3-19 AroundAcworth webfinal by Aroundabout Local Media, Inc.

AROUND ACWORTH | March 2019

Contents

32 & 33 On the Cover Acworth Art Fest

March 2019

In Every Issue

Features 16 Polar Plunge Photo Album

Hundreds take icy dip into Lake Acworth to support Special Olympics Georgia athletes.

23 Words of Wisdom

Local female business leaders share advice to fellow businesswomen in honor of International Women’s Day.

28 Camping Season Opens!

Allatoona Lake springs to life as campgrounds are unlocked, outdoor activities begin.

34 Knitting Love

Spotlight on Acworth nonprofit making hats and showing love to those fighting for their lives.

52 Night to Shine

The annual Tim Tebow foundation’s special needs prom night filled NorthStar Church with lots of smiling faces.

4 Around Acworth

Tommy Allegood

8 Community News

Luanne Allen

Jennifer Bonn

Wayne Dennard

46 Community Calendar

Greg Fonzeno

44 Library Events

Bryant Harris

47 Ribbon Cuttings

Jim Hilber

48 School News

Malinda Howe

Tiffany Hughes

Jan Leary

60 Allatoona Lake Map

Rob Macmillan

62 Directory of Advertisers

Josh Nelson

Christopher Purvis

Susan Schulz

Jessica Leigh Smith

Robert Tidwell

14 Celebrations 24 Spotlight on Veterans 30 Rob’s Rescues

58 Cobb Photographic Society 57 Senior Activities 56 Acworth Parks

Advertising Katherine Amick, Director of Marketing 678-279-5502 Katherine@AroundaboutMagazines.com www.AroundAcworthMagazine.com Around Acworth Magazine 2

AROUND ACWORTH | March 2019

Contributors

@AroundAcworth

around_acworth

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AROUND ACWORTH

The

People, The Places and The Pleasures that make Acworth

From the Editor Whether you believe groundhogs can predict when spring is coming or not, we all can agree on one thing: It’s March in Georgia, which means warmer weather is right around the corner. With all the cold and rain February brought, like many of you, I’m anxious to get out and explore this spring. After moving to the area last May with my family, we spent a lot of time unpacking and settling into our new house. Our daughter was 5 months old when we moved, and not yet mobile, so we didn’t venture outdoors much last spring and summer. Now, at 15 months, she won’t sit still. I can’t wait to see her explore the parks, enjoy lake life and experience the upcoming festivals our community has to offer. I’m making a check-list of all the places and things we need to take Parker to see and do in the area this season. I don’t want to leave anything off, so please send me (katie@ aroundaboutmagazines.com) all your family’s favorite activities, and I’ll add them to our list. Don’t worry, I’ll be sure to document Parker’s adventures and report back. Hopefully, they won’t include her eating dirt and grass; lately, despite mom’s best efforts, crayons are her favorite treat. If you’re looking to plan your adventures on or near Lake Allatoona, lead ranger Christopher Purvis with the Army Corps of Engineers explains the changes and what to expect at the campgrounds and day-use areas on Pages 28-29. He even shares information about volunteer and contract positions available. But, before you take to the lake this season, don’t forget to take a boating safety refresher course. On Page 25, Greg Fonzeno with the local U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary Unit (Flotilla 22) at Lake Allatoona highlights the importance of boater education and where to find a course that fits your busy schedule. As you know, Acworth is a lively and busy community, with much to offer. If you missed Mayor Tommy Allegood’s State of the City address, you don’t want to miss his recap on Page 15. There are lots of exciting things happening in Acworth this year! May we all strive to keep Acworth a purpose-driven community. Wishing everyone a happy and safe start to springtime!

K atie Beall Katie Beall is editor of Around Acworth. Send your comments or questions to Katie@AroundaboutMagazines.com

AROUND ACWORTH | March 2019

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What’s Coming Demolition day for the Kmart/Ingles property on Cherokee Street in Acworth is scheduled for March 6. The space will be transformed into a Live, Work, Play Community as part of the master plan for the Parkside district.

TapTown Tasting Emporium and Eatery is coming soon to Acworth’s Parkside district, as mentioned in Mayor Tommy Allegood’s State of the City address. The venue will have a pet-friendly outdoor beer garden, featuring games, live music and food truck-inspired dishes.

What’s New Acworth Community Center should be opening in March. If all goes according to plan, the Daddy Daughter Dance March 23 will be the first event held in the 44,000-square-foot facility. The Acworth Community Center is located at the corner of Cherokee Street and Logan Road. Spring fitness classes and summer camps will be held in the new facility. The community center includes a gymnasium, multipurpose room and the Tanyard Creek Overlook banquet hall. Bert & Boo’s Bake Shop reopened for business Feb. 11. Bert & Boo’s specializes in homemade cookies, cupcakes and cakes. Open 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Mondays-Fridays, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturdays. 3900 Old McEver Road, Acworth.

Congratulations! My Friend’s Place celebrated its one-year anniversary Feb. 19 as Mayor Tommy Allegood and other city officials stopped by to celebrate. The restaurant specializes in sandwiches, wraps, soups and salads. 3466 Cobb Parkway, Suite 130, Acworth.

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COMMUNITY BOARD The Around Acworth community board consists of well-respected community leaders from different walks of life. Our board members assist us in many ways that range from serving as contributing writers to providing valuable feedback.

Tia Amlett, the principal of Barber Middle School, has

been an educator for the past 19 years. Prior to becoming a principal, Tia served as an assistant principal at Garrett Middle School and North Cobb High School. She is a native of South Carolina who earned her bachelor’s degree at Clemson University and master’s and education specialist’s degrees from Nova Southeastern University. Tia is married to Jonah, and they have two children, Nia and Jordan, who attend Cobb County schools.

Ellen Kennerly has lived in Acworth since 1992. She has worked as a journalist for more than three decades, most of it with the Atlanta Journal-Constitution holding positions as Olympics News Editor, Design Director, A1 Editor and Director of Content Development and Operations for ajc.com, among others. More recently, she worked as Professional in Residence at Louisiana State University and as Director of Asset Intelligence for WebMD. Her business, Kennerly Digital Directions, provides consulting and hands-on deliverables in communications, design and web development, largely for Acworth business people. Bob Weatherford has been a Cobb County resident for

two decades. Bob was a reserve police officer for more than 20 years, eight of those with Acworth PD including time as Captain. He is active in local charities, numerous civic organizations, and co-founded Shop with a Hero. He served as Cobb County District 1 Commissioner since 2014, and recently left that post to work for AquaGuard as the government businesses development director.

Danielle Hilderbrand is a Cobb County native. She has

been a business owner on Main Street in Acworth for more than six years. Danielle is the proprietor of Pearl’s Spa and Boutique, a partner in Rustic Ruby gift shop and an active volunteer in Acworth. She has been a member of the Acworth Downtown Development Authority for several years and is the 2017 president of the Acworth Business Association. She is a graduate from McEachern High School and Acworth’s North Metro Technical College (now Chattahoochee Tech).

Malinda Howe has lived in Acworth since 1996. She is owner and broker of Anchor Realty Partners and vice chairman of Acworth Tourism Board. She has been a member of the board for nine years. Malinda is originally from Alexandria, Va., and attended George Mason University. She always loved real estate and began her career in commercial real estate working with Savage/ Fogarty, which acquired and managed Class A office buildings on behalf of Dutch pension funds. She moved to Georgia with TMW Management, assisting in acquisitions and leases from 1997-2003, and then pursued her career in residential real estate. Malinda and her husband, Rick, have one daughter, Kara. Malinda lives, plays and works in Historic Downtown Acworth. 6

AROUND ACWORTH | March 2019

Publisher Aroundabout Local Media, Inc. ALM President Patty Ponder 770-615-3322 Patty@AroundaboutMagazines.com Director of Marketing Katherine Amick 678-279-5502 Katherine@AroundaboutMagazines.com Title Editor Katie Beall 770-852-8481 Katie@AroundaboutMagazines.com Executive Editor Candi Hannigan 770-615-3309 Candi@AroundaboutMagazines.com Art Director Michelle McCulloch 770-615-3307 Michelle@AroundaboutMagazines.com Page Designer Laura Latchford Laura@AroundaboutMagazines.com Controller Denise Griffin 770-615-3315 Denise@AroundaboutMagazines.com Market Support Associate Christie Deese Christie@AroundaboutMagazines.com

Around Acworth, 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 Acworth and surrounding area by providing residents with positive stories and timely information. It distributes a total of 16,500 free copies. Approximately 15,400 are direct mailed to homes and businesses and an additional 1,100 are placed in racks around the community. See page 64 for a distribution map. Around Acworth also has many digital viewers of the magazine online each month. Around Acworth welcomes your comments, stories, and advertisements. The deadline is the 10th of the previous month. Subscriptions are available for $24 per year. Send check or money order to the address below. The viewpoints of the advertisers, columnists and submissions are not necessarily those of the editor/publisher and the publisher makes no claims as to the validity of any charitable organizations mentioned. Around Acworth 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 2019 Around Acworth

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Volume 3, Issue 8

America’s Community Magazine

AROUND ACWORTH | March 2019

YOUR LOCAL NEWS Nonprofits Invited to Grant Application Workshops

ALM's Director of Marketing, Katherine Amick, right, accepts the award from outgoing board chair Julianne Rivera.

Aroundabout Local Media a Two-Time Award Winner Aroundabout Local Media (ALM) was given the 2019 Excellence in Customer Service award by the Cherokee Chamber of Commerce for "consistently demonstrating exceptional service that differentiates them from their competitors." ALM also earned the chamber’s Small Business of the Year award in 2016. ALM publishes four free monthly community magazines that offer affordable advertising to area businesses through cover stories, advertorials and display ads. The TowneLaker, which debuted in 1996, is the company’s flagship publication, and establishes ALM as the area’s most reliable and long-standing source for community news in a hyperlocal community magazine. Each month, 74,400 copies of the TowneLaker, Around Woodstock, Around Canton and Around Acworth magazines are distributed to area residents. Most of those are mailed directly to homes, with additional copies available in racks located in area businesses, and digital versions available online. “We feel so honored to have been selected as the recipient of this award,” said ALM President Patty Ponder. “The words on the award mean so much to us: ‘for consistently demonstrating exceptional service that differentiates them from their competitors.’ As a team, we strive to always put our customers first and make sure we have met our customers’ needs and ensure what we deliver to them is in their best interests. We feel affirmed in our efforts to always striving for customer service excellence.” 8

AROUND ACWORTH | March 2019

The Cobb Community Development Block Grant Program staff is soliciting grant program year 2020 applications for Community Development Block Grant, HOME Investment Partnership and Emergency Solutions Grant Programs. Applications will accepted through April 5, and can be downloaded at www.cobbcounty.org/cdbg. For more information, call 770-528-1455 or email info@ cobbcountycdbg.com. Grant application workshops will be held in March to help organizations learn to apply for grants. The workshops will include an overview of program eligibility, application requirements and detailed information on completing applications. Interested parties should attend one of the following workshops: • 2 p.m. March 7 Ron Anderson Recreation Center, 3820 Macedonia Road, Powder Springs • 2 p.m. March 19 Aline Wolfe Adult Recreation Center, 884 Church St., Smyrna • 2 p.m. March 28 South Cobb Recreation Center, 875 Riverside Parkway, Austell

Free Computer Skills Training Classes Offered The CobbWorks Literacy Council staff is offering five different basic computer training classes on Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. The free classes will be held at 463 Commerce Park Drive, Suite 100, Marietta. • Microsoft Word (intermediate) Registration deadline: March 14; class date: March 16 • Microsoft Excel (basic) Registration deadline: April 11; class date: April 13 • Microsoft Excel (intermediate) Registration deadline: May 9; class date: May 11 • Microsoft Powerpoint Registration deadline: June 13; class date: June 15 For more information, contact Donna Frankovsky at 770-528-8094 or dfrankovsky@ cobbworks.org.

AROUND ACWORTH | March 2019

YOUR LOCAL NEWS Acworth Celebrates 30 Years as a Tree City

Art Alliance’s Current and Upcoming Events The Acworth Arts Alliance's Art House offers its Fire and Sand exhibit, featuring the works of the Atlanta Glass Art Guild, through April 27. Artist receptions will be held 4-7 p.m. March 2 and April 6. The Art House is located at 4425 Cherokee St., Acworth. The receptions are free and open to the public. Light refreshments are available. The Art House also has two fundraisers planned for April. The Acworth Arts Alliance, along with the city of Acworth, will host a Pops Concert at Logan Farm Park April 6, featuring the New Horizon Band. This will be the first music event at Logan Farm Park. The concert begins at 6:30 p.m., and the band will perform selections ranging from show tunes to contemporary hits. The concert is open to the public, and reserved tables are available online. Proceeds support the Acworth Arts Alliance, specifically to fund a scholarship for students pursuing a degree in art, as well as funding arts initiatives in underfunded programs and among the underserved in the community. On April 13, the Acworth Arts Alliance will host a studio and garden tour, 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Three of the organization’s founding artists will open their homes for attendees to enjoy the colors of spring in their unique studios, and tour their distinct gardens. Tickets are $20 per person, or $35 per couple. For more information, visit www.acworthartsalliance.org.

Chairman to Host Spring Town Hall Meetings Cobb Commission Chairman Mike Boyce will host town hall meetings around the county in March. These town halls are a great chance to discuss the benefits of the current county budget, priorities for the upcoming budget and plans for Cobb's transit and transportation systems. There will be two meetings March 14 at the North Cobb Senior Center in Acworth (3900 S. Main St.) at 3 p.m. and 7 p.m.

