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TOWNELAKER | March 2019
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Contents
48 & 49 On the Cover Chloe’s Auto Repair Photo by J. King Images
March 2019
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24
In Every Issue
Features 14 Shining Faces
The annual Tim Tebow Foundation Night to Shine filled First Baptist Woodstock with lots of smiles.
18 R U OK?
Sheriff's department employees make daily calls to the homebound, and send help if they can't be reached.
22 State of the City
We share the details of the mayor’s annual update on projects completed and scheduled.
24 BSA Troop Open to Girls
Boy Scouts of America dedicates Scouts BSA Troop 1639 to Cherokee County girls.
58 Camping Season Opens!
Allatoona Lake springs to life as campgrounds are unlocked, outdoor activities begin.
58
Contributors
4 Around Towne
62 Don Akridge
8 Community News
26 Luanne Allen
28 Celebrations
68 Nathan Brandon
34 Everyday Angels
75 Stacy Brown
38 Library Events
30 Danny Branom
40 Community Calendar 50 Ribbon Cuttings 60 Rob’s Rescues 70 Towne Lake Dining Guide 78 School News 80 Downtown Woodstock Dining Guide
77 Siobhan Brumbelow 18 Becky & Susan Buice 66 Michael Caldwell 69 Delia Halverson 20 Kurt & Sheila Johnson 28 Harry Johnston
82 Greenprints Trail Map
26 Kim LeGrand
84 Recent Home Sales
55 Ann Litrel
90 Clubs & Orgs
56 Dr. Mike Litrel
92 Church Listings
30 Joshua Nelson
94 Directory of Advertisers
58 Christopher Purvis 76 Lisa Randall 65 Bill Ratliff
Advertising
36 John Rodgers
Patty Ponder, ALM President 770-615-3322 Patty@AroundaboutMagazines.com www.townelaker.com TowneLakerMagazine
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TOWNELAKER | March 2019
@Townelaker
64 Susan Schulz 52 Elisabeth Stubbs 63 Ashley Velez townelakermagazine
For more information 770-926-9229 NorthGaOBGYN.com 900 Towne Lake Parkway, Suite 404, Woodstock, GA 30189
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Our experienced and specially trained staff include mid-wife, Shelly Ray, CNM and physician assistant Michelle Clardy, PA-C to meet all of our patients’ needs.
Esther Dorzin MD, MPH
Angela Falany MD, FACOG
Michael Hulse MD, FACOG
Najia Lawrence MD, FACOG TOWNELAKER | March 2019
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AROUND TOWNE
The
People, The Places and The Pleasures that make Towne Lake
Letter From the Editor I was driving down our street one Sunday afternoon, getting close to home, when I saw our garbage can moving. It appeared to be rolling down our driveway - which isn’t much longer than a large SUV - all by itself. It took me a few moments to realize what was happening. And when I did, I stopped the car, grabbed my cell phone and started filming. I posted the video on Facebook – it has 1.6K views now, and that number is climbing daily. What’s remarkable about this story is that our 4-year-old neighbor was the one behind our moving trash can. Literally. He was behind it. If you watch the video, you can see him struggling to manage it in the beginning. He finally gets a better angle, rolls it to the curb, and runs home. It was the first time in three years that we’ve seen him performing this neighborly deed. It’s no surprise that Paddy is such a helper. His parents are public servants – Mom is a firefighter and Dad is a policeman. Mom says he started this chore at 18 months old - with Dad’s help - but he insisted on doing it alone when he was 2½. As I sat in my car, filming this act of kindness, it dawned on me just how big the trash can is and just how small our little hero is. What if the receptacle got the better of him and he lost the fight? Here I am, sitting across the street and down one house, in the comfort of my car, filming him while he struggled with his task. To justify myself, I reasoned: Paddy would not be happy if I tried to help. His parents once told me that if our trash can wasn’t at the curb by Monday morning, it meant that Paddy was in trouble. Can you imagine that withholding a chore would be effective punishment for a 4-year-old? That gives you some indication of how special he is! Our pint-sized neighbor serves us so beautifully with a big heart. I’m eager to watch him and his younger brother grow up, to see how they continue to express their servant hearts. I’m happy to report that acts of kindness aren’t restricted to my Holly Springs neighborhood. This month’s issue is filled with photos and stories of folks on the serving and receiving ends, all across our county. Enjoy! And look me up on Facebook to watch the video. You also can find it on the Around Canton Facebook page. I promise, it’ll bring a smile to your face!
Candi Hannigan is the executive editor of TowneLaker. She has lived in Cherokee County since 1987. Send your comments or questions to Candi@AroundaboutMagazines.com.
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TOWNELAKER | March 2019
Vote
for your favorites! April 1-May 10 www.townelaker.com
What’s Open McAlister’s Deli is open at 2006 Eagle Drive, Woodstock. The restaurant offers handcrafted sandwiches, fresh salads, giant stuffed spuds, and McAlister’s famous sweet tea. 770672-0584. Also on Facebook, McAlister's Deli – Woodstock, GA.
What’s Coming NANA Thai Eatery will open a restaurant at 2360 Towne Lake Parkway, in the former location of Corner Bistro. The restaurant is a second location for the owners, who hope to be open in early March. The menu will include a diverse selection of traditional Thai favorites. www.nanathaieatery.com. Woodstock City Manager Jeff Moon reports that America’s Best Contact and Eyeglasses will open at 130 Woodstock Square, which is the Target Shopping Center on Highway 92. A building permit was issued recently. No details on an opening date were available at press time.
Who’s Moved CORE Community School has moved from Canton to a new location at 203 Woodpark Place, Building A, in Woodstock. The school serves students in grades 2-10 who have some factor(s) interfering with their success, including but not limited to: diagnosed learning disabilities, processing or attentional difficulties, anxiety and social-emotional struggles. 770-704-9144. www.thecoreschool.org.
Kudos! Northside Hospital Heart and Vascular Institute has been named a Center of Excellence for a minimally-invasive stenting procedure that effectively treats carotid artery disease in older and high-risk patients. Northside is one of the first hospitals in Georgia to receive this recognition, and offers the technology at its Cherokee, Atlanta and Forsyth locations. MUST Ministries has earned its third consecutive 4-star rating from Charity Navigator, the organization’s highest award. A 4-star rating verifies that MUST exceeds industry standards and outperforms most charities doing similar work. 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.
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COMMUNITY BOARD The TowneLaker Community Board consists of well-respected community leaders from different walks of life. Our board members assist us in many ways, including contributing to our magazine and providing valuable feedback.
Kurt Johnson, co-founder of the Kurt and Sheila real estate team, has been involved in real estate most of his adult life. He and his wife have lived in Cherokee County for more than 13 years, their three children have attended county schools since the oldest started first grade at Bascomb Elementary. Kurt and Sheila work hard to promote Cherokee County and all it has to offer. Ann Litrel is an artist and writer whose nationally
published work includes decorative art, paintings for private and corporate collections, and writing and illustration for a range of publications. Ann lives in Towne Lake with her husband and coauthor Dr. Mike Litrel and their two sons. Ann can be reached at Ann@annlitrel.com.
Scott Coleman is the owner of Coleman Home
Publisher Aroundabout Local Media, Inc. ALM President Patty Ponder 770-615-3322 Patty@AroundaboutMagazines.com Executive Editor Candi Hannigan 770-615-3309 Candi@AroundaboutMagazines.com Managing Editor Jackie Loudin 770-615-3318 Jackie@AroundaboutMagazines.com Art Director Michelle McCulloch 770-615-3307 Michelle@AroundaboutMagazines.com Director of Marketing Katherine Amick 678-279-5502 Katherine@AroundaboutMagazines.com Page Designer Laura Latchford Laura@AroundaboutMagazines.com Controller Denise Griffin 770-615-3315 Denise@AroundaboutMagazines.com Market Support Associate Christie Deese Christie@AroundaboutMagazines.com Copy Editors Bill King, Eliza Somers
Services, a residential construction firm based in Towne Lake. He and his wife Lisa have three grown children and have lived in Towne Lake for 23 years. Scott and Lisa are supporters of the local special needs community. Scott enjoys the outdoors, cooking and his annual fishing trip to Alaska.
Bettie Sleeth has lived in Towne Lake for more than 12 years, and helped start the Kiwanis Club in Cherokee County. She's been active in service leadership programs in Cherokee County schools, helping bring Key Clubs to Etowah, Sequoyah and Creekview high schools and a Circle K club at Reinhardt University. She's active at her church, Hillside United Methodist, and serves in many community service projects and activities. Lynne Saunders is the founder and executive director of Papa’s Pantry and The Master’s Training Center. Her employment classes are based on a book she wrote, “21st Century Keys to Employment.” Lynne has been married to Bill for 33 years and has three grown daughters and five grandchildren. Anthony Hughes, raised in St. Petersburg, Fla., has been a special education teacher since 2001. He teaches at E.T. Booth Middle School and moved to Woodstock in 2015 with his wife Jessica and sons Jacob and Gavin. They are excited to be a part of the Towne Lake community. Depending on the season, they spend a lot of time at any of the area’s sport fields or enjoying Lake Allatoona. 6
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TowneLaker, a publication of Aroundabout Local Media, Inc., is a monthly community magazine. The magazine’s goal is to build a sense of community and pride in the Towne Lake and surrounding area by providing its residents with positive stories and timely information. It distributes a total of 16,400 free copies. Approximately 15,600 are direct mailed to homes and businesses and an additional 800 are placed in racks around the community. It also has 2,000+ digital viewers of the magazine online each month. TowneLaker welcomes your comments, stories, and advertisements. Editorial deadline is the 1st and advertising deadline is the 5th of the previous month. Subscriptions are available for $24 per year. Send check or money order to the address below. The viewpoints of the advertisers, columnists and submissions are not necessarily those of the Editor/ Publisher and the Publisher makes no claims as to the validity of any charitable organizations mentioned. TowneLaker is not responsible for errors or omissions. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means without written permission from the Publisher. All rights reserved. © Copyright 2019. TowneLaker 1025 Rose Creek Drive, PMB 380, Suite 620 Woodstock, GA 30189 For Advertising: Patty Ponder, 770-615-3322 Website: www.townelaker.com Volume 24, Issue 11
America’s Community Magazine
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YOUR LOCAL NEWS Canton Festival of the Arts Moved Up a Few Weeks
Dean’s Store Exhibit Focuses on Legacy of Women of Woodstock During March, Preservation Woodstock is hosting an exhibit, “Through the Windows of Woodstock’s Women,” at the Woodstock Visitors Center in Historic Dean's Store, 8588 Main St. The center is open 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Mondays-Saturdays. The exhibit will highlight achievements and lifestyles of women starting in the 1800s, from educators, artisans, church and civic leaders, postal workers and secretaries, to many mothers and one mayor.
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The 16th annual Canton Festival of the Arts, which features art by more than 50 artists and an all-new chalk event, will take place May 4-5, a few weeks earlier than in years past. “This will give people a chance to shop for unique Mother’s Day and graduation gifts that will be treasured for years to come,” said Lisa Brunelle, board president of the Cherokee Arts Center, the nonprofit organization that presents the festival as a fundraiser. There’s no entry fee; a $5 donation per adult with a $10 family cap is suggested. Works of art, including jewelry, pottery, woodworking, glass, sculptures, textiles, paintings and much more, are available for purchase at a variety of price points. For the first time, the festival will feature the Canton Chalk Walk area for aspiring artists who wish to create sidewalk chalk art live on May 4. The Jack Fincher Jr. Rising Artist Market gives Cherokee County student artists the opportunity to showcase and sell their artwork. It also gives the students an opportunity to visit with professional artists who can share the tricks of their trade. The festival will take place 10 a.m.-5 p.m. May 4-5 at Brown Park, 251 E. Marietta St., in downtown Canton. Parking is free on the street, in parking lots and at the Cherokee County Courthouse parking deck at 94 N. Main Street. www.cantonartfestival.com.
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YOUR LOCAL NEWS Annual Meeting Busy With Goals, Awards
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.” 10
TOWNELAKER | March 2019
The Cherokee County Chamber of Commerce celebrated its 2018 accomplishments and announced its 2019 primary goals during the organization’s 48th annual meeting recently. In the changing of the guard, outgoing board Chair Julianne Rivera, owner of Sold by Julianne — Keller Williams Atlanta North, passed the gavel to incoming Chair John Barker, owner of Delphi Global Technology. In sharing 2018 successes, Rivera announced, “In 2018, over 4,900 current and future members attended the variety of events offered by the chamber, while 213 new members were recruited to the chamber, bringing our year-end membership total to 1,034, resulting in a 2018 membership retention rate of 83 percent.” Barker announced the Chamber’s primary goals for 2019, which are to connect leaders and cultivate memberto-member relationships. He also shared the overall organizational goals for 2019, which are to enhance existing programs and increase the net membership by 5 percent. The ongoing organizational efforts will continue to direct a strategic focus — utilizing the 2020 Vision, enhance member benefits, and measure success. Among the awards presented was the 44th annual First Citizen of Cherokee County recognition, given to lifelong Cherokee County resident Raymond Rollins. Additional accolades went to In Harmony Pediatric Therapy for 2019 Small Business of the Year; Aroundabout Local Media Inc. for 2019 Excellence in Customer Service; and the inaugural Nonprofit of the Year award was presented to the Service League of Cherokee County. All three recipients were chosen by out-oftown judges, just as the First Citizen is selected. The Going Green Business of the Year, chosen based upon commitment to environmental excellence as well as implementation of additional green tactics within their business, was awarded to Art Jewelers Diamonds & Design. www.cherokeechamber.org.
You don’t need to be an athlete to have knee problems. Or issues with your joints, hips or hands, for that matter. That’s why the orthopedic specialists within the Northside Cherokee Sports Medicine Network provide comprehensive care based entirely on your needs, no matter your age or athletic level. From knee and hip replacement to the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of injuries, we’ve got you covered. Call 770-517-6636 to find the location near you. Chances are, we’re right around the corner.
CHEROKEE
ORTHOPEDIC TOWNELAKER | March 2019
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YOUR LOCAL NEWS U.S. Marine Corps Veteran Receives Commendation Eddie Cranford has been awarded the Marine Corps League Meritorious Commendation (Individual) by Detachment 1311 of Woodstock. Cranford has contributed continually and directly to the ongoing success of the detachment, whether it has been in leadership positions, as both judge advocate and detachment chaplain, or behind the scenes in supporting roles. Detachment 1311 is the fastest growing detachment in Georgia, with 140 members committed to enriching the lives of veterans, and the community at large. Among his many volunteer efforts, Cranford has supported the annual Marine Corps Reserve Christmas Toys for Tots drive during the past few years, driving his truck and trailer to pick up toys at numerous locations and deliver them to the collection facility.
A Twist on the Super Bowl The young people at City on a Hill (COAH), a church plant of Hillside United Methodist in Towne Lake, collected 1,877 pounds of nonperishable food during a recent Souper Bowl of Caring drive tied to the Super Bowl. That total translates into 1,564 individual meals, or 391 meals for a family of four. Papa’s Pantry received the donations, which were gathered, sorted, packed and delivered by 23 students; 13 from COAH and 10 from local Scout troops. The food drive tradition began in 2007. Students also raised and donated funds for Papa’s Pantry to use on perishable food items.
Help for Seniors and their Caregivers The Senior Extravaganza, Cherokee Triad S.A.L.T.’s largest fundraiser, is designed to appeal to our county’s senior citizen population. But, Adelle Mickelson wants the community to know that caregivers of seniors also should attend this year’s event, set for 9 a.m.-1 p.m. April 27 at First Baptist Church Woodstock conference center, 11905 Highway 92. Cherokee Triad S.A.L.T is a partnership with the Cherokee County Sheriff’s Department and the police departments in Canton, Woodstock and Holly Springs, tasked with identifying and developing programs addressing the needs and concerns of senior citizens in our community. Members from public safety and volunteers within the community also serve. Triad looks to alleviate fear of victimization, build confidence, enhance the delivery of law enforcement services and improve the overall quality of life to our senior population. Triad also works to educate individuals and businesses providing services to seniors. The Cherokee Triad and S.A.L.T. Council was implemented in July 2006 by Canton Police Department to represent all communities in our county. For more information, visit www.saltcherokee.com. Click on the events tab for more details on the April 27 event. 12
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Rich Sabo, left, commandant of Detachment 1311, with Cranford, a veteran who served in Vietnam and was awarded a Purple Heart for wounds received during that conflict.
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PHOTOS PROVIDED BY FIRST BAPTIST WOODSTOCK
All Smiles on the Red Carpet For one evening in February, First Baptist Church Woodstock 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. To view all of the Woodstock photos, visit https://ntswoodstock.smugmug.com. For more details on the foundation, go to www.timtebowfoundation.org.
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Dance Imagination Fairytale Dance Camp is four hours of games, craft activities, snack, play time, tumble, lunch and dance. 9 a.m.-1 p.m. in June and July. Call 678-445-2731 or check www.danceimagination.com for updates.
2019
Guide
Not to rush you, but summer break will be here before we know it. If you’re making plans for your family’s vacations, don’t forget to book a week or two of camp activities for the kids. Our annual guide of local summer camps should help you find overnight and day camps that work for your family. Register early, since many camps fill up quickly. 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 are available at locations throughout Cherokee and Cobb. 770-8260449. www.brainy-bytes.com/nw-atlanta. Camp Gideon A Christian camp located on Lake Allatoona that offers day and overnight camping programs for children to engage them socially, spiritually and physically through a variety of outdoor activities. IMPACT Leadership Camp (co-ed, ages 12plus) June 9-14, Discovery Day Camp (co-ed, ages 5-11) June 10-14, Camp Remix (co-ed, 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. Camp Imagine Hosted by Cherokee Arts Center, 94 North St., Canton. June 17-28 and July 8-19. For information, visit cherokeearts.org or email info@cherokeearts.org. Camp Invention For children entering 1st-6th grades at Lyndon Academy, 485 Toonigh Road, Woodstock, 770-926-0166. June 10-14 and July 8-12. Enjoy hands-on fun by designing and building prototypes, problem solving, exploring STEM concepts, and learning teamwork. In partnership with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. www.invent. org/programs/camp-invention. 16
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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 starting June 2. Located on Lookout Mountain in Cloudland, Ga. For more information, call 770-428-1062, email info@CJL.org or visit www.CJL.org. Cherokee County YMCA Summer Summer camp experiences available at the Woodstock and Canton locations. Traditional day camps, overnight and specialty programs offered. For more information, call 770-591-6092 or visit www.ymcaatlanta.org/coy. Cherokee Tennis Center Tiny Tots Camp for ages 8 and younger Mondays-Thursdays 8:15-9 a.m. Cost is $50 per session. Includes tennis games, review of tennis fundamentals, with the emphasis on fun. The USTA 10-and-under format is tailored to younger players. Campers receive a prize each week. Day camp is for ages 8 and older, Mondays-Thursdays 9 a.m.-noon. Cost is $160 per session, and the camp consists of tennis drills, point play, game play and more. Each session ends with prizes and a pizza party. Campers receive a T-shirt during the first week. Multiple-child discounts offered. Camp dates run June 3 through July 25. Register online at www.cherokeetenniscenter.com or call 770-592-4582.
Elm Street Cultural Arts Village Camps are taught by trained counselors who introduce children, ages 5-14, to theater and theatrical performance. Campers explore acting, singing and dancing, and learn the discipline of performing, as they develop their unique creative voices. Campers develop poise, movement, teamwork, and speaking and acting skills as they explore improvisation, theater games, character development and other areas. Each camp ends with a performance for family and friends. For information, call 678-494-4251. Paper.Scissors.Cake. Camps for ages 2-12 are broken down into three camp days and times. Toddler and preschool camps have weekly themes, while school-age children will explore painting, drawing, collage, mixed media and printmaking. No two camp sessions are alike. Located at 6687 Bells Ferry Road, Woodstock. For more details, visit www.paperscissorscakeartstudio. com, call 404-867-1630 or email paperscissorscake@windstream.net. Reinhardt University Football Youth This camp is designed to help young athletes develop skills in the game of football, and enjoy a week of fun with kids of a similar age. 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m., June 1014 for ages 6-13. 7300 Reinhardt College Parkway, Waleska, GA, 30183. Cost of camp is $175 per camper. Register and pay at www.theruway.com/youthcamp. Safety Town A summer camp with a pint-sized town where safety messages are taught by Cherokee County safety professionals to children entering kindergarten in the fall. Topics covered include water, poison and fire safety; stranger awareness; school bus, pedestrian and traffic safety. Volunteers help run three one-week sessions at Bascomb Elementary School, 9 a.m.-noon, June 3-7, 10-14 and 17-21. Cost is $80 per child per week and includes crafts, snacks and a T-shirt. For information and registration, visit http://safekidscherokeecounty. org. Contact director Ashley Arp at cherokeecountysafetytown@gmail.com or 770-894-2151 for questions.
Summer Camp Splash The Woodstock Aquatic Center and Gold Swim school will host weekly sessions June 3 through July 19 for ages 5-12, with a maximum of 16 campers per week. Campers need to bring a packed lunch daily; snacks and water provided. Camp is $275 per week, $250 for multiple weeks, 10 percent off for siblings. To register, call 770-591-1998, email Frontdesk@goldswim.com or visit www.goldswim.com. The Stables at Towne Lake Summer camp for ages 5-14 emphasizes having a pleasurable experience through safe riding techniques and making new twoand four-legged friends. Participants engage in riding, learning, crafts with qualified instructors and some of the best kid-loving horses around. Cost is $350 per week, with early registration discounts. Camp dates run from June 3 through July 26. For more information, call 678-704-7099, email info@ thestablesattownelake.com or visit www.thestablesattownelake.com. The STEM Hangar For children entering grades K-5 in the 2019-20 school year (must be at least 5 years old as of the first day of camp). Camp dates are June 3-July 26. Offering full day-full week, half day-full week, and half day drop-in, with general themes: robotics and programming, coding and web design, aviation/flight camp, video game design, crazy mad science, art studio and more. Detailed descriptions will be posted, along with open enrollment, on or before Feb. 18. Camps at The STEM Hangar, 120 Arnold Mill Park, Suite 400, Woodstock. 678-304-0088. https://bookeo.com/ thestemhangar. Allen Temple AME Teams of Science & Sports (TOSS) offers a variety of activities for children ages 5-12, who can practice Christian values, explore scientific principles (with a STEM focus), and participate in various sports (basketball, volleyball and others). The Allen Temple Christian Academy offers activities for children ages 15 months to 4 years. Allen Temple AME is in Woodstock at 232 Arnold Mill Road. 770-926-6348. www.allentemplesummercamp.com.
