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AROUND ACWORTH | March 2021

Contents March 2021

Contributors

Omega Learning Center

24 Judy Abbott

14 Tommy Allegood 42 Ryan Blythe

On the Cover

Omega’s tutoring services help students like first-grader Lorelei on the cover and Cooper (right) reach their academic goals.

33 Jennifer Bonn 37 Steve Coleman 32 Melanie Dallas 22 Wayne Dennard

Pages 28 & 29

Cover photo by Michelle McCulloch

40 Rabbi Daniel Dorsch 25 Greg Fonzeno 18 Patricia Hein 36 Rob Macmillan 16 Abbie Parks 26 Susan Schulz 30 Elisabeth Stubbs 15 Kim Wigington

In Every Issue

4 Around Acworth 8 Local News 12 Celebrations

16 Acworth History

Women’s History Month

From the past to the present, local women are making a difference in the community.

Night to Shine

Don’t miss these must-see photos as NorthStar Church hosted a socially distanced special needs prom.

Setting the Table

Rabbi Daniel Dorsch leads us through the traditions of the Passover Seder.

AROUND ACWORTH | March 2021

24 Growing Gardeners 34 Library Events 36 Rob’s Rescues 44 Community Calendar 46 School News 47 Dining Guide 49 Acworth Parks 50 Cobb Photographic Society 52 Lake Map 54 Directory of Advertisers

AROUND ACWORTH | March 2021

Around Acworth Letter From the Editor

This time last year, I was preparing to go on maternity leave for baby No. 2. I was busy planning ahead for the magazine, making sure I had feature stories lined up for the April and May issues. Thanks to the magic of ultrasound, we knew that our not-so-little Maddie Beth would more than likely tip the scales over 9 pounds, like her big sister. But, little did anyone know what would be in store for our country in the coming weeks, months and year, thanks to COVID-19. On March 9, during my scheduled c-section, I remember the nurses saying they just heard schools would close for the remainder of the week. The day we were discharged from the hospital, my husband was temperature-checked after returning from a breakfast and coffee run. The day after we got home from the hospital, we flipped on the TV in hopes of catching the Big East men’s basketball tournament. The game between St. John’s and Creighton was called at halftime, and the players didn’t return to the court. Similar bizzare stories played out like this all across the country in the following days. Events and regular daily activities, such as school and work, were canceled or put on hold. This weird cloud continued to hang over the remainder of the year, and, collectively, we all hoped for a brighter 2021. Despite the slight 2020 hangover that lingered into the beginning of this year, community events are returning to Acworth! I repeat, community events ARE RETURNING to Acworth! This year’s events may look different than they did in 2019, but, at least they’re happening. For the full lineup of events this spring, like the Daddy Daughter Date Night, Acworth Egg Hunt and Acworth Art Fest, flip over to our Community Calendar on Page 44. If the pandemic still has you down, read the article on Page 32 by Melanie Dallas, with Cobb Community Services Board, on protecting your mental health. And, if you still need a reason to smile, the happy faces from the Night to Shine photos on Page 38 should do the trick. With the good vibes flowing, go out and tackle this month’s kindness challenge.

Kindness Challenge of the Month

Make a joyful noise. Find a way to share your musical gifts (or even the lack thereof !) with neighbors and friends. Share a song through a text or Spotify. Have your kids form a band and march through your neighborhood, or serenade from the sidewalk if you feel bold!

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

AROUND ACWORTH | March 2021

It’s Time to Vote!

Voting opened March 1 and closes at 5 p.m. March 31. www.aroundacworthmagazine.com

What’s Happening

The city of Acworth will hold a Daddy Daughter Date Night, 6-8 p.m. March 13, for girls ages 14 and younger and

their dad or adult male chaperones. The event will feature an elegant dinner with some Hollywood glamour at the Tanyard Creek Overlook at the Acworth Community Center. More information on Page 44.

The Acworth Egg Hunt returns to the Acworth Sports Complex March 26. The event is presented by the city and Freedom Church, and features five hunts, divided by age groups, beginning at 6 p.m. To mitigate crowd sizes and maintain social distance, hunts will occur in 30-minute increments, allowing each age group time to clear the area. More information on Page 44.

Noteworthy

The Acworth Arts Alliance teamed up with the Acworth Parks, Recreation and Community Resources Department to assist cute little campers as they made Mardi Grasi masks during the department’s Art Explosion Winter Break Camp.

The Horizon League held a special Valentine’s Day bingo night at the Acworth Community Center last month for our community’s special-needs residents. Everyone was feeling the love!

AROUND ACWORTH | March 2021

Publisher

Around Acworth | Around Canton Around Woodstock | TowneLaker www.AroundaboutLocalMedia.com

Our Mission

Helping local businesses grow and prosper by offering affordable advertising opportunities in a quality publication that provides positive, relevant information to our readers.

Results With Us

“We received a great response to our cover story and were very pleased with how it turned out. Thank you so much!” — Elizabeth Cossick North Cobb Christian School

Aroundabout Local Media, Inc. ALM President Patty Ponder 770-615-3322 Patty@AroundaboutMagazines.com Director of Marketing 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 Managing Editor/Social Media Strategist Jackie Loudin 770-615-3318 Jackie@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

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AROUND ACWORTH | March 2021

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. 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 2021 Around Acworth

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AROUND ACWORTH | March 2021

Local News Cobb Executive Women Tabs MUST Leader as Chairwoman MUST Ministries’ Yvonne Byars was selected as the 2021 Chairwoman of Cobb Executive Women. Byars has been the senior director at MUST Ministries for four years, and, prior to MUST, worked for Proctor & Gamble in IT project management with a certification as a project management professional. “After spending 25 years in corporate, I was looking for something more fulfilling and that’s why I chose nonprofit work,” she said. “I think my selection as Chairwoman of Cobb Executive Women shows that MUST Ministries attracts individuals from Fortune 500 companies and other corporations. We’re able to bring skills from corporate, and take them into the nonprofit world.” Byars oversees MUST Ministries’ Neighborhood Pantry program that serves more than 100 schools in Cobb and Cherokee counties, and has helped more than 20,000 clients and distributed more than 1 million pounds of food to students and families. “Neighborhood pantries serve at-risk students and their families, and a lot of these households are struggling with the Yvonne Byars choice of paying rent or buying food,” Byars said. She also developed the concept of MUST Ministries’ new Neighborhood Mobile Pantry. “The innovative mobile bus will take fresh fruits and vegetables, frozen meats, breads, canned goods and even dairy, when available, to people living in ‘food deserts,’ where groceries are not within walking distance,” she said. “We’re able to provide healthy food options in Cobb, Cherokee and surrounding counties.” The Cobb Executive Women’s mission is to inspire women to achieve success personally, professionally and within their community. The group hosts monthly luncheons and community outreach events, including one last summer when the organization came to MUST Ministries to make sandwiches to feed children in the Summer Lunch program. 8

AROUND ACWORTH | March 2021

Art House Happenings The Acworth Arts Alliance’s newest exhibit, Something for Everyone, begins March 6 and runs through April 24. There will be an artist reception March 6 and April 3 from 4-7 p.m. Don’t forget, the Art House also offers classes. Classes are filling up, so register now to reserve a place. For a list of upcoming classes/workshops and to register, visit www.acworthartsalliance. org/classes/. Masks or face shields are required for those teaching and/or participating in classes at the Art House. Dinner and Music at Logan Farm Park, the Acworth Arts Alliance’s annual fundraising event, is scheduled for May 22, so mark your calendars! The Art House is open noon-6 p.m.TuesdaysSaturdays.

Local C.A.R Chapter Launching Soon There is a Children of the American Revolution (C.A.R.) society organizing in the Acworth area. Anyone under the age of 22 who is interested in joining the new local C.A.R. chapter should email, AcworthC.A.R.Society@ gmail.com. According to the national society’s bylaws eligible membership is open to anyone younger than 22 years old, “who is lineally descended from a man or woman who rendered material aid to the cause of American Independence as a soldier, sailor, civil officer, or recognized patriot in one of the several colonies or states, or of the United States.” For information on the national society, visit https://www.nscar.org. For information on the Georgia society, visit https://www.gsscar.org.

AROUND ACWORTH | March 2021

Local News

Acworth Explorers’ team ready to plunge into the freezing water.

Participants in the 2021 Polar Plunge charge into Lake Acworth.

Polar Plunge Success The 12th annual Special Olympics Georgia Polar Plunge returned to Lake Acworth last month. The event was presented by the Law Enforcement Torch Run Program. All proceeds help provide 16,620 Special Olympics Georgia athletes free year-round sports training. The Acworth Explorers Post 4400’s team, “The Right to Remain Frozen,” raised $7,635 for this year’s plunge.

Upcoming Public Meetings

CobbTV makes it easy to stay up-to-date on all of the happenings of Cobb County government. Many public meetings and hearings are broadcast live, and are available on YouTube and video on demand. To learn more, visit cobbcounty.org/cobbtv. • Board of Commissioners regular meeting, 9 a.m., March 9 • Board of Commissioners zoning hearing, 9 a.m., March 16

AROUND ACWORTH | March 2021

Tax Materials Available at County Libraries Cobb public libraries are offering 1040 federal 2020 tax forms and instruction booklets to residents. While supplies last, forms may be requested by calling any Cobb library providing curbside service. “Public libraries and other community organizations have long provided tax-filing support to the public,” said Terri Tresp, division director of branch services. “Unfortunately, due to ongoing concerns about COVID-19, Cobb libraries will not host AARP Foundation TaxAide sessions this tax season.” Curbside service, for library items reserved in advance, is offered at all locations except the Switzer, Sweetwater Valley and Lewis A. Ray libraries. Curbside hours for items ordered in advance are 10 a.m.-8 p.m. on Mondays, and 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Tuesdays through Fridays. Cobb libraries also will offer limited free printing of federal and state forms, when contacted in advance by phone, and given the form number or name. This service will not include instruction books. Library staff is unable to answer tax questions or provide advice about what forms to use. Residents are encouraged to review tax-filing information at irs.gov and dor.georgia.gov for details that apply to individual circumstances, including virtual resources for tax-filing assistance. For information on library services and resources available during the pandemic, including curbside service, visit cobbcounty. org/library/news/library-express.

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Celebrations! ANNOUNCEMENTS ARE FREE!

Email to: Edit@AroundaboutMagazines.com April deadline is March 14. Please specify Around Acworth.