Volunteers Needed for ACEing Autism ACEing Autism is looking for volunteers and participants for its spring session, which starts March 16 at Lost Mountain Tennis Center. ACEing Autism is a tennis program for children on the autism spectrum who would like to learn the fundamentals of tennis. Participants will have an opportunity to increase their social skills through taking turns, working in teams, and following instructions. All equipment will be provided. For more information, contact Amy Bonner at 770-528-8525 or visit www.aceingautism.org. 10

AROUND ACWORTH | March 2019

Mayor Tommy Allegood will present a proclamation to the Acworth Tree Commission in recognition of Acworth’s 30th year of being named a Tree City by the National Arbor Day Foundation. The Tree City USA program recognizes cities for their excellence in urban forestry management, and Acworth is one of more than 3,500 Tree City USAs. The city of Acworth will have its annual Arbor Day Celebration at 7 p.m. March 7, at which citizens will gather at a council meeting to recognize the city’s efforts to bring awareness of what trees do for the community. Every year, the Acworth Tree Commission sponsors a poster contest for local schools to get involved in the Arbor Day Celebration, and the winners are recognized at the meeting. Each year, the city plants trees to recognize Arbor Day. The Liberty Hill Chapter of the DAR is in its first year of membership, but has gotten involved in Acworth’s tree plantings. The nonprofit group works to promote historic preservation, education and patriotism. The Liberty Hill Chapter recently has made a donation toward Acworth’s Arbor Day celebration, and has contributed to the city’s tree plantings and ice cream party for the local schools during the Arbor Day poster contest. Members from the Liberty Hill Chapter will visit City Hall March 7 for the annual Arbor Day Celebration.

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YOUR LOCAL NEWS Host a Teen French Exchange Student in July

Members of the Liberty Hill Chapter of the DAR pose with the signed Georgia Day proclamation.

Liberty Hill DAR — Georgia Day Proclamation Members of the Liberty Hill Chapter of the DAR attended the Acworth City Council meeting Feb. 7 to receive a Georgia Day proclamation. Acworth Mayor Tommy Allegood and the Board of Aldermen proclaimed Feb. 12 as Georgia Day, in honor of the state’s 286th anniversary and called all Georgians to celebrate the state’s proud and rich heritage.

MUST Ministries Rates Among America’s Top Charities MUST Ministries recently earned its third consecutive 4-star rating from Charity Navigator, the organization’s highest award. Attaining a 4-star rating means MUST exceeds industry standards, and outperforms most charities doing similar work. According to Michael Thatcher, president and CEO of Charity Navigator, only 24 percent of the charities evaluated by Charity Navigator have received at least three consecutive 4-star evaluations. Charity Navigator is the nation's largest and most-utilized evaluator of charities, closely examining two areas of a charity's performance: financial health and accountability/ transparency. According to MUST's latest financial reports, the organization spends 82.7 percent of its total operating expenses on program services, providing those in poverty with food, housing, workforce development and clothing. MUST serves eight northwest Atlanta counties, operating out of Marietta. For more information, visit www.mustministries.org.

Cobb Youth Leadership Accepts Applications for 2019-20 Class Cobb Youth Leadership (CYL), a development program sponsored by the Leadership Cobb Alumni Association and Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, is seeking applications for its 2019-20 class. The program, which focuses on developing leadership skills through interactive participation, provides students a unique opportunity to learn about their community as well as meet and interact with students from other high schools. Applications are reviewed by the CYL steering committee; approximately 50 students are chosen. Students participate in the program during their junior year of high school. The application deadline is April 19. To apply, visit www.cobbchamber.org. 12

AROUND ACWORTH | March 2019

Twenty French teenagers are seeking host families for a high school exchange program, earning service credit, this summer. The students are from professional French families and all speak English. Each student needs an American host family who will provide room and board, hospitality and friendship July 9-29. Host families will be compensated. These teens, whose home cities range from Paris to Provence, want to experience American life first-hand. The program will be overseen by Linda Farmer, a retired French teacher, and a French chaperone. The program is sponsored by Paris-based Loisirs Culturels à l'étranger (“LEC”). If interested, contact Linda Farmer at lgfarmer@aol. com, or call 770-973-2452. For more information, visit www.lec-usa.com.

Jacob’s Ladder Registration Now Open Jacob’s Ladder at the First Baptist Church of Acworth is now enrolling for the 2019-20 year. Jacob’s Ladder is a ministry of the church that offers a Christian-based curriculum for students ages 12 months to 4 years old. The ministry is open 9:15 a.m.-1:15 p.m. MondayFriday. To register, visit www.fbcacworth.com. For questions, please call the church office at 770-974-3021 or email jl@fbcacworth.com.

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AROUND ACWORTH | March 2019

Celebrations!

Caralynn Grace Campbell

Age 5 on March 31 Happy birthday! We love you! Love, Grammy and PopPop

Cole Parker

Age 5 on March 10 Happy birthday buddy!

Renzo Riddle

Age 9 on March 5 Happy birthday Renzo! I love you so much! Love, Mom

Leo Cook

Age 7 on March 4 Happy seventh birthday, Leo! I love you so much! Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m so proud of the little boy you are. Xoxo, Mommy

Betty Ann Campbell

Age 89 on March 14 Happy birthday Grandmama!

Eva Delgado

Age 11 on March 20 Happy birthday! We love you to the moon and back! Mom, Dad, Mia and Liv

AROUND ACWORTH | March 2019

ANNOUNCEMENTS ARE FREE!

E-mail to: Katie@AroundaboutMagazines.com April deadline is March 14.

A Message from the

cworth always has been a purpose-driven city, comprised of an exceptional team that constantly is striving to move in the right direction. On Feb. 7, I had the honor of sharing the State of our City with members of the Acworth Business Association and community partners. This year’s theme was “Acworth is purpose driven.” Purpose begins in the heart; it is what we believe, and determines how we behave. Acworth always has been guided by our purpose-driven compass, which consists of quality of life, trust, sustainability, culture, governance and partnerships. It has been our purpose-driven vision over the years to see Acworth transform and expand. We are excited finally to see that vision become a reality with the addition of the pedestrian bridge, redevelopment of Logan Farm Park, and the creation of our Parkside District! The addition of this new district, in conjunction with the Highway 92 new consumer traffic patterns, has been attracting business investment in our community. The Ingles/Kmart property currently is undergoing redevelopment, and soon will transform into a live, work, play community. Logan Farm Park is the epicenter of this new district, with the addition of the Acworth Community Center, and, coming soon, 1860 Feed Depot and TapTown Beer Garden. We also are excited to announce the addition of Red Top Brewhouse in our Lakeside District. Our city team, the Acworth Business Association and community partners, through purpose-driven leadership, have earned the trust of our citizens. We define leadership with one word: influence. We believe that, without love, leadership has no influence. Our city team and community partners are made up of people who love this community. Their leadership shapes our culture and inspires us to remain purpose-driven. Our culture is to be a leader in economic development, maintain that people are more important than programs, deliver the best possible services to citizens and businesses, be exceptional, and to celebrate our successes. In Acworth, we know that great partners become great friends. Today, over 60 percent of our city resources come from

partnerships. We have worked hard to strengthen our educational partnerships to build a better quality of life for our community and, thanks to our community partnerships, we have been able to fund our quality of life projects, such as our Redevelopment Bond, Logan Farm Park Expansion, the Acworth Community Center, Depot Park, and the addition of more than 500 parking spaces within our Historic Downtown. These were made possible through a Community Development Block Grant, SPLOST and Acworth’s Downtown Development Authority. It has been our purpose-driven mission to manage quality growth within our community carefully. We currently have a tax digest consisting of 43 percent commercial and 57 percent residential, and we haven’t seen an increased millage rate in 10 years. Our population is currently 24,000, and our growth remains at 3 percent per year. With the addition of 73 new businesses last year, our growth has allowed us to create 2,100 new jobs within our community. All of this is possible thanks to our planning and zoning board and its purpose-driven mission to create sustainability. As a community, it is our vision to build the right place for everyone. The average age of our residents is 36 years old. We have placed an emphasis on marketing to millennials when it comes to our downtown restaurants and events. With our downtown redevelopment and Acworth History Center projects concluding this spring, we are making the necessary additions that will draw even more new businesses, and housing with walkability to our community. Remember, set your compass. Be purpose-driven and change your world! For more information on any of these projects, events and programs, visit www.acworth.org, sign up for our e-news blasts on our home page, “like” Visit Acworth on Facebook, or follow us on Twitter at @VisitAcworth. God bless, Tommy

Atlanta native Tommy Allegood is a University of Georgia graduate. He was elected to Acworth’s city council in 2000 and has served as mayor since 2002. He is a Community Builder who is purposed to Make it Count!

AROUND ACWORTH | March 2019

Member of the Lilburn Police Department K-9 unit takes the plunge.

Madison Bello participated in the face painting.

Boy Scouts play a game of tug-of-war.

Taking a swim with the fishes.

Too cold? Too bad! Members of the Dunwoody Police Department celebrate their costume contest win.

Miss Georgia Teen USA, Isabella Bloedorn of Acworth, poses with Girl Scouts at the event.

Chef Henryâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s crew from Henryâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Louisiana Grill.

AROUND ACWORTH | March 2019

Adam Bomb from Q99.7 takes the mic.

PHOTOS BY BRITTANY WEIR.

Members of the GBI after their frigid dip.

Haken Aktas, Edward Lehnes, Adit Satyce, Eric Copper and Garrett Agais show off their costumes before the big plunge.

Polar Plunge The Law Enforcement Torch Run for Georgia hosted the Special Olympics Polar Plunge at Acworth Beach at Cauble Park on Feb. 23. Participants collected pledges in exchange for the opportunity to jump into icy waters. All proceeds collected by “plungers” benefit the athletes of Special Olympics Georgia.

Participants run in for the Polar Plunge.

The crew from Gilligan’s Island taking the plunge.

Participants charge for the icy waters. “Donut” you want to take the plunge?

Mary Stockstill shows off her Superwoman costume. AROUND ACWORTH | March 2019

ACWORTH POLICE DEPARTMENT

Officers Are Here to Help; Reach Out to Them BY WAYNE DENNARD

I love being a police officer. I consider it a calling. No one gets into policing for money or fame; it won’t make you a millionaire, and it could cost your life. Most police officers are drawn to policing because they have a natural desire to help others. For many officers, this is something they have wanted to do since they were children. That is why it truly hurts my heart when I hear parents tell their children that if they’re not good, the police will come and get them and put them in jail. Obviously, that is not what we do, and we need to stop telling our children that. It does more harm than good. Children need to be able to trust the adults in their lives, and many kids put police officers on a pedestal — until they learn not to trust, and instead to fear. The police, who are there to protect them, become a source of fear and distrust. It is important that children know who to turn to if they are in trouble, if someone is hurting them, and if they need help. If we use the police as an empty threat to frighten children into behaving well, we run the risk that they will not contact the police when they need us. It’s just as important that adults understand they can call the police when they need help. Too often, citizens tell me about something they observed that was suspicious. When I ask them if they called the police, the answer is no. This has become especially common with package theft. If an Amazon package is stolen from a front porch, most times, Amazon will replace the item. Still, in these cases, it is important to call the police, and let us know that a theft has occurred. If crimes go unreported, it makes it more likely that additional crimes will happen in the future, and it makes it even more difficult to investigate those crimes. 18

AROUND ACWORTH | March 2019

The same is true for general suspicious behavior. If you see something that just doesn’t seem right, and you are concerned, do not be afraid to call us. That is what we are here for. The old adage, “if you see something, say something,” is good to remember. While our officers do an excellent job, we can’t be everywhere all of the time. Observant citizens are one of our best sources of information for crime prevention. The more information we have, the better we can serve our community. There are a number of ways that you can reach out to us. • Records: 770-974-1232 • Records fax number: 678-801-4059 • Emergency: 911 • Dispatch (24 hours): 770-974-3111 • Jail: 770-974-0295 • Criminal Investigations Division: 678-801-4068 • Drug tips Hotline: 770-974-3025 • Drug tips Email: drugtips@acworth.org • Tips Hotline: 770-975-5826 • Court services: 770-974-0965 Of course, you always can stop by the police department and meet with an officer. Our officers are here to help, and it is important that none of our citizens, children or adults, is afraid to reach out to us. We are here to help; it is our passion!

Wayne Dennard has served as chief since 2012 and has lived in this community for more than 40 years.

Real Estate Market Continues Positive Trend BY MALINDA HOWE

There has never been a more exciting time to live, work and play in Acworth. Everywhere you look, growth is happening. Our city leaders are doing a beautiful job to make this a top destination in Georgia. There is something for everyone, lakeside and now parkside. Our new community center, Lemon Street extension, pedestrian overpass, and depot interactive museum are nearing completion. Downtown buildings are being purchased, and new businesses and restaurants are coming to our city, and investing in our community. Golf carts abound! We have two beautiful lakes, wonderful parks and trails, and the friendliest people you could imagine. With the growth we are experiencing, Acworth continues to enjoy an increase in home values. Acworth’s final 2018 housing numbers are as follows:

• Cobb County, Acworth: 2018 median home sales price was $243,000 (5.6 percent increase from 2017), the average time on the market was 12 days, and 1,017 homes were sold. • Paulding County, Acworth: 2018 median home price

was $304,888 (4.5 percent increase from 2017), the average time on the market was 24 days, and 299 homes were sold.

• Cherokee County, Acworth: 2018 median home price was $244,612 (8.1 percent increase from 2017), the average time on the market was 16 days, and 376 homes were sold. • Bartow County, Acworth: 2018 median home price was $156,750 (1.9 percent decrease from 2017), the average time on the market was 19 days, and 78 homes were sold. (Data from FMLS – this does not reflect homes sold under the radar and represents detached homes only.) Real estate offices are receiving calls daily from people wanting to live in Acworth. Homes are selling before they ever hit the market. In 2019, we will see new inventory of single-family homes available in Lombardy Village and at the end of Dixie Avenue on Lake Acworth. In addition, the city is currently working with investors interested in developing other areas in Historic Downtown Acworth. If trends continue, 2019 will be a year when Acworth will really shine.

Malinda Howe is a broker and owner of Anchor Realty Partners. Howe is also vice chairwoman of the Acworth Tourism Board.

AROUND ACWORTH | March 2019

UPCOMING EVENTS March 7 ABA luncheon

11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. NorthStar Church 3413 Blue Springs Road Kennesaw

March 12 Morning Jolt

7:30-9 a.m. American Legion Post 304 4220 South Main St., Acworth Networking event that focuses on exchanging referrals with one another. Coffee and breakfast provided.

