3 16 townelaker web final by Aroundabout Local Media, Inc.

TOWNELAKER | March 2016

March 2016 Volume 21, Issue 11

8 Etowah AD Honored

Bob Van Alstyne named state, region athletic director of year.

Readers’ Choice

Summer Camps

Career Expo

Night to Shine

Consignment Sales

Here’s your chance to support your favorite local businesses.

Grab your calendars and make plans for adventures for your kids. Advisers, local employers will be available to help job seekers. Magical event filled with joy, happy faces and visit by Tim Tebow.

Plenty of bargains for thrifty moms in search of a good deal.

Eggs-stra Fun

Lots of options for Easter egg hunts to satisfy our youngest residents.

Leading by Example

Teens train for their roles in tobacco-free advocacy.

Contributing Writers Don Akridge 54 Kyle Bennett 84 Siobhan Brumbelow 83 Michael Caldwell 22 Caron Catalán 46 Cherokee Office of Economic Devlopment 24 Caitlin Cross 20 Helen Gras 74 Delia Halverson 42 Dr. Scott Harden 62 Dr. Amy Hardin 65 John Harris 70 Donnie Henriques 82 Dr. Jan Henriques 64 Dr. Rob Holewinski 66 Kurt & Sheila Johnson 25 Sean Kaufman 34

In Every Issue Josh Keenum Venéssa Lanier Joe Lemmo Ann Litrel Dr. Michael Litrel Rob Macmillan Irene Macmillan Matt Neal Cindy Nelson Northside Hospital Heart & Vascular Institute Julius Quarcoo Bill Ratliff Jim Ray Lynne Saunders Susan Schulz Jessica Leigh Smith Tim Timmons

35 26 73 52 28 30 30 34 43 68 66 70 37 36 50 58 40

Around Towne Ribbon Cuttings

Birthdays

Community News

Everyday Angels

Community Calendar

Towne Lake Dining Guide 60 Faith

School News

Parking Map

Woodstock Dining Guide 85 Recent Home Sales

Greenprints Trail Map

Ad Index

www.townelaker.com

48 & 49 On the Cover Optimum Health photo by J King Images 2

TOWNELAKER | March 2016

ADVERTISING Patty Ponder, ALM President 770-615-3322 Patty@AroundAboutMagazines.com

Join the TowneLaker magazine fan page

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TOWNELAKER | March 2016

Community

AROUND TOWNE

The

People, The Places and The Pleasures that make Towne Lake

From the Editor Cherokee County is a great place to live. Our county’s theme Where Metro Meets the Mountains - alludes to the proximity of Atlanta to the south and the beautiful Blue Ridge mountains just north of us. If you still need to be convinced, check out the news tab on the Cherokee Chamber of Commerce website. You’ll see story after story proclaiming good news. “International Company to Relocate to Cherokee County” “Woodstock Named Green City by ARC” “Milestones Tests Results Above State Average” “Cherokee County Cities Make Safest Cities in Georgia List” “Cherokee Poised for Economic Opportunities” But my personal favorite bit of recent news:

2016 Small Business of the Year:

AroundAbout Local Media, Inc. Employees of our small but mighty company are honored to have received this award from the Cherokee Chamber of Commerce during the annual meeting in late January. For 20 years, the TowneLaker has served this south Cherokee community with unparalleled advertising opportunities for local businesses, and positive and relevant articles that inform and unite the residents. A comment by the judges affirms that we are accomplishing our goals: “This award signifies your company’s strength, integrity and willingness to give back to Cherokee County.” Our community support goes beyond sharing information on our printed pages. Between us, we sit on community boards, volunteer hours mentoring youth and filling backpacks for children in need. We serve on committees that work tirelessly to improve our neighborhoods and county. We are in the trenches with you, our readers, working to make our community the best it can be - through our volunteer work and our three publications. This month we bring you more good news about our city’s future. Woodstock Mayor Donnie Henriques gives a glimpse into 2016 and beyond on page 82. And the Cherokee Office of Economic Development is hosting a career expo, details on page 24, to help those looking for a job or career change. With the lists of summer camps, Easter egg hunts, consignment sales and road trips for seniors, we hope you’ll keep this issue handy and refer to it often. We live in a growing and busy community what a great place to be!

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

TOWNELAKER | March 2016

What’s Coming Keegan’s Public House will be opening in the space formerly occupied by Jump Kitchen Saloon and Bogey’s. Work is just beginning on the site, and an opening date couldn’t be confirmed. www.keegansirishpub.net.

What’s Changed Unique Hair Salon has closed and stylist Kathy Pucci has moved to a new space at 123 Mirramont Lake Drive.

Kudos! Reformation Brewery was recognized as one of Georgia’s Small Business Rock Stars by the Georgia Economic Developers Association and the Georgia Department of Economic Development. Companies with up to 50 employees were considered for uniqueness and innovation, as well as involvement with their local economic developers and state resource providers. Reformation also made Yahoo’s list of 50 Best Breweries Worth Traveling For.

Chamber of Commerce Ribbon Cuttings

Insignia Senior Living 1835 Eagle Drive, Woodstock 770-592-4242

Brownlee Agency, Inc. 3213 S Cherokee Lane Building 1700, Unit 1710 Woodstock 800-810-8699

North Cobb Christian School

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TOWNELAKER | March 2016

COMMUNITY BOARD The TowneLaker Community Board consists of well-respected community leaders from different walks of life. Our board members assist us in many ways, including contributing to our magazine and providing valuable feedback. Kurt Johnson, co-founder of the Kurt and Sheila real estate team, has been involved in real estate most of his adult life. He and his wife have lived in Cherokee County for more than 13 years, their three children have attended county schools since the oldest started first grade at Bascomb Elementary. Kurt and Sheila work hard to promote Cherokee County and all it has to offer. Ann Litrel is an artist and writer whose nationally published work includes decorative art, paintings for private and corporate collections, and writing and illustration for a range of publications. Ann lives in Towne Lake with her husband and co-author Dr. Mike Litrel and their two sons. Ann can be reached at Ann@annlitrel.com. Dee Locklin is a Georgia State University retiree who moved to Towne Lake in 1998. She and husband Lewis are the proud parents of KSU student Taylor. Dee joined the TowneLaker as a contributing writer in 2011 and now is focusing her energy on caring for her beloved husband as he battles late-stage cancer. Joe Lemmo is an English teacher and comedian who has taught in Cherokee County for the last 15 years. He performs improv comedy with the iThink Improv Troupe out of the Elm Street Cultural Arts Village Theatre in downtown Woodstock. He lives in Woodstock with his wife Justine, and his cat, Wasabi. Lynne Saunders is the founder and executive director of Papa’s Pantry and The Master’s Training Center. Her employment classes are based on a book she wrote, “21st Century Keys to Employment.” Lynne has been married to Bill for 33 years and has three grown daughters and five grandchildren. Dr. Scott R. Harden is a family dentist at Fountain View Family & Cosmetic Dentistry serving Woodstock and Cherokee County for more than 25 years. During this time, he has lived in the Towne Lake area with his wife, Kathy, and two children. 6

TOWNELAKER | March 2016

Townelaker Publisher AroundAbout Local Media, Inc. ALM President Patty Ponder Patty@AroundAboutMagazines.com 770-615-3322 Controller Denise Griffin Denise@AroundAboutMagazines.com 770-615-3315 Market Manager Christie Deese Christie@AroundAboutMagazines.com 770-615-3324 Executive Editor Candi Hannigan Candi@AroundAboutMagazines.com 770-615-3309 Managing Editor Jackie Loudin Jackie@AroundAboutMagazines.com 770-615-3318 Art Director Michelle McCulloch Michelle@AroundAboutMagazines.com 770-615-3307 Page Designer Laura Latchford Laura@AroundAboutMagazines.com Market Support Assistant Katherine Amick Kathherine@AroundAboutMagazines.com TowneLaker, a publication of AroundAbout Local Media, Inc., is a monthly community magazine. The magazine’s goal is to build a sense of community and pride in the Towne Lake and surrounding area by providing its residents with positive stories and timely information. It distributes a total of 16,000 free copies. Approximately 15,000 are direct mailed to homes and businesses and an additional 1,000 are placed in racks around the community. It also has 2,000+ digital viewers of the magazine online each month. TowneLaker welcomes your comments, stories, and advertisements. The deadline is the 10th of the previous month. Subscriptions are available for $24 per year. Send check or money order to the address below. The viewpoints of the advertisers, columnists and submissions are not necessarily those of the Editor/Publisher and the Publisher makes no claims as to the validity of any charitable organizations mentioned. TowneLaker is not responsible for errors or omissions. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means without written permission from the Publisher. All rights reserved. © Copyright 2016. TowneLaker PMB 380 1025 Rose Creek Drive, Suite 620, Woodstock, GA 30189 For Advertising: Patty Ponder, 770-615-3322 Website: www.townelaker.com Powered by:

Volume 21, Issue 11

TOWNELAKER | March 2016

Community

Etowah Athletic Director Named AD of the Year

Etowah High School Athletic Director Robert “Bob” Van Alstyne was recently named the Georgia AAAAAA Athletic Director of the Year and the Region 5-AAAAAA Athletic Director of the Year, awarded by the Georgia Athletic Director’s Association. Van Alstyne is in his 13th year with the Cherokee County School District and his fifth year as the athletic director and an assistant principal at Etowah. “Every aspect of Etowah athletics reflect Bob’s tireless work. Facility improvements, retaining and hiring quality coaches, and celebrating student success. We told our coaches five years ago to stop trying to just win region

Coach Bob Van Alstyne

TOWNELAKER | March 2016

championships. We wanted to compete deep into the state playoffs and win state championships. We have had a couple of individual state champs in diving, track and field, and wrestling, and a pair of state weightlifting championships in 2012 and 2013. Over the past two years, Etowah has made five appearances in the state semifinals in various sports and a trip to the finals in wrestling. Our kids and coaches have thrived under Mr. Van Alstyne’s leadership,” Etowah Principal Keith Ball said. Van Alstyne’s previous roles have included assistant principal for Hickory Flat Elementary School, administrator for Polaris Evening School (North Campus), and health and PE teacher and coach for Cherokee High School. His coaching roles at Cherokee included head coach for varsity boys’ golf and assistant coach for varsity football and basketball. He earned his bachelor of science in physical education at State University of New York at Brockport, his master of science in health studies at the University of Alabama and his educational specialist in educational leadership from Lincoln (Tenn.) Memorial University. Van Alstyne also serves as the 5-AAAAAA region secretary and serves on the board of the Etowah Foundation.

TOWNELAKER | March 2016

Community

Celebrations!

Ansley Giesler

Brittney Arnold

Age 9 on March 17 Happy Birthday, Ansley! Mommy, Daddy and Lauren

Age 15 on Feb. 20 Happy 15th birthday, Brittney! Love you very much! Dad

Melisa Fortgang

Happy 50th birthday Boss! We love you!! Your Angels, Mary, Kate, Louise, Kim, Tara, Beth, Renee, Michelle, Lynne, Susan, Cindy, Janell, Alta, and Mary

Lucy Meyer

Age 16 on March 21 Happy Sweet 16 to our beautiful girl - inside and out! Love you bunches, Mommy, Daddy, Charlie and Bitsy

Dayton Peters, Age 3 on Feb. 20 Ryan Peters, Age 24 on March 19 Grandson and son of Chris and Lori Peters

Addison Grace Burns

Age 5 on March 29 Happy birthday sweet girl! We love you so much. Love, Mommy, Daddy and Charlotte

Chelsea Scott

Celebrating her Sweet 16 on March 10 We hope it is as special as you are!! With love, Mom, Dad and Cole

Benjamin M. Yee

Age 7 on March 16 Happy Birthday Big Boy! We love you. Mommy, Daddy and Eve

Benjamyn Moreland

Age 6 on Feb. 22 Happy birthday, Bugsy! Thank you for being you! Love Daddy, Momma and Baylee

Dalton and Lauren Peters

Age 18 on March 20 Son and daughter of Chris and Lori Peters

TOWNELAKER | March 2016

Ellie Kearney

Age 18 on March 6 We are so proud of you! Love you so much! Dad, Mom, Grace and Sarah

Cullen Wallace

Age 12 on March 4 Happy Birthday Buddy! We love you to the moon and back! Mom, Dad, and Skylar

ANNOUNCEMENTS ARE FREE! E-mail to: Candi@AroundAboutMagazines.com April deadline is March 10. Please specify TowneLaker.

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

Cherokee’s community hospital. Northside.com TOWNELAKER | March 2016

Community

YOUR LOCAL NEWS Neighbirdhood Watch

Free Tax Help for Senior Citizens

Thanks to TowneLaker reader Judy Malinowski for sending us this great photo of a hawk perched on the top of a street sign in the Arbors. Our feathered friend appears to be on duty, part of a unique patrol assigned to keep the neighborhood safe.

Cherokee County Senior Services and AARP are offering free tax help to low- and moderateincome taxpayers, especially those 60 and older living in Cherokee County. Assistance is available 1-5 p.m. each Wednesday through April 13 at the senior center, 1001 Univeter Road, Canton. Day-of registration begins at 12:30 p.m.

New Festival for High School, Professional Playwrights Elm Street Cultural Arts Village is introducing a New Works Festival, planned for June, that will give high school students and professional playwrights a chance to showcase their work. The juried festival will consist of 10-minute works selected from plays written by local high school students as well as a longer one-act play written by a professional playwright. Works can be submitted on the Elm Street website through March 15. Nominees for the festival will be selected in April. The plays selected for presentation will be announced in April and the final candidates will have their plays read at the New Works Festival in June. Following the festival, the author of the winning entry will get a $500 honorarium and will have the play presented as a curtain show prior to one of Elm Street’s Main Stage productions in the 2016-17 season. To help community members prepare, Elm Street is offering a playwriting class. For more information on the class, visit www. elmstreetarts.org/2016-spring-classes-camps/. To submit a play, go to www.elmstreetarts.org/new-works-festival/.

Remember to bring: • Copy of last year’s income tax return(s). • W2 forms from each employer. • Unemployment compensation statements. • SSA-1099 form if you were paid Social Security benefits. • All 1099 forms (1099-INT, 1099-DIV, 1099-b, etc.) showing interest and/or dividends and documentation showing original purchase price of sold assets. • 1099-MISC showing any miscellaneous income. • 1099 R form if you received an pension or annuity. • All forms including federal income tax paid. • Dependent care provider information (name, employer ID, Social Security number). • All receipts or canceled checks if itemizing deductions. • Social Security cards or other official documentation for yourself and all dependents.

New Meeting Set to Discuss Mural Last month’s meeting to discuss the new outdoor mural in downtown Woodstock has been rescheduled to March 19, 2-6 p.m. at Truck & Tap, 8640 Main St., outside near the food truck area. Anyone with ideas for the theme and content of the mural is invited to this event. The mural will be painted on the wall of Woodstock Pharmacy facing Mill Street. In September, the Atlanta Regional Public Art Program awarded funding from a competitive grant process for the creation of the new mural in the heart of downtown. Matching funds are being provided by the Woodstock Downtown Development Authority and the Convention and Visitor’s Bureau. A call for artists has been publicized and the chosen artist will use community input, gathered in a series of events and surveys, to guide the concept of the mural. More information can be found at www.downtownwoodstock.org/mural. 12

TOWNELAKER | March 2016

Firefighter Recruit School Graduates 17 Seventeen new fire recruits graduated from firefighter recruit school during a recent ceremony at River Ridge High School. Graduates are: Connor Andrews, William Armstrong, Edibaldo Barajas, Zachery Bennett, Christopher Buckner, Brian Buddin, Jarrod Carchio, James Cornelius, Wesley Daniel, Justin Dobson, Timothy Hicks, Ryan Hixson, Shawn James, Justin Libby, Nathan Pelletier, William Pflugrad and Larry Stephenson III. Libby was given the Pinnacle Award for striving to “reach the top” due to dedication and hard work. Carchio earned the W. Clark Waters’ Jr. Honor Graduate award. Dobson was given the EMS Academic award.

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Community

YOUR LOCAL NEWS Donations for Some Bunny Special

From left, Georgia Kiwanis District Governor Richard Dixon, Bettie Sleeth, Division 15, Georgia Kiwanis District Lt. Governor Bob Binkley, former Kiwanis International President Bill Lieber, and former Georgia Kiwanis District Governor Jimmy McCorlew.

New Kiwanis Chapter Opens in Cherokee The Kiwanis Club of Greater Cherokee was chartered Jan. 13, a process to establish the group as an official club in the eyes of Kiwanis International. Meetings are held the first Monday of the month at 8 a.m. at the IHOP on Highway 92 in Woodstock. According to Kiwanis International, club missions focus on a community of volunteers “dedicated to improving the world one child and one community at a time.” Its youth-oriented leadership efforts are geared toward serving children, teens and young adults to develop the leaders of tomorrow and underscore the importance of healthy children as foundational to healthy communities. Club members have raised more than $3,000 and collected more than 60 pounds of food for MUST Ministries, and helped to make sandwiches to feed children during a recent school break. Over the holidays, members rang bells for the Salvation Army. “It is a great honor to serve the community and we have taken the first steps to establish our commitment in that promise,” said chapter President Bettie Sleeth. Other projects will include working with local high schools to develop Key Clubs (focused on developing youth leadership) and helping Cherokee County public libraries with book sales. In February, members participated in Project Valentine, collecting seasonal themed items that were given to special needs clients at Next Step Ministries. For more information, visit the chapter’s Facebook page or email greatercherokeekiwanis@gmail.com.

The Cherokee Recreation and Parks Agency is gearing up to collect Easter baskets for the Some Bunny Special program, in which baskets will be delivered to children in need throughout Cherokee County. Donations will be accepted through March 19. The goal is to reach 300 children (150 boys and 150 girls). All baskets MUST be pre‐ filled. Donors can purchase one or create an individualized basket. Baskets should have Easter‐related items only, such as candy, stuffed animals and toys, etc. Donations can be dropped off at the recreation center at 7545 Main St., Building 200, in Woodstock. For more details, call 770‐924‐7768 or email Lindsey Collett at lcollett@cherokeega.com.

Jaipur moves Atlanta Headquarters to Cherokee 75 Corporate Park Jaipur Living Inc., a company specializing in rugs, throws, pillows and more, will be moving its Atlanta headquarters to Cherokee 75 Corporate Park, building a new facility in the southwest Cherokee County park. The relocation will bring approximately 100 jobs to Cherokee with an average wage of $52,000 per year. Founded in 1978 in India, Jaipur went from the humble beginning with only two looms to being known as one of the largest exporters of rugs in India. In recent news, Jaipur announced a partnership with Kate Spade New York to create iconic designs for the well-known brand. Jaipur already has ties to the Cherokee community; Woodstock Furniture Outlet sells its products and, and Jaipur recently partnered with Cantonbased Grant Design Collaborative to create a new line of rugs.

Woodstock Resident is Reserve Sailor of the Year Operations Specialist 1st Class (EXW) Greg Rikel, a member of U.S. Naval Forces Europe-Africa/U.S. 6th Fleet Detachment 802 at Navy Operational Support Center (NOSC) Atlanta, was recognized in December as NOSC Atlanta’s Reserve Sailor of the Year. Rikel, a Woodstock resident, has been a member of the Navy Reserve since 2005. As leading petty officer of his unit’s training and readiness department, he coordinates general military training with the NOSC Atlanta staff. Rikel, a Raton, N.M., native and graduate of Eastern New Mexico University, runs youth sports leagues as the associate director of recreation at First Baptist Church of Woodstock. He joined the Navy Reserve after being seated next to a recruiter on a flight home from a training project for his church. At age 30, he said he thought he was too old to enlist and didn’t think he had anything to offer. Now, he has been judged to be among the best of 1,300 Navy Reservists assigned to nearly 30 units in Atlanta. 14

TOWNELAKER | March 2016

Greg Rikel.

WELCOME TO READERS’ CHOICE 2016! Here’s your chance to show the love for the businesses that make our community so great. Go to www.townelaker.com, click on the Readers’ Choice tab on the right of the home page, and cast your votes beginning March 1. Voting ends at 5 p.m. April 15. Just a few things to remember. 1. Your votes will be updated daily to the polling site. Enter the name of the business that you want to vote for if you don’t see it in the listing. 2. If you are voting for a business with multiple locations, please enter the street name and/ or city with the business name. 3. There is no minimum number of votes required for your vote to count. 4. The maximum number of votes allowed per category is five from each computer.

Categories Restaurants American Asian Bakery Barbecue Breakfast Coffee Shop Dessert Fine Dining Italian/Pizzeria Kid-Friendly Mexican Seafood

Services

Accountant Attorney Audiologist Automotive Business Support Chiropractor Counseling Day Care/Preschool Day Spa Dentist Education Financial

Funeral Home Hair Salon Home Cleaning Home Improvement/ Repair Insurance Agent (specify agent) Interior Design Landscaping/Lawn Care Music Lessons Nail Salon Optometrist/ Ophthalmologist Orthodontist Painter Pediatric Dentist Pest Control Physician - General Physician - Specialist Plumber Photographer Physical Therapist Realtor Travel Agent Tutoring Veterinarian

Retailers

Boutique Children’s Clothing Electronics/Appliance Florist Garden Center Gifts/Home Décor Food Market/Grocer Jeweler Music Animal and Pet Supplies Package Store Pharmacy Shoes Specialty Foods Sporting Goods Tires Toys

Recreation and Entertainment Dance Studio Fitness/Health Club Gymnastics Center Music Venue Theater

TOWNELAKER | March 2016

Community

EVERYDAY Identifying people in need in our community.

December typically has proven to be a big month of giving for Everyday Angels. Our readers recall past features and send their tax-deductible donations in support of those who touched their hearts. Last year’s June feature story of Scarlet Cuello’s near fatal car accident touched many. Because of your generous end-of-year donations, Scarlet is now able to continue her much needed physical and occupational therapy treatments. Insurance limitations had caused her to discontinue her therapy in November. While Scarlet continued to work hard at home on her own, therapy is vital in building her muscle strength and healing, which will allow her to eventually receive a prosthetic arm. Everyday Angels not only

Everyday Angels receives many requests for assistance. We’d like to share this letter, in hopes that together we can assist this sweet family. Everyday Angels will assist her with utility costs and grocery cards.

Scarlet has made great progress with physical therapy since her accident in December.

identifies and shares situations in our community, but ensures that the hard-earned money that you have donated is used wisely. Because of generous readers and Scarlet’s strong determination, she is on her way to a bright future. Check out precious Scarlet, taking a break with her new therapist.

Dear Everyday Angels:

I am writing on behalf of my dear friends who have experienced more than their fair share of trials. They are two of the kindest, compassionate people you will ever meet. They are both in their mid60’s with three grown children and grandchildren who are scattered in different states. They are both hard workers who never wanted to stop working and always volunteered and helped others. Last spring, the husband had a severe stroke resulting in many sudden life changes. His sweet wife had to stop working and care for him all day. His recovery has been slow and his needs are great. Then, over Christmas, one of their children took their life and their two grandchildren have had to move in with them. She is now a constant caregiver with limited funds. It has been difficult watching such great people have to deal with so much. We are simply in awe of this woman’s strength and grace during this heartbreaking stage of her life. When our family gave her groceries for the week, she was tearfully touched. I would love to shower her with grocery cards so Everyday Angels is a 501(c)3 nonprofit serving Cherokee County since she would not have to worry about costs of 2000. If you would like to make a tax deductible donation, please special food requirements for her husband visit www.everydayangels.info to donate via Paypal or send your donations to: Everyday Angels, PMB 380, 1025 Rose Creek Drive, Suite and her grandkids. If there is anything 620, Woodstock GA, 30189. One hundred percent of your funds will your organization can do to assist with this 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 effort, we would be grateful. aaeverydayangels@gmail.com for consideration and qualification.

TOWNELAKER | March 2016

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Community

Parents, head off those choruses of “I’m bored!” and start planning some fun summer activities for the kids. Local day camps fill up quickly, so register early.

Art of Living at Community of Hope

Canton Golf Club Junior Golf Camp

Art camp 9 a.m.-noon for ages 7-12. $135 for five-day camp, $85 for three days. For details and dates, call Patricia Reeves at 770-479-6961. www.patriciareeves.com.

Learn the fundamentals of golf with PGA Class A instructor Craig King. For ages 7-16. Games and prizes, snacks and beverages provided. Cost is $165. Call or text for dates and times 404-285-7557.

