April Issue by Aroundabout Local Media, Inc.

See pages 50-53 for details

TowneLaker | April 2012

April 2012

Volume 17, Issue 12

22 Featured Articles

In Every Issue Around Towne. . . . . . . . . . . . . 4

Readers’ Choice

The “Best” local businesses chosen by you!

Community News. . . . . 10 & 12 Event Calendar. . . . . . . . . . . . 13 Birthdays. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14

50 - 53 On the Cover Acworth Art Fest

A digital version of the magazine, along with information on how to contact us, submit a story or photo, or advertise is available at www.townelaker.com.

A Big Adventure

One deserving local boy is chosen for a trip of a lifetime.

Summer Camps

Plan your summer fun for the kids!

Everyday Angels. . . . . . . . . . . 28 TLBA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30 You Can Make A Difference. . 75 Church Listings. . . . . . . . . . . . 80 Clubs. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 86 Community Numbers . . . . . . 88

Teacher of the Year

Local educators are recognized by their peers.

Elected Officials. . . . . . . . . . . 90 School Information . . . . . . . . 91 Classifieds. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 93 Advertisers Directory. . . . . . . 94 Real Deals. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 96

Contributing Writers

Patty Ponder is the Market Director for TowneLaker. She can be reached at (770) 615-3322 or patty@townelaker.com. 2

TowneLaker | April 2012

Don Akridge..............................................16

Robyn Hohensee......................................39

Mark Billson..............................................76

Sheila & Kurt Johnson...............................18

Patricia Bowen..........................................32

Kara Kiefer................................................42

Dr. Ross Brakeville.....................................57

Dr. Mike Litrel...........................................26

Sonia Carruthers.......................................44

Dee Locklin...............................................64

Rick Coughlin............................................40

Nicole Mott...............................................68

Chicka Elloy...............................................56

Northside Hospital...................................60

Ashley Gillis..............................................66

Bill Ratliff..................................................78

Dr. Scott R. Harden...................................54

State Sen. Chip Rogers..............................20

Dr. Amy Hardin.........................................58

Lynne Saunders........................................34

David Hecklemoser...................................41

Dr. Doug Thrasher.....................................79

Dr. Jan Henriques......................................61

Lauri Wischner.........................................46

Happy Easter!

TowneLaker | April 2012

Community

AROUND TOWNE

People Places and Pleasures that make Towne Lake

The , The The

by Kara Kiefer

What’s Open?

Kara is the Editor of Townelaker magazine. She lives in Towne Lake with her husband Mike and their two sons Brandon and Garrett. Feel free to send your comments or questions to editor@townelaker. com.

Woodstock Art and Glass is now open in downtown Woodstock. The shop is in the former location of Priest Furniture. The shop creates unique glass jewelry and carries jewelry from Chamilia and local artists. The shop is located at 8670 Main Street. For more information, visit www. woodstockartglass.com. NTB (National Tire and Battery) opened at 2010 Eagle Drive. For more information, call (770) 516-1802 or visit www.ntb.com.

Cupcakelicioius is scheduled to be open by April 1. The store is located at 8654 Main Street, adjacent to Woodstock Art and Glass. The sweet shop will feature cupcakes in eight standard flavors and two rotating ones. Call (404) 819-7660 or visit www.cupcakelicious.net for further information. We, too, were wondering who the new tenants are near Tuscany Italian Restaurant and the movie theater. The company, AIMC, is a Medicare Supplement Sales office. For more information, please visit http://www.aimc.net

What’s Coming?

Contest Corner

In response to reader requests for more information on the happenings of downtown Woodstock, we will be introducing a new Downtown Woodstock feature starting with our May issue. Within this section, you will find a calendar of downtownspecific events, features about the area businesses, downtown-

Congratulations to Missy Hugenberg (daughters Elizabeth and Rachel below left) for being the first to find our hidden picture on page 32 of the March issue. Congratulations also to Emily Ledford (below right) for being the first to spot the phrase “Rounding Up Some Great Kids” on page 47. Missy won a free ice cream from Chick-fil-A and Emily won a gift certificate to Chili’s.

specific columns and more. We hope you will enjoy this new section! Century House Tavern, which will be located in the historic Hubbard House in downtown Woodstock is scheduled to open by the end of April. The owners also own Salt in historic downtown Roswell. The restaurant is described as having an upscale bistro atmosphere, including a bar. For more information, please visit www.centuryhousetavern.com. Cotton Mill Deli, which closed its doors several months ago, plans on reopening. A date or further information was not available as of press time. Salon Gloss will be opening in late April at 220 Chambers Street in downtown Woodstock. The upscale salon will offer a full range of hair services as well as skin care and makeup.

What’s Moved? Center for Yoga recently relocated to the Southpoint shopping center (next to Ken Stanton Music). The Center will hold an open house on April 14 and will offer two free classes. For more information, visit www. TheCenterForYoga.com, email info@ thecenterforyoga.com or call (770) 517-5212. Brenda’s House of Flowers will be moving from its current location on Main Street to the 200 block of Chambers Street. As of press time, the date of the move had yet to be released.

What’s Closed? We are sorry to report Kaysons Bar and Grille closed its doors.

April Finds: Be the first to find the phrase: “Easter Extravaganza”

Find the hidden picture:

If you know the answer to the contest question or find the hidden picture, be the first to call (770) 615-3325 or e-mail editor@townelaker.com. Please provide your name, contact phone number or email address. Contest rules: A player is eligible to win once every 12 months.

TowneLaker | April 2012

• Plumbing Repairs • Remodeling • Water Heaters • Garbage Disposals • Gas & Water Lines • Ice Makers • Polybutelene Water Line Replacements

24 HOUR EMERGENCY SERVICE We Charge By the Job, Not By the Hour

Family Owned & Operated Licensed • Bonded • Insured Readers’ Choice Winners: 2008, 2009 & 2010

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TowneLaker | April 2012

Community

Community Board The TowneLaker Community Board consists of well-respected community leaders, from different walks of life. Our Board assists us in many ways including contributing to our magazine, judging our annual Trailblazer award and providing valuable feedback. Our Board consists of five members: Dr. Doug Thrasher, Colin Morris, State Senator Chip Rogers, Gay Grooms and Dr. Scott Harden. Dr. Doug Thrasher — Doug is the Senior Pastor at Hillside United Methodist Church. He has lived in the Towne Lake area and served at Hillside for five years. He and his wife, Debbie, live in Eagle Watch, and they have two married children and four precious grandchildren. Doug can be reached at dthrasher@ hillsideumc.org.

Colin Morris — Colin is a freelance writer and stay-at-home mom to three children whom she describes as “two ninja sons and one dog-loving daughter.” She and her husband have lived in Woodstock for the past 12 years, and she grew up in Marietta.

Chip Rogers — Chip presently serves as our Senate Majority Leader. He has lived in metro Atlanta for 40 years, Cherokee County for 10 years, with his wife and four children. His mother, father and brother also live in Cherokee County.

G. Lora (Gay) Grooms — Gay has been teaching, writing, directing, and performing in the Atlanta area since 1990. She opened the Towne Lake Arts Center — now the Elm Street Cultural Arts Village — in 2002. She credits her four now grown children for teaching her almost everything she knows about working with creative young minds. Gay can be reached at director@elmstreetarts.org

Dr. Scott R. Harden — Scott is a family dentist at Fountain View Family & Cosmetic Dentistry serving Woodstock and Cherokee County for 24 years. During this time, he has lived in the Towne Lake area with his wife, Kathy, and two children. Congratulations to Scott & Kathy on their recent 25th “silver” wedding anniversary.

Townelaker Publisher AroundAbout Local Media, Inc. Market Director Patty Ponder patty@townelaker.com, (770) 615-3322 Executive Editor Kara Kiefer editor@townelaker.com, (770) 615-3309 Art Director Michelle McCulloch art@townelaker.com, (770) 615-3307 Digital Marketing Director James Ball james@trustworkz.com, (770) 615-3310 TowneLaker, a publication of AroundAbout Local Media, Inc., is a monthly community magazine. The magazine’s goal is to build a sense of community and pride in the Towne Lake area by providing its residents with positive stories and timely information. It is distributed free to approximately 14,400 homes by mail to all Towne Lakers. An additional 1,800+ are placed in racks around the community. TowneLaker welcomes your comments, stories, and advertisements. The deadline is the 10th of the previous month. Subscriptions are available for $24 per year. Send check or money order to the address below. The viewpoints of the advertisers, columnists and submissions are not necessarily those of the Editor/Publisher and the Publisher makes no claims as to the validity of any charitable organizations mentioned. 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 2012. TowneLaker 2449 Towne Lake Parkway, Woodstock, GA 30189 For Advertising: (770) 615-3322 Website: www.townelaker.com Powered by Trustworkz Inc. Franchise Opportunities Available: www.AroundAboutLocalMedia.com Volume 17, Issue 12

TowneLaker | April 2012

Community

YOUR LOCAL NEWS

Volunteers Needed to Judge Senior Projects

Guns Defeat Hoses

Etowah High School is seeking volunteers to help judge this year’s Senior Project Boards, which will be held April 24 and 25. Training will be provided the day of judging, and refreshments will be served. Volunteers can choose from three session choices: 2 – 4:40 p.m., 3:45 – 6:25 p.m. or 5:30 – 8:10 p.m. For more information, please contact Susan Miller at suzlmiller@ comcast.net.

Local Students Serve as Pages

Front row (left to right): State Representative Charlice Byrd and Andrew Brandenberg. Back row: Josh Minter

Every legislative session, students from around the state apply to page for legislators at the Capitol. During winter break, Josh Minter and Andrew Brandenberg paged for Representatives Charlice Byrd and Sean Jerguson. Pages deliver messages, obtain copies of bills and perform errands for legislators.

Relay for Life Team Sign Up The American Cancer Society Relay For Life® of Cherokee County will be held May 18 at River Ridge High School. Former and current cancer patients, those who have lost a loved one to cancer and anyone wanting to make a difference in the fight against cancer are invited to take part in this team event. Relay for Life events are held overnight, as individuals and teams camp out with the goal of keeping at least one team member walking on the track or pathway throughout the entire evening. For more information on how to form a team or become involved, please visit cherokeerelay.org or call (770) 429-0089.

Each year, the Cherokee County Fire and Emergency Services (Hoses) and the Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office (Guns) hold a 5K benefitting a local charity. This year’s event was open to the public, and runners were asked to pick the team they wanted to run for and $5 of their registration fee was donated to an area charity. This year, 234 runners signed up to run for the Hoses team, and 408 signed up for Guns, making Guns the winner. The fire department and sheriff’s office combined their efforts this year and donated their winnings to the Hope and Light Foundation, which assists children with Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA). This year’s run was done in memory of Aleena Miller, who was a victim of SMA and who passed away last year. The Hope and Light Foundation will receive a check in the amount of $3,210. Sam Harp, the overall winner of the 5K race and a member of the Hose team, finished the race in 18 minutes and 25 seconds. Sam is a freshman at Cherokee High School and is the son of Lyle and Cheri Harp. Sam’s dad is a firefighter with Cherokee County Fire and Emergency Services. The overall female runner was Meagan Anstett, also a member of the Hose team, who crossed the finish line at 20 minutes, 57 seconds.

Keep up-to-date with our community! Join the TowneLaker fan page at www.facebook.com/aroundabouttownelaker. 10

TowneLaker | April 2012

We’re honored to serve you It’s an honor to be recognized as the nation’s leading hospital for maternity and newborn care. Look a little closer and you’ll discover that Northside performs more surgeries and diagnoses and treats more breast and gynecologic cancer than any other hospital in Georgia. While people choose Northside for our expertise, they also know us for our exceptional compassionate care. Visit us online at www.northside.com

TowneLaker | April 2012

Community

YOUR LOCAL NEWS Celebrating Moms & Dads! At TowneLaker, we feel that each and every mom is her family’s “Mother of the Year” and dad is “Father of the Year.” For this reason, we would like to honor as many of our moms and dads as possible in our upcoming issues. We will feature a special pictorial in May celebrating all mothers and in June celebrating all Fathers! We are looking for photos of our Towne Lake area moms and dads with their children. The photos can be from babyhood through present day. If you don’t have children, we also would love to share your photos of you and your mom or dad, even if it was in the 70s! Here are the guidelines: 1. Please ensure all submitted photographs have identifications listed for each person in the photo. 2. Please submit the photos via email to editor@townelaker.com or by mail to: Townelaker, 2449 Towne Lake Parkway, Woodstock GA 30189.(Please include a self-addressed stamped envelope for photo return) 3. The deadline for submissions for Moms is April 10 and Dads is May 10.

Gift of Kindness Impresses Local Boy

Below is his essay.

Recently, Alex Ellsworth entered a contest at his school titled “Honoring our Heroes.” Alex chose to write about and honor a family, who he doesn’t know, that provided his family with a random act of kindness. Alex is eight years old and the son of Towne Lake area residents Christy and Keith Ellsworth.

My Heroes My family went to a Japanese restaurant on my mom’s birthday. A nice family sat next to us. They had two boys, a mom and a dad. We ordered our food and watched the man cook our dinner. Then we ate our food. The other mom asked us what school we went to. Our mom told them that she was a teacher in Cobb, and we go to school with her. When my mom went to pay for our food the server said our food has already been paid for. The family next to us paid for our whole meal! We told them, “Thank you!” They said, “Merry Christmas!”

Local Scout Earns Eagle Local Art Studios Offering Classes Two local art studios are offering a variety of art classes. Kristina Laurendi Havens will now offer still life drawing and painting for all levels in addition to portrait and figurative groups. Her studio is located in Ann Litrel Art, 8594 Main Street, and she offers classes for adults and advanced teen artists. She can be contacted at 81artist@comcast.net or by calling (757) 679-0520. Studio 101 with the Arts Alliance of Georgia has a new location, 101 Emma Lane The studio offers informal instruction and work on your own opportunities. For more information, email art@ artsalliancega.org or visit www.artsalliance.org.

Keep up-to-date with our community! Join the TowneLaker fan page at www.facebook. com/aroundabouttownelaker. 12

TowneLaker | April 2012

Cameron Olson of Boy Scout Troop 994 was presented a Georgia House resolution and a Georgia flag for his accomplishment of Eagle Scout. These were given to him by State Representative Charlice Byrd at his Eagle Scout Court of Honor at Towne Lake Community Church. Cameron is the son of Judy and Troy Olson. Congratulations!

EVENT CALENDAR: April 6 Friday Night Live- 80s Night Time: 6 – 9 p.m. Location: Downtown Woodstock Information: Enjoy special offers and hours from downtown merchants and restaurants.

April 7 Free Easter Egg Hunt Time: 11:30 a.m., rain or shine Location: Woodstock Christian Church, 7700 Highway 92 Information: (770) 926-8238 or www. woodstockchristian.org.

April 10 Free Skin Cancer Screening Time: 6-8 p.m. Location: Northside Hospital- Cherokee Outpatient Rehabilitation Services Building 211 Hospital Road, Canton Information: To register, call (404) 8455555 and press “0”

April 13 Passover Seder Information: Held by the Congregation Ner Tamid. All Jewish people are welcome. Call Marci at (404) 578-8646.

April 13 – 22

Jack and the Beanstalk Times: Fridays 7:30 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays, 2 p.m. Location: City Center, 8534 Main Street

Send Us Your Community Calendar Events to editor@townelaker.com. May deadline is April 10.

April Information: Tickets $9 if purchased in advance online; $11 at door. Call (678) 494-4251 or visit www.elmstreetarts.org.

April 18 Free Prostate Cancer Screening Time: 6 – 8 p.m. Location: Northside Hospital-Cherokee Outpatient Rehabilitation Services Building 211 Hospital Road, Canton Information: To register, call (404) 8455555 and press “0”

April 21 Roughing It: An Evening with Mark Twain Time: 7:30 p.m. Location: City Center, 8534 Main Street Information: This show is a hilarious account of his adventures in buffalo hunts, mining camps, and on the lecture circuit as told by the inimitable Mark Twain. Tickets are $9-$11 in advance online or $11-$14 at the door. Call (678) 494-4251 or visit www. elmstreetarts.org.

Information: This program will be dedicated to celebrating the 106th anniversary of the opening of Historic Dean’s Store. The celebration will feature refreshments and some great Blue Grass music.

Easter Services Woodstock Christian Church — Sunrise 6:45, 8 and 10:30 a.m. Hillside UMC — Sunrise 6:30 a.m., traditional 8:25, 9:25 and 11 a.m., contemporary 9:25 and 11 a.m. Bascomb UMC — Sunrise 7 a.m., contemporary 9 a.m., traditional 11 a.m. Hillcrest Baptist — 9:30 and 11 a.m., 6 p.m. Timothy Lutheran — 8:30 and 11 a.m. Good Shepherd Lutheran Church — Sunrise 7 a.m.; traditional 8 and 11 a.m.; praise 9:30 a.m.

April 21 Run for Jorelys Time: 8:30 a.m. Location: Boling Park, Canton Information: All proceeds to benefit RADKIDS with Keep Georgia Safe to bring self defense classes to elementary schools in Cherokee County. Race in honor of Jorelys Rivera. Registration $25 before April 15, $28 before April 20 and $30 the day of the race. To register, visit http:// www.active.com/running/canton-ga/runfor-jorelys-2012

April 21 Blue Grass Concert/Dean’s Store 106th Anniversary Celebration Time: 1 p.m. Location: 8588 Main Street

Local Garage/Yard Sales Etowah Valley Estates & Spicers Grove April 21, 8 a.m. -3 p.m. Deer Run Community April 27 & 28, 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Towne Lake Hills Community April 27 & 28, 9 a.m. -3 p.m. Towne Lake Hills South April 27 & 28, 9 a.m.-2 p.m.

TowneLaker | April 2012

Community

Happy Birthday!

Mâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Kenzie Knox

Wedding

Engagements

Age 8 on March 3 Happy Birthday! We love you, Mama, Daddy, Ethan, Johnna, Raegan, Aunt Pam & Uncle Chris!

Jenna Marae Giddens and Bo Barret Hanson

recently announced their engagement. They are planning to be married in June 2012

Brittany Lauren Giddens and Ricky Sean Davis were married on October 22, 2011.

TowneLaker | April 2012

Grayson Clark (left) Age 6 on March 2 Kady Clark Age 4 on April 15 Happy birthday! Love Mom, Dad and Coco.

Cody Blair Smith

Age 2 on April 23 Son of Brad & Dawn Smith Brother to Sean & Zackie Happy Birthday Bug!

Cooper Bryan

Age 6 March 31 Happy Birthday Coop Man! Love, Daddy, Mommy and Olivia

Felipe Duque

Age 10 on April 3

Caroline Duque

Age 7 on March 19 Cousins of Matthew and Sara We love you!

Engagements

Erik Caldwell

Age 20 on April 29 Happy Birthday Erik! With love, Mom, Dad, Michael, Katie & Neal

Anniversary

Keagan Simons

Age 4 on March 14 Son of Trina & Cortland Simons Grandson of Renee Gann and Joanne & Rick Simons

Wedding, Birthday and Anniversary Announcements are Free! E-mail to: editor@townelaker.com. â&#x20AC;˘ May deadline is April 10.

Olivia Bryan

Age 6 March 31 Happy Birthday Livvy Lou! Love, Daddy, Mommy and Cooper

Matthew Duque

Age 7 on March 19 Son of Beatriz and Jorge Duque Brother of Sara God bless our family the day you were born! We love you!

John Wesely and Tatum Mortimer will be married on April 21, 2012 at Roselawn

Beatriz and Jorge Duque

celebrated 15 years of marriage on March 13

Logan Belleza

Age 8 on December 22 Mason Belleza Age 10 on April 28 Sons of Ellie and Rouel Belleza

Laura Hinchey

Age 13 on April 28 Daughter of Lynn and Jim Hinchey Sister of Morgan and Davis We love you!

TowneLaker | April 2012

Community

Tax Corporations Less...Tax Dividends More? President Obama’s envisioned tax reforms could hurt wealthy retirees. by Don Akridge, MBA, CPA, CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ U.S. Marine Corps Veteran – Emory University Alumnus On Capitol Hill, a rough consensus is starting to emerge: a feeling that the corporate tax rate should be reduced to help U.S. firms stay globally competitive. At the same time, President Obama’s 2013 federal budget proposes a massive tax hike on corporate dividends, a change that could harshly impact the individual investor. Don Akridge is President of Citadel CPA, Financial Planning & Investment Services founded in 1994 and conveniently located off Chastain Road between I-575 & I-75 in Kennesaw. Phone 770-952-6707.

TowneLaker | April 2012

What if the corporate tax rate fell by seven percent? President Obama wants to reduce the current 35 percent corporate tax rate to 28 percent. (Three of his possible Republican rivals in the fall 2012 election would like to take it even lower: Mitt Romney proposes capping corporate tax at 25 percent, Rick Santorum at 17.5 percent and Newt Gingrich at 12.5 percent.)