March 14 Alive After Five

5:30-7:30 p.m. Fusco’s via Roma Italian Trattoria 4815A S. Main St. Acworth

March 21 Women’s Network

11:30 a.m.-1:15 p.m. Brookwood Christian School 4728 Wood St., Acworth

March 26 Morning Jolt

7:30-9 a.m. American Legion Post 304 4220 South Main St., Acworth Networking event that focuses on exchanging referrals with one another. Coffee and breakfast provided. 20

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March On and Cross That Bridge BY JIM HILBER

Did February March? No, but April May! OK, that may not be the best joke you have heard lately (or again), but it surely reminds us to enthusiastically keep moving forward as the year progresses. Unlike the February weather, I trust that we are all working toward a consistent direction of improvement. The Acworth Business Association is honored to share a great working relationship with the City of Acworth. At our February luncheon, Mayor Tommy Allegood presented his annual State of the City address, and shared the reason this is a “purpose-driven” community. The good vibes and affinity we both share stems from all the people who make us great. We are an open-arms city where you can share your abilities, and explore possibilities. Can you believe we have nearly completed the first quarter of 2019? Do you have ideas on how to best collaborate with the Acworth business community? Have you activated or renewed your ABA membership? Please consider the opportunities presented by upgrading your investment with our various sponsorship packages. The presidential package continues to provide the best overall value for your commitment. We also honor donated gifts, products and services to highlight your business for member drawings and various worthy contributions. Our networking events vary in times, and format, to ensure there is something for every ABA member. Please don’t just watch us go. Join us, and grow! As we move toward warmer weather and longer days, you can be assured our scheduled showcase of annual events will be special. The season will tee off with our annual golf tournament April 15 at Brookstone Golf and Country Club. We welcome all, and have some exciting new attractions to showcase. Find details to register a team, or participate as a sponsor, at www.AcworthBusiness.org. When you are strong, you build bridges. Our association strives to connect your business to success. Let’s March on, and cross over the bridge we build together. It is certainly an honor and my pleasure to serve the ABA community. I would love to hear from you. Do good and be well, Jim Hilber President 2019 Acworth Business Association

Jim Hilber has served on the ABA board for three years. He is the president of Merchant Gladiator, LLC, and a father, raising two young boys with his wife Tania.

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What inspires you to strive for academic excellence?

“Reflecting on my journey and the endless support from my parents and family is incredibly inspirational. I want to make my family proud and encourage others in my community. I believe that all things are possible through faith, hard work, and positivity. Just knowing that one day I will be uplifting another person as their role model, encourages me every day.”

Who (in the community or at North Cobb High School) has encouraged or motivated you?

DON’T Let Adversity Hinder Your Success

Scholarship Winner Relies on Positive Attitude Two North Cobb High School seniors recently were awarded the 2019 Horatio Alger State Scholarship, out of 570 recipients across the country. Acworth residents Adriana Williams, above, and Chloe Fair each will receive a one-time allotment of $10,000 toward their college expenses. Williams shared her story of overcoming adversity with us and explained what this scholarship means for her future. This annual scholarship recognizes outstanding students, who, in the face of great adversity, have exhibited a commitment to continuing their education and serving their communities. www.horatioalger.org.

Can you explain the adversity you’ve faced and how you overcame it?

“I have scoliosis, atrial septal defect, and asthma. When I was born, I had omphalocele, which is an intestinal defect that can cause nutritional and growth issues throughout a child’s life. The first step to overcoming any adversity is to realize that it is not all bad. These things are not always hindering our success, sometimes it is our own mindset and negative energy. I had to come to terms with these adversities 22

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and know that they never made me weak or less than others, but they made me stronger as a person. I even had a G Tube up until 12 years old, but I never let any of my conditions hinder me from enjoying life, having fun, and being true to myself. I had to understand that I was made for a greater purpose, and that I was never set up to fail. These conditions have inspired me to pursue the medical field and advocate for young children like myself.”

What does receiving the scholarship mean to you?

“Winning the Horatio Alger Scholarship was surreal, because I related to the criteria on a personal level. I felt like someone was hearing my story and supporting my success, from a genuine place. I chose this scholarship because my experiences and adversities make me who I am. It is amazing that an organization believed in my abilities as much as I do. The Horatio Alger Scholarship will help fund my textbooks and tuition. Due to this incredible aid, I am more confident in my collegiate academic potential. I won’t have to worry much about expenses, and I can focus on my schoolwork.”

“My band teachers Mr. Scott Pannell and Mr. Sheldon Frazier have influenced me the most at North Cobb. They are very inspirational and uplifting leaders who strive for success and demand excellence from all their students. They have created an environment of positivity and transparency. In band, we’re never afraid to be ourselves and push ourselves to higher standards.” The program also recognizes individuals who have served their communities. What activities have you been involved in? “When I was a Girl Scout, we served homeless shelters several times a year and walked in breast cancer awareness parades. I participated in a variety of community outreach programs with my church in downtown Atlanta as well. We gave out water, sandwiches, chips, and pamphlets. I often frequent the neighborhood park and clean up trash.”

What college are you attending and what do you plan to study?

“I plan to attend Columbus State University. Its Competitive Pre Med and Servant Leadership programs stand out from any other school that I was interested in. The community atmosphere, the handson experience, the comprehensive research opportunities, and the small but lively town of Columbus encouraged me to choose this school. “I plan to study Health Sciences. This major will allow me to study public health, humanities and biological sciences at the same time. I am also interested in global studies so I will minor in French and study abroad. I have been inspired by culture and medicine for as long as I can remember. My dream is to become a pediatric physician because I can relate to sick children and help to treat their illnesses. I can also see myself traveling with groups like Doctors Without Borders.” .

#BalanceforBetter

International Women’s Day Dating back to the early 1900s, International Women’s Day has grown in popularity in recent years thanks to social media and catchy hashtags. The global event occurs annually on March 8, and celebrates the achievements of women in business, politics and culture, while also encouraging gender parity. This year’s theme is #BalanceforBetter, challenging everyone to help build a gender-balanced world. In honor of International Women’s Day, we asked local businesswomen one simple question. We found their answers inspiring, and we hope you do, too.

What's the most important advice you would give a woman in the business world? “My answer comes in three parts. 1. Keep your vision clear by always remembering why you started the business in the first place. It is important for women to stay focused on their goals, and to make sure that their ‘why’ is strong enough and big enough for them to keep going with faith through the hard times. 2. Have a sense to protect your independence. I see a lot of women hesitate to make an executive decision because they are either relying on someone else or too insecure make the right choice. Others fall gullible to opportunistic acquaintances who ride on their success or, worst, weigh them down. Give importance to your own personal opinions, gut feelings and make use of your natural intuition. 3. Protect your energy by only spending your efforts on networking and projects that bring you joy, love or a sense of purpose. Women are naturally compassionate people, and tend to entertain everyone. Being selective on what you spend your energy on is vital to being as productive as possible in business. Make sure you reserve enough energy to take care of your own mental, physical and emotional state.”

— Gabrielle Alvarado,

owner of The Drop-in Playhouse

“Be sure to encourage other women, and be as happy about someone else's success as you are about your own. Have the mindset that it's not a competition. We need each other to succeed.”

— Kim Wigington,

“BE PATIENT! Set short-term goals. Rejection is part of life, and you can't take it personally. We sold in one store the first year, faced rejection from many business owners, but added 10 stores the following year. It takes time to build a business or career. Set your goals, work hard and you will achieve them.”

— Bonny Tillman,

owner of Vino-Eco Candle Co.

“Dream big, have faith, and treat everyone the way you would want to be treated. There are good and bad days, but those bad days will teach you to be stronger and more of an expert in your field. Find a mentor and then listen and learn. Love what you do wholeheartedly, and have a servant’s heart.”

— Malinda Howe,

owner of Anchor Realty Partners

“Be true to yourself; live by your standards. Do what is right, fair and equal in all situations, and if you are in a customer-facing business, always do what is right for the customer. Make decisions based on information, not emotions. Always be professional everywhere you go, and in everything you do. People are always watching you, so work hard and overperform. We still may be judged because of our gender, and, in some instances, still thought of as ‘not as capable’ as our male counterparts, but if you apply these principles, you will be respected, and you will be successful!”

— Patty Ponder,

president of Aroundabout Local Media

founder of Brookwood Christian School

AROUND ACWORTH | March 2019

RICHARD BAILEY BY ANSLEE PRIEST, KATIE HENDRICK AND REAGAN REYNOLDS

Richard S. “Dick” Bailey is a former United States Air Force pilot. Mr. Bailey grew up with four sisters during the Great Depression in Binghamton, N.Y. Growing up, Mr. Bailey always worked to help support his family, since his father only worked part-time. One job he had was working as a milk boy delivering milk to people. One time, his van crashed while he was delivering milk, and he ended up on someone’s front porch. To make up for the destruction the van caused, they gave the residents free milk for a few months. Mr. Bailey also worked at an airport, cleaning planes. In return, he got flight lessons. Before he could drive, he knew how to fly a plane. During his military career, Mr. Bailey flew 65 missions and flew at the battle of Normandy. He was a lieutenant and flew the B-26 bomber in the 9th Air Force.

RANDY SCAMIHORN BY ALEXANDRA CHAVEZ AND EMILY NASH

Mr. Randall “Randy” Scamihorn spent most of his childhood growing up in the panhandle of Florida. Before starting high school, he moved to Indiana, where his life would change. Once in Indiana, he joined the Civil Air Patrol when he was 14. After graduating, Mr. Scamihorn

While Mr. Bailey was flying a mission once, a piece of smoking plank went through the airplane, and landed in between his feet. If it had hit him in the upper torso, he would have died instantly. Mr. Bailey received many awards after he served, and he wears them proudly. When Mr. Bailey came back to the United States after serving, he went to college and became Katie Hendrick, Richard Bailey, Reagan Reynolds and Anslee Priest. an engineer. learned we should embrace the people All three of us students, we have around us. Rather than focusing who interviewed the 96-year-old hero, on things that will be there forever, we took away very important life lessons should take the time to get to know we will remember forever. He reminded our community, and the amazing things us to be ourselves. He told us to pursue that people have done for us. Mr. Bailey our own dreams, and not let anyone taught us to start our own impact on get in the way. He also said that there the world, and not be afraid of who we is a world outside of our phones, and are. We are beyond appreciative to have we should start realizing it. Mr. Bailey been a part of this wonderful experience helped us remember that we need to with Mr. Bailey. have more human interactions. We also married his high school sweetheart, Debbie. Soon after that, he got his draft notice and started his journey in the military. His journey began in the Army, fighting in the Vietnam War. While serving, he was deployed all over Southeast Asia, including Thailand. After the war ended, Mr. Scamihorn went to college on the G.I. Bill. Still interested in the military, he joined the Air Force to further serve his country. Additionally, he worked in the Pentagon, and worked as a military officer at the 1996 Olympics. Eventually, he retired from the From bottom left clockwise: Natalia Garofalo, Randy’s wife Debbie Scamihorn, Nic Curtis, Alexandra Chavez, Ema Lopez and Emily Nash and Randy Scamihorn.

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military, and then started his teaching career. After one year, he realized his passion for teaching, and went on to teach for 14 more years in the Cobb County School District. Today, he is a proud member of the Cobb County School Board. Being in the military has taught Mr. Scamihorn many fundamental lessons in life, like discipline, basic hygiene and being safe. This has helped shape him into the wonderful man he is today. Also, throughout his service, he has had many memorable moments. One major moment that he will never forget is when he learned that his son was born. This pushed him forward to come home and work hard. Mr. Scamihorn’s advice for young people today is to choose your friends wisely, and that there is always a way you can serve your community, whether it be big or small. Finally, Mr. Scamihorn wants to be remembered for always trying his best and having a positive impact on the people he encountered in his life.

Boater Education Crucial Before Season Begins BY GREGORY FONZENO

The weather throughout Georgia may be unsettled still, but boating safety advocates urge boaters to enroll in a boating education course. The Spring Aboard – Take a Boating Education Course campaign encourages boaters to become better educated prior to the kickoff of the boating season. “Taking a boating education course is the first thing everyone should do before they go boating,” said Mark Brown, president of the National Association of State Boating Law Administrators (NASBLA), lead organization for the campaign. “These courses teach you about navigation rules, laws that must be followed in your state, and provide safety checklists that go a long way in helping you and your loved ones have a fun and enjoyable boating season. Whether you are a first-time boater, or have years of experience, there is always more to learn when taking to the water. Taking a boating education course is one of the best things you can do to prevent accidents on the water.” United States Coast Guard statistics indicate that, of those accidents where the level of operator education was known, 81 percent of boating deaths occurred on boats where the boat operator never had received boating education instruction. There’s a course to meet each boater’s busy schedule. Boaters have multiple options, from classroom courses

offered by the local U. S. Coast Guard Auxiliary and the United States Power Squadrons local Atlanta’s Boating Club (www.atlantasboatingclub.com), to various online offerings available anytime, day or night. Many states, including Georgia, require completion of a course verified by NASBLA as meeting the national boating education standard for powerboat rental or operation. In Georgia, anyone born after Jan. 1, 1998, must complete a boating education course approved by the Department of Natural Resources and NASBLA before operating a motorized vessel on Georgia state waters. For a summary of Georgia’s regulations, visit www.gadnrle.org. The annual campaign is led by NASBLA, and produced under a grant administered by the U.S. Coast Guard. Additionally, the campaign is supported by state, federal and nonprofit partners. It is open to participation by all states, territories, boating education organizations, instructors and course providers. For more information, visit www.springaboard.org.

Greg Fonzeno is the public education officer and vice commander of the local U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary Unit (Flotilla 22) at Allatoona Lake.

AROUND ACWORTH | March 2019

Must-Have Gadgets for Every Kitchen BY TIFFANY HUGHES

Remember the kitchen tools your grandma used? She probably had a wooden spoon, some type of biscuit cutter and a sharp knife. Back in those days, there was no such thing as an electric mixer. Most cooks used a manual one, which consisted of two beater blades connected to a handle and hand crank. Fortunately, we’ve come a long way since then; our go-to tools are quite different. First and foremost, are silicone spatulas, which can be used to mix most anything, and are stain-resistant and heatresistant up to 400 degrees. They aren’t expensive, so buy several to keep on hand. Second are kitchen shears or heavy-duty scissors. You can use these to cut meat into pieces or just trim the excess fat, snip herbs, cut sticky foods, such as fruit or marshmallows, which would stick to your knife, and even pizza. The best part is that you can throw them in the dishwasher afterward for easy cleanup. Butter spray works great to coat your pan for frying or sautéing, and provides flavor without the fat. Try spraying a measuring cup before adding honey, molasses or peanut butter, and the contents of the cup will slide right out. If you spray the blade of a knife before slicing cheese, it prevents the cheese from sticking. Disposable gloves have multiple uses as well. Put them on before handling raw meat, and you can peel them off afterward with confidence that your hands are sanitary. These gloves are great for protecting your hands from 26

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foods that stain, such as beets or food coloring, or anything that would leave a lingering scent, such as onions, garlic or jalapenos. No kitchen should be without two knives – one to cut veggies, meats, etc., and a bread knife, which can be used to slice bread, as well as tomatoes or other delicate fruits and veggies. You’ll also need a heavy-duty cutting board for when knives are used. Cutting boards also make a great surface to roll out dough for bread or cookies. It’s especially invaluable if you don’t have a lot of counter space; you can lay it across your sink or your stovetop. Last, but certainly not least, is at least one good quality wooden spoon. It’s perfect for stirring thicker foods (such as dough) that might break a silicone one. It also works well when cooking candy and foods that reach temps above 400 degrees. Sure, there are newer gadgets, of all sorts, for cooking nowadays, but nothing beats your grandma’s wooden spoon and your own two hands. So, next time you’re in the kitchen whipping up your family’s favorite dish, think about what tools you use that you’d like to pass on to your own kids or grandkids. Happy cooking everyone!

