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AROUND ACWORTH | March 2020

Contents March 2020

Contributors

On the Cover

38 Judy Abbott 12 Tommy Allegood

Acworth Art Fest

18 Ryan Blythe

The signs are pointing to the annual festival. Last year, photographer Ed Selby caught Jessica Shivers taking a minute to make the right purchase.

43 Jennifer Bonn 17 Betsy Brown 24 Wayne Dennard

Pages 28 & 29 Cover illustration by Lynn Reeder.

39 Greg Fonzeno 42 Malinda Howe 16 Yvonne Leander 22 Rob Macmillan 42 Josh Nelson 36 Christopher Purvis 15 Susan Schulz 20 Shannon Stahl 23 Pacita Wilson

In Every Issue

Girl Power!

In honor of International Women’s Day and Women’s History Month, learn about a school that’s changing lives and meet two inspirational Acworth women.

4 Around Acworth 8 Local News 14 Celebrations 21 Ribbon Cuttings 22 Rob’s Rescues 40 Community Calendar 46 School News 49 Library Events 50 Senior Activities

Hoppy Hunting

Grab those Easter baskets and head out to one of the many egg hunts in your neighborhood.

AROUND ACWORTH | March 2020

The Lake is Calling

Find out when your favorite Lake Allatoona campground opens and learn about this season’s changes.

51 Dining Guide 52 Cobb Photographic Society 54 Directory of Advertisers

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AROUND ACWORTH | March 2020

Around Acworth

It’s Time to

Vote!

Voting opened March 1, closes April 10.

Letter From the Editor Spring has sprung! Well, not quite. But, despite the brief bout of winter weather and our half-day snow last month, the season of new beginnings is just around the corner. Trees and flowers will begin to bloom soon, outdoor activities will pick up, and spring cleaning will commence. It might seem early to be thinking about spring, but I’ve been planning ahead a lot this past month. As I write this, I’m two weeks away from the arrival of Baby Beall #2. In the midst of scrambling to finish the nursery and working on this issue, I’ve been busy planning features for the April and May issues, to ease the stress on my fellow editors when I’m on maternity leave. In the spirit of planning ahead, be sure to check out the spring section starting on Page 30. I know, schools were just out last month for winter break, but spring break will be here before you know it. If you’re looking for fun things to do locally, we’ve put together a list of staycation ideas. No matter what your spring break plans are, don’t miss the book recommendations from our friends at the library for some great spring reads on Page 32. Now also is a great time to map out your Easter egg hunt and festivities game plan. Easter is April 12, but the first hunt- and bunny-themed events in the area begin March 28. Luckily, we’ve got you covered, with a list of hunts and events nearby beginning on Page 34, so happy hunting! I jumped ahead a bit with all this spring talk, but there are lots of other newsworthy happenings to mention. Special Olympics Georgia held another successful Polar Plunge last month, so flip over to Pages 44-45 to see all the fun photos. A recap of Mayor Tommy Allegood’s State of the City address is on Page 26. This month also brings some highlights of its own. You don’t want to miss our International Women’s Day and Women’s History Month tribute, beginning on Page 16. Oh, and if you’re anxious to get out in the great outdoors, camping season starts this month! Christopher Purvis has all the info on when your favorite campgrounds open, and what to expect, on Pages 36-37. Happy almost spring, y’all!

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

AROUND ACWORTH | March 2020

www.aroundacworthmagazine.com

Welcome! Jennifer Coleman has joined the Aroundabout Local Media team as the market manager for Around Acworth and Around Canton magazines. Jennifer is a graduate of Georgia Southern University, and a seasoned marketing and advertising professional with experience on both the national and local levels. Jennifer attends Woodstock City Church with her husband Mike and daughter Abigail, and enjoys hiking with their newest family member, Flynn, a 3-month-old Australian Shepherd, watching her daughter ride horses, and shopping local.

Kudos Sixteen-year-old Acworth native Camryn Leigh Smith earned a ticket to Hollywood on the season

premiere of ABC’s “American Idol,” which aired Feb. 16. The high school student leads worship and attends Four Points Church in Acworth. Congrats, Camryn!

Christie Burgner,

Acworth deputy city clerk, recently received her municipal clerk certification. She’s attended clerks training through the Carl Vinson Institute of Government since 2015, and successfully has completed a host of required courses for certification. Way to go, Christie!

Noteworthy Brookwood Christian School’s Ride 2 Read charity motorcycle ride is March 21. The event raises funds for dyslexia reading programs and the International Dyslexia Association Georgia Branch (IDA-GA). Riders will meet at Brookwood Christian, 4728 Wood St., at 9 a.m. Breakfast, catered by Henry's Louisiana Grill & Henry's Uptown, begins at 9 a.m., with the escorted ride departing at 10 a.m. and returning to the Acworth Library around noon. To register, text RIDE to 404-491-7724 or visit www.brookwoodchristian.com.

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Helping local businesses grow and prosper by offering affordable advertising opportunities in a quality publication that provides positive, relevant information to our readers. “We have always had a great return on investment w ith Around Acworth and decided to test the waters in the other Aroundabout Local Media publications — TowneLaker, Around Woodstock and Around Canton—with continued success." — Dr. Heath Trowell with Governors Medspa and Concierge Medicine

ALM President Patty Ponder 770-615-3322 Patty@AroundaboutMagazines.com Market Manager Jennifer Coleman 678-279-5502 Jennifer@AroundaboutMagazines.com Title Editor Katie Beall 770-852-8481 Katie@AroundaboutMagazines.com Executive Editor Candi Hannigan 770-615-3309 Candi@AroundaboutMagazines.com Art Director Michelle McCulloch 770-615-3307 Michelle@AroundaboutMagazines.com Page Designer Laura Latchford Laura@AroundaboutMagazines.com Controller Denise Griffin 770-615-3315 Denise@AroundaboutMagazines.com Market & Advertising Specialist Michelle Smith Michelle.Smith@AroundaboutMagazines.com Community Board Tia Amlett, Ellen Kennerly, Bob Weatherford, Danielle Hilderbrand, Malinda Howe

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AROUND ACWORTH | March 2020

Around Acworth, a publication of Aroundabout Local Media, Inc., is a monthly community magazine. The magazine’s mission is helping local businesses grow and prosper by offering affordable advertising opportunities in a quality publication that provides positive, relevant information to our readers. It distributes a total of 16,500 free copies. Approximately 15,400 are direct mailed to homes and businesses and an additional 1,100 are placed in racks around the community. See page 56 for a distribution map. Around Acworth also has many digital viewers of the magazine online each month. Around Acworth welcomes your comments, stories, and advertisements. The deadline is the 10th of the previous month. Subscriptions are available for $24 per year. Send check or money order to the address below. The viewpoints of the advertisers, columnists and submissions are not necessarily those of the editor/publisher and the publisher makes no claims as to the validity of any charitable organizations mentioned. Around Acworth is not responsible for errors or omissions. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means without written permission from the publisher. All rights reserved. © Copyright 2020 Around Acworth

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www.AroundAcworthMagazine.com

Volume 4, Issue 8

America’s Community Magazine

AROUND ACWORTH | March 2020

Local News Drug Disposal Locations in Cobb County Keep Cobb Beautiful staff hosts medication disposal days throughout the year, but you may need to dispose properly of medicines you no longer need at other times. Cobb Senior Services staff compiled a list of local drugstores that accept medications and controlled substances for disposal. Nearby pharmacies: • Walgreens Pharmacy #5485 2779 Cobb Parkway NW, Kennesaw. • CVS Pharmacy #02147 2782 N. Cobb Parkway, Kennesaw. Accepts controlled substances. No sharps, aerosols, inhalers, illicit drugs, chemotherapy waste.

From left: Jane Bentley, Tamara Livingston, Patricia Hein, JoyEllen Williams and Beverly Baker.

DAR Presents Certificates of Appreciation The Liberty Hill Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) recently presented certificates of appreciation, with an honorarium check, to Tamara Livingston, executive director, and JoyEllen Williams, special collections curator, for their commitment to the preservation of the historical collection in the department of museums, archives and rare books at Kennesaw State University.

Free Income Tax Preparation Available AARP Foundation Tax-Aide is offering free tax preparation for low-tomoderate income taxpayers at locations across Cobb County, including senior centers, recreation centers and libraries. AARP membership is not required. This service is available through April 15 at most locations. Taxes are prepared by IRS-certified tax counselors. No appointment is required. Electronic filing is available at all locations.

Nearby Tax-Aide Locations:

• Thursdays, 10:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m.; West Cobb Regional Library 1750 Dennis Kemp Lane, Kennesaw. • Fridays, 10 a.m.-2 p.m.; Robertson Community Center 2753 Watts Drive, Kennesaw. Last tax preparation day is April 3.

Bring your 2018 tax return and 2019 tax documents. Each taxpayer must present social security cards or other identification documentation for themselves and all dependents. For direct deposit refunds, taxpayers must have a valid check. For more information, visit www.aarp.org/taxaide. 8

AROUND ACWORTH | March 2020

Voting Precinct Changes for Upcoming Primary Cobb Elections has finalized polling changes for the March 24 primary. More than 35 polling places have changed locations since the last election, and Cobb County Elections Director Janine Eveler urged voters to act to make sure they know where to vote in the upcoming election. “Most of these changes are happening because we need to move polling places out of schools,” Eveler said. “Cobb Elections is increasingly concerned about new security measures possibly preventing voter access to school facilities, so our priority has been to find other places to host polling places.” Three other changes were made to split larger precincts in half to avoid long lines at those polling places. Several other precincts were changed because the polling locations no longer were available. A complete list of the election precinct changes can be found at www.cobbcounty.org/elections. All voters were sent new precinct cards, and those affected by the latest changes also will receive a letter. Eveler urged each voter to verify his or her assigned precinct and polling place. Voters can check their registration, update their addresses, view their precinct and polling locations, see early voting options and view sample ballots by logging into www.mvp.sos.ga.gov/MVP/mvp.do. This site also can be used by new voters wishing to register.

2019

READERSâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;

CHOICE Award

AROUND ACWORTH | March 2020

Local News Northside Hospital Expands Women’s Center

Local Zumba group uses Facebook to stay motivated to live healthier lives.

Local Zumba Group Uses the Power of Social Media A Facebook weight-loss group started as a joke in December, to see who among Zumba friends could make it through the holidays without overeating and gaining weight. However, as weeks progressed, the joke turned into a serious commitment to lose weight and change lifestyle eating habits for the Kennesaw/Acworth fitness group. Zumba fitness instructor Florinda Lewis created a Facebook group for her close friends and students, and they have watched the pounds and inches melt away. Lewis’ motivation to create the Facebook group was due to her own personal struggles of gaining weight, and feeling sluggish, tired and unhealthy. Even though she was teaching several fitness classes at the gym, she wasn’t satisfied with how she looked or felt, and was inspired by other Zumba students who also were struggling to lose weight. This weight-loss group is a diverse reflection of the people in the community, all working together with one common goal: to change their lifestyle to a healthy one. “In this group, you have support,” Lewis said. “This team cheers you on the good days and the bad. We celebrate every milestone of our weight loss journey. We give daily advice, tips and information on diets, food and nutrition.” “It’s amazing how much we have accomplished in such a small amount of time,” said Noemi Anthony, a Zumba instructor and group member. “Everyone is on a different journey in their lives, but the goal is to continue to make healthier decisions that will be beneficial in the long run — mentally, spiritually and physically. I’m so blessed to be part of this group.” Liz Simon, a Zumba instructor in the group, has lost more than 30 pounds. Simon has struggled for years to lose weight, and failed. She said the camaraderie, support and determination she feels in this group is indescribable. To celebrate the success of the January, Jump Start the New Year group, members celebrated with a 1970s and 1980s theme Zumba party at a Kennesaw gym. As members of the group continue to lose weight, they have pledged to donate all their gently used clothes that no longer fit to a local charity to benefit the Kennesaw and Acworth communities. The weight-loss group continues to grow, with 42 active members who are in their “Level Up” theme for the month of February.

Meals on Wheels Volunteers Needed If you have two hours each month, you can make a difference in the life of a homebound older adult. Meals on Wheels is looking for volunteers to deliver meals in the north Cobb and south Cobb areas. Getting involved is easy, and can be done as little as once a month. For more information on volunteering with Cobb Senior Services, email Cynthia Campbell at cynthia.campbell@cobbcounty.org or call 770-528-5381. 10

AROUND ACWORTH | March 2020

Northside Hospital Cherokee has added two new floors to the women’s center and upgraded to a Level III Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU). The new designation allows the hospital to support babies born as early as 28 weeks with a range of pediatric medical subspecialties, respiratory support and advanced imaging, including digital screening for retinopathy of prematurity (ROP), a disease of the eye, which is required for certain premature infants. “New parents can now visit their premature babies immediately after delivery, instead of commuting to and from Atlanta,” said Christina Roberts, manager of the Women’s Center at Northside Hospital Cherokee. “Our hope is to help new Cherokee parents as much as we can by providing these services at home, where it’s more convenient.”