Cherokee Recreation and Parks Registration begins 9 a.m. April 16 770-924-7768 www.crpa.net
K.A.O.S. 9 a.m.-3 p.m. June 3-July 26 at Woodstock Elementary School. Designed for individuals ages 6-22 with disabilities, sponsored by the Cherokee County Recreation and Parks Association. Adventures Express Summer Day Camp Takes place June 3-July 26 at the Recreation Center and at Hickory Flat Elementary gymnasium. Cost is $150 weekly per child. $30 weekly nonrefundable deposit. For children in kindergarten through age 8, and ages 9-12. Registration begins April 22 Mini-Action Break 7 a.m.-6 p.m. July 29-31 for children in kindergarten through age 12. Cost is $100. Held at the recreation center. www.crpa.net. Fishing Offers the basics of fishing, strategies and tactics, and other skills will be taught to campers ages 8-13, June 3-7 and June 17-21. Campers will travel to new destinations each day. A cookout and fish fry will wrap up the week. Cost is $160 for each week. Art Enrichment 10 a.m.-2 p.m. June 3-July 26, with weekly registration, at the Free Home Fire Station. Ages 3-5 meet Tuesdays and Thursdays, $50 per week. Grades K-5 meet Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, $75. Girls and Dolls S.T.E.A.M. Meets 9 a.m.-noon June 10-14 at the BridgeMill Fire Station. For ages 6-11. $175. Intro to STEM with Lego materials Meets June 17-21, 9 a.m.-noon for ages 5-7 and 1-4 p.m. for ages 8-11 at the BridgeMill Fire Station. $160. Junior Tennis Meets 9:30-11:30 a.m. weekly in June at Cherokee Veterans Park. $45/week. Tennis Morning Out For ages 4 and older meets Mondays in June at Cherokee Veterans Park. $20/day. Waterlogged At the Recreation Center pavilion for ages 9-12, 9 a.m.-4 p.m. June 24-28 and July 8-12. Water field trip daily. $250. Adventure Teen At Recreation Center pavilion for ages 13-15 9 a.m.-4 p.m. July 22-26. Outdoor adventures including zip-lining, ropes challenge courses, canoeing/kayaking and more. $250. Teen At Recreation Center pavilion for ages 13-15, 9 a.m.-4 p.m. July 15-19. Fun trips to White Water, rafting, Six Flags, white-water rafting and more. $250. Xplosive Speed & Agility For ages 6-15, 6-8 p.m. June 24-27. Participants will refine their techniques, increase speed, strength and agility for any sport. $95. Gymnastics At Recreation Center gym for ages 5-12, 9 a.m.-4:30 p.m. July 1-3. $40 daily, $115 for three days. Learn fundamentals of gymnastics and tumbling. Magic June 3-7 at the BridgeMill Fire Station for ages 5-12, 9 a.m.-noon and ages 13 and older 1-4 p.m. Discover the art of magic, including card and coin tricks, making objects appear and disappear, levitation and reading a spectator’s mind. Parent show on Friday. TOWNELAKER | March 2019
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RUOK?
A daily phone call brings peace of mind to seniors. The Cherokee County Sheriff’s Department offers a free service that can make a life or death difference in the lives of senior citizens and residents with disabilities. Once an application has been received and approved, subscribers to the RUOK program receive a daily phone call at an agreed-upon time, said Tammy Butler of the sheriff’s department. “This system used to be automated, but we have since done away with that, and we call each person ourselves daily. Our office operators enjoy talking to each person daily; you get to know them, and when they may be having a bad day. Sometimes, the subscriber may answer, but is not feeling well, and we send someone to check on them anyway,” Butler said. “Our office is 24/7, so it can be any time they choose. If we can not get ahold of the subscriber after three attempts, we send a deputy or officer to their home to check on them.” Applications are available through the sheriff’s office, at the county’s senior centers, and at precinct town hall meetings. The only requirements are that the person is a resident of Cherokee County and has a telephone. Contact Butler at tcbutler@cherokeega.com, 678-493-4147 or 678-493-4206. Before Christmas, Georgia Crime Information Center employees who manage the RUOK program delivered Christmas gift baskets to some of the residents they speak with regularly. The gift baskets (which they made instead of exchanging gifts with one another) included a blanket, mugs and a framed picture of the callers, so each senior would know who was calling them each day.
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Aunt Martha receives daily calls from sheriff’s department employees.
‘These Angels on Earth Brighten Martha’s Days’ BY BECKY AND SUSAN BUICE
We first heard of RUOK when we were scrolling through Facebook and saw a post about a family thanking the Cherokee Sheriff’s Office for checking in on their loved one every day. We knew that this sounded like a program that would be perfect for our Aunt Martha. Then, this happenstance became a godsend. Every day at 2 p.m., Joyce, Lori, Valon, Evans or Kayla calls Martha to check in. Just having that phone call would have been great, but they go above and beyond just checking on her. First, they got to know her; now, they talk to her as if they are old friends. In a few weeks’ time, our housebound aunt went from "I haven't talked to a soul all day,” to “I talked to Lori today; she wanted my lemon meringue pie recipe. It took a while, but I found it.” At Christmas, two of the RUOK members came to visit Martha. They sat and talked to her, and left her with a basket of goodies. Perhaps the best gift, though, was a picture of the RUOK callers. Now, when she talks to them, she can picture a face to go along with the voice. These angels on Earth brighten Martha’s days, and we rest easy knowing that, every day at 2 p.m., she is going to be talking to one of her new friends. If she doesn’t answer when they call, a deputy comes out to do a wellness check. Recently, Martha had to be rushed to the hospital. Once she told us, it was long past the 2 p.m. call. When we called RUOK to let them know, Evans told us that they were worried when she didn’t answer and had sent out a deputy to check on her, but she wasn’t home. He noted in her file that she was in the hospital, and, the next day at 2 p.m., the hospital phone rang. It was Joyce saying, “I knew I could find you. How are you?” The phone calls continued every day, and, now that she is back home, she still looks forward to her 2 p.m. visit. RUOK truly is a godsend, and the sheriff’s deputies are earning their wings daily, one phone call at a time.
TOWNELAKER | March 2019
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Effects of a Changing Real Estate Business Model BY KURT & SHEILA JOHNSON
In the course of this recent housing boom, there has been a noticeable shift in the options available to homesellers. There are guaranteed homebuyers, internet-based listing services, regional listing machines (masters of radio and billboard advertising) and the traditional approach. This article will attempt to present these options objectively. The “guaranteed� homebuyer model is the most radical by traditional standards. With this model, the homebuyer makes an offer to purchase your home through an online tool using an algorithm similar to a Zestimate, until they can exercise their due diligence in the days following the agreement. The price is subject to change, based on their inspector's findings. There can be numerous inspections. The sellers that I have met who have used this model were pleased overall with its simplicity, but a bit in denial about the money they left on the table. After a variety of fees, commissions and deductions for needed repairs, the net sales price to the homeowner can be as much as 10 percent below the net of hiring a Realtor. Again, some sellers would trade $10,000-$30,000 for the peace of mind of knowing when their home will sell. There is definitely a place for this in the market. Selecting an internet company or a mega team to sell your home could be risky. These companies are growing by leaps
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and bounds, and cannot hire agents fast enough. Generally speaking, highly skilled agents don't go to work for these companies, because they already are successful in serving their local markets. Some of these brokerages offer reduced commissions, but many don't. Brand awareness works so well to attract sellers to list, many sellers aren't concerned with the level of experience of the agent who actually will be returning calls about their property or handling the negotiations of their property. If I were to list a property with an agent unfamiliar with my market, or lacking in the experience that comes with years of transactions, I'd need the fee to be zero. The amount of a listing commission can be lost by an inexperienced agent much more easily than you can imagine. The traditional method of using an agent local to your neighborhood or zip code isn't without its own potential issues. We have heard countless stories at parties about failed or unsatisfying transactions using the traditional method. The common complaint boils down to experience. It should go continued on page 81
Kurt and Sheila are a top-producing real estate team that lives in Towne Lake and has served Cherokee County for more than 15 years. www.KurtandSheilaTeam.com
TOWNELAKER | March 2019
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The State of the City
Woodstock Mayor Reviews Successes, Reveals Plans for 2019 In Woodstock Mayor Donnie Henriques’ recent State of the City address, he mentioned plans for the redevelopment of the Morgan Ace Hardware property among the projects coming up in downtown Woodstock. That space will include a 400-space parking deck and boutique hotel, along with intersection improvements, a sidewalk extension, and meeting and office space. Henriques listed major accomplishments of 2018, including completion of the mural, winning the recycling challenge for the sixth year, re-certification as a Tree City for the 18th year, 24 events hosted by the Northside Hospital Cherokee Amphitheater, and getting the city’s comprehensive plan approved early. Among the city’s economic developments were: the opening of Costco on Ridgewalk Parkway and Reformation Brewery’s new facility downtown; Dean’s Store winning the 2018 Most Creative Community Public Relations Initiative Award; the farmers market’s 10th anniversary, and the city’s Main Street organization rebranding to INWDSTK, to encompass all of Woodstock. The mayor announced the city’s new tagline - “Our Story Crafted by Your Dreams” - included on the city logo.
Public Works
• Installed or improved five new turn lanes. • Installed six new signalized pedestrian crosswalks downtown. • Enhanced 11 existing crosswalks. • Renovated and expanded City Center parking lot. • Opened Streetscapes Phase 2 on Main Street.
Economic Development
• INWDSTK volunteers donated 25,000 hours of their time, providing the community more than $600,000 in value. • National accreditation renewed by CAPRA (Commission for Accreditation of Park and Recreation Agencies). • 2,400-square-foot expansion of senior center completed and opened. • Grant awarded to connect Greenprints Trail from Highway 92 to Noonday Park in Cobb County.
Finance
• Unrestricted fund balance now more than $6 million, while maintaining millage rate at 2011 levels. • Received the GFOA Distinguished Budget Award for third consecutive year. • Received the GFOA Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting for 25th consecutive year.
Community Development
• Permits totaled $152.2 million in new construction were issued. • Total for four years now at $658 million. • Collected more than $1 million in impact fees for Parks and Recreation. • Issued 459 new business occupation licenses (25 percent were home occupations). • Issued more than 3,269 total permits.
What's Next Projects Underway in 2019 Shop with a Hero helped more than 100 children last year.
A Look at 2018 Woodstock Police
• Rates as one of the safest cities in Georgia on multiple lists. • Property crime fell 17 percent. • More than 600 people have graduated form the Public Safety Academy. • More than 100 children helped by Shop with a Hero program.
Woodstock Fire
• Responded to 5,755 alarms in 2018. • Responded to 4,494 calls in the city, and 1,261 calls in Cherokee County. • Conducted 1,968 life safety inspections. • Maintained ISO 1 rating, highest rating possible.
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• Restrooms and playground under construction at Elm Street Green. • Expansion of Ridge Trail. • New community garden on Arnold Mill Road. • Renovations of the gazebo at the Park at City Center. • Redevelopment of the Morgan’s Ace Hardware location to include intersection improvement, sidewalk extension, a parking deck, a boutique hotel, meeting and office space. The parking deck will allow city officials to move forward with timed parking in downtown.
Road Improvements
• Neese Road/Highway 92 intersection (2020). • Woodpark Place extension to South on Main (2020). • Highway 92 from I-575 west (dual turn lanes at Molly Drive and Woodstock Square, conversion of Home Depot turn lane to a thru lane (2019, 2020). • Neese Road realignment (2020-21).
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Streetscapes Phase 2 on Main Street.
• Mill Street conversion to two-way traffic (2020-21). • Trickum Road widening to Cobb County (2020). • Trickum Road intersection improvements (under design). • Towne Lake Parkway interchange improvements (under design). • Ridgewalk interchange improvements (under design).
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Other approved projects
• Third fire station (two sites acquired, anticipate a Ridgewalk Parkway location). • Development of Little River Park. • Design of the new Johnston property park on Main Street at the new Morgan’s Ace Hardware site, across from Woodstock Knoll at the Ridgewalk Parkway/Main Street intersection. • Received grant for a community orchard. • Create a plan for a bigger senior center. • Convert the existing senior center into a veteran’s center fo the American Legion and Marine Corps League. • Expand the Mayor’s Youth Advisory Committee to include River Ridge High School.
2019 Woodstock Summer Concert Series schedule May 11: Mark Wills June 8: Better Than Ezra July 13: Who’s Bad (Michael Jackson tribute band) Aug. 10: Little River Band Sept. 14: Molly Ringwalds TOWNELAKER | March 2019
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NATIONAL
Scouting Month
New Opportunity in Boy Scouts for Woodstock Girls BY KIM LEGRAND
About a year ago, Boy Scouts of America (BSA) added a program called Scouts BSA that includes opportunities for girls. Since that time, Scoutmaster Jody Barkman and I have worked to prepare and form a local girl troop, Scouts BSA Troop 1639, which meets 7 p.m. Mondays at Woodstock Christian Church, 7700 Highway 92. The BSA’s mission is to prepare young people to make ethical and moral choices during their lifetimes by instilling in them the values of the Scout Oath and Scout Law. Scouts BSA is a year-round program for girls in fifth grade through high school, providing fun, adventure, learning, challenge and responsibility to help girls become the best version of themselves. In Scouts BSA, young women go places, test themselves, and have one-of-a-kind adventures. This program allows girls to learn and grow at a pace that is unique to their development, and, for the first time in 100-plus years, girls will be allowed to earn the highest rank of Eagle Scout. Opening the program to young women allows the Boy Scout program to reach more families. Troop 1639 is the sister troop of Troop 639. Troop 1639 is female-led, with a woman scoutmaster and mostly female assistant scoutmasters, while Troop 639
Front row, from left: Assistant Scoutmaster Roxana Rowland, Juliette Adams, Angelina Rowland, Olivia Kantenwein, Rebecca Ayala, Abby Parker and Scoutmaster Jody Barkman. Back row: Assistant Scoutmasters David Parker and Paula Kantenwein.
is all male-led. The troops may join each other for some outdoor activities, but each will have its own program. Adventure, leadership, service and personal growth are four reasons for young girls to join. The program serves as an introduction to the great outdoors, and helps build leaders. Former Scouts serve on the boards of global corporations, walk the halls of the White House, and have been known to go hiking on the moon. Life lessons learned in Scouting will help all members make good decisions throughout life.
Troop 1639 and Troop 639 Meet 7 p.m. Mondays at Woodstock Christian Church, 7700 Highway 92 Woodstock, GA 30189
Contact for girl Troop 1639 bsat1639@gmail.com
Contact for boy Troop 639 bsat639@gmail.com
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25
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. 26
TOWNELAKER | March 2019
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 and is director of client services for a software company. She co-leads a troop of seven amazing Cadette and Senior Girl Scouts, who have stolen her heart.
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Celebrations!
Improving the County’s Noise Ordinance BY HARRY JOHNSTON
Feb. 20
Happy sixth birthday, Dayton.
March 19
Happy 27th birthday, Ryan. Love you!
Jan. 25
March 19
Happy 12th birthday, Sam! Love, Dad, Mom and Daniel.
Happy 24th birthday, Joscie! Love Daddy, Mom, TJ, Christian and Lili.
March 20
Happy 21st birthday to our dynamic duo, Lauren and Dalton. We love you!
ANNOUNCEMENTS ARE FREE! E-mail to: Jackie@AroundaboutMagazines.com April deadline is March 10. Please specify TowneLaker. 28
TOWNELAKER | March 2019
One of the new Board of Commissioners’ priorities is to enact an improved noise ordinance. The current ordinance applies only after 11 p.m., and it’s too vague to enforce consistently. So, the Marshal’s Office gets lots of complaints they can’t do much about. Separately, the Special Events Facility regulations completely prohibit outdoor loudspeakers. That’s probably too restrictive. An outdoor wedding usually needs some amplification for voices and music. So, even though it’s illegal, the marshals usually let it go if the sound is at a low level. We tried to improve the ordinance 10 to 12 years ago, but got such massive resistance that we gave up. We’re trying to go about it more carefully this time. One of the difficulties with a noise ordinance is that the sounds that annoy us aren’t necessarily the loudest ones. The most common complaints involve amplified music, gunfire, dirt bikes and industrial operations. Most people don’t mind ordinary and necessary noises like lawn mowing during the day, regular traffic and A/C compressors. But, we don’t like hearing our neighbor’s music, even though it’s quieter than his lawn mower. The right to own, carry and shoot guns is almost sacred around here, and we’re reluctant to tread on those rights. But, it’s not hunting or moderate target practice that generates the complaints. It’s when someone is abusing their rights by blasting away for hours with thousands of rounds of fully automatic fire. What we’re looking for is reasonable maximum noise levels for different time periods, with reasonable exceptions. Sound would be measured where it enters someone else’s property. We’re talking about three time periods and standard noise levels as follows: Day, 7 a.m.-7 p.m. 70 decibels. Clearly audible, but moderate. About the level of normal conversation at close range. Evening, 7 p.m.-11 p.m. 60 dB. Slightly audible; very muffled. Night, 11 p.m.-7 a.m. 50 dB. Virtually inaudible. We’d need exceptions for regular agricultural, landscaping and construction equipment during the day, and, probably, for reasonable rounds of firearms practice during a limited daytime period in areas where gunfire is not otherwise prohibited. We might exempt all vehicles legally operating on public roads, at least for now; also, school events and emergencies. At night, some normal noises, like regular A/C compressors, might exceed 50 dB and require exemptions. And, catching chickens to send for processing is a required agricultural activity that’s noisy, and usually done at night. Common law would allow existing businesses, whose operations depend on making noise, to be grandfathered in legally under the former ordinance. That would include Dixie Speedway and some other more mundane operations. So, what do you think? We really want to know. Email me at hjohnston@cherokeega.com.
Harry Johnston is chairman of the Cherokee County Board of Commissioners. He's a retired CPA and accounting manager, and a former district commissioner.
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New Safety Features Becoming Standard BY DANNY BRANOM
Have you heard of ADAS? Is it a new brand of tennis shoes, a cellphone or perhaps a new restaurant? Or perhaps it’s one of those life changing medicines you hear about every night in TV commercials. Actually, it’s none of those things. ADAS is new automotive lingo that you will be hearing more about in the future. ADAS stands for Advanced Driver Assistance Systems, and covers a multitude of new advanced technology features on today’s vehicles. Most road accidents occur due to human error, and today’s ADAS will, in my opinion, greatly reduce accidents as long as drivers put down their cellphones while driving. You have probably heard of lane departure warning, adaptive cruise control, automatic parking and forward collision warning, to name a few. These are some of the most common ADAS features that are available as standard or optional equipment on most new cars. These advanced systems are among the fastest growing niches within the automotive industry, and will continue to be as we strive to operate our vehicles in a safer manner. I anticipate that many of these features will become standard equipment on vehicles, like seatbelts, air bags and, most recently, rear view cameras (law effective with vehicles made after May 2018).
The rising demand for ADAS will translate into some changes that consumers will notice. First, the cost of purchasing a new vehicle will continue to rise. Components for these operating systems are sophisticated, and technology always comes with a price. I believe vehicle insurance costs will rise and here’s why. AAA just released a study that the average repair costs for an older model vehicle involved in a typical minor front-end collision is about $1,100. With some of today’s ADAS features, the average cost will exceed $5,000, since many of these new components use multiple cameras and sensors. Maintenance costs for vehicles will increase as well, because these new systems require updates and adjustments to continue performing properly. The business you trust to take care of your car will need to invest in training and equipment to service and repair these new systems. Make sure you choose a place that can properly perform these services to keep your vehicle safe and reliable.
Danny Branom is owner/operator of Christian Brothers Automotive in Towne Lake. 770-926-4500. www.cbac.com/townelake.
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.
1.
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.
2.
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 30
TOWNELAKER | March 2019
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.
3.
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.
TOWNELAKER | March 2019
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PEACE and PURPOSE Goshen Valley Boys Ranch, known since 2001 for operating an almost 200-acre Waleska sanctuary for boys in the foster care system, now can recruit, train and license foster families throughout Cherokee County. It’s a move that CEO Zach Blend says will allow the foundation to keep sibling groups together while they are in foster care. Goshen Valley’s mission is to create environments of safety, love and stability for youth in foster care. Up until last year, that meant bringing boys ages 8-18 to live with house parents in homes on the property. At least half of the boys are from Cherokee County. While that model has benefited the lives of more than 600 young men, Blend kept thinking there must be a way to push past the geographical boundaries to help more children, including female siblings. “Our new program,
Goshen Homes, allows us to train and engage foster parents throughout the community who can actively join us in the mission to serve the separated siblings, keeping families together during a difficult time in their lives,” Blend said.
At the Start
The Goshen Valley Foundation was licensed and established in 1999, when the Blend family donated their Waleska ranch property to become a place to care for foster children. The first foster child came to live on the ranch in 2001; currently, there are six homes filled with 46 boys. “From the very beginning, Goshen Valley’s focus has been transformation, in the lives of the youth and children we serve, and the community that joins us in that journey. We do so by treating every child and circumstance uniquely, and ensuring that our relationships are intentional,” Blend said. “Peace and Purpose is much more than a brand; it’s our road map to a life filled with hope and healing.” Goshen Valley has three programs with the same mission.