Brainy Bytes Technology Camps

Cherokee YMCA

Weekly half-day and full-day camps start June 6. Children are supplied with everything they need to create video games, movies, 3D printed objects, robot battles and more. Locations in Woodstock, Acworth and Roswell. 770-826-0449. www.brainy-bytes.com.

Camp Splash Gold Swim School camp dates June 6-July 22, 9 a.m.5 p.m. for ages 4-12. There will be a different theme each week. Daily schedule includes: swim America swim lesson, arts and crafts, fun swim, outside games, keep fit and movie time. One week is $265 (includes T-shirt and goodie bag), multiple weeks $250 each. Second or more children per family receive 10 percent discount. Registration fee of $20 per camper required for new Gold Swim customers only. Camp fees are non-refundable. $85 daily drop in rate if space is available. Downtown Woodstock at the Woodstock Aquatic Center 103 Arnold Mill Road. 770-5911998. www. goldswim.com.

TOWNELAKER | March 2016

Campers ages pre-K through 10th grade will have the opportunity for day camp experiences with highly trained staff on 225 acres on Lake Allatoona or at the indoor YMCA in Canton. Activities include water skiing, canoeing, arts and crafts, rock climbing, archery, horseback riding, mountain biking, little princess and Jedi camps, and more. Registration opens March 1 for weekly sessions May 31-July 29. Scholarships available. 770-345-9622. www. cherokeeymcaregistration. com.

Dance Imagination Fairytale Ballet for ages 2 and older 9 a.m.-1 p.m. daily, June and July. Hip Hop camps for ages 5 and older in June and July. Registration begins in April. Located at 119 Mill St., Woodstock. info@ danceimagination.com. 678-445-2731. www. danceimagination.com.

Elm Street Drama Camps

Kids Time Academy

Elm Street Cultural Arts Village camps are taught by trained counselors who introduce children ages 5-14 to the world of the theatre. Campers develop poise, movement, speaking and acting skills as they explore improvisation, theatre games, character development and many other skills. Sessions available weekly June 6-July 29. Junior division for ages 5-7, senior division for ages 8-14. 678-494-4251. www.elmstreetarts.org.

Adventure and Exploration Camp has weekly themes with field trips and activities for ages 4-12. Camp includes full meal plan. 9562 Bells Ferry Road, Canton. www.kidztymeacademy.com.

Georgia All-Star Gymnastics Day Camp Children will participate in gymnastics, arts and crafts, outdoor and indoor games, sprinkler time, watch movies, and have quiet time to read, rest or play alone. Children need to bring a snack for the morning and afternoon, and a sack lunch. Drinks will be provided. Sessions are held 9 a.m.-5 p.m. weekly May 31-July 29. Half-day and full-day rates available. 105 Arnold Mill Park, Woodstock. 770-516-2654. info@ga-allstars.com. www.ga-allstars.com.

Camp Gideon The Christian camp on Lake Allatoona offers Impact Youth Leadership camp (ages 12 and older) June 18-24. Discovery Day Camp for ages 5−11 is June 20-24, June 27-July 1 and July 4-8. Overnight camp for ages 7-13 is July 11-15 and July 18-22. Costs vary. Camp Gideon is in Acworth at 3545 Walden Lane. www.campgideon.com.

Green Acres Equestrian Center’s Summer Horseback Riding Day Camp Learn horsemanship and English riding skills. Enjoy arts and crafts, scavenger hunts, friendships and more. Weekly camps May 30-July 29 (except week of July 4), 9 a.m.−2 p.m. Monday−Friday. $375 per week if registered by April 30, then $395 per week. Register at greenacresonline.com. 354 Bluebird Acres Road, Woodstock, GA 30188. 770-517-5154. greenacresonline@bellsouth.net

Paper.Scissors.Cake The children’s art studio will offer mixed media camps for children ages 6-12 that include time for sketchbooks and stories, painting, drawing, collage, assemblage and more. Also available, toddler camps for children 20 months-3 years and preschool camps for children 3 ½-5. Call 404-867-1630 for camp dates. 6687 Bells Ferry Road, Woodstock. Check Paper. Scissors.Cake’s Facebook page.

Safety Town Offering two 9 a.m.-noon sessions, June 6-16 and June 13-17. Each day focuses on a different safety message: water, fire, strangers, school bus, poison, traffic and pedestrian safety. $75 fee includes T-shirt and daily snack. Participants need to bring a bike helmet each day. Bascomb Elementary School in Woodstock. www.cherokeecountysafetytown.org.

Soccer Camp Nuno Piteira’s Soccer Experience (NPSE) June 9–12 and June 23–26. Junior division, ages 9-12; senior division, ages 13-17. Cost for overnight camp $510, commuter camp $450, overnight elite camp $545, elite commuter camp $495. The elite camp is for the technically advanced academy or select player that has been playing for two years or more. The curriculum is more challenging, as is the competition for the week. Each camper will receive a NPSE T-shirt and shoe bag at check-in and a written evaluation from their coach at check-out. Camps are hosted by Reinhardt University, Waleska. 770-640-1588. nuno@soccerexperience.net.

TOWNELAKER | March 2016

Community

Gearing Up for November Elections BY CAITLIN CROSS

The presidential election seems to be stealing the limelight from our races in Cherokee County; civilians may be more focused on what Donald Trump has to say on foreign policy and Hillary Clinton has to say on Benghazi rather than on what is happening in our back yard this November. The qualifying period for local elections is March 7-11. A general primary election will be held May 24 for U.S. Senate and U.S. Representative District 11 posts, as well as these local offices: state senator districts 14, 21 and 56; state House of Representatives districts 20, 21, 22, 23 and 46; county commission districts 2 and 3; chief magistrate; clerk of courts; coroner; probate judge; sheriff; district attorney; superior court judge; tax commissioner; surveyor and board of education (acting chairperson, as well as one board member each for districts 1 and 2). The only two positions that will be elected May 24 are superior court judge and state court judge. To some citizens, local elected offices are only relevant when they are standing at the voting machine deciding which name to choose. Typically voters have little prior knowledge about the candidates or the offices they want to fill. Letâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s take a look at the jobs of state court judge, chief magistrate, clerk of courts, probate judge, district attorney and tax commissioner. A state court judge deals with cases in a certain jurisdiction or division of the state. The county is divided into three

TOWNELAKER | March 2016

*Presi denti voting al Primary* is Mar ch 1 st

jurisdictions, each presided over by a state court judge who deals with criminal cases or civil cases as defined under state law. Chief magistrates have many of the same duties as state court judges. The primary difference is that they work only on civil cases within Cherokee County. The role of clerk of courts is to maintain efficiency in the courts through organization and speed of the trials. Typically the clerk works with the chief magistrate, tracks the number of cases and manages court records. Probate judge is a position that involves responsibilities ranging from permitting fireworks displays to validating contents within a will. A probate judge works with families that have recently deceased members or mental health issues. An occupant of this position must have compassion for these families, but cannot make decisions based on bias. The district attorney prosecutes all felony offenses (crimes that carry a minimum punishment of one year or more) for Cherokee County. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I handle murder and other complex cases, advise my continued on page 80

Caitlin Cross, 17, is a senior at Etowah High School. She plans to attend Kennesaw State University in the fall.

TOWNELAKER | March 2016

Community

How Youth Assembly Impacted My LIfe BY STATE REP. MICHAEL CALDWELL

At my age, I’m often asked what sparked my interest in running for office. After four years in the legislature, I’ve gotten rather practiced at answering this one. I start by explaining that I’ve never had a family member elected to public office, that I wasn’t a political science major and that I didn’t grow up dreaming of being president of the United States. The fact is that I have always been a bit of a nerd. History has always been an interest of mine, so much so that I spent days sitting in the gallery of the House of Representatives during the legislative session watching the members just to be a part of it. The Great American Experiment unfolding before me was something I didn’t want to miss. This simplified story doesn’t give proper attention to a program that had a major impact on my interest in state government. In high school, I became a member of our school’s Y-Club. Y-Club is a program within the YMCA that sets up chapters in local high schools and gives students an opportunity to learn leadership skills with hands-on practice. My favorite part of Y-Club was a program called Youth Assembly, which started in 1946 and has provided a unique opportunity for high school juniors and seniors to take part in the legislative process. Students from across Georgia converge on Atlanta for a long weekend in a model U.N.-style faux General Assembly. The students are divided into groups: House, Senate, Judiciary, press corps and lobbyists. There is even a youth governor (and other constitutional officers) elected by the students for the next year. In my time with the Youth Assembly, I was able to be a member of both the House and Senate. This involved time in the actual seats in the House and Senate chambers debating legislation drafted by other members and exchanging legislation with the opposing body. We experienced firsthand the frustration of committee processes, the excitement of floor debates (which were admittedly more heated and exciting than

TOWNELAKER | March 2016

parliamentary law tends to allow the real thing to become) and the accomplishment of a gubernatorial signature. It was a truly special learning opportunity. Countless members of this program have held positions of influence in our state and around the globe. Other alumni include U.S. Sen. Johnny Isakson and former Gov. Joe Frank Harris. My colleague, state Rep. Buddy Harden, also spent time in Youth Assembly years ago. My favorite alumna is my wife Katie. We were both in the program together as high school sweethearts. Fast forward to today and I am doing all that I can to continue to support this great program that gave me my first glimpse into state government (both the wonders and the pitfalls). I am currently serving for the third year as the finance chairman for the YMCA’s annual fundraising drive in Cherokee County. If this is a program that sounds interesting to you or a loved one, or if you’d like to support this cause with a financial gift, please feel free to reach out. It’s something that Katie and I will continue supporting whenever we can. It has been a major influence on my life, and I look forward to seeing the next generation of leaders that it produces. If you ever have any questions for me, please feel free to reach out to me on my cell phone at 678-523-8570 or email me at Michael@caldwellforhouse.com. You can also meet me at one of my Weekly Coffees with District 20 nearly every Saturday at Copper Coin Coffee in downtown Woodstock. Thank you again for allowing me the honor of representing our families in Georgia’s General Assembly! Michael Caldwell is the state representative for District 20, which includes Towne Lake and Woodstock. He can be reached at 678-523-8570 or email him at Michael. Caldwell@house.ga.gov

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Community

Career Expo Provides Local Job Opportunities SUBMITTED BY CHEROKEE OFFICE OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

On March 24, the Cherokee Office of Economic Development (COED) will host the second annual Cherokee Career Expo, in partnership with the Georgia Department of Labor. The event will take place 2-6 p.m. at the Northside Hospital-Cherokee Conference Center, 1130 Bluffs Parkway in Canton. In 2015, nearly 1,000 job seekers attended the inaugural expo. The parking lot was full before the event doors opened, and droves of applicants streamed into the lobby with résumés in hand. The need for a career expo was identified during the COED’s biannual existing industry survey. “It became clear after speaking with our industry leaders that they could use our help raising awareness for the wide range of job opportunities available in Cherokee,” said COED President Misti Martin. COED officials knew after the event that it needed to take place again, a notion that was reinforced by the Opportunity Cherokee strategic planning process that took place throughout last year. “Cherokee is full of skilled people who would love to work in their home community,” said Marshall Day, COED chairman, “This event is just one step in keeping our local talent local and eliminating the commute that the vast majority of our residents endure every day.” A regional snapshot released by the Atlanta Regional Commission (ARC) projected that Cherokee County will lead the metro region in job growth through 2040. COED

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continues recruiting new businesses, but it also understands the value of supporting Cherokee’s existing industries as they grow. “Nearly 75 percent of job growth comes from existing industry,” said Martin. “Creating an environment in Cherokee where existing companies can thrive is crucial in job creation; it goes hand in hand.” COED officials anticipate a similar turnout this year. They encourage Cherokee residents to attend the expo, even if they are not looking for a new career, because it’s a great opportunity to see what is available in their hometown. The expo is also a chance to speak one on one with local employers and get résumé help from career advisors. Attendees who wish to take advantage of this service are asked to bring a copy of their résumé on a flash drive to the event. “We are excited to be able to provide this service for our industries and for our community,” said Day. Visit the COED website at www.cherokeega.org for event details and for a list of participating employers.

The Cherokee Office of Economic Development is Cherokee’s leading organization for business and film recruitment and industry retention and expansion. www.cherokeega.org

Thinking of Buying a Vacation Home? BY KURT & SHEILA JOHNSON

We have learned a lot from our experience building and buying North Georgia vacation homes, and we’d like to share some of the pros and cons for your consideration. Sheila and I built our first vacation home in Blue Ridge in 2001 to use a couple of weekends a month as a break from the Atlanta hustle and bustle. We had no intention of using it as an income property until we discovered that our children’s weekend activities were too demanding on our time to use the home often. We did the math and determined that even with a mortgage, the rent we could bring in would carry the expenses of the home and we would still be able to use it on the holidays and prime weekends in October. This strategy made sense for us. We have since discovered a host of benefits to having a vacation home in North Georgia. When we are ready to use this home as a summer or winter home in our retirement, our mortgage will be fully paid, thanks to our tenants. Because the home is in Blue Ridge, the commute is just a bit more than an hour from Cherokee County. Unlike owning a home on the beach, we are able to visit the property with relative ease for repairs or for our own enjoyment. Because it’s a rental property, we get to depreciate the home’s value over a 20year period, which creates losses on paper for the benefit of reducing our taxable income. So what are the cons to owning a vacation rental in North Georgia? About once a year we will get a call from arriving tenants that mother nature has interfered with their good time. This could mean a tree down in the road or a power outage. Additionally, our visits are often used for home maintenance and repair projects. Since the benefits far outweigh the negatives overall, we would highly recommend the purchase of a vacation rental home in North Georgia.

Kurt and Sheila Johnson are Keller Williams Top Producing Agents and have served Cherokee County for more than 10 years. www.KurtandSheilaTeam.com. TOWNELAKER | March 2016

Lifestyle

Turn Back The Hands of Time BY VENÉSSA LANIER

Wouldn’t we all like to turn back the hands of time? Many women, at some point in their lives, surrender their personal time to a busy schedule filled with family, work, school and community. They leave little or no time for themselves. This month’s makeover model April is a prime example. She is a wife, mother and school coach for her two daughters. She is also a part-time elementary tutor and a pastor. If that schedule isn’t busy enough, she is also continuing her education at Emory University. April never takes time to visit a salon. She told the team at Salon and Spa Venéssa that when she begins to notice gray hairs, she buys a box of color and colors her hair at home. She likes to wear her hair long, but admits that she is several months past due for a shape up and is ready for some suggestions. Due to the porosity of April’s hair, the ends have grabbed the home color she has been using. Her hair is now uneven and two shades darker than her desired color. April showed us a photo of herself from 13 years ago when she really liked her hair. While her bright blue eyes and beautiful smile are the same as in the photo, her current hairstyle makes her looks older than she is. After an in-depth consultation, the salon team was eager to create a new hairstyle for April, while allowing her to relax and enjoy an afternoon taking care of herself. First, salon stylist Ashley Henson cut off 10 inches of April’s hair, keeping the length just below her shoulders. Layers were added to frame her face and open up her neck and jawline, which also added movement and softness. Ashley also gave her long sweeping bangs to bring focus to April’s beautiful eyes. April wanted to brighten her hair and told the salon team that she likes shades of auburn. Before I colored April’s hair, 26

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a color cleanse was performed to lift out the over-colored ends. The procedure was followed with a deep conditioning treatment. I formulated an auburn-brown color with bright copper tones. She wanted a low maintenance color, so I kept highlights away from her hairline and part. I wanted her hair to reflect light, so I painted light ginger highlights through the sides. I also added a few blended highlights on top, but just on one side, so now she can enjoy highlights depending on where she parts her hair. Our estheticians worked together to complete April’s makeover. Tamara Stokes shaped April’s eyebrows to enhance their natural arch. Amy Chandler showed her a daytime makeup look to bring out April’s blue eyes, and compliment her new hair color. Amy used Aveda’s Indian Sunset Spring Makeup Collection. A peach nectar eyeshadow was applied to April’s eyelid from lash line to eyebrow and then Amy applied desert clay brown to accent April’s eyes at the brow bone crease. After a light application of honey dual foundation powder to even out skin tone, a light blush of peach lights color was used to accentuate April’s high cheekbones. Amy explained to April that we should only apply makeup where it is needed or the areas you wish to enhance. Amy applied spring rose lip pencil over April’s lips and completed the new look with a sun-kissed melon lip gloss. When April saw her finished makeover, she exclaimed, “I did not think I could look so young!” While we cannot turn back the hands of time, we can make time to take care of ourselves.

Venéssa Lanier is the 24-year owner of Salon and Spa Venéssa, which is committed to providing personalized services to guests in a luxurious setting located in downtown Woodstock. www.salonvenessa.com

TOWNELAKER | March 2016

Lifestyle

Do We Have Enough? BY MICHAEL LITREL, MD, FACOG, FPMRS

When my son Tyler was 15 I brought him with me on a church mission trip to Honduras. It seemed an inspired idea: I was seized with a vision of him forsaking his Xbox for a transformative week of caring for poor people in a third world country. Twenty of us boarded the plane headed for rural Central America. Our physical task was to repair homes. Our spiritual task was to learn and teach about God’s love. Tyler was shocked by the poverty. Forty people lived in the remote village in mud and stick huts. They had no running water or electricity. Wandering the village were dogs so emaciated you could count each rib. Over the days that followed, Tyler took me aside several times to sort through his feelings. How could we have so much at home when others in the world have so little? I was proud to see him growing up and asking the right questions, but as it turned out he was still an obtuse adolescent. On the last day, we faced a grueling three-mile hike through the steaming jungle to the work site. Tyler assured me he had filled all our water bottles. But when we arrived, I discovered only three of the eight bottles were full. Tyler had gotten lazy and just hadn’t bothered. I was livid. We had an entire afternoon of physical labor ahead. Don’t you realize we have four THOUSAND pounds of cement to mix? How can we work without water? Blah, blah, blah… I’m sorry, DAD!!! I GET it! Tyler threw up his hands in exasperation. I could tell Tyler was more angry than sorry. But I stopped and sulked away, muttering dark thoughts under my breath. I

How could we have so much at home when others in the world have so little?

TOWNELAKER | March 2016

had been proud that Tyler had chosen to come; he was the youngest in the group by five years. Heaven knows it was gratifying to see his hands finally off the game controller and wielding a shovel full of dirt. But I didn’t want to hear any adolescent fibs about filling water bottles. Our project was replacing a hut’s dirt floor with cement. Twenty bags of mix had already been carried to the site. The tasks were to carry buckets of water from the stream, mix the cement on the ground, carry the wet cement into the hut, or lay down the floor. There were eight of us. It was back-breaking work. Three hours later, we lay exhausted under the hot equatorial sun. A feeling of discouragement began to creep over us. The floor was only a third done, and we were running out of both cement and energy. I slumped on a stool. A small village girl named Amalia crept quietly next to me. Her dress was worn, her face dirty, but her smile was glowing. She was one of eight children who lived in this tiny hut. A cement floor would keep her young body off the ground at night. Tyler rested motionless, his back against a tree. His work efforts had been listless at best. But I kept my criticism to myself. At least he was here. Just when the job seemed hopeless, a few neighboring villagers arrived to help. Recharged, we resumed mixing cement, carrying bucket after bucket into the hut. Somehow, we now had so much that we could not only cover the entire continued on page 80 Michael Litrel, MD, FACOG, FPMRS is board certified in the subspecialty female pelvic medicine and reconstructive surgery. He is a board certified urogynecologist and obstetrician/ gynecologist at Cherokee Women’s Health Specialists. www.cherokeewomenshealth.com.

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Lifestyle

Rob’s Rescues

This dog’s name is Suzie. She is 8 years old. She lets you hold her. Suzie was an owner surrender. She really wanted to jump on my lap and she followed me around. She also listens very well. She is a Chihuahua mixed breed. This cat is Heather. She is free to adopt. She is 2 years old and likes other cats and humans. She meowed the first three times I petted her. I went to visit Dr. Good. I watched him do an operation on a dog’s ear to treat a hematoma. I asked him these three questions: How do you help dogs and cats? Dr. Good: First, I am a vet. I treat sick and injured animals. I get them healthy and help them stay healthy. I also founded the Homeless Pets Foundation. The goal of this organization is to rescue animals and foster them and find homes for them. Part of this organization is the Homeless Pet Clubs, which educates schoolchildren starting at 4 years old about animal rescue and how to properly care for animals. I have big plans for Homeless Pet Clubs and want to get them into as many schools, businesses, and communities as I can. I also am involved in something called the Underhound Railway, which helps move animals from the South to the North to find homes. How many cats and dogs do you save every year? Dr. Good: One thousand plus. Through Pet Clubs and partners many more. Awareness and education is key. If an animal can be pulled into a club it will not be euthanized. How many helpers do you have? Dr. Good: In rescue I am aiming for 1 million helpers to tell the story of shelter animals. The more people that can foster and arrange clubs in the community the more animals can be saved. When I was there I saw a dog that a lady had found on the side of a road and he was very dirty and full of fleas and she brought him to Dr. Good’s office. They cleaned him and called him Charlie and he will be adopted through Homeless Pet Clubs.

Rob’s Rescues

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

now has a Facebook page!

A Big, Bold Blessing BY IRENE MACMILLAN (ROB’S MOM)

Synchronicity (what a beautiful word) is the extraordinary concept of the coming together of inner and outer events in a way that can’t be explained by cause and effect and that is meaningful to the observer. CNN recently covered it in a report titled, “The Other Side: Where Do Coincidences Come From?” An experience of synchronicity can be jaw dropping, out-of-this-world amazing. My experience of it recently was not, but the result could be. A friend shared a Facebook post by Love What Matters. It spoke of blessing bags that can be kept in your car and handed out to people you see in need on the street. Blessing bags can be large resealable bags stocked with items such as gloves, thermal socks, beef sticks, crackers, candy bars, toothpaste, toothbrushes, wipes, deodorant and other items that might be helpful to someone who is homeless or in a bad way. 30

TOWNELAKER | March 2016

My friend took the concept further by suggesting it should be extended to dogs, too. A bag with a treat, an easily opened can of food or a small bag of dry food, a little bottle of water and perhaps a small blanket could provide a touch of kindness for a dog. Yes! Definitely kindred thinking. But in our rather protected, homogenous suburban lives—how often do we come across the people and animals who could really benefit from a blessing bag?—I tucked the thought away for possible future exploration. A later scroll through Facebook presented a post by Pet Buddies Food Pantry (www.petbuddiesfoodpantry.org), an organization that provides spay/neuter, medical care and food to pet owners who can’t afford it, thus attempting to reduce shelter surrenders of family pets due to economic woes. This was the post, presented along with a photo of a man and his two pups: continued on page 80

TOWNELAKER | March 2016

Lifestyle

A Night to Shine… A Night to Remember

Dillon family selfie before the event.

is. Upon entering the For one evening in February, First Baptist building, the music was Woodstock was the scene of a VIP event that made festive, the lights were national news. Trending on Facebook the next sparkly and the dresses day were photos that captured the pure joy and dazzled. The kids excitement of the hundreds of very special guests were quickly whisked who attended Night to Shine, a prom experience away by a beautiful sponsored by the Tim Tebow Foundation for people young woman named with special needs. Stephanie. She was The Woodstock church was one of more than 200 their guide and buddy churches in 48 states and eight countries to host an for the night. And Jerry event. But Woodstock has special bragging rights: and I were directed to Tim Tebow made a personal appearance in Cherokee a reception that was County to celebrate with the 300-plus special guests. prepared for those who Kathy Dillon, mother of one of the honored guests, care for the prom kings describes her family’s experience. and queens. “On Friday, February 12, my family and I had our Isabelle and Mitch Dillon waltz down the red carpet. “As we walked toward night to shine. Mitch, my 16-year-old son, donned our destination, at least his tux and his sister, Isabelle, wore the prom dress 40 people smiled and thanked us for being there, telling us to she got for her senior prom. My husband Jerry and I decided keep going because we were in for a treat. We were handed to forgo our usual costume of jeans and tennis shoes for a little a gift bag and name tags and brought into a festive room, with finer fare. We really didn’t know what to expect. food, music, tables, a dance floor, a photo booth and a DJ. “As we pulled in front of First Baptist Church Woodstock, And a lot of our friends. Friends we normally see in therapy there were dozens of people in the parking lot - which was office waiting rooms, or doctor’s offices or at school meetings. bright with twinkling lights - directing us and cheering us on! Tonight we were young and carefree, joking, dancing, eating As we pulled beneath the portico, a red carpet, roped off for and winning prizes! someone very important, awaited perhaps a celebrity, or maybe “As the end of the evening drew near, we hugged and Tim Tebow himself. Several attendants opened all four of our thanked as many volunteers as we could and made our way car doors and the cheering began. They were cheering for US! back to the prom and our kids. Tim Tebow appeared and had “Mitch and Isabelle slowly approached the line of cheering his picture taken with several of the folks there. But he was not fans and the star that night. The stars were all of the shining faces who the fans got were treated to this special night, this Night to Shine. louder. Mitch “When Mitch goes to a typical dance at the high school, he realized he was usually ends up by himself, hanging by the food table, dancing the intended by himself. Night to Shine was all about him! People were recipient of the focused on making sure he was having a good time, included in cheering and all of the festivities and a part of everything going on. I didn’t put on his show, have to worry about him at all. And he loved having so much blowing kisses, attention. He told me he liked eating the food, especially Chicraising the fil-A, he loved dancing on the escalators, and really enjoyed peace sign and the shoe shine! The balloon sword was an especially favorite strutting down memento. He says he really enjoyed his sword fight with his that carpet that best friend Andy and his new buddy, Stephanie Miller. She was was meant for a shining star for him Friday night” someone as www.timtebowfoundation.org Tim Tebow made a surprise appearance at the event. special as he .