Upcoming Art House Events The Art House’s current exhibit, Artist’s Palette, will be available at two locations. The special satellite show will run through March 28 at the Art Station — Big Shanty (2050 Kennesaw Due West Road, Kennesaw). The exhibit will run through April 25 at the Acworth Art House, with a reception 4-7 p.m. April 4. All Art House exhibits and receptions are free and open to the public. Mark your calendars now for the Pops at Logan Farm Park concert on April 18. This will be the second annual fundraiser for the Acworth Arts Alliance, which will fund scholarships for students pursuing higher education in the art world. The Art House also offers a full schedule of classes. For a complete listing of classes offered, and to register, visit www.acworthartsalliance. org/classes. The Art House is open noon-6 p.m. Tuesdays through Saturdays and is closed Sundays, Mondays and holidays.

AROUND ACWORTH | March 2020

A Message from the

eople often ask me what separates Acworth from other cities. I believe what makes Acworth truly unique is the investments from all of our outstanding partners. Whether it’s a new business impacting the economic development of our downtown district, a local church pitching in at one of our outstanding events, or one of the stellar organizations creating culture in our town, these difference-makers invest from their hearts. The Save Acworth History Foundation serves as a shining example of what this heart-driven dedication to service can achieve. The work this community group puts into the preservation of local history is best represented by the Acworth Depot. What started as a dream of a few, now serves as a landmark destination on Main Street, where visitors have the opportunity to learn about our heritage. In recognition of the Save Acworth History Foundation’s dedication to our past, the Cobb Landmarks and Historical Society honored the Acworth Depot last month by recognizing its outstanding contribution to the preservation of our heritage. I encourage everyone to experience the invaluable resources that the Acworth Depot has to offer. It’s more simple than ever to visit the depot, 4794 S. Main St., due to its new extended hours. You can enjoy a self-guided tour of this small monument to our history seven days a week, 8 am.-9 p.m., for free. We are truly blessed to have partners like the Save Acworth History Foundation and landmarks like the Acworth Depot in our city. Another blessing is that spring will soon return and, with it, the opening of our lakes and beaches. While Dallas Landing, Proctor Landing, Cauble Park and South Shore do not open until April 18, parking passes will be arriving by mail for city residents by the end of March. If you are unsure whether you live within the city limits, visit www.acworthparksandrecreation.org. There you can click on a link to a map that outlines our city limits. If you do not receive your parking pass by the end of the month, and you are a city resident, contact the Acworth Parks, Recreation, and Community Resource Department at 770-917-1234 for assistance. Spring also brings the return of two of Acworth’s most popular

events. The Acworth Egg Hunt will take place April 3 at the Acworth Sports Complex on the baseball fields. Every year, the city of Acworth partners with our friends at Freedom Church to organize a hunt with 50,000 eggs and one of the most awesome Easter Bunny arrivals you’ve ever seen. Gates open at 6:30 p.m. The ever-popular Acworth Art Fest will be back on historic Main Street on April 4-5. Historic downtown provides the perfect location for one-of-a-kind art vendors to show their work. Great food and a Kidz Zone from Acworth’s own Art House make the Art Fest an event you won’t want to miss! As a reminder, invitations for the 2020 Census will go out this month. The statistics from the 2020 census impact everything, from determining congressional representation to providing businesses with information to help them decide where to set up shop. We depend upon census numbers for new roads, schools and emergency services. Your participation matters, and your community is counting on you to be counted. The Cobb elections staff is finalizing polling changes for the March primary in an attempt to move polling places out of our schools. Voters will receive new precinct cards in the mail, but you can verify your polling place and find a sample ballot at www.mvp.sos.ga.gov/MVP/mvp.do. The renewal of the onepenny Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax (SPLOST) will be on the ballot in November. Funding from SPLOST enabled Acworth to complete $150 million dollars’ worth of quality-of-life public projects in our community. Cobb County will hold a SPLOST Open House at the Acworth Community Center at 6 p.m. March 10. Take advantage of this opportunity to review proposed project lists, ask questions and learn more about the SPLOST process. As always, for more information on any of these projects and events, visit www.acworth.org, sign up for our e-news blasts on our home page, “like” Visit Acworth on Facebook, or follow us on Instagram at @VisitAcworth. God bless, Tommy

Tommy Allegood was elected to Acworth’s city council in 2000 and has served as mayor since 2002. He is a community builder who is purposed to make it count!

AROUND ACWORTH | March 2020

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AROUND ACWORTH | March 2020

Celebrations!

Carina Pintacuda

Age 4 on April 9. Happy Birthday little Keeny Bean! We love you! XO Love, Daddy, Mama and Carmela

Carmela Pintacuda

Age 5 on March 20. Happy birthday Sweet Carmela! We love you! XO Love, Daddy, Mama and Carina

Pablo and Ashley Chavez

Celebrating 12 years of marriage on March 25. Happy 12th anniversary to Pablo and Ashley.

Eva Delgado

Age 12 on March 20. Happy birthday! We love you so much! Dad, Mom, Mia, Liv and King

Nevaeh West

Age 8 on March 31. With much love, Mom, Nana, Papa and your village.

Davis Robert Kelley

Baptized on Jan. 19. Peachtree Presbyterian Church Your family is blessed to have you in our lives.

Shawn Adams

Age 40 on March 11. Happy 40th to an amazing husband, father and coach! We love you! Kelly, Makayla, Asher and Waylon

AROUND ACWORTH | March 2020

Renzo Riddle

Age 10 on March 5. Happy 10th birthday Renzo! I love you so much! Youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re officially a tween! Love, Mom

ANNOUNCEMENTS ARE FREE!

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

The Power of Play Changing Children’s Lives BY SUSAN BROWNING SCHULZ

The made-up word, Lekotek, comes from the Swedish word lek meaning play, and the Greek suffix, tek, meaning library. Loosely translated, it means “play library,” but to the 6,500 children with physical and cognitive disabilities served to date, and their families, it’s so much more. The idea was conceived in Stockholm, Sweden, in 1963 by two moms of children with special needs. After being advised to place their children in residential institutions, they were determined to make inclusion a goal for their children. They went to work adapting toys, always believing that providing a way for their children to play would facilitate learning and inclusion. The concept spread to America and, in December 1983, Lekotek of Georgia was founded by Helene Prokesch, who still is executive director. Lekotek at Cobb, located at 1925 Vaughn Road, NW, Suite 130, in Kennesaw, is one of six locations in metro Atlanta. “Play sessions are geared toward children with special needs, ages birth to 8 years old,” said Lisa Nevitt, Kennesaw site manager. “During play sessions, families come in for one hour with their Lekotek leader, who has selected developmentally appropriate toys, computer games and even iPad apps to play with. Our focus is on success, and making sure that we've set up the play environment so that the child with special needs is an active participant. Unlike other therapies, siblings and parents are encouraged to attend and participate

Cyrus Lewis laughs while playing with a ball at Lekotek.

Lekotek’s Kennesaw Site Manager, Lisa Nevitt.

in sessions. We know that siblings often are left out during therapy visits, and we strive to make Lekotek a fun place for the whole family. At the end of our session, we pack up a bag filled with the toys that we played with for the family to continue the fun at home until their next visit.” "Lekotek has been so good for Crue,” said parent Tay Furlong. “I love seeing him interact with new toys and learn new things. Each time we go, I get to see him experience something different. The eye gaze technology is so cool. I love watching him activate the screen. It’s so nice to be able to take Crue to therapy that is actually fun for him.” “Lekotek is a home, a community full of love, and a cheerful place where acceptance for every child that comes through its doors is evident,” said parent Erin Morgan. “Avery has grown and learned so much from her leader, Nicole, who puts her heart into every play session. She understands Avery’s needs, and, more importantly, her motivations, to help her engage in learning. Avery and I are beyond blessed to be a part of the Lekotek family.” “Children with disabilities have the same needs as every child — to learn, play, be included, have friends and be

loved,” Prokesch said. “To realize their full potential, they need to learn how to believe in themselves, so that they can achieve their dreams. Today, many Lekotek graduates are attending colleges and working in their communities. Some are living independently, and others in group homes. All are achieving their goals and realizing Lekotek’s mission of inclusion.”

Lekotek at Cobb offers the following services:

• Monthly play sessions. • Play dates. • Family activities, such as adapted egg hunts, Happy Tails/Care-ing Paws days, musical Saturdays, and more. • Computer club. • Toy-adapting workshops for parents and professionals. To get started with play sessions or get on the email list, call 770-420-9889. The cost of play sessions is $240 for the year, or $20 per month; scholarships are available. Lekotek is committed to making sure that no family is turned away due to an inability to pay. For more information, to donate, or to get involved, visit www.lekotekga.org or email info@lekotekga.org.

Susan Schulz is a wife, mom, writer and mentor who lives and plays along the Etowah River in Canton. She loves serving at Woodstock City Church. Connect with her at www.susanbrowningschulz.com.

AROUND ACWORTH | March 2020

Celebrating

Great Acworth Women

In honor of Women’s History Month in March, we are highlighting two women who made a signif icant impact on Acworth through the years. Special thanks to Betsy Brown and Yvonne Leander of the Save Acworth History Foundation for introducing us to these incredible women.

The Politician: Mary Bolton McCall By Yvonne Leander “She was hell on wheels!” That’s how Russell McCall describes his colorful mother, Mary Bolton McCall. Others describe her as a strong-willed, outspoken woman or an alpha female. Born Oct. 20, 1915, in Griffin, Mary Bolton was one of eight children. Rare for the time, Mary went to Bessie Tift College in Forsyth, and graduated in 1936 with a degree in English. She took graduate courses at the University of Georgia and Emory University. On a Ridgecrest Baptist retreat in North Carolina, Mary met a “long drink of water” medical student named Moses McCall. Moses had spent much of his youth in Cuba, where his parents were Baptist missionaries. Mary and Moses eloped in 1937 and were married in Phenix City, Alabama. Mary taught high school English in Lamar and Spalding counties while Moses completed his medical internship at Grady Hospital in Atlanta. Dr. McCall had trained as a surgeon at Wake Forest University and Emory University. However, due to Viking’s

Mary McCall 16

AROUND ACWORTH | March 2020

Acworth’s first female mayor, Mary McCall, being sworn into office by retiring mayor W.D. McClure.

Disease (Dupuytren’s contracture), a disabling affliction of the hand, he left surgery and came to Acworth to open a general medical practice in December 1940. Although Mary’s degree was in English, her husband needed help with his new practice. The country doctor taught her everything he knew. She ran the office, went on house calls with him, and delivered babies throughout four counties: Cobb, Bartow, Cherokee and Paulding. They served the people regardless of race, color, or economic status. Payment in vegetables, or no payment at all, was commonplace. The couple had six children, four boys and two girls, all born and raised in Acworth. In November 1954, Mary shattered a 100-year precedent when she became the first woman elected to Acworth’s City Council. She served on the Council for a year. The following year when Mary couldn’t convince her husband to run for mayor, she tossed her hat into the ring. She encouraged her husband’s many patients to register to vote, and they did. She won

by a landslide and became Acworth’s first female mayor. She served a one-year term in 1956 and three consecutive twoyear terms from 1961-66. During her tenure as mayor, Acworth progressed and hired its first female police officer and its first AfricanAmerican officer. She was instrumental in bringing a new post office to the town, as well as appointing a judge to the city recorder’s court. She brought natural gas to Acworth and began a public sewage system. She created the Acworth Lake Authority and improved Liberty Hill Cemetery. Besides her work as a public servant, she was active in the Acworth First Baptist Church, the PTA, the Eastern Star and the Women’s Medical Auxiliary. Mary also founded the Acworth Garden Club, served as an officer in the Carrie Dyer Women’s Club and chaired the Girl Scout District Council. She never considered herself a politician, but a servant of the people. She survived a cerebral hemorrhage in 1968 and a stroke in 1974. Mary died on Feb. 4, 1984, at the age of 68.

