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Contents March 2022

Contributors 59 Christopher Brazelton 22 Donna Broadus

A Common Goal

40 Charlice Byrd

On the Cover

24 Michael Caldwell

A look behind the scenes of the cover photo shoot with Giselle Williams, of Staffordshire Home Advisors, and Realtor Shonna Sherrill, of Atlanta Communities.

35 Cherokee Women’s Health Specialists 42 Karen Garland

50 Ruth Hamilton 27 Harry Johnston

Pages 32 & 33

Cover photo by Red Baryl Portraits.

46 Bryce Jones 54 Ann Litrel

19 Susannah MacKay 48 Rob Macmillan

14 Margaret Miller 50 Denson Pepper

28 Christopher Purvis 58 John Rodgers 18 Susan Schulz

20 Teddy the Spaz Man 23 Ashley Velez

56 The Wanderer

34 Daniel Westbrook

30 Laine Wood

38 Mallory Woodward

Forever Young!

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

Message From the Mayor

Keep up with the latest news in Woodstock through Michael Caldwell’s monthly column.

Kidney for Life

Did you know there’s a program that facilitates kidney donations to strangers? Mallory Woodward, left, tells her family’s story. 2

TOWNELAKER | March 2022

In Every Issue 4 Around Towne 8 Local News

12 Celebrations

26 Everyday Angels 44 Noteworthy

48 Rob’s Rescues

52 Recent Home Sales 58 Library Events

60 Community Calendar

62 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 TOWNELAKER | March 2022

Around Towne Letter From the Editor

Readers, it’s all about YOU this month! Okay, 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.townelaker.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 website, giving you a perfect resource for 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, I’d like to ask for your help. I’m sure there are many human interest stories in your neighborhoods. I’d love to hear about them, and share them with others! Please don’t hesitate to email me. We want to champion those unsung heroes who live next door! 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 16-17 for a trip back in time. Allatoona Lake campgrounds are opening (Page 28), and there are opportunities to adopt a local stream through the Upper Etowah River Alliance and a state program (Page 30). 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 38 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

TOWNELAKER | March 2022

READERS’

CHOICE Award 2022

Nomination phase starts 9 a.m.

March 1

For details, see Page 64 and visit www.townelaker.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 Closing

The Wright Stuff Records & Collectibles

at 8646 Main St. is closing after 11 years in downtown Woodstock. Owner Tom Wright, in a Facebook post, said he’ll be offering sales and specials to reduce inventory before closing. 410-294-8226. www.facebook.com/twsrecordsandcollectibles.

Cherokee Chamber of Commerce Ribbon Cuttings

Ursula & Associates Real Estate

1025 Rose Creek Drive, Suite 680, Woodstock 678-569-4044. https://callursula.kw.com.

Treasure Tax

225 River Park North Drive, Woodstock 678-888-4829. www.treasuretax.com.

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TOWNELAKER | March 2022

Publisher Aroundabout Local Media, Inc. www.aroundaboutlocalmedia.com

Around Acworth | Around Canton | Around Kennesaw Around Woodstock | TowneLaker

Our Mission

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

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President Kim Dahnke 770-615-2779 kim@aroundaboutmagazines.com Vice President Jennifer Coleman 678-279-5502 jen@aroundaboutmagazines.com Executive Editor Candi Hannigan 770-615-3309 candi@aroundaboutmagazines.com Managing Editor Donna Harris 770-852-8481 donna@aroundaboutmagazines.com Assistant Editor Jessica Forrester 770-615-3318 jessica@aroundaboutmagazines.com Production Manager Michelle McCulloch 770-615-3307 michelle@aroundaboutmagazines.com Page Designer Laura Latchford laura@aroundaboutmagazines.com Graphic Designer Savannah Winn savannah@aroundaboutmagazines.com Controller Denise Griffin 770-615-3315 denise@aroundaboutmagazines.com Social Media Manager Kathryn Holt kat@aroundaboutmagazines.com Market & Advertising Specialist Michelle Smith michelle.smith@aroundaboutmagazines.com Copy Editors Bill King, Eliza Somers

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TowneLaker, a publication of Aroundabout Local Media, Inc., is a community magazine with 16,400 free copies distributed monthly. Approximately 15,800 are direct mailed to homes and businesses and an additional 600 are placed in racks in the community. TowneLaker welcomes your comments, stories, and advertisements. Editorial deadline is the first and advertising deadline is the fifth of the previous month. Subscriptions are available for $24 per year. Send check or money order to: TowneLaker, 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/ Publisher and the Publisher makes no claims as to the validity of any charitable organizations mentioned. TowneLaker is not responsible for errors or omissions. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means without written permission from the Publisher. All rights reserved. Copyright 2022. Volume 26, Issue 10

America’s Community Magazine

TOWNELAKER | March 2022

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 time-sensitive 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.

TOWNELAKER | March 2022

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 10

TOWNELAKER | March 2022

Etowah Journal

From left, Ryan Lofland, Lauren Giesler, Emily Collins, Morgan Busbee and Christopher Haswell.

Etowah Seniors Published in Tutoring Journal e Haswell, Emily Collins, Morgan Etowah High School seniors, Christopher

Busbee, Lauren Giesler and Ryan Lofland, who are a part of the East Wing Tutoring Center, submitted a manuscript titled “Building Diverse Tutoring Centers With Affinity Spaces” to the Secondary Schools Writing Center Association in October 2020. After being accepted for publication with revisions added, the students worked on the revisions process until it was ready in October 2021. In January, it was published in the Journal of Peer Tutoring in Secondary Schools, Fall 2021 Volume 1, Issue 2. View the journal entry at https://bit.ly/3qF9Xqg.