That’s not the only change the President would like to see. In addition, he has proposed: • A minimum tax rate on foreign earnings (the specifics of which would be left up to Congress). • An expanded R&E tax break to cap the effective tax rate for U.S. manufacturers at 25 percent compared to the present 32 percent. • A hiring incentive tax credit for businesses whose payrolls expand in 2012. • An extension of the current bonus depreciation extension on capital equipment through 2012. How would the government make up for lost revenue? It would nix certain loopholes, such as deductions on interest on corporate debt and longstanding tax breaks for oil and gas companies. Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner claims that this corporate tax reform would actually generate $250 billion more for the federal government than under present tax laws. Detractors claim that the reforms would overtly favor

“

...at a time when the federal government is crying for revenue, lowering the corporate tax rate by seven percent is a weird move; after all, some savvy corporations may pay no taxes at all. manufacturers and discourage oil and gas production. They also point out that at a time when the federal government is crying for revenue, lowering the corporate tax rate by seven percent is a weird move; after all, some savvy corporations may pay no taxes at all. However, the 2013 federal budget proposal does detail some other methods for boosting tax revenue. One idea in particular is raising eyebrows among investors – particularly retired investors. Should dividends be taxed as ordinary income? Would you like to see your stock dividends taxed at 39.6 percent instead of the current 15 percent? If you are an individual making more than $200,000 or a couple making more than $250,000 a year, that would be the reality you face in 2013 if the currently proposed federal budget passes. Actually, your dividends would be hit even harder if you find yourself in the top tax bracket. Factor in the 2013 budget’s envisioned phase-outs of deductions and exemptions, and the rate climbs to 41 percent; add the 3.8 percent “millionaire tax” levied to pay for health care reforms and you get to 44.8 percent. Toss in any state and local taxes, and the picture looks even gloomier. It is no secret that older Americans own proportionately greater amounts of dividend-paying stocks than younger Americans. This population includes the most economically successful retirees, who do not want to see dividends taxed as they were in the 1990s. If this condition of the 2013 federal budget makes it through Congress unscathed, these households may be looking at major shifts in their tax and investment strategies. Securities offered through 1st Global Capital Corp. Member FINRA, SIPC. Investment advisory services offered through 1st Global Advisors, Inc. Created by 1st Global or Peter Montoya, Inc. for use by our financial advisors.

TowneLaker | April 2012

Community

Home Sales are up in Towne Lake by Sheila & Kurt Johnson Yes. You read it right. Home sales in Towne Lake are up 64 percent year-to-date compared to last year. Additionally, the average period a home sits on the market before selling has dropped from 167 to 136 days. The reason is simple. Home affordability, mostly driven by low interest rates, is at the lowest it has been in recorded history. According to the National Association of Realtors (NAR) and based on national averages, the payments on a home today represent only 12.8 percent of the median household income. This is both a good sign for those looking to purchase a home and for the economy overall as consumers are keeping more money in their pockets. Kurt and Sheila are Certified Distressed Property Experts (CDPE) with Keller Williams. More info can be found at www.KurtandSheila. com and www. ShortSalers.com

If you’re a seller, the housing market shows signs of transitioning from a buyers’ market to a more balanced one. This means that homeowners should start to see prices stabilize and increase, presenting more favorable opportunities for those looking to

“

If you're a seller, the housing market shows signs of transitioning from a buyers' market to a more balanced one. sell their homes. In regards to the number of homes on the market (a key indicator of the health of the housing market), Lawrence Yun, NAR chief economist, said, “The broad inventory condition can be described as moving into a rough balance, not favoring buyers or sellers.” As sales have increased with a growing demand for homes, the inventory of properties for sale nationwide fell 0.4 percent to 2.31 million, or a 6.1-month supply at the current sales level. This is down from a 6.4-month supply in December 2011. Historically, a 6-month supply has meant that the housing sector is balanced— favoring neither buyers nor sellers. With continuing job creation, the improving housing sector, and signs that the banks are beginning to lend more, 2012 should offer promising opportunities to both those looking to buy or sell a home. * Sales data courtesy of FMLS (Area 112, Zip code 30189) 18

TowneLaker | April 2012

Community

Good News to Report by State Senator Chip Rogers Good news has been a rare commodity in recent years, which is why a series of positive events has Georgia looking bright again. The announcement of Caterpillar opening a new manufacturing facility near Athens is a big deal in many ways.

Chip Rogers is the State Senator for our district. You can call him at (404) 463-1378 or fax him at (404) 657-9887. You also can e-mail Chip at Chip@ SenatorChipRogers. com. Chip also serves on the TowneLaker Community Board.

First, the direct and indirect jobs are expected to be more than 3,000. This makes it the biggest economic development project since the Kia plant in West Point. The overall investment is expected to be in excess of $2 billion. The beauty of this type of manufacturing plant investment is that it is not going anywhere soon. When a company puts down roots measured in the billions of dollars, they plan to stay. A second positive point is that our new Caterpillar plant is actually replacing a

TowneLaker | April 2012

â&#x20AC;&#x153;

Our state economy, once very dependent on construction, is growing again, and is this time far more diversified. plant in Japan. Yes, manufacturing is returning to the United States, and this time it is in Georgia. Caterpillar executives pointed to the port in Savannah as the single most important reason to locate in Georgia. The Savannah port, the fastest growing on the eastern seaboard, is now exporting Georgia to the rest of the world. The Governor and legislature stepped up again this year to budget almost $40 million more for the port deepening that is crucial to receiving the new super tankers that will soon be sailing the world.

Another good sign is a seventh consecutive month of declining unemployment in our state. We have struggled to recover from the national real estate crash that hit Georgia harder than most. Our state economy, once very dependent on construction, is growing again, and is this time far more diversified. We continue to have a large mountain to climb towards full employment. However, if we stay the course – keeping government out of the way – Georgia entrepreneurs will deliver as they always do. On the education front, there’s some great news about students test scores. Georgia moved up to 13 in state ranking for the number of students passing AP exams for college credit. Additionally, Georgia is now ranked second for the number of black students taking and passing AP exams for college credit. Students, parents, and teaches deserve the credit, but let’s not forget State School Superintendent, Dr. John Barge, is doing a great job. Governor Deal has also announced the creation of the REACH (Realizing Educational Achievement Can Happen) Scholarship. This privately funded scholarship is aimed at helping lowincome students. According to the Governor’s office: REACH Scholars will be selected in middle school and will sign a contract to maintain a certain grade average, remain crime, drug, and behavior issue free and meet with a volunteer mentor until they graduate from high

school. Their parents or guardians will also sign a contract to support their student through their education. Students who complete program requirements will receive a renewable yearly tuition scholarship of $2,500 to be used at any HOPE eligible institution. This amount will cover the average gap between other needs-based scholarships, such as Pell, and the full cost of attendance. Finally, a new tool is available for Georgia small business owners. Georgia Get Your Business Online is a free way for Georgia businesses to get a website and begin driving greater sales and economic activity. GeorgiaGetOnline.com is free for Georgia small business owners and for the next year free tools, training and resources are available to help their business succeed online. Included as well is a free and easy-to-build website, a customized domain name and free web hosting for one year. While 97 percent of Americans look online for local products or businesses, 54 percent of Georgia small businesses do not have a website. Jobs, education, and small business opportunities; good things are happening again in Georgia. So as we begin this climb out of difficult times, let’s keep in mind the words of Helen Keller: “Optimism is the faith that leads to achievement. Nothing can be done without hope and confidence.”

TowneLaker | April 2012

Feature

Readers’ Choice Awards

The Winner is .

TowneLaker is proud to announce the winners of the 2012 Readers’ Choice awards. Our readers were invited to vote for their favorite businesses in a wide variety of categories. Congratulations to all the winners!

Restaurants All-Around Restaurant Fire Stone Wood Fired Pizza & Grill Bakery Publix, Rose Creek Barbecue Place JD’s Bar B Que Breakfast Place J. Christopher’s

Italian Tuscany Kid-Friendly Chick-fil-A Lunch Place Chick-fil-A Mexican La Parilla

Coffee Shop Starbucks

New Restaurant Fire Stone Wood Fired Pizza & Grill

Dessert Place Menchies Frozen Yogurt

Oriental Kani House

Ethnic La Parilla

Pizzeria Mellow Mushroom

Fast Food Chick-fil-A

Seafood Marietta Fish Market

Fine Dining Tuscany

Sports Bar Taco Mac

TowneLaker | April 2012

Services

Recreation & Entertainment

Auto Repair Christian Brothers

Lawn Care Service Tru Green

Dance Studio Dance for His Glory

Car Wash Towne Lake’s Carwash and Detail

Medical Doctor Dr. Amy Hardin

Fitness/Health Club LA Fitness

Carpet/Upholstery Cleaner Noble Services Caterer Chick-fil-A

Nail Salon Big Apple Nail & Spa Ophthalmologst Thomas Eye Group

Chiropractor Towne Lake Family Chiropractic

Optometrist Dr. Steve Keith, Towne Lake Eye Associates

CPA Ratliff & Associates

Orthodontist Dr. Michael D. Williams

Day Care/Preschool Hillside UMC Preschool

Painter Davis Paint

Day Spa Beverly’s Day Spa

Pediatric Dentist Park Pediatric Dentistry of Woodstock

Dentist Baird & Baird Family Dentistry Dry Cleaner Esquire Cleaners

Pediatrician Northside Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine

Electrician J.R. Electrical

Pet Boarding Animal Hospital of Towne Lake

Financial Institution/Bank Wells Fargo Bank

Pest Control Arrow Exterminators

Hair Salon Three 13 Salon

Pet Groomer PetSmart

Home Improvement/ Repair Home Depot

Photographer Derek Shane Fotos

Home Improvement/ HVAC R&D Mechanical Services

Physical Therapist Rebound Physical Therapy

Home Improvement/ Flooring Home Depot Home Improvement/ Roofing Trotter Roofing Home Improvement/ Handyman Handyman Matters Insurance Agent Steve Cannon – State Farm

Gymnastics Center World of Kids Athletic Campus

Plumber Frank Duckworth Tutoring Huntington Veterinarian Animal Hospital of Towne Lake TowneLaker | April 2012

Feature

Readers’ Choice Awards Retailers Boutique Three Sisters

Jeweler Diamonds R Forever

Children’s Clothing Store Kohl’s

Liquor Store Bullock’s Wine & Spirits Warehouse

Drug Store CVS Pharmacy Florist Brenda’s House of Flowers Furniture Store Woodstock Furniture Outlet Garden Center Pike Family Nurseries Gift/Home Décor Store Hobby Lobby Grocery Store Kroger Hardware Store Home Depot Home Improvement Store Home Depot

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Music Store Ken Stanton Music Pet Supply Store PetsMart Shoe Store DSW Shoe Warehouse Specialty Foods The Butchers Block Sporting Goods Dick’s Sporting Goods Tire Store Kauffman Tires Toy Store Learning Express

TowneLaker | April 2012

Community

Take the Argument Outside by Mike Litrel, M.D.

Dr. Mike Litrel practices with his fellow OB/GYN’s at Cherokee Women’s Health Specialists in Canton and Woodstock. Dr. Litrel lives in Woodstock with his wife Ann and their two sons, Tyler and Joseph. E-mail Dr. Litrel at www. cherokeewomenshealth.com

Years ago when my boys were little, I’d walk through the front door after a long day at work, and they’d launch into my arms, shouting, “Daddy, Daddy!” their faces lit with incandescent joy. Those early years of parenting were a challenge, but the outpouring of my children’s young love was so palpable, I found it painful being away from them. A dozen years have turned my boys into teenagers. And now it’s painful to be around them.

Forget about the pitter patter of little feet when I come home: my boys are ensconced in the basement watching television or surfing the web. If I walk downstairs, I might score a salutary grunt. But if they are engaged in an online game with friends, their greeting could teeter on a glare. Thus, I was taken off guard last week when both my boys met me at the door after work. Their faces were not alight, however, with the childhood joy I remember so fondly. They were flushed with teenage anger. There had been an argument – and they wanted me to arbitrate. The last thing I wanted to hear at the end of a long day in the

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operating room was a pile of teenage complaining. I scanned their faces and briefly considered using my father’s unique parenting strategy. When my twin brother Chris and I would ask our dad to settle a conflict, he generally listened for a minute or three. If the solution wasn’t readily apparent, he’d shrug and go with his favorite standby: “I think you boys just need to take your argument outside.” Chris and I, now in our mid-40s, have both studied martial arts for 20 years. I suspect our motivation to master these ancient fighting techniques is the direct result of the sheer number of fist fights we had growing up. In some ways, those fights were very satisfactory: nothing answers a surge of boyhood rage better than socking your brother right in the eye. It’s less fun when your nose gets bloodied instead. There are two main reasons I have not used my father’s nonchalant “boys will be boys” approach to parenting. The first is that physical violence only breeds more anger, which in turn breeds more violence; the fighting is endless (as I learned firsthand). Second – and most importantly – my boys are three years apart, so I could never figure out a way to make the fist fight fair. Tyler spouted out his complaints first. Joseph had hacked into one of his computer accounts to play the game without Tyler’s permission. To add insult to injury, Joseph had also changed the password – to “tylerisajerk.” Joseph rebutted that Tyler hadn’t played this

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After a long walk together through the neighboring woods and down to the lake, they said they could now assure me they were the very best of friends. game in over a year, and no matter how politely he had pleaded, Tyler had still refused to let Joseph play. Tyler deserved to have his account hacked. Not to mention the descriptive new password. Listening to this fraternal feud, my mind wandered. I couldn’t help but think, I could be relaxing right now – if only Tyler had let his brother play in the first place. Joseph was wrong of course - but that password move was sort of slick. It didn’t matter what I decided. One of my boys would end up angry and indignant: “It doesn’t matter what happens - you always choose HIS side!”

Over the years I have developed the perfect answer: “It’s because I love your brother so much more than you.” This is usually met with a reluctant laugh. I just want a peaceful home. So I kicked both boys and their complaints out of the house until dark. Peace and calm descended. I figured I’d restore their electronics once they were getting along again. A few hours later, Tyler and Joseph returned. After a long walk together through the neighboring woods and down to the lake, they said they could now assure me they were the very best of friends. I was skeptical. I requested to see a convincing brotherly hug. They were laughing as they dug their knuckles into each other in what could only be called a somewhat aggressive embrace. That was enough for me. I took a cell phone photo of their smiling faces. They retreated back to the basement to play videos. I stared amused at their photo for a few minutes. Who would have thought? I’d been wrong all these years. “Take your argument outside, boys” was a strategy that really worked.

TowneLaker | April 2012

Community

Everyday

If you would like to make a donation in honor and memory of Taylor Simonds, please visit www. townelaker.com/ everydayangels to donate via Paypal or send your donations to: Everyday Angels, 2449 Towne Lake Parkway, Woodstock GA, 30189. One hundred percent of your funds will go to the family you specify. Also, if you know of a special need within your community that you would like to share, please send an e-mail to aaeverydayangels@ gmail.com for consideration and qualification.

TowneLaker | April 2012

Everyday Angels is honored to share an inspiring story of a local family whose unrelenting faith and courage deepens despite the sudden loss of their beautiful young daughter, Taylor Simonds. Through Taylor’s life and sudden passing, many lives were touched and priorities changed as friends and observers learn that our true purpose in life isn’t the worldly goals we once had, but to glorify God in all we do – through good times and bad.

On the morning of January 23, 2012, Taylor Simonds wasn’t feeling well so she was taken to see her pediatrician. Her parents, Courtney and Charles, were told that Taylor was, “a very sick little girl.” In less than an hour, they were told that she had Leukemia (AML), and Taylor was quickly admitted to the hospital. Two days later was the last she spoke and three weeks later, on February 10, Taylor Simonds passed away. Taylor Simonds, an eighth grade student at Woodstock Middle School (WMS), was one of three children and the twin sister of Jordan. Today, her family focuses on each day as it comes. “She went so quickly from being a healthy energetic girl to going to be with the Lord, that to focus on that difficult brief period of time has no value in accomplishing anything useful. It is only when we think of things in the past, that we feel the overwhelming sense of loss, or when we think ahead to the prom, wedding, and grandchildren, that we feel the pain of what was seemingly robbed from us,” admitted her father Charles. “However, we believe, more now than ever, that it is not God’s will for people to die like this, especially for children.” Taylor, herself, never backed down for a second. When she was first told she had Leukemia, she asked if people die from it and if they lose their hair. She then recited scriptures, “By Jesus’ stripes I am healed” (Isaiah 53:5); “A thousand may fall at my side, ten thousand at my

right hand but it will not come near me.” (Psalms 91:7) The doctors and nurses present were amazed at her courage. She never once said she was afraid. During the three weeks between Taylor’s diagnosis and passing, everyone rallied, supported and prayed for Taylor. “The list is too long to name everyone that has walked along side us through these months,” stated Charles. They are thankful for Mark Smith, WMS Principal, teachers, staff and students for their love and support. WHS Senior, Sierra Barrett, organized a benefit concert, “Think Pink: Taylor’s Concert,” held on March 17 in celebration of Taylor’s life. The Simonds also would like to encourage everyone to donate blood every chance they get. After countless blood transfusions, they have appreciation for simple act of giving blood. By focusing on knowing where Taylor is today, her family finds peace. They understand that God is bigger than anything we will face in this life - even the separation of a parent from a child. As the Simonds family moves forward embracing and celebrating those fourteen wonderful years spent with their daughter, we continue to pray for their comfort and peace – day to day.

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Community

TOWNE LAKE BUSINESS ASSOCIATION The April 9 application deadline for the Towne Lake Business Association’s (TLBA) 10th Annual TLBA Entrepreneurial Spirit Scholarship Awards is just a few days away. Two $1,000 Scholarships will be awarded to graduating seniors, one each at Etowah and Woodstock High Schools. Contact your school counselors today and ask for an application. You also can request an application by emailing donaldekyle@gmail.com. The 12th Annual TLBA Golf Tournament, benefitting the TLBA Entrepreneurial Scholarships, will be held on Wednesday, September 12, at the Towne Lake Hills Golf Club. Please contact Jon LaMonte at eesllc@ymail.com to sign up. The topic of our March Workshop was “The Emerging Reality of Immigration, Hiring, And the World of Do.” We want to thank Dawn Stastny of Stellaris Group for the presentation.

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Lunch ‘N’ Learn Workshop Tuesday, April 17, 12:15 — 2 p.m. How To Use Your Computers And Technology To Better Run Your Business presented by Brad Klaus of Real Tech Solutions. All Workshops are held at Featherstone’s Grille at Towne Lake Hills. Please RSVP to all events at (770) 615-3350. We welcome our newest member, Fetch! Pet Care of NW Atlanta. Thank you for supporting our community by “Keeping Towne Lake Dollars in Cherokee.” Visit us at tlba.org.

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Lifestyle

Gardening With The Masters Geraniums by Patricia Bowen, Cherokee County Master Gardener When I was a child, my grandmother had bright red geraniums in flower pots on her front porch. I now have geraniums by my garden gate, and my children have these same favorites in front of their homes. Geraniums have never gone out of style. They’re easy to grow, forgiving to beginning gardeners, and can use them to decorate your deck, garden and landscape. In addition to the red varieties, you’ll find geraniums in blue, pink, white and purple. Leaf colors also vary from green to bronze to yellowish white. You can bring your geraniums in over the winter, let them rest in pots or go totally dormant in your basement or garage, trim them back in the spring and replant them outdoors in the ground or in pots. Most will survive. You can also treat them like houseplants over the winter. They won’t flower, but their leaves will stay green and look pretty. Most geraniums are shrubby and grow to around three feet in pots or in the ground in well drained soil. Dwarf varieties are available and these look great in rock gardens and as pot fillers. They all like sun and afternoon shade when the sun is at its strongest. If they have no relief from the heat in the hottest part of the summer the plants may simply stop blooming so they can rest. Geraniums can be found anywhere flowers are sold: supermarkets, hardware stores, catalogs and online. You can

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also take cuttings from your favorite plants (or a friend’s), dip them in rooting hormone and plant them in pots in a sunny window or outdoors when all danger of frost is past. If you want bushy plants, keep pinching them while they’re small so new branches will form. Friday, April 20 and Saturday, April 21 are days you won’t want to miss. Cherokee County Master Gardeners host the Georgia Master Gardeners Association Conference for 2012. The public is invited to attend this event for all things green and growing. For more information and to register, go to http:// georgiamgaconference.com.

TowneLaker | April 2012

Lifestyle

Job Seeking Head Games by Lynne Saunders Searching for employment can be a strenuous race, even in a good economy. I am not convinced the job market has clearly turned around, but news reports sound optimistic. It is encouraging to see “Help Wanted” signs begin to sprout all over town. Lynne is the founder and executive director of Papa’s Pantry and The MastersTrainingCenter. com in the Towne Lake area. For more information, you can contact her at lynneatthepantry@ yahoo.com. Employment Strategies Core Concepts classes and Advanced Coaching sessions are offered bi-weekly. Call (770) 591-4730 for the schedule and more information. Papaspantry.org.