The Ranch
Goshen Valley Boys Ranch is situated on 160 acres in Waleska’s scenic Salacoa Valley. All boys participate in therapeutic counseling, public school education, and a comprehensive recreation program, while living in a unique, family-based home with full-time house parents. “Our goal is for every young man to know the security of a home, the love of a family, and the hope of a future; in short, peace and purpose,” Blend said. “We believe that great d med Matthew an r Holcombe welco g be rin Am ste d fo an er tt aft rre ily Ga forever fam eir th of rt pa as a Samanth
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TOWNELAKER | March 2019
transformation takes place in the context of loving relationships, and this is why we take such pride in our family-based model of care. In all aspects, from a midnight fright to the joy of Christmas morning, we create environments that feel as much like a family home as possible.” The ranch hosts roughly 2,500 volunteers each year who help in a variety of ways: providing meals, working in the clothes closet, participating in activities with the boys, and performing maintenance and outdoor projects. The second Saturday of each month is devoted to service: Volunteers can sign up online (www.goshenvalley.org/serve) to work between 10 a.m. and 12:30 p.m.
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New Beginnings
This program began when it became apparent there was a need to support the boys who aged out of the foster care system. New Beginnings is for young men and women ages 18-21, and helps them find their purpose as they age into adulthood. Very few youth in society are prepared for full independence when they turn 18, and youth in foster care with traumatic pasts can be less prepared. Attention to youth at this age is tailored to prevent homelessness, drug and alcohol abuse, prostitution, and arrests that often happen when a young person’s home life has been unstable. Youth in this program attend local college classes or vocational school, hold jobs, and are taught practical life skills, such as money management, drivers education, and professional development. Through the program, youth are equipped with the skills, resources, and community relationships they need not just to survive, but to thrive in independent adult living.
Goshen Homes
In 2016, the folks at Goshen realized that, too often, sibling groups were being separated and scattered throughout the state. In a desire to keep these siblings together, the foundation began this program, which recruits, trains, licenses and supports foster families working with sibling groups, by following four steps: 1. Meeting for information to see if prospective foster parents are a good fit.
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2. Once suitability is determined, training is offered through a six-part IMPACT series that’s engaging, relevant and practical. 3. Goshen representatives guide parents through the licensing and home-study process. 4. When children are placed in the homes, ongoing training, respite and support groups help maintain a thriving situation. Today, Goshen Homes serves 30 boys and girls. For more information on Goshen Valley, and, specifically, details on becoming foster parents, call 770-345-9535, or visit the Canton office at 505 Brown Industrial Parkway, Suite 200. www.goshenvalley.org. Sponsored Content
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EVERYDAY
Identifying people in need in our community. Ryan and Lyndsey DiVita moved their young family from their hometown in Cleveland, Ohio, to Woodstock in January 2016. Ryan, 37, received a transfer from his aviation charter company where he has worked since 2013. The couple has three children, Anderson, 8, Harris, 6 and Penny, 2. During the Christmas holidays, the DiVitas traveled to visit family in Ohio. During that time, their oldest son, Anderson, had a cough that turned to pneumonia. When filling his prescription, they learned that their prescription insurance coverage had lapsed due to nonpayment by their company. Of course, this raised many concerns about the stability of Ryan’s company, but they weren’t able to get answers during the holiday season. As they were settling back in after their Christmas trip home, Lyndsey began feeling bad. “I had a cough all week, but I began feeling bad very quickly – bad enough to take a bath and go to bed, which is something that I never do having three small kids,” Lyndsey said. “I fell asleep and woke up at midnight in a full sweat and vomiting. I had a 106-degree fever and passed out. Ryan called 911 and the EMS technicians discovered my blood pressure was extremely low and transported me to Northside Cherokee Hospital. Ryan had to get someone to care for the kids before he could join me.“ Assuming his wife must have the flu, Ryan was shocked to learn that his Lyndsey was in ICU with pneumonia and sepsis, and they weren’t sure she would survive the night. Lyndsey spent 16 days in ICU and the step-down unit with chest tubes and IV antibiotics. She then began experiencing severe back pain, and further tests revealed she had several abscesses in her lung that would require surgery. During this time, Ryan’s company had closed its doors and he had no job. They had to pay for COBRA insurance for Lyndsey’s care. Thankfully, Lyndsey was able to return home to her family on Jan. 21 with her IV, but it will be eight months before she will be back on her feet. “Our family flew down from Ohio to care for the kids while I was in the hospital, for which I am eternally thankful,” Lyndsey said. “It is hard being so far away from my family through all that we have been through, but this community has treated us like family. Everyone has embraced us and supported 34
TOWNELAKER | March 2019
Lyndsey Divita, above with Anderson, Harris and Penny, and left with husband Ryan.
us through all of this - you would think that Woodstock has always been my hometown. The love and support we have been shown has been overwhelming.” Ryan continues his search for a sales and marketing position and has a few promising leads out of state, but the DaVitas do not want to leave the area. “Anderson and Harris attend Bascomb Elementary and they are so happy there. We are hoping that Ryan secures something that allows us to stay,” Lyndsey said. Ryan, Lyndsey and their young family are struggling to meet the financial demands of her illness, and his job loss. It is our hope that we can rally the community to assist them until their income and insurance resumes and until Lyndsey is back on her feet. We are proud to serve a selfless and caring community! It is just what you do, and we are grateful!
Everyday Angels is a 501(c)3 nonprofit serving Cherokee County since 2000. To make a tax deductible donation, visit www.everydayangels. info to donate via Paypal or send your donations to: Everyday Angels, PMB 380, 1025 Rose Creek Drive, Suite 620, Woodstock GA, 30189. One hundred percent of your funds will go to the family you specify. If you know of a special need in your community, e-mail aaeverydayangels@gmail.com
TOWNELAKER | March 2019
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Library System Unveils New Strategic Plan eBooks, audiobooks, STEAM kits and robotics programming, helps users increase digital literacy skills and creativity among the community. Sequoyah Regional Library System (SRLS), which serves The third goal is to develop strategies and resources to Cherokee, Pickens and Gilmer counties, has unveiled a new engage with the community outside of library walls. After strategic plan that will be implemented through 2021. The plan all, how can people benefit from the library if they have no emphasizes the vision and values of SRLS while defining four goals idea what it offers? SRLS is developing tools and training that as part of continued efforts to serve the community. Sequoyah enable staff to be mobile and expand the library’s offerings Regional Library System has also rearticulated its mission: with community outreach efforts. Don’t be surprised to see “Connect people with ideas and opportunities to explore, learn library staff spreading the word and create.” The announcement at a local public gathering, or was made in celebration of the teaming up with schools and library system’s 60th anniversary other community partners in 2018, and included a new logo. to promote programming The first goal of the strategic and services around town. plan is to communicate the Additionally, a robust collection library system’s story and impact of online services, accessed via by sharing and reporting success the SRLS website, helps users measures with staff, trustees conduct genealogy research, and the community. This new learn a new language, explore marketing strategy involves foreign countries, and more, increased focus on the library without having to leave home. system’s existing social media The fourth goal of the channels: Facebook strategic plan is to sustain a (@SequoyahRegionalLibrary), high-performing organization Twitter (@SequoyahRegLib) that strives for excellence in and Instagram (@ management. This involves SequoyahRegionalLibrary), comprehensive staff training with additional media that supports the strategic plan (such as YouTube) to follow. and includes a management Library patrons also can visit development component the SRLS website (www. for all leadership positions. sequoyahregionallibrary.org) The library system also is to subscribe to an official implementing changes to e-newsletter with updates on facilities that incorporate upcoming facilities, A group of families makes use of the Rose Creek Public Library’s computers for online research. sustainable features, continual programming, collections and improvements, and superior technology. maintenance. This allows SRLS to take the best care of its The second goal is to ensure convenient, intuitive, purposeful staff and facilities so that they can take the best care of their and engaging library experiences for the community. This community. comes from a desire to better understand library users, create “The vision of our libraries is to be the community’s experiences with them in mind, and get rid of any barriers so dynamic destination for discovery,” said Anita Summers, the library can have something for everyone. In addition to director of Sequoyah Regional Library System. “The everbooks and services, SRLS offers hundreds of monthly events, growing needs of our community have given rise to this with programming for adults, teens and children. By developing new strategic plan, which has been created to re-emphasize programming and services with community-focused objectives Sequoyah Regional Library System’s values: enduring and outcomes, users gain just as much from attending an commitment to open access, service excellence, community event as the library gains from hosting the user. Likewise, an engagement and continuous learning.” ever-expanding collection of library technology, which includes BY JOHN RODGERS
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@ the Library
Sequoyah Regional Library System 116 Brown Industrial Parkway • Canton, GA 30114 770-479-3090 • www.SequoyahRegionalLibrary.org
ROSE CREEK
WOODSTOCK
4476 Towne Lake Parkway, Woodstock 770-591-1491
7735 Main St., Woodstock 770-926-5859
March 11
Curious Kids Science Club at 4 p.m. Find out what a magnet is and how magnetic
fields work. For grades K-5; children must be accompanied by an adult. Registration is required.
March 14
Virtual Author Visit: Martha Hall Kelly at 11 a.m. Listen to best-selling author Martha Hall Kelly discuss the history-making women in her novel “Lilac Girls” and the upcoming release of the prequel “Lost Roses” during this author chat and Q&A session. Pop-Up Pi Party at 6 p.m. Celebrate Pi Day with the library’s new Raspberry Pi
computers. For grades 5 and up. Registration is required.
March 28
Car Seat Safety at 11 a.m. Cherokee County Office of Fire and Emergency Services’ Beth Elder will provide educational information about car seat safety. Parents and caregivers will get to take home materials. Parents and children are invited to attend. Lego Robotics Club at 6 p.m. Teens in grades 6-12 are invited to take apart, re-build and program Lego Mindstorm robots.
March 11
Celebrate Dr. Seuss Day at 10:30 a.m. Celebrate Dr. Seuss’s birthday by coming to a special Dr. Seuss storytime and doing fun activities.
March 12
Teen Library Scavenger Hunt
at 6 p.m. Teens in grades 6-12 are invited to a scavenger hunt and play Book Cover BINGO for books and other cool prizes.
March 17
Project Pinterest at 3 p.m.
Explore Pinterest-inspired creative projects.
March 19
Book Discussion Group at noon.
Enjoy coffee, conversation, and a book discussion with new friends. This month’s selection is “The Great Alone” by Kristin Hannah. All ages are welcome; new members are encouraged.
March 23
Sequoyah-Con at Woodstock
Public Library. The Sequoyah Regional Library System presents a mini-convention featuring popular fandoms, panels, activities, and programs; all for free! All ages are welcome to participate in scheduled events.
The Chick-fil-A cow attends a special storytime for students during Carmel Elementary School night at the Rose Creek Public Library. 38
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Around & About MARCH Music Teachers Association will hold 2 itsThenextCherokee meeting at 11 a.m at the Cherokee Arts Center, 94
North St., Canton. The meeting will be followed by a program presented by Mason Conklin of Reinhardt University, on using interactive Play Along activities using popular music and Disney shows. All programs are free and open to the public. For more information or directions, please contact Linda Lokey at linda@lokey.net.
6
The Silver Roamers, a Cherokee Recreation and Parks agency group for active senior citizens, has an outing planned to attend a cooking class at Bees Knees, leaving 10:30 a.m. from the recreation center. For more information, visit www.crpa.net.
8
Fundraiser for Empower Cherokee will be held 7-9 p.m. at Decor and Pour, 110 Prominence Point Parkway, Canton. Register online at www.decorandpour.com/events. Empower Cherokee helps adults with special needs live their best lives through employment, volunteering, social activities and skill development. www.empowercherokee.org.
9 2019 meeting at 10:30 a.m. at the Chieftain's Museum in
The Georgia Trail of Tears Association will hold its first
Rome. Former association President Jeff Bishop will speak on the causes of the Creek Civil War, also known as the Red Stick War. No charge to attend. The museum is at 501 Riverside Parkway.
A benefit tribute to rock and roll hall of famer Bob Burns of Lynyrd Skynyrd, hosted by Artimus Pyle at Action Building in Canton. Doors open at 7 p.m. Proceeds benefit Songs 4 Kids and the Atlanta Mission Homeless Shelter. Ticket information available at www.rockeventsonline.com.
13
The Cherokee Career Expo, hosted by the Cherokee Office of Economic Development and the Georgia Department of Labor, is 2-6 p.m. at the Northside Hospital Cherokee Conference Center, 1130 Bluffs Parkway, Canton. The event attracts more than 40 of the county’s top employers and provides job-seekers with on-site résumé review assistance from 1 to 2 p.m.
14
The Silver Roamers will take a tour of Decatur Square with Jim Howe, leaving at 8:30 a.m. from the Malon D. Mimms Boys and Girls Club and 9 a.m. from the recreation center. www.crpa.net.
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The fifth annual Bunco for Charity, sponsored by the BridgeMill Sixes Service League, begins at 6:30 p.m. at The Terraces in BridgeMill. $20 entry fee, proceeds benefit charities supported by the league. RSVP to sapeterson61@ gmail.com or sign up at www.bssl.org.
Brian Desko and Emily Gail Miller in a past production at Hillside.
16-17 Broadway Revue
Hillside United Methodist Church’s Back to is set for 7 p.m. Saturday and 4 p.m. Sunday. Enjoy hits from some of the most popular musicals of our time. Admission is free; a love offering will be taken. Child care provided. The church’s address is 4474 Towne Lake Parkway. 770-924-4777.
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The Cherokee Chorale will perform “Arise” at 3 p.m. at Canton First United Methodist Church, 930 Lower Scott Mill Road. Conductor Scott Martin will lead the chorale in a performance of “High Lonesome Bluegrass Music,” featuring the Chuck Nation band. For tickets, visit www.cherokeechorale.org.
Lake Business Association Golf Tournament 22 atTowne Towne Lake Hills Golf Club. Registration at 3:30 p.m.,
shotgun start at 4:30 with banquet and awards ceremony at 7 p.m. Nine-hole, 4-person scramble format. www.TLBA.org.
4 A Cure, hosted by the BridgeMill Sixes Service 23 Volley League, begins at 6:30 p.m. and benefits the American
Cancer Society. This year’s theme is Rock Star; participants are encouraged to dress up and bring tennis partners to enjoy tennis, food, drinks and a chance to win prizes. For more information, contact Nicole Shippy at nicole@maximtech.com. www.bssl.org.
The UGA Master Gardener Extension volunteers of Cherokee County will present Organic Vegetable Gardening at 10:30 a.m. at the Hickory Flat library, 2740 E. Cherokee Dr., Canton. Strive to grow gardens that are bountiful, healthy and ecologically friendly. To register, go to http://cherokeemastergardenersinc. wildapricot.org, call 770-721-7803 or email uge1057@uga.edu.
28 Banquet
Cherokee County Historic Preservation Awards , sponsored by the Cherokee County Historical Society, will begin at 7 p.m. at the Northside Cherokee Conference Center. The society honors historic property owners for their outstanding work in preservation. For ticket information, visit www.rockbarn.org/events. continued on page 42
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TOWNELAKER | March 2019
EAGLE WATCH IS CELEBRATING OUR 30TH ANNIVERSARY THIS YEAR! Join by April 1 for only $30 and receive
one month of complimentary dues and one month of complimentary golf guest passes!* RESIDENT SOCIAL MEMBERSHIP: dues starting at $30 per month + receive a $20 food and beverage credit each month.*
Membership at Eagle Watch offers: •
Active golf community with competitive leagues for everyone
•
Weekly Family Night Dining, Prime Rib Thursdays, Friday Night Out, Sunday Brunch and more!
•
Savory cuisine offered in a relaxed yet upscale environment
•
Golf programing and other social activities just for kids
•
Full access to Bentwater Golf Club CHRIS CONNOLLY | chris.connolly@clubcorp.com | 404.960.9225
*Offer expires 4/1/19 and may not be combined with any other promotion or discount. Initiation Fee and dues discount are available for Golf Membership categories only and a loyalty agreement is required. Food and beverage credits expire at the end of the month they are received, have no cash value, and are issued for promotional purposes only. Membership is contingent on successful completion of Club’s enrollment process. Loyalty agreement may be required. The O.N.E. program and corresponding benefits are subject to certain restrictions and exclusions. Participating clubs subject to change. Benefits are subject to the benefit terms and conditions, which may be found on clubcorpnetwork. com. All offers are subject to availability. Other restrictions and exclusions may apply. Contact Club for details. © ClubCorp USA, Inc. All rights reserved. 43662 0219 EA
TOWNELAKER | March 2019
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Around & About
continued from page 40
MARCH
28
The Silver Roamers will visit the Atlanta Cyclorama, leaving at 8 a.m. from the Malon D. Mimms Boys and Girls Club and 8:30 a.m. from the recreation center. www.crpa.net.
Canton Art and Wine Walk. Participants are 29-30 invited to stroll the streets of the downtown area,
view art, and sample wines in participating businesses. Watch www.cantonga.gov for details.
30
The second annual Pork & Torque car, truck and bike show is 10 a.m.-2 p.m. at Allen Temple AME Church, 232 Arnold Mill Road, Woodstock. Free to spectators. Car registration is $20. www.allentempleame.org.
31 6 p.m. at Prayer and Praise Christian Fellowship, 6409 Bells Power in Unity Praise and Worship Service begins at
Ferry Road in Woodstock. This countywide, multi-church service will feature a combined worship team and choir as well as featured guest speakers, testimonies and communion. The offering will go to the Goshen Valley Boys Ranch. Contact Pastor Mike Saunders at 404-483-2515 or concernedclergyofcherokee@gmail.com.
Springs Easter Egg Hunt begins at 11 a.m. at 13 Holly Barrett Park, 120 Park Lane. Guests can arrive early for
the petting zoo, face painting, spin art and to have their picture taken with the Easter Bunny. Each family gets a complimentary printed picture. More than 15,000 eggs will be hidden for children, infant to 12 years old. Every child will receive a special prize. www.hollyspringsa.us/easteregghunt.
Canton Egg Fest, hosted by Oak Leaf Church, is a unique, entertaining, free, family-friendly event that will benefit the Cherokee Family Violence Center. The 11 a.m.-2 p.m event will include an egg hunt, kids zone with bounce houses and crafts, live performances by musical groups from around the county, food and merchandise vendors and more. On Facebook. Street Dog Dash 5K, a fundraiser for the Cherokee County
Animal Shelter, begins at 8 a.m. at the Etowah River Park, 600 Brown Industrial Parkway, Canton. The flat, scenic course crosses the river into Heritage Park and then winds back to the finish at Etowah River Park. An official AJC Peachtree Road Race qualifying event. Visit the race’s Facebook page or http://streetdogdash5k.com/race-info for registration details.
The second annual KBDF Live Auction/Dance is 4-10 p.m. at Lewallen Farms, 205 Sawyer Farm Road, Waleska. The auction is a fundraiser for the Kathy B. Davis Foundation in Waleska. www.kbdfoundation.net.
APRIL
5-6
A special needs golf clinic is planned for 10 a.m. at Lake Arrowhead Yacht and Country Club, followed by a golf tournament with a shotgun start at 8:30 a.m. Saturday. Breakfast and lunch are provided. Both are fundraisers for the Kathy B. Davis Foundation in Waleska. Details available at www. kbdfoundation.net.
6
The 2019 Spring Symposium: A Greener World Begins at Home, presented by the UGA Extension Master Gardeners of Cherokee County, is set for 9 a.m.-4 p.m. at the Yanmar EVO Center, 5889 Old Alabama Rd. Acworth. Keynote speaker will be Erica Glasener. The event includes two break-out sessions and lunch. The $40 fee includes welcome bags, door prizes, seeds, vendors and a silent auction. To see list of speakers and to register, go to www.cherokeemastergardenersinc.wildapricot. org or mail check (with phone number) to CCMG, Attn: Diane Walton, 326 Lauren Lane, Woodstock, Ga.30188
13 Turner Road location with a family picnic that includes
Next Step Ministries celebrates its 10th birthday at the
lunch and games. Looking for past volunteers, interns, clients, sponsors and anyone whose supported the ministry to join the fun. More details at www.nextstepministries.net.
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Farmers Market opens for its 11th year, 20 Woodstock featuring vendors that grow at least 85 percent of the
products they sell at the market. Hours are 8:30 a.m.-noon, and the market is located on Market Street. This year’s market will include events from the Cherokee County Farm Bureau, cooking demonstrations from local chefs, and live music. A Tuesday evening market will be held 5-8 p.m., May through August, in the yard outside Reformation Brewery. For more information, contact Kyle Bennett at 770-924-0406 or kbennett@ woodstockga.gov.
Battle of Blankets Creek 5-mile and 10-mile trail run, and
15-mile and 30-mile mountain bike races at Blankets Creek Trails in Canton. Shirt and event headband for all runners. Free half-mile kids 10 and younger race. Fundraiser for SORBA Woodstock. www.sorbawoodstock.org.
continued on page 44
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Around & About
ONGOING
continued from page 42
Canton Main Street Mixer
Downtown Canton business owners meet every other month at various businesses. 770-704-1548. www.cantonga.gov.
APRIL
25
INFluence
Relay for Life begins at 6 p.m. at E.T. Booth Middle 26 School, featuring entertainment, food, team competitions
Small Town Creatives (STC)
The ninth annual Taste of WDSTK is set for 5-9 p.m. at the Elm Street Cultural Arts Village Event Green. Woodstock area restaurants will serve samples of their best dishes and compete in a variety of categories. The event benefits the Woodstock High School band program, and kicks off Woodstock Restaurant Week, April 28-May 5. Admission is free. Taste tickets cost 50 cents each; packages start at $5.
and more. The event is a fundraiser for the American Cancer Society, and honors cancer survivors and victims. https://bit.ly/2QyR3zW.
Day is 9 a.m.-1 p.m. at Woodstock 27 Greenstock Elementary School, 230 Rope Mill Road. A celebration of
Earth Day that includes recycling of electronics, cellphones and batteries, and document shredding. Visit www.woodstockga.gov for more details.
Meets the last Friday of each month at 8 a.m. Breakfast is served. The event includes a brief presentation that focuses on updates given by greater Woodstock or Cherokee County officials on important issues or services offered that affect the community. www.inwdstk.org.
STC is for creative professionals (designers and makers), and alternates between a morning event and an evening event every other month. The morning events are the third Friday and the evening events are the fourth Tuesday. www.inwdstk.org.
YPOW AM
Young Professionals of Woodstock meet 7-8:30 a.m. Thursdays at the Copper Coin. www.inwdstk.org.