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.

Fundraiser Set to Benefit Veterans Project The Highland Rivers Foundation is planning a kickoff fundraiser, set for 7:30-9 a.m. May 12, in support of establishing an evidence-based, peer-led support community for veterans in Cherokee County. The community is based on the concept of a green zone, where military men and women can find local peer support and recovery services. It will be named the Green Zone – Veterans Recovery Center, and will be part of the Highland Rivers Behavioral Health Service system. The center will be available to all veterans around the state; the cost to establish the Green Zone is $1.4 million. The Reveille Kickoff breakfast fundraiser will be held at Venue 92, 12015 Highway 92 in Woodstock, and will feature guest speakers, including recovery clinicians, corporate foundation and individual supporters, and veterans, speaking on the importance of having an accessible green zone staffed and led by peers. The breakfast is being planned by the Highland Rivers Foundation, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. To RSVP, email sherrymcgee@highliandrivers.org or call 706-590-9238.

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Make their

trip to the dentist one to look forward to. Tournament Director Mark Sheldon, left, and Cherokee Senior Services Director Tim Morris.

Donation a Boost to Meals on Wheels Cherokee County’s Meals on Wheels program was given a $5,500 donation from a recent fundraiser held by Cherokee County Senior Services, Trainhopper Disc Golf and Stand Up for Seniors, formerly known as the Volunteer Aging Council. The 21st annual Cold Snake Classic Disc Golf Tournament was held at Sequoyah Park Dec. 12-13, and drew 143 players from across the state. All proceeds from the event went to benefit Stand Up for Seniors, which supports the county’s Meals on Wheels program and other services for local seniors. For more information on Stand Up for Seniors, visit vaccherokeega.org, and to learn more about the Meals on Wheels program, visit cherokeega.com/Senior-Services.

Why

READERS’

CHOICE Award

choose us? Friendly Environment

2021

2012-2021

Caring Staff

Emergencies Welcomed

Dr. Julius Park Pediatric Dentist

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770-926-9260 Schedule an appointment today! PediatricWoodstockDentist.com TOWNELAKER | March 2022

Celebrations! ANNOUNCEMENTS ARE FREE!

Email: edit@aroundaboutmagazines.com April deadline is March 5. Please specify TowneLaker.

Ansley Giesler

Happy 15th birthday! Love, Mommy, Daddy and Lauren

Bill Mordecai

March 31 Happy birthday, Grandpa. Love, Karpeh and the Mordecai family

John

Happy birthday, John! We love you so much! Hayley, Emerson and Sawyer

Kendall Brown

Age 13 on March 11 Happy birthday, Kendall! We love you so much and hope you have an amazing year as an official teenager! Mom, Dad, Kaitlyn, Julie and Moose

Corbin Pellegrino

Happy birthday, Maureen Penniman!

From left, around the table: Philip Psareas, Marian Gray, Rebecca Bush, Sylvie Barger, Lisa Mackie, Suzie Hubbell, Maureen Penniman and Diane Roger. 12

TOWNELAKER | March 2022

Happy second birthday to our precious baby boy! We love you! XO, Momma, Daddy and Archie

Emerson

Happy seventh birthday! We love how exciting you make life. All our love, Mommy, Daddy and Sawyer

Steve Scropshire

Congratulations, Steve, on your level one sommelier! He has taken the exam six times and is a resident of Towne Lake Hills. We are so proud. - Percy

Boaz Ross

Happy second birthday to Boaz Ross! Love, Mom, Dad and Juliette

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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. 14

TOWNELAKER | 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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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.

TOWNELAKER | 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.

TOWNELAKER | 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. 18

TOWNELAKER | 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.

TOWNELAKER | March 2022

I’m. In. Shock.

BY TEDDY THE SPAZ MAN

A A

hh, ‘tis the month to celebrate all things Irish, the land of my people. After all, I have red hair, say “wee” a lot and love to have a good time. I even own a Dog Bar. But, each year as St. Patrick’s Day rolls around, I can’t help but wonder … What if I’m not Irish at all? My thoughts raced at all the possibilities. Maybe I’m an Aussie from Down Under. I bet the punchy kangaroo is a brother from another mother.

Oops. Sorry Dad! 20

TOWNELAKER | March 2022

After all, I kicked dad in the nether region so hard one time he sang soprano for three days. That was funny. Or, maybe I’m Scandinavian, like mom. After all, I love me a good ole slab o’ salmon, and my crib just oozes hygge. Or, maybe I’m German, since I’ve been called a Wiener schnitzel a time or two. Or, wait, I have to be British, ‘cause I wear a smart dressing gown to bed and turn into a right curmudgeon if I don’t get my nightly spot o’ tea. ‘Ello gov’na. OK, OK, I got carried away with all these what ifs. It was high time I found out the truth. So, the next day, dad sent some of my hair off to the lab. I could barely contain my excitement. Then, finally, an email arrived with the subject line, Teddy’s DNA Results. As mom took her sweet time opening it, I once again pictured myself laughing rip-roariously with

my fair-faced, freckled family in a quaint, little village nestled deep in the hillsides of ole Éire, Ireland. Yep, these results were going to confirm what I’ve suspected for years … “Am I Irish, mom? Am I?” After what felt like an eternity, she turned and said, “Teddy, I think you should sit down for this.” Taking my paw in her hand, she said, “My dear sweet son, this may be hard for you to accept, but you are neither Irish, German, Italian nor Norwegian. You, my dear boy, are a dog.” Stunned, I dropped to my knees and stared at mom in utter shock. “Oh, Teddy, this is a good thing,” she reassured me. “You are what all humans aspire to be. You have no hate, bitterness or jealousy in your heart. You show humans how to love unconditionally, and you accept everyone for exactly who they are. You are the purest form of love, so stand proud because your DNA results prove what we’ve known all along — you’re 100% perfect.” Sure, it may have taken me a while to embrace my new identity, but that doesn’t mean I can’t still play the part now and then. Wink, wink. Teddy the Spaz Man is a social media dog and not-so-humble Hallmark star living in downtown Woodstock. Facebook/Instagram: @teddythespazman.