The Teacher: Irma D. Henderson By Betsy Brown “Mama, I just met the boy I’m gonna marry.” So began the love story of Irma Della Johnson, born in 1911 in Opelika, Alabama, and Howard Henderson from Gillsville, Georgia. Each came to the dance with someone else but left together, arm-in-arm. They got married, had four girls in a short time and came to Acworth in the 1950s, where Miss Irma would influence and guide Acworth’s children for more than two decades. By the time the Henderson girls were in school, Irma and family were settled on Collins Avenue in a home built in 1892. Her heart was to teach kindergarten and to have one in her own home. So, she studied early childhood education at Southern Technical Institute. Through the years, countless children walked single-file around Collins Avenue and down the sidewalks of Main Street to town and back. She was complimented frequently about their exceptionally good behavior. “Children love discipline,” she said. “And when it is given with love, the results are wonderful. Everyone in this world needs guidance.” Irma was an encourager. The harshest punishment given to an errant child was sitting on the “bad box” for a while. In later years, a van facilitated trips to Storyland in Smyrna or the Coca-Cola bottling plant in Cartersville. Eventually

Irma Henderson

Irma Henderson’s famous pound cake recipe.

the kindergarten outgrew the confines of the main house, so the Hendersons built a separate facility on the property for Irma’s growing brood. The new space was soon filled with children fashioning egg cartons and Vienna sausage cans into precious keepsakes. Sometimes Mr. Irma (Howard) would visit the little school and check up on everyone. The Hendersons’ daughters (Judy, twins Sally and Sandy, and Nancy) remember Irma as “just the best mama you could ever hope to have.” She made sure each of her children felt special. The family often held birthday parties at their farm on County Line Road, where Tootsie Rolls and lollipops hung from the limbs of a large shade tree in the pasture. Howard would fire up the grill and cook for the young guests, and there were always homemade birthday cakes. Irma’s coconut cakes and pound cakes were legendary favorites. The farm was also where Irma would take the girls to pick blackberries. So great was her love for blackberry cobbler that sometimes these forays required the aid of a flashlight.

Fearless in her picking, she was not daunted by the occasional snake or the bloodthirsty chigger. In retirement, Irma never slowed down and continued a life of creativity and community commitment. She took up china painting and frequently gifted pieces to lucky friends. She enjoyed the Acworth Garden Club and was known for the lovely yard on Collins Avenue. As a poll worker, she gifted voters and fellow workers with homemade treats like divinity candy. Many times, she brought food to a neighbor in need. It also was said that she became a wicked bridge player and loved being at the table with friends. Irma died in 1980 and is buried alongside her husband in Opelika. It would be hard to overestimate her influence on all those children. They are adults now, with children and grandchildren. They are living their lives in all parts of the world but surely remember walking-single file down Acworth’s Main Street shepherded by Miss Irma. AROUND ACWORTH | March 2020

Training Women in Construction BY RYAN BLYTHE

I have been blessed with opportunities to meet people and organizations that are innovating workforce development in ways that can be modeled everywhere. One of these groups is the Biloxi, Mississippi-based Moore Community House (MCH). In honor of International Women’s Day on March 8, I wanted to conclude my series on women in welding by interviewing Ruth Mazara, program director at MCH.

The Moore House has been helping Gulf Coast families since the 1920s. Can you tell me the organization’s history?

Moore Community House was founded in Biloxi in 1924, at a time when east Biloxi was filled with seafood factories that attracted workers from around the world. Many came with young children. Moore Community House offered education and other services to the children in east Biloxi, and we have continued to provide affordable childcare over the past 96 years. As a mission agency of United Methodist Women, we support low-income women and children. Currently, we have two major programs: an Early Head Start program, which offers childcare and family support services to pregnant women and children from birth to 3 years old, and our Women in Construction (WinC) program.

When was the decision made to begin a pre-apprenticeship job training program for women in construction?

After Hurricane Katrina, there were many construction and trade jobs on the Mississippi Gulf Coast due to the extensive rebuilding necessary after the devastation, but the women that we served at MCH were not able to access those jobs. We started a program that gives women the tools to enter the trades – not just the skills, but the knowledge of what it takes to succeed, the confidence to pursue their goals in a male-dominated field, and the support to overcome the barriers to employment that low-income women with children often face. Among the support services we offer is childcare, since reliable, affordable childcare has been shown to increase completion rates in job training programs and helps with retention in the workforce.

Women in Construction instructor Joanne Gray reviews project plans w

What are some of the program details? How many women are served and what’s the placement rate?

The curriculum is designed to support the needs of industry employers in our area. We combine classroom and hands-on learning for participants to earn industry recognized stackable credentials, such as NCCER and OSHA cards, while offering supportive services, such as childcare, transportation, and work-gear assistance, to remove barriers that would otherwise prevent women from participating in workforce training. Our program has been nationally recognized as a best practice model for workforce training. In addition to the industry curriculum, MCH WinC focuses on the essential skills that often lead to career success, such as communication, conflict resolution, self-advocacy, financial literacy, and resume writing and interviewing. With a 78% graduation rate, MCH WinC has graduated more than 700 women since inception in 2008, and currently holds a 66% placement rate. Graduates can visit MCH WinC to update resumes, apply to additional/advanced training, seek job placement assistance and volunteer.

Why create a program just for women in construction, as opposed to a co-ed apprenticeship?

Women in Construction students work on-site at Habitat for Humanity as part of a class project. 18

AROUND ACWORTH | March 2020

Women in Mississippi make up half of the workforce, but hold two-thirds of the state’s minimum wage jobs. Construction craft jobs can earn three times minimum wage at entry level! These fields can provide a living wage for female-led families; however, women hold only about 2% of Mississippi’s construction craft jobs. MCH WinC gives women the tools to apply for these jobs and provides them with a pathway to self-sufficiency for themselves and their families.

with a class.

What kind of support does the program get from employer and government partners?

We work closely with local employers in terms of our curriculum and program design, in order to be responsive to the needs of the industry and to give our graduates the best chance possible for long-term employment. Our graduates can apply the skills and knowledge they learn in our program in an array of industry and further training opportunities. There are graduates working with various commercial and residential contractors and manufacturing companies as electricians, scaffold builders, logistics personnel, construction crew leaders, apprentices, etc. We often refer graduates to Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College, which provides craft training, for which we will supply the personal protective equipment.

Finally, what do you think the future of Women in Construction looks like?

We are always looking for new opportunities to partner and provide a skilled workforce to employers. In the future, we hope to build on our past successes to continue to provide training to even more women, while always being responsive to the needs of industry in our region.

Ryan Blythe is the founder of Georgia Trade School, which, for the fourth consecutive year, was named one of the Cobb Chamber Top 25 Small Businesses of the Year.

AROUND ACWORTH | March 2020

The ABA is Community-Focused BY SHANNON STAHL

UPCOMING ABA EVENTS March 10

Morning Jolt

7:45-9 a.m. The Holbrook 4491 S. Main St., Acworth Networking event that focuses on exchanging referrals with one another. Coffee and breakfast provided.

March 12

Alive After Five

5:30-7:30 p.m. Doro’s Italian Restaurant 3979 S. Main St., Suite 250, Acworth

March 19

Women’s Network

11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. Fusco’s via Roma 4815 S. Main St., Acworth

March 24

Morning Jolt

7:45-9 a.m. The Holbrook 4491 S. Main St., Acworth Networking event that focuses on exchanging referrals with one another. Coffee and breakfast provided.

April 9

ABA Luncheon

11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. Acworth Community Center 4361 Cherokee St., Acworth

Alive After Five

5:30-7:30 p.m. Henry’s Louisiana Grill 4835 N. Main St., Acworth

AROUND ACWORTH | March 2020

We are lucky to live in an All-America City like Acworth! At the February Acworth Business Association (ABA) luncheon, Mayor Tommy Allegood gave the State of the City address to a packed house, where we celebrated the 10th anniversary of Acworth earning the AllAmerica City designation from the National Civic League. I knew our city was amazing, but I am truly blown away by all that Acworth has to offer. There are so many programs and events, whether it be for families, children, adults, those with special needs, or for the business community. The best part of Acworth is the people; they give their time and love, and we are fortunate to be a part of this community! Our theme for this year is to focus on our community, but what does community mean, exactly? The definition says, “a group of people living in the same place or having a particular characteristic in common.” So, what do we have in common? We all want to see our community thrive. We want to support our local businesses, and especially our new businesses that have chosen to make Acworth their home. We want to help make this community one that every family will want to be part of. How does the ABA fit into that puzzle? We connect to our business community through our events to help businesses network and grow. We celebrate our schools, honoring one each month and giving back monetarily to each school. We support local nonprofits with donations and, in many cases, provide them with a platform to spread their information. Allegood spoke about all the puzzle pieces coming together to form our great community. The Acworth Business Association is part of that puzzle; are you and your business? It’s not too late to join and gain access to all the benefits that membership provides. We have five networking opportunities every month, and several additional events each year. Our first big event is April 20: the ABA Golf Tournament. This year, the tournament will be held at the Brookstone Golf & Country Club, with a shotgun start at 9 a.m. If you are a Presidential Sponsor, you already have a foursome in the tournament. If not, and you want to add the golf tournament to your membership, call 770-423-1330. If you would like a list of event locations, text ABA to 48421. If you are anything like me, you will love the text reminders to keep up with events. You also can access our website calendar at www.acworthbusiness.org for all event dates and times. Get involved and be a part of the Acworth Business Association and help the continued growth of our All-America City!

Shannon Stahl has served on the ABA board for four years. She is the co-owner of KAMS Auto Service Center and is raising three children with husband Ken.

City of Acworth Ribbon Cuttings 1. Crazy Naeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Jeep Wave 3235 Odeon Way, Suite 130 Acworth 941-961-7671 Facebook: @crazynaesjeepwave

2. Broken Anchor Winery 3335 Cobb Parkway, Suite 930 Acworth 678-439-9463 Facebook: @BrokenAnchorWinery

Upcoming Ribbon Cuttings

Japanese Auto 11:30 a.m. Feb. 26 3235 Odeon Way, Suite 240 Kennesaw

AROUND ACWORTH | March 2020

Rob’s Rescues These animals are available at the Cobb County Animal Shelter, 1060 Al Bishop Drive SW, Marietta.

This dog’s name is Lady. She is 8 years old. She is well trained, but looks like she’s been by herself for a very long time. She was a stray and is a medium sized chocolate colored Cocker Spaniel. This is a great dog for a home because she is very sweet. This cat’s name is Angel. She is a very stressed 10 year old. She is a fluffy and big cat, and was an owner surrender for some weird reason that probably doesn’t make sense. She is very nervous, but she loved it when I was holding her. She would love an owner that wouldn’t abandon her.

Southeastern Guide Dogs This month, I interviewed Teri Smith, spokesperson for Southeastern Guide Dogs. (www.GuideDogs.org)

What does Southeastern Guide Dogs do?

Our mission is to help people who cannot see, and people who have seen too much. We train dogs for people who are blind, and veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder and other disabilities.

If someone wants to raise a puppy to become a guide dog, how do they start?

There is an application at guidedogs. com. You can start by going to a meeting, and getting a sense for what it takes.

How many puppies are being raised to become guide dogs, and do all of them become guide dogs?

Every year, 250 puppies are born on our campus in Florida that go into the program. Becoming a guide dog is difficult. It has to be able to do things that can save a person’s life. We think the dog chooses the mission. After being raised in a home for about a year, it goes to the campus for training. Guide dogs must be able to do things that are difficult for a dog to do. A guide dog learns about 40 commands. Those dogs that are not quite ready for this are trained as service dogs who know about 15 commands.

How long are the puppies kept by raisers?

Just over one year. You get the puppy between 8-12 weeks old, and return him for training at around 12-14 months of age. 22

AROUND ACWORTH | March 2020

Rob, center, with puppy raisers and guide dogs in training: Sue Norwood and Don, Malcolm Miller and Frank, Rob, Teri Smith, and Steven Fraime with McIntosh.

When puppies are returned, are the people who raised them or the puppies sad?

When you take a puppy you sign papers and know it is not yours. You know the dog is going to make a big difference in someone else’s life. People who do it once generally do it over and over again. Dogs tend to live in the moment, and the puppies are often very excited to return and see siblings again. Puppy Raising Day is something we look forward to, as you get to come back to the campus and see your dog matched with someone.

How can I and the community help you?

We need more puppy raisers. If you love dogs, and want to do something that will change someone’s life, this is for you.

What is a story that you like to tell?

The first puppy my daughter and I raised was Gato. She went everywhere we did, and she loved to go to Publix. Back then fruit was often displayed on low level shelves. Gato loved peaches, and would lick them whenever we went by. Consequently, we bought more peaches than anything else! Her person now is a lady who lost her sight when she was 16 years old. Gato gets her through mass transportation to and from work every day, which gives her tremendous freedom.

