are Your Community’s Source for Information • www.aroundaboutwalton.com 10
Around WALTON | March 2012
Garage Sale at the Catholic Church of St. Ann
JLCM Mardi Gras Run Raises $20,000
The St Ann’s Women’s Guild is holding its annual Parish Garage Sale to raise funds to benefit the church and community charities. There will be two very large inside areas filled with treasures for sale on March 22 - March 24 at the church, located at 4905 Roswell Road. The garage sale hours for Thursday and Friday are from 9 a.m. – 6 p.m. and Saturday from 9 a.m. – 1 p.m. For more information, visit www.st-ann.org/WG_GarageSale.php.
East Cobb Kiwanis’ Art and Music Showcase The East Cobb Kiwanis Club is sponsoring a local Art & Music Showcase on March 21 at Pope High School, located at 3001 Hembree Road. The Art show is for students in grades 6 – 12, and judging will begin about 6 p.m. in the Media Center. Winners from each grade level and a “Best In Show” award will be presented. All grade-level winners are also entered in the Kiwanis District (State) Showcase in Carrollton, GA in April. The East Cobb club has had multiple state winners the past two years where $7,500 in scholarships is awarded. The Music Showcase is for students in Grades 9 - 12 and will begin at 7 p.m. in the Theater. First, second and third place winners will receive a plaque and savings bond funds. The first place winner will be entered in the District Showcase in Carrollton in April. For the past two years, the East Cobb Kiwanis club winner has won the $1,000 scholarship. There is $7,500 in scholarships awarded for Music at the District competition as well. Please contact Johnny Johnson at (770) 977-2026 for information about the Art Showcase or Carl Nalls at (770) 973-7515 for information about the Music Showcase.
Recently, more than 1,100 runners supported the Junior League of Cobb-Marietta (JLCM) in its third Annual Marietta Mardi Gras Run. Raising more than $20,000, the Marietta Mardi Gras Run is one of two major fundraisers for the JLCM. Caroline Whaley, JLCM President, stated, “The Run directly supports our mission and enables the League to be a catalyst for community change leaving a legacy of service to the children and families in Cobb County.” Sponsors for the race included Around Walton, Belk, Big Peach Running Company, Chick-fil-A, Marietta Trade Center, Cobb EMC, Dirt Cheep Music, Fontis Water, FRS Sports Drink, Holly Lauer Photography, iVision, Little Black Dress/Little Red Wagon, Marlow’s Tavern Kennesaw, Metro Ambulance, the MDJ, Morgan Keegan, Publix Supermarkets Charities and Publix Super Markets, Southwest Airlines, Taqueria Tsunami, Team Honda and Wharton Management, Inc.
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Wedding, Birthday and Anniversary Announcements are Free! E-mail to: lynne@arounaboutmagazines.com. • April deadline is March 20.
Happy Birthday!
Jackson Ruff
Age 13 on March 3 Happy Birthday! Love, Mom, Dad and Skyler
Colton Strong
Age 5 on March 6 Happy Birthday! Love, Dad, Mom and Harper
We Will Be Celebrating Moms in our May Issue! At Around Walton, we feel that each and every mom is her family’s “Mother of the Year.” For this reason, we would like to honor as many of our moms as possible for our May issue with a special pictorial celebrating all mothers! We are looking for photos of our Walton area moms with their children. The photos can be from babyhood through present day. If you don’t have children, we also would love to share your photos of you and your mom, even if it was in the 70s! Here are the guidelines: 1. Please ensure all submitted photographs have identifications listed for each person in the photo. 2. Please submit the photos via email to lynne@AroundAboutMagazines.com 3. The deadline for submissions is April 20.
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Around WALTON | March 2012
George Young
Age 7 on March 6 Happy Birthday! Love, Dad, Mom and Meredith
Sofia Rodriguez
Age 9 on March 27 Happy Birthday, Sofia! Love, Mommy, Papi and Catalina
Brandy Jordan Celebrating on March 6 Happy 40th Birthday! Love, Grace, Grant and Richard
Ashley Miller
Age 5 on March 28 Happy Birthday Princess! Love, Mommy, Daddy and Bailey Rose
Grace Jordan Age 10 on March 27 Happy Birthday! Love, Mom, Dad and Grant
Birth!
Lilly Frances Graham
Born on January 5, 2012 6 lbs., 8 oz., 19 ½ in. long Daughter of Kelly and Robert Graham Granddaughter of Fran and Bob Graham
Playing in our National Parks (like the Chattahoochee River NRA) Could Get You into Serious Trouble by Douglas B. Rohan, Esq. ROHAN LAW, PC
Doug Rohan lives in the Walton community with his wife, Julia, and three daughters. He is a bi-lingual attorney and owner of Rohan Law, PC where he specializes in Criminal Defense and Workers’ Compensation claims. He also is a member of the Around Walton Community Board. You can email Doug at doug@ rohanlawpc.com.
I was involved in a case last year that made my jaw drop. Of course, I always have interesting stories to share based on my experiences in court, but this case left me shaking my head for days, and I knew immediately that I would share it with my readers. Every year, hundreds of thousands of individuals flock to our National Parks to enjoy the great outdoors. Cutting through Cobb County is the Chattahoochee River National Recreational Area, a huge National Park lining both sides of the river. We also have the Kennesaw Mountain National Battlefield in West Cobb.
In the event you had not thought of this before, any criminal act in either of these parks is actually a federal crime, as opposed to a state code violation. This is an important distinction to make. I am sure you have heard the cliché “don’t make a federal case out of this” - insinuating that you are blowing something out of proportion and making it far more complex than it needs to be. Well, let me tell you that a minor transgression on Federal land creates a whole host of headaches, including criminalizing things that you would not think are criminal.
This is where things get really weird. Instead of contacting the young men about the kayak for sale and asking simple questions like, “Where did you get the kayak?” the park ranger decided to set up an undercover sting operation, under the pretense of buying the “stolen” kayak. The young men had no idea what was happening as the “bust” went down. They were charged with a criminal violation of federal statutes related to the theft of the property.
continued on page 55
In this particular case, two young men came across an abandoned kayak. There was a name in the kayak, but it was about as generic as “John Smith.” There was no phone number and no registration number. After waiting a few minutes to see if anyone surfaced in the area that might claim the vessel, they freed the kayak from its entanglement and escorted it to the next boat ramp. They remained at that boat ramp until sunset, waiting for someone to claim the boat. When no one did, they loaded it up onto their truck and took it home. Later that night, they placed a listing on Craigslist to sell the kayak. Instantly, multiple interested parties responded. Realizing that they had something that was perhaps more valuable than they thought, they decided instead to post a listing in the Lost & Found section. After several days, no one claimed it. Turns out, however, that the individual who was missing the kayak saw the “For Sale” listing but not the “Lost & Found” listing. Rather than call the young men and claim the kayak, the individual called the authorities, who in turn notified the Park Ranger. Around WALTON | March 2012
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Autonomy is the Key to Georgia’s Success by Judson Hill
Sen. Judson Hill serves as Chairman of the Government Oversight Committee. He represents the 32nd Senate District, which includes portions of Cobb and Fulton counties. He may be reached by phone at (404) 6560150 or by e-mail at judson.hill@senate. ga.gov.
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The tenth amendment of the U.S. Constitution states, “The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people.” Although the words may be cumbersome, the concept is simple. If a service is not clearly stated as a responsibility of the federal government, it is up to each individual state to draft the laws and regulations for oversight. In recent years, however, our federal government has made decisions that strip away the constitutional rights of U.S. citizens one by one. Forcing the purchase of healthcare, imposing large tax and regulatory burdens on jobcreating companies, and interpreting the Constitution in ways other than its explicit definition is a big deviation from the once-cherished principle of limited
Around WALTON | March 2012
government for which our forefathers fought. In stark contrast to our federal government, Georgia is making significant strides towards autonomy. If the federal government is going to keep forcing costly and overreaching mandates on Georgia citizens, the Georgia General Assembly must counter with channels that promote government efficiency, transparency and economic growth. In the beginning weeks of the 2012 legislative session of the Georgia General Assembly, the Senate Majority Caucus unveiled its plans to support legislation that embodies limited government, increased fiscal responsibility, comprehensive tax reform, 21st century education reform, and protection for our children. We are already approaching the halfway mark of the legislative session. Crossover Day—the 30th day of the legislative session, and the last chance for Senate bills to transfer to the house, and vice versa—is quickly approaching. Promoting Efficient Government Operations In an effort to streamline operations and reduce government
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In the beginning weeks of the 2012 legislative session of the Georgia General Assembly, the Senate Majority Caucus unveiled its plans to support legislation that embodies limited government, increased fiscal responsibility, comprehensive tax reform, 21st century education reform, and protection for our children. waste, the Senate passed SB 223, also known as the Georgia Government Accountability Act. If enacted, this legislation will determine the continued need and existence of staterun programs and agencies. In 2011, I originally introduced legislation calling for comparable measures through the creation
of a Joint Legislative Sunset Advisory Committee, and this idea was also carried in SB 223. The Joint Committee would ultimately be charged with determining whether a public need exists for the continuation of a state agency or agency function; however, this committee can only recommend legislative action and not abolishment. In addition, the passage of SB 223 also enables the Joint Legislative Sunset Advisory Committee to issue recommendations to privatize, consolidate or eliminate a state program or agency. Removing Loopholes with the Fair Tax Tax reform is another important principle championed by the Senate Majority Caucus in 2012. The Fair Tax is a national scale concept that should be taken into consideration as a way to reform Georgia’s taxation system. That said, in order to determine the viability of the Fair Tax in Georgia, there is much research to be done. Simply implementing a new tax structure without anticipating every possible outcome and potential obstacle is a precarious move. As a result, I have introduced SR 28, which would seek a statelevel study committee to determine if the Fair Tax would be appropriate in Georgia. The resolution calls for the committee to be composed of the Finance Chair and four Senate members who will be appointed by the Lt. Governor. continued on page 54 Around WALTON | March 2012
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Community
RMD Precautions And Options Meeting your obligations and finding some opportunities by Don Akridge, MBA, CPA, CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ U.S. Marine Corps Veteran – Emory University Alumnus
After you turn 70½, the IRS requires you to withdraw some of the money in your retirement savings accounts each year. These withdrawals are officially called Required Minimum Distributions (RMDs).
Don Akridge is President of Citadel CPA, Financial Planning & Investment Services founded in 1994 and conveniently located off Chastain Road between I-575 & I-75 in Kennesaw. Phone (770) 952-6707.
While you never have to make withdrawals from a Roth IRA, you must take annual RMDs from traditional, SEP and SIMPLE IRAs, pension and profitsharing plans and 401(k), 403(b) and 457 retirement plans annually past a certain age. If you don’t, severe financial penalties await.
If you are still working as an employee at age 70½, you don’t have to take RMDs from a profit-sharing plan, a pension plan, or a 401(k), 403(b) or 457 plan. Your initial RMDs from these accounts will only be required after you retire. However, you must take RMDs from these types of accounts if you own five percent or more of a business sponsoring such a retirement plan. You must take RMDs from IRAs after you turn 70½ regardless of whether you are still working or not. The annual deadline is December 31, right? Yes, with one notable exception. The IRS gives you 15 months instead of 12 to take your first RMD. Your first one must be taken in the calendar year after you turn 70½. So if you turned 70½ in 2011, you can take your initial RMD any time before April 1, 2013. However, if you put off your first RMD until next year you will still need to take your second RMD by December 31, 2013. Calculating RMDs can be complicated. You probably have more than one retirement savings account. You may have several. So this gets rather intricate. • Multiple IRAs. Should you have more than one traditional, SEP or SIMPLE IRA, the annual RMDs for these accounts must be calculated separately. However, the IRS gives you some leeway about how to withdraw the money. You can withdraw 100 perecent of your total yearly RMD amounts from just one IRA, or you can withdraw equal or unequal portions from each of the IRAs you own.
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• 401(k)s and other qualified retirement plans. A separate RMD must be calculated for each qualified retirement plan to which you have contributed. These RMD amounts must be paid out separately from the RMD(s) for your IRA(s). • Inherited IRAs. The same applies; a separate RMD must be calculated for each inherited IRA you have, and these RMD amounts must be paid out separately from RMD(s) for your other IRA(s). This is why you should talk to your financial or tax advisor about your RMDs. It is really important to have your advisor review all of your retirement accounts to make sure you fulfill your RMD obligation. If you skip an RMD or withdraw less than what you should have, the IRS will find out and hit you with a stiff penalty: you will have to pay 50 percent of the amount not withdrawn. Are RMDs taxable? Yes, the withdrawn amounts are characterized as taxable income under the Internal Revenue Code. Should you be wondering, RMD amounts can’t be rolled over into other tax-deferred accounts and excess RMD amounts can’t be forwarded to apply toward next year’s RMDs. What if you don’t need the money? If you are wealthy, you may come to see RMDs as an annual financial nuisance, but the withdrawal amounts may be redirected toward opportunities. While putting the money into a savings account or a CD is the usual route, there are other options with potentially better yields or objectives. That RMD amount could be used to: • Start a grandchild’s education fund. • Fund a long-term care insurance policy. • Leverage your estate using life insurance. There are all kinds of things you could do with the money. The withdrawn funds could be linked to a new purpose. So to recap, be vigilant and timely when it comes to calculating and making your RMD. Have a tax or financial professional help you, and have a conversation about the destiny of that money. Securities offered through 1st Global Capital Corp. Member FINRA, SIPC. Investment advisory services offered through 1st Global Advisors, Inc. Created by 1st Global or Peter Montoya, Inc. for use by our financial advisors.
The Largest Consumer Financial Protection Settlement in U.S. History by Judson Adamson
Judson Adamson is the President/CEO of Atlanta Communities Real Estate Brokerage serving the Walton community. He also is a member of the Around Walton Community Board. He can be reached at (770) 240-2001.
It’s been 30 days since my last article on why I felt that the local housing market was starting to recover based on my “gut feeling.” The positive feedback and renewed enthusiasm from our Realtor® population during this period has continued to grow and the increased activity seems to be touching a much broader price range than I had originally thought. With housing affordability at an all time high, it seems that a large number of qualified buyers are determining that now may be the time to take advantage of this unique opportunity to hop into the housing market. However, this housing market is not the market we were used to in the period before the downturn. The feedback we are getting from even our most experienced Realtors® is that every
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. . . banks have agreed to write off a sum of the mortgage principal in select cases where homeowners are underwater or do a loan modification . . . deal is challenging. With a large percentage of transactions being short sales, foreclosures, bank owned, or some other type of distressed situation, it is very prudent to work with an experienced, professional Realtor® during the real estate transaction process. If you are getting involved in a real estate situation, please take your time in selecting a Realtor® to work with. All real estate continued on page 54
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Community
Small Businesses: Don’t Let Business Risk Your Home by Linda and Kevin Keeton
Linda and Kevin Keeton live in the Walton community with their two sons, Christian and Matthew. With a combined experience of over 36 years within the insurance industry, Keeton Insurance Services, Inc. is a Trusted Choice® Independent Agency specializing in property and casualty insurance. They may be reached by calling (770) 971-8900 or visiting www.keetoninsurance.com.
The diversification of the U.S. economy over the past generation has meant that millions of Americans have started their own businesses. Americans still chase the dream of being their own boss by starting their own business—and the trend has picked up during the economic slump because of hiring slowdowns and spikes in corporate layoffs.