TOWNELAKER | March 2022

Spring Forward, Refresh Your Home Decor BY DONNA BROADUS

Spring is associated with many things, such as spring cleaning, Easter, springing clocks forward, the beginning of gardening season and the best time to sell your home! Spring is a great time to change your home decor, and freshen up your shelving units, tables and wall decor. Bedding and pillows can be swapped out, too, for a lighter, fresher look. I like to use fresh flowers when I can (Hello, Trader Joe’s flowers!), but I also love fake flowers and greenery, since many look nearly real. One of my favorite fake flowers are pink and white peonies that I purchased from Amazon. I love using peonies to style tablescapes, and they also make a great addition to any shelf or coffee table. Another favorite — when staging homes, as well as in my own home — are fake ferns. In the past few years, I have picked up several from the Studio McGee and Magnolia collections at Target. They come in all sizes, and I almost always choose one in a cream or black pot, for uniformity, and to use with any decor. The ferns can be placed anywhere, but, often, I add them to shelves, table tops and as a pop of green in bathrooms. For other spring decor, I use my collection of rabbits and outdoor architectural items, as well as clay pots. Blue-colored Ball jars make great vases to hold flowers, and also can be used to hold candy, cotton balls, sugar and more. Don’t be afraid to change up your home decor throughout the year … not just during fall and Christmas. Changing things up seasonally is a great way for you to do deeper home cleanings, and get rid of things you do not need, or that have gone out of style. With every seasonal change, bring in new pieces, rearrange your home decor, and move around small furniture. It will keep your home more interesting to you and others. Happy spring!

TOWNELAKER | March 2022

Donna Broadus is a 28-year resident of Woodstock and the owner of Broadus Realty Group. Follow her on Instagram and Facebook for design/staging tips. broadusrealtygroup.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.

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A Message From the

Drinking From a Firehose

In February 2013, I wrote my first article to update the 20th District as the new member of our state’s House of Representatives. I called the article “Drinking From a Firehose.” And now, in 2022, as I start my service as the 31st mayor of the city of Woodstock, that theme feels more appropriate than ever. This is the first time our city has had a new mayor in 16 years, after four fantastic terms under Mayor Donnie Henriques that saw unprecedented growth and success for our community. As you can imagine, transitioning to a new leader for the 29th-largest city in the eighth-largest state in America requires a delicate handoff of institutional knowledge. I owe a huge thanks to my predecessor, our outstanding city management staff and each of our department heads for helping to make sure that I hit the ground running. The city of Woodstock has more than 200 full-time, part-time and seasonal employees across 11 departments, and we serve more than 35,000 residents every day. Leading this community is a big task, and there are plenty of moving parts. Serving as the mayor in Woodstock isn’t a full-time job, though. It isn’t intended to be one. Being a citizen mayor means balancing your work, family and city priorities. Speaking of family priorities, Katie and I are expecting the arrival of our third child, Charlotte, to be born on March 3, and we’d appreciate your prayers for a healthy, happy birth! Many of you know that I also own Black Airplane, an award-winning, digital product agency, employing nearly 30 Georgians full-time in downtown Woodstock. Continuing 24

TOWNELAKER | March 2022

Michael, Katie, Oliver and Elizabeth Caldwell.

our business’s growth, and investing in the incredible people who work with us there requires time and effort. From three kids, to a growing business, to supporting Katie in her work as the president of Woodstock Arts’ board of directors, and my own time on boards (I serve as the governor’s appointee on the Georgia Technology Authority, the History Cherokee board and the Cherokee Public Health board), our family has plenty of great places to invest our time and passions. It’s easy to invest in a place you love. This is what makes our city so great. In the same way that I loved that our state Legislature was filled with citizen legislators working real jobs and experiencing life as everyday Georgians, our council and mayor in Woodstock are made up of everyday Woodstockers looking to leave our next generation an even better city. Anyone can serve their neighbors in this community, and that is exactly the way it should be. As we start this incredible journey

together, I want you to know how grateful I am for your trusting me with this role. I used to say that representing our families in the state House was the honor of my lifetime. Well, leading this city that I love is an honor and a privilege that I never will be able to describe. From the bottom of my heart, thank you. We have built a place that people want to be, and our calling today is to build a place that will last. That will be the mission of my administration. We will leave our children a city that they will be proud to inherit. We’ll do it by drinking from the firehose, leaning in each day and investing in this incredible place. I’m excited to work with each of you to continue to see Woodstock thrive. Let’s get to work. Mayor Michael Caldwell

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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 26

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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.

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.

TOWNELAKER | March 2022

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. 28

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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.

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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 30

TOWNELAKER | March 2022

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TOWNELAKER | March 2022

A Common

GOAL Realtor, Home Inspector Strive for a Successful Client Experience

Realtor Shonna Sherrill, of Atlanta Communities, and Giselle Williams, of the home inspection firm Staffordshire Home Advisors, met through local networking groups, and have formed a working relationship and mutual respect that reflects a common goal: creating a successful client experience. Shonna appreciates Staffordshire’s availability and professionalism. “They’ve truly added value to my clients by providing more than an inspection, (also) educating them about their home. … I value our working relationship, because we work together to help, benefit and educate our clients, so they can be confident in their home purchase.” Giselle recognizes the concern Shonna has for her clients: “Having a great real estate agent is a big plus when buying a home. Buyers need someone who cares and listens. What I admire about Shonna is that she is a professional, friendly, responsive and helpful person who cares about her clients.”