MAY Springs Job Fair is a free event, 10 a.m.-2 p.m., at 1 Holly the Historic Train Depot, 164 Hickory Road. Bring copies of your résumé, meet with potential employers and network with fellow job-seekers. Local businesses interested in participating in the fair should contact Donna Sanders at dsanders@ hollyspringsga.us.
3 The 6-9 p.m. event includes a concert and a classic car
The 2019 Canton Main Street First Friday season begins.
display. Retail and food vendors abound. Main Street is closed to car traffic. www.cantonga.gov.
4
Holly Springs is participating in the Great American Cleanup, the country's largest community improvement program, which kicks off each spring and engages more than 4 million volunteers in more than 20,000 communities nationwide. The event is set for 9 a.m.-noon. Location to be determined. Watch www.hollyspringsga.us for more information.
Kentucky Derby Day at the Rock Barn, sponsored by the Cherokee County Historical Society, begins at 3:30 p.m. The Rock Barn is located at 758 Marietta Highway in Canton. Guests will enjoy gourmet food, open bar, silent auction, pony pull betting, bourbon tasting and a competitive hat parade and contest. The event benefits the society’s education programs and ends with the crowd watching the Kentucky Derby on big screen TVs. www.rockbarn.org/events. continued on page 46 44
TOWNELAKER | March 2019
ELM STREET THEATER www.elmstreetarts.org
March 9
iThink Improv Troupe Show begins at 8
p.m. Tickle your funny bone and spend your Saturday night with an improv comedy show fit for the entire family.
March 15-24
“Of Mice and Men.” John Steinbeck's Depression-era novel is brought to life onstage. Friday/Saturday shows at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday shows at 2:30 p.m. Opening night reception follows the March 15 show; a "Putting Classics on the Stage" talkback with the director follows the March 17 show.
March 21
Brew HaHa at Reformation Brewery at 7 and 8 p.m. Belly laughs plus beer on tap with iThink Improv Troupe every third Thursday. Join the local performers for improv games and loosen up those go-with-the-flow vibes.
We provide trusted, compassionate and exceptional care to patients with GYN cancers and other related conditions. Our experience in gynecologic oncology, combined with the most advanced, minimally invasive surgical techniques, means that our patients can rest assured knowing they are in the best hands possible.
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980 Johnson Ferry Road NE Suite 900 Atlanta, GA 30342
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4 Convenient Locations
Marietta
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780 Canton Road Suite 405 Marietta, GA 30060
Call 404-459-1900 for an appointment with Dr. Gerald A. Feuer in Atlanta & Marietta.
460 Northside Cherokee Boulevard Suite 400 Canton, GA 30115
AtlantaGynOnc.com
• Uterine Fibroids • Pelvic Adhesive Disease
Towne Lake
900 Towne Lake Parkway Suite 302 Woodstock, GA 30189
Call 770-721-9400 for an appointment with Dr. Michelle A. Glasgow in Canton & Towne Lake.
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TOWNELAKER | March 2019
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Around & About
continued from page 44
MAY Festival of the Arts, produced by the Cherokee Arts 4-5 Canton Center, will take place in Brown Park in downtown Canton. The
festival, a 501 (c) 3 nonprofit, is the primary fundraiser of the center, which is dedicated to enriching community life through the arts. The festival features the Artist Market, Serenity Garden, Jack Fincher Jr. Rising Artist Area, Kids Zone and Food Court. For more information, visit www. CantonArtFestival.com.
COED @ THE CIRCUIT 1 Innovation Way, Woodstock. 770-345-0600 www.cherokeega.org www.facebook.com/ cherokeeofficeofeconomicdevelopment
1 Million Cups Cherokee (1MC CHK)
First and third Wednesdays, 9-10 a.m. First Wednesdays are held at The Circuit, third Wednesdays are held in different Cherokee County cities. The free, biweekly coffee gathering helps build startup communities on a grassroots level. Perfect for entrepreneurs looking to practice their pitch skills, gain valuable feedback, or belong to a community.
The Lunch Circuit
Mondays are set for 11 a.m.-1 p.m. at the 6, 13, 20 Music Northside Hospital Cherokee Amphitheater. For more
details, visit www.woodstockga.gov and click on the special events tab.
6
11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. on the second Wednesdays. A monthly exclusive lunch gathering of aspiring and current entrepreneurs to eat, build community and learn the stories behind successful Cherokee entrepreneurs.
Woodstock WordPress Meet-Up
The 19th annual Feed My Lambs classic golf tournament will take place 9:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. at the Marietta Country Club. Feed My Lambs provides free Christian preschools in impoverished communities, including a school in Canton. www.feedmylambs.net.
First and third Wednesdays, 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. Local WordPress developers, designers and publishers get together to share knowledge and experience, and to meet other WordPress users in the area.
benefits the Woodstock Public Safety Foundation, is a convergence of the salty goodness of bacon and the downhome sounds of bluegrass music. www.baconandbanjosga.com.
Entrepreneurship 101 Book Club
Bacon & Banjos is set for 11 a.m.-6 p.m. at the Northside 18 Hospital Cherokee Amphitheater. The annual festival, which
23-26
The inaugural Etowah Film Festival will take place at the Historic Canton Theatre. The international event includes a Friday evening filmmaker’s reception, Sunday morning patron brunch, and screenings through the four days of the films, which will be entered to win in the following categories: best documentary (short or feature), best environmental subject (short or feature), best narrative short, best narrative feature, and best student short. www.EtowahFilmFestival.com.
WOODSTOCK SUMMER CONCERT SERIES 7:30 p.m. Northside Hospital Cherokee Amphitheater www.woodstockconcertseries.com
May 11: Mark Wills June 8: Better Than Ezra July 13: Who’s Bad (The Ultimate Michael Jackson Experience) Aug. 10: Little River Band Sept. 14: The Molly Ringwalds (World’s Greatest 80’s Experience) 46
TOWNELAKER | March 2019
Every other Wednesday, 6:30-7:30 p.m. This new meet-up is a partnership with Creative Muscle Studios.
Creative Problem Solvers Meet-Up
First and third Tuesdays, 7-8:30 a.m. Join an innovative, diverse community of creative problemsolvers, entrepreneurs, “want-repreneurs” and innovators dedicated to helping one another work through business challenges.
OTP and Greater Cherokee Tech Pros
Every third Thursday, 7:30-8:45 a.m. A gathering of local technology professionals.
Women Entrepreneurs Meet-Up
Every third Friday, 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. For aspiring and current female entrepreneurs who want to take action and hold one another accountable for stated goals. NOT a lead exchange or referral networking program.
Modern Medicine ... with Style Governors Concierge Medicine Drs. Heath & Ashley Trowell • New Chiropractic Adjustment $29 • “Rainbow Facial” $60 • IV Fluid Special – “Bag of Gold” $70 • Hormone Replacement therapy as low as $100/month • “Lucky You” AquaGold Facial $145 • $500
off Stem Cell Joint Injection • Concierge Primary Care for $100/month Never wait for an appointment again! Call us today to schedule your complimentary consultation and let our trained staff assist you in selecting a medical plan and aesthetic services that will help you reach your health and body goals for 2019! Check out our website for a full list of all medical and aesthetic services www.governorsmedicine.com.
TOWNELAKER | March 2019
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The Kind Approach
770-575-8800 www.ChloesAutoRepair.com 6422 Bells Ferry Rd #100 Woodstock, GA 30189
Open 7am - 8pm Weekdays, 8am - 6pm Saturdays, Closed Sundays ChloesAutoRepair chloe-s-auto-repair
Female-Owned and Operated with a Focus on Excellent Service, Comfort and Care The owner of Chloe’s Auto Repair, Deidre Parker, took great effort to find the perfect location for her shop, which she opened last year at the corner of Eagle Drive and Bells Ferry Road. She took extra measures to transform a former health club into an auto repair shop, because “the location has everything a customer could want.” “We’ve designed a place around the customer,” Parker said. “We considered all aspects of the customer experience and built the building to accommodate those things.” The first consideration: What can the customer do while waiting for repairs? The location, across from Walmart on Bells Ferry Road, is in the shopping center with three places to eat, a nail salon, a Dollar Tree, and more shops. The pristine waiting area includes a business center and a child entertainment area, and separate men’s and women’s 48
TOWNELAKER | March 2019
restrooms, which are equipped with baby-changing stations. If the vehicle owner doesn’t want to wait, a shuttle service can take the customer home, if it’s within the service area. Extended hours are offered so someone needing service won’t have to wait. The second idea was to offer safety checks and education about customers’ vehicles. The technicians check each car for safety issues or other preventable failures. “When we find an issue, we bring the customer out into the shop and show them what we see,” she said. “We explain how the components work together, how it could have happened, and what we need to do to fix it.” The final step is to make sure each experience is positive and completed. A Chloe’s team member follows up personally to make sure the customer is satisfied. “We don’t just give you the total owed Sponsored Content
Ashley and Dave reviewing manufacturer recommen
before giving the keys back,” Parker said. “We communicate with our customers to make sure the experience was satisfactory, and ask how we did today, and if there is anything we could do in the future to make their experience the best possible. We ask them to tell us how we did.” Opening Chloe’s was the next step that made sense for Parker’s career, which
PHOTOS BY J. KING IMAGES
nded maintenance schedule.
spans more than a decade in the auto repair industry. She named the shop after her great niece. “I’ve worked with thousands of customers helping them understand what’s going on with their vehicle in a compassionate way and helping them get back on the road. When I saw this opportunity to do what I love, where I love, and I could do it the right way, it
just all fell into place,” she said. Chloe’s is Ask Patty Certified Female Friendly, ASE certified and BBB accredited with the score of A. Parker also is working on a training program at Chloe’s for those in the automotive field wanting to continue their education in an affordable way. Among the services offered for residential and commercial vehicles: transmission; diagnostics; exhaust systems; brakes; heating and air condition; oil changes and fluids, and door repair. An extensive list is available at www.chloesautorepair.com. Most repairs are completed the same day. Chloe’s also offers a three year, 36,000mile nationwide warranty to back up their service. “We are still new,” Parker said, “and we hope to be able to reach everyone in the southern half of Cherokee County, and let them experience the Chloe’s Auto Repair’s ‘Kind Approach’ to the automotive service industry. We hope to open a second location in the near future.”
What Your Neighbors Are Saying “I had a flat tire in front of the shop and, not knowing they were there, started to change the tire. Greg noticed that I was having trouble and came out to help and I turned him down. As I labored attempting to remove the spare from under the Jeep, he again came out and offered his assistance, noticing that now I was in trouble. My blood pressure had dropped dangerously low. This time I accepted his help and a bottle of water. He offered to inspect the tire, invited me into the lounge area and let me recoup. Their concern for my health even exceeded their great service. My first experience with them makes me feel like we are neighbors. Thank you Greg, Deidre, Paul, and the others for great care.” “I have always been nervous about going to a new auto shop, I have a 19-year-old mini van that was already misdiagnosed by two mechanics. To my surprise, I was a previous customer to the owner. She took great care of me, her staff was very professional and friendly. I was blown away how great the service was. Not the cheapest in town but very fair. (You get what you pay for). My van is running great. Thank you guys! I have a new shop home to bring my cars to!” “Phenomenal experience here today. Needed an oil change and walked in, was immediately told (helpfully) how long the wait would be to confirm I could and wanted to wait that long. The price was unbeatable, particularly with their BOGO special. Wait was shorter than I was told, and the tech who came out to talk to me was thrilled to report that my car was in great shape and needed nothing else. Out the door for exactly the price I was given, and had a lovely conversation with everyone in the office. Truly kind people, gorgeous facility and quality work for unbelievable value.”
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Cherokee Chamber of Commerce
3605 Marietta Highway, Canton 770-345-0400 • www.cherokeechamber.com
EVENT CALENDAR March 7, April 4
Good Morning Cherokee Breakfast 7 a.m. breakfast meeting. March sponsor is Edward Jones Investments: Ned Castleberry’s office, and the guest speaker is Greg Davis, associate managing director for MFS Investments. April’s co-sponsors are Synovus and State Farm Insurance, Jey Willis Agency. Advance single registration: $17. On-site registration: $22. Future member: $30.
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March 12
Business After Hours 4:30-6:30 p.m. Presented by AT&T at the Rotary Club of Canton meeting at Northside Hospital Cherokee Conference Center, 1130 Bluffs Parkway, Canton. Members $5, future members $10.
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March 22
Regional Issues Awareness Program on topics that affect
RIBBON CUTTINGS 1. Northside Plumbing 3604 Broken Arrow Drive, Woodstock 770-272-2558, www.northsideplumbingatlanta.com 2. McAlister's Deli 2006 Eagle Drive, Woodstock 770-672-0584, www.facebook.com/mcalisterswoodstock/
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Cherokee residents and the region. 8-9:30 a.m. at The Chambers at City Center, 8534 Main St., Woodstock. The program addresses regional water issues: the Metro Water District’s Impact on the county and the region. Guest speaker is Katherine Zitsch, director of Metro Water District.
March 26
Power Hour, 10-11 a.m. Networking with fellow business owners at the chamber board room. Members $5, future members $10. Sponsor is Cobb EMC.
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CARPET 101 BY ELISABETH STUBBS
If you’re ready for new carpet, you’ll be glad to know choices have changed over the past 10 years. It’s not all builder-beige nylon anymore. Here are a few need-to-know basics to get you started.
What are the different types of fiber used in carpet today? • Wool is considered the premier fiber in carpet construction, and it also is the most expensive. It is soft, has excellent resilience and durability, and is the most “green” fiber that carpet is made from. • Nylon is the most commonly used fiber for carpet in the industry, and historically is regarded as the most durable synthetic fiber. Brand names include Stainmaster, WearDated and Anso. Nylon offers excellent comfort and vibrant colors. While not inherently stain-resistant, it is treated for improved stain resistance. • Triexta, made by DuPont, offers the wear advantages of nylon, but is more stain-resistant. Triexta, also known as SmartStrand Forever Clean, Sorona and Silk, offers built-in lifetime stain and soil resistance that does not wash or wear off, and is easy to clean with just water. Many of the softest carpets available today are of Triexta fiber. • Polyester is considered the value fiber, and is naturally stain- and fade-resistant. Polyester styles are good choices for low-to-medium traffic settings, such as bedrooms. New technology makes today’s polyester greatly improved from the polyester you may remember from the 1970s. 52
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A guide to fibers, durability and styles.
• Olefin, also known as polypropylene, is the most stainresistant fiber and primarily is available in Berber and commercial carpets. Polyester and olefin tend to be less costly than nylon and Triexta.
Which carpet will wear the best?
After wool, nylon and Triexta are cited as the most durable fibers. More important than the specific fiber is the construction of the carpet. Cut-pile carpets that are tightly twisted and dense (fibers very close together) tend to perform the best.
Which carpets clean up best?
Solution-dyed nylon, Triexta and solution-dyed polyester can be cleaned very aggressively, without damage to the carpet. Also, carpets with color flecks help to hide stains and dirt.
What are saxony, textured, frieze, cut and loop, and Berber carpets?
Saxony, textured and frieze are all types of cut-pile carpets. Saxony is a very formal carpet that shows footprints easily. Textured carpets are tightly twisted to minimize footprints. Friezes are even more tightly twisted; the fibers actually bend over themselves. Berbers are carpets that are looped. A “cut and loop” (also called an LCL) is a carpet with both looped fibers and cut fibers, constructed in a pattern or design.
Elisabeth Stubbs is one of the owners of Enhance Floors and More, one of Atlanta’s top-rated flooring dealers, located in Marietta.
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ART BY ANN LITREL, ANNLITREL.COM
The Nature Fix BY ANN LITREL
Woody Allen once said: “I love nature. I just don’t want to get any of it on me.” “Nature” is not for everyone. Or, is it? There is a growing body of research showing that our health and mental well-being are hard wired for nature: we REQUIRE it! Here are snippets from hundreds of recent research studies into the healthnature connection: — Lower stress hormones (cortisol) were measured in older adults after activities performed outdoors, as compared with the identical activity indoors. — Hospital patients with a window view of a mini-forest had significantly shorter hospital stays and less need for pain meds compared with fellow patients receiving the same surgery who had recovery rooms with windows facing the side of a building. — Middle-aged adults taking one-hour walks in a rural setting had improved cognitive functioning and mental outlook compared with those taking comparable walks in urban settings. Amazingly, some studies show just 20 minutes of walking a few times a week in a “natural environment” might be enough to impact health significantly. For us in Woodstock, that could mean a visit to the Greenprints Trail, or a loop through a tree-lined neighborhood. My green “fix” is sometimes nothing more than a leisurely visit to my small backyard, where birds rain down their songs from overhead, and soft pillows of moss invite me to kneel and feel them with my fingertips.
Ann, left, and her sister Julie at the Pigeon Mountain Grill.
Over-the Counter Nature High There is one nature “prescription” I suggest for this spring; available only in March and April, it’s extremely high-dose. It’s a visit to the Shirley Miller Wildflower Trail. Nestled in northwest Georgia in the Pocket, a protected cove between the arms of two mountains, the Shirley Miller Wildflower Trail draws wildflower lovers from across the Southeast every spring. They make the pilgrimage there to see what often is called the most beautiful wildflower spot in all of Georgia. Last spring, I visited for the first time, spurred by my project to paint the “natural wonders” of Georgia. I set out on a morning in late March, driving through the rolling countryside to Pigeon Mountain National Wildlife Area. As I navigated the last stretch of rutted dirt road in my creaking old minivan, I spied a vivid blue at the side of the road. Virginia bluebells! I never had seen them growing in the wild in Georgia. Entranced, I pulled over and photographed their nodding heads over the banks of a little gurgling stream. Silly me. When I arrived at the Pocket, a few hundred yards farther on, I was greeted by a woodland filled with thousands of the wild bluebells, blooming everywhere. Mingled among them, also growing totally wild, were the glowing faces of delicate yellow celandine poppies.
It was like opening a garden gate and suddenly encountering Eden. A few bemused visitors wandered first one direction, then another through this timeless place, seeming as captivated as myself. Slowly, we traversed the loops of boardwalk hovering just above the flowers — built to protect this utterly unique place on earth. A few weeks later, I returned with my sister Julie. This time, the palette was alight with huge white trillium cascading down the hills on either side. Purple phacelia seemed to blossom right out of the rocks along the streambed. We walked, gasped and wondered how all these thousands of wildflowers still flourished here in this little valley carved by the stream. On the way home, we pulled over to eat at a locally famous restaurant, Pigeon Mountain Grill, to marvel and reminisce over what we had seen. I suppose our serotonin was raised, our blood pressure lowered. But, most of all, our cup was overflowing with beauty and joy. Health, no doubt.
Ann Litrel is an artist, writer and certified Master Naturalist. She works in her studio, Ann Litrel Art, in Towne Lake.
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Ultrasound Isn’t Just for Pregnancy BY MICHAEL LITREL, MD, FACOG, FPMRS
Ultrasound is a medical technology, but it’s basically a modification of underwater sonar, first used to detect objects in the ocean. In the case of ultrasound, high frequency sound waves are produced by a handheld sensor placed on a body surface: the skin, vagina or rectum. When the sound waves hit an internal body part, they bounce back to the sensor, where a computer takes feedback from reflected sound waves, converting them into an image of the body part. Unlike other imaging techniques, ultrasound uses no radiation. For this reason, it’s an ideal method for viewing a developing baby during pregnancy. However, ultrasound also is used in many other situations to help diagnose women’s pelvic health issues. As an integral part of a quality gynecology (GYN) medical practice, ultrasound can be used to help diagnose many health issues, including: • Abnormalities in the anatomy of the uterus, including endometrial conditions. • Fibroid tumors (benign growths) and masses within the pelvis. • Pelvic inflammatory disease and other types of inflammation or infection. • Postmenopausal bleeding caused by cancer. • Diagnosis and management of ovarian cysts. • Ectopic pregnancy (pregnancy occurring outside of the uterus, usually in the fallopian tube).
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An important thing to look for in your GYN office is accreditation from the American Institute of Ultrasound in Medicine, also known as AIUM. This is not required by local or state law, but, when a practice commits to the voluntary accreditation process, it’s demonstrating commitment to quality patient care. Accreditation means: • There is adequate space for patient comfort and privacy. • There are complete records of every exam available for easy retrieval and review. • Policies exist to ensure patient safety, confidentiality, and prevent transmission of disease. • The ultrasound equipment is properly maintained and calibrated. • All the physicians and sonographers in the practice have documented training and experience in ultrasound. • Actual cases and reports have been reviewed by the AIUM, and meet or exceed nationally accepted standards. Finally, an AIUM-accredited practice must apply for reaccreditation every three years, documenting it continues to meet the AIUM's strict standards. The quality of ultrasound services can impact greatly the GYN care you receive, so make sure to check your physician’s AIUM credentials. Dr. Michael Litrel, a board-certified OB-GYN and Urogynecologist at Cherokee Women’s Health Specialists, writes books and essays on faith, family and health. www.cherokeewomenshealth.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 86-87.
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. 58
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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 http://www.sam.usace.army.mil/Missions/CivilWorks/Recreation/ AllatoonaLake.aspx or on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/ USACEAllatoonaLake.
FREE CONCERT BRAIN SALAD
Friday
MARCH 22
live at
7:00-10:00 PM
No tickets needed. Just show up & have a great time.
400 CHAMBERS ST WOODSTOCK GA 30188 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.
WWW.COPPERCOINWOODSTOCK.COM TOWNELAKER | March 2019
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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?
There is a cat at Cobb County Animal Services that has Feline Immunodeficiency Virus (FIV), who is looking for a home. The 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. Since she has FIV, 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.
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.
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.
What do you like most about your job? This dog's name is Piper, and she's at the Cherokee shelter. She loves running and walking around. She jumps around with joy when she is not in her cage. She hates being in the shelter and just wants out. She was surrendered by her owner and is special needs. She doesn't hear well, but we don't know if she is completely deaf or not. She walks well on her leash and is an American Bulldog mix. She has very interesting patterned ears. 60
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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’m Rob Macmillan and I’m on a mission to help shelter dogs and cats. These animals are at the Cherokee County Animal Shelter at 1015 Univeter Road, Canton. Contact me at robsrescues@gmail.com.