Small businesses are the biggest drivers of job growth, generating 60 to 80 percent of net new jobs annually over the last decade, according to the U.S. Department of Commerce. Small firms employ half of U.S. workers. And the sole proprietor is alive and well: in 2005, there were six million firms with employees, but a whopping 20.4 million firms who had no employees other than the owner, according to the Small Business Administration. Of all small businesses, 52 percent are home-based. That means millions of Americans are earning their business income where they live. But business owner beware: don’t expect homeowners insurance to cover business risks. Business insurance offers protection from liability and property risks. Often these coverages are combined into a package policy called a BOP, or business owner’s policy. Typically, a BOP includes the following coverages: Property insurance for buildings and contents of the business. Home-based business might not need coverage for their building (home), since it’s already insured against risks of fire, lightning and windstorm through their homeowners. But if there are additional risks to the structure because of the presence of business operations, those won’t necessarily be covered by homeowners insurance. If there are additional structures on a residential property where the
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Home-based businesses might not have adequate coverage through homeowners insurance because of "sublimits" restricting coverage for business property. homeowner operates a business, those won’t necessarily be covered by homeowners insurance. For example, a detached garage that serves as a small-engine repair shop would not be covered by homeowners insurance; that business owner would need a policy endorsement to gain coverage. Home-based businesses might not have adequate coverage through homeowners insurance because of “sublimits” restricting coverage for business property. For instance, the homeowners’ policy may cover business property, but typically only up to $2,500 while it is “on premises” and up to $500 while the property is “off premises.” Business interruption insurance. This protects against loss of income resulting from a fire or other covered event that disrupts the business. This coverage can also include the extra costs a business shoulders while it works from a temporary location. A fire in a home can be double trouble for a homebased business. Liability insurance. This protects the small business for legal responsibility for the damage it causes to other people or entities. Liability insurance is usually priced according to the risk of the industry in which the business operates. A business that manufactures toys, for example, faces different risks than a consulting firm. Liability insurance shields a business and its employees if they cause bodily injury or property damage. Not included in a BOP are professional liability coverage, automobile insurance, workers’ compensation, medical insurance and disability insurance. All can be covered with separate policies. Check with your Trusted Choice® insurance agent about what type of insurance protection a small business— especially a home-based business—warrants.
From Master Suites to Sunrooms: Additions Create More Than Just Space by Zett Quinn It’s a dilemma for many in the Walton community: you enjoy your neighborhood, outstanding schools and proximity to shopping, but your house is no longer your dream home. Sometimes it’s more practical to remodel rather than leave the area you love. Zett Quinn is the founder of Quality Craftsmen, offering more than 20 years of experience in the construction and renovation business. To learn more, visit www.qualitycraftsmen.com or contact him at (404) 483-7446 or zett@ quality-craftsmen. com.
should include five distinct zones for sleeping, sitting, dressing, closet and bath. Many master suites in East Cobb feature spacious bedrooms with double walk-in closets and a bathroom with a large soaking tub, his-and-her vanities, custom cabinets and an oversized
Most houses in East Cobb are more than 20 years old, so the rooms are smaller and more closed off than in newer homes. To produce the open atmosphere of a newer home, you can remove walls or invest in a room addition. Homeowners in our area typically choose one of four additions: a master bedroom suite, family room, porch or kitchen. Some housing professionals say that the kitchen is the most important selling point of a home, followed closely by the master bedroom. That’s why many homeowners are investing in a master suite. This area
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Lifestyle
Consequences of Customer Satisfaction Surveys by Mary-Kathryn Boler
Mary-Kathryn Boler is the owner of Catapult Strategic Consulting, LLC (www. CatapultStrategies. com), located in the Walton area. Her proven approach to creating business strategies and action plans has helped hundreds of entrepreneurs grow their businesses faster and more profitabilty than they thought possible.
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Last week I had several noteworthy shopping experiences. Some were remarkable, because the stores made me feel like the most important customer on earth, while others were significant because of an utter lack of customer service. Because I think like a business consultant even when shopping for personal items, I began to consider the causes of such dramatically different customer experiences. Is it the company culture? Do some employees enjoy their jobs more than others? I noted one unexpected difference: all of the stores offering positive shopping experiences asked me to take a customer survey, while none of the others asked how I felt about my purchase experiences. Given the widespread use of surveys, the lack of request for feedback from several stores struck me as curious.
Around WALTON | March 2012
Voice of the Customer professionals who specialize in understanding customer experiences, increasing customer loyalty, identifying new product opportunities and improving frontline performance rely heavily on surveys for data gathering. “Voice of the Consumer” is a relatively new function within companies that has emerged with the growth of social media. According to Quintessential Marketing, developer of the online survey software PeoplePulse, the average online survey response rate is 26 percent. The number of responses varies from 5 percent to 40 percent depending on the type of retail outlet, length of survey and incentive offered to complete the survey. Overall response rates are decreasing, as many consumers suffer from survey fatigue. Business owners may wonder if surveys are worthwhile, and the evidence proves their value. An analysis of 362 firms by international management consulting firm Bain & Company revealed 80 percent of companies believed they delivered a “superior experience” to their customers, but customers indicated only 8 percent delivered outstanding service. Obviously, it is hard for us to see our businesses objectively. Frederick Reicheld of Bain & Company sought to quantify the continued on page 55
EVENT CALENDAR: March 17
March/April March 23, 24, 25
Cobb’s Summer Camp Expo Time: 9 a.m. – 3 p.m. Location: Cobb Civic Center, 548 South Marietta Parkway Information: Cobb County Parks, Recreation and Cultural Department is holding second annual Summer Camp expo. Visit booths to learn about day camps, art camps, church camps, overnight camps and more. Free admission and door prizes. For more information, contact Wendy.Collins@ cobbcounty.org or call (770) 528-8885.
Neil Simon’s California Suite Times: March 23 & 24 at 8 p.m. March 25 at 2 p.m. Location: The Art Place-Mountain View, 3330 Sandy Plains Road Information: Bring your own dinner or dessert and enjoy a great show. Tickets will be $12 and seating is at tables of 8. California Suite contains adult situations and language. Visit www.theartplace.us for online tickets and more information.
March 19, 26, April 2, 9
Document Shredding Day Time: 9 a.m. – 12 p.m. Location: Piedmont Church, 570 Piedmont Road Information: Keep Cobb Beautiful is holding a document shredding day. For more information, contact Terrilyn Hannah at keepcobbbeautiful@cobbcounty.org or call (770) 528-1135.
Knitting and Crochet Club Time: 1 – 3 p.m. Location: McCleskey-East Cobb YMCA, 1055 East Piedmont Road Information: Join others who love to knit and crochet every Monday.
March 21
Bookmiser Book Club
March 24
April 1
Easter Egg Hunt/Healthy Kids Day
Time: 7:30 – 9 p.m. Location: Panera Bread Co., 4475 Roswell Road Information: Book Club sponsored by the Bookmiser-East Cobb meets every third Wednesday of the month. This month, the club will be discussing Game of Thrones by George R. R. Martin. For more information, contact Anne Marie at bookmiserrequest@ bellsouth.net.
March 22
Alzheimer’s Disease Program Series Time: 11 a.m. – 1 p.m. Location: Aloha to Aging, Inc., Mt. Bethel Community Center, 4608 Lower Roswell Road Information: Aloha to Aging will be hosting a program that answers questions about early, middle and late stages of Alzheimer’s disease or other forms of dementia. Hear from those directly affected. Will continue on Thursdays, but not necessary to attend all sessions. Please RSVP to (678) 439-1177.
Time: 1:30 – 4:30 p.m. Location: McCleskey-East Cobb YMCA, 1055 East Piedmont Road Information: Easter Egg hunt for ages 8 and under. Meet the Easter Bunny and hunt for prize-filled eggs. Bring your basket. Healthy kids day is for all ages and begins right after the Easter Egg hunt with relay races, inflatables, games, kids Zumba and more. Call (770) 977-5991 for more information.
Send Us Your Community Calendar Events to lynne@ aroundaboutmagazines.com. April deadline is March 20.
April 2 – 5
Spring Break Camp Time: 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. Location: Chattahoochee Nature Center, 9135 Willeo Road, Roswell Information: Spring break at Camp Kingfisher is full of exploring, discovering and fun outdoors. For more information, visit www.chattnaturecenter.org and click on summer camp.
April 9
East Cobb Lions Golf Tournament Time: 8 a.m. Registration, 9 a.m. Shotgun Start Location: Indian Hills Country Club, 4001 Clubland Drive Information: East Cobb Lions Club is holding its 21st Annual Charity Golf Tournament to raise funds for community charities. It will follow a Ft. Lauderdale format, with a four-person team. Limited to first 180 entrants and entry fee is $125. Lunch and award presentation following golf. To register and more information, visit www.eclions.org or call Don Garrow at (770) 955-6914.
April 14
Georgia Native Plant Sale Time: 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. Location: McFarlane Nature Park, off of Paper Mill Road Information: Georgia Native Plant Society is holding its spring sale. More than 350 native azaleas, bloodroot, trilliums, and many other perennials, ferns, grasses, shrubs and trees available for purchase. Knowledgeable plant volunteers to help with selection. Plenty of free parking. Event will be held rain or shine. Check or Cash only. For more information and directions, visit www.gnps.org. Around WALTON | March 2012
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Community
Everyday
“Every experience God gives us; every person He puts in our lives is the perfect preparation for the future that only He can see.” —Corrie ten Boom
Please visit www. townelaker.com/ everydayangels to donate via Paypal or send your donations to: Everyday Angels, 2449 Towne Lake Parkway, Woodstock GA, 30189. One hundred percent of your funds will go to the family you specify. Also, if you know of a special need within your community that you would like to share, please send an e-mail to aaeverydayangels@ gmail.com for consideration and qualification.
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Last month, Everyday Angels shared the tragic story about local teen Tyler Rolison, who miraculously survived an auto accident in late December. Today, Tyler is at Shepherd’s Spinal Center and, as we write this, remains in his Halo. Doctors are waiting for his vertebra to heal before scheduling surgery. Tyler and his mom Pam continue to face unknowns and Pam was recently let go from her job. Uncertain of her future - where they will live, how she will get a handicapped accessible vehicle without a job -is weighing heavily on her. While she demonstrates great faith, it is often shadowed by the fear of unknowns and her lack of control over the
future. Grateful for her son’s second chance, Pam knows in her heart that God is faithful. Pam and Tyler would like to thank everyone who has prayed for them and supported them through this challenging time. With great support from our community, Everyday Angels has collected enough funds to pay for several months of rent, and someone has generously offered the family an electric wheelchair when they are ready for it. Tyler continues to work hard in therapy and has had some tingling in a few of his fingers, which is encouraging. Tyler and Pam are uncertain of when Tyler will be able to go home or where their home will be once he is released from Shepherd’s. Everyday Angels will follow Tyler’s progress and continue to accept donations on behalf of him and his mom, Pam. Writing about Tyler brought back memories of a previous article we had written about a teenager’s near-fatal collision in 2007.
Back in November of 2007, Eli Brown, then a 20-year-old young man, was involved in a five car collision, resulting in Eli receiving a severe brain injury. After spending six months in a coma and with hard work and therapy, we are happy to report positive progress. Eli’s mom, Tanya Brown, reports: “Eli continues to make progress with the help of his aide, who is really pushing him to make strides, and he can now pull himself to a standing position for a few moments at a time. On February 22, he had surgery to correct his feet. We are hoping this will enable him to stand for longer periods of time and help develop his upper body strength and stamina.” Eli’s mom shares on her blog: Prior to Eli’s accident, he was drifting aimlessly down an unproductive path. As parents, we thought he slept too long, worked too little and we often only saw him when he needed gas money or food. When he began to speak after the accident, the first words he said, over and over, were, “I love you.” We are so proud of Eli and where his hard work and determination has taken him. Progress can be slow, but it is progress, nonetheless. We also invite you to view Tanya Brown’s blog whenever you want to be inspired and keep up with Eli’s continued progress at tanyasbraindrops.blogspot. com.
Eli Brown
While it is difficult to wrap our minds around the despair and helplessness of a parent faced with these circumstances, Tanya Brown can. Wearing those shoes for five years has greatly qualified her and Eli to serve as an inspiration and guide for Tyler and Pam. Everyday Angels is happy for the opportunity to connect these two families together.
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Lifestyle
Changing the Way We Age by Angela Butler-Hackett What does “aging” mean to you? If you buy into the stereotypes, then growing older means sitting in a rocker while the world passes you by.
Angela Butler-Hackett, Therapeutic Recreation Specialist, is the Parc at Piedmont-East Cobb’s Fitness and Wellness Director. She has a Certificate of Gerontology, a degree in Therapeutic Recreation, various other Certifications in Fitness, and more than 24 years experience working with older adults. Angela can be reached at (770) 5658828 or at angelabh@ parccommunities.com.
In An Aging World: 2008, the US National Institute on Aging’s Division of Behavioral and Social Research stated, “While there are important differences between developed and developing countries, global aging is changing the social and economic nature of the planet and presenting difficult challenges. The fact that within 10 years, for the first time in human history, there will be more people aged 65 and older than children under 5 in the world underlines the extent of this change.”
According to Global Industry Analysts, Inc., Baby Boomer consumers “seeking to keep the signs of aging at bay” will push the U.S. market for anti-aging products from about $80 billion now to more than $114 billion by 2015. The International Council on Active Aging is raising awareness that it is not about age, it is about function. “Anti-aging” is a misnomer. No product or service can make someone grow younger rather than older. The term implies that there is something wrong with aging, but aging is a natural process that every living thing on earth goes through. Consider these trends in active aging: • More than three in four Boomers intend to work well into their 70s.
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Lifestyle
From the Market to the Kitchen, Cooking with Your Kids by Jennifer Jarosick It’s time to cook in the kitchen with your kids. Children love to feel like contributors, and what better way to make them feel responsible and have some creative fun than by cooking with Mom or Dad? Even if you already cook with your kids, check out these fun tips; you may discover something new to add to your cooking time. Jennifer Jarosick, a former teacher and MOMS Club chapter president, is the mother to three children ages five and under. E-mail her at Jenniferjarosick@ yahoo.com.
Head to one of the craft stores in our area and buy plain aprons and fabric paint. Half the fun is getting ready to work in the kitchen, so connect with your creative side by decorating and personalizing your own aprons, something you and your kids can use again and again. After the aprons are ready, grab a cookbook and pick a kidfriendly recipe, one that will allow your child to do a lot of the work. Our family favorite is homemade pizza.
Now it’s time to go shopping for the ingredients. Head to the farmers’ market at Marietta Square, 65 Church Street, on Saturday or Sunday morning. This will give your child the chance to talk to the farmers who grow the produce on your list and learn a little about each ingredient that’s grown in our state. Going to the farmers’ market is one of my kid’s favorite spring and summer activities, especially for the fresh squeezed lemonade! If you can’t make it to the farmers’ market, head to the grocery store, one of the popular, small grocery markets or stop at one of the street corner produce vendors in our area. Now that you have your personalized aprons, a recipe and the ingredients, it’s time to start cooking. Pull up a stool so that your child can stand next to you at the counter and enjoy making the mess that will surely happen. Hopefully your kitchen will be filled with giggles, oohs and ahhs as you help him/her create a culinary masterpiece. Have fun making a wonderful mess and memories in your kitchen that will last a lifetime. Not only are you having fun, but you are also supporting the local farmers and markets! I wish you all a happy and tasty family meal!
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Pluff Mudd Design and
southern sensibilities
the first “door” design, they have gone on to create many more door designs that they call their “Talk of the Town” collection for cities and states and college towns all over the south. They have added baby girl and baby boy designs of adorable little outfits with fitting words around them. There is a wedding cake with and without words design which when personalized with bride and groom’s name and the special date on the print is sure to be treasured. The ladies have gone further to include a “Girl Talk” group of designs that express a lady’s appreciation for southern things and each other. They have a number of religious designs as well and some licensed sorority designs. To see many of the designs, go to www.pluffmudddesigns.com and click on catalog. Fran Lesesne Graham and Mary Tash Tooker put their heads together and started Pluff Mudd Designs. Using Fran and Mary’s ideas and Mary’s original artwork, the ladies have created some unique designs which they sell as prints to be framed, notecards, magnets, small tags/ornaments, linens and hanging signs. Their first design idea was for a front door with descriptive words and phrases about the state or town the home was in, a flagpole beside the door with an appropriate symbol like a peach for the Georgia door, a circle above the door where a family name could go, plants in planters beside the door which change according to where that front door is located like cactus for a Texas town and a welcome mat. Then Mary, the artist, created an original painting of the design that the ladies then put on various items to create unique gifts/home décor with room for personalization with name or initials, etc. Since 26
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Both ladies are originally from South Carolina and the inspiration for many of their designs comes from cherished memories of time spent in the low country. The company is named for “pluff mud,” what low country natives call the dark soft soil found there. They started with designs for South Carolina towns, state, and beach designs and their popularity encouraged them to branch out to more of the south. Fran and her husband Bob have lived in the Walton community for many years and their three boys attended local schools. She and Bob are the proud new grandparents of Lilly Frances Graham. For more information about Pluff Mudd Designs, call Fran at (404) 966-3574 or visit her at Signatures in Merchant’s Walk, call Mary at (540) 455-0645 or contact via email at pluffmudd@cox.net.