Tatiyana Daniels

Age 6 on March 18 Happy birthday Beautiful! We are so proud of you and love you so much! Love, Mom, Dad and Dean

Renzo Riddle

Age 11 on March 5 Happy birthday, Renzo! We hope you have a wonderful birthday! We love you so much and are so proud of the young man you are becoming! Love, Mom, Jason and Temmie 12

AROUND ACWORTH | March 2021

Cameron Krysten Salhuana

Age 8 on March 29 Happy happy birthday, sweet Cami! We love you so much, and are super proud of the kind little lady you have become. Love, Mommy, Daddy and MadDog!

Eva Delgado

Age 13 on March 20 Happy birthday Eva! We are so proud of the amazing young lady you are becoming! We love you! Mom, Dad, Mia, Liv, King and Teddy

Lauren Ham

March 26 Happy Birthday!

Maddie Beth Beall

Age 1 on March 9 Happy birthday to the sweetest and most chill baby! You bring so much joy to our family and we can’t wait to watch you grow up. Love, Mommy, Daddy and Big Sister

AROUND ACWORTH | March 2021

A Message from the Y

our city of Acworth team always devotes its efforts to offering the very best to the residents and business community. Our team members value the reputation of bringing you outstanding city services. Our team works daily to keep residents and visitors happy and safe by adapting community programs and services for our ever-changing world. Through our partnership with businesses, we have helped keep doors open, and, despite setbacks from the pandemic, we look forward to economic growth. We promise to continue to devote your tax dollars to deliver the best quality of life to our residents through the city’s services. Acworth is a community where everyone can feel welcome. Your Acworth Police Department keeps the community safe while fostering an environment of inclusion. By focusing on job growth and business opportunities in the city, as well as offering a variety of housing types, your Community Development Department ensures that anyone is able to call Acworth home. Many of the essential services, such as utilities and sanitation, we take for granted are a result of the hard work from your Acworth Power and Public Works Department. Throughout the pandemic, your Acworth Parks, Recreation and Community Resource Department found ways to bring safe programming to the community and welcomed visitors back into our parks. Your Customer Service Team at City Hall continued to be responsible stewards of your tax dollars, while offering a friendly and safe environment to those we serve. Building the best quality of life to earn your trust is what we do every day. To hear more about your city services and plans for Acworth’s future, tune in to the virtual broadcast of our annual State of the City presentation April 1 at 11:45 a.m. This presentation will be at the Acworth Business Association’s April luncheon, but attendance will be

limited to follow social distancing guidelines. The livestream will be available through the city’s YouTube page at www.youtube.com/user/AcworthGeorgia. As we continue to move forward, many Acworth traditions are returning to our city. Acworth Egg Hunt will return to the Acworth Sports Complex at 6 p.m. March 26. Although this event may look a little different this year, we know it will be a blessing for kids to get out their Easter baskets and join the fun. Once again, we are thankful for our partnership with Freedom Church, which makes this event a success. In addition to our traditional hunt, the Acworth Downtown Development Authority is presenting a new holiday public art contest. The Egg Hop Art Eggs-hibition will feature wooden eggs decorated by local families, businesses and other organizations. The eggs will be “hidden” throughout downtown Acworth and Logan Farm Park March 23-April 11. Explore the art show for your chance to win prizes. For more information on these egg-themed events, visit www. acworthparksandrecreation.org. We also are excited to welcome back the Acworth Art Fest! This festival showcases works from artists, crafters and makers, and is an art shopper’s dream destination. Vendors will decorate the streets of our historic downtown from 10 a.m.-6 p.m. April 10 and from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m April 11. For more information, visit www.acworthartfest.com. As always, for more information about city services 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 2021

UPCOMING EVENTS March 4 ABA Luncheon

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

March 9 Morning Jolt

7:45-9 a.m. The Cowan Historic Mill 4271 Southside Drive Networking event that focuses on exchanging referrals with one another.

March 11 Alive After Five

5:30-7:30 p.m. Fish Thyme Restaurant and Bar 3979 S. Main St., Suite 5657

March 18 Women’s Network 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. Henry’s Uptown 4835 N. Main St.

March 23 Morning Jolt

7:45-9 a.m. The Cowan Historic Mill 4271 Southside Drive

April 1 ABA Luncheon

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

April 8 Alive After Five

5:30-7:30 p.m. Center Street Tavern 4381 Center St.

The ABA monthly luncheon is held at the Acworth Community Center. Last month’s special guest was motivational speaker Ira Blumenthal.

Businesses Moving Forward, United and Strong BY KIM WIGINGTON

The Acworth Business Association’s (ABA) theme this year is moving forward, united and strong. But, how do we move forward? We change, and we grow. We have talked about confronting our preconceived notions, changing our thoughts and changing the world. We’ve talked also about growing by being a connector and building personal relationships. This month, let’s look at how changing our thoughts can grow our businesses. As we make connections, we begin to encourage and support other businesses, even our competition. That’s where changing our thoughts comes into play. We have to stop seeing others as competition and more as collaborators. Competition means one side wins and the other side loses. But, it is possible for both sides to win. In a small town such as Acworth, “a rising tide lifts all boats.” What does that mean for us? This month, I challenge you to get to know people in the same business as you. Find out what they have to offer that you don’t. What can you learn from them? What can you teach them? How can you help each other? If you can’t help a particular client, who can? As you begin to recommend other businesses to clients, the more other businesses will recommend clients to you. The more united we are as a business community, the stronger we are as individual businesses.

Kim Wigington is the president of the ABA, and serves as chairwoman of the Acworth Downtown Development Authority. She is the founder and director of Brookwood Christian School. She and her husband have lived in Acworth for 16 years and have two adult daughters.

AROUND ACWORTH | March 2021

Celebrating

Women’s

HISTORY MONTH

AROUND ACWORTH | March 2021

March was designated as Women’s History Month in 1987. Since then, the month has been dedicated to highlighting the historical contributions of women. This month, we are highlighting a woman who made a significant impact on the lives of many Acworth residents throughout her lifetime, and featuring a local women’s organization dedicated to persevering history and honoring American patriots.

Spotlighting Miss Fannie B. McClure BY ABBIE PARKS

I always enjoy the times when my mind wanders, and I find myself remembering people whose influence was profound and long lasting. For me, it was my grandfather’s sister, Aunt Abbie, or my high school civics teacher, Mrs. Fullbright. But, for many Acworthians, such dalliances into the past bring forth a vivid picture of Miss Fannie B. McClure. Miss Fannie B. McClure (1917-2009) was the second daughter of Dave (18841961) and Fannie Bell McClure (18881955) of the Mars Hill community. Miss Fannie B was a lifelong member of the Acworth United Methodist Church, and taught Sunday school there for 73 of her 91 years. Miss McClure was not an icon nor was she famous beyond the local Acworth environs. But, she was indeed a unique lady who brought Southern manners and decorum to four decades of first-graders. Born in 1917, she began teaching even before she had graduated from Georgia State College for women in Milledgeville, now Georgia College. Her career in Cobb County Schools spanned 42 years. I asked several folks who knew Miss Fannie B. to tell us about this extraordinary woman. Let’s start with her former principal, Butch Price. “The term Southern gentility is defined as social superiority as demonstrated by genteel manners, behavior and appearance. This described Miss McClure to a tee,” Price said. “I first met Miss McClure in 1964, as a green horned first-year teacher. She was already a veteran with 27 years in the classroom. By 1978, I found Young Sue McCall celebrates her birthday party with her friends at home on Collins Avenue in this 1950s photograph. Also in attendance were two especially prominent Acworth women. Fanny B. McClure (back left) had a deep and profound influence on Acworth youth, serving the community as a first-grade teacher for more than 40 years. Her sister, Charlotte, also taught at Acworth and North Cobb high schools. The McClure family owned property across from Mars Hill School.

Fannie B. McClure with her first-grade class at Acworth Elementary in the spring of 1947.

myself being reassigned to Acworth Elementary, but this time as principal. “Miss McClure was beginning her 42nd and final year of teaching. I observed her serve as a role model and mentor to other teachers on the staff. Many would go to her for advice as they dealt with issues they weren’t sure of. I observed her teaching style. She never moved off track regarding her genteel nature. She demonstrated how to dress and look professional, she demonstrated patience, kindness and love toward her students. “I observed her students being molded into ‘little Miss McClures.’ Most wanted to please her by their dress, actions and desire to achieve. She prepared them to be successful in their formative years. Was it easy? No. In 1978, Miss McClure had 27 students in her class. She told me this was one of the smallest number of students she had

had in her teaching career. In fact, she had 51 students in her class back in her early teaching years.” Former Acworthian students offered some insight into Miss McClure’s longlasting impact. One, a 75-year-old man, said, “All I remember is, Miss McClure was so nice and sweet. She never raised her voice and was always kind to me.” Another former student, in her late 60s or early 70s, said, “I walked to school and got there early. Miss McClure would brush my hair and help me look my best each day.” And another student, a 50-year-old female, said, “Miss McClure was very strict. She did not put up with foolishness. In fact, she spanked my hand with the little ruler a few times.” Thank you, Miss McClure. There are many who emulate her style today with pride. She is worthy of our honor and many fond memories.

Abbie Parks, an Acworth resident, co-authored pictorial essays on regional history and collaborated on a book celebrating Acworth’s 150th birthday that featured anecdotal history and family photographs.

AROUND ACWORTH | March 2021

Women

Promoting Historic Preservation BY PATRICIA HEIN

Who are the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR)? The National Society Daughters of the American Revolution was founded on Oct. 11, 1890. We are a nonprofit, nonpolitical volunteer women’s service organization, with our national headquarters in Washington, D.C. The DAR was founded during a time that was marked by a revival in patriotism and intense interest in the beginnings of our country. Currently, there are more than 3,000 chapters across the United States and internationally. In 2017, the Georgia State Society noticed there were several women in the Acworth area who were looking to join a DAR chapter closer to home that met on the weekend. The Liberty Hill Chapter was confirmed

on Dec. 5, 2017, with 18 members, and held its organizing meeting the following month at Rosenwald School Community Center. Those in attendance at that first meeting included Mayor Tommy Allegood, representatives from patriotic organizations, DAR members, prospective members and guests. DAR women are dedicated to promoting historic preservation, education, patriotism and honoring the patriots of the American Revolutionary War. Members volunteer countless service hours annually, in their local communities, including supporting active duty military personnel and awarding thousands of dollars in scholarships and financial aid to students.