TOWNELAKER | March 2016

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Lifestyle

Taking a Stance on Teens and Phones BY MATT NEAL

We have access to more information today, right at our fingertips, than at any other time in history. The average teenager, with just a few clicks, could be looking at anything from the complete works of Shakespeare to the migration habits of the macaroni penguin. Many teens carry a device of unprecedented power. It can do all of the above as well as take pictures, find the nearest sushi restaurant, even call Grandma. It has far more power than the navigational computer of Apollo 11 that sent men to the moon. But are teens really interested in the vast amount of knowledge available to them, Or are they more interested in Instagram, texting and looking up funny animal videos? I have a feeling Shakespeare isn’t a top priority. Most teenagers I know have a smartphone. They’ve grown up with these kinds of devices. But when is the right age to give a kid a phone? The debate rages on. My 13-year-old daughter reminds me at least five times a day that she is alone among her friends, the lone outcast drifting in a sea of happy kids with phones. The main concern is that teens will access things they shouldn’t access, see things they shouldn’t see. This is the age when they are curious, and that’s only natural. But some things, once seen, cannot be unseen. The world is too full of weird crap for us to just open the floodgates of the Internet to

their eager eyes. Or worse, open them up to the unwanted attention of strangers. At home, I found a way to control wi-fi access. My new router uses something called OpenDNS, which is free. It allows me to completely block wi-fi access to a variety of sites. Also, I am able to shut down most Internet access at night, or any time I choose. Because of that, both my kids have tablets (thank you, Black Friday). And if my little angels sneak a device into their rooms at night, they are in for disappointment. Any of their friends who come for a visit and use our wi-fi will also find access blocked to anything I deem non-kid-friendly. It’s not fool proof; not much is. And when my daughter finally gets that long-awaited phone with real cellular data to avoid my wi-fi restrictions, I will have to find better parental controls. At what age should kids get their own phone? Each family, each kid, is different. Teach your kids well, trust them, but stay in control.

Matt Neal is a freelance writer who has lived in Woodstock with his wife since 1999. He can be reached at www. mattnealwriter@yahoo.com.

What Are You Willing to Do and When Will You Do it? BY SEAN KAUFMAN

As a young man I wanted to change the world. As I traveled, I realized the world is a large place. Entering my mid-20s, I realized that changing the world was probably impossible. Instead I thought about changing the United States of America; a country capable of much more when united for a common cause. When I turned 30, even the U.S. seemed too big. I decided to focus on Georgia, the state I lived in, and attempt to make it a better place. As I hit age 35, Georgia felt more like a small country than a state. I asked myself, “What about Woodstock?” I began to focus on our community and when I turned 40 something clicked. My children were my legacy and if I focused on my family I could possibly make a bigger difference. After my work in West Africa with Ebola, witnessing a miracle on Interstate 5-75 and reconnecting with God – I realized that the only change I can make is within myself, to be the best I can be. If I am the best I can be, then maybe I can motivate my family members to be the best they can be. By motivating my wife and three children, they will have an impact on others here in Woodstock. As Woodstock grows, our impact can spread through Georgia and possibly even the United States. Through changes in the United States we can make changes around the world! Yes, a bit ambitious, but I say this to make a point. Change does not occur from the outside-in, but rather from the inside-out. 34

TOWNELAKER | March 2016

What do you want to change about yourself and what are you willing to do about it? Many of us can identify something we want to change, but most of us are not willing to do it. Imagine being able to watch someone workout and as a result of watching them, you get in better shape. What if you made a plan to diet, didn’t follow the diet, but because the plan was so good you lost weight while eating anything you wanted? As ridiculous as the last two examples of change are – so is wanting change, hoping for it to occur, while doing nothing to make it happen. Change starts with you – what you choose to see, your overall attitude about what you see and what you choose to do every day of your life. I wanted to change my relationship with God. Going to church for an hour a week was not doing it for me. I started spending five minutes every day in devotions and prayer. Eventually it expanded to 30 minutes and now is a daily habit, resulting in the change I wanted – an unbelievable closeness to God. You can want change but you have to be willing to make changes.

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

Energy Balance Do You Have It? BY JOSH KEENUM

Have you heard of energy balance? It may sound like a fad, but it’s quite the opposite. The concept is simple: balancing energy in and energy out of the body. First, let’s define a few things. Energy in is the food, nutrients, ingredients and calories you consume. Energy out is the energy your body uses on a daily basis. If you are in a positive energy balance you are taking in more calories than your body is using up. In a negative energy balance, you’re not consuming enough fuel that your body needs to survive and function at an optimal level. Today, we are mostly aware of the effects of being in a positive energy balance. Overeating and not exercising will not only lead to weight gain but a host of other health issues. But most people are probably not aware of the negative effects of being in a severe negative balance. People think, “If I’m in a negative energy balance, I’ll lose weight.” True. But you’re playing a short game. The body doesn’t know the difference between being on a disciplined diet and starving. It goes into survival mode, slowing all unnecessary functions. If you are in a severe negative energy balance, you could experience a decline in your metabolism and bone health, an imbalance of hormones and lowered physical performance. Energy balance is much more complex than just counting calories, and it covers more ground than weight loss. Achieving a negative balance will require a lifestyle change and a paradigm shift in our thought process about nutrition and weight loss.

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Here are some ways to achieve a negative balance: Exercise five hours per week. If you aren’t exercising at all, pace yourself. Try an hour a week and increase from there.

1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6.

Eat at regular intervals, every three to four hours. Eat lean proteins. You may not think so, but there’s a large caloric/fat difference between lean meat and extra lean. Eat veggies and fruits with every meal. Try adding a simple spinach salad as a side twice daily for two weeks. Small changes can inspire other small changes. Add some healthy fats like omega-3 fatty acids to your diet. Get seven to nine hours of sleep EVERY night.

Give the juicer a break, sauté your Brussels sprouts, and quit howling at the moon. Try focusing on ways to achieve a healthy energy balance. Your body will thank you.

PLAE HARD director Josh Keenum, Reebok Athlete, CPT. info@plaehard.com. 678-408-2241. TOWNELAKER | March 2016

Lifestyle

Life Balance, Realized in a Moment BY LYNNE SAUNDERS

My day started at 3 a.m. Then it was 4 a.m., then 5. You know the drill. By 6 a.m. I was back in a deep sleep … until ... oh, no! I woke up with the words, “staff meeting at 8:30!” running through my head. My dog had slept through her morning potty time and I raced to not be late for the meeting and a new intern. There was probably a prayer that began with, “Oh God….” but I didn’t finish it. My brain moved on. Today’s schedule: launch two in-house projects, teach a class, prepare for a new bookkeeper, attend an offsite meeting in the afternoon and Bible study at night. Yesterday was Monday; my weekly Grandmommy Day. I theoretically work from home on these days to watch my grandchildren … many times all five of them, (three of whom are almost 7, a 3- and 1-year-old). Some days are more productive than others from both work and personal perspectives. This scheduled, devoted and committed time is non-negotiable. It is priceless. We are going on year seven. Before my shower, I put clothes in the dryer. Laundry didn’t get finished yesterday. There was that moment to pour coffee, but not to drink it. Remarkably I was out the door on time with meals packed for my 13½-hour day. I got to the office on time, feeling like a swan ... smooth and graceful movements above water, with lots of paddling underneath! I slid into my chair, relieved. Feeling giddy that I had pulled it off, I unzipped my rolling briefcase and reached for my computer. I laughed as I extracted two stacked giant purple Duplo building blocks from my case. (It lives next to my Grandmommy chair where I work and rock babies. Kiddos see me reach for it constantly.) Who knows who contributed the big purple blocks. I felt humbled as I envisioned one of the little ones secretly blessing me. Yes, my life is full, yet complete when I realize the benefits of my choices. Then I realized that the class I was scheduled to teach was on time management. Sometimes, life is full; too full. The secret of fulfillment is to schedule things that are important. Everything else will take over if you don’t. Life balance isn’t about being perfect, it’s about cramming in all the important things that matter. Keep Making Progress! (I still am.)

Life balance isn’t about being perfect, it’s about cramming in all the important things that matter.

G O

T H E

D I S TA N C E

W I T H

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

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

TOWNELAKER | March 2016

Make Applying to College Easier – Part II BY JIM RAY

We started this article in the January 2016 issue, and would like to continue with some tips designed to help you organize your college application process. Ask anyone over the age of 30 how important getting off on the right track can be, and you may get an earful! Start the application process early. You’ve likely heard this a thousand times, but we can’t stress enough how important it is to start early. Instead of cramming everything into one long exhausting ordeal, you can spread it out into manageable increments of time. Designate an hour several times a week, or time on the weekends, until everything is done. Choose what works best for you and your family, but don’t put it off. Don’t be afraid to choose so-called unoriginal admissions essay subjects. It’s not the subject of your essay that matters, but the content. Nearly any subject can be personal, interesting, and applicable to college, as long as it’s well written. The best traits a college applicant can portray are character, commitment and leadership. Throughout every part of the process, find ways to convey who you truly are. And don’t forget that even the smallest things count; just because you weren’t student body president doesn’t mean you didn’t lead in other ways. That being said – don’t lie during the admissions process. Colleges ask for proof about everything, and eventually lies get

revealed. Save yourself the time and grief by telling only the truth. Don’t fret the mistakes. Inevitably they will happen, and you’ll notice them after the application has been submitted. Don’t worry, it’s not the end of the world; nearly everyone makes at least a few minor mistakes. However, if you double and triplecheck your work, you’ll have peace of mind knowing that you did your best. Just don’t leave large sections empty or forget to answer important questions. Understand that in the end, whatever happens is meant to be. As cliché as it sounds, sometimes life leads you in the direction you’d least expect. Don’t take it too harshly if you’ve been snubbed by your dream school. If things don’t work out the first time, it often means you’re intended to pursue other dreams. Perhaps you’ll fall in love with a different college in a more convenient location. Maybe another school will offer better coursework toward your major, or will have better funding options. Whatever the case, don’t give up; having a good attitude in spite of rejection will get you far in life.

Jim Ray, president of J Ray CPA, PC, a full-service CPA firm, has an office in Woodstock as well as virtual offices. 404-994-5102. www.jraycpa.com.

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TOWNELAKER | March 2016

Lifestyle

2016

Follicle Forecast BY TIM TIMMONS

Hair trends have become more specialized in the past year, so much so that cuts, colors and styles have evolved into hair art. In 2015, the shaggy, textured lob dominated. Pink and silver hair was a popular choice of celebs and civilians. “Bronde,” as well as strawberry “bronde,” had another moment in the spotlight — and a gorgeous one at that. Ombré and granny gray made its presence known and ornate, artistic braids were a big hit. So what can we look forward to in 2016? What hair trend will dominate? Hair color may revert to more natural, found-in-nature hues, while textures, shapes and decoration will likely be huge. Let’s take a look at what 2016 has in store for us when it comes to the follicle forecast.

Natural color hues

We will all be blowing air kisses to the bold colors that were rocked in 2015. Say goodbye to colors like hot pink, kelly green and gray. Bright or artificial-looking hair colors will be a blast from the past. Natural-looking hair color will be the new, big thing instead, as trends will be all about natural and healthy-looking hair.

The Bob

The bob will be the biggest trend. The cut’s malleability is the reason it never really goes out of style. With this classic cut, you can enjoy the versatility of your texture by wearing it tightly coiled, wavy or even bone straight.

Statement parts

Statement parts will be a big deal. Consider a look with a perfectly centered middle part or extreme side part. These hair parts can be worn on just about any length hair and will add a youthfulness and relevance to just about any style.

Next day braid waves

A great way to fake natural waves is by washing your hair, braiding it while wet, sleeping in it and shaking it out in the morning. This type of texture is going to be big in 2016. Who isn’t in love with the beautiful textures that you get when you’ve slept in your braids, and then unravel them in the morning; especially those with finer hair? Of course, if you don’t have the patience to wait until morning, you can always set the braid texture in faster with a light spritz of hair spray and a quick once over with a styling Iron.

Curl

2016 will be inundated with loads of curls. Enhancing and embracing natural hair texture with curls and waves will be big. This might mean using different products and learning to use diffusers or different sets to air dry. This also includes using different size rods and learning new ways to curl the hair so it looks effortless.

Accessories

Hair accessories, like sprinkles of ironed-in gold stars, were big during the 2015 prom season and beyond. Thanks to products like Charmsies, hair jewelry will continue to dominate. Hair accessories will be big. You will see colorful, modest, gold and even bold ones ... in different unexpected areas, such as Part Art, which lets you even dress up your part with bling! Spring is the time of year where everything blooms and is at its most beautiful. Follow nature’s lead this season and try one of 2016 hottest hair trends.

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

TOWNELAKER | March 2016

Lifestyle

Senior Sense Gossiping and Bullying BY DELIA HALVERSON

Do you remember the game we played as children called “Gossip?” We sat in a circle and someone started by whispering a sentence in the ear of the person next to him or her. That person whispered it to the next, and on and on around the circle. You were not allowed to repeat the sentence more than once. We were amazed how the sentence changed after it had gone around the circle. That children’s game brought many laughs. But it’s no laughing matter when someone is the subject of gossip. Actually, gossiping shows a lack of maturity, but it’s so hard not to pass on juicy information we’ve heard, whether we know it as a fact or not. Even if we know it to be a fact, maturity should keep us from passing it on just because we know it. My mother always told me, “Don’t say anything about anyone, unless you can say something nice.” I told my children that tattling on other children was generally not a good thing. Perhaps that’s some form of gossiping. But I did tell them that if it involved someone being hurt or property getting damaged, then it was not only acceptable, but also important to tell someone in authority. Too often, we as adults use gossiping as a way to build our own self-esteem. If we can tell something a little shady or

TOWNELAKER | March 2016

inappropriate about someone else, then we lift ourselves up a little higher on the ladder. But we should be able to stand on our own instead of putting someone else down in order to build up our self-esteem. Bullying has become a frequent subject in recent years, but it happened when we adults were children, too. Social media has made it very easy to gossip and bully without actually being face to face with a person, and sarcastic remarks are actually a form of bullying. We adults just label it differently. I was bullied when I was a child because I was very tall and thin, and I developed late. In fact, I was a Twiggy in the Marilyn Monroe era. I’ve tried not to gossip, but sometimes it seems that I have to get some thoughts about a person out of my mind. Is that gossiping? I’m not sure, but I can be sure if I follow my mother’s instructions to say nothing, unless I can say something nice.

Delia writes books and leads workshops internationally. She and her husband settled in Woodstock after living in eight states. Their children and grandchildren live nearby.

Veterans Still Fighting on Long-Term Care Costs BY CINDY NELSON

Paying for long-term care can be a burdensome thought as many of us, and our loved ones, will simply not have enough money to pay for the costs of care as we age. Fortunately the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs has a greatly improved pension program called Aid & Attendance to help wartime veterans and their spouses. Under this program, they may receive up to $2,120 a month tax free in order to pay for unreimbursed medical costs. This has been a great relief for many who have served our country and now need some extra care. Aid & Attendance, when combined with a moderate Social Security retirement benefit, can often fully cover the cost of extra caregivers in the home or for care at an assisted living community if the veteran or spouse needs more care than can be reasonably provided at home. In a cost-cutting effort, the VA has proposed aggressive rule changes to the Aid & Attendance program that will make qualifying for the benefit far more difficult and unduly hurtful to widows. Under the proposed changes, there would be a “three-year look back” that would penalize a veteran for almost any “gifts” or transfers for less than value received to the veteran, even if they were done before the veteran even conceived needing the extra care. Under the proposed rules, if a veteran has “gifted” amounts such as the IRS-allowed gift exclusions, charitable gifts and even tithe to their church, he or she could be penalized from receiving the pension for up to 10 years. As an example, if a veteran transferred a total of $50,000 over the past three years to family, charity or even certain investments like annuities, he or she could be ineligible for the benefit for 28 months and if it was the veteran’s widow, the surviving spouse could be ineligible for 44 months. If you or a loved one are a wartime veteran who may need some extra help paying for medical care, now could be a good time to consult with a local VA-accredited attorney to review whether you may be able to qualify for this benefit under the current rules, before the requirements change to exclude more wartime veterans and their surviving spouses.

Fortunately the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs has a greatly improved pension program called Aid & Attendance to help wartime veterans and their spouses.

Cindy Nelson is an elder care law attorney with Nelson Elder Care Law, LLC, 2230 Towne Lake Parkway, Suite 900-200, Woodstock, GA 30189, www.NelsonElderCareLaw.com. TOWNELAKER | March 2016

Lifestyle

Out & About

March 4

March 12

March 7

March 19

St. Patty’s Fest. Celebrate St. Patrick’s Day 6-9 p.m. in downtown Woodstock in the first event of the 2016 Friday Night Live series. www.whatsupwoodstock.com. Free community dinner hosted by Woodstock United Methodist Church at Latimer Hall, 103 Towne Lake Parkway. Drop in between 5 and 7 p.m. The menu includes a selection of hearty soups, salad, French bread, beverage and dessert. Call 770-516-0371 by noon March 4 and leave a message with the number attending. Donations welcomed to help support the church’s missions. www.woodstockumc.org.

March 10-13, 17-20

“Mamma’s Wake” by Broadway Bound Productions will be performed at the Canton Historic Theatre. Adults $18, students/ seniors $15. Tickets are $18. Thursday-Saturday performances begin at 7:30 p.m., and Sunday matinees at 2 p.m. For groups of 10 or more, call 770-720-2698 for pricing. www.cantontheater.com.

March 12

Little River 5K and Fun Run begins with a fun run at 8 a.m. and 5K at 8:30 a.m. at Little River Elementary School, 3170 Trickum Road, Woodstock. 5K entry fee is $20 for pre-registration, $25 same day. Fun run is $15 for pre-registration. For information, contact Heidi Wentz at 770-356-2562 or Heidi.wentz@harrynorman.com.

Towne Lake Business Association Thank you to all who participated in our 2nd annual Entrepreneurial Spirit Scholarship fundraiser! We would like to take a moment and personally thank the lane sponsors: Christian Brothers Automotive Paragon Accounting and Tax Solutions Five Pillars of Hope

Arts and Crafts Show at Latimer Hall, 103 Towne Lake Parkway, a block south of Main Street in Woodstock. Future show dates are: April 2, May 7, June 4, Aug. 13, Oct. 1, Nov. 12, Dec. 10 and 17. For more details, check Latimer Hall Arts and Craft Show on Facebook. Artisans Arts and Crafts Show at His Hands Church, 550 Molly Lane, Woodstock. Future show dates are April 23, June 18, Sept. 17, Oct. 29, Nov. 26 and Dec. 3. For more details, check Latimer Hall Arts and Crafts Show on Facebook.

March 29

The Percussion Ensemble of Reinhardt University will perform at 7:30 p.m. at the Falany Performing Arts Center on the university campus in Waleska. The students in the ensemble must learn to perform at a professional level and to rely on each other to perform their pieces. Free, no tickets required. www.reinhardt.edu/fpac.

March 31

Brass Extravaganza will perform at 7:30 p.m. at the Falany Performing Arts Center at Reinhardt University. Brass ensembles include brass quintets, trumpet, low brass and full brass ensembles under the direction of Harry Maddox. Free, no tickets required. www.reinhardt.edu/fpac.

May 4

City of Holly Springs Job Fair will be held 11 a.m.-4 p.m. at the train depot community center, 164 Hickory Road. Local business owners and recruiters will meet with job seekers. www.hollyspringsga.us.

TLBA SPOTLIGHT

The TLBA has launched a new and improved website. Please check out www.TLBA.org for all the new and exciting changes. TLBA’s Lunch-N-Learn Workshop Where to Be: The Grille at Towne Lake Hills When: 12:15-2 p.m. Feb. 15 Cost: $15 (lunch included) Speaker: Susan L. Morley ECE, CARES of Parent Coach Atlanta Topic: Strategies for achieving a balance in our busy schedules of home life and work.

Workshops are presented by leading business speakers geared toward our local business owners and supporters.

WE WELCOME VISITORS! Find us on Facebook. www.Facebook.com/ TowneLakeBusinessAssociation Thank you for supporting our community by “Keeping Towne Lake Dollars in Cherokee!”

TOWNELAKER | March 2016

Paragon Accounting & Tax Solutions, LLC, is a team of certified public accountants that specializes in helping small businesses free up time and put more money in their pockets. We believe that people and businesses should be able to retain the fruits of their labor and determine the appropriate way to dispense those fruits. The more we can legally keep away from the government, the more control the individual has over his or her money and contributions to society. We do this through careful monitoring and proactive tax planning. (When was the last time your CPA came to you with an idea to help you save money on taxes?) We also delight in helping small business owners achieve success by monitoring their financial position, providing education on the financial aspects of business, making suggestions to help improve their business, and allowing them to concentrate on growing their business. Contact us today if we’re a match for you. www.paragonaccountingandtax.com. 770-928-7229

SPRING, SUMMER TRIPS Set for Silver Roamers The Cherokee Recreation and Parks Department offers an active group for senior citizens called the Silver Roamers. For a $24 yearly fee, members can attend monthly gatherings for fellowship and to discuss upcoming events. Members get discounts on trips and events, and win prizes through the Roamers Mileage Club. Nonmembers can take part in day and overnight excursions, but the cost is a little more. For details and costs, call Frankie Sanders at 770-924-7768, or go to www.crpa.net.

March 11

Canton Theatre “Mama’s Wake”/Downtown Kitchen.

March 24

Social Circle Tour/Blue Willow Inn.

April 14

Smith Gilbert Gardens/Old Towne Tavern Grille.

April 28

Mystery Trip departs the recreation center at 8 a.m., and the boys and girls club at 8:30 a.m.

May 2-6

Hilton Head S.C. trip. Deadline for final payment is April 29.

June 9

Oak Hill & The Martha Berry Museum/Berry College campus tour/Bella Roma Grill.

July 6

Atlanta city tour/Six Feet Under.

July 18-22

Senior Adventure Camp is a new program that will include white water rafting, Sawnee Mountain hiking, tubing, horseback riding and ziplining. Itinerary available upon request.

Aug. 11

May 12

Funk Heritage Center/ Sidelines Grill.

Tunnel Hill Heritage Park Museum, Historic Western & Atlantic Railroad Tunnel and Clisby Austin House/ Oakwood Cafe.

June 2

Aug. 29-30

Cashin’s Sculpture Garden.

Mystery overnight trip.

Cherokee Recreation and Parks also offers weekly classes for senior citizens at the recreation center, 7545 Main St., Woodstock. Here’s a sampling:

Gentle Joints (low impact)

Meets 8:30-9:30 a.m. Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays in the aerobics room. Cost is $30 per month. Low impact aerobics and strength training class designed specifically for mature adults and individuals with joint challenges.