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Community
JLCM and Kids in the Kitchen by Caroline Whaley Childhood obesity is on the rise across the globe. With more than one in four children overweight in America, many doctors consider it the country’s number one pediatric health problem. The South has the highest concentration of overweight kids, and in 2011 the CDC stated that Georgia is the second most obese state. Caroline Whaley is the President of the Junior League of CobbMarietta. Caroline can be reached at carolinewhaley@ earthlink.net.
The goal of the Junior Leagues’ Kids in the Kitchen program is to empower youths to make healthy lifestyle choices and help reverse the growth of childhood obesity and its associated health issues.
Inspired by the Junior League of Calgary’s Junior Chefs program, the Junior Leagues’ Kids in the Kitchen initiative began in 2006 with the goal of engaging kids in the preparation of healthy meals and to educate children and their parents regarding nutrition and healthy choices. Currently, Junior Leagues in more than 200 locations provide lessons and demonstrations related to preparation of healthy meals and snacks. They work in partnership with local community organizations, chefs and nutritionists. Georgia has significantly higher than average rates for a number of risk factors related to being overweight or obese. Of high school students, 82 percent report that they eat fruits and vegetables less than five times per week. Fifty six percent report not attending physical education classes in an average week, and 39 percent report watching TV for three or more hours per day. The Junior League of CobbMarietta’s (JLCM) Kids in the Kitchen program is trying to improve these statistics. Started in 2008, the JLCM has a partnership with Open Gate, a division of The Center for Children and Young Adults. This facility provides residential care for homeless children and youth in state custody. Through this partnership, our Kids in the Kitchen program is offered to teenage girls once a month. Each month the girls participate in cooking a well-balanced, healthy 28
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Georgia has significantly higher than average rates for a number of risk factors related to being overweight or obese. meal. The Kids in the Kitchen team, through exciting and hands on training, works with the participants to understand the importance of how to read and interpret nutrition labels, proportions, menu planning, grocery planning, budgeting and getting active. This program attempts to build skills that are needed for lifelong nutritional success. In March, the JLCM will be a part of the Cobb Library System’s “Discover Your Health at the Library” series. The JLCM will be working with children and adults at the Mountain View Library and the West Cobb Regional Library to offer exciting steps for embracing a healthy lifestyle. The Kids in the Kitchen program allows the JLCM to reach out to the youth and families in Cobb County as we strive to reduce childhood obesity and improve nutritional education among our children.
The Letter by Kara Kiefer
Kara Kiefer is the Editor of TowneLaker. She lives in Towne Lake with her husband Mike and sons Brandon and Garrett.
When was the last time you sat down and wrote a letter to someone? If you’re like me, it’s literally been years. Ever since email and texting have become prevalent, writing anything by hand has gone by the wayside. In fact, there are some school systems out there that will no longer be teaching cursive writing. Personally, I think that’s going too far — everyone needs to know how to sign, not print, his or her name. But there is no denying that hand written letters and penmanship is becoming a lost art. And because very few people take the
time to write a letter or even a short note in a card, when you do receive such a gesture, it stands out and makes quite an impression. Recently, my dad went through knee replacement surgery. The surgery, while fairly common and routine, proved to have much more of a difficult recovery and rehabilitation for him because of existing health issues. He grew weary and frustrated with his slow progress, and while his friends and family emailed him and wanted to know how he was doing, he had no interest in email. He’s always been a little “old school,” and never fully embraced emailing, and forget about texting!
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Who would have thought such a simple gesture would mean so much? would help. I enlisted my husband and son to continue the letter. In the end, my dad received a letter with three authors. I addressed it (another fading art!) and sent it. After my dad received it, he immediately called to tell me how much he enjoyed the letter. It wasn’t that it was filled with earth shattering news, but he loved the fact we each took time to actually write something to him. There’s a lot of personality that comes through in one’s writing that can’t possibly be portrayed in an email or text, and that’s the part he enjoyed. If I had to guess, that letter has remained on his nightstand. Who would have thought such a simple gesture would mean so much? The next time you want to do something special for someone, try writing a letter. It doesn’t have to be a piece of literary genius or even have everything spelled correctly. Write it from the heart, and you will touch a heart.
When I asked my mom if there was anything I could do for him, she said simply, “Write him a letter. Not an email, but a handwritten letter. He would love that.” So I sat down, with a pen that had not seen any more action then the occasional writing of a check, and started to write. And you know what? It was hard! My fingers were no longer adept at holding a pen for any length of time, so they cramped. Being reliant on “spell check,” I had to look up more than one word to ensure I was spelling it correctly. I penned approximately one half page, and then had an idea. My family Around WALTON | March 2012
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Feature
Summer Camps Day Camp
YMCA Explorer Day Camp Dates: Weekly, May 29 - August 10 Ages: 5 – 8 Camp High Harbour on Lake Allatoona Dates: Weekly, May 29 - July 27 Ages: 9 - 12 Location: McCleskey-East Cobb Family YMCA, 1055 East Piedmont Road (Camp High Harbour campers are bused to lake from McCleskey YMCA) Information: Visit www.ymcapass.com or call (770) 977-5991. Chattahoochee Nature Center Camp Kingfisher Dates: May 29 – August 10, one and two week sessions Ages: Kindergarten – 7th grade Location: 9135 Willeo Road, Roswell Information: Visit www.chattnaturecenter.org. Marcus Jewish Community Center of Atlanta Traditional and Specialty Day Camp Dates: Weekly, May 29 – August 10 Ages: Rising pre-K – 6th grade Location: Zaban Park, 5342 Tilly Mill Road, Dunwoody Information: Free bus transportation from Walton community. Visit atlantajcc.org, call (678) 812-4004 or contact by email at camps@atlantajcc.org.
Don’t see your camp listed? Send us your information and we will publish it in our April issue. lynne@aroundaboutmagazines.com
Half Day Camp
YMCA Dates: Weekly Sessions May 29 – August 10 Ages: 2-5 Location: McCleskey-East Cobb Family YMCA, 1055 East Piedmont Road and Northeast Cobb Family YMCA, 3010 Johnson Ferry Road Information: Visit www.ymcapass.com or call (770) 977-5991 for McCleskey Y and (678) 569-9622 for Northeast YMCA.
Drama Camp
Blake Cooper Productions Summer Events “Once Upon An Island” Dates: Rehearsals May 29-31, June 2, 4-7; Performances June 9 - 10 Ages: Middle/high school students Summer Drama Camp Dates: June 11-14 and July 9-12 Ages: Kindergarten – 5th grade “Give Our Regards to Broadway” Dates: Rehearsals June 18-21, 25-28; Performances June 30, July 1 Ages: Middle/high school students A Broadway Junior Review Dates: Rehearsals July 16-19, 23-26; Performances July 28-29 Ages: Elementary/middle school students Location: Dodgen Middle School, 1725 Bill Murdock Road Information: Visit bcprod.org for times, cost and to register.
Sports Camp
YMCA Dates: May 29 – August 10, Ages: 6 -16 Half Day Camps Dates: May 29 – August 10 Ages: 5 - 14 Location: McCleskey-East Cobb Family YMCA, 1055 East Piedmont Road and Northeast Cobb Family YMCA, 3010 Johnson Ferry Road. Information: Variety of sports offered over summer on specific weeks at one or both locations. Visit www.ymcapass.com for complete sports camp listings and weeks available. Marcus Jewish Community Center of Atlanta Dates: May 29 – August 10 Ages: K – 8th grade Location: Zaban Park, 5342 Tilly Mill Road, Dunwoody Information: Variety of sports for different ages available. Visit atlantajcc.org for complete listing of sports camps and weeks available. 30
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Feature
When the Unforeseen Occurs The unexpected happens every day all around us. Once we leave the confines of our house, we rely on others around us to act responsibly and make good decisions. If someone fails to keep his or her eyes on the road for a split second, or leave enough space to brake on a rainy day, our commute to work can change dramatically. A day can take a turn for the worse if we have a run-in with our local police. Poor decision making can lead to unanticipated consequences such as a traffic citation or an arrest for more serious criminal offenses. No one wants to think about these events occurring, much less happening to one’s own family. With these unexpected situations, the need for legal representation may arise. The Walton community is fortunate to have the experience and expertise of Doug Rohan and his law firm, Rohan Law, PC available for consultation. After you have had a really bad day, this should be one of your first calls. Rohan Law, PC specializes in accidents, injuries and criminal defense. This can span from minor traffic offenses to significant felonies. Doug Rohan has realized his dream of opening his own firm, and Rohan Law, PC is celebrating its first anniversary this month. A major emphasis at Rohan Law, PC is that the client always comes first. “Whether
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someone is in pain or in jail, my practice is not a five day, forty hour per week job. I have to respond to any client’s need at any time,” said Doug. Starting with the free initial consultation, the firm will work to protect and preserve each client’s rights to the fullest extent. Rohan Law, PC can provide comprehensive legal support in personal injury and workers’ compensation claims as well as in criminal defense and several other areas. If Doug believes that his is not the right firm to help with a particular matter, he will refer you to an attorney who can. After an accident, injury, or in the event of criminal charges, Doug stressed the importance of making the free call to his office immediately. If a person waits until after pleading guilty and receiving the penalties given by the court, the options to change the situation are much more costly and limited. Similarly, in accident cases, the investigation must begin right away. Evidence must be preserved and appropriate documentation of injuries must take place. “A delay of even a few weeks could have a negative impact on your claim,” said Doug. One advantage of hiring Rohan Law, PC for a criminal case is that unlike a large firm where the client may not know which lawyer will actually
be handling his case, Doug will be handling the case through trial, and he directly manages all criminal cases. In his 11 years of practicing law, Doug has handled numerous criminal matters and has developed excellent working relationships with the local solicitors and district attorneys. Doug is also acutely aware of the close knit community in which he lives and works and understands the need for discretion. Doug is particularly drawn to help young people who may be facing the first serious consequences to an action not well thought out. He takes ownership of his role as “counselor” to help young people take responsibility for actions and make better decisions in the future. “At the end of a criminal case,” said Doug, “I usually tell my clients that I hope they never need me again.” Rohan Law, PC provides a great advantage in injury cases as well because Doug worked for four years in a large insurance defense firm, gaining insight on the other side of the case. “Having worked cases from the defense perspective allows me to anticipate their arguments and successfully manage the case to maximize recovery” for his injured clients. Doug has negotiated and/or tried thousands of cases resulting in several million dollars recovered for plaintiffs in injury claims.
The firm’s website, www.rohanlawpc. com, features helpful resources, including links to local courts and the State Bar Association, as well as original legal guides written by Doug, some of which are articles that have been printed previously in Around Walton. He actively posts messages on Facebook and Twitter to keep his followers up to speed on items that might interest those in the local community. You can follow him by clicking on the links at his website. In today’s world, it is prudent to “be prepared” like the Boy Scouts of America’s motto. Rohan Law, PC and Doug, an Eagle Scout, can help you and your family be prepared to face difficult situations with aggressive and effective representation. If now, or in the future, the unexpected happens to your family and you want to find out if you need legal representation related to an accident, injury or criminal defense case, call Rohan Law, PC at (404) 923-0446. As stated before, the initial consultation is free.
Call 404-923-0446 www.rohanlawpc.com
Scan the QR Code with your SmartPhone
The Rohan Family In front (left to right): Claudia, Julia and Evelyn, in back Vivian and Doug.
Photo by Dan Carmody/Studio 7
Personal injury and workers’ compensation cases are taken on a contingency basis, meaning Rohan Law, PC only gets paid if the client is awarded money at trial or if the case settles out of court. For criminal cases, the fees are handled differently. Based on past experience in criminal cases, Doug determines a flat fee for your case, half of which is due upon signing the contract and the other half due prior to the first court appearance. He has found that clients prefer this to an hourly rate. Other payment plans are available based on client needs.
Meet Douglas B. Rohan: Advocate for the Injured and Counselor on Criminal Matters
Doug grew up in Coral Gables, Florida. His mother was Cuban and he was raised speaking both English and Spanish at home. Both Doug’s father and grandfather were lawyers who practiced real estate and probate law. With his natural aptitude toward counseling, a desire to help others, and from watching his father practice law, Doug decided to become a lawyer. However, unlike his father and grandfather, he preferred to do trial work. He wanted the opportunity to persuade a jury in the courtroom. He attended Florida State University and earned his undergraduate degree in English Literature with a minor in History. He continued at FSU to study law and earned his Juris Doctor degree in 2000. While at FSU, he met Julia Mitchell. He and Julia both were members of the FSU Marching Chiefs and still enjoy playing the saxophone and trumpet, respectively, for Johnson Ferry Baptist Church (JFBC). Julia was originally from Alabama and when they decided to marry, they compromised on Atlanta for their new home. Julia and Doug moved to the Walton community six years ago as their family began to grow. The Rohans are the proud parents of three daughters, Vivian (6), Claudia (2) and Evelyn (8 months). Doug, an Eagle Scout, volunteers with Troop 955, sponsored by JFBC and serves as the troop’s Committee Chairman. Doug also serves as a deacon at JFBC. His law firm has supported several local efforts, including the Wednesday Ultimate Playdates and Holiday Lights programs with the Friends for East Cobb Park, the Holy Smoke Bar-B-Q competition, the Marietta Makea-Wish 5k, Curing Kids Cancer, MUST Ministries, and the JFBC Polar Bear Run which raised funds for the Youth Choir. Doug is a very committed individual; committed to his family, his clients and his community.
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Health & Wellness
Carbon Monoxide Safety Provided by Wellstar Winter is the peak time for carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning. Each year more than 400 Americans die from unintentional CO poisoning. It is responsible for 20,000 emergency room visits and more than 4,000 hospitalizations. WellStar Douglas Hospital’s emergency department medical director, Greg Amaya, M.D., shares tips on staying safe this winter. What is carbon monoxide? Carbon monoxide is an odorless, colorless gas that can cause sudden illness and death. It is produced by the incomplete burning of fuels, including coal, wood, charcoal, oil, kerosene, propane and natural gas. There is a higher incidence of CO poisonings in the winter because people often use improperly ventilated or malfunctioning heating sources. What are the symptoms of CO poisoning? Because CO is odorless, colorless, and otherwise undetectable to human senses, people may not know that they are being exposed. Common symptoms are headache, dizziness, weakness, nausea, vomiting, chest pain and confusion. Exposure to high levels of CO can cause loss of consciousness and death. Unless suspected, CO poisoning can be difficult
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Each year, more than 400 Americans die from unintentional CO poisoning. to diagnose because the symptoms look like other illnesses. People who are sleeping or intoxicated can die from CO poisoning before ever experiencing symptoms. How can I prevent CO poisoning? • Do not use ovens or stoves to heat your home.
• Do not use charcoal or gas grills inside or operate outdoors near a window where CO fumes could seep in. • Do not use un-vented gas or kerosene space heaters in enclosed spaces. • Open the fireplace damper before lighting a fire, and keep it open until the ashes are cool to avert carbon monoxide buildup. • Have a licensed professional annually inspect heating systems and other fuel-burning appliances. • Do not run a fuel-powered engine, such as a generator, inside the home or in an attached garage or carport. CO fumes can seep into the home through doors, windows, air intake valves and baseboards. If you think you are experiencing any of the symptoms of CO poisoning, immediately get outside to fresh air. Call 911 to report your symptoms from a neighbor’s home. It is important to tell your doctor that you suspect CO poisoning is causing your problems. Prompt medical attention is important if you are experiencing any symptoms of CO poisoning. 34
Around WALTON | March 2012
Around WALTON | March 2012
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Health & Wellness
Four Ways to Prevent Colorectal Cancer Provided by Northside Hospital
No one likes to think about cancer. However, when it comes to colorectal cancer, giving it some thought could be a lifesaver. According to the American Cancer Society (ACS), regular screenings and lifestyle changes can help prevent colorectal cancer.