Liberty Hill Chapter members attend the annual national Continental Congress, along with 3,000 members from around the world. 18

AROUND ACWORTH | March 2021

From the beginning, members of the Liberty Hill Chapter have embraced the DAR motto, “God, Home and Country.” During our monthly meetings, speaker topics have included women in American history, DNA, Acworth’s history, cemeteries and beach, preserving family heirlooms, Georgia heroes of the American Revolution, and cadaver dogs locating 18th century burials. Speaker honorariums are given to local, state and national organizations of their choice. In just a few years, the Liberty Hill Chapter’s members have served the community through numerous service projects. • Assembled care packages with thank you notes for overseas military members. • Attended funeral services for seven World War II veterans. • Cleaned the Liberty Hill Cemetery, with flag maintenance, and the Old Allatoona Cemetery. • Collected items for women at a local homeless shelter. • Collected worn American flags for a local funeral home, to be placed with veterans during cremation. • Contributed toward trees in Kennworth Park on Arbor Day. • Donated to the Save Acworth History Foundation for its continuing effort in preserving the history of Acworth. • Presented a Constitution Week packet to local schools, which included the city proclamation. • Presented the annual Liberty Hill Chapter First Responder Award to a student at the Kate Duncan Smith DAR School. • Presented the Flag Code, and provided refreshments to 150 naturalized citizens from 45 countries at a naturalization ceremony. • Presented the NSDAR Excellence in Historic Preservation Award and medal to the Kennesaw State University Archives and to Thomas Scott. • Recognized high school good citizen students with a scholarship. • Recognized high school JROTC students with a medal and certificate.

Members of the Liberty Hill Chapter and local Children of the American Revolution organizing society attended a City Council meeting to receive a Constitution Week proclamation.

DAR members come from a variety of backgrounds and interests, but all share a common bond of having an ancestor who helped contribute to securing the independence of the United States of America. Any woman 18 years or older, regardless of race, religion or ethnic background, who can prove lineal descent from a patriot of the American Revolution, is eligible to join. Joining the DAR does not require an interest in genealogy, but it helps to have some knowledge of one’s ancestry. DAR has teams of volunteers who can assist you, if you need help with your research. The Liberty Hill Chapter currently has 45 members. Today’s DAR is your mother, your daughter, your grandmother, your friend and your colleague. For more information, email LibertyHillDAR@gmail.com. Patricia Hein is the honorary regent for the Liberty Hill Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution.

Liberty Hill Chapter members clean the older section of the Liberty Hill Cemetery annually.

AROUND ACWORTH | March 2021

Time to Vote! READERS’

CHOICE Award 2021

We hope you will take time out from your busy schedules to vote for your favorites in Acworth. Visit www.aroundacworthmagazine.com, click on the Readers’ Choice logo and 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 begins at 9 a.m. March 1 and ends at 5 p.m. March 31. 2. You may only vote for businesses with 30101, 30102, 30144 and 30152 ZIP code. 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 votes to be accepted. 6. Winners will be announced in the May issue. Businesses will not be notified ahead of time. Everyone will find out at the same time.

PLEASE VOTE FOR US NOW IN THE 2021 POLL.

Scan this QR code to access the poll webpage!

Happy voting! AROUND ACWORTH | March 2021

ACWORTH

POLICE DEPARTMENT

Safety Precautions for Warmer Months BY WAYNE DENNARD

As the weather begins to get warmer, and we begin to spend more time outdoors, it’s important to remember that criminals also are spending more time outdoors. Thieves like to take the path of least resistance. Often, stealing from vehicles is an easy choice for them, mostly because we make it easy for them. However, there are three important rules to follow to help protect yourself from auto theft.

Lock your doors. Seriously. The vast majority of thefts from vehicles involve the ones left unlocked. A thief is more likely to skip over a locked car and try for another that is unlocked, rather than breaking a window.

Keep your valuables out of sight. You may have done the right thing and locked your doors. But if you left cash, jewelry, and electronics in plain view, criminals may be more motivated to break your window. Please keep your valuable items hidden, and don’t offer thieves extra incentive to damage your property.

Park in well-lit and well-populated areas. It may be tempting to park toward the back of the parking lot to keep others from accidentally scratching your vehicle, but it also gives thieves the opportunity to access your vehicle without the prying eyes of bystanders. We have an excellent community, and there are many people who will report suspicious behavior, but only if they can see it. In warmer months it’s also important to exercise caution when transporting your pets in your vehicle. While it may be tempting to leave your dog in the car, while you run into the store for just a few minutes, that can be very dangerous. According to the American Kennel Club, the inside of a vehicle parked in 70-degree weather can reach 100 degrees in just 20 minutes. On very hot days, temperatures inside parked cars can climb to 140 degrees in less than one hour. Even cracking the window does little to reduce the temperature in a stationary vehicle. 22

AROUND ACWORTH | March 2021

Finally, it doesn’t take much time to become dehydrated and experience serious side effects. This is especially true at the beginning of warmer months, when you may not be paying very close attention to your water intake. You will be able to protect yourself, and others, if you learn to recognize the symptoms of dehydration, and act quickly to prevent more serious complications, such as heat exhaustion and heat stroke. According to the Mayo Clinic, some of the most common symptoms of dehydration are: • muscle fatigue • reduced cognitive processing • dizziness • confused or dazed states of awareness • thirst • infrequent urination and dark-colored urine • dry mouth In children and infants, the symptoms are slightly different than in adults. • dry mouth and tongue • no tears when crying • no wet diapers for three hours • sunken eyes, cheeks • sunken soft spot on top of skull • listlessness or irritability I know that we all are looking forward to spending more time outside, and enjoying all of the amazing amenities that Acworth has to offer. Let’s do our best to protect our personal property, our pets, and to stay safe and healthy!

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

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AROUND ACWORTH | March 2021

Growing Virtually

Helping Make Sense of Seed Packets BY MASTER GARDENER EXTENSION VOLUNTEER JUDY ABBOTT

While I would like to tell you that I have read every seed packet before purchasing, that would be a big fib. More than once, I have purchased solely on the picture and sun exposure, which resulted in varying degrees of success. Besides the plants’ required growing conditions, there are some terms you may want to be familiar with prior to purchasing seed packets. GMO vs. Non-GMO. Fewer than 10 GMO (genetically modified organism) crops are grown in the U.S., and these are production crops such as soybeans, corn, sugar beets, canola and cotton. There are currently no GMO seeds available for purchase by home gardeners. So, don’t be confused if you see signs advertising nonGMO seeds; all home garden seeds are non-GMO. Hybrid seeds result from crosspollinating different varieties within the same species, to produce plants with a desirable trait, such as disease resistance. These seeds may be labeled as hybrid or F1. Open-pollinated seeds are produced through natural pollination, without interference from humans. These seeds will regrow the same plant each time. Heirloom seeds are open-pollinated varieties passed down through generations. Do not confuse open-pollinated with heirloom; not all open-pollinated seeds are heirloom. Organic seeds are grown following the standards set by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Organic Program, and the packet will be labelled “USDA ORGANIC.” These seeds are grown without the use of synthetic fertilizers and pesticides. 24

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MGVOCC and the UGA Cooperative Extension Service present a web series focused on maintaining a healthy garden. The free horticultural education programs are available, via Zoom, the third Thursday of the month at 7 p.m. March 16 - What’s Bugging Your Garden? April 20 - Common Plant Diseases To register and receive Zoom access information, visit www.cobbmastergardeners.com. Brandywine tomato seed packet information.

Treated seeds are coated with a substance, or have gone through a process to reduce, control or repel diseases or pests. These seeds are brightly colored, to indicate they have been treated and will be labeled as such on the packet. Dates. Look for seeds that were packed for the current season. The “packed on” and “sell by” dates will be printed or stamped on the envelope. Determinate vs. Indeterminate.

Tomatoes, potatoes, cucumbers, beans and peas are examples of plants that can be either determinate or indeterminate. Most determinate garden plants grow in a compact bush form that doesn’t require staking. Their crop ripens at the same time. In order to extend the harvest, you’ll have to use successive plantings. Indeterminate garden plants continue to grow, or climb as far as they want, which will require support/staking. These plants produce all season long, until the final frost.

Stratification and Scarification.

Stratification occurs naturally in winter, keeping seeds from germinating until the spring warmth starts. You can duplicate the process, using your refrigerator, by placing seeds in a plastic bag with either damp peat moss, damp potting soil or a damp paper towel for 30 days. Scarification means to break down the seed coat to encourage germination. This can be done by soaking the seed, or nicking the seed coat with a knife, or sandpaper, so the seed will absorb water and start the sprouting process.

Start seeds inside. You will need to do a little math. The Brandywine tomato packet recommends starting seeds indoors 4-6 weeks before transplanting. Transplants should then go into the ground 1-2 weeks after the average last frost date, and when soil temperature is at least 60 degrees. Cobb County Extension recommends using April 15 as the average last frost date. Using this date, add a safety net of 1-2 weeks, for a transplant date range of April 22-29 for the Brandywine tomatoes. Working back 4-6 weeks from those dates, seeds should be sown indoors March 18-25. Once the Brandywine transplants go in the ground, look at harvesting in July. As the estimated transplant date approaches, pay attention to local forecasts for frost updates. For additional information on seed starting, visit www.extension.uga.edu/ publications and search for Bulletin 1432, “Starting Plants From Seed for the Home Gardener.” Have fun and happy sowing! Georgia Master Gardeners are now on YouTube. Cobb County Master Gardeners, North Fulton Master Gardeners and UGA Extension Cherokee County have posted videos on home gardening and other horticultural topics. The Master Gardener Volunteers of Cobb County (MGVOCC) supports the University of Georgia Cooperative Extension Service and strives to improve the quality of life in our community by delivering research – based on horticultural information, educational programs and projects. Master Gardener Volunteers of Cobb County is a part of the University of Georgia Extension in Marietta.