Zumba Gold

Meets 9-10 a.m. Tuesday and Thursday on the recreation center stage. Cost is $30 per month. Zumba Gold is a series of fitness programs designed to bring the Zumba program to the active older adult.

Tai Chi

Meets 9:45-10:45 a.m. Fridays in the aerobics room. Cost is $80 for an eight-week session. Tai Chi, which can be done sitting or standing, is designed to improve the quality of life of people with arthritis and other chronic conditions, improve balance and mobility and prevent falls.

TOWNELAKER | March 2016

Lifestyle

Corned Beef and Cabbage My first St. Patrick’s Day in Atlanta was 1993. I was confused by the pinching if you weren’t wearing green, and the questions about “Are you having corned beef and cabbage?” Corned beef for me was a cold lunch meat (a little like sliced ham or turkey), that I hated finding in my sandwich at school as a kid. After several conversations, I realized that the Irish tradition of bacon and cabbage in America had somehow turned into corned beef and cabbage. The bacon from the Irish tradition is a cured pork loin that I can’t seem to come by here. I remember my mum soaking it the night before to get rid of the excess salt and then boiling it on the day. Below is a recipe for the corned beef (which has made its way into my heart), colcannon (an Irish potato and cabbage medley which is usually served on Halloween, but can be eaten whenever you have a fancy for it) and mustard sauce. Happy St. Patrick’s Day! Enjoy!

1 package of corned beef with spice packet 1 cabbage, sliced thinly 4 pounds russet potatoes 5 scallions, chopped 1 stick of butter 1 cup milk Salt and pepper

With a Bit of a Twist For the sauce: 3 tablespoons butter 4 leveled tablespoons flour 1 tablespoon mustard 2.5 ounces heavy cream 2.5 ounces liquid from cooking corned beef

Place corned beef in a large pot, cover with water, add spice packet and cook for approximately 2.5 hours. Meanwhile, peel and chop into quarters the potatoes and place in pot, add 1 teaspoon salt and cook for 30 minutes, until tender. Drain potatoes. Put potatoes back in pot, add milk and 2/3 stick of butter and scallions. Mash with potato masher. Put cabbage into a saucepan with a small amount of water, bring to a boil and cook for 3-5 minutes, until cooked but not overdone. Drain very well. Put back in pan and add the other 1/3 butter. Stir to coat with melted butter. Mix cabbage throughout mashed potatoes. Add salt and pepper to taste. To make the sauce, melt butter, add flour and mustard. Cook for 1-2 minutes, whisk in cream and stock from corned beef. Bring to a boil, reduce heat and simmer for 3-4 minutes. Plate colcannon and slices of corned beef. Serve with sauce on the side.

Caron and Alberto Catalán, owners and managers of Papa P’s, have lived in Towne Lake since 2008. www.papa-ps.com.

TOWNELAKER | March 2016

Call (770) 852-7720 for an appointment

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Northside Cherokee Pediatrics is proud to announce the addition of a new office in the Northside Towne Lake Medical Building to better serve the Woodstock community. Currently offering back to school check-ups and physicals, our board-certified physicians offer the quality one-on-one care you demand to keep your child happy and healthy including short wait times, same day appointments, and personalized care at a location convenient for your busy lifestyle.

Dr. Shalini Shah Welcoming new patients!

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Northside Pediatrics offers:

• Continuous Care. Patients are able to see the same provider at each visit to ensure continuous and seamless care for your child.

new office

HOLLY SPRINGS WOODSTOCK

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• Timely Access. We offer same-day appointments whenever possible for sick patients.

Exit 11 (Sixes Road)

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• Board-certified in Pediatrics. Northside Cherokee Pediatrics provides excellent care to children in every stage of development, from infancy to adolescence.

900 Towne Lake Parkway, erry R d. Suite 306 Woodstock, GA 30189 northsidecherokeepediatrics.com TOWNELAKER | March 2016

Feature

Finding the Answers

to Weight Loss and a Healthier You If you have tried losing weight with no success, despite cutting calories and adding exercise, you might have one or more food sensitivities, gluten intolerance or hormone imbalances. Optimum Health in Woodstock is a wellness and rehabilitation center that focuses on a holistic health approach and can help you find solutions for your weight issues and chronic illnesses.

Food Sensitivities

Dr. Alex Jutis says the patients at Optimum Health come through the doors with a wide scope of complaints: digestive issues, fatigue, weight issues, skin problems and overall poor health. Weight issues have been linked closely to food sensitivities, so one of the first things that patients can expect

is a comprehensive health history and a full scope of food sensitivity testing that looks for reactions to 150 different types of food. The testing may also look for sensitivity to food additives, preservatives and food colorings.

Gluten Intolerance Testing

In addition, patients are tested for gluten intolerance, and genetic markers are checked for the risk of celiac disease, a chronic autoimmune disorder of the small intestine triggered by gluten. Gluten sensitivities have been linked to inflammatory responses in the body, causing digestive disorders, chronic fatigue, migraines, aching joints and unexplained weight gain.

Stress Management

Patients at Optimum Health can also expect to have their cortisol levels checked as part of a complete health evaluation. Inflammation in the body and constant stress can cause cortisol levels to remain higher than normal. Cortisol is the hormone

2360 Towne Lake Parkway, Suite 104 Woodstock, GA 30189

1-877-704-1761

Photos by J. King Images

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Nurse Practitioner Lisa Rowland, NP-C

Practice Manager Sam Kashani, DC

Hours: 9 a.m.-1 p.m., 3:30 p.m.-7 p.m. Monday-Thursday

Multiple locations to serve you! www.optimumhealthrehab.com www.facebook.com/optimumhealthrw Twitter:@OptimumHealthRW woodstock@optimumhealthrehab.com 48

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Patient Coordinator Patty Blackmon

Chiropractic Assistant JiMia Green

Medical Assistant Jessica Reaves

Massage Therapist Agi Yeager

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Wellness (Functional Medicine)

The goal of the doctors and nurse practitioners at Optimum Health is to determine the root cause of their patients’ health problems and come up with a comprehensive game plan. They believe that patient education is an important part of any wellness program. Based on test results, patients receive a personalized plan focused on physical, emotional and environmental factors. This plan might include teaching a patient what foods to eliminate from their diet (if necessary), how to recognize and eliminate stressors and how to implement an exercise program.

Hormone Replacement Therapy

Male and female hormone replacement therapy is also available at Optimum Health. Various tests are available to determine underlying hormone imbalances, and a customized Bio-identical Hormone Replacement Therapy (BHRT) treatment plan may be recommended depending on your test results. A typical treatment plan might include a customized diet and nutritional counseling, lifestyle coaching, hormones, botanicals and/or vitamins. Since each patient is different, so is each wellness plan.

Weight Loss

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Optimum Health is now offering allergy testing. Examples of allergens include plant pollen, ragweed, dust, animal dander, mold and foods. Allergies are tested by using a skin prick panel consisting of regional environmental allergens and common foods. Testing and treatment is safe, minimally invasive and easily interpreted. Treatment may include immunotherapy, which is a series of injections to build up the immune system. Don’t settle for a cookie-cutter approach to wellness and health care. At Optimum Health, you can expect a personalized health plan created just for you. Life is too short to go through it not feeling and being your best. Call today to receive your complimentary consultation that begins your customized treatment and your journey to Optimum Health.

“The staff at Optimum Health is very friendly and up beat. Their massage therapy is the best. The whole staff is helpful and very informative. The nutritional assistance is a big reason I am losing the weight and have already lost 35 pounds.” ~ Antony K. TOWNELAKER | March 2016

Lifestyle

Angel House of North Georgia Giving Girls Roots. Giving Girls Wings. BY SUSAN SCHULZ

receive counseling, tutoring, medical care In North Canton, there’s a fork in the road on and more. The girls participate in community Highway 140 West and Sam Nelson Road. Veer activities, spiritual worship, and most recently, left and before you know it, you see a brightly a job readiness program. “Through the job colored sign directing you to the Angel House of readiness program, we give the girls tools North Georgia (AHNG). The house was a foster to secure their future,” Hale said. “While at home for boys and girls, and when the foster AHNG, the girls are taught basic life skills, job parents retired, they worked with Cherokee training, conflict resolution and many other County officials to open the nonprofit in skills. Without these basic skills, keeping a job February 2006. The Angel House serves young and self sufficiency just doesn’t happen.” girls ages 12-18 with transitional living services, The job readiness program expanded in and ages 18-21 with independent living services. October last year into a one-of-a-kind gift More than 400 girls have been shop called Foster, a creative environment helped by AHNG since its of nonstop learning and encouragement. The inception. girls are taught résumé writing, interviewing, I kept thinking of the fork marketing, customer service, finance and in the road as I sat down to community involvement. The best part talk with AHNG’s director, Angel House residents Susan Worsley, and vocational pose for prom photos. about the store is that all of their products are handmade by Angel House girls. I bought director Megan Hale. I quickly a set of unique and beautiful note cards. After finalizing my learned these girls have a purchase, Mary, a resident who works at the shop, looked at me choice to make when they with her contagious smile and said, “Do you need a hug?” leave the safety of AHNG. “We “Yes,” I said, “I would love a hug!” focus on empowerment versus The gift shop porch features As I walked out the door with a full heart, I was amazed not enabling,” Worsley said. The a handmade wreath and only by the unconquerable spirit of this young girl, but by the staff and volunteers at AHNG people who give their time and talent to serve children like her. understand their time to invest colorful chairs painted by the residents. hope and love into these girls’ continued on page 80 lives can be short, so they use their time wisely. One resident wrote a letter of gratitude to the staff and wrote, “Thank you for always reassuring me of the brighter side and to always have Susan Schulz is a Bible teacher, author, wife, and mom of hope and faith in our creator God.” three grown children. She lives and plays along the Etowah River and loves serving at Watermarke Church. At the Angel House, girls are given a stable home where they

TOWNELAKER | March 2016

VS.

Lifestyle

Man

Mother Nature

An Argument With My Son, Age 21 BY ANN LITREL

In a household with three men, testosterone added pep to the daily conversation like a blow torch adds light to a gas leak. At the Litrel house, argument was elevated to a fine art. Any statement I made on any position was subject to immediate crossfire. If I made a remark on global warming, I received an immediate counter-attack naming 10 research studies that denied the theory. Chance remarks on the harmful effects of overusing electronics, or the nutritional benefits of a plantbased diet, would draw a similar offensive. As the years went by, it began to dawn on me that if I put forth arguments opposite my own, I might get feedback supporting my actual position. I should test that someday, I thought. Last month that day arrived. It was Saturday morning. I was headed out for a group nature hike at Big Trees Forest Preserve in Roswell and I asked my son Tyler to come along. I explained the group was older and might need some muscle. I bided my time until we pulled into the parking lot. Then, I made my declaration: “Everybody wants to save the environment on the planet, but nobody wants to save the environment in their own backyard. And there is nothing about this subject a normal person—

Winter Woods Signs artwork by Ann Litrel.

TOWNELAKER | March 2016

not a tree hugger— cares about.” Tyler immediately countered, “I think there‘s some argument that could work.” I could see the neurons firing as we got out of the car. Tyler Litrel. We joined the huddle of people gathered for the talk. Gray hair predominated. The guide was Ellen Honeycutt of the Georgia Native Plant Society. The subject of her talk was Identifying Woody Plants in Winter. Over the next two hours, Ellen lectured and led the group along the trail, poking at nuts and dead leaves, prodding at bare buds and twigs. Ellen was a veritable encyclopedia. She offered jewels of arcane knowledge every few steps. Alternate and opposite. Color of twigs. Structure of buds. “You’ll know a red oak from the spine at the end of the leaf…” The group listened attentively. The pace along the path was glacial. Tyler accompanied us silently on the side. Ellen used him as a kind of assistant, at various points handing him leaves and twigs, a hand lens (jeweler’s loop) and guidebooks. He stepped forward to assist a few of the more wobbly group members across the stepping stones in a stream. As we drove home. I returned to the argument. “I care so much about the environment and local ecology. But most people have decided they can’t do anything—so there’s no use making a case.” Tyler disagreed. “People want to feel good, right? One way they feel good is feeling like they’re making a difference.” “People think of nature as some place like a national park. But if somebody has a yard, that’s a piece of nature they can do something about, right?” He concluded with an efficient summary: “Native plants feed native bugs. Native bugs feed native wildlife. Wildlife is part of a healthy environment. A healthy environment is good for everyone. Thus: Plant native plants in your backyard and you make a difference.” “I think a lot of people would get that,” he finished firmly. Truth be told, I’m still not completely sure. But I conceded the argument. On the way home, I noticed we were both smiling.

Ann is an artist who lives in Towne Lake with her husband Dr. Michael Litrel and their two sons. Ann can be reached at Ann@annlitrel.com.

TOWNELAKER | March 2016

Lifestyle

UGMA & UTMA Accounts

Vehicles designed to help you amass college savings and make gifts to minors. DON AKRIDGE, MBA, CFP®, CPA/PFS U.S. MARINE CORPS VETERAN – EMORY UNIVERSITY ALUMNUS

If you want to save for college, you may wish to consider a UGMA or UTMA account. These custodial accounts are typically created by parents and other relatives who want to gift minors without having to set up a trust. Many parents and grandparents create UGMA or UTMA accounts as college savings vehicles. You can invest for a child’s education while transferring income-producing assets to that child (and their presumably lower tax bracket). UGMAs were created by the Uniform Gifts to Minors Act (UGMA), which allows a donor to irrevocably gift cash and securities to a child or teenager. The parallel Uniform Transfers to Minors Act (UTMA) created the UTMA, which extends the UGMA parameters: a UTMA lets minors receive gifts of art, real estate, patents and other non-securities assets.1,2,3 UGMA and UTMA accounts address a minor concern. You may be thinking, “Well, I know outright gifts to a minor aren’t subject to federal tax, so why set up a UGMA or UTMA? Why don’t I just gift the money or securities outright?” Do you really want to do that? You probably want some control. Most likely, you don’t want your teenager buying and selling securities—and neither do brokerages. And in many states, minors are not allowed right of contract, and therefore cannot own stocks, bonds, life insurance or other such assets. You might also want to see that any cash you gift is not spent frivolously. If these concerns speak to you, UGMA and UTMA accounts are worth a look.1 You can use these accounts to gift up to $14,000 in money or property to a minor in 2016. Because the gift is irrevocable, you are the custodian of the asset(s) and the minor is the owner. In colloquial terms, these UGMA or UTMA accounts

TOWNELAKER | March 2016

are “trust funds,” yet they are not trusts that would require the involvement of an attorney. While the minor owns the cash or property within the UGMA or UTMA account as soon as the asset transfer occurs, the custodian manages that cash or property until the child reaches the vesting age (the age at which the trust term expires).1,3 As custodian, you are not the only one who can make irrevocable transfers of cash or property into the account; parents, grandparents, relatives and friends may all do so. A sizable college fund may be built with a UGMA or UTMA account, whether the assets are held in cash or invested. When the account owner reaches “maturity,” he or she may spend that money for college.1,3 Is there a potential downside of UGMA or UTMA accounts? Yes. To repeat, you are the custodian, the minor is the owner. When that minor becomes a legal adult, the account terminates and the account owner gets to spend the funds as he or she wishes— meaning today’s college fund could become tomorrow’s Corvette. So you do want the owner and the custodian on the same page when it comes to the intent of the account, and on good terms as well.1 Also, if you are custodian of one of these accounts and you pass away before the account terminates, the assets within the UGMA or UTMA account will be considered part of your taxable estate.1

continued on page 80

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

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Lifestyle

Consign ment Sales

Step into your most comfortable shoes, fill up your gas tank and head out into Cherokee and neighboring counties with this guide to help you find bargains on gently-used children’s clothes and toys. Feb. 25-27

March 4-5

Green With Envy Times: 9 a.m.-6 p.m. Friday, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday Location: Lakewood 400 Antiques Market, 1321 Atlanta Highway (Highway 9), Cumming Info: www.greenwithenvykids.com

Roswell UMC Times: 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Friday, 8 a.m.-noon Saturday Location: Roswell UMC, 814 Mimosa Blvd. Info: www.roswellumc.org/rumck

All 4 Kids Woodstock Times: 9:30 a.m.-8 p.m. Thursday, 9 a.m.-6 p.m. Friday, 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Saturday Location: His Hands Church, 550 Molly Lane, Woodstock Info: http://all4kids.com

Feb. 26-27

Wildwood Kidz-Sense Times: 9 a.m.-7 p.m. Friday, 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Saturday Location: Wildwood Baptist Church, 4801 Wade Green Road, Acworth Info: www.kidzsense.org

Feb.28 - March 5

Rhea Lana’s of North Atlanta Times: noon-7 p.m. Sunday, 10 a.m.-8 p.m. Monday-Wednesday and Friday, 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Thursday and 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday Location: 1181 Hammond Drive NE, Atlanta Info: www.northatlanta.rhealana.com

March 3-5

Cumming First UMC Times: 8:30 a.m.-1 p.m., 5-8 p.m. Thursday, 8:30 a.m.-1 p.m. Friday, 8:30 a.m.-1 p.m. Saturday Location: Cumming First UMC, 770 Canton Highway Info: http://cfumcga.com/kids-consignment-sale/ All 4 Kids Cobb County Fairgrounds Times: 9:30 a.m.-8 p.m. Thursday, 9 a.m.-6 p.m. Friday, 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Saturday Location: Cobb County Fairgrounds, Jim Miller Park buidlings A, B and the Equestrian Center Info: http://all4kids.com Due West Treasure Chest Times: 9:30 a.m.-7.p.m. Thursday, 9:30 a.m.-6 p.m. Friday, 8 a.m.-noon Saturday Location: 3965 Due West Road, Marietta Info: www.duewest.org

March 4-5

Born Again Blessings Times: 9 a.m.-7 p.m. Friday, 9 a.m.-noon Saturday Location: Riverstone Church, 2005 Stilesboro Road NW, Marietta Info: www.bornagainblessings.com 56

TOWNELAKER | March 2016

CCC MOPS Times: 9:30 a.m.-7 p.m. Friday, 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Saturday Location: Cumberland Community Church, 3110 Sports Ave., Smyrna Info: www.cccmopssale.com

March 10-12

All 4 Kids Roswell Times: 9:30 a.m.-8 p.m. Thursday, 9 a.m.-6 p.m. Friday, 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Saturday Location: Roswell Town Center, 5000 Commerce Parkway, Roswell Info: www.all4kids.com

March 11-12

Lil’ Blessings Times: 9 a.m.-7 p.m. Friday, 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Saturday Location: Kennesaw First Baptist Church, 2958 North Main St. Info: ww.kfbc.org Angel’s Attic Times: 8 a.m.-1 p.m. and 5-8 p.m. Friday, 8 a.m.-1 p.m. Saturday Location: John’s Creek UMC, 11180 Medlock Bridge Road Info: www.johnscreekumc.org

March 12

Tots to Tweens Times: 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Location: Sandy Plains Baptist Church, 2825 Sandy Plains Road, Marietta Info: www.nowamom.org

March 18-19

Canton First Baptist Kids Sale Times: 9 a.m.-7 p.m. Friday, 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday Location: Canton First Baptist Church, 1 Mission Point Info: www.fbckidssale.com All 4 Kids East Cobb/Marietta Times: 9:30 a.m.-8 p.m. Friday, 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Saturday Location: Mt. Paran North Church of God, 1700 Allgood Road, Marietta Info: http://all4kids.com

April 15-16

Clothing Kids for the Kingdom Hours: 9 a.m.-9 p.m. Friday, 8 a.m.-noon Saturday Location: Summit Baptist Church, 4310 Moon Station Lane, Acworth Info: www.summitchurch.org

At the Library www.SequoyahRegionalLibrary.org Tuesdays

Rose Creek - 770-591-1491

Knitting/crocheting group with Mrs. Darlene, 1-3 p.m. Bring needles and yarn. No registration or prior knowledge required.

Wednesdays

Scribble & Scrabble weekly 2-4 p.m. Play a game of Scrabble or color a picture. All materials will be provided, and all skill levels welcome.

Second Thursday

Library Bingo book club is a new kind of book club, meeting 10:3011:30 a.m. or 4:30-5:30 p.m., that lets participants decide what to read and when. Come discuss the book you read for the month. Attending meetings is not mandatory to be a member. New members always welcome. For more information, call 770-591-1491.

March 2

Lap Sit Storytime at 10:30 a.m. Designed for children ages 1-3 to learn about the story time experience and encourage early literacy by including books, songs, rhymes and physical activity. Children must be accompanied by a participating adult.

March 9, 16, 23, 30

Reading Dogs: Children 6 years of age and older can read to a nonjudgmental, furry listener who won’t laugh if mistakes are made or the reader stumbles. Parents can register their child for a 10-15 minute program two weeks ahead for one session by calling their library. Children are asked to select their own reading material before their scheduled session. Call your library to reserve your spot for one of the Reading Dog programs.

March 7

Pre-Pie Day celebration at 4 p.m. Learn about Pie and PI (that’s math) with Lauren Bolden from Woodstock’s PIE BAR. For more information, contact 770-591-1491.

Mondays

Woodstock - 770-926-5859

Coloring for age 16 and older, 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Materials provided.

Tuesdays

Tutoring provided by teachers and volunteers 6-7 p.m. from Woodstock Elementary upstairs in the children’s department, where they help children struggling with homework, projects and school assignments.

March 2-3

Family story time at 10:30 a.m. March 2 and 3:30 p.m. March 3 for families with children of all ages. Programs feature stories, finger-plays, flannel boards, music, a free craft activity and a take-home sheet to continue literacy activities at home. Children must be accompanied by a participating adult.

March 8

Pirate Pals for ages 3-8 at 4 p.m. includes playing pirate games, making a craft, and hearing a pirate tale. Space is limited. Registration required.

March 9, 16, 23, 30

Library Locations: R.T. Jones, 116 Brown Industrial Parkway, Canton. Hickory Flat, 2740 East Cherokee Drive, Canton. Rose Creek, 4476 Towne Lake Parkway, Woodstock. Woodstock, 7735 Main St., Woodstock. Ball Ground, 435 Old Canton Road, Ball Ground. TOWNELAKER | March 2016

Lifestyle

Becoming An Actor: Body and Voice BY JESSICA LEIGH SMITH

I have shared most of what you need to know to get started in the acting business. Now I want to talk about what it takes to sustain a career. One of the most important things you can do is take classes and always be learning. However, while acting training is important, you also need what we call body and voice technique. It’s logical if you think about it: if you want to play any instrument, you have to practice daily. If you want to play any sport, you have to practice that sport daily. In acting, your instruments are your body and your voice. You don’t have to be “Hollywood skinny,” but you do need to feel strong in your body. Stamina allows you to spend long hours on set or on stage. A strong core will give your voice power. And regular cardio exercise will build lung capacity. You also need to care for your voice. You may want to cut down on harmful foods like dairy, which causes excess phlegm in your throat. Cutting out excess sugar will help keep your skin clear for close-ups (the make-up artists will thank you). Regular vocal exercises will keep your voice strong and clear so you can be understood. Also, consider reducing or eliminating any dialect you may naturally speak. I am certainly biased, but I do believe the Southern dialect is the most beautiful in all of America. However, if you speak

TOWNELAKER | March 2016

with a Southern dialect and cannot lose it on command, you will be limiting yourself to only Southern roles. However, if you can speak with a non-regional dialect, you will open up acting possibilities. There are many ways you can work out your acting muscles. For body, get into or maintain a strong exercise regimen. It also can be helpful to start something new. For example, test your body with a dance class. If you’re a dancer, get into a softball league. Open your body up to new movements so you know what you are capable of doing. Google “acting vocal” and you will find warm ups, exercises and techniques. If you want to work on a non-regional dialect, find a dialect coach who can give you daily workouts and teach you the correct sounds. And best of all, you can join an actual body and voice type class. You will connect with others who are serious enough about this career to do whatever it takes to succeed.

Jessica Leigh Smith lives in Cherokee County with her family. Jessica is also an actress and producer. JessicaLeighSmith.com and Facebook.com/NotFinishedInc.