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Some risk factors, like age and family history, you can’t do anything about, but there are four things you can do right now to reduce your risk: 1. Eat the right kind of diet. A diet high in processed and red meat can increase colorectal cancer risk, while diets high in fruits and veggies have been linked with decreased risk. The ACS recommends eating five or more servings of fruits and vegetables daily, limiting consumption of red and processed meats, and choosing whole grains whenever possible. 2. Get more exercise. Physical inactivity can increase your chance of developing colorectal cancer—but getting a move
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Obesity increases the risk of colorectal cancer, so try to maintain a healthy weight through diet and exercise.
on can reverse that risk. Aim for at least 30 minutes of physical activity five days a week, and more activity is even better. 3. Watch your weight. Obesity increases the risk of colorectal cancer, so try to maintain a healthy weight through diet and exercise. 4. Control those vices. Longterm smokers are more likely to develop colorectal cancer, according to the ACS, and the heavy use of alcohol has also been linked to colorectal cancer. Kick the smoking habit and limit alcohol to no more than two drinks a day for men and one drink a day for women. These four steps can help prevent a host of other problems, too, so take control and get headed on a healthier path.
If you have a family history of colorectal cancer or an increased risk factor, talk to your doctor about genetic counseling and testing.
Around WALTON | March 2012
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Health & Wellness
The Evolution of the Toothbrush by Dr. Cristi Cheek, D.M.D.
Dr. Cristi Cheek, D.M.D., is the owner of Cristi Y. Cheek, D.M.D., P.C., Family and Cosmetic Dentistry in the Walton community. Dr. Cheek is also a member of the Around Walton Community Board. You may contact her at (770) 993-3775 or visit www.cheekdental.com.
Dental hygiene practices have come a long way since the first toothbrush, which was made in 3000 B.C. and was just a “chew stick” - a twig with a frayed end. Since then, various forms of toothbrushes have been used. Indians rubbed the twigs of banyan trees against their teeth. In the Muslim world, chewing miswak, the roots or twigs of the Arak tree which have antiseptic properties, was often used to clean the teeth and gums. Rubbing baking soda or chalk against the teeth has also been common practice in history.
The Chinese have used the bristle toothbrush since the 1500s. It is thought that the Chinese version of the toothbrush spread to Europe and is the origin of the modern toothbrush. Toothbrushes were not mass-produced until 1780, when they were sold in England by William Addis. A decade earlier Mr. Addis had been jailed. While in prison, he decided that the method used to clean teeth – at the time rubbing a rag with soot and salt on the teeth – could be improved, so he took a small animal bone, drilled holes in it, obtained some animal bristles from a guard, tied them in tufts, passed the tufts through the holes on the bone, and glued them. He later crafted toothbrushes for the masses with bone, wood or ivory handles that held the stiff bristles of hogs, boars or other animals. It was later found that animal bristle was not an ideal material as it retains bacteria and does not dry well, and the bristles often fell out. In 1938, animal bristles were replaced by synthetic fibers, typically nylon, which is the type of bristles seen in today’s toothbrushes. The first electric toothbrush which had an AC power cord was made in Switzerland in 1954 and was called the Broxodent. In 1960, General Electric made an electric toothbrush which did much better in the American market than the Broxodent. Instead of having to be plugged in like the Broxodent, it used rechargeable NiCad batteries, but the handles were bulky – about the size of a flashlight handle that holds 2 D-cell batteries. Today’s electric toothbrushes 38
Around WALTON | March 2012
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The first electric toothbrush which had an AC power cord was made in Switzerland in 1954 and was called the Broxodent. have much thinner handles, either vibrate or rotate/oscillate, and most have batteries that are rechargeable but built into the handle and are non-removable. When shopping for toothbrushes, your best choice is one that fits your mouth comfortably, allowing you to reach all areas easily. Research concludes that the way brushing is done, including the amount of time spent, is more important than the choice of brush. Both manual and powered toothbrushes can effectively and thoroughly clean your teeth. Children may find that brushing with a powered toothbrush is more fun and will therefore be more interested in brushing. Persons who have difficulty using a manual toothbrush may find a powered toothbrush easier to use or more comfortable. Whether you decide on manual or powered, choose a toothbrush that you like and find easy to use. And be sure to replace your toothbrush every three to four months, as the bristles can become frayed and less effective at removing plaque.
Around WALTON | March 2012
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Springt ime A Challenge for Wild Birds by Scott Lemmon
Many people believe that once springtime weather arrives, it’s time to stop feeding their backyard birds. “Warmer weather is here – now the birds can fend for themselves. And besides, I wouldn’t want them to become dependent on my feeders.” But this is a common misconception. Spring actually is one of the most difficult and stressful times of the year for wild birds. After surviving the long, barren winter, birds still face the challenge of finding food. Birds’ natural food supply is at its lowest point of the year. Insect populations are low, and the few remaining wild fruits, berries, seeds and nuts are either hidden or undesirable. Their natural food supplies peak in the fall, when it’s harvest time.
March’s unpredictable weather doesn’t make life any easier. Sunny, warm, spring-like days can rapidly give way to cold, damp and even icy conditions that can push birds to the brink. Providing food throughout the spring is as important as winter feeding. The birds are expending a great deal of energy migrating, courting and building nests at this time of the year when their natural food supplies are close to being exhausted. In the springtime, a reliable food source makes your yard even more enticing to birds looking for a nesting site. So by providing food now, you’re more likely to be lucky enough to observe fledglings at your feeders in the coming months. Food that is loaded with fat and calories is the best prescription for birds struggling to survive the gap between winter and spring. The best seeds for providing high-energy levels are black oil sunflower, striped sunflower, peanuts and safflower. Suet is also a high energy food which is invaluable when birds need many more calories to keep their bodies warm. These and mealworms are a beneficial substitute for the scarce insects many birds would eat if they could find them. But as much as we’d like to think so, wild birds aren’t totally dependent upon our offers of food. It’s only approximately 2530 percent of their overall diet. Feeding them is more for our pleasure, bringing them in closer so we can enjoy the beauty they bring to our backyards all year long. Scott Lemmon can be reached at (770) 928-3014 or by e-mail at wbuwoodstock@comcast.net. 40
Around WALTON | March 2012
Around WALTON | March 2012
41
Feature
Scouting Fifth grade Junior Girl Scout Troop 2270 from Mt. Bethel Elementary School with brightly colored pillow cases that they sewed for the organization Conkerr Cancer, earning their Bronze Award.
Above: Fifth grade Junior Girl Scout Troop 2292 from Timber Ridge Elementary School striking a pose after a meeting. Right: First grade Daisy Girl Scout Troop 12407 from Sope Creek Elementary sampling green smoothies during a tour of Whole Foods in Merchant’s Walk where the girls learned about healthy eating and recycling.
Second grade Brownie Girl Scout Troop 11437 from Mt. Bethel Elementary School visiting the Smyrna Recycling Center.
Fourth grade Junior Girl Scout Troop 2859 from Timber Ridge Elementary School touring the Mt. Bethel Fire Station.
Cub Scouts participating in earning their Mathematics pin and belt loop at Mathnasium in Woodlawn Square. Thirty-six Cub Scouts from ten different packs attended. 42
Around WALTON | March 2012
Alexander Cuthrell — Popcorn Fundraiser King Alexander has gotten some great prizes from his Pack and Troop as well as trophies for his incredible fundraising feats. He has been able to attend special events as a top seller in his council, including attending a Hawks game where he got a signed basketball, serving as honorary team captain for the Atlanta Braves at a game where he was on the field for the exchange of rosters and saw himself on the giant TV screen, taking a trip to the Georgia Aquarium, and his favorite, playing games at Dave and Buster’s.
Alexander Cuthrell, a 12-year-old Boy Scout from Troop 1776, has earned the top spot for selling the most popcorn for the Boy Scouts of America (BSA) Atlanta Area Council. This year, Alexander sold $7,600, beating his previous record of $6,800 from 2009, and placed first for the third year in a row. He has made it into the Atlanta Area Council Hall of Fame for the past five years by selling more than $2,500 of popcorn each year. The Atlanta Area Council has 35,000 Scouts who sold more than $2.8 million in popcorn during the 2011 six week selling season.
Alexander is currently a seventh grader at Dickerson Middle School and has set a goal for next year to beat his record again when it is time to sell the popcorn. He wants to thank all his loyal customers, friends and neighbors for their support. For more information about Alexander, Boy Scouts and popcorn, visit www.deliciouspopcorn.net.
Alexander joined BSA as a Cub Scout in first grade when he attended Mt. Bethel Elementary School and he was a member of Pack 795. In his first year of popcorn selling, Alexander was very shy and his mom and dad, Jeanne and Brian Cuthrell, usually had to give the actual sales pitch. Alexander has been diagnosed with a form of autism (Asperger’s syndrome) and this makes communication and social interaction more difficult in some ways. While he is very intelligent, he is a literal thinker which sometimes makes it hard for him to understand what is meant when a word with multiple meanings or an idiom is used in conversation. His parents found the selling popcorn door-to-door gave Alexander the opportunity to practice his social skills. He said, “I love meeting new people and their pets,” especially dogs. He even started carrying dog treats with him when he sold just in case he met a new furry friend. Brian saw definite benefits to Alexander’s participation in this endeavor when a lady once said, “I want to buy some popcorn, but I need to get my ducks in a row and I’ll be right back,” and Alexander turned to him and said, “Dad, does she really have ducks she has to put in a row?” In the early days, he would never have asked for clarification. To reach his winning $7,600, he made 360 sales, but probably knocked on four times as many doors.
Around WALTON | March 2012
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Feature
WHS Spanish Students Travelled Overseas Over winter break, 139 Walton High School (WHS) Advanced Placement (AP) Spanish Language students had the opportunity to study at the Universidad Pontificia in Salamanca, Spain. This was the largest group to make the trip, which, at 15 days, was also the longest. The students had the opportunity to tour through Spain and spend a week living with Spanish families while attending Universidad Pontificia. The purpose of this trip was to completely immerse the students into the Spanish language and culture. Half of the fourhour AP Spanish Language exam in May is listening and speaking in Spanish. Dr. Hester Vasconcelos, department chair of the Gifted and Advanced Learning Program and teacher for six classes of AP Spanish Language at WHS, felt this immersion was crucial for the mastery of the language and will help the students score well on the AP exam.
The students enjoyed the trip and look forward to returning to Spain in the future. They said that it was difficult to keep up with the native speakers at first because they spoke so fast. They loved churros con chocolate, the shopping, visiting the town of Granada and the entire experience. When Hester hired the teachers that instructed the Walton students while they were in Spain, she selected only teachers that do not speak English. The students said that the final exam they took at the end of the week of study at Universidad Pontificia was very hard. They enjoyed the informality of the classroom where teachers are called by their first names and said it felt like they were in college. Another difference for the students was that the main meal of the day was eaten in the middle of the day, and they left school and returned to his/her host family to eat. Dinner was not eaten until 9 p.m. or later, usually. Most of the students on the trip were juniors and many are in the International Spanish Academy (ISA), a program unique to WHS. The ISA program is for non-native Spanish speakers. Those accepted take four years of Spanish Language and four humanities courses that are conducted in Spanish. This means that more than 30 percent of the student’s course work is in Spanish and, upon successful completion, the student will earn a diploma from WHS and one from the Ministry of Spain. Applications are currently being accepted from eighth grade middle school students for acceptance into the program for next year. For more information on this program, visit www.waltonhigh.org, go to departments and click on International Spanish Academy. 44
Around WALTON | March 2012
Around WALTON | March 2012
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Schools & Sports
School/Sports News Local Middle School Students Advance to County Spelling Bee Seventy-eight elementary and middle schools participated in the annual Cobb County Association of Educator’s (CCAE) spelling CCAE spelling bee winners. Front Row (left to bee. Colin right): Imani Quinones, Colin McMillen, Ryan Davis, McMillen, a Patrick Wu, Andrew Taylor and Abby Cottrell. sixth grader at Back row: Cindy Renderos, CCAE president Connie Dodgen Middle Jackson and Zak Eljiche. Photo courtesy of CCSD School, placed website. second and Patrick Wu, a seventh grader from Dickerson Middle School, placed third. They both qualified, along with six other winners, to move on to the Cobb County School District spelling bee. Congratulations!
WHS to Receive RAMP Counseling Designation Walton High School (WHS) has been chosen to receive the prestigious Recognized American School Counselor WHS Counseling Department Front row (left Association to right): Laura Clary, Paula Ferguson, Donna (ASCA) Model Dunham, Melissa Schrenk and Patti Bose. Back row: Cheryl Lenenski, Anne Carlson, Christine Wise, Program Pam LaVangie and Assistant Principal Catherine (RAMP) Mallanda. designation. In June, WHS will be honored at the ASCA’s annual conference for establishing an outstanding school counseling program. Alan Burkhard, ASCA’s President, said, “This year’s RAMP honorees have shown their commitment to students and the school counseling profession. This designation distinguishes these schools and encourages school counselors nationwide to continue to strive for success.” Lassiter High School is also being honored with the RAMP designation. 46
Around WALTON | March 2012
Science Olympiad Team Wins
Photo courtesy of CCSD website
The Dodgen Middle School Science Olympiad team recently placed first in the Booth Middle School Science Olympiad Invitational. This is a step in the right direction towards the team’s goal of being the Georgia State Champion. For the past two years, the team has come in third at the state tournament. In order to continue on to the National Science Olympiad tournament, the team must place in the top two. Several of the eighth grade team members have been on the team for the past two years and are determined to get the Dodgen Science Olympiad Team into the National tournament this year. At a Science Olympiad event, a team of 15 students compete in 23 different events in four categories, including Earth/Space Science, Life Science, Physical Science/Chemistry and Engineering/Technology. The events can be hands-on, build it, knowledge-based or a combination of these. The National Science Olympiad Tournament will be held in May at the University of Central Florida. Congratulations and good luck!
Fifth Graders Collect Items for Project Mail Call
Sope Creek Elementary School fifth graders participated in a service project organized by the PTA Community Outreach committee recently by collecting items for Project Mail Call which is a ministry of Mt. Bethel UMC that ships packages to deployed members of all branches of the military. The items collected by the fifth graders were specific items requested on a regular basis. Items included toiletries, wet wipes, food items and more. The students also wrote letters thanking them for their service to our country. Those letters of encouragement are some of the most treasured items received. For more information on Project Mail Call, visit ettel.typepad.com.
Around WALTON | March 2012
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Schools & Sports
Walton High School Student Athlete College Signings
Josh Merrigan – Georgia State for Baseball Front Row (left to right) – Kyle, Josh, and Annie Merrigan. Back Row – Athletic Director/Assistant Principal Christian Suttle, WHS Head Baseball Coach Shane Amos, Charlie Merrigan, Coach Danny Pralgo and Principal Judy McNeill.
Danny Bruce – Presbyterian College for Tennis Front Row (left to right) – Silvana, Danny, and Dennis Bruce. Back Row – Athletic Director/Assistant Principal Christian Suttle, Coach Jerry Baskin, Coach Thornburg, Marina and Alexa Bruce, Principal Judy McNeill and WHS Head Tennis Coach John Evans.
Laura Thompson – George Washington University for Softball Front Row (left to right) – Joan, Craig, Laura, and Chris Thompson and Lynn Boeke. Back Row – Athletic Director/Assistant Principal Christian Suttle, Principal Judy McNeill, WHS Head Softball Coach Stewart Thomas, Stephanie Thompson, Kaitlynn Hall, Coach Charlie Sullivan, Craig Thompson, Jr., Isuru Perera, Coach Carey Schiller, Rich Thompson, and Dick Boeke.