Always File a Float Plan Before Boating BY GREG FONZENO

Whether your boating preference is for sail, power or paddle, at some point you could find yourself in trouble and needing rescue. If that time comes, will someone know where to look for you? Does anyone know where you went, or where your favorite fishing spot is? Is there anyone who knows you are overdue or possibly in trouble? You can’t be rescued unless someone knows to search for you. The search part is the most difficult, when it comes to search and rescue. If you can’t be found, rescue won’t happen. So, how do you help with the search, so the rescue can be easier? You prepare a float plan prior to departure. A float plan includes a description of your boat, where you are going, and what time you should be back. Leave this plan with someone in case you don’t return on time. It indicates to searchers what to look for and where to look. Plans don’t need to be overly complicated, but should include some key components. • Description of your boat, type, length, color, with its registration number and name. • A description of your car, its tag number and at what marina or launch ramp it’s parked. • Number of people on board. • Your departure point. • Time you are leaving. • Where you are going. • Your route. • When you expect to return and where. • If you have a marine radio. • Your cell phone number. • Your contact on shore and phone number. • What to do if you don’t return as scheduled. Leave the float plan with a friend or family member, who you trust to take action once you’re overdue. Your float plan tells the rescuer just where to look. You can print a short float plan with the above information, either pre-entered or completed just prior to the trip. If this still seems like too much, just tell someone where you are leaving from, and when you will be returning, and what to do if you are overdue. You can find sample float plans online, or use the Coast Guard app, which has a float plan option that allows you to enter your information, and send it to a family member or friend. No matter how you file your float plan, doing so will help others help you. Remember to let the person with your float plan know when you get home.

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 2021

Cherokee Family Violence Center Offers Refuge, Place of Healing BY SUSAN BROWNING SCHULZ

Kim has escaped domestic violence and shares her story. “From the very first encounter with Cherokee Family Violence Center (CFVC), I was greeted with kindness, compassion, and comfort,” she said. “At CFVC, the Lord provided a safe place, free of judgment. I began to heal in every aspect of my life:

physical, emotional and financial. I even got legal support when I needed it.” Stories like Kim’s exemplify the mission of the nonprofit center, which opened in the 1980s. Since its beginnings, the CFVC has worked to enhance “the safety of those impacted by intimate partner violence through services that empower victims while advocating for a community standard of zero violence in the home.” In 2020, more than 2,000 domestic violence survivors and their families received services through the CFVC. With that help, women like Kim are able to move on with more productive lives. “In every city, ZIP code, neighborhood, class, race and economic level, domestic violence is there,” said Andi Edwards, a volunteer at the CFVC. “It steals lives, hope and freedom from people who deserve more. Ignoring that fact just allows abusers to thrive. Speaking the truth is the key to freeing our society from this prison, but it is our responsibility to ensure that no one is left behind. I take that seriously.” Kim is a mother of eight who now enjoys a full life, thanks to the help she received from the Cherokee Family Violence Center.

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Standing among the silhouettes are volunteers, from left: Brian and Wendy Hatfield, Edythe and Cecil Miller, and John Amantea.

The CFVC provides free resources, including: • crisis hotlines for English and Spanish speakers. • safe and secure emergency shelter, and in-person crisis counseling. • support groups for adults and children. • legal services, emergency protective orders and court accompaniment. • linguistically competent services for immigrant victims provided by culturally informed staff. • income-based, supportive housing and household establishment assistance. • emergency financial assistance and public benefits application assistance. • individualized safety planning. • educational programs on domestic violence, mindfulness, intimate partner violence and financial literacy. • advocacy with other agencies like the Cherokee County School District, health care providers, legal advocates, law enforcement and the Division of Family and Children Services. “We work closely with domestic violence agencies across North Georgia to assure that anyone who needs domestic violence resources gets the support they need,” said Stephanie Villasenor, outreach and volunteer coordinator. “We have amazing volunteers, and plenty of ways to plug in.” Wendy Hatfield, leader of her church’s outreach committee, loves to serve at the CFVC. “I chose this nonprofit, because I wanted to reach those who may be passed over. My favorite projects are organizing the storage room and donations,” she said. “I also led a project to refurbish 22 silhouettes for the yearly vigil in downtown Canton during Domestic Violence Awareness month (October). Each silhouette stands as a silent witness to the event and represents Cherokee County victims who lost their lives to domestic violence. Last year, the firstever virtual vigil was held. Social media efforts reached more than 12,000 people.” During the pandemic, it hasn’t been easy balancing the ever-increasing needs of the clients while trying to keep them and the staff healthy. For example, communal cooking in the emergency shelter had to be eliminated, creating a need for restaurant gift cards to feed residents. Also, the center has seen an increase in the amounts paid to Cherokee County hotels to secure emergency shelter. Learn about opportunities to help by calling 770-479-1804, or visit www.CFVC.org. If you, or someone you know, needs help with an escape plan, please call the 24/7 Crisis Hotline: 770-479-1704 (English), 770-720-7050 (Spanish) or 800-33-HAVEN.

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 2021

Tutor Liz Castrillon with third grade students Sophie and Aden.

Omega’s Tutoring

Combats Learning Loss Tutoring Programs

MATH Tutors help students in grades K-12 achieve success in all math courses and levels, including fundamental math, algebra, calculus, geometry, trigonometry, Math I, Math II, Math III and Advanced Functions and Modeling. The comprehensive program includes five key objectives: remediation, homework help, study skills, test preparation, and application/enrichment.

READING Omega’s reading/language arts tutoring program helps students of all ages for all reading school courses and levels, including beginning reading, phonics, social studies, history, grammar, language arts, writing, English/literature and AP and Honors reading courses. There are five key objectives: reading remediation, reading and language arts homework help, reading study skills, reading test preparation, writing skills and reading enrichment.

SAT/ACT Omega’s OutpAce® Test Prep programs include a full-length evaluation test, strategic remediation, validated test-taking strategies, and thorough review of practice test sections.

TEST PREP Omega offers prep for most tests, including the SSAT, GED, Fifth grade student Denise.

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SSEE, ASVAB, ITBS, as well as school/ program-specific tests and entrance exams. Omega’s Acworth location provides tutoring for the Georgia Milestones test, and other states’ tests. “We work to accommodate the testing needs of everyone who comes in,” said Fiona Young, owner of the Acworth franchised center. “We have helped students with the Accuplacer, the LSAT, GED, GRE and SSAT. We have done them all.”

PHTOS BY MICHELLE MCCULLOCH

Omega Learning® Center’s mission is to provide customized instruction that achieves each family’s educational goals, whether it is academic support, improving grades or boosting standardized test scores. Omega’s tutoring programs are targeted to strengthen skills and fill skills gaps in math, reading and writing. Support for current courses is provided through homework assistance by itself or as part of another program. Omega offers test prep programs for all state tests. SAT and ACT prep are popular programs. For every 12 hours of tutoring, students see an average 105-point improvement on their SAT score, or a 2- to 3-point improvement on their ACT score. Such improvement could lead to a full scholarship at a student’s preferred university. Tutoring sessions last one hour, with most students attending two days a week for one to two hours each day. Tutoring is available Monday through Thursday evenings and Saturday mornings. Omega’s comprehensive math and reading remediation programs are each 95 hours. Center administration believes in the effectiveness of the programs so much that members guarantee results.

OMEGA ONLINE Omega offers a wide variety of internet-based K-12 school courses. The classes are available virtually anytime, anywhere. Students are not confined to a traditional school schedule and can enroll in multiple or individual courses, achieve credit recovery and benefit from dual-enrollment. The program is customized to meet each student’s needs. WRITING A customized writing skills program helps students of all ages develop and improve structural and creative writing skills, including research, grammar, spelling, punctuation, editing and handwriting.

OMEGA’S TUTORS • Are qualified, motivated and certified teachers, who care about each student. • Meet with the same students each week to allow for better observation of learning styles and the use of specific strategies that fit the student. • Are AIM Tutoring System® (Apply, Integrate and Manage) certified through handbook, video and peer-to-peer training. • Use Omega’s OutpAce® curriculum, which provides progress management tools and e-Tutor communications platform. • Help students achieve an average academic growth of 2.2 years in the areas in which they are tutored. • Engage students through auditory, visual and tactile instructional methods for accelerated and lasting results. • Live and work in the community. • Send daily email updates to parents and school teachers, and meet with parents halfway through the program and at the end to review post-assessment and academic growth.

ENRICHMENT Omega’s customized

enrichment program provides students with the challenging curriculum and critical thinking skills needed for accelerated growth in reading or math. Students may benefit from subject/course acceleration and advancement.

SPANISH/ESOL The customized Spanish tutoring program may include all levels of Spanish, from beginning to advanced, and includes conversational and written Spanish, guided homework help, and validated test preparation skills.

KINDERGARTEN The Kindergarten Success program provides children ages 4-7 with a strong academic foundation. Students build important critical thinking skills, while learning the fundamentals of reading, writing and math.

HOMEWORK Omega’s Homework

Help program covers only homework help for specific school subjects, including physics, chemistry, statistics, biology, humanities, physical science, history, English/literature, as well as all Honors and AP classes. Students must attend a minimum of two hours per week.

PROJECT HELP Omega’s certified

teachers are available to help students understand and complete school-year or summer projects.

SUMMER TUTORING/ SUMMER SCHOOL Omega’s

customized summer tutoring programs include academic and enrichment programs for math, reading and test prep. The programs are designed to

help each student catch up and/or jump ahead before the next school year. Due to Omega’s Cognia® accreditation, summer school tutoring programs are available for class credit and/or credit recovery for high school courses.

OMEGA PRIVATE ACADEMY

Omega’s Acworth location offers Omega Private Academy®. The Cognia® accredited K-12 private school provides a rewarding alternative to a traditional public or private school. Small class sizes promote individual attention, and Omega teachers customize each student’s curriculum to meet their academic needs. To schedule an appointment at Omega Learning® Center — Acworth, call 770-792-7431.

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Acworth-ga.OmegaLearning.com Sponsored Content

AROUND ACWORTH | March 2021

Roll out the area rugs.

Use a rug as a barrier. Not only does it protect against gouges, but it adds warmth, extra style and color to the space. It even can anchor and tie together a large and spacious seating area. Add even more protection with a rug pad beneath your rugs. Just be certain the rug pad backing is safe to use on your floor. Otherwise, you might find a yellowing discoloration, or the pad itself might cause fine hairline scratches.

Avoid pushing and dragging furniture.

Many furniture pieces are quite heavy, and require extra help to move. Oftentimes, homeowners attempt to move the furniture themselves, not asking for assistance. This is when scratches occur. If the piece is light or small enough, lift it from the hardwood flooring, instead. If it’s something heavier and larger, always ask for assistance. You might be eager to rearrange your furniture, but a little help can prevent scratching your floors, and keep them protected.

Use furniture pads.

Tips to Avoid Scratching Your New Floor BY ELISABETH STUBBS

Hard-surface floors are beautiful and practical, but not indestructible. Wood, luxury vinyl plank (LVP), laminate — all can be scratched. You can take preventive measures by not wearing shoes (especially high heels) in your home, but the major culprit is heavy furniture.