Rob Macmillan is on a mission to help shelter dogs and cats. www.robsrescues.com. On Facebook @robsrescues.

Add Warmth to Your Home BY PACITA WILSON

After a long day, returning to your home should provide a feeling of warmth and comfort, giving you rest and peace. My desire is every homeowner can walk through their door, and immediately feel the warmth of their home throughout every room. Here are some simple ways to help you achieve that feeling in your home.

• Paint. A fresh coat of paint is

an easy way to add brightness and comfort to a room. Neutral paint colors are best since they blend well with all types of furniture styles. A popular go-to-color is Sail Cloth by Benjamin Moore.

• Accessories. When choosing

accessories for any room, it is important to create balance. Choose items that have personal meaning, tell a story and help spark conversations among your guests. Accessories will be different for each person, however, picking unique pieces can add dimension to a room, and give it a feeling of richness and warmth.

• Wood and Textiles. Personally, I

love layering a room with wood tones and textiles, which add dimension to any space. Layer seating areas with pillows and throws, and add wood tones with wooden candle sticks or finials.

• Lighting. The ambience of lighting is another way to create inviting spaces. Choose unique lighting fixtures that feature your personal touch.

Pacita Wilson is the owner of Pineapple Park Home. www.pineapplepark.com

AROUND ACWORTH | March 2020

ACWORTH POLICE DEPARTMENT

Preparing Your Family for Emergencies BY WAYNE DENNARD

One of the most important things our police department does is prepare for emergencies. Emergencies are unexpected and, without a plan in place, chaos can result. One reason first responders seem calm and collected under pressure is because we train continuously to respond to emergencies. Emergency preparedness is just as important for individual families as it is for our police department. Having a plan, and practicing that plan, can help adults and children cope with emergencies and reduce fear of the unexpected. The American Red Cross has some great tips for family emergency planning, including templates you can download.

When developing your plan, consider: types of emergencies are most likely 1.What to happen where you live? Tsunamis are not likely to happen in Acworth, but we should prepare for weather events such as tornados, winter storms and flooding.

2.How will you contact your family members?

It’s important to make sure everyone in your family has contact information in case of emergencies. In the past, most people knew their loved-one’s phone numbers, but today, with phone numbers stored in cell phones, we might not have them all memorized. So, it’s important to keep some key contact numbers written down on paper – just in case. Also, you should have a plan to meet in case of separation. If your home is inaccessible due to flooding, for example, decide where your family will meet instead.

will you care for the special needs of 3.How your family?

Some members of your family might need special accommodations during an emergency. Consider the needs of individuals with disabilities, those with health issues, senior citizens, children and pets.

AROUND ACWORTH | March 2020

In addition to having a written plan in place, it’s also a good idea to stock up on some emergency supplies, just in case. FEMA recommends keeping the following items in your emergency kit. • Water - one gallon of water per person per day for at least three days, for drinking and sanitation. • Food - at least a three-day supply of non-perishable food. • Battery-powered or hand-crank radio and a NOAA weather radio with tone alert and extra batteries for both. • Flashlight and extra batteries. • First-aid kit. • Whistle to signal for help. • Dust mask - to filter contaminated air - and plastic sheeting and duct tape to shelter-in-place. • Moist towelettes, garbage bags and plastic ties for personal sanitation. • Wrench or pliers to turn off utilities. • Can opener for food (if kit contains canned food). • Local maps. We always hope there will never be a need to use an emergency plan or kit, but it is definitely better to have one and not need it than to need it and not have it. Be safe, be prepared, and rest easy knowing your police department has multiple layers of preparation and planning in place for nearly every possible emergency. We’ve got your back! For more information, visit www.fema.gov or www.redcross.org.

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

The élon Salon Spring Collection is reflective of the fabulous, uniquely-individualized hairstyles that are created daily for our beautiful clients. Make an appointment today and discover how the hair fashion skills and knowledge of our stylists can freshen and renew your appearance, and invigorate your beauty—just in time for spring.

Photos: Hair cut, colour, and style by élon Salon.

770.427.8698 • elonsalon.com • 695 Piedmont Rd • Marietta • facebook: elonsalon | instagram: @elonsalon1 AROUND ACWORTH | March 2020

State of the City Address At last month’s Acworth Business Association luncheon, Mayor Tommy Allegood gave the annual State of the City address to a packed house at the Acworth Community Center. The event was a time to reflect and celebrate last year’s achievements and preview what’s to come in 2020.

2019 Vision Projects

• The old Kmart came down and work on The Logan, a mixed-use development, began. • The Acworth Community Center opened in April. • Work on the Lemon Street connector was completed as the road now goes straight through to Taylor Street, connecting downtown with Logan Farm Park. • Pedestrian bridge overpass allows residents and visitors to cross safely from park side to downtown. • New Baker Road traffic light installed. • Cherokee Street roundabout completed to help with traffic flow. • More than 100 new parking spaces were added to downtown. • Depot History Center opened in June. • South Main Street work completed. • Highway 92 project breaks ground. • Mitchell Hill Drive extension completed as the road intersects with Taylor Street, allowing more connection to the park side area.

Other 2019 Achievements

• 130 new businesses. • 800 new jobs. • Acworth named one of 18 Georgia’s Exceptional Main Street Communities. • Cobb County ranked among best schools in Georgia. • Cobb County School District named Georgia Trade School among its best career education partners for graduating 200 welders and having the best salary return on tuition.

The Next Decade

• Over the next decade, Generation Z and Generation Y (millennials) are projected to make up 60% of the workforce and spending in Acworth’s 7-mile impact zone. 26

AROUND ACWORTH | March 2020

Mayor Tommy Allegood closes out the State of the City address with the original team that presented in Kansas City at the All-America City competition 10 years ago.

Acworth Community Center First Year Impact

• 175,000 people visited. • 10,000 miles walked on the indoor track. • 9,300 games, programs, camps, classes, events offered. • Inclusive programming for everyone, including individuals and families with special needs. • Acworth Community Center is a SPLOST investment and quality of life project.

A City with Heart

This year marks the 10th anniversary of Acworth being named an All-America City from the National Civic League. On June 16, 2010, Acworth’s All-America City team presented in Kansas City. The team’s presentation highlighted the community’s achievements and programs through the lens of love, faith, trust, partnership, teamwork and inclusion. The National Civic League board declared Acworth as a “city with heart.” The mayor celebrated this distinction along with the 10th anniversary of the All-America City award by gathering the original Kansas City team on stage to close the event.

Coming in 2020

• 1885 Grill is scheduled to open in July. • TapTown is set to open in December. • Planning and construction to begin on Acworth Crossing – a new mixed-use development with luxury townhomes with retail/restaurant space. • Red Top Brew House is scheduled to open in May. • New development projects are scheduled to begin on Baker Road, specifically large retail developments. • Fortress Builders will begin working on its seventh neighborhood in the community. • Two new parks are coming to Acworth – McLain Park (dog park) and Doyle Hill Park at Rosenwald. • American Engineers, Inc., office will open and bring approximately 50 engineering jobs to the community. • The Logan, a mixed-use development with luxury apartments and retail/restaurant space is scheduled to open. Healthcare providers are interested in the space.

Drafting Technology Program

Career Training in High-Demand Fields ChattahoocheeTech.edu 770-528-4545

A Unit of the Technical College System of Georgia. Equal Opportunity Institution.

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AROUND ACWORTH | March 2020

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AROUND ACWORTH | March 2020

SPRING has Sprung Spring Break 2020: Staycation Ideas

It feels as though we just had winter break, but spring break is just around the corner, April 6-10, to be exact. If you don’t have big travel plans, and you’re planning on sticking around here, there are plenty of fun activities just a short drive away to keep the kiddos entertained.

Atlanta CityPass

Save on popular attractions by purchasing a CityPass for the week. This nine-day pass includes access to five Atlanta attractions. Options include CNN Studio Tours, Georgia Aquarium, World of Coca-Cola, the College Football Hall of Fame, Zoo Atlanta or the Center for Civil and Human Rights.

Brasstown Bald

Visit the tallest point in Georgia, just outside Blairsville. The visitor facility will reopen for the season in midMarch. Enjoy the hiking trails, observation deck, picnic areas, Mountain Top Theater, exhibit hall and the gift shop and general store. Admission is $5 for adults; ages 15 and younger are free. https://cfaia.org.

Center for Puppetry Arts

Rethink everything you know about puppets and puppeteers with a visit to the on-site museum, which is appropriate for all ages. Tickets start at $12.50 and kids ages 2 and younger are free. Guided tours are available for an additional $4. Shows and workshops also are available. 1404 Spring St. NW, Atlanta. https://puppet.org.

Children’s Museum of Atlanta

Experience possibility through play! The Children’s Museum of Atlanta offers a world of hands-on exploration and discovery that sparks imagination and inspires learning. Programs and exhibits are designed for children ages 0-8. Programs and exhibit focus areas include arts, culture, geography, engineering, health and wellness, literacy, mathematics, science, social and emotional, and technology. 275 Centennial Olympic Park Drive NW, Atlanta. https://childrensmuseumatlanta.org.

CNN Studio Tour*

Take a 50-minute walking tour with behind-the-scenes access to the world headquarters of CNN. Get an inside look at how a live broadcast is produced and sent to viewers all over the world, while seeing a more indepth look at how the world’s largest news organization operates. Individual and group rates are available. 190 Marietta St. NW, Atlanta. https://tours.cnn.com/#.

Dahlonega Gold Mining

Take a short drive up to the North Georgia mountains to mine for gold and gemstones. Indoor mining is available, so you can pan for gold or gems rain or shine at both the Consolidated Gold Mining Co. (https:// consolidatedgoldmine.com) and Crisson Gold Mine (https://www.crissongoldmine.com). After your mining adventure, head over to the Dahlonega Gold Museum to learn about America’s first gold rush and the mining history of Lumpkin County. 1 Public Square N., Dahlonega. https://gastateparks.org/ DahlonegaGoldMuseum.

Fernbank Science Museum

Photo courtesy of Fernbank Museum of Natural History.

AROUND ACWORTH | March 2020

Science becomes an adventure with the on-site planetarium, observatory and exhibits, including permanent displays like the Apollo 6 and live animal exhibits. General admission and parking is free. Tickets for the planetarium shows are sold 30 minutes before each show. Planetarium shows are $7 for adults and $5 for students and seniors. 156 Heaton Park Drive, Atlanta. http://www.fernbank.edu/fsc.html.

Photo courtesy of the Georgia Aquarium.

Georgia Aquarium*

Experience the world beneath the waves at the largest aquarium in the Western Hemisphere. The Georgia Aquarium is home to hundreds of species and thousands of animals across its seven major galleries. Check out whale sharks, beluga whales and other marine life. 225 Baker St. NW, Atlanta. https://www.georgiaaquarium.org.

Legoland Discovery Center

Experience the ultimate indoor Lego playground with two rides, 10 Lego build and play zones, a 4-D cinema and more! Located inside Phipps Plaza, this family attraction is designed specifically for children ages 3-10. Group rates are available. 3500 Peachtree Road NE, Atlanta. https://atlanta.legolanddiscoverycenter.com.

Noah’s Ark Animal Sanctuary

The animal sanctuary has over 1,500 animals in various categories, including bears, lions, tigers, birds, monkeys, livestock and more. Self-guided tours are free to visitors of all ages, noon-3 p.m. Tuesdays through Saturdays. Donations are encouraged. Walk on the Wild Side and Big Cat Feeding tours are available for a fee, along with the Painting With Doc, the tiger, experience. 712 L. G Griffin Road, Locust Grove. http://www.noahs-ark.org.

Pine Mountain Wild Animal Safari

Go on safari right here in Georgia! This drive-through safari park features 75 species of exotic animals and more than 550 of them on 500 acres. Experience the 3.5-mile driving tour from the comfort of your own vehicle, or join a bus tour. Animals frequently come right up to the vehicles, so you can come face-to-face with camels, zebras, elk, water buffalo, giraffes and more. 1300 Oak Grove Road, Pine Mountain. https://animalsafari.com/Georgia.

Stone Mountain Park

Spring Fun Break at Stone Mountain Park offers attractions and live entertainment the whole family will enjoy, like taking a walk through the treetops on SkyHike, riding around the mountain on the Scenic Railroad or soaring to the summit on Skyride. Finish the day off with the return of the Lasershow Spectacular. Group rates are available. 1000 Robert E. Lee Blvd., Stone Mountain. https://www.stonemountainpark.com.