Maddie Seiloff – Presbyterian College for Lacrosse Front Row (left to right) – Jay, Maddie and Marsha Seiloff. Back Row – Athletic Director/Assistant Principal Christian Suttle, Coach Liz Hagen, WHS Head Women’s Lacrosse Coach Mandy Ryan, Kristin Seiloff, and Principal Judy McNeill.
Dedric Sundby – Faulker for Football Front Row (left to right) – Alec, Eric, Dedric, and Jocelyn Sundby. Back Row – Faulker Assistant Coach Brandon Slay, WHS Head Football Coach Rocky Hidalgo, Principal Judy McNeill, Athletic Director/Assistant Principal Christian Suttle, WHS Defensive Coordinator Chuck Goddard, and Faulker Defensive Coordinator Steve Cheatham. Photo by Bush Enos
Koty Allen – Citadel for Football Front Row (left to right) – Billy and Koty Allen, and WHS Football Defensive Coordinator Chuck Goddard. Back Row – WHS Head Football Coach Rocky Hidalgo, Principal Judy McNeill, and Athletic Director/Assistant Principal Christian Suttle. Photo by Bush Enos
Justin Brooks – UNC Charlotte for Football Front Row (left to right) - Delanie, Bella and Denise Brown, Justin Brooks, Tony and Logan Brown. Back Row – WHS Head Football Coach Rocky Hidalgo, Principal Judy McNeill, Athletic Director/Assistant Principal Christian Suttle, and WHS Defensive Coordinator Chuck Goddard. Photo by Bush Enos
Daron and Zack Blaylock – University of Kentucky for Football Front Row (left to right) – Janelle and John Woods, Daron, Zack, and Dominick Blaylock, Ashton and Edna Woods. Back Row – WHS Head Football Coach Rocky Hidalgo, Principal Judy McNeill, Athletic Director/ Assistant Principal Christian Suttle, and WHS Defensive Coordinator Chuck Goddard. Photo by Bush Enos
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Around WALTON | March 2012
Kelly Brooks – Mercer University for Football Front Row (left to right) – Tonya Brooks, Willie Brooks, Jr., Kelly and Javyn Brooks, Rhonda Knight. Back Row – WHS Head Football Coach Rocky Hidalgo, Principal Judy McNeill, Jabari, Kamian, and Djimon Brooks, and Athletic Director/Assistant Principal Christian Suttle. Photo by Bush Enos
AJ Collins – Huntingdon for Football Front Row (left to right) - Trey, Demetrius Moore, AJ Collins, and Carminthia Moore. Back Row – Principal Judy McNeill, WHS Head Football Coach Rocky Hidalgo, Athletic Director/Assistant Principal Christian Suttle, and WHS Defensive Coordinator Chuck Goddard. Photo by Bush Enos
Harrison Davis – Citadel for Football Front Row (left to right) – Julia, John, Harrison, Olivia, John Henry, and Hester Davis. Back Row – WHS Head Football Coach Rocky Hidalgo, Principal Judy McNeill, Athletic Director/Assistant Principal Christian Suttle, WHS Defensive Tackles/Special Teams Coach John Evans. Photo by Bush Enos
Grant Radakovich - Mars Hill for Football Front Row (left to right) - Christian, Grant, and Marcie Radakovich. Back Row – WHS Head Football Coach Rocky Hidalgo, Principal Judy McNeill, Athletic Director/Assistant Principal Christian Suttle, WHS Defensive Tackles/Special Teams Coach John Evans. Photo by Bush Enos
Dakota Richardson – Citadel for Football Front Row (left to right) – Esau Venzen, Dakota Richardson, and Vera Peters. Back Row – WHS Head Football Coach Rocky Hidalgo, Principal Judy McNeill, Athletic Director/Assistant Principal Christian Suttle, WHS Defensive Tackles/Special Teams Coach John Evans, WHS Defensive Coordinator Chuck Goddard, WHS Offensive Coordinator Tripp Allen. Photo by Bush Enos
Charlotte Holz – Towson for Swimming Front Row (left to right) – Robert, Charlotte, and Sue Holz. Back Row – Coach Ian Goss, WHS Head Swim Coach Sharon Loughran, Principal Judy McNeill, and Athletic Director/Asst. Principal Christian Suttle. Photo by Bush Enos
Brooke Theobald – Ole Miss for Soccer Front Row (left to right) – David, Brooke, Kellie, and Braden Theobald. Back Row – Coach Dave Smith, WHS Head Soccer Coach Bruce Wade, Principal Judy McNeill, Coach Lillian Abdelmalek, Athletic Director/Assistant Principal Christian Suttle, and Coach Joe Don Reames. Photo by Bush Enos
Katherine Plessy – Florida State for Volleyball Front Row (left to right) – WHS Head Volleyball Coach Suzanne Fitzgerald, Katherine and Rena Plessy. Back Row – Principal Judy McNeill and Athletic Director/Assistant Principal Christian Suttle. Photo by Bush Enos
Left: Kelly Murphy – University of Michigan for Volleyball Front Row (left to right) - Dillon, Kelly, Mary Ellen, and Ryan Murphy. Back Row – Principal Judy McNeill, WHS Head Volleyball Coach Suzanne Fitzgerald, and Athletic Director/Assistant Principal Christian Suttle. Photo by Bush Enos Around WALTON | March 2012
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Schools & Sports
Balancing CCSD’s Budget by Scott Sweeney
Scott Sweeney is Chairman of the Cobb County Board of Education and represents Post 6. Scott may be contacted at ssweeney. boardmember@ cobbk12.org or (678) 646-2470. For more information, visit www.cobbk12.org
In recent years, the Cobb County School District used a combination of federal and financial support and declared excess Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax (SPLOST) funds to balance its budget. With those funds, the district was able to avoid dipping into its reserve fund. However, it’s unlikely that supplemental federal support will be received for the upcoming 2013 fiscal year budget. To balance the budget, the district superintendent and chief financial officer have recommended using a combination of reserve funds, to-be-declared excess SPLOST funds, five furlough days and more.
The district currently has approximately $100 million in reserves and is recommending that $21.5 million in reserve funds be applied to the 2013 fiscal year budget. Based on current information, using these reserve funds will still maintain the reserve fund balance safely above statutory minimums. But what does the future hold? Many indicators suggest economic recovery will continue to be sluggish. Property values, and consequent property tax collections, are not expected to rebound quickly. School
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operation, maintenance, capital improvement and employee benefit programs costs will presumably escalate. Recognizing the difficult choices to be made during this budget cycle, the following years are expected to be even more challenging. Budgets for the school years ending 2011, 2012 and estimated for 2013 are based on a millage rate of 20.0 brought down to 18.9 through the return of declared excess SPLOST funds. For the upcoming budget, 1.1 mills equates to roughly $20.4 million dollars. To add some perspective to that number, consider that the district cites five furlough days as being equivalent to approximately $14.5 million (excluding Parapros and bus drivers). Although the district will receive more funds from the state this year than last, the added funds are directed to offset increases to employee benefit plans, particularly health insurance, and for contributions to the Teacher Retirement System. Fewer state dollars will actually be available for instructional purposes and teacher salaries. These are, and will remain, challenging times, yet it is inspiring to see the incredible educational gains witnessed within our schools. Future increases in funding for our local schools are predicated on economic growth, increases in employment opportunities and a rebound in property values.
Faith
The Spanking Controversy by Bryant Wright Foolishness is bound up in the heart of a child; the rod of discipline will remove it far from him. —Proverbs 13:24
Bryant Wright is the Senior Pastor of Johnson Ferry Baptist Church and the founder and chairman of Right from the Heart Ministries. He currently serves as the President of the Southern Baptist Convention. He can be reached at (770) 9736561 ext. 2962.
For approximately 25 years, most child psychologists opposed any form of corporal punishment, but it seems they are now beginning to admit that spanking actually has some benefits. Of course, God’s Word has told us that for several thousand years. He is clear: if we withhold corporal punishment from our children, we hate our children. But if we love our children, we discipline them consistently. So what are some guidelines when it comes to spanking? Keep these things in mind.
• Spanking should not take place unless boundaries have been set, warnings given, and your child has willfully defied you. • Spanking should never be done in anger. And if we do spank out of anger, we’re called to ask
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If we withhold corporal punishment from our children, we hate our children. But if we love our children, we discipline them consistently. their forgiveness. When I made this mistake with my boys, I’d say, “Look, I want to ask your forgiveness. You deserved the spanking, but I was wrong to get angry.” • Spanking should never bring injury. Physical abuse is always wrong. • Spankings are most apropos from about two to ten years old. After that, they lose their effectiveness, and other approaches need to take place. • After a child receives a spanking, be sure to make the most of the teachable moment, so they know why – and always reassure them of your love. God disciplines his children (Hebrews 12) and He clearly calls parents to administer discipline, diligently, lovingly, and in a way that the child learns to do what is right on their own. It’s good that the psychologists are catching on again.
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Faith
WALTON AREA Houses of Worship Anglican
Mt. Arbor Baptist Church 2235 Morgan Road, NE, (770) 971-9339
The Church of Our Redeemer 2625 Canton Road (770) 421-1928 Rector: Fr. James Danford www.ourredeemeracc.org
New Life Baptist Church 4010 Canton Road, (770) 592-6880 Pastor: Roger Brink www.thenewlife.org
Apostolic
New Providence Baptist Church 3740 Providence Road, (770) 971-3519 Pastor: Charles Whittaker www.newprovidencebc.com
Northside Apostolic Church 2115 Northfield Court, (770) 975-3001
Baha’i Faith Baha’i Faith of Marietta 2601 Sandy Plains Road, (770) 509-0070
Baptist Bible Baptist Church 2025 Eula Drive, NE, (770) 592-2660 Pastor: D.L. Cooper Chattahoochee Baptist Church 375 Johnson Ferry Road, (770) 977-2058 Pastor: Rick Shoup http://cbc.us.com Cornerstone Baptist Church 1506 Sawyer Road, (770) 422-3579 Pastor: Carl George Crossview Baptist Church 1100 Piedmont Road, (770) 973-0063 Pastor: John E. Johnson www.crossviewbaptist.org East Cobb Baptist Church 1940 Shallowford Road, (770) 928-2233 Pastor: David York Eastside Baptist Church 2450 Lower Roswell Road, (770) 971-2323 Pastor: Dr. David H. Chauncey www.ebcfamily.org Eastwood Baptist Church 1150 Allgood Road, (770) 973-9011 Pastor: Mike Hatton www.eastwoodbaptist.org Elizabeth Baptist Church 315 Kurtz Road, (770) 427-3325 Pastor: Steve Echols Galilee Baptist Church 2050 Bentley Lake Road, (770) 422-6487 Holt Road Baptist Church 675 Holt Road, NE, (770) 971-3052 www.holtroadbaptist.org Johnson Ferry Baptist Church 955 Johnson Ferry Road, (770) 973-6561 Pastor: Bryant Wright www.johnsonferry.org Liberty Hill Baptist Church 1053 Liberty Hill Road, NE, (770) 422-1406 Pastor: Amos Williams
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Northside Primitive Baptist Church 5265 Roswell Road, (678)481-2793 Pastor: Jason Solomon www.northsidepbc.org Piedmont Baptist Church 570 Piedmont Road, Marietta, (770) 422-2566 www.piedmontchurch.tv Sandy Plains Baptist Church 2825 Sandy Plains Road, (770) 971-8525 Pastor: Dr. Alvin Southerland www.sandyplains.org
Sewell Mill Baptist Church 2550 Sewell Mill Road, (770) 971-3746 Pastor: David Watson www.sewellmill.org Shady Grove Baptist Church 1654 Bells Ferry Road, (770) 428-0216 Shallowford Free Will Baptist 1686 Shallowford Road, (770) 926-1163 Pastor: Len Blanchard www.shallowfordchurch.com
Catholic Holy Family Catholic Church 3401 Lower Roswell Road, (770) 973-0038 Pastor: Darragh Griffith www.holyfamilycc.org St. Ann’s Catholic Church 4905 Roswell Road, (770) 552-6400 Pastor: Tom Rielly www.st-ann.org Transfiguration Catholic Church 1815 Blackwell Road, (770) 977-1442 Pastor: Monsignor Patrick Bishop www.transfiguration.com
Christian Chestnut Ridge Christian Church 2663 Johnson Ferry Road, (770) 971-8888 Pastor: Byron Wells Northside Christian Church 3535 Shallowford Road, (770) 565-6613 Pastor: Jason Burchfield Walking By Faith Christian 1821 Kinridge Road, (678) 560-1144
Christian and Missionary Alliance Marietta Alliance Church 1787 E. Piedmont Road, (770) 973-2189 Pastor: David Hayes www.macweb.org
Christian Science Christian Science Churches & Reading Rooms 2641 Old Sewell Road, (770) 565-7271
Church of Christ Church of Christ at East Cobb 5240 Roswell Road, (770) 587-5888 Pastor: Ray Hawkins Church of Christ-Piedmont Road 1630 Piedmont Road, (770) 971-9933 Minister: Neil Richey www.pr-coc.com Emmanuel Tabernacle Christ Church 2692 Sandy Plains Road, #A32, (770) 422-3268 Pastor: Dwight Graves
Church of God Church of God of Prophecy 3393 Canton Road, (770) 427-5923 First Church of God 592 Shannon Drive, (770) 461-1925 Mount Paran North 1700 Allgood Road, (770) 578-9081 www.mtparan.com Town Center Church of God 1040 Blackwell Road, (770) 424-4004
Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints 3195 Trickum Road, NE, (770) 509-9074 Pastor: Bishop Ho Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints — Paper Mill Ward 95 Holt Road, (770) 578-8734
Community Churches Cobb Community Church at Highlands 4649 Sandy Plains Road, (770) 992-3330 Pastor: Alan Daniels www.cobbcc.com Shallowford Falls Community Church 3662 Shallowford Road, (770) 565-7468 Pastor: David White www.shallowfordfalls.com Vineyard Community Church 2692 Sandy Plains Road, #A25, (770) 565-1505 Pastor: Tommy Papevies
Episcopal Episcopal Church of St. Peter & St. Paul 1795 Johnson Ferry Road, (770) 977-7473 Rector: The Rev. Dr. Robert G. Certain www.peterandpaul.org Episcopal Church-Annunciation 1673 Jamerson Road, (770) 928-7916 Rev. Paul McCabe www.annunciationepiscopal.org St. Catherine’s Episcopal Church 571 Holt Road, NE, (770) 971-2839 Rev. Jim Nixon www.stcatherines.org
Greek Orthodox Holy Transfiguration Greek Orthodox Church 3431 Trickum Road, NE, (770) 924-8080 Rev. Father Panayiotis Papageorgiou www.HolyTransfiguration.info
Holy Trinity Lutheran Church 2922 Sandy Plains Road, (770) 971-4600 Pastor: Ronald Grunke www.holytrinitymarietta.org
Restoration Life Church 2692 Sandy Plains Road, (770) 509-1481 Pastor: Ken Kessler www.lifeschoolinternational.org
Lutheran Church of Incarnation 1200 Indian Hills Parkway, (770) 971-2738 Pastor: Rev. Jerry Reynolds www.lcilutheran.org
Orthodox
Lutheran Church of Resurrection 4814 Paper Mill Road, (770) 953-3193 www.lcrmarietta.org
Methodist East Cobb United Methodist 2325 Roswell Road, (770) 971-3643 Pastor: Brian Germano www.eastcobbumc.org
St. Elizabeth Orthodox Church 2263 East Cherokee Drive, (770) 485-0504 Priest Frederick Watson www.stelizabethga.org
Presbyterian Christ Presbyterian Church 495 Terrell Mill Road, (770) 956-7572 Pastor: Legree Finch www.christpreschurch.org
Jehovah’s Witness
Mount Bethel United Methodist Church 4385 Lower Roswell Road, (770) 971-2880 www.mtbethel.org
East Cobb Presbyterian 4616 Roswell Road, (770) 973-4114 Pastor: Richard Holmes www.ecpca.org
Jehovah’s Witness 2065 Bells Ferry Road, (770) 427-1881 Pastor: Hope Torkornoo www.watchtower.org
Mountain View United Methodist 2300 Jamerson Road, (770) 928-0050 Pastor: Bill Burch www.mvumc.org
Eastminster Presbyterian Church 3125 Sewell Mill Road, (770) 977-2976 Pastor: Dr. Tim McConnell www.epres.org
Jewish
Mt. Zion United Methodist Church 1770 Johnson Ferry Road, (770) 971-1465 Pastor: Dr. Joe Peabody www.mtzionumc.org
Geneva Orthodox Presbyterian 3605 Sandy Plains Road #240-161, (404) 786-9815 Pastor: John Fesko www.genevaopc.org
Congregation Etz Chaim 1190 Indian Hills Pkwy, (770) 973-0137 Rabbis Shalom Lewis and Paul Kerbel www.etzchaim.net
Powers Ferry United Methodist Church 245 Powers Ferry Road, (770) 973-5271 Pastor: Jane Nugent www.powerumc.com
Hope Presbyterian Church 4101 Sandy Plains Road, (770) 971-4673 Pastor: Martin Hawley www.hopepca.org
Temple Kol Emeth 1415 Old Canton Road, (770) 973-9205 Rabbi: Stephen Lebow www.kolemeth.net
Sacred Tapestry UMC 3000 Johnson Ferry Road, (770) 605-5083 www.sacredtapestry.com
John Knox Presbyterian Church 505 Powers Ferry Road, (770) 973-5050 Pastor: Fritz Bogar www.johnknoxpcmarietta.org
Korean
St. Andrew United Methodist Church 3455 Canton Road, (770) 926-4961
Bethany Korean Presbyterian Multi-cultural (Korean, Brazilian and American) 4644 Sandy Plains Road, (770) 643-1459 Pastor: Byeongho Choi www.bethanykorean.org
St. Paul United Methodist Church 244 Kurtz Road, (770) 422-1089 Pastor: Dana Overton-Garrett
Chabad of East Cobb 4450 Lower Roswell Road, (770) 565-4412
Korean Covenant Presbyterian 2100 Sandy Plains Road, (770) 565-4777 Pastor: Paul Sim www.sungyahk.org Korean United Methodist Church 945 Old Canton Road, (770) 321-0020
Lutheran Beautiful Savior Lutheran Church 2240 Shallowford Road, (770) 928-7919 Pastor: John Guse www.bslc.us Faith Lutheran Church 2111 Lower Roswell Road, (770) 973-8877 Pastor: Carl Schneidert www.faithLCMS.org
Wesley Chapel United Methodist 4495 Sandy Plains Road, (770) 993-4919 Pastor: Jim Bocian www.wesleychapelumc.com
Non-Denominational Marietta Vineyard Church 1492 Roswell Road, (770) 977-9496 Pastor: Jeremy Graves www.mariettavineyard.org North Atlanta Church
Ray-Thomas Memorial Presbyterian Church 4644 Sandy Plains Road, (770) 998-9321 Pastor: Carrie Scott www.rtmchurch.org
Unitarian Universalist Emerson Unitarian Universalist 2799 Holly Springs Road, NE, (770) 578-1533 Pastor: Rev. Jeff Jones
United Church of Christ Pilgrimage Church UCC 3755 Sandy Plains Road, (770) 971-0007 Pastor: Kimberleigh Buchanan www.pilgrimageucc.org
2800 Johnson Ferry Road, (770) 518-0303
Unity
Overcomers World Church
Unity North Atlanta Church
2300 Shallowford Road, (770) 924-0607 Pastors: Allison and Isaac Crawford overcomerswc.org
4255 Sandy Plains Road, (678) 819-9100 Acting Spiritual Leader: Rev. Richard Burdick www.unitynorth.org Around WALTON | March 2012
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Autonomy is the Key to Georgia’s Success continued from page 15
The Fair Tax is a comprehensive proposal that would replace all state and federal income taxes with a national retail sales tax, ultimately turning our tax system into one that is consumptionbased rather than income-based. Proponents of the Fair Tax stress the proposal’s ability to tax the wealthiest income groups on large expensive purchases, while freeing the lowest income groups from payroll taxes and the federal income tax. Furthermore, under our nation’s current tax system, we are paying triple taxes on Social Security and Medicare. It is time to clean up and simplify this complex tax system. The Fair Tax study committee could make specific recommendations regarding the Fair Tax, including urging Congress to eliminate the income tax, which requires an amendment to the U.S. Constitution. The study committee could also recommend enacting a state Fair Tax model in an effort to move away from a state income tax and towards a consumption-based tax. I remain committed to championing legislation that not only benefits District 32, but the entire state. Standing by the principles of limited government and increased fiscal responsibility can only ensure our state stays on the road to prosperity.