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TOWNELAKER | March 2016

Lifestyle Casual and Upscale Dine-In Restaurants

Cheeseburger Bobby’s, 2295 Towne Lake Parkway 678-494-3200, cheeseburgerbobbys.com

CUISINE American

BKFST LUNCH DINNER SUNDAYS SPIRITS no

open

Chili’s Bar & Grill, 1460 Towne Lake Parkway American no $ $-$$ open full bar 770-592-7676, chilis.com China Fun, 1075 Buckhead Crossing 770-926-2671, chinafun88.com

RESERV. no call ahead seating

Chinese

$-$$

open

Soup/Salad/ Sandwiches

open

American Irish

open

full bar

Mexican

$-$$

open

full bar

Family Tradition, 4379 Towne Lake Parkway 770-852-2885, familytradition.net

Homestyle Cooking

closed

GameDay Fresh Grill, 2990 Eagle Drive 770-693-6754, gamedayfresh.com

American/Burgers

open

full bar

yes

Thai/Sushi/ Chinese

open

full bar

yes

JD’s Barbeque, 6557 Bells Ferry Road 678-445-7730, jdsbbq.com

Barbeque

$-$$

open

Jersey’s Sports Bar, 6426 Bells Ferry Road 770-790-5740

American

open

full bar

yes

Johnny’s Pizza, 1105 Parkside Lane 770-928-9494, johnnyspizza.com

Pizza/Pasta/ Salad

$-$$

open

full bar

Kani House, 2455 Towne Lake Parkway 770-592-5264, kanihouse.com

Japanese Steak/Sushi

$-$$

$$-$$$

open

full bar

yes

Mexican

open

full bar

Corner Bistro, 2360 Towne Lake Parkway 770-924-1202, cornerbistrotl.com Donovan’s Irish Cobbler, 1025 Rose Creek Drive 770-693-8763, donovansirishcobbler.com El Ranchero, 1025 Rose Creek Drive 770-516-6616

Izumi Asian Bistro, 2035 Townelake Parkway 678-238-1899, iloveizumi.com

La Parrilla, 1065 Buckhead Crossing 770-928-3606, laparrilla.com

LongHorn, 1420 Towne Lake Parkway Steakhouse no $ $$ open full bar 770-924-5494, longhornsteakhouse.com

call ahead seating

Marco’s Pizza, 2068 Eagle Drive 678-213-2100, marcos.com

Pizza/Pasta/ Salad

$-$$

open

beer/wine

Mellow Mushroom, 2370 Towne Lake Parkway 770-591-3331, mellowmushroom.com

Pizza/Pasta/ Salad

$-$$

open

beer/wine

NY Style Deli & Pizza, 2340 Towne Lake Parkway, 678-426-7004

Pizza/Subs/ Bakery

$-$$

open

Bakery/Soups/ Sandwiches

$-$$

open

Panera Bread, 2625 Towne Lake Parkway 678-813-4809, panerabread.com

*Papa P’s, 2295 Towne Lake Parkway

Mexican/Irish see ad pg. 8 770-592-3100, papa-ps.com Peking & Tokyo, 200 Parkbrooke Drive 770-591-8858, pekingandtokyo.com Song’s Garden, 4451 Towne Lake Parkway 770-928-8387, songsgarden.com

Sat.&Sun. $ $ open full bar brunch

large groups call ahead

Chinese/Japanese

$-$$

open

beer/wine

Chinese

$-$$

open

The Grille at Towne Lake, 1003 Towne Lake Hills Golf Club 770-592-9969

American $ $ $-$$ open full bar Casual

The Place, 1105 Parkside Lane 770-928-8901, theplacebargrill.com

Bar/Grill

$-$$

open

full bar

Italian

$-$$

$$-$$$

open

full bar

10+

Tuscany, 250 Cinema View Drive 678-453-0888, mytuscanyrestaurant.com

TOWNELAKER | March 2016

special events

* Denotes Advertiser

RESTAURANT

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

Towne Lake Area Dining Guide

TOWNELAKER | March 2016

Health & Wellness

Are Your Teeth Really Clean After Brushing? BY DR. SCOTT R. HARDEN

Most of us understand the importance of brushing daily, after being reminded by our dentist and our parents for as long as we can remember. Let’s take a look at how we can be more effective with our brushing. Toothbrushes should be changed when they show signs of wear, or every two months, whichever comes first. If the bristles are splayed outward, they aren’t effective. Many adults prefer a medium or hard toothbrush that feels firm because they think it cleans their teeth better. However, hard bristles damage gum tissue. Soft toothbrushes are more effective at removing plaque and bacteria from crevices in your teeth. Choose a toothpaste approved by the American Dental Association for quality fluoride levels along with other ingredients, and a toothpaste that is not too abrasive on the enamel. Consumers have a choice between toothpastes designed for many conditions, including cavities, gingivitis, tartar, stained teeth and sensitivity. Ask your dentist or dental hygienist which one is right for you. Follow the rule of brushing for two minutes for the most effective results. Here’s a guide to help you reach the twominute mark: Spend 10 seconds on each area of your mouth by starting with the outside of your upper teeth. Brush the back right, the front and the back left, spending 10 seconds in each

To properly brush your teeth, use short, gentle strokes and pay extra attention to the gum line, hard-toreach back teeth and areas around fillings, crowns or other restorations.

TOWNELAKER | March 2016

area. Then, move to the inside of the upper teeth. Repeat the process on the lower teeth. To properly brush your teeth, use short, gentle strokes and pay extra attention to the gum line, hard-to-reach back teeth and areas around fillings, crowns or other restorations. It’s important to brush long enough to clean the grooves of your teeth. Bacteria can collect in the grooves, which are smaller than even one toothbrush bristle. Therefore, bacteria can remain undisturbed, populate and ultimately cause a cavity despite excellent brushing. The destructive component that causes decay is acid, which is produced by food debris and sugar on teeth, resulting in bacterial fermentation. If you have cavities, are your teeth clean after brushing? If you haven’t had a professional cleaning in a while and you have tartar on your teeth, are they clean after brushing? The answer is no to both questions. In reality, brushing your teeth is not very effective for people with active cavities or tartar because, after brushing, there are still millions of bacteria on your teeth. You would not intentionally wash only half your car or paint over rotting wood trim on your house. Brushing while cavities and tartar are present is a similar concept. Your teeth are still dirty and covered in bacteria after brushing because brushing is not adequate to correct these problems. Regular dental checkups are necessary because a professional cleaning can address the hard-to-remove plaque that can build up over time. Twice yearly cleanings are recommended for cleaning, and for monitoring the formation of tartar and cavities.

Dr. Scott Harden, a dentist at Fountain View Family Dentistry, has served Woodstock for more than 21 years. 770-926-0000. www.FountainViewSmiles.com.

TOWNELAKER | March 2016

Health & Wellness

Don’t Let Your Hearing Aids End Up In a Drawer BY JAN HENRIQUES AU. D.

“I have a friend who bought hearing aids and never wore them. They wound up in the drawer!” I hear this often from patients and there are many reasons this can happen. Years ago, it was common for people to avoid wearing hearing aids because frankly, they were not that good. We’ve come a long way in technology as well as patient satisfaction. Don’t let someone else’s or your own bad experience from years ago prevent you from better hearing today. Hearing aids should be fitted properly by a licensed hearing professional, preferably an audiologist. A lot goes into the examination and selection of the proper device. A thorough hearing evaluation that includes audiometry, as well as site of lesion testing (tympanometry, acoustic reflexes, Otoacoustic emissions, etc.) is the first step. If hearing aids are recommended, the professional should take the proper measurements and follow fitting procedures that will allow for the best experience. Verification with Real Ear using Speech Mapping is the gold standard of care. The proper protocol always will include a follow-up exam.

Hearing aids should be fitted properly by a licensed hearing professional...

TOWNELAKER | March 2016

This is necessary in the success of hearing aids. If there is something that you are not satisfied with, you must go back to your audiologist and let him or her know. It is not uncommon to need adjustments. Also, give your hearing aids some time. We hear with our brains. If your brain is not familiar with the new incoming sound, it will need a little time to adjust. With time and the proper adjustments, you can be successful. It’s important to remember that your hearing aids need maintenance. Hearing aids are electronic devices that are exposed to our bodies as well as the outside elements. Your audiologist should give you day-to-day cleaning instructions, but the recommendation is to visit your doctor about every six months for a deep cleaning of the devices. Store them in dehumidifying and disinfecting units that are available from most hearing care professionals. They can cost around $120, but are effective in protecting your investment and prolonging the life of your hearing aids.

Jan Henriques, Au.D. a board certified audiologist and lead provider at North Georgia Audiology in Woodstock, has been practicing since 1985. www.YourHearingLink.com.

Liar, Liar Pants on Fire! BY DR. AMY HARDIN

All humans lie. Parents often wonder if they have done something wrong when their children lie. Lying is actually a normal part of childhood. Lying usually starts in the preschool years when kids are figuring out that their thinking is separate from their parents. At the same time, they understand the meaning of the word “no.” They also are starting to figure out adults lie, too (even white lies). From about 4 years and older, kids lie for the same reasons adults do: to avoid punishment, protect against unwanted consequences, gain advantages and even boost self-esteem. Older kids use lying as a way to demonstrate power, maintain privacy and even protect friends. By age 4 or 5, kids know the difference between the truth and lying and know lying is wrong. Parents need to understand that kids who lie are not bad kids, and you’re not bad parents because your child lied! It’s normal for kids to use anything they can to get what they want, including lies. So, what’s a parent to do? First: Walk the walk! Make sure you’re modeling the behavior you expect from your own kids. It’s not easy. Next: Don’t confront your kids when you’re angry. Calmer parents are better communicators. Make sure they understand your message. Stealing is wrong and we don’t do it. Then ask why did they lie. Some children lie to avoid their parents’ angry outbursts. Also, use consequences to help promote a conscience and empathy. If your child forgets to bring home a note from the teacher and lies about it, make him or her write a note to the teacher explaining what happened. Kids understand that some lies bring attention like the Little Boy Who Cried Wolf. It’s important to show logical consequences of lying. When your kids change their story and tell the truth, make sure to praise that behavior and show them that it’s important to always tell the truth. Finally, try to figure out why they lied. What was the goal? Is there anxiety at school causing it, such as bullying or learning problems? There’s usually a motive, especially if lying becomes a common occurrence. Sometimes lying is an attention-getting behavior indicating that parents need to spend more one-on-one time or implement more structure and/or routine in their children’s lives.

Lying usually starts in the preschool years when kids are figuring out that their thinking is separate from their parents.

Dr. Amy Hardin has been a pediatrician at Northside Pediatrics in Woodstock for more than 20 years. www.northsidepediatrics.com. TOWNELAKER | March 2016

Health & Wellness

Less Stress, Better Sleep Through Dietary Supplements BY O. JULIUS QUARCOO

If your days are as hectic and full of activity as mine, chances are that getting to sleep at night and staying asleep can be challenging. That’s because stressful conditions cause the continuous production of cortisol, (the flight-and-fight hormone), which stays elevated in the body for prolonged periods. At the end of the day, cortisol is supposed to taper off and melatonin is produced to calm us, easing us into sleep. But that does not occur in people who are chronically stressed. Overproduction of cortisol is bad for our health because a lot of other important biological activity in our body is put on hold to enable all the body’s nutritional and biochemical activity to be devoted exclusively to dealing with stress. That means immune function, bone and muscle formation, digestion, thyroid hormone production, sex hormones (especially testosterone) and a host of other bodily activities are halted. In contrast, blood sugar and blood pressure are elevated and remain high as long as the stressor condition remains. Fat storage and weight gain, especially around the midsection, happens and becomes a problem. For a lot of us, stress and a hectic lifestyle are unavoidable. Often, optimizing hormones such as progesterone and estrogen in women and testosterone and DHEA in men is enough to correct sleep difficulties in most people. The problem also can be managed safely with supplements called adaptogens. They work by helping us adapt to the stressful conditions and reducing the body’s need to produce more cortisol than

necessary. These herbal supplements have been used all around the world in ayurvedic medicine for centuries with great results. Examples of these remedies are Ashwagandha, passion flower, lemon balm, valerian, phosphatidylserine, ginseng and rhodiola, L-theanine, holy basil and skullcap. Taken individually, they offer modest help, but when combined in the right amounts, they work well to keep cortisol from spiking during times of stress. Magnesium is a favorite mineral of mine, because it is one of the most useful minerals for relaxation, and it can help improve sleep. Its consumption has declined significantly because it is filtered out of our drinking water and it is missing from most healthy diets. Because of modern farming practices even the soil is depleted. Anytime your body feels tight, stiff, irritable or moody, or you encounter sluggish bowel movements, you could be magnesium deficient. Ordinary magnesium supplement are difficult for our bodies to absorb. They just sit in the gut and cause diarrhea. Chelated magnesium is better for proper absorption. Optimizing hormones such as progesterone and estrogen in women and testosterone and DHEA in men is enough to correct sleep difficulties in most people.

O. Julius Quarcoo, a pharmacist for 22 years, is owner of Towne Lake Family Pharmacy, which offers compounding and regular prescriptions. 770-635-7697. townelakepharmacy@yahoo.com.

Back Pain: Address the Cause to Find True Relief BY DR. ROB HOLEWINSKI

According to the National Institutes of Health, low back pain is experienced by 80 percent of the general population at some point during their lifetime. Low back pain is so common because the lumbar region of the spine supports the weight of your entire upper body and is connected to the pelvis, where most of your body movement occurs. Sudden and chronic injuries to your lower back can cause mechanical misalignments of your vertebrae, such as subluxations, herniated or slipped discs, and soft tissue injuries such as muscle strains or sprains. Sudden traumas resulting in immediate mechanical misalignments can be caused by slipping and falling, motor vehicle accidents, lifting, pulling and pushing while twisting the spine, and sports activities. Chronic conditions such as being overweight, sitting for long periods, bad posture and stress can cause mechanical misalignments that may go unnoticed because of a gradual worsening over time. Most injuries can last up to six weeks or longer if not treated as soon as you notice the pain. In addition to traumatic injuries, underlying pathologies such as arthritis (including osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis), osteoporosis, kidney stones, endometriosis, fibroids, spinal stenosis, benign tumors and cancer can also 66

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cause low back pain. Most of the time people will take pain medication, muscle relaxers and anti-inflammatories to help deaden the pain and go on with their daily activities. However, these medications only help to ease the symptoms (pain) and do nothing to correct the cause of the pain (mechanical structure of the spine). This can lead to dependence on medication, as well as the possibility of further injury because you are not aware that your pain (and its cause) is getting worse. While it may not seem like it, pain really is a friend. It tells us there is something not right in the body’s physiological makeup, and something needs to be done to correct the issue and prevent further damage. So the next time you’re hurting, don’t reach for medication that will just mask the pain; seek out a trained professional who specializes in the area of back pain, and address the issue early so you can live life pain free.

Dr. Rob Holewinski is a board certified Chiropractor at Towne Lake Family Chiropractic. He can be reached at 770-592-1877.

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TOWNELAKER | March 2016

Health & Wellness

Take Care of Your Heart SUBMITTED BY THE NORTHSIDE HOSPITAL HEART & VASCULAR INSTITUTE

Heart disease is the No. 1 killer of both men and women in the United States. However, through risk reduction, lifestyle changes, regular screenings, monitoring and quality health care, you can keep your heart health in your hands and increase your chances of living a long and happy life. What is your risk? According to the American Heart Association, a range of factors can raise your risk of developing heart disease and having a heart attack or stroke. The more factors you have, the greater your risk. Although you can’t do anything about your age, gender, heredity and race, there are many factors that you can modify, treat or control simply by making lifestyle changes or taking medication. • Quit smoking. A smoker’s risk of developing heart disease is two to four times that of nonsmokers. Exposure to secondhand smoke also increases risk, even for nonsmokers. • Lower your blood cholesterol. As blood cholesterol rises, so does risk of heart disease. When other factors (such as high blood pressure and tobacco smoke) are present, the risk is even higher. • Lower your blood pressure. High blood pressure makes the heart work harder than normal and makes both the heart and the arteries more prone to injury.

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• Get active. Regular, moderate-to-vigorous physical activity helps prevent heart and blood vessel disease. The more vigorous the activity, the greater your benefits. • Lose excess weight. Excess weight increases the heart’s workload. People with excess body fat, especially around the waist, are more likely to develop heart disease and stroke even if they have no other factors. • Manage your diabetes. Diabetes seriously increases your risk of developing cardiovascular disease, even when glucose (blood sugar) levels are under control. • Reduce stress. Too much stress over time, and unhealthy responses to it, may create health problems in some people. Find healthy ways to manage stress, exercise and eat right. • Limit alcohol. Alcohol raises blood pressure, can cause heart failure and lead to stroke. It also adds calories, contributing to obesity and makes it harder to lose weight. If you don’t drink, don’t start. If you do, limit yourself to one drink a day.

More information about reducing your risk for heart disease or about heart health services is available at www.northside.com/ heartandvascular.

TOWNELAKER | March 2016

Faith

Marriage Moments: The Blessings of a Lifelong Love BY BILL RATLIFF

In the beginning of my ministry, I had the opportunity to see the culmination of a lifelong love affair lived out in front of me. The couple had been married for more than 45 years when I first met them at church. He was a retired accountant and she was a dignified Southern belle. Both of them were committed members of their church. She led ladies’ Bible studies, while he served as a deacon. According to her, they gave themselves to the work of their church family when they found out they could not conceive children. They were opposite personalities. He was a quiet, stoic introvert, while she was a talkative, emotion driven extrovert. I had the privilege of getting to know them during the unfolding of a crisis in their lives. He fell ill, was admitted to the hospital and placed in intensive care. He was diagnosed with emphysema. I spent many hours with them in the hospital. He was there for more than six months and she never missed a day to be beside her husband and lover. It was difficult for others to watch her suffer as much as she did while her beloved endured a slow, agonizing

Her husband was not wealthy in the things of this world. Instead, he was wealthy in his relationship with his wife.

death. Her husband was not wealthy in the things of this world. Instead, he was wealthy in his relationship with his wife. She loved, respected and adored him. He was also wealthy in his relationship with the risen Lord. That is why this man is not dead today, but fully alive in heaven with Christ. Jesus said in John 11:25, “ I am the resurrection and the life, he who believes in me shall never die.”

Date Your Mate: Wake up your spouse early on Easter morning this year. Go to a sunrise Easter service. Follow that up with a hearty breakfast. After that take each other to a Bible-believing church where you can celebrate the Resurrection. Then do something a little on the wild side. During the worship service get physical with each other. Hold hands or, better yet, husbands put your arms around your wives and sense the love you have for each other as well as the love God has for each of you.

Bill Ratliff is the senior pastor at Towne Lake Community Church. He can be reached at 678-445-8766 or bratliff@tlcchurch.com.

God Blessed My Broken Road BY JOHN HARRIS

Sounds like a country song that you know, right? Unfortunately, sometimes our lives can feel like a country song. But there is biblical truth in the title of this article. I don’t know how much you know about I Thessalonians, a book in the New Testament, but in this small book you will find some of the most hope-inspiring verses in all of the Bible (I Thessalonians 4:15-18). Those verses are usually read at funerals in order to give hope that the grave is not the end. The church in Thessalonica began out of discouragement and defeat. In this story, God takes a hopeless situation and turns it into a story of hope! To find that story, you will need to read Acts 17:1-4. In those four verses, you will find three things that you need in order for God to bless your broken road. You must have faith in God (verse 1). Paul had just been kicked out of a town called Philippi, and now he was on a journey and really had no idea where God was taking him. He goes through two dead-end towns and eventually stumbles upon Thessalonica. It would have been easy to just go home. Many of us give up on God, before we ever get to where God wants us to be. 70

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You will also need a love for God (verses 2-3). The Bible says that after Paul arrived in this new town, he just did “as his custom was,” which means he continued to do what he had always done. What had come into his life had not broken his life. He had gotten better, not bitter! We see that he cared for people, reasoned with people, took time for people, and shared the gospel of Jesus with people. His love for God was seen through his love for others. You will always know there is hope for tomorrow (verse 4). “... Some of them were persuaded.” Always hold on to the hope that God can take any trial and turn it into a blessing. (Romans 8:28) Sometimes God has to break something in your life in order to give you something that you never even knew that you wanted!

John Harris is the senior pastor at New Victoria Baptist Church, on Bells Ferry Road across from Hobgood Park. He may be reached at johnharris@newvicbaptist.org.

Easter happens early this year, so to help you be egg-stra organized we have gathered up some fun, family acitivities to include as you make your plans to celebrate.

Hoppy hu nting! Ma rch 19

The 30th annual Easter Eggstravaganza at Northside Hospital-Cherokee will be 1 â&#x2C6;&#x2019; 3 p.m. at the hospital campus, 201 Hospital Road, Canton. Activities include egg hunt, petting zoo, moonwalks, carnival games, puppet shows, music and more. Hot dogs, popcorn and cotton candy available. Activities and food are free. Egg hunts begin at 1:30 p.m. for children up to age 3 and for those who have special needs or require assistance. 1:45 p.m. for ages 4-6, 2 p.m. for ages 7-9 and 2:15 p.m. for ages 10 and older. Registration is free online at give.northside.com/EasterEggstravaganza. Photos with the Easter Bunny are two for $5. T-shirts are $10. Proceeds benefit the Special Care Nurseries at Northside Hospital-Cherokee. Guests are encouraged to bring diapers, wipes and baby food donations for MUST Ministries in Cherokee. No glass bottles or jars. Collection bins will be available at the event. Rain date is March 20. 15th annual Holly Springs Easter Egg Hunt begins at 11 a.m., Barrett Park, 120 Park Lane, Holly Springs. Free event for children from infants to age 12. Hunt more than 13,000 eggs stuffed with toys and candy. Bring your own basket. The Easter Bunny will arrive at 10:30 a.m. for pictures, so get there early. Petting zoo and face painting available. Each child will receive a special age-appropriate prize. For more info, contact Erin Honea 770-345-5536. Egg Fest, 11 a.m. â&#x2C6;&#x2019; 3 p.m. in downtown Canton, 151 E. Marietta St. Egg Fest is a family-friendly event to benefit the Goshen Valley Boys Ranch. Free activities include an indoor glow-in-the-dark egg hunt with candy for all children 12 and younger, several inflatable bounce houses, live performances by groups from all over Cherokee County, family pictures with live animals and more. For more information, contact Oak Leaf Church 678-653-4652.

Ma rch 26

Aquatic Center Eggs-traordinary Extravaganza will begin with an underwater egg hunt 2-5 p.m. for ages 4-10. Children will search for eggs in the shallow water while ages 6-10 will dive for eggs in the deeper water. Bring a swimsuit, towel, goggles and a change of clothes. Baskets provided, prizes for all participants. A traditional outside egg hunt will be held at 2:15 p.m. for ages 1-3, who must bring their own baskets. Participants can enjoy inflatables, face painting, egg decorating, contests, prizes and a visit from the Easter Bunny from 2-5 p.m. Cost of registration is $10 per child before March 19, or $12 after. www.crpa.net Egg Hunt at New Victoria Baptist Church 11 a.m. - 1 p.m., 6659 Bells Ferry Road, Woodstock. For infant to age 11. Inflatables, face painting, cake walk and more. For information, visit www.newvicbaptist.org or call 770-926-8448. TOWNELAKER | March 2016

School & Sports

TOWNELAKER | March 2016

Students’ Novels Will Be

in Anthology BY JOSEPH LEMMO

Over the past few have somewhat finished months, you have been their novels. They are reading excerpts from currently transferring novels that my students their novels from a are working on in composition book to a class. Each month has word document. I am highlighted a certain selecting the strongest aspect of their writing. I stories to be published hope you have enjoyed in an anthology that will reading their work! be sold this June. Yawn’s There is something Publishing in Canton will refreshing about original be publishing the book ideas permeating their for us, and I’m excited to adolescent minds. announce that half of the Personally, I think it’s proceeds will go to a local magical how their charity to be determined thoughts are shaped at a later time. The other into concrete ideas, half will be used to cover then transformed into the costs involved in sentences and paragraphs publishing the book. that eventually become Beyond the stories Mr. Lemmo celebrates with Jordan Fansler, whose work will be published. stories captured in a though, there will also document on a computer. be illustrations in the Writing is rather personal, and I appreciate the trust my book that will be created by a few of my current seventh students have in me each time they submit an essay or story. grade students. Along with amazing talent in writing, I have I believe, in a way, they are sharing a part of themselves, and recognized some incredible artists throughout the year. I’m that’s pretty cool if you ask me! These teens and preteens in looking forward to seeing the collaboration between the this area are very writers and the artists. So what should you expect to see on talented, and it’s this page in the next few months? I will be sharing with you a blessing to read the interviews I will be conducting with the future published their work. students, as well as more information about the anthology. At this point We will get to know a little bit more about these brilliant in the year, most writers and artists. So stay tuned! You don’t want to miss out of my students on meeting these young authors.