Tiffany Hughes is an Acworth resident and is volunteer coordinator/scheduler for the Booth Western Art Museum. She enjoys spending time with her family and furbabies. You can contact her at creativecook11@yahoo.com.

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Campgrounds Open March 15 Sweetwater March 22 McKaskey, Payne and Victoria May 17 Old Highway 41 #3 and Upper Stamp Creek A full lake map is on pages 60-61.

Lake Life

Allatoona Prepares for Spring, Summer BY CHRISTOPHER PURVIS

Allatoona Lake is one of the busiest U.S. Army Corps of Engineers lakes in the nation with an estimated 6.5 million visitors every year. The Corps manages numerous boat ramps and day use areas situated around the lake, and the convenient campgrounds offer great opportunities for a full outdoor experience close to your backyard! With springtime quickly approaching, it’s a perfect time to start familiarizing yourself with the recreation areas around the lake, when they open, and any changes in policy with the Corps recreation program.

Campgrounds

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers manages seven class “A” campgrounds on Allatoona Lake. McKinney Campground, located in the Acworth area, is open year-round and is considered one of the busiest Corps campgrounds in the nation. Sweetwater Campground

in Canton will officially open for the season March 15 with three other campgrounds, McKaskey, Payne and Victoria opening March 22. The final two campgrounds, Old Highway 41 No. 3 and Upper Stamp Creek, are projected to open May 17. A big change this year in all campgrounds will be the implementation of cashless operations. This will provide a more secure way to conduct financial transactions and reduce the potential for theft or loss of cash funds. Cashless transactions in the gatehouse will enhance campground operations, provide quicker processing of refunds, and improve security and safety of gate attendants. Only credit and debit cards will be accepted as payment in campgrounds and day-use areas. Other forms of payment, including checks, will no longer be accepted. All campsites will continue to be 100 percent reservable at every campground managed by the Corps on Allatoona. Campsite pricing stays the same and is based on the location and the amenities on the campsite. Reservations can be made by calling (toll-free) 1-877-444-6777 or by going through www.recreation.gov, which links to various recreational sites around the nation.

Day-Use Areas

The Etowah disc golf course at Riverside Park. 28

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The Corps offers a wide variety of day-use areas that we manage on the lake. There are 10 separate ramps, five beaches, eight shelters, four picnic areas, five trails and one disc golf course. Many of the areas are a combo ramp/beach/shelter area. The day-use areas have mixed opening dates starting in February with all areas open by May 1. The Etowah Disc Golf Course at Riverside Park is fast becoming one of the more popular courses in Georgia. If you have never played the course, please come out and enjoy this unique and beautiful course. The new thing this year will be the absence of the old cash “honor vaults” in the day-use areas. All honor vaults in Corps managed

Above, Galts Ferry boat launch. Left, tents can be pitched just feet away from the shoreline at Payne campground.

day-use areas have been replaced by automated fee machines. The fee machines offer greater efficiency, improved tracking of fee collections, decreased costs of managing collections, safer collection process and reduced theft and break-ins/vandalism. The automated fee machines accept payments for Corps day-use passes but the passes must be acquired from the Operations Project Management Office or recreation areas that sell the pass.

Passes

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers sells and issues most of the federal America the Beautiful Passes from the Allatoona Lake Operations Project Management Office. Visitors who hold one of these passes receive free admittance in our Corps managed dayuse areas and ramps. America the Beautiful Senior and Access Pass holders will also receive 50 percent off on camping. All other passes will continue to be charged full price for camping. The Every Kid in a Park pass program is a federal initiative that started three years ago to educate children on the importance of the great outdoors and to introduce them to our great federal areas. All current fourth-graders can receive a free annual pass that covers entrance fees for the entire family at all federal lands and waters for a full year. In the last year, Allatoona staff has issued more than 5,000 of these cards. If you are a parent or a teacher with current fourth-graders, please contact our offices on how to receive this pass.

Work on the Lake?

The Corps still has a number of park host volunteer and park attendant contractor positions available for qualified couples this summer. Applicants must be a two-person team at least 21 years of age and furnish their own factory built recreation vehicle. If you have questions concerning the openings, please contact the ranger in charge of the campground or day-use area programs. For questions concerning Allatoona Lake or the recreation program, please contact the Allatoona Lake Operations Project Management Office at 678-721-6700, visit us on the web at www.sam.usace.army.mil/Missions/CivilWorks/Recreation/ AllatoonaLake.aspx or on Facebook at @USACEAllatoonaLake.

Christopher Purvis is the lead ranger at Lake Allatoona over Partnerships, Volunteers and Project Security. He has been a ranger on Allatoona Lake since 2005. AROUND ACWORTH | March 2019

Rob’s Rescues I interviewed Dana Starr Rittelmeyer, Britney Davis and Cindy Rawlings of Half the Way Home (www.halfthewayhome.org).

What do you do and how did you start Half the Way Home?

Half the Way Home was originally a TNR (Trap-Neuter-Return) facility out of Cobb. When the lady who ran it retired in October 2016, Dana took over and Cindy and Britney joined her. We focus on rescuing the forgotten cats, seniors, medical cases and those in rural shelters. Our intention was to help 20-40 cats a month, but by the end of the first year we had rescued 1,600 cats. Half the Way Home originally rescued dogs, too, and was completely foster-based, but we were stretched too thin and chose to focus completely on cats and, now we rescue about 100 cats per month. In September 2018, we moved into a shelter facility on Main Street in Woodstock. Cats are housed there, and, in addition, we have a foster base of 75 foster homes and around 135 volunteers. This dog's name is Jodie. Her tag number is 611837. She is 8 years old. She is a great dog with a beautiful face and is also really calm and soft. She is muscular, stable and sweet. She is an owner-surrender, but I don't understand why, because she is such a great dog.

What was the first cat you rescued, when and why?

It was a baby Tabby cat called Axel from Cobb County Animal Shelter. It was one of those forgotten kittens that are not big enough to be out in a cage visible for adoption, so they are kept in the back and not socialized or visible to anyone.

How many cats do you save every year?

In two years of operation, 3,000 cats have been spayed, neutered, fostered and adopted.

Do you work with feral cats at all?

We pull a lot of feral cats from Animal Control. Often they think they are feral, but they are not. We also take in a lot of feral kittens that we call “iItty, bitty, hissy, spitty” babies. We have a working cat program, and try to place cats in outdoor situations like farms, stables and barns.

What is a story that you love to tell?

Audrey Shoemaker from LifeLine Animal Project called and said, "We have a Dana kitten." This usually means it's a disaster. This cat had been attacked by a coyote, and we named her Audrey. I had to syringe-feed her, and it took a long time to rehabilitate her. She was the first cat that we asked for vetting donations for. She was constantly overlooked by potential adopters, until one day a couple walked into PetSmart and completely fell in love with her.

What do you like least about your job?

The hardest thing is losing a cat. We pull a lot of cats from rural shelters that are in bad shape, so we are bound to lose some. This cat's name is Pixie and she is 8 months old. She meows a lot. She is a cuddler and loves to lie in your lap. She has FIV, Feline Immunodeficiency Virus, so if you adopt her she has to be an only cat. She was a stray. Most people might think because of the FIV that she will die at an early age, but that is untrue and she will more than likely live a normal life. Cats can't pass FIV on to each other through casual movements, but it can be passed on through biting so it is best to have this cat as an only cat. FIV can’t be passed to dogs or people. 30

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What do you like most about your job?

Every time we can say “yes” and take a cat. Just before Christmas we pulled every cat from two nearby shelters. They are high-kill shelters. At the moment we are pulling 90 percent of the cats from those shelters into our rescue.

What do you want the community to know about you?

That we are here. We have a pretty good network, and we need support. Please follow us on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook.

What advice do you have for me?

Keep doing what you are doing. Foster empathy for animals and humans. We all need to use our passions to give back to the world.

I am Rob Macmillan, and I am on a mission to help shelter dogs and cats. Contact me at robsrescues@gmail.com.

AROUND ACWORTH | March 2019

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Happy Caps Love and Care for Those Fighting for Their Lives BY SUSAN BROWNING SCHULZ

“I was given a hat by the nurse one day when I arrived for a chemo treatment,” said Kathy DeJoseph, Happy Caps founder. “It was made by a woman named Margaret. She had taken the time to write a sweet handwritten note to whoever would receive it. It meant a lot to me. “I never forgot the kindness of receiving this special gift from a complete stranger that day, and the way her present made me feel, especially while beginning the fight for my life. I don’t know Margaret, but I wish that I did. She has no idea that her gift led me to start Happy Caps. As a result, over 16,000 patients to date have received beautiful handmade hats.” It all began in October, 2015, when DeJoseph started a Facebook page, in hopes of finding a few others interested in making caps with her. Four other “cappers” joined the cause, and the team started delivering hats to two locations. Now in its fourth year, the Acworth nonprofit Happy Caps has remained an all-volunteer organization, with more than 200 active cappers supplying a beautiful and varied selection of hand-knit caps to 30 medical offices and infusion centers in Cobb and surrounding counties, South Georgia and Alabama. Each soft, stylish hat is intended to be a special gift to cancer patients, or anyone suffering hair loss due to a medical condition. The mission is to remind those who receive the caps that there are people who care, and to make sure that, if people stare, it is because the wearers have such cool hats! Happy Caps also gifts caps to children in the hospital for any reason. Each one is tagged with a personal message from the person who lovingly made the cap.

Visit our North Cobb Branch Today! 3130 Cobb Pkwy NW Across from Walmart Between Acworth Due West Rd & Blue Springs Rd on Cobb Pkwy

Learn More At: www.CUofGA.org | 678-486-1111

#DoYouCU Volunteers sort hats in Happy Caps’ storage unit office. 34

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Happy Caps volunteers at recent volunteer appreciation event.

Kathy has made and donated more than 300 caps since her diagnosis and healing. High-volume cappers are even highlighted on the Happy Caps website, on the “Star Cappers” tab. “I learned quickly how calming knitting can be,” Kathy said. “It is a scientifically proven de-stressor and contributed to my healing.” Kathy is now cancer-free, and uses her talent to help others through Happy Caps. Because of her willingness to serve others, the testimonials keep coming in. “These caps are warm and beautiful. Knowing they were handmade just for us makes my heart smile,” said Dani. “I’m 78 and currently undergoing radiation therapy. It’s such a treat to see all the beautiful caps the volunteers are lovingly making for all of us. Thank you from the bottom of my heart for such a wonderful gift,” said Nereida. Happy Caps became a 501(c)(3) organization in March 2016, making all donations tax-deductible. The nonprofit welcomes anyone who would like to make caps. Please contact Happy Caps for guidelines. Kathy’s wish list for this happy organization is for a sponsor to provide some real space for the caps and cappers. For the past year, they have operated out of the largest climate-controlled storage room available, which is no longer suitable. In addition to outgrowing the space, the facility is cold in the winter and very warm in the summer. For more information and inspiration, visit www.happycaps.us or email contact@happycaps.us. Happy Caps is located at 142 Flagstone Way, Acworth.

Susan Schulz is a Bible teacher, author, wife, and mom of three grown children. She lives and plays along the Etowah River and loves serving at Woodstock City Church. AROUND ACWORTH | March 2019

KSU celebrates its 70-47 win over NJIT on Pink Day.

Pink Day T-shirts at the event contain a quote Coach Berenato often tells her players, “Trust me now, believe me later.”

KSU track & field athletes Javon Joyner, Bryana Scott, Nia Seldon, Megan Douglas and Abigail Chanase help run a silent auction table.

The concourse of the KSU Convocation Center, where the Pink Day silent auction took place.

Scrappy, KSU Director of Athletics Milton Overton, executive director of the Women’s Basketball Coaches Association Danielle Donehew, head coach Agnus Berenato and KSU President Pamela Whitten before the game as the WBCA presented Coach Berenato with the Carol Eckman Integrity in Coaching Award. 36

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Adidas NCAA Sales Representative JR Sims and Adidas U.S. Senior Manager of Collegiate Partnerships Beth Bassare recognized with Scrappy for Adidas’ generous donation of the Pink Day T-shirts that were sold to benefit the endowment scholarship.

PHOTOS COURTESY OF KSU ATHLETIC COMMUNICATIONS.

Dr. Rhonda Wachsmuth, Coach Berenato’s doctor, Coach Berenato and junior forward Carlotta Gianolla pre-game. Dr. Wachsmuth served as an honorary coach of the game.

KSU Pink Day The Kennesaw State women’s basketball team hosted its annual Pink Day on Feb. 9 against New Jersey Institute of Technology. The event promoted breast cancer awareness and kicked off fundraising for the Agnus Berenato Endowed Scholarship, which will be given to a KSU student who has battled cancer. The scholarship is in honor of KSU head coach Agnus Berenato, who has breast cancer. KSU’s Pink Day festivities included wellness screenings and cancer information stations by WellStar Health System, a silent auction, cancer survivor recognition and a halftime Pink Walk to honor loved ones.

Sophomore guard Kamiyah Street pumps the team up just before tip-off.

National anthem for the game is performed by the Addison Elementary School chorus under the direction of Michelle Champion.

Addison Stinger delivers the game ball to the officials before tip-off.

The team huddles before tip-off against New Jersey Institute of Technology. Young fans get excited during the T-shirt toss.

AROUND ACWORTH | March 2019

Positive Ways to Deal With Negative People BY JENNIFER BONN

Every day, we interact with a variety of personalities. We can experience sensory overload when navigating the dark waters of others’ moods, the quicksand of negativity, the gossip trap, the comparison and jealousy game, and the burdens that people bear and share. Negativity can be draining, but there are ways to interact with positivity and preserve our joy. I recently read an article that stated: “There is never a need to be rude or hostile to a toxic person, make a polite excuse to leave, and then walk away quickly, as if you are late for a very important event.” Reacting to negativity with negativity is going to fuel the fire, so here are suggestions that I hope will help you to avoid the negative while staying positive.

When a conversation is no longer productive, walk away.

There is a difference from the person who vents from time to time and the person who heaves a sigh, and begins the daily tirade about everything that is wrong with life. Some people are looking for guidance, but if every bit of advice you offer to improve the situation is shot down, and the individual rehashes the same complaints, it is time to walk away. Chronic complainers want only to complain.

When someone is being hateful about someone else, mention a positive attribute.

When someone enjoys being hateful about others, they will not be selective. You will not be spared from the verbal venom. Instead of joining in, mention something positive about the person being attacked verbally. The speaker will be sidetracked long enough for you to change the conversation.

Realize that you can't solve anything for a terminally negative person.

I love to help people by listening to problems and finding solutions. Although, there are people who prefer being

AROUND ACWORTH | March 2019

miserable. They want to tell you why they are suffering. When solutions are offered, they have a million excuses why that would not work. Trying to find a positive solution is a waste of time because they feel that their burden is worse than anyone else could imagine, so listen politely and move on. Everyone has a burden in some form or another. The best way to ease your burden is to turn your focus to helping someone else.

Be a model of positivity.

Show the people around you what life can look like when you approach it with joy. You can be a model for how other people should behave. Show the haters and the complainers another option for behavior.

Stand up for yourself.

The next time someone tears you down or is competitive with you in a negative way, calmly say, “It is not OK to treat me that way. I’ll give you a chance to change this behavior, but if this continues, we will have to limit our interactions.” Some people need boundaries.

Do not speak negatively about yourself.

Listen to your self-talk. Is what you hear doom and gloom, or statements questioning your self-worth? If so, reframe them in a more positive way. You are a rock star and as soon as you start to affirm that yourself, others will believe it as well. Life is too short to not be happy, so limit your time around the negative, and surround yourself with laughter and people who want to lift each other up.

Jennifer Bonn is a French teacher at Mount Paran Christian School, and is working on a book about lessons she learned in the classroom.

The Impact of Joint Ownership BY JOSHUA NELSON

You may have heard the term joint tenants with rights of survivorship, or JTWROS. Essentially, the term means a method of joint ownership by more than one person or entity whereby one owner’s interest in the property automatically transfers to the other owner(s) upon his or her death. The common misuse of this ownership arrangement is scary, and another instance recently came across my desk. A prospective client added a child to her bank accounts and her home, so the child would be able to help the parent with banking tasks as the parent ages. Unfortunately, now the child is involved in a lawsuit, due to a conflict at work, and the mother is scared about losing her home if her child loses the lawsuit. It is critical to understand the ramifications before adding anyone to an account as a joint owner. Most don’t know what it means. Usually, this type of addition was suggested by a banker, child or friend, and the client doesn’t fully understand what it means. It could be interpreted to mean that the daughter or son has been given signature privileges, has been made a joint owner with rights of survivorship, or has been designated as an authorized signer pursuant to a valid power of attorney. Accidental financial elder abuse. Even though our clients don’t have children who would steal from them, adding a child as a joint owner of an account potentially subjects the account to the claims of the child’s creditors. This doesn’t simply

mean that the funds might be attached by a traditional creditor, like the child’s credit card company or mortgage lender, should the child default. Often, it can be a case where the child gets a divorce, and the spouse claims the account funds should be divided with them, or the child gets an unexpected tax lien, or is involved in a car accident and gets sued. Often, in these cases, the account is frozen, with little or no notice, or a lien is placed on the home. The asset isn’t controlled by your will. Even if you’ve already made a will or a trust designating a particular distribution of your assets upon your death, making one child a joint owner of an account or other property will result in that account or property automatically passing solely to that child upon your death. There’s no automatic reallocation of assets from a will or trust to compensate the other children who do not receive assets from that account. It usually ends in a lopsided division of assets, and can end in broken relationships, and even litigation among your children/heirs. These scenarios easily are avoided through proper estate planning. Your banker might be knowledgeable and helpful, but he or she most likely is not an attorney experienced in estate planning.

Joshua Nelson is an elder care law attorney with Nelson Elder Care Law, LLC, 2230 Towne Lake Parkway, Bldg. 900, Suite 200, Woodstock, GA, 30189. www.NelsonElderCareLaw.com.

Colon Cancer. It doesn’t discriminate.

Regardless of gender or race, colon cancer can affect anyone. But it is preventable. If it’s time for your screening colonoscopy, call us today.

Acworth | 678.631.4600 www.atlantagastro.com

AROUND ACWORTH | March 2019

Go Get Some Sleep, Please BY JAN LEARY

When did we become a 24/7 society? It seems to have happened over the past 30 years. That means there are people walking around who don’t know there was a time when just about everything shut down at night, and people went to bed because there was nothing else to do. Things have changed thanks to the Internet, TV, big business, etc. As a nationally certified polysomnography technician, also known as a sleep tech, I’m fascinated by the sleep process. I have not worked in a lab performing sleep studies for almost a decade, but I still work in the sleep field. I love the sleep field, and I also love sleep! While working overnight performing sleep studies, I was not sleeping well at all. Day sleeping and forcing myself to stay awake all night was NOT for me. I felt as if I was going at 75 percent speed all the time. My thinking wasn’t clear, and I was tired all the time. I worked four 10-hour shifts per week, but my days off were draggy. Fortunately, I did that for only two years, then transitioned to a day job in the same field. It seems more and more people are not sleeping well, or at all, for numerous reasons: illness, pain, age, menopause, stress, being new parents, etc. Sometimes, there is no reason; sleep just doesn’t come. Many wonderful things happen while the body sleeps. There are a few things you can do prior to bedtime to ensure a better night’s sleep.

Avoid caffeine/stimulants close to your sleep time. This is kind of a no-brainer, but, after a couple nights of restless sleep, I realized I was having a piece of chocolate later in the evening. Bam! Chocolate has caffeine. I now have it earlier in the day. 40

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2. 3.

Put away devices at least 30 minutes before bed. Give your brain/mind/spirit time to unwind. I don’t think people realize how much stimulation comes from using gadgets.

Make an environmental check so your sleep area is conducive to sleep. I put black electrical tape on many of the little red/orange lights that glowed after I turned off my lamp. Those little lights, believe it or not, disturbed my falling asleep, and, if I woke in the night, they would prevent me from getting back to sleep. Also, I removed the TV from my bedroom. Yes, I know that is like a cardinal sin for most folks, but I needed my body to shift to sleep mode when I entered my bedroom, not time-to-watch-TV mode. It works for me.

A wee bit of cardio. Sometimes, right before bed, I do some quick sets of HIIT (High Intensity Interval Training) movements to increase my heart rate and make me tired. Not enough to break out in a sweat, just enough so, when I land on the mattress, my muscles thank me, and I drift off from the sheer relaxation after exercising.

Regulate your sleep cycle. Living creatures are wired to sleep a certain number of hours during their sleep time, whether that is day or night. Try to put yourself on a regular schedule by going to bed at the same time each night, and getting up at the same time in the morning. Try not to take any naps during the day. After doing this for some time, your body will find its sleep groove, and you’ll get a better night’s sleep. These tips may or may not work for you, but, if you haven’t slept for the past 10 years, then it might be worth a try, right?

Jan Leary is an Acworth resident and blogs about food, health and life at vesselsandvittles.com.

AROUND ACWORTH | March 2019

Identifying Time Stealers Is Key to Productivity BY JESSICA LEIGH SMITH

When it comes to managing your time, there are basic rules to follow. We’ve addressed energy and to-do lists, but there are also little monsters that can creep in and destroy it all. The first little monster is chores — things you do weekly, but not every day. Since they aren’t a daily activity, you don’t assign a specific time to them. But, since they aren’t a one-time activity, you don’t put them on your master to-do list. Chores become an afterthought, but this leads to stress, as those afterthoughts pile up. My tactic is to assign each chore to a specific time period. I identify four main chores: cleaning, groceries and meals, laundry, and bills. We do house cleaning on the weekends. All we do during the week is straighten up and keep the kitchen clean. Your children should be able to do most chores by the end of elementary school, so don’t do it alone. You’ll have to take time to teach them when they’re young, but it will pay off greatly when they’re older. I plan for meals I can prepare based upon the schedule that week. Some people cook a month’s worth of meals on one day and freeze them. Whatever works for you is great, just have a plan. I order groceries online Mondays and pick them up Tuesdays. Wednesday is laundry day. I wash, dry and fold all in one day. If you can’t be at home to do it all, have other family members do it, or spread it out over two days. But, make sure that those two days are consecutive. The exact day I pay bills varies, depending on my schedule that week, but it is always the last week of the month. Assigning specific days to your chores takes the guesswork out. When your house is in order, you are better equipped to tackle the other things on your list. The second little monster is social media. We all know it’s a time waster, but how do you handle the allure? This is still a workout in willpower 42

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for me, but I can share what has worked so far. I don’t check my email until 10 a.m. I don’t allow Facebook until lunch, and then only allow 5 minutes to check for messages; I do very little scrolling. In the evening, I may check and scroll for about 10-15 minutes. My motivation to get off is remembering that my kids are only getting older, and I’m wasting precious time on the internet! The internet zaps our creativity, which is at its highest early in the morning, and I reserve those hours for my morning “me” time. The longer I resist in the morning, the less I crave it throughout the day. Some people have to be more connected to the internet for their job, but you shouldn’t be controlled by it. Give it a space on your to-do list, work it into your schedule, and stick to it. The third little monster to tackle is attitude. I notice my children get their chores and school work done faster and more effectively on days they have cheerful attitudes. I have identified three main factors in my attitude.

My strategy is to do first the thing I hate the most. For example, I despise the telephone. I could be on my deathbed before I call a doctor, simply because I hate the phone. I put that first on my schedule. When I complete those dreaded tasks, my attitude shifts for the better, and I’m more productive.

My attitude is cyclical. Some days I feel sluggish, others I burst with energy. On days that I drag, I do a little less. I know that, within a few days, there will be a change, and I’ll feel as if I could conquer the world. Wait it out, and give yourself some grace.

Learn to manage your own expectations. Don’t put so much on your daily to-do list that you feel like a failure. Be realistic in what you truly can accomplish. If you employ what I’ve shared in these three articles on time management, I know 2019 will be your most productive year yet, and, thus, more joyful. In short, do all you can, while being kind to yourself.

Jessica Leigh Smith lives in Acworth with her family. She is a wife, mother and actress, who juggles multiple schedules while homeschooling her two daughters.

Be Available to Answer the Call BY PASTOR BRYANT HARRIS

One of my favorite authors published a best-selling book a few years back, and toward the end of the book, he included his cellphone number. He encouraged readers to call him with any questions, or even if they just wanted to say hello. A couple of months ago, I was talking with another pastor, who is a close friend, and he mentioned that he had tried to call the number, but no one answered. My first reaction was that this probably had been a publicity stunt, and he didn’t actually take calls from strangers. My pastor buddy and I decided to call for a few days and see if the author actually picked up. I called the number a few minutes later, and was surprised when I heard the voice on the other end say, “Hello, this is Bob! How can I help you?” I talked with Bob for a few minutes and discovered that he takes 75-100 calls EVERY day, even though it has been a few years since this book was released. He even takes collect calls from prisoners (at about $10 per call), which he gets nearly every day. I get quite a few calls every day, too, but, to be honest, I usually only answer calls that I recognize. Like most people, I get several spam calls daily. While I likely will continue to

screen my calls, it did get me thinking about the need to be available. In the Gospel of John (Chapter 1, Verse 14), we are reminded that the “Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us.” The Bible tells us many wonderful stories of how Jesus (this Word in the flesh) interacted with people from all walks of life for approximately three years. Jesus spent most of his days talking and relating to people who were not religious at all. This, in turn, caused many of the religious leaders of his day to accuse Jesus of hanging around the “wrong kind of people.” As I listen to Jesus, and my new phone buddy, Bob (I’ve called him a couple of times now), I am reminded that, to love God, we also must love others — even those I normally would not interact with. Or, maybe I should say, especially those I normally would not interact with. Hoping your month is filled with plenty of sunshine and opportunities to share God’s love with those around you.

Bryant Harris is senior pastor at Mars Hill Presbyterian Church. He began his ministry at the church in 1995.

AROUND ACWORTH | March 2019

@ the Library

Cobb County Public Library System www.cobbcat.org

March 12, 19, 26, April 2 School Age Storytime

3:45-4:30 p.m. Elementary school-aged students are invited to hear a reading of a variety of books and engage in discussions with the librarian and fellow participants. This storytime is designed to engage students and encourage them to use their comprehension skills. Storytime is followed by a craft.

March 12

STEAM Storytime

ACWORTH LIBRARY 4569 Dallas St., Acworth, 770-917-5165 10 a.m.-7 p.m. Monday-Wednesday • 1-6 p.m. Saturday Closed Thursday, Friday and Sunday

March 9, 23 Read to a Dog

2-3:30 p.m. Your child can read to a certified therapy dog for 15 minutes. This is a great way for youngsters to experience the joy of reading aloud to an appreciative audience. Spaces are limited, so call or register in person. For ages 5 and older. Children must be independent readers. The library’s dog is a multilingual listener.

3:45-4:30 p.m. Elementary school-aged students are invited for a storytime to explore all things STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, Math), and do some cool experiments.

March 13, 20, 27, April 3

Toddler/Preschool Storytime

10:30-11:30 a.m. Toddlers, preschoolers, parents and caregivers are invited to enjoy books, songs and rhymes in a friendly, encouraging environment. Structured storytime with books and songs lasts about 30 minutes, followed by a short movie, a craft and informal fellowship.

March 20

Acworth Library Book Club

1-2 p.m. Fellowship and book discussion. March’s selection is "To Kill a Mockingbird” by Harper Lee.

March 11, 18, 25, April 1

March 26

10:15-10:45 a.m. Babies, parents and caregivers are invited for a morning of books, songs and lap bounces, as well as bubbles, balls and blocks. A fun way to introduce little ones to the library.

4:30-5:30 p.m. on the fourth Tuesday each month. You provide the creativity and the library provides the Legos.

Baby Storytime

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Legomania

Not Everyone Filing an Injury Claim Wants To BY ROBERT TIDWELL

There is an increasing number of personal injury lawsuits being filed in the metro Atlanta area that share a common denominator. Our industry is discovering that some hospitals are leaving patients with no alternative but to file personal injury lawsuits. O.C.G.A. § 44-14-470 authorizes hospitals to file a lien against a patient’s cause of action for the amount of the “reasonable” expenses incurred. The lien does not attach to the patient’s real or personal property. Rather, the lien attaches to the patient’s claim for personal injuries against the at-fault driver. This statute originally was enacted to protect hospitals from providing treatment to patients who did not have health insurance. Before this statute was in place, a person without health insurance could be brought to the emergency room (ER) via ambulance, incur a bill that he or she would never pay, then bring a personal injury action against the at-fault driver’s car insurance company. Everyone would agree that this scenario was unfair to hospitals. Hospitals would have to write off the bill for the treatment that was provided while the injured person and his/her attorney would receive compensation from the at-fault driver’s car insurance company. This statute allows hospitals to attach a lien to the injured person’s cause of action against the at-fault driver’s insurance company. When the lien is filed, the case cannot be settled without first paying the hospital’s lien. Some hospitals take advantage of this statute in ways that never were intended, and do not ask for a person’s health insurance when they are brought to the ER via ambulance. In some cases, the patient’s insurance company wasn’t billed, even though the insurance card was presented. Because hospitals have negotiated rates with health insurance companies, a $20,000 bill might result in payment of roughly $11,000 from a health insurer. Therefore, the financial benefits are greater for the hospital to file a $20,000 lien against the patient’s cause of action. It comes as quite a surprise to the person injured in the wreck when they receive a lien in the mail 75 days after discharge. Unfortunately, filing the lien does not stop the hospital’s collection efforts. That means even though you have health insurance, and even though the hospital is in your provider network, your bill will be sent to collections for lack of payment; which will have a negative impact on your credit rating. So, even if you did not want to bring a claim against the person who caused your wreck, you now have to in order to get this hospital bill paid. My advice to patients involved in accidents caused by another driver is to insist that the hospital submits your bill to your health insurance company. It may be uncomfortable, but if you do not make it absolutely clear, you may very well find yourself in this unfortunate situation.

“Let Our Family go to work for Your Family”

“Customer Satisfaction is our #1 Goal” Tom Kris and Sons Plumbing is your full-service, neighborhood plumber, fully licensed and insured, specializing in: • Water Heater Service & Replacement (Tank/Tankless) • Water line Replacement • Remodeling • Camera Inspections • Toilets & Faucets • Sump Pumps • Garbage Disposals *Tom Kris and Sons Plumbing proudly offers 10% off all services to our military, first responders, educators and senior citizens* **maximum discount $100**

Robert Tidwell is a personal injury trial lawyer at Tidwell Strimban, LLC in Woodstock, where he lives with his bride Lori, and their two daughters. www.tidwellstrimban.com.

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AROUND ACWORTH | March 2019

Around & About

Classic Car Cruise, 4-9 p.m., on Main 30 Spring Street in Downtown Acworth. The Lake City Cruisers

MARCH Lecture series, hosted by the Save Acworth 12 History and Kennesaw Historical Society, continues

at 7 p.m. March 12 at the Historic Kennesaw Depot, featuring author Lisa Russell. Russell will share stories from her book “Underwater Ghost Towns of Northwest Georgia.”

14 Chairman Mike Boyce, at 3 p.m. and 7 p.m. at

partner with the city and downtown merchants to organize the event. Free to the public. $2 entry fee is requested for all vehicles in the cruise. All proceeds go to Horizon Field, an all-inclusive special-needs sports facility in Acworth. For more information, contact Jeff Chase at jchase@acworth. org or call 770-917-1234.

APRIL

Town hall meetings, hosted by Cobb Commission

the North Cobb Senior Center in Acworth (3900 S. Main St.). Boyce will discuss the benefits of the current county budget, priorities for the upcoming budget and plans for Cobb's transit and transportation systems.

March Madness Social, hosted by the Cobb 21 Young Professionals, Cobb Chamber’s professional

development group, at 5:30 p.m. at Dave & Buster’s. This event is free to Cobb Chamber members and includes an appetizer buffet, drinks, networking and door prizes. CYP will collect donations for the student food pantry at Marietta High School. For more information, or to register for the event, visit www.cobbchamber.org/events.

Kennesaw State spring football game is

scheduled for 7 p.m. March 22 at Fifth Third Bank Stadium. The event is free and open to the public. Free posters will be available at the post-game autograph session.

Daddy Daughter Dance, 23 hosted by the Acworth Parks,

Recreation and Community Resource Department, 7-9 p.m. This year’s theme is Sock Hop! Girls ages 13 and younger are invited to attend with their dad or an adult male escort. The cost per couple for city residents is $30, and $40 for others. The fee is $10 for additional daughters to attend. Registration is open. Day-of registration will be offered if space is available, and increased rates will apply. The annual event will be the first held at the new Acworth Community Center, if completed in time. Register at www.acworthparksandrecreation.org.

23-24

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through Oct. 25. The market is located in the Logan Farm Park Expansion (4405 Cherokee St.). Market customers will have a variety of garden-ripe Georgia-grown vegetables, eggs, cheese, bedding plants, fresh baked bread, pies, cakes, honey and jams to choose from each week. The Acworth Farmers Market is sponsored by the Acworth Downtown Development Authority. For more information, call 770-917-1234.

Art Fest is a two-day annual event held 6-7 inAcworth historic downtown Acworth. More than 100 artisans from around the country will set up booths with paintings, pottery, metalwork, folk art, glass jewelry, yard art and more. A Kidz Zone will be available, filled with fun activities for little ones. Various food vendors also will be on hand for the art festival.

Egg Hunt, hosted 12 byAcworth the city of Acworth and

Freedom Church, at the Acworth Sports Complex, 4000 S. Main St. Gates and concessions open at 6:30 p.m., and the first hunt begins at 7:30 p.m. The Acworth Egg Hunt is broken down into five age groups, and the start times will alternate between fields. For more information, or to volunteer, visit www.acworthegghunt.com. Reginald Brun with his daughters Mariah and Alayna at last year's dance. Photo by Rebekah Gregg Photography.

Wing & Rock Fest takes place noon-8 p.m. Saturday and noon-6 p.m. Sunday at Etowah River Park in Canton. Featuring chicken wings, live music, cold beverages, kid's zone and a vendor market. www. wingandrockfest.com.

Acworth Farmers Market opens for the season, 5 and will continue each Friday morning, 8 a.m.-noon,

4-5

MAY

Canton Festival of the Arts, produced by the Cherokee Arts Center, will take place in Brown Park in downtown Canton. The festival, a 501 (c) 3 nonprofit, is the primary fundraiser of the center. The festival features the Artist Market, Serenity Garden, Rising Artist Area, Kids Zone and Food Court. www.CantonArtFestival.com.

2 City of Acworth Ribbon Cuttings

1. Sweet Temptations of Acworth 4887 N. Main St., Acworth - inside House of Flowers 678-230-3259 www.sweettemptationsofacworth.com 2. Thomas Grant Early Learning Academy 4492 Thomasville Drive, Acworth 404-922-6582 Facebook: @TGAEarlyLearning 3. Tanner Blake Salon 3979 S. Main St., Acworth 770-946-6004 www.tannerblakehair.com

3 Upcoming Ribbon Cuttings Julee’s Boutique— 11:30 a.m. March 22 4192 South Main St., Suite B, Acworth Newby’s Vinyl Supplies — 11:30 a.m. March 27 6060 Lake Acworth Drive, Suite G, Hiram Your Creative Heart— 11:30 a.m. April 3 4929 N. Main St., Suite 206, Acworth

AROUND ACWORTH | March 2019

YOUR SCHOOL NEWS Cornerstone Prep Announces STAR Student, Teacher

Mount Paran robotics team members Aidan Hanson, Jacob Kessock and Eric Torp during the competition.

Grant Terry and Aidan Hanson explain how their machine works to attendees.

Robotics Teams Advance to State Mount Paran Christian School recently hosted the Northern Georgia League Tournament for the FIRST Tech Challenge (FTC) robotics game, and both Eagles’ robotics teams earned bids to the state tournament. The 30-team event consisted of 300 competitors with 120 volunteers. As part of Mount Paran Christian School’s STEAM emphasis, younger students in second through eighth grade displayed their FIRST Lego League (FLL) and FLL Jr. projects and robot demonstrations before the high school robot competitions began. High school robotics is about more than building a machine. The process begins with brainstorming sessions to decide on a design. Team members vote on each phase of the design, and test prototypes to find the best fit. Team members are expected to devote at least 200 hours, including time spent at school, at home, and with community outreach. Mount Paran’s junior and senior team, and freshman and sophomore team finished first and second for the Inspire Award, the highest award in the competition. This judged award is given to the team that embodied the challenge of the FTC program. The team that receives this award is a strong ambassador for FIRST programs and a role model FIRST team. The Inspire Award winner is an inspiration to other robotics groups, acting with gracious professionalism both on and off the “playing field.” The next stop for the robotics teams is the Georgia State Championship, which took place after press time. 48

AROUND ACWORTH | March 2019

Cornerstone Prep recently named Hannah Baines of Kennesaw the 2019 STAR Student. Baines nominated Jillian Cosgrove, director of school counseling and psychology teacher, of Acworth as her STAR Teacher. The Student Teacher Achievement Recognition (STAR) program honors Georgia's highest achieving high school seniors, and the teachers who have been most instrumental in their academic development. Since its creation in 1958 by the Georgia Chamber of Commerce, the STAR Program has honored nearly 27,000 high school seniors, who have in turn chosen their STAR Teachers to share in this recognition. To obtain the STAR nomination, high school seniors must have the highest score on any single test date of the SAT taken through the November test date of their senior year, and be in the top 10 percent of their class based on grade-point average. Nominees’ SAT scores must be equal to or higher than the SAT National Average scores on the Evidence Based Reading and Writing and Math sections. Baines has been a student at Cornerstone for 12 years, serving as vice president of the Beta Club, co-leader of Fellowship Fridays, and a tutor at the writing center. She plans to major in nursing or computer science, while fulfilling her medical school prerequisites. Her career goal is to become a neonatal nurse practitioner or a neonatologist. She chose Cosgrove as her STAR Teacher because Baines felt she was instrumental in helping her graduate early. She guided Baines through the process of completing high school in three years by helping with online courses, scheduling conflicts and other classes. This is Cosgrove's second time being chosen as Cornerstone Prep's STAR Teacher.

Hannah Baines and Jillian Cosgrove were named Cornerstone Prep’s STAR Student and Teacher, respectively.

Fun Lessons in Water Conservation Congratulations to the 12 Cobb County elementary school students selected as winners of the 14th Annual Allatoona Ally & Tappy Turtle Artist Challenge. County fourth- and fifth-grade students were invited to create coloring book illustrations about water conservation depicting Lake Allatoona’s own ambassador, Allatoona Ally, and her friend from Cobb Water, Tappy Turtle. The challenge received nearly 900 entries from 11 participating schools. A coloring book featuring the top 12 entries will be distributed throughout the community and available for free download at cobbcounty.org/watersmart. The winners of the 2019 Artist Challenge include: Kimberli Mejia, Reyzon Bachman, Kenzie Pendley, Saiya Rodriguez, Alexsie Quiñones, Kaedyn Townsend, Fernando Cortez, Gia Washington, Bianca Johnson, Carrie Cotter, Brynna Willoughby and Amelia Kahle. The illustration by Amelia Kahle of Due West Elementary was selected as the cover art for the 14th anniversary edition of the Adventures of Allatoona Ally & Tappy Turtle coloring book. For more information about water conservation, visit cobbcounty.org/watersmart.

Audrey McNeal receives her winner’s certificate, cash award and Gold Patrick Henry Oratory Medal from Chuck Polk, Oratorical Chair, American Legion Area 4.

Harrison Junior Advances to State Contest

KSU President Among Top 100 Influential Women Kennesaw State University President Pamela Whitten has been named to Engineering Georgia magazine’s Top 100 Influential Women in Georgia list, recognizing her role in empowering other female professionals in the industry across the state. Whitten, who was named Kennesaw State’s fifth president in June 2018, was selected by a panel of industry leaders and editorial board members. The list “celebrates the diversity of female leaders, policy makers and visionaries who have spent their careers changing Georgia’s landscape for the better,” according to the publication. Last year, in the publication’s inaugural Top 100 list, Kennesaw State faculty members, Kathryn Bedette, associate professor of architecture, and Nancy Turner, senior lecturer of civil engineering, were recognized for their Pamela Whitten. Photo courtesy of contributions to the state’s engineering community. Cobb Chamber.

Harrison High School junior Audrey McNeal won the third round (Area 4) of the American Legion Department of Georgia’s 82nd U.S. Constitution High School Oratorical Scholarship Contest on Feb. 16 at Post 304 in Acworth. With the Area 4 win, she advances to the state championship round on March 3 at Mercer University in Macon. McNeal, who won preliminary contests at North Cobb Post 304 and District 5, competed against students who had advanced from Districts 4 and 7. All three districts comprise the Legion’s Area 4 in Georgia. The American Legion’s District 5 Senior Vice Commander, Ray Jacobs, presented McNeal a $350 cash award and its coveted Gold Patrick Henry Oratory Medal. At state, she will compete against the winners of Georgia’s three other area speech contests. The winner of the state competition will represent Georgia in the Legion’s National Finals, in Indianapolis April 5-7. At the National Finals, more than 50 contestants from around the nation and world will compete for college scholarships of $18,000 for first place, $16,000 for second and $14,000 for third, in addition to smaller scholarships awarded during preliminary heats. The American Legion Department of Georgia’s Area 4 includes three of the state’s 12 districts: District 4, District 5 and District 7, covering local Posts in 29 northwest Georgia counties. AROUND ACWORTH | March 2019

Cornerstone Student Hosts Charity Race Cornerstone Preparatory Academy senior Madison Locke is organizing a 5K race to benefit Habitat for Humanity, and veterans who are homeless. The race, named the Habitat Hustle 5K, will be 8:30 a.m. March 9 Allatoona Creek Park in Acworth. Locke is putting on the event for her senior legacy project. Cornerstone seniors are required to complete a capstone project, during which they consider their God-given gifts, talents, interests, and passions as they explore a final in-depth service project. Locke began her senior project by volunteering on a Habitat for Humanity build site, where she met a homeless veteran who would eventually be living in the home in which she was working. After her experience, Locke decided to create a fundraiser to support other veterans in need of permanent housing. Her stint as a Cornerstone cross-country runner inspired her to develop the Habitat Hustle 5K. “Habitat for Humanity has touched so many people’s lives and being able to support them and be a part of the entire organization brings a smile to my face,” Locke said. “I hope it brings a smile to everyone else who donates, volunteers and runs the race.” Locke hopes to pass on her senior legacy project to one of next year’s seniors so the race becomes an annual tradition. To register visit, www.runsignup.com and search Cornerstone senior Madison Locke, organizer of the Habitat Hustle 5K. Habitat Hustle 5K.

Students Use 3D Printing to Improve Helicopter Design When it comes to aerospace engineering, there is always room for improvement, and a pair of Kennesaw State University mechanical engineering students are starting small. Using a remote-controlled helicopter as inspiration, Niko Giannakakos and Trevor Warnix are developing a more efficient helicopter swashplate, the device responsible for translating input from the pilot into the motion of the main rotor blades. Using a 3D printer, the students have created a jointless swashplate that requires less maintenance and increases output compared to the standard design. The team is now conducting rigorous testing as part of their ongoing research and will present their findings at the National Conference on Undergraduate Research hosted by KSU April 11-13. KSU mechanical engineering students Trevor Warnix and Niko Giannakakos. Photo courtesy of Cobb Chamber. 50

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YOUR SCHOOL NEWS

North Cobb Christian STAR Student Jake Watson.

North Cobb Christian STAR Student North Cobb Christian School recently announced senior Jake Watson as its 2019 STAR Student. Watson has attended NCCS since K4 and excels in many areas. He has challenged himself with a rigorous course load, including advanced placement and dual enrollment courses. Watson was also the quarterback of the NCCS state playoff football team and advanced to the state wrestling meet this season. He will continue his athletic career as a part of the Eagles’ track team this spring. He has also been involved in many clubs and honor societies and holds various leadership roles in these organizations. Watson has been accepted to the University of Georgia and the Georgia Institute of Technology. He is planning to attend Georgia Tech, where he will study architecture. The STAR program asks each STAR Student to select their STAR Teacher — someone who has been particularly influential in their lives. Watson has selected upper school math teacher, Coach Josh Speck, as his STAR Teacher. Coach Speck has invested in Watson in both math and science courses and has challenged him to grow as a young man.

NATIONAL

Scouting Month

Girl Scouts Focus on Building Skills for the Future BY LUANNE ALLEN

Be on the lookout – they’re back! In mid-February and March, you’ll see them outside local businesses, ready to make eye contact, giving you their sales pitch and selling you boxes of cookies. And they’ll be sure to thank you for your purchase or donation to the military. It’s easy to think that’s all there is to the Girl Scouts. It’s true girls gain entrepreneurial experience from cookie sales. From kindergarteners on up, the girls are taught about setting goals, creating a business plan, marketing products and money management through those cookies. It’s a great thing to watch a shy girl practice what she’s going to do, then step up, make eye contact and speak with confidence. Girl Scout troops across the country are all about building confidence in girls. Each troop is girl-led, meaning that the girls select the activities and badges they want to try. The program works to develop skills that are appropriate to each age level. Today’s badge topics include STEM, outdoor skills, life skills, entrepreneurship, art, citizenship, financial literacy, health and relationships. A kindergarten or first grade Daisy learning to be friendly and helpful earns one of her Daisy petals, representing the parts of the Girl Scout Law. A Brownie learns how to speak to people, introduce herself and make new friends. Middle school Cadettes learn about finding common ground and working with others. Troops have the opportunity to work together to accomplish goals and learn new things in the process.

Second-grade Girl Scouts, with their leaders and camp assistants, enjoy outdoor activities, crafts, sciences, service projects and games at Camp Camellia Rose.

Recently, GSUSA added several new series of badges. While girls can still earn legacy badges on themes such as first aid, camping skills and cooking, there are many new options for girls to explore. Ambassador Scouts (11th and 12th graders) now have a College Knowledge badge to help them evaluate and explore college choices. Cybersecurity badges teach girls age-appropriate online safety and privacy as well as how to spot and investigate cybercrime. Each Scout level has always included outdoor opportunities, and the program now includes environmental

In keeping with tradition, these girls from Troop 14629 have picked their camp names. From left, Olaf, Sapphire, Spring, Eviee and Dragon.

stewardship badges. The eco-badges teach girls how to respect the outdoors and take action to protect the natural world. Space science badges teach girls about how NASA scientists explore space and conduct investigations. Girls also learn the importance of giving back to their community and their world as part of the Girl Scout experience. Girls learn they can take action and change the world, whether it’s through a troop service project helping an animal shelter or a high school Scout’s Gold Award project that creates an educational program on a specific issue. The life skills girls gain through Scouting build courage, confidence and character – exactly what young women will need to succeed in life. To learn more about Girl Scouts in our area, use the “Contact Us” link on one of our local service unit websites or our Atlanta Area Council: • www.lilyrosegs.org • www.riverwoodgs.org • www.girlscoutsatl.org Luanne Allen and her family live in Woodstock. She co-leads a troop of seven amazing Cadette and Senior Girl Scouts, who have stolen her heart. AROUND ACWORTH | March 2019

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PHOTOS COURTESY OF NORTHSTAR CHURCH.

Night to Shine For one evening in February, NorthStar Church was one of 655 churches around the world to host a special prom night experience called Night to Shine. The event, sponsored by the Tim Tebow foundation, celebrated its fifth anniversary; on Feb. 8, more than 100,000 honored guests were supported by 200,000 volunteers who worked to make the evening a night to remember for people with special needs ages 14 and older. For more details on the foundation, visit www.timtebowfoundation.org.

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2019 Baseball Basics This three-day camp covers the basics of baseball, and is open to ages 5-12 years old. Baseball Camp will be held at the Acworth Sports Complex from 6:30-8:30 p.m. July 23-25. The cost is $35 for residents and $45 for nonresidents. Every camper will receive a camp T-shirt. For more information or to register, visit www.acworthparksandrec.org. Basketball Basics This three-day camp at the Acworth Community Center covers the basics of basketball, and is open to ages 5-12 years old. Basketball Camp will be 6:30-8:30 p.m. June 4-6. The cost is $35 for residents and $45 for nonresidents. Every camper will receive a camp T-shirt. For more information or to register, visit www.acworthparksandrec.org. Brainy Bytes Technology STEM adventures await, whether you are looking to conquer robot, drone and minecraft challenges, or wanting to create games, movies, 3-D objects, websites and more. Weekly half-day and full-day camps for ages 5 and up. Locations in Cobb and Cherokee counties. 770-826-0449. www.brainy-bytes.com/nw-atlanta/ summer.

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Guide Camp Acworth Established in 1999, Camp Acworth is a summer day camp for ages 6-14 (children attending first-eighth grade in the upcoming school year) that provides a safe and active environment for children to enjoy their summer. Campers will enjoy various outdoor activities, including swimming, canoeing, hiking and archery, as well as arts and crafts and team sport activities. Each week, campers go on a field trip to places like Medieval Times, the Georgia Aquarium, and the World of Coke. Weekly guests visit Camp Acworth and teach kids a variety of subjects, ranging from public safety to performing arts. Contact the camp staff at 770-917-1234 or campacworth@acworth.org. Camp Gideon A Christian camp located on Lake Allatoona that offers day and overnight camping programs to engage youngsters socially, spiritually and physically through a variety of outdoor activities. IMPACT Leadership Camp (co-ed, ages 12-plus) June 9-14, Discovery Day Camp (co-ed, ages 5-11) June 10-14, Camp Remix (coed, overnight ages 8-12, day campers ages 5-11) June 17-21, 24-28 and D24 Overnight Camp (co-ed, ages 7-13) July 1-5.

Not to rush you, but summer break will be here before we know it. If you’re making plans for your family’s vacations, don’t forget to book a week or two of camp activities for the kids. Our guide to local summer camps should help you find overnight and day camps that work for your family. Register early, since many camps fill up quickly.

Camp Juliette Low An overnight camp for girls ages 7-17 that offers outdoor programs to foster self-confidence, independence, teamwork and leadership. Traditional camping, platform tents, outdoor adventure, fun and friendship await. One- and two-week sessions available June 3-July 28. Located on Lookout Mountain in Cloudland, Ga. For more information, call 770-428-1062, email info@CJL.org or visit www.CJL.org. Cobb County 4-H Cobb County 4-H provides multiple summer camping opportunities for Cobb County students in grades 4-12 (based on the 2018-19 school year). Registration is open and based on a first-come, first-served basis. Spaces are limited and fill quickly. Walkin and mail-in registrations only. A registration application and deposit of $100 is required to reserve your child's space. Cash, credit/debit cards (no American Express), checks and money orders are accepted at the Cobb County Extension Office, 678 S. Cobb Drive, Suite 200, Marietta, GA 300603105. See specific camp brochures at www.extension.uga.edu/countyoffices/cobb/4-h-youth-development/ summer-camp. For more information, call 770-528-4070 and ask to speak with a 4-H staff member.

Cobb County Parks Choose from a variety of summer activities for young people, including art, tennis, golf, gymnastics, nature camps, etc. Online registration is available for many of the camps. Visit www.cobbcounty.org/parks/ programs/summer-camps for a listing. Contact the hosting facility directly for details about a specific program. Day Camp Hosted 9 a.m.-5 p.m July 15-19 by Johnson Ferry Church, this an opportunity for children to have fun, develop relationships and grow in their faith. Activities include Bible study, crafts, games, picnics and field trips. Camp directors are Danny Downing and Sheryl Gates. Camp is for boys and girls who have completed grades 1-2 during the 20182019 school year. Cost is $120 per student. Children need to bring their own lunch each day. 955 Johnson Ferry Road, Marietta, GA 30068. For more information, contact 678-784-5300 or danny.downing@jfbc.org. Football Basics This three-day camp covers the basics of football, and is open to ages 5-12 years old. Football Camp will be held at the Acworth Sports Complex from 6:30-8:30 p.m. July 16-18. The cost is $35 for residents and $45 for nonresidents. Every camper will receive a camp T-shirt. For more information or to register, visit www.acworthparksandrec.org. Hand, Hoof and Heart Hand, Hoof and Heart at Proctor Creek Farm in Kennesaw offers two summer camp options, Inclusive Camp ($400 per week) and Equestrian Camp ($350 per week). Financial aid is available. Inclusive Camp is for ages 5-22 with or without special needs. There are three weeks to choose from for Inclusive Camp: June 10-14, June 24-28 and July 2226. Inclusive Campers will enjoy horseback riding, arts and crafts, music, yoga, cooking, gardening, nature walks, water activities, etc. Only 10 spots available per session with a 1:1 counselor to camper ratio for Inclusive Camp. Equestrian Camp will be held July 8-12, ages 6-12. This camp is geared toward beginner to advanced beginner riders. Equestrian Camp includes English riding lessons, learning about horse care and nutrition, learning about barn management, arts and crafts, etc. For more information, email handhoofheart@gmail.com.

Josh Powell For more than 40 years, Josh Powell Camp has been a place for kids to be kids, unplug and play in the great outdoors. Located at 5242 Wade Green Road, Acworth 30312, it offers 10 sessions during the summer for 5- to 8-year-olds (current K-second graders). No technology distractions, just simple outdoor fun. A typical session includes arts and crafts, canoeing, fort building, tether ball, archery, kickball, Wiffle ball, nature walks, jewelry making, rock climbing and more. Call or text 678-369-0780. www.joshpowellcamp.com. Kennesaw State University’s SummerU The Summer University experience is an engaging combination of learning and enjoyment. Courses are designed to give students an opportunity to explore their creativity, challenge their minds and build new friendships. From rising first-graders to 12th graders, there are courses for every age. The setting and subjects are academic, and the tone and atmosphere are lively and fun. For more information, visit www.summeru.com. Northwest Family YMCA Summer camp experiences available at Northwest Family YMCA, 1700 Dennis Kemp Lane, Kennesaw. Traditional, preschool, teen and specialty camps offered. For more information, call 770-423-9622 or visit www.ymcaatlanta.org/programlocations/summer-camp/kennesaw. Preschool Sports This is a non-competitive program to help 3 and 4 year olds develop basic skills for sports programs in the future. The program gives children a chance to explore a variety of different sports, such as soccer, T-ball and basketball. Camp is every Tuesday and Thursday for four weeks from 9-9:45 a.m., beginning April 9. The cost is $50 for residents and $65 for nonresidents. Every camper will receive a T-shirt. For more information or to register, visit www.acworthparksandrec.org.

Soccer Basics This three-day camp covers the basics of soccer, and is open to ages 5-14 years old. Soccer Camp will be held on the lower field at Logan Farm Park from 6:30-8:30 p.m. June 11-13. The cost is $35 for residents and $45 for nonresidents. Every camper will receive a camp T-shirt. For more information or to register, visit www.acworthparksandrec.org. STEAM Camp The Goddard School’s Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Math (STEAM) Camp runs from May 30-July 31 with activities to suit every child. Don’t let your kids regress academically during the summer. The STEAM Camp offers project-based learning and has scheduled time to focus on summer bridge books to keep up with each child’s individual curriculum level. Camp hours are from 6:30 a.m.-6:30 p.m. Join for the whole summer or pick and choose the days. Weekly (five days): $200 or Daily: $50, Summer Registration Fee: $50, fees include all field trips/visitors and activities. Call 770-720-3003 or email canton2ga@goddardschools.com. Volleyball Basics This three-day camp at the Acworth Community Center covers the basics of the sport, and is open to ages 7-14 years old. Camp will be 6:30-8:30 p.m. May 28-30. The cost is $35 for residents and $45 for nonresidents. Every camper will receive a camp T-shirt. For more information or to register, visit www.acworthparksandrec.org. Speed & Agility Basics This three-day camp covers the basics of speed and agility, and is open to ages 7-16 years old. Speed & Agility Camp will be held on the lower field at Logan Farm Park from 6:30-8:30 p.m. July 9-11. The cost is $35 for residents and $45 for nonresidents. Every camper will receive a camp T-shirt. For more information or to register, visit www.acworthparksandrec.org.

AROUND ACWORTH | March 2019

Acworth Parks • Acworth Sports Complex. 4000 S. Main St. 7 a.m.-11 p.m. A 42-acre complex with six baseball fields, two football fields, multiple practice areas, batting cages, restrooms, two concession stands and parking. The complex is home to the Acworth Baseball Association and the Acworth Football and Cheerleading Association. The complex accommodates players ages 5 through 14 for baseball and 5 through 12 for football. The complex includes Horizon League, which provides team sport opportunities to children ages 5 and older who have cognitive and physical disabilities. • Baker Plantation Park. 4790 Baker Plantation Drive.

Sunrise to sunset. A half-acre neighborhood park in the Baker Plantation subdivision. Playground, two grills and a picnic pavilion.

• Cauble Park. Home of Acworth Beach, Lake Acworth

and Veterans Memorial Patriots Point. 4425 Beach St. A 25-acre park with fishing points, public restrooms, a boat ramp (for electric motor-driven boats only), a boardwalk, beach, rental facilities, two playgrounds and an open play area. Rental facilities include four pavilions, a lakeside gazebo and a beach house. Acworth Beach opened April 28 and closes Labor Day weekend. No lifeguard on duty. Parking is free Monday through Friday. If you are not a city resident, a weekend fee of $10 (cash only) will be charged per vehicle from 8:30 a.m.-6:00 p.m. between the end of April and Labor Day weekend. No pets are allowed on beach areas and must be on a leash at all times while in the park.

• Dallas Landing Park. 5120 Allatoona Drive. 8 a.m.-9

p.m. An 82-acre park located on Allatoona Drive off Main Street. Dallas Landing overlooks Lake Allatoona. The park contains a beach, group pavilion, picnic tables, grills, volleyball court, horseshoe pit and public restrooms. The group pavilion is available for rental. The park is home to Acworth Slide, the world’s largest inflatable water slide, according to the city. The park is open from mid-April through mid-September and there is a $5 parking fee weekdays and $10 on weekends.

• East Lakeshore Park. 4449 East Lakeshore Drive. 7 a.m.-11 p.m. The 1.5-acre park includes a playground, picnic benches and an open play area. • Frana Brown Park. 4901 N. Main St. 7 a.m.- 11 p.m. The quarter-acre park contains a fountain and benches for relaxation. The park also contains the original bell from the Acworth Methodist Episcopal Church South. The church congregation was established in 1905. The park can be rented for weddings or other small gatherings. • Logan Farm Park. Central Entrance is at 4762 Logan Road. 7 a.m.-11 p.m. A 120-acre park that encompasses 56

AROUND ACWORTH | March 2019

Logan Farm Park expansion. Photo courtesy City of Acworth.

the parks formally known as Terrace Drive Park and Tanyard Creek Park. Logan Farm Park includes a nature trail that connects to Cowan Road, Terrace Drive, Cherokee Street, School Street, and McClain Circle. Park contains a lighted walking track around a multipurpose recreational field, a half-acre fishing pond, a playground and public restrooms. This park is also home to the Parks and Recreation Offices. A 15-acre expansion was completed in late 2016 that winds along Cherokee and Taylor streets. The addition includes a large playground, a group shelter, restrooms, more walking trails and greenspace.

• Newberry Park. 4321 Toccoa Drive. 7 a.m.-11 p.m. The 12-acre park

contains a baseball field, concession stand and batting cages. Home to the Acworth Baseball Association's Senior League. The baseball field is known as the historic Coats and Clark Field and is for kids ages 13 through 16. The park also includes a passive recreation atmosphere great for picnicking and relaxation.

• Overlook Park. 4636 Lake Acworth Drive. 7 a.m.- 11 p.m. The 1.5-acre park overlooks beautiful Lake Acworth. The park offers great fishing and picnicking opportunities.

• Proctor Landing Park. 5260 Proctor Landing Road. 8 a.m.-9 p.m. Proctor Landing is an 82-acre park along the banks of Lake Allatoona. A beach, two group pavilions, picnic tables, grills, two volleyball courts, two horseshoe pits and public restrooms. Group pavilions are available for rental, except Sundays in May, June and July. The park is open from midApril through mid-September. There is a $5 parking fee on weekdays and $10 on weekends. • South Shore Park. 4555 Ragsdale Road. 7 a.m.-11 p.m. A 30-acre park with a beach and fishing areas. Nonresidents pay a weekend fee of $5 (cash only) per vehicle from 8:30 a.m.-6 p.m. between the end of April and Labor Day, when the beach is open for the season. Information compiled by Acworth Parks and Recreation. For more information on the Acworth Sports Complex, tournament listings, registration dates or directions, please contact the Parks and Recreation Department at 770-917-1234.

Senior Activities CITY OF ACWORTH

COBB COUNTY

Parks and Recreation Department www.acworthparksandrecreation.org

North Cobb Senior Center 4100 S. Main St, Acworth • 770-975-7740

March 20

March 7

Senior Lunch includes lunch, bingo and other special activities at Roberts School

AARP Smart Driver. 9 a.m.-3:30 p.m. Membership required. $15 AARP member, $20 non-AARP member. Bring lunch.

April 1

Paint ’n Party. 10 a.m.-noon. Membership required. $3 Cobb residents, $4 nonresidents. Learn basic techniques, such as shading, controlling tones, composition and drawing methods.

Community and Education Center, 4681 School St. Lunch is served at noon. Bingo with prizes after lunch. Free.

Acworth Active Adult Pickleball League for active adults 55 and older. The

league is one of a kind in the area, and is every Monday beginning April 1 with a single elimination tournament May 20. All games are at the Acworth Community Center and each team plays three games per day. The cost is $50 per team for residents and nonresidents. For more information or to register, please visit www. acworthparksandrec.org.

April 2

Senior Cardio Combo registration is open for spring classes. Elevate your metabolism by moving rhythmically to music. Strengthen and tighten muscles using free weights. 11 a.m. Tuesdays or 10 a.m. Thursdays (participants’ choice), through June 6. Free for residents, $15 for nonresidents. For more information, call 770-917-1234.

April 26

Trip to Smith House and a tour of historic downtown Dahlonega. Participants will visit the historic Smith House Inn, a homey, welcoming bed and breakfast-style inn established in 1899, set around a recovered gold mine shaft and carriage house. $25 for Acworth residents, $30 for nonresidents. Register online or at the Acworth Parks and Recreation offices at 4762 Logan Road.

ALOHA TO AGING 4608 Lower Roswell Road, Marietta 770-722-7641• info@alohatoaging.org

March 19

Alzheimer's Caregiver Support Group. 10:30-11:30 a.m., meets at Burnt

Hickory Baptist Church, 5145 Due West Road, Powder Springs. Open to family members who are assisting an aging loved one, in or out of the home. Free respite care is provided for loved ones during the meeting; call 770-722-7641 to reserve a spot. For additional evening support groups, visit www.alohatoseniors.com/events.

Tuesdays

Gentle Yoga Class. 10-11 a.m. Led by licensed yoga instructor. Appropriate for

any level of experience. Stretch and strengthen muscles, while practicing balance. Modifications given. Cost is $25 per month, no daily rate. Class size limited so RSVP at info@alohatoaging.org or 770-722-7641. Program held at Aloha to Aging office.

Aloha Day Club meets 10:30 a.m.-2 p.m. Open to adults age 55 and older

who are no longer driving and need engaging activities outside of their homes. Participants range from 55 to 96 years young. The 3.5-hour program includes a morning snack, art, games, music, trivia, lunch and 50 minutes of seated exercise.

March 8

Bowling at Stars and Strikes. 10:15 a.m. -

12:15 p.m. No membership required. $5 for shoes and two hours of bowling at complex. 10010 GA 92, Suite 180, Woodstock.

March 12

Friends of North Cobb. 1-2 p.m. Membership not required. Use your creativity throughout the year to raise funds for North Cobb Senior Center. Funds contribute to maintaining and enhancing center programs and projects.

March 13

Culinary Creations. 1-2 p.m. Membership

required. $3 Cobb residents, $4 nonresidents. Learn how to make traditional Irish food along with some special green snacks for St. Patrick’s Day.

March 14

Town Hall. 3 p.m. and 7 p.m. Chairman Mike

Boyce will discuss topics, including FY 19 and FY 20 budgets, transit and transportation.

March 21

Kidney Health. 10:15-11:15 a.m. Membership required. Free. Registration required. Learn about kidneys and the important functions they provide.

March 26

Spring into Your Makeup Routine.

10:30-11:30 a.m. Membership required. Free. Registration required. Mary Kay consultant, Alexandra Carpanzano, will show you the best way to add sparkle to your routine.

March 28

Learn to Love Your Skin. 1-2 p.m. Membership required. Free. Registration required. Mary Kay consultant, Sallie Luke, will offer tips on maximizing your skin health. AROUND ACWORTH | March 2019

Cobb Photographic Society Winners Color:

Paul Shimek - 1st Place (Mini Monks)

Paul Shimek - Honorable Mention (Drain the Swamp)

Above, Dee Dee Bonesteel - Honorable Mention (Fire Meets Water). Right, Phyllis Westland - 2nd Place (Trinity College Library)

Black & White:

Paul Shimek - 1st Place (Got Milk) 58

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Above, Sally Hale - 2nd Place (Timing). Right, Phyllis Westland 3rd Place (Last Tree Standing)

Congratulations to each of you who entered the Cobb Photographic Society Competition. The topic for the January contest was â&#x20AC;&#x153;General (Vintage).â&#x20AC;? Vintage means there was no time limitation for when the photo was taken. The guest judge was Lauren Holley. The Cobb Photographic Society is a photography club open to photographers of all skill levels. The club meets the first and third Monday of each month. For information, visit www.cobbphotosociety.com.

Novice: Chris Pietvzykowski - 1st Place (New Orleans Coffee)

Chandler Bridges - 2nd Place (Mushroom)

Chandler Bridges - 3rd Place (Ferris Wheel)

Phyllis Westland - Honorable Mention (Looking Down on Lisbon)

Mark Chandler - Honorable Mention (Eternal Flame) AROUND ACWORTH | March 2019

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Gentle Dental Care/Georgia Dental Implants Inside back 770-926-2784 www.georgiadic.com EDUCATION/TUTORING Brookwood Christian 678-401-5855 www.brookwoodchristian.com 62

AROUND ACWORTH | March 2019

Bay Equity Home Loans Jay White, Area Sales Manager 770-870-0644 www.jayclosesloans.com

Wikenhofer Pine Ridge Funeral Home, Cemetery & Crematory 770-422-7299 www.WikenhoferPineRidge FuneralHome.com

Geico Jerry Sorrels 770-565-9696

OPTOMETRIST

Acworth Family EyeCare 770-974-3153 www.acwortheyes.com True Vision Eye Care 770-529-7789 www.truevisioneyecare.com

FUNERAL SERVICES Georgia Funeral Care & Cremation Services 678-574-3016 www.GeorgiaFuneralCare.com

Tom Kris & Sons Plumbing 770-529-0799 www.tkandsonsplumbing.com INSURANCE

FOOD & DRINK Mango Tree Raw & Smoothie Bar 678-903-4419

COUNSELING Thrive Counseling 678-217-7529 www.thrivecounseling.com

FINANCIAL SERVICES

CHARITABLE EVENTS ABA Golf Tournament www.acworthbusiness.org/events

Cornerstone Prep 770-529-7077 www.cornerstoneprep.org

PEST CONTROL One Dead Bug 404-704-4685 www.onedeadbug.com

PHOTOGRAPHY Brittany Weir Photography 25 678-514-9267 brittanyweirphotography@gmail.com

HOME & GARDEN Carpet Dry-Tech 678-368-5991 www.carpetdrytech.com

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

Jeffery C. Glover, LLC 404-694-0550 www.bren-abby.com

PHYSICIANS Acworth Dermatology & Skin Cancer Center, Dr. Chappell 678-505-8030 www.acworthderm.com Atlanta Gastroenterology Associates Acworth: 678-631-4600 www.atlantagastro.com

MiniMaid 31 770-656-2726 www.minimaid.com

Governors MedSpa & Concierge Medicine 678-888-5181 www.GovernorsMedicine.com

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

Northside Hospital Cherokee Orthopedic 11 770-517-6636

FOR ADVERTISING RATES AND INFORMATION Katherine Amick 678-279-5502 â&#x20AC;¢ Katherine@AroundaboutMagazines.com Northside Cherokee Surgical Assoc.

770-924-9656 www.ncsurgicalassociates.com Towne Lake Primary Care Family Medicine 5 678-445-0819 www.TowneLakePharmacy.com REAL ESTATE & RELATED SERVICES Anchor Realty Partners

Malinda Howe, Broker Direct: 404-444-0225 Office: 770-917-0322 www.anchorrealtypartners.net Atlanta Communities/The Lindsey Haas Team 29 Direct: 678-933-1962 Office: 770-240-2005 www.thelindsethaasteam.com

Debi Smith Properties Direct: 404-660-6652 Office: 770-240-2004 www.DebiSmithProperties.com

Magnolia Cottages by the Sea www.magnoliadreamcottage.com

Georgia Properties Consultants 404-343-2671

Celebration Village www.CVillage.com Holbook of Acworth, The

404-445-7777 www.HolbrookLife.com SEWING

Cover, 32, 33

Canton Festival of the Arts www.cantonartfestival.com

KSU Football

Wing & Rock Festival www.WingAndRockFest.com

Ashby Sewing Machine Co.

770-427-9947 www.ashbysewing.com STORAGE Compass Self Storage

RETAILERS/SHOPPING Furniture Pond

800-762-1194

RECREATION & ENTERTAINMENT Acworth Art Fest www.splashfestivals.com

SENIOR LIVING/SERVICES

770-872-4708 / 770-926-3353 19

www.CompassSelf Storage.com

AROUND ACWORTH | March 2019

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

Front row, from left, Laura Latchford, Christie Deese, Patty Ponder and Jackie Loudin. Back row, Michelle McCulloch, Denise Griffin, Candi Hannigan, Karen Flaig, Katie Beall and Katherine Amick. Photo by Beth Fornuto.

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

Around Acworth Distribution Map Circulation: 16,500

AROUND ACWORTH | March 2019

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