From Master Suites to Sunrooms: Additions Create More Than Just Space continued from page 19
shower with double showerheads. If you need extra space for a growing family, consider a twoor three-story addition. You can add a game room in the basement, expand the kitchen on the first floor, and create a master suite — or add another bedroom — upstairs. It’s often economical to add a room to the second floor, especially over a new addition. You also can “find” space without increasing the footprint of your home. Add a room over the garage or back porch to create an office, bonus room, exercise room, or expand the master suite. We’re also seeing a growing trend in sunrooms, as homeowners want to enjoy a picturesque backyard. By using proper insulation and energy-efficient windows, a sunroom can be comfortable in all seasons. From master suites to expanded family rooms and kitchens, an addition to your home is much more than just more space. It’s a place where you’ll create memories with family and friends. 54
Around WALTON | March 2012
The Largest Consumer Financial Protection Settlement in U.S. History continued from page 17
agents are not Realtors®. The term Realtor® is a registered collective membership mark that identifies a real estate professional who is a member of the National Association of Realtors® and subscribes to its strict Code of Ethics. In a recent study by the well-known local real estate firm, Smart Numbers, the First Multiple Listing Service has only 45 percent Realtor® members compared to 55 percent non-Realtor®, yet Realtors® produced 79.3 percent of the dollar volume. Realtors® also have access to all the Georgia Association of Realtors® (GAR) Forms that have been developed and constantly improved over the last 20 years. The GAR Forms are the best real estate forms available for use in Georgia. One of the most helpful laws currently on the books for underwater homeowners is set to expire at the end of 2012. The Mortgage Forgiveness Debt Relief Act of 2007 generally relieves homeowners who get part of their mortgage loan forgiven from having to pay tax on the forgiven portion of the loan. Debt reduced through mortgage restructuring, as well as mortgage debt forgiven in connection with a foreclosure, qualifies for this relief. Hopefully this will be extended because the law will likely be needed in the years ahead, as lenders continue to make loan modifications for hard-hit homeowners. Please consult with your tax advisor for guidance if you find yourself in this situation. A Mortgage Settlement of somewhere between $25-$26 billion was announced in February among state and federal officials and the nation’s five largest banks (Bank of America, JP Morgan Chase, Wells Fargo, Citi, and Ally/GMAC). In the settlement, the banks have agreed to write off a sum of the mortgage principal in select cases where homeowners are underwater or do a loan modification for homeowners who are struggling to make payments. Homeowners will then be able to refinance and lower their monthly payments. The deal is aimed at helping homeowners avoid foreclosure, but the homeowners must be able to afford the new lower payments. The banks will have no choice but to foreclose on homeowners who stop making payments altogether or cannot afford a new payment structure on their loan. Mortgages owned by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac are not a part of the deal. You can learn more about the settlement at the just-launched “National Mortgage Settlement” website.
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Changing The Way We Age continued from page 24
• Three in four people ages 65 and older rate their health as good, very good, or excellent. • More than 90 percent of older adults have no functional limitations requiring help from others. • The 50+ population envisions their future lifestyle as active and involved. The International Council on Active Aging (ICAA) has started an important campaign called “Changing The Way We Age.” It incorporates the ICAA Champions program, which is made up of organizations and individuals committed to shifting society’s perceptions of aging by serving as role models and educators in the community. Being involved in the Champions program offers us the opportunity to expand our experiences and share our wisdom. Sharing our wisdom with younger generations is vitally important. Try volunteering in our school systems, churches, and other organizations and allow students and young people to see that getting older is all about staying active and sharing your knowledge and continued abilities with your community. The ICAA Champions program is free of charge, and beyond individual engagement and satisfaction, benefits include an organizational and/or individual webpage, multiple support tools, and publicity via press releases and social media. Staying active and involved is essential for our health and wellness, and participating in the Champions program is one way to do this. Interested parties can find out more about the program and apply online at www.changingthewayweage.com/champions. htm. Adults with positive self-perceptions of aging engage in more health-promotion strategies and take better care of themselves than those with negative perceptions. Those with negative self perceptions of aging live 7.6 years less than those who have a positive outlook. Make sure that you are looking at the opportunities, not the challenges. Some of the many benefits provided by staying active and involved are greater confidence, better social connections, a balanced lifestyle, and a better quality of life. May we all look at changing the way we age in a different light to help ourselves and the generations after us.
Winners will be announced in the April issue!
Consequences of Customer Satisfaction Surveys continued from page 20
value of customer service and said, “A 5 percent increase in customer retention rates increases profits by 25-95 percent.” Knowing what it takes to keep a customer is critical to your company’s success. Perhaps surveys have other, less obvious benefits as well. For example, they can be a strong personnel management tool. If your employees know they are being measured by their customers, they are more likely to work hard to satisfy their clients. Of course, this gives customers a great deal of power. Is that a bad thing? Normally, no, although I have heard employees complain about being held hostage by unreasonable clients. A carefully considered performance evaluation process will recognized unhappy clients are far more likely to offer feedback than are satisfied customers. Each time you reach out to a current or prospective client, your firm has the opportunity to strengthen its brand. Asking customers about their experiences suggests you want to be the best business you can be. On the other hand, in this customercentric, survey crazy world, not asking your customers may suggest you do not care about them. In the spirit of seeking feedback, please let me know how you like this column. Email me at mkboler@catapultstrategies.com with compliments, complaints or suggestions.
Playing in our National Parks continued from page 13
All this led to some research that exposed important rules, nay, laws, that we should observe while in the National Parks. Specifically, there is a law on the books that says ALL FOUND PROPERTY shall be turned in to the park ranger immediately. Failure to do so is, in fact, a federal crime. The finder can make no effort to try to identify, locate, or otherwise make others aware that they have found a potentially lost item. In fact, the law is written to specifically state that once lost, the property actually becomes the property of the Federal government. While understandably, this code section would seem appropriate when applied to Spanish Galleons in federal waters or dinosaur bones within our National Parks, its seems overbearing to apply these same principals to common, modern day items. You know that water bottle that you found sitting on the park bench that looked cute, was the right color and was newer than the water bottle you recently lost? Don’t you even think about taking that home and running it through the dishwasher in order to keep it for yourself. That’s a federal crime. You better breathlessly hunt down the park ranger, send up white smoke, and drag your overly-tired three year-old all over the park trying to find that one park ranger that is on duty. Failing to do so could result in serious consequences. Around WALTON | March 2012
55
Reference
WALTON AREA CLUBS & ORGANIZATIONS Business Organizations APICS, The Association for Operations Management Meeting: 3rd Tuesday for 5:30 p.m. networking; 6:15 - 8 p.m. dinner & speaker Location: Villa Christina, 4000 Summit Blvd, Atlanta Contact: www.atlantaapics.org or programs@ apicsatlanta.org East Cobb Business Association Meeting: 3rd Tuesday at 11:30 a.m. Contact: Susan Hampton, (404) 218-6216 www.eastcobbba.com East Cobb Open Networking A referral network for professionals Meeting: Fridays at 7:30 a.m. Location: Capozzi’s NY Deli, 4285 Roswell Road Contact: Tim Langley, (770) 289-9711 East Cobb PowerCore Team Meeting: Thursdays at 7 a.m. Location: IHOP, 3130 Johnson Ferry Road Contact: Mitch Lovell, (770) 851-8549 Northeast Cobb Business Association Meeting: Third Wednesday at 11:30 a.m. Location: Piedmont Church, 570 Piedmont Road Contact: crba@cantonroadba.org or (678) 229-2893 www.northeastcobbba.org
Cobb County WWII Veterans Meeting: 2nd Tuesday at 1 p.m. Location: Windy Hill Senior Center East Cobb AARP Meeting: 1st Thursday at 1:30 p.m. Location: East Cobb Senior Center 3332 Sandy Plains Road East Cobb Civic Association Meeting: Last Wednesday at 7 p.m. Location: See website for location. Contact: Jill Flamm, President www.eastcobb.net East Cobb Civitans Meeting: 2nd and 4th Thursdays at 12 noon Location: Old Towne Athletic Club, Marietta Contact: Mary Karras, (770) 422-6485 East Cobb Community Friends for Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta Meeting: 3rd Tuesday at 7:30 p.m. Contact: Suzanne Strickland, (770) 992-2882 East Cobb Lions Club Meeting: 2nd and 4th Tuesdays at 7 p.m. Location: Eastside Baptist Church 2450 Lower Roswell Road, Marietta Contact: Susan Hampton, (404) 218-6216
Y Business Network Y membership not required. Meeting: Every other Friday, 7:30-8:45 a.m. Location: Northeast Cobb Y, 3010 Johnson Ferry Road Contact: Rosemary Macmillan, (678) 569-9622
East Cobb Optimist Clubs Meeting: Mondays at 7 p.m. Location: Shillings on the Square 19 N. Park Square NE, Marietta Contact: Jim David, (404) 683-0196
Charitable Organizations
Kiwanis Club of East Cobb Meetings: Wednesdays at 7 p.m. Location: Paradise South of the Border 3605 Sandy Plains Rd. Contact: Johnny Johnson, (770) 977-2026 www.eastcobbkiwanis.org
Aloha To Aging, Inc. Support Programs for Seniors and their families. Contact: Dawn Reed, (678) 439-1177 Animals Deserve Better, Inc. Animal rescue and adoptions Contact: Kimberly Brenowitz, (770) 402-0297 kimberlyadb@aol.com Boys and Girls Clubs Contact: (770) 427-0418 Foundation for Hospital Art Contact: Scott Feight (678) 324-1695 www.hospitalart.org Meals on Wheels Contact: Shelia Perkins, (770) 528-5381 MUST Ministries Contact: (770) 426-7667 SafePath Children’s Advocacy Center, Inc. Contact: Elizabeth Underwood (770) 801-3465
Civic Organizations American Legion Post 29 Meeting: 2nd and 4th Wednesday and Saturday at 11 a.m.. Location: 921 Gresham Ave. NE. Contact: (770) 427-5900 Cobb American Association of University Women Meeting: 2nd Tuesday at 7 p.m. Contact: www.aauwcobb.org
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Kiwanis Club of Marietta — Golden K Meetings: Thursdays at 10 a.m. Location: East Cobb Senior Center 3332 Sandy Plains Rd. Contact: Joe Van Horn, Sr., (770) 428-3419 gajosbarb@comcast.net League of Women Voters of Marietta-Cobb Meeting : 2nd Monday Location: Various Contact: mariettacobb@lwvga.org or Elizabeth at (770) 592-0625 President’s Club Toastmasters Meeting: 1st, 3rd, and 5th Wednesdays at 7 p.m. Location: East Cobb Government Services Building, 4400 Lower Roswell Road Contact: Judi Rogers, missiontur@aol.com Rotary Club of East Cobb Meeting: Wednesdays at 7 — 8 a.m. Location: Indian Hills Country Club Contact: (770) 971-2605 www.eastcobbrotary.com VFW Post 2681 Location: 140 Powers Ferry Road Contact: (770) 977-2088 www.vfwwebcom.org/ga/post2681
Political Organizations Cobb County Democratic Party Committee Meeting: 2nd Saturday at 9 a.m. Location: Piccadilly Cafeteria, 536 Cobb Parkway Contact: (770) 420-7133 ccdc@cobbdemocrat.com Cobb Democratic Women Meeting: 2nd Thursday at 6 p.m. Contact: Beverly McMurry, (770) 426-6916 btmcmurray@comcaStreet.net Cobb Young Democrats Meeting: Wednesdays at 12 noon Contact: webmaster@ydcobb.org www.ydcobb.org Cobb County Libertarian Party Meeting: 1st Thursday at 7:30 p.m. Location: Council Chamber Marietta City Hall Contact: Ted Skirvin, (770) 795-1331 www.cobblp.org Cobb County Republican Party Meeting: 1st Saturday at 8:30 a.m. Location: Williamson Bros. BBQ, Marietta Contact: Billy Dendy, (770) 272-0458 dendyjoe@gmail.com, www.cobbgop.org Cobb County Republican Women Meeting: 4th Friday at 11:30 a.m. Location: Marietta Conference Center 500 Powder Springs Street Contact: (770) 785-2522, www.ccrwc.org East Cobb Democratic Alliance Meeting: 3rd Thursday at 7 p.m. Location: Delkwood Grill, 2769 Delk Rd. Contact: Tom Barksdale (770) 592-9424
Recreation and Hobbies American Needlepoint Guild Meeting: 2nd Tuesday at 6:45 p.m. Location: Mountainview Library, 3320 Sandy Plains Road Contact: Penny Boswinkle, (770) 394-0065 Bridge Club Meeting: Mon. – Fri. 10:30 a.m., Mon. – Sat. 7:30 p.m. Location: 1089 Roswell Road Contact: (770) 973-7717 Cobb Alley Cats People who help stray cats Contact: Sue Verner, (770) 436-6758 Cobb County Special Olympics Contact: (770) 819-3223 www.prca.cobbcoga.org Cobb County Stamp Club Meeting: 2nd Sunday at 1:30 p.m. Location: Jewish Towers, 3160 Howell Mill Rd Meeting: 4th Sunday at 1:30 p.m. Central Cobb Library, 266 Roswell St. Contact: C. Rejent, (770) 330-0790 crejent@stampsclubs.com www.stampclubs.com/cobb Dog Hikers of Georgia Meeting: Sundays at 10 a.m. Contact: Dan Batchelor, (770) 992-2362
Sope Creek Garden Club Meeting: 1st Wednesday at 10 a.m. Contact: Karin Guzy, (770) 955-1303
Support Groups Al-Anon Meeting: Location: Contact:
Thursdays at 7:30 p.m. Johnson Ferry Baptist Church 955 Johnson Ferry Road (770) 794-2978 www.johnsonferry.org/counseling
Alzheimer’s/Caregiver Support Group Meeting: 1st Monday at 10:30 a.m. Location: Aloha to Aging, Mt. Bethel Community Center, 4608 Lower Roswell Road Contact: (678) 439-1177 Alzheimer’s/Dementia Support Group Meeting: 2nd Wednesday at 10:30 a.m. Location: Savannah Court, 866 Johnson Ferry Road Contact: Derin White, (770) 977-4420 Autism Support Group Meeting: 3rd Thursday at 9 a.m. or 7 p.m. Location: Mount Bethel United Methodist Church, 4385 Lower Roswell Road, Room F002 Contact: (770) 971-2880 Blended Families Support Group Meeting: 3rd Sunday at 7 p.m. Location: Mount Bethel United Methodist Church, 4385 Lower Roswell Road Contact: (770) 971-2880
Website: www.chadd.net/300 Families Anonymous (FA) Support group for families who have loved ones struggling with addiction. Meeting: Every Tuesday at 7:30 Location: Mt. Zion United Methodist Church Youth Center, 1770 Johnson Ferry Rd. Contact: jawadta@yahoo.com Family Caregiver Support Group Meeting: First Thursday at 10:30 a.m. Location: St. Ann’s Catholic Church, 4905 Roswell Rd Facilitator: Dawn Reed, (678) 777-7241 Foundation for Ensuring Access and Equity Contact: Mychal Wynn, (678) 395-5825 or (678) 620-3685 Website: www.accessandequity.org Grandparents Raising Grandchildren Meeting: 2nd and 4th Tuesdays at 7:15 p.m. Location: Transfiguration Catholic Church Blackwell Road Contact: Jeannie DeCarlo, (770) 919-9275 Grief and Loss Support Group All faiths are welcome. Meeting: 6 session format Location: Jewish Family & Career Services, 1501 Johnson Ferry Road Suite 100 Contact: Yael Stein, 770-677-9305, ystein@jfcs atlanta.org.