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The Anatomy of an Index DON AKRIDGE, MBA, CFP®, CPA/PFS U.S. MARINE CORPS VETERAN – EMORY UNIVERSITY ALUMNUS
Did you know that nearly $10 trillion in assets are benchmarked to the Standard & Poor’s 500 Composite Index, including about $3.5 trillion in index assets?1 The S&P 500 represents a large portion of the value of the U.S. equity market. The S&P 500 is ubiquitous. It is constantly referenced in financial and nonfinancial media, and we may compare the return of our own investments to its performance. As the index represents approximately 80 percent of the value of the U.S. equity market (or about 80 percent of market capitalization), it may be worthwhile to gain a better understanding of its structure and workings.1 Breaking down the benchmark. The S&P 500, as we know it today, was introduced in March 1957. It tracks the market value of about 500 large firms that are listed on the Nasdaq Composite and the New York Stock Exchange. The S&P is structured to include companies from across the sectors of the business community, in an effort to represent the breadth of the U.S. economy.1, 2 There are a number of criteria a company must meet to be considered for inclusion in the index. A firm must be a U.S. company publicly listed on a major equity market exchange, have a market capitalization of $6.1 billion or more, and have at least 250,000 of its shares traded in each of the six months prior to its consideration for index membership by Standard & Poor’s. A company must also be financially viable: the ratio of its annual dollar value traded to its float-adjusted market cap must be greater than 1.0.3 The S&P has changed over time. Companies gradually have been removed and added over the past 60-odd years. At the benchmark’s 50th anniversary in 2007, just 86 of the original components remained. Subsequent mergers and acquisitions have reduced that number further.3
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Right now, about 20 percent of the weight of the S&P is held in 10 companies, and the performance of tech shares influences the benchmark’s return, perhaps more than any other factor.3 The index has been altered through the years in response to changes in the economy. Across several decades, the makeup of the index’s various sectors has differed, along with their weightings. This leads to frequent updates for the equity funds that aim to replicate the index; in order to maintain that replication, they may need to buy or sell quickly shares of corporations that are being added or removed.3 Keep in mind that amounts in mutual funds and ETFs are subject to fluctuation in value and market risk. Shares, when redeemed, may be worth more or less than their original cost. Equity funds are sold only by prospectus, so please consider their charges, risks, expenses and investment objectives carefully before investing. A prospectus containing this and other information about the investment company can be obtained from your financial professional. Read it carefully before you invest or send money. It also should be noted that investors cannot invest directly in an index. Also, index performance is not indicative of the past performance of a particular investment, and past performance does not guarantee future results. Investment choices designed to replicate any index may not perfectly track it, and their returns will be reduced by fees and expenses. continued on page 81 Don Akridge is president of Citadel Professional Services, LLC, an independent firm, founded in 1994 and conveniently located off Chastain Road between I-575 & I-75 in Kennesaw. 770-952-6707.
Office Culture: Deal-Maker or Deal-Breaker Part 1 of a 2-part series examining the workplace with millennials in mind. BY ASHLEY VELEZ
By 2020, millennials will comprise more than one-third of adult Americans and 75 percent of the workforce by 2025, according to Forbes. This shift in the workforce brings with it a shift in office culture. Culture is what sets your business apart and what makes it unique, forming a combination of the following: values, beliefs, interactions, traditions and behaviors. Expectations for large and small organizations have changed in terms of what makes a positive office culture. Culture can make or break an office setting, recruiting efforts and even your organization’s online brand. Office culture is the root of your organization.
What Makes Up Culture? Leadership. The way your organization’s leaders communicate
and interact with employees, what they communicate, their vision, what they celebrate and recognize, their expectations, their decision-making process, their trustworthiness, and the beliefs and perceptions they reinforce. Management. How your organization is managed − the systems, processes, structure, hierarchy and goals. How managers empower employees, support and interact with them, and encourage them to make decisions also falls under this category.
Workplace practices and policies. These include HR
practices related to recruiting, selection and onboarding, salary and benefits, recognition and rewards, professional development, performance management and promotions, employee wellness, and work/life balance (vacations, sick leave, etc.). Policies can include all of the above, in addition to employee attendance and scheduling, dress code and code of conduct. Communications. The way in which communication occurs in your workplace. More specifically, the type and frequency of interactions and communications between leaders and employees, managers and employees, and the level of transparency in sharing information and making decisions. The people you hire. For example, each person’s personality, values, beliefs, skill sets, experiences and dayto-day behaviors. This also includes the types of interactions that occur between employees (collaborative versus confrontational, supportive versus non-supportive, social versus task-oriented, etc.). continued on page 81 Ashley Velez is the social media director for YPOW and is a digital marketing expert and proud resident of Woodstock, where she lives with her husband Oscar and their two sons. http://atlantaseo.pro.
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An Alliance of Business and Faith BY SUSAN BROWNING SCHULZ
At the Woodstock Christian Business Network (WCBN), faith merges with local businesses. Within this organization, a community of men and women comes together to learn, collaborate, grow and encourage one another in workplace ministry. Meeting discussions include key business challenges, along with ways to engage and support the community. Guest speakers also regularly share insights. “WCBN is a great resource to help us all keep our faith in alliance with our businesses. We get to know quality people, build our businesses, and explore how God works seven days a week, not just Sundays,” said Paul DeClark, certified firearms and self-defense instructor at Command Performance. Stephanie Sheridan, the advocacy director at Papa’s Pantry, said the group was instrumental in supporting an important career decision. “Personally, God has worked through WCBN, where I sensed the prompting for career change late this summer. We were highlighting Hebrews 12:1 ‘Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before
Jeff Nevison is ready to share information at a Friday Night Live in Woodstock. 64
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Members, from left: Tim Roe, Dana Matiak, Robby Matiak and Jeff Nevison.
us.’ I enjoyed the race I was running, but God was stirring a different race within me,” Sheridan said. “WCBN has been a support and encouragement as I have taken a leap of faith and launched into a new chapter.” Founders Jeff Nevison and Nate Wolosiewicz were inspired by the late Scott Forrester, who was instrumental in creating Christian Business Men’s Association in Marietta. The first WCBN meeting was held in June 2016 and has been going strong ever since. Meetings are conducted and moderated so that each person has time to share. Anyone who enjoys meeting other Christian professionals in their community, and building long-lasting relationships with them, is welcome. There is no cost to attend. Bring business cards, collateral material and items for door prizes. With 270 members from Cherokee and surrounding counties, average weekly attendance is 65.
“I have been a regular attendee to the WCBN for almost 18 months, and have gained so much useful, biblically-based personal and business inspiration, guidance and tips,” said local businessman Neil Scott-Barbour. “I have also made some wonderful friends, many of whom have been most helpful in offering advice and assistance as I move toward the launch of a brand new venture. In fact, I have been allowed to make presentations to the group in this regard. The devotionals, Scripture readings and prayers offered for all is another enormous plus. WCBN is a very special ‘networking’ group.” Meetings are held 7:30 a.m.-9:15 a.m. at Woodstock First Baptist Church in Building A, Room 240, at 11905 Highway 92. To connect, visit Woodstock Christian Business Network on Facebook or Meet Up, or contact Nevison at 678-234-3027 or jeff@mountainlakeinsurance.com.
Susan Browning Schulz is a Bible teacher, author, wife, and mom of three grown children. She lives and plays along the Etowah River and loves serving at Woodstock City Church.
Marriage Moments
Limit Social Media Usage BY BILL RATLIFF
In bygone days, the barrier to healthy marital communication or complete attention was the daily newspaper being read at mealtime. This behavior was cited predominately by women as a way for men to avoid talking to their wives. It seemed to be a way for husbands to zone out and avoid listening to their brides. Today, with the advent of social media, divided marital attention is at an all-time high. This creates serious issues within the context of marriage. A recent study in Washington state showed 15 percent of couples considered social media to be dangerous to their marriage. In this study, one in seven married people have contemplated divorce because of their partner’s social media activity. One in five felt uneasy about their relationship after discovering something on their partner’s Facebook account. One of three adults kept their social media passwords secret from their partners, and 25 percent of couples fought about Facebook at least once a week. It seems clear the institution of marriage is suffering from the divided attention social media creates. What should a couple do to prevent the negatives of social media from affecting their relationship? Couples should take the hint
from what has happened in courtrooms and movie theaters. In those venues, cellphones are required to be turned off, therefore eliminating the social media frenzy. Husbands and wives need to exercise self-control in their social media usage. Self-control is a wonderful practice, and also a fruit of the spirit of God, according to Galatians 5:23. Communication and intimacy have a chance to flourish when you spend more face-to-face time with each other. Instead of frequently checking social media, make a point to give each other undivided attention, at least once every day.
Date Your Mate Take your spouse out for coffee. Turn off your cellphones. Take along a devotional book, and read and discuss a passage together. Relish these quiet moments with each other as you start your day.
Bill Ratliff is a pastoral counselor and certified life coach. Contact him at billratliffcatalyst@gmail.com or www.billratliffcatalyst.com.
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Walking Barefoot in the Snow at Valley Forge BY STATE REP. MICHAEL CALDWELL
In 2013, I was still a part of Python Safety, a safety equipment company that provided specialty gear to nearly every nuclear power plant in America. Before we sold Python Safety to 3M, I traveled across the country on more than 800 flights in six years, consulting on safety policies and selling products. Traveling throughout our country gave me an appreciation for how much history surrounds us in this Great American Experiment. Dec. 9, 2013, was a Monday, and I was flying to Philadelphia for an early Tuesday morning meeting at a power plant about 2 hours west of the airport. After landing at the airport, it was evident that eastern Pennsylvania was going to be struck by a massive (at least, massive for this Southern boy) snow storm that night. I called my client, who assured me Pennsylvanians still would be at work in the morning, and they would appreciate it if I could make it. I agreed to make the trek and stayed the night in Philadelphia. About an hour into my 6 a.m. ice and snow journey on Tuesday, my contact called and let me know no one would be making it to the plant that day, due to the storm. So much for “northern resilience in the face of winter.” As I pulled a U-turn and headed back toward Philadelphia, I noticed signs on the highway for Valley Forge. Almost exactly 236 years before my drive, on Dec. 19, 1777, Gen. George Washington and 12,000 American patriots arrived under light snowfall at Valley Forge. This was their chosen site for winter encampment. British forces had captured the city of Philadelphia, 18 miles southeast of the site. The location had the advantage of high ground and immediate access to the Schuylkill river, which gave the patriots the ability to defend the Pennsylvania countryside from British incursions through the winter. The Continental Congress was tasked with providing supplies for the encamped forces, numbering roughly the same as a colonial city. They were not successful. Food was scarce, and clothing was tattered. Many soldiers went through the winter in the snow without shoes. The lack of supplies, spread of disease, and abnormally intense winter conditions resulted in a devastating test
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of the Americans’ resolve. Starvation and death plagued the camp, and more than 2,000 soldiers died as a result. The Continental Army survived the encampment, but it forever will be remembered as one of the most trying chapters in our Revolutionary struggle. As I noticed the National Parks signs for Valley Forge, I pulled my car off the frozen highway and up to a gate. The park was closed due to the weather, but that presented me with an opportunity I’ll never forget. I parked my rental car at the gate, and hiked my way in through the snow. When I arrived at the top of a hill under a large tree, I removed my shoes. Walking through the snow with my toes feeling numb, I kept thinking of the warm car awaiting me. The men who camped there 236 years before didn’t have the hope of warmth waiting. They knew if they were fortunate enough to survive the cold, they would have British muskets and cannons awaiting them in the spring. They stayed anyway. They slept in the cold, and they charged into battle in order to light a beacon of liberty that would guide our world from tyranny to freedom. That beacon stands today. We inherited our Great American Experiment from these brave patriots, and we must never forget what it cost to create it. History stands all around us in this country. Take some time to get out and see it. You’ll be glad you did. As always, If you ever have any questions for me, please feel free to reach out to me on my cellphone at 678-523-8570 or email me at Michael@caldwellforhouse.com. You also can meet me at one of my Weekly Coffees with District 20 nearly every Saturday at Copper Coin Coffee in downtown Woodstock. Thank you again for allowing me the honor of representing our families in Georgia’s General Assembly!
Michael Caldwell is the state representative for District 20, which includes Towne Lake and Woodstock. He can be reached at 678-523-8570 or email him at Michael. Caldwell@house.ga.gov.
TOWNELAKER | March 2019
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Olympic Opportunities for Cherokee’s Seniors BY NATHAN BRANDON
Cherokee County has been one of the fastest growing counties in metro Atlanta for the past 30 years. Those persons 50 years of age and older make up a major portion of this population increase. More and more opportunities are available for those in this age group. One such opportunity is the annual Cherokee County Senior Olympics, held in April each year. Celebrating its 13th year, this organization creates awareness of the abilities and capabilities of seniors, helps promote, maintain and improve health awareness, and promotes an interest in lifetime sports, recreation and physical activity. If you will be 50 before April 30, you are eligible to register and compete in this year’s Olympics. There are 15 events with all levels of activity taking place in locations around the county. Participants may select as many events as they wish. Events to choose from include: • Basketball free throw, Cherokee County Recreation Center, 7545 Main St., # 200, Woodstock, GA, 30188. • Baggo (corn hole), Cherokee County Recreation Center. • Bowling, Cherokee Lanes, 1149 Marietta Highway, Canton, GA, 30114.
Olympian Gary Seibert playing horseshoes at South State Bank in Canton. 68
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A billiard tournament during last year's Olympics competition at the William G. Long Senior Center.
• Swimming, Cherokee County Aquatics Center, 1200 Gresham Mill Parkway, Canton, GA 30114. • Wii Bowling, William G. Long Senior Center, Woodstock, 223 Arnold Mill Road, Woodstock, GA, 30188. • Billiards, William G. Long Senior Center. • Golf, Fairways of Canton, 400 Laurel Canyon Parkway, Canton, GA, 30114. • Pickleball, Veterans Park, 7345 Cumming Highway, Canton, GA, 30115. • Body challenge, Cherokee County Senior Center, 1001 Univeter Road, Canton, GA, 30115. • Bocce ball, J.J. Biello Riverside Athletic Complex, 610 Druw Cameron Court, Woodstock, GA, 30188. • Frisbee golf, J.J. Biello Riverside Athletic Complex • One-mile walk, J.J. Biello Riverside Athletic Complex • Horseshoes, South State Bank, 1925 Marietta Highway, Canton, GA, 30114. • Washers, South State Bank • Hillbilly golf, South State Bank
Dedicated volunteers help set up, officiate and record times and placement for each event. The competitions are friendly and encourage each participant to do their best. In addition to the friendly competition, the funds raised by the organization are invested in efforts that improve the quality of life for seniors. Each year, money is given for the Adopt-A-Senior Program through Cherokee County Senior Services and the Hugs and a Blanket effort through Cherokee Recreation and Parks Department. Opening ceremonies for the Olympic Games take place at the Cherokee County Recreation Center in Woodstock, complete with the arrival of the torch. Competition begins immediately with the baggo and basketball free throw challenge. Consider how you can participate this year by visiting the website, www.cherokeecountyseniorolympics.com, and filling out the registration form. The cost is $12 per senior and helps to provide T-shirts and a medal for placing in each event.
Nathan has been a resident of Cherokee County since 1982. He retired from Cherokee County Senior Services, and remains involved in community organizations that focus on senior adults.
Senior Sense
Be Conscious of Time BY DELIA HALVERSON
With a triumphant air, my friend sank into the chair at my kitchen table and said, “I’m glad you asked me to come for coffee. In the hour since you called, I’ve done all of my morning’s work!” At a recent meeting, someone suggested, “Give the job to George. He’s the busiest one in the place, but he’s the one who always seems to get a job done.” During my junior year in high school, a young man, just out of the service, lived with my family for several months. Many of his actions were strange to us, but the strangest was how he charted every minute, even the time it took to brush his teeth. This is rather extreme, but he certainly knew how he spent his time. I don’t recall enough to know whether he made use of the knowledge and adjusted his time usage accordingly. The young man left our lives as suddenly as he arrived. The last we saw of him, he was riding his motorbike up the Florida Keys headed for California. I never thought I’d learn much from his scheduling, but age mellows one’s thoughts and now I see the lesson in his actions. “Work expands so as to fill the time available for its completion.” Years ago, I heard this statement. It’s from a book called “Parkinson's Law: The Pursuit of Progress” by C. Northcote Parkinson. This makes for good time management, at home or the office. It’s the secret of how George got so much done and how my friend finished her work before our coffee time. A simple thank you note takes a time-conscious person about five minutes to write. It can be squeezed in between other jobs. However, this same thank you note can expand to fill half a morning: finding the right paper, fixing a cup of coffee to enjoy during writing, locating the address, and deciding just how to word the note. Work does expand to fill the time allotted for it. Try it sometime. Set aside a specific amount of time for a job. Then work toward that goal. You’re likely to find time left over. Try the same job in less time. Once you are familiar with the amount of time each little job takes, you can lump routine tasks together and fit them into your schedule, leaving periods of free time for more enjoyable things. Our lives are shaped by how we use our time.
Delia writes books and leads workshops internationally. She and her husband settled in Woodstock after living in eight states. Their children and grandchildren live nearby.
TOWNELAKER | March 2019
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TOWNE LAKE AREA DINING CUISINE
BKFST LUNCH DINNER SUNDAYS SPIRITS RESERV.
Cancun Mexican Grill, 4430 Towne Lake Parkway 770-693-4680
Mexican
no
$
$
open
full bar
no
Cheeseburger Bobby’s, 2295 Towne Lake Parkway 678-494-3200, cheeseburgerbobbys.com
American
no
$
$
open
no
no
Chinese
no
$
$-$$
open
no
no
American Irish
no
$
$$
open
full bar
6+
Mexican
no
$
$-$$
open
full bar
no
Family Tradition, 4379 Towne Lake Parkway 770-852-2885, familytradition.net
Homestyle Cooking
$
$
$
closed
no
no
GameDay Fresh Grill, 2990 Eagle Drive 770-693-6754, gamedayfresh.com
American/Burgers
no
$
$$
open
full bar
yes
Thai/Sushi/ Chinese
no
$
$$
open
full bar
no
JD’s Barbeque, 6557 Bells Ferry Road 678-445-7730, jdsbbq.com
Barbeque
no
$
$-$$
open
no
no
Jersey’s Sports Bar, 6426 Bells Ferry Road 770-790-5740
American
no
$
$$
open
full bar
yes
Johnny’s Pizza, 1105 Parkside Lane 770-928-9494, johnnyspizza.com
Pizza/Pasta/ Salad
no
$
$-$$
open
full bar
no
Kani House, 2455 Towne Lake Parkway 770-592-5264, kanihouse.com
Japanese Steak/Sushi
no
$-$$
$$-$$$
open
full bar
yes
Keegan’s Public House, 1085 Buckhead Crossing #140 770-627-4393, keegansirishpub.net
Irish/Pub
Sunday Brunch
$$
$$-$$$
open
full bar
no
La Parrilla, 1065 Buckhead Crossing 770-928-3606, laparrilla.com
Mexican
no
$
$$
open
full bar
no
Steakhouse
no
$
$$
open
full bar
call ahead seating
Southern
$-$$
$-$$
no
closed
no
no
Mellow Mushroom, 2370 Towne Lake Parkway 770-591-3331, mellowmushroom.com
Pizza/Pasta
no
$-$$
$-$$
open
beer/wine
no
NY Style Deli & Pizza, 2340 Towne Lake Parkway 678-426-7004
Pizza/Subs/ Bakery
no
$-$$
$-$$
open
no
no
Bakery/Soups/ Sandwiches
$
$
$-$$
open
no
no
Chinese/Japanese
no
$
$-$$
open
beer/wine
no
Chinese
no
$
$-$$
open
no
no
Tavern at Towne Lake, 1003 Towne Lake Hills Drive see ad on pg 25 770-592-9969
American
Sunday Brunch
$
$$
open
full bar
no
The Place, 1105 Parkside Lane 770-928-8901, theplacebargrill.com
Bar/Grill
no
$-$$
$$
open
full bar
no
Tuscany, 250 Cinema View Drive 678-453-0888, mytuscanyrestaurant.com
Italian
no
$-$$
$$-$$$
open
full bar
10+
Volcano Steak & Sushi, 2990 Eagle Drive 678-498-7888, volcanowoodstock.com
Asian
no
$-$$
$$-$$$
open
full bar
no
Vietnamese
no
$-$$
$-$$
open
coming soon
full bar
yes
China Fun, 1075 Buckhead Crossing 770-926-2671, chinafun88.com Donovan’s Irish Cobbler, 1025 Rose Creek Drive 770-693-8763, donovansirishcobbler.com El Ranchero, 1025 Rose Creek Drive 770-516-6616
Izumi Asian Bistro, 2035 Towne Lake Parkway 678-238-1899, iloveizumi.com
LongHorn, 1420 Towne Lake Parkway 770-924-5494, longhornsteakhouse.com Maple Street Biscuit Co., 2295 Towne Lake Pkwy #160 678-903-2161, maplestreetbiscuits.com
Panera Bread, 2625 Towne Lake Parkway 678-813-4809, panerabread.com Peking & Tokyo, 200 Parkbrooke Drive 770-591-8858, pekingandtokyo.com Song’s Garden, 4451 Towne Lake Parkway 770-928-8387, songsgarden.com
WOW Pho & Grill, 6422 Bells Ferry Rd 678-383-6099, wowpho.com
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$ = most entrees under $10 • $$ = most entrees $10 - $15 • $$$ = most entrees $15 - $20 • $$$$ = most entrees over $20
RESTAURANT
Casual and Upscale Restaurants
TOWNELAKER | March 2019
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Time to Play!
Discover a Park Near You
One thing we can count on: Georgia weather is unpredictable! It’s not uncommon to experience a three or four-day stretch of warm temperatures even in the middle of winter. As we long for those permanent warmer temps, here’s a comprehensive guide to nearby parks to fuel your anticipation.
