3-22 Around Canton webfinal.pdf by Aroundabout Local Media, Inc.

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Contents March 2022

Contributors

The Haas Team

12 CanTeen

On the Cover

27 Cherokee Women’s Health Specialists

For Realtor Lindsay Haas, staging is one of many tools in her arsenal to make sure her clients get higher offers. Her husband Jeremy, right, in the staging warehouse.

32 Michael Collopy 33 Harry Johnston 42 Ann Litrel

37 Susannah MacKay

Pages 28 & 29

Cover photo by Red Baryl Portraits

44 Rob Macmillan

21 Dr. Scott Merritt

Bringing Jobs to Teens

Learn how CanTeen members, left, are working on a job and career information fair for Canton’s youth.

Forever Young!

Residents don electric dresses and suits, and bust a move at the Children’s Haven ’80s-themed prom night.

22 Margaret Miller 43 Denson Pepper

34 Christopher Purvis 32 Matt Quagliana 38 John Rodgers 36 Susan Schulz

30 Elisabeth Stubbs 49 Ashley Velez

24 The Wanderer

40 Daniel Westbrook 16 Laine Wood

26 Mallory Woodward

In Every Issue 4 Around Canton 8 Local News

14 Downtown Events 20 Celebrations

38 Library Events 44 Rob’s Rescues

46 Everyday Angels 47 Dining Guide

48 Ribbon Cuttings

Family Ties

Margaret Miller gives an update on world-renowned meteorologist, Marshall Shepherd, whose ancestors were instrumental in the city’s first black fire station.

AROUND CANTON | March 2022

50 Noteworthy

52 Community Calendar

54 Directory of Advertisers

MEMORY CARE OPENINGS!

t. George Village is offering a rare opportunity for direct entry into our Wellington Court memory care neighborhood. Friendship House, our memory support neighborhood with a person-centered focus, reflects our promise to care for residents as we would a family member or dear friend. Residents will also have access to our Treasures of Lakeview skilled nursing center, if ever needed. We are currently accepting applications for openings in Friendship House. Call Dawn Zawoysky for qualifying details: 678-987-0409. *St. George Village is Roswell’s only LifePlan community offering independent living, assisted living, memory care and skilled nursing neighborhoods. 11350 Woodstock Road, Roswell, GA 30075 | 770-645-2340 | stgeorgevillage.org AROUND CANTON | March 2022

Around Canton Letter From the Editor

Readers, it’s all about YOU this month! OK, it really is all about you every month, because we try our best to create content you’ll enjoy. But this month, what you think is doubly important as we launch Readers’ Choice 2022. Please take time to go to the Readers’ Choice link at www.aroundcantonmagazine.com, and write in your favorites in the categories listed there. If you nominate 25 or more, you’ll be entered to win a $500 Visa gift card. The top five nominees in each category will move on to the voting round that begins May 1. The winners will be announced in the July issue, and a list of the winners and finalists will stay on each of our websites, giving you a perfect resource whenever you need a recommendation for a service, restaurant or physician. Each winner will be in your area, so you can be assured they are local. Keeping things hyperlocal is the standard by which we measure our editorial content each month. With this goal in mind, you’ll notice the return of the downtown Canton calendar this month. I remember before the COVID-19 shutdowns, we were getting close to five pages of calendar events each month. As our community springs back to life, we’re going to zero in on the downtown events, listing them all on one page, while also giving you a comprehensive community calendar in each issue. We’re excited to see more events taking place in our community. If we’ve learned anything through this, it’s to not take anything for granted, and to embrace each moment. Last weekend, a charitable group of folks embraced the 1980s by dressing up and attending an ’80s-style prom event to raise money for the Children’s Haven. Flip to Pages 18-19 for a trip back in time. Allatoona Lake campgrounds are opening (Page 34), and there are opportunities to adopt a local stream through the Upper Etowah River Alliance and a state program (Page 16). We always marvel at the lengths someone will go to to help a loved one … including donating a kidney to a stranger. Turn to Page 26 to meet Mallory and Alex Woodward. If you’re a regular reader of this magazine, you’ll recognize that examples of charity, care and a servant’s heart are recurring scenarios in Cherokee County, arguably one of the strongest, most united counties in Georgia. I’m proud to work, live and play in such a loving, caring and supportive community.

Candi Hannigan is the executive editor of Aroundabout Local Media. She has lived in Cherokee County since 1987. Send your comments or questions to candi@aroundaboutmagazines.com

AROUND CANTON | March 2022

READERS’

CHOICE Award 2022

Time to Nominate Your Favorites!

March 1-31

See Page 56 for more information.

www.aroundcantonmagazine.com

Welcome!

Donna Harris has joined Aroundabout Local Media

as managing editor. We’re excited to welcome Donna, who has worked in this community and has considerable journalism experience. However, we are sad to say goodbye to former managing editor Katie Beall. We wish her well in her future endeavors!

What’s Open

Ashley Outlet has opened at 1750 Marietta

Highway, Suite 95, in the Canton Corners shopping center. The outlet concept is part of Ashley Furniture Industries. 470-761-2102.

What’s Closing

American Bodyworks Gym in Woodstock, at 5947 Holly Springs Parkway, closed in February, after 13 years in business. The owner cited changes in how people reach their fitness goals as the challenge that forced the closing.

What’s Coming

Cherokee Social House is planned for Sixes Road,

between Waffle House and Guthrie’s near BridgeMill. The beer, burger, taco and pizza tavern will be two stories, and feature 10 garage doors that will lead to a patio. Owners Mark Ferrara and Marc Loreti live in Bridgemill. Follow the progress on Facebook.

Kudos!

Canton has been given the Visionary City Award for the city’s Roadmap for Success initiative. The award celebrates cities that have created positive community change through effective engagement and collaboration, and is given to nine cities annually, three from each population size group: less than 4,999, 5,000-24,999, and more than 25,000. More information on Page 8. At press time, Mark A. Roberts was to have been installed as Reinhardt University’s 21st president during a Feb. 25 ceremony. Roberts came to Reinhardt in 2013 as the vice president for academic affairs and dean of faculty. He also has served as provost, executive vice president and interim president, in addition to being writing center director and a professor.

Nominate Us! 2022 Readers’ Choice

Learn More & Join Today at www.CUofGA.org!

AROUND CANTON | March 2022

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www.aroundcantonmagazine.com AROUND CANTON | March 2022

Around Canton, a publication of Aroundabout Local Media, Inc., is a monthly magazine created to help local businesses grow and prosper by offering affordable advertising opportunities in a quality publication that provides positive, relevant information to our readers. A total of 17,000 free copies are distributed monthly; approximately 16,600 are mailed to homes and businesses, with an additional 400 placed in racks around the community. Many readers catch the latest edition online each month. Around Canton welcomes your comments, stories and advertisements. The deadline is the 5th of each month. Subscriptions are available for $24 per year. Send check or money order to: Around Canton, 1025 Rose Creek Drive, PMB 380, Suite 620, Woodstock, GA 30189. The viewpoints of the advertisers, columnists and submissions are not necessarily those of the editor or publisher and the publisher makes no claims about the validity of any charitable organizations mentioned. Around Canton 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 2022.

Volume 9, Issue 12

America’s Community Magazine

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Local News New Fire Chief Takes the Helm

Eddie Robinson is the new fire chief for Cherokee County Fire & Emergency Services. Robinson, who formerly served as deputy chief of support services, is succeeding Tim Prather, who served Cherokee County for 35 years. “When reviewing the applications and interviewing for the fire chief position, Chief Robinson stood out as a natural successor to Chief Prather,” County Manager Geoff Morton said. “He brings substantial institutional knowledge to the role, having served with fire and emergency services since 1994, including the last 11 years at headquarters.” Robinson said it’s an honor to have the trust and support of county leadership. “I have had the privilege of serving the residents of Cherokee County for many years, alongside some amazing firefighters, from the individual stations to headquarters,” Robinson said. “I have dedicated my life to the American fire service, and to the residents of our wonderful county, and I will lead the department to the best of my ability, with the help of some of the best men and women that the fire service can have.”

Eddie Robinson 8

AROUND CANTON | March 2022

Mayor Bill Grant (second from left), Councilors Brooke Schmidt, Sandy McGrew, Dwayne Waterman and City Manager Billy Peppers, with GMA Executive Director/CEO Larry Hanson (far right) and Georgia Trend Co-Publisher and Editor-in-Chief Ben Young (far left).

Canton Honored With Visionary City Award

Canton was given the Visionary City Award during the Georgia Municipal Association (GMA) 2022 Cities United Summit; GMA and Georgia Trend magazine presented the city with the honor, for the city’s Roadmap for Success initiative. The award honors cities that have created positive community change through effective civic engagement and collaboration. “The city of Canton is extremely honored to receive the Visionary City Award from the Georgia Municipal Association and Georgia Trend magazine,” said Mayor Bill Grant. “This prestigious recognition for our city’s forward thinking, collaboration and civic engagement is a true testament to the exemplary leadership our Council and management team have demonstrated with the creation and implementation of our Roadmap for Success. “While this award is a high honor, it is even more gratifying to have other cities and leaders in Georgia contacting us to learn how Canton’s Roadmap and vision can help them move their own communities forward. This is truly leading with success, and we are humbled by this special recognition.”

History Cherokee Launches Black History Committee

History Cherokee has established a Black History Committee, which will be dedicated to the collection, preservation and interpretation of Black history in Cherokee County. The goal is to collect the stories, images and artifacts from the earliest settlement to today, and to make sure these stories are told. “The history of Black people is often overlooked. When it comes to collection and preservation, elements of Black history get disregarded by the institutions that decide whose history gets saved and whose doesn’t — and we want to do our part in changing that in Cherokee County,” said Harvee White, History Cherokee’s education manager. History Cherokee already has made exciting headway on this commitment to Cherokee County’s Black history, as it prepares for the opening of the Cherokee County History Center. Currently, staff is working to create a documentary with a Georgia film crew and local civil rights activists, covering the integration of the former Canton Theatre. Visitors will find this documentary at the Cherokee County History Center when it opens this summer. The integration of the Canton Theatre is just one example of a vast history to preserve and share, and History Cherokee needs help to do it. Led by White and a few volunteers committed to the Black History Committee’s mission, the group plans on digging deeper, to preserve and share the Black stories of Cherokee County. To join History Cherokee’s Black History Committee, contact White at hwhite@ historycherokee.org.

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Local News Moving Reunion for Firefighters, Patients

Citizens who were rescued by Cherokee County firefighters in two life-saving events were able to thank them in person during a special recognition ceremony at Fire Station 19. Firefighters Jordan Allred, Reece Young and Mathew Hutcherson were presented with EMS awards from Cobb County Fire and Emergency Services, along with Cobb County Firefighters James Watson and Demetrius Carlyle. On Nov. 23, Cobb County Engine 11 was covering for Cherokee County Fire Station 19, so personnel could attend the funeral of Justin and Amber Hicks. Engine 11 and Cherokee County Squad 19 were dispatched to the scene of a cardiac arrest later that day. According to EMS Chief Nate Sullivan, “They arrived to find a patient in cardiac arrest and went to work. These crews that had never worked together before performed flawlessly. Their efforts resulted in the patient regaining his pulse and actually speaking to the crew before arrival at the hospital. After the call, the Cobb County firefighters realized that the patient was a retired member of Cobb County Fire & Emergency Services.” The patient walked out of the

From left, Lt. Jordan Allred, a cardiologist with Kennestone Hospital, the patient, along with James Watson and Demetrius Carlyle, firefighters with Cobb County.

hospital a week later, and shook the hands of his rescuers. “Our firefighters do spectacular work every day, but this event was more special and challenging than most. The opportunity to meet a cardiac arrest patient that was rescued is a once-in-a-career event. I’m grateful that the patient was able to make it to the recognition ceremony, shake the hands of his rescuers, and share his story,” Sullivan said. A few days later, Engine 19 and Squad 19 responded to another cardiac emergency. The engine arrived a few minutes before the squad, and the crew

of the engine began their assessment and recognized the extent of the patient’s emergency and the timesensitive nature. The crew began treatment and used their cardiac monitor to obtain an EKG and transmit the EKG to the hospital, while at the patient’s side in his home. Squad 19 arrived and treated and transported the patient to the hospital. Because of the advance notice of the nature of the illness, the patient was able to bypass the emergency room and go directly to the cardiac catheterization lab. The patient spent weeks in the ICU undergoing some of the most advanced cardiac procedures in the state. “This event was a perfect example of the entire system working together flawlessly,” Sullivan said. “This event highlights the importance of citizens calling 911 if they suspect a cardiac emergency. Cherokee County Fire & Emergency Services has welltrained paramedics and EMTs on every apparatus, with the equipment, medications and knowledge to make the difference between life and death.” Deputy Chief of Operations Shane West, left, Sgt. Matthew Hutcherson, Firefighter Reece Young and Lt. Jordan Allred speak with the patient and his wife.

AROUND CANTON | March 2022

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From left, Sophia Melbourne, Laney Cline and Baylee Bradfield play cornhole at The Mill on Etowah.

Never-Ending Search: Teens and Job Hunting SUBMITTED BY CANTEEN MEMBERS

When asked how their job search is going, teenagers never hesitate to express how exhausting and nerve-wracking searching for jobs can be. What’s unfortunate is, there are so many teens in our community ready to jump into jobs and careers, but they either don’t know about the opportunities around them, or they lack the confidence to inquire about certain jobs. How can we fix this? Over the next few months, CanTeen will be working to bring teens to jobs and jobs to teens! Setting up a job that best fits a teen’s needs and wants is exactly what we want to offer Canton’s teens, in order to tackle a few aspects of the job and career world.

From left, Laney Cline, Mayor Bill Grant and Sophia Melbourne. 12

AROUND CANTON | March 2022

When we surveyed Canton teenagers, 50% reported handling their first job hunt alone. While many teens can handle building a resume and applying for a job by themselves, learning from experienced individuals can enhance this process. With CanTeen’s upcoming job initiative, we hope to bring in professionals to coach teens on their resume and interviewing styles. CanTeen constantly encourages teens to contribute to their community. Not only is volunteering a great resume builder, but it also offers something priceless: a true connection with the people of Canton. By promoting community donation and volunteer events, CanTeen intends to help teens diversify their resumes. Several organizations offer shadowing and internship opportunities for teens, but kids often don’t know about them. Stepping into a career means starting on the right foot. At CanTeen, we know there are great internship and training opportunities for Canton’s teens; it’s just a matter of connecting them. Keep a lookout for details about CanTeen’s job and career information fair, to allow teens to dive into our new initiative. We are excited about this event, and are welcoming all businesses and corporations looking to hire and mentor teens! If you would like to contribute your expertise, or participate in our initiative, email CanTeen at canteen@cantonga.gov.

CanTeen is an active engagement outreach initiative for high school students in Canton, designed to create opportunities for youth leadership through volunteerism, service and giving input on policy issues.

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IN town

Canton

www.cherokeetheatre.org

March 10

April 22-24, 29-30, May 1

Thursdays at The Mill on Etowah. Gather your dream team and compete for first-, second- and third-place prizes. www.etowahmill.com/events.

by Becca Hogue. Performances are 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays and 2:30 p.m. Sundays at the Canton Theatre.

Trivia Night on the Green begins at 7 p.m.

March 11-13, 18-19

“Kansas,” an original musical presented by Lolek’s

Storytellers, follows a cynical farm girl who finds a charming man hiding in her family’s barn. Six performances will be at the Canton Theatre. https://loleks.ticketleap.com/kansas/details.

March 26-27

The 15th annual Wing & Rock Fest will be held noon-7 p.m. Saturday and noon-6 p.m. Sunday at Etowah River Park, 600 Brown Industrial Parkway, Canton. Voted one of the Top 10 food festivals in the Southeast by Festival Rooster, the free, family-friendly event will feature a variety of chicken wings with bold sauces, as well as live music. www.wingandrockfest.com.

April 23

The Street Dog Dash 5K begins at 8 a.m. in the Etowah River Park in Canton. Bring your dog, and put your paws to the pavement for a great cause. Proceeds from the race go to the Humane Society International and Soi Dog Foundation, with a percentage of the profits benefiting local shelters. www.streetdogdash5k.org.

April 30

Service League of Cherokee County’s inaugural Gala and Benefit for the Children, featuring a live band, silent auction, raffle, heavy hors d’oeuvres and a bar, will be at 6 p.m. at Timbers on Etowah in Canton. Nominations are open for the Heritage of Hope Award until March 31. www.serviceleague.net.

May 6-Oct. 7

The monthly block party, Canton First Friday, sponsored by the Canton Main Street Program, runs 6-9 p.m. in downtown. www.facebook.com/ CantonGAFirstFriday.

June 4

Canton Farmers Market opens for the season,

9 a.m.-12:30 p.m., in Brown Park, and continues weekly, Saturdays through Oct. 15. The open-air market features farm fresh produce, baked goods, specialty food items, fresh flowers and more. https://bit.ly/3h3c8hv

CHEROKEE THEATRE COMPANY

AROUND CANTON | March 2022

“Faith County” by Mark Landon Smith. Directed

June 10-12, 17-19

“In the Rest Room at Rosenblooms” by Ludmilla Bollow. Performances will be at the Canton Theatre.

CANTON BUSINESS CLUB Meets weekly, 8-9 a.m. Wednesdays at Reformation Brewery, 125 Railroad St. Check Facebook for other club news and events. www.facebook.com/ groups/2539178402883849.

R.T. JONES MEMORIAL LIBRARY EVENTS www.sequoyahregionallibrary.org

March 7

Teens in grades 6-12 can join “The Office” Olympics, 6-7:30 p.m., for a series of games inspired by the TV show. Register online.

March 9

Create fantasy tie-dye art, 4-6 p.m., by pairing a design with a custom tie-dye background. Register online.

March 14

The Adult Eclectics Book Club is meeting to discuss “I Am Malala: The Story of the Girl Who Stood Up for Education and was Shot by the Taliban” by Malala Yousafzai, 6-7:30 p.m., in the community room. Register online.

March 17

Celebrate St. Patrick’s Day by watching “Irish Luck,” 4-5 p.m. Children under 13 must be accompanied by an adult. Registration is not required.

March 26

Microgreens With a Master Gardener, 11 a.m.-noon,

explores microgreens and how to grow them. Registration is not required.

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Get Involved!

Opportunities Exist to Improve Our Streams BY LAINE WOOD

What is Adopt-A-Stream?

Georgia Adopt-A-Stream (AAS) is the state’s volunteer citizen scientist water quality monitoring program. Since its inception in 1993, the program has engaged volunteers in water protection activities, such as educational workshops to train individuals on the physical, chemical and biological health of their watershed. AAS has five program goals we are encouraged to adopt: 1. Increase public awareness of the state’s nonpoint source pollution and water quality issues. 2. Collect quality baseline water data. 3. Gather observations. 4. Encourage partnerships between citizens and their local governments. 5. Provide citizens with the tools and training to evaluate and protect our local waterways. To learn more, visit https://adoptastream.georgia.gov.

The Upper Etowah River Alliance (UERA) has a robust AAS program that is managed by board member Lori Forrester, a degreed environmental scientist and Cherokee County Water and Sewer Authority’s environmental affairs and public information specialist. Lori has more than 20 years of water quality monitoring and chemical laboratory analysis experience. She has been an AAS trainer for 18 years, while serving on the UERA board for 14 years.

How Can You Adopt a Stream?

UERA’s AAS program has 15 groups supporting 47 sites, from Cherokee to Lumpkin County. There are approximately 100 volunteer citizen scientists consistently gathering water samples at these sites. UERA offers training, such as a chemical monitoring workshop, which is designed to teach volunteers about basic stream water chemistry. We train on macroinvertebrate monitoring that

From left, Upper Etowah River Association Treasurer Nolton Johnson and board members Lori Forrester and John Seufert.

focuses on collection and identification techniques, as stream macroinvertebrates are excellent indicators of the condition of water quality and habitat, as well as bacteria monitoring, which teaches volunteers how to monitor E. coli levels in their streams and identify possible sources of pollution. We have capacity to support an additional 10 groups. If your neighborhood or organization is interested in assisting UERA in monitoring a stream or a portion of the Etowah, we will train you and provide needed supplies. (www.etowahriver.org)

Upcoming Events

The annual Georgia AAS conference, Confluence, will be March 18-20 at Unicoi State Park in Helen. UERA is proud to announce that several 2021 awards were garnered by board members, an AAS group leader and, overall for Lori’s efforts. For 2021, Georgia AAS will recognize UERA’s Group-487 for extraordinary watershed monitoring effort. A second award will go to Woodstock’s Weatherstone subdivision resident, Sharon Camp. Sharon is receiving a Red Flag Award for reporting high bacteria numbers, resulting from sewage overflow. And, Toonigh Neighbors, made up of UERA Board members Nolton Johnson and John Seufert, is receiving the Outstanding Outreach and Partnership Award. Nolton and John have been monitoring this specific section of Toonigh Creek for 23 years! Be sure to mark your calendar for the UERA annual Membership Meeting, April 20, at the Rock Barn in Canton. We will have our own awards for UERA members and affiliates, as well as a silent auction, including items such as weekend trips, paddle gear and artwork. Tickets soon will be available on our website, www.etowahriver.org.

More UERA Events Coming Soon!

April 30: Little River Cleanup and Waterfall Paddle June 4: Paddle on Hollis Lathem Reservoir to Yellow Creek Waterfall July 16: Picnic and Hike at Eagle’s Rest Park 16

AROUND CANTON | March 2022

Forever Young!

’80s Adult Prom Night Raises Funds for Local Children PHOTOS COURTESY OF HOLCOMB CREATIVE CO.

Buzz Williams busts a move.

On Feb. 5, Timbers on Etowah hosted the Children’s Haven ’80s-themed adult prom night, Forever Young. The fundraising event featured ’80s music, food, drinks, dancing and fun at the Mill on Etowah in Canton. In total, $19,515 was raised for the Children’s Haven and its programs to support children who have experienced abuse and neglect. A portion of the proceeds will support its new site-based mentoring program, Chin Up. The Children’s Haven is a nonprofit organization committed to building successful children through programs that increase their safety and improve educational, social and emotional functioning. Stay tuned for details about next year’s prom. https://cherokeechildrenshaven.org

Prom king and queen nominees, from left: Bobby Stilson, Michele Prance, Kristin Pinyan, Tommy Pinyan, Barbara Nye, Guy Bianchi, Lori Williams and Buzz Williams.

AROUND CANTON | March 2022

Prom-goers dance the night away.

Couples pose for a remake of high school prom photos.

Prom queen and king, Barbara Nye and Guy Bianchi.

AROUND CANTON | March 2022

Celebrations! ANNOUNCEMENTS ARE FREE!

Email: edit@aroundaboutmagazines.com April deadline is March 10.

Please specify Around Canton.

Whitley

Age 1 on Feb. 10 Happy first birthday! You are such a joy in our lives.

Landon

Age 4 on March 19 Happy fourth birthday! You amaze us each and every day. 20

AROUND CANTON | March 2022

Bree

Happy sixth birthday to our little magician. Love, Gam Gam and Billpa

Mason Schuessler

Happy sixth birthday! Mom and Dad

Kylie

Mona and Papa wish you an awesome birthday, Kylie! We love you so very much!

Xavier

Happy 10th birthday, Xavier. Love, Nana, Pop, Mommy, Dad and Novalee

Dental Veneers Revitalize a Smile BY SCOTT V. MERRITT, DMD

Your smile is by far one of your greatest assets. The appearance and health of our teeth give us greater confidence, as well as make us feel and look younger. When signs of stains, cracks, chips and crooked teeth begin to take a toll on our overall wellness, we can feel self-conscious, which causes us to hide our smiles. Don’t let gaps in your mouth keep you from wearing your best accessory. Cosmetic dental veneers can revitalize your smile. A veneer is a thin, custom-made shell that is placed over a tooth to improve a number of cosmetic imperfections and protect a tooth’s surface from damage. Porcelain veneers can correct spacing, length, the shape of teeth, discoloration, chipped teeth, uneven teeth and more. This high-quality cosmetic dentistry material is durable and stain-resistant. Veneers also are natural looking and can be precisely matched to the appearance of the rest of your teeth. Although veneers are very durable, proper home maintenance is vital to prolonging their life. Brushing your teeth two times each day for two minutes, flossing daily and enjoying a tooth-friendly balanced diet are great ways to protect veneers.

To safeguard your new smile, avoid nail-biting and eating very hard foods, such as almonds or tough meats. These harmful habits can cause excessive trauma and damage veneers. Overindulging in stain-causing foods and drinks like berries, coffee and wine also can pose a threat to your new smile makeover. Your smile speaks volumes. If you are interested in reversing wear and tear, permanent veneers can transform your entire smile. To determine if you are a candidate for porcelain veneers, meet with your dental provider. During a comprehensive cosmetic dentistry consultation, your dentist will assess your teeth, oral health and discuss if porcelain veneers are right for your smile. For a lifetime of beautiful smiles, schedule regular dental checkups with your dentist.

Dr. Scott Merritt founded BridgeMill Dentistry in 2002. The office is located on Sixes Road between Ridge and Bells Ferry roads.

AROUND CANTON | March 2022

Shepherd Has Deep Ties to Cherokee

BY MARGARET MILLER

“Great oaks from little acorns grow” is an old adage that could well apply to the life of James Marshall Shepherd, Ph.D., a worldrenowned meteorologist who grew up in Canton. His mother, Frankie Ferguson Shepherd is a retired educator and honored local community and political activist. On Feb. 15, Marshall Shepherd was back in Cherokee County to speak at a History Cherokee event in Canton. His ties to the Canton community run deep. His maternal grandfather, Charlie Ferguson, and uncle, Tony Ferguson, were instrumental in organizing the first black volunteer fire station in Georgia. A former fire station in

north Canton is being renovated and has been named the Charlie Ferguson Community Center. Shepherd, like his mother, is an educator. He received his bachelor’s, master’s and doctorate degrees in physical meteorology from Florida State University (FSU). Shepherd was the first African American to receive a Ph.D. from the Department of Meteorology at FSU. He began teaching meteorology at the University of Georgia after working at NASA for several years. Shepherd’s interest in meteorology was really by chance. As a child, his first interest was entomology, a study of insects. When he discovered he was allergic to bees, he developed

Tony Ferguson, right, at the City of Canton Fire Station, downtown. Photo courtesy of History Cherokee. 22

AROUND CANTON | March 2022

James Marshall Shepherd, and his mother, Frankie Shepherd.

an interest in the weather. After graduating from Cherokee High School, he enrolled at FSU, which, at the time, had the nation’s oldest and most respected department of meteorology. An atmospheric scientist, Shepherd is in great demand as a speaker at professional events, as well as at college and university graduations. He has received many honors for his work in meteorology, including the Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers. The multitalented meteorologist is an author of meteorology books for children, and a TV personality who hosts the Sunday talk show, “Weather Geeks” on The Weather Channel. He and his wife, Ayana, recently wrote a book, “40 Days and 40 Nights: Daily Tales (and Lessons) From a Suburban Home During the Coronavirus ‘Quarantine,’” describing their family’s experiences while quarantined due to COVID-19. Follow his journey on Facebook, @DrMarshallShepherd, and Instagram, @marsh4fsu. Margaret Miller has been a resident of Cherokee County for the past decade. Her writing hobby led her to become a columnist for community and daily newspapers.

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n gs

The King of

Wo n

eri

Georgia Moonshine BY THE WANDERER

The year was 1916. Flooding along the Etowah River had been merciless that year, from the Etowah Valley to Rome, where the Etowah meets the Oostanaula to form the Coosa. For one Cherokee County farmer, John Henry Hardin, it could have spelled disaster. Descended from French Huguenots, as a young man he’d worked in a gold mine in the county, until it flooded. Unable to read or write, Hardin was smart enough to realize that mining was too risky, and he turned to farming. A tireless worker, he was successful as a farmer, and added lands until, by 1916, he was one of the largest owners of farmland in the state. The construction of Allatoona Lake to control flooding in 1946 was still 30 years away. So, when flooding caused damage to large tracts of his corn crop, Hardin was in trouble. Because of the water damage, he was unable to sell his corn, or use it for animal feed, and he realized he wouldn’t be able to pay the taxes and mortgage on his land, and the bill for the seed he borrowed on credit. He was about to lose it all. He employed a great many locals to work his farmland, and it was a farmhand who suggested the solution. The water damage had left his corn crop good for just one thing; it could still be used to make corn liquor. Hardin was an honest man, who taught Sunday School at Sixes United Methodist Church, and never had considered anything of the sort. Faced with large quantities of corn, he converted it to moonshine and saved his business. Hardin had the labor force, and he had a lot of corn that only could be used to make mash. All he needed was a market to sell the liquor, once it was made, and nearby cities of Rome, Dalton and Atlanta proved to be ready outlets to sell alcohol, minus the excise taxes. So, the 51-year-old man, born in Ophir (just outside of modern day Ball Ground) found himself in the business of making corn liquor. He was not a bootlegger; if you wanted his product, you

At his peak, Hardin operated 20 innovative stills at a time, equipped with technology like steam boilers. 24

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came up and got it … no delivery available. But, an honest man and a hard worker are unusual in such an enterprise, and, at his peak, he was making hundreds of thousands of gallons, employing close to 100 locals and operating 20 stills at a time. Two bushels of corn meal and 60 pounds of sugar created 6 gallons of whiskey. To make more than 100,000 gallons a year, it must’ve been quite the operation. Near Stamp Creek, he had a colony of families that did nothing but make liquor, until revenuers came and broke up the camp. It’s said that so much mash went into the nearby creeks when they broke up the stills that local livestock refused to drink from them. Prohibition (1920-1933) boosted demand; thereafter followed the Great Depression, and folks did whatever they could think of to earn a living and feed their families. Local authorities ignored Hardin. In fact, while he was incarcerated in the Bartow County Jail, they allowed him to bring adding machines and typewriters into the cell to continue running his business, as it meant that much to the local economy. But, as the scale of his operation eventually sent his product well across state lines, the federal and state authorities were less understanding. Dubbed the Moonshine King of Georgia, he was caught and convicted multiple times, through the efforts of dedicated men like Duff Floyd, and spent time in the Atlanta Penitentiary. It was there that he learned to read and write, and received new ideas on how to improve the quality of his product and the covertness of his operation. He never stopped production, running his operation even while incarcerated, until his death in 1943. The fines and back taxes assessed from his convictions left him penniless, and much of what were his land holdings today lie underneath Allatoona Lake. The 1927 trial file has photos of his stills, which employed all sorts of technical innovations, from steam boilers to generate consistent heat without scorching, to the addition of sugar to

One of John Henry Hardin’s stills. Photograph from the United States v. John Henry Hardin case file.

the corn mash to boost production rates. (To view Hardin’s case file, visit https://catalog.archives.gov/id/720686.) The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) agents are as smart and persistent as moonshiners, and men like Floyd made a 30-year career out of catching men like Hardin. (Theirs is an interesting story as well, but that’s for another time.) The tradition of illegal distilleries runs deep in Cherokee County, with the ATF catching people well into the 1950s and ’60s. If you walk the Boling Park trails behind Cherokee High School today, you’ll find almost a dozen places marked with “site of moonshine still” or “remnants of moonshine still,” back among the logging trails — always in a hollow, always along a water source, always deep in the woods. We forget just how hard it was to eke out a living in that time. In 1916, Hardin was trying to save his family farm. In the ’20s, he was employing people in a locality that didn’t yet have the carpet and textile mills, and whose small farms couldn’t produce cash crops needed to pay the taxes on those farms. In the ’30s, he was helping folks brought to their knees during the Depression find the means to feed their families. We forget that many of the judges and lawyers in Atlanta that sent him to prison bought and drank his product when the workday was over. Hardin lies buried in the Sixes United Methodist Church Cemetery, the church he attended and where he sang in the choir. As the Clancy Brothers sing in “The Moonshiner”: “Bless all moonshiners, and bless all moonshine, for their breath smells as sweet as the dew on the vine.” The Wanderer has been a resident of Cherokee County for nearly 20 years, and constantly is learning about his community on daily walks, which totaled a little more than 1,800 miles in 2021. Send questions or comments to wanderingga@gmail.com.

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National Kidney Month

Kidney for Life Program Makes Faster Transplant Possible BY MALLORY WOODWARD

I first learned about my kidney disease in 2018, when I was in the hospital to deliver my son, Preston. The doctors noticed my creatinine was high, and said it could be due to the trauma of the delivery but to follow up with a kidney specialist. At the time, we also were dealing with health complications with my son, including a two-month neonatal intensive care unit stay and two brain surgeries, so I didn’t give this news much thought. Four months later, it was confirmed that I had chronic kidney disease, stage 3. Although I have a family history of kidney disease, I was not expecting this news at such a young age – 27. I was otherwise healthy, and felt no real symptoms besides fatigue, but I assumed that was due to becoming a new mom. In August 2020, my kidney disease had progressed to stage 5, and I needed a kidney transplant to avoid dialysis. The average wait time on the United Network for Organ Sharing waitlist in Georgia is eight to 10 years, and I was told that finding a living donor would be my best option. I soon learned about a relatively new program called Kidney for Life (KFL), a national registry that is able to find the best possible match through various DNA markers. Through this initiative, patients have a lower risk of rejection, less risk of graft failure, and the option to eventually

Mallory after transplant at Piedmont Hospital on March 10, 2021. 26

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Alex, Preston and Mallory Woodward. Photo by Hayley Echols Photography.

wean down on immunosuppression medication. (For more information, visit www.kidneyforlife.org.) A Facebook post was shared, asking friends and family to consider becoming a living donor, and I was beyond humbled at the amount of people who were willing to make such a generous sacrifice on my behalf. My husband, Alex, has Type O blood, making him a universal donor. Although he wasn’t a direct match for me, he ended up being the perfect match for someone else through the KFL initiative. In March 2021, I received my transplant from a donor in Washington, and Alex was able to donate his kidney to someone in Oregon. From start to finish, I waited seven months from the time I was listed, but only 18 hours on the KFL paired exchange wait list. Traditionally, a good kidney match was 6/6, meaning the human

leukocyte antigens (HLA) match score was six out of six. (Your immune system uses HLA to see which cells belong in your body and which do not.) However, behind antigens, there are eplets, which are components recognized by antibodies. Eplet mismatch analysis has been proven to be a more precise measure of a donor-recipient match. With the KFL program, my match was an 18/20. This means that we matched in nearly everything. None of this would have been possible without Alex donating his kidney on my behalf. Five months after the transplant, myself, my husband and son tested positive for COVID-19. I was hospitalized, as my case was severe, and the virus was especially hard on my new kidney. Sometimes, I still can’t believe how God worked it all out, protected my kidney, and that we are celebrating one whole year with a healthy kidney, with no rejection episodes!

Mallory Woodward is a wife, mother and award-winning floral and event designer with Stylish Stems. She is passionate about using her creative talents to create memorable events.

Endometriosis Essentials: Know the Facts BY CHEROKEE WOMEN’S HEALTH SPECIALISTS, PC

With endometriosis affecting approximately 5 million American women, it’s important to know the facts. Endometriosis is a disorder in which tissue that normally lines the inside of the uterus, the endometrium, grows outside the uterus. In endometriosis, displaced endometrial tissue continues to act as it normally would — it thickens, breaks down and bleeds with each menstrual cycle. Because this displaced tissue has no way to exit your body, it becomes trapped. Surrounding tissue can become irritated, eventually developing scar tissue and adhesions (abnormal tissue that binds organs together). Endometriosis can cause pain, sometimes severe, especially during the menstrual cycle. Fertility problems also may develop.

The exact cause of endometriosis is not known. However, possible causes include: • The immune system may not be getting rid of endometrial cells outside of the uterus like it should. • Heavy bleeding or an abnormal structure of the uterus, cervix or vagina causes too many endometrial cells to go up through the fallopian tubes and then into the belly. • Blood or lymph fluid may carry endometrial cells to other parts of the body, or the cells may be moved during a surgery, such as an episiotomy or a cesarean delivery. • It may be hereditary. Call a doctor to schedule an appointment if: • Your periods have changed from relatively pain-free to painful and interfere with your daily activities. • You have pain during intercourse. • You have painful urination, blood in your urine or an inability to control the flow of urine. • You have blood in your stool, you develop pain or you have a significant, unexplained change in your bowel movements. • You are not able to become pregnant after trying for 12 months. • You develop sudden, severe pelvic pain (call immediately).

Although there is no cure, treatment can help. Endometriosis treatment depends on how severe your symptoms are and whether you want to get pregnant. If you have pain only, hormone therapy may help. If you want to become pregnant, having surgery, infertility treatment, or both may help. Not all women with endometriosis have pain. And endometriosis doesn’t always get worse over time. During pregnancy, it usually improves, as it does after menopause. If you have mild pain, no plans for a future pregnancy or are near menopause (around age 50), you may not feel a need for treatment. Regardless, it’s best to discuss your symptoms with your doctor, to receive the proper diagnosis and get any help you need. Cherokee Women's Health Specialists, PC has eight physicians with offices in Canton and Woodstock. 770-720-7733. www.cherokeewomenshealth.com.

Schug Family

Benefit

Celebrating the beautiful life of Chasity Schug! All proceeds will go directly to the Schug family to help cover outlying medical expenses.

Northside Hospital-Cherokee Amphitheatre April 23, gates open at 7 p.m. Drinks, live music and a guaranteed good time. Bring your kids, friends and family!

For tickets

visit cherishchasityconcert.eventbrite.com AROUND CANTON | March 2022

SPONSORED CONTENT

Setting the Stage

for Success

Realtor’s experience in the current market results in higher offers, happier clients. Lindsey Haas has grown her business to the point where it is selling almost 100 homes per year, with more than 95% of her business consisting of repeat clients or referrals. She is proud to be one of the top real estate agents in Cherokee County and, with the added numbers from her small team, one of the top in the north Atlanta market, according to MLS data.

Ultimately, the homeowners got more money with less hassle, and “better terms than they were being offered from the investors,” she said. “The final closing price, minus fees and required repairs, was going to be $508,000. Using the Haas Team as the listing agent, the closing price was $575,000 and, after commission, was $547,000 — almost 15% more.”

While the numbers are impressive, it’s the personal experience that she prefers to focus on.

Lindsey sold the home in one day, with one showing. And, because they used Lindsey to purchase their next home, they got a discount on the commission on the sale of their home, netting them 7% more — almost $40,000.

“We aren’t about the quantity of homes sold. It’s more about the quality of the experience,” Lindsey said. “We have truly mastered the fine art of real estate and, without our amazing back office, we would not be able to smoothly close all the homes that we do, with precision, and have happy clients for life. Once they go through the process with us, we have them for life as a client.” The experience of one client sums up that Haas Team difference. Homeowners who initially decided to sell their home to a large investor switched to the Haas Team when they learned how much money they were giving up. 28

AROUND CANTON | March 2022

While that was the strategy this homeowner chose, Lindsey suggests homes be listed for 4-5 days, to take advantage of supply and demand. That strategy results in higher offers, an advantage that Lindsey offers her clients because of her level of experience. “I understand what works in the current market; that’s why it's important to choose a Realtor with experience and production,” she said. “One great thing about Zillow is that it tracks the production of each real estate agent automatically from the MLS

Operations Director Shannon Bieberich has been with the Haas Team since 2017.

data, so you can truly see what they are selling and the areas they focus on. Don’t miss this critical step when choosing the right Realtor for your home.”

The Haas Team Advantage

In 2017, Lindsey and Jeremy, her husband and business partner, took their successful real estate business to the next level by acquiring a warehouse, a moving truck,

PHOTOS BY RED BARYL PORTRAITS Lindsey Haas in her warehouse of staging furniture.

investing tens of thousands in decor and furniture, and hiring a full-time stager. The experience and strategic shift immediately began to pay off for their sellers. Ordinary homes — occupied and vacant — were transformed into a canvas for buyers to visualize their dream spaces. Proper presentation makes a difference for the seller, Lindsey said, bringing in more offers at higher prices. That’s why they decided to offer free staging for homes priced under $800,000. “After years of working with buyers and sellers, we saw an opportunity to elevate the experience, and maximize profits for our sellers,” she said. “Buyers watch transformations on HGTV; that wow factor is what they’re looking for when they shop for a new home. With our team, staging doesn’t cost anything; it’s a complimentary, vital service we provide, and it always delivers a higher sales price.”

Setting the Stage for Success

Lindsey walks room to room with each client and creates a plan of action that could involve anything from necessary updates to staging. No detail is overlooked in this process, which can require bringing in just a few pieces of art, or larger pieces of furniture. Everything stays through showings, professional photography and the appraisal process.

The Haas Team’s full-time stagers and interior designer visit each client and determine what’s needed. They visit the team’s 3,000-square-foot warehouse in Woodstock, load up the moving truck and make the delivery, putting everything in place. “Sellers have no idea what they are missing out on with our team. We go the extra mile by helping with proper furniture placement, recommend contractors to help take care of inspection deal killers, and bring in items to transform their home to a showstopper. Everyone needs some level of staging and preparations, to maximize their return. Furniture placement and color pops are key,” Lindsey said.

BEFORE

AFTER

Online ads generate traffic to their newly staged listings. “We draw many people to our open houses and to our listings by ads,” she said. “Many of our homes sold to someone that was not in the market to buy, but saw our ad and jumped on it. Open houses do work, and we know how to bring in the traffic and market them properly. We do them every weekend.”

Dedicated to Clients in Service

Relationships are especially important to Lindsey and her team. Their desire is to treat each client like a family member, and to take every measure to assure their success. Lindsey’s team is integral to their success; she is adding more agents to provide the ultimate experience for sellers. Operations Director Shannon Bieberich was recently promoted. She has been working with Lindsey since 2017; Lindsey said she is the equivalent of five employees.

BEFORE

AFTER

“Shannon is amazing. She has a whateverit-takes attitude, and is a major part of our success in the back office and making our clients happy,” Lindsey said. “Shannon is key to taking the business to yet another level. We are so excited for 2022.”

The Lindsey Haas Team at Atlanta Communities Real Estate Brokerage 6478 Putnam Ford Drive, Woodstock

678-933-1962

www.thehaasteam.net | E AROUND CANTON | March 2022

9 Tips to Help You Choose Interior Colors BY ELISABETH STUBBS

Having a hard time deciding on a color? You aren’t the only one. Almost everyone struggles choosing paint, carpet, hardwood flooring and window treatment colors. Here are nine tips to help you pick the right colors in your home:

Determine the direction of your room. If the room faces …

• North — dark colors will look darker; light colors will not be as vibrant. • South — dark colors will appear brighter; light colors, particularly white, can make the room look washed out. • East — colors will feel much cooler in the evening. • West — colors will feel darker in the morning and lighten as daylight increases.

Choose your paint color last. There are thousands of paint colors. If you pick the paint color first, you limit all other selections.

Decide the focal point of the room. Is it the walls, the fireplace, the backsplash, the view out the windows, the floor or the rug? The focal point should be the boldest and most vibrant color(s) in the room. Other colors should be milder, more neutral, with minimal designs.

Color intensifies as it covers more area. Select a shade lighter than what you actually want.

Get as large of a sample as possible. Move the sample around the room or home for a few days. Different lighting will affect how it looks over the course of the day. Take your time. Make sure you love your color in daylight and in the evening, when the sun is down and artificial lights are on in your home. 30

AROUND CANTON | March 2022

Look for undertones: pink, yellow, green, blue. Undertones can change as you go from room to room. Surfaces in your room, such as walls, countertops and cabinets, reflect onto the color and can intensify the undertone or cause it to recede.

A room in dark tones seems smaller and more compressed, while light tones visually expand a room, making it seem more spacious with higher ceilings. Generally, crisp whites can make a space feel bigger and more open, while warm colors create a sense of intimacy. Large rooms usually can handle more color than small rooms.

While you definitely should sample multiple color options, avoid putting the samples right next to each other. They will compete with each other, distract you and make it harder to make a clear choice. Rotate the samples in and out of the room(s) you are renovating.

Never select a floor online or from a picture. The color will not be true. Your computer monitor, the settings on your phone and tablet or your printer quality can distort colors. Use actual flooring samples for color selection.

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

AROUND CANTON | March 2022

The Impact of Inflation on Real Estate BY MATT QUAGLIANA

Are you considering buying or selling a home in 2022? Inflation may have a big impact on your decision. The impact of inflation is real. Whether it’s at the gas pump, grocery store or your favorite restaurant, inflation is at its highest level in nearly four decades, and is no stranger to the real estate industry. Many of the same factors that are causing the rapid pace of inflation also are impacting the housing market. Recent supply chain issues and pandemic-related labor shortages have caused consumer prices to rise, especially in the construction industry. The cost of lumber and building materials has kept housing supply low. Home prices are rising, as builders are struggling to keep up with the demand for single-family homes. Costs are high, and supply is short, so builders take longer to develop homes, and inventory becomes tight. For those who are renting, the increase in housing prices has affected the rental market, as well. Median rental prices rose more than 12% from 2020 to 2021, according to the Zillow Observed Rent Index. Homeowners have a benefit over renters when it comes to rising housing costs. When you buy a home with a long-term fixed rate, you are guaranteeing a housing payment over time, whereas rent prices will continue to rise

several times throughout the years. Not to mention, there is the added benefit of building equity as you pay down your mortgage, and property values continue to rise. With renting costs skyrocketing, and home values increasing, this is the perfect time to lock in a low, fixed-payment mortgage, to combat the rise in inflation. Rising consumer prices are causing some homebuyers or sellers to delay their plans, but it doesn’t have to. If you are thinking this is a bad time to buy a new home, due to the increase in prices, the reality is: This could be a great time to buy a new home, depending on your situation. Buying or selling a home in 2022 can be a great financial decision. The most important first step is to speak with a real estate agent or mortgage professional, who can help you better understand the impact that inflation has on your real estate goals.

Matt Quagliana, NMLS #1937747, is a licensed mortgage professional with Homeowners Financial Group in Canton. He can be reached at mquagliana@homeownersfg.com or 770-885-6060.

The Long-Term Investor Perspective BY MICHAEL COLLOPY

The new year came with stock market volatility, thanks to looming uncertainty about our economy, policies and interest rates. Investors don’t like uncertainty, so the recent results are not surprising. Long-term investors can fall back on several steps to play defense or offense during times of market volatility.

There’s an old saying that the best thing to do when you meet a bear market is the same as if you were to meet a bear in the woods: play dead. While easier said than done, successful long-term investors know that it’s important to stay calm during a market correction.

It’s important to make sure your portfolio is balanced in a way that aligns with your goals. When stock prices are down, your portfolio may have a different stock to bond weighting than you intended. Volatility does not always warrant a rebalance, but it’s worth reviewing.

The stock market is one of the few places where customers leave when there’s a sale! Counterintuitively, investors like to buy when stock prices are high and are nervous to buy when they are low. If you had plans to invest in the market, follow through, especially when the market is down.

When markets are off their highs, it can be a great time to take advantage of converting dollars from a traditional individual retirement account (IRA) to a Roth IRA. This

AROUND CANTON | March 2022

strategy could lead to meaningful tax savings down the road, and should be discussed with your tax preparer or financial advisor before executing.

Tax-loss harvesting is another strategy to take advantage of when the markets have declined. Investors can sell positions that are at a loss and purchase new positions as replacements. The losses can be used to offset gains and potentially a portion of earned income, leading to tax savings. If there are some positions you were looking to sell anyways, now would be a good time to rebalance.

Lastly, these are normal markets (at least as of writing this article). Since 1983, the average drawdown each year is -9.3%. This means, on average each year, at some point, the market is down 9.3% from its highs. At the same time, the market’s average return is 13.5%. This gives me confidence that long-term, patient investors, who stick to their process, will succeed in the end.

Advisory services offered through Veracity Capital, LLC, a registered investment advisor. Information presented is for educational purposes only and does not intend to make an offer or solicitation for the sale or purchase of any specific securities, investments or investment strategy. Michael Collopy, CFP®, is a partner and financial advisor with Veracity Capital, LLC. Michael recently relocated to Canton from South Florida with his wife, Kathryn, and 1-year-old son, William.

Cherokee County, An Absolute Treasure BY HARRY JOHNSTON

In the annual State of the County presentation Jan. 26, I highlighted the “absolute treasure” we have in Cherokee County, with beautiful geography and an increasingly rare and precious small-town quality of life, so close to a major city. To preserve it, the Cherokee County Board of Commissioners (BOC) has worked to control growth. And, we’ve had some success. Since 2007, when slower-growth forces gained control of the BOC, the county’s annual population growth has slowed to an average of 2.2% versus 4.5% in the 17 years before then. It’s been below 2% the last two years. In the address, I pointed out Cherokee has the lowest BOCcontrolled taxes in the metro region and the second lowest in Georgia. We have very little debt, yet our public safety services, schools and county parks programs are among the best in the state. We’ve mostly been able to keep county roads up with the growth. State highways fell behind during the high-growth era, but are slowly catching up. The county is making interim improvements to Highway 140 to keep it functioning until the state can address it. We have several key challenges ahead. We need to continue recent progress in city-county cooperation for effective overall growth management. And, we need to keep working to attract good, local jobs, especially office jobs. If you’d like me to speak to your group on the State of the County, just let me know. Also, in late January, the BOC held its annual planning retreat, where county finances were discussed. We finished fiscal year 2021 in the best financial position ever, but the workforce crisis is again making it hard to find and retain public safety officers and other employees. Salaries will likely have to increase more than the usual 3% next year. Additionally, the new tax digest may

have grown by double digits. We will need to roll back tax rates to offset that increase. We discussed the upcoming November ballot referendum, asking voters to renew the SPLOST program for another six years. SPLOST is the primary funding source for local road work, public safety facilities and equipment. Now, the Cherokee County Justice Center also is in need of expansion. Without SPLOST, our property taxes would have to be significantly higher. After a thorough briefing and discussion on current and planned road work, we agreed to use $7 million of excess current SPLOST funds to add around 28 miles to the usual road repaving program this summer. The sheriff ’s team updated us on exciting, new high technology they’re beginning to use in fighting and solving crimes. They need approximately $1 million per year to fully implement the technology. We will try to find that money in the 2023 budget. As allowed under a new state law, we tentatively agreed to reduce the petition signature requirement to call a countywide package liquor referendum from 20% to 5% of registered voters. But, it’s still a high hurdle at around 10,000 signatures. The retreat sessions were open to the public. I’m always interested in your input. Email me at hjohnston@cherokeega.com.

Harry Johnston is chairman of the Cherokee County Board of Commissioners. He's a retired CPA and accounting manager, and a former district commissioner.

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Day-Use Areas

USACE offers a variety of day-use areas that we manage on the lake. In Cherokee and Bartow counties, there are 10 ramps, five beaches, eight shelters, four picnic areas, five trails and one disc golf course. Many of the areas are a combo ramp, beach and shelter area. The day-use areas have mixed opening dates starting in February, with all areas open by May 1. Here are examples of popular day-use areas around the lake:

Cherokee County

Allatoona Lake

Opens for the Season! BY CHRISTOPHER PURVIS

It’s spring again on Allatoona Lake, and a great time to start thinking about recreational opportunities. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) manages seven campgrounds and 14 day-use areas, which offer a wide variety of great outdoor experiences. Make the lake your main source for recreation this year, but remember to play it safe and recreate responsibly!

Campgrounds

In Bartow County, McKinney Campground in Acworth is fully open and remains the only campground available year-round. McKaskey Campground in Cartersville will officially open March 17. Old Highway 41 #3 Campground in Acworth and Upper Stamp Creek in White open May 13. In Cherokee County, Sweetwater Campground in Canton and Victoria Campground in Woodstock officially open for the season March 17. Concerning campgrounds, the biggest update this year is the temporary closure of Payne Campground in Acworth. The septic system in this area is failing and probably will not open this season. The Allatoona Lake Operations Project Management Office is working with district engineers to provide solutions for the situation, as well as to gain supplemental funding. Payne Ramp will continue to be open 24 hours a day; the campground closure will not affect the ramp and the restroom in that area. All campsites will continue to be 100% reservable at every campground managed by USACE on Allatoona Lake. We had a price increase in January of $2 per site, based on the location and the amenities on the campsite. Remember to bring your debit or credit card; all Corps campgrounds went cashless in 2019. To make a campsite reservation, call 1-877-444-6777, or visit https://www.recreation.gov. 34

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

Bartow County

• Blockhouse Ramp is the busiest Corps-operated ramp on Allatoona. • Old Hwy 41 #1 Day-Use Park offers a beach and two small, one-lane ramps for boaters. • Stamp Creek Day-Use Park has a three-lane ramp area. • Cooper Branch #1 Day-Use Park, near the Visitor Center, has a two-lane ramp, picnic areas and a shelter. • Cooper Branch #2 Day-Use Park, has a group shelter, picnic tables and a nearby trail system. • Cooper’s Furnace Day-Use Park is an historic area with two shelters and associated trails. • Riverside Day-Use Park, located on the Etowah River, has two group shelters, picnic areas, trails, a boat ramp and a highly rated disc golf course. Make water and boating safety a priority when visiting the lake. We offer several programs, such as the Life Jacket Loaner Program (offered in 22 different USACE-managed locations on the lake) and the Ranger Card Program (one of the most successful children’s water safety programs in the nation). Planning on doing some paddle sports? Make sure you are wearing your life jacket, and you might get “caught” being safe and presented with a paddlers pouch and other water safety related items! Life jackets worn …. nobody mourns! For questions concerning Allatoona Lake or the Recreation Program, contact the Allatoona Lake Operations Project Management Office at 678-721-6700, visit www.facebook.com/USACEAllatoonaLake or www.sam.usace.army.mil/Missions/CivilWorks/Recreation/ AllatoonaLake.aspx

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

invites you to join us for

The Inaugural Gala and Benefit for the Children Saturday, April 30 6 p.m. Timbers on Etowah CANTON, GA LIVE BAND & DANCING | SILENT AUCTION & RAFFLE | HEAVY HORS D'OEUVRES & BAR

Presenting the "Heritage of Hope" Award NOMINATIONS OPEN UNTIL MARCH 31!

Scan the code or visit www.serviceleague.net for ticket info & to nominate presented by

AROUND CANTON | March 2022

Sgt. George Rose takes class participants out for some range time at the end of a course session.

Overcoming Trauma Together BY SUSAN BROWNING SCHULZ

Through Reboot Recovery, more than 10,000 people have been helped in their recovery from trauma. At Reboot, people are introduced to “the redemptive heart of God,” through healing courses and online community. Safe, private, peer-led and outcome-driven, the Trauma Reboot, Reboot Combat Recovery and First Responders programs provide a unique blend of clinical insight and faith-based support. Although the programs are geared toward military personnel and first responders, no one is immune to the damage and pain caused by grievous events, so Reboot’s in-

Sgt. George Rose, chaplain and Reboot Recovery leader. 36

AROUND CANTON | March 2022

person and online programs are open and available for all. Reboot helps hurting people break free from the pain of past experiences, and find renewed purpose and strength. With nearly 300 course locations, spanning 34 states and seven countries, Reboot Recovery is the largest peer-led trauma healing program in the world. And, the good news is, the program’s participants say it works. One participant shared: “The hospital fixed my body, but Reboot fixed my soul. Reboot sought out and rescued the man I once was.” Founded by a husband and wife team, Evan and Dr. Jenny Owens, Reboot began in 2011, with the first meeting in Fort Campbell, Kentucky. After years of local growth, they launched the Combat Recovery program, with a program for first responders following soon after. According to the World Health Organization, one person dies by suicide every 40 seconds, with an even higher concentration of cases in the military community. Trauma may be spreading, but, with Reboot, so is hope! The nonprofit meets this growing problem head-on, with a groundbreaking 12-week trauma healing course. “For me, Reboot has been a great experience. It is refreshing to be in the company of some great people who have really taught me a lot on how to use the terrible things I’ve experienced in ways to help others, and get past those lingering after effects. I was looking for a program like this for a long time. I was so glad when I found it,” said Josh Goetze, an 18-year military/ law enforcement veteran. “After reviewing the Reboot material, I was highly impressed with how well it was presented. It was the perfect blend of psychology and spirituality,” Reboot leader Dale Jennings said.

Donate a Book, Change a Life! BY SUSANNAH O. MACKAY

Have you ever thought about how amazing it is to see a word and know what it is trying to communicate? (You are doing it right now as you read this article!) Literacy is such a tremendous gift, and now there is a way you can share it. March is National Reading Month and, to celebrate, you can donate to two fantastic causes listed on JustServe.org:

1. The North Georgia Angel House

is an outreach program that seeks to provide shelter, life skills, educational assistance and clinical services to teen and young adult girls. It welcomes new book donations of motivational, uplifting and girlempowering titles. What a great way to recognize International Women’s Day this month, too!

2. Simple Needs GA Reboot courses are led by people who understand. Sgt. George Rose of the Cherokee County Sheriff ’s Office serves as a law enforcement chaplain and leads the Reboot First Responders Class in Cherokee, along with his partner, Cpl. Josh Watkins. “I have been part of the Reboot program for about four years, teaching it first through Cherokee County, before partnering with Revolution Church in Canton,” Watkins said. “It’s truly been a wonderful experience for me. I would encourage anyone wanting to continue the brotherhood that the military is known for to come check it out.” The next Reboot course, co-taught by Rose and Watkins, begins March 7. The course meets every Monday night at 6 p.m., for 13 weeks (a 12-week course, with the 13th week spent celebrating graduation). Classes will be held in the Shaw Woodard Firearms Training Complex, 375 Chattin Drive, in Canton. “I would like to open the invitation to any military veterans who would be interested in attending,” Rose said. Those interested in registering should email Rose at garose@cherokeega.com or Watkins at jlwatkins@cherokeega.com. For more information, and a full list of course locations, visit https://rebootrecovery.com.

Susan Schulz is a Bible teacher and mentor who lives and plays on the Etowah River in Canton. Connect with her on social media or at susanbrowningschulz.com.

has a wonderful program, My Birthday Matters, that celebrates the birthdays of children who are experiencing homelessness. Several books for each child always are included, and a library of excellent titles to gift exactly what each client would love most is maintained. These opportunities are such an easy, high-impact way to help the community. And, you can ship directly to both facilities, never leaving the comfort of home! So, how can you get involved? To learn more about donating books to North Georgia Angel House, visit https://bit.ly/3L1UcBR, and to donate books to the My Birthday Matters program, visit https://bit.ly/3uoktEJ. You can donate as an individual or family, or invite friends, neighbors and local businesses to join with you. Even kids can get involved! Never underestimate the power of simple acts of service to really change lives in our community. Check out these opportunities, and spread the word!

Justserve.org is a free, nationwide website and app that works to match volunteers with nonprof it organizations and service opportunities. If you run a nonprof it or are looking for ways to make service a regular part of your life, check out justserve.org. You can sign up for regular updates and learn more about organizations nearby, too. JustServe makes it easy to just go out and serve!

Susannah MacKay is a local JustServe specialist. She grew up in Marietta and loves helping strengthen her community through service! Follow her on Facebook @JustServeGeorgia.

AROUND CANTON | March 2022

@ the Library

Sequoyah Regional Library System www.sequoyahregionallibrary.org

What’s Happening at Your Library? BY JOHN RODGERS

Everyone’s a fan of something, and we’re putting that idea into practice with our annual convention, Sequoyah-Con. On March 19, all ages are invited to the R.T. Jones and Woodstock libraries for a day of fandom fun. Think of it as a mini Comic-Con or Dragon-Con, with one big difference: Sequoyah-Con is free. Woodstock Public Library will be spending all day in a galaxy far, far away with Star Wars cosplay, trivia, Jedi training and a virtual reality lightsaber experience. The R.T. Jones Memorial Library will be celebrating the fantasy genre with Dungeons & Dragons, a Magic: The Gathering tournament and miniature painting. See the full schedule of events at sequoyahregionallibrary.org/con. A reading challenge has been added to our Beanstack app, in honor of Sequoyah-Con, along with a reading challenge to celebrate Women’s History Month and an animal-themed Go Wild for Reading Challenge for Cherokee County Schools. Spend March exploring diverse books, e-books and audiobooks, dive into award-winning titles by female authors, and log your reading online. Beanstack allows adults, teens and children to keep track of the books they’ve checked out, as well as read, write and read reviews, and earn rewards for how much they read. Readers can participate by downloading the Beanstack app or visiting sequoyahregionallibrary. beanstack.org.

AROUND CANTON | March 2022

Madison Moak reads stories and plays games with families during the R.T. Jones Memorial Library Winnie the Pooh Storytime on Jan. 25.

The annual Public Broadcasting Service KIDS Writers Contest is back! Georgia students in grades K-3 can submit an original story with illustrations for a chance to win great prizes, including a chance to be featured on the Georgia Public Broadcasting website. The deadline to enter is April 15. For rules and more information, visit gpb.org/ education/writers-contest. Tax season is in full swing, so remember our libraries are hosting free tax preparation, courtesy of AARP, and providing limited quantities of federal tax forms as

a public service. Georgia tax forms are available online, and copies of some forms can be printed at the library. More information on tax form availability, free tax aid and how to make this tax season as stress-free as possible can be found on sequoyahregionallibrary.org/tax, or contact any Sequoyah Regional Library System location.

John Rodgers is the community engagement manager for the Sequoyah Regional Library System.

AROUND CANTON | March 2022

Be Prepared!

Spring Severe Weather Season is Approaching BY DANIEL WESTBROOK

Severe weather can strike any time of year, yet spring tends to bring the highest chances of tornadoes, floods, large hail and damaging winds. Since 1990, 20 tornadoes of varying intensity have impacted Cherokee County. Aside from tornadoes, numerous instances of large hail and damaging winds have caused millions of dollars in property damage in the last 30 years. Therefore, we encourage residents of Cherokee County to learn about the types of severe weather they may encounter, and how they should prepare. A great first step is to have a plan in place for where you will go if a severe thunderstorm, tornado or flash flood warning is issued. If you do not have a safe place to go to during severe weather, make arrangements to stay with family or friends until the threat is over. If you’re in a vehicle, have a plan for any scenario you may face, so you can protect yourself. If you live in or near flood zones, know how you will move to higher ground to avoid flood waters. Cherokee County Emergency Management recommends you have a Ready Kit, with all necessary items to sustain you for a few days after a disaster strikes. For the checklist, visit https://gema.georgia.gov/ready-kit-checklist. Cherokee County residents are encouraged to have more than one way to receive a watch or warning from the National Weather Service. As you may know, 40

AROUND CANTON | March 2022

Cherokee County offers a free, mass notification system called CodeRED to county residents. This service provides phone, text and email alerts for weather watches and warnings. For more information and to register, visit www.cherokeega-ema.org, and click on the CodeRED icon. Or, text CHEROKEEALERT to 99411. Additionally, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration weather radios, wireless emergency alerts, weather apps and local television broadcasts are good ways to receive a watch or warning. Outdoor warning sirens are meant to alert individuals in an outdoor setting, such as parks, and should not be relied upon as your primary way to receive a tornado warning. Cherokee County Emergency Management provides severe weather preparedness information throughout the year on its Facebook (@CherokeeEMA) and Twitter (@ema_CherokeeGA) accounts. Additional preparedness materials can be found on our website at www.cherokeega-ema.org, by clicking the Are You Ready? icon. Daniel Westbrook is the director of the Cherokee County Emergency Management Agency and has been with the agency since 2016.

BRING YOUR FOUR-LEGGED FRIENDS! 8 a.m. , April 23 Etowah River Park in Canton

DJ – Adoptions – Trophies – Raffles – Swag Bags

LEARN MORE AND REGISTER FOR THE EVENT

Funds raised support local animal shelters and support the fight against the dog meat trade in Asia.

www.streetdogdash5k.org

SUMMER INTENSIVES

For rising 9th graders through high school seniors.

ART & DESIGN

Animation | Portfolio | Sequential Art | June 6-10

DANCE

Intermediate-advanced Dance | June 6-10

MUSIC

Scan to Learn More!

arts.kennesaw.edu

THEATRE

Acting | Musical Theatre | Design & Technology | June 6-10

*Cobb Summer Band Camp is open only to middle school students. AROUND CANTON | March 2022

The Valley of the Giants ART AND TEXT BY ANN LITREL

We followed the narrow road as it twisted up the mountain. The day was dark and misty. We’d been wandering a wild tract of North Georgia, near Suches, for more than an hour. Old logging roads branched off on either side of us and faded into the trees. Were we lost? No. But we could not find what we were looking for – the Valley of the Giants. The giant poplars of Cooper Creek Recreation Area are a Georgia natural wonder, one of 35 from a bucket list of sites I’ve been painting on a five-year project. I searched for the giants in this mountain wilderness twice before, looking

AROUND CANTON | March 2022

unsuccessfully for the unmarked trail. This time, my son Tyler, 27, came with me, promising to help me find them. He checked the printed directions again, from a Sherpa guide online, noting that the trail pitches steeply north. We crept past another old logging road, barred with a metal gate. We’d passed it twice already, dismissing it because of its level grade — nothing pitching about it. But, it did seem to be in the right general area. Tyler pulled our car over to the narrow shoulder, and we got out, standing undecided whether to venture this dubious path. As we hesitated, a small hatchback pulled up behind us. A nondescript man, seeming neither young nor old, got out of the vehicle. He smiled and pulled out some hiking poles. I asked him if he knew if this was anywhere close to the Valley of the Giants. “Yes, this is the trail,” he said. He pointed to the old, gated road. I was elated. We’d found it! He told us it was only a mile or so to the trees. At long last, I was finally

going to see them, the mountain giants — trunks supposedly 18 feet in circumference, somehow still standing after two centuries of logging. Tyler and I set out, the hiker ahead soon disappeared in the mist. Damp leaves muffled our footsteps; moss stretched its long green fingers over every rock and fallen log. White trillium raised ghostly faces from the forest floor. A small dusky salamander flicked beneath a leaf at our feet. Soon, we became aware of the first silhouettes of the giants, looming in the mist, on the slopes above the trail. We slowed and looked on in wonder. They dwarfed the lesser trees around them; trees that would be large in younger woods, but here, lesser dwellers of an ancient place where giants still live. Moss shrouded their massive bases in pillows of vivid green. I placed my hand on the trunk of one … how old? Two hundred years? Three hundred? The hiker reappeared, returning from the trail’s end, perhaps. We asked him if we should go further. “Yes, the biggest tree is just a little farther ahead. You’ll see it on the left,” he said. Then, he was gone. I’ve had this strange experience before — a feeling that each of these special places has a kind of guardian angel, someone who watches over it, who guides friendly visitors along the path. Tyler and I remarked on the man’s face. He had bright eyes, unclouded by the troubles of the outside world and its passing stress and strains. After arriving at the largest tree, we rested for long moments before turning to hike back, listening. The giants were silent. Living in a different time. Rooted like rocks in the mountain — and to remain, l hope, long after we have gone.

Ann Litrel is an artist and certified Master Naturalist. She instructs nature journal workshops and paints in her studio, Ann Litrel Art, in Towne Lake.

Don’t Face Tax Problems Alone

BY DENSON PEPPER

Do you or your company need to catch up on the required filing of income tax returns to the U.S. Treasury or the Georgia Department of Revenue? For peace of mind, reach out to a trusted tax professional, specializing in nonfiled returns. If you have a tax liability, a tax professional can represent you to tax authorities and negotiate the best available settlement. As we approach the deadline to file 2021 tax returns, here are six facts to keep in mind about the IRS: • Generally, the IRS only requires you to file the most recent six years of returns, from 2016 to 2021 this year. The IRS will not consider a repayment plan for prior years’ taxes unless all required returns have been filed. • The IRS can file your return for you and send you the bill. Usually, the tax will be greater than it would have been if you filed it yourself. Plus, if you don’t file a return, the statute of limitations never begins to run. • If you are due a refund, you must file within three years of the return’s original due date, or the IRS can keep your money.

• Once again, the IRS is using software to find nonfilers. Enforcement labor shortages will dictate more of its usage in our foreseeable future. • People in their 50s and 60s who haven’t filed their returns, or have tax liabilities for multiple years and haven’t contacted the IRS to arrange a repayment plan, often have tax liens placed on their home. • The IRS can take up to 15% of your Social Security each month, and it’s possible that this attachment can extend beyond the statute of limitations. If you’re worried about going it alone, a tax professional can help you navigate a confusing maze of laws, to protect your appeal rights after returns have been filed and assessed.

CPA Denson Pepper is your neighbor, with 30-plus years of experience. He is an expert at helping people resolve their income tax problems. 678-797-5241.

AROUND CANTON | March 2022

Rob’s Rescues This month, I interviewed Corina Newsome, who is the Hood Naturalist (Instagram and Twitter: @Hood_Naturalist), and the community engagement manager of Georgia Audubon. She is a birder and biologist, studying the roles of climate change and predation on MacGillivray’s seaside sparrows.

Why did you decide to study seaside sparrows? I knew I wanted to help birds survive in a changing world, and was drawn to seaside sparrows, as people and animals that live on the coast are at the most risk of climate change.

Why are you fascinated by birds?

Birds have unexpected characteristics. Few people realize how diverse they are. They are fragile beings filled with air sacs, but can do the most remarkable physical feats. Looking for birds is like going on a treasure hunt.

What is your favorite bird, and why?

Blue jays. They are the first birds I studied in college. Blue jays, crows and ravens are corvids (of a family of stoutbilled passerine birds). Their cognition is intriguing. Blue jays often mimic the sound of a red-shouldered hawk to move songbirds away from a bird feeder.

My favorite migratory bird is the ruby-throated hummingbird. They are so fragile, and weigh almost nothing, but do incredible physical feats, like migrate across the Gulf.

How do you get kids, especially in underserved communities, interested in birds?

The best way to connect with people of all ages is to share my natural excitement and enthusiasm about birds. I am from an urban, low-income family in Philadelphia. I can find common ground with people from underserved communities. I am an educator and a scientist, and I share my background as well as my expertise.

Is there a story that you like to tell?

I did an ornithology class in Ohio in 2015. I became an avid birder, and spent a year trying to find the pileated woodpecker. On the radio, I heard that someone heard its call in a nearby forest. This was in the middle of a blizzard, but I drove through the snowstorm. I trekked into the forest and, when I saw it for the first time, I just fell to my knees in the snow and wept.

How can the community help you, and birds?

People who live in the city can help birds by planting wildlife-friendly native plants, no matter how big or small their place is. Keep cats indoors. Hummingbird feeders are good, but don’t put dye into the mixture — just use a sugar-water solution. Keep bird baths and feeders clean. Place feeders relatively close to windows — if the bird hits the window, it won’t have the momentum to really hurt itself. For resources to make backyards safe, visit https://abcbirds.org. Rob Macmillan is on a mission to help shelter dogs and cats. On Facebook @robsrescues. www.robsrescues.com.

Rob with Corina Newsome of Georgia Audubon. 44

AROUND CANTON | March 2022

This dog’s name is Gibbs. His tag number is 634273. He is a 2-year-old bassador. He is a very loving and affectionate dog, and is a good and calm walker. He would be a great family dog. He was very happy to go out walking, and was a good dog to manage.

This cat’s name is Alice. Her tag number is 634204. This is a great cat, and very pretty. She is lovable, affectionate and seems to like people a lot. She loved to be held, and probably would be a very comfortable companion laying on a couch. These animals are waiting for homes at Cobb County Animal Services, 1060 Al Bishop Drive, Marietta.

NEVER MISS A BEAT!

March 4-20

SUMMER CAMPS!!!

REGISTRATION OPEN MARCH 1

UNDER THE STARS

NEW VISUAL ART + THEATRE CAMPS AVAILABLE

UPCOMING:

Lantern Series

iThink Improv!

The tradition returns onstage

March 25

PLUS...

Sister Act

A Divine Musical Comedy | Apr 22 - May 8

Visual Arts Classes Orphie & The Book of Heroes

The tradition returns onstage 60+ local artists in the Gallery

Ceramics | Painting | Mixed Media

A New Musical | Jun 8-22

WOODSTOCKARTS.ORG | 678.494.4251 AROUND CANTON | March 2022

EVERYDAY

Brianna and Jesse Lee’s love story began in high school. They met their senior year at Cherokee High School, where Jesse played football and Brianna cheered. After graduating in 2014, Brianna attended Kennesaw State University, and Jesse served in the Marine Corps. They were married five years ago and have two children, William, 4, and Amelia, 2 weeks. Their nine-year love story was tragically cut short just eight days after Brianna delivered their baby girl via cesarean section. “Brianna seemed perfectly fine until she went to lie down, because she had a headache,” Jesse said. “It worsened quickly, as she began moaning and crying in pain. I immediately drove her to the emergency room. Due to COVID-19 protocols, I was not allowed to be with her. We were able to send texts when she was able, but she was not doing well. Her last text said, ‘I love you.’ A CT scan and MRI were performed. The CT scan appeared normal, but the MRI revealed bleeding on her brain, and things escalated rapidly. It was snowing on Jan. 14, which limited our options to relocate her since life flight was logistically not an option. The next notification we received was they were prepping her for brain surgery. She went into cardiac arrest several times before surgery was performed, never regaining consciousness,” he said. Weeks before her 26th birthday and sixth wedding anniversary, Jesse had to lay his beloved Brianna to rest. “There is no replacing her,” Jesse said. “She was IT. Everyone says they have a one and only, and she was mine. She was, still is, and will always be.” It often is difficult to see beauty in the ashes, but baby Amelia is the miracle. Brianna was scheduled to deliver Amelia on Jan. 19th. She went into labor earlier, on Jan. 7, and passed on Jan. 15. The family is thankful for the gift of Amelia. The impact that Brianna made on the lives of others during her short 25 years was remarkable. She loved and served 46

AROUND CANTON | March 2022

Jesse, Brianna and Will Lee.

Jesus and her family and friends. She had a special way of creating community around her. Over the years, Brianna embraced her role as a proud Marine wife, creating forever friendships along the way. She proactively created private social media methods to support military wives, helping hundreds of young women across the county. She supported Jesse as he served his country through five military deployments and numerous relocations, until finally returning home to serve Canton as a police officer. Now, the community this sweet couple grew up in, loved and served, is loving them back. “Our community has overwhelmed us with support and love,” said Pam, Brianna’s mom. “Our hearts are shattered, but our faith remains strong, and we know that God has bigger plans. Amelia looks just like Brianna, and we are grateful that our daughter lives on through Will and Amelia’s DNA. God is living through this wonderful community to help put the pieces of our hearts back together. We are grateful for the Canton police family, Generations Church, my brother

and sister’s families, and also the Detweiler family for all they have done to help us through this. We truly believe the hundreds of prayers we received have allowed us the grace to move forward. The list is simply too long to name them all.” Even from heaven, Brianna continues to change lives. Eleven people gave their lives to Christ at her funeral. Police officers from three counties lined the streets and escorted the family during her funeral procession. Friends traveled from all over the country to say their goodbyes. May we all be so loved. We ask that you pray for this precious family as they struggle with their loss. The Canton police department has put together a GoFundMe account (www. gofundme.com/f/m83bs-lee-familyexpenses) in support of the Lee family, or you may donate through Everyday Angels. Everyday Angels is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit serving Cherokee County since 2000. To make a tax deductible donation, visit www.everydayangels. info to donate via Paypal, or send your donations to: Everyday Angels, PMB 380, 1025 Rose Creek Drive, Suite 620, Woodstock, GA 30189. One hundred percent of your funds will go to the family you specify. If you know of a special need in our community, email aaeverydayangels@gmail.com.

DOWNTOWN

Canton Dining Branchwater

Nava Taqueria

Downtown Kitchen

New Georgian Hills

Steak & Seafood 190 East Main St. 678-880-7540 www.bwsteakandseafood.com Steak & Seafood 140 E. Marietta St. 770-479-1616 downtownkitchencanton.com

Goin’ Coastal

Seafood 125 W. Main St. 770-479-3737 goincoastalseafood.com

Green Line Brewery

Craft Beer, Street Tacos, Pub Food 192 E. Main St. 770-213-4420 www.greenlinebrews.com

Local on North Eatery & Bar 170 North St. 770-213-8970 localonnorth.com

Magnolia Villa

Tex-Mex 25 Reformation Parkway, Suite 106 770-213-8197 www.navataqueria.com

Southern 69 Waleska St. 770-479-8311 Facebook/GahillsRest2005

Panera Bread Sandwich Shop 205 W. Main St. 770-720-1565 panerabread.com

Queenie’s

Southern Cooking 151 W. Main St. 770-213-4897 eatatqueenies.com

The Salty Mule

Seafood 169 Church St. 770-213-4479 www.thesaltymule.com

Italian 225 Reformation Parkway, Suite 108 678-880-8133 www.magnoliavillaitalian.com

Mamma Onesta’s Italian Italian 250 E. Main St. 678-880-7770 mammaonesta.com/canton-ga

AROUND CANTON | March 2022

Ribbon Cuttings

Cherokee Chamber of Commerce

3605 Marietta Highway, Canton 770-345-0400 • www.cherokeechamber.com

STRONGSIDE

Canton Optimist Club

SuiteSciens, Inc.

Star Light Learning Academy at Canton

Paula’s ZZerts

North Georgia Angel House, Inc.

The Mill On Etowah 225 Reformation Parkway, Suite 112, Canton 678-735-0563. https://the-strongside.com.

103 Mountain Brook Drive, Unit #104, Holly Springs 914-310-5889. https://suitesciens.com.

140 Keith Drive, Canton 404-382-8543. http://www.paulaszzerts.com. 48

AROUND CANTON | March 2022

Little Free Library Project (Library Box) located at G. Cecil Pruett Community Center Family YMCA 151 Waleska St., Canton sites.google.com/site/cantonoptimistclub.

6613 Hickory Flat Highway, Canton 770-919-1975. www.starlightlearningacademy.com.

2260 Sam Nelson Road, Canton 770-479-9555. https://angelhousega.com.

Successful Companies Led by Strong Values BY ASHLEY VELEZ

Does your company have a clear set of brand values? Does everyone in your organization work with these values in mind? Core values are one of the components that make up your company’s brand. These values are the pillars of your company messaging, and make up the ideas on which your brand is built. Having a strong set of core values helps ensure your employees, from leadership to entry-level, work toward a common goal. Other key components of a company’s foundation include mission and vision. These elements support each other overall, but shouldn’t be confused with the values, which shape the why and the what. Mission is the why behind the work, the reason behind a company’s existence. Vision is a company’s goals for the future and what they hope to achieve, or the problem they wish to solve. Values matter, because they humanize your business. They guide stories, actions and, most importantly, behaviors. Maintaining your values is an ongoing process. Clearly defined values are the first step toward building trust and loyalty with your employees. Another step is how you train and empower your employees on these values. How do you expect them to show up and exhibit the values each day? As a leader, how can you ensure they are representing company values in their interactions? These questions, and the answers, shape your company culture. According to research by Brené Brown, around 10% of companies actually operationalize their values into observable behaviors that people are taught, and for which they are held accountable. The result often is culture misalignment, which arises when there’s a disconnect between core values and how the organization operates daily. This misalignment can cause people to feel splintered by their personal and professional values, i.e., who they are, and who they are at work. Disengagement at work comes from a misalignment in values. Do your words and actions as a leader set an example for the expectations you place on employees? If you’re not leaning into the values, you risk having higher levels of employee disengagement, higher turnover and inefficiencies in your systems and processes. When an organization is living its values, authenticity is seen and felt by the employees and the customers. In such a noisy world, one of the most impactful benefits of being a values-led company is trust in your leadership and brand.

Ashley Velez is a digital marketing strategist, freelance writer and company culture advocate. She's a proud resident of Woodstock, where she lives with her family.

CHUNKY SOUP · CHILI PASTA SAUCE · BEANS CORN · CANNED Meats CANNED Pasta · Rice Ramen Noodles Peanut Butter Cereal · Oatmeal Our urgent food supply is disappearing quickly! Can you donate today?

MARIETTA · 1280 Field Pkwy. CANTON · 111 Brown Ind. Pkwy.

www.mustministries.org AROUND CANTON | March 2022

SmileUp! Volunteers Participate in MLK Day of Service

Flowers are in vases and ready for for delivery.

Rotary Club Brings Smiles to Seniors The Rotary Club of Cherokee County started the Flowers for Smiles initiative a few years ago. The idea is simple; Rotarians team up with local funeral homes that donate flowers, which are left over after services, and bring the flowers to local senior centers and nursing homes (and, sometimes the hospital) to cheer up employees and residents. Rotarians rearrange the flowers, put them in vases, or simply bundle them. Then, they quickly drop off the arrangements and put an instant smile on the recipients’ face. Funeral homes interested in participating in the Flowers for Smiles initiative, as well as volunteers, can contact the club at https://cherokeerotary.org.

Every year, SmileUp! Charitable Foundation holds the MLK Day of Service; its mission is to get kids helping kids through volunteerism. This year, SmileUp! partnered with the Highland Rivers Foundation (www.highlandriversfoundation.org) to provide 250 hygiene kits and 100 kitchen starter kits to clients who are homeless or experiencing housing insecurity, individuals transitioning out of the foster care system or incarceration, and individuals who require intensive support in order to live independently in the community. Hygiene kits consisted of toothbrush/ toothpaste, shampoo/conditioner, a wash cloth, lotion, hand sanitizer, soap, mouthwash, deodorant, dental floss, a comb and Kleenex. Kitchen starter kits included a cookie sheet, skillet, saucepan and various food items. Each box was decorated, and each kit included a card from one of the 28 young volunteers, who contributed a total of 56 service hours. These Cherokee County residents signed up to volunteer on https://smileupfoundation.org. The G. Cecil Pruett YMCA offered its facility for the MLK Day of Service event and OCCUPY, Inc. provided transportation of kits to Highland Rivers.

Girl Scouts Food Drive a Success

Scouts Gabbi, Joy, Leigha, Lundyn and Nina Grace present the donations to Little River UMC scout coordinator David Bailey. 50

AROUND CANTON | March 2022

Girl Scout Troop 14465 ran a 15-day food drive as a January Community Service Effort, to stock the food pantry at Little River United Methodist Church in Woodstock, a ministry that serves the community with selfservice food for those in need. Troop 14465 filled the church’s cupboard with 1,653 items donated from friends, family and neighbors.

Volunteers pack hygiene kits. Photo by Tonya Riddick.

Cards, signed by volunteers, ready to go in each kit. Photo by Tonya Riddick.

SmileUp! Ambassador Elodie decorates her box. Photo by Tonya Riddick.

From front, volunteer Sunday-Joy, SmileUp! Ambassador Jared Riddick and Tonya Johnson Riddick organize items. Photo by Sunny Brown.

Off-Duty Firefighter Helps Elderly Resident Escape the Blaze

Capt. Brady Cornelison, left, speaks with Capt. Alec Adams about the house fire on Hickory Flat Highway.

An off-duty Cherokee County firefighter, Capt. Brady Cornelison, recently assisted a 79-year-old lady when he noticed her home was possibly on fire. Cornelison was driving south on Hickory Flat Highway when he pulled in the driveway and went to the door to alert anyone who was inside. “I knocked several times, and no one came to the door. I noticed that the door was unlocked, so I went inside and asked if anybody was there,” Cornelison said. After searching the house, Cornelison went outside and spotted the homeowner at the back of the home, looking up at the chimney. The homeowner later said she noticed her buck stove was extremely hot, and she looked out her back window and saw the smoke. Cornelison immediately called 911 to report the fire. Minutes later, firefighters responded to the scene and quickly extinguished the fire. The homeowner, who was a little shaken, stated she wanted to “Thank all the firefighters for coming out and helping her with this situation.” Thanks to Cornelison’s quick response, he may have prevented the house from having extensive damage due to the fire. AROUND CANTON | March 2022

Around & About MARCH

10 The 2022 Cherokee Film Summit

, hosted by the Cherokee Office of Economic Development, is set for 5-9 p.m. at the Yanmar Evo Center in Acworth. Tickets can be purchased through Eventbrite, or by visiting cherokeega.org.

The St. Patrick’s Day Pub Crawl is 2-6 p.m. in downtown Woodstock. Crawl-goers are encouraged to visit participating restaurants, and enjoy food and beverage specials. https://visitwoodstockga.com/event-group/pub-crawls. Join the Woodstock Waltz, 10 a.m., in downtown Woodstock. The 1-mile route starts and finishes near the arches at Chattahoochee Technical College. Proceeds benefit the Chattahoochee Tech Foundation. https://runsignup.com/Race/GA/ WoodstockWaltz1M. The Celebration of Education Gala, featuring a silent auction, live music and cocktails, begins at 6 p.m. at the Northside Cherokee Conference Center in Canton. Dinner and program begins at 7 p.m. https://bit.ly/3HoC1E4.

for “In the Rest Room 14-15 Auditions at Rosenblooms”

Christian artist Matthew West’s Brand New Tour is coming to First Baptist Church Woodstock, 7 p.m. Special guests Jordan Feliz and Hannah Kerr also will make an appearance. Doors open at 6 p.m. www.brandnewtour.com. Cherokee Parks and Recreation’s Flashlight Egg Hunt event begins at 6 p.m., and the egg hunt starts at 8:30 p.m., at Cherokee Veterans Park in Canton. Meet the Easter Bunny, explore the kid zone, make and take crafts, and more. Cost is $10 per child. www.playcherokee.org.

Registration is open for Blankets Creek Trail Run, 5-mile and 9-mile races, and Blankets Creek Dirty 15/30 Mountain Bike Race. A portion of the proceeds from the event will benefit SORBA Woodstock. https://mountaingoatadventures.com.

A skin cancer screening event will be held at Northside Hospital Cancer Institute Radiation Oncology — Cherokee in Canton. https://bit.ly/3FlClBI. To schedule an appointment, call 404-531-4444.

The Woodstock Farm Fresh Market is open Saturdays through Dec. 17, 8:30 a.m.-noon. The market is located downtown, on Market Street and in Reformation Brewery’s backyard. Details available at www.visitwoodstockga.com.

by Ludmilla Bollow begin at 7 p.m. at the Hangar in Woodstock. Full-length comedy-drama, four females. www.cherokeetheatre.org.

19 Lecture: The Rural Cemetery Movement

under the direction of Scott L. Martin, 4 p.m., at the Falany Performing Arts Center. Seating is limited. Cost is $15 for adults and $5 for students. www.cherokeechorale.org.

23 A Night to Celebrate Chastity Schug Concert

Chorale will perform 20 Cherokee Mozart’s “Requiem,”

Georgia Food + Wine 24-27 Festival, The

benefitting MUST Ministries, is coming to Jim R. Miller Park in Marietta. Celebrate the best of Georgia and the South, from its culinary superstars and beverage experts, to farmers, artisans, live musicians and more. https://georgiafoodandwinefestival.com.

26 2022 Queen of Diamonds Pageant

Cherokee Warriors Baseball will host the

at the Cherokee High School Auditorium. The event begins with the little miss pageant at 9 a.m., followed by the junior miss pageant at 1 p.m. and the miss Cherokee High School pageant at 6 p.m. Proceeds benefit the Cherokee Warriors baseball program. https://cherokeebaseball.square.site/ queen-of-diamonds.

APRIL

AROUND CANTON | March 2022

with Marcy Breffle, Historic Oakland Cemetery education manager, is coming to the Rock Barn in Canton. This event is free and open to the public. Stay tuned for more information. https://historycherokee.org.

is coming to the Northside Hospital — Cherokee Amphitheater in downtown Woodstock. Enjoy music by Elton Live!, an Elton John cover band. Proceeds to benefit the Schug family. https://cherishchasityconcert.eventbrite.com.

CHEROKEE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE www.cherokeechamber.com

Good Morning Cherokee breakfasts are held 6:30-9 a.m. monthly at the Cherokee County Conference Center, 1130 Bluffs Parkway, Canton. Power Hour Networking is held monthly at the Chamber office, 3605 Marietta Highway, Canton, 10-11 a.m. Business After Hours, 4:30-6 p.m., meets in rotating Chamber member businesses, monthly (except July and August).

CHEROKEE COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT www.cherokeek12.net/News/ccsdtheatre2122 Contact the school front office for information. Performances are at 7 p.m., unless otherwise noted.

March 24-26

WELLNESS WEDNESDAYS Join Northside Hospital experts for a virtual health presentation every Wednesday at noon. www.northside.com/community-wellness/classes-events

March 2: Dr. Deep Shikha, Northeast Georgia Diagnostic Clinic

"Rodgers & Hammerstein’s Cinderella" Sequoyah High School. Adult tickets are $15; student tickets are $12.

March 9: Lisa Ellenberger, RD, Northside Hospital March 16: Dr. Fahad Khan, Northeast Georgia

"Lost Girl" Cherokee High School. Tickets are $5.

March 23: Dr. Alyssa Ligouri, North Georgia

March 25-26

"The Drowsy Chaperone" Etowah High School.

There also is a 2 p.m. matinee on March 26. General admission tickets are $12. Tickets are $10 for senior citizens and children, age 12 and younger. Tickets are $8 for thespians and drama club members.

"Disney’s Beauty and the Beast" Creekland

Middle School. 5 p.m. on March 26. Ticket price to be determined.

FALANY PERFORMING ARTS CENTER For tickets, visit www.facebook.com/ falanyperformingartscenter.

Through March 5

The University Opera is performing three nights, 7:30-9:30 p.m. Keep an eye out for details for each performance.

March 11

Red Cedar Review invites listeners to enjoy stories told through their music, beginning at 7:30 p.m. The acoustic band performs a blend of folk, country-blues and bluegrass.

March 19

Bee Gees Gold the Tribute is the ultimate salute and experience of seeing the Bee Gees in their prime, with the detailed vocal stylings of John Acosta (Barry), Daryll Borges (Robin) and Jeff Celentano (Maurice) as the brothers Gibb. Performances begin at 3 and 7:30 p.m.

Diagnostic Clinic

OB-GYN Specialists

LIBRARY EVENTS March 8

www.sequoyahregionallibrary.org

Let your imagination shine, 4:30-5:30 p.m., at Hickory Flat Public Library’s Lego Lab in Woodstock. Ages 9 and under must be accompanied by an adult. Registration is not required.

March 9

Stop by Woodstock Public Library for Senior Bingo for Books, 10:30-11:30 a.m. Win books as prizes,

socialize with new friends, and have fun. Refreshments are provided. Registration is not required.

March 12

LEGO Wars is coming to Rose Creek Public Library, 3-4 p.m. Compete in the Star Wars-themed building challenges, and prove you are the best in the galaxy. Register online.

March 15

The Virtual Kids Book Club is reading “The Penderwicks” by Jeanne Birdsall this month. The club is perfect for kids in grades 2-5 and meets 4-5 p.m. Register online.

March 25

WOODSTOCK SUMMER CONCERT SERIES

Patchouli takes the art of guitars to another dimension. The animated painting concert experience comes alive with the music and begins at 7:30 p.m.

The free concerts begin at 7:30 p.m. at the Northside Hospital — Cherokee Amphitheater. www.woodstockconcertseries.com.

The Landscape of Guitar duo, Bruce Hecksel and Julie

April 2

Relive the rock and roll magic of Fleetwood Mac with

Rumors: The Ultimate Fleetwood Mac Tribute Show, 3-5 p.m. From period accurate equipment and

costumes to spot on characterizations and musical performances, the show will take you back in time.

May 14: June 11: July 9: Aug. 13: Sept. 10:

Marshall Charloff & Purple Xperience Sister Hazel Drew Holcomb and The Neighbors Black Jacket Symphony — Hotel California Scotty McCreery AROUND CANTON | March 2022

Advertisers

This wonderful publication is brought to you by these local businesses. When using our advertisers’ services, please let them know you found out about them from the Around Canton magazine!

March 2022

ACCOUNTING & TAX Denson Pepper, CPA 678-797-5241 www.densonpeppercpa.com Treasure Tax 678-888-4829 www.treasuretax.com

BUSINESS SUPPORT 5

ATTORNEYS Imbriale Injury Law 678-445-7423 www.imbrialeinjury.com

AUTOMOTIVE BridgeMill Auto Care Canton: 770-720-0765 East Cobb: 770-641-9906

AROUND CANTON | March 2022

Canton Business Club

Downtown Canton www.cantonga.gov

INWDSTK www.inwdstk.org/events

CHIROPRACTIC

ANIMALS/PETS Cherokee County Animal Shelter www.cherokeega-animals.org

EDUCATION/TRAINING

DT Chiropractic 770-580-0123 www.dtchiropractic.com

ENTERTAINMENT/EVENTS Cherokee Chorale www.cherokeechorale.org

Cherokee Theatre Company 770-591-0282 www.cherokeetheatre.org

Georgia Food and Wine Festival 23 www.georgiafoodandwinefestival.com

DENTAL BridgeMill Dentistry 770-704-1812 www.bridgemilldentistry.com

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

Gentle Dental Care and Georgia Dental Implant Center Inside back 770-926-2784 www.georgiadic.com

Schug Family Benefit Concert

Service League Gala & Benefit for the Children www.serviceleague.net

www.cherishchasityconcert.eventbrite.com

Street Dog Dash 5k www.streetdogdash5k.org

Wing & Rock Fest www.wingandrockfest.com

Woodstock Arts www.woodstockarts.org

5, 25

Edward Jones, Sarah Kendall 1 770-720-6245 www.edwardjones.com/sarah-kendall LGE Credit Union www.lgeccu.org Veracity Capital 678-685-3265 www.veracitycapital.com

13 9

HOME & GARDEN Bryan Plumbing Services 770-826-5277

Enhance Floors & More 770-565-3808 www.enhancefloors.com

Findlay Roofing 770-516-5806 www.roofroof.com

Levicor Tree Service 803-413-0884 www.levicortreeservice.com Mr. Junk 678-675-8651 www.mrjunk1.com

RETAIL

Allstate, Cindy Sheets 770-824-7241

MISCELLANEOUS The Chamber Friends of Noddingland

MOVING SERVICES

FINANCIAL SERVICES Credit Union of Georgia 678-486-1111 www.cuofga.org

INSURANCE

Page Relocation 770-224-8184 www.pagerelo.com

1, 11

PHYSICIANS AND MEDICAL SERVICES North Georgia Audiology & Hearing Aid Center 770-726-8948 www.YourHearingLink.com OPI OutPatient Imaging 404-225-5674 www.outpatientimaging.net Piedmont Urgent Care www.piedmonturgentcare.org

REAL ESTATE & RELATED SERVICES

Golf Cars of Canton 678-880-1156 www.golfcarsofcanton.com

Back cover

SENIOR LIVING/SENIOR SERVICES Lodge at BridgeMill, The Inside front 470-863-2690 www.bridgemillseniors.com

PHOTOGRAPHY Red Baryl Portraits 815-540-0936

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

Atlanta Communities Real Estate, The Lindsey Haas Team Cover, 7, 28-29

Lindsey Haas, 678-933-1962 www.thehaasteam.net Miranda Mowrey, 404-488-7950 www.lakelivinggeorgia.com

Manor Lake BridgeMill 678-990-5055 www.manorlakebr.com

St. George Village 404-558-6108 www.stgeorgevillage.org

SUMMER CAMPS Camp Splash, Gold Swim School 770-591-1998 www.goldswimschool.com Kennsaw State University College of the Arts www.arts.kennesaw.edu

SUPPORT ORGANIZATIONS MUST Ministries www.mustministries.org

Next Step Ministries www.nextstepministries.net

Homeowners Financial Group 11 Matt Quagliana, 770-885-6060 www.homeownersfg.com/mattquagliana

DELIGHTING READERS SINCE 1996

For advertising rates and information | Jennifer Coleman 678-279-5502 | jen@aroundaboutmagazines.com AROUND CANTON | March 2022

o t e m i It’s t

e t a n i m o N tes! i r o v a f your

READERS’

CHOICE Award 2022

You can be a winner, too! If you nominate at least 25 businesses, you are automatically entered to win a

$500 Visa gift card. SCAN or visit www.aroundcantonmagazine.com.

March 1-31

Go to the Around Canton Readers’ Choice site, and nominate your favorites in the 30114 and 30115 Zip codes. Write-in nominations welcomed! AROUND CANTON | March 2022

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Articles inside

Community Calendar

Noteworthy

Ann Litrel

Everyday Angels

Denson Pepper

Daniel Westbrook

Susannah MacKay

Susan Schulz

Christopher Purvis

Mallory Woodward

Elisabeth Stubbs

Harry Johnston

Cherokee Women’s Health Specialists

Laine Wood

The Wanderer

Around Canton

Margaret Miller

Downtown Events

Dr. Scott Merritt

CanTeen

Local News