TOWNELAKER | March 2022

Shonna Sherrill

Shonna Sherrill Properties Where the Focus Is Creating a Great Client Experience.

For Sherrill, Towne Lake is a true live, work and play community. “It was the tree-lined streets that brought me to the area, but the kindness of the people in the community have kept me here,” she said. “I’m very proud to call Towne Lake home.” The Georgia native moved from the Atlanta suburbs the year after her husband passed away. With a fresh start in a new location, she got busy building the business she started in 2016. Although she was licensed in 2005, her focus then was helping friends and family with their real estate needs, while working full time in sales and management. Toward the end of 2015, she decided to make real estate her career, and started Shonna Sherrill Properties. “Thankfully, it was a very successful year. I loved everything about it and quickly realized how all my previous work experience came together in this business — accounting, management,

PHOTO BY RED BARYL PORTRAITS

sales, ministry and construction,” she said. “There is so much more to a real estate transaction than one would think, and much of it involves knowing how to effectively work with people.” Shonna describes herself as a resultsdriven, systems- and processesoriented communicative professional. She and her team value constant communication and a caring approach with clients, understanding that buying or selling a home is a huge commitment. “We’re hyper-focused on the success of our clients. They depend on us to be the expert in our field and to guide them successfully through the real estate process just like any other professional would do for their client (doctors, lawyers, accountants, etc.), so everything is about them, not us,” she said. That dedication can take them to great lengths for their clients. Shonna shared her most unusual experience: selling a home for a couple while one of them was incarcerated. Her team handled everything in person, making frequent visits to the local jail. Amid several obstacles, they were able to meet their client’s needs and get to closing. “Our client was amazed, surprised, and very happy in the end,” she said. “I don’t know that this is something we will ever experience again, but it meant a lot to know that the sale of their home wasn’t impossible, as it seemed.” Shonna is growing her team and continuing to focus on a solid and successful client experience. “We want to increase our presence in Cherokee County as a solid resource for our community, and ultimately be the agents of choice.” Shonna Sherrill Properties, Atlanta Communities Realtor 9860 Highway 92, Woodstock C: 678-634-5581 O: 770-240-2005 www.ShonnaSherrill.com | E Q

Giselle Williams

Staffordshire Home Advisors Not Just a Home Inspection. A Home Instruction. Williams and her husband, Glen, opened Staffordshire Home Advisors in 2017, with one purpose: to serve others. The business was the perfect opportunity to utilize his technical skills and attention to detail, and her passion for people and relationships. “We both love to serve others, and home inspections was a great fit for the both of us,” she said. Staffordshire provides buyer and pre-listing (seller) inspections; radon, termite and drone inspections; and a one-year builders inspection warranty. Each client also gets a lifetime subscription to Homebinder, which is an online account that serves as a central location for homeowners to store information, ranging from paint colors to maintenance reminders. Glen, a Cobb County native, joined the Air Force after high school and became a staff sergeant specializing in radio maintenance. His time in the service taught him teamwork, commitment, setting and achieving goals, carefully planning logistics, thoroughness and leading with integrity.

Giselle oversees improving the organization’s market position, building key customer relationships and identifying business opportunities. She works with existing clients to make sure they are satisfied. While Georgia isn’t a licensing state for home inspectors, Glen and Giselle stay on top of the industry through membership in the American Society of Home Inspectors. “We voluntarily take and have passed the same exam that most other licensed states are required to pass,” Giselle said. “The association also has great resources for continuing education that we complete annually.” As professional and certified home inspectors, Glen and Giselle focus on the following tenets: • Knowledge of a house. Inspectors need to know their way around a house, know what to look for, and how to evaluate the needs. They are required to find conditions, but must understand when further evaluation is needed by a licensed tradesman. •A strong work ethic. Inspectors are expected to show up on time, and perform their work efficiently and within a reasonable, expedient time frame. They should be thorough — leaving no stone unturned — and leave the house in the same condition as when they arrived. •A uthentic care of the client. In many cases, the clients are firsttime homebuyers with some level of angst about the process and the decisions they must make. An inspection serves as a neutral third party to give them the facts.

“We see it as our job, not just to find defects, but also alleviate concerns and offer solutions,” she said. “We are not just a home inspection. We’re a home instruction.” Staffordshire Home Advisors 181 Diamond Ridge Ave., Canton 470-380-8104 https://staffyhome.com | E TOWNELAKER | 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, 34

TOWNELAKER | 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.

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.

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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. 38

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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.