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Cherokee County Parks Badger Creek Park
Dwight Terry Park
Barnett Park
Field’s Landing Park
464 Blalock Road, Woodstock. Opened in fall 2012, the park includes 14 soccer fields of various sizes and is home to Cherokee Impact (www.csaimpact.com). Amenities include athletic fields and restrooms. 10795 Bells Ferry Road, Canton. Located on 25 acres along Bells Ferry Road, the park includes baseball/softball diamonds, a playground, picnic areas, restrooms and walking trails along Downing Creek.
Blankets Creek Bike Trails
Reason Way, Canton. Opened in 2000, these bike trails are among the most popular mountain trails in the U.S. They represent a partnership between Cherokee County, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Allatoona Lake) and SORBA Woodstock. There are more than 15 miles of volunteermaintained trails for beginners to advanced riders. Trails are closed during inclement weather. Amenities at the trailhead include parking, pavilions and restrooms.
Buffington Park and Gym
4600 Cumming Highway, Canton. Located on Cumming Highway, the park includes a baseball/softball diamond, outdoor basketball court, gymnasium, batting cages and a pavilion.
Cherokee County Aquatic Center
1200 Wellstar Way, Canton. Located off Sixes Road (Exit 11 on I-575), this is a state-of-the-art, full-service aquatics facility with two indoor pools and one outdoor leisure pool. The aquatic center offers instructional, fitness, therapeutic, competitive and recreational swimming opportunities. The Oasis, the outdoor leisure pool, includes a water playground, two water slides, play features, beach entry, pavilions, Funbrella, family restrooms, locker rooms and the Oasis Café.
Cherokee Mills Park
6900 Bells Ferry Road, Woodstock. Located on Bells Ferry Road near Little River, this park offers access to Allatoona Lake. Three boat ramps and a boat dock make this a popular place to launch watercrafts. A day-use fee applies for the boat ramp, or you can purchase a season pass at the Recreation Center. The boat ramp is open seasonally, based upon lake levels. Daily fee $5, annual pass $40, military active duty and veterans half off, seniors 62 and older are free.
Cherokee Veterans Park
7345 Cumming Highway, Canton. Located on 149 acres in northeast Cherokee County, this is one of the largest in the county’s park system. Amenities include athletic fields, tennis courts, pickleball courts, playground, skate park, walking trails, a large open meadow and restrooms.
Cline Park
704 Bartow St., Waleska. This 12-acre park includes tennis courts, a wooded walking trail, a playground and a seasonal splash pad.
13395 E. Cherokee Drive, Ball Ground. Located in northeast Cherokee County, this 30-acre park includes baseball/softball diamonds, a playground, restrooms and a half-mile paved walking track. It is home to the Junior Grizzlies youth baseball program. 600 Fields Landing Drive, Canton. Situated on the north side of Allatoona Lake, this park has spectacular views of the lake, along with a boat ramp, fishing dock, playground, restrooms, several picnic areas and pavilions. The boat ramp is open seasonally, based on lake levels. A day-use fee applies for the boat ramp, or purchase a season pass at the Recreation Center. Daily fee $5, annual pass $40, military active duty and veterans half off, seniors 62 and older are free.
Garland Mountain Horse and Hiking Trails
1411 Garland Mountain Way, Waleska. The 12½ miles of marked horse and hiking trails wind their way through 544 wooded acres in northwest Cherokee County. The trailhead has trailer parking, a pavilion and restrooms. The trails are maintained in partnership with the Friends of Garland Mountain.
Hickory Trails Park
3860 Hickory Road, Canton. Located in the Hickory Flat community, the park offers a three-quarter-mile walking trail on 24 pastoral and wooded acres. The trailhead is served by a gravel parking lot, restrooms and two pavilions (available on a firstcome, first-served basis).
Hobgood Park
6688 Bells Ferry Road, Woodstock. Originally opened in April 1990, this 60-acre park remains one of the most active and heavily used parks in Cherokee County. In addition to youth baseball and adult softball leagues, it hosts multiple softball/ baseball tournaments every year. The walking track, playground and pavilions also are heavily used. To reserve a pavilion, call 770924-7768. For information about tennis programs or to reserve a court, contact the Cherokee Tennis Center at 770-592-4582 or www.cherokeetenniscenter.com.
J.J. Biello Park
155 Brooke Blvd., Woodstock. Spread over 470 acres along Rubes Creek and Little River, the park includes tennis, youth softball, youth football, soccer and lacrosse, as well as a large pavilion and playground.
Kenney Askew Memorial Park
1080 Univeter Road, Canton. One of the oldest parks in the Cherokee County system, it recently was expanded to include the new Richard Mauldin Sports Complex. Five new fields were opened in fall 2015. These fields are home to Canton Baseball. The park is also home to the Malon D. Mimms Boys and Girls Club. Amenities include: athletic field (available for rent), six baseball/softball diamonds, four tennis courts, playground, pavilion and restrooms.
continued on page 74
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Lewis Park
200 E. Bells Ferry Road, Woodstock. Nestled in 57 acres of wooded land south of Allatoona Lake, within a few minutes of the Towne Lake and Sixes communities, this park has a walking trail that winds along an unnamed tributary of the Little River, a playground, pavilions (first-come, first-served) and restrooms.
Patriots Park
1485 Kellogg Creek Road, Acworth. The 33-acre park includes two natural grass baseball/softball diamonds, two fenced off-leash dog areas — one for large dogs and another for small dogs — a fully accessible and inclusive playground, a paved walking path throughout the park, a large open meadow, a picnic pavilion, a concession/restroom building and an artificial turf adaptive use baseball/softball diamond. Dubbed Freedom Field, the adaptive use field is designed for the inclusive use by athletes of all abilities. It is the first of its kind in the county and home of the Cherokee County Miracle League program.
Recreation Center, South Annex
7545 Main St., Woodstock. Located within the South Government Annex, just north of downtown Woodstock, the Recreation Center is home to the Recreation and Parks offices and most of the indoor programming offered by CRPA. Rooms in the center are available for rent. Call 770-924-7768 for more information. Amenities include: a gymnasium, community room, aerobics room, stage, playground, outdoor in-line hockey rink and restrooms.
Riverchase Park
150 River Glen Drive, Woodstock. Riverchase is a small neighborhood park in southeast Cherokee. It includes a playground and pavilion that is available on a first-come, firstserved basis.
Sequoyah Park
7000 Vaughn Road, Canton. Located on Vaughn Road in southeast Cherokee County, Sequoyah Park offers an athletic field, baseball/ softball diamonds, playground, walking trail and disc golf course.
Union Hill Community Center
1780 A. J. Land Road, Canton. Located in the community of Union Hill, this historic building has been a school and a church. Renovated in 2011, it now serves as a community center, with a banquet hall, warming kitchen, playground and restrooms. Available for weddings and parties. Call 770- 924-7768 to book.
Woodstock City Parks Northside Hospital Cherokee Amphitheater
Home of the Woodstock Summer Concert Series, it features multiple grass terraces and a large main lawn to accommodate an audience of more than 7,500. The bandshell includes public restrooms that also serve the Park at City Center year-round.
The Park at City Center
The amenities of this downtown park include a gazebo, benches, fountain and the Woodstock War Memorial. The park is host to numerous community events, including: the Woodstock Summer Concert Series, July 4 Spectacular, KidsFest (in October) and the Christmas Jubilee.
Dupree Park
Located on Neese Road, just south of Arnold Mill Road in Woodstock, the park features a large playground, restrooms, four tennis courts, two basketball courts, quarter-mile walking trail, a fishing pond, three pavilions, a pickleball court, family mountain bike trails and an 18-hole disc golf course.
Dobbs Road Park
Located off Main Street, just east of Chattahoochee Technical College, the park features a quarter-mile walking trail and park benches.
Springfield Park
North of Highway 92 on Springfield Drive in Woodstock, it is heavily shaded and features picnic tables, benches and a small playground.
Olde Rope Mill Park
Located at the end of Rope Mill Road in Woodstock, the park features multiple mountain bike and multi-use trails, park benches, picnic tables, a park pavilion with grill and a scenic overlook/fishing platform. The park is home to the Taylor Randahl Memorial Mountain Bike Trail that has 14 miles of connecting trails that twist through nearly 100 acres of public park land. A pedestrian/bike bridge connects the south side of Little River to the north side, where you can see the remnants of an 1800s rope mill.
Woofstock Park
Waleska Park
Located at 150 Dupree Road and open 6 a.m.11 p.m. daily, this dog park’s amenities include separate large- and small-breed off-leash areas, shade structures, water fountains, benches and restroom facilities. Trailhead connections to Noonday Creek and Town Lake Pass trails are located here.
150 Ball Field Road, Waleska. Fully renovated and expanded in 2014, the park is located across the street from Reinhardt University. It has three youth baseball/softball diamonds, restrooms and a playground.
Weatherby Park
100 Worley Road, Canton. Located in the Clayton community, north of Canton, the park has an athletic field, three baseball/softball diamonds and a pavilion, all available for rent. Also available is a playground, restrooms and a walking track. 74
Canine companionship at Woofstock Park. TOWNELAKER | March 2019
Introducing Visit Woodstock GA BY STACY BROWN
You may have noticed a new presence for Woodstock on social media recently. The www.visitwoodstockga.com website is beginning its second year. It’s the website that accompanies advertisements in travel guides and magazines distributed worldwide. But until this month, the social media pages attached to it were for Downtown Woodstock. In order to allow a broader focus on Facebook and other platforms that includes all of Woodstock, accounts for Visit Woodstock GA have been created. Both online identities are managed by the staff of the Woodstock Office of Economic Development. This team staffs the Downtown Development Authority, the Woodstock Visitors Center in Historic Dean’s Store, and IN WDSTK, a membership organization that brings together greater Woodstock residents and businesses who are INvesting, INvolved and INcluded IN Woodstock’s growth and opportunity. Tourism drives economic prosperity. According to the U.S. Travel Association, “Travel-dependent leisure and hospitality is the largest small-business employer in the United States.” Even though Visit Woodstock GA is made for tourists, locals are encouraged to follow and interact on all of the Visit Woodstock GA accounts. • Visit Woodstock GA on Facebook will promote events such as Friday Night Live, the Woodstock Farm Fresh Market, WDSTK Roots Music Nights and Taste of WDSTK. • Visit Woodstock GA Twitter will share relevant posts by Woodstock tourism partners and interact with potential and current travellers. • Visit Woodstock GA Instagram will share images to inspire visitors to experience Woodstock. • Visit Woodstock GA Pinterest is a great place to highlight posts by travel bloggers and pins about the growing film industry in Woodstock. • Visit Woodstock GA’s YouTube profile will highlight Woodstock as a premier mountain biking and outdoors destination, a world-class shopping and dining destination, and a vibrant music and arts destination. The video series Dean’s Store Sessions filmed brings attention to local original music artists. Downtown Woodstock will remain on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. It will co-host Facebook events that take place in the downtown entertainment district with Visit Woodstock GA. The Downtown Woodstock account will continue to share all of the great photos and videos of events in Downtown Woodstock that locals love and act as a digest of all of the downtown shops’ and restaurants’ posts. The hope is that locals will follow these new accounts and join in as ambassadors, welcoming their friends and family equipped with all the great information provided by Visit Woodstock GA and Downtown Woodstock online.
MASTERMIND
Social Networking and You Wednesday March 27, 2019 // 8 - 9:30 AM The Chambers at City Center
MORNING INFLUENCE
Friday March 29, 2019 // 8 AM
TICKETS: INWDSTK.ORG/EVENTS
Stacy Brown is the Marketing Manager INWDSTK for the city of Woodstock. She can be reached at 678-217-2386 or sbrown@woodstockga.gov. TOWNELAKER | March 2019
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Play in the Dirt and Give Back to the Trails BY LISA RANDALL
Above, a short technical trail feature is created to cross a small drainage. Top, volunteers use a method called armoring to build a water crossing. Rocks are placed in the creek to allow water still to flow, but they provide a non-erodable surface for tires and feet.
Cherokee County is blessed with nearly 30 miles of great trails at Rope Mill Park in Woodstock and Blankets Creek Park in Canton. Most of those trails are built and maintained by volunteers. With more than 10,000 visitors per month in the summer, our trails are a huge draw for mountain bikers and hikers, but they really take a beating from all that use. Thanks to SORBA Woodstock and countless volunteer hours, these trails are in top shape. SORBA Woodstock is a mountain bike advocacy group with a mission of creating, enhancing and protecting mountain biking experiences right here in our backyards. SORBA maintains our trails and continually seeks new folks to assist on work days, which the organization affectionately calls “work parties.� Helping out on the trails is a great way to give back to your local community. No experience is necessary, and most work parties are on weekend mornings and last a few hours. SORBA crew leaders will provide all guidance necessary for you to help, and lunch typically is served to allow for socializing and camaraderie. If you are new to the area and enjoy being outdoors, this is a great way to meet like-minded people. Check your calendars and join in the upcoming trail work parties. Check www.sorbawoodstock.org for the location. Dates may change due to weather, etc., so always check before each work day. Wear long pants and closed-toe shoes, and bring your own water. SORBA Woodstock provides the rest. This is a chance to help give back to the trails. SORBA Woodstock could not maintain our wonderful trails without the help of a small army of generous volunteers, like you!
Work Parties Brush is hauled away from a trail area. 76
TOWNELAKER | March 2019
9 a.m.-1 p.m. on the following dates: March 23, April 27 and May 18. Location details available at www.sorbawoodstock.org.
Elm Street
Why Tragedies Are Important BY SIOBHAN BRUMBELOW
In theater and storytelling, there are two forms of dramatic expression: comedy and tragedy. The more popular of the two is comedy, and, in theater, most people will tell you they would rather go see a show to laugh than to cry. I question this idea where I work. Why do we tell tragedies when we want our audiences to leave feeling happy, entertained or with a call to action? Our mission is to engage the community, but how do we engage with the idea of someone dying, or failing, or a story without a happy ending? Tragedies were created to record stories, but also to portray life. In the “Poetics,” Aristotle defined tragedy as a form of drama whose plot is centered on human suffering for the purpose of evoking feelings of pity and fear in the audience. If we think about it, what makes us question life? There are those moments that make us call someone to say, “I love you,” hug someone a little tighter, or breathe and realize how lucky we are to have what we have. What is it that makes us do these things? It’s usually when something tragic happens: a newscast, someone’s death, or a job loss. And it typically happens out of nowhere, because we don’t expect tragedy. We are so lost in making others happy, being the best, working the daily grind that we don’t acknowledge our time. If everything around us was sugarcoated all the time, we wouldn’t learn to appreciate life. In “Of Mice and Men,” there are many themes, but two that are prominent are companionship and dreams. During the Great Depression, George and Lennie travel together, and aspire one day to have their own ranch. John Steinbeck reminds us that even the modestly attainable dreams are still difficult to achieve. The idea of those things being taken away is a tragic one, and a good reminder of being human. By producing this show at Elm Street, we hope the audience not only makes an empathetic connection to these characters, but leaves feeling moved to connect with their own lives — to not get caught up in the day-to-day and forget the journey. This is the reason we should tell tragedies, not to evoke the emotion, but to remind ourselves to connect and appreciate life.
UPCOMING AT ELM STREET
MAR 15-24 FRI/SAT AT 7:30PM; SUN AT 2:30PM
BREAK OF
REALITY Alt-Classical Chamber
APR 13 | 7:30pm PRESENTING PARTNER:
Registration OPEN for
Siobhan Brumbelow is on staff at Elm Street. She holds a BA in Theatre from Brenau University and toured with Missoula Children’s Theatre.
SUMMER CAMPS ELMSTREETARTS.ORG | 678.494.4251 TOWNELAKER | March 2019
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YOUR SCHOOL NEWS Pam Carnes to Serve on Regional Accreditation Board
Kieran Black
2019 National Merit Scholarship Finalist Kieran Black of Etowah High School is part of an elite group competing for a National Merit Scholarship. He is part of less than 1 percent of the nation’s 1.6 million eligible high school seniors who have been selected as finalists by the National Merit Scholarship Corp.; 7,500 scholarships, worth about $31 million, will be awarded in the spring. Semi-finalists are chosen based on outstanding 2017 PSAT scores, and that pool is narrowed to about 15,000 finalists nationwide through an application process. The process reviews students’ academic achievements, participation in school and community activities, demonstrated leadership abilities and other factors. Students also must earn SAT scores that confirm their PSAT performance.
Correction In our January issue, we incorrectly reported the grade point average (GPA) for Savannah Bray, 2018 Cherokee County Volleyball Player of the Year. Her GPA is 3.7. 78
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The College Delegate Assembly of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) has elected Chattahoochee Technical College Board of Directors member Pam Carnes to serve as a member of the SACSCOC Board of Trustees. SACSCOC is the regional body for the accreditation of degree-granting higher education institutions in the Southern states. The mission of SACSCOC is to assure educational quality and improve the effectiveness of its member institutions. Carnes will help determine commission policy and make decisions regarding the Pam Carnes accreditation of institutions of higher education. “We are very grateful for Pam’s valuable service on the Chattahoochee Technical College Board of Directors,” said Chattahoochee Technical College President Ron Newcomb. “She will be a significant addition to the SACSCOC Board of Trustees.” Carnes also serves as president and CEO of the Cherokee County Chamber of Commerce.
Etowah Wins Back-to-Back-to-Back Titles For the third year in a row, the Etowah High School varsity boys basketball team claimed the Region 4AAAAAAA championship title. At press time, they were preparing for their second game in the state playoffs after beating Campbell High School in the first round.
Robotics Team Hosts Open Houses
Senior Reaches 1,000-Point Mark Cherokee Christian Schools recently honored varsity basketball senior Cody Blakeney with a presentation of the game ball with which he scored the 1,000th point of his high school career. He is pictured here with his parents, Kristian and Leslie Blakeney.
The Etowah Electric Eagles Robotics Team, a 501(c)(3) charitable organization, is Cherokee County’s first high school team to enter the FIRST Robotics Competition, where the students combine the “excitement of sport with the rigors of science and technology.” The theme of this year’s competition is Destination: Deep Space. The team will host open houses at 4 p.m. on Thursdays in March (14, 21, 28) at 6436 Highway 92, Suite 100, Acworth, to demonstrate this year’s entry in the global competition − an industrial-size robot. Students also will be available to share their experiences from last year’s competition and talk about the upcoming competition. To register, visit www. eventtitans.com/eventview/ eventview/REVEAL2019. For more details, contact Alex Cua 404-5095734 or Judy Mod 404-307-9613. www.electriceagles.org.
Etowah Cadet Wins Scholarship to Earn Pilot’s License An Etowah High School Junior ROTC cadet is one of 150 students nationwide, and one of six in Georgia, awarded an Air Force JROTC Flight Academy scholarship to earn his private pilot’s license and college credits this summer. Kyle Raffety won the $23,000 competitive scholarship based on strong evidence of his commitment to the Air Force core values of integrity, service to others and excellence. The Air Force is paying $2.4 million to teach selected Junior Reserve Officers Training Corps cadets how to fly, part of the service’s overall effort to address its pilot shortage. Recipients of the scholarship will take classes at select college campuses this summer, each course lasting between seven and nine weeks, to earn a private pilot license and 12 college credits. “We couldn’t be happier for Kyle,” said JROTC instructor Lt. Col. (Ret.) Stephen Bergey. “Well done!"
JROTC instructors Master Sgt. (Ret.) Tanya Hagarman, left, and Lt. Col. (Ret.) Stephen Bergey congratulate Raffety. TOWNELAKER | March 2019
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DOWNTOWN WOODSTOCK DINING
Casual and Upscale Restaurants
RESTAURANT CUISINE BREAKFAST LUNCH DINNER SUNDAY Canyons American no $ $ open 335 Chambers St. 678-494-8868 canyonsfresh.com Century House Tavern Modern 125 E Main St. 770-693-4552 American centuryhousetavern.com Copper Coin Coffee American 400 Chambers St. 470-308-6914 coppercoinwoodstock.com see ad inside front, 59
no
$$
$$$
open
Full bar
8 persons +
$
$
$
open
Full bar
no
Wood-fired Sat./Sun. $$ $$$ open Full bar yes Pizza & Grill Brunch 11-3 Southern
Sat./Sun. Brunch 10:30-3
$$
Habanero’s Taqueria Mexican Sat./Sun. $ 9550 Main St. Brunch 678-498-8243 11-1:30 Ice Martini & Sushi Bar Tapas/Sushi no Fri./Sat. 380 Chambers St. only 770-672-6334 icemartinibar.com Ipps Pastaria & Bar Italian no $$ 8496 Main St. 770-517-7305 ippspastaria.com J Christopher’s 315 Chambers St., 770-592-5990 jchristophers.com J Miller’s Smokehouse 150 Towne Lake Parkway 770-592-8295 jmillerssmokehouse.com Mad Life Studios 8722 Main St. madlifestageandstudios.com
$$$
open
Full bar
no
$-$$
open
Full bar
yes
$$
open
Full bar
yes
$$
open
Full bar
no
Diner
$-$$
$-$$
no
open
no
Weekends only
BBQ & Southern Sandwiches
no
$-$$
$-$$
open
Beer
no
Southern
no
$-$$
$$-$$$$
open
Full bar
no
Pizza
no
no
$$-$$$
open
Beer/Wine
no
Pure Taqueria Mexican Sat./Sun. 405 Chambers St. 770-952-7873 Brunch puretaqueria.com/woodstock 11-3
$$
$$
open
Full bar
6 persons+
Reel Seafood 8670 Main St. 770-627-3006 reel-seafood.com
Seafood
Sunday Brunch 10:30-3:30
$$
$$-$$$
open
Full bar
yes
Rootstock and Vine 8558 Main St. 770 -544-9009 www.rootstockandvine.com
Wine bar Tapas
Sun. Brunch 11:30-3
$-$$
$$-$$$
open
Full bar
yes
Salt Factory Pub 8690 Main St. 678-903-6225
Gastropub
Sat./Sun. Brunch 11-3
$$
$$-$$$
open
Full bar
no
Semper Fi Bar and Grille 9770 Main St. 770-672-0026 Tea Leaves & Thyme 8990 Main St. 770-516-2609 tealeavesandthyme.com
American
no
$
$
open
Full bar
no
English Tea room
no
$$
no
closed
no
yes
Truck & Tap 8640 Main St. 770-702-1670 truckandtap.com
Variety of Food trucks
no
$-$$
$-$$
open
Craft Beer
no
Vingenzo’s 105 E. Main St. 770-924-9133 vingenzos.com
Italian
$$
$$$
open
Full bar
yes
Partners II Pizza 8600 Main St. 678-224-6907 partnerspizza.com/woodstock-ga
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Sunday Brunch 10:30-2
$ = most entrees under $10 • $$ = most entrees $10 - $15 • $$$ = most entrees $15 - $20 • $$$$ = most entrees over $20
Fire Stone 120 Chambers St. 770-926-6778 see ad on pg 9 firestonerestaurants.com Freight Kitchen & Tap 251 E. Main St. 770-924-0144 freightkitchen.com
SPIRITS RESERV. Beer/Wine no
The Anatomy of an Index
Office Culture: Deal-Maker or Deal-Breaker
Securities offered through registered representatives of Cambridge Investment Research Inc., a broker-dealer, member FINRA/SIPC. Advisory services through Cambridge Investment Research Advisors Inc., a registered investment adviser. Cambridge is not affiliated with and does not endorse the opinions or services of Peter Montoya Inc. or MarketingPro Inc. This material was prepared by MarketingPro Inc., and does not necessarily represent the views of the presenting party, nor their affiliates. This information has been derived from sources believed to be accurate. Please note:- Investing involves risk, and past performance is no guarantee of future results. The publisher is not engaged in rendering legal, accounting or other professional services. If assistance is needed, the reader is advised to engage the services of a competent professional. This information should not be construed as investment, tax or legal advice and may not be relied on for the purpose of avoiding any federal tax penalty. This is neither a solicitation nor a recommendation to purchase or sell any investment or insurance product or service, and should not be relied upon as such. All indices are unmanaged and are not illustrative of any particular investment.