Five to seven novels were chosen from 130 contributions.

Joe Lemmo is an English teacher and comedian who has taught in Cherokee County for the last 15 years.

TOWNELAKER | March 2016

School & Sports

Cherokee Teens Train for Tobacco-Free Advocacy BY HELEN GRAS, PROJECT COORDINATOR FOR DRUG FREE CHEROKEE

underwent a laryngectomy after 32 A dynamic youth group in Cherokee years of smoking and a diagnosis of County is on a mission. The Cherokee laryngeal cancer. Youth Council, an initiative of Drug Free According to the Georgia Department Cherokee, is a powerful and diverse set of Public Health’s 2015 Georgia Tobacco of teen leaders committed to making a Use Surveillance Report, more than difference in our communities. The teens’ 10,000 adult Georgians die from mission is to create a healthier future for smoking-related illnesses each year, Cherokee County by being a voice, taking and approximately 4 percent of middle action and making positive changes at the Cherokee Youth Council members, from left, Catherine Simonis, Gabi Latimer, Jasmine Lewis, Marcos Gomez, school students and 13 percent of local level. high school students in Georgia smoke A major focus for the group is preventing Jennifer Gomez and Lexie Baker. The stickers denote areas likely to become diseased with tobacco use. cigarettes. Youth use of nicotine in any and ending tobacco use. Council members form, including Electronic Nicotine Delivery Systems (also called recently devoted a Saturday to learning skills in advocating for ENDS, which includes e-cigarettes and vaping devices), is unsafe. tobacco-free policies and environmental changes that could make As a result of the YES! training, the Cherokee Youth Council their communities healthier. The training was provided by Youth combined its previous knowledge of health with new knowledge Empowered Solutions (YES!), a national nonprofit organization of the dangers of tobacco use and advocacy for change to create that equips youth and their adult allies with the tools they need to an action plan of tobacco-free advocacy events and presentations. positively impact adolescent health. “Teens are the leaders of tomorrow,” said Marcos Gomez, a Adult leaders in attendance included Cherokee County 10th grader at Sequoyah High School who participated in the resident and Georgia PTA President Lisa-Marie Haygood; JoAnne training. “We must enlighten teens and adults about what is Hammermaster, the Health and Wellness chair for Georgia PTA; happening to their bodies and to our environment due to the and Cherokee County resident Kirby Lewis-Hobba of Girl Scouts of effects of tobacco use.” Greater Atlanta. Cherokee Youth Council http://cherokeefocus.org/ The training also included an inspirational talk from local youthconnection/youthcouncil.php. resident Janice Hayes of Greater Atlanta Voice Masters. Hayes

_________________ For more information on our Passion Week events and services please visit us at HillsideUMC.org Current Sermon Series

Celebrate with us. We would love to have you. 74

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Bald, Bold and Beautiful Cameron Shockey, a senior at Etowah High School, recently coordinated a fundraiser called “Bald, Bold and Beautiful” as her senior project. Her goal was to raise money to assist Etowah and Woodstock high school families battling cancer with medical expenses and other financial needs. As part of the fundraiser, a head shaving contest was held during the Etowah vs. Woodstock basketball Woodstock’s Coach game. Students and teachers from Brent Budde gets his both schools donated money to the head shaved as part “Bald, Bold and Beautiful” faculty of the fundraiser. members who volunteered to participate. Etowah English teacher Jessica Sprecher and Woodstock football coach Brent Budde were the top fundraisers, so they had their heads shaved. In addition to the contest donations, more than 400 T-shirts (designed by Shockey) were sold and local businesses participated Jessica Sprecher from Etowah through sponsorships. To date, High School gets a new hairdo for a good cause. $7,764 has been raised.

Woodstock Teacher Wins American History Teacher State Award Woodstock High School teacher Dr. Krista Webb has been named the Georgia State Society’s 2015 Outstanding American History Teacher. Dr. Webb was nominated by the Thomas Johnson Chapter of the National Society Colonial Dames XVII Century. Chapters are asked to submit annual endorsements for teachers from across the state, and Dr. Krista Webb a panel of judges reviews the applications to select a winner. She will be recognized this month at the Georgia State Society luncheon at Callaway Gardens. Dr. Webb, who teaches Advanced Placement (AP) U.S. History and AP World History, is the school’s social studies department head and was previously named the 2011 Cherokee County School District Teacher of the Year and an AP Master Teacher.

Etowah Soccer Light the Night 5K Registration is open for the Etowah Soccer Light the Night 5K and Fun Run, set for 7 p.m. March 19. The start and finish lines will be located in the Etowah High School stadium, 6565 Putnam Ford Road, Woodstock. The entire event takes place on the school’s campus. Registration is $25 and the first 80 registrants are guaranteed a race T-shirt. Proceeds support Etowah High School boys’ and girls’ soccer programs. The registration form and more information can be found at www.etowahsoccer.com. For more details, contact Susan Moore at 770-865-6262 or smsgrad@gmail.com.

TOWNELAKER | March 2016

School & Sports

National Girls and Women in Sports Day

Woodstock Fifth-Grader Wins County Spelling Bee Woodstock Elementary School fifth-grader James Sow won the Cherokee County School District Spelling Bee. Jacob Tate, a student at E.T. Booth Middle School, placed second in the contest; Callie Goins from Mill Creek Middle School placed third. Shelby Rhoades, an eighth-grader from Woodstock Middle School, placed fourth.

Cherokee County School District Spelling Bee winner James Sow of Woodstock Elementary.

Second-place winner Jacob Tate of E.T. Booth Middle School.

More than 650 female athletes from Cherokee County high schools took part in the National Girls and Women in Sports Day, marking the event’s 30th celebration. Female athletes were recognized for their contributions in their sports, acknowledged for the challenges they have overcome and celebrated for their positive influence through sports participation on girls and women everywhere. “This year marks the 30th annual National Girls and Women in Sports Day,” said Tonya Sebring, athletic director at Woodstock High School, who coordinated this year’s event. “This year’s theme, ‘Leading the Way,’ is a nod to all those athletes who have overcome barriers, to coaches who challenge their girls to succeed, to girls who have faith in their own potential and to all those who continue to use the power of example to inspire greatness.”

National Signing Day Event Honors Student Athletes

Fifty-seven Cherokee County School District student-athletes were recognized for signing scholarship commitment letters to compete at the college level at the recent National Signing Day ceremony. National Signing Day is the earliest day on which high school seniors can sign a binding commitment to play football for a college. While football usually draws most of the attention, this year lacrosse scholarships were the most prevalent, with 12 students signing with colleges to play one of the most recent sports added to the school district’s high schools. Cherokee County students also were recognized for commitments to play baseball, basketball, cross country, softball, golf, tennis, volleyball, beach volleyball and swimming.

Scholar-athletes from Cherokee, Creekview and Etowah high schools.

Scholar-athletes from River Ridge, Sequoyah and Woodstock high schools. 76

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Woodstock alumna Ashley Saville, left, presented the Disciplined Athlete award to Ashton Sutton.

Etowah alumna Tagan Berglund, left, presented the Committed Athlete Award to Jaclyn Regnery.

Etowah High School

Baseball: Sawyer Gipson-Long, Mercer University Brian Peet, University of West Georgia Cross Country: Madelynn Reeves, Georgia Southwestern University Football: Alex Smith, Georgia Southern University Bronson Rechsteiner, Kennesaw State University Brandon Reibly, Reinhardt University Lacrosse: Rachel Kraus, Georgetown College Beth Haynes, Georgetown College Alec Drosos, Jacksonville University Jaclyn Regnery, Kennesaw State University Sean Smart, Mercer University Daniel Zimny, Young Harris College Softball: Sarah Garrett, Gordon State College Tennis: Ana Albertson, Austin Peay Nikki Gilner, Georgia Southern University Galen Lee, Harvard University

Woodstock High School

Baseball: Trevor Daniell Hillhouse, Auburn University Basketball: Kennedy Montgomery, Columbus State University Lacrosse: Jillian Chiesa, North Greenville University Celine McDuffie, Savannah College of Art and Design Jenna Carr, University of Alabama - Huntsville Jordan Gaines, University of Alabama - Huntsville Softball: Danielle Rubin, Kennesaw State University Swimming: Lauren Case, University of Texas

Roller Hockey Team Wins Division Championship The Cherokee Hockey In-Line League (CHILL) Division 1A high school Woodstock team recently won the state championship with a 7-5 victory over Lambert High School. “We had an up-and-down regular season, but were dialed in as a team and by the time we started the tournament we were playing well,” Coach Matt Hackett said. The team’s record during the regular season was a division best of 10-4 with a recorded 55 assists on its 60 goals. Senior Ryan Durkee said, “I knew we could be special pretty early on. We had such a great, family atmosphere. We all really cared about each other, and you could tell we had a chance to make a run. I wasn’t sure we would win the championship, but I knew we had enough to do better than people thought.” Durkee, an all-star player and team captain, was one of the original returning players and led the team with 27 points. The team will lose two other graduating players as well— all-star Niko Trumbauer and assistant captain Austin Clarke. With only eight penalties called against it during the 14-game regular season, the team achieved the lowest number of penalties in the 15-year history of the Georgia High School Roller Hockey Association and earned the annual Doug Russell Award, presented to the team that exhibited the best sportsmanship in the league. “The sportsmanship award is what really stands out to me. These players had a great season, they were able to go out and compete their hardest whenever we played, but they never crossed Back row, from left: Coach Matt Hackett, Adam Singer, Thomas Taylor, the line into poor sportsmanship. The family-friendly atmosphere Jake Phipps, Carter Maczko, Aidan McDonald, Drew Haling, Mariah we promote carried over into our games,” said Hackett. Durkee, Megan Hackett, Katelyn Hackett and Coach Jim McDonald. The team’s roster featured students from six area high schools, Middle row: Seniors Niko Trumbauer, Ryan Durkee and Austin Clarke. Front row: Goalie Parker Eberly. two home-schooled students and an eighth-grader.

Woodstock Girls’ Swim Team Repeats as Champions

Students performed “The Carmel Rap” for the forum guests.

School Selected to Host 2015 National School of Character Site Visit

Carmel Elementary was selected for a site visit by members of The Character Education Partnership in Washington, D.C., and was included in the conference schedule as a session for the National Schools of Character forum held in Atlanta in October. Carmel was selected because it is the only National School of Character in Georgia. Approximately 40 participants of the forum visited Carmel, including administrators, counselors and teachers from all over the United States as well as from Singapore, Korea and Mexico. The participants were treated to a group of students performing “The Carmel Rap,” a song about following the school’s four character words—respect, responsibility, honesty and safety. The guests were allowed to sit in on student-led Morning Meetings, toured the building to view character education displays and service learning projects, then met for a question-and-answer session with the Student Leadership Team—a group of fifth-graders who represent the students’ voice with the implementation of character education concepts such as topics for service projects and creating student behavior expectation videos.

The Woodstock High School girls’ swim team won top honors at the recent Cherokee County swim meet and repeated as county champions. The team swept all three relay events and won 18 of the 48 individual races, including the 200-meter freestyle (Lauren Case), 200-meter individual medley (Kailey Austin) and the 100-meter butterfly (Lauren Case). Eighteen girls contributed to the scoring as Woodstock finished with 409 points. Etowah High School took second place and Sequoyah High got third place.

Maddie Leslie (left) and Lori Forrester, CCWSA environmental affairs specialist.

Audrey Hopkins and her mother Brooke Hopkins.

Photography Winners Announced

Cherokee County Water and Sewerage Authority (CCWSA) recently announced the winners of the 2015 CCWSA photography contest. Audrey Hopkins, a first-grader from Macedonia Elementary School, won the K-sixth grade category. Maddie Leslie, a junior from Woodstock High School, won the seventh-12th grade category. The winning photographs depicted the waters of the Etowah River Watershed that provides drinking water to CCWSA customers. Both students were presented their framed winning photograph and a check for $50. TOWNELAKER | March 2016

Cherokee Photography Club

Congratulations to all the participants in the January “Bridges” competition.

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

Monochromatic:

1st David Ferguson “Morning Walk”

2nd Vicki Sellers “Acosta Bridge, Jacksonville, FL”

3rd Russ Miller “Ball Ground Bridge”

Digital Projection:

1st Naomi Shively “Under the Bridge” 78

TOWNELAKER | March 2016

2nd David Ferguson “Under Sydney”

3rd Mike Voeltner “Euharlee Covered Bridge”

HM Judy Vlass “Moving On”

Color Prints:

1st Peter Kilpo “Apalachicola Bridge”

2nd David Ferguson “Glass Bridge Chattanooga”

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

HM Kim Bates “Supporting Cast” TOWNELAKER | March 2016

Angel House of North Georgia

UGMA & UTMA Accounts

There are countless ways to invest in these girls—workshops on life skills to classes on arts and crafts to sell at the store. Foster is located at 100 Hospital Road in Canton, and is open 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Tuesday through Saturday. And with 19 girls presently on the home campus (with room for up to 35) hygiene items are always needed. For more information on the Angel House, visit AngelHouseGa.com or call 770-479-9555. The gift shop (FosterGiftShop.com) can be reached at 770-213-8738.

An underpublicized option worth exploring. UGMA and UTMA accounts may give your family the potential to create a nice pool of money for college while lowering your income taxes in the process.

continued from page 50

A Big, Bold Blessing continued from page 30

“We see a lot of people living on the streets with dogs that they have rescued along the way. Pet Buddies never has an empty trunk and tonight was one of those nights we could provide a little help. Stay warm new puppy friends!” And, in a calm quiet synchronistic moment, it hit me: here they are! Exactly the people and pets that could desperately use a blessing bag. I bet if we could get blessing bags to Pet Buddies Food Pantry it they would be able to share them with those people and their pets most in need of a little blessing. If any of Rob’s Rescues’ readers are interested in making pet blessing bags that will be delivered to the Atlanta homeless who have pets, we will collect them March 7-21 at Butcher & Bottle, 3568 Sixes Road, Canton, and the Northside Hospital offices at 684 Sixes Road in Holly Springs.

continued from page 54

Securities offered through Raymond James Financial Services, Inc. Member FINRA/SIPC. Raymond James is not affiliated with and does not endorse the opinions or services of Peter Montoya, Inc. or MarketingPro, Inc. This material was prepared by MarketingPro, Inc., and does not necessarily represent the views of the presenting party, nor their affiliates. This information has been derived from sources believed to be accurate. Please note - investing involves risk, and past performance is no guarantee of future results. The publisher is not engaged in rendering legal, accounting or other professional services. If assistance is needed, the reader is advised to engage the services of a competent professional. This information should not be construed as investment, tax or legal advice and may not be relied on for the purpose of avoiding any Federal tax penalty. This is neither a solicitation nor recommendation to purchase or sell any investment or insurance product or service, and should not be relied upon as such. All indices are unmanaged and are not illustrative of any particular investment. Citations. 1 - finaid.org/savings/ugma.phtml [1/18/16] 2 - finance.zacks.com/difference-between-529-custodial-account-1404.html [1/18/16] 3 - merrilledge.com/college-savings/custodial#tab2 [1/18/16]

Do We Have Enough? continued from page 28

dirt floor but even make a front porch. Remarkably, too, our water bottles never ran out. Tyler and I had enough to last all afternoon. It was a strange and wonderful day in Honduras. Tyler and I had partaken in a kind of miracle: plenty of cement, a floor for Amalia, and even enough water. For me, it was a spiritual reminder that we are always given enough—an ironic lesson to learn while helping a family whose belongings could fit in the trunk of my car. It was only later, as I was falling asleep, that I figured it out. Tyler had left all the water for me.

Gearing Up for November Elections continued from page 20

prosecutors about their cases and participate in each session in which the grand jury meets to provide them with information about grand jury service and assist them in their duties,” District Attorney Shannon Wallace said. Although the title tax commissioner seems self explanatory, there are many financial operations that must be handled, such as collecting property taxes, preparing the county digest, billing, accounting and disbursements. Not only does the tax commissioner have authority for the collection of all taxes and tags fees for motor vehicles under Georgia code, the commissioner is also responsible for enforcing all regulations mandated by the state. Many of these offices have similar aspects. For instance, none of these positions has term limits, which means that the same person may occupy these positions until another person is voted in to take their place. Salaries for the incumbents of these positions are typically $100,000 to $140,000 a year. All of these positions will be running for May primaries and re-election this November. 80

TOWNELAKER | March 2016

Welcome to

photo by Darleen Prem

DOWNTOWN WOODSTOCK

Ridgewalk Pkwy

To I-575 Exit 9

Woodstock Community Church

Trolley Routes outlined in red

T Dobbs Rd

Rope Mill Rd

- park in marked spaces only - parking in Woodstock UMC lot is M-Sa only

On-Street Parking - park in marked spaces only

City Center

Pkwy

Woodstock UMC (M-Sa) St

Trail

er St

n St

Mca

ar d Rd

Reeves St

tim

CSB Bank (after 5PM)

ry St

iley

Pade

Fowler St

Hicko

Reformation Brewery Fri 6:00-close Sat 2:00-close Sun 2:00-close

Wheel

Oak St

le St

T T

Elm

Map

in St

reek

E Ma

day C

To GA Hwy 140

Noon

T Park at City Center Arnold Mill Rd

Mill

ffee

Lake

Route and schedule subject to change Check downtownwoodstock.org/trolley for more info

Cham bers

Town e

Wall

To I-575 Exit 8

Mark et S t

Fridays 6-10 PM Saturdays 2-10 PM

Chattahoochee Technical College

Kyle St

WINTER SCHEDULE:

Main

Trolley Stop

T St

Public Parking Lots

Woodstock

T Public Library

Main

The Outlet Shoppes

T at Atlanta at Nike

To GA Hwy 92

r Pe

ns ki

TOWNELAKER | March 2016

Downtown Woodstock

Highlights from Woodstock’s State of the City Address BY MAYOR DONNIE HENRIQUES

Speaking of parking, there are currently Recently, I presented my annual state more than 1,700 parking spaces available of the city address to the city council in downtown, both on the streets and in and then to members of the Main Street lots. However, we have identified more Morning Buzz. This is a recap of the than 150 additional spaces available with accomplishments, project updates and a little work on our part. You should see problems (opportunities) presented in 2015. these developed within the next few The most important item I covered, in months. The parking deck I mentioned is my mind, was the construction start of slated for about 300 spaces. the new amphitheater on the site of the In 2015, the city saw the best year lower park where we held our concert for development, both residential and series. Unfortunately, construction is commercial, since the great recession about 60 to 70 days behind schedule due started. This allowed for all departments to the wet weather we have experienced A bird’s-eye view of the amphitheater work site. to come in at or under the budget for FY since the start of the project. We’ve 2015. In addition, we reduced our debt by over $4 million. decided to postpone the 2016 Summer Concert Series and are There were other items I presented but do not have space to go planning a Veterans Day concert on Nov. 11. Keep checking www. into. You can read the address on the city website at woodstockga.gov for more details and updates. www.woodstockga.gov. We have started the process of developing a plan for the City Here’s to a successful 2016! Center site on the corner of Towne Lake Parkway and Main Street. The city owns all of the former church site and the building on the corner except for Hot Dog Heaven. Ideas tossed around are a new Donnie Henriques started his community service as a City Hall, conference center, possibly a boutique hotel, and most city council member in 1999, and is serving his third term as Woodstock’s mayor. He and wife Jan have three definitely a parking deck. This project will be several years in the children and three grandchildren. making. Again, stay tuned.

CHEROKEE YOUTH FOOTBALL ASSOCIATION (CYFA)

YOUTH FOOTBALL COMPETITION* & SIDELINE CHEER LEADING for GRADES K-7*

WE PLAY & CHEER

Registration Opens March 15, 2016

www.cyfa.org

**Enter promo code “Woodstock” to save up to $25* on your regular football or sideline cheer registration fee. Sibling discount available. See website for complete details.**

TOWNELAKER | March 2016

Elm Street: Creating Memories Through the Arts BY SIOBHAN BRUMBELOW

I am a very visual learner and I am horrible at remembering things. I am one of those people who walks into a room and doesn’t know why they went in there in the first place. My husband can attest to how terrible my long-term memory really is. When I recall my days in grade school, I remember very little. There are certain coping skills I use in my everyday life, like using songs to remember facts or taking notes to remember what I wrote. I’m sure we all have something we remember from school: a special guest speaker or musical performance, a team activity or competition, a failed science project or a winning one. Whatever the memory, it is a memory and it sticks out in your mind because it mattered to you. It made you feel something and grow an attachment to it or it had such an effect on you, it made you who you are today. I enjoy being creative. I like to sing, I like to write, I like to paint, and I believe those personal attributes can be connected to my educational experiences growing up. One thing I am extremely passionate about is theater. As the education manager of Elm Street Cultural Arts Village, I aim to provide creative opportunities that may or may not be available to children in Cherokee County. Arts education places a high value on personal insight and individual achievement and benefits both the student and society, gradually building literacy and reasoning while developing forms of expression and communication. With arts education in mind, I developed a touring troupe in 2007, now called RepTouR, that would provide students and schools an interactive and creative performance for little to no fee. RepTouR has inspired more than 40,000 students to expand their knowledge of literature and creative writing, and encouraged them to apply these skills through self-expression in new media. With the removal of the arts from classrooms, I feel it is necessary as a cultural arts organization to provide opportunities to educate our community. RepTouR Tales is the community’s opportunity to witness this beloved touring troupe in action. This show will contain Dr. Seuss’ “The Cat in the Hat,” “One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish,” and the troupe’s own wacky version of “Rumpelstiltskin.” The performance will also feature improvised stories created and written by our audience. RepTouR Tales takes place March 12-13 and is family-friendly. We hope to encourage and impact our audiences by making creative memories together.

Arts education places a high value on personal insight and individual achievement...

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

CITY CENTER • WOODSTOCK

MAR 12 & 13 Sat/Sun @ 2:00pm

Call or visit us on the web to learn about our

SUMMER CAMPS

Write, Produce, and Perform your show in one week!

ELMSTREETARTS.ORG 678.494.4251 TOWNELAKER | March 2016

Downtown Woodstock

Friday Night Live Returns to Woodstock BY KYLE BENNETT

In 2007, the Friday Night Live series was started by downtown merchants to give people a chance to visit shops on a Friday night. Folks who work 9-to-5 jobs may find it difficult to visit their favorite Woodstock stores, and staying open late on Friday nights gives them a chance to shop. The event was by no means an instant success. It started small with three stores staying open late, but the merchants didn’t give up and kept working to grow the event. Slowly other merchants started staying open late as well, the idea to have a monthly theme was adopted, live music was booked for the sidewalks and Main Street Woodstock stepped in to handle the organization. With everyone’s hard work, Friday Night Live has become one of the most popular events downtown. One of my favorite times of the year is when we announce the Friday Night Live schedule for the upcoming year. Here is the 2016 lineup.

The Downtown Buzz is held at the Chambers at City Center (8534 Main Street) on the last Friday of the month and begins at 8 a.m. unless otherwise noted.

Date: March 25 Topic: Woodstock Public Safety For more information on the Downtown Buzz program or to suggest a topic for consideration, please contact Mitzi at 770-592-6056 • downtownwoodstock.org/downtown-buzz Business, individual and non-profit memberships are available

• March 4: St. Patty’s Fest. Celebrate St. Patrick’s Day as we kick off the 2016 Friday Night Live series. • April 1: Roaring ’20s Night. Travel back in time to the 1920s as the spirit of the Roaring ’20s is celebrated. • May 6: Super Hero Night. Time to celebrate all things superhero related, be it Superman, Batman or the Avengers. • June 3: Havana Night. Will be filled with Samba music, dancing, cigars and the spirit of Havana. • July 1: Dog Days of Summer. Find relief from the dog days and bring your dogs for several dog-related contests. It will truly be going to the dogs on this night! • Aug. 5: Downtown Carnival. A night with clowns, street performers, games and live music. • Sept. 2: ’50s Night. Wear your best style from the 1950s, from slicked back hair to poodle skirts. • Oct. 7: Oktoberfest. Celebrate Oktoberfest by grabbing a brew with your friends and enjoying the evening. • Nov. 4: Hollywood Night. Celebrate all things Hollywood at this Friday Night Live. • Dec. 2: Christmas in Downtown. The spirit of Christmas can be found at Christmas on Main. Perfect chance to Christmas shop and have some fun at the same time. The 2016 Friday Night Live series is presented by Reformation Brewery on the first Friday of each month, March-December, 6-9 p.m. For more info visit VisitWoodstockGA.com or call 770-924-0406.