Tellus Science Museum

This Smithsonian Institution-affiliate natural history and science museum boasts 120,000 square feet of handson learning exhibits. Tellus is one of the largest science museums in the Southeast, with more than 4,000 rocks, gems and minerals on display. Children can conduct experiments with light, sound, magnets and more. The museum features four main galleries: the Weinman Mineral Gallery, the Fossil Gallery, Science in Motion, and the Collins Family My Big Backyard. 100 Tellus Drive, Cartersville. https://tellusmuseum.org.

World of Coca-Cola*

Interact with multiple exhibits, learning about the history of the iconic Atlanta-based beverage brand, and sampling more than 100 beverages from around the world. Visit the newest gallery on the “It’s the Real Thing” ad campaign. VIP guided tours also are available. 112 Baker St. NW, Atlanta. https://www.worldofcoca-cola.com. *Available via Atlanta CityPass. www.citypass.com.

AROUND ACWORTH | March 2020

Grab a Book!

Check out these reading suggestions from our friends at North Cobb Regional Library.

Adults

“Camino Winds”

by John Grisham Sequel to Grisham’s blockbuster “Camino Island.” Be sure to get on the library’s waiting list for this April release. “Camino Island” book, audiobook, and download available.

“Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine”

by Gail Honeyman Great beach read about finding friendship and human connection.

“Crazy Rich Asians” by Kevin Kwan

“Outlander”

by Diana Gabaldon Both “Crazy Rich Asians” and “Outlander” have been popular viewing choices, but we recommend checking out the books because, as fantastic as the on-screen dramatizations are, the books are better.

“Bluebird Bluebird”

by Attica Locke Murder and mystery shake up a small Texas town.

AROUND ACWORTH | March 2020

With spring break right around the corner, check out these reading recommendations for adults, teens and children from our friends at the North Cobb Regional Library. Whether you’re trying to stay active while school’s out or simply looking to relax, there’s something for all ages. Remember, the North Cobb Regional Library also offers titles in eBook and audiobook.

Teens

“The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes” by Susan Collins A prequel to the popular “Hunger Games” book series. We also recommend readers listen to the audiobook version of the original trilogy (“Hunger Games,” “Catching Fire” and “Mockingjay”) that is available on CD and downloadable audiobooks.

Children

“As Brave As You”

by Jason Reynolds We also recommend the audio version.

“Stargazing” by Jen Wang A sweet, funny and touching graphic novel about friendship.

“Harry Potter”

“A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder”

series by J.K. Rowling on audiobook Revisit the magic with narrator Jim Dale, who has won two Grammy Awards for his performance of these much loved books. Great for a family road trip or just around the house. Available on CD and downloadable audiobook.

“Bumped” by Megan McCafferty

by Karen Kilpatrick and Luis O. Ramos, Jr. We are loving this picture book about friendship and creativity.

“Red at the Bone”

by Jacqueline Woodson Two families from different backgrounds are joined through unexpected events. CD audiobook format available.

by Holly Jackson Teens who enjoy reading mystery/ thriller genres will be drawn to the twist, turns and surprise ending. Sci-Fi book about a virus that takes over the world and makes teens the most valued members of society.

“Don’t Read the Comments”

by Eric Smith Futuristic romance book about teens who connect through gaming, while trying to move up in society.

“When Pencil Met Eraser”

“Maker Lab Outdoors”

by Jack Challoner This book has tons of great STEM projects for young scientists, like how to make a geode, a water rocket, and ice cream. Learn about the science behind each project and its real world application.

2020

Corner

AROUND ACWORTH | March 2020

Egg Hunts

2020 March 28

April 3

Aquatic Center 2-5 p.m. Cost: $10 per child. Underwater Egg Hunt 2:30-5 p.m. (4-12 years old). Register for a 15-minute time slot. Outside Egg Hunt 2:15-2:30 p.m. (0-3 years old) There will be bounce houses, face painting, games, music, and take a picture with the Easter Bunny! Times and registration are listed on the website: www.crpa.net/special-events/eggs-traordinary-extravaganza.

Recreation and Parks Agency, begins with check in at 7:30 p.m. and the hunt at 8:30 p.m. at Cherokee Veterans Park. Flashlight and craft provided. Food and Kona Ice will be available for purchase. $10 per child. For more information, contact Lindsey Collett, lcollett@cherokega.com.

Eggs-traordinary Extravaganza at the Cherokee County

Bunny Breakfast, hosted by Kennesaw Parks & Recreation,

8 a.m.-noon at Ben Robertson Community Center, 2753 Watts Drive, Kennesaw. Treat your family to a buffet, including pancakes, scrambled eggs and sausage as well as fresh fruit and breakfast sweets. Everyoneâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s favorite cottontail will be making his way from table to table to say hello to all the boys and girls. Bring your camera to capture all the memories. Seatings are available from 8-9:15 a.m. or 10-11:15 a.m. Tickets are $6 per person, and can be purchased at the Ben Robertson Community Center or www.kennesaw-ga.gov/event/bunny-breakfast-2. Advance purchase is required. For more information, call 770-422-9714.

Flashlight egg hunt, sponsored by the Cherokee

Acworth Egg Hunt, hosted by the City of Acworth and Freedom Church, at the Acworth Sports Complex, 4000 S. Main St. The egg hunt will take place on the baseball fields, and participants are asked to park on the baseball side of the complex. Gates and concessions open at 6:30 p.m., and the first hunt begins at 7:30 p.m. This yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s hunt consists of 50,000 eggs, and the Easter Bunny will skydive in for the fun. The Acworth Egg Hunt is broken down into five age groups, and the start times will alternate between fields. For more information, or to volunteer, visit www.acworthegghunt.com.

April 4

Strolling Easter Bunny and Friends noon-4 p.m. at The Outlet Shoppes at Atlanta, 915 Ridgewalk Parkway, Woodstock. Visit the Easter Bunny and snap Instagrammable photos as he roams the center. The Rad Hatter returns to help children customize their own Easter Rad Bag Hat. Enjoy live music from Joseph Erwin.

April 10

Marietta Community Egg Drop, presented by Superior

A little boy during the toddler hunt at last year's Acworth Egg Hunt.

AROUND ACWORTH | March 2020

Plumbing and hosted by Marietta High School and Marietta School District, at the practice fields behind the school, 1171 Whitlock Ave. NW, Marietta. The first hunt begins at 5:30 p.m. There will be more than 90,000 eggs and candy for five hunts for children ages 10 and younger. Free admission. Event will feature interactive inflatables, a live puppet show featuring Peter Hart and Atlanta Puppets, games and food. Funds raised will go to support Marietta City Schools. www.mariettaegghunt.com.

The helicopter dropping eggs and candy at the Northeast Cobb Community Egg Drop. Photo provided by JRM Management.

April 11

Northeast Cobb Community Egg Drop, hosted by Piedmont

Church and Cobb County School District, begins at 10 a.m. at Sprayberry High School, 2525 Sandy Plains Road, Marietta. Food, games, a DJ, activities and, of course, egg hunts for all ages. A helicopter will drop thousands of eggs onto the football field to kick off the hunt. Egg hunts will be broken down into age groups, including toddler and special-needs hunts. More than 90,000 eggs and candy will be given away. Free admission. $7 for unlimited Kids Zone activities. Money raised will support the Shop With a Yellow Jacket and Shop With a Longhorn programs at Sprayberry and Kell high schools. Last year, more than $14,000 was raised. For more information, visit www.communityeggdrop.org.

Easter Egg Hunt at Smith-Gilbert Gardens, 2382 Pine Mountain Road, Kennesaw. 10 a.m.-2 p.m. $10 per person, discounted rate for members. Fee includes garden admission, age-appropriate Easter egg hunts, games, crafts and a chance to meet the Easter Bunny. Hunts for four age groups. Pre-registration required. No walk-up registrations accepted. No parking on-site for the hunt. Parking is available at Adams Park, 2600 Park Drive, Kennesaw (Ben Robertson Community Center). Shuttles will provide transportation to the gardens. For information, visit www.smithgilbertgardens.com. Little River United Methodist Church Community Hunt at 10 a.m. Children will be divided into three age groups: 3 and younger, 4-7 and 8-12, to hunt for more than 10,000 eggs. Free cupcakes and punch for refreshments. 12455 Highway 92, Woodstock. For more information, contact youth and children's minister Jessica Porter at 404-217-3158.

Bascomb United Methodist Church egg hunt, 11

a.m.-2 p.m., for infants to children in sixth grade. Free activities include games, crafts, snacks and a picture with the Easter Bunny. The church is at 2295 Bascomb Carmel Road, Woodstock. For more details, contact Tammy Smith at tammysmith.bumc@live.com or visit www.BascombUMC.org.

Northside Hospital Easter Eggstravaganza 2-4 p.m. at Etowah River Park, 600 Brown Industrial Parkway, Canton. Activities, snacks and selfies with the Easter Bunny are free. Souvenir T-shirts are $10. Registration is free, however, you can make a donation during registration, and all proceeds benefit the Special Care Nursery at Northside Hospital-Cherokee. Guests also are encouraged to bring donations of diapers, baby wipes and baby food for MUST Ministries in Cherokee. No glass bottles or jars. Collection bins available at the event. Egg hunt times are: 2:30 p.m. for ages 0 to 3, and for those who have special needs and require assistance; 2:45 p.m. for ages 4 to 6; 3 p.m. for ages 7 to 9; and 3:15 p.m. for 10 and older. In case of inclement weather, the event will be rescheduled to April 12. In case of inclement weather on April 12, the event will be canceled. https://give.northside.com/ events/easter-eggstravaganza.

AROUND ACWORTH | March 2020

WARNING: Fun Lake Days Ahead! BY CHRISTOPHER PURVIS

The spring recreation season is approaching, which means it’s time to gear up for what is happening on beautiful Allatoona Lake. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers manages seven campgrounds and 14 day-use areas that offer a wide variety of great outdoor experiences. Before the season starts, this is a good time to familiarize yourself with what is new at the lake.

Campgrounds

The biggest update this year concerning campgrounds is the temporary closure of McKinney Campground. McKinney’s restrooms, shower houses and dump station are being added to the Bartow County sewer system. This upgrade will improve the overtaxed dump station and aged septic systems currently in the restrooms, shower houses and gatehouse. With McKinney Campground closed at the beginning of the summer, it’s good to know that the corps manages six other campgrounds on Allatoona Lake. Sweetwater Campground in Canton, Victoria Campground in Woodstock, and Payne Campground in Acworth will officially open for the season March 20. In Bartow County, McKaskey officially opens March 20 with Old Highway 41 No.3 and Upper Stamp Creek opening May 15. All campsites will continue to be 100% 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. Please remember to bring your debit or credit card, all corps campgrounds went cashless in 2019. Campsite reservations can be made by calling (tollfree) 1-877-444-6777 or by going through Recreation.gov which links to various recreational sites around the nation.

Payne Campground in Acworth opens for the season on March 20.

Day-Use Areas

The corps offers a wide variety of day-use areas that it manages on the lake. There are 10 separate ramps, five beaches, eight shelters, four picnic areas, five trails and one disc golf course. Many are combo ramp/beach/shelter areas. Here are a few examples of popular day-use areas around the lake. The day-use areas have mixed opening dates, which started in February, with all areas open by May 1.

Cherokee County

• Victoria Day Use offers a busy beach, two ramps and a new fishing tournament site. Galt’s Ferry Day Use offers a busy beach and a three-lane ramp. Sweetwater Day Use offers a beach and a group shelter area. Kellogg Creek Day Use has a small beach. Payne Ramp is a busy three-lane ramp area located off Kellogg Creek. • Knox Bridge Day Use offers a ramp that is popular with kayakers.

• • • •

Bartow County

• Blockhouse Ramp is the busiest corps operated ramp on Allatoona. • Old Hwy 41 No. 1 Day Use offers a beach and two small one-lane ramps for boaters.

• Stamp Creek Day Use, located in White, Georgia, has a three-lane ramp area.

• Cooper Branch No. 1, near the Visitor Center, has a two-lane ramp, picnic areas, and a shelter.

• Cooper Branch No. 2 has a group shelter, picnic tables, and a nearby trail system.

• Cooper’s Furnace Day Use is a historic area with two shelters and associated trails.

Opening day for Sweetwater Campground in Canton is March 20. 36

AROUND ACWORTH | March 2020

• Riverside Day Use, located on the Etowah River, has two group shelters, picnic areas, trails, ramp and a highly rated disc golf course.