Elisabeth Stubbs is one of the owners of Enhance Floors and More, one of Atlanta’s top-rated flooring dealers, located in Marietta.

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An area rug beneath a dining table is a great idea, but certain dining chair feet catch and make it difficult to slide to or from the table. Instead, when you need some movement, forgo the area rug and attach furniture pads to the feet of the chairs. Felt pads perform exceptionally well when you need to shift and slide around furniture. A tip: Don’t buy cheap furniture pads at the dollar store, because they won’t stay on as well. Flexi-Felt is a very durable line of floor protectors, available in different shades and sizes.

Find furniture with wheels.

If the situation calls for it, find furniture with built-in wheels. With a wheel fastened to each leg, you easily can glide the furniture piece whenever you need to move it. This type of wheeled furniture could be anything from large media and entertainment centers to small bar carts that scoot from the dining room to the living area, for coffee or cocktails. Some seating pieces also come fastened with rolling feet, as do office chairs or appliances. Wheels are an extremely useful attachment to have on furniture, but the wrong wheel material, such as the nylon hard-plastic wheels of the standard office chair, can damage your floor. To ensure your wheels prevent, and do not cause, scratches, seek out nonmarking rubber wheels or ball wheels. Also, check the wheels and clean them regularly to prevent scratches. Do yourself a favor as a homeowner, and protect any type of flooring you have with rugs and furniture pads, to keep your floors looking beautiful and scratch-free for many years.

AROUND ACWORTH | March 2021

it is important to have accurate and up-to-date information about the virus and steps being taken to control its spread.

Protect Your Mental Health During the Pandemic BY MELANIE DALLAS, LPC

If the COVID-19 outbreak is causing you some anxiety, you’re not alone. A full year into this pandemic, it is safe to say we all need to see the light at the end of this tunnel, which hopefully the vaccinations will provide. We’ve known for some time that disasters and tragedies that endanger physical health — terrorist attacks like 9/11, hurricanes, shootings, wildfires and other mass casualty events — also can impact mental health. Survivors of tragedies can experience trauma and posttraumatic stress disorder. But, even those not directly impacted by a disaster — or in this case, a pandemic that continues to upend our lives — can experience emotional distress, anxiety, depression or other mental health impacts. With that in mind, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the nation’s authority for information about COVID-19 in the U.S., has developed a page devoted to mental health and the pandemic on its website, as well as several 32

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recommendations for managing mental distress during the pandemic. The CDC says everyone reacts differently to stressful situations. How different people respond to the pandemic can depend on their background, their personality, their age, and their community. It’s important to note that mental stress can take several forms, not all of them obvious. For example, the CDC says people worried about COVID-19 might experience changes in sleeping or eating patterns, difficulty sleeping or concentrating, worsening chronic health problems, or increased use of alcohol, tobacco or other drugs. Children and teens also might experience stress. In young people, this might mean excessive worry, acting out or irritability, as well as difficulty concentrating in school and in general, avoiding social activities they used to enjoy, and use of tobacco, alcohol or other drugs. The CDC recommends strategies to help reduce anxiety and stress related to the outbreak. In general,

• Limit exposure to news coverage of the event, including social media. Children may misinterpret what they hear, and can be frightened about something they do not understand. Hearing about the pandemic repeatedly, can be upsetting. • Take care of your body. Try to eat healthily, exercise regularly, get plenty of sleep, and avoid alcohol and drugs. • Make time to unwind; try to do activities you enjoy each day. • Talk with your child or teen about the outbreak. Reassure your children they are safe. Let them know it is OK to feel upset. Share how you deal with stress, so they can learn how to cope from you. • Be a role model. Take breaks, get plenty of sleep, exercise and eat well. Connect with your friends and family members.

At Cobb County Community Services Board, we are doing everything we can to support our employees and, especially, the individuals who rely on our agency for help. At the beginning of the pandemic, we instituted infection control protocols at all our locations. Fortunately, we have been able to remain open and continue to serve those in the community who are most vulnerable. If you or someone close to you is struggling with behavioral health issues due to the pandemic, and/ or other circumstances, we can assist, regardless of ability to pay. To connect, visit www.cobbcsb.com, or walk in 8 a.m.-2 p.m. MondaysFridays for outpatient services at 1650 County Services Parkway in Marietta. Melanie Dallas is a licensed professional counselor and CEO of Cobb County Community Services Board and Highland Rivers Health.

Dreaming of Life Après BY JENNIFER BONN

I recently bought a sweater with the word après on it. As a French teacher, I admit I was attracted to seeing French on a shirt, even if it was a seemingly random word meaning “after.” The conversation I had with the sales associate made me reflect on the power in the word “after.” When I went to the counter to pay, the sales associate said, “This is such a great sweater.” I admitted I was a little embarrassed that I was only buying it because of the French word. She asked if I could solve an argument. Another customer had bought the same sweater, and, when the sales associate told her the word meant “after,” the customer said she was wrong, that it indicated activities that happened after an event. I assured the girl that it meant after, and you could decide that it meant whatever else you wanted it to mean. I started to think of the possible meanings behind this simple word. What would after mean to you? Do you dream of what after COVID-19 will look like, or are you dreaming of after retirement? No matter what the meaning is for you, I hope your after is spectacular.

Hope

We are all struggling with loss in some way. The loss could be a loved one due to COVID-19, a loss of a job, the loss of normalcy, or the loss of social interaction or the ability to travel. We will survive this challenge and after we will make a new normal and fill our lives with what matters.

Expectation

What does the future hold, after this is over? Most bad things make us stronger, more resilient, and more creative. What will our future look like, and what do we need to do so we can move forward and be better after COVID-19? The pandemic has been a struggle for many, but it has also brought out the good in people and highlighted the needs that are around us all the time, not only during the pandemic. We are best when we come together instead of being divided.

Patience

I have heard the phrase “COVID fatigue” many times. People are tired of fighting a disease, of wearing masks, staying distant and curtailing their regular activities. We have to be vigilant and patient, so that we can all have an after.

Creativity

How inventive and flexible we are now will pave the way for our future happiness. What if a closed door leads you to open an even better one?

Lessons Learned

What lessons will we have learned when this is all over? Are there ways to be a model to others on how to improve our society? Sometimes it is so important to listen to someone else’s story. There have been some scary moments during the last year and, I cannot think of anything better than being there for each other.

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

AROUND ACWORTH | March 2021

@ the Library

North Cobb Regional Library

3535 Old 41 Highway, Kennesaw 770-801-5320 www.cobbcat.org/venue/north-cobb-regional-library Closed for in-person visits. Curbside Hold Pickup Only 10 a.m.-7:45 p.m. Mondays 10 a.m.-5:45 p.m. Tuesdays-Fridays North Cobb Regional Library is closed for in-person visits and offers only curbside pickup until further notice. The outdoor book drop is open. Please note returned items will be placed in quarantine directly from book drops. Items will remain on your account for up to five days. Items will be checked in and your account updated after items come out of quarantine. Indoor book drops located in libraries open to the public will remain closed to maintain the integrity of the quarantine process. However, Book Club Kits and items that do not fit in outdoor book drops may be brought into the building and deposited into a receptacle provided by staff, which will be taken to the quarantine area. Online digital resources are available for all ages. All library programs are being held virtually with individual links available at www.cobbcat.org.

AROUND ACWORTH | March 2021

March 17, April 7 Virtual Writers Group

4:30-5:15 p.m., ages 18 and older. This group is not meant to prepare writers for publishing, but to provide a safe and fun atmosphere to learn writing techniques, give supportive feedback, and provide motivation to write. Group meets the first and third Wednesday each month. Registration required to receive virtual access.

April 1, May 6

Middle School Book Club

5-5:45 p.m., grades 6-8. No registration required. A book club is a place to talk about what you love, get recommendations for new reads and create connections. The club focuses on the joy of reading instead of having each member read the same book. Each month the group picks a genre to read before the next meeting. Books and topics discussed must be age appropriate. Group meets the first Thursday each month. This is a virtual event. For more information, email Kristin Gwin at kristin.gwin@cobbcounty.org.

April 7, May 5

High School Book Club

4:30-5:30 p.m., grades 9-12. No registration required. A book club is a place to talk about what you love, get recommendations for new reads and create connections. The club focuses on the joy of reading instead of having each member read the same book. Each month the group picks a genre to read before the next meeting. Books and topics discussed must be age appropriate. Group meets the first Wednesday each month. This is a virtual event. For more information, email Beth Baldwin at beth. baldwin@cobbcounty.org.

AROUND ACWORTH | March 2021

Rob’s Rescues

Rob and Carolyn O’Brien with dogs Ryker, Addison-Grace and Tobias.

Two Tailz Rescue twotailzrescue.org

This dog and cat are at Cobb County Animal Services. This dog’s name is Belle. She is a 3-year-old pitbull with a decent amount of energy. She is black and white, and was a stray. She is very curious and walked quite well on a leash when we walked her. She really likes attention, and will sit peacefully while you give it to her. She would make a really good companion. This cat’s name is Tyga. She is a large 4-year-old cat that was a stray. She will be a calm and peaceful cat in a nice home.

My interview with Carolyn O’Brien, the founder of Two Tailz Rescue, was filmed for the Dr. Good Unleashed YouTube series and can be seen at Episode 1.33 “Two Tailz … Four Eyez … Seven Feetz!” (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c2M46T2ZEdw)

You rescue dogs who are in a horrible state. How do you find them, and is this the type of work you wanted to do? As I am sitting here a message has just come through about a shot and beaten dog in South Georgia. I will try and get the ball rolling. We get over 80 emails a day. We get lists of dogs going to be euthanized. Animal control officers routinely call on us when they pick up a dog with urgent needs. I can’t say it was the work I planned to do, but I have a huge heart for dogs that have been abused and neglected, which most often is the pit bull breed.

Rob and Belle.

Why do you think most of the dogs are pit bulls?

There are several reasons. The media has not helped their reputation. People don’t realize the dogs were bred to be strong and loyal. People have abused that by putting them in fights. A situation has been created that makes people scared of them, and people react differently out of fear.

What is a story that you like to tell?

Ruger is my tripod. He was dumped in a box in a dumpster when he was 8 weeks old. His leg was broken in six places,and he had cigarette burns all over his body. He had numerous surgeries to try and save the leg, but ultimately it had to be amputated. He is one of my favorite success stories – he can swim faster than most, and he can run fast. He’s the sweetest dog.

What do you want the community to know about you, and how can they help? We are not the biggest rescue, but I focus on being the best rescue – giving the best care, physically and emotionally, and finding them the best homes. We do the very best we can with the abused and neglected dogs we get. We really do need donations. We are 100% foster-based. 36

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Rob with Tyga the cat.

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

2 Connections

That Matter The Most BY STEVE COLEMAN

According to senior advocacy groups, active adult communities and several retail stores, as of this year, I am officially no longer middle-aged. I am considered a senior! For this, I am grateful. I have more years behind me than in front of me, and I believe I’ve experienced enough life to make some observations and draw some conclusions. There are more lessons that I’ve learned so far, and I’m sure many to come! For right now, take a moment and think about these two connections in your life – community with others and connection with God. Does your life reflect the value of these connections, or are there adjustments you could make that will help you live a more connected life? Steve Coleman is an associate pastor and worship pastor at Wildwood Baptist Church in Acworth.

1. Community with others is valuable.

I’ve come to a renewed appreciation for the community of family and friends – especially during the past 12 months, as a global pandemic has put limitations on how we can gather together. Hebrews 10:24-25 tells us that we are to spur one another on toward love and good deeds. In Ephesians 4:29, we are told to build each other up with helpful words. And, in Philippians 2:4, we are told to look not at our own interests, but to the interests of others. In other words, we have been designed by God to be selfless cheerleaders for each other. It would be very easy to buy into the philosophy of “me first.” But, we were never designed to function as selfish beings. Instead, we were designed to be people who care for others. We were designed to be in community with each other, and this community should be extremely valuable to us. I am convinced that we are happiest when we are serving, because we often find our truest value by valuing others.

Connection to God is vital.

There are few constants in this world today – in fact, there is only One. God is constant. He is faithful, he never changes, and his promises are to be fully trusted. We enjoy vitality in our lives through our personal connection with God. Psalm 119:90 says that his “faithfulness endures to all generations.” Connection with God is the answer to most of our struggles. When I am tempted to worry about a situation or circumstance, I am reminded by Deuteronomy 31:6 that the Lord my God goes with me, and that he will never leave me. When I am facing the reality of some of my own failures, I am encouraged by 2 Timothy 2:13 which says, “if we are faithless, he remains faithful.” When I am tempted to wonder about how things will go financially, I am reminded of 2 Corinthians 9:8 where it says that God is able to bless us abundantly, so that in all things and at all times, having all that we need, we may abound in every good work.

AROUND ACWORTH | March 2021

Night to Shine PHOTOS COURTESY OF NORTHSTAR CHURCH.

NorthStar Church once again joined churches across the country to host a special prom experience called Night to Shine. The seventh annual event, sponsored by the Tim Tebow Foundation, provided a socially distant night to remember for people with special needs ages 14 and older. On Feb. 12, the church’s parking lot was transformed into a space where attendees walked the red carpet, were crowned prom kings and queens, and enjoyed games and left with swag bags. For more details on the foundation, visit www.timtebowfoundation.org.

AROUND ACWORTH | March 2021

Celebrating Freedom Through Passover BY RABBI DANIEL DORSCH

If Hanukkah is the holiday constantly in flux for most Jews, Pesach (the Hebrew word for Passover) is the holiday that very much stays the same. According to recent studies, more than 70% of Jews attend a Seder, the traditional Passover dinner, each and every year. The dinner is, by design, a multigenerational educational experience, where Jews use rituals to pass down the story of the biblical Exodus from one generation to the next. The eating of matzah, translated as unleavened bread, is by far the best known ritual of the eight-day Passover celebration. According to legend, when the Jewish people left Egypt, they were so eager for divine redemption that they could not even wait for their bread to rise. Thus, to this day, matzah is made by not permitting the dough to bake for longer than 18 minutes. An alternative tradition teaches that matzah is called “the bread of poverty,” because it was low-quality food fit for slaves. With each bite of matzah during Passover, we remind ourselves of how privileged we are today to enjoy our freedom throughout the year. Throughout the Seder dinner, there are several other rituals that seek to remind us of how privileged we are to enjoy our freedom. Jews meticulously reenact these rituals, guided by a book known as the Haggadah, which is the Hebrew word meaning “to tell a story.” We dip parsley in salt water to remember the tears of the Israelites who traveled from slavery to freedom. We eat bitter herbs, usually 40

AROUND ACWORTH | March 2021

horseradish, to remind us of the bitterness of slavery. Observing Passover has its challenges, related to the dietary aspects associated with the holiday. To keep kosher for Passover and to refrain from the prohibition of eating leavened bread products (those baked with rising agents such as yeast), Jews clean their homes meticulously before Passover, to remove all sources of leaven. We trade out our dishes, pots and pans, for special Passover ones that we know have not been subject to leavened bread contamination throughout the year. After removing any remaining leaven, we then purchase new unleavened food items that specifically are marked as being “kosher for Passover.” These foods often come at a much higher price tag, due to the extra supervision involved in the process. In Israel, of course, these rituals are largely the same: albeit with

one significant exception: Israeli restaurants, eager not to lose their business, will turn over their kitchens and become kosher for Passover. This means that instead of cooking or eating at home all week, many Israelis will simply order takeout throughout the holiday. While, in the diaspora, we may cook from scratch for a week, in Israel there are “Seder specials,” where you can order the entire meal prepared, from soup to nuts. Ultimately, as American Jews living in the 21st century, celebrating Passover is an extraordinary privilege. Throughout Jewish history, and even today, there are communities who are not as blessed to enjoy many of the freedoms that we do. This Passover, like every year, Jews around America will raise our wine glasses to celebrate our feast of freedom. I only pray that our children and grandchildren continue to know this joy that we experience today.

Rabbi Dan Dorsch serves Congregation Etz Chaim in Marietta. He is a graduate of the Jewish Theological Seminary, and holds a master’s degree in synagogue education.

The Seder Plate

The Seder plate is the focal point of the proceedings at Passover. It can be an ornate silver dish or a humble napkin. The important thing is that it holds the ceremonial foods around which the Seder is based: matzah, the zeroa (shankbone), egg, bitter herbs, charoset paste, karpas vegetables and salt water. Every item on the Seder plate has meaning and symbolism. Here is a list and description of each food and why it is included.

Matzah

Three matzot are placed on top of one another on a plate or napkin, and then covered. The matzot are symbolic of the three groups of Jews: Priests, Levites and Israelites.

Roasted lamb shankbone (zeroa)

One of the most striking symbols of Passover is the roasted lamb shankbone (called zeroa), which commemorates the paschal (lamb) sacrifice made the night the ancient Hebrews fled Egypt.

Hard-boiled egg (beitzah)

A hard-boiled egg represents the pre-holiday offering (chagigah) that was brought in the days of the Holy Temple.

Bitter herbs (marror)

Bitter herbs are a reminder of the bitterness of the slavery experienced by the Jews in Egypt. Freshly grated horseradish, and romaine lettuce (or endives), are the most common choices.

Charoset

This is a mixture of apples, nuts and wine, which resembles the mortar and brick made by the Jews when they toiled for Pharaoh.

Karpas (vegetable)

Many Jewish families use parsley, called karpas in Hebrew. This vegetable alludes to the backbreaking work of the Jews as slaves.

Salt water

Salt water symbolizes the tears and sweat of enslavement. Often, a single bowl of salt water sits on the table into which each person dips their karpas during the seder.

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www.mustministries.org AROUND ACWORTH | March 2021

Spring Brings

Economic Hope BY RYAN BLYTHE

In my December column, I advocated for additional stimulus, and then the government passed a $900 billion program later that month. This brings the COVID-19 spending to $3.7 trillion, which is four times the stimulus following the Great Recession. As this magazine goes to print, nearly $1 trillion will remain unspent, including more than $400 billion in PPP (Paycheck Protect Program) loans for small businesses, and additional money targeted toward vaccine distribution and school reopenings. Forbes reports that 48 million vaccines have been administered, and, with new deals the government has struck with Moderna and Pfizer, 600 million vaccines have been purchased, more than enough for every American. Hospitalizations are the lowest they have been since November. Also, Walgreens has started offering the vaccine at locations in 15 states, and CVS in 11, making the vaccine more accessible. We are beginning to see light at the end of this frustrating and deadly tunnel. But, as we often have been reminded during the past year, fighting the virus is only half of the equation. Poverty is not healthy, either, and the economic damage from shutdowns has been historic. As the pandemic nears one year in the U.S., how is our economy faring? Per the Wall Street Journal, the gross domestic product increased 7.5% in the third quarter of 2020, and 83% of the economic collapse of the second quarter was offset by this growth. Of the 22 million jobs lost, 16 million have been recovered. Americans also have historic levels of purchasing power, no doubt a result of government transfer payments and reduced spending. It is easier to save money when there are no concerts or sporting events, and travel is restricted. This increase in disposable income (up 5.5%) is the highest since 1984, and these numbers do not include the latest stimulus. The Journal reports that Americans’ savings have risen by $800 billion, and total savings, in 2020, were almost $2 trillion higher than in 2019. In other words, there is huge pent-up demand, as the states reopen and attractions become safer. Welding is an example of a trade skill that is in high demand as the U.S. has 7 million job openings and a skills mismatch. Photo courtesy of Georgia Trade School.

AROUND ACWORTH | March 2021

Housing sales are at a 14-year high, as interest rates remain at historic lows. Private business investment is up 25%, and manufacturing indexes are at six-year highs. Growth estimates by the Federal Reserve and the International Monetary Fund are coming in at 4%-5%. If you take out continued losses in hospitality, the economy is adding hundreds of thousands of new jobs every month. Our national unemployment rate is better today than it was six years after the Great Recession. These statistics are proof that the fundamentals of our economy remain strong. Before the pandemic, our national unemployment rate was 3.5%, the lowest it had been in decades. Today, the unemployment rate is 6.3%. Alabama has an unemployment rate less than 4%, next door Georgia is at 5.6%, and South Carolina comes in at 4.6%. It is not just that these states have lower numbers unemployed, it is also that they have seen a much smaller reduction in their labor market compared with 2019. Alabama has a 12-month change of just 1%, Georgia and South Carolina only 2%. To compare, California presently has a 9% unemployment rate, and is off 5% from a year ago. New York, at 8%, is off 4 points from 2019. Getting the economies of California and New York back on track is paramount, due to their size and scope. Demographics may counter some of these challenges. Our nation’s largest generation, the baby boomers, are retiring en masse — 10,000 per day, and in some industries that number has accelerated due to the pandemic. Even the youngest boomers are just a decade away from being eligible for Social Security. We will have to replace a huge pool of talented workers, with the smallest generation coming behind them. In other words, there are great opportunities for those with the best training and experience. As Stanford University economist Paul Romer said, “a crisis is a terrible thing to waste.” Perhaps, it is time to focus on improving our national pipeline of skilled workers. If we do not, those millions may not have the tools needed to rejoin a post-pandemic 21st century workforce.

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

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AROUND ACWORTH | March 2021

Around & About

Editor’s Note: Because events can change after our magazine goes to press, please check each website for the most up-to-date information.

APRIL

MARCH

The Acworth Art Fest 10-11 returns, 10 a.m.-6 p.m.

city of Acworth will host a Daddy Daughter 13 The Date Night at Tanyard Creek Overlook from 6 to 8

Saturday and 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Sunday. This art-buyers destination will feature more than 50 artisans from around the country. Their creative booth displays will decorate Main Street with paintings, pottery, folk art, jewelry and more. Don’t miss out on the delicious fare from local eateries. For more information, visit www.splashfestivals.com.

p.m. for girls ages 14 and younger and their dad or adult male chaperone. This year’s event features an elegant dinner with some Hollywood glamour. The cost is $40 per couple for residents and $50 for nonresidents. This enchanted movie star-themed evening is taking the place of the 2021 Daddy Daughter Dance. Registration required. www.acworthparksandrecreation.org.

tournament fundraiser for 26 Athegolf Woodstock Chapter of the Marine

Corps League will be held at Cobblestone Golf Club, 4200 Nance Road, Acworth. Proceeds go to scholarship funds that allow young people to pursue a college education. For more information, call tournament director Ron Welborn at 404-217-2246, or email harry123130@gmail.com.

MAY North Cobb Rotary Club, city of 7-8 The Acworth and the Georgia Barbecue

PHOTO BY BROOKE VANDE ZANDE.

Association will hold the Smoke on the Lake BBQ Festival, presented by Superior

AROUND ACWORTH | March 2021

Plumbing, at Logan Farm Park. Hours are 5-10 p.m. Friday, 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday. All proceeds are distributed among local charities. The Acworth Business Association is presenting the Friday night concert under the stars. Reservations for six-person tables are available. The Lord of the Wings contest is Friday night; visitors can purchase tasting tickets and judge the best wings. Saturday, barbecue teams from all over the Southeast will compete in professional and amateur divisions, to see who will win top prize. www.smokeonthelake.org. Jamelle Templeton, Olivia McCowey, Valencia McCowey and Bethany Robinson at the Sock Hop-themed 2019 Daddy Daughter Dance.

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

Youth Registrations

Spring Break Sports Camp

9 a.m.-4 p.m. April 5-9 for ages 6-14 at the Acworth Community Center. Daily activities include playing a variety of different sports and team-based activities, such as basketball, soccer, hockey, dodgeball, four-square and more. This noncompetitive program is balanced with high- and low-impact activities. Drop-off no earlier than 7:45 a.m. and pickup no later than 5:30 p.m. $115 for residents and $140 for nonresidents.

Beginner Baton Twirling

4-4:30 p.m. on Mondays. Majorette Beverly will teach a 6-week class, covering all of the basics of baton twirling for beginners. Using rudimental movements, students will learn twirling and dance moves with musical routines. On fair weather days, the class will meet at Logan Farm Park. $80 for residents and $85 for nonresidents.

Acworth Spring Preschool Sports Camp

9:30-10:15 a.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays, for 3- and 4-year-olds. Camp runs April 13-May 6 at the Horizon Baseball Field. This noncompetitive program allows children to explore a variety of different sports in one program, such as soccer, T-ball, volleyball and basketball. $50 for residents, $65 for nonresidents. Deadline to register is March 26.

Acworth Spring Break Baseball Camp

6:30-8:30 p.m. April 6-8 for 5-12-year-olds at the Acworth Sports Complex. Camp will cover the basics of baseball. $35 for residents, $45 for nonresidents. Deadline to register is April 2.

Participants enjoyed hunting eggs at the 2019 Acworth Egg Hunt.

EGG HUNTS March 20

Flashlight Egg Hunt starts at 6 p.m. at Cherokee Veterans Park for children up to age 12. $10 per child. The event includes food trucks, vendors, music, face painting, crafts, kid zone and a visit with the Easter Bunny. Sponsored by the Cherokee Recreation and Parks Agency. Registration is open, contact bmbarcomb@cherokeega.com.

March 26

Acworth Egg Hunt, presented by the city and Freedom

Church, returns to the Acworth Sports Complex (4000 S. Main St.) baseball fields. The event will feature five hunts, divided by age groups, beginning at 6 p.m. Face masks are encouraged strongly. Only one parent per child will be allowed on the egg hunt fields. To mitigate crowd sizes and maintain social distance, hunts will occur in 30-minute increments, allowing each age group time to clear the area. Hunts will alternate between fields. 6 p.m. — 0-2 year olds (Field #4) 6:30 p.m. — 3-4 year olds (Field #6) 7 p.m. — 5-6 year olds (Field #4) 7:30 p.m. — 7-8 year olds (Field #6) 8 p.m. — 9-10 year olds (Field #4)

March 27

Eggs-traordinary Extravaganza at the Cherokee County

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 the opportunity to take a picture with the Easter Bunny! Times and registration are on the website: www.playcherokee. org/264/Eggs-traordinary-Extravaganza

AROUND ACWORTH | March 2021

School News

Malachi Singleton and his mom, Margaret, signed cards for Dogwood Forest residents.

Football Players Visit Acworth Seniors Last month, North Cobb High School football players and cheerleaders brought Valentine’s Day cheer to the residents and staff of Dogwood Forest, an assisted living facility in downtown Acworth. Sophomore quarterback Malachi Singleton gathered players and cheerleaders to drop off cards and balloons to residents. Singleton is a dual-threat quarterback for the Warriors who is being recruited by Power 5 programs, according to numerous recruiting news sources.

AROUND ACWORTH | March 2021

Mount Paran Breaks Ground on New Building On Feb. 5, Mount Paran Christian School celebrated the culmination of a yearslong capital campaign with a “virtual” groundbreaking ceremony for the new Murray Innovation Center. The building, named after a generous lead gift from the Stuart and Eulene Murray Foundation, is a 23,000-plus-square-foot expansion of the current Dozier Hall high school building, originally built to house 250 students. MPCS will offer innovative new learning spaces for its 450 high school students. MPCS families and staff watched the ceremony via livestreaming. The event had physically distanced limited attendance, with remarks from Head of School Tim Wiens, Assistant Head of School and Head of High School Tawanna Rusk, Board of Trustees Chair George Ethridge and Imagine Tomorrow capital campaign Co-Chair David Bottoms. Bottoms thanked the 276 donors, who contributed $12.4 million to pay for the new building in full, including the inception of the school’s first endowment Shelton, the Mount Paran mascot, fires a confetti cannon. fund. The Murray Innovation Center will include additional classroom and lab space, as well as a collegiate-style technology-enhanced classroom, a maker space, a fabrication lab, a state-of-the-art digital lab, and a permanent home for the state championship-winning Eagle Robotics teams. During the ceremony, middle school students paraded onto the building site, lining up to form the marked perimeter footprint of the new building as a visual representation of the innovative space to come. The event officially was commemorated with a countdown, as Shelton, the Eagle mascot, fired confetti cannons. MPCS plans to welcome students into the Murray Innovation Center during the second semester of the 2021-2022 academic year.

Marietta Mayor Steve “Thunder” Tumlin, capital campaign Co-Chairs David and Brittney Bottoms, Shelton the Eagle, Head of School Tim Wiens, Cobb Chamber President and CEO Sharon Mason, Tawanna Rusk and George Ethridge attend the groundbreaking ceremony for the Murray Innovation Center.

Downtown Acworth Dining 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

Bert & Boo's Bake Shop

Fusco's via Roma Italian Trattoria

Pizza By Fuscos

BRIX on Main

J.D.’s Bar-B-Que

1885 Grill

Southern Coastal 4438 Cherokee St. 770-672-0508 www.1885grill.com/welcomeacworth

Bakery 3900 Old McEver Rd. 470-582-6717 www.bertandboos.com Facebook: @bertboos Tapas 4843 N. Main St. 770-693-0077 www.brixonmain.com

Center Street Tavern

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

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

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

Henry’s Louisiana Grill Cajun 4835 N. Main St. 770-966-1515 www.chefhenrys.com

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

Red Top Brewhouse

Pub Grub 4637 S. Main St. 470-893-0425 www.redtopbrewhouse.com

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

L. Marie’s Southern Cuisine Southern

4417 S. Main St. 770-694-1949 www.lmaries.net

Miss L’s Sandwich Shop Sandwiches

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

AROUND ACWORTH | March 2021

School News

Cobb Schools BOE Renews Superintendent’s Contract

During the February meeting, the Cobb County Board of Education voted to extend Superintendent Chris Ragsdale’s run as one of the longest-tenured superintendents in any metropolitan area in the country, by renewing his contract. His contract was extended by one year to the maximum three-year contract allowed by state law. “As a board, we are grateful to have a superintendent and staff who provide steady, consistent leadership at the helm of one of the largest districts in the country,” said Board Chair Randy Scamihorn. “The common-sense approach to the challenges we face, along with consistently making decisions that prioritize our students and staff, makes our entire county better.”

Cheer Squad Wins Ninth Straight State Title At the Georgia High School Association (GHSA) Cheerleading State Championships, held last month in Macon, the Mount Paran Christian School (MPCS) competition cheer squad brought home its ninth consecutive Class A-Private Competition Cheer State Championship title. MPCS is the only cheer team in the state, across any regional class, to win nine consecutive titles. The squad has remained undefeated since 2012, and holds the most consecutive GHSA State championships for any sport in Cobb county. This recent win puts MPCS competition cheer in a tie with Lakeside gymnastics (1971- 1979) for third most consecutive titles in the state in any sport. The top two spots for most state championships in any sport belong to Jefferson wrestling (2001-2019) and Westminster boys cross country (1996-2005). Senior cheerleaders Lolly Johnson and Maggie Epps were named to the 2020 All-State cheerleading team, selected from a field of 200. Epps was named Cheerleader of the Year.

The Mount Paran Christian competition cheer squad recently won its ninth consecutive state title. 48

AROUND ACWORTH | March 2021

A representative from Cobb EMC presents a check to Pickett’s Mill counselor James Verity, alongside Principal Benji Morrell.

Cobb EMC Awards Mini Grants to Local Teachers Cobb EMC recently awarded more than $31,000 in mini-grants to 68 elementary, middle and high school teachers across the electric utility’s service area. These mini-grants will fund a variety of experiential and active learning projects, including career prep, STEM, community gardens, art and music expansions. “Cobb EMC remains strong in our stance to support our community and our educators, especially through the pandemic,” said Mark Justice, director of education and community relations at Cobb EMC. “We are so proud of our area teachers, who foster creativity in the classroom as they continue to provide new ways of learning through unprecedented times.” The recipients applied for the mini-grants by outlining their specific projects and how each would benefit students. Recipients are: • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

Susana Karunakaran, Acworth Elementary Emily DeBerry, Allatoona Elementary Kimberly Hutchens, Baker Elementary Ashley Sherman, Frey Elementary Elizabeth Gulley, Frey Elementary Danielle Seaipinato, Frey Elementary Heidi Konchak, North Cobb Christian Lower James Verity, Pickett’s Mill Elementary Marsha Howell, Pitner Elementary Jaclyn Glace, Pitner Elementary Nicole Gaut, Durham Middle Lacey Ray, Allatoona High School Joe Lanier, Allatoona High School Gena Cochran, Allatoona High School

Acworth Parks

For more information, call 770-917-1234, or visit www.acworthparksandrecreation.org.

• Acworth Sports Complex. 4000 S. Main St. 6 a.m.-11 p.m. A 42-acre complex with seven baseball fields, two football fields, multiple practice areas, batting cages, restrooms, two concession stands and parking. The complex is home to the Acworth Baseball Association and the Acworth Football and Cheerleading Association. The complex includes Horizon League, which provides team sport opportunities for children with cognitive and physical disabilities. • Acworth Depot Park. 4794 S. Main St. 8 a.m.9 p.m. Home to the Depot Park History Center, this landmark houses electronic displays telling of Acworth's history, including 19 videos, more than 50 oral histories, and static storyboards.

• Baker Plantation Park. 4790 Baker Plantation Drive. Sunrise to sunset. A half-acre neighborhood park in the Baker Plantation subdivision. Playground, two grills and a picnic pavilion.

• Cauble Park. Home of Acworth Beach, Lake Acworth and Veterans Memorial at Patriots Point. 4425 Beach St. 6 a.m.-11 p.m. A 25-acre park with fishing points, public restrooms, a boat ramp (for electric motor-driven boats only), a boardwalk, beach, rental facilities, two playgrounds and an open play area. Rental facilities include four pavilions, a lakeside gazebo and a beach house. No lifeguard on duty. Park is open with limited capacity, charging a $10 parking fee (card payment only). Parking fee applies 10 a.m.-8 p.m. Monday through Friday and 8 a.m.-8 p.m. on weekends and holidays. No pets are allowed on beach areas and must be on a leash at all times while in the park.

• Doyal Hill Park. 4410 Cherokee St. 6 a.m.-11 p.m. Serves as an outdoor interpretive history area featuring public art honoring Acworth’s rich African American history. The park contains a sculpture by Ron Huffman, interpretative historical signage, and a plaza. • Dallas Landing Park. 5120 Allatoona Drive. 8

a.m.-9 p.m. An 82-acre park located on Allatoona Drive off Main Street. Dallas Landing overlooks Lake Allatoona. The park contains a beach, group pavilion, picnic tables, grills, volleyball court, horseshoe pit and public restrooms. The group pavilion is available for rental. Park is open with limited capacity, charging a $10 parking fee (card payment only). No pets are allowed on the beach areas and must be on a leash at all times while in the park.

• East Lakeshore Park. 4449 East Lakeshore Drive. 6 a.m.-11 p.m. The 1.5-acre park includes a playground, picnic benches and an open play area.

Acworth Depot Park

• Frana Brown Park. 4901 N. Main St. 6 a.m.- 11 p.m. The quarter-acre park contains a fountain and benches for relaxation. The park also contains the original bell from the Acworth Methodist Episcopal Church South. The church congregation was established in 1905. The park can be rented for weddings or other small gatherings.

• Logan Farm Park. Main entrance is at 4405 Cherokee St. 6 a.m.11 p.m. A 120-acre park that encompasses the parks formally known as Terrace Drive Park and Tanyard Creek Park. Logan Farm Park includes a nature trail that connects to Cowan Road, Terrace Drive, Cherokee Street, School Street, and McClain Circle. Park contains the Acworth Community Center, a lighted one-third mile walking track around a multipurpose recreational field, a half-acre fishing pond, a pavilion available for rentals, restrooms, Amos Durr Community Field, and a large destination playground, as well as two smaller playgrounds. • Newberry Park. 4321 Toccoa Drive. 6 a.m.-11 p.m. The 12-acre park

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

• Overlook Park. 4636 Lake Acworth Drive. 6 a.m.- 11 p.m. The 1.5-

acre park overlooks beautiful Lake Acworth. The park offers great fishing and picnicking opportunities.

• Proctor Landing Park. 5260 Proctor Landing Road. 8 a.m.-9 p.m.

Proctor Landing is an 82-acre park along the banks of Lake Allatoona. A beach, two group pavilions, picnic tables, grills, two volleyball courts, two horseshoe pits and public restrooms. Group pavilions are available for rental, except Sundays in May, June and July. Park is open with limited capacity, charging a $10 parking fee (card payment only).

• South Shore Park. 4555 Ragsdale Road. 8 a.m.-9 p.m. A 30-acre park with a beach and fishing areas. Park is open with limited capacity, charging a $10 parking fee (card payment only). Parking fee applies 10 a.m.-8 p.m. Monday through Friday and 8 a.m.-8 p.m. on weekends and holidays. For more information please contact the Parks and Recreation Department at 770-917-1234. AROUND ACWORTH | March 2021

Cobb Photographic Society

Congratulations to each of you who entered the Cobb Photographic Society competition. The topic for the January contest was “minimalism.” The guest judge was Ron Sherman. The Cobb Photographic Society is a photography club open to photographers of all skill levels. The club meets the first and third Monday of each month. For information, visit www.cobbphotosociety.com.

Novice

Angie Nasrallah - 1st Place (Twilight Fishing)

Color

Milton Schreiber - 1st Place (Kayak into Fog) 50

AROUND ACWORTH | March 2021

Sally Hale - 2nd Place (Electric)

Black & White

Mark Chandler - 1st Place (After Practice) AROUND ACWORTH | March 2021

AROUND ACWORTH | March 2021

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March 2021

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

Treasure Tax 678-888-4829 www.treasuretax.com

AUTOMOTIVE KAMS Auto Service Center 770-956-4060 www.kamsauto.com

BEAUTY SALON My Salon Suite - Acworth 404-692-2290 www.mysalonsuite.com/acworth

CHARITABLE ORGANIZATIONS/EVENTS MUST Ministries www.mustministries.org

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

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DENTAL

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

Thrive Counseling Center 678-217-7529 www.thrivecounselingcenter.com

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

EDUCATION SERVICES Brookwood Christian School 678-401-5855 www.brookwoodchristian.com

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

Msgt. George”Rip” and Barbara Masters Charity Golf Tournament 55 404-217-2246

KennedyMathews Education Consultants 13 765-721-1212 www.kennedymathewsconsulting.com

CLEANING SERVICES

North Cobb Christian School 21, Back cover 770-975-0252 www.ncchristian.org

Maid in America 770-427-4448 www.maidinamericaga.com 54

AROUND ACWORTH | March 2021

St. Joseph Catholic School 770-428-3328 www.stjosephschool.org

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

FUNERAL SERVICES

Gentle Dental Care/Georgia Dental Implants Inside back 770-926-2784 www.georgiadic.com

Georgia Trade School www.georgiatradeschool.com

Omega Learning Center Cover, 28-29 770-792-7431 www.acworth-ga.omegalearning.com

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

GOLD PURCHASING The Gold & Coin Exchange Inside front 770-419-0292 www.goldandcoinexchange.com HEALTH & WELLNESS DNC Nutrition Centers 770-529-6683 www.dncnutrition.com Your CBD Store-Acworth 678-909-5230 www.acworth459.cbdrx4u.com

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HOME & GARDEN Dayco Systems Heating & Cooling 770-336-7888 www.daycosystems.com

Enhance Floors & More 770-565-3808 www.enhancefloors.com Legacy Custom Blinds 404-430-5288 www.legacycustomblinds.com Mr. Junk 678-Mr-Junk1 [675-8651] www.mrjunk1.com

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

Shriver Mechanical 25 770-975-1927 www.shrivermechanical.com Tom Kris & Sons Plumbing 770-529-0799 www.tkandsonsplumbing.com

OPTOMETRIST/OPHTHALMOLOGIST Marietta Eye Clinic 678-279-1141 www.mariettaeye.com

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

RESTAURANTS

PHYSICIANS AND MEDICAL SERVICES Governors MedSpa & Concierge Medicine 678-888-5181 www.governorsmedicine.com

Debi Smith Properties Direct: 404-660-6652 Office: 770-240-2004

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J.D.'s Bar-B-Que 770-974-8434 www.jdsbbq.com

RETAILERS/ SHOPPING

REAL ESTATE Anchor Realty Partners 7 Malinda Howe, Broker: 404-444-0225 Deborah Hill: 770-361-9200 Office: 770-917-0322 www.malinda-howe.com

Bert & Boos Bake Shop 470-582-6717 www.bertandboos.com

Cotton Mill Exchange 770-992-9294 www.cottonmillexchange.net

Berkshire Hathaway Home Services, Justin Koeniger 41 Cell: 470-451-2134 Office: 770-973-8824 www.JustinKoeniger.BHHSGeorgia.com

Serendipity House 33 770-966-1301 www.serendipityhouseacworth.com

Clear Summit Realty Ken Jones: 770-842-4531 Ryan Jones: 678-327-9326 www.clearsummitrealty.com

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

SENIOR LIVING/SERVICES Inside front

AROUND ACWORTH | March 2021

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. It’s your community. It’s your magazine. Look on page 6 for our contact information.

OUR PHOTOGRAPHY PARTNERS We work with some of the best professional photographers in the business.

Jerry King J. King Images 404-384-2794 www.jkingimages.com

AROUND ACWORTH | March 2021

Beth Fornuto Beth Fornuto Photography 770-846-3848 www.bethfornuto.com

Heather Stevens Joyful Day Photography 678-947-1200 www.joyfuldayphoto.com