If you remain unemployed after a long period of time and find it impossible to get a break, how do you keep going with energy and confidence, especially in light of a breaking economy? Do you think, “Why is everyone else getting jobs while I cannot?” You are not alone. I routinely ask workshop participants how it feels “out there” in the job market. Most are discouraged.

Karl Rove, former Bush advisor, stated last week that “one out of six Americans is unemployed.” State and national unemployment percentages reflect new benefits requests only, and do not consider people who have exhausted unemployment benefits, graduates and young adults trying to enter the workforce, or those who have simply given up. The economy is trying to recover. Your job search involves YOU, and no one else. Do not compare yourself with others or the good fortune others seem to be finding. It might be time to analyze the steps you are taking in your job search. Thinking about an action plan is not the same as doing it, although your brain cannot tell the difference in dealing with the stress. Be proactive and you will mentally feel relief. Here are my top five suggestions this spring: • Set an alarm clock to begin each day with purpose and focus. Pray. Take care of your nutrition and exercise. Dress as if you will be meeting someone professionally. • Plan your job search continued on page 82 34

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Lifestyle

Musings from Towne: Fiber Fanatic by Robyn Hohensee

Robyn Hohensee has resided in Towne Lake with her husband Todd for 17 years. She is currently working on a childrenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s book and an adult fiction novel. Feel free to contact her at Robyn561@yahoo. com.

Every day I am knitting something. My purse always has a pair of knitting needles poking out of the top and two or three balls of yarn buried at the bottom. I even keep a different set of yarn and needles in my car in case I get stuck in traffic. Usually I have two or three projects going at one time. You may say I have a bit of OCD with a touch of ADD, and you would probably not be far off the mark. Some folks drink, gamble, overeat, have affairs or hoard; I knit. It keeps me sane and it is wholesome.

I am not alone in my obsession with knitting. There are hundreds more just like me, and some of them may be reading what I am writing at this very moment. Perhaps you do not knit, but would like to learn. Today is your lucky day, because I am going to introduce you to The North Georgia Knitting Guild (NGKG), of which I am a founding member. The NGKG was formed in 2007 by women who are passionate about the art of knitting and seek to learn and grow as fiber artists, as well as give back to the community through many charitable knitting causes. Every month we fiber fanatics meet at Hillside Methodist Church on Towne Lake Parkway. An informative workshop is given by a member or guest speaker that introduces a new technique and ways to improve our work. We show off our finished projects and learn from one another. I am inspired by the talent in the NGKG. Each member from, experienced to novice, brings a special talent to the group. The NGKG is a charitable organization that supports many causes, including knitting chemo hats for cancer patients, blankets and hats for premature babies and hats, scarves and blankets for MUST ministries. Where there is a need, we try to fill it. I believe that we all should use our talents in a positive way and I am proud of how the NGKG members willingly step up to the plate to help out those in need. Lastly, I would love to give a shout out to two fine local yarn shops in our area: The Whole Nine Yarns located on Main Street in downtown Woodstock and Only Ewe and Cotton Two in Alpharetta. Both shops offer informative classes for all levels of experience and offer a fabulous selection of the most luxurious yarns in the world. You can visit them online at www. thewholenineyarns.com and www.onlyeweandcottontoo. com. You can also visit The North Georgia Knitting Guild at www.thenorthgeorgiaknittingguild.com. Please email me with any questions. I would be happy to help convert you into an obsessed knitting fanatic! 38

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Lifestyle

The Mosquitoes are Coming by Rick Coughlin

Rick Coughlin is the owner of The Mosquito Authority. Email him at rick@ themosquitoauthority. com.

A wet yard in the spring can come back to bite you. Rain water that collects in potted plants, leaf clogged gutters, muddy depressions and anything else that holds standing water provide just what mosquitoes need to lay their eggs. All it takes is some warm weather to get the life cycle going. Before you know it, your yard can be filled with pesky mosquitoes that cause itchy bites.

Mosquitoes don’t just spread misery; they also can transmit disease. Everyone has become aware of West Nile but most don’t realize that the only cause of Heart Worm is from a mosquito bite. Swatting and yelling at the bloodsuckers will not get you very far. The best thing you can do is to prevent your yard from being a hospitable place for mosquito larva. The sooner you act the better off you will be so let’s getting started now. You need to be checking containers, wheelbarrows, buckets

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and anything in your yard that can collect water. It is a pretty good bet that with all the rain we have been getting you have something in your yard that is collecting water and has become a breeding ground. The easiest thing you can do is identify all the areas collecting water and dump them. Some of the hidden areas that a lot people miss are containers underneath your deck, in your under decking and in your clogged gutters. It is important to clean these areas; just a small amount of water can produce thousands of mosquitoes. Eggs can hatch in as little as a cap of water. Some other things that will help include repairing leaky pipes and faucets, changing water in your birdbath weekly, and not dumping grass clippings or branches in storm drains or ditches. Another recent problem due to the glut of foreclosed homes is abandoned pools. Please contact the county and make them aware of this dangerous situation if it exists near your home. As always if you have any questions or concerns you can email me Rick@ themosquitoauthority.com.

The King of Reds by David Heckelmoser This is the title most frequently awarded to Cabernet Sauvignon. It is widely regarded as the most noble of red wines for its ability to mature gracefully for many years.

David Heckelmoser is a Towne Lake resident and professional member of the Society of Wine Educators, Certified Specialist of Wine CSW, Atlanta Chapter Sommelier Les Marmition.

Cabernet is purple-red when young, and generally medium to full-bodied. The aromas and flavors are ripe black currant, black cherry and plum, which are often floral or chocolaty when young. Their flavors are often accompanied by mint, anise, clove and cedar.

In Napa Valley, Cabernet Sauvignon is a hearty, durable grape that grows vigorously in many climates, and is easy to harvest. It thrives on heat. If the temperature is too cool, the grapes wonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t ripen properly. Calistoga and St. Helena on the north end of the valley are the hottest temperature-growing areas.

Napa Valley contains a number of key designated Cabernet growing areas. The four most common ones in the valley are Oakville, Rutherford, Stags Leap and Calistoga. The conditions in these valley-growing areas tend to produce Cabernets that are riper, fleshier and fruitier, with more plum, black cherry and currant flavors than those grown on hillsides. Oakvilleâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s riper grapes yield Cabernets that are typically very rich, complex and dense. Wines from this area include Franciscan, Robert Mondavi Reserve, and Opus One. Rutherfordâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s wines are more elegant and fruitier than those from Oakville. Wines from this area would Include Caymus continued on page 83 TowneLaker | April 2012

Feature

Bert’sBigAdventure Local Boy Experiences Trip of a Lifetime by Kara Kiefer

Gabe’s Story When you first see Gabe Parker, you see an 11-year-old boy who likes computers and playing outside. You will notice his beautiful head of hair and deep dimples. What you won’t see is how much he has been through in such a short lifetime. Gabe was born with chronic liver disease, and he’s never known a life outside of being sick and on medication. Last year, Gabe became extremely ill, and doctors discovered that his liver was failing. He was bleeding internally, and even though he received transfusion after transfusion, the bleeding could not be controlled; the doctors delivered the unthinkable news to Gabe’s mom, Lynn, that they didn’t expect him to make it long enough to receive a liver transplant. However, they were wrong. Gabe received a new liver on April 27, 2011. And just when they thought they had been through the worst of it, Gabe was diagnosed with Lymphoma, which was rapidly spreading through his young and already compromised body. He immediately started on a chemotherapy regimen, but his body did not respond. His doctors tried a variety of treatments to get the cancer into remission, but finally told Lynn they had exhausted every effort. Lynn turned to her faith and called her pastor for help. He came to Gabe in the hospital and anointed him. After the pastor left, a change was immediately seen in Gabe. “He smiled for the first time in a year,” recalled Lynn, “and he said, ‘Momma, I feel different!’” Gabe started to turn around, and his perplexed doctors scoped him and discovered that he was healing. Gabe’s recovery could only be defined as a miracle.

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But again, things would change. Gabe’s body began rejecting his transplanted liver two weeks after the optimistic cancer scope. The doctors eased Gabe off the immune depressors, with the hope his body would take over. Lynn once again called upon her church community to pray for her son, and they did just that. Once again, Gabe responded to the power of prayer, and he told his mom, “I’m never giving up. God isn’t going to leave me now.” Gabe had been hospitalized for a year and had to learn how to walk again. Watching her son go through more pain was almost more than Lynn could bear. However, when Gabe turned 11 this past December 24, he was home and the last scope he received revealed his cancer was going into complete remission. Bert’s Big Adventure Bert’s Big Adventure is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that provides a five day, all inclusive trip to Walt Disney World® for children with a chronic and/or terminal illness. The foundation was started by Q100 disc jockey Bert Weiss and his wife Stacey. At the encouragement of Gabe’s hospital social worker, Lynn applied. The application process Lynn described was intense and included a three hour conversation with Bert regarding her son. “Bert is one of the kindest and most compassionate people I have ever spoken to,” recalled Lynn. A few weeks after the phone call from Bert, Lynn learned that her family had been selected, and Gabe could not have been more excited. Each child on Bert’s Big Adventure is treated like a rock star with his/her own videographer, photographer and guide. The children met characters, went on rides and just enjoyed feeling “normal.” In fact, Gabe said one of the best parts of the trip was not being the only sick child. For once, there were other children like him; he didn’t stand out, and he could simply enjoy, and enjoy he did! He met his all-time favorite Toy Story character Woody, saw Mickey Mouse scuba diving during a buffet dinner, and rode the Space Mountain and Mt. Everest rides. Today, Gabe is back at Carmel Elementary School enjoying the fifth grade. His prognosis remains optimistic, and Lynn is grateful for every minute with the son who never gave up. Photos courtesy Rustic White/Zach Thomas/Erika Leigh Photography

TowneLaker | April 2012

Lifestyle

Focus on the Mobile Career Resource Center by Sonia Carruthers Are you or someone you know searching for a new job? Have you been knocking on doors, searching through the classifieds and spending hours on the Internet looking for opportunities? Do you wish someone would just drive up to your door and help you navigate your way through the employment search process? Sonia Carruthers is the Executive Director of Cherokee FOCUS. You can e-mail her at cherokeefocus@ windstream.net or visit www.cherokeefocus.org.

The Atlanta Regional Workforce Board wants to help you! While the organization can’t drive right up to your front door and offer help, it’s doing the next best thing. Each Wednesday, the Atlanta Regional Workforce Board’s Mobile Career Lab drives up to Cherokee County and stations itself just off Exit 19 at the R.T. Jones Memorial Library from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Each week, this state-of-the-art-mobile unit is here in our county to provide assistance in job readiness and job search activities. The staff at the mobile unit is also equipped to tell you about valuable Workforce Investment Act funded training opportunities that you might be eligible for. And best of all, their services are free to the public! Inside the Mobile Career Resource Center, you’ll find a 13-station fully accessible computer lab. Operating under generator-driven power, the mobile unit has available internet connections, printer, scanner and copy services. The mobile unit also has a 42” plasma TV with DVD and VCR for training purposes. A separate interview area has also been built

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in to give you the opportunity to work with staff on your interviewing skills in a private one-on-one environment. This unit also provides a wheelchair lift and a fully accessible ADA workstation, with movable table and auxiliary equipment, so that everyone has the opportunity to take advantage of this great rolling resource. All individuals have access to job search and career development activities, such as online job search, resume and cover letter development, online tutorials and individual assessments and exploration of training eligibility and options. I have spoken to several community members who have taken advantage of the Mobile Career Lab and they have all raved about it. One person told me that she could not believe that she walked out with three solid job opportunity leads. One young man found help not only in his career search, but direction on where to go to complete his GED and get back on the right track, which he has now done. Everyone I spoke with had one thing to say that they were certain of, and that was the fact that the staff on the mobile unit were some of the nicest and most helpful people that they had ever met. Meeting the caring people of the Atlanta Regional Commission who came to Cherokee to assist them with their job hunts made what can be a stressful time into a time of renewed hope. The mobile unit services are available to individuals age 16 years and older. Hours of operation again are every Wednesday, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., at the R.T. Jones Memorial Library, 116 Brown Industrial Parkway, located off Exit 19 in Canton. Local businesses may also take advantage of the mobile unit for recruiting, pre-employment screening, interviewing and training. For more information, call (404) 463-3327 or visit www.atlantaregional.com/workforcesolutions.

TowneLaker | April 2012

Lifestyle

Two For One Swim Lessons by Lauri Wischner

Lauri Wischner is a Towne Lake resident who left her sales career behind to be a stay-at-home wife and mother. Contact her at laurihiking@yahoo.com.

For years, I had heard tales of a local swim instructor’s tough-as-nails reputation and the militaristic “tough love” techniques she used to teach children to swim. Children feared her. Parents loved her. I was skeptical. After hearing how she ignored crying, dismissed desperate pleas from children to get out of the water and barked rough commands to her students, I voiced loudly and proudly to my friends that I’d never take my child to someone who used such Draconian techniques.

At the same time, I wanted my 5½ year-old to learn to swim. So after years of hearing all those stories, I finally accompanied my friend to her daughter’s swim lesson to see for myself. I admit, it was hard to watch the two and three-year-olds receive their strict swim training, crying and pleading with their mommies to get out of the water all the while, the instructor demanding they stayed in and try. I found myself tearing up more than once, feeling the children’s deep fear. The lesson progressed, and although the kids continued to cry and protest, I noticed they were indeed doing what she asked and slowly learning to swim. I decided to enroll my daughter. Believe me, the veteran instructor didn’t disappoint. There was no mercy when it came to kids not wanting to put their heads under water, but as I sat through those lessons, my opinion slowly transformed. She had the utmost confidence

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There was no mercy when it came to kids not wanting to put their heads under water, but as I sat through those lessons, my opinion slowly transformed. each child could swim and was determined to show them that if they tried, they could succeed. During the first lesson, one boy tried everything to escape the pool. She was gruff and unforgiving to him that day. But by the third day, I watched them in the water together. She stayed close to him, praising each small improvement, challenging him to keep his head above water while treading water by gently asking him to spot the squirrels nest at the top of a tree in her yard. “Wow,” I mused as I watched. “She has a heart, after all.” That same class, I also watched her work with a Downs Syndrome child. She still used her no-nonsense techniques, but I saw a much softer, kinder and gentler teacher. I was amazed at her effectiveness. By the end of the second lesson, my daughter was swimming across the pool with her classmates. I was disappointed in myself. I had judged too quickly. I got a “two for one” when I paid for those lessons. My daughter learned to swim, and I learned a lesson in humility.

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Lifestyle

TowneLaker | April 2012

Feature

TowneLaker | April 2012

Feature

TowneLaker | April 2012

Health & Wellness

Crowded Teeth Caused by Bad Tooth Movement by Dr. Scott R. Harden Teeth move. This is an absolute fact. Nearly everyone knows that teeth can be moved by braces or by erupting wisdom teeth. Braces straighten or move teeth into better positions. This is good tooth movement.

Dr. Scott Harden is a dentist at Fountain View Family Dentistry and has served the Towne Lake area for more than 21 years. He is a Dental Advisor for two nationally renowned dental research companies. You can reach him at (770) 926-0000 or visit FountainViewSmiles. com.

This article shall discuss “crowding” caused by bad tooth movement that occurs naturally over years and causes destruction of your teeth. People are simply not aware that bad tooth movement happens because it is a slow, long-term occurrence. For dentists, crowding caused by bad tooth movement creates a host of severe problems for many patients (especially seniors) and are discussed below. The three fundamental causes of crowding are wisdom teeth, extracted teeth and natural crowding.

Wisdom teeth often act like bulldozers to crowd our teeth, including our front teeth. Wisdom teeth are ideally extracted at 16-18 years of age in patients that do not have sufficient room for them which includes a majority of the population. The majority of patients do not have sufficient room for wisdom teeth and have them extracted, ideally, between ages 16-18. Extractions of teeth other than the wisdom teeth produce spaces between remaining teeth and cause movement in several ways, termed “leaning” and “dropping.” Leaning and dropping occur over time. Leaning teeth cause tilted bite surfaces, resulting in improper bite forces on the teeth. Dropping teeth move down too far into the space below and force the lower teeth they touches to tilt even more, which creates traumatic impact on these teeth and on the dropped tooth itself. Dropping teeth follow an old dental saying: “Teeth are dumb and grow down until they hit something.” If there is no opposing tooth for a dropping tooth to ultimately strike against, it can continue to grow out of the bone until it hits the skin and requires extraction. Symptoms resulting from leaning and dropping teeth include tooth wear, jaw joint pain, loose teeth, fractured teeth and even tooth loss. 54

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Natural crowding causes teeth to overlap, especially the lower front teeth. This creates heavy wear through the enamel, exposing the soft dentin layer in your teeth. These are the difficult scenarios that dentists must face. Natural crowding is the final cause of crowded teeth by bad tooth movement. Most everyone is aware of the fact that teeth get crowded again if they do not wear their retainer after braces are removed. This is very frustrating. Teeth naturally move forward over the years and cause crowding of the front teeth. Natural crowding causes teeth to overlap, especially the lower front teeth. This creates heavy wear through the enamel, exposing the soft dentin layer in your teeth. Teeth can wear 50 percent or more by age 50. As the lower teeth wear, they continue to erupt upward because “teeth are dumb and grow until they hit something.” The wear is ongoing. A night guard would help prevent this from happening if identified early enough in a person’s life. As the front teeth wear, it alters the overall bite relationship, causing another dominos effect. The back teeth undergo more bite force without ideal front tooth support and they can develop fractures and other complications. Correcting crowding problems as they occur helps avoid more severe problems later. Have wisdom teeth extracted, ideally around 17 years old, if there is not sufficient room for them. Replace extracted teeth with implants, bridges or dentures to avoid very complex problems that can arise over time. Wear retainers after orthodontics for your entire life and consider adult braces if your teeth are getting crowded at the age of 35 or older. Wear night guards to help avoid wear problems. Overall, the more we keep our teeth in the ideal positions that God so intended, the more we avoid a host of difficult and costly problems down the road of life. Maintain routine dental visits every six months.

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Health & Wellness

Awareness Leads to Discontentment by Chicka Elloy According to the American Dialect Society, the 2011 Word of the Year runner up is FOMO (Fear of Missing Out).

Chicka Elloy lives in Woodstock with his wife and two sweet caramel daughters. He writes for USA Today Education and was voted #1 Daddy Blogger by Parents.com - Contact him through www. thefrequentflyerfather. com.

Those who experience FOMO fear missing out on something or someone more interesting, exciting or better. It is now my estimation that 9 out of every 10 people under the age of 55 are infected. Is being in “the know” (or letting others know information) a lifestyle, profession or pleasure for you? FOMO is a real feeling that’s starting to permeate through our social and moral relationships. Does this bother you?

A few examples of FOMO include constant checking of emails, gaming at dinner, driving and texting, updating Facebook at work, or my favorite - picking

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The reality is there are few things in our lives that can't wait. So the bigger question is will we ever settle for what we have, rather than cling to the fear that we may be missing out on something better? up call waiting on your phone. Are these things really more important than the person you are talking to? I call this FOMO! Here are my six remedies to cure your FOMO: • Have a better adventure than everyone else. It is impossible to fear missing out on someone else’s fun when you are creating an even more unforgettable story yourself! • Say, “yes” to every invitation no matter what it is. • Ensure you tag along for all adventures to minimize your possibility at missing out. continued on page 82

Shoulder Pain So Complex, Even a Brain Surgeon Needs Help by Dr. Ross Brakeville, PT, DPT, STC, TPI-L3

Dr. Ross Brakeville is a Physical Therapist specializing in Sports Medicine, to include injury prevention, with a focus on kids and adults who want to play like one. He is owner of Woodstock Physical Therapy & Performance Institute. For more information or to contact him call: (770) 516-9191.

Shoulder pain has more sources than a New York beat reporter. Pain can be referred from a nerve irritation in the neck, disease from an organ such as the heart, a poorly functioning shoulder blade, tightness in the shoulder, looseness in the shoulder, weakness, a bone spur, a torn rotator cuff… the editor, Kara, told me to stop already. You see the dilemma? With all these possible sources, it takes more than just a “take two ibuprofen and call me in a week” to manage pain! Experts agree, management of shoulder pain must start with a thorough evaluation. This evaluation seeks to determine what is injured and why. Doctors use a variety of clinical tests and imaging studies to

help identify what is injured. However, more comprehensive methods are employed to investigate why. These tests are not used by all doctors, as they are time consuming and can at times lead to more questions than answers. Dr. Tom Myers, a sports medicine orthopaedist in Atlanta, says “Orthopaedic surgeons are, in general, concerned more with

continued on page 84

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Health & Wellness

Bullying by Dr. Amy Hardin

Amy Hardin is a pediatrician in Towne Lake at Northside Pediatrics. Her youngest daughter plays lacrosse and will have IMPACT testing before the season starts. Check out Northside Pediatrics’ new website at www. northsidepediatrics. com and follow them on Facebook at Northside Pediatrics!