Breast Cancer Support Group Meeting: 1st and 3rd Thursdays at 7 p.m. Location: St. Andrew United Methodist Church 3455 Canton Road Contact: Sandy, (770) 926-3488 sandy@thepumpkinchurch.org
Grief Support Group Meeting: First Tuesday at 10 a.m. Location: Aloha To Aging, Inc. , Mt. Bethel Community Center, 4608 Lower Roswell Rd. Contact: (678) 439-1177.
Cancer Support Group Meeting: 2nd and 4th Mondays at 7 p.m. Location: Johnson Ferry Baptist Church 955 Johnson Ferry Road Contact: (770) 794-2978 www.johnsonferry.org/counseling
Job Seekers Meeting: 1st and 3rd Saturdays at 8 a.m. Location: Eastminster Presbyterian Church, 3125 Sewell Mill Road Contact: (770) 977-2976
Career Quest Ministry Meeting: Tuesdays at 7:30 p.m. Location: St. Ann’s Catholic Church 4905 Roswell Road Contact: (770) 552-6400 x 6104 Codependents Anonymous Meeting: Monday and Thursdays at 7:30pm Location: Unity North Church, 4225 Sandy Plains Road (Administration Bldg upstairs) Contact: Janet D. 770-578-6368 Website: northgeorgiacoda.org Compassionate Friends Support group for bereaved parents, grandparents and siblings. Contact: Kathy, (404) 429-4953, tcfmarietta.kathy@hotmail.com Erica, (404) 539-4287 erica_beltz@yahoo.com Website: www.tcfmarietta.org Dad 2 Dad For stay-at-home dads Contact: Richard Collins, (770) 579-5445 Diabetes Support Group Contact: Wellstar, (770) 793-7828 East Cobb CHADD For parents with children who have ADHD. Contact: east-cobb@chadd.net
Moms In Touch — East Side Elementary Meeting: Mondays at 10 a.m. Contact: Movita Stallworth, (770) 321-1783 Mo633@bellsouth.net Moms In Touch — Walton High School Meeting: Tuesdays at 1 p.m. Location: Johnson Ferry Baptist Church 955 Johnson Ferry Road, room 332 Contact: Cynthia Eller (770) 578-6301 eller2905@aol.com Mothers and More Meeting: 2nd and 4th Tuesdays at 7 p.m. Location: Saint Catherine’s Episcopal Church, 681 Holt Road Contact: www.mmeastcobb.homestead.com Newcomers of Cobb County Meeting: 3rd Tuesday at 10 a.m. Location: John Knox Presbyterian Church, 505 Powers Ferry Rd. Contact: (770) 234-5068 newcomersofcobbcounty@yahoo.com Next Century Youth, Inc. Location: 791 Mimosa Boulevard, Roswell Contact: Mary Brooks Green, (678) 278-9278 Website: www.nextcenturyyouth.org Northwest Atlanta Moms of Multiples Club Meeting: 2nd Monday at 7 p.m.
Location: North Metro Church on Barrett Pkwy. Contact: (678) 404-0034, www.NOWaMOM.org. Overeaters Anonymous Meeting: Monday, Wednesday, and Friday at 10 a.m. Location: St. Ann’s Catholic Church, 4905 Roswell Rd Contact: Betsy, (404) 226-4931, www.oa.org Parents of Prodigals Children with self-destructive lifestyle. Meeting: 2nd and 4th Thursdays at 6:45 p.m. Location: Johnson Ferry Baptist Church 955 Johnson Ferry Road Contact: (770) 794-2978 www.johnsonferry.org/counseling Parkinson’s Disease Support Group Meeting: 2nd Sunday at 4 p.m. Location: Roswell UMC, 814 Mimosa Blvd., Bldg. A Contact: Robin Cleveland, (678) 819-3915 rcleveland@visitingangels.com Parkinson’s Disease Support Group Meeting: First Tuesday at 10:30 a.m. Location: Aloha to Aging, Mt. Bethel Community Center, 4608 Lower Roswell Road Contact: (678) 439-1177 PASA (Parents of All Stages and Ages) Meeting: Fridays at 10 a.m.Free child care available Location: East Cobb UMC Lower Level Activities Building, 2325 Roswell Road Contact: Lisa Hunt (770) 984-0699 Road to Recovery Divorce Support Group Meeting: Wednesdays at 6:45 p.m. Location: Mount Bethel United Methodist Church 4385 Lower Roswell Road Mission House Contact: (770) 971-2880 Sexual Assault Support Group Meeting: Mondays at 7 p.m. Location: YMCA of NW GA, 48 Henderson St, Contact: Susan Roberts, (770) 427-3390 Single Adult Ministry Location: Mount Bethel United Methodist Church, 4385 Lower Roswell Road Contact: (770) 971-3447, www.mtbethel.org Single’s Ministry Location: Johnson Ferry Baptist Church 955 Johnson Ferry Road Contact: (770) 973-6561, www.jfbc.org Treasures in Heaven (miscarriage/infant death) Meeting: 4th Monday at 7 p.m. Location: Johnson Ferry Baptist Church 955 Johnson Ferry Road Contact: (770) 794-2978 www.johnsonferry.org/counseling VOICE Today Survivors of child sexual abuse Meeting: 1st & 3rd Tuesday at 7 p.m. Location: Johnson Ferry Baptist Church Room 334 Contact: Tom Scales, (678) 578-4888 Website: www.voicetoday.org Widowed Helping Others Meeting: Twice each month Location: St. Ann’s Catholic Church, 4905 Roswell Rd Contact: Marguerite Williamson, (770) 977-8438 Around WALTON | March 2012
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Reference
SCHOOL INFORMATION Elementary Schools East Side Elementary School 3850 Roswell Road, Marietta, GA 30062 (770) 578-7200 Principal: Elizabeth Mavity Mount Bethel Elementary School 1210 Johnson Ferry Road, Marietta, GA 30068 (770) 578-7248 Principal: Joan Johnson Murdock Elementary School 2320 Murdock Road, Marietta, GA 30062 (770) 509-5071 Principal: Cynthia Hanauer Sope Creek Elementary School 3320 Paper Mill Road SE, Marietta, GA 30067 (770) 916-7085 Principal: Martha Whalen Timber Ridge Elementary School 5000 Timber Ridge Road, Marietta, GA 30068 (770) 642-5621 Principal: Dr. Tracie Doe
Middle Schools Dickerson Middle School 855 Woodlawn Drive, Marietta, GA 30068 (770) 578-2710 Principal: Dr. Carole Brink Dodgen Middle School 1725 Bill Murdock Road, Marietta, GA 30062 (770) 578-2726 Principal: Robin Lattizori
High School Walton High School 1590 Bill Murdock Road, Marietta, GA 30062 (770) 578-3225 Principal: Judy McNeill
School Websites: School District Website Pinnacle Picasso Meal Pay 58
Around WALTON | March 2012
Private Schools East Cobb Christian School At East Cobb Presbyterian Church 4616 Roswell Road, Marietta, GA 30062 (770) 565-0881, www.eccs.org Grades: K — 8 Principal: Teresa Staley Eastside Christian School 2450 Lower Roswell Road, Marietta, GA 30068 (770) 971-2332, www.eastsidechristianschool.com Grades: K – 8 Head of School: Judy Cripps Faith Lutheran School 2111 Lower Roswell Road, Marietta, GA 30068 (770) 973-8921, www.FaithLCMS.org Grades: Pre-K – 8 Principal: Jack Hibbs Mt. Bethel Christian Academy 4385 Lower Roswell Road Marietta, GA 30068 (770) 971-0245, www.mtbethelchristian.org Grades: K – 8 Head of School: Jim Callis Lower School Principal: Vivian Lovett Middle School Principal: Jack Grimm
School Calendar at-a-Glance March 28 Kindergarten Registration at Elementary Schools April 2-6 Spring Holiday April 18 -27 CRCT (Criterion-Referenced Competency Testing) for 3rd through 8th grades May 24 Last Day of School August 13 First Day of School for 2012/2013
Omega Private Academy 2960 Shallowford Road, Marietta, GA 30066 (770) 529-1717,www.Omegaprivateacademy.com Grades K – 12, Certified Teachers, SACS Accredited/GSNS Approved Director: Kathy Keeton Shreiner Academy 1340 Terrell Mill Road, Marietta, GA 30067 (770) 953-1340, www.shreiner.com Grades: Toddler – 8 Director: Sarah Walker Woodacres School 1772 Johnson Ferry Road , Marietta, GA 30062 (770) 971-1880, www.woodacresschool.org Grades: Pre-K – 8 Head of School: Judy T. Thigpen
www.cobbk12.org https://pinnacle.cobbk12.org/Pinnacle www.cobbk12.org/centraloffice/picasso www12.mealpayplus.com
RECENT CONSUMER PRODUCT RECALLS Around Walton wants to help keep you and your family safe. The following items have been recalled by their manufacturers in cooperation with the Consumer Products Safety Commission (CPSC).
Children’s Pajamas. Papa
platform on the top and sides of the chute. Children can fall when moving from the ladder to the slide and when descending the chute.
Bear Loungeabouts, LLC, of Los Angeles, CA, is voluntarily recalling an estimated 10,000 plus children’s pajamas and sleepwear. The garments fail to meet federal flammability standards for children’s sleepwear, posing a risk of burn injury to children.
Tassimo Espresso T Discs. Kraft
Women’s Cruiser Bicycles.
Advanced Sports Inc. of Philadelphia, is voluntarily recalling approximately 10,500 Fuji Saratoga women’s bicycles. The bicycle’s frame can break in the center of the downtube during use, causing the rider to lose control and fall.
Foods Global Inc., of Northfield, IL, is voluntarily recalling approximately 2.1 million packages (in the United States) and an additional 1.9 million (in Canada) Tassimo espresso T Discs. The recalled espresso T Discs can become clogged and spray hot liquid and coffee grounds onto consumers and bystanders during or after brewing, posing a burn hazard.
Tassimo Single-Cup Coffee Makers. BSH Home Appliances Corp.,
of Irvine, CA, is voluntarily recalling approximately 835,000 (in the United States) and an additional 900,000 (in Canada) Tassimo single-cup brewers. The plastic disc, or T Disc, that holds the coffee or tea can burst and spray hot liquid and coffee grounds or tea leaves onto consumers using the brewer and onto bystanders, posing a burn hazard.
Tumblekins Toys.
International Playthings LLC, of Parsippany, NJ, is voluntarily recalling approximately 31,000 Tumblekins toys. The toys can break into small pieces with sharp points, posing choking and laceration hazards to children.
Dancing Teapots. Ganz U.S.A. LLC, of Cheektowaga, NY, is voluntarily recalling approximately 2,100 (in the United States) and 170 (in Canada) dancing teapots. The teapot’s handle can get extremely hot when there is hot water in the teapot, posing a burn hazard to consumers. Children’s Slides. Landscape Structures Inc., of Delano, MN, is voluntarily recalling approximately 900 Slalom Glider. The Slalom Glider is a playground slide that lacks a transition
Indie & Indie Twin Strollers. Bumbleride Inc., of San Diego, CA, is voluntarily recalling approximately 28,000 (in the United States) and 2,700 (in Canada) Bumbleride Indie & Indie Twin Strollers. The front wheel can break at the axle hub, causing the stroller to tip and posing a fall hazard. Infant Bodysuits.
Weeplay Kids LLC, of New York, NY, is voluntarily recalling approximately 128,000 Carter’s Watch the Wear Bodysuits and Sleep ‘n Play Garments. The snaps can detach from the fabric of the garment, posing a choking hazard to infants and young children.