Mission, vision and values. Arguably, these are the most important pieces of your culture. The clarity of your organization’s mission, vision and values, and whether they honestly reflect the beliefs and philosophies of your organization, how inspiring they are to your employees, and the extent to which the mission, vision, and values are stable, widely communicated, and continuously emphasized. Many organizations find it risky when these pieces form the workplace culture organically, instead of having specific guidelines in place. Part two of this series will offer some strategies to help define, or refine, your workplace culture.
continued from page 62
Citations. 1 - https://us.spindices.com/indices/equity/sp-500 [12/5/18] 2 - https://www.investopedia.com/ask/answers/041015/ what-history-sp-500.asp [11/12/18] 3 - https://www.fool.com/investing/2018/07/10/7-fascinatingfacts-about-the-broad-based-sp-500.aspx [7/10/18]
continued from page 63
Effects of Changing Real Estate Model continued from page 20
without saying, the more you do something, the better you get at doing it. The deal almost exclusively is struck between the buyer/buyer's agent and the seller/seller's agent, never the CEO of the well-branded brokerage or the agent on the billboard. The subtle nuances of how your agent communicates your property's unique selling points and negotiates with buyers easily can swing the net to you by the amount of the listing commission or more. We've seen it over and over again. To net the most money for your home, it is in your best interest to select a highly qualified Realtor who is very familiar with your market, and is working regularly with buyers for your home already.
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GREENPRINTS TRAIL SYSTEM
Sources: City of Woodstock, Esri, HERE, DeLorme, TomTom, Intermap, increment P Corp., GEBCO, USGS, FAO, NPS, NRCAN, GeoBase, IGN, Kadaster NL, Ordnance Survey, Esri Japan, METI, Esri China (Hong Kong), swisstopo, MapmyIndia, Š OpenStreetMap contributors, and the GIS User Community
Visit our website for more information on these or other trail projects. www.greenprintsalliance.org
Noonday Creek Trail - This 1.43 mile paved trail begins at Market Street in Downtown Woodstock one block west of Main Street.
It continues downhill toward Noonday Creek where it intersects with Towne Lake Pass Trail and the bridge to Woofstock Park. The trail continues along Noonday Creek to its current end at Highway 92.
Trestle Rock Trail - This 0.40 mile paved trail is located in Olde Rope Mill Park and is an easy flat trail on the banks of Little River. Towne Lake Pass - This approximately 1.2 mile trail connects the Towne Lake community to Downtown along the banks of Noonday Creek. It runs from the intersection of Towne Lake Parkway and Towne Lake Hills South to Woofstock Park.
Rubes Creek Trail - This .5 mile trail runs along Rubes Creek and will ultimately connect into a larger run of trails. 82
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TOWNE LAKE AREA HOMES SOLD IN JANUARY
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Cherokee Photography Club There were many great entries in the first competition of the year, "Architecture."
Color Print:
1st Joey Thompson "Mirror, Mirror"
2nd Rebecca Blackwell "Touching the Sky"
Digital Projection:
2nd Eillene Kirk "Union Station"
1st Sarah Kruger "Miami Lifeguard Dwelling" 88
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3rd Brenda Rehrig "Spring in Paris"
HM Donald Newton "Henderson Mountain"
HM Jay Minor "Spaceship"
The Cherokee Photography Club meets on the fourth Monday of the month, and for those participating in the monthly contest, that meeting is held on the second Monday of the month. Both meetings are 7-9 p.m. and held at the Cherokee County Arts Center, 94 North St., Canton. For more information, please contact Kim Bates at 770-617-7595 or email him at kbphotoart@comcast.net.
3rd David Johnson "One"
HM Michael Brubaker "In the Park"
Monochromatic:
2nd David Johnson "Oculus"
1st Michael Brubaker "Railings, Steps, Columns"
3rd Karen Beedle "Who Goes There?"
HM Rick Sapp "Grand Oaks" TOWNELAKER | March 2019
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REFERENCE
TOWNE LAKE AREA CLUBS & ORGANIZATIONS CHARITABLE ORGANIZATIONS
Ahimsa House helps domestic violence victims 24-hours a day get their pets to safety. 404-452-6248. www.ahimsahouse.org.
Georgia Animal Project, based in Ball Ground, offers high quality, low cost spay/neuter services for dogs and cats. 770-704-PAWS (7297). www.theanimalproject.org.
Angel House Girls Home, residential facility to help girls ages 12-18 learn self-sufficiency. 770-479-9555. www.angelhousega.com.
Give a Kid a Chance – Cherokee sponsors a yearly back-to-school bash, giving children in need filled backpacks to free haircuts. www.giveakidachance.org.
Anna Crawford Children’s Center, dedicated to preventing child abuse and neglect through prevention and intervention services. 678-504-6388. www.cherokeechildadvocates.org.
Goshen Valley Boys Ranch offers a home, care and counsel to young men in the DFCS system. 770-796-4618. www.goshenvalley.org
Bend Your Knees, Inc. raises awareness, helps children with pediatric brain tumors. Bob Dixon, 678-922-1560.
Green Shelters America animal rescue group. 770-712-4077. GreenSheltersAmerica@gmail.com. www.GreenSheltersAmerica.com.
CASA for Children has programs to increase safety and improve educational, social and emotional functioning of children impacted by abuse. 770-345-3274. www.casacherokee.org. CCHS Thrift Store accepts donations, sells used household items to raise money for Cherokee County Humane Society. 5900 Bells Ferry Road, Acworth. 770-592-8072. Cherokee Family Violence Center offers emergency shelter and crisis intervention, affordable housing, education, support services. 770-479-1703. Spanish 770-720-7050 or 800-334-2836 option 2. www.cfvc.org. Cherokee Fellowship of Christian Athletes challenges professional, college, high school, junior high and youth level coaches and athletes to use athletics to impact the world for Christ. Bill Queen, 404-441-3508. www.cherokeefca.org. Cherokee County Humane Society (CCHS) 770-928-5115. admin@cchumanesociety.org. www.cchumanesociety.org.
Habitat for Humanity North Central Georgia, 770-587-9697. www.habitat-ncg.org Healing Hands Youth Ranch offers safe, peaceful environment where abused and at-risk children are paired with rescue horses for hope and healing. 770-633-4451. www.hhyr.org. HopeQuest Ministry Group helps people with life dominating issues related to alcohol abuse, substance abuse and/or sexual brokenness. 678-391-5950. www.hqmg.org. HOPE Center offers support for unplanned pregnancy. 770-924-0864. info@hopectr.com. www.hopectr.com. HOPE Center — Seeds Thrift Store offers men, women & children’s clothing, furniture & other home goods. 770-517-4450. www.seedsthriftstore.com.
Cherokee FOCUS works to improve lives of children and families through collaborative programs and initiatives. 770-345-5483. www.cherokeefocus.org.
Life Connection Ministries provides humanitarian relief in the form of wells and greenhouses to impoverished communities. Mission trips offered. 678-234-1798. www.lcm-ga.com.
Cherokee County Senior Services offers educational, social, leisure and recreational activities for senior citizens. 770-345-5312. 770-345-5320. www.cherokeega.com/senior-services.
Matthew E. Russell Foundation establishes literacy and libraries in rural areas worldwide. 678-234-1798. www.mattrussell.org.
Cherokee Young Life for high school students, meets Monday nights at Bradshaw Farm clubhouse, 7853 Hickory Flat Highway, Suite 104, Woodstock 30188. 678 653-5707. www.cherokeecounty.younglife.org. Community Veterinary Care provides professional veterinary care for pets whose owners have limited financial means. 678-640-3512. www.communityveterinarycare.com. Companion Animal Connection 678-493-9847. www.adoptapet.com.
MUST Ministries provides groceries, hot meals, emergency shelter, supportive housing, clothing, employment services, summer lunch and more from five locations in eight counties, including the Canton office at 111 Brown Industrial Pkwy. www.mustministries.org. National Alliance for Mental Illness, the nation’s largest grassroots organization in America working to build better lives for the millions affected by mental illness. www.nami.org.
Everyday Angels offers financial assistance for local families in need. aaeverydayangels@gmail.com.
Never Alone provides food and clothing assistance to Cherokee families in need. www.neveralone.org.
Feed My Lambs, Inc. provides free Christian preschools in the U.S. and around the world. 770-795-9348. office@feedmylambs.net. www.feedmylambs.net.
Next Step Ministries offers a therapeutic day program, Saturday respite, camps and special events for people with special needs. 770-592-1227. www.nextstepministries.net.
Forever Fed is a mobile food ministry that addresses physical hunger and hopelessness by providing meals and sharing the gospel. www.foreverfed.org.
North Georgia Pregnancy Center offers help and care to young girls and women with an unplanned pregnancy or who need counseling. 706-253-6303. www.ngapregnancy.org.
Funds 4 Furry Friends helps those in need with food, spay/neuter and medical attention for their pets. 770-842-8893. www.funds4furryfriends.com.
Papa’s Pantry, a year-round food ministry that includes the Masters Training Center to help individuals and families in crisis get back on their feet. 770-591-4730. www.papaspantry.org.
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Pet Buddies Food Pantry provides pet food, supplies, spaying and neutering, and education through community outreach programs to families in need. 678-310-9858. www.petbuddiesfoodpantry.org. Safe Kids Cherokee County offers free child safety seat inspections by appointment. 770-721-7808. www.cherokeesafekidscherokeecounty.org. SmileUp! Charitable Foundation works to get children involved in volunteering with local charities that help children. www.smileupfoundation.org. SERV International operates the House of Hope orphanage in Africa, sponsors a clean water program in Dominican Republic and meal distributions worldwide. Offers mission trips. 770-516-1108. www.servone.org The Blue Ribbon Foundation fosters a national dialog toward finding the cause, cure and prevention of ME (myalgic encephalomyelitis), CFS (chronic fatigue syndrome), fibromyalgia and Lyme disease. 478-397-5542. www.theblueribbonfoundation.org. Volunteer Aging Council helps raise funds for seniors in Cherokee County. A list of current needs is available. 770-310-3474. www.vac-cherokeega.org.
SUPPORT ORGANIZATIONS
AA Meetings Canton: 9:30 a.m. Mondays-Saturdays, 7 p.m. Mondays at Canton First United Methodist, 930 Lower Scott Mill Road. Woodstock: 7 p.m. on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays at Hillside United Methodist, 4474 Towne Lake Parkway. www.aageorgia.org/14c-meetings.html. Abortion Recovery Helping those who have been impacted by abortion. 678-223-3519. Al-Anon and Al-A-Teen Canton: 8 p.m. Thursdays at St. Clements Episcopal Church, 2795 Ridge Road. Woodstock: 7 p.m. Tuesdays, Thursdays Al-Anon at Hillside United Methodist Church, Room 2208, 4474 Towne Lake Pkwy. 770-516-3502. American Heart Assoc. - Cherokee Div. 678-385-2013. American Red Cross metro chapter 770-428-2695. A-Typical Parkinson’s Education and Support Group Meets 6:00 p.m. on the first Sunday of each month at Ball Ground UMC, 3045 Canton Hwy. in Ball Ground. Contact Norma Schmidt at 770-366-9585. Caregivers Alzheimers Spousal Support Group Meets: 12:30 p.m. first Tuesday of every month for lunch at Benton House of Woodstock, 3385 Trickum Road. 678-494-4500. woodstockinfo@bentonhouse.com. Celebrate Recovery, Christ-centered recovery program for all types of habits, hurts and hangups. Meets: 6:30 p.m. Thursdays at Woodstock Church of the Nazarene. 770-366-7515. Meets: 6:30 p.m. Mondays at Sixes United Methodist. 770-345-7644. www.sixesumc.org. Meets: 6:30 p.m. Tuesdays at Ministry House, 678-459-2347. www.MinistryHouse.org. Meets: 6:15 p.m. Thursdays at 411 Scott Mill Road, Canton. 678-764-8660. www.celebraterecovery.com. Cherokee County Support Group for people with autoimmune conditions. Meets: 6:30 - 8 pm second Thursday at New Light Baptist Church, 1716 New Light Road, Holly Springs. 404-402-0571, 770-337-0294, jhmom88@comcast.net or christystephenson@msn.com. Cherokee County Special Olympics provides yearround sports training and athletic competition for children and adults with intellectual disabilities. www.cherokeecountyspecialolympics.org. Cherokee Christian Ministerial Association for pastors and ministry leaders. Meets: 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. last Wednesday at Dayspring Church, 6835 Victory Drive, Woodstock. www.cherokeeministers.org.
Diabetes Support Group Meets: 9:30 and 11 a.m. third Tuesday at Emeritus Assisted Living, 756 Neese Road, Woodstock. 770-793-7818. Georgia Canines for Independence. 404-824-4637. gcidogs@aol.com. www.gcidogs.org. Grace Valley Ministries connects pastors through small group meetings, free counseling and a place to retreat. 727-251-7690. info@gracevalleyministries.org. www.gracevalleyministries.org. Grandparents Raising GRANDchildren Meets: 7:15 p.m. second Tuesdays Transfiguration Catholic Church, Marietta (nursery available). 770-919-9275. Hearing Loss Association of America NW Metro Atlanta chapter for people with hearing loss looking for support and resources, holds free and informative quarterly meetings at the Senior Center on Arnold Mill Road. nwmetroatlantahlaa@gmail.com. La Leche League of South Cherokee Meets: 10 a.m. first Tuesday and 7 p.m. third Tuesday at Bascomb United Methodist Church. 678-315-7686. 770-517-0191.
Male Veteran Support Group meets 6:30-8 p.m.
Thursdays at First Baptist Church Woodstock in Building "A" Room 260. Light snacks provided. MOMS Club of Woodstock-Towne Lake momsclubofwoodstocktl@gmail.com. www.sites.google.com/site/ momscluboftownelakewoodstock. MOPS — Mothers of Preschoolers (birth — K) Meets: 9:30 a.m. second and fourth Mondays at Hillside UMC, 4474 Towne Lake Pkwy. 770-924-4777.
Unlimited Possibilities, support group for stroke and brain injury survivors. Meets: 7 p.m. first Tuesday of each month at Kennestone Outpatient Rehab Center. 678-677-2589.
BUSINESS ORGANIZATIONS
American Business Women’s Association, Cherokee Eagles Charter Chapter. Meets: 6:30 p.m. on the third Tuesdays at Dynastic Buffet at the intersection of Canton Highway and Piedmont. 678-493-3618. Cherokee Business Network Meets: 7:45 a.m. Wednesdays at Chick-fil-A, 9728 Highway 92, Woodstock. 770-345-8687. Cherokee County Chamber of Commerce Meets: Various times during the year. Schedule at www.cherokeechamber.com. 770-345-0400. Gini@CherokeeChamber.com. Cherokee Toastmasters Club Meets: Noon-1:15 p.m. Wednesdays at the Bank of North Georgia, 200 Parkway 575, Woodstock. www.cherokeetoastmasters.com. The Joy of Connecting Networking for Women Meets: Various times and locations. 678-7896158. www.xperienceconnections.com/spotlight/ woodstock/. Towne Lake Business Association Meets: 12:30 p.m. third Tuesdays at Tavern at Towne Lake. 678-389-3887. www.tlba.org. Towne Lake PowerCore Team Meets: 7-8:30 a.m. Fridays at Freight Kitchen & Tap, 251 E. Main St., Woodstock. 404-816-3377. www.powercore.net. Women of Woodstock Meets: 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. first and third Wednesday at Tavern at Towne Lake. info@womenofwoodstock.com. www.womenofwoodstock.com. Woodstock PowerCore Team Meets: 7 a.m. on Thursdays at Tavern at Towne Lake. 770-952-5000 ext. 20.
VETERANS SERVICE ORGANIZATIONS American Legion Post 316 Meets: 7 p.m. third Thursdays at William G. Long Senior Center, 223 Arnold Mill Road. 678-662-2366.
Cherokee County Libertarians Meets: 7:30 p.m. on the third Tuesday at the Cherokee County Board of Realtors Training Center, 1600 River Park Blvd., Suite 104, Woodstock. www.cherokeelp.org.
Cherokee County Homeless Veteran Program Contact Jim Lindenmayer at Jlindenmayer80@gmail. com or 678-983-7590, or Mike Satterly at 404-680-2412.
Cherokee County Republican Party Meets: 9 a.m. third Saturday at American Legion Post 45, 160 McClure Street, Canton. www.cherokeecounty.gop.
Woodstock VFW Post 10683 Meets: 7 p.m. second Tuesday at Woodstock Senior Center, 223 Arnold Mill Road. 404-663-4663.
Cherokee County Republican Women affiliated with The Georgia Federation of Republican Women. Meets: Monthly in Woodstock/Canton. 770-592-7811. jkconkey@gmail.com.
CIVIC, COUNTY ORGANIZATIONS
AARP Woodstock Chapter is for anyone age 50 and older. Meets: 11:30 a.m. second Tuesdays at Tuscany. Lunch is $15. 770-926-1944. Canton-Cherokee TRIAD/S.A.L.T. (Seniors and Law Enforcement Together) Meets: 8:30 a.m. first Tuesday at G.Cecil Pruitt YMCA in Canton (Hall of Fame Room). www.saltcherokee.com. Cherokee County Historical Society 770-345-3288. www.rockbarn.org. Citizen Oversight and Education 678-520-2236. citizenoversighteducation@yahoo.com. Jewish Havurah (Friends) A group of Jewish people who meet for Jewish holidays, special Jewish events and Shabbat dinners. 770-345-8687. Kiwanis Club of Greater Cherokee Meets: 8 a.m. first Monday, at Hillside United Methodist Church, Room 2107, 4474 Towne Lake Parkway, Woodstock. 678-468-9900. www.greatercherokeekiwanis.org Pilot Club of Cherokee County Meets: 6:30 p.m. second Mondays at IHOP on Hwy. 20. 770-393-1766. Lynda@edgoodwinassociates.com. www.pilotinternational.com. Rotary Club of Cherokee County Meets: 6:30 p.m. Thursdays at IHOP on Highway 92. 770-480-4179. Rotary Club of Towne Lake Meets: Noon Thursdays at Tavern at Towne Lake, 1003 Towne Lake Hills E., Woodstock. www.townelakerotary.com. Rotary Club of Woodstock Meets: 7:30 a.m. Tuesdays at IHOP on Highway 92. 678-428-6514.
Grassroots Conservatives of Cherokee Meets: 7- 9 a.m. Fridays at Chick-fil-A, 951 Ridgewalk Parkway, Woodstock by the Outlet Mall. 770-294-0922. Republican Women of Cherokee County 678-520-2236. www.rwccga.com.
RECREATION & HOBBIES
Allatoona Gold Panners. Periodic events, outings. rrkelly@bellsouth.net. Cherokee Amateur Radio Society Meets: 10 a.m. on the second Saturday at William G. Long Senior Center, 223 Arnold Mill Road. www.cherokeehams.com. Cherokee Community Chorale 678-439-8625. www.cherokeechorale.org. Cherokee County Arts Center 94 North St., Canton. 770-704-6244. www.CherokeeArts.org. Cherokee County Master Gardeners 770-721-7803. www.caes.uga.edu/extension/ cherokee/mastergardeners. Cherokee Photography Club www.cherokeepc.org. Cherokee County Saddle Club hosts monthly meetings and group rides. www.cherokeesaddleclub.com. Cherokee Hockey In Line League (CHILL) roller hockey. www.cherokeehockey.org. Cherokee Music Teachers Association 770-720-1701. www.cherokeemta.org. Cherokee Soccer Association 770-704-0187. www.csaimpact.com.
Service League of Cherokee County 770-704-5991. www.serviceleague.net.
Cherokee Youth Lacrosse Association www.cherokeelacrosse.com.
South Cherokee Optimist Club Meets: 7:30 a.m. every Friday at Tavern at Towne Lake. 770-926-3522.
Christian Authors Guild Meets: 7-9 p.m. first and third Monday at Prayer and Praise Christian Fellowship, 6409 Bells Ferry Road, Woodstock. www.christianauthorsguild.org.
Towne Lake Optimist Club Meets: 11:30 a.m. Tuesdays at Tavern at Towne Lake. 770-715-3375. www.townelakeoptimists.com. Woodstock Jaycees Meets: 7 p.m. first Tuesday and third Thursday at 216 Rope Mill Road. 770-926-8336.