Kyle Bennett is the director of tourism for the Woodstock Downtown Development Authority. He can be reached at kbennett@woodstockga.gov.

TOWNELAKER | March 2016

DOWNTOWN WOODSTOCK DINING GUIDE RESTAURANT CUISINE BREAKFAST LUNCH DINNER SUNDAY SPIRITS RESERV. Canyons American no $ $ open Beer/Wine no 335 Chambers St. 678-494-8868 canyonsburgercompany.com Century House Tavern Modern no $$ $$$ open Full bar 8 persons + 125 E Main St. 770-693-4552 American centuryhousetavern.com Fire Stone Wood-fired no $$ $$$ open Full bar yes 120 Chambers St. Pizza & Grill 770-926-6778 firestonerestaurants.com Freight Kitchen & Tap Southern Sat./Sun. $$ $$$ open Full bar no 251 E Main St. 770-924-0144 Brunch freightkitchen.com Habanero’s Taqueria Mexican no $ $-$$ open Full bar yes 9550 Main St. 678-498-8243 Hot Dog Heaven American no $ no open no no 8588 Main St. 770-591-5605 Ice Martini & Sushi Bar Tapas/Sushi no Fri./Sat. $$ open Full bar yes 380 Chambers St. only 770-672-6334 icemartinibar.com Ipps Pastaria & Bar Italian no $$ $$ open Full bar no 8496 Main St. 770-517-7305 ippspastaria.com J Christopher’s Diner $-$$ $-$$ no open no Weekends 315 Chambers St. only 770-592-5990 jchristophers.com J Miller’s Smokehouse BBQ & no $-$$ $-$$ open Beer no 150 Towne Lake Pkwy. Southern 770-592-8295 Sandwiches jmillerssmokehouse.com Magnolia Thomas Southern Sunday no $$$$ open Beer/Wine yes 108 Arnold Mill Rd. Brunch 678-445-5789 magnoliathomas.com Pure Taqueria Mexican Sat./Sun. $$ $$ open Full bar 6 persons+ 405 Chambers St. Brunch 770-952-7873 puretaqueria.com/woodstock Reel Seafood Seafood Sunday $$ $$-$$$ open Full bar yes 8670 Main St. Brunch 770-627-3006 Salt Factory Pub Gastropub no $$ $$-$$$ open Full bar no 8690 Main St. 678-903-6225 Tea Leaves & Thyme English no $$ no closed no yes 8990 Main St. 770-516-2609 Tea room tealeavesandthyme.com Truck & Tap 8640 Main St. 770-702-1670 truckandtap.com

Variety of Food trucks

$-$$

open

Craft Beer

Village Market & Cafe 490 Chambers St. 678-831-2707 Vingenzo’s 105 E Main St. 770-924-9133 vingenzos.com

American European

$-$$

open

Beer/Wine

limited

Italian

$$$

closed

Full bar

yes

TOWNELAKER | March 2016

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

Casual and Upscale Dine-In Restaurants

Reference

TOWNE LAKE AREA HOMES SOLD IN JANUARY Towne Lake Sales for January 2016 (A sampling of sales as space would allow) List Price

Address

Subdivision

$207,750 $169,900 $209,900 $210,000 $224,900 $278,000 $315,000 $215,000 $249,000 $444,500 $145,000 $278,000 $139,900

242 Ashland Drive 3012 Lexington Avenue 402 Mount Vernon Court 201 Rattler Court 251 Old Tassel Court 304 Mill Spring Court 7031 Hunters Ridge 3611 Broken Arrow Drive 1311 Cobblestone Lane 515 Deer Run Way 139 Williamsburg Lane 516 Philadelphia Lane 387 Walnut Drive

Brookshire Centennial Place Centennial Place Deer Run Deer Run Deer Run Deer Run Eagle Watch Eagle Watch Eagle Watch Independence Walk Independence Walk Magnolia Walk

Beds Baths Yr Built 3 4 4 4 3 4 4 4 5 5 3 4 3

2.5 2.5 2.5 2.5 2.5 2.5 2.5 3 3.5 4.5 2.5 4.5 2

2001 1994 1995 1995 1996 1998 1997 1988 1990 1991 1989 1989 1987

Days on Sales Price Market 61 25 2 155 78 20 29 22 39 376 3 9 88

$208,500 $163,000 $209,000 $205,000 $204,000 $280,000 $308,750 $210,000 $246,000 $415,000 $145,000 $278,000 $139,900

$$/sq ft $104.46 $76.31 $98.96 $94.64 $86.00 $111.33 $101.53 $96.95 $86.68 $87.85 $100.35 $66.25 $112.10

See all the photos and details of these sold listings at http://TLJAN2016.KurtandSheilaTeam.com $116,900 $179,900 $197,500 $198,500 $200,000 $250,000 $269,000 $274,900 $435,000 $244,900 $165,000 $269,900 $238,600 $263,600 $320,000 $235,000 $250,000

426 Dockside Cove 395 Rose Creek Place 502 Bay Leaf Lane 3029 Clove Tree Lane 1300 Crooked Branch Trail 719 Rosedale Road 305 Jasmine Court 1133 Arborhill Drive 1029 Towne Lake Hills E 209 Wind Ship Lane 704 Lake Point Drive 305 Mainsail Lane 1001 Ashfern Walk 674 Briarleigh Way 3008 High Vista Walk 1410 Winterberry Ridge Circle 1017 Deer Hollow Drive

None Rose Creek Spicers Grove Spicers Grove The Arbors The Arbors The Arbors The Arbors Towne Lake Hills East Township Place Victoria Downs Victoria Downs Waterford Wellesley Wellesley Wyngate Wyngate

#DIV/0!

TOWNELAKER | March 2016

3 3 4 4 4 4 4 6 5 5 3 4 5 4 5 5 4

2.5 2 2.5 3 2.5 2.5 2.5 3.5 4.5 3.5 2.5 2.5 3.5 3 3.5 2.5.5 2.5

1993 1991 1997 1996 1990 1990 1993 1990 1993 1996 1992 1987 1995 1997 1994 1993 1994

18 4 7 7 53 3 20 61 157 7 155 25 5 62 88 122 34

$96,000 $178,000 $190,000 $197,250 $168,000 $250,000 $272,000 $263,000 $430,000 $255,000 $158,500 $259,200 $238,000 $245,874 $317,000 $228,000 $240,000

$36.61 $121.01 $74.42 $86.70 $82.60 $72.17 $106.75 $69.87 $102.58 $93.54 No Data $87.39 $49.44 $93.28 $74.34 $81.08 $89.55

GREENPRINTS TRAIL SYSTEM WOODSTOCK, GA

Sources: City of Woodstock, Esri, HERE, DeLorme, TomTom, Intermap, increment P Corp., GEBCO, USGS, FAO, NPS, NRCAN, GeoBase, IGN, Kadaster NL, Ordnance Survey, Esri Japan, METI, Esri China (Hong Kong), swisstopo, MapmyIndia, ÂŠ OpenStreetMap contributors, and the GIS User Community

Noonday Creek Trail - This 1.43 mile paved trail begins at Market Street in Downtown Woodstock one block west of Main Street.

It continues downhill toward Noonday Creek where it intersects with Towne Lake Pass Trail and the bridge to Woofstock Park. The trail continues along Noonday Creek to its current end at Highway 92.

Trestle Rock Trail - This 0.40 mile paved trail is located in Olde Rope Mill Park and is an easy flat trail on the banks of Little River. Towne Lake Pass (2016) - This approximately 1.2 mile trail will connect the Towne Lake community to Downtown along the banks of Noonday Creek. It will begin at the intersection of Towne Lake Parkway and Towne Lake Hills South. Rubes Creek Trail (2016) - This 1 mile paved trail runs along Rubes Creek and will ultimately connect into a larger run of trails. TOWNELAKER | March 2016

Reference

ELECTED & APPOINTED OFFICIALS United States Government President Barack Obama (D)

1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, Washington, D.C. 20500 www.whitehouse.gov

Sen. David Perdue (R)

B40D Dirksen Senate Ofc. Bldg., Washington, DC 20510 perdue.senate.gov

Sen. Johnny Isakson (R)

131 Russell Senate Ofc. Bldg., Washington DC 20510 3625 Cumberland Blvd, Suite 970, Atlanta, GA 30339 isakson.senate.gov

Cherokee County Board of Commissioners

202-456-1414 fax: 202-456-2461 202-224-3521 GA: 678-248-6444

202-224-3643 GA: 770-661-0999

State Government Governor Nathan Deal (R)

404-652-7003 203 State Capitol, 206 Washington St. Atlanta, GA 30334 www.gov.georgia.gov

Sen. Brandon Beach (R) District 21 brandon.beach@senate.ga.gov

404-463-1378

Rep. Michael Caldwell (R) District 20

678-523-8570

Rep. Scot Turner (R) District 21

678-576-2644

Rep. Wes Cantrell (R) District 22 wes@cantrellforhouse.com

770-722-7526

Rep. Mandi Ballinger (R) District 23

404-656-0254

scot@turnerforhouse.com

mandi.ballinger@house.ga.gov

Rep. John Carson (R) District 46 john.carson@house.ga.gov

404-656-0287

Superior Court 678-493-6260 678-493-6270 678-493-6240

State Court Judge W. Alan Jordan Judge A. Dee Morris

678-493-6490 678-493-6480

Magistrate Court Chief Judge James E. Drane III (R) Judge Gregory Douds

L.B. “Buzz” Ahrens (R) Chairman

lbahrens@cherokeega.com

Steve West (R) District 1 Ray Gunnin (R) District 2 rgunnin@cherokeega.com

Brian Poole (R) District 3 bpoole@cherokeega.com

Scott Gordon (R) District 4 sgordon@cherokeega.com

Cherokee County Coroner Earl W. Darby

Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office Sheriff Roger Garrison (R)

498 Chattin Drive Canton, GA 30115 rdgarrison@cherokeega.com

678-493-6431 678-493-6431

Probate Court 678-493-6160

Sonya Little

2780 Marietta Highway, Canton, GA 30114 slittle@cherokeega.com

Cherokee County School Board Superintendent, Dr. Brian V. Hightower 111 Academy St. Canton Ga 30114 Brian.hightower@cherokee.k12.ga.us

www.cherokeega-sheriff.org 678-493-4100 fax: 678-493-4228

678-493-6400 fax: 678-493-6420 www.cherokee.k12.ga.us 770-479-1871

Kyla Cromer (R) (Chair)

678-493-8088

Kelly Poole (R) District 1

678-895-9044

Patsy Jordan (R) District 2 patsy.jordan@cherokee.k12.ga.us

770-893-2970

John Harmon (R) District 3

404-462-4950

kyla.cromer@cherokee.k12.ga.us

john.harmon@cherokee.k12.ga.us

Rick Steiner (R) District 4

rick.steiner@cherokee.k12.ga.us

Clark Menard (R) District 5

770-721-4398, x4370 770-928-0341

Mike Chapman (R) District 6 mike.chapman@cherokee.k12.ga.us City Government Canton Mayor Gene Hobgood

770-704-1544

Juvenile Court

770-735-8055

Cherokee County Tax Commissioner

clark.menard@cherokee.k12.ga.us

Judge Keith Wood (R)

Commissioners

kelly.poole@cherokee.k12.ga.us

Cherokee County Courts Chief Judge Jackson Harris Judge David Cannon Jr. Judge Ellen McElyea

www.cherokeega.com 678-493-6001

swest@cherokeega.com

Rep. Barry Loudermilk (R) District 11 238 Cannon House Ofc. Bldg., Washington DC 20515 202-225-2931 9898 Highway 92, Suite 100, Woodstock, GA 30188 GA: 770-429-1776 loudermilk.house.gov

michael.caldwell@house.ga.gov

1130 Bluffs Pkwy., Canton, GA 30114

www.canton-georgia.gov

Chief Judge John B. Sumner Judge Anthony Baker

Holly Springs Mayor Timothy Downing

770-345-5536

District Attorney Shannon Wallace

678-493-6250 678-493-6280 770-479-1488

Clerk of Courts Patty Baker

678-493-6511

Woodstock Mayor Donnie Henriques

770-592-6001

TOWNELAKER | March 2016

www.hollyspringsga.us. www.woodstockga.gov

COMMUNITY INFORMATION Cherokee County Chamber of Commerce 770-345-0400 Cherokee County Government:

Animal Shelter Business Licenses Clean & Beautiful Commission Commissioners Courthouse Engineering Office (Traffic Signals) Extension Office Jury Phone Justice Center (Courts, Judges, etc.) Planning & Zoning Senior Services Tax Assessors/Evaluation

Taxes:

770-345-7270 770-721-7810 770-517-7650 678-493-6000 770-479-1953 678-493-6077 770-479-0418 770-479-9011 770-479-1953 678-493-6101 770-345-5312 678-493-6120

License Plates/Tags, Property Tax 678-493-6400 Woodstock Office 770-924-4099 Voter Registration 770-479-0407

Children/Family:

Anna Crawford Children’s Center Bethesda Community Clinic Cherokee County Boys & Girls Club Cherokee Family Violence Center Cherokee Focus Child Support Enforcement Court Appointed Special Advocates for Children (CASA) www.casacherokee.org Department of Family & Children Services The Hope Center MUST Cherokee Ministries Papa’s Pantry

770-345-8100 678-880-9654 770-720-7712 770-479-1804 770-345-5483 770-720-3581 770-345-3274 770-720-3610 770-924-0864 770-479-5397 770-591-4730

Driver’s Licenses (Tues — Sat) 678-413-8400 Fire Department (District 1, Station 20) 770-926-7155 Georgia State Patrol 770-205-5400 Health Department 770-345-7371 Hospitals:

Kennestone Hospital 770-793-5000 North Fulton Hospital 770-751-2500 Northside Hospital — Cherokee 770-720-5100

Hotlines — 24 Hour Help Lines:

Battered Women Hotline Drug Tip Line (Cherokee Co. Sheriff) Poison Control Center — Atlanta Outside Metro Atlanta Probate Court Information Line Sexual Assault & Family Violence Center

770-479-1703 770-345-7920 404-616-9000 800-222-1222 770-704-2610 770-428-2666

Libraries: www.sequoyahregionallibrary.org Rose Creek 770-591-1491 R.T. Jones 770-479-3090 Woodstock 770-926-5859 Non-Emergency 911 770-479-3117

Parks and Recreation:

BridgeMill Athletic Club 770-345-5500 Cherokee County Outdoor YMCA 770-591-5820 Cherokee Recreation and Parks Agency 770-924-7768 www.crpa.net Cherokee Soccer Association 770-704-0187 www.cherokeesoccer.com Eagle Watch Golf Club 770-591-1000 Hobgood Park 770-924-7865 North Atlanta Soccer Assoc. 770-926-4175 www.nasa-ga.org SCRA Park 770-926-5672 Towne Lake Hills Golf Club 770-592-9969 Wildlife Action, Inc. 800- 753-2264

Pets:

Animal Control 678-493-6200 CatSnip (low cost spay & neuter) www.atlantaanimalalliance.com Cherokee County Animal Shelter — Adoptions 770-345-7270 www.cherokeega-animals.org Cherokee County Humane Society 770-928-5115 www.cchumanesociety.org Emergency Veterinary Clinic 770-924-3720 Funds4Furry Friends 770-842-8893 Lost Pets Go to www.townelaker.com. click on lost and found pet button to report missing pet Pet Buddies Food Pantry www. petbuddiesfoodpantry.org SPARE (Sterilizing Pets And Reducing Euthanasia) 770-928-5120 Second Chance Dog Rescue www.secondchancedogs.org

Post Office (Woodstock)

www.usps.com 800-275-8777

Recycling Center 770-516-4195 Sheriff’s Department 678-493-4100 www.cherokeega-sheriff.org Georgia Sex Offender Registry www.cherokeega-sheriff.org/offender/offender.htm

Utilities:

Atlanta Gas Light Co. 770-907-4231 www.aglc.com AT&T 404-780-2355 www.bellsouth.com Cherokee Water & Sewerage Authority 770-479-1813 Comcast 770-926-0334 Cobb EMC 770-429-2100 www.cobbemc.com Georgia Power www.georgiapower.com

Urgent Care Facility

American Family Care, 6440 Bells Ferry Rd., Woodstock 770-200-1220 Northside Cherokee Urgent Care, 900 Towne Lake Pkwy 404-851-6577 SHEFA Urgent Care 2000 Village Professional Dr. #110, Canton 678-661-3166 Wellstar Urgent Care 678-494-2500

Woodstock, City of:

(in Towne Lake, only applies to Avonlea, Deer Run,

ParkView, Paces and certain annexed commercial parcels) . www.woodstockga.gov City Hall 770-592-6000 Fire Department 770-926-2302 Police Information 770-592-6030 TOWNELAKER | March 2016

Reference

COMMUNITY OF FAITH ADVENTIST

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

AME

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

BAPTIST

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

TOWNELAKER | March 2016

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

CHURCH OF GOD

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

EPISCOPAL

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

JEWISH

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

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

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

LUTHERAN

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

ORTHODOX

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

PRESBYTERIAN

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

ROMAN CATHOLIC

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

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

Branches of Christ 5946 Jacobs Road, Acworth 770-917-4964 www.branchesofchrist.com

New Covenant Bible 1095 Scott Road, Canton 770-479-6412 www.newcovenantcanton.org

UNITED METHODIST

BridgePointe 233 Arnold Mill Road, Suite 400, Woodstock 770-517-2977 www.bridgepointechurch.org

North Atlanta Church 6233 Old Alabama Road, Acworth 770-975-3001 www.northatlantachurch.org

Christian Praise Center 1358 Sixes Road, Canton 770-924-7532 www.christianpraisecenter.com

Oak Leaf 151 East Marietta St., Canton 678-653-4652 www.oakleafcanton.com

Church at North Gate 9876 Main St., Suite 250, Woodstock 678-494-2193 www.ngca.org

Prayer & Praise Christian Fellowship 6409 Bells Ferry Road, Woodstock 770-928-2795 www.prayerandpraise.org

Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints 2205 Bascomb-Carmel Road, Woodstock 770-529-9572 www.mormon.org

Resurrection Anglican 231 Arnold Mill Road, Woodstock 770-591-0040 www.rezwoodstock.org

Church of the Messiah 4115 Charles Cox Drive, Canton 770-479-5280 www.churchofthemessiah.net

Revolution 125 Union Trail Hill, Canton 770-345-2737 www.therevolution.tv

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

UNITARIAN UNIVERSALIST Emerson 4010 Canton Road, Marietta 770-578-1533 www.emersonuu.org

Dayspring 6835 Victory Drive, Acworth 770-516-5733 www.dayspring-online.com Empowerment Tabernacle 507 Industrial Drive, Woodstock 770-928-7478 www.EmpowermentTabernacle.com The Factory 9872 Main St., Woodstock, 770-517-7265 www.thefactoryministries.org Faith Family 5744 Bells Ferry Road, Acworth 770-926-4560 www.ffcacworth.com Fivestones Church 155 P Rickman Industrial Drive, Canton 770-720-2227 www.fivestoneschurch.info Godâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Rolling Thunder Latimer Hall, 103 Towne Lake Parkway, Woodstock www.godsrollingthunder.org His Hands 550 Molly Lane, Woodstock 770-405-2500 www.hishandschurch.com Life Church 300 Adam Jenkins Memorial Drive, Suite 108, Canton 770-847-0170 www.lifechurchcanton.com

Sojourn Community Church 231 Arnold Mill Road, Woodstock 770-769-7495 www.sojournwoodstock.com Soul Medicine 3725 Sixes Road Canton Soulmedicinesunday.org Sovereign Grace 471 Arnold Mill Road, Woodstock 678-494-2100 www.sgcatlanta.org Thrive Chapel 400 Arnold Mill Road, Woodstock 770-835-5795 www.thrivechapel.com Towne Lake Community 132 North Medical Parkway, Woodstock 678-445-8766 www.tlcchurch.com Victory 4625 Highway 92, Acworth 770-794-7366 www.victoryga.com Woodstock City Church 678-880-9092 Woodstock Christian 7700 Highway 92, Woodstock 770-926-8238 www.woodstockchristian.org Woodstock Church of Christ 219 Rope Mill Road, Woodstock 770-926-8838 www.woodstockchurchofchrist.org

OTHERS

Love Community Church 5598 Bells Ferry Road, Acworth

Action Church 271 Marietta Road, Canton 770-345-3030 www.actionchurch.tv

Ministry House 347 Holly St., Canton 678-459-2347 http://MinistryHouse.org

Woodstock Church of the Nazarene 874 Arnold Mill Road, Woodstock 770-366-7515 www.wcnga.com

Awakening 180 Parkway 575, Suite 140, Woodstock 770-924-4150 www.awakeningwoodstock.com

Momentum 110 Londonderry Court, Suite 130, Woodstock 678-384-4919 www.MomentumChurch.tv

Woodstock Community Church 237 Rope Mill Road, Woodstock 770-926-8990 www.wcchurch.org TOWNELAKER | March 2016

Reference

TOWNE LAKE AREA CLUBS & ORGANIZATIONS Charitable Organizations Ahimsa House helps victims of domestic violence 24-hours a day who need help getting their pets to safety. 404-452-6248 www.ahimsahouse.org Angel House Girls Home is a residential facility to help girls ages 12-18 learn self-sufficiency. 770-479-9555 www.angelhousega.com Anna Crawford Children’s Center is dedicated to preventing child abuse and neglect, and protecting and serving children and families through prevention and intervention services. 678-504-6388 www.cherokeechildadvocates.org Collins Dixon Foundation: Bend Your Knees, Inc. raises awareness and helps children with pediatric brain tumors. Contact: Bob Dixon, 678-922-1560. Bethany Place is a transitional home for single women, unwed mothers. 770-479-9462 www.bethanyplacehome.org CASA for Children promotes the health and happiness of children impacted by abuse through programs that increase their safety and improve their educational, social and emotional functioning. 770-345-3274 www.casacherokee.org CCHS Thrift Store accepts donations and sells used household items to raise money for Cherokee County Humane Society. 5900 Bells Ferry Road, Acworth. 770-592-8072 Cherokee Family Violence Center offers emergency shelter and crisis intervention, affordable housing, education, support services. 770-479-1703, Spanish 770-720-7050 or 800-334-2836 option 2. www.cfvc.org Cherokee Fellowship of Christian Athletes challenges professional, college, high school, junior high and youth level coaches and athletes to use athletics to impact the world for Christ. Bill Queen 404-441-3508 www.cherokeefca.org Cherokee County Humane Society (CCHS) 770-928-5115 or admin@cchumanesociety.org www.cchumanesociety.org Cherokee FOCUS works to improve the lives of children and families through collaborative programs and initiatives. Sonia Carruthers 770-345-5483 www.cherokeefocus.org Cherokee County Senior Services offers educational, social, leisure and recreational activities for senior citizens. 770-345-5312 or 770-345-5320 www.cherokeega.com/senior-services Community Veterinary Care provides professional veterinary care for pets whose owners have limited financial means. 678-640-3512 www.communityveterinarycare.com Companion Animal Connection 678-493-9847 www.adoptapet.com Everyday Angels offers financial assistance for local families in need. aaeverydayangels@gmail.com Feed My Lambs, Inc. provides free Christian preschools in the U.S. and around the world. 770-795-9348 office@feedmylambs.net www.feedmylambs.net

high quality, low cost spay and neuter services for dogs and cats throughout North Georgia. 770-704-PAWS (7297) www.theanimalproject.org Give a Kid a Chance – Cherokee sponsors a yearly backto-school bash, giving children in need filled backpacks to free haircuts. www.giveakidachance.org Goshen Valley Boys Ranch offers a home, care and counsel to young men in the DFCS system. 770-796-4618 www.goshenvalley.org Green Shelters America animal rescue group. 770-712-4077 or GreenSheltersAmerica@gmail.com www.GreenSheltersAmeric.com Habitat for Humanity North Central Georgia 770-587-9697 www.habitat-ncg.org Healing Hands Youth Ranch offers safe, peaceful environment where abused and at-risk children are paired with rescue horses for hope and healing. Jennifer Simonis 770-633-4451 www.hhyr.org HopeQuest Ministry Group helps people who struggle intensely with life dominating issues related to alcohol abuse, substance abuse and/or sexual brokenness. 678-391-5950 www.hqmg.org HOPE Center offers support for unplanned pregnancy. 770-924-0864 or info@TheHopeCtr.com www.hopectr.com HOPE Center — Baby & More Thrift Store offers adult and children’s clothing. 770-517-4450 www.babyandmorethriftstore.com Life Connection Ministries helps empower and provide humanitarian relief in the form of wells and greenhouses to impoverished communities. Mission trips offered. Florine Russell 678-234-1798. www.lcm-ga.com Matthew E. Russell Foundation works to establish literacy and libraries in rural areas worldwide. Florine Russell 678-234-1798. www.mattrussell.org MUST Ministries offers groceries, hot meals, emergency shelter, supportive housing, clothing, employment services, summer lunch and more from five locations in eight counties, including the Canton office at 111 Brown Industrial Pkwy. www.mustministries.org National Alliance for Mental Illness is the nation’s largest grassroots organization in America working to build better lives for the millions affected by mental illness. www.nami.org Never Alone Outreach provides food and clothing assistance to Cherokee families in need. www.neveralone.org. Next Step Ministries offers a therapeutic day program, Saturday respite, camps and special events for people with special needs. 770-592-1227 www.nextstepministries.net North Georgia Pregnancy Center offers help and care to young girls and women with an unplanned pregnancy or who need counseling. 706-253-6303 www.ngapregnancy.org