I was bullied when I was a kid. Unfortunately, I was not, and am not, the only kid who will ever be bullied. More than 28 percent of adults have been bullied at some point. In today’s technology-focused age, there are even more methods of bullying. Bullying is often a very private torture for kids. They don’t want to let their parents know because they are embarrassed and are afraid if mom gets involved things will get worse; or they may think that if they ignore it, perhaps it will disappear. Bullying damages a child’s ability to see him or herself in a positive light. In the worst scenarios, kids feel hopeless and self loathing with social anxiety and depression.

Signs that your child is being bullied include not wanting to go to school or after-school activities, becoming upset after using the computer or cell phone, seeming unusually sad, withdrawn or moody, or avoiding questions from you. He or she may have changes in eating or sleeping patterns, and grades may have taken a downturn. Why is bullying on the rise? New technology doesn’t help! The nature of the Internet allows even good kids to be mean. The computer or text message removes the face-to-face contact and empathy that it may bring. What should a child do if he or she is being bullied? First, try not to react to the bully, and especially not give in to any

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demands. This can be very difficult, but decreases the bully’s power. Bullies like nothing better than to see their victim become visibly upset. If ignoring doesn’t work, have your child stand up to the bully. Look the bully in his or her eyes and loudly and firmly say, “Stop now! If you keep on, I am going to tell the teacher/principal!” Then have your child walk purposely (not run) away, since further engaging a bully often only adds fuel to the fire. Another tactic works on the fact that some studies show bullies are often unhappy children with few friends, so being kind up front before the bully gets a chance to start by just saying, “Hi! How are you today?” might be enough to throw them off. Also, a buddy system helps if your child has a close friend - it is more difficult to bully someone when your friend is sticking up for him or her. Finally, child knowing you have his or her back is sometimes enough to allow him or her to stand up to the attackers without physical violence. What should we as parents do if the above techniques don’t succeed? If the bullying is happening at school, and your child’s efforts aren’t working, it often comes down to you having to talk to a teacher or principal. If cyberbullying is happening, get copies of texts, Facebook page snapshots or emails. Finally, police should be involved if you feel your child is in serious danger, there is a significant threat, or the school won’t help you because the bullying has happened off campus. Police can track IP addresses and find cyber-bullies. Last but not least, it’s very important to reassure your child there is nothing wrong with him or her. Often the victims’ self esteem needs to be built up after being bullied. Finding a new social environment such as summer camp, artistic or athletic groups help your child find new kids to hang out with and often boost their self confidence. Kids who are bullied often become wonderful caring parents, and find careers helping kids most satisfying. This pediatrician sure did!

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Health & Wellness

Overcoming Heartburn Worries by Victoria Kelley, RN, coordinator, Heartburn Treatment Center, Northside Hospital-Forsyth Chances are that you’ve experienced heartburn – the unpleasant burning sensation deep in your chest after eating or drinking too much. For most, heartburn is a minor problem, treatable at home. However, persistent heartburn, occurring several times a week, can be the primary symptom of a more serious problem known as Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease, or GERD. Understanding GERD GERD occurs when the lower muscle of the esophagus doesn’t close properly, allowing stomach acid and food to flow back up. If left untreated, it can cause serious damage to the lining of the esophagus. Symptoms of GERD include: • Burning pain that begins in the chest or behind the chest bone and moves up toward the throat • Pain that usually occurs after meals and responds to antacids • A feeling that food is coming back into the mouth • An acid or bitter taste at the back of the throat • Chronic coughing, wheezing or worsening asthma • Sore throat or hoarseness • Difficulty swallowing

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Heartburn vs. Heart Attack There are similarities between heartburn and heart attack symptoms – both include chest pain. However, pay attention to other symptoms. If the burning sensation gets worse instead of better when you lie down, there’s a good chance that the pain is not heart related. If the pain lasts longer than several minutes, if it spreads into the arms, neck or shoulders, or if you experience shortness of breath, sweating, lightheadedness, abnormal heartbeats or any other warning signs of a heart attack, seek medical attention immediately. Since heartburn and heart disease can co-exist, no one should conclude that chest pain is due to heartburn alone. Managing symptoms Simple lifestyle changes can help improve heartburn symptoms and should be the first step in managing GERD. • Keep a diet log. Identify what triggers heartburn for you and avoid those triggers. • Avoid food or drink that may increase symptoms such as tomatoes, peppermints, chocolate, fatty food, fried food, continued on page 82

Can You See What I Hear? by Dr. Jan Henriques and Dr. Lawrence Bridge

Dr. Henriques is a Board Certified Audiologist and leads a team of Professionals at Progressive Audiology Center, Inc. She can be reached at (770) 5924744.

Hearing loss has been called the “invisible handicap.” Unless you are wearing a hearing aid that is very obvious, people won’t be able to tell that you have hearing loss. However, many people want their hearing aids to be discreet and even invisible. Thanks to new and innovative technologies, this can now be accomplished! There has been an enormous improvement in the technology and overall acceptability of hearing aids within the past few years. As Audiologists, we believe this is attributed to their ability to reduce more background noise and amplify a larger range of frequencies within the speech spectrum. Although these advancements help, many patients now admit that a big reason they feel comfortable wearing hearing aids is because of their size.

other hearing aid beyond the Esteem device. The cost of this device is approximately $33,000 and is not covered by medical insurance. The cost of non-surgically implanted hearing aids will range approximately from $1,200-$3,000 per device. While Medicare does not pay for hearing aids, we are seeing many more Medicare conversion policies and other third party insurances pay something towards hearing aids. There is currently a bill before Congress that would give Americans a tax credit on hearing aids for up to $1,000 for both ears. Not everyone is a candidate for the miniature hearing aids. The first step is a hearing test. If hearing aids are recommended, they can be fit on a trial basis for at least 30 days with money refunded if the devices are returned. Sometimes a nominal fitting fee is charged. So if you have been putting off better hearing because you didn’t want anyone to see them, that is no longer an excuse! Come and hear what you have been missing — even if it is invisible!

Due to the recent changes in technology, hearing aid manufacturers can now pack more power into Dr. Lawrence Bridge is a smaller, more discreet, and sometimes member of the American Academy of Audiology invisible hearing aids. The Phonak (AAA), the American Nano is the new miniature hearing aid Speech-Languagedesigned to be virtually invisible in the Hearing Association ear. This device can sit far deeper in (ASHA) and the Georgia the ear canal and is much shorter than Academy of Audiology. the traditional completely in the canal (CIC) hearing aid. Due to the deep fit, sound clarity and quality is greatly enhanced. The Lyric is the first extended wear, completely invisible hearing aid. This device is placed 4 millimeters from the eardrum and is worn 24 hours a day for months at a time. The Lyric mimics the natural sound qualities of the ear due to its deep placement in the ear canal and helps to improve localization of a sound source, reduce feedback, minimize background noise, and improve the patient’s ability to hear high pitched sounds. Since the device is worn 24 hours per day, it is safe to shower and sleep with it in place. This device is not an implant and can be taken out by the patient or hearing professional at any time. Envoy Medical’s Esteem is the only fully implantable hearing device for sensorineural hearing loss that uses the natural ear as a microphone. The Esteem is completely invisible and contains a battery that needs to be replaced approximately every seven years. There are no speakers, microphones, or any TowneLaker | April 2012

Feature

Summer Camps Day Camps

Arts

Dates: June 11 – 15; June 18 – 22; June 25 – 29 Time: 9 a.m. – noon, daily Location: Bascomb Elementary School, 1335 Wyngate Parkway Cost: $75 per session Information: For children entering kindergarten in the fall of 2012. Visit www.cherokeecountysafetytown.org.

Dates/Day: Wednesdays, May 30-August 8 Time: 10 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Cost: $21-30 per session Information: Sibling discounts. (770) 592-4114, www.earthpaintandfire. com

Safety Town

Bascomb UMC Enrichment Camps

Dates: Weekly June 11, 18 & 25 Time: 9 a.m. – 2 p.m. Ages: 3-6 (Introduction to preschool for 2s) Location: Bascomb United Methodist Church, 2295 Bascomb Carmel Road Cost: $125/week Information: Call (770) 926-0397 or visit www.bascombpreschool.com

Hillside UMC Camps

Preschool Dates/Times:June and July, Tuesdays – Thursdays, 9 a.m. – 1 p.m. Kindergarten – 6th grade Week 1 (July 9) Build it – Lego’s, robots, “trash” crafts & wood structures Days/Time: Mondays – Thursdays, 9 a.m. – 1 p.m. Cost $80 Week 2 (July 16) Mega Sports Campgames and balls galore Days/Time: Monday – Friday, 4:30 – 8:30 p.m. Cost: $100 Week 3 (July 23) Arts — paints, drama, puppets, sign language and crazy crafts Days/Time: Monday – Thursday, 9 a.m. – 1 p.m. Cost $80 Location: 4474 Towne Lake Parkway Information: www.hillsideumc.org

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Earth Paint and Fire

Elm Street Cultural Arts Center

Dates: June 11-15; June 18-22; June 25-29; July 9-13; July 16-20 & July 23-27 Ages: Junior 5-7; Senior 8-14 Hours: 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Cost: $190 per session Information: www.elmstreetarts.org

Dance Imagination Princess and Hip Hop Dance Camps Dates: June 5 - July 26 Time: 9 a.m. – noon Location: 2485 Towne Lake Parkway Cost: $35 per day Information: (678) 445-2731

Wee Create and Art’s Up

Dates: June 4 – 8; June 11 – 15; June 18 – 22; June 25 – 29 and July 9 –13 Ages: 4-5 Location: Arts Alliance of Georgia, 101 Emma Lane, Suite 110 Information: artsup.artcamp@gmail.com

Sports

Nuno Piteira’s Soccer Experience

Dates: June 17 – 21, ages 13 – 17 June 24-28, ages 9 –13 Location: Reinhardt University Cost: $510 (residential), $450 (communter) Elite: $545 (residential), $495 (commuter) Information: visit www. nunosoccerexperience.com

Eagle Watch Tennis Camps

For all camps, contact Amanda Hall at (770)926-8508 or email amandahall724@gmail.com to register. Visit www.eaglewatchtennis.com to download forms. 8 & Under Dates: May 29-31; June 4-6; June 11-13; June 18-20; June 25-27; July 9-11 and July 16-18 Days/Times: Monday-Wednesday 8:30-9:30 a.m. Cost: $50 per child per camp week Information: Children should bring a 23” or shorter racquet. 10 & Under Dates: May 29-31; June 4-6; June 11-13; June 18-20; June 25-27; July 9-11 and July 16-18 Days/Times: Monday-Wednesday 9:30-10:30 a.m. Cost: $50 per child per camp week Information: Children should bring a 25” or shorter racquet. 12 & Under Dates: May 29-31; June 11-13; June 25-27 and July 9-11 Days/Times: Monday-Wednesday 10:30 a.m. - noon Cost: $75 per child per camp week Information: Children should bring a 26” or shorter racquet. 14 & Under Dates: June 4-6; June 18-20 and July 16-18 Days/Times: Monday-Wednesday 10:30 a.m. – noon Cost: $75 per child per camp week Information: This Camp is for the Novice- Intermediate 14U child seeking to “fine-tune” strokes and strategy while making tennis fun.

USTA JTT State Championship Warm Up Camp: Dates: July 23-26 Days/Times: Monday-Thursday, 9 - 11:00 a.m. Cost: $99 per child Information: this Camp is for all the juniors who qualified for the USTA Georgia Junior Team Tennis State Championship held in Macon July 27-29.

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Health & Wellness

Confessions of Pesky Parents by Dee Locklin

Dee Locklin is retired from Georgia State University. She lives in Towne Lake with husband Lewis and son Taylor in a cluttered home filled with love and lots of dust bunnies. Contact Dee at dlocklin89@gmail.com or follow her on Twitter and Facebook.

Our 19-year-old son most likely remembers his early family life occurring in staccato, with busy parents dashing in and out the door each day as they struggled to keep up with multiple demands. The poor child probably did everything possible to sustain our attention. But we were distracted careerists, overly-focused on too many responsibilities in addition to parenting. Oh, don’t worry. He had a great childhood, full of baseball, family gatherings, sleepovers and Orlando vacations. And, true to his spirit, our son never complained on those occasions when mom and dad didn’t make themselves available to read a bedtime story or play cards.

Over the years, our resilient son developed many friendships. His first bonds were with the boys his age who lived on our street in Eagle Watch. They played along the cul-de-sac and in the woods behind our homes. Then, as he grew in years and independence, he became a part of a tightknit group of guys located throughout the Towne Lake community. Thus, as a teenager, our son barely noticed us. Friends, not parents, fulfilled his affiliation needs. Our role was limited to basic shelter, food and clothing. And that was fine, because he was a thriving young man, full of confidence and promise. Serving as the invisible wind beneath his incredibly puffed out

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wings was our honor as parents. And then, unexpectedly, my husband and I retired. This occurred in the same year our son graduated from Etowah High School and headed off to university life.

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... my husband and I parlayed our forced retirements into an opportunity to serve as Super Parents. I can’t say that retirement results in a lot of spare time, but I can say that one’s priorities do shift once the clamor of the work world quiets. So it stands to reason that formerly driven careerists quickly channel all that occupational energy elsewhere. And it was in this spirit that my husband and I, once released from our careers, rapidly adopted new roles as really pesky parents. Guilt-ridden by years of missing Sunday dinners and Scrabble games, my husband and I parlayed our forced retirements into an opportunity to serve as Super Parents. So we now call or text our son about six times a day. We cook vats of comfort food each weekend and invite him to supper. We shower him with unwanted attention and blow hurricanes of kisses as he dashes out the door. We deliver his weekly laundry with continued on page 85

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Hippie Travels by Ashley Gillis

Coffee and I have been friends for a long time. Through all of my travels, coffee is a staple. Each country has its own ritual for brewing, distinct flavor and unique customs for enjoying. My first coffee experience was with my dad. As he drove me to elementary school, I can remember him instructing me to hold the cup out when we drove over bumps. Every morning, we drank our coffee, talked on all subjects, and listened to music playing over the radio. As an adult, Seattle Washington helped me relive those times and forever change the way I experienced coffee. Ashley Gillis has a Master’s Degree in Instructional Design and recently left the corporate world to become a full time small business owner and part time consultant in the learning and development industry. She lives in Eagle Watch with her husband Ken, daughter Jordan, son Hayes and Breeze the rescue dog.

It was 1992, and I was traveling on business. That first day on west coast time had me up at 4 a.m. So I dressed and headed to the downtown streets of Seattle. The morning air was brisk, and I had that need to find a good cup of coffee. As I turned a corner, there was a sign with a coffee cup.

I opened the door and was engulfed with the warm smell of brewing coffee, the sound of tinkling silverware, and soft jazz music playing in the background. At 5:30 a.m., the place was filled to capacity with people from all walks of life. Young and old, business and leisure, local and tourist, everyone with a cup of steaming coffee…then someone shouted, “Welcome to Starbucks!” I stepped up to the counter to place my order… then froze, staring dumbfounded at the overhead menu. Do you remember the good old days of ordering coffee? Customer, “I’ll have a coffee with cream and sugar.” Wait Staff, “Regular or Decaf?” Do you remember placing your first order at Starbucks? I was in Seattle but the language of coffee was equal to the great romance languages ….was that French…no Italian? I was totally clueless. I looked at the gentleman, smiled, and in my best southern drawl said, “I would just love a very big cup of coffee. I like it sweet with cream and sugar.” Maybe it was the southern accent; maybe he just felt sorry for the unenlightened, or maybe he knew that I was a coffee lover crossing over into 66

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a new era, but he took pity on me and said, “I’ll start you off with a Venti (which I recognized as 20 in Italian) medium roast, and I’ll leave room for you to add cream and if you like, I can make it extra sweet with a splash of vanilla flavor.” Well, I was hooked. Three Venti’s later, I was heading out the door for my first meeting…wired on 60 ozs of coffee. You could say that first meeting was interesting, but that is a story for another day. After the first day of meetings, I headed down to Pike Place Market. But, of course, I had to stop by that coffee shop just one more time. Bravely, I walked up to the counter and timidly said, “I was here this morning and would like to try something new. I like coffee to be sweet, not bitter. What do you recommend?” Again, I think it was the southern accent, but he gave me a big smile and said, “Let’s talk to the Barista.” I looked at him innocently and said, “Why do we need a lawyer?” He smiled and explained that a Barrister is a lawyer; a Barista is Italian for “bartender.” Well, that sounded good. Then I was introduced to my first Grande Vanilla Caffè Latte. He explained that it was espresso with steamed milk. Espresso? Is that strong? I thought to myself. Let’s just say that I zoomed through Pike Place Market, met every vendor, and managed to talk to anyone who would give me the time of day. Over the next four days, I met everyone who worked the morning and evening shifts. I felt like they were my new Seattle family. I tried just about everything they had to offer and needless to say did not sleep much on that trip. It’s fun to think back to my days of coffee innocence. Now, no matter what state or country I visit, I turn the corner looking for the sign with a coffee cup and so far, it has not let me down.

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Schools & Sports

Senior Project Wrap Up by Nicole Mott

Nicole Mott is a senior at Etowah High School. She has aspirations of majoring in Broadcast Journalism in college. Nicole also plays on the Etowah soccer team.

As I wrap up my senior project, as well as my senior year, I have been reflecting a lot about what I really wanted to accomplish through the publication of my articles. Not only did I hope to create a successful project to present, but also something that would make a difference and is noticed by the community. Judging by the number of local Towne Lake residents who have commented to me about my articles, I can recognize that people have in fact noticed. With this being my last article, I hope to share something personal about myself that will, in the end, influence even more people.

Being a high school student, there are many things to look forward to in these upcoming months. For me, spring break, graduation, and the approach of summer have been enough to put a smile on my face. I can assure you, I am just as excited as anyone else for some, if not all of these stimulating events. However, I also know that having fun or celebrating can lead to negative consequences, especially when alcohol is involved. Therefore, Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d like to take this opportunity to reach out to the community by sharing my story. I was 18 months old when my all-too-young mother was hit head-on by a drunk driver. The accident was detrimental, and her injuries were critical. Unfortunately, she did not survive, but the other driver did. He was sentenced and received jail

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time, but in no way did that change the way things ended up for my family and me. Obviously, the effects were life-long and have been consistently hard. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s probably hard enough raising kids with two parents, but raising a girl for 18 years, on your own, while being a single father was far from simple for my dad. Luckily, through pictures, home videos, and stories from my father, I have been able to know my beautiful mother. I am forever grateful to my resilient daddy who has done nothing but his best for me considering our challenging circumstances. So, bringing my senior project to a close, I hope my words in this final article have been able to sway some future decisions that could be made not only for upcoming events or activities, but for peopleâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s lives from here on out. I strongly urge you, my peers and readers, when put into a situation where you have to choose between getting behind the wheel or to not drive intoxicated, to think about the aftermath, loved ones, and the lives of others you do not know. I have always believed there are alternatives to getting to a destination while under the influence. Trust me when I say: you do not want to be on either end of the spectrum, whether you end up in the position my mother did or the position of the driver of the other car. I have grown up in a thriving community that has always been supportive and that has recently been so positive about my articles. I would love for my community to show support in a way where they could bring awareness to the people around them, and remind them of the dangers, while having me in the back of their heads. Thank you for following me along during this journey called my senior project! I have learned a great deal from it!

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Feature

T eacher Since our children spend so many of their days and hours in school, it’s important to know those hours are filled by quality and caring educators. We are lucky to be in a school system that abounds with just that! Every year, each school nominates its own Teacher of the Year — quite an honor since the nominating is done by his/her peers! We are proud to feature and honor our local Teachers of the Year!

Laura Wagner — Bascomb Elementary School. Laura currently teaches kindergarten and has been teaching for nine years, seven at Bascomb. When Laura speaks of her students, she finds their willingness and eagerness to learn inspiring. “I love to find the best ways to help my students grow, regardless of where they are starting from or where they need to go academically. I am preparing my kindergarteners to meet their future teachers’ expectations, so the foundation I help build now will hopefully serve my young charges well.” Jennifer Davis — Chapman Intermediate School. Jennifer is a Reading Resource teacher. She has been teaching for 24 years, nine at Chapman. Students and their enthusiasm for learning are what inspires Jennifer. “As a teacher of learners with many differing abilities, I am encouraged by my students’ resilience and tenacity to keep working at a task until they’ve achieved success.” One of Jennifer’s greatest pleasures is seeing a student who previously was reluctant to read suddenly clamor for books to read for enjoyment. “Being named Teacher of the Year for Chapman is a tremendous honor!” 70

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Kathy Cash — Boston Elementary School. Kathy teaches the third grade. She has been teaching for 14 years, four of them at Boston. “I can’t help but be inspired when I walk in the front door of Boston,” she said. “Every day, I am greeted by eager faces that are ready to share and learn. My goal is for all my students to love learning.” Kathy said she always is looking for new ways to present material. “I am so blessed to be inspired every day!”

“Words truly are powerful.”

Joseph Lemmo — E.T. Booth Middle School. Joe teaches Language Arts at Booth, and he has been teaching for a total of 12 years, 4 at E.T. Booth. In general, Joe is inspired by words. “Whether I read them in a book, listen to them in a song, hear them in conversations or speak them to others, I’m constantly being inspired.” Joe said words provide him with encouragement, inspiration, happiness, hope and joy.

of the year John Murnan — Etowah High School. John teaches Anatomy and Physiology and AP Biology. He’s been a teacher for 24 years, 7 years at Etowah. “I have never been satisfied with how I teach,” he said. “As a result, I am constantly trying to improve. Since I teach seniors, I often run into alumni who tell me how my class affected their lives and that keeps me motivated.” In addition to being chosen as Etowah’s Teacher of the Year, John also was selected by a panel of judges as the Cherokee County Teacher of the Year.

Karen Zayance — Woodstock High School (WHS). Karen teaches Engineering Technology and Computer Science. She has been teaching for 16 years, 15 of those at WHS. “My greatest accomplishment has always been my students’ successes. My lessons are student centered, allowing them to recognize their individual talents, strengths and interests. There is no greater joy than to watch a student discover he or she has a hidden talent which could lead to an exciting career in various technology industries.”

Kathleen Zackery — Oak Grove Elementary School. Kathleen teaches first grade, and she’s been teaching for 19 years, 11 at Oak Grove. “I consider it my privilege to satisfy my students’ intellectual curiosities through activities that foster higher-level thinking skills, as they learn through discovery. Learning should be enjoyable, and I believe it’s our responsibility as educators to provide every possible avenue that will lead a child to knowledge.” Kathleen strives to make sure each one of her students knows they matter and that they can accomplish anything they purpose in their heart.

Stephanie Ray — Woodstock Middle School (WMS). Stephanie in an eighth grade math teacher at Woodstock. She has been teaching for 10 years, five at WMS. In regards to teaching, Stephanie was initially inspired by former teachers. “I am inspired by my administrators, my teammates and my peers. Mostly, I am inspired by my students who always challenge me to be a better teacher.”

Not Pictured: Dana Overton of Carmel Elementary School

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Schools & Sports

school news Booth Students Stand out in Oratorical Contest

Twenty students from E.T. Booth shined in their presentations of “How my Optimism Helps me Overcome Obstacles” for the South Cherokee Optimist Club’s 37th annual Oratorical Contest. The students included Anthony McCauley, Claire Strickland, Brandon Baker, Sarah Kate, Tiffa Blakeley, Ashley Beecher, Jada Collins, Samantha Estep, Bryanna Montgomery, Laura Hinchey, Mandi Ballenger, Michael Izzo, Canyon Aspy, Hunter Shattuck, Kayla McGrew, MacKenzie Kisella, Keith Wood, Staci Thomas, John Carter-Campbell, Bre Miller, Nickki Gilner, Sarah Garrett, Jeff Rushbridge and Jason Ogbomoh. Recognized for their outstanding presentations were Canyon Aspy, Jason Ogbomoh, Hunter Shattuck, Brandon Baker, Jada Collins, Bre Miller and Nikki Gilner.

Cherokee Christian Students Travel Abroad

Cherokee Christian High School students recently visited Paris, Barcelona, and Madrid as part of their annual cultural studies program. The students will be traveling to Amsterdam, Brussels, Paris, and London in 2013. The students are pictured in front of the Eiffel Tower in Paris.

TowneLaker | April 2012

Woodstock High Student to Participate in Teen Pageant Rachael Baumgartner, a junior at Woodstock High School, recently was selected to participate in the 2012 Miss Teen Atlanta pageant. Rachael will compete for her share of thousands of dollars in prizes and specialty gifts. She will compete in modeling routines as well as interviews. Rachael is the daughter of Gina and Gregg Baumgartner.

Carmel Top Fundraiser Carmel Elementary School received an award for being the Cherokee County School for the 20102011 school year to raise the most Left to right: Debra VonMinden, March money for the March of Dimes representative Michele Beal, of Dimes. Students Assistant Principal Dr. Pam Green, Debbie participated in the Krug and Dr. Reggie Kimball. Walkmania event and raised just over $6,000 to help babies born prematurely get the chance to lead healthy lives

Charter Academy Club Benefits Humane Students in Cherokee Charter Academy’s Beta Club did its winter fund raiser for Green Pets America Humane Society. The club presented a check of $164 to Green Pets Executive Director Steve Monahan. The money will help with operational costs of the no kill shelter and animal rescue/adoption organization.

Consistent Quality Barbeque Keeps Customers Coming Back for More!

4427 Towne Lake Parkway • (770) 924-9491 www.bar-b-cutie.com Bar-B-Cutie is Towne Lake’s favorite, family-friendly barbecue restaurant and continues to serve up some of the best BBQ for miles around. Their many loyal customers keep coming back for three main reasons: the food is consistently good, customers receive value for their money, and the customer service never misses a beat. Bar-B-Cutie, located in the Rose Creek Publix Shopping Center, has fit those criteria for three years now. “The fact that we have a lot of regular customers on a daily and weekly basis says a lot in my mind,” said owner/operator Mike Sandberg. “We realize there are choices out there. To see the same friendly faces repeatedly reassures us we are meeting our goals of consistency in all aspects of our restaurant. We appreciate our loyal customers and look forward to welcoming many more!” To get the freshest quality, all meats are smoked on-site daily. This produces their specialties of lean pulled pork and succulent ribs, as well as, brisket, sausage, and smoked turkey. Need even more variety? Consider their mesquite chicken, burgers, wings, country fried steak, salads, stuffed “spuds” and kids’ meals. Bar-B-Cutie offers one of the best and quickest weekday lunch deals around! Each weekday has a specially priced lunch sandwich combo and with more than 20 side items to choose from, menu boredom is not an issue! Delivery is available for business meetings or office group lunches. Bar-B-Cutie also does a tremendous amount of catering, both off-site and on-site. “We cater to your needs and your budget,” said Mike. Events such as graduation, weddings, summer parties, training seminars and team meals are perfect opportunities to let someone else do the cooking! In-store buffets are available for groups up to 30. Mike can even bring his travel smoker to your next event! Locally owned and family operated, Bar-B-Cutie has been a Towne Lake favorite for three years strong and is looking to the future. Their consistently delicious food and family friendly atmosphere with excellent customer service keeps customers coming back again and again. It’s time for you to give “The Cutie” a try! ADVERTISEMENT TowneLaker | April 2012

Schools & Sports

sports News Local Senior Team Wins Tennis Championship

Front row (left to right): Kim House, Telete Greene and Veronica Sumner. Back row: Beth Williams, Diane Granato, Julie Ehrensperger, Sue Hardy and Frieda Matthews. Not pictured: Jan Stout.

A local USTA (United States Tennis Association) Senior Women’s team recently won the 2012 City Championship for the USTA Atlanta Senior Women’s 3.5 level. The team is based out of the Cherokee Tennis Center, located at J.J. Biello Park-West. Congratulations!

Etowah Wins State in Weight Lifting Competition

New In-Line Hockey League Forming In an effort to bring hockey back to Woodstock and Cherokee County, a non-profit organization called Cherokee Hockey In-Line League was formed and will begin its spring season on April 14. There is still time to register. There will be three age groups - 10 and under, middle school, and high school, and all skill levels are welcome. Both boys and girls are welcome to participate. Cherokee Recreation and Parks Authority (CRPA) assumed control of the rink located behind their building off Main Street. Please contact Hockey Director Matt Hackett at (770) 851-1558 or league@cherokeehockey.org, or visit www. cherokeehockey.org .

Etowah Band to Hold Yard Sale The Etowah High School (EHS) band will hold a yard sale on Saturday, April 14 from 8 a.m. – 1 p.m. in the back parking lot of EHS. Proceeds will provide funds for uniforms and other band necessities.

Etowah Boys Golf Tees Off Against Cherokee

Several Etowah High School (EHS) athletes competed in the Class AAAAAA State Weight Lifting Meet at Lambert High School. For the second consecutive year, EHS captured the state championship trophy. Participants include state champions Michael Hunt, Brandon Fortgang, Reed Blanchard and Zach Lopez; second place winners Austin Franzen, Jesse Mullins and Jakob Hassan; third place winner Carlos Fuentes; and fourth place winners Dalton Trogstad and Pierce Blanchard. Nick Searcy, Bryce Coroi and Jeffrey Schumacher also participated. Congratulations! 74

TowneLaker | April 2012

Left to right: Coach Phil Dutko, Philip Strickland, Jason Hammaker, Nick Budd, Jake Hagerty, Jake Forbes, Josh Colley, Cole Kirkpatrick, Troy Kumpand, Trenton Sanders and Adam Cross.

The Etowah High School (EHS) Boys Golf Team recently competed against Cherokee High School. Jake Forbes led all players with an even par round of 35. Other EHS scorers include Nick Budd with a 36 (plus 1), Trenton Sanders 39 (plus 4), and Jason Hammaker 40 (plus 5). The remaining competitors from Etowah were Adam Cross with a 43 and Jake Haggerty 49. Etowah posted a score of 150 versus Cherokee’s 186. Congratulations!

Spring Break

Kazandra Calderon

Zach Porter

Ariana Stevenson

Hailey DeGrendel

Written by Joe Lemmo’s 7th Grade Language Arts Class at E.T. Booth Middle School

Spring break is all about going out and having fun. I usually don’t do much in the spring, but if I could choose where I wanted to go I’d choose Clearwater Beach or St. Petersburg, Florida. I like it there because it’s relaxing and an enjoyable place to be. I enjoy family time, sitting out on the beach, and simply relaxing to the peace and quiet outside. Our hotel is usually in St. Petersburg, and we drive 30 minutes away in order to get to Clearwater Beach. My dad, cousins, and uncles go out on a boat to the ocean and fish. The rest of us, mainly just the girls, go out and walk around the beach and stores, then we get on fun and interesting boats that take us out to see dolphins, sharks, some whales and other interesting creatures. When the day is almost over, and we have walked around the beach and stores, we head back to the hotel and go to sleep. The next morning, we wake up bright and early and go with my cousins out to the pool and swim for almost the whole day. Our parents go onto the beach to sit back and relax (probably to be away from us kids!) We do this almost every year and never get tired of it because having fun never gets tiring or boring.

Every year, my immediate family and my mom’s side get together in the Blue Ridge Mountains. We stay about four days and three nights in a massive cabin in the woods. We always rent a pontoon boat and a huge tube so my cousins and I can go tubing behind the boat. We also visit a river that where you can see are three beautiful waterfalls. They’re so beautiful and they’re usually warm enough to the point that you can jump them and land in the warm water! About five minutes away from the waterfalls is a three mile hiking trail that my dad, brother, two cousins, and I always walk. The trail has beautiful views and you can see an infinite amount of wildlife. There are squirrels and birds, and once we even saw a black bear and her cubs. Another one of my family’s traditions is when we go to the cabin. One night we always go to Riverside Grill. It’s right on a huge river. We always have to get an appetizer of fried alligator! And I’m not kidding when I say it actually tastes like chicken. From the lake, the waterfalls, the hiking trails, and the restaurant this vacation is very enjoyable. I absolutely love going to the Blue Ridge Mountains and renting a cabin with my family!

Spring break is a time for fun. One spring break, my parents decided to take us on a vacation. We flew for about an hour and then drove the rest of the way to our destination. We arrived, and then I saw the large cruise ship. I was so excited and then I asked where we were going. My dad responded with Alaska, and then my grin slowly went away. I was really happy we were going on a cruise, but I wasn’t excited about going somewhere cold. We got right off the boat and went straight to a water plane. It was a plane that landed and took off on water. Once we got up in the air we could see everything from rainbows to waterfalls. We finally landed and it wasn’t at the dock; it was at a giant iceberg, and it was so fascinating. After about an hour on the iceberg, we boarded the plane and flew back to shore. We got out and explored Alaska and saw totem poles and old abandoned forts. We got back on the boat and headed back to Florida. The trip turned out to be the best trip of my life! Although it was cold, I could do so many things there. I could also tell people I got to play with snow over my spring break. I hope I get to visit Alaska again soon!

The perfect spring break for me would be driving to Panama City Beach with my best friends, Ivy, Demme and Michelle. Getting in the perfect blue water or just hanging out on the beach would be amazing. It would be a great place for some R & R. I have become very close with my friends, so what better way to get even closer than to pack up our stuff and head to the beach? I love the beach; there isn’t really anywhere I would rather be. The sun toasting my skin, the cool water and waves cooling me off, and just some worry free living. We could walk around town and shop or just get some Italian ice or just talk! For me nothing gets better. So if you aren’t busy over break, you should invest in taking a trip to PCB, you never know what memories you’ll make.

TowneLaker | April 2012

Schools & Sports

How To Be a Team Player In Tennis by Mark Billson

Mark Billson is Director of Tennis at Towne Lake Hills Tennis Club. He is USPTR certified with more than 20 years teaching experience. He works with players of all ages and levels. Mark can be contacted at tlhtennis@comcast. net.

I love the game of tennis and I love being part of a team. I also love teaching teams and trying to encourage a group of people with different levels of ability and ambition to win as a group. The most frustrating part is when I see an individual or a couple of people destroy a team or a season because they want to follow their own agenda. So ask yourself- what type of team member are you?

Are you the person that waits for the line up to come out, and if you do not have the partner you want or are not playing the line you feel you deserve, then you make sure that the Captain is very aware of this? After all, if you don’t stand up for yourself, who will? The fact is, very seldom will a winning team make everybody in the team happy, and it takes a few people sacrificing their personal ambitions for the team for success to occur. It’s all well and good if you have a group of people that thinks like you. If not, you will tend to always be the one sacrificing, while the other members get what they want. The answer to this is probably to find another team. That team of individuals will with all likelihood disband. I have witnessed teams that include both people that put their own agenda first, and I have witnessed teams that have all tried to accommodate one another. Sometimes the teams that play only the so-called better players end up winning, but they very quickly find that they run out of players. Teams that play everybody fairly tend not to win, but they stay together and are happier with one another. It is better for a group of players to stay together and improve. You will be able to keep a team

TowneLaker | April 2012

together and every so often have a winning season. So how should you act if you are on a team and you feel your ambitions and desires are not being catered to? I always believe that the best way to talk is with your racket. If you are not being played, go out and practice, so that when they finally give you a chance, you produce an improved performance. If that is still not recognized, then find another team. Tennis by nature is an individual sport, but in ALTA, it requires a team approach with a group of solid individuals to win. So you have to decide when you join a team whether it is all about you or if you are prepared to give up some of you ambitions in order for the team to do well. I have played on great teams and terrible teams, and the central theme of all the great teams I have played on has not only been the skill level of the players but their willingness to compromise. I encourage you all to examine what type of team player you are, and if you are not sure, ask someone you like to tell you. If you don’t like what you hear, change. Good luck, because winning with a selfless group of people is a great experience.

TowneLaker | April 2012

Faith

Marriage Moments by Bill Ratliff

Bill Ratliff is the Senior Pastor at Towne Lake Community Church. He can be reached at (678) 445-8766.

Recently, my wife and I were leading a marriage retreat when we found ourselves in a stormy situation. We were all prepared to have a couple’s dinner followed by a fun filled retreat, but the evening took a different turn. A tornado warning forced us out of the restaurant where we were just ready to order and took us to the basement of the convention center to take shelter. We had to walk through the kitchen on the way down and spied the freshly cut steaks, crisp looking salads and garlic bread ready for consumption.

While in the basement, it became hot and cramped as about 50 of us entered a small room. The smell of perspiration filled the air. I felt like I was playing musical chairs as we scrambled for seats. The sense of danger and uncertainty lingered over the group of strangers. It seemed like time passed painfully slowly. Several of us got together to strategize the amount of resistance we might face if we tried to break out of that place because the pangs of hunger began to overcome us. The warning finally expired, and we marched right back to the restaurant, undeterred by the wild weather. Here comes

TowneLaker | April 2012

the memorable part. I ordered the New York strip I had seen in the kitchen on the way down. A loaded baked potato, Caesar salad and garlic bread rounded out the rest of the meal. It was the best steak I have had in years. Now that was a night to remember! I prayed at the table for the families of the tornado victims, for our safety and for that juicy looking steak. The Bible states ”In everything give thanks, for this is the will of God concerning you.” Date Your Mate: Husbands take your wives shopping for an outfit. Wait patiently while she goes to five different stores and tries on twenty different combinations and asks, “What do you think?” on every one. This will take approximately half a day. Wives take your husband shopping for some clothes and make sure he gets something. This should take about ten minutes

What A Difference A Day Makes! by Dr. Doug Thrasher

Dr. Doug Thrasher is the Senior Pastor at Hillside United Methodist Church. He is also a member of the TowneLaker’s Community Board. You may contact him at dthrasher@hillsideumc. org.

Have you ever thought about how quickly life can change? Life really can take huge turns in the span of one day. For example, my life changed drastically for the better from June 11, 1976 to June 12, 1976. One day I was single, and the next day I was married. Of course, you could argue that the change really didn’t happen that day, but instead happened the day in September of 1974 when I walked into my Sociology class at UGA and met a beautiful sophomore named Debbie Sims. What a difference a day made!

Again, my life changed dramatically between February 10, 1980 and February 11, 1980. On the tenth, Debbie and I were expectant parents attending a covered dish supper at the church. On the eleventh, our first child, Brianne, was born. I remember being almost overwhelmed with the understanding that I was now a parent

“

Life really can take huge turns in the span of one day. and this child was our responsibility. Life has never been the same. You get the idea. Life changes in a day. Many of us remember September 11, 2001. When terrorists attacked and destroyed the Twin Towers in New York, the world as we knew it disappeared. Our society has seen all sorts of changes as a result of that terrible act. And that is true of all sorts of historical events, Pearl Harbor, D Day, the assassinations of John F. Kennedy and Martin Luther King Jr., Desert Storm, etc. I’m sure you can think of different events that have caused your life to change dramatically. But there are two days that stand out above all other days continued on page 83

TowneLaker | April 2012

Faith

TOWNE LAKE AREA RELIGIOUS SERVICES Baptist

Jewish

Crossroads Community Church 2317 Bascomb-Carmel Road, (770) 592-7007 Sunday Services: 11 a.m. & 6 p.m. Sunday Morning Bible Study: 9:30 a.m. Pastor: Bob Goodner

Chabad Jewish Center 14255 Wade Green Rd NW, Ste 120 Kennesaw, GA 30144, (678) 460-7702 Introductory Service: 1st Shabbat of each month at 11 a.m. Traditional Service: 3rd Shabbat of each month at 10:30 a.m. Rabbi: Zalman Charytan www.JewishWoodstock.com, www.Facebook.com/ JewishCenter

First Baptist Church of Woodstock 11905 Highway 92, (770) 926-4428 Sunday Services: 8, 9:30 & 11 a.m. & 6 p.m. Pastor: Dr. Johnny M. Hunt www.fbcw.org Hillcrest Baptist Church 6069 Woodstock Road, Acworth, (770) 917-9100 Sunday Alive Groups & Worship Service: 9:30 a.m. & 11 a.m. Sunday Evening Worship Service: 6 p.m. Wednesday Services: Youth 6:30 p.m., Adults 7 p.m. Pastor: Paul Vance New Victoria Baptist Church 6659 Bells Ferry Road, (770) 926-8448 Sunday Services: 10:50 a.m Sunday Bible Study: 9:45 a.m. Pastor: Monty Guice www.newvicbaptist.org South Cherokee Baptist Church 7504 Highway 92, (770) 926-0422 Sunday Services: 10:30 a.m. & 6 p.m. Sunday School: 9:30 a.m. Wednesday Service: 7 p.m. Pastor: Steven Lambert

Episcopal Christ Episcopal Church 1210 Wooten Lake Road, Kennesaw, (770) 422-9114 Sunday Services: 8 & 10:30 a.m. Sunday School: 9:15 a.m. Wednesday: 6:30 p.m. praise music, 7 p.m. Eucharist Rector: Doris Graf Smith Christ the Redeemer Charismatic Episcopal Church 411 Scott Mill Road, Canton, (770) 479-1778 Sunday Service: 10 a.m. Morning Prayer: Sunday at 8:30 a.m. Rector: Kurt Wheeler Christ the Redeemer Charismatic Episcopal Church 6488 Hickory Flat Highway, Canton, (404) 395-5003 Saturday Service: 5:30 p.m. Priest: Stephen Hunter Episcopal Church of the Annunciation 1673 Jamerson Road, Marietta, (770) 928-7916 Sunday Service: 10:30 a.m. Sunday School: 9:30 a.m. Rector: Rev. Paul McCabe www.annunciationepiscopal.org Saint Clement’s Episcopal Church 2795 Ridge Road, Canton, (770) 345-6722 Sunday Eucharist Services: 8, 9 & 11 a.m. Christian Education: 10 a.m. Wednesday Eucharist Service: 6:30 p.m. Rector: James B. Stutler 80

TowneLaker | April 2012

Congregation Ner Tamid A Reform Jewish Temple (770) 345-8687, Marci, call for information Serving the Northwest Suburbs Tikvah l’ Chaim “Hope for Life Ministries” Messianic Jewish Fellowship 4206 North Arnold Mill Road, Woodstock, (678) 936-4125 Saturday Hebrew Literacy & Bible Study: 10 a.m. Saturday Shabbat Service: 11 a.m. Rabbi Gary Maxted www.tlchaim.com (partnering with TLC Church, Woodstock, GA)

Lutheran Celebration of Grace Lutheran Church 411 Scott Mill Road, Canton, (770) 503-5050 Sunday Service: 10:30 a.m. Nursery available Sunday School: 9 a.m., Faith Formation: 9 a.m. Pastor: Virginia Krekling www.CelebrationofGrace.org Good Shepherd Lutheran Church 1208 Rose Creek Drive (770) 924-7286, sheeptalk-gslc@comcast.net Sunday Services: 8, 9:30 & 11 a.m. Sunday School: 9:30 & 11 a.m. Thursday Youth Activities: 6:30 p.m. Pastors: Paul Baumgartner & Justin Ask www.gslutheran.org Timothy Lutheran Church (LC-MS) 556 Arnold Mill Road, (770) 928-2812 Sunday Services: 8:30 & 11 a.m. Sunday School: 9:45 a.m. Pastor: Stephen Constien

Orthodox St. Elizabeth Orthodox Church 2263 E. Cherokee Drive, Woodstock (770) 485-0504 Sunday Divine Liturgy: 10 a.m. Priest Frederick Watson www.stelizabethga.org

Heritage Presbyterian Church 5323 Bells Ferry Road, (770) 926-3558 Sunday Services: 9 & 11:10 a.m. Sunday School: 10 a.m. Pastor: Dr. Sid Gunter www.heritagepres.com Sixes Presbyterian Church Meeting at our Fellowship Hall at 2335 Sixes Road, Canton, (770) 485-1975 Sunday Service: 10:30 a.m. Pastor: Dr. Lucas Pina www.sixeschurch.org Woodstock Presbyterian Church 345 Arnold Mill Road, (770) 926-0074 Adult Sunday School: 10 a.m. Traditional Worship Service: 11 a.m. Pastor: Rev. Cynthia Parr

Roman Catholic St. Michael the Archangel Catholic Church 490 Arnold Mill Road, (770) 516-0009 Saturday Vigil Mass: 5:30 p.m. Sunday Masses: 7:30, 9 & 11 a.m. & 12:45 & 5:30 p.m. Sunday Spanish Mass: 2:30 p.m. Pastor: Rev. Larry Niese www.saintmichaelcc.org Transfiguration Catholic Church 1815 Blackwell Rd. NE., Marietta, (770) 977-1442 Saturday Vigil Mass: 5 p.m. Sunday Masses: 8 & 10 a.m. & 12 noon Sunday Spanish Mass: 2 p.m. Pastor: Monsignor Patrick Bishop www.transfiguration.com

United Methodist Bascomb United Methodist Church 2295 Bascomb-Carmel Road, (770) 926-9755 Contemporary Service: 9 a.m. Traditional Service: 11 a.m. Sunday School: 10 a.m. Pastor: Rev. Millie Kim www.bascombumc.org CITY ON A HILL United Methodist Church 7745 Main Street, (678) 445-3480 Sunday Service: 9:30 & 11:15 a.m. Pastor: Chris Bryant www.coahumc.org

Presbyterian

First United Methodist Church of Woodstock 109 Towne Lake Parkway, (770) 926-6440 Sunday School: 10 a.m. Sunday Worship: 11 a.m. Over 50s meet 1st Saturday each month at 11:30 a.m. Pastor: Rev. Claude Herbert

Cherokee Presbyterian Church, PCA 1160 Butterworth Road, Canton (770) 704-9594 Sunday Services: 9 a.m. & 6:30 p.m. Sunday School: 11 a.m. Pastor: Alan Lutz www.cherokee-pca.org

Hillside United Methodist Church 4474 Towne Lake Parkway, (770) 924-4777 Traditional Services: 8:25 & 11 a.m. Contemporary Services: 9:25 & 11 a.m. Sunday School: 9:30 & 11 a.m Pastor: Dr. Doug Thrasher www.hillsideumc.org

Liberty Hill Church at the Mill 141 Railroad Street, (678) 493-8920 Sunday Service: 11 a.m. Nursery available Pastor: Jamey Prickett www.libertyhillumc.org Little River United Methodist Church 12455 Highway 92, (770) 926-2495 Sunday Service: 11 a.m. Pastor: Rev. Bill Coady www.littleriverumc.info Sixes United Methodist Church 8385 Bells Ferry Road, Canton, (770) 345-7644 Sunday Services: 9 and 11 a.m. Sunday School: 10 a.m. Pastor: Jim Buckman www.sixesumc.org

Other Churches Allen Temple, AME Church 232 N. Arnold Mill Road, (770) 926-6348 Prayer Time: Friday, 7:14 p.m. Sunday Services: 8 & 11 a.m. Sunday Church School: 9:45 a.m. Pastor: Carl A. Moore, Sr. www.allentempleame.org Bells Ferry Church of God 6718 Bells Ferry Road, (770) 592-2956 Sunday School: 10 a.m. Sunday Service: 11 a.m. Wednesday Service: 7 p.m. Pastor: Ted Wooldridge www.bellsferry.com Branches of Christ 5946 Jacobs Road, Acworth, (770) 917-4964 Sunday Service: 10 a.m. Wednesday Service: 7 p.m. Pastor: Steve Pettit www.branchesofchrist.com BridgePointe Church Meeting at Woodstock Middle/High School (770) 517-2977 Sunday Services: 9 & 11 a.m. Pastor: Mat Garcia www.bridgepointechurch.org Celebration Church 340 Towne Lake Parkway, (678) 461-9626 Sunday Service: 9:30 a.m. Cherokee Seventh Day Adventist 101 Rope Mill Road, (770) 591-7304 Saturday Worship: 11 a.m. Sabbath School: 9:30 a.m. Wednesday Service: 7:30 p.m. Pastor: Jonathan Williamson Christ the King Church of Greater Atlanta 6464 Highway 92, (770) 924-9161 Sunday Service: 10:30 a.m. Pastor: Larry Tomczak www.ctkatlanta.com Christian Praise Center 1358 Sixes Road, (770) 924-7532 www.christianpraisecenter.com Church at North Gate 9876 Main Street, Suite 250 (behind NAPA) (678) 494-2193 Sunday Service: 10:30 a.m.

Wednesday Program: 7:30 p.m. Pastor: Marc Lawson www.ngca.org Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints Allatoona Ward, 2205 Bascomb-Carmel Road Sacrament Meeting: 9 a.m. Auxiliary Meeting: 10:20 a.m. Woodstock Ward Sacrament Meeting: 11 a.m. Bishop Phil Karski Canton Ward, 3459 E. Cherokee Drive, Canton Sunday School & Auxiliary Meetings: 10:20 a.m. Sacrament Meeting: 9 a.m. Bishop Scott Harman

Northern Hills Church of Christ 4563 Hickory Flat Highway, Canton, (404) 579-0885 Sunday Service: 10 a.m. Pastor: Ronny West www.northernhillsfamily.org Pointe Church, The Hasty Elementary, 205 Brown Industrial Parkway, Canton, (404) 557-9640 Sunday Service: 10:30 a.m. Pastor: Brian Jones www.myfriendschurch.com

Church of the Messiah (Non-denominational) 415 Charles Cox Drive, Canton (770) 479-5280 Sunday Service: 10 a.m. Pastor: Fred L. Goodwin

Prayer & Praise Christian Fellowship Church 6409 Bells Ferry Road, (770) 928-2795 Sunday Service: 10:30 a.m. Christian Living Class: 9:30 a.m. Wednesday Youth Meeting: 6:30 p.m. Pastor: Larry H. Baker www.prayerandpraise.org

Cornerstone Community Church 503 Hickory Ridge Trail, Suite 160 (678) 439-5108, dlkight@comcast.net Sunday Service: 11 a.m. Pastor David Kight www.ccchurchonline.org

Resurrection Anglican Church 231 Arnold Mill Road, (770) 591-0040 Holy Communion: Sunday 10 a.m. Christian Education (all ages): Sunday 9 a.m. Pastor: Rev. Greg Goebel www.resurrectionwoodstock.org

Covenant Christian Center 330 Adam Jenkins Memorial Blvd, Canton (770) 345-0307 Sunday Service: 10 a.m. Wednesday Service: 7 p.m. Pastor: Apostle Kito J. Johnson www.CityOfCovenant.org

Towne Lake Community Church (TLC Church) 132 North Medical Parkway, (678) 445-8766 Contemporary Family Style Worship: Sunday 10:30 a.m. Messianic Jewish Fellowship (Tikvah l’Chaim): Saturday 10 a.m. The Walk — Adult Singles Worship: Saturday 6 p.m. Celebrate Recovery: Friday 6 p.m. Sr. Pastor: William S. Ratliff www.tlcchurch.com

Dayspring Church 6835 Victory Drive, Acworth, (770) 516-5733 Sunday Service: 10:30 a.m. Pastor: Tony Crawford www.dayspring-online.com Faith Family Church 5744 Bells Ferry Road, Acworth, (770) 926-4560 Sunday Service: 10 a.m. Wednesday Service: 7 p.m. Pastor: Tommy White Freedom Church Meeting at Barber Middle School 4222 Cantrell Road, Acworth, (770) 529-6006 Sunday Services: 9:45 & 11:30 a.m. www.freedomchurch.tv Pastor: J.R. Lee His Hands Church 550 Molly Lane, Woodstock, (770) 405-2500 Party on Sunday: 10 a.m. www.hishandschurch.com Jubilee Church (Newfrontiers) Meets at Kell High School 4770 Lee Waters Road, Marietta, (678) 471-1930 Sunday Service: 10 a.m. www.jubileechurch.us Love Community Church 5598 Bells Ferry Rd., Acworth (Cherokee Corners) (404) 663-1828 Sunday Service: 10 a.m. Pastor: Rev. Donna T. Lucas Momentum Church 110 Londonderry Court, Suite 130, Woodstock, on Hwy 92 — ½ mile east of Hwy 5, (678) 384-4919 Sunday Service Times: 9:30 & 11:15 a.m. Pastor: Ross Wiseman www.MomentumChurch.tv

Unity Christ Church 2871 Cherokee St., Kennesaw, (770) 422-9552 Sunday Service: 11 a.m. Pastor: Rev. Terrence Padgett www.unitycc.com Woodstock Christian Church 7700 Highway 92, (770) 926-8238 Sunday School: 9 a.m. Sunday Worship Service: 10:30 a.m. Sunday Small Groups: 6 p.m. Wednesday Meal: 6 p.m.; Worship: 6:40 p.m.; Program: 7 p.m. Pastor: Lynn Eynon www.woodstockchristian.org Woodstock Church of Christ 219 Rope Mill Road, (770) 926-8838 Sunday Services: 10:30 a.m. & 6 p.m. Servico En Espanol Domingo: 10:30 a.m. Aprenda Ingles Gratis (Free ESL): Lunes 7 — 9 p.m. Ministro: Rafael Uzcategui, (770) 926-8271 Pastor: Matt Amos www.woodstockchurchofchrist.org Woodstock Church of the Nazarene 874 Arnold Mill Road, (770) 924-4499 Sunday Services: 10:45 a.m. & 6 p.m. Sunday School: 9:30 a.m. Wednesday Program: 7 p.m. Pastor: Lewis Stark www.wcnga.com Woodstock Community Church 237 Rope Mill Road (770) 926-8990 Sunday Service: 10:30 a.m. Pastor: Greg Michael TowneLaker | April 2012

Overcoming Heartburn Worries

Awareness Leads to Discontentment

continued from page 60

continued from page 56

caffeinated drinks and citrus drinks. • Avoid alcohol, which increases the chances of acid flowing from your stomach into your esophagus. • Eat small meals. Try six small meals a day instead of three large ones, and eat slowly. Also, avoid eating two to three hours before bedtime. • Let your food digest. Avoid exercising, lying down or bending over soon after eating. • Raise your head. Place three-to-six-inch blocks under bedposts of the head of the bed to raise your mattress during sleep, so stomach acid stays put. • Maintain a healthy weight. Being overweight puts more pressure on your stomach. • Wear clothes that fit comfortably. Avoid tight belts and clothes that put pressure on your stomach. • Stop smoking. Smoking stimulates acid production and inhibits saliva, which protects the esophagus lining.

• Only sleep during non-peak hours (4-9 a.m.) Sleeping at any other time can lead to missing out an email, text or news breaking stories. • Throw your own parties. If you host parties at your home, you’ll be able to remain at the center of all the action and never have to worry about leaving before the party’s over. • Always be dressed, made-up and pumped for action. An unforgettable moment can arise at any time without warning. Ensure you can leave and be on the road towards the action in no more than seven seconds. Also, keep a strong open line of communication — hold your phone, open your laptop, watch TV and talk to people while taking a walk around the block (just in case).

What if I still do not feel better? Making simple lifestyle adjustments usually improves heartburn symptoms, but it may not stop the reflux. If symptoms persist or if you have been taking frequent medication (over-the-counter antacids or prescription medications used to treat heartburn symptoms) for more than two to three years, it is important to have a proper medical evaluation.

The reality is there are few things in our lives that can’t wait. So the bigger question is will we ever settle for what we have, rather than cling to the fear that we may be missing out on something better? In a social world saturated with new technologies and information every millisecond, will we continue to hurt ourselves with FOMO? Can we model for our children how to be present and grateful for what we have right now? If you were not aware of it, would you care so much to have it? Take a breath and BE present for life, your children and family. When a Dad is in, everyone wins.

Job Seeking Head Games continued from page 34

work week precisely using an organizer to prioritize your time and tasks. Organize your thoughts on paper. Schedule guilt-free lunch times, evenings and weekends off. Work your plan. • Review your job search methods. Are you taking time to customize each resume to speak to the needs of the hiring company? Remember to keep your Sphere of Influence updated. • Consider organizations you would most like to join; many large companies are hiring. Spend time reviewing their websites for potential employment opportunities. • Protect your thinking. Avoid negative influences. Read inspirational books. Keep your mind and emotions set on positive things! I look forward to hearing about your success!

www.thedailyvalue.com

to receive money-saving group coupon offers in your email inbox featuring only local businesses! 82

TowneLaker | April 2012

The King of Reds continued from page 41

Special Selection, Quintessa, and Freemark Abbey. Calistoga wines (like Chateau Montelena or Araujo) are Cabernets which clearly rank among the finest and age-worthy made in California. Both the Araujo and Montelena Cabernets are dark and dense, with earthy mineral flavors. Stags Leap is a fairly small area with rich, volcanic soils. Look for wines produced by Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars such as Chimney Rock and Pine Ridge. The mountain growing areas include Mount Veeder, Spring Mountain and Diamond Mountain. When it comes to mountains, think rugged country and rugged wines. Typical mountain-grown Cabernets are more intense than those grown on the valley floor. They also tend to be earthier-tasting, less opulent and flamboyant. Which Wines Age Better? Wines from both the mountains and valley floor can develop and remain complex for many years. It’s your choice depending on your taste. Try a few different wines from the valley and the mountain areas and see which you like. When it comes to pairing food with Cabernet Sauvignon, its tannins (bitter taste) interact with fats and salt. Rich, fatty dishes diminish the perception of tannins. Lightly salty foods can soften perceived tannins, making the wine seem smoother, though very salty foods increase the perceived tannins in red wine. Try a glass of Cabernet with your favorite steak and enjoy! Until next time, cheers!

What a Difference a Day Makes! continued from page 79

and they have changed the lives of billions and billions. Those two days are the Crucifixion of Jesus Christ and the Day of His Resurrection. Before the Crucifixion and Resurrection, humankind was lost in its sin. After, all people were graciously given the opportunity to be forgiven and made new by God. “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life” (John 3:16). Through what Jesus did on those two days, every person in the world is given the freedom to make a choice – will I accept Jesus as my Savior or not? Sadly, many choose not to. But for those who choose Jesus and place their faith in Him, a new life begins. I chose Jesus many years ago. My life changed dramatically on that day. What a difference a day makes! This week we remember the Crucifixion and Resurrection of Jesus Christ. I encourage you to attend worship and celebrate what a difference a day can truly make. TowneLaker | April 2012

Shoulder Pain So Complex, Even a Brain Surgeon Needs Help continued from page 57

prevention. One such area of concern was pitching injuries in the young athlete. Fortunately, young athletes rarely tear their rotator cuff, but they do suffer strains and occasionally may tear a piece of cartilage in the shoulder called the labrum.

‘what’ is injured and whether their skills as a surgeon can be of help in fixing the problem.” For example, if a rotator cuff muscle is torn or being aggravated by a bone spur, an orthopaedist’s primary focus may be on removing the spur and repairing the tendon. A physical therapist, on the other hand, is focused on why the tendon tore and must treat not only the repair but the source of the tear. Both types of doctors are important, as a physical therapist cannot operate and the orthopaedist does not manage an exercise program.

The labrum of the shoulder is like the cartilage (meniscus) in the knee. Both provide added stability and cushion to the joint. A tear in the labrum that is painful and limits ability of the athlete to play may require surgery. Recovery can easily take six months. Although lengthy, this time can be of great value to the athlete. What was not addressed in preventative care before the injury can be treated during rehabilitation. Not only can this reduce risk of further damage, but it also has a tremendous benefit to performance levels.

Mike Reinold, a nationally recognized physical therapist, recently wrote on a principle called the kinetic chain. The kinetic chain model is based on an understanding of how the body works as a unit to produce efficient motion. Weakness or a break anywhere in the chain, such as poor core function, can lead to stress and potential injury somewhere else to include the shoulder in a throwing athlete.

Yes, shoulder pain is so complex, even a brain surgeon needs help. Identifying WHAT hurts is not always so difficult. It is figuring out WHY that is as challenging as a rubric cube. Without addressing both, recovery may be like a dog chasing its tail… he may catch it, but there is limited value.

In a recent “team conference” of orthopaedic surgeons and physical therapists, research was shared on management of shoulder injuries. Much of the investigation centered on why injuries were occurring and the role we all play in treatment and

TowneLaker | April 2012

Confessions of Pesky Parents continued from page 64

blockhead smiles on our faces, exclaiming, “Look what we brought you, Little Prince!” Oh, he surely does savor the attention. Who wouldn’t? But here’s the thing. Our son still gives back three times more than he receives. He offers us unconditional love each day. He accepts our attention with relatively little rolling of the eyeballs. And, so far, he hasn’t tried to milk our guilt by vying for really cool electronics or a new car. The Little Prince has a job, which enables him to share the cost of getaways with his fraternity brothers, stylish clothes, and intramural sports. And he freely offers to share these costs, knowing his parents’ retirement income is not unlimited. Our son is a shining example of resilience. He seems to know that nothing in life is guaranteed, and that learning to cope and adapt matters. I am humbled by the fact that my 19-year-old grasps this. I truly don’t know how any of us get from here to there as we battle the slings and arrows of this world. I do not know how or why we overcome the faults of our parents. But I am thankful that our son understands some of the basics. And that he is able to tolerate his pesky parents along the way.

TowneLaker | April 2012

Reference

TOWNE LAKE AREA CLUBS & ORGANIZATIONS Business Organizations ABWA-Women Empowered Through Synergy Meeting: 3rd Thursday at 8:30 a.m. Location: J Christopher’s in Downtown Woodstock Contact: abwasynergy@hotmail.com American Business Women’s Association, Cherokee Eagles Charter Chapter Meeting: Third Tuesday at 6:30 p.m. Contact: Jacqueline Miller Van Hook, (678) 493-3618 Cherokee Area Business Connection Meeting: Every Wednesday at 7:15 a.m. Contact: Marci Zied, (770) 345-8687 Cherokee Financial Women International Contact: Mitzi Saxon, (770) 479-3400 Cherokee Toastmasters Meeting: Every Wednesday from 12 noon Location: Keller Williams Realty, 220 Heritage Pkwy Contact: Steve Monahan, (770) 712-4077 Website: www.CherokeeToastmasters.com No Fee Referral Network Woodstock Meeting: Every Thursday morning at 7:30am Location: Corner Bistro off Towne Lake Pkwy Contact: Stephanie Natarus, (770) 928-2700 stephanie@livinginsured.com Website: http://www.meetup.com/No-Fee Referral-Network-Woodstock North Georgia Referral Network Meeting: Every Tuesday morning at 7:30 a.m. Location: Zest and Zing, 6687 Bells Ferry Road Contact: Dr. Steve Green, (770) 427-2799 The Joy of Connecting Networking for Women Meeting: Third Thursday at 6:45 p.m. Contact: Edeline Dryden (678) 789-6158 Website: www.thejoyofconnecting.com Together We Rise Meeting: Second & Fourth Tuesdays at 11:30 a.m. Location: Featherstone’s at Towne Lake Hills Contact: Pat Snipes, (404) 569-5280 Towne Lake Business Association Meeting: Third Tuesday at 12:30 p.m. Location: Featherstone’s Grille at Towne Lake Hills Contact: (770) 615-3350 Website: www.tlba.org Towne Lake PowerCore Team Meeting: Every Friday at 7:15 — 8:45 a.m. Location: Featherstone’s Grille at Towne Lake Hills Contact: Marc Replogle, (770) 952-5000, X20 (404) 816-3377 Website: www.powercore.net Women of Woodstock Meeting: First & Third Wednesday. Location: Featherstone’s Grille at Towne Lake Hills Contact: Barbara Bonatucci, bonatucci@gmail.com Website: www.womenofwoodstock.com Woodstock Business Networking Group Meeting: Thursdays at 7:45 a.m. Location: Atlanta Bread Company on Highway 92 Contact: Lee West, (770) 591-7101 Woodstock Community Business Association Meeting: Second Monday at 12 noon Location: Latimer Hall Contact: info@woodstockcba.com

Charitable Organizations Ahimsa House help for victims of domestic violence who need help getting their pets to safety. Contact: 24-hour, (404) 452-6248, Info (404) 496-4038 Website: www.ahimsahouse.org 86

TowneLaker | April 2012

Chance Afrika Contact: Eric Mwangi, Exec. Dir., ericm@chanceafrika. org, (770) 256 2280, www.chanceafrika.org Cherokee Child Advocacy Council, Inc. Anna Crawford Children’s Center and Parents HELP Location: 319 Lamar Haley Pkwy., Canton Contact: Amy Economopolous, (770) 592-9779 www.cherokeechildadvocates.org Cherokee County Animal Shelter Auxiliary Contact: (770) 704-PAWS or ccasa4paws@yahoo.com Website: www.ccasauxiliary.org Cherokee County Aspergers Syndrome Support Group Website: www.CCAspies.org Cherokee County Humane Society (CCHS) Contact: (770) 928-5115, admin@cchumanesociety.org Website: www.cchumanesociety.org CCHS Thrift Store located at 5900 Bells Ferry Road, Acworth, (770) 592-8072, accepts donations and sells used household items to raise money for CCHS. Cherokee County Special Olympics Meeting: First Monday at 7 p.m. Location: CrossRoads Middle/High School Contact: Colleen Konwick, (770) 517-7101 Companion Animal Connection Contact: (678) 493-9847 Website: www.cacadopt.petfinder.com Feed My Lambs, Inc. Contact: Candice Knight, (770) 795-9349 Website: www.feedmylambs.net Genesis Adoptions Contact: Lindsay Kirk, (770) 517-0043, Website: www.genesis-adoptions.org Habitat for Humanity North Central Georgia. Contact: (770) 345-1879 Website: www.habitatncg.org Hope Center offers support for unplanned pregnancy. Contact: (770) 924-0864, info@TheHopeCtr.com Website: www.hopectr.com Hospice Advantage needs volunteers. Contact: Shari Koch, (770) 218-1997 Website: www.hospiceadvantage.com iCOR helping orphans, seeks volunteers. Contact: Lily Colgate, (404) 992-8155 Website: www.iCORorphans.com MUST Ministries Contact: Kim Loesing, (770) 479-5397 Papa’s Pantry is a year-round local food ministry. Contact: Lynne Saunders, (770) 591-4730 Website: www.papaspantry.org Pet Buddies Food Pantry has pet food collection bin at TowneLaker offices. Website: www.petbuddiesfoodpantry.org Safe Kids Cherokee County — Call for an appointment for free child safety seat inspections. Contact: Chad Arp, (678) 493-4343 Website: www.cherokeesafekids.org The Wildlife Sanctuary — Ellijay, Ga., to advance the conservation of indigenous wildlife species and habitats. Contact: (706) 276-2980 Website: www.thewildlifesanctuary.com

Civic Organizations AARP Woodstock Chapter is for anyone 50 and older. Meeting: Second Tuesday at 11:30 a.m. Location: Featherstone’s Grille at Towne Lake Hills

Contact: Rich, (770) 926-1944 American Legion Post 316 Meeting: Third Thursday at 7:30 p.m. Location: William G. Long Senior Center, 223 Arnold Mill Road Contact: Irma Martin, (678) 662-2366 Beta Sigma, Kappa Chi Chapter Meeting: Third Thursday at 7 p.m. Contact: Maria Kuhn, vccibaker@aol.com or April Bolle, (678) 327-7233 Junior Service League of Woodstock 24 hour information line: (770) 592-3535 Kiwanis Club of Woodstock Meeting: Every Thursday at 6:30 p.m. Location: Featherstone’s Grille at Towne Lake Hills Contact: (678) 494-4841 Website: www.kiwanisofwoodstock.org Pilot Club of Cherokee County Contact: Lynda Goodwin, (770) 393-1766, Lynda @edgoodwinassociates.com Rotary Club of Towne Lake Meeting: Every Thursday at 12 noon (lunch) Location: Featherstone’s Grille at Towne Lake Hills Contact: Ivan Garcia (770) 926-0105 Rotary Club of Woodstock Meeting: Every Tuesday at 7:30 a.m. Location: IHOP on Highway 92 Contact: Gary Floyd, (404) 506-6878, glfloyd@ southernco.com Sewrifics of Cherokee Meeting: Third Tuesday at 7 p.m. Location: Sixes United Methodist Church, Canton Contact: Sheri Torch, (770) 591-8335 Sons of the American Legion Meeting: Third Thursday at 6:30 p.m. Location: Woodstock Community Church Contact: Charles Tucker, (678) 643-0794 South Cherokee Optimist Club Meeting: Every Friday at 7:30 a.m. Location: Featherstone’s Grille at Towne Lake Hills Contact: (770) 926-3522 Towne Lake Optimist Club Meeting: Every Wednesday at 7:30 a.m. Location: Featherstone’s Grille at Towne Lake Hills Contact: Terry Morrison, (770) 715-3375 Woodstock Jaycees Meeting: First Tuesday & Third Thursday at 7 p.m. Location: 216 Rope Mill Road Contact: (770) 926-8336 Woodstock Lions Club Meeting: Second & Fourth Tuesdays at 7 p.m. Location: New Victoria Baptist Church Contact: (770) 906-2958 Woodstock Masons Lodge #246 F. & A.M., Inc. Meeting: Second & Fourth Thursdays at 7:30 p.m. Location: Corner of Air Acres Way & Arnold Mill Rd. Contact: (770) 993-3145 or (770) 926-0627 Woodstock Midday Optimist Club Meeting: Every Wednesday at 12 noon Location: Folks Contact: Johnny Young, (770) 345-6158 Woodstock VFW Post 10683 Meeting: Second Tuesday at 7 p.m. Location: Woodstock Senior Center Contact: Andrew Yrabedra, (404) 663-4663

Political Organizations Cherokee County Democrat Party Meeting: Second Thursday at 7 p.m. Location: Holly Springs Train Depot Website: www.cherokeedems.com Cherokee County Republican Party Meeting: First Saturday at 9 a.m. Breakfast served Location: Lodge at BridgeMill, 10451 Bells Ferry Rd. Contact: (678) 809-1411 Cherokee Tea Party Patriots Meeting: Second Sunday at 4 p.m. Location: Latimer Hall, 103 Towne Lake Pkwy. Contact: Conrad Quagliaroli (770)592-6545 Website: cherokeeteapartypatriots.org

Les Marmitons is for men interested in culinary arts. Meeting: Third Tuesday at 6:30 p.m. Location: Chattahoochee Tech Contact: Larry Lodisio, (770) 516-5197 Neighbors & Newcomers of Towne Lake Meeting: Third Tuesday Contact: Carolyn White, (770) 926-6756

Grandparents Raising GRANDchildren Meeting: Second & Fourth Tuesday at 7 p.m. (nursery available) Location: Transfiguration Catholic Church, Marietta Contact: Jeannie, (770) 919-9275

Singles of Towne Lake 35+ holds monthly mixers. Contacts: Lisa, (770) 597-3430 LisaR789@bellsouth.net

Hearing Loss Resource Group Contacts: Cathy, (678) 483-9135 WoodstockSHHH-info@phydeaux.org

Wildlife Action, Inc. is a conservation organization. Meeting: Third Sunday at 1 p.m. Location: Wildlife Action, 2075 Kellogg Creek Contact: WLA Office, (770) 924-7464

JDRF Cherokee Pickens Family Support Group for families of children with Juvenile (type 1) diabetes. Meeting: Second Saturday Location: River Green Subdivision Facilities Contact: Tom, (770) 345-4864, Tom@brushwithart.com

Republican Women of Cherokee County Meeting: Second Saturday at 10 a.m. Location: Featherstone’s Grille at Towne Lake Hills Contact: (404) 747-3353 Website: www.rwccga.com

Support Organizations

Recreation & Hobbies

Alzheimer/Dementia Support Group Meeting: First Thursday at 7 p.m. Location: Atria, 1000 Professional Way Contact: Atria Woodstock, (770) 926-0119

Airstream Caravan Club Website: http://home.windstream.net/topofga/ Contact: Rob Kelly, (770) 516-7044

Adoption/Infertility Support Group Meeting: First Wednesday at 7 p.m. Location: First Baptist Church of Woodstock Contact: Cindy Braddock, (678) 445-3131

Allatoona Gold Panners Location: Creeks around Lake Allatoona Contact: Rob Kelly, (770) 516-7044 rrkelly@bellsouth.net

Autism Parent Support Group Meeting: Second Tuesday at 6:30 p.m. Location: Cherokee County Community Service Center, BridgeMill Fire Station, Canton Contact: Sharon Jones, (770) 345-6551

Arts Alliance of Georgia, Inc. Meeting: Second Saturday at 10 a.m. Location: Studio 101 101 Emma Lane, Woodstock Contacts: Madeline Hall, (678) 754-8482 www.artsalliance.org

Breast Cancer Support Group Meeting: First Thursday of each month Time: 10 a.m. — 12 noon Location: Northside Hospital — Cherokee, Diabetes Classroom, Educational Center Contact: (404) 843-1880

Blue Skies Laughter Club Meeting: Every Wednesday 7 — 8 p.m. Location: Northside-Cherokee Medical Offices 100 Stoneforest Dr., 1st floor conf. room Contact: Craig Whitley (404) 520-0221 Website: www.addlaughter.com

Canadian Women’s Club Contact: Lesley Frappier, cwcatlanta@yahoo.com

Cherokee Amateur Radio Society Meeting First Saturday at 10 a.m. Location: BridgeMill Community Center Contact: Jim Millsap, PIO, (770) 928-8590 Website: www.cherokee-ares.org/ccars Cherokee County Arts Center Meeting Fourth Friday at 10 a.m. Location: 94 North Street, Canton Contact: (770) 704-6244 Website: www.CherokeeArts.org Cherokee County Saddle Club Meeting Third Wednesday at 6:30 p.m. Location: Family Tradition, Hickory Flat Contact: Tamma Trump, (770) 655-0819 Website: www.cherokeesaddleclub.com Cherokee Co. Social Adventures Group Website: www.TCCSAG.org Cherokee Fencing Club Meeting: Beginners, Wednesdays at 5 p.m.; Club, Wednesdays at 6 p.m. Location: Recreation Center, Main Street Contact: Andy McCann, (678) 494-9750 Website: www.cherokeefencingclub.com Cherokee Music Teachers Association Contact: Melanie Williams, (770) 345-2983 Website: www.cherokeemta.org Cherokee Youth Lacrosse Association Contact: Dan Baldwin, 770-846-4843 Website: www.cherokeelacrosse.com Crossfit WOD Club Meeting: Daily for the “Work Out of the Day” Contact: www.crossfitgarage.com

Location: 6683 Bells Ferry Road, Suite H Contact: Ramona Nichols, (404) 735-3647

CASA for Children Inc. provides child advocacy to abused and neglected children through trained community volunteers. Contact: Deidre Hollands, (770) 345-3274 Website: www.casaforchildren.org Cherokee Autism Spectrum Support Group A support group for families with children on the autism spectrum. Contact: Heidi at hcf67@comcast.net or Renee at mrjperrelli@yahoo.com Cherokee County Family Child Care Association Contact: Brenda Bowen, (770) 926-8055 Cherokee County Foster & Adoptive Parents Assoc. Contact: Marie Blackwell, (770) 378-0759, mblackwell@fosteroradopt.org Website: www.fosteroradopt.org C.H.O.O.S.E. of Woodstock Meeting: First Monday at 7 p.m. Contact: mailbox@chooseofwoodstockga.org Depression and Bipolar Support Group Meeting: Second Tuesday at 7 p.m. Location: 8534 Main Street, Woodstock Contact: (770) 560-7112, healthymoods@aol.com Website: www.Myspace.Com/healthymoods Emotions Anonymous Meeting: Tuesdays at 7 p.m. Location: Good Shepherd Lutheran Church Contacts: Cindy, (770) 928-6554; Sherry, (770) 926-1889 Fellowship of Companies for Christ International Meeting: Second & Fourth Thursdays at 7 a.m. Location: Woodstock Family Restaurant Contact: Randall Hill, (770) 516-5887 Georgia Canines for Independence Meeting: First Monday at 6:30 p.m.

Jewish Havurah Contact: Marcia, (770) 345-8687 La Leche League of South Cherokee Meeting: First Tues. at 10 a.m. & Third Wed. 7p.m. Location: Bascomb United Methodist Church Contacts: Marguerite, (678) 315-7686 Megan, (770) 517-0191 MOMS Club Towne Lake — 30189 Website: https://sites.google.com/site/ momscluboftownelakewoodstock/ Email: momscluboftownelake@gmail.com MOPS — Mothers of Preschoolers (birth — K) Meeting: Second & Fourth Tues. a.m. or Wed. p.m. Location: First Baptist Church of Woodstock Contact: (770) 926-4428, www.fbcw.org Mothers & More Meeting: First & Third Tuesdays at 7 p.m. Location: Kroger at Towne Lake Contact: Michelle Wise, (770) 720-8834 Website: www.woodstockmm.com National Alliance for Mental Illness Family Support Group Meeting: Second & Fourth Tuesdays, 7 — 8:30 p.m. Location: Hillside United Methodist Church Contact: Jill, (404) 394-1229 or Patrick, (678) 654-2091 Website: www.nami.org NWAtlantaMommies.com Play dates, mom’s night out, and online support Meeting: Weekly Contact: Stephanie Peterson, (678) 653-1418 admin@nwatlantamommies.com Website: http://www.nwatlantamommies.com Overeaters Anonymous Meeting: Every Wednesday at 10:30 a.m. Location: H.O.W. Place, behind fire station on Bells Ferry Road at Old Bascomb Court Contact: Lois, (770) 592-6421 S.N.A.P. offers resources for children with special needs. Meeting: Second Monday from 10 — 11:30 a.m. Location: 100 Hickory Circle, Holly Springs Contact: (770) 720-4068 Spirit of Success Career Clothing Connection Provides professional business attire at no cost. Contact: (770) 956-0711. Tender Hearts Caregivers Support Group Meeting: Second & Fourth Wednesday at 10 a.m. Location: Hillside United Methodist Church Contact: Robin Galloway, (770) 517-5899 Towne Lake Area Moms Group is a newly formed and active group for moms and their babies (newborns to toddlers) Contact: Melanie Website: www.TowneLakeArea.com TowneLaker | April 2012

Reference

COMMUNITY INFORMATION Emergency — 911 • TowneLaker • (770) 516-7105 Cherokee County Chamber of Commerce (770) 345-0400 Cherokee County Government:

Animal Shelter (770) 345-7270 Business Licenses (770) 721-7810 Clean & Beautiful Commission (770) 517-7650 Commissioners (678) 493-6000 Courthouse (770) 479-1953 Engineering Office (Traffic Signals) (678) 493-6077 Extension Office (770) 479-0418 Jury Phone (770) 479-9011 Justice Center (Courts, Judges, etc.) (770) 479-1953 Planning & Zoning (678) 493-6101 Senior Services (770) 345-5312 Tax Assessors/Evaluation (678) 493-6120

Taxes:

License Plates/Tags, Property Tax Woodstock Office Voter Registration

Children/Family:

Anna Crawford Children’s Center Cherokee County Boys & Girls Club Cherokee Family Violence Center Cherokee Focus Child Support Enforcement Department of Family & Children Services The Hope Center MUST Cherokee Ministries Papa’s Pantry

(678) 493-6400 (770) 924-4099 (770) 479-0407 (770) 345-8100 (770) 720-7712 (770) 479-1804 (770) 345-5483 (770) 720-3581 (770) 720-3610 (770) 924-0864 (770) 479-5397 (770) 591-4730

Driver’s Licenses (Tues — Sat) (678) 413-8400 Fire Department (District 1, Station 20)

(770) 926-7155

Georgia State Patrol (770) 205-5400 Health Department (770) 345-7371 Kennestone Hospital North Fulton Hospital Northside Hospital — Cherokee

(770) 793-5000 (770) 751-2500 (770) 720-5100

Hotlines — 24 Hour Help Lines:

Battered Women Hotline (770) 479-1703 Drug Tip Line (Cherokee Co. Sheriff) (770) 345-7920 Poison Control Center — Atlanta (404) 616-9000 Outside Metro Atlanta (800) 222-1222 Probate Court Information Line (770) 704-2610 Rite-Call (Child Medical Problems) (404) 250-KIDS Sexual Assault & Family Violence Center (770) 428-2666

Libraries:

Rose Creek R.T. Jones Woodstock

www.sequoyahregionallibrary.org (770) 591-1491 (770) 479-3090 (770) 926-5859

Non-Emergency 911 (770) 479-3117 88

TowneLaker | April 2012

BridgeMill Athletic Club (770) 345-5500 Cherokee County Outdoor YMCA (770) 591-5820 Cherokee Recreation and Parks Agency (770) 924-7768 www.crpa.net Cherokee Soccer Association (770) 704-0187 www.cherokeesoccer.com Eagle Watch Golf Club (770) 591-1000 Hobgood Park (770) 924-7865 North Atlanta Soccer Assoc. (770) 926-4175 www.nasa-ga.org SCRA Park (770) 926-5672 Towne Lake Hills Golf Club (770) 592-9969 Wildlife Action, Inc. (800) 753-2264

Pets:

Animal Control (678) 493-6200 CatSnip (low cost spay & neuter) www.atlantaanimalalliance.com Cherokee County Animal Shelter — Adoptions (770) 345-7270 Cherokee County Humane Society (770) 928-5115 www.cchumanesociety.org Emergency Veterinary Clinic (770) 924-3720 Lost Pet Hotline (770) 615-3333 Pet Buddies Food Pantry www.petbuddiesfoodpantry.org SPARE (Sterilizing Pets And Reducing Euthanasia) (770) 928-5120 Second Chance Dog Rescue www.secondchancedogs.org

Post Office (Woodstock) www.usps.com

(800) 275-8777

Recycling Center (770) 516-4195 Schools: see www.townelaker.com for complete listing Board of Education (770) 479-1871 www.cherokee.k12.ga.us Sheriff’s Department (678) 493-4200 www.cherokeega-sheriff.org Georgia Sex Offender Registry www.cherokeega-sheriff.org/offender/offender.htm Utilities:

Hospitals:

Parks and Recreation:

Atlanta Gas Light Co. (770) 907-4231 www.aglc.com AT&T (404) 780-2355 www.bellsouth.com Cherokee Water & Sewerage Authority (770) 479-1813 Comcast (770) 926-0334 Cobb EMC (770) 429-2100 www.cobbemc.com Georgia Power (888) 660-5890

Urgent Care Facility

Wellstar Urgent Care

Woodstock, City of:

(678) 494-2500

(in Towne Lake, only applies to Avonlea, Deer Run,

ParkView, Paces and certain annexed commercial parcels) . www.woodstockga.gov City Hall (770) 592-6000 Fire Department (770) 926-2302 Police Information (770) 592-6025

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

Sincerely, Your Friends at TowneLaker

The

TOWNELAKER

Community

TowneLaker | April 2012

Reference

ELECTED & APPOINTED OFFICIALS United States Government:

President Barack Obama (D)

1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, Washington, D.C. 20500 Website: www.whitehouse.gov e-mail: president@whitehouse.gov

Senator Saxby Chambliss (R)

Senate Russell Courtyard-2 Washington, D.C. 20510 Website: http://chambliss.senate.gov e-mail: use contact form on website

Senator Johnny Isakson (R)

1 Overton Park, Suite 970 3625 Cumberland Blvd, Atlanta, GA 30339 Website: http://isakson.senate.gov

Rep. Tom Price (R), District 6

P.O. Box 425 Roswell, GA 30077 Website: http://tom.house.gov e-mail: use contact form on website

(202) 456-1414 fax: (202) 456-2461

Commissioners: Buzz Ahrens (R), Chairperson

e-mail: lbahrens@cherokeega.com

Harry Johnston (R), Post 1 (202) 224-3521 fax: (202) 224-0103

e-mail: hjohnston@cherokeega.com

Jim Hubbard (R), Post 2

e-mail: jhubbard@cherokeega.com

Karen Bosch (R), Post 3 (202) 224-3643 GA: (770) 661-0999 fax: (770) 661-0768

e-mail: kbosch@cherokeega.com

Jason Nelms (R) Post 4

e-mail: jnelms@cherokeega.com (202) 225-4501 GA: (770) 565-4990 fax: (770) 565-7570

Cherokee County School System

Superintendent, Dr. Frank Petruzielo

Rep. Rob Woodall (R), District 7

P.O. Box 769, 110 Academy St., Canton, GA 30114 Website: www.cherokee.k12.ga.us e-mail: drp@cherokee.k12.ga.us

State Government:

Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office Sheriff Roger Garrison (R)

Website: www.woodall.house.gov

Governor Nathan Deal (R)

(404) 652-7003 fax: (404) 652-7123

498 Chattin Drive Canton, GA 30115 Website: www.cherokeega-sheriff.org e-mail: rdgarrison@cherokeega.com

Senator Chip Rogers (R), District 21

(404) 463-1378 fax: (404) 657-9887

Cherokee County Tax Commissioner Sonya Little

State Capitol, Room 111 Atlanta, GA 30334 Website: www.gov.state.ga.us e-mail: chip@SenatorChipRogers.com

Senator Jack Murphy (R), District 27

e-mail: jack.murphy@senate.ga.gov

Rep. Charlice Byrd (R), District 20

e-mail: charlice.byrd@house.ga.gov

Rep. Sean Jerguson (R), District 22

e-mail: sean.jerguson@house.ga.gov

(678) 493-6001

(770) 887-1960 fax: (770) 205-0602 (404) 656-0126 fax: (404) 463-2793 (404) 656-0287

Cherokee County Courts:

100 North St., Canton, GA 30114 e-mail: slittle@cherokeega.com Woodstock Annex 8681 Highway 92, Woodstock, GA 30189

(770) 479-1871 fax: (770) 479-1236

(678) 493-4200 fax: (678) 493-4228

(678) 493-6400 fax: (678) 493-6420 (770) 924-4099 fax: (770) 924-9567

Board of Education: Robert Wofford (R), Post 1

(770) 704-4398, x4374

Mike Chapman (R), Post 2

(770) 704-4398, x4372

e-mail: robert.wofford@cherokee.k12.ga.us

Superior Court: Chief Judge Frank C. Mills, III Judge Jackson Harris Judge Ellen McElyea

(678) 493-6270 (678) 493-6260 (678) 493-6240

State Court: Chief Judge Clyde J. Gober, Jr. Judge W. Alan Jordan

(678) 493-6480 (678) 493-6490

e-mail: janet.read@cherokee.k12.ga.us

Magistrate Court: Judge James E. Drane III (R)

(678) 493-6431

e-mail: rick.steiner@cherokee.k12.ga.us

Probate Court: Judge Keith Wood (R)

(678) 493-6160

e-mail: rob.usher@cherokee.k12.ga.us

Juvenile Court: Judge John B. Sumner

(678) 493-6250

Kim Cochran (R), Post 7 (Vice-Chair) e-mail: kimgcochran@gmail.com

Clerk of Courts: Patty Baker

(678) 493-6511

City of Woodstock Mayor Donnie Henriques

e-mail: mike.chapman@cherokee.k12.ga.us

Michael Geist (R), Post 3

(770) 928-3315

Janet Read (R), Post 4

(770) 516-1444

e-mail: michael.geist@cherokee.k12.ga.us

Rick Steiner (R), Post 5 (Chair)

(770) 704-4398, x4370

Cherokee County Coroner Earl W. Darby

90 North Street, Suite 310Canton, GA 30114

Cherokee County Board of Commissioners 90 North Street, Suite 310 Canton, GA 30114 Website: www.cherokeega.com 90

TowneLaker | April 2012

Rob Usher (R), Post 6

e-mail: dhenriques@progressiveaudiology.com (404) 362-1600

(770) 592-7864

(770) 592-6017

Towne Lake Residential and Commercial Owners’ Association (Covenant enforcement issues — all Towne Lake common areas)

(678) 493-6000 fax: (678) 493-6013

Douglas Properties

117 Towne Lake Parkway, Woodstock, GA 30188

(770) 926-3086

SCHOOL INFORMATION Public Schools Bascomb Elementary School 1335 Wyngate Parkway Woodstock, GA 30189 (770) 592-1091 Principal: Ruth Flowers www.cherokee.k12.ga.us/Schools/ bascomb-es Carmel Elementary School 2275 Bascomb-Carmel Road Woodstock, GA 30189 (770) 926-1237 Principal: Keith Bryant www.cherokee.k12.ga.us/Schools/ carmel-es Chapman Intermediate School 6500 Putnam Ford Road Woodstock, GA 30189 (770) 926-6424 Principal: Susan McCarthy www.cherokee.k12.ga.us/Schools/ chapman-es Cherokee Charter Academy 2126 Sixes Road Canton, GA 30114, (678) 385-7322 Principal: Vanessa Suarez cherokeecharter.org E. T. Booth Middle School 6550 Putnam Ford Road Woodstock, GA 30189 (770) 926-5707 Principal: Dawn Weinbaum www.cherokee.k12.ga.us/Schools/ etbooth-ms

Oak Grove Elementary School 6118 Woodstock Road Acworth, GA 30102, (770) 974-6682 Principal: Dr. Jennifer Scrivner www.cherokee.k12.ga.us/Schools/oakgrove-es Polaris Evening School 2010 Towne Lake Hills South Drive Woodstock, GA. 30189, (770) 926-1662 Administrator: Bob Hahn www.cherokee.k12.ga.us/Schools/polaris Woodstock High School 2010 Towne Lake Hills South Drive Woodstock, GA 30189, (770) 592-3500 Principal: William Sebring www.cherokee.k12.ga.us/Schools/woodstock-hs Woodstock Middle School 2000 Towne Lake Hills South Drive Woodstock, GA 30189, (770) 592-3516 Principal: Mark Smith www.cherokee.k12.ga.us/Schools/woodstock-ms

Private Schools Cherokee Christian Academy and Cherokee Christian High School 3075 Trickum Road Woodstock, GA 30188 (678) 494-5464, www.cherokeechristian.org High School Principal: Rod Kirby Middle School Principal: Hal Scripka Elementary School: Robert Lester Furtah Preparatory School 5496 Highway 92, Acworth, GA 30102 (678) 574-6488, www.furtahprep.org Headmaster: Fred Furtah

Etowah High School 6565 Putnam Ford Road Woodstock, GA 30189 (770) 926-4411 Principal: Keith Ball www.cherokee.k12.ga.us/Schools/ etowah-hs Kleven Boston Elementary School 105 Othello Drive Woodstock, GA 30189 (770) 924-6260 Principal: Les Conley www.cherokee.k12.ga.us/Schools/boston-es

Harvest Baptist School 3460 Kellogg Creek Road Acworth, GA 30102 Principal: Jamie Smithey (770) 974-9091 www.harvestbaptist.org Lyndon Academy 485 Toonigh Rd. Woodstock, GA 30188 (770) 926-0166 Headmaster: Linda Murdock www.lyndonacademy.org North Cobb Christian School 4500 Lakeview Drive Kennesaw, GA 30144 (770) 975-0252 Headmaster: Todd Clingman www.ncchristian.org Omega Academy (770) 792-7431 www.omegalearningcenter.com Shiloh Hills Christian School 260 Hawkins Store Road Kennesaw, GA 30144 (770) 926-7729 Administrator: John D. Ward www.shilohhills.com St. Joseph Catholic School 81 Lacy Street Marietta, GA 30060 (770) 428-3328 Principal: Patricia Allen www.stjosephschool.org

Cherokee County School District 2012 Calendar at a Glance

April 2-6 May 25

Spring Break Last Day of School Cafeteria account information: www.mealpayplus.com Aspen: https://sis.cherokee.k12.ga.us/aspen/home.do School District Website: www.cherokee.k12.ga.us

TowneLaker | April 2012

Reference

Towne Lake Homes Sold in FEBRuary

TowneLaker | April 2012

classifieds Animals/Pets services

HELP WANTED

Home Services

Pet au’Purr Professional Petsitting Services =^..^= Since 1998, Bonded & Insured, Owner Operated & Towne Lake resident. Please visit www.petaupurr.com 770-310-4814.

Hair Quarters Salon has booths available. Best rate in Towne Lake. Call Ayesha 404-579-5823.

FIX-IT-FAST: carpentry, drywall repair, kitchen/ baths, painting/caulking, tile/laminate installation. Call Dean 770-294-0138. Wyngate Resident.

Children / Family Child Care In Towne Lake. Full & part time, daily & hourly rates available. No extra charges. Only pay for the days you come. Text or call Janine 770-885-2574.

For Rent

Mompreneurs Needed. Flexible,fun,homebased business with excellent opportunity to advance. Selling functional stylish products. Visit www. mythirtyone.com/BagsOfJoy.

Garage/Yard Sales Community Yard Sale. Etowah Valley Estates & Spicers Grove. Saturday, April 21, 8 am -3 pm.

Penny Clean "One Woman Show." Residential, commercial, moving and deep cleans. Reasonable rates, 25 years experience. Licensed, bonded and insured. Free estimates. 678-494-3602. Local experienced electrician available for commercial and residential projects. Contact Scott Massey 770-869-4691 or scott.massey@ yahoo.com

Deer Run Community Garage Sale. April 27 & 28, 8 am to 1 pm.

Custom Home Decor Sewing. Window treatments, pillows, bedding, etc. Call Caron, (404) 372-1706, www.caroncreates.com

Health & Beauty

Towne Lake Hills Community Garage Sale. April 27 & 28, 9 am -3 pm.

Yoga & Pilates April 14 — Free Classes. April 17 — Beginner 4 week series. www. TheCenterForYoga.com.

YARD Services

Towne Lake Hills South Community Garage Sale April 27-28, 9 am-2 pm.

Stump Grinding. “Scott the Stump Guy” 770-6247333. Free Estimates. Licensed and insured.

Apartment. $600 utilities included occupant ONLY on lake 770-516-2563.

one

Local high school student available for lawn care. Dependable and reasonable. Call Garrett Kiefer at (404) 862-1756.

Mary Kay Cosmetics. Beauty that doesn’t break the bank! Call Laura 678-521-4395 or shop 24/7 www.marykay.com/laura.butler

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CLASSIFIED DEADLINE IS THE 10 th FOR THE FOLLOWING MONTH'S ISSUE! TowneLaker | April 2012

Reference

Advertisers Directory Attorneys/Legal Services Merino & Associates, LLC (770) 874-4600

Automotive Aspen Falls Auto Spa 6390 Bells Ferry Road (404) 626-9926

Christian Brothers Automotive (770) 926-4500

Custom Classics & Street Rods (678) 454-7637

Towne Lake’s Car Wash & Detail (770) 592-8102

Banking/Financial Services Back Cover

Citadel Professional Services, LLC Inside Front (770) 952-6707 225 Town Park Drive, Suite 440, Kennesaw Gina M. Cole CPA, P.C. (770) 592-1717

Cleaning Services Carpet Dry-Tech (678) 368-5991

Image Maids (770) 627-4670

Noble Services (770) 363-0303 www.nobleservicesga.com

Rejoice Maids Service (678) 905-3476 www.rejoicemaids.com

Cherokee Computer Guys (678) 749-7200 www.ccrguys.com

TrustWorkz (770) 615-3275 www.TrustWorkz.com

Dentists/Orthodontists

Discover Chiropractic & Rehabilitation (770) 516-9900 www.discoverrehab.com

Churches Hillside United Methodist Church (770) 924-4777

TLC Church (678) 445-8766

TowneLaker | April 2012

Azure Salon & Spa

Big Apple Nail & Spa (770) 516-9996

Bon Vivant (770) 516-9100 www.bonvivantsalon.com

Elite Nail Spa (770) 926-6222

Dr. Jerry Smith, Orthodontist (678) 905-0300

Hair 718 (678) 905-4081

Fountain View Dentistry (770) 926-0000 www.fountainviewsmiles.com 1816 Eagle Drive, Bldg. 200, Suite A

Salon & Spa Venessa (770) 591-2079

Skin Essentials by Marilyn (770) 928-1314

Park Pediatric Dentistry of Woodstock (770) 926-9260

S. Bruce O’Neal, DDS (770) 924-8848

The Sundance Massage Center (678) 591-5066

Thad Baird & Tyler Baird, DMD (770) 517-0444

The Wild Orchid Salon (770) 924-4010

Home Improvement/Painting

TLC Pediatric Dentistry of Woodstock (678) 224-5722 250 Parkbrooke Place Suite 250

Towne Lake Family Dentist Inside Back Cover (770) 591-7929 120 N. Medical Pkwy, Building 200, Suite 100 Williams Orthodontics (770) 592-5554

Education/YOUTh Instruction

Chiropractors

Tell Them You Saw Their Ad in the TowneLaker

Computers / Web Services

60, Back Cover

Best Possible Mortgage (404) 456-2317

Support Local Business Owners and this Magazine

Fillo Painting

G&J Painting

Nelson Painting & Home Improvements (678) 283-8171

Pike’s Professional Painting

Precision Painting (678) 234-9668

The Painted Lady

Access Education Towne Lake Driving School (678) 494-2200

Bascomb United Methodist Preschool (770) 926-0397

A-1 Concrete Leveling (770) 591-6500

Bits, Bytes & Bots Summer Camp (770) 826-0449

Bryan Plumbing Services (770) 826-5277

Cherokee Window and Door (770) 345-6999 www.cherokeewindoor.com

Home Improvement/Repair & Service

Music Together (678) 613-2048

38,63

Park View Montessori School (770) 926-0044

57, 63

The Goddard School (770) 516-0880

17, 63

Health & Beauty Amber Klippel, LMT (770) 365-5106

Coleman Home Services (770) 294-9667

Dr. Fixit, Ph.D.

Hammocks Heating & Air (770) 794-0428

Handy Handyman, The (404) 316-1490

Mr. Junk

Peach State Handyman

Plumbing Doctor, The (770) 516-9000

Roswell Woodstock Plumbing (770) 663-0600

Signature Floors & Design (678) 641-6471

Mountain Lakes Insurance (770) 926-9444 www.mountainlakesinsurance.com

ECS Insurance Services (770) 926-2288 www.ecsinsurancegroup.com

insurance

Landscaping & Lawn Maintenance

Marietta Plastic Surgery (678) 494-2380 www.mariettaplasticsurgery.com

Northside Hospital – Cherokee (770) 720-5100 201 Hospital Road, Canton www.northside.com

Northside Hospital Spine Center (404) 459-1809

Northside Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine (770) 928-0016

Optimum Health (770) 516-7477 www.optimumhealthrehab.com

Plastic Surgery Center of the South (770) 421-1242 www.plasticsurgerycenterofthesouth.net

Hot Dog Heaven

Towne Lake Eye Associates (770) 926-2858

Towne Lake Family Pharmacy (770) 635-7697

Mosquito Authority (678) 294-7597

Village Podatry (770) 928-9263

Overstreet Lawn Care (770) 861-7272

Wellstar Medical Group (770) 956-STAR

Stewart’s Tree Service (770) 516-9494

Woodstock Medical Weight Loss Inside Front (678) 501-5008 www.woddstockmedicalweightloss.com

Cherokee Internal Medicine (678) 238-0301

Cherokee Women’s Health Specialists,PC (770) 720-7733 www.cherokeewomenshealth.com

Georgia Lung Associciates (770) 514-7550

Innovative Health & Wellness (770) 926-4646 www.innovativehealthandwellness.net

7 25 1

Woodstock Physical Therapy (770) 516-9191

Photographers Julee Hester Photography (770) 310-4259

Keller Williams, Kurt & Sheila Johnson (404) 954-2486 www.kurtandsheila.com

Back Cover

Prudential Georgia Realty (770) 365-6193, (678) 494-2953

John Lutz, PhD

Marietta Facial Plastic Surgery (770) 425-7575 111 Marble Mill Road NW, Marietta

Acworth Art Festival www.acworthartfest.com

Izumi Asian Bistro (678) 238-1899 www.iloveizumi.com

Kani House (770) 592-5264

Tuscany 47 (678) 453-0888 TwoSome Place (770) 924-4124

Retailers & Miscellaneous Services American On-Site Portable Storage (770) 517-1111

Blue Frog Imports (770) 592-0122

Cash for Broken Cars (404) 392-7586

Elm Street Cultural Arts Village (678) 494-4251

Georgia Patio (770) 751-5800

Real estate & related services

Recreation and Fitness

34,73

Featherstone’s Grille at Towne Lake Hills (770) 926-6097

Physicians and Medical Services

Bar-B-Cutie (770) 924-9491

Landscape Matters (770) 403-5813 Lawn Squad (770) 591-4745

Restaurants/Food & Drink

Butchers Block (770) 517-2225

South Cherokee Veterinary Hospital (770) 924-6746

Progressive Audiology Center Inc. (770) 592-4744, (706) 253-7244

Woodstock Wolverines

Pearle Vision (770) 592-7100 9801 Highway 92, Woodstock

Animal Hospital at Towne Lake (770) 591-9500

Color Magic Group (404) 925-8425

34, 48

Towne Lake Hills Golf Club (770) 592-9969 www.townelakehillsgc.com

Animal Atlanta (770) 591-0007

Bullock’s Wine & Spirits Warehouse 1050 Buckhead Crossing, Woodstock (678) 445-5222 www.bullockswine.com

Calvary Landscaping (770) 720-1727, (770) 827-0346

Pet/Veterinarian Services & Supplies

Totally Running (678) 275-2282

cover, 50-53

Ember Hot Yoga (770) 485-5583 www.emberyoga.com

JSL Golf Tournament (770) 592-3535

Steps Dance Center (770) 516-1363

Master’s Training Center (770) 591-9588

Rotary Club of Towne Lake

Towne Lake Business Assoc.

Towne Lake Storage (770) 516-8800

The Gifted Ferret www.TheGiftedFerret.com

Woodstock Hippie Shop (770) 517-2620

56, 63

Woodstock Recycling (678) 494-0325

Seniors Hearthside (770) 852-2225 www.HearthSideTowneLake.com TowneLaker | April 2012

Lawn & Landscaping

Animals & Pets Animal Atlanta

Automotive Aspen Falls Auto Spa

Christian Brothers Automotive

Towne Lake’s Car Wash & Detail

Cleaning & Home Services Carpet Dry Tech

Image Maids

Mr. Junk 39 Rejoice Maids 45

Calvary Landscaping

Landscape Matters

Overstreet Lawn Care

The Lawn Squad

Medical & Dental Discover Chiropractic & Rehabilitation

Marietta Facial Plastic Surgery

Optimum Health

Pearle Vision

Towne Lake Family Pharmacy

Woodstock Medical Weight Loss

Inside Front

Health & Beauty Amber Klippel, LMT Big Apple Nail & Spa Bon Vivant Salon Ember Hot Yoga Hair 718 Salon Skin Essentials by Marilyn The Sundance Massage Center The Wild Orchid Salon Totally Running

61 60 8 18 35 29 59 32 47

Miscellaneous Blue Frog Imports

Cherokee Computer Guys

Gina Cole, CPA, PC

Park View Montessori

Towne Lake Golf Club

Woodstock Hippie Shop

Restaurants/Food

Home Improvements / Repair Coleman Home Services

Bar-B-Cutie

Hammock’s Heating & Air

Butchers Block

Nelson Painting and Home Improvement

Featherstone’s Grille at Towne Lake Hills

Roswell Woodstock Plumbing

Hot Dog Heaven

The Plumbing Doctor

Izumi Asian Bistro

Kani House

Tuscany 47 TwoSome Place 96

TowneLaker | April 2012