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Budget a Priority for Legislature BY CHARLICE BYRD

The Georgia General Assembly has been hard at work during the 2022 legislative session, which convened in early January. We recently wrapped up what is commonly known as budget week, when the House and Senate appropriations committees held a series of joint budget hearings. Gov. Brian Kemp presented his formal recommendations for the amended budget and upcoming fiscal year budget. We also heard from the state’s lead fiscal economist and other agency heads, each of whom provided valuable insight into the vast budgetary needs of our state government. Twenty months out from the beginning of the pandemic, we heard some bright economic projections. More than 97% of Georgia jobs lost during the pandemic have been regained, while other states unfortunately continue to experience higher unemployment rates. In December, Georgia broke records when unemployment dropped to 2.6%, and we experienced an all-time high of employed individuals. Throughout the pandemic, the state kept its doors open for business and cut spending, while still providing uninterrupted services to Georgians. Kemp announced that the state can fund its Revenue Shortfall Reserve fully, and has accrued an additional undesignated surplus. The Department of Revenue will issue $1.6 billion in tax refunds to the taxpayers of Georgia, using funds from this surplus. Single tax filers will receive a $250 refund, and those who file jointly will receive a $500 refund, once 2021 tax returns are processed by the state. With the joint budget hearings concluded, the House appropriations subcommittees are meeting separately to review specific portions of the budget and state agencies’ budget needs. Since the Georgia Constitution requires budget bills to originate in the House, each House appropriations subcommittee will pass its respective portions of the current and upcoming fiscal year state

TOWNELAKER | March 2022

budgets, which collectively will result in two complete budget bills to be approved by the House Appropriations Committee. Then, each budget bill will go to the House Rules Committee, to be scheduled for a vote on the House floor. After the budget bills make their way through the House, these bills will be transmitted to our counterparts in the Senate, where they will undergo the same process. The House also has given final passage to a piece of legislation that was carried over from the 2021 legislative session. Several years ago, the General Assembly passed legislation that would prohibit the state from participating in commercial discrimination against businesses that operate in Israel, and during the 2021 session, the House passed House Bill (HB) 383 to clarify a portion of this law. Through the legislative process, our counterparts in the Senate made updates to the original bill that was passed by the House and, in return, passed an updated version of the bill out of their chamber. The House recently voted to agree to the Senate’s changes before sending HB 383 to the governor’s desk to be signed into law. Israel is one of our many important economic trading partners, and this bill would reaffirm the state’s commitment to protecting this vital relationship. Contact me with your thoughts on proposed legislation or current events that may impact our community. You can reach me by phone at 404-557-2218, or email charlice.byrd@house.ga.gov. Or, write to my State Capitol office (508-B Coverdell Legislative Office Building, Atlanta, GA 30334).

Rep. Charlice Byrd represents District 20 in the Georgia House of Representatives. charlice.byrd@house.ga.gov.

TOWNELAKER | March 2022

Here are five tips on how to prepare, plant and harvest your own fresh homegrown greens.

Ensure your soil is ready by squeezing a fistful. If the soil forms a ball that separates easily or crumbles through your fingers, it’s dry enough to begin planting. If not, wait a few more days. If your soil is too wet, because of high clay content, consider improving the soil quality by adding organic matter, such as compost and aged manure, which also will provide nitrogen to support your leafy plants. Sow seeds shallowly in rows, or broadcast over the top of the bed, so that they can germinate more easily. Most seeds should germinate in a week, with many varieties ready to harvest in 25 to 45 days. For a continuous harvest, consider consecutive plantings spaced two to three weeks apart. Since most greens are 80% water, be sure to keep the soil moist, as dry soil can stress the plants. However, with less evaporation taking place this time of year, be careful not to overwater. You won’t need a lot of fertilizer, as greens are not as demanding as flowering plants. However, if you do fertilize, make sure you are using fertilizer suitable for edible plants. Harvest the leaves of your greens just above the soil line, when they are at least 2 inches high. Many varieties of greens will sprout again with a second harvest; this is called the cut-and-come-again method.

2. 3. 4.

5. Tips for

Growing Spring Greens

BY KAREN GARLAND

What better way to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day than by growing your own spring greens? Nothing compares to that first bite of tender, fresh salad, straight from your garden, to help you say goodbye to the winter doldrums and usher in the taste of spring. However, it is not just about growing lettuce. Greens come in all sorts of varieties, textures and flavors that will inspire any homegrown menu. Whether you have an expansive backyard, a tiny garden or a sunny balcony, you can grow enough leafy produce to give your family a ready source of nutrient-rich salad greens. Don’t delay in getting your garden underway, as many of these greens will not survive when hot weather arrives. Unlike many vegetables, which require warmer temperatures to germinate, most greens are cold-hardy, meaning you can plant them long before the last frost. In fact, according to the National Garden Bureau, you can plant many greens when the soil temperature, at a depth of 2 to 3 inches, is between 32 to 40 degrees Fahrenheit. 42

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But, what to plant? Try these cool-weather, earlyharvesting suggestions. • For salads, mustard greens are a peppery alternative to regular lettuce or spinach. They are cold-hardy and boltresistant, so you can start them early and keep them going longer than more heat-sensitive greens, such as spinach. • Broccoli raab looks a little like broccoli, but actually is related to turnips. It grows faster than broccoli, so it will be ready in about six weeks. Also, it may not breed true, as it will readily cross pollinate with turnips, mustard and any other close cousins. • Swiss chard actually is a beet plant that doesn’t produce a beet. It is a prolific grower that tolerates poor soil and inattention, and withstands frost and mild freezes. It can be harvested in as early as four weeks, but let the rest grow to full size. • Arugula is a spicy, nutty green that grows quickly. Twenty days after sowing, you can harvest the baby greens. For a full head, wait another 10 to 15 days. When the plant produces flowers, prolong production by pinching them off. For more information, visit http://learn.eartheasy. com/2013/03/5-tips-for-growing-early-spring-greens. Karen Garland is a discovery science teacher at Clark Creek Elementary. She enjoys beekeeping, chicken farming and volunteering as a Georgia Master Gardener.

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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. 44

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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. TOWNELAKER | March 2022

Here are four tips to help create good habits, and make them last.