Kingdom Riders, a chapter of the Christian Motorcyclists Association in Canton. Meets: 8 a.m. fourth Saturdays at Family Tradition restaurant in Hickory Flat.
Woodstock Junior Woman’s Club www.woodstockjwc.org.
Les Marmitons, for men interested in culinary arts. www.lesmarmitons.org.
Woodstock Lions Club Meets: 7 p.m. second and fourth Monday at New Victoria Baptist, 6659 Bells Ferry Road, Woodstock. 770-906-2958.
Neighbors and Newcomers of Towne Lake (NNTL) is a social club for residents of 30189 area code. 770-855-9623. www.nntlclub.com.
Woodstock Preservation Group 770-924-0406. http://preservationwoodstock.com/.
Sons of the American Revolution - Cherokee Meets: 7 p.m. second Tuesdays at the Rock Barn, 638 Marietta Hwy., Canton. www.cherokeechapter.com.
POLITICAL ORGANIZATIONS
Cherokee County Democratic Party Meets: 7 p.m. second Thursday at Holly Springs Train Depot, 164 Hickory Road, Holly Springs. 770-345-3489. www.cherokeedemocrats.com.
William G. Long Senior Center offers activities for seniors at 223 Arnold Mill Road, Woodstock. 678-445-6518. TOWNELAKER | March 2019
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COMMUNITY OF FAITH ADVENTIST
Cherokee 101 Rope Mill Road, Woodstock 770-591-7304 http://cherokee.netadvent.org/ Canton 411 Scott Mill Road, Canton 678-880-0106 www.cantonadventist.org
AME
Allen Temple AME 232 N. Arnold Mill Road, Woodstock 770-926-6348 www.allentempleame.org St. Paul 390 Crisler St., Canton 770-479-9691 www.stpaulame-canton.org
BAPTIST
Canton Bible Church 94 North St., Canton CantonBibleChurch.org Carmel 2001 Bascomb Carmel Road, Woodstock Cherokee 7770 Hickory Flat Highway, Woodstock 770-720-3399 www.cherokeebaptistchurch.org Cornerstone Community 4206 North Arnold Mill Road, Woodstock 678-439-5108 www.ccchurchonline.org Crossroads Community Church 2317 Bascomb-Carmel Road, Woodstock 770-592-7007 Crossroads Primitive 3100 Trickum Road, Woodstock 770-710-1068 Faith Community Office: 110 Village Trail, Suite 110, Woodstock Sunday Services: 3075 Trickum Road, Woodstock 770-516-1996 www.faithcommunitychurch.org First Baptist of Woodstock 11905 Highway 92, Woodstock 770-926-4428 www.fbcw.org First Baptist Canton One Mission Point 770-479-5538 www.fbccanton.org First Baptist Holly Springs 2632 Holly Springs Parkway 770-345-5349 www.fbchollysprings.com Harvest 3460 Kellogg Creek Road, Acworth www.hbcga.org Heritage Fellowship 3615 Reinhardt College Parkway, Canton 770-479-9415 www.HeritageCanton.com Hickory Road 2416 Hickory Road, Canton GA 30115 www.hickoryroad.org Hillcrest 6069 Woodstock Road, Acworth 770-917-9100 www.hbcacworth.org Hopewell 78 Ridge Road, Canton 770-345-5723 www.hopewellbaptist.com
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Mt. Zion 4096 East Cherokee Drive, Canton 770-479-3324 www.mtzb.org New Victoria 6659 Bells Ferry Road, Woodstock 770-926-8448, www.newvicbaptist.org Rising Hills Church 615 Mountain Road, Woodstock www.gorhc.org River Church 2335 Sixes Road, Canton 770-485-1975 www.riveratlanta.org Shallowford Free Will 1686 Shallowford Road, Marietta 770-926-1163 www.shallowfordchurch.com South Cherokee 7504 Highway 92, Woodstock 770-926-0422 Sutallee 895 Knox Bridge Highway, White 770-479-0101 www.sutalleebaptistchurch.com Toonigh 4999 Old Highway 5, Lebanon www.toonightbaptistchurch.com
CHURCH OF GOD
Bells Ferry 6718 Bells Ferry Road, Woodstock 770-592-2956 www.bellsferry.com Canton Church 110 Bluffs Parkway, Canton 678-285-3288 www.cantonchurch.com New Life Church 154 Lakeside Drive, Canton 770-345-2660 www.newlifecanton.com Sunnyside 2510 East Cherokee Drive, Woodstock 770-693-1018 www.sunnysidecog.org Toonigh 4775 Holly Springs Parkway, Canton 770-926-3096 www.toonighcog.org
EPISCOPAL
Christ the Redeemer Charismatic 6488 Hickory Flat Highway, Canton 404-395-5003 www.ctrcec.com
Temple Beth Tikvah 9955 Coleman Road, Roswell 770-642-0434 www.bethtikvah.com Temple Kehillat Chaim 1145 Green St., Roswell 770-641-8630 www.kehillatchaim.org Temple Kol Emeth 1415 Old Canton Road, Marietta 770-973-3533 www.kolemeth.net
MESSIANIC JEWISH CONGREGATIONS Congregation Beth Hallel 950 Pine Grove Road, Roswell 770-641-3000 www.bethhallel.org
LUTHERAN
Celebration of Grace 3655 Reinhardt College Parkway, Canton 770-345-8540 www.celebrationofgrace.org Good Shepherd 1208 Rose Creek Drive, Woodstock 770-924-7286 www.gslutheran.org Timothy 556 Arnold Mill Road, Woodstock 770-928-2812 www.tlcwoodstock.org
ORTHODOX
St. Elizabeth 2263 East Cherokee Drive, Woodstock 770-485-0504 www.stelizabethga.org
PRESBYTERIAN
Cherokee 1498 Johnson Brady Road, Canton 770-704-9564, www.cherokee-pca.org. Covenant South Annex Rec Center 7545 Main St., Bldg. 200, Woodstock www.cc-pca.org Faith 3655 Reinhardt College Parkway, Canton www.faithpc.us Grace Church 1160 Butterworth Road, Canton 678-493-9869, www.gracecanton.org Heritage 5323 Bells Ferry Road, Acworth 770-926-3558 , www.heritagepres.com Trinity 1136 Trinity Church Road, Canton www.trinity-presbyterian-church.org
Episcopal Church-Annunciation 1673 Jamerson Road, Marietta 770-928-7916 www.ecamarietta.org
Woodstock 345 Arnold Mill Road, Woodstock 770-926-0074, www.woodstockpcusa.com
Saint Clement’s 2795 Ridge Road, Canton 770-345-6722 www.stclementscanton.org
Our Lady of LaSalette 12941 Sam Nelson Road, Canton 770-479-8923 www.lasalettecanton.com
JEWISH
Chabad Jewish Center 1480 Shiloh Road, NW, Kennesaw 770-400-9255 www.jewishwestcobb.com Congregation Ner Tamid Reform Jewish Congregation 1349 Old 41 Highway NW, Suite 220, Marietta 678-264-8575 www.mynertamid.org Congregation Etz Chaim 1190 Indian Hills, Marietta 770-973-0137 www.etzchaim.net
ROMAN CATHOLIC
St. Michael the Archangel 490 Arnold Mill Road, Woodstock 770-516-0009 www.saintmichaelcc.org Transfiguration Catholic Church 1815 Blackwell Road NE., Marietta 770-977-1442 www.transfiguration.com
UNITED METHODIST Ball Ground 3045 Canton Hwy, Ball Ground 770-735-6247 www.ballgroundumc.org
Bascomb 2295 Bascomb-Carmel Road, Woodstock 770-926-9755 www.bascombumc.org Big Springs 2066 Sugar Pike Road, Woodstock Canton First 930 Lower Scott Mill Road 770-479-2502 www.cantonfirstumc.org CITY ON A HILL 7745 Main St., Woodstock 678-445-3480 www.coahumc.org Fields Chapel 1331 Fields Chapel Road, Canton 770-479-6030 www.fieldschapel.org Hickory Flat 4056 East Cherokee Drive, Canton 770-345-5969 www.hickoryflat.org Hillside 4474 Towne Lake Parkway, Woodstock 770-924-4777 www.hillsideumc.org Holly Springs 2464 Holly Springs Parkway 770-345-2883 www.hollyspringsumc.com Liberty Hill 141 Railroad St., Canton 678-493-8920 www.libertyhillumc.org Little River 12455 Highway 92, Woodstock 770-926-2495 www.littleriverumc.info Mt. Gilead 889 Arnold Mill Road, Woodstock 770-591-0837 www.mtgilead-umc.org Sixes 8385 Bells Ferry Road, Canton 770-345-7644 www.sixesumc.org Woodstock 109 Towne Lake Parkway, Woodstock 770-516-0371
UNITARIAN UNIVERSALIST
Emerson 4010 Canton Road, Marietta 770-578-1533 www.emersonuu.org
OTHERS
Action Church 271 Marietta Road, Canton 770-345-3030 www.actionchurch.tv Antioch Christian Church 3595 Sugar Pike Road, Canton 770-475-9628 www.antiochcanton.org Antioch Church 9876 Main St., Suite 250, Woodstock 678-494-2193 www.antiochchurch.life Awakening 180 Parkway 575, Suite 140, Woodstock 770-924-4150 www.awakeningwoodstock.com
Branches of Christ 5946 Jacobs Road, Acworth 770-917-4964 www.branchesofchrist.com BridgePointe 233 Arnold Mill Road, Suite 400, Woodstock 770-517-2977 www.bridgepointechurch.org Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints 2205 Bascomb-Carmel Road, Woodstock 770-529-9572, www.mormon.org Church of the Messiah 4115 Charles Cox Drive, Canton 770-479-5280 www.churchofthemessiah.net Dayspring 6835 Victory Drive, Acworth 770-516-5733 www.dayspring-online.com Dwelling Place Church 110 Londonderry Court #130, Woodstock www.dwellingplacemovement.org Empowerment Tabernacle 507 Industrial Drive, Woodstock 770-928-7478 www.EmpowermentTabernacle.com The Factory 9872 Main St., Woodstock 770-517-7265 www.thefactoryministries.org Faith Family 5744 Bells Ferry Road, Acworth 770-926-4560 www.ffcacworth.com Fivestones Church 1358 Sixes Road, Canton 770-720-2227 www.fivestonesga.com Fresh Springs Worship Center 1910 Eagle Drive, Suite 100, Woodstock 678-557-9841 www.freshspringsworship.com Fuente de Vida (Fountain of Life) 205 Arnold Mill Road, Woodstock 678-880-3135 www.fdvida.org God’s Rolling Thunder Latimer Hall, 103 Towne Lake Parkway, Woodstock www.godsrollingthunder.org His Hands 550 Molly Lane, Woodstock 770-405-2500 www.hishandschurch.com Hope Church 6576 Commerce Parkway, Woodstock www.HopeChurchAtl.com Iglesia Mana Para Siempre, Inc. Bilingual church Spanish & English 452 Milton Drive, Canton 678-880-8750 www.iglesiamanaparasiempre.com Life Bible Church 124 P. Rickman Industrial Drive, Canton lifebiblechurch.com Life Church 300 Adam Jenkins Memorial Drive, Suite 108, Canton 770-847-0170 www.lifechurchcanton.com Ministry House 347 Holly St., Canton 678-459-2347 http://MinistryHouse.org Momentum 659 Arnold Mill Road, Woodstock
678-384-4919 www.MomentumChurch.tv New Covenant Bible 1095 Scott Road, Canton 770-479-6412 www.newcovenantcanton.org New Life Church 154 Lakeside Drive, Canton 770-345-2660 www.newlifecanton.com North Atlanta Church 6233 Old Alabama Road, Acworth 770-975-3001 www.northatlantachurch.org Oak Leaf 151 East Marietta St., Canton 678-653-4652 www.oakleafcanton.com Prayer & Praise Christian Fellowship 6409 Bells Ferry Road, Woodstock 770-928-2795 www.prayerandpraise.org Resurrection Anglican 231 Arnold Mill Road, Woodstock 770-591-0040 www.rezwoodstock.org Revolution 125 Union Hill Trail, Canton 770-345-2737 www.therevolution.tv Sojourn Woodstock 8534 Main St., Woodstock 770-769-7495 www.sojournwoodstock.com Sovereign Grace 471 Arnold Mill Road, Woodstock 678-494-2100 www.sgcatlanta.org Thrive Chapel 11303 Highway 92, Woodstock 770-835-5795 www.thrivechapel.com Towne Lake Community 132 North Medical Parkway, Woodstock 678-445-8766 www.tlcchurch.com Unity North Atlanta 4255 Sandy Plains Road Marietta, GA 30066 678-819-9100 www.unitynorth.org Victory 4625 Highway 92, Acworth 770-794-7366 www.victoryga.com Woodstock City Church 150 Ridgewalk Parkway, Woodstock 678-880-9092 www.woodstockcity.org Woodstock Christian 7700 Highway 92, Woodstock 770-926-8238 www.woodstockchristian.org Woodstock Church of Christ 219 Rope Mill Road, Woodstock 770-926-8838 www.woodstockchurchofchrist.org Woodstock Church of the Nazarene 874 Arnold Mill Road, Woodstock 770-366-7515 www.wcnga.com Woodstock Community Church 237 Rope Mill Road, Woodstock 770-926-8990 www.wcchurch.org TOWNELAKER | March 2019
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Advertisers
For advertising rates and information Patty Ponder 770-615-3322 Patty@AroundaboutMagazines.com
March 2019
ANIMAL/PET SERVICES & SUPPLIES
CHARITABLE ORGANIZATIONS
Animal Atlanta 770-591-0007 www.AnimalAtlanta.com
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Goshen Valley 770-345-9535 www.goshenvalley.org
Cherokee County Animal Shelter www.cherokeega-animals.org
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Next Step Ministries 770-592-1227 www.nextstepministries.net
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Papa’s Pantry 770-591-4730 www.PapasPantry.org
Towne Lake Pet Care 404-907-9778 ATTORNEYS/LEGAL SERVICES Debranski & Associates, LLC 770-926-1957, ext 306 www.Debranski.com
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Jones Family Law 770-479-1050 www.JonesFamilyLawFirm.com
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Nelson Elder Care Law, LLC Inside front 678-250-9355 www.NelsonElderCareLaw.com AUTOMOTIVE 61
Chloe's Auto Repair Cover, 48, 49 770-575-8800 www.ChloesAutoRepair.com Christian Brothers Automotive 770-926-4500 www.cbac.com
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Frankfurt Foreign Automotive 8 678-505-8907 www.FrankfurtForeignAutomotive.com Woodstock Quality Paint & Body 770-926-3898
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BEAUTY SALON & SPA Polish Nails Spa 678-324-1500
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Salon Gloss 770-693-6968 www.salongloss.biz
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BUSINESS ORGANIZATIONS INWDSTK 75 wdstk.ga/2019sotc Towne Lake Business Association www.TLBA.org 94
TOWNELAKER | March 2019
DRY CLEANING
CHIROPRACTIC
Imbriale Injury Law 678-445-7423 www.imbrialeinjury.com
Aspen Falls Auto Spa 770-591-3630
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Ribley Chiropractic 770-592-2505 www.ribleychiro.com
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(Cosmetic, Family, Orthodontics, Prosthodontics & Pediatric)
Dentistry for Woodstock 770-926-0000 www.dentistryforwoodstock.com Gentle Dental Care and Georgia Dental Implant Center 770-926-2784 www.georgiadic.com
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EDUCATION/TRAINING Furtah Preparatory School 678-574-6488 www.furtahprep.org
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Giving Care Training Center 678-831-0830 www.givingcareathome.com
35
Citadel Professional Services, LLC 770-952-6707 www.CitadelWealthCare.com Treasure Tax 678-888-4829 www.treasuretax.com
DENTAL
Baird & Baird Family Dentistry 770-517-0444 www.BairdFamilyDentistry.com
Designer Cleaners 770-592-2990
FINANCIAL SERVICES
CREDIT UNION Credit Union of Georgia 678-486-1111 www.CUofGA.org
Towne Lake Family Dentistry Inside Back 770-591-7929 www.TowneLakeFamilyDentistry.com
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FITNESS 61
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Kragor Orthodontics 770-485-8827 www.kragorortho.com
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Levitt Orthodontics 770-516-6100 www.levittortho.com
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R2 Total Fitness 678-809-7833 www.r2totalfitness.com
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FUNERAL SERVICES Woodstock Funeral Home and Cremations 770-926-3107 www.woodstockfuneralhome.com
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HEALTH & WELLNESS Your CBD Store 770-627-3512 www.cbdrx4u.com
23
HOME IMPROVEMENT & REPAIR
Park Pediatric Dentistry of Woodstock 59 770-926-9260 www.PediatricWoodstockDentist.com Smile Doctors by Williams Orthodontics 24 770-592-5554 and 770-345-4155 www.DrWilliamsOrthodontics.com
Bryan Plumbing Services 770-826-5277
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Budget Blinds 678-540-1615 www.BudgetBlinds.com/Woodstock
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CFM Electrical Services 678-614-9661
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ClearView window cleaning & pressure washing 770-926-1960 www.ClearViewAtl.com
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Coleman Home Services 770-294-9667 www.colemanhomeservices.com
7
Atlanta North Dermatology & Skin Care 770-516-5199 www.atlantanorthdermatology.com
Dr. Fixit, Ph.D. 770-974-2390 www.DrFixitPHD.com
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Enhance Floors & More 770-565-3808 www.enhancefloors.com
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Cherokee Women’s Health Specialists, PC 770-720-7733 www.cherokeewomenshealth.com
Handy Handyman, The 404-316-1490 www.thhmga.com
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L. Bean Interiors 770-824-8386
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Mr. Junk 678-Mr-Junk1 www.MrJunk1.com
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Pike’s Professional Painting 770-516-0045
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Precision Painting & Remodeling 678-234-9668 www.precisionpaintingatlanta.com
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Towne Plumber 770-257-7503 www.towneplumber.com Townlake Handyman Service
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770-966-2945
North Atlanta Primary Care 770-442-1911 www.NAPC.md North Georgia Audiology & Hearing Aid Center 770-726-8948 www.YourHearingLink.com North Georgia OB/GYN Specialists 770-926-9229 www.NorthGaOBGYN.com Northside Hospital Cherokee 770-517-6636 www.Northside.com
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LANDSCAPING & LAWN CARE
Rausch Family Practice 678-384-7305 www.judithrauschmd.com
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Atlanta Communities, Tara Daigle 404-925-6351
Landscape Matters 770-403-5813 www.LandscapeMattersInc.com
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RPM Landscape & Pavers 770-597-5175 www.rpmlandscapeandpavers.com
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Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Tomlinson Team, The 770-365-6193 www.thetomlinsonteam.com Broadus Realty Group 404-583-8856 www.broadusrealtygroup.com
PHOTOGRAPHY 57
PHYSICIANS AND MEDICAL SERVICES Atlanta Gastroenterology Associates Canton: 678-593-1295 Woodstock: 770-926-5459 www.atlantagastro.com
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Atlanta Gynecologic Oncology 45 Atlanta, Marietta: Dr. Feuer 404-459-1900 Canton, TowneLake: Dr. Glasgow 770-721-9400 www.AtlantaGynOnc.com
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Windsong Properties, Grace 770-516-3678 www.WindsongLife.com
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Canton Festival of the Arts www.cantonartfestival.com
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CYFA www.cyfa.org
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Eagle Watch Golf Club 404-960-9225 gary.weller@clubcorp.com
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Elm Street Cultural Arts Village 678-494-4251 www.elmstreetarts.org
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Georgia All-Star Gymnastics 770-516-2654 www.ga-allstars.com
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TLBA Golf Tournament www.TLBA.org
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Wing & Rock Festival www.WingAndRockFest.com
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RESTAURANTS/FOOD Copper Coin Coffee Inside front, 59 470-308-6914 www.coppercoinwoodstock.com Fire Stone Wood Fired Pizza & Grill 770-926-6778 www.FireStoneRestaurants.com
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Smallcakes — A Cupcakery 678-324-1910 smallcakeswoodstock.myshopify.com
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Tavern at Towne Lake 770-592-9969 www.tavernattownelake.com
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Coldwell Banker, Mahria Heller 9 O:770-429-0600, C:404-731-5748 www.homesbymahria.cbintouch.com Kurt & Sheila Team, Keller Williams Back Cvr 404-954-2486, 678-494-0644 www.kurtandsheilateam.com Magnolia Cottages by the Sea www.magnoliadreamcottage.com
Soliel Laurel Canyon 678-500-8099 www.SolielLaurelCanyon.com
RECREATION & ENTERTAINMENT 47
REAL ESTATE & RELATED SERVICES
Calvary Landscaping & Irrigation 770-720-1727 or 770-827-0346
J. King Images 404-384-2794, 404-200-0881 www.jkingimages.com
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Plastic Surgery Center of the South 62 770-421-1242 www.plasticsurgerycenterofthesouth.net Primary Care Plus, PC 678-574-3000
INSURANCE State Farm Agent Sheila Geist 770-924-3680 www.sheilageist.net
Governors MedSpa & Concierge Medicine 678-888-5181 www.governorsmedicine.com
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Sarah Terrell/Remax Town & Country 23 770-928-6525 wwwRealEstateAgent.net
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RETAILERS/ SHOPPING Neighborhood Nest, The 25 770-485-5898 www.TheNeighborhoodNestGA.com Queen Custom Couture 678-310-0257 www.QueenCustomCouture.com
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Urban Renewal 678-398-7691 www.urcwoodstock
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SENIOR LIVING/ SERVICES Oaks at Towne Lake 770-592-2195 www.oaksseniorliving.com TOWNELAKER | March 2019
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Since 1996, we have brought relevant, uplifting and reader-driven content to readers. We publish Around Acworth, Around Canton, Around Woodstock and TowneLaker. We look forward to serving you, our readers and advertisers, every month. Thank you for your continued support and participation in making this truly your community magazine.
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. It’s your community. It’s your magazine. Look on page 6 for our contact information.
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