For more information on these and many other warnings issued by the Consumer Products Safety Commission, visit www.cpsc.gov or call 1-800-638-2772. Around WALTON | March 2012
59
Reference
COMMUNITY INFORMATION Emergency — 911 • Around Walton (770) 615-3311
Cobb County Chamber of Commerce Driver’s License Health Department Post Office Recycling Center
Cobb County Government:
Business License CCT Bus Service Commissioners Engineering Office Traffic Signals Extension Office Jury Phone — State Court Jury Phone — Superior Court Keep Cobb Beautiful Planning and Zoning Senior Services Tax Assessors/Evaluation Taxes: License Plates/Tags Property Tax Voter Registration
(770) 980-2000 (678) 413-8400 (678) 784-2180 (800) 275-8777 www.usps.com (770) 528-2500
(770) 528-8410 (770) 528-8465 (770) 528-1000 (770) 528-1616 (770) 528-1600 (770) 528-4070 (770) 528-2626 (770) 528-1804 (770) 528-1135 www.cobbcounty.org/kcb (770) 528-2004 (770) 528-5355 (770) 528-3100 (770) 528-8247 (770) 528-8600 (770) 528-2581
Children/Family:
Aloha to Aging, Inc. Family Caregiver Support
(678) 439-1177 ww.alohatoaging.org Child and Adolescent Services (770) 514-2300 Child Support Enforcement (770) 528-2410 Department of Family and Children’s Services (770) 528-5000 Meals on Wheels (770) 528-5381 Mothers Making a Change (770) 499-2422 Next Steps (Child/Adolescent) (770) 514-2300 MUST Ministries (770) 427-9862 YMCA of Northwest GA, Rape Crisis Center (770) 427-3390
Clubs/Groups:
AARP Kiwanis Club Lions Club Rotary Club
Public Service:
Fire Departments: 2905 Library Lane 4431 Trickum Road 3892 Oak Lane Georgia State Patrol Non-Emergency 911 Sheriff’s Department
Hospitals:
60
North Fulton Hospital Northside Hospital Atlanta WellStar Kennestone Hospital Around WALTON | March 2012
(678) 290-9895 (770) 912-9632 (404) 218-6216 (770) 422-7551
Hotlines — 24 Hour Help Lines:
Cobb Judicial Victim Assistance Domestic Violence Unit Drug Tip Poison Control Center Public Outreach/Programs
(770) 528-3047 (770) 499-4665 (770) 590-5520 (404) 589-4400 (770) 499-4719
Libraries:
East Marietta Library Gritter’s Library East Cobb Library Mountain View Regional Library
(770) 509-2711 (770) 528-2524 (770) 509-2730 (770) 509-2725
Parks and Recreation:
Aquatic Centers: Mountain View Sewell Park East Cobb Park Fullers Park Harrison Park Harrison Tennis Center Main Office Mount Bethel Park Sweat Mountain Park YMCA
(770) 509-4927 (770) 509-2741 (770) 591-3160 (770) 509-2737 (770) 591-3150 (770) 591-3151 (770) 528-8800 (770) 509-2748 (770) 591-3160 (770) 977-5991
Pets:
Animal Control Animal Shelter and Pet Adoptions Cobb County Animal Control Cobb County Humane Society Emergency Veterinary Clinic Good Mews Animal Foundation
(770) 499-4136 (770) 499-4136 (770) 499-4136 (770) 428-5678 (770) 424-9157 (770) 499-CATS
Schools:
Board of Education
(770) 426-3300 www.cobbk12.org
Utilities: (770) 528-8000
(770) 205-5400 (770) 499-3900 (770) 499-4600 www.cobbsheriff.org
(770) 751-2500 (404) 851-8000 (770) 793-5000
AT&T Broadband/Comcast
AT&T Residential Phone Service Atlanta Gas Light Co. Cobb County Water System Cobb EMC Georgia Power Water Emergency
(404) 266-2278 www.comcast.com (888) 757-6500 www.att.com (770) 907-4231 www.aglc.com (770) 423-1000 water.cobbcountyga.gov (770) 429-2100 www.cobbemc.com (888) 660-5890 www.georgiapower.com (770) 419-6201
Lucy
We need a home!
ADOPTION INFORMATION: Please call first to see if we have what you are looking for. We have many resources to help you find what you are looking for if we do not have it. (770) 428-9882 We screen potential adopters to make sure our pets will be a good match for your family and vise versa. New adoptive dog owners will also need a home check before they can take their new dog home.
Barney
DOGS: We only house small breed dogs. Our adoption fee is $200 for dogs. All of our dogs or puppies will be altered before they can be adopted. They will have as many vaccines as we can give them for the time they have spent here. If the dog is over six months old it will have been heart worm tested negative and be on preventative. All of our pets are micro chipped and will have flea preventative on them.
Ziggy
Blanche
Progresso
CATS: Our adoption fee for cats is $125. All of our cats and kittens (10 weeks and up) will be altered before they are adopted. If you would like a kitten younger than 10 weeks old, we can refer you to other resources. Our cats or kittens will have as many vaccines as we can give them for the time they have spent here. They are all tested negative for Feline Leukemia and FIV, and will have been micro chipped.
IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO HELP: Please visit our wish list on Amazon at www.humanecobb.com. It is a fast and convenient way to support the pets at our shelter. Items chosen can be shipped directly to our shelter. Use the, “this is a gift� section to let us know your name and address so we may acknowledge your kind gift(s).
Around WALTON | March 2012
61
Reference
ELECTED & APPOINTED OFFICIALS United States Government: President Barack Obama (D) 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue Washington, D.C. 20500 Website: www.whitehouse.gov e-mail: president@whitehouse.gov
(202) 456-1414 fax: (202) 456-2461
Senator Saxby Chambliss (R) (202) 224-3521 Senate Russell Courtyard-2 fax: (202) 224-0103 Washington, D.C. 20510 Website: www.saxby.org e-mail: saxby_chambliss@chambliss.senate.gov Senator Johnny Isakson (R) 1 Overton Park, Suite 970 3625 Cumberland Blvd, Atlanta, GA 30339 Website: http://isakson.senate.gov
(202) 224-3643 GA: (770) 661-0999
Rep. Tom Price (R), District 6 3730 Roswell Road Marietta, GA 30062 Website: http://tom.house.gov e-mail: tom@tomprice.com
GA: (770) 565-4990 fax: (770) 565-7570
Rep. Phil Gingrey (R), District 11 219 Roswell Street Marietta, GA 30060 Website: www.gingrey.house.gov e-mail: gingrey.ga@mail.house.gov
(202) 225-2931 GA: (770) 429-1776 fax: (770) 795-9551
fax: (770) 661-0768
State Government: Governor Nathan Deal (R) 203 State Capitol Atlanta, GA 30334
(404) 656-1776 fax: (404) 657-7332 www.gov.ga.gov.com
Senator Chip Rogers (R), District 21 chip@SenatorChipRogers.com
(404) 463-1378
Senator Judson Hill (R), District 32 judson.hill@senate.ga.gov
(770) 565-0024
Rep. Sharon Cooper (R), District 41 sharon.cooper@house.ga.gov
(770) 956-8357
Rep. Don L. Parsons (R), District 42 repdon@gmail.com
(770) 977-4426
Rep. Matt Dollar (R), District 45 matt.dollar@house.ga.gov
(404) 656-0254
County Government:
Juvenile Court Presiding Judge James Whitfield Director of Juvenile Court Services Michele Marchant-Wellmon
(770) 528-2290 fax: (770) 528-2214
Solicitor General, Barry E. Morgan
(770) 528-8500 fax: (770) 528-8578
District Attorney, Patrick H. Head cobbda@cobbcounty.org
(770) 528-3080 fax: (770) 528-3030
Cobb County Coroner Brian Frist 150 North Marietta Pkwy Marietta, GA 30060 Cobb County Board of Commissioners 100 Cherokee Street Marietta, GA 30090 www.cobbcountyga.gov
(770) 528-3300 fax: (770) 528-2606
(770) 528-3300
Helen Goreham, District 1 hgoreham@cobbcounty.org
(770) 528-3313
Bob Ott, District 2 bob.ott@cobbcounty.org
(770) 528-3316
JoAnn Birrell, District 3 joann.birrell@cobbcounty.org
(770)528-3317
Woody Thompson, District 4 woody.thompson@cobbcounty.org
(770) 528-3312
Cobb County Sheriff’s Office Sheriff Neil Warren 185 Roswell Street, Marietta, GA 30060 www.cobbsheriff.org
(770) 499-4600
Cobb County School System www.cobb.k12.ga.us Superintendent, Dr. Michael Hinojosa 514 Glover Street, Marietta, GA 30060 (770) 426-3453 michael.hinojosa@cobbk12.org fax: (678) 594-8559 Board of Education Kathleen Angelucci, Post 4 kangelucci.boardmember@cobbk12.org
Superior Court Judge Reuben Green
(770) 528-1800
Magistrate Court Chief Judge Frank R. Cox
(770) 528-8900
Probate Court Chief Judge Kelli Wolk
(770) 528-1900
Around WALTON | March 2012
(770) 528-2200
Commissioners: Tim Lee, Chairman tlee@cobbcounty.org
62
(770) 528-2220
David Banks, Post 5 dbanks.boardmember@cobbk12.org Scott Sweeney, Post 6 ssweeney.boardmember@cobbk12.org
City of Marietta:
Mayor Steve Tumlin stumlin@mariettaga.gov
(770) 794-5501
classifieds
Coming Up in
Around Walton April issue will feature Readers’ Choice Winners Summer Camp Listings Teachers of the Year
Camper For Sale Travel Trailer. 2006 30’ Springdale, sleeps 8, slide out, full kitchen, GREAT condition, $14,500. Call (404) 425-8198.
Help Wanted Retail Account Representative Needed. Ability to perform multi-tasks, computer literate, excellent customer service record. Earn $400 weekly. All the applicants should send resume to amo_techinc@live.com.
w w w. AroundAboutWalton.com
May issue will feature Prom Pictures Mother’s Day College Signings
Join the AroundAbout Walton fan page www.facebook.com/ AroundAboutWalton
and much more!
Follow us on
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Where to Find the Magazine Around Walton is mailed free directly to homes and businesses in the Walton community. If you do not receive a copy and would like to pick one up, you can find us at any of these fine establishments:
Need an Extra Copy?
Johnson Ferry Rd: Houlihan’s Restaurant J Christopher’s Restaurant Wells Fargo Bank Caribou Coffee Nail Eagle Chick-fil-A Publix Wellstar Physician’s Group North Atlanta Women’s Specialists Arbor Terrace EH Sellars Dr. Cristi Cheek, DMD Urgent Medical Care Jazzercise Kids R Kids Piedmont Road: YMCA
Roswell Road: Panera Bread at the Avenue Dance Stop LGE Community Credit Union Marietta Eye Clinic Rick’s Farmer’s Market Frankie’s Italian Restaurant Atlanta Community Realty Parc at Piedmont Robinson Road: Fullers Recreation Park Lower Roswell Road: Johnny’s Pizza Legends Elite Aloha to Aging Let us know if you would like some at your place of business. Around WALTON | March 2012
63
Reference Support Local Business Owners and this Magazine Tell Them You Saw Their Ad in the Around Walton!
Advertisers Directory attorneys/legal services Brosnahan, Carpenter, Lyons & Smith, LLP (678) 805-4458 www.bclslegal.com Rohan Law, P.C. (404) 923-7570 www.rohanlawpc.com
Health & Beauty 39
Cover, 32,33, 36
automotive Next Level Mobile Detailing (404) 447-2868
39
Sellars Goodyear (770) 973-5780, 648 Johnson Ferry Road (770) 992-7977, 2950 Johnson Ferry Road (770) 509-1422, 3621 Sandy Plains Road
41
Banking/Financial Services Citadel CPA & Wealth Care Services Inside Front (770) 952-6707 225 Town Park Drive, Suite 440, Kennesaw
chiropractors HealthQuest Chiropractic Center, PC 37 (770) 509-3400 1205 Johnson Ferry Rd, Suite 122, Marietta www.HealthQuestChiro.com HealthSource Chiropractic & Progressive Rehab 51 (770) 578-0785
Cleaning Services Carpet Dry-Tech (678) 368-5991
41.
Image Maids (770) 627-4670
15
Computer/ Web Services Trustworkz (770) 615-3275 www.TrustWorkz.com
47
17.
Grateful Dental Inside Back English: (678) 593-2979, Spanish: (678) 593 2978, Portuguese: (678) 593-2977 2000 Powers Ferry Rd SE, Suite 1-6, Marietta www.GratefulDentalga.com Marietta Family Dental Care, PC Back Cover (770) 973-8222 4720 Lower Roswell Road, Marietta www.NaturalSmile.biz Shenk Dental Care (770) 992-6568, www.drshenk.com 4690 Woodstock Rd. Suite 100 Roswell
14
Diet & Nutrition Good Measure Meals (404) 815-7695
64
Around WALTON | March 2012
35
Nail Eagle (770) 565-5634
23
Pilates Tutor Studio (678) 234-0202
27
Home & gARDEN Landscape Matters (770) 403-5813
24
Outdoor Environments Unlimited, Inc. (678) 796-4991
13
Peachtree Roofing, Inc. (770) 579-ROOF
41
Plumbing Doctor, The (770) 516-9000
24
Quality Craftsmen (404) 483-7446 www.quality-craftsmen.com
5
35
25
Resurgens OrthoNow (770) 423-2172 61 Whitcher St. Suite 1100, Marietta www.resurgens.com
31
WellStar Health Systems (770) 956-STAR www.wellstar.org
3
WellStar Medical Group 39 Whitney Denton,M.D., Shravantika Reddy, M.D. (678) 403-4660 1523 Johnson Ferry Rd. Ste. 150, Marietta WellStar Medical Group Pediatrics: (770) 578-2868 Family Medicine, Internal Medicine & Pediatrics: (770) 973-2272 3939 Roswell Road, Marietta
9
Real estate Atlanta Communities Real Estate (770) 240-2000 3173 Roswell Rd., Suite 101, Marietta www.atlantacommunities.net
5
REstaurants/Food SErvices
Insurance Keeton Insurance Services (770) 971-8900
23
Baristas Gourmet Coffee www.mybaristas.com
23
State Farm Insurance - Ron Spouse (770) 956-1688
27
Marlow’s Tavern (770) 977-7747
34
Moxie Burger (770) 627-3201
27
Simply Fresh (770) 952-9010
27
Pets Hot Dogs and Cool Cats (770) 858-1000
27, 31
Humane Society of Cobb County (770) 428-5678 www.humanecobb.com 148 Fairground St. SE, Marietta
61.
Photographers
Dentists/Orthodontists Cristi Y. Cheek DMD, P.C. (770) 993-3775, www.cheekdental.com
Get In Shape for Women (770) 605-8788 3822 Roswell Road, Ste. 114, Marietta www.getinshapeforwomen.com
Progressive Audiology Center, Inc. (770) 592-4744, (706) 253-7244
Studio 7 Photography (770) 685-7391 www.studio7hub.com
20
Physicians & Medical Services Marietta Facial Plastic Surgery & Aesthetics Center Inside Front (770) 425-7575 111 Marble Mill Road NW, Marietta Northside Hospital Cancer Institute www.northside.com Northside Hospital Sleep Disorders Center www.northside.com/sleep Pearle Vision (770) 509-8480 1401 Johnson Ferry Road Plastic Surgery Center of the South (770) 421-1242 www.plasticsurgerycenterofthesouth.net
7 19 1
11 .
Retail /Miscellaneous Bits, Bytes, Bots Summer Camp
30
Bookmiser - A Used Book Store East Cobb - (770) 509-5611
23
Paper Mill Village 137 Johnson Ferry Road, Marietta
27
Honey Mountain Quilt www.HoneyMountainQuilts.com
15
The Giraffes Tree House
29
Senior Services Arbor Terrace (770) 977-4420
43
Atherton Place (770) 421-7300 www.athertonplace.org
50
Parc at Piedmont — East Cobb 999 Hood Road, Marietta, GA 30068 (770) 565-8828
35
To Advertise Call 770-615-3311 For Rates & Info Today!