Lake Reminders

e l i sm

WE GO THE EXTRA MILE TO MAKE MEMBERS

• All of the old honor vaults in corps-managed day use areas were replaced last year by automated fee machines. The automated fee machines accept payments for corps yearly passes, but the passes must be acquired from the Operations Project Management Office or from recreation areas that have staff to issue the passes.

Live better, bank smarter and be happier when you become a member of Credit Union of Georgia! Since 1960, we’ve been serving up smiles through savings, services and solutions that make “cents” for our members.

• As always, please remember to wear your life jackets when on the lake.

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 https://tinyurl.com/wrq92rj or on Facebook at USACEAllatoonaLake.

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

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AROUND ACWORTH | March 2020

Don’t Guess, Soil Test BY MASTER GARDENER EXTENSION VOLUNTEER JUDY ABBOTT

Whether you’re a new or seasoned gardener, it’s important to recognize soil testing as one of the most basic, yet most important, steps in gardening. The soil ecosystem is a tripartite relationship between soil, soil organisms and plants. Any number of possible interactions between these three make soil one of the most complex habitats. Simply put, soil is a valuable, living, dynamic resource that is part of a complex food web. Lawns, trees, vegetables and flowers require an adequate amount of nutrients to thrive and be productive. Soil testing determines the nutrient status of the soil, as well as the amount and kind of nutrients that should be added to ensure the best growth of lawns and gardens. This one step can save gardeners from overspending on unneeded lime and fertilizers. The UGA Cooperative Extension Soil Test Report provides current levels of pH, phosphorous, potassium, calcium, magnesium and zinc, as well as personalized recommendations to amend the soil based on the selected plant type. Multiple tests may be recommended for different plants in different areas of the landscape, or for new planting areas, as well as established ones. Several samples should be taken from within each area, combined, and air dried

AROUND ACWORTH | March 2020

Soil test kits are available through the UGA Extension office so you can pre-plan for your spring planting projects.

overnight. After drying, transfer the sample to the soil test bag and deliver it to your local extension office. Complete instructions are included with each soil test kit, or online at www.extension.uga.edu. If pre-planning an area for sod, trees, vegetables or ornamentals, it is important to do a soil test as early as possible. Depending on the results, some amendments, such as lime, could take several weeks or months to affect the soil. Also, if existing plants are showing signs of distress, the soil test results provide the extension staff a base line of accurate information to help with prognosis and suggestions. If we understand our soil, we’ll have a better understanding of what will work best in our environment. Successful gardens start with healthy soil.

Soil test kits are available at Cobb County Extension, 678 S. Cobb Drive, Suite 200, Marietta, 770-528-4070. A basic soil test is $9, and it takes approximately 14 days to receive the results. Master Gardeners are trained volunteers who help homeowners, businesses and organizations engage in research-based horticultural practices through the Cobb County Cooperative Extension Service and University of Georgia. Cobb County has more than 250 volunteers who help maintain school, community and demonstration gardens. www.cobbmastergardeners.com.

Master Gardener Volunteers of Cobb County is a part of the University of Georgia Extension in Marietta.

Education Important for Boaters, Drivers BY GREG FONZENO

In boater education classes, we often draw comparisons between driving a car and driving a boat. There are definitely “rules of the road” and “road signs” on the water that help with your journey. In many ways, boating is like driving … except that you do not have signals, seat belts or child seats; there are very few speed limits, no brakes, and no backup cameras or lane departure warning alarms. And, there are no brakes! Oh, did I mention there are no brakes? As we all know, there are driver education classes for those eager to get a driver’s license and get on the road. It is just as important for boat owners to become educated about the waterways as it is for car drivers to be educated about our roads. Maybe more so, given that boats have no brakes; did I mention that? Whether someone is a new or an experienced boater, there is always something more to learn when on the water. Taking a boater education class is one of the best ways to help prevent an accident on the water. U. S. Coast Guard statistics indicate that, of those accidents where the level of operator education was known, 81% of boating deaths occurred on boats where the boat operator had never received instruction.

Many states, including Georgia, require completion of a boater safety class. In Georgia, persons born after Jan. 1, 1998, must have completed a boating education course approved by the Department of Natural Resources and National Association of State Boating Law Administrators before operating a motorized vessel on Georgia state waters. For a summary of Georgia’s regulations, visit www.gadnrle.org. With the wide variety of courses available, there’s one to meet each boater’s busy schedule. Boaters have multiple options, thanks to classroom courses offered by the local U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary (www.wow.uscgaux.info/content. php?unit=070-02-02), and Atlanta’s Boating Club (www.atlantasboatingclub.com). With a few months remaining before the start of the boating season, now is the time to take a class. Boating brings families and friends together for positive outdoor experiences, so the goal is to make it a safe experience for all on the water.

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

AROUND ACWORTH | March 2020

Around & About MARCH Series, 11 Speaker sponsored by the Save

Acworth History and Kennesaw Historical Society, continues with Michael K. Shaffer’s talk entitled “The Civil War Facts and Figures” at 7 p.m. at Roberts School in Acworth. Shaffer is a Civil War historian, instructor, lecturer, newspaper columnist and author. He is a member Shaffer of the Society of Civil War Historians of the Civil War Western Theater and the Georgia Association of Historians.

The annual Daddy Daughter Dance, hosted by the Acworth Parks, Recreation and Community Resource Department, begins at 7 p.m. at the Acworth Community Center. This year’s theme will be a Masquerade Dance. Cost is $30 per couple for Acworth residents and $40 per couple for nonresidents. Additional daughters are $10 each. Pre-register online at www.acworthparksandrecreation.org. All girls ages 13 and younger are invited to attend with their dads or adult male chaperones.

APRIL Egg Hunt, hosted by the city of Acworth 3 Acworth and Freedom Church, at the Acworth Sports

County from 7-8 p.m. on the first Tuesday of each month at the North Cobb Regional Library (3535 Old 41 Highway NW, Kennesaw). The April topic is “Container Gardening.” Understanding the requirements of planting in pots can provide beauty in those unexpected areas.

at Logan Farm Park, 4405 Cherokee 18 Pops St., returns as the Acworth Arts Alliance

partners with the City of Acworth to host the second annual fundraiser, benefiting the Art House. Event proceeds support the Acworth Arts Alliance’s efforts to fund a scholarship for students pursuing a degree in art as well as to fund arts initiatives in underfunded programs and among the underserved in the community. For more information or to purchase a table, visit www.acworthartsalliance.org.

Shanty Festival, presented 18-19 Kennesaw/Big by Superior Plumbing, will take place in

downtown Kennesaw. The 44th annual event will feature more than 250 arts and crafts booths, 25 food booths, two entertainment stages and an interactive kid’s zone. Festivities 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Saturday and noon-5 p.m. Sunday.

A craft booth at last year's Kennesaw/Big Shanty Festival. Photo provided by JRM Management.

MAY

Complex, 4000 S. Main St. The egg hunt will take place on the baseball fields, and participants are asked to park on the baseball side of the complex. Gates and concessions open at 6:30 p.m., and the first hunt begins at 7:30 p.m. This year’s hunt consists of 50,000 eggs, and the Easter Bunny will skydive in for the fun. The Acworth Egg Hunt consists of five age groups, and the start times will alternate between fields. For the schedule of events and more info, visit www.acworthegghunt.com.

Dallas Landing Park. The annual event will feature corporate and community teams racing in 46-foot long ornamental dragon boats. Proceeds from the event will benefit cancer patients and survivors in the community. For more information, visit www.acworthdragonboatfestival.com.

Acworth Art Fest is a two-day annual event 4-5 held in historic downtown Acworth. More

on the Lake BBQ Festival, hosted by the 8-9 Smoke North Cobb Rotary Club, City of Acworth, and the

than 100 artisans from around the country will set up booths with paintings, pottery, metalwork, folk art, glass jewelry, yard art and more. A Kidz Zone will be available, filled with fun activities for little ones. Various food vendors also will be on hand for the art festival.

Does Your Garden Grow lecture series 7 How hosted by the Master Gardener Volunteers of Cobb

AROUND ACWORTH | March 2020

Acworth Dragon Boat Festival, hosted by Dragon Boat 2 Atlanta and Loving Arms Cancer Outreach, returns to

Georgia Barbecue Association, returns to Cauble Park. The Acworth Business Association is sponsoring a concert under the stars Friday night. Reservations for six-person tables are available. Gates open at 5 p.m. Friday and at 11 a.m. Saturday. www.smokeonthelake.org.

REGISTRATIONS Parks and Recreation / Community Center 770-917-1234 www.acworthparksandrecreation.org

Community Classes Barre Above

A full-body conditioning class that incorporates lower, upper and core exercises with a focus on flexibility, balance, stability and strength. Classes meet 5:30-6:15 p.m. Mondays at the Acworth Community Center. $30 for residents and $35 for nonresidents. Monthly sessions are available. Register online.

Island Step Aerobics

An up-tempo workout with an island flare, presented by VROK Fitness. Step aerobics has all the benefits of a high-intensity cardio workout without putting stress on your joints. Classes meet from 6:307:15 p.m. Mondays at the Acworth Community Center. Prices vary by session and drop-in rates are available. Register online.

Zumba Fitness

Combines high-energy Latin music and international rhythms with unique and easy to follow moves and combinations that allow participants to dance away their worries. All fitness and skill levels are welcome. Classes offered monthly from 6:30-7:30 p.m. Tuesdays or Thursdays at the Acworth Community Center. $25 for residents and $30 for nonresidents. Drop-in rates available. Register online.

BUILD Yoga

Led by Marlo from Backbends and Brews, using yoga postures, plyometrics, hand weights and calisthenics to build strength, flexibility, balance and endurance. Classes meet from 8:15-9:15 a.m. Thursdays at the Acworth Community Center. Fees vary. Drop-in rates available. Register online.

Pickleball Lessons

For novice and intermediate skill levels as well as semi-private and private instruction options available. Classes meet monthly on Tuesdays or Thursdays with private lessons on Wednesdays at the Acworth Community Center. Register online.

Beginner American Sign Language

For ages 13 years and older. Classes meet at the Acworth Community Center from 9-10:30 a.m. or 6-7:30 p.m. Thursdays. Monthly sessions are available for $75 for residents and $80 for nonresidents. Register online.

AROUND ACWORTH | March 2020

Don’t Overlook Tax Obligations BY JOSHUA NELSON

Prior to helping families plan for their future care needs, I spent my time counseling families when they got the scariest of letters: ones from the IRS. Sometimes, the two areas can overlap, especially this time of year when families have been paying someone to come into the home and help their loved ones. For families that use professional caregivers through a service or care community, the IRS sets out clear rules in Publication 502 that allow for most of those costs to be tax-deductible. For families that have sourced their own caregivers, the question gets more complex. Often, a family engages an in-home caregiver out of necessity, after a crisis such as a fall, surgery, or major medical event like a stroke. The primary concern is to make sure the loved ones get the care they need as quickly as possible. Once the dust settles from that stress, the interim caregiver — usually a child or spouse — has to play catch-up on their own lives, without thinking about taxes that need to be paid for the caregiver. If the family doesn’t get it right, both the caregiver and the family could get audited and end up with back taxes and penalties that wreak havoc on a care plan budget. Whether you hire a close family member or an experienced caregiver through word-of-mouth, you can ensure the best care for your loved one, without risking your finances, by following these steps.

1.Don’t pay cash.

Untaxed cash payments with no records can get you in trouble with the IRS and be construed as penalized gifts, disqualifying you from future Medicaid benefits, especially if these caregiver payments are made to a family member without a formal agreement. Give your in-home caregiver a Form W-2. If you pay a caregiver $2,000 or more a year, or $1,000 a quarter, you’ll need to pay payroll taxes throughout the year and give your caregiver a Form W-2 at the end of the year. There are many payroll companies that will help you prepare the necessary documents and pay the necessary taxes to keep you on the right side of the law. Increase your insurance: If a professional inhome caregiver is injured in the home and sues, your homeowners’ insurance might not cover all the medical or legal costs. The resulting liability to you and your family could be financially devastating. If you are employing a W-2 employee, check with your insurer about buying workers’ compensation insurance. Workers’ compensation protects employees hurt on the job by covering medical expenses, rehabilitation costs, and lost wages. Even if you are using a licensed home health care agency, you should check with your insurer to consider increasing your umbrella coverage limits.

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.