1. Start small.

You may think small changes don’t amount to anything, but being consistent with your new habits is more important than how big the change is. Starting small allows you to build a base for new habits, and they are more likely to last. Say you want to build a habit of waking up earlier. Instead of setting your alarm an hour sooner, start with just 10 minutes, then 20 minutes and so on. These small changes are much more likely to stick and, over time, add up.

Tips for Teens

4 Ways to Build Positive Habits BY BRYCE JONES

Your actions, attitudes and performance in life are impacted by the good and bad habits you exhibit each day. These tendencies become your regular routines: behaviors are automatic. They set the tone for your life, and it is important to build positive habits and eliminate the bad ones. New habits take time, but, in the end, they will make your life easier and more enjoyable. Try to create one small, positive change in your daily routine. Create a plan that outlines the challenges you expect. And, most importantly, don’t give up simply because you aren’t seeing the changes you want. The decisions you make today could become the habits you have tomorrow.

TOWNELAKER | March 2022

Be committed.

Sometimes, forming a new habit comes slowly, and it is easy to let bad habits slide back into your routine. Depending on the habit, it can take from two weeks to a few months to become automatic. If you don’t see the desired results in a week, don’t give up. New habits need repetition, so be patient and dedicated; otherwise, you will fall back into the old ones.

3. Prepare for obstacles.

Before beginning a new habit, think of obstacles that might keep you from your goal, and create a plan to overcome them. For example, junk food or sweets around the house might be obstacles while trying to lose weight. To ensure you aren’t tempted to break your new habit, you could remove junk food from your pantry, and ask others to help keep you accountable.

4. Focus on one.

The best way to ensure a habit becomes automatic is to focus all your efforts on one. Trying to focus on multiple changes to your daily habits leaves more room to slip up, and for old habits to creep their way back into your routine. Prioritize the habits you want, and work on one at a time.

Bryce Jones is a Woodstock High honors student who plays soccer and is involved in student government. He was a reporter for Scholastic Kids Press and a 2020 TEDx Speaker.

TOWNELAKER | 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. 48

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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.

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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.

How to Make Room for the New BY THE REV. RUTH E. HAMILTON

In January, the congregation I serve sponsored an electronics recycling event, part of our Caring for Creation commitment. We thought that all the new electronic gifts received over the holidays would encourage people to give up their old ones. Everyone has old printers, antique computers, out-of-date cellphones, accessories, attachments and miscellaneous cords lying around in the garage, stuffed in closets and, generally, in the way. So, we invited the congregation and the community to come to our parking lot one Saturday to drop off old electronics. The variety and quantity of items heaped into collection boxes surprised us all. In the end, it took two large trucks to haul them all away. For those who donated items, clearing out what didn’t work anymore and removing unwanted stuff provides the opportunity for new things to happen. With my decades-old Sony television gone, and its bulky cabinet repurposed into a pantry, my home office now has room for the exercise bike. For the congregation, recycling the electronics provided funds to purchase equipment to extend its electronic outreach ministry. “Return to the Lord, your God, for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love.” — Joel 2:13 (NRSV) 50

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The recycling event helped make room for the new by clearing out the old, and was much like the church season of Lent, which begins March 2. During Lent, we do a spiritual spring cleaning. We search for the junk in our lives that has been piling up in the basement, garage or closets of our hearts. We set all this stuff on the curb for God to take away. Then, we replace the trash with practices that help us draw closer to God: worship, prayer, reading the Bible and acts of kindness. We put forgiveness in the place of grudges and hatred. We set out to mend relationships with family, friends and strangers, who are neighbors and God’s children, just like us. Lent helps us remember that, with God’s help, we are freed from the sin and hurts of the dead past. Then, we really are ready to receive the new life that will be announced to us at Easter. “Now is the acceptable time; see, now is the day of salvation!” — 2 Corinthians 6:2b (NRSV)

The Rev. Ruth E. Hamilton is interim pastor of Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Woodstock. https://gslutheran.org.

TOWNELAKER | March 2022

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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

TOWNELAKER | 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.

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. TOWNELAKER | March 2022

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. 56

TOWNELAKER | March 2022

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

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

DJ – Adoptions – Trophies – Raffles – Swag Bags

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.”

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

Nominate Us! 2022 Readers’ Choice

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

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. TOWNELAKER | 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.

TOWNELAKER | March 2022

Families eagerly challenged themselves in battles of aim, speed and ability at the Woodstock Public Library’s Glow-in-the-Dark NERF Night event on Jan. 13.

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.

A Unique Way We Measure Art BY CHRISTOPHER BRAZELTON

Picture this: A family walked into a Lantern Series concert, ultimately hesitant. They found me and said: “Gosh, I really enjoy all of the concerts, but this one seems to be a little extra eclectic. I don’t know what to expect. I’m cautious to get our hopes up … ” A subtle smile washed over my face. “I totally understand, but there is only one way to find out. I’m with you — I hope you are able to enjoy the show!” I said. My smile is never a result of knowing what will happen on the stage, but of not knowing what will happen. We spend hours researching, curating and crafting how we best can leverage art to impact our wonderful community positively. But, at the end of the day, we don’t know for certain what will happen on that stage. The stakes are high. The moment is fresh and, if everything goes well, a truly special moment is created. Most of the time, that is what makes the gift of art what it is: undeniably in the moment. This unexpected factor is a metric we use to help us determine the impact in the community. We have seen it repeatedly: a familiar but good show, exhibition or concert brings smiles, fun times and a great experience. We love it. But, as an organization, we try to add one more piece to the puzzle: How unexpected will this be? When you include the surprise — the unseen, the unknown, the unexpected — in the recipe, suddenly, quality art changes into unforgettable art, fun times turn into a shared memory for you and your friends, and the moment transforms into a remarkable experience. This month, we have some unexpected experiences for you. “Sweat,” by Lynn Nottage, is a powerful play that Lantern Series takes a look at Reading, Pennsylvania, one of the poorest cities in America, and how macro world policies affect the life experiences of the blue-collar worker. And, the Reeves House opened a unique exhibit, “New Media,” that features artwork from around the world (truly) at the intersection of art and technology. Plus, who isn’t excited about the Lantern Series starting up again? The same family that walked into the Lantern Series concert, hesitant to get their hopes up, said at the end of the evening: “I can’t believe we thought about not coming — so glad we didn’t miss it.” We hope you will take the leap with us, and have some of those remarkable experiences.