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

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

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

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

Georgia Animal Project, based in Ball Ground, offers

Safe Kids Cherokee County provides free child safety

TOWNELAKER | March 2016

seat inspections by appointment. 770-721-7808 www.cherokeesafekidscherokeecounty.org SERV International operates the House of Hope orphanage in Africa, sponsors a clean water program in Dominican Republic and meal distributions worldwide. Also offers mission trips. 770-516-1108 www.servone.org The Blue Ribbon Foundation fosters a national dialog toward finding the cause, cure and prevention of ME (myalgic encephalomyelitis), CFS (chronic fatigue syndrome), fibromyalgia and Lyme disease. Tom Prior 478-397-5542 www.theblueribbonfoundation.org Volunteer Aging Council is a nonprofit that helps raise funds for the seniors of Cherokee County. A list of current needs is available. 770-310-3474 www.vac-cherokeega.org SUPPORT ORGANIZATIONS AA Meetings Canton Meets: 9:30 a.m. Monday-Saturday, 7 p.m. Monday at Canton First United Methodist, 930 Lower Scott Mill Road. Woodstock Meets: 7 p.m. on Tuesday, Thursday and Friday at Hillside United Methodist, 4474 Towne Lake Parkway. www.aageorgia.org/14c-meetings.html Al-Anon and Al-A-Teen Canton Meets: 8 pm Thursday at St Clements Episcopal Church, 2795 Ridge Road. Woodstock Meets: Tuesday Al-anon and Alateen 8 pm Thursday Al-anon at Hillside United Methodist Church, 4474 Towne Lake Pkwy. Reba 770-516-3502 www.ga-al-anon.org/district-number.hp?district=17 American Heart Association - Cherokee Division 678-385-2013 American Red Cross metro chapter 770-428-2695 Breast Cancer Support Group Meets: 10 a.m. - noon first Thursday of each month at Northside Hospital—Cherokee, Diabetes Classroom, Educational Center. 404-843-1880 Celebrate Recovery is a Christ-centered recovery program for all types of habits, hurts and hangups. Meets: 6:30 p.m. Thursdays at Woodstock Church of the Nazarene. 770-366-7515 Meets: 6:30 p.m. Mondays at Sixes United Methodist. 770-345-7644 www.sixesumc.org Meets: 6:30 p.m. Tuesdays at Ministry House 678-459-2347 www.MinistryHouse.org Meets: 6:15 p.m. Thursdays at 411 Scott Mill Road, Canton. 678-764-8660 www.celebraterecovery.com Cherokee County Support Group provides support for people with autoimmune conditions. Meets: 6:30 - 8 pm second Thursday at New Light Baptist Church, 1716 New Light Rd, Holly Springs. Stacie Collett 404-402-0571, jhmom88@comcast. net and Christy Stephenson 770-337-0294 christystephenson@msn.com Cherokee County Special Olympics provides yearround sports training and athletic competition for children and adults with intellectual disabilities. www.cherokeecountyspecialolympics.org Cherokee Christian Ministerial Association for pastors and ministry leaders of all Christian denominations. Meets: 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. last Wednesday at Dayspring Church, 6835 Victory Drive, Woodstock. www.cherokeeministers.org Diabetes Support Group Meets: 9:30 and 11 a.m. third Tuesday at Emeritus Assisted Living, 756 Neese Road, Woodstock. Linda Watson 770-793-7818 Georgia Canines for Independence. 404-824-4637 gcidogs@aol.com www.gcidogs.org

Grace Valley Ministries connects pastors by offering small group meetings, free counseling and a place to retreat. 727-251-7690, info@gracevalleyministries.org www.gracevalleyministries.org Grandparents Raising GRANDchildren Meets: 7:15 p.m. second Tuesdays Transfiguration Catholic Church, Marietta (nursery available). Jeannie 770-919-9275 Hearing Loss Association of America NW Metro Atlanta Chapter for people with hearing loss looking for support and resources, holds free and informative quarterly meetings at the Senior Center on Arnold Mill Road. nwmetroatlantahlaa@gmail.com La Leche League of South Cherokee Meets: 10 a.m. first Tuesday and 7 p.m. third Tuesday at Bascomb United Methodist Church. Marguerite 678-315-7686 or Megan 770-517-0191 MOMS Club of Woodstock-TowneLake momsclubofwoodstocktl@gmail.com www.sites.google.com/site/ momscluboftownelakewoodstock MOPS — Mothers of Preschoolers (birth — K) Meets: 9:30 a.m. second and fourth Mondays at Hillside UMC, 4474 Towne Lake Pkwy. 770-924-4777 Unlimited Possibilities, support group for stroke and brain injury survivors. Meets: 7 p.m. first Tuesday of each month at Kennestone Outpatient Rehab Center. Kelly 678-677-2589 BUSINESS ORGANIZATIONS American Business Women’s Association, Cherokee Eagles Charter Chapter. Meets: 6:30 p.m. on the third Tuesdays at Dynastic Buffet at the intersection of Canton Highway and Piedmont. Jacqueline Miller Van Hook, 678-493-3618 Cherokee Business Network Meets: 7:45 a.m. every Wednesday at Chick-fil-A, 9728 Highway 92, Woodstock. Marci Zied 770-345-8687 Cherokee Toastmasters Club Meets: Noon-1:15 p.m. Wednesdays at the Bank of North Georgia, 200 Parkway 575, Woodstock. www.cherokeetoastmasters.com Empowered Women Through Synergy Meets: 8:30 a.m. third Thursday at J Christopher’s, 315 Chambers Street, Woodstock. Shahida Baig 678-445-3900 The Joy of Connecting Networking for Women Meets: Various times and locations. Edeline Dryden 678-789-6158 www.xperienceconnections.com/ spotlight/woodstock/ Towne Lake Business Association Meets: 12:30 p.m. third Tuesday at Featherstone’s at Towne Lake Hills. 770-615-3350 www.tlba.org Towne Lake PowerCore Team Meets: 7-8:30 a.m. every Friday at Freight Kitchen & Tap, 251 E. Main St., Woodstock. Marc Replogle 770-952-5000, ext. 20 or Wendy 404-816-3377 www.powercore.net Women of Woodstock Meets: 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. first and third Wednesday at Featherstone’s at Towne Lake Hills. info@womenofwoodstock.com www.womenofwoodstock.com VETERANS SERVICE ORGANIZATIONS American Legion Post 316 Meets: 7 p.m. third Thursdays at William G. Long Senior Center, 223 Arnold Mill Road. Irma Martin 678-662-2366

Woodstock VFW Post 10683 Meets: 7 p.m. second Tuesday at Woodstock Senior Center, 223 Arnold Mill Road. Andrew Yrabedra 404-663-4663 CIVIC, COUNTY ORGANIZATIONS AARP Woodstock Chapter is for anyone age 50 and older. Meets: 11:30 a.m. second Tuesdays at Tuscany. Lunch is $15. Rich 770-926-1944 Canton-Cherokee TRIAD/S.A.L.T. (Seniors and Law Enforcement Together) Meets: 8:30 a.m. first Tuesday at G.Cecil Pruitt YMCA in Canton (Hall of Fame Room). www.saltcherokee.com Cherokee County Historical Society 770-345-3288 www.rockbarn.org Citizen Oversight and Education 678-520-2236 citizenoversighteducation@yahoo.com Jewish Havurah (Friends) A group of Jewish people who meet for Jewish holidays, special Jewish events and Shabbat dinners. Marcie Zied 770-345-8687 Junior Service League of Woodstock 770-592-3535 www.jslwoodstock.org Pilot Club of Cherokee County Meet: 6: 30 p.m. second Mondays at IHOP on Hwy 20 Lynda Goodwin, 770-393-1766 or Lynda@ edgoodwinassociates.com www.pilotinternational.com Rotary Club of Cherokee County Meets: 6:30 p.m. Thursdays at IHOP on Highway 92 770-480-4179 Rotary Club of Towne Lake Meets: Noon Thursdays at Featherstone’s Grille at 1003 Towne Lake Hills E., Woodstock www.townelakerotary.com Rotary Club of Woodstock Meets: 7:30 a.m. Tuesdays at IHOP on Highway 92 678-428-6514 Service League of Cherokee County 770-704-5991 www.serviceleague.net South Cherokee Optimist Club Meets: 7:30 a.m. every Friday at Featherstone’s at Towne Lake Hills. 770-926-3522 Towne Lake Optimist Club Meets: 7:30 a.m. Fridays at Eagle Watch Golf Club. 404-557-2218 www.townelakeoptimists.com Woodstock Jaycees Meets: 7 p.m. first Tuesday and third Thursday at 216 Rope Mill Road. 770-926-8336 Woodstock Lions Club Meets: 7 p.m. second and fourth Tuesdays at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church. Contact: 770-906-2958 POLITICAL ORGANIZATIONS Cherokee County Democratic Party Meets: 7 p.m. second Thursday at Holly Springs Train Depot, 164 Hickory Road, Holly Springs 770-345-3489 www.cherokeedemocrats.com Cherokee County Libertarians Meets: 7:30 p.m. on the third Tuesday at the Cherokee County Board of Realtors Training Center, 1600 River Park Blvd., Suite 104, Woodstock. www. cherokeelp.org Cherokee County Republican Party Meets: 9 a.m. third Saturday at Jump Kitchen & Saloon, 1085 Buckhead Crossing, Woodstock 678-8820915 www.cherokeecounty.gop

Cherokee Tea Party Patriots Meets: 4 p.m. third Sunday at Latimer Hall, 103 Towne Lake Parkway, Woodstock. Conrad Quagliaroli 770-378-8232, conradquag@gmail.com www.teapartypatriots.org/groups/cherokee-tea-partypatriots/ Cherokee County Republican Women affiliated with The Georgia Federation of Republican Women Meets: Monthly in Woodstock/Canton. 770-592-7811 or jkconkey@gmail.com Grassroots Conservatives of Cherokee Meets: 7- 9 a.m. Fridays at the Chick-fil-a on 951 Ridgewalk Parkway, Woodstock by the Outlet Mall. Bill Dewrell 770-294-0922 Republican Women of Cherokee County 678-520-2236 www.rwccga.com Recreation & Hobbies Allatoona Gold Panners. Periodic events , outings Rob Kelly rrkelly@bellsouth.net Cherokee Amateur Radio Society Meets: 10 a.m. on the second Saturday at William G. Long Senior Center, 223 Arnold Mill Road. www.cherokeehams.com Cherokee Community Chorale 678-439-8625 www.cherokeechorale.org Cherokee County Arts Center 94 North St., Canton. 770-704-6244 www.CherokeeArts.org Cherokee County Master Gardeners 770-721-7803 www.caes.uga.edu/extension/ cherokee/mastergardeners Cherokee Photography Club www.cherokeepc.org Cherokee County Saddle Club hosts monthly meetings and group rides. www.cherokeesaddleclub.com Cherokee Hockey In Line League (CHILL) roller hockey. www.cherokeehockey.org Cherokee Music Teachers Association Linda Lokey 770-720-1701 www.cherokeemta.org Cherokee Soccer Association 770-704-0187 www.csaimpact.com Cherokee Youth Lacrosse Association www.cherokeelacrosse.com Christian Authors Guild Meets: 7-9 p.m. first and third Monday at Prayer and Praise Christian Fellowship, 6409 Bells Ferry Road, Woodstock. www.christianauthorsguild.org Kingdom Riders is a forming chapter of the Christian Motorcyclists Association in Canton. Meets: 8 a.m. fourth Saturdays at Family Tradition restaurant in Hickory Flat. All makes of motorcycles welcome. Les Marmitons, for men interested in culinary arts. www.lesmarmitons.org Wildlife Action, Inc. is a conservation organization on Allatoona Lake at 2075 Kellogg Creek Road, Acworth. 770-924-7464 www.wildlifeactiongeorgia.com Sons of the American Revolution - Cherokee Meets: 7 p.m. second Tuesdays at the Rock Barn, 638 Marietta Hwy., Canton. www.cherokeechapter.com William G. Long Senior Center offers activities for seniors at 223 Arnold Mill Road in Woodstock. 678-445-6518 TOWNELAKER | March 2016

TOWNELAKER

ADVERTISERS DIRECTORY

ACCOUNTING/FINANCIAL SERVICES

BUSINESS ORGANIZATIONS

Citadel Professional Services, LLC 770-952-6707

Hill & Hill Financial 770-672-0402 www.hillandhillfinancial.com

J RAY, CPA, PC 404-994-5102 www.JRAYCPA.com

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

ATTORNEYS/LEGAL SERVICES Debranski & Associates, LLC 770-926-1957, ext 306 www.Debranski.com

Hartman Imbriale Attorneys 678-445-7423 www.hartman-imbriale.com

Limbocker Law 678-401-6836 www.limbockerlawfirm.com

Nelson Elder Care Law, LLC Inside Front 678-250-9355 www.NelsonElderCareLaw.com AUTOMOTIVE Aspen Falls Auto Spa 770-591-3630

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

Christian Brothers Automotive 770-926-4500 www.cbac.com

Frankfurt Foreign Automotive 67 678-505-8907 www.FrankfurtForeignAutomotive.com Woodstock Quality Paint & Body 770-926-3898

Salon Spa Venéssa 770-591-2079 www.salonvenessa.com 94

TOWNELAKER | March 2016

Towne Lake Business Association www.TLBA.org

CHIROPRACTIC Joint Chiropractic, The 678-214-4449 www.thejoint.com

North Georgia Functional Medicine 678-556-5117 www.northgeorgiafm.com

Optimum Health Cover, 48, 49 770-516-7477 www.optimumhealthrehab.com Ribley Chiropractic 770-592-2505 www.ribleychiro.com

Goddard School, The 770-516-0880 www.GoddardSchool.com

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

Master’s Training Center, The 770-591-9588 www.TheMasterTrainingCenter.com

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Music Together 678-613-2048 www.musictogether.com

Hillside United Methodist Church 770-924-4777 www.hillsideumc.org

North Cobb Christian School 770-975-0252 www.ncchristian.org

Carpet Dry-Tech 678-368-5991 www.carpetdrytech.com

Park View Child Care and Montessori School 21 770-926-0044 www.parkviewmontessorischool.com

Rejoice Maids 678-905-3476 www.rejoicemaids.com

Ralph Iossa, Piano Instructor 973-519-6863 www.woodstockpianolessons.com

Towne Lake Academy North Campus: 770-928-6162 South Campus: 770-928-9134

Towne Lake Driving School 678-494-2200 www.TowneLakeDrivingSchool.com

CLEANING SERVICES

COMPUTERS

DENTAL (Cosmetic, Family, Orthodontics, Prosthodontics & Pediatric)

EDUCATION / INSTRUCTION

Factory, The www.thefactoryministries.org

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CHURCHES

Cherokee Computer Guys 678-889-5900 www.ccrguys.com

Pigtails & Crewcuts 35 678-842-8299 www.pigtailsandcrewcuts,com/woodstock Salon Gloss 678-483-8900 www.salongloss.biz

BEAUTY, MASSAGE & SPA Jyl Craven Hair Design 770-345-9411 www.jylcraven.com

Downtown Buzz 770-592-6056 www.downtownwoodstock.org/ downtownbuzz

Park Pediatric Dentistry of Woodstock 42 770-926-9260 www.PediatricWoodstockDentist.com Spillane Orthodontics 54 770-928-4747 www.SpillaneOrtho.com Towne Lake Family Dentistry Dr. Ray Morgan Inside Back 770-591-7929 www.RayMorganDMD.com Williams Orthodontics 27 770-592-5554 www.DrWilliamsOrthodontics.com

32 Dental Practice 770-423-1132 www.thirty-twodental.com Advanced Dental Restorations, LLC 678-810-0881 www.BringBackSmiles.com Baird & Baird Family Dentistry 770-517-0444 www.BairdFamilyDentistry.com Fountain View Family Dentistry 770-926-0000 www.fountainviewsmiles.com

FUNERAL SERVICES 57 8 65 63

Woodstock Funeral Home and Cremations Inside front 770-926-3107 www.woodstockfuneralhome.com HEALTH & FITNESS Center for Yoga, The 770-517-5212 www.yogafamilytree.com

Plae Hard www.plaehard.com

PHIIT Club at R2 Total Fitness 678-809-7833 www.r2totalfitness.com

PET/VETERINARIAN SERVICES & SUPPLIES Animal Atlanta 770-591-0007 www.AnimalAtlanta.com

HOME IMPROVEMENT & REPAIR

Animal Hospital of Towne Lake 770-591-9500 www.townelakevets.com

AquaDoc Plumbing 770-516-9000, www.plumdr.com

Cherokee County Animal Shelter www.cherokeega-animals.org

PHOTOGRAPHER

Cloud Communications & Security 678-576-3076 cloudtelecominc.com

J. King Images 404-384-2794, 404-200-0881 www.jkingimages.com

Coastal Interiors 404-731-5748 Coleman Home Services 770-294-9667 www.colemanhomeservices.com

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PHYSICIANS AND MEDICAL SERVICES Atlanta North Dermatology & Skin Care 770-516-5199 www.atlantanorthdermatology.com

Cherokee Internal Medicine 678-238-0301 www.cherokeeim.com

Dr. Fixit, Ph.D. 770-974-2390 www.DrFixitPHD.com

Cherokee Women’s Health Specialists 770-720-7733 www.cherokeewomenshealth.com

Enhance Floors & More 770-565-3808 www.enhancefloors.com Hammocks Heating & Air 770-794-0428 www.HammocksHVAC.com

North Georgia Audiology & Hearing Aid Center 770-726-8948 www.NorthGeorgiaHearing.com

Handy Handyman, The 404-316-1490 www.thhmga.com

Mr. Junk 678-Mr-Junk1 www.MrJunk1.com

Pike’s Professional Painting 770-516-0045

Precision Painting & Remodeling 678-234-9668 www.precisionpaintingatlanta.com

Reliable Heating & Air 770-594-9969 www.ReliableAir.com

SOTO Remodeling 404-376-5443

North Georgia Foot and Ankle Reconstruction, Dr. Bret Hintze 770-999-0804 www.NGFAR.com

Donna Charitat: 770-309-0253, 770-517-2150, www.MyAgentDonna.com Kurt & Sheila Team, Keller Williams Back Cvr 404-954-2486, 678-494-0644 www.kurtandsheilateam.com Magnolia Cottages by the Sea Linda B. Lee, 850-319-8050 www.magnolisdreamcottage.com

Reflection Lake Nantahala Kristine Flaig, 828-321-3101 www.reflectionlakenantahala.com

Southeast Mortgage 770-279-0222, ext. 719 Todd Littlejohn: 678-662-3451

Terrell Team, The Direct: 770-928-6525 Office: 770-345-8211 www.RealEstateAgent.net

RECREATION AND ENTERTAINMENT

Northside Cherokee Pediatrics 678-388-5485 northsidecherokeepediatrics.com

Cherokee Youth Football Assoc. www.cyfa.org

82 83

Northside Cherokee Surgical Assoc. 770-924-9656 www.ncsurgicalassociates.com

Elm St. Cultural Arts Village 678-494-4251 www.elmstreetarts.org Etowah Eagles Touchdown Club www.etowaheaglesfootball.com

Northside Cherokee Women’s Specialists 23 770-926-9229 NSHCherokeeWomensSpecialists.com

Landscape Matters 770-403-5813 www.LandscapeMattersInc.com

Plastic Surgery Center of the South 62 770-421-1242 www.plasticsurgerycenterofthesouth.net

Berkshire Hathaway Home Services Tomlinson Team, The Cathy Tomlinson: 770-365-6193 or 678-494-2953, 770-517-2150 www.thetomlinsonteam.com

Northside Hospital -Cherokee www.northside.com

Calvary Landscaping & Irrigation 770-720-1727 770-827-0346

Mclellan Excavation & Landscaping 404-520-0710 www.excavationandlandscaping.com

Atlanta Communities, Tara Daigle 404-925-6351

Cruise Planners, Kathy Faisal 678-445-5235-Office 770-231-7033-Cell

Northside Pediatric & Adolescent Medicine 770-928-0016 www.NorthsidePediatrics.com

LANDSCAPING & LAWN CARE

REAL ESTATE & RELATED SERVICES

Atlanta Prestige Flooring 770-516-3227 www.atlantaprestigeflooring.com

Bryan Plumbing Services 770-826-5277

Wellstar 770-956-STAR (7827) wellstar.org

Psychologist John R. Lutz, PhD 770-592-9065 www.johnromanlutz.com

Overstreet Lawn Care 770-861-7272 www.overstreetlawncare.com

Rausch Family Practice 678-384-7305 www.judithrauschmd.com

RPM Landscape & Pavers 770-597-5175 www.rpmlandscapeandpavers.com

Towne Lake Family Pharmacy 770-635-7697 www.TowneLakePharmacy.com

Towne Lake Primary Care Family Medicine 37 678-445-0819

RESTAURANTS/FOOD & DRINK Around Town Take Out www.AroundTownTakeOut.com

Butchers Block 770-517-2225

Papa P’s 770-592-3100 www.papa-ps.com

Smallcakes — A Cupcakery 678-324-1910

RETAILERS/ SHOPPING Blue Frog Imports 770-592-0122 www.BlueFrogImports.biz Dismero Red Line 678-398-4008 Spirited 678-214-5304 www.spritlala.com

TOWNELAKER | March 2016

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photo by J King Images

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

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.

From left Michelle McCulloch, Patty Ponder, Jon and Karen Flaig, Candi Hannigan, Denise Griffin, Laura Latchford, Jackie Loudin and Christie Deese.

We encourage you to send us your photos, ideas, stories or anything else you think the community would like to know about. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s your community. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s your magazine. Look on page 6 for our contact information.

TowneLaker Distribution Map Circulation: 16,000

TOWNELAKER | March 2016

770.591.7929

www.TowneLakeFamilyDentistry.com

Your GREEN source for Dental Care.

We RECYCLE paper and plastics. We use steam autoclave sterilization to reduce the use of toxic chemical disinfectants and sterilants.We use digital x rays â&#x20AC;&#x201C; with the additional benefit of dramatically reducing radiation exposure in the environment. We use a digitalized C.O.S. machine reducing waste and several steps of conventional crown fabrication. We use paper products used from RECYCLED products where available. We RECYCLE our printer cartridges. We submit insurance claim forms electronically. We DO NOT us mercury containing silver fillings.

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New Patient receive FREE Professional take home bleach trays. (must complete a comprehensive examination, necessary x- rays and dental cleaning.)

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120 N. Medical Pkwy | Building 200, Suite 100 | Woodstock, GA 30189