How Long Should Home Systems/Appliances Last? BY MALINDA HOWE

When buying and selling a home, there are many things to consider in determining home values. Sellers want to know what updates and renovations need to be done before listing, while buyers want to know what problems or issues they can expect to fix after closing on a resale. If you’re looking to buy or sell, this cheat sheet will help you know the average life expectancy of home systems and appliances, to equip you in today’s housing market. Malinda Howe is a broker and owner of Anchor Realty Partners. Howe is also vice chairwoman of the Acworth Tourism Board.

AROUND ACWORTH | March 2020

System/Appliance

Average Lifespan

Average Cost

Furnace Air Conditioning Unit Water Heater Repiping an Entire Home

15-25 years

$4,200

12-15 years

$3,350-$5,912

8-13 years

$799-$1,502

40-70 years 50-plus years 20-50 years

$11,500

10 years

$670-$1,270

12 years

$400

14 years

$650-$1,600

9 years

$200-$500

10 years

$250-$2,050

13 years

$200-$1,750

20-30 years

$7,211

• Brass • Copper • Galvanized Steel

Dishwasher Garbage Disposal Range & Oven Hoods Microwave Washing Machine Dryer Roof

Spring Cleaning for Your Life BY JENNIFER BONN

When spring rolls around, we start to think about freshening things up at home. Why should our lives be different? From time to time, we all need to do a little personal spring cleaning. So, shake out the dust that accumulated while you were stuck in your winter routine, and throw open the windows to let in a new season.

Do an evaluation.

Sit down and reflect on your life, like you might do a walkthrough of your house to see what needs to be done. Write down what you would like to change and what you are grateful for having. We don’t take enough time to reflect. I was surprised how much this exercise helped to give me some clarity.

Remove the clutter.

Can you eliminate activities that are burdens rather than pleasures? Rearrange your time to do more things you enjoy and fewer that steal your energy. Do you spend too much time on social media or answering email? Try cutting back on time spent on social media or email. Clean out the clutter from your finances. Examine your credit card bill to find some discounts or cut back on a few subscriptions or services. What about relationships that are dragging you down, and you’ve put off dealing with them? Pull them out, confront the issues and move on.

Clean up.

Work on cleaning up your diet and doing something active each day. When I say clean up your diet, I mean you should be eating as healthy as you can. Drink lots of water, have some fruits and vegetables, watch your portion sizes and limit the desserts and snacks.

Free Event Hosted By: The City of Acworth & Freedom Church

Repair.

What is broken in your life? It is usually easy to tell what it is by taking an honest inventory of your emotions. Maybe you need to improve your health, or rekindle relationships that matter.

Renew.

We are never too old to reinvent ourselves. How can you be even better than you are now? What would make you happier? Sign up to learn something new or set new goals to achieve something. Do something that will make you feel good and don’t worry about what someone else might think.

Give grace.

Sometimes your spring cleaning will not be perfect and a mess will surface somewhere. Give yourself grace because every stumble makes us a little stronger and teaches us more about ourselves. It doesn’t matter if you trip, as long as you stand back up and try again.

APRIL 3, 6:30 PM 4000 SOUTH MAIN STREET ACWORTH, GA

7:15 PM: Bunny Arrives 7:30 PM (Field 1): 0-2 yr olds 7:40 PM (Field 2): 3-4 yr olds 7:50 PM (Field 3): 5-6 yr olds 8:00 PM (Field 4): 7-8 yr olds 8:10 PM (Field 1): 9-10 yr olds

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

WWW.ACWORTHEGGHUNT.COM AROUND ACWORTH | March 2020

Plungers from the Georgia Bureau of Investigation wade through the frigid lake.

One team wore their Mardi Gras best for the festivities.

The Marieâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Deli Team from Cumming show off their chefâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s hats before taking the plunge. 44

AROUND ACWORTH | March 2020

Boy Scout Troop 241.

FREEZIN’ for a Reason! PHOTOS BY ED SELBY

The Law Enforcement Torch Run for Georgia hosted the Special Olympics Polar Plunge at Acworth Beach at Cauble Park on Feb. 22. Participants collected pledges in exchange for the opportunity to jump into icy waters. All proceeds collected by “plungers” benefit the athletes of Special Olympics Georgia. The teams even participated in a few rounds of tug-of-war before running into the frigid lake.

Congratulations to the Acworth Police Department for winning the battle of the ropes competition.

One team of plungers dressed up as the characters from “The Wizard of Oz.”

AROUND ACWORTH | March 2020

School News Robotics Tournament Winners Announced Mount Paran Christian School recently hosted the 2020 Western Georgia FIRST® Tech Challenge League Tournament. Thirty teams from west and northwest Georgia, including the Etowah and Douglasville leagues, participated in the robotics tournament. Nine teams earned a spot at the FIRST Tech Challenge Georgia State Championship after advancing at the Western Georgia League Tournament, including two teams from Mount Paran. • 7373--MPCS Eagle RoboticsCarbon Fiber, Inspire Award Winner • 16500--DTZT 2, Winning Alliance Captain • 4100--Darbots 1, Inspire Award 2nd Place, Motivate Award Winner • 11364--MPCS Eagle RoboticsDiamond Plate, Winning Alliance 1st Pick, Think Award 2nd Place • 4327--Silver Titans, Inspire Award 3rd Place, Finalist Alliance 1st Pick, Design Award Winner • 17005--SAE Dragonbots, Winning Alliance 2nd Pick • 12961--Checkmate, Think Award Winner • 11127--Whitefield Robotics, Finalist Alliance Captain, Collins Aerospace Innovate Award Winner • 12769--Rebellion Engineering, Connect Award Winner, Finalist Alliance 2nd Pick The Inspire Award, the tournament’s most prestigious honor, which includes robot performance, community outreach, judging interview, engineering documentation, and learning from professionals in the STEM community, was awarded to MPCS’s Team 7373 Carbon Fiber. 46

AROUND ACWORTH | March 2020

DAR Offers College Scholarships The Liberty Hill Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) encourages current and prospective college students to apply for scholarships offered by the National Society DAR. Scholarships are available to students in a variety of fields, including history, economics, law, political science, medicine, nursing, occupational and physical therapy, elementary and secondary education, chemistry, math, science and English. The scholarships are awarded without regard to gender, race, color, religion, national origin or disability. Applicants must be U.S. citizens and must attend or plan to attend an accredited college or university in the United States. All multi-year scholarships, typically renewable up to four years, must be for consecutive years of attendance. Awards are based on academic excellence, commitment to the field of study and/or financial need or other restrictions on specific scholarships. Awards are placed on deposit with the recipient’s college or university and any unused portion shall be returned to the DAR. Applicants are eligible to receive only one scholarship from the DAR. For information or to apply, visit www.dar.org/national-society/scholarships or contact the Liberty Hill Chapter at libertyhilldar@gmail.com.

NCCS Celebrates Black History Month Third-grade students at North Cobb Christian School (NCCS) celebrated Black History Month by studying a significant historical person each week. Students focused on character traits and what they learned about faith and grit from these individuals as a unique way to apply and understand the impact of Black History Month on their lives and the country. One of the students, Noa Lewis, who did a history project on African American/Native American female pilot, Bessie Coleman, last spring, gave her presentation to every third-grade class. Lewis’ project was featured on “Good Morning America” and ABC News last year and was featured in the May 2019 issue of Around Acworth. Recently, Lewis was invited to participate in a documentary about famous aviators and will be flying to Ohio in May for the filming. Third-grader Noa Lewis giving a presentation on female pilot Bessie Coleman in honor of Black History Month.

Piedmont Church Gives Back to Local Schools Last month, Piedmont Church donated $16,300 to Cobb/Marietta schools and charities. The donation was a result of sponsorships and giving at the church’s Christmas at Piedmont event in December. The check was presented to local principals. Piedmont Church donates more than $16,000 to local schools. Cornerstone juniors Abigail Larsen and Matthew Garner are members of the current CYL class.

Cornerstone Juniors Accepted to Leadership Program

The NCCS facilities team teaches tools and building skills to upper school students.

Students Learn Building Skills Upper school students at North Cobb Christian School (NCCS) recently spent time learning building skills for an upcoming mission trip to Appalachia. The trip will be one of the school’s 18 global and national Spring term 2020 team trips. The team received training in tools and building skills by the NCCS facilities department. The students are now ready to help build and construct life-changing projects in March as the school partners with Red Bird Mission, a ministry associated with the United Methodist Church and based in the rural and impoverished area of the Appalachian Mountains.

Acworth Elementary Named School of the Month Acworth Elementary School was named School of the Month by the Acworth Business Association (ABA) on Feb. 6. Each month, the ABA recognizes one of its member schools, highlighting the accomplishments of the students and staff. Acworth Elementary Principal Bertha Nelson accepted the honor at the ABA’s monthly luncheon at the Acworth Community Center, and shared some things happening at the school. Acworth Elementary has two on-site food pantries with the Weekend Blessings Pantry serving approximately 250 students each week, while the MUST Ministries grocery pantry supports about 25 families each month.

Cornerstone Prep juniors, Abigail Larsen and Matthew Garner, have been accepted into the Cobb Youth Leadership (CYL) program. Each year, more than 100 local juniors apply to this influential program. Requirements include an application submitted in the spring of a student's sophomore year. Applications are reviewed by the CYL steering committee and approximately 50 students are chosen for the class. Since 1989, CYL has given high school juniors a unique opportunity to learn about their community as well as interact with students from other high schools. The program focuses on developing leadership through real-world interaction and experiences. “My favorite part is watching the students go from total strangers at the beginning of the program to best friends at the end,” said Katie Guice, CYL program manager. “They have a unique opportunity to meet and form friendships with 54 other students in schools across Cobb County.” The program consists of high school juniors, student leaders and adult administrators who gather monthly. Some of their meetings have included serving with organizations such as the Marietta Fire Department, Cobb County Superior Court, and various charities in Cobb County. “Projects such as donating food, energy, and time to these organizations have opened my eyes to how impactful one student can be in the community,” Larsen said. “These students are also introduced to key leaders in our community who could potentially serve as employers one day,” Guice said. “I know several CYL graduates who went on to finish high school, graduate from college, and then return to Cobb County and serve the very community in which they grew up.” AROUND ACWORTH | March 2020

Time to VOTE!

Voting opens at 9 a.m. March 1 and closes at 5 p.m. April 10. We hope you will take time out from your busy schedules to vote for your favorites in Cobb County. Visit www.aroundacworthmagazine.com, look for the Readers’ Choice logo and, with a click of your mouse, you will be directed to the voting site. Follow the prompts and cast your vote for your favorite SMALL businesses.

Here are a few things to keep in mind. 1. Voting is open now and ends at 5 p.m. April 10. 2. Winners will be announced in the May issue. Businesses will not be notified ahead of time. Everyone will find out at the same time.

3. Vote in as few or as many categories as you’d like. There isn’t a minimum number of votes required for your votes to count.

4. No more than five votes per category will be accepted from each IP address. 5. Please allow 24-48 hours for your vote to be accepted.

Happy voting!

AROUND ACWORTH | March 2020

@ the Library North Cobb Regional Library • 3535 Old 41 Highway, Kennesaw 770-801-5320 • www.cobbcat.org/venue/north-cobb-regional-library

March 9, 16, 23, 30, April 6

March 12, 19, 26, April 2

11 a.m. - 1 p.m. Beat the winter blues and enjoy a relaxing morning with tea, cookies and crafty conversations. Work on crafts and get inspired to start new ones.

10:30-11:30 a.m. Adults with special needs and their caregivers are invited to join every Thursday morning for a fun group activity and meeting new friends. Activities may include storytime, art projects, Lego building, music and other fun things. No registration is required.

Craft Tea

March 9, 16, 23, 30 TABASCOS

5-6 p.m. TABASCOS (Tween Activities But Also Some Cool Other Stuff) is a weekly program for students ages 8-12. Join for STEM challenges, art projects, games and other fun stuff. Parents/caregivers are expected to remain in the building during the program.

March 9, 16, 23

Family Pajama Storytime

7-7:30 p.m. Wind down by reading bedtime stories, while wearing your comfiest jammies! This storytime is for all ages, but is geared toward ages 2-4. All storytimes require a participating adult.

March 10, 17, 24, 31 Toddler Storytime

10:30-11 a.m. Children ages 1-2 are invited for fun and age-appropriate songs, stories and rhymes that enhance your child’s early literacy and social skills. Requires a participating adult.

Preschool Storytime

11:30 a.m.-noon. Children ages 3-5 are invited for fun and age-appropriate songs, stories, and activities that enhance your child’s early literacy and social skills. May include a craft or short film. Requires a participating adult.

March 11, 18, 25, April 1 Baby Lapsit Storytime

10:30-10:50 a.m. Pre-walking babies, ages 0-18 months, parents and caregivers are invited for fun and ageappropriate songs, rhymes, and stories that enhance your child’s early literacy and social skills.

School-Age Adventures

4-5 p.m. Elementary school-age students are invited for stories and a fun activity. A movie or craft may be included. Parents/caregivers are expected to remain in the building during the program.

March 11, 25, April 1

Teen “Whatever” Wednesdays

4-5 p.m. Ages 13-18 are invited every Wednesday for a craft, game or movie time. No registration required.

Meetup for Adults With Special Needs

March 12, 26

CAREing Paws: Read to a Dog

3:30-4:30 p.m. Independent readers can sign up for a 15-minute session of reading to a certified CAREing Paws therapy dog, Lexi. For first- through fifthgraders. Registration required.

March 13

Train Storytime with the Southern Museum 10:30-11:15 a.m. Join for a special train-themed storytime with Ms. Ruth from the Southern Museum. Best for ages 2-4, but all are welcome. No registration required.

March 16

Artist’s Afternoon Basics: Watercolor Techniques

6-7 p.m. Relax, unwind, explore and create. Class led by KSU graduate student in drawing and painting. No experience needed. Ages 16 and older. All materials provided.

March 19

Lego Mania!

4-5 p.m. Bring your imagination, as Legos are provided for a whole hour of building on the third Thursday of each month. No registration required.

March 20

Baseball Stories of Atlanta

11 a.m.-noon. Baseball fans, get ready for the season as Andrew Bramlett from the Kennesaw History Society shares fascinating stories of Atlanta’s long history with America’s pastime. Hear about the early teams, the strange coincidences, and the best players. Be sure to bring your own stories to share!

March 28

Read to a Dog

1-3 p.m. Independent readers can sign up for a 15-minute session of reading to the library’s certified therapy dog, Hope. Registration required. AROUND ACWORTH | March 2020

Senior Activities CITY OF ACWORTH

COBB COUNTY

Parks and Recreation Department 770-917-1234 • www.acworthparksandrecreation.org

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

March 18

March 10

Active Adult Luncheon includes lunch, bingo and other

special activities at Tanyard Creek Overlook at the Acworth Community Center, 4361 Cherokee St. Lunch is served at noon. Bingo with prizes after lunch. Free.

Friends of North Cobb. 1-2 p.m. Have fun using your creativity throughout the year to raise funds for North Cobb Senior Center. Funds will contribute to maintaining and enhancing center programs and projects.

Wednesdays and Fridays

Tackling Tech: One-on-One. 12:30-2 p.m. Free, but appointment

or 10-11 a.m. Fridays. $20 for residents and $25 for nonresidents. Registration required. Maintain balance and flexibility through gentle non-strenuous yoga poses.

March 11

Mary’s Gentle Yoga. 11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Wednesdays

Wednesdays

Mary’s Chair Yoga. 10-11 a.m. $20 for residents and $25 for nonresidents. Registration required. Maintain balance and flexibility while using a chair for support.

May Day Trip to Carlos Museum. The Carlos Museum in Atlanta has major collections of art objects from Egypt, Nubia, Near East, Greece and Rome. Lunch is not included in the trip cost. Bus departs at 9 a.m. $15 for residents and $20 for nonresidents. Register online or in person at the Acworth Community Center.

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

March 17

Dementia Caregiver Support Group. 10:30-11:30 a.m.,

meets at Burnt Hickory Baptist Church, 5145 Due West Road, Powder Springs. Open to family members who are assisting an aging loved one, in or out of the home. Free respite care is provided for loved ones during the meeting; call 770-7227641 to reserve a spot. For additional evening support groups, visit www.alohatoseniors.com/events.

April 7

Parkinson’s Disease Support Group. 11:15 a.m.-12:15

required. Bring a smartphone, tablet, laptop or questions to this one-on-one technology troubleshooting appointment.

Dementia Friends. 10:30-11:30 a.m. Free, but registration

required. Seminar aims to give people an understanding of dementia and the small things we can do to make a difference for people living with dementia. Presented by Comforting Arms.

Culinary Creations: Protein Power Bowl. 1-2 p.m. $3, registration required. Make perfectly balanced meals in a bowl designed to deliver energy that will keep you full and focused.

March 19

Cool Kitchen Gadgets and Hacks: Snooze Fest Chicken Breast. 1:15-2:15 p.m. Free, but registration required. Learn new marinade and brining techniques to make white meat tender and juicy.

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

March 24

Tackling Tech: One-on-One. 12:30-2 p.m. Free, but appointment required. Bring a smartphone, tablet, laptop or questions to this one-on-one technology troubleshooting appointment.

March 25

Culinary Creations: Protein Power Bowl. 1-2 p.m. $3, registration required. Make perfectly balanced meals in a bowl designed to deliver energy that will keep you full and focused.

March 26

Facts and Snacks: Alternative Long-Term Care Options.

10 a.m.-noon. Free, but registration required. Learn the facts as Advantage Private Home Care highlights options for the aging population and the advantages of being cared for in home.

p.m. Group discussion, for the person with Parkinson’s and their care partner, on helpful tips and resources that provide comfort and encouragement. For more info, call 770-7227641 or email info@alohatoaging.org.

March 31

Tuesdays

trio of tacos with sides like Mexican rice and street-corn casserole.

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

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

AROUND ACWORTH | March 2020

Taco Tuesday. 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. $4, registration required. Enjoy a

April 2

AARP Smart Driver. 9 a.m.-3:30 p.m. $15 for AARP members, $20 for AARP nonmembers. Registration required. Bring lunch. Check with your insurance agent about a possible discount for taking this class.

Downtown Acworth Dining Bert & Boo's Bake Shop

Fish Thyme Restaurant and Bar

Nibbles Grill

Seafood 3979 S. Main St., Suite 5657 770-974-2323 www.newsite.fishthymerestaurant.com

Grill/Diner-Breakfast Burgers 4628 S. Main St. 404-312-7597 www.nibblesgrillacworth.com

BRIX on Main

Fusco's via Roma Italian Trattoria

Tapas 4843 N. Main St. 770-693-0077 www.brixonmain.com

Italian 4815A S. Main St. 770-974-1110 fuscosviaroma.com Facebook: @fuscosviaroma

Pizza By Fuscos

Center Street Tavern

J.D.’s Bar-B-Que

Rico’s Mex Mex Grill

Bakery 3900 Old McEver Rd. 470-582-6717 www.bertandboos.com Facebook: @bertboos

American/ Traditional 4381 Senator Russell Ave. 770-917-0004 www.centerstreettavern.com

Dogwood Terrace

American/ Traditional 4975 N. Main St. 770-627-4069 www.dogwoodterraceacworth.com

Doro’s Italian Restaurant Italian 3979 S. Main St.,Suite 250 678-903-2607 www.dorositalian.com

Barbeque

4424 S. Main St. 770-974-8434 www.jdsbbq.com

Henry’s Louisiana Grill

Pizza 4815B S. Main St. 678-426-7503 www.pizzabyfuscos.com

Mexican 3770 Southside Dr. 770-917-9791 Facebook: @Ricos-Mex-Mex-Grill

Cajun 4835 N. Main St. 770-966-1515 www.chefhenrys.com

Miss L’s Sandwich Shop Sandwiches

4817 S. Main St. 770-966-9709 Facebook: @Miss-Ls-Sandwich-Shop

AROUND ACWORTH | March 2020

Cobb Photographic Society Black & White Prints

Rob Hale - 1st Place (Clouds, Mountains, Desert)

Jeff Westland - 2nd Place (Someone's Watching You)

Novice

Rhonda Zoloth - 1st Place (Temptation) 52

AROUND ACWORTH | March 2020

Rhonda Zoloth - 2nd Place (Lost My Head)

Congratulations to each of you who entered the Cobb Photographic Society Competition. The topic for the January contest was â&#x20AC;&#x153;General.â&#x20AC;? The guest judge was Marvin Price. The Cobb Photographic Society is a photography club open to photographers of all skill levels. The club meets the first and third Monday of each month. For information, visit www.cobbphotosociety.com.

Color Prints

Charles Stannard - 1st Place (Artist at Work)

Rob Herman - 3rd Place (Painting in Paradise) AROUND ACWORTH | March 2020

Advertisers

For advertising rates and information Jennifer Coleman 678-279-5502 Jennifer@AroundaboutMagazines.com

MARCH 2020

ACCOUNTING Newsome's Tax & Accounting 1-888-360-0484 www.newsometax.com

Georgia Trade School www.georgiatradeschool.com

ATTORNEYS/LEGAL SERVICES Williams | Elleby 833-LEGALGA www.gatrialattorney.com

Nelson Elder Care Law, LLC 678-250-9355 www.nelsoneldercarelaw.com

Tidwell Strimban Injury Lawyers 678-999-8500 www.tidwellstrimban.com

AUTOMOTIVE Japanese Automotive Professional Service 27 Kennesaw: 770-203-1111 Alpharetta: 770-740-0114 www.japaneseautomotive.com BEAUTY SALON & SPA élon Salon 770-427-8698 www.elonsalon.com

CHIROPRACTIC Joint Chiropractic, The Acworth: 678-574-5959 Woodstock: 678-214-4449 www.thejoint.com

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

CREDIT UNIONS Credit Union of Georgia 678-486-1111 www.cuofga.org

37 Back cover

DENTAL Daniel Lee DMD, PC 770-974-4146 www.acworthdental.com

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

OPTOMETRIST

TrueVision Eye Care 770-529-7789 www.truevisioneyecare.com

Acworth Art Festival www.splashfestival.com

AROUND ACWORTH | March 2020

PEST CONTROL

ENTERTAINMENT/FESTIVALS

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

Cover, 28, 29

Acworth Egg Hunts www.acworthegghunt.com

Ed Selby 678-860-1546 www.edselbyphoto.com

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

PHYSICIANS AND MEDICAL SERVICES

HOME & GARDEN Carpet Dye Tech 678-368-5992 www.carpetdyetech.com

REAL ESTATE

Winkenhofer Pine Ridge Funeral Home, Cemetery & Crematory 13 770-422-7299 www.winkenhoferpineridgefuneralhome.com Your CBD Store-Acworth 678-909-5230 www.acworth459.cbdrx4u.com

GI Specialists of Georgia 678-741-2313, 678-741-5000 1-888-MYCOLON www.gigeorgia.com

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

PHOTOGRAPHY

HEALTH & WELLNESS

CLEANING SERVICES

LGE Community Credit Union 770-424-0060 www.lgeccu.org

Chattahoochee Technical College 770-528-4545 www.chattahoocheetech.edu

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

Legacy Custom Blinds 404-430-5288 www.legacycustomblinds.com

Anchor Realty Partners Inside front Malinda Howe, Broker Direct: 404-444-0225 Office: 770-917-0322 www.anchorrealtypartners.net Debi Smith Properties Direct: 404-660-6652 Office: 770-240-2004 www.debismithproperties.com

Holbook of Acworth, The 404-445-7777 www.holbrooklife.com

Atlanta Communities Austin Scott, Realtor Cell: 404-808-8913 Office: 770-509-0700 www.buynsellatl.com

RECREATION Suntex Boat Club 770-331-2040 www.suntexboatclub.com

SENIOR LIVING/SERVICES

Mr. Junk 678-Mr-Junk1 www.mrjunk1.com

Celebration Village 678-594-3570 www.cvillage.com

Pineapple Park 678-494-8494 www.pineapplepark.com

Heritage of Brookstone 770-659-7136 www.heritageofbrookstone.com

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

INSURANCE AAA Agent-David Amazon 678-390-5700

Inside front 3

SUMMER CAMPS Cherokee County Safety Town www.safekidscherokeecounty.org/ safetytown

Hand Hoof and Heart Camp

Heaven’s Gait Therapeutic Riding 770-656-5764 www.hgtrinc.com

AROUND ACWORTH | March 2020

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.

At Aroundabout Local Media, we believe the world functions at the community level: diverse groups of people living in close proximity, sharing commonality of culture, values and local pride, developing safety nets for those in need, and helping each other to live richer lives. It is our heartfelt desire to contribute to the fabric that helps make a community happen. Through our magazines, we aim to provide everyone in the communities we serve with uplifting, interesting information about the community they are proud to call home. We encourage you to send us your photos, ideas, stories or anything else you think the community would like to know about. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s your community. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s your magazine. Look on page 6 for our contact information. 56

AROUND ACWORTH | March 2020

Around Acworth Distribution Map Circulation: 16,500

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