UNDER THE STARS

PLUS... Christopher Brazelton, a Florida State University graduate, is the executive director of Woodstock Arts.

NEVER MISS A BEAT!

March 4-20

SUMMER CAMPS!!!

REGISTRATION OPEN MARCH 1

NEW VISUAL ART + THEATRE CAMPS AVAILABLE

UPCOMING: iThink Improv!

The tradition returns onstage

March 25

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 TOWNELAKER | March 2022

Around & About MARCH

Join the Ash Wednesday worship services, with receiving of ashes and Holy Communion, noon and 7:30 p.m., at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Woodstock. https://gslutheran.org.

7 DJ Bingo

begins at 7 p.m. Mondays at Woodstock Beer Market. Have fun, test your musical knowledge and win prizes. https:// visitwoodstockga.com/events.

Join Lenten Services of prayer and healing, Wednesdays through April 6 during Lent, 7:30 p.m., at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Woodstock. Services will be livestreamed on Facebook (@GSLCWoodstock) and will be available the following day on https://gslutheran.org.

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.

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

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.

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. 60

TOWNELAKER | March 2022

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

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.

19 Lecture: The Rural Cemetery Movement

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.

23 A Night to Celebrate Chastity Schug Concert

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.

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.

WOODSTOCK PARKS AND RECREATION PROGRAMS woodstockparksandrec.com // 770-592-6000, Ext. 1955 Registration is required for all programs.

March 5

Essential Gardening — Pollinator Gardening. Join Cherokee

County Master Gardeners and Cherokee County UGA Extension representatives, 10 a.m., at 223 Arnold Mill Road, to learn how you can do your part to help pollinators thrive in your landscape and our community. Participants will receive a plant or seeds. Cost is $5.

March 16

WOODSTOCK ARTS www.woodstockarts.org

Through April 17

“New Media: Art + Technology” is an interactive exhibit in the Reeves House that explores the intersection between technology and art.

March 4-20

“Sweat” is a masterful depiction of the forces that

divide and conquer us. The Pulitzer Prize-winning play follows friends who have spent their lives sharing drinks, secrets and laughs while working on the factory floor. Recommended for ages 16-plus (language, adult themes, violence).

Discovering Pickleball. Ages 18 and older. This hourlong class gets you ready to play pickleball, and you will, by the end of the session. Equipment is provided. The class is taught at 6:30 p.m. at the Dupree Park pickleball courts. Cost is $5.

March 25

Essential Gardening — The Kitchen Garden. Join Cherokee

rolling down the aisles with laughter. Recommended for ages 10-plus (content).

March 19

County Master Gardeners and Cherokee County UGA Extension representatives, 10 a.m., at 223 Arnold Mill Road, for an herb gardening class to put some punch in your culinary creations. Participants will receive a plant or seeds. Cost is $5.

SKILLS — First Aid. Join the Woodstock Fire Department,

noon, at 223 Arnold Mill Road, for practical, life-saving steps you can implement in an emergency with injury. The course is perfect for individuals hoping to stay up-to-date with current first aid procedures. Participants will earn a certificate upon completion. Cost is $5.

March 24

Leave No Trace Awareness Workshop. Learn the seven

principles of Leave No Trace, cover low-impact recreational techniques, and discover how we can all be stewards of the environment, 6:30 p.m., at 223 Arnold Mill Road. Participants will be awarded a certificate. Cost is $5.

March 26

Bee Hive Maintenance. Learn how to manage your beehive in a real-time, hands-on way, 7 p.m., at 223 Arnold Mill Road. The course is for new and established beekeepers. Registration fee is $50.

March 27

Discovering Disc Golf. A three-class series. March’s session will

focus on basic technique and strategy, 2 p.m., at Dupree Park Prodigy Par 2 disc golf course. Equipment for the class is provided. Cost is $5.

LANTERN SERIES At the Elm Street Event Green in Woodstock; shows begin at 7:30 p.m. Check for updates at www.woodstockarts.org.

March 19: May 14: May 28: July 2: July 16:

The National Parks Naughty Professor Aditya Prakash Ensemble Sub-Radio Kyshona Armstrong

iThink Improv is back and ready to get its audiences

March 26

The Lasting Laugh is a comedy series that brings in Atlanta-based comedians monthly, with Jessica It’s All Good as the host. Recommended for ages 12-plus (content).

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

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

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

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

March 23: Dr. Alyssa Ligouri, North Georgia OB-GYN Specialists

TOWNELAKER | 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 TowneLaker magazine!

March 2022

ACCOUNTING & TAXES

CREDIT UNIONS

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Debranski & Associates, LLC 770-926-1957, ext. 306 www.debranski.com

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

AUDIOLOGY 41

Chloe's Auto Repair 770-575-8800 www.chloesautorepair.com

Woodstock Quality Paint & Body 770-926-3898

CLEANING SERVICES 39

(Cosmetic, Family, Orthodontics, Prosthodontics & Pediatric)

Dentistry for Woodstock 770-926-0000 www.dentistryforwoodstock.com

Inside back

Park Pediatric Dentistry of Woodstock 11 770-926-9260 www.pediatricwoodstockdentist.com Plaza Cleaners 678-766-0877

Towne Lake Business Association Golf Tournament www.tlba.org

43 57

Wing & Rock Fest www.wingandrockfest.com

Woodstock Arts woodstockarts.org

FITNESS/RECREATION R2 Total Fitness 678-809-7833 www.r2totalfitness.com

Poole Funeral Home 678-932-2097 www.poolefuneralhome.net

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

Woodstock Funeral Home and Cremations 770-926-3107 www.woodstockfuneralhome.com

Towne Lake Family Chiropractic 770-592-1877 www.townelakechiro.com

Kennesaw State University College of the Arts www.arts.kennesaw.edu

TOWNELAKER | March 2022

Street Dog Dash 5k www.streetdogdash5k.org

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

Ribley Family Chiropractic 770-592-2505 www.ribleychiro.com

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

FUNERAL SERVICES

EDUCATION & RELATED SERVICE

KennedyMathews Educational Consultants 43 765-721-1212 www.kennedymathewsconsulting.com

CHIROPRACTIC

Georgia Food and Wine Festival 53 www.georgiafoodandwinefestival.com Schug Family Benefit Concert 49 www.cherishchasityconcert.eventbrie.com

DRY CLEANING

AUTOMOTIVE

Maid Eco-Friendly Cleaning Services 678-789-9342 www.maidecofriendlycleaning.com

LGE Credit Union www.lgeccu.org

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

EVENTS/ENTERTAINMENT

Baird & Baird Family Dentistry 770-517-0444 www.bairdfamilydentistry.com

ATTORNEYS/LEGAL SERVICES

North Georgia Audiology & Hearing Aid Center 770-726-8948 www.YourHearingLink.com

23, 57

DENTAL

ANIMAL/PET SERVICES Animal Hospital of Towne Lake 770-591-9500 www.townelakevets.com

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

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

HAIR SALON/ BARBER élon Salon 770-427-8698 www.elonsalon.com

HOME IMPROVEMENT & REPAIR Bryan Plumbing Services 770-826-5277

Coleman Home Services 770-294-9667 www.colemanhomeservices.com

Eastridge Plumbing 770-516-2977 www.eastridgeplumbing.com

OPTOMETRY Pearle Vision 770-790-0000 www.pearlevision.com

PHOTOGRAPHY

Exact Comfort Air Conditioning & Heating 770-912-0552

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

Handy Handyman, The 404-316-1490 www.thhmga.com

Mr. Junk 678-Mr-Junk1 [675-8651] www.mrjunk1.com

PebbleStone 678-807-8618 www.pebblestonepros.com

Pike’s Professional Painting 770-516-0045

Scrappy’s Junk Removal 678-330-9282 www.scrappysjunkremoval.com

Towne Plumber 770-257-7503 www.towneplumber.com

LANDSCAPING Calvary Landscaping & Irrigation 770-720-1727 or 770-827-0346

RPM Landscape and Pavers 770-597-5175 www.rpmlandscapeandpavers.com

Red Baryl Portraits 815-540-0936

Inside Cover

Northside Hospital Cancer Institute www.builtotbeatcancer.com

REAL ESTATE & RELATED SERVICES Atlanta Communities, Shonna Sherrill Cover, 5, 32-33 C: 678-634-5581 O: 770-240-2005 www.shonnasherrill.com Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Tomlinson Team, The 770-365-6193 www.thetomlinsonteam.com Broadus Realty Group 404-583-8856 www.broadusrealtygroup.com

Keller Williams, Ursula and Assoc. Back Cover Direct: 678-569-4044 Broker: 678-494-0644 www.townelakeexperts.com Prosperity Home Mortgage 404-895-0641 www.lisaeifert.phmloans.com

Staffordshire Home Advisors Cover, 32-33 Giselle Williams, 470-380-8104 www.staffyhome.com RETAILERS

PHYSICIANS AND MEDICAL SERVICES AbbyCare 404-549-6886 www.iloveabbycare.com

RE/MAX Town & Country Sarah Terrell 770-928-6525 www.realestateagent.net

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

SENIOR SERVICES St. George Village 678-987-0409 www.stgeorgevillage.org

SPECIALTY FOOD/CATERING The Butcher and A Baker 770-517-2225 Go. Fo. Fa. Heat and Eat Meals 770-285-3600 www.gofofa.com

9 5, 15

SUMMER CAMPS Camp Splash, Gold Swim School 770-591-1998 www.goldswimschool.com

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SUPPORT ORGANIZATIONS Next Step Ministries 770-592-1227 www.nextstepministries.net

DELIGHTING READERS SINCE 1996

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

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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.townelaker.com.

March 1-31

Go to the TowneLaker Readers’ Choice site, and nominate your favorites in the 30189 Zip code. Write-in nominations welcomed! 64

TOWNELAKER | March 2022

3-22 Townelaker Webfinal.pdf

Articles inside

Community Calendar

The Wanderer

Ann Litrel

Bryce Jones

Noteworthy

Charlice Byrd

Karen Garland

Mallory Woodward

Cherokee Women’s Health Specialists

Pages 32

Daniel Westbrook

Christopher Purvis

Laine Wood

Harry Johnston

Everyday Angels

Michael Caldwell

Teddy the Spaz Man

Around Towne

Susan Schulz

Ashley Velez

Margaret Miller

Susannah MacKay

Celebrations